A young slacker suddenly finds himself leading a swarm of his fellow townspeople
All was quiet in the small town of Ashfell. The town always got a lazy trickle of visitors, never more than a dozen at a time. That was, until the changelings came. Now amongst their number, Taylor Vasquez has to lead his town through the trials of being bug-horses. If only he knew anything about leading.
Co-authored by Thunderclap, edited by Em2pt5. Cover graciously provided by Grim_Grin
It was a cool November night, the moon hung over the small town of Ashfell. A young man by the name of Taylor Vasquez yawned as he opened the door to his home.
“Nothing ever happens here,” he muttered. When he stepped inside he was greeted by a messy living room that had pizza and take out boxes scattered in various places. He grumbled to himself and promised that he would clean up the mess in the morning. Again.
“Any pizza left?” he wondered aloud, reaching into the closest box. “Damn...” He pulled his hand back, finding it empty. “Looks like it’s ramen again.” He closed it and stepped around the other boxes to get to the kitchen. He pulled out a cup of instant ramen and started heating up some water.
Taylor plopped into a chair, letting out a long sigh. Looking at the clock, he pulled his phone out, shooting a text to his girlfriend.
he asked, hitting the send button.
”Sure am!”
Taylor smiled at her response, somehow hearing her voice as he read it. ”Yeah, I’m at home too. Kinda bored and lonely right now.”
”Want me to come over?”
”Do you think I’d ever say no to seeing you?” He smirked as he sent the message.
”Be there in a few.”
Taylor grinned and hopped to his feet. He started scooping up the trash in a blur of motion. He tossed it all away in a large black trash bag and tied it off just as the doorbell rang. He wiped some sweat from his brow and quickly fixed his hair as he opened the door.
“Hey!” Jacqueline smiled, looking up at him. She was a little short at 5’0 even, with parts of her black hair dyed green. “I missed you.” Taylor smiled and led her inside.
“I missed you too.” He sat down with her on the couch and kissed her forehead. “So, what’s up with you?”
“Not much, finished up some work. The usual.” She shrugged. “Anything going on with you?”
“Same here really,” he replied, putting an arm around her. “Though I did do a little cleaning before you came over.” He suppressed a chuckle as he said it.
“Such a slob,” she teased, giving him a light shove.
“Like you’re much better,” he shot back, giving her a little shove. “How many times have I had to clear your drain of hair?”
“That was one time!” She pouted at him.
“Heh, you are so easy to tease, Jacky.” He grinned and gave her a peck on the lips. She grumbled, giving him a return kiss. “Oh, and before you call me a bad boyfriend, I’m digging the green.” He ran a hand through her hair.
“Thanks.” She reached up, running her hand through her hair. “I was afraid I’d look bad.”
“I think it’s better than the pink highlights you tried,” Taylor told her. “And you could never look bad.”
“Good to know.” She snuggled up with him, turning to the TV. “Anything good on?”
“If there isn’t then we could always fire up Netflix,” he replied, handing her the remote. She took it, turned on the TV, and began to flip through channels. “Yeesh, there’s nothing but trash as far as the eye can see,” he commented, watching the titles of shows blink by.
“Netflix it is,” she declared, putting the remote down. Taylor got up and grabbed his laptop, turning it on.
“Alright, what are ya in the mood for? Something old or something new?”
“How about we finish up Luke Cage?”
“Sounds good to me.” Taylor grinned and plugged an HDMI cable into his TV and laptop and clicked on the episode they left off on. He then plopped down on the couch next to her. The two cuddled up and watched the show for a few hours. Eventually, Jacky looked up at him and batted her eyelashes.
“Hey Tay, is it okay if I stay the night?” She gave him a pleading look.
“Of course.” He gave her a smile, planting a kiss on her head.
“Do you mind sharing your bed?” she asked with a devious grin.
“Nope~” he grinned back.
“Then why are we still on the couch?” she questioned, putting her arms around his neck. He grinned, scooping her into his arms and carrying her upstairs. As soon as he opened the door to the bedroom, her lips crashed into his, her tongue shooting into his mouth. He put himself into the kiss, falling into the bed, wrapping his arms around her. She pulled away from the kiss just long enough to remove her shirt and bra, tossing them across the room and diving back into the kiss.
Taylor closed his eyes, lost to the moment. It didn’t take long for the two of them to undress each other, their hands exploring one another. Focused solely on her body, he didn't notice her glowing eyes. Before he knew what was happening, he felt something attach itself to his face.
Taylor jerked back,pawing at his face. He tumbled off the bed, starting to panic. He looked up at Jacqueline who was smirking down at him. She opened her mouth and spat out a green goo, cementing his feet to the floor.
“What the fuck?!” He shouted, his voice muffled. Jacky continued to smirk as she was surrounded by green flames. When they died down Jacky was gone, replaced by a strange bug-horse.
“No need to be afraid, Tay,” the bug-horse cooed in a sickly sweet voice. “I'm going to make you better.”
“What are you?!” Taylor growled, trying to pry himself off the floor. “And what did you did you do with Jacky?!”
“Don't worry about her,” the bug laughed, “She’s nice and snug in her cocoon.”
“And what the hell did you mean by “better”?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.
“I'm going to make you one of us.” The bug flittered down to the floor, trotting over to him.
“And I’m gonna take a stab in the dark and say that you're gonna put me in a cocoon to do that,” he guessed, still struggling.
“Exactly.” It chuckled, binding his arms to his sides. “Now just relax, this won't hurt a bit.”
“Why are you doing this?” Taylor asked, looking into the bug-horse’s pupiless eyes.
“Our queen commands it. It will be done.” The bug began to weave a sickly green substance around him, starting at his feet. Taylor continued to struggle, but doing so seemed to make the substance even stronger. Before he knew it, his entire body was coated in it.
“Just relax,” the bug cooed, encasing his head and sealing him in. With a grunt of effort, the bug grabbed onto the cocoon, sticking it firmly to the ceiling.
“Oh yeah, relax while you turn me into a freaky bug,” Taylor said with a roll of his eyes. “Great advice.” Taylor sighed, taking stock of his prison. The cocoon was rather snug, being half an inch at most away from his body. It was strangely warm, like a gooey blanket. Despite himself, the warmth seemed to be lulling him to sleep. Taylor tried to fight it, but his eyelids started to droop. He fell asleep, barely aware as his body started to go numb.
Time seemed to lose all meaning, and sleep came sporadically. The only hint he had that time was even passing was the wane in the light that managed to leak in. The bug occasionally checked up on him, always offering some encouragement.
During one of his brief periods of awareness, two voices reached his ears.
“I'm telling you something is wrong,” his caretaker spoke, obviously worried. “The queen hasn’t been out of contact for this long before.”
“She’s probably just busy with a larger urban center or something,” the other voice replied. “She has been out of contact for a day or two before.”
“It's been a week,” his caretaker argued, “Do you see how bloated that cocoon is?”
‘Are they talking about me?’ Taylor shifted in his cocoon. The gooey prison had become rather comforting, even if it was a prison.
“That's not normal!” Caretaker hissed. “The queen needs to know about it, as soon as possible.”
“Do you wish to be the one to do it?” the other changeling argued. “You know how she reacts to complications. Especially if she is running into trouble of her own.”
“Would you rather she not know?” Caretaker snapped. The two fell silent and Taylor somehow knew they had shivered. “The buck was that?”
’Do they know I’m awake?’ Taylor thought, closing his eyes. At this point, he didn’t really care. The two faded out, quickly being replaced by a chorus of whispering voices.
He had no idea if it was a symptom of his changes, but he didn't mind the whispers. They often lulled him back to sleep. He never could make out what they were saying exactly, but it always relaxed him. There was something almost familial about the voices. He smiled despite the situation, drifting off again.
Another of his awake periods came, and he became aware that someone was touching his cocoon.
“Taylor?” a familiar voice asked. “I hope you’re okay in there.”
“Jacky, is that you?” Taylor asked, unable to see through his cocoon anymore. It had started to become rather constricting, the formerly spongy material starting to become taut. “Are you one of them now?”
“We both are,” she replied. “The others are getting worried about you.”
“I’m more worried about you. You’ve been one longer than me.” Taylor had no idea when Jacky had been replaced, but, she had obviously been out of her cocoon for far longer. “Do you still feel like you?”
“I...think so...” Her reply sounded a little too unsure for Taylor’s liking. “Are you okay? You've been in there for almost a month.”
“Okay is kinda the wrong thing to be asking a guy in a cocoon,” he replied with a weak chuckle. He grunted, repositioning himself as best he could. “But I can think clearly, and whatever’s happening to me doesn’t hurt.”
“I'll be looking after you for awhile,” she told him, her voice perking up. “The old guy left try and contact the Queen.”
“I’m at least glad to hear your voice again.” He smiled, knowing she couldn’t see it. “Can you tell me what’s going on out there?”
“Most of the town has been turned into bugs. They've been replacing people in secret. I don't think they actively want to hurt anyone.”
“Oh yeah, they just want to assimilate us like they’re the goddamned Borg,” he deadpanned. “That’s way better.”
“I'm not happy about this either.” She sighed, sounding rather tired. “I have to go to work. I'll be back soon okay? The older bugs are getting antsy. They haven’t heard back from their leader in a while.”
“I heard a couple of the bugs mentioning that the last time I was awake,” he commented, trying and failing to shift in the cocoon. “They were saying that it wasn’t like her to be out of contact for long periods of time.”
“I love you too.” He felt her touch the cocoon again before her footsteps faded away. Taylor let out a long sigh, wishing he knew what was happening to him. Not knowing what else to do, he reached out to the whispers and closed his eyes. Sleep quickly claimed him, though he could swear that he faintly heard the word “Queen” before drifting off.
When he next awoke, Taylor was much more aware of himself. His cocoon was tight and he suddenly had the urge to get out. He moved his arms and legs, trying to break through his prison. Surprisingly, the cocoon gave way and his limbs broke through. He thrashed his head, somehow tearing a hole in the side. He let out a hiss, unaccustomed to the light.
“Taylor.... is that you?” Jacky’s voice spoke, off to his left. He didn't get a chance to respond as the cocoon gave out, dropping him to the floor with a thud.
“Ow...” Taylor moaned, taking the moment to just lay on the floor. Jacqueline quickly scrambled over to him and helped him to his feet. The first thing he noticed as he opened his eyes was how much taller he was than her. “Heh, even as a bug you're still short.”
“I’m normal sized for a changeling.” Jacqueline paused, looking up at him. She tilted her head quizzically, much like a dog. “You’re just tall. And um, have you noticed that you… sound different?”
“Different?” He blinked, taking a moment to take stock of himself. As soon as she pointed it out he realized that his voice seemed more, feminine. “Okay, what the fuck?”
“I don’t know why, but I think you’re a girl now,” she said carefully.
“... Seriously?” he asked, his eye twitching.
“I could get you a mirror if you want,” she offered.
“Please.” She nodded and quickly galloped off. She returned a few minutes later with a hand mirror in her mouth.
“Thanks.” He leaned in, taking in his new appearance. Unlike Jacky, his eyes still appeared normal, though now they were aquamarine and had cat-like pupils. His hair, which he still had, was the same color. His horn was long and crooked, ending in a sharp point. Like her, he had a pair of fangs that poked out from his muzzle. “Well aren't I attractive?”
“You’re taking this better than I thought you would,” Jacky said around the mirror.
“How am I supposed to react?” he asked with a frown.
“Well, I dunno,” she admitted, her ears flattening to her head. “My gender didn’t change with my species.”
“Do you still have one?” he asked, raising his eyebrow.
“Yes, I am still a girl,” she huffed, pouting up at him. “Thanks for the doubt by the way. That sure made me feel pretty.”
“I don't know, this is surreal okay?” he snapped, frowning back at her. “I got turned into some kind of bug horse. I don’t know how to process this!”
“You’re right.” Jacky put her hooves up in a soothing gesture. “This is a lot. It’s like we’re living in Invasion of the Body Snatchers.” She deflated, a long sigh escaping her lips.
“Hey, at least they didn't suck out our insides.” He pulled her into a hug, nuzzling her head.
“Yeah, and they didn’t separate us.” She leaned against his chest. “I don’t think I’d be holding up this well if they had.”
He petted her head fin, taking a deep, calming breath. The world was going insane. Alien bug horses had invaded his town, a little speck of nothing, and turn everyone into more of them. Taylor prayed silently, asking anyone that would listen to make it all just go away.
The two continued to stay close together for awhile, until Jacky put a hoof on his chest. “I think we need to tell the others about you getting out of the cocoon.”
“Do you have to?” Taylor gazed down at her, giving her his most pleading, pathetic look. Luckily, she buckled under his assault.
“I guess we could just keep it our secret for now,” she told him with a soft smile. He smiled back, placing a kiss on her lips. She giggled and returned it. “Kissing with fangs is weird,” she noted.
“Yeah, pretty weird.” They both burst into giggles, renewing their cuddle session.
“And you finally got me to kiss another girl,” she teased.
“Haha.” He rolled his eyes with a smile. “So... Why don't you get me up to speed?”
“The entire town has been changed now,” she informed. “And I think it’s spreading across the state.”
He frowned at that knowledge but put it off for now. “You said we were changelings?”
“That’s what the original drones called us,” she replied. “Isn’t that like a mythical creature?”
“I think so.” He frowned, looking at the now broken cocoon. “Why are they doing this?”
“I don’t know the specifics,” she started, “but I overheard that they wanted to increase their numbers quickly for some invasion.”
“Lovely.” He got up, taking a shaky step toward the door. Jacky stuck to his side, keeping him from falling.
“Yeah, it took me awhile to get used to walking on all fours too,” she offered with a smile. He smiled back, trying to wrap his mind around their situation.
“How is everyone?” If he was too freaked out to actual process what was going on, he could only image what this would be like for a child. The thought made him shiver.
“Pretty confused and a little scared,” she admitted. “I mean, we’ve all been kidnapped and changed into shapeshifting bugs. Though there are one or two people who like the changes.”
“Seriously?” he asked, staring at her in disbelief.
“The old people like that they don’t feel old anymore,” she explained. “And then there was that one guy who said he didn’t feel comfortable in his own skin says he likes being able to turn into anything.”
“Right...” He nodded. “And none of them are like me?”
“No, you’re the only one that’s like this,” she explained. “They kept saying that something was odd about your transformation. I mean, you were in there like ten times longer than anyone.”
“It's all just a haze.” He frowned. “Lots of sleep. I kept hearing these voices though.”
“That’s the hivemind,” she told him. “We all can communicate to each other without words using that.”
“So... Borg. Great.” He paused, a thought occurring to him. “You know, the last time I fell asleep, I recall hearing a single word.”
“What word was that?” she asked, looking up at him.
“Queen.”
Her face scrunched up in thought. “That could mean two different things as far as I know. Some of the original drones have been buzzing about the queen hearing about your prolonged change. And the other thing is that I heard a drone whispering that you might be a queen yourself.”
“...What?” He blinked, the thought bringing his mind to a halt. The first thing he could think up was the hive scene in Aliens, with himself in place of the Xenomorph queen, constantly pumping out eggs. He shuddered, thoroughly disgusted by the idea.
“Did you just picture the Xenomorph queen?” Jacky asked with a giggle.
“It's not funny!” He snapped. “I don't want to spend the rest of my life laying eggs!” His new wings buzzed furiously, a high pitched whine filling the air. Jacky lowered her head in response.
“Sorry,” she said, her ears pinning to the top of her head. But you won’t have to,” she assured him, looking up to meet his gaze. “The queen isn’t the only one that lays eggs. However, she’s the only one that produces royal jelly to make new queens.”
“And you know that because?”
“They gathered all us new changelings and explained things to us,” she answered, shuddering slightly. “So I got the changeling version of sex-ed.”
“That's rough.” He frowned, pulling her close. “So, what do we do now?”
“Aside from eventually telling the drones about you, not much,” she said with a shrug. “The hive beneath the town is done so I don’t have any real responsibilities until breeding season comes around.”
“TV still work?” he asked, gesturing to said device.
“Yes it does,” she said with a smile. “Wanna cuddle on the couch, get drunk and make fun of those cheesy shark movies?”
“Yes, please. I would like that a lot.” He nodded eagerly. “Anything to forget this stuff for a bit.”
“You’re gonna love this.” She grinned and rushed to the kitchen. “I was able to snag all the best booze from the liquor store because of all this craziness.” She opened up the fridge, grabbed a couple bottles and curled up on the couch. He joined her, curling up besides her. Luckily for them, the laptop was still hooked up so neither of them had to get up as Jacky put on a movie.
“Least we don't have to pay bills huh?” he joked, laying his head on her side.
“And we still have each other,” she added. “Even if that means we're lesbians now,” she teased.
“I guess it does,” he laughed, kissing her cheek. She returned the gesture, settling in on the couch and passed Taylor a bottle. He took it from her, awkwardly taking a sip.
“Dammit!” he muttered, a good portion of it running down his front. Jacky frowned and wiped it up for him.
“Sorry, I should’ve given you a crash course on how to use hooves.”
“Don't worry about it,” he assured her, getting comfy again. “We have all the time in the world.”
“Yeah, we do.” She nuzzled into his chest. He relaxed, glad to have a bit of normalcy at least. Hours passed and the two of them fell asleep on the couch curled up against one another.
A shout of surprise brought Taylor out of dreamland, getting a loud groan in response. “Why are people shouting?” he asked, cracking an eye open.
“I dunno,” Jacky replied, her own eyes slowly opening. “Let’s see what’s going on in the hivemind.”
“And how do I do that?” he asked quizzically.
“The same way you heard those whispers in the cocoon,” she explained, her brow furrowing in concentration. He watched her for a moment before closing his eyes. It only took a moment for the whispers to come, filling his thoughts. This time though, he could make out words. Bits and pieces at first and the number of voices was staggering.
He marveled in wonder at the jumble of voices, suddenly feeling very small in comparison.
“Oh no,” Jacky said suddenly. “Someone checked in on us while we were asleep. They’re talking about you being a queen.”
“You understand that mess?” he asked, cracking an eye open to look at her.
“I’ve had more time to adjust,” she reminded him. “I’ve learned how to focus on one voice at a time.”
“What's the general consensus?” he asked hesitantly.
“It’s hectic to say the least. A lot of the townspeople and even some of the original drones want you to lead a new hive. And then there are others that are arguing for the old queen.”
“I'm not even a bug horse for a day and I'm causing a civil war.” Taylor started to pace, feeling his anxiety skyrocket.
“Tay, you need to stay calm,” she said, putting a hoof on his side. “Panicking won’t help. Staying calm, laying low and seeing how this plays out is our best bet.”
“Oh sure, I get turned into horse queen. I’ll just sit down and have some tea, nothing to panic about at all.”
“Tay, we can get through this. I know it’s crazy.”
“Jacky, this is beyond crazy. Its fucked,” he corrected, a harsh edge to his voice.
“Okay, and how does freaking out help?” she questioned with a frown.
“I don't know!” he snapped, his voice quivering. Jacky’s look softened and she gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“We’ll get through this, no matter how it turns out. You trust me, right?”
“Yeah, I trust you.” He looked into her eyes, his ears clamped against his head. She wrapped her hooves around him, nuzzling him and offering what comfort she could. He hugged her back, not wanting to let her go.
“Look I'm sorry, but he doesn't want to see anyone,” Jacky informed for what had to be the tenth time that day. For the last two days, various drones had come by, trying to get a look at the supposed new queen.
Taylor had hunkered down in his room, where he was currently wallowing, trying to adjust to his new situation.
“But the birth of a queen is a once in a lifetime event,” the drone insisted. “She could become the leader of our hive.”
“Yeah that's great and all bu-” Jacky paused, listening to Taylor through the hive mind. “Alright, go get some food and you can see him.” The drone nodded and his wings buzzed as he flew away.
She closed the door, letting out an annoyed sigh. Jacky made her way upstairs, trotting into Taylor’s room. He was lounging on his bed, discarded food wrappers laying around him.
“Seems like you're falling into your bad habit again,” she pointed out, quickly gathering up the trash and tossing it into a small trashcan by the door.
“I can't help it.” He gave a pitiful whine. Taylor had spent his time lounging on his bed, refusing to leave his home. “I'm starving!”
“It’s fine, you’re under a ton of stress.” She got onto the bed next to him and kissed his cheek. She let out a squeak as Taylor pulled her into a hug, nuzzling her head.
“I've already finished everything we have in the house.” Taylor glanced at the trash can. A deep, ravenous hunger had taken root in his gut, and no matter what he crammed into his mouth, it wouldn’t go away.
“Maybe queens need a lot of calories?” Jacky wriggled her way out of Taylor’s grasp, smoothing her wings.
“Ugh...” Taylor splayed out on the bed, giving her a good view of his underbelly and naughty bits. “This sucks!”
“Well, it could be worse,” she said, making a point of looking at his face. “At least you’re not craving anything weird to eat.”
“Jacky.” He turned his head, a pout etched onto his muzzle. “ I ate every bit of food in the house. Even the condiments! I literally uncapped the mustard and drank it like soda.”
“I think I should ask about this over the hivemind,” Jacky said with a frown. She closed her eyes and went silent for a couple minutes. When she opened them again, her face scrunched up in confusion. “Well, wasn’t expecting that.”
“What?” he asked, lifting his head up.
“Apparently, changelings only eat regular food to make more of that goo stuff,” she started, “we actually feed off of, and you’re not gonna believe this, love.” Her wings buzzed slightly as she laughed.
“Love?” He stared at her. “You're serious aren't you?”
“Yeah, I am.” Jacky moved to sit next to him. “And considering I’m in here with you, getting love shouldn’t be all that hard.” She smiled at him and snuggled up to his side.
“That would work if I knew how to eat love,” he pointed out.
“Lucky for you, I thought to ask how to do that,” she told him with a grin. “What you have to do is concentrate on your horn and reach out to the source of love, Eventually, you’ll be able to do it subconsciously. I also learned a second way to do it, but it’s not as pleasant.”
“...let's not do the second one.” He closed his eyes, trying to get his horn to work. It took a few minutes, but he felt something for a brief moment and his horn flickered. “I-I think I got it.” He concentrated on that feeling, and his horn light up with an aquamarine colored glow.
“Good job!” Jacky beamed, wrapping her hooves around him and nuzzling his chest. “So, how does love taste?”
“Hm... Tastes like...” He licked his lips. “Pineapples.”
“Let me try on you now,” she said with a grin, closing her eyes. He shivered, watching as her horn lit up, feeling a tingle run through him. After a few moments she stopped and licked her lips. “Huh, I don’t taste pineapples. You taste more like… strawberries and cream.”
“Weird.” He blinked, rubbing his head. “Well, I don't feel as hungry anymore.”
“That’s good, and now we know how to eat,” she said. “If you’re still hungry, you can keep eating, I don’t mind.”
“You sure?” He asked, putting an arm around her. “I don't wanna bleed you dry.”
“I feel fine,” she assured him. “I’ll tell you if it starts feeling like it hurts or something.” He nodded, taking in a bit more.
“How about... We go out?” he asked, looking towards a window.
“Are you sure sure you wouldn’t rather stay here and wallow in your anxiety a bit more?” she teased, booping his nose with a hoof.
“Keep that up, Jacky, and I'm putting you in another cocoon.” He got off the bed, stretching out and sighing in content as his joints popped.
“Ooh, sounds kinky~” she said, hopping off the bed and giving him a look. “My safeword is red.”
He gave her a flat look, flicking his tail across her muzzle. Turning to the door, starting to make his way out. She trotted after him, quickly making her way to his side. Taylor had to keep his eyes facing forward, not wanting to think about all the eyes on him.
“Okay... This is worse than I thought...” he muttered, his wings buzzing in agitation.
“Nothing’s gonna happen,” she assured him, petting his back. “They’re just curious about you.”
“Yeah? What if that other queen shows up?” he asked, pouting at her. He didn’t know a lot about the Queen, and he really didn’t want to. Anyone willing to conquer one set of people just to use them to conquer someone else, wasn’t a person he wanted to meet.
“I’ve heard through the hivemind that she’s busy with other parts of the invasion,” Jacky told him. “Hell, she still hasn’t gotten back to us. It’s one of the reasons why the other drones are excited to see you.”
“That doesn't make me feel better.” He stopped in front of an electronics shop, looking at his reflection. He frowned at the sight, seeing nothing of the old him left in his new appearance. It was surreal, seeing a body so foreign and yet knowing that it belonged to him.
“I think you look the best out of all of us,” Jacky said, looking at her own reflection. “At least you have hair… and pupils.”
“Thanks.” He put a hoof on her back. “I think... I have to own this.”
“It’s the only healthy way to deal with it,” Jacky said. “It gets easier, I promise. And hey, the magic thing is kinda cool.” She picked up a pebble in a green glow to demonstrate.
“I'm being serious here, I mean that other queen is trying to invade, do this to other people.” He gazed down at her. “I'm not gonna let her do that.” Jacky didn’t say anything for a while, a worried look on her face. Eventually she nodded.
“Okay, I’m with you on this.” Jacky pressed herself against him. “But you’re gonna have to learn all about magic and being a queen.” She put a hoof on his side, giving him a smile. “Can’t have you being a shut in anymore.”
“Yeah I know.” He gave her his best smile, taking comfort in her presence. “Besides, I think I'd be a good leader. And even I’d go crazy just sitting in my house watching things on Netflix all day.”
“You’ve got my support no matter what,” she told him. “We can figure this all out together.”
“I love you.” He pulled her into a hug, lifting her off the ground. She giggled and returned the hug.
“I love you too. Plus, it’s not everyday you get a chance to save the world. I’d be an idiot to pass that up.”
He set her down, clearing his throat. “Okay so... What do we do first?”
“Well first we should get one of the original drones that supports you to teach us all about changelings and magic,” she started. “After that we should organize the town and find out where the replacer changelings are going.”
“Mind sending out a call?” He asked, giving her a smile.
“As my queen wishes,” she joked, returning the smile and closing her eyes. He rolled his eyes, staying close to her. After a few minutes, they heard a loud buzzing sound and found themselves surrounded by a town’s worth of drones.
“Oh crap.” He stared with wide eyes, not exactly sure what to do.
“Go on, tell them what you want to do,” Jacky whispered to him. “And put some backbone into it.”
“I meant get a drone here, not the entire town!” he whispered back, focusing on her.
“Oh, uh, really should’ve figured that out,” she said, her ears flattening to her head. “Hold on, I’ll fix this.” She closed her eyes again. A hoof on her back stopped her.
“No, I'll make do.” He gave her a weak smile. Turning to the crowd. “Well, hello everyone, we haven't had a town meeting this big since Ole Stanley drove his truck into the power station.”
“Oh that again,” a gruff voice from the crowd called out. “How many times do I have to say that there was a jackalope that got in my way?!”
“Jackalopes don't exist man,” Taylor shot back. “But, let's uh, stay on topic. So... We all got turned into bug horses. We’re all gonna have to live with that.”
“Oh so bug horses are real but a jackalope is jus- Ow!” Stanley grunted.
“Let it go ya coot!” a feminine voice snapped. “She’s tryin’ t’make a point.”
Taylor wasn't pleased to be referred to as a 'she’, but put the annoyance aside. “I don’t exactly know how many of us were converted or natural, but at this point, it doesn’t matter. How long has it been since any of you heard back from that queen?”
“It has been over a month since we have heard from her,” one drone spoke up. “We haven’t even been able to find her whispers among the hivemind.”
Taylor nodded. “So, basically, she just up and abandoned you all?” Taylor looked out amongst the crowd, noting the many unsure looks. “Which means you guys need new leadership.”
“Yes!” a drone cheered. “The new queen wishes to overthrow the old one! Our hive will be strong under a new leader!”
“I ain’t overthrowing nothing,” Taylor emphasized his point, stomping a hoof. “All I know is, I don’t want to be in any sort of war, and I don’t think anyone else here does either.”
“I think we all can agree to that,” another drone said. “But we hardly know the first thing about our new bodies. How do you propose we rebel against a queen with years of experience and an instinctive knowledge of hers?”
“I have no idea,” Taylor admitted, rubbing his neck. “Thing is, no one’s talked to her in a month. She might not be coming back.”
“So you think she ran into some trouble and cut us loose while trying to save her nonexistent skin?” one of the converted townspeople chimed in, frowning.
“Look, I don’t know, okay?” Taylor asked, buzzing his wings in irritation. “None of us want to work with her, and things are going to get real bad if we don’t get off our asses and do something.” Gazing around, Taylor pieced the bare outline of a plan together. “Which means we have a few options.”
“Like what?” Someone shouted from the crowd.
“First off,” Taylor started, starting to pace around. “We could go back to wherever changelings are from. Though, if we do that, we run the risk of getting caught up in that war the queen was brewing up.”
“Shouldn’t we make sure that no one else gets turned into changelings?” another one of the townspeople chimed in. “I mean, it would also give us more numbers if we do run into the queen.”
“That is a good point, but, I wasn’t done.” Taylor cleared his throat. “Our second option is to abandon the town and go set up shop in some out of the way place. Like Wyoming. I sincerely hope we don’t go with that option. I don’t know jack about survival. Plus, if we did that, we’d be abandoning people to potentially lose their bodies the way we’ve lost ours. That seems pretty cowardly in my book.”
The townsfolk all seemed to agree, muttering amongst themselves.
“So,” Taylor resumed, coming to a stop. Here it was, his big plan to save their asses. “I think we should just stay here.” He allowed a few moments to pass for it to sink in. “Changelings shapeshift right? We just shapeshift back into our old selves and try to live as normally as possible.”
“Wait, but didn’t you just call that sort of thing cowardly?” Someone called out from the back.
“Oi.” Taylor snorted. “Will you let me finish?” Taylor huffed. “I said, just up and leaving would be cowardly, and it would be admitting that we’re giving up on our old lives.” He stomped his hooves, the sound echoing through town. “I’m not going to let becoming a bug change me. Are you?”
“But what about everyone else out there?” Old man Stanley asked. “We just gonna keep living here and let them get bugged?”
“No, no we’re not.” Taylor straightened up, puffing his chest out. “I’m a queen right? And the old one left, which makes me the head honcho.” Taylor didn’t give anyone time to argue. “I want all the original drones to stand on my left.”
There was a buzzing from the crowd as a number of drones moved to his left.
“Okay, good.” Taylor walked around them. “Now, as a first order of business, I want half of you to go tell the other groups about the change in leadership, get them to stop converting people and get their asses back here.”
“I will lead the effort in getting the word out,” a drone with a scar-like crack in his exoskeleton on the side of his face spoke up.
“And you are?”
“I am a soldier drone,” the drone replied.
Taylor gave him a flat look. “I meant a name.”
“Natural born drones don’t have names,” the soldier explained.
“Alright then, I’m naming you Fury,” Taylor informed. “Got that everyone?” Taylor asked, looking between the collected drones. “Fury is in charge.”
“Thank you, my queen,” Fury said, bowing his head. “I will do my best to meet your expectations.” Taylor smiled as he could see Fury trying to hold back his own smile from his new name.
“Alright, get going,” Taylor ordered. Perhaps it was because of his new role, but Taylor had never felt so in charge before. It felt... right. He started hoping that he didn’t go on a power trip or something. “Okay, the other half of the original drones are going to help us townspeople learn how to use magic and how to shapeshift.”
“I know I will be more than happy to teach you and the town how to accommodate yourselves to your new forms,” a drone stated firmly. “The old queen’s cruelty must come to an end.”
“See? We can do this,” Taylor insisted.
“I think we’re willing to try,” yet another drone said. “If not for our sake then for anyone who still isn’t a bug.”
“Then it’s settled.” Taylor spread his wings for dramatic effect. “We’ll make that bitch regret converting our town!” The town erupted in cheers and Jacky grinned up at him, giving him a tight hug. He grinned, hugging her back. “See? Natural talent.”
“Not bad for a guy that nearly passed out leaving his house,” she whispered in his ear, smirking at him.
He stood back up, waiting for the cheering to end. “First, I need whoever knows the most about queens to come with me.”
One of the drones from earlier came forward.“I am the eldest of the changelings that occupied this town, I can tell you what it is you wish to know.”
“Thanks.” Taylor nodded. “For now, everyone just go back home and I dunno relax for the day. We can start sorting this out tomorrow.” The crowd nodded and dispersed, leaving the three of them alone. “Alright, back to the house.” He turned, trotting away. Jacky and the other drone nodded, following after him into his house. Jacky and Taylor sat on the couch, while the drone took a seat on the floor.
“Dude, there's a chair, just sit in it.” Taylor pointed at it.
“I apologize, I merely didn’t want to impose.” The drone bowed their head and fluttered over to the chair. “You can ask me anything you like about queens.”
“Okay. Why me?”
“That I cannot tell you,” the drone said with a hard look. “Even we are still baffled by this development.”
“Right. Act of God.” He nodded. “What does a queen actually do?”
“A queen is the one that can produce the most eggs, typically she’s the only one that can produce new queens,” the drone explained. “She also leads the hive and disperses the love energy among it.”
“And how does egg making...happen?” He asked carefully.
“The egg making happens on its own, but fertilization requires sexual intercourse with a male. It doesn’t matter which species, ponies, griffons, minotaurs, changelings, etc. All are viable candidates to create fertile offspring,” the drone explained.
Taylor gulped, looking at his lower half. “And there's a breeding season?”
“Yes, it comes in spring like many creatures. A viable queen will start to emit a special pheromone that helps her attract whichever kind of male she wishes to copulate with. After that they will seclude themselves in their chambers and lay the eggs in a special nursery.”
'Oh god, spring is in a few months,’ Taylor groaned, feeling a shudder pass through him.
“Though considering the size of the swarm at the moment, you will most likely not have to engage in breeding season unless you want to,” the drone added. “Though that may change if we lose a significant number of drones in our endeavors.”
“You mean, if people die,” Taylor clarified. “Let's try not to let that happen okay?” A thought came to Taylor and he addressed the drone again. “So, changelings make hives, like bees?”
The fin on the drone’s head ruffled for a moment and seemed to be holding back a scoff. “Something like that, but if I were to compare us to some common insect when it comes to the structure of our hive, it would be ants. Though, unlike ants, our hive’s tunnels shift on a regular basis. Just in case some outsider is foolish enough to attempt to infiltrate it.”
Taylor exchanged a look with Jacky. “You do know we can’t make one of those here, right? People would be able to see it and then the military would be all over us.”
“Did you forget?” Jacky asked, tilting her head at him. “There’s already a hive under the city. I was sure I told you about it.”
Taylor tilted his head. “You did? When?”
“It was before we began converting the people of the town,” the drone explained. “We found a secluded place outside of the town limits and began construction of tunnels. It is nothing compared to a proper hive, but it provides enough room for all us drones and there is a nursery for any eggs that may be laid.”
Taylor rubbed his head, grumbling to himself. So, they had a hive. At least, that gave them somewhere to hide if they were found out. “And I wasn’t told sooner because?”
“My apologies, my queen, I was under the impression you were already informed about the hive under the town. This won’t happen again,” the drone assured with a bow of his head.
“It’s fine,” Taylor waved off quickly. “I’m still learning the ropes here.” Taylor softened, patting his head. “Hey, relax. You don’t have to bow. I’m not that kinda queen.”
“Forgive me if I lapse into that behavior,” the drone said, straightening up in his seat. “I’m used to dealing with that kind of queen.”
“That reminds me.” Taylor leaned his head back, scanning the drone closely. “You need a name.”
“I hope you don’t run out of names if you plan on giving all your drones one,” the drone replied, looking pleased by the prospect of being named.
“Pfft.” Taylor waved his concern away. “You have any idea how many languages there are on Earth? It’ll be fine.”
“Very well then, what do you wish to name me?”
Taylor tapped his chin, letting out a soft hum. “I think I’ll go with... Battra.” Taylor grinned, patting the drone’s head. “From now on, you are Battra.”
Battra repeated his name, getting a feel for it. The fin on his head rose and lowered slightly and a smile slowly grew on his face. “I think that I will like this name. Thank you, my queen.”
“Eh, don’t worry about it.” Taylor got up, stretching his limbs out. Now, how’s about that magic lesson?”
Taylor tried to keep her head down as she was led into a cave outside of town. She still had a lot to learn about her new lot in life, but she felt like she was making steady progress. Magic and shapeshifting still gave her trouble, but at least she felt somewhat comfortable in her own skin again.
“Why are these tunnels so small?” Taylor questioned, glancing down at Battra. “I swear, I'm going to be pissed if my horn scrapes the ceiling.”
Battra bowed his head. “My apologies, we dug these tunnels hastily and had no idea that a queen would need to use them.”
“As long as you make them queen accessible, it's fine.” Taylor’s mood improved as they walked into a wide room, with various drones buzzing about. “This is the main chamber, right?”
Battra nodded his head again. “Correct, from here every section of this new hive can be reached.” Battra pointed his hoof at a series of tunnels. “We’ve moved the gateway down to the lower levels.”
“Gateway?” Taylor repeated, tilting her head.
“It's how we came to your world,” Battra responded, looking up at her. “Only the former queen could power it. You should be able to as well, when you’ve mastered your magic.”
Taylor nodded, a small smile on her face. “With all the help you’re giving me, I should be strong enough in no time.” Leaning down, she nuzzled his head. “Remind me to give you two cookies later.”
Battra’s face lit up and he leaned into the gesture. “That will not be necessary, my queen, I am happy to assist you in any way possible.” Pulling away, Battra gestured to another tunnel. “If you’ll follow me, I'll show you the metamorphosis chambers.”
“What’s that used for?” she asked, following him to a tunnel at the other end of the main chamber.
“It's where most changelings go to molt.” Battra stepped into a large, dome shaped room. A few cocoons hung from the ceiling, changelings visible inside. “These are the strongest guards. They're molting into praetorians, the Queen's elite guard.”
“Do they have to do anything special to make that change?” Taylor questioned, examining the cocoons. “Like how bee larvae need royal jelly to grow into queens.”
“Just a higher dosage of love.” Battra flittered up to one of the cocoons. “They shouldn't be too much longer. Another day or two.”
Taylor nodded, her muzzle scrunching up. “Aside from praetorians, are there any other metamorphosizes that a changeling can go through?”
“‘Metamorphoses’, and that depends on what the hive needs.” Battra landed, sticking to Taylor's side. “Normal drones like me can molt into one of the more specialized castes.”
“Ever thought about becoming one of those castes?” she inquired, looking down at him.
“Once or twice.” Battra fidgeted. “The former queen carefully managed the hive.”
Taylor smiled, poking his shoulder. “Well don’t leave me in suspense, which caste did you want to be?”
“I uh...” Battra looked away, his face turning bright red. “I always wanted to look after the little ones.”
Taylor patted his shoulder, her smile growing. “Nothing wrong with wanting that. I bet you’d be great at it. Is Jacky any special kind of changeling?”
“She is a nurse,” Battra answered. “She is able to incubate eggs and other tasks to help rear the larvae and nymphs of the hive.”
“Right.” Taylor nudged Battra to the door. “Come on, let's keep the tour going.”
Battra bowed his head and trotted into another tunnel. After a couple of minutes, they came to a round chamber, the rocks entirely covered by hardened goo.
“This is the nursery,” Battra explained, stepping inside. The room was split into sections, each seeming to be based around stages of development.
“So does this place double as a place to teach the kids?” Taylor questioned, walking around the room. Coming to the section near the back, she noted a few translucent football like objects resting on the ground. She bent down towards one. “Are these eggs?”
“Yes, but they’re duds,” Battra explained, walking over. “A few of the converted breeder drones laid them.”
Taylor frowned, feeling a compulsion to run her hoof along the surface of the egg. “Why were they duds?” Some primal instinct told her to protect these eggs, even if there wasn't anything in them.
“They were simply unfertilized,” Battra elaborated, putting a hoof on one of the eggs. “We suspect the ejection was a side-effect of the conversion.”
Taylor let out a small sigh of relief. She then eyed up the eggs for a few moments, chuckling weakly. “Man, I am not looking forward to laying these.”
A light buzz in Taylor's head informed her that one of the drones was trying to contact her. Closing her eyes, she embraced the hive mind. It wasn't like before, the voices were speaking in harmony now, almost like she was the conductor.
“Yes, what do you need from me?” Taylor asked, searching for the individual. It was Fury, the drone she had put in charge of stopping the conversion.
“My queen, we’ve managed to stop the conversion groups in the surrounding towns.”
Taylor let a bright smile cross her face. “Good work, Fury. Come back to the hive with representatives from each of the towns for now. We can discuss spreading our efforts out in person.”
“There... Is a bit of a problem, my queen.”
“What is it? Are you in danger?” Taylor pressed, trying to remain calm.
“I believe that your nation's government has become aware of our presence.”
“Be careful, I don't want anyone dying. If it seems like they’re coming for us then we’ll turn ourselves in. I’d rather work with the government than against it.”
“Yes my queen,” Fury replied, his voice sinking back into the chorus.
Opening her eyes, Taylor wilted slightly. She hadn't even been in power for two days, and now she had to worry about G-Men gunning for them. “Just my damn luck...”
“What is it, my queen?” Battra inquired, tilting his head with a concerned look. His confusion only grew as she patted his head. “My queen?”
“We’ve hit a small snag,” she said, flashing him an easy smile. “But on the bright side, the surrounding towns are no longer being converted. Which, is one thing we were going for.”
“What is this snag?” Battra pressed, a frown on his face. “Please tell me, my queen.”
“Don't worry about it.” Taylor lit her horn, giving Battra a little love. “Now drop it, or no cookies for you.”
Battra shuddered from the meal, slowly nodding his head. “Very well, my queen, I will trust your judgement. Is there anything in particular you wish to see?”
“Anywhere important left to see?” Taylor asked, petting his head fin.
A smile slowly crept onto his muzzle, and he leaned into her hoof. “There is the throne room, the commons hall that us original drones sleep in and the consort chamber.”
The word consort stuck out to Taylor, she felt like she knew it but couldn’t quite place the meaning. She stared down at Battra, her muzzle scrunched up. “Consort chamber, what’s that? Does that room do anything important?”
“It’s where the Queen’s favored sexual partners stay,” Battra replied like it was nothing. “The old queen didn’t bring any of hers to this world, so it’s completely empty now.”
Taylor’s eyes widened as the word clicked. She blushed as she took a moment to collect herself. “Well, it’s gonna stay empty seeing as Jacky stays in my room.”
Battra bowed his head. “If that is your will, my queen. Though, if I may be so bold as to ask, do you have plans to take on partners aside from her? Queens are well known for having multiple consorts. Some queens see it as a status symbol.”
“Humans usually just stick to the one partner,” Taylor responded, shaking her head. “So, let’s just go with that for now. Come on, we need to find Jacky.”
“Of course,” Battra replied, seeming to deflate for a moment but Taylor dismissed it as seeing things. With a wave of his hoof, he led her out of the chamber and towards the surface. “What did you learn from the one you named ‘Fury’?”
Taylor chuckled, patting his back. “Didn’t I tell you to drop it? It shouldn’t be anything we can’t handle. And I mean that, you just worry about what I tell you to worry about.”
This didn’t seem to satisfy Battra, but he nodded nevertheless. “As you wish, my queen.” Without another word, he continued to lead her through the twisting tunnels. Battra snuck a few looks back at her, trying not to let his emotions show.
The looks made Taylor feel a bit guilty. It was obvious what he wanted, rather ironic for a member of a species devoted to disguising itself. She thought for a moment before sighing. “Okay, I’ll tell you. But you have to promise not to tell the rest of the hive.”
Taylor couldn’t help but smile at his reaction. “Okay,” she whispered, leaning in close to his ear as an extra precaution. “The government might be onto us. Or at least, those changelings converting people.”
“That’s... it?” Battra asked, giving her a frown. “My queen, shouldn’t you have asked why Fury believes so?”
Taylor blushed, the obviousness of the question smacking her in the face. “Um… no, I was a little preoccupied worrying about what getting caught might mean. I told him that we’d present ourselves freely if he feels we’re going to be caught. So!” she clapped her hooves. “I’m going to talk to him, you get me back to the surface.”
Closing her eyes, Taylor reached out towards Fury once more. “Hey, Fury. Queen here, give me a full report, don’t leave out any details, got it?” She left out the part about not asking before, if he didn’t notice she wasn’t going to point it out.
“What do you want reported, my queen?” Fury replied, his thoughts giving her a pleasant buzz in her head. “Or by full report do you mean to hear everything I’ve done in my time away from the hive?”
“Everything you’ve done since you left, Fury.”
“Very well, my queen.” Fury began detailing his mission outside the hive, including even trivial details. Things started out simply, the recruitment efforts of the hive hitting no real snags. Fury had managed to get the conversion teams to stop, with a bit more force than Taylor would have liked. About a hundred were still in cocoons, which was the biggest cause for concern.
“Is there any way to get someone out of the cocoons once they’re inside? Or would that be dangerous?” Taylor questioned, hoping she didn’t sound too desperate.
“I’m sorry, my queen, but when we found the cocoons it was too late to release them. If we had, they would not have survived long. Their remaining human tissue would reject the changeling tissue.”
Taylor nodded her head before quickly realizing that Fury couldn’t see her. “I figured as much, I’m just happy you’ve accomplished what you have so far. Please, continue your story.”
“We noticed the black vans soon after we arrived. They’ve been watching a few of the conversion sites; staking them out, to use a human saying.”
Giggling a bit, Taylor adjusted her wings on her back. “Good to see you’re adjusting to human culture, Fury. Anyway, have you noticed anything else? Do the vans seem to have the same license plates every time?”
“I can have one of the drones check, it didn’t really occur ro me.”
“Just be careful, Fury. I don’t want any of you getting hurt,” Taylor told him, giving the impression of a stern face. “I want hourly updates, got that? If I’m asleep, send them to someone else.”
“It will be done. My queen, if we are discovered by the ones in the vans, is there a message you’d like us to deliver?”
“Tell them the queen wants to speak to the president.”
“Very well, I will see that it is done.” Fury’s connection faded away, rejoining the chorus of voices in the hivemind.
Taylor opened her eyes, finding that she was standing in front of her home. “Right! So, Battra, magic lessons, lets go!” Not waiting for the smaller changeling’s response, she opened the door and stepped inside her home.
Fury stepped out of the tunnels that led to the outskirts of the city the converted drones called Phoenix. Luckily, he and the guards in his squad had stopped the conversions before the city could panic, but many had still become changelings.
Most of the converted drones had been given a crash course in shapeshifting, so they could resume the lives they had been living before. How well it would work out was beyond him. That was the queen’s purview, and it was his job to follow whatever orders she gave. He was far more willing to follow risky orders than he had been in the past. What his new queen lacked in experience she more than made up for in her treatment of her subjects. And while he wouldn’t say it aloud, she was better looking than the old queen.
There was a lot less yelling with Queen Taylor, far less than what Chrysalis subjected them to. Just one of the many reasons that made it easier to follow the new queen. The new queen was also far more forgiving of setbacks. Especially when it was out of her drones’ control.
‘And she gave me a name,’ Fury thought, buzzing his wings. He’d have to ask why the queen chose said name, but that could wait. Things needed to be done and cocoons had to be smuggled out of the city.
With a quick message out to the hivemind, he directed the other guards to start the smuggling process. He would join them soon, but first he had to monitor for the vans. If the government was onto them, they couldn’t be allowed to find the queen.
In a burst of green flame, Fury took the form of a young human male. He had spent time studying human magazines in order to perfect his disguise. His new hair was swept over his forehead, nearly covering his icy eyes, and was a dark color that bordered on black. He kept his figure lithe, not wanting to draw too much attention.
Making his way back into the city on foot, Fury quickly found himself in a sea of humans. None of them had any sort of clue what had been going on in their city. At least, the vast majority didn’t. Whoever was in the vans seemed to have an inkling. An inkling that he was going to suss out.
Retracing his steps was simple enough, only made marginally harder by the motion of the crowd. Fury couldn’t help but take in his surroundings, the human city fascinating him to no end. Everything was so much more crowded than in Equestria, and the colors more muted. The average human wasn’t close to being as friendly as the average pony. Granted, that made blending in easier, but he wasn’t exactly going to call it a plus. While colors weren’t as bright, there was still no end to them.
The city was like an oasis in the middle of the desert that surrounded it on all sides. The only trace of the outside environment was the scorching heat. Thankfully, it wasn’t nearly as scorching as the Badlands back home.
Taking his mind off the scenery, Fury extended his thoughts out to search for his former hivemates. It didn’t take long to find them, their voices standing out from the choir. Sucking in a sharp breath through his nostrils, he followed their song through the streets.
The scenario played out in his mind, over and over again. While the last few meetings had gone smoothly, it was still possible things could go wrong. Despite their name, some lings couldn’t handle change well.
Fury shook his head, chasing away those negative thoughts away. He could not fail his new queen. While she was new and unsure of herself, she was far better than Chrysalis. Taylor had given them names and thus, individuality.
His wanderings led him to a rundown part of the city, and to a warehouse that hadn't seen proper use in decades. The ancient door squealed in protest before rolling slightly on its track. The inside was dim, the surrounding buildings making the skylight all but useless. From what Fury could see, the walls on the sides were crammed with rusted shipping containers.
Glancing behind him again, he left the door open. If one of the vans had followed him, this was the perfect spot to deal with them. Climbing onto a box, he disguised himself as a raccoon. Eyeing the door, he made a show of cleaning his paws. He waited for a few minutes, not seeing any trace of the vans. Looking up, he saw a hole in the skylight. He hopped off the container, quickly shifted into a fly and headed up to the hole to make sure the vans weren’t planning an ambush of their own. He gave the surrounding streets a once over, finding no sign of the vans. His paranoia satisfied, Fury flew back down and changed into his human disguise.
Moments later, and a group of drones stepped out of the darkness.
“What’s the word?” Fury questioned, adjusting his tie. “Everything going alright?”
“It is, but there’s something else that must be discussed,” the largest of the drones said, pushing his way to the front of the group.
“And that is?”
“Your betrayal of the true queen.” The lead drone buzzed his wings, the others in the group moving to surround Fury.
Glancing from left to right, Fury sized the largest drone up. “Chrysalis abandoned us. Why do you think another queen emerged? She’s not even on this world anymore.”
“Stop talking, filth!” The largest drone leapt forward, his wings buzzing madly. Baring his fangs, he went for Fury’s jugular. Dropping his disguise, Fury let the other drone pass harmlessly over where his neck had once been.
“The new queen has given you all an order, you will obey.” Grabbing the drone’s tail in his magic, Fury used him to send another changeling into a stack of crates. “Comply.”
The circle of other drones hissed, drawing closer to Fury. He quickly assessed the situation, not liking his odds. Charging his horn, he closed his eyes and created an intensely bright flash of light. Slipping out, he spread his wings and buzzed into the sky. Changing into a hawk, he soared off, eager to put as much distance between himself and the warehouse.
He didn't even look behind him, wanting to put as much distance between himself and the other lings as possible. He found an alley, then hid in a nearby dumpster. Closing his eyes, he reached out to the mind of his queen.
‘Sup, Fury? Did you get Iron Man in line?’
‘My queen, I'm sorry to report that I have failed you,’ Fury relayed, keeping his ears open to his surroundings. ‘The drones of this city are still loyal to Chrysalis.’
‘Which city is that? Don’t play the pronoun game.’
‘I believe it is called ‘Albuquerque’,’ Fury answered, his muzzle scrunching up. ‘Forgive me, I still struggle with human places.’
‘Of course it would be Albuquerque. Head back to the nearest pocket of changelings and see about getting some back up. I’ll send whoever drops off their cocoons back out to you.’
‘Understood.’ Fury opened his eyes and let the hivemind slip back to his subconscious. Changing back to his human disguise, he slightly opened the lid of the dumpster to check if he had been followed and found. Sighing in relief, he didn’t sense or see any other changelings.
With the coast clear, he hopped out of the dumpster and headed out into the streets to complete the new orders. His mind lingered on the ones who attacked him, pitying their dogged loyalty to a queen that didn't care for them.
