The Change of Heart(Cancelled)

Claw could barely contain his excitement.

Even though he is slowly trotting down the gray, dimly-lit halls with Cilia, it was noticeable.  His legs moved twice as fast while he still maintained his slow pace. He looked like he was stomping on a floor of invisible ants or traversing through a gunk of tapioca pudding.  A memory that he does enjoy too fondly.

On his face was a grin that seemed to slowly get larger by the nano meter.  It revealed more and more of his white teeth that hid in his jet-black vessel of a mouth.  Even more so, his abnormally short fangs were at their greatest pride, which happened to be no bigger than his normal teeth.  Claw didn't seem to mind the stares of other changelings, he was too busy keeping himself from not jumping all over the walls.

Claw decided to break the short silence that seemed to stretch an eternity...again.

“Are we really gonna do this?  Cuz’ I think we’re going to do this!”  He asked with a slight rasp in his voice.

Claw was considered a very strange changeling, or for the more blunt term, unattractive.  His two eyes both had different colors.  One of being bright orange, while the other being dark cyan.  He could stick a fruit orange into his orange eye socket and it would look no different.

While his horn and wings were of average, his fangs were humiliatingly short.  Claw could even close his mouth and his fangs would be concealed, inhibiting the ability to display himself.  He wore some dark olive green armor, not much but, some.  Most of it was largely un-detailed and made for protection, except for the mark at the chest that matched the one on his bare chitin.

Cilia rolled her eyes and let out an exhausted groan.  Today, she felt like more of a mother taking care of her hyperactive filly than as a professional soldier.

“ Yes, we’re actually doing something.  I mean, we were ordered to anyway.  Calm your chitin down, we may not actually be doing some super important or something.”

“ Yeah but, we are actually going to be a central part of her highness’ plan!  We’re not going to be some grunts doing heavy work, otherwise they would've sent us to the maintenance team.  Do you know what we're gonna do?”

“Not a clue.”

Cilia spoke with the voice of a charismatic, young pony mare.  And like all changelings, her words would include the indistinguishable hiss that appeared as a natural trait.  But her hiss was less stronger than most females, her voice was strangely more clear.  She too, was considered abnormal among changelings.

Cilia is considered quite attractive among changelings.  She had bright, lime eyes along with spring green wings.  Her wings themselves were longer than most females.  Her horn was more wicked as well.  A female changeling’s attractiveness was determined by the color of her eyes, the length and wear of their horns, the size of their wings, holes in their hooves and size of her fangs.  She had the perfect mix of each trait, making her quite the idol in the Hive.

She also wore some armor, the same dark olive color as Claw’s.  Except her armor covered more of her body, and included a helmet as well.  But her helmet was less elaborate than higher ranks’ helmets.  She also had a mark where her chest would be, except her’s differed from Claws.

The pair of changelings continued through the elaborate turns of the sector 0 of the military hub in the Hive.  What allowed them safe passage, or prevented themselves from hitting the walls, were the small, dim, orbs that gave off a mint hue from the green liquid inside.

Large cracks decorated the lifeless corridors, representing proof of nature’s doing.  Rooms were carved out left and right of the halls, all with wooden-chocolate doors.  Each room had a gray panel, showing that it was either a sleeping quarters, or storage.

Then the two changelings heard a series of light hoofsteps clopping from behind them.  They turned to see their stalker.  Instead, a small crowd of familiar changelings were following Claw and Cilia.  Some had looks of humble curiosity on their eyes, while others had fierce, eager expressions.  The crowd halted their small talk when they noticed Claw and Cilia silently staring at them.  Seeing that no one was willing to speak, Claw volunteered himself.

“What are you guys doing here?”

The changeling crowd looked at each other individually, one-by-one, and left-to-right.

“Well, we’re following you guys to get briefed on our assignment.  Right?”

For the next moment, silence hanged between the two groups.  Cilia then held her holey hoof towards the crowd.  Cilia let out a sigh, knowing that they were all going to be disappointed.

“Sorry, ‘fraid you guys can’t come along.  Sorry, but direct orders state that only C.O.s and their second-in-commands may be briefed.  Just go back to the barracks, we’ll see you there and then explain things.”

The changelings’ faces drooped down to the news.  From no matter what feeling, from ambition to curiosity, each of the faces looked like the same, depressed state.  All of them slowly turned around and walked back through the halls.

Claw held his hoof beside his mouth, and took in a small gust of air.

“Sorry guys!  But don’t worry, we’ll be doing something awesome!”  He yelled out.

The changeling crowd went around the left corner, while Cilia and Claw continued to their destination.  Claw felt a little depressed additionally, but also relieved.  On one side, he wanted to share the joy of whatever assignment he had with his comrades.  On the other side however, he felt proud to be called individually for something this important.  The thoughts collided in Claw’s mind, when the questions of where and why came to him.

“Wait, where are we actually going to?  And who exactly called us?  You didn't explain very well, if at ALL, what was going on.”

“To answer your first question, we are going to the war room.  That is where the grand scheme of things will be explained.  If you couldn’t figure it out.”

“Yeah, uh, sure.  I knew that one!”

Claw began to laugh hesitantly, while scratching the back of his head.  Despite the odds against him, he still persevered to make himself look like he listened much earlier.  But nevertheless, Claw was still loyal to the army.

Slight doubt came across Cilia.  Cilia cleared her throat, for a speech that she was probably going to give to Claw.  But she as soon as she looked down the hall that they were going through, she needed to shorten her answer.  She took a moment to read the panel at the end of the hall that said ‘War Room’ before quickly trying to explain to Claw.

“And the one who gave the orders was Commander Thorax.  And before you ask, yes THE Commander Thorax.  Yes, it’s spelled T-H-O-R-A-X, not another changeling with a similar sounding name.”

“You mean Commander Thorax that everyone knows about?!  Are you sure that…”

Claw took the moment to think about what Cilia said after noticing her annoyed glare to him.  He decided to take the right course of action, and shut up.  But his mind did not shut up.  Images of the legendary Commander Thorax flashed to his mind.  His admiration for the Commander gradually shifted to nervousness.  He also heard that the Commander was very strict, and very pragmatic.

“Keep calm and play it cool,” he thought to himself.  But Claw only had that moment to think because they were already in front of the door.  The uneasy silence of the hall and faint mumbles emanating from the room only added to Claw’s nervousness.

Cilia approached the displaced door and began to open it.  The door opened slowly along with an eerie creek.  Light from the surprisingly bright room dashed out as soon as the opportunity came.  Claw had to hold his hoof in front of his strange eyes to adjust to the sudden brightness.  The light shadowed over his face while pockets of light escaped through the holes in his legs.  He slowly let his hoof back down after his eyes began to hurt less and less.  He glanced over to Cilia to see what she was doing, she was completely unfazed.

Claw beheld the first sight of the War room that was within the oak door.  The grey room was far more open that it seemed to be.  Many papers and maps were scattered across the mesh walls.  The whole was illuminated by silver light from the crystals on the strangely higher ceilings.  Marking the center of the room, a large stone table was plateaued from the earth, with a large paper covering most of it.   Changelings with different markings on their armored chests surrounded the table.  While Claw tried to sneak a quick look at the barely legible paper.  The changeling that directly faced them stood out the most.

The changeling of Claw’s interest had a more fierce horn and wings and had a bigger physique.  He wore a very detailed dark-navy blue helmet.  Unlike most helmets, this one had a very nice polish to it.  He wore beautiful armor that matched the helmet as well.  On his marked covered chest, was many colorful medals that definitely impressed all that seen them.

His aqua eyes took notice of the pair entering the room and began to move his lips to speak.  He spoke his words with a refined and yet rough tone, all combined with that subtle hiss that every changeling was born with.  He also took notice of the markings on the two’s armored chests.  Cilia’s triple layered triangle and square, and Claw’s double layered triangle, a mark he wore proudly.

“Ahh yes, the Commanding Officers from Platoon 15 have finally arrived, excellent!  And do not worry yourselves Lieutenant and Corporeal, you are not late here.  All that matters now is that everyone I have called for is here today.”

Claw’s heart practically skipped a beat.  He couldn't believe that this was the real Commander Thorax.  The war hero who is now regarded to be the second most powerful changeling in the Hive, right below the Queen herself.

Cilia and Claw both stepped into the bright room and puffed themselves up out of respect and consideration.  Both stiffened their forelegs and gave a robotic salute.  Claw then turned around and went to slowly close the door.  Both then went and took the two consecutive open spots around the large stone table.

Claw then turned his attention towards the large paper on the monolithic table.  Far away, it appeared to be a massive poster-maze for the little ones to make and solve.  But upon closer examination, he realized that it was a detailed map of Canterlot.  A detailed map that was put together by the long efforts of changelings gathering recon at the city over the years.  Claw included in that list.

The Commander abruptly cleared his throat and began to address all of the changelings present.

“I’d like to thank every Changeling for coming here today, for this is a matter that will change the history of Changeling-kind.  For centuries and even Millennia, Changelings have been pushed away and far away by Ponykind.  Our rightful homeland of Equestria has been taken from us from the ponies long ago.  And to this day, they shun and quarantine us like we are some of pest that must be eradicated.  But now is the the time to mark of Resurgence, and we shall take back our rightful home.  The Queen and I have been planning for this moment for years, and that moment is fast approaching.  And that is why I have called you all here to ensure that the whole operation is a success.”

Claw’s mind began to doze out as the Commander began to thoroughly explain Platoon 2’s plan, which involved something about loosening security as much as possible.  Claw’s strange eyes began to dash around the room, reading the maps and papers scattered around.  After being unable to read the faraway papers, he turned his attention to the massive Canterlot map he began to study.  Claw began to get bored of the map after trying to memorize “Pastel’s Pastries” for the fifth time.

Then fantasies of victory entered Claw’s mind.  Visions of Queen Chrysalis sitting on Canterlot’s luxury throne gave Claw feelings of happiness.  To see all the efforts of not just himself, but for every changeling, pay off in one day would be a dream come true.  To finally take back the lands changelings have lost over the course of forgotten history.  All of that was on every changeling’s mind, but only on Claw’s at the moment.

But Claw’s imaginations of him dancing on pony guards was hidden away as soon as he heard Commander Thorax say, “...And Platoon 15 shall have one of the most important roles of the operation.”

Claw’s attention was redirected towards the Commander who was casually explaining the operation while pointing at specific points on Canterlot map.  Commander’s holed hoof moved all the way towards Canterlot castle, which seemed more complex than blueprints of a photonic resignation chamber.  He pointed towards a circular room that was deep within.

“One of the key components in this operation is Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.  Our intelligence states that the wedding between Captain Shining Armor and the Princess shall take place in Canterlot within the next month.  She will be staying in this room for the next few weeks or so.”

“And so, Platoon 15’s role in this operation is to...remove the Princess.”

After the words that started at the Commander’s mouth, and ended into Claw’s ears, his eyes shot open.  ‘Remove the Princess?’  Claw had never heard such an outrageous, and not to mention, dangerous, mission assigned before.  All of this prompted Claw to jump back, blurting his thoughts out, being the new center of attention of the room.

“Woah woah woah!  Remove the Princess?  In the middle of her own castle?  How are we going to do such a thing without getting caught by any of the guards or ponies?”  He asked against the wall.

Cilia quickly turned herself to face the baffled Claw.  Claw saw her look, a mix of irritation and nervousness of being in charge of this changeling.  The same changeling that made himself look stupid in front of everyone here.

“Corporeal Claw!”  She scolded.

Commander Thorax raised his hoof towards Cilia, urging her to calm down.  “It is okay Lieutenant Cilia, calm yourself.”

Cilia, being obligated to follow Thorax’s word, turned back to the table.

“Sorry Commander.”  She said with her head down.

“Apology noted.”

The Commander then turned his attention to Claw, who was still having difficulty of taking such a task in.

“I understand your disorientated state of the moment.  Trying to remove a princess from her own castle without getting caught will be quite the challenge, even for our most skilled operatives.  But I have found a solution to your Platoon’s predicament, that shall make this role more easily accomplished.”

"Sooooo.....Alright then, what's the plan?" Claw butted in.

Commander Thorax looked down under the table and began to use his horn’s magic, which gave off an sickly green glow.  He levitated another, but smaller, paper onto the round table.  This new paper, some sort of scroll, looked to be just as confusing as the Canterlot map.

“Recently, our spies working for the pony’s mining companies have discovered cave systems beneath Canterlot Castle.  These cave systems were originally dug out by ancient ponies, but have long since been forgotten.  These confusing caves shall prove to be an adequate hiding spot of the Princess.  I shall give you a teleportation spell that will teleport you and the Princess beneath these caves.  The 5th cave system shall do.  I also shall give you a knockout spell scroll to study, it would be best to remove the Princess while she sleeps.  And be careful, she is a light sleeper.”

Claw seemed to calm himself at the Commander’s answer.  His admirations for the legend’s ability to plan perfectly was only reinforced.  But Claw had more concerns on his mind.

“But even after we remove the Princess, what shall we do?”

The Commander rolled up the scroll and set it aside of the Canterlot map.

“Then we shall replace her with our glorious Queen.  And from there, the balance of power shall then change in our favor, and we will be able to feed off of the love in Equestria and take back our homes.  But you must be quick.  The ponies shall be fine if their princess disappears for a short time, but any longer and suspicion shall occur.  I trust that Platoon 15 shall be able to do this role without much hindrance.”

Claw couldn’t think of any more questions to ask and nodded in agreement.  To him, this only goes to show the pragmatic and genius nature of the legendary Commander.  Cilia and Claw both sternly nodded to the Commander, while Claw gulped.

“And once you have done, you shall meet the Queen at a specified location to inform her of the Princess’s ‘departure’ and from there, your mission shall be complete.”

Commander Thorax went to summarize the whole operation that he called “Operation: Wedding Planners” or so what the Queen’s ego insisted.  Still, more thoughts came to Claw’s mind.  Would he really have the honor of meeting the glorious Queen herself?  Not many changelings have the opportunity to do a mission for her.  Would he also be the one to remove Princess Mi Amore Cadenza?  Images of achieving more honors popped in Claw's imagination.

But then he realized that Cilia would probably receive the commendations.  After all, she outranked Claw and she was much better than him in the Arcane classes; Claw barely managed to pass the Changeling and Pony arcane courses.  He sighed at the thoughts and listened to the Commander's explanations.

Finally, after an extra hour or so of additional briefing, the word that ended it all came.

“Dismissed!”

Almost all the changelings in the room gave an exhausted sigh.  Standing up and listening to a mission briefing for two hours already have taken their tolls on them.  Most were discussing that they were ready to call it a night, being ignorant towards afternoon training.  Cilia managed to give Claw a hard but innocent-looking thump on his shoulder before leaving the room.

“Ow!  What was that for?”

“What happened back there of course.”  She said while giving a sinister grin.

Despite Claw’s obviousness towards talking back to his commanding officer, it didn’t stop him from questioning her.  Then he began to speak in a childish tone.

“Hey, I was confused okay?  Why are you so mean to me?”  He whined.

Then before Cilia could continue their bickering, Commander Thorax’s voice caught their attention.

“Ahh yes.  Could I speak to you, Corporal Claw, before you leave?”  He asked.

Claw and Cilia both looked at each other with puzzled looks, but ended with Cilia shrugging and began to walk away with a mischievous smirk.

“I’ll see you at the cafeteria Claw!”  She called.

He gave a brief wave to the departing Cilia, seeing her large wings as she was shrank away down the halls.  He had found himself lost in awe as he saw his attractive Lieutenant walk away, according to changeling standards anyway.  Claw gulped as he turned around and began to approach Commander Thorax at the other side of the stone table.  When he stood face-to-face with him, he gave the Commander a stiff salute.

“You wanted to see me sir?”  He asked with a gulp.

Commander Thorax took a moment from looking at the table to turn to Claw with an expressionless, almost irritated look.

“You were dozing off, were you?”  He asked.

An awkward silence hanged between them, echoing through the empty room.  Claw looked right at the Commander with a red-hoofed look.  Claw hoped to just change into something small and crawl away while the Commander refused to change poise.  Claw wanted to switch to puppy-dog eyes, but that would probably only work with Cilia.

“Well...I...I...ah...N….We…”  Claw stammered.

Unamused by Claw’s studdering, Commander Thorax attempted to change the subject in order to get a legible answer.  And not to mention, distance himself from feeling like a teacher.

“Tell me Corporal Claw, do you know why I chose your platoon for this crucial part?  Of all changelings, your platoon, while I could have used my own operatives?”

Claw began to scratch the back of his head.  He really felt puzzled about this.  He had no clue why his platoon was chosen when more skilled operatives could have been selected, and he really didn’t seem to mind.  But now the question of ‘why?’ began to resurface, a question that Claw didn’t seem to answer.

The Commander gave a swift sigh.  “How about this?  Why are you where you are today?”

Suddenly that cracked light bulb above his head got fixed.  Finally, a question on the quiz that Claw could answer correctly.  His mind enlightened itself from the long and hard memories that led up to this day.

“Wouldn't that be my commendations?  You know, my overstay in the pony boot camp, West Hoof?”

Thorax gave a small nod along with a grunt.

“Yes.  Of all things, you have managed to get yourself into that camp by complete accident.  And while any other changeling would’ve left at the most early opportunity, you insisted yourself to stay.  And you persevered yourself until you were able to complete that training course.”

Commander Thorax continued to give Claw the same kind of stare that a parent would give to their foal while teaching important life lessons.

“My point is, you are one of few changelings who are able to adapt quickly.  And your time at West Hoof proved your capabilities.  While I trust my operatives to complete any task given, they are not so easily adaptable.  So I chose you and your Platoon due to some of your abilities to adapt.  Having your Platoon do your task, and according to my estimates, shall increase the chances of success, even if things do not go according to plan.  Do you understand?”

Claw gave a very commending nod, a nod that was enough for Thorax to gain a small grin.  The Commander slowly tapped his hoof onto Claw’s shoulder and looked at him with expectation.  The Commander then went to narrow his eyes and drop his smug, to the point where it was enough to make a normal changeling drone collapse.  His calm tone then changed to dark and intimidating whisper.

“But that is not an excuse to do anything else otherwise.  You can change you road, but not our destination.  Stick with the plan.  If it doesn’t go to plan, then you all know what to do.  And most importantly, do NOT fail this!”  He hissed.

Claw, with his insides destroying themselves by shaking inside out, shook his head quickly, while giving himself another gulp.  He then gave another loyal salute along with the most determined voice possible.

“Yes sir!  I...I mean We, will complete our mission!”

That upside down smile turned back in his small mug and his eyes opened up, resting them both from doing what they needed to do.

“Excellent.  Then we should all expect a wonderful future.”  He gleed.

Claw made his way around the table and exited back right into the hall.  His mind was now shaken from the talk he had.  Commander Thoax’s voice hollowed through his consciousness with echo.  “Do NOT fail this!”  And each time he heard it, he nodded out of instinct, knowing that failure would not be an option.

* * *

“Awwhw’ whrhe eruughe hfsge. ghuffhr”

Coxa look at claw with a disgusted but friendly look.  He held a very mocking grin himself.

“Dude, swallow your food before you freaking talk.  I don’t want to see grinded fried grub worms every time you open your mouth.”

Claw quickly chewed his worms in his mouth loudly so Coxa could hear the grinding.  After intense seconds of chewing workout, and picking up a piece of grub he spit out in five seconds, he finally swallows his mouth load and lets out a long held-in breath.  Claw attempted to smile in his more apologetic way.

“Sorry dude, I’m just so hungry.  Commander kept us for about 2 hours, and I wasn’t able to get my midday snack!”

Coxa began to chuckle at Claw’s predicament while softly waving his hoof in front of him.

Coxa, by changeling society’s standards, was the most average changeling possible.  He had average test results, physical prowess, and even looks.  If any changeling saw one that was normal, it would be Coxa.  But the only thing different is that he was nice.  Too nice.  Several times the high command had him checked out for being a double agent working for ponies, but the investigations turn out empty-handed.  But no changeling seems to mind his helpfulness.

“Well I should be lucky I wasn’t you.  Standing around for two hours, I can’t imagine it.  I was taking my daily early nap while you were getting briefed.  If I was there, I’d probably fall asleep in the room and give the good ol’ Commander someone to thwack.”

Before Claw could make a comment of Coxa’s comment, Cilia, who was across from Claw, punched out her hoof, which would have resembled a fist if not for the no-fingers part.

“Yeah, if you were there, then I would have someone else to thwack other than Claw for once in awhile.”

Claw and Coxa both looked at Cilia and spoke in perfect unison, while she ate another spoonful of trout soup.

“Hey!”

“Hey!”

The changelings were enjoying their routine lunch in the cafeteria, a much larger room with a surprisingly high ceiling.  Changelings could easily have ariel races in the cafeteria, and some did before.  Hanging down low were chandeliers of green crystals the loomed the entire room in a gloomy, green light.  Several rows of long, grey stone tables and seats lined up in the cafeteria.

Claw turned his head around from the conversation to see the state of the cafeteria line.  Along the front wall was the tray line, with glass-less, stone displays of many foods of a changeling’s preference.  Using their horn’s magic to lift the tray, many other changelings lined up, picking their desired meal.  Behind it all, however, was the grouchy Chef Labium.

The infamous Chef scooped up globs of food and put them on the changelings’ trays.  Somehow, he remains unfazed if some accidently splash onto him.  He always keeps this, well, grouchy look, with his lower lip always pouting downwards.  The camouflaged wrinkles on him have shown those that have the keen eye that he has been around for a while.

He is known informally as the third most powerful changeling in the Hive.  Mainly due to the fact that he has claimed the large, grey kitchen as his own kingdom.  And the fact that no changeling was able to breach it’s borders to receive extras, not even Queen Chrysalis or Commander Thorax were able to order or strategize their way past.

But what Claw looked at the most was the large, snot-green pods that were easily seen.  The pods were visible from behind the tray line and in the kitchen, they were big enough to fit full grown stallions in.  Inside were silhouettes of ponies, upside down, being living and still like owls in the night.  On the bottom of these large pods, were faucets, that the Chef frequently used to squeeze out a pinkish essence.

Claw made a series of small movements, all little pieces in the grand puzzle that was his plan of getting off the stone seat.  Before he could initiate the entire plan, Cilia and Coxa noticed his attempts and spun their heads towards him like robots.  They, too, spoke in a surprising unison.

“Don’t even think about it.”

“Don’t even think about it.”

Claw whipped himself back towards the two and jawed his mouth open.  Claw gained a surprised look while he pointed his hoof to Cilia then Coxa, then back, and repeated.  Claw sat back down and began to complain while shaking his small, bone-dry cup upside down.

“Oh come on guys, let me do it.  I got a good feeling that it will work this time!  Not like last time though, but this time!  I am 200% certain that it shall happen.  I need more love!  My body craves it!  It is in a state of emergency!”

Cilia began to snicker before going out completely laughing and banging her holed hoof on the mesh table.

“Oh come on, you know Chef Labium.  He NEVER gives out seconds.  Ever.  Especially love.  In fact, I am pretty sure that no changeling in recorded history was successful with such a heist.”

“Oh for crying out loud, I need love!”

“Don’t we all?” Coxa shrugged.

“Stupid Chef Labium is so cheap with it!”

At that moment, a stone that came flying from the tray line, hit Claw in the back of his head, with such velocity that it send it head smacking right into his fried worm grubs.  The back of his head tinged with the pain of a Unidentified Flying Stone Object. Claw turned around, with grubs stuck to his face, with a quickly wit anger popping up.

“Who did-!?”

But his volcano of anger froze up into ice when he saw Chef Labium giving him the glare of death.  After seeing this, Claw quickly turned back to his food.  “Maybe if I stared at his eyes long enough, he would melt me into goop,” Claw commented to his two comrades.

It also was rumor that Chef Labium used to be a teacher, but such reasonable claim is urban legend, since no changeling remembers such a stone age.

The #1 most normal changeling gave another shrug.

“Hey, at least we are getting love.”

“Yeah, but it’s not enough.  I’m tired of rationing a necessity.  Here we have to carefully calculate each changeling’s portion while all those ponies are swimming in surplus food!"

"Oh yeah, that I can agree with you a bit there on.  They get all the good stuff, and we are left with the crumbs.  Survival of the fittest.  Part of life I guess."

"But they can't be at the top forever now."

The trio continue to pick off their changeling food with small talk, until they hear thumps and loud grunts.  The three see several changeling helpers pulling the big, green pods that were recently in the kitchen.  The hypnotized ponies inside had their eyes closed, looking weak and frail, indicating that time again.  Meanwhile, Chef Labium was yelling at them, screaming something while the assistants showed struggle in pulling the heavy loads.

All three knew what that meant.  It was the weekly event of love source replacement.  The time when the current providers of love run out.  The food sources no longer have willpower, and so they are released back into the wild, while the hunters find more ponies so that changelings may consume more love.  Coxa gave a deep sigh at the sight.

“I do hope that we will find a more solid source of love soon.  We are now having to get more and more ponies in order to meet the population’s needs.  If we don’t get more love, the Hive could probably see a collapse in a short time.”

Confident Claw gave a pat on his worried friend’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry.  We will soon.”