It was the day after I had met Green Mist, and I was on the outside of his former hive, hidden in the brush. There was a small group of black armored changelings, totaling four, guarding the entrance, meaning that I would have to get creative, as Mist told me about the hive mind. Can't kill them, nor can I knock them out. Damn it, I wish I had chosen to get a Loki frame, that would work for me here. Then again. . .

I looked up at the sky, and saw where the sun was. Perfect. I grabbed my Skana, and raised it. Radial Blind. A flash of light erupted from the blade, and it blinded the four changelings, allowing me to run past them, and into the hive. Hopefully, they'll think it was the sun, as I had put as little intensity into the power as possible.

Once inside the Hive, I stuck to the shadows, easy to begin with, I was in a cave, after all, but it got more difficult as I went further in, having to evade more patrols and with artificial, if that term works here due to it meaning man made, basically, lights lighting the shadows, and, even with lowest intensity to still work, I couldn't use Radial blind forever, which means I need a distraction, something to pull them away from the cells.

An opportunity, fortunately, presented itself about an hour after I entered. I had gone the opposite way from the cells, and towards where Mist said that the queen was, and found a single guard, which is what I was looking for. I drew my Paris bow, as well as an arrow, nocked it, and fired it at the guard's head, the arrow penetrating his skull and killing him. With that, I backtracked, evading and avoiding the guards rushing to where the changeling guard was killed. When I made it to the crossroads that split off onto the path I'm on now and to the cells.

The route to the cells had few guards, ones I easily avoided. Eventually I made it to the dungeons, which had, far as I could tell, no guards. Probably thought that any infiltrators would be caught before hand due to ignorance to the hive mind, or just stupidity. Not me.

I looked around the room, rectangular, three floors, cells, ten each floor, built into the wall with steel doors behind bars, with plenty of shadows for changeling guards to hide. Whatever I do, I'm putting risk on myself. If I go in, I may get caught. If I go back, I could get caught still, and I'd be leaving Mist's marefriend and any other unwilling captives here.

I sighed. Looks like I'm going with the more moral one. I walked into the dungeon proper, if it could be called that, keeping my eyes on the shadows for movement. "Is anypony there?!" I yelled.

"Here," a female voice replied from a first level cell, which is where I went. "Please help. I've been here for days."

"Don'y worry, I'll get you out," I said, drawing my sword and channeling into it before slicing at the door. "What's your name?"

As soon as I sliced through the door, the one inside the cell was revealed. "My name's Thoraxia," the female changeling guard said before multiple changeling guards emerged from the shadows-called it- and surrounded me. "And you just-"

"Walked into a trap, spare me the cliche speech," I said. "So, where are the prisoners?"

"Lay your weapons down, and we'll show you, you deformed pony."

"I'm not a pony, dumbass," I said. "And how do I know you won't kill me? You changelings are, given how you get food, are born deceivers." Mostly.

"Because the queen has heard of you," Thoraxia said. "And she wishes to speak with you." And there's my opportunity.

"Alright, then," I said, taking each of my physical weapons, and dropping each on the floor. "Lead the way." Motherfucker.

From there, the changeling guards took my physical weapons, and, with Thoraxia in the lead, I was led to what I assume is the royal chambers. As I was led out of the prison, I thought I saw a shadow move, as if to avoid being seen. Weird.

Anyway, as we went the route that led to the guard I had killed, as well as passed that area, which was stained with his green blood, I noticed more guards, each with armor that protected every inch of their bodies, razor tipped spears, the shafts made of steel, with sheathed short swords and shields. Either those I saw earlier were fake guards, or these guys are the honor guard, for lack of a better term right now.

After about ten minutes, we came to a gated area of the place. The gates opened, revealing a large, cavernous space, with tons of pods on the ceiling, and a single throne, colored black with accents of green, upon which a single being sat.

She wore a flowing gown made of some kind of black material, this with silver accents. She had green hair that looked as if it belonged, for lack of a better comparison, in ancient China, as it was in a bun, elegantly trimmed nails, and made-for-hoof shoes that reminded me of Luna and Celestia's, albeit made of black steel, a simple crown with three, blue beads on the top upon her head. Around the throne were mares and stallions, some with green eyes, others with none. As she spoke, I knew who I was dealing with.

"So," Queen Chrysalis said as she put a hand on her chin and leaned forward to examine me as her guards brought me closer. "This is the one who escape from Princess Celestia all those weeks ago. I expected less, to be honest."

"Should I take that as an insult, or a compliment?" I asked.

Chrysalis chuckled. "A compliment," she replied. "So, what brings you here? Is it perhaps those we captured?"

"Yeah, it is," I said. "But only those being controlled, of which I can tell there are a few, or those too strong willed to resist, but are being raped anyway. Those willing, I'll let stay. You're holding the others unwillingly and we both know that if Celestia were to find out, she'd vaporize you, then probably your entire hive. So, I offer you something: a deal."

"Oh?" Chrysalis replied. "If so, then what are your terms?"

"The obvious," I said. "Let those who are being mind controlled free-fully free- and the others not here willingly go. If you're worried about food, I'm sure I'll be able to help in that regard. I have a. . . friend high up in Equestria's government who will be able to help." Hey, they may be raping, but I won't eliminate an entire race because of how others force them to get food. I know how I made my moral code sound in Manehattan makes me sound like a hypocrite, but they completely raped and brainwashed when they didn't need to. With the changelings, they do it because, though it's only a few who know they really exist, most of them are not very positive towards them.

"And how do I know you're telling the truth?" Chrysalis asked.

"On my word as a soldier of Harmony, that's with a capitol 'H', by the way, that I am telling the truth."

"You are an agent of Harmony? i thought those bearers were."

"Yes, but they simply wield tools created by Harmony. I am her champion, and take care of what they can not or will not do."

Chrysalis was silent for a time. "And if the ponies were to attack us without provocation?"

Harmony?

Much as I wouldn't, if the changelings are attacked first, then you have permission to kill enough to make the ponies stop, but nothing more. If they don't, then let it play out.

Yeah, no. "I would assist you and your people."

"Then, I suppose," Chrysalis said, "I shall attempt to go with what you have in mind." She then looked at Thoraxia. "Guard, free these prisoners, and remove the spell on the others."

"But, highness," Thorax said, "what if this doesn't work?"

Harmony, cna ya help out here?

Three. . . two. . . one. As she hit one, there was a flash of light, causing everyone to avert their eyes. When the flash died down, I looked at where it had originated from, and saw Harmony standing there.

"The fuck?"

"I can appear when and where I want," Harmony replied. She then looked at Chrysalis. "Hello, Queen Chrysalis."

Chrysalis quickly left her throne and, along with the guards, kneeled. "Harmony," the queen said. "I apologize. If we had known he was your champion-"

"It is alright," Harmony said. "He came here not because I sent him, but because of his morals. Still, I agree that the ponies shouldn't have been kept."

"I know, and I wish we didn't need to," Chrysalis said, with a slight nod from Harmony to me, indicating she was being truthful. "But I had to for my people to survive."

"I understand," Harmony said. "Which is why the terms my champion, Excalibur, laid out, you will follow."

"Of course," Chrysalis said. "Whatever you wish, Harmony. And I apologize for what I did to those ponies years ago."(1)

"There is no need," Harmony said. "And you need not worry. I will tell Celestia you wish for peace, and, if needed, press her to accept one." She then turned to me. "There is still one thing, Excalibur."

"I know," I said. "Azure Shadow, you here?"

A unicorn mare with skin a shade of blue similar to season two Luna with light blue hair and tail, wearing a ragged pair of khakis and a holed, black shirt, stood up. "Y-yeah."

"You're the reason I came here. Your stallion friend told me, and i came here to get you and the other prisoners."

"Mist's alive?" Azure said in shock. "I-I thought he was dead."

"He's alive," I said. "If you'll follow me, I can show you where."

She nodded as Harmony removed the brainwashing on the ponies afflicted by it. As soon as thta was done, I led them out, but not before one last thing. Harmony stopped me, and said, "Before you go, Excalibur, there is something I'd like you to give Green Mist. You will need support." As she said this, she handed me something resembling a silver potato with orange lining. An Orokin reactor? Or at least something similar. Odd. "Give it ot him. That is all you need do." With that, she vanished, leaving me with a new question.

Author's Notes:

1:Comic reference.