//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Subject to evolution // by Dramize the Salamander //------------------------------// Day 11 I woke up in a black void my body feeling constricted like something was crushing it. I tried to move but I couldn't and after and hour of struggling a voice popped into my head. Parameters have been met skills acquired. venom queens blessing Great death queens blessing Evil eyes skill intimating aura A minute after the voice finished I felt my strength surge and a cracking sound then a light as I fell out of something. I got up a second later feeling great as I stretched out my body as a changeling round the corner and saw me before running away. I held out my hand getting a good look at my black claws before running to the drinking pool to get a good look at myself and I wasn't the only one. I as amazed at the changes Whisper had her wings were gone her chitin had turned purple shave for the natural band on her stomach which was now bright blue along with her mane and tail her fingers looked like sowing needles and her hooves looked like she was wearing heels as long spikes grew from the back of her hooves forcing her into seductive hip swaying walk as four spider legs sprouted from her back. "Wow you look great." I said rubbing the back of my neck as I started to note her more subtitle changes, her body had started to become more feminine in nature in stead of androgynous body type that normal drones had give a slight but more pleasing hour glass shape. Whisper blushed as her still Insectoid eyes stared back at me. "You look good to, very dangerous." She said taping her finger tips together. I looked at the pool and was honestly surprised buy my changes my chitin was black and shining like a black jewel while my stomach band had turned blood red with my mane following suit but my tail was reptilian and flat. My claws looked sharp enough to slice through anything in my way while my hoof's had tiny claws coming from them. Then I got a good look at my more masculine face my normal horn was gone replaced by two black spikes growing out the back of my head leaving no distraction from my glowing yellow snake eyes. After I finished noting my changes I only had one thing to say. "Your aren't kidding I'm kind of afraid of myself right now." I said getting a small laugh out of Whisper. "Let's find Buzzelga and Nurtrana then test out our new bodies." "Yeah that sound's good." Whisper said falling in step behind me as we went to look for our friend and care taker. After a few minutes we found them with Velger and another normal drown. But when I saw Buzzelga I felt silly for being afraid of myself he had evolved as well he was now a good head taller than me And saw covered in muscle that was visible even through his forest green chitin and silver stomach band. He still had normal hoofs but his hand were a mix of bear paws and hands but with extra thick chitin. He had two horns but unlike me they were bull like and partly covered by his silver mane. He looked down at me and Whisper and smiled while Nurtrana cleared her throat gaining all our attention. "Drasa I want you to take Velger and Cadaia with you on your next hunting trips." "Why?" "They haven't been getting any strong prey lately and I fear they are falling behind." "Pair the weak with the strong to power level smart, all right, but first I have to ask what are queens blessings? Nurtrana sighed as she brought a large rock over to her to sit on before she started explaining. "Well their were queens of the past that had become strong enough to master an aspect of this world before dying. So from the ethereal hive they share their power in the form of blessing to drones that evolve." Nurtrana said with a smile. "So what blessing did you three get." "Death and Venom." "Steel and nature." "Sky and clarity." Nurtrana sighed slamming fists together before talking again. "Ok Drasa your body now can produce most poisons and your immune to most poisons as well and you can regenerate any lost limb but you must consume eatable matter for that to work and your magic is more destructive. Buzzelga both your blessings are physical chitin stronger than steel as well as regeneration but with no stipulation and increased stamina. Finally Whisper you can turn invisible and can use your magic to see through the eyes of other's as long as you've made eye contact." Nurtrana just left after that heading towards the nursery grumbling something under her breath leaving the five of use to do what we wanted. So me and Buzzelga sparred to get used to our new bodies while Whisper figure out she could spin silk from her fingers and heels which she used to make bundles rope until she ran out making several coils of rope. We weren't very hungry so we decide grab a few rabbits from the forest before going to sleep. Day 12 I woke up ready to hunt my belly empty and bloodlust raging so I went to grab my stuff to find a note from Nurtrana that said congratulations on evolving so fast tied to two longsword and a halberd made of green crystal with a book on how to use battle magic. I grabbed the new weapons and my old weapons and meet everyone else at the mouth of the hive to find I wasn't the only one to get new toys. Whisper was holding a compound bow and a bigger quiver full of arrows made of cut green crystals. While Buzzelga was holding a spiked green crystal shield and cleaver make of the same crystal. While Velger and Cadaia were carry simple stone spears and large backpacks. I pulled out the book I got and decided it would be a good idea to for every one to learn a few battle spells before hunting and after a good three hours the group went to their hunt finding a family of foxes with flames on their tails and more snakes which were quickly killed. We were making good progress so as we headed back I thought about what I could hunt for to evolve further. When it was time to sleep I was to mentally exhausted to care if I even got any thing new so when I hear the usual voice I just slotted whatever I got before falling under. Acquired breath attack Evolution Acquired generate/control Will-o-wisps Evolution Day 13 Today was a good day I had managed to get some practice with my magic destroying a few rats I found running through the cave after a quick tactics lesson with the rest of the hive. Then we went hunting getting a few small animals until we hear rustling in the bushes we hid allowing us to see three mares two unicorns and one pegasus bound in chains by some heavily armed Changelings I didn't recognize but I couldn't have cared less about the ponies what I wanted was the cart of steel weapons they had so I did the most logical thing I came out of hiding after telling Whisper to go invisible and get into the trees and wait for my signal. I walked out to the group and put on my best smile asking if they would trade some weapons for some food only for them to attack me calling me an abomination. I gave a slight smile and snapped my fingers giving Whisper her signal. An flew past my head getting one of the guards in the eye while Buzzelga charged from his hiding spot axe swinging as he tackled the other guard with his shield impaling her on it's spikes while another guard tried to do a flying slash to decapitate him but I came in from behind Buzzelga using his body as an anchor to vault off of to deliver a strong kick to the side of his head knocking off his helmet and sending towards Velger and Cadaia who finished him off with their spears. The fight went very smoothly from their on as the guard were shooting magic blast into the trees while Whisper would pick them off along with Buzzelga and my attacks and after a few minutes we had the cart full of weapons, three captured ponies and a bunch of bodies left over. I injected the ponies with a narcotic to put them to sleep and having Buzzelga carry them while Whisper helped me with the cart bringing our spoils back to the hive.