Metamorphosis

The Hive-mind

I awoke in a cold sweat and checked for any signs of injury, Instead I found that I looked like I was half dead. My eyes had black circles, you could see my ribs and I looked weak. I clenched my teeth in anger and I felt sickened at what I was going to have to do later. If what Chrysalis was saying really was true.. then I would have to feed off Cadence's love. The thought alone made me sick, I noticed two black teeth shaped marks on my neck and looked down. "Why is this happening to me.." I laid back down to weak to hold myself up. Just then I heard someone open the door, I assumed it was a nurse when she said "Alright Shining how are yo- *GASP* wha-what happened to you?!?" She ran out the door and a doctor and two other nurses entered and the doctors eyes widened when he saw my condition "How is it possible?? its only been a few hours! take him the the ECU NOW!" The doctor used his magic to push my hospital bed outside. The sudden motion made me dizzy and I almost lost consciousness. Everyone stared as I was taken to the 'emergency care unit' when I arrived they hooked me up to all the machines and I started to hear that familiar beeping noise that was my heart rate. They injected me with a white substance and I blacked out in seconds.

When I awoke I was alone, the silence was short lived as the door opened and Cadence walked in. My heart started to pick up and the annoying heart monitor had picked up speed as well. Cadence was teary eyed and she rushed over to me. "Why is this happening to you." She sniffed, I felt something I could almost taste it in the air. I didn't know what it was until Cadence hugged me gently so she wouldn't hurt me. Just then I knew what was happening. The magical feeling that I was absorbing was love. I felt sick when I realized this, But also relieved as my soreness quickly began to abate. It felt like her love was reviving me. Just then a voice in my head spoke to me "Feed off of her love.. you are going to need more if you wish to survive..." Chrysalis projected an image of what she wanted me to do, I tensed and bit the inside of my lip "Do it or you will feel more pain." I knew that I had been beaten by Chrysalis... I was broken. "Cadence..." she looked into my eyes and I caressed her face with my hoof. "Shining..." she leaned down and kissed me passionately. I felt a wave of energy and euphoria wash through me. We stayed like this for a minute and I ended the kiss. Cadence frowned "I hope your going to be okay Shining..." Don't worry, I have a good feeling things are going to turn around now. She grinned slightly "I hope so" What the hell did I just say?? *I'm TURNING INTO A CHANGELING! THINGS ARE NOT GOING TO GET BETTER!*** Cadence hugged me again and I felt horrible when I felt her energy seeping into me again. I tried to remember how I felt about Cadence before all of this happened but I couldn't. My eyes brimmed with tears and spilled over when I knew I had lost her. "Whats wrong Shining? are you in pain?" she asked me but I shook my head. "Cadence... There is something I have to tell you." Chrysalis said ""No You Don't" I ignored her and asked her to come closer. She rested her head beside mine and asked in a worried tone "What is it Shining?" "That spell that Chrysalis put on me.. It had side effects" Cadence looked into my eyes with a terrified expression. "Wha-what are you saying"  "Cadence... I'm turning into a changeling..."

Cadence froze and a deafening silence ensued, She looked into my eyes with shock and disbelief. I could only mutter two words before my heart was set aflame by Chrysalis "I'm sorry..." I clutched my chest in pain and Cadence bit her lip. She stared into my eyes as several doctor ponies rushed in to sedate me. I was afraid that Cadence would leave, I stared into her eyes pleading for her to stay with me. I began losing consciousness and the pain began to abate. The last thing I saw was Cadence staring at the ground.

When I awoke Cadence looked like she had recovered and asked me "Are you awake?"

I took a deep breath "Yes.. I understand if you don't want to be with me anymore.."

Cadence frowned and hugged my tightly, I was surprised that she still accepted me "No matter what happens to you I'll always be there for you Shining." She had tears in her eyes and my eyes were beginning to brew over as well. "You have no idea how much your acceptance means to me Cadence..." I felt myself consuming her love once again. She smiled "You look a lot better" I sighed "The only reason I'm still alive is because of you Cadence... ever since you arrived I could feel your love radiating off of you..." I didn't mention the part where I couldn't remember what loving someone else felt like. "Does Twilight and Celestia know?.. I'm not ready to face them yet." Cadence shook her head "No they don't know yet, but I think we should tell them." "I will but I want to tell Twilight first.. I'm a little nervous as to what Celestia would do. Her city was just sacked by changeling's" "Your right we should tell Twilight first and hopefully get her support in this" "Can you write her a letter and tell her to come to canterlot? I want to speak to her in person." Cadence nodded "I'll be back soon" she left me alone and I stood there looking at the ceiling. I was dieing to get up and move around but If I disconnected myself from the machines doctors would come rushing in. I tried to make myself look slightly presentable now that I was getting better. I noticed my coat had gotten noticeably darker in the past few minutes. It was now a solid gray "Your starting to change" I heard Chrysalis's voice inside my head and thought "Yeah? whats it to ya." A spike of pain briefly lashed through my chest. "You will speak to your queen with respect from now on." I sighed "Yes..Chrysalis." I would not call her my queen, Celestia was my ruler. I felt like I had enough energy to run a marathon "I guess I'm going to learn how to deal with feeding off of love." I grew bored of waiting so I wanted to see if I had any new powers. I willed my form to change into one of the doctor ponies that had came in when I confessed to Cadence. Nothing happened but I noticed a strange feeling when I focused on him. I felt like I had reached out with my consciousness as if it was tangible. "Thats because it is, You are experiencing one of the first things young changeling's acquire. The power to contact other members of the swarm. I immediately pulled away from this new feeling. If it had to do with more changeling's I wanted nothing to do with it.

Half an hour later Cadence returned and told me "Twilight is on her way, she was curious as to why she had to return to canterlot so soon. I informed her that you weren't well and that you would explain in when she arrived." "Good that will give me some time to think. In the meantime I feel like I'm ready to bounce off the walls. Can you get me out of here?." I said with a grin. She smiled "I'll see what I can do." Before she left she asked me "Did your coat get darker?" I sighed and nodded "Fraid so." she looked a little worried "We need to tell Twilight and Celestia soon." She left before I could respond and returned with another Doctor pony. The doctor was once again shocked to see me in my condition "I don't understand how this is possible! Even with magic he couldn't have healed so fast!" I grinned at the doctor "Does this mean I'm free to go?" he looked at me nervously and coughed "I wouldn't recommend it but-" I cut him off "Okay thanks" I pulled out all the machines from their plugs with magic and winced slightly when I pulled out the IV. I jumped out of the hospital bed and started galloping away before they could stop me. I dodged nurses doctors and some security guards and rushed out the door, I checked to see if Cadence was following me but I heard a zap in front of me. Cadence had teleported in front of me, she had a grin on her face we ran and once we lost them I laughed for the first time in days. I asked Cadence "Where is Twilight meeting us?" "I told her to meet us at our room Lets head there, she will likely be there early." Halfway there a patrol of royal guard approached us and spoke to me "Captain, Princess Celestia requires your presence Immediately, we were ordered to escort you there. I gave Cadence a nervous glance and we followed them to the royal palace. I was nearly shaking by the time we arrived at the palace. We entered and followed them to the throne room, I had taken this route one hundred times and knew everything about the palace layout. We approached the the throne room and I gave Cadence another nervous glance and she looked slightly nervous as well. I had no idea what to say to the Princess, I hadn't even figured out what I would tell Twilight yet!

The guards left us alone with a very regal Princess Celestia. Her mane was blowing in the solar winds as she looked up to us "Shining Armor, I am glad you are well." Celestia looked at me again and her eyes narrowed a bit. "Mind telling me how your coat got darker?" I chewed on my lip "Uh.. thats a long story.. so I might as well get started... You know what happened after the wedding so ill start from there. I was in pretty rough shape after that night and when I fell asleep.. Chrysalis entered my dreams and stole my from my emotions even more.. when I awoke I was nearly dead and If she hadn't told me how to save myself I wouldn't be here now." Celestia raised an eyebrow and asked. "What did she tell you?" I sighed and looked at Cadence then back at Celestia. The spell she used to corrupt me during the wedding had a side effect... Its turning me into a... one of those parasites..." Celestia's mask of composure broke when I said this her eyes widened and she looked at Cadence and to me. She sighed "I was afraid of this... As of now Shining you are relieved of your command as captain of the royal guard and not permitted to see Cadence until further notice.

WHAT!?! I bellowed when she said this, I could handle losing my position of command but when she told me that I couldn't see Cadence I lost it. Cadence tried to reason with Celestia but she was teleported out of the room in a golden flash. I ground my teeth together. I couldn't believe she would betray me like this. "What did I ever do to deserve this! Ive never done any harm to anyone! Ive always been loyal to your cause *AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY ME?!?* The royal guards stationed outside rushed in. "Take him to his quarters and confine him there." With confused faces the guards I once led walked over to me and began to drag me out of the throne room. I never stopped looking at Celestia until the throne room doors slammed shut once again. The trip to my room was a daze, I was to blind with fury to notice anything. When they stopped dragging me I assumed we had made it and they walked out and locked me inside. Just then I felt a tidal wave of fury wash over me, I roared with fury and bucked the door with all my strength. My hooves blasted two holes in the door and I trotted over to a mirror. My coat had once again grown darker, It now looked to be a mix of grey and black I closed my eyes. I shouted in my mind with all the mental strength I could muster THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT YOU SON OF A BITCH! I quickly got a reply. She laughed and said "Yes thats it embrace your anger. Celestia betrayed you, Let it consume you." I shook my head and I thought "I never did anything to her, or her subjects. I don't deserve this!" I absorbed my own emotions and my anger only grew. I was murderessly enraged at Celestia. "Take your revenge" My head shot up and I looked back into the mirror. My eyes had turned a menacing green, I grinned and thought "You'll pay for this Celestia." I turned to the door Intent on exacting my revenge.