Project Starburst

"No, Golden. I want you to have it." Dazzle Gleam said, pressing the pendant into her hoof.

Golden Luck looked up at her friend, shaking her head. "But it belonged to your sister. I couldn't possibly take this away from you." she protested.

The white unicorn smiled, stepping back. "It's something precious to me, yes. But you're precious to me as well, and I want you to keep that as a reminder of what we share."

Mind Shade passed by a group of drones completing another row of pods, looking up at the ones already hanging from the ceiling. Some of them contained ponies, who had walked into them without so much as a fight. Even now, their dreams of love and friendship were slowly being twisted into a cold emptiness as the hive drained them to power itself.

"We're ready to leave."

She stopped, looking back at Rainbow Dash, Cloud Flare, and Spiral Dream, all waiting for her. It had only been an hour ago they had stepped before the Queen, their minds pressed into service of the Hive. Now, she could vaguely feel them in the Hive Mind, only aware of the Hive's will. It could be worse, she thought, her eyes returning to the pods above her.

"Come on, then." she said, turning around and putting on the Golden Luck disguise. "We have work to do."

The three ponies fell into line behind her, as her thoughts drifted backwards again.

She had first felt it as they approached Ponyville, and had scarcely believed it. She had suspected, when Twilight had written about strange behavior among the residents of Ponyville. Chrysalis had always been furious that Twilight and Cadence had ruined what was a perfect plan, and any plan she made to claim her rightful throne would involve those two. It wasn't until she had arrived that she realized just how far the Queen had gone to accomplish her goals.

It wasn't until she had arrived that she had felt the Hive Mind again, after so long. She took in a deep breath as she led the entranced ponies out of the cave. "...I want the three of you to patrol...around the lake." she said, turning around. "Keep an eye out for any other ponies, and report to me if you see anything."

The three of them nodded, splitting up to cover the largest area possible at once, and Mind Shade turned down the path, her disguise changing once more, blue fur covering her as she flew towards town.

Angel Grace followed Queen Chrysalis through the Hive. Even with her mind dulled by the magics, there was still a sense of curiosity floating up from the pegasus that Chrysalis found intriguing, and she decided to let it be for the moment. If she was right about Angel, that quality would end up serving her well.

"You should know, by now, my little pony, that the Hive Mind isn't exactly what you would expect when you heard the phrase." Chrysalis remarked, as they passed a group of ponies. "We're not all thinking the same thoughts. The changeling drones are born without a sense of purpose, like you ponies are. I provide them that purpose, and that's the nature of the Hive." smiling, the Queen turned to the pony. "I don't control their thoughts any more than I am controlling yours. Rather..."

"The minds are linked together loosely, sharing thought and sensation. You interpret that and send it back down the line." Angel replied, nodding a bit.

Chrysalis raised a brow, nodding. "Correct! It seems I was right about you. It was a pony like you that led me to realize that your race could benefit from this magic as well. I didn't remove your thoughts, I simply opened up your mind to the Hive. It's like putting a cup of water in the ocean, it's so vast that it's hard to keep yourself. But you can...you can process all of that faster than other ponies, and that's why I separated you from the others."

They came to a stop in a small room, where a scared pony awaited. His eyes widened as he saw Angel Grace and Chrysalis, and he scooted back against the wall.

"So afraid...it's a bitter taste." Chrysalis sighed, shaking her head. "It doesn't help me at all, and it doesn't help him. Help us both, Angel. Help me bring him into the fold."

"How?" Angel asked, looking up at the Queen, confused. "I'm not even a unicorn, much less a changeling."

Chrysalis still had her eyes on the stallion. "But you can feel my mind. Follow it's guidance as I link him to the Hive Mind. Help ease him into his new life."

Without any further warning, Chrysalis began the spell, reaching out the tendrils of thought towards the stallion. Again, she could feel his panicking mind twisting under her telepathic grip, slipping through her power. This time, however, she felt a third presence in the link.

Angel Grace was watching the stallion, her eyes taking on a light green glow. It was working! She used Angel's mind as an anchor line, sighting her magic around the stallion. Slowly, she opened up his mind, felt his presence spreading out through the magical link. His mind and body stopped their struggles, and he relaxed against the wall with a gentle sigh of relief.

She released Angel's mind, and the mare wavered and fell onto Chrysalis. With a single thought, the Queen summoned four Changelings.

"Take her to a cocoon...she need a bit of rest and recovery." she smiled as the drones took the unconscious mare, carrying her into another room. The cocoon would provide a relaxing environment to allow Angel to recover from the strain on her mind. In addition, however, it would help further attune her to the Hive Mind. Chrysalis still wanted Twilight Sparkle; her magic and intellect would make a far better focus, but ponies like Angel were very rare, and Chrysalis intended to cultivate her as well.

Twilight stood by the window, looking at the town through the purple distortion of her shield magic. "I'm not nearly as good as my brother at this. I'm not sure how long I can maintain it."

Cardinal Rule stepped up next to her, putting a reassuring hoof on her shoulder. "I have faith in you, Princess Twilight. The important thing is to start identifying the Changelings as soon as possible. Try and rest and focus on the shield. I'll keep researching magic."

"Thank you, Cardinal." Twilight said, her eyes widening. "W-wait a second!" she ran out the door, as a pegasus landed in front of the castle.

"It's me, Twilight! I need your help!" Rainbow Dash pounded on the shield. "Please, let me in!"

"I would advise against it." Cardinal Rule said, from inside. "She could be a changeling impostor."

Twilight shook her head. "If she isn't, then she needs my help. Even if she is, I'm more than a match for a single Changeling." she opened a small hole in the shield, allowing Rainbow to enter.

"Close it, quick!" Rainbow looked back over her shoulder as the hole sealed, then breathed a sigh of relief. "Now, I'm going to need for you to stay calm, alright?" she flickered with flame as she changed, and the fifth pony, Golden Luck was standing there.

Twilight took a step back, her horn glowing. "You're a changeling?" she asked, and Golden sighed.

"Yes." she admitted, lowering her head. "If you want to imprison me, or blast me, then I...I understand. There's something I want your help with, first, though." she dropped her disguise.

"What is it?" Twilight asked, her eyes narrowing as she kept her spell at the ready.

Mind Shade looked up, desperation in her eyes. "Please. I-I've...There..." she took in a breath. "Help me save my friends."