Applejack and I followed the mare across the open ground to the hive entrance. When we got closer I stopped and looked up at the sheer size of it, the structure must have been at least ten stories tall, maybe more. I looked down as the mare coughed.

“It's quite the sight isn't it?”

I nod. “I'm amazed nopony has seen this passing by.”

The mare laughs. “If normal ponies could see the hive then we would be in danger.”

I look to Applejack and Applejack looks to me as the mare steps up and knocks on the door.

“What did you mean, If normal ponies could see it?” I ask, walking up to the mare.

“That would be for our leader to explain, she has more knowledge than me about it.” The mare smiles as the door opens, the mare gestures inside with her hoof. “Welcome to our hive commander!”

I walk pass the mare and step into the structure, I freeze as I find the inside was bigger than the outside.

“Whoa! Doctor who flashback!” I say, only for my breathing to halt as I look forward and I had nearly a hundred sets of eyes staring right at me. “Uh...hi.” I give a little wave. I knew about ten seconds later that it was a bad idea as several mares screamed and then all hell broke loose.

I watched in amazement as an entire hive of female ponies and changeling hybrids ran around in blind panic, many clashed heads and others just fainted. I noticed some mares huddled together with small foals in their grasps, fear had pretty much paralysed them.

I turn my head to the mare at the door and she was not fairing much better, her ears had flattened and her face was a pure look of worry and the 'I fucked up' look.

“What do I do!?” I ask, shouting over the bedlam.

“Wait right here! I'll get our leader!” The mare replies before running off into the crowds.

“This is not what I imagined would happen!” I state, turning my head to Applejack.

“Me neither!” Applejack responds.

I watch the screaming and running for several more minutes as I then notice armoured guards appear around the large chamber. I put my hands up as many of the guard approach and point spears at me, I take the time to notice all the guards were female aswell.

“Don't move!” A guard says, poking me with a spear.

“Not planning to!” I reply. “I don't want to hurt anypony, I came here to talk!”

“Likely story!” Another guard states. “You're here to kill us!” The guards eyes go narrow. “Not going to happen!”

I admit these mares had guts, I'll give them that. One of the mares though does something that pushed just a little too far, she walked forward and pointed a spear at Applejack almost putting her eye out. I grab the spear and break the end off leaving the guard mare very surprised.

“I'm putting up with you pointing those spears at me but NEVER point them at my marefriend!” I give the guards a narrow stare. “You understand!?”

The guards nod but the mare who's spear I broke just mumbles at her broken shaft. Other guards mingle with the civilians trying to get calm in the hive, several mares with fillies sit by and just watch the drama of my capture unfold.

Now I'm bored. The standing and holding my hands up was fine at the start but now it's just plain annoying. I had put my hands down and sat on the floor of the hive entrance, I rested my back on one of the walls, Applejack had her head on my lap. Many of the guards had left along with some of the civilian mares.

I looked down to Applejack. “Well this is fun.”

Applejack raises her head. “Ah thought the mare was running to get somepony in charge, ah didn't know they lived in Canterlot.”

I snort a laugh and stroke Applejack's mane. I hear the faint sound of hoofsteps coming closer and turn my head to see the mare from before following three other mares of older stature. I watch the mares get closer before I tap Applejack's head and gesture to them.

“Finally!” Applejack says, getting to her hooves.

I stand up and fold my arms as the mares stop ten feet from me like it would save them if something happened.

“Commander Core?” The first mare asked.

“Yes.” I reply.

“Thank Luna you have come.” The mare gestures to the other mares and they bow before walking away. “I'm sorry it took so long for us to meet, the hive council had to vote on who to send out to you.”

“And you got the short straw.” I say.

“I don't mind, it would give me a chance to speak to you directly.” The mare gestures for me and Applejack to follow. “My name is Shadows Light and I will be representing the council.”

“Pleasure to meet you Miss Light or is it Misses?”

“Oh it's Miss commander, actually most of the mares that live here are Miss. We only have a small number that have had partners, if you could call them that.”

“I take it there's no stallions in the hive?” I ask.

“No, it would get too complicated. Besides we have all found ways to sooth those urges.” Shadows Light says, turning and giving me a grin. “But you're not here to hear about our sexual preferences, no, you’re here about Nightstar.”

I nod. “Yes, I was sent here to destroy this hive and kill this empress when she shows her head. Now I'm here I don't think Nightstar was being truthful.”

“There is no empress here commander, not that we know of anyway.” Shadows Light stops and turns to look at me. “Commander can I show you something?”

“Sure.” I reply.

Shadows Light nods and turns back around. “This hive with the princesses help is our greatest hope commander, the mares that live in it's walls are our future. I wish to show you that future.”

I don't say anything as me and Applejack follow Shadows Light into another chamber. Shadows Light gestures for us to stop before crossing to a gem embedded in the nearest wall.

“What I am about to show you is the most valued treasure in the hive.” Shadows Light presses the gem and the wall in front of me and Applejack rises, me and Applejack gasp at what lays beyond. “It's beautiful, is it not?”

I walk forward. “I have no words, just one question.” I put my hand to the crystal window. “How many?” I look into the chamber beyond and there were hundreds if not thousands of crystal cocoons holding fillies and adult mares.

“The count is around fifteen hundred.” Shadows Light replies.

“Fifteen hundred....” I whisper.

“We call this chamber the nursery, it holds many of the mares and fillies that come here but are too injured or weak to keep awake. The mares and fillies are put into stasis crystals until such time their bodies are recovered, then they are removed and absorbed into the general populace.”

“Ah can't imagine losing this to anypony.” Applejack says, stepping up to stand beside me. “John, we can't let this hive be destroyed. It would be devastating.”

I smile before stepping back from the window. “Shadows Light, would you be inclined to keep something very valuable safe for me while I go speak to Nightstar and his goons.”

“It would be my honour to help you commander but what is the item you need to be kept safe?” Shadows Light asks with a raised eyebrow.

I gesture to Applejack. Applejack looks up at me and frowns.

“Ah said ah was gonna help ya and ah mean it! Ah ain't gonna be left behind again!”

“Sorry Applejack but I need to do this alone.” I touch Applejack with a finger and she slumps over, I grab Applejack in my magic and drop her onto Shadows Light's back. “Please keep her safe.”

shadows Light nods. “I won't let anything happen to her, you have my word.”

I smile before stepping back a few metres. “You might want to shield your eyes.” I state before vanishing in a flash of bright light.

“Apple bloom, what are we doing this far into the woods? If we get caught we're done for!”

“Ah know ah saw that carriage land around here some place.”

“Ugh, if John finds us here alone after all that happened last time he's gonna freak!”

“Scootaloo, big brother ain't gonna find out and we will be back long before he comes back from his trip.”

The three fillies carry on into the forest. Their hooves cracking sticks and kicking rocks as they push through the underbrush. The three fillies stop as they hear a rustling sound to their left.

“W-What's that?” Sweetie Belle asks. “T-Timberwolves?”

“That ain't no wolf.” Scootaloo replies pointing to three stallions coming out of the forest nearby.

The CMC crouch down and listen in to the conversation the three stallions are having.

“Do you think he's doing it?” One stallion asks his companions.

“Yeah, those mares are probably screaming for their lives right now.” Another answers, following up with a laugh.

“Stupid mares.” The third stallion adds.

The three stallions all laugh and head off, the three fillies turn to leave but Sweetie Belles hoof snaps a twig, the stallions all turn around.

“You hear that?” The first one says.

“Let's check it out.” The third pony states.

All three stallions move towards the fillies. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle all crouch as low as they could go but it came to naught as two of the stallions move aside the bush they were hiding behind.

“Well well well, look what we have here. Spies.”

“No, we weren’t spying!” Scootaloo says.

“Likely story, now get out here!” The second stallion says, gesturing with his free hoof.

The three fillies file out of the bush and stand before the stallions.

“So what do you think guys? Playthings?” The first stallion asks.

“Nah, not old enough. Probably rip in two if we tried, though they might have mothers or siblings that might come looking for them. Now they would be fair game.” The second stallion replies. “You three are coming with us, I think our boss would love a word with you.”

The three stallions herd the three fillies through the forest towards an unknown destination, Scootaloo looks to Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.

“We're really for it now....”

I strode through the thick bushes of the forest, I had put up a shield of magic to make my trek a little more easier considering I wasn't sneaking this time. I wanted Nightstar to see me coming.

“Halt!”

I freeze as five stallions appear in front of me.

“You! Why have you not completed your job? Where's the fire and screaming? Answer me!” The lead stallion shouts, it didn't help that he was pointing a spear at me the whole time.

I close my eyes and look down as I shake my head. “First things first. You have made three mistakes speaking to me like that.” I hold up my right hand and gesture with four fingers to emphasize my point.

“Why should I care?” The lead stallion asks, clearly he did not truly know who I was.

I keep my hand up but change to hold only one finger up. “One, I am not some lackey you can order around.” I put up a second finger. “Two, I don't like being shouted at unless it's during love making.” I put up the third and final finger. “Three, I know the truth behind the changeling hive I was supposed to attack...” I raise my head and open my eyes into a scowl. “...And I'm not happy!”

The five stallions all shift nervously on their hooves. I start to walk slowly towards them, my previously held up right hand now pointing outwards palm first. The lead stallion turns to his companions.

“I must tell Nightstar! Keep him from reaching the camp!” The lead stallion runs off as the others close the gap he left and raise spears and swords at me.

My right hand glows yellow as I put a little of my magic into it, two of four stallions left drop their weapons and run in the same direction as the lead stallion. I turn to look at the two remaining stallions.

“So? Who dies first?” I ask, still keeping my hand raised.

One of the stallions armed with a spear looks to his partner and nods, seconds later I dodge his spear as it flies past my face. I turn my head back just as the stallion reaches me with a sword raised, I duck under his first swipe and bring my still glowing hand up into a right hook. My hand connects and the stallion goes sprawling away, his partner makes his turn known as he charges me with a scream of rage on his lips.

The stallions scream cuts off short as I bring up my hand and blast him apart with my magic. I give the tree line a quick scan, when nothing else attacks I look to the stallion I punched and notice he was trying to get up. I smile as I approach him, the look of fear as I get close was somewhat amusing. I kneel down as he continues to look at me wide eyed.

“You know I gave you a chance to run.” I look down and laugh. “But as all you so called soldiers do...You never take it.” I reach out and grab his throat. I lift the stallion into the air as I stand and stare into his eyes. I suddenly drop the stallion to the ground as in a flash of green light his body changes into a male version of the mares from the hive. “What the fuck!” I bend down to his prone form. “What the fuck is going on? You're a changeling hybrid!”

The stallion lifts his head. “We are the true changelings! Not those shell covered freaks!”

“What are you talking about?” I ask.

“You have no idea what you have stumbled upon, do you?” I stay silent as the stallion laughs. “You've stumbled upon something far older than any of us.”

“But why attack the mares? What purpose does that serve?” I question.

“Nothing! We haven't attacked them, why would we attack our own families!”

“What? But you're with Nightstar, he wants them dead!”

“We know! And I don't fight for him, a few of us know the truth and we fight against him from the inside.”

I narrow my eyes. “Who's the empress?”

“I don't know! Only Nightstar is permitted to speak with her, and even then it's through some changeling called Vigil.”

“Vigil?” I ask.

“Yes, that's all I know about him. He's some form of liaison between Nightstar and the empress.”

“Where's the camp?” I question, standing up and unclasping Moonlight from my waist. I flick the activation gem and Moonlight extends.

“D-Don't kill me please!”

I hear a sound of hooves running through the forest and I raise Moonlight. I lower my sword and smile as twenty armoured mares from the hive come bursting out the bushes.

“Commander, we have come to help.” The lead mare says.

I gesture to the stallion on the floor. “He needs more help than me, though I could use the assistance.”

The lead mare turns her head to look at the prone stallion and I see her eyes go wide.

“You're like us?” The mare exclaims.

“Yes.” The stallion coughs. “And you are all beautiful.” The stallion smiles.

I notice a mare moving forward from the back of the group, she takes off her helmet as she approaches the stallion.

“Axious?”

The stallions ears perk up. “Icxa?”

The mare drops her helmet and bolts forward wrapping her fore legs around the stallions neck, the two ponies kiss. I turn my gaze and gesture to the lead mare, she looks to me and shrugs.

“I thought I lost you!” The stallion says.

“I thought you were dead!” The mare replies.

“I take it you two know each other?” I ask.

“I hope so!” The mare says, looking up at me. “We have been life partners for sixty years.”

“Wait! How? You two look barely over thirty.” I say.

“Didn't our leader mention this back at the hive?” The lead mare asks, walking forward.

I shake my head. “She didn't go into depth about the hive.”

“Well, our type of changeling can live for up to four hundred years.” The lead mare states with a smug looking grin.

“Well screw me over.” I say, scratching the back of my neck. “Anyway, we have a camp to destroy and your hive to protect.” I turn my attention back to the stallion. “You can stay here with your life partner if you wish but any help would be appreciated.”

“I'm sorry commander but I would like to stay here with Icxa.”

I shrug. “It's not my place to argue, you two stay safe.” The two ponies nod. “Ok ladies, who's up for some soldier bashing?” The mares all cheer. “That's what I like to hear!” I turn around and start to walk in the direction the stallion pointed, I smile. “Get ready Nightstar, I'm coming for you!”

Author's Notes:

Sorry the chapter took so long, works been hell but I'm back on track and I have a longer chapter for you!

Next Chapter - The Empress Revealed!