Thorax, the newest leader of the changeling hive was standing in his private quarters with a hand on his chin. He stood outside on his balcony and stared outside, gazing upon the succession of his new kingdom, slowly flourishing and blending into Equestrian society with new homes for all of his subjects. Yet the look on his face wasn’t happy, he had a sad look on his face as he gave a sigh.

He retreated back into his quarters as he stared at himself in a mirror, admiring his stature and new form. Suddenly his vision tricked itself as he caught a glimpse of his former self in the mirror, thank Celestia it was only a trick. “I have to help him.” He said as he sat down on his office desk and retrieved a pen and piece of parchment. He began writing down a letter,

Dear Twilight Sparkle,

I have some news about a ‘particular’ subject of mine and I request yours and your friends’ help. I would like for you and your friends to come to the Changeling Kingdom, you’ll be fully nourished and treated as nobility of course.

I do request that before you come, please do not inform Princess Cadence, Celestia Luna, or Shining Armor. Though they are in our biggest trust, I cannot risk anything…..’dangerous’. You will see if you decide to visit.

Your friend,

Thorax

PS: Tell Spike I said “Hi”

Thorax slightly chuckled at that last comment he made as he rolled up the parchment as sealed it with a ribbon. “Guard! Guard please come in here!” Thorax exclaimed though his door as an armored changeling walked through door.

“Y-Yes sir.” This changeling was like Thorax and the rest of the changelings, vivid with color but his armor was of the old changeling guard.

“Please send this letter to the mail station and have it delivered ASAP.” Thorax ordered levitating his letter to the guard. The guard took it in his hands and saluted leaving his quarters. Thorax gave another sigh filled with sadness and he stood outside his balcony once more. In the distance he could see Celestia’s sun shining bright throughout his kingdom, he was grateful for it.

A knocking came from his door, Thorax opened it as another changeling guard was standing attention towards him. “Sir, we have more business visitors to establish trade.”

“Very well, lead on soldier.”

The next day came faster than expected as Thorax was sleeping soundly in his chambers. Celestia’s sun was slowly rising until a knocking came from his door. Thorax slowly rose from his bed and stretched his arms and back. “C-Coming!” He said groggily as he got off his bed and walked to his door. He opened it to find a guard standing there, saluting his ruler.

“S-Sir, Princess Twilight and her friends are here to see you as requested.”

Thorax rubbed his eye and gave small yawn, he nodded at the guard. “Ah good. Please send them to the throne room. But have no guards occupy that room, we must be left alone.”

The guard complied and gave Thorax another salute as he left his view.

Half an hour passed as Thorax walked down the hallways of the hive castle himself and his subjects constructed. It’s structure and architecture was like Canterlot castle in a way, but was made from hardened clay, wood, and old changeling chitin for protection. He reached the throne room doors as two guards standing beside it opened it for him, inside he found Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Spike all standing there with a smile for him.

“Thorax!” Spike exclaimed as he rushed to his friend and gave him a hug. “How have you been?”

“O-Oh you know, leading my changelings and stuff.” He faced towards the rest with a smile. “Thank you all for coming.”

“Of course Thorax. Who is this subject that needs our help?” Thorax gave a heavy sigh as he slowly walked past his friends and towards his throne.

“Do you know what this room used to be?” They didn’t respond. “This was Chrysalis’ old throne room.” The silenced continued. “When my changelings and I were constructing our new hive castle, we started to clear the rubble from Chrysalis’ throne, that is until we found something peculiar.”

“What was it?” Asked Pinkie who tilted her head.

“We found a passageway underneath all the rubble, a trap door with stairs leading deep underground.” Thorax said as he used his magic and literally moved his throne aside, revealing a trapdoor. He opened the trapdoor and just as he said, there was a spiral staircase leading downstairs. All the ponies could see down the staircase was pitch black, as well as a light to shadow gradient from the throne room towards downstairs. Before anyone proceeded downstairs, Thorax called for a guard. “Sergeant Razor!” Thorax called towards the throne room door as a changeling guard walked through saluting towards him and the ponies.

“Y-Yes sir?”

“I want you to accompany us down into the caverns.” Thorax commanded as the guard saluted once again. “Do you have your sword with you?”

“Yes sir, as always.”

“Good, now lead the way. I shall use my magic to provide light for us.” As the sergeant took lead, Thorax and the others followed suit. The walk was long and quiet, it felt like hours but then the group finally reached the bottom. There they stood in a room with a massive iron double door in a very strange design structure. Almost as if someone made a very tall bridge for a frame. “Okay, we’re here.” Pinkie raised her hand in curiosity. “Yes Pinkie?”

“What’s which that picture on the door.” Pickie asked as she pointed at the massive symbol engraved on the door.

Thorax could only stare at the symbol with a flat face and giving it a small sigh. “This is…..a little bit complicated to explain.” Thorax placed a hand on the massive door. “This symbol, at least from an ‘expert’ is a name, or at least a name or type of warrior. This symbol stands for, Samurai.”

“Samurai? What’s a samurai?” Spike asked as he started to scratch his chin.

“Allow me to explain inside.” The whole door glowed in the color of Thorax’s magic as it slowly open, echoing a very loud and creaky iron door mostly due to the rust. Inside revealed a massive hallway filled with books, the whole room was lit with torches and books were everywhere. Banners were displayed all over the library like room, but they all had strange symbols of weird box like shapes on them. “This is the library.” Thorax than turned to his guard. "Razor please stand guard here and makes sure no one else proceeds though." The guard complied as he saluted and stood by the side of the entrance.

Twilight’s eyes immediately lit up as a massive smile grew across her face. “Changeling books!” She exclaimed. “Oh my gosh oh my gosh! New books to read and-” She was immediately cut off as Thorax closed her mouth with his magic and shushed her.

“Shhhhh, I’m sorry Twilight but it is sacred to lower your voice in this library.” Thorax said with a lower tone. “This is the library of the Samurai, you’re free to read to your heart’s content. But before I let you loose, please agree to keep quiet.” She nodded making Thorax release her mouth. “Now please follow me, there is one thing I must show you.”

The group followed Thorax as they reached a table. The table had two books on it, both were the same color. A dark Crimson red cover with white pages, yet both had no titles. “These are both the same book, with the same content.” He stated as he shimmered his horns flipping both covers.

All the ponies looked at the books in surprised. One was entirely comprised of Equestrian English. Basic letters, upper and lower case. Good Grammar and Punctuation. Yet the other book was comprised of more of the strange symbols found on the banners.

“W-What?” Twilight questioned life itself as she picked up both books. “Is this some sort of language?”

Thorax nodded and clear his throat. “Allow me to explain. Both these books are the same. One is in english and the other is known as Japoneighs. The language of the changelings.” At this point, all the ponies (and Spike) were confused to hear of a changeling language.

“B-But, every other changeling we’ve met had an english dialect. We haven’t met any other changeling that spoke a different language, unless it was already known.” Fluttershy added as Thorax nodded.

“You’re not wrong Fluttershy. But again allow me to explain. I must introduce you to out…..’expert’ about this subject.” Thorax said as he started walking down the library hall and through a long hallway.

“Long ago before I was born, heck even before Chrysalis became ruler, our Hive was more…..reclusive. Like the changelings before us, we would disguise ourselves and steal love to sustain ourselves. Originally we had our own language which is called ‘Japoneighs’, but over time we adapted to English which was proven easier to use while in a disguise.” Scratching her chin, Rarity tilted her head in that strategy.

“I will admit, that is a little smart.” Rarity added as everyone looked at her with a rasied brow. “What? Think about it, if you’re gonna run espionage you shouldn’t really speak your own language, otherwise you’re quite easy target.” She said as everyone slightly nodded in agreement, she had a point.

“Anyways back on point, we slowly abandoned our japoneighs language. But then one day, the dragons came.” Spike raised an eyebrow at the subject of ‘dragons’. “You see one day the dragons came to the kingdom to pillage and raid. As you all should know from Spike’s experience, he became greedy one day, didn’t he?” They all had a sad look on their face, Spike however slowly started to grumble at himself, feeling a bit of self regret. “I apologize for bringing up a touchy subject, but this isn’t about you Spike.

“But naturally speaking, dragons can become greedy. The dragons came and raided our entire empire. Hives were ransacked, possessions were stolen, and worst of all our whole way of life was ripped from us. After that our king at that time decided it was time to militarize a force in means to defend ourselves. This became known as the changeling guards and drones you see today and back during Chrysalis’ rule. But then one day, a new breed was born.

“One egg out of hundreds in the hive had a genetic mutation. Commonly, most nymphs would normally be born in the form of a green egg, but this was different. This one egg out of hundreds was born in a matte black color, and was harder than stone. We waited to see it’s hatch and out came the first samurai. Though you couldn't tell if it was a samurai once it hatched. At first glimpse they look like any other ordinary changeling, but the color of the egg would help signify it. And later on, his or her appearance as well.” Dash then raised her hand. “Yes Rainbow Dash?”

“I don’t wanna sound rude or anything but… what exactly IS a Samurai?”

“From what my 'expert' told me he-” Then Applejack chimed in, interrupting him.

“And who exactly is this ‘Expert’ of yours?”

“I’ll tell you soon guys, just…..it’s best if you know this history first before you meet the expert. Trust me.” The tone in his voiced started to change, he almost sounded scared and timid. “To answer your question Rainbow, the term ‘samurai’ translates to “those who serve” and are natural born mutated changeling warriors. They are born to fight and serve a master with no retaliation, no matter what the command would be.

“Their bodies are different than your average changeling. They have enhanced strength, muscle, they’re faster, and their chitin is like armor. But they’re minds are flat. They only know how to fight and follow commands. In a way….they were basically like super soldiers. The best of the best.” Thorax stopped in front of another large set of double doors, this one was made of stone and had a picture of a praying mantis painted on it. “This is where my expert it, he is the one who told me the same of what I told you.” Thorax used his magic and lowly opened the double doors.

Inside was a massive dome like room, big as a baseball field. There were stone benches against the walls and torches lit everywhere for light to balance with shadow. It was a clear view of everything from all angles. The very middle of the room was completely flat and empty, except for one single individual who stood in the very middle of the room.

The individual took a knee bending stance with a skinny looking sword drawn and gripped with both of his hands. Thorax, the ponies, and Spike walked closer and sat down on the benches to observe this ‘expert’ Thorax had mentioned.

The individual then began to swing his sword around in various positions, stances, angles, and screamed between each swing and strike of his sword, he was clearly a warrior with a spirit. “RAAAH!” he exclaimed loudly, echoing the whole room as the sweat began to form on his hands. He gave a heavy sigh as he slowly sheathed his sword in his scabbard by his side.

“Mantis.” Thorax called out to the individual as he stood up and started walking towards him. “I see that you are training as I commanded.” The individual walked towards Thorax as he bowed towards him.

“Yes master, as you commanded.” The individual then eyed at the group of ponies and single drake behind his master. “With permision master, may I ask a question?” Thorax gave him a nod. “Who and what are those ‘things’ over there master?” He asked pointing towards Twilight and her Friends.

Thorax then gestured his hand inviting them over towards the individual. As they grouped up Thorax faced towards the individual. “Friends, this is the expert I told you about. Mantis, please introduced yourself.”

Mantis did as commanded, he bowed towards the ponies and Spike and could only face them with a flat expression on his face. “Hello, my name is Prey Stalker, but you may call me by title ‘Mantis’. It is an honor to meet the friends of my Master.” He said with a firm and straight bow.

But they all couldn’t help but look at him in pure shock. He’s a changeling, but he’s not a changedling. He sported the black chitin skin, the sharp looking web like wings, and hair like Chrysalis that was tied to a ponytail to the back of his head. And his eyes were of a blue white gradient. “Y-you’re not like Thorax. So what are you?” Twilight was the first to ask as he stepped forward for Prey.

“There is much more I need to tell you guys, but this is my expert. He isn’t just some sort of researcher or historian. No, he is the very last Samurai ever born, the very one that served under Chrysalis. And he is the one, I want you to help.”

Author's Note

Hey guys so yea this is my new story, I really wanna try and give this a shot. I've done legitimate research on the Samurai as a whole and I've never really seen Samurai integrated fandom within the brony fandom. So I wanna try something completely knew. This is the first time in a while that I had a changeling OC, let alone making him the main character. I do hope you enjoy this story that's been in my mind.