"I don’t see anything." Ralisea pouted. "Just a bunch of trees."
"Ya." Colicer added. "Why are we up here?"
"You need to look at it in the big picture." I say. "Only then will you see."
"So we have to fly up?" Ralisea asked.
"No, just look, don’t think." I add. We have been at this for 3 hours, and they couldn't see it.
"Ok... Oh wait! I think I see something!" Colicer yelled out.
"Okay, what do you see?" I ask.
"It looks like... lines? In the tree tops." Ralisea said.
"Yep, but take a look at what those dark patches hold within."
"Well" Ralisea started. "I see hydras in one area. Some Manticores in another... I think I see a flock of... what were those chicken like things again?"
"They are Cockatrices." I said. Keep going.
"There are some dragons, and that’s about it..."
"Yes, but look closer at them." I edged them on.
"The dragons look like they are in circles," Ralisea said. "Are they defending something?"
"That’s right, and yes, that’s their nesting ground. What you can't see is the lava flow underground heating the eggs." I told them. "Look at the Cockatrices now."
"They are flying low to the trees." Colicer said. "Looks like they are hunting."
"Yes, that’s true, but watch what happened when they reach the line in the tree tops." I said. And sure enough, when they reached the parting of the trees, they changed course.
"Why did they turn? Couldn’t they just keep flying?" Ralisea asked.
"They could have, but then they would have entered the territory of the hydras." I told them. "Those lines in the trees are where there territories meet. If they cross over the lines, then they run the risk of becoming prey items themselves. But as long as they all stay in the lines, they will live in peace."
"Then why do they seem so violent up close?" Colicer asked.
"Because you’re in their territory, and they may either see you as a threat, or a prey item. If you look around every hive in the world, you will see that they, too, have their own border." I said. "Even Equestria has them, you just can't see them because they cut all the trees inside of them down."
"Really?" they both asked in unison.
"Yes, really, no matter how advanced or civilized you think you are." I said as I looked out over the forest. "You still have your borders with everything else."
"Wow... that’s so cool." Colicer said.
"Makes me feel better about the world, seeing as everything is basically on the same level."
"Yes, now time has passed. I must get you two home before your parents get mad." I say.
"Aww... do we have to?" Ralisea asked.
"Yes, your parents would scold me, and you for getting home late." I say to them. I stand up, "Now, let’s make haste to your hives."
................................................................................................................................................
"So how has your day been going?" Caralint asked.
"So far, so good, how about you?" I reply. I was in her room. A large bed in the far end, some wool on the floor, and a good amount of bookshelves on the walls. The ceiling was a dome made of rock with bio-luminescent shards embedded in it to mimic the night sky. It wasn't as elaborate as Carcen's room, but it was better then some.
"I’m quite good, especially after that... meeting." She said, looking down at some crystals on a tray.
"I can understand that, I do plan on checking in on Alena sometime today." I said. "Her medics said that she would be fine, but I just want to make sure."
"Yes, I understand, and I would join you too, if I could spare the time." she said. "Duties of a queen have picked up with the drama with her." she added, putting a bit of venom on that last bit.
"Ah, yes, I understand, I'll make sure she knows." I say.
"Please do" she said. "I just wish I could go out looking for that no good whore of a queen!" She almost yelled.
"Well... that’s one way to put it. And I do feel the pain. But there are a few things she said at that meeting that scares me." I said.
"Like what?" Caralint asked, trying to calm herself down.
"When she was ta- er, yelling about hive size, she said her army was more than 15,000 strong." I said.
"Ya, so? She has one of the biggest armies in the changeling empire." She said.
"Well, when you look at how fast she is losing emotional jell, which is about 5 pounds a week, a single soldier would need 10 pounds a day. Now that’s already a lot of jell, but by protocol, the civilian to soldier ratio of a hive can't be more than 3:1. And that she has changelings in 25 cities. Now when you add it up, something is not right." I explain.
"You think that she has broken protocol?" she asks.
"With the way the math works, I don't think, I know." I said. "If anything, she wants to make a stronger army that may lead to putting them first, and civilians second."
"Wait, hold on," she stammers, "do you really think that she would do all of that? I mean I know that she has done wrong, but I'm no queen for punishing her for crimes she didn't commit."
"Well, since her little performance last night, all trade will be cut off. I want to know how much jell she was taking in by trade, think you can get that for me?" I ask.
"Sure, it will take a day or two but I can find it." She says, "Why?"
"Because if that trade income is more than 500 pounds a day," I say, "then we might have to start taking in refugees."
................................................................................................................................................
"Caralint sends her regards." I tell Alena, who is stretched out on her bed. Her room was floored with mossy stone and had chain mail on the walls, the ceiling has an assortment of chains holding up candles. She didn't like to use the bio-luminescent jell because "it gave off too much light."
"Tell her that I said thank you." the stricken queen replies. "I have already been getting messages from queens all over the world about this."
"Big news travels fast in the hives." I say. "Seems the same for every species."
"Yes, I know..." she says. “Hopefully this will widen the search."
"It will, and all trade has been cut off as well, so I hear." I tell her.
"That will only make her more dangerous." Alena says. "No telling how far she will go to feed her kingdom."
"Her highness has taken the measures needed and is adding support to the neighboring hives." I tell her, "She is even sending an extra 1,000 soldiers here if they are needed."
"1,000 soldiers?" She asks, "That’s quite the number, then again, Empress Icarus has the only army bigger than Chrysalis."
"That is true," I say, "I also hear that she wants to hold an emergency queen meeting sometime soon."
"Really? I do believe that the last queen meeting was only seven years ago." Alena says. "Then again, why wait another three years on something like this?"
"I wouldn't wait either," I say. "Best to act fast before a problem starts rather than to wait and see what happens."
"And that’s the attitude that got you to Master General Rank in Icarus's army." she said. "If only you could attend more meetings."
"I understand that. But a few things happened that put me in an emotional rut." I reply.
"Yes, that night goddess and her mishap with that spell. I've heard of it."
"I'm surprised that story still goes around." I say.
"Well it does." she says flatly. "Now, could you do me a favor?"
"What would this favor be?" I ask.
"I was hoping that you could check up on old Ralcula, she may need some help with a few things and all." Alena replies.
"Ah, okay, I can guess why," I say. "Shall I carry a message?"
"Just ask if she is well and how the hive is." she says.
"Okay, I’ll be on my way." I say before I walk out.
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After a four hour walk I came to a halt at two massive gates in the side of a northern mountain. Pine trees stood strong as the mountains rock. I walked up to the stone gate, it was bland and had no shapes in it. I knocked on the gate and waited for a reply. But I saw a quick movement off to my upper right. Before I could look closer the gate slowly swung open.
I stepped inside quickly and was greeted by a platoon of 25 guards, all saluted me on site. I saluted back by swinging my arm onto my chest and they went at ease. One of them flew up to me. "Sir, the queen will be here soon, she went on a walk."
I looked at the solder, "she sure does like her walks, any idea when she will be back?"
"Within five minutes, sir." he replied. I let him stick to the formalities so he wouldn't make a mistake in front of Ralcula.
"Thank you" I simply reply to the soldier, who salutes and leaves. I take the moment of peace and look around, the hall looked like a museum than an operating hive. Banners made of spider silk hung from the main support beams, of which were carved in a smooth curve. The banners had a look of repair so I could tell they were not replicated. Cast iron cauldrons that hung in the air by chains that spread to the walls held enchanted fire that would not go out or emit smoke. The walls were decorated with spider silks painted to depict warriors of the past standing strong over their fallen enemies. The floor was made of hardened clay that had hot water under it to heat the floor. There were various potted plants including a large bonsai tree that was very well kept. Before I could look much further, the gates swung open again.
"Ah, my dear general, it’s such a pleasure to see you." Ralcula said, the 4 soldiers who were flanking her departed and the gates closed.
Her main was split and was well on its way of losing the green color to a white. Her horn was chipped and her skin wrinkled from her years. Her spinal plate was worn thin and flaking, and her prosthetic front left leg added an extra click to the floor. Her age showed but so did her knowledge. She was one of the last queens to have seen Luna before the incident and was even born during discords rule. In all, she was 1549 years old. The normal life expectancy of a queen is 1500, so she knew her time was short, but wished to enjoy it.
"It’s nice to see an old friend from time to time." I said. "How have you been?"
"Oh I’ve been well," she replied, “I heard that something happened over where you have set up a home, but the letter became blurry for my eyes, could you explain?"
"Chrysalis is at it again." I said, "But she's taken it a bit far"
"oh, she’s always been a troubled one," she said, "I, recall this one instance, when she was only three winters old, I was nursing dear Calcite, and she comes up, she wants some milk, and I tell her to wait. Well, she decides to bite her sister on the back of the neck. It took me and two guards to get her off of pore Calcite." she gave a light chuckle, "oh... but pray tell me what has she gotten herself into this time?"
"She almost killed another queen at a district meeting" I said flatly.
"Oh dear, I always knew something like this would happen..." she said, "Please, let’s continue in my chambers."
We walked the short distance to the doors and were inside. I heard the bang of the bolts closing, making a mental note. The inside was decorated just like the hall, but on the wall there was a silk portrait of her in her younger years with her family. Off to one of the walls, there was a large aquarium with native fish in it.
"So, is the pore queen alright?" she asks.
"She will live, but she did take a nasty hit to the spinal plate." I say, "Chrysalis got away though..."
"Well, she was very crafty at escapes, I don't see why she wouldn't be now." Ralcula says, "I would help in the search, but I’m afraid that the area she is in is just too far from here..."
"Its fine, I believe the hives there can handle it for now." I say.
"Yes, for now yes..." she says, she watches the fish tank closely, "but once she decides to put her mind to it..." she pores some fish food into the tank and looks up to me, "nothing will stop her from attacking."
................................................................................................................................................
I was back home thinking to myself, watching the lake go to sleep when Rainbow Dash flies over.
"Hey radar, think you can help with something?"
"Such as?" I ask.
"Well, there’s this new unicorn in town and she’s acting like a snob and like she’s the best at everything." she says, "think you can show off?"
I stand up and look her in the eye, “I don’t show off, I dominate."
................................................................................................................................................
We reached Ponyville to the sounds of screams and yelling. "The hell?"
“I don’t know what happened, but we need to act fast!" rainbow says before flying off.
I take three steps before a roar comes from the town, and my heart stops. "There is only one thing that has that kind or roar..." I say to myself. “Let’s pray to every god that the mother isn't here."
I move through the town, keeping my head below the housetops. My heart was racing as I got closer. I came to the library where twilight and the others were standing.
"Ok girls, I have a plan, but I need him in position." she said
I cleared my throat, “I believe this is where I come in."
................................................................................................................................................
I charged the Ursula minor at full speed from down the street. And right to Twilights plan, he bolted. I kept right up with him and would nip at his back feet to guide him. I almost had him there when a blue shield formed in front of me. I struck it head on and it shattered like nothing. I kept up with the minor when I heard a yelling from my side. I looked down to see a blue unicorn running beside me.
"Halt or the great and powerful Trixie will make you halt!" she yelled out. I didn't mind it so I just put my next footstep a little closer to her. She was startled and tripped up.
The minor was in the spot so I gunned it in front of him and turned his way. He skidded to a halt and started to back away. That’s when twilight came into play.
I turned to her when a blast of magic struck my face and signed it. I turned to see the blue unicorn again. She had her horn lit and was aiming at me. The next shot she fired I sidestepped, it ended up striking a house. I started to walk forward but kept to the side as twilight did her thing. I came up to the unicorn and she shot another spell at me, this time it bounced off my back armor and went skyward.
I was now towering over her, looking right down. She was staring up at me, and even at the distance, I could see her shaking like a tree in a storm. So I decided to give her a quick burst of sound waves.
Even since I didn't charge it, she fell backwards, got back up, and bolted for an alleyway, but I was faster. I blocked the path with my leg and snapped at her. I got a hold of her tale and flung her up in the air. As she fell she was screaming until I caught her in my mouth. I gave her a little shake when Twilight came up to me.
"Radar. Spit her out. Now"
I opened my mouth and let her fall to the ground. She slowly got up and looked around. "What just happened?"
"You just got dominated." I said with a toothy grin.
"Well, that may be so, but this is not the last you have seen or the great and powerful Trixie!" she said before a cloud of smoke appeared. And as it dissipated we could see her running off in the distance. Rainbow was about to chase her when Twilight stopped her.
"No, she’s not worth it rainbow."
As they walked away, I picked up a rock with my claw, through it in the air, and struck it with my tale. I could just make out the rock make contact with Trixie’s head. Satisfied, I walked back to where twilight was.
"So, Radar, how was your day?" Twilight asked me.
"It was okay, just doing what I do." I replied. "Just doing what I do..."