A/N- -This will make alot more sense, if you have read the Daniel series, or at least, Daniel Book 4
The setting was dark, it was moist, damp, and smelled strangely of death and decay. only two familiar faces, that weren't fake, could be seen. One was hideous. Her eyes were a swampy green, and within the murky depths, was no love, no joy, and no regret. Her skin was covered in a hardened shell, if one was to look closely, they would find it a dark, sickly, green. But most, saw it as black. scattered across her body, were oozing holes, dripping with a musky scent to the strange substance. Sprouting out of her back, in unholy way, were two ugly bug like wings, light green and transparent. They were large enough to carry her weight, but thin enough to slice through solid rock. atop her head, was a crooked and bent horn, with jagged edges, and stained with a dark red substance that was not ketchup. Her demonic smile could, and would, send chills down anypony's spine.There was a large cracking sound within her chamber.
The changling next to Chrysalis looked up at her worriedly. "Ma'am, you, you don't enjoy watching your own children destroy themselves, do you?" CC asked. She had a spark in her eye that told of innocence.
"Your hive's queen is a softy, sending you over here instead of coming herself. Something tells me, that you will not be joining our ranks for plan beta. But if you view this, without turning away, I can personally guaranty that your hive will be safe during the invasion. But if you turn away, I will feed you to them, and declare war on it." Chrysalis said in an oddly seductive way. CC's eyes widened, but she nodded.
"Okay, but remember, my hive may be the friendliest, but it is also the most defended," and with a gulp, she gazed out at the lower caverns underneath the stone pathway they were on. Suddenly there was another loud crack, and at once, many of the rocks below them, began to crack open, revealing that instead of rocks, were newborn changling foals. there was a sudden screech, and the gore fest, began.
It started off simply as the foals would come close to each other in pairs or groups of three, and immediately started to bite each other, legs were torn off, and heads ripped apart, shredded and swallowed by each other. Blood stained everything, and it went on like this, until there were only four left. Even Chrysalis seemed shocked at this. The four stared up at their queen, bruised and battered. Then suddenly, after a surprised yelp, there were three, and everybody in the room looked confused. There was a sound of a burp, and the missing changeling's bloody horn flew out from nowhere.
Two more disappeared, leaving just one, who was already in an attack stance that came with its natural instinct. Suddenly, it too, was gone. Then out of the darkness, came a different looking changeling. Its wings were red, as well as its eyes.
"Well, well. looks like we have a new general. And you, young Cadianidina, can tell your hive's queen that not only will we not attack it, but we will protect it." She said dangerously. CC nodded, and left the current underground cave to get back to the hive's embassy. Chrysalis turned towards the remaining changling, and spoke. "Young one, you have the markings of a queen, yet you are male. Therefore I dub you with a name. You are Shadow. Prince Shadow. I know that you are destined for big things, and to lead us into glory." Her voice contained no encouragement, only malice. Shadow simply smiled innocently, and giggled.
Seven years later.
"Where are we going?" The changeling foal asked Chrysalis, his voice spoke of a mind much older than his body. Shadow was walking next to chrysalis. On either side of them both were two captains, Male changelings with somewhat of a free will.
"You shall not speak to the Queen in such manner," One on the left growled. Shadow stopped, and looked at the changeling. Every other stopped as well. Shadow marched up to the changeling who said that. and looked him in the eye with a gentle smile.
"Tell me, what is your name and designation?" Shadow asked politely.
"Hardshell, guard." The changeling stated simply. Shadow nodded.
"Are you the leader of the guards her at the moment?" Shadow asked. The guard nodded. "And your ranking is eighteen, making you one of the main soldiers of the hive correct?" Again Hardshell nodded. "And today is the first day you have seen me and The Queen together I suppose?" He nodded. "Hmm, very well." Shadow then proceeded to lunge forward, bite the soldier's neck, and rip it out. Hardshell looked in pain and terror at the emotionless face that Shadow gave, as he swallowed the bit of his flesh. He then fell over, as he began to choke on his blood. Shadow turned around. "Let this be both a lesson and a warning to you all." And they all kept walking.
"As to answer your question, it is time for you to learn how to change your shape. Now come, we must not waste time," Chrysalis told the prince, who nodded. They began to go deeper into the hive, past where the drones were housed, past where the females other than Chrysalis reside, past the mutating rooms, and further still, until after ten full minutes of walking deep into the bowels of the hive, they reached A marble hallway, lit by torches. The guards stopped before they entered the hallway. Shadow growled at the sudden light, but kept his pace next to Chrysalis, as they met a steel door at the end of the rudely bright hallway. "There are several rules to this before you may enter. The first rule is not to harm the creature in there, the second rule is to teach it as it teaches you, and the most important, Never ever let it out. Am I understood?" Shadow nodded. Chrysalis opened the door, and Shadow stepped through it. The door swung closed behind him. I will be back soon enough." She trotted away. Shadow turned around.
"Ah yes, how fitting. Mommy too busy for ya?" a gruff voice asked with a dark chuckle. "Not that you would know anything of motherly affection from that bitch, eh?" Shadow scowled at the darkness around him. His eyes still hadn't adjusted.
"And who in the hive would be as bold to say that?" Shadow growled out. "Do you have a death wish?" Another chuckle from the darkness, shadow's eyes were adjusting now, and he could see a figure slightly taller than himself, but still could not make out who it was.
"Ah, a fire in you, it is hard for me to believe that you came from a brood of drones," the silhouette stated. "A mindless bunch they are, it will be interesting talking to somebody with an actual personality." Shadow's sight finally began to pick up what the creature was, it looked like a changeling, but seemed different somehow. Its body was not riddled with holes upon its limbs, and its voice seemed, off.
"How would you know of my brood?"
"I know a lot. Now, sit down, cause I have to teach you some things, and don't argue, or the old bitch will not be happy with either of us," Shadow thought about the other's words, and sat down, realizing that "The Old Bitch" was Chrysalis. "Alright, let's see, what do you know of ponies?"
"They are both the enemy and food," Shadow stated simply. The creature sighed.
"Alright, looks like we have to go back to the beginning. Whatever you have been taught about pony kind, forget it, it is all lies. I have been taught by four kingdoms the history of the ponies, and here is where you will be learning of it yourself. Along with it, you will be teaching me whatever I wish to know, is this understood?" The voice was more rigid now, more commanding.
"I thought I was put in here to learn how to change my form," Shadow stated simply. Yet again the other chuckled darkly again.
"How can one imitate emotions if they have never known one themselves? That is the greatest downfall of your entire hive, you know not the emotions that others feel, and therefore, you never can truly imitate another pony. You may think you are strong because of this, but in truth, it makes you weak."
"Who are you to call me weak?" Shadow snarled.
"I'll tell you who I am at the end of today's lesson, how about that?" It said. Shadow merely nodded. "Very well, now to begin, I think we should begin with--" It was cut off by the door opening.
"That's enough, it is time to go," Chrysalis spoke dangerously into the cell. Shadow glanced at her, and back to the creature.
"So what is your name?" He asked slowly. The creature laughed.
"There was no lesson, so you will get no name." Shadow was then forced out by Chrysalis.
Changlings are not 'born' in the sense of the term, instead, the hive's queen lays eggs in the hatching caves within the hive, and later, these eggs hatch. Different hives treat their young in different ways, for instance, my hive actually celebrates every time a new set of eggs is hatched, and assigns each of us the job that we are meant to do. My hive is a happy place, even if it is dark and dank. But one hive, who's queen is known as Chrysalis, treats their hatchlings with little care, or respect, they are born and bred for killing, only ten out of every hundred eggs is allowed to survive, all the others must be devoured alive by their own kindred. I, as an ambassador and trainer, have seen this for myself. It's horrible, the newly hatched changlings eating each other, all because they need to live. I remember a long time ago, when I first visited there, I was told of one who had eaten every single one of his brethren...
~CC to Daniel
Once upon a time, towards the west of the magical land of Equestria, there lived a hive in the badlands. In the hive, was one of the most horrid tribes of sentient species imaginable. They, unlike others of even their own kind, renounced the teachings of the great one, and resorted to devouring emotions. What they didn't know, was that the great one had left behind a prophecy, that included all races and tribes of the world, and that was their downfall.
For in the prophecy, it was foretold that many heroes would rise, to aid the world to the greatness of the blessed Equestria. It was also told, that many of these heroes would die for another, in the great battle for the blessed lands. One specific hero had originated from one of the worst places imaginable.
He came from the hive of Chrysalis.
