Alex stumbled for a second the moment he had his feet back on solid ground, a wave of nausea washing over him. He felt like he had been pulled through a incredibly narrow tube that was shaken a few times. Shaking his head he heard Sweet Slumber giggle beside him.

"First time being teleported I assume?" He felt her hoof wrap around him to give him some support. "Don't worry, that feeling only stays after the first time and not for very long at that."

He chuckled as the feeling slowly subsided making him feel less shaky. Once he felt strong enough he opened his eyes, marveling at the landscape before him. On the right side of his view the planes were mostly green with grass, some flowers and herbs growing around, the occasional tree, all in all that area was filled with life.In the distance smoke that flew up in small strings could be seen, signaling a small town seemed to be nearby their location.That beautiful area however ended abruptly like a line had been drawn into the ground by some malevolent force and from that line nothing green or frivolous could grow, instead a sandy, cold and windy landscape stretched out from that line. No trees shedding shadow to save from the hot sun was around. Alex swallowed dryly as he took it all in."Alex Terris, with this I welcome you to the border of the great dunes. "Spoke Nox in a low voice. "I wonder where the units of this outpost are, they were supposed to be around here somewhere..."

"I will fly up and give us a bigger view of the situation, it truly is strange how there seem to be no tents or anything signaling this as a Equestrian outpost. " Spoke the batmare before soaring up into the sky quickly, the two males following her with their eyes. As Alex looked up to keep his view on Sweet Slumber he noticed something flowing in the wind, some kind of fabric, it's color being a bright blue.

Reaching up he managed to catch the cloth, the feel of it being almost velvety. "What is this?" On the cloth piece was a singular white star. Nox hummed interested as he looked over, as soon however as his eyes fell on the cloth he got visibly more tense.

"That my friend.....if I am correct that is.....is a piece of a equestrian flag....but where is the rest? " He looked around, worry in his turquoise eyes.

As if on cue the batmare came rushing down, breathing heavily. "G-guys, you won't believe this! I....I think I found the outpost....or rather what's left of it."

"What do you mean by that Sweet, we need a clear report of the situation." The batmare saluted to the changeling's command.

"In the distance there is something that I can only describe as a weird formation in the sand sir." She pointed into the direction with her hoof. " I would have ignored it if I had not noticed pieces of ripped white and blue fabric before the sand formations. Whatever happened to the outpost I am sure we will find our answer there, maybe even a way to locate Chrysalis group." She shook slightly.

Alex rubbed his chin in thought. "If we find their group.....what do we have to expect? I mean, would they attack?"

Nox shook his head softly. "I seriously do not know. I was of Chrysalise's hive but after what happened, I am not sure what she or my siblings will do once we spotted them. However since I am with you I think our chances are not too bad, now, let's move. "

"Alright Nox, you lead Alex through the area. I will scout the area from up high, we do not want a evil surprise after all. " With that Sweet Slumber soared back up into the sky and the two males went on their way towards those supposed weird sand formations.

The walk under the hot sun did not last for too long, as after only thirty minutes the strange sand formations came into closer view. Upon seeing them closer it was now apparent that they were in fact holes, sustained open by some jagged looking black rocks. Alex eyebrows narrowed in confusion as he looked at the holes. "What are those?" He turned to the changeling.

" It seems to be a temporary hive, or at least thats what the hardened changeling goo tells me." Nox mumbled as they came to a halt in front of the first hole.

"Changeling goo?" Alex layed his hand on the black material, it being cold to the touch but having a smooth feel to it. Behind the two Sweet Slumber landed.

" Our building material for the most part, we eat mosses, small plants and different bugs to create it. However we can use it for a wide variety of ways. Still Chrysalis's hive mostly uses it to build their structures or to, like in this case, create a temporary hive to rest in. Although this one is built rather sloppily, going by the high numbers of entrances that is." The changeling bended down and picked up another piece of a flag, smelling it. "Yeah....this has the pheromones of the Chrysalis hive, whatever happened to the outpost has to do with them."

Sweet Slumber shuddered softly. "Does that mean we have to go down there? I mean.....we have to find out what happened right?"

Nox nodded. "Yes we do but I need to lead the way, remember, I was once part of this hive so that should give us a diplomatic advantage. Also remember, this is a diplomatic mission, we are not here to attack. " His wings buzzed a bit as he said that, almost in a rhythmic motion.

Alex nodded. "You are right buddy, how hard do you think it will be to talk to Chrysalis?" He looked into the darkness of the hole, far down a small blueish hue could be seen.

"I think that, after her being dethroned by Thorax, she should be very angry, however by her group moving towards his realm it could be that she now wants to engage in direct diplomatic affairs, so we have a good chance of talking to her after we explained who we are and what we stand for." Nox nodded to himself. "So let's go, the earlier we go the better. " His wings were still buzzing in a rhythm as he smiled at the other two.

"Alright, lead the way!" Cheered the batmare as they entered the black tunnel. The light of the desert sun grew weaker with each step they took, making Alex wonder just how deep this would go.

As the trio went deeper into the hive, the blueish hue Alex had spotted grew closer and brighter. After a few more steps in relative silence, the only sound being the buzzing sounds of the changelings wings they came to a crossroad, three ways reaching from there into three separate tunnels. Above each tunnel a small array of mushrooms grew, each one of them emanating a blueish glow.

Sweet Slumber groaned slightly and sat down on her flank. "Great now where do we go?" Alex walked past Nox and looked into every one of the tunnels before stopping before the middle one.

"This one, it is the only one of the three that has a obvious draft. So it should lead to somewhere spacious. " Nox nodded and made his way to the humans side.

" If we go that way we will quite possibly arrive at the main hall, there probably will be many changelings so prepare yourself. It is quite possible that we will be captured or at least cornered there." The other two nodded as they went into the middle way. A few minutes later the dark tunnel opened up into a huge area, mostly made entirely made of the changeling goo. The most amazing thing about it was however that it was build like a tower, reaching up high till it amounted into one of the holes that had been visible on the surface beforehand, a ray of bright sunlight shining through it. A big walkway beginning one one side of the area and spiraling upwards till it ended at the hole, on it's way many different tunnels were build into the walls, apparently this was the main hall of the temporary hive. All around the spiraling walkway and buzzing in the air were hundreds of changelings, some of them in conversations while others were clearly fulfilling some form of tasks. Alex marveled at the jagged, yet smooth architecture of the area, so much in fact that he stumbled right past Nox who tried to hold him back,only to be stopped when two halberds, held by two armored changelings where shut in front of his face, blocking him from entering the area.

"Stop right there invader!" Barked the one to the right, glaring at the trio with bright eyes. " Don't you move and maybe you will get a chance to speak." The two began closing in on the group who slowly backed away.

Nox stepped before the other two to speak but before he could open his mouth a voice spoke from behind the guards.
"Don't worry boys, I will take care of these ones....Step aside!" The voice was uncanny to the humans ears, it was like two voices were speaking at the same time, one, belonging to a young woman while the other was completely otherworldly to him. What scared him though was the tone of said voice. It was cold and basically oozed power.

"Yes, your highness!" Both of them shouted and slowly stepped away, revealing the owner of the voice. Her chitin was black like the one of other changelings except for a small portion on her back which went from dark to light
green,however to the human it seemed to be a few nuances darker than the regular color. Her height put her easily on the level of Princess Luna if not even Princess Celestia making him gulp. Her long dark turquoise hair fell down long over her back. He long slender legs had holes in them, her horn being jagged and sharp. On her head resided a small black crown with three pearls at the top. What scared Alex the most however were her eyes, them being bright green with actual pupils. They seemed to have a infernal icy fire within them. All in all everything about this being screamed power and authority, making a cold shiver run up the humans spine, he was sure he was right now standing in front of the queen of this hive, Queen Chrysalis who now showed a fanged smile.

"Well well well....what do we have here? A adorable batmare sniper, a strange creature in minotaur armor and last but not least....one of my trusted, seemingly lost soldiers. How have you been Nox? I take it the time within the castle is enjoyable?" She let out a cold giggle while looking at the smaller changeling.

Sweet Slumber leaned towards Alex, she was visibly shaking in fear. "H-how did she even notice us? I-i mean she should have a own throne room or things to attend to?" The poor batmare squeaked silently. The queen to that grinned evilly.

"A very good question Sweet Slumber, oh yes I know your name. " She laughed when the human and the mare now stared at her with wide eyes. "I know both of your names....all thanks to a certain little bug making your entrance into here all the more clear, as soon as I smelled his pheromonic message I was down here, waiting for you!" She then narrowed her looks back on Nox. "Ain't that correct corporal Noxious?" A gasp escaped both Alex and Sweet Slumbers mouths as they stared at their companion. "Oh did you really not notice it, him doing weird things on your way down here like buzzing his wings for example?" The grin on Chrysalis grew even wider. "Oh I know everything by now, especially about you Mr.Terris."

Alex was only halfway listening to the queen, his focus was on Nox, who now slowly walked over to the changeling queen and stood beside her. "N-N-Nox.....what....what is the meaning of this?" He asked with a shaky voice.

"Please trust me Alex,Sweet Slumber, this is all for the best....please believe me." The changeling pleaded weakly.

The queen then motioned them over."Come in, come in...." She turned towards the area and walked towards the middle point. "Do not try to run or my hive will swallow you hole." She warned. Alex looked at the batmare and gave her a nod which she returned as they both followed Chrysalis into the area. In the meantime Chrysalis had managed to make the changelings form a circle with her waiting in the middle of it. "Come here Mr.Terris, step into the ring...."

Alex swallowed heavily but decided to show some rebellious attitude. "And what if i don'?" He tried to sound as confident as possible to which the queen only smiled softly.

"If not..." She tapped her hoof to the ground and a loud shriek from behind him made Alex whirl around to see that a bunch of changelings had pushed Sweet Slumber to the ground and held her tightly."I will have them rip her to pieces before your very eyes....your choice Mr.Terris."

Alex swallowed heavily as he looked at the batmare. "Don't worry....I will get us out of here....somehow." He weakly promised as he walked towards the queen into the ring of changelings which closed behind him promptly." Why are you doing this, if you got all infos from Nox, you know why we are here, also what happened to the guards that were stationed at the outpost!" He tried to seem intimidating.

"So many questions, so little time....yet you are correct, I know who sended you into my hive, however I cannot tell if your intentions are genuinely diplomatic, so I am afraid that I will have to look through your memories to see if you are a diplomat or not. Only problem with that....you need to be unconscious for the spell to work out smoothly.....now you either have the choice to just let me sedate you peacefully but not know what may happen to your sweet little batmare or fight me and hope to be able to save her....." She grinned evilly.

Alex looked back at Sweet Slumber who struggled in the hold of her captors. He frowned as he looked at Nox who still looked at him with a pleading look. He then stepped closer into the ring and pulled out the falchion. "As much as the peaceful way seems alluring, I must decline, the safety of my friend is more important than my own, just know....I did not come here to fight."

Chrysalis laughed and nodded. "Then so be it, if your intentions are indeed pure this will show how valuable you will be to the cause but only one friend, is Nox not your friend?"

Alex frowned as he did not answer to that just gripped the blade handle with both hands. "That.....does not matter right now. Let's just get this over with."

"Could not have said it better myself Mr.Terris, now come at me! Show me your resolve to save your friend!" Queen Chrysalis ordered as she got into a fighting position herself, her horn glowing with dark green magic. Only one thought rushed through the humans mind at the moment, this would not be a pleasant experience.

Author's Note

And another chapter done and with it another cliffhanger, muahahahaha!!
Now the betting office is opened, how do you guys think this battle will end?
I of course as always hope you enjoyed the chapter and look forward to be seeing you again at the end of the next chapter.

See ya!