Shadow of the Hive

Chapters

The begining
The hive
Conspiracy
The queen
Endgame: War - Shadow of the Hive

The begining

"Spike, we're leaving now. Are you sure you'll be alright at home by yourself? Do you want me to find somepony to watch over you or call Starlight back?" Twilight asked with some concern, standing at the castle door. She and her five friends had been summoned by the friendship map for a mission in distant Griffonstone, and Starlight was in the Crystal Empire helping Twilight with some research, leaving Spike the only one at home. Twilight felt uneasy about it.

"I'll be fine. I'm old enough to take care of myself. You go on and handle your mission, and don't worry about me," Spike said, waving his hand dismissively, his face full of confidence and ease.

Twilight stepped forward and gave the little dragon a gentle hug. "I hope I can come back soon. Is there anything you want me to bring back for you?"

"Really?! I want the new edition of Giant Dungeons and Dragons released this month! You know, I've told you about it," Spike said excitedly, nestled in Twilight's embrace.

Of course, Twilight knew. Ever since Spike saw the new release of Dungeons and Dragons a week ago, he'd been clamoring for it, but it was quite pricey. Twilight thought it wasn't worth spending so much money on, as those merchants always used various gimmicks to set high prices for their goods.

"Of course I can buy it for you. After all, you're my little dragon," Twilight said helplessly, kissing him on the forehead before reluctantly letting him go.

"I'm off then."

"Yeah, don't worry about the house. Just go quickly, or you'll be late. Your friends are waiting for you."

Spike watched Twilight leave and then closed the castle door.

"Yay!" Spike jumped up excitedly. Now that no one could control him, he could do whatever he wanted at home. "No need to get up early to cook, no need to study with Twilight, I can read comics as late as I want, eat whatever I want. Just thinking about it makes me happy," Spike said, dancing around.

He ran to the kitchen, grabbed a huge tub of ice cream, and placed it in the living room. Then he rummaged through the cabinet for his projector and his long-treasured horror movies that Twilight never let him watch. But now, nothing could stop him. He dragged over the sofa and plugged the projector into the magical power source.

"Everything's ready!" Spike wiped the sweat off his face, jumped onto the sofa, and picked up the ice cream, ready to enjoy his movie.

"Knock, knock, knock." A knocking sound came from downstairs. "Who is it?" Spike was a bit annoyed that somepony interrupted his fun.

"Coming, coming!" Despite his reluctance, Spike ran downstairs to open the door.

As he walked toward the door, he absentmindedly organized his thoughts. His hand lightly pressed on the door handle, and the door slowly opened. Just as he was about to tell the visitor that Princess Twilight wasn't home and they would need to come back in a few days, his eyes fell on the pony standing outside. "Hello! Princess Twilight isn't home. If you're looking for her, you'll have to come back in a few days." His voice lingered in the air, but before he finished speaking, he suddenly realized it was Twilight standing at the door.

"Twilight! Why are you back?" Spike's surprised voice broke the silence of the room. His eyes widened as he looked at Twilight, as if to confirm that this wasn't a hallucination.

"Aren't you supposed to be on a mission?" Spike said with some frustration, knowing that if Twilight stayed, his plans would be ruined.

"Of course, we still need to go, but the train is delayed by half an hour, probably blocked by some animals on the tracks again," Twilight said awkwardly. "I thought I'd come back and check on you."

"Have you eaten any ice cream, reorganized my books? I was about to tell you that the pile of books I used for research yesterday hasn't been put back. Do we still have enough food at home? Maybe I should call Starlight back..." Twilight started to ramble.

Spike found Twilight's incessant worrying both amusing and heartwarming. She was the closest thing he had to family.

"Alright, I promise I'm fine. Trust me," Spike said, giving Twilight a reassuring hug, finally stopping her from her tirade.

"Sorry, Spike, I think I'm Twilighting again," Twilight said with an embarrassed smile.

"Are you really sure you're okay?" Twilight asked again, unwilling to give up.

"Yes, really, I'm fine. It's no big deal," Spike said, pushing Twilight out the door. "Don't worry, Mom," Spike said half-jokingly. "Go on, Twilight, your train will be here soon," he said, closing the door with a bang.

At just over twenty, she already nagged like an old mare, Spike thought, feeling a bit helpless. He knew she was his family, but it was hard to pinpoint exactly what she was. Sometimes she acted like his mother, other times like his sister. But in moments like this, her "mom" side was on full display.

Spike was ready to continue his celebration. He went back upstairs, picked up his ice cream, and just as he was about to start his wonderful day again, there was another knock at the door.

"Unbelievable!" Spike muttered, annoyed, as he rushed downstairs to open the door. "I really don't need you checking on me every two minutes. I'm not a baby!" Spike shouted at the pony knocking on the door.

"Here is your package, sir," Derpy said timidly, frightened by Spike's 'unique' greeting.

"Oh, sorry, sorry!" Spike apologized quickly when he saw who it was. "I thought you were Twilight."

Derpy pointed to the large box behind her, indicating it was for Spike.

"Is this my package?" Spike felt a bit puzzled. He hadn't ordered anything. Could it be something Twilight bought? He noticed that the box was bigger than Derpy herself. Could it be...

Spike's face lit up with a smile. "So fast!" He quickly signed for the package, sent Derpy on her way, and pushed the box into the castle.

"This must be the giant edition of Dungeons and Dragons," Spike thought excitedly, checking the label. It was addressed to Twilight, with the item listed as a "gift." Spike found this a bit odd.

"Could Twilight have bought it for me as a surprise? That must be it," Spike thought. Apart from Dungeons and Dragons, he didn't expect anything else.

The little dragon brought a saw from upstairs and slowly sawed open the side of the wooden box. As he removed the board, the contents inside shocked him.

It was a giant plant, but it looked more like a monster. Its body twisted and coiled like a giant snake curled on the ground. Its thick trunk was covered with mottled green and black spots, and its most terrifying feature was its ability to emit poisonous mist. At the top of the plant was a huge bud that opened occasionally, releasing green smoke. The smoke had a mesmerizing fragrance, but it hid deadly toxins that could put any creature into a deep coma. The monstrous plant writhed and noticed the little dragon who had opened the box.

Spike felt time come to a standstill. It was the first time he realized how close death was to him. Time passed, one second, two seconds... neither Spike nor the monster moved. Just as the thought of escape entered Spike's mind, a green mist sprayed from the bud, filling the castle hall with toxic gas. Spike ran desperately towards the door, though it was only a few steps away. To the little dragon at this moment, it felt like a climb to heaven. The toxins worked too quickly, and Spike was sure this terrifying plant could make any pony within a hundred meters unconscious in an instant.

Spike felt that with each breath, the acrid smoke in the air clung to his lungs like invisible tentacles, making his consciousness fuzzy. His limbs felt like they were made of lead, and each step took all his strength. The terrifying plant watched his struggle silently, as if enjoying the helplessness of its prey before its demise.

"One step, two steps..." Spike counted in his mind, each step feeling like traversing through endless darkness. In the poisonous mist, his will began to waver, the fear of approaching death binding his soul like a giant serpent. But even in such despair, a glimmer of unyielding light remained in Spike's heart.

Just as Spike was about to reach the castle door, thinking he was about to escape, the door suddenly opened. Two figures appeared before him. The mist was too thick for Spike to see them clearly.

"Help! Get me out of here," Spike shouted desperately.

He collapsed to the ground, and the two shadows approached him. When he finally saw them clearly, his hope turned into despair.

They were Changelings. Spike could hold on no longer and fainted.

"This is Team One. Target acquired, but no other targets found."

Author's Note

I always think that Twilight is Spike's 'Big One',like a parent,sister and so on.I love this thought.

The hive

Spike's consciousness gradually returned, even as a dull ache echoed in his mind. His eyes were still adjusting to the dim light around him. At first, he thought he was still in the castle, but as his vision cleared, he realized he was lying in a completely unfamiliar place.

His body felt incredibly stiff, as if tightly bound by something. He tried to move, only to find himself entangled in a hard, sticky substance. Raising his head, he saw that he was trapped in a huge cocoon, with only his head exposed. Surrounding him were dense, intricate tunnels, which looked like biological structures, both strange and terrifying.

A peculiar smell wafted through the tunnels, a mix of sweet and sour rot, making Spike feel nauseous. He was filled with both fear and confusion—how had he ended up here? Where was this place? Why had the Changelings captured him?

As Spike struggled to remember what had happened, he heard a rustling sound nearby. He looked over nervously and saw several Changelings bustling about in the tunnel. Their figures looked especially sinister in the dim light.

Spike now realized he was trapped in a Changeling hive. He had to find a way to escape.

He began to struggle, trying to tear apart the green, sticky cocoon that held him, but no matter how hard he tried, the mucus clung tightly to him. The more he struggled, the tighter the cocoon's grip became. Exhausted, Spike hadn't managed to move an inch.

Panting heavily, Spike realized escape was impossible. He felt both desperate and regretful, wishing he had listened to Twilight and let her find somepony to watch over him. He was terrified that he might never see Twilight and his friends again—Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack. If he couldn't get out, he would never see them again. Spike silently berated himself, thinking, "I'm sorry."

He prayed that his friends would come to rescue him, but the harsh reality told him it was impossible.

"Your friends have all gone to Griffonstone. You're alone at home, and nopony will know you've been captured. No creature will come to save you. How foolish you are," Spike berated himself. "Couldn't you just listen to Twilight? Couldn't you wait and ask her about the package instead of opening it directly?" Although no one could have predicted the trap in the package, Spike still felt it was his fault.

Now filled with regret, Spike thought about his last words to Twilight and their goodbye. He didn't want that to be the last time he saw her. He loved her and had so much he hadn't told her. Instead, he spent his days lost in his comics, helping her organize the library, and playing Dungeons and Dragons with Discord and Big Mac. It had been a long time since he truly spent time with Twilight. Tears streamed down his face at the thought.

But there wasn't much time for Spike to regret as the sound of buzzing wings echoed through the tunnel. Spike could feel a group of Changelings approaching his chamber.

As the sound grew closer, Spike saw their shadows in the dim light. He recognized the leader immediately—it was Queen Chrysalis. The terrifying memories flooded back—how she had impersonated Princess Cadance, controlled Shining Armor, and led her army to invade Canterlot, capturing Celestia and the others. That day, Changelings filled the skies, and the sounds of escape and cries for help filled the air. If it hadn't been for the real Princess Cadance's timely intervention, Canterlot might have become a giant hive.

"Well, well, look who I've caught. Isn't this Twilight Sparkle's little dragon?" Queen Chrysalis' sinister voice suddenly echoed in Spike's ear. He realized with a start that she was already in front of him.

"What do you want?" Spike shouted at her.

"Don't be so excited." Queen Chrysalis jumped onto the cocoon holding Spike.

"My last plan failed because of Twilight Sparkle and her friends, so this time I sent them a special gift," Chrysalis said, staring directly into Spike's eyes.

"But they were lucky not to be home and avoided it!" she said fiercely.

"I sent one to every one of their homes, and in the end, I only caught a useless little dragon."

Chrysalis jumped down, looking somewhat displeased with her catch.

"Of course, you couldn't catch them. They all went to Griffonstone. And I know what you're thinking—they won't be back for a while. Don't even think about using me to threaten them. I have nothing else to offer, just one dragon life. Do whatever you want with it," Spike said through gritted teeth, but his tears kept falling. "Goodbye, Twilight! Goodbye, my friends! I love you all," Spike silently bid his final farewell, closing his eyes, waiting for Chrysalis' judgment.

"Oh? What use is it to kill you? After all, you're just a useless little dragon. They wouldn't even bring you on their adventures," Queen Chrysalis said, somewhat surprised by Spike's resolve. He was still just a baby dragon.

Chrysalis fell silent for a moment, seemingly deep in thought.

After a while, she spoke to her subordinates: "It seems we won't be able to catch Twilight and her friends anytime soon. I need to rethink our plans for the hive. As for this dragon, keep him in the hive. He might be useful later." Then she turned and flew away.

A few Changelings removed Spike's cocoon from the web and started down another tunnel.

The Changelings flew steadily, not causing Spike any dizziness.

Spike was a bit surprised. Chrysalis hadn't harmed him, but where were these Changelings taking him?

What did she mean by keeping him in the hive? Were they going to imprison him? He'd rather go a month without comics than be trapped in a small room—that would be torture. He remembered when he was little, he burned Twilight's homework by mistake. Twilight locked him in his bedroom, and despite his crying and shouting, she didn't open the door until she finished redoing her homework. When Twilight finally opened the door, Spike pounced on her, crying and apologizing. It broke Twilight's heart. For an adult pony, it was nothing, but for a four- or five-year-old dragon, it left a deep psychological scar.

The Changelings carried Spike through several narrow tunnels into a new area. It was spacious, not open-air, but Spike could feel the light was much better here. There were also many young Changelings. Spike guessed this might be the living quarters of the hive.

The Changelings took Spike to a room in this area and released him from the cocoon.

"Stay here and don't think about escaping. You can't get out anyway. Changelings will bring you gems to eat every day," they said before leaving, leaving Spike alone and confused.

He had escaped death.

"Their way of imprisonment is quite strange," Spike muttered, making sure they were really gone.

Spike remembered that during Chrysalis' takeover of Canterlot, she also made him stand aside without any restraints.

He looked around. The door wasn't locked—it was a Changeling automatic door. As soon as he approached, it opened automatically. When closed, it looked indistinguishable from the surrounding walls. Spike wondered if Changelings ever walked into walls by mistake. The room had almost no decorations, just a potted plant with a strange black plant, a bed, and a small table and chair, just the right size for a creature like Spike.

"I guess this is a room for their kids," Spike said to himself. He looked up at the ceiling, where a magical light source emitted a dim light. It wasn't very bright but much better than where he was before.

Spike tried to walk outside, and sure enough, the wall-like door opened automatically, meaning he could move around freely here. The atmosphere outside was pleasant, with sunlight streaming through windows high above. His room was in a corridor with a strange, porous symbol above the door, possibly some kind of address system. The corridor seemed endless in one direction, the way the Changelings had brought him, but the other side was much more open, with what looked like a park not far away.

That must be where they hang out, Spike thought. He could faintly hear Changelings talking and playing over there.

Let's check it out. Maybe I can find an exit, Spike decided.

Spike walked in that direction, passing a few Changelings who only gave him a curious look before moving on. Just as he was about to reach the park, a Changeling bumped into him.

"Sorry, I didn't see you," Spike apologized quickly, not wanting to cause trouble on their turf.

"It's me, Spike."

"Huh, Thorax!"

Author's Note

This is chatper 2

Conspiracy

"Finally, I've found you. I heard Queen Chrysalis captured you and brought you here, so I rushed over to find you. Are you okay?" Thorax asked, his voice tinged with concern. This changeling looked much like the others, though Spike had always wondered how changelings recognized each other. However, he could easily identify Thorax by his slightly glowing wings.

"I'm fine—wait, what name did I give you when you transformed into a pony in the Crystal Empire?" Spike asked suspiciously.

"Crystal Hoof!" Thorax immediately understood what Spike meant.

"It's so good to see you!" Spike gave Thorax a hug right away. "I thought I was going to die, but they just imprisoned me here."

"Ever since I became friends with the Crystal Empire, their love and friendship have kept me from going hungry. I've been living there for a while now. Princess Cadance is very kind; she even arranged for me to stay in the palace and help Sunburst take care of the baby princess," Thorax said as Spike slowly released him from the hug.

"Oh? Then why are you here?" Spike asked, clearly confused.

"I received a signal from Queen Chrysalis to gather at the hive. The queen can emit a magical pheromone that tells all changelings to return to the hive. I suspected she might be planning another attack on Equestria. The ponies have helped me, so I should repay them. So I said goodbye to Cadance and came here alone to investigate the queen's plans," Thorax explained.

"Have you found out anything yet?" Spike pressed, as this concerned the safety of Equestria, his home, even though he was a dragon.

"Wait!"

Thorax was about to speak when Spike suddenly interrupted him. Spike grabbed his hoof and pulled him inside, closing the door and scanning the room suspiciously.

"There aren’t any changelings spying on us here, right?" Spike was as cautious as the pony who had hatched him.

Thorax freed himself from Spike's grasp, understanding Spike's concerns but knowing they were unfounded. "Don't worry, this is the hive's nursery area, where young changelings live and play. The changeling soldiers only come here to deliver food or repair the hive," Thorax explained slowly, trying to ease Spike's worries.

"Heh, guess I was overthinking it." Spike laughed awkwardly.

"I heard from some patrolling guards that the queen is creating a weapon that can disable all magic except for magical artifacts and changeling magic on a large scale," Thorax said, his expression turning serious.

"That's why she's planning to capture Twilight and the others—she can't disable the Elements of Harmony!" Spike realized, understanding Chrysalis’s motive for capturing them.

"You're right. Where are your friends? We need to rescue them immediately, or Equestria will be in grave danger." Thorax was excited because he understood the severity of the situation. His hoof rested on Spike's shoulder, his gaze fixed on Spike, ready to act as soon as Spike revealed their location.

Spike was amused by Thorax's seriousness. "Relax, the queen's plan might be temporarily thwarted because only I was captured," Spike explained, appreciating Thorax’s genuine friendship.

Hearing this, Thorax breathed a sigh of relief. "Then I need to get you out of here. I know a secret exit. Come on! We won’t be discovered." He grabbed Spike and started towards the door.

"No, we can't leave yet! Chrysalis has that weapon; she'll eventually find an opportunity to use it against Equestria. We need to destroy it!" Spike said, stopping Thorax.

"Are you sure? Just the two of us? We don't even know what it looks like." Thorax thought it was too dangerous.

"How will we know if we don't try? This concerns the fate of Equestria. We have a chance now; we must seize it," Spike said quietly, looking into Thorax’s eyes.

After a brief hesitation, Thorax nodded in agreement, and Spike thanked him sincerely.

"You are Equestria's forever friend." Spike bowed deeply to Thorax to show his gratitude.

"And so are you," Thorax replied with a smile.

Thus, the dragon and the changeling set off on their mission to save Equestria. Though neither was a pony, they, like many citizens of Equestria, loved the land and were willing to give everything for it. Equestria was Spike's home, and Thorax's second home. They set off.

Thorax suggested they first pass through the living area, then avoid the soldiers, and finally look for clues around the queen's throne room. Spike agreed with the plan.

"Let's go. Turn right after exiting the door, then we need to cross that park and enter the tunnel slanting upward. That tunnel leads directly to the throne room, usually only used by the queen," Thorax explained as they walked.

Spike opened the door, continuing to listen to Thorax’s plan while observing their surroundings.

They reached the park where many young changelings, aged around 4 to 13, were playing. Thorax told Spike that a changeling's life has three stages: the first stage is infancy, usually spent in the hive’s nursery, cared for by nurse changelings. When they reach four years old, they are sent to live here, where specialized changeling teachers train and care for them, teaching them changeling magic and obedience to the queen. This is the second stage. After turning 13, they are assigned different roles: the most capable join the military, others become teachers, and the rest become nurses. Despite their different roles, every changeling receives the same amount of food, as the queen says each role is equally important. Thorax added that he joined the military at 13 and led a boring life of patrolling, transporting food (love-filled cocoons), maintaining order, and even participating in invasions.

"That must have been really boring," Spike said, avoiding a few young changelings running past him.

"Yes, only the changelings in this stage have the happiest lives," Thorax pointed to the young changelings playing in the park. "Although they have to train daily, they have free time to play. They dream about the outside world and fantasize about joining the military and exploring when they grow up."

Spike looked in the direction Thorax pointed and saw several changelings gathered around a slightly older one, who seemed to be telling a story.

"And then, the poor pony encountered a bear." The older changeling transformed into a gray bear, baring its teeth.

"No, no, it was a polar bear!" A younger changeling pointed out.

"The teacher told us it was a polar bear," she continued in her childish voice.

"Ah, don't be so particular!" The storytelling changeling transformed into a polar bear.

"Hey! I heard it was Ursa Major!" Several young changelings expressed dissatisfaction, arguing noisily.

For some reason, Spike felt a bit sad. These changelings were just like the foals he saw every day, full of curiosity and joy, despite the constraints of the hive.

"Why can't we just live in peace?" Spike said regretfully, seemingly a bit angry.

"Because we can't, Spike," Thorax stopped, turned around, and patted Spike's shoulder, understanding his thoughts.

"We live off love, it's our nature to feed on the love of other beings. We can never change that."

"But you're different, aren't you? You survive on our friendship," Spike said angrily.

"I've tried. I've tried to persuade them to stop feeding on the ponies’ love, but it didn’t work. Not a single changeling listened to me. Changelings are inherently evil; we can't change that!" Thorax looked up at Spike. "They ostracized me, considered me an outcast, until I met you all."

Spike looked at the group of young changelings and then at Thorax.

Spike grasped the hoof Thorax had placed on his shoulder. "I don't think you're bad."

"We'll find a way," Spike’s determination and kindness touched Thorax. Thorax nodded, "I believe you."

"But first, we must stop the queen. There is the tunnel I mentioned," Thorax pointed to a wall. Only by getting close would the tunnel door open.

"Let's go!" Spike was ready, without any hesitation.

Author's Note

If you find any problem,please tell me

The queen

In the dimly lit throne room of the hive, Queen Chrysalis sat on her throne, her expression solemn as if deep in thought. The throne room, located at the center of the hive, was not a hub of activity but boasted secret passages that connected almost every corner of the hive. Due to the hive's extensive network and the unique materials used in its construction, one could hear sounds from across the hive here. These sounds were only a few decibels and could be heard only when the throne room was completely silent.

Every tranquil morning, Chrysalis would sit in the throne room for a while, listening to the sounds of the hive. She heard the early-rising children on their way to school, playing and laughing; she heard the sleepy changeling teachers picking up their textbooks for the day; she heard the nursemaids waking from their murmured dreams, complaining about another dull day; she heard the changeling soldiers patrolling every important place in the hive, ensuring its smooth operation. Chrysalis cherished these mornings. These sounds reminded her of her responsibility but also gave her insight into the lives of every being in the hive, giving her the courage to keep going.

As the dictator of the hive, moments of leisure were rare for Chrysalis. Her life was consumed by managing the hive's affairs, from the birth and education of young changelings to the acquisition and transportation of food, and the security and military strategies of the hive. Every detail fell under her responsibility. It was the queen’s natural duty, her inescapable fate, and the price of being queen—to give everything for the hive.

Due to the failure of the plan to capture the Guardians of the Elements of Harmony, the plan to invade Equestria using magical artifacts had to be temporarily shelved. They could only continue to send agents to remote pony villages, posing as a few ponies to steal small amounts of love from their family or friends to sustain the hive. Chrysalis understood that this method yielded very little love, and she needed to find a new source of food quickly. This was one of the reasons for her furrowed brow during her favorite morning time.

But what troubled her even more was the recent reports of dragon sightings at the hive’s border, near the Dragon Lands. Changelings and dragons usually avoided each other, and sentinels rarely saw dragons at the border. This unusual activity likely meant the dragons were targeting the changelings. This worried Chrysalis, as the hive's army was currently weak—they were underfed, and the magic-blocking artifact seemed ineffective against the strong and wild dragons, who could defeat most creatures with physical strength alone. In a war, Chrysalis would stand little chance.

But she couldn't understand why.

Why would dragons be interested in changelings? Dragons had no reason to attack the hive. Dragons were a greedy species, obsessively hoarding treasure. They were also very proud, looking down on other species, sometimes even their kind. They were among the strongest species in Equestria. Fortunately, the hive was a "poor" place, with almost no treasure, and they had little interest in meat, being only interested in gems. Chrysalis couldn’t understand what nutritional value gems provided or how such hard stones could be chewed, swallowed, and digested.

She remembered the young dragon she had captured yesterday. She had to admit, Chrysalis found him cute, unlike his fierce dragon kin.

"Maybe I should go see how he eats gems," Chrysalis muttered to herself. "It might be adorable!" she chuckled, though her worries about the hive's safety remained. Rationally, she knew she was just overthinking; the dragons had no reason to invade the hive, and the hive had nothing they wanted.

Despite her usual fierceness, Chrysalis had a soft spot for children. Perhaps it was because of the carefree and joyful lives of the young changelings in the hive. They gave her courage. Or maybe it was because she wished she could be a child, free from the enormous responsibilities and challenges of being queen.

She loved hearing the sounds of the children in the hive. Each morning, sitting in the throne room, she listened to their lives, remembered their names, and was interested in their stories and the events among their peers. On some magical evenings, the silent throne room would fill with the sounds of young changelings telling stories around a campfire, like lullabies soothing Chrysalis's heart, alleviating her daily pain as queen. Sometimes, the queen's guards would hear her laugh inexplicably.

Chrysalis's fondness for children extended to ensuring their food supply remained constant, even during food shortages. Though an enemy of Equestria, during the last invasion, she captured all her pony foes but let the little dragon continue playing with his toys. Maybe she felt guilty for disrupting his life while longing for a child's carefree existence. She understood the harshness of war but would soften at times.

"Boom, boom, boom," the clock at the top of the hive chimed, announcing the start of the day.

The queen rose and flew out of the throne room to find the little dragon she had captured yesterday. Perhaps she could persuade him to stay here, she thought. He could be my assistant—hmph! A queen’s assistant, isn’t that better than staying in that dusty old castle and looking after a library? She felt a strange confidence.

She reached the changeling nursery area, carefully checking the door signs along the hallway. Many young changelings greeted their queen, to whom they looked up. She responded with a smile.

"Ah-ha, here it is," she said, arriving at Spike's room. Uncharacteristically, she knocked on the door (actually on the wall, as the doors were part of the walls), perhaps out of Equestrian politeness.

"My dear little dragon, are you in there?"

She waited a moment, but there was no response.

"How rude!" Chrysalis muttered, opening the door and stepping inside.

Looking around, she saw no sign of the little dragon. But the queen was not worried; he couldn't possibly escape.

"Maybe he went out to play? Children do like to wander," the queen reassured herself.

At that moment, the door suddenly opened.

"Here's your breakfast!" came the voice of a changeling responsible for distributing food. The queen had instructed them to bring gems for the dragon every day. The changeling clearly didn't know the queen was inside.

The queen approached him, and he bowed deeply.

"My Queen, I didn't know you were here." He didn't seem very nervous.

"It's alright." The queen took the gems with her magic. They were collected from around the hive and were not as bright as Equestrian gems. These gems were dark gray, with low light transmittance, looking somewhat like the magic stones used to create the magic-blocking artifact.

In an instant, something clicked in the queen's mind.

"It all makes sense! These magic stones must be gems containing powerful magical energy! The magical waves from the artifact must have attracted the dragons!" The queen instantly understood why the dragons were acting strangely. She now had two options: drive away the dragons or destroy the magic-blocking artifact—the magical waves couldn't be stopped or concealed.

She had to choose the latter; she couldn't defeat those crazy dragons. She spread her wings and dashed back towards the throne room—the artifact was stored in a secret room behind the throne. She left the gem-carrying changeling standing there, bewildered, not understanding what had happened.

The queen quickly returned to the throne room, anxiously opening the secret room door behind the throne. She seemed to hear the whispers of children—they were close, not from outside the throne room.

When the door fully opened, she saw two familiar creatures—Spike and Thorax.

"What are you two little creatures doing here?!" The queen was slightly angry, but there was no time for rage; the dragons could attack at any moment, and she had to—

"Report, Your Majesty, the dragons... the dragons are attacking!" A breathless changeling burst into the throne room, shouting.

Endgame: War - Shadow of the Hive

Flames, dragon fire, debris filling the sky, alarms, shouts, corpses strewn everywhere, wailing, crying—scenes flashed before Chrysalis, piercing her heart.

"It's that feeling again." For some reason, as war loomed, Chrysalis, who had been agitated and restless, became exceptionally calm. Invaders, the invaded—it seemed the queen had grown accustomed to it. Over her years as queen, she had experienced many wars, both those she initiated and those she was forced into. Yet, whether she won or lost, she had always survived.

"Give the order: all changeling units are to enter wartime status and do everything to stop the dragons from approaching the hive. All teachers must organize the evacuation of the remaining changelings from the hive," Chrysalis commanded. She knew she couldn't win against the dragons, but she could do her best to preserve the future of the hive.

She glanced at the two small creatures in the doorway and said softly, "You two should leave."

Then she turned and left.

"Soldiers, follow me! Surround the hive!" The queen led her guards to the front lines. Her shouts echoed back to the throne room, reverberating continuously.

One hour before the outbreak of war:

With Thorax's help, Spike had made it to the throne room and, by accident, successfully entered the secret room, standing before the weapon they intended to steal.

"Spike, that should be the queen's secret weapon," Thorax pointed to a black crown inlaid with gray gems. Made from special materials, the crown could amplify the effects of the magic-blocking stones to an extreme. Any magic cast at the crown would disable non-changeling magic within a ten-mile radius, though artifacts like the Elements of Harmony would be exempt.

For some reason, ever since Spike had arrived at the throne room—no, ever since he had arrived at the hive—he felt something strange pulling at him. This feeling grew stronger as he approached the throne room and peaked when he saw what Thorax was pointing at.

"Is that... a gem?" Spike asked, his dragon instincts sensitive to their food.

"Maybe," Thorax explained. "There are a lot of these stones buried around the hive. The queen's throne is made from them. Our teachers told us they have magic-suppressing properties."

Thorax removed the crown and handed it to Spike.

"But their range is very small, so the crown is needed to amplify them," Thorax continued. "Since the queen isn't here, we should leave quickly. I know a secret exit."

Just as he finished speaking, the door to the secret room suddenly opened, revealing the queen's silhouette.

"What are you two little creatures doing?!" The queen's voice startled them. Just as they thought they were doomed, a series of events unfolded: the arrival of a messenger, the dragon invasion, the defense of the hive, and finally, the queen's words to them: "You two should leave." They still didn't fully understand what was happening.

But given the chance, there was no reason not to run. Thorax grabbed Spike and led him away.

They ran through a secret passage connected to the throne room.

"This passage is used for emergency escapes. Each area has one of these passages, and they connect to lead far outside the hive," Thorax explained as they ran.

Spike held the crown, still confused. Why were the dragons attacking the changelings? Why did Chrysalis allow them to take the artifact? What was going on?

Along the way, they encountered many fleeing changelings. Teachers led their students, nursemaids even carried a few eggs. This was the future of the hive, escaping to a new place to establish a new hive and start anew.

"Are the dragons going to destroy this place?" Spike muttered to himself.

"What? What did you say?" Thorax shouted over the noise, pulling Spike along.

"I said, are the dragons going to destroy this place?" Spike stopped, shouting. "I know dragons can be jerks, but I didn't think they were this bad. Why would they destroy this place for no reason? These changelings are innocent!" Spike's face showed anger, but he also looked sad.

Thorax gazed into Spike's eyes. "Spike, I know you're a kind dragon, but this has already happened. We can't change it."

Spike lowered his head, gripping the crown tightly. It felt like when he held the Crystal Heart in the Crystal Empire. Back then, he bravely leapt from the tower and delivered the Crystal Heart to Princess Cadance, saving the Crystal Empire. The residents even built a statue in his honor, calling him a hero.

But this time, as he clutched the crown, there was no pony to hand it to, no miracle awaiting. He could do nothing.

His tears fell onto the crown. "I thought I could be a hero and save you all, but I'm just a self-important jerk." Thorax looked at him, unsure of what to say. The swarm flowed around them like a river around two stones, unmoving in the middle.

The calls, cries, and even distant dragon roars, soldiers' screams, and the sounds of buildings being destroyed enveloped the little dragon. He felt scared. He had stolen the artifact to protect his home, but he couldn't protect the home of the little ones passing by. Though they were enemies of ponies, those children were innocent, just like ponies had accepted him, a dragon. They were all innocent.

"If only Twilight were here, she'd know what to do," Spike said, gazing at the crown. Through the gray gems, he saw his reflection.

"Dragons, gems, a crown that amplifies power..." He seemed to understand something.

"The dragons must be drawn to the gems here. These gems have a strange attraction to dragons, and the crown amplifies it. If we go far from the hive and cast a spell on the crown to increase the attraction, maybe we can lure the dragons away and save this place," Spike said, hope rekindling in his eyes as he explained his plan.

Seeing Spike's renewed hope, Thorax also smiled.

"But we're too slow. We need to find the queen and have her help us transport the crown far away," Thorax added to Spike's plan.

So, the dragon and the changeling ran against the flow of the swarm, heading back. Spike looked at the fleeing changelings, his determined eyes telling them he would protect their home, just as he had protected the Crystal Empire—by giving the crown to the queen.

As they neared the throne room, the hive began to shake violently.

"We must hurry!" Spike was getting worried.

As they exited the passage and reached the throne room, a violent explosion above shook them to the ground. Spike clung to the crown, and Thorax was almost knocked unconscious. The sound of falling rocks followed. The throne room was near the bottom of the hive, and it seemed a massive explosion had destroyed the upper part of the hive. The throne room itself was on the verge of collapse.

At that moment, a battered figure teleported into the room, seemingly having just survived a life-or-death situation. Her wings were scorched, her hair disheveled, and she was covered in bruises and burns.

Spike struggled to his feet, trying to maintain balance in the shaking hive. He saw the changeling queen.

"You must activate the crown and teleport it far away to save the hive," Spike said, tossing the crown to her. A day ago, he had hated her, but in this crisis, Spike no longer cared who she was or what she had done.

The queen fired a magic beam at the crown, but to their shock, her magic didn't activate it—it destroyed it. She then used her magic to carry Spike and Thorax, fleeing through the underground passage.

"No! How could you do that?!" Spike pounded on her back.

"Quiet, dragon! The hive is lost." The queen finally spoke her first words since fleeing. Spike and Thorax fell silent, carried by the queen at top speed. Behind them, the throne room collapsed, the hive reduced to ruins, even the passage almost collapsing. They had to escape quickly.

The fires of war gradually subsided. The dragons, having gotten the gems that attracted them, feasted and reveled in their victory. They dug up Chrysalis's throne from the ruins, enjoying their spoils. Pits were dug around the hive, extracting all the gems buried around it as their trophies.

In the distance, under the setting sun, two small figures supported the nearly exhausted Queen Chrysalis as they moved further and further away from the hive's shadow.

Spike's adventure had ended; he would return to his home. The changelings' war was over; they would find a new home.

Author's Note

Yes, it has a grand sequel, and I'll publish it at the right time