This story is a sequel to Hive Alive
After the chaotic series of events that created it, Twilight's small hive is now positioned with her at the peak of Equestrian authority. Not all are pleased by this. A coup has just been averted and the plots of those behind it may still be in motion.
With all other alicorns away and Discord gone with them, Equestria's history will be written by only one mare. She and her hive of friends and lovers are already being dragged into the tragedy of power-seeking pony elites, invaders, and ancient evils.
It begins as Cloudsdale falls...
GENERAL NOTES
1. Please see the age rating note below for a disclaimer on content and general story mood.
2. This is the direct sequel to Hive Alive. There is no significant time jump between stories.
3. Due to the length of Hive Alive and the time since it was finished, I have put together a useful timeline summary. Those interested in remembering key details from the 230,000+ word story will be able to do so easily. It is posted in a blog entry here.
4. Recommended to be read with the background color set to "Dark" via Formatting. It's the changeling thing to do. Chrysalis approved. 
UPDATES
Biweekly. One new 3,000-4,000 word chapter every other Wednesday.
FULL TIMELINE SUMMARY OF HIVE ALIVE (for those that want to refresh themselves)
AGE AND CONTENT RATING
Rated Teen for violence, non-graphic injury, some crude language or terminology, innuendo, and suggestive content. No explicit scenes or descriptions will be included. Deaths may be mentioned but are not detailed. The intent of the story is not to be entirely serious or dark and therefore is not tagged as such. There will be more cheery scenes to come after the beginning chapters and thus this should not be confused with going the path of improperly tagged grimdark.
Alternate front cover is in progress.
In Popular Stories: December 31, 2016 
First Featured: January 4, 2017 
Thanks for reading!
Art by BlackWater (me)
Dramatic start. Added to my tracking list.
Oh yeah, this is definitely one of the fics I'm devouring in 2017. So happy to have it at !ong last.
I love me some huive ponies! Can't wait to read this whole thing.
Dramatic start, me likey.
No, Chryssie, don't hurt yourself!
this is EPICLY EPIC
What a way to start your rule. A coup, a city destroyed, countless injured, an attack by enemy forces.
I don't think those traitors are going to see anything even resembling mercy in the courts. If that even happens.
awsome
More proof Cadence is best Princess.
Finally, something well written that's worth reading.
God dommot, Cadance.
Collapsing a floating city is no laughing matter, but was the plan really so dependent on Twilight succumbing easily? Hopefully that bodes well for our heroes,, having the enemy have a backup plan after such a catastrophe would be.... Not ideal.
If they fixed the transmitter, maybe then Twilight could invent better detection defenses into them to increase their robustness and potentially back-hack the intruder?
You'd think it would be somewhat easy to trace black magic, set up a triangulation grid array to out them!
Keep going! ;)
Heheheheheh. AH Candice you know spike and rarity will have there revenge.
BWAHAHA! Cadence you are the best pranker ever!
I'm really liking the humor throughout the seriousness of the chapters. Though I am wondering what Twilight's told the ponies. Do they know Sombra's back yet? Looking forward to more chapters!
I can see where you are going, but I do agree with the Story Approver on the prior fic: EVERYTHING went wrong. That doesn't make a great ending- even one setting up for a sequel.
So far, nearly every challenge or problem in this series outside of the "Pony Hive" has automatically ended up in disaster. And a blatent Coup RIGHT after Celestia & Luna informed IN PERSON that Twilight is the regant; would have the majority of the citizens behind the administration, which would cripple any reactionary movements.
On the other hand, your management of character development overall has been superb. The greatest issue I have so far in that regard is Centurion- it felt too rushed.
I love Cadence when she is like that.
Ugh... so basically the Equestrian government was broken and Celestia was the glue holding it together. When she left.... wow gotta wonder what Equestria will look like when they return.
Hmm... the pacing of the story doesn't seem to be lining up with the length of the chapters. Each of these has felt like only half a chapter. I barely have a chance to get into it before it's over. I suggest doubling up on these chapters, so what would've been two short chapters is instead one longer chapter. This, of course, would mean waiting twice as long between chapters, but I'm okay with that. "Quality over quantity," as it's often said.
Interesting... Could be very problematic in the future.
... Yeowch, I kinda almost forgot how much more powerful Chryssie could be worth with a steady supply of love. And since she can change shape, she'd be perfect for covert operations and assassinations if Twilight ever grew so ruthless.
Interesting. With the advent of the Hive mind the despot concept could be re-engineered to great effect. Usurp the usurpers! Now if only we had more drones to slip into the populace and sway their concerns...
Keep going! ;)
Awe, a nice sweet break! That should help keep everyone balanced.
Plans are in motion, but so are others.
Sometimes we wonder how much is Chrysalis just being a tease and how much it's really an actual desire.
Keep going! ;)
Hahah, never change, Chryssie.
About time they got some downtime.
Hot Twilight and Flutters snuggling.
that is good sir
Ohh nice update. Can't wait to see how other cities respond.
There should be a fairly good chance the new local democracy will flourish. Good for them!
Of course, literally everything is starting at trust level zero, so that'll be interesting.
Of course Pinkie had to publicly instigate a contest in the hive. We know it's mostly just for fun, but geez can she be insensitive at times.
Keep going! ;)
Nice, new democracy.
Pfft, poor Rarity and Dash.
There was an unneeded of quote somewhere in the middle and a missing quote at the very beginning.
Ooooh i missed a sequel comming out? Baaaah and here i am with no reading time till monday.
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I format the chapters with the big letter style of novels. The convention is that if a chapter begins with a conversational line, the opening quote mark is ommited. I found the rogue end quote you mentioned and sent it to the games.
derpicdn.net/img/2013/5/7/319214/medium.gif
View on Derpibooru - Original source
I have some issues here. The way you're pacing this thing means that 3k words per chapter is too short-- the ending is abrupt, leaving a chapter that feels incomplete. Plus, there's too much going on. While I do think the battle against Sombra's forces is a good cliffhanger, it would've been better-suited until after the police issue was resolved. I see what you're trying to do, with the dual plots of Las Pegasus and King Sombra, but you can't have them both flaring up at the same time when they're not converging unless you're going for an action thriller, which, according to the story tags, is not what you're going for. It's too much, too soon.
Secret agent bug~
Hmm, special treat... *Eyebrow wiggle*
Shit's going down.
'infused with an unstable rage' - unneeded an
full retreat get the blazes out of here and report to the queen...
So, what, Sombra wants to eat Twilight or something? Silly Sombra, immortality can't be taken by force like that!
At first we thought the last scene was the police battling, even with the scene marker it wasn't immediately apparent we switched to the scouting force.
Keep going! ;)
A successful mission! Bonus points for the highly effective environment usage!
So Flame is marathon-ing it outright? Well, we suppose it's fairly confidential news after all.
Meanwhile Dash is probably pouting she couldn't be part of the awesome this time. She'll get there eventually...
Keep going! ;)
Welp, that wasn't a battle, it was more like a knockout bitchslap.
Chryssie gonna get sum lovin'.
I have read all the chapters. From the first story. To the second and now here. And all I got to say is GG m8 I love this. Now my question is who will buck the apples first? Will it be chrysalis?! I feel like it's got a be here. Making the bet void.
o buy gits for visits. L
Buying some gits? They selling orcs at that market? :P
That moment when you're about to go to sleep but see the email saying this story has updated so you're like FUCK SLEEP LET'S GET TO READING!! " anyway good chapter. I've been waiting for some action to happen than Sombra has to be a dick and cock block us. I hope he dies.
Another great chapter. I love the interplay between all the main characters. And Chryssie finally gets some lovin'. Almost.
Can one get a case of blue ovaries? Because I think that would qualify here.
Oooh, I hope Chryssie gains some changeling followers again.
Pfft, that lunch must've been awkward if Dash suddenly pomfed a wing boner.
Hmm, I can't remember, do changeling Queens live indefinitely if they get enough love?
ooh Flutters just barely escaped that. Still, good to ease her into the idea.
Regaining drones might be a good thing in the long run, integration has yet begun but maybe...
Keep going! ;)
Oh so much is going on and I am lost. But *reinhardt voice* onward my friends! Glory awaits!
Welp...looks like thing are going poorly for the changelings. Kinda hoping at least some of them get a happy ending and this will not result in a genocide.
D'awwww @ Rainbow and Flutters.
I hope the changelings will be alright.
Welcome to adulthood, Spike.
Interesting, so the Queen Sombra has beguiled into helping him has decided to rebel? How fortunate. And she has the ability to disable friendly fire? That could be extravagantly useful!
Rarity is coming into the idea of closer physical interaction with Spike, how exciting!
Keep going! ;)
I love it when Dash (and all Element Bearers in general) is portrayed in stories with a much deeper character than the most (over)used and known character traits.
When Rainbow Dash is portrayed as:
- Arrogant (overconfident to the point of being reckless without thinking anything through before acting)
- Fiercely loyal to the point where she's mostly the one in felt 8/10 fanfics who attacks and distrusts first and asks questions later. (Seriously, I lost count in how many fics an OC was always attacked/brought into hospital by accident by an attacking Rainbow Dash the first time said OC steps into the town. It's like an unwritten ritual. You can't come completely new and unknown - as a non Pony - into Ponyville without being "greeted" by Rainbow in some aggressive way)
- A stubborn hothead
- Partly very simple minded, after the cliche motto: "She is to awesome to be an 'egghead'!" What essenstial means that she isn't educated/informed - or interested in general - about anything except Daring Do, her job as a weather manager, flying and becoming/being a Wonderbolt.
I like this sequel very much until now.
When did Storm Sword become an alicorn or pegasus?
One of these things is not like the other ~.
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LOL Yes.
Normally, I have some more edits on each chapter before posting. But when I had to post this one, work IRL took time away from it. In any case, I've made various updates to it to fix such issues.
The heart needs to be emptied of the love.this is where the the changelings are needed.
They can also breed with the crystal ponies since they are so isolated from the rest of the world. also to avoid incest from showing up
. But really spike and rarity should have at least told Twilight about what they found. Like really!! 
This big news that could change the Empire and y'all just leave it alone to go bang? Crazy horny teenagers these days.... 
Well the Heart is just begging to be drained now! It's practically a beacon! Wonder if it's possible to distribute that energy through the Link? Hmmm
Keep going! ;)
Hmm, interesting. And my heart stopped a bit at the very idea of a hybrid Cuteling and pony foal. So cute!
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"should have told Twi..."
Interesting point there. Indeed they would have been able to if Twilight hadn't temporarily muted the hivemind between them and the rest for both their own privacy and her current plan for Sombra. Pretty important though...might have some significance real soon.