Author's note: Have I got a treat for you all tonight. I finally decided to update this story next while at my grandmas, and I have two chapters ready to go. Enjoy!
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Chapter Twelve: A Changeling Interlude
Under the cover of nightfall, the three Changeling soldiers darted between alleyways and dark shadows, inching ever closer towards the city plaza, where the corrupted Crystal Heart radiated its tainted power. During their undercover work, they had, unfortunately, learned little about King Sombra's plans and activities. They weren't even sure what kind of traps had been laid around the Heart; only that they were there, and they had to be careful not to set any of them off. It was not just fear for their hives that made them tremble, but the fact that the Crystal King himself actually frightened them. It wasn't surprising, after all; Sombra's aura alone exuded so much raw hatred that just being near him was physically draining.
The one thing the Changelings had going for them was that Sombra was so confident in his traps that he had no guards assigned to watch over it. And so, after making sure the coast was clear, the three bug-ponies skittered over to the pedestal containing the corrupted Crystal Heart, looking warily at it.
I was told there would be traps, the first one said telepathically.
Maybe the king just said they were there in order to scare ponies off, the second replied.
But the third one had more sense. Or perhaps they don't activate until you try to remove it.
The others looked stricken. You should take it, the first Changeling said to the second.
No, you take it, the second vehemently suggested.
No, I insist.
You two are acting like grubs, the third one chastised.
The others stared at him for a moment before glancing at each other. Yeah, he should take it, they both said.
The third Changeling shook his head. Cowards.
Of course, when the others stepped back to leave him to his unfortunate task, he hesitated as he stared at the Crystal Heart. Finally he sighed. You are a soldier of the queen, he mentally reminded himself as he wrapped the cursed hunk of rock in his green magic aura. You can do this.
However, as soon as he removed the Heart from its pedestal, it vanished from his grip and reappeared in its previous place. The Changeling chittered in surprise. What in...?
This must be one of the traps, one of the others unhelpfully informed.
No kidding, the third one snapped before turning back towards the Heart.
If magic wouldn't work, then it was time to attempt a different approach. The Changeling turned around and bucked the Heart right off its pedestal.
The effect was immediate; as the Heart skidded across the cobblestone street, a wall of black crystals rose up around the Changeling, trapping him inside. The other Changelings quickly flitted over to help, but the trapped soldier cried, Don't worry about me! The Heart! Get the Heart!
They looked over at the artifact lying uselessly on the ground a short distance away. The second Changeling then flew over to the Heart and picked it up with her magic.
And then both of the Changelings felt an intense agony as powerful electric energy surged through their bodies. It took less than three seconds for them to get cooked to death. The trapped one was somehow spared his comrades' excruciating demises, but that meant that he was all alone in facing Sombra's wrath.
And he knew the Crystal King was coming.
Two minutes later, he did, flanked by two of his stern-faced Obsidian Guards. Upon seeing who had tripped his security measures, the king's scowl turned into a truly terrifying glare. "A Changeling," he snarled.
As soon as he retracted the dark crystals, the Changeling attempted to make a break for it, only to be restrained magically by the two unicorn guards. Smirking, Sombra bent over and stared into the eyes of the frightened Changeling. "Try to steal my Crystal Heart, will you?" he sneered. "I think not. Now...time to find out where your wretched queen is hiding."
The soldier's mind immediately went into panic mode as the violet mist constantly trailing out of the dark unicorn's eyes flowed into the eyes of the Changeling as, far away, Chrysalis sensed the hysterical panic of one of the soldiers she had sent mere seconds before she suddenly felt something foreign, something horrifyingly evil, invade the collective consciousness of herself and her hive. Drones and soldiers alike cowered where they stood, shaking profusely as they felt it probe their minds. The fetuses lining the walls in their egg sacs squirmed uncomfortably as their quiet dreams were interrupted by the feeling of something foreign and wrong. Chrysalis fought hard against the invasion of her mind, desperately trying to shield herself and her children from the far away tyrant trying to glean information from their minds. There was only one thing she could do, and through her fear, she felt great sadness for what she was about to do.
Even as she tried pushing Sombra out of her mind, she sought out the single Changeling Sombra had used to gain access to the hive mind.
My queen...help me...
A tear fell down Chrysalis's face. I cannot.
And with a forceful burst of magic and willpower, she disconnected the frightened soldier from the hive mind. Far away in the Crystal Empire, the Changeling uttered a chirp of horrified surprise as all contact with his brethren had ceased, his mind deathly quiet. Sombra pulled away from the now-useless shapeshifting creature's mind. Looking down at the shivering bug-pony, Sombra's smirk returned. "She has disconnected you from the hive mind," he spoke, relishing the look of abject terror in the Changeling's iridescent blue eyes. "You're all alone, cut off from the comfort of your brethren's thoughts. But that only means your queen does not know the truth. I found her. I found all of them."
The lone Changeling feebly hissed in defiance. "No...my queen..." it spoke out loud.
"...will be dead before this day is out," Sombra finished, "along with every last member of your wretched hive." He glanced at the guard on his left. "Send for Bjoräl and his pack. I have a a task for them."
The guard nodded and left. Sombra turned towards the remaining guard. "Kill this abomination."
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Chrysalis breathed a sigh of relief as she felt the presence of King Sombra vanish. But she could not relax; not yet. She did not know how much information Sombra had gleaned from the hive's collective consciousness, but if the king had discovered the location of the hive, then the possibility of an attack was increased exponentially. She had to prepare the hive, just in case. Their numbers were relatively few, but if an attack was imminent, they would defend their hive and their queen with their lives.
Chrysalis desperately hoped it would not come to that.