Chapters I stood in the Equestrian rain. Somehow, it was different from Wasteland rain or even Badland rain. I loved the feeling of the fresh, clean water running down my carapace, washing mud off of me. I changed my form into a unicorn mare with red fur and a white mane, with lovely blue eyes; I called this Ponysona 'Velvet Victory'. She is a favorite of mine.
I trotted down the hill I stood upon, taking delicate, careful steps. I walked into the street and found my way along the old brick roads of Mane Street. It was late, about eleven o'clock, and few ponies were out. Some stallions caught my eye, and I would occasionally wink at them, prodding them to follow me. The love they fed me tasted so rich; it was like heaven. I continued prancing about the downtown of Manehatten until I was at full charge.
I slipped into an alley way unnoticed and changed into my Queen Changeling Form. I made a low hissing noise, calling all of the Changelings in Manehatten to come to me, but without notice. Most Drones decided to come to me, only a few choosing not to come to play Russian Roulette.
"Okay, my Changeling friends," I began. "Want to terrorize this city and maybe even start a new Hive?"
I eyed each Changeling, colors varying from red to violet to black to white. They seemed to look from one to another, deciding what to do. They nodded as they hissed at each other, some shaking their little heads, some saluting me with pride. In the end, the Changelings before me bowed down and hissed in unison.
Your will is our command, our Queen. They spoke telepathically.
I smiled; perfect. I've started a Changeling Hive. But, for the moment, it was nothing but a Hoard. Seventeen Changelings and a Queen didn't count as a Hive in my book.
"Listen up, my subjects," I spoke, my voice dripping with excitement. "We have one common goal. Expand! Go to every city in Equestria, the Wastelands and Badlands if you have to, to improve our Empire. One Hive, One Mind, Many Bodies. Put on your masks, and let's colonize!"
The Changelings of my new hive started to flash different colors of magic into stallions and mares alike, some even teens or foals. They flew, teleported, or cantered out of the alley way, off to explore Equestria and to expand my Empire.
I trotted to the Maneiotte and checked in under the name 'Silent Singer'. I stood as a blue-grey earth pony, sporting white hair with electric blue streaks, and a microphone and headphones as a Cutie Mark. I trotted to my Five Star room and sat by the bookcase. I looked to the Writing Station and smiled.
-Elsewhere In Canterlot-
"What's this? A letter? From... Silent Singer?" Celestia tapped her hoof on her chin in thought, trying horribly to remember a name and face she'd never seen or ever see.
"Dear Princess Celestia,
As one of your little ponies in a little city called Manehatten, I write to you to tell you of my findings of friendship, even if I'm not Princess Twilight Sparkle. I write, telling you of my tale, my adventure today. I met many folks here in Manehatten as I arrived by train, and I had very much fun with every pony I met. Seventeen friends, to be exact. They all have decided to become my Best Friends Forever. But fear not! None of them are criminals or anything, just simple, honest folks in little old Manehatten.
I learned that even when you try, sometimes you won't succeed. But when the slim chance you succeed comes around, it really pays off. Princess Celestia, I write to you saying this and nothing more:
You have a new rival for your Kingdom.
With The Greatest of Respects,
Silent Singer
Chapter 2: Taking Manehatten
I awoke to the gentle tap of a scroll landing on my nose. I unfurled the worn scroll, which held a reply from Princess Celestia. I smiled, it was all going according to plan.
In my best, Princess-Mocking Voice, I read the scroll aloud.
"Dearest Silent Singer,
Why you are planning and what you are planning still eludes me. I do not understand or comprehend why you plan to overthrow me, or rival me, at the least. I know nothing about you, yet you seem to know much about me. Please, do not take away or corrupt any of my faithful subjects, or I will take action.
Thoroughly Worried,
Princess Celestia "
I decided to humor the poor Princess with a response. I scribbled on the page, my penmanship horrid as I usually write as a unicorn. I mail the letter and smile as I remember what I wrote.
"Dearest Princess Celestia,
You have nothing to fear, My Princess. I am simply seeing who the better pony is. Do not worry, My Princess, for you are superior to any other Princess or Queen I've ever had the pleasure to meet. Do not worry, I shan't corrupt your ponies.
Sincerest Apologies,
Silent Singer "
I strutted out of the Maneiotte, and walked into the alley way where the dumpsters lay. I changed into my Queen Form in a flash of purple, and I summoned all of my Drones.
"What have you to report, my lovelies?" I asked.
"There are now Seventy-Four Changelings in your Hive, your Highness. We've collected many, but some are still resisting." A female Drone murmured with hisses and clicks.
"Wonderful, my Changelings. Now, go back to being yourselves. I shall see these Changeling Hold-Outs myself." I smirked, changing back into Velvet Victory.
I walked around Manehatten, looking closely for the Changeling give away: their aura. Changeling aura is different from pony aura. Alicorn aura is usually calm and a pastel color, while earth ponies have a strong, circular shape, unicorns auras resembling an Alicorn's, but a different color. Finally, pegasi aura is slightly wild, and wavers between wild and calm. Changeling aura, however, is insanity itself. It is much like the flames of a fire burning around them in any color in the visible spectrum.
I spotted a particular aura that interests me. A stallion with a flaming red aura was sitting on a bench, looking aloof. I trotted up to the earth pony, and sat down next to him. He looked at me quizzically, and I smiled back. I used my telepathy to listen in on his thoughts.
'Is this the Changeling Queen so many hidden Drones have been talking about?' He asked himself.
"So, what's your name?" I asked.
"What's it to you ?" He asked back rudely.
"My name is Velvet Victory. I'm just waiting for a friend to stop by and pick me up." He seemed interested.
"Metal Mix. Call me Metal. Can you lean in for a sec, miss?" He asked nervously.
I leaned in and he put his muzzle close to my ear.
"Are you the Changeling Queen asking all the Drones?" He whispered.
"Why, yes, I am. And I've been informed that you are a Hold Out, and a Rejected Hive Member." I grinned.
"What's in it for me?" He asked, his brow furrowing.
"Well, you are an excellent Alpha Drone, so you could be a guard." I replied.
He grinned. "And they get lots of pay, right?"
I nodded, smiling and levitated a Ruby over to him. "So, I take it you're in?"
"In as can be, My Queen."
I sat on the train to Trottingham, checking over my hoof-icure on my special 'Velvet Victory'. I looked across the train seat to a white unicorn with a blue mane and grey eyes, her emotionless eyes scanning the newspaper she read like a machine. I used my blue magic to use a hoof file on my left hoof, eventually switching to my right hoof.
I looked at my hooves and they shown like a gem, and I looked up to the mare who quickly looked down to her paper. The buzzing in my head that all Changelings held, the White Static of Changelings communicating with their Hives or calling in distress. I heard one of my own new faithful subjects chirping for help.
'I'm stuck in a ravine, if some pony doesn't help me, I'll drown soon!' My precious Drone called. I started to send a message to two other Changeling Drones.
'Help the poor thing, won't you?' I asked, still glancing at the mare.
Two of the hundred Drones accepted and quickly went off to help the poor Drone. I looked up to the white mare and smiled. She pretended not to see my smile, reading her newspaper in a grey magic. I trotted over to her and sat down, smiling gently. I stood about a head and a half taller, and I smiled more, showing my clean teeth.
"May I help you?" She asked, grinding her teeth. I caught a shot of a fang much like a Changelings, but she could very well be a Vampony or Werepony.
"You may. I was wondering what such a lovely mare like yourself was doing all alone. Are you going to Trottingham as well?" I asked, eyeing her newspaper.
"Why yes, I am." She replied icily. "Why do you ask?"
"Just making polite conversation." I replied, as if I had no idea I was bugging her. "I've never been, what's it like? Or have you even been there yourself? My, isn't Princess Luna's Moon so fair tonight?"
The endless questions I bombarded her with eventually drove her into insanity. "Trottingham is lovely, most mares shut the hell up!" She eyed me as I smiled unknowingly. Her eyes dilated and she changed to a whisper. "So you're the newest Changeling Queen. I knew there was something off about you, I knew it!"
I smiled, showing my fangs and replied in a doubled voice. "Are you joining my army, or, will I have to make an accident happen so you keep your trap shut?"
She grinned evilly, grey magic surrounding her, transforming her into yet another Changeling. "I am so in." She went to the window and breathed in the fresh air. "Sorry for yelling at you. What shall I do now, my Queen?"
"Wait until we get to Trottingham, and find as many Drones as you can. Leave the Resisters to me, please, Miss...." I trailed off, waiting for a response.
"Call me Grey Breeze." She sneered, changing back into her unicorn self.
She sat next to me and read her paper, and I went back to my seat. We spoke not a word to each other and completely ignored each other as we set off in different ways through Trottingham.
I walked into a particularly dicey bar after sensing Changeling Aura. I trotted into the bar to find that most of the patrons were Changelings or Hybrids. They all looked at me and grinned, various colors of magic changing them into Changelings. They hissed at me to leave.
"I'm not leaving until I get what I want," I said, planting my hooves.
"What does a wimpy unicorn like you want?" Various Changelings questioned.
"Can't you see it?" I asked, changing into my Queen Form.
Most cowered under my gaze, others stood firm. Hybrids all cowered underneath me, looking up. They slowly walked to my side, then stood tall, busting out their chests to the Changeling 'Wholes'. Some of the weaker Changeling Drones chose to come to my side of the Changeling Bar, bowing to me and buffing their chests out.
"Why don't you come to my Hive? You will belong somewhere." I said, staring down at them.
"Maybe we don't want to belong!" One yelled.
"Then I can't simply let you go," I said, furrowing my brow with nothing but condescension. "I'd have to make sure you stay quiet."
At the sound of my words, a few of them defected to my side. There were only five Resistors left. I saw the sparks in their eyes as they started to use magic. I quickly sent five bolts of my own magic at them, covering their horns in goo. The goo would stay for a few hours, but would render their magic useless.
Three defected to my side, but I left the goo there.
Two remained, resentment in their eyes. I strutted over to them and bent my neck down, smiling. "Now what will you do?"
One prepared to buck me in the chest, and I allowed him. He hit my chitin, barely making me budge from my spot. I swung a hoof back and it met his jaw, breaking the chitin and exposing his tender blue undercarriage. His eyes dilated in fear as my hoof came down, breaking the chitin from his head, exposing his undercarriage and organs. He limped to my side, some of the other Changelings healing his broken bones and chitin.
The last one stood in place, ready to fight. He stood taller than most, and I wanted him on my Hive. He looked like he wasn't going to budge. As I analyzed him, he charged at me, his sharp, goo covered horn directed at my heart. I simply put a hoof up and it went through a hole, and I twisted, forcing him upside down.
I stomped his chitin until it broke, his blue muscles bleeding black blood. He looked up at me and glared. He spit out blood and growled. "I'll never join you. Just kill me now."
I pretended to think about it. "Hmm. Okay."
I gave one final stomp of my hoof, his organs bursting and his muscles ripping. He sputtered blood and died, and I used my magic to wipe the black blood off my hoof with a bar rag. I changed back into Velvet Victory, and trotted out, the patrons taking on their disguises and going back to their seats, three of them cleaning up the dead Changeling mess on the floor.