There was a glaring issue when we arrived. Well six issues to be exact. Six very large, gigantic issues armed to the teeth with heavy weaponry, and mutated from a ghoul like state of undeath to something worse. Something that was getting all too familiar to me as I stared on in disbelief. No one should have that much power in one place, let alone six brutes wielding them. Even Trixie was unsure if she could handle that many. She had told me after I asked, that she might be able to handle one or two, but if six got a hold of her, it wouldn't matter that her outer shell was made of starmetal, they would literally pull her apart at the sockets, and strip away her internal gears if they caught her. That and for all the good laser weaponry would do, they would either shrug it off or regenerate what little damage it caused. That and they were all wearing reinforced metal armor that was thick enough that a single shoulder plate would burden me to a crawl and make my body like that of a turtle.

Only if I had Ambush... I thought to myself. But then again if I had wings as well, it'd be easy to dodge the two wielding thermal lances strapped on either side of them, its use evident as one warmed it up and cooled it down for some reason. Perhaps for warmth? It was a chilly night now that we had arrived. "It is certainly an interesting conundrum." Came Trixies voice, "It would probably be wiser if we could become better prepared for this."

"What, in all likely hood could prepare us 'better' for this?" I asked.

You wanted to know about the button that wouldn't kill you, correct?

Ah mysterious voice in my head named Roggar, nice for you to join us. Yeah, still wanted to press the button, but that was another issue for another time.

My offers still stand, and the drop off point closest to you would be five minutes north, two minutes east, in the large rusted building marked 'HFDE-01'. Just head into the building and drop the box into the center of the room.

Right, so how would whatever it is help with this situation, that and I still didn't know if I could trust the voice, or if I was just going crazy. Wait, can one realize they are crazy? Or is it just a thing that happens and you are not aware of it? But if you can't be aware of being crazy, then would I not be crazy for thinking about Roggar the way that I am? He did know some things that I didn't and I was pretty sure I had never heard a voice as spine tingling deep and mysterious as his before. Grey came as a close second, and Mr.Hoofington was too charismatic in his- ahem their voice to compare.

Sigh, how about a deal? I lead you to some explosives you two can use, and in exchange you take up the deal to drop off the box and prove you're not crazy, okay?

Right, he could still listen to my thoughts, even though I was still missing my brain, and thus shouldn't technically be possible. Still had no idea science had done that.

Yeah, so deal?

I didn't respond, instead I went over options, holding up a hoof to signal to Trixie that I hadn't just gone stalk still into a comatose state, but was thinking over it. Eventually, when I ran out of alternatives discovered none that guaranteed success, I responded in turn to take him up on it.

Good, now head east for ten minutes east at a trot, you'll see an old Artillery dump and test firing facility. Inside the building is a gun locker that has enough ammunition as well as a new toy for your companion to use. Oh, and do watch out for the brute and lobotomites guarding it. Seems a brute has made a pack of sorts there and its his den.

"Trixie, what sort of communications system do you have?" I asked the unicorn robot mare, and she responded in turn.

"Audio speech capabilities to communication in forty seven different languages as well as initiate long range contact through a radio inbuilt separate from my primary and secondary systems. In case of an emergency this platform is capable of reaching a maximum distance of three hundred miles while maintaining a severe level of encryption." Trixie told me, and I whistled.

"Can it connect to a pipbuck 2500?"

"That series lacks any sort of microphone for communications with others, and can only receive signals from long range and can't transfer data outwards without directly connecting to a terminal with a mark 2.5 or below, connection cable." Trixie remarked to me, "I can send you a message but you won't be able to communicate back."

I told her the information that roggar gave me, and she looked puzzled, "This came from the Changeling hive mind, did it not?"

I contemplated telling her about Roggar, but I didn't want to sound crazy. Seriously, if I... Okay, it was dishonest of me, but I lied, "Yeah, I guess, not entirely sure it's one hundred percent accurate though. Mind sending me a message over the radio if it's true?"

"The hive mind has always been an interesting topic to this units creator." Trixie told me, "Mind if this unit asks how it is like before your departure Commander?"

"Just Aria." I said, as my mind reviewed over what other changelings have said about it. Apparently when a changeling reached early adult hood in their mental facilities, they gained access to the primary function of the hive, however, from birth the hive mind had a lesser degree of effect on the individuals inside it, though I drew on what older members of my Stable had told me as I answered her question, "And like a background noise of a filled stadium, hundreds of voices chattering yet listening all at once."

Swiftly I bid Trixie goodbye, promising to meet her back here once we were both done, and departed, thinking further on my own body and its implications.

Normally, when a changeling is conceived, or first made, it is influenced from a hive mind to affect the growth. This is known as the caste. Drones, warriors, and even queens were made from this system. However due to starting from nothing but a set of DNA samples, the scientists of my Stable had no preexisting Hive mind, and only a scattering of drones and warriors to chose from. Some say that a few of the samples contained candidates for the Queen Castes but that had yet to of been proven true. This subconscious variant of the Hive Mind lingered onward, however, adjusting the species as time grew on in subtle ways, to better withstand their environment. However, this gave way to some changes in changeling biology that made them clearly different than ponies. For example, instead of being warm blooded with an immune system that adapted itself, the hive took its place and left the species cold blooded. We were more exposed to the heat and cold than other species, but made up for that with our magic and constantly adapting immune system.

One hive, as history said, used this to the point that they had to only have one drone infected with a toxin or poison in order to immunize the rest of the hive and adapt the substance to their own use. That was a green shelled hive lead by king Monarch. The invaders of Canterlot, lead by queen Chrysalis and her blue shelled hive in an era before the war, was adapted to using themselves as projectiles as a siege magic that was beyond the other hives. The Red hive, lead by Spiders Wrath, was particularly berserk in nature and grew in a land that knew mostly hatred and fed off of that instead of love. My hive was orange. A hive without a queen or previous history in the world, but rather a mixture of Changeling genetics at its core.

This meant that we were, in a way, a blank slate. A blank slate without directives, with scientists continually altering it to try and make a queen, and thus reestablish the central 'hive directive' as it were. Only to be met with partial success. There were certain members that maintained the hive unity in the stable, often at the cost of physical powers, their mental facilities were increased, and at a limited range could control the rest of the hive en mass. They were called Hive Controllers by the scientists, though most of us called them 'The Servants' for their obedience to the Overstallion. One of every fifty castes had a Hive Controller, and at any given time there were twenty of them in the Stable itself. Never had there been a direct Queen or King for the orange caste. Our only ruler had been the scientists who bred and experimented on us.

Soon enough I came to the building Roggar had pointed me to, his destination being that of a much smaller dome shaped building of faded rusted paint and metal which lead into a hallway filled with predictably dead skeletons. The room beyond however had collapsed into a large pit which had depths I couldn't see the end of. Briefly I sought for a comparison, but it was Roggar who told me, It's a Sinkhole, of a sorts. One created through magic rather than that of natural earth moving. Part of a reverse engineering experiment for the Earthshaker megaspell. One they had success reverse engineering to a limited degree anyway. Mind getting out the box?

"Give me a second to confirm your previous agreement." I spoke aloud, having detected nothing nearby, and spotting no machines or stations to contain the robots nearby, "Why is this thing so important to you anyway?"

It is an item of great personal value to me, as I used to own it before it was taken to be examined. Never got it back from the ponies I lent it to, and for that they still burn for breaking that deal in particular.

"So what exactly is... it?" I asked and the voice chuckled.

It is a tool, and a friend. A weapon yet a shield. Blacker than darkest night and yet purer than radiant light. It was forged from a star that had fallen yet not had the chance to cool. Rare that is, by the way.

"Rare? What makes it different from other pieces of starmetal?" my response was confused, what exactly was the difference, anyway?

Starmetal that has not yet cooled from its fall from space is still alive, that is the difference. If given the proper time and magic, as well as the rare chance that you're present at the time of the crash, means that you can still save the mind inside. Thus bringing about the best state of the metal within the fallen star. I deemed this form of starmetal 'Ashril'. Though ponies referred to the weapons forged in this manner as 'Legendary' or 'Mithril' before the rediscovery of starmetal in the prediscordian eras.

Prediscordian era? Wasn't that set of history lost to time and was deemed to have happened right before the founding of Equestrias rulers Celestia and Luna? Just how old was Roggar? I buried the question away for later, and continued onward. Ever onward. Soon enough I found myself before the pit, and checking my broadcaster. I could of sworn I heard a distant explosion a few minutes of waiting later, but eventually the radio signaled that Trixie had found what she had been seeking. At that point, there was little choice left. A deal was a deal after all.

The pit itself was massive, massive enough to have walkways that were reinforced by the ceiling with thick pillars, and a station hovering over the middle of it like a massive stalactite. Dozens of mechanical arms and drills hanging below it like cave moss growing near a waterfall. The stank of old machines and open earth was strong here, and carefully I trotted my way across the platforms towards the center bound station. Roggar's voice resounded in my head once more, seemingly stronger now that I was close to this dark endless pit. It wasn't as wide as the Hole, by no measure, but the darkness that sang out of that hole, was much more piercing. When you reach the center, place the crate down on the northern edge and wait. My associate will come and give you the trade. Now listen, this is important. When he comes, lower your head, do not meet his gaze, do not move, keep a neutral expression, and whatever you do, do not mention either stairs or crystals to him.

"Whats wrong with stairs and crystals?" I found myself asking, and was rewarded with a long suffering sigh.

Long story, one we'd be here all day if I had both the energy and time to explain it. I got the distinct impression that Roggar didn't like his associate much, Now if you have no further interruptions to make, get to it, please.

I placed the chilly black box at the edge, like he wished, and waited.I was aware when he came. It was impossible to miss that lingering aura of his. The natural light that flooded from cracks in the ceiling dampened when it came, as instructed I lowered my head, and kept a neutral expression. Next signs of his arrival was a black fog that slowly creeped its way up from the tiny holes that marked the walkway grates as a much more solid mass also raised itself up. I saw his eyes but a moment before I adverted my own gaze, red slits surrounded by a sea of dark green. Purple flames wafting ominously from their sides. He breathed loudly, far too loudly for any one being, as he rose. My artificial spine shivered in fear, and I could see a slight cloud of fog whenever I breathed out. Was this the presence of a god? That condescending glare chilled me to the bone. Like the wrath of a winter I never knew was upon me.

From the corner of my eye, I watched as two tendrils of the same darkness that made up his mass reached out and wrapped themselves around the box and pulled it off the edge. In its place a black clothed bundle being placed down. But then his eyes were in my vision, directly so and less than an inch. There was nowhere left to look but in his gaze. Then he spoke. His voice was husky, as if worn raw from long years of screaming, yet elegant, "You smell." he commented.

What.

I had to resist the urge to scrunch my face, he wasn't exactly that nice smelling either, though I declined the retort. I liked my face where it was, thank you very much. However, he wasn't done speaking, as he glided past me, circling around me with an almost formal gait to himself, as formal as anyone without legs could be I guess, "Hmm, I see why he chose you, at least physically that is. Reminds us of ourselves... That stench." He rounded on my face again, and it took a lot of willpower not to flinch, "Why do you reject his offer?"

I declined to comment, afraid of what he might do if I spoke, and he sighed, "Seriously? One of the silent types?" he shook his shadowy approximation for a head and kept circling around me, "Guess there is more than one way to find out." He came around on me, once more, but instead of ending with his gaze less than an inch away from my own. He kept going forward. Forward until he crashed and dissipated into my face. I barely had time to register what he had done before everything in my mind was sent into disarray as a new presence forced itself in. I collapsed, squirming, and giving a choked scream as in a flurry of mental lashing the new presence asserted itself over me, and dug through my memories in an instant, only pausing as he reached one in particular, "So young, you are, to deal with the times of war." he commented, I was a backseat passenger to his examinations of my mind.

What he was viewing over, was the day before I left the stable. Something I had tried my best to keep out of my mind. "You are afraid of betrayal." he commented rewinding the scene again and playing from the start, "Just as I was so long ago. Well before, my first death anyway." He brought the memory closer, as the scene played out, 17 and I had just ended the fight against the other hive, and he studied it in analytically, 17 had aimed his gun at me, and the mysterious figure raised an eyebrow, "Stupid device, guns are. Very impersonal method of killing someone. I preferred a sword to any sort of ranged weapon in that matter. Though some circumstances warranted it. Your luck seems rather low, yet it works in your favor here."

I couldn't comment, I was about as able to communicate as a wagon was to its passengers. He scanned through the rest of my mind all the way up to the present and into watching himself watch my memories before snorting, he changed his gaze back to me, "I see why you reject his offer, Roggars that is. Though you really shouldn't. He's offering you your natural magic, rather than that of the hive. Rare breed too at that. A rare heritage it is, to smell of both a bat, bird, and a bug. Let alone have the potential for that sort of magic." He paused, gauging my reaction, before exiting my mind. My spasming body slowed down to ragged breathing as he reformed, and continued on, "But altering your body isn't my job, at least not yet." his glare returned, "Take good care, Aria Web. Destiny has some big plans for you."

My body focused on breathing, long after he left, slowly managing to regain my senses and once I was able to stand back up, I groaned. Sorry about Bramos, he can be a tad bit invasive at times. Still not used to the whole talking thing even after a few hundred years. He can't get the concept down that someone else needs to talk as well to have a conversation.

I gave him my complaint, and he gave me another apology as I trotted to where the bundle had been placed down and opened it, fit wasn't a shiny box with a shiny button, but it was a black cloth that was extremely soft to the touch, I almost wanted a blanket out of it. what was inside, however, was puzzling. There were two weapons, both of the same design, but it was clear from a glance one was meant for training, while the other, not so much. Underneath it was a book, but the weapon itself was a lot more interesting. It was a knife, from a glance, a knife connected at the hilt to a long chain that had been neatly wrapped together and ended with a small ball that had decided to end in yet another sharp point like an ice cream cone. Slowly I unsheathed the blade end of the weapon and gave a look of confusion. The blade's base, or back for the matter, was a dark blue that was bordering on pure black, while the edge of the blade was a much brighter sheen of blue, almost neon so. Though besides the strange colors, the more questioning things ran along the other end of the blade. Four oval like spheres of various sizes made of what appeared to be amethyst, only the two largest ones had symbols carved into them.

It's a Kusarigama. A weapon of Neighpon origins. Well its the knife variant of it anyway. Usually these things are small scythes with chains instead of knives with the same, but I found that the knife version is a lot more useful and less prone to get stuck in things than the scythe one. But that's just personal experience. Her name is Cloak, by the way. So take good care of her.While she may take some time to master, the knife no doubt can help you with a good portion of your problems in the future should you choose to master it.

As I took a closer look at the blade, I scrunched my nose. where was the edge of the blade? It started to get narrower and narrower the more I looked.

Oh, and do yourself a favor, and learn how sharp it is now, there is a benefit to this sort of blade, and that isn't just its endurance, but what its endurance allows for sharpening. Don't need a certain someone to end up missing a leg because they thought to try catching their own blade with a hoof. Try dropping it on the platform, its made of weaker mass produced metal, but still should be a gauge for you.

I did as he said, dropping the blade while letting the chain slide around my grasp, it was oddly smooth and relaxing, how the chain slid across my chitin, but it was no less shocking when about a third of the blade passed through the metal as if it weren't there before coming to a halt on the second gem in its length. The sheath is one of the few things it won't cut, and don't ask why, there is a lot of enchantments that go into these sort of weapons, thus the gemstones that are implanted on it. which act as both a focus, and a self sustaining power source for your blade. I sheathed it and strapped it to my side, bidding Roggar thanks, but still uncertain if it would be able to help in what I had to clear away with Trixie.

with new gear in hoof and book in bag, I trotted back to where I said I'd meet Trixie. Hopefully what she had gotten would be of much greater importance.

Xp Footnote: 2% until Level up.

Quest Perk: Star touched: Your communications with Roggar grow stronger every day... Eventually he may even become a companion, but until then this perk increases effectiveness with starmetal based weapons by 10%. As well as adds a buff to Roggar's communications with you as long as you have at least one starmetal object on your person or nearby. How Strange!

A bit of filler before we get to the big boss fight with bull frown and his 'goons'. This will be fun, to be sure. Tune in next time, on FE:ACP.