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// Prologue: The Order 
// Story: A Stampede to Remember 
// by ShadowGear 
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	"No! Stop just stop!" Queen Chrysalis yelled in frustration at her apprentice Sclerite who was hovering a few inches from the floor. "Don't be afraid of hitting the ground!"

Sclerite landed on the ground and lowered his head in shame. "I am sorry my Queen. I am sure I will get it right this time."

"No. Today's lesson is over. You are dismissed." Queen Chrysalis said before dropping on her throne.

Sclerite turned away and flew into one of the holes in the walls that appeared as if he knew ahead of time it would open. He entered a hallway where six Changelings in armor were guarding the other side of a massive door. As he walked past them he noticed they were glaring at him with envy in their eyes.

"How come a runt like him gets to be the Queen's apprentice? There are many drones that would be a better soldier than he ever would," one of the guards whispered.

"My guess is that the Queen plans to send him on a suicide mission in the future. His lessons are just meant to get his hopes up," responded another guard.

"Will you two be quiet? The Queen has her reasons and it is not our place to question," said a third guard.

Sclerite quickened his pace and flew into The Hive's barracks where he was met with more glares of envy. He did his best to ignore the other drones and flew around looking for a place to sleep. When he found a large hole he flew into it and collapsed on the hard floor exhausted. The hole closed behind him as he thought about how little his life has changed since he became Queen Chrysalis' apprentice two years ago. Since then he had grown stronger but he was still disrespected and envied by pretty much every Changeling in The Hive. He found it funny that being Chrysalis' apprentice earned him absolutely no respect and instead made him even more isolated. Then he let his exhaustion overtake him as he drifted off to sleep.





Sclerite found himself in a desert. There was a river nearby and it looked as though he was in the only area capable of sustaining life in the general area. He looked up to see a moon with the silhouette of a mare looking down at him. Then he heard hoof steps coming up behind him. When turned his head he was surprised by what he saw. It was a large armored Changeling but unlike the Changelings Sclerite was used to this one's armor, eyes and chitin were red. The Changeling looked at Sclerite the same way commanders look at their troops.

"Get into position and attack when I give the signal," he said like he was giving an order before he turned to walk away.

"Wait what?" Sclerite responded but the Changeling officer was already gone. Then immediately the earth started to shake and he could hear battle cries. In the distance he saw large figures on top of a nearby hill. Then the world quickly faded away as the figures began to charge.





Sclerite's eyes opened and his mind was bombarded with questions. Who was that in his dream? Could he have been from another hive? Why did he appear in his dream? Sclerite wondered while he was still in his tired state. He flew out when the hole reappeared and went straight to the mess hall which was just a room filled with ponies stuck in cocoons. He took his daily love ration from one of the ponies and flew off to Chrysalis' throne room.

Sclerite arrived at the throne room approximately ten minutes early and stood in position of attention like always but this time he wasn't alone. Not long after he arrived, three Changelings entered the room. One of them wore a helmet and armor that looked a bit different from what the guards wore. He recognized the armored one as his old drill instructor Carapace. Queen Chrysalis flew in and sat on her throne with a letter that she levitated next to her.

"Now my subjects. Today I am trusting you all with an important task. Major Carapace. I want you to lead this squad of Changelings down south to the buffalo lands. When you arrive you will give this letter to another Changeling Hive ruled by Queen Formic. Eliminate any resistance you encounter." Chrysalis then levitated the letter over to Carapace who placed it into one of the holes in his hooves.

She then turned to address the two other Changelings, "Corporal Elytra and Sergeant Fang. I want you to keep an eye on my apprentice Sclerite, make sure he doesn't get into too much trouble. Do well and I might have you promoted." Sclerite felt personally insulted by those orders. After all Queen Chrysalis trained him to be a self sufficient soldier, not a reliant one. It was almost like she doubted his abilities, "Any questions?" She waited for a response and when none came she finished her speech, "Splendid! Take anything you may need and you may depart when ready."

With that said they all left the room to prepare themselves for the next day.