Rise of the Hive

The War for Equestria Begins

Ponyville was in the process of being pillaged and harvested. Some of the ponies were simply wrapped in cocoons destined to be fed upon until they were lifeless husks. Others however, were morphed into obedient changeling's willing to die to serve the hive. I buzzed over to a large cocoon containing the red stallion from before.

"You will be one of my lieutenants... "

Big macs eyes half opened and closed again. I took a deep breath in contentment.

"Everything is going according to plan..."

A changeling landed next to me with an urgent look in his eyes. He projected a mental image in my mind and I opened my eyes wide with surprise.

"Chrysalis, I'm going to teleport to Canterlot. Its urgent. The elements have escaped but Cadence had been captured."

Chrysalis hissed with frustration "I'll watch over Ponyville until you return.. Stay safe my love..

"I will"

I charged my horn and teleported to Canterlot. When I arrived I waited a few moments for the dizziness to abate and I started walking towards the dungeons. Several changeling's saluted me as I passed. Once I reached the dungeons I entered and began looking for a certain pink alicorn. I noticed the cell and I approached it slowly. I stared into Cadences unconscious face and I couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

However, this was not going to stop me from powering my army with energy for the wars on the horizon. I charged my horn and began sapping Cadence's energy. I could see her start to become restless and eventually she woke up. She saw me and all she could do was stare at me with a look of fear, surprise... and anger.

I took a deep breath as the massive amounts of love energy radiated off of her. The energy was almost to much to control. I stopped because if I took anymore she would have become a lifeless husk of her former self. I concentrated on staying up and I pointed my horn towards the ceiling.

I shot a massive green bolt that absorbed into the ground and sent a shock wave of energy out towards the swarm. I took a deep breath and noticed that Cadence looked like she was having a nightmare. I lowered my horn and dispelled her unease. She stopped struggling and remained still, I took another deep breath and I could almost smell the energy in the air. Cadence had enough love to power the swarm for months.

I turned to leave, I was going to join the assault on Cloudsdale. Normally Id let my changeling's handle such a small city by themselves. But I didn't want the wonderbolts to escape the floating city. I left the dungeon and exited the palace. I started flying to Cloudsdale because I wanted to save the energy from Cadence.

"I'm on my way to Cloudsdale, have the swarm meet me there.

I received a mental nod from Chrysalis and started flying faster. It took me a few minutes to reach them and I saw a smaller portion of the swarm ready to assault Cloudsdale.

"Attack! Do not kill the Wonderbolts if you see them!"

A few hundred Changelings flew into Cloudsdale and I noticed that the town seemed deserted. The swarm went through the clouds searching for pegasi but none could be found.

I hissed in frustration "They must have evacuated Clouds-"

Thunder boomed across the sky, the clouds themselves descended upon the swarm. Dozens of lightning bolts started striking the changelings dead when they hit.

"The pegasi are using the clouds as weapons! Disperse and stop them!"

I closed my eyes and opened them again, I could see through the dense clouds and I noticed twelve green outlined Pegasi.

"The Wonderbolts... Chrysalis! I'll capture them and send them your way!"

I flew towards one of them and I was spotted. I could see them preparing to fire at me. I projected a shield and deflected several bolts. I ensnared one of them in a magical shield and flung it towards Chrysalis. She grasped it with her magic and looked at me with a grin.

I returned the gesture and went for the second Wonderbolt. The changelings were having a hard time getting past the lightning and I reached two Wonderbolts that were starting to be overwhelmed. I ensnared them and flung them towards Chrysalis. The pegasi were powerless against my magic.

The Wonderbolts were starting to get overwhelmed due to the shear number of Changelings. I saw some of them falling to the clouds and being caught by changelings. However I noticed two more that were still fighting. One of them had a orange and yellow mane and the other one had a bluish black mane. I flew towards them when the one with the orange mane pointed at me and shouted something I couldn't here over the lightning.

The two Wonderbolts started flying in a circle rapidly. I was almost upon them when a lightning bolt struck me in the chest. I gritted my teeth and put up a shield. However they were starting to spin faster and faster. I could see a small tornado forming and starting to suck up all the storm clouds. The clouds began shooting off lighting bolts by the dozen. The rest of the changelings dove for cover and I strengthened the shield around me.

The lighting bolts started becoming more focused. They were all starting to approach me, before I could find a way out of its path dozens of lighting bolts were striking my shield repeatedly. I couldn't maintain the shield and the shield dissipated, the lightning bolts stopped and the air began crackling with the buildup of one strong lightning bolt.

"Meta!"

The lighting bolt struck, I hissed defiantly and refused to fall. The massive amounts of electricity coursing through my body was extremely disorienting. My sight flickered and I went blind from the electricity. Just when I couldn't take anymore the tornado dissipated and two pegasi and one changeling fell towards the clouds.

Chrysalis captured Spitfire and Soarin and landed next to me. I hissed in pain but slowly regained my footing. I had severe burns and I felt my whole body shaking from the amount of electricity that had passed through my body moments ago. I stood as still as I could because of the burns. I looked towards Chrysalis with a pleading expression.

She grinned at my situation. "You got burnt"

I rolled my eyes and she healed the burns all across my body. I turned to our captive pegasi and sighed in relief. All of them were unconscious. I ordered the changelings to have them wrapped in cocoons immediately.

"I'll be heading east to Stalliongrad  while our lieutenants expand in all directions... The more we conquer the more unstoppable we will become"

A large changeling landed on one of the clouds. He saluted me and I lowered my horn towards his throat and cast a spell that gave him the ability to speak.

"Thank you, my king."

I raised an eyebrow "You were once known as Big mac.. Correct?"

"I was but not anymore. I live only to serve you."

"Good... Your going to watch over Canterlot until I tell you otherwise... Oh and one more thing," I turned and gestured to Chrysalis who had been standing next to me. "This is Chrysalis and she is your queen. Obey her commands just as if they were my own."

He saluted us both and flew off to Canterlot with his first orders. I galloped to the side of Cloudsdale and jumped off. I started flying towards Canterlot with him.

"Were do you think the pegasi went?" I asked Chrysalis.

"I don't know. But we will find them."

I nodded and changed direction towards ponyville.

"I'm going to gather an army and fly west towards Stalliongrad. I hear the ponies there are more resilient." I sighed.

"Its inevitable that we will be separated if we wish to win this war."

I landed in ponyville, "Once this war is over I promise we will see each other again."

I noticed that hundreds of new changelings had been spawned from the inhabitants of ponyville.

"Come with me! we fly to Stalliongrad!

The changelings gathered around me and we took off towards Stalliongrad.

I said one final goodbye to Chrysalis. I'll return to you as soon as opportunity allows me, I love you."

"I love you to, Goodbye."

I severed the connection and I could no longer feel her mental presence. It felt strange and somewhat lonely in my mind with her presence gone. We flew until we could no longer see Ponyville or even Canterlot behind us. We approached a mountain range that connected with Canterlot.

I chose to fly above the mountain and we could feel the air thinning out as we approached the top. Stalliongrad was on right on the other side of this mountain. Once we were past it we could surprise the defenders and dive bomb their defenses. They had no doubt heard that the changelings were swarming throughout Equestria by now. The sun was setting and I knew that Chrysalis was setting the sun. I raised the moon and we reached Stalliongrad.

"Capture as many as you can. For the glory of the swarm! *ATTACK!!"***

Four thousand changelings all started diving towards the city. In the darkness of night the green air cones that were forming around each one shined brightly. I saw several guards start to notice us but they had no idea what to do. They had nothing to defend themselves with.

I began to form a cone around myself and joined the bombardment. Mine was much larger and I enhanced the barrier with magic. I pointed towards what looked to be the barracks. In moments the city erupted in fire, I crashed through the building and noticed that it was filled with guards stumbling around and looking for their weapons.

I charged my horn and I knocked them out when I squeezed a nerve in their brains. I went to the next room and a spear was thrown towards my chest. I dodged it and leaped at the guard that threw it. I bit into his neck and greedily absorbed his essence. My eyes glowed green and I busted down the exit to the city streets. Guards had formed in large circles and were fighting the changelings. They were in larger circles around intersections in the city. I leaped into the air and dive bombed once of the circles. The guards flew in all directions while several changelings had started biting them. The guards fiercely resisted us.

I could see ponies without a uniform carrying makeshift weapons. I hissed in frustration, If the whole town resisted us we would be overwhelmed. I charged into a group of angry citizens and they all tried to attack me. I dodged and deflected their blows one of them hit me and I was tackled to the ground. I charged my horn and sent them flying.

I flew into the air and noticed that the fight looked evenly matched. In the center of the city their was a pile of dead changelings and a group of guards standing on the pile. They were fighting fiercely and decided I would put a stop to them. I charged my horn once again and dive bombed the group of guards.

One of them saw me and to my surprise he grasped the cone I was forming and directed it away from the group. I crashed into concrete and I got up baring my fangs and giving them a menacing look.

"What in the deepest pits of Tarturus is that?!"

The unicorn guard gulped and I responded for him.

"I am the king."

I lunged forward and smashed one of the guards faces. I quickly dodged a spear and deflected a sword with a kick. The unicorn shot a bolt of magic towards me but I shielded myself and deflected it towards him. It struck him and he was sent flying back. The other guards quickly lost morale and fled only to be overwhelmed by the changelings. I trotted over to the unicorn guard and grinned at his fearful expression.

"What are you?!"

My eyes glowed a menacing green,

"I am the master of this army.. And Equestria will be mine."

I bit into his neck and I could taste the fear in his blood. I drank until there was nothing left and I ripped his throat out. I looked around the town center noticing that the guards were losing morale.

"Don't let up my warriors! They will all be ours!"

*Twilights Pov*

We were hiding in the crystal caves under Canterlot. The whole area around us was swarming with changelings. We had no place to go. My friends were sleeping uncomfortably but I couldn't sleep due to a throbbing pain where my horn used to be. Not being able to use my magic was driving me insane.

I decided that I would risk going to the surface, I needed to check on Cadence. I couldn't stand the thought of her being stuck in one of those nasty green cocoons the changelings trapped ponies in.

I reached the surface and I noticed dozens of changelings were flying around Canterlot. I kept to the shadows and I eventually reached the Palace. There was two guards at the door. I thought of a way to distract them. I walked down a dark alley and noticed a guard that seemed to have been forgotten. I bit my lip at the site and noticed that he had a crossbow and a knife.

I took both weapons and slowly trotted over the the guards. I aimed the crossbow at one guard, I took a deep breath and pulled the trigger. The arrow went straight through his eye and I quickly threw the knife at the unsuspecting changelings throat.

I galloped inside and before I was spotted I dragged them inside and closed the doors. I had to resist breaking down right there.

"I just killed..."

They were the first things I had ever killed. I bit my lip and took deep breaths. After a minute I continued down the halls.

I quietly snuck through the halls of former Canterlot palace. The whole place had been changed into some vile organic material. The changelings decorated the cities with it wherever they conquered. I reached the dungeons intent on breaking Cadence out before it was to late.

I reached her cell and my heart skipped a beat. There was a massive changeling standing by the cell. It almost reminded me of...

"No. it cant be... I refuse to believe its him.."

I looked back again and he was standing right next to the corner. I yelped and he tackled me to the ground. My heart was pounding and I saw his fangs protruding from his mouth. He tried to bite me but I moved at the last second and his nose slammed into the floor.

I leaped out of his hold and galloped to Cadence's cell. I looked inside and looked back towards the giant changeling. He was charging forward, I ducked and he rammed through the cell bars. I jumped over him and tried to find a way to get Cadence out of the cocoon.

"Oh no..."

Cadence appeared to have already changed. She looked similar to Chrysalis and I couldn't help but stare at her shocked and fearful. I felt a pair of hooves yank me back. The changeling was staring down at me with a furious expression.

My heart felt like it was about to explode and the changeling bit down on my neck. I screamed and pain and I tried one last desperate plan.

"CADENCE!! HELP ME PLEASE!"

Cadence twitched in the cocoon and I called her name again.

"CADENCE!"

Her eyes shot open and she ripped out of the cocoon. She saw me and bucked the changeling off of me with enough strength to send him through another cells bars. Cadence hissed violently and It sounded terrifying and unbelievable coming from her.

Cadence kneeled next to me and she pursed her lips. She realized that she had scared me. I couldn't help but hug her. I knew that if she saved me from that changeling that deep down she was still there. She stood over me protectively and hissed at the large changeling. The changeling shook his head and left.

"Cadence... is that you?.."

She frowned and nodded I hugged her and cried on her shoulder. All of a sudden Cadence snapped stock still and she pushed me behind her. I saw Chrysalis standing in front of the cell with her eyes glowing green. She levitated Cadence and slammed her against the wall.

"NO!"

She looked over to me and I was flung over to the wall to. She pulled me back and through the hole in the bars. She sealed them with her magic and placed a rune over the cell. She threw me into a cell and locked it.

"Thats where you'll stay until I figure out what to do with you."

I bit my lip hard. I couldn't take anymore of this evil, these changelings, this corruption of Canterlot and the death of the princess's. I couldn't take anymore. The color drained from my body and I was left a dull grey. I sat down and I was filled with hate. Hate for the changelings, I wanted revenge for the once who had started all of this.

Chrysalis... And Metamorphosis.

*Meanwhile at Stalliongrad.*

We piled our dead and the unsalvageable guards and citizens. We stood victorious over the ponies with our casualties topping out at least 1,000. However. The population of stalliongrad was 5470, That adds up to about 5000 new Changelings. A massive increase to our army. Once we are able to take the massive cities like Fillydelphia and even Hoofington, Our numbers will skyrocket.

Our next target was Trottingham. We secured the position around Stalliongrad and when morning arrives we will fly towards Trottingham. The changelings were busy cleaning up the city so I decided that I would wait until morning. I flew on top of a building and laid there for a few moments. I rested my head and soon dozed off

I awoke when it was time to lower the moon. I concentrated and grasped the moon and lowered it. Shortly after the sun rose. I jumped off the roof and landed with a thud. I looked around and noticed that we were still cleaning up the mess. We weren't ready. I hissed with frustration, I charged my horn and sent a wave of energy towards the swarm in the city. They began working with renewed vigor and I began helping them with myself. In a few hours we were done. I took a deep breath and took off to survey the city.

The city was taken, we had set up a defensive perimeter just in case we were attacked. We were ready to move on. I Commanded the changelings to join me outside of the city. I landed outside the perimeter and I noticed that they were beginning to fly out and prepare to travel.

We would fly northeast towards Trottingham and once we reached the city, we would defeat them. I took off towards Trottingham and the swarm soon joined me. We flew for hours and we came upon an unexpected sight. They were outside of the city prepared for us.

"Those fools will be overwhelmed in seconds!. DESTROY THEM!"

Then the unexpected happened

Griffins descended from the clouds by the thousands. Hundreds of guards teleported to the army in front of Trottingham.

"Oh well we have a problem..."