Lazni spent the next few days reflecting to herself as she watched over the still comatose mayor and the slowly evolving ponies in their cocoons. Prominence was busy at work assessing all of the town's supplies all day, and then would generally spend all night arguing with Pupae.
Prominence and Pupae had both tried to invite Lazni to oversee more efforts in the hive-- namely Prominence ordering Pupae's drones around and making them dig under the city, but Lazni simply had not had the heart to face Prominence recently. It was almost a week since they had arrived in town and Lazni had done little more than consume some of the goo for subsistence while watching the ponies change.
The transformation cycle, at least as changelings from Hive Lalartu practiced it, was not at all unsettling for those inside the cocoon. In a normal cycle, Changeling queens would lay eggs that mainly produced drones, who could then be specialized later for specific purposes. Soldier drones and Infiltrator type drones all began as normal drones, but could enter a kind of coma inside of cocoons in order to change. This resulted in the shedding of an outer layer of shell and the regrowth of a newer, more specialized body. Lazni was not sure if Princesses were made this way, but she could recall when she had been selected to become an infiltrator, as well as what it felt like inside of a cocoon. It was a comforting experience for a changeling that felt like being surrounded and compounded by lukewarm velvet.
Ponies entering cocoons was a much different story. It was enough to keep them in a stasis, asleep and mostly unaware, but nothing more. However, ponies that were bitten and injected with specialized venom from Queens or Princesses often became extremely ill. Lazni had witnessed this a few times before, and the results that followed always had tragic ends if the wounds were not treated with a cocoon. Ponies were mostly left in vegetative states, with their brain capacity diminished to where it could barely keep what the mind read as a foreign body. these neurotoxins could be counteracted by using a cocoon with special pheromones and chemicals excreted by queens in order to initiate the process of changing a pony into a changeling drone. It was a complicated process that Lazni had noted to view later so she would know how to do it, but at the same time had no desire to actually witness.
Lazni approached one of the cocoons and brushed it's clear shell, looking in at the sleeping medical pony who now had no hair and was beginning to form a soft shell over her body. She looked not unlike a pony that had it's body flipped inside out, so that the skeleton was on the outside, followed by muscles, and then skin and organs underneath this. Although it had only been a week, the pony now looked more like a convincing softshelled crab crossed with a horse.
Lazni turned away from the cocoon and then doubled back, recoiling in surprise. Prominence had silently glided up to stand by Lazni, her own eyes looking at the small filly inside of the other cocoon.
"Prominence! -- you startled me." Lazni said, taking a deep breath to calm herself.
"That was not my intention." Prominence said, looking lost as she stared at the filly. "How old were you when you joined the swarm?"
Lazni was very taken aback by this question. One of the first things that Hive Lalartu taught new changelings to do was to forget their old life. It helped them find their way in the hive, and generally improved attitudes in drones that otherwise might have not adapted well to their new role. "It is hard to recall ever being a pony, Prominence. Not that it would matter."
"I wish I could have that outlook." Prominence said quietly. "I was a child protege."
"Ah, uhm, a what?" Lazni asked, clicking her head to the side.
"I had natural talent with magic." Prominence clarified. "I can't even remember my family anymore, but I know who I was. I remember seeing my family struck down, and then I was asleep. It feels like years later, I woke up as a young nymph in Hive Lalartu."
Lazni watched as Prominence got lost in her own moment, holding up a gnarled hoof and lighting it on fire. She let it dance in front of her as she spoke, caring not for how edgy she was being. Prominence spoke slowly and deliberately, her eyes flickering twice, once from the flame and once from inside of her as she said, "But I've always known that there is fire inside every living creature, you just have to reach out and take it. It's how I became a Princess in Hive Lalartu, and it's how I am going to become High Queen."
"The High Queen of Changelings is an old story though. It's a fantasy we tell to young drones about glory days." Lazni said softly. "There's no truth in it."
"That remains to be seen." Prominence extinguished the flame by stomping it into the ground, showering sparks and smoke around her hoof. "The ponies in Raspberry Creek are done with harvesting and are now preparing to retire to their farms before the first snow. Although it will be cold outside, we are going to begin kidnapping individuals suitable for the hive."
"We are?" Lazni asked, looking at the two cocoons. "Don't you think ponies are going to start noticing if a half dozen more go missing overnight?"
"A half dozen?" Prominence stopped, eyeing Lazni with what was almost suspicion. "Dozens Lazni. I don't know how to lay eggs and I don't care much for learning how to either. Pupae is developed and specialized enough that she can create as many drones as we need, and we will need many of them. We are building an army Lazni, the first of many."
"...This is madness, Prominence." Lazni was stunned. She had always suspected that Prominence's ambitions were too great for her own good, but she had never expected them to be as white hot as her flames.
Prominence paused for a moment, then gave a low clicking, as if a chuckle died in her throat, "Then it is a good madness. You will join me tonight, we are going to a local tavern to scout and seize subjects. The worthy will join the superior race, and rule over these ponies with an iron hoof, just as it was always meant to be."
Lazni just stared at Prominence as she left, magically closing the door behind her. Lazni wasn't sure what she was going to do, but she knew this wasn't right. It was true to her that being a Changeling was natural evolution, but forced evolution of ponies at such a massive rate in a short period of time...
Lazni stood up, setting off for the stairs to find Pupae. What Prominence had in mind was not right, and she had to at least express her concerns, even if she wouldn't stop her...
...because deep down, Lazni knew that Prominence might be right. Maybe this was their only way to survive. Because when the snow thawed, Hive Lalartu would be waiting for them if they didn't remain hidden. Which was perhaps what Lazni couldn't understand most of all. Why didn't they just stay together, the six of them, not as a hive but as a family of sorts and rule the ponies as the mayor mare. They could live perfectly fine and never be discovered if they kept their heads down. Lazni was convinced now that Prominence's will was turning to madness, and she had to stop it before it was too late.
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Lazni lounged around in the courthouse, keeping a disguise up as she watched the disguised Pupae close up curtains and lock up shop for the early afternoon. Being that winter was fast approaching the only issues to speak of among the ponies were tavern brawls.
"Lazni. We haven't spoken in almost a week. I thought you'd forgotten about me." Pupae's voice dripped with sarcasm. "All is well, yes?"
"All is not well, Pupae." Lazni said, leaving Pupae blinking at how blunt the response was. "I think we should tell Prominence to stop her plan to create more Changelings. We're going to end up with a town that hates us for stealing their family members AND we'll only cause violence with Hive Lalartu."
"These things, I believe they are unavoidable." Pupae said, straightening up to her proper form as she dropped the last curtain. Lazni also dropped her disguise, moving forward and feeling the pleading rise in her voice.
"Queen Pupae, Prominence is evolving these ponies into drones just so they can die for her. Can't you see the problem with that?"
Pupae narrowed her eyes, turning away from Lazni after a few moments to muse at what had been said to her. "I'm not sure how you were taught in your Hive, or if you have simply forgotten your manners as an infiltrator not close to their queen enough, but all work together for the benefit of the hive. Every single drone, soldier, Princess, and even the Queen are bound to care for one another."
"And that's exactly why Prominence can't do this!" Lazni protested.
"It is because she, and I for that matter, care for them that we must!" Pupae put her hoof down, raising her head. Lazni cowered backwards, a feeling of overwhelming stress washing over her. Who could she turn to if not Pupae or Prominence? Pupae paused for a few moments, regaining a regal composure and offering a hoof to Lazni, motioning for her to sit on a bench with her. Lazni complied, although she kept a guarded distance between herself and Pupae.
"Lazni, I don't wish to see the bloodshed Prominence has predicted any more than you do. But if we do not prepare ourselves for this, then we will certainly be destroyed when Lalartu catches up with us. Do you understand?: Pupae's voice was sincere, but Lazni reminded herself that wasn't the problem. Prominence and Pupae were doing exactly what they thought had to be done so they could create a new hive and survive. Lazni found the thread of her argument, standing up and beginning to pace.
"The six of us could have hid away here and never been discovered. But now we have two more drones and Prominence wants dozens. Maybe hundreds, her mind seems to think on a bigger scale constantly. But it's all of these preparations to fight to survive that Prominence is making that are going to lead to us being forced to fight." Lazni turned to Pupae, hoping she would see her point.
"You're saying that you think Prominence has made a self-fulling prophecy?" Pupae reflected on this, Lazni feeling a slight ebbing as Pupae withdrew into her own thoughts. Minutes ticked by as Lazni waited for Pupae to make her decision on the argument.
Outside, soft snow was beginning to fall, the first snowfal barely visible to Lazni's eyes as mere shapes outside floating over the curtain as midafternoon shadows. Finally, Pupae raised her head and nodded,"...I agree with you, Lazni. However, the die has already been cast. Prominence will make this war, and I do not believe that we can stop it. I do not like it, but it is a battle we must fight. When the danger has passed, we can confront Prominence. She will be leading the charge against Hive Lalartu, but all of these drones will still be a part of my hive, and loyal to me.
Lazni felt her chest heave sadly as she watched the ground. there was a clicking on the stone floor and then the feeling of Pupae wrapping herself around Lazni in a hug. Lazni looked up, feeling herself instantly lost inside of Pupae's beautiful green eyes. She wasn't sure why, but she'd never quite appreciated how beautiful her eyes were.
"I am sorry for your part in this, Lazni. But it is a part you must play, as we all will tonight and going forward." Pupae's voice was musical and soft, gentle enough on Lazni's ears for her to relax and hug Pupae back.
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After the sun had set, Prominence and Lazni attended a local tavern that was titled the "Great Breaded Dragon Tavern." Lazni had actually heard of something called a bearded dragon once in her travels, but decided that perhaps it was best to not dwell on the tragic lack of intelligence in this small town.
"That one." Prominence whispered. giving a little nod to an innocent looking mare that looked like she was having a little too much to drink at the bar. Prominence and Lazni had taken normal disguises and hidden themselves in a dark corner of the bar. Lazni couldn't help but shiver a little at how callous Prominence was with her scouting. Lazni fully believed that everypony would be better off as a changeling, but it had to be something they wanted. the pony had to want to better themselves so they could evolve. Prominence saw them as mere tools to achieve an end. Lazni raised her mug, watching the room and feeling her eyes scan across every pony, stopping at the other side of the bar.
In an equally dark corner of the room were three ponies sitting side by side around a keg of raspberry lambic. Although Lazni had noticed them repeatedly filling up their mugs, none of them seemed the least bit intoxicated. However, it was not this feeling that alarmed Lazni the most, it was their eyes. they all seemed to be watching Prominence and Lazni, keeping their faces averted from them but their eyes locked.
"Prominence, we're being watched." Lazni whispered, nodding in the general direction of the ponies around the keg. Prominence didn't turn her head immediately, keeping her voice low.
"How do you know? Are they Hive Lalartu spies?"
Lazni wasn't sure she knew they were being watched definitively, but she knew that the ponies weren't Hive lalartu spies-- their eye colours did not match Lalartu. This made Lazni feel even more uncomfortable, as the feeling of a pony watching you was not a pleasant one for any changeling, especially when they seemed to be staring right through one's disguise. Lazni had obeyed this feeling inside her when it arose however, and it had become a cornerstone of her ability to escape situations before others became aware of her presence.
"We need to go." Lazni said, standing up. Prominence stood up too, following Lazni for the back door of the tavern while keeping her voice at barely a whisper.
"Lazni! Stop it, this-- this is madness. They can't know about us!" Prominence said. Lazni let her mind wander in fantasy for a second about how ponies they passed by might construe that statement, but then brought her mind back into focus when the cold air greeted herself and Prominence outside. Lazni pressed herself against Prominence, enjoying one very significant perk the Princess had. She was always very warm, even when the air outside was bitingly cold.
"Prominence we're the only two 'mares' that aren't locals. We'll have other nights to look, and we can still grab that one mare. But can we please get off the streets for now?" Lazni jerked her head back as she finished her sentence, glancing behind her at the back door. She had not heard it shut behind the two of them, and sure enough three more ponies had followed them out into the dark and abandoned street. The back door of the tavern slammed shut as the wind blew, leaving the three ponies outside with Lazni and Prominence.
Neither party spoke, the ponies staring down the Changelings and the Changelings staring down the ponies. Lazni felt tension layer itself over the street as the youngest of the group stepped forward, a visible smirk on his face. However, when the pony spoke his voice was surprisingly meek, like he was unsure that he wanted to be speaking at all.
"I've been waiting my whole life for you monsters to appear." he said, his voice staying low. Lazni felt her jaw drop slightly as she stared at the ponies. Their disguises were completely useless.
"What are you?" Prominence asked, her voice rising with inner fire. The ponies backed up, like they were debating if they should say anything or not.
"Not what we appear, like you." said one of the others, who had an equally meek voice. "We did not come out here to fight you, we came out here to destroy you." Lazni and Prominence exchanged glances, unsure if they should take these ponies seriously or not. They were obviously not drunk, but the entire ordeal seemed absolutely absurd to the two of them.
"Well, maybe you should get started then." Prominence said. The ponies nodded, although the youngest stepped forward, motioning over Prominence's shoulder.
"I think we'd both rather keep our identities a secret. Maybe we can settle this on the edge of town?" The pony asked meekly, a smug smile on his face.
"No." Lazni and Prominence said at the same time, which was much to the surprise of the pony. They looked shocked that their request had been turned down, like it was impossible. Prominence let out a burst of flame around herself as she dropped her disguise. Prominence advanced on the ponies, letting a little fire stay in trace amounts around her hooves, casting dark shadows around the abandoned street. Prominence continued her advance while addressing these ponies, "It seems you three have identities to protect, but unlike you I don't share that need. I can become anypony I want to. Look at me!"
Lazni trotted forward, putting a hoof on Prominence's leg and trying to pull her back. "Prominence! This-- no, what are you doing!"
Prominence leaned closer to the ponies, still keeping a few yards between them and herself as they backed up. "You are ponies, members of a lesser race. You are of no threat to me."
The third pony, who so far has remained silent, nudged the youngest, motioning to Prominence as he said, "C'mon, we can take her. It isn't difficult, and nopony else will see."
"See? See what?" Prominence was almost gloating as she towered over the ponies. Prominence did not have to wait long for the ponies-- or rather, the creatures, to show her. There was a sort of unhinging effect as a glamour fell away from the creatures, one more like water running over their disguise and washing it away rather than Changeling fire consuming the facade. the creatures wore a fluffy scarf around their necks, prickly fluff rather than fur covered their bodies, and their eyes were hexagonal, not unlike those of crystal ponies. Two antennae extended from each their heads, making them look like some of features of moths had been ridiculously grafted onto a pony's body.
Lazni had no idea why, but upon seeing these creatures in their true form she felt something stir deep inside her. A feeling of hatred, and of the need to destroy what was in front of her. As meek and shy as these creatures seemed to be, Lazni knew that right under their deceptive guise was the same hatred. These creatures and changelings were made to destroy each other.
Prominence let out a wicked yell, one that died in the in the loose snowflakes and a gust of wind. She spewed fire forward from her hooves, allowing it to wash towards the moth ponies. All three of them sidestepped the flames, not even bothering to watch them die behind them before advancing, each of them giving their bodies a little shake. Prominence beat her wings and retreated, but Lazni was already starting to feel something in her throat and chest. A pony might have thought it the side effect of a bad cold, but for Lazni it was as if her entire insides were being stuffed up and inflamed with mucus. Prominence let out a few more bursts of fire as Lazni clashed with one of the moth ponies, already feeling her strength fade. Her movements were slow and heavy, allowing the moth to simply step aside. each kick seemed to bring Lazni closer to the ground until she finally collided face first with it, her entire insides feeling like they had been stuffed with sludge and then flash frozen. It was not altogether something she would call painful, but it was very concerning and stressful.
"Lazni!" Prominence's voice seemed like a distant echo as something hard impacted Lazni's side. She could feel something smacking into her, sending shockwaves of pain along her belly. After several blows from different angles, she finally realized what the weapon was-- a rock. One of the moth ponies, the savages she now knew them to be, was trying to break her chitin open with a rock. Unfortunately Lazni knew that her chitin was not thick enough to take much punishment from even rocks-- no, she was going to shatter under this force, still completely unable to move.
There was a fluttering of wings as the moth beating Lazni's shell in appeared to back off, the world flashing with different colours of fire as Prominence battled all three of the moths, trying to keep them and whatever invisible weapon they had at bay. For a moment, it seemed the trauma had stopped, and Lazni found some small peace in this. She wasn't sure what was wrong with her, but at least she wasn't having her belly beaten in.
Above, the echo of more hisses sounded. Lazni flicked her eyes to look up and was able to make out one of Pupae's drones tackling the moth pony, sending both o them hurtling into the ground. Lazni watched as the moth pony dropped their rock, leaving it fall earward down towards Lazni's backside.
The first crunch was the sickening noise of the drone ending one of the moth ponies.
The second crunch, so far as Lazni could tell, was her back legs. The world flashed white as snow, and then filled with blackness.
Prominence's fury exploded as the sound of crunching bugs filled the air. Drawing her head in, lazni charged at the remaining two moth ponies, firing repeated shots of fire at them, no longer caring what she hit. She had previously been aiming for the street and trying to avoid setting buildings on fire, but no longer. Before the moths could do little more than scream they were drawn into the bright lights of the flame, half distracted by the bright flashes of light, half drawn to the heat, and entirely consumed.
Lazni could still feel the throbbing of her empathetic link in her head, despite otherwise being unaware of the world around her. She could sense Prominence extinguishing her attackers, followed by concern from Pupae's drone, Prominence, and Pupae herself. The whole world felt like floating, with warmth licking the edges of everything.
The changelings were fortunate in regard to the warmth. Rather than be focused on the bodies left behind the tavern or the fleeing changelings, they were all focused on the living flame currently intent on devouring everything flammable in it's wake.