14-To the Hive

"This is foolish, Daedalus! Their Queen can't be reasoned with. She's vicious, conniving, and has no respect for others. It's asinine!" Celestia said as she paced the room. Quiet humming filled the air, signifying the presence of a sound-proofing barrier.

Daedalus, in his equine form, reclined in a chair as he watched the solar alicorn with analytic eyes. "No, it's not, Celestia. Their kind is starving to death and I can help. If it helps, I plan to use it to ensure peace and prevent betrayal."

Celestia dropped and faced him with a surprising intensity in her eyes. "How? That changes things."

Daedalus smiled lightly. "In return for solving their problem, they'll have to enact a peace treaty with Equestria. To prevent betrayal, I'll build a kill switch in the plants. If they act out, I kill their food source."

"That's," Celestia gasped, her eyes widening. "Evil. Effective, but evil."

Daedalus rolled his eyes. "Oh, I won't let them die. It'll be a warning. If I have to do anything, I'll kill Chrysalis. I'm not letting a species die because of a bad ruler."

Her magenta eyes shone with grudging respect. "You've planned it more than I thought you did. What would the details for the treaty be?"

The virus shrugged. "Between you and her. Not me."

"And you're determined to help these Changelings?" Celestia asked.

He nodded firmly. "Yes. I am."

The mare sighed and all tension seemed to drain out of her. Then she smiled, mischievous amusement sparkling in her eyes. "Very well. I've decided on something."

"What is that?" Daedalus asked, not liking her tone.

"You are the Ambassador to Changelings, effective immediately. You will go to the Sapphire Hive and begin building peace relations with Equestria. You are not allowed to return until you have guaranteed an alliance."

"Really, Celestia?" He asked.

"You want to help them. Now I'm making sure you do. I will personally visit Fire Brand and send a letter to Coal Dust to tell them you are out on Royal business."

"You won't explain what the business is, will you?" Daedalus asked.

Celestia sighed once more as she answered. "My little ponies do not like Changelings. Not after what they did before. I don't want word getting out about them until after the treatise is signed."

"So you're saying ponies are racist?"

Celestia flopped backwards onto the couch next to him and stretched out, her energy seemingly drained away. "Specist, actually. I wish it were not so but after thousands of years alone they developed a fear of other species."

She tilted her head up and looked at him. "That's why I trust you to do this. I know you won't let fear control you. You'll make a logical, informed decision. Your plan is a good one."

Daedalus snorted. "That's sounds completely different than what you were saying earlier. You called it foolish and asinine."

"I know!" Celestia exclaimed, her one free wing flaring out as the other just pushed into the couch back.

"Then why?"

Celestia's eyes drooped as she grunted. "Because she hurt my ponies. Emotionally, I want nothing to do with her and her kind. Logically, I know you're right and peace must be made. I'm conflicted, Daedalus."

"Maybe you should pass the decision on to someone else, Celestia." Daedalus suggested quietly.

"What do you mean?"

"Let me go to the Hive. Let me judge them. Let me decide if they can cooperate with us. Let me decide if they can be saved." He said gently.

Celestia closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. He heard her quietly counting to ten before she opened her eyes. She seemed relax, all stress and tension gone. He made a note to try that at a later date. "Okay. Okay, Daedalus. I'll let you do this for me. Go to the Hive before I change my mind. Make peace with Chrysalis. Then come back and report your findings."

He nods once in reply. Celestia's horn flashed and the two appeared in the Changeling's room. The alicorn turned to the starving being and started speaking. "Return to your Hive. Daedalus here will accompany you. He will work out a peace between our two nations. Understood?"

She nodded rapidly and Celestia turned to him. "Go. Take the Changeling and head to the Hive. Do not return until you have ensured Equestria's interests. I will explain your disappearance and the Changeling's."

Her horn flashed once more and they appeared some distance from Ponyville. The virus regained his bearings and turned to Viridian. "Can you lead the way from here?"

She nodded and stood up, only to wince and fall back down. She looked panic-stricken as she all but yelled. "I-I can barely move! I can't make it home like this! Oh mother, I'll die out here!"

She started to cry, a strong, heart-wrenching cry that echoed in the fields and made Daedalus feel horrible. He sighed and lifted her onto his back. "Point the way and I'll get us there."

"S-south." Viridian whimpered, still terrified.

"Look, you can see it. The mountain." Viridian said from his back. A day had passed since he set out to find Sapphire Hive. The entire time, he ran. He slowed or stopped for nothing while allowing the Changeling to sleep on his back. A trip that he was told should take a week or more took a little over a day.

He had passed out of Equestria's land some distance ago. He now traveled through the distinct land of the Badlands. Compared to the lush forests, pristine clouds, and vibrant plains of Equestria, the Badlands were dead. The dried, baked ground had been compacted so tightly with heat that the very earth cracked and split in a myriad of eccentric patterns. The heat was intensive. So much so that Daedalus took to siphoning heat from the Changeling on his back just to keep her alive.

Overhead, the clouds offered no reprieve. They seemed to be formed not of water vapor but of poisonous gas. The gas acted as a magnifier and seemed to intensely focus the sun's heat. Rather than white or gray or black, they were an acidic green and yellow, like bile. Frankly, it disgusted Daedalus.

In the distance, behind the fogy haze of air ever prevalent in the Badlands, a small mountain could be vaguely seen. Vaguely even for Daedalus, a fact that amazed and disturbed him. It was a singular, small peak that looked like it shouldn't have even existed. As they drew closer, he began to make out more details. The mountain was made of the same, cracked, compacted dirt as the rest of the land, with valleys and chasms that would be good places to hide. After a moment's thought, he realized there wouldn't be enough room for a fully formed Hive.

Then he saw the caves. Large ragged tears in the side of the mountain dug into the earth and would likely provide an incredible amount of space to live. He decided to comment on it. "You live in the mountain, don't you? The caves?"

A small, amused smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "No, actually. Stop."

Daedalus stopped immediately, still easily thirty miles from the mountain. In every direction around him was nothing but dry, dead land. The mountain was the only landmark in sight. Even then, he had only found it at Viridian's directions. "Stomp five times, spaced three seconds apart. Repeat thrice with a thirty second break in between."

Thump Thump Thump Thump Thump...

Thump Thump Thump Thump Thump...

Thump Thump Thump Thump Thump...

Daedalus did exactly as was asked of him. Mere moments after the final stomp, the ground near him faded away as an illusion spell was shattered. A small, sloped tunnel leading downward was what remained. Before he had any chance to react, easily over a dozen Changelings rushed out of the tunnel and surrounded him. They weren't aggressive, merely cautious. Daedalus heard another set of hoof steps slowly coming from the tunnel.

Turning to face it, the creature that emerged could only be described by one word in Daedalus' mind. Attractive.

She was clearly Queen Chrysalis. Both Celestia's descriptions and Disarray's memories proved as such. Her sleek chitin shone in the bright sunlight while her seemingly silky cerulean hair fell down past her barrel. Blue fibrous wings rested on her back. Her horn as well as her legs, wings, and tails were perforated with a myriad of holes. Her deep green slitted eyes examined him closely from above a pair of fangs, sparking a full body shiver of delight to go through him. This reaction confused, even concerned him and he pondered why. The answer struck him.

All around him were ponies. The alicorn, while powerful, were also ponies. Ponies, as a species, are prey. This Changeling Queen, Chrysalis, was a predator and a base part of him delighted in that fact. She seemed to know it too, as her face became a look of curiosity.

"Queen Chrysalis, I presume?" Daedalus asked, never taking his eyes off of her, even as she began circling him. Looking closer, he began to notice some flaws in her appearance. Her chitin was cracked in some places, where in others it was nearly falling off. He could see her ribs showing through her sides and her gait was unsteady from exhaustion. From a glance, it was clear she was in worse condition than her guards, showing exactly what kind of ruler she was.

"Correct. What kind of pony seek out a Changeling Queen? One hoping to be drained, perhaps?" She asked, her dual-toned voice sending shivers down his spine. Every aspect of her drove him wild and she knew it. He could see it on her face and in her eyes; in the way she walked and talked.

He forced the emotions down and regained control. Equal amounts of regret and pride flickered through his mind as a measure of disappointment marred her face for a moment. "Perhaps one who is not a pony at all?"

She stumbled slightly as his eyes briefly became black voids with no pupils. He continued on, unconcerned. "I convinced Celestia to release Viridian here under a single condition."

She scowled at him, her eyes flashing as she expected him to ask for some preposterous or disgusting favor. "And what is that?"

"That I am to become the Equestria-Changeling Ambassador and seek a peace agreement." He replied swiftly.

Her eyes widened as genuine shock spread across her features. Her voice lowered to a whisper as she spoke questioningly. "She doesn't want my head?"

Daedalus shook his head. "After learning of the Changeling plight from Viridian, she desired to help the Changelings recover."

It may have been a lie, only a small one, but he figured it wouldn't hurt to make Celestia look a little better. Chrysalis raised her brow as she looked him over doubtfully. "And she sent you?"

Daedalus nodded. "If we can move this inside, I believe Viridian is tired, thirsty, and hungry. Then, you and I may discuss how exactly I may help the Hive. Agreed?"

Chrysalis stared at him for some time, looking deep into his eyes. She was, naturally, searching for some trace of deceit, either in his eyes or in his emotions. She detected nothing. Nothing other than the sense that this pony was far more of a predator than she was. Eventually, she nodded, but hissed out a warning. "If you betray me in any way, I will kill you. Understand?"

"Perfectly." He replied coolly.

She nodded, satisfied. "Come. Follow me. Mynoke, take Viridian from him. He and I have much to discuss."

Another Changeling came and levitated Viridian off of him before he began walking down the tunnel. Daedalus followed, soon catching up to Chrysalis as the others entered and the illusion spell recast. When the virus came to walk beside the Queen, she murmured. "You will have to show me what you really are."

"I intend to. If we are to work together for the foreseeable future, secrets must not be kept." He said, then amended his statement. "Well, within reason. I intend to be honest and forthcoming with you and hope you extend the same hospitality back to me."

She nodded, then spoke. "In private, preferably."

"Naturally. Regulated information is so much safer."

She glanced at him with her slitted eyes, sparking another wave of desire as she answered with a small smile. "I'm glad we agree."

The pair continued down through the tunnel as the air grew cooler and moist. Before long, it was pitch black. Chrysalis looked to her guest, expecting to need to lead him. Her surprise was great when instead his eyes were glowing orange and he found his way with pinpoint perfect precision. The sounds of activity were growing louder as they descended into the Earth, a continuous buzzing sound echoing through the tunnel. Strange, bluish light from sources unknown was being emitted from around a bend in the tunnel ahead. Before long, they rounded the corner and came to a stop as one of the most beautiful sights he had ever seen stretched out in front of him.

The cavern was easily four or five miles long and one or two wide. The roof was suspended easily over a mile above them. Turning his gaze, the source of the light was clear to be seen. Gargantuan glowing blue mushrooms stretched from the ground to the sky, towering over him by thousands of feet. Black shapes clung to them in arranged levels and it took him a moment to realize they were homes. Black buildings wrapped around the stalks in floors, creating an effective natural skyscraper system.

Looking down at the ground two dozen feet below them, a veritable Changeling city existed. Once again, black buildings made up the dominant architecture. Increasing his natural magnification, he could see marble trims and inlaid gems providing colorful decoration to an otherwise gloomy and foreboding city. Glancing up, he could see the same design above him, if only more elaborate.

Hundreds of Changelings flitted though the air as even more walked on the ground. Some flew to the homes in the sky. Others flew into tunnels just like the one they stood in. Daedalus noticed something then that disturbed and saddened him. He whispered in a pained voice to the Changeling Queen beside him. "There are so few."

A city that could hold tens of thousands, even a hundred thousand, not counting the sky city above him or what may be in the tunnels, held only a thousand or so Changelings. The reality of just how long the Changelings had suffered just now began to sink in.

"Behold, the might of the Changeling Swarm. We who blot out the sun and devour the land. We who...can't even fill a city." Chrysalis said sarcastically, her voice burdened with a powerful and deep-rooted pain.

"Come." Chrysalis said quietly. "We will go to my study and discuss how you intend to help."

Daedalus nodded. Chrysalis lifted her wings and took to the air, hovering just above him. She was about to order her guards to carry him when something strange happened. His back was shrouded in black things. When they faded, a pair of red and orange feathered wings were folded against his sides. Blue glowing lines ran across the membranes, adding to the already eerie spectacle.

He flapped once and matched her height and gave her a roguish grin. She couldn't help but be attracted to that. She dismissed her guards before leading the way. Together, they flew toward the other end of the cavern. While they did, she noticed black and blue streams trailing from behind him. Chrysalis knew there would be many things she would ask the strange non-pony when they arrived at her study. But it could wait. For now, she was growing tired fast.

Nearly an hour later, Daedalus took notice of a structure different from the rest. It was clearly a home, but one unlike any other. It was shaped like a closed tube, rounded and long. One end was opened to the air with what seemed to be a landing porch. The rest was enclosed with the exception of windows.

The building was small, nowhere near the size of the palace he expected. Some of the houses on the ground were larger. Daedalus felt he had to comment on it. "It isn't a palace like I expected."

He turned his head toward Chrysalis to wait for a reply only to be concerned at what she saw. She was panting, her head drooping as her wings beat slower than they had before. Sweat poured off of her chitin in rivulets. It would have been a sexy look had it not been so worrying.

"I don't have...a palace." Chrysalis said between gasping breaths. It was clear right then that she was speaking to distract her from the exhaustion.

"They tried...to give me one. I told...them...no. We had more...important...things to spend...resources on."

The more Daedalus listened to her, the more he felt his respect grow. He began to see that she wasn't a tyrant desiring more land but a symbolic mother wanting her children to be happy. Before long, they reached the landing area and touched down. Immediately, Chrysalis collapsed. She began gasping for air and he could hear her lungs rattling. Her already cracked chitin was beginning to flake off. He ran to her side and crouched down, folding his legs underneath him. He knew she needed to feed.

He focused inside of himself and begin cannibalizing his own cells for materials. Acting quickly, he arranged the atoms to form phenylethylamine, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Chrysalis felt an intense well of love spring up very closer to her and struck as her eyes dulled. She instinctively latched onto him, her teeth sinking lightly into his neck.

She didn't press hard. She wasn't trying to bite his throat like he first thought. Her fangs were barely poking him. From the corner of his eye, he could see a pink mist wavering around. He didn't know where it was coming from but he was sure it was mystified love.

Daedalus felt the love he formed steadily draining at a rapid pace. This likely could have killed a pony from the sheer mental strain alone. As it was, Daedalus was developing a powerful headache, even though he had no brain to ache. Fortunately, he wasn't a pony. Before long, he had been drained of all his love. Chrysalis let go of his neck and her eyes seemed to clear.

She gasped loudly and stood up quickly and looked around in a panic. "I killed him! Oh buck, Celestia will hunt us to extinction!"

Daedalus chuckled lightly as he stood. Her head snapped around and faced him. Intense relief overtook the fear and worry as she stepped forward and hugged him tightly. Instantly, she realized what she was doing and stepped back, her cheeks now a green tint. She coughed lightly and the blush faded away.

"How are you alive? I drained you dry!" Chrysalis exclaimed.

Daedalus just smiled as he examined her form. Her once cracking chitin was now whole and lustrous, shining in the blue light sexily. Her ribs no longer showed. Her wings, while still ragged, was not the result of starvation. Daedalus couldn't help but drift his eyes over her slender legs and supple flanks. Something about the fact that she was a predator attracted him like no other could. Maybe it was his own viral instincts screaming that this was a kindred spirit.

"I'm alive because I am not a pony. Shall we make our way to your study?"

The Queen nodded. "Yes. You've only been here for an hour and already I have so many questions. This way."

Chrysalis entered the building and he followed. As soon as they walked through the arched doorway, they came to a long hallway. Half a dozen doors sat on each side with one final one at the very end of the hallway. The Changeling led him down the hall and into the final room on the right. When they stopped in front of the door, Daedalus noticed something odd about it.

It was door-shaped. It did what a door did as Chrysalis walked through it. It was a door. But it was made of some type of luminescent green gel. The door didn't open. He had to walk through it. Shrugging, he did so. He walked up to the gel and stepped into it. The cool liquid slid across his face, neck, barrel, flanks, and finally he was out.

The room he entered was drastically different from the hallway outside. A soft rug coated the floor. After a moment's examination, Daedalus realized it was made of pelts. Several pelts of the same species blended together seamlessly to make a rug that covered the floor. The walls were porous, making little cubbyholes where scrolls were held. Against the back wall was a large bookshelf, made of some strange red wood. A plush red couch sat beside the bookshelf with a table. A desk situated in front of a cushioned chair dominated the room. The table, chair, and desk were made of the same red wood.

Chrysalis moved and sat on the couch and gestured for him to sit beside her. "Now, let's begin with a simple question. What are you?"

Daedalus took a seat beside her, lightly sinking into the couch, and disappeared into a swarm of tendrils. Chrysalis shouted in shock as the things came back and covered him.

She leaned away, preparing to leap off of the couch as the writhing shape grew. Then it was gone.

Sitting next to her with an amused smile was a being entirely unlike anything she had ever seen before. The clothing was simple, tough blue pants, black shoes, black shirt, and a white coat. It was muscled. Not the overly-muscled, gross kind, but the perfectly built mixture of lithe and strong. It's hair was dark, almost black. It's face was smooth, small, and made of tanned skin. It's eyes, by the Hive, it's eyes! They were icy blue that stared at her, amusement twinkling in it. Blue was her favorite color, red being a close second.

"Like what you see, Chrysalis?" The being said with a voice identical to the pony's. With a start, she realized she had been staring at him for almost ten minutes. Chrysalis felt her cheeks flare a bright green as she blushed and looked away. "Come now, don't be shy. You wanted to know what I was."

She ignored her taunts as her mother had taught her and counted to ten. When she was finished, her blush was gone and she looked back to him. She looked at his face, even though a part of her wanted to look him over again. "So you are a shapeshifter?"

He nodded. "I am an Blacklight Evolved. I'm more than a shapeshifter. I'm a living virus."

Chrysalis' eyes widened, which Daedalus expected. When she leaned away from him, he felt a short stab of pain that left so quickly he wondered where it came from.

"Don't do that." He snapped, before his guilt surfaced at her flinch. He continued with a softer voice. "I'm not contagious. I can't accidentally spread Blacklight."

She relaxed slightly. "What can you do?"

"Whereas you use magic to change, I use genetics. My changes are true; I become what I shapeshift into. I can use this to create beings; plants, animals, monsters, you name it." Daedalus explained, then continued. "That's one of the ways I intend to help you. I want to create a new species of plant that produces pure love."

Her lips parted lightly as her eyes widened in shock. "W-what?"

Daedalus smiled at her. "You heard me. I want to help. That's why I came."

Her entire mood seemed to take a down turn. She looked at the floor, refusing to meet his eyes. Her wings and neck drooped. She seemed to sag into the couch.

"What do you want? My wealth? My home? My body?" She asked in a tired, resigned voice.

Daedalus reached forward and lightly grasped her shoulder. She flinched as the contact, sparking another shot of pain, and he spoke. "Celestia wants me to make a peace agreement. The ponies would want me to wipe this Hive out. That isn't what I want, though."

She seemed to steel her resolve as she waited for whatever horrible request he would make. "I want Changelings to stop starving."

Her head snapped up as a surprised gasp tore out of her barrel. Her eyes locked with his, surprise met warmth. Then anger twisted her features. "You lie! Nopony in the world would ever help Changelings willingly! Nopony in the world would do so without some massive favor! Everypony in the world hates Changelings!" She ended with a scream full of anger and pain.

Daedalus stood to his full height, towering over the mare. She shrunk back, cowed. He spoke with force, not anger, and made her listen. "I am not a pony nor of this world! You would do well to accept help that has no strings attached whenever you can!"

Then his voice softened as he sat down again. "I do not hate Changelings. I hold no anger, no contempt, no desire to harm, no hatred for your species. I learned of a species starving to death, a mother who was forced to watch her children die. I have the power to help. I want to help. Will you let me help, Chrysalis?"

As he spoke, her eyes began to fill with tears. As he asked his final question, the tears broke free and began rolling down her face. She fell forward into his arms and began crying in his chest. As he held her gently, he thought about what had just happened.

She went from anger to sadness and I went from gentle to forceful to gentle again. What the hell is happening?

Author's Notes:

As always, Beta Read by BurningDusk. This chapter also marks the beginning of events I'm looking forward to.