Hive Thorax
Formed after a failed invasion attempted by Hive Chrysalis, Thorax was formed after a unknown chemical reaction to the energies of the main six resulted in a spontaneous mutation of the changeling genetics. These “new changelings” or as they are known by most other hives, “abominations” are completely self-sustaining requiring no love to survive while also showing a number of other biological differences. Instead of a queen the hive seems to be tied directly into a king figure, along with gaining some minor visual features such as a diverse color palette (similar to ponies) and the ability to eat food. While this is believed by many to be the work of ‘sharing love’ a far more scientific view is that the wild magics and energies tied to the relationships of pony kind permanently infused these changelings with pony DNA creating a hybrid race. While changeling pony hybrids have been born in the past, most of these children tend to have a dominate gene. In other words, they tend to be more changeling then pony and vise versa. These new changelings are a perfect fifty-fifty combination of the two allowing for the benefit of both races instead of sharing their weaknesses like other half breeds.
The change has completely revolutionized the very culture of the hive, turning a once deceptive society into one of creativity and artistic expression. Not only does the hive now trade with Equestria at large but has a defensive alliance with Canterlot itself, something that many would considered impossible in such a short a time if not for the leadership of their king. Thorax himself, once a friend to the ponies before taking a leadership role, has proven to be a very effective trader, organizer, policy maker and developer spearheading a hive reconstruction effort ending the endless expansion of the hive and instead putting the resources into redeveloping war rooms and weapon manufactory chambers into public forums, libraries, schools, public hospitals and indoor gardens. His close relationship with many key leaders of Equestria have allowed the king to sign a large number of economic and political treaties with the powerful nation drastically improving growth and production. Unlike the independent city states of Dimondia and Griffonstone Hive Thorax’s formation was specifically tied into the relationship shared between the ponies and the changelings. Dimondia is but a trade town formed out of the desire to achieve unbound riches through trade instead of mining, while Griffonstone was formed after the failed Griffin Empire’s invasion of Equestria during the reign of discord. Thorax on the other hand personally knew each Equestrian leader, having gained their trust long before his takeover of the hive. While both Dimondia and Griffonstone are recognized and represented in Equestrian matters both state’s population tend to be somewhat mistrustful of the Equestrian government stunted both their economies and willingness to form hard alliances.
Hive Thorax on the other hand has been completely open to pony involvement, leading to the amazing level of growth. In time, it is assumed that the hive will form into a large nation of its very own drastically strengthening both itself and the Equestrian nation. Other agreements include a migration treaty between the two nations and the redevelopment of the hive environment. While most ponies find the long travel and freezing temperatures to be off putting a large portion of changelings have migrated into pony land. This has drastically increased the number of free changelings within Equestria while also drastically lowering the negative response changelings usually receive. A lot of current free changelings have already agreed to undergo a similar change, adding to the new changeling’s numbers while firmly establishing the new species as a integral part of pony society. The areas around the hive have also began to warm up to the surprise of many. Despite located far north surrounded by snow the hive has slowly become an ‘oasis in the ice’ turning the bone chilling void landscape into a mild garden. The only hint we have as to the nature of this change is the aura generated by the new changelings, a loving warm which may be changing their environment to suit their new disposition.
However, not everything looks up for this new hive. Many members of Hive Chrysalis either escaped or were away from the hive when the transformation took place. While we will explore these changelings in a second, the main point is there are already forces attempting to undo this amazing transformation that know the hive inside out. The changelings from most of the other hives have also responded to the change with revulsion and disgust. While some hives who already had close ties to Equestria (such as the Pseudochangelings) willingly took the transformation themselves, most see these new changelings as something totally alien. Not only do they stand for everything most changelings are against, but even on a biological level they seem totally different and wrong. The simple ability to eat food is often brought up with utter revulsion when discussing the new hive, Chinese whispers running wild as to the ‘actual’ origin of the hives including a failed experiment by Chrysalis to breed the perfect weapon, ponies poisoning their water supply, some kind of horrific virus and even the idea that they’re actually some kind of other worldly creatures that has failed horribly at copying the changeling form. While those of Hive Thorax are now free of pony mistrust, they now must be cautious of their own kind wishing to ‘purge the filth’. There have been a number of cases where migrate Thorax changelings have come under attack in towns, quite a shocking series of events considering how cautious and careful most changelings have to be.
Most of this stems from a societal fear of these new creatures. Not only does Hive Thorax have information of most of the other changeling’s hives but they also fear the infectious nature of the transformations. While the idea of endless love might seem appealing the brighter more adventuress and creative personality change has turned most others off. To them, changing into one of these new creatures is like losing yourself. Having what’s you erased and removed, replaced with something more ‘in line’ with pony ideals. Worse yet while Thorax has been an excellent ruler he has proven himself a sub-par general. Attempts to pin and capture individual Chrysalis groups have all been failures, and on top of that Thorax himself seems very reluctant to show resistance to military advances. Many outposts and military borrows have been taken by other hives without a fight, their forces told to simply leave and avoid a conflict all together no matter the numerical and tactical advantages. On top of that while the lower tunnels have been sealed off the Diamond Dog population within the network has sky rocketed. Without the hive’s constant war to keep the underground tribes in check the marauding bands have completely taken over. Only time will tell if these groups will turn against each other or, in a worse-case scenario, come to the surface looking for more treasure and battles.
Hive Chrysalis Holdouts
While a number of changelings left with their queen not every such group proved so loyal. Many outposts and bases soon declared themselves independent from both parties, forming into small individuals hives lead by committee instead of queen. Most tend to view the fall of Chrysalis as an inevitability, a leader brought down by her own incompetence and stupidity. Chrysalis herself had been under a judgemental gaze since the failed Canterlot wedding attack, a few minor operations occurring after only making the matter worse. Not only did she utterly fail with both numbers and surprise on her side, but exposed the whole race as a serious and dangerous threat to pony kind. Time and again she was shown up but a small group of friends, not by armies, or queens, or politics but the tea club crew features femasaurous. Chrysalis kept control out of fear but now on the run, targeted by two nations and with little support, her once loyal follows now declare their own domains.
These holdouts tend to differ wildly but most tend to be focused either running a democracy free of set rulers while others are run by warlords, usually a changeling commander who used his position to slip into power. Both are naturally very aggressive to both Hive Thorax and the ponies, some going so far as to perform raids on undefended trade posts and caravans. Despite the aggression these group show it should be noted the individual numbers of each group rarely go above a hundred. These locations ranged from simple watch towers to military barrows, used for simple fortification or border patrol. They were simply not organized or equipped for hive construction or large-scale warfare.
Despite the disadvantage some groups have actually begun fighting each other over resources and drones, simply gaining numbers by conquest of other holdouts. This anarchy has been singled out as an example of Thorax’s inability to lead an effective defence force, that he would let such wild and unpredictable groups fight it out in his very own borders though with the demilitarization of his hive and most groups unwillingness to negotiate he’s hands may be tied.