Amicus stood beside Tenebris, watching as their forces worked at gathering the dead demons. Though Tenebris' forces were lucky to only suffer minor wounds, half of Amicus' had died to the demons. As he stood there, he couldn't help what felt like a growing hunger within him. The creatures that fought beside him seemed to feel it as well, for they continued to look between him and the dead demons. Whatever the hunger was, it was if it had a voice of its own, telling him consuming the beasts would bring forth the answers he seeks. Slowly walking towards the pile of dead demons, everyone watched in both curiosity and confusion. Tenebris was even more confused, but more so worried, as the two new friends were conversing about the demons when Amicus suddenly stopped.

Before Tenebris could ask if everything was alright, he was caught off guard with the rest of his forces when, once in front of the pile of the dead, the demon bodies began to turn into a strange orange energy. The energy slowly flowed towards Amicus, absorbing into his very being. A gentle, orange glow covered his body lasting for a few minutes until all of the demons had been absorbed into him.

As Tenebris approached him to see if he was alright, the creature let out a blood curdling scream as he fell to his knees with his hands grabbing his head in pain. What was even more so surprising was the fact that this scream came vocally from his open mouth, rather than telepathically like he had been previously communicating to them. But as soon as the scream came it ended, everyone but Amicus' creatures covering their ears in pain.

Slowly, Amicus rose from the ground as his body seemed to change. All of the strange growths on his body seemed to recede into him, almost as if they were fading from existence. Tenebris watched in awe as the creature before him became less grotesque each second that passed. As the new creature before him turned to face him, Amicus had something adorning his face he'd yet to see since meeting him... Emotion... So many different emotions flew across his face, sadness, anger, pain, happiness, but the one that came last was clarity. "I...Remember."

And with that Amicus began to fall forward as he lost consciousness, but before he could hit the ground Tenebris rushed forward and caught him with his side. Gently he laid him across his back, calling for room on a cart to be made for him to rest. "Don't worry my friend, we shall watch over you until you awake." Almost immediately a group of minotaurs had brought a supply cart with some space cleared for the creature to rest as they made their way out of the Everfree Forest. As everyone prepared to march once again, the creatures that were created by Amicus began to follow closely to his cart, seemingly protecting him as a pack of Timberwolves would their alpha. However, as the combined army began to weed through the forest towards the plains outside, another larvae and a dozen of the creatures that were mining the nearby rocks for useful minerals burrowed into the ground around the center of the clearing before becoming cocoons of various sizes.

Everypony stopped to watch in both fear and awe at the sight, neither running nor drawing their weapons as they both knew nothing of these creatures but knew their apparent leader was on their side. Within a few minutes various organic and living structures formed around the clearing, the largest being in the center where Amicus had emerged from his own cocoon. From this central structure countless larvae began to come out of it and mindlessly wandered around it, as if they were young foals not knowing what to do with themselves, curious of the world around them. A few of the seemingly unique structures that sprouted from the larvae ranged from tall spires with flying beasts moving in and out of it to pools of a strange green goop where more of the creatures that fought alongside them would come out of every now and then.

However Tenebris' attention focused on the final cocoon that hatched after all of the other structures finished hatching, revealing a new creature that reminded him of an arachnipony from Tatarus. The major differences were that this new creature had only six legs, chitin like armor all over its body with no skin or fur exposed anywhere, and two green eyes glowing with an inner and eerie power. It locked eyes with Tenebris before slowly approaching him. His advisers and their respective body guards quickly stood beside him with their weapons at the ready. "Stand down! After gaining a new friend and ally, is this any way to treat his own forces?" He glared at those around him that took defensive stances, he knew it was out of fear of the unknowns surrounding these creatures, but he had to snip this problem at the bud before anything worse could happen.

As everypony that had drawn their weapons and taken defensive stances sheathed them and began to relax, the new creature finished approaching Tenebris, speaking with a feminine voice as it bowed. "It is an honor to meat another powerful being like our father."

Everyponies eyes went wide at this, both confused and surprised to learn this new creatures was somehow the offspring of Amicus. However Tenebris was the only one not to be surprised by this, for he has come across other creatures around Equis that were similar to this. "So you are a hive-mind sort of species?" Everyone just looked at Tenebris, not understanding how he could already know of such kinds of creatures when none of them have heard of such things before as the creature just nodded. "What is your name, young one?"

Strangely, even though the creature was covered in chitin, it somehow managed an adorable smile between its deadly mandibles as it's eyes lit up with happiness. "Our father has decided that I should be known as Filia Prima!" An energetic shake coursed through her body as she almost began to dance in excitement. Suddenly her features became more serious as she focused her attention on those before her once again. "But enough questions for now, as my father will be better suited for them once he recovers from the mental exhaustion of regaining some of his memories." She turned around and waved everyone's attention to another creature like her that was approaching. "This is my sister Primum Custodem, we are both queens, creatures of the Swarm capable of running our own hives without the need of our father to guide our actions."

The new queen stood beside her sister, the only difference between the two was that while Filia had black chitin and green eyes, Primum had blue chitin with bright ruby eyes. Her voice was still distinctly feminine, although it was more tomboyish sounding. "Father has tasked me with developing this hive, to not only defend the city of Everfree, but to also defend the surrounding area from additional threats." She did not bow as her sister did, but rather tilted her head down while crossing her arms across her chest.

"If your father is Amicus, how are you speaking with him? He's unconscious right now and shouldn't be able to even speak telepathically." Princess Platinum found it strange how, even as a hive mind, they were communicating within it even when such a connection should be temporarily severed.

Filia put a friendly claw on her shoulder as she brought the startled unicorn to her side, once again managing a friendly smile to ease everyone around her. "You are right, we can't speak with him at all right now. We are just following his wishes before he became unconscious." With another claw she brought Tenebris to her other side, bringing the two in for a group hug. "I'm so excited to help father with aiding you against these vile demons!"

While everyone stared dumbfounded at the queen currently making Tenebris and Platinum become one with their bluing bodies, Primum face clawed with a deep le sigh before saving the two ponies from 'death by suffocation'. "Sister, I understand your excitement but could you please refrain from killing our new found friends with your death hugs..."

With an embarrassed chuckle, a heavy green blush adorning her cheeks, Filia apologized to the ponies. "Sorry, even though my sister and I are newborns, we are ready to help however we can." Suddenly she stood tall with her head held high, giving a loud screech as she raised her arms with a deep green glow surrounding them. The effect was immediate, most of the forces of this Swarm began to gather behind Filia, most of them consisting of the ones that fought beside them earlier while many of the flying beasts joined them. The flying beasts had similar design with their heads as the other creatures, with vicious jaws and mandibles. They flew using two large, bat like wings while their body ended in some strange open maw for a tail. Another of the new creatures to join them were snake like, slithering across the ground with vicious bone blades for arms. As the army of the Swarm gathered behind her, Filia brought her claws to her sides, casting her father's new friends a warm smile. "The Swarm stands ready!"

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You will either submit... or burn in a golden fire...

With a start, Amicus' eyes flew open and he lurched forward, his breaths quick and short while sweat formed on his skin. That voice... all I can recall of it is that it is a great evil. Within seconds of waking up, he suddenly found himself pulled into a crushing hug. "Father, I'm so glad you are awake!" Though the hug would've crushed lesser beings, Amicus being infested had the strength to survive what would be known from that day forth as the Grasp of Death.

Finding a way to free an arm, he reached around to embrace his daughter, returning the love she was giving him. Though he was enjoying this, his memories made this interaction surprising. From what memories he had regained, he could recall everything about the Zerg, especially the fact that they weren't supposed to have personalities like this. Why do I feel like I always wanted to meet a zerg that was like a normal person... Another squeeze knocked the breath Amicus was holding out of him, bringing him back to his current predicament. "Filia dear, could you please allow daddy to breath again?"

The effect was immediate, Filia gently yet quickly set him back down on the cart, rubbing the back of her head with a claw while a sheepish smile was displayed by her maw. "Sorry father, but I have yet to speak to you since my birth."

With a smile of his own, Amicus reached out and patted her other arm. "It is alright, child. However I would like to speak with our new friend Tenebris if possible... We have much to discuss now that my memory has returned somewhat."

As if summoned, Tenebris landed beside Amicus, a warm smile gracing his face as he put a hoof on his friend's shoulder. "It is good to hear you have regained some of your memories and self, my good friend." He then flew into the sky, one filled with the setting sun, before making a call for the army to set up camp.

Once again standing on his own, Amicus looked around them to see they were no longer in the Everfree Forest but rather among the rolling hills of a large plain. Looking at Filia, they shared a nod before she went to the edges of the camp, laying down cysts to create a perimeter of creep for the spine crawlers and spore launchers they brought with them. As Filia left to complete her task, Tenebris returned with the council and their bodyguards in tow. They all gathered around him, making themselves comfortable as he requested. Taking a deep breath, Amicus prepared himself for the long explanation and many questions he would have to endure soon enough. "Now my new friends, allow me to tell you of the Zerg, or as many know them as, The Swarm...

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The ponies around him were staring at him in both shock and awe, having listened to him intently as he told them of the Zerg. They learned all they could about their history, the various creatures of the swarm, and how they lived, but one thing they could not learn was how Amicus came to be their new Overmind or how he even got to Equestria in the first place. All they could learn about him, personally, was that he was able to manipulate the biomass within himself and the strange device attached to his back that had become more prominent now that the biomass had receded back into his body and said device. From what Amicus was able to recall since regaining some of his memories, he was originally a human male, that had somehow become infested by the Zerg and it lead to him becoming the new Overmind. Using the device on his back; he can both lay down cysts to help spread creep for his swarm or hatch larvae to turn into either workers or zerglings, form a formidable exoskeleton to act as a set of armor stronger than even steel, and form forearm blades that cut through steel like butter.

Other than that the only other memories that came back to Amicus were fragments, which either depicting glimpses of a large vessel that was infested itself, or moments of him using the strange sniper rifle he had slinged across his back with a strange glow of energy from both his hands and eyes. There was another one where all he could see was a strange figure shrouded by a cloak, a devious smile plastered on his face as nothing but his mouth was visible. I know one thing for certain, I must find a way to trigger my memories as I have with the Zerg. Only then will I truly know myself...

Platinum had been kind enough to manifest a mirror in front of Amicus, allowing him to see what he now looked like, and he found it rather pleasant. He stood at about 6'8" in height, with a compact and muscular form and short black hair. He had no facial hair, but what really caught his attention was what his eyes looked like. They were glowing orange, not allowing any details to be made of what they looked like behind said glow, with what looked like veins moving away form them and eventually getting smaller till they were none existent the further they got from his eyes. It was as if they were roots to a tree with how they looked. Strangely this was the only signs Amicus could see that would lead one to believe he was infested. Everything else seemed normal to him from his fragmented memories of humans, and he believed this was due to his feast on all that biomass from the demons.

Other than giving him insight on their biological structure down to the cellular level, it had somehow helped stabilize his own. He believed the loss of his memories had resulted in his own biomass and control over it to go haywire, and the use of his armor and bone blades was purely a result of survival instinct. He was thankful to be able to revert to his less threatening original state. Now he could more easily interact with the ponies around him, finding it easier to approach and befriend them.

While everypony continued to discuss about Amicus and his swarm, a fireball in the sky gained everyone's attention as it crashed in the distance to the south. Even though the sun had set and the moon was high in the sky, a strong red and yellow glow could be seen on the horizon as the fires from the object crashing were either that strong or the object that crashed was that large.

Tenebris as well as the other ponies were wide eyed as they worried for their forces to the south, for they were close to where the object had crashed. "Everyone, we march NOW!!!" Everyone of the army already packing up the camp before Tenebris could finish his order. Whatever had crashed either just gave the demons what they needed to shatter the ponies defensive line, or it gave the ponies a chance to refortify their positions. There was only one way for them to figure out however.

Author's Note

And we have the next chapter! Finally learning a little more about Amicus' abilities and what he may learn in the future. But it seems our friend still needs to do more to regain his memories and past self... Once again if you see any errors or where something might be missing, please don't hesitate to point it out to me! Hope you all enjoy where this story is going.