Author's Note

This chapter will have little gore, self-harm.
Thank for the waiting.

This is the Info on Sergeant
"character info"
Name: Corvos Rosaria nickname "Rosi"
Theastral/bat-pony
Sergeant of the 13th squad
Mare, dark grey coat, ice blue radiate eyes (cat eyes), Mane and tail are mainly are light grey, with 2tone highlight with dark green and light pink in the middle of her mane and tail.
Cutie mark is a Raven with rose in its beck.

002 The horror and The great outdoors

<6 days after waking up as Tec'ondra Princess of the hive, queens quarters Everfree hive>

'I let out a heavy sigh.' I been stuck in this room for 6 days and my itch to get going is growing stronger day by day.
I have read all the book here, learn what I can and trained my magic. It was a lot harder than I thought, but I found out that when I think about the magic energy as the force from "star wars" or like psychic power "warhammer 40k" I could easier control my magic, still it's hard to use advance spells but all the basic spell I can use without thinking about it.

Luckily all changeling abilities have been a cake walk after I got my mothers memories I have experimenting with walking on wall/roof, shapeshift. The bigger the change the more energy is used, I learned that I can change different body parts separate.
I made my own pony form a white coated unicorn mare with red mane and tail with streaks of orange in it with red eyes, the cutie mark is an opal with fire behind it and I name her Opal Flare.

Flying have been hard as I can only fly about 6 meter to fly in this oval room until I hit the wall "first day problem." 'It hurt a lot'.
I notice that I have 4 wings just like a dragonfly but with no veins and they are transparent when the light form the roof shine on them they have a pinkish color to them.

On second day I put my mothers corpse in bit of cloth I found stashed under the desk, I moved her into the bathroom and put her body on the floor level so I can still take baths if needed.

Beside the cloth I found saddlebags it's a dark brown color with my family mark on them, with luck I could enchant it to be a type of 'bag of holding'. It work as long I can fit the item in the opening, the bag will shrink the item and minimize the weight. 'I will follow the rules in DnD, don't put sharp item in it as it can destroy the bag'.

While I was looking through my mothers memory. The hive is young about 200 years old, she moved to this location after her mothers hive was attack and destroyed by an other hive (she found out that it was Chrysalis that ordered the attack). There where not many changelings that survived the attack (72 survivors) and at the fall of the Everfree hive there were about 542 changelings including the grubs and cocoons, all now dead as the hivemind is silence.

I go through what happened too the changeling that ate the blue and white mushroom and the reaction reminded me about. I stop my train though as panic set in
The horror that I am stuck underground in a dead hive low on food a mushroom is some sort of parasitic one, with air that might filled with spores and changeling body's claimed by them. "This is bad, really bad" I say with horror in my voice to the room. Looking over the chest with love crystal in it, there're only 7 full left with all the training I have done.

I shut my eyes and place a hoof at the base of my horn and try to calm myself, with a few breaths and counting to 10 up then down. After I calmed down.
I starting to go through my old memories of my human life. Especial my old 'role playing games' when I was 'game master'. I know I have put my players in a the same situation in a adventure, how did it go and what item did they use.

I start write down what I can remember on a list with ink and feather pen I found in the desk with some scroll:
Weapons
explosive
environment sealed suit with air tanks and a mask
rations with water
rope
backpack
lights
flamethrowers

'I look over the list with a sad face.' Seems I can't find any of the items in this room. I starts to go through everything.
"I most find something I can use to help me escape this place." I mumble under my breath as the room gets turn upside down in search for anything that can help me.

With 3 hours of searching I only found bedding and covers for the bed, some towels, a letter knife, sewing kit with threads 'seems mother like to sew in her free time'. I also found more scrolls, more ink and feather pens. 'I sigh heavily'.

I let myself fall on my back and shut my eyes as I try figuring out what to do. As I open my eyes again I lock my sight on the light crystal, It dim glow lighting up the room. 'Hmm, how dose that crystal work, it's some kind of magic and It react to movement' I think for my self as memories from mother comes to me how the crystal operate. 'Blinking in surprise a few time.' I realize I can overload the light crystals and they can become explosives, I can probably use enchantments to make a trigger. Also I can sew a suit that will cover me and with the use of an love crystal and enchantment I can make something that will protect me.
'A goofy smile split my muzzle as i sit up and start working.'

<9 days after waking up as Tec'ondra Princess of the hive, queens quarters Everfree hive>

"Today is the day I get out of this hive." I say as I try to hype myself. I been preparing for the 3 days. Making the explosives was problematic I destroyed 2 of the light crystal a least they didn't explode in my face. I saved the shared's in a towel, that got from my failed attempt. So I ignored to go through with that plan.

Sewing the cloth was a lot more easier but as I am not an expert at it, but in the end it was finished and it looks like dollar store knock off of 'mare do well' but with no hat or cape and in the color dark red with black socks, at the front of the suit where the 'M' should hang is a enhance love crystal that will take the damage I receive until its empty, hopefully the crystal don't get overloaded to quickly. On the left fore leg I made a pocket for the paper knife (that's been sharpen as good I can with basic knowledge I have).

After packing every book, scroll and ink into my saddlebag and checking so my suit is on with no exposed area, I also tied towel with shards on my back with another towel. With my magic I move the bookcase away from the door that lead out to the hive. 'Looking over my shoulder' I say. "Goodbye mother, give me luck."

I open the door towards me looking out left down a black corridor 'Empty good', looking right I almost jump out off my chitin as a dead changeling stand there leaning against the wall. It's standing on all four, the face close to close I see it's eyes are gone only leaving abyssal holes, mouth hanging open with blue goo dripping from it, looking down I see that the legs are cracked with some sort of roots that have broken through and dig into the floor of the hive. 'With a hard sallow' I go out left keeping my eyes on the changeling, in this new angle I can see it's back. Cracks, with 7 mushroom growing up, they are white stem and gills with a blue cap with white dot on them. 'They look like a blue fly agaric' I think for my self. I turn my back to it as I am a few meters away and start walking down the left corridor to exit the hive. 'Thanks the great hive that changelings can see in the dark.'

Something catches my hearing. I look at the direction where sound came from. It's the dead changeling.
'Did it just move or was it only falling apart.' As I look at the dead changeling, It start cracking and shiver pieces of chitin falling to the ground. 'Oh, fuck it's moving, are they like the clicker from "the last of us".' Feeling fear deep inside me, I make the a quick decision to climb up the wall onto the ceiling and start moving as quickly I can while I focus my hearing if I meet a threat.

After a time when I stop looking around letting my eyes and ears to focus if anything might be moving. 'Silence, only silence. This is mad.' I need to be careful I go down to the floor, letting my ears going in all direction. The dark corridor with smooth wall and ceiling few tree roots hanging the ceiling, the floor is in a beautiful hexagon pattern tile. From this main corridor there're many tunnels split off leading in all directions.

After hours or it feels like that. The sound of cracking and shuffling break the silence. Concentrating I try to figure out how many I could hear.
'5 no 8 but I can't find in witch direction they come from.' Slowly I climb up the ceiling again standing still I wait.

As I wait I see 2 coming from the tunnel on the right slowly shuffling in dripping blue goo on the floor, 4 coming from the tunnels on the left they all look broken weak. Suddenly 1 fall from a tunnel in the ceiling hitting the floor hard and explode on impact, the chitin shatter and blue dust fill the air where it landed. That most be spore dust. At my distance I shall be save. WAIT ONES MISSING. I feel something, a presence behind me, looking back I see the last one its climbing on the ceiling its not making a sound. Moving out of the way, hoping that I don't make a sound I miss step and lose my grip on the surface and falls.

Hitting the ground hard landing on my back, feeling burning pain on the back it feels like many knifes piercing my back. That's the shards, just my luck. I panic as one of the shufflers land on top me starting to bite me with it's mouth, but all it did was smear blue goo on me. Full of panic and fear I on instinct I grab it with my magic and throw it against a wall, hitting the wall hard it break and spilling out roots and chitin marking the wall with blue goo.

Rolling onto my hooves looking at the mob shuffles against me. 10 meters safe from the dust I open fire with a few blast of magic there gone only leaving blue dust and broken chitin. As all become silent I stand still waiting. 'Nothing'. letting out a sigh I am reminded that my back is hurt, looking at my back I see red blood on the underside of the towel. Might as well fix.... My thoughts was interrupted as the sound of something coming at me fast. I didn't have time to react as I get hit by something hard and is thrown and hit the wall. Becoming dazed, vision blur. A growl gets my a attention, looking what hit my I see a timberwolf, but somethings odd about it, it's eyes are blue (not green) and there are blue/white mushrooms growing on its back.

It jumps at me, rolling backwards it misses. I light up my horn and fire a magic blast at it. It hit true and destroying it. As the silence once again fill the corridor I start moving and winces as I feel the pain of my wounds, 'focus on getting out.' Pushing away the pain aside I starts moving with a limp.

Waking long time with pauses at times to regain my strength, I starting to see light 'Light finally a way out, an exit.' That's when I heard it. Shuffling a lot of it and thunders heavy steps. 'I most hurry move, move, run.' I stumble the sound comes closer, my panic rises. Reaching out my hoof to the light I falls over and eat dirt, then extreme pain shots up my left hind leg, looking down I see a shuffler biting deep. 'Screaming, I light up my horn and blast it' "FUCKING DISAPPEAR" With a boom it's gone, full of panic a scramble out into the light. The sound of the monster getting closer with every second, glaring at the entrance I see them hordes. Panic and dread fills me. 'I can't let myself die like this. I CANT.' Gathering my magic energy, I throw the strongest spell I have. Whispering the name of the spell I end the casting. "Immolate." And a flaming hell takes over my vision.

Celestias siting on her throne listening on a noble with the name "Gilded Shoe" a white coated stallion unicorn with emerald green eyes, his mane and tail is blond, his cutie mark is a golden horseshoe. He's been droning on and on about his reason why he should be aloud to build a privet swimming pool at his house with the treasures funds.

With my smile I look at the stallion thinking. 'I'm so bored, why do I have to sit and listen on.....what was his name? ah, Gilded Shoe son of Ruby Shoes, an old friend always good to his fellow ponys. Why did is son turn out like this? Should I let my agents look if he up to no good-' Her thoughts were cut off by a great magical signature manifesting in Everfree forest. 'hmm, seems I can get out of court early.'

The throne room doors open and a unicorn Royal guard rushes in. He bows waiting to be allowed to speak. Gilded Shoe huffs.
C: "Rise Strait Shot. I'm so sorry Gilded Shoes, it seems something have happened. Will you come first thing in the morning so to continue our talk."
Gilded Shoes bows. "As you wish Princess." He turns and glares at the guard before walking out.
As Gilded hooves leaves and the doors closes behind him, Celestia turns to Strait Shot. "Report Strait Shot."
SS: "Yes your highness, the arch magus "Pin Scroll" have sensed a high level spell being cast in the Everfree forest."
C: "Yes I sensed it too. Send 3 squads Royar guard to Everfree and investigate the Spell I will talk with Pin Scroll." I used my magic to a make an order form and levitate it to Strait Shot. "Give this to Captain Thunders Hoof. You can leave."
SS: "Yes your highness." Strait Shot gave salute and left the throne room.

Celestia rises from the throne and starts walking to the magus tower. "Cancel the rest of morning court."

Opening my eyes. 'Did I over do it.' Coughing I look around. Everything within 30 meters burned, leaves gone on trees, trunk darker, grass turned to ash and the entrance to the hive was gone only a pile of rocks. "Well I totally over did it." I cough out. Rising to my hooves I winces as at my left find leg, looking at the devastation, I am missing most of the cloth I had burned away by the spell.

Seeing my leg my mind freezes for a second. 'Shaking my head.' Fuck I am infected. Blue lines spreading from the bite mark and have reach my knee. "Fuuuuuck." I scream out my mind spinning, panic run wild I start looking for the paper knife. It's not in the pocket made for it, there it is. 'Grabbing it with magic I angle it at the leg before I stab myself.' I freeze. 'I am really going to cut of my own leg off with a paper knife.' After looking between the leg and the knife, I disinfection the knife with fire and stab myself.

'I scream, like there is nothing more in the world, tears start running down my muzzle.' I cut as good a paper knife can do, with quickness that even I think is wrong I cut of my leg. Blood start flowing and pooling on the ground.
'okay I am starting to lose focus.' blackness taking over the corner of my vision, as I finish I slap myself. 'The spell, I need to regrow my leg.' I light up my horn and cast it on the leg feeling almost all the energy I have left getting drained, a tingling feeling on the leg that starts regrowing. Holding the spell as the darkness dancing over more of the vision.

As the spell fades, I take out the last love crystals that are left to restore my body. 'Letting out a sigh of relief.' "With my luck I would a have. I thought they would all be broken." I say to my self. After refilling my energy I lay down resting, letting the darkness take me.

My squad of 4 me included are walking to our area to search. We don't know what we're looking for but for the civilians safety we were sent out here to look for whatever threat or thing that used a high level spell.

"Do you think it's a monster Rosi?" Ask Private 'Cloudy Falls' with a soft voice, A young pegasus mare that recently joined the Royal guard. 'I sigh' "Private Falls it's Sergeant or ma'am. And I don't know if its a monster, a unicorn or by Tartarus a bucking demon. Its our job to locate it and see if it's a threat. Do I make my self clear?" 'Turning my head looking at her.'

'Private Falls gives me a sheepish look.' Making her light pink coat more red on her muzzle a sharp contrast against her sky blue eyes and dark pink mane with yellow stripes in it (2 grey clouds with a waterfalls as a cutie mark). "Sorry Sergeant, I'm just so excited be out on my first mission, Ma'am." 'Shaking my head I return it forward.'

"Don't be hard on her Sergeant, we all get excited on our first mission." Comes the deep voice of the earth pony stallion 'Private Smith Strike.' A prime example of a earth pony, big muscular quick on his hooves and one of the oldest in the group (well except for me). His dark grey coat and brown mane and tail tells a tale he's from a advent iron smith, his eyes are orange. (an anvil and smith hammer as his cutie mark). He could have been Sergeant but he said to his officer. "I'm to slow in the heat off the moment to give out orders to other." Well it's true he can save him self but giving orders is not something thing he's good at.

"Yeah Sarg, you know how I was to giddy that I couldn't sleep the day my first mission." Comes the singsong voice of our spell expert 'Private Meteor Storm' this unicorn mare are energy in a mare form, always doing something never stand still.
Her light blue coat and dark purple mane and tail, her magenta eyes always scanning, looking (cutie mark is three meteors falling with fire trails after them).
'Snorting' I answer."Yeah and you still was so full of energy that you run circles around the squad and don't give my a nickname."

'She Giggles' "Ah, Sargy you now that's how I show I like some pony." I was about to retort her when I was stop by scream of pain.
We all look at each other and start running against the sound.

Minutes later we found our self in a clearing or I could say it's a clearing now after somepony use fire to burn the area clean of vegetation tree bark burned black. Looking around we spot a white pony sticking out and the black ground. She's crying in pain as we are to rush to her we're stop by Private Meteor Storm magic shield. We all look at her.

Storm: "We should wait I think she's the target, she has a big mana pool."
Falls: "But shes hurt and crying."
Rosi: "Private Storm, explain."
Storm: "As I said she has a big mana pool, I believe shes the one that cast the high level spell."
Smith: "So what are we going to do just watch?"
Rosi: "Okay, you are the magic expert, but we can't stand around let hide at the end of the clearing and prepare medical supply."
'They all salute.' We walk to the edge. Private Smith and Falls start prepping medkits for use, Private Storm uses her magic to camouflage our presence. I take out a pair of binoculars and observe our target.

Watching I see it a small pony shape creature is in the size of a foal about 4-6 years old and with horror I see this "pony" is cutting it left hind leg off with a small item, screaming and crying, the screaming is making my heart fall as I can only watch.
After she is done with her self mutilation it slaps it self then her horn light up with a red silver aura. "She casting another high level spell." says Private Storm. As the minutes tick by I don't see any changes to the "pony." "I don't see any changes." I inform my squad.

After some time her horn stops glowing and start rummage through her saddlebag and takes out 2 small Items. Then passes out.

Putting away the binoculars I say to the rest of them. "She seems to have past out. Lets go over and see what she is." 'Hearing Yes Sergeant.' We all walk slowly out to this "pony."

Upon reaching this "pony" we see a foal size pony-bug creature white as snow chitin with torn red cloths and holes in its legs but she not bleeding from them, mane and tail the same color, a zigzag horn from its forehead, she looks almost starved. A red pool of what I guess is blood around the hind legs. Dark brown saddlebag strapped on, behind her is a burned towel with small shards in it.

I and Smith start looking at it. While Storm uses her magic to analyse the leg to see why somepony would cut their own leg off. Private Falls is standing guard.

"Sergeant, This leg is infected with some kind of parasite." 'I look at her and gives her order to.' "Bag and tag it, send it to mages tower." Looking back at the creature I asked Private Smith. "I she okay?" 'He nods in response.' "Yeah, she alive and okay just lost a bit of blood form her. Eh, self mutilation."

'I nod.' "Lets put a null ring on her and a sleep spell then strap her stretcher lets take her to Canterlot." 'With the approval of the others.' I look up at the sun wondering if this will become a problem.

Celestias POV.

After Entering Arch-magus Pin Scroll lab I have been navigating carefully through the stakes of books that tower over me that fills this room as an maze. I come upon a opening where I see my old friend an unicorn stallion in his 70-ish light grey coat, white mane and tail his wearing his purple magus robes with a golden trim at the edges, mark with his title, rank and cutie mark (A scroll with magical pin sticking in place). It's a bit worn out at its end. His ear flicker as I approaches. "Took your sweet time." he comments with his dry voice.

Smiling at his back. "Oh, you know me love taking a walk through the gardens so I can relax." 'At that scoffs and smacks his lips.'
PS: "Hear I though you just toke a detour passed the kitchen to get some cake. I still don't understand how you can eat those cakes."

'I giggle at that.' I have always like how he acts against me, he doesn't care about my statues or that I'm immortal. "You have only tried one piece of cake and you didn't like it, there're so many more kinds of cake Pin Scroll."
'At that he turns and look at my direction with his blind white eyes and scuffs.' "I said it once and I will say it again, your sweet tooth will kill a normal pony Celestia. But we're not hear to question your cake habits."

C: "Your right, it's about the magical energy that exploded in Everfree." 'He nods.'
PS: "I know you felt the surge of magical power." 'I nod and keep quiet as he continues.' "I managed to analyse the spell that was used, here is the diagram and power level off the spell." 'He levitate a scroll over to me.'

PS: "As you can see it is an old battle spell that was used fire element as it base, I think it's called "Immolate". An spell that gives out an blast of fire setting ablaze every thing in the effect zone." 'I confirm this by reading the scroll.'

PS: "But that's not all, this spell was been modify with lower level explosion to give an faster spread of the blast. Then we have the magnitude that was used, based on my calculation this creature is 2/5 as strong as you that's three times as strong as me, but I can't be sure until its found." 'At this my eyes go wide.' C: "Are you sure about that?" 'He nods.'
'He turns to resume his work as I start walking out with the scroll under my wing.'

As I exit the lab I see a Royal Guard waiting for me. 'He gives a quick salute.' "Your Highness, the squads have returned with a creature that is thought to be the one that used the spell, It's in a secure area of Red site with guards and Dr. Ever Hoof is analyse the creature."
"Thanks Spear Point, I will head there myself, I want to see want manner of creature it is." 'I start heading to red site.'