Amie watched the sunrise over Equestria while one real pony and one fake one slept beside her. She considered more than once how she might make her return to the camp—what route she would take, how she would get the gold, every step involved.
But all those would have to wait until her royal meeting with the princesses of Equestria.
She had finally done it. The mountains were climbed, and she finally found a way to make them listen. Once Equestria wasn’t trying to kill her changelings, they wouldn’t even have to hide to research the leads on portal magic that Ivy had found. They could harvest friendship in peace, read all the right books, and get her kids home.
She just had to hold things together a little longer, and it could all be over.
Canterlot was a beautiful city, easily a rival of any of the similarly situated capitals on Earth. If they were stranded here for the rest of their lives, she could definitely see herself enjoying it. With the magic of farcasting, she could take an extended holiday and see the whole thing.
While she waited, Amie turned over a few different versions of her argument for the pony diarchs. Maybe Celestia would approach the argument from the same position as her sister—or maybe she would be hostile and require additional convincing. Either way, she would be prepared. Having Beth and Rick in town would certainly help provide a direct illustration of who Equestria was hunting.
Her powers as a queen were strong enough to monitor Stella Lacus in the meantime. Even at such a great distance, she felt her “workers” in the back of her mind. They did very little, entirely focused on the tasks she had assigned them. Many now devoted themselves to the nursery, ensuring conditions remained optimal to keep her eggs growing strong.
When one felt a sudden burst of fear, that drew Amie’s attention instantly. The workers felt very little of their own emotions anymore, almost nothing in fact. That was how she knew that the bugs were lost in the first place.
She no longer needed the crutch of a flame and a ritual chamber, not to farcast into the bugs she had used so many times before. She settled into a resting position against the wall and was suddenly somewhere else.
Cannonfire blasted into Stella Lacus from high above. Each blast was far louder than the small ceremonial gun they fired at the beginning of each camp session—larger than anything Amie had heard in her life.
Each blast was soon joined by another terrible roar—trees crushed, or something worse. Crunching buildings, shattered and broken in the impact.
Amie was in the body of a scout, one she left high in the trees near camp to watch for danger. She expected that danger to come from the hill, perhaps in the form of a few holdouts from camp deciding they were going to mount a coup on Amie. This attack came from the wrong direction.
Her worker was a pegasus, one with mottled green feathers chosen to imitate the evergreens she hid her in. Even so, she dropped lower in the trees, hovering there so her head barely protruded. Amie didn’t have to think about how to fly—instinct dominated, so her mind could focus on something far more important.
What… is…? Were those words? Where had they come from? Another question for her to figure out when the camp wasn’t under attack.
The sky held a half-dozen airships, at least by the Equestrian definition. Many had balloons, though they were also far larger than any gas could possibly lift. Many were built like seafaring ships, with cannons along the broadside in a very similar fashion. These all pointed towards her mountain, bombarding it with barrage after barrage.
We knew this could happen. That’s why I wanted everyone in the mine. She reached towards camp with her magical senses but found none of her workers there. That did not mean it was empty—there were bugs up there, mostly adults now. A handful of staff who disagreed with Albrecht’s surrender, along with some older, collaborator students. Less than fifty bugs, the last time she counted.
But no bugs should be up there under that barrage. Her ears folded flat as the guns fired, sending blast after blast through the air. With each one, ships rocked to one side, then had to wait for the cloud to part and make way for their next shot.
We’re defenseless. We don’t have anything up there to fire back.
For a few seconds, Amie did very little—she could only cower, watching as her favorite place in any world was leveled by cannons. Hopefully whatever bugs were up there had the good sense to rush down to the mine. In the shelter of the trees, they might still have safety.
This is only the beginning. When they finish bombarding us, they’re going to send in ground troops to clean up. Path decided to kill us.
Fury boiled in her, far brighter than she had ever known it. Equestria was listening! She had an audience with the princesses that day! How could she lose it all now?
She almost lifted into the air, flying straight up at Commander Path’s capital ship. Either she could convince him to wait another day to attack the camp or kill him dead.
But no—she’d never make it. No pony on those airships would be fooled by her disguise, not when they were attacking a changeling camp.
I need to get a radio. She turned towards the mine entrance, leaving her post in the trees behind. She left one final command to the drone, instructing her to get down to the nest where it was safe, and protect the eggs if she had to. Then Amie moved, into the gift shop office.
They hadn’t built anything too important up there of course—the entire point of the mine was to prepare for hostility from either the humans of Stella Lacus, or the ponies at the base of their mountain.
Predictably, the bugs inside were panicked, rushing around in confused groups. Most at least had the sense to push deeper, though some were crying out to leave the building.
Amie transformed her watching worker instantly, taking the bat form that had become one of her common aliases. She galloped down the steps into the gift shop, blocking the exit before any bugs could reach the doors.
Any that she saw, anyways. If there were others further away, there was little she could do for them now. “Stop!” she yelled, so loud and shrill that the whole panicked mob fell silent. Only the distant rumble of cannonfire broke the silence—explosions, followed by whistling. “Everyone, downstairs now. Demo team, be ready to collapse the entrance, just like we practiced. But I don’t want that to happen until the last moment. Whatever bugs can get in here, get them inside.”
She stopped one bug with a wing, glowering. “No, no supplies. No time for that anymore. People only, boxes stay where they are. Does anyone have a radio?”
It took another few seconds to get her hooves on a walkie-talkie, taken from one of the counselors. She turned to the new channel her faction was using, the one reserved for emergencies. Whatever else might be said about her bugs, she was quite confident they could identify a direct attack as an emergency. “Every bug outside the mine. Get to the mine now. We are going to hold the door for you as long as we can. If the gift shop looks exploded, just get as far away from here as you can. Surrender to your attackers if they let you. Otherwise, run. I am negotiating with the Equestrian princesses right now. They can stop this, but you need to stay alive.
The old camp channel still worked and had gone from usual silence and threats to terrified screams and begging for help. She waited for an opening on that channel, then spoke again. “Stella Lacus, we are under attack by Equestria. I’ve seen their strategies myself. When they finish bombarding us, they will send troops. If you can’t get to the mine in the next ten minutes, you need to get as far away from camp as possible. Keep to the trees, stay hidden. Wait for a week, then make a smoke signal by night. I will send someone for you.”
She returned the radio to the bug she’d taken it from, then hurried towards the mine along with the press of frightened bugs. Counselor voices cut through the confusion, urging kids to remain calm and get into their groups. Amie would have to trust them to follow the plan—she had her own mission to accomplish.
She reached the gate another minute later, recessed into a rocky tunnel at the back of the store. There she found the makeshift barricade, packed high with crates and barrels of expired gas and oil. Crates of dynamite from the museum were there too for good measure, though all agreed there was no chance they would go off. The roadside attraction hadn’t been that dangerous.
Few children waited at the gate anymore. A handful of older bugs were there, carrying camp rifles and shotguns. She saw just as many abandoned weapons as those with an active wielder. Under the threat of real attack, many brave-seeming children ultimately decided to flee. Good.
In their place, adult leaders remained. Albrecht stood beside the open doorway, levitating a rifle vaguely towards the entrance. It pointed too high to accidentally fire at one of the bugs, and there was no glow on the trigger.
But it wasn’t the old director who noticed her first—it was Tailslide. The pony had a spear, she couldn’t even guess where it had come from. He stood on the other side of the entrance, watching bugs stream past. At least until he noticed her coming.
“Amie! Amie, you’re alive! I thought—”
She met him in a brief, tight embrace, overflowing with relief and affection. So much energy radiated from him that several nearby bugs stopped retreating and instead froze in place, watching the two of them with a sudden, powerful hunger.
She had stopped the camp from starving, but most were still some degree of hungry. They had to stretch a little glamour a long way, at least until hunting finally got off the ground.
She broke apart from him much sooner than she would’ve otherwise, turning to glare at the flagging bugs. “Keep moving! They could start shooting the mine any second!”
Finally, they did, and she returned her attention to her frightened boyfriend. “You thought Equestria’s spell finally got me. Thought we were wrong before.”
He nodded tearfully. “Just vanishing like that—I know you can use unicorn magic, but you—I didn’t think you knew how.”
“I didn’t,” she agreed. “Listen—I need you to hold this entrance. If it looks like Equestria is coming, blow it down. Changelings are good at digging; we can get out another way. We’re going to keep it open to let as many bugs in as possible.”
She had already watched most of the construction crew make it in from the hotel, along with her scout from the surface. How many of her campers were still out there?
“We will hold them.” Albrecht brought his rifle straight up, moving it with precision. “But we cannot win an extended conflict, Amie. If we seal ourselves down here—they need not attack. They can guard the exit and wait for our supplies to fail. We both know how little time that will take.”
She nodded. “Pray they do that. I’m standing in an Equestrian tower, waiting for my meeting with the princess. I’ll make them stop this—I need you to keep my bugs alive in the meantime.”
“We can collapse the entrance,” Tailslide said. “How long did you say to wait?”
“If a single shot hits the hotel above us—or the cannons stop, and Equestria sends troops to the mine. But I can’t—I need to wake up now.”
“We’ll do it, Amie. Just get Celestia to call this off. We can hold them.”
Amie kissed him on the cheek, then turned her bug towards the tunnels, and ordered her worker to retreat. She couldn’t stay to be close, or else leave the body near an explosion when it finally went off.
She closed her eyes, and let the worker go.
Commander Path, you genocidal bastard.
Could Amie really be sure if it was Path attacking Stella Lacus without changeling intervention? Aside from Starscribe's need to constantly create as much tension as possible, the timing of the attack seemed somewhat suspicious. Roman changelings failed to stop the peaceful conversation between a changeling hive and Equestria, so it would be reasonable for them to seek more drastic countermeasures. It also wouldn't be much of a surprise if they could indeed control some portion of the Equestrian military.
The intrusive thoughts have finally won! Nothing but a show of extreme power will work now that the dreadnought has been deployed!
At least she had forewarning. Too bad her sensory sentries weren't spread out more for better timing.
Meanwhile the other hives are sitting there all smug. Can't wait for the look on their stupid faces!
11677200
I feel he is about to be demoted to prisoner Path
11677220
I think many might prefer 'Corpse Path'.
Looks like Albrecht has come around fully and will be able to look after everyone. I am sure that amie will get the princesses to stop the problem.
11677209
The guy had it out for changelings since the ponies first discovered them . Remember the changelings never attack first.
11677220
Perhaps. We don't know what Celestia's feelings on the changelings are. After all, she was briefly held captive, and iirc, ponies died during the original attack. The only thing we know is Amie has her ear for the moment, but is she actually going to listen?
Military gone rogue? The princesses are gonna be pissed.
11677209
Probably is Path, but I agree on the timing being suspicious. My guess is the Roman changelings sent a false missive to attack. It might still be possible that Path noticed nothing happening from Luna and decided to matters in his own hands.
as i predicted, Commander Path launched a attack without orders from the princess
Whether it's zealots jumping the gun to spill blood, the Romans influencing Path or outright fabricating orders to start the attack, or whatever causing the failure of the princesses to stand them down, there's a serious command and control problem in the Equestrian military.
11677209
The timing definitely doesn't rule out the Romans, but I could easily see Path going rogue because of what just happened. Consider the way news filters out - there was some kind of changeling attack in Canterlot and his daughter was involved. He might have even learned that the Rent-A-Friend he used in Agate was compromised. He's already an extremely militant and irrational guy, so it doesn't feel like a stretch that that was the last straw for him.
I'm going at the sudden invasion (and weeping over the lost human buildings and tech - Path, you idiot) same as everyone else, but another exciting detail that nearly gets lost in the chaos is that the worker Amie piloted was starting to develop thoughts of its own - actually felt its own fear when the bombs struck. Was that Lily, or are all of the drones starting to heal now that they're being fed?
some how i am thinking Commander Bravo Path is behind this attack.
a amazing chapter.
I feared we wouldn't get too many chapters without going back to building more tension again. Amie really can't catch a break.
I have my doubts that the Romans are involved in this. It seems like too quick of a reaction to something where they might not yet even know that Amie is responsible for the Magister's death. And I could very well see Commander Path doing this on his own. Above all, I guess I just don't like the idea that this newly revealed changeling tribe would hijack the entire plot like this all of a sudden.
Well that throws a wrench in things! The princesses had better arrive to talk with them quickly...
The entrance is defensible, at least. It'll take Path a long time to get through to them - let's just hope it takes long enough for bloodshed to be at a minimum...
It's possible the Romans were behind this. Maybe they whispered in Path's ear... People say 'but the romans are new!', but it would sorta fit with the major factions who know what's up so far actually being changelings.
Albreicht is going to try to take over again I bet. In any case Path is a murderer multiple times over. He captured and killed those who tried to leave early in the story and who knows how many he has killed now. He is absolute slime and deserves to spend the rest of his days in Tartarus alone with noone to talk to and utterly forgotten by all.
I don't know if this is purely Path's doing or the Romans'. AFAIK, the Romans had already infiltrated deep into Equestrian ranks, one of them is even a magister, quite a lofty position in society before Amie blew the whistle. The Romans could just as easily send a fake message or something. But Path being a genocidal bigot is still very much plausible.
11677491
I suppose I should elaborate my viewpoint. The core conflict this story has been built on is all about how Equestria is overzealous in its approach towards changelings because of fear, ignorance, and a limited but entirely horrible set of previous experiences with changelings. If it turns out that actually, Equestria acts like it does because its government is controlled by evil changelings, that wouldn't just be some "cool plot twist", that would completely derail the themes this story has built up.
Plus, you'd need some major mental gymnastics to justify why a hive of changelings in control of Equestria would actively foster anti-changeling hostilities. That's a super dumb plan just on the face of it, and it could only end up backfiring in the long run, especially since they just lost a core figure that's essential to actually retaining control of Equestria. It doesn't speak of a nation that could manage to survive for thousands of years in a hostile environment.
And even while they might hold a grudge against Stella Lacus now, I don't see them benefitting from outright wiping out a fledgling hive, not when they're supposedly all about manipulation and this new hive presents a new element to manipulate.
I wonder if Commander Path was coordinating with any of the agents in Canterlot on doing this attack, having just gotten rid of the changeling spy that befriended his daughter and whatnot.
Wait- What happened to the friendship business?
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I don't understand why two people downvoted this comment. I agree with this, although I hold a little more hope for Albrecht.
Well. This will complicate negotiations. I just hope Celestia and Amie don't spend minutes going in circles of "How can I trust you when (past atrocity the other had little to no control over)?" Still, Amie's hardly in the mood for that sort of thing right now. I get the feeling both diarchs are going to take a long, hard, very angry look at what their miltary forces, both conventional and special, have been doing after this little talk.
11677794
reminds me of that story "the culling of the hives", where there are a bunch of hives of changelings, who are all trying to kill each other with primitive guns and such.
AND, in THAT story, Chrysalis is NOT the NASTIEST changeling queen!
I feel like Commander Path is due for a dishonorable discharge....
Commander Path really chose a poor moment to attack and without any authorisation from his superiors.