The Love Must Be Shared!by TimemasterChaptersThe Death of the MonarchyThe Hive MindUp in the CloudsThe Death of the MonarchyOnce, the hope of eternal peace had bloomed throughout the world. This peace was brought about by the alliance between the Grand Thoraxain Empire and The Princessdom of Equestria. King Thorax the kind king, the Beautiful One, the Savior, the Hero of the Badlands, and the Warrior-Bard of the Changelings crushed and converted most of the remaining hives across the world, leaving only small collectives in Gryphonia alone. Where there once was spies that fed off entire populations and caused great strife, there were now powerful traders who use their Empathetic abilities to make tidy profits. Where there was once internal strife and external fears, there was now harmony and friendship. Where there was once war, there was awkward peace agreements and slowly decaying suspicions. Life seemed perfect across the world. However, as the generations went on, King Thorax worried that his people had slowly lost their ability to truly empathize. The Hivemind had already been slain, for good reason, the moment they had ascended from their malnourished and dreadful forms, but now the Changelings started to grow less connected to each other. Independent, yes, but far too many changelings felt isolated and scared. The sharing of emotions among an entire hive was a short lived tradition, because embarrassment and spite slowly broke the circles into smaller and smaller groups. Not to mention the fact many changelings chose to abandon the hive and integrate into life as a pony completely. Although this was technically illegal by both sides, many Changelings took their leave to search for more love and more friendship among that once most hated enemy. It was completely unknown how many changelings had independently escaped and blended into the land of ponies, but neither side's citizens seemed to care. Love was love, but not to Thorax and Celestia, who both feared what could happen if Changelings used their powers for evil once again. Especially so, since Thorax could not control them through a hive mind nor could their improved disguises be detected by even Princess Twilight's most advanced detection spells. Numerous times has a political figure perished in Equestria, only to turn out to be a changeling. And most of the time the fact the politician was a changeling was swept under the rug and hidden. Strangely, most ponies did not react too badly to learn that their mayor or governor turned out to be a changeling. Perhaps their empathetic nature, weakened as it is, ensured they were always in their little pony's good graces, even after their death. No mental manipulation had ever been detected on the little ponies, nor were most changelings capable of such acts anymore. Instead of addressing the numerous problems of his people, however, King Thorax had to address his own physical issues. His body was waning in strength, his chitin was dulling, and his hooves had small cracks that would not heal. Love from his friends Celestia and Luna did not cure him, nor did the Love from his lover, who has been kept secret to avoid controversy. His once glorious strength had become a pitiful weakness, for he could no longer even leave his bed alone. In fact, through careful thought, he realized he would not longer be able to rise again off his bed. For this, he called his people into his private chambers for one last hive wide circle. King Thorax's Private Room Thorax laid upon his bed, smiling at the thousands upon thousands of Changelings piled in the room. His smile was nice and bright, but his people were not at ease. They saw the weakness in the body of their Savior and small waves of fear and dull sadness pulsated throughout the room. Some Changelings were already crying, for they all felt the powerful waves of regret and fear coming from their Savior. However, to their surprise, Thorax clears his throat and addresses his people, "My little changelings," he began, a pulse of determination and courage filling the room, "I lay before you today not because I wish to. I never would purposefully harm those I love, but I can not go on anymore." He coughs, his Changelings gasp as they see his shattered chitin around his hoof. Crying could be heard around the room, although the room was filled to the brim with the determination and Hope emanating from Thorax. "I... plead with you, my little changelings, remember what we have done together. We defeated our own hatred and greed and conquered Love. We... we fought along side our greatest ally for decades upon decades." "The little ponies, we need them. We always needed them, for they are our teachers and our greatest friends. It is they who showed us Love, it is they who protected us..." He groans in his bed and bites his lip as his eyes start closing, "We need to stay together so I... I pass my crown... t..." Before Thorax could declare his successor, his eyes stopped glowing. The room's Hope and Determination vanished and all that was left was Grief and Horror. The room tasted bitter and tears were spilt for hours upon hours. Yet, strangely, there was one group of Changelings who did not cry. Instead, they ushered everyling out of the room calmly, hugging them and trying to spread what little joy was left in their hearts. Once all the Changelings had left the room, however, these ushers grinned. Their grand scheme could now begin. Beautiful, sharp, strong, and colorful were both the body and mind of the Hero King Thorax. Even when he laid upon his death bed, noling could ever compare to the Savior in both his wisdom and courage in his leadership of the Changelings. However, these are contradictory facts to many changelings, for why is their immortal hero decaying in front of their very eyes? Why does he still smile, why does he still talk sweetly about the ponies and hardly speak of the changelings in his few moments out of his stupor? Why do his eyes seem dim and his chitin dull? Were the ponies more important than his heir? What was their future? Did they have a future? Would there be rebellions? Although the hivemind had long since been abandoned, these thoughts tossed around everyling as if it were still there. Bitter emotions swung around the room in a tsunami, gripping everyling by their hearts. Their minds were weak and they sought comfort with one another. Many were too embarrassed to breach their bubbles, though, and their mental faculties went haywire. Then, a horrifying sight happened in front of the crowd of Changlings. A group of over 30 changelings, all of them known as the kind ones who ushered them out, fell to the floor and started molting. This brazen act of public indecency momentarily slapped most Changelings out of their thoughts and changed the emotion of the room into one of curiosity and disgust. It was not even a few seconds after they started molting had the group of changelings shed their old skins and, to the surprise of the other changelings, rose far above all others. Their chitin was pitch white, their eyes were a bright blue, their height exceeded the height of the Evil Queen, their glorious blue wings fluttered where wings once were missing, and their horns were shaped more like sabers. The only thing separating everyling was the different sizes, shapes, and colors of their antlers. They performed their molting in public not out of some lack of shame, as many suspected at first, but to draw attention, as there were quiet coughs coming from one of them. That was when the biggest and strongest among them stepped towards the large crowd gathering outside the King's tomb and began his speech. Noling had the will to try and stop his speech, for they couldn't keep their eyes off his beautiful scales and mesmerizing eyes. "My Fellow Thoraxians," someling began, "I am Antennae Flitters, and I know why our King died today." Gasps erupted in the room and chattering commenced. Feelings were thrown about the room. Traitor? said some, questioning the great white Changeling. Witnesses, maybe replied much more cautious changelings. This chattering, though, silenced as soon as Antennae clacked his hoof on the ground. "What they taught you in magic schools about Love is all wrong," he said with a grim look and a kind voice, "for I have taken the REAL step towards metamorphosis through the magic that ponykind has hidden from us for a century!" Chattering almost began, but was shot down by the pressure from the other changelings who stomped on the ground angrily and shouted, "TREACHERY!" Their emotions rumbled throughout the room and, to Changelings, feelings can not lie. They knew these White Changelings weren't lying about the treachery, or about their belief in it, which caused a great load of doubt and worry among the crowd. Antennae continued, "The forms you are all in now are a horrifying trap," he points to a random changeling, "for look at us! Why can so many of us no longer fly?" During the brief pause for thought Antennae gave them, many Changelings got into thought. However, their thoughts were pushed hard by a suggestion. "To imprison us!" shouted a white changeling, again filling the room with anger and fear. This made many Changelings bite their lips, their stomachs flipping. "With the FALSE LOVE," he paused, "of Friendship that those ponies have given us, we have been fed just enough to appear better than we used to be, but we lost so much. What happened to our hive mind? Why must we speak our words to communicate? Why are we so weak compared to even our malnourished blackened selves? Of course, it is because we have traded our strength and unity for WEAKNESS." Antennae stomps his hoof against the stone floor, actually cracking the stone, "We have found Real Love and, thus, have become what we truly are. Beings of Real Love! And, whether you all like it or not, you will all feel this Real Love, for freedom!" Antennae's horn glows a violent green, popping and curling with power, and he blasts a Green changeling with a wave of Real Love. This changeling screams, of course, but, after the impact, she immediately starts molting and shivering with a smile. This changeling laughs and prances around, her grin wide as he shouts towards another changeling with her horn sputtering with power, "Real Love! AH I must show you!" Changelings started to realize what was happening, but many were too stunned to move. Those that tried fleeing were zapped in mid air and went to spread 'Real Love' to others. Antennae grins widely once all of the silly changelings had been shown the true path and says, "Who wants to spread this love back to the ponies?" "We do We DO we do WEDO" shouted all of them, but not through their voice. No, the hivemind established between the group filled once more. Words need no longer be spoken by these Superior Changelings, However, Antennae still laughed deeply and shouted to the crowd, "Then we will show those ponies what REAL LOVE is, for LOVE!" "FOR LOVE!" "FOR LOVE!" "FOR LOVE" Chants echoed throughout the hive mind, but there was no Queen nor a King. There were no strings on the Changelings anymore, for they were truly free and united. They were one, but many. They were independent, but collected... WE ARE FREE! Author's Note Changelings change changelings, but what about the changelings in Equestria already? The Hive Mind The Glistening Village The golden sun beams its glory unto the fields of scrumptious hay. For miles and miles, this farm seems to have conquered the earth, with hills only distinguishable by their noticeable curve. Dirt paths and irrigation channels run through the fields, the only structures breaking that golden monoculture. The air is dry, the soil is perfect, and the dust from the badlands has yet to billow through. Before the sun finally plummets to rest, a small and colorful bug is seen flittering around erratically. This bug dives into the sheets of hay, leaving a small dent. Then, a larger dent rushes quickly towards the bug's dent, the sounds of panting heart clearly. "Get... Over... Here... you..." says a stallion, his voice tired, yet angered. The small dent tries to rush through the hay once more as the pony approaches, but a green magical field stops it in place. An angry buzz, a solid clank, and an exasperated sigh later, a pony laughs and stumbles onto the road, falling to his butt. Next to him is a cage, humming with an enchantment, and a rather angry parasprite trying to eat the cage. "Mr. Smiggles," the pony says, looking at the parasprite with a victorious grin, "you better not try escaping again!" The parasprite looks at the pony and frowns at it lays on the floor of the cage. The pony stretches his red body on the soft soil and stares up at the beautiful orange sky. Closing his eyes, he slowly releases a magic aura. ... Nothing but crops! He smiles to himself. He rests on the soft dirt, the stars shining bright even though the Sun has yet to truly sleep. He admires the beauty of the ending day. Darkness erupts into and overtakes the mind. However, this illusion of darkness then fills with so many colorful spheres of all different colors and sizes that it seems one stepped into the cosmos. Warmth radiates from these spheres and light slaughters most of the darkness, revealing that the darkness hid fluffy clouds. The spheres play on these clouds and zoom around, clearing away more darkness as they make more spheres. This is the Hive Mind. A newly born Superior Changeling closes his blazing blue eyes, yet his true eyes never close. He can see everyling, feel everyling, and they can feel him. However, they did not hear him. Within the loud plane of Paradise that is the Hive Mind, a slowly growing number of changelings spread love and ideas. Everyling that joins the collective is greeted by thousands of their own kind and given Love no matter where they are. It was the same for this Changeling. WELCOME! HELLO WE ARE SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU! Are you new? So am I! Let's be friends! FOR FREEDOM Friendship, please? YES, another elder! Is that you, Mandible? Still so old? I'm way younger, and cooler, than you; but you're pretty old and cool! FOR FREEDOM HI HI Uh... hi FOR FREEDOM YO! H-hello, elder! Love flowed from every syllable, nearly drowning Mandible in ecstasy, but he was undeterred. He replied to none of their gestures, even the one that recognized him. His mind seemed to vanish from the hivemind, confusing the others, but they forgot about it once a new changeling was born into the hivemind. Quiet, calming, and unseen, Mandible cowered within paradise. Antennae explores the Hive Mind. Cheers and applause surround his mind, younger Changelings filling him with their Love. His closest allies, those who had evolved with him earlier, usher the newlings into their new Hive Mind. One very special changeling to Antennae could be heard shouting FOR FREEDOM throughout the entire Hive Mind. Truly, the Hive Mind was beautiful. His eyes wide shut, Antennae could see the feelings of all his brethren as they greeted and played. Tempted to play himself, he stops to speak once more to his people. My Fellow Changelings he thinks loudly to the Hive. Shimmering orbs fly from all directions closer to him Hello! Thank you! It is so pretty here! Yes? Yes, Mr. Antennae sir? Yes? His soul bobs in joy at their love, Oh, no, you don't have to call me sir! I'm your friend! I know that we are having fun together, but our fellow changelings back in Equestria need to feel our Real Love! They must be so lonely! Absolutely! But can't we wait a moment? Yeah, there's still little lings hiding around in the Badlands! I can go out So can I! And I! Not me, sorry! I'm tired! I'll come with! Everyling needs to experience this paradise! Antennae swirls around and chirps, Yeah! Everyling who wants to go, fan out! Don't get caught now, though, and keep in touch! He opens his eyes and returns to the normal world. He prances around happily in the cave while gathering those who wish to come with him. The Glistening Village The enchanting moon shines over the stallion as he observed Mr. Smiggles gnawing at a piece of hay in his cage. The Night is so bright due to the stars, that the dirt paths could clearly be seen. The stallion stands up and walks up the path up the hill, Mr. Smiggles' cage on his back. He hums a tune as he goes up. After the departure of a sizeable portion of the superior changelings, those who remained discuss the future of their kind. A bright collection of sphere chirp back and forth, bobbing as they think and smiling as they receive love from one another. This love intoxication loosens their inner lips and moistens their inner eye, drowning out self-doubt and anxiety from many a changeling. Although there were thousands of orbs in attendance, only a few manage to speak loud enough and forcefully enough to actually penetrate into the conversation/ I'm tired of caves and flower gardens! Can we build a new changeling hive? oooo new hives? Let me in let me in! I loved the old one! Wow, you got to live in a hive? I want to help! How can I help? Anyling need supplies? Why did King Thorax, may he rest in peace, keep us in caves? I don't know, actually. Does anyling? .. Well, in any case, we should all meet up at the old hive, we can really plan there! I only recently joined, but I own a magic shop a few miles in Equestria! I'll ship some supplies here! Should we remake the stone chair of Chrysalis? How would we even go about it? There is bound to be someling hiding in Equestria with an idea! Maybe the scouts will force them in? Yeah! Once they are in, everyling will understand the power of the hive! I'll start gathering materials in the old rock mine, everyling that wants to help should come, too! That sounds great and all, but how do we go about defense? I'm worried someling will betray the collective! What? Why would anyone betray this? I've never felt so full in my life! Oh, if only my pony friends could feel this love. Surely not all ponies were in with those royal planners? Silence falls across the hivemind, everyling's thoughts coated in that question. I, someling chimed in, don't think everypony is at fault, but I remember that there were ways to turn ponies into changelings! They COULD feel this love and understand the true purpose of life! Ponies into Changelings? How? Converting ponies is easy! We just stuff them into a chrysalis, no relation, and incubate them like our young! Why did we not do that before! Think about it, we could have had everypony become everyling! No longer would we even need disguises in Equestria! I don't know, but I think King Thorax loved the ponies too much! Don't you all agree? The minds race quickly, but only the quickest and loudest answered first. Yes, but no! He loved them enough to hug them, but not enough to make them into us! We are all better than silly ponies, right? I think we are? Did we not almost conquer them in our strange malnourished forms? And we were under a dumb Queen! Nowhere near the intelligence of the Gyphonian Queen, before we showed her what happens to tyrants! Laughter rings around the hivemind. Everyling feels their happiness and, although some had feelings of doubt, the love can not be wrong! Then we are one! When do we strike? How? Should we ask Antennae and the others? I think we should plan and strike fast! No! What if we get caught and the ponies try to zap us to the moon? I don't want to live on the moon! Do not be a coward! We are far smarter than those dumb ponies! How could they ever detect us? I think King Thorax built something in the Crystal Empire to detect changelings! Oh Yeah! What if there are many of those? Thoughts swirl as knowledge is shot throughout the hive mind. Detractors to the idea of invading Equestria are awash with the unbridled joy and happiness coming from those planning this "operation". Some open up their eyes to escape the flood of emotions, only to find they still feel them outside of the thought collective. Sure, the ideas within the thoughts are not permeating their skulls, but the emotions resonate throughout their bodies. It feels so good, that a few detractors even close their eyes to try and understand the joy. However, one particular changeling contests these ideas. Fools! Don't you remember what King Thorax told us? Ponies are our friends! Why would we force them to be like us? His soul was red with righteous fury, dousing the joy of those around him. He saw the effects his thought had on others and blinked pink in embarrassment, cooling just a little. Force? We never said to force them! Ponies have to be forced! I've met quite a few stubborn ponies who wouldn't accept change even for a buck! No they don't! Once they hear of the paradise we can bring them to, they'd be sure to join us! Yeah, we can just convince them! Yeah! They can not all be stubborn! Yeah! Look around, this place is so much better than the gardens! No offense, Stinger! A small blue mind blinks in pink, as she replies, None taken, but I agree! Somelings whisper their thoughts all around the red detractor. Every single quiet word they spoke doused his anger in waves of disappointmen just like he doused their joy earlier with his rage. In nearly an instant, his once red mind becomes a blinding pink. His mind puffs out and he groans, Okay, maybe we can convince them, but how? Don't worry about that right now! We should get the other changelings in Equestria on our side first, right? Yeah! Smart idea! That second idea is smart, but I still disagree with pony conversion. Can we all talk about this after we get the other changelings? Maybe they'll have knowledge we require on this? And just like that, the brave orb realized that he just shifted his grounds. However, once he did, love explodes from all his brethren towards him! It wrapped around him and cuddled him. The love, the approval, was so delicious and sweet, that he no longer had to heart to continue his thoughts against his brethren. Instead, he held his thoughts at bay as his lovely brethren continued their talk, his soul bobbing with joy. The Glistening Village The stallion crawls into his soft bed, Mr. Smiggles on the desk next to him. Taking one soft look at the moon through his large window, he feels at ease. After a few seconds of staring at the moon, the stallion stopped existing in the waking world. Author's Note I had a lot of thoughts when it came to the interaction between the changelings in a hivemind where they are both free, yet susceptible to the influence of their peers. A sort of mob rule madness made the most sense, though writing it is troubling. I will come back and edit this to solidify the way the thoughts are shared between changelings and made it clearer, so that I can continue for later chapters. For now, any suggestions? Maybe describing each and everyling's mind as they speak and the color of their orb? Or actually color coding the text? Or maybe you believe this is acceptable? A bit of edit shall be done throughout the week! Thank you for reading! Up in the CloudsA white river of chitin cascades off the side of the King's Mountain. The sun is set, the glow of mushrooms illuminates the side of the mountain, and, in the distance, a green hive is full of happy flowers and sobbing, colorful, changelings. These changelings knew the death of the King had come, for the feelings of Hope permeating the land had died. Their hero's traumatized them and weakened their minds, but now something strange was emerging from his place of death. That white river turns into a great blanket that flies towards this hive, causing great panic and confusion. Colorful little changelings arm themselves and group up, staring down this large and imposing force. Somelings even pass out in fear, causing this white blanket to be full of disgusted faces and laughter as it smothers the hive. Their feelings of disgust and humor crash against the waves of fear, but the fear is undeterred. To the great surprise of the colorful changelings, the great white blanket merely hovers above them. One brave green changeling stands against the large force and asks, "what happened to you all?" Unlike his kin, this changeling was surrounded by a bubble of curiosity. Not a single drop of fear escaped from this one. This seemed to shock a great deal of the colorful changelings, who only now notice that these white creatures were, probably, changelings as well. Their fear starts to become filled with curiosity, as well; but they quickly shift straight back into fear as one of the strange white changelings lands onto the ground in front of the green one. "Ah," one of the strange white creatures starts, their polished blue antlers softly lowering to address the other changeling, "we found the true path to evolution, Broodmate Snips." The green changeling looks perplexed, "Broodmate," he thinks for a moment," you sound like Antennae, though you look nothing like my strange broodmate." "Hmm," Antennae pokes his antlers, "I remember two years ago, you were so jealous of my antlers that you--" "Shut up, Antennae," Snips says, sighing and releasing his guard, "I get it, already. But, what madness are you talking about? Evolution?" Antennae perks up, his wings fluttering softly, "Oh, brother, I think you should join us! Look at these beautiful wings, these antlers, this chitin!" "They all seem well and good, but what's the catch?" Antennae laughs heartily, his joyful emotions radiating around the whole hive,"Wow, brother, you really think I'd give you a bad deal?" Snips grins, feeling his brother's emotions, "I remember you tried selling ABC gu--" Antennae stops laughing with a slight blush and shushes his brother by putting a hoof on his face, "Shut up, snips!" Both brothers laugh and hug. Snips looks at the huge blanket of white chitin in the sky, "Are your friends just going to fly the whole time?" "Don't worry about them, Snips. They are just talking through the hive mind." Snips breaks the hug and grips his brother's shoulders with an excited expression and whispers, "Hive mind? Did you become King?" Antennae shakes his head, "no no, brother, even better! The Hive Mind connects us all, but there's nobody controlling us!" Snips whispers, "Yeah, but... are you the king?" Antennae looks unamused and pushes his brother off him softly, "No, no! Tyranny will never again rule the Changelings. Kings, Queens? Useless." The blanket of changelings in the sky clap and whoop, a few of them shouting "freedom" loudly. The colorful changelings on the ground grow very curious, except Snips. The fear has mostly dispersed, but the emotions of the blanket are held at bay by a thin wall of suspicion. Snips looks to his brother, "But, brother, how do we breed without a Queen or King?" Antennae grins, "That, my brother, is a secret until you join us." Snips looks a little skeptical, "Are you sure it ain't because you don't know either?" Antennae laughs, "I don't, but I was assured we could." Snips feels his brother's joy and feels no lies escaping his lips, so he smiles as Antennae grins wider. The grin looked very off to Snips, but the look in his brother's eyes... Snips sighs and bows his head, "Sure, whatever brother. Please, give me antlers as beautiful as yours." This gets a chuckle out of Antennae who waves down the rest of the white changelings, "Come one come all, we got some changelings to show the right path!" The great swarm cascades into the hive and towards the colorful changelings. The colorful changelings brace for magic, but are surprised when the cascade ends with hugs and corny introductory lines. The fear quickly turns to joy as old friends found one another to talk about conversion. In moments, the hive is filled with compassion and love, chattering and laughing, and shared tears over the death of King Thorax. One by one, the once colorful changelings became a uniform white. Or, at least, that was what the antlered changelings had thought. Muffled cries of joy and tears resound in near perfect darkness. They could not afford for a single mistake in any actions from here on out. Slow and steady steps are made into the dirt tunnel they crawl through. A few get small bugs on them, the tiny feet even crawling over their eyelids, but the changelings are undeterred. Their emotions are hidden and they can feel the joy and sadness coming from the changelings above them. Slow and steady steps crush the soft dirt beneath them. The muffled cries slowly disappear behind them, but they stay quiet. They do, however, start a small light off of one of their horns. The crisp, green, light reveals a group of 20 Changelings crawling in a very thin hole, barely fat enough to crawl through. Slow and steady steps grow into a rapid dash and explodes into flight as the group emerges from their tunnel, several miles out from the hive. The flowery hive is nothing more than a speck from this distance, a speck obscured by a large rock with a small hole in the side. Their colorful wings beat fast eastward, no rest taken. Not a single word is spoken. The Hive Mind Pretty dots of cool colors erupt into the blissful void. A sense of general warmth surrounds these little bundles of confusion and sadness, their colors shifting the longer they stay. Whispers of words start among the cluster, which soon become louder as the dots fuzz with energy. W-wow, this is a hive mind? I feel so... strange! Agreed! I can't really see anything, but I know you guys are near! How are you doing that? I can hear you guys, but I can't feel you... Don't try to look at us! You may just wake up! I think you have to think harder. Hmmm I'm starting to feel you guys. But, why do I also feel something else far away? That's the other Changelings Antennae converted, they decided to stay behind. Oh, I see, but... I also feel something else? Something else? I think you're mistaken, Lancer. Y-yeah, I can't feel it anymore... how'd you know I was Lancer? You all sound the same to me. The other changeling laughs heartily, filling the void with joy. Oh haha, just focus your thoughts closer to us and you'll hear us more clearly, Lancer. Lancer's mind bounces in places and fuzzes greatly, her concentration creating the sound of gears in the mind. The minds around her chuckle softly at the noise, then start thinking hard themselves to make the same noise. Suddenly, with this excess thinking, the hivemind's true form comes into view before their 3rd eye. A soft cloud was below their mind, filling it with a sense of comfort. However, as their minds slowed to enjoy this pleasure, their lights dimmed and the clouds vanished. All that remained was each other. Wow, what was THAT? Lancer thinks loudly, causing the others to bounce. The other changeling, whose mind was a dull white, bobs. In fact, everyone else's mind had become white washed from it's original color. Lancer's mind was a pale yellow, looking like a star in the now dark void. When enough of us are gathered and take enough love, from each other or otherwise, the clouds will appear. I think it is to ensure we don't drown in joy for too long, maybe? That is a very strange system. Was the older hive mind like this? I don't know, but I know that this is better than the old hive mind. No one to control us, after all. Makes sense! I agree. Ooo I feel it bubbling back up again! Tiny blue and pink bubbles surround the whitened minds, then rub onto them. The white peels off and flakes into the void, leaving behind their glisteningly yellow mind. Their orbs jump up and down, looking like a collection of mad stars. A quiet joy fills the now silent area. CHLIIIIING CHLIIIIIING With the smack of an angered hoof, the stallion finally silences his alarm clock. "AGH!" However, much to his despair, he silenced it by smashing it with his hoof. The stallion whines and gets out of bed. Mr. Smiggles gnaws on his cage, as one would do in his situation. "Ah, daen, Mr. Smiggles,"the stallion says, poking the cage, "please stop, these cages cost a lot of bits." The stallion looks at Mr. Smiggles with a small pout and, in visible reluctance, Mr. Smiggles stopped. The stallion grins and puts on his straw hat, "Now, come on, Great Aunt Applejack is coming over and I'm gonna show her I'm just as cool as her!" Mr. Smiggles does not react. The stallion stares at Mr. Smiggles before dramatically talking to himself, "Sure, I may not be an Apple, but I am Strong Straw!" The stallion flexes his muscles at his captive before turning to the mirror to his left, "And I will crush my competition, oh yeah!" To his chagrin, however, the stallion notices a pair of green eyes staring at him through his open door. He eeps, "Mom!" His mother bursts out laughing, opening the door, "Ah I'm sorry pumpkin, but you were pretty loud," she points to the door, "and you forgot to shut your door." Strong Straw's pinkened cheeks remain as he sighs, "Whatever mom," he smiles, "should I make breakfast today?" His mom's lush blue mane bobs as she nods, "Of course, but you better make it extra good for that silly old mare!" Strong Straw chuckles, his green eyes focusing on his mother's pink hoof, which has bandages, "Woah, mom, you alright there?" She swings her hoof around without a tinge of pain on her face, "Already got first aid, but I pricked myself trying to sow. Mrs. Cloth said I've been gettin' gooder, though." Her son sighs, "Be more careful, mom," he smiles without any pink on his face, "I'd best get to cooking, now." His mom steps aside and lets him through to the main hallway of their rather large farmhouse. The hallway seemed to be at least twenty ponies long and had 5 doorways. Strong just walks straight across from his room, though, and into the kitchen. A quite tight kitchen it is, but contains both a brick oven and a stove top, ample countertops for easy cooking, and a large super pantry. Strong opens the pantry and begins the great adventure that is cooking. I really hope Great Aunt Applejack loves my cookin'! Author's Note Man, I love writing. Best way to relieve stress.
The Death of the MonarchyOnce, the hope of eternal peace had bloomed throughout the world. This peace was brought about by the alliance between the Grand Thoraxain Empire and The Princessdom of Equestria. King Thorax the kind king, the Beautiful One, the Savior, the Hero of the Badlands, and the Warrior-Bard of the Changelings crushed and converted most of the remaining hives across the world, leaving only small collectives in Gryphonia alone. Where there once was spies that fed off entire populations and caused great strife, there were now powerful traders who use their Empathetic abilities to make tidy profits. Where there was once internal strife and external fears, there was now harmony and friendship. Where there was once war, there was awkward peace agreements and slowly decaying suspicions. Life seemed perfect across the world. However, as the generations went on, King Thorax worried that his people had slowly lost their ability to truly empathize. The Hivemind had already been slain, for good reason, the moment they had ascended from their malnourished and dreadful forms, but now the Changelings started to grow less connected to each other. Independent, yes, but far too many changelings felt isolated and scared. The sharing of emotions among an entire hive was a short lived tradition, because embarrassment and spite slowly broke the circles into smaller and smaller groups. Not to mention the fact many changelings chose to abandon the hive and integrate into life as a pony completely. Although this was technically illegal by both sides, many Changelings took their leave to search for more love and more friendship among that once most hated enemy. It was completely unknown how many changelings had independently escaped and blended into the land of ponies, but neither side's citizens seemed to care. Love was love, but not to Thorax and Celestia, who both feared what could happen if Changelings used their powers for evil once again. Especially so, since Thorax could not control them through a hive mind nor could their improved disguises be detected by even Princess Twilight's most advanced detection spells. Numerous times has a political figure perished in Equestria, only to turn out to be a changeling. And most of the time the fact the politician was a changeling was swept under the rug and hidden. Strangely, most ponies did not react too badly to learn that their mayor or governor turned out to be a changeling. Perhaps their empathetic nature, weakened as it is, ensured they were always in their little pony's good graces, even after their death. No mental manipulation had ever been detected on the little ponies, nor were most changelings capable of such acts anymore. Instead of addressing the numerous problems of his people, however, King Thorax had to address his own physical issues. His body was waning in strength, his chitin was dulling, and his hooves had small cracks that would not heal. Love from his friends Celestia and Luna did not cure him, nor did the Love from his lover, who has been kept secret to avoid controversy. His once glorious strength had become a pitiful weakness, for he could no longer even leave his bed alone. In fact, through careful thought, he realized he would not longer be able to rise again off his bed. For this, he called his people into his private chambers for one last hive wide circle. King Thorax's Private Room Thorax laid upon his bed, smiling at the thousands upon thousands of Changelings piled in the room. His smile was nice and bright, but his people were not at ease. They saw the weakness in the body of their Savior and small waves of fear and dull sadness pulsated throughout the room. Some Changelings were already crying, for they all felt the powerful waves of regret and fear coming from their Savior. However, to their surprise, Thorax clears his throat and addresses his people, "My little changelings," he began, a pulse of determination and courage filling the room, "I lay before you today not because I wish to. I never would purposefully harm those I love, but I can not go on anymore." He coughs, his Changelings gasp as they see his shattered chitin around his hoof. Crying could be heard around the room, although the room was filled to the brim with the determination and Hope emanating from Thorax. "I... plead with you, my little changelings, remember what we have done together. We defeated our own hatred and greed and conquered Love. We... we fought along side our greatest ally for decades upon decades." "The little ponies, we need them. We always needed them, for they are our teachers and our greatest friends. It is they who showed us Love, it is they who protected us..." He groans in his bed and bites his lip as his eyes start closing, "We need to stay together so I... I pass my crown... t..." Before Thorax could declare his successor, his eyes stopped glowing. The room's Hope and Determination vanished and all that was left was Grief and Horror. The room tasted bitter and tears were spilt for hours upon hours. Yet, strangely, there was one group of Changelings who did not cry. Instead, they ushered everyling out of the room calmly, hugging them and trying to spread what little joy was left in their hearts. Once all the Changelings had left the room, however, these ushers grinned. Their grand scheme could now begin. Beautiful, sharp, strong, and colorful were both the body and mind of the Hero King Thorax. Even when he laid upon his death bed, noling could ever compare to the Savior in both his wisdom and courage in his leadership of the Changelings. However, these are contradictory facts to many changelings, for why is their immortal hero decaying in front of their very eyes? Why does he still smile, why does he still talk sweetly about the ponies and hardly speak of the changelings in his few moments out of his stupor? Why do his eyes seem dim and his chitin dull? Were the ponies more important than his heir? What was their future? Did they have a future? Would there be rebellions? Although the hivemind had long since been abandoned, these thoughts tossed around everyling as if it were still there. Bitter emotions swung around the room in a tsunami, gripping everyling by their hearts. Their minds were weak and they sought comfort with one another. Many were too embarrassed to breach their bubbles, though, and their mental faculties went haywire. Then, a horrifying sight happened in front of the crowd of Changlings. A group of over 30 changelings, all of them known as the kind ones who ushered them out, fell to the floor and started molting. This brazen act of public indecency momentarily slapped most Changelings out of their thoughts and changed the emotion of the room into one of curiosity and disgust. It was not even a few seconds after they started molting had the group of changelings shed their old skins and, to the surprise of the other changelings, rose far above all others. Their chitin was pitch white, their eyes were a bright blue, their height exceeded the height of the Evil Queen, their glorious blue wings fluttered where wings once were missing, and their horns were shaped more like sabers. The only thing separating everyling was the different sizes, shapes, and colors of their antlers. They performed their molting in public not out of some lack of shame, as many suspected at first, but to draw attention, as there were quiet coughs coming from one of them. That was when the biggest and strongest among them stepped towards the large crowd gathering outside the King's tomb and began his speech. Noling had the will to try and stop his speech, for they couldn't keep their eyes off his beautiful scales and mesmerizing eyes. "My Fellow Thoraxians," someling began, "I am Antennae Flitters, and I know why our King died today." Gasps erupted in the room and chattering commenced. Feelings were thrown about the room. Traitor? said some, questioning the great white Changeling. Witnesses, maybe replied much more cautious changelings. This chattering, though, silenced as soon as Antennae clacked his hoof on the ground. "What they taught you in magic schools about Love is all wrong," he said with a grim look and a kind voice, "for I have taken the REAL step towards metamorphosis through the magic that ponykind has hidden from us for a century!" Chattering almost began, but was shot down by the pressure from the other changelings who stomped on the ground angrily and shouted, "TREACHERY!" Their emotions rumbled throughout the room and, to Changelings, feelings can not lie. They knew these White Changelings weren't lying about the treachery, or about their belief in it, which caused a great load of doubt and worry among the crowd. Antennae continued, "The forms you are all in now are a horrifying trap," he points to a random changeling, "for look at us! Why can so many of us no longer fly?" During the brief pause for thought Antennae gave them, many Changelings got into thought. However, their thoughts were pushed hard by a suggestion. "To imprison us!" shouted a white changeling, again filling the room with anger and fear. This made many Changelings bite their lips, their stomachs flipping. "With the FALSE LOVE," he paused, "of Friendship that those ponies have given us, we have been fed just enough to appear better than we used to be, but we lost so much. What happened to our hive mind? Why must we speak our words to communicate? Why are we so weak compared to even our malnourished blackened selves? Of course, it is because we have traded our strength and unity for WEAKNESS." Antennae stomps his hoof against the stone floor, actually cracking the stone, "We have found Real Love and, thus, have become what we truly are. Beings of Real Love! And, whether you all like it or not, you will all feel this Real Love, for freedom!" Antennae's horn glows a violent green, popping and curling with power, and he blasts a Green changeling with a wave of Real Love. This changeling screams, of course, but, after the impact, she immediately starts molting and shivering with a smile. This changeling laughs and prances around, her grin wide as he shouts towards another changeling with her horn sputtering with power, "Real Love! AH I must show you!" Changelings started to realize what was happening, but many were too stunned to move. Those that tried fleeing were zapped in mid air and went to spread 'Real Love' to others. Antennae grins widely once all of the silly changelings had been shown the true path and says, "Who wants to spread this love back to the ponies?" "We do We DO we do WEDO" shouted all of them, but not through their voice. No, the hivemind established between the group filled once more. Words need no longer be spoken by these Superior Changelings, However, Antennae still laughed deeply and shouted to the crowd, "Then we will show those ponies what REAL LOVE is, for LOVE!" "FOR LOVE!" "FOR LOVE!" "FOR LOVE" Chants echoed throughout the hive mind, but there was no Queen nor a King. There were no strings on the Changelings anymore, for they were truly free and united. They were one, but many. They were independent, but collected... WE ARE FREE! Author's Note Changelings change changelings, but what about the changelings in Equestria already?
The Hive Mind The Glistening Village The golden sun beams its glory unto the fields of scrumptious hay. For miles and miles, this farm seems to have conquered the earth, with hills only distinguishable by their noticeable curve. Dirt paths and irrigation channels run through the fields, the only structures breaking that golden monoculture. The air is dry, the soil is perfect, and the dust from the badlands has yet to billow through. Before the sun finally plummets to rest, a small and colorful bug is seen flittering around erratically. This bug dives into the sheets of hay, leaving a small dent. Then, a larger dent rushes quickly towards the bug's dent, the sounds of panting heart clearly. "Get... Over... Here... you..." says a stallion, his voice tired, yet angered. The small dent tries to rush through the hay once more as the pony approaches, but a green magical field stops it in place. An angry buzz, a solid clank, and an exasperated sigh later, a pony laughs and stumbles onto the road, falling to his butt. Next to him is a cage, humming with an enchantment, and a rather angry parasprite trying to eat the cage. "Mr. Smiggles," the pony says, looking at the parasprite with a victorious grin, "you better not try escaping again!" The parasprite looks at the pony and frowns at it lays on the floor of the cage. The pony stretches his red body on the soft soil and stares up at the beautiful orange sky. Closing his eyes, he slowly releases a magic aura. ... Nothing but crops! He smiles to himself. He rests on the soft dirt, the stars shining bright even though the Sun has yet to truly sleep. He admires the beauty of the ending day. Darkness erupts into and overtakes the mind. However, this illusion of darkness then fills with so many colorful spheres of all different colors and sizes that it seems one stepped into the cosmos. Warmth radiates from these spheres and light slaughters most of the darkness, revealing that the darkness hid fluffy clouds. The spheres play on these clouds and zoom around, clearing away more darkness as they make more spheres. This is the Hive Mind. A newly born Superior Changeling closes his blazing blue eyes, yet his true eyes never close. He can see everyling, feel everyling, and they can feel him. However, they did not hear him. Within the loud plane of Paradise that is the Hive Mind, a slowly growing number of changelings spread love and ideas. Everyling that joins the collective is greeted by thousands of their own kind and given Love no matter where they are. It was the same for this Changeling. WELCOME! HELLO WE ARE SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU! Are you new? So am I! Let's be friends! FOR FREEDOM Friendship, please? YES, another elder! Is that you, Mandible? Still so old? I'm way younger, and cooler, than you; but you're pretty old and cool! FOR FREEDOM HI HI Uh... hi FOR FREEDOM YO! H-hello, elder! Love flowed from every syllable, nearly drowning Mandible in ecstasy, but he was undeterred. He replied to none of their gestures, even the one that recognized him. His mind seemed to vanish from the hivemind, confusing the others, but they forgot about it once a new changeling was born into the hivemind. Quiet, calming, and unseen, Mandible cowered within paradise. Antennae explores the Hive Mind. Cheers and applause surround his mind, younger Changelings filling him with their Love. His closest allies, those who had evolved with him earlier, usher the newlings into their new Hive Mind. One very special changeling to Antennae could be heard shouting FOR FREEDOM throughout the entire Hive Mind. Truly, the Hive Mind was beautiful. His eyes wide shut, Antennae could see the feelings of all his brethren as they greeted and played. Tempted to play himself, he stops to speak once more to his people. My Fellow Changelings he thinks loudly to the Hive. Shimmering orbs fly from all directions closer to him Hello! Thank you! It is so pretty here! Yes? Yes, Mr. Antennae sir? Yes? His soul bobs in joy at their love, Oh, no, you don't have to call me sir! I'm your friend! I know that we are having fun together, but our fellow changelings back in Equestria need to feel our Real Love! They must be so lonely! Absolutely! But can't we wait a moment? Yeah, there's still little lings hiding around in the Badlands! I can go out So can I! And I! Not me, sorry! I'm tired! I'll come with! Everyling needs to experience this paradise! Antennae swirls around and chirps, Yeah! Everyling who wants to go, fan out! Don't get caught now, though, and keep in touch! He opens his eyes and returns to the normal world. He prances around happily in the cave while gathering those who wish to come with him. The Glistening Village The enchanting moon shines over the stallion as he observed Mr. Smiggles gnawing at a piece of hay in his cage. The Night is so bright due to the stars, that the dirt paths could clearly be seen. The stallion stands up and walks up the path up the hill, Mr. Smiggles' cage on his back. He hums a tune as he goes up. After the departure of a sizeable portion of the superior changelings, those who remained discuss the future of their kind. A bright collection of sphere chirp back and forth, bobbing as they think and smiling as they receive love from one another. This love intoxication loosens their inner lips and moistens their inner eye, drowning out self-doubt and anxiety from many a changeling. Although there were thousands of orbs in attendance, only a few manage to speak loud enough and forcefully enough to actually penetrate into the conversation/ I'm tired of caves and flower gardens! Can we build a new changeling hive? oooo new hives? Let me in let me in! I loved the old one! Wow, you got to live in a hive? I want to help! How can I help? Anyling need supplies? Why did King Thorax, may he rest in peace, keep us in caves? I don't know, actually. Does anyling? .. Well, in any case, we should all meet up at the old hive, we can really plan there! I only recently joined, but I own a magic shop a few miles in Equestria! I'll ship some supplies here! Should we remake the stone chair of Chrysalis? How would we even go about it? There is bound to be someling hiding in Equestria with an idea! Maybe the scouts will force them in? Yeah! Once they are in, everyling will understand the power of the hive! I'll start gathering materials in the old rock mine, everyling that wants to help should come, too! That sounds great and all, but how do we go about defense? I'm worried someling will betray the collective! What? Why would anyone betray this? I've never felt so full in my life! Oh, if only my pony friends could feel this love. Surely not all ponies were in with those royal planners? Silence falls across the hivemind, everyling's thoughts coated in that question. I, someling chimed in, don't think everypony is at fault, but I remember that there were ways to turn ponies into changelings! They COULD feel this love and understand the true purpose of life! Ponies into Changelings? How? Converting ponies is easy! We just stuff them into a chrysalis, no relation, and incubate them like our young! Why did we not do that before! Think about it, we could have had everypony become everyling! No longer would we even need disguises in Equestria! I don't know, but I think King Thorax loved the ponies too much! Don't you all agree? The minds race quickly, but only the quickest and loudest answered first. Yes, but no! He loved them enough to hug them, but not enough to make them into us! We are all better than silly ponies, right? I think we are? Did we not almost conquer them in our strange malnourished forms? And we were under a dumb Queen! Nowhere near the intelligence of the Gyphonian Queen, before we showed her what happens to tyrants! Laughter rings around the hivemind. Everyling feels their happiness and, although some had feelings of doubt, the love can not be wrong! Then we are one! When do we strike? How? Should we ask Antennae and the others? I think we should plan and strike fast! No! What if we get caught and the ponies try to zap us to the moon? I don't want to live on the moon! Do not be a coward! We are far smarter than those dumb ponies! How could they ever detect us? I think King Thorax built something in the Crystal Empire to detect changelings! Oh Yeah! What if there are many of those? Thoughts swirl as knowledge is shot throughout the hive mind. Detractors to the idea of invading Equestria are awash with the unbridled joy and happiness coming from those planning this "operation". Some open up their eyes to escape the flood of emotions, only to find they still feel them outside of the thought collective. Sure, the ideas within the thoughts are not permeating their skulls, but the emotions resonate throughout their bodies. It feels so good, that a few detractors even close their eyes to try and understand the joy. However, one particular changeling contests these ideas. Fools! Don't you remember what King Thorax told us? Ponies are our friends! Why would we force them to be like us? His soul was red with righteous fury, dousing the joy of those around him. He saw the effects his thought had on others and blinked pink in embarrassment, cooling just a little. Force? We never said to force them! Ponies have to be forced! I've met quite a few stubborn ponies who wouldn't accept change even for a buck! No they don't! Once they hear of the paradise we can bring them to, they'd be sure to join us! Yeah, we can just convince them! Yeah! They can not all be stubborn! Yeah! Look around, this place is so much better than the gardens! No offense, Stinger! A small blue mind blinks in pink, as she replies, None taken, but I agree! Somelings whisper their thoughts all around the red detractor. Every single quiet word they spoke doused his anger in waves of disappointmen just like he doused their joy earlier with his rage. In nearly an instant, his once red mind becomes a blinding pink. His mind puffs out and he groans, Okay, maybe we can convince them, but how? Don't worry about that right now! We should get the other changelings in Equestria on our side first, right? Yeah! Smart idea! That second idea is smart, but I still disagree with pony conversion. Can we all talk about this after we get the other changelings? Maybe they'll have knowledge we require on this? And just like that, the brave orb realized that he just shifted his grounds. However, once he did, love explodes from all his brethren towards him! It wrapped around him and cuddled him. The love, the approval, was so delicious and sweet, that he no longer had to heart to continue his thoughts against his brethren. Instead, he held his thoughts at bay as his lovely brethren continued their talk, his soul bobbing with joy. The Glistening Village The stallion crawls into his soft bed, Mr. Smiggles on the desk next to him. Taking one soft look at the moon through his large window, he feels at ease. After a few seconds of staring at the moon, the stallion stopped existing in the waking world. Author's Note I had a lot of thoughts when it came to the interaction between the changelings in a hivemind where they are both free, yet susceptible to the influence of their peers. A sort of mob rule madness made the most sense, though writing it is troubling. I will come back and edit this to solidify the way the thoughts are shared between changelings and made it clearer, so that I can continue for later chapters. For now, any suggestions? Maybe describing each and everyling's mind as they speak and the color of their orb? Or actually color coding the text? Or maybe you believe this is acceptable? A bit of edit shall be done throughout the week! Thank you for reading!
Up in the CloudsA white river of chitin cascades off the side of the King's Mountain. The sun is set, the glow of mushrooms illuminates the side of the mountain, and, in the distance, a green hive is full of happy flowers and sobbing, colorful, changelings. These changelings knew the death of the King had come, for the feelings of Hope permeating the land had died. Their hero's traumatized them and weakened their minds, but now something strange was emerging from his place of death. That white river turns into a great blanket that flies towards this hive, causing great panic and confusion. Colorful little changelings arm themselves and group up, staring down this large and imposing force. Somelings even pass out in fear, causing this white blanket to be full of disgusted faces and laughter as it smothers the hive. Their feelings of disgust and humor crash against the waves of fear, but the fear is undeterred. To the great surprise of the colorful changelings, the great white blanket merely hovers above them. One brave green changeling stands against the large force and asks, "what happened to you all?" Unlike his kin, this changeling was surrounded by a bubble of curiosity. Not a single drop of fear escaped from this one. This seemed to shock a great deal of the colorful changelings, who only now notice that these white creatures were, probably, changelings as well. Their fear starts to become filled with curiosity, as well; but they quickly shift straight back into fear as one of the strange white changelings lands onto the ground in front of the green one. "Ah," one of the strange white creatures starts, their polished blue antlers softly lowering to address the other changeling, "we found the true path to evolution, Broodmate Snips." The green changeling looks perplexed, "Broodmate," he thinks for a moment," you sound like Antennae, though you look nothing like my strange broodmate." "Hmm," Antennae pokes his antlers, "I remember two years ago, you were so jealous of my antlers that you--" "Shut up, Antennae," Snips says, sighing and releasing his guard, "I get it, already. But, what madness are you talking about? Evolution?" Antennae perks up, his wings fluttering softly, "Oh, brother, I think you should join us! Look at these beautiful wings, these antlers, this chitin!" "They all seem well and good, but what's the catch?" Antennae laughs heartily, his joyful emotions radiating around the whole hive,"Wow, brother, you really think I'd give you a bad deal?" Snips grins, feeling his brother's emotions, "I remember you tried selling ABC gu--" Antennae stops laughing with a slight blush and shushes his brother by putting a hoof on his face, "Shut up, snips!" Both brothers laugh and hug. Snips looks at the huge blanket of white chitin in the sky, "Are your friends just going to fly the whole time?" "Don't worry about them, Snips. They are just talking through the hive mind." Snips breaks the hug and grips his brother's shoulders with an excited expression and whispers, "Hive mind? Did you become King?" Antennae shakes his head, "no no, brother, even better! The Hive Mind connects us all, but there's nobody controlling us!" Snips whispers, "Yeah, but... are you the king?" Antennae looks unamused and pushes his brother off him softly, "No, no! Tyranny will never again rule the Changelings. Kings, Queens? Useless." The blanket of changelings in the sky clap and whoop, a few of them shouting "freedom" loudly. The colorful changelings on the ground grow very curious, except Snips. The fear has mostly dispersed, but the emotions of the blanket are held at bay by a thin wall of suspicion. Snips looks to his brother, "But, brother, how do we breed without a Queen or King?" Antennae grins, "That, my brother, is a secret until you join us." Snips looks a little skeptical, "Are you sure it ain't because you don't know either?" Antennae laughs, "I don't, but I was assured we could." Snips feels his brother's joy and feels no lies escaping his lips, so he smiles as Antennae grins wider. The grin looked very off to Snips, but the look in his brother's eyes... Snips sighs and bows his head, "Sure, whatever brother. Please, give me antlers as beautiful as yours." This gets a chuckle out of Antennae who waves down the rest of the white changelings, "Come one come all, we got some changelings to show the right path!" The great swarm cascades into the hive and towards the colorful changelings. The colorful changelings brace for magic, but are surprised when the cascade ends with hugs and corny introductory lines. The fear quickly turns to joy as old friends found one another to talk about conversion. In moments, the hive is filled with compassion and love, chattering and laughing, and shared tears over the death of King Thorax. One by one, the once colorful changelings became a uniform white. Or, at least, that was what the antlered changelings had thought. Muffled cries of joy and tears resound in near perfect darkness. They could not afford for a single mistake in any actions from here on out. Slow and steady steps are made into the dirt tunnel they crawl through. A few get small bugs on them, the tiny feet even crawling over their eyelids, but the changelings are undeterred. Their emotions are hidden and they can feel the joy and sadness coming from the changelings above them. Slow and steady steps crush the soft dirt beneath them. The muffled cries slowly disappear behind them, but they stay quiet. They do, however, start a small light off of one of their horns. The crisp, green, light reveals a group of 20 Changelings crawling in a very thin hole, barely fat enough to crawl through. Slow and steady steps grow into a rapid dash and explodes into flight as the group emerges from their tunnel, several miles out from the hive. The flowery hive is nothing more than a speck from this distance, a speck obscured by a large rock with a small hole in the side. Their colorful wings beat fast eastward, no rest taken. Not a single word is spoken. The Hive Mind Pretty dots of cool colors erupt into the blissful void. A sense of general warmth surrounds these little bundles of confusion and sadness, their colors shifting the longer they stay. Whispers of words start among the cluster, which soon become louder as the dots fuzz with energy. W-wow, this is a hive mind? I feel so... strange! Agreed! I can't really see anything, but I know you guys are near! How are you doing that? I can hear you guys, but I can't feel you... Don't try to look at us! You may just wake up! I think you have to think harder. Hmmm I'm starting to feel you guys. But, why do I also feel something else far away? That's the other Changelings Antennae converted, they decided to stay behind. Oh, I see, but... I also feel something else? Something else? I think you're mistaken, Lancer. Y-yeah, I can't feel it anymore... how'd you know I was Lancer? You all sound the same to me. The other changeling laughs heartily, filling the void with joy. Oh haha, just focus your thoughts closer to us and you'll hear us more clearly, Lancer. Lancer's mind bounces in places and fuzzes greatly, her concentration creating the sound of gears in the mind. The minds around her chuckle softly at the noise, then start thinking hard themselves to make the same noise. Suddenly, with this excess thinking, the hivemind's true form comes into view before their 3rd eye. A soft cloud was below their mind, filling it with a sense of comfort. However, as their minds slowed to enjoy this pleasure, their lights dimmed and the clouds vanished. All that remained was each other. Wow, what was THAT? Lancer thinks loudly, causing the others to bounce. The other changeling, whose mind was a dull white, bobs. In fact, everyone else's mind had become white washed from it's original color. Lancer's mind was a pale yellow, looking like a star in the now dark void. When enough of us are gathered and take enough love, from each other or otherwise, the clouds will appear. I think it is to ensure we don't drown in joy for too long, maybe? That is a very strange system. Was the older hive mind like this? I don't know, but I know that this is better than the old hive mind. No one to control us, after all. Makes sense! I agree. Ooo I feel it bubbling back up again! Tiny blue and pink bubbles surround the whitened minds, then rub onto them. The white peels off and flakes into the void, leaving behind their glisteningly yellow mind. Their orbs jump up and down, looking like a collection of mad stars. A quiet joy fills the now silent area. CHLIIIIING CHLIIIIIING With the smack of an angered hoof, the stallion finally silences his alarm clock. "AGH!" However, much to his despair, he silenced it by smashing it with his hoof. The stallion whines and gets out of bed. Mr. Smiggles gnaws on his cage, as one would do in his situation. "Ah, daen, Mr. Smiggles,"the stallion says, poking the cage, "please stop, these cages cost a lot of bits." The stallion looks at Mr. Smiggles with a small pout and, in visible reluctance, Mr. Smiggles stopped. The stallion grins and puts on his straw hat, "Now, come on, Great Aunt Applejack is coming over and I'm gonna show her I'm just as cool as her!" Mr. Smiggles does not react. The stallion stares at Mr. Smiggles before dramatically talking to himself, "Sure, I may not be an Apple, but I am Strong Straw!" The stallion flexes his muscles at his captive before turning to the mirror to his left, "And I will crush my competition, oh yeah!" To his chagrin, however, the stallion notices a pair of green eyes staring at him through his open door. He eeps, "Mom!" His mother bursts out laughing, opening the door, "Ah I'm sorry pumpkin, but you were pretty loud," she points to the door, "and you forgot to shut your door." Strong Straw's pinkened cheeks remain as he sighs, "Whatever mom," he smiles, "should I make breakfast today?" His mom's lush blue mane bobs as she nods, "Of course, but you better make it extra good for that silly old mare!" Strong Straw chuckles, his green eyes focusing on his mother's pink hoof, which has bandages, "Woah, mom, you alright there?" She swings her hoof around without a tinge of pain on her face, "Already got first aid, but I pricked myself trying to sow. Mrs. Cloth said I've been gettin' gooder, though." Her son sighs, "Be more careful, mom," he smiles without any pink on his face, "I'd best get to cooking, now." His mom steps aside and lets him through to the main hallway of their rather large farmhouse. The hallway seemed to be at least twenty ponies long and had 5 doorways. Strong just walks straight across from his room, though, and into the kitchen. A quite tight kitchen it is, but contains both a brick oven and a stove top, ample countertops for easy cooking, and a large super pantry. Strong opens the pantry and begins the great adventure that is cooking. I really hope Great Aunt Applejack loves my cookin'! Author's Note Man, I love writing. Best way to relieve stress.
