It was the middle of the day, the sun shining high in the sky with no cloud in sight. It would normally be a fine day for most, but for a certain set of stragglers, the warm weather and humidity was only working against them.

“We’re almost there. Keep up the pace!” A changeling drone, being part of a search party that had been sent out some time ago, had yelled to his group behind him. Escorting the remaining army that had been left over from the attack on Canterlot back to the hive. Of course, Queen Chrysalis herself was a part of that army. Looking dirty and disheveled. Now tailing along between them. They were all fatigued from not just their injuries, but their continuing hunger and exhaustion from their trek across perilous areas throughout Equestrian lands.

It had been a long and arduous journey, but their destination was only minutes away. One of the drones leading the group, among the several who still had the most stamina left, rushed ahead inside the main entrance to signal the other available changelings to come to the aid of those incoming. Complying with his cry for help, the soldiers and medics that stood on standby expectantly for days now, had readied themselves by the entryway.

Arriving inside, much talk had been started with the survivors. Asking if they had succeeded with the queen’s plan. But none of them were wearing looks of satisfaction nor pride on their faces. Merely wincing at the question in general. Some just ignored the question outright, walking away with their heads down in defeat. While other changelings growled at their inquirers, angered by the thought of any reminder of their recent failure.

As all the other changelings were being taken elsewhere in the hive for treatment, Chrysalis was walking towards her personal chambers with two royal guards in tow and a few other changelings that were to take priority in helping to deal with whatever matters she may have. Whether it was tending to her wounds or her debriefing on the recent events. The council was still waiting for further news to report to the rest of the hive.

Umbrae, on his way to the gathering of soldiers and the source of all the noise at the moment, noticed the queen walking by. She didn’t look too happy, but this didn’t surprise him. Any changeling attempting to speak with her was ignored and shooed away by her accompanying guard. He took note of this and proceeded to the main hall.

Upon getting there, the whole area was bustling with changelings running and flying from place to place in a hurry. Trying to search for the nearest soldier, he was bumped into a few times by others. Apparently, being in a rush, they didn’t have enough time to watch where they were going and look behind them. After passing through busy corridors, he had finally reached the front entrance.

Approaching the soldiers still on standby, Umbrae cautiously walked up to one of them further away from the rest, preparing for the worst.

“So? What’s the word?” Umbrae asked.

Slowly turning his head, the soldier replied. “What do you think happened?” His eyes now glaring. “Hasn’t it been made obvious enough?” Turning around to face Umbrae behind him.

“Better to receive the official word than not being in the know.” Umbrae said, not trying to anger him with more of his curiosity, but it seemed inevitable now.

“We LOST!” The soldier exclaimed profoundly. “And not only that, there are still others struggling to make it back! Some may not even return!” The soldier turned around to where he was facing, shaking his head in disappointment. “All we can do now is recuperate from our losses and do whatever the queen orders.”

Umbrae sighed. This wasn’t the best news he had heard all day and he could easily predict things going further downhill from here. Now inflicted with doubt, he only had a couple other things in mind that needed answering.

“What of the rest? How many have made it back?”

“There are some who have fallen behind and are still headed here as we speak. Our scouts are guiding them along to help them go undetected from any of those damn Canterlot guards who may be tracking us down now.” The soldier looked away dejected. “But like I said… not every one of us will make it back…”

“How badly did the invasion go? Where did it go wrong?” Asked Umbrae, now looking concerned.

The soldier only took one last quick look at Umbrae before turning back again. “Hmph. Why don’t you go ask the queen yourself if you’re so curious? I’m sure she’ll be delighted to fill you in on all the details.”

Unamused with his suggestion, Umbrae turned to leave as he felt there was nothing left to say, to now return to his post and inform Dirge on what he had learned. He had to pass on the idea of asking Chrysalis directly of what really occurred and ask elsewhere for more info on the situation. Preferably from somebody else who wouldn’t raise tensions from a now sensitive subject.

Meanwhile, within her personal confines with royal guards on duty standing by the entrance, Queen Chrysalis was laying down on a bedding of cocoon specifically weaved for her. Looking sour and grunting from her injuries currently being treated by her drones, fidgeting from the pain.

“I’m telling you... victory was within my grasp! Had it been successfully imminent as I had planned, we would be rejoicing on the streets of Canterlot!” She raised her head as she spoke out.

“Your Majesty, please be still. We’ve not finished examining your wounds yet. Do not strain yourself more than you already have.” A female changeling calmly advised her as she inspected her torso and hind legs. Applying small pints of green medicinal gel-like substance on any cuts or cracks on Chrysalis’ chitin from a small sphere-shaped cocoon next to her then sealing the wounds with bandages. Other assistant changelings were also maintaining her appearance by picking off any leaves and mud from her mane and polishing the shell on her back with a wet rag cloth piece.

“Had that little brat not intervened…” Chrysalis grit her teeth and growled loudly at the thought of what happened. “I grew careless!” She slammed her hoof on the ground, her attendants flinching at the action. “I briefly take my eyes off them to revere in my glory, and within moment’s notice, the tables had turned on us! All our forces and efforts… gone! Wiped away, just like that!” Waving her hoof in a quick straight line as she finished her sentence.

Two changelings, members of the council and currently in charge of assessing the situation, were standing in front of her. Gathering information from Chrysalis’ story and the outcome of her campaign.

“So, our endeavours have proved fruitless then? Repelled by a blast of love energy, no less.” The changeling said bluntly. Staring at his queen unpleasantly. “This doesn’t bode well for the current deficit of the hive. Due to the investments made into waging that attack, I’m afraid we’ve fallen short on rations and many changelings will, unfortunately, not make it by the end of the month.”

Chrysalis stared right back. “And I suppose you cretins have nothing better to do than to chastise me for my shortcomings?”

“Actually, we were wondering what you were planning to do to make up for this. As it stands, sacrifices will be unavoidable at this rate. Even if you were to increase the flow of harvesting, we still face the problem of insufficient units to take on such jobs. Many will be out of commission for some time.”

Chrysalis faced the ground and tapped a hoof to her chin. Pondering on her own thoughts now. “Hmmm... I’ve done some thinking during my trip back. You’ve made your points clear and I have indeed thought about making some changes in rule to have a better handle on our troops. Not just to circumvent our current crisis, but to improve our chances of survival for the future.”

“Then we await your further orders, my queen.” The council member took a bow before her.

“It’s time we undergo new regulations.” Chrysalis rose from her position. Startling her assistants as they were still busy tending to her. “But first things first: Our leniency with those not currently contributing to the hive will be dramatically reduced. I’ve no patience for those draining our resources and giving nothing back!”

“If that’s the case, then you may want to primarily divert your attention to the prisoners still serving their time. What do you wish to do with them?” Asked the second changeling, rubbing his hoof beneath his chin and arching an eye.

“I’m glad you asked because I was just thinking of taking care of them first.” Chrysalis said deviously, walking away from the room.

“And what of Dirge?” This time, the changeling asked out of concern.

Chrysalis paused. She nearly left the room until she stopped upon hearing that name. “What about him?”

“Surely you don’t plan on disposing redeemable units?”

She narrowed her eyes and grit her teeth in anger. “Guard!” She yelled out.

A royal changeling guard in green armor that stood next to the entrance entered the room and bowed in front of her. “Yes, Your Majesty?” He said, graciously addressing her.

“Summon that abomination to my throne! You know which one!” She said as she trotted off. “It’s time I dealt with him personally.”

“I see.” Dirge said. “I knew it was a suicide mission, but pride comes before the fall...”

“From what I’ve seen so far, the whole hive seems to be in distress. No matter who I asked, I was shrugged off. None of them seemed willing to give me a straight answer. Just nothing but vague replies.” Umbrae said. Looking stressed while leaning on the wall in front the cell before him.

“What about Ozzie? Any sign of him?” Dirge looked to him, worried.

Umbrae slowly shook his head. “I’m sorry, Dirge. I haven’t seen your friend anywhere. He may still be trying to make it back here with another separate group, but that’s as good as my guess is.”

Dirge let out a long and rough sigh. Placing his head on a steel bar and rubbing his eyes with a hoof. “It’s only going to get worse from here on out.”

“You’re telling me. Bet the captain’s going to make all of us work overtime.”

After their conversation had faded and they were left with a feeling of woe, a set of hoofsteps in the distance was heard. Umbrae stood up to see who it was. The image was drawing closer and upon further inspection, it finally became familiar to him.

“Speaking of…” Umbrae saluted at the incoming guard.

The royal guard, now standing in front of Umbrae, gave him a brief nod. Then afterwards, looked to his left to see Dirge standing there. However, he was not making eye contact.

“I see you’re looking well.” The guard said with an abrasive tone.

Dirge knew exactly who it was. It was none other than his adoptive father, Onyx. He was always cold and strict with him, but this was mostly to keep him disciplined and in control. Overall, it was he who taught his son how to fight and encourage him to do his best to serve the military faction of the hive and serve his queen to the best of his abilities. But today, he was in no mood for nonsense or excuses. Less so than usual. From neither his subordinates or his own son.

“Open the gate.” Onyx commanded Umbrae to do so.

“Right away, sir.” Umbrae said before leaving to fetch the keys.

Finally looking at him face to face, Dirge spoke up. “What is this?” He asked solemnly.

“The queen has asked for you. And let me make this known; I will not have anyone provoking her with any meaningless drivel. Especially not from you.” Onyx said as he glared and pointed his spear to the tip of Dirge’s snout. “Is that understood?”

Without budging, Dirge gazed at the sharp end facing him and then towards his father. “You haven’t changed.”

“Don’t get cocky with me, boy.” The spear was now lifted away from Dirge. “If you have any sense of honor left in you, you’ll face whatever punishment you have coming your way with dignity.”

As Captain Onyx finished his short discussion, Umbrae returned with a keyring jingling in his mouth. Taking them with his hoof, he slid the appropriate key into the keyhole and opened the gate.

“Out.” Onyx demanded.

Dirge looked to Umbrae, but all he responded with was a shake of his head and a shrug. Then momentarily exiting the cell and glanced at his father. His upsetting expression still overlooking him.

“Follow. Don’t slow down for anything.” Onyx said as he left with Dirge walking by his side.

As they made their way to the queen’s throne room, Dirge observed his surroundings. There were changelings idling about, appearing tired or impatient for one reason or another. Some had noticed him passing by, taking glimpses at him and then returning to their business, paying no mind. While there were a few who hissed at his presence. Ignoring the latter, he continued on with his stroll.

Further along the way, from the corner of his eye, Dirge spotted what could possibly have been his missing friend. A changeling sporting a spiky, grey mohawk was sitting by his lonesome self. Without hesitation and stopping in his tracks, Dirge called out to this changeling in hopes of revealing his identity by facing his direction.

“Ozzie? Ozzie!”

The figure turned around, but unfortunately, it was not him. His eye color was a different shade of blue and his fangs were of different size. Dirge was saddened by this. His mouth slightly agape, he was disappointed he couldn’t speak to his friend for possibly the last time.

Suddenly, Dirge was hit on the side of his head with the blunt end of a spear. Shutting his eyes quickly while grunting at the pain.

“Move it!” Onyx yelled at him.

Groaning, Dirge proceed with his father to their destination.

A lengthy trek later, after what seemed to be the longest minutes of passing through depressing scenery, they had at last made it to the hall leading into the throne room. The two passed through a checkpoint with the other changeling guards saluting to signify their clearance to enter.

Once inside, they were now treading on old and rather worn lavender carpet. It stretched out to the stone seat at the end of the throne, with Queen Chrysalis currently positioned there. Large emerald colored crystals behind the throne were placed there in decoration in an attempt to make the interior seem more ‘regal’.

At the moment, Chrysalis was discussing some form of matter with two non-guard changelings. Noticing Dirge and his father approaching her, her expression became bitter as she eyed the former. Before she could get to him, she dismissed her current audience.

“Hold that thought. For now, leave us.”

The two changelings glanced behind them to see the queen’s new guest. Acknowledging that their business was now postponed, they took their bow and turned to leave the room. Captain Onyx now taking his spot beside the queen. Leaving Dirge standing in front of her.

“You...” Chrysalis began, as she became even more disgusted.

Dirge hadn’t changed his gloomy appearance in quite a while. Not feeling the confidence to look directly at his ruler before him, he slowly blinked before bowing his head with the same pace.

“You’ve any idea why I called you here this time?”

“Not for a pardon, I presume.”

“Indeed. In fact, I’ve given quite enough of those out to you already. Now onto the point: I believe you’ve spent enough time in the dungeon and you’ve wasted even more of mine. I’m a bit surprised you’ve managed to last this long down below with restrictions in place. With the limited amount of rations used to keep you and the rest of the prisoners sustained. But effective immediately, those who have already served a certain period of time with crimes I deem worthy of punishment will carry out specified sentences.”

Chrysalis trotted towards Dirge, his head still down. To force his attention onto her, she placed a hoof under his chin and tilted his head upwards. Now with each of them only mere inches away.

“And I’ve just the penalty for you.” Tauntingly, she grinned and chuckled under her breath.

Softly grinding in his mouth, Dirge put his head down again as Chrysalis distanced herself away from him.

“I’m through investing anymore resources on you.” Her malevolence had displayed again. “Since all you’ve shown to do in the recent past was defying your orders, with excuses to shift them distinctly to your liking, and letting your superiors down, time and time again! And for what!?” She forcibly struck her forehoof to the ground, now irritated. “Because you felt it wasn’t ‘right’? Because you felt morally conflicted with your mission? Despicable! Such virtues are reserved only for the nobility of ponykind!”

Hearing this brought recollections of the details with missions involving high value targets. It wasn’t everyday soldiers would be given these assignments, but when they did, they would only be chosen for those with the utmost skill to carry them out. Apparently, Dirge had qualified for the jobs but refused for personal reasons.

In objection to her statement, Dirge rebutted. “I’ve already made my intentions clear before. I’m no assassin. It’s not within my nature to--”

“Silence!” Chrysalis interrupted.

Onyx, who was still observing Dirge, scowled at him.

“You seem to have forgotten about your little incidents all those years ago. Who do you think pardoned you for those heinous crimes? Excusing your actions as just ‘natural behavior’?”

Dirge vaguely recalled about those events, but wanted to leave them alone as nothing more than water under the bridge. Repressing those memories, however, was another story.

“You showed so much promise back then. If you had just kept up your efforts admirably like you had done so with your first set of missions, you would’ve been a shining example for the rest of the hive today.” Chrysalis had then huffed upsettingly. “But just the fact that I couldn’t bring you along to Canterlot just proves how much of a liability you’ve become!”

“Then why choose me? As far as you’ve been concerned, I could’ve been just like every other changeling had I been conditioned normally like the rest!” Dirge exclaimed. “Why do you talk as if I’m some special case?”

Chrysalis laughed in a maniacal manner. “Oh, please! Don’t tell me you’re still so naive as to believe you’re just like ‘every other changeling’!”

“What’s so amusing?” Dirge looked up at her confused.

“Have you not noticed throughout your life the differences in your performance compared to the average soldier? Or how your physique is taller than even your father’s? Though I’m surprised he hasn’t filled you in on all the details by now!” She said as she batted an eye to Onyx beside her.

Dirge also took notice of him. His expression still remained stern as ever.

“You see, it was I who tasked him with the responsibility of raising you. Assigning him with you when you were still a young nymph. His history of prowess in the field of combat and his overall competence in his years of service to me proved him worthy enough to take on this duty. He may not be one for caretaking, but he understood the importance of my request, so of course, he had no qualms about it. To train you to your fullest potential!”

Dirge wanted to say something, but couldn’t form the words in his mind as he was in disbelief as to what he was listening to.

“And as to ‘why’, you ask? Long before you hatched out of your egg, I decided to try a little experiment. Though my desired results couldn’t be accomplished without trial and error. So, when I sought a set of eggs from the hatchery, yours happened to be among them. Along with a group of knowledgeable changelings to aid me in my project, my goal was to create the most flawless warrior, under whatever realistic means I was limited to. Those specific eggs had incubated the most ideal but uncommon breed of our kind: The alpha males. Nominated as born leaders.”

Chrysalis continued with Dirge now holding a look of curiosity. “Sure, you may have already seen various out and about in packs or serving in the royal guard, but they can’t compare to what I wanted… a true spectacle! One that would surpass them all! However, not all of them made it through the tests. In order to achieve ‘you’, a definite amount of love energy had to be absorbed into the eggs. Too much and they had died before they could hatch or suffered deformities. Too little and they hatched normally, just with extra supplement to last them an extra day or two.”

“Those who made it after hatching and eventually nearing their pubescent stages were also assigned to formidable, adoptive caretakers like you had been. But when I heard reports that some of them were already displaying flaws, I grew distressed. They were already showing signs of inferiority in their builds! Others had even died during the training process! After thorough investigations, they seemingly passed out from exhausting too much energy during their exercises! Their energy reserves were evidently smaller than even the typical drone!”

She calmed herself a little as she narrowed her eyes on her once, esteemed subject. “But no… not you. Where they failed, you succeeded. My hopes for obtaining my own, reliable trump had reignited. Or at least the closest I’ve gotten to such a result...”

As abnormal as this information sounded, Dirge was appalled after hearing this abrupt news. It was hard for him to take it all at once. His whole life, he believed he was a normal changeling like everyone else in the hive, but with additional training to become just another guard in the ranks.

“I should’ve known your imperfections were contained from the inside. Showing mercy to your enemies... attacking your own brethren… disgraceful!” Chrysalis then briefly showed a small sign of sadness. “Where did everything start to fall apart…?” Then quickly regaining her former disgust. “But enough is enough! You’ve betrayed my expectations for the last time!”

Dirge, now revolted, had his curiosity take the better of him again. “Why… why are you telling me this now? Of all times?”

“Hmph. There was never any reason to. You can have this occupy your conscience instead of any pitiful remorse you may have! I can at least grant you this last bit of mercy before you die.”

Chrysalis raised her voice and hoof towards the exit. “Take him to the execution site!” She started to trot off and take her leave. “I’ll be there momentarily to watch his downfall.” She paused beside Dirge giving him another glare. “Literally.”

As Chrysalis left the room, Onyx followed behind. Halfway out, he was stopped by his son calling out behind him.

“Why did you never say anything!?” He said angrily.

“I’ve no obligation to tell you anything. From this moment on, any shred of responsibility I may have had over you has been nullified. You want to be ‘just like every other changeling’? So be it. As that’s all you are to me now.” Onyx said bluntly as he continued to walk out.

Left alone to his thoughts, Dirge hung his head in shame. Another guard alongside motioned to him. Escorting him out to the appointed place to meet his fate.

High atop a cliff with a rockslide underneath and a raging river even further down, stood a wide audience of changelings. In front of them were an assembled group of soldiers and prisoners at the edge, with Chrysalis behind them observing the event.

She gave out a short speech to those watching. “Let these prisoners serve as an example for each of you! Those who would throw away everything I’ve given to them and work against our causes will share the same demise!”

Chrysalis then pointed with her head towards the cliff, signaling the guards holding a prisoner between them with their hooves to be the first to be ejected. Dirge recognized this particular changeling as it was the same one who shared a cell next to his. His hooves were cuffed in rope and so was his torso around his wings to prevent him from flying away.

Pleading with the guards, he tried to push back with his hind legs as he was dragged away.

“Hey, hey! Y-you can’t do this! All I did was take a bit of supplies! Nothing more! Honest! Please don’t--!!”

With his efforts in vain, he was set down and quickly bucked from the back. Screaming on the way down until he made a distant splash into the river below.

“Let nature deal with the corpse.” Said Chrysalis as she looked down before turning her attention to Dirge, also being held with the same bindings, sans for any on his already flightless wings. “So… how do you want to go about this? Shall I get some relaxants for you to make the experience easier?” She said sarcastically.

There was no turning back. Dirge no longer held regards for his own life nor the incoming agony. Taking his now ex-father’s advice, he steeled himself to embrace the inevitable.

“Deal with me as you please.”

“Finally something I can agree with!” Chrysalis grinned.

Dirge was poked with a spear from a guard behind him. He began to walk to the end of the cliff and as he got there, he looked back to see and hear chants and hissing from the crowd. Onyx standing amongst them to keep them under control. Cries of displeasure and anger were spoken against him.

“Rot in Tartarus, ya pony lover!”

“Get outta, freak!”

“Justice!”

“Jump already!”

Taking another last look at the crowd at one opposite side, he saw a group of changelings who weren’t eager to see him go through this. Umbrae was also there. Along with them, their expressions were of grief and despair. Some looked away or held their eyes shut. They remained silent and did not want to protest their oppositions for fear of earning their queen’s ire.

Sighing, Dirge looked down the precipice. He made one last thought before closing his eyes.

‘Ozzie… I’ll be seeing you soon, my friend...’

And with that, he felt a push behind him and plunged to his doom.

Making contact onto the rough surface within seconds, he tumbled down as he bounced slightly between each hit on the slide down. Grunting in pain as he did so. Shortly afterwards falling off the rockslide and splashing into the rapids below.

The river being quite deep and cold, Dirge surfaced from the water. Only to sink again. Then immediately surfacing with a big gasp for air, he paddled with his binded hooves in failed attempts to keep himself afloat. He tried to cough out the water stuck in his throat. Choking as his breath was running short while being swept away from the strong current. Crashing into large rocks along the way.

The greatest danger had yet to come, as he was flowing towards a waterfall. With nothing to hold onto and his efforts to swim to dry land were too late, he plummeted from a great height and into the pool below.

Raising his head from the surface, Dirge kept submerging in and out of the water. The oxygen in his lungs running dangerously low, he sank to the bottom. Gurgling the last bits of air as bubbles rising to the top. His strength weakened, he looked above and stretched his hooves upwards in a desperate attempt to escalate. To no avail. His vision blurring and his consciousness steadily fading, his last sights was of the sun shining brightly on the reflection of the water and a dark substance coming from somewhere out of him. He couldn’t tell what it was or where it came from. It didn’t matter anymore.

It was all over.

Pain.

Numb.

Cold.

These were the feelings Dirge slowly awoke to as he tried to open his eyes. When he came to, he felt light as a feather. But still inexplicably uncomfortable. Looking around him, he found himself in some sort of twilight scenery. Floating in midair, no less.

Whether this was a dream, purgatory, or somewhere deep within the recesses of his mind, he wasn’t sure. He tried to stretch his hooves down to try and touch any kind of ground. Surprisingly there was, as the floor below was made of very shallow water. Almost as if he was standing on top of the liquid itself.

He started to walk, rather slowly, to get a hang of the gravity in this mysterious realm. Each step he made was like a drip in a puddle. As he grew used to it, he stopped for a minute to examine his surroundings. This place stretched out endlessly. Not a soul in sight. Pure nothingness.

Resuming his stroll as he tried to find any trace of life, he heard voices. Echoing from the back of his head. They all sounded familiar. As they were getting louder, Dirge stopped in his tracks, shut his eyes, and put his hooves to his ears. Shaking his head to try and silence the voices.

Shortly after letting go of his head, they had not been completely hushed. Instead, they became more audible and comprehensible this time. When he opened his eyes, he was surrounded by ghosts. Transparent illusions of his past. They were all wandering about, ignoring Dirge as if he wasn’t there.

He curiously walked among them. The eerie fact of the matter was that he knew every one of them. Nobody was a stranger. Then it became apparent to him that these were all individuals who shaped his life in some way or another.

Soldiers, guards, drones, old acquaintances, Umbrae, Onyx, and even Chrysalis were among these projections. He heard them talk as he passed them by.

“Well done, Dirge. You should be ready by now for your first mission.”

“As Captain of the Royal Guard, I hereby promote you to…”

“That was no easy feat. He must be something else.”

“Hey, good job out there.”

“Why would you do that!? Can’t you tell the difference between friend or foe?”

“What do you think about us starting our own hive? Let’s runaway together! I’ll be the queen and you can be my loyal subject!”

“Truly magnificent, isn’t he? My ace will soon be ready…”

Quickly passing through the Chrysalis clone, Dirge paused at a changeling he never thought he’d see again. It was his mother. Or rather, the closest thing he had to one. She was also his caretaker. It had been a long time since he last saw her, but they both disappeared from each other’s lives a long time ago.

“She may be harsh sometimes, but our queen means well. I know you’ll grow up to make us all proud someday.”

Then she spoke the words that had been engraved into his mind. The ones he tried to uphold throughout his life.

“No matter what they try to teach you, you must never take the life of another. For there is no love to be gained from the dead.”

Hearing these words again brought Dirge on the brink of tears. Knowing he had failed before to hold on to these lines, he turned away from her. Disgusted with himself.

“I’m… sorry…”

He sniffed. About to begin his crying when he suddenly heard sobbing somewhere else in the distance. He looked around for the source of the noise when he saw a lone changeling sitting by itself.

Walking towards it, he began to think it was his supposed dead friend, Ozzie. As he approached him, he said his name quietly in hopes of recognizing him. Oblivious to Dirge behind him.

“Ozzie?”

He put a hoof on his back, until finally, he turned around to face his friend. But when he did, Dirge’s eyes grew wide as he gasped. The background scenery faded away into a midnight black.

“Why, Dirge?”

This was indeed Ozzie, but there was something horribly wrong with him. His eye sockets were empty. Dripping with tears of blood. He had two sets of voices. His regular tone was accompanied by something crudely demonic.

“Why didn’t you warn me?”

Dirge was taking steps back while this Ozzie was slowly walking up to him.

“Why didn’t you tell me I would die in the attack? I would’ve listened.”

“N-no… get back!” Dirge said. His body now felt as heavy as lead.

“I thought we were friends, Dirge! Aren’t friends supposed to look out for each other?”

“Enough!” Shutting his eyes and looking away, Dirge swung his hoof to strike Ozzie. When he felt no physical contact with the body, he looked to where Ozzie was standing. He had vanished in a cloud of smoke. Upon checking his hoof, it was stained with blood. The same with his other.

The blood was still fresh as a drop of it fell to the darkened ground he now sat on. As Dirge became horrified with what he had just witnessed, what surprised him more was the sudden image that appeared before him.

Three dead changelings lying on a pool of blood. All of them mutilated in their own way.

Dirge shuddered in fear. Beginning to hyperventilate as he cried out in denial.

“No… I didn’t mean… I never meant to… I’m not…!”

A random voice from behind screamed at him in accusation.

“MURDERER!!”

“No, I’m not!” Dirge said. Though he noticed his voice sounded more childlike.

Before he could come to his senses, they were soon being dulled. His vision turning white and a ringing in his ears getting louder.

“Please... not again...”

“The day that changed me…”

It was just another productive day in the hive. Every changeling was tending to their own business. Even back then, everyone had to learn about conserving their energy to last them as long as it possibly could. Granted, it wasn’t as bad as it was presently. It was a time when ponies were still blissfully unaware of the presence of infiltrators. Making it easier to gather food from love harvesting.

A young Dirge was walking by through the busy corridors of the caves. He was heading back to his caretaker’s place after another rough session of training with his father. They were getting harder and harder with each lesson. He had to give up on the idea of them getting any easier. However, he would never hear the end of it if he was caught complaining about it.

Exiting on the other side of the tunnel as he was strolling by, he stopped to see the usual, unpleasant sight. Another young nymph was being picked on by a few bullies harassing him for the same, detestable excuses. They wanted him to fork over his bag of food.

“Come on, Ozzball! Hoof it over! We ain’t got all day!” The one in the middle demanded.

“Y-you can’t have it! My nanny made it just for me!” The young one said. Quivering a little.

“Aww, does your nanny also tuck you into your cocoon and kiss you goodnight before sleeping?” The three laughed altogether.

“Just go away and leave me alone!” He pleaded with them.

“Oh, screw this!” The tall one tried to grab the bag from him, but the little one already had his grip on it. They were both now in a tug of war.

“Stop it!”

“Just give it, you little twerp!”

As they pulled from opposite sides, the bag ripped open. Spilling its contents all over the ground.

“Hey, fish steaks! My favorite! But… they’re all dirty now…” The bully on the left said.

“Grrr…! Look what you did, you moron!” The middle one yelled at the young victim. “Now you’re gonna have to pay for that!” He grabbed the nymph by the horn. Forcing him to start crying.

Dirge had just about enough of this farce. Fed up with their shenanigans, he marched towards the vandals before the situation could get worse.

“Hey! What did I tell you idiots before about picking on those less fortunate than you?!”

The three had taken notice of this. The leader in the middle of the group turned his attention to Dirge. Temporarily leaving his current victim for a moment, he stepped towards him. Not looking too happy about being called an idiot.

He closed in on Dirge’s face. Narrowing his eyes at him. “What did you call me?”

Dirge copied the bully’s actions. “Leave. Now.” He said threateningly.

The bully didn’t budge, however. Instead, he showed a smirk. He threw a punch to Dirge’s nose and then his left cheek. Flinching from the hits, he tried to shield his face from anymore hits until he was bucked a few feet away.

“No one tells me what to do!” The bully retorted. “Get outta here, loser!”

The three laughed while Dirge lay knocked down.

“What a pushover!”

“Weakling!”

They taunted him. After they finished with their remarks, they resumed their bullying on the nymph. Who was now crying out for help.

While dragging himself up for the gravel, Dirge came to a realization. There were changelings all around the hive starving. Families in need of help. And all these punks could think of was to waste their time antagonizing the lesser citizens. Nobody was willing to break up the situation. To everyone else passing by, it was merely another occasion. He knew his father wouldn’t stand for this.

Watching them as he got up, he felt an emotion in him swelling up by the second.

Anger.

Outright infuriated, Dirge bared his fangs and snarled. Throwing away any remaining chances of reasoning with them to diffuse the situation, along with losing his grip on his sanity and the lessons he was taught, he was focused on only one solution:

Killing them.

He felt he would be doing the hive a favor by ridding these three for good. It would be less mouths to feed after all. With this in mind, Dirge picked up a rock big and heavy enough to crush bone. He paced himself on his hind legs towards the bullies with the rock held above his head.

A shadow slowly approaching them unnoticed, the three continued their harassment until…

“Hey! I bet I could make him squeal like a pig if I pulled hard enough! You guys wanna take bets on who--”

He was knocked unconscious to the ground with a bloody concussion. But it didn’t stop there. Dirge relentlessly slammed the rock onto his head over and over with blood gushing from each strike. Growling as he did so. The other two gasped in horror as they backed away from the massacre.

Dirge finally stopped until the head became unrecognizable. Planting the rock on it afterwards. He now turned his attention to the bully on his left.

“Are you crazy!?” He said. “I’m telling the guard!”

Dirge pounced onto his head. Aiming for the horn, he bit and chewed on it in attempt to pull it apart. Being pushed and shaken off from the bully while he tried to resist.

“Get… off me… you freaking lunatic!”

His horn was shortly snapped off as he struggled to remove Dirge from his hold. Screaming in pain and falling to the ground as he clutched his head, now bleeding. He peeked at Dirge who now had his horn in his teeth. Taking the horn to his hoof, he lunged and stabbed him in the right eye with it.

With one target left, he looked to the last changeling standing there horrified. He shook his head at Dirge while backing away slowly.

“We… we were just messing around! We weren’t actually gonna hurt anybody!” He ran in the opposite direction to escape from becoming the next victim. However, he was soon apprehended as he was tackled to the ground from behind. “Somebody help!!”

His plea was for naught. Dirge placed his hooves around his victim's head and twisted forcefully. Taking his last breaths, his throat had then snapped. No longer breathing after the deed was done.

Panting, Dirge got up and looked at the carnage. Feeling like his job was done, he went to check on the nymph.

Upon arriving to the little one, he was still shaking in fear. His mouth agape and eyes widened. Dirge had to calm himself down first and took a deep breath. He extended a hoof to help him up. But it was no use as the nymph was traumatized. Since he was paralyzed in shock and couldn’t move.

Looking at the blood on his hooves, Dirge hadn’t realized it yet until seconds later. He had just killed for the first time. Violating his own rule. His eyes widened in surprise. Shedding a tear as he tried to deny in his mind of what he had done.

Though all this time, he was being observed by several changelings in the background. Many of them shared looks of disgust, disbelief, and shock.

Dirge tried to cry out to them to dispel any accusations he had coming to him.

“No… I didn’t mean… I never meant to… I’m not…!”

“Murderer!” One them yelled out from the crowd.

Momentarily, a couple guards came rushing to the scene. Witnessing the dead bodies and then looking at the two young changelings. Laying there scared and crying.

“What happened here!?” The guard said astounded.

Dirge shut his eyes and held his hooves to his ears. Trying to shut off the world. One by one, the illusions around him started to disappear, until he was left alone in a sea of darkness. He curled up into a ball, shivering from the sudden cold.

“Let him be.” A feminine voice echoed in the distance.

Dirge gasped. He knew who it was…

“He’s just doing what comes natural.”

Left to the sounds of his sobbing in the silence of nothingness, he held his hooves to his ears again. He didn’t want to hear that voice again. The only things keeping his pain sustained was the haunting memories and the pounding headache he was suddenly afflicted with.

There was no hope for salvation.

Author's Note

Credit for the art in this chapter goes to the mod of Ask Broken Blinkie and talkingfornothing.