Prologue: The first Evolution

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'Adapt, improve, perfect.' This three words were the first ones that got trough the pain in my head. As the pains starts to fade I didn't dare try to move. Instead I tried to remember what has happened to me. I was on a gaming convention, I waited the whole year for this weekend. My friends and I were all cosplaying as our favorite characters from a game. Looking back going as Abathur was not my smartest idea. The whole costume was so damn heavy it was hard to move, and looking out of it even harder. But worst of all, the heat in this stupid thing. But it was worth it. We had a lot of fun and the convention was awesome. Until I saw the Merchant and his stall.

Flashback

This was something I had never seen, I walked over, slowly so I wouldn't trip over the wheels of my costume, to a small stall that has a lot of things I could identify with just one glance. Dantes Blade, some Weapons from Monster Hunter and many others. But something else was drawing me to it. It was something in the shape of an oversized egg. Green, transparent and slimy looking and in it I could see the form of something that looks like a Zerg Larva.

“See something you like.” I was surprised by the sudden voice, luckily no one could see it under the costume. I moved the costume so I could see the person properly. The merchant also were in costume, he looked like the merchant out of Resident Evil, I couldn't remember the exact game of the series, I had never played it only watching a friend playing it. But this was not important at the moment. At first I nodded but then remembered that he couldn't see me, or shouldn't see me. But he acted as if he could see me nodding to his question and continued.

“So what picked your interest?” I ignored the fact that he apparently could see through my costume and pointed at the egg.

“How much for this thing?” He looked at the object and acted as if he was thinking of a price I could pay and he wanted me to pay. After two minutes he smiled.

“What would you say to Twenty?” I nearly lost my balance, was he insane? This was as if he said take it for free. Before I could answer he spoke again.

“I know I know, this is really to much for this old thing alone. So I put this encyclopedia of Star Craft Creatures and technology on top. What do you think? HEY!” This was to much, I lost my balance at his words. I begun to fall forward in the direction of the merchant and his goods.

“AAHH!” I thought this would be it, I would fall and burrow him under me. But luckily he bent over his desk and caught me. He pushed me back up and hold me until I could stand on my own again without risking to crush his goods.

“Thanks”, I said as he continued to smile.

“Don't worry, I know it is really a cheap offer, but I want to close soon and the more I can sell the less I need to carry bag home. So what is your answer? Twenty, yes or no?” Something in my inside said the logic behind this was right and wrong on the same time. But I reached out with one of my arms and hold the three finger hand out to seal the deal with a hand shake.

“Deal, just one moment, I need to get my money out of the costume.” With this said I pulled one of my arms out of the arm part in the inside of the main body. It is like taking of a glove, but with all the sweat on my arm it was really hard. As soon as I get my money out of one of the inner pockets I had put there I gave it to the merchant. The only way to get the it out was the mouth, some of my friends had said it looked funny when my hands got out of the mouth grab something and pull back in the costume, as if the costume would eat the thing. I placed the money in the hand of the merchant and he put the Egg in my other three finger hand. After pulling my hand back I worked my arm back in the costume and grabbed the book with my now again costumed hand.

“Thanks”, I said and he just smiled.

“Have a nice trip.” Not the oddest thing I heard today, but in the back of my head a voice was screaming that he means more with his words then I could understand. But happy with my new things I made my way back to my friends. Then darkness, nothing but darkness. I tried to scream to run or to do anything, but nothing happened. After some seconds that felt like an eternity the darkness was replaced by a green shell and liquid started to fill the thing I was in. And then there was nothing.

Flashback end

After remembering all of this the feeling of my body came back. No not my body, something was strange. The sensation of floating was the first thing I could make out clear, even if my body felt strange for all my life I couldn’t say what was wrong exactly. My head still hurts like hell, but I forced my eyes open. This was wrong, so very wrong. Not one, not two eyes opened, but four of them. Fear started to grow inside of me. I opened my mouth to scream, but the only think that happened was that some sort of liquid flow in my mouth and made me gagging. Big mistake, thanks to my gagging only more of the liquid found its way inside my mouth. The fear growing in me in asked myself will I drown here? I tried to swim up to reach the surface, but something was wrong, my arms felt strange. So I tried to kick around, I hit something like a wall or sack or something with something of my body. 'OK I was in some sort of tank, if I can break it maybe I wouldn't drown.' With the fear and despair giving me power I trashed around and finally broke the wall.

After I broke the wall just a little bit the whole thing ripped open as if a hammer had hit it, spilling all the liquid and myself over the ground. After a few minutes of taking deep breaths I tried to lift myself up. Opening my eyes and feeling the headache slowly dying down. 'Ok making a mental list of everything wrong with me. Point one. Four eyes, strange, but not the worst that could have happen. Yea smart way to word it this way. The list will only grow worse now.' Looking down on my hands a groan escaped my lips. 'Great point two, four arms with two three finger hands. Could it go...... NO I will not think about it. It is bad enough as it is!' I shouted at myself in my head. My Eyes traveled further down my body.

“AAHHHH!” The scream was loud and in a strange voice.

'I have become Abathur.'

Four Month later.

Life was a strange thing the last four month, first getting used to this new body and finding out I got the habit to speak like the real Abathur if I don't concentrate to speak normal, the egg that the merchant has sold me is now a Hatchery and I found out that building something takes a lot more time in real life than in game. A pair of Zerglings for an example would take 24 hours. This will take some time getting used to. Patience was never one of my virtues. But what has blown my mind was the first time something come to live in the Hivemind. It was just a small Larva, but for me it was like a new light in my situation. The feeling of someone, something that is there with you, in this strange new situation. It was strange but it felt so good. And with the birth of the Larva I found out I had the control. I could control it, I could command it to die or to life. It was scary at first but soon I got myself together. I recalled everything I know about the Zerg and begun to create my own swarm.

And know four month later I was here and looked out of the cave in the dark forest where the cave was located in. The swarm was growing steady, just this morning a new batch of Drones has hatched and Overlords were flying around helping me to make a mental map of the forest. 'Ah yes life is good. Wait what?' One of my Overlords has found something and has send a pulse through the Hivemind. I concentrated and my vision started to change. I could see a small clearing not to far away from my cave. 'This was not good, something has come this close to our home and we just saw it now.' But this would have to wait. What I could see in front of me was more interesting.

Third person clearing in the forest.

“We need to go faster!” A black equine creature shouted. Its whole body was covered with wounds and green blood. Following him were four others like him, they all were in a similar state, wounds all over their bodys and green blood flowing out.

“We can't run any faster! We need to fight!” One of the others screamed from behind, the fear was dripping from his words. The leader looked back with a stern look in his face.

“We can't risk our lives at this place! We need to go back, our Queen and hive needs the food!” He wiped his head around and jumped just in time to not run in to some bushes, landing on the other side in a clearing. They tried to make it to the other side, but came to a sudden halt as they heard the growling in front of them and two gleaming green eyes.

“DAMIT! I WONT DIE HERE!” The equine from before shouted as his horn started to glow green. A bold of something like green fire shoot out from the glowing horn and hit the creature that was still hidden in the shadows of the forest.

The attack did nothing, only making the attacker jump out of its hiding spot and growling more. The creature looked like a wolf, but its Body was out of wood, like it was a piece of art of sticking many twigs and branches. One of the Changelings tried again to attack the Timberwolf, and again it did nothing. The changelings draw closer together as the more and more of the aggressive plant animals came out of the forest on the clearing.

“What should we do?” One of the slimmer Changelings asked the leader.

“Ok listen, I will by you time, and you try to reach the end of the forest. Bring the love to the hive.” The others wanted to say no but it was to late. The Timberwolves attacked.

The battle was more like a slaughter, the Changelings never had a chance of winning and their leader had known. it. So he closed his eyes and waited for death.

“I am at least happy to die by your side. You all were great on the mission.” He thought this would make great last words and after saying it he waited for the pain to come. But instead of the pain another scream filled the air.

“RAAWW!” The eyes of the Changelings snapped open as big creatures charged trough the undergrowth and changed the situation completely. The Changelings never had seen someone dealing with a pack of Timberwolves so fast and brutal. But the battle ended to fast for them to run away. And then the creatures formed a circle around them. And they were trapped again.

Chapter 1 Meeting the natives

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'Time to meet the locals.' With a happy smile, at least in my head it was a smile, I sat in the Overlord as it carried me to the clearing with the Changelings and my Zerglings.

>>>Clearing third POV
The Changelings were standing back to back, or flank to flank depending on how you want to see this. They all were shaking, from fear, mental and physical exhaustion. The day with all the horrors and all the wounds was taking their toll on the Changelings.
“What is happening? Captain what will happen to us?” A smaller female sounding changeling asked the leader of the group.

“I don't know. But even if we die here, we will do it fighting.” All of them gave sounds of approval as answer. But then they heard something from above.

“Greetings mortals! I am the god of all bugs and I give you the Honor to be the first mortals to lay an eye on me and my children!” They all looked up and saw a strange flying creature that looked more like an oversized organic ball of meat with tentacles descending.

“What?” they all said at once. The Zerglings around them had multiple reactions, some of them hide behind their claws others tried to hide in the ground below and others just shook their heads. After the flying meatball was close to the ground it opened its jaw and used one of its tentacles to pull out another strange being. This creature looked strange. A mix between a caterpillar, centipede and some sort of mantis. Or was it some sort of slug? Two giant claws growing out of its back looking like black scythes and behind this two more claws with some sort of green sack on it and the legs were short and thin, not made to lift the body, more to shove it over the ground. But this was just its lower body, the upper part was was scary as the lower half, or even more scary. A big head with more green sack like vices. Four lower arms with small claws, much like smaller versions of the back claws, and four upper arms with tree claw like finger. Four green glowing eyes were gazing at them. And the mouth was not horizontal as it was by creatures of Equestria, it was vertical with many many sharp teeth. And its head was covered in hard carapace only the green sacks looked squashy on its head. It looked terrifying and the Changelings shivered in terror. The creature started snickering, its whole body shook with its snickers as its eight arms tried to hold its body.

“Your face! Sorry, but your face. This is too much!” Its body waved around as the snickers grow into hearty laughter. “HAHA! You are killing me!”

“What?” The group of Changelings couldn't understand what was happening. First they were chased by unnatural Timberwolves, and next some strange monster jumped out killed the Timberwolves and saved them just to catch them, and at the end some...... thing was coming down and make jokes in this situation. This. Was. Too. Much!

“WHAT IN THE NAME OF QUEEN CHRYSALIS IS GOING ON HERE?!” It was the leader of the group who exploded first. “FIRST TIMBERWOLVES AND NOW THIS?! WHAT ARE YOU?! WHO ARE YOU?! WOULD SOMELING BE SO NICE AND GIVE ME AN EXPLANATION?!” After his screaming he begun to cough up blood. The creature stopped his laughing at this and come closer.

“Wounds severe. Don't move.” For the Changelings nothing made any sense anymore. What did this creature want, and why was he here in the first place.

>>>Clearing Abathur’s POV

“Stay back. I heal. All!” With those words I got closer to the Changelings and slowly extended one of my hind claws with the green sacks. They tried to back away but my Zerglings didn't move, so they couldn't run away. “Don't move. Need stop bleeding. If not, you die.” These words froze them and I closed the distance between us again. I learned this after I got wounded in a battle with some sort of oversized lizard that wanted to take the cave I had grown the first of my buildings in. I could create some sort of slim that stopped the bleeding and speed up the healing. If the memory of Abathur was correct, the reason behind the healing was the high amount of nutrients in the slime of the sacs that was absorbed by the skin and helped the regeneration of the wound. The other Changelings faces were filled with fear, but the leader, which I coated with the slime had more of a curious facial expression then a scared one.

“What is this?” He finally asked me. I don't really want to answer him, they don't need to know all things right from the start. And also I would need to calm myself down to stop myself to speak like the real Abathur. So I stayed silence and continued.

“Next!” was all I said as I moved on to the next one, this one looked a bit slimmer, not by much but it looked like a female. Or at least I thought so. In situations like this I was thankfully for the bigger Brain and the part of the mind that made Abathur the one in the swarm who aimed always for the most efficient way. It maybe messed up my way of speaking but it also helped in situations like this to make the right decisions and stopped me from going in to a state of useless panic.
Most of the changelings let me heal them without any problems. But one gave me some trouble in his panic state. And didn't want me to help him.

“STAY AWAY!” He screamed at me, his eyes wide open in fear and terror.

“Just calm down and let it, him what ever, help you!” one of the already treated Changelings said. But then I got an idea.

“Is a falling tree making a sound if no one is there to hear it?” It was something I had read, if someone is stuck with panic, ask him something so out of place that he will have no choice as to snap out of his panic. And it worked.

“What?!” He stopped to shiver and his eyes slowly got back to a normal size. He looked at me confusing, but the senseless terror and the mind robbing fear was out of his eyes. It seems it worked. I got closer and slowly extended my back claws to put some slime on him. He tried to back away a bit but one barked order from his leader made him stop in the movement and I get the job done.

“So now that you have saved us what do you want from us?” I could see the suspicion in the face of the leader of the group, and to be fair he was right in doing this. Yes I didn't want to hurt him or his people, but only a stupid leader would think some stranger would help them and ask for nothing in return. At least from the start. But he was partly right. I wanted something from them, or to be more specific, I wanted an alliance between the Changeling hive and my Zerg swarm.

“Ah finally. Well to be true, nothing much. Only, and sorry if this sounds like a line out of some old science fiction movie, bring me to your leader. Please.” His look was strange. Ok this line was overused, and it sounded bad..... ok it was the most terrible thing to say in this sort of situation. But who can blame me? It was the perfect situation to say such a line. And I just had the need to say it. And I also got my way of speaking back under control. It was easier every time. The first time it took me more than a few days to get back to normal. But thankfully I wouldn't need to meet the leader of the Changelings while speaking like this.

“What?” I think I broke them, again.

“Ok listen, I want to meet with your leader, create friendly relations between our races and with luck forge a strong alliance between us.” I looked over the group before they answered a few seconds later.

“This is all? No pay no oaths of loyalty?” I nodded at his question. His eyes traveled over my Zerglings and me.

“What will you gain in this alliance? What could we have that you would need? There is no reason for you to do this as we have seen your soldiers are stronger than we are.” These were some good points, but it was not his place to ask me questions.

“I don't think you are the one I need to answer.” My voice gained a little edge at the end, maybe a little too much as I saw the rest of the team cringe at my words.

“You are right.” his answer come after some time a little more respectful than before. “But we can't move, and even if we heal faster, it will take us at least three days to get strong enough to travel through the rest of the forest.” He continued and in his voice was something like regret or so. But I just smiled at him.

“Don't worry about this, we will be on our way in a few minutes.” He looked at me and shook his head.

“No even with your help it will take us this long to be strong enough for a walk across the forest.” I just smiled at him as the Overlord behind me started to move again.

“Who said anything about walking?” With this the long tentacle of the Overlord wrapped itself around one of the Changelings and lifted him up. The leader could only stare in surprise as his whole team vanished in the Zerg. And then he was taken away too. Finally I felt the Overlord grabbing me and lifting me to the opening.

>>>Half an hour later.

“So we will reach the forest borders soon and then we will arrive in the badlands. Will you guide us from there or do we need to find the way without your help?” He had directed us to the right side of the forest, but didn't want to tell me where the Overlord need to move from there. I could understand why. We talked most of the way and he told me that his kind was hated by most of the other races on this world. Oh yes there were a lot of other races, it was nothing new to me, I had watched the show a little bit with my sister back home. Or to be more specific, was forced to watch it with her. With the only TV for us Kids in our shared room. Hurray. But in this world exist even more races. Changelings were a myth for most of them, and the myth was kept alive through the ones that were found out from time to time. And they were hated. So yea I could understand why he didn't want to lead me to their home. But for now he would need to trust me.

“Do I have a choice?” His face showed no emotion, but in his eyes I could see he was angry, not at me, not at his team, but at himself. It was one of this situations everyone hates. One of this when you only have two options and both endanger your family. Even I don't like them.

“Good, because we have reached the border. So would you take a look and tell me which way to drive this meatballoon?” I commanded the Overlord to use one of his tentacles to grab the Changeling and hold him outside so he can take a look. As he got back a minute or so later he pointed me in one direction but stopped talking with me. Like this we continued our way to the Changeling hive. They didn't know I had commanded a few changelings to follow us in another Overlord. And before we got to far in the badlands I got a call from the Swarm Hivemind. Everything just become much easier.

Chapter 2 Enter the Hive

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>>> Unknown location ??? POV<<<

“Is everyone in position” A dark figure asked.

“It will only take a bit more than we can march, Captain. We will reach the borders of the Changeling land at the end of the month. Everything is going the way you commanded.” Another figure said.

“Good” 'Soon we will rule this world in his name'

>>>Badlands Abathur's POV.<<<

Well it took us longer than I had expected, but it seems he was finally ready to lead us to an entrance of his hive. I wasn't surprised to see more Changelings waiting for us in front of a gigantic rock. Because as we crossed the border I picked some sort of psionic signal from the Changeling group that was with me. As I stretched my senses to learn what it was I felt a lot of signals coming and going from them. But I couldn't tap in their connection, it was too different. Like trying to understand Chinese without any knowledge about it. But at the time I was sure they told them about me and that I was coming with them. So yea, the group of Changelings was no surprise.

“So is this our welcome party?” I looked at the leader of the group and he only rise an eyebrow at me and nodded.

“You didn't look like it surprised you that they know about our arrival.” I needed to give him this much, he never let me see what he thought, at least not much. But I could see he was disappointed that I didn't show surprise or that I looked like they were nothing to be worried about.

“I have my ways to know things.” was all I said as the Overlord reached a height where we could start to unload the Changelings and me. With a command he opened his maw and reached in with one of his tentacles and grabbed one of the Changelings first.

Not a minute later we were all unloaded from the Overlord and were standing in front of the new group of Changelings. All of them looked at me with a lot of distrust, it seems saving some of them would not help them to trust me enough. Well this could take its time. I wasn't in a hurry so I could take my time with the bond forging between our species.

“So will you take me to your leader or will you try and kill me now that you have more soldiers in better conditions?” I asked in a mild mocking voice. I have seen what the changelings could do, they were running away from those wolves that my Zerglings could kill with ease. So with my natural weapons and abilities as Abathur I was safe, for now. Even Abathur could be taken down by these guys if they just had enough numbers. But I stood, sat, whatever I call it standing for know. So again, I stood there waiting for them to make a move. I could feel the conversation they had through the Hivemind. Then the some of the Changelings ignited their horns. I didn't move, then the same light started to shine around the Changelings that have come with me and lifted them up.

“We will escort you to our Queen creature. But know this. If you make one wrong move we will kill you.” The voice was deeper and more masculine than the voices of the Changelings in the group I have traveled with. But I didn't have much time to ask him something as he turned around the instant he had finished warning me, and trotted up to the big rock. His Horn ignited with the same green light I have seen by the others. But this time the whole side of the rock that was in front of us started to burn with the same green flames. After a few seconds the stone wall in front of us changed into a slowly opening gate. I wasn't surprised by the sight of the gate, I had expected something like this the whole time. But it was impressive, I had imagined what it would look like, but whatever I had in my mind couldn't hold a candle to this massive gate.

“I must say, this is more than I had expected, do you want to impress me or intimidate me? If it is the later, it didn't work. Just so you know.” I said with a calm voice as I move my body in the direction of the gate. The Changeling turned his head and eyed me suspicious. I made a signal with my two right hand claws to signal him to lead the way. And with this we moved in the darkness of the Changeling hive.

“It is beautiful.” This whole thing was really something else. At first I thought they would live like some sort of underground species without any sort of light, and they could see in the dark. But I was wrong, after the light of the entrance was far behind us green light was emitted from the walls. Some sort of hardened substance covers the walls and glowed on its own. I couldn't look away, while we continued our way down I never looked away from the walls. I didn't care for the strange looks I got from the Changelings, I wasn't here to judge them, nor was I here to see if they were a threat to my swarm. I wanted to bond with them, and I know I was foolish to ignore the valuable information I could gather here. A whatever, this view was worth the risk. My guide turned his head and asked.

“Why would you think so?” His look, as far as I could read these stoic bugponys faces, said he was expecting something like disgust or hate of some sort. I waited with my answer and looked a little bit more at the green light.

“I can't place it, but this light feels comforting. Why did you expect another reaction from me?” He looked a moment longer at me then he turned his head forward again and continued to walk.

“Not many would say such a thing. Most Ponies or other races of Equis would be afraid of this place.” He said in a calm voice. I looked around me but could not find a reason to fear this place. The only feeling I got while looking around was pity and sorrow. Most of the Changelings that I could see were not much more than bones and carapace. And now I could understand why the group had flighted so hard to get here. Their people were starving. And this was nothing like being just hungry because of a late food delivery. They were dying.

>>>30 Minutes later<<<

“I don't want to sound like a whiny kid, but are we almost there?” My guide glanced back at me with a small smirk. Then something unexpected happened. A small Changeling fell from the ceiling onto my lower back. While the other Changelings around me had moved around and whispered between each other they froze the moment the small Changeling landed on me. Even my guide froze and looked at me, and if I wasn't wrong I could swear I saw fear in his eyes. I looked back. There was the small Changeling, was it a child, or was it a colt or filly or what they are called? He looked at me in fear, shivering at his whole body. His small voice filled with fear as he spoke.

“Please I'm sorry mister thing! I lost my grip on the calling and my wings didn't want to move! Please don't kill me I'm really sorry!” He was crying, but I wasn't angry, all I could see was a child that was half dead from starving. I extended two of my hand claws.

“Please the colt didn't mean anything! If you want we punish him but let him live please.” My guide said with a small hint of fear and a great amount of concern in his voice. I looked at him and then back to the small child on my back.

“If you are too weak to stick to the wall you should stay at the ground! You were lucky I was there to be your soft landing spot! What would you have done if you had hit the ground?! You should take better care of yourself. If you get hurt or killed you can't help anyone in the future. A small child should have his fun but don't try to die while doing this. So next time think before doing something like this.” I scolded him while grabbing him and putting him down beside me and patting him on the head.

After patting him on the head I turned back and saw the surprised look on the face of my guide. I looked around and saw the same look on the face of of all the other Changelings.

“Ok is there something on my face? And please, no jokes about my face. Thanks.” I joked trying to ease the mood. But it looked like it did not work. So I started to crawl forward again. I really didn't want to wait any longer for this meeting to happen. So as I reached the Changeling that had lead me down here I tapped him with one of my front claws. He recoiled slightly but then shook his head and continued his walk, only slower this time. So I followed him. I could see how another Changeling shot to the smaller one and hugged him so strong I feared she would break him apart.

“This was... how should I put this. Surprising. The way you look I had thought you would kill him.” The voice of him sounded as if he was unsure of himself.

“Maybe you should not judge me on my body. I didn't chose to become this. But this is something your leader should hear first.” With this we proceeded our way in silence. And it only took us a few more minutes to reach another gate. This was even bigger than the first gate I had seen. And it was filled with so many ornaments that I asked myself if this gate was for show or could really be used as a defense. But my thoughts were cut short as the Gate swings opened.
As I walked in the new room I began to question why everything in here was so damn big. If I was correct this whole room was big enough to hold the rest of the Changelings without any problems. Why making it so big if you have only a few Changelings that are in here? Oh right, showing of. Why do I even need to ask, I liked over dramatic entrance to. But this was too much even for my taste. Or was this just me being jealous? To have such a big room only for impressing and greeting people was something I lacked, both times. Back home and here with my hive.

“So who or what is this creature that has saved my children and asked to meet me?” The voice was strange, female, but with a similar distortion to my own voice. As I turned my gaze back to the front I saw something like a throne, and on the throne was a, clearly, female Changeling. She was bigger than the rest of her race, but on the same time more slender. Her Horn was longer and she had a long neon green mane, hair? And she had an aura of a leader surrounding her.

“I am Abathur. Leader of the Swarm and evolution master. I am here to offer you an alliance between our races.” I could see her looking me over, her eyes glowed and I felt something trying to enter my mind. But with my psionic powers I forced it out with a strong push. And then the Queen cringed slightly and her guards ignited their horns. I didn't move. My mind was screaming at me if I made just one wrong move now I would lose any chance of a peaceful co-existence with them. The Queen shook her head.

“Stop!” Her voice boomed through the room.

“But my Queen!” She ignited her horn and a ring of green fire formed around the muzzle, effective silencing him.

“I was the one who invaded his mind without asking. So be silent.” After this the guards got back to their positions but still had an eye on me. But they didn't attack, so I started to speak.

“I am sorry if this was a little harsh, but I don't like it if someone is in my head.” She gave me an understanding look.

“I am sorry for this. But as you can see my Changelings are in no condition to fight, so I wanted to be sure that you didn't come here to fight and kill us.” She said. She looked even more tired now after the failed invasion of my mind. Was it such a hard blow?

“So I have seen. But I want to offer you help.” This picked her interest as she straighten her posture.

“Really? And what would you ask from us in return?” Her eyes narrowed as if she tried to pierce my very soul to see what I had planed.

“All I want is that you would think about a possible alliance with my Swarm, Queen.” I looked at her. So far she had avoided to tell me her name. So she was carefully with any sort of information about herself.

“Chrysalis. Just call me Chrysalis.” And with this our first talk begun.

Chapter 3 Changed Situation

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>>>Chrysalis POV<<<

I was in my private chamber, after one hour of talking with this Abathur he gave me a small spark of hope. He was a strange one. After twenty minutes he asked me to send my guards out of the room, something they didn't really like, but I got them under control. After this the story got really strange. What he had talked about was really crazy, he told me his species could evolve at will, he could manipulate the DNA of his people. His swarm. He said with the essence of some Changelings he could find out what forced us to need love as only source of energy. He offered us a deal to find out what we absorbed and how. He said he could create a, what did he call it? Yes, a unit, that could produce the energy that we needed, if he couldn't make it so it produced enough on its own he would just create enough for my Children and me to survive. But even before this he told me about himself and this was even more unbelievable.

>>>Flashback Chrysalis POV<<<

“I thank you Chrysalis for trusting me enough to talk with me under six eyes.” His voice sounded stressed. And the aura of power he had most of the time had vanished. I waited for him to continue.

“I know this will sound really insane. But I promise, this is nothing but the truth.” His eyes were set on me. This green holes in this strange body. I didn't know how, but I could tell he would tell me nothing but the truth now.

“I wasn't born in this, I would call it form, but as a Human. Back then I had the Form of a bipedal naked ape with some hair on specific body parts. But this is not the point. Humans don't live in this world, or at least not the Humans I know. We are the only sentient Species back home. Or at least we think we are. I don't really know what happened, but my body was changed or fused to match my costume I had used at the moment I got here. This was just four months ago.” His story was really unbelievable. He told me a lot about his home, his old race the Humans and his new race the Zerg. But I could tell he was avoiding something. And as I learned what he was avoiding I really didn't know if I wanted to know.

“You told me a lot about yourself, your race and your past. But I can feel that you are hiding something. Why?” Looking back, I am unsure if it was right to ask the question. He looked at the ground.

“I know this world. Or at least a part of it. Back home, this world is just a TV show.” This was more than I could believe back then. So I did the only thing I could think of. Getting angry.

“Do you want to to tell me someone of your species has created our world and we are just something to amuse you Humans?!” I growled and bared my fangs at the creature. Even if it was clear he could harm me in my weakened state.

“No! God no. I would never be this arrogant to believe this. I am sure your world knows fiction and fantasy books as well. I think the writers of such stories have the ability to look in other universes. In other realities. Not knowing that they watch in other dimensions they say it is only their imagination. And so fiction is created because we don't know it is another world.” It was hard to get my head around the idea. Someone who could watch me all the time. It was unnerving. But at the same time, how could I know it was true that I was one of this individuals that were watched? So I only nod to him.

“So what do you want? I can't help you going back, I don't have that sort of power. So what is it you want from me and the Changeling race.”

“As I told your soldiers already. Friendship. Between the Zerg and the Changelings. And the question isn't what can you do for me, but what can I do for you?” This got my interest. Was that really all?

“I know that your kind is hungry. And from the show I know you're planning to attack the Ponies. And I know you will fail in the end.” I jumped up, what was he thinking?! I was really planning to invade the Ponies, but didn't had the chance to do so far. But now this thing comes here to tell me I will fail?! Unbelievable! I can't fail, if I do they all will die!

“You dare!” I scream and ready to attack.

“Wait! I can help! The Zerg can help!” He stated with a firm belief behind his words that they stopped even me.

“The Zerg can help! We can help your race to evolve! We can create some sort of food for you. The only thing we need is Changeling essence and a little bit of time and trust from you.”

>>>Flashback end Chrysalis POV<<<

Essence. This was the great obstacle. He would need Changeling essence in form of flesh or something. And this was nothing I could decide so easily. It was true, I had more corpses at hand then I liked. But could I use one of my dead children like this? Many races of Equestria think of us as monster or demons. But we are just a small race that want to live, we can't really love, after all even if there are other females the only ones that could produce eggs were me and the breeders. And a queen can only give birth to breeders until there are four in the Hive. After this only Drones or new Queens would be born until one of the Breeders died. And we didn't need males to give birth. And breeders didn't have much of a mind of their own, feed give birth. So it was as if every Drone was my child, even if they had one of two genders, they could never give birth to children as they are all siblings and just drones. So would I be able to give one of my dead Children to some creature to eat so it could maybe save us?

“My Queen! You need to come to the surface!” My thoughts were cut off as a Drone rushed in my chamber screaming.

“What is going on? Speak!” She looked scared and as I opened my mind to the Hive mind a wave of fear nearly swallowed me. What was going on?

“My Queen the moon!” I looked over at the Drone. I wouldn't get anything out of her. So I started my wings and rushed up the corridors to the surface.

After reaching the Surface I was greeted by a sight that was next to impossible. The Night should have ended a while ago, but here the moon was still at its highest point. This wasn't normal. Celestia would never fail to hold the circle.

“This is strange. Something is happening in the forest.” The voice startle me for a second, but I got myself under control as I remembered whose voice it was.

“What do you mean something is happening in the forest, Abathur?” He crawled over to me with his four hands folded before his chest.

“I can now say where in the Timeline of this world I am. At the beginning of season one.”

>>>five minutes earlier Abathur's POV<<<

Concentrating on my Hivemind I gave commands to spawn more Drones and Zerglings. The Hive needed to grow. If I want to bring some of them over here to help the Changelings. With the forces at hand I could never hope to defend two bases on the same time. And the Zerg in me wanted to make sure that all my positions are secured. And again I cursed the fact that this wasn't the Koprulu sector. No pure minerals and no vespene. Gathering the needed resources for my base and units was harder as I feared at the start. But I could get the needed things out of the mountain and some plants. This was at least something. But the used part of the collected materials was far to low to be profitable. Too much waste and not enough gain. Not having the trust of your hosts has its up side. I was safe from any ambush as a few guards were standing right outside my door and some others were watching the place. So I concentrated on my Overlords that were scouting the Forest as I got a feeling something was of. Right the Sun was still nowhere to be seen, and the moon was also still high up!

“What the hell?” I tried to find the Overlord closed to the other side of the forest and hoped it was near the place where most of the strange things in this world happened. Ponyville.

After finding the one that was closed to the border near Ponyville I moved my own body closer to the door to speak with my guards.

“I need to go to the surface. I need to speak with your queen.” After a short time and some whispered words the door opened. And a Guard looked inside with a questioning look.

“The Queen is in her quarters, down in the hive. Why would you think she will be up on the surface?” I looked at them with my four eyes.

“Because something strange is happening and she will be up there soon. We need to move.” With this I began to crawl out of the room and on the way out side.

I was near the surface with my Guards beside me. A minute ago they were informed through the Hivemind that Chrysalis was at the surface to take a look at something. All the time half of my attention was on the Overlord that was arriving at the old castle in the forest. If I remembered it right this was the place where the action would happen today, tonight.

After I reached the surface and talked a bit with Chrysalis I waited with her together there and with one half of my attention I watched the night sky with her and told her live what was happening, and with the other half I watched the castle. Finally the moment came, the six Ponies reached the castle. But what was this feeling? It felt like something out of my past, but on the same time not. All the time over Chrysalis listen to me telling her what was happening. And then as the dark Pony, what was the name of the species again? Pegacorn, Unisis? Oh right Alicorn. At the moment as the Alicorn was beaten, I felt it again, and an old Memory from Abathur come to the front of my mind.

“No.” Nothing more than a whisper, but on the same time, filled so much with fear and despair that all the Changelings around me were affected. Even Chrysalis backed away from me as my body started to shake in pure terror.

“No not him. How can he be here? Why?” For a short time all of my attention was focused on the dark Alicorn what was now changed, smaller, weaker but on the same time free.

I got back to my body as I felt someone shaking it.

“Abathur! What is going on? Who is here?” Chrysalis voice finally brought me back to my body and in the present. I gave her a long look before I spoke again.

“An old evil has come to this world, or he's been here since a long time ago. And he will try to kill everything and everyone on this planet.” Her eyes grow with every word I spoke. As I had watched Luna getting separated from the nightmare I could feel the mind of the parasite that the nightmare was.

“Amon, creator and enemy of the Zerg Swarm. He was the one who took control over the first leader of the Hivemind. He wanted to destroy the universe and rebuild it in his own way. And I fear he has already his own follower on this world.” The time I was on this world was short, compared to the life time a Zerg would have, but to know that Amon was here and for such a long time too. It was unnerving. How strong was his influence on this world and its inhabitants. I looked Chrysalis direct in the eyes.

“This world will be drowning in war and death. My Swarm will stand against him, you need to change a side, for yourself and your Swarm. The time of hiding and neutrality is coming to an end. For all creatures of this world.” With these words I left her alone with her guards and the now rising sun.

>>> Four weeks later royal chamber Chrysalis POV<<<

I have no other choice, my Children are starving and if the news of my spies are true then hiding won't work anymore. Most other countries are preparing for war, or some sort of civil war was slowly growing. The Griffons and the Diamond Dogs had problems with new cults growing like a tumor and the Minotaurs are preparing to march to war. And what the other side of the world looked like I didn't know. Love collecting was harder than ever, and even the Ponies in Equestria were getting a feeling of danger from the stories of travelers. What is happening with our world? My thoughts were interrupted as my guards arrived with Abathur.

“Abathur, it is good to see that you could make time to meet me.” I know it was not really this way, he was just sitting in the room I had given him and waited for me to decide the future of my race. And today was the day. I finally decided.

“I will always have time for you Chrysalis. Like always when you ask for my presence. What interesting news do you have this time for me?” It was true, this was not the first meeting in the weeks he was here waiting for my answer. And over the time we have become closer. He was a leader, like me he was the head of his whole race. But at the same time he was so young in this role and body. We talked a lot and he always was grateful every time he learned something new. It was nice to see him grow in the time. But he never talked much about his knowledge about our world, or as he likes to put it, a possible way of this world.

“Abathur, this time I asked for you to tell you how I have decided.” I could clearly see how his body tensed up a little bit. Also something that would be impossible just a few weeks ago as we first meet. I took a deep breath.

“We will take the chance and evolve. And with our evolution the bond between the Zerg and the Changelings will become even stronger. Both of our races are small in numbers and unwanted on this world, we need to work together to survive the changing of times.” He looked at me a long time before he gave me a small approving nod.

“I hope everything will go as planed Queen of the Changelings. And on a great future for our races.” I could see the small strange smile in his face. He know I didn't like it when he calls me this.

“Didn't I tell you to not call me Queen? You old bug?” This time it was on me to smirk.

“Haha oh so many times you told me, but where would be the fun?” His laughter was something that could lift the mood even in the darkest hour, it was a strange but really funny sound that didn't match his body, a fact that made it even funnier.

“Well then go get to work my friend.” With this words we left the chamber together to get the things he would need.

>>>One week later Abathur's POV<<<

“Are you ready Chrysalis?” We were in the great chamber in the deepest part of the Hive. Most of her Changelings were already in the cocoons. Chrysalis and I were standing here while a cocoon began to form around her.

“If I am not ready now then I will never be.” She said with a smile. So I only nodded and continued to watch the cocoon growing and slowly closing.

“Thank you.” It was just a whisper, but I was sure I heard her saying the words before the cocoon closed completely and started to fill up with the mutation liquid.

“No, thank you, Chrysalis, my friend.” So the waiting game began. And while I waited I would force my Hive to grow.

Invasion Part1

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>>> Changeling Hive Abathurs POV<<<

I was looking around. My Zergs run around and looked for me over the cocoons where the Changelings were in. I stayed close to the cocoon of Chrysalis, I couldn't allow anything going wrong with her evolution. Looking back, who would have thought that the queen of a bugpony swarm would be my first real friend and ally in this strange world. While most Zerglings and some Drones were here in the hive with me setting up a base my Overlords patrolled the Borders of the Changeling territory. One thing you could say for sure about Chrysalis, she cared a lot about her people and so she had me promising that I would protect her hand her children as long they were in the evolution process. But so far nothing had gone wrong, so I hoped it would stay this way. And the moment I thought this line I got a call over my hive mind.

“Murphy, I hate you. Why, just why did I thought this?” Taking a look at the signal I tried to reach the Overlord that has send it. And what I saw was terrifying.

“What the hell? WHAT! THE! HELL!?” There were over thousand creatures marching over the borders. Clad in thick armor and carrying strange weapons. They looked like weapons you would find in RPGs and fantasy games. They were a mix out of metal and gems, but the strange thing was the energy that radiated from the weapons and armor. Also I felt a familiar feeling from them.

“This is not good. Even with my Zerglings I can't stop them. What could less then one hundred Zerglings do against an army of this magnitude?” I was nearly panicking then something come to my mind. Back in my hive something has appeared the day before. It had also some strange energy attached to it. I hadn't the time to take a look at it and had a drone to store it in the hatchery. If I could use this I could either empower myself or my Zerglings. Giving the command I felt a drone taking the strange gem and entering the Nydus network.

>>>40 Minutes later Abathurs POV<<<

The Nydus worm shot out of the ground and spewed the drone with the gem out. The Drone floated over to me with the gem in her claws. I bowed down and was about to grab the gem as I felt the death of one of my Zerglings. They reached the first Hive entrance! I grabbed the gem out of the claws of the Drone and was about to try to tap into its power as I heard a voice.

"I am Asphyxious. The Iron Lich. If you need my aid just take this token and call my name." Ok this was new. But what other options I had?

“Try. Only choice.” falling back to speaking like Abathur I talked to myself. Then I lifted the Gem in front of me and spoke.

“Asphyxious. Need help. Enemy close.” And the gem started to glow.

A portal rips open and 4 strange machines lumber out one had large claws and spikes sticking out of it back. The next one had a single claw like arm with what looks like a harpoon on it other arm. The next thing to run out were two smaller machines that looked the same. Only one had what looked like a secular saw in it mouth riving away. The other one had some kind of barrel in it mouth.

I then saw something small jump out of the portal. "Hi!" It was a child, that looked like a changeling but walked on two legs, had hands and was wearing a sky blue dress. "Oh wow what this?" She said as she ran over to one of the Cocoons and looked at it.

"Puparium!" A voice roared out as a tall thing come flying out of the portal swinging some kind of staff with a moving eye in it and smoke bellowing out of his back. "You are in so much trouble young lady!” He said as a 4 legged spider like thing wit ha long 3 finger like claw come out and wait. Is that Chrysalis? it was like the child only a full grown woman with large… Anyway she was holding some kind for staff with glowing ruins. "Puparium you're so grounded when we get back!" She screams as the portal closes.

"Oh that just great the portal closed." Complained the Iron Lich I think seeing as he has a Skull for a head. He then looks at me and all the cocoons. "Wow this world's Chrysalis has interesting taste in boyfriends." He said as Chrysalis fly over to get the one called Puparium.

"You’re Iron Lich? Asphyxious? This Chrysalis?" And back it is to the Abathur speak. great. This was too much. And the dying of my Brood was not helping my mind. And the angry look on the Human version of Chrysalis face was something that was really unnerving. And she was coming over to me great. And this staff looked like it could hurt, a lot.

>>>Entrance of the Hive with the Invaders ???POV<<<

"Charge man! Kill this stupid Insects! We need to reach the Queen and kill her! Attack!" The soldiers were running in the entrance. This strange creatures were nothing like the Changelings they had expected or known out of stories and legends. And many warriors died killing them. But they slowly advanced deeper in the Hive. For their Master they would take the head of the queen and set up a base for the main army to attack Equestria. Then one of the strange bug creatures jumped out of the ground and attacked him. He pulled up his shield to block the claws of the Monster. Then he swung his battle ax at the claws and shattered one of them. And one of his man pierced the side of the Monster with his Sword but could not pulled away in time to avoid the other claw as it slashed at him and he lost his head. But more and more of his soldiers attacked and against all of them it never had a chance. Just seconds later it also died.

'Kill, protect, buy time.' This was the only thoughts the Zerglings hat while dying for her new allies and friends. Even if they weren't the smartest on their own they could feel the wish to protect the Changelings. Not only because it was a command of Abathur, no they were nice to the Zergs even if they had no need to be nice to them. So they died without any regrets believing they helped to save and protect the Changelings.

***Asphyxious pov.***
"So you're under attack by an army coming here to kill everyone." I asked as I looked at the cocoons in the large room. "Chrysalis stay here with Pupa and the Ripjaw and Defiler. I'll deal with this.”

I looked at the bug thing I'm sure I've seen it before I just can't put my finger on where. "Witch way?" I asked and the large bug guy points into a tunnel. "Enemy closing in. need aid. or all die." I just give him a look. "You keep talking like that and I'm going to smack you up side the head with Sombra here." I say hefting up my staff.

I make my way into the tunnel with Seether, the Reaper and Harrower following me. I then summoned my Bane Knights up along with Abby and Banjo. "So boss what we doing in this place?" Asked the Pistol Wraith. I say nothing as the sounds of battle get louder and sends Seether on ahead.

"Why Banjo my friend to kill, we're going to kill them all." I said with one thing on my mind Keeping Pupa and Chrysalis safe.

>>>Abathurs POV<<<

Ok not the worst thing that could have happen. He was willing to help. But what happens after this I would need to see. And the Human Chrysalis was standing between me and the Child, holding her staff ready to defend herself and the child, was she her daughter? What ever now was not the time. I concentrated on my Hivemind. Why was this happening right now? So many have already died. I was just happy that this guy brought some powerhouses with him.

"So tell me what is the meaning with all this Changelings in the cocoons?" I snapped out as I heard her question. I hoped to get some answers out of her.

"I Abathur. Lead Swarm. Made deal. Help Changelings. Become allies, friends. Need help." She looked at me with curiosity. But then some of this strange armored creatures destroyed the ceiling and come crushing down. They lie there for a moment, enough for me to command some of the Drones to attack them while i moved over to them. This Bastards killed the Drones without any problems. Finally the pain of losing so much of my brood changed to rage as I roared in anger and charged at them with all power I had. My back claws slashing at them. The one with the green bags on them priced the armor of the attackers and buried thier tips deep in their bodys. Then I feel some strange pressure on them and the bags contracted. I could feel something flowing out of the tips. And as soon as the feeling come my enemies begun to cry out in agony. Acid! This was in this bags. This would explain the healing liquids that got emitted from the skin at this part. It would need to heal any damage fast so the acid wouldn't hurt my own body if I'd spilled out of a wound. The two twitched in pain as my acid killed them. But I ignored them as I sliced the other three down with my other two back claws.
I then heard a scream and turned to see the thing with the saw blade in it mouth goring the downed creature. There was so much blood... The human like Chrysalis walked over and stabbed her staff into the things neck. Then looked at me.

"Tell me you have a way to keep them out of here." She looked to the child, when I looked at her she gave a nod to Chrysalis and was gone. I was shocked, all I saw was her small horn glow then she just faded away like she wasn't there all 4 of my eyes blinked at this.

This whole situation was a mess. Why now? Why here? No no time to think right now. I couldn't move the cocoons, but sending the child away on her own? How? I would take time for my last backup to arrive, they were nothing more than 30 Zerglings, but better than nothing. But then I got an idea. When the Zergling arrived with the Nydus worm I could use it to hide the child in it. This Monsters could never find her underground. And should worst came to worst I would give the worm a last prime command, should I fall he would take the group that has come out of the portal and would bring them to my hive in to safety. If I Fail my new Changeling friends it would only happen because I died!

"Child, promise, stay close. Need, guard, cocoons. Until backup arrives. Then get you safe." With this said i concentrated on my Zergs at the entrance, only 32 were alive of my Zerglings. and 5 of my Drones. This wasn't good.

Invasion Part 2

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>>>Inside the Hive tunnels<<<

Through the eyes of one of my Zerglings I saw the Iron Lich marching with his small army in the direction where the attackers were killing and dying. Hopping over to him with the Zerg I went to inform him about the situation and plan.

"Iron Lich. Ten minutes, more Zerglings, my position. Child in Nydus worm safe than. Half my troops send to you. But monsters reached Evolution Chamber, can't leave. I hope win this. I fall all Zerglings die, Nydus worm evacuate you and others. You go back, live. Wish luck." With this I commanded the remaining Zerglings at the entrance to change to a hit and run tactic, while the one I controlled directly stayed at the side of my new ally

Then the Iron Lich picked up one of my Zerg and yelled at it. "No! you send everything to the Evolution Chamber, I haven't even gotten to the enemy yet." The Lich then turned his head at the sound of fearful screams as the metal beast with large claws ran down a tunnel. "Never mind found them."

The Lich dropped my Zerg and moved his small army to the fight. "Hear me fools! you came here to bring death to those who can not help what they are. All who stand before me your life is forfeit! You will know nothing but fear and DEATH! Let me eat your flesh and bones!" The Iron Lich roared into the Tunnel.

I saw what my Zerg saw, the Lich army of well ghosts came out of the walls stabbing into the enemy. The machines cut down anyone in there path that wasn't a Zergling or changeling. I saw strange glowing light come off of the ghosts and the Lich. "Let me show you a little of my magic, Breath Of Corruption!" The tunnel was filled with some kind of gas.

The Lich laughed as one of my Zerg saw one of the enemy looking up at the Iron Lich in fear. "What are you?!" He asked in fear. The Iron Lich just looked down at him as he slowly put the blade of his staff under the enemy chin. "I am a monument... To all your sins. I am the broken, the lost and the ones who lost hope... What I am is your death." The Iron Lich then cut the enemy’s head off.

The Iron Lich looked at the head before ting it to his hip. "Do try to keep some of them alive we need info as to why they are here." As he said this he moved deeper into the ongoing battle.

"Think Changelings not main target." I spoke with the help of the Zergling. And I never was happier to have made this small change to their DNA. It was just a test and never really something I had planned to do, but changing the vocal cords so they could be used like speakers was a great help in this situation. And another of my Drones died, it was unnerving. even with the change in tactics my losses were to high.

>>>??? POV<<<

"Don't stop the attack!" Even with our armors and weapons this strange Monster was killing us like we were just insects. I know we hadn't the best that was produced but still, the smaller monsters had a hard time killing us and we could damage them without much of a problem, but these metal monsters were on another page. The weapons of my normal soldiers could do no damage to these things, they even shatter on contact with the weapons of this thing. Only my personal guards and myself have better armor. I gripped the handle of my war ax and started to move.

"Guards to me! We will show them what the gifts of the great one can do!" With this we moved towards one of the bigger beasts. He lifted his clawed hand and slashed at me. I raised my shield, and it worked. The gems shined bright and the damage was nearly nullified. One of my men with a two handed sword swung it down on the creature's claws.

The sword didn't break, but no more than a small dent was left on the claws. This was horrible. No one said anything about these monsters being here. It was a simple mission, securing a way for the main force to reach Equestria. If possible set up a base. There was never a word about these things! And these weapons, it was said nothing in this damn land could survive a hit from them. Did the General lie to them? Was it the King himself that lied to him? Was he just a stone in this game the King or General would gladly sacrifice? NO! They would win, they would take this Changeling base and they would be the first to reach the Equestrian border. With new fire in his sole he charged at the Beast only to stop as he saw the creature that had spoken before moving in his direction.

>>>Abathurs POV<<<

The Nydus worm finally arrived in the chamber. More and more of the enemy's soldiers had come through the ceiling. My Zerglings were spew out by the worm and they got to work as soon their legs touch the ground. I turned around to where the child was before.

"Now, in.... Fuck" As I noticed she wasn't there anymore I started to panic. I sent a voice message to the Iron Lich to inform him that his daughter had run off. Oh if something happened to her I don't think I could kill myself fast enough as punishment before he would kill me in a far more painful way. I needed to find her and protect her.

"You worms!" Roared Chrysalis roared as she swing her staff into one of the horned enemy then fired off a blast of magic at another. "I will not lose my children AGAIN!" She screamed as the smaller metal beasts ran up and attacked. Well one did the one with the barrel was spitting out fire on to the enemy.

I needed to find the one called Pupa and quickly, I then heard an ungodly roar throughout the tunnel network. That did not sound good.

I tried to calm down a bit, at least far enough to get my speak under control. But this whole situation wasn't looking good. The Child is missing, Zerg are dying left and right. And now a rampaging Women with magic and a really dangerous looking weapon. Taking a look at the situation I could see with one of my Overlords that the enemy at least was cut down to half of their numbers.

After the last attempt of the unknown enemy I decided to take a look at one of them. Maybe with the knowledge what they are i could find a better tactic against them. So i removed the Helm from one of the corpses.

"Cow? No. bipedal creature. Species Minotaur. Strange energy. Coming from equipment. His follower? Maybe. No. Chance high." With those thoughts in mind I connected again with the Overlord only to see some of the Minotaurs whose armor looked different engaging in battle with the Iron Lich. I Prayed to the Queen of Blades that he could win. If my assumption was right these were the leaders of the army and if they fall this would become so much easier.

>>>Asphyxious POV.<<<

I was having a ball right now for the first time in a long time I was winning a fight. However this guy was skilled but not smart. He should of pulled back once my warjacks came in killing everyone but this fool just sent more to there deaths.

However it looked like I was facing down there Leader, good lets see what I can get out of him. "Why did you come here?" I asked as the Minotaur was getting his ax and shield ready. I cast a spell behind him on the floor, it was a Ice trap all the Minotaur had to do was step on it.
"In the Name of our Master I will kill you!" With this so overused one liner he charged at me. Then stepped directly onto my trap. With an explosion he was imprisoned in a spike of ice, unable to move. This looked like it was the end it wouldn't take long with so dumb and weak enemies. But then there was movement behind him and some loud thuds of weapons striking the ice. As i begun to make my way around the spike a bright glow shined out of the the ice. Turning my head I saw the glowing originates from the gems in the armor. Then a loud creak resonated all over the tunnel. A crack formed on the ice spike. and with another explosion the leader of the Minotaur was free again.
"Well looks like this isn't so easy in the end." One of the Minotaur men said as they look at me.

I just laughed at him after he said that. "So it looks like your magic is stronger than I thought, that is good but also bad for you." I said as I reached down and pulled up one of his still alive soldier. With my hand around his neck. I then look back to the Leaser.

"Here what I am going to do you can either fall back or-" I put my staff on my back then reached down and broke one of the Minotaur hands. The Minotaur I was holding up by his neck was screaming in pain. "-I keep killing your soldiers... Slowly, Painfully, then kill them and take their souls." Just to make it clear I then broke his wrist. I made sure the Minotaur I was holding was between me and them.

"My men and I will happily die for the great one and his dream! So Die Monster!" With this he charged again and with his ax he cut through his underling and try to cut me up on the same time using the body and the blood of his soldier as same sort of smokescreen.

"Bad move. Tell me how would you like to die? A man, a dog or a monster?" I said as I punch him in the face giving the Minotaur a bloody nose. I then pull my staff from my back and sighed. "Such a disregard for life. You must really not want to live long if the lives of your men mean so little to you." I swing my staff at him but he blocks with his shield.

"I'd love to stay and play but." Seether walks up behind me with a bloody dead body in its claws. "I need to make sure my hoard is safe. If they die then every last one of your soldiers die with you!" I roared.

"The only thing that is important to us is his dream! and you will protect nothing! As long as one of us is alive we will hunt you and kill you all!" He spit out blood and some teeth. He pulled his ax back again to charge in again with his guards behind him ready to follow him to death. A Zergling jumped out of the ground behind the leader and attacked the him only to be hacked down by his guards.

Then a harpoon blade shot out of the shadows behind Seether and impaled one of the Minotaur guards. The Harpoon was slowly reeled back in as Reaper steps into the light. "Sorry I don't have time to play." I then pulled up my shotgun from my echo and shot them.

Bits of armor came flying off as they were being shot at. I saved the leader for last, as he charged at me. I then swing my staff at him as he blocks with his axe, I then shot him in the hoof.

"AAHHH!" His scream was loud and ear shattering. But instead of going down he jumped his last leg and tried to hit me with a horizontal strike. His guards followed him trying to overwhelm me with numbers.

To bad Seether crushed two of them and Reaper stabbed one with its signal claw. I However shoot one in the face and smashed my staff into the leader body sending him flying into the tunnel wall. I sighed at this, ‘Why is it no one takes the easy way of doing things and get themselves killed.’

"So what now most of your men are dead or can no longer fight, what will it be. Live or die." I said calmly as Reaper removes the bodies from its harpoon and claw. I then saw Banjo shot one of the still living minotaurs. "So boss what you got going on here? most of the Bane Knights went back to help your misses." Said the Ghost dog.

"Well I guess you should head back to. I'll deal with our new friend here." I said as Seether drops the dead bodies on the floor. "Now then, what should I do with you?"

"Even if you kill me. He will know and he will send all his armies against anyone who stands against him! You will all DIE!" He screamed and then spewed blood in my face while laughing crazy.

I laughed again a long mad laugh as I felt my magic flare up. "Thats funny seeing as I'm dead like this but my other form a bit too big to fit in here so-" I change into my human form with a twisted smile.

"-I guess I'll just have to eat you like this." I smiled as I draw my sword. "Do try and hold still, I want to get the good cuts of meat from you." I licked my lips as I walked closer.

"Even death will not protect you from him!" His eyes had a mad shimmer to them as he screamed at me. I well… He tasted like beef.

Invasion Part 3

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>>> Abathurs POV<<<

This wasn't good, they were really working for him. I had expected this, but still. The single Question since I had felt him for the first time in this world raced back to the front of my head. How can he be here? This wasn't the Koprulu sector, if it where I would feel the swarm, or at least the Queen. But no, nothing. I observed the now Lich turned human as he devoured the Leader of the Minotaur. Taking a look at the whole situation with my Overlords I could see that only a few Minotaur survived. I let my Zerglings take care of it while the Drones scouted the rest of the Hive until they reported no enemies left in the systems of tunnels. With this out of the way I really hoped I could get some time to breath before another scaring thing happened.

"Now that out of the way just who are you?" Oh no, I forgot about her. The human like Chrysalis was looking at me with looks that could kill.

"Abathur. Lead Swarm. Evolve Swarm." 'Why was it that the Woman could become so scary? Why?! Oh please what god there ever is, please save me.' This thoughts were going through my head as I shacked mentally in my boots. My Body stood there and did nothing. I didn't want to offend her.

Chrysalis just raised her eyebrow at me as I said that. Chrysalis then slowly walked around every cocoon almost as if inspecting them. "Why do you talk like that? I already know if you're anything like Asphyxious then you used to be human." She said calmly. As the small changeling child walked up to her and held her hand.

"Character Abathur. Stress, speaking like Abathur. I calm, speech normal. Many Zerg dead. Stressful feel Zerg dying." I tried to calm down. Not the easiest of things after such losses and the unknown curse of my new helpers. would they stay friendly or would they turn on me? So I began to take calming breaths in the hope to get my speech under control, so I could have a proper conversation with them.

"Five minutes. Please. Try calm down." I really hoped she would give me the time and I hoped that this Asphyxious guy would be here by the time I could speak normal again.

Then she walked up and gave me a hug... Okay, I don't know what to do. "I know what it like... I lost my hive before Asphyxious found me and Pupa." She said calmly as she held me in her arms, not easy seeing as I'm a bit on the large side.

I felt strange, the cold feeling of my body was melted away by her. This whole situation was strange for me. As I woke up in this world and began to understand what had happen to me, as far as you can understand such a thing, I had sworn to myself to think of my Zerg only as units. That I would lose many of them over time was a thing I had seen coming. That was the reason why I didn't want to get attached.

But feeling them die in the Hivemind. It was cold, all of this minds, as simple as they were, vanishing. It was more like losing a beloved friend or a family member. And the knowledge that this was just the start was terrifying. But here was someone that could understand me. Someone that felt the same way.

"I...I. Thank you." Just two words. nothing more come to my mind. I slowly returned the hug. And for the first time I wished this body could shed tears. The contact with her, her calming voice and the hug helped me to calm down faster than ever before. And for the first time ever since I landed here I felt how much this whole situation was a burden to me.

"Thank you. I think I needed this." I said as I started to calm down.

Chrysalis just smiled at me and nodded that when we heard the sound of the metal beasts. "Honey I'm home!" Called out Asphyxious with a smile as he held up two heads in the air. "Did I miss anything?" He asked as he made his way over to us.

"Not much Asphyxious but I think you need to have a talk with this displaced. I'm going to make sure Pupa does not do anything she will regret." Said the human like Queen as she walks off.

Asphyxious then looks at me and drops both heads on the floor. "Okay number one how long have you been in this world?" He asked as Asphyxious sit down on a large rock.

"This would be my fifth month here. To tell the truth even with Changelings here I can only guess where I am right now." It was true. I had watched some Episodes with my sister, and she had talked to me about this show. But still, It couldn't be true that I ended up in a Kids Show. This was just insane.

"Please tell me, are there more of us? Your.... Wife? Told me you were a Human before, so was I. But are we the only one?" The question wasn't really smart, I mean what were the chances of us being the only ones? No there needed to be more of us.

Asphyxious gave a short laugh as he smiled. "Not even close, there are many of us out there. Let me guess you got something from that a-hold of a merchant right. Then you got sent here, you were lucky. Lets just say some of us weren't so lucky." He said licking his fingers.

"So do you need me to explain about my token to and how to make your own?" Asked Asphyxious as his tail moves.

"Do I even want to know what you mean with, not so lucky? But you are right, I bought something from this guy. Two things to be honest. A book with plans for Protoss and Terran Units and Buildings. And the Egg of my first Larva." His behavior said something bad has happened to him in the past. Something very very bad. But he had Information, hopefully he would explain this things for me.

"I would appreciate it if you could explain things to me. Also this token, thing. And if we are so many, what are we called? Misplaced? Jumper? Or do we call us something crazy like 'Universal rainbow squad'? " At my last idea I couldn't stop a small gurgling snicker from escaping.

Asphyxious just rolled on to his back laughing. "Yes -sort- We're called. The Universal, Hahaha!. Rainbow squad!" He just kept rolling on the floor laughing like a nutcase.

"Okay... Okay for real, heh we're called Displaced. As for what I mean by unlucky is some of the others got turned to stone. By you guessed it the royals anyway to make a Token all you need is an item. Then all you have to do is to pour magic into it then say something like. My name is, then who you are and how you could help and or talk." Asphyxious explained.

"Mhm. This could become a Problem, this Body can't create Magic. But I could manipulate an Larva egg to have the magical properties of the Changelings. Mhm. This could work." With a Mental command to the hatchery in the Changeling Hive I send the genetically Plan to it. This would take at least 30 Minutes until one of the Eggs was matured enough to be used, but I had this time.

"So we are called Displaced. Could be worse. My Token will be ready in 30 Minutes. Maybe you can tell me a little bit about the Displaced and this world." I scratched my head with one of my back claws as a part of my brain worked on the new information while another listen to Asphyxious story about us Displaced.

I quickly learned that Asphyxious was not by any means sane, but at the same time he had info on at least several Displaced many he saw as friends. He also warned me about a group who was trying to do something he didn't know. All he knew was what the group was called and that they can travel to other Equestrias.

"That pretty much it really, hey do you mind if we stick around to see what happens?" Asphyxious asked as he was looking over one of cocoons.

"You can stick around as much as you want, I don't know if this were all enemys. I have Overlords patrolling the borders, but beyond them I am blind." After the story I could feel the Egg was finished. We walked over to the Hatchery where I grabbed the Egg.

"I am Abathur, leader of the Swarm. I'm a Displaced, and to all of you with the same fate. If you need an Army do not hesitate to call me. Place this Egg on the ground and call my Name and I will come to your aid. We will Survive, we will Adapt and we will Evolve." With this said I hold the Egg up and watched as it just vanished. I looked back to Asphyxious to say something but then one of my Drones called me back to Chrysalis cocoon.

"I have so many questions, but they have to wait. I think my Chrysalis is hatching...... Why did this sounds so wrong in my ears?" Shaking my big head I crawled over to said cocoon and saw the Human Chrysalis and her Child standing there already.

"What the matter not used to being a dad?" Asphyxious joked as he go to join them watching the cocoon.

"I am sixteen, or I was. Not sure how I should count the age of this body, my mind is still sixteen. I was more the Nerd type of human, and sometimes I dreamed to tie my sister up and put her in the basement so I could have some peace. So yea tell me." It was one thing to have a sister, another to share a room with her. Without any room to put her in when she was going on my nerves I really dreamed some times to tie her up and put her down in the darkest part of the basement, chaining her down, building some sort of cage around her, putting around this cage ten meter walls of massive stone and around this sound proofed walls of metal. But I still loved and missed her. Was this strange?

"But to think someone as old as her being my child. Just strange." With this we all watched as the shell of the egg grow harder and harder.

"Not really I'm over 900 years old myself." Said Asphyxious as he start to poke the cocoon with his finger. Chrysalis was giving him a look that just screamed that was a bad idea. The little changeling was looking on with big eyes.

"Still I hope to see her more as a good friend. I am sure as hell will need one in the future." Looking around, there were more cocoons harden. The rest of my Drones and Zerglings ran around to prepare for the hatching.

I saw how much Chrysalis cared for the Changelings. It was the same way my Chrysalis cared for them. And knowing she had lost her whole hive, it broke my heart. What was powerful enough to beat the whole hive when they were awake? Or where they starved as much as my Changeling where.
"Chrysalis. Can I ask you a question?" Talking to her while i crawl closer to the cocoon of my Chrysalis, looking at the nearly completely formed butterfly wings.

"Do you have food problems over in your world?" I asked feeling a knot in what I guess was my stomach.

That when I saw the look in her eyes, Chrysalis slowly turned to me as the little changeling Pupa was looking at the Cocoon in wonder. "Life is hard in the Badlands, more so when you have to worry about other beasts hunting you and a large tribe of Farrows living in the same space."

I saw Asphyxious walk up and wrap his arms around her in a hug. Chrysalis smiles softly at this as he leans into him. "Farrows are pig like creatures that eat meat. Not only that we had to watch out for desert hydras who would eat anything in there path."

"I meet Chrysalis because I saved one of her love harvest groups that were attacked in the Everfree." I looked at the cocoon again. Putting one of my claw hands softly on the outer membrane, slowly stroking it.

"She and her Hive was nearly starved as I arrived here. Even after all the slaughter it looks better than it had as I had come in here first. So I offered my help. Providing food for her Hive." Looking over to the two as they still hold each other in a hug.

"The change that this world is going through, I think I am part of the cause. So I wanted to help. But the best thing I could do would never provide the needed Love for such a big hive. At least not fast enough and for long if they start to grow again." I clenched my Hands to fists and my other claws pressed close to my body.

"I talked to her. I didn't want it to end like this. They were in a situation where they had no choice. And this is something I will never forgive me for. I offered to change them, make them better. So the body was more efficient. That they would need less love to survive. They never had a real choice." I looked down. I didn't mind that I had changed to Abathur, but many other people would think of them self as Monsters. Even if it was to save them, I could never know how they would react. Until I could be sure they were okay I wouldn't be able to rest and feel peace. But then I heard the cracking of a hardened cocoon. The first Changeling hatched.

Rushing over to the Changeling I got a good look at it. It was more than a head taller than the Changelings before. His whole body was much slimmer than before and the hoofs ended now in pointed hoofs and the holes had vanished. The Mouth was now formed with four jawbones, like the Elites of Halo, This four mandibles were connected through skin and muscle tissues. The mane had changed into some sort of tentacles that reminded me of Kerrigan hair after she was changed.

The tails had changed into scorpion like tails with an evil looking spike at the end. And instead of one Horn they had now two, the original horn was now longer, and a little bit lower in the face a smaller one had grown. As the liquid of the cocoon evaporated in the air the wings dried of and formed completely in four slender long dragonfly wings with thin carapace at the edge. We all stand there looking at the changeling as he slowly stand up and buzzed his wings.

"Huh reminds me a bit of what our kids look like back home only bigger." Said Asphyxious as he looks at it from afar. Pupa stay close to her mother and Ax Chrysalis was holding her hand. “Only with out the dragon wings and black eyes.”

“Looks interesting. I mostly used sequences that lay dormant in the Changeling DNA. Maybe it was an alternate way of evolution for them that was thrown away because it was not useful compared to the changing ability.” With this thoughts I crawled back to Chrysalis Cocoon.

“But she looks different, more then I have thought before. What could be the reason behind this?” Looking over to Asphyxious with a questioning look. They had Children? Not now, the day was already hard enough.

“This will take a while until she hatches.” Touching the outer shell of her cocoon and feeling that the hardening was not finished yet.

“So how can I repay you for your help?” I asked the Iron Lich. Who was now a half dragon and human, Asphyxious rubbed his chin as he looks around. He then smiles at me as he walks up to me and asks a question. “You said you had the blueprints for the other armies right?” I just nodded.

“Okay then think you can part with the plans for the terrans bunkers and what else, what else… Hmmm.” Said Asphyxious. As it looked like he was thinking hard about what else he wanted.

“I can give you copies of all the Terran units and buildings. Just let me get the Book.” I gave a mental command to one of the Drones at the Hive where the book was hidden away.

“It will be here in an hour. Then we can make copies for you. And you really don’t want anything from the Protos? I could put the teleport technology on top as thanks for the explanation of the situation with the Displaced.” Looking over to his Chrysalis another idea came to mind.

“If you want I can give you something I had created for my Chrysalis. It is a Zergstructure that can produce love. You only need to position it close to a thermal energy. like a volcano or a hot spring or geyser. I already tested it in the hot springs of this hive. It radiates love energy from the main body, and as soon as the creep reached the water it will be overflowing with love.” I hoped to be able to repay her, for the help she was to me, with this new way of food generating.

Asphyxious snapped his fingers as I said this. “Pylons you can teleport wherever you want with them right? that and the bunkers will be all I’ll need. I get most of my guns from Jack anyway.” He said as he saw Pupa talking with one of the new changelings. “Also can you dumb down the tech so my dogs back home can use it?”

“To tell the truth, I can’t really use it for now. Zergs normally don’t need Tech. We Evolve, to reverse engineer it you would need to do the work.” It was true, I wish I could use some of the Tech, but creating it was not in reach for now. Zergs just were not created to do this. But at one point I would break this wall to.

“I get it well can’t be any harder than rebuilding a Colossals.” Asphyxious said with a smile.

“Then we have a deal. And what is with your Queen? Do you want the Lovetree or can I thank you in any other way for the help?” Asphyxious gave me a smile that made me a little uncomfortable then he laughs. “I think I’ll try the planting that tree back home for fun. But really I’m all the love they need and I show my ‘Love’ to the Queen in other ways.” I looked at him, ok this explains a lot. This whole situation should make me question a lot of things right now, but it didn’t. Seem it is true, a Human can adapt to every situation.

“Well then I am happy to hear this. The seed will come with the book. And then we can copy it. So what…” I stopped talking, the cocoon under my hands was hardened, she was hatching.

“She is hatching!” Sending the message to all Zergs and Changelings in the hive I started to concentrate only on her. The first loud crack was heard as the shell broke, no more explode. After the mist of the Liquid evaporated completely we could see the new form of my Chrysalis.

She wasn’t bigger than before, nor was she smaller. But she was still bigger than the normal Changeling. Her wings were different, not only to her original form, but also from the other Changelings. They were now butterfly wings, shimmering in many colors. She holded them up while they dried. And in the process the colors got even brighter. The Horn changed so it stand straight now, without the holes. The holes in the legs where also closed, and the legs were smaller to, not as pointy as the ones of the Changelings, but not so big as before. Tail and mane changed in the same tentacles as the mane of the normal changelings, but they were finer than the ones of the Changeling Drones. Her face didn’t change much, Only sharper teeth and longer ears.

“Wow I think we found someone who has more flare for the dramatics than me.” said Asphyxious as he starts with his Child and Queen. Ou oh... “Asphyxious you say that about anyone who get more action than you.” Said the Anthro Chrysalis as she kisses him. Pupa just giggles at this.

“Well this was unexpected.” I said as some sort of powder starts to drift of the wings and mane. It looked beautiful, but this powder seems to radiate with some sort of energy. So it wasn’t just for show. I would need to look into this. I slowly crawled over to her.

“How are you feeling?” She first looked at me and smiled, then over to Asphyxious and her other self. They stared each other long in the eyes. I felt strange. Would this end in the destruction of this universe? Enough of this dark thoughts. She walked over to me and gave me a hug. Then she looked again to the visitors of another universe.

“So who would you be?” She asked the group. Asphyxious just smiled as he then took a pose. “We are the heroes of the night, the fools of the rubber chickens, we’re the rainbow squard!” The little Changeling was laughing really hard that this little show. Where as Ax Queen was rolling her eyes at this and smiled.

“Okay I’m just kidding, I’m just a displaced you can ask your boyfriend all about me.” He said pointing at me.

“Boyfriend? What is this?” She asks, I just try to shake my head to not start laughing at this. The Anthro Chrysalis then spoke up. “Is this lovely being who saved your hive not your mate?” She asked with a large smile. Chrysalis still looked confused.

“Still doesn’t know what a Boyfriend is, but no Abathur is not my mate. I don’t even think he can have this sort of emotions.” Oh this Hurts. Only because I told her that I had some sort of problem with emotions since becoming this. One of the down sides of the over sized brain with is obsession with logic.

“I’m sure he can make one. After all he is still human at heart so he CAN love.” Ax said with a large grin on his face.

“Do I have nothing to say in this?” I asked only to see some of my Drones rolling over and feeling the amusement in the Hive mind. Oh I would make sure to send them on the next mining run down the darkest part of the hive.

“Hush now.” Was all Chrysalis said to me with a big smile nearly splitting her face. I just murmured like a scolded child.

“Well I guess it time for me and the girls to head home, I have a friend wedding to get to. By the way Aby if you want to send me back just say my name and our contract is complete.” Said Ax as he picks Pupa up in his arms.

“OK the book and the seed are here.” I said as a Drone come up behind me and gave me the two items.

“Chrysalis I Show you a few sides, can you make a copy of them?” She looked at me as if I had asked her if she know how to breathe.

“Of course I know how to do this. So lets get started and then you tell me what had happen here in the time I was not here.” I swallowed hard. I hope she won’t be to angry with the invasion and all. After this I showed her the pages that I wanted and she copied it.

“I ate a minotaur.” Said Asphyxious from off to the side. “By the way get the info out of those heads I didn’t bring them to you so they could rott.”

“Ok and thanks again for the help. Here you go with the pages and the seed. So Asphyxious this is it. Wait, I have one last question. Will the pain ever go away? About our Families back on our earth I mean.?” I looked at him hopefully.

Asphyxious looks sadly at me. “I’m not sure I’m the kind of guy you need to ask about that. After all I lost my mind a long time ago and can’t even remember my old name… But I have a new family now.” He smiles as he get a hug from both his wife and daughter. “So I guess that up to you. oh, one more thing.”

Asphyxious go up to the side of my head and whispers to me. “Chrysalis loves it when you rub the base of the back of her neck, it a small soft spot you can’t miss it once you feel it.” He said with a smile. I coughed nervously.

“Thanks for the advise. Both of them. And just to say it, I think everyone of us in this situation has lost his mind in one way or another.” With this I crawled back to the side of my Chrysalis.

“Ok this time. Asphyxious our contract is complete.”
A portal of blue fire opens as Ax hands Pupa to his Queen as she walks into the portal first. Asphyxious walks in but turns around walking backwards saying this before the portal closes. “Don’t be afraid to get jiggy with it!” He yelled as the portal closed.

“What does he mean with this? And what had he whispered to you before?” The voice of Chrysalis brought me back to her. Oh this would take a bit of time to explain, and a lot of time in a cold pond for me.

“Well you see….”

Survive, adapt, evolve. The Swarm in Equestia.

by Krozairofequestria

Prologue: The first Evolution

Chapter 1 Meeting the natives

Chapter 2 Enter the Hive

Chapter 3 Changed Situation

Invasion Part1

Invasion Part 2

Invasion Part 3