Bloodshed: The killing or wounding of people, typically on a large scale during a conflict.

Bloodshed. Sixty-four stood in front of either diarch as the room doors exploded inward. Several grinning guards stepped forward and looked at Sixty-four and glared at him, or the rulers behind him, he couldn't tell. Green fire enveloped them and revealed six other changelings each with a different insignia of the Frost Bitten Hive. Sixty-four had only seen these changelings a few times inside the hive, these were special changelings. Hand picked by the queen for strings Sixty-four would never see pulled.

The first stepped forward, a infiltrator class changeling, most likely with more specialized training than Sixty-four would have ever received in his time. She grinned and spoke to Sixty-four. "Move aside you failed praetorian, Queen Frostbite has other plans for you." Sixty-four glared at her before, much to Luna's surprise, moving aside and giving the female changeling a free shot at Luna. The infiltrator grinned and dashed forward with razor like talons protruding from her fingers making to slice Luna's throat open.

Luna let magic flow into her horn ready to defend herself, but before she could, Sixty-four's arm shot out in front of her grabbing the infiltrator by the throat and holding it tightly. The infiltrator's pink eyes went wide, her hands and talon like appendages wrapping around the arm currently squeezing her life out of her. Sixty-four hissed out harshly. "PROTECT. THE. QUEEN." With these words he turned his attention to the other changelings in the room and increased the pressure around the infiltrators throat.

Everyone stared at the praetorian, surprised he reacted so quickly, even more surprised by his actions. The infiltrator scratched and pulled at Sixty-fours arm, trying to get a little breathing room, bucking wildly as she was lifted off the ground. Sixty-four turned to her, fear radiating from her, he licked his lips. Channeling energy into his hand and making his own claws.

The sound of carapace snapping and a blood gurgling screech filled the room as Sixty-four crushed the infiltrators throat, carapace, and spine from the pressure he was squeezing with, before she died Sixty-four set her down on the ground and let her stare up at him as he grabbed her horn. A savage and uncontrolled look filled his eyes and facial features, gently he placed his foot on her shoulder and looked at the other changelings before a quick and sickening sound of ripping flesh and breaking carapace filled the room.

The infiltrators body slumped to the ground, green blood pooled around it, the head and spine absent. Sixty-four stood there with spatters of green blood covering his form, a head and spine hanging from his clasped hand from the brutal display of violence. The other changelings looked at one another before launching themselves at the praetorian.

Sixty-four tossed the head and spine aside and cast a shield spell around him and the offending changelings, locking them in a fight to the death. Sixty-four analyzed the situation quickly. "Five against one? likely success rate of 45% with a 55% chance of failure. Queen termination chance? 0%." As the thought finished two fists connected with his chest, sending him flying backward, luckily his weight worked in his advantage and he landed on his feet.

Sixty-four sent several magic bolts at the two attackers and struck, his victory was cut short by three other changelings circling him and attacking him with staggered punches or jabs. The repeating pattern played twice before Sixty-four grabbed the arm of the third attacker, pulling him close and sending his magic claws straight through him.

The changeling gasped as he stared up at the praetorian, looking down he found why he had stopped moving, a black carapace covered arm was penetrating his abdomen. Sixty-four hissed and drew back his left hand punching the changeling off his arm and snapping his head back to the remaining four. They closed in on him changeling Sixty-four knew he wouldn't last long taking hits like he was, several cracks and small cuts forming in his thick armor from the abuse.

Sixty-four breathed slowly, and steadily, the carapace on his back opening to reveal small flesh patches that glowed a faint pink. These were his love reserves, and they were about to be used. Drawing the love from his reserves and combining it with his magic, he formed a mix of green and pink colored blades that protruded from his forearms. Doing so drained what little he had and he was yet again on the verge of starvation.

Sixty-four knew he had to make this count, he had to end it quickly or else he wouldn't be able to protect anything. Narrowing his eyes and letting out a last breath, he dashed toward the group before him faster than the infiltrator. His speed and agility surprised the first two changelings resulting in the blades going through both getting blades to the throat.
"The ponies will need specimens to study, if i'am to be helped medically, they will need these corpses." While he took down the two in front the two in the back quickly reacted by landing two firm kicks in his chest.

Sixty-four gasped as they broke through his carapace, his own cyan blood leaking gently from his chest. His breathing was ragged as he stood, spitting blood from his mouth and panting. The changelings took this opportunity and rushed forward, once again attacking at the same time, the force sending Sixty-four crashing through the shield he had created, landing on the steps that lead up to the two thrones.

Blood rushed from his chest as his carapace broke and splintered from the impact, gasping as he rolled down the stairs, he landed on his face and hissed in pain. The sound of clattering armor and a chorus of footsteps filled his ears, looking behind the two changelings, he saw multiple golden figures approaching and a familiar candy colored alicorn rushing to the throne room.

Determined to finish their mission, the changelings moved forward. one moving for Luna and the other for the injured Sixty-four. Flipping over Sixty-four the changeling above him brutally brought his foot down on his chest, earning him a sickening snapping sound along with the blood curdling scream from Sixty-four.

Luna was ready and used her magic to throw the other changeling backwards. It hit the wall and slumped over at the back of the throne room from the impact, green blood coming from a crack in its head. Turning her head as Sixty-four screamed in pain she locked the other changeling in place with her magic, a fury in her eyes as she pulled the oxygen from the changelings lungs. A look of terror accompanying its face as it dropped to its knees and fell back grabbing at its throat. It spasmed and kicked it legs before slowly ceasing it actions, incapacitated.

Sixty-four groaned in pain as he crawled to the slain infiltrator, digging his fangs into her exposed flesh. A gentle pink glow began flowing through his fangs, his own love reserves filling slowly. He let out a low groan and turned over. Gazing down at him, was the face of his queen, along side her was the white face of Celestia and pink candy colored face of Cadence. Luna's salty tears hit his lips as he faded from the land of the living once again, the last feeling he felt was being lifted up in some sort of soft cloth like material.

Author's Note

Interesting development no? I hope I did the dark and death tags some justice here. I hope that the fighting didn't feel rushed, because it mostly wasn't. I just wanted to make the point of just how powerful the praetorian changelings are. I also wanted at least the last two changelings for...later in the story where we will see just how devoted to his queen Sixty-four really is. That's all for this chapter, and I hope that if you read this at time of publishing (12:14 AM U.S. Central) that you have a good sleep or day. If you're reading this in the morning, then I hope you have a good day!

P.S. That dark tag may not be here now, but...it will be shown love my friends, and I hope you haven't weak stomachs.