The Changeling Choice

There was fire everywhere that I looked. The whole hive was covered in a green inferno and I could hear the screams of my comrades coming from everywhere. We had know this day would be coming and we had prepared for it but we were taken by surprise by how they attacked us. The enemy already had the numbers to overrun us but instead she somehow slipped by our defenses and disguised herself as one of us. Our Queen didn’t check all of us. She believe that there was no reason to. Now I stand in the throne room with the others. We were the last defense and we were the only thing stopping them from taking complete control.

The screams started to die down outside and with every passing moment it got even more silent. Soon I couldn’t hear them and I know at that moment that all my comrades had been killed. I looked at the others that were in the room with me. There were at least five of us and we all had the same look on our face…fear. Two of them were positioned by the doors. I could seem them shaking slightly on their hooves. I could hear the sound of their armor making sound as their bodies moved. We were different from the others. We were born as highly classed killing machines and our only purpose was to protect her. Too bad I was the only one in the room to actually be called an elite. The truth was they were just like those outside the room and I know they would soon be dead too. The only one I paid any true attention to was the Queen.

She was always so kind to us. She never really believed in the need for warriors but had kept us just in case something like this happened. I would glance at her to make sure she was ok. I know she wasn’t some weak pony but I know she also wasn’t a fighter ether. She would always nod when I looked at her and every now and then she would say something that would bring peace to us. Her origin was unknown but she has always been there for us and now it was time to repay the favor.

It had gone silent for a while now and I started to wonder what was going on but no of us dared open the doors to check. I strained to listen for the others but all I could here was complete silence. I had gotten up to stretch when the doors to the throne room was blasted apart. I was close enough to the doors when they were blown apart to be thrown across the room. My armor was shredded and my spear was ripped from my grasp. I landed right at the steps leading to the throne and my body curled up as pain rippled throughout my body.

My comrades took the blast worse than me. The two that were guarding the door were blown into chunks all over the room. The others tried in vain to strike the intruder down but she crushed them all with ease. She started to walk up to where the throne was. Every step she took left cracks in the floor and I could feel the vibrations from where I was lying. I got my bearings and jumped to my hooves, grapping my spear while getting up. I faced the intruder as she walked up to me. I took my stance and prepared to be thrust aside like the others but I was surprised when she stopped in front of me and sat down on her hunches.

There was the silence again but this time I used the opportunity to study my opponent. By all standards she was beautiful and showed all the traits that one would have in royalty but there was something about her that made me want to run and hide. We continued to sit across each other waiting for someone to make a move but as the minutes passed nothing happened. I decided to look behind her and all I could see was a see of enemies waiting to tear me apart. I tried to think of a way to win in this fight but I could only think of one way out of this and I was certain that it was death.

I steeled myself and got into a fighting position. I looked at the intruder’s eyes and at that moment I know what I had to do. I gripped my spear in my hooves and took aim at my target. I steadied my breathing and then lunged at her. My aim was true and the tip of my spear blade pierced her in the center of her chest and came out the back of her back. Her face flashed in surprise and she slowly fell onto the floor. I grabbed her gently and held her in my hooves as she died…Soon she was no more.

I let go of her body and made my way to the throne and stood next to it. The ruler looked at me and smiled at what I had done. She was proud of my loyalty and I know that I had gained her favor. She lowered herself next to me and whispered in my ear to make it official. I stood up straight and looked at those standing just outside the throne room.

“Long live the new Changeling Queen…”

I took one last look at the body on the ground and took a deep breath.

“Long live Queen Chrysalis.”

After I said it I could hear the voices rising. They were the voices of the new hive, of the new mind. I stood next to the new Queen and I listened to the thoughts of my new comrades. There were a lot more of them then I was use to but I know that I would adjust. I knew that the choice I made wasn’t the only one I could have made but I was a Changeling and change is how we survive. I don't regret the choice I made because it kept me alive.

…

Why do I still feel so dead inside then…