Niadra walked through the smoothed caverns of the Changeling Alpha Hive, noting how several Changelings cast her a warm smile then talked behind her back, wondering why Queen Chrysalis saved her... the question Niadra has tormented herself with for ages but found no results.

"Good morning, Niadra." The male changeling known as, Kalus, said warmly, his rust-colored chitin CLEARLY separating him from his hatchlings. He was the only Changeling that understood (to a certain extent) Niadra's isolation.

"Good morning, Kalus." Niadra rasped, running her fingers through the Kalus' silky, emerald mane, causing him to blush. "What does the queen require of me today?"

Kalus cleared his throat and replied, "She wishes to speak with you in private."

Niadra cocked an eyebrow then nodded. "Lead the way."

The two walked side by side, catching the eyes of multiple Changelings as they walked. It was no secret that Kalus had feelings for the newest member of the swarm, but none of the Changelings new that Niadra had started seeking out his company due to his friendly nature, an uncommon trait amongst a race that feeds on love.

As they opened the doors to the throne room, they found Chrysalis talking to two strangers, one being a 'human' male with chocolate colored skin and black 'dreadlocks' and the other being a bow-legged 'protoss' with pale blue skin and tendrils hanging down from it's pyramid-like head.

Reacting on pure instinct, Niadra charged at them, her feet making no noise as she charged. When she was close enough, she lashed out with both hands in vicious slashes.

The human flipped over her right arm, brandishing a butterfly knife, and the protoss leaping to the side, his hands becoming encompassed in bright blue energy in the forms of blades.

Niadra lashed out with a telekinetic shove that sent the protoss flying upward and smacking against the ceiling as the human locked his white orbs he had the audacity to call eyes with hers, then lunging at her, slashing with the knife.

Niadra kicked her leg up, kicking the human's wrist with a satisfying crunch of bones snapping, then brought her other leg up, performing a backflip kick, then grabbed the human's head and leaped forward, smashing her knee into it's face. She then lashed her tail out in a sweeping motion and watched as the sword-like tip slashed through both of her opponent's legs, causing him to fall into a pool of green blood.

Wait... Green?

"EN-TARRO EQUESTROS!!!" The protoss said as it lunged towards her, pirouetting through the air using both blades to form a blue circle of death.

The green blood would have to wait.

Remember this... The Queen of Blades told her as she was growing to her full power. Facing protoss in a battle of firepower and combat would be disastrous. Cloud their mind with doubts, leave them isolated, but if you do manage to get one off guard, exerting your full Telepathic powers will cause their minds to either melt, explode, or crush from the assault.

That was before she was given the means to combat a protoss.

Niadra crouched and shot forward, then slid between the new foes legs, then using her tail to launch her in reverse. She slammed her fist into the protoss' back, and with a touch of telekinesis, watched a ripple pass through it's body before sending flying across the room with a SPLAT as it hit the wall.

MORE green blood.

K-CHAK!!!

Niadra tensed and willed her membrane/dress into a bubble shield at the unmistakable sound of a rifle being loaded, then willed it to harden into a second skin after the first hail of gunfire. She was then thrown aside as a Marauder's Grenade exploded next to her.

She hissed in anger, turning to face the two marine-class humans, one in blue armor and one in white-palette based camouflage, that dared to fire upon her, then backflipped as a bullet struck the ground between her legs with no sign that the marines fired, meaning she was facing a ghost as well.

Niadra tapped into her armor, fusing it with a vast amount of telekinesis, then charged towards them. The marines opened fire, the newly enraged hybrid dodging the weapons fire... and running past them and lunging at a ripple in the top corner of the room.

The ripple shifted in an attempt to dodge, but was grabbed by Niadra and thrown at the marines as a makeshift projectile. The ghost's cloak dispersing with the sound of bones snapping as it slammed into the blue marine.

The camouflage marine readied to fire another grenade from it's arm cannon, when Niadra sent a small bolt of energy into the barrel... and howled as the arm exploded which triggered a chain reaction that caused the marines armor to implode with the sound of metal crushing flesh.

The blue marine activated the rifles bayonet and threw it like a spear with damn-near perfect accuracy, then pulled out a chain gun, firing a stream of projectiles at Niadra.

Niadra snatched the bulky rifle out of the air and took off in a sprint, pulling the rifles trigger to find it empty, then smirked as the marine's chain gun overheated. She then threw the spear at full strength, watching as it broke through the marine's visor.

Her victory, however, was short-lived when a bolt of lightning struck her, sending her flying. Niadra willed her second skin into it's original form, and looked upon the face of the human that created the Queen of Blades, Arcturus Mengsk.

Her vision sharpened and she willed her second skin to tear into small shards of chitin, then fired the salvo at the arrogant human, watching as the shards slashed the human to ribbons in a display of chitin and green blood.

A cold realization washed over her... she just butchered her brethren-

"Well done, Niadra." Chrysalis' ethereal voice chimed, snapping her from the self-induced panic. "You have thoroughly exceeded my expectations. KALUS, TETRAS, RUDOK, TAKE THE WOUNDED TO THE HEALING PIT!!!"

Niadra watched as Kalus, aided by two other changelings, carried out their now wounded kin away using magic, then turned to Chrysalis. Ever since Niadra woke, she had always admired the Queen of the Swarm, her gritty, battle-hardened chitin, her moss green mane were nice to look at, but the queen's bright green eyes radiated such fierce willpower that Niadra found herself wanting to be like her in the future.

"That was a test?" Niadra inquired as her second skin replaced it's missing and damaged parts.

Chrysalis nodded, smiling at Niadra with pride. "It was," she said, her expression darkening, "but it was also a preview of what the hive might be facing in the future."

Author's Note

THAT is my inspiration for the ruthless combat style.

Enjoy the violence!