//------------------------------//
// Escapism 
// Story: Odd one out 
// by FluttershyBeingDom 
//------------------------------//

For fifteen years I have been ridiculed and had the energy sucked out of me. I swear I am already getting some greys in my mane. It wasn't all loss however. I have learned how to hide and blend in very well. Initially, I was still presented with problems, such as drones smelling me or detecting my emotions. Only the more intelligent ones caught on honestly. Consequently I had learned how to hide my rage and misery. Anger never seemed to help, only make matters worse. Hiding was my best bet, for now. 

Yawning I stretched, waking up from my nap in the far corner cocoon of the sleeping quarters. There is a dim green light emanating periodically spread accross the cieling illuminating the place. At least I didn't have any responsibilities lately. Whenever others would get me to do their work I would be too exhausted from some leech to do anything, as a result I have almost no responsibilities and often sleep late. Besides I don't want to draw attention during breakfast, even if its cold.

Getting up and making sure no one is still in the room, I close my eyes and focus. My horn glows, my only real weakness when I need to lay low, and I become nearly invisible. In broad daylight I would be noticed but with the dim lights in the caverns of the hive it really was useful.

Silently I walk through the doorway looking around corners to make sure no one is there for me to bump into or such, and I make my way to the left where meals are served. Well, to say to the left is to over-simplify the place. There were a few main routes underground pocked with holes of various rooms and sleeping quarters. There were several floors of quarters actually, dozens of feet off of the ground. I was a good forty minutes behind the majority, only some of the smaller stragglers left behind, and the rooms full of hatchlings and foal changelings. Each room would be full of changelings born in the same season and year. Each season signified a different lifestyle for food gathering and preparation. Winter we would hibernate tho, so there were none born then. During the spring we could easily go out and gather whatever we liked, as long as we didn't venture too far to cause us getting attention from the ponies. We were omnivores with a large preference for meat. And spring was the easiest to capture animals to suck the happyness out of since they were so young and inexperienced. During the summer the animals started to know better and during the fall they were scarcely found. We could eat vegetables and fruits too, especially me, but generally no leafy greens hay or grass, but we gathered it anyways for the animals we kept. The more dangerous animals that we couldn't keep would require a pack to be hunted, and would be killed for their meat. But how do I explain emotion, tho. Its like water but etheral and magical. Emotions kind of have smells, smells bring back strong memories, but with emotions its actually similar feelings that trigger memories. The young animals were always so juvenile, it made me wonder if that is why most changelings were so.. immature, and prone to follow command.

I finally enter the lunch room, the lights here are a little brighter as this room isn't really made for napping like the sleeping quarters are. Going over to some barrels with somewhat over-ripened fruits and limp vegetables I set up my tray. I held the tray strongly with my mouth while I lazily used my magic to select some edible foods out of the barrels and walked over to the corner table and set my tray down. Still somewhat invisible I could at least, if someone looked in my direction, pretend this was some tray someone was too lay to take care of. But I usually don't get interrupted around breakfast at this time. Everyone else is usually off learning to, or taking care of duties. I look back down at my tray. A few limp carrots, a deformed but healthy looking peach, some wrinkled apples. At least I could eat my fill now that I didn't have much to do, well, unless I get interrupted. I normally over the years didn't get to eat much. I always had an upset stomach from the life getting sucked out of me, and as a result I am shorter, and thinner, than most.

I frown. My mind always wanders back to unpleasantries. But this time I have an opportunity for escape, a reason to hope. Slowly smiling he recalls the recent news. Chrysalis is going to start with her plan to invade Canterlot tomorrow. I will be able to escape, and even take some artifacts with me if I'm lucky. They may be able to get tracked however, but perhaps I could simply pawn them if they aren't worth my trouble. I have learned enough of how the ponies are from others, and recently, myself scrying them. With my spare time I got to read up on the few books we had and talked to some elders. Chrysalis dumped most of the elders out of the hive for disagreeing with her, but the few who were silent or obedient enough stayed here. 

I finish up my meal and consider leaving it behind, but instead decided to practice my stealthyness and hide my leftovers in the trash properly. I should double check the storage rooms and perhaps leave a gift to one of the elders. Or better yet, think of how to sabotage everything before I leave tomorrow heh. But no, I wouldn't want that much harm coming to the hive. Then what if our hive actually succeeds in the battle against Canterlot? I mean, this plan was a long time coming but with Luna getting revived in recent years and with the elements of harmony emerging surely she is in over her head. Chrysalis should have listened to her elders. 

Hearing a voice and wings down one of the thinner passages I was traveling in, my heart rate suddenly increased. They would bother me if they caught me being half invisible, but I quickly mellowed out in response to distill the emotions I was emitting. They don't normally travel through here at this time, it was actually a good thing I had decided to come down here then. If they were moving artifacts it'd be smart to track them down.
'We don't have enough armor for a prolonged duration of battle, and none for the queen's current size.' 
'It doesn't matter, she is going to be impersonating Cadence anyways not fighting, it'd just get in the way.' 
The passage was thin but with one of them floating somewhat high above I end up succesfully crawling by with some difficulty. These were some changelings who didn't really wrong him, so no emotions boiled over thankfully. Silently breathing more heavily, he almost blushes at his error, the armor must be stored down here. But it does seem that tomorrow's battle will result in failure. Do they have any idea how old the princesses are? I am sure if they wanted to prolong a battle they could. But I suppose that is why they need to trick Shining Armor. But still, its a risky gamble. If they do succeed and I get found out as abandoning the hive or even stealing from the hive I will get imprisoned at the least. Frowning, I realize that if the Queen does fail.. she didn't produce an heir yet. I shake my head, screw that, they didn't do much for me anyways- it won't be my problem anymore. Besides, this is dangerous material to think about with all my conflicted emotions.. Its better to focus on the task at hoof.


Having double checked the rooms out, I decide its best to go to the elders and practice scrying with their equipment some more while the others eat lunch. I stop by the nearest empty room to make myself look like some average changeling. Still can't change into others for some reason, even after all this time practicing. At least I learned a neat trick or two to compensate. My form was not perfect, looked mostly like some average drone, but the eyes were still different. The holes in my legs seemed a little off somehow, and the horn wasn't as wonky as the others were. And worst of all were the ears. I didn't understand how to get them to work properly every buzz or click from a hive member would sound distant or too high pitched. So I simply had fake antennae and invisible pony-like ears. The wings were perfectly shaped, but a little dark, all he has to do for those is make them semi-transparent enough to look normal. When I decided I looked presentable, and once traffic to the lunch room died down a little, I left the room- a little tired from adjusting my looks.

Heading somewhat quickly in the opposite direction of the lunch hall so no one could recognize me as a stranger drone if they happened upon me, I quickly trot over to the elder's place. Soon I notice the elder talking in a slightly raised tone to somepony. I wonder what is going on, and approach cautiously.

'Chrysalis you will doom us all with your ill forged plan of conquest! We would be fine without taking this much risk!' 
My heart beats faster as I take in the new information.
'I will not allow us to live another god forsaken day in hiding underground when there are plenty of ponies with high levels of emotional intelligence just waiting to be fed upon by our kind above. It is disgraceful that you think we should wallow in the dirt any longer'
'What is disgraceful is dooming generations undertaking this risk without a successor! What if you fail!? Just because you saw the promise in Cadance and her situation does not mean you need to be so hasty!'
Cadance's situation? I suppose it makes sense the Queen would be scrying, but at this rate it sounds like she is definitely getting ahead of herself, she might even die. Even with me hating changelings on occassion for my misfortunes this was sad news indeed as it was the source of all my memories, and this moment caused trepidation in my heart.
'You dare talk to your Queen in this manner!?'
There is now a lump in my throat. This isn't going to be pretty. I feel the blood draining from my face already. Tears welling up, a part of me just wants to end her now, but I'm a coward I couldn't stand up to her. It would be too dangerous. Maybe my wandering in here could distract her long enough to not kill this poor old man.. I inhale deeply, and trot in not bothering to move silently. Sweat threatening to bead down my face.
'AGH!' 
I wince, she obviously didn't hear me come in, and was in the process of bludgeoning the poor bloke from bucking him several times powerfully. Him trying to lift his old body up clinging to one of the elevated water pools made for scrying. With an extremely pained expression I try to think of some manner of intervention, but know none of them to be wise with the Queen's current attitude. So I just stand there frowning. Remembering the times I had gotten beaten. 
'Um, Chrysalis'
A peeved tall Queen turns her head to face me studying me.
'What is it, Drone!'
'I.. I suppose it might not matter much, but he is one of the few who can scry, wouldn't he be of use to your plans tomorrow?'
'I-This is true.. But he best not speak back to the Queen again.' She turns back to the old changeling struggling to keep himself up. A small look of pity and anger on her face. 'For the sake of the hive's future I will let you live. Just know your place.'
She looks back to me briefly then leaves the room. Brief, but it felt like such an eternity.
'Are you alright?' I say quickly attempting to help him up with my hooves and magic.
'Heh, I have seen better days.' He said surprisingly cheerfully, but his face quickly turned grim.
'She is going to be the end of us.. Ow, help me down over there please.'
I frown. Then remembering why I came, I slowly started to gather my motivation back.
'..Could I, borrow one of your scrying pools for a minute?'