//------------------------------//
// The Return 
// Story: Pinkie's *Bug* Surprise 
// by MattTOB 
//------------------------------//

Somewhere in the Badlands, there stood a large, crooked spire. The dark structure stood out against the dull landscape, the sharp point threatening to tear the sky in two.

Inside, a Changeling Queen was fuming.

"That traitorous gnat!" Chrysalis ranted to her messenger, "I thought something was off with the pink one, but I never suspected she was a Changeling! And now she's gone and exposed herself, allowing those pesky ponies to figure out our weaknesses!"

The messenger, on his part, was on the verge of running in fear. "M-m-my Queen, what do you suggest we do?"

She thought for a moment, then smirked sadistically. "Gather every drone and bring them to the barracks. I have a little speech to give."





There was tangible anxiety as the entirety of Chrysalis's army buzzed amongst themselves, wondering why they'd been gathered on such short notice. The moment their Queen stepped out from the shadows, though, the clamour instantly died down.

"Drones," Chrysalis began, "You may be aware that the Element of Laughter, Pinkamena Pie, has actually been a Changeling in disguise."

She used her magic to summon a holographic image of the mare in question, mid-way between transforming from her pony self to her natural self. A small amount of muttering came, but it quickly silenced as Chrysalis continued.

"But while she may be one of us, she has no allegiance to the Hive."

Confused buzzing erupted, many Changelings having been unaware that Pinkie wasn't actually part of the Hive.

Chrysalis held up a hoof, and the noise once again disappeared. "Instead, she has allied herself with those putrid ponies, and that makes her a threat to our very way of life! They are likely working on a plan to wipe us out for good as we speak!"

An uproar of boo's and hisses was the response, the Changelings not exactly being happy with the idea.

"That is why this mewling grub must be eradicated, eviscerated, and otherwise expunged from existence! We are the mighty Changeling Empire, we are eternal, and anypony who says otherwise will face our wrath! Pinkamena will rue the day she decided to jeopardize Us!"

The crowd broke into determined cheers and war chants, eagerly awaiting orders.

Well, all but two of them.





Thorax shuffled on his hooves as the crowd dispersed. This all felt much too extreme, but what was he supposed to do? Chrysalis was already on edge after the failed Canterlot Invasion, so if he dissented or fled, he'd find himself staring straight down Chrysalis's horn for sure. But he couldn't help with this, he just couldn't! The fear and conflict in his gut were tearing him apart at the seams, and —

Throax's train of thought was interrupted when he ran head-long into another Changeling, a female with slightly purple eyes. He opened his mouth to apologize, but before he could, the other Changeling had grabbed and silenced him.

Thorax tried to speak, but with the other drone's hoof in his mouth, all he could get out was, "Mfft mm mmf mftfm?!"

The Changeling, who Thorax didn't recognize, glared down at him. "You're not going to blow my cover."

Thorax managed to pry her limb out of his mouth, and cried out in a hushed voice, "Please stop, you're hurting me!"

Even though Thorax didn't recognize her, she clearly recognized him. "Thorax?"

He gave a nod, and the Changeling let him go. He asked, "What are you doing?"

The Changeling looked around to make sure they weren't being spied on, then whispered, "I'm going to warn them."

Thorax gulped, "You're abandoning the Hive?!"

She nodded. "Don't try to talk me out of it; I've already made up my mind."

Thorax shook his head. "No, I wasn't gonna! It's just..."

Then he froze. He suddenly realized that he was at a crossroads, where his next action would shape the course of his life. Would he rat her out, turn a blind eye....

Or would he join her?

The thought entered his head and would not leave. Before, he surely would have died one way or another if he'd forsaken the Hive. But now, if he had another Changeling with him...

" 'It's just' what?" The drone asked, snapping Thorax back out of his thoughts.

He smiled determinedly as he decided. "I'm coming with you."

She blinked. "Are you sure, Thorax? You know how dangerous Equestria is to our kind."

Thorax nodded. "I can't just sit by and do nothing."

She smirked. "That-a boy. Now, let's go."





They managed to sneak out of the Hive, reaching the edge of the perimeter by sunset.

Once they were sure they were safe, Thorax let out a breath. He was actually doing this; he was leaving the Hive to help the ponies! With another drone by his side, he was feeling considerably more confident than he'd be otherwise.

Although... "I just have one question: why do you want to help them?"

The drone turned, a determined look on her face. "I need to make things right with my daughter."

Thorax's jaw dropped. Several questions ran through his mind, but one stood front and center:

"...who?"