Equestria and the Angels from the Stars

During the confrontation with Queen Chrysalis
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"I can feel her taking all of the love I have!" Thorax painfully spoke, hovering in place through the Queen's magic as a visible trail of love flowing from the aura around him and into the fanged mouth before him.

Chrysalis eagerly devoured the source of power, her eyes burning with malice as Starlight behind her was held to the ground by commander caste Changelings. Having love pulled by such force was a death sentence to a drone, being branded a traitor was a rare occurrence in the hive. Thorax had left his home just to avoid being placed in such a situation, risking capture at the Crystal Empire just for that purpose. He would never of thought friendship would be gifted to him by the ponies all thanks to the courageous efforts of that little purple dragon. Although reluctant, he came to this predicament all for the sake of his friends and their world once his old Queen took away the leadership and the former element bearers. The return of their kindness he was about to give his life for, and strangely enough it felt good even under the excruciating extraction of his love stores.

"Thorax!! Give her all of the LOVE!!" Glimmer roared in defiance to her captors she struggled under, the venom in her words were meant for Chrysalis but they emboldened the fading drone to do just that.

With that, his entire supply lost the meager shield that kept the Queen from just yanking away the well from within him, the floodgates were opened. She ceased feeding when the amount of love became surprisingly too much for her to take in, her hooves startlingly withdrew her from the then glowing Thorax. The levitation spell she used to keep him still remained around him as it mixed with the power all Changelings starved for. Devoid of love, the drone began to curl into a ball with wings spread out wide as they shimmered like a shoal of fish in the sea under a bright sunny day. From all the joints of the little Changeling came blasting out a viscous green substance similar to the resin that the Hive possessed and the pods the prisoners were kept in. Flowing like water, the muck began to swirl around him and encase the body in what was strangely similar to the metamorphosis of butterflies from caterpillars. Starlight looked in awe as did all the Changelings in the room, the magic surrounding the chrysalis was immensely strong as it ebbed and flowed around it. Whatever was happening, even the Queen of Changelings was unaware of it as she began barking orders at her subjects.

"What is the meaning of this?! Guards! Surround that thing!" she roared in what sounded like fear to Glimmer, her own Changelings which pinned her to the ground left to join the quickly formed perimeter.

As soon as the last Changeling took position, the pod bulged as it doubled and then tripled in size. The magic around it became dense and almost tingly on Starlight's skin, she could only guess it was not the same for the drones or their Queen if they were so eager to declare it hostile. The surface of the cocoon started to lose the shiny green color to opaque and lastly a transparent shell, within it finally came the image which the mare realized what put the Hive on edge.

Thorax was definitely inside, though now his form was larger and bulkier, he had the same frame and oddly enough the same frills of a drone. Though what was becoming ever more obvious was that the creature that was now Thorax had become the male version of the Queen. His wings were visible as they were large and golden hued, resembling a dragonfly's wings. As little as she could see from her distance, the sounds of something cracking like a very large hens egg broke through the beating wings of the hovering drones and guards. Glimmer could not have seen the event as it unfolded, being too far away but the Changelings could.

"GUARDS!! Fire on it now! DESTROY!!" Chrysalis nearly could have spewed fire like a dragon what the vehement way she shouted, almost roaring at her drones which took her panic with utmost haste.

Spell fire was shot from the horns of all the surrounding guards, brilliant blue fire as well as green beams of pure magic streamed into the pod housing Thorax. Starlight cried out as the encasement disappeared beneath the destructive magic to the point that it became nothing more than a magical bonfire. What could ever survive that much heat and energy was beyond the mare, for all that she knew was the morphed drone was removed from this world by the vile Queen.

".... no." Starlight whispered as louder cracks and shattering of glass made it through the attacking endless volley of magic.

Then, all of the sudden, the drones stopped and darted away to the edges of the chamber as if they'd seen a horror beyond this world. It sent the Queen into a deeper panic as she tried to rally her drones back into attacking, and normally they would not risk her ire and do as they were told. However, even Glimmer could see they were quivering in their carapaces, shunning away as if a mana bomb had been thrown into the inferno. An explosion ripped through the air, causing all to shield themselves from the fragments of the magic that had supposedly should have annihilated whatever Thorax had become. Once she felt it was safe to look, she scanned about and locked onto a glowing ethereal white light as warm as Celestia's sun. It hurt to keep eyes on the sight, but it appeared Chrysalis was not affected in the least as she snarled at it.

Having gave up on getting her hive to do anything beyond cowering like fearful mutts, she anchored her hooves into an aggressive stance with her head lowered so her horn pointed at the form taking shape. Glimmer looked in awe as the fleeting light of creation as it was shed off the being standing up, Thorax slowly becoming visible. Just as she saw before, as did everypony else, he was no longer a diminutive drone by any means. Instead, he sported holeless legs that held up a broad armored chest with an amthyest waist segmentation unlike the Queens green banding. A trunk of a neck lead up with powerful muscles under the carapace of the new Changeling, sporting two separate dorsal frills that merged at the shoulders and disappeared. The membrane between each spine shone with a light rose shade, beautiful to observe and elegant like a stained glass window. The large head like Chrysalis's own, had a more stallion's structure, two upper canine fangs poked through the lips and eyes possessing the individuality of the Queen. As if in reflex to the last bits of magical amniotes drifted off him like stardust, Thorax spread his large wings outwards in their brilliance. Just the right size to carry his new form in the air, bendable to collapse underneath the protective red shell casing on his back. Golden veins ran through the crystal like glassy wings, giving them a royal sheen to his black body. Glimmer felt as if she'd just witnessed a very rare once in a lifetime moment in the race of obscure and reclusive beings.

Thorax looked about as if confused and had woken up in the den of an ursa major, whipping his head about as his eyes looked all every which way. That was when Starlight caught the sight of the crown on his cranium just behind the bladed horn, it looked a little like the Queen's only larger and flatter with more points possessing ruby orbs. Those draconic eyes and their violet irises had labeled the situation to the mare Thorax did not know what to do with either his new body or the leverage he actually had over the Hive itself.

Seizing the chance, Glimmer rushed over and smiled up at him which calmed his addled nerves, "You see? This is what happens when you give love, you have to do what's best for both our kingdoms. Help them see the light!"

"YOU!!" the queen roared again.

"Everyone! Listen to me!?" the former drone pleaded as he paused at the deeper tone in his voice that emphasized the new title he attained, "I've made friends! Ponies who like and appreciate me for a Changeling... I saved a little baby dragon and earned his trust. He fought for me when the ponies feared me after what we did at the wedding! I took the chance and showed how much I was willing to be kind and good! The Princess of Love who you have in that pod over there... she vouched for me and even brought her new foal before me. I fought the urge to feed like the Changeling that I am. I resisted when the foal gave me love in my natural form, I did not have to hide."

"LIES!! YOU will NOT usurp me traitor!" Chrysalis spat as she charged her horn and fired a destruction spell at the new King.

"Oh no you don't!" Glimmer grinned and erected the same shield she used to keep a baby alicorn's erratic magical outbursts from harming Spike and her.

The Queen's spell bounced off and struck the magic suppressing throne behind her, she gasped at the damage and growled back.

"The ponies took me in and I made friends over there, friends who were not afraid of me in my own skin. Freely given love is real! We don't have to go about capturing ponies, impersonating loved ones, and sucking away all their love till they can't even stand anymore! Give your love to your Queen and show her that we can change for the better and no longer starve! That we don't need to hide no longer!" Thorax bravely asked of his kin with a mysterious source of confidence in his new found powers surging within his spirit.

The two hopefuls noticed doubt sowed into the drones around them, it seemed an extra perk came with his evolution. They feared him as they did the Queen, but with the words he gave them they seemed to like the idea and serving him more. Starlight observed as the courageous few flew into the air and gave their love for others, opening up their stores completely with what little they had. Though instead of going to the queen, the pink winds fished around the chamber before being absorbed by the throne. More and more joined in as the exuding mana from Thorax enticed them to do so, his royal aura altering their bodies in the process. To which after each shared their part, they underwent a change of some sort. Their bodies mimicking the shades of red and purple of their new King as they came down from their willing generosity.

Once most of the drones in the hive partook, Chrysalis eyed her throne in terror as the love stores began to overwhelm the strange magical item. Cracks tore and rent it apart until a solid sickly green crystal heart began to shone through the rock structure of the throne. The love started to turn it pink and that sent the Queen's wings into overdrive to rush her to the primary power source of the whole hive. She had to stop it and get it away before it was destroyed, but instead of stopping the last changelings from giving their love away she provided her own downfall. Just as she reached, the last stream of love entered the hungry crystal heart which cracked down the center and to her horror detonated right in front of her face.

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Present day, Twilight's Library

Having spent the last week preparing for the trip to the western area past the Ram's Horn mountains she could see from ponyville. She had sent the request of the new Changeling King to meet with her as soon as possible, while she accepted that Thorax would have had to spent time locating a new home beyond the ruined hive of old. A recent letter sent to her from the fresh royal indicated that the Crystal Ponies would open their doors to the reformed changelings, bolstering the kingdom's numbers and help where ever extra hooves were needed. The kingdom of which Cadence and her brother oversaw was amidst a population boom and fresh farmlands were of the utmost importance to avoid requiring trade.

This opened up time for the King to visit and assist with the growing issue in the west, as it were two more regiments were dispatched from the eastern coast to shore up defenses on what was left of that frontier. Twilight had only received the news two days ago as it was reported that the 104th had been all but captured, just a few Pegasus guards were left as they were amid the fastest flyers in their unit. It lent them the option to escape the changelings and their ambushes.

Starlight walked in just as Sparkle proceeded to mark off a checklist on a checklist, she'd set out the documents and plans to handle the menace and track down Queen Chrysalis before she sets another scheme somewhere else in Equestria. For her rouge brood to be this successful was of dire revelation, and hopefully Thorax could provide insight.

"So no luck I see with just the guard handling a few changelings huh?" she asked as she took Rarity's seat looking concerned at the organized papers on the crystal map.

Twilight shook her head as she set down the list, "Unfortunately no, all of the guards except a few flyers made it out. They've deemed the west frontier not even that far away from us to be quarantined until the Queen is captured. I can't fathom how they can just subdue trained soldiers in a month and a whole regiment of all things?! It just doesn't make any sense as to why Chrysalis is doing this? What larger goal is she playing at by taking all the ponies? I mean I know they'll provide a boost of love for her, but they're crops harvest and the plant will never regenerate. Its a short answer to the big problem her species unreformed face."

Shrugging, "From what I experienced, first hand... if that old hive was anything like her strategy making. Then I'd wager she's probably using this as a front for something bigger. She's tasted the love in Equestria and she won't let it go. She's taken so many ponies now, the only thing we can assume is that she's rebuilding her army with who knows how many she has now. Did you read the statistics on the initial invading force during the wedding and the amount that reformed?"

Twilight nodded and searched for a few notes she made for Thorax, "Yes, she had several thousand at the wedding, half were on the attack while the rest were securing prisoners for love harvesting. The total who converted like Thorax was just slightly below that number, but your guess is as good as mine as to why? The few not there may be the rouges or perhaps those who were far too scattered out from the shield bubble Cadence and Shining Armor created to caste them out of Canterlot."

Glimmer rubbed her chin and thought deeply, "Two variables... lets say we take into account how fast the guard were taken. You've showed me the towns and places that were already invaded and emptied of every pony and more. She'd need a standing force of maybe three thousand just to keep that kind of operation going, far beyond the number she should have had when that vile scheme to capture the princesses and you. We don't know the gestation period for Changelings, so it's a gambit to figure out if she had any nurseries hidden about. That also does not explain their love shortage and how if any way they could have fielded even more than what was at the hive and support this little rouge colony."

"And that is what I intend to talk to King Thorax about, there is a major gap in information to truly grasp the details we have. Is it possible they've captured griffonstone and used them for food sources for more Changelings? Ohh... now I know I forgot something, I needed to ask Princess Celestia if any other kingdoms have come under attack or have gone dark!" Twilight slammed a hoof on the edge of the map and pouted.

"Don't worry about it, Spikes nearby if you have to ask, but I'm sure if that were the case wouldn't Celestia have mentioned it? They'd be the first to know and pass it onto you." the doors to the chamber opened up to the young drake holding a bowl of gems as he ate them on the stride.

With his mouth full of crushed gems, "So uh... anything happened yet? Is Thorax here?" he swallowed the broken fragments and jumped into an open seat.

"He won't be here for a few more moments Spike, we were just talking about the dangers with the rouge Changelings right now. Something doesn't make sense in the bigger picture." he looked to Sparkle as she spoke.

"Ya, she's got like an army that goes beyond their ability to keep fed, any reasons for their sudden appearance all point to stressed resources to the point she shouldn't have extra drones to rely on. We're trying to figure out the missing puzzle piece." his green slitted eyes gandered over to Glimmer as he shoved a few opals into his gullet.

He shook his head as he recalled a comic book he enjoyed with his new friend in Dragontown, "Sounds like she's got allies then, kinda like my twenty second favorite comic book war between the Hartee empire and the Space Dragonets that wanted to destroy Equis to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands with its magic either side could use to their advantage in the war. The Power Ponies and friends managed to find out the Hartee had a renegade faction that took the helm of the Empire while the good guys were supposedly caste through a portal to another world in exile. The Power Ponies hooked up with the 'Vast Intellect' who once ruled the Hartee and Blue Nova merged with it to become a temporary god and stop the war before it destroyed the planet. Well... its kinda like that with the Changelings... if you bend a little here and there and flip the sides." he innocently chucked another gem and crushed it between his sharp teeth.

The mares both rose an eyebrow each before glancing at each other, and for a moment there was silence save for Spike's loud eating habit. Then it dawned on Twilight, she realized then that the Guard was not all stationed at Canterlot and some were far away at Outposts for years on end. If she recalled a little of Equestria's military, each sector had its own list of dangerous creatures and flagged enemies those guards were extensively trained to handle. The regrettable fact was that new foes isolated to one sector was usually never reported to others. Reserves were sent from Canterlot or garrisons by major cities who also trained to handle to handle whatever needed their presence to a particular area. All in all, it meant that the southern sector and Canterlot were the only ponies who actually had seen a Changeling personally. So whatever the guards were thinking were Changelings may in fact be something else entirely and not even anything to do with Queen Chrysalis.

"Spike..." Sparkle started to say before a magical rune at the main doors rang to signal the arrival of their royal visitor.

"I'll get it, seems like you've just come across something important." Starlight gave a passing smile before trotting away to answer the door.

"Did I say something wrong?" Spike asked, sensing the unease in the room and a very troubled expression etched into the alicorn's face.

She had lulled her head down till she had been starring at the map, thoughts and theories zooming around in an orderly chaotic mess that Discord would nod at. Amid that, she looked to the baby dragon with conviction and said, "I think we have a much larger problem than just Changelings..."