The March of Giants

Chapters

Prologue: Discoveries
Chapter 1: The Start of Everything
Chapter 2: The Unification

Prologue: Discoveries

Somewhere and yet, Nowhere

“Of all the ways we can prepare this reality for the inevitable invasion, is to provide multiple technological bases?” An exasperated male voice growled out, his voice being digitized through some sort of device.

“I mean… Remember what happened to that dimension when some of our fellows literally only provided one tech nource?” A female voice, sounding much more melodic and natural, spoke with a sigh.

“Neutralized so easily that we didn’t have time to shore up the dimensional barriers to stop their advance.” A younger male voice, whose voice sounded like it was being spoken through a speaker, said in a nonchalant manner. “Even had to use those warheads to collapse that entire dimension so that it couldn't be turned into an outpost…"

"As bad as it sounds, conflict is a natural way of expanding and strengthening the locals." The first voice sounded hesitant for a moment. "All that we are allowed to do at the moment is to drop wrecks filled with tech on certain locations."

"And 'guide' the chosen races to said wrecks." The female voice sighed as she sounded frustrated. "Only if we weren't recovering our own forces…"

"What's done is done." The first voice comforted the female. "Their dimension is far away enough that they have at least 1,437 years of time, maybe more if we harass them."

"Well, what are we waiting for, you old lizard?" The younger male sang out as a shrill sound accompanied by the sound of reality being eased open. "Let's go!"

Another sound, this one sounding of wind building up alongside the similar sound of reality being eased open, was accompanied by the female sighing.

"I ain't old! Just because I am functionally immortal thanks to nanites, doesn't mean I'm old!" The first voice growled out as he eased open reality as well, accompanied by what sounded like fire burning and ice freezing at the same time.

And then, silence.

Southlands

Pantila Hex was most definitely having the worst months of her entire life. Her hive, which she was ever so proud of, had been reduced to a shell of its former self. Not that she had not seen the signs of betrayal, but it had come at a time when her hive was preparing to move to another city in Equestria to feed. Her hive had been a hive of workers, gathering love from the ponies as they did many menial jobs and were appreciated. It was not much, but it let her sixty strong hive just enough to get by.

That was… Until she betrayed them.

A no-name Queen and her miniscule hive had exposed her hive in the middle of packing up their things to the Equestrian Guard and had led to a slaughter without warning. It was only pure luck that she and nearly half of her hive had managed to escape alive from the location she and her hive had been hiding in. While she wanted to so dearly go after that traitorous queen, she had to put her own hive’s survival first. After escaping the town, she had taken her hive further south as it was the only way left open, as weird as that was.

Even as her hive rested in the forest near the southern border of Equestria, nursing their injuries and grieving, she had no idea on what to do now. Her priorities had been mostly to lead her hive, but as of now-

She and the remaining drones were fleeing from a dragon that had appeared from nowhere. While it wasn’t common to see dragons this far south, it had been sheer bad luck to run into the dragon as they were moving with what little luggage they had managed to take. Luckily, they had somehow managed to salvage most of the crystals filled with love energy even as they ran from the dragon. But even then, Pantia Hex and her hive ran away in silence as they relied on their connection as a hive mind. While the queen of a changeling hive possessed full individuality, it wasn’t unheard of for drones to develop individuality despite a hive mind that connected them to their queens.

If anything, they were all screaming in abject fear within the hive mind as they ran.

So they fled. They could only stop for minutes, or if they were lucky; hours. But it was only after nearly two days of nonstop running that they had realized that they had run into an entirely different locale. In fact, Pantila’s hive had sat on the muddy floor of a jungle for hours just trying to comprehend they had gone from a desert to a jungle of all things.

That and the air around them felt more... powered. Pantila ordered her remaining changelings tasked to security to scout out where they were. There was some form of unknown magic involved, she was so sure of it.

As she and her few remaining drones began to gather things for an impromptu shelter, a spike of confusion and fear was sent through the hive mind with an image. And what an image it was. The stricken ship, as it clearly had been some sort of vessel at one point, was made entirely of a kind of metal with the basic shape of those airships that the ponies have been recently building, but this was on an entirely different scale. It was a literal mountain of metal with great chunks having been torn out of it as if there had been explosions from within. The entire ship was also covered in forest growth, but at the same time seemed to retain a luster of new material. The rear of the ship possessed three massive colonial protrusions, and she could only imagine what they were for. And along the middle of the ship were small spheres and what appeared to be smaller ships attached to the hull. The curves of the ship made it a strangely beautiful sight, but it terrified Pantila. Within hours, she and her hive would find a way inside using a hole near the ground, but still dozens of feet high. The dark interior of the now clearly alien vessel made them hesitate, but something drew them deeper into the ship. Out of every closed door they had tried to open, only one remained open with the skeletal remains of a humanoid being sat before a dimly lit panel.

It was only when Pantila approached the skeleton, did the screen light up brighter and she would hear the words of a dead man. And even more shocking would be the fact that the alien spoke Equestrian. Or was it?

“Upon my impending death, I was told by an old friend that he wished to utilize what resources I have gathered to ‘guide’ a primitive race to be more than they are.”

Pantila wished she could refute that, but seeing the massive vessel, she remained silent.

“And as I sit here feeling my body fail, I can only pray for something better. To whomever this, my years of effort and blood spilled, is going to; learn. Learn from the mistakes of humanity and become better. There are weapons within this vessel that will ruin entire continents for hundreds of years and there is technology that can save countless lives. Learn. There will be a time when your race will finally reach the stars far wiser and hopefully, united. But I will not simply give you all access to this fine vessel.”

Of course, it wouldn’t be on a silver platter.

“There will be books, datapads, and learning aids all throughout the ship. Read them, learn from them, and then? Innovate. Don’t copy what we have. Be better than us! Be more unique than us! As soon as this message ends, the upper living quarters will be powered on so you can live aboard this ship learning. But you have to fend for yourselves. None of the defenses will be active until you can figure out how to activate the rest of the ship and its facilities. There are few locations where food is grown, but who knows when someone will find this ship. Find your own damned food.”

To which Pantila was already sweating in mild panic. They had more than enough for a month or two of love energy, but-

But wait. If this ship had advanced knowledge and machines, couldn’t there be a way of producing the energy Changelings needed to survive? Pantila noticed the moving picture end, which was followed by a distant sound of something.

Then the lights came on.

Northern Mountains

Lady Amberblade of the Griffin Heavy Knight unit sighed as she soared through the skies just above the mountain fortress she called home. It had been a series of horrible events that had led to near collapse of the Griffin Empire. But one thing that she and her allied Knights knew was that this kind of political collapse at the same time as a peasant rebellion had to have been planned. She hovered above a cloud as she could see aerial caravans bringing more and more of her allies to her fortress where they would consolidate their power in preparation to crush the rebellion that had taken their king and the entire royal family.

If anything, she had never agreed much with the king; but she was a sworn knight of the empire. And damn the rebellion for ending the royal family just as she and her soldiers were rotating guard duty out with another knight’s group.

So she was now stocking food, weapons, and the numbers to tear the rebellion apart for their treachery. She would-

What was that? Her sharp eyes noticed something in the distance, a mountain of snow in the high peaks breaking apart to reveal something. Something metal as it glinted in the sun sharply.
But she knew that mountain. She remembered walking on that mountain with her father on her very first hunt, remembered that it was where she fought her duel and…

But then again, they had suffered through a rather devastating earthquake her advisors had claimed was one of the reasons the peasants rebelled. Then perhaps…

It would be a day later as she and her most trusted officers would arrive at the mountain with the exposed metal side that was absurdly massive. In fact, it would be easier to call it a smooth mountain of metal at this point, but a few things stood out. As she and her fellows flew around the ‘mountain’, they quickly noticed that the highest point of this ‘mountain’ was a massive barrel of some kind. Much like that of the fortress guns on the Amberclad Fortress, if they were nearly thousands of times larger.

And as they flew closer with their blades drawn, one of her cousins found a way into the behemoth. And then they would realize quickly that this… ‘mountain’ was no mountain, but something that was supposed to be horizontal, not vertical. The tight hallways were dark, but the soft light from the floor illuminated just enough that they could see accurately. It wasn’t until they reached what was filled with hundreds of metal objects tossed down as if to reinforce the idea that this place was supposed to be horizontal. But throughout all of the mess of metal, a half dozen objects remained standing, as they were held in place by massive clamps; and drew their eyes.

They were bipedal metal giants with a blade and cannon for arms and possessing heads on the center of their torso. But what drew them in was the heraldry that had been marked onto the shield next to the head. Spread wings of a Griffon, a small blue and red shield with two swords behind it, and a golden scroll with words that had been blasted away by something. The blue metal giant suddenly seemed far more ancient than they had thought, and now that their eyes were adjusting to the darkness; the metal giant looked very much like a knight.

Just as Amberblade laid a claw on the heraldry, the eyes of the metal giant glowed a fierce red and shot out a wave of light that formed into an armored bipedal being much like that of minotaurs, but without their bulk and horns. The figure was clearly injured as they could hear the male being forcing himself to stand as he sucked in shallow breaths.

“Damn it. If it wasn’t for that xeno… Regardless, I shall abide by our contract. To whichever xeno is listening to this message, know that you are witnessing humanity’s might regardless of what condition they are in. It may be broken, ancient, and troublesome; but know that there are things aboard this ship that-”

A coughing fit stopped the male’s speech, which was somehow in Equestrian.

“That will boggle your primitive minds and you shall realize that it was by the hands of Man that had crafted them. So hear my words, filthy xenos. These titans that stand before you are and will never be yours. If you wish to use them, build your own with your own hands. The weapons aboard this mighty vessel? I could care less that you take them apart and learn from them, but be warned. They are not yours. You may claim to be owners of this dead ship, her dead crew, the ruined equipment and the Emperor’s mighty Knights; but they will never be yours. If you wish to claim the title as knights, EARN them by learning from what lies before you. Build and achieve Knighthood on your own merits, not on the equipment of loyal men and women of the Imperium. Be innovators, not copycats.”

And with that, silence returned the cavernous hangar of the vessel with the only sound being that of beating wings.

Midwest Equestria

Marble Spark was but a simple business pony who ran the quartz mine that was deep beneath the earth and oversaw nearly everything. And today, he and his workers were going to tap into that new vein that was found just weeks ago. As he walked up to a heavily built up barricade where a unicorn was carefully placing explosive crystals onto key locations of the final layer of stone that would lead to the next vein. His mining and refining business was run by him and his family of earth ponies, but also was one of the first to incorporate pegasi and unicorns into the business. There was still tension between all of them, but regardless; it had led to many lucrative contracts as their highly refined quartz (thanks to unicorns) and swift delivery (pegasi there) allowed them to supply the nobility of Canterlot to build their fancy city on the mountain. He and his workers braced themselves as the explosives were set off and-

The sound of rushing wind was not something they were expecting.

As Marble peered through a slit in the barricade, his eyes widened at what he saw. In fact, everyone of his workers could only gawk at what they were seeing. Dozens of painted armored giants stood within the massive cavern that was filled with strange glowing quartz. He approached cautiously up to a giant and noticed that it was most certainly not a living thing. He tapped a hoof on it and realized that it felt and sounded like quartz.

As he called in several of his unicorn workers to go over what they had blown out, he got the confirmation that these were golems without minds. When he asked for more specific details, he realized that these were some kind ancient golems that had been buried to perhaps hide their existence by their creators? Even as pegasi, unicorns, and more earth ponies came from the nearby town to study the golems, all he could see were the bits to be made.

Who knew? He could also be Equestria’s new provider of magical pilotable golems and weapons? As he silently thought of the bits to be made, a figure in the shadows facepalmed at his own half-assed attempt to introduce some form of new technology. At least there were several more of these caverns out there…

Author's Note

And the prologue for the reboot of March of the Giants!

This time, I will try to build up the technological levels as time goes on, so expect more primitive versions of tech from their respective universes for the beginning. Don't worry as most of the story will be in the Changeling's view with some diverting to other races.

I will try to submit a chapter per week, but regardless; will try to update regularly!
Please review and don't forget to correct me on things I might mess up on!

Chapter 1: The Start of Everything

A Changeling Queen sat watching a crematorium work its fiery process with tears streaming down her muzzle. While the fire was now a fierce inferno, blocking the visage of her mother, her deep orange eyes glimmered in the light given off by the reinforced glass viewport. Her slender frame with her deep orange mane and tail that appeared to glow by the light given off from the crematorium. With deep red bands around her barrel and a dark orange carapace on her back, it gave her an unique set of colors as her insect-like wings lay flat on her barrel. As she stood up to leave the room, the fire light revealed her legs; which possessed holes like all Changelings, but also revealed her right front leg that clinked on the metal floor.

A thing of beauty, it was an artificial leg that appeared to have been made of bronze. But underneath, it was a marvel of myomer artificial muscle, electronics and ingenuity that had allowed the Queen to have full functionality of her lost limb. A limb that had been lost when she had been exploring an unsafe portion of the ship they lived in.

She used her left hoof to wipe away her tears and schooled her face as she could feel her mother’s drones joining her hive mind. It had been a process that had been implemented by Pantila Hex when she was on her deathbed. In order for the next generation of Queen to continue the great, arduous work of reverse-engineering the numerous machines; it had been decided that the older hive will join the new hive in order to maintain the numbers needed to study the technology aboard the ship. This merging of hives was made easier as the older hive would work in tandem with the newer hives when both queens were alive.

As she emerged onto the reception area of the hospital portion of the ship, two drones bowed to her. Their coloring was slightly redder than Patina, denoting that they had been part of her mother’s hive. No words were spoken, but the message was clear. It was done. Patina steeled her features as she entered the elevator to where her most important project lay.

As she exited onto what used to be a hangar that launched aerial assets, she looked upon a massive cylindrical tower made of rotating orange plates and emitting a pale pinkish glow. All around the bottom were energy connectors that were directly drawing power from the ship’s main fusion reactors. But what was most important would be the outtake pipe that outputs the resulting product produced by her machine.

One must know that artificial love was initially produced by Pantila Hex, which had been created from taking a pure crystal filled with ‘love’ energy and running it through a scanner had given a rather strange response. It showed that ‘love’ was made up of oxytocin, dopamine, serotonin, and an unknown element that was identified on the side as magic. Of course, Pantila had to brute force the exact amounts to produce an artificial version of love, but in a liquid form. It was also less potent than the normal version of love, nearly a quarter of its strength; but when it was capable of being infused into produce needing water, could be mixed into milk, baked into breads, and so much more; thus increasing consumption. But every queen had used the initial recipe Pantila had created, but Patina was the first to fully mass-produce it by using a machine. It allowed for hundreds of gallons of artificial love to be produced every second. The drawback was the fact that it drew an enormous amount of power, nearly 5% of the maximum energy produced by the ship’s main fusion reactor; and that the magical part of the equation, specifically Changeling magic, had to be recharged every twelve hours. And whichever Changeling drone had that duty of recharging, would have the rest of the day off. And then there would be artificial love that could be stored with no expiration date.

In fact, she was the first queen to be born solely from the consumption of artificial love and it showed by her and her hive that they had a lower need for love than her mother’s hive. That and it increased the individuality of each drone, giving them more autonomy than the older generation. More initiative was taken, more proactive, and more intuitive; even if it was only very slight in difference.

It was also for that reason that the water treatment plant was moved next to the Artificial Love Generation Tower (ALGT) so that other than a small portion of clean pure water being stored, the rest was combined into a liquid that Patina called Ai-mizu, which was Japanese (human language she had learned in her free time) and was distributed all throughout the ship using existing piping system aboard the ship. That and it was stored in massive tanks, some of which had to be cleaned out entirely, and was used to water the small farms just outside of a lower hangar bay that had been ruined by the ship crashing here.

Then again… She looked out of the hangar that housed the ALGT and looked outside where the jungle had been cleared into a massive field where construction was ongoing. Living on the ship itself was nice, but sooner or later, the ship itself would have to be taken apart to build a far more permanent home. Of course, considering much of the construction was still underway, all they were doing were…

The sound of wood being demolished could be heard from the distance where one could barely see something taking out entire lines of trees at a pace no living being could match. Patina couldn’t help grinning as one of the first mechs that the Changelings had produced emerged from the forest. Taking the original blueprints and building with only local resources was insanely hard work and had taken her and her mother’s hives to finish just three such mechs. Standing on two feet with a massive claw arm on the left and a large chainsaw on the other, the light Crosscut forestry IndustrialMech ran smoothly back to an open hangar where several other Changelings were waiting with what appeared to be extra components for the chainsaw. Patina narrowed her eyes and noted that the teeth for the chainsaw had been worn entirely out. Nodding with satisfaction that the work was being taken care of smoothly, she began to walk towards the lift when a message was sent to her through the hive mind. Her large orange eyes glimmered brightly before swiftly entering the lift and pressed the button for the floor that led outside at ground level.

As the lift opened at the ground floor, Patina walked out with a skip in her step. She came out to a sight she was used to seeing. A dozen of drones that once belonged to her mother’s hive, wearing a combat harness, stood guard around another Changeling queen. She was a head taller than Patina, who herself was only slightly larger than the normal pony, and had on a large bonnet. Patina didn’t bother questioning how her long curved horn, much like that of a thin scimitar, did not tear the pale peach bonnet.

The last time she asked, all she had gotten a reply for was that it was ‘magic’.

Patina walked up to the other queen, who appeared to be distracted by the numerous containers being loaded onto her carts, and knew why. The faint smell of ‘love’ in the Ai-Mizu was just enough for Changelings to recognize what it was, but for the other races; it would smell just like water. Drinking it would be a whole different issue, though.

“Gemini, it is great to see you again.” Patina greeted her friend with a smile as she sat to the taller queen.

“And you too, Patina. Condolences on the passing of your mother, though. She was a Changeling to remember.” Gemini answered in a somber tone as she bowed briefly towards Patina. Her eyes, the right being a silvery color while the left appeared a glow a faint lavender shade, focused back onto the containers that her hive was loading onto the carts. “I see that… the supply has grown from before.”

“It has been nearly three months since you last visited. I have completely activated the Love Generator to full and thus resulted in a bit of excess.” Patina replied as she nodded back to the queen who removed her bonnet to reveal her lavender-colored mane done up in a messy bun with a metallic needle holding it in place. “I see that your hive has grown.”

“All I can do is thank you. Your Ai-Mizu has allowed for a much easier birthing cycle as we had an excess of love.” Gemini smiled at the sight of smaller Changelings helping their elder Changelings with moving other goods onto the carts. Gemini’s tone shifted to a far more serious note as she shifted her focus onto Patina. “The next Council of Queens is being held in the southern border of Macintosh Hills. Congratulations, many Queens are practically begging me to introduce them to you now.”

“Expected and the time?” Patina’s mechanical leg clicked as the hoof opened up to reveal four mechanical fingers and was handed a circular metal disc that appeared rather simple by one of her drones.

“Sixty seven days. I will be pushing my hive to get to the location from here. Will you be there?” Gemini gave Patina a questioning glance as the smaller queen inspected the device with her mechanical hoof.

“Of course. I have so much to discuss after my grandmother, who was the last to attend the Council.” Patina smiled as she handed the device back to her drone. She looked right at Gemini's eyes and gave a drin. "I may be younger than the rest of the other queens as I am only nineteen total years old, give or take a month or two; but even I can see that the times are changing far quicker than that Council would like to admit."

"And how are you going to change their minds, Patina? There is a reason some of those queen's control entire towns and cities." Gemini arched her right eyebrow as Patina motioned for her to follow. They entered a lift and Patina pressed the button to head to the bridge. "You know something, don't you?"

Patina didn’t reply, but guided her friend over to a large device built into the floor that was displaying a holographic globe of their home planet. Patina rose to stand on her rear hooves while placing her left hoof onto the surface of the machine while opening her right mechanical hoof back up. Without a word, Patina used her mechanical digits to manipulate the image of the planet to several pictures of decent clarity from a bird’s eye view. Gemini leaned in to take a look, and could only gawk at what was being shown.

“And this is just from the border fortress of the Griffons, bordering that winter wasteland. That particular Knightly Order sworn under the High Queen Amberclaw has been noticeably aggressive in building fortresses uncomfortably close to Equestrian borders. What you see is a partially completed fortress.” Patina sounded serious as she tapped the metal surface with her mechanical digits.

“That’s an incomplete fortress?” Gemini sounded incredulous as she looked at what could be classified as a small town in Equestria.

“Then we have Equestria building up their own forces using those bipedal golems made of rocks.” With a swipe of her metal fingers, a new set of images were brought up.

“I’ve seen those. Surprisingly agile for looking so bulky.” Gemini grimaced remembering that training event that had been public. It had been an event to recruit more for the Equestrian Guard and to show off their strength. “You can feel the magicks woven into those Golems. Not to mention, I’ve heard rumors of their airships; but…”

An image of a large airship, appearing just as half as long as the mountain it was anchored to, was in the process of being hidden from view with clouds as nearly thirty pegasi were concealing it with clouds. Gemini could see that the pegasi were wearing something colored dull bronze with gold-bronze hoof guards. While no weapons could be seen, Gemini was sure Patina knew what they used for weapons.

“I see why you are saying times are changing.” Gemini idly let out a growl as she got a larger picture of the world now. “If anything, your hive possesses far more advanced machinery than the Griffons and the Ponies; but…” Gemini walked over to a viewing port and looked at the half-dozen bipedal machines tearing down the forest. “You lack the numbers to fully devote to something specific.”

“Indeed. I need numbers, but I also wish for the unification of our race.” Patina sighed tiredly as she looked at the holographic planet. “Imagine if we can stand hoof to hoof with the Ponies and Griffons. We can easily be a country, but our lack of centralized food source prevents our unification. But with the ALGT completed and a capital city built, we can satisfy the necessary things that’ll allow for our race to grow as a species.”

“Then I will be glad to support your cause.” Gemini closed her eyes as she placed a hoof on her chest. Patina hid a surprised look as she tilted her head slightly. “Acting as traveling merchants is good and all, but even I am getting tired of moving around nonstop. Many other queens will claim that you are not like them as you did not struggle as they have, but I know better. Meeting your mother and watching your hives become so… advanced is rather awe-inspiring, you know?”

Patina blushed as she rubbed her nose at the compliment. She smiled and nodded as she sat next to Gemini once again.

“If anything, my only difficulty is to convince Chrysalis isn’t it?” Patina whispered as she looked out of the viewport and at the sky.

“Perhaps.” Gemini merely chuckled as she watched the sky as well. “Perhaps…”

XoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoX

Gemini sat in silence within the underground area that had been carved by Earth Pony miners long ago. Around her were other ‘Minor’ Queens, just like her, and five ‘Major’ Queens who sat in the middle around a circular table carved out of wood. Gemini discretely took out a flask from within her saddlebag around her barrel and took a sip, noticing the Queens near her glancing at her flask at the scent of love within. A queen next to her looked at the flask with hungry eyes, and Gemini observed that she was rather thin. Sighing silently, Gemini passed the flask to the clearly starving Queen and idly listened to the ‘Major’ queens argue over something.

Gemini watched the five ‘Major’ Queens that possessed sizable hives and held the most territory. First was the clearly annoyed Myxine, Queen of the Hagfish Hive. While she was around Patina’s size, it was her short mane and constant serious look on her face that made her appear hard to approach. Smallest of the ‘Major’ Hives, but was the only to possess a wet navy of all things. Yes, they were all barely the size of a sloop; but she used them very effectively. Both her mane and tail were rather short and under her blue eyes were lines that were most likely not from age. Her horn looked rather unique with two grooves that seemed to give a feel of a shark's fin.

Next to Myxine was the easy-going and innocently sadistic Queen of the Honeycomb Hive, Ambrosia. She was just as tall as her and both of her bright orange mane and tall were long enough to be on the floor, with her young greenish yellow eyes looked excited as she played with some glowing bugs that flew around her. Her horn was relatively curved with a single curve within and appeared much like that of a saber strangely. She possessed the third largest hive amongst the ‘Major’ Hives and was the closest to the border of the Chaotic South and Equestria. The only reason she was considered a ‘Major’ Queen was most likely due to the sheer amount of ‘Love’ she had stockpiled and sold to other Hives at exorbitant prices.

Observing the seemingly air-headed Ambrosia was most likely the creepiest Queen alive. Calliphora sat next to Ambrosia with her extra set of milky white lens over her crimson eyes and her even more so 'perforated' limbs than the normal Changeling, idly lay on the table appearing bored. Her back and barrel were colored a reddish pink color and both her mane and tail were colored a light reddish peach color that gave her a ghost-like appearance that frightened other Changelings easily. But strangely, Calliphora was most likely the friendliest Queen amongst them all. When one lives in the Graveyard and consoles those that come with the image of their dead relatives, they are strangely the least dangerous Hive there is.

Then there was the Miasma Hive, led by Miasma. Possessing the second largest hive, Gemini couldn’t help but to hold her breath at that moment. The only thing that made her 'different' were the openings to the side of her mouth that showed her inner jaw far too clearly and the extremely bad smell of rotting... things and the strong smell of some potent perfume. Her violet coloring of her back, mane, and tail gave her a sort-of regal look that was ruined by the horrid stench. A stench that the nearby Queens have avoided by sitting rather far away from Miasma herself.

And then there was Chrysalis. The self-proclaimed Queen of All Queens and this was not her being overconfident. Her hive was the largest, most aggressive, and their queen was just as volatile. Noticeably taller than most queens, both her long mane and tail were colored a dark bluish green and her jagged horn gave her a near sinister look. Her green eyes darted back and forth as she studied the underground room with a serious look and appeared just as annoyed as Miasma was complaining about the increasing security against Changelings. Gemini was about to see if she could eat that lovely sandwich made by her drones when something sounded.

It was a guttural and powerful sound. Like that of a dragon releasing a torrent of flames as it is roaring, but magnified. Gemini had only heard this once and it had been a glorious sight at the time. The sound shook the chamber a bit, but this room had been built close enough to the surface that its supports were strong enough. Then with a resounding ‘THUMP’, the sound ended in a gradual manner. Gemini couldn’t help but to sit in her seat as Chrysalis herself looked surprised. In fact, Gemini could swear she could hear Chrysalis’ mind try to make sense of what her drones were most likely seeing. Then the slowly widening eyes at most likely seeing Patina…

The rhythmic sound of ‘thumps’ made Gemini pause, however. That and each thump was accompanied by the room slightly shaking at each thump. Was it those chainsaw wielding machines that she had seen recently?

One of the younger minor queens gave a shriek before she darted through the door that led to the cave the room was connected to. Almost like a given signal, most of the minor queens also ran outside as Gemini sat there in the chaos, a hoof over the other queen that had been given her flask. She saw Myxine give her a look of suspicion and merely left the room in an orderly manner, the other queen following after her.

Gemini paused at the sight of the other queens that were now looking with slack jaws outside of the cave, and even she had to admit that this wasn’t something she was expecting as well. It was seven meters in height standing on two angular and boxy digitigrade legs. Its torso was also boxy, but unlike what Gemini saw of Equestria’s Golems, it lacked a head. But in fact, she could barely make out the pilot within the machine in the center portion of the torso that jutted out through the glass-like slit, but the two arms with three horrifyingly large claws on each arm certainly gave it a frightening look to it. Gemini could see some kind of large cannon on its right shoulder, but the overly sharp claws on the arms had more of her attention. Oh, was that a large blade attached to the left arm?

“Celestial Series Light Omnimech Malak.” A voice that the other Changeling Queens have never heard spoke from between the machine’s feet where Patina was walking up with a bronze colored device strapped to her barrel while she had a clear visored helmet over her head with what appeared to be a device that ran down her spinal column. The devices on the sides of her barrel opened up to reveal a pair of mechanical arms with four-fingered arms. The extra limbs extended out to retrieve something on her back, to which Gemini blinked several times. “A battlemech weighing at 30 tons and capable of running nearly 120 kilometers an hour. It is also armed with a mixture of energy and missile weaponry with an integrated system that allows for advanced synchronization of data on the battlefield.”

Patina looked side to side at the frightened assembly of Queens as Gemini felt the Major Queens look at the machine just as surprised and clearly feeling scared at the massive machine.

“Greetings. I am the granddaughter of Queen Palinia Gear and the Queen of the Ferrugo Hive.” Patina curtsied as she began to undo the locks on the case that had been on her back. “My name is Patina Gear and I am here to make my case on our… situation. But this is rude of me.”

Patina removed a cylinder filled with a bright glowing pink fluid within and smiled. Looking at the machine’s cockpit, the mech moved smoothly backwards and away as it joined three other mechs that all looked slightly different. She motioned outwards where what can only be described as a massive white ‘brick’ with stubby wings on the rear with some form of propulsion attached to the body. And as if to be showing off, which Gemini knew Patina was, from within the open side hangar bays; were an array of tables filled with foods and drinks that all smelled of Love.

“W-what is this?” Surprisingly, it was Myxine who spoke first. It was here that Gemini could observe how each of the Major Queens were reacting and only one truly made her surprised. Myxine, who had spoken, appeared to be shocked and her body was tense as if she was going to be attacked. Calliphora merely walked up, opened and closed her mouth a few times before looking perplexed at the situation before her. Miasma’s eyes darted back and forth from the mechanical giants as they stood guard and at the tables filled with foods that had been made with Love. Chrysalis was keeping her calm somehow and appeared interested in the brick-like airship of some kind. But it was Ambrosia that surprised everyone. As soon as Patina held out the canister, Ambrosia smiled widely as she took it with her magic and trotted off to where one of Patina's drones were setting up chairs. That and every single Queen gawked at the sight of Ambrosia's drones helping the newly arrived Queen's drones with setting up what could only be called a massive open area picnic with a buffet.

"She offered, so why not?" Calliphora idly comments as one of Ambrosia' drones began to float around trays of fancy glasses filled with water, but with a pink hue emerging when hit with sunlight. Without seemingly a care in the world, Calliphora magically gripped a cup and drank, followed by a Chrysalis who seemed to be magically scanning the drink, before looking surprised and then… realization.

Author's Note

The first chapter that might read like too much details at once.

Don't worry, next chapter will have more dialog amongst the Queens and a check in with the Griffins.

Chapter 2: The Unification

Northern Mountains

If one were to compare the Amberblade Fortress to Canterlot, most would see the sheer difference in scale. The entire mountain the fortress was built open had been entirely turned into a massive fortress on the outside as well as the inside. Black smoke puffed out from numerous smokestacks that emerged from the mountain itself while the surface of the mountain was full of Griffons, pegasi, and the occasional dragon that flew about transporting crates, bags, or were on patrol wearing armor. The armor in question was unlike the former plate armor of the past Griffon Empire, but appeared to be made of a matte material with soft clothlike material that connected the chest, arms, and legs of the patrolling Griffons. One thing that was universal about them would be that most if not all wore the color blue in some shape or form.

Another that a casual observer would see would be the fact that every Griffon on patrol was armed with blocky weapons made entirely out of metal with barrels and without stocks. This was added upon by several boxy cases strapped around their rear legs seemingly filled with brass-colored objects and a heavy saber across their backs. Adding the fact that they wore helmets fitted with full masks with tubes, it made for a fearsome look as they flew around with little to no difficulty in the cold weather.

However, within the mountain itself, there were intense discussions on what was happening at their borders.

“High Queen, it must be said that we should look into the matter that the historian brought up.” A large Griffon, fitted with green colored clothing across his chest, as his dark brown eyes glimmered brightly in the lighting overhead. “A solid thousand years ago, an entire city of magic crystals had been displaced by magic. This is a fact that had been recorded by Griffons that had survived the skirmish against the Diarch of Equestria.” His dark gray feathers cast a distinct shadow under his dark yellow beak.

“I do not deny that the city had existed at some point, Lord Greyclaw.” A rather petite female Griffon who wore a dark blue armor with gold embroidery commented as she brushed her talons over her amber colored beak. Her deep dark orange feathers shuffled as she contemplated on the numerous maps and documents all haphazardly placed on the table. “But the fact remains that the same Diarch lays claim to the frozen wasteland that our spies have found the most magically enriched crystals. We cannot also send in troops to secure the area as it would violate the treaty signed by my great grandmother with Celestia.”

“However, in order for us to power our Knight Engines; we require the far more potent magical crystals to create the Cores that will power the Engines.” Greyclaw growled as he slammed his talons onto the massive wooden table. “With our current cores, our engines can only operate for twelve hours at full combat situation. Our arcanists theorize that a Core made with such a high-powered crystal, we can create something that can last for weeks instead of mere hours.”

Steam Cores. The High Queen narrowed her eyes as she remembered her own Mother’s ramblings at the shortcomings of their primary way of powering their engines. While the initial version of a steam core had been built entirely without anything magical, there had been drawbacks. And how bad it was. If one were to use the non-magical Steam Cores to move even the smallest of bipedal engines, all it could do was walk for half a mile. Not run, as that would lead to the Core overheating and detonating in a massive blast of steam.

That poor test pilot was handsomely rewarded and his family elevated to Knighthood, but the fact remained that instead of a working power source; all it had gotten from them was a high powered steam explosive.

So it had forced the engineers to include arcanists into their development where a successful ‘modern’ Steam Core had been born. It allowed for flat out running speeds on nearly every Engine, be it bipedal, aerial, or tracked; but the drain on the cores were far too high and not as viable. This in return, forced the Knights under her to develop tactics that could only be described as lightning strikes followed by infantry which would be followed by the massive steam rigs that allowed for the recharging of the steam cores of the Engines that were sent in first.

“There… might be a way.” A young female Griffon's voice sounded from the side door of the war room. The High Queen and Greyclaw turned to look at a female Griffon with rather standard white feathers covering her head and chest, while her wings and body were light brown in color. Her golden eyes seemed to waver at the sight of the two most powerful Griffons, but merely entered the room with the most confidence she could muster.

“Gilda, I thought you were visiting a friend in Equestria?” The High Queen looked at the young Griffon who looked suddenly bitter. “Can you elaborate?”

Thankful at not pushing the topic, the Griffon held out a book she had been holding to Greyclaw who merely took it and inspected it. It was…

“Well, well, well…” Greyclaw chuckled as he handed the book to his Queen. “It seems that your heiress has brought something rather interesting.”

The High Queen gently took the book and began to skim its contents. As she read the slim book further and further, her mood seemed to have gotten better and better. In fact, she snapped the book shut and gave Gilda an appraising look.

“It seems that I have misjudged you, Gilda. I had thought you had gotten soft when you had left to learn in Equestria, but this…” She placed the book on the table and tapped at it with a smile. “Lord Greyclaw, do you have an empty position for a squire?”

Gilda’s entire body and mind perked up visibly at that. She glanced at the forebodingly large Griffon who began to rub at the bottom of his beak.

“Why… My own squire had been recently promoted to a Knight…” He grinned ferally as he looked at a nervous looking Gilda with an appraising look. Gilda snapped her eyes at her mother, The High Queen Demina Amberblade; and bowed her head.

“Can I trust you not to give Gilda special attention?” Demina looked at the map as plans began to form in her mind.

“You have nothing to worry about, High Queen.” Greyclaw placed a massive paw on Gilda’s shoulders as he began to guide himself and Gilda out. “I will forge her into the greatest Knight we will ever see.”

The High Queen would briefly look up from her planning to see Gilda with a fierce smile following an equally eager Greyclaw who looked like he couldn't wait to train another Knight. But for now, more planning. Planning to make the Knight houses under the Amberblade rule the most powerful military force on this planet.

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Patina sat on her haunches as she overlooked the small crowd of Changeling Queens that were all gladly eating the food grown with Ai-Mizu and made with it as well. She could spy a few from the platform by sneaking some food into their saddlebags, but didn’t bother to stop them.

There would be no need, she idly thought. Not after what she was about to offer.

She glanced towards where Gemini sat trying to figure out how Ambrosia of all Queens were familiar with her. Ambrosia herself was trying to drink a glass of Ai-Mizu while flying upside down like that of a foal, but made for an image of pure immaturity. But of course, no one bothered to tell off the young Queen as her entire hive seemed to be present now. Patina then turned to look at a confused Myxine who was sipping at a cup of Ai-Mizu while being suspicious of everything around her, and outright glaring at Ambrosia. Then there was Miasma, who was simply stuffing her muzzle with the numerous kinds of different foods that ranged from simple hayburgers, bowls of noodles, and various other dishes that had application of meats. Even Patina could not hide the disgust from her own face as one could see Miasma’s teeth chew on the food with some being forced out the sides of her mouth. Patina glanced over at a nonchalant Calliphora who was sampling every dish in a manner befitting of royalty, to the point where even Chrysalis, who was studying everything around her with a critical eye; and Patina met Chrysalis’ green ones with the intensity of fusion fire.

She would not back down from a self-declared Leader of Changelings, not at this stage!

“I greet you all once again, to all of my fellow queens.” Patina said in an even tone as she spoke through her helmet mike and projecting her voice through the PA system aboard the DropShip. Every eye turned and focused on Patina. “Any questions you might have, I would like to ask you to hold off until the end. Now then…”

Patina cleared her throat as some of her drones rolled out a cart fitted with some kind of device that proceeded to project an image of the massive clearing she had carved out with mechs and with the hard work of her hive.

“Some, if not all of you, are suspicious of me. A queen with no name other than being associated with the deceased queen Palinia Gear and appearing with things that seemed miraculous.” She motioned to the water and food being served still. “All of this is my family’s achievement throughout the centuries we have separated and briefly approached your Council in the past. Once, the amount of love we could fabricate was mere single digit gallons per month. Even when we had found out how to fabricate love, it had been in such insignificant amounts that we could not approach you all. But that changed when I completed a device that can theoretically produce thousands of gallons of artificial love. A fusion of technology and magic, Our magic.”

As Patina said this, the image of the clearing changed to a footage of the ALGT in full function with the footage showing the massive flow within the pipe attached to the bottom.

“But there is an issue. An issue that all of you should have noticed.” Patina motioned to the wall where a bird’s eye view of Griffon and Pony military forces being dispatched to various cities and key border fortresses. “Not only have the other races gotten better at detecting our race, but you must have noticed their far more extreme reactions?”

Various queens’ eyes became saddened, filled with fury, and/or afraid. Patina closed her eyes and breathed out.

“As I understand, all of your hives are practically rationing love to an extreme level and some of you had to resort to draining other races entirely. I will not fault you for that. Survival comes first. But can you all see where I am going with this?” Patina paused as she was handed a glass of Ai-Mizu from one of her drones. “Yes, you might be able to claim that I am trying to force you under me with the Ai-Mizu my hive produces. I will not deny that particular thought crossed my mind. But that can only go so far. What I want is for our race to have a unified front against the others. A unified front that can only be presented when certain conditions are met.”

As Patina paused, the image of the clearing reappeared, but with also the massive ship that she lived in. Every Queen, even the major queens, looked shocked at its imposing sight.

“A race can only move forward when they have shelter, food, and security. Look at how Equestria prospered! Only when food, shelter, and security was provided by their Alicorn Princesses; that they truly take their fate and run with it. The Griffons became the powerhouse that they are as their former empire paved the way with their fortresses, their massive farms in the valleys, and their rapidly advancing military providing security. But what of us? We are all scattered in cities, hiding from them, and trying to survive at the barest of levels. I have the means of providing all, but I lack one thing.” Images of empty vehicles, empty arm-mounted harness with the helmets, and so much were presented; then switched back to the empty clearing. “I lack the numbers to provide the shelter. You can see the machines outside, battlemechs. They weigh 30 tons, armored with lightweight metal composite, and armed with weapons that would only exist in our imaginations!”

With a flourish, Patina pointed at a boulder in the distance as she shouted the last word. Immediately, two of four ‘battlemechs’ rotated swiftly at the hips and unleashed a pair of azure lightning bolts and a single streak of green laser, that entirely obliterated the boulder. From within the hangar, two Changeling drones, sitting within an immensely heavy quadrupedal armor with a turret mounted on top of the barrel; also unleashed a hail of physical rounds as what appeared to be horns spat out fire. The rapid sound of ‘bram-bram-bram’ was reinforced by the cannon on their backs firing a pulsating burst of crimson laser that proceeded to set fire and cut down parts of the small forest around them. When they stopped firing, the other queens could finally observe the angular armored quadrupedal machine that was much larger than even Chrysalis, nearly a foot taller in height and much much heavier. The almost beastial prowling the quad battle armors did not do much to dispel the fear that now existed in their minds.

“You know and have seen the ponies’ usage of Golems and the griffons have begun to test cannons that far outrange anything the ponies have. And for your own information, other nations across the seas have also seen the usage of the Golems, a lower quality of course, that the ponies produce. And where does that bring us? Skulking in the shadows, afraid of being run out of cities, and/or being killed for what we are. No more, I say!”

She pounded her mechanical hoof into the platform as she gestured to the other queens with a mixture of power and pride in her expression and posture. A drawn picture of what could only be called a city of metal and a fortress with no peer appeared on the wall as Patina met every eye that was now on her.

“With all of us united, we can build. Build for a future where we do not have to worry about when love can be found! Build a platform from which we can become more than what we are now! Build for our future when we can colonize other worlds!”

A video, an old one that showed DropShips landing on alien planets, played showing that it could be done. Patina could feel the hope from the majority of minor queens and turned to the major queens who, other than Ambrosia, seemed to be contemplating things.

“What I want, no… Wish! I wish for our race to put aside past grievances against each other and work together with me to better our race. So… Join me. I will provide the transportation to bring you to my home in the Southlands, if you require. And together, let us propel our race into a future where we can live without looking over our shoulders.”

“...How do you intend to implement a unified government?” Chrysalis was the first to ask as she was still taking in what was said and what she had seen.

"Simple. We maintain the format as Council, but we all know each hive specializes in different things. So there will be various councils for each department, but they shall vote for their leader who will sit in the Main Council. However, the leader for our race should be voted into power by every queen. This seat will also have a limited time when they are in power and only be able to be voted back in a limited amount of times." Patina replied as she jumped down from the platform and stood before Chrysalis. "Monarchy and Diarchies are great when you can maintain a strong claim of power. Be it immortality or bloodlines, it is necessary. But we are all mortal. I and you will grow old and perish, but we can maintain a stable government with this system."

"And how will you determine who is in which department?" Myxine spoke this time as she jabbed a hoof at Patina. Patina merely smiled as she motioned to all the other queens.

"That is far easier than you think, Queen Myxine. We all live in different cities doing different things. And yes, the technology I possess uses those skills you all gained throughout living within Equestria and in the Griffon Knight Legions. I will, of course, provide classes on learning the basics of the technology I and my family researched for so long.” Patina said as she used the harness’ arms to grab a cup of Ai-Mizu from a passing drone. “And by teaching and speaking with you all, I can recommend where any one of you can go. Those that lived in farming communities can go into agriculture, those that lived working factories can enter manufacturing, and so much more.”

“You spoke about security.” Miasma managed to growl out as she continued to eat the rather delicious love-filled foods. “How are you going to organize a military from hives that can barely function together?”

At this Patina merely smiled as she pointed at the battlemechs that stood guard outside.

“Three of those mechs are piloted by Queen Gemini’s drones. The last one is piloted by one of Queen Ambrosia’s.” Patina spoke easily as she then pointed at the pair of battle armors. “Those two are piloted by my drones. Now you have to wonder how drones from three different hives can work together. The answer is a certain trait of Ai-Mizu that allows for drones to become… independent. It has been proven by my mother that it only affects a tenth of every hive, and those that become autonomous to a fault can act on their own without reliance on the hive mind.”

“May I ask why that is good?” Chrysalis asked with a straight face, but Patina could feel the doubt in her voice.

“If a queen is killed, do the drones go about their way to restore the hive or do they simply die a slow death?” Patina questioned Chrysalis and it seemed to dawn on her on why this was a positive thing. “By being independent, they can operate on their own despite their queen’s death. Not to mention, it allows them to be excellent career soldiers that can operate on a far more versatile level as they do not rely on a queen to survive. But of course, being only tenth of every hive could only amount to a few hundred. Not a proper military force.”

At this statement by Patina, Chrysalis and Calliphora nodded grimly as they were few of the queens that had seen the military formations of Equestria. Thousands of ponies served in many branches of the Equestrian Armed Forces, but their primary force multiplier has been their Golems. And they had hundreds.

“As I understand, only a few hives have some form of combat experience and the one with the most numerous and belligerent hive is yours, Queen Chrysalis. While you may eventually become the Council leader for the military, there is one thing you must respect. You will not be allowed to act on your own if you do join us.” Patina leveled a look on Chrysalis, who merely looked impassive at Patina’s look.

“B-but we will not be denied or discriminated against by the size of our hives?” The minor queen that had received Gemini’s flask spoke up as a mixture of hope and fear. “The love each hive may receive will not be different?”

“So should I distribute Ai-Mizu equally? So should Queen Chrysalis receive the same amount of love as you?” At this, the minor queen wilted; but Patina’s smile spoke differently. “No, the amount will differ between each hive. That is a given. But will they be held back from you? Never. Ai-Mizu will be freely distributed and we can certainly build more ALGT to generate more.”

“I-I’ll join!” The minor queen shouted suddenly as she ran up to Patina and held her left hoof with both of her front hooves. “I, Queen Magica of the Magicka Hive, will join you!” Patina stumbled at the sudden ‘rush’ and she studied the other Queen that was a few inches shorter than her. Her horn was shaped much like a unicorn's horn with three 'voids' that went from the base, mid, and near the top of her horn. Her back was a dull red color and the wraps around her barrel were various shades of red. Other than the fact that she was slightly skinny, Patina couldn’t help but to smile.

“Anyone else?” Patina asked no one in particular, but was met with an explosive reaction as nearly every Queen swamped her. On the side, Chrysalis and Calliphora sat watching the proceedings with mild interest and a blank stare respectively.

“I will not deny that this Queen has potential…” Chrysalis muttered as she leaned on her left hoof on a table she was sitting on. “But…”

“Afraid to lose what power you had over us?” Calliphora certainly didn’t mince her words as Chrysalis glared at Patina’s general direction.

“Perhaps, but it is most certainly better than my plan for Equestria.” Chrysalis begrudgingly admitted as she used her magic to levitate a sandwich and bit into it. The fried fish, shredded lettuce, and even the sauce all had the scent of love within them that filled her body with love. “Rather than throwing aside my hive in an attack that has a higher chance of failure, perhaps…”

As Chrysalis sat there planning, Calliphora merely smiled motherly at Patina who was now directing the Queens to fill out some paperwork that the orange-colored drones were passing around. She felt Patina’s drones approach her table with the form and writing instruments that were certainly strange. But regardless, the new Changeling Queen made a good point. Perhaps that vision her own mother saw was true?

Author's Note

BAM!

New Chapter! Gotta write when I have the motivation!