Author's Note

Hey, so this Is my first story ever published on this site, and I would like to thank you for taking the time to read this. This story was born as a result of me thinking, 'Hey, what would happen if a pre-war changeling queen was thrown into the wasteland' in the world of Kkat's amazing Fallout: Equestria, while still set in Equestria at War, a great mod for Hearts of Iron 4.

I would greatly appreciate it if you spot any spelling mistakes, errors, and punctuation,(punctuations are my greatest weakness.) I will try my best at fixing them quickly, this story was made with the help of Grammarly. (the free version is good enough) any constructive criticism is also appreciated.

Let me know what you think about this story it'll help me out a lot.

With that out of the way updates will be slow, and thank you again for reading this.

Prologue: Into a New World

Everglade Hive
Year 1035
Throne Room

It was another day at the Hive Spire sitting on my throne waiting for any of my subjects from the Everglade Town (yes you heard it right I have non-changeling subjects). I sighed heavily watching as nocreature came ‘It seems court will be slow today. I solemnly thought to myself glancing towards the entrance and at my two guards (and before I continue, let me explain something real quick, each hive has different colors representing themselves and their hives. The Everglades' color is dark green so you can imagine that my drones have dark green eyes, wings, and carapace as such I being the Queen sport those colors having a dark green mane+tail, eyes, carapace, and wings, and the usual zigzagging jagged horns that changelings possess. To differentiate myself from other queens, I have elected to adopt a purple chitin faceplate and a heavier green chitin on my neck as opposed to the usual charcoal black.

As I glanced at my two guards wearing their chitin armor underneath their olive green Everglade Army uniform barding and their steel M-56 helmets alongside their battle saddle with the Everglade standard issue RK-30 assault rifle, the two gave me a salute with their right foreleg and lowered them after I nodded at them.

Just as when things were to get even more boring a Unicorn pony trotted into the throne room “What have you come here for?” I said sternly to the Unicorn pony now standing in the middle of the throne room.

Upon closer inspection the Unicorn is a stallion who has a reddish-orange coat with a similar mane to match, wearing a dark tuxedo and an image of two bits for a cutie mark.

“Well, your highness.” The stallion first began and upon closer inspection of the hoof patch on his left hoof and I realized that he is a sales pony from Stable-Tec, and immediately my mood soured.

“We here at Stable-Tec would like permission to build a Stable in the Everglade Town to keep both changelings and other residents, even if some of them are Zebras.” He finished saying.

“Look, my answer will always be the same and that is a no. I will not allow you nor anyone else from Stable-Tec from building a Stable.” I said sternly looking deep into his eyes for I knew the truth of Stable-Tec’s Stables, I knew what they were up to and the fact that about 90% of these Stables experiment on their inhabitants. As to how I got this knowledge, well my infiltrators have informed me of this either telling me personally or through the hive mind, the result is always the same.

Ever since the war between Equestria and the Zebrican Empire began 9 years ago it has been increasingly harder for changelings to gather love as the Ponies have become more keen-eyed when it comes to spotting infiltrators because of the Zebra’s stealth suit, well not for me though as we’ve had a town where my non-changeling subjects live a town built centuries ago.

Ok well back to the present with the Stable-Tec sales pony. “Well furthermore I haven’t taken a stance on the war like many of my changeling peers and may I remind you that throughout the town I have built Evacuation Shelters and if need be the Hive Spire can serve as a Stable.” I fully explained to him my reasons for refusal as I have done in the past to Stable-Tec’s proposals.

“But-“ I cut him off “But what? My answer is final, now leave before I have my guards drag you out of here.” I finished leaving him to ponder what I had just said.

After a brief moment, he turned around and trotted out of the throne room. Once he’s gone I released a sigh and slumped down on my throne.

Then suddenly I hear a frantic call from the hivemind, it was from one of my infiltrators in Equestria “Your Highness Cloudsdale has been struck by a Balefire Megaspell. I repeat Cloudsdale has been struck.” My eyes shot open.

“Alright thank you for the information, now please stop what you are doing and get back here IMMEDIATELY!” I exclaimed and continued this time to address the rest of my hive via hivemind “To all of my drones operating inside and outside of Equestria I am issuing Code Exfil I repeat Code Exfil is in effect.” After I finished issuing the order I turned to my guards who are now sporting serious expressions on their faces “You two get out there and begin evacuating the civilians into the Hive Spire or the many evacuation shelters IMMEDIATELY!” I paused but continued “Time is of the essence.” After I finished issuing my order the two guards saluted and galloped out of the throne room turning left and heading onto a balcony facing the ocean.

I look up at the bright sunny sky. I saw many black dots coming closer to the hive and the town attached to ‘I’m not sure if they’re going to make it back in time’ I grimly thought. Glancing down and staring across the Luna Bay I could spot Vanhoover a city close by what was once the Unified changeling Lands-Equestria border.

As I was staring at the city, horror-struck as Vanhoover had lit up in a fiery mushroom cloud of a Balefire Megaspell, I turned and galloped back inside the Hive Spire and made my way to the throne room where I could spot one of my changeling advisors galloping up to me.

“Your Highness we have evacuated as many citizens as we could to the shelters.” She spoke to which I nodded, comforted by the knowledge that at least some of my subjects are safe.

“Good, are the stasis pod ready?” I asked my advisor looking at her with a serious look and staring back at me, she nodded.

“Affirmative your Highness, the pod is ready” she responded, looking satisfied I trotted up to her “What are we waiting for? Let's go.” I said and continued trotting past her and going down a set of stairs behind the throne room.

Once I reached the podroom I had a look of horror staring as there was only one stasis pod I spotted a drone wearing a lab coat, she was looking apologetically at me.

“Apologies, your highness but we were only able to construct one stasis pod.” she solemnly said, looking down on the floor.

“I… I see.” I stammered out. I was hoping we’d be able to construct enough to save at least a majority of my hive, stating back at her “Please look up, you tried your best.” I kindly said and I could see her looking up at me with gratitude. I inched closer crouching down to eye level and began nuzzling her to which I could hear satisfied chittering from her. After a few moments, I stood up.

“If there is no other way then I shall step into the pod,” I said with resolve. If my hive can’t survive with me then I shall survive to continue the Everglade Hive somewhere sometime in the future, I stepped into the pod which now encased me with green fluid.

As I began to feel myself falling asleep my last sight was of my advisor and scientist watching me with smiles on their faces as if they’d accepted their fates. And with that my eyes closed and I entered into deep slumber.

Year 1235
Everglade Hive

I awoke as the stasis pod opened, stepping out into the pod room which was lit up by one hivelight and I was immediately greeted by the sight of two skeletons… two changeling skeletons to be precise, with sadness I lowered down on all fours.

“Rest in peace, for you have served the hive well” I said and then stood back up, looking around the hive was just as black as I could remember. Then as if it had struck me from out of nowhere I felt hunger… extreme hunger.

Frantically I looked around the room for anything I could eat whether it be love or normal food even if eating normal food will be less satiating it will at least keep me alive until I could find love or anything adjacent to it.

After I was beginning to lose hope that I would find anything in the pod room then I spotted in the hooves of my scientist, a pink blob of love jelly that she was clutching to her chest.

‘Aha’ I thought with a victorious smirk quickly trotting back to her and falling to my haunches, I snatched the love jelly into my forelegs and begin drained the jelly until it disappeared, and immediately that extreme hunger had dissipated but that love jelly wasn’t enough I needed more for I am still hungry ‘At least it won’t be life-threatening hunger’ I glumly thought.

I trotted up the stairs and into a dark hallway fortunately my natural night vision made that issue rather trivial.

I turned right continuing down the hallway passing the occasional skeleton, I looked to my left stopping dead in my tracks as the room I had stopped in front of was none other than the nursery, staring into the room, sadness filling my eyes.

This was where the hive’s young, the grubs we're taken into after they’d hatched, and now… they’re gone ‘Keep it together Aurelia the hive’s not dead not as long as you're still around’ I thought to myself trying desperately to reassure myself.

After that moment I continued moving forward in search of the storeroom hoping to find more love jelly or any food infused with love for I am still hungry and any use of magic will drain my already meager love supply. The only exception is maintaining a disguise though it depends on what form I take as anything taller than me will start to use up love to maintain the form. Telekinesis on the other hoof will not drain my love reserves unless it's something heavy.

After walking for what seemed hours I arrived at the storeroom I gulped nervously ‘Well here’s hoping that there’s still something in there after the hive-mother knows what.

Trotting up to the door, passing two skeletons still wearing their olive green uniforms and their battlesadles with their weapons still attached to them. I had stopped in front of the terminal booting it up, bringing me to a screen where I had to input a password. Now I could just simply hack the terminal but being the Queen, I know all the passwords.

After I had typed the password I was shocked upon witnessing the date that showed on the bottom left of the terminal 1235 it read ‘by the hive-mothers… I’ve been asleep for 200 years. ' my shock had ended just as quickly as it came as I spotted two sections labeled; Door Controls, Notes. There was also an audio file but I’ll look at that last.

I pressed ‘Notes’ just to see what was on it but I didn’t pay much attention to them as I already knew the contents of them. Instead I looked at the latest dated 1037 just two years after the Megaspells dropped. I pressed it and began reading the contents.

Date: 1037
The Queen is safely slumbering inside the stasis pod while Staphy and I have been given the task of keeping the love storeroom safe for as long as we can until the Queen arises from her slumber.

Signed Larynx

It was brief but it got the point across and I turned to look at the two skeletons on the floor ‘So those were Staphy and Larynx’ I solemnly thought for I knew the names of every single drone in my hive but the skeletons are unrecognizable. I turned to look back at the terminal and exited the ‘Notes’ section and began playing the audio log.

“Audio log… Hi this is Staphy here decided to make an audio log after I saw Larynx write a note so I figured ‘Hey why not make something from me’ So ta-da here I am making an audio log and umm where was I again? Oh yeah” I chuckled fondly remembering the personalities of my drones and yes I know we're all connected In the hivemind but unlike the other Queens I had allowed my drones individuality which I think was a great idea, but I digress and let’s continue to listen to the audio log.

“So basically Larynx and I have been tasked with guarding the love store rooms for as long as we live well… at least until Queen Aurelia wakes up however long that’ll be and yeah basically that's it and oh no I could see Larynx glaring at me for using the Queen’s name, well gotta go bye!” I sighed no matter how many times I told my drones that they are allowed to use my name they still refused to do it.

‘Welp no use in thinking about it now’ I thought pressing the ‘Door controls’ and opening the door as it made a loud grinding noise for not being in use for so long. Once the door opened I stepped into the storeroom. Looking around what I found was… to be honest with you I very much hoped to find a lot of things to eat but what I found instead was old decaying love jelly or rotten food, I continued to look around some more hoping to find something, anything that's still edible the search had led me to a box in the far left corner of the room ‘the last box… unopened hope to the hive-mothers specifically the Great Hive-Mother Zagria’ I prayed that this last box still had something edible in it for I am still hungry.

Opening the box and to my great delight I found five pieces of love jelly still intact glowing pink amongst a pile of empty gray jellies, falling to my haunches. I quickly grabbed the five love jellies and quickly drained them until they disappeared.

I felt better no longer was I hungry but it will only keep me satiated for at least maybe one to two days and five days if I don’t use magic or shapeshift, but now the question remains what to do next? I could continue to rummage through the other store rooms for more supplies but I had nothing to carry even if I did find something. So my next option is to look through the hive’s armory.

Nodding to myself with a new goal in mind stepped back out into the dark hallway backtracking from where I came from and continuing left of the hallway.

************

After walking for what seemed like hours and passing by the nursery and pod rooms respectively (not to mention passing by more skeletons of my drones) I stood right in front of the armory with a skeleton slumped on the right of the door and a terminal to its left. Walking towards the terminal I was met with a password input, I then inputted the password that I remember briefly hoping that the password hasn’t changed, when I heard a soft ding from the terminal refocusing my attention it brought me to two sections one was labeled ‘Door Controls’ and another labeled ‘Current Situation’ I decided to read the one labeled Current Situation.

Date: 1035

The Queen is currently in hibernation and the situation outside is dire, nocreature knows what's going on outside as the hive’s doors have been shut. There are reports of explosions ringing all across Equestria with Vanhoover having been hit by a Megaspell… I’m glad we were able to evacuate as many citizens of Everglade Town and safely inside the shelters before any radiation or taint hits us, it is safe to say that we’ll never be able to leave the hive for the foreseeable future.

If the Queen wakes up while the rest of us have died we have placed some equipment on a table in the middle of the armory, their weapons as well as some energy weapons there, and a saddle bag as well as a uniform and armor fitted to the Queen’s proportions.

With that out of the way, we’re preparing to hunker down for now.

Signing off -Captain Chimera

I sighed after reading the note ‘I don’t think any of us were expecting to hunker down for two hundred years’ I thought with a hint of sadness. After reading the note I opened the door hearing the familiar grinding noise I had heard from before.

Stepping inside the armory. I saw weapons all over the room as well as some ammo boxes in the left corner, but most importantly I saw the table in the middle of the room and on the said table there were the aforementioned supplies, there was a nice brown saddle bag fitted to allow room to unfurl my wings inside my carapace, as well as a nice olive green Everglade Army uniform barding fitted to my size and an olive green peaked cap with the Olenian insignia of a red rose.

I donned them, first wearing the army barding over my natural chitin armor, then the saddle bag with two slots on each side for any weapons I might have(battle saddle), and finally the peaked cap fitted nicely in my head. Once that was done I looked around to try and find some weapons.

A thing to note about the firearms of the Everglade Hive is that our firearms are manufactured to be interchangeable between having a trigger guard for when a griffon or hippogriff is wielding them or having an open hoofed trigger for ponies, zebras, deer, and changelings to wield.

Looking around the room scanning the racks for anything for any weapons that I could use. After scanning the room I found a Zagr-5 pistol inside a holster laying on a weapon rack on the left side of the armory along with five clips of ammunition, pulling the clips into my left breast pocket and attaching the holster to my left hoof, I continued my search. After looking around some more I found a saber alongside a sheath which I promptly inspected before equipping the saber to my left.

After I was done searching the weapon racks I walked towards the ammo boxes on the left corner there are two ammo boxes on both the left and right sides, I decided to search through the left ammo box, opening the cover I found one singular SM-43 stick grenade as well as five assault rifle magazines which promptly pocketed the grenades into my saddlebags. Satisfied, I searched through the right ammo box, and inside I found three more assault rifle magazines and a RK-30 rifle, after a brief inspection I decided to sling my rifle over to my right side.

Once I was satisfied with searching through the armory I walked my way out of the armory before turning left and walking up a flight of stairs with my next objective being to see what medical supplies I can scrounge up before leaving and exploring the new world after the Balefire spells dropped

***********

After walking for many hours in the dark hallway of the black hivespire I arrived at the hospital wing of the hive. ‘I swear this place can be a maze and I’m the one that lived in it’ I thought to myself as I pushed open the dark gray doors of the hospital.

Once inside I looked around the dark gray room, there was a reception desk in the middle of the room with two doors to its left and right, and there are chairs on both sides of the room. After I had inspected the room I began walking towards the reception desk. There is a terminal in the middle of it, I don’t need to look at the terminal, I began combing through the drawers finding nothing but deteriorated paper with nothing legible on them anymore.

Digging around some more I finally found what I was looking for buried underneath a slew of moldy paper laid a dark green key. Grabbing it with my right hoof and promptly placed it in my saddlebags before turning to my left and heading through the door. Once through I was greeted with more skeletons laying on the floor or slumped against the door. Looking around I spotted a door to the end of the hallway alongside two doors to my right. Walking forwards I passed by the two doors intent on reaching the door at the end of the hallway.

Finally reaching the end of the hallway the door had a hoofprint scanner and above it there was a sign that read ‘Storage Room’ and below it the sign read ‘Authorized Personnel Only’ Lifting my left arm and inserting it onto the scanner I heard a ding and the door slid open. Stepping into the room there were stacks and stacks of crates though one had captured my interest.

It was a small medical box with the design of a red and gray cross etched onto its surface. Opening it revealed two radaways and two health potions ‘Not much but it’ll do’ grabbing them one by one and stuffing them into my saddlebags. Once done I turned around and walked back out into the hallway with my natural night vision guiding the way through the dark hallway.

Exiting the hallway and back into the lobby I continued my way through the exit and back into the Hive Spire. Looking around I could see two more hallways, to my right and straight ahead. Deciding that I was done here I headed straight walking towards the throne room.

Reaching the throne room I could see signs of age and disrepair showing as is common among the halls of the Hive Spire and more skeletons of my drones, walking towards the throne situated in the middle of the room with a red carpet that flows from the throne and towards the outside.

Transforming my right hoof into a black griffon foreleg, equipping my Zagr-5 pistol from my holster on my left foreleg, and wielding it into my talon I ventured out opening the large double doors of the Hive Spire, unsure of what lies beyond.