S.T.I.A.D.L: Future problems and past solutions

~~~~3 months later ~~Celestia’s POV~~~~~

A few minutes ago the guards awakened me and said that my presence was requested in the throne room. I waited on my throne for the mysterious guest to present themselves and their urgent request. My sister was sitting on her throne next to mine waiting patiently as well but not talking. The doors eventually opened to reveal a changeling wearing a crown and a white cape but I could tell he was wounded underneath.

  “My apologies, Princess Celestia but I thought it best that you both were awake,” Crimson said while bowing.

  “We understand especially since your hive is still at war,” Luna said but cringed a bit as he stood.

  “How is the war going? I assume that is why you are here,” I spoke up before he could say anything.

  “Last week it was in our favor since the other three hives were attacking anyling while our hive focused on them. Three days ago the tide had changed due to the southern hive recruiting dragons that just attack all of us. At this rate changelings will be extinct by next month. It is with a heavy heart that I ask for your assistance in this war,” he explained.

  “It was you that insisted we leave this war to you, King Crimson. I personally believe that Equestria should remain neutral in your war,” Luna said.

  “The changelings have been doing two things during this war. We have been both fighting it and containing it to our borders. In all honesty we have lost more trying to contain the war than just fighting it,” he admitted.

  “I am with my sister on this one, King Crimson. We will not risk our little ponies to aid in your war,” I said a little shook up about my decision.

  “I completely understand your majesties. I hope to see you again but know that is not very likely. Thank you for seeing me, Princess Luna and sorry for disturbing you, Princess Celestia,” Crimson said before departing.

I went back to my room and lay down again shortly after but I couldn’t sleep. I could hear something in my sister’s room since it was on the other side of the wall and it sounded like voices. Eventually curiosity got the better of me and I cast a spell to allow me to increase the sensitivity of my ears.

  “We are getting no help in this war, my family, and for that I am sorry,” was the unmistakable voice of Crimson.

  “Are you all right, sire? There have been reports of dragons near Equestria’s western border,” another voice said and I realized that her hive mind scanner was on.

  “I can personally confirm those reports-” murmurs from many others cut him off, “-however I am fine and on my way back to the hive.”

  “Sire, our intelligence suggests that at least twenty dragon are trying intercept you,” the same voice from earlier warned.

  “The squadron of changelings protecting the border has stopped responding,” another voice informed.

  “I am not letting anything else into Equestria. We are resorting to plan Delta,” Crimson said.

  “Your gonna need my help to pull that off,” someling agreed.

  “Midnight! You’re finally going to help in the war?” Crimson asked excitedly.

  “I have been helping! It took a long time to find it but I’ve got the spell for plan Eclipse,” he informed.

  “Plan Eclipse it is then. All changeling flee to the hive and bring some guests,” Crimson ordered.

It was random chatter for a while since none of the changelings actually knew what plan Eclipse was. The conversations were very vague about the plan but it was obvious the hive was under heavy assault. The voices grew panicked obviously due to the plan that wasn’t being conveyed through the hive mind and then nothing. The receiver box was definitely still on but there was nothing, no noise whatsoever.

~~~10 minutes ago ~Midnight’s POV~~~~~

‘It took a long time but I've got the spell for plan Eclipse,’ I projected my thought through the hive mind.

‘Plan Eclipse it is then. All changelings flee to the hive and bring some guests,’ Crimson ordered his hive.

  “Plan Eclipse. This is a very bad idea. We should have let Equestria help but at least we can keep them safe. I’ll call it my final gift,” I said descending to the hive witch was quickly surrounded by our enemies.

Surrounded or not we rallied our best mages and prepared the curse that King Kindo used long ago. It was a spell that kept a war contained within set parameters but I managed to combine it with Kindo’s sword’s shield ability. This combined spell will keep our war contained but the shield will stay up until the sword is removed but it cannot be touched unless the sword recognizes you.

  “The enchantment is ready. Just place the sword in the center and activate it,” the high mage informed us.

  “DIALIA!” I yelled calling the enchanted sword to my side, obeying my call the sword materialized in my hoof. After a few seconds to allow the sword to charge before I yelled my command as I plunged the blade into the ground, “WAR CONTAINMENT!”

In a matter of seconds a bright light shot from the hilt and covered the entire hive and about seventy more miles in a protective and indestructible shield. Thankfully the enchantment worked and the shield stopped at the Equestria border rather than absorb some of them in the catastrophe that was about to come.

~~~~~five minutes later~ ~Twilight’s POV~~~~~~~

The last two years have been difficult to adjust to but in the end I made a few more friends. I’m friends with a changeling is still a little hard to believe but it turned out that the western hive was very nice. They had so many new books that I just had to read and it took about six months to read them all. I made two friends due to the fact they came to my library looking for pony books to read.

Right now though I’m worried since my best changeling friend just started screaming in pain for no reason. She was injured in the war and her superiors allowed her to move to Equestria, after acquiring permission from Celestia of course. Suddenly her screaming stopped and she instead looked around in fear.

  “Rosebud calm down. What’s wrong,” I asked trying to stay calm for her sake.

  “I can’t hear them. The voices from the main hive are gone,” she said still a little freaked out.

  “Can you hear anyling else?” I asked starting to worry since changelings need a hive mind to function.

  “There are about twelve left now. Their saying that plan Eclipse was initiated,” she said calmly but still a little worried. Ten changeling are needed to sustain a hive mind but to go from nearly twenty thousand down to twelve in mere seconds. I could see her lips moving but couldn’t hear her words.

  “Sorry what did you say?” I asked leaving my thoughts to help my friend better.

  “They used a sword called Dialia to contain the war but that’s all we know about it. The King has never been so secretive with a plan before and it makes me wonder if I’ll ever get to see the hive again,” she admitted before throwing her hooves around me and crying on my shoulder.