Zecora and I stood at the edge of Canterlot, two guards standing before us as they checked us for… something. All I know is that there was a threat against the city and now they had a giant purple shield surrounding the entire thing. Whatever the guards were looking for they didn’t find, taping on the shield with a hoof before an opening was created.

“Watch out for any trouble you two.” The guard said as we entered. Course, the only reason I chose to enter the legit way was because suddenly appearing in Celestia and Luna’s domain would have been suspicious. I did however send my new elite guard to go through the caverns below Canterlot mountain and find a way inside.

I bet you are all wondering just how crazy I was to enter Canterlot, and you’d be right to say I was. Thing is, when Talon said the green nest was somewhere I wouldn’t like, she meant it. Turns out Celestia had found it decades ago and stored it in her vault, probably the most difficult place in existence to break into discreetly.

“And here we are, trying to do just that.” Nightmare muttered. I had to admit, I was skeptical of how I was going to get it out myself, especially while Canterlot is under high alert. I honestly thought it couldn’t get worse.

Of course things then got worse as a pink ball of fur suddenly filled my face.

“Donny! It’s you! Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, I’m so happy!” Pinkie Pie chanted as she held onto my face.

Can’t… breathe… Thankfully a light blue aura was quick to pull Pinkie off before I lost consciousness.

“Pinkie! We’re all happy to see him, but you should be careful!” Rarity chided the energetic mare. Course, just as she said this another speeding object came at me, spinning around with a rainbow trail and throwing me off balance. I found myself landing on a strong back of an earth pony.

“Thanks Applejack.” She nodded in return, raising a hoof up to me that I met with a fist. Once I was up and off of her, Rainbow slowed down enough to greet me.

“Don! Why the heck are you in Canterlot? Don’t tell me you actually came for the wedding?”

“Wedding? Nah, Zecora and I were just visiting. This was along the way to our actual destination and we decided to stop and say hi.” I could feel Nightmare begin to grumble.

“The element bearers.” She growled. “If we were not in a place that I’m sure their deaths would go noticed, they wouldn’t be standing right now!”

Good to know. Don’t meet Twilight and her friends in a dark alley. I gave the group of mares a smile, brushing the dust off my nice guy act. “Hey everyone? Where’s Twilight and Fluttershy?”

The mares seemed to flinch at the names of their friends but Rainbow Dash spoke up. “Well Twilight I think went to talk to her brother about not telling her he was engaged. Fluttershy though…” The mares turned back toward the train station they had come out of as the mare in question walked out, Big Mac right next to her. I barely noticed the big guy’s presence though as I rubbed my eyes, trying to make sure what I was seeing was true.

Fluttershy’s wings were gone.

Well, I say gone, but really what was left could not be counted as wings. They were nothing but stubs, alluding to just what the pegasus’ saddened mood was about. I could feel that small part of me I had buried in Ponyville long ago return, twisting my stomach.

“Wha… what happened?” I managed while I felt Nightmare giving me the mental equivalent of a strange look.

“She-” Rainbow was interrupted by Rarity raising a hoof.

“Now is not the time. We can inform Don on what happened later. For now we should head to the castle.” I noticed Big Mac give Fluttershy a small nuzzle, another mystery suddenly solved. Wait… is that why Fluttershy stopped chasing me that last heat day?! And then the day after, Big Mac had me do his chores so he could go off and… I facepalmed. Wow, I am blind as a bat.

“Come along everypony.” Rarity called out as they gathered their bags. “We shant keep the princesses waiting.” I watched as they headed toward the castle.

You know, despite now having to dance around these mares with my nice guy routine, they might be just what we need to get into the castle.

“What?! Are you mad?”

Just think about it. If we go with them, the princesses will likely set us up with a room along with them so that we can catch up. That’s just the kind of ponies they are: too nice for their own good.

“Hmmm…. good point, though I still don’t like having be around those usurpers.”

You learn to deal with them after a year or so. I walked after the ponies, Zecora right behind me as we all headed to the castle.

* * *

Just as I had predicted, the princesses couldn’t help but be happy at my appearance and gave Zecora and I rooms along with the other ponies. I was left with little to do at that point as I wandered the castle. Eventually though I ran into something interesting. A pink alicorn with a crystal heart on her butt.

So this is the third alicorn I’ve heard of. Doesn’t seem to scale up to the other two, does she?

“No. In case you have forgotten Gnarl’s lessons once again, this is Cadence, the alicorn of love.”

Love? Sweet Faust, she sounds like some kind of horrible children’s toy. I sighed before giving the alicorn a small smile. “Hello there. I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Don.” The alicorn looked over me with a gaze that screamed pompous before putting her nose in the air and walking off.

If she’s the princess of love, than I bet the princess of hatred is just a joy to be around.

“Odd. One would think she would act her part like the element bearers do.”

Eh, whatever. She doesn’t seem nearly as powerful as Celestia and Luna. If she gets in the way, she’ll be wiped out. And thus my bored walk continued until I came upon the gardens. There I found Fluttershy and Big Mac, sitting together on a bench. Big Mac noticed my approach and got up to meet me, saying something to Fluttershy before doing so. I gave Mac a hoof bump similar to her sister before grinning.

“So… you and Fluttershy huh? If you wanted to get out of chores to go on a date with her, all you had to do was ask.”

Big Mac blushed before shaking his head. “I just didn’t want you thinking the two of us did anything the day before.”

“Hey, what you do with her is your business, not mine. I just want to know what happened with… you know.” Big Mac quickly took on a sad look before glancing back at Fluttershy. She seemed to be content talking with a few birds that had sat down next to her. Big Mac nodded toward another part of the gardens away from Fluttershy and the two of us began walking.

“From what we can tell, it all started with Fluttershy’s little bunny friend. You remember him?”

Ah yes. The evil rabbit of destruction. Still sounds like a tv gag. “Ya. What does he got to do with…” I suddenly realized what happened and it felt like a punch in the gut. Big Mac didn’t seem to notice though as he gave me the details.

“The little feller for some reason ran off into the Everfree, right into a cragidile as a matter of fact. Never stood a chance. Thing is, Fluttershy ran in after him, and the same beast got a good clamp down on her wings. She managed to get away just the same though.” He looked down at the ground. “I found her first and… the look on her face along with the way here wings were… I don’t think I’ll ever get it out of my head.”

Nightmare hummed in thought. “So wait. That means that because you taught the rabbit the meaning of preparation, not only did you cripple Kindness, but you also got him killed?” I just nodded, not really sure what to say.

Good… such bloodshed, such pain...

I shook my head, a feeling of nausea coming over me as those thoughts rang out through my head. I felt a nudge from Nightmare. “Don, what’s wrong? You are acting rather strange and I can not determine the source.”

It’s nothing. I took a deep breath. I just… need some air.

“But we are outside.”

I ignored her, giving Big Mac a wave as I walked away. “Thanks for telling me, but I think I need to be alone with my thoughts for a bit.” He didn’t respond in any way from what I could tell. Before I made it back inside, I felt the tug of my own magic.

That’s coming from my elite guard. Just what could they want? I moved to the side, finding a secluded area in the gardens before transporting. I soon found myself in a cavern filled with crystals. In front of me were the six changelings, all of them bowing in sync as I appeared.

“My liege.” A changeling took a step forward. “We found an exit to the caves within Canterlot just as you asked.”

I grumbled. “So why have you summoned me then?”

“We found something else as well. A pony, an alicorn nonetheless. It seems she has been trapped down here for days.” I rose an eyebrow at this before motioning for them to lead the way.

“Did she see you?” I asked as we walked.

“Yes, and we were about to kill her as per your orders, but she didn’t seem surprised that she saw changelings in the caves. She demanded for us to release her, claiming that ‘our queen’ would not succeed in her plan.”

“Your queen? You mean there are other changelings here?”

“That is a likely possibility. It would perhaps be most useful if you made yourself appear as one of us before we see her.” I nodded as Nightmare pulled the shadows around us, creating an illusion of another changeling where I was standing. We turned the corner to reveal Princess Cadence behind a crystal wall, only she was nowhere close to the same one I had seen. This one looked like a wreck, her mane and fur matted and stained. The sound of her stomach growling could be heard from where I stood.

Cadence looked up at us before snarling. “Why did you come back, you fiends? Hasn’t your queen done enough?”

So it’s true.

“Either that or she is lying.”

In her condition, what does she have to gain with lies? I looked her over before turning around and leaving, the others following right behind. Nightmare released the illusion as I thought.

So, let’s assume she is telling the truth. That would mean a changeling queen locked her away in here, all the while another Cadence is up above acting rather unlike a princess of love.

“She could just be nervous about the wedding.”

Nervous is one thing, but she was an absolute bitch. Now, if we are assuming that the changeling queen is disguised as Cadence, than the threat against Canterlot suddenly makes sense.

“And that would mean the guards were checking to see if we were changelings in disguise.”

Exactly. The queen’s here for an invasion, and she’s sitting in the perfect place to change things behind the scenes.

“Perhaps her position and intentions can be used to our advantage.”

Hmm… you have a point. During an invasion, things will be chaotic, Celestia too distracted to check on the vault. If we can convince the queen to attack the vault, perhaps even join us…

“Though you know my stance on changelings is clear, using them as pawns is something I am fine with allowing.”

Glad to know you won’t be swinging a giant fly swatter everytime I speak to one. Anyway, even if we can’t convince her, an invasion may prove to be the perfect time to have Blueblood disappear.

“Ah yes. Only the changelings will be to blame.”

I grinned as the plan slowly fell into place. I looked at the six changelings, standing tall and awaiting my word. “Get into Canterlot and disguise yourself amongst the populace. If possible, find a way into the wedding. Chances are the queen will choose than to strike.”

“My liege.” The changelings spoke and bowed in unison before flying off. I teleported back to the gardens and walked inside the castle, a grin still plastered to my face.

Now, shall we give a second introduction to the fair Princess Cadence?

* * *

I made my way to the ‘princess’’ room before knocking on the door. It was answered by a pony with an odd blank look to him. “The princess does not want to be disturbed. Please come again another time.”

Alright, we do this the hard way. I cast my sound dampening spell on the area before sticking my foot in the door. I quickly threw the door back, slamming the forehead of the pony as I walked in. I shut the door behind me just as I felt magic shot at me, a barrier of shadows flying up to meet it. I looked through the translucent barrier to see the pony on the floor, the princess’ horn glowing green as she stood ready to fight on the bed.

“I’ll have you know that attempted assassination of a princess is a crime I will not let go unpunished.” She growled.

I just chuckled before replying. “In there lies the problem though. You see, I’m not attempting to assassinate anyone. Also, you aren’t a princess, but a queen.” She looked at me in shock before growling and firing off a wave of bolts. Each one slammed into my shield with little done, though Nightmare grunted under each one’s force.

“Would you kindly hurry up with the diplomacy?”

“Now now,” I started. “There is no reason for such violence. I’m here to give you an offer that I believe you will be rather interested in.”

She rose an eyebrow at me before turning to the pony. “Close the blinds.” The pony got up and did as he was asked, though with magic an earth pony like himself should not be able to use. Once the room was dark, the pony disappeared in a flash of green, revealing a changeling. Cadence did the same, becoming a changeling that could rival Celestia in height. I noticed neither of them had stingers like the changelings I had, alluding to the differences in the two worlds. “There. We have removed our masks. I assume you will remove yours?”

“But of course.” The shield dropped as my leg revealed its true form. I allowed my magic to flow through my body, my eyes beginning to glow as I did. “In case it was not obvious, I am not the weak, pathetic human you might have heard of. I am Dominus the Overlord.”

“I am Queen Chrysalis, ruler of all the changelings.” She looked over me with a curious gaze before asking “You are not the same Overlord that fought the races of this world three thousand years ago, are you?”

I rose an eyebrow. “You know the old story?”

She chuckled. “Know the old story. Ha! I lived it. I was one of many queens back then who sent warriors to fight against you. Now I am the only one left, thanks to the ponies.”

“Let me guess. They didn’t exactly like the whole ‘love eating’ thing.”

She growled. “They nearly wiped us out. My hive is the only one remaining as far as I know, and that is only due to its remote location in the Badlands.”

I grinned. “Well than it is a good thing I am here. I can help you return your race to its former glory if you let me in on your plans.”

“And just what would you do, hm? We are all prepared to invade this place. As soon the groom says ‘I do’, this city will be mine!”

“Yes, with about a couple thousand ponies with little love to give. Did you forget that war tends to sour one’s mood?” Chrysalis seemed honestly surprised, realizing this obvious flaw before shaking her head.

“No need! We have other ways to get love from the ponies.”

“Oh? And just what’s that? Love potions, or rather poisons, are perversions on the idea of love. They simulate it, not create it. Putting subjects to sleep wouldn’t work as well, at least nowhere as good as getting it straight up would. You take over Canterlot, and you lose out on a big payout.”

Chrysalis growled at me for a moment before putting on a pondering face. Before I could react, her horn lit up and I felt her magic prod at my memories. Nightmare quickly pushed her out but Chrysalis seemed pleased nonetheless as her form changed to that of a very busty human woman. Her hair and insect wings remained but the rest of her was human, and without clothing at that.

“Well perhaps,” she slurred, getting off the bed and walking toward me. “We can come to some sort of agreement then?” I would have told her to fuck off, and not in the way you are thinking you dirty minded bastards, but I felt my thoughts being clouded. I found it somewhat difficult to breathe, taking in what air I could as Chrysalis ran a hand beneath my chin. She tilted my head up so I was looking into her eyes.

“Now then, shall we see just what this body can do for you?” She purred. I was still finding it hard to breathe, the air smelling like… wait a minute!

Nightmare… scent… off… Nightmare seemed to get what I meant as I suddenly found the sweet smell in the air to vanish. My thoughts cleared rather quickly as I grabbed Chrysalis’ wrist and pulled it away harshly. I glared at the woman as she looked at me surprised.

“So she can release pheromones similar to a mare in heat only it affects all species. Interesting.” Nightmare analyzed.

Didn’t you say you knew things about changelings?

“I do, just not queens. They were a rarity to find, and much smarter than the common drone.”

I gave Chrysalis a wicked grin. “I’ll admit you’ve got a nice body, but I’m here on business. Pleasure can come later.” I tossed her back as she landed on the bed and shifted back.

“How did you resist me?” She said, still in shock.

“I know a lot of things. One of those is what being a stallion around in heat mares feels like. You’re little pheromone trick is rather similar.” She seemed disappointed before making herself comfortable on the bed once more.

“Very well. What do you want?”

“I want you to send troops to two separate places when you invade. The room of Prince Blueblood, and Celestia’s vault.”

“Why would I invade now? Did you not just get done telling me the plan is useless?”

“For you perhaps. With me here though it allows for many… opportunities that I wasn’t sure I’d get until much later. Opportunities that will benefit you as well should you choose to aid me.”

Chrysalis hummed in thought. “And just what do I get out of this exactly?”

“Power, of both the political and magical variety. Resources, the kind of which would allow you to find an easier method to feed your kind. Revenge, on the ponies who drove the changelings to near extinction. Honestly, there isn’t much I’m not offering that you don’t want.”

“Do you think I would just obey you?” She growled. “I am a queen, not an underling.”

“You will still rule the changelings and I will not interfere in your works regarding such things. What I will ask for though is fealty of a sorts. You won’t try to usurp, seduce, or control me, and I won’t try to wipe you off the face of Equestria.”

Chrysalis thought about this long and hard before nodding. “Very well. Though if you do change your mind about the seduction,” She changed back into the human form. “I’m always ready for a good time.”

“This woman is the queen of whores more like it.” Nightmare stated flatly.

No kidding. I just waved a hand. “Whatever you say Chryssy. Now, can you handle sending troops to take over those two places?”

“Easily.” She stated casually, though she didn’t stop making a show of the human body. “Though what is it you intend to do there?”

“Prince Blueblood is another ally of mine, and I promised him I would give him a reward for his hard work in time. That time will be now. As for the vault, Celestia has something that belongs to me but I can’t let her know I have returned.”

“Don,” Nightmare spoke up “I believe I just realized a problem with this plan.”

Oh?

“You need two portals in two different places. Zecora can only be in one place at a time.” I groaned and facepalmed as I realized that mistake as well. Chrysalis gave me a questioning look.

“What is it?”

I sighed. “I need two gatekeepers to pull this off and I only have one. Without a second person to open a portal, something is being left behind.”

Chrysalis pondered for a moment before pointing to the other changeling in the room. “Could a changeling be one of these ‘gatekeepers’?”

“Hmm…” I walked over to the drone and kneeled down, placing a hand on its horn. Nightmare extended into its mind before returning.

“Just as I thought. The individual mind of this changeling is too stupid to pull off such a complicated ritual.”

Damn. I assume there isn’t a way to make him smarter?

“No. Technically your changelings aren’t any smarter than these, just bred with a purpose that you have been feeding them since birth.”

I see… I pondered for a moment before snapping my fingers. Hang on, I’ve got an idea.

“What are you doing?” Chrysalis asked, a bit of worry on her face oddly enough.

“I was testing to see if this changeling was smart enough to pull off opening a portal. Long story short, he’s not. But I might have a way to get around that if you let me access the hive mind for a bit.”

Chrysalis seemed ready to yell at me before grimacing. “And just what do you intend to do?”

“Yes, I would like to know this as well.” Nightmare added. I just smiled.

“You wouldn’t happen to have about nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety nine other changeling drones you wouldn’t mind losing, would you?”

Chrysalis seemed to ponder my words. “There are changelings in the hive mind without bodies, and a lot of them at that.”

“Perfect.” I grabbed the changeling’s horn once again before letting my magic flow into him. Soon my mind was amongst a million others, all connected in some crazy web with Chrysalis at the source.

Nightmare, help me grab enough changeling minds for this. She was still confused from what I could tell but she did as I asked. Soon what was one drone was actually ten thousand drones, all wrapped up in one body. Of course it was absolute chaos at the moment, but I was quick to organize the simple consciences. Soon they were all set up in such a way that one would speak for the entire group, and all would contribute to decide the actions of the body in a vote. Course, this all happened practically instantaneously, as did the sharing of knowledge between all these different minds.

“Oh, I understand.” Nightmare spoke next to me in the mindscape. “Instead of increasing the intelligence of one drone, you tied it together with that of others to increase this single body’s brain weight so to speak.”

Yep, and now that he’s smart... I opened my eyes back in the real world, Chrysalis gawking at me with what I had just done. I smirked at her before place a palm on the changelings forehead. Lightning coursed through my arm, causing the changeling to twitch. Before long it was done and I removed my hand, the mark of the Overlord now branded to his forehead. The changeling’s eyes fluttered open for a moment before looking around him.

“This is… strange.” He spoke with little emotion. “One would think so many voices speaking at once would be chaotic, only we feel we are seeing things more clearly than ever before.”

“What have you done?!” Chrysalis growled. She was back in her changeling form and looking beyond pissed.

“I just made him smart enough to use the power I gave him. He’s still loyal to you above all others.”

“Overlord Dominus is correct, our queen.” The changeling spoke in a robotic tone. “Though we must admit the change was sudden and at first disorienting, we are at a 98% consensus that we continue to serve you first and foremost.” That seemed to calm Chrysalis down, though she still seemed confused by the changelings words.

“Alright, so do you have a name changeling?” I facepalmed. “Oh wait. There’s more than one of you in there.”

“Correct, though none of us had names prior to your modifications. Is a name necessary?”

“It is to me. You aren’t the common drone anymore and my gatekeeper.” I began to think. Let’s see. He’s technically a lot of minds in one body. Haven’t I heard this before? I snapped my fingers. “Got it! I dub thee Legion.”

The changelings eyes seemed to shift slightly as he thought. “Legion. A word meaning a unit of troops comprised of about three thousand to six thousand. Also a reference to the demon Legion, a part of the Faust worship, gospel of Clover the Clever, 5:9. This will suffice for a title. We are Legion.”

Sweet Faust, he’s like the namesake more than he realizes. I chuckled, earning a strange look from the two changelings. “Don’t worry about it. Human joke. Anyway, Legion. When the invasion occurs, meet me down in the vault. You’ll help me get the green nest to the nether world while Zecora goes to get Blueblood.”

“Acknowledged. We shall await until the invasion or until our queen gives conflicting orders.” I got up and glanced over at Chrysalis.

“So, any complaints?”

“None for now. As long as you can return on what you promised, I will allow this.” With a nod I left, removing the sound dampening spell as I walked down the hall.

Well that went better than expected. Plus, I got to make a new changeling.

“You just stuck a bunch of changelings together. And did you have to give him a name from one of these ‘video games’ from back in your world?”

Hey, it was a great set of games. Well… except for the ending on the third one but still! Nightmare just sighed as we headed back to our room, needing to tell Zecora of what was about to transpire.

Author's Notes:

So... ya. For those who have played Overlord, you can probably guess who Don's Rose and Velvet are.

And for those who have played Mass Effect, you can guess where Legion's name really came from.