Author's Note

This chapter is a Collab with the great Marsara & the amazing Bronyparasite & there own fantastic displaced fic The Zerg of Equestria. I gotta say writing a collab with these two was a real pleasure.

Zerging of the Swarm

So far things had been going well the sun was starting to rise and they would no doubt find what remained of Fluttershy’s animals soon.

Right now I was in the middle of using my psionics to alter fluttershy’s mind. I wasn’t going to change her, just cushion her mind so the transformation didn’t break her mind.

“My Queen the first hoppers are ready to hatch. As you ordered I simplified the genome of the strain to allow mutiple to hatch."

“Good I’m on my way to see them.” I could stop guiding Fluttershy’s transformation for at least a few hours without anything going wrong.

Nearby was new Hopper burrow which was required to make the Hopper.

Making my way to the back of the hive I saw various Drones carrying in felled trees to be broken down into minerals. Near the base of the Hatchery was a cluster of three beach ball sized eggs moving closer I could see the silhouettes of the soon to be born Hoppers moving inside them.

However as i got closer something caught my attention out of the corner of my eye, it looked like a lifeless drooping egg sitting in between a pair of stalagmites. Strange there shouldn’t be any eggs that far away from the hive?

Making my way over to the egg I picked it up and quickly dropped it as I was startled by the voice of another Broodmother.

“To any who fight for family or against Celestia. I will aid you for I am Broodmother Marsara! Queen of the Zerg!”

“Another Broodmother? If there egg is here then that means they must be close by. Maybe I can use the hive mind to find them.”

Reaching out on instinct with the hive mind I tried to mentally grasp the egg concentrating as hard as I could on it. Then without warning I felt something like a shock from it.

The egg fell to the ground and opened, when it did a rather large portal opened above it, out of it came another Broodmother but about six or so inches taller than Davara, next came a infested Pegasus stallion with glowing red eyes and skeletal wings that spasmed every few seconds. He had a mostly grey coat where the infection hadn’t marred, and a red and black mane. The portal then closed behind them in a flash of light.

I wish I could say I held my ground or didn’t show a reaction like a real man but alas I did not. As the portal closed I shouted at the top of my lungs as I backpedaled flailing my arms, “AAAHHHHHHHH!!! WHAT THE FUCK!”

The Broodmother looked to him, then the Pegasus, “You would think fellow Zerg would be happy to see us, but even here we get this reaction.” It told him, it’s voice much like my own but less distorted.

Looking them over I started to speak. “That was more about the weird giant glowing portal!”

“It isn’t uncommon…” The “Pegasus”, if it was even that anymore, stated. His voice was slightly more distorted than the new Broodmother, but carried far less presence, as if he were a mere servant. “You seem far less cool headed than Mother.”

“Oh no, yeah it’s just an everyday occurrence that a giant portal opens up in your base and two zerg come through.” I started letting no small amount of sarcasm into my voice.

“I dislike your sarcastic tone, whelp.” The Pegasus scoffed.

“And I dislike your face.”

The new Broodmother moved in front of the Pegasus, “I apologize for Paranoid’s behavior, he and most of my children seem to have the idea that I am the only leader of the Swarm and that others who say they lead one have an… even lesser control the Drones.” it explained, hoping to calm both parties.

‘Paranoid’ only glowered, muttering under his breath. “I’m not that ugly…”

“Well I can only assume that you’re Marsara. I am Davara leader of this small Brood.” I said while gesturing to the Hatchery behind me. “Now would you care to explain to me why that egg just turned into a portal?”

“That was my Token, an object that holds a message from a Displaced.” ‘Marsara’ explained as she picked up the egg and began closing it, “I must ask you, were you a human before now? If so I can explain a few more things.”

I was a little taken aback at the question if I used to be a human, showed by my slight backpedaling. “Yes but how could you know that?”

“Simple, I am like you, I was once a human like you until I dressed as a Broodmother and bought one last part for my costume and was Displaced as said Broodmother.” She set the egg back down and turned back to me, “You are also a Displaced if you had a similar experience.”

“I did I went to Comic-Con as a Broodmother, bought the last piece of my costume from a guy dressed like the merchant from resident evil 4. Next thing I know I’m falling through the air and waking up in a crater. But what exactly is a displaced?” I asked while tilting my head.

“A Displaced is a human who, like us, dressed up as a character and normally buy and object that goes with their costume and becomes said character, they are then normally sent to an Equestria. Meaning both you and I are Displaced.” Marsara explained for me.

“You’re transformed into something else and wake up on another world, yet you’re freaked out by a portal.” Paranoid added.

My gaze shifted to Paranoid as i glared at him while thinking. If it weren’t for the fact that I need things to go peacefully, I’d gut you like a fish.

Turning back to Marsara I asked, “What exactly happened when you ended up in Equestria?”

“I looked at my surroundings, found a Zerg Queen that I assume was the plushie I had before I was Displaced, had a small freakout, learned how to use the Hivemind, found Paranoid, then began work on my first Hive Cluster.” she listed off, however her eyes had gained a slight red tint, barely noticeable by most, while sending a glare at Paranoid..

“I landed in the Everfree about a week ago had my own little freakout, laid some drone eggs found out I have almost zero zerg strains and that I’ll have to make my own, started making this colony, made a Chrysalis filled with my own improved zerg Hyper-evolutionary virus with an almost 100% acceptance rate, then I kidnaped Fluttershy.”

Paranoid rolled his red eyes before looking around the area and grimacing.

Marsara turned to him with her arms across her chest, glaring even harder at him.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if his weaving is as inferior as his usage of space…” Paranoid grumbled aloud. “He’s not even using the ceiling…”

“Just going to ignore that for now.” I stated while glaring at the infested pegasus like a paragon of control, before turning back to Marsara. “Now what is this token you mentioned?”

Marsara’s eyes changed back to pure green as she turned back to face me, “A Token is an object that introduces a Displaced with a message, it also allows other Displaced to summon you. For example, my Token is the egg that you picked up before.”

Well consider my interest piqued. “How does one make one of these ‘Tokens’.”

“I’m glad it interests you.” Marsara stated, “First, you need to find an object that you want to represent you, then speak your message, and then simply focus on sending it out. The Void will do the rest.”

Hmmm “I have an idea.” I said as I started weaving together something akin to an organic test tube in my hands. After it was completed I pierced the top with my claw and began filling it with the Hyper-evolutionary virus.

Holding it in my hands I said, “My name is Davara, to all who hold this token call and I shall help whether it requires me to just be your friend or destroying a world you will have my aid!”

As I finished my message I begun concentrating on it and it disappeared in a flash of light from my palm.

“So now the void takes care of the rest now.”

“Friendship isn’t really something I’d associate with our kind.” Paranoid stated. “No matter how hard I- we would try.”

“Eh, they’re other Displaced I assume they’ve seen some weird stuff.” I said with a shrug.

Paranoid smirked, “Unless they’re like you… And freak out because of a portal.”

Completely ignoring that the infected pegasus even existed I turned to Marsara and asked. “So is that it the only other thing I can think of us doing now is an exchange of strains, I’ll take anything really since I didn’t arrive with any from the game.”

“That wouldn’t be required…” Paranoid said in an uncharacteristically anxious manner. “You couldn’t handle the complexity of my- Mother’s strains…!”

Reaching out to Marsara’s hivemind a new voice made itself known in the conversation. “My Queen I greatly dislike the arrogance of this waste of biomass.”

Chuckling I quickly said. “Now Abatha that may be a bit harsh.”

“What?” Paranoid asked, raising an eyebrow. “There’s another intelligent mind in this hive?”

“That is Abatha she can be thought of as an A.I helper. I made her consciousness in the hive mind though so she does not have a body. She handles making the strains and the micro tasking while I’m busy.” I said smugly at the hint of jealousy I was getting from Paranoid.

“Strange...” Marsara started, “Nothing has broken through the Hivemind’s static defenses since I first put them in place...”

“That’s because it hasn’t, I merely had my hive mind make contact with yours. Breaching the defenses of your hive would be like tapping a phone line, this is just more like calling.” I explained through my own hive mind.

“Interesting… I’ve never had another Hivemind to connect to without a third party to link through, so I was unaware this was possible.” Marsara stated through the Hivemind.

“I don’t like outsiders in our hivemind… He isn’t family.” Paranoid added, a dark tone to his thoughts.

Sneering at Paranoid I sent another message through. “I’m not in your hive mind we can just merely hear each other’s hive mind due to them being so close to each other."

“Mother, we aren’t trading strands, are we? I mean, what could a week old hive offer us in return for so much?"

“I admit I’ve only made three strains other than the improved virus.” I stated while looking back at my colony. “I just want to know what you have.”

“I’ve made thousands of strains, each one devastating with the right Queen. My work has taken me lifetimes to make.” Paranoid seethed.

Marsara put a hand on Paranoid’s back, a look in her eyes that seemed to show she was speaking without a voice.

Paranoid sighed, “I’ll give you three of my strains. What are the ones you’ve made?”

“The Hopper I made to serve a role similar to the zergling, since as I said I landed here without the strains most usually have however it can jump up to forty feet horizontally and thirty feet vertically due to much more powerful back legs.” I said while sending images through the hive mind of what looked like a bunny lost it’s fur was partially turned into a zerg and given rows of serrated teeth.

“Next is the Rageling Made from the essence of a bear the Rageling posses great strength & tough leathery skin covered by a tough insectile carapace. The Rageling is capable of flying into a rage where its strength & regeneration is greatly increased.”

“And the most unique of my creations the Watcher is made from the essence of hummingbirds killed at Fluttershy’s cottage. The Watcher has one large orange slitted eye in the center of its head giving it ultraviolet & thermal vision along with the ability to detect cloaked units. Its wings are insectile & has a small serrated beak, they serve as the detectors & scouts.”

“They could use upgrades, but they’re acceptable specimens. Here are the three I’ll give you.” Paranoid said. “The Pike. An amphibian strain collected from swordfish, the fastest creatures in the ocean. Easy to create, but are fairly strong.” Paranoid generated the image of a purple “swordfish” with a glowing green pod on it’s back.

The Mimics can take the shape of Ponies from the Pegasus race and are able to pretend to be a Pony. The only flaw with them, if you can call it that, is they're only shells for stronger minds to take over. They can also be infiltration and suicide bombers, and I mean that in the same sentence. They’re not meant to last forever, and in twenty four hours explode. If in a crowd of enemies, this could be a devastating way to disorient them, or if you want to act as a pony, then use it as your body or a decoy.” Paranoid stated. “I use them a lot to gather information on current times…”

I scoffed, “I bet I could make a better strain.”

“Cute. And if you’re thinking that cloaking is a better idea, I’ve already made a strain of those. The Mimic’s allow you to live among ponies, and like I said, can be a decoy, as a way to fake your death since you can alter the appearance and if any Unicorn were to scan your brainwaves to see if you were the right one, they’d find it was you and not a Mimic. They’re also less costly than Zerglings.”

I smirked as he spoke thinking about my first target the Changelings and what I could do with their essence and how I would soon be winning this unofficial bet.

“I even used certain Changeling strains to make the Mimics, though anything more than what I put in could potentially take them out of the hive.” Paranoid added. “I’ve made many more advanced versions of this strain, but I’m giving you this one because I think you need my first version of the Mimic.”

“And lastly, the Unnerver… This strain is a snake-like creature that can induce fear in any being outside of the Zerg’s race that has the ability to feel it. It’s a special strain that I’m proud to say I didn’t use ordinary essence.”

“Is it expensive.” I asked knowing power like that comes at a price.

“It is, but all you need is one in an army at a time. This strain particularly, since it has a more advanced mind than a normal Zerg. I don’t often use the strain, but when I do, it’s the perfect watchdog.” Paranoid said, smirking diabolically.

“I have to warn you though the Rageling and Watcher are incomplete. Though I’m sure you can complete them.”

“I can improve in multiple regards. I suggest you make yours’ wings quieter. Hummingbirds can be loud when you’re close enough. Perhaps an Owl’s Essence would work.” Paranoid suggested, cradling the strains in his hooves.

“A good idea but the Wachter is meant to be a fast scout not a spy.”

“But the Owl’s essence would increase the likelihood of its survival.”

“You make a good point, I’ll be sure to take it into consideration.”

“I make many, such as using the full extent of the ceiling and walls. It was an insult and a suggestion. We may not be family, and I may not think you’re impressive, but that’s because I’ve had a thousand, lonely years to come up with mine.”

“Paranoid, it’s time we go.” Marsara quips.

“Alright, let’s trade.” Paranoid said, weaving his strains with a strained look on his muzzle, before handing them over.

I begin weaving copies of the strains effortlessly holding one complete strain along with the uncompleted strains of the the Rageling and Watcher handing them over to Paranoid since he appears to be the weaver of Marsara’s brood.

Once the transaction was done, Paranoid groaned. “My head’s hurting from this… And you better be grateful, Queen Davara.”

Awwwww he called me Queen. “I’m very grateful for the strains. Now how do you return home?” I asked.

“Just say ‘contract complete’, and we’ll be gone.” Marsara said.

“And out of your… Whatever you replace mane with.” Paranoid added.

“My insectile dreads are awesome!” I huffed while crossing my arms before adding. “Contract completed.”

“Note to self, the word ‘awesome’ doesn’t mean what it used to.” Paranoid added. And just like that they disappeared leaving a fuming Davara standing alone in her cave other than her drones and the chrysalis.

I started making my way back to the Hatchery to greet the soon to hatch Hoppers while also going over some of the new info I acquired.

Okay so I’m not alone there are other out there like me and we’re called displaced. Also the're differences between the worlds since Paranoid wasn't anthro like the pony's here are. As I was thinking about the implications of this and arrived at the clutch of Hopper eggs.

As if on cue the eggs hatched dropping the six newly hatched Hopper’s looking up at me for orders. Using the hive mind I commanded them to escort any Drones for the time being. As they scurried over to the drones I started walking back to the chrysalis holding Fluttershy.

“Abatha I want you to start making more Hoppers after they’ve hatched I want you to send them hunting in groups of six followed by one Drone to harvest their kill."

“It will be done my Queen the larva are already morphing. Harvesting from animals will also lead to an increase in mineral income."

“Good.” Now standing in front of the chrysalis holding Fluttershy I started working on her mind with my psionics again while I looked at some of the changes already happening. Her pajamas had started corroding away, her wings had lost some of her feathers, there was a bump forming on each of her arms about halfway between her wrist and elbows, her fingers now starting to shape into claws.

Now lets finish that cushioning and tying those maternal instincts to the zerg.