The hive.
It`s what we live for, fight for.
The young, the old, the royalty. We fight, we- and our queen- for the empire. The hive. Our home. Our LIFE.
Now were at war.
Our queen, Queen Chrysalis, sent out two dozen soldiers a week before the wedding to spy in the city. They were intended to capture a few civilians, so we could feed off their natural love. Though the troops only got two ponies, A couple.
Therefore, we were forced to send our queen in to take Cadance`s place, so she could collect love and- when the wedding was over- show the kingdom her army, so there could be a peaceful trade of love and maybe even set up a live feed route for the later generations.
But no. That DREADFUL twilight sparkle had to find out our queen was an imposter.
So now, the whole army is invading Canterlot. We had to. It was MANDATORY.
I`m in troop #13 out of 25. We come in dozens.
I fly down through the already broken barrier for the kingdom, and quickly change into my disguise, unfortunately though my I.D.
is a crystal pony stallion. So being found won`t be hard, though it should last me long enough to gather a few other changelings and start a side attack.
I run through a street around a fountain, where I get a perfect shot of my queen. She`s in the throne, challenging a white alicorn.
"Celestia?! oh Chrysalis, you cant fight-" I start to sigh before being cut off at the Princess of the suns scream breaking any silence their was. I smile.
I continue to gallop past the plaza to another street where I spot an odd looking unicorn, either a disguised changeling or a good captive, being alone and all.
It`s a mare who seems to be in utter shock, staring at the sky, or an empty space on the wall.
She has bright red hair and dull green eyes, and her coat is a light brown.
"Are you okay?" I ask, knowing whichever answer she gives me will decide her place.
"I-I... My husband! He was ABDUCTED!!!" She screams to the air. A captive, by rules.
I quickly walk behind her, but she turns around and notices my crystal cloak.
"W-Why is your coat like that? I never heard of a, crystal pony...?" She wipes a hoof at her eye. I feel sorry that I am going to have to capture her, shell probably have a heart attack shes so depressed.
I sigh and decide a quick conversation would do to confirm a good capture.
In my lightest tone I say, "Yes. Im called a crystal pony-" I ponder for a second, I dont know how to explain a race of Equin I never really heard of either.
With a made up story I add, "Were rare ponies that hail from Manehatten. Kind of like a special breed of dyed ponies" I slightly laugh as she seems to smile dimly.
"...Will he be alright?" She looks to me and I blush- a bad habit Ive always had. I cant stand lying... But I have to.
"Yes, of course. I`m SURE of it", I frown when she seems to lighten up further more.
She sinks back to the ground for a second, I`m scared she saw me grimace, but she seems to have not noticed that all.
Instead she looks at the sky, watching a group of Changelings fly towards the kingdom.
"I`m scared" She sucks in tears.
Too scared to hurt the prey, or bring too much hope, I sigh.
And then whisper dryly, "Don`t worry".
She turns to me, levitating her tears off of her face. I smile falsely, but she seems to take it as a genuine one.
Now. Action must take place.
"I... um, look. I have to go. I heard something, come on", I act alerted, and easily trick her into being scared and trusting. She nods and starts after me, not wanting to be left behind.
I lead her into a secluded Ally way. She seems confused as to why we barely traveled but I cover it up with a quick lie. Another lie.
She sits by a small stairway, facing a grey cracked wall.
I decide to make her at least think im gone, so she wont feel betrayed by the 'crystal stallion'.
"Hey, um, Ive got to go- again. But ill be back, soon", I check my surroundings, taking in the neat homes packed together. So vacant.
The dull grey sky, the cracks in the marble ground. The staircase the leads up diagonally, and then sharply curves to repeat the former.
She nods, but then fades into one of apology, "I`m sorry. I never got your name?"
"..."I ponder for a second, then tell her another grimacing lie, "Streak Stone".
No. That`s not my name. My true name is 154. It stands for my rank among all the changelings. I am number 154 in troop #13.
The mare seems off a little, but responds lightly,
"Im cocoa spice. Your name though... With a bright coat like THAT, Im surprised you were named after a rock. No offense..." She turns away but I smile, knowing she means well.
I just now realize my actual body features though. The rich purple of my coat, my dazzling blue eyes, the way my mane and tail are full and bright pale pink. I have a mares color choice, but Im clearly a stallion.
Though it`s sad I lost my wings and horn, being an earth pony... I remember what I said about leaving, and walk away. Just long enough for Cocoa to sigh and turn back to her new thought space.
In a swift flash of green, I turn into my true form- a beast of holes and fangs. Dear Celestia I wish so many things right now.
I wish I was an actual pony.
I wish ponies liked me.
I wished we didn`t have to go to war for food.
For Lunas sake, I wished a one-pony capture wasnt so hard and long.
I stomp my hoof on the ground before walking back around the corner. Cocoa is still staring at her space.
Good.
I sneak near her, and prepare to capture my 'prey'. One pony takes this LONG to get.
As I get my hoof into the air, I hear a startling cry,
"WATCH OUT!!! IT`S ONE OF THEM!!!" Cocoa swerves at the sound of the voice, evading my hoof, causing it to slam into the ground.
I snarl in pain. Too bad i`ve never been one to hold a good temper.
The source of the voice charges at me, a male pegasus. I easily dodge, and with one swift movement, jump onto the mid-level of the staircase.
The green stallion seems so mad he could be a bull, as he flies up and throws a hoof at me- which I counter with a punch in his gut.
He sputters some curse word, but I ignore it as I take this time to jump onto the ground level marble.
He dives down and is able to catch me by surprise, clinging onto my left wing.
I roll onto the ground as I slip away and turn into Cocoa.
As her copy, he can`t tell the difference. Right???
But he does notice one thing- she has tear tracks.
I`m smiling, thinking I have made it through this one, but am clearly chosen as wrong when he tackles me onto the ground.
But he doesnt punch me or anything. Hes still confused, and isnt sure if im the correct one. One of THEM.
I dryly ask, "Why? I-It`s her..." I pretend to be depressed and faintly hurt by his act.
I wait, he trembles.
He doesn`t buy my act.
I kick him off and turn into my self again as I jump/fly onto the top of the staircase.
"Get back here!!!" He screams as he lands on me through a hard flash of white.
He punches me, and I feel blood in my mouth. One of my fangs are missing.
I squirm in his grip. He just holds on tighter.
Finally, I`m able to stick my fang in his hoof, causing it to stick in there as I get up and kick him off of me.
We exchange a few punches and kicks before he side steps.
And then- he pushes me off the top of the staircase with his back hooves. I try to fly again, but I notice a sharp tear in the left wing.
He broke my wing, and my mouth. I can`t fly.
I brace myself as I hit the ground from 20 feet in the air.
Im bleeding. My rib, I think its broken. My hoof feels misplaced.
My breath is light and hallow.
He lightly lands beside me on the ground, glaring at me.
For some reason, all I can think about is Cocoa. Shes staring at me, not smiling- unlike the stallion- but isnt sad either.
I smile faintly, suddenly remembering her kindness- her trusting to me, a beast.
Of course she didnt know that I was one, and truly still doesnt know 'Streak Stone' is. That he is my cover, my initial disguise.
The stallion smirks, and kicks me in the ribs. I cry in pain, sputtering blood.
"What?! Are you not gonna attack again, huh?!" He yells at me, in a thick young accent.
Cocoa`s voice comes out thin and silky, heard of but a whisper,
"Don`t hurt him anymore".
The stallion growls, but I don`t think he heard her.
I continue breathing- it`s slowly getting lighter, my body is becoming paler.
I look at Cocoas brownie colored face. Its beautiful. Her green eyes are more vibrant, awake. More... More.
If I die, I think thats okay. I dont want to have to repair my body like this, it would be much easier to just die.
though I don`t think I have much of a choice, with my lungs beginning to fail on me.
Cocoa has tears on her eyes. She`s crying.
Over ME. A changeling, a beast of torture.
But yet, even knowing this, she cries, for me!
I smile again, and whisper in a dead like tone,
"Its okay, Cocoa. Dont cry". I want to say more, but can`t.
I see her face go into a phase of realization, and she cries out dryly,
"Streak Stone?" she asks, tears falling down her face.
I nod, a clear vision of soft joy on my face.
Streak Stone. I think I like that name now.
I never liked 154.
Streak Stone, thats my name. So I wasnt just lying when I told her my name. I was telling her my TRUE name.
My new name.
I think I love her.
I dont know how, or why. Changelings arent supposed to be able to love.
But I am.
I`m in love.
I love Cocoa.
She trots up to me. Apparently that green killer left, or its just that im dying that I don`t see him there anymore.
I don`t know anymore.
Everything`s going by in a haze, like a slow-motion clip in a movie.
She smiles shyly, and softly says,
"Don`t hold it in, dear Streak. Let it go. You can go now".
I smile, but I have to tell her.
I have to.
I close my eyes. I open my mouth and say,
"I think...". Again, do it again! I struggle to say anything, my heart is rapidly failing on me.
Struggling but In the voice of Streak Stone, I whisper softly, "I love-"... I never finished.
I love you.
Cocoa held in her hooves a dead changeling, a loving changeling.
She began to cry.
Why?
Because it loved her. Somehow.
Not it, Streak stone.
Streak stone loved her. She thought of the 'love at first sight' saying.
Then laughed a small length.
But she still cried.
Kissing Streak Stone`s forehead, she set him down on the marble, and took a yellow flower out of her mane.
She set it on Streak Stone`s chest, right where his heart would be.
Then she said softly, voice like silk, "Goodbye, Streaks".
She walked away, holding back a total breakdown.
Nopony had ever LOVED her.
Liked, yes.
Never truly loved.
She turned a corner and solemnly continued on towards an unknowing place.
"I love you too".
