The next night Reddling felt much better. Whatever treatment he had been given seemed to be working, and while he was able to move around now, he wasn't able to do much heavy lifting. It hadn't been until he was with Bruiser hanging out near the burning corpses of drones that he was informed Web seemed to be missing. Bruiser, Tops, Nightshade, and Midnight had all noted that Web hadn't been seen anywhere. Reddling was certain that she had visited them in their sleep to heal them, but apparently she had been so quiet that none of them had awoken.

Or worse, she had just not visited them at all- still, Reddling could not reason with the insanely fast recuperation unless Web was behind it. He'd spent the night wandering around aimlessly for Web, and as the night turned to morning she still failed to up from around a corner and announce her presence to him. As uncomfortable as it would be, Reddling had finally made the excuse to his friends that he needed to give Luna a full report himself on what had happened at the wedding. Midnight and Reddling had exchanged nods before breaking company, reminding the other to continue their vow of silence for Princess Cadance.

---

Princess Luna was in her throne room when Reddling arrived. Her face was matted with tiredness, and her mane was not it's normal silky display of stars, but instead a chaotic, disjointed heavens that clearly needed a wash. Princess Celestia was not there, and Luna seemed to be the only one giving out orders as he approached. It was becoming harder and harder to think of Princess Luna as his enemy, and each passing day made him feel more and more like he belonged in the Night Guard... and yet, she was marked for death. What had once been a clear set goal in Reddling's mind was now cloudy and unfamiliar as he stepped forward, quickly saluting Princess Luna before speaking.

"Princess Luna- Your Highness, are you alright?" Reddling asked. Try as he did, it was impossible for him to mask the legitimate concern in his voice to himself or anypony else around that might have heard.

"We shall attend to our duties until they are completed, and there yet remains much to do." Luna said briskly, motioning for a page to carry a message away. Reddling watched the page leave before sighing, looking up carefully at the blue alicorn.

"I do not mean to irk you, but... Do you know where Web is? Nobat has seen her..." Reddling's tone was not conversational, but it was low and weak nonetheless.

"Web..." Luna said carefully, biting her lip. "She has been gone for far too long." Reddling's head snapped up as he moved forward. Twinges of angry pain shot through his nerve, but he put the anguish aside as he drew close to Luna, determinately standing his ground and waiting for more. Luna's face was twisted now into something upset and angry. She seemed to be absolutely distraught- even, depressed about whatever was on her mind.

"She is in her quarters, in the catacombs. You may not wish to visit her just yet." Luna said lowly.

"I just need to drop something off, she'll never know I was there." Reddling said placidly.

"As you wish." Luna replied. Reddling could feel her watching him as he left, rounding the corner and running as fast as he could without too much pain from his body. He wasn't sure how he'd know Web's quarters, but there was a feeling in him that drew him towards her. It was like he could smell where she was with his mind. If he was ever lost, or in danger, he could find her, and she'd make him better.

Jarring to a stop outside what he knew to be Web's quarters, Reddling blinked at them. He was quite certain Web was behind the door in front of him, but it was an oddly made cave area. Further up a small window with iron bars had been fashioned, and the door below it was barred from the outside by a heavy wood plank. If Reddling didn't know better, he'd have said it was an extra large prison cell.

"...Web?" Reddling asked, leaning against the door.

"Reddling!" Web squeaked in joy from the other side of the door. A brief sigh left his lips as he listened to Web continue, "Come in, come in. Don't mind the mess."

Reddling didn't feel convinced, and looked up at the window. "Web, why are there bars on your window?"

"To keep bad things from getting out." Web replied excitedly. Reddling blinked at the door, struck by the oddness of the situation.

"I'm not even supposed to be here, I told Princess Luna that you'd never know I was here." Reddling stood up on his hind legs and craned himself upwards, barely managing to peek through the bottom of the window. Inside Web was standing in front of a table, looking at the door and smiling toothily.

"Come in, I won't bite!" Web giggled.

"Ahw, that's no fun Web. Luna's orders- besides, I just wanted to stop by before... anyway." Reddling looked down, thoughts of home suddenly popping into his mind.

"Oh come now, since when have you followed all their stupid rules..." Web said coyly. "Besides, I've got something neat I wanted to share..."

"I have something that might require me to leave town for a few days, maybe I can see it when I get back- besides, it'll build the suspense of whatever you have to show."

"But- But it'll SPOIL!" Web whined. There was a loud crack from inside the room that made Reddling jump slightly. The sickening crack had bounced off the walls of the room and echoed through the window, sending a chill down his spine as he heard something whimper in pain.

Steeling himself, Reddling lifted the plank on the door and pushed inside, staring around at Web's chambers. It was not so different from her home at the enclave. Simple amenities lined the walls; A bed, dressers, a small sink. There was a work table with vials, syringes, and burners laying near the sink and under several shelves of different ingredients, which seemed to line the upper part of every wall in neat rows. Had it not been for the stone floor covered with bodies Reddling could have mistaken it for her home back when he was in the mountains.

The floor of this room was littered with bits of dead drones, most of which seemed to be fresh. Web was not focused on the body parts however, and was instead staring at her fresh bug on the table, grinning as she looked it over carefully. The Changeling had had it's wings ripped out, and it's stomach was cracked open. All of it's limbs were either broken or otherwise crippled past repair with blood slowly dripping out. Leaning forward in spite of himself, Reddling stared at the various organs of the drone beating and trembling furiously.

Blinking past this, Reddling stared at three more drones who lay against the wall, their hooves shackled and restrained by various ropes. their heads were down and they were shaking, but seemed to be alive and well, if quite terrified. He blinked at them slowly. He hadn't been aware that these things felt anything, much less terror. they were just drones for a hive.

"Torture?" Reddling asked, drawing himself close. Web rubbed herself against his side idly, smiling happily as she looked down at the changeling.

"Torture?" She laughed, "No, I'm just trying to find out how these things work."

"I wasn't aware you were a biologist." Reddling said candidly, sliding away from her touch carefully. He felt his eyes shift to her spider cutie mark as she smiled at him, trotting over to a table filled with a few different colored syringes.

"They were immune to my poisons." Web said somewhat sourly before brightening up. "And we don't know much about them, so I'm playing around with them."

"Do these ones... show any emotion at all?" Reddling asked, staring around at the various corpses littering the room. He couldn't shake a slightly sick feeling gripping his stomach as Web moved back over, leaving the syringes for a second and holding Reddling's hoof.

"They've been oh so accommodating..." Web said, hugging the one strapped to the table and stroking it's head. Little whimpers of fear and pain rose up from the drone's throat as it stared at the new bat who had arrived. Reddling paid it no heed though, confirming to himself that they were just mindless drones. Surely even Equestria would not condone this otherwise.

"...Can I poke it?" Reddling asked, looking curiously at the organs. His question was equal halves of interest and repulsion as he looked at the alien biology in front of him.

"Go right ahead!" Web said gleefully. Reaching forward with the hoof that had been holding Web's hoof, Reddling gently stroked what looked like two ribs. The Changeling gave a few shudder and gasps as it whimpered pitifully.

"They're much different from ponies, but I think I've whipped something up." Web said, going back over to the syringes and then frowning. Poking around behind the table, she pulled up a vial of white liquid. The Changeling suddenly became very agitated, pulling weakly on it's binds. Reddling could see it's heart beating quicker.

Quicker in... fear? No, they can't feel fear, that's not possible. They're just drones... Reddling thought as Web drew closer, uncorking the vial. Web gave the vial a tap as she began to pour a bit of the stuff int the monster's cavity, causing an instantly horrifying reaction. The Changeling arced it's back and began to shriek in agony and terror. Some pale smoke began to hiss from it's body as blood foamed on the organs, the body parts inside the cavity melting down and collapsing.

"And it's harmless to ponies!" Web yelled over the screams. Quickly lowering the liquid, she took a sip and gargled it in her mouth for a few seconds. Reddling stared in fascination and terror as she spat the mixture of her saliva and the white liquid into the face of the drone. It's eyes began to boil just like it's other organs, collapsing in before bursting out of it's skull with puss and smoke.

Reddling coughed, clearing his throat as he looked at the other three victims. "T-They die so quickly though... It'll be good for combat, then." Each of the chained Changelings was flinching away from the gruesome scene, keeping their heads lowered.

"Isn't this just fantastic?" Web asked, giggling and leaning against Reddling once more.

"It's pretty, I'll give it that. How long until this stuff is ready for combat use?" Reddling didn't draw away this time, but instead resolved on keeping his face covered in cold pragmatism. It wouldn't do to show disgust for Web's work in front of her.

"Soon, soon. It's not something we'll be making en mass, but maybe for a few small missions..." Web almost whispered the last bit.

"Hitpony work." Reddling whispered back. Web' beamed, looking up at him and backing away.

"Yes!" Web said eagerly. "Ah- Well, I've been having my fun for far too long... I'm sure Luna wants to know what I've found."

"She looks as thought she hasn't slept in days." Reddling said.

"Feh. She'll be fine- Reddling!" She gasped his name, pulling close to him again.

"Uh, Web!" Reddling said, giving a sarcastic half gasp to her name.

"I have to report to Luna. Would you like to finish the last three while I'm gone?" Web's eyes glinted, and even though Reddling knew that he wasn't going to enjoy this... he couldn't say no to her.

"Are you alright with that?" Reddling asked.

"Of course!" Web quickly nodded. Reddling looked at the creatures for a second before turning back to Web, holding a hoof to the side shyly. Web blinked before Reddling turned his head to the side a bit, stretching his hoof out further. With a soft "Aww" Web leaned in, embracing him for a few seconds. It was long enough for Reddling to close his eyes and feel rejuvenated. Killing the Changelings seemed easier now, as did any other daunting task that faced him.

"Now, they they've got carapaces, very strong." Web warned. "But if you break them open they can hardly move! Have fun, you four..." Web said. Reddling shut his eyes dreamily as Web pecked him on the cheek, her fangs running along his skin before she departed through the door.

Reddlng leaned back against a wall of the room that was free of corpses, staring across at his captives and biting his lip. It wasn't until Web left that he realized he had no idea what to do with the drones on the floor. Despite how against his morals this went, he had to make sure he impressed Web. These three were just animals anyway, so surely it couldn't hurt to kill them?

"Uhh... So uh, you! You first, name?" Reddling asked the center drone. It lifted it's head, looking at him with icy blue eyes.

"No- No names- just a drone." It said. The drone's voice was rough and coarse, but still buzzed with a music to accompany that of a Queen. Now the other two were sitting up, blinking at Reddling with their different coloured eyes. Red, green, and blue eyes gazed at him curiously. The last two gave him painful flashes of the queens in his eyes, staring down at him as he lost himself forever in the ocean of those eyes.

"T-There is something that I need to know." Reddling said, giving his head a shake and standing up straight. "And if you help me, I won't hurt you, too much. The most helpful one will get to live, and the rest of you... Well, I don't want to kill you, but no risk means no fun, right?" Reddling tried to laugh at the end, but it died in his throat.

"Please- please jut let us go-" the blue one asked, but Reddling waved a hoof.

"Yeah, you see, there's one issue with that. I'd be more than willing to let you scamper along, but if I'm going to let you go, you gotta do something for me first." Reddling leaned forward, staring intently at the drones. "Your queens have venom. When they bite ponies, they become like you- drones- yeah? That's all correct so far?"

"I-If they want?" The blue drone said, looking unsure.

"I need to know how to reverse the process- to un-thing yourselves into ponies... Or I need to know where I can find out." Reddling leaned back, looking at each of them as the blue one shrugged.

"I don't know." The blue one said, looking at his companions.

"Reddie, Greenie, any ideas?" Reddling said, trying to remember the layout of the caves in the back of his head as the other two drones shook their heads in disagreement. He was at least a mile from Cadance, but he didn't see why he might not be able to use her to loosen their tongues...

"Who's up for a roadtrip?" Reddling asked.

"W-What?" The blue drone asked, looking afraid as it scrunched up against the wall behind it.

"You can come with me," Reddling sighed, "and we go on a trip. Try anything, and you end up looking like the last bloke. Or, if you prefer, you can wait for Web to poke your organs. Totally up to you."

And- And you'll let us go?" The drone red asked, standing up with the other three. Each of them maintained a look of terror on their faces.

"I'll give you a chance at surviving, it depends on her mood." Reddling said, watching each of them nod their agreement. Unhooking the green Changeling from the others and grabbing a vial of liquid similar to Web's. As the other two started towards the door slowly, Reddling opened the creatures maw and popped the vial into it's mouth, emptying it.

"Silence doesn't help me." Reddling hissed. The changeling showed a look of pained shock and horror before pain split it's face. Reddling turned away, unable to watch the creature as fell to the ground and began to convulse. Grabbing the chains of the other two, Reddling began to pull them out of the room and down the hallway as the stared behind them in terror, the sounds of the green changeling's mouth overflowing with foam as it kicked and clawed at the floor in agony still echoing in each of their ears.

"Glad I'm not a bug..." Reddling said quietly when he was sure that nobat was following him.

"You-" The blue one said. "You're just like her..."

Reddling flung himself around instantly, grabbing the shoulders of the blue changeling and drawing his ornate blade, which he held to it's neck. "I am nothing like anypony you've met in Canterlot." Reddling let his full accent roll out, rolling r's and ei's for his e's. Reddling sheathed his knife again, turning and trying to drag the Changelings along again.

"You- you think we're monsters, but look at what you've done!" It cried in anger, stomping a hoof meagerly.

"I never said I wasn't a monster." Reddling said with a controlled voice. "I might be even more monstrous than you, we'll just have to see." Breathing carefully, Reddling slowly regained his composure, and looked over his shoulder again.

"So, were you always bugs? or were you ponies at one time?" Reddling asked.

"Changelings." The red one answered rather quickly.

"Changelings, okay, always changelings, or just recently?" Reddling asked.

"Why does that even matter to you?" The blue one asked indignantly.

"Because right now I hold your life in my hoof." Reddling said, then repeated, "Were you a pony at one time, or not? Either of you?"

"...No." The blue one said.

"Shame, no furry coat, no warmth of hugs..." Reddling gasped out, staring bleakly into the darkness as his eyes grew a little wet on the edges. "Unable to feel all that closeness."

Reddling jerked on the chains, leading the Changelings down into the crystal hallways that lead to Cadance, continuing his monologue, "Always sitting on the outskirts, building a hard shell on yourself and knowing it doesn't matter because you're already too callous and jaded to feel anything..." Reddling felt a muscle seize in his throat as he doubled over, staring down at the pebbles on the floor. "Wearing some jet black armor and knowing you're tearing up homes and families and lives..."

"You think we don't understand love?" The blue drone asked.

"...laughing about it, because it's a destiny." Reddling gave another hard jerk forward before he stood up, leading the drones into an empty cavern and turning on them fiercely. "How can you understand love? You're little more than a beast, and I do not understand these things." Something horrible and dark was rearing it's head in Reddling's chest now as he stared down the two drones in front of him, daring them to say something, anything. Bravely, the blue eyed drone stepped forward, standing his ground.

"How can YOU? You- pony- Who's had nothing but a glut of it your whole life! You've never known what it's like to be starving, to need to feel that warmth of something else, to be dying from it!" The blue drone stood defiantly forward as Redding drew his knife, grabbing the Changeling and hurling it against the wall.

"The hell do you know, you little dumb beast? You don't know what I went through, all those years brooding away without a single soul touching me! You're not allowed to understand these things, I won't let you!" Jerking his hoof back, Reddling quickly clasped it in both his hooves and drove the blade forward, ripping right into the eye of the blue changeling. It let out a gasp, but did not scream as it slumped back, staring blankly upward with it's unruined eye. A hard sharp breath ripped Reddling's chest as he turned and bucked it in the chest, quickly recoiling and limping forward towards the other drone while mumbling curses at the carapace.

"You... you probably know it too, huh? Know how it feels to be all, all warm, and liked!" Reddling yelled at the other drone, angrily limping forward. "With your fucking hive family, you're- you are disgusting." Forgoing the stabbing part due to his knife still sticking out of the bleeding skull of the other drone, Reddling descended on the red drone with his hooves. Kicking and punching with every bit of strength, Reddling felt his hooves hurting more than he was actually hurting the drone. Kick after kick eventually brought it down however, forcing the red drone to sink to the floor. It made no attempt to fight back, but just took each kick from Reddling as it accepted it's fate.

Gasping for air, Reddling finally fell forward, grabbing the drone and shaking it harshly against the ground. "Say something! What's your name, your anything! Tell me something, squeak! Scream! Tell me how you feel!"

"I'm..." The drone looked up with it's red eyes, looking completely pitiful before covering it's head with it's gnarled hooves. "So hungry..."

Reddling felt something get stuck inside his chest as he looked down. The dead corpses in the hallway, the fear, the understanding of something that even he could not grasp had all become too much. A rough squeak escaped his chest as he tried to bring himself around. A hard lump was stuck in his chest, applying pressure through his neck and skull until he thought it must pop. Reddling felt the room swirl as a vision of every drone and soldier he slashed down flashed in front of his eyes. Each one of them crying in agony, all the way down to the green Changeling. But it was the last one he killed, the blue one, who broke it all. He had not blinked an eye, and not surrendered. Even though he knew he would die, the blue eyed changeling made one last brave stand, and did not even scream as Reddling murdered him. Droplets hung dryly to Reddling's eyes as he his eyes begin to burn. Tears were now soaking into his fur, leaving it a little wet as his face grew flushed with the heat of blood rushing to his neck and head.

"Stop it, don't say things like that." Wrapping the changeling in front of him in his arms, Reddling gingerly forced it into an embrace. His voice had been weak and strangled, but Reddling had managed to get all the words out. Even though Reddling did not hold the embrace for long, there was enough time for the changeling to flail around beneath him. Despite the chains and ropes on it's body, the drone clumsily managed to wrap it's hooves around Reddling's neck to return the embrace

Although he had never felt it before, Reddling was quite certain this was how Changelings fed. There was a foreign feeling inside his chest rising up to his throat; something that was warm and happy, with a radiation that seemed to uplift every organ it touched, making them hammer blood faster and breathe air quicker. Reddling had a strong urge to grab his chest and hold the feeling there forever, but almost as soon as it had risen, he could feel it being leeched out of him. It was not a quick movement away from his body, but a slow and subtle draining of the feelings as the radiation's light dimmed. Even though Reddling had no name for the feeling, it had been oddly pleasant while it was in his chest, and it was quite distressing to have it taken away.

Pulling back, Reddling found his legs were no long steady. His limbs gave way and he collapsed backwards, leaving the Changeling to slowly rise up in it's chains and look down at him. Struggling up to his hooves, Reddling grabbed his knife from the dead drone and cleaned off his knife before sheathing it. Twice he felt bile rise in the back of his throat, and twice Reddling bit back the need to puke everywhere in the cavern.

Giving the Changeling's chains a jerk, Reddling began to pull along the confused bug, moving with all haste towards Cadance. Reddling's mind was racing as he tried to combat the overwhelming feelings in his head. It had been hard enough to pretend these drones didn't have real feelings, but now with that sick feeling that had been inside his chest, Reddling was finding himself unable to cope. His wounds were draining all of his physical energy, and mentally he now felt totally spent.

"Why-?" The drone asked, still getting dragged along. Reddling coughed to cut it off, shaking his head quickly.

"Stop please! Don't talk to me, I can't..." Reddling said. The drone was now following much more willingly, curiously looking around the crystal caves as Reddling neared Cadance. Not missing a hoofstep, he looked up and coughed out to her, "It's the bat pony!"

"What- what do you want..." Cadance's voice was solemn and defeated, as if she couldn't believe anypony would arrive to do more than torture her further.

"Help! I need your help!" Reddling cried, dragging the Changeling into the darkness and rounding the corner to stare at the Princess of Love. She was slumped on the floor weakly, still wallowing in her despair and defeat.

"You need my help?" Cadance asked incredulously, keeping her face covered.

"Look, I don't care if you're a slug, your mind is intact," Reddling said frantically, "And its only you that can help me. Besides, it's not like you're doing anything else are you?"

"Are you all right?" Cadance started, her ears perking up a little as concern spread on her face. When she looked up and saw Reddling standing with the drone at his side, however, she froze instantly, staring at both of them.

"He won't hurt you, it's just... just a drone." Reddling said, pausing to jerk it to his side. The drone had eyes for nothing but Cadance, and was beginning to try and walk forward towards her. His gnarled hooves tugged on their chains as he tried feebly to move towards Cadance.

"What- Why did you bring it to me?" Cadance asked, leaning back.

"I didn't bring it here for you- I've been letting it feed on me..." Reddling put a hoof on his chin. "It gives me a really weird high, and we've learned these thins feed on "love." Well, you are the princess of love, so fix me with your princess magics!"

Cadance looked taken aback, blinking a few times at Reddling. "I can restore harmony to love that has fallen to strife, and kindle emotions, but what do you mean, "fix you?"

"This thing!" Reddling cried angrily, jerking the drone forward and causing it to fall over onto the ground with a thump. "These creatures, changelings! They understand something that I don't have, and I want it. Just use your magics please, magic works like that, right?" Reddling could feel sweat running down his face as his eyes stared wildly around the blurry cave. Everything was fading away and returning brighter than usual.

"Maybe I can, but what is it that they understand that you don't?" Cadance asked. There was a bitter laugh from the drone as it stood up again, not looking at Reddling but instead at Cadance.

"Love, hah! He does not understand it, although it's inside him like all Equestrians. He has it, but does not know what it is or feels like!" The drone smirked at Reddling, running a hoof along the ground idly. The tables had now been reversed, and it was not Reddling deciding the torture of the hour anymore.

"I don't even care anymore!" Reddling said angrily. "Just fix me up, you princess of love. The church told me you alicorns can do these spells!"

Cadance simply gaze at Reddling, and then giggled. All around him, Reddling could see everything slowly falling to pieces. "How can you have never felt love?" Cadance asked.

"It makes you sick inside, gooey like a melted marshmellow. It stings you, it does dumb things!" Reddling hissed angrily.

"Is that something you read?" Cadance asked. "Love?"

"No, a sick thing. You can fix it, right?" Reddling dropped onto his knees, staring at the ground as Cadance licked her upper lip, debating her words.

"I cannot simply force you to feel love for something," Cadance said. "If there is a some spark, mutual between you and another, perhaps I could. But- I fear what my powers will do when I am like this."

At that moment, Reddling felt the drone tap his shoulder. Looking up angrily, Reddling let out a whinny "What!?"

"She is a Queen?" The drone asked. His face was covered in confusion, unsure of what to make of the other changeling in the room.

"No- No, I'm not!" Cadance said hastily.

"Look, Princess Cadance, thing," Reddling growled, ignoring the drone. Cadance took a sharp intake of breath, clearly stung by the comment. "I just want you to make me better. Either make me understand, or take it all away. Rip the sickness out, and I'll go on my way..."

There was a pause as the two of them stared at each other, neither of them moving. Finally, Reddling continued in his frantic tone, "When I joined the guard I was cold and didn't have any inhibitions. Now, I'm offering you a chance to prove you can still do magic, and I'm going to get better. We all get something, please?"

Cadance shook her head sadly at the pony before her. Reddling knew he probably looked like he was about to have a heart attack, the shaking of the dizzy world did not do much to persuade him otherwise. "I fear what my powers would do when I am like this," Cadance said. "What if my magic has been corrupted the same as my body? What if it does not work, and I drain you dry as the other did with my poor Shining Armor..." She blinked, her eyes shimmering for a moment, "If you can find some way to restore me, I would gladly do what you wish."

"Okay, okay fine, you two, stay here- and I'll go find something!" Reddling dropped the chains to the drone, backing up slowly. The drone instantly ran forward, pulling against Reddling and rushing to Cadance's side. The Princess let out a start of fear as the Changeling reached her side. There was not time to bat an eye before her face shifted to shock at seeing the drone nuzzle up against her. Her face was now one of confusion as she looked back up at Reddling.

"...What?" Cadance asked.

"See, why does it get to do that? I want that. It isn't fair. It's mindless, I know it is, I just killed the other two and I should have killed that one!" Reddling ranted, pulling back into the shadows.

"...I can feel it, it loves me," Cadance said. "Please, you have to find some way to fix this." Reddling turned without another word, running from the place as fast as he could. Odd shapes twirled around the edge of his vision as he reached the edge of the crystal caves, exiting into the underbelly of Canterlot. It was here that his hooves finally gave out and allowed him to fall on his side, staring at the dead city under the white stones. In the distance, large pillars of smoke could be made out. Reddling blinked at the thought of all those bodies burning together, and of the two now rotting in the caves. Countless lives had been ended by Reddling's blade, and still more by his blind fury.

Forcing himself to his hooves once more, Reddling began the long hike back to the barracks, falling limply onto his bed when he arrived. The world only spun for about a minute or so before darkness took him, plunging him quickly into the catacombs of his mind.

---

Long, tall pillars rose out of the ground, stretching into the darkness towards a ceiling Reddling could not see. The room was cold and shadowy, with no warmth to comfort him. Looking around himself, Reddling began to wander the deserted catacombs, occasionally looking at his hooves and seeing more holes appear in them as they turned from red to a shiny black. The world swirled and forced him onto his side, bringing a buzzing noise into his ears that was felt before he actually heard it. Opening a single red bug eye, Reddling looked at the pile of other bugs laying next to him.

Slowly, his companions awoke- Tops, Midnight, Nightshade, Bruiser, they were here with him, next to the body of a tall queen smiling down at him with pink eyes. They were a happy and cuddly family, and all things were good.

Forcing himself to stand up, Reddling held up his hoof and visualized it as it should be. Along with his friends, they all shifted back into their bat pony forms. Each of them had their own mind with thoughts and opinions, even if they were dependent on their Queen.

Each of them had a will to survive and live, and anything or anyone who would threaten that had to be destroyed.

"Genocide is an acceptable strategy, isn't it?"

Next Chapter: Awakening Estimated time remaining: 9 Hours, 42 Minutes