Diamond Journals Issue 1: A Quest for Memory

A long way away from Canterlot (or quite frankly, anywhere) was the Changeling Hive. Snake Man had taken a team of Robot Masters of his own to take over another part of Equestria. But they never knew what they were stepping into.

"Well, team. They say this place is infested, but I'm not really seeing it." he told his team. "Regardless, we came here for a reason. Let's get the shield orb placed down and have it defend what's going to be our new Skull Castle."

"Sir, what if these creatures actually DO exist?" Ice Man asked. "This area could be our graves if we aren't prepared."

"Cool it, brother. While the flames of justice burn strong, nothing will stand in our way!" Fire Man reassured him.

"Shut it, you two. The Changelings aren't to be taken lightly. They can become whatever they wish. And what's worse, they could be any one of us." Snake Man told them. He readied his weapon, preparing for combat. His team did the same.

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"My queen, we have intruders near the hive!" a Changeling hissed. "They appear to be robots, and they're heavily armed." A short silence followed this, before the Changeling queen gave her orders.

"Prepare the swarm."

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Needle Man's danger sense function was kicking in, notifying the others that the swarm was approaching.

"Changelings incoming! Shoot anything that moves!" he yelled out, which was a bad move on his part. Regardless, he fired his Needle Cannon at where the danger sense was pointing, but the swarm was a bit too quick. All projectiles shot at the Changeling swarm missed by the thinnest of margins. Even Homing Sniper just fell short, and the Robot Masters were NOT ready for the charge.

"We can't kill these guys, but we will bring them to our queen. They look like they can help us take over Equestria." one of them said.

"What are they doing, sir?" Ice Man said to himself. "Don't mind that, just get us out of here, soldier!" he yelled.

"Your imaginary friend isn't going to help us out of this one, and neither is my flame weapon!" Fire Man yelled back. He had five changelings gripping him, and he could hardly move. It was a direct flight and there was nothing the Robot Masters could do to free themselves.

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"This is Snake Man to Dr. Wily! We've been caught by the Changelings, despite our best efforts. Our weapons don't work here, so we're just waiting for the Changeling queen. But right now, we require urgent assistance!" Snake Man said into his communicator.

"We can't go in there without pulling out a team! You'll just have to hang tight!" Wily replied before the communicator cut out.

"Well, they said the queen would be here in 10 minutes, but I'm pretty sure it's gone past 20..." Cut Man said, not necessarily to anyone.

"So sorry I'm late. I had other business to attend to first." a mysterious feminine voice said. "But now I'm here, let's get down to our business."

"Show yourself! We have other ways to fight you!" Snake Man yelled. 'We have no other ways to fight...' he thought right after.

"Really? Let's hear it, then." she proclaimed, leaving the Robot Masters silent. "I thought so." she said, before revealing herself to the Robot Masters. A tall, slender (and quite cute) changeling emerged from the shadows of the hive. She had a horn embedded into her forehead and holes all over her body. The Robot Masters were stunned by her seeming beauty.

"Who...are you?" Needle Man asked.

"My name is Queen Chrysalis, the queen of the Changeling race. What brings you to my hive?" Chrysalis asked.

"Orders from our boss, Dr. Wily. We need to place a device here that will shield his Skull Castle in Canterlot." Snake Man answered. "If you'd let us go so we can plant it, that would be great." he continued.

"I cannot accept your request until I know your boss can be trusted. Tell me more about him and maybe I'll let you go. Or maybe I'll keep you as my pets." Chrysalis said.

ONE LONG EXPLANATION LATER...

"Well now, is that so?" the changeling queen said. "A failed conqueror like myself, here from another world..." she began to blush a little.

"So, are you letting us go or what? I got some revenge to get!" Shadow Man asked, getting rather impatient.

"Everyone is free to leave the hive. Everyone BUT you, Shadow Man." Chrysalis declared. "And how lucky! You get to be the test subject for my new spell!" she said, lifting Shadow Man with her magic. Snake Man went to plant the shield orb, escorted by two of the changelings. Everyone else was escorted out of the hive by another, leaving only Shadow Man trapped in Queen Chrysalis's hive. He struggled and flailed as hard as he could, but there was nothing he could do.

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Shadow Man was placed into a chair made from cocoons and strapped down by two changelings.

"Let me go, you...you..." Shadow Man struggled to find an insult.

"How cute. You think you have a chance." Chrysalis joked. "Now just hold still." she said, ready to cast. The changelings decided to come out of the way for their own safety, Chrysalis casting once the area was clear. The hypnotic spell released a virus into Shadow Man's system, which he tried to resist without much luck. He was under Chrysalis's control.

"Mother...Chrysalis..." he muttered. "I will obey...my body is yours." The Robot Master wouldn't awaken from this until Chrysalis dispelled the magic, which wouldn't happen for a while. "What is your command, my queen?" he asked, deep in trance.

"Release him, my darlings." Chrysalis said to her changelings, who released Shadow Man from his prison. "Now, my pet, go to your team and have them exterminated. If one's bad, they all will be." she commanded the Robot Master. Shadow Man saluted before jumping up, his weapon enabled.

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The remaining Robot Masters, sans Snake Man, were stopped by the changeling escorting them.

"You may go wherever you wish in the hive, but the throne room is off-limits. Remember, the hive LOVES changing itself, so if you need me again, just whistle and I'll take you back here to the exit." their escort said. "I'll hear you from wherever you are in the hive, so don't worry. And I will not repeat this again: do NOT enter the throne room." it hissed before flying through one of the various holes. The Robot Masters' weapons were turned back on and they decided to explore.

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Snake Man's escorts stopped him in front of the throne room.

"You may enter there ONLY to plant the orb. Once you have, we'll allow you access to the rest of the hive, but the throne room will become off-limits." one of them hissed.

"Alright, I understand. Don't get hissy at me." Snake Man said. Entering the throne room, he constructed a small altar and placed the orb in the center. It revved to life and shot it's laser at Canterlot, activating the shield. Upon exiting, Snake Man's weapon was enabled and throne room access was removed.

"Alright, if you find yourself lost, just whistle out and the changeling who escorted your friends out will come get you and take you to the exit. We'd do it, but we're on patrol duty in a few minutes, so we don't have time." the other changeling escort said, before the two flew away.

"You're not going anywhere, Snake Man." Shadow Man said, dropping down in front of him. "You die here, and you die now."

"Shadow Man! This isn't you...Chrysalis. Knowing this sort of thing, I'll have to fight him back." Snake Man said, readying his Search Snake.

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"Well, now what, my queen?" one of the changelings asked. The silence that followed was broken by these words:

"Prepare the swarm again. We will lay siege to Diamond and his friends."