City of gold...?

In the halls of Canterlot's royal castle there snuck three sneaking-class changelings, their hooves making not a sound. Being the only class in the hive that could turn invisible had it's perks... and it's downsides. If one were to go into combat, they would have to rely strictly on sneak attacks or acting as a distraction, as their chitin is rather weak compared to your run-of-the-mill average changeling. Having lighter chitin meant less noise, less noise meant sneaking was easier, easier sneaking meant better infiltration in high security locations, like the castle. As stealthy as they may be, they were in the hive mind just like everyone else. Which means they aren't sentient, simply single-minded drones with one directive: Serve the Queen.

On their way to Twilight Sparkles' room however, they felt a great disturbance. Like... like someone was cut off from the hive mind. They found a broom closet, and locked it from the inside. Turning visible once again, they relaxed a little.

"Feel that?" One said.

"Yes. What it?" another replied.

"Like one got cut from mind..." The third clicked.

"Check Queen?" The second suggested. They nodded. It seemed like the logical thing at the moment.

"Queen..." No response. This was the frequency she told them to contact her with, yet... why wasn't she responding? "Queen... You alright?" None yet again. Although she snapped at the others for calling her by name, this changeling was willing to gamble for the safety of the operation. "Queen Chrysalis? You fine? Need help?" The changeling gulped audibly. The drone looked at the other two, who were trying to contact their Queen desperately, but with little to show for their endeavors. They were all silent for the moment. Should they tell the rest of the hive? How would they react? They didn't have the power for another invasion, not by a long shot. It simply wouldn't work! Half the hive would die on their march here! Not even Chrysalis was that stupid. She cared for her children, but if one or two died, all she could give was her condolences, and somewhere the body could biodegrade peacefully. But the numbers were not on their side. This... This shouldn't, no, COULDN'T be shared with the hive. It was for the best.

"Should look dungeons..." The first suggested. The other two agreed, and slipped back into invisibility. Looking through the keyhole at first, The third changeling opened the door cautiously, and looked left, then to it's right.

"None." the third said, and quickly, yet silently, trotted toward the dungeons. The others followed, catching up and met their comrade's brisk pace. They went by a patrol of Lunar guards, who were sprinting past them, determination in their eyes and weapons at the ready. They watched from the sidelines, wondering what they were in such a hurry for.

One's eyes shot open. "Might Queen!" Their eyes bulged, realizing it could be their queen being arrested. "Go!" One sprinted, with the other two following behind. They took a left, then a right. A turn coming up ahead, they suddenly stopped.

Blood. Lots of it. They stood, dumbfounded. There was Shining Armour, pinned to the wall with a spear a couple feet above the ground. The spear had impaled him in his rear legs, leaving him to dangle there, unconscious. One dared to look around the corner. So many bodies... limbs, guts... and there was the princess of the night, lying in her own guards' guts and feces from a torn up large intestine. the smaller currently around her neck. The solar guard suffered the same fate, except one was impaled with a spear going from his jaw and out his eye. He too dangled lifelessly, his other eye frozen in fear.

Their Queen couldn't have done this. She was a fighter, but this was not her way. Quick, clean, and brutal if necessary. It was known to all Changelings to spend the least amount of energy on anything, especially combat. They had to think fast. Chrysalis was missing, and there was Shining Armour and princess Luna. Whatever killed the guard must be wild, untamed, and if they helped the royal family there could be a possibility of an alliance. Momentary, at the least. Or contact the hive mind, and send for reinforcements that would most likely die on their way to the castle, not to mention it would take at least two days for the journey. Maybe even more!

Whirring and a thundering noise were heard at the other end of the hallway, along with the sounds of the dying and flesh being torn. They could see a bloody head roll down the bend. They looked at each other and made their choice in a millisecond.

One went to attend to the princess, deciding that going in his raw form would be best. The other two went to Shining, pulling him down from his bloody golden perch. Pulling out the spear from the left leg first, then the right, they immediately went to work on healing him with what love they could spare. They needed that for combat after all. The injury was extensive, as his bones were shattered and muscles that were primarily used for movement were torn. Whoever did this had vast medical knowledge.

The princess was relatively unscathed, save for a few bruises on her chest. She roused from her forced slumber, the changeling working quickly to undo the smaller intestine from around her neck. Her eyes slowly opened before snapping open. She came face-to-face with the changeling. It put on a worried look, and put it's hoof to her mouth, and shaking his head. She bore into the changelings' eyes. Don't speak. Not safe. She nodded, and got up with the help of the insectoid equine. She turned around, and was immediately greeted with a blood-streaked face. Eyes glowing red, baring his fangs in a sinister grin.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?"