The Rebirth of War: The Story of Changelings

by Anubis Nox


Once Upon a Flight

~We are the Diamonds, who choose to stay coal....~

Quickstrike was carefully stalking her way through the treeline for the Everfree forest carefully spying on Dark Light. Considering it was night time there was an added effect to her cautiousness causing her to be weary of being found by some predator, or being caught by Dark Light. The night's cool wisp caused Quickstrike to smile as she had her sights on her on her target as he carried the unconscious pony away from the town. She observed how he changed back to his natural form and laid the pony on the tree's rough surface.

And here is where we determine his loyalty. Such a perfect night to witness an act of strength. Quickstrike thought to herself as she watched in the stillness of the night, waiting for the deed to be done.

Just as she was ready to witness the killing, she saw a pony staring at Dark Light.

Too late to do anything now.. Quickstrike thought, not wanting to reveal her position to help.

Snap!

The deed was done with a consequence as the pony let out a startled eep and ran as fast it could towards the town with it's wings flapping with tears in it's eyes.

Quickstrike watched as Dark Light picked up the body and ran into the forest as fast as he could.

I guess it's time to move.


Quickstrike flew as quickly as she could back to the hive to tell the Queen that Dark Light had successfully completed the mission and what had transpired. Even though he wasn't as fast as her, she thought it would be better to be safe then sorry with getting back to the Queen first. Also it would be better to get back faster to warn that he had been seen killing a pony by another pony.

It only took Quickstrike an hour and a half to reach back to the Hive. The guards hidden below the dense forestry looked up as she flew over them to land in the small clearing near the training field. The guards recognised her as she allowed herself to be amalgamated with the Swarm's thoughts and the guards didn't bother moving from their positions.

Quickstrike quickly entered through a hole in the ground and started navigating through the Hive's tunnel system towards the Queen's room. She reached the Queen's room in no time and was slightly nervous at the front entrance quickly thinking up of what she was going to say. Yes, it was good news that he had killed the pony, but he was caught.


Quickstrike was outside of her room, she could sense her.

"Come in, Quickstrike." The Queen ordered from her chambers, holding her normal appearance of dominance and authority. Her voice portrayed no indication of emotion. Her eyes open as Quickstrike walked into the cave. She watches Quickstrike quickly salute and bow, the actions providing the Queen with little mirth and a wan smile, "I take it you fulfilled your mission to watch over him?"

Her smile widens as Quickstrike nods and replies, "Yes my Queen, he did it, he killed his target." A small tingle of excitement flew through the Queen, the prospect of a Reaver in her hooves allowing for a powerful advantage in any upcoming attacks that were planned.

"But he was caught. The Element of Kindness spotted him killing the pony and ran to alert the town."

Chrysalis' smile disappears for a second, the act of him being caught slightly disturbing. The feeling of disturbance almost instantaneously goes as she thinks of the outcomes, "This is.... good." She notices Quickstrike's small burst of surprise and confusement and her smile widens, "This means the Equestrian's know of a power we have that is great, it is a great form of intimidation and will most likely make them prepare. This over preparedness can be used to our advantage, this will put them on the edge. That means we wait a bit longer, I have a plan that will result in our uprising."

Her eyes stay on Quickstrike as she thinks if she should confront her now about Dark Light, or to do it later. A small hum comes from her as Quickstrike replies, "That is indeed good my Queen. Shall I go inform him he has passed his mission?"

"Yes, you may Quickstrike and you are allowed to leave my presence."

"Thank you Queen Chrysalis."

She watches Quickstrike turn around and start moving out of the room, her mind made up on her decision. She decides to say one last thing, a motherly tone overtaking her voice, "One more thing, you and I later need to have a talk about him. I can sense what you feel around him." Surprisingly she winks at Quickstrike, a smirk on her face as Quickstrike seemingly 'trips' on all hooves and bolts.


Training, training and training. That's what I was assigned to after completing my mission a few months ago. During that time all I had done was train and train. It wasn't necessarily bad, I had Quickstrike with me the entirety of the time and because of that I had managed to weasel out of training with the other Changeling's. The Queen's trust having seemingly increased tenfold, I had no idea why, but I wasn't complaining.

Which leads me to my current predicament. I was standing in front of the Queen in my smaller 'natural' form so she could look down at me. No ling would dare look down at their Queen at ground level, that was utterly disrespectful and I had learnt that... the hard way. Although I had a great respect for the Queen, I couldn't help but thinks of doing all the things I could to annoy her. Like waking up all the new born lings and hiding and watching all the others try and calm them down and eventually the Queen would come in and check on them then finally go back to what she was doing, only for me to do it again. To think I only got caught twice doing it. I let a smirk slide on my face from the memories as the Queen watches me, her thoughts unable to reach into mine, a trait I'm glad a ling like me managed to pick up, even though it was rare.

"You called for me Queen Chrysalis?" I give a small bow, still smirking though as she watches me.

"I called for you to inform you are to go on another mission, this time with Quickstrike. It involves a fast execution on a group of ponies who are entering our territory, searching for our temporary home here. They are armed so both you and Quickstrike need to be very careful about this, they do consist of all three races. Why am I asking you to do this? I am asking you and Quickstrike to do this as a show of strength. I want you two to leave a survivor, a Pegasus if you can. You can injure them, just let them be able to relay a message that only two of you were able to take on a group of them. Yes they are unarmed, but they should be easy for you two kill." I spot the Queen's eyes glint and I widen my smirk.

"When and where about in our territory your highness?"

"To the Northwest about an hour flight, they have been searching, stupid foals. If they think sending in unarmed ponies into our territory is a good idea then I see no idea why we shouldn't give them the smallest of tastes of what is to come. Quickstrike has already been informed, you two will leave tomorrow morning when the sun rises. Now Dark Light, relish in this oppurtunity given, make use of it." The Queens nods at me, "You may go."

Giving a small nod I turn around without a world and trot out of her room in the cave systems. As soon as I exit I change into my native form. I have surpassed the Queen's height surprisingly to most of the lings. Runic symbols seems to run around my body, a reddish glow accompanying them whenever I use my horn. Walking up to the forest floor I spot a few of the Changelings scurry bad from me, a grin on my face as I get a small feeling of fear. Fear... That doesn't feel good all the time, many of the Changelings respect me now, although a small amount fear me. I have managed to make friends with a few of them even in my native form, and gathered some respect from them, at least I've got something to work with.

I let my eyes roam the grounds, my mental link now trying to find Quickstrike. I roll my eyes as I realise that she has hid hers, my own quickly going back to its usual private. It's not that I hated listening to the other lings, or talking to them with my connections, I just well... I just didn't feel like it was right, I know we all know each other but I feel like that each ling should deserve their own privacy. Oh and the feeling, I feel awkward, it doesn't feel right being able to communicate like that. I have even asked the Queen about this and she just thinks it's because I am different to them, I have more power therefore I want to be able to hide my weaknesses, to be able to command without having them listen to everything. She thinks I would make a wonderful commander. Snicker I shake my head, not believing that she had said that, I do not think I am worthy for that, or worthy for my native form, but according to the Queen, I am.

A black streak flies by my face and I stop moving, now standing still as it turns around and skids. I turn my head to it and spot Quickstrike charging towards me with a great speed. I merely snicker once more as she dives me and uses 'brute force' against me, trying to get me down. I decide to humour her and pretend to fall over which she just rolls her eyes at.

"Did I even hurt you?" She asks, standing on my side.

"No, not really." I quickly roll over, making sure not to roll over on her before I pull myself up.

"Are your plates getting stronger? I hit you enough times to give a pony trauma." She scowls as she looks at her chitinous hooves.

I shrug, changing back into my smaller, 'normal' Changeling size, "Try now Quicky." I laugh as her face contorts into anger for a brief moment, my eyes closes as I try to control myself. Still laughing I don't see her lunge at me and hit me directly in the face, the blow sending me flying backwards and against a tree. A distant 'oooooOOOOOOOOooo' is heard, murmured by other lings.

I groan as I pull myself up, a forehoof on my muzzle as I notice red blood. I blink at the red blood, a thought tugging in my mind and trying to make itself known, but I have seemed to have forgotten. I shake my head stupidly, causing me to grimace and look up to see Quickstrike laughing her hardened flanks off. It takes several moments for me to pull myself up, then I realise I was stuck to the tree from the force and I come falling down to the ground, landing on my muzzle. More blood gushes out and I yell into the ground as I feel the pain resonating through me from my face.

"Ah fuck ouch ouch ouch ouch fuck!"

Quickstrike laughs even louder, several other lings joining her as I stay laying on the ground, my semi crumpled wings now realising that they should have tried to fly. Several lings heads are turned quizically, trying to understand what I had yelled. Hearing hoof steps I look up Quickstrike now almost in front of me, still laughing.

"Hahaha, you told me to hit you." She taps the top of my head, my face still buried unmoving in the ground. She moves to my side and starts lifting me up, my legs realising their true purpose and allowing me to stand as a faint green and red shimmer begins to glow around my muzzle. I notice the pain seems to now be severely numbed and I stare crosseyed for a few moments. The blood begins to stop flowing, the glow almost transparent as it gets lighter and lighter. I note that the pain has almost receded and I tap my muzzle, wincing as I expect pain... But I don't feel pain... I feel nothing except the gently tap on my outer shell.

"I've got my own personal punching ling still!" I close my eyes quickly as Quickstrike hits me in the face again with just as much, if not more force then the time before. Myself is sent flying once more, no trees to break my 'flying' as I land on the ground nearby.

Groaning I ask myself repeatedly, Why did I tell her about my regenerative traits.


Amongst the Queen's room, hiding in the darkened part of her cave, lays a silver orb, one that shine very very faintly red. The Queen herself sits nearby the entrance, her thoughts gathering as she /knows/ that both Quickstrike and Dark Light will be able to complete their mission. The queen turns around, her eyes moving to the dark part of her room. She trots over, her eyes resting on the silver orb. On the orb an inscription runs around it momentarily, to any other ling they wouldn't be able to read it, but to the Queen the unreadable symbols twist and turn, now forming into letters. The Queen grins as she reads them quietly to herself, "You have your warrior selected, so do the Equestrian's. Time now runs short.... Prepare."

Her eyes glint as does the orb as she begins to laughs...


~A generation born, to witness the end of the world.~