The past three weeks have been agonizing work for the Equestrian Rescue team. Ever since Shining Armor formed his team that would rescue his missing brother-in-law, they had been preparing for the mission day in and day out. Twilight, Spike, and the four guards were put through rigorous training sessions, prepping them for all scenarios that could occur. Berry and Gilda, however, only ever showed up for mission briefings, never partaking in the training. Shining Armor did not like this, but was unable to ever find those two unless they wanted to be found. He found Berry’s new attitude very strange and couldn’t help but feel worried about the young alicorn, especially with nearly three months of her life being unaccounted for. Those two would be able to perform their part, or so they told him. He could only hope.

Now was the not the time for negativity, though. Shining and his team had arrived in Dodge Junction, the closest settlement to the Bad Lands, a couple of days prior and the Changeling Hive was now in sight. Three weeks of preparation and training was about to culminate in a rescue the likes of which Equestria hadn’t seen in centuries. Shining mentally went over his team. Two highly powerful alicorns, one with a massive magical reserve and the other whose powers were unknown. Two crystal earth ponies whose strength rivaled minotaurs, but who also had the powers of invisibility that was unique to the crystal ponies. Two highly trained royal guards, one a unicorn who specialized in stealth and precision magic, the other a pegasus who could have been a Wonderbolt with her speed. Then there was a highly trained dragon with transformative abilities and a griffon with anger issues. Including himself with his specialty in shield magic, they were quite the ragtag group; something he just knew DJ would pick up on.

He turned to Pixel Berry, who was glaring at the massive hive, and spoke. “Alright then Berry, let’s see the map.”

Berry teleported the map into her magical grip and opened it. “Our entrance is about 3 klicks south west of here.” She folded the map and stashed it. “Let’s go, we don’t know what kind of hell brother has been through since we last heard from him.” She and Gilda started down the hill where they were stationed, leaving the others to catch up. Roughly an hour later, the group found the entrance they needed, it was a low exhaust point where fresh, clean air was cycled into the hive naturally through the caves. It was on the lowest level of the hive, according to the map, and was lightly guarded making it a good entrance for the group. They hid behind a nearby rock, watching the cave with suspicion.

“You’re up girl,” Gilda whispered to Berry. The young alicorn nodded and lit her horn. In front of them, her magical pixels began to form in the air until a strange spherical object was floating there. It had a few grooves cut into it and a large glowing circle on the front. Pixel urged the construct forward, her eyes glowing a dim white. The seconds ticked by and then Pixel cut the magic on her horn and her eyes returned to normal. She shook her head clear and addressed the group.

“There’s one guard roughly halfway in, but it’s clear from there.”

Shining nodded, not exactly sure what he just saw, but it was certainly helpful. “Alright. Lieutenant, you’re up,” he said addressing one of the crystal ponies. The stallion nodded and disappeared from sight. The group waited a few moments and then began to make their way into the air cleanser. Just as Berry said, there was a guard about halfway into the tunnel, only he was now unconscious and lying in a heap. The team pushed on and found the lieutenant standing watch near the exit.

“We’re clear your highness,” he reported with a salute.

Shining nodded. “Good work, Lieutenant,” he commended and then turned to the group, “Alright, phase one complete. Now to find our missing prince. Which way to the prisons?” Shining asked, looking at Berry.

Berry was currently overlooking the map. “As we know, this level contains five separate detention areas, and we have no idea which one my brother is being held in. So, we start with the nearest one and hope for the best. It’s about a half klick, that way,” she said while pointing down a darkened hall.

“Good. Remember, we stick together. We can’t have anypony going off to be a hero. And make sure we aren’t seen. The less commotion we make, the easier it will be to get out of here without a problem.” They all nodded and trudged off into the tunnels.

Hours later, and they had found nothing; not a single sign of the prince. What was even stranger was the complete lack of guards at all. Not once had they come across a single changeling down there. It was beginning to make several of them worry that the changelings already knew they were coming. Suddenly, they heard something coming from one of the vertical shafts behind them. They turned and got ready for whatever was coming at them. Gilda flashed her claws, the ponies with horns lit them with magic, the crystal ponies stood ready to defend, the pegasus flew up to be able to take down any enemy from the air, and Spike went into ‘fight mode’, as he called it. The sound got louder and louder, until finally something came crashing out of the shaft, barreling straight into Twilight who yelped at the sudden attack. Not a second later, a purple beam of light was fired from her horn, sending whatever it was flying off her and landing in a heap in front of the group. Shining helped his sister to her hooves, but stopped as the form let out a groan and began to speak.

“Ugh, okay, who left an S.M.A.R.T. bomb at the bottom of the shaft? That freakin’ hurt!” All eyes suddenly turned to see a deep blue alicorn who was holding his head. “I really need to talk with someone about my bad luck. Maybe I need to get me a seven leaf clover.”

“DJ?” Twilight asked tentatively. The alicorn looked at them in shock, but then smiled brightly.

“Well, well, well. What a wonderful surprise!”

*****The Changeling Hive – A Few Hours Earlier*****

“Years of planning have finally paid off, man,” Scout was saying as he and DJ walked through the rebel hideout. The last three weeks had been busy for all of them. Night guards all over the Hive had been disappearing only to appear in a storage closet in the hideout. Everything was going to plan and today was the day: the day where Chrysalis was defeated and a new reign of peace began.

“Yep, a real ‘Murican style revolution we got here,” DJ replied with a smile.

“’Murica?” Scout asked.

“It’s a fun way of saying ‘America’. Most in my country who bothered doing it, did so with a loud yell full of patriotism! Like this: ‘MURICA!! See, it is fun!”

Scout smiled and chuckled a little to himself, but before he could say anything, a voice came from above. “You teaching my hatch brother more nonsense?”

Both stallions looked up to see Sting working on sharpening his spear. DJ smiled at his other changeling friend. “’Sup, Sting! Ready for tonight?”

“Damn straight, but I really wish you would stop infecting my hatch brother with those strange phrases of yours. He’s already gotten most of the army to chant ‘vive la revolution’ when we charge the palace. We don’t need him randomly spouting ‘Murica’ now, too.”

Sting looked affronted. “I am simply embracing my patriotism, dear brother! How dare you insinuate that I simply do it for fun. That just happens to be a good benefit to doing so.”

Sting rolled his eyes and then pointed his spear at DJ. “You are a terrible influence,” he declared.

DJ smirked. “I know.” The three shared a good laugh. It was amazing how close the three stallions had become in only about two months. DJ had learned so much from these two, like them being ‘hatch brothers’ which meant that they were hatched at the same time and right next to each other. As close to twins as the changeling society got. They were good guys, only wanting what was best for their fellow man… bug… thing. Scout and Sting enjoyed DJ’s company as well, knowing that this pony was not like the others and was actually willing to risk his own life for them. He was a true friend. Before any of them could talk any further, Insectum came into view at the center podium.

“Alright everyone, gather around!” she declared. A few minutes passed before they were all ready to listen to the changeling princess. “First of all, I thank all of you for your devotion to our cause. I know this is strange and eerily odd to all of you, myself included, but we must face facts. Our mother, Queen Chrysalis, is taking our kind down a dark path, one that we may never be able to walk away from if we continue. I won’t lie to you, today there will be bloodshed. There will be those who will remain loyal despite the facts and they will not go down without a fight. It will be a full on civil war out there and not all of us may make it out this alive. But, this our only chance to make sure that we as a race survive. Prince DJ of Equestria has promised us peace and will be assisting in our efforts. He has even offered to be the first to charge into battle!” It was at the point that DJ’s mind took a little vacation. I agreed to what now? “But it will not be he who takes down mother and imprisons her for her crime, it will be us! For today, we are one kind; one family! For the changelings!”

“FOR THE CHANGELINGS!!”cried the crowd.

“Great! Now to your stations everyone! We have a kingdom to take back!”

“Yeah!!” they cried out and got to work, finishing up the weapons prepping, assembling and donning their armor, etc. Insectum then approached DJ.

“I believe these belong to you,” she said while hoofing him two silver cylinders. It was his primary weapons: the lightsabers!

“You came through,” he said, summoning them to his belt clip. “I guess that just leaves my end of the deal.”

The princess nodded. “And remember DJ, it must be one of us who defeats mother, or the changelings will think that you are trying to take over.”

He nodded in understanding. “Yeah I get it. Trust me, ruling your kingdom is the last thing I want to do. Can you imagine me being the king of anything? That’s a bad idea written all over it. Now, what’s this about me leading the charge?”

Insectum smiled cruelly. “Oh, but wouldn’t be grand to have mother see the son of Celestia leading her children against her?”

DJ deadpanned. “Ironic justice, eh? Honestly, that seems a little cruel, even for you. But, hey, I don’t make the rules. Better get going, then, huh?”

Insectum nodded. “Mm hmm.” She pointed over to a nearby hole. “That will lead you to our starting point. Once we are ready, you are to descend down into there and make sure we have a clear path to march into the palace. Understand?”

“Completely,” DJ confirmed with a nod. After running through a few checks, mostly on armor and weapons, it was time for DJ to go. DJ turned to see Scout, Sting, and Insectum watching him patiently. “See you all on the battlefield,” he said, approaching the hole.

“We’ll meet you inside the palace,” Scout told him. “Don’t be late!”

DJ smirked. “Don’t even know the meaning of the word!” DJ back flipped and fell down into the hole, screaming “Yahoohoohooiee!” the whole way down. Most of the shaft was a straight shot, but then, DJ hit a bend. “Yeowch!” he said as he bounded off the curve, tumbling down the shaft. He hit several more twists and turns, until finally shooting out the bottom end. He landed in a heap on top of something that was warm and soft, only for him to be shot skyward by a powerful blast. This time, he landed in a heap on hard rock. “Ugh, okay, who left an S.M.A.R.T. bomb at the bottom of the shaft? That freakin’ hurt! I really need to talk with someone about my bad luck. Maybe I need to get me a seven leaf clover.” DJ shook off the grogginess of being bounced around and then hear a familiar voice speak to him.

“DJ?” The alicorn jerked his head in the direction of his voice and was shocked to see who he saw. Standing there was none other than his loving wife Twilight, being helped up by her brother Shining Armor. He saw that they were surrounded by armored ponies. He realized immediately what he was seeing: his rescue team. He smiled brightly before addressing them with a pleasant British accent.

“Well, well, well. What a wonderful surprise! You blokes here to rescue little ol’ me? Ah, I’m touched!”

“DJ!” Twilight cried, but was stopped from rushing him by Shining’s magic.

“Hold on Twily, this could be a trap. He could just be a changeling in disguise.”

DJ frowned at Shining for stopping Twilight from glomping him and no doubt peppering him with kisses. He would have loved that! “Aw come on! Me want the love of a certain purple mare!” he whined while sticking out his forehooves in a false attempt to grab her. This only caused Shining to glare at him even harsher.

“You may sound like my brother-in-law, you may even look like him, but how do we know you’re really DJ Sparkle?”

DJ brought a hoof to his chin, tapping it while thinking on best to prove his identity. He smiled as an idea came to him. “Alright, I know how to prove myself!” The group leaned in slightly, all anxious to see what he had planned. “How many other crazy minded stallions can do this!” DJ’s body then began to spazz out uncontrollably as he shouted, “FAIRY GODPARENTS! FAIRY GODPARENTS!! FAIRY GODPARENTS!!!” When he was done, DJ looked out to see all of them stunned beyond speech. Then the tall fellow spoke with a familiar voice.

“Eeyup, that’s bro alright.” DJ’s eyes widened and he rushed forward, passed Shining, Twilight, and the other guards, right up to the towering figure.

“Spike? Is that you?” The teenage dragon nodded with a happy smile. “What the hell happened to you? You’re tall and muscular and wearing a rip off of my coat! I must say you look like quite the bad flank, my good drake.” DJ was nodding appreciatively and smiling proudly. An ‘ehem’, brought his focus back to the mare he had rush by. “Eheheh,” he laughed nervously, “Sorry, dear. Got caught up in the moment.”

Twilight then began to advance on him, her smile turning to a snarl. Uh oh! “You stupid, moron, and problem causing stallion!” she screamed at him as she got right in his face. “Do you have any idea how worried everypony has been about you?!” she asked while poking him with a hoof. “Well? What do you have to say for yourself mister?”

DJ just stared at her with a blank face and then pulled a notebook out of… wherever it is that Pinkie trained ponies keep stuff. “I got you some knowledge,” he said while presenting her the notebook. Twilight eyes the notebook cautiously.

“What kind of knowledge?”

“Changeling knowledge. Like how their society and economy works, some of their biology, and a fair amount of history,” he listed off. Twilight looked between him and the notebook a few times with an unreadable expression. Then, suddenly, Twilight pushed forward and kissed DJ passionately on the lips. It lasted for thirty seconds before they broke, both having loving smiles. Twilight then leaned in and nuzzled DJ lovingly.

“You’re the best,” she purred.

“I try,” he shrugged.

“Good to see you are in one piece, brother,” said a voice off to his left. DJ turned and smiled at the sight of his little sister.

“Haha, if it ain’t little Pixel here to save me, too! Well, don’t I feel just down right special.” Several ponies and one dragon rolled their eyes at him; now they knew for sure that this was the one and only DJ.

“Hey wait,” said a griffon who was with the group. “How did you even get here, dude? Aren’t you supposed to be, ya know, locked up?”

DJ leaned into Twilight’s ear and whispered, “Who’s the griffon?”

“You should know, wasn’t she in one of your episodes? That’s Gilda and apparently she and Berry are friends now,” Twilight whispered in return. DJ stared at her with bug-eyes, but quickly dispelled the shock. Before he could speak, however, another sound came from the shaft he fell out of. All of them turned to see a changeling land at the bottom of the shaft with the grace that DJ so truly lacked.

“Prince Sparkle, is the way clear,” the changeling hissed out. DJ’s family and rescue team turned to him in shock, but he focused on the bug.

“All clear, Private. You may begin when ready.” The changeling nodded and the shouted something up the shaft in their language of clicks and hisses. The shaft began to shake violently and DJ panicked. He grabbed Twilight and Shining, throwing them to the ground with him. “HIT THE DECK!!” he shouted to the others and they followed suit. Not a moment later, hundreds of changelings started to pour out of the tunnel, flying overhead with incredible speed. As the rescue team watched in frightened awe, the heard shouting from the bugs above.

“Vive la revolution!!”

“VIVE LA REVOLUTION!!!”

Just as sudden as it began, the swarm had flown by completely, leaving the group, save for DJ, to wonder what just happened. “Okay, what the bucking Tartarus was that?!” Shining exclaimed.

DJ laughed nervously. “Um, well you see, um, it’s kinda hard to explain.”

“Then get started,” Twilight said with a glare.

“Um, well, um, I may have, um, started a, mmhhm, a changeling revolution against Queen Chrysalis?” DJ laughed nervously some more while the group stared at him incredulously. “It’s true!”

“Yeah, right,” said Gilda. “And I’m a dragon!”

“Well, at one point—“ Pixel Berry started.

“Shut it Pixel!” Gilda growled, but Pixel only looked away with a smirk. Before any of the others could voice their opinions, another changeling landed in front of them, only this one looked like a much younger Chrysalis.

“Prince Sparkle, what are you still doing here? We are marching on the palace now! Wait,” she said while looking over the group. “Did you call for reinforcements?”

“Eenope, they’re my rescue team! Don’t worry, I’m still gonna help lock away ol’ bug butt.” DJ turned to the group. “Everypony, meet Princess Insectum, leader of the Changeling Rebellion and daughter of Queen Chrysalis. Insectum, may I introduce you to my wife, Twilight, sister, Pixel Berry, and brother-in-laws, Shining Armor and Spike. The rest are only acquaintances.”

Insectum bowed to the group. “It is a pleasure to meet you all,” then her glare turned harsh. “Save for you, Princess Berry. I thought you said you would have no part in ‘saving some worthless bugs’. Change your mind?”

Pixel Berry returned the glare. “I only here for my brother, Insectum. Nothing more.”

Again DJ whispered to Twilight. “What the hay am I missing here?”

“Berry has been missing for months, only for her to show up at the meeting where we were planning your rescue. She just appeared with that griffon as well as highly detailed maps of the hives that she says she stole from here. I think she and your mother have been fighting, too.”

That pained DJ to hear, but right now was not the time to focus on that. “You two can deal with your issues later,” he told the two glaring mares. “Right now, we have a queen to dethrone. So guys, care to help put Chrissy in her place?”

Spike smirked an unsheathed his brace blades, pulling the hood over his head. “I’m in!”

Shining Armor smiled sinisterly. “Do you have to even ask?”

Twilight was suddenly lit ablaze as she rage shifted. “I’m gonna show that bitch that you don’t mess with my family.”

DJ stood there stunned at his wife’s sudden rage and anger. Then he smiled goofily. “Oh, that is so hot!”

Love sick fool.

Jealous, much?

Not in the slightest.

Pixel turned to Gilda. “What do you say Gilda? Up for putting the changelings in their place?”

Gilda smirked. “Tartarus yeah! Let’s show ‘em!” The remaining guards voiced similar opinions and DJ smiled. He turned to Insectum and said,

“Looks we got some reinforcements, princess. Now, let’s go show Chrissy that you don’t mess with the lives of others.” Insectum smiled.

“Thank you all for your help, it is most appreciated. Now follow me, Scout and Sting are probably halfway to the throne room by now.” Insectum took flight and flew after her swarm. DJ, Twilight, Berry, Gilda, and the pegasus guard flew after her, while the others ran on foot/hoof.

“So, who’s Scout and Sting?” Berry asked over the wind.

“They were the day guards outside my cell. We became friends after a while and they taught me all about the changeling culture. They told Insectum about me and she brought me into the rebellion to assist. I made a deal with them if this works out.”

“What kind of deal?” asked Twilight.

“You’ll see, love. Trust me when I saw that when this is all over, everyone, both pony and changeling, is gonna be better off. For right now, though, let’s just focus on beating that bug queen to a pulp.”

They flew in silence the rest of the way, but landed when they saw Insectum on the ground just up ahead. The others were right behind them and they looked out into a massive cavern. Up above and below was a towering rock that had been shaped from ancient rock into the form of a massive castle. All around it, changelings were fighting other changelings, green blood spattered in certain areas. Insectum had ordered her troops to try and convince as many as they could to their cause, but even she knew that this would be a likely result. DJ saw that she was fighting back tears, so he put a wing around her, much to Twilight’s chagrin, but she realized that it was only a friendly gesture.

“Come on Insectum, we need to stay focused, otherwise those lives were lost in vain.”

She shook her head clear. “Yes, thank you Prince Sparkle.”

“Hey, we’re friends; call me DJ.” She smiled and nodded. “Good, now let’s go!” DJ and the others picked up the ground walkers and followed Insectum up to the higher levels of the castle. They landed on one the outer walkways only to meet a group of guards.

“Stand down in the name of--. Princess Insectum? What are you doing with intruders?!” a guard exclaimed.

“Doing what needs to be done! Tell your men to stand down and join us or be destroyed. Queen Chrysalis has failed as a leader and it’s time for a change.”

“Y-you’re a traitor! Take her and the intruders down!” The changelings behind him lit their horns, ready to blast, but DJ jumped in front of Insectum and fired a spell of his own. His horn lit up with dark blue magic and fired a mighty gust at them, freezing all seven guards solid. DJ smiled at his hoofwork.

“Aw man, does it feel good to use this thing again,” he said while looking at his horn. “Thanks for breaking me out of those binds earlier, Insectum. Now, let’s go get us a queen!” The troop charge onward into the castle, only being stopped by other guards a few times before running into a small group of changelings standing in front of a large set of doors. “Sting! Scout!” DJ proclaimed, coming to a stop in front of the pair. He smiled at them brightly, but then Sting slugged him in the shoulder. “Hey! What was that for?” he asked while rubbing his shoulder.

“For teaching my hatch brother ‘Murica! He won’t stop shouting it!” Sting said with an annoyed expression.

“’MURICA!!” Scout yelled, not helping in the slightest. Twilight and the others facehoofed.

“You’ve been infecting others with your craziness?” Twilight asked him with exhaustion in her voice. “The last thing this world needs is more randoms, dear.”

“Randoms will rule the world!” DJ proclaimed with a hoof out in a salute. “Heil Randomness!”

Twilight, Pixel, Spike, and Shining just shook their heads. “The world is doomed,” they said together, causing DJ to smile brightly.

Scout chuckled himself. “Well, is everypony ready?” The group consisting of eight ponies, one dragon, a griffon, and six changelings nodded to each other. “It’s time!” As one, they charged the door to the throne. Sitting in the middle of the room staring out at the battle below, was Queen Chrysalis, surrounded by twenty-five changelings guards, all in a defensive position in front of the queen. Slowly, Chrysalis turned around to face the group, an emotionless face present on her.

“Mother,” Insectum spat at her.

“Daughter,” Chrysalis said without any tone. “So, you are behind this coup. I should have known, you are much like your grandmother. She too, believed I was wrong, but we all know what happened to her… I killed her. Now, it seems you must share her fate as well. Guards, kill them all!” The guards rushed forward, spears and horn pointed for the kill. DJ and his group charged themselves, meeting the changelings half way.

From there, everything spiraled into utter chaos. DJ and Twilight fought side by side, slinging spells one after another. Twilight would light the bugs with fire and DJ would freeze them solid to keep the fire from spreading. Spike was fighting fierce against one extremely well trained spear user, matching each other blow for blow. Pixel and Gilda were working in tandem to take out their enemies, using pixel magic and fire breath to defeat them. Insectum and her company kept getting swarmed as more guards flew in from the windows to defend their queen.

It was during this confusion that Scout saw his chance. It was a small opening in the fighting that led right to Chrysalis and he rushed forward, anxious to end all this fighting here and now. Chrysalis would never even see him coming, so with his head down and sharpened horn forward, he charged the queen. Just as he neared her, Scout suddenly found himself engulfed in green magic. His body was floated up so Chrysalis could see him directly.

“Why do you fight your queen mother, changeling? Have I not been a true queen?” she asked him, no emotion at all was present her voice.

“I fight so that we may have a future!” Scout spat back at her. “Your blasted revenge will doom us all and I am not going to sit back and let you kill us all! Now put me down so I can defeat you!”

Chrysalis stared into Scout’s unnerving glare. She then closed her eyes and shook her head. “It always hurts a mother when her child turns on her. I am sorry, changeling, but if you refuse to accept your place in the hive, then you will have no place at all!”

“What the hay do you—ugh!” Scout was interrupted from asking Chrysalis what she meant by a sharp horn piercing through his chitin armor and right through his abdomen. Chrysalis pulled back her head, her horn now glistening with green blood. She grunted and threw Scout’s body away. Only one other being saw what had happened, but was too stunned to see anything, but once Scout’s body hit the floor of the throne room, he yelled out to his new friend; DJ called out desperately for him to be alright, gathering everypony else’s attention with it.

“SCOUT!!!”