Earth Calendar: 2117
Equestrian Calendar: 15 AC (After Contact)
Fourth Month, Nineteenth Day, Celestial Calendar
"What... Did you do?"
IJ whirled at the sound of the familiar voice. Skye's frowning visage was, ironically, something of a welcome sight.
The Pegasus sighed, "I did nothing beyond what we planned. I warned you this would happen."
Skye snorted and rolled her eyes.
"Oh. Wonderful. We're stuck inside the collective headspace of two million angry drones, and one very angry queen... And your immediate first thought is 'I told you so' ?"
IJ glowered, shifting her wings anxiously, "I am simply answering your question in the same spirit it was asked."
The Unicorn tossed her short mane in frustration, letting out a sharp pent up breath, "What's *that* supposed to mean?"
The ex-Changeling turned away from her fellow prisoner, and began to examine the streams of information whizzing by their heads.
"There is an old Changeling proverb; When the cavern is collapsing, you do not stop to assign blame. You first worry about escaping alive."
Skye flattened her ears in an unconscious sign of suppressed fear, and began to make her own examination of the environment.
"Well this isn't a cavern. It's a neuro-Thaumatic network. How are we supposed to disconnect if I'm in here? For that matter, how did I get here?"
"Because I brought you here."
The Queen's voice preceded the image of her body by only a split second, but the effect was jarring nonetheless.
Both Ponies tensed visibly, and spun to face the apparition. The representation smirked, and flared her wings menacingly.
"Did you think I was merely going to kill you? Your friends outside seem to think so. They are fighting, and dying, to defend your corpses, in the vain hope that you will somehow return to them. No. Your minds may yet contain useful information. When I am finished gleaning everything I desire, then I will kill you."
Skye glanced over at IJ, eyes wide.
"Are your leaders always this arrogant and heavy-hoofed?"
IJ's brow knit, and she stamped her front right hoof in anger. Her gaze remained locked firmly on the Queen.
"First; They are not my leaders anymore. Second; Is levity really the only coping mechanism you possess? Thirdly? Yes. They are always this arrogant."
"You *insolent* little grub!"
The Queen reared, and slammed her front hooves into the ground. The reflective infinite blackness seemed to shatter into millions of glittering triangular pieces that flew outward from an expanding crack.
The fissure forced IJ and Skye to leap back as it passed with a dull rumble. The Queen lowered her head, and hissed.
"This will cause you great pain!"
IJ mimicked the gesture, tucking her head down into a combat position.
"Your mistake. I like pain. It reminds me that my mind and body are free."
Skye barely had time to mutter to herself before the combatants engaged with a fury that seemed to shake the world.
"This is such a horrible idea---"
The initial impact sent out visible shockwaves that shattered the manifestation of the Hive, disrupting datastreams, and even shattering the boundaries of the ether itself into millions of swirling polygonal glass-like chunks.
Skye wondered, as she braced against the onslaught, if the representation of the disruption that she was experiencing was indicative of actual damage being done to the hive mind itself.
The Unicorn winced, and sucked in a ragged breath, as IJ was thrown backwards from the collision. The ex-Changeling skidded to a stop in a limp pile at Skye's hooves, eyes barely open.
The Queen's smile widened, and she once again flared her wings. Dark tendrils erupted from the ground around her, comprised of trillions of tiny obsidian fragments.
Her gaze fixed firmly on Skye, "I gather from your fear that you are not as acclimated to pain as your foolish compatriot."
The little Unicorn's eyes hardened, and her horn began to glow softly.
"I've had some experience with it. Do your worst."
Earth Calendar: 2117
Equestrian Calendar: 15 AC (After Contact)
March 19th, Gregorian Calendar
"The good news is that there's probably some worthwhile salvageable data on this drive."
Hutch glanced down at the technician's screen and sighed.
"And the bad news?"
The technician pointed to the holographic representation of the device's contents, hovering in mid air above his console.
"Every last bit is encrypted. To be honest? That was kind of expected. But it's going to take days to fully decrypt."
The General nodded slowly, offering the man a brief pat on his shoulder.
"I'll set you up with priority access to the main computer cluster. No one else is using it anyways. Too busy preparing for the withdrawal."
The technician grimaced.
"That soon?"
Hutch sighed again, a note of sadness creeping into the sound, "Yeah. That soon."
April smiled as she gazed upwards into the morning sun.
"Do you think we'll see some of the others again?"
Sonya shrugged and squinted, shading her eyes from the uncharacteristically bright light with one hand.
"Maybe. Usually when they tell us to travel this far to a specific place, there are others waiting too."
The sisters darted from the mouth of their alley, across the small street, and into the next dark metal crevice, barely avoiding a garbage drone truck in the process. As Sonya withdrew the hardened DaTab from an inner pocket, and checked the enclosed map against their position, April scrambled onto the top of a rusting metal crate, and peered out at the sidewalk.
"Why do you think they make us do these exercises?"
Sonya didn't even glance up from her work as she responded.
"What do you mean?"
April sighed as she watched a car pass by. The driver and passengers were blissfully unaware of her, and all the pain her life's struggles represented. She paused a moment to wonder what their relatively normal lives might be like, before answering her sister.
"I mean... Earthgov already has an army. And Minos has always done his best to keep us a secret. Whenever we met any of the others, they always talked like their lives were just the same as ours. So what are we... what are we for?"
Sonya secreted the DaTab once more, and stared up at her sister with an expression made mostly of sympathy, but tinged sharply with fear.
"I don't know. And to be honest April? I don't want to think about it."
April leapt from the crate, landing just shy of her sibling. Her mouth turned down and her eyes hardened.
"Well when *are* we going to think about it Sonya? I don't know if we're going to live for nine more years. How long before they ask us to do things we can't do!? Or before they decide we're too big a secret, and we have to die?!"
Sonya shook her head, and blurted out her response with slightly more intensity that she had originally intended.
"I don't know! Ok?! I don't know..."
Her gaze, and her tone softened as she brought her emotions partially back under control.
"I lie awake a lot of nights trying to figure out some way for us to get out of this now... But the spikes are in deep. We'd need a surgical facility where the doctors won't ask questions. We'd need time. Time to have them removed before the failsafe is triggered... We'd need more potion. And I don't think the guards are going to let us get anywhere near a street dealer ever again."
April gestured to the tiny slit of sky visible between the tops of the buildings. The colored strip was split disturbingly between a shining blue sky, and an ashen teal desolation.
"What about the Gryphons?"
Sonya exhaled and pinched the bridge of her nose. She knew what April was going to say, but she voiced her query nonetheless.
"What *about* the Gryphons?"
April clutched one hand pleadingly to her chest, "They could save us! You've seen how the guards behave whenever one is close by. You've watched them fly. You saw that one tear a drone in half with her bare claws! You know they're strong enough! We could find one, and---"
Sonya held up a hand, and waited for April's hopeful deluge of words to fall silent. She inhaled slowly, trying to find a diplomatic way to phrase her thoughts.
"April... Yes. I'm sure they are strong enough."
April's face lit up with such a glowing cascade of joy, that Sonya felt the next words catch sharply in her throat. She inhaled again, and forced them out.
"But I'm not sure if we can trust them."
April's expression shattered like a terracotta mask. A tear began to form at the edge of one eye, and she fought to get out a response between the beginnings of a sob.
"But... But... Why?! They seem good!"
Sonya knelt in front of her sister, and took her comfortingly by the shoulders as she began to cry outright.
"Yes. But the people who invited me in off the street seemed good too. They gave me a hot shower, a hot meal, a blanket, medicine... And then they tore open my back and put the spikes in me."
The elder sibling carefully extricated herself from the embrace, and faced her tearful charge.
"We don't know any more about the Gryphons than we know about random people on the street. We do know that they fight often enough alongside Earthgov, and that means they might just as soon get us killed as save us, whether they meant to or not. Do you understand?"
At first April seemed bent on an angry staring contest with her sister, but she finally softened, and nodded tearfully.
Sonya pulled her into another comforting embrace, "It's gonna be ok kiddo. I promise."
She rested April's head on her shoulder, and stared up at the sky once more, "I promise."
Earth Calendar: 2117
Equestrian Calendar: 15 AC (After Contact)
Fourth Month, Nineteenth Day, Celestial Calendar
"IS THIS A BAD TIME TO MENTION THAT I REALLY REALLY HATE BUGS?!"
Fyrenn had to bellow just to make his voice carry the scant few feet to Varan. The cavern was filled with so many darting, flitting drones that the sound of their wings was like the din of a hurricane.
Varan made no attempt to reply. He was too busy keeping the tiny, precious bubble of clear air intact on his side. Fyrenn was responsible for the other half of the equation. Together, the brothers' swords, beaks, wings, and claws had been able to maintain a defense line against the swarm.
But their strength was waning steadily.
The Changelings did not seem keen to commit to a final assault. Such an action would have probably ended the battle sooner, even instantly, but also cost the lives of more drones in total. The Hive had all the time in the world, and no intention of squandering that advantage.
Fyrenn took a step back, knelt, and spread his wings over Skye as the assault intensified.
"We just have to hold out a little longer!"
Varan raised an eyebrow as he spun into an enemy, driving his sword directly through its abdomen.
"I fear your optimism is misplaced!"
The red Gryphon shook his head once sharply as he twirled his sword. The sharp tip dug into half a dozen chitin-armored sides, and the pain seemed to ward off the drones' assault for the briefest of moments.
"Those two have come through for us before in the clutch. We have to trust that they'll do it again!"
"If I were you, I wouldn't do that again. She's clearly just a wee bit stronger than you."
IJ grimaced as Skye helped her to her feet.
"Sarcasm notwithstanding; you are correct. I can not face her directly, unless some variable changes drastically."
The Queen seemed content to circle at a distance, smirking to herself as she waited for her opponents to make the first move. Skye followed the dark silhouette with her eyes as she spoke.
"Hang on... What is all this really?"
IJ raised an eyebrow, but did not interrupt, so the Unicorn continued.
"I just mean that... Well this is all in our heads, right? What does all this," she waved a hoof at IJ, then the Queen, "What do your attacks, represent?"
The Pegasus nodded slowly, at last comprehending the question.
"They represent attacks of the mind. Mostly by brute force of will. The Queen has the power of the Hive's collective will behind her, and thus I am outmatched."
Skye nodded, and IJ shifted uncomfortably as she continued.
"Aside from this..."
The Pegasus paused, and glanced away. Skye stamped a hoof in exasperation, and IJ glared as she finished.
"She is attacking me within as well as without. It breaks my concentration, and further diminishes my will."
"What... You mean like, she's--?"
Skye cocked her head in confusion. IJ sighed, and her head drooped.
"She is subjecting me to an emotional torrent. Past memories of pain, suffering, hatred, frustration, loss, and hopelessness garnered from the stored minds of ancestors. I doubt I can cope with very much more."
Skye's head remained tilted, though her eyes and tone softened somewhat.
"So why isn't she doing the same to me?"
The Pegasus glowered at her enemy as she spoke.
"Because if she harms you, she may break the connection that allows her access to our minds. You are the one facilitating it."
Skye stiffened, locking her eyes on the horizon as thoughts raced through her mind.
"Yes..." Her monotone underscored the fact that her attention had been well and truly snagged, "...Yes I am."
It was IJ's turn to tilt her head quizzically, "What are you thinking?"
The Unicorn turned to her compatriot, "I'm thinking I need time to prepare these spells. Do you think you can endure a few more attacks? Keep her busy for me while I figure this out?"
IJ ruffled her wings, and snorted, turning to face the Queen once more.
"I think I do not have a choice."
Skye sighed, and knelt to begin her preparations, murmuring, "Not exactly a ringing endorsement, but I'll take it."
Earth Calendar: 2117
Equestrian Calendar: 15 AC (After Contact)
March 19th, Gregorian Calendar
Lantry paced back and forth in front of the screen for several moments in complete silence.
When he had finished his internal contemplation, he turned to face the room. Aside from Neyla, and General Sorven, most of the occupants were either senior staff from the Blue Ridge, or JRSF commanders.
Lantry's voice was measured, but Neyla thought she detected a hint of concern and curiosity as well.
"Anyone have any theories, no matter how far fetched, as to why the PER were occupying a base that our best sigint insisted was an HLF installation?"
After several more moments of silence, punctuated only by nervous shuffling, Lantry spread his hands.
"Don't be shy folks. You all handled the unexpected variables in this situation better than anyone could have asked or hoped for. Right now, I'm just trying to pick those tactical brains of yours for answers. I'm not angry now, but if you sit on something, no matter how 'ridiculous' you think it is, and then later it turns out to be information that would have saved lives? You can bet your ass I'll be angry."
The General pointed towards the compartment's only window, "Tomorrow is a day too late, and the only penalty for stupid ideas is a little wasted breath."
Neyla tapped once on the table with a single talon to preface her question.
"How, precisely, did signals intelligence come to the conclusion that the facility belong to the Front in the first place?"
One of the technicians, a male Unicorn, spoke up.
"A series of parallel processing AI flagged shipping manifests for goods bound to the warehouse. A cluster of servers was re-tasked to monitor all communications going in and out, and low frequency encrypted data streams were discovered."
Sorven turned to face the Equine, "How much of the data was decrypted?"
The Unicorn gestured towards the main screen with one hoof, while manipulating an oversized holographic interface with the other.
"More than enough to tell us that this was HLF activity. No doubt."
Neyla pointed at the screen with her own claw, "And how old is this intelligence?"
The technician called up a series of timestamps.
"Approximately two weeks. There is a delay between the time a message is sent, and the time we have it on our desks. The queue for analysis and decryption is many many petabytes in size for any single given city."
The Gryphoness shrugged, and glanced up at Lantry.
"Two weeks? That's just before we began sweeping the city. It's possible the HLF moved out, or changed location, in response to our aggressive search patterns. The PER were less well informed in this instance, and so they seized on what they believed to be a fortuitous opportunity."
The General nodded slowly, "That's certainly a passable theory. If that's the case though? I'm concerned as to how the HLF gained awareness of our plans so swiftly. Clearly the PER did not."
The analyst raised his hoof. Upon a nod from Lantry, he spoke, allowing himself a small smile.
"There is some good news in that vein. The PER don't have a particularly strong presence in the Pacific Northwest yet. Low population density overall, and a decent distance of separation from the Barrier, combined with a slightly pro-Human stilt to the demographics. Based on the fallout chatter we've been observing? I'd say last night's raid eliminated the main PER bastion in this city."
Lantry didn't smile outright, but the corner of his mouth pulled upwards ever so slightly, and his tone grew several shades warmer.
"That is good news."
He paused to survey the room, then leaned forward, placing his hands on the table, "I won't keep you any longer. You've all got a lot of work to do tomorrow, so I'll leave you to it."
He turned to the analyst, "I want your teams to focus on finding out if Neyla's theory holds true. Everyone else? Keep your eyes open and your minds sharp. I don't like surprises"
Both shipping containers were seemingly innocuous enough. Like trillions of others that passed in and out of the Northamerizone each day, they were a dull shade of off-white, with black rubberized bumpers on their corners.
Each had a numeric identifier stenciled across their corrugated aluminum side, and a small glowing control panel beside the door that contained both the locking mechanism, and the RFID tracking chip.
Since practically the only Human intervention in the shipping industry consisted of security guards, and aircraft pilots, the majority of a package's journey was dictated by data on its RFID chip.
Everything from drone based trucks, to the robotic cranes that loaded and unloaded them, would scan the chip at periodic intervals to ensure secure tracking of a package, and proper delivery. Size was no issue. The concept applied to everything from the smallest of holiday gifts, to the largest of dry goods containers.
The data on the first container's chip showed that it was destined for a small dwelling in the suburbs of Vancouver. Shipped by ocean going vessel, both crates had arrived in the harbor before the JRSF began shutting down, or severely constricting, access routes to the city.
Due to the lower priority assigned to heavy containers however, and the ship's place at the very end of the queue, the crates had waited in limbo for several days.
Once finally unloaded by an enormous robotic crane, they were shuffled onto an immense conveyor arm that carried them to a dockside shipping warehouse. Once inside, they were transferred to a second crane, which loaded them into an appropriate shipping bay.
The system didn't balk in the slightest at the idea of shipping a seventy five ton container to a residential dwelling. The practice of using entire shipping containers to store one's belongings while moving was commonplace.
The AI in charge of the facility merely assigned a special order drone truck to transport the monstrosity across the few intervening miles to its destination.
While it was common practice for every package in a shipping system to be scanned multiple times, the two crates in question were heavily shielded by inner lead and refractive ceramic linings.
Normally, such an oddity would have triggered a failsafe, and a Human guard would have been automatically called to search the container. But the two containers in question were equipped with military override codes, which dismissed the system flags the moment they arose.
As the AI-driven truck pulled away with the first container, the second was diverted automatically to a special loading bay. Tagged with a second special code, the package was also marked with an external black and orange paint stripe; Diplomatic parcel. Armed guards and a crewed transport required.
Within a few hours, a large crewed truck arrived from the Vancouver Earthgov complex. Two loading technicians, a driver, and six armed Military Policemen.
Within a few moments, with the assistance of the cranes, the technicians had strapped the mysterious enormity to the back of the truck. None of the personnel on site had the authorization to look inside the crate, not even to verify that the cargo was intact.
Anything marked 'Diplomatic,' from a bag, on up to a full sized aircraft, was considered sacrosanct by the highest of laws. Opening a diplomatic parcel was an automatic sentence of life in prison. No trial. No parole. No appeal.
So the men got back into the truck without further ado, nor questions, and made their way carefully onto the highway.
The crate's RFID specified that it was to be delivered directly to the Earthgov Complex, so the men followed their instructions without the slightest amount of curiosity or reservation. They had performed similar tasks thousands of times over.
They had no way to know that their cargo was alive. And dangerous.
Earth Calendar: 2117
Equestrian Calendar: 15 AC (After Contact)
Fourth Month, Nineteenth Day, Celestial Calendar
At an insistent tap from IJ's right hoof, Skye opened her eyes and glanced up.
"Did I mention how vital it is that you let me concentrate?"
"Repeatedly."
IJ winced, and doubled over briefly, before continuing.
"However, I feel it is only fair to warn you that I can not withstand another encounter under these conditions."
Skye exhaled slowly, and rose from her kneeling position, "Well... I suppose I'm as prepared as I can be."
IJ raised one eyebrow as she paused to work out cramps in her wings.
"Forgive me if I do not seem overly encouraged by your bright and optimistic words."
The Unicorn offered her companion a wry smile, nudging her lightly with a hoof.
"I knew you had a sense of humor in there somewhere."
"Our reprieve will not last. I believe she may suspect something."
IJ raised one hoof in the direction of the Queen, whose circling steps had begun to draw closer with each pass, "We should begin now."
Skye nodded slowly, and her horn began to glow with a soft, but steadily brightening aura.
"This plan happens in two parts. The first is the shield, and the second is the sword. I will be most vulnerable conjuring the second part of the spell, so it is up to you to keep her busy while I'm doing that."
The light at the tip of the Unicorn's horn reached a steady glow, and she leaned forward, "I'm not entirely sure what this will be like... So brace yourself."
Skye closed her eyes, and began directing the pent up magic towards IJ. At first, it merely took the form of ice blue eddies and swirls, mixed with hints of amethyst. After several seconds, however, it began to adhere to the Pegasus, like flakes of snow coalescing and melting.
Rather than running off her skin, the magic behaved as if it were molten steel. Under the direction of the Unicorn's concentration, it gradually began to separate and shape itself to her will. Piece by piece, the magic formed; First appearing to be a gelatinous substance, then hardening into something resembling Onyx, but with the specular colors of a twilight sky.
The lurid light of the dream world caught the blue shards in dazzling ways, lending it striations of orange and red that made no sense from the standpoint of traditional physics.
As the final plates materialized around IJ's head, she staggered, as if she had been leaning forward into a gale force wind that had abruptly dissipated.
Skye smiled, "Feel better?"
IJ's eyes widened. She searched for the voices and images that had been piercing her skull since the Queen's first attack. She found only blissful silence.
"How have you accomplished this?!"
Skye's expression hardened, "I don't think we have time for me to harp on my brilliance just yet."
IJ turned to follow the Unicorn's gaze, and noted that the Queen was approaching at an alarming speed. Clearly the Changeling monarch had realized a plan was in the offing.
IJ tensed, and re-entered her combat stance.
"As much as this is certainly an improvement... How do you plan on circumventing the will of the entire Hive?"
Skye glared off into the horizon.
"You let me worry about that. Just go on keeping her busy. If she gets to me, I won't be able to sustain the spell that's protecting you."
IJ dug in her hooves, and growled, "She will not get near you. Not while I still live."
Fyrenn winced as his shoulder absorbed another direct strike. Varan shifted slightly as he felt the reverberations. Both Gryphons were so tightly pressed for space that they were back to back over Skye, all four wings folded into a complete protective canopy over her.
Around them, the Hive swarmed with a renewed vigor. Fyrenn wasn't sure whether to take it as a good sign, or a bad sign. He swiftly came to the conclusion that it didn't matter. Either something would change within the next few moments, or they would all be dead.
As he swung his sword up, slicing one errant drone almost completely in half on its own momentum, he drew a deep enough breath to make his voice heard.
"We made a good account of ourselves!"
Varan nodded, "That we did."
Fyrenn shifted his head to avoid an incoming attack. Space was running out, and the Hive's fury was intensifying with greater and greater speed. The red Gryphon could no longer see his other companions, and the inert form they were guarding.
"We all have to go sometime... But I'm grateful I don't have to die alone."
Varan smiled, in a rare display of his emotions, with no reservation, "As am I."
"Impressive young one. But ultimately futile. You can not withstand the will of the swarm!"
The Queen punctuated her words with a vicious kick that sent her smaller opponent skidding away. IJ dug in her hooves, and managed to remain upright.
"So you insist. But here I still stand."
The Changeling monarch stiffened, and raised her head.
"You stand because I permit it. And you will fall because we will it."
The Pegasus allowed herself a small wry smirk, "There is a saying among the Pegasi. Loud the wind, but weak the storm."
The Queen hissed, and fired a green bolt from her horn.
"I shall make you rue your impertinence!"
IJ sidestepped and rolled. The bolt struck her armor at steep angle, and ricocheted off into the distance. She continued her roll until it brought her into an upright stance.
From behind her, Skye's voice rang out, "And we're gonna make you rue your arrogance!"
The words were accompanied by a reverberation. The sound was dull, but deep. It seemed to emanate from the Unicorn's position on the ground, and swell outwards into the very fabric of the world. The Queen's expression shifted abruptly to one of mild confusion.
At first, it seemed as if the spell had generated no effect whatsoever. But then IJ noticed, with a start, that the streams of hieroglyphs that had filled the air since she arrived were steadily and swiftly blinking out of existence.
As the process gained momentum, the ground seemed to curl inwards from the horizon. Within moments, the dull roar of the Hive mind had vanished entirely, and the space had morphed from an infinite plane into a small sphere.
The Queen's eyes narrowed, "What have you done?!"
Skye smiled, "We're in my head. So we're going to do this on my terms."
"You have disrupted our link to the Hive."
The Unicorn dipped her head, "Disruption spells are something of a calling card for me. I hope that collective will of yours wasn't important or anything."
The obsidian colored monarch lunged forward, hissing in fury and loosing a myriad of bolts from her horn. Skye had to scramble to avoid the majority of the feverish assault. Despite her evasive actions, she still suffered two impacts. The hits drove her to the curved surface of the battlefield, but she managed to maintain her twin spells.
IJ lost no time in seizing the opportunity.
Whether out of a desperate desire to regain her connection to the Hive, or pure unbridled fury, the Queen seemed totally fixated on Skye. She rammed her sharp hooves into the ground, the serrated extrusions at their tips shattering the very fabric of the simulated reality.
Skye rolled, barely avoiding a puncturing blow to the head. Mustering every iota of spare strength, she fired a bolt from her own horn, directly into the Queen's face.
The damage was minimal, but it gave IJ precisely the window she needed.
The Pegasus flared her wings, and coiled her hind legs. As the bolt struck she released the pent up energy of her muscles, fueled by a mix of desperation, fury, and throbbing pain.
She landed directly on the queen's back, and lost no time in biting down on one wing. She tore the limb loose with all the strength she could muster, eliciting a primitive and eerie cry of pain from the monarch.
IJ spit out the bitter shards of membrane, and shouted at the top of her lungs, "Give me a weapon! NOW!"
Reacting more by instinct than by intellect, Skye frantically ripped apart the threads of her armor spell, and pulled on the nodes she believed would accomplish her purpose. The vambrace plates on IJ's front legs abruptly extruded outward into glittering razor sharp blades.
The Pegasus brought her head alongside the Queen's as the Changeling attempted to displace the offending Pony by bucking and gyrating wildly.
"You can not withstand the will of the free."
Before the enraged creature could react, IJ poured the last of her strength, and the entirety of her fury, into her forelegs. The needle points of Skye's spell drove straight into the Queen's skull, cutting until the blades were swallowed in their entirety.
As IJ pulled back in revulsion, and dove away, the blades separated from the plates that begat them, and continued to sink into the Changeling's projection.
The sound that emanated from the Queen's open muzzle made her previous cry of pain seem like little more than a stifled groan. The sound was so piercing that Skye began to wonder if her ears would bleed.
Untamed arcs of green energy sprung forth from the Queen's horn, shattering the bounds of the world wherever they impacted. As her scream continued, the horn itself began to glow in a series of expanding spider-webbing rifts.
At last, with a crack reminiscent of a lightning bolt, her horn split. The rift propagated outward with astonishing speed, expanding into a myriad of cracks across her entire body, and the remainder of the collapsing world.
IJ and Skye barely had time to shield their heads before everything came apart in a final flash of white.