Equestria, she had longed for the food this land would provide. All of the love. She looked at the portal behind her, at the creatures coming out. They were not of this realm, they wanted what they wanted, she knew what she needed. And nothing these ponies could do would be able to stop her this time. She had blundered when she took the place of that trollop Cadence. And her colony paid the price, most of them turned into greasy green smears on the buildings as Shining Armor's shield pushed them back. The ones who survived being flung to the far reaches of Equestria died of hunger. Only she remained. But she could bring them back. She could bring her hive back. But first, she had to clear the way. She had to make the ponies pay. But there was just one pony that she desired to destroy. One pony that made her hive's destruction possible. The unicorn, the protégé of Celestia, the one who saw through her deception.
"Twilight Sparkle, I will end you," she murmured to herself. She smiled at the tantalizing prospects in front of her. Ponies under her control, and she would feed on their love for each other, and she would grow a new hive. And she would be happy.
<This is your realm, Queen?> she heard its 'voice' in her head say. These insects had no way to speak, but they made up for that fact by speaking in her head. She turned and saw the Queen of the Vore, a massive six legged insect like creature. The Vore walked up to her and her voice became clearer in Chrysalis' head. <Are we in the right place? The place with the magic we can take?>
Chrysalis nodded slowly, looking at the green fields and the line of train tracks heading to a large metropolitan area. "That is Manehattan, and yes, we are in Equestria."
<Good, I will leave my workers and my soldiers with you. My patience is not infinite. We must take their magic.>
The massive Queen turned and shambled to the portal, in moments she was gone and thousands of smaller Vore started to pour through. More portals appeared, vomiting out even more of the insect like creatures. In a matter of minutes, the field was covered in tens of thousands of the soldiers and workers of the Vore colony.
"I will have my revenge," the changeling queen said to herself. "I can feel that you are in love. You have someone special. And feeding off of your love for him will make me more powerful than ever." She smiled. "He will be mine."
***
Luna felt the rip in existence that was the portal. The pain of the invasion ripped her from her pleasant dreams. Something this vital would affect Celestia as well. She jolted out of her bed and teleported immediately to her sister's throne room.
"Sister, did you feel that too?"
Celestia shook her head, as though she was trying to shake off a headache. "Yes. I did." Her ears drooped. "I fear this is more than we can handle. This may be the worst threat to Equestria we have ever faced."
Luna felt as though she needed to weep. Would this be the end of their world? "Do you know where this terror will strike?"
Celestia shook her head. "No, like you I felt the rips in existence, but I cannot locate where they are." She looked at one of her guards. "I need a quill and parchment. Now." The guard galloped to get the materials and floated them to Celestia. She put quill to parchment.
Dearest Princess Twilight,
I know that you close to the birth of your twins. But I need you in Canterlot immediately. A grave threat has arisen in Equestria, and you are needed once again. With Nick, as well as the rest of your friends.
Princess Celestia
In moments the parchment was rolled up, and engulfed in a green flame, sending it to the small town of Ponyville.
***
***Nick***
"Now, exactly why are we hunkered down in this trench?" I look over at Twilight. She's got her quill and parchment ready to take notes, her friends and I are in this trench. All I was told is that dragons would be flying by shortly as part of their migration.
Rainbow Dash smirks at me. "Because the last time we watched the dragons fly, they got in a bit of a tussle and flames went everywhere, I got a little singed." She flicks her tail in irritation, but she's got all four hooves on the ground, which is a rarity for her. And it tells me that she's taking this seriously. I hunker down a bit, if it's that serious, perhaps I should listen.
A few more of the denizens of Ponyville show up, it looks like we are ready. I look around.
"Where is Spike?"
Twilight smiles. "Spike is finishing getting the nursery prepared. I told him some ideas I had last night, and he decided to get right on it. After his last adventure with the dragons, he wasn't all that interested in joining us this time."
"Look, there they are," Rarity calls out. I look up, and am stunned.
Hundreds of dragons are flying over our position. They are huge! My only experience with dragons in my time here in Equestria have been with Spike, and he's just a baby dragon. These fit the definition of monsters to me. Each one is easily ten or twenty times the length of any pony around here, and some much bigger. And it's not neat lines of dragons flying in formation, they are chaotic, they are flying the whatever way they want, and sometimes smacking each other in the air. Ultimately though, they are all making their way towards their destination. I feel something deep inside me. I feel my wings spread, almost of their own volition. I look around, all the other pegasi have their wings folded at rest. Even Twilight has her wings folded, why are mine wanting to fly?
"This is so weird," I murmur to myself as I feel warmth in my body. There is something important happening here. I don't know what it is, but it's getting to be an itch. I look around again, all the ponies are ohhing and ahhhing, and all I want to do is take off and fly.
Why?
"Twilight?"
"Mh-hmm" she says distractedly.
"I feel as though I've got to fly. It's a pretty strong feeling, Twilight."
She looks at me sharply, noticing my stance, my body is ready for takeoff. I don't know why, but it feels as though I've got to fly, and right now. "I don't think that would be a good idea, Nick."
Like a wave, my feelings intensify, I have GOT to fly, and I have to do it right now. "I don't think I've got a choice, Twilight," I say as my wings flap of their own accord. In seconds I'm in the air. Heading up to the dragons. I've got two choices, fight this, or go with it. I make my choice quickly.
"Nick, come back!" I hear my love's voice get faint as I accelerate. I know everything is going to be fine. This is awesome. Not fighting anymore, I know what I need to do. In seconds I'm at the same level as the dragons, flying with them. At first, they don't even notice me then I hear a guttural voice behind me.
"Ponies aren't welcome here." And I hear a roar of flames as a dragon shoots his fire at me. Before my mind even registers the sound I'm evading the incoming flames. I do a barrel roll around another dragon, easily evading a swipe with huge claws. I can hear myself laugh. This is fun.
For about the next twenty minutes I'm flying with these massive creatures. At first they objected, but after I held my own with them, they seemed to accept my flying with them, I don't know if it's the oversize wings I have as a pegasus, or if their magic is resonating with mine, but this feels like I was born to do this. These are my compatriots in the sky. Flying with Rainbow Dash doesn't feel like this, nor with Cloud Kicker, or even Twilight. This feels like I've just put my hand into the perfect glove. I smile and howl with delight. This is how to fly.
***
I get my bearings after flying and see where the ponies have their protective trench. I bank and head back to them. I see Twilight, her wings are spread, and not for a good reason. I execute a perfect landing, rear legs first, and finally fold my wings.
"Of all the irresponsible, bull headed, stupid things you could do Nick." She trots up to me. I wilt a bit at her tone of voice.
"I'm sorry Twilight. But I don't think I had much control over what just happened." I feel a warmth on my flank and there is a bright flash of light emanating from me. Twilight's eyes widen.
"Oh my Celestia, Nick just got his cutie mark," I hear Rainbow Dash exclaim.
I turn my head and look at my flank, and sure enough, I've got a picture there. I look closely, a dragon, coiled up in the traditional oriental style, and it's wings are spread as though it's ready to take flight. It is shooting a jet of flame upwards. I look back at Twilight with a huge smile.
She trots up to me, her wings fold as she inspects my flank. "You are right, you didn't have control, you just found out what your talent is. And your talent has to do with dragons. I have never heard of a pony with a special talent having to do with dragons before.”
"Twilight!" We all turn to see Spike run up. As he gets to Twilight he hands her a rolled up parchment, he's breathing heavily. "I ran all the way from your new castle, Twilight, this is for you."
Twilight takes the parchment in her magic, breaking the seal and unfurling it. After a moment reading she looks at her friends and me. "We need to go to Canterlot, right now."