It was just a few weeks before the Queen's master plan was to be unfurled and the control of Equestria would be under Queen Chrysalis' hoof. The Queen had scheduled a play in the Hive's castle auditorium for this evening while she went away on her private errands. She hoped to boost the morale of her minions while at the same time mocking her most despised foes, The Royal Princesses and those who served under them.
Throughout the ancient halls of the once mighty fortress of Tamilane the Greater changelings were scurrying about to and fro. The changelings were panicky; literally tripping over themselves and other changelings, trying to keep up with the demands of the changeling high lieutenants. These high lieutenants or "Cerebrates" which they've become accustomed to being called as; acted as advisers and organizers of the hive. To show such status they were clad in black robes lined with cyan colored runes that littered the haunch and flank of the cloth.
"You there, Minion!" The cerebrate called out as he pointed down from the royal balcony.
The changeling carrying the over sized tuba on his back shifted his gaze from the floor to the balcony.
"My name's Tom..." The changeling called out in a monotone voice.
The cerebrate rolled his eyes. "Note taken, 'Tom'." Accentuating the name with a sarcastic tone as he gestured quote marks with his hooves. "Now get the rest of the instruments to the bottom of the stage. We must hurry before the Queen comes back!" The cerebrate yelled as he stomp his hoof on the ground. His eyes examining for any stragglers on the floor below.
Pointing his hoof toward the lower area of the auditorium. "You! Get that rope to the back stage pulley, I wanted those curtains working five minutes ago!" The cerebrate gave an irritated glare at the wingless purple eyed changeling as it trotted below him as it magically dragged a long rope along with it.
"Go on! Move with haste you fool!! The Queen will be disgusted with 'you' if we don't finish in time!" bellowed the cerebrate while giving the "unique" changeling the most threatening stare that he can conjure over the rubble of ancient stone railings. This caused the mutant changeling to rapidly gallop and trip itself on the rope; a large scowl then marked the cerebrates face as he watched the mutant descend down the gradual slope of the main stage walkway. The cerebrate then slapped his hoof on his forehead and clenched his eyes tightly while quickly looking to the floor in embarrassment. He then heard a loud *Clunk-splash*.
When he opened his eyes, he saw the drenched whimpering mutant fruitlessly attempt to pry its head out of a cleaning bucket. The cerebrate let out a loud sigh of annoyance and turned his gaze towards two other changelings that were standing nearby with their mops over their blushed faces, vigorously fighting to keep their laughter in. The cerebrate's bright cyan gaze came in contact with theirs, quickly diminishing any thought of laughter inside the two. Both changelings quickly stood stiff with anxiety, preparing for a loud scolding. The cerebrate then rose his hole ridden hoof and signaled the two to assist the utterly helpless mutant.
The two changelings then scurried towards the wingless changeling which was still trying to free its head from its brain bucket prison. The two changelings grabbed both sides of the bucket, counting before the great heave.
"1, 2, 3- Pull!" shouted the changelings, their hind legs pushing against the poor whimpering mutant's body as they pulled with a loud grunt. The bucket, after a hard struggle, popped off with a loud *SCHLOONK*.
The sudden change in resistance took the changelings by surprise as they flew away in opposite directions, both crashing into random crowds of busy workers.
He turned away with a large scowl and a slow shake of the head. He whispered to himself with a sigh, "This is going to be a long day..." as he walked into the balcony's back room.
The other cerebrates barked on and on, commanding any and every changeling that looked like they were loitering about. They observed the auditorium, making sure all of the preparations were being carried out correctly.
The Fortress's auditorium room was large, probably the size of the Canterlot Great Hall. The main stage area at the very front of the auditorium was humungous, including those two great intricately decorated columns that stood erect on both sides of the stage. The columns had small actor ponies carved about in a swirling pattern. Each doing a different type of pose with their masques and costumes. Below the columns was the oak wood floor. The hardwood stage floor had a beautiful auburn glow whenever light hit it. But at the moment, the beauty of the stage was blocked by the swarm of changelings that were reciting their lines and preparing the props.
In the middle of the stage floor was a large trap door that was covered by an old blue rug, the door leading to the ruined section of the under-stage. Along the back wall were old markings and glyphs crudely engraved in the stone that were never bothered to be deciphered by the Hive's intellectuals. Many of the changelings saw them as just poorly made backstage decor which they later covered with another curtain to protect the Queen's view from such eyesore.
The side walls of the auditorium were lined with thick deep blue drapery that were blanketed by thick layers of dust and cobwebs. But hidden underneath the dust were fascinating yet faded murals of great battles against evil, villages and cities celebrating the return of what seemed to be a king, and a very unfinished map of Equestria. Although at the very end of the huge cloth mural; near the entrance way of the auditorium, a very dark and depressing image dominated the wall, an image of the three pony species being separated by a single tall ebony figure surrounded by a scarlet vortex. The figure with its claws high in the air, a defeated figure under its right hoof, and the gesture of laughter in his stature. The rest of the mural that was after the ebony figure was burned away. Scorch marks covered the stone walls on both sides of the room.
Above the stage was a large diamond shaped crystal chandelier held up by a giant wooden beam. The enchanted crystal allowed any light that came in contact with it become amplified, brightening the whole theater with light. A tarnished floating bronze ring that rotated just under the middle of the diamond chandelier had the inscription: "Geldinghold Keep Theater" carved along its outer face.
All around the the stage and assembly area, changelings were galloping and flying like a hoard of bumble bees hastily doing any chores before the Queen arrived.
A myriad of changelings flew in from the entrances with pieces of rusted and charred braziers retrieved from the abandoned arcane study rooms of the castle. The large braziers were then suspended on the ceiling, all hanging above the audience seats. A few moments later, three changelings flew up towards the brazier. Each of them had; in their magical grips, a formidably large crystal prism, possibly the size of a small filly. And by the strenuous looks on the black creatures faces, they were not light. A nearby cerebrate was observing the changelings up above from the main floor with a quizzical thinking face and a slight frown.
"You, the minion on the right."
The changelings above drew their attention to the robed figure as they all pointed at themselves in confusion.
"No, the far right!" Yelled the small black and teal figure from below.
The changelings threw their gaze at the last changeling holding the last of the prisms. Pain covered its face as it has been nearly 20 minutes since it had put down the ungodly heavy crystal.
" Put the prism on the brazier...Good..." The cerebrate rose his hoof to his chin as his brows scrunched together in thought. " Hmm, Move it back to the left a little."
The changeling was straining in exhaustion while it pulled the crystal with its magic over to the left of the large braziers plate. The poor little creature was heaving and wheezing heavily, each breathe growing louder.
The cerebrate eyes shot about as he observed the other braziers, comparing one another. He rose his hoof toward the exhausted changeling, motioning it more to the right.
The changeling looked at him anxiously with its very tired eyes. Pulling together the last of its strength, it moved the prism. Quickly, the changeling's eyesight got blurry and its body started to shake. Then almost instantly, the changeling's mind fell into darkness.
The changeling fainted briefly; the magic that held the prism dispersed, leaving the prism tilting over on the very edge of the suspended brazier plate. The exhausted changeling used the very little energy it had left to fly but its wings had failed to flap. A second later the a loud rubber ducky squeak echoed from the floor.
"Hurry catch it! Catch it!" Shouted the cerebrate in panic while ignoring the unconscious minion lying six feet away from him. Stars and bubbles orbited around the unconscious minions head as it groaned softly.
Luckily the other two changelings that were above caught the prism before it tilted off the brazier. The changelings sighed with relief.
One changeling asked in a very irritated tone as it lifted the prism back into place onto the brazier, "Why did we haul these giant crystals all the way here for again?"
The cerebrate frowned, "The Queen wishes us to use those crystal prisms as spotlights for the show." He retorted in a haughty voice.
"Couldn't we just have used the lanterns?" Asked the other changeling.
"Dear Chrysalis no! The lanterns are too dim and you can't direct any light with them. With the prisms you only need to beam very little light..."
His horn glowed bright green,
"...and direct it into the crystal."
A small beam of light shot from his horn to the prism.
"The prism then amplifies and redirects the light to the stage."
The prism then started to glow with a light green tint. After hitting the its brightest capacity a beam of light shot towards the stage, illuminating a section of the stage with a large square spotlight and a very faint hue of green.
Turning his attention back to the two flying black figures above. His facial expression suddenly snapping from an informative teacher to a disgruntled mad-pony.
"Now get back to work!" He commanded at the top of his lungs as the two airborne changelings fumbled about before they flew away.
Staring at the unconscious changeling, the cerebrate called for the medical crew to carry her off to the Hive's healing chambers. Two changelings with pink backs instead of purple, unraveled a stretcher made up of opaque cyan membrane and thick branches near their injured comrade. Using their magic, they carried the unconscious minion onto the stretcher. They then carelessly dropped the changeling onto the stretcher as an audible squeak resounded from the already injured creature.
The changeling was then carried off out through the theater entrance way, the stars and bubbles following not far behind.
Two thick-bodied drones stood guard at the main entrance to the castle's great hall. The sun slowly creeping towards their legs through the destroyed ancient windows. Very little was left of the window except for the bent metal frames and a few shards of stained-glass here and there. The sun shined through the glassless metal frame, casting a cobweb of shadow along the stone floor near the guards. Up above windows stood a flock of pigeons, all staring at the two guards below from their wooden rafter abode.
The guards; clad in their dark lavender armor, stood there as stiff as stone statues with their spears at their sides. The only sounds that could be heard were tapping of hooves and the moving of equipment in the room across the empty, torch lit, stone hall.
These two guards were both given the orders to stand guard at that entrance, no matter what happens; unless it was something drastic, they had to stand guard in front of the great hall. If either of them were to leave their post, they both would be thrown into the catacombs for a week.
One rotund guard; eyes fixed on an old painting of an ancient pony scholar, re-adjusted his legs to a more comfortable spot after being in the same body position for three hours straight.
His eyes scanning the old picture as he stood there and thought. He thought of what it would be like to see the castle before its demise. He wondered about the sights and smells and the ancient ponies he would have met. He gazed out towards the empty hall. Its sight being an absolute eyesore with its grungy filth and dust. The torches barely illuminating the hall, making it look more like a dungeon.
The rotund drone then closed his eyes, trying to conjure up all of his imaginative might. He opened his eyes; his sight filled with an image of a warmer, extravagant place. Chandeliers decorated above, all embossed with artistry and embedded with bronze emblems and gems. The halls were illuminated with a light golden hue, the stones glowed with a warm white and gray essence, furniture of finished wood and brass lined the halls. Royal figures trotting about past him, all of them oblivious of the daydreamer's presence.
He blinked again, being sent back into his dreary world. The hall laid empty and what was left of the ransacked chandeliers hung wavering along the cold air. The torches flickered against the dark gray and black masonry as airborne dust slowly descended back to the earth.
The guard gave a small sigh and turned to his partner beside him.
"Do you ever feel that life could be better? I mean do you think that 'this', " He motioned one hoof up towards the ugly stone void, "-is the best that life has to offer?"
His friend gave a slight huff, frowning eyes rolling as he turned to the rotund drone. "Ugh, not this again." whispered the drone. "Look, I've told you before, its not our choice, it's the Queens choice. As everybody knows, the Queen always knows whats best for our sake."
"But-" The rotund drone was about to say, but holding his tongue as his friend rose his hoof towards him.
"And another thing, You need to stop thinking so much. Honestly, I think you'll drive yourself mad before this shift is over. Just relax, block out all thought and focus on standing here...in this one spot." Pointing his hoof at the ground.
The other changeling guard felt his hopeless efforts to invoke a change of thought in his fellow guard begin to be extinguished. The changeling's sadden eyes glared the old painting on the wall again, giving out an audible sigh as he drifted back to his dream land once more.
Ten minutes later both of the guards heard a small *Poot* from up above. The rotund guard under the rafters ignored it; his gaze fixed on the painting, as the other across from him looked up.
The guard followed a falling white dot with his eyes, his head slowly moving downwards as the white dot came closer to his comrade's head.
*Plunk*
The other guard's eyes widened as he jerked from the sudden sound and pulled out his spear, flailing it about as if he were being attacked by bats.
"Who goes there!" shouted the drone.
The other guard that was watching was laughing so hard he had to clutch his sides and force himself to breathe. His helm bouncing back and forth over his eyes.
The laughter and fidgety movements before suddenly snapped to a halt as a cerebrate came out of the door down the hall. The two instantly took their original stiff positions as the cerebrate slowly trotted towards.
The poo stricken guard eyed upwards to the rim of his helmet. He saw the white dirg edge at the top of his sight.
"Oh Chrysalis no!" He thought in panic.
The small stream of white then dripped onto his nose. He tightened his body and his eyes clenched from the embarrassment and disgust. His body refusing to move while insight of the changeling authority figure.
The cerebrate then looked at the defiled helmet on the blushing guard. He then gave out an audible snicker and his trotting pace became more rapid.
The guards eyes began to water as if he were about to cry.
The cerebrate then quickly took a left turn, his ebony cloak flapping loudly. The guards then heard a loud "BWAHAHAHA-*Slam* *Clink-clink*. The door slammed behind the cerebrate, the door latch tapping just shortly after.
Both the mortified guard and smiling guard waited for the door to lock.
*Click*
The two guards then instantly resumed to their movement. One quickly brushing off the white stink as the other laughed quite audibly.
The poo stricken guard started to sniffle and whimper in its growling voice.
The other guard looked towards him and said in a humorous tone.
"Aw, Don't worry Pax, It's a sign of good luck when that happens." Smiling, trying to suppress his joyous laughter.
"Really Bruscillus?" Whimpered the brute of a changeling with a small sniffle.
"Yeah! Sure." He responded as he dabbed his hoof in the white dot and brushed it onto his own helmet. Walking back with a reassuring grin.
Pax smiled back with a face of restored confidence.
Suddenly bug horns roared from outside.
The Queen was back from her errands.
Chp 2 :A Friendly Discussion
Outside the monolithic castle's stone entrance, a platoon of changeling drones stood in rank outside, all awaiting the Queen's arrival.
Pax looked to Bruscillus, "Do we really have to do this every time she comes back to the castle?" Whispered Pax with a distressed tone.
"Every day ,my friend." Bruscillus breathe-fully answered.
"Where is she, I don't see her." said Pax while squinting at the horizon.
"A certain cerebrate thought it would be a good idea to post runners in a few mile radius from the castle to alert the coming of the Queen today. So, we might be standing out here for a while." Buscillus said under a sigh , scratching under his helmet as he stared out to the horizon.
20 minutes later in the beating sun, the Queen was finally in visible range of the guards.
The guards were sweating profusely, the dark shaded armor made them feel like small cooking ovens with legs.
"About damn time." One drone whispered. All the other drones silently agreeing.
The bug horns sounded off again, releasing a bellowing buzz throughout the castle field. But one bug horn failed to sound off on the far eastern watchtower.
***************
"What's wrong with it?!" said the young female cerebrate in a high pitch squeak of agitation.
"I don't know-I don't know!" The changeling rapidly blurted out as he scurried around and about the giant crustacean horn.
"Hurry up and get it to work!" The spastic cerebrate exclaimed. "They're so going to have my hide for this." She said as she was anxiously prancing in place.
" First day on the job and I screw up!" She squeaked; her eyes bulged as she grabbed a hold of her head. "Oh what will they do to me if I don't sound this off when the Queen enters the castle!" She grabbed the other changeling in panic with sweat dripping from her head as she gritted teeth.
"You mean what they'll do to us..." Corrected the changeling with a frown while brushing off the scared cerebrate.
"Whatever, Have you gotten it to work yet?" The young cerebrate said in anxiety as the changeling was just finished examining the shell horn.
"I think so..." the changeling said as he bucked the side of the shell three times. A small skittering sound resounded from the front of the horn.
"Okay, now lets try." The changeling took a deep breathe and blew into the mouth piece.
For the first few moments the horn was only blowing air until something broke free. The horn then buzzed loudly as a pigeon shot out of the front of the horn like a cannon ball.
"Well, found the problem." the changeling remarked as the dazed bird flew directionlessly over head before hitting the side of the a castle tower with a small puff of feathers.
***************
The Queen was now passing the heat beaten and disgruntled drones in her own little shaded crustacean carriage. Following the insect queen were her Praetorians and Harbingers, the Queen's bodyguards and closest advisers.
The praetorians clad in their royal armor marched in uniform as they followed the Queen. Their helm plumes fluttering in the wind as they marched through the castle gate with the resounding *Thrum, thrum, thrum* under their hooves.
The praetorians were the most combat educated drones in the Hive. Clad in the heaviest and stylized armors, they still would be able fight through hordes of Cave Spiders and Glowmethian Centipedes for hours on end. These specimen of war were hoof picked by the Queen herself. For a changeling to even be considered of being a praetorian; he must go through the deepest depths of the catacombs, out through the back entrance cavern inside the ancient Everfree, and return to the castle gate alive. Many have trekked through the deep catacombs, nearly half have yet to return. The ones that made it through were obviously very lucky to not encounter the beast that lived in the catacombs.
The praetorians are then rewarded the the royal crustaic armor with a scaled skirt and a Romanesque gallea helm for their prowess and bravery.
In contrary, The pompous Harbingers were the Queen's closest advisers and arcane masters of the hive. They acquired their status by reading hordes of magical tomes, something that would be rather difficult for normal changelings because they were never taught to read. Most harbingers were sometimes rude, demeaning , and very ignorant of the intelligence of the other hive members other than the Queen's. To overly blare their status to the lower castes of the Hive, they wear the most extravagant clothing and robes that many changelings would only dream to touch. Their normal apparel was a hooded amethyst robe with yellow rimming. The rimming would have many intricate runes stitched in along with small strings of golden relics or gem embossed amulets that would hang along the breast area. All of their clothing was usually made through mystical means, using the finest silks through arcane conjuration and textile work with magical precision.
The harbingers; their heads held high and their gait more confident than it should be, walked onward behind the praetorians. Whenever a harbinger's eyes met one of the posted guards they would huff in an elitist matter, and brush away their sight to another object.
"Show offs..." whispered one guard as they were given stink-eyes by the harbingers as they passed.
One harbinger took notice and pointed her hoof towards the taunting guard.
"What did you just say?" the female harbinger spoke out with an irritated haughty voice. Her eyes gazing with a pure fiery hatred.
"Uh nothing, I said nothing." the guard the coughed out as more sweat started to form under his helm.
"Good... You best keep your pea-brained self that way." The harbinger said as she pranced on with a huff and her head held high.
The guard and those surrounding him all took up a silent chorus of funny faces directed at the pompous harbinger.
Once the last of the pompous changelings passed the entrance, the platoon soon gave way to their heat exhaustion and slumped about. The leading captain of the platoon allowed the soldiers to take leave as they entered the castle.
***************
The day was slowly drifting towards the afternoon, inside the mess hall changelings workers and drones were loitering about; all sharing stories and playing small conventional games. Once in a blue moon, a small brawl would break out between a few drunken changelings who've pulled too many hard cider mugs from the castle vault.
Surrounding the loitering crowd was the great hall, much of it ill kempt and very gray looking. Much of the tapestry and decor ripped away from centuries of ransacking and looting. The only lights that glowed above were the remaining wooden chandelier candles and the holes in the ceiling. Down below on a few tall braziers holding giant glow gems stood along the corners of the great room. The gems giving off a bright cyan light would flicker randomly as moths would attempt to collide with the large gems. In the middle of the great hall's floor, long wooden tables stood, all facing towards an old dust covered throne at the far end of the room.
Changelings were trotting about, talking and loitering amongst each other. Some babbled on about random day-to-day stories as others whisper to each other about unjust treatment bestowed by their superiors.
In the very middle of the room; a large crowd formed around two small groups of intoxicated changelings. Mugs and spattered cider littered the floor around them.
"Well...uh," The smaller changeling worker attempted to gather his words as he downed the last swig of the hard cider in his mug. Then carelessly dropped the mug in-front of him, showing a blushed face of a boozer.
"You're stupid and fat!-*Hic*" The worker said unintelligibly as he pointed his wobbly hoof in the general direction of the large drone guard. His face carrying a stupid grin and his eyes unevenly opened.
"Oh rea-*hic*-lly?" The inebriated guard said with one brow cocked; fang and tooth shining as if he were to bite something. The drunk guard stumbled towards the group of small intoxicated workers, whom seemed to having trouble standing without wobbling about. He stood a foot away from the smug changeling, he looked down and poked his hoof on the challenger's chest.
"Say that aga-*hic*-in," He tilted his head and cracked his neck. His brows failing to come together; making it look as if he were dazed from a buck to the head than the expression of anger.
"I will!...Let me just -*Burp*- get this here thingy." He pulled mug off a random bystander and downed all of the cider inside. He threw the mug behind him, hitting one of his colleagues in the head with a loud "Thonk".
"Uh, I don't think that's a good idea Phillip..." Said one voice in the drunken crowd.
"Oh don't worry," The worker waved his hoof in the air in a brushing motion. " Us big bo-*hic*-ys are just having a ...'friendly discussion'-*hiccup*." The worker responded in a drunken slur.
The smug worker then looked up at the brutish guard. He gave the guard a very cocky expression as he examined the large scar across the guard's face. He then began to squint as if the boozed drone was far away.
"Did Princess Celestia's big butt collide with your face? Or did your mother -*Hic*- drop you on the floor when you were just a larva?" The smug worker started to laugh as his every breathe became a loud snort. The crowd surrounding them started to chatter and laugh as well.
"Idiot,-*hic*-Your mother is my mother." The guard retorted in a slur as he smacked the workers head. A audible hollow "clunk" sound reverberated throughout the hall. The crowd then became silent.
The worker cyan eyes then dilated in size. His smug expression was replaced with a large scowl as he stared at the smiling guard. The worker then snapped his hind legs around and bucked at the guards stomach. His hooves came in contact with the drone's stomach with a loud resounding thud.
A few milliseconds after the strike, another sound started to echo from the guards stomach. A sound that resembling a loud grumble and a low pitched hum.
*Schlllluurrkk* *BUUUUUURRRRRRPPPP* *Cough-cough*
The loud burp echoed throughout the great hall, all of the other changelings minding their own business started to eye the black crowd.
A small voice from the back of the hall said audibly, "Did someone just die?"
The wide eyed worker ignored the comment and looked at the unharmed drone.
The drone responded in a bellowing voice. "Nope, but one is just about to." He gave a fiery glare as the worker stood in awe.
"Phillip...I think you should back away." A drowsy voice whispered from the crowd.
Then unexpectedly, another of the worker's colleagues threw a cider mug at the guards head. The guard grunted loudly as the splash of cider; he rose his hoof up trying to wipe the cider from his eyes. Once he regained visibility he saw that the small group of drunken workers were in mid-air, charging at him. His eyes widened; he squealed a feminine scream as he was tackled down by ten drunk workers.
The guards helmet flew off as he was tackled, hitting a nearby cider hound and splashing his drink all over another worker.
"Heyyyy! You spilt mah drink you loser!" The cider hound yelled unintelligibly as he hoof punched a random bystander in the snout. A huge brawl then broke out amongst the crowd.
Some of the guard's standing by were laughing hysterically as the others were brawling with other drunken changelings, many of whom weren't apart of the brawl. The black swarm of drunken brawlers soon spread amongst the farthest corners of the hall. Mugs, helmets, random chunks of food such as bread and cheese flew about as the large swarm of black were trading kicks and punches. Few other changelings hid under the tables with wooden plates held over their heads, hoping not to be pelted by the wall of flying objects.
***************
Loud yelping, kicking, shoving, crashing of objects, and foul language eminated from the other side of the Great hall door as the two guards: Pax and Bruscillas, stood at their post.
"Should we go in and help?" Asked Pax, the expression of worry traced on his eyes.
"Nah, I'm pretty sure they're fine." Bruscillas reassured in ignorance.
"But what if the cerebrates find out that we didn't help quell the riot?" Pax said in an even more worrisome tone.
"They won't." Bruscillas said cheerily as he rose his hoof near his chin.
"What makes you say th- *Thwack!*
"Aagh! What was th- Why did you do that!?" Yelled Pax as he held his puffed up left cheek.
"If they see injuries on us, it will make us seem as if we were in the brawl. Then we'll tell them that we attempted to quell the fight." Bruscillas said informatively. "Okay, now you do me." He said as he edged his cheek forward and his eyes clenched.
Pax gave a mischievous smile as he turned around.
*Clonk*
" Augh! My head, why does it burn!-Stupid! You're supposed to hit me, Not kick me!!" Bruscillus yelped as he covered his forehead with his two hooves.
Pax couldn't stop laughing as he saw the two horse shoe shaped bruises on his friend's forehead. The two prints made a cartoonish imprint over his eyebrows. To add insult to injury, his friends puffed up eyebrows made him look as if he were a prehistoric cave-pony.
Bruscillas then smacked Pax in the back of the head very hard. Automatically reacting, Pax smacked back. A few seconds later they engaged in a aggressive slapping contest.
***************
5 minutes later, Pax and Bruscillas joined the brawl, objects were still flying, an airborne changeling flew across the room after being kicked by a guard. Other changelings were dueling each other with cider mugs, using them as swords as they drank from another in the other hoof. A random drunkard in the rafters above was hit in the head by a cheese wheel, causing it to yodel while it descended back to earth before crashing into a table.
A loud titanic voice shot out from the great hall entrance way.
"Stop!" The Queen shouted in the royal voice.
The brawling crowd stopped instantly, keeping their fighting poses as they stared at the angered Queen.
The Queen's brow twitching eyes scanned through the room; all of the changeling were frozen from fear of what was to come.
The Queen's face was nearly scarlet from anger. She then asked in a very loud and agitated tone, "Who are the heathens that started this!"
The crowd instantly pointed directly to two changelings in the middle of the room, Phillip and the brute drone. The brute had Phillip over his bruised head ready to throw across the room. The drone then carelessly dropped the changeling and both quickly bowed as low as they could towards the Queen. Phillip could barely see where the Queen was due to his two black eyes.
The Queen calmed down by then, walking slowly towards the two with a slightly calm smile on her face. Other changelings frantically scurrying away as the Queen walked nearby.
She stood directly in-front of the two frightened changeling while crushing a metal mug under her hoof. Both were shaking in fear and their eyes clenched preparing for the worst.
"Do you know what happens to minions that disturb my beauty sleep?" She said in a uncomfortably friendly voice as she lowered her head downwards, only stopping a foot away from the two pale changelings.
"N-n-n-no" Stuttered Phillip, his body shaking uncontrollably.
"No? How about you drone?" She said in a overly friendly voice as she turned her head towards the sweating guard, his bleeding nose bowed against the cold stone floor.
"I-uh-Y-you -pu-put them....- I-I don't know." The words were knotted in the drones throat. He knew very VERY well where she puts insubordinates and miscreants.
"Oh, I'm very sure you do." She whispered softly to the drone. His body then started to shake uncontrollably, rattling his armor like a bag of scrap metal.
"Say it." She said in a monotone.
"Y-y-you put them i-in the c-c-c-c..." The drone struggled, his eyes were at the verge of tears, knowing his cruel fate to come.
"Say it!" The Queen shouted in-front of his face. The guard's eyes clenched even harder as he forced the last words.
"T-the C-c-catacombs!" His voice cracked as tears flowed from his bright teal eyes.
"Now," The Queen turned to the frozen pale worker, his body locked up in anxiety and fear.
"How long would you like to stay there for?" She said in a friendly voice. She obviously wanted to play with her ''soon to be banished" subjects.
The changeling attempted to speak, but only a whimper came out of him.
The Queen's ear closed in towards the small worker's mouth.
"What was that dear? I didn't quite catch that..." She said with a cocked brow.
The changeling attempted to speak again, only to fail as a quieter whimper escaped his nostrils.
" 'Gasp!?' Two months you say?" The Queen acted out in her cruel comedy. "Oh tsk, tsk, tsk my dears. Are you sure you want it to be that long?" She cooed in a fake worried tone to her two subjects.
Both frozen and pale with pools of tears around their heads. Phillip was then in the fetal position as the brute was covering his head with his hooves.
The Queen sighed and returned to her normal self, knowing that her two play things were now paralyzed. "Take them to the catacombs..." She said in a cruel monotone voice.
Two praetorians then walked pass the Queen and dragged the two paralyzed changelings down to the lower levels of the castle.
The great hall was silent, changelings were looking at each other while others were staring at the spot of what once their two friends were cowering on.
The Queen then gazed upon the other changelings, challenging any of those whom dared look her in the eye.
"Let this be a lesson to all of you." She said loudly as she walked out of the great hall.
The bruised up changelings then silently walked out of the great hall, a few others staying to clean the mess.
***************
"By the..." said Pax in his sorrowful stupor, failing to say Queen's name. He and Bruscillas were both leaving the Great Hall.
"Was that Braxton?" Asked Bruscillas in a surprised manner, his eyes staring at the floor as they walked towards the large theatre room entrance.
"Yes, it was." Pax said slowly as he rose his mug to his face.
A silence dominated the hall as head weak changelings slowly walked towards the living quarters and prepared for the play.
"Don't worry Pax, you know that Braxton will make it through. He always has before." Attempting to lift his partner's spirits.
"I really hope you're right Bruscillas." Pax spoke as he looked down into his mug.
"Now come on, cheer up. Hopefully the play will lift your spirits." Bruscillas said as he put his foreleg around the stressed drone's neck.
It was evening by then. The play was beginning to start as the two entered the theatre room.
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P.S. Any better names other than "Phillip?" Please post a suggestion.
