As the three Changelings led me through tunnel system inside the mountain there was an extremely awkward silence. With a sigh I broke it, "Alright, go ahead and ask."

And with that the floodgates were opened. "Are you as strong as the legends say?" "Did you really save us from a tribe of Dragons?" "Is it true you're rage incarnate?"

I chuckled, "Slow down. One at a time. Now to answer your questions; that depends on the legends, it was only four Dragons, teenagers at that. Elder teenagers, sure, but still teenagers."

"And...are you rage incarnate?"

"Heh, that's a good question." I rubbed my chin. "Sure, I was the Knight of Rage for a while, but I don't think I really count as rage incarnate, I'm too relaxed around my friends and allies for that." A smirk spread across my face, "To my enemies though...heh. Like I said, it's a good question."

Just as I'd finished talking we came to a green, slimy, organic-looking door. "This is it, my Lord!" The more energetic of the three chirped and ran ahead, running through the door as I winced slightly.

I pressed my hand against the door and pulled away, the material sticking to my hand slightly before springing back. I gave the other two Changelings a questioning look. "Oh!" The female of the group seemed to realise I didn't know what this was. "That's a suction door, it takes any ambient Love we haven't collected that's stuck on us while also cleaning us from the sand!" She gave a small smile. "Just...step on through. They're only at the exits to the outside, so you don't need to worry about more of them!"

I shrugged and walked into the suction door, after pushing a little I passed through the slime. It wasn't as unpleasant a feeling as I had thought it'd be, just...odd.

I looked around and saw the Hive, a great hallway with several pathways splitting off from it, with what I assumed was the throne room at the far end, a set of majestic double doors led more credence to my assumption, the entire place was lit in a faded blue glow from light crystals scattered through the room on the ceiling and roof.

If I had to describe the look of the place in a few words, I'd use: Simple but practical. It was really quite beautiful in its own way, the way the light reflected off of the green walls all the up to the ceiling high above us, it seemed as if the entire mountain had been carved out.

I followed my guides to the double doors at the end of the hall. They opened them for me and confirmed my suspicions, they did indeed lead to a large room with a very basic throne. I entered the room and Changelings came marching out from the sides of the room, forming two columns down the centre of the room as the door shut behind me.

"Introducing her Royal Highness, Queen Wisp!" A lone Changeling announced from the front of the throne before quickly leaving through a door at the back.

The Changelings transformed themselves into white armoured versions of themselves with black visors. I felt like I should know the look somehow. Then the Queen appeared, in a black mask and armour, again I felt as if I should know the look of all of this. Finally the music began as she descended from the platform.

I groaned and facepalmed before letting out a small chuckle, seems as though I may have influenced them a little.

As the Queen passed, Changelings bowed before her until she finally reached me as the music stopped and everyone reverted to their natural forms.

Now free of the armour I could get a good look at this Queen. She made a short, scruffy aqua mane and tail and she lacked any makeup at all. Other than that she was pretty standard for a Queen, eye level with me, maybe a bit more muscular than the average Queen. The only thing that caught my attention was her purple eyes, unusual even for a Queen, who usually had much more diverse eyes than their citizen counterparts.

“My people!” She announced, her voice a little scratchy. “Today is a good day! Today our saviour has returned to us after nearly a century of imprisonment! We are now stronger than ever! So, as a demonstration of our new power I announce…” She gave a pause to let the atmosphere build. “A THREE DAY PARTY!!!”

I blinked as cheers rang out across the room. With a start I turned and saw practically every square inch behind me occupied a Changeling. I had a feeling that only a sparse few guards weren't here. But damn, these guys had learned a lot about stealth while I was gone, there was a time where a Changeling couldn't sneak up on a hibernating bear without waking it.

But one thing was still the same, they loved parties. Not quite at Pinkie Pie level, but there was only one Pinkie, the whole Changeling population loved to party. At least they used moderation.

After the cheers died down the Changelings left the room, chatting and laughing, leaving me alone with the Queen. At least I wasn't being swarmed.

As the doors shut I found myself face to face with Queen Wisp. "It's good to meet you, Queen Wisp." I smiled and gave a nod of my head.

She grinned happily, "And it is amazing to finally meet you, Lord Blood." I winced at my title, I really wish the Changelings from back then hadn't decided to give me the thing. "It seems that a certain rumour about you is true after all. Very well, we shall forget our titles when in private like this."

I sighed in relief, "Thank fuck for that."

“I know. I love my subjects, but sometimes I just want them to talk to me like a normal person.” She sighed, “There are times when I really hate this job.”

“There are always things you hate doing. Doesn't mean you shouldn't do it.” I smirked, “Like burning down Celestia's old storage building.”

Wisp chuckled, “That sounds like a story is like to hear sometime. But let us walk.” She headed to the door and I followed by her side.

As we passed through the main hall I spoke up, “How are you?”

“My people are-”

I interrupted her, “Not your people. You.”

She was quiet for a moment. “I'm...struggling, food’s at an all-time low, Changeling everywhere are being hunted down and then there's the disappearances.”

Okay, that's interesting. “Disappearances? What's happening?”

She let out a weary sigh, “Women carrying eggs have gone missing, as have a few of our young, it's got us on edge. We only recently found something to suggest that it wasn't of their own will. Gouges on the floor, the boy had clearly tried to cling to the ground.” She turned her head and spat. “Aren't the Ponies content with starving us?!”

“Why do you think it's Ponies?” I asked.

“One of our guards thought he saw an equine shape sneaking out of the Hive, though he admits he was drowsy at the time. It could have easily also been one of us, or a Griffin.” She shook her head, “Either way, this isn't a topic a guest should be hearing about. Come, let's move on to lighter subjects.”

As we walked through the cave system I had to admire the simple beauty of the place, the caves were occasionally lighted by slime cocoons filled with love, lighting the place with green light and giving the whole place a feeling of tranquility and filling me with determination to keep the people of this place safe.

"Nice place." I complimented.

"Thank you, it's nowhere near as beautiful as Chrysalis' castle Hive though." She gave a sigh, "It really is a shame she ruined her reputation like that."

That caught my interest. "Oh? What happened?"

Wisp looked my way, "I assume you've heard of her attempted invasion of Canterlot?"

Ouch, that had to destroy her confidence as a leader. "Oh. That's a tough break. Why'd she invade though?" That was the thing that puzzled me about that whole event.

Wisp came to a stop and looked away, "The whole of our race is starving, Blood. Chrysalis watched her family starve, it drove her to the extreme. My Hive is only this healthy because we kicked out anyone who doesn't come back with enough love to feed at least three of us. It's not something I enjoy, but it's the only way we have. The alternative is starvation, I can't let that befall my people."

I frowned slightly. Why the hell did it have to come to this? "It's all fucked up." I growled. "And from what I've seen a lot of the Ponies are hostile to Changelings. Land of peace and friendship my fucking arse."

"You've got that right. We can't even enter a town undisguised without being mobbed, it's a sad time for my people." She smiled, "But with your help we can change that! We could rise once again with the Knight of Rage at our side!"

I winced, "No." She stopped and stared at me. "I...I'm not that person anymore. I'm not the Knight anymore." I looked away and lowered my voice. "I just can't be."

"I...see." She placed her hoof on my shoulder. "I don't know why, but it's fine. Just you being alive will be a great moral boost to every Changeling there is."

I frowned slightly, "I know I have that title and all, but I'm not that important to your people, am I?"

"More than you realise, maybe now more than ever." She smiled, “You bring to them the one thing I've never been able to, not more than a few days anyway.”

I raised an eyebrow, “What's that?”

“Hope.” Hope, huh? Well, so long as I can help them. After giving me a minute to digest that Wisp spoke up again, “Come, I have someone for you to see.”

She took a path that took us down, the lighting got darker and the simple beauty was transformed into a dark jail, but instead of bars they had a thick, translucent slime wall. We continued down until the lighting got a brighter and the place looked a little more inviting.

I spotted two Changeling guards outside a cell that was lit up from the inside. When we got closer I saw the Changeling inside the cell.

“Scarab?” I asked as we stopped in front of the cell.

"My Lord!" Scarab cried, running to me.

Just to charge face first into the green barrier. He fell on his back and didn't move. I groaned and rubbed my temple, "Just typical." I gave the guards a look. "Let him out of there."

One of them froze up, "I...orders...Queen, but Lord...But I...ARGHHH!!!" She fell to the floor and started whimpering while rocking back and forth. O...kay?

The second guard just groaned. "Please forgive my partner, she doesn't do well with conflicting orders." He lit up his horn and pressed it against the cell wall. Wisp then did the same and the wall shimmered before retracting into the floor.

I strolled in and nudged Scarab with my foot before turning back to Wisp, "Why's Scarab locked up?"

She looked away, "He only came back with enough love for two. It's the law. In a few weeks he'll have a trail then kicked out of the Hive."

I sighed, "Fucking hell. Really wish I could help, truly, but I'm still finding my own feet right now."

"Of course, I didn't expect you to be able to do anything for us immediately, but like I've said, just being here is giving hope to my people. For that I am forever in your debt." Ah, fuck, please don't bow. Yep, she's fucking bowing to me. Fuck!

I need to lose this debt bullshit. "I'll take a room, give it to me how you think I'd like it."

"Of course!" Wisp turned to the guard that wasn't rocking back and forth like a nutjob. "Go prepare room Gamma for situation Beta Omega."

He saluted, "Of course ma'am!" He sprinted off. What the hell was that?

"M...my Lord?" I looked down and saw Scarab slowly climbing to his feet again. Huh. I was certain I'd have to carry him for a while before he woke up.

I smiled down at him and lowered myself to his height, "Scarab, thank you for doing as I asked, it saved me a lot of trouble." It was true, if he hadn't I would have had to convince the Changelings I was who I said I was. "Your help was invaluable." Okay, not true but I figured he needed a bit of a confidence boost.

His eyes lit up and he jumped into the air, giddily, seemingly full of energy. Oh, and look, he's vibrating again. Why does he do that? "Of course, my Lord! It was my pleasure!"

I chuckled. Cute. A thought popped into my head and I decided to hell with it and asked, “Scarab, how'd...how’d you like to join me in my journey?” Everyone went silent. What? It wasn't that big a deal was it? I then felt like slapping myself, I was a hero to these guys, of course it'd be a big deal!

Scarab, after spluttering and stammering, finally managed to speak coherently, “D-do you mean it, my Lord?” Well, less speak and more squeak.

“Yep, you’ve got a good heart, I'd be proud to have you at my side.” That and I hoped he could keep me grounded if I started falling too deep into a rage.

“I-I’d be honoured, Sir Lord, sir!” I hoped he could talk without squeaking when he calmed down.

I sighed, “Take your time and calm, we won't be leaving the Hive for at least a few days.” He nodded several times, excited little bugger. "In that case," I turned to Wisp, "Where's your nearest bar?"

The bar was larger than I expected it was more like a castle's dining room than anything else, though I had to give props to the band in the corner, it was hard to give a relaxed atmosphere to a room full of drunks when a party was in full swing.

"Well, this is the closest we have to a bar, really anyone just comes here, children, adults, teenage layabouts!" Wisp yelled the last one at a couple of teens sprawled in a corner. One of them raised a leg and gave a dismissive wave.

Wisp led me over to the bar itself and got me a beer. "EVERYONE!" She called out, "OUR TIME OF PEACE, OF DISCRETION, MAY BE OVER, BUT OUR HOPE WAS ARRIVED! OUR HERO FROM THE PAST IS HERE TODAY!" There was a silence as she brought her own glass into the air, "He is one of us. Now and forever." A grin came across her face, "NOW ABOUT WE SHOW HIM A HELL OF A PARTY?!" The floor rumbled from the volume of the cheering that followed.

After it had settled down I set my glass down at one of the tables and looked around with a smile on my face, this was nice. I was suddenly tackled from the back, just below my spine and then around the shoulders. I was almost knocked down by the force and most of the Changelings in the room started laughing.

"Mister Lord Blood!" Two young voices squealed excitedly from my back. I looked over my shoulder and saw two little Changelings, no older than eight, clinging to me.

I let out a quiet laugh and looked up at the approaching woman. "I'm so sorry for the trouble, my Lord." She bowed. Oh, fucking Christ, not the bowing! "I'll take these two off your hands, I'm terribly sorry for the inconvenience."

"What inconvenience?" I asked before shaking my body softly. "Rawr, rawr! I am the great and mighty Shaker, no children can hold on when I move!" I proclaimed with a silly voice.

"Nuh uh!" The kid around my shoulders giggled.

“Uh huh!” Came my irrefutable response. And with that I took off across the room, shaking around as I went, the two little tykes laughing the whole way.

I eventually let the kids down before they fell. I stated smiling. It...reminded me of my time in the past. There was a tavern...Me, Ritual and Leo were there to meet someone who would become a loyal friend, if an incompetent idiot. I gave a soft chuckle. He got us into a brawl not a minute after we'd met. I remembered that he would be dead, just like the rest of my friends and my smile fell.

I wandered off from the party, wanting to be alone for a little bit. I came across a room full of paintings, both professional, amateur and the occasional mural.

I stopped and checked out a particular mural drawing of me and Ritual in the Everfree fighting Hunters with a Timberwolf at our side. Heh, these take me back. ...But was it worth it? I shook those thoughts away. Of course it was worth it! As Ritual said, 'Looking back's not worth it if it gets you down! Just keep looking to the horizon and you can just see the limitless opportunities! You just have to have the determination to see it through to the end, no matter how bleak it gets!' Heh, she could always cheer my mopey arse right up. Can't believe I used to be so soft and naïve. For a time I used to believe I could change the world with a few actions. What a joke.

I looked away and rubbed my arm.

I must have been there, watching the rural for a good twenty minutes when Wisp came up beside me. “You seem...lost." She said softly.

I sighed, "Is it really that obvious? I have no idea what to do. I want to see this new world, but beyond that? I'm clueless. My only goal is survival, but how am I going to live my life beyond that?" I hung my head. "It was all so much easier when Ritual was with me."

"Whatever you chose to do just remember that we shall always be there for you. You need any help, just ask, we'll be there for you. Always."

I smiled, "Thanks, Wisp." She was a good person. I knew it then.

We bathed in the silence of a budding friendship for a few minutes before Wisp spoke up again, "You know...you knew one of my ancestors."

I raised an eyebrow, "Oh?" This is interesting, I wonder who it was?

"I'm a descendant of Queen Chirp The Wanderer." She grinned.

"Chirpy?!" I spluttered, a grin spreading across my face. "You're related to Chirpy?!" I laughed. "Oh, man, she was crazy! You have a hell of an ancestor, Wisp!"

She looked confused, "Really? I...wasn't aware. What was she like?"

I chuckled, "Let's just say she turned into me to try and seduce me into eating a metric fuckton of chocolate and leave it at that."

Wisp giggled, "Really?"

I smiled, "Yeah, she was fun. But when the chips came down there were few other people I'd trust watching my back in a fight. She used to be the one to help me see the light when my anger got too much." I sighed. "I even made her a Life Oath. Something I now plan to renew."

She cocked her head, "Life Oath? There was something about that in the ancient texts."

"It was pretty much an oath that I swore to uphold, otherwise I would let myself be drained of all blood in my body or something equally nasty."

Her eyes widened, "Isn't that...a little extreme? And what if the oath conflicts with another?"

I just laughed, "I make sure any conflicting oaths are neutral grounds, it allows me to do what I think is right at the time." I gave a yawn, the day catching up to me.

“It's getting late, I'll show you to a room." We chatted about inconsequential things as we walked. I was particularly enthused when I heard she had some spiced rum.

She let out a giggle at my enthusiasm, "Well then, I'll give you some tomorrow if you're that excited." We stopped by a simple wooden door. Hell, a lot of the doors in this place were simple, the only exception being the exit and the throne room. "Here we are. I hope it's too your tastes."

"Well...goodnight, Wisp, I'll see you tomorrow." I said, heading into the room. I took a look around, it was just a simple, basic room. There was a bed, a wardrobe and an adjoining bathroom. Some would find it extremely lacking in luxuries, but for me? It was perfect.

I stripped down to my underwear and got into the bed, leaving Roxy a little further from me than I usually would. I could trust the Changelings, what was the worst that could happen?

Author's Notes:

Well, this is finally out. Yeah, I had me some massive writer's block on this. Hopefully it all came out okay.

Now all I can do is hope I can write the next chapter within two years. ...Heh...