A week has passed by. And Mark had discovered a few things about himself. First he found out that he was good with defencive spells. He was good at crafting weapons and Armor. Among other things.
He had always prefer blades over anything at a distance, even when he was on earth, And being hidden, although comforting, couldn’t last forever. So he asked Luna if he could have a sword to be able to fight off anything that came to take the children. (and to protect the eggs that Luna Gave him, but he left that part out.) She had been reluctant at first but he said that he would make simpler wooden swords for them to play with so that they would be in no danger of hurting one another. He also planned a little enchantment so that when there is danger his sword would be considered the toy blade compared to how dangerous the wooden swords would then be. Although this obviously would be kept from her. And would only be revealed if he fell in combat.
Luna had provided some special Midnight Blue metal for his sword and some overflow of that mystery metal, a lot of overflow. “Its for your Armor” she said. He questioned that for awhile, but he eventually took it as a challenge. He started on his armor. He first made his Helmet so that it covered his face so that he would be protected from any blasts to his entire head. He even made a bunch of rings and attached it to the bottom of his helmet so that his neck wasn’t exposed. The only part of his Head that even barely was exposed was his horn. Then he went for the Torso. He did a standard top cover but he also covered his stomach to defend against any cheap-shots. The Emblem he used was interesting to Luna and the Children. It was a green slit eye with wings similar to Chrysalis’ coming out of it’s side. Then he made the boots that he would be using. The shin guards being a little longer and edged so that he could do more damage. Then came his sword. He decided on a combination between a scimitar and a katana. The result was a wondrous blade which shimmered as if it had a dark blue flame inside of the blade. Eager to torch anyone that dared to be cut by the weapon. The pommel of the weapon could be rotated to activate the enchantments on the wooden swords.
While he worked on his weapon he asked some of the children to make weapons out of the wood of the vines that were growing in the caves that were near the outside. With strict instructions not to sharpen them. Then he had another child teach him conditional enchantments. And the next day he enchanted all the wooden swords with the same type of enchantment.
Then he went and saw Chrysalis and saw the beginnings of the hive. The young Changelings acted Hostile to him at first. But Chrysalis quickly calmed them down “He is your King!” she bellowed. At that they could not fight or attack him. But they still avoided him nonetheless.
She laid another egg. although she couldn’t exactly stop herself, and she couldn’t handle more Changeling Drones in the Hivemind at the moment, so she connected them to Mark. he had no Drones to call his own, and she made sure that half of them were female so that his half of the Hive would Grow without her. She kept all of this hidden so that he wouldn’t be lying if he chose to say that he didn’t know that they were his. She also connected one or two to her Hivemind also. So that they were still connected to this hive in some small way.
Mark returned to Chrysalis with some Drawn up plans of her Hive. “I’ve got a few Ideas for the Hive’s defences. Would you like to hear them?” Chrysalis nodded and Mark Continued. “The first one would be a magic draining beacon, that beacon could be anything, but it must be stationary and it must be in the center of the hive to ensure that its area of effect can influence as much of the Hive as possible. The only things that wouldn’t have it’s magic drained is the land, plants and Changelings. Effectively limiting them, then there would be a barrier that protects the hive. And which can be passed through in only four points. Here, here, here, and here” He proceeded to point at four areas on the map. “Each point would be easily defended by a eighth of an army. Then there is the seemingly random corridors that only changelings of this hive would be able to navigate without any difficulty. Slowing down any force that manages to get past one of the four points significantly. Enabling a quarter of the army to take them out. But if they do manage to get to the center of the maze and the beacon, they will be too tired to fight you since they would have physical strain and the mental strain from trying to wrap their heads around the maze. And on top of that, their magic would be blocked by the beacon.” Chrysalis stared at the map. Three simple and yet effective stages to wipe out any invading army.
“How Long until this will be completed?”
Mark sighed and added. “The barrier can be put up in five minutes, the Maze would take about a year judging by how much they listen to me, but if they listened, it would take only two weeks. But the beacon’s position and design is all up to you since only you could make the material needed for it.”
“And what Material would that be?”
“Black Matter with a ten percent mixture of magic from Changeling Royalty.”
“How did you know that I could make that?”
“I did a bit of digging in the Hivemind. And i have a way to make the maze in mind.”
“And what is that?”
“Disconnect the ones building it for the project’s duration and I can make the tunnels shift based on who is talking to whom in the Hivemind, and i can send you instructions on how to make the barrier.”
“Then let this be done.” ‘half of you start working on the defences, we might be expecting company in the future and I want this place to be ready before then!’ Mark sent her the instructions on the barrier as Chrysalis commanded her Drones.
Mark left as the construction began. ‘I promise to return in a week’s time.’ Mark said over the hivemind.
~~~
When he got back to the garden he was met by several of the children. “Wherehaveyoubeen?Didyoubringsomethingbackforus?Youreggsaregoingtohatchsoon!Canyouteachmehowtoswordfight?” the questions came so fast, but he was able to catch it.
“I can't say where, I wasn’t able to, and I’ll teach you later.” he rushed to the Library where he had stashed his two eggs, apparently the children found them and kept an eye on them. Although he cringed every time that he saw any type of cooked egg.
One of the eggs was shaking. It was light blue with purple dots, the other was purple with green dots. The blue one started to crack. Mark rushed in next to it as the egg burst, eggshell flying everywhere. All because of the newborn baby Dragon with a piece of eggshell on his head.
His head had two small bumps on it and his face was a little rounded his scales were a dull steel blue in color. The young Dragon looked over to his sibling who was still in their egg. A small tongue of fire came out of his mouth. Lighting everything up in the room like a torch.
“Little Torch!” a young filly said. And the young one wrapped around Mark and looked at her.
“Do you like that name?” Mark asked. Little Torch looked at him and nodded. “Ok Little Torch, are you hungry?” again, another nod. The young filly brought out a small blue sapphire and gave it to Little Torch and he started sucking away at it. Mark covered Little Torch up as he finished the sapphire and started to fall asleep. Luna walked in quietly trying to keep from disturbing the Baby Dragon.
‘Now is the perfect time Mark. Ask her.’ Chrysalis insisted over the Hivemind.
“Luna… on behalf of my people. I request to make an alliance. One that both of us will protect each other from any and all threats. And that we will keep your children hidden with supplying us with what we need to survive. I myself will keep my promise to hide and protect them, but this will back me up with my people.”
“I have yet to meet your people, unless you mean humanity.”
“No, I mean what I now physically am. Me and Chrysalis extend out a hoof in the name of love, and Unity.”
“I accept. On the condition that I meet Chrysalis and one of your kingdom. Are these acceptable terms?”
‘I don’t know. Are they?’
‘Yes, Yes they are. Tell her that we will be there in three days, we must all be ready when we do arrive.’ Chrysalis said. Sounding a little too happy than necessary.
“We accept these terms Luna.”
“But I do have two questions.”
“Fire away.”
“What does your people need to survive and where are your people now?”
“I have given my word to my co-ruler to not say where and my people will get what they need in time. I do not wish anyone harm.”
After a moment, Luna gave a heavy sigh. “Then Please don't scare the younglings with your people Mark.”