//------------------------------// // It starts // Story: A new guiding Star // by Amethyst Sparkle //------------------------------// Itchy. The wound was absolutely itchy. It was also glowing under the scarf. It was wet too with all the goo. And Twilight had to act as if it didn’t exist. It was torture. She couldn’t even scratch it. And also at the same time she had to work with her friends and family with tension as thick as a Manticore’s hide. They hardly talked to each other, but when they do it was about instructions and orders and nothing else. Princess Celestia had to make a speech to calm the nobility just enough to proceed to the real wedding of Cadence and Shining Armor. Positively changeling free they said. Really comforting to know that they’ll believe your warning after the threat. Real comforting. Right now Twilight was doing her best not to moan in relief as she subtly scratched her wound. And attending her brother’s real wedding from the back of the chamber. Apparently Rainbow Dash was a better best mare than her. Sure it could be because she was still hurt, or the fact that she wouldn’t want to be her brother’s best mare now, or she had hid when he was looking for her, but still. No one knew she was actually part of the crowd. It gave her privacy from any eye-contact, but not from her mentor’s. Princess Celestia would occasionally lock eyes with her student, glances ranging from surprise to sorrowful. It didn’t really matter. Twilight was fine with that. It was better this was anyway. The wedding was but a blur, the only thing standing out in Twilight’s memory was the best mare’s Sonic Rainboom. After that a party, of course. And of course nopony paid attention to the only pony to even know about the invasion other than the captured bride. It wasn’t like Twilight was expecting a reward of some sort, but she was at least expecting an apology or something. So there she was, standing in a dark corner of the party grounds, music barely reaching her ears. The unicorn was absently scratching her wound through her scarf, which seemed to get worse by the second. The green glow was also starting to show through the dark fabric, so she might have to explain that if the need be. As her thoughts wandered through random things to keep herself from being bored to Tartarus, her eyesight suddenly blurred. It wasn’t like the normal blurring though. Her sight seemed to zoom, backing away then zooming again. Also, her dark corner wasn’t dark anymore. She could see straight and clearly, even see how many trees were there in the dark mountains around them. Night vision. How the hay did she get night vision? It’s this wound. Yeah, no doubt about it. The weak music was no longer weak, the tune loud and proud. The chirps of the crickets were as loud as if they were inside her ears and using the biggest speakers Pinkie pie could cough up on max volume. It was as if her senses suddenly went as high as they could possibly get, making her aware of everything. She was even able to hear Fluttershy’s whispers to the animals across the yard without straining. She blinked. The noise was about to drive her crazy when a proverbial light-bulb appeared above her head. She inhaled. The unicorn dug inside herself, trying to imagine that she could tone down her senses according to her needs. It worked a bit, her eyesight slightly turning to normal, as well as her hearing. But the headache stubbornly stuck. It made her want to retch. She lost concentration and her senses went sky-high. She could see every colored fur on Rarity’s cutie mark, the mare inside the castle kitchen. She could hear a familiar old guard snore underneath the castle dungeons. She could smell her the Friendship Express’s metal from the rain that had soaked it from a trip. It was overwhelming to say the least. Her wound grew brighter, and it was oozing more goo than a simple bite could have. She stood shakily, at the same time scratching her scarf wildly. Turns out it wasn’t the best combination. She fell to the ground muzzle first. Princess Celestia had been using the party as a cover while she was trying to find her student. She had noticed her in the crowd at the wedding, but that’s that. She lost her after the Sonic Rainboom. So here she was, finding the lavender mage in a crowd of snobby nobles. She was easy to find. Twilight was stumbling around, one hoof scratching madly at a green glow on her blue scarf, the three other limbs flailing in a poor attempt to walk. Everyone backed away, with either disgust, confusion, or the case of Noble feelings. Princess Celestia however went straight to her student, her friends following suit from the corner of her eye. “ Twilight? Are you alright?” She asked. The unicorn cringed as another hoof flew to her right ear. “ OW! PRINCESS NOT SO LOUD!” She screamed. The sun monarch raised an eyebrow. “ I’m not loud…” She said confusedly. Twilight gritted her teeth. “ AUGH THE MUSIC IS TOO LOUD!!!” By now everyone had their attention to the mad unicorn. Twilight’s friends and family were gathered around her, and watched with mixed emotions as she curled into a ball, a hoof scratching the glow under her scarf. Princess Celestia frowned at the other nobles. “ Leave us.” With that everypony scrambled away, the entire yard only containing Twilight’s accomplices. Shining Armor glanced worriedly at his sister. Ignoring the past for a while, he turned his attention to Celestia. “ Princess, what’s wrong with Twilight?” The white alicorn frowned thoughtfully. She watched her student, and more specifically the hoof scratching at a specific spot. She nodded at Cadence, who was looking at the same thing. In a spark of sky-blue magic, Twilight’s scarf flew to the air, exposing an glowing green, oozing bite mark. They all gasped and backed away. “ What is that!?” Rarity screamed. Twilight however cringed at her voice, her ears upping the volume. She curled into a tighter ball of lavender fur, hoping the pain would soon reside. But it was not her fate that night. Adding to her strain, there was a strong hungry feeling inside her, and the stomach pains it was giving out was like eating fire. She glanced at her mentor, and they locked eyes. Princess Celestia saw Twilight’s eyes turn into a dragon’s, still amethyst, and saw a familiar message sent by the orbs. It was a look of resignation. Twilight was giving her the fate of her life. The princess gave her a curt nod, and Twilight gave a pained smile before her eyes rolled to the back of her head. ------ Three days after the invasion… In the changeling’s hive, things were not pretty. Even with them starving and losing at conquering a nation, it shouldn’t have been like this. They’ve had their suspicions, but now that they were deemed right they weren’t sure what to do about it. Their Queen was crazy. That was all they could say without violating a law. But if they could, they’d say she was abusive, power-hungry, selfish, stupid and the worst bitch in the world. Too bad they couldn’t. Right before the invasion, years before that actually, their Queen was known to be an evil one. So were the previous queens of their hive. They somehow got it into their heads that the hive was theirs, just a country’s worth of minions needing of their intelligence. It was true that some of the drones were specifically bred to be dumb brutes, but that doesn’t mean she could generalize that fact with the entire hive. They have researchers, scientists, alchemists, soldiers, captains, farmers, and many more intelligent drones. But the Queens were all the same. They see something they like, they throw the entire hive to get it. They want a job done, they order the hive to do it. They want a country invaded, they throw the drones at it. In fact they didn’t even care if they die. They have a mindset that they could just lay more eggs to have another batch of drones to kill. They hate their queens. Even the dumb drones, Underlings they called them, knew enough that their Queen was dumber than them. They were bred not to think, so they rely on their emotional radars and own feelings to do the right things that needed thinking. Even they knew the Queens were powerful beings with overinflated egos. Right now the latest queen was the worst in centuries. This Queen was more of a crazy tyrant than a cruel queen, but really, what’s the difference? They’re both evil, they’re both crazy. They hated her, even if she was the one that gave life to them, but if she isn’t valuing their lives then why value hers? The changelings didn’t really want to invade the pony capital, but as they said and knew, their queen was delusional. She was cruel enough to dangle the promises of more love to feed on in front of their heads to keep them going, but what was really cruel was sending the entire hive against a city where the population’s bulk where magic users. Also, sending them to the previously said city where the rulers of the entire country are. And not caring if the nymphs die. Not caring if her children die. ‘Oh, I can always lay more eggs’ was her reason when a daring praetorian questioned her methods. Said praetorian was now a prisoner in a cocoon in the hive dungeons for attacking the queen out of the behavior known as ‘pissed off’. They knew it was her nature, but the final straw was how she treated them after their invasion failed. She blamed them. That certainly is the most painful blow the oldest changeling has ever remembered to be hit. Blaming the subjects who followed her orders without question when said orders fail? Talk about a back-stab. It was partly their fault however. For hoping she was better than the past queens. They believed that she would succeed because she had a proper plan. They should have known the one thing that will never change in changeling Queens would bring her downfall: overconfidence. Oh, and the previously mentioned overinflated ego. Now they had to suffer hunger, injury, and the wrathful snaps of a pissed off Queen. Great. Expect more to be added on the list known as ‘The Hive’s current causes of suffering.’ That should hopefully guide the next queen. But if the next queen is this queen’s daughter then their efforts are for naught. She’d just be an upgraded clone of this queen. At the moment however, the cooks and the foragers were scrambling around, trying to cope with the Queen’s ‘requests’, if you can call them that. More like demands. She was ordering for all the love left in the reservoirs to be immediately brought to her in a silver platter. Which was a stupid move. If she did that, then the eggs in the nursery would shrivel to nothingness. Another loss for their hive if it happens. And it looks like it would. “ Where is the love!?” The queen yelled. Everyling near her flinched. No matter how stupid she is, she was still their queen. A feeble farmer drone sheepishly went up to her, cringing when her draconic eyes landed on him. “ Well?!” The drone gulped. “ Uh… there’s barely enough love in there… we need those for… for…” He couldn’t finish his sentence. His queen was glaring at him, not liking where his statement was going. He backed away. “ I’ll tell t-the cooks t-to get on with it. O-on a fire-ruby found by the miners of course. Y-Your favorite…” The queen smiled. “ What a good little minion. Now go on, your queen awaits your return.” The poor farmer ran as if his tail was on fire. He turned to a hallway and was gone. The Queen was about to go to her quarters, since she did her demanding at the main chamber, when she heard a hoof stomp loudly at the ground behind her. Cocking an eyebrow, she glanced behind her. A changeling in blue armor was shooting her daggers by the intensity of his stare. “ I can’t take this anymore. You are a BITCH!” Everyone gasped. They were shocked, but they were secretly thankful someling else exploded for them. They’ve been wanting that statement to leave their mouths for years, but the initial fear was getting in the way. They expected a miner or a changeling breed based on strength to step up, but they never anticipated a praetorian to snap. They were known to be loyal to the queen, after all. The Queen merely glare at him. “ What did you say…?” The changeling snarled as he took a closer step forward. “ I can’t take your demands anymore. I may not be the one you ordered to do it, but I can feel their reluctance in the hive-mind. You should too!” The Queen chuckled at the ‘funny’ statement. “ Are they important enough to deserve my attention?” The changeling widened his eyes in shock. He can’t believe his queen, his mother, was this dense and uncaring. “ Of course they are! We are! WERE YOUR CHILDREN FOR FAUST’S SAKE!” The queen smiled, frustrating the praetorian further. “ I do not know what you mean. In my eyes, you are a rebellious, pathetic drone that needs to be in the dungeon.” “ I can’t even reply to that stupid sentence. All I want to remind your stupid mind is that love you’re ‘requesting’ is needed for the eggs to hatch! They’ll DIE if you consume that love!” The changeling queen smirked. “ Then let them die. I’d rather lose a few than have more mouths to feed.” She twirled and slapped the praetorian’s face with her tail as she calmly walked down the hall. She called a few more loyal guards to capture the rebellious changeling, who screamed in anger and tried to attack. The called guards arrived in time to restrain him however. “ We thank you for sounding our frustrations, but please, go to the dungeons with us. We don’t want another innocent to die unjustly.” The lead guard whispered in his ear. The praetorian frowned. The lead guard sighed. “ Just follow us Infiltrator 324. Just. Follow.” 324 finally relented. He spat on the cavernous floor as he followed the guardlings to the dungeons. It was a long trip, but when they arrived they just put 324 in the nearest cell. The rebel changeling gave the lead guard a poker face. “ Really Soldier 215? No horn blocker? No salve-cuff?” Soldier 215 sighed heavily. “ I can’t do that, even if I wanted to. You’re an infiltrator, meaning your shape-shifting magic is more natural to you, enough to just turn into a bird and escape both the horn-block and the salve. Anyway, I’m sure you’ll just escape, so is security really worth the trouble?” 324 smiled, despite the previous ordeal. “ Thank you, 215.” The lead guard rolled her eyes. “ Sure, big bro. Sure.” She nodded to her team as they went back to their positions, finally leaving 324 alone to his thoughts. Sure, he’ll escape. But now he needed to collect himself. 324 inhaled, and closed his eyes as he exhaled. He immersed himself in the hive mind. It was a wonderful experience. To hear a thousand voices, all singing a beautiful song. Or at least their dreams and hopes were nice to hear. Right now the hive-mind was singing something you’d be able to dig up in a funeral. He ignored it and just enjoyed the feeling of so many other presences in the hive-mind. It was like the entire hive was right beside him, and it was a nice reminder that he wasn’t alone. They were all in this together. His face contorted into a smile as he felt his clutch-mates, a few drones, including 215. She was the last to hatch, so she was considered the little sister by his other older clutch-mates. Even when she was the leader of the changeling guard. They loved it when she pouts whenever they teased her. He chuckled under his breath. He continued swimming around deeper in the hive-mind, aimlessly of course. He just wanted to make sure everyone was still ‘heard’. It would be tragic if someling became ’mute’ at this time. They already had enough losses to cope with. < hello? Somepony help me! I can’t handle the hunger and nightmares anymore!> He froze. What’s this? A new voice? Who’s is it? There was no chance this was a nymph. They only learn about the hive-mind at the age 7, and right now their nymphs are all well above that. It wasn’t just a drone’s voice either. This one easily caught his attention, which only a queen could do, but this one, albeit faint, was not a queen’s. He went closer, being both drawn and curious about it. He found it wasn’t entirely a changeling’s voice too. < Hey! I f-feel you’re there! Who are you? Princess Luna is that you?!> Now why in the world would she, it was a female’s voice, call an Equestrian Alicorn? And the voice was familiar too. He was sure he heard it somewhere. He went closer to the voice, and found himself sucked in a dreamscape. A rather empty, lonely, and black dreamscape. Wait, no. Not a dream. A coma, perhaps? 324 strolled around, trying to find the owner of this mindscape. He found her easily enough, but he wasn’t prepared for the reveal. A lavender unicorn, with a navy blue mane and pink and purple streaks going through it. Twilight Sparkle. Why was she in the hive-mind!? How was he in her mindscape!? He froze in place as Twilight’s amethyst eyes landed on him. She blinked. “ It’s you. You’re the other presence I sensed?” 324 tilted his head. She didn’t blast him? Twilight trotted nearer to him, and he involuntarily backed away. She sensed his uneasiness and confusion, so she heaved a big sigh. “ Are you okay?” The changeling asked before he can stop himself. Twilight’s ears flattened against her skull in frustration. “ No. I’ve been trapped in a coma for three days. Princess Luna visits, but it’s getting really lonely and irritating to not be able to move. I can’t even change this landscape.” 324 wasn’t sure what to make of that. A question popped out in his head. “ Why aren’t you angry at me? I’m a changeling.” Twilight surprised him with a smirk. “ I don’t generalize changelings just because their queen did something bad to me. I’m not like those xenophobic nobles.” 324 sighed in relief. He also considered the same thing about ponies. He offered a hoof. “ Me too. Hi, I’m infiltrator 324. Nice to meet you.” Twilight grinned. “ Hello as well. I’m Twilight Sparkle. Nice meeting you too, 324.” She took his hoof and shook it two times before letting go. Twilight immediately asked a question. “ So 324, mind telling me why and how you’re here?” The changeling buzzed his wings in thought. “ I was meaning to ask you the same thing. I’m actually in prison right now.” Twilight frowned. “ I’m in a hospital bed right now, being wept over by my blockhead of a brother. But if you don’t mind, why are you in prison?” “ Well, our Queen made a stupid request and I questioned her methods. Got thrown to jail for ‘disrespect’.” “ Stupid request?” “ She wanted to consume the last of the love we have in our reservoirs, which was imperative to her unhatched eggs. But she didn’t care. Right now the eggs are probably dead and our bitch of a queen is love-fed.” “S-sorry. I d-didn’t know you needed the love-” “ It’s okay. We didn’t approach properly either. Anyway, you said blockhead of a brother?” “ Shining Armor. You guys are not the only ones with hard feelings about him.” “ May I inquire why?” “ Well, remember I was the one who saw through your queen’s act? Well, I warned them about it. They didn’t believe me, thinking I was jealous because my brother was getting married and I wasn’t.” “Ouch.” “Yeah, and that’s not all. Not only did they reject me without a second chance, my brother also told me to forget about being his best mare and attending the wedding. My own mentor and friends also told me I have a ‘lot to think about’. Then I suddenly find out I was right and had to play hero once again. As you know, when Princess Celestia was defeated I took on your Queen one-on-one, sort of won, then they don’t even apologize afterwards and just went on the real wedding preparations. And I helped, again! Shining Armor didn’t even say sorry and even replaced me with one of my best friends. After the wedding they forgot all about me, and they partied the night away. They didn’t even say a word about the invasion or how we would all be mindless slaves if I didn’t rescue the real Cadence.” 324 huffed. “ And Shining Armor, the one our Queen fed on, didn’t even say or did an apology? And you say us changelings are heartless.” Twilight rolled her eyes. “ I didn’t say that, but yeah. Blockheads.” The two stared into space as they thought more about their problems. 324 realized something that seemed important. He stomped his hoof to get the unicorn’s wandering attention. “ How come we’re so comfortable around each other?” He asked warily. Twilight nodded. She was thinking about the same thing as well. “ Yeah, like we’re long lost friends or-” “-family.” 324 finished. It was kinda weird and suspicious. I mean, two enemies speaking like friends on a blue day? 324 wasn’t sure what to think, but hay, he wasn’t complaining. He shook his head. “ Either way, I’m glad we had this talk Twilight. Nice meeting non-judgemental pony. I’ll come back, since I will be also researching about how we came to meet. Can you keep a secret?” “ Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” A faint yell of ‘forever!’ reached both their ears. 324 shrugged it off as a hallucination. “ Okay, then I’ll secret this too. See you again Twilight.” The changeling turned to leave, but not before Twilight hugged him. It was quick, but full of friendly love that suddenly made him full. “ Bye, my friend. Your company was greatly appreciated.” She smiled. 324 returned the gesture. “ See you later Twilight.” The unicorn nodded him goodbye, and he exited the mindscape. He gasped involuntarily as he was back in the hive-mind again, Twilight’s voice still but a faint whisper. He opened his eyes and squinted from the light. Did that conversation really happened? It did. He can still hear Twilight’s voice at the very back of his head. Twilight. Official or not, she was his first pony friend. And he did promise her a visit. 324 stood up in his cell, and smiled. Finally a reason to leave this hell hole. ------ Canterlot Medical Wing… Shining Armor paced in front of Twilight’s room. It wasn’t visitation hour yet, but he wanted to be the first to get in. He had been feeling miserable ever since after the Invasion. He had planned to apologize right after the heat of the situations, but what did he do? He replaced his sister with one of her friends as best mare, he partied the night away without a thought about her, and now he only remembered her after she passed out in the middle of their party. Passed out by an infected changeling wound they said. They didn’t know how to fix her they said. It was a lost cause they said. She wouldn’t survive, they said. Shining Armor wouldn’t give a flying feather about what they said. He stopped pacing and peeked in her room window. His heart clenched. Twilight looked terrible. Her fur had been replaced by black, armor like chitin with a purple tint. Her mane stayed the same, her cutie mark still emblazoned on her flanks. Holes riddled her limbs, lavender gossamer wings on her back. Her horn crooked, fangs under her lips. A purple back-plate protected her withers. A light lavender membrane encasing her abdomen. She was a changeling. She turned into one right after she passed out. She was bitten by the Queen when they fought. And she fought her because of him. Shining Armor felt like a blockhead. Why did this had to happen to his sister, his saviour, his friend?! She warned them, they didn’t listen, the threat happened, she fought the Queen to give them time, he forgot about her, she passed out, turned into a changeling, and became bed-ridden. And he didn’t even apologize. He deserved to be in Tartarus for all the hurt he gave his little sister. He should have listened. But he trusted a mare that he had only met for a few years than a sister he had been with his whole life. Life is strange. And cruel. Definitely cruel. “ Excuse me are you Shining Armor?” Shining turned his head to the voice behind him. A light black teenage unicorn stallion with a green flame cutie mark was trotting towards him. His mane was spiky green, and his eyes were brilliant emerald. “ Yes, I am. Who are you?” The Captain asked. The stallion smiled. “ I’m a friend of Twilight Sparkle. Name’s Spark Light. I heard she was hurt, so I came as fast as I can.” The smile turned into a frown as he realized Shining Armor was outside the room. “ Not visitation hour yet huh?” The white unicorn nodded grimly. Spark Light glanced at the window and gave a startled yelp. Shining Armor raised an eyebrow. As he watched, Spark Light gazed at his sister with calculating eyes. He seemed to know what was going on. “ So… You’re Twily’s friend?” Shining asked Spark. The younger unicorn nodded absently. “ Met her some time ago… it was quite the meeting.” Shining frowned at that. “ I never heard of Twilight having a stallion friend.” Spark Light snickered. But he never took his eyes off Twilight. “ Yeah, probably afraid you guys might interpret our meetings as a date.” He jested. Shining Armor smirked. “ As long as it isn’t, then I’m fine to know another stallion is out there to protect my little sister.” Spark Light met him with his emerald eyes. “ Course I’ll protect Twily over here. She also happened to be my first friend.” Dong dong dong dong, ding ding ding ding Spark Light smiled. “ Visitation hour’s up. Would you mind if I go first? I really just passed by for a quick hello.” Shining Armor nodded. “ Sure, go ahead.” Shining Armor lit his horn and opened the door for the young unicorn to trot through. He closed the door behind Spark, and watched things unfold through the window. 324 let out a sigh of relief. Years of infiltration missions certainly paid off. He actually managed to fool Twilight’s brother. That was easy. But back to the subject at hoof. He glanced at his target. So that’s why Twilight was able to speak in the hive-mind. She turned into a changeling. 324 inwardly growled. His Queen was now and most certainly one hundred percent stupid. They knew biting to infect was taboo since their kind emerged. In fact that’s why they only bite to paralyse! How did the bite get infused with enough love to be completed anyway? He was sure the bite was intended to paralyse, but here they are. A new drone in their ranks. He looked again at the new changeling, with her signature blue mane and- Wait. Mane? He widened his eyes. He looked Twilight through again. Mane, taller stature, a small crown-like membrane right behind the crooked horn. A Queen. No… too young… perhaps a princess? 324 didn’t care. All sorts of possibilities began popping up in his head. They had a new queen, a better queen, all ready to overthrow the current queen. There was no doubt Twilight would be better than his Queen. She was born an Equestrian, and despite what their queen thinks, ponies are more understanding and caring enough to deal with changelings. Twilight herself said that she wasn’t xenophobic. She was Princess Celestia’s student, Element of Harmony, saviour of Equestria. She had more than enough evidence to prove herself worthy to speak if the need be. He can show her the ways of the hive, hope that she wouldn’t be like the former queens, and finally have a happy, safe home for the future generations to live in. He wondered if Twilight’s eggs would be different. Her nymphs would take on her characteristics, that will sure to make them a whole new batch of lings. He smiled. That was it. Twilight was the future of his hive. And he’s gonna make sure nothing will harm his new queen. 324 raised a hoof and held one of Twilight’s and squeezed it. “ Don’t worry Twilight. I’ll help you cope with this new change. You’re my first pony friend, and I’m your first changeling one, so I’m gonna guide you with my best. Just hang in there.” 324 whispered in her ear. He smiled when he saw Twilight’s muzzle contort into a small grin. He glanced at her horn. He nodded to himself. “ You fed me my first freely given friendly love, and I’m going to return the favor.” 324 mustered half of Twilight’s love in his system, and gently pushed it out of his horn. It came out as a soft emerald glow, and Twilight’s horn lit up lavender as she absorbed her first love feeding. The glows eventually faded, and a comfortable smile was on Twilight’s face. 324 reciprocated the gesture and whispered. “ See you in the hive mind, my Queen.” ------ Spark Light left in a hurry, true to his word. But he left quickly enough before Shining Armor could question him about that horn glowing episode. He already did have suspicions about the young unicorn, and it only grew after he watched him hold his sister’s hoof and whispering in her ear. Twilight seemed to be listening in a way as well, since her horn reacted with his and she smiled in her sleep. But now that the stallion was gone, Shining Armor ignored him for a second as he went inside his sister’s room. His heart did a circus act when the instant he came in, Twilight’s smile instantly turned into an emotionless mouth. “ I… Good morning Twilight… It’s me, Shiny.” He stuttered. He sat beside her bed and held her hoof in his. “ Look, little sis, I-I’m sorry…I…” He gritted his teeth in frustration. Why does apologizing takes too long and is harder to do than 700 push-ups?! He smacked his head on the mattress, despite the impact Twilight didn’t react. “ I’m sorry I was acting so stupid!” He cried under the sheets. He lifted his head, tears threatening to appear. “ I should have listened, I s-should have at least interrogated that ‘Cadence!’. Then none of this could have happened! You being a changeling could never have happened!!!” Tears were falling from his eyes, rolling across his fur. His dull blue eyes screamed regret. “ I… I’m sorry.” He whispered. He did not know how long he stared at her face, nor cared. Even when the door opened and and a blue alicorn strolled inside. “ Shining Armor.” Princess Luna said. The stallion merely huffed in acknowledgement. “ Princess Luna. What brings you here?” The blue alicorn strolled and sat on the other side of the bed. She gave a sad smile. “ I believe I have news for you. I have been visiting Twilight’s mind for a while, she said she’s doing fine.” Shining Armor’s ears perked up at that. “ Really? Did she know she’s… a changeling?” Luna nodded. “ She has no problem being a changeling. She said she’s not like um… certain xenophobic ponies she could name. A simple species change won’t change her personality.” The Captain sighed. He furrowed his brow. “ Did she mention anything-” “ She steered away from family talk the best she could. She only allows me to speak for her because I wasn’t there at the… rehearsal.” “ Oh.” Shining Armor sunk. He figured as much. He glanced at Twilight once again. “ When will she wake up?” At that, Luna seemed to shrink. “ I’m not certain. She could be in a coma for months if we can’t help it.” Shining Armor growled. He stomped his hind leg hard on the tiles. “ Well we can’t just stand here! We have to find something to help Twily! A counter-spell! A stronger spell!” Luna shared Shining Armor’s feelings, since Twilight was her first friend since Nightmare Moon, but she reigned her emotions in. They’d be useless to Twilight if they were emotionally wrecked. “ Becalm thyself, Shining Armor. We will find a way to help Twilight Sparkle.” She looked at the slumbering changeling. “ If there is a way to find.” -------- 215 was doing her normal patrolling session. The hive was still as miserable as ever, starving and suffering from an overly demanding Queen. She could still hear the latest request in the hive-mind, and it was the most lewd and disturbing of all time. < I demand that 5 of the most buff of all the remaining drones from the conquered hive go to my chambers at once and prepare for a night of a lifetime! > Was she said. At least she had the decency not to be blunt, for the nymph’s sake. 215 sighed. The hive was in the worst shape she’s seen it in all her life as a Soldier drone. Sure they had a few rough times but this was the harshest one. 215 glanced around. Why was she patrolling anyway? Their hive would be left alone by the other hives, because they were sure already under Celestia’s proverbial magnifying glass. They revealed themselves to the world, and now they were going to pay for it. Either by actual fault or by default. Ugh, she really needed someling to talk to. 215 briefly scanned the hive-mind to see if any of her clutch-mates were near. The only ling close enough her post was 324. Oddly still in his prison. That was enough motivation for one changeling to check out. Knowing 324, he should have already broke out. She lit her horn and spared what little of her magic she had left and teleported to 324’s cell. She blinked. The infiltrator had been waiting for her. He smirked. “ Hello 215.” The mare in question gawked at his expressions. He was chipper, to say the least. Like he had an exciting announcement. --------- Twilight groaned. Thanks to 324, she knew what had happened the past days. No wonder her body, despite being a changeling now, felt stiff. With or without chitin. She tried to open her eyes, but blinding light caused her to close them shut. Why must hospital lights be that intense? It may serve as a wake-up call but seriously, it just adds with the headache. She instead sat up, her smooth armor like exoskeleton cracking from the long desired movement. She gave a moan, loving the feel of actually moving again. Raising a hoof to block the light, Twilight finally opened her eyes. She blinked. Nopony was there. Nopony. But there was a familiar looking, really annoyingly smug changeling. Twilight yawned and squinted, mind half asleep. “ 3…2…4?” She slurred, throat too dry for her comfort. 324’s horn lit up. His backplate opened, much to Twilight’s interest, and a bottle with green pink glowing liquid sloshing around inside it floated in his magic. His backplate closed, and the bottle went to Twilight’s mouth. Before she could even register any of the recent movements, as soon as a drop of the liquid touched her tongue, her mind jolted awake, as if she’d been injected with adrenaline. 324 smiled softly at Twilight’s reaction, letting her drink the bottle dry before putting it away. Twilight shivered and shook her head vigorously. Her eyes finally focused and her mind finally ran it’s normal hundred miles a millisecond. “ Woah… What in Celestia’s name was that?” She asked. 324 sat down, looking all smug again. “ Liquid love. Harvested myself.” Twilight’s eyes widened. “ But, aren’t you in need of that love more than me?” The lavender queen said, worried. 324 chuckled. Worried for her subjects. That was the first of the many characteristics that the infiltrator was sure his siblings will like. Given 215’s reaction, he was sure as the sun rising from the east. “ Yes, but you’re a changeling queen. Queen first, subjects later.” Twilight frowned at the word subjects, but didn’t say anything. “ Okay… I’ll let this one slide. Why are you here? Not that I mind.” She added quickly. 324 stood up and bowed, making Twilight tilt her head in confusion. “ I felt you stir in the hive mind, and your presence was getting stronger. I came here as fast as I could so I could teach you how to disconnect from it.” Twilight frowned. “ Disconnect?” 324 nodded. “ We cannot allow Chrysalis to know there is a potential enemy queen before you are ready. I could do the disconnecting for you, but it is better I teach.” The former unicorn bit her lip. She looked at 324 in the eyes, and to the closed windows. They were safe for now it seemed. She met his eyes again. “ I have a ton of questions, but I believe you enough to know this is important.” 324 sensed there was more coming and kept quiet. Twilight sighed heavily. “ I’m still reeling from the info overload, so teaching is not an option. You have my permission to do the disconnecting thing for me.” 324 blinked. Equestrians were this trusting? “ Are you sure?” Twilight gave a small smile. “ Hey, I turned into a changeling. If a changeling friend wants to help, then I should trust them, for they know better.” 324 mulled the logic over, then grinned. He was already liking this queen. He came up to her beside the bed and locked horns with her. “ Then get ready.” He lit his horn and concentrated. After a few seconds Twilight flinched like a crab bit her muzzle. 324 pulled away to give her space. Twilight, to her credit just gave a shuddering inhale. “ W-Why do I feel so… alone?” 324 grinned sheepishly. “ Yeah, the hive mind is not just for communication. It’s like a reminder you have friends. You can feel they’re there, even when you are so far apart. A queen is like the central hub, everypony is connected to her. That’s why I had to disconnect you, so she doesn’t know. But you have something that makes you different Twilight.” Twilight stopped shivering and raised an eyebrow. “ What?” 324 smiled widely. “ You’re a queen too! If you want, somepony could connect their minds to you, and you can start your own hive mind from there!” That kicked Twilight’s inner scholar. She glanced at 324. “ Can you teach me?” 324 nodded vigorously. “ It’s fairly easy. You focus on that person and try to reach his mind. Once you hear his voice, he’s part of your hive mind.” 324 watched as the former unicorn sat up the bed. Twilight straightened herself, then to 324’s surprise, locked eyes with him. There was a faint voice in the back of his mind, and he could feel his grip on Chrysalis slip. He willingly submitted, and suddenly found Twilight’s voice stronger, and his mind felt more… organized. < Your hive mind feels… right.> He said. Twilight jumped a bit in her bed, then chuckled, embarrassed. She grinned brightly. “ So that’s how it works.” 324 tilted his head. “ Why me?” He asked. Twilight was about to answer, when she decided to try this new ability of hers. < You’re my first friend 324. First changeling one. From what you said I was surprised you actually answered my call.> 324 laughed. < Oh, I hate my queen. Now that I’m part of yours, you’re officially my new one.> Twilight blinked. She hugged herself. “ Wow. I can’t believe I’m actually doing this…” 324 frowned. “ What?” Twilight gulped. She played with her hooves nervously. < I knew when I turned into a changeling that I was going to have some new responsibilities. I don’t mind being queen, but it’s all so… sudden. Suddenly having subjects depending on you. Hang on your every word and the like. It’s terrifying and exciting at the same time.> 324 hesitated, but chose to put a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder anyway. It seemed to work. < Yeah, I felt the same thing when I became infiltrator. But remember Twilight, that me, my clutch-mates, and all those lings who hate Chrysalis will join you someday and we won’t be just expecting you to know everything at once. We’ll help you get through this of course. Just do your part. And we’ll do ours.> 324 knew he said the right things when Twilight smiled and glanced at him. “ Are you sure you’re a changeling?” She jested. 324 smiled as well. “ Hey, changelings change. It’s what we do best.”