Stalwart wore dawn out quickly, having fun showing her how much he loved her. They barely got going when Dawn passed out much earlier than she usually did. Stalwart carried her to bed, now concerned for her health if she fell asleep so quickly. After carrying her and putting her in bed, he went off to find the creepy looking doctor so she could be looked over.

It was not hard to find them, considering they rarely left their truck. Soon, he managed to find one of them, this one named Doctor Pink. He brought him to the room and he began examining her.

"Seems she just over exerted herself without proper rest is all." He said as he took a few samples. "We will run tests to be sure, but for now all she needs is rest."

Stalwart watched as he moved the samples to the bag, looking at his behavior and the answer with concern.

"Overexerted herself with what? She's been on a train two of the last three days." Stalwart protested.

"Could be something else.” Doctor Pink shrugged, “We will run tests and get back to you in a few hours, but preliminary diagnosis is she just over exerted herself and needs rest."

"All right." He replied, shaking his head slightly before heading back to the living room to assess how many more have come by looking out the window. He never would have imagined his quiet routine would have been temporary, but he had to admit Tere had really changed his outlook on changelings and the expectations of his guard.

"Don't worry, I'm sure she will be ready and willing to go tomorrow all day." Doctor Pink chuckled.

"You know me too well already." Stalwart chuckled, a little embarrassed.

"It's my job to know people." He chuckled back.

"Well... I'm glad to have you on our side." He said, looking over to Violet. "So what have you been up to while we were gone?"

"Just talking with Sire."Violet said

"Oh? About what?"

"What we have been doing, and then I talked to Dawn.”

"Oh? What’d you two talk about?"

"She's joining the hive!" She said happily.

"Wait... what?" He asked, startled at the news and looking at her closely.

"Yeah, she's going to join the hive under Sire!" She smiled wide.

"Ah." Stalwart said. He was in shock, looking at her in surprise at first, then looked away as a band tried to form around his heart in concern, then he started to relax. Maybe Violet was joking, or meant it figuratively. His wife-

"Yeah, she is already linked to Sire and will be being cocooned in a few days to formally join." Violet said factually, still smiling.

"Wait…" He said, pausing, as if not sure if he heard correctly as fear started to touch the back of his mind again, "What do you mean linked, what's this about being cocooned?"

"Yeah, she's joined the Link and is going to be cocooned as a sort of symbolic way of joining." Violet repeated.

Stalwart took a deep breath to keep his fear from surfacing too much. He never would have guessed Dawn would do something like that, and she didn’t tell him anything about it last night. He was sure she would have mentioned it, but now that he was hearing it from Violet first, his doubts made him worry about why Dawn didn’t mention it.

"What’s wrong?" She asked. "I thought you'd be happy. She's the first outsider to ever join like this."

"I… Don't know Violet." He said, feeling guilty for disappointing her, but in the same breath, he didn't know how to feel about his wife turning to the changelings and being a part of them. She was a princess of Equestria, a pony… But then he looked to Tere, and how much they had helped him with that thieving ring, and the others were sociable… he had to wonder, was it a bad thing?

Tere didn't say a word as Violet buzzed over to Stalwart and hugged him to try and cheer him up.

Stalwart hugged her back and took a deep breath, "Sorry Violet, guess I'm still a bit old fashioned and don’t like change. I'll have a talk with her tomorrow."

Violet squeezed his leg tight to help him cheer up and Stalwart laughed, weakly at first. He reached his hoof up to pat her head, then moved to tickle her to cheer her up back, and it escalated to play wrestling with her, a smile finally crossing his face.

"Yeah. What am I worried about? If you're so adorable and smart, what's the problem with being part changeling, huh?" he ended, going for a tickle with his hooves onto her sides.

She giggled and batted his hooves away, playfully whining back, "Nnnnoooooo."

He chuckled and finished his play wrestling and tickling before standing upright. He felt a little better, nervous, but not quite so concerned. These changelings weren't so different than what he knew ponies to be like, even if their eyes still freaked him out a little bit. Violet was panting from the tickling, but got up to hug his leg again, nuzzling her face against it before letting out a yawn.

He picked her up and put her on his back, "Seems like it's bed time for this little filly. Mind if I take it from here Tere?"

"Go right ahead." he said happily.

He walked her inside, taking her up to his room where Dawn laid and set her down into Dawn's grasp. Dawn seemed to move slightly, spreading her forelegs and hind legs apart so the foal could lay along her underside.

Stalwart laid the yawning Violet down against her, head on Dawn’s foreleg and Dawn seemed to spread a wing over Violet like a blanket.

"But… I’m… not-" Violet protested quietly, eyes drooping until she fell asleep against Dawn, breathing softly.

"That's what I thought." He said quietly, satisfied.

He looked at the pair, smiling softly as he imagined if that would be how they would handle their own foal. Violet had her difficulties, but seeing these kinds of moments together filled him with a satisfaction he only remembered after meeting with Dawn and her saying “yes” when he proposed.

He walked back down to go to Tere, intent on asking what he knew about this linking and cocooning that Violet mentioned, now that he was calmed down from the surprise before. He found Tere sitting on the couch and walked to him.

"So Tere… do you know anything about what Violet was talking about?"

"Yes." he said, sipping a drink.

"Mind filling me in? This is the first I've heard of it."

"That was because Dawn wished to tell you herself, so the queen ordered us to not tell you. Now though, the… how do you say… cat’s out of the bag?"

"Well, first off, what did Violet mean when she said she was linked?" He asked, going to the kitchen to get out a soda from the fridge.

Tere waited for him to return, then said, "She used a spell to talk with the Queen, similar to the link, and it sort of merged with our natural link to where she hasn't used the spell in some time."

"Wait, the spell she uses to talk to me sometimes? So why aren't we linked or whatever?"

"Because ponies don't have a natural hive mind link. The spell has to be maintained where for us, it's natural."

"Then how is it that she hasn't needed to use the spell anymore?" he asked, opening the bottle and tossing the cap on the table as he walked back to the couch to relax while talking.

"Because she is now part of our link. So to speak to us she just thinks at us. For non-hive like you she'd need the spell."

"But I thought you said ponies don't have a natural… hive thing. Does that mean Dawn does?" he asked, clearly struggling to understand.

"She does now. It's being maintained naturally from our end. She’s even used it so much the link sees her as a drone."

"But… she's a pony…” he repeated, surprised at this before asking, “how could she be a drone?"

Tere shrugged. "Not a clue. This has never happened in our vast history."

"Then, what's this about being… what did Violet call it?"

"The cocooning?"

"Yeah, that…" He said, sipping while trying to keep his emotions in check, waiting to hear his friend out.

"The queen is aware of her past, and offered her a chance to join the hive fully as if she were born into it. The cocoon is to represent an egg and a new start into the hive."

Stalwart sipped again, taking a moment to think. He took a deep breath and let it out quietly, "So, Dawn is joining your hive… I… I can't say I expected this." He said, feeling a wave of concern for her and their relationship, if it would affect them or not. "This cocooning, it's not meant to change her then?"

"Not really, but then again, we don't know what will happen. This is a new experience for us."

"You ‘n me both." He replied, taking a big gulp of his drink before setting it down.

He trusted Dawn, though she often got into things far too readily, jumping in with all hooves. To have her go through these things to join the changelings was worrying to him, especially without checking with him first. She already was responsible to him as her husband, and the country as a princess to it. Being a part of a hive of another world was another loyalty that could make her conflicted in the future, and he didn’t know if she had thought of that whatsoever.

Tere remained silent as he sipped his drink, waiting for the questions he knew would come.

"So how long is this cocooning thing supposed to be, about an hour?"

"We plan it for it to be two days, though it really depends on her once she's inside."

"What, is it up to her to get out?" Stalwart asked.

"Somewhat yes. She will be in a sort of coma for a time. ‘Till she wakes from that, the cocoon can't be opened."

"But what if there's an emergency?" he asked, concerned.

"Then we defend the cocoon with our lives." Tere said simply.

He took another deep breath and let it out before quietly saying, "I don't like this, but it's her choice, even though I wish she had told me about it first… and if there's anything you've taught me, it's that you changelings aren't what I thought you were."

"Oh, we sort of are, but then again, that is out of need."

"We've talked about that before, I just,” Stalwart said before letting out a long tense sigh. “What would Dawn joining the hive mean for her? What would she do? What would she be responsible for?"

"Caretaker drone and liaison to other races."

"Caretaker? So she's your foalsitter?"

"Sort of. She would be the type of drone that cares for the nymphs."

"Which are…" He asked, thinking of Nymph the changeling of the guild.

"Our young. They are vulnerable till they grow their chitin."

"Ah. So is it just because she likes looking after foals or is her emotions tied to it or what?"

"Her emotions are a part of it. It is basically the same, but with a pony."

"Is that a good thing for a caretaker, to be a pony? Have you had pony caretakers before?"

"Never. But she will be a drone, and having a pony would be good for the nymphs due to the love."

"Oh? What makes her love special?" He asked, sipping the rest of his soda down.

"You ponies are like a broken faucet of emotion."

He blinked, looking at him in surprise, "And that's a good thing how?"

"We eat emotions. Ponies are basically a never ending buffet."

"How would the nymphs normally get their emotions then?"

"We bring it to them."

"So what's the difference from it being brought to them and getting it from them directly?"

"We can get far more from the source and it's fresh."

"Ah." Stalwart answered, not sure what he was expecting. He grew quiet as he didn't know what else to ask. The rest were questions that could wait for his wife.

Dawn slept peacefully with Violet, having some very odd but comforting imagery come to mind. Between cotton candy trees and plastic roads in the background, to a lot of children, both pony and changeling, clamoring for her attention and collapsing around her in fits of laughter, she was happy. She couldn’t help but feel a threat looming above and behind her in the dream, filling her with a sense of trepidation.

She still heard the barely heard whispered words of "you're never alone" in the distance. She smiled in her dream and held the foals close, protecting them as she felt the threat in her dreams start looking elsewhere, even as some of the monsters from her childhood like pokemon came out to play.

Stalwart had long since finished his drink and eventually went to bed, joining Dawn and nestling up to her to feel the warmth of her fur on his own. Violet was a good filly in her own right, and he didn’t mind her sleeping in his bed, but nothing took the place of feeling Dawn’s soft fur against his underbelly.

The next morning, the smell of cooking made its way up the stairs.

Dawn and Stalwart woke about the same time, Dawn feeling incredibly rested and loved from feeling Stalwart at her back and Violet at her front. Stalwart stretched, working out the kinks and letting a couple cracks of his back echo in the room.

Dawn nuzzled Violet gently to wake her up, sharing her love with them, getting a kiss on the cheek from Stalwart before they made their way down to the kitchen for breakfast.

They found Twilight listing to MUSIC as she as she cooked and singing along with the song from her tablet. Dawn listened at first but moved along, not wanting to disturb her as she debated what to make for herself for breakfast before deciding on eggs, toast, and strawberry topped oats, knowing how much Violet liked the strawberries.

"Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes." Twilight said over her music before turning it down as she noticed Dawn.

"Oh, thanks! Didn't realize you had gotten it started. Sleep well?" She asked, smiling at Twilight.

"Oh yes." She said happily, resuming her humming and cooking.

Dawn smiled gently at that and walked over to take a seat by Chrysalis. Stalwart took a seat next to Dawn, then remembered the conversation before.

"Dawn, Violet tells me you joined the hive?" Stalwart asked.

Dawn froze at first, not knowing where he heard or where he was taking the conversation, "I have been connected to it yes."

The queen sipped her tea as she observed out the corner of her eyes.

Stalwart took a deeper breath and put a hoof on her side, "Are you going to tell me about it?"

"Well, I've been working with Chryssy and Twilight a lot over the last few weeks, and Chryssy in particular is a really good listener. So my telephone spell gradually gained some unexpected effects when used with Chryssy. Before I knew it, we were working really well together and were able to talk without the spell as much." Dawn paused and took a second to reach for a cup, only to realize it hadn't been filled yet and she continued as the queen poured her some tea.

"I… Because of how much we worked together, she called me a good friend of the hive, and wanted to teach me more about changelings. It's been really interesting so far, knowing what they've been through and how they do what they do. I just… I can't help but want to help them."

"And the cocoon?" Stalwart asked.

"I was getting to that." she said, trying to hold her apprehension back, even as her voice shook at first, "I was starting to be called a drone by her, which confused me at first, but after a bit, I didn't mind. While they're here with us, I didn't see the problem, as long as it didn't conflict with benefitting Equestria as a whole. She asked me if I would be open to being put in a cocoon, and I could tell it meant a lot to her, so we decided to move forward with it."

The queen’s interest in her take on the events grew, curious how her drone would tell another pony what she was doing.

"So you're joining their hive?" Stalwart asked.

"Yes. She and Twilight both have been such remarkable teachers that even though our time together with them has been short, it's been incredibly productive. I've learned more in a week with them than since I was made a princess. Flight lessons, general magic lessons of both hoof and horn," she paused, knowing he'd smile at the reference to his card game, "and it'd be like a job, but more consistent, to be in charge of looking after the nymphs… Not to mention I love the idea of caring for them and knowing that if I ever need an ear or protection from nightmares, they have my back, and I want to do the same for them."

The queen was pleased with hearing that, and sent Dawn a small bit of that pleasure, sending a ripple along her back.

Stalwart seemed to nod and gave her a hug, "I'm a little worried for you, but it’s your choice to make." He said, feeling his insecurity over this coming up, yet trying to move past the old prejudices and fears to accept what he and his wife have experienced to let her follow her heart.

Dawn in turn, hugged him back and chuckled, "Don't worry Stalwart, I'll be back before you know it, but we've still got nearly all of today before that's going to be done."

"I promise you she will not be harmed.” Chrysalis said, “No hive in the history of our race has ever harmed a friend of the hive and I'm not about to break that rule now for any reason. You both have been good to us and I'm proud to call you friends."

Dawn beamed with pleasure at this and Stalwart seemed to accept what Chrysalis said at face value, calming down a little at that, asking, "Where would this be happening?"

"In our hive where we can keep her protected." Chrysalis answered.

"So you've already built a hive?" He asked, his concern rising back up a little.

"No. Building. The second nursery we need will be done by tomorrow.”

"I see."

"It'll be ok Stalwart.” Dawn said, trying to console him, “If anything I’d ask for pictures since I'd be the first to try this."

Stalwart stayed quiet, feeling nervous, but accepting what he was told about her safety. He then asked, "So how’s the investigation over there going? Did you get him?"

The queen sighed. "No, but we are working on it. We also uncovered a thief planning to do some powerful magics so we are after them as well."

"What are they after? Are they related?"

"Don't know. The thief is after an area effect spell."

"So what’s the plan now? Did you need something here?" He asked.

"We're grabbing the more experienced ponies to help because the ones on the case now aren't able and a couple are starting to seem unwilling." Dawn said.

The queen nodded. "That, and if they came up against the one we are after, they would lose badly."

"Ok. So what about infiltration? Tere was amazing in helping with my case, what about here?" Stalwart chimed in.

"We do plan to take an infiltrator with us, but first we need to find a trace of him."

Stalwart sighed quietly before asking, "Anything I can do to help?"

"Keep my daughter safe. If he finds out we are here, he will come after her." She said looking at him hard. "I am entrusting my daughter’s safety to you Captain. I trust you will not fail me."
She said making it clear failure would not end pleasantly.

He sat more rigidly and nodded. "I can do that, we'll keep her safe."

"Good. I'll be leaving Tere here to assist you since you two already have a bond. Will that be enough or would you like more assistance?"

"I think that should be enough." He answered, thinking, “When you say a bond, do you mean we're friends or something else?”

"Well yes. Wouldn't you call yourselves that?"

"Well yeah, just not heard it called a bond specifically. You made it seem like there was more to it than that." He answered.

"Considering how the guards are behaving out there, wouldn’t it be a good idea if I came out to give them a bit of a pep talk? Or do you think that won't help?" Dawn chimed in.

"It couldn't hurt." Chrysalis shrugged.

Dawn paused, debating when she should give the pep talk, "I'll make sure after the time cocooned is over to go to Manehattan and give them a few things to think about. We’ll see if I can keep them motivated."

"That would be good. I have them chasing the thief and a couple other major crimes while we are away."

"Sounds good. Anything else we want covered at this breakfast meeting?" She asked, teasing at the serious nature of the breakfast table.

"Not unless you do. Besides, Twilight is done with her cooking." She said as Twilight walked in with a plate of pancakes, blueberry for everyone except Violet, who had strawberry.

Dawn smiled broadly and sat waiting for her share of pancakes, rivalling Violet's eagerness. "How did you know I was craving blueberries?"

"Lucky guess." She chuckled as she placed everyone's plate before them.

The two families began to eat, Dawn eating at a faster pace than she usually did, a childish grin on her face. Twilight chuckled before she took her seat and began to eat.

"Had enough to eat Dawn?" Stalwart chuckled as he watched how quickly she scarfed her food down.

"I'll tell you when I feel full." She said.

"I made plenty." Twilight said, chuckling. "I know what it's like to eat for two."

Dawn smiled and went to get a second helping from the center platter where the other pancakes laid. Twilight chuckled at her antics, even as Dawn continued to eat her pancakes.

Dawn started to feel like a touch of raspberry syrup would be perfect with the pancakes right then, and looked up to see Chrysalis having levitated some to her plate. “Ooo, that was perfect timing. Thank you Chryssy.” She said before pouring liberal amounts of it on her pancakes, resuming her inhalation of the fluffy food.

Twilight and Chrysalis both chuckled.

'Also,’ Chrysalis reached out to Dawn in the link, ‘I have a way I can help Dusk.'

'Oh?" Dawn asked, slowing down her eating as she focused on this news.

'Huh? What?' Starlight's voice came across faintly, as if he was hard to reach.

'I have found a way to help you Starlight. At least in theory.' Chrysalis said.

'Oh! Thanks, I… I… how are we going to do that?' he replied, clearly disoriented and confused.

'Very carefully. I'll do it while you two sleep tonight. If it works, you'll have your own body and live.'

'Good. I… I'm losing sense of time… Dawn needs me so little.' he replied, sounding tired and distant again.

Dawn frowned, worried for him, she hadn't heard from him in a while, and didn't even think to check in on him these last few weeks. It was a horrible feeling, to forget about a part of herself that she had known.

'Do not worry Starlight. You will survive.' Chrysalis reassured.

'Good… I'll take anything at this point… much longer and…' He replied as he faded out. An emotion, faint but present, gave Dawn and the queen both a sense of being set adrift, a fear of needing to accept one’s own passing away.

'You. Will. Survive!' The Queen said firmly, voice filled with authority to keep him from thinking that way.

'We'll see…' Starlight replied, slightly more strong than before, but believing more in results. He knew his time to leave Dawn would come eventually.

'We will do it after breakfast.' The queen said firmly.

'I.... will try-' he replied, fading out of the conversation.

The queen ate quickly, sensing the urgency. Dawn finished up her food, even licking the plate, half hoping Violet would chuckle because of the silliness of her doing so. Stalwart laughed quietly, Violet giggling at the silly mare.

Very shortly after, the queen stood, announcing, “I am going for a walk.” She said, turning into her unicorn form and headed for the door.

'Follow as soon as you can.' She said and showing her the memory of a clearing not far from the house in the woods.

Dawn mentally nodded, and no sooner than Chrysalis had closed the door, Dawn stepped down from her chair and stretched, popping her back before moving toward the door.

Twilight blinked, eyeing the mare’s odd behavior. "Something wrong?"

'Don't tell them. Twilight isn't aware I am doing this.' Chrysalis said to Dawn.

Dawn shook her head, "Just going for a walk to a spot I like for relaxing in the sun. Sometimes I like feeling the fur get warm from sunbathing."

"Ah, ok." Twilight said in understanding.

Dawn left at a brisk trot, moving to the spot she was shown at her own pace as a way of masking her goal. She soon saw the queen ahead of her, already there. As she got close she looked at her for instruction.

‘Now what?' Starlight asked, sounding weak.

"Now you lay down and rest." She told Dawn.

Dawn looked at her confused, but laid down on her side and tried to rest, eyes open at first. The Queen’s horn glowed and a light enveloped Dawn’s body and she soon fell asleep, breathing lightly in a dreamless sleep.

'Chrysalis…’ Starlight Dusk asked, concerned but faint, ‘What are you doing?'

'Saving you.' Chrysalis replied. The glow around Dawn grew stronger, and a glow started to appear on the Queen’s stomach. 'Now shush. This is hard enough as it is.'

Dawn slept on as Starlight stayed quiet. He had a sensation of being lifted, that he was fading in and out somehow, getting more ‘in’ each time. In a way he felt more real, though it was hard for him to explain. He felt stronger, no longer worried about fading away

The glow became much brighter on both Dawn and the Queen. Starlight’s feelings started to return, he could feel in his hooves and legs, but his vision started to fade and he felt tired, like he needed to sleep.

Slowly his vision faded more and more as he felt like he became lighter and lighter. He felt his connection to Dawn being severed, even as the queen begin to sweat. Then all at once, his senses stopped working and he felt an overwhelming fatigue. The last thing he heard and still was hearing was a steady heartbeat, echoing all around him.

Starlight felt a bit of panic being separated from Dawn, even in his sleep, but felt the heartbeat and started to calm. He quietly began wondering what was going on, but couldn't reach out to anyone, and soon succumbed to sleep, while feeling completely safe. He found a sense of contentment as he listened to the heartbeat, letting it be felt around and through him.

It had taken an hour, but it was done. Now the queen waited for Dawn to wake as she laid beside her to rest.

Dawn eventually stirred, feeling a small headache, looking around as she opened her eyes. The queen was right beside her, her legs tucked under her as she watched the forest.

"Sleep well?"

"Y-yeah… I… what happened?" She asked. She sensed felt different, but didn't quite know how to place it.

"I saved Starlight," The Queen said, "and gave him a body separate from yours."

"Y-you have? W-where is he?" she asked, looking around for him.

She reached back and rubbed her belly. "Here. I ate him."

She gasped, feeling her heart race even as she felt a twinge of excitement at the thought before burying it as crazy. She began looking up at her in concern, "Y-you wouldn't…. would you?"

"No, how could I eat him if he didn't have a body?" She asked chuckling. "No, he is going to be reborn as my daughter."

"Wait, he's going to be your daughter?" She asked, as if she didn't hear her correctly, "Then… who's the father?"

"Twilight."

Dawn tilted her head, trying to think of what then shrugged, "Well, At least he'll have a body, I doubt he'd complain much."

The queen chuckled quietly, “Yes, I doubt he will.”

“Is he going to be a drone? Will he remember who he was?" Dawn asked, curious.

"He is going to be my daughter actually and I believe he will."

"So you're making him into a queen like Violet?"

"Basically. Though I haven't told Twilight I'm pregnant yet."

Dawn chuckled before saying, "I will keep my queen's secrets, don’t worry… So when should I start helping Violet get into the link?"

"I'm not sure… I want her to be in the link, but I also worry it will change her." Chrysalis said, feeling heavier at the idea.

"How so?"

"Our history and everything we’ve been through, all the changelings that she would be able to talk to… She's lived her life so far without it and is such a happy carefree filly, I'm worried learning things first hand would change that."

"That’s fair.” Dawn said empathetically, remembering how much the history felt like it changed her. “I can wait until she's older, or before you leave, forge the connection so you can develop it later… maybe."

Dawn sighed, genuinely not wanting to leave their side, realizing she was thinking that should they leave, she would stay behind. It was not a thought she wanted to focus on right now.

"I think I will wait.”

"As you wish my queen." She said softly as she looked to Chrysalis and checked in the link on the progress on the hive.

It was going fast and tomorrow, the chamber for her would be ready.

"Would it be possible to be tucked into the cocoon for bed tonight, or does it… nevermind, just realized Stalwart is totally going to want a booty call for most of today." She smirked.

"I could tuck you in after whole you sleep." The queen chuckled.

Dawn chuckled, "You know, after he goes to nap like he always does, I would like to be tucked in to the cocoon, if it’s not too much trouble."

"It won't be. We can move them. Just not open them." The queen said, already making plans.

"All right. I'd like that… I think for now, I should get to work wearing out my husband." She chuckled.

The queen smirked and began teasing the mare with various memories to build up the mare’s need. She knew how much Stalwart enjoyed his time with his wife, and she wouldn’t be a good friend to a friend of the hive if she didn’t help them get what they wanted sometimes.

Dawn shook in place at first, trying to resist and enjoy the sun on her fur when Chrysalis forwarded the sensations. Dawn gasped and shook her head, shifting to get up.

“Ok ok! I'm going Chryssy!" Dawn said, laughing.

The queen responded by sending yet another memory to her, more sensations to tease her. Dawn tried quite hard to resist, but got the message loud and clear. She cast her spell to reach her husband briefly, enough to say, 'You. Me. Bed. Now.'

The queen was amused

Dawn got her answer and dashed off before getting an idea and asked the queen, 'Will you be using me to recruit ponies into the hive?'

'What? No why would I?"

'Because if this works, you have more options to expand the hive.' she said simply.

Chrysalis blinked. 'Are you wanting to recruit ponies?"

Dawn chuckled before replying, 'Only trying to think of more ways to make the hive stronger my queen.'

'I shall think on this, since your changeling friend chose not to come into the hive.'

'She will come, in time.' Dawn said, 'Just you see.'

'Yes. We shall. And I can use the spell well enough if need be.'

'Oh? You can use unicorn magic? I thought changeling magic was different..."

'It is. But I'm a changeling remember?"

Dawn paused, feeling her confusion as memories came up of her research indicating unicorn magic and changeling magic was inherently different. She found as she checked the link that they were, but when in the form of a unicorn, changelings could use the same magic to an extent.

Dawn hummed over the link, 'Every time I think I know something, I turn out to be surprised... you'd think I learn by now.'

'We are strange like that.' The queen said with amusement.

'I look forward to knowing how strange.' Dawn answered as she got in sight of her home.

Dawn simply got yet another memory to tease her as she approached, Chrysalis adding afterward, 'Have fun with your mate my little drone.'

'Yes, my queen.' she replied with a smile as she went into her home and straight toward her bedroom.

<<<<<<O>>>>>>

After they were both well and truly asleep, a process that did not take any time at all with what the queen observed, she entered their room silently.

Dawn had tried to stay awake so she could be ready for the cocooning, but she was feeling worn out once again. Despite her best efforts before, she was lightly sleeping in her bed, head on her husband's side.

The queen silently approached and carefully used her magic to pick up the alicorn before starting to head for the door.

Dawn felt her dream shift somehow, but she felt something next to her still, something familiar. She continued on dreaming, the shift not being enough to take her out of her dream.

The queen begin the trek to the Hive where her drones had prepared the Mix in order for Dawn to formally join the hive.

Dawn felt herself float along in her dream, feeling as if she was passing through an aisle between two long rows of various people and ponies and changelings she knew, and even other creatures she couldn't readily identify. She couldn’t place what the occasion was, only that it was important and she was saying a hello and goodbye at the same time. It disturbed her some, though with so many smiling faces, she did not dwell on the issue.

After an hour, the queen arrived at the entrance to the hive and descended into the Equus hillside, making her way through the hive’s maze of ever increasing complexity.

Dawn continued to dream of these faces and creatures, each time stopping to try and meet them, yet feeling like she was walking along anyway, despite wanting quite desperately to speak to them. She felt a sense of importance cross her mind and began to worry in her dream as if it was not going where she was wanting.

The queen arrived at the Hatchery where the cocoon was, and smiled as she looked at Dawn. "The next time you wake, you will truly be a member of the hive my little drone." She said as she place Dawn into it and sealed it. Almost instantly, it began to fill with the slightly cold Mix that covered her body and filled the cocoon and enveloped the occupant every way it could. She watched as the princess breathed in the mix, the air it replaced coming out of one of her nostrils.

Dawn suddenly felt like she was dropped into a vat of syrup in her dream. She tried to swim, but as soon as she sank below the surface of the syrup and got her head in, she felt a sense of calm. A blanket felt like it draped over her, getting heavier and heavier. She tried to reach out to those standing by in her dream. ‘Please don’t forget to pull me out! I don’t want to be al-’

No sooner than she started to make her plea, she started to get a strong feeling and reassurance as her dream faded and she heard their answer, 'We are never alone.'

The queen remained there watching until she felt Dawn's emotions became almost nonexistent, showing she was in a dreamless sleep. She gave a small nod to the drone before she left to return home, knowing the caretakers and soldiers would watch over her.

Stalwart and Fire Storm slept on. Stalwart in his own dreams, and Storm oblivious to what happened that night.

The queen returned to her bed and held her mate close as she allowed her body to sleep.

When morning came, Stalwart looked over to the bed only to see Dawn missing. He got up and went downstairs, only to see that she was not in the kitchen or elsewhere in the home. He sighed a little disappointed, but remembered what Dawn said she would do.

Stalwart found the queen in the kitchen making food.

"Oh. Morning, have you seen Dawn?" he asked, slightly hopeful.

"Yes." She said simply.

"Oh! Where is she?" he asked hopefully.

"In a cocoon as per her request. I can take you to visit after breakfast."

"Oh... I-I'd like that, please." He said quietly, feeling shocked and subdued by this knowledge. He didn't feel prepared for this if he were honest with himself, but he promised to accept it yesterday, and he wasn't about to back down from that.

"She is alright Stalwart. She is being protected by half a dozen soldiers and looked after by Caretakers, and I'm watching as well."

He took a deep breath and let it out slow, trying to accept what she said at face value but failing to let go of his fears so far, "We'll see." he said simply.

Meanwhile, Fire Storm was starting to wake up, noticing the sunrise and began her usual stretching routine. She could smell breakfast being made and felt hungry.

"You are free to inspect the entire hive if you wish."Chryalis said.

"Just where Dawn is is enough..." he said quietly, sniffing at the omelette breakfast to see what was going to be in it, not seeing the contents fully from his angle. He smelled a mix of vegetables and smiled appreciatively.

"I didn't drug it." She said, misunderstanding his sniffing. "I don't have anything to drug it with right now and Twilight would get annoyed."

"Huh? What are you talking about?" he asked, confused.

"Trying to lift the mood with a joke."

"Ah." He replied quietly before going over to the cabinets to get a canister of coffee out, turning on the coffee brewer on the counter.

Chrysalis sighed and took a seat to wait for Twilight to return from her gallop.

"Funny stuff, this coffee... didn't used to drink it, but ever since our longer nights with Tere, I can't seem to give up the stuff now." He commented.

"I have a few drones who are the same way." She chuckled.

"Tere for one." he chuckled, getting out the cream.

"Exactly."

He poured the cream into the mug he was going to use and waited impatiently for the coffee to brew. As soon as the coffee was made, he poured it into the cream and he took a spoon with his hoof and stirred it readily.

"So you like it with cream?" She asked, chuckling at his impatience.

"I'd do caramel and chocolate too if Dawn were going to drink some. I know that mare has a sweet tooth."

"That she does." Chrysalis agreed with a small smile.

He chuckled but sipped at the drink despite its heat and went to the table with it. As he did, Fire Storm came downstairs.

"Morning Storm,” Chrysalis called, Breakfast is on the table."

Storm walked over to the table and pulled food to her. "Green's sleeping in huh?"

Chrysalis smirked "No she is off taking care of something important of a personal matter"

================
Meanwhile
================
Svikopi arrived at his lab late last night in Fillydelphia. He set up all of his 'borrowed' books and components in their places on the shelves and sighed contentedly before sleeping. When he woke, he felt refreshed, focused, and paused his plans to re-gather intel and perspective. The more he did so, the more he realized something important he had forgotten.

Svikopi reflected as he continued to observe from afar, realizing that he had not been himself. He berated himself briefly, hearing the inhabitant of his mind start crying again. He paused as he realized a new plan and looked in at Flare's activities, and once he was alone, he would make his appearance again to them and start enacting that plan.

He mustered up his magic at the right time and silently teleported to just outside his vision.

==================
Flare looked over a map of the city, there were different colored pins all over it, each one marking something of some form of importance to him.

He had gotten a lucky break it seemed. Not only was this world lacking in technology, but their royal guard was incompetent, except for one guard who seemed to be in charge who was different than the others. He'd need to watch her.

Svik eyed the map, slowly stepping into view, "You have been busy." He said simply.

"Yes I have been." Flare said without looking up from the map. "Come to play with the adults again little filly?"

Svikopi let the insult slide, simply replying, "It appears to me you still need my help."

"Oh? In what way?"

"You know of anypony capable of using a spell on a whole city single hoofed?" He asked

"Besides an alicorn and a few other select unicorns I am hoping to track down, no."

"The question at this point, is what would you want out of such a unicorn."

"That is on a need to know basis."

"And I'm going to need to know if I need to get any more reagents for the spells." He said cooly.

"Hmm… perhaps, but the thing is, I have no reason to trust you."

"And I have made mistakes in our dealings." He said quietly, as if unperturbed by this insight, "I would seek to right this."

"Very well. I can give you a simple task to handle for now I suppose."

Svik smiled slightly, waiting for him to say more. He originally planned to offer putting a whole town under his control, but he wouldn’t object to something smaller.

"There is a guard here that doesn't behave like the others. She is… smart. More cunning and far more aware. I wish to know everything about them."

"Ah, mere observation… I have just the assistant for the job." He said, pulling out a bracelet identical to the one he gave Flare "Who is this pony you wish to know more of?"

"She is a Royal Guard by the name of Stonewall. Seems to be some special agent of the Alicorns. I haven't seen her for a few days but she is usually at guard station ten, as she uses it as a base of operations to direct the other guards."

He paused, thinking before smiling. "I believe I know how we shall approach this. If you use your magic to reach into my gift to you, you will reach my assistant who is housed in this one. Give it a try." He said.

"I did suspect something was odd about the bracelet." He said. "So what am I supposed to do with this assistant of yours?"

"The old resident of this body is housed in here," he said simply. "I need only plant it in a suitable location and it adds to my clairvoyancy spell’s gathering. Should you wish to ask her yourself to be sure I speak true and check the source yourself, she is very... accommodating."

Flare looked a bit skeptical but scanned deep within the bracelet.

The linework was extremely precise, uncommon for a country without the proper tools, the matrices even more solidly created. It took very little effort to detect a consciousness that still clung to the form of a unicorn. She flinched, using her magic to find out what was happening in a vulnerable panic.

"Curious. Necromancy is rarely practiced these days." Flare commented

"N-necromancy?" The female voice replied, "W-what are you talking about? W-who are you?" She asked, quivering.

'Hush now. It is alright." He said soothingly.

"B-but..." she stuttered, somehow feeling comforted, despite her fear. She was watching the bracelet she made like he asked, and now she was in another one. She felt so cut off...

"What's your name?"

"Dawn, Meadow Dawn, but I used to be Jess before that..." she said nervously, giving him her full attention.

He was confused about the second name. "Are you alright?" He asked concerned

"No!" she said with certainty. "I want my body back!, he stole it from me and now I... I barely know where I am, only that when I look out the one window out of this place, I can see and hear, but I can't smell, or taste, or touch anything... help me..." she ended, half begging.

Flare felt sympathy for the mare but he would not be swayed from his path, he made a vow long ago and he would see it through as he pulled away and looked at the mare standing before him. "So how exactly will she help?"

"You can have her keep an eye on things, listen for things your informants might miss... She can be quite attentive, and is easily persuaded if given a little attention." he said, "Naturally, she will be put close to their headquarters and concealed with a spell of my own design... undetectable to anyone but myself unless I, myself undo the spell."

"Hmmm. Now I know just the stallion for the job." He said. "She'll be in their staging area by tomorrow if you're ready."

"I am." he said, "Naturally, it is not my only way I will keep watch, but it never hurts to have a second set of eyes and ears on things."

"Or third or fourth." Flare agreed. "Make your preparations."

"Oh I'll make them at my new laboratory in Fillydelphia." he replied, "rather potent clairvoyancy, for when they are not in their meetings as you say. I will plant her before I depart on my train."

He nodded. "Good. Any information on that guard will be helpful as she is actually a threat to my plans."

"And what does the guard look like and their name, and who is your stallion you said you wanted to use for this?" Svik asked.

"Her name is Stonewall, no idea on rank as she never gave one outside of being an agent of the alicorns. She is a dark gray unicorn with a black mane " Flare instructed, "As for who I'll be using to get her into the station that is none of your concern."

"As you wish." he shrugged, "This unicorn Stonewall will be under my gaze. I'm sure we'll find plenty about them in the span of a week."

"Excellent "

"I'll let you place her as you wish..." he said, turning around and walking toward the wall as he prepared his teleportation spell.

Flare went back to looking over his map, and Svik teleported back to his laboratory, starting to prepare for his observational spells.
======================

Twilight was teaching Storm more hoof to hoof training. Storm continued to push herself. It was clear she had dedication and determination, but a bit of a hot streak and confidence that refused to be diminished by her training.

Twilight smirked at that attitude as she watched Storm attack the practice dummy she has set up. The evil Lord Buckethead was a deadly opponent.

Storm was even more angry that she was being made to fight the practice dummy and when she couldn't take it any more, kicked the head and sent it flying as far as her legs could buck, looking angry as she did so.

"Oh my you killed Lord Buckethead." She said watching the head, stupid face painted on it of course, crash to the ground a good distance away.

"Why the hay am I fighting this bucking dummy when I can spar!" she growled, clearly exasperated.

"Because I can't watch you as well when I'm sparing with you."

"Fine, then have me spar against somepony else. I'm not going to learn anything fighting something that can't fight back!"

"You are learning though. You are learning how to do the moves properly. Something you won't learn being knocked flat on your back by someone who is more used to the forms."

"You learn faster when somepony knocks you on your back because you don't want to be on your back again." she argued before letting out a small sigh of frustration, "Whatever."

"OK then." Twilight grabbed her from behind, crossed her arms over Storm's chest, pinning her wings to her body. Then let her upper body fall back, driving Storm down with her.

Twilight slammed Sky down hard, driving the air from her lungs and then kicked her back legs off so she flipped on top of Sky, straddling the other mare and threw a far fast punch stopping an inch from Sky's throat. "You're dead Storm."

She gulped, not expecting nearly this much speed out of them, then scowled, "Fine, let's try again..." She said, moving to get up and ready for round two.

Twilight got off of her. "With me or Lord Buckethead?"

Storm dashed at Twilight with her wings giving her a boost and dived straight at her, mixing her old tricks with the new ones she went into a full frontal assault.

Twilight blocked, dodged and parried her attacks before throwing three punches, one to drive the air from her lungs, and a left and right to the head to topple her.

Storm lost her breath and fell over, trying to regain it as her eyesight started to go spotted. never before had she had her breath knocked out, and she tried not to panic.

Twilight lifted her hoof and stomped the ground directly beside Storm's head nearly a hair's breadth away. "You're dead Storm."

Storm finally, with a giant gasp, got her breath back and started to dispel those spots dancing in front of her, nothing registering as she fought to get back in her control.

Twilight carefully lifted her head slightly. "Easy. Short controlled breaths. Relax."

Fire Storm shook her head and took larger breaths and let them out as she wanted, and the spots gradually dissipated and she could see properly once more.

"Calm yourself. Breath easy."

She shook her head again and rolled onto her hooves and took her time standing up, starting to feel better gradually, "T-this is what... Nightfall meant... when he said... fighting... with intent... to kill... isn't it?"

"I'd imagine so yes. I learned a long time ago if I'm stronger than you, if I'm faster than you, if I'm better than you. Then I can kill you." She said. "I was taught in war where it is kill or be killed."

"W-war huh?" she asked, not sounding nearly as cocky as she had before.

"Yes. Brutal, messy war. I watched a lot of people die. Most enemies, some friends. Some right in front of me, some because of me. Some when I wasn't even there."

Fire Storm stood there, listening, getting her breath back into a sense of normalcy as Twilight's words sunk in, getting her to think about things in a light other than her own.

"Some of those friends were targeted just to hurt me. Some died in the field... other died in places they should have been safe... some I honestly thought would be unlikable because they were just always there, then they left a void when gone." She said, pausing occasionally as the weight of what she said kept sinking in to her pupil, "Some died because of betrayal."

Storm frowned, missing her characteristic scowl or anger, only saying, "That's tough."

She nodded. "Yeah. I learned why the bastard who trained me pushed me so hard. It was to give me the best chance at survival he could. He was honestly one of my best friends even when he was making me eat the floor every chance he got. " she said. "It's been a lot of years since then. Decades. I've lost friends and family to both war, accidents and just good old time." She looked at her. "Do you know why I couldn't stop smiling while we were with Princess Twilight?"

"No, why?" she asked, feeling the solemn mood at hoof.

She took a seat on the grass and gestured for Storm to do the same. "It's because of Spike."

"Why's that?" she asked, walking over the small distance and took a seat as instructed.

Twilight sighed and looked off into the trees as if seeing something else. "I was 25 years old. My army was established as a legitimate force. Things were looking great... and then the Separatist War broke out just before my 26th birthday... my brother being the first casualty during an assassination attempt on Cadence..."

Storm looked at her with a great deal of concern and surprise, not expecting what she heard at all.

"Group of griffin military didn't like that Equestria could rival them as a military power and decides to take matters into their own talons." She said. "My brother was the first casualty, and things got worse. They were a small group. No way could they fight the guard and the army directly... so... they started targeting other people, to draw us out and attack the first responders. Bombings mostly... we called it terrorism as the point was to cause fear and panic..."

"You're... not joking..." Storm replied, looking at Twilight with a horrified expression.

"I wish I was..."she said. "I was in Manehatten... my friends were trying to help me get over my grief and anger over Shining's death... their sisters had come alone, three fillies. Spike came alone to watch them... I told him to stay at the hotel but he wanted to pick up some ingredients he couldn't get in Ponyville... so he took them with him to one of the stores... I got the call an hour later and was there as fast as I could be.

"The whole area was on lock down due to the attack... I rushed into the store... it had started at the entrance and worked to the back so as to trap people inside... a dozen or so griffins and ponies working with them... entering the store, I could already smell the burnt flesh... did you know that Dragon Fire for an adult dragon burns at 3000 degrees Marenheit? For a baby dragon, it's about 600 degrees... and with his hide, small caliber weapons meant nothing."

"I found him near the entrance to the back store rooms... he had been trying to get to the back door when the griffins kicked it in... he was sitting there... his knees pulled to his chest just staring at the charred bodies... and you know the first thing he said to me was?

"I had no choice... they were going to kill the Crusaders..."

Storm looked at her, mortified.

"He just cried into my shoulder telling me how sorry we was and that he wouldn't do it again, as if he'd done something beyond forgiveness... I had always raised him to be good and kind and caring... and to be careful with his dragon fire" she said. "After that... he... wasn't really the same... he was... quieter... more reserved... even after I got him help he wasn't ever the same as he was before that day."

"Damn..." she muttered. "I had no idea..."

"So seeing the old him... so carefree and innocent... I couldn't help smiling." She looked at her. "That is the type of things I've seen and dealt with."

"That's... so different. I don't know what to say." she said simply.

"Yes it is, and right now, we are chasing a pony who is considered one of the most dangerous people on the planet back home."

"I get why you say I'd be dead then... I don't think Night would stand a chance, and he's a damn good fighter..." she said quietly, "But don't you dare tell him I said that."

She smiled at her. "Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me Storm."

She sighed, "So, does green know how to fight like you do then?"

"Not at all. I'm still teaching her magic and flight."

"Then how's she helping out in all this?"

"Her rank. By being there, it lends weight to my words knowing I have a Princess behind me. Even if she is a new one."

Storm snorted, clearly doubting what Dawn was capable of, her old complaints coming back to mind.

"She does have rank, and that means she has power even if she doesn't use it." Twilight reminded her, "The mere threat of its use can be scary."

"She doesn't even have that power." she snorted, mumbling, "not that she deserves it."

"Sometimes perception of power is all it takes."

"Stick a horn on me then, it'd be an upgrade... seriously she's such a pushover." she grumbled, getting some of her attitude back.

"And why do you say that?"

"She's a screw-up who breaks her promises." she said, starting to sound a bit more like her angry self. "She bats her eyes at her stallion in the guard and he gets her what she needs to keep going, unlike some of us who had to work for it."

"Storm, I'm curious. What's the most agonizing injury you've ever had?"

"Disjointed both my wings and broke a couple bones when I was younger. Flew and thought I could go sideways between a couple trees. Feel head over hoof and had to walk back to get any help." She said, not seeing where this was going and adding a bit of attitude at the end, as if that was better than what some ponies would have done.

"And did you know a unicorn horn is the most sensitive part on our body?" Twilight said. "That just flicking it is like jabbing a hot knife into our forehead?"

"So when I fight a unicorn I should aim for the horn then?" Storm asked, not knowing why it was brought up.

"You could. But if a flick hurts that bad… can you image what shattering it is like?"

"Not really, no..." She said, shrugging, "Why?"

"Because it is one of the single most agonizing things that could happen to anyone. Imagine having your wings slowly being sawed off with a butter knife, only a lot worse."

She shuddered, shifting her wings a little at the unpleasantness of the idea, "Okay… so attack the horn if fighting a unicorn… what's it got to do with green?"

"She willingly shattered her horn to stop herself from being possessed."

"Wait, what?" she asked, looking at Twilight with a raised brow. "No, she wouldn't do that. No way."

"She did. It's why Svikopi couldn’t possess her. She realized what he was doing and sacrificed her ability to use magic and did one of the single most painful things to herself to try and stop him."

"But… no, she wouldn't. She broke her promise to fix Night's way back home and couldn't be bothered to try and fix it afterward! You sure we're talking about the same pony?"

"Yes, I'm sure. I have spoken to her many times. She isn't lying."

Storm snorted and shook her head, "Well, I mean, I guess… still doesn't mean she didn't break her promises."

"And the reason she did was because of Svikopi teaching her wrong on purpose to have that happen."

"Ah yes, the convenient excuse she loves to give." she frowned, clearly having heard it before.

"She's not lying. I'm teaching her magic and what she is telling me isn't something she would just stumble into thinking of and could only be taught that way."

"Look, if you believe her, fine, whatever. All I'm saying, is I was there after it was over, when Dawn was made a princess, and I didn't see any shattered remains of a horn by her, and Nightfall was punished by keeping that damned evil unicorn trapped in his body and ruined his coat and his ambition…"

"Because her ascension fixed her horn." Twilight said. "Becoming a princess isn't something anyone controls. It just happens."

"And that's why when Celestia and Luna finished, they stopped glowing with her..." she said, shaking her head and rolling her eyes. Everything Twilight was saying about Dawn just wasn't quite right, and it was maddening that she knew more about it as a pegasus than she did as a unicorn. Everything she’d heard for rumors said that the princesses choose who they wanted to be an alicorn, and this confirmed it in her eyes.

"That's the magic of alicorns. They weren't the ones doing it but they were part of it."

"Whatever..." She said, intent on ending the conversation there with yet another probably wrong bit of info. If Twilight was going to be that biased in green’s favor, all the more reason for her to get this week over with... after all, she only had four more days left.

"Tell me. What would it take to convince you?"

"Seeing her actually do it. Outside that, find the pieces to her broken horn." She said, holding back a sneer as she knew it wouldn't be possible.

"What about if she was in a state where she couldn't lie?"

"What, you mean you can make them tell the truth? How do I know you're not just going to have her say what you want to believe happened?"

"Because I'll do everything in front of you so you can see it all." She said. "You can even stay with me from here on out so you know what I am doing at all times."

"Fine... I guess it won't hurt to try." she said, still looking Twilight over with a look that betrayed her doubt. "So we're doing this at dinner when green's back?"

"Not sure when she will be back. Actually we will have two possible ways for her to tell the truth." Twilight said as she thought about it, adding, "In theory."

"And that'd be…" Storm replied, not impressed.

"Royal Decree to speak the whole truth on the matter."

"Oh, and here I thought you were going to use a spell." Storm snorted, sarcasm in full swing. "But now that you're going to order her to tell the truth I'm sure she's going to do it."

"Oh no, I'm not going to." She said. "Chrysalis is."

"Huh? What difference does that make?" Sky asked, sounding a little hesitant at the mention of Chrysalis.

"Because Drones cannot disobey a Royal Decree. It is a physically impossibility."

"She’s not a changeling." Storm rolled her eyes.

"She's joining the hive."

"What!? That’s impossible. She's. Not. A. Changeling." Storm answered, speaking louder.

"Don’t ask me how but she is. Part of the Link and everything."

"I don't believe you. That’s crazy." Storm replied, starting to shy away from Twilight.

"Believe what you want.” Twilight shrugged, “The point is, she is part of the link and joining the hive right now as she will make an excellent addition from what Queeny says."

"No fur off my back… so that’s the thing she’s off doing huh? If it’s true, why don't you show me?" She asked, testing her trainer deliberately.

"Sure. You could use a run." She said getting to her hooves and stretching.

Storm frowned, preferring a flight, but started stretching as well, ready to follow at their lead.

"Ready? And no wings."

Storm grumbled once, having already caught on, but called out "Ready."

Twilight took off at a pace just below a gallop.

Storm followed, determined to keep up. If Dawn was really joining the hive, she would never forgive her, not after what those changelings did to her to get to Nightfall.

"So tell me. Why do you hate the hive?" Twilight asked as they ran.

"I told you. They kidnapped me and damn near tried to kill Nightfall and me." she said firmly through her light breathing.

"So that means you blame all changeling even though these ones were never involved and are innocent?"

"It's how they live isn't it? Kidnapping ponies to replace them and steal their love till they're bone dry… It's all they want, to see us as food." She said, eyes focused ahead.

"And yet you have a drone in your guild." Twilight countered, "Tell me why haven't you attacked her and driven her off before she can get you?"

"She wasn't corrupted by the hive. We got her young and raised her right."

"And what if the hive is the way it is out of necessity?"

"What’dyou mean?" Storm asked

"While I can't speak of the ones here, I know for a fact ours had been enslaved centuries ago. One escaped and brought others with her. They then waged a war to save the others and in response, the others were killed and their race was hunted nearly to extinction. Dragged themselves back from it. Only to be driven nearly extinct again till they eventually started to adapt and change in order to survive. They were doing what they had to to continue their species in a world where everyone saw them as monsters to be exterminated. They became centered around strength and survival at all cost."

"Damn..." she replied, thinking for a moment, only to frown once again as she remembered the ones who kidnapped her, "Then obviously yours are just different."

"So you know the history of your changelings? Do you know what motivated them? Why they do what they do?" She asked, "From what I understand, there is no hive mind here. Your changelings are fully independent. So who’s to say this wasn't an isolated group who did this? How do you know every single changeling is like that or isn't somewhat doing what they have to? If a member of your guild turns out to be a mass murder would it be justified to say your entire guild was murders?"

"What? No, of course not!" She looked at her astonished at the accusation. "But Chrysalis was there, as was over a hundred changelings, just that I could see alone!"

"And yet you treat all changelings, even the ones with me as if they were involved simply because they are the race." Twilight replied, "Not to mention you know nothing about the race here and why they do what they do."

Storm sighed, still angry, but starting to lose a bit of that anger. She struggled to find an issue with what Twilight was saying, but other than it not feeling right, she couldn't find fault in it.

"Look. I get it. They did something bad. But that doesn't mean all of them are automatically the same. You can blame those who were actually involved, but can you honestly tell me it's right to lay that blame at the hooves of those who had nothing to do with it?"

"No… I guess not." She said as she continued to breathe, struggling to let her emotions go so readily.

Twilight smiled at her as they ran. Storm kept up readily, Not sure what to think. She saw trees and a mountain range to the further east in sight before noticing something coming into their vision. Twilight patted her head with a wing as they began to near a large clearing

Storm frowned and ducked her head, looking at Twilight confused at why she was being patted like that.

Twilight blinked, confused, then her ears dropped a bit and she looked forward and galloped a bit harder. Storm mentally shrugged, she was more interested in figuring out this thing with Dawn.

Soon, they entered a clearing where ponies were walking around building structures, a few wearing reflective vests and hard hats.

"The hay are they wearing?" Storm asked.

"Looks like a construction crew." She said.

"Okay..."

"So your construction crews don’t wear any safety gear?"

"Safety gear for what?"

"Building?"

Storm shrugged, "Guess not? Allen Wrench hasn't needed it, and his buildings are impressive."

"Weird. It's just general safety just in case." Twilight said, walking through the building area and several dark green armed ponies saluting her as she walked by.

Storm walked along, thinking their salute looked weird, but didn't comment as she followed. Soon they neared a hill that had some trees on it.

"So where's green?" Storm asked, looking around.

"In the hive."

"And that's... what, that hill?"

"No. Under it." She said as they moved into the trees.

Storm gave her a look, expecting it to be more like an ant colony that had those larger upward columns, then followed close.

They were met by a drone just standing there, watching. Storm tensed and walked beside Twilight, feeling on edge despite her talk earlier.

He bowed to Twilight. "How can I serve?"

"We need to be taken to where Dawn is." Twilight said.

"As you wish, Queen's Mate." He bowed again before turning to lead them.

Storm stayed close to Twilight, burying her fear under a heavy layer of caution.

They were lead to some boulder that had older looking trees going around them and as they neared, they could just see the entrance to a cave. Storm looked around, not quite understanding what she was looking at.

The drone entered the cave and so did Twilight. Storm continued to stay close to Twilight, feeling nervous as she looked on.

It was cool inside of the cave and soon they came across bio-luminescent lighting that barely gave off any light, showing faintly the dark material of the hive.

"It's dark down here..." She commented on the obvious.

"Changeling can see in low lighting as if it was bright as day." Twilight commented.

"Well good for them I suppose..."

They were lead down, turn after turn after turn, deeper and deeper. Occasionally, a drone flew over head or walked by at a crossroads.

"This place is a damn maze..." she whispered.

"That's the point."

Storm grumbled, but continued to stay near to Twilight. Soon they entered the hatchery, where Caretakers moved about with their thin small bodies. Though the only thing in this room was the Cocoon and empty holes in the ground for eggs to be placed.

Storm saw the one cocoon fairly well, walking up to it to take a closer look, "Their babies are big..."

Twilight laughed. "Their eggs are the size of a hoofball." She said walking over. "Dawn is in there. It's a cocoon used for various things."

"What, this thing?" she asked, bumping her hoof against the outside, trying to look in.

"Careful." Twilight warned. "And yes, it has many uses, such as healing and storage."

"Weird..." She said quietly, seeing the form of Dawn in there and feeling a mix of things. She was not happy with Dawn over the past, and she also felt frustration at the changelings that kidnapped her in the past. Now Dawn had the audacity to join them. She let it out in a sigh and stepped back, turning away from the cocoon while saying, "Whatever. It's her life. If she's lucky, she'll learn from her mistakes eventually."

"Would seeing her memories help?"

"Seeing her memories? You can do that?"

"I can't, but there is a spell that will allow you two to share thoughts and such, and it can be used to share memories."

"Huh... well, once she's outta there, I guess." Storm shrugged, feigning lack of interest.

"Anyways it's getting sort of late and I think we will camp in the woods tonight. We will take the day off so you can recover." Twilight nodded

Storm shrugged, "All right, boss."

Twilight turned to start heading for the exit.

Storm followed closely, thinking about the changelings and Dawn, still doubting what she was told about what they'd done, but wondering what she'd do if it was true, or what she'd do if they were wrong.

They reached the entrance and turned to go deeper into the woods

Storm followed, commenting, "Wouldn't we still get to Dawn's place before too long if we just flew?"

"Yes we would."

"So why are we camping out?"

"Because I enjoy camping."

"Ah. All right."

"Plus it lets us train longer and easier when alone."

Storm said nothing, letting her mind wander to the training before and how readily she was defeated.

Twilight lunged at Storm, beginning the match.

Storm flared out her wings as she went backward, caught off guard and looked at her in surprise and confusion as she barely moved her limbs in time to even deflect one blow. Twilight threw another punch and Storm tried to block it, losing her balance in the process and falling onto her side.

She started trying to turn it into a roll, but Twilight gave a firm kick to the ribs, causing her to groan. She used the kick to roll a bit more away from her opponent and tried to get up to fight once more.

Twilight waited, still in a fighting stance.

Storm grunted and looked over her opponent, taking her time looking for an opening or something she overlooked. There had to be a way to turn that energy against them, it's what she had always been taught by Night. His style relied on using what the enemy did against them, and she decided she was going to rely on that.

Twilight held her place, not moving, not even blinking as she stared at Storm in the growing shadows.

Storm continued to wait. She was uncertain of what to do against this kind of opponent. It was clear they weren't on the same level, and she repeated her mentor’s mantra in her head, 'when in doubt, let them come to you.'

A soft breeze blew string up some leaves and ruffling their manes and tail and Twilight didn’t move or react or blink.

Fire Storm waited a full two minutes before grew impatient once again and attacked. This time she followed what her training had been, instead of her usual charges. If this was a training exercise, then she'll do what she was told, again. Even if she did hate the defensive way of doing it, she'd try Night’s way and fight to make the opening she’d need.

Twilight sidestepped her and punched her in the back of the head making her face plant into the ground.

Storm groaned, trying to get up, but fell back down, starting to blackout while cursing this other Twilight silently. She felt a pat on her head from a wing then the sound of someone moving a bit away.

Storm tried to fight herself to stay conscious, but it wasn’t until she found herself in a sleeping bag with bandages on her head that she realized she had failed. She groaned, looking up and around despite the throbbing headache, spotting the signs of a fire having burned out, a tray of food sitting near and still hot with mac n cheese and green beans.

"Bucking hay Twilight…” Storm mumbled as the headache pounded intensely through her head from the movement, “That hurt..."

"I hit you a bit harder then I meant to. Sorry." Twilight said as she poured some water into a cup and handed it to Storm.

Storm grumbled quietly in frustration. If it weren’t for her promise, she would have just put this place far behind her and reported to Celestia and Luna. As it was, it took an incredible act of will for her to continue to subject herself to this. She would not be defeated again, she promised herself.

"How you feeling?"

"Fine." She said grumpily in barely concealed anger.

"We will take the day off so you can recover… I'm really sorry about that. I meant for us to spar till the sun went down… didn't mean to knock you out." Twilight said, ears drooped.

"Whatever..." She grumbled and went to eat her food. "The hay am I doing wrong?"

She winced slightly at the remark. "What do you mean?"

"I hate losing." she said simply through her mouthful of breakfast, "If I'm losing, I'm doing something wrong. I'm asking what I'm doing wrong."

"You are fighting me." She said. "And I have far more experience then you. You are improving though."

"But that doesn't tell me what-... Is it just a difference of strength? Speed? What the hay do I have to do to beat you." she said, sounding determined and still looking at Twilight with a degree of rebellion. She had never been brought so low by anyone, and she wanted to rise above it badly.

"Get better." She said. "I'm over 70 years old. 50 years of that was spent fighting and practicing and learning. Both in sparring and situations where only one person was going to be walking away alive from. I'm fully trained and seasoned. You're a not even a half trained pup trying to bring down a wolf."

"The hay I'm not." She said, getting angry once again as her hair stood up and her feathers started to fluff up, "You have no idea what I've been through either. I've been through things that would have killed other ponies that I had to keep safe!"

"Oh? Like what?"

Storm started to rant about the three experiences she had, a hostage situation, a cave-in with a few other ponies, and a martial artist who beat ponies within an inch of their life before taking all of their things with them, then went to their home to steal everything there, and how she had never been defeated by any of them.

Twilight listened attentively and nodded when she finished. "Hmm... Yeah, that's pretty bad I'd say. I mean, I trusted someone once because they seemed nice and everyone I'd ever met couldn't be friends after a bit of work. I ended up being experimented on and tortured for information and subjected to some of the worst medical experiments you could ever subject another living being too, much less a sapient one. It was so bad it got to the point I lost my identity and thought I was just a number. I still have an irrational fear of biology labs."

Storm felt frustration yet tried not to let it out. This wasn't a competition of who went through the most after all, she told herself. It was supposed to be a recognition that she wasn't just some untrained novice that was miles below her.

Twilight just stared at her, and spoke, as if she recognized what she was saying. "You are miles below me. So far down there you aren't even a spec. You are only on my radar simply because I choose to have you there."

Storm hackled further and despite her injury and the pain that surged through her head because of it, charged straight at Twilight with a yell.

Twilight moved like lighting. One moment she was sitting there holding a tray of food, the next she was on Storm, grabbing her by the neck and lifting her clean off the ground as she stood to her full height. Storm was held up by a tight grip on her throat, allowing just enough air through. And to top off her humiliation, just one inch from one of her eyes was a sharp blade attached to a hoof.

The mare that that hoof was attached to had eyes glowing red where they were once purple, and she looked for all the world as if trying to decide whether she should step on a bug she saw crawling along the sidewalk. A small, insignificant little insect that knew nothing of the one who held its fate in her hooves.

"You are a lapdog trying to play with wolves." Twilight said dangerously, "In fact... that's what I'll call you from now on... Lapdog."

Storm felt the shift in attitude immediately and froze, feeling even more defeated than ever. She let out a pair of tears as she took a deep breath and let it out slowly, her body noticeably relaxing as she submitted, for the first time in her life. She was frustrated at her new nickname.

"But that's not my name..." she said quietly, lacking the aggression and the anger. "Fine, you win... again." she ended, trying to placate her mentor.

"Yes, it is, Lapdog." Twilight said with all the emotion of boredom.

"Please..." She said, barely audible, "not that..."

"Not what Lapdog?"

Storm felt her breathing get more labored as she tried to answer, "N-not lapdog..." Her wings were starting to loosen and droop lower as she wasn't able to keep holding them against her body.

"Yes you are." She said. "Your just a happy little Lapdog, begging for treats from your owner and trying to act bigger then you are."

Storm grumbled inside, not even daring to speak or even mouth her protest. She never begged for treats from anypony. She always fought hard to get what she wanted, and she earned every bit of it. She let out another tear of frustration as she thought back to her memory of Dawn, who was such a timid little weak thing, who got everything she wanted while ignoring what she sacrificed out of blissful ignorance.

Twilight just held her and watched. Not moving a single muscle or even blinking. A statue for all the world to see, holding Storm by her neck with a blade out and staring her down.

Storm felt herself start to black out again, fighting hard against it from the blade against her neck, but she couldn't help it between the breathing restriction and her continued throbbing headache as she started to lean closer to the blade and eyes closing. Her mind already began solidifying this moment to remember for the rest of her life.

Then all at once, the grip left her and she dropped onto the ground

She felt her head hit the ground and was jarred slightly into consciousness, and once again her fight for staying awake resumed.

Water was dumped on her face. "I don't recall giving you permission to sleep Lapdog."

She shook her head slightly before wincing at the pain. She struggled to get up, feeling her body barely move like she wanted it to, while wondering who she was calling a lapdog before remembering just that bit before. She didn't know how long she had been out, but it didn't matter to her. She looked up briefly with what vision she could muster and saw Twilight smirking at her with a canteen in hoof.

"Good filly." Twilight said, patting her head with a wing.

She let out a sigh at being treated that way and looked the other direction before remembering just how quickly they were willing to kill her and looked back at them wearily.

"And now you understand your place little Lapdog." Twilight said cheerfully.

She snorted briefly before stopping it short. 'Only three more days.' she told herself while trying to keep expressionless and resigning herself to her temporary fate, 'and then I'm bucking it out of here.'

"Now go and eat your meal. I took the time to make it for you, the least you can do is eat it." She ordered.

Storm bit back a sigh and simply turned to her food and started eating without further preamble. Twilight sat down, her food having been held in her magic the entire time so as not to cause a mess as she began to eat.

Storm ate in silence as she fought against the idea of asking what they were going to do. She accepted now just how far their gap in skill was, but she still did not agree with their methods or that what they were doing had any meaning other than to waste time and mock the guild. They had no place here as far as she was concerned.

Twilight soon finished. "Now then since your injured I’m going to study your wings today."

Storm barely nodded in acknowledgement that she heard the statement. Twilight waited. Storm made sure she finished her meal and turned to face them, waiting for the next set of instructions.

"Open your wings"

She opened her wings, putting them on display. As humiliating as it was for her, it was better than being threatened with the death the one she now viewed as an enemy.

Twilight begin to look over her wings and inspect them. Running her fingers over them occasionally.

Storm stayed put, shivering slightly at the underside being brushed, with it still being very sensitive to touch. Her feathers were kept in pristine condition, with only one feather that needed preening, which showed that outside her being knocked out the prior night, she checked her flight feathers recently or regularly.

Twilight removed the errant feather automatically when she saw it as she worked. She jumped very slightly before stretching her wings back out once more.

"I know how annoying those can be." Twilight said as she ran her fingers along Storm's wings. Feeling every inch of them.

"I know how to preen..." she said quietly, resisting slightly in a vain attempt to preserve even a little of her remaining pride.

"Hmm. Strong wings... I'll need some equipment to study more."

"So no demonstrations today?" she asked, almost daring to hope.

"I told you, not with that head injury. About 10:30 we will head back to Dawn's, and from there, head for the train station about 1 and head for Manehattan."

"I see." She said simply, leaving it at that.

"So rest up for the hike ahead."

"I'm fine." She said, ignoring her headache. "I can rest when we're on the train."

"Very well." Twilight said and began to gather her stuff.

Once done, the pair began to hike.

Dawn continued to stay in her cocoon, unaware of the passage of time as she was sustained in the cocoon. Her body was starting to change in subtle ways.

Author's Notes:

Dawn is getting a very large family.

Song used in chapter is The Wolf by Siames
https://youtu.be/lX44CAz-JhU

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