Prologue: The Mission With a Fluke
Location: Changeling Hive of King Kakoun
Time: 0700 hours
Date: 1 year before the Canterlot Changeling Crisis
A group of around thirty equines were waiting by a huge rock. Ahead of them lay a cave opening to one of Equi's most dangerous locations: a Changeling hive nearby the Griffin settlement of Pisa. Not even the powerful members of the Griffin Army would attempt to exterminate the hive, as it belonged to one of the biggest Changeling tyrants to date: King Kakoun. He had killed off the old queen and united all of the regional changelings, forming a hive of at least two hundred, and continuing to grow to the present nine hundred drones of changelings. And now, a certain organization was standing up and somehow influenced migration. The Royal Equestrian Strategic Operations Agency, or R.E.S.O.A. for short, was ordered by the rulers of Equestria, Princesses Celestia and Luna, to remove the threat to their Griffin Kingdom allies. The Agency was the natural selection for the job, of course, as they were the only Equestrian unit that was flawless in all of their missions. Now the scouting party that was sent awaited their reinforcements.
One of the units, a unicorn, spoke to the leader of the group. "Blitz, what's the deal? We've been waiting for two hours, and the carriages still haven't arrived!" The leader, a yellow Pegasus with a brown-entwined-with-black mane, gave the poor mare an angry look.
"Sergeant, whatever the reason, it should be excused. I'd normally be rushing, too, but this is serious. What, you wanna go rushing in screaming, with nearly one thousand Changelings on your flank? Be my guest, but I'm not gonna dig your grave for ya," the Pegasus replied. Absolutely shocked, the mare simply stared in a scared position, head nearly inside her body. And with whatever luck, a mouse lounging about nearby decided to act on the leader's words. It charged into the hive, squeaking what would probably be Leeeeroooooy Moooouuuuskiiiins! Immediately thereafter, it was crushed by a Changeling guard passing out due to lack of sleep.
A few more minutes of awkward silence passed, until a young earth pony pointed up into the sky. "Look, the main force!" Everypony else looked on as twenty chariots pulled by two Pegasi each quickly sped through a cloud they used as cover. Inside each chariot stood three ponies each, either unicorn, earth pony, the occasional Zebra, or...a lazy Pegasus. Blitz smiled when he saw his three best friends in a chariot: Major Agent Blaze, an operative who was as strategic of a leader as he was experienced as a pyro; Captain Agent Steel Hoof, who knew how to buck in more ways than one; and finally, Agent Plague Bringer, a healer shaman with a gift. He waited until their chariot landed, a little less than gracefully, and then walked up to them to give welcome. After a few minutes, five ponies walked up to them. In the background, groups known as companies were being formed.
"Took you all long enough, others were starting to complain. What happened?" Blitz asked.
A tall blue stallion gave the answer. "We apologize, Lieutenant, but as you know, we had to leave Canterlot in a stealthy manner. Twenty chariots definitely cause suspicion, and unfortunately for us, some mother bucker decided to try his luck singing a song that definitely must be from Stalliongrad. It caused a dispute and a small scale fight broke out. So of course, many ponies came out to watch. We were having a lot of trouble getting to the chariots, and then we had to wait until civilians started leaving. The fight lasted thirty minutes!" Wonderful...Blitz thought to himself. The other ponies gestured to the stallion to hurry up. "Okay, back into the mission. You remember our briefing, right?"
"Err...could you remind me of it? Just wanna make sure I'm right about it all." As he said that, he started to blush a bit.
The other ponies...and Zebra...groaned. "My good friend, will your foolishness never end? If you payed attention, you would remember that we were to form our companies. Fourteen of the scouts of your choosing will be helping you in snooping. Find a third entry point, and sneak into the hive. Provide backup in case we need to make a quick goodbye!" Plague explained. Blitz always found it hard to take Plague seriously because of his constant rhyming, and because of his own clowny behavior, he learned the hard way of Plague's curse.
"Alright then, I'll take my pick. Get everything sorted out, guys. Blaze, Plague, Steel? Good luck." He saluted his comrades and walked over to the reconnaissance team. "Stallions!" The sergeant glared at Blitz. "...and mare!" She eased into a content pose at attention. "Today is a day of utmost importance for our allies in the Griffin Kingdom! We have to try to find a third entry point in case things go bad in there. You remember how our last mission went." Everypony in the squad nodded their heads, remembering how their last mission came close to disaster, but was saved by their intel from scouting. "We are going with Echo company to scout behind the rock formation. If previous reconnaissance is correct, there should be one over there. One of the other agents claims that he saw a top entrance, so Delta is heading there. Alpha is going in for the negotiations, and both Bravo and Charlie companies will be guarding the front for extraction in case the negotiations turn out to be a bust. Sergeant, take your team and keep our evac area clear. If you see fighting, tell Scribe over there to message the princess for royal guards to help evacuate. There are at least nine hundred Changelings in there, no doubt if there's a fight we are gonna have casualties. Now, are you all ready for this?!"
"Yes Lieutenant!"
"Are you all prepared for the worst?!"
"Yes Lieutenant!"
"Get into your teams. Team one, come with me." The sergeant had team two fall out to the chariots. Fifteen ponies in total made up the new scouting group.
Blaze was marching along with the rest of Alpha. As the second in command in his company, he had to ensure everypony could get out safely. As soon as the commander gained entry into the hive Blaze immediately took note of the potential hazards. If negotiations do turn violent, then any stray shots of magic into the nearby entrance wall will cause it to collapse. It was far too weak. He then saw another disadvantage: the hive was way bigger on the inside. Delta is going to be in for a heck of a surprise... Soon enough, they entered the main chamber.
The tallest Changeling in the room, who wore what was probably a stolen crown, took notice immediately. "Well well well, what have we here? Some ponies in tights, ooh I'm very scared! So you're the ones who wanted to negotiate, eh?" Alpha company stared, unfazed. He's...singing?** "You're joking, you're joking. I can't believe my eyes! You're joking me, you gotta be, these can't be the right guys! They're few, they're ugly! Oh, this is really too much. Now with my permission, why don't I show you my stuff?"
The company commander spoke up. "We aren't here to fight, Kakoun. We wish to negotiate. Trust me, you do not want to start anything." He's bluffing, there are *nine hundred** Changelings in here. Kakoun could destroy us right now if he wished.*
Kakoun laughed at the commander. "Ol' King Kakoun says there's trouble close at hoof, you better pay attention now! Cause I'm definitely not a goof. And if you aren't shakin', somethings very wrong. Cause this might be the last time you hear the Changeling song. Sing with me, my minions!" As half of the company started shaking from being absolutely terrified, Blaze stood, hoping that everyone was in position. This was going to get ugly. Several Changelings flew up toward the king.
"Oh whoa oh!" "Oh whoa oh!"
"Oh woe oh..." "Oh woooe hooo..."
"Oh whoa ho!" "Oh whoa ohhh!"
"I'm the greatest Changeling king!"
It seemed Blitz was succesful, as Echo was around the corner, prepared to fight. Delta was rappelling down the hole up top, the Changelings none the wiser. Bravo and Charlie were now inside, guarding the exit. This is getting a bit out of hand, I wasn't expecting a Celestia-forsaken musical!
It seemed as if all nine hundred Changelings were inside the main chambers, ready to engulf Alpha at a moment's notice. "Well if I'm feeling antsy, and there's not much to do, I might just conjure a special batch of pony love from thou! And don't ya know the one thing that would make it come out nice? A bunch of stupid ponies to add a little spice! Once again, my minions!"
"Oh whoa oh!" "Oh whoa oh!"
"Oh woe oh..." "Oh woooe hooo..."
"Oh whoa ho!" "Oh whoa ohhh!"
"I'm the greatest Changeling king!"
The commander once again spoke up. "Let the Griffins be alone or we are going to clear out your home!" Kakoun laughed once more.
"You're joking, you're joking! I can't believe my ears! Would one of you shut this fellow up, I'm drowning in my tears. He's funny, I'm laughing, you lot really are too much. Now with your permission, I'm about to do my stuff." All of the Changelings in the room readied for the assimilation of the negotiators. The commander made a box with his two front hooves, and Alpha formed a box formation. As Alpha was mostly Unicorns, they all formed shields. The other companies readied as well. "ASSIMILATE!" The Changelings rushed forward, nine hundred all at once. Luckily, the Agency only accepts the best, and the barrier held. Delta started the counter attack with a bunch of Pegasi with a barrier enchantment from their Unicorn comrades speeding through the main chamber, taking down Changelings here and there. Bravo and Charlie came in next, Earth ponies charging forth and Unicorns casting spells of every kind. Echo and the reconnaissance team finished the countering with Pegasi extracting the Agents in Alpha. Blitz came over and picked up Blaze.
"This is really bad, just ten minutes and it goes haywire. Front exit we go!"
Blaze jabbed Blitz softly. "No, you can't! When we came in, I noticed that there was a weak wall. We need to gather everybody up, and fast. We need to go out the back exit!"
"But what about Bravo and Charlie?"
Blaze looked up. "Oh buck."
A Changeling was thrown across the room by one of the Pegasi Agents. That Changeling hit the wall by the entrance. Suddenly, the whole hive shook. The unfortunate Changeling looked up. "Uh oh..." Huge boulders came down. Most of Bravo and Charlie were now inside the hive, but for the unlucky few who decided to stay by the exit, they were squashed. Blood was spreading along the floor, and greenish-blue Changeling blood could be seen as well.
"Holy Celestia! I think Steel was among them!" Blaze shouted.
Blitz brought himself and his friend to the ground. "GRAB THE TAGS!" The Agents closest to the disaster quickly searched through the rocks, retrieving their comrades' identification tags. Blaze and Blitz searched frantically as well. "Blaze...come here."
Blaze ran to his friend, and immediately regretted it. There lie a broken, dying Steel Hoof. Blitz yelled, "No...Steel, don't die on us!"
Steel struggled to look up at her two best comrades. "It is too late, tovarischi. My back leg is crushed. I can't do anything." Blitz started to cry, as he never felt this much grief before. Blaze simply stared at her, tears forming in his eyes behind his gas mask's lens. Then, he took action.
"No, you aren't going to die. I won't allow it. Not today. Blitz, pick her up. I can walk from now on. Head to the back exit. I've got a plan."
Blitz looked at his comrade astounded. "There are at least seven hundred Changelings still wreaking havoc! You can't be serious."
"Do it, as your superior officer, I command you."
Steel looked at her friend with difficulty. "Blaze, you always were stubborn about death. Always risking your neck for the rest of us. Thank you. Please be careful..."
Blitz started buzzing his wings and picked up Steel. He proceeded to take her to the back exit, and looked back one last time. He decided to at least help out Blaze. "Everypony, head to the back exit! Follow me or someone from Echo!"
Blaze started running off to fellow Agents and spreading the word. Casualties littered the place. Friends struggled to help each other and the wounded to the exit. The mission had truly turned futile. After what seemed like forever, Blaze finished his run and headed toward the exit. From the one hundred and fifteen Agents that entered, only sixty remained. Twenty were injured. "Everypony, head out. I mean everypony!"
"Where do you think you all are heading?" Blaze turned around, and there was Kakoun, all high and mighty. "The sound of war has put amusement in the air, and I'm a gambling Changeling king although I don't play fair! It's much more fun, I must admit, with liiives on the line. Not mine of course, but yours you fools, now that would be just fine!"
The commander of Alpha Company ensured everybody was leaving. Blitz had another Earth Pony carry Steel outside, and waited for Blaze with Plague. Blaze was furious. "We retreat now, but know that you will pay for this horrendous act!"
Kakoun smiled evilly. "Oh brother, you're something, you put yourselves in a spin! Do you really see this situation that you all are in? It's hopeless, you're finished, you all haven't got a prayer! Cause I'm Kakoun, the greatest Changeling, and you are going nowhere!" His right hoof had something on it. Something...shiny. Blaze soon realized that it was a hoofblade. Kakoun lunged at Blaze. It seemed time had stopped. Blaze closed his eyes, figuring he could at least die having a flashback. But then, the sound of metal meeting flesh came, and Blaze felt no pain. He opened his eyes and saw the commander in front, hooves outstretched.
"You did great, Blaze. You aren't dying today if I have anything to say about it. Ensure the others have a leader...take my tags. Now run, RUN!" Blaze quickly complied, tears in his eyes. The commander was like the father he never had. He made sure to take his tags that were on the floor as well. With his dying breath, the commander threw something at blaze. He caught it with his mouth as he ran. It was one of the newly manufactured Equestrian Grenades. He made a maneuver where he put it in one of his side pockets on his fireproof suit. Blaze smiled, still crying. He saw Plague and Blitz were the only ones left, fighting off the incoming Changelings. Blaze, finally sick of running, turned around in front of his friends and took out his best weapon: a flamethrower the scientists of the R.E.S.O.A. made for him.
"Both of you, out, now." The others stared at him, bewildered. Blaze ignited his flamethrower, ready to avenge those who died.
As Blitz punched a Changeling square in its face, he interjected. "We aren't leaving you, if we die, we die together, remember what we said when we first met?"
Blaze, tears still in his eyes, knew what he had to do. "Just go. I have to do this. If one of us stays, they can hold off the rest of these buckers. You both are still young, you have lives to fulfill. Don't be foolish, go. GO! I'll catch up. I promise." The others finally agreed, and ran through. Blaze fought off a few more Changelings. As soon as he thought they were far away enough and had a moment, he took out the grenade. He set it to five seconds, and rolled it behind him.
Five. Changelings rushed at Blaze.
Four. His flamethrower jammed.
Three. He realized he was bucked.
Two. The Changelings grabbed Blaze and held him, bringing him to Kakoun.
One. The grenade clinked against the exit wall. A mass of Changelings flew straight toward the exit. Blaze smirked underneath his gas mask.
Zero.
KA-BLAM
The Changelings who nearly made it through were either burnt alive, blown up, or crushed to death. On the other side of the tunnel, rocks fell. Everypony was on the other side, evac site moved by the ever clever sergeant. Everyone looked back. Those who knew Blaze cried out. Blitz took it the hardest. He rushed to the rocks that blocked him from his friend. His hoofs pounded them. "Blaze, you liar! You were one of my best friends! Why did you do this? BLAAAAAAAZE!"
"You caused so much trouble, I'm actually not going to kill you." Blaze knew what was coming. "I'm going to ASSIMILATE YOU PERSONALLY!" Kakoun swept his minions aside. He and his personal Changeling Elite Guard started the process. A green substance formed around Blaze. He closed his eyes. His efforts to prepare for the incoming pain was futile. For the next hour, pain rushed through his veins as his DNA was brutally twisted about. The worst part of it all was that for some reason, the chemicals were not powerful enough to eliminate Blaze's suit or mask. He felt his skin melting, holes forming. His suit binded with his skin, material wrapping around the holes. His head was no longer covered by the gas mask; it was the gas mask. Blaze felt himself growing a hoof or so taller. His horn morphed, peeking out from his new forehead. His mane turned to spikes, his tail withered. He felt the inside of his mouth, his teeth turning into fangs. But alas, he no longer had a proper mouth. His gas mask's canister was the mouth now. He could still chew and everything, but if he ever wished to eat normally again, it would have to be liquified. But that did not matter anymore. His transformation was complete. His eyes were now lens, his ears no longer of skin but instead of the gas mask's leather. Blaze was no longer a Unicorn. He was a Changeling.