> Subject to evolution > by Dramize the Salamander > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 0 "Well I died rather embarrassingly and now I'm in this dark void. Man I hate machines but then again I can only blame my self for taking that stupid bet I mean who tries to defuse a bomb with a katana well at least nothing else can go wrong." I thought to myself as I tried to stretch on reflex causing a cracking to ring in my ears. "What was that?" I thought as I felt myself being lifted. "What's happening." I panicked suddenly moving as I was pick up something around me broke and a bright emerald light filled my eyes forcing me to shut them. "WHAT THE HELL SHUT OFF THAT LIGHT!" I said only to hear a babies cry then a comforting voice which put me at ease. "Shhh Shh little one you'll wake the others. What a strong cry you have little nymph. I think I will call you Drasa." Said the female voice as it got softer. I opened my eyes to she a this bug like creature staring at me with sky blue eyes, fangs, and green web like hair setting me down on the floor next to another creature just like her a but much smaller and dark green sleeping covered by a small cloth. "Must be a baby." I thought before it hit me and I looked at my hands. "Son of a bitch." Day 5 . "Well being a Changeling as I just learned I was has some perks." I thought to myself as I looked at my fully grown drone body covered in a light cloth robe in a small pool in the hive as I went over all the information I had learned over the past five days. "Ok so I die and was reincarnated as a bug like creature called a Changeling in a hive without a queen, which turns out to be a good thing it turned my new life into an RPG if what that Changeling in the nursery what was her name again... Nurtrana that's right she said that we changeling can evolve by eating other creatures gaining their features and experience then using their features to augment our selves when we level up." "Drasa Drasa." Said two other drones one male holding a homemade wooden club and small buckler shield, while the other female was equipped with a home made small bow and quiver fill with simple stone arrows. They were my hatch mates and friends Buzzelga and Whisper. Nurtrana call us geniuses when she saw us making crude stone weapons during our third day. "Drasa are you ready for our first hunt." Buzzelga said adjusting his round shield on his left arm. "Yeah let me just grab my stuff I'll meet you both outside." Said wanting to see what was out their and after I grabbed a stone short sword I made a stone knife and a backpack before meeting the two other drones at the edge of the hive before we set out and after a few minutes of catching rabbits we came across a large snake with shifting colored scales I signaled for us to fly up into the tree's where we continued to follow, Whisper's bow at the ready for my signal which I gave as soon as the snake coiled up in the sun. Whisper loosed an arrow right in to the serpents left eye while Buzzelga and I leaped off out branches I went for the right eye blinding the snake while Buzzelga smashed it's head with his club crushing it's skull killing it. I took my time cutting up the snake storing the piece to before heading back to the hive where we eat with me taking the most of the snake. In the middle of the night as I fell asleep something weird popped in to my head. Acquired lighting discharge evolution Acquired Snake eyes evolution Acquired Poison glands evolution Acquired Thermal sensors evolution Acquired Lamia body type evolution Acquired Cold blood evolution Which evolution would you like to slot? I was confused at first. "We must have killed the snake before it could use it's special ability." I thought before I slotted the first four evolutions before really falling asleep. Day 6 It was raining very heavily so we decided to stay in and do some things on our own Buzzelga did some stretches before working out on his own while Whisper made more arrows for herself. I went to explore the unused areas of the hive alone with a make shift lantern made from so Lighting bugs I caught in the cave and a jar I found. After a few hours I found a old forge with no weapons and a abandoned mine with glowing gemstones I dug out a shining crimson one before heading back feeling a bit tired. Day 7 I woke up next morning and trained a bit with my stone sword before I gathered Buzzelga and Whisper to hunt again this time we came a cross more rabbits with one of them having goat like horns and a more violent nature but with a swift strike to the back with my sword we managed to kill it and move on to find finding decently sized black lizards which I hunted then a random bear sitting in a glade with a floral crown on it's head. We wasted no time taking this beast down I had Whisper blind it with a few arrows while Buzzelga smacked the beast with his club obtaining it's undivided attention blindly taking swipes at Buzzelga allowing me to come from behind and stab it in the back of the neck killing it it's crown dropped to the floor as me and Buzzelga dragged the body back to the hive Letting Whisper hunt more on her own for a while meeting back at the hive a few hours later already full so she went to bed while me and Buzzelga ate tearing the bear and rabbits apart before resting ourselves. The screen popped up again Acquired reinforced scales/shell Evolution Acquired pony empathy Evolution Acquired battle growth Evolution Acquired razor claws Evolution Which evolution would you like to slot? I the only one I didn't slot was Pony empathy didn't think I would need it. Day 8 I woke up early to the sight of my hatch mates kneeling to me when one of them a female named Velger was asking me to teach them tactics and how to make stone weapons to replace their wooden ones. I had time before I went on the hunt anyway so I taught a quick lesson before going out with my hunting party thinking. "Theirs a lot less of use than their was before I should find a way to fix that." We came back later with some salamanders from a stream we found along with a few bats we found in a cave. We eat but before we went to sleep Buzzelga said something was bothering him and he went out. Coming back a bit later dragging something skinny which he ate on his own as I fell asleep. Acquired echolocation evolution Acquired gills evolution Acquired toxic body evolution Acquired lizard body evolution Acquired second eyelids evolution Evolution available Would you like to slot these evolutions then evolve? Y/N I chose yes and slotted all five before passing out. Day 9/10 ZZZZ....ZZZZZ. > Chapter 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 11 I woke up in a black void my body feeling constricted like something was crushing it. I tried to move but I couldn't and after and hour of struggling a voice popped into my head. Parameters have been met skills acquired. venom queens blessing Great death queens blessing Evil eyes skill intimating aura A minute after the voice finished I felt my strength surge and a cracking sound then a light as I fell out of something. I got up a second later feeling great as I stretched out my body as a changeling round the corner and saw me before running away. I held out my hand getting a good look at my black claws before running to the drinking pool to get a good look at myself and I wasn't the only one. I as amazed at the changes Whisper had her wings were gone her chitin had turned purple shave for the natural band on her stomach which was now bright blue along with her mane and tail her fingers looked like sowing needles and her hooves looked like she was wearing heels as long spikes grew from the back of her hooves forcing her into seductive hip swaying walk as four spider legs sprouted from her back. "Wow you look great." I said rubbing the back of my neck as I started to note her more subtitle changes, her body had started to become more feminine in nature in stead of androgynous body type that normal drones had give a slight but more pleasing hour glass shape. Whisper blushed as her still Insectoid eyes stared back at me. "You look good to, very dangerous." She said taping her finger tips together. I looked at the pool and was honestly surprised buy my changes my chitin was black and shining like a black jewel while my stomach band had turned blood red with my mane following suit but my tail was reptilian and flat. My claws looked sharp enough to slice through anything in my way while my hoof's had tiny claws coming from them. Then I got a good look at my more masculine face my normal horn was gone replaced by two black spikes growing out the back of my head leaving no distraction from my glowing yellow snake eyes. After I finished noting my changes I only had one thing to say. "Your aren't kidding I'm kind of afraid of myself right now." I said getting a small laugh out of Whisper. "Let's find Buzzelga and Nurtrana then test out our new bodies." "Yeah that sound's good." Whisper said falling in step behind me as we went to look for our friend and care taker. After a few minutes we found them with Velger and another normal drown. But when I saw Buzzelga I felt silly for being afraid of myself he had evolved as well he was now a good head taller than me And saw covered in muscle that was visible even through his forest green chitin and silver stomach band. He still had normal hoofs but his hand were a mix of bear paws and hands but with extra thick chitin. He had two horns but unlike me they were bull like and partly covered by his silver mane. He looked down at me and Whisper and smiled while Nurtrana cleared her throat gaining all our attention. "Drasa I want you to take Velger and Cadaia with you on your next hunting trips." "Why?" "They haven't been getting any strong prey lately and I fear they are falling behind." "Pair the weak with the strong to power level smart, all right, but first I have to ask what are queens blessings? Nurtrana sighed as she brought a large rock over to her to sit on before she started explaining. "Well their were queens of the past that had become strong enough to master an aspect of this world before dying. So from the ethereal hive they share their power in the form of blessing to drones that evolve." Nurtrana said with a smile. "So what blessing did you three get." "Death and Venom." "Steel and nature." "Sky and clarity." Nurtrana sighed slamming fists together before talking again. "Ok Drasa your body now can produce most poisons and your immune to most poisons as well and you can regenerate any lost limb but you must consume eatable matter for that to work and your magic is more destructive. Buzzelga both your blessings are physical chitin stronger than steel as well as regeneration but with no stipulation and increased stamina. Finally Whisper you can turn invisible and can use your magic to see through the eyes of other's as long as you've made eye contact." Nurtrana just left after that heading towards the nursery grumbling something under her breath leaving the five of use to do what we wanted. So me and Buzzelga sparred to get used to our new bodies while Whisper figure out she could spin silk from her fingers and heels which she used to make bundles rope until she ran out making several coils of rope. We weren't very hungry so we decide grab a few rabbits from the forest before going to sleep. Day 12 I woke up ready to hunt my belly empty and bloodlust raging so I went to grab my stuff to find a note from Nurtrana that said congratulations on evolving so fast tied to two longsword and a halberd made of green crystal with a book on how to use battle magic. I grabbed the new weapons and my old weapons and meet everyone else at the mouth of the hive to find I wasn't the only one to get new toys. Whisper was holding a compound bow and a bigger quiver full of arrows made of cut green crystals. While Buzzelga was holding a spiked green crystal shield and cleaver make of the same crystal. While Velger and Cadaia were carry simple stone spears and large backpacks. I pulled out the book I got and decided it would be a good idea to for every one to learn a few battle spells before hunting and after a good three hours the group went to their hunt finding a family of foxes with flames on their tails and more snakes which were quickly killed. We were making good progress so as we headed back I thought about what I could hunt for to evolve further. When it was time to sleep I was to mentally exhausted to care if I even got any thing new so when I hear the usual voice I just slotted whatever I got before falling under. Acquired breath attack Evolution Acquired generate/control Will-o-wisps Evolution Day 13 Today was a good day I had managed to get some practice with my magic destroying a few rats I found running through the cave after a quick tactics lesson with the rest of the hive. Then we went hunting getting a few small animals until we hear rustling in the bushes we hid allowing us to see three mares two unicorns and one pegasus bound in chains by some heavily armed Changelings I didn't recognize but I couldn't have cared less about the ponies what I wanted was the cart of steel weapons they had so I did the most logical thing I came out of hiding after telling Whisper to go invisible and get into the trees and wait for my signal. I walked out to the group and put on my best smile asking if they would trade some weapons for some food only for them to attack me calling me an abomination. I gave a slight smile and snapped my fingers giving Whisper her signal. An flew past my head getting one of the guards in the eye while Buzzelga charged from his hiding spot axe swinging as he tackled the other guard with his shield impaling her on it's spikes while another guard tried to do a flying slash to decapitate him but I came in from behind Buzzelga using his body as an anchor to vault off of to deliver a strong kick to the side of his head knocking off his helmet and sending towards Velger and Cadaia who finished him off with their spears. The fight went very smoothly from their on as the guard were shooting magic blast into the trees while Whisper would pick them off along with Buzzelga and my attacks and after a few minutes we had the cart full of weapons, three captured ponies and a bunch of bodies left over. I injected the ponies with a narcotic to put them to sleep and having Buzzelga carry them while Whisper helped me with the cart bringing our spoils back to the hive. > Chapter 3 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 14 I woke up to the sound of screaming from Nurtrana so I jumped up and dashed to the care taker to find our three captives stuck to a wall and Whisper spinning a cast for Nurtrana's broken leg. "What happened?" "They tried to force Nurtrana to free them ended up breaking her leg." Whisper said looking at the three with fist clenched I smiled as I put my hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry Whisper they will be punished but for now spread the word none are to feed them until I say so, ok." I said activating my evil eyes while staring at our captives. "Got it, come Nurtrana let's get you back to the nursery." Whisper left with Nurtrana leaving me alone with the prisoners I held out my claws clear poison leaking from them as I got close before I gave them a small scratch and left them struggling to get free as my toxin took effect and after five minutes I could hear their screams as I gathered up my weapons to go hunting for an uneventful hunt so when we came back except for Velger and Cadaia who stayed out to hunt a bit more I couldn't hear their screams any more so I went to check on them they had stopped moving but they were still breathing but just barely their eyes were glazed over. "They must have passed out." I thought as I gave them a light tap to wake them up. "Good afternoon, guess what your punishment is almost over." I said letting my words sink in. "Now let me tell you this is your new home now and l know if you harm Nurtrana or and Changeling from this hive ever again I will hunt you down no matter how far you run and bring you right back here and poison you so much worse that you will beg for a death that will never come. You understand." The mares nodded their heads ether to afraid or they had screamed so mush they had lost their voices. "Good now you all get your rest you have a big day tomorrow." Day 15 Buzzelga was shaking me awake saying he had something to show me so I got up and followed him until we got to, two black pillars that were glowing a soft green. "Are those?" Buzzelga just nodded with a smile causing me to smile I told him to gather the gear we acquired and that we would hunt on our own until they finished evolving he left to do his job while I went to tell whisper who was glaring at the five mares we had captive. I told Whisper the then asked her to free the prisoners. Whisper looked at me like I was crazy. "Are you nuts? They could hurt someling or one of the nymph." "Calm down Whisper we have come to an understanding isn't that right." I said with a venomous edge which the mares picked up on nodding when I looked at them. Whisper looked at me as I smiled before moving to free them. "Just know if they do anything wrong." "Don't worry I've got that covered." Whisper left leaving me alone with the mares. I walked up to them slowly not trying to spook them. "So I believe we got off on the wrong hoof my name is Drasa." I said with my hand out watching as the mares shy away from it for good reason. I laughed at their reactions know I wouldn't trust me after our first meeting ether. "Look it wasn't just anyling you attacked in your escape attempt, it was the care taker of this hive she's pretty much the mother of my generation so I had to punish you but now that's in the past so let's talk changeling to pony without any hate between us. So you know my name what are yours?" The mares looked at each other with a calmer expression. The light blue unicorn mare spoke up first. "My name is Trixie Lunamoon and I'm sorry for hurting your mother." Trixie said her eye pointed at the ground in shame. Next to speak was the silver pegasus with a rust colored mane "We all are my name Sky Ballista by the way and this is my little sister Light Hammer." Sky said point at the orange unicorn mare who also had a rust colored mane. "Sorry." Light said with her mane covering her face. "It's ok" I said petting her before walking away saying if they were hungry try to get some food from the other lings before I left to practice my spells until the day ended. Day 16 I remember I forgot to ask what our new guest jobs classes or talents as they are call in this world are so I asked after my tactics lesson which I realized had a few evolved Changelings in it which warmed my heart. It took a while to find of resident ponies they were exploring the hive and I only found them after I heard the sound of metal on metal clashing coming from the abandoned forge. Light was standing in front of the now revived forge her mane tide back into a ponytail as she was crafting a spear completely absorbed into her work while Trixie and Sky leaned on a near by wall waving at me. "So your sisters talent is blacksmithing." I said containing my joy. "Yea and I'm a lance master she's fixing me a new weapon with some ore this life savor found." Sky said like she read my mind pointing at Trixie. "Hey I'm just a normal mage that just happened to know a metal detection spell." Trixie said with a slight blush. "Hey would you two like to come hunting with me it would be some good exercise." "Why not I've got nothing to do I'll meet you when my spear done." "Ok then, Trixie?" "I guess it's away to keep my self sharp." Trixie said rubbing the back of her head. "Great I'll meet you at the entrance." For their first hunt they didn't do to badly they caught a lot by themselves but they didn't have a hunters drive or instinct so bigger prey kept overpowering or eluding them but they did well for their first hunt. Day 17 Whisper woke me up telling me that Velger and Cadaia had woken up. I Jumped up and ran to the main chamber to find them already talking to Nurtrana so I took my time and looked at their changes. Velger body was shapelier and turned fire red but kept her green band and mane. she now had a foxes ears, eyes and tail with an emerald flame on the end. While Cadaia had turned blue and slightly more slender while her forearms and legs had reinforced chitin while two small horn poke out from her now grey mane. After congratulating them on their evolution and learning Velger magical threshold was the highest of any ling in the hive and Cadaia could control water I gave them a metal scythe and a spear then left them to figure out their bodies while I went to supervise a hunt of another changing that had yet to evolve. Day 18 I woke up early and decided to go on a solo hunt. I grabbed my crystal swords and a iron one from our stash along with my backpack and went out. I hit our usual spots first before even deeper into the forest against my better judgement. It was getting dark and I knew I should have head back but I kept going not feeling satisfied with the prey I caught already. Then I heard snapping branches coming from my left so I climbed a near by tree and saw a navy blue dragon with a gold underbelly enter the area it was easily twice my size and had a powerful looking body. I created a compressed magic ball and threw it at the drake knocking it over from the impact and explosion but not even harming it. It stood back up and shot a torrent of white flames at my direction scorching everything in it's path reducing them to ashes leaving me standing in a field of ash behind a red magic shield I made just in time. I kept my shield up anticipating another torrent of fire as I charged going in with my crystal long sword only for it to shatter against the drakes hide before I got smacked aside through one tree and into another shattering my shield, cracking some of my chitin and causing me to cough up blood. I forced myself up watching blood stream from between the cracks of my chitin and to cast another shield to block a jet of white fire aimed right at me. The jet hit my shield and burned right through forcing me to deflect it with my spare crystal swords giving me enough time to dodge before they were destroyed. I charged the drake again longsword drawn as coated in poison from my claws going in with a few slashes only to create small gashes before I was grabbed and it readied to engulf me in flames rearing back. I stabbed drakes claw trying to force it to let go but it wasn't working but then I heard the drake roar in pain and a explosion. I looked up as I fell to see through the white flame that covered the drake's face one of it's eye were red and bleeding I smiled as I landed in a net held by Buzzelga and Cadaia the latter who was looking at me rage in her eyes as she put me down. "Do you have any idea how worried we were?" Cadaia said as Whisper and Velger joined us. "Now what's your plan for taking this beast down?" "Speed play don't give it room to breath." I said readying my sword. Everyone else took out their metal weapons and I noticed they were bloody telling me their hunt's went. Me and Buzzelga dashed with Cadaia close behind. The drake had no chance when we got together our combined attacks kept the beast moving and it quickly realized breathing fire wasn't going to work with Velger using her will-o-wisps so it tried to spread it's wings and fly away but several web ropes arrows started to pin it down as the poison was taking effect weakening so it couldn't break free and by the time the beast fell the moon was setting and we were all exhausted and starving we devoured our fill leaving only the bones of the drake before we pass out. Acquired Chitin scale evolution Acquired Dragon body evolution Acquired Dragon flame evolution Acquired Weapon tail evolution Acquired Pedal shifting evolution Acquired Control growth evolution Evolution available Would you like to slot these evolutions then evolve? Y/N > Chapter 4 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 23 It felt cramped as I woke up I started to stretch out hearing a cracking sound along with a voice as I fell face first in to a shallow pool of warm slime covering a surprisingly soft ground. Parameters have been met skills acquired. Lords aura Greater Dispelling queen's blessing Greater Death queen's blessing Greater Poison queen's blessing Gem augmentations Speed Evolution I quickly got up an found myself crawling on all fours like it was natural before I fully stood up fully hearing a tearing sound as I tried to take a step. I looked down at my legs seeing my hoof claws had gotten sharper and the remnants of my old pants and sighed. "Dam I like those pants." I checked my hands next to see navy blue rings with dark green markings along my black Chitin. I stretched again as saw my shadow extend I turned my head and saw red dragon wings with black edges sticking out of my back shifting as I flexed. I looked around and saw two more cocoons each of them shaking and cracking. Buzzelga was free first his changes reflecting the more powerful and defensive path he took he was all muscle and taller with the look of a knight in full plate mail but with spikes on his knuckles, forearms, shoulders, back and his new dragon like tail. Next came Whisper who threw a rock at me when she saw me looking at her new form she had curled her new double barbed scorpion tail around herself covering her wider hips while her left arm tried and failed to cover her new ample breasts. Her more spider like features seem subdued she had icy blue cat eyes and long horn coming from the back of her head leading my eyes to her purple dragon wings. The only spider like things she kept was her fingers and heel spinnerets which seemed to complement her hourglass even more. We looked around for a bit getting used to our new body until we found a large cave with tones of gold coins, gem, weapons and other valuables sorted into different piles. we looked around for a bit before deciding to take whatever we wanted from the piles exchanging our gear so that when we left I had found some black pants and a cool looking red jacket along with a steel katana. Whisper had found herself in a nice pair of purple skin tight pants and green dress blouse with an enchanted bow that allowed her to fire arrows made of magic. Buzzelga had some how found pants that fit him along with a giant sword and a large shield. After arming ourselves we set out to our hive me and Wisper by air testing our wings while Buzzelga walked. After a few hours and crashes we finally made it back only to see some Changelings not from our hive guarding the entrance. "Halt who goes their." One guard asked their spears pointed in my direction as I walked out of the forest enjoying their shaking fear as I used my Evil eye combined with my new Lords aura. "I am a member of this hive your guarding so I must ask what business do you have in my hives territory you grubs." the first guard was shaking under my gaze unable to answer me due to fear. "Ahh ummm." "Were here by order of our Queen to take this Queen less hive." said the other guard who was also shaking. I suppressed a laugh not wanting to lose focus on the quaking guards. "Is that so, Who is this queen that thinks she can take my hive like its free space waiting to be clamed." "That would be my mother." Said a commanding voice from the shadows followed by a sight pleasing to the eye, a slightly taller normal Changeling with soft curves to her body in a tight green dress that left little to the imagination with a black crown matching her chitin but I was unimpressed. "Queen Chrysalis of the bad lands hive." "And you are?" I said with a tone matching how little I cared for her existence. "I am third princess of the bad lands of deception hive Elytra." "No right now your in our way and their are thing I want to do today before sunset so move or I will move you." I said watching her shake slightly under my gaze as I signaled for Buzzelga and Whisper to come out. I pushed Elytra aside and walked in with my friends then we kicked out every Changeling that wasn't in our hive sending those we didn't kill running to the entrance where the princess still was when I walked back with a small group of my own changelings carrying a modified version of the weapons cart we took. I looked over to the princess with an annoyed feeling as I grabbed her head and forced her gaze into mine, evil eyes in full effect and said. "Before you go I want you to pass on a message to your mother my hive is off limits." I let go and Elytra fell before scrambling back to her guard who pick her up and flew away. Naturana walked out of the hive and smacked me hurting her own hand more than she hurt me before screaming. "YOU IDIOT YOU COULDN'T HAVE WAITED TO EVOLVE!" "Sorry." "You should be we were stuck with that grub for three days." "Sorry." I decided to take my lumps now rather than later so I had Buzzelga and Whisper oversee the transport of the dragon loot. Day 24 Sky and Trixie woke me up and asked if they could go to town with some of the treasure we got from the dragons den, I allowed it but gave them a time limit and had Glyph a newly evolved ling with a mix of bird and mantis features Whisper was recommending to join our hunting party to follow them, keep them safe and make me a map. While I turned my attention to creating a treasure chamber large enough to hold our new riches which me Buzzelga, Cadaia and a bunch of other evolved lings with extremely strong claws or fist dug out before smooth out the walls with an acid spit I had no idea we had, which took most of the day and gave us some free time to relax until Sky flew in at top speed as I was curling up to take a nap. "DRASA, DRASA THE PONIES CAPTURED TRIXIE AND GLYPH!" Sky screamed at the top of her lungs causing me to jump up. "WHAT! WHAT HAPPENED?!" "When we got into the town a bunch of ponies were giving Trixie a stink eye so we decided to split up when she said had something to take care of and after I bought a book for Light I heard screaming I flew over to see Glyph being held down along with Trixie by a purple alicorn so I flew here for your help." "Sky Get me Whisper and Velger. Buzzelga,Cadaia it's time to mount a rescue mission." I said determining our next move as we moved to the main chamber with everyling in the hive following us and sitting down as we waited for Velger and Whisper. "Drasa we heard the story from Sky so what's the plan for Bringing our own home?" "First Sky what would you say about this towns defenses." "Not very impressive just a few patrolling guard to keep the peace." "A frontal assault me and Buzzelga will lead the charge while Whisper you and Velger take respective teams to provide ranged support. We will put on a show while Cadaia you take a small team to rescue Glyph and Trixie then we pull out got it. "Yes Sir." "Everyling get your rest now you have until noon to prepare." > Chapter 5 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 25 I took a deep breath and held it as I looked over the town called ponyville I went into my four legged form using my controlled and battle growth together making me look much more dragon like as I took flight my lings staying in the shadows of the forest as we in acted a idea Whisper had asked me to try this morning as I got high enough I let out my breath releasing a poison cloud over the unsuspecting ponies putting them in a panic as I roared signaling my lings to move in taking advantage of the fact the poison wouldn't effect them before I landed seeing how my gas was working. Buzzelga wouldn't let me knock them out or kill them since he wanted a fight so I decided on an interesting mix of a hallucinogen with a neurotoxin targeting the higher brain functions and a little aphrodisiac just for fun so I had a good laugh as the ponies tried to charge me only to get throne about with every move I made but as I started to have real fun I felt something hit my back I looked over to see Whisper and Cadaia holding a knocked out Trixie bound in webbing on my back. "Drasa We have Trixie and Buzzelga got Glyph lets go." Cadaia said giving me a thumbs up. "Ok hold on tight." I flapped my wings clearing the poison a bit as I took off for the hive and the rest of the lings retreated. After we got back and celebrated a job well done I called our resident ponies over to give them my blood so they would be immune to any toxin I might create for ponies later. After the transfusion I went to bed letting our three mare rest as well. Day 26 Trixie and Sky were shaking me awake asking if I could supervise a hunt they were going to have. Still half asleep I agreed forcing my body up to collect my gear as the two left to get ready. After a few minutes Buzzelga walked in yawning as he called out to me and told me that Velger and Cadaia would be out on a hunting trip and they wouldn't be back for days before he left to hunt with a group of strong looking lings following but not really caring what Buzzelga did I went to find Trixie and Sky. The two mares were waiting at the tunnel entrance but something seemed different about them the looks in their eyes seemed almost predatory and I could have sworn for a second that when sky said lets go I saw fangs but I didn't bring it up thinking I was just seeing things but as the hunt started I realized something had changed both mares were much faster and much more ruthless easily killing prey that eluded them before but what surprised me the most was when lunch rolled around and they asked to try some of the kills they made. I stood their confused as the mares started tearing their meal apart as I couldn't help but wonder if that what I look like when I eat. After a few more kill of random wildlife I remembered something I wanted to try. I let Sky and Trixie free hunt while I made a target out of some rocks and bones then I took a breath and tried to summon my flame and after the tenth try I created my first jet of white flames and after the thirtieth try I could breath it with consistency easily switching between my gas breath and flame breath. After I melted my target into slag I went to find Trixie and Sky noticing the area had become strangely quiet save for some quick shifting and movements through the trees and brush. I didn't feel like waiting for them so I use my thermal sensors to find the two mares who were passed out near a river they were running a high fever. I shifted to my four legged form and picked the two up place them on my back and quickly making my way back to the hive to figure out what to do next. When I got back I saw Nutrana was look after Light who was laying in a pool of cold water as she was crushing herbs I told her to make extra as I placed Trixie and Sky in with Light before I left knowing I wouldn't be much help. Day 27 As soon as I woke up I went to check up on our resident pony mares they were awake and eating a lot which was a good sign but their fevers hadn't gone down so they were still in the pool but I didn't have much time to worry about them when a ling ran in telling me that a unrecognized tunnel was found in the treasure room I got up to inspect the tunnel finding Buzzelga and Whisper when I got their. "This isn't one of our tunnels its too simple like what ever made it didn't care about its integrity at all." Buzzelga noted feeling around the opening. "Your right Buzzelga and these marks they tried and failed to match our tunnels so we know it's not another hive." Whisper said doing a quick analyses of the mystery tunnel. "Whisper tell Glyph to scout out this tunnel and map out where ever it leads and if anything gets in her way she knows what to do." I said after some though Before facing Buzzelga. "Buzzelga come with me were going to add a new chamber to the hive." A little later Buzzelga was following me as I used me thermal sensors to find the right spot to dig and after a while we found it the spot and started digging a new pool chamber which took most of the day and after that finished I gathered some of the unevolved lings in the hive and took them on a hunting trip to a lake I found deep in the forest we dove in and ate anything we could catch leaving me with a ton of fish and eels which I shared after getting my self a good meal. Acquired lateral line evolution > Chapter 6 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 28 I was in the new pool chamber admiring the line of new crimson dots going down the sides of my body marking my lateral line before I looked at the cocoons that this chamber with a smile as I planned for their hatching only for Whisper to run in snapping me out of my thoughts before telling me that their was a army of Changeling from the hive that invaded before outside and their leader was asking for me. I walked outside flanked by Whisper and Buzzelga both here armed for battle as some of the hive followed us to meet this army. I saw the princess from before next to a taller more regal looking ling. "I am Drasa of the everfree hive of evolution what is your business in our territory?" I said with annoyance in my voice. The regal looking ling stared at me her eye were sizing me up as if looking for flaws or weaknesses she could exploit before she answered." I am Queen Chrysalis of the badlands hive of deception and I believe you know my daughter Elytra." Chrysalis said her eyes still trying to deconstruct me. "We've been acquainted, so your here to repay her humiliation or for something else?" I said returning Chrysalis' look back at her. "The option is open but If their is no need to fight then we should talk agreed?" "Agreed." My army walked back inside followed by Chrysalis and her army then me and the queen broke away to my private chamber. "So why are you here then?" "For an alliance of course. Your subspecies of Changeling is rare the ability to change through evolution rather than shape shifting makes it so your more flexible with the plus you don't need love to survive and I would like to have you as an ally I can call when I plan to invade later down the line." "I see, so what's in it for us?" "You get a sizeable force of spies, solders, and workers to add to your small hive." "I see that sounds nice but." "But?" "But I want complete control of those who stay here and that daughter of yours." "Elytra why would you want her?" "Just a whim that would force me to take this deal." "I see." Chrysalis thought about my terms before smiling. "Fine but then I get to take some egg form your hive it integrate into my own." "Deal." I said before we both got up to tell our collective groups what was happening and as quick as Chrysalis came she left carrying twelve eggs from our hatchery but miss half her army and her daughter who was pouting at the hive entrance watching her mother leave her behind telling herself that she would back for her. I left her alone letting the fact this was her new home sink in as my thoughts drifted to how our resident ponies were doing. "You called for us master." said a familiar voice which caused me to turn around to see Trixie, Light, and Sky walking out of the hive but they were different they had grown fangs and their eyes had changed into a mix of dragon and pony and turned black and red which interested me. I had Light go to the forge while Trixie and Sky went hunting with me so I could see what else was new with them. I let them dash into the forest leading them to a Giant snakes den so I could see what they could do and I wasn't disappointed their speed and power were almost equal to my own but what really surprised me was when the snake started to overwhelm them I saw something twitching in their backs before they both released a poison cloud at the approaching serpent allowing them to slip away before coming back in a new form one that looked like my old form for the kill. Interesting I thought as Trixie and Sky Changed back to their pony forms before tearing into the snake letting me formulate a plan as we went home. Day 29 Velger and Cadaia had come back evolved Velger had become more fox like but now had nine tails and had some red feathers around her neck and hips with talons for hands and Cadaia had become monkey like with a long tail in addition to her deer like qualities which seemed more pronounced giving her a more powerful appearance to rival my own. I welcomed my hunting partners before letting them in on my latest plan to foalnap some ponies for a small experiment I let them pick a changeling from Chrysalis' hive to use as lures in advance since the whole party wasn't here yet and I need to test something else. A little while later I call a few random Deceive lings as well as Elytra and tranquilized them before injecting blood form a few of my lings reserving my blood for Elytra before watching the result. After a few minutes the drug subsided allowing the lings to wake up but when it did it looked like it was still in a trance as it ran to a corner of the room before carving out a holes and sealing it's themselves inside the walls. b]Day 30-31 I woke up to the sound of scraping as the lings that sealed themselves in the wall emerged with nothing changed which made me sad I let them go but Elytra came to me a few minutes later asking if I could take her to a mountain out side of our territory I was about to refuse her but then I thought about the new taste I could sample and agreed shifting to my four legged form and letting her get on my back before I took of to this mysterious mountain with her using my horns to steer me. After a few hours I saw a city filled with Yaks and made a mental note of it for later. Elytra made me do a hard climb few seconds later before having me land in a mountain cave letting me rest while she went out with a three edged glaive while I slept for the time being having my inner fire keep me warm. When I woke up I was greeted by a new sight a white and ice blue female version of my form laying next to me. I jumped in surprise trying to figure out what happened before it hit me. "My blood it Gave her a blueprint to copy she just modified it to fit her own preferences." I thought to myself before an unusual scent hit my nose clouding my head I looked at Elytra who jumped on me, her eyes full reptilian slits and she was growling at me which I answered with my own growl before I blacked out again. When I woke up again their were claw marks all over the cave and it was dark out and Elytra was laying under me fast asleep. I was hungry so I let her sleep as I went out hunting feeling extremely rested catching a few rabbits before Elytra dove on top of me landing softly on my back saying she wanted to test her new abilities on something before we left. I looked around a bit but all I saw was that yaks village we passed earlier I thought for a bit before I point at it and gave her an hour to go nuts while I watched. Elytra took off gaining as much height as she could with in a few seconds before diving at the village releasing poisonous green mist as she fell making her look like a green comet until she hit the village blanketing the village in toxic fog. I focused on my thermal sensors and watched with pride as yaks were ether falling to the fog or her savage attacks that liberated limbs from bodies and the statues she created using a frost breath. After her hour I flew to her told her time was up and we left for our hive after I took some time to torch the whole city making sure to nothing but charred wood, stone, and ashes remained. > Chapter 7 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 32 After yesterday when we got back to the hive I had a nice long sleep only for Whisper to wake me up holding a map and she was crying I asked her what was wrong but when I looked at the map I realized what was going on and dashed to the infirmary chamber where Nutrana was working trying to save Glyph who was in bad shape her legs were crushed and she was missing an arm she looked at me and laughed weakly. "Those dogs are strong." She said before I tranquilized her letting Nutrana work in piece before I went to grab Buzzulga who I found out had all ready taken a group and mounted an offensive agents the dogs it took me a five hours to find him but when I did he and his group was resting on a pile of bodies "Buzzelga go back and give your blood to Glyph I'll clean up here." I said pulling out my katana giving Buzzelga a look that said he had no choice in the matter Buzzelga transferred control to me before heading back the way he came while I forged ahead cutting, burning, of poisoning anything in my way clearing out most of the cavern leaving the pups and bitches alive and comatose so they wouldn't get in my way. A after a while I was face to face with the alpha he was an old looking dog but he had an air of wisdom to him that I couldn't ignore an hid behind him was a female pup cling to his leg he looked at me and then the twitching soon to be corpses that was his personal guard. He walked to me using a walking stick as support before falling to his knees asking to spare the young and the bitches. I used my magic to make him rise before I stabbed in the chest with my tail injecting him with a special poison he fell back before getting up on his own before I gave him a choice. "I just injected you with a poison that is suppressing you nervous system so you shouldn't feel pain but to have a time limit so take up a sword, fight and die with the your head held high and wounds to your name." The old dog looked a me as he took a sword from one of his dying guards readying a stance as I readied mine before I charged into a great battle the old dog had me on the ropes showing skill with a blade I had no hope of reaching soon as my chitin was the only thing saving my arms an torso while he parried any attack I could make but I wasn't about to let the poison kill him that honor was reserved for me so I stopped trying to block and stabbed forward with all my strength causing my katana to pierce his sword and his chest. Our eyes locked as I gave him my word that his subjects would be safe under my care before I pulled back freeing my blade then cutting off his head ending his life quickly. After that I had my ling gather what I now learned were diamond dogs escorting them to our hive their home for a bit while I had Cadaia take a large squad of ling rework their caves to woke for us while I went to check on Glyph who was in a cocoon currently evolving to our level so I went to my chamber and went to sleep. Day 33 I Woke up only to feel a few weights on my body after elongating my neck to get a better look I saw Elytra laying across my chest, Trixie on my left arm and Sky on my right with Light using my legs like a pillow all four of them fast asleep pinning me to my bed. I sighed not wanting to wake them up and after an hour the four woke up greeting me cheery yet sleepy smiles before they got up to do what ever they wanted before I got up picking up my katana thinking about my fight and when to the spot where we killed that dragon for a quiet day to train only to be completely confused not being able to recognize except for the bones of the long dead drake left undisturbed but around the skeleton everything was different the trees were black with visible glowing red veins and green eye like pustules decorating the bark and branches each facing a different direction. The ground was covered in a black ooze with a soft moss like feel that sprouted a dark red grass in patches after looking around the silent mutated area for a while I pulled out my blade and started to practice my swings until I heard rustling heading towards me I readied my blade and waited only to drop my guard when Velger and Cadaia came out to meet me asking about what to do with the diamond dogs while their tunnels was being refitted for our needs before asking about the area. I thought for a moment before telling them to follow me to a normal part of the forest asking them to hold out their arms and trust me as I gave them small cuts to their wrist and a cut to my own wrist getting a few drops of blood from each of use to hit the ground which I watched turn black and slowly grow larger which made me smile as an idea popped into my head "Get Buzzelga and his squad, use their blood on them and see what happens." They both replied ok before leaving letting me get back to practicing getting my swing and form down before heading back hours later wondering how everyone was doing as I bit into a chicken I found on the way back. Day 34 I woke this morning to the same situation as yesterday but this time I was feeling a bit mischievous and used my toxic body to turn myself slippery and slide out with some effort keeping them a sleep while I checked on the sick Diamond dogs then on the aquatic Changeling that I had forgotten about. They had developed nicely their angler like features they developed helping them work on their own sector of the hive. I let them be going out for a hunt Flying over the forest letting my wings get a good stretch as I flew when I saw a manticore chasing something pink and yellow. I decided the manticore would be my breakfast and started following until they got to and open area where I could dive bomb them easily. I took a deep breath a dropped slamming my full weight on the Manticores back killing it as its organs were crushed from the impact I shook off some dust that from the cloud I raised from the impact and started eating tearing the beast apart wondering what that pink and yellow thing was as I ate my fill before dragging what was left for a present for the nymph that were in the cave before heading out again with a large group of lings to help me in the long day of stockpile food. > Chapter 8 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 35 I woke up early and called the unluckier lings that didn't have good evolutions and gave them a new task to help me stockpile food for the up coming expansion to our number so we spent the day hunting without pause while I had Trixie, Sky, Elytra, and a few unevolved lings to the destroyed yak village I wanted more cold adapted lings so we could make that area apart of our territory. Day 36 I let myself sleep in felling extra lazy until one of our hybrid deceive lings woke me up saying their was a message from chrysalis. So I got up and went to see what it was getting the note and several scrolls from a deceive ling at the entrance. Drasa my hive is poised and ready to attack Cantorlot and take over the city you have a week to prepare I'm expecting you to join us in the assault. I burned the note and sent the ling away before heading back inside find out the scrolls were a detailed maps of the city she was talking about with marked entry points and defenses that guarded the city. I studied the maps carefully to make sure I had every part of the map memorized before going out for a flight to get a birds eye view of the city it was beautiful but all I could think was how fun it would be to make it a hunting ground. Day 37 I was on my way to check on the diamond dogs to see how they were progressing when I felt a something pass me with blinding speed. I turned around ready to draw my sword only to have a bladed wing a my throat causing me to smile. "Good morning Glyph how are you doing?" "I fell great like an apex predator. So what I miss?" She answered before removing her wing from my neck to start to walk with me as I caught her up to events which allowed me to get a better look at her changes. Glyph had traded most of her bird like features for dog and bat ones as well as her arms and wings fusing together creating large blade wings cover in sound damping dark green feathers which plumed around her neck and legs which ended in a talon like hoofs but the most interesting change was her tail which was covered in long needles which she was flexing out repeatedly mastering the movement as she listened. Then I sent her off to do whatever she wanted while I took the chance to use go and expand our territory through the Diamond dog mines. Day 38 Me and my exclusive hunting party stood on a mountain peak looking down on ponyville they were ready to charge into the city at my command. I took the time to remind them that they were only allowed to take three ponies but their were no restriction on who they could take and any hunting method was allowed. The five nodded understanding the rules each positioning for a speedy take off before I let out a roar telling the lures to leave and signaling the start of the hunt. They dashed in to the city while I flew to the highest point of the town a weird crystal tree and watched their progress. But as I got comfortable on a balcony I found getting ready to eat a owl I saw sleeping on a perch I heard a scream behind me I turned around only to get a purple blast to the face before I could react knocking me off the balcony but I managed to catch myself with my wings before flying back up to face the purple pony that blasted me and the six ponies that flanked her. I charged in pulling out my sword and using my poison mist to cover my movements only for it to be blown away by the two pegasi in the room. I tried to retaliate with my fire only for the unicorns to shield against it but I kept going as I started to build up my magic releasing it all in a burst as I started to run out of fire breaking their shield allowing me to lunge at them only for me to be stopped in mid air the purple one stopping me with her magic. I thrashed about until I noticed the red on my body start to glow before releasing a strong electrical discharge that knocked them back and knocked out the one that that was holding me. I wasn't going to let this opportunity go to waist I walked over and raised my sword ready to strike the pony down but then a yellow pegasus stepped in front of me I was ready to run her through but then her eyes met mine and I froze then she said to leave then the next thing I remember was me sitting on a red school building the point where I said to meet up but I made it their first and that gave me time to try and figure out what that pony did to me. I didn't get long to think as my hunting party arrived carrying their ponies bound by Whispers webs while Velger was using her wisps to keep a mob of angry ponies at bay so I transformed quickly growing large enough to carry everything before dousing the mob in a sedative mist before flying back to the hive where we unloaded and I looked over the ponies each of them different ages and races I told them they did a good job and had some ling take the ponies to Nurtrana for the blood transfusions while I went to grab something to eat. Day 39 I woke up early and went for a solo hunt to clear my head as I wondered how that yellow pegasus was able to stop me and how I would defend against that what would I need to evolve to become stronger but that's when I realized I need a new hunting ground so I took off flying around until I found a swamp where I saw a five headed hydra swimming through the bog creeping up on two unsuspecting unicorns carrying a bunch of gear that were close to the water until the hydra got close enough rising out of the water scaring the ponies and readying to eat them. If only I hadn't dived down on the beast and bit it in one of its neck letting my poison do the work while the hydra tried to shake me off his back which made me chuckle as the beast got slower and slower until it stopped falling over dead. I looked over at the ponies and asked if they were ok they both stared at me stunned at who easily I took out the hydra. I clapped in front of their faces snapping them out of their daze before asking if they were ok again. This time they nodded and thanked me for saving them before one really got a good look at me asked what I was and I told them which caused them to fall back I couldn't understand why until they asked if I was going to steal their love which confused me even more so I asked them what they meant which cause them to relax as one of them explained which in turn caused me to tell them their are different types of changelings in the world and I'm not the same as those they knew before I turned to the my meal and started eating but the two didn't leave as they looked around nervously as if not knowing what to do but I didn't care. Half way through my meal one of the two tapped me and asked if I could escort them home they were afraid to move by themselves I agreed telling them to wait for me to finish after I finished I shifted forms and grew so they could fit every thing they had on my back telling them to get on after they got all shock out of their system and they gave me my directions I took them to a city I didn't care to catch the name of before heading back home myself where I was told the test subjects escaped showing increased physical ability before running off in the direction of Ponyville but I wasn't worried and said let them go before heading to bed. > Chapter 9 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 40 Most of the hive was gathered at the entrance as I gave orders to my hunting party to meet up with Chrysalis while I went to get Elytra and the rest of our forces plus I wanted to ask her more about her mother before I chose my own agenda. I wen back inside after hive move out to go check on the aquatic lings to get a message that they were all ready in Cantorlot down in the sewers under the city which made me proud as I thought about which of them to add to my hunting party as I got ready to fly to gather the last of our army. It didn't want to waste time so I flew as fast as I could reaching the small cave Elytra to me to before only to be greeted in the air by Sky and Trixie who grew wings like mine. Both were excited as they flew around me saying something about my offspring or something close to that, they were talking to fast for me to understand a word they saying so I put it out of my mind until I landed and saw Elytra who was showing a little weight gain but other than that she seem find in fact she jumped right on me and gave me an unexpected kiss before leaning into my shoulder I let her stay like that for a bit before telling her what was going on. Elytra gave me a frown and nodded before going out side a roaring to call the lings to the cave and they looked ready most of them had wolf or fox like fur sticking out between their chitin plates which had turned white or grey some had fox tails while other had spikes of ice running down their backs of white feathered wings. I couldn't check their abilities because we were pressed for time so me and Elytra carried those who couldn't fly and we made it to the meet up as the sun was setting plus I got to meet Elytra's sisters Pupa who was the oldest and looked almost chrysalis except for white freckles that dotted across her cheeks and Acid who like a feral chrysalis, it was also interesting to see their reactions to the new her. Day 41 I was woken up by the morning light and was thrown a rabbit by Acid who noticed I was awake she was sharpening a battle axe next to Buzzelga who was sharpening his great sword. I quickly realized I over slept and ran to get the to Chrysalis to get the updated battle plan to find out she had all ready left with her force to try for a surrender but luckily Whisper was their to keep me up to date. So I knew what to do when a horn sounded and a shield started to expand from the castle pushing Chrysalis and her lings out of the city. Several changelings flew up with a net made of whisper and her followers silk catching the changeling that bounced of the shield while me, Buzzelga, Cadaia and Elytra coated ourselves in our magic and used our bodies to create a hole for the army which they poured though weapons at the ready dashing for the castle Chrysalis' ling knocked any pony in their way a side while my ling killed who ever got in their way unless told other wise. We quickly clamed the city in sectors chasing after the ponies that were fleeing towards the castle for refuge and safety but as we captured half of the city every ling was getting tired and I was growing board at crushing these ponies with a little effort so we hunker down and camped for the rest of the day checking losses and equipment before I was offered a pony by Glyph who was gnawing on a bone. Day 42 I woke to blood splattering on my face I opened my eyes to see a cloaked pony standing over me holding a knife but with a light blue hand sticking out of their chest holding their heart. I yawned and started to lick the blood off my face. "Good morning Trixie." "Good morning master I'm sorry to have disturbed your sleep but this worm need to be crushed." Trixie said crushing the ponies heart in her hand. "Don't worry I needed to wake up anyway, so what happened while I was out?" "Several attacks from the night guard but Glyph and her team handled them with ease while Sky and me prepared you a meal out of the pony assassins and night guards that snuck into our area. Trixie gestured for me to follow leading me to a pile of pony corpses that sky was sitting next to sharpening her spear until I walked up. "Good morning master." Sky said resting her spear on her shoulder. "Morning, Good job you two." I grabbed a random pony and tore off a leg and started to dig enjoying my meal even inviting Trixie, Sky, and Light who showed up with more corpses to join me they were hesitant at first which was understandable but after my hunting party showed up and started eating with me they joined in their stomachs causing them to give in. We relaxed laughing and making jokes until most of the pile was gone then we got to work Whisper and Glyph took off to do what they wanted. Buzzelga and Velger was joining up with Acid on an assault on the guard barracks. Cadaia went with me and Elytra to the center of the battle and we had some fun until a familiar purple beam hit Cadaia knocking her over I looked over to castle and saw the seven ponies from ponyville along with four others three of them looking like that purple one from before except in white, pink, and dark blue. I stepped up my sword ready only for Chrysalis to stop me. "Hold for a second Drasa." Chrysalis said to me before turning to the ponies. "You see Celestia my new friends are more than a match for your ponies, surrender and no more blood need to be spilled." Chrysalis was confident as she looked at me as the thing that would bring her victory. I however wasn't as convinced and their was something in the back of mind telling me I was right. "And what if we refuse?" The dark blue pony said her horn glowing angrily and her wings shifting on her back. "Then princess Luna you can watch as your city falls to me by force." Chrysalis bravado was entertaining but I still couldn't shake this feeling that was telling me to get my hive out of the city. I shuffled over to Elytra and told her to get Glyph ready to call our hive out of the city should go south. Elytra nodded and took off to do as I asked while I reached for my sword ready to attack if anything made a wrong move. That when I realize I zone out of the conversation and had no idea what was happening but what I could was Chrysalis had gotten an answer she didn't like her face in a frown. Elytra had come back with the rest of my hunting party each with their squads all ready for a fight. I closed my eyes and let my poison mist start to flow from my mouth but that when I felt it again something we shouldn't be fighting was wait for us to make a move and this time I knew I wasn't the only one I could see it my hive was on edge and not in a good way. Then it hit me. "GLYPH SCREAM!" I yelled covering my ears as Glyph nodded taking a deep breath and screamed I could feel the air shaking from the sonic pulse and I saw everyone pony and changeling that didn't cover their ears writhing on the ground some were even starting to foam at the mouth I took a breath and let loose a torrent of flame burning everything in my path just Glyph stopped giving them no time to recover. But then shields started coming up and I wasn't having that so I tried something I've always wanted to do in my old world. I held out two fingers and channeled my magic creating a red ball at the end of them. "Drasa what are you doing?" "Something I've always wanted to try." I released my magic and a thin blast that pierced everything a good distance in front of me breaking through several sets of shielded ponies and the white stallion that was creating the shields it passed through his heart taking him out of the fight. Chrysalis looked at me and I looked at my fingers. "I was not expecting that to work." But then I saw several magic blast directed towards me forcing me to dodge as everything was now aimed at me "Drasa I don't like this we aren't gaining any ground and I don't think the white and navy blue mares are trying." Whisper said appearing next to me shooting down a few pegasi with her bow. "Your right get to the sewers and tell River Strider to bring it down then get to safety." Whisper nodded before vanishing while I went to Chrysalis and told her my plan. She took to the air along with all of her ling except for Acid who stayed with us as we fled me using my poison to cover our tracks but when I looked back I could see the pony army advancing taking advantage of our retreat lead by the purple and pink ponies who shoot blast after blast of magic at us separating us but then I saw Cadaia and her group stop our eyes lock and she turned back and summoned as much water as she could and created a tidal wave just as the city started to shake as it collapsed in on it's self. Then I heard a snap and silence as I got hit hard enough to knock me out lunching me into something. > Chapter 10 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 47-49 When I woke up the sun was rising and I was on Elytra back she was in dragon from we were alone and my head was pounding. "What happened? Elytra where are we?" I said my back was stinging I need something to eat something big. Elytra turn her head to me as I rolled off her back and shifted into my dragon form to walk beside her as she started to tell me the story about how I've been out for a while and how the ponies had captured our hives and how everyone got split after a creature called discord turned the forest into a shifting maze. After a bit of thought I counted our total losses and it wasn't good but then I asked where Trixie, Sky, and Light were. Only to get the answer captured from Elytra who I now was noticing was slowing down she looked tried. I had her shift to her normal form and put her on my back as I kept going with no idea where I was going while she rested allowing me to use my magic to get some food as I kept going building back up my strength. But then I hear Elytra singing I craned my neck and saw her rubbing her much bigger stomach and then it hit me and I started to hurry knowing we would need a safe place to rest for a while. I searched for hours before I took off using the sky to hasten my search but when I got to a good height Elytra tapped my back causing me to turn to see several pegasi flying up to us carrying long bows with black arrows I kept flying ignoring the ponies until I felt something bit in to my back. Looked down to see an arrow piecing my lower back near my tail l told Elytra to brace herself as I took a deep breath watching as the pegasi started firing their arrows as fast as they could Elytra created a shield around me while I created a poison smoke screen and falcon dived towards the tree line before opening my wings beginning a quick climb into a shower of arrows which passed right through Elytra's shield. I quickly set up my own shield around her before taking another dive to protect her from the arrows and hide under the tree line sprinting as soon as I landed until I lost them. I kept moving for hours using my magic to remove the arrows until I came to the swamp I had saved those ponies from before when the sun rose. I searched around for a few hours until I spotted a cave which I walked us inside. Water coated the floor as a waterfall could be heard from the back I looked around for a bit before using the source of the waterfall to clean out my wounds polluting the flowing water with a black sludge that came out them but Ignored it went to hunt stockpiling food so I could sleep and heal while we laid low. Day 53 I woke up feeling great my wounds were gone my chitin was repaired I went to check on Elytra who was still sleeping so I went out to hunt for the both of us letting her enjoy her sleep as I when on a hunt for the both of us since our supply was running low. I walked outside for the first time in four days and noticed the marsh had turned black with the water changed to a purplish green color jumped into the marsh swimming around for a bit catch whatever I could find until I felt something digging into my back I turned around to see a claw belonging to a albino hydra with several heads each head had eight eyes which were all locked on me. I could feel the air and water shake as it roared it's claws starting to tear in to my back trying to crush me in the marsh. I wasn't going be crushed however and in response I changed to dragon from and knocked it off me and now we were in the same size I got a good look at the beast. it's necks looked like a centipedes body including legs which were moving randomly the body was a normal hydra build with two extra legs and the tail was submerged but I could see a long sickle like spike. We growled at each other watching for who would make the first move which the hydra took launching a head at me. I charged in and ducked under the head and went for the neck only for my fangs to bounce of the hydras scales then I felt a sharp pain as I was forced to jump back from two other head that charged in only to realize he had my wings it's teeth limiting my movement. I moved back in charging up my shock pulse as I started to slash at it with my claws trying to do some damage through its hide only before I loosed the pulse shock the hydra into letting me go but the damage was all ready done I my wing were broken hanging limp at my sides slowing me down so I couldn't retreat well and the hydra knew it as it's assault started to speed up. Their was only one thing to do I shrunk down to my normal state pulled out my sword and ran for the trees. I locked my jaw closing my eyes as I cut off my wings knowing I would need speed to beat this beast. I walked out of the trees and took a deep breath before releasing a completely black toxic fog in the hydras direction allowing me to run in without being noticed. I slashed at it with my blade causing only small cuts in the beast front legs as I darted in and out of the fog while dodging the heads and claw swipe that were aimed in my direction. I started to channel my magic through my blade causing it to glow red and make deeper cut until I finally got what I was looking for slicing through a tendon throwing the beast of balance allowing me to climb up the leg and start going for the body I sheathed my sword and grew back into dragon form this time channeling my magic in to my claws and teeth allowing me to tear into the hydra even as I fought off the heads until I shot with a high pressure water blast which pierced right through my right side tearing a good sized hold destroying my right lung and knock me off I started coughing up a ton of blood as I watch the hydra laugh at me as it started to fade out turning invisible which answered how it snuck up on me without me seeing it. I switch to my thermal sensors just in time to see a head try to tear into my left side I jumped back only to lose an arm I was losing blood to fast and my vision was fading in turned to my bleeding shoulder and use my fire to burn the wound closed before doing the same to the hole in my side before turning to the hydra who was chewing my arm. I contemplated running but I knew I was to injured to get away at this point so I said it was do or die time as I to a breath and charged my magic in my mouth. The hydra charged in getting close with its heads before I shot a beam of magic and fire so powerful that it knocked me backward into the marsh as it left the hydra with a giant hole in it's chest. Smoke rose out of my mouth and gills as I got up to my feet to drag the hydra back to the cave I was tired and could barely muster the strength to do any thing after I got to the cave Elytra looked at me extremely worried and started to try and cast a spell to ease my pain but I stopped her and told her to eat with me. Acquired Water jet evolution Acquired invisibility evolution Acquired improved scales evolution. Acquired Hydra regeneration evolution. Evolution available Would you like to evolve? > Chapter 11 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 61 I woke to a voice I hadn't heard in awhile as I yawned in my cocoon. Acquired Corruption bomb Acquired Corruption Blast Acquired Death Queen's Heir Acquired Prince's Aura Acquired Corruption Queens Blessing Acquired reinforced body I stretched out breaking my cocoon before looking around while yawning and going to the water fall to wash off the slime that was covering me. When I got to the waterfall a rinsed off the slime I saw what I looked like my wings were back but now had a white skeletal out ling that matched the rest of my body that made I look like I was wearing a skeleton as armor I looked a my new left arm getting a fell for it as my new tail looked like a cross between an axe and a bident match the new forward facing white horns that were on my head. I let my self admire my new look when I heard singing coming from the waterfall's source I climbed up to see Elytra rubbing her stomach as I could note the changes to her as well she was the same Skeleton pattern but in black and she had grown feathered wings. She looked at me and smiled we nuzzled each other before I went out to test my new abilities. I flew Into the air and to find a secluded area of the marsh only to be drawn to a peaceful forest clearing I closed my eyes and took a breath and tried to shoot my Water jet or my corruption blast and after several tries I finally got the water jet which pierced through ten trees and a bolder before finally stopping and after a few more tries I mastered it using it but no matter how hard I tried I couldn't use my corruption blast or bomb. I went hunting to take my mind off it until I found a clear lake and I felt something in my throat after a second I threw up a ball of black sludge in to lake which explode after a few minutes then turning the lake purple. I looked down at the changed water before leaving with what I caught, felling that was enough testing for today I took what I caught back to the cave and let myself relax as I slowly figured out that sludge bomb I created. Day 62 I woke up early today full of energy as I loosened up my body for a good days hunt I walked to the mouth of the cave ready to dive into the water until I hear a ear piercing scream. I ran to the source of the scream getting their just in time to see Elytra pushing out the first egg. My body reacted on autopilot before I could do anything shifting in to a long more serpent like dragon form before curling around Elytra and heating up, then throwing up a large glob of sludge right were the eggs would land. I couldn't move after that like something wouldn't let me so I had to stay and enjoy the beauty of my offspring joining to world. After a good six hours of Elytra giving birth then passing out and a five minute stretch I did a quick count of the twelve new red-purple eggs that laid in the sludge as I wished Nurtana was here so I could ask her what I should do. I quickly banished the thought before going to hunt for the both of us knowing Elytra would be hungry when she woke up. Day 63 Elytra was still weak from the laying but was now curled up next to our eggs as she rested leaving me to my own thoughts as I wondered how the others were doing. I wouldn't let myself worry I need to remain focused on keeping my eggs and mate safe. Day 64 Elytra was recovering so I was less worried today and went hunting while she guarded the eggs I flew across the marsh land until I came to a new sight a ground of armored Deceive lings hanging around guard ponies undisguised and wearing collars. I was tempted to fly down to ask what was going on but I resisted food was more important than information at the moment until I heard something about a group evolve ling head towards the crystal empire I flew into a near by clearing and walked to where they were resting but they had left when I got their so I returned to the cave with my catch ready to guard for when Elytra goes hunting. Day 65 It was raining heavily today but I didn't really care I still hadn't mastered my corruption blast and now I had time to do it I flew off into the storm using my thermal sensors to see through the monsoon level downpour. I look around for a good place to practice while I spat out some corruption bombs in random places just to get more practice with them until I shot out a torrent of sludge out that covered a good range covering everything it hit in sludge. I was feeling good as I figured out my new ability as I flew but it occurred to me that I should hunt so I dove down into the marsh and started happily hunting in the rain until I saw several pony figures in the distance I though about using my invisibility but I knew the rain would give me away so I let my self sink into the marsh so they wouldn't see me. As soon as I was sure they couldn't get away I used leapt out of the water in dragon form and roared as loud as possible. The ponies froze with fear their leg lock in up for a before they could even run then I raised my claw to crush on of them only for my claw to stop moving as one of the ponies was now right in front of me. I turned off my thermal sensors and realize why my claw stopped I was locking eyes with that yellow pegasus again. I tried to move my body but I couldn't I couldn't even close my eyes. I was at this pony's mercy and I still couldn't figure out why I tried to reason it out until I felt a powerful blast hit my side knocking me back and out of the pony's gorgon like gaze. I created a poison smoke screen and fled knowing if that pony was there their was nothing I could do. > Chapter 12 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 66 It was still raining when we woke up and I could see the marsh was flooded even worse than usual so we decided not to really hunt today knowing that the prey would be trapped on any patches of solid ground they could find in this storm or they were aquatic and we could just chase them so we didn't worry about food but what did worry me was that pegasus from yesterday she made me stop as if I had lost all control over my own body and it bothered me that I had no defense against it. I racked my brain looking for solutions and the only ones I could believe would work involved an enclosed or dense space, or long ranged combat with a smoke screen effect and those would only work if she was alone. I was about to bang my head against the wall from frustration when I looked over at Elytra who was napping on my side and our egg which we were curled around and stopped realizing I didn't need to think about this all I need to do was keep them safe. I kept that thought in mind as I listened to beat of the storm letting the constant rainfall lull me to sleep. Until I heard several splashes, Elytra and I jumped up ready to tear whatever was entering our cave apart only to feel a soothing golden wave was over us. We fought against it doing our best to stay awake as we shifted into dragon form and growl at our uninvited guests five mares of the nine mares from the invasion. We both took a deep breath and started to exhale a dark poison cloud at the ponies only to have our mouths forced shut mine by blue magic and Elytra's by purple magic. I looked at Elytra telling her stand behind me with my eyes as I use my magic to break the hold over my mouth and started to focus my magic their as I took another deep breath focusing on my flame. I slammed my claw anchoring myself as I shot the same laser that killed the hydra to erase everything in front of me. I took the knockback better this time only sliding back slightly but I felt mentally exhausted as my gills opened to vent to smoke in my lungs I slumped a little letting instincts take over giving my mind a rest only to feel my thermal sensors turn on to see five pony heat signatures still standing in the smoke which meant no rest and no magic I need Elytra for dispelling while I went on the attack. I geared up to charge in turn off my thermal sensor to see the purple pony holding a black flute which she was bringing to her lips. Elytra dashed past me at the pony her eyes wide with worry as she used her frost breath only for it to be blocked. Then the pony started to play and I lost control of my body as me and Elytra stopped moving at the sound before I fell to the effect of the soothing waves. Day 67 When I woke up I was in a cage in a crystal cavern with Elytra next to me and we surrounded by ponies in lab coats. I got up and stretched before taking a good look at our cage before noticing the ponies starting to back up with one of them running off. I woke Elytra who looked around trying to get a feel for her surrounding wondering where we were. Then the purple winged unicorn appeared in a lab coat. "So your awake." She said before levitating in two gray collars which she hooked on to our necks just under our gills which changed color. Elytra's turned navy blue while mine turned a ruby red. "Where are we, what are these for and where are our eggs?" Elytra ask getting most of the questions out of the way before I could even try to pry the collars off. "Ok in order you are in the crystal caves under Cantorlot Castle those collars are collecting data on your bodies and your eggs are right on that table over their." The pony said as she started looking at a papers that came from a near by machine. Me and Elytra relaxed as we saw that our eggs were safe allowing use to try to think our way out of the cage we were in until I heard a few more hoof steps and saw a familiar face. "Naturana your ok. Why are you here is the hive safe?" I asked excited that she was safe. "The hive is fine Drasa the ponies have been taking care of us while you were away." Naturana said with a strained smile as she sat down in a chair she looked paler that when I last remembered, her chitin was gray and her mane was an even lighter green. I could tell something was up but I would figure it out later after I confirmed the hive's state. "That's good where are they?" "In Ponyville Princess Twilight was gracious enough to accept our hive." "Ok then now princess what's your plan for us?" I asked giving my wings another good stretch while tapping the bars of the cage. The princess thought for a moment before looking at me with a slight smirk on her face. "It's a secret but I will be having you moved to Ponyville after a few more test." She said before handing me and Elytra a sack diamonds and a onyxes. " Eat up I many plans for you and I want you strong for the physical test tomorrow." Then she left as I was about to ask how were we supposed to eat gemstone only for Naturana to answer telling us that if we had a dragons constitution we should be able to eat them before she got up and left slowly. leaving us to our meal which after I found out we could bite through started to think was candy only to be completely surprised when I hear a voice. Acquired Pressure shell Evolution Acquired Mineral reinforcement Evolution Acquired Chrystal growth Mutation Acquired Chrystal breath Mutation Before I thought about the new word mutation. > Chapter 13 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 68-69 Twilight had created test of us on everything first our physical strength by bringing us top side much to the dismay of the ponies to destroy some building that were in the district of the city where we were camped during our invasion in our normal and then dragon forms which was a minor annoyance compared to a weird itching sensation me and Elytra were having which caused us to scratch all day to the point that we were breaking off our chitin shells. Twilight asked what was wrong but I didn't have an answer for her so she took us back to the cavern where we scared some ponies that were crowded around our eggs much to her dismay and our pleasure. But at that moment I noticed something odd about the studious princess when she thought we weren't looking I could sense a ton of killing intent coming from her telling me to keep my guard up just to be ready for anything. I watched her leave before falling asleep curled around Elytra and our eggs only to wake up alone in a field. I looked around confused until I saw princess Luna as I learned sitting at white table. "Well this is a simple dream." Luna said summoning a tea cup full of tea to her hand. "Well I'm a simple beast is that so wrong." I say back materializing a seat of my own. "So what do I owe the pleasure of hosting the princess of the night and dreams in my humble dreamscape." Luna put her cup down and looked me dead in the eye. "I want to know why you attacked Cantorlot with Chrysalis?" I smiled leaning back in my chair. "I could tell you but what's in it for me?" "Well I guess I would owe you one for clearing your part in all this." Luna said before taking a sip of her tea looking me in the eyes as I did the same before we started laughing. "You are an interesting one princess. like a black rose among a field of white daisies your solidarity makes you shine." "Thank you Drasa you flatter me but that won't get you out of this." "Yeah so shall we begin." I snapped my fingers and the world shifted to my memory of the day Chrysalis approached us which allowed Luna to get a quick run down. "I see Chrysalis did come to you with a good offer for your assistance. That leaves me with something to consider." She said with a smile. I gave her a sinister smile. "So the princess of the night is making plans but for whos future." The world started to shift as I heard a soft voice echo thought out the dream. "I appears you wake Drasa I enjoyed our chat." Luna said making a door appear opening it to a dark void. "Like wise princess like wise." I woke up to Elytra poking me with her hand so we could eat but as I woke up I noticed her chitin was extremely reflective almost like it was polished. I went to a near by pool of water and saw my own chitin was the same which made me think as I wanted to test this new shell before realizing I might get to when twilight walked down several guards each armed with bows and swords telling us to follow her. I got up and placed a fresh coat of sludge on the eggs and followed the princess as I saw some ponies take samples of my sludge from the eggs from the corner of my eye. Twilight was testing our agility having us run and fly a course at our full speed it was a ten mile course full with a wide range of non-lethal obstacles to block our progress taking us twelve minutes to complete. while I was in the air however I saw a dark green blur flying across the sky at ridiculous speed. I contemplated fly after it I realize even at full speed I would be able to catch up so I just landed to see a the other princesses approach with Cadence holding the flute they use to capture us. I suppressed a growl at the sight of the flute and greeted the royalty before us while Elytra just crossed her arms. "I don't understand why my mother would tell ponies where the prime queen's tomb was, but I hope she's ready for the consequences when the other queens find out. Anyway what do you all want?" Elytra said her eye narrowing. "Yes what do we owe this visit." I said kneeling and taking Celestia's hand and giving it a kiss as I could feel Elytra gaze trying to burn a whole into my back while Luna started to chuckle at the look on her sisters face as she started to blush as I back away leaving a small wet mark on her hand which I watch vanish into her fur knowing I'm gonna have a good laugh in a few minutes. "Drasa we have come to the conclusion that you are extremely dangerous but you aren't targeting ponies in particular so I want to have you hive stay and work with us ponies for a more harmonious future." Celestia said rubbing her legs together slightly showing my poison was taking effect slowly. "Ok only for two reasons one I want to see how badly this goes when you ponies try to stop us from hunting and two I want that flute. I didn't give Chrysalis away to control us when we worked together so why should I allow you to have one." I said with venomous smile which Luna returned while I saw Cadence's grip on the flute tighten like it was the only thing that would keep us at bay. "That sounds fair give up the prime arc flute and we will work with you." Elytra said walking up to Cadence to take the flute but Cadence's horn started to light up with Elytra doing the same and that's when I stepped in. "Hold on theirs no reason to fight right now relax." I said before I a whistling sound and the black blur came out of the sky crashing near by kicking up a ton of dust only allowing us to see a shadow. "DRASA ELYTRA YOUR ALIVE!" said a familiar voice before I got tackle by a giant bat like creature covered in chitin. "Glyph?" Elytra and I said while I struggled out of her hug so I could stand and get a better look at her. Glyph had evolved in an interesting way giving a harpy like body with razor sharp feathers that covered her bat like wing arms that hid a second set of much smaller arms with sharp talon like hands that were a few inches under breast level her head was like a cross between a bat and a falcon making her head almost pyramid shaped her body looked light and was thin with a tail that was flat yet still covered in needle like barbs. "I so happy that I found you that means everyling is safe." She said as she went to hug Elytra while I thought about what to do with this new information as I noticed Celestia trying to sneak away her blush darkening as her horn glowed softly as she saw me looking at her. "Shall we talk more later princess?" I said with a knowing smile. Celestia glared at me putting two and two together as the other ponies watched for her answer. "I agree we shall talk more in the evening about many things." She said with some slight venom in her voice before turning to leave with the other ponies following. "Well that was a thing." Glyph said stretching out her wing as she yawned. "Glyph go tell the others to come here. Elytra track the princesses and the first chance you get steal that flute I refuse to allow them to have a way to control us." I said staring at Cantorlot castle. "Yes Drasa." Glyph said before taking off "Ok. This will be fun." Elytra said turning invisible tearing off her collar and following the ponies while I went to check on the eggs as I waited for Elytra to return falling asleep to wake up on top of a lake surrounded by rainbow colored crystals. "This is a tranquil dream Drasa." "I'm keeping a clear head to night. So princess what is it that you need?" "My sister is accusing you of poisoning her I just came to find out if that is true." "I do have an answer for you but that depends on what you are prepared to do when I give it." "I guess the depends on your answer." "I knew their was a reason I liked you. Yeah when I kissed her hand that's when I gave her a weakened form of a toxin I used on Ponyville some time ago and even back then it wasn't anything fatal I just made sure she couldn't think at them moment." I said with a shrug and a chuckle. "You were play a joke on my sister. I'm impressed not many have the gall to mess with the princess of the sun." "Then I guess I'm part of the few." "Yes you are and that why I choose you." said an unfamiliar voice. The dream shook as a red light appeared from the sky the rainbow crystals turned black and red the lake water turned to whirlpool of shadows that a Changeling queen with my coloring rose out of carrying a scythe. "Among other reasons." "Who are you." Luna said realizing I wasn't causing any of this. I looked up an kneeled. "So we finally meet death queen." The queen laughed before snapping her fingers which caused a red beam of light to appear blasting Luna and causing her to disintegrate before she could put up any defense. "Filthy pony worm daring to infiltrate the dreams of my named heir, she should know her place." The queen relaxed as she looked at me only for the dream to shake again with Luna's voice echoing through it. "The worm is waking you up. what a pity I was hoping to talk to you more no matter I guess I will see you later son here's a parting gift from momma." The queen hit me with a ball of energy that shank into my body before diving into the swirling pool just as the my dream started to fall apart. > Chapter 14 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 70 I woke up to see Elytra and Luna looking over me with worried looks on their faces that relaxed as I got up only to feel a burning in my chest as my vision got blurry and a soft red light started to come from me. corrupting sludge started to ooze out of between my chitin plates and quickly started to coat the ground. Luna teleported to the cavern entrance helping the ponies in the caves while Elytra stayed at my side I could feel her trying every healing spell trying to at least reduce the pain I was feeling as I heard static then a familiar voice before I passed out to the sound of an explosion. Override code Death Door accepted divine queen of death Valgrasa recognized.... Dragon flame... overridden will-o-wisp generation/control... overridden Pedal shifting... overridden Control growth... overridden Demon dragons flame acquired Raise/control dead acquired Dark queens blessing acquired Demon dragons body mutation acquired Succubus eye acquired Death aura acquired Variable Beast form acquired Day 75 I woke up with a splitting headache which quickly subsided as I got up out of the pile of sludge I was under flexing my stiff muscles I realized I felt lighter I jumped up and broke through the roof of the cage and hit the roof of the cave. I opened my wings and roared just because I felt so good almost like every part of my body was just fine tuned. Then I looked around and realized the cave looked like lake in my dream the crystals all over the cave were glowing with red and black hues while the ground wall were covered in a black moss that had the occasional red and purple mushroom and that Elytra was missing. I looked around some more stopping for a second to pour a fresh sludge coat on the egg only to find a white glowing pile of slime that was glowing a soft white. Then it started to shake and shift before a blue and white hand popped out followed by a body the that was stunning, great white wings that had edges of gold that matched her horns, axe tail, claws and skeletal pattern. Elytra walked to me and kiss me without warning which I quickly returned before she broke away to go to the egg where she threw up her own white slime on them mixing with my black sludge before going back to me to continue where we left off only for a pony guard to come down and interrupt us. We both looked at him ready to tear him limb from limb when he just stood their shaking as he looked at me. "The princesses wish to see you." He said after a few minutes of silence before he ran back out of the cave. I sighed. "We best not keep out host waiting." "Maybe they can wait a little longer." Elytra said followed by another kiss but I pushed her off. "We have time for this later love. But for now we appease the princesses then we appease ourselves." I said kissing her on the forehead. "Fine but I won't like it." Elytra said before taking off for the tunnel while I just walked behind her passing the pool and getting a good look at myself. My chitin was jet black again but my skeletal patter had turn dark purple along with my horns, claws and tail blade that was now a scythe like. Their weren't many physical changes which made me happy that I didn't have to master a drastically new body part. After a few minutes of walking we made it to the thrown room where we could hear unfamiliar voices as we opened the doors walking in on a large minotaur bull saying. "That's why you should just help us kill them out right!" He yelled slamming his fist on the table drawing all the attention to himself "You know that's not the pony or deer way Steel Soul." Said a Diamond Dog wearing a gold collar that was sitting calmly in his chair as the princesses and a ancient looking stag in long robe nodded in agreement. "Well then what do you suppose we do these creatures are starting to nest in our land and their corruption is spreading. I know a tribe of yours has already been swallowed by their corruption Jojin, plus we all know the only reason the siren queen and the griffon king aren't here is because they are having trouble suppressing their corrupted areas and we won't be able to keep our suppressed for much longer." Steel said with a sigh calming down." White Hoof do you have any ideas?" "Every creature can be reasoned with what we simply need to do is talk to them in a peaceful setting." The deer said in a soft tone. "And if that doesn't work." Steel said rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Then we should find away to reverse their corruption so they won't be as much of a threat." Said a young blue dragoness holding a crystal scepter. "Dragon lord Ember I thought you would be on his side with this." Jojin said pointing at Steel Soul with his thumb. "Not all dragons are battle hungry beast Jojin." Ember said in a calm tone. "Your father would have me think other wise, but now I see you kin was graced with an actual adult as a leader." Jojin said leaning back in his chair taking a satisfied sniff before turning to me. "It appears the ponies invite corruption into their homes." "Hey the diamond dogs invited us first. They really should cover their tracks better." I said remembering my first encounter with the mud mutts. "So Celestia why have you call us here are you finally going to let us leave with your permission?" "No not quite Drasa I want to ask you about the thing Luna saw in your dream but as you can see I'm quite busy right." A small tremor cut off Celestia gaining every one attention before a roar range out so loud that the windows shattered. Steel Soul pale as he ran outside to a near by balcony with us following to see a giant creature with a bear and dragon head mix together with large bull horns it had a dragons body type with fur sticking out between scale like chitin plates that had glowing constellations on them its forelegs were bear like with large claws while its hind leg were bull like but what made me smile was the long wreaking ball tail it had. I turned to Elytra with a grin on my face. "Lets go say hi to an old friend." I jumped up as high as I could before changing into my dragon form with Elytra following my lead changing in to her dragon form masked by the light of the sun. White slime started to rain down as a long slender dragon covered in white, gold and ice blue Chitin descended white angelic wings flapping slowly so she landed when I did. I could feel sludge sliding off my body as I spread my wings and roared standing upright before we flew to meet the beast before us. "Buzzelga it has been ages what goes on?" Buzzelga looked at me and smiled. "Glyph was right you are with the ponies so I only have one question. Why?" He said before shrinking while we did the same so we could talk easier. "We got caught fair and square but at this point we could leave at any time so the answer to my earlier question?" "Not much I got to the minotaur kingdom and seat up a base with my squadron with Acid." "Specking of my sister where is she?" Elytra asked as we all sat down. "Oh she's stayed back and is watching over our eggs." I slapped Buzzelga on the back. "Bro congratulations you got laid." I said causing us to laugh while Elytra face palmed before we started sharing stories which allow me to learn that his base was in a ruins of an old city and that the minotaur's kept attacking for no reason with kept them with plenty of food. After we mourned the few loses he had in those battles the princesses and everyone in the room arrived surrounded by a bunch of guards Buzzelga got up and reach for the sword on his back only to stop when I shook my head which allowed him to relax as I looked Celestia in the eyes and said. "What took you all so long." Celestia was about to answer but then Luna brought over a chair and sat down. "Not all of us can fly you know. So what have you been talking about?" Luna said completely calm. "I was just congratulating this ling on his first egg clutch and checking up on his new home." I said which made Steel Soul start to twitch as Jojin covered his mouth before he could say anything. "Oh that is interesting. So Buzzelga was it, how are you doing?" Luna asked in a casual tone. "Fine I guess theirs plenty to eat and Glyph told me where this son of a grub was so I left my mate in charge while I came here for a bit." "That's good." Luna thought for a second and then looked at me. "Hey Drasa why don't you gather up you hive and got to find a neutral land to call your own." She said which caused the other leader to think to themselves fore a second as I thought of the possibilities. "You know that's a great idea. Buzzelga" "Yeah." "Go back and bring everyling and corrupted minotaur with you here where I will be waiting so when we have a place and everyling is together we can move immediately." Celestia eyes pinpricked as she stared at her sister while Steel froze and Jojin started to laugh. "Well Celestia at least you ponies are going to have a lot of friends for a while." The Diamond Dog said before he vanished and Celestia started counting backwards from fifty as she started to walking back to the castle holding her head. Buzzelga left saying goodbye as me and Elytra flew back to the castle to get better acquainted in our cavern. > Chapter 15 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 76 I Decided to pay ponyville and the rest of my hive a visit after slipping away from Elytra and leaving her a message with my acid spit I went invisible and was about to go but I saw Twilight and Cadence walking down a hall and I decided to follow them clinging to the ceiling as I heard them talk. "So he still hasn't woken up and I just don't know if I can keep going like this." Cadence said opening a door with her magic "I know Cadence I'm worried to but you can keep him alive I will find away to expel that magical poison from Shining's body before Drasa leaves to fine his own land." Twilight said clenching her knuckles as she opened another door. "Twilight I just as worried but you devoting all your time to this it just can't be healthy I mean you haven't slept in a week." Cadence horn glowed dispelling an illusion Twilight had up reveling her puffy red eye that had bags so dark that you could have sworn she was wearing a lot of heavy black eye shadow while her mane was a birds nest. "Funny I could say the same about you don't call the kettle black, pot." Twilight said doing the same to Cadence showing the princess in the same state. "True, so you think it's time we swallow our pride and ask Discord for help." "Maybe but I still don't trust him plus he has be missing since he stopped the second invasion and the note I gotten from Trixie and the other two back in ponyville hasn't helped me at all hell I can't even reverse what happened to them and their becoming worse the only way I can keep them calm enough to study is by using Fluttershy." Twilight gave and exhausted sigh before opening a door to a white room with a bunch of machines that were hooked up that annoying stallion from the invasion that was shielding everypony. They were mentoring his heart rate magic levels and brain activity. I was impress at his vitality keeping back my magic for so long but then again I never cared for it but his life wasn't my problem but having the princesses in my debt would be good. I crawled out of the room and took off for ponyville in dragon form wounding what my next move would be when suddenly I saw a giant creature that looked like a fusion of a snake and a centipede with deer horns that was slithering towards Cantorlot followed by our hive which forced me to land to see what was happening. I stood on my hind legs and roar at the serpent like creature only for it to rise up to my height and stare at me. "Lord Drasa we heard the news and were on our way to meet you." "Cadaia it has been a while how have you been, have the ponies been treating you well." "I've been fine the ponies here are nice but cautious as they should be." "Good good and I see you've brought the whole hive with you." I looked over the lings that followed her they were carrying eggs and nymphs with them as they stood under my gaze until I felt three thing hit my body trying to bit through my joints I looked down to see Trixie, Sky, and Light in ling forms looking like feral beasts I laughed before coating them in sludge and sticking them to my back as they for lack of a better word updated to me. "Cadaia follow me back to Cantorlot we I have a job for you." "Yes lord Drasa." By the time we got back to Cantorlot the princesses were looking for me and when I arrived with Cadaia the ponies started to panic until Cadaia's serpent eyes started to glow and anyone looking at her calmed down entering a trance as Cadaia shrunk down into her normal from, she had a lamias body and snake eyes but other than that she hadn't changed much. Which disappointed me slightly but it wasn't that bad so I didn't comment as only one thought came to mind. "Cadaia rest up because tomorrow I need to go check something out for me." I said ruffling her web mane. "Yes lord Drasa." She said before slithering to the other ling to have a party while I put the three ponies on my back down so I could join in. Day 77 I had woken up early to see Cadaia off but when I made it back to the cavern and was about to fall asleep again with Elytra by my side I heard a cracking sound we both bolted up and ran to check on the eggs to see them moving slightly their shell cracking. I was pacing with excitement while Elytra was humming her focus completely on our eggs we watch as nymph's slowly broke free one by one their soft chitin yet to harden or even show color as they had their first meals their own egg shells. Elytra looked at me and I nodded leaving the cavern to hunt knowing they would need more. I my instincts guide me as I flew as fast as I could not caring about anything in my way until I made it to a lake wasting no time I jumped in and grabbed the biggest fish I could find and headed back only to see our nymphs each of them a was a different combination of the colors me and Elytra had but other than that they looked like normal changelings. We watched as they tore the fish apart as we curled around them covering them with our wings so they could sleep while we talked about curing or corrupting the pony I saw yesterday. > Chapter 16 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 78 I woke to a sensation I hadn't felt in a while as I lifted my head up to feel Trixie, Light, and Sky laying on my arms and legs I thought about escaping but I decide to let them have this so I went back to sleep only walking up a few minutes later to the feeling of something pinching my tail I got up to see a red and gold nymph chewing on my tail scythe. I smiled and reached down to pick the little up. "Panzer, silly girl my tail isn't a chew toy." I reached down and removed my daughter from my tail and wiped the acidic drool from her mouth before moving her back to her sleeping sisters and brothers as Elytra got up and looked over my shoulder humming as Panzer fell asleep. "So Drasa you have a plan for that shielding pony?" Elytra said when she was sure Panzer was fully under. "Yeah I was thinking a slow corruption the princesses will be indebted to me for saving him and when they find out what really happened it will be too late." "Interesting so how will you play this out?" "By trying a new idea. Trixie, Light, Sky. Watch the nymph don't let them out of your sight." "Yes master." The mares answered at the same time. I took a deep breath closing my eyes and thought about a the creatures I've eaten so far and let Variable beast form work its self out and when I opened my eyes I was looking up at the sleeping nymphs knowing if my guess is correct I should be the size of a salamander. Elytra picked me up and gave my head a good luck kiss before I stretched out my wings and flew out of our cavern and into the castle turning invisible as soon as I entered. It took me a while to remember where the infirmary was but once I found it I got to work as I crawled down his shirt to the closed wound and reopened it before creating a small Corruption seed that would activate on my command as it absorbed my magic that was poisoning his body and placing it directly into the wound before burning it back closed and leaving the way I came in feeling satisfied with myself. As I was crawling out I saw guard being rushed in with sever but survivable burn and gashes all over their bodies. I followed the source of the bodies until I saw Celestia and Luna in armor running to a near by window which they flew out of I followed to see a giant ten tailed red fox with feathers and scale covering its legs that turned into flame just above the claw paws fusion it had, it also had large feather dragon like wings and white chest plumage, and a giant spider with sickle like blades on it front legs and a scorpion tail with folded moth wings shifting on it's back. Pony guards were trying to stop the two from moving through the city only to get lit on fire of slashed at. I shifted forms and grew into my dragon form and roared getting all of the attention. "Whisper, Velger stop messing with our hosts." I said stepping past the two princesses shrinking as the two lings shrunk down into a more manageable form. "Drasa it's been to long." Velger said as she finished her transformation which made her look like a smaller bipedal version of her beast form with a more seductive elements added to her body giving her an impressive hourglass figure that could match the princesses. "Yeah Drasa I was worried after the whole invasion failed." Whisper said getting up from her transformation as I question if succubi were real at that moment her body was the center of attention instantly the stallion guards gazing at her lost in their lust as her curves enticed them while I only noted the addition of moth elements to her form which fit her well from her antenna and white fur caller to her wings and the dust that fell off them. I shrugged with a smile on my face before I had them follow me to the crystal cavern where we talked about their homes in the deer and dragon lands. Whisper told me how the deer were nice and how they helped her group recover after the invasion but started to stay away after we started making a home for ourselves and then attack after she evolved and gained her new wings. While I learned something very interesting from Velger that dragons are immune to our corruption which was concerning but It would cause them to go feral. After I told them what the plan was they nodded and we went back outside after I introduced them to our nymphs. They changed into their beast forms and flew off to their respective lands so they could prepare and move, while I went to figure out my next move. Day 79 To day I woke up alone I looked over to the near by wall to see a message written in acid from Elytra telling me she went back to the bad lands to check on her old hive and see Chrysalis and introduce her to her grand nymphs. So I snuck into the library to read a book on the land history only to have a book on someone called Nightmare Moon catch my eye I took the book and left walking through the castle reading up on what appeared to be Princess Luna's past when I heard her sister as I passed by her door. "Discord why are you telling me this?" Celastia asked her voice sounding like she was in shock. "Because I'm giving you the chance to stop the future I have just shown you to stop this world from fall into corruption and because they are protected by the changeling pantheon I can't do any thing to them without inciting the wrath of a few of the aspect queens who would love the chance to take control." Said a voice I didn't recognize. "Their has to be another way Discord ponies don't kill." "They you find it because their are some forms of chaos even I won't allow." The voice said before a snap was heard and then silence just before the door opened to reveal a worried looking Celestia that bumped into me. "Oh sorry Drasa I didn't see you their." "Well something must be wrong to were looking right at me, wanna talk about it?" I asked trying to see if I could get more information about the tail end of the conversation I just heard. "No I just talk about it with my sister see what thinks." "Mind if I tag along I wanna to ask her about this Nightmare Moon character I just read about." I said putting my hand on her shoulder for a second as I created a small needle on my claw injecting her with a small dormant corruption ball just to put my mind at ease in case who ever this Discord was talking about destroying my hive. "I wouldn't talk to her about that, it wasn't a good chapter in ether of our lives." "Oh I see, well then have I hope you figure out whatever your thinking about. Tell Luna I say hello." I parted ways with the solar princess while decided to check out where my hive was set up for the time being. I took off through a near by window and flew to the edge of the city that was destroyed during the invasion that was covered in a dark slime that dripped off the broken buildings as the scent of death permeated the air. I started to feel home sick missing our old cave as I watched several guards watching the ruin for the shifting shadows that marked my kin as they dragged their hunts around taking them back to their nests and the beast that were left to mutate in the corruption. I could sense their fear form the air as I flew past and into the corrupted zone, landing on and biting into the neck of a bear sized rat and roach fusion before I ripped off its head and tore out it's heart of it's still moving body licking it's tasty blood off my lips before I savored it's sweet taste. Acquired plague generator Evolution Acquired collapsible skeleton Evolution Acquired reactive will Evolution As I was enjoying my meal I heard a rock fall I turned my head toward the sound to see nothing. I turned back to my meal hoping what ever was watching me would come out when it thought I wasn't looking only to hear an small explosion that was close by. I took the bait and went to investigate turning around at the last second to a very thin bandaged orange mare in broken pieces of solar guard armor trying to sneak up on me long sword drawn her eyes red from lack of sleep. She charged swinging for my neck but I caught her blade with my mouth and bit it in half which caused the mare to look at me as she reached for something behind her back as she backed away. I dashed forward using my claw to keep her distracted while I moved my tail so the scythe would cut her heel and trip her up allowing me to catch her as she fell. "LET GO OF ME MONSTER!" she said trying to struggle out of my grip until I took off into the sky. "What did you want me to do again?" I said loosening my grip as we passed the cloud cover. "DON'T LET ME GO DON'T LET ME GO!" she said grabbing on to me with as much power as she could. "Ok then but your coming with me you look like you need a rest." I took her to the castle and gave her to the guards after I left a small corruption ball in her blood as I told myself I would question her tomorrow. > Chapter 17 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 80 I woke up early and headed for the infirmary as I thought about a the pieces I had set in place and the next steps I need to take as I held a book on the elements of harmony. "Celestia is all ready under my thumb and I can infect Luna at any time but after I learn more about these elements of harmony they seem like they could be trouble." I though as I walked thought the halls to the infamy only to be pulled around a corner to have a knife at my throat to see I was my friend from yesterday eyes still red and still covered in bandages. "Hello." I said ignoring the knife that was at my throat. "YOU!" Said the mare as she pressed her blade into my throat trying and failing to get through the chitin on my neck. "WHY DID YOU SAVE ME!?" "Because I felt like it." I said before using my claws to inject her with a strong tranquilizer. It took a few second to take effect which allowed me to watch as her hate filled eyes give in and close. I call a guard over explaining the situation as well as I could before giving her up knowing she would be useless in this state so I left to talk to princess Luna and ask her about the elements of harmony. When I got to the door I heard an explosion and jumped back to avoid a blasted open door before I chased after the navy blue blur that rushed out. "Drasa what's going?" Luna asked as we ran to the source of the blast "Your guess is as good as mine princess. But I'm not guessing good things." I said as I shifted into a higher speed form which allow me to pull ahead out pacing Luna, the guard's and even Celestia when she joined the mad dash as we all met at the impact crater that had Cadaia in her snake form her eyes were glowing blue while a giant alligator with shark fins a whale tail, with two lobster claws coming from its back and purple glowing eyes were staring each other down roaring at each other. I leapt in changing into dragon mode and landing on the two and pinning them down and kicking up a cloud of blue dust that was on their bodies that covered the three of us then I blacked out. Day 81 When I woke I was at the bottom of a river along with Cadaia and one of the aquatic evolvling with lobster claws coming out of her back a reptilian visage that matched my own and a whale tail for movement her silver chitin was moving slightly showing she was asleep along with Cadaia. I stretch out feeling extremely sore as I swam up to the surface slowly eating some fish so the pain in my muscles would fade. When I breached the surface I could see Elytra laying back reading a book on the bank while our nymphs who looked like smaller versions us with some changes were being chased by Trixie and Sky. "Elytra when did you get back?" "Yesterday mate just in time to stop you from completely destroying Cantorlot." Elytra said not looking up from her book. I swam to shore completely confused. "Ok then I'm missing something why would I destroy Cantorlot?" Elytra got up marking her place and walk to me to kissed me as I got out of the water "That's a good question you tell me?" "Well lets see I remember changing into dragon form to stop Cadaia and the Evolving whos also at the bottom of the river I thing her name was Jinx from fighting then I was cover in some blue dust after landing on top of them then after that nothing." "Well that explains everything, Poison Joke pollen." "Poison Joke? what the hell is Poison Joke." "A Dangerous plant that likes to play tricks on whatever stands in it but evolvelings have a different name for it the Feral Lily." "Son of a grub, how much damage did I do?" "Celestia and Luna are in the hospital with sever burns, several broken bones and poisoning half the royal guards were wiped out and ninety present of the city was destroyed and corrupted an long with the castle and most of the mountain that supported it and that was just you after you knocked Cadaia and Jinx and threw them into the river." Elytra said sliding her arms around my neck as I hung my head down in shame. "But was surprising was the form you took." She whispered in my ear as she started kissing my neck. "So powerful, so destructive, so terrifying, and so absolutely dominating it was truly a sight to behold." Elytra kept kissing my neck while a familiar and strong smell hit my nose. "Their will be time to play later love, right now I need to do some damage control." "Fine then I can wait for a little roll in hay beside I should go collect Light form the Cantorlot ruins and see what can be repaired and salvaged before they rebuild." "Ok then if your going to steal, steal the best right?" I said as Elytra got off my shoulders. "And while your gone you will watch the little ones. Trixie, Sky lets go." Elytra jumped up and flew. "Yes Mistress." Both Corrupted ponies followed Elytra leaving me with the Twelve. "Panzer, Crest, Phantasm, Azure, Arsenic, Devi, Crash, Striker, Rebellion, Doppel, Flare, Keizer." I said with a whistle calling all twelve nymph over. "Yes dad." Keizer said her red crystalline chitin shining in the afternoon sun along with her as she spoke for her brothers and sisters. "Well since I'm in charge today lets go on a hunt." I said morphing into dragon form only to feel something off before I lost control of the change my head was spinning before I blacked out. "Dad... Dad... Dad wake up." "Crest be quiet my heads hurt.... WAIT HEADS." My eyes snapped open to see two extra heads on both sides of me that reminded me of the hydra I fought so long ago I looked at Crest his blue and black body rubbing my head. "Ummmm dad are we still going hunting?" Crest said leaning on my hear as I felt magic wash over me. "Yeah just give me a minute to get used to this." I said as I started to figure out my new body and after and good hour we were finally off heading towards the swamp where we hunted and I learn of my nymph impressive teamwork as they flawlessly came together with Keizer leading them even better then I led my hunting party no prey could escape and I was so proud as I hull our catch back in a giant bubble of my magic to have Elytra meet us half way so we camped out and relaxed for the rest of day were we met. > Chapter 18 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 82 We made our way back to Cantorlot everyone rode on my back as I gained more practice with my new form flying at top speed. I could feel everyone digging their claws in to my back trying to hold on as we closed in on cantorlot only to find the city was completely repaired with most of the corruption cleared. I landed outside the city and let everyone off my before shifting forms back normal so I wouldn't crush any buildings but as we landed I felt we were being watched I sent everyone else ahead while I stayed back. "Come out I know your there." I said wondering who would come out. "Your very perspective." I heard a familiar voice say before a light blinded me and when my vision cleared I was on a floating island in a weird void face to face with a strange creature that I couldn't make heads of tails of but I had this feeling that I should be running from him but I fought the instinct because it looked like It wanted to talk. It snapped it's talons and a table with two chairs appeared out of nowhere. "Welcome to my realm Drasa, I am Discord your chaotic host for your time here." he said motioning me to sit at the table with him. "Speaking of which why am I here?" I asked as I sat down "You little evolvling are quite interesting." "Really how so?" "Evolvings of the past that have reached even close to your level are usually hunted and killed by the other changeling races out of fear of what lings like you might become, but you and those hive mates of yours have reached a level unprecedented in your race and your pantheon even saw fit to bless you with the smallest fraction of their power." Discord said leaning back into his chair as he pulled out a crystal mirror. "However the reason I brought you here is this." Discord tapped the mirror causing it to ripple for a second to reveal Equestria in complete chaos corrupted ponies were eating normal ponies and destroying everything in their path as normal ponies were trying to fight back. Corruption was everywhere and the land was twisted and dark nowhere was safe for the normal ponies and they were falling quickly then I saw something surprising all four princesses were corrupted and tearing through a army of the uncorrupted like mindless beasts as Keizer stood behind them with a satisfied grin on her face. The image cut and Discord looked at me. "And it's the same for the other kingdoms your hive might be the end of the world for ponies and that is something I cannot allow to happen." Discord vanished and then I fell a sharp pain in my chest as Discord appeared behind me his head right next to my ear. "Now listen their is still a chance you can change that future I just showed you. I may not be able to stop your hive but I can create away for others to stop you." I couldn't move and I didn't know what was happening but it felt like something was being torn from me but after a few seconds the pain stopped and Discord was wiping his talon down as a plate with a roasted chicken on it which I ate without thinking but I felt better. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?!" I shouted as I readied to jump and claw Discord's eyes out. "Nothing to worry about Drasa if your good." Discord said in a mocking tone I leapt at the chaotic creature ready to claw his eyes out only for a cloud of pink smoke to appear of nowhere and engulf me and when I was free I landed in the corrupted area of Cantorlot. I swallowed my anger and went back to the castle to see how everyone was doing. When I got their Elytra was trying defuse an impending fight between our nymphs and the guards "ENOUGH!!" I roared as I landed between the two groups letting my death aura and prince aura wash over everyone to give myself a more commanding presence only to get an interesting result everyone was frozen in place except for Elytra as they gazed at me the guards dropped their weapons but did nothing I walked up to one of them and waved my hand in front of his face and getting no response. "Weird their like actual statues." I said flicking one of the guard on the head causing him to fall over. "Well they are literally frozen in fear. Elytra said pick up the guard I tipped over. "Drasa your aura's." "Oh right." I rubbed the back of my head as I turned off my auras to here a collective thump and deep breaths as everyone unfroze and fell. "Dad... never... do... that... again." Keizer said getting up and glairing at me as she tried to catch her breath which caused me to laugh. "If your good then I won't have to." I said flicking her on the forehead and getting a subdued chuckle out of Elytra. "Nice to see your in good spirts." Said a familiar voice I turned around to see Celestia completely healed with Luna at her side both of them seeming happy but kept getting this creepy feeling from them telling me to watch my back. "And nice to see you in good health sorry about my rampage." I said with a nervous laugh. "Don't worry Drasa, Elytra explained everything we are just happy to have you in control." Luna said giving me a pat on the back as we walked into the castle. "Oh that... good." I said yawning feeling very tired all of a sudden as my thoughts clouded as I kept walking as sound became distant until I blacked out. Day 83 I took a while for me to wake up but when I did I couldn't move and opened my eyes I saw why I was in a large dark chamber and chained to the ceiling with my wings tied to myside and my mouth glued shut. I looked around to see Buzzelga on the floor incased in a green bubble. Rebellion chained next to me along with Crest and Crash. I kept looking around the room until I heard voices below me. I looked down to see a two different changelings one with dragonfly features and the other with scorpion. "Chrysalis was a fool to believe any evolveling should live let alone a whole hive." Said the scorpion. "But this hive has grown some very resilient ling even having seven lings reach and pass the corrupter class we need to study them to learn their true power. Said the dragonfly. "They should be destroyed before that dumb prophecy can come to pass. The Aspect queens should focus on other ling types in stead of gluttony." "But they don't and that's why we capture and if they can't be tamed kill evolvelings like the beasts they are." "They might be more than beast considering what that failed queens two daughter have done, Those nymph's disgusting." "But they might be useful and Pupa hasn't made the mistake of her younger sisters gonna be a queen to equal us." Both queens left leaving me to ponder where I am that a Stormling queen and a Venling queen were doing together when their hives are usually on different sides of the world. I started to struggle to break free until I felt something stick into my back causing me to become sleepy again as a familiar filled the room. > Chapter 19 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 84 I listened for the exact moment when we were alone before I grabbed my chains and pulled my self to the ceiling and dug my chains free before cutting the chains binding my wings with my claws and breaking my shackles and muzzle. After I freed the others and told them to find the others while I went to find out where the queens were when suddenly I felt a something sting my neck I reach up and pulled out a syringe with filled with a strange blue fluid with the plunger almost fully push down the world became hazy as it heard a roar fill the room as I blacked out. Day 91 "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?" I heard being shouted as I woke up in my beast form over looking as Discord was staring down an army of changeling sipping what looked like wine from a wing glass. "What I have done is freed them form your control, you honestly though I wasn't watching, you thought would let you have these evolvelings without interfering you have to be smarter than that." "But we had a deal." said another queen with bee like features that was hiding behind another queen that looked like a rhinoceros beetle that was holding a battle axe. "And I'm breaking that deal I would rather have them free to do what they please before I let you keep them as super weapons that you could do whatever you want with." Discord snapped his fingers and our collars and chains vanished, I shrunk down cracked my knuckles and took a breath ready to blanket the army we were facing with hellfire when discord whispered in my ear before leaving telling me that Pupa told him what was happening and how she asked him to save us. I nodded knowing what I need to do stifling my flame. "Buzzelga block the doors everyling else lets have some fun but leave the Deceivelings breathing." Buzzelga horns glowed causing green crystals to rise up and block the exits as I and Arsenic put down a smokescreen before we had some fun diving in to start the massacre. Blood splatted on the walls as enemy lings were torn apart by my claws as I went through them like they were wet paper and when we finish we were soaked in blood and the deceiveling cowering in a corner. I walked up to them causing them to shake as they went to protect Pupa but I swatted them away like flies with my tail nearly killing them as grabbed Pupa buy the neck raising her up to meet my eyes. She was terrified knowing I could end her here with the simplest shift of my claws. I leaned in close and told her one thing. "You and everything you own now belong to me, understand." Pupa nodded rapidly to scared to speak I dropped her and turned. "Good now leave if I need you I will call you." I blasted one of the exits open allowing them to escape before telling everyone what Discord told me after the deceivelings left. After exploring and clearing out the rest to the place and finding the way out we found out we were in an strange area a forest, desert, plains, and swamp separated by snow capped mountain ranges surrounded by water as far as the eye could see "What a strange island" I thought as I looked over the island from the sky unsure what it was looking at as something tapped my back. I turned to see Discord with a wine glass in his paw that was out stretched to me. "Like the island I made it myself." Discord said handing me the glass while making one appear for himself. I looked down on the island really looking objectively before giving my answer. "It's not bad but it could be bigger." "You know you may be right." Discord said snapping his talons causing to grow outward until I couldn't see the ends from my elevation. "There, big enough for you now?" "Yeah I think so, but now that leaves only one question why?" "Well over the week you were gone let's just say a voice forcefully suggested I should work with you rather than against you. So this island is me extending an olive branch so to speak." Discord said raising his glass which filled with a clear liquid along with mine which I raised to meet his. "You know I like friendship as much as any other creature. But ponies are annoying with it." I said getting a nod of agreement from Discord as we both downed our glasses and left each other allowing me to wash the sticky blood off my body and planning on exploring tomorrow after telling everyone that this place is our new home. Day 92 I woke up and got started taking the day to explore our new home and over see the corruption of the island. Discord did a good job filling the island with food as I noted creature from all over the world running around trying and failing to escape the younger evolvelings or the corruption that was quick over taking their homes. I caught a few creatures before I heard a faint dripping sound before I was eaten by a blue slime that dropped down on me from the trees and started to try and digest me with it's acid body only form me to burst out with a lighting discharge causing the creature to explode I shook of the acid still on my body along with some pieces of my weakened chitin before jumping back as the acid came back together surrounding a small shining orb that vanished once the slime together again. I shot my hell fire at the slime as it charged at me only for it to dodge my jets of flame before lunging at me causing me to jump back and continue dodging as the slime started shooting pieces of it's self at me with enough power to blow apart trees before leaping at me again but I was ready I did a low leap and dove under the slime extending my wing so they would stick in the slime before shooting off another lighting discharge through my wings blasting the slime apart again before turning around and watching until I saw what I was looking for the light of the slimes core. I dashed and grabbed the core and popped it into my mouth crushing it between my teeth before swallowing it savoring it's sour and sweet taste as several more slimes dropped down only to become my lunch with in minutes. Water jet overwritten Acquired Acid jet Evolution Acquired Slime spray Evolution Acquired Slime core Evolution Acquired Liquid modification Evolution I licked my claw satisfied as I moved on letting my corruptive sludge spill from my mouth and my claws as I kept moving shifting into beast form to cover more ground with the four extra heads as I moved eating or crushing anything in my way until the moon rose over head > Chapter 20 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 93 I woke up to the seen of a treacherous glade with dark twisted tree with glowing green pustules that spewed a corrosive bile at whatever popped them while releasing toxic gasses into the air. Corrupted creatures were going around eating those who hadn't changed while dark green emerald spires erupted from the ground and a purple powder fell from the sky. I yawn before getting up and shaking off the powder and flying up to a wonderful sight the corruption was spreading on it's own and would engulf everything soon, so I could relax. I closed my wings and let myself fall into a falcon dive aimed at the expanding ring of murky navy blue water that surrounded our home before changing into beast form and relaxing in the waves and I apparently wasn't the only one as every one else showed up in beast form before changing to normal form to laze around. Elytra and our nymphs jumped into the water with me along with Cadaia. Buzzelga and Acid were napping on the beach with six large eggs between them while Velger was making glass statues with her magic and her flames and Whisper was fishing with her web as Glyph watched the sea from a tree branch she was hanging from. I was great everyone was calm and relaxed as Glyph's sea foam green clouds circled our island spreading corruption with green rain showers from time to time as we rested. I was a nice and calm day until a giant crab claw attached to a long white tentacle knocked me and Elytra out of the water before several other tenticals and a large shelled squid rose out of the water looking ready to attack only for a silver chitin covered sea foam green tentacle with a long barbed hooks at the end of it pull the beast back down into the water which turned purple for a second before Jinx came up in a new form dragging the squid which as now gushing blood from several small holes in it's forehead out of the water with two sea foam green tentacles that were coming out of her upper back that were lined with barbed serrated hooks that latched into the dying kraken like creature. Her claws were webbed and alligator like but thinner to match her trim body type that was a thinner mirror of Cadaia except with salamander influenced changeling legs. Jinx smiled at us as she sat back and relaxed with us as we all snacked on her kill watch the horizon as the sun moved to set on a beautifully calm day. Acquired Stinging cells Evolution Acquired bio-luminesce Evolution Acquired Luminesce ball Evolution Day 94 While the corruption was spreading on it's own everyone decided it was time to finally create a true hive using the chambers we already had underground as a starting point and expanding from their. So I sent Whisper's and Glyph's scouts to explore the place while I thought about how to use the whole island and maybe the creation of a castle. I moved back outside and spread my wings taking off for the top of the mountain when suddenly the death queens emblem started to glow. "You have done well for yourself my son." Said a familiar voice that echoed through my mind. "Mother what do owe the pleasure?" I thought as I landed on the snowy mountain top. "Just checking on you progress like how my sisters are checking on their chosen and I must say I was right for choosing you. You even exceeded the origin queens expectations." Valgrasa said the joy in her voice easily evident. "Glad to have made you proud mother." "Good but I have a warning before I go. Watch that filth of chaos Discord don't trust him, his power is nothing to be played with." "I will, don't worry. I thought as Valgrasa left my mind giving me time to think about how I was going to deal with Discord if he did try something because she was right. As I kept pondering I saw Whisper come out of a cave I had never seen before with a smile on her face so used this to get my mind off my troubles and ask her what was in the cave. Whisper blushed her smile never leaving her face as she brought me back to the cave showing me the contents and their was only one thing in it a live Cerberus tied up, it's body bloated and in pain as I could see small worm like out lines moving around it's body. "Are those what I think they are?" I asked getting a nod from Whisper as she held her stomach blushing. I gave her a warm smile before congratulating her on her larva that were moving under the large beasts skin feasting on the dog before leaving wondering when she was pregnant in the first place as the scouts and Elytra came back with a detailed map of the chambers and what was in them and Elytra saying she would deal with the hives creation . Day 100 I sat on my ruby throne in the partly finished castle we were building as Elytra was directing the everyone else on the use and shaping of corruption and crystal as Velger directed the actual hive structure with Whisper assisting. I yawned as I waited my eyes feeling heavier with each second as I fell into a dreamless slumber until I felt an icy touch caress my check. My eyes shot open to meet Elytra's as her hand moved to play with my red web mane her frost sticking to me with the gentle touch as she shifted on my lap kissing me on my check. "Is it time my queen?" I said as Elytra got up with a smile her fangs shining In the low light of flaming wisps trapped in crystal lanterns that decorated the now completed throne room making me wonder how long was I asleep. "Yes my king the crystal have been infused with the corruption of the others now all that is left is your piece." Elytra said as I got up her frost melting as my inner fire started to awaken with my anticipation as Elytra motioned at the door which opened to reveal an young female nymph that was carrying a clear crystal that was resting on a large ruby which she kneeled and presented to me. As I grabbed the pendent I could feel the gem pulling at the corruption inside me as it rested in my claw glowing red as a black dot started growing from the center until the crystal turned black . The Castle shook as the floor in the center of the room opened up to reveal a large black orb that floated up and seemed to pulse with sinister energy as prismatic steam flowed from it. My crystal rose up from my claw before and flew in to the orb causing it to pulse red for a few seconds before the steam turned black and corruption started to flow from it like water from a spring into the chamber I was resting in as it hovered and the origin queen's symbol appeared in green on it. Castle started shaking again as the stone heads modeled after everyone's beast form started spouting the black water in to pools lined with gold and silver marking that lined the room. "So Elytra what have you created?" I asked not knowing what to make of the orb. "This Drasa is a library that will soon contain the evolution memory of all evolving allowing our hatchlings to hatch augmented and any current ling to rearrange their evolutions." Elytra said with a happy smile. "The origin Queen show it to me in a dream a few days ago." I was impressed as I walked up to orb feeling the cool smooth surface that seemed to pulse with power almost like a soft but strong heartbeat. Elytra walked up behind me getting in close as she whispered into my ear. "I knew you would love it and you can repay me later but for now." Elytra moved away a smile on her face. "You need to go help with the relocation of the nests to the nursery." I smiled as I moved away from the library and watched Elytra take a seat on her diamond throne as she looked down on me. "As you wish my queen." I said with a low bow before leaving to help with the nests relocation which took the rest of the day to finish due to trying not to burst or kill Whisper's somehow still living egg sac. > Chapter 21 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 110 I was sitting back relaxing with the other Evolvling lords Except for Whisper who was tending to her larva as we sat in the throne room and digested the corrupted pack of wolves we had hunted a few minutes ago using their bones to pick our teeth before eating those as well. We relaxed to the peace of the island as enjoying the break we were taking since the hive below has just been completely finished including hidden tunnels to all the other kingdoms which allow us to pick up Trixie, Light and Sky who were now in the nursery helping to tend to the eggs, nymph's and Larva that were sitting in the black pools of corruption with Whisper. I yawned board as everyone else went to use the corruption to make some changes for their next evolutions I got thinking about going for a swim trying a new aquatic beast form I had thought up so I got up and flew to the sea diving In as I transform so by the time I hit the water I had fully changed into a leviathan like form that allowed me to cut through the water with ease as I snapped up any creatures that crossed my path until a ship crossed my path which I intend to ignore until I got caught in the net that was trailing behind it which caused me to drag the ship with me until they started throwing spears and shooting we with magic which quickly gained my attention. I rose up bring most of my body out of the water confronting the ship full of Minotaur and ponies that dropped everything and stared at me their eyes wide as they gaze in fear. I roared as I coiled around the ship and destroyed it's masts which snapped the crew out of their daze As they grabbed their weapons and tried to get me to let go. Their attempts were cute but mostly annoying as their weapons bounced of my chitin. I coiled tighter crushing the ships wooden haul with ease as I blasted the top deck down with fire watching the crew run to the life boats of be consumed by the flames. I let go as I saw the last of the survivors fleeing on the life boats before dragging the ruined ship back with me so I could loot it's treasures which consisted of a few chests that were filled with bits and bags of seeds that were in the captain's quarters. While below deck I found cages fill animal which I set free letting them as I went until I got to a set of small cages near a small garden that held tiny little pony like creatures with long thin arms and legs insectoid wings and antenna they looked like they were thin and barely moving I grabbed the cages with my magic and went outside taking them to the castle where Elytra face lit up when she saw them. "Drasa where did you find breezies?" Elytra asked as she healed the small creatures with her magic. So I explained telling her about the ship and what was on it which caused her face to brighten, lost in though as finished up and tossed them into the corruptions pool walking to the library as I stared at pool completely confused at what that just happened. I left Elytra alone to do what she wanted as I went to find Jinx who was swimming mermaid style in a cove with several wreaked ship masts with black flag with different symbols sticking out of the water as the bottom of the cove shimmered from the treasures at it's depths. "Jinx the ships you think you can track the source of these ship you sunk?" I asked looking over the ship graveyard. "It might take some time but I think I can." Jinx answered leaping out of the water her legs change so she could walk. "Good then do so I want to know why they are coming this way if their ships are being sunk in these waters." I said get a confirming nod her before I turned to leave. "Oh and Jinx before you go have all the treasures at the bottom of the cove sent to the castle." "Yes Drasa I will get my lings on it right away." Jinx said as I left to the sound of her leaping back into the water. Day 115 I was following Jinx in my leviathan form as we swam to a near by island that was surrounded by ships all of them sporting black flags as they covered a large port that had all the races running about as we arrived. I rose out of the water changing into my normal from along with Jinx. I flew up looking over the shabby port before I started to breathing my hellfire into an expanding bubble of my magic until the bubble reached the size of a building then I compressed it until it was the size of a marble and glowing an angry reddish purple in my claw before I dropped it into the buildings below and watched as an bright purple and red light engulfed the port that causing me to shield my eyes until the light faded revealing the large blast crater that was fill with seawater that used to be the port. I was a little surprised at the power of the attack until a rock hit me in the head causing me to look down at an angry looking Jinx who was missing her left arm, left tentacle and her lower right leg. "HEY DRASA A LITTLE WARNING NEXT TIME I DON'T REGENERATE AS FAST AS YOU OR BUZZELGA!" Jinx said as she used her right tentacle to steady herself as she stood up on the rock she was sitting on waited for me. I flew down picking Jinx up and heading home. "Sorry about that I didn't expect the blast to be so big." I apologized as flew while Jinx's wounds started to pulsate. Day 117 Me and Buzzelga were deep the hive digging tunnels making connecting tunnels to all the other near by islands so we could claim them without crossing the water when suddenly I felt something bite me. I turned to see a crimson ball of light floating in my face while Elytra and two other shining balls of light were standing next to her one an icy blue and the other a dull grey which flew at Buzzelga attaching to him for a second before turning emerald green and circling his head. "Elytra what are these things?" I asked pointing to the crimson light that was resting on one of my horns. Elytra held out her claw letting her light land on it. "Remember the breezies you brought to me well after days of manipulating the corruption through the library I have turned them into parasitic focal points for magic of whatever they are attached to allowing for sequence loading and remote casting through a mental link, I call them Echo Lights." Elytra explained before looking down at the light on her claw that dimmed to reveal a small creature that looked like a cross between a firefly and a moth. It looked around before flying up to Elytra's horn and lighting up again. "The only downside is to get them to this state I had to forcibly rework their brain structures destroying their original personalities and memories." "That's a shame." I said not really caring as I looked at my own personal Echo Light before turning to a wall locking on to a crystal that was embedded in it. Then watching as it along with with a good chunk of tunnel wall was destroyed by my Echo Light using a perfect copy of my magic blast revealing a small cavern. "Elytra I'm guessing you've already stated breeding more of them." I said impressed by the Echo Light power. "Of course my king I even have Velger over seeing their spawning chamber." Elytra said with a devious smile. "Buzzelga were taking a break from the tunnels we have new things to master." I said getting a silent nod of agreement from Buzzelga as we left for the surface. > Chapter 22 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 120 I was in the training cavern getting some more practice with Reap Whisper my Echo Light against some of the corrupted creatures we forced here as hunting and target practice dummies. I was dodging the claw swipes of an armored bear while Reap was hanging back waiting as I instructed until I ducked in to deflect a claw swipe. Reap went in right on que blasting the beast right in the face completely destroying it's head as my left claw tore into its chest and through it's heart with ease. "Sharpening you're fangs Drasa." Said a familiar voice. "Well I can't just let them go dull Discord." I said as I pulled my bloody claw out of the headless beasts chest before turning to the chaos god who was floating in the air on a red smokers chair. "So what brings you to our humble hive?" "I just came to confirm a suspicion and tell you about a powerful creature that was roaming around in Equestria." Discord said before he snapped his talons causing a screen to appear showing princess Twilight fighting a giant centaur with horns and from what I saw I was interested. I had Reap get the lords together so we could be ready to take the tunnels to Equestria and get ready for a hard hunt. "Thanks for the info Discord. Oh and that suspicion you had, I'm curious did you confirm it?" I asked honestly curious. "Yeah but it doesn't matter now. What matters now is how your going to deal with Tirek?" "The same way we deal everything kill it and eat it it's that simple." "I see well then have fun tracking Tirek down." Discord left without another word vanishing without a trace allowing me and the lords to head for the tunnels we made for Equestria ending up at our old hive which was full snarling chitin covered werewolf like beasts that were charging at us but Acid moved up with a smile on her face as she pulled out an interesting black battle axe that's blades started to glow bright white as she changed the creatures and swung cleaving through the ones in front of her like they were water not breaking her charge as she moved on to the next group cutting them down with equal ease until our path was clear but littered with ash and burned body halfs as we walked forward until we reached the old hives exit to see the night's sky and deciding to start tracking and heading into Ponyville in the morning. Day 121 We got an early start scanning the forest before heading for Ponyville to find an invisible barrier over the town which took a while for us to destorynefore we got inside and saw an interesting sight the ponies were moping around their colors dulled their eye lifeless. The ponies ignored our presence as we walked through the town only running if we looked at them in anyway as we headed to the castle and found it empty except for a purple and green baby dragon trapped in a dark red bubble in the library. After a few minutes of trying to break the bubble Velger and Elytra had started consulting the books around the library while I and everyone else took the time to search the rest of the castle and town. After walking around for a few hours I was surprised see Light sprinting at me carrying a giant case on her back. "Master I'm sorry I have taken you and your Lord's weapons without permission but using pieces of your and the others chitin and corruption I have hopefully upgrade them to your liking." Light said taking the case of her back and opening it revealing eight different weapons one of the being my katana which I picked up and unsheathed revealing a purple blade with a red edge. As I held the blade I felt it come to life as a hellish flame burst out from the edge before I turned to a building and swung diagonally then watched in suprise as the top half of the building slide off the bottom half with no resistance at all. "Light I'm impressed no punishment for you, but ask next time ok?" I said as I sheathed my katana. "Of course master I'm happy to be able to please you." Light said closing the case and putting it back on her back. "Now I must return the others weapons." "Then come with me I'm curious to see if Velger and Elytra have popped that bubble." I said walking back to the castle her following behind me. But as soon as we entered castle Light fell over howling in pain as she was being engulfed in light from the castle walls. Using my tail I knocked Light out of the castle and then covered her in corruption sludge. "Light are you ok?" Light got up the sludge slipping off her body revealing several burn marks that were slowly healing. "Yeah I'm fine I'll just give you the weapons I don't wanna enter the castle again." Light said dropping the case of weapons at my feet before I sent her back to the hive to rest while I grabbed the case with my magic and walked back inside the castle to find everyone watching Velger and Elytra who were meditating I'm the middle of a mountain of books their magical auras circling the bubble which was starting to crack so I took the time to hand out everyone else's weapons telling them they should get some practice with them soon before they cracked the bubble open. They nodded as they took off to test out their new weapons while Acid and I kept watch. Buzzelga was the first to come back carrying his dark silver great sword which had several emeralds floating around it as he sat down. Next was Whisper her new purple longbow that was slung over her shoulder as she sat down cutting the old string and restring it with her silk. Then Jinx and Glyph walked in covered in shallow scratches Jinx sat on one side of the room her dark blue arm and tentacle blades dripping acid from their edges while Glyphs daggers were floating around her as she found a good hanging spot allow all attention to be on Cadaia as she slithered in carrying a net full of fish on the end of her sapphire encrusted pearl white trident. We were starting to be comfortable when suddenly the bubble popped dropping the baby drake on his face before he quickly got up. "Thank you for freeing me." The drake said with a bow as I handed Elytra a gold and white glaive that was creating mist around it. "Don't worry about it. But we do have a few questions for you." I said sitting down in front of the drake. "Ok but can it wait I have to send a message to Twilight about Tirek." The drake said running to some blank paper and ink well starting to write. "Actually we are looking for Tirek. Do you know where he is?" I asked as he finished lighting the paper on fire with his green flame. "You just missed him by three days but if I had to guess at the power he had when he got here I think he would be on his way to Cantorlot for the princesses." The drake said with a worried tone before mumbling something I didn't pay attention to. I thanked the drake and left him some fish before changing into beast form so any one who couldn't fly could just hold on to my back as we started our flight towards Cantorlot leaving the drake behind. > Chapter 23 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- After hours of flying we made it to Cantorlot just in time to see Discord his color faded as he's was being held up by Tirek and looking half conscious while the red and black centaur just laughed at the defeated god that was in his hand while eight familiar ponies were trapped in red bubbles with their colors faded. "Well was that all you had Discord a few cheap tricks your just a bad joke." Tirek said as he switched his grip to Discords neck. "A bad joke I would be happy to end." "So your offering to be the punchline, ok then." I said using Reap to teleport in front of the now very surprised centaur before punching him in the gut while slashing at his right leg with my tail forcing him to drop Discord as he was push back slightly as a cracked small dark red shield was where my fist connected and a small cut where my tail connected. "Oh this is going to be fun." I said as the other lords joined me in facing our prey. "Who are you?" Tirek asked while he looked at us trying to gauge our power. I just smiled at the question before answering. "We are just some hunters that owe this one." I said pointing at Discord before I took a deep breath and covered area in a numbing smoke. Everyone drew their weapons and jumped and dashed for cover before the smoke cleared leaving Tirek alone with his captives as we moved in the shadows of the buildings. I picked up a rock and threw it at a Tirek to give away my position and as he started to blast my cover I ran watching as Buzzelga and Acid charged in from opposite directions. Tirek raised his shield just in time only to watch it shatter from the impact. Tirek blinked behind Acid and blasted her into Buzzelga knocking them both away but keeping him distracted from the me and Glyph as we went in under the cover of fireballs and ice spears provided by Elytra and Velger. Glyph moved quickly leaping right in front of Tirek lighting dancing around her body which gathered into one ball before exploding into a blinding flash of light which was followed by a deafing sonic blast. Tirek started back peddling as he covered his eyes and started randomly firing magic blasts catching both Buzzelga and Acid knocking them away. Whisper landed a power shot from her bow getting and arrow to pierce through Tirek's right shoulder that left a trail of powder in the air which acid touched with her flaming axe causing it to explode and almost completely destroying Tirek's shoulder as the blast following the arrows path. I jumped up and in an instant Glyph and I had cut off both of Tirek's horns but then I was sent flying through a house and into a large emerald. "Nice catch Buzzelga." I said before I felt the pieces of my chitin fall off from where I got hit. "Buzzelga Acid take point he's stronger than he looks." Tirek was still blind and deaf but without his horns he was striking at anything around him but I knew he wouldn't last much longer. Buzzelga and Acid ran forward allowing us to get hits in with out trouble as Whisper pelted him with arrows and Cadaia with water spears until Jinx jumped on to Tirek's back and used her tentacles to bind his movements while slashing with her blades so we hung back letting her have her fun until she got board leaving Tirek covered in cuts as he fell to his side and tried to brace him self with with his hands only to fall the life fading from his eyes as blood loss and poison ate away at his last seconds. I walked up to him sword ready to deal the final blow until held out his hand gesturing me to stop as he pleaded for his life making offers that I could believe would be well within his power but they fell on deaf ears as I moved in and shoved my claw right into his chest and ripped out his weakly beating heart for all to see holding it up like a trophy before I took a bite signaling dinner time. We ripped Tirek's body apart enjoying our meal until we reached an red glowing organ I didn't recognize that pulses with energy. I pick it up and bit into it only have it exploded releasing a wave of what felt like raw magic as it blasted us back into walls behind us as a strange warmth put me to sleep. All parameters met evolution set. When I woke up again I was laying in a grassy plan looking up at clear blue cloudless sky their was quiet and peaceful until I heard a familiar voice. "Drasa stand and follow." I got up and looked around to see a nothing around until I took a step. Large stones erupted from the ground each one with a picture of each form I had ever taken on them starting from my original form to what I looked like now. These stones glowed as the formed a path to a large rock which I took to find myself standing on the red glowing impression of my beast form and current from carved into the stone. Then suddenly I was floating in a dark void facing two glowing red balls of light as images of everything I've ever eaten appeared in my mind with impressive clarity as I hear the voice again. "Now choose youself." I was confused what the voice ment choose youself what did she mean I thought about the voice could mean as I let my mind wonder to the meaning until I saw the light ball change shape one taking a form similar to my own and the other become much more beast like and then it hit me. > Chapter 24 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 151 Acquired mana leech overwritten Acquired True Dark Queen's Blessing Acquired True Death Queen's Blessing Acquired Tartarus king body Acquired Lord of the dead aura Acquired variable battle form Acquired molting augmentation Acquired molting regeneration Acquired life leech Acquired plasma breath Acquired elemental augmentation Acquired nightmare form Acquired heart reader Acquired chaos break "So way exactly is princess Celestia having us guard these cocoons?" Said an unfamiliar voice that woke me from my sleep. "I told you already she wants to keep them safe as a favor to the changelings in side." Said another voice as I yawned. "Hey did you hear that?" I heard one say as I got ready to break my cocoon. I stuck out arm which broke through almost instantly and started tearing myself a way out with ease as I heard the ones out side start to panic before I heard an explosion similar to a firework going off then running. After a few seconds I was free and stretch out my stiff muscles getting a few satisfying cracks as my body loosened up before I opened my wings and flew to the nearest body of water so I could get a got look at my new body. When I found a lake I landed and on the edge and was satisfied at my reflection. I had a thin and taller body the showed very little muscle through my jet black chitin that was tattooed with purple markings that lead to the emblem of a seven eyed skull on my chest and lined with thin ruby spikes that grew along my still slightly reptilian visage making it look like I had a thin Ruby beard. As thicker rubies spikes grew on my head and down my back like spines while being intertwined in my new shoulder length dark purple mane with brought attention to my axe like horns that pointed forward like iron sights. I then opened my wings to get a better look at them to find the edges were lined with sharp barbs and the red webbing was lined with more needle like rubies. My tail shifted quickly suddenly trisecting a wooden wolf that I saw leaping at me from the reflection with the parallel scythe like blades grew out from the end. As I was ogling myself I heard a soft landing behind me causing me to turn and see an angel, my angel. Shimmering pure white feathered wings, long ice blue mane that looked the finest silk that her two sets of golden ram horns grew out of. Her body was cover in white chitin covered in gold markings that lead to emblems of Celtic crosses on her thighs and she had grown almost matching my height but she had opted to increase her curves so she had more to show off as a thick collection of rainbow diamond needles appeared just at her neckline and connect to and lined her wings. Elytra walked up to me and kissed me as her tail entangled with mine casing her new tail axe to grind against my scythes. "Looking good mate." Elytra said pulling away from me and giving me a once over with her eyes. "Very good." "I could say the same about you my angel." I said kneeling as I grabbed her claw and kissed it before I turned to sky a strange feeling crawling down my spine. "Drasa." Elytra looked at me with worry in her voice telling me she felt thing I did. "I know, we need to head back to the hive something wrong." We both jumped up and started flying as fast as we could to our hive while eating any birds we pasted. After an hour we made it and were exhausted as we saw our island covered in purple crystalline roots that were heading towards the castle which now had a new lava moat. When suddenly a short dark green chitin covered harpy with yellow marking leading to her emblem of twin tornados that was on her back. Her face was wolf like face small horns and a spiky yellow glowing mane that reached her long spiked whip like tail. Her talons were lined with topaz needles that ran all the way up her legs. She was looking down at the island trying to figure out what was happening along with us. "Drasa Elytra do either of you know what's going on? Glyph said as she we dived towards our castle. "No idea we got here a minute before you did." I said as we closed in on the island only to be bombarded with beams of rainbow colored magic from flowers that sprouted from the roots. We dodged as we moved forward only attacking when we need a safe route until we made it inside. "Drasa glad to see you made it." Cadaia said as she stood on the wall next to the window where we entered. I turned to see her new form. Her body was thinner and seemed to be longer as her black chitin shined from the blue markings that ran across it glowing bring attention to the line of small sapphire spines that ran up to her back before branching off and down the two giant chitin covered cobras which had the emblems of whirlpools on their heads with sapphire needle eyelashes that grew from her back and were coiled around her thin slender arms making it look like she was wearing gauntlets. Her head was more pony like with a short mane that cover one of her serpent like eyes and a single changeling horn. "Glad to be back. What is going on?" "Found the island like this after I teleported here with Buzzelga Acid and Velger. That's when we found the roots trying to get at the library so we beat them back and then Buzzelga and Acid created the moat outside." Cadaia said before turning towards the hall and slithering away while saying. "Drasa you should go to see Velger in her room I think she might have the answers to our problem." I split up from Elytra letting her go rest while I went into a burning tower where I found Velger in a meditating position her eyes closed as her chitin covered orange crystal spiked fox tail were curled around her along with the four inferno red feather wings that were folded around her as her her new deer like horns burned with a magical white flame as she sat in front of a broken piece of the crystal root trapped in an bright orange arcane bubble made of various runes that shifted randomly. "Found anything out yet Velger?" I asked as I leaned on the doorway. Velger didn't even move as she answered. "The crystal has a harmonic nature but is synthetic but I can't place the origin yet, but for some reason someone wants us to attack the ponies." "What make you say the ponies?" "While we were in their territory I managed to find a tree with a similar structure and teleported a sample of it here with Ash and have already analyzed it to find a similar harmonic nature to this root but with five-hundred and fifty three random magical sequences showing organic origin while this root sequences are to ordered to be organic." Velger said pointing to an white orb that was sitting in an glass case on another side of the room revealing the phoenix on the back of her hand . "Well. You've lost me but I will trust you judgement on this one tell if you find out where these roots were made." I turned to leave only to hear Velger move towards the her window her talon claws cutting into the stone as she perched on the ledge "I might have an idea on how to figure that out, I'll go set it up you should rest then see Buzzelga and Acid in the morning when they wake up." She said before flying off before I could reply but she was right there is no point of waking those and from what I could see Whisper and Jinx haven't made it back yet. I went to the throne room to relax to see Keizer sitting on my throne asleep. I left her alone thinking that throne was a good fit for her as I went into my room for my own rest. > Chapter 25 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 152 After waking up I went outside to stretch my wings and found Buzzelga covered in green skinned bronze chitin covered with dark green chain like markings that lead to the emblem of a tower with giant emerald spikes coming out of his shoulders and clawed hoofs that were cutting into the ground with each step carrying a body the was for lack of a better description strength incarnate destroying trees, stone and the roots in the way with single swings of the great sword he welded as he moved towards the beach as his mace ended dragon tail took care of anything still standing. I flew down landing on a standing he was just passing allowing me to get a good look at the three emerald horns that spouted out of his short silver spiked up mane. "Morning Buzzelga what's new?" "Not much I wanted to clear out more of these roots so the weaker and younger lings could hunt." Buzzelga said turning to me while destroying a few other trees with his tail. "Ok then I'm gonna go find the source of this problem and see if I can end it once and for all." "Then you might want to find Acid last time I checked she was headed their with some fire affinity lings to see if they could burn the roots away." Buzzelga said before he continued forward as I took off to find Acid using my thermal sensor to scan the island which allowed to find them quickly as they were incinerating a section of the forest. I landed next to the much Acid who was wearing an angry expression as heat came of her black and orange chitin which for some reason had a cape made of flames coming off her back. From what I could see Acid evolved for explosive power as hole that doted her chitin started shooting out small bursts of flame as her small more subdued frame stood like the lord she was unmoving unafraid of was ahead of her as several hundred crystal roots burst from the ground impaling most of the evolvings before she turned them into magma with her magic protecting those who weren't impaled. "Acid pull back I want to try something." I said moving forward to the flames. "Ok. Everyling leave the wounded and fall back to a safe distance." Acid said before walking away heading to the castle. With those weren't really hurt as I watched as the flames died down to show the crystal tree that was plaguing in our home. I sighed looking at the nuisance and put my left hand on it and tested out my new ability and started leaching the nuisance's life force and watching it slowly die as I converted it's life in to mana which I then released in to the ground. After a few minutes I was looking at the withered husk of tree which turned to dust as a soft wind moved through the forest. "Whisper what took you so long." I said as I felt something land lightly behind me. I turned to see Whispers new form her legs were now like needle points that some how supported her hourglass frame along with her scorpion tail which was curled around her waist like a belt just above a skirt of jade needles as large black and neon purple butterfly wings the bio-hazard symbol on them sprouted from her back out of her waist length black mane which her long white moth antenna stuck out of. "Sorry my king I don't have the best wings for speed." "It's fine but where is Jinx I guessing you two emerged around the same time?" "We Did but as soon as we sensed the hive was in danger she ran off and I couldn't catch her so I just flew here. But at my max speed she should have been here before me." "Then I wonder what's holding her up." I said getting a little worried for my young lord. "You know what Whisper load everything new into the library then look after the nursery. I'll go look for Jinx and see what's holding her up." "Yes my king." Whisper said before taking of for the castle. While I flew back to Cantorlot to pick up Jinx's trail or I would have if not of the face I saw a creature that looked like a pony mixed with a tiger covered in an sapphire blue chitin with light green stripes. two long squid-like barbed and bladed tentacles that sprouted from her head along with four shorter ones from the back were trailing behind her as she was dashing on top of the water at blinding speed dodging volleys of cannon fire coming from a blockade of pirates ships. I watched from the sky as Jinx got closer and closer readying her claws as she speed up and vanished reappearing on the other side of the blockade and racing towards the island while the ships she pasted started to fall apart like they were sliced by fine blades. "HEY JINX!" I yelled causing her to loose focus and trip as she started sinking which made her belly flop and skip like a stone. I stifled a laugh as I flew down. "You ok?" "I'm good just give me a second." Jinx said as she composed herself and started treading water. "So what took you so long? I heard you left before Whisper but she got to the island first." Jinx jumped out of the water landing on surface crouched like a tiger ready to pounce as her long tentacle tail cam out of the water with a glowing cluster of soft eggs attached to her tail by her corruptive clear slime. "I see, head to your nursery drop them off then go to the library." I said as my thermal sensors turned on telling me to look up as a fire ball was speeding towards the castle telling me Velger was back. Jinx bowed saying. "Yes my king." before dashing away to do as she was told. While I took off for the castle to hear Velgers report flying into her room through the window to find herself preening her wings. "Velger have any good news?" I asked causing her to smile. "You could say that." "How so." "I tracked the seed origin to a small lab in the deer territory and after a bit of brain draining I reduced the entire facility and everything in a fifty mile radius of it to smoldering ash." "That's not going to go over well with the deer but I will deal with it later." I thought as I told Velger good job before going fishing. > Chapter 26 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 173 I was relaxing in one of the lava pool of the lower chambers in my beast form as I let the lava clean my chitin when suddenly a red Evolveling with rabbit and mantis like features hopped down the tunnel looking for me saying a strange ship had landed on the island and the pony captain was asking for me. I told the ling to have them wait as i got up and yawned wondering how they got past Jinx before walking over to the water that was near by to cool off before I headed back up getting a good look at myself In the calm water my seven eyes glowing purple along while my crystals glowed a sinister red as my two other eyeless heads one drooling a red acidic sludge while the other had black smoke streaming from it maw. Not bothering to change forms I moved through the tunnels to the beach where the ponies had landed to see my guest several ponies and the answer to my question as I saw a what could only be classified as a ship covered in runes making it slightly transparent. I walked up to the ponies watching as they started to cower in my presence some even fainted as I looked down on them banishing a thought that involved taking one or two of them for a snack. "So who called me because I was in the middle of a nice lava bath so it better be important." I said causing the ponies to literally throw their boss at my feet as they ran behind a near by tree which made me laugh as I look down at the pegasus captain who was turning ghost pale as all seven of my eye's locked on to him. "So that a pretty brave crew you have their." I said which got the captain to relax after he processed what I said. "Yeah I know their so brave they would throw their captain to a monster without a thought to the consequences if he lived." He glairing at his crew causing me to really start laughing as they hung their heads in shame. "You sir have made getting out of the lava worth it. What is your name?" I asked when I finally calmed down. The captain bowed tipping his hat as he answered. "Rough Seas your majesty." "Well Rough Seas what brings you to my world?" "Well I'm just a humble messenger for my princess who want to invite you and your lords to a world summit at Crystal Empire in hope to improve relation between our kingdoms." "I see when is the summit?" "In a week's time honestly the invitation would have gotten to you sooner but getting a message across your water proved to be problematic." "Yeah I figured that tell Celestia and Luna we'll be there it might be fun." I said after a minute of thought. "Also I have to deliver these." Rough whistled and a few second later eight light's left the ship with a red on landing on my shoulder. "Reap, I guess I wasn't the only one who left their echo light in Cantorlot, good to have you back buddy. Now get on you have some updating to do." Reap flew to the back of my neck finding an unarmored spot before biting down taking my blood as Rough bid me farewell flying up to his ship with his crew and taking off while I watched seeing Jinx and Cadaia rise up out of the water in their beast forms. Jinx a giant five eyed tiger striped leviathan with a mane of barbed tentacles that linked to twenty extremely long and armored hooked tentacles. While Cadaia was a giant eight headed cobra and wyrm influenced hydra with her long body coiling around it's self. I was worried that they were as good as sunk until Jinx turned to Cadaia. "Cadaia see I told you I don't slack, their no ship here." Jinx said annoyance in her voice. "I'm sorry Jinx one of my land based ling's said you let a boat through you territory. I deal with him later." Cadaia said as Rough's boat pasted them. "Be sure you do I don't like my work ethic being question." Jinx said pouting. "Well I'll leave you back to your work." Cadaia turned and dove back underwater vanishing under the red waves for Jinx to do the same a few second later. I went back to my lava bath were I planned out the trip realizing I had no idea were the crystal empire was. So after another quick cool off I went to find Elytra to tell about everything and see if she knew our destination before going on with the rest of my day after having Light forge a gift. > Chapter 27 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 179 the moon shown bright above the clouds as I was flying in beast from with Buzzelga, Acid, Jinx, and Cadaia riding on my back while the other's flew in their beast forms Glyph in her wolf like wyvern body yellow glowing saying we would dive soon. "Hey Drasa is flying above the clouds a good idea?" Whisper asked causing me to look down at the large dragon like moth with butterfly wings and a long scorpion tail with a wasp stinger at the end at was flying under us so we wouldn't get covered in the toxic corruptive scale dust that came off her wings. "Yeah, why?" "Well we all drool corruption uncontrollably in our beast forms. you think we might be seeding it into the clouds." "Don't know. Velger?" I Said turning the burning gryphon with fox hind legs and ten club like chitin tails and large deer horns who just shrugged saying she didn't know ether. "Well I guess we will cross that bridge when we come to it." I said just before Glyph took a sharp dive below the clouds with us following into a heavy blizzard that reduced our visibility to zero. I told glyph to fall back as me and Elytra took the lead turning on our thermal sensors while every one on my back jumped off and followed in their beast forms with Acid in a from that looked like a giant six legged fire spewing dragon rhino leading Buzzelga who's beast from didn't really change except for the two emerald spiked that came out of his shoulders and sharper more blade like horns. While Cadaia the giant three headed centipede cobra was leading Jinx a normal sized Tigon with six long bladed tentacles coming out of her back and two tails. We braved the storm we saw the city slowing down our approach to a more non-threating speed only to still get pelted with spears, arrows and magic which didn't do much but annoy as everything they tried deflected of our bodies and we got closer to the city gates. When I finally had enough was when they brought out the cannons. I took a deep breath and did a roar rivaling Glyph's weaker sonic blasts and that combined with a full power wave of fear aura stopped every pony in range in their tracks while summon four alicorns that teleported right in front of me. "Wow, your early and more terrifying than Rough Seas described." Celestia said her horn glowing creating a soothing wave of magic that lessen my fear aura allowing all the ponies to again and in most cases faint. "It's been a while Drasa good to see you well." Luna said with a soft smile "And the same goes to you Luna." I said changing into my normal form and giving a respectful bow as the other's changed to their normal forms. Then after a bit of talking we decided to hold a tour of the kingdom tomorrow after everyone else had arrived but as I entered the city I felt a light tug on my magic but I ignored it after Cadence told me about the crystal heart dispelling Sombra the last king's, dark magic thinking it was trying to the same to me on a weaker scale. Day 180 I woke up with a strange weight on my chest I lifted my head to see a bright pink alicorn foal sleeping on my chest. "Well hello." I said as I looked at the foal waking her up eye full of confusion and then tears as she started to let out a deafening cry which woke every one up while cracking the crystals of a cavern under the castle and much more worrying several crystals on my back and wings I used my magic an toss the foal to Elytra as I ran out of the castle at full speed knocking everypony out of my way as I could feel my hellfire rubies heating up as the cracks grew larger. I leapt out of a window before flying as high as I could before the cracked crystal exploded detonating all the other rubies on my body knocking me out. When I woke up again Elytra was healing me Buzzelga was setting down a large polar bear carcass as everyone else was staring at me the ponies with the most worried expressions. I got up wincing as my cracked chitin fell of my body exposing raw muscle to the chilly air I flexed my wings only to get an extremely sharp pain I turned my head to see my left wing was a twisted mangled mess and my right wing was just missing and the sump was bleeding slowly before stopping. "That hurt." "That's an understatement, anyway." Elytra said looking at my left wing. "Yeah do it." I said bracing myself much to the confusion of the ponies until Elytra nodded at Acid who tore off my mangled wing. It took some effort but I got to my feet and stumble to the bear and start eating. After I had consumed the whole bear bone and all I felt my body expand my vision blurring as movement became more difficult until it was impossible just as I became fully blind and my other senses dulled as I was suddenly in a black void for what felt like hours. Then I felt my muscles cramp up forcing me to stretch an break free of my old shell much to anyone who wasn't an evolvings surprise. "Ok how long was I out?" "Explosion two hours, regeneration three minutes." Velger said as she was sharpening her claws with a metal file. "So how do you feel?" I stretch out a little more getting a few satisfying pops from my shoulders and wings as I answered "Much better I fact, Buzzelga want go a round or two?" Buzzelga looked at me and smiled cracking his neck "I'm game." He said with a grand smile. > Chapter 28 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 180 Buzzelga and I were ready to start our echo lights detaching and floating to our sided as we got into a fighting stance read to charge at one another only for Cadence to stand between us. "Wait I hardly think this is the place for a fight don't you." Cadence said directing our attention to the ponies that were crowed around us. "As much as love to see this fight, Cadence is right you two could easily kill everypony here by accident." Acid said in an disinterested tone as she picking something out of her teeth while the ponies that were crowing us ran away clearing the scene in seconds. Buzzelga and I looked at each other and sighed. "So Cadence you got anywhere we can fight?" I asked trying and failing to keep the disappointment out of my voice. "Well we might have a place but it will take some time to set up." Cadence said with a sigh of relief before she looked at her guards for them to bow and run off some where. Hours later after the other leaders showed up and we stopped the Griffin king from trying to kill Glyph, then the Siren queen from trying to kill Jinx. Me and Buzzelga were standing in the center of an arena a good distance away from the city with our echo lights once again floating at our sides as we readied ourselves under the gaze of our spectators. "Full power Buzzelga, no restrictions understand." I said as I getting into my fighting stance. "Yeah I've got it just yield when you've had enough." Buzzelga said getting into his own stance. "So lets not waist time." Buzzelga punched the ground causing a small tremor surprising me giving him the window he was looking for as he charged with a leaping step. I stabilized my self and leapt at Buzzelga vaulting over him while grabbing some of my rubies from my wings with my magic and throwing them at him using the blast to knock myself back and Buzzelga forward before blasting him with a torrent of flame. "You done yet." I said cutting off my flame staring at the cloud of smoke a smug smile on my face. Then I felt it realizing I had jumped back I looked at the cloud to see a dark green eyes glowing in the smoke. "Not even close." Buzzelga said before vanishing, then next thing I knew I was in the wall behind me as Buzzelga was standing where I was in a new form that reminded me of Terik but with black smoke coming off his body. "Heavy let's go." Buzzelga held out his claws his echo light glowing bright until all of a sudden his great sword appeared in his left claw while a large black kite shield with Elytra's diamonds lining the edge appeared in his right. Buzzelga pointed his sword at me causing several gems to rise before they morph in to javelins all aimed at me. "Well this escalated quickly." I thought as I was dodging and deflecting gem javelins running around the arena. "Reap can you copy what Heavy did and summon my sword?" Reap gave me a confirmation pules thought our link telling to hold out my claws as I moved until I something pulling me towards Buzzelga. I looked toward him to see Buzzelga his sword plunged into the ground as a dark green light pulsed from the ground that surrounded him as his emblem glowed. I opened my wings and flew up fighting the pull until I couldn't feel it any more. "So that's how you want to play." I said to myself as my katana finally appeared in my right claw the black blade shining in the sun as I used it to deflect and destroy Buzzelga's javelins. I held up my left as I out a torrents of my hell flame and dark plasma into a castle sized bubble of my magic I had Reap create until it was full then I compressed and shaped it until it was the size and shape of a javelin before I formed a crystal shell around it. I threw my new weapon down into the arena with all my strength driving it deep into the ground. Buzzelga backed up as cracks started to spider out of the entry hole my javelin made with dark purple light pouring out before it erupted the entire arena was blown to pieces and thrown into the sky right at me. Reap shielded me as the energy column enveloped me allowing me to look around as the arena was being disintegrated. "YOU YEILD YET BUZZELGA?!" I yelled as my attack finally dissipated looking down to see Buzzelga was outside the blast range lowering a emerald shell. "NO." Buzzelga yelled back with a smile. "OK." I yelled back before looking at Reap an idea forming in my head. I had Reap fly towards the ground before took a deep breath and shooting out a giant deluges of my Corruption sludge down at him allowing him to shape and transmute it to my will forming a complete actual sized sludge puppet of my old hydra form with a few modifications to increase the power to match my new beast form. I dropped down landing on the hardened Sludge shell of the middle head as I looked down at my target. "TRY TO MATCH THIS!" I Yelled as the Hydra attacked shooting high pressure torrents of acid at Buzzelga who wore a smug grin as a giant crystal arm to rose up and protected him. "OK THEN! WILL THIS DO?!" Buzzelga transformed back to his base from as the crystal arm kept rising until revealing an body that was a mix of bear, minotaur, and dragon qualities along with three other arms. Buzzelga's golem roared as he stood on it's shoulder. "WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR MY KING! COME AT ME!" "WITH PLEASURE!" Our golems exchanged blows and started to destroy the landscape around us as me and Buzzelga fought leaping from our creations to clash in the air over and over again until in a single clash Buzzelga shattered my sword and I turn blasted him away with a close range plasma blast before he could follow up with another strike. I was getting tired of this battle and started to let my power build when suddenly I felt a strange surge of energy and my body start to change and my mouth clamping shut as my senses expanded. Buzzelga seemed to move in slow motion as he charged at me with a slow swing of his sword which a caught using the tips of my claws responding with a punch of my own as I felt his chitin crack under the force as he let go of his sword and was sent flying into his golem causing it to lose balance which my hydra took advantage of knocking it over before Buzzelga could pry himself free of indent I made in his golem using his body. I flipped it sword in my hand and threw it at Buzzelga for it to land near his head imbedding the crystal of the golem. I dropped down landing above Buzzelga looking down at him as I felt my jaw loosen allowing me to open my mouth. "Want to keep going?" I asked squatting down to face Buzzelga better as I heard a voice. Nightmare mode overridden Assault mode acquired "Naw I'm good I yield." Buzzelga said before coughing up some blood as his wound healed. I helped Buzzelga up as both our golem's started to fall apart with out our echo light that returned to us. "So Drasa what do you think happened to the spectators?" "Oh yeah we had spectators." I said looking at the giant hole that was the arena. "I hope Elytra had that handled." "Lucky I did." Elytra said floating down her horns glowing as she held an irritated looking smile on her face as she brought down several platform made of ice with everyone else on them completely unharmed but shocked and my group giggling for some reason. "Sorry I guess we got carried away" I said a chill going up my spine as Elytra walked up to me putting her hand on my shoulder as she leaned in close. "Yes you did now you need to be punished." Elytra whispered before everything when dark. > Chapter 29 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 181 I woke up and fell in a puddle of water as I slowly got feeling back in my body and my senses returned telling I wasn't alone. "She froze me didn't she?" I asked getting up to my feet and turning to see Whisper sitting on a web hammock. "Yep." Whisper answered while picking something out of her teeth. "Well I probably deserved that after what I pulled yesterday, so where's Buzzelga?" "Trying to work his way out of an iron ball." "Wouldn't expect any less from Acid. So how long was I out?" "All the rest of yesterday but you woke up just in time for the talks for to day." "Sigh." I said looking at a bag on a near by table that held the pieces of my sword. "Whisper tell Glyph to take my sword to Light to fix and for her to make me an matching blade." "Ok." Whisper got off her hammock grabbing the bag with my sword in it and left the room a few minutes before I went to the conference room. When I got their the guard stiffened and opened the door just in time for me to see a chair coming at me and for my tail to cut it in half. I entered the room to find Acid and a large sky blue dragon in a grappling match and the room was in shambles. I looked at Whisper who had saved the snacks with Velger and node causing her to pass the snacks to her toxic her echo light as we both raised our tails and got ready. We leapt at the same time Whisper aiming at the dragon's neck and me at a soft spot on Acid's shoulder. We struck and pulled away at the same time then jumped back to watch as both our targets fell over their bodies limp but alive. Then after some apologies and laughs everyone was back on track arguing about treaties and trade routes. After a while started to fall asleep and I notice I wasn't the only one Buzzelga had entered the room at some point and was all ready asleep along with Acid, Jinx, and Cadaia. While Elytra, Velger, and Whisper were still wide awake I decide to take the nap and let them update me later. When I woke up I was alone in the meeting room with a note stuck to my tale listing what happened during the meeting In Elytra's hand writing. Drasa I know your going to ask for a recap of the meeting so here's what happened so you don't bother me while I'm shopping. Jinx is returning all the treasures she got from trade ships and she and her ling's will be running protection through our territory for those very ships. We will need to export samples of our crystals and corruption to the Deer and ponies as well mass produce our weapons and echo light's for everyone. For these we get bits to hoard, we also get to expand our tunnels in to their wilds for hunting as well as their worst prisoners and I know your going to ask why, but Velger wanted them for some reason I don't know why but she wore us down. I got up and walked around for a bit when I suddenly felt something calling me. I ignored it for a while but unable to stifle my curiosity I took off following the call out of the city and to a cavern filled with black crystal. I took a look around noting the ominous feel the cavern gave off almost like it was an evil lair or something equally cliché which got me to smile. As I went deeper and the natural light started to fade my spines started to light up allow me a little to aid my night vision allowing me to see the several golems that were hovering at me holding crystal clubs. I charged forward and punched only to get launched back at a wall after my attack collided and failed to break through their swinging clubs not even making so much as a crack. I landed on the wall and switched to assault mode while lining my tail blades with magic to increase their cutting power before I leapt of the wall with all my strength at another wall then the floor behind the golem. I spun letting my tail cut them in half before forcing my mouth open and dousing them in a cone of plasma breath turning everything in that direction in to molten slag. I laughed to myself for a second before raising my right claw to catch a crystal hammer that was coming down on my head. "Nice try." I said before the chitin over my mouth closed back up as my claw which I cloaked in magic started to dig in to the weight allowing me to shatter it when I closed my fist and the golem that was holding the shard when I punched it. I looked down the tunnel was in to see a literal army of golems coming at me while I sensed more coming up from the slag behind me. I cracked my knuckles and smiled before charging in and running wild. After what felt like hours I was exhausted and bleeding as my muscles and skin were staring to tear under the strain of being in assault mode for so long while standing before a crystal golem in the shape of a pony with what looked like red and black horn in it's chest in a torch lit room. I took a bite out of the golem arm I was holding before throwing it away trying to stave off the effects of staying in assault mode for so long. "So I have to guess your the one who called me here?" I asked hiding how tired I was as the golem looked over me. "You will make a fine replacement." It said before snapping it's fingers the horn in it's body glowing causing crystal chains to rise up from everywhere to try and bind me. I jumped back to my only safe spot the tunnel I entered from and went invisible to fade from sight and think of a plan only to still have to dodge the chains that were still snaking into the tunnel. Then it hit me if they want me I'll give them me. I ran up the tunnel and used my crystals and corruption to create a quick copy then cast a simple illusion spell on it to make it a perfect double and allowing the chains to bind it and drag it back as I followed still invisible. I use my magic to make sure my dummy didn't fall apart as we entered the to find the golem laughing giving time to move behind him as she talked. "Finally after all this time a body worth of me and with it not only will the crystal empire bow before me again the world will follow." "So Your king Sombra." I said as I lined my claws and struck stabbing through his back a grabbing the horn as I turned visible. "Your not very impressive." "What?" Was all he got to say before I drained all the life from his horn turning it to dust and leaving a mysterious red and black glowing orb that started talking making it clear what it was as it tried to enter my body only to bounce off. "Oh this is not good." Sombra said before his soul tried to run fly away but I wasn't having that. I dashed forward catching the soul and created a crystal lantern around it that I used to light my way back out find the sun had already set and the storm outside raging harder which told me I was sleeping in the cave. Secondary form created Nightmare form overwritten Acquired Archmage form > Chapter 30 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 182 I did not get much sleep with Sombra shouting threats and insults at me while trying and failing to escape his prison until he became quiet after I made him deal to get him a body. But when I woke up finally I decided to explore the cave some more before heading back. It took a while but with a mixture of crystal generation and echolocation that I forgot I had, I managed to map out the whole cave system deciding this place would be good embassy or trade route for the crystal empire and also finding a strange wooden staff in among the crystal that seemed to ooze magical power to the point that when I grabbed it I felt it try to fight me. However I wasn't having that and I sent my magic through the staff and consumed the power that was in it which caused it to change as rubies grew out of the top causing the staff to take a claw like shape allowing me to attach Sombra to it his lantern prison melding with the staff creating a scepter that glowed with an unnatural black light. I left the cave minutes later taking off quickly and breaking through the cloud cover with a quick fire blast and heading back to the Crystal empire. I roared as I got close signaling my return only to see Elytra fly up to meet me. "Where have you been Drasa and why are you hurt?" Elytra asked her voice almost sounding worried as she look me over drawing my attention to some cracks in my chitin that hadn't healed yet. "I was exploring got in a fight and lost track of time but that doesn't matter beside I think I found something the princesses might want to see." I made a dive directly at the castle landing on a balcony where everyone had gathered due to my roar. Which included Glyph and Light who was holding a black box with my emblem on it but I would deal with that later. I ushered everyone inside then I brought out the scepter standing it up in the center of the room we were in. "It's been a long time Celestia and Luna." Sombra said drawing the attention of every pony in the room getting an interesting mix of reactions. "HOW?!" Cadence and Shining armor practically screamed out. "Well it's a tale." I said before I recounted what happened yesterday causing everyone to look at me like I was some sort of demon. "What?" "Well moving pass that revelation Draza what do you plan to do with Sombra?" Celestia asked her face steeled along with every other pony as a very faint almost invisible glow came from her horn and a whole lot of killing intent fill the room. "Well I did promise I would get him a body if he let me sleep so I guess I will honor that." I said placing my hand on the crystal table and letting my magic flow into it as my lings got ready for a fight along with Light who pulled out a hammer. "ENOUGH!" Luna shouted drawing all attention to her. "Sister I'm not letting you start a war over this calm yourself he is not our charge and we have no right to govern his decisions. Now Drasa as your friend I will trust you but please withdraw from this promise." "I'm sorry can not Luna but I can give you a chance to stop me. In fact let's make a game of it." I said pulling my magic back before taking a seat. Luna face softened before she started to laugh. "A game, you sound like Discord but go on." "I will delay my promise for a month and allow you to try any thing you want to steal the scepter." "If you don't have it then you can't give him a body." "Exactly, but make no mistake I won't make it easy." "I look forward to the challenge." Luna got up taking her leave with the other princess following her with Celestia and Cadence yelling trying to figure out what she was thinking. everyone visibly relaxed as they left the room until I started to laugh. "Well we won't be board for a while." I said out loud as I looked down a the scepter I just offered as a prize. "Do I get any say in this?" Sombra ask when he finally felt safe. "Do you have any power?" I asked in return which got me silence. "That's what I thought. Velger can you teleport this back to the castle." I asked for the scepter to vanish in a burst of flame. "Done and done, anything else?" Velger asked with a smug look on her face. "No I'm good." "All right then I'm gonna see what makes the weird pink one tick." She said before following the ponies that had left. "And I'll go stop her." Cadaia said before I could even ask, slithering after Velger at an impressive speed. "Well then I guess I'll check out my new swords, Light." I took the case form Light opening to reveal two longswords one with a dark red-purple blade and the other with black blade with a purple edge. I looked at Light slighly confused for a moment which changed to total confusion when I saw she was about to cry. "I'm sorry master I could not reforge the blade properly or make one from scratch." She said bowing. "So instead of giving you inferior weapon I made these with all my skill. I'm sorry I couldn't live up to your expectations." I picked up both swords they were light and seemed to growl in my claws like they were waking up. I gave them a few practice swings and found them perfectly balanced as each swing flowed right into the next like it was natural. I looked at Light holding out the red-purple blade using it to lift her head. "Light I asked you to reforge my katana and forge it a partner, but what you have given me it two longswords that surpassed my best expectation. So I ask you, why are you hanging your head in shame when you should be looking your king in the eye with pride." I said with a smile with caused Light's eyes to shine as I move my sword from her as she now looked me in the eye crying black tears of joy streaming down her face. I let Light do as she wanted while I went to find a nice secluded spot to really try out my swords. After a while I found a large empty space far enough away from the city that no one would get hurt from any stray attacks. I created crystal pillar to use as target dummies as I really started to tap into both blades power. After an hour of testing and seventy destroyed crystal pillars I learned three things. One my swords could shoot waves or volleys of my hellfire and dark plasma depending which was swung, Two my wings needed to be changed to use my ruby needles more effectively in combat along with a way to dentate then at will, and finally three my tail might be too long I almost cut it off a few times while practicing. With those in mind I went back to get ready to head home tomorrow afternoon and visit the genetic library and gain some new abilities. > Chapter 31 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 183 After we woke up we found out that all four alicorns had left the kingdom so we left a early making back home in record time. Jinx went off on a deep sea hunting trip as soon as we touch down while everyone else did their own thing allowing me time to work on my new form in peace. I stepped into the main corruption pool and got to work and after seven hours of searching I finally found all the evolutions I wanted. Acquired projectile quills Acquired muffling feathers Acquired thought acceleration Acquired crystal mimic Acquired sonic disrupter Acquired neural drain Neural drain overwritten acquired soul drain Reactive will overwritten acquired secondary will Acquired pony empathy Pony empathy overwritten Acquired talent taker Talent back log opened Weapon master Lvl: 10 Assassin Lvl: 10 Golem master Lvl: 10 Marshal king Lvl: 10 Chef Lvl: 6 Farmer Lvl: 1 Arch mage Lvl: 10 Merchant Lvl: 5 Grand Artisan Lvl: 10 Healer Lvl: 2 Talent taker added to Library Library Evolved. Library can draw form the pony pantheon Library can now add class and talents Library can now appraise changelings and ponies Library can convert ponies into changelings After that whole info dump I started to felt dizzy and I wasn't the only one as I saw multiple lings around me collapse before I passed out. Day 184 When I woke up I still felt off so I stumbled around out of the main corruption pool dragging my feet as I made it to my chamber allowing me to see my self in the small decorative waterfall. My wings were changed slightly as the inner lining crystals needles had turned into crystal feathers which also appeared in a thick plume around my neck that along with the two large feathers that poked out of my mane and my new twin scythe bladed tails gave me a tangu dragon look which I liked but still wasn't feeling well enough to dwell on it so fell into my bed and slept for a bit longer. "MASTER IS IT TRUE?!!!" Yelled to familiar voices in unison. I literally jumped out of bed hit my head against the ceiling. "What?" I ask holding my head confused and half asleep as I looked at Light and Sky. "That we can fully convert?" "The Libaray says you can but we haven't tested it out yet." "You can test it on us?" "I would prefer not to in case any thing goes wrong. I would wait a few days when Velger gets her first shipment of test subjects then we’ll convert you.” “Ok.” they both said dejectedly as they walked away sulking allowing me to get back to resting. Day 185 I woke up starving so I got up and went out to the forest to hunt snack on some small corrupted rats the had infested the tunnels until I shot out from one of the tunnels and impaled a large manticore with eagle wings and a crystal mane with my tails before I ripped it in half before it could do anything to stop me. I was busy tearing apart my breakfastwhen I noticed five other manticore gathering around hiding in the bushes. I got up licking the blood from my jaw as I shifted into beast from I could feel my acidic drool dripping from my heads as I ran to catch more of my prey and after an hour and ten manticore bodies I was finally full and ready to relax when suddenly Whisper landed next to me a worried look on her face. "Drasa we have a problem." She said before gesturing me to follow her and after a few minutes we were in the nursery as I watch a hundred brightly colored eggs turn black before crumbling away like dust. "What was that?" I asked with a lot less surprise than I should have had. "Oh that was a spell Velger created to eliminate eggs with harmful genetic defects but that not what I came here to show you." I followed Whisper to the room where we kept the young Larva and nymphs to find most of them were beast like. "What's going on Whisper?" "I don't know ever since yesterday all the younglings that had power lower then a stage four evolution are stuck in beast form." "And their not the only ones." Velger said walking into the room. "I was looking into the situation a bit further remember that wave of exhaustion yesterday?" We both nodded allowing her to continue. "Well it appears that every ling under stage four are stuck in a beast like state not even Acid or Elytra's queens command can force a reversal." "I see, It doesn't seem like an inconvenience for now besides if it does become a problem will find away to solve it or eat them." I said after a little thought "Fair enough." Velger said before leaving with Whisper following so she could go back tending the eggs. I however looked around the small room a little before leaving to see Sombra as I pondered why I didn't feel anything about any think I had just said or seen. After another hour I found the pale red glowing lantern scepter which held the dark king it was standing in a recently carved out barren cavern. "So Drasa what brings you to me? I have to guess your not going to break your promise to Celestia so I really don't want to talk to you." Sombra said with a confidence knowing I wanted to learn his magic thinking he could deny me. "And that's fine because I don't need you to talk." I said walking closer my claw glowing as I placed it on top of the scepter. "I just need what you know." I let my magic loose allowing it to ravage his soul allowing me to rip what I wanted directly from it as Sombra screamed in pain as I continued the light in scepter changing from it pale red almost pinkish tone to an almost black shade of scarlet. I felt Sombra entering my mind along with some memories of his life which I discarded as soon as they enter my mind. When I was done Sombra was silent and his soul was one fifth the size only a small marble as it floated glowing a deep scarlet. "That was fun Sombra let's do it again some time" I walked out to let Sombra heal while I went to practice what I had just learned. > Chapter 32 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 199 I sat in my throne board out of my mind as a changeling zombie walked up to me pouring me a glass of wine we had gotten from the minotaur kingdom. "A month was too much time." I said to myself as a small rabbit like ling hopped in reporting another pony spy was wondering through the lower chambers of the hive which surprised me. "So they finally made it into the castle it took them awhile." I told the ling to do nothing but just watch the pony I stood tired of wait for the ponies to make a move I went to find my mate. "Elytra contact your sister tell her it's time to bring all the hives together." Elytra looked at me a sultry look in her eyes as she got close pressing her body against mine allowing her to run her claws through my mane. "Oh going after the other queens are we, am I not enough for you any more?" She said pouting as she used her tail to move me even closer leaving no space between us. I looked down at her an smiled opening my wings and wrapping them around her before I teleported us to the top of the castle and flicked her in the forehead hard enough to knock her off me. "Quit being silly and find you elder sister." I said my arms crossed and smiling as I watched Elytra get up rubbing in forehead. "Your no fun." Elytra said as she flew away to do as I asked While went to set up a magical alarm system in Sombra's room along with a few surprises along with a large corruption pool. Day 201 Elytra had finally returned with her weakened sister and rage in her eyes. After three hours Pupa finally recovered enough tell us that her hive kicked her out after a ling named Thorax caused a strange change in the others. "I lost control of the hive I'm such a failure." Pupa said looking at herself in a corruption pool that I had decided to set up in Sombra's room as tears streamed down her face causing . "Yes, yes you are? So what are you going to do about it?" I ask looking down at the crying ex-queen realizing I was more interested in her answer than her feelings. Pupa wipe off the face and sat in silence then she chuckled getting my attention. "This." Before I or Elytra could say otherwise Pupa jumped into the pool her form sinking into the black pool. "Ok then." I said looking at Elytra who just shrugged just as confused as I was. "So let's go after the other hives and leave your hive last." "That sounds like a good idea, and besides I don't think my big sister is going to want to miss that." She said looking at the pool that started turning from black to a dark purple. "Your right. To the war room." I said walking off point at nothing with Elytra following close behind. Once we got to the war room which was just a glorified empty chamber we put a large map in. I created small crystal figures to represent each of the lords and set them to the five other hive as we saved the Pupa's old hive for when she would wake up. "Ok so Velger and glyph will take the hives in the griffin peaks." Elytra said placing their respective figures on the map "While Buzzelga and Acid will take on the ones under the minotaur planes." I placed their figures thinking about the other locations while Elytra pointed them out. "Ok so that leaves the blood sands, the Abyssal cove, and the phantom grove. "Whisper and Cadaia will take the first two so we can have the run of the phantom grove." "Oh the Phantom grove I hear it's nice this time of year. After we destroy their hives maybe we could enjoy the scenery." Elytra said trying to look and sound cute as she moved close pressing her body against mine. "That's not a bad idea maybe have our own private cave for when Kaiser takes over." I said thinking of my next move after this when suddenly two ling ran in one it owl like features and the rabbit one from two day's ago. "MY KING I HAVE NEWS!" They both yell at the same time as they kneeled at my feet. "Really. Well then what goes on?" I asked creating a seat for me and Elytra out of crystal. Both lings looked at each other for a second before the rabbit one spoke. "My King the ponies have taking the soul scepter." "That's not surprising." I said with a yawn. "So what's the other news?" "Lady Jinx as returned from her hunting trip wearing the crown of the Abyssal Cove with hundreds of lings following." "Say whaa." I said before teleporting to Jinx's cove to see it surprisingly dark all the torches blown out and a single light hovering in the room. I walked closer almost entranced as I stood still and reached out with my tails a grabbed Jinx as she tried to sneak up on me. "I though you would know better than to try that Jinx." "New form I just had to try it out." Jinx said as somehow snapped her slime fingers and slipped out of my grasp. All the light turned back on to reveal her new from. She was thinner with a more streamlined shape, her chitin was completely very dark blue with a strange black stripes. Her claws were gone replaced with slender delicate looking webbed fingers with small spikes on the tips. Her slender legs reminded me of Whispers as they shown through a strange looking light blue translucent membrane skirt that match the frill that was around her neck and the hair like tentacles that made up her twin-tails. Jinx brought in her angler lantern letting it rest on the crown that adorned her forehead as she sat down on her dolphin like tail showing off her silver whirlpool emblem which was on her lantern. "So I'm back and I brought gifts." Jinx snapped her fingers again causing the water to light up revealing the hundreds of cocoons that lied dormant under the waves. We talked for a bit allowing me to plan for my next move as she tended to her new subordinates. > Chapter 33 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 207 I was waking through the tunnels of the phantom grove hive snacking on one of the wasp like greedling warriors as the others ran away coughing up blood as I released a toxic miasma to fill the tunnels. I was so board I was at a point where these changling couldn't really do damage to me plus they didn't really have an interesting taste. It fell like I was trying to eat a mountain of dry bread but something inside me was telling me to keep going. I followed the smell of blood and the fallen bodies taking them for snacks when ever I got hungry. I followed the trail until I reached a large chamber where a the heart of the hive resided the nursery where Elytra was waiting her corruption taking root as the floor was covered in her slime. I walked up adding my own corruptive sludge before nuzzling her taking in her light soft scent. We both turned looking at large ornate door covered in runes and metals. Several clicking sound could be heard as slots in the door opened and along the walls. Elytra brought up a shield around both of us as thousands of cross bow bolts were shot at us bouncing of her magic while faced the door and charged up my hell flame compressing it in my mouth then releasing a heavy torrent of flame that blew away the doors. We walked inside to see a mostly empty thrown room except for few corpuses that were crushed into the walls by me breaking down their door, a crown sitting on a table that Elytra took and placed on her head and a large burn mark that took up most of the floor. I had Elytra inspect the floor while I corrupted the rest of the hive. I walked slowly in beast form letting my sludge pour out from my maw while raising any dead ling that I passed so they could start digging a travel tunnel to the main hive. After an hour of wondering round and an another hour of me getting lost I returned to Elytra carrying an interesting serrated bident I found in their armory and a large grub "So what happened?" I asked tossing her the grub for a snack. "Mass teleport." Elytra said catching her snack with out even looking away from the ground. "What?" "In the event of a major threat rising up against a hive their queen can take some of her hive to take shelter with another hive using a mass teleportation rune which she overloaded so we could not follow or trace them." "So she gave up the hive to start anew thinking she got away from us." "Most likely." "Well their nothing more we can do here." I held out my hand for Elytra and turn on my charm. "Shall we head home my queen." "Yes we shall my king." Elytra took my hand and we started to make our way out of the hive while I took a small ruby from my mane filling it with my magic before tossing it behind me so my necromancy wouldn't fade. Day 219 It was nice to be back home I was thinking before we were being bombarded by cannon fire coming from an armada ahead of us. Elytra shielded her self while I dove down into the water quickly switching to leviathan form before picking up speed closing in on the ships before me. I readied several enlarged hellfire rubies on my tail and launched them out of the water before detonating them creating a smokescreen to distract them from Elytra while I charged forward. I plowed through the bottom hulls of any boat in my path as I got to the beach sinking a few ship then changing to my normal form. I walk up taking in my surroundings noting the armed stocky muscular deer like creatures that were camping on the beach with an assortment of female griffons, minotaur's, ponies, and diamond dog all of them wearing strange collars most red with some being black or purple. I quickly counted a hundred bodies on my beach before I noticed the mostly empty cages except for five which held six groups female and feminine looking lings that had weak survival traits or undesirable mutations. I continued to wonder around until I bumped into a young griffon with a red collar. We looked at each other for a split second then she looked down then back up with a crafty look in her eye before running away screaming alerting everyone to my presence, but then again I wasn't trying to sneak around. The guards surrounded me quickly each holding a whole matter of steel weapons so I ignored them until a guy that made the others look skinny and short walked up holding buster sword and wearing a captions hat walked up. "So I have to guess your in charge here?" I asked looking up the guy felling a bit board. "That I am pipsqueak what's it to you." He answered glaring down at me like I was a but to squashed. "Ok that great because I've been gone for a few days so I'm just wondering what you are and what you are doing here on my island?" I asked getting an reaction from everyone especially when everyone turned to the heavy slam that came from the cage lings leaping into the backs of their cages then bowing as low as possible. The creatures smiled as some took out chains and whips while some of females looked at creatures before grabbing chains and weapons themselves while the others hid. The Caption laughed as he tightened the grip on his buster sword before raising it. "Well pipsqueak we are the Caribou and we've come to clam this island for our glorious empire. To bad you won't be able to see it." The Caribou brought down his sword aiming to cut me in half but it was slow so I caught with my left hand it getting surprised looks from them. "Ok judging from the weight of the slash and your reactions I would have to guess you haven't really been here that long and you haven't gone into the actual jungle yet." I said as the caption was trying and failing to pull his weapon away from me. I pull back yanking the blade out of his grip with ease and gave it a few test swing before tossing it back to it's owner. "Well as nice as it was meeting you all I'm afraid your not welcome here so ill give you two options. You can get on your still remaining ships and leave or you can stay and die here. Two of the solders gave me my answer as the charged in thinking they were in my blind spot for them to be skewered by my tails. With a quick flick the two on my tails flying as I decided to make my self known. I let my auras rain out at full blast causing about most of the caribou, half red collared girls, and most of the purple collared girls to just fall over as blood poured out of their mouths. The caption stood before me the effect visibly showing as he was shaking but frozen. He looked at me as if I was the grim reaper his eye full of fear and tears as he tried to move his body. "Please spare me." He managed to whisper as his sword fell to the ground while all the still living caribou ran to the jungle to get away from me along with females. "You know I would but I'm starving and your the freshest meat here soooooo." I stabbed my claw into his chest and tore out his still beating heart taking a bite out of it like it was an apple as I thought to my self I should visit this glorious empire of theirs before blasting the rest of their boats into oblivion. Acquired enhanced stamina Acquired musk charm musk charm overwritten acquired pheromone charm. Acquired enhanced libido Acquired skill slave maker Acquired skill mind breaker mutated appraising eyes > Chapter 34 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 220 I now sat in my throne room with all my lords pretty much getting the same report of we went in killed a lot of things but X portion of the hive was missing along with the queen. Except for Cadaia and Jinx who I just now found out were deep underground inspecting the connection between the Abyssal hive and here as well as setting up corruption springs for there as well so they were gone for a week. After dismissing them I decided to look for the caribou and the slaves that ran into the forest yesterday so I flew to the beach before shifting into beast mode to start tracking. It took a while to find a useful sent or trail but after I found it I was off moving quickly so I could catch up to them. After a few minutes I found fresh-ish caribou corpus his left arm was broken along with both of his legs. He was covered in stab wounds and had a green foam around his mouth. I looked closer to see his eyes were extremely dilated and bloodshot I bit into his wounds and it confirmed my suspicions he had been poisoned before he died. What ever they used was strong because the corpus was still uneaten and still had blood. I moved on taking the body with my magic for a snack later I continued for a few hours until I found my trail diverging into two separate directions with the sent of the caribou heading towards the castle while the slaves were heading towards the manticore hunting grounds. I decided to go after the slaves first switching to my thermal sensors but it didn't take long to find them. Twelve of them were at the basin of the waterfall trying to fend off three manticore while a young mare looking after a older mare who was missing a leg. I snuck up to the top of the waterfall and watch as they fought for their survival. They were getting by pretty well using their weapons as a deterrent until a griffin actually struck one of the beast hard causing her sword to break. Panic was starting to set in and it seemed like they were giving serious thought to leaving their friend behind so I decided to make my self known. I stepped and roared getting all the attention before releasing my auras two of the manticores immediately ran leaving the biggest alone and paralyzed by his fear. I leapt down landing in front of the girls and the manticore who was actually sweating and balding in my presence before shift to my normal form. "Well hello again." I said turning to the girls who all wore black collars and looked like they were going to melt. "Follow if you want to live." I said before walking past the still frozen manticore with the girl following closely behind carrying the slightly bandaged mare with them. It took five hours to get to the castle after I took the injured mare and attached her to my back. When we finally made it in I them taken to the restoration chamber to be looked after another ling informed me that Velger had a group of intruders with her in her lab. I went to pay her a visit wondering if they were all dead yet. "So very interesting." I heard Velger say as I walked in to see a living caribou sitting strapped to a rock chair with his skull split open his brain fully exposed as she played with it using two crystal needles. The caribou was crying silently his vocal cords were cut a burned closed shown by the burned gashes that were on his throat as his face cycled through expressions. "How long has this been going?" I asked noticing the other in the group tied up and gagged watching in silent horror as worked. "About three hours and he hasn't even passed out their constitution is impressive." She answered without looking up. "So learn anything new?" I asked picking up and playing with the discarded antlers of the poor caribou. "Yes their Empire is about seven hours from here. They have a war based society with a sex slave system black resisting, red willing, and purple broken." She said with a smile as she got the a hold of the caribou's motor controls causing him to twitch uncontrollably. "Also their King is from what they say, a god of battle." "I see, well when your done I would like you mark the kingdom on the atlas ok?" I asked turning to leave pausing slightly for an answer. "Ok, but can you take the others I only need the caribou." I used my magic and levitated the girls leaving the caribou who were pleading with their eyes to get to save them. I took the girls Trixie and Sky giving them the order to find the others and give them something to do while I went down to Light's refinery. "Master it has been awhile since you've been here do you need any thing?" Light asked walking out of the forge chamber her body full covered in chitin armor as she held a. "I want you to upgrade this." I said pulling out the spear I found during my trip tossing it to Light who looked over it and then my body. "I'm going two need both of your tail blades, seven of your fangs, five of your rubies and one of your wings." Light said after a second before standing back. I left to the sounds of Light working as I trailed blood out the hive and into the forest. Day 221 I was looking at the atlas think about my trip to the Caribou's empire when I felt a strange presence. I turned to the door to see a new figure walk in to the room. "So are we ready to destroy that traitor Thorax?" The figure moved up her generous hourglass curves giving an hypnotic sway that the glowing blood red orbs that lined her dark purple and red body with larger ones on her hips and upper arms. She moved closer pressing her body to mine allowing me to feel her soft chitin body and get a better look at her grey hooked barbed whip tail and dragon wings. "Not yet Pupa." I said pushing her back with a stretch of my wings. "But since your up how about taking a trip with me to the Caribou kingdom." "Caribou. Ok let's make a date out of it." Pupa said moving back only to just miss me as I sidestepped her and walked to the door. "Great but let's call it a field test instead. I'll be waiting for you in the sky." I said leaving before jumping out of a near by window and changing into beast form and hovering over the castle waiting. After a few minutes a smooth dark purple dragon like creature with large red opals lining the sides of it's body and dull grey spines running down it's back flew up from the other side of the castle. It head was wurm like with a single large jagged horn sticking out just above one of the five eyes that ringed her flower like mouth. "Shall we take our leave." Pupa said allowing me to get a small glimpse and the thousands of needle like grey teeth the in her mouth. "Yeah let's go." I said curious of the power behind her beast form. We both started for the Caribou's home land and after an hour of ocean flying we reach a new island covered in snow and forests. We landed deciding it was a good time to snack so we went hunting hoping for some interesting prey but what I found was nothing. I was strange I have never heard of a forest being this silent and tranquil I kept walking minimizing my presence as much as possible after a while I managed to find some boar and a few wolves. I went back with my savoring the boar when I saw Pupa spiting out what looked like a mummified wolf. "Pupa lets move after we eat, somethings not right about this forest." "I Agree it's way to quiet." We took off yet again slightly satisfied but still very hungry but it wasn't long before we found what might be a decent meal after we were attacked by several ballista bolts. Pupa raised while I just let them bounce off my chitin while I stared at the fortress where they came from. I charge up flame leaking from my mouth as I readied to erase our attackers with a hellfire blast. "Hold on Drasa you said this was field test right?" Pupa asked causing me stop my attack. "Yeah." "So let me deal with them." "The floor is your's show me what you got." I hung back watching as Pupa rushed ahead still shielded before diving into the trees. Everything became quite for a few seconds before Pupa appeared behind the fort and released a blood red mist from her mouth which cover the entire fort. I switch to thermal to keep track of her movements and was surprised to see the inhabitants trying to kill each other. It was a complete blood bath as the Caribou and their slaves slaughtered each other using any thing they could grab. After a few minutes the smoke cleared showing a single Caribou kneeling down before Pupa he was covered in blood and his left arm was barely attached to his body by a few muscle threads while his right was holding another Caribous head and spine which he probably used as a flail at some point considering the blood and flesh on the antlers. Pupa opened her mouth her horn lighting up as the blood, bodies, and limbs rose up from their places and into her waiting maw leaving no trace of anything then she turned to the Caribou quickly taking him in one swift bite. "Impressive." I said as I flew in to see some of Pupa's body being cover in a dull grey chitin. "Thank you." Pupa said with a bow before tasting the air with a long forked tongue. "I think was can head back now but first." I shot a crystal into the ground and enchanted it creating a beacon for a future tunnel while Pupa barfed up mummified remains. > Chapter 35 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 222 I woke up early and decided to take a stroll around the castle dragging the last bit of my breakfast around a bloody hydra leg. After about and hour a thought came to me and I ran to the nursery tossing the nymphs and larva the leg and ran to find our new guests. I found them in Elytra's hot spring chamber relaxing with Trixie and Sky all of them soaking in the healing waters. "Master it is good to see you." Trixie said her and Sky sensing my presence before any one else. "What brings you to healing springs going for a dip?" Sky asked leaning back in the glimmering pool. "Not at the moment but I did come to speak to our guests." I said getting everyone's attention as I sat down most of their eyes full of worry while some were full of lust. "All of you relax I already have a mate and if any-ling wanted you they would have taken you by now." I say getting them to visibly relax again. "What I'm about to ask you is, what would you give for the power to destroy any who has wronged you?" The girls stopped relaxing moving in closer before one of them spoke. "What do you mean king Drasa?" "Exactly as it sounds. I can give you all the power to take vengeance but their will be a price." "Master you don't mean." Both Trixie and Sky said the excitement clear in their voices. "Yep, Sky go get your sister and all of you meet me in the throne room in an hour." I got up and left moving to the throne to get the library ready to find it had been changed and updated. It was bigger and had octagonal cube shape with nine floating orb circle it each with a different flight axis and lord emblem. After taking a minute to admire the nexus like vibe the library was giving off I went to see what else was new and found a decently long list with rune magic sticking out at me. "I need to check this more often." I said to myself before sorting through menus until I got where I needed to be just everyone else entered. "Are you ready for us master?" Sky asked kneel with the group of ponies behind her following her lead. "Just about." I said just as I pressed the last button causing a rainbow liquid pour from the library mixing in with the black pool below causing it to glow. "All right it's ready jump in." Not even a second later Trixie, Sky, and Light ran past me with half of the group diving into the pool while the others stayed behind hesitant. "Something wrong?" I asked walking towards them knowing their nothing else I would need to do. "Well king Drasa after you left Trixie explained what would happen and were not really sure we want to give up being ponies for revenge." One of them said as the others nodded in agreement. "That's fine If you change your mind I'll leave the pool open for a bit longer if you need me I'll be around." I started to walk away my mind focused on grabbing my next meal when suddenly I felt something grab my tail. "But we refuse to stay like this so.. Can you do what you did to Trixie to us." "Oh she told you the whole story. So you want my blood then?" they nodded completely sure this was the route they would take. "That's fine." I said creating a bowl out of crystal then cutting my wrist to fill it with my blood while I used my magic to modify and dilute it slightly. I moved back to let the mares do what they needed so could go grab lunch. Day 237 "My king you have a message from princess Celestia." Sky said walking in the room her hoof fall marking her position. I got up carefully prying both Elytra and Pupa of me so they could sleep in as I wondered if telling them yes they could share was a bad thing. I felt exhausted as I slipped away and towards Sky she handed me bear leg. "Active night my king?" She asked with a knowing smile while I took a bite of the leg examining her form. She had change in an interesting way using minotaur as a base she added rabbit to her legs to increase their power while accentuating the curve of her hips and butt, while also keeping dragon aspects to increase power in her core and arms while keeping them slight except for her breast which she let grow a bit giving her a good hourglass figure. "You changed." I said after waking up a bit. "You like it?" She asked with a twirl giving me a better look at her wings which were dragon like with finger like flap layers creating a five layer wing system, while her long chinchilla like tail seemed to sparkle from the red fur that covered it. "It's nice." I said reaching out and scratching the under side of her chin getting her to purr as her eye hazed slightly. "Then what's the message?" "The king of the Caribou asked her to setup a meeting between you two so she's asking you to show up to this location." Sky said handing me a picture of a large canyon with the words Ghastly gore written at the bottom. "When's the meeting? "Three day's from now." "Very well then I'm interested what the king of the caribou would have to say. Try to convince those mares to calm themselves for a bit at least until after the meeting then I'll decide what to do next. "As you wish my king." Without another word Sky left with a seductive of her hips since she knew I was watching her leave. I left my chamber and headed out taking a flight over my territory in my beast form before hunting. > Chapter 36 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 340 I was Flying over equestria with the other lords and pupa we were all in beast from being guided by a squad of pegasi in blue and yellow jumpsuits. It took a while when we had gotten close I saw a good sized Caribou army standing on one side of the canyon ready and waiting. The ponies look at me uneasy as they gauged my reaction but I saw the play for what it was and smiled. I coated my self in crystal dust letting it fall off my body coating the entire army as we flew over head before landing in the center of the canyon windy. I dusted my self as I looked around to see a giant tent surrounded by several pony guards I in unfamiliar sunset red and purple armor. We walked inside to find Celestia, Twilight, and a white unicorn with a blond mane sitting in the middle of a large round table all three them had looks of restrained disgust pointed directly at the large scarred Caribou wearing a gold crown and runic armor that was casually fondling a beautiful green mare wearing a purple and gold collar while a griffoness and a changeling wearing similar collars. He looked directly at me and smiled before switching his target to the changeling and seemed slightly unnerved when none of us gave a reaction leaving the room silent. "So Celestia are you going to introduce me to our new friend." I said sitting down and kicking back with a smile. "Right Drasa this is emperor of the Caribou-" "Dainn." The caribou said laying back as he interrupted Celestia a look of superiority on his face as he stared at me with an air of superiority behind his eyes. "Well then Dainn-" "Emperor Dainn you don't have the right to address me without my title vermin." "Find then king Dainn we came to talk peace so shall we." I said smiling trying to seem friendly since it seemed easier to make this treaty than destroy the entire caribou empire. So I ignored his comment and just relaxed and let my auras slip out slowly as I leaned at the table. "Isn't that right Celestia." "That's right Drasa, so Dainn please behave so we can progress quickly. Because I believe we all have something better we could be doing." Celestia said laying back in her chair with a cool collected gaze as I nodded and Dainn dismissed his slaves before giving a both of us a sharp glare and his full attention. "Very well I'll entertain this silly notion for now." Dainn said laying back in his own chair. "Wait a second didn't you call this meeting?" "Why would I fear or care about vermin like you or the little territory to clamed?" Dainn smiled chuckling to himself. "Honstly I just to take the chance to squash to bugs before I take you lands for myself but I'm slightly curious what Celestia thinks peace between us would look like." Dainn raised the glass of wine next to him taking a sip as he looked around watching Celestia, twilight, and the third pony who looked furious. "Interesting, then I guessing that small army outside is just for me." I started to laugh before I full let my aura run wild causing the unicorn in the room to start foaming at the mouth before fainting while everyone else I was looking at started to pale looking at me like is was a monster. "Well then, I must say your severely underestimating my abilities." I got up and snapped my fingers "Velger. Emperor Dainn has ushered a challenge it would be rude of me not to reply." Velger chuckled to herself before her horn light up and she teleported us all in front Of Dainn's army leaving everyone confused while I readied some sticky sludge. "Now watch carefully Dainn so you can prepare if I feel like reducing your empire to ashes." I shot our a torrent of sludge covering the front line of the army and pooling under the rest of it leaving them trapped. I watch them struggle for a second before I shot out a small fireball that ignited the sludge. I was sure their scream could be heard for miles as they were being burned alive it was an irritating sound but they smelled divine. I used my tail to grab one of the caribou solders and started eating tearing out his throat first so I didn't have to hear his voice as I tore his perfectly cook flesh from his bones. "What are you waiting for dig in." I said after finishing up my first as I reached for a second solder. Elytra snuffed out my flames allowing the others to charge forward tearing into what was left until their was nothing, only broken bones and scraps of metal remaining. "Well Dainn did you enjoy the show?" I ask turning to find we were alone. "Well I guess the negotiations are over." "So are we going to take Caribou territory?" Buzzelga asked before popping bone shard into his mouth an wiping the bloody drool from his maw. "I would hope to think so they would make good livestock to raise and eat." Velger said before biting into a head she was holding like it was a fresh apple lapping up the blood, brain and bone that fell from her treat. "You have a good point Velger. Very well we'll give them two months to get ready then we can have our fun." I said before changing into my beast form and taking off with the others followings as we flew home working off our meal to find our castle full of holes and bleeding torrents of our corruption out on to the island which was shifting wildly. Everything was a storm of chaos as the flora and fauna evolved quickly and started to compete with each other for dominance making it to dangerous for the hive to flourish. I flew up high above the island taking a deep breath as I climbed until I could easily target the whole island. I used my magic to create several lenses while compressing my hellfire until I felt it's heat start to melt the crystal around my vents and some of my teeth then I let lose, firing down into the lenses I bathed the entire island in a hellish purple light. White ash and cooling rock dominated the island with the sound of steam filling the silence. I descended catching my breath and spitting out my melted teeth as Elytra flew next to me and said one thing. "We're taking their territory tomorrow." > Chapter 37 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 341 "Ash is surprisingly soft" I thought to myself as I got up the sun hanging directly overhead as I shook off any clinging ash and went to the castle to find it abandoned not a single soul in the entire place even the tunnels were empty except for a single note on my personal lava bath. Drasa took the hive to war with caribou Elytra I shrugged taking a quick lava bath before heading off towards the caribou's territory in my larger beast form but when I finally got there the air was saturated with the scent of blood and flesh and it was strangely quiet. I flew until I reached a small village that was covered in black corruption reducing my size a bit I land on one of the housed and saw an alone stag in tattered clothes around the corner he looked like he was in a breakneck sprint until he passed an alley where a blur tackled and slammed him into a wall. It was a doe with a twitching body and bloodshot eyes she drooled black sludge as she tore off the stallions clothes and threw him to the ground hard. "Please no." I heard the stag say as the doe leaned in dripping sludge on the stag as she straddled him reaching under her legs with bloody fingers. The stag started to struggle only for her free hand to slam down his neck stopping him as she leaned more going for a kiss revealing a long fat tongue forced down the now shaking stags throat. The light in his eyes faded as his expression became trance-like allowing the doe to have her way fill the air with musk and bestial moans. After an hour I grew bored of the display and took off to find where everyling was. That didn't take long however as the sounds of screams and battle started to fill the air. I followed the sounds to a much more interesting scene caribou stags trying and failing to fend off doe's that acted like doe I saw earlier but instead of raping their victims they would hold them down and screech. The stags started to plead for their lives as what looked like fawns with long thick tails and covered in sharp axe like spines approached also drooling black as they pounced on the restrained stags a tore into them. They were halfway through their meal before they scattered with the doe's taking the dead stags with them as a familiar visage appeared below me. "Infection is going smoothly it shouldn't be much longer until...Oh my King you made it, The queen was starting to wonder if you show up." Velger said looking up at me from her notes. "So what our situation?" "Well we took over around about midday and everyling is either underground setting up the new hive building the network tunnels, or surveying our new hunting grounds and caribou that managed to escape." "So there nothing for me to do is there." I laid down resting my head on my folded forelegs contemplating taking a nap. "Well, you could help Elytra set up the genetic library In the castle." Velger shifted into her beast form and walked away heading towards the corrupted Caribou while I took off towards the ruined castle in the distance. However, when I got to the castle I was met with the interesting sight of Whisper in her beast form and her young setting up her nest until I tapped her on the back with my tail. "Oh, my king I didn't hear you come in," Whisper said as she handed a bloated pony to her larva who dragged it away leaving a red trail. While another group of larva brought in a bound and gagged caribou from another room. "I'm looking for Elytra. Velger said she would be here working on the library." I said watching as Whisper stabbed the caribou with her tail causing it to convulse before quickly bloating. "She was but then she to take it to the highest mountain. She said something using the runoff to change the groundwater, so she gave me the castle. " The larva took the caribou away just as Whisper finished talking with one coming back carrying a stone tablet with tally's burned into it which she looked at with a slight frown. "No, no this amount won't do, won't do at all," Whisper said to her self before returning it to her little one. "Drasa are we done cause I need to secure more fool." "Yeah we're good, go do what you need to do," I said taking my leave and heading towards the nearby mountain where I found Elytra and Pupa working with the Library and several large crystals. "There you two are. You realize I prefer to actually be there when you conquer an empire." "Sorry mate you just look so comfy while you slept I didn't have the heart to wake you," Elytra said moving from her work to give me a kiss. "Don't worry mate well make it up to you," Pupa said not even looking up as she pulled a black etherial cable from the library to one of the crystals turning it black. "Ok, little sister it looks like we're ready." "Perfect, Drasa could you give us a claw," Elytra move back before doing the same as Pupa to another crystal. I shrugged before joining in allowing us to finish quickly. "So why are we creating several full hard copies of the library." "We're planting them all around the mountains and water sources in the empire so everyone knows this land is ours." Pupa said before looking at her sister flashing a smile before both sisters tackled to the ground. "But that can wait." "Because now you have a very important duty to perform," Elytra said as she traced a heart on my chest with her claws. "You are inshable you know that right." I said shifting to my normal form grinning. "Well then lets get started."