Leviathan had been stupid. He’d dropped the marble he’d been messaging his mother with and led her right to them. Irradiance’s expression once he’d realized what was happening was heartbreaking.

He didn’t mean to bring them to the hive. Sure, he’d told Lilith that they were going to be there that evening, but he was going to come up with a plan to ditch that! He would explain that the artifact was stolen, or he’d have Amber come up with some excuse! She was more believable if only because the ponies were scared to disagree with a Dragon.

Leviathan would have explained! He would have really told Irradiance that these feelings were new and then transformed, explaining exactly what that meant! And he was a wary pony, sure, but Irradiance had to like Leviathan at least a little, right?

Emerald. Irradiance liked Emerald, not Leviathan. In fact, the stallion hadn’t even known the Pegasus was a Changeling until right up at that final moment! Every shared night’s sleep, every small conversation the pair had exchanged, was with Emerald and Irradiance, not a handsome stallion and the Changeling Prince.

“Idiot!” Leviathan muttered to himself in his room, angrily reflecting on all of his misdeeds. He had led all of his friends to the hive and now they were doomed! Unless he could come up with a plan, that was.

“Dearest!” Mother. “Feeding time is in the morning. Have you prepared your speech?” The Queen was very particular about the order of things. Every time a long-lasting source of food was found for the hive, she or her son presented it with a long speech about the good of the hive, promoting peace between each other, and how all ponies must be destroyed once they were at the height of their power. There was one instance where an attack was set to strike, but Chrysalis had gotten there first, leaving Lilith and her Changelings to remain hidden in Everfree. It was a hidden success, Leviathan had thought at the time. No invasions meant no capture by the historic Elements of Harmony.

“Yes, Mother,” Leviathan called back, exhausted. He was doing mental backflips as he tried to map out the hive and consider an escape route.

“Excellent. The little orange one shall be our private breakfast; the purple one will be brought to the throne room in the morning, as well.” Leviathan’s eyes shot wide open. She was going to sacrifice Irradiance instantly? He thought there was an order of death and, well, he didn’t know Marigold all that well anyway, so the harm in losing her couldn’t have been as great as losing Irradiance or Hibiscus or Cobalt (though the blue Pegasus surely wouldn’t be a loss either. In terms of brain power, at least).

“Oh… great!” He forced out, trying to sound as excited as his mother. He was young and so, opposed to most logic, his appetite was smaller than those around him. Larvae are the hungriest, then it slows down as he grows to an adolescent, and then it increases into full adulthood. He was on the precipice of a greater hunger, sure, but he was fine to go at least a month without feeding on magic, still. “And what’s the physical effect on ponies after draining their magic, again? I mean, we haven’t had one this powerful since I’ve been born, so…”

Lilith was squealing as she described the effects from the feed, “Oh, it’s magical, Leviathan. I remember this great sorcerer we’d stolen long before your time. They never truly die, you know. Remember those myths I’d tell you where the ponies would just turn grey and tired, eventually losing all sense of hope?”

“Yes,” Leviathan felt a sense of dread filling his stomach.

“That’s what you’ll witness!” Lilith was too excited and though she was outside the prince’s room, not within, he could feel her excitement dripping across the floor. “Of course, it’ll take at least a year for it to really start taking effect. His mood will drop, I’m sure, but physically he won’t start to change color until long into the process. Long for ponies, anyway.”

AHHHHH!!!!!! If Leviathan could form thoughts that were louder than a whisper, he would! He wanted to scream and cry and yell and fight back against his mother because why did it have to be Irradiance? Why did he have to start feeling these feelings and why did Lilith have to find them?

“Thank you, Mother.”

“Of course, dearest! I’ll call you when you’re needed.” Lilith was gone. Thank Tartarus.

How to escape a Changeling Hive? If only there was a library in the hive, then maybe Leviathan could seek answers somewhere! He could transform and return to Canterlot? No, that would take too long. He could guide Irradiance and the others out using the royal tunnels? No, Lilith knew about those! Once she noticed everyone was missing, she’d be curious and hunt them down. Unless…

Exiting his room and flying to one of the guard stations, Leviathan searched until he found just the Changeling he was looking for. “Abbadon!” He called, walking over to his friend.

“Hey, Leviathan!” The Changeling grinned at the appearance of the prince, “You need me again?” There was a smirk spreading across his mouth and Leviathan quickly shook his head.

“No, but thank you. I was wondering if you’d do me another favor, though.”

Abbadon nodded, still smiling. He was always Leviathan’s closest friend in the hive, assigned as his personal guard until he was old enough to defend himself. “What’s up?”

“The pony I was speaking to earlier,” He started, unsure exactly what his plan was. “I need to get him out.” Abbadon seemed confused.

“Out? Isn’t he our next meal?”

Leviathan sighed and shook his head, “I don’t know. No. He’s important to me, that’s what matters. I will find a new source of food or something for the hive but I can’t let Mother have him. Can you help me?”

The guard was conflicted for a moment, crimson eyes flickering between Leviathan’s before he settled, “Okay. Sure.”

“Really?” Pure shock spread across the prince’s face. Abbadon chuckled.

“Yes, Your Highness. We’re friends and you’ve never done me wrong. If you say you’ll find some other solution, I’ll believe you!” His expression turned unsure, “I don’t know if anyone else will, though. Best to keep whatever your plan is between the two of us.” Leviathan nodded.

“I was thinking of using the royal tunnels to get him out. Him, and the two ponies on the lower levels.”

“The pink and blue ones?” Leviathan nodded. “Okay… I don’t know what order you’re going in, but end at whichever level gets you to the tunnel entrance first. What’s my part in this?”

“You know the guard schedules better than I do, as well as who will be there first. Can you give me a signal or something for when it changes?” Abbadon nodded.

“If you’re going to get them out one at a time then you should get them all during lunch hour. Everyone’s supposed to be on the lookout because no one’s actively guarding individual cells, but we’re all too busy socializing to be doing our jobs properly,” Abbadon laughed at the end there but quickly cut himself off, pointing at Leviathan with a stern hoof, “Don’t tell your mother I said that.”

“Okay, lunch hour, got it. Would… would you help the other two get to the tunnels?” Leviathan proposed.

“Changeling guards don’t know where the tunnels are, your highness. Only yourself, Queen Lilith, and any other Changeling royalty that might exist is privy to that information.”

“I know, I know. I just need to focus on Irradiance. If you can get the others out, or at least show them where the tunnels are while I get him last, I’d be in your debt forever, Abbadon. I mean it.”

The Changeling guard seemed to consider the offer for a moment. Weighing the pros and cons (execution wasn’t uncommon in the Sacrificial Hive. Lilith took respect quite seriously and if Abbadon was found out, she’d have his head, Leviathan was certain. That’s why the ask was so large), Abbadon slowly nodded, “Okay. Show me where the tunnels are.”

After the conversation with Abbadon, escaping didn’t sound so difficult. The guard was sweet to the prince and seemed entirely willing to help him and the ponies out!

“Hey,” Leviathan whispered as he once again drew near to Irradiance’s cage. It was awful seeing him stuck to the floor, but what could he do? If Leviathan freed the Unicorn, someone else would just come along and re-stick him! “I brought you some food.” Through the bars, the prince slid a tray of far more appetizing food to the stallion, trading it out for the awful slop that had been presented to him initially.

“Thanks,” was all the purple stallion uttered as he awkwardly bent down to eat. Leviathan weighed the consequences of his actions and decided he’d rather free Irradiance temporarily than actively watch him struggle in his restraints. With a flash of crimson magic, the red substance glueing him to the floor was gone. Irradiance’s head popped up, looking at Leviathan with a conflicting mix of emotions before landing on something that resembled thanks. Leviathan just nodded.

“I spoke to a fellow guard about how to get you guys out,” The prince began as Irradiance scarfed down the meal. It was something a nearby pony village had left out on their window sill. Leviathan wanted to call it farmer’s pie, or some other strange name. “Tomorrow, around the lunch hour–”

“Didn’t you say Marigold would be fed off of in the morning?” Leviathan tilted his head back and forth as he tried to explain the time difference in the hive.

“Like I said, time is weird here. No windows means no real time. Lunch hour for Changelings is usually sometime early in the day, so prior to Marigold’s, uh. Death.” The wording was harsh but Leviathan lacked a better vocabulary. Irradiance seemed to understand.

“Okay, lunch hour,” He took a few more bites of the pie, “And then what? Won’t we get caught?”

Leviathan grinned devilishly, “There are these royal escape tunnels built for any possible invasions in the hive that only royalty know about,” he started, mapping out a crude sketch of the hive on the dirt that lay between the bars of Irradiance’s cage and the prince, “And I’m going to escort you there myself, while Abbadon– that’s the guard I spoke to– leads Cobalt, Hibiscus, and Marigold there, under the guise of preparing a meal.”

“A meal made of ponies,” Irradiance deadpanned.

“Yes, a meal made of ponies.”

The pair sat in silence for a moment as Irradiance finished his meal, handing the tray back to the Changeling through the bars, tilting his head to slide it through the narrow passage. As it was passed to Leviathan, both stallions’ muzzles seemed to linger for a few moments more than necessary, eyes meeting dangerously as something sparked between them. Chemistry or anger, Leviathan wasn’t sure which Irradiance’s eyes held, but he hoped it was the former.

“Okay,” The purple Unicorn began to nod as he took in what the basis of the plan was, “So early morning you’ll get me and lead me out?”

“Most all of the guards will be distracted and since you’re the highest level, it’s smart for me to come get you since, you know,” Leviathan gestured to himself, “Royalty and all.” Irradiance managed a small laugh and a smile. A victory in the prince’s book.

“Okay, that sounds good.” Irradiance slowly lowered himself onto the ground, laying with his front hooves out in front of him and his back legs tucked close to his body. He had brought himself as close to the edge of the prison cell as possible, muzzle managing to reach through the bars if he’d chosen to do so. Leviathan felt his breath hitch for a minute as the purple stallion looked at him with those beautiful turquoise eyes. “Can you, um… can you stay for a while?”

Heart stuttering, Leviathan nodded, untrusting of what his mouth might say.

“I’m still angry at you, but I’ve been standing up straight for hours now. Plus I’ve been all alone. You can put me back once you leave, obviously, since I’m sure your mother would once she returns–”

“I’ll stay, Irradiance,” Leviathan cut the stallion off as he began to ramble. He smiled warmly, red eyes gleaming at the pony he had begun to admire so much on this journey. “I’ll stay.”

“Thank you,” Irradiance whispered, poking his muzzle between the bars, reaching out to Leviathan, who was unsure what the gesture was supposed to be. Irradiance gestured at the prince to mimic the gesture.

“Oh!” Leviathan lay down as well, mirroring Irradiance’s stance, before leaning his face between the bars as Irradiance pressed his muzzle against the prince’s. It wasn’t a kiss by any means– Leviathan had seen what that was supposed to look like. This was something… softer. More intimate, he’d argue. What pony would trust someone else so much to place their mouths so close together knowing the other wouldn’t take advantage of the situation? (And believe him, Leviathan wanted to take advantage of the situation. What was more romantic than a high-stakes adventure?)

Irradiance slowly pulled away, cheeks slightly pinker. Leviathan hoped he’d get another chance at knowing the Unicorn once he got him out of this mess.

“Leviathan!” A hiss came over his shoulder and the prince quickly sat up, blinking sleep from his eyes. When had he fallen asleep? Panicked, the Changeling looked within the cell before him, seeing Irradiance sound asleep with his muzzle pressed against the cell’s bars. A pang of… something went through Leviathan’s chest at the sight.

“How long was I out for?” Leviathan turned to Abbadon, which he was thankful this was the guard who had found him. Abbadon just shook his head.

“Not long. Your mother sent me to look for you since you were absent from your chambers,” Abbadon studied the pair, looking at the still-asleep purple stallion and then back at the prince, who had a strange look in his eye. “Do you… care for the ponies?”

“Why?” Leviathan quickly responded. If his closest friend lacked the understanding that he’d changed as a Changeling, Leviathan wouldn’t tolerate it. Abbadon shook his head once more.

“Just curious. I’ve never seen you like this before. Not even with Dragon Lord Amber, and you were betrothed to be married, weren’t you?” Leviathan nodded slowly.

“I’ve never felt this way. I didn’t… I didn’t want to bring him here once I realized what I was feeling. Amber had joined us early on and she watched from afar until she explained to me what I might be feeling is…”

“Love,” Abbadon finished.

“Yeah,” Leviathan nodded, smiling as he turned back to look at Irradiance, “Love.”

“It’s a strange emotion. Shame we aren’t like Chrysalis’ hive or we could feed off of your love for him, right?” The guard shoved Leviathan lightly, chuckling as he did so. Leviathan let out a small laugh as well, cheeks reddening.

“Oh, shut up. Go return to my mother and tell her I was just doing pre-rounds before the late shift takes place.”

Abbadon left and the pair were alone once more. There was a sound of muffled laughter and Leviathan snapped his head to see Irradiance was waking up.

“After spending the night together a couple of times you’d think you would have learned what it looks like when I’m really asleep,” The purple stallion stretched, slowly standing up with a smirk on his face. “Love? Really? Am I that charming that you’ve fallen for me in four days while I yelled at you for a large portion of our time together?”

Leviathan sputtered, “Oh, please! Like you haven’t felt anything. Touching our muzzles together? Really?” Irradiance’s purple face turned far closer to magenta and Leviathan huffed in satisfaction at the response. “I need to secure you back to the ground for when the next shift comes around. I’ll see you in the morning, okay?”

“Okay,” Irradiance nodded.

Leviathan aimed his horn at the stallion’s hooves, blasting red across his feet and once more securing him to the black floor within his prison, preventing him from laying or standing any more comfortably. It felt awful keeping him like this, but if the escape plan was to go as planned, the pair needed to feign normalcy.

“I’ll make sure Abbadon gets Cobalt, Marigold, and Hibiscus out before I come to you. If anything goes wrong, I’ll do whatever I can to help everyone out, okay?” Irradiance nodded slowly and Leviathan prepared himself to leave.

“Be safe,” Irradiance breathed. Leviathan smiled warmly back at him, inhaling deeply.

“I will be.”

Author's Note

me when i plan an escape for my hot sexy unicorn boyfriend except were not official yet so i have to act like i don't have to make out with him at all hours of the day :0
i like this chapter :)