Beauty is in the eye of the lion.

Rematerializing with the large chunk of scaultrite, I look down at the large beautiful planet beneath me.
Every time I see this, I still marvel at the beauty of it.

Response: Indeed. Another reason it must be protected.
Definitely.
Flying down with the large crystal over my shoulder, I seek out and land at the Blades headquarters, landing in the hangar. Kolivan, who looks to be inspecting the ships inside, walks up to me.

"Diego you've returned. What is that?" He asks, looking at the crystal I'm carrying.

~~Oh, you know. It's just a chunk of pure~~ scaultrite~~.~~

"What?!" Kolivan shouts.
Called it.

"Ahem. Where did you find so much?" Kolivan clears his throat.

~~That is a bit of a long story. I'll tell you in your quarters as soon as I put this thing somewhere safe.~~ I say, adjusting my grip on the chunk.

"Of course. Engineer Tolkar! Bring a fragile resource transporter." Kolivan orders, a blade in thick protective clothing saluting and making his way out of the hangar, coming back with a floating trolley.

"If I may, commander. What is that?" Tolkar asks, his voice sounding synthetic.

"Scaultrite. I trust you know to be careful with it." Kolivan orders, Tolkar gasping at the crystal. Placing the chunk on to the trolley, I watch as it starts floating above it, Tolkar carefully maneuvering out of the hangar. "Now, let us go to my quarters. Follow me." Kolivan starts walking into the base.

~~Coming.~~ I say.

"So, how did you find that much scaultrite? Burrowgaia doesn't produce it." Kolivan asks as we sit at his desk.

~~That would be because I didn't find it there. Burrowgaia wasn't that hard, there were only two fleets there and a few bases.~~ I say.

"That's all? Why would the occupation force be so small?" Kolivan asks.

~~I'm not sure. I'm guessing that it was because the occupation wasn't complete yet.~~

"Possibly but something feels off. Continue." Kolivan says.

~~After destroying all the forces, with my new upgrades, I started recharging. As I was doing that, Bega Ganna contacted me. Nothing too important there. After recharging a bit, I left orbit and was about to come home when Voltron picked up a distress call. Sigma 18 has been attacked, by a Weblum.~~

"A Weblum? Why would a Weblum attack a base?" Kolivan asks.

~~We wondered the same thing. So, we went to check it out. Base was in pieces. Parts missing, broken and melting. But it was still there.~~

"A Weblum usually completely destroys something in its way."

~~I thought so too. The Weblum left in a hurry and for good reason. Voltron detected more communications. I found the Weblum, chasing a cruiser.~~

"Why?"

~~The~~ idiots~~, sorry, Galra had stolen a cocoon from it.~~

"They were fools. There are few things that can agitate a Weblum and taking from it is one of them. What then?"

~~They started attacking me, getting a few of their own ships instead. Thankfully, I managed to free the cocoon and move it away from the ship for Mama worm to blast it. I returned her cocoon but I thought she was going to blast me. Thankfully, she didn't. She went off with her cocoon and I found that chunk of scaultrite floating towards me. Then I came back here.~~

"I see. And Sigma 18?"

~~Completely trashed. It will take movements to fix.~~

"I see. Good job." Kolivan nods at me.

~~Thanks.~~ I nod back. ~~I'm going to check up on the princesses, catch them up to speed.~~ I say as I stand up.

"Of course. Would you please deliver them this?" Kolivan says, handing me a scroll.

~~What's this?~~ I ask.

"Permission to begin production of ships and armaments." Kolivan replies.

~~Sure.~~ I reply, taking the scroll.

Leaving the hangar with the scroll in hand, I start flying towards the palace.

Warning: I am detecting an unknown quintessence signature however I cannot locate it.
Can you tell what direction it is in?

Response: No. I shall continue scanning.
Keep me informed.

Response: Of course. Voltron says as I land on a balcony, a handful of guards waving at me. Walking through the familiar hallways, I come to the throne room, hearing Celestia talking to a group of people. I enter, closing the doors behind me.

~~Hello!~~ I wave at Celestia, Luna smiling at me as I walk up to them.

"Diego. You've returned. We will be with you in just a moment. Now, could you repeat that?" Celestia asks one of the men before her.

"The decorations for the Grand Galla should be arriving in a few days, your majesty." He says.

"Splendid. Now, I thank you all for coming. If you make your way to the kitchens, you may help yourselves to something to eat." Celestia says, the group of party planners leaving the room. I hand her the scroll.

~~From Kolivan.~~ I say, looking at both sisters.

"A letter? From whom?" Celestia asks. Luna looks at me expectantly.

~~Luna?~~ I ask her, feeling something ominous.

"It's from Kolivan. He's asking for permission to begin working on production of different machines." Celestia says, reading the scroll.

"Well we better say yes, we'll need all we can get. With those monsters out there, who knows when we could be attacked again.

~~Luna, are you alright? You sound off.~~ I ask.

"Yes. We better send a reply." Celestia says, pulling out another scroll.

~~Lun~~-

Warning: Princess Luna's quintessence signature is over three hundred kilometres north of here! That's not Luna! Voltron shouts through my head. Instantly forming my halberd, I rest the blade at "Luna's" neck.

"Wh- Diego?! What are you doing?!"

"WhErE. Is. ShE?" I ask, my voice feeling like gravel traveling up my throat. "Luna" smiles at me, her eyes shimmering.

"Oh. So the silent saviour does speak after all. Too bad he sounds like a cat getting run over by a stampede." "Luna" says.

"Sister? What are…" Celestia trails off as her eyes gloss over with a green glow.
Princess!

"WhAt DiD yOu Do?" I demand, a headache forming in my head.

"Oh, no need to worry. Just a little mind numbing spell. She'll be fine." The imposter answers, her voice sounding seductive.

"I rEpEaT, wHeRe Is PrInCeSs LuNa?" I ask, my headache growing stronger.

"Now now. You're in no position to make demands. So, here's what's going to happen. I'm going to teleport us to my home. There, I'll relinquish Luna and stop the spell Celestia is under. In exchange, you will stay with me and my children. Understood?" She says threateningly. I lower my weapon, sheathing my Bayard.

~~When I get my hands on you, I will make you pay.~~

"That's better. Now, I'll just get changed and then we can go." A pillar of green flame erupts from underneath her, burning away her clothes and fake skin. Underneath, black carapace shines in the light of the green flames, green translucent crystalline armour hugging her body tightly.

Holes riddle her body and green hair, a jagged horn on her head and fly wings attached to her back.

~~Yuck.~~

"Well? What do you think?" She asks, her voice vibrating like a fly's wings, posing in front of me.

~~The only reason your head is still attached to your shoulders is because you are holding my friend hostage.~~

"…What? Don't feel like saying anything else?" She asks. "Suit yourself. Now, let's go home, shall we?" She asks, her horn glowing green. Both of us are covered in a putrid green glow for a moment before it shatters. "…What?" She tries again, getting the same result. "What?" And again. "What?! Why won't my magic work?! Celestia! Why isn't this working?!" She demands. Celestia, who is sitting on her throne with a plastic smile on her face, answers.

"I think it's his armour. It negates magic. It must be stopping your teleportation." She answers blankly.

"Urg. Fine. We'll fly there then." The bug gripes. In a flash of green magic, she assumes the form of Luna again, opening a window with her magic. "Come along now." She wags her finger at me to come closer, her eyes glowing green.
I am shooting you in the chest the second I get the chance. I think as the two of us fly out the window.

(One hour later)

Arriving at the monolithic rock in the middle of a desert, a group of beings similar to the imposter appear, she having shed her disguise again. We land in the shadow of the monolith, standing before the group.

"Queen Chrysalis. You succeeded." One says, wearing more ornate armour then the rest.

"Of course I did. Now, come on. Mr White here wants to meet his precious princess." Chrysalis coos, her voice patronising and grating.
Voltron, can you find Luna?

Response: No. I can detect the princess's signature but an interference is hindering us. The closest I can get is a fifty metre radius.
Interference?

Answer: a sub-wave signal is being generated from the hive that is interfering with my sensors. It's apparent function is the disruption of magic.
That must be what's stopping Luna from escaping on her own. Is it going to hinder me? I think as we enter the hive, our entryway closing behind us.

Processing: No. The interference signal is not affecting our quintessence emitters or transfiguration circuitry.
Good. Can you locate the source? I think as I look around, seeing the winding paths and shifting walls.

Processing: …No. The signal is interfering with my sensors, meaning I cannot directly locate the source of the signal. The closest approximation is a one hundred metre radius.
Keep trying.

Response: Affirmative. Voltron says as we pass by a large room, filled with pulsing green sacks.
Ugh. This place is disgusting.

Response: Agreed.

"Just a little farther now. Your little princess is just up ahead." Chrysalis says as we pass another corridor, more members of the hive staring at me and licking their lips.

~~What do you think they want with me?~~ I ask.

Response: I've analysed their biology but have detected a defect. Although their bodies are highly metamorphic, the reaction between energy and their cells is flawed, causing constant cellular decay.
That explains the holes in their bodies. I think as we start walking down a wide tunnel, lights affixed to the edges.

Response: Correct. Because of this rapid decay, more energy is required to perform bodily functions, easily causing rapid starvation and bodily deformation.
So they need tons of energy- oh. That's why they need me. I think as we get closer to the end of the tunnel, coming up to a pair of large double doors.

Response: …Correct. Although their magic allows them to manipulate their physical form, it also allows them to drain positively charged quintessence from others, as well as affect mental wavelengths.
So they can steal the goodness out of you and they can brainwash you to do it. Our group arrives at the doors, Chrysalis's horn glowing as the doors slowly creek open.

Response: More or less. Pure positive energy, obtained from an unaffected source, appears to be more effective in "satisfying" their hunger.
And that's why they change their forms. It's better to trick someone and feed off of them than to brainwash them and do it.

Response: Ye- Princess Luna detected. Voltron says as the doors open fully, showing a well lit throne room with a massive pitch black jagged throne in the center. Luna appears to be fused into one of the walls.

"Ah ah ah. You stay right there." Chrysalis says as I try to take a step towards Luna, a pair of guards holding spears to Luna's throat.

"Diego!" Luna shouts as she struggles against the resin binding her.

"Shut up, wench!" Chrysalis yells as her horn glows, resin forming over Luna's mouth. I steam in fury. The look in Luna's eyes mirrors my feelings. "Much better."
How come she can use magic?

Processing: The magic used by the hive appears to be able to bypass the nullifying effect of the anti-magic transmission. Voltron says as I look at Luna.

~~Don't worry Luna. I'm gonna get you out of here.~~ I tell her. I see her nod.
Voltron. Relay this.

~~Alright. I'm here. Now let her go.~~

"Command: We have arrived. Release princess Luna." Voltron orders.

"Tut tut tut. I don't think you are in a position to give orders. This close to my throne, your great power is useless." Chrysalis decrees, waving her finger at me.

Counterpoint: Our emitters are at 100% functionality. Continuation: I have found the source of the interference signal.

~~Good to know.~~ I say, to Luna's confusion. I raise my hand at the queen.

"Command: Release the princess." Voltron says.

"Don't be foolish. You have no-" Chrysalis is cut off as I lean my arm to the side, shooting a shot past her head and adding a new hole into her hair. She stares to the side in shock.

"Notice: That was your only warning shot. Reiteration: Release. Princess. Luna." Voltron orders.

"That… that's impossible. No one can use magic inside the hive except for changelings…" Chrysalis whimpers.

Reiteration: This will be the last time we repeat ourselves. We order you to release her." Voltron says, the emitter in my hand glowing brightly.

"Ch-children, swarm him!" Chrysalis panics. Changelings start flooding into the throne room, drowning me in bodies as their horns glow.

Notice: Our quintessence is being drained.
How bad is it? I mentally ask.

Calculation: At current rate of quintessence loss, reserves will enter critical condition in 5 phoebs.
Five months? Seriously? Well then, if they want it so bad, they can have it! Channel quintessence into armour plating, prepare for explosion.

Response: Preparing exp-

"Get off of him!" I hear Luna shout.
Did she get out of her bindings? I wonder as my body starts glowing.

"Be silent you-"

"No! You be silent!" Luna shouts, her voice sounding different. Powerful.

"What?! No, th-that can't be! How are you-" Chrysalis shouts.
What is going on? I think as I pulse my energy, sending the changeling dogpile on me flying into the walls. Looking at Luna, I feel like I should be dropping my jaw.

Luna stands free of the resinous wall. Her eyes are glowing azure as black smokey gas seems to gale into the room, converging on Luna and seemingly becoming a part of her. The same black smoke clings to her body like clothing.

~~What is going on? What happened to Luna?~~

Processing: …Unknown. Princess Luna appears to have had a spontaneous cellular mutation, which has allowed her to be able to absorb and apparently control an unknown substance that appears to resemble darkness itself.
What? How?

Response: Unknown. It appears as though Luna possesses the ability biologically and does not require magic to use it.
That makes more questions than it answers. Ah, forget it, here they co- My thoughts are cut off as Luna swings her arm to the right, a wave of darkness flowing out of her hand, perfectly avoiding me and crushing a bunch of changelings against the back wall.

~~…Holy moly. Nice one Luna.~~ I comment.

"Now is not the time for complements. We have a bug to squash." Luna says, her voice resonating with power.

~~Understood. Let's~~- I stop as I hear the sound of teleportation, Chrysalis now nowhere to be seen.

"Coward! Fine. Let us destroy this then!" Luna says, arms raised and darkness swirling around her hands as she glares at the jagged throne.

~~With pleasure.~~ I say as I raise my hands. Luna and I both fire, our combined attacks reducing the stone to rubble. Luna lights her horn, blue magic flowing to the tip like water.

"There. Now, let us find that "queen". She is going to rot in the deepest hole I can find." Luna swears, walking towards the doors.

Author's Note

Nice and long chapter.

Also: Plot twist! Go!