Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR
Step Up
[White Tail Woods, Monday 700 hours ]
“This is pretty impressive.” Pip whistles looking over the garden Applebloom had found.
“I know right?” Applebloom chimes.
The poultice’s and healing potions Applebloom had made had perked her cousin up again, but she was still leery of letting him wander around. Granted, much like his father, Applebloom expected it would take Pip losing a couple of legs before he finally would admit he was hurt. Still she had a secret weapon, she told Scootaloo to make sure he didn't over exert himself. While the diminutive colt might not listen to anything Applebloom said, she was willing to bet her last bit Pip would listen to the mare he was crushing on without any arguments at all.
“Bah, plants, there's a whole hidden set of ruins over there ready to be explored for treasure over by those other root things and we came to look at flowers.“ Scootaloo grumbles.
Of course, Applebloom sighed to herself, Scootaloo had to be paying attention to Pip to notice if he was over doing it. The pegasus herself had recovered full use of her wing rather quickly. Once Pip was treated Applebloom had a chance to look at some of the residue that came off her friends wing. It seemed like it was nothing more than some sort of fire retardant mix, one that was fairly weighted and seemed to cling like glue. She could think of a number of uses for it such as flame proofing a house or trees before a forest fire. That their attackers had used it as a weapon made her think they dealt with fire being used against them often, maybe there were phoenix’s in the forest?
“Hey there's dandelions over here! I love dandelions!” Sweetiebelle called out from the other side of the patch of plants happily munching on something.
“Let me know if there's any snow berries. I haven’t had those in a while.” Scootaloo states gliding over to one of the pillars looking over some of the ivy dangling off the massive root.
“Those only blossom in tha winter or up north. Yah could have got some while we were in tha Crystal Empire.” Applebloom calls.
“I did. I already ate them all though.” Scootaloo admits tugging at the ivy.
“So this is tha skull?” Pip states sitting down in front of it and picking it up to look it over.
“Huh yeah I tripped over that when I found this place.” Applebloom states walking over to the heavily bandaged pony. “ You alright?”
“Fine, didna feel like trying to pick this up with only three good legs.” Pip admits. “ Ah think you were right. Looks jus like a Changeling. No damage on it, so he didna die from a head wound any way.”
Pip sets the skull aside pushing around the sand by where it had buried.
“Rest of tha body ain't here.” Pip states though he blinks staring at something before rising back to his hooves, sweeping more sand away with a hoof.
“What is it?” Applebloom walks up noting Pip had uncovered a stone under a bit of sand and he was currently uncovering more of it as he went further down across the garden.
“There's a stone here, it's flat, looks like it's been worked and it goes all that way over here.” Pip states stopping where one of the giant roots came down.”
“ There one over here on this side too.” Sweetiebelle calls.” It's not covered in sand though. OOH Raspberries I love Raspberries.”
Pip moves to one side of the garden clearing off some sand and finding another long stone between the two roots.
“Four roots coming down like this, an some pony built a planter box between um.” Pip theorizes.
“So the garden's not natural.” Applebloom blinks.
“OOOh there's strawberries, I love strawberries..... aww they're still green. Wait there's a ripe one!” Sweetiebelle shouts excitedly.
“Got something up here too.” Scootaloo calls yanking down more vines. “ Looks like some kinda crystal triangle. It's reflecting my wing fire something fierce too.”
Applebloom considers. “Scoots check that root on this side see if there's one there too.”
“Right.” Scootaloo flies over to the root indicated. “Yeah, no vines on this one though, It's glowing kinda faintly silver, like moon light or something.”
“Moonlight?” Pip asks, looking around the area and noting the only light was from Scootaloo's wings, the myriad of glowing ponds around, and the flickering light of Sweetiebelle's horn. “Ah thought you said this place was fulla sunlight?”
“It was, see how lot of tha plants are leaning towards that root pillar Scootaloo is at. That's where the sun came in.” Applebloom states as Scootaloo flies over to the other roots, calling back that there were other crystals hidden in vines there too.
“That dun make any sense, it's early morning, if tha sun's up there shouldn't be moon light.” Pip questions. “Sweetiebelle yah sure that watch you bought is set right?”
“No. I didn't even plan to open it, but noooo you had to know the time and couldn't let me leave it sealed for Lion Heart's Hearth warming gift.” Sweetiebelle grumbles.
“It's a pocket watch!” Scootaloo calls.
“So?”
“He doesn't wear anything that has pockets!” Scootaloo fusses back.
“I'm sure my sister would love an excuse to make him some dashing vest or something. It was a double gift.” Sweetiebelle admits.
“Cheapskate” Scootaloo huffs.
“Well this was pointless. Guess this place is part of Scootaloo's ruins though.” Applebloom comments.
=================================================
[Crystal Empire, 700 hours]
“Moons still up. Some pony wanna go tell the Princess to hurry it up.” Shining comments looking into the sky from his balcony.
“Relax Shiny. Luna said that it would be up a few more hours today to compensate for the length the sun was up yesterday. We already told all the ponies that so no one should be worrying.” Cadence placates.
“If you say so. This new guest of ours has me on edge too.” Shining comments trotting back into their room glancing at Cadence as she shifts in front of her mirror prepping herself for the day. He was rather glad he only had to look ready for action, rather than presentable to nobility like his wife did.
It was yet another little social requirement that Kaisur had turned on its ear when he became Princess Luna's consort, and yet like a few others, it had wound up being a benefit to him as well.
He still had to dress up for parties or big events, but given he had taken to wearing his armor for such events he could still slack a little in how his mane looked. Princess Celestia had forced Major Kaisur to wear Lunar Guard armor and attend the Grand Galloping Gala about six years ago in an effort to make him presentable for the visiting dignitaries. In response he had worn the first Lunar Guard armor he was given, which was the one made out of Tank bones. Celestia never made him attend another Gala after that
“He is rather unsettling isn't he. Still I'm more upset he didn't have any information on Tirek, or how to cure the ponies in a coma.” Cadence sighs. “I do feel rather bad for him, Twilight, Celestia, and maybe Rhede, were the only ones who might know enough about Tartarus to help Grace.”
“Zecora, too. Not that that helps either.“ Shining comments moving to a door in the wall and pulling it open, glancing into the nursery next to their rooms his ears perked not hearing any sound save the collected foals soft slumber. Closing the door back quietly he moved over to Cadence nuzzling her lightly before she put on her make up. “I still think we should have told Luna.”
“Given her state of mind I think the last thing she would want to see is some thing that looks like Jer'rahd running around. Besides she had already gone to bed when he got here. Did he say why he looks like that?”
“No. Bleu thinks it has to do with his spending so much time with Jer'rahd, it's like it's his default form now when he can't be a massive dragon. “
“So why isn't he a massive dragon?” Cadence questions.
“Something about power suppression, container capacity and link sensitivity. I dunno, it's mostly griffonese to me. Of course given that he kept switching between Equestrian and what Spike called Proto Draconic, so it's even worse than griffonese. At least Spike and Bleu understand him clearly, a couple of the half dragons too. They can't explain why, but they understand everything he says.”
“Well Troph is supposedly the first dragon god, so maybe there's some primal connection there. At least Spike and Bleu are keeping an eye on him.”
“Thankfully that's not an issue at least, he wouldn't be a danger even if they were not watching him. He only wants one thing and we're the only ones who can help him with that, provided he helps us. As a side note do you know why Locust requested today off?” Shining asks.
“Not really, she said there was some issue with the Changelings. It wasn't supposed to be a big deal but she wanted to keep an eye on it.”
“Hmm I'll head out and see what I can find out later, we've got to deal with a whole line of petitioners today first.”Shining sighs. “ All of them complaining about the refugees I bet.”
“Don't remind me.” Cadence sighs. “ You just get to stand there and be handsome. I have to talk to them.”
===========================================
[White Tail Woods, Monday 800 hours]
“You sure you're alright Pippy? You look a little wore out still.” Sweetiebelle questions.
“M'fine.” Pip grumbles, “Applebloom was the one who made us sit down an hour while she checked my bandages.”
“Ah'm making sure that everything thats fine, stays that way. Yah, should be in bed not wandering around looking at underground ruins.” Applebloom grumbles.
“Ah'm fine.... arrow was tha worst of it. Mai back just itches...”
“Well good that means it's workin.” Applebloom snorts. “You're lucky they were just messy gashes and not anything that needed stitches. Ah doubt Sweetiebelle woulda been useful after she tangled herself up in that string.”
“That was like one time!” Sweetiebelle huffs.
“Yeah about four hours ago.”Scootaloo chuckles landing next to them. “ Any way keep it down , there's something going on up there, I heard voices.”
The small group rouses and moves on again, now that Scootaloo had returned from scouting ahead. Before long they were entering the ruins proper
Before them lay a partially flooded hollow in the ground. The water was still and perhaps only an apple deep in places. It was calm enough for the glow from the fungi in it to make it look like the entire pool was a strange blue glowing liquid, rather than water.
A stone city rose out of this shallow pond, the buildings built of mud and rock from the surrounding cavern, some of the structures stretching five or six stories in the air. All of them were remarkably well preserved, and aside from a few lines on the walls showing past water levels there didn't seem to be any real damage to the structures themselves.
The town itself seemed to be built in a circle radiating out from a massively thick root that came down in the middle of the town. Windows and doors were carved into the root all the way up to the cavern's ceiling, along with a host of strange symbols that none of them recognized.
As they sloshed through the shallow water, they heard the shouting Scootaloo had mentioned, followed by a roar that seemed to come from that central structure.
“Come on lets get closer.” Scootaloo states, flying ahead, approaching the center of town.
The place itself was creepy, once they were closer the smell of mildew and mold was rather strong. They could see piled garbage as old as the town left strewn around inside some of the structures. Wooden doors that had rusted and rotted off their hinges lay strewn near a number of doorways and the ones still standing looked ready to fall apart at a touch.
The center of the town was slightly raised and relatively dry, a stone walk way led up the incline from the flooded streets to the structure built in the root. The dry spot itself was covered in moss and strange flowers and plants that Applebloom didn't recognize.
“What is this place.” Pip gasps looking up at the towering root.
A sudden shout like before was followed by the shattering of glass as a figure dove out of one of the windows in the large root, a story off the ground, destroying what looked to be a multi colored stain glass window of some unknown image.
A tan pegasus mare with a gray scale mane and tail, a green jacket and a pith helmet rolls across the ground holding something to her chest with one wing, the other was held flat against her back a number of her main feathers missing.
The reason for the damage was soon apparent as a massive tiger lept out of the window landing heavily on the ground right behind her and rushing forward, spitting out some feathers as it circled in front of her.
The great beast was followed by a lynx, a panther, a cheetah, and a small white house cat. All of them were brandishing weapons of some kind save the tiger who only had armored guards over his forepaws. The panther had a large ax in it's maw, the lynx a dagger, and the cheetah a spear. The house cat had a griffon built crossbow that was larger than it was, yet it still carried it with an air of menace.
The pack of felines quickly surround the mare before she manages to run, though they all hold their place around them as a laugh sounds from the main door of the root structure.
The Crusaders and Pip tilt their heads in confusion as a creature steps out from the door way of the giant root. It was covered in blue and dark gray fur, it's fore legs were large and longer than it's back legs, which resembled a dogs, the bulky forelegs ended in what appeared to be claws, but without the sharp bits. It's long tail ended in another of the strange claw-less appendages. It's body was faintly reminiscent of a gorilla with it's front higher than the back as it strode out the door. It wore a gold necklace, arm bands and a ring on it's tail. The head was what was most disturbing as it was long with a wide mouth like an alligator, though it's eyes and nose were on the very tip of the long fanged snout and it's long rabbit like ears were on the back, a few strands of feathered hair that matched it's general coat color fell down the back of it's neck from just behind it's ears.
“There is no where to run now Daring Doo. I win again.” the creature chuckles. “ Now hand over the book and I will make sure your end is swift.”
“ Forget it Ahuizotl, you're the last one who needs to have this!” Daring shouts back.
The four of them stare at the scene before them with mixed expressions.
“Seriously?” Pip asks deadpan. “ Was there something in that medicine you gave me Bloom?”
“Daring Doo is real?” Applebloom questions. “Either that or there was something wrong with them plants ah mixed.”
“This is so awesome!” Scootaloo grins widely.
“OH COME ON!” Sweetiebelle rants.
====================
[ Crystal Empire, throne room, 900 hours.]
“THAT IS IT!” Princess Cadence bellows suddenly causing everyone in the throne room to flinch at the rare outburst from the pink mare. “Close the doors and lock them, I’ve heard enough for today.”
“You heard the Princess, OUT every pony out, court is closed for today!” Shining Armor yells as the Guards move to force the unruly mob of ponies out of the throne room. He glances down at Cadence a hoof reaching out to rub her back as she groans, burying her face in her hooves.
The gathered mob of protesters shout a few things as the Guards forced them out, but given that one of the Guards in the court today was Major Briar Rose, none of them resisted.
“One hour. It has only been one hour since we opened up the doors and we have had nothing but Canterlot nobles complaining about their living conditions and Empire nobles complaining about the complaints about their living conditions. We've had businesses trying to enact old laws so they could charge the refugees double for everything here as if they were tourists, and refugees demanding to be given things that are not even necessities for free.” Cadence grumbles.
“Not to mention a couple of petitions for tha refugees tah be sent some where else. Then there was that one who wanted tah give up all up tah Tirek in hopes of getting him leaving us alone.” Rose snarls coming back towards the pair after the doors close. “Moskau is meeting with that one later to 'discuss' his plan.”
“And see if he needs to be imprisoned for possibly being a traitor?” Shining Armor sighs.
“Nah, tah scare tha droppings out of him so bad he doesn't even think about it.” Rose grins.
“I knew it was going to be bad but this...... and then there were all the ones bitching about it still being dark outside!” Cadence throws her fore hooves in the air. “ We told them yesterday it was going to be dark longer today. I wish auntie Luna gave us an estimate of how long.”
“She didn't, though it shouldn't be more than a few hours, I'll go find her and ask her in a moment.” Shining offers. “Still keep in mind dear the worst ones were the loudest, but they were not the only ones.”
Cadence smiles at that her magic gripping a few sheets of paper.
“Two offers to clear out some of the mining warehouses to use as longer term storage and lodging, one of those also offering the mines themselves for the changelings. A suggestion to trade gems with the dragons for food in a attempt to strengthen relations as well as keep food in supply, Spike will like that one. A one Coco Pommel offering to craft clothing for the colder nights for free so long as she is supplied materials, given how much cloth was packed away on the ships from the Gallopagos that is an easy one. Granted she also made a request for a book that might have been Rarity's.” Cadence sighs “I'll look into that later. There are a number of offerings of food and shelter, but it's not enough .There are still far too many for us to take care of with out supplies for long. We might have a glut of provisions now, plus the train from New Canterlot, but those supplies won';t last long and the glut is for the Empire's winter preparations.”
“We need to prepare a number of funerals as well. We can have the proper ones later, but there needs to be some sort of closure for ponies. It's been several days already. The Guard force from Canterlot that went to Gallopagos has brought back the scant few ponies remaining. The largest Guard force that went out are all in comas near that bandit camp with the trainees still out there. It's safer for them there, but....”Rose mutters.
“But we need to know who is still alive even partially and who is dead first.” Cadence sighs.
“We know a few of them. Though it feels wrong having a funeral for them without Luna or Twilight present.” Shining grumbles.
“So find Luna and tell her. I'll talk to Applejack and Fluttershy and see what they want to do in regards to Rarity, Rhede, and Velkorn. They were family, or practically that in Rarity's case.” Cadence sighs.
========================================================
[Crystal Empire 900 hours.]
>“Where is she whelp? I do not have time for your playing.”< Troph growls staring at Spike and Bleu who were both sitting before the door in the room he was in.
“Stop calling me that.” Bleu growls. “I'm over a thousand years old now.”
>” A thousand years of that do not count, as you were in slumber, and even if they did you are still a whelp to me.”< Troph growls back. >” Now where is the Night Goddess? Grace is dying and so help me if she dies because of your stalling you will wish Tirek was your only issue.”<
“Oh you threatened the wrong dragon today punk...”
“Both of you give it a rest.” Spike snorts. “ Bleu you are not helping and Troph neither are you. Princess Cadence said she will talk to Luna. The last thing we need is for her to freak out because of the face you are wearing. Like we said before there's three, maybe four ponies who know anything about that gate and all of them are out cold or dead because of Tirek. You want our help then help us deal with him.”
Troph and Bleu both huff angrily, though Spike has to admit Bleu did it a little cuter. Still he was nervous about telling Troph what to do, despite looking like a more draconic half dragon, he had no idea what sort of power the first dragon god possessed.
>“As I told those bothersome ponies before I never had any encounter with Tirek past being used once to contain him. I do not know what or how merely that my power was being used. I was not part of my Element at that time.”<
“Fat lot of good you are.” Bleu growls.
Spike ponders as the pair start bickering again. He wasn't sure why but he felt Troph was humoring her. Likely the creature who represented Loyalty felt he either owed Bleu something, or at least owed Jer'rahd enough not to harm his friends. Still even knowing that, the deaths of Bulk and Grabble proved he was not something to trifle with. This would cause quite a number of problems with their parents, and some of the others who were opposed to working with the ponies would have issue with a 'pony' killing two young dragons. Self defense or not. Still that was something to worry about later, Bleu had informed Spines to stay nearby until they could figure something out. Cadence had allowed the dragon access to a smaller library with easily replaced books when Spike suggested it. He doubted Spines would do anything to the books, it was rare that the dragon had a chance to read, and with his friends gone he wouldn't have to worry about being secretive and thought a nerd or whatever else those two idiots had used as insults.
Right now Spike's biggest concern was information. Something there was precious little of in regards to the monster out there. Troph had been a possible source of information and with him lacking any knowledge and his own abilities not finding anything about any creature named Tirek and only a claw full of passages in some books about something that ate cutie marks, he had nothing to go on. Spike puffs a flicker of green flame from his maw as he thought of something.
“Question Troph. I read before that the one who pulled you and Grace apart from the Elements was one of the books right?”
>” I doubt it was intentionally, but the Jade Scroll claimed credit for mine and Grace's creation. He held some power over me for a while as well, though I know not how.”<
“Crazy book claimed a lot of things when we had him.” Bleu huffed. “ Still not sure how that thing got away from us during the war.”
“Trolls stole it.” Spike states as if it was common knowledge “I have an idea on what we can do. But I’ll need the Sparkles and your help.”
“Oooh, he needs my help?” Bleu coos pressing up again Spike and fluttering her eyes.
>”Drake would you please just mate this mad creature so we can focus on what is important, while she is busy with the eggs in another cave somewhere?”<
“Hey that's sexist you ancient bigot!” Bleu shouts at Troph not noticing Spike's blush.
>”It is not sexist if it's only directed at you. Whelp.”< Troph growls.
“Wait, how come he's a drake and I’m still a whelp!?” Bleu rants.
>”Because unlike you he can think past a hatching level. Which would be a better term for you if I wanted to waste more than one syllable on insulting you. Whelp.”<
“Oh I am so gonna kick your ass...” Bleu growls.
====================================================
[Whitetail Woods 900 hours.]
The sudden shout of Sweetiebelle drew everyone’s attention to the little group standing in front of what might have once been a shop of some kind.
Ahuizotl, Daring Doo, and the cats stared at the four for a moment before the panther and cheetah glanced back at Ahuizotl who nodded and the two rushed over flanking the group as the others moved circling Doo and covering for their missing members.
“So who are these four Doo? More fan club members?” Ahuizotl sneers advancing on Daring Doo towering over the pegasus. ”I am still waiting for my royalties from those books you write that use my likeness without my permission.”
“Oh sure I’ll give those bits right over soon as you legally become a Equestrian citizen. Oh wait you can't, being wanted and all that in several countries.” Daring Doo snarks.
“That is no excuse to use my likeness in your blasted books!”
“That's not you that's another... guy named Ahuizotl.” Daring rolls her eyes.
“I call bupkiss on that Doo, despite your writing that I am a bumbling fool, I have managed to beat you several times, but you never write a book on those encounters.”
“That's because the last thing you beat me in was a pie eating contest at the state fair in that little Diamond Dog town Marl.”
“That still counts!”
“Pfft whatever, you only won cause you flipped open your head and poured in pies.”
“That was a perfectly legit strategy.” Ahuizotl protests. “Any way that is not the point. Give me the tablet and I won't destroy them and you!”
“Well I guess we know who tha bad guy is now.” Applebloom sighs.
“We knew that any way “ Scootaloo grins. “Just from the books!”
“HEY! I'm not the bad guy here! I don't steal priceless works of art from secure vaults and tombs just to destroy the tombs in the process and stuff the stolen relic in a glass case for idiots to gawk at.” Ahuizotl points at Doo.
“And the destroy them comment?” Sweetiebelle asks.
“Dramatic flair.”
“Yeah, sure you don't put the relics in a museum, you just use them to try and have eight hundred years of unending heat, thus turning the world into a barren wasteland.” Daring Doo yells.
“Pfft as if Princess Celestia would have allowed that. That artifact belonged to that tribe and you stole it from, then you broke it!” Ahuizotl rants.
“And the onyx panther statue? The one I stole back from your den?” Daring grumbles.
“That was one time I kept something, and that was because you destroyed the temple! And if we want to talk about villainy, lets talk about villainy like how you admitted you stole from my house. A place that you knew the address because you trashed it before!”
“Oh by the stars, that was my second year in college, I never asked you to bring me back there!”
“Yes you did, you were rather insistent in fact, flirty, quite drunk and wearing a dress that was quite scandalous if I recall. Granted if I had known you were trying to seduce me for my tests answers, poorly I might add, I never would have brought you back there!”
“Oh you enjoyed it!” Daring Doo scoffs. “And clearly it worked because I got them!”
“I lost my tenure because of that, mare!” Ahuizotl rants.
“Yeah and if you ever stopped bitching about it maybe something else might have come of it, but nooooooooo that's all I heard about for the rest of time in school. Is it any wonder I left!?”
“You didn't seem to have any complaints when we were in Mareticarlo!” Ahuizotl grins.
“You bastard! You swore to never mention that!” Daring Doo yells glaring at the taller creature.
“Uggh this is more super drama theater than action adventure time. I'm bored.” Scootaloo mutters.
“Umm scuse me, but do you two need some time alone... we ken come back.” Applebloom asks.
“No!” both of them shout. Ahuizotl blinks, staring at Sweetiebelle with a growl.
“Put Challa down, he is not a stuffed toy!” Ahuizotl yells at the white unicorn, pointing his tail hand at the her.
Sweetiebelle was standing on her back legs, with the panther in a death grip with her forelegs shaking the panicked cat as she cood.
“But he's so cute and fluffy I’m gonna diiiiie!” Sweetiebelle whines.
“Alright ah've had enough of this.” Pip states pulling his sword out hooking his hoof in the ring and pointing the weapon at Ahuizotl and Daring. “In tha name of Princess Luna an that Royal Guard ah am placing both of you under arrest. Ahuizotl for various crimes, and A.K. Yearling, for violating article four of section two hundred an ninety three about tomb raiding. We got enough ancient monstrosities running about without you stumbling onto and freeing more.”
“What? Oh come on that's just a fine......” Daring shouts.
“Unless yer caught in tha act by a sanctioned Equestrian Guard or a member of Royalty!” Pip continues. “And yah have been!”
“Oh for the love of, you are not a Royal Guard...., wait royalty? Who are you?” Doo questions
“Pip Kaisur.” Pip states.
“Awww crap... “ Daring Doo groans. “Your mom's still pissed I raided her old castle isn't she?”
“Among other things.” Pip agrees.
“Not to interrupt this quite amusing sight of Doo getting arrested, but you are one colt with a sword while have my associates here. Baring Challa at the moment any way.” Ahuizotl comments. “What can you hope to do against us........”
Ahuizotl's ears flatten.
“Okay the pegasus' wings are on fire.. that's new... and the little earth pony filly just picked up a section of the road the size of a store front and is ready to throw it, yes this is something.....”
Ahuizotl frowns.
“Yes well I think I shall indeed surrender post haste then. That may be for the best I'm sure most of my charges are miss understandings any way. Though I do question how you plan to get prisoners past the elk upstairs they are not very welcoming. One of the brutes kicked Fluffykins for no reason.” Ahuizotl points to the small white cat.
“Well how did Daring Doo get past them?” Scootaloo asks.
“I disguised myself as an Elk and kicked Fluffykins.” Daring Do grins.
“You wench, why must you always pick on Fluffykins!?” Ahuizotl fusses.
“Cause the little bugger shot me when we were in Shangra-furlong.”
“Oh that, he was just a wee kitten then. Barely could use the repeating crossbow he had.”
“He seemed to be doing a pretty good job with it!” Daring Doo growls.
“Okay no, stop, stop, stop... I am not dealing with this.” Pip grumbles pointing at Ahuizotl. “ You leave, Yearling you stay put. I am not in the mood to listen to you two bicker the whole time like an old married couple!”
“Right yes well... can I have Challa back now?” Ahuizotl mutters pointing to the panther.
“Say the line!” Sweetiebelle demands.
“What?”
“I'm not letting him go until you say the line!”
“What line?”
“The one from the books!” Sweetiebelle explains getting a chuckle from Daring Doo.
“I don't actually say that, it's some stupid catch phrase she wrote in!” Ahuizotl protests.
“Don't care, say it !” Sweeitebelle demands again.
Ahuizotl slaps his face with all three of his hands and rolls his eyes.
“Better just do it. When she gets like this she's way stubborn.” Scootaloo comments.
“ Fine …... Curse you Daring Doo...” Ahuizotl grumbles.
“No, say it with feeling!” Sweetiebelle orders.
“Oh you cannot be serious.....” Ahuizotl sighs looking at the pitiful face on Challa before throwing his hands up in the air. “CURSE YOU DARING DOO!!”
“Yay!” Sweetiebelle cheers tossing the panther in the air who takes off like a shot to hide behind Ahuizotl as soon as he hits the ground.
“This has been one of those days.” Ahuizotl grumbles walking away pointing his tail hand at the tan pegasus. “ This isn't over Doo.”
“Yeah yeah. It never is, drop me a letter first next time.” Daring Doo waves a wing as the blue creature and his cats storm off.
=======================================================
[ Crystal Empire, main library. 1100 hours.]
“Still night?” Bleu grumbles looking out the window. Glancing back at the three Guards milling around the library, all of them sporting crystal swords.
“Shining and Starfall went to find Luna. She's not in the nursery or any where else we can find in the castle. None of our Guards detected any magical surge that would mean a teleport and no one saw her fly off so she's still here some where.” Cadence sighs looking over at Spike as he stares at a book case in front of him. “What is Spike doing?”
“Getting ready to find something we hope. He's never tried pulling one of THE Books out of nothing with that little trick of his. We're aren’t sure of the full extent of his power either.” Bleu sighs. “So we're here to make sure everything's safe for him.”
“Why am I here then?” Spines asks from behind a over turned table as he looks at Troph sitting on the other side of the room getting hammered with questions from the Sparkles.
“To witness how awesome one of your rulers are of course.” Bleu grins.
Troph's ears flatten to his head and three of his six eyes was developing a twitch as the older mare and her husband questioned him.
“So you say they just spoke and made everything?” Nightlight asks.
>“I did not say that, I was not around for the beginning of everything. All the races existed when I was made.”<
“So did they tell you what to do? Were you born or did you just appear?” Twilight Velvet asks.
>” I don't know that, I just know I was not, then I was... and no they didn't speak I simply knew what I was supposed to when they wanted me to know it.”<
“What were they called, were they from space?”
>”I don't know that? We called them creators or Spirits. They arrived before I existed and then one day were simply gone. No one knew where and that created it's own issues.”<
“What did they look like?”
>“ Go to one of your dictionaries, look up all the words in it and then forget them and invent new words that you do not know the meaning for or understand the concept of. Then you will be a fraction of the way to understanding their description.”< Troph rolls his eyes. >“Have I not given you enough knowledge on what happened with the Elements? You could write a book from that alone!”<
“They already did. I have one of the first copies they haven’t written yet.” Spike comments.
“What ?” Nightlight asks.
“My powers don't follow any sort of time travel theory. I can pull a book from any when if I need to, just takes a little longer.”Spike comments focusing on the bookshelf.” Alright, I’m gonna try it now.”
“Alright this should be fun.” Bleu grins as Spike closes his eyes reaching into a gap on the book shelf.
===================================================
[?, 1100 hundred hours.]
“Soo what was the plan if he kills everyone?” the Silver Script questions.
“It should not come to that, the creatures of Equss, though far from perfect, are a stubborn lot and shall not die off that easily.” The Gray Grimiore comments.
“Yeah well if they do it's all this jackasses fault.” The Red Tome growls.
“Bite me mutt.” The Jade Scroll snaps.
“I think the worst part of this whole deal is I will be forced to be near to him for the foreseeable future.” The Purple Pamphlet comments.
“Well at least Teal doesn't have an issue.” The Jade Scroll grumbles.
“i think you're an ass, but it's too much effort to say anything about it “ the teal text yawns.
“Congratulations bird. That is the longest sentence I have ever heard her say since I have known her and it was calling you an ass.” the Silver Script laughs.
“Pluck you. I should have left you all to rot and gone my own way.” the Jade scroll snaps.
“You would not have been allowed to do that. Now that I know where you are I have no intention of letting you vanish on your own again after the trouble you caused. Though when the trolls return from hunting I will suggest they bury you in their dung heap.” the Gray Grimoire states.
“Yeah, you're not going any where this time bird, so learn to deal with being a target. If I could figure out how to ...” The Red Tome cackles before his laughter trails off. “Do you feel that?”
“What is that? It feels like a hand...” The Silver Script asks.
“BWAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAA!” The Jade Scroll suddenly cackles.
“What NOW?” The Gray Grimiore asks.
“Now is when I show you bitches the door. I know exactly what this feeling is cause a stupid dragon did it before. I'm getting a body again pluckers!” The Jade scroll rants. “ Oh and before I forget. Here's a little something to remember me by!”
A bright flash of light illuminates the chamber as the Jade Scroll's cover flashes a brilliant green blinding even the sightless books.
As the energy surge fades the Jade Scroll was gone from where he had been on the alter.
“What the buck did he just do!?” the Red Tome shouts.
“A high powered magical flare with a attached transmutation spell? “ the Purple Pamphlet observes. “ Though I am not sure how he cast it. Perhaps it was in reaction to what ever we felt.”
“Rune magic, he had a transmutation spell etched into one of his pages, but why?” The Gray Grimiore ponders. “All that did was release a powered burst of magic with no real effect...”
“Feed?” echos a voice from some where in the caverns. A voice that suddenly repeated over and over again, along with the screams of dying trolls.
“Oh no.” the Silver Script hisses.
=============================================
[ Crystal Empire, main library. 1100 hours.]
Bleu and the others watched as Spike seemed to feel around in the book case before his hand closed on something in the back of it.
“I think I have.....” Spike stated, and then he started screaming.
The purple drake yanked his hand back out of the book case. He was holding a book, but strips of paper were emerging from the small volume wrapping around his hand . Others were forcing their way between the scales of his arm burrowing up though the flesh and muscle of the purple dragons fore arm like hungry worms.
Bleu recognized the book and bounded across the room inhaling deeply, though Troph was faster.
Bleu barely saw Troph move, though the dragon god was across the room and back with one of the Guard's swords, a flick of the weapon severed Spike's arm at the elbow before the paper tendrils could dig any further into it. Before the book and severed arm hit the ground Bleu exhaled a billowing green flame, turning the book and the arm to ash. The cinders flared into nothing as they swirled though the air before the mass of book and a purple scaled arm appeared in the air before Troph, the book screaming in agony.
Bleu winces checking on the panting Spike who lay in the now collapsed bookcase he had fallen back into, clutching his severed arm and bleeding every where. She looked down at the stump blinking as she watched Spike's arm start to regrow.
Glancing back as the book started screaming again she was witness to Troph ripping the tendrils out of the severed arm with his teeth, taking great joy in the small green books anguished screams.
“You alright Spike?” Bleu asks softly looking back at the purple dragon who nodded wincing.
“Never doing that again.” Spike flinches as the Sparkles rush over to check on him as well.
Bleu nods whirling on Troph who was currently gnawing on the screaming book as if trying to eat it, the flicker of white flames dribbled from his maw, falling to the floor and eating through the stone with a sizzle.
“Troph, Spit that out, you don't know where it's been!” Bleu scolds. “ Don't make me get a rolled up newspaper!”
Troph spits the book onto the ground slamming his claws into the cover and stabbing them through making the book scream out again. >”Newspaper? What are you talking about whelp?”<
“Troph leave the bastard alone for a moment. Why the buck did the the message spell send that to you?” Bleu sighs.
>” What?”<
“The book ,the bucking book, why the hay did the book appear in front of you when I burned it. That message spell was a open send it should have gone to the closest one I'm connected to which should have been Spike or Cadence. Why did it go to you.......HOLY BUCK YOU'RE IN BOSS'S BODY!?!?!”
>”Yes..... Did you expect me to be in something else?”< Troph questions.
“Why did you give me that mystic crap about spacial compression!?”
>”You asked why I was not in my proper form. That was the answer why. You commented on my face and never said anything more about it. I expected you knew whelp. And if you did not why would I care anyway?”<
“Is boss in there? And why the heck is his body a half dragons!?!”
>”The body was vacant when I returned to it along the thread that remained of my connection to my host. The body had sustained massive damage and it needed to be healed before I could use it. I do not know how to repair ponies.”< Troph explains.
“You turned bosses body into a half dragon!”
>”He was already a quarter dragon, what's another quarter? Besides it was the only way I could get here to attempt rescue of Grace. I would think when he returns to it he will be happy to have it rather than being dead.”<
Bleu growls then grabs the half dragon around the middle picking him up and stomping towards the door despite Troph's protests.
“Bleu where are you going?” Spike looks up asking.
“I'm gonna go find Luna and show her Boss's body is still kicking. Might keep her from doing something stupid. What about you?” Bleu states.
“I've got a book to grill for answers.” Spike grumbles.
“Literally I hope.”
Spike grins snorting a bit of green flame from his nose. “It owes me an arm and for a couple months worth of nightmares I’m gonna have. I'll just send him over to Cadence a few dozen times before I ask anything.”
“Don't get me involved in torture.” Cadence fans her wings.
“It's a book, pink pony princess. “ Bleu chuckles darkly. “You can't torture a book. No matter how much it screams.”
==============================================
[ White tail Woods. 1200 hours.]
“Alright, that should be enough fer yer wing, but don't try an fly with it fer a bit. Not sure how this stuff works on regrowing feathers.” Applebloom explains.
“You didn't need to do anything , I would have been fine.” Daring Doo grunts.
“Don't bother complaining, she doesn’t listen to it.” Pip sighs.”So what exactly did you find out about this place?”
Daring Doo and the others were sitting in one of the emptied buildings, Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle had gone back for their supplies while Applebloom mixed up somethings to treat Daring's wing. The explorer was going to protest until Pip reminded her about the section of street Applebloom had lifted, which caused the explorer to settle down quickly to be tended rather than make Applebloom mad.
“Not sure I should tell my arresting officer anything until I get to speak with my lawyer.” Doo comments.
“Ah ain't arresting you and you know it, most of what I said was total bull, ah know there's a law but ah don't know the exact number of it. Ma might be mad at you but both Da and Uncle Rhede know the value of what you do. S'why you report to Uncle Rhede now when you find something of note.” Pip comments.
“What? How?” Daring Doo stammers staring at the colt.
“Uncle Rhede likes to impress foals, and he talks about things he probably shouldn't around them.” Applebloom comments. “He still thinks of us as foals too occasionally. Shoulda heard the yarn he told about Santa Hooves.”
“Please tell me he didn't tell you the story about how he tried to seduce Mrs' Santa Hooves for information, because that's just a fairytale, that massive Elk isn't married.” Daring Doo comments. “No he probably didn't that's a rather lewd one.”
“Uhhh...” Applebloom stutters.
“Any way, I suppose I should let you in on some of this since you did help out. I didn't ask for your help mind you, but anyway. I didn't find what I was really looking for despite what Ahuizotl thought. There's no big power or artifact here, just one book that some how managed not to be destroyed by time.” Daring Doo pats the wrapped bundle lightly, before starting to unwrap it.
The two look on curiously as the older mare pulls the wrapping off showing a book made out of crystal.
“This thing is amazing every page is the same width and flexibility as paper but it's made of crystal. All of them were in the library in that tower but all were either smashed when the shelves rotted or crushed by the same, this one was on a stone table that was mossy , but still intact. Of course Ahuizotl found me about then and well you saw what happened. Can't wait to translate this.”
“So what's this supposed to be? What led you here?” Pip asks.
“Long story but I’ll sum it up. A couple of of colleagues of mine let me in on something they were working on up in the Crystal Empire. They had some books that hinted a couple locations across Equss for the information they wanted. They hadn't found anything in the Empire and the location of Monastery of Starswirl the Bearded has long been lost to time.” Daring Doo explains. “There were a couple of references to a, 'great tree that held the world', but nothing solid.”
The pegasus glanced up as Scootaloo flies over head landing to set down some of the gear she had recovered from Daring's camp before taking off again to go back and get the rest of the mares gear. Sweetiebelle could be heard complaining about something , and swearing in Hungarian and a few other languages not far off in the other direction as she dragged the gear from the crusaders own camp, though the glowing pond, to the new location.
“Well they let me know about the book their daughter wrote and some choice things out of that about this place. Of course the pair of them were busy watching their grand kids for their daughter in law so they couldn't do the field work. Which is why I’m here.”
“Tha Sparkles. “ Pip nods getting a look from Doo. “ Kinda related, were just visiting them an Princess Cadence a couple of days ago.”
“Yeah I know. I did research into your fathers family tree. There are ponies who claim to be related to certain famous individuals of the past and then there's Kaisur.” Daring Sighs rubbing her head with a hoof.
“So what's tha research that brought ya here? I dun recall Mr. or Mrs. Sparkle mentioning they were looking intah anything but their grand foals.” Applebloom adds looking down at the mix in the bowl before her , giving it a small taste and wincing. “ Almost ready. This'll help yah heal a bit faster. S'not a cure all, but you'll be flying again sooner with it than without it.”
“Thanks.” Daring Doo sighs looking over the crystal book before her.” As to what I’m looking into, it concerns the Sparkle's adopted grand foal. This book and the ruins here. They predate the exodus of the three tribes. And here's the kicker, they're both made by Changelings.”
============================================
[ Crystal Empire, 1400 hours. ]
“Where the buck is that mare!?” Rose curses staring up into the night sky through the window of the throne room.
“I have no idea I have looked every where and there's no sign of her at all. “ Shining Armor growls pacing across the floor his hooves thudding and clacking as he crossed the thick carpet in the middle of the room in his pacing. “ I've got a number of Guards looking for her in the castle, I only hope she stumbled into one of those areas Sombra made and got lost. If she ran off to try and fight Tirek we have a problem.”
The pair look up as the doors to the throne room are flung open and Bleu storms in with a very pissed off expression on her face. Behind her an equally annoyed Starfall and Rainbow Dash storm in with Applejack right on their tails.
“Where in Tartarus is Luna? I've been all over looking for her!” Bleu rants.
“You're not the only one looking for her!” Starfall grumbles still wearing the Shadowbolt's uniform. “ The Griffons and Diamond Dogs are reporting attacks from masses of cloned creatures resembling Tirek. Asclipius in the Zebralands, Manehatten, and a dozen other major cities across Equestria have all gone silent.“
“An then there's tha issue of mai sister and her friends. Including her own son.” Applejack rants. “ Spitfire's bout ready tah take tha Wonderbolts out of here tah look for Scootaloo. An ah can't say ah blame her!”
“Let's not forget that it's still dark out and ponies are starting to panic.” Rainbow Dash points out. “ You do not want to see what a bunch of ponies panicking and stampeding in a small space looks like. The hospital doesn't have the room for the ones who might be left.”
Shining and Rose wince as the group of them start yelling at the same time trying to out bellow one another. Before Shining could say anything however Bleu roars, screaming out and scorching the ceiling with a blast of lightning shutting them all up. It was hard to argue with a very large pissed off dragon.
“Alright Spitfire can suck it up, Pip can handle himself and the CMC, he's safer where they are then any where else at the moment. If she' can't calm the hell down some one needs to put her down because we cannot afford to lose our scant bit of air superiority when Tirek has a floating sky city!” Bleu growls pointing at Applejack.
“We can't do a damn thing for any one else so bringing more bad news isn't gonna help! Send messages out to fall back here if they need a place to evacuate too.” Bleu snaps pointing at Starfall.
“The bucking idiots outside can suck it the buck up, tell them if they want to run around in a panic then they can do it out side of the city on their own as they will be kicked out to the wild. Tell the Guards to knock the shit out of any of them trying to drum up trouble.” Bleu snaps pointing at Rainbow Dash.
Bleu continued to yell, despite everyone being silent and staring at her.
“Spike nearly got himself killed or possessed by one of the freaking books trying to find out anything about the Tirek bastard. Because of that we have our claws on the bucking Jade Scroll! I need to find her depressed mopey flank so I can tell her that the stupid monster is here and he's playing night of the living dead with Boss!” Bleu roars pointing finally at Shining Armor. “ Where the buck is Moon Butt!?!”
The room remained silent a moment as Bleu panted from the long winded rant.
“We don't know we can't find her.” Shining admits, causing Bleu to roar again and fall over on her back in frustration kicking her limbs in the air.
“WHY IS NOTHING EVER EASY!?!!?” Bleu rages.
“A bit much there you think?” Dash snarks. “Think happy thoughts....”
Bleu rolls over on her belly her face pressing to Rainbow Dash’s.
“Two of my best friends are dead, one is chocked so full of power she can kill us all if she decides that suicide is painless and is the best option for her at this point. Keep in mind she is very easily depressed. My partner has been found alive yet is gonna be turned into gooey primordial soup if we don't beat Tirek and or open the Gate of Tartaurs again because his body can't hold the stupid dragons power, and the dragon I want to get all intimate and personal with nearly got eaten from the inside out by a bucking book! Bleu snaps. “ AND THIS IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE ME HAPPY!?”
“You're not the only one who lost ponies Bleu.” Dash returns the stare.
“I am well aware of that, I am explaining why I’m pissy. Listen to the words coming out of my mouth Dashie!” Bleu grumbles.
“What was that about Jer'rahd?” Starfall asks.
Bleu was about to respond when a loud cough drew every ponies attention to the door of the throne room.
Princess Cadence stood in the doorway with the half dragons Talia.
“We know where Luna is.” Princess Cadence states with a frown.
=====================================================
[Crystal Empire, Empire Hospital 1400 hours.]
“Coffee?”
“That stuff will stunt your growth.”
“Good thing you're already a pretty, grown mare then. Me I doubt I’ll get any taller any way.”
Orange sighs taking the tray with the coffee cup and creamers from the grinning earth pony with her magic.
“Hunter, give it up. I don't think I’ll be dating any stallions who jump out of perfectly good sky chariots...”
“But you have thought about it.” the green earth pony guard chuckles sitting down across from the cream colored unicorn at the small table. “Joking and lame flirting aside, how are you holding up? Word around the Hospital is you're running yourself ragged. Have you even slept?”
“A little.... a day ago..... what are you doing spying on me?” Orange growls though the cup pressed to her lips. She winces before dumping most of the sugars and creamers into it.
“I don't need to, they put me on duty at the front desk, I don't have to move around much on my broken leg and I can still help out. Nurses gossip.” Hunter comments.
“No pony has said anything to me.”
“Cause they are all terrified of you. Broke that poor dumbasses jaw with one hit on your first day. Chewed out Princess Luna when she was here and have managed to get a number of injured Guards to stay put and recover just by yelling at them. You're showing your relation to the Major pretty clearly.” Hunter chuckles taking a sip of his own drink.
“Hunter look.....”
“Bit.”
“What?”
“ Names Bit Hunter. There's a reason my cutie mark is a sword stabbing a gold coin. Long story involved in that.”
“Then why does everyone just call you Hunter?”
“Same reason most of us call your father Kaisur. It's a Guard thing. Besides Hunter sounds more intimidating to the new recruits without the Bit part. My whole name makes me sound like a finance officer.”
“I was thinking more a pirate....”
“Ooh, I like that one. Yaaaarrr...”
“... But yes I am tired....we have countless ponies who are in some sort of coma, an insane number of missing. Luna is doing who the buck knows what with the sun and moon right now, as well as leaving my brother and sister pretty much on their own. One of my brothers is missing completely, my sister is suffering magical burn out. Then we have two new gods that have no parents, one of which is three months premature. There's a veritable shit storm of ponies wanting to adopt her and the half dragon foal already, some with noble purposes... some are just nobles. Princess Cadence wants her moved to the Palace with the other royal foals so she can be better protected. And when that happens I need to find a doctor I trust to keep an eye on her and I barely trust myself to do that. GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!”
A few other medical ponies in the break room glance over to the screaming mare, though they just as quickly turn back to their own business after seeing who it was.
“Feel better?”
“Some....no.....”
“Talia and Elecktra are on guard at the Palace. I trained those two, and they scare me. Elecktra was charged by Lady Rarity to protect Elusive. I pity anything that tries to get near them.” Hunter sighs. “ So now that you have that out of your system you think you could finally take a break and actually get some sleep. Things could get worse and we would need you on the top of your game, not falling asleep.”
“Big words from the stallion who brought me coffee. How is this supposed to help me sleep.... you didn't drug it did you?” Orange glares.
“No.... but it's decaff, once you burn off the sugar you put in you should be out like a light.”
“Decaff? You bastard.” Orange snorts.
“Hey now, I knew my father....” Hunter grins.
==================================================
[ Crystal Empire, 1430 hours ]
Bleu stares up at the warehouse before them. The building was on the far side of the empire, still within sight of the Palace, though no where near anything else of note. It was a simple structure with a rail line running into a pair of large double doors on the front of the long gray building. In truth it didn't seem much longer than the throne room at Canterlot, though it was about three stories high and made of gray stone with a arched wooden roof that over hung the door by a pony length. Bleu, Applejack, Starfall, Rainbow Dash, Briar Rose and Shining Armor had all come here following Princess Cadence. While they were stalled a few times by ponies demanding answers, Bleu, rather less than calmly, dissuaded any one from holding them up for long.
“What is this place?” Starfall asks.
“This is where we moved most of the Changelings that won't wake up They are all in some sort of honey comb like hive the others made so they don't need much room. The ones that are awake tend the ones who are not. They are fairly self sufficient as they mostly feed off the energy of the Crystal Heart.” Shining Armor states. “The ones that were active generally have the run of the empire most of the time and some have their own apartments in the city. Very few stay out here.”
“That doesn't explain why we are here.” Bleu growls.
“Talia was watching the nursery last night when Princess Luna came in. Nothing of a surprise there as she has spent most of her time with Dawn. What was different this time is that Locust came in and told Luna 'it's time'. Luna then apologized to Dawn, kissed her, and left with Locust. Locust was last seen going into the warehouse early this morning.” Cadence explains looking up at the double door of the converted mining warehouse.
“And Princess Luna didn't notice Talia?” Rainbow Dash asks.”
“Elecktra and Talia tend to keep themselves well hidden when watching over the foals in the nursery. “ Cadence sighs. “Glimmer starts screaming when ever she sees a half dragon. For some reason they terrify her.”
“Yet she's seen me and gnawed on my tail like it was a pacifier.” Bleu grumbles. “You have a weird foal.”
“Any way... “ Cadence rolls her eyes. “Princess Luna might be here for some reason, please try to keep calm with her, I want to know what is going on before she's assaulted with more problems.”
Cadence's horn glows as she tugs on the door. She blinks as nothing happens, before tugging harder to no effect.
“It's locked?” Cadence questions.
“Somethings wrong.” Shining grumbles looking up at the buildings overhanging roof.
“Saw that too huh colt.” Rose mutters.
“Why were they watching us like that? “ Starfall grumbles.
“What? “Applejack questions.
“Couple of changelings were hanging in the rafters, the moment the Princess tried to open the door they darted up under the awnings and back inside.” Rose comments.
“That reminds me I’ve not seen any pony with a lady bug cutie mark today.” Shining growls drawing his sword.”Bleu open the door, try not to destroy it.”
“No promises.” Bleu grumbles as the Guard trained ponies move to flank Princess Cadence and Applejack nearly on instinct at this point,
Bleu doesn't bother trying to open the door as she shifts to her larger size. The dragon simply smashes into it shattering the door from it's hinges and knocking down a section of the stone wall around it as well.
“OH YEAH!” Bleu screams out, shoving through he rubble.
“THAT'S trying to NOT destroy the door?” Shining snaps.
“Yeah, that was actually a pretty good try for her.” Starfall comments. “The building's still standing so she's clearly gotten better at the whole subtle thing.”
“I though Kaisur was bad. “grumbles Rose.
“Who do you think taught her?” Starfall smirks moving up next to Bleu as the dragoness shrunk back to pony size to move into the building.
The interior was surprisingly well lit, with a soft glow coming from numerous hanging crystals suspended from the rafters. The rails ran from the door to the far side of the building, through what seemed a narrow hall, until one looked up and saw that the walls of this path were honey combed with holes. The holes were of various sizes and each had a changeling of some kind curled up tight into it. The honey combed walls rose to the warehouses ceiling and several rows of the honeycomb were on either side of the tracks, filling the warehouse with the still Changeling drones.
“This shit creeps me out every time ah see it.” Rose growls.
“Yeah no, this is cozy, add some drapes and a throw rug, down right homey even.” Bleu mutters.
“How many of them are there still asleep like this?” Applejack questions looking up towards the roof noting a couple of spots where a tail of some changed creature or another fell out of one of the holes.
“About a little over thousand. The majority of changelings collapsed after the death of Queen Chrysalis. Most of those are the ones who were turned into changelings before and during the war. We've been looking for a way to change them back, but so far we haven’t figured a way to do that, or even wake them up.” Shining Armor responds as they approach the middle of the warehouse.
“So they'll sleep until they die? That strikes a little to close to home with out current predicament.” Rainbow Dash grumbles.
“It's not related despite seeming the same. Tirek's victims have their very essence stolen, these drones lived only to serve the queen and were nearly mindless from what we've found out.” Cadence adds, stopping suddenly and pointing to a figure that was approaching them from one of the rows. “Locust, there you are. What is going on, do you know where Princess Luna is.”
The changeling mare approached with out her disguise on, her green mane ruffled like she had just woken up, and her eyes surprisingly had dark rings under them that were easily identifiable despite her chitinous and black furred coat. She stopped before them looking up at the gathered group with a small sigh.
“I suppose I shouldn't be surprised you are all here, but I expected you hours ago. We're almost done. This way please.” Locust comments with a yawn, her expression a mix of excitement and worry. Although the worry could have been from the looming form of Bleu. “Please try not to disturb any of the structures, they are solid, but not as strong as the door was.”
Starfall snorts in amusement as Bleu huffs in annoyance, the group following the changeling mare.
Locust lead them to a stairwell among the towering walls of the hive, that led to a small basement that was devoid of any of the honeycomb that filled the main floor. The room was darker than the warehouse, though they could all see it was a decent sized room covered with the strange webbing and fibrous slime material Changelings could produce. A number of smaller changelings buzzed in the room around a large green mass in one corner.
“Okay where the buck is Luna?” Rose growls looking around the nearly empty room, noting the Waning Moon and the Brilliant Dawn were on a small table in the corner.
The others were silent, their eyes locked the large mass in the corner, one that was familiar to all of them who had fought Changelings in the past.
“Locust how could you....” Cadence mutters flattening her ears. Any further questions were silenced by a massive crack that echoed in the small room.
The smaller Changelings move away from the cocoon as the crack sounds from it again. A fissure begins to work up along the outside of the hard material, green icor pouring from the crack as it widens.
The group of ponies could only watch as the shell of the cocoon splinters and bursts open sending a torrent of green fluid across the floor as the pod was drained. There was coughing from the shadowed interior before a large figure, one that would tower even over Celestia, stepped free of the mess.
The figure was black furred and covered with black chitinous plates that seemed more like scales over her form than the usual changeling carapace, although the armor covered where her cutie mark should have been. Her limbs were studded with the holes that adorned all changeling legs, though her wings were not insect like, resembling a bats though they seemed tattered and torn with holes in them. The figures wings slowly spread as the jagged horn glowed, a swirling mix of golden yellow, dark blue and green energy gathering around it. The power flared as her wings snapped open wide, flinging the remaining goo from her form. Her mane and tail flickered to life, flowing and swirling like a living thing all it's own, a night sky dotted with green, blue and white stars and a hint of color along the bottom of the ever shifting mass, as if the dawn was about to rise in the visage of her mane and tail. She opens her mouth, showing impressive fangs as she inhales .
The eyes finally open, flickering energies flaring from the sides much in the way Sombra's dark magic had done, though one eye was amber with black flowing from it, the other the normal teal green of Luna's eyes with white energy flickering from it.
“By the stars Princess, what did you do...?” Starfall mutters.
“Princess?” Locust questions with a small smile. “I think you mean Queen.”