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Deep Undercover Part 2

By ArchiveAccount
Created: 2024-04-11 03:12:45
Expiry: Never
/bug/adventurequeen chrysalispaladin-mlp

  1. ~~~~~~~~~~~
  2.  
  3. “AHHHH!”
  4. >“L-Lucky… I’m so sorry. I’d use magic to do this, b-but my love reserves are just t-too low.”
  5. *sniff* *sniff*
  6. >“I have no choice… if... if I don’t do this...”
  7. >“Do it! We must stop his bleeding!”
  8. >“...”
  9. “AAAAHHHHHHHHH!”
  10.  
  11. ~~~~~~~~~~~
  12.  
  13. >“W-what about the southern entrance?”
  14. >“...collapsed.”
  15. >“But… but what about-”
  16. >“Collapsed! All collapsed!”
  17. >“Well... maybe we can-”
  18.  
  19. ~~~~~~~~~~~
  20.  
  21. >“I found some! I found two jars of mead! Did you find any?”
  22. >“...no.”
  23. >“...”
  24. >“...”
  25. >“That’s… That’s ok. We can make these last. We just need to ration it carefully. Here... it's been awhile since you’ve had some. Take a sip.”
  26. >“…”
  27. >“Well... what are you waiting for?”
  28. >“Pointless.”
  29. >“…”
  30. >“...”
  31.  
  32. ~~~~~~~~~~~
  33.  
  34. >You awaken staring at a stone hewn ceiling.
  35. >Abundant torchlight makes everything clearly visible, although the bright lights of the cavern make your eyes squint.
  36. >Your back rests atop a soft mattress with a comfy blanket draped over your chitin, keeping your entire body warm and comfortable.
  37. >Among the soft blankets and pillows surrounding you, something firm is resting upon your chest.
  38. >You slowly tilt your neck up to see the rest of your body.
  39. >The head of a black changeling mare lies draped over you.
  40. >She is asleep.
  41. >Just past the mare you see your lower leg sticking out from beneath the blankets.
  42. >It is wrapped in a plethora of bandages and gauze.
  43. >You carefully lift your front hoof and place it against your temple.
  44. >The majority of your head is covered with gauze as well.
  45. >After letting out a deep sigh, you raise your head to look around the rest of the room.
  46. >Nine green fluid-filled cocoons line the far wall.
  47. >Inside each cocoon lies a horrifically maimed changeling, each with its own unique and disturbing injury.
  48. >Smashed chitin, missing limbs, raw open wounds...
  49. >The changelings each appear to be resting, most of them either asleep or staring off into space.
  50. >Except for one…
  51. >A changeling mare in the middle cocoon notices you lifting up your head.
  52. >Her entire lower body is completely crushed, her contorted back legs dangling in the suspension of green fluid.
  53. >Large pieces of chitin are missing from her body.
  54. >This mare seems familiar, but you don’t recall from where.
  55. >Your eyes meet.
  56. >Each of you stare at one another for a second, looking at each other's misfortune.
  57. >She beings to lift her front hoof, sliding it along the thin translucent membrane of the cocoon.
  58. >The mare slowly waves her hoof at you as a weary smile forms on her lips.
  59. >You can’t help but to smile back at her.
  60. >You slowly lift your front hoof to wave back.
  61. “Hello there…”
  62. >The mare resting her head upon your chest begins to stir.
  63. >With a tired look upon her face, the changeling suspended in the cocoon slowly begin close her eyes .
  64. >She lowers her hoof as she begins to rest, but she continues to maintain a small smile upon her face.
  65. >The mare upon your chest lifts her head and turns to you.
  66. >“L-Lucky… Lucky! You’re awake!”
  67. “Grace?”
  68. >The mare carefully wraps her hooves around you, nuzzling her head gently against your shoulder.
  69. >You gently grip her with your hooves.
  70. >“I was so scared that… that…”
  71. “It's alright...”
  72. >You continue to embrace one another for a few moments longer without saying anything.
  73. >Eventually Grace detaches.
  74. >“L-looks like your wounds are healing nicely.”
  75. >She looks to you with a semi-forced smile.
  76. “How long was I out?”
  77. >“It's been about two days. You lost so much blood, it's a miracle that you didn’t…”
  78. >Grace pauses for a second, and then turns to your back leg.
  79. >“I… I couldn’t perform any major healing spells on your wounds. We’re running low on food down here. We won’t be able to properly close either wound until help arrives…”
  80. “What do you mean?”
  81. >“Uh… well... when Crystallis issued the evacuation order, the only thing she told us to take were the hatchlings and the love reserves…”
  82. “So... how much longer until help arrives…”
  83. >Grace pauses for a moment.
  84. >“Soon… I figure General Strider and the rest of the drones will be here-”
  85. >“Stop lying!” A gruff male changeling says from the entrance to the medical bay.
  86. >You turn your head around to see who's speaking.
  87. >It’s Brutus…
  88. >Grace pauses, turning her gaze from you to the floor.
  89. “What? Am I missing something?”
  90. >“No one's coming.” The drone yells
  91. >“We don’t know that for sure Brutus!”
  92. >“Tunnels are collapsed. No one gets in. Or out.”
  93. “What?”
  94. >“They had to contain the threat.”
  95. “W-we’re trapped down here?”
  96. >Grace continues to look down at the floor.
  97. >“Yes.” Brutus huffs. “Trapped. No food. No rescue.”
  98. “But… but… can’t we dig our way out?”
  99. >“Not in time. We would starve-”
  100. >“Brutus!” Graces yells. “Please… just… stop!”
  101. >The drone lets out a huff before turning around and leaving the medical bay.
  102. >Grace turns to look at you, teary eyed.
  103. >“There’s still a chance they’ll come. We shouldn’t give up hope…”
  104. >You continue to stare at the mare as she sits on a chair beside your bed.
  105. >Your mind spins, taking all of this in.
  106. “One thing I don’t understand… why are you and Brutus still here? Why didn’t the two of you evacuate?”
  107. >“Well…”
  108. “I remember it clearly… you had the foal in your hooves. I told you I’d meet you at the entrance!”
  109. >“I…”
  110. “You… you could have survived all this! WHY DIDN’T YOU LISTEN TO ME?!”
  111. >Grace stands up at the side of the bed, looking at you angrily.
  112. >“Do you want to know why?!”
  113. >She points to the far wall with nine cocoons hanging from it.
  114. >“That's why! By the time I made it up to the medical bay all the other nurses had left! They abandoned their own brothers and sisters!”
  115. >You look at the nine changelings being suspended in the green fluid, each of them timidly gazing at the two of you.
  116. >“The cocoons are to fragile to transport... If we removed them from the cocoons… they… they would only last a few minutes…”
  117. >Grace turns from you and stares at the far wall.
  118. >“I… I brought the foal to the entrance, passed him to a drone, and then I went back down into the hive. Brutus saw me go back and followed. He… he saw me making a barricade in front of the medial bay. He knew there was no way the cocooned changelings would be able to leave the hive… so he decided to stay too. We built the barricade and hid… we sat here, huddled in fear... waiting... hoping the spiderlings wouldn't notices us... and then you arrived.”
  119. “You… you…”
  120. >You lower your head back down upon your pillow, staring upwards at the ceiling.
  121. “You could have…”
  122. >“I left you behind to the spiderlings… I couldn’t leave them too!”
  123. “Why… why did it have to be you…”
  124. >You both pause for a moment not saying anything.
  125. >The silence is finally broken when your stomach begins to growl.
  126. >“Lucky… you need to eat something…”
  127. “I'm fine…”
  128. >“No you’re not! Hold on...”
  129. >The mare propels herself into the air, her wings fluttering above you.
  130. >“Open your mouth…”
  131. “No... you don’t have to-”
  132. >“Just do it Lucky!”
  133. >You let out a sigh and finally give in.
  134. >The mare positions her mouth directly over yours.
  135. >She gently grabs your face, being mindful not to disturb any of the bandages wrapped around your head.
  136. >The back of her throat begins to gurgle as a small trickle of green fluid slowly comes from her mouth into yours.
  137. >You begin to wrap your front hooves around her, tightening your embrace.
  138. >The watery green fluid tastes refreshing as with hits your parched throat.
  139. >*Cough* *COUGH*
  140. >Grace begins to wheeze loudly. The trickle of honey stops.
  141. >“I’m… sorry..." The mare’s eyes begin to water up. "That’s all there is...”
  142. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OKQkZJJRkA
  143. >She gently detaches from you.
  144. >Your dry mouth swallows down the meager amount of sustenance she gave you.
  145. “That’s fine… it was plenty…”
  146. >She lifts her head up look at you, attempting to hold back tears.
  147. >“I’m sorry… I wish I could give more…”
  148. “You have nothing to be sorry about…”
  149. >Tears begin to stream down the mare's face.
  150. >Unable to watch her in dismay, you motion with your front hoof to come closer.
  151. >She hesitantly leans into you.
  152. >You tenderly wrap your legs around her as she lowers her head back onto your chest.
  153. >The two of you sit in each other’s embrace.
  154. >Your mind spins.
  155. >She shouldn’t have to die down here.
  156. >If you could have saved any changeling with your actions, it would have been her.
  157. >Why did she have to stay behind.
  158. “Grace?”
  159. >“Yeah?”
  160. “You were there when Queen Chrysalis told us about her past with the spiderlings, right?”
  161. >“...Yes”
  162. “You understand there is no way she would attempt to retake the hive against those… things…”
  163. >“…”
  164. “Grace?”
  165. >“Yes… I know...”
  166. “…”
  167. >“...”
  168. “How long would it take… with just the three of us… to dig our way out?”
  169. >The mare lets out a deep sigh.
  170. >“About a month…”
  171. “...”
  172. >“...”
  173. “How much longer do we have… until...”
  174. >“Lucky…”
  175. “How long… please… tell me…”
  176. >“...About two weeks.”
  177. “…”
  178. >“Given your state… you will likely… pass… several days... before I do…”
  179. >You hold her a little tighter.
  180. >“I’m not sure I will be able to… I don’t think I can… watch you go first…”
  181. >Tears begin to pour down the side of your face.
  182. “W-what about them.”
  183. >You point to the row of cocooned changelings watching the two of you.
  184. >“The cocoons are self-sustaining for about a month. After that time… without replenishing the fluid… they will… pass shortly. I don’t think it will be... painful… the sedatives within the fluid should make things… pleasant…”
  185. “Grace…”
  186. >“...Yes?”
  187. “Starvation… that's a really slow way to-”
  188. >Grace begins to shiver within your hooves.
  189. “I don’t want to go through that sort of pain...”
  190. >She lifts her head up and looks you in the eye.
  191. “I’ve been through so much pain already… I… I don’t…”
  192. >“Lucky…”
  193. “I just can’t do it any more!”
  194. >Her gaze slowly turns away from you.
  195. >“I… I… understand… I don’t want either of us… to have to suffer through that…”
  196. >Her eyes look upon the a surgical tray on the other side of your bed.
  197. >On it lies a large bottle of painkillers.
  198. >She slowly outstretches her leg and brings the bottle over towards the two of you.
  199. >She begins to open the bottle, but then stops.
  200. >“Are… are you completely sure about this?”
  201. >Looking down at the bottle, and then back up to her eyes, you nod.
  202. >“Alright… we’ll do this… together…”
  203. >She shakily uses her hoof to open the bottle.
  204. >Several of the pills pour out onto her hoof.
  205. “Grace… I’m really glad I was able to meet you down here…”
  206. >Tears continue to stream from the mare's blue eyes.
  207. >A tear drips from her face, landing on the pills she is clutching.
  208. >“Me too Lucky… me too…”
  209. >The mare turns to you.
  210. >“You know… before I met you… I was in a very dark place… everyone hated me… I was so alone…”
  211. >You rub the mare’s head with the back of your hoof as she continues to sob.
  212. >“It got to the point where I couldn’t take it any more… I got underneath that overhanging boulder and just started chipping away… I wanted it to end… I couldn’t take it anymore!”
  213. “W-what?”
  214. >“But then… you doove under the rock and pushed me out of the way. You saved me! You showed me compassion when all of my other siblings would have let me die. But... you didn’t stop there… you stayed with me… even when it meant isolating yourself from the hive!”
  215. “I didn’t… I didn’t know…”
  216. >“Yet… yet... here we are…”
  217. >Grace burst into a wail of tears. You continue to hold her firmly as she nuzzles against you.
  218. >She shakily extends the bottle of painkillers to you, pouring several of them onto your hoof.
  219. “If only things could have been different…”
  220. >You look down at the pills as the roll across your hoof.
  221. >“But... at least we won’t die alone… I couldn’t have asked for a better end of my life… as long as it is by your side…”
  222. >The mare curls up into the bed beside you, she gives you one last, deep hug.
  223. >You both lay there in each others embrace, clutching a hoof full of pain pills.
  224. “I love you Grace!”
  225. >“I love you too, Lucky!”
  226. >You both detach.
  227. >Looking into each other's eyes, as you slowly raise your hooves, bringing the lethal dosage of painkillers to your mouths.
  228. >A muffled screech, coming from the cocoons along the far wall, interrupts the two of you.
  229. >Both of you turn to look.
  230. >The mare that waved to you earlier has her front hoof inside of her mouth.
  231. >Dark green tendrils of blood are beginning to permeate across the lighter green fluid within the cocoon.
  232. “What’s she doing?!”
  233. >“She... she is… oh no!”
  234. >Grace drops the glass bottle of pain pills onto the stone floor, causing it to shatter.
  235. >Hundreds of pills scatter across the room.
  236. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8UA3Q9o7Ak
  237. >The mare continues to sink her fangs into her hoof.
  238. “Stop!”
  239. >You quickly raise yourself out of bed, causing your head to ache from the sudden movement.
  240. >“The healing fluid… it’s consumable… she… she's sacrificing herself… so that we can feed upon the fluid…”
  241. >The other cocooned changelings watch their sibling engaging in self-sacrifice.
  242. >A drone in a nearby cocoon, inspired by the courage of his sister, lifts his hoof to his sharp protruding fangs and begins ripping in.
  243. >“Their choosing to die… so we may live…”
  244. “NO!”
  245. >“Their doing their part… their sacrifice… for the hive…”
  246. >You roll out of the bed and collapse onto the floor.
  247. >Grace continues to watch in awe and horror as the two changelings gnaw upon themselves.
  248. “There’s got to be another way! There’s got to-”
  249. >Something dawns upon you.
  250. >None of them have to die.
  251. >You can stop this.
  252. “I know where-”
  253. >You are overcome with hesitation as you think about the agony this will put yourself in.
  254. “Where…”
  255. >If you do this, your worst fears may come true.
  256. >Spending the rest of your life as changeling livestock...
  257. >A fate worse than death...
  258. “Uhh…”
  259. >The changelings continue to gnaw upon themselves with their eyes closed tightly, blood spilling out.
  260. >They are willing to die for you…
  261. >Needlessly…
  262. “…”
  263. >You wouldn’t be able to live with yourself if you let them die.
  264. “Stop…”
  265. >Something in the back of your mind knew that eventually they’d find out.
  266. “I KNOW WHERE WE CAN FIND LOVE! STOP! PLEASE STOP!”
  267. >You scream at the top of your lungs.
  268. >The two changelings temporarily halt, wearily looking at you as their cocoons continue to grow darker with green blood.
  269. “I know where… you can get love… enough for everyone…”
  270. >Grace helps you back to your hooves.
  271. >The changelings in the cocoons continue to gaze at you.
  272. >You turn to Grace.
  273. “I need you to do something...”
  274. >“W-what is it?”
  275. “No matter how much I yell and scream… I need you to do it.”
  276. >“What are you talking about?”
  277. “It will all make sense… in a few seconds.”
  278. >“What?”
  279. >You slowly climb back into the bed, lying down in a position to get yourself comfortable.
  280. “I’m sorry for lying to you Grace… I’m sorry for everything...”
  281. >“What? It’s ok, you already told me the truth about where you were from… I understand.”
  282. “Lies… all of it… lies!”
  283. >“What… what do you mean”
  284. “Feed!”
  285. >“What?”
  286. “FEED!”
  287. >Grace begins to look scared as you continue to yell at her.
  288. >“That’s n-not how it works… changelings can’t feed off of other changelings…”
  289. “Who then… Who can changelings feed off of?”
  290. >“Why are you-”
  291. “WHO!?”
  292. >“P-ponies… w-why are you yelling at me?”
  293. “FEED!”
  294. >“I… I don’t understand…”
  295. “I’M A PONY DAMMIT! NOW FEED!”
  296. >“…”
  297. >The mare stares at you confusingly.
  298. >“A pony... that doesn’t make any sense…”
  299. “It makes perfect sense! I’m a pony spy sent down here to infiltrate the hive!”
  300. >“...”
  301. “What are you waiting for!”
  302. >“Even if you are a pony… m-mares… I mean… workers aren’t allowed to feed. The Queen forbids it!”
  303. “Then get Brutus to do it!”
  304. >“B-Brutus can’t… he lost his horn… just like you-”
  305. “COME ON, DAMMIT!” You angrily yell at the mare.
  306. >She winces as you continue to berate her.
  307. “Then you’ll have to do it!”
  308. >“B-but I can’t! It's forbidden!”
  309. >“You’ve already done it before! The night after I did those things to you in my sleep! I know you can do it!”
  310. >“What… w-when?”
  311. “Listen! We don’t have time to debate this! If you don’t do this your brother and sister over there are going to continue gnawing away at their limbs until they bleed themselves dry!”
  312. >Grace turns to look at the two changelings swimming in a pool of green translucent fluid mixed with their own blood.
  313. >“N-no…”
  314. “THEY WILL DIE!”
  315. >“This can’t-”
  316. “WE WILL ALL DIE!”
  317. >“Please don’t yell at-”
  318. “FEED! YOU NEED TO FEED! JUST AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!”
  319. >Grace's horn glows green.
  320. >A stream of green essence begins to flow from your mouth to hers.
  321. >You continue to scream in pain as the mare feasts upon your love.
  322. >In your already weakened state, there is nothing you can do but wail in torment.
  323. >After several long agonizing moments, the feeding stops.
  324. >You lie there staring at the ceiling, breathing in and out heavily.
  325. >“It's true…”
  326. >The mare lifts up her head, letting her body begin to process the energy she just absorbed.
  327. >“You’re a pony spy…”
  328. >You slowly turn you eyes from the ceiling to her face. She stares back at you bitterly.
  329. >You nervously look away.
  330. >“I was your way to infiltrate the hive…”
  331. >You begin to shiver, without even looking at her, you can feel the mare's angry gaze penetrate your very being.
  332. >“You used me… didn’t you…”
  333. >You turn on your side, looking away from the mare.
  334. >“It was just one giant lie the, wasn’t it!”
  335. >“What’s going on? Brutus steps through the entrance to the medical bay.
  336. >“Heard screaming… heard drone screaming…”
  337. >Brutus scans the room, seeing you cowering on your bed.
  338. >“What's wrong with him.”
  339. >He begins to approach.
  340. >“Lucky decided to share something with us… there’s a chance we may make it out of here after all.”
  341. >“What?” The drone huffs as he continues to move closer.
  342. >“Apparently-”
  343. >You quickly grab Grace with your hoof.
  344. >She looks down at your sweating, weary face.
  345. >You look at her with pleading eyes.
  346. “Please… protect me… from him…”
  347. >You whisper to her with a weary voice.
  348. >She continues to stare at you for a few moments, her gaze begins to soften slightly.
  349. >Brutus walks alongside Grace, brushing away the broken glass and pain pills that litter the floor.
  350. >He looks to you and then back to Grace, puzzled by what is going on between the two of you.
  351. >“Well? What is it?” Brutus huffs in annoyance.
  352. >“Lucky is…”
  353. >Grace continues to looks back and forth between your pleading eyes and Brutus' firm demeanor.
  354. >“He is a-”
  355. “Grace…”
  356. >You meekly say, still recovering from the terrifying pain you were in moments ago.
  357. “Not all of it… was a lie…”
  358. >All traces of anger disappear from the mare's face, replaced instead with mixed emotions and contemplation.
  359. >“Lie?” Brutus begins to eye both of you suspiciously.
  360. >You slowly detach your hoof from Grace's leg.
  361. >You nervously begin to shiver, unsure about what will happen to you in the next few moments.
  362. >“He’s a what?” Brutus says, a strong amount of angry apparent in his voice.
  363. >The two of you watch as rage begins to build in his eyes.
  364. >Grace continues to stand there in contemplation, looking to you and then back at her brother.
  365. >“HE’S A WHAT!? TELL ME!”
  366. >“B-Brutus… p-please calm down.”
  367. >You close your eyes in anticipation of what is to come next.
  368. >“IS HE A… A…”
  369. >Grace continues to look at the two of you nervously, unsure what to do.
  370. >“I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT ALL ALONG! HE’S A PONY!”
  371. >Brutus lunges forward, his front hooves in the air as you lay powerless upon your bed.
  372. >“NO!” Grace shrieks.
  373. >With a quick flash of her horn, she hurls the stallion across the room.
  374. >The disfigured changeling slams against a set of shelves, knocking a multitude of medical supplies onto the floor.
  375. >Grace stand in surprise at what she had just done.
  376. >She did not intend to throw him that far, her newly charged love reserves giving her more strength then she was used to.
  377. >Brutus slowly lifts himself up from the ground, his face fuming with rage.
  378. >“You struck me…”
  379. >“We need him!”
  380. >“What!?”
  381. >“We can’t hurt him!”
  382. >“HE’S A SPY!”
  383. >“He’s the only source of love that we have down here! Without him we’ll starve to death before we can dig our way out!”
  384. >“You… you… feed from him… didn’t you?!”
  385. >“...yes”
  386. >“It’s forbidden by the Queen! Only drones may feed directly from ponies!”
  387. >“You can’t Brutus! I’m the only one capable of feeding from him down here! We have no choice! If I don’t feed from him, not only do we die, but so will they!”
  388. >Grace point to the wall of changeling cocoons lining the far wall.
  389. >All of the injured changelings are wide awake, watching in disbelief the event that have just unfolded.
  390. >Brutus begins to approach your bed.
  391. >Grace firmly plants her hooves upon the ground.
  392. >She looks upon her brother with cold, anger-filled eyes.
  393. >Brutus continues forward.
  394. >“HIISSSSS!” Grace lets out a loud audible warning. Her horn begins to glow bright green.
  395. >Seeing the intensity of the mare’s horn, the stallion begins to falter.
  396. >“Leave.” Grace says coldly.
  397. >Brutus continues to stare. Fear, astonishment, and a feeling of betrayal apparent on the drone’s disfigured face.
  398. >“I SAID LEAVE!”
  399. >The intensity of her horn grows even brighter. The color is now almost white.
  400. >Brutus slowly lowers his head and begins to walk towards the entrance.
  401. >The two of you watch as the stallion walks halfway to the entryway and stops.
  402. >He lifts up his head.
  403. >“You too, Grace…”
  404. >“J-just GO!”
  405. >The stallion lowers his head and continues towards the entrance.
  406. >He makes his way up the main ramp and disappears from sight.
  407. >Grace dispels her horn, but continues to look at the entryway with a firm stance.
  408. >After a few moments her firm demeanor changes.
  409. >You see her face become filled with regret at what she had just done.
  410. >She turns to you, both of you look upon each other with uncertainty.
  411. “T-th-thank you…”
  412. >Grace lets out a deep sigh…
  413. >“He will never look at me the same way after that…”
  414. “I’m… s-sorry…"
  415. >She shakes her head and walks over to the side of your bed.
  416. “I… wish… things…”
  417. *cough*
  418. >A painful cough overcomes your dry aching throat.
  419. “That… that…”
  420. *cough* *COUGH*
  421. >“Hold on Lucky…”
  422. >The mare propels herself into the air, hovering directly above you with ease.
  423. >“Open your mouth.”
  424. >You shakily do so as the mare gently grabs you once more.
  425. >Within moments a thick stream of green honey comes flowing from her mouth into yours.
  426. >Your hooves, weak and shaky, are barely able to cling onto the mare’s side for support.
  427. >However, with mare’s rejuvenated body and spirit, she easily maintains her position above you, ensuring you are properly fed.
  428. >After letting you take more than enough of your fill, the mare detaches.
  429. >She looks down for a second, taking a second to catch her breath.
  430. >While looking down, she notices blood has begun to seep through the bandages on your leg.
  431. >The wound likely reopened when you fell out of the bed.
  432. >“It's about time we sealed that wound-”
  433. “No!”
  434. >She looks back at you surprised.
  435. >“No? Why not!” She yells back at you in displeasure. “Do you not trust me to-”
  436. >You lift you hoof and point to the mare in the cocoon.
  437. >The blood coming from her freshly bitten leg is still spilling out.
  438. “Her... f-first!”
  439. >“Oh no…”
  440. >Grace quickly flies over to inspect the mare within the cocoon.
  441. >A large amount of dark green blood has begun to surround her.
  442. >The mare’s eyes are now half closed as her weary face drifts off into unconsciousness.
  443. >Grace’s horn quickly turns green.
  444. >The cocooned mares body is surrounded with a green aura.
  445. >Focusing intently on her spell, Grace’s face strains heavily.
  446. >The bite marks on the mare's hoof slowly begin to close.
  447. >The cocooned mare opens her eyes wide, invigorated by the healing magic being cast upon her.
  448. >Breathing heavily and sweat forming upon her brow, Grace begins to falter.
  449. >Her horn beginning to sputter out.
  450. >The last of the bite marks close shut as Grace’s wings give out, she falls to the floor.
  451. >Breathing heavily in and out, Grace slowly raises her head to the mare.
  452. >“F-feeling... better?”
  453. >The mare, fully alert, nods in confirmation.
  454. >“Good… good…”
  455. >The exhausted mare, weary from casting such an intense spell, lowers her head back to the ground, continuing to regain her breath.
  456. “Grace!”
  457. >Letting out a sigh, the mare slowly turns her head to you.
  458. >You point now to the drone who also also engaged in the same self-sacrifice as the worker.
  459. >Blood continues to pour from his wounds.
  460. >The drones looks at you both with pleading eyes.
  461. >Grace turns back to you in fear.
  462. >“I… I’m drained…”
  463. >A shiver runs down your spine.
  464. >You are already in terrible shape and still recovering from the last feeding session.
  465. >If she’s not careful…
  466. “Do it… f-f-feed!”
  467. >Grace slowly gets up and approaches you, a nervous look upon her face.
  468. >Hooves shivering, you begin to curl up into the fetal position and try to brace yourself for the incoming wave of pain.
  469. >Grace opens her mouth, exposing her fangs to you.
  470. >You never noticed how sharp they looked until just now.
  471. >You tightly close your eyes and cringe.
  472. >A few seconds pass.
  473. >Nothing happens.
  474. >You slowly open you eyes.
  475. >“I… don’t want to hurt you…”
  476. “He’s bleeding out… j-just get it over with…”
  477. >Grace looks over her shoulder to the pleading eyes of the drone and then back to you.
  478. >“There is a way… to lessen the pain…”
  479. >You watch her hesitant eyes, she is unsure about herself and what she is doing.
  480. >“If you are willing to try… it might help... but I’ll have to…”
  481. “Yes! If it dulls the pain… I’ll try anything!”
  482. >Grace nods.
  483. >“Alright…”
  484. >The mare slowly approaches the bed.
  485. >Carefully, she climbs onto the mattress beside you.
  486. >The bed is meant for only one and barely contains the two of you.
  487. >Grace hesitantly grabs hold of your back, pulling your body into hers.
  488. >You can’t help but shiver in fear, anticipating the intense pain you are about to receive.
  489. >The two of you are face to face.
  490. >Her rich, hesitant blue eyes look into your terrified face.
  491. >You nervously try to avoid direct eye contact.
  492. >“Lucky…”
  493. “…”
  494. >You stay silent, continuing to look away.
  495. >“T-try to relax Lucky…”
  496. >You take in a deep breath and exhale slowly.
  497. >You slowly turn your gaze to the the mare.
  498. >She looks back at you with concern.
  499. >She closes her eyes and pushes her lips forward, locking them with yours.
  500. >Using her front hooves, she pulls your body into her chest.
  501. >You watch as the mare's horn turns green.
  502. >You close your eyes.
  503. >A jolt of pain sticks your body.
  504. >You tightly grip the mare's body with your hooves.
  505. >Your face cringes in pain as the mare feeds from you, but your lips stay locked with hers.
  506. >The pain begins to ramp up, getting more and more intense, causing you to dig you hooves into the mare's back.
  507. >The mare responds by gently rubbing your back chitin in an attempt to comfort you.
  508. >The agony continues to build until it finally levels out.
  509. >While still horrific, the torment is not nearly as bad a before.
  510. >Tears begin to stream down your face as the mare continues to drain your love.
  511. >Your grip on Grace’s back begins to lessen as the strength in your muscles begins to fade.
  512. >You open your eye.
  513. >Grace continues to feed on you with her eyes closed.
  514. >The luminescence of her horn produces a green overlay across her face.
  515. >She looks as if she is in a state of bliss as she continues to hold you in your embrace.
  516. >Your vision begins to fade to black.
  517. “Gmmhp…”
  518. >You attempt to mumble to get her attention.
  519. >Your front hooves completely let go of the mare, no longer containing the strength to do so.
  520. “Plhmm… smhp…”
  521. >Your eyes begin to close as you mind loses the ability to focus.
  522. >The mare opens her eyes.
  523. >Seeing you in a state of near death she quickly halts feeding any further.
  524. >“Lucky! Lucky!”
  525. >You slowly open one eye at the mare.
  526. >“Oh Lucky… I took too much... I’m-”
  527. “Drone…”
  528. >You attempt to raise your hoof to point at the bleeding drone, but you are too weak.
  529. >Grace turns around to look at the cocooned drone, more tendrils of dark green blood flowing across the inside of the capsule.
  530. >“Yes… of course!”
  531. >Grace gently detaches herself from you and flies over to the drone.
  532. >You lie there half awake, watching as the mare casts another round of healing magic.
  533. >After a few moments, the mare falls to the floor in exhaustion.
  534. >You breath in and out heavily, a round of shivering begins to overtake you.
  535. >After regaining her breath, Grace slowly walks over to your bed.
  536. >She stands there beside you, gazing upon your sorry state.
  537. >“They’re… going to be… fine…”
  538. >Unable to bend your neck to look up at her, you continue to stare off into space.
  539. “G-g-good…”
  540. >Grace hesitantly looks around and spots your blanket upon the floor.
  541. >She picks it up and gently wraps it around your trembling body.
  542. >“Is there anything I can do?”
  543. “It h-hurts... s-so much… p-please… hold me…”
  544. >The mare hesitantly looks at your weary face.
  545. “P-please…”
  546. >“Of course…”
  547. >The mare walks to the other side of the bed and carefully lifts up the blankets.
  548. >She slowly slides herself over your back and then pulls the covers over the two of you.
  549. >You feel her wrap her legs around your quivering body.
  550. >Slowly, her warmth begins to transfer to you, easing your uncontrollable shuddering.
  551. >The two of you lay there, both in considerable pain and exhaustion.
  552. >The nine changelings hanging upon the walls continue to watch the two of you, looking back and forth amongst themselves in silence.
  553. >Your head begins to nod off.
  554. >Grace mumbles something, but you are too far gone to comprehend her murmur.
  555. >You pass out.
  556. ~~~~~~~~~
  557. “Hey! I just wanted to check on how you all were doing. I figured you would like someone to talk to. It’s got to get kinda lonely inside of those…”
  558. "..."
  559. “Sorry…”
  560. “Uhh... to think it's been a week since the… evacuation. Seems like a lot longer, doesn’t it?”
  561. “Grace says I should be healthy enough to help them with the excavation tomorrow. I can’t wait! Sitting here doing nothing is really…”
  562. "..."
  563. “Shit… sorry... I…”
  564. “Anyways… when Grace feed on me yesterday, it wasn’t nearly as painful as her previous attempt. I think as long as she feeds just a small amount every other day, the pain should be… tolerable…"
  565. “Feeding every other day should be often enough to keep all of us well fed.”
  566. “Although Grace tells me you guys should be pretty comfortable in those cocoons of yours…”
  567. “She was half tempted to throw me in one of those sacs, but fortunately my leg and my horn… I mean... m-my forehead… are healing alright...”
  568. “…”
  569. “Grace is a pretty good nurse… you guys are fortunate to have her down here watching over you.”
  570. “Well… it's getting kinda late… and I’ll have a busy day tomorrow helping out with the excavation of the main entrance. I better get some rest… Good night everyone.”
  571. >The mare in the middle cocoon looks at you with an uncertain gaze, but slowly lifts her front hoof, waving good night to you.
  572. >You wave back, looking to her with an uncertain gaze of your own.
  573. >You get inside your bed. After a few moments of getting comfortable, you fall asleep.
  574. ~~~~~~~~~
  575. “Hey guys… I just wanted to give you all a heads up. The excavation is going well! Now that there is three of us working, we should hopefully have it cleared in about a month.”
  576. “Maybe sooner actually… Grace is doing a fantastic job! Probably has to do with her collecting love directly from me, it's no doubt boosting her strength.”
  577. “Last time she feed… she almost refused to do so… kept on saying it was forbidden… how the Queen didn’t allow it… that only drones should be doing this…”
  578. “I really don’t understand the gender based division of labor you all have down here. In Equestria, anyone can do anything… no matter what their…”
  579. “Sorry… please don’t look at me like that... I’ll just change the subject…”
  580. “Brutus didn't look at me at all today… I can tell that he hates me… alot…”
  581. *sigh*
  582. “Since we are going to spend the next month with each other… it's no use letting him continue to hate me. I’m going to try and smooth things over with him. I figure tomorrow morning the two of us can just talk it out. We actually have a lot in common with each other…”
  583. “I think I hear Grace and Brutus coming now actually.”
  584. “Tonight Grace will feed again… I… umm… the pain should hopefully be a lot less than last time. I think she’s beginning to get the hang of it now…”
  585. “We’ll anyways, I’ll chat with you guys later."
  586. ~~~~~~~~~~
  587. “Hey…”
  588. “Things happened yesterday…”
  589. “When I tried to talk with Brutus… it didn’t go over well…”
  590. “I’m not sure exactly what I said that triggered it… but he came right at me... with a pickaxe… if Grace wasn’t standing behind me… he would have… I would be…”
  591. “Grace thinks it’s best for me not help them with the excavation anymore. She said that the two of them would handle it. This is going to extend the time needed to reach the surface from a month… to about a month and a half…”
  592. “Also... I won't be sleeping down here with you all in medical bay anymore. Grace thinks it's safest if I sleep in a locked room. I actually reinstalled the lock on the room that Overseer Valentine gave me. Now instead of the door being locked from the outside, it's locked from the inside. I also installed a plank to hold the door shut from the inside… just incase... in the middle of the night… Brutus tries to…”
  593. “…”
  594. “Grace also decided it would be safest if the two of us slept together… just incase…”
  595. “I prefer the company honestly… although… I don’t think Brutus took the news that he would be sleeping alone very well…”
  596. “Anyways… Grace said that instead of helping out on the excavation I can help take care of you all. I figured we could talk and I could keep you guys company…”
  597. >The changelings begin to look away.
  598. “Ohh…”
  599. >You look sullenly down at your hooves.
  600. “I understand… I’ll just go…”
  601. >You begin to turn around to leave, but something out of the corner of your eye grabs your attention.
  602. >The mare in the middle cocoon is waving at you and still actively looking at you.
  603. “Y-you…”
  604. >A soft smile come to your face.
  605. >She smiles back at you.
  606. “I came across a few books in my room… If you want… I could begin reading one aloud to you…”
  607. >The mare nods at you,
  608. >Your eyes water up a little bit.
  609. “G-great. I’ll go grab a few! I'll be right back!”
  610. ~~~~~~~~
  611. “Don’t ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.”
  612. >You carefully close the book after finishing the last page.
  613. “That was one of my favorites when I was still a youth… kind of a coming of age book. Did you like it?”
  614. >Several of the changelings nod at you enthusiastically.
  615. “Great! And don’t think I didn’t see you pop your head up during the intense parts Hopper!”
  616. >The drone on the end cocoon attempts to hide his face as he looks away from you.
  617. >You can’t help but smile.
  618. “All this talking is kinda killing my voice…sorry... can you guys hold on a second?”
  619. >You walk to the far wall and grab a jar of honey lying on the counter.
  620. >Taking in a large mouthful of the fluid, you let it soak over your dry mouth for a second before swallowing it down.
  621. >You let out a sigh of relief.
  622. “Hmm… nothing like drinking your own love…”
  623. >You place the empty glass back down on the counter and then walk back to the group.
  624. >“Something happened last night… when Grace was feeding… it kinda has me a little worried. Shortly after she started collecting love, she stopped… she started clutching her stomach in pain.”
  625. “U-usually I’m the one who’s in pain... not her. After a few minutes she said she was fine. She said it wasn't that bad… but I can tell she was hiding it… she was definitely in a lot of pain.”
  626. “I know the Queen says workers aren’t supposed to feed. Grace doesn’t seem to know /why/ though. She always just said it was the rule that everyone was supposed to follow. I’m starting to worry… what if mares aren’t supposed to feed because… it’s… damaging… I don’t want to see her get hurt… but we really don’t have any other options. She’s the only one physically able to feed down here. But if this ever happens again… I... I guess… well… I don’t know what I’ll do…”
  627. “Anyways… enough about that. We just read an Equestrian book, how about we read a changeling book? Are you guys ok with that?”
  628. >The row changelings look to each other and then back to you, smiling eagerly.
  629. “Awesome! I’ve never read anything written by a changeling before! Actually… I’m not sure any pony has.... Ha… well anyways, lets see what I grabbed!”
  630. >You pull up three black, chitinous books you grabbed from your bookshelf.
  631. “Let's see, we have ‘The Chain That Binds: Hive Hierarchy Protocol.’ Uhh… I don’t know about you guys… but this one sounds a little dry…”
  632. >The changelings nod in agreement as you place the book off to the side.
  633. >You pull out another.
  634. “Next we have ’Swarm Tactics: Volume 3.’ Hey you drones could probably tell me if this one is any good. How about it?”
  635. >The drones in the cocoons look at eachother and then back to you.
  636. >The unanimously shake their heads in disapproval.
  637. “Oh… You guys have probably been drilled with this stuff your whole life, haven't you... well... I’ve got one left here, it’s called the ‘The Pony Sutra-’”
  638. >The changelings all perk up.
  639. “Ummm…. On second thought, maybe we should read ‘Swarm Tactics: Volume 3’...”
  640. >The changelings all shake their heads in disapproval.
  641. “Alright let's start with page one. ‘As stated in volume 1, section C, subsection ii, the benefits of flying in formation during-’”
  642. >The changelings begin to pound on the walls of their cocoons, causing the delicate green pods to shake.
  643. “What are you doing! Stop!”
  644. >The changelings stop their pounding but look at you sternly.
  645. “Really guys? Come on…”
  646. >They continue to gaze, you see a small smirk form on several of their faces.
  647. >You press your face into your hoof as you let out a deep sigh.
  648. “Fine…”
  649. >The changelings all perk up, each getting to the edge of their cocoon and listening to you intently.
  650. >You look down at the lewdly covered book and pick it up with your hooves.
  651. >You extend the front of the book to the nine eagerly awaiting changeligns.
  652. “Looks like this one is gonna have lots of pictures… might as well take a good look…”
  653. >You begin to shake you head.
  654. “I don’t believe I’m doing this…”
  655. ~~~~~~~~~~
  656. “Good morning everyone…”
  657. >You open your mouth widely, letting out a deep yawn.
  658. “Sorry… just a little drained…”
  659. >You lift up a jar of honey and down it in one go.
  660. >The changeling mare in the middle cocoon gives you a sly look.
  661. “What…”
  662. >The mare makes a rolling gesture with her hoof, signalling you to elaborate.
  663. >You roll your eyes.
  664. “This is all your guy’s fault you know… you made me read that book…”
  665. >Several of the changelings begin to silently snicker.
  666. “You planned this, didn't you!?”
  667. >The changelings begin to cover their mouths to hide their silent laughter.
  668. “You fucking bugs…” You whisper under your breath.
  669. >The mare in the middle continues to make the rolling gesture at you.
  670. “You know what… whatever… I just read the entire Pony Sutra with you guys… I might as well tell you about last night…”
  671. >The changelings smile at eachother with delight, eagerly awaiting your story.
  672. “Well… as it stated in the Pony Sutra… the pain derived from love collection decreases as a changeling and a pony become more intimate with each other. The current method Grace and I have been using of oral love collection resulted in a decrease in pain compared to indirect love collection, but it was still a fairly painful process for me.”
  673. “So… you know… it only seemed logical that to avoid further pain for myself… we… I mean myself and Grace… become a little more… intimate… during the feedings.”
  674. “Not like anything could happen… all of you workers are sterile anyways…”
  675. “She was a bit hesitant at first... but after recalling how much pain I was in the last few times she fed… and being the kind-hearted mare that she is… she agreed.”
  676. >The grins on the changelings faces begin to grow large.
  677. “So we… you know... fucked each other’s brains out.”
  678. >The changelings again begin to silently laugh within their cocoons.
  679. “The experience was… pleasant…"
  680. "There was pain… but it was tolerable… much less than by feeding orally.”
  681. “So there you have have it. Are you happy Katydid?”
  682. >The mare in the middle cocoon looks at you with a smile once more and continues to roll her hooves.
  683. “Really… Is that all you guys think about?! You’re all just a bunch of horny, little love bugs aren’t you?!”
  684. >The rest of the changelings begin to imitate Katydid’s gesture.
  685. >You let out a deep sigh.
  686. “Alright… fine you want to know more! I’ll tell you more! You remember that position on page 63, when the mare wraps around the stallion like this and the stallion keeps his leg up like this? Well, after our first go we both had some energy left… especially her… so I showed her the the picture in the book... and we... fucked each other senseless a second time! She got two helpings of love last night!”
  687. >Katydid nods approvingly at you with a wide smile.
  688. “Alright. Enough about that... it's storytime. And it's my turn to chose the book this time! Let’s see what we have here…”
  689. ~~~~~~~~~~~~
  690. “And I have by me, or my comfort, two strange white flowers-shriveled now, and brown and flat and brittle-to witness that even when mind and strength had gone, gratitude and a mutual tenderness still lived on in the heart of ponies.”
  691. >You carefully close the cover of the book after reading the last page.
  692. >You let out a sigh.
  693. “Sometimes I wish I could go back and change things… make them better.”
  694. >Looking up, you see the nine changelings looking at you intently.
  695. “If I could do everything all over again… I… well… I wish things could be different…”
  696. >The changelings continue to stare.
  697. “I guess me coming here… there was some good things… there was Grace… I’ve been through so much pain down here… but I’m glad to have met her…”
  698. “I wish things were different though…”
  699. “…”
  700. “It’s wired…”
  701. “I barely feel the pain during feedings any more...”
  702. “Is it because I’m so used to it? Is it because Grace has become better at love collection?”
  703. >You shake your head.
  704. “Nevermind…”
  705. >You lay the book atop a large pile of completed books next to your chair.
  706. “Wow… another one down. We’ve gone through quite a bit over these past few weeks…”
  707. “I’m gonna have to start going through some of the other Overseer’s bookshelves for more reading material. All I have left in mine is a bunch of cheesy romance novels…”
  708. >A few of the changelings perk up.
  709. >You let out a sigh…
  710. “You guys really can't get enough of that kinda stuff can you.”
  711. >Several of the changelings smirk back at you.
  712. “Alright, let's see if I can find a semi-decent one…”
  713. >You begin to peruse through the pile of books.
  714. >After a few moments of looking you stop.
  715. “They're almost done with the excavations. Grace tells me just one more week… After that… well… I'm not entirely sure what I’m going to do after that. I can’t go back to Equestria. If Luna ever discovered me… she’d have me killed. I can't really stay here either… some of you guys are pretty cool, but some of you… like Brutus… would like nothing more than to... bash my skull open with a pickaxe...”
  716. >You look at the faces of the nine changelings.
  717. >They stare back at you with concern. Especially the mare in the middle cocoon.
  718. “I have a feeling if Queen Chrysalis found out I’d deceived her… especially after what she and I… well... it wouldn’t be good… and I don’t want to stick around to find out.”
  719. “So I guess… I just have to leave.”
  720. “There is a lot of undiscovered land to the west.”
  721. “Maybe I can find a race of beings that accepts me… a pony trapped inside of a changeling's body… as ridiculous as that sounds…”
  722. “Maybe I can find someone skilled enough in magic to change me back.”
  723. “Not that there is anything wrong with being a changeling… but… it's not who I am…”
  724. “If I can’t find a new home on this continent… maybe I’ll keep going west… across the Luna Ocean.”
  725. “I’m not really sure what's west of there… I’m not sure anybody does…”
  726. “I really don’t care where I go… I just… I just don’t want to be alone…”
  727. “Wandering the world as a cloaked hermit… I don’t think I’d be able to live like that.”
  728. “I… need… to be around someone…”
  729. “I’ve been thinking… once the Queen finds out that Grace has been feeding off me… and helping pony spy… Grace will likely suffer because of that. I’d hate to see her go through pain because of me. I’ve been in the pits before… I don’t want to see her share a similar fate…”
  730. “I’m going to ask her if she wants to come with me…”
  731. “I know this is her home… and she’s been here all her life… but… maybe it's for best that she leaves too. I don’t see things working out well for her if she sticks around here. If she comes with me… I think both of us… can be happy…”
  732. “I’m going to ask her tonight… I really hope she says yes…”
  733. >Katydid smiles at you sympathetically, some of the other changelings look at you with unsure expressions upon their faces.
  734. “Sorry… I’m droning off again. Let's start the next one. I really think you’ll like this one. It's a classic.”
  735. ~~~~~~~~~~~
  736. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-RtXxep73w
  737. “A glooming peace this morning with it brings.”
  738. “The sun, for sorrow... will not show his... head.”
  739. >You are having trouble reading, the words are becoming blurry.
  740. “Go hence... to have more talk of these... s-sad... things…”
  741. “Some shall be pardoned, and some…”
  742. >A tear drop falls upon the page.
  743. “…”
  744. “P-punished.”
  745. “For never was a story of more woe.”
  746. “Than this of…”
  747. “…”
  748. >You slam the cover of the book closed and toss it across the room.
  749. >It slides across the floor as several pages fly out.
  750. “FUCK!”
  751. >You yell as you watch the pages slowly float to the ground.
  752. >Your tear-filled eyes look up at the nine changelings hanging upon the wall.
  753. >They stare back at you with a combination of worry and surprise.
  754. “I must have heard that story a dozen times before… but…”
  755. >You smother your hooves into you face as you begin to sob uncontrollably.
  756. “She…”
  757. “…”
  758. “She said... no…”
  759. >You continue to hold your head down low as you speak.
  760. “She… she said… if she left… Chrysalis would... hunt us both down… for sure.”
  761. “The Queen... would have to make an…. example… out of us…”
  762. “I told her… we could run! Cross the Luna Ocean! Never look back!”
  763. “She… she said… it wouldn’t matter…”
  764. “They'd find us…”
  765. “…”
  766. “The worst part is…"
  767. "..."
  768. "I know she right..."
  769. "I might stand a chance of not feeling the full extent of the Queen's wrath. B-but if Grace comes… then it's a different matter entirely…”
  770. "..."
  771. “I'm sorry…”
  772. “I… I… need a moment alone… to calm down…”
  773. >You lift your head up.
  774. >The nine changelings look at you with utmost concern and sadness.
  775. >Katydid raises her hoof up to the membrane of the cocoon.
  776. >You turn around and leave, returning back to your room.
  777. ~~~~~~~~~~~
  778. "It is a great misfortune to be alone, my friends; and it must be believed that solitude can quickly destroy reason…”
  779. “…”
  780. “...”
  781. “...”
  782. >You look up to the nine changelings lining the wall, they are staring at you intently, some with a noticeable amount of worry in their eyes.
  783. “Sorry… but we are going to have to stop here for tonight.”
  784. >You insert a bookmark into the old book, and place it atop a towering pile of books.
  785. >You look down at the dozens of books you read over the past six weeks.
  786. >A deep sigh leaves your lungs as your shoulders slump downwards.
  787. “You are probably wondering where I disappeared to earlier today…”
  788. >You attempt to force a smile.
  789. “They did it! Grace and Brutus broke through to the surface this afternoon! Everything is going to be… ok…”
  790. >You smile begins to fade a little bit.
  791. “Brutus got pretty angry when Grace told him she wouldn’t fly to the Everfree Forest to alert the rest of the hive.”
  792. “She told him she needed to stay to keep an eye on the nine of you incase something happened. She said he should be the one to travel there…”
  793. “She… was obviously lying. The real reason she didn't leave was to make sure Brutus didn’t try to… murder me… after she left…”
  794. “Brutus just went berserk. Grace tried to calm him down, but he wouldn’t listen to her. That's when I arrived at the entrance to see what all the yelling was about. When he saw me, he stopped yelling. He just looked at me… with so much anger… and disgust…”
  795. “He grabbed multiple canteens worth of honey and just stormed out of here.”
  796. “What would have taken half a day's flight will probably take him a three day trek.”
  797. “So as long as Brutus doesn’t have any problems finding the rest of the hive, a rescue party should be here in about 4 days.”
  798. “That means… now it's my cue… to go…”
  799. >You begin to tear up a little bit.
  800. >The changelings look at you with sullen faces from inside their green cocoons.
  801. “H-hey now… no need to be sad… You're going to be with the rest of your family now… everything is going to work out…”
  802. “I’m glad to see you enjoyed some of the stories I read you… I… I… hope it made your recovery a little smoother… I know it helped me…”
  803. >A tear falls down your face onto the ground.
  804. “I… I…”
  805. >Your train of thought is interrupted as you hear hoofsteps approaching from behind.
  806. >Grace places her hoof over your shoulder.
  807. “I wish all of you a speedy recovery… Grace says a few of you will be ready to exit your cocoons in a couple more weeks… I hope all the best for-”
  808. >You are interrupted by your own sobbing.
  809. >Grace rubs your back in an attempt to calm you.
  810. “For all of you…”
  811. “I’ll be leaving very early tomorrow morning… It's best that I get an early start… for… my travels… I have a long road ahead of me…”
  812. “I.. I.. better gets some sleep… goodnight everyone… it was a pleasure to meet all of you.”
  813. >Through your blurred eyes you see the nine changelings staring back at you in sorrow.
  814. >With Grace at your side, the two of you begin to turn towards the doorway.
  815. >Something catches your attention out of the corner of your eye.
  816. >The mare in the middle cocoon, Katydid, her front hoof is raised, waving you goodbye.
  817. >You slowly raise your front hoof and wave goodbye in return.
  818. >All at once, the remaining eight changelings raise their hooves and begin to wave you goodbye.
  819. >Even the changelings missing their front limbs make an attempt of making the gesture the best they could.
  820. >You sob to yourself and slowly turn around.
  821. >Grace keeps her hoof wrapped around you as the two of you exit the medical chamber.
  822. >The two of you walk up the ramp to your personal quarters.
  823. >Neither of you say a word, Grace just continues to maintain her embrace on you as you continue to cry.
  824. >Both of you enter your room.
  825. >Instinctively, you lock the door and place down the wooden plank.
  826. >You realize your actions are pointless since Brutus has already left, but you don’t bother unlocking it.
  827. >Grace detaches from you.
  828. >“Y-you should... double check that you have everything.”
  829. >You nod in agreement and more over to a pair of saddle bags lying next to the bed.
  830. >Inside they are filled with copious amounts of honey, as well as a small tent, various tools, a sharp blade, bedroll, map, compass, and a large bag of bits.
  831. >Draped over the saddle bags is a brown traveling cloak.
  832. >It should cover your entire body during your travels. With a little luck, no ponies will detect that you are a changeling.
  833. >Not having wings or a horn should hopefully help with that.
  834. “Everything looks good…”
  835. >“G-good…”
  836. >The mare slowly climbs into bed, you hesitantly do the same.
  837. >The two of you look at each other awkwardly.
  838. >Grace looks away.
  839. >“You should get some rest…”
  840. “Once more…”
  841. >“Lucky…”
  842. “Please!”
  843. >“You’ll need all your energy for your travels.”
  844. “I don’t care! Besides! I already told you that the pain and energy loss are trivial for me now!”
  845. >The mare lets out a deep sigh.
  846. >She slowly raises her head to you, a small smile forms on her lips as she shakes her head.
  847. “Alright…”
  848. >You feverously lunge at the mare.
  849. >Your lips lock as your tongues delicately intertwine with one another.
  850. >You slide your hooves up and down her smooth black chitin.
  851. >The two of you bodies begin to grow in warmth as you are locked in each other's embrace.
  852. >You shaft begins to emerge from your sheath as you continue to rub your underside against her belly.
  853. “Grace… I…”
  854. >The mare places her hoof over your lips.
  855. >“Shh-shhh...”
  856. >She gently whispers.
  857. >With a flash of green magic, Grace extinguishes the oil lamp lighting the room.
  858. ~~~~~~~~~
  859. >*Click* *Click*
  860. >You awaken hearing the door handle clicking back and forth.
  861. >The room is pitch black, you feel Grace’s warm body against you.
  862. >A rush of fear overcomes you, the two of you are not alone.
  863. “Grace!”
  864. >“I heard it…”
  865. >The mare’s horn illuminates as she carefully lifts her head from the bed.
  866. >You look to her, the mare’s blue eyes are alert and open wide.
  867. >With a quick spark, she ignites the oil lamp on the desk.
  868. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr8I-JIVkBg
  869. >Crawling over you she steps off the bed onto the floor, staring intently at the door.
  870. >“Brutus?” The mare calls.
  871. >The two of you both look at the door.
  872. >There is only silence.
  873. >You begin to get out of bed, but Grace raises her hoof to you.
  874. >“Stay there… I’ll handle this…”
  875. >You look her in the eyes, her face is ridged with seriousness.
  876. >You hesitantly nod.
  877. >She begins to approach the door.
  878. >“Brutus… I heard you turn the door handle… what are you doing out-”
  879. >The room flashed white.
  880. >The door is blown off its hinges.
  881. >Grace flies across the room slamming violently into your empty bookshelf.
  882. >You are knocked back, your carapace slamming against the wooden bed frame.
  883. >The lamp falls to the floor in a puddle of black oil, the flame of the wick quickly igniting the fluid.
  884. >Dazed from the impact, you slowly lift your head to look at the doorway.
  885. >There stands a changeling drone clad in dark, ebony armor.
  886. >The drone points to Grace as she lies stunned on the floor.
  887. >“Quickly, secure her!”
  888. >Two more heavily armored drones enter the bedroom, each carrying iron chains.
  889. >The drones quickly dart to either side of the mare, pinning her against the ground.
  890. >They harshly outfit Grace’s horn with a cold iron sheath, severing her ability to perform magic.
  891. >Next they violently insert metal irons through the holes in her legs.
  892. >“Tighter!” The drone at the doorway yells.
  893. >The drones pull the irons tight, causing Grace to scream in pain.
  894. “GRACE!”
  895. >“SILENCE PONY!”
  896. >A wave of green magic slaps you harshly across the face, knocking you back down onto your bed.
  897. >The drone’s voice seems familiar...
  898. >You haven't heard this voice since… since...
  899. >The memory of you clutching the bulky changeling mare, blood dripping from her temple, her dead body collapsing on top of you.
  900. “General Strider…”
  901. >The drone squints as he continues to look at you, his sharp fangs grinding against one another.
  902. >“Your sharde is finally over pony!” He angrily yells at you.
  903. “B-but how?! It should have been days before-”
  904. >“Before Brutus reached us in Everfree?”
  905. >The General scoffs.
  906. >“Brutus never went to Everfree. As soon as he left the hive one of our drones spotted him. We have drones coming back to the hive from long term assignments all the time! We stationed a drone by the main entrance to alert those of what happened.”
  907. >The General huffs.
  908. >“As soon as Brutus told our sentinel what happened, he flew to alert us. After we heard about what happened… after we heard about YOU... we mobilized immediately.”
  909. >Grace attempts to struggle upon the ground, but one of the armor clad drones swiftly delivers a blow to her midsection.
  910. >“GHHHAAA!”
  911. “Hey… HEY! Leave her alone! I’m the one you want, not her! She didn’t do anything wrong!”
  912. >“On the contrary…” A two toned voice comes from the hallway.
  913. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A80W535DNfk
  914. >Queen Chrysalis enters the room.
  915. >“I have one rule of the utmost importance… one simple rule every changeling must follow…”
  916. >Her face turns grim with anger.
  917. >“Workers must never FEED!”
  918. >Chrysalis uses her magic to lift Grace into the air by the chains, causing the mare to scream loudly in pain.
  919. >You jump out of your bed.
  920. “WE DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE!”
  921. >The Queen turns to you.
  922. “I… I... made her do it! I convinced her to feed on me… so that we wouldn't starve to death! I knew it was the only way I could escape from here alive!”
  923. >Chrysalis squints her eyes at you in scrutiny and turns back to the mare.
  924. >“I’ll deal with you later…”
  925. >The green field of magic supporting Grace disappears, causing the mare hit the stone floor and again cry out in agony.
  926. >Chrysalis turns back to you.
  927. >“Lucky, Lucky, Lucky…”
  928. >The Queen slowly begins to saunter over to you, her tail waving back and forth which each step.
  929. >“I heard what you did Lucky… I discovered who you really are… what you are actually doing here… how you deceived me...”
  930. >You attempt to step backwards but bump into your bed.
  931. >“When I first found out… as you can imagine... I was quite angry…”
  932. >Her horn flashes with a green light as her magic grabs hold of your limbs, immobilizing you.
  933. >“But then… on my flight over here… once I had some time to think about it… I realized… I was actually quite impressed! Being able to deceive an entire hive of changelings... let alone the Queen herself… that was surely amazing! I mean… everything about you is spot on! Your eyes… the chitin… the blood…”
  934. >The Queen licks her lips.
  935. >“Even the pheromones.”
  936. >Chrysalis pushes her snout against your neck, her sharp fangs rubbing against your chitin.
  937. >The mare takes in a deep breath.
  938. >“Everything is immaculate! I am truly impressed! However… I think it is time we see the real you!”
  939. >Her eyes flash green with anger as a bolt of magic strikes you.
  940. “AAAHHHHHHH!”
  941. >You collapse onto the floor in pain.
  942. >After a moment of being curled up on the floor, you slowly open your eyes.
  943. >Your chitinous hole-riddled hooves are still in front of you.
  944. >“Hmmm… let's try that again…”
  945. >Chrysalis fires another bolt of green magic at you.
  946. “AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!”
  947. >An even larger wave of pain overcomes you, as you begin to shiver upon the floor.
  948. >“Interesting… very interesting… no wonder everything is so spot on.”
  949. >The Queen levitates your quivering body into the air.
  950. >“Lucky… it takes quite a bit of devotion to undergo a permanent change spell like this. I applaud your commitment. Now tell me, who performed this procedure on you.”
  951. >You attempt to look away.
  952. >“Now, now, now, Lucky... now is not the time to be shy.”
  953. >Chrysalis exposes her sharp set of fangs to you.
  954. “L-L-Luna… she said… she’d change me… back…”
  955. >“Ha… HA HA... HAHAHAHA!”
  956. >The Queen roars in a spree of minacle laugher.
  957. >“Oh my… that mare… to do this on one of her own subjects… and you ponies think I’m evil!
  958. >She smiles a toothy grin at you.
  959. >“You didn't know. Did you?”
  960. >You attempt to look away from the Queen again, struggling to break free from her spell.
  961. >“Princess Luna wouldn’t have been able to change you back. The process would kill you!”
  962. >You stop struggling.
  963. “W-what?”
  964. >“You don’t believe me… come on Lucky… I am the Queen of the changelings… this sort of magic is my forte!”
  965. >She lied to you. Luna probably never intended for you to leave the hive either. There was never going to be a rescue after you ignited the explosives...
  966. “Fuck…”
  967. >“Yes Lucky… you are very much fucked… actually... in more ways than one…”
  968. >The Queen extends her front hoof to your face, you tightly close you eyes as she begins to rub it against you.
  969. >“At first I thought I would make an example of you, make sure Equestria knows better than to ever send a pony spy into the hive of the changelings. I figured returning you back to Canterlot… piece by piece... would get the message across. But then I realized… what a waste that would be.”
  970. >Chrysalis’ hoof begins to slide down your chest towards your stomach.
  971. >“You have tenacity Lucky… you are very capable… and posses amazing talent in the art of deception. A quality a changeling hive can not do without!”
  972. >Chrysalis’ hoof slides down to your sheath.
  973. >Her mouth begins to salivate, beads of saliva dripping from her sharp fangs.
  974. >“You shall continue to be my royal concubine. You shall continue to provide the seed needed to spawn a new generation of capable new changelings!”
  975. >You hear Grace whimper as the drones continue to forcefully pin her against the floor.
  976. >The metal irons are so tightly fitted through her legs, she can’t even stand up.
  977. >You turn your head, looking at the distressed mare, and then turn back to Chrysalis.
  978. “No…”
  979. >Chrysalis' smile disappears from her face, her hoof detaching from beside your sheath.
  980. >“That was not a request, I command that-”
  981. >You spit into the face of the Queen.
  982. “You disgust me.”
  983. >The room pauses in silence.
  984. >The faces of the drones turn viciously angry for what you did to their matriarch.
  985. >Chrysalis squints at you as she wipes her face, her green eyes reminiscent of a venomous snake ready to strike.
  986. >“Let it be known… pony… I attempted to show you mercy! You will regret your insolence for the rest of your long… painful… life… as I PERSONALLY DRAIN YOU TO THE BRINK OF DEATH EVERY SINGLE NIGHT FOR THE REST OF YOUR PITIFUL LIFE!”
  987. >Her horn and eyes both flash green as a wave a magic overcomes your body.
  988. >Your vision begins to flash back and forth with shades of green.
  989. >You can feel her grabbing at your mind, trying to take control.
  990. >You attempt to resist, straining as the mental toll becomes more and more painful.
  991. >She is right there, clawing at the gates.
  992. >The pain grows more and more, she continues to claw, she’s relentless, she’s-
  993. >You entire vision turns a shade of green.
  994. >The pain stops.
  995. >You stand there, mouth agape.
  996. >Chrysalis smiles.
  997. >“Lucky?!” Grace yells out from the other side of the room.
  998. >You feel nothing as Chrysalis rubs her front hoof over your face.
  999. >“There we go. Much better.”
  1000. >“Can you hear me Lucky?” Grace beckons to you.
  1001. >The Queen turns to Grace, eyes staring maliciously at her like daggers.
  1002. >“Shut up you insolent swine!”
  1003. >Grace pulls back, intimidated by the large mare's form.
  1004. >The Queen slowly turns back to you.
  1005. >“Now… where were we… oh yes… Lucky... name, rank, and mission please?”
  1006. “Lucky, shadowbolt agent, infiltrate changeling hive, report findings to Princess Luna via dream transmission.”
  1007. >“Dream transmission…”
  1008. >“My liege…” General Strider approaches the two of you. “With a few minor enchantments, we should be able to protect against this sort of infiltration again in the future…”
  1009. >“Excellent… I think I know just the enchantments you’re referring to. We shall have them implemented immediately as soon as we return back to Everfree.”
  1010. >The Queen thinks to herself for a moment and then turns back to you.
  1011. >“What is the current status of your mission.”
  1012. “Total mission failure. New objective not carried out. Communication with Princess Luna severed.”
  1013. >“And just was this new objective you failed to carry out?”
  1014. “Collapse flood chamber while hive was asleep in an attempt to eliminate Queen Chrysalis.”
  1015. >“…”
  1016. >The changelings all open their eyes wide in surprise.
  1017. >“H-how close were you to carrying out this objective...”
  1018. “Explosives placed on column, they just needed to be ignited. I refused to carry out the objective due to the amount of collateral damage which would be caused.”
  1019. >Chrysalis looks to General Strider.
  1020. >The General gulps.
  1021. >“My Queen… there were clearly a few lapses in security that we need to address… now that we-”
  1022. >“Enough!”
  1023. >Chrysalis returns her gaze you.
  1024. >“Hmm… you are a bit weaker than I thought you were… I can’t have you rearing a brood of changelings that have a tendency of refusing to follow orders… Perhaps you are not fit to be the father of future broods…”
  1025. >You continue to stare off blankly, your conscience suppressed in a far off corner within your mind.
  1026. >“Well… I suppose I’ll have to just keep you in the pits until I decide what to do with you…”
  1027. >Your legs begin to walk towards the door.
  1028. >“Make no doubt that I will still be coming every night to drain you to the brink of death!”
  1029. >The Queen laughs to herself.
  1030. >Just as you reach the door, you quickly halt.
  1031. >“Wait!”
  1032. >You turn around.
  1033. >“Luna provided you with something… didn’t she…”
  1034. >You attempt to fight as much as possible from the confines of your mind, but it's no use.
  1035. >Your head shakily nods.
  1036. >“That's what I figured… remove it…”
  1037. >Your front hoof slowly begins to raise to your mouth.
  1038. >The hoof begins to shake as you attempt to fight her influence.
  1039. >Your mouth slowly begins to open.
  1040. >Your hoof reaches the front of you mouth and remains stationary,.
  1041. >Through your green tinted vision, looking past your hoof, you see Grace staring back at you with a scared and confused look on her face.
  1042. >“Hurry up now… we don’t have all day… I have a hive to run.”
  1043. >Your mind continues to fight her influence, the pain is even more immense than before.
  1044. >Bullets of sweat begin to drip off your face as you continue to stare at the hoof just inches away from you mouth.
  1045. >Chrysalis face becomes annoyed.
  1046. >“Enough of this!”
  1047. >Her horn flashes green as another wave of magic flashes over you.
  1048. >Your consciousness is quickly dispensed back into the inner reaches of your mind.
  1049. >Your hoof quickly moves forward into your mouth.
  1050. >With a quick snap you break off your back most fang.
  1051. >Grace gasps in horror.
  1052. >The metalic taste of blood fills your mouth.
  1053. >Removing the fang from your mouth you present it to Chrysalis.
  1054. >A small smile forms on the corner of her mouth as she lifts up the hollowed tooth with her magic.
  1055. >Bringing it closely to her face, she pops open a small compartment.
  1056. >A small pill falls out onto the floor.
  1057. >“There it is… can’t let you have an easy out, can we…”
  1058. >Chrysalis flicks the cyanide pill across the room into the burning puddle of oil.
  1059. >“Lucky…” Grace yells in dismay, watching the green blood drip from your mouth as you continue to stare blankly off into space.
  1060. >Chrysalis notices the mares reaction.
  1061. >Her sadistic grin continues to widen as she stares at the hollowed out tooth.
  1062. >“You know Disgrace… I simply love the eyepatch you made for Lucky… with the heart design on it. Simply wonderful!”
  1063. >Grace continues to cower in fear beneath the mighty hooves of the armor clad drones.
  1064. >“Wouldn’t it be great… if instead of one... Lucky had two eyepatches!”
  1065. >“NO!”
  1066. >Chrysalis begins to levitate your sharp hollowed out fang over to where you are standing.
  1067. >“P-Please… Don’t!”
  1068. >Grace begins to thrash wildly upon the ground, causing the chains to rattle loudly.
  1069. >“NO! DON’T! PLEASE!”
  1070. >The sharp fang slowly continues to approach, heading directly for your left eye.
  1071. >“Hold her down!” Chrysalis barks to the drones. “Make sure she sees this.”
  1072. >The drones continue to pin her.
  1073. >“NO!! NO!! NO!!!”
  1074. >Chrysalis’ mouth opens wide with delight as your tooth is just mere inches from your eye.
  1075. >“This is the fate of all who dare oppose me! No one shall stand in my way! Not Equestria! Not the world!”
  1076. >Tears begin to stream down Grace's face as she continues to scream and kick wildly.
  1077. >“LEAVE HIM ALONE! PLEASE!”
  1078. >Blood begins to erupt from her legs holes where the irons broke into her chitin.
  1079. >“HA… HA HA HA… HAHAHAHAHA.” Chrysalis laughs to herself
  1080. >“NO!/NO!”
  1081. >You continue to stare blankly as the tooth approaches, but you hear something…
  1082. >“LUCKY!/LUCKY!”
  1083. >It's a second voice…
  1084. >“STOP!/STOP!”
  1085. >The drones both look down at Grace in confusion.
  1086. >“HAHAHAHA-”
  1087. >“AAAHHH!/AAAHHH!”
  1088. >A bright flash of white strikes the room, you are knocked to the ground as you hear a loud explosion.
  1089. >You slowly lift your head and open your eyes.
  1090. >The green hue that plagued your vision is now gone
  1091. >All the changelings are knocked prone… except one…
  1092. >A large mare stands in the middle of the room, not as tall as Queen Chrysalis, but still several inches taller than you.
  1093. >The mare looks down at you with worried eyes.
  1094. >One of the eyes is solid blue, while the other possesses a green iris and a black vertical pupil.
  1095. >“Lucky?” The mare asks with a two toned voice. “Are you ok?”
  1096. >You stare at the mare.
  1097. >She shares several of the features of the Queen, while still maintaining those of a worker.
  1098. >A grey fin is still present on the back of her neck, but now a dark green, membranous tissue is present on the mare's midsection.
  1099. “G-Grace… is that you?”
  1100. >The mare looks at you puzzlingly
  1101. “Y-you… you are…”
  1102. >“My Queen! General Strider quickly darts to Chrysalis, lifting her up from the ground. “The mare… your lack of pheromones… her feedings… she has ascended! She is now a… now a…”
  1103. >“Laying Worker…” Chrysalis says coldly as she pulls herself up from the ground.
  1104. >“W-what?” Grace says confusingly, unaware of the intense physical transformations she has just underwent.
  1105. >“I hoped I’d never see the day this happened…”
  1106. >“My Queen… your orders?!”
  1107. >Chrysalis stares coldly at the mare.
  1108. >“She threatens the sovereignty of this hive… kill her.”
  1109. >“Gladly!”
  1110. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqBwXWqzaOs
  1111. >General Strider’s horn quickly glows bright white-green, within a split second a thin bolt shoots out towards Grace.
  1112. >The mare tightly closes her eyes, bracing for the impact.
  1113. >Before you can even turn your head to look, a dark green sphere encapsulates both you and Grace.
  1114. >The thin bolt of magic reflects off the shield and penetrates deep into the stone ceiling.
  1115. >Grace stares back, surprised and unsure of what her reflexes just accomplished.
  1116. >“Hmmm…” General Strider looks at the mare with frustration.
  1117. >“Drones! At attention!” The General barks at the two drones lying on the ground.
  1118. >The drones continue to lie still.
  1119. >“What are you-”
  1120. >General Strider takes a closer look at the two drones that were shackling Grace just moments ago.
  1121. >Both lie in a pool of green blood, their bodies littered with abundant iron shrapnel wounds.
  1122. >“Dammit!”
  1123. >The General turns to the doorway, there stands a lone armor clad changeling drone.
  1124. >“Get more reinforcements!”
  1125. >The drone quickly nods and buzzes off in a flash down the hallway.
  1126. >Chrysalis begins to walk towards the shield.
  1127. >“Disgrace… look at what you have done!”
  1128. >She points to the two drones lying on the ground.
  1129. >“How many more of your siblings will you kill because of your reckless actions?!”
  1130. >General Strider begins to walk around the other side of the shield, flanking the two of you.
  1131. >“I… didn’t… mean… to…”
  1132. >“Lower this shield at once!”
  1133. >“I… I…”
  1134. >The dark green shield begins to falter as she continues to stare at her two dead brothers lying upon the ground.
  1135. “Grace!”
  1136. >She turns to you.
  1137. >You place a hoof over her withers.
  1138. “Don’t listen to her! That wasn’t your fault!”
  1139. >The mare begins to calm down, looking at you relieved.
  1140. >“They’ve become symbiotic!” General Strider yells. “We must separate them!”
  1141. >“A hive can only have one sovereign!” Chrysalis yells as she continues to walk circles around the two of you. “Your existence threatens the stability of everything. I will not allow you to jeopardize all that I’ve accomplished!”
  1142. >The mares horn begins to glow brighter and brighter as she begins to charge a powerful spell.
  1143. “We can leave! W-we can go far away! You’ll never see us again!”
  1144. >“NO! You will die!”
  1145. >The Queen lets forth a large burst of green magic.
  1146. >The concussive blast of the impact causes you to detach from Grace's side.
  1147. >You fall from Grace, the blast pushing you to the far end of the shield.
  1148. >The shield wavers slightly against the heavy impact of the hit, but stands firm.
  1149. >Grace maintains her stance, her eyes closed tightly as she continues to focus on maintaining the spell.
  1150. >“Grace! Help!”
  1151. >A one eyed changeling drone yells from the outside of the shield.
  1152. >Grace looks to her left, seeing the drone with a crudely drawn heart upon his eyepatch.
  1153. >Chrysalis turns her angry gaze towards the drone desperately banging upon the shield.
  1154. >Grace gasps in fear.
  1155. “NO GRACE IT’S A-”
  1156. >As Grace lowers the shield, the drone with the eye patch quickly darts towards you, pinning you to the ground with his front hooves.
  1157. >Grace, realizing the ruse, quickly throws up her shield, surrounding all three of you.
  1158. >Another mighty beam of magic from Chrysalis’ horn rocks the shield, the blast knocking the changeling off of you.
  1159. >Both of you get to your hooves.
  1160. >Grace turns around and stares at the two of you, unable to tell who is the real one.
  1161. “He’s the fake!”
  1162. “No he’s the imposter!”
  1163. >The two of you point at each other.
  1164. >Grace looks at the two of you in fear.
  1165. “I love you Grace!”
  1166. >Grace looks at Lucky with longing eyes.
  1167. “Don’t listen to him!”
  1168. >The mare angrily turns to the other Lucky.
  1169. “N-no! Grace it’s me! I saved you from that boulder… remember! I… I...”
  1170. “Shoot us both Grace! It's the only way to be sure…”
  1171. >The mare begins to charge her horn.
  1172. “I… I… watched over you… I… we... slept together since day one.... away from everyone else!”
  1173. >Unconvinced at the desperate attempts to persuade her, she lowers her horn, ready to launch a bolt.
  1174. “I… I… Page 63! For the love of Celestia! Page 63!”
  1175. >Grace’s head perks up. She instantly recalls that knowledge that only the two of you intimately shared with each other.
  1176. >“Enough of this!”
  1177. >The imposter quickly darts behind you, grabbing you by the chest and pulling you onto your back two legs.
  1178. >With a flurry of green flame General Strider transforms back to his true form.
  1179. >His horn turns a bright green as he charges a powerful spell.
  1180. >“Lower your shield or I blow his brains out!”
  1181. >Grace’s eyes go wide in horror.
  1182. “Don’t listen to him, they’ll kill both of-”
  1183. “AAAHHHH!”
  1184. >You shriek in pain as the drone jabs you in your side.
  1185. >“Don’t hurt him! Please!”
  1186. >“Then lower your shield!”
  1187. >“Disgrace! Hear me out!” Chrysalis yells from the other side of the shield.
  1188. >“Surrender yourself, and the pony leaves… unharmed!”
  1189. >Grace hesitantly turns from you to Chrysalis.
  1190. >Your chest heaves in and out heavily, your body recovering from the strong blow.
  1191. >“You’ll… let him leave…”
  1192. >“Yes! You will not get a better offer! Now lower your shield quickly before I decide to offer neither of you mercy!”
  1193. >Grace turns back to you, tears dripping from her eyes.
  1194. “D-don’t… do… it…”
  1195. >The shield surrounding you dematerializes.
  1196. >A green bolt of energy quickly leaves the horn of Chrysalis, striking Grace upon her side.
  1197. >The mare shrieks as she collapses onto the ground in pain.
  1198. “NOOOOOO!!!”
  1199. >You yell as you try to break free.
  1200. >“Pathetic.” Chrysalis slowly walks over to the wounded mare lying on the floor. “Absolutely pathetic! A changeling willing to sacrifice themselves for a pony? How can you be so…”
  1201. >Chrysalis places her front hoof over Grace's skull and begins to press down.
  1202. >“Stupid…”
  1203. >“AAAAHHHHHHH!” She shrieks in agony.
  1204. >You hear the sound of chitin cracking.
  1205. >“I am ashamed to have ever conceived you!”
  1206. >“AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”
  1207. >“You are an embarrassment to this hive… and to changelings everywhere!
  1208. “GRACE!”
  1209. >Chrysalis turns to you.
  1210. >“And you…”
  1211. >The Queen’s eyes flash dark green with intense ferocity.
  1212. >“I’ve decided what to do with you…”
  1213. >The Queen turns her gaze to the pinned mare.
  1214. >“Look upon your precious pony one last time Disgrace. The last thing you shall ever see is his brains splattered across the floor right before I smash your skull beneath my hooves!”
  1215. >Chrysalis looks across the room at you.
  1216. >“General!”
  1217. >“Gladly-”
  1218. >“STOP!”
  1219. >A flash of green blinds your vision.
  1220. >Something snaps right next to your ear.
  1221. >“GGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!”
  1222. >The drone behind you screams in agonizing pain.
  1223. >Chrysalis’ eyes go wide as she looks behind you.
  1224. >A black projectile quickly shoots forth from over your shoulder.
  1225. >With a speed your eyes cannot even comprehend, the black dart strikes Chrysalis in the lower neck.
  1226. >The mare is sent flying back.
  1227. >With a clink of stone, the mare's body becomes pinned to the wall.
  1228. >The Queen, clutching her neck, looks at both of you in shock.
  1229. >As the drone behind you continues to yell in pain, you feel his grip upon you loosen.
  1230. >You give the drone quick a jab to the rib cage.
  1231. >The drone collapses to the ground, howling in agony as you break free.
  1232. >You turn around to look at him.
  1233. >Green blood quickly pools from a gaping wound in his forehead.
  1234. >His black horn, as well as a large chunk of his skull, have been ripped from his head.
  1235. >Leaving the drone to wallow to his misery, you turn to Chrysalis.
  1236. >She continues to desperately grab at the horn lodged deep within her neck.
  1237. >“Luc...key…”
  1238. >You hear a faint murmur from the mare in the middle of the room.
  1239. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWxuuAbvVfg
  1240. >You quickly run towards Grace, sliding to her side.
  1241. >She looks at you with half-closed eyes.
  1242. >Blood pours from the cracked chitin surrounding her head, spilling into a larger pool of blood coming from a massive wound present upon her side.
  1243. >You grab her in both your hooves and hold her tightly.
  1244. >“Luck…”
  1245. “FEED!”
  1246. >You slam your mouth against hers and wrap your legs around her.
  1247. >Her body begins to go limp as her eyelids slowly close.
  1248. >You detach momentarily.
  1249. “FEED GRACE! FEED!
  1250. >The mare’s two different eyes begin to focus on your face.
  1251. >Grace sees your one gleaming blue eye and your brown leather eyepatch, a red heart crudely scribbled upon it.
  1252. >You feel her lips move as a smile forms upon her face.
  1253. >A green light flares above both of your heads as her horn ignites.
  1254. >You feel a green essence begin to transfer from your mouth to hers.
  1255. >The pain is nonexistent, instead, a new feeling arises.
  1256. >It starts off as a tingling sensation, but slowly grows.
  1257. >The sound of multiple hooves and buzzing wings fills the hallway outside the room.
  1258. >You continue to firmly hold the mare in your hooves, pressing yourself even closer to her.
  1259. >Staring longingly at the mare, her eyes become more and more focused as the pain dissipates from her body.
  1260. >You think about how much you love this mare more than anything else in the world, how you would never leave her side, no matter what!
  1261. >The tingling sensation transitions to a warmth across your entire body.
  1262. >You look at Grace's side, the gaping wound is almost entirely closed.
  1263. >The hooves and buzzing stop at the doorway, you hear multiple changeling gasp in fear.
  1264. >You and Grace quickly detach from each other and get to your hooves.
  1265. >You stand face to face with a dozen changelings, both workers and drones.
  1266. >All of them have horrified expressions on their faces.
  1267. >The blue eyes of the changelings stare at the two of you, each of you are covered in green blood and surrounded by a horrific scene of carnage.
  1268. >You hear them murmur amongst themselves.
  1269. >“What… Who is that?”
  1270. >“Is that… Disgrace?”
  1271. >“What happened to her?”
  1272. >“THE QUEEN!” Yells a lone armor clad drone as he notices Chrysalis is pinned to the wall on the far side of the room
  1273. >“WE MUST PROTECT THE QUEEN!”
  1274. >You watch as Grace's face turns cold, her horn begins to charge.
  1275. >“ATTAC-”
  1276. “WAIT!” You yell holding your hooves out.
  1277. >Everyone turns to you.
  1278. “No one else has to die! We’ll leave right now, and no more harm will come to the Queen! Right Grace!”
  1279. >Grace slowly diverts her attention to the changelings in the hallway to you.
  1280. >Maintaining an anger-filled visgage, she slowly nods.
  1281. >You turn to the armor clad drone.
  1282. >“Soldier! What say you? Will you guarantee the survival of your Queen and hive by letting us pass?”
  1283. >The drone keeps his eyes fixed upon the large mare with the charged horn.
  1284. “Soldier! Need I remind you what happened to your commander when he tried to take on a fully charged Laying Worker!”
  1285. >You point your hoof to General Strider.
  1286. >His wails of agony have since stopped as blood continues to form a pool around his head.
  1287. >The drone glances at his General lying upon the floor, fear begins to well in his eyes.
  1288. >“Uh… Uh…”
  1289. >Grace’s horn begins to grow brighter.
  1290. >“Let them pass! They bested the General and Chrysalis! We are no match for them!”
  1291. >You let out a sigh of relief as the drone slowly backs away from the doorway.
  1292. “Come on Grace! Let's go!”
  1293. >You begin to walk towards the door, but Grace stays where she is, turning her attention to Chrysalis.
  1294. “Grace what are you doing? We need to go! Now!”
  1295. >Grace slowly walks up to Chrysalis, blood pouring from her neck as the Queen struggles to breath.
  1296. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0_H_GlZvzg
  1297. >“Mother…” Grace says in a cold somber tone. “Say my name…”
  1298. >Chrysalis stares at the intimidating mare standing before her.
  1299. >“D-d-dis-”
  1300. >*SLAM*
  1301. >Grace violently slaps the bleeding mare across the face.
  1302. >The armor clad drones snaps to attention.
  1303. “Grace! What in the name of Tartarus are you doing!?”
  1304. >“NO MOTHER! Say my name! The name YOU gave me!”
  1305. >The Queen looks at Grace with fear in her eyes.
  1306. >Chrysalis tries to look away, but Grace grabs her face with her hoof.
  1307. >“SAY IT!”
  1308. >“C-c-chry... salis.”
  1309. >You nervously look back at the scene occurring behind you.
  1310. >“Why did you give me that name!?”
  1311. >Chrysalis attempts to close her eyes.
  1312. >“WHY?!”
  1313. >Graces horn begins to grow green.
  1314. >The drone at the doorway begins to inch forward.
  1315. “Grace!”
  1316. >“TELL ME!”
  1317. >“Because… you were… just like me… when I was a foal...”
  1318. >Grace continues to stare coldly.
  1319. >“Scrawny… weak… but… but…”
  1320. >“BUT WHAT!”
  1321. >“Full of potential… full of... love…”
  1322. >“LOVE?"
  1323. >Grace grabs Chrysalis’ face with both of her hooves.
  1324. >"You don’t know what love is! You’ve drained hundreds, if not thousands of ponies of love over your lifetime, but you have never truly experienced love!”
  1325. “We have to go!”
  1326. >Grace begins to turn away. But stops.
  1327. >“You called me pathetic… but it is you who is pathetic! You who is weak! Pinning sibling against sibling all in the name of power! What kind of Queen are you?!
  1328. >Tears begin to stream down the Chrysalis’ face.
  1329. >You tug on Grace's body urging her to leave.
  1330. >“What kind of all-powerful Queen would cower in fear as your children fought and died trying to save you! You cowered behind foals! BEHIND FOALS!”
  1331. >Chrysalis begins to sob uncontrollably.
  1332. >“You are the one who is the disgrace mother! Not I! YOU ARE THE DISGRACE!”
  1333. >You forcefully turn Grace around as both of you face the doorway.
  1334. >Chrysalis weeps loudly as the two of you slowly make your way towards the exit of the room.
  1335. >The armor clad drone, as well as the rest of the changelings, quickly move out of the way.
  1336. >Just as you are about to leave, a black disfigured changeling drone moves into the doorway, blocking your exit.
  1337. “Brutus…”
  1338. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpq887EYwnk
  1339. >The drone looks at you with a bitter anger.
  1340. >“Move out of the way Brutus.” Grace says with tiredness and frustration in her voice.
  1341. >“No…”
  1342. >“Brutus… move-”
  1343. >“You cannot leave! The pony must pay for his crimes!”
  1344. >“Move… or I will move you!”
  1345. >“This is all his fault! He is responsible for everything!”
  1346. >Grace’s horn and Brutus body glow with a green light as she begins to levitate him.
  1347. >“NO!”
  1348. >Brutus clamps his hooves securely to the door frame.
  1349. >Grace continues to pull, but the drones powerful muscles resist.
  1350. >“HE’S A PONY! YOU CAN’T TRUST THEM!”
  1351. >Grace releases her pull on the drone.
  1352. >“MOVE”! Grace yells angrily at the drone.
  1353. >“LOOK WHAT THE PONIES DID TO ME!”
  1354. >Brutus points to his deformed face and crippled body.
  1355. >“LOOK AT ME! DO YOU SEE WHAT THEY DID!”
  1356. >“MOVE!”
  1357. >“THE PONIES ARE VILE! THEY SEEK TO DESTROY US!”
  1358. >Grace’s horn begins to flare a bright white.
  1359. >“DON’T GO WITH HIM!
  1360. >“MOVE!”
  1361. >“DON’T LEAVE ME-”
  1362. >“MOVE-”
  1363. >A bright white flash occurs in front of you, followed a split second later by another flash directly behind you.
  1364. >You immediately hear something hit the ground with a thud, along with a splattering of fluid.
  1365. >The changelings in the hallway stare behind the two of you in horror.
  1366. >You hear Chrysalis let out a horrified scream, joined by several of the changelings in the hall.
  1367. >A worker feints, collapsing on the ground while the armor clad drone vomits in disgust.
  1368. >Before the two of you stands the smoking disfigured chitin of drone.
  1369. >Both of you stare at its face.
  1370. >Where there would normally be two blue eyes now exists two empty black voids.
  1371. >Grace’s face changes from anger to utter shock.
  1372. >“B-Brutus?...”
  1373. >As you look at the mare’s horrified expression, you clearly realize she had no intention of performing this botched teleportation spell.
  1374. >She slowly begins to turn around.
  1375. “No!”
  1376. >You quickly grab the back of her head with your hoof.
  1377. “L-Let's go Grace…. Let's go…”
  1378. >The mare pauses for a second, but hesitantly agrees.
  1379. >You shakily lift your hoof up to the black set of chitin blocking the doorway.
  1380. >You carefully attempt to push it aside, but the chunks of chitinous limbs collapse upon the floor.
  1381. “S-s-shit!”
  1382. >You look back to Grace, she is now shivering looking at the remains of her brother directly in front of her.
  1383. “J-j-just walk over it… c-come on…”
  1384. >Grace stands there, continuing to stare at the disfigured chitin.
  1385. >You carefully move the chitin out of the way, making a path for her.
  1386. “Grace… l-look at me!”
  1387. >The mare turns her attention from the floor to you.
  1388. “I moved it! It's gone… l-let's go!”
  1389. >The mare hesitantly nods and begins to follow you.
  1390. >The dozen changelings standing in the hallway watch in fear as the two of you pass by.
  1391. >Their backs are pressed tightly against the wall, trying to stay as far away from the two of you as possible.
  1392. >You walk past them, towards the main entry chamber.
  1393. >After walking some distance, you look back.
  1394. >The changelings descended into the room to aid their Queen, except for the armor clad drone who nervously trails behind you.
  1395. >As you arrive to the main entry chamber, you are spotted by another dozen changelings, both unarmored drones and workers.
  1396. >They stare at Grace in awe.
  1397. >“LET THEM PASS!” The armor clad drone yells from behind you. Or… Or... THEY’LL KILL US ALL!”
  1398. >The expression on the changeling faces turns from awe to fear.
  1399. >“GET OUT OF THERE! HURRY!” The drone frantically yells.
  1400. >The changelings quickly scramble, flying off into tunnels further into the hive.
  1401. >The two of you continue onward, climbing your way up the newly excavated entrance.
  1402. >At the top you are greeted by a black, early morning sky.
  1403. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRVloMch-wM
  1404. >To the east, the sun begins to rise, the sky slowly being engulfed in the twilight of a new day.
  1405. >A strong wind howls, feeling bitterly cold against your bare chitin.
  1406. >The two of you look down the large mound of rocks leading up to the entrance of the hive.
  1407. >Grace turns to you.
  1408. >“We’ll fly down together… are you ready?”
  1409. >You nod.
  1410. >The mare spreads her large set of wings into the air.
  1411. >She positions herself directly above you and tightly grabs you with her legs.
  1412. >She takes off, carrying you over the escarpment.
  1413. >She continues to fly past the mound, further to the west.
  1414. >Her wings eventually grow tired from carrying the both of you, causing her to land on a plateau roughly a mile from the entrance of the hive.
  1415. >Grace rests for a moment, giving her wings a chance to recuperate.
  1416. >Both of you turn back to look at the hive.
  1417. >Several black changelings emerge from the entrance, their blue eyes looking in your direction.
  1418. >“Why…”
  1419. >You hear Grace began to sniffle.
  1420. >“Why did it have to turn out like this…”
  1421. >Tears begin to drip down the mare's face.
  1422. >You take Grace into your hooves, attempting to comfort her in your embrace.
  1423. >“So much pain… so much death…”
  1424. “I’m sorry…”
  1425. >The mare pulls you in tightly against her chest, hugging you firmly.
  1426. >The sun continues to rise, making it difficult to see the blue orbs staring at you from atop the hive.
  1427. >“That was my home… that was my family…”
  1428. >As you continue to embrace the mare, you stare off into the black skies of the west.
  1429. >“What are we going to do now…”
  1430. "..."
  1431. “Grace… turn around…”
  1432. >She turns from looking at the hive to the blackness opposite the sun.
  1433. “There’s the whole world out there… we can go anywhere…”
  1434. >She looks down to you.
  1435. “We can do anything we set our minds to…”
  1436. >Grace's eyes turn to you, and then to her dark-green mid-section.
  1437. >She slowly rubs her front hoof over the thin layers of dark-green tissue.
  1438. >“I think I can feel it… I’m… s-soon I will…”
  1439. >You move your hoof next to hers, carefully placing it upon her abdomen.
  1440. “Don’t worry… I’ll be there to help you through this…”
  1441. >She turns up to look at you, her slotted green eye focusing on you as her blue multifaceted eye remains the same.
  1442. “I’m not going anywhere… I’ll always be with you.”
  1443. >A weary smile slowly develops on the mouth of the mare.
  1444. >The sun continues to rise behind you, the blinding rays making the mound of the hive impossible to see.
  1445. >Grace turns to look.
  1446. “There is nothing back there for either of us... except but more pain and suffering…”
  1447. >Grace hangs her head low, letting out a sigh.
  1448. >“Yes… you're right… it’s time to go…”
  1449. >Both you turn to the west.
  1450. >Before you lies a desolate wasteland, going on forever.
  1451. >You begin traveling into the dark unknown, walking shoulder to shoulder.
  1452.  
  1453. The End
  1454.  
  1455. Author's notes:
  1456.  
  1457. 87 thousand words. It wasn’t supposed to be this long. Kudos to you for reading the whole thing, I hope you enjoyed it.
  1458.  
  1459. I started working on this in February 2016 right before season 6 came out. It took about nine months to write.
  1460.  
  1461. For this story I choose to go with a hive caste system apparent in social insects like bees and ants. I broke the changeling hive down into three major divisions, the queen, the male drones, and the sterile female workers. With both ants and bees, when a queen is no longer present in a hive, her lack of pheromones can cause laying workers to develop. Within these hives, a small amount of workers, usually less that 1%, are not actually sterile, but have functional ovaries. This was my idea for Grace, her many weeks of isolation from the queen, along with her many feedings, caused her body to ascend to a new level, a hybrid between a worker and a Queen.
  1462.  
  1463. I’d like to send a shout out to Bonermancer, I was heavily influenced by your style of using music mid-text. Music does a great job of ramping up the intensity of the story, causing the reader to have a much more emotional connection to whatever they are reading. I went with a lot of music by Zack Hemsey, Hans Zimmer, and Eric Serra. I also used some other soundtracks from Fallout 4, 28 days later, Saw, Warhammer 40k, and a few other miscellaneous tracks. Sorry Bonermancer, I didn’t use any Two Steps From Hell...
  1464.  
  1465. I’d like to send another shout out to WriteTwat, I borrowed a couple ideas for sex scenes from you. Specifically that Vinyl Scratch scene from Sex Shop in Ponyville.
  1466.  
  1467. I also was kinda influenced by the feeding scene in Bonermancer’s Where Eyes Deceive, where the drone moves from indirect feeding to kissing, making the process much less painful.
  1468.  
  1469. A few regrets I had about this story. I wish I made Lucky more bitter towards the changelings when he arrived. I think I made him become sympathetic to quickly, giving the reader an unwanted prediction of where I was going with the story.
  1470.  
  1471. Oh yeah, one last thing. I’ve only ridden one horse in my life. His name was Lucky #2. He only had one eye.
  1472.  
  1473. Thanks for reading!

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