Spike continued to cook his soup, standing dangerously close to the burners as he stirred the pots while he was on his own.

"I know you're fireproof and all Sir Spike, but I'd recommend leaning back a bit." Stone said as she walked in.

"Huh, but I'm not fire proo-whoah!" he replied as he turned to face her, only to slip on a slight puddle that had formed when he stirred too vigorously.

Spike found his claw flailing and pressed against the pot. The pot barely moved but Spike’s claw stung and he began yelping, rolling away from it and toward the floor. Stone blinked, confused at the idea that Spike was not fully heatproof, before she grabbed him in her magic and got him to the sink, running cold water over his claw.

“Oh my, aren't you able to sit in lava without an issue and breathe fire?"

"W-well, I kinda backed out of that one when I went up there with the other dragons." He said, wincing, "My scales aren't thick enough or something. I don't mind though. Can't exactly do it with my pony friends."

Stonewall blinked and took his claw out gently, patting it dry before answering, "I see."

He got up and chuckled, brushing himself off, "Don't worry ‘bout me, I'll be fine!"

"I worry." Stone said anyway, checking his claw still to see how bad it was.

He opened his claw and showed only a slight mark on it, "Seriously I'm fine." he said as he hopped down on the floor, "You worry almost as much as Twilight does, or Rarity."

"Sorry it's just,” Stonewall said, hesitating as she remembered it wasn’t her world, “It's my job as a guard."

"If ya say so..." He shrugged, reaching into a pantry and pulling out a gem the size of his claw and took a big bite out of it. "Ish a shame shoup taksh sho lon to cook." he said through a mouthful.

"Yeah, but you can make a lot of it at once which is a plus."

"Hehe, yeah..." He giggled, liking the idea of a large meal.

She went back to cooking the larger meal for everyone else. She had gotten lucky convincing Spike to make a good amount of his chicken soup, now all she will need to do is successfully get a bowl without being noticed.

Spike had pulled out his comics and was reading them, giggling to himself when he got to certain parts.

"What you reading there?" stone asked.

"Power ponies issue 247! The return of ParaPlant!" he said, holding up the comic spread out in front of him.

"Oh?” She smiled, “Sounds pretty interesting."

"I know right!" he said excitedly before going on about all the drama that led up to that point.

Stonewall listened with a smile as she stirred the soup and kept an eye on it.

"So tell me Spike," Stone said after he was done talking. "you ever pick up any comics from the Enchanted Comics store in Canterlot?"

"One or two... yeah.." He said nervously. "But don't tell Twilight! She said not to get any more after the first one..."

"Well that's kind of sad, they can be quite entertaining." she said smiling. "I'm sure she's just worried about you as some of them can be rather risky. She will probably relax more once you get older."

"I hope so. The Power Ponies are the best!"

"Yeah, I always did enjoy those stories," Stone smiled. "and I know your tougher then ponies give you credit for."

"Huh? How do you know that?"

"I just know.” She smiled, “I mean how many others could stand up to Sombra without hesitation?"

"Hehe, well..." he paused, blushing and rubbing the back of his head with his uninjured claw

She smiled as she checked the soup.

Fire Storm was worn out... She made it to twenty laps, and her legs were on fire. She gave up trying to keep up with Steadyhoof, who had lapped her three more times in the process. She stopped seeing her until this lap, where she was standing at the door breathing and then looking at her with a satisfied smug smile before going back into the castle.

Steady looked on briefly, feeling satisfied showing that pegasus up. That would teach her to think some mercenary was better than the army.

Storm finished her laps eventually, grunting her breaths as she went in, sweating, and immediately looking for the shower, knowing there was one in the room where Dawn was resting.

Once she returned, she walked straight past Dawn to the bathroom, starting up the water as soon as she could. She hated being dirty more than she had to be, though she'd never admit it. She soon finished her shower and headed back into Dawn's room, feeling better, almost content despite the run, and then she saw Dawn on the bed, fast asleep.

"You know... this is all your bucking fault green." She muttered under her breath. "She's your guard, you should have taught them how to behave."

For the briefest of moments, Storm considered doing something to Dawn, nothing obvious of course, and something enough to remind her of her fault and her place compared to them. She paused further, thinking for a minute of ideas, but when none came, she sighed and left the room. After all, she was told to go run. there was nothing Stone said about keeping an eye on her again after she was done. She looked around, wandering about the castle, already feeling halfway up to strength again. She had endurance for flight if she needed to, just not running, as her legs still protested the run.

She found Steady, wandering the halls and looking around. She hadn't noticed Storm. Storm smirked and walked quietly behind them, watching the mare that was also the cause of her trot earlier.

After a few seconds, Steady spun around, throwing a right hook at her follower.

Sky flared out her wings and flew up out of reach, "Oh, still got some fight in ya huh?"

"You stupid or something, sneaking up on a soldier like that?" Steadyhoof asked in a loud voice, frustrated with the mare’s idiotic behavior.

Storm snorted, hovering almost perfectly in place without flapping her wings even a little bit, "As if I'd let myself get hit."

Steady paused, tilting her head as she tried to puzzle out what she was seeing. "How are you flying without using your wings?”

"I am using my wings... down to the very last feather. I'm still the best stunt flier there is, and don't you forget it!"

"You aren't moving your wings." Steady said, changing her wording to be more clear.

"Trust me, I'm using my wings... you just don't know how." Storm said smugly.

"I know how pegasi wings work, and that's not how they work."

"You gonna fight me on everything?” Storm said, trying her best not to be exasperated, “You like being wrong?"

"I know how they work, we were taught back in school how each of the four tribes’ magic works, at least the basics. Pegasi flight magic only works when the wings are in motion."

"Wrong." She laughed, moving her wings and floating slowly back down. "I can do it at almost any point in flight... no tricks or gimmicks. That's Night's thing to have gimmicks."

"That's not possible. What you're doing goes against everything known about magical law." Steadyhoof nearly yelled.

"Yeah?” Storm snorted, “then you know nothing of magical stuff. I was taught how to do tricks close to this, but I'm the only pony who perfected it and Nightfall was able to do it too. Everypony else just gave up at the easier stuff. Got anything else you wanna say and be shown wrong?"

"Uh Stone? I think I hear those two again..." Spike said as he turned to hear the faint sound of yelling once more. "I wonder why Twilight hasn't noticed it yet..."

"She's probably nose deep in a book, you know how she gets." Stone said.

"So I guess the pegasus who taught me about pegasi magic doesn't know how their own magic works, or any of the flight instructors. Good to know an entire race knows nothing about how they function."

"That's because most of em don't really know much more than the most basic of basics." Storm laughed and jumped up, flapping to get a bit of height before she held her place in the air again. Storm emphasized her point by starting to pirouette in place while barely loosing much more than a half leg's height.

"The EDF pushes them to know the advanced and the EMSD pushes even more then that." She said.

"Fine, you want a show cause you just don’t get it, I can give you a bucking show." She said quietly, still holding her full ego inflated glare from her hovering spot. Anything your whatever pegasi can do, I can do first try."

"Um… what are you two arguing about?" Princess Twilight asked, having walked down the hall and now blinking at the two strangers in her home while holding a large book by magic. "And do you need my help?" She asked, assuming they were here to see her.

"Oh, Twilight." Storm looked over to her, deciding to land softly on the hallway and giving a slight bow with her head.

"Commander, ma'am!" Steady called, snapping into a salute and causing Twilight to blink.

"Commander? The hay are you saying? She's a princess." Storm snorted.

"No, she's the head of the EDF." Steady said out the corner of her mouth, trying to correct them.

"Whatever the hay 'EDF' is." She said, loudly enough to be heard as she looked to the side.

"EDF?" Twilight blinked, perking up with curiosity, causing Steady to blink by asking, "What's that?"

"Told ya." Storm said with a smile. "She was saying something about you being some sort of commander of an army and stuff. Didn't have a clue what they were talking about!"

Twilight blinked and tilted her head. "Army?"

Steady opened her mouth to correct her before being seized by magic and dragged off towards Stone, who was now standing at the other end of the hall with a blank expression. Storm, once she was close, started furiously whispering to Steady who looked to be on the defensive and expecting to be struck.

Storm looked at them with interest, briefly looking back to Twilight and shrugging before trying to pay attention to what Stone was saying. Twilight looked on, confused, and they couldn't hear what was being said. Another few seconds later, Twilight started to walk towards them.

Fire Storm followed the princess, wanting to find out more herself.

Stone face hoofed before the pair arrived, Sturdy’s ears splayed back in correction.

Storm smirked more, "Find out that I'm right? That Twilight is a princess and that there isn't an 'army' other than the guard?"

"No, she was getting chewed out for flapping her mouth around people who haven't been read in, and now has given me a bigger head ache to deal with."

Storm winced and shut up, realizing this was not the time to talk back after the last time she was punished.

"And if I know you-" she looked at Princess Twilight, who looked extremely interested. "-as well as I think I do, then you won't leave this alone." Stone said sighing.

Storm quietly stepped away, suspecting trouble and not wanting to get in the crossfire once again, turning to go to Dawn's room when Stonewall teleported in front of her, stopping her in her tracks.

"Oh good, I was just about to have you go see if Dawn was awake." She said smirking. "She will need to be present for you and Twilight to be read in."

"Read in?" Storm blinked, confused, then shrugging, "Fine, I'll go get her."

"Good. Meet us in the map room." Storm said before teleporting away.

Storm frowned, but went off to fetch Dawn. Dawn was sleeping soundly in the room, until Storm tapped Dawn’s sides none too gently. After several more pushes, Dawn got up, feeling clearly tired, but realizing something was happening that required her to be present regardless. Neither of them knew where the map room was, and wandered before finding it after a good five minutes.

Stone was there already, Steady standing behind her and to the left with her eyes on the floor, ears back and looking every bit cowed by the guard she stood beside, while Twilight sat on her throne with Spike in his own chair, having come to see what was going on.

"Sorry for waking you Dawn,” Stone smiled, “but we needed you to be present as a credible witness."

"Not a problem. What's going on?" Dawn nodded, rubbing her eyes as she did.

"Someone." Stonewall said, causing Steady to wince. "Spoke about things they shouldn't have in earshot of those who were to be kept out of the loop or read in later."

"Ah..." Dawn sighed. "So now we have to get it all out in the open among us despite trying to keep it a secret... joy."

"Yup." Stonewall said, horn glowing with a spell and within seconds, the walls did the same. "Ok then. So standard disclaimer, repeating of what you are told of in this room to anyone without authorization from myself, my second in command, or the princesses, will be seen as an act of treason and dealt with severely. Do you understand this as it has been explained to you?"

Dawn looked around, wanting to make sure everyone understood. Storm shrugged subtly, looking on with passive indifference and thinking, 'Let's just get this show going so we can get it over with. Such Drama princesses.'

Dawn looked over to Storm, noticing the vacant look and glared, "Fire Storm, you've been through this once, and yes, I'm calling you out on it in front of everyone here." Dawn said firmly as she stared down Storm’s own responding glare. "You don't even want to know what she'll do to you if you break that promise again."

Stone smiled approvingly at the princess’ threat. "Trust me, that little education I gave you would seem like a picnic, as I hate traitors."

Storm looked over to Stone and frowned, cautious from the prior fight they had and its severity, but still not believing that she would go much further than what they already had.

"So then, do you three understand what I have said so far?" Stonewall asked.

Storm looked at Stone, still feeling rebellious but starting to sense something about them was off. "Don't tell anyone outside this room whatever's said, yeah."

Stonewall looked at the other two, who nodded, Princess Twilight looking both concerned and yet still curious beyond reason.

"Well then, ok. Then first off, my name is not Stonewall, that's just an alias and I'm not part of the guard, as that's just a convenient cover in most Equestrians."

Storm let out a nearly silent puff of air as she listened, figuring as much, but not wanting to attract any more attention like before.

Stone looked at her blankly. "Something you'd like to say?"

"No." She said simply. Technically, it was the truth. She had nothing she wanted to tell them under threats like that, the savages.

"Good." Stone said as she looked at them from across the table. "Then allow me to introduce myself." She said smiling as the unicorn guard form melted away into a scarred and augmented purple alicorn. "Commander Twilight Sparkle, leader of the Equestrian Defence Force, former student of Princess Celestia, bearer of the element of magic and the Princess of Motherfucking Friendship."

Dawn smirked, instinctively loving the introduction, smiling more when she saw Fire Storm look between her and the Princess Twilight with a heavy degree of confusion, as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing and hearing.

Princess Twilight blinked in confusion as well, but soon her curiosity and habit got the better of her as she leaned forward, a quill and parchment appearing beside her in her magic.

Dawn watched the reactions of the soldier now, knowing Storm had given the commander their full attention as she wanted an explanation. Steady’s eyes remained on the ground knowing who the Commander was.

"So then, now that introductions are out of the way let's move in to the main event shall we?"

Storm looked on in skeptical confusion, as if not processing that there really were two Twilights in front of her, one of whom part metal.

"Whenever you're ready." Dawn nodded.

"So then, the long and short of it is I’m from an alternative version of Equestria, where we are several decades ahead of you in the time line, and a few centuries by technology. We arrived here via an accident or possibly something to do with our barrier, as me and my family weren't the only ones who ended up here as demonstrated by Recruit Steadyhoof and her class and several others holed up at Dawn's house or are making their way there, as well as possibly more as yet uncovered scattered all over the nation."

Storm furrowed her brows unable to accept that there’s another version of Equestria. Her mind was only able to summarize what it heard by shrugging it off as 'Twilight messed with time magic again.' and 'they're meeting up at Green's place.'

Twilight was furiously scribbling in her notes as she leaned forward, now actively hanging onto every word.

"Celestia has set aside some land for us to set up a sort of temporary settlement for our stay here, something she herself had hoped the Everfree Patrol would have helped with, since we have many scared civilians with us currently living in tents or makeshift shelters. But well, they refused to have anything to do with us, and didn't even want to hear Celestia's request for aid." She said the last part glancing at Storm.

Storm frowned, not liking how she blamed the guild for it when it was Stone’s fault for not knowing how to fight fair. In her eyes, it also wasn't their fault they started their request with this serial killer terrorist thing. They never put THAT information to the guild, just a missing ponies request and intel on a dangerous pony. Green and Stone didn't even ask anything about this serial killer ahead of time, and she knew if they had started with that, and a bit more decency, they would have heard 'em out.

Dawn, upon hearing the answer from the commander, and knowing Storm’s pride would have her ignoring it, decided to speak on their behalf. "In their defence, the request Celestia asked for had not been mentioned, and things grew heated before we could address the other points the guild could assist with. Sadly, the reaction was poor, but perhaps when heads have cooled, it can be considered." She said, turning slightly to Storm to gauge their response, only to watch Storm avoid her gaze.

"When asked what we wanted, I said we had need of their help on a matter of safety for the nation, as well as a request from Celestia herself." Twilight said looking back at Dawn. "I even mentioned it after the initial refusal of helping us with Flare, to move the conversation to that topic, but Storm latched onto Flare."

Dawn nodded, not intending to interrupt further. This was Twilight's speech. She made her piece and attempt at a kind or generous diplomatic offer, but if that's the route they wanted to take, she would respect that.

Storm frowned, not liking being put as the one at fault. She focused on the more dangerous stuff because it's what she was good at. Let Allen and the others take care of that mundane stuff. That's why they joined the guild anyway, to help with that kind of thing!

Commander Twilight turned back to the other three.

"Serial killer revolutionary terrorist?" Princess Twilight said confused.

The commander sighed. "While most people are just civilians, or members of the royal guard and EDF, or low level criminals… Unfortunately a highly dangerous terrorist ended up here as well. I'm not sure where the serial killer idea came from, as he isn't one but he is someone who is wishing to bring down the Equestrian government and remove the Alicorns from power by any means necessary, and doesn't care who has to die to achieve that goal." The commander clarified, and Twilight visibly paled while Spike looked concerned.

Storm tuned out a bit of it, not understanding any more than she had last time, merely that it was a repeat from before. She didn't want ponies to die, but to think someone actually would kill to get what they want? That just didn’t happen, it couldn’t happen.

"Right now, if he has any form of his organization starting, it will be small enough he wouldn't dare try to go after one of the Princesses yet. So for now, you are safe, and we hope to have him dealt with before he has a chance." She said.

Dawn nodded as Storm merely looked on, wondering what a bunch of 'other guards' are going to do about this.

"Any questions?"

"So what now?" Storm asked, not having the level arrogance she had before, genuinely unsure what it is they’ll even do against this crazy scenario.

"Now we rest up, and in the morning, head off to Dawn's place to grab a few troopers and guards to help out with Flare before moving on back to Manehatten."

"Buckle up soldiers, training time's over.” Dawn smiled, “This is where the hooves hit the road, but before that, food!" She chuckled, smelling the food from the kitchen.

The commander nodded, a smile forming at the princess’ taking charge and constant support. "Yeah, because in a few days, we are hooves on the ground in a military operation the likes of which I doubt this world has ever seen." She said chuckling as she started to head for the kitchen

Dawn smiled, walking yet still feeling drained as she went to the kitchen, loving the smells yet wondering why she smelled chicken. Twilight walked into the kitchen, and Starlight Dusk, mostly transparent, was stirring the food with a long ladle, waving to the group before fading out as he was noticed.

Commander Twilight jumped back at the sight, a pistol appearing in her magic as soon as she saw him. "Son of a bitch! Can he please warn me before he shows up." She said with annoyance as the pistol vanished.

Dawn frowned, hearing him faintly echo in the room, 'Jeeze, last time I ever do her a favor... I was there when you walked in, what more notice can I give!'

Dawn sighed, too tired to fight it, and then idly wondered if Chryssy would be able to hear Starlight in the link.

Fire Storm jumped at the reaction of the commander and looked at her, both confused and annoyed, but still saying nothing.

'Um, who was that?' The queen asked confused.

Twilight grumbled about hating surprises as she began to grab bowls.

'Starlight Dusk, my otherself. Or in more understandable language, he's a version of what I was like before I tried to transition from male to female and the personality 'mask' I wore to survive. He became his own pony when we got to Equestria when he wasn’t before.
'
'Oh cool, you can hear me too.' He said in a slightly deeper but friendly voice.

The Queen's confusion was clear. 'Seriously....can't you ponies do anything normal here?'

'Nope!' they both answered at the same time.

'Don't worry. I stay in the background most of the time anymore... As she becomes her own pony and not as reliant on me, I fade out...' He sighed wistfully, 'But no need to worry bout it. Just wanting to say hi.'

'That's sort of horrible.' She said flatly.

'Well, unless you've got a way of being my own person, pony or otherwise, I have no control over it.' he replied with an internal shrug.

Dawn frowned, feeling her stomach rumble loudly as she went to go get dishes for everyone. Twilight was putting the bowls on the table in the map room already, and had sent Steady with a tray for the other ponies.

‘I shall look into it.' The queen said

'Wait, seriously?' Dusk asked, clearly skeptical but hopeful at the idea.

Dawn noticed this and smiled at the idea, letting Dusk and Chryssy talk it out, saying, 'Well, if you've got a solution, we'll be pretty happy about that. He'd just about given up on being his own entity again, even if we both were a single one before.'

'Dawn you have seen part of our history. I do not think it is all that hard to guess how I feel about such matters.'

Dawn nodded mentally, getting a bowl for herself while eying the chicken noodle soup of Spike's, 'I get that, but we explored the option a while back, and were told it was an impossibility. We resigned ourselves to being together, not that we had a huge issue with it. But as time went on, he's been less active, less attentive, especially since the first interaction with Twilight. I'm afraid he's just getting absorbed back into me, or something like that, and I’d hate to see him go.'

'You are not a Changeling Queen. There is nothing more dangerous than a queen's mind when she wants something done...' she said.

Dawn could almost feel rather than hear one tweak to the above, a strong instinct like feeling that added, ‘except Twilight.’

'Well, thank you Chryssy. It'll mean a lot to him, even if it meant starting over I'm pretty sure.' Dawn replied as she already started to eat from her bowl, wondering if she would get a bowl of chicken soup after she finished. She thought of looking at the troops of the EDF, but they weren’t there, being allowed to eat in their room to rest and leaving Storm, Spike, and the Twilights.

'It is no trouble.' Chrysalis said.

Dawn finished her soup readily, hungrily, soon getting seconds, and then got a hearty bowl of chicken soup to finish off her meal.

Princess Twilight and Fire Storm stared at her when she did so.

Dawn looked at them trying to feign cluelessness, "What? I'm hungry."

"That… has meat in it." Princess Twilight said, looking a bit green.

Dawn paused, then acted as if she realized what was happening. She caused it to disappear in a flash of light to make it look like it teleported, but began concealing it in invisibility instead.

"Oh right, sorry... maybe I’m more tired than I realized then. I should head to bed… Sorry to disturb you both." she said quietly and moved out of the kitchen to her guest room, bringing her tray with her.

Storm frowned, feeling a little uneasy, but knew a gryphon in the guild who swore by barbecue, and Nightfall was often brought to their taste tests.

"I'll be up in a bit." Commander Twilight said as she ate her soup without concealing it as there was no longer a reason to.

Dawn arrived in her borrowed room and ate her soup readily in bed, feeling satisfied afterward. She curled up in bed under the covers and fell asleep as the sun set and Luna rose the moon.

Her dreams were that of different members of the Changeling History. One moment she was a drone fighting the winged colorful ones high up in the sky. The next she was a Caretaker caring for the eggs in the hatchery. Then she was a Queen ruling over her hive. Then she was a drone discovering a way to link minds with another. Then she was a worker, her body bulkier and stronger than the other drones, allowing her to easily dig through the stone to make a hive.

Then she was an slime gatherer, finding a way to blend in with magic as she collected love. Then she was a queen again, larger than the others but not by much, partly linked to those in the hive.

Then she was another queen, sending soldiers to try and kill a minotaur who was shunned and mocked by the others for its small and weak frame. The traps he set were nothing short of genius as he stayed one step ahead of her drones for nearly a year. She called off the drones just before they could deliver the fatal blow before taking him as her mate. His superior intellect would be a benefit for the hive.

She was an Infiltrator able to change shape at will to any form.

She was one of two survivors of her hive. The other a worker, everyone else killed by an attack from the griffins.

She took the worker as her mate, the worker showing superior traits having survived and metamorphosed into a queen.

She was a freshly hatched nymph seeing the smiling face of her queen as she watched her hivemate’s hatching.

Round and round her perspective shifted from drones to queen and back.

She watched as the link grow with each generation. They learned to shapeshift. The drones’ bodies changed to match their role, workers more bulky and stronger, soldiers fit and stronger, but weaker than the workers, caretakers small and delicate, infiltrators slim and fast.

The Queens were growing larger and larger with each generation as they took mates both in the hive and outside of it to gain desired traits. Their minds were shaping around survival tactics from the other races, learning the names of the other races and referring to them only as those names. Nation names didn't matter, nor empires. It was the hive vs everyone else.

She watched as the hives fought for dominance over each other, as well to prove who the superior queen was. If they came across another hive, they would eventually fight, and one would absorb the other and take the queen as a lover. Sometimes the queen stayed alive for the rest of their life, sometimes they overthrew the new Queen and regained power.

They soon came to see Mates as the one who their heart belonged to, but did not see the issues in taking lovers for enjoyment and pleasure as they always returned to their mate, allowing more traits to come to the drones and queens.

Eventually Queens developed a "one true mate" ritual. They would mark with a sort of spray from their mouth. This marked their one true mate, the mate for which all other mates they took in the future would be compared to until the end of the queen's life

Throughout history, the Queens minds became sharper, more able to focus on the drones and anything coming up all at once. Even as the body rested, the mind remained active, managing the hive. It was like the natural evolution of a biological computer.

She was then a queen whose hive was facing starvation, even with strict rationing, they only had two months of Love left, if that. She remembered her Mother starving herself to death so she might live 150 years ago.

She would not go the same way. She was a changeling queen, superior to all other races. They were simply food. The dirt under her hooves mattered more.

She knew the ponies had much love. They had the most, but small groups couldn't get enough love for her hive… No, she needed something drastic to make up for their lack.

The ponies were having one of their strange customs soon. They said pretty words that meant they were mates. It was between the pink winged and horned pony and a white horned pony.

These things were always good sources of love, but no. Hiding wouldn't work. They needed drastic action to survive. They would survive! But first, she had to deal with that rainbow weapon of the ponies.

As she researched how to defeat it, she had a thought of asking for help, as the ponies preached friendship now unlike before.

…as she researched in the days following, she reviewed reports of these great heroes treating a Zebra as if it were an enemy despite doing nothing. She had other reports of similar events. No, their friendship was a lie and they only cared for themselves. They would only attack and destroy her hive. Invasion was her only option.

A plan soon formed to removes the purple-horned one, the weapon couldn't work without the one who aimed it…

No… they somehow learned of her plans! … A shield… no no no!

The ensuing loss was only a minor setback. She soon had a new plan. As the pink one rode towards the city, her friend boarded the train along with her as it passed through a tunnel. In the dark, they overpowered the pink one and took her place, arriving inside the shield. All she needed to do was take control of the one controlling the shield. It seemed the purple horned one knew the pink one well. … Perfect.

She felt slightly out of character around the purple one and more in character around everyone else and… perfect, the purple horned one confronted her, crying she fled and… Yes! She was banned from the wedding, now to send her down to the crystal caves. Excellent.

Now to dispose of the pink one and remove the purple one. A little tainting and then she was going for the kill.

If by some miracle she didn't kill he pink one, her bridesmaids would deal with them. These ponies couldn't harm the poor innocent brain washed ponies … What!? How did she escape? Why isn't she mentally destroyed with the pink one? But her army isn't through the shield!

She needed to buy time… well, these ponies always seemed to stand around and listen to whoever talks in these gatherings, so away she went!

And talked she did, as she mocked the ponies and… … there! Her army is through the shield, invading the city, the white one has been defeated. A small force is slowing down the ones called the Bearers while a larger force secured the weapon. Perfect.

She cannot lose. The city is hers! She has proven Changeling superiority! That… wait, what is that? What?

She watched as her plans unraveled, the bearers banding together despite all of her foolproof planning and stared down the beam of light that soon poured on her. She let out a cry of outrage as she mentally protested, being sent back to her hive to contemplate a new plan.

‘How!? How was this possible! My plan was fool proof! How!’ She thought in pure frustration. Once she had calmed she had put together the pieces. ‘It was the purple horned one. What was her name? ... Twilight Sparkle. Yes, this was because of her that my foolproof plan failed.’

She felt a slight stirring within her. Yes, she was interesting for a pony. This would be worth observing them further.

Years passed and the ponies suddenly began to behave oddly, making machines and a second army. Odd, the hive only needed the soldiers under one hive, why would ponies make two different soldiers? She would observe.

More time passed, and a pony approached. She sneered when they wished to offer peace. They never wanted anything but pain and starvation for the hives before, why should now be any different? She labeled them fools… but no sooner had she turned them down and he left than she saw something very strange.

‘What is that? A column of black soldiers with strange things on their backs? No problem, the Swarm could handle it.’ She thought… that was, until her soldiers were attacked. ‘Fire! They have fire!? They are burning the hive! How do they all wield fire!? Who is leading this?’ She thought frantically, searching before spotting the mare in question. ‘Twilight? What happened to her? She isn't the same mare from the wedding, what happened to their body, all torn up and the metal connected to their flesh like chitin?’

They continued unabated, the queen concerned for her hive but all the more determined to show them their strength. ‘She wants me to surrender? Ha! Just gives her a chance to a track from the inside! It must be a ruse!’

She sneered again at them, telling them they will never surrender… She regretted that as with a single gesture, the strange Twilight ordered them to advance.

‘Why isn't she calling off the soldiers? Why do they still burn her hive?’ She thought, watching her drones fall. Caretakers, soldiers, workers, they all were burning around her as she began to realize they would not stop, horror starting to set in. ‘But… this isn't how ponies behave! No! My hive! Stop! Stop! Stop the burning!’

She surrendered, a full surrender, in order to keep her hive from being fully wiped out. Twilight began to explain how this was her fault for attacking as she had. The queen has lost. Half of her wonderful hive was lost, all due to arrogance. She must have been a failure of a queen, and now she would spend her days in the cell she was given.

If it weren’t for the rest of her hive, she might have gone mad in that cell. Time passed before she heard hoofsteps approaching her cell. It surprised her only briefly to see that Twilight had come to stand in front of the gate. ‘Why is Twilight visiting my cell in the dungeons? Perhaps she wishes to gloat… an offer? Strange…’

Twilight kept it simple, and with just a few sentences, she stunned the queen. ‘She wanted me to join her army as her second in command!? But she is my enemy! Why? They are not changelings! They’ve never done things the changeling !"

Twilight knew every part of her plan for the pink winged horned one and white horned one wedding, every step almost perfectly as if she was part of the planning. The Queen was beat, it was either agree, or be wiped out utterly. She felt a shiver under her chitin at the idea, such a changeling ultimatum to boot.

When the time came, she did her part. She knew every step she had to take at the wedding. Now all the ponies and other hives would know just what a fool she was, but what other choice did she have? Join or die…

The ceremony was filled with pretty words, but not as much love as the one she had invaded. That was expected. She tasted more fear and concern than love, and when she uttered the lines she had agreed to say, her hive was absorbed into the Pony-lands.

It wasn’t long after that she learned the workings of the pony-lands, thinking to herself, ‘This is… strange. It acts much like a hive, and Twilight seems to value my input. I do not yet know why. Even so, I can’t help but see something is off with this mare.’

One day, Twilight accidently broke an instructor’s leg during a demonstration. The Queen called for a medic as Twilight tended to them… Now that she paid attention, there was something off. ‘Wait, that's only mild concern Twilight feels? There’s a stronger emotion here… wait, pleasure? But she hurt that pony, why would she enjoy… This requires more observation.’

She learned over time Twilight derived pleasure from harming others, a lot of pleasure. She keeps it well hidden, but she is a changeling queen. She must be! That is the only way to explain how this ‘pony’ could be so different.

Her first thought was to go to the princesses. Perhaps if she revealed this to them, they could deal with Twilight and would trust her! … No, that wouldn’t possibly work. Even with all the time they have had so far, she was certain from how they tasted they see her as an enemy. They would just see it as her trying to drive a wedge between them. She would keep it to herself. If Twilight learned she knew, she feared what would happen. Twilight is a very skilled fighter and highly intelligent.

Eventually, she told Twilight she knew. Twilight stared her down, and she watched the horn for any signs of aggression. Twilight let her live, but with a threat to where death would be her gift to the Queen, and nothing on Equus could spare her from the torment she would receive if she told.

Twilight kept her close in the time that followed, and even began to relax around her, showing her true self. By the mothers, she doesn't just enjoy others’ pain, she enjoys killing them and watching the life leave their eyes! How could this happen in a pony?

One day, her curiosity could not let it be and she finally asked. Twilight began to tell her about Frisk… That story made her ill. It was so similar to what was done to her race in hives and queens past.

Slowly, Twilight tells her more of her time away. Fighting the war, the feiends made, the friends lost, the betrayal, the torture, losing parts of her body, and her mind degrading into what it is now.

‘How could a pony survive such a thing and be able to function?’ She wondered as she heard.

Twilight did survive though, and she did function, and now she wants to make sure no one else feels what she did, as well as protect Equestria from herself, should she become lost to her impulses.

She also trusted the Queen to do what was needed if that happened…

A bit more time passed when Tirek came to attack the land. It was then the Queen led the army as the second in command against the giant form, even as he slaughtered thousands of the EDF soldiers.

She eventually was pushed back, and was in the Throne room when the alicorns refused to leave. She couldn’t help but agree it was the right thing to do. As valuable as they were to the Pony-lands for their leadership, it would lead Tirek to those they were trying to save if they were to run.

She fought alongside them. They lost, and were drained of their magic. Despite the loss of leadership, the Guard and the Army still fought to save them, the civilians still in bunkers, against such overwhelming power.

Tirek makes the leaders and the queen watch as he tortured the soldiers to death as a cruel punishment for defying him. Cadence began to cry, distraught as she was forced to watch. The queen moved close to her to give her a shoulder to lean on. The pony, despite their differences in the past, accepted it, never having seen such darkness before.

‘She does not deserve this.’ The queen thought, ‘There was a day when I had hoped the ponies would feel the pain the hive had felt, but now I am sad that they share in this fate… what a twist of fate.’

They watched as Tirek left, seeking out others to consume. She felt so weak, then suddenly, her strength started to return! She was surprised, realizing their magic was back, Twilight must have killed Tirek!

They escaped their prison they were left in, and now the rebuilding began. Equestria now knew the pain of the Hive, for better or for worse. As the ponies realized this truth, with time, they became more open to the changelings in their midst.

One night some time later, Twilight grows drunk. In one of her unwinding sessions where she talks openly with the Queen, she took the Queen to bed for her first time. It was… pleasurable for them both, and it quickly became a regular thing…

The queen gradually learned more of Twilight Sparkle, of her strength, her will, her power, who she is. She is the most beautiful creature the Queen has ever witnessed. Nothing else compares… but Twilight doesn't feel the same, and the Queen is hers, as she lost the bid for dominance.

Time passed, and Twilight grows older and older… perhaps it was good they did not mate and remained lovers. The queen wasn't sure she could handle Twilight's death.

More time passed and she was surprised when Twilight had come home one day, thinking, ‘Twilight became an alicorn? How? This doesn’t make sense, she wouldn’t have met the requirements the other princesses told me about… this is so strange, and yet it happened.’

The queen frowned at first, but the princess Twilight and the Queen have a small party of two in Twilight's bedroom.

Soon after the party, she discovered Twilight is pregnant... The queen was surprised and when she was told, her only thought was, ‘oh dear...’

Instinctively, she assigned more drones to Twilight’s detail. Naturally, Twilight noticed the odd behavior of the Hive as she walked around, pregnancy developing like normal. Twilight soon confronted her and the queen confessed she knew they were pregnant. She confessed to wanting to be mates, to take part in caring for their child. She was relieved when she heard Twilight was willing to try....

They had a Daughter, Violet Flame. The Queen's happiness rivaled that of the memory when Twilight said she will try to be mates.

Violet grew. She was, and is… strange, not a normal pony, and not a normal Queen. The queen loves her dearly and loves Twilight dearly. She will make any who threaten them beg for death.

Dawn woke slowly but early the next morning, taking a deep breath and letting it out as she laid still, considering the completeness, the length of the dream memories. She felt like she had experienced a dozen lifetimes, but it was more than that, she was sure... and provided she didn't fall in battle, she would be able to experience that herself.

She felt the changes this time. She no longer could view the changelings as she had before, with some trepidation and unfamiliarity. She no longer viewed ponies the same either, with the sins of their forbearers and weakness in adapting to the scenarios. There was a difference she could not place within herself, and it bothered her briefly, ears flicking as small sounds drifted through her window.

Fire Storm practiced her routine behind the crystal castle, a combination of the mixed arts she was taught by Nightfall, as well as matching it with her aerial maneuvers exercises. She was frustrated, but knew from her lessons with Nightfall that must have been because she underestimated her opponent and was impatient. She could have taken that Twilight if they hadn’t hidden who they really were after all. She growled as she punched and kicked the sides of the self-repairing crystal in frustration, continuing to train her body, as she had for the last 20 minutes…

Svikopi gathered all his belongings in Manehattan meticulously, double and triple checking all the ingredients he would need for his plan. Tomes to refresh or fill in his memory, catalysts for power and stability, oh and of course, a matching golden bracer to the one given to his guinea pig to live in.

In watching Solar Flare's antics across Manehattan, he saw the skill with which he kept his magical use no more than needed, and heard the way he seduced ponies, friendly or otherwise, into his plots. 'Such a tangled web he wove with so many.' he thought, 'But a spider with too many flies in his web will be all the more obvious.

Svikopi had to change his plan a little, to ensure Flare would know better next time not to disrespect the old magicks. Svikopi knew what he wanted to do, and it would only take two little ingredients nopony would miss. Once it was complete, using his copy of the bracer still worn by Flare, he would cause all of his allies cutie marks to display Flare's own at a designated point. He relied on deceipt, and so he would make such deceit much more difficult. He even planned it to affect those under his accomplices that knew nothing of the plot, just so they could not have a loophole to continue their scheming.

He packed his things and prepared his ticket to go to Fillydelphia the next morning, where those ingredients were and a certain magical study had laid abandoned where he could cast such things in secret.

One solitary unicorn, Meadow Dawn, a broken shell of her former self, finally saw a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, he would do some good. He had stopped listening to her a long time ago, and all she could do was watch and listen to him, noticing that no one else heard her cries for help. If she wasn't able to be saved, she wondered what point there was to her existing except to suffer. She watched on however, as if unable to tear herself away from this outside world, where perhaps there was some sort of soul who could hear her. If they could hear her, even maybe give a home to her, she would be their best friend forever in repayment, anything to escape this confined existence.

Flare looked over the map of Manhattan and his budding organization. He had needed to clean house of the smuggling ring he had taken over, but that had been simple enough once he got these ponies to break through their hesitation to take a life. The weak were culled from the group and replaced by those disillusioned with the current state of affairs and easily molded into loyal members of his group.

=============================

Stonewall stood below, watching Storm train. She was curious what their skill level was as she only saw a brief glimpse when she gave her a lesson in the mock battle. She was decent, though undisciplined. Stonewall would need to change that, but Storm would be able to be of use.

Steadyhoof ran drills nearby. Even with their ordeals in the forest, training didn't stop. Only Cloud Shifter was allowed a break as he recovered from his blood loss in the room with the windows open, the commander saying he needed sun and fresh air.

Dawn headed toward the soldiers, checking to see if they were taking it easy or if they were still recovering. She felt her strength mostly returned and opened the doors to where the group had been, only to find all but one gone. She went over to them to inspect their recovery.

"You awake?" She asked gently.

Dawn could feel the link still connected, a small white noise in the back of her mind. She was also aware the Queen was making her way towards her house and would be there not long before they arrived. She smiled internally at this knowledge, idly wondering how Stalwart was faring. In the meantime, she looked over the soldier and used magic to assess their wounds, if any.

Dawn found that Stalwart was under stress, but was focused on working with a hive mate in taking down a burglary ring. Dawn noted it, satisfied, though hoping she would meet him soon while starting to consider how effective a mate Stalwart has been over the years.

"Good morning soldier… are you awake?" She asked again, placing a hoof carefully on their shoulder.

He jumped in place at the contact, looking up before seeing her. "Oh! … Um, yes ma'am. Just a little slow… Commander says I'm on bedrest for the rest of the week, then light duty for another three days."

"Understood.” Dawn nodded, “How are you feeling? Any sore spots, bruises, cuts or the like?"

"None ma'am, just tired. Commander says I lost a lot of blood and it's amazing I was still alive when you all found me." He said. "She also said I have you to thank for me waking up at all."

"I specialize in healing magic, and I can’t just stand by and let someone stay hurt if I can help.” She smiled gently. “I’ll skip the story of how long it took to get to healing magic and why if you like, but I’ve managed to help revive in tandem casting here and help with more difficult or energy draining cases anymore.

“Oh!” Dawn said with a pause, “I completely forgot to introduce myself. I’m Meadow Dawn, Alicorn of Hope. I want to fill you in on what you’ve missed and need to know on the commander’s behalf.”

"Thank you ma'am.” He said politely, “Name’s Cloud Shift, recruit of the EDF and rather poor representation of the army right now." He ended with a chuckle.

"Don't kid yourself." she said quickly, smiling down at him, "You survived the Everfree far longer than most, and even if you didn't do as well as your peers, you now know your weaknesses and strengths and how to improve yourself.

"So Cloud, you've been without your instructors because you've been displaced. The first known group of ponies coming from your world into mine is, oddly enough, your Commander Twilight, Queen Chrysalis, and Violet Flame into my study room. Following me so far?"

"I know. The commander briefed us this morning."

"Ah, I wasn't aware you had a meeting like that..." she said, growing quiet for a moment, "Well, there goes the conversation I thought we'd have." she chuckled.

"We were up before sunrise ma'am."

Dawn nodded, thinking about what it was she wanted to ask or talk about. She craved conversation, but didn't know where to go from there.

"So, sleep well?" He asked.

"Moderately. One of those rare dreams where it feels like you’ve dreamt a lifetime or three.” She said, rather badly wanting to share what she learned as a habit, yet instincts kicking in to keep it low key.

‘Not for his ears.’ The queen warned, as if suspecting what would happen.

‘I already was feeling scared of what would happen if I shared, don’t worry Queeny.’ Dawn replied playfully. She continued her conversation with the soldier, “So how long have you been enlisted?”

"Same as the others… 2 months." He said, as if it were obvious.

"Just asking, didn’t talk with any of your group yet so I didn’t know.” She said, trying to calm him down. “May I ask why you joined?"

He shrugged. "Just something to do I guess."

"Oh?” she asked surprised, “Nothing else appealed to you?"

"Not really, was working a dead end job and wanted a change."

"Ah." She hummed, not expecting that answer.

"What? Thought something along the lines of wanting to make a difference? Maybe get out of a bad situation? Come from a line of military stallions?"

She shrugged seeing where she had started out on the wrong hoof, but also an opportunity to recover. "Not necessarily. My cousins joined the military because of my uncle, and Stalwart, my husband, because he was 3rd generation military, but I know there are some who join for the money or the shelter or to get out of trouble... Sorry, I just don't know how to make conversation sometimes, and today seems like one of those days." she ended with a sad sigh.

"Sorry I'm not the most complex of individuals." He said, sounding very unapologetic.

"It's fine. Take care of yourself, ok?" she said as she stepped away to the exit, intent on looking around for other companionship, hopefully better ones than that.

'You should probably rest a bit as you did revive a lot of information last night.' The queen said

'I should...' she sighed, frustrated, 'I just felt like I needed to talk to someone, get back up and talking because of last night. I know it’s your history, but I’m sorry, that was not easy to go through.'

'It is fine little pony. You are forgiven.' Chrysalis replied, ‘Our history was not easy to live through, but it has made us what we are.

'Thank you, but I feel like I’m… like I’m different because of it.' She said, feeling concerned.

'Different?'

'I don't know how to explain it.' She replied as she climbed into bed and laid down. 'I'm hearing more and more of the hive lately, now hearing some kind of white noise in the back of my mind for one. I'm looking back at Stalwart, my mate who I’ve never had doubts of before, and wondering if they measure up to being a strong mate. I know that I would have asked if they were a 'good' mate, not about whether they were a strong mate. I just… feel different.'

'Weren't you able to hear the hive before?' The queen asked, confused at what she was saying.

'I hear the conversations in the background, like they’re just barely out of reach. I could feel where you were, that you're headed to Stalwart. I thought of him and instantly felt as if I knew that he was stressed but doing well, taking on a thieving ring that had been under his nose...'

'You didn't before?' The queen asked, concern for the mare growing.

'No.' Dawn corrected Chrysalis gently, now feeling and sounding worried as she continued. 'Knowing each other's location I can deal with. Hearing the hive and talking to them if desired? That's amazing and wonderful in some ways. Questioning the worthiness of my mate? I've... I've never done that before.'

'Didn't you already do that and find him worthy which is why you are now mated?' The Queen asked, even more confused.

'Not really. When I first entered the world,' she said, starting to unconsciously relay her memories of it as she talked, 'I was in a strange place, in a strange body, and subject to new laws of the universe I now live in. He was the first one who was friendly to me and seemed to want to court me as a potential mate. I was receptive because he was kind, physically strong, knowledgeable, and the first one to come along. Now it seems like I can't stop myself from wondering 'could I have gotten better? Did I latch on too soon? Is there a better mate for me now?'’

'I do not know. Only you can answer that.' The queen said, still concerned but wanting to support Dawn.

Dawn hummed in reply, not sure what to think as she continued to dwell on the subject for a minute more before letting her mind wander, to listen in on whatever conversations might be had in the changelings near her home, ignoring sounds of the outside as she rested.

Fire Storm came in, once again hot and sweaty from her workout and went to shower once more. Normally she'd enjoy a fresh, cool cleanup in one of the safer rivers of the Everfree, but the showers were fine enough. She walked in on the bedroom after knocking and receiving no answer, spotting Dawn on the bed and biting back a noise of disapproval before cleaning up.

Dawn began to focus on the drones when she reached out to the area, and to her surprise she instinctively knew their name and what kind of drone they were as she focused on their conversation. She frowned at this revelation, concerned at yet another change and contacted chrysalis again.

'Hey chryssy? How do I know their name and what kind of drone they are when I listen?'

'Because the link tells you' she said with amusement as she asked such a simple question, thinking ‘Ah to be young again.’

'Add that to the things I hadn't done before I guess...' Dawn replied, going back to her resting state.

'You didn’t? … I could have sworn it did that for everyone part of the link.'

'Not before today...' Dawn corrected

The queen was confused. 'I'm sure you did just without notice.'

'I'm quite certain I didn't Chryssy... If I'm able to share my memory with you somehow I could prove it...'

'Then why don't you?' She asked. 'What's stopping you?"

'I can do that?' She asked before remembering from the changeling memories how they normally do that, 'Well, I can try…' With that recollection, she remembered those points early on as best she was able, showing Chrysalis exactly how little of the link she could utilize, and how gradual the experience had become.

'But-“ The queen replied, startled at these memories and greatly confused, “that makes no sense! Why would you have such trouble using the link?'

'The Spell.' she said simply. 'What started it all was a simple communication spell, like a telephone. It wasn't designed for the link. Remember? I was surprised when it seemed to do a little more the first time we found out...'

'What spell? What are you talking about?' Chrysalis asked. 'You didn't need a spell to connect to the link.'

Dawn frowned and shared her memory of needing to use her horn magic to connect to Chrysalis at first, which caused the confusion over the link, and how gradually, it required less and less effort to where now it was not necessary. 'What I'd give for an MRI...' She thought, 'I wonder if somehow connecting to you with this spell is what caused all this.'

'I… I don't recall that.” Chrysalis said, unsure how they could remember something she did not through the link, ‘I don't understand why you'd need a spell to connect to the link in the first place.'

'Chryssy, it wasn't the link at first... remember? I. Used. A. Spell.' Dawn repeated firmly.

'But… but…' Chrysalis tried to respond, feeling pain growing in her head in such a way even Dawn could sense it. Dawn then knew she landed from her flight as she was having trouble staying airborne.

'Are you all right queeny?' Dawn asked, worried.

'I… I don't know. … I've never had a headache before.' she said

'Is it because of my memories?' she asked, worried for her, 'Is there anything I can do to help?'

'I don't know…' chrysalis replied, sounding quieter to Dawn, as if still processing for an answer.

'Chryssy...' Dawn spoke to her, an idea forming, 'What is my designation in your hive, if I have one?'

'Alicorn Drone.' She said without hesitation

'So you view me as a drone of your hive...' Dawn said quietly, considering the implications of now being viewed as a part of two different nations or groups if that is the case. 'I'm both honored and slightly scared, truth be told.'

'What! why?' She asked, confused about why her drone would be afraid.

'It's different.” Dawn explained, sharing her fear, “I've nearly always been afraid of doing new things, needing to remind myself not to let fear prevent me from doing something new. Still, it's nearly always turned out well so far. Now our conversation shows me that you view me as a drone in your hive.' she chuckled quietly.

'Why wouldn't I?'

'Am I a changeling?' Dawn asked, amused.

'You're a drone.'

'That's not what I asked. Am I a changeling?'

'No. You're an alicorn.'

'What is the duty of an alicorn drone in the hive?' Dawn asked, taking a different approach while also sating her curiosity on this apparent path the queen was trying to put on her.

'Serve the hive. Act as the Princess of the ponies and assist the hive while doing so.'

'So a mediator for the hive to other species?' Dawn clarified.

'Yes.'

'Any other duties?'

'Serve the Queen's Mate.'

'In what capacities?'

'However she desires.’ Chrysalis said, as if stating the obvious, ‘Same as any drone.'

'At this rate,I may end up your drone, Queen Crysalis,' Dawn replied, feeling a surge of playful rebellious attitude toward the queen, , 'But I will be more than just 'any drone' to you and to Twilight if that happens.'

'Yes, I plan for you to be Twilight's lover as well.' Chrysalis said, still stating the obvious.

'Then if I am a drone, I will fill these roles,' she replied, then smiled as she decided to add, 'and one day, I’ll have to see about taking a place as your second in command, just as you are second to Twilight.'

'We shall see my little drone.' The queen said. At the same time, Dawn could sense the queen was smiling at what she heard, having taken to the air again.

Dawn settled down to rest and process the new information from that conversation. It seemed Chryssy was unaware of her gradual change and even resisted recognizing the steps when shown. Dawn wasn’t sure what she could do about the situation, but suspected she had no way of turning back now, even if she wanted to. She had grown rather fond of the commander and Chrysalis both, and didn’t want to disappoint them.

Her dreams were sweet that night, seeing various changelings come along to taste the dishes she made in a potluck at her home…

Author's Notes:

Well then a lot happened this chapter, Firestorm ending up being read in early along with the Princess of Friendship.

And thing have drastially changed for Dawn.

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