In a moment, she was Queen Tere of Scorching Sands Hive far out into the desert of the Striped Ones’ land. Hidden from the blazing sun, deep underground where the only light came from a bioluminescent material they themselves produced and only gave off low light.

She oversaw plans to expand the caves deeper down ‘My queen! The Northern entrance has been discovered, we are holding it but they are throwing glass bottles containing strange liquids that burn on contact.’ a soldier told her.

Panic rose through her, yet her outward appearance did not change. ‘Rally the 7th ward group and have them reinforce the Northern entrance and have the 9th make sure the Southern entrance is clear while the 3rd moves through to prepare everyone’s move to the reserve hive.’ She said regally. If the hive was easily found, they could not stay here, so they would move on.

‘Yes, my queen’ a drone said as her orders began to be followed.

She ordered the injured soldiers to move with the workers and caretakers to defend them while healthy soldiers took their place.

A few minutes later, she emerged from her throne room. She arrived at the staging area where the first groups were preparing to leave when a message came through the link.

‘My queen they are at the southern entrance!’

So they would take the east exit she decided, then word came from the south.

‘My queen! The striped ones are at the Eastern entrance.’

‘Then we take the west.’ She said that one was much better hidden as it wasn't exactly complete. They would just need a minute to tunnel out.

Within a moment, the group was moving, the Queen with them while the warriors would cover their retreats. She stood tall and showed no fear while on the inside she wept at the loss of the caves she grew up in, but she knew they would make a new home. They must to ensure their survival.

By the time she reached the entrance, the workers had broken through and the groups were moving through the new exit. She stepped out into the blinding light and led the way out over the shifting sands. If one did not know their way, it would be easy to become lost out there.

She began to walk, leading her people to safety. They did not get far when bottles sailed through the air and struck the soldiers guarding the right side. The Striped ones were on the hills around them, attacking.

The Striped ones used cloth to spin glass bottles like slings, making them sail down into the fleeing workers. When they broke, screams filled the air as chitin cracked and split, oozing and boiling the dark green blood flowing through their veins.

Some soldiers took to the air, their wings buzzing as they held their short-spears at the ready. The Striped Ones threw theirs at them while bottles rained down. Some workers tried to pick up spears and fight, but they werent made to do so. The spears might as well have been clubs for all the skill they had with them, yet they did all they could in spite of it to buy their hive time.

The queen sent blast after blast of magic into the Striped Ones lines. "Go! Run! Flee!" She yelled at those with her. A bottle shattered against her face. She cried out as half her face was covered the vision in her left eye fading.

She held a hoof to her face and continued to fire blasts at the attackers, standing her ground.

Dawn quietly teared up at what they faced, gasping at the memory of the fallen happening around the queen before cringing involuntarily at the flask that hit her in the face. She rubbed violently against her own face, barely able to distinguish that it wasn't really happening right then, yet she wanted it off... she curled up all the tighter in the end as she lived the memory.

And then, just as fast as it had begun, it was over. What remained of the Striped Ones had fled, leaving behind the broken bodies of most of her Hive, already being buried by the shifting sands as she stood there. Half of her face was gone, her neck and shoulder not much better off. It hurt, but not as much as seeing so many of her kind dead. Most of them hadn't made it more than a few steps before being brought down.

What remained of the soldiers groups left behind to cover their retreat arrived, though injured, and looked to their queen for direction.

This could not happen again it wouldn't happen again. Never again! They would become stronger. They had to. They couldn't allow this… she couldn't allow this to happen. This was her fault she should have done better.

She would do better. A plan was already forming. If the other races saw them as monsters then by the Mothers they would become the monsters! They would find those who had traits they needed, traits that would make them better stronger, faster, smarter, better. They would ensure those traits were passed on to the next generations, and they do the same for the next, and the next and all the way down the line until they were the monsters everyone saw them as, unable to be slowed, unable to be stopped. They would be an unrelenting force of strength and power that could conquer and dominate all that dared stand before it, and grind them into dust beneath their hooves. They would be feared as they should be as the monsters coming for them rather than the ones preyed upon by the monsters! She swore this there and then over the bodies of the dead.

Dawn calmed as the wave of emotions swept over, the certainty of action being shared. She saw no flaw in their thinking and hoped, despite knowing the answer, that they succeed in their task. The memories sunk down into her mind just like those that came before them.

'Do you wish to continue?' Chryssy asked.

'G-give me a moment...' she replied breathily, eyes still closed. 'Damn you all are strong. I want to give you a collective big hug right now.'

'Why?' She asked, curious.

'Because you deserve hugs for all you'd been through. Up until that point, you hadn't gone out and caused trouble, you were attacked for being different... I don’t know, just wanting to do something to help somehow.'

'Simply by proving not all were like that, you have helped. It took time but we came to learn that as well.' Chryssy said.

'Well, if you ever need me, please, lemme know.' She said quietly as her mind drifted closer to sleep

'I will my little pony.' Chryssy said. "I will.'

Dawn slept fitfully that night, the memories added to her own being processed as dreams where she fought zebra after zebra despite a world of fire.

As she fought, she found changelings were appearing beside her and fighting with her. They were few, but these changelings seemed different then the dream for some reason, somehow more real as they fought. There was a sort of whispering that grew louder as more appeared.

Never alone. Repeating over and over again, feeling almost as if it were in her head. Even after the dream shifted to something more pleasant the whispering was at the back of her mind.

Dawn settled into comfort as the dream soon shifted toward a cave yet above ground, a mix of her home and the changelings’, enjoying the company and seeing foals playing on the rug in the living room.

The other drones that seemed more real than the others slowly faded as the dream remained pleasant. The entire time, the gentle whispering was there in the back of her mind, reminding her she was never alone.

Dawn smiled on the inside, clearly comforted and hoped as she woke that they knew she was grateful. Her eyes opened and she stretched slowly, lazily, noticing the sun wasn't up yet, but Twilight was not in bed. There was a note by the bed and she turned to read it.

"Went for morning gallop, be back after sunrise."

Dawn chuckled, it was exactly what she expected. She got up and out of bed, continuing her stretches as best she could before starting her wing exercises.

The link was still open, as neither side ever closed it, and she could feel the Queen managing the hive and knew she was awake.

'Morning Chryssy.' She greeted, 'anything new?'

'Good morning my little pony. Did you sleep well?' She asked. "And no, a few possible leads here and there, another break-in on the second case but that's about it.'

'What kind of break?' She asked, instantly interested.

'A local library, into the rare books collection. Stole a volume of Clover the Clever's Guide to Advances Spell Matrices, Volume 2. There are only three copies in existence, this was the only volume not in Canterlot.'

'Lemme get a scroll,' Dawn said, quickly grabbing it and writing that down. 'Librarian say what was inside the book to call it a break?'

'Just that it was a book on the construction of area-effect spell matrices.'

'So we know that they’re planning or researching affecting a big area... joy.' She sighed, seeing the danger while noticing the sunrise.

'Yeah, no clue what though, but we will keep you updated.' She said. 'How did you sleep?'

'Well. I dreamt of that last memory, but I swear the changelings there were so real... kept hearing 'never alone' from them, and it turned to a more family setting where I was hosting for a social thing with them afterward.'

Dawn was surprised to feel confusion and surprise from the queen.

'That sounds like when a drone has a nightmare. The rest of the hive responds to stop it.'

'Well, it felt like it was a nightmare, I'll say that...' she said, pausing before asking, 'Chryssy?', pausing again as she tried to place into words what her thought was, whether their link was deepening, if she was changing somehow, what that might mean... she didn't know how to ask and internally sighed in frustration.

'I don't know.' Chryssy replied, having picked up on her intended question. 'This is all new territory to me. Nothing like this has ever happened in our history.'

'Yeah, that’s what sucks about being the first... but if I can do it, then Violet can. Probably.' Dawn replied, not at all certain.

'True.' She said hopefully

'So, the hive is taking me in like family huh?' She asked, as if confirming what was said earlier.

'I....don't know.' She said. 'I mean I don't see you any differently.'

'Well, it’s a start, and if that is the case, I’ll be happy with it... Just hope they forgive me if I struggle with names or birthdays. I imagine there's a lot of those.' She chuckled quietly.

'We don't really celebrate birthdays.'

'Eh, neither did my family after we could work...' Dawn admitted.

'We never do. We mark the hatching and when they pass on into memory.'

'Ahhh. Do you remember them all accurately? That’d be really hard to memorize, wouldn’t it?'

Dawn finished her stretches and exercising and walked at her own slow pace back to the kitchen.

'Eidetic memory.' Chrysalis replied. 'Not to mention it's always there on the Link.'

'Ah, right...' she hummed, trying to think of what else to ask. She felt uncertain about several things, yet also unbothered and curious. She continued to wonder what this means for both the changelings and herself, despite not seeing either Twilight or spike.

'I cannot answer that my little pony.' She said, as if answering her unspoken question by picking up the mare’s thoughts, and sent her sympathy

'Sorry, I wasn't trying to ask, just more lost in thought about it... I always liked thinking of the 'what ifs' of things that could be, though in this case, it's more what 'might be' I guess...'

'Yes, I suppose it is. However feel free to ask any question you'd like and I'll do my best to answer.

'Well, it’s more a matter of hoping that I don't disturb the hive or those in the link and if things continue, that I do my part in helping you survive if I’m being included.'

'You will not disturb the hive. We always hear our hive, one more voice will not hurt.' She said and sent positive emotions to Dawn to show her it was not a problem.

Dawn blushed and smiled broadly, shaking her head, 'You're too kind. Though, it does make me wonder why sometimes I hear more than just you. Not like now, but like, when it's later at night or when I go to nap and things slow down.'

'Well, I'm not sure. Drones always hear the voices of their hivemates in the back of their mind as a sort of white noise due to how many are talking in the link at once. I suppose you’re getting that when you relax and don't have your own thoughts drowning it out.'

'Hm... You said that there's something innate about changelings that allow the link to work right?'

'Yes, a sort of magic we naturally have now linking all our mind without the energy destroying us.'

'Is... is it possible a side effect of the magic has been changing my mind to reflect those I connect to or something? I know that sounds ridiculous that my biology would have changed, or that I’m not using the right terms or whatever but, you know what I mean?'

'You mean is it somehow giving you the mind of a drone?' She asked.

'Or... maybe helping me get whatever makes the link possible? I don't know... I don't think well in the morning.'

'It's fine. Just know I don't see any changes in you.'

'All right.' Dawn thought, wondering if she would notice the difference if she were slowly becoming more like a changeling, but she trusted that Chrysalis would know better. She looked over the ingredients of the breakfast, tempted to start mixing a batch of pancakes herself

'Twilight enjoys pancakes a lot.' Chrysalis said

Dawn smiled and decided get some pancake batter made, while also wondering if she would make bacon, before wondering if she'd have Spike give it a try.

'I don't think you can as I doubt Princess Twilight has meat laying around.' She said.

'It's such a shame too. Ever since Twilight shared that bacon-," Dawn paused, humming some satisfying noises out loud before giggling, 'guess we'll have to make due without meat for now.'

She started to pull out the ingredients for the pancakes, debating what to season it with beyond vanilla, considering some cinnamon and sugar to make a kind of 'french toast' pancake.

'Well, Twilight has a small stockpile of it but if you're wanting to have the meal ready for her when she gets back you'll have to wait' she said.

'I'll live Chryssy... probably.' She joked, pausing as she thought about what it'd be like to be a smaller pony, growing up in the hive, perhaps being Chrysalis’ sister or something. As much as she liked the idea, she had no clue where it came from.

Chrysalis chuckled and sent her a small memory of a young nymph who was one of many climbing over Chrysalis body as she lay in one of the hatcheries watching the eggs hatch and they sought to be near their queen.

'Awwwwww. That's so cute.' Dawn called, wanting to hug them and help them in whatever way she could, despite not knowing how.

She chuckled. 'Twilight said the exact same thing when she saw her first hatching. But don't tell her I told you, or she'll deny it when it’s brought up.'

'I won't.' she giggled, 'So, what does it take to care for a changeling?' she asked as she mixed all the dry ingredients together before putting in the eggs and milk.

'Love and careful tending ‘till their chitin start to come in.'

'So no particular special feeding other than emotions, and protecting them from harm until they have their chitin.... how did emotions become a food source anyway?'

'I could show you if you like?'

'I'd like that, I really want to know.' She replied, having mixed up the batter quite nicely, reviewing the fruits to see if it should be put into the batter but deciding against it, pouring the first pancakes into the griddle and hearing them sizzle

'Ok.' Chrysalis responded, then the memory began.

She was Tetri of the working class, and though her current project wasn't digging tunnels or mundane tasks, it was something much bigger. Her project was researching their weaknesses and solutions to them.

Like her predecessors, she focused on their food problems. While they were able to get enough food to feed themselves with rationing, sending out infiltrators so often to gather love was dangerous. It lead back to their hives often, and leaving signs of their hive was a key factor to their destruction in the past.

And so her mentor, her mentor’s mentor and her mentor’s mentor’s mentor had dedicated their lives to solving this weakness. She was onto something now, a way to gather love more effectively with less trips out of the safety of the hive, and with this conviction of a new path, she researched.

Years passed, her chitin grew brittle. They had to move the hive once when they were tracked back to it, which fueled her drive. Even in spite of the interruption, her research never stopped. She went many sleepless nights so focused on the task to where the Queen had to step in and force her to sleep. Each day she felt she was closer to a breakthrough than ever, she could almost taste it.

One day, she found something, a way to get the maximum amount of love from subjects, and would require fewer trips out of the hive. There was risk to it, but if it worked the reward would be well worth it. She just needed the queen's approval, as it involved bringing a Striped One to the hive. She knew it would be dangerous. If they somehow escaped, they would need to move again.

After a great deal of talk and showing her research, the queen gave her blessing, but did warn Tetri that if this risk did not pay off, then all of her research would be thrown out. She would no longer be allowed to continue for the risk to the hive, a steep gamble, as it put all of her life's work on the line.

The infiltrators selected a Striped One, alone in a field, and captured it, knocking it out, and dragging it back to the hive.

Tetri prepared a modified healing cocoon, ensuring it was ready when the infiltrators returned. The Striped One was awake now and making a Mother's-awful loud noise with its mouth as it struggled and babbled the incoherent gibberish that was their language. Tetri didn't even bother having translated as it didn't matter. When changeling did speak verbally in their own “language” it was mostly clicks. She knew the hive had learned the languages of the Striped Ones years ago, and it was useful to keep up, as it changed so often they needed to monitor it constantly and blend in. For this however, it did not matter.

It never mattered to Tetri anyway, as their gibberish had no bearing on her research. Though the fear from this Stripped one tasted bitter, it was mixed with the spice of anger and the slightly sweet taste of determination as it struggled and fought every step. It was useless, even the striped one knew it, and that was why it felt so much fear. If her plan worked, that would change.

She directed the infiltrators to place the Striped One in the cocoon. It struggled as it lowered, fear permeating the room as desperation started to sink in, but its fate, like the cocoon, was sealed.

The Striped One still struggled, trying to hold its breath Tetri assumed, for she couldn't see within the cocoon well with her failing eyes. Soon it breathed in in the slurry.

The struggling slowed as it was forced to sleep, the Mix working its way to sustain the occupant… There was a tense moment and then the cocoon started to radiate love. The Mix placed the Striped one into a deep sleep, relaxing in the best dream it could have in seeing family and friends, causing it to radiate love.

It was working! If the cocooning held, then they could capture the Striped Ones and place them in cocoons to harvest the love from the dreams!

Tetri never got to see the success of her lifetime of research. That night, she passed into memory as she slept, but her work was taken and over the years improved to where they had full control over the subject’s dreams, able to make them dream of anything they desired.

It gave the hive an advantage over the others, for they could capture food and harvest all the love they needed, only needing to go out to replace the food sources as old age took them or to just spy on the food.

Eventually the hive was conquered by a clever queen, then that one was conquered later as well, and the knowledge spread to their race, as those who didn't have it were wiped out, leaving just those who no longer needed to leave the safety of the hive dwelling.

'That's sad. I would have hoped she or her hive would have lived to see the fruits of their labor and to be successful. But in the same breath, she had a good life, found it, and now all changelings can get food that way and avoid danger…” Dawn said, thinking.

The queen nodded mentally. 'Yes. Over the years the ability was bred into all of us.'

'Interesting... So, how much do you need of emotions to feed yourselves? Is there even a way to quantify it?'

'Not really. We just need enough to feed ourselves and each emotion is like a different flavor.

Dawn hummed, not really understanding, but thinking about the circumstances, already finishing the first batch and snacking on a small pancake she made for tasting purposes. She smiled broadly at the taste of food, spreading some butter over it and wondering if Twilight meant to be back by now or not, but prepared the next batch anyway.

'It's hard to explain to those who eat normal food, but each emotion tastes different from the others.'

'Well, I understand that, but how do you know you're full? Do you have the ability to share some that you've stored?'

'We can share and to answer the other question, do you know when you're full?' Chrysalis retorted.

'Something tells me you aren't able to feed off of each other's emotions though, are you?' Dawn hummed, clearly intrigued.

'No, only the other races.'

'Kinda figured. You’d be isolated due to not needing anyone in that case.' Dawn hummed, 'So if there's just one pony present, would it feed all changelings the same amount as if there was just one changeling present or no?'

She soon flipped the second batch of pancakes and looked again for Twilight, wondering if her morning jog was delayed.

‘No. One pony does not sustain all of us.'

'So it's just like a normal meal getting split up... is the ratio like one pony feeds one changeling or something different?'

'It’s… hard to explain.' Chrysalis said, reminding the mare that emotions were hard to quantify.

'Ah... all right, I'll worry about it later... Should I be worried about Twilight though? She left a note saying she'd be back at sunrise, and it's been sunrise for a little bit now.'

'After sunrise, not at all.' She said. 'She's probably doing her routine out in town so as not to wake you.'

'Oh. I must have misread it... oops?' Dawn sighed and set the pancakes on a plate, seeing the two plates before asking, "So is there anything special I should do for how she makes Spike's gem pancakes?"

'Masterbate' she said

Dawn blushed deeply, only then noticing a huge itch of that sort that needed scratching and suspected the queen was messing with her mind. She tried to be modest and ignore it, asking, 'N-no, really.'

Chrysalis burst out laughing and Dawn felt a large among of amusement from her.

She whined quietly. She really did feel the need now and she wasn't in the privacy of her room to act on it. 'Fine, I guess I'll let Twilight handle it then...'

She then went ahead and took the first plate of pancakes and started eating, trying quite hard to put it out of her mind, which of course brought it to the forefront.

Chryssy stopped laughing. 'Huh?' She asked confused. 'Was that joke inappropriate?'

'No no,' She chucked, 'I liked it, just... it reminded me I actually needed to take care of that…’

'Oh...well feel free to do so.'

'Once I'm back to my room of course.' Dawn chuckled. Her thoughts drifted to where, if things did continue with her opening up to the hive, she wondered if she could have her memories be stored in the link like the others, or if that would even be done. After all, she might not be quite 'that' important to warrant that kind of special treatment.

'All drones are important, and all memories are added to the link when they die. That is why we call it passing on into memory. All their memories, thoughts, feelings are added to the link.'

'All of them?' Dawn asked, curious, yet a little afraid, though she didn't know why. 'So, if I were a part of the link, everypony in it would know how I started as a human, came to Equestria and became a pony, and joined the hive and so on, and everything in between?'

She finished off her pancakes and left the batch for Twilight on the counter under a clear platter cover, then headed toward her room, to possibly take care of herself if she still felt in the mood.

'Well, if you were a drone and died, yes all of your memories would be absorbed by the Link for future generations to benefit from.' She said.

Dawn hummed again, 'But I'm not a drone, even if the link has been getting stronger and don’t know why... Is it possible to maybe store my memories thus far into a crystal? Just in case? I would want to be remembered if I were to... well... pass on and not really be part of the link because of how we talk.'

'I don't see why not. It's a spell anyone can use but I doubt you'd be forgotten.'

'Oh? Why's that?' she asked.

'Because of who you are, I know the Hive won't be forgetting you. We always remember our friends.'

She chuckled, "Well, thank you, but if that's the case, that's all the more reason to have a backup of all my memories then, right?'

'True.' She said chuckling. 'I'll see about acquiring what's needed to do so.'

As Dawn entered the room and got settled the door opened behind her and disguised Twilight walked in. "Oh you're awake." She said surprised. "Most people aren't up at this hour."

"Morning Twilight. Yeah, I woke up a bit ago. Had a nightmare about one of the memories, but some of the other changelings helped turn it into something a lot more pleasant. Made breakfast and there's some pancakes for you too still." She replied.

She blinked a couple of times at the mare’s odd way of explaining, then looked around. "Where are they?"

"In the kitchen, should still be warm. Made them with cinnamon and sugar, like french toast." Dawn said, walking that way to show her. Twilight nodded and followed.

Arriving at the kitchen, they found a half asleep Princess Twilight, with coffee close sitting at the table eating them on auto pilot

"Oh. Well, I can make more." Dawn chuckled, heading to the counters, "wanna take a seat Stonewall?"

"I can make them Princess." She said. "You rest as we have a long trip ahead of us today."

"I want to do it though." Dawn smiled, wanting to feel helpful. "That ok with you?"

"If you insist princess." Twilight replied, sounding exactly like a royal guard.

"I do." She replied, going over to make the batter. "Looks like she had a long night, or just needs coffee to wake up."

"Coffee. She most likely runs on the stuff." Stonewall said as she took a seat. "Like how Celestia runs on Tea and Cake, and Luna, the tears of foals."

Dawn snorted, trying not to laugh, "And what would you say I run on then?" She asked as she mixed the batter.

"Oh you're the most diabolical one of them all Princess, you run on waffles." Stonewall said with a smirk.

"Oh no you didn’t!" She smiled wide, trying not to laugh before she 'fixed it' with the first thing that crossed her mind, "Obviously I run on grass with the spring dew still clinging to the innocent blades, with a side order of angry incompetence."

"But of course.” Stonewall chuckled. “My mistake."

Dawn soon had them flipped and served, bringing them over before adding, "Naturally, that means I’m a horrible coffee barista, so I might need a lesson or two on that."

Stonewall chuckled and started to eat while Princess Twilight poured her 4th cup of coffee and only looked slightly more awake.

"You ok Twilight?" Dawn asked gently

"Perfual fuma" she mumbled talking another bite of pancake.

Dawn hummed, sorely tempted to wake her up with a book call, twilight's weakness always was facts about books that were wronghad to be fixed, and then got a mischievous smile. "So, what’s in Clover the Clever's spell matrix volume 2?" She asked, passing the scroll notes to 'Stonewall' so they get the update, even getting the summary of what the librarian said

'Standard area effect spell matrices used primarily for large scale spells such as heating, illusions, and others, ranging from 3 meters to 500 meters." Twilight mumbled just answering

Dawn looked at Stonewall, knowing they understood the context of what that meant.

"Basically they can be used to cover a small area with an intense spell or a massive area with different or weaker spell. Most commonly used for heating in order to keep people warm during winter if they are camping, or illusions for allow for elaborate shows or other things." Twilight continued. "But basically any spell can be attached to them."

Dawn nodded, "That is definitely a clue to our thing, wouldn't you say? Whatever he's planning, it's big."

"Yes or at least involves multiple people."

"Yeah. Should we wait for you to wake up more Twilight, or could we go over what you found?"

"Huh?" Twilight said blinking as she poured another cup and looked more alert

"Oh I was curious if you made progress, since we talked last time or if you needed more time."

She blinked a few times. "Oh! Yes a bit. There are a few spells it could be still working on it."

"What few are you thinking?"

"Well there is a few spells used for highly realistic illusion spells, a couple ones to do with teleportation a few mental ones so far. I'm still doing research."

"Well, that’s a big help. We were going to the Everfree Patrol to visit today for something else. We can check in around night time when we get back if that's ok with you.”

"Alright, I should know more then." She said. "Also if you learn anything more let me know!"

Stonewall cleared her throat. "We did receive further information late last night." She said before she passed over the note on the information about the stolen book. She was glad writing with her hands looked different then her horn writing else there could be issues.

"So basically, we know this spell is a multi-target or area of effect, whatever it's going to be, at least it doesn't appear overtly harmful, just deceptive."

"Yes, but I'm worried about the covertly harmful part." Stonewall nodded.

"Yeah," Dawn nodded, deciding they needed to change the subject to avoid involving the princess further. "So, how was the pancakes Stonewall?"

"Delicious Princess." She said having finished them a while ago.

"I'm glad.” Dawn smiled broadly, “First time's finally the charm."

Dawn put the dishes away and then walked toward the exit, holding the door open. "Thanks so much for looking into this Twilight. We'll check in like I said ok?"

Stonewall was at the stove quickly whipping up a batch of gem pancakes before she followed Dawn.

Dawn held the door, patiently waiting on Stonewall before they finished up and followed behind them, seeing a sleepy-eyed Spike standing in the doorway rubbing his eye with one claw. "Oh hey guys," He yawned before adding, "Leaving so soon?"

"Yes Sir Spike, we are quite busy." Stonewall said formally before cracking a small smile. "Your pancakes are on the table, I'd hurry for the sleepy Princess of Friendship eats them by mistake."

"Oh no she won't!" he called out, dashing off with his blanket trailing behind him in his claw as he rushed over to the kitchen.

Dawn chuckled and looked over to Stonewall to quietly say "You miss him don't you..."

"More than you know." Stonewall watched him go wistfully, then looked back at her. "But I also miss him being like that, carefree and innocent." She started to walk.

"I see..." Dawn replied solemnly, "Well, I'm glad you still got to see him. Want to change your disguise, maybe visit some other friends you miss while we're here?"

"No, we have business to attend to. And I'll change my disguise once we are outside of town."

"All right." She replied, heading for the outer doors. She didn't know where to carry the conversation next, and checked back in on the spell-link to see if she could sense what Chryssy was up to.

The queen was present, though she could only sense her faintly at first. Since they weren't actually talking she couldn't sense anything. Dawn instinctively was able to tell, however, exactly what direction the queen was in.

'Yes?' The queen suddenly asked.

'Oh, nothing, just checking in... Though I suppose I should tell you what we have narrowed the spells down to. That'd be smart huh?'

'Yes.’ Chrysalis said chuckling, giving Dawn a sense of amusement. Dawn blushed lightly, a little embarrassment of her own had gone with it.

'So, we've discovered the spells are either teleportation, or a few really realistic illusion spells. This world's Twilight is going to work on narrowing it down, and now we need to figure out who the target is to boot, or what the required location and time to cast might be, if any.' Dawn replied. Suddenly she felt a small jolt of pleasure along her spine, yet she couldn’t help but think that Chrysalis was pleased with her information and performance.

'Very good. We will try to find that on our end. Continue to keep me updated in what you find.'

'I will Queeny...” Dawn chuckled nervously, deciding to broach the subject of the sudden pleasure, “though, if you don't mind my asking, why were you so happy just now?'

"Huh?" She asked.

'I... I thought I felt that you were pleased. It sent a shiver down my spine that felt a lot like... well...' she hesitated, clearly thinking of more pleasurable times, yet not sure if she wanted to say it and have it be misunderstood.

'Well, “The queen hesitated, confused. “I usually get pleased when my drones do well. And you did help me. The pleasure was probably just the pent up arousal you have.'

'Got it,’ Dawn chuckled, blushing lightly at the spotlight from Chrysalis in being called out on it. ‘So I have one happy queen and one pent up mare self... So, are the Manehattan guards doing well in our absence?'

'Yes, a few tried to slack off but I made it quite clear I am documenting everything to tell Princess Dawn when she returns.' She said with amusement

'Good, We can't afford to slack off... though I suppose a motivational speech is in order when we return.'

'Yes, I'm not exactly good at those. Twilight is.'

'Got it, I'll prepare for when we return.' She replied, already thinking of what might need to be said.

'I look forward to it.' She said as the two neared the edge of town. 'On your flight would you like to know more of our history?'

'Perhaps... if Twilight isn't too chatty.' She replied, slightly concerned about her emotions kicking in again like a couple of them.

There was a pause. 'She may be a bit. And I can show you parts that aren't so...emotional if you wish. I may even be able to show much of our history as you sleep now that I think on it. With your mind at rest it would be more open to taking information and have less issues do to being in REM.'

'Then let's do that. It's more efficient anyway, and with some of the rest of the hive willing to comfort me if things get too intense, it should be safe to do so.' she replied.

'Very well my little pony.' She said as they were clear of town.

"This should be good." Twilight said looking around.

Dawn nodded, turning to her, "Updated Chryssy, she's pretty happy with the update, though I need to work on a morale boost for the soldiers. She's had to be a bit tough on a couple that were slacking." Dawn started stretching her wings afterward, knowing they were going to transition to flying.

"Yeah, no surprise that without a Princess around they would." Twilight said once she was sure no one was around and she shifted her disguise to a pegasus." Ready to go?"

"Still disappointing, but yes, I'm ready. Here we go." She says, taking off, less clumsily than she had been a few weeks ago, yet still not perfect due to her pregnancy shifting her weight and inexperience. With effort, she flew at a medium pace toward the Everfree Forest.

Twilight followed her keeping an eye on her and smiled. "You're doing great."

Dawn giggled, getting a similar shiver of pleasure as before when Chrysalis was pleased. "Thanks. We're going to be looking for a tower with a flag on top, if they got that far in construction, or the inn that was converted to the guildhouse. Has a log fence around it to help keep out what the timber wolves don't keep out themselves, not that there's been an issue yet."

"What's on the flag?"

"The emblem. I think it's a bit busy, but it impressed a few ponies and they kept it. You'll find a shield that has a tree in the middle and leaves along the top, trying to take the shape of a Timber Wolf. Celestia and luna’s mark are where the eyes would be, and it tried to borrow the theme of the Equestrian flag for familiarity." She said loudly over the wind. "Ended up getting a badge, but it broke and activated the built in tracking magic which brought in a rescue party."

"Complicated design, expensive to make too," She said as they flew. "but easy to spot."

"That was the idea." She shrugged as best she could while flying. "I liked how pretty it looked, but yeah, it is a bit of a mess functionally."

"I'll stick with the EDF insignia. Nice and simply and easy to recognize."

"Yeah, he got a bit... into it. Really let it absorb his focus, outside the whole relic stealing we found out about later."

"Know how that feels at least.” Twilight said, “I threw myself into building my army when I started out."

Dawn hummed, thinking about Nightfall and how he behaved, and then the rest of the guild, and how she felt about them.

"What is it?" She asked.

"Be prepared for Firestorm." She said, taking a deep breath and letting it out as her flying speed slightly increased unintentionally. "I get along with just about any of the other ponies, especially Charred Salamander who does their mail and his love interest Gallade, but Storm?" she shook her head and huffed.

"Mega bitch?" Twilight asked, having a suspicion. Dawn didn’t seem like the type to hold a grudge, so it had to be someone who did something to warrant it.

"More like self confident, holier than thou unless you beat her in her macho game." She said, not intent on making sense with her words. "Put simply, I first met her without realizing it while hanging around Stalwart's buddies before the tournament where Nightfall showed off his martial arts for Luna. They made bets about how long he'd last or if Stalwart would win at certain stages. Fast-forward to Night's recovery, I catch him limping with a wing draped over her back as he insists on sleeping in his own guest bed instead of the infirmary. Rather than fight him on it, I helped, supporting his other wing carefully cause he broke ribs. She got testy assumed I was betting against him, despite being a friend at the time. She then kept making these veiled derogatory comments and then glared at me for calling her out on it."

"So… a mega bitch?" Twilight confirmed.

"This not counting that when we caught Char snooping around the inn when we were just starting out and I was trying to help out, and turns out he was just a big harmless fanboy of Night. She was super harsh on him, Night let him work to make up for the scare, and because of his hard work, and despite constantly being harassed by her being called 'rattite' and 'flightless' and other nastiness to show her scorn for him he got to join the Patrol… She literally has only shown respect to Nightfall as far as I’ve seen, and only otherwise shows respect to those she has to unless you show that you're stronger than they are. They have to see you as not a loser or something. It's stupid!" she vented, huffing at the end.

"So…” Twilight said, pausing a bit longer so her point would be made, “a mega bitch."

"Of the fiery redhead stereotype variety." Dawn smirked, reviewing her memories of them. She still felt like she had no clue what in the world made Nightfall like her, or why he took her as his mate when he couldn't return back home for certain.

"I get the feeling me and her are going to be swell friends." Twilight said, her voice coming across in a manner that could only be described as friendly with a smile to match.

Dawn couldn't help but look back at her and saw the smile, then looked forward, saying just loud enough for Twilight to hear, "I pray you're joking, or can at least keep from damaging her too much."

"Oh don't worry she will be perfectly fine!" She said cheerfully. "I mean the EDF puts people like her through training and they come out ok! … usually." she mumbled that last part

Dawn missed the last part, flying slightly ahead of her, then chuckled, "Is Aunt Twilight wanting to defend her young fledgling student alicorn?"

"No. … Yes… well, more that I just don't like people like her." She said. "There is being harsh to teach someone, and then there is pointless cruelty. I can't stand that which is pointless and wasteful."

"I get that. There's a point to having courtesy and respect, and she shows neither very often at all it seems like. I was more just trying to get myself to laugh a little, ease the tension building up or something."

"Subject change?" She asked after letting out a sigh.

"So Chryssy is going to go over our history lessons while I'm sleeping, and the link's gotten a fair bit stronger it feels like."

She looked at her. "Really?"

"Yeah, I dreamt one of the memories, but other changelings came along to help fill in the dream, and it changed to something less upsetting to me. They felt real so I checked in with Chryssy, and she said it's something the hive does if someone has a nightmare. They chase it away and make it pleasant, reminding them they're not alone." She answered, "And we're still able to talk via the link, though with slight effort on my part by focusing, and I swear I could tell that she was awake and present, but not much more than that."

Twilight blinked at her. "Interesting.”

"Yeah, I honestly wonder if something’s going on between the hive and me, though neither of us have answers on that, the why or the how. I already asked her if she would mind getting a memory crystal ready so that, in the case of my not joining the link as deep as they do, they still have a way of getting my memories of before we met."

"Hmm… interesting." Twilight hummed, eyes narrowing in thought.

"Yeah. Chryssy seems to think nothing about me has changed, though, I wonder if we're both too close to the issue to really identify changes. Doesn’t help we end up being our own biggest critics while also being oblivious to some things too... Have you noticed anything different?"

"Hmm. Other than your occasional emotional outbursts while viewing the memories, no."

Dawn hummed quietly to herself, getting a bit of a sad look, as if sorry for disturbing Twilight, but looked on ahead, "Well, in a way that's a relief. I don't know how to feel about the idea of becoming one of her drones just yet."

"Me either. It's never happened."

"That's what Q-, Chryssy, Said."

Twilight stared at her for a moment then looked ahead. "Yeah, I mean there has been friends of the hive, and a few drones married ponies, but they aren't drones."

"And none of them have joined the link, or can use it without magic either. Still, I might be worried over nothing. It's not as if it's harmful after all."

"Not that I've ever seen, though I do know drones don't survive if fully severed from it. Well, depends on what you would qualify as survive."

"Yeah. I'm tough enough to survive separation from my family as it is so even if I did join and was later separated, I’d think I’d be ok. The hive would just be a rather large family… really large…" she laughed, realizing just how absurdly huge it must be compared to her human family relations.

"Well, it's not a matter of toughness… drones go insane without being able to hear their hivemates." She said. "The longest one ever made it was about a week before showing clear signs of mental degradation do to how ‘quiet’ it was."

"That's... sad..." Dawn replied, feeling empathy for the changeling.

"Yeah. They've lived so long being able to hear the others that ending up only able to hear themselves like everyone else… it’s the most terrifying thing to them."

"I can't even imagine." She said quietly, only loud enough to be heard.

"Neither can I, but then from the time we are born we are in our own heads and our race hasn't been linked like that for who knows how long.

"Yeah..." Dawn responded, going quiet, trying to imagine what it'd be like, and remembering points where she felt cut off from everyone she knew and loved for small chunks of time, how it might feel if that were longer... it was uncomfortable and it showed in her expression.

"Hey don't worry about it, it's an extremely rare event. There is only been three cases in Chrysalis hive since she took over 250 years ago."

"Hm. How long is a changeling’s lifespan, and how does that compare with a queen’s?"

"Queens are immortal as long as they have love, drones live around the same time as ponies."

"Good, so she'll be around for a while, even with just you around." She smiled, thinking loudly, 'and you bet I'll do my part too then...'

"Well unless something kills her. I suppose ageless is more accurate."

"Well, true... but I bet there'd be hell to pay. When I get to your level, I hope I do as well as you do." She answered, noticing the Everfree treeline approaching on the horizon.

"I may have misremembered how far away it is. We might get there in 10 more minutes I think..." she added.

"Well,” Twilight said, deciding to continue their conversation, “depends really on who or what kills her. If another Queen takes her down then it would be their culture. Most likely she'd be taken as a drone rather than killed."

"Ah. So if she was challenged to a duel then, like if Violet wanted to take over."

"Exactly. If she lost, it would mean the queen who defeated her was stronger or more intelligent. Granted, it's not duels, but full on battles between hives with the loser getting absorbed into the other."

"Oh geez...” Dawn said, shaking her head at the idea, picturing them killing each other over leadership. “Like an ant colony? I don’t like the loss of life, but who am I to try to interfere?"

"The strongest, most intelligent hive will prevail, proving its superiority over the other and how it will make the hive stronger." Twilight shrugged. "That's not to say the queen can't get her hive back by overthrowing the new queen and proving her superiority once more. It’s a whole back and forth."

"Got it. Guessing they don’t involve allies in it, as that’d make them weaker or reliant huh?"

"Nope. It is a Changeling matter. Now, you can manipulate others into helping or trick the other hive to attack the wrong location, but it's not a matter of alliance. It's just one queen outsmarting the other."

"That I can understand," she nodded. "So, Violet can’t have a hive yet because she's without a link, yes?"

"And she's 4." Twilight reminded her.

"She’s not plotting advantages yet?” Dawn smirked, “She's Chryssy's daughter, and yours."

"Oh she probably is, among others, but she also knows there is no way she can win against her sire."

"Not yet or not ever?" Dawn asked to clarify.

"Not yet, though she may decide to go off and make her own if she can."

"Ah." Dawn hummed, trying to think of that scenario, but her mind was still going back to Fire Storm and what progress they could make with the guild, or what they might ask for Allen’s building expertise.

"Tell me about this group as a whole."

"I’d most closely describe it as a mercenary group, its concept inspired by the video games we had in our world. He noticed a lack of proper police force and the guard was less supportive or capable in rural areas or generally spread thin, and they were founded to supplement it. They’ve since moved to bigger tasks the guard can’t handle, while the guard moved to the more police-like actions. Some still aren’t adjusting, but the Patrol members are better specialized and motivated to get done quickly and effectively."

"Hmm. Strange that the guard was spread thin… either way sounds similar to the EDF, though our guards were dulled by peace."

"Frankly from what I can tell, the guard, in the event of an emergency, helps with evacuation and protection of citizens, and the princesses handle the rest." She explained. "When I arrived, they had dealt with at least 3, if not 4, major villains and emergencies and the guard was not needed for solving any of the issues or didn't play a factor. It's led to a decrease in its forces because ponies look at it and go 'oh, you just stand around and not do anything'. Stalwart says he got that complaint a lot back when he was a recruit."

"For fuck sake,” She facehoofed. “This is everything Blazing Sword was worried about."

"Who?"

"Stallion I killed a long time ago who was working with a bunch of zealots. He didn't believe their ideology, but he believed ponies were becoming so dependent on the princesses that they couldn't help themselves. You have literally said what he feared as a reality on this world."

"Oh." Dawn realized, speaking quietly once more, "Maybe that's why I was brought up to be a princess, because I actually did something... That's... irresponsible." She paused, trying to think of a nice way of putting it, but only dropping the curse as she realized she was going to have problems dropped in her lap and made her responsibility just because ponies weren’t taught how to handle it.

"Extremely." She said. "Our guards were dulled by years of peace, but they sure as hell tried to fight the threats, even when they didn't stand a chance."

"Ours... generally haven't tried to fight... Oh gods... they're even less equipped to handle this than I had realized." She sighed and shook her head despite the wind and approaching forest. "Dammit... why is everything so wrong with this world and why didn't I know this before!"

"We will be picking up a dozen troopers on our way back.” Twilight instructed, face grim, “I was just going to get a couple, but we need some actual trained and prepared ponies."

"Agreed. To be honest, I wonder if our current ones need to step down or if that’d be used against us."

"No, we need them. They have the resources and the numbers we don’t. Cutting them out will make them hostile towards us and limit our ability to move around." Twilight said, quickly thinking. "Queeny told me we had a few guards among those going to your place. We will have them as well. They aren't the EDF, but you saw them fight on that video I showed the others. They know what they are doing."

"Absolutely. It'll be a big help, and we need it." She said, feeling more determined and starting to lose her fears of the prospect ahead.

"Oh jeez, I just realized something… I'm worried about their ability to investigate crimes now." She facehoofed again.

"Yeah..." Dawn sighed and tried to get a hold of Chrysalis, "I'll make sure whether or not Chryssy needs updating on any of this... I'm frustrated too now. For all we know, half the squad could have either missed clues or even been propositioned by Flare himself and been clueless."

"Yeah..." she said.

'Yes?' Chrysalis said after a moment of effort.

'Got an update and concern to share. Were you listening to our conversation at all or no?'

'No, I tend to give people privacy unless there is a need. Why?'

'Well, it's come to my attention that our guard is pretty incompetent toward this scenario, and the bigger things we need taken care of is more likely to be solved by the Everfree Patrol guild. Combine that with the issue of guards only being viewed as standing around relatively often except for minor things, and it's likely that I was promoted to princess just as much because I took an active step to defend the ponies of Equestria as my selflessness they said was the reason. The princesses have always resolved conflicts, and Twilight says it's Sunblade's nightmare.'

'You're kidding… you're kidding right?' The Queen said and Dawn felt the queen's presence in her head in a way that wasn’t an uncomfortable or unpleasant feeling. "You’re… you're not kidding… oh by the Mothers.' She said. Dawn somehow instinctively knew Chrysalis facehoofed.

'Yeah... Granted, I want to think that it was because I never went after a selfish ambition in my two years in Equestrian like they told me, but... since I actively fought a figure stronger than I was and won, if indirectly, and only princesses do that… yeah.'

'I will be looking into this.' She said.

'Good. Twilight says she'll grab twelve soldiers instead of just one. Heavens know we'll need ‘em. Not a whole lot else to report, and we'll be at the guild in a few minutes. I have absolutely no qualms about you sticking around or commenting during it either if you want.'

'I will watch.' She said

"Notified her, I swear I could have felt her chitin vibrate from the facehoof." Dawn turned to Twilight, chuckling weakly.

"I wouldn't be surprised to think I felt it from here. You know how Changelings feel about strength of the Hive. Think of Equestria as a giant hive and you'll get her feelings quite well."

"Yeah... We'll have to do a lot better than this. As heartless as it sounds, I'm wondering if I should continue to stay in this world when you go, if Celestia, Luna, or even this Twilight don't act to change it. Not acting is like abandoning it and themselves to that fate."

"Perhaps. You are a princess. You can raise your own guard and have them trained however you wish."

"Perhaps." She replied in kind, the forest edge coming in sight and a circular looking tower, mostly completed, seemed to peek out above the treeline just barely. "Looks like we found our landing zone."

"What do you want me as, a pegasus, a unicorn or an earth pony?" Twilight asked. "If not a Pegasus, we should land out of site and walk."

"Whatever you choose. If you use a different name though, let me know and I'll try to remember it."

"Still Stonewall Princess." She said. "Best if I do unicorn so I can explain some things I do." She said going down to land a ways away from the tower

Dawn followed, still internally panicking at the decent, but masking it moderately well as she slowly went down and landed with a heavy thud onto her hooves.

Twilight smiled at her as her disguise melted into a Unicorn. "You did very good, you are getting better at flying." She said and patted Dawn's head

Dawn smiled broadly, letting a bit of her innocent, easily-pleased side through. "Still have a bit of fear about the landing or going down, but... we made good time. Thanks Twilight."

"Relax. That will fade with time and practice." She said starting to walk towards the tower, she made sure they were about ten minutes out so as to avoid notice or the ability to lie about why it looked like both were flying if they were seen

"Yeah... you would think since I knew about a spell that grew a pony wings temporarily, that I'd have given it a try at some point..."

“Yeah, though those wings aren't the safest, only good for short flights and not ones of speed."

"Good thing I never tried then." She answered as she led the way along the dirt path.

"Well, seeing as it makes the wings out of dew… yeah. They are useful, but not for anything extreme."

"Oh? The spell I'm referring to was more durable than that. Inherent cloud walking and basically turning someone into a pegasus for about ten minutes. Full sensation and everything."

She stared at her. "Tribe swapping isn't possible."

"It's not quite a swap, no, but remind me to cast it on Stalwart to show you when we get back home."

"I suppose I will." She said as they slowly started to exit the trees into the clearing.

Author's Notes:

Well then we get more changeling history as well as get an idea about our little magic theif may be up to. And we are off to meet some of Dawn's friends.

I have a PATREON with fair rewards. Every bit is greatly appreciated and helps me out.