The buzzing of Midnight's wings sounded behind him as he followed his big brother through the sky. For the last three weeks the countless changeling tribes awaited their Queen's signal. For over a month they waited in the mountains nearby the city. So close to taking the Ponies capital city, but so far. Separated by a thin purple barrier. A thin layer of Hell that kept the starving swarm from all the love they needed to stop the hunger.
As he flew through the air, he was immediately followed by the rest of their tribe. Somewhere between twenty and thirty changeling warriors. Which only they could see through the untold number of changeling tribes that were united underneath the love of their mother. Otherwise they wouldn't be able to stay in a close area without fighting each other.
Something they did often, but never enough to seriously hurt of kill each other. After all, they were all one big family underneath their queen. But in doing so ensured that they all knew the basic forms of combat. And how to fly. As they reached the top of the barrier, Midnight let out a roar and slammed himself into the barrier.
"Fuck that hurts!" Midnight barked as he was thrown back with what felt like a bolt of electricity. However, the spot where he attacked had a spiderweb of cracks for several seconds before it went away.
"Its weakening!" Midnight's big brother Nocturnal shouted to the swarm of Changelings. With the buzzing of countless wings and emerald flames. The swarm lit up the sky while each and every changeling repeated the actions of midnight.
Well at least it's working Midnight thought as he flew back, and slammed himself into the barrier again.
"Come on Midnight, let's do this together," A large changeling said from his left. Glancing over, he saw who it was. It was a changeling that was roughly twice the size of himself. Flying next to him were the changelings that Midnight and Nocturnal more or less grew up with. Slash, Echo, Crimson, Longshot, Creek, Woods, Oak, and the Stones. Also know as Riverstone, Big Stone, and Little Stone.
"Yeah, twelve of us together should make a dent," Midnight agreed while he flew back. "ON THREE! ONE! TWO! THREE!" Midnight shouted as he and the other changelings slammed into the barrier as one. Immediately Midnight's vision went black as he was thrown back. After a few seconds, it came back and he saw that the other changelings had experienced the same thing. But the crack they left was much larger, and was taking longer to regenerate.
MWAHAHAHAH YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE! Queen Chrysalis's voice sounded from the castle.
Midnight stopped in his tracks and looked down, from the immediate halt of the attack. It was clear that the rest of the swarm did the same. As he looked down and watched, he saw six ponies in different colors run out of the palace.
The Queen must want them Midnight thought as he began slamming himself into the barrier again.
"Work together, the barrier is weakening. A big attack should shatter it!" Nocturnal's voice shouted. With a nod, Midnight and not only their tribe. But every changeling attacking the barrier pulled back and slammed as a unified force against the barrier.
Much to his surprise, Midnight wasn't thrown back, instead the barrier cracked underneath his attack..... and shattered..... the barrier shattered! THE BARRIER SHATTERED!
"After those ponies!" Nocturnal shouted as he sped down after the ponies. Midnight and the rest of their tribe immediately did the same. Although they were surprised when Nocturnal led them to ahead towards a different building.
"What the fuck? Nocturnal! Where are we going?" Midnight called.
"Cutting them off!" Nocturnal shouted as he landed on top of a staircase.
"Alright," Midnight said as he watched the ponies start to run up the staircase. "Everyone gives it their all, you two Thorax," Midnight said while glancing over at the timid looking changeling that they often brought along so he wouldn't starve.
"Uh guys.... I don't think this is the best-" Thorax began before Echo cut him off.
"Stop, mother has decreed it. If you don't want to take part, stay in the back. We'll do the grunt work. Just feed. You normally get less love than the rest of us from the plants," He stated.
Midnight glanced over at the two of them and internally smiled. Sure Thorax was a different breed from the rest of them. But he was still their brother, and apart of the hive. So thick and thin, they all had to stick together. Even if he was a unofficial member of their tribe. Glancing back ahead, he saw the six ponies before run up the stairs and pause at the sight of them. Now that they were closer, he finally got a good look at them.
Purple, Orange, White, Blue, Pink, and a pale yellowish color.
"Get ready boys," Nocturnal said as he flew a bit above the rest of them. Grinning all the while.
"Looks like we have to do this the hard way," The rainbow colored pony said while slamming her hooves together. And without a hint of fear, she began charging towards them
Oh how I've always wanted to do this Midnight thought while morphing himself into a exact copy of the pony. Immediately rushing forward, he stopped in front of her and mimicked the ponies confused expression. Then slammed both of his front hooves into her face.
"Uh how did-" The Rainbow pony began before the sound of the other changelings repeating Midnight's move of morphing.
"They're changelings remember?" The purple one reminded her.
"They're changelings remember? The Changelings mimicked with grins.
"Don't let them distract you, we have to get to the elements of harmony. They're our only hope," The purple one said as they prepared to attack.
"The elements of what?" A changeling twilight asked.
The ponies never did answer. Instead they lunged at them to attack. Immediately Midnight and the other Changelings did the same, and the battle was on.
Now changing into them was a good idea in theory. As it would confuse them.... it turned out to have the opposite effect. For one..... Midnight had no idea who was who, and several times he was pretty sure that he and his siblings were kicking each others asses. Like when he thought he was attacking the country pony. But found that he was fighting Behemoth after a minute of so. Or when three pink ponies jumped him for about thirty seconds. In the end... it had the opposite of the desired effect. And he was taken out by a party cannon.
"Well... that didn't work out," Slash grumbled as he sat up, rubbing his hoof against his horn.
"Bad idea," Midnight mumbled... still feeling the pain from a party cannon to the face.
"Yeah, bad call," The rest of the changelings said in sync.
"Alright every pony... now we use transformation when we spy and such. For now, no pony changes when we fight," Nocturnal said. Still laying on his side. Himself having been hit by a minigun of magic blasts from the pink one holding the purple one like a hoof cannon.
"Looks like Alaric and his tribe managed to catch the ponies," Behemoth grumbled as he watched the Changeling ahead lead the ponies towards the throne room.
"Yeah, after we did all the heavy lifting," Creek mused.
"Wanna reiterate on that?" Midnight asked.
"I'm sorry, you got a little confetti stuck in your cheek," Crimson said while reaching for his cheek. Midnight immediately smacked his hand away, but burst out laughing along with the rest of the Changelings.
"Looks like the battles won, come on. Let's go-" Longshot began before a thundering voice boomed.
"WHO DARES INTERUPT THE SLEEP OF THY ROYAL PRINCESS? A large darkly colored pony shouted as she came from what looked like a side door of the Royal Palace. Her gaze immediately fell onto Midnight and his changelings. And if looks could kill... they would all probably be dead.
Midnight, Nocturnal, and Behemoth all looked at each other and blinked twice. Then awkwardly turned and looked at the darkly colored princess.
"Excuse me miss.... who are you?" Midnight asked.
"WE ARE PRINCESS LUNA, THE RULER OF THE NIGHT AND THE ONE THAT RAISES AND LOWERS THE MOON! The Princess roared in a royal voice. Then paused and said in a normal sounding voice. "We mean... we are Princess Luna, the ruler of the night and the one that raises and lowers the moon,"
"Oh..... well hello Princess Luna. I am Midnight Fade. Changeling Soldier of the Changeling Swarm. The one that brings forth emerald flames and deception," Midnight replied. Not sure on how to reply.
"Then thy is a enemy of Equestria. And we insist thou moves aside so we can go and assist thy sister in her time of peril," Princess Luna.
"Sorry, but that's not going to happen,"
"Then thy will remove thou by force, although thy admires thou loyalty to thy mother. Even if we do think it's not a well path to be loyal to a bad girl," Princess Luna replied. Which earned the growls from Midnight and the other changelings.
"We the swarm love our mother. And we will not allow you to hinder her. Regardless of how powerful you may be," Behemoth growled as he moved up.
"Well said," Midnight and the other said in sync.
"What about you, the one that brings the emerald flames. Will thy fight as well? For we do not wish to fight you," Princess Luna.
"Unfortunately for us both.... that's not a option," Midnight said while stretching his wings for flight, and his fangs to bite.
"Thou does not know of thy forces thou are provoking with,"
The sky above Canderlot was filled with emerald fire and dark blue sparks as the Changelings fought against the Princess of the Night.
Midnight and the others never stood a chance against Luna in a head to head battle. But what they did was have superior numbers. Which ended up working to a extent. The Princess soared through the sky, firing her incredible magic at them, only for the changelings to evade while another dozen fired or attacked her from the side.
Don't fight fair, attack her flank. Back away, fire a black, evade, fire, evade fire, let others distract her. Distract her and fire. Evade, attack, bite, evade, fire, black. The sequence was random and without order, but they managed to hold their own somewhat. Even the Behemoth, who was renown for his strength didn't stick too close to one area.
As he flew up towards her, he was met with another blast which sent the rest of his tribe spiraling down.
Now without his tribe, Midnight flew up until he was at level with the Princess. Standing alone, but standing alone in defense of his mother. The Princess looked at Midnight, who stared back into her eyes. They had no fear, mercy, but was linked with a hint of pity. High and alone, he tried to muster the will to fight, the hate and rage he carried with him for years, but nothing came. He saw what she did to his tribe. And the only thing that came up was dread... because his turn was next.
Thy is a worthy pony... may I ask that you surrender? Midnight Fade? Princess Luna asked.
"I'm afraid that's impossible," Midnight replied as he lunged forward.
He attacked, bit, and blasted, but each one of his attacks were casted aside like they were nothing and he was thrown back. And then Princess Luna attacked. Her attacks were heavier than the Behemoths, and faster than Nocturnal's. As well as her magic being more powerful than his own. Pain erupted around his legs, and torso, but his wings remained unscathed.
Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck! Midnight thought as he was blasted back several dozen meters. I can't lose, she can't get to mother! Midnight thought as he felt the pain course his body. The pain spread endlessly and for just a second, he was paralyzed. But it went away as soon as it came when his body forced him to scream in pain. SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT NOT NOW Midnight thought while the feeling of fire coursed through his veins.
Midnight felt the emerald flames inside of him course through every inch of his body as he lunged at Luna once again. This time firing something skin to a comet's worth of emerald flame at her. As it flew towards her, her body disappeared behind it, but that wasn't all. Midnight flew over it and dove down against her back. Landing the first strike since this fight began. With a grunt, Luna turned upwards and blasted his side with her blue colored magic. Grunting, Midnight flew dozens of meters in the air before firing down at her again. However she merely evaded it nd fired again.
Not this time Midnight thought as he dodged it.... then dodged it again.. and again, and again, and again, and again, and again. Nope, no winning this time. Only dying in style. A second later, Midnight was slammed into the ground with his siblings.
"We meant it when we said we didn't wish to fight thou," Princess Luna said while flying down towards them.
"Us as well... but this is what it has to be like," Nocturnal grunted while he slowly rose to his hooves.
From the palace as purple colored barrier began to expand.
"If it makes you feel any better.... you tried your best," Behemoth told Midnight. Who was still lying in a extreme amount of pain.
"Looks like we lost," Slash murmured seconds before the barrier blasted them all into the sky.
Pain... that's the only thing Midnight could remember as he flew through the air. Nothing else came to mind as he flew through the air like a shooting star. As he flew, he saw dozens of other balls of flame soar as well nearby him. But none of that mattered, right now all that mattered was how much the pain felt inside of him.
But whatever pain he felt, was nothing compared to the pain that came when he landed. The other balls of flames went on, without him. Landing somewhere else in wherever they were.
Little by little the memories came back. Growing up in the hive, his brother, the other changelings, and their doomed battle with Princess Luna.
"Ouch," Midnight said as he sat up and grabbed his head with his hoof.... wait. This wasn't a hoof. What happened to his hooves? And why was his skin no longer the hard exoskeleton it once was? It was this weird mushy stuff that was a strange pale looking color. And what were these on his hind hooves? They felt all leathery and were strange looking hooves?
WAIT!!! WHERE'S MOTHER? THE SWARM? Anyone for that matter? He knew they lost, but doesn't that mean they should have fallen back to the hive like everyone else? Where in Celestia were they?