The Dragonfly Hive

by Silver Dragon Blade Wing


Ponyville 1

Ponyville

Dragonfly happily walked through the town, greeting Ponies back when they did so and enjoying the E-energy in the air. Not much had changed at all since he was last here, sure there were new faces and buildings, but he saw several familiar ones as well.

'Not even ten minutes and I already feel home'

He was heading towards the Town Hall to meet with Mayor Mare about his mother's tea shop, he was hoping that he would be able to purchase it as besides providing the town with good tea and his Hive E-energy he would be able to have a teleport spot to travel to and from his Hive.

He was brought out of his thoughts, and almost his skin, when a pink Earth Pony Mare appeared, quite literally, in front of him. Dragonfly fell onto his rump with a yelp of surprise as the Mare let out a big gasp, then started talking a mile a minute.

"Oh my gosh are you new in Ponyville? Because you must be new in Ponyville because I know everypony in Ponyville and I've never seen you before. You don't look like you're from Ponyville. *GASP* That means you're new and I love meeting new Ponies! New Ponies are always interesting, and new and have so many new things to talk about. So hi my name's Pinkie Pie, what's yours?"

Most of the time Pinkie was talking Dragonfly had been floored by the sheer amount of E-energy she was giving off, she could supply a decent-sized Hive with E-energy easily, and that was just what was coming off her. Ponies, in fact all living creatures, gave off E-energy like steam off boiling water. This energy gathered around places like towns and accumulated over time, filling the air and seeping into the ground and objects.

He thankfully recovered enough to answer her question, he stood up and spoke.

"Hello Pinkie, name's Dragonfly Wings, and I am actually from Ponyville but I haven't been here in years, traveling with my mother. So you probably moved here when I was away, but I'm moving back in now and nice to meet you." Dragonfly said holding out a hoof, this was his plan when meeting Ponies; be friendly as that will work much better than not, and it would help in the future. Pinkie shook his hoof excitedly, then gasped again.

"I almost forgot, I need to get going! I'll see you later and here." She gave him a cupcake and took off in a blur of pink, he chuckled.

"She's an interesting one for sure."

Rhino: "And a good source of E-energy just by herself."

Dragonfly took a bite of his cupcake, and got two surprises; the first was was Pinkie somehow knew his favorite flavor, mint chocolate, and the amount of E-energy in it.

"Seeker, do food items normally have this amount of E-energy in them?"

"Not usually no, unless she put more into it as it was being baked."

"Could she know?"

"No I don't believe so... Ponies do have records on Changelings but they are spotty at best and very old, so Ponies have dismissed them as myth, like Nightmare Moon."

"The Mare in the Moon?"

"Yes, I don't think Pinkie knows, but she isn't a threat if she does, her emotions show no hostility at all, just wanting to make friends."

"Understood, headed over to Town Hall, talk to you later."

Dragonfly finished the cupcake and continued on his way, almost running over a Filly with a yellow coat, red mane and tail, orange eyes, and a large pink ribbon tied into a bow. She was carrying a bucket full of freshly picked apples on her head.

"Whoa! Sorry young one, I didn't see you there."

"It's okay mister, wanna buy some apples? We've got the best apples in Equestria!"

Seeker: "She isn't lying about that. The Apple Clan's fruit of their namesake is the best We've ever had, Princess Celestia herself gave them a Royal Seal of Approval, really boosted their sales in the larger cities."

"And ah helped picked em! that means they're extra tasty!"

Darter: "She's got a lot of enthusiasm this Filly."

Before Dragonfly could respond another voice did first.

"Applebloom! Don't run off like that, can have ya go missing with that bucket now." The new Pony was a Mare with an orange coat, blonde mane and tail tied into ponytails with red ties, green eyes, and a cutie mark of three apples. She wore a light brown stetson hat.

"Ah was just tryin' to sell some apples Applejack."

"Well ya don't go up to random Ponies and ask em if they wanna buy some apples." She said gently, then turned to Dragonfly.

"Howdy," She tipped her hat, "Ah reckon ya'll must be new in town, judgin' by those bags ya got there."

"Why yes, I was actually born in town but left with my mother on her travels. Now I'm coming back here and well hopefully be moving in soon."

"Well, welcome back then. What's your name?"

"Name's Dragonfly Wings, and you two are?"

"I'm Applejack, and this here is ma' little sister Applebloom."

"Hi ya." Applebloom said with a bounce, the bucket atop her head shifting a little, and it would have fallen over if Applejack hadn't caught it.

"Easy there Applebloom." She and Dragonfly giggled, then Applejack turned back to Dragonfly."

"So what brings ya into town besides Ponyville bein' ya hometown."

"Well Miss Applejack-"

"Just Applejack please, miss makes me fell old."

"Okay Applejack, would you by any chance be familiar with or at least know of a Mare by the name of Nebula Sheen?"

Applejack thought for a few seconds, then perked up as it came to her.

"Why yes, she was the best tea maker in town, and our Granny Smith loved her tea, said it help with her back and joint pains. Ah was only a young Filly then but ah know Granny was very upset to see Miss Sheen closed down, in fact her old shop is still here, kept in good condition by the townsfolk in case she came back but otherwise as she left it."

Dragonfly eyes brightened upon hearing this.

'Prefect!'

Applejack noticed his bright eyes, tilting her her slightly.

"Why do ya ask?"

"Well Applejack, truth be told;" Dragonfly used his magic to pull a picture out of his saddle bags, it was Nebula Sheen in her Pony disguise: a Mare with a snow white coat and her mane and tail in their own colors like his own. Her cutie mark was a tea cup with a purple nebula coming out of it instead of steam. He pointed to the young Colt on her back.

"I'm her son."

"Well landsnakes! I reckon then ya'll her to reopen the shop." Applejack said, looking quite happy.

"Yes, I'm not as good at making tea as Mom but I'm will to try my best, she did teach me a few thing in tea making."

"Well Granny's gonna be happier the a hog in the mud when she hears this, tell ya what Dragonfly, how about a free sample? A gift from Sweet Apple Aces as a thank you."

Rhino: "Take it Dragonfly, you wouldn't regret it. Trust me.

"Thanks Applejack, that reminds me actually; Would it be possible to set up a deal of some sort once I get the shop open? Some teas require things from apples and the trees that grow them."

"Ah be glad to set somethin' up for ya, ah'll even whip up some brunch when ya visit."

"Great, I'd better get to Town Hall before it get's too late. Talk to you two later."

"See ya 'round."

"By mister Wings."

The three parted ways and Dragonfly went on his way after Applejack gave him an apple, he bit into it and found Rhino was right, it was good.

Looks like these apples have been infused with E-energy, looks like we found the first food item.

Seeker: "Yes, but for now once we start bringing them in let's give the apples out as treats as getting enough for a meal might be difficult."

Dragonfly soon reached the Town Hall, it was rather hard to miss as it was the tallest building in town. He entered the building and asked to see the Mayor, after the Receptionist asked him to wait for a moment while she when to get the Mayor he sat down and pulled out the deed to Nebula's shop. He didn't have to wait long as the Receptionist soon returned with Mayor Mare; she had a light brown coat and grey mane and tail, her cutie mark was a rolled up scroll wrapped in a blue ribbon. She wore a pair of glasses with a yellow frame.

"The Mayor will see you now, sir."

"Thank you." Dragonfly said as he stood up and walked toward Mayor Mare, who was looking at him closely.

"Do I know you? You seem... familiar."

"Well Mayor, would the name "Nebula Sheen" mean anything to you?"

"Why yes, Nebula and I were good friends, loved her tea as many in town did. Why?"

Dragonfly showed her the picture he showed Applejack earlier, the Mare's eyes widened seeing it.

"That's why you look familiar, you're Nebula Sheen's son!"

"Yep, and I'm here to reopen her shop. Got the deed and all."

"Well that's great news! Many of the townsfolk will be very happy to here the shop's reopening again."

"I'm not as good as Mom in making tea but she did give me lessons and I'm welling to try my best."

"Well follow me and we can get things squared away, that reminds me actually, Nebula Sheen left something for you should you ever came by."

"Oh? What is it?"

"I'll show you after we get though the paperwork."

"Dang, paperwork."

"I know, it sucks but its important."

"Let's get it over with then."


Later

After a few hours with breaks, the paperwork was complete and Dragonfly now owned the tea shop. Besides the shop itself Nebula had left every he would to sell legally, and she also left, much to his surprise, a large amount of bits. From what Mayor Mare had told him that Nebula had left the bits here in his name for when he needed them.

'Mom really planned for all this, thanks ma, I wouldn't let you and Dad down.'

Once all that was down Dragonfly thanked her for her time and left the Town Hall with the keys to the tea shop, finding it, like Applejack had said, in good condition on the edge of town close to Sweet Apple Aces. In appearance it was a three-story building that looked like the rest of the houses in Ponyville but with a shop built into the first level, to the left side going around to the back was a large and well maintained garden with a trellis wall around the outer edge with a trellis gate leading in. The interior included the main area complete with tables, a small counter for snacks on the right wall, a bookshelf lining the left, and the counter with everything one would for tea and a door leading to the kitchen, storage room and stairs leading to the upper levels.

"Quite a set-up Mom had here."

Seeker: "She did, and now you can use it as well."

"It will take a couple of days to set everything up but at least the shop gives us a place in town."

For the next few hours Dragonfly began getting things ready for the reopening, planting seeds, cleaning and taking inventory, during that he got word that the Scouts, who had taken longer due to having to work their way around Timber Wolf packs, had entered the Whitetail woods and had reached the marked area. They found an old Changeling den that had been abandoned for years, forgotten inside was a crate of Slime and another of chitin, along with two Hive Lore Cocoons. He ordered them brought back to the Hive before the Scouts went to the next mark, located in the outer areas of the Everfree Forest.

Once Dragonfly had set up a teleport point in the master bedroom on the top floor he set out to explore the rest of the town. Stopping first at Sugar Cube Corner, the ever popular sweet shop in the shape of a gingerbread house and workplace of Pinkie Pie. He walked in and took in the scents of the baking.

"Ahh... nothing like the smell of freshly made sweets."

The Pony at the counter, an Earth Pony Mare with a light blue coat, a light crimson mane and tail with pale stripes, rose eyes, and a cutie mark of three cupcakes greeted him. She introduced herself as Cup Cake or Mrs Cake, with Dragonfly introducing himself. They talked for a few minutes before she asked him if he wanted anything, Dragonfly looked over the display case.

"Mmmm... I would like about a dozen cinnamon rolls please."

"Sure thing hon, that will be twelve bit please, and will it be here or to go?"

"To go please, and thank y-BWAH!"

Dragonfly had opened his addle bag to get the bits, only for Pinkie Pie to suddenly spring out of it like the old "can of snakes" gag, causing him to let out a yelp in surprise.

"Hi Mrs Cake! Hi Dragonfly!"

"Pinkie, what have I told you about randomly jumping out like that." Mrs Cake lightly scolded her.

"Ooops, don't do it with customers." Pinkie said a little sheepishly.

"Yes, now please apologize."

Before Pinkie could Dragonfly recovered.

"It okay Pinkie, I will say you did get me good."

"Seeker, why didn't I pick her up with my emotion sense before I opened the bag?!"

"I don't know, really."

"Best we keep watch for more of that in the future."

After paying for the cinnamon rolls and talking with the two Mares for a minute Dragonfly left and headed to Sweet Apple Ares to see about getting that deal with Applejack, on his way Applebloom came up to him and walked with him, talking and asking questions.

"So miser Dragonfly, what does your cutie mark mean?"

"Well Applebloom, certain and rare insects, Six-Winged Dragonflies among them, have special magic properties in them that allow them to cast very basic magic. My cutie mark shows my ability to find and study them, I'm actually named after the Six-winged shadow Dragonfly, said to be able to change its appearance to hide from predators."

That actually wasn't a lie, the only thing he had changed was the fact that the insects were Changelings, everything else was true. As the two continued down the path Dragonfly almost bumped into a very large Earth Pony Stallion with a red coat, orange mane and tail that was cut short, green eyes, and a cutie mark of a large green apple sliced in half. Around his neck he wore a brown yoke. Dragonfly was a bit startled by the Pony's size, though thankful the giant turned out to be easy-going, Applebloom introduced him as Big McIntosh, or Big Mac for short, Applejack's and Applebloom's older brother. Dragonfly introduced himself and explained why he was headed to Sweet Apple Ares, Big Mac nodded with a "Eeyup." (He apparently only started speaking in full sentences if things were serous) and lead him over to the farm.

It took some time to work out the details, (Applejack turned out be be the worst at math that Dragonfly had ever seen, Big Mac thankfully handled the math) but in the end everything was squared away and Dragonfly started making his way back to the shop.

That was when something happened.

Dragonfly had just entered the main square, which by this point was empty as most Ponies had gone home for the night, when he, by random chance, glanced at the only other Pony out in the square, who had glanced back at him. It was in that second that their gazes locked together, and Dragonfly's senses told him something was wrong;

This Pony, a Pegasus Stallion with a dark gray coat, short blue-silver striped mane and tail, amber eyes and a cutie mark of a storm cloud with a lightning bolt descending from it, was not a Pony! But another Changeling, and one not from his Hive!

The disguised Changeling, apparently sensing that he was staring a Royal in the eye, starting looking very worried, his eyes showing that, shock and fear, and slowly began to walk backwards, before spreading his wings and taking off, Dragonfly hot on his tail. He didn't know if this Changeling was from Chrysalis's Hive or not, but Dragonfly wasn't taking that risk, so he chased after the fleeing one.

The Changeling manged to keep away from Dragonfly at first but the Royal had a few tricks of his own.

'He's a good flyer I'll give him that, but let's see how he handles this.'

Dragonfly focused his magic and vanished in a flash of green, reappearing right on the fleeing Changeling's back and bringing both to the ground. Once the landed Dragonfly quickly pinned the other Changeling under him, using his magic to hold the other's wings and limbs in place. The Changeling struggled like his life depended on it but gave up after a few seconds, looking at the Royal with a very fearful look, tears starting to slowly come out of the corners of his eye's.

"“P-p-please, d-don’t hurt m-me!” the Changeling pleaded, clearly very scared of Dragonfly, who looked around while keeping an eye on the other one to make sure they were alone. They were, Dragonfly looked back at the other fully and dropped his disguise.

"Who. Are. You." That wasn't a question, that wasn't even a threat, it was a promise.

The other Changeling immediately dropped his own, revealing a Changeling breed that Dragonfly was unfamiliar with, he looked like a regular Pegasus, with the amber eyes staying the same along with the color of his mane and tail, but he had the carapace, fangs, backplate, and holes of a Changeling. The most unique feature was his wings; they looked like a Pegasus's, but the feathers were replaced with membrane like the type that made up a Changeling's own.

"My-my-my name's Thunderlane, and I'm- I'm a Hybrid, I'm not in any Hives, especially not Chrysalis'. I'm a Hiveless!"

Dragonfly's slitted pupils narrowed, a Hybrid, something he had never heard about.

"Rhino, explain, now."