Changing For The Better: Chapter 1: Birthrights
I opened my eyes to see thick green liquid less than an inch away from them, being held back by a thin crystal covering over my eyes. I dragged myself out of the corrosive liquid, hearing a hissing noise as my spine broke the surface. I crawled out of the acid pool, one of the preservative sleeping puddles that the other six Overlords and myself used. Well, other five Overlords. I thought, remembering my brother Black Moon's death at my own hooves no less than three days ago. It had all happened in an 'Honor Battle' where two high-ranking changelings can fight against each other for dominance. But my brother was persistant. He insisted, and though I had defeated him many times over, he said he would rather die than submit that one last time. I had no choice but to accept, as showing mercy would have been fair hive trial for a revoking of authority. He had died as he lived, sneering ignorance at me.
He had always been mother's favourite.
He wasn't suppoused to die, I had just underestimated my own strength. The pure concentrated love we were fed since birth made our chitin so hard and iridescent that even a shadow dragon would be jealous of our armour. Our magic was reinforced in that manner too, with enough power to rival both Celestia and Luna in each of us. And I'm the strongest of all of the Overlords. I lowered my head, remembering our Mother's rules.
My personal children, our own Overlords, are forbidden to leave the hive unless a threat is known to be in the immediate vicinity of the hive. Their efforts would be wasted otherwise, as they lack the ability to transform. An Overlord's duty is to guard the hive, no exceptions.
My favourite brother Frost Flash, who happened to be an interesting shade of silver, came over and put his armoured hoof on my shoulder. "Remembering Black's death, North? It's alright, it was an accident and you know it." he tried to comfort me. Our deep voices weren't the most hospitable, but it did the trick. "Thanks, Frost. But I was actually thinking about... Well, us in general. I mean, every one of us, we're stronger than Celestia and Luna combined, and we're stuck back here at the hive, 'defending'? I think that our mother is anxious of the knowledge of our existence. Ponies know nothing of Overlords, as none who have came to the hive have, well, survived. One of us can take on two black dragons, and we're needed to keep peace? All five of us? One of us is enough to protect the hive, and we're all needed here. I think mother dosen't want us to do public acts in case of a threat to her power. I know for a fact that Chrysalis is equal in strength, if not weaker, than princess Luna. I think that we should..." I was cut off as a changeling harbinger came running towards us. "Queen Chrysalis demands your audience in the main hive chamber, North Star." she told us before running off down another hive tunnel. I sighed. "Come on, let's just get this over with." I told Frost, and we made our way through the tunnel leading to the main chamber. It was a sight to behold, even though it wasn't as fancy as many changelings said Canterlot castle was. Changelings scurried around our feet, distracting me.
It was strange being a colossus. While most changelings were about four feet tall, most overlords are about ten feet tall... though we were quite light for our size, at little over two hundred pounds. I stretched my extremely long wings, and I realised that I may, in fact, be mistaken as a creature other than a changeling. The common holes that dotted the legs of changelings were covered and forgotten by a thick layer of armour. My wings were Larger, broader, and stronger than any other changeling's. We were still agile, though, being able to avoid smaller things, such as rival changelings from other hives. I was snapped back to reality when I sensed a stronger presence approaching me. Another one of my siblings was approaching me, Night Whisper, who happened to be the only female among the Overlords. She was commonly considered a matriarch by the many changelings she assisted on a day-to-day basis. She was also heir to the throne at Chrysalis' passing.
"North, where are you going this morning? There's a public tussle going on in hive section #26, and it looks like it's going to break out into a riot soon enough. Can you go over there and quiet them down?" She asked, sitting down beside me. She was much thinner and more graceful than all the other changelings, and her peircing green eyes were exactly like our mother's. Many changelings...... Imply..... That we are together. Though it is changeling tradition to marry with siblings within the hive, it just felt.... wrong. Knowing that the ponies of Equestria were strongly against in-family marriages just made it worse. But I'm overthinking things, as usual. Every day after Black's death I find that I'm becoming more and more distracted. And rebellious. I shook my head to shake away these thoughts. "I actually have to go and talk with mother, she had asked for me this morning." I told her. Frost tapped me on the shoulder. "I've got this. See you at breakfast, North. Talk to you later, Night." He assured me, jogging off down a different tunnel. I gave Night a quick pat on the shoulder. "Wish me luck." I whispered to her, heading off down the main tunnel.
I emerged into Chrysalis' chamber to find her sitting in the middle of the room, probably meditating. "Mother?" I asked quietly, unsure whether or not to disturb her. Her eyes shot open, and they focused on me. I lowered myself down to her height and bowed my head. "You wanted to talk to me mother?" I asked her. She sighed. "Yes, my child. Dearest North Star, I know that you have been troubled as of late, with the death of your brother." I winced at how she just shrugged it off as if it was a normal event, but she continued. "I feel as if your skills are... wasted. I would like to send you on a special mission." She told me. I glanced up at her, confused. "A mission? What do you mean, mother?" I asked her. She walked over to me and placed a hoof on her shoulder. "We were defeated in Canterlot a few months ago, as you know, and as my sisters know nothing of your existence, they will be unprepared if an attack were to happen now." She revealed. I glanced up excitedly. "You wish to send me to Canterlot, mother?" I asked her. She slowly nodded. "I fear we have no other choice, lest our hive falls to other changelings with a more bountiful source of love. I need you to take the castle with force." She told me. I bowed, excitement flowing through me at the prospect of adventure. "I will not fail, mother." I told her as I left her chamber to tell the others.
I jogged to the entrance of the hive, smiling when I remembered the other's reactions to my mission. The poor Overlords started off disbelieving, turned to shock, and then once again denying the news. I had expected as much. It wasn't until mother herself came out to collect some love from the supply that she could back me up. They had all taken it pretty well, Frost Flash bumping my shoulder, Coarse stone, the oldest Overlord, giving me a respectful nod, Onyx Blade, my youngest brother, giving me a warm smile. But Night Whisper..... She shocked me with what she did. She glided up to me and placed a gentle kiss on my lips, and I could feel heat flood my cheeks. The blush was invisible to the others, but the awkward smile wasn't. She had shot me a cheerful look before she pressed herself against my side.
"Come home soon, North! I'll see you when you get back, be sure of it." Night stated, flashing me one last smile before trotting over to join the others. I couldn't keep my eyes off of her slender body, muscles stretching and contracting in rhythm with her perfectly toned chitin, gracefully sliding over to the others and shooting me a look that made my insides well up with joy.
But she was my sister, and I couldn't help but feel a prick of shame at the interaction.
"Thanks, everyling. I'll make sure to make it to Canterlot tomorrow, and back the day after. Those stupid princesses won't know what hit them!" I stated, though I felt a twinge of doubt at those words. My mind was overanalyzing again, and I thought of all the traditions they might have, what my aunts were like, and what kinds of art they would have, architectual and hoof-painted. I remembered my mother saying that she had posed as my cousin, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.
I wonder what I should say when I meet them. I wondered. It wasn't until I had finished subconsiously saying my goodbyes and trotted out of the main hive exit that I realized the situation was worse than I had been thinking.
I'm being sent to overthrow the throne, not meet them formally! What was I thinking? Great, now this will be harder than I expected... I feel alot stronger kinship to my family than most, and I remember that my new cousin Shining Armor is the captain of the guard, not to mention I didn't expect Cadenza in the first place. Well, I guess this means I won't be going on a rampage any time soon. And how will I be able to kill them? I've only killed rival changelings and wild beasts, not another being such as myself. Well.... Except for Black...
I remembered the blandness of hive life and my mother's inital scorn when I had killed Black. I also remembered how boring life was, sitting around and waiting for either an attack or a problem within the hive to occur.
But only one thing rose above all other thoughts and memories.
Can I really kill four of the most powerful ponies in Equestria?
Canterlot, Equestria
I groaned inwardly as I made my way to the barracks. The others had nothing to do, so they decided to bug me during their free time. I had tried my best, but they had managed to envoke an angry response from me, which got me in trouble. Of course they didn't care about my side of the story. Being a recruit in the guard was an absolute pain. We had to wear silver armor, unlike the royal guard who wore gold, or the even more famous of the princess's personal guards. I had promised my sister I would do my best to make my way into the ranks, and so far, that wasn't working out too well. I sighed sourly as I glanced back over my snow-white coat, flicking my black tail as I looked over my body. I was slightly small for a stallion my age, and I found the closest comparison to me I could make was the holders of the elements of harmony. They were about my size, we thought alike..... but they were famous. I was sure they'd never even imagine talking to me.
I shot a wry glance at my cutie mark, a red shield with crossed horns in front of it. It was inspiration enough to recruit into the guard, but I knew for a fact that I was treated worse than the local populace. I refocused my attention ahead of me as I entered the large structure that was the Canterlot barracks. My captain, Red Leaf, glanced up at me as I entered. I flashed her a crisp salute before turning toward the stairs leading into the underground. She frowned slightly as she stood up.
"Private Fallen Snow, report." She ordered.
I turned back towards her. "Everything went well, ma'am, except for the fact that Corporal Sharp decided that it would be a good time to interrupt my duties." I stated, growing frustrated at the look of annoyance in her gold eyes.
She finally sighed and waved her hoof towards me. "You're dismissed." Red stated.
I nodded and trotted down the stairwell, coming to a stop in the armoury. I silently made my way to my spot, and I took off my helmet, feeling my mane slip out of it's silver prison and down in front of my eyes. I absently brushed my mane out of my eye with a forehoof. It's family tradition to grow our manes long, but it's just another taunt Spear gets against me. I remembered his scornful remarks.
"It's kind of cool that your eyes are the same color of your armor, Snow." A voice behind me suddenly spoke up. I jumped and whirled around to see Rain standing there.
"Rain, you surprised me. Don't do that!" I scolded him in mock annoyance. We were the only two recruits in Canterlot, so we grew to be quite good friends. He rolled his eyes.
"I'm just saying, Your eyes go well with your armour. My blue coat and orange eyes don't go well with anything." He stated, shrugging slightly and walking over and placing his helmet on the rack beside mine. "I'm just saying, you look fancy in that armour, bud."
I smiled at that and proceeded to take off the rest of my armour and stretch. I quickly cracked my neck and briefly stretched my wings, smiling at the relief of tension in the muscles. Rain glanced over quickly and shot me a smile. "You remember what tomorrow is?" He asked.
"Must have slipped my mind, no, I don't." I replied after a brief pause to think.
He magically pulled his helmet off the rack and hit me in the head with it. "Tomorrow we get to guard the Princess's quarters, you doof." He snorted exasperatedly.
I shot him a questioning glance. "I don't remember being told that. Seriously?" I asked.
He nodded. "I'm serious. One of us gets to guard each princess's door with our captain."
I glanced away as I heat flushed my cheeks. How could I say no to a day where I would not only get to be near one of the Princesses, but I would be spending most of it with the pretty red pegasus that was my captain? "Sounds like fun." I finally managed to say.
He just nodded and grunted, still seeming frustrated that I had forgotten.
I couldn't help but smirk as I climbed into my cot in the recruit's room.
Tomorrow should be fun. Everything seems to finally be working out for me!
