Unforeseen Consequences - The counterattack

>”What do you think you’re doing! We’re under attack!” Pharynx flew over a group of changeling who were cowering behind a pillar “If you don’t want the Queen to label you as a traitor, then you better fly out there and give your best for the hive!”
>The changelings nervously saluted at Pharynx and flew to the lower levels of the hive. Then, Pharynx started to yell more orders to other groups of changelings flying by.
>*CRACKOOM* the entirety of the hive shook to its foundations after that explosion, causing even more chaos and confusion among the already scared changeling ranks.
>If this was any other occasion, you’d found yourself admiring by the changeling hive’s almost surreal architecture. Seriously man, the throne room was super weak compared to the real thing.
>Like, the zone where your group was hiding was conformed of rocky platforms with staircases that sometimes led nowhere and clunky bridges suspended in midair that connected to other, smaller, platforms.
>That other worldly feel was just for the lower levels, the hive adopted a much more tower-like structure in the upper ones while still looking and feeling like a vertical citadel.
>Of course, there were similar things across the entire hive. You could see empty cocoons hanging everywhere, and of course, the walls had these holes of varying sizes in them that opened and closed at random intervals of time.
>Very impressive, it was kind of a shame that the place was getting absolutely trashed. Gotta give it to Discord and Eris, they are the best at causing chaos.
>Seriously, you only asked them to create an illusion of an army getting ready to invade, but instead they took it to the next level.
>Those two came up with fake dragons, tremors that served to make the illusions of explosions more real, a storm that could surpass as a class 5 hurricane, lots of bizarre creatures leaking through the hive’s walls and other things that were next to impossible to describe.

>Moonlight whistled, absolutely impressed by the trash fire that the hive was now “Look at them go. Man, Discord and Eris sure know how to throw a party.”
>Aegia nodded “Oui. Maybe we should use zem in some ozer mission. I’m sure zey could make our life easier.”
>Thorax was obviously less pleased by the scene, you could tell that he was feeling sorry for his kin “A-Anon? Do you think this was really a good idea? I don’t want anypony to get hurt.”
>You were on Thorax’s back since you were still unable to move your body.
“Calm down, Thorax. This may look like the end of the world, but trust me, this is nothing but smoke and mirrors. It’s simply not Discord and Eris’ style to actually hurt others.”
>*CRACKOOM* The hive shook again, this time, you saw a group of changelings who taking away little eggs flying to what you assumed was a safe spot in the lowest level of the hive.
“Alright, friends! Those were the last changelings in this area, time to make our move!”
>Your group finally got out of the little hideout. Moonlight was at the front and Aegia at the back, while Thorax and you were in the middle.
>Aegia was the first one to speak with her usual stoic voice “Monsieur Zorax, I’m confident zat you know ze way to our destination. So please point ze way.”
>Thorax slowly nodded and gulped “Y-Yeah, we have to go up those stairs and then… well, we have to do a bunch of twists and turns… uh” He scratched the back of his head “why don’t you let me go at the front? The changeling hive shifts and changes like changelings do, only we are able to navigate this place without getting lost.”
>You had to agree with your friend on this one.
“Yeah, it will be faster and way more optimal if you follow where Thorax is going rather than wait for him to say the directions.”

>Moonlight vehemently shook her head “Can’t do. That guy may know how to walk around this oversized fun-house but if we get attacked, then who is gonna protect you from getting smacked right in the face?”
>Ah… yeah, despite the chaos going on, it would be stupid to think that you weren’t going to encounter any changeling along the way.
“Thorax, my friend, seems like we’ve been had.”
>“I-I’m afraid so…” Thorax gulped, rubbed his chin and then finally pointed out the direction “It’s this way, we just go straight until we see a big staircase, then we turn right.”
>“Then what are we waiting for?” Moonlight barked as she started to gallop in the direction Thorax said “Let’s move those flanks!”
>And so, your group started to make their way up, but not without certain difficulties provided by the never ending chaotic shenanigans that Discord and Eris were provoking.
>As the trek continued, you noticed something disturbingly odd. Your group hadn’t encountered any changeling other than the ones fleeing for their lives.
>While, on the surface, that would make up for some great news, the reality was that it made no sense.
>The hive was under attack, the changeling Queen was in danger, the logical thing was that the inside of the hive should be heavily patrolled, especially when the changelings were facing a battle that they clearly could not win.
>And of course, all of your questions were answered in the worst way possible when your group entered a creepy hallway whose sole source of illumination was the fluorescence provided by those empty cocoons.

>At least 20 changelings were standing between your group and the exit. They were being commanded by slightly larger changeling who was wearing a blue plate on his back and a helmet adorned with beetle-like jaws.
>The leader of the changelings grinned maliciously and cackled “I can’t believe that this ambush actually worked. You ponies are as dumb as they come. Give up now and I promise that your cocoon will be somewhat comfortable!”
>“Yeaaah! A nice and comfy cocoon for all of you” A second group of changelings approached from the back, they were being commanded by another armored changeling “Except for the kid and the traitor, those are for the Queen to decide.”
>“Oh no! We fell right into their trap!” Thorax gulped as he started to tremble “What are we going to do now?”
“Don’t ask me! Every time I get into a fight I get my flank handled to me in a silver plate! Moonlight? You’re the expert here, do you have any cool ideas to get us out of this?”
>Moonlight took a jumped back and adopted a defensive position as she looked at every direction “I have a couple, but half of those depends on how well prenchie here can handle herself in the dark.”
>Aegia did the same as Moonlight and answered with a playful tone “Oooh! So you want to hear zose stories again, Mon Amie?”
>Moonlight shook her head and growled “Prenchie! This is no time for your dumb jokes!”
>Aegia let out a giggle and rolled her eyes as she took a dagger from her vest with her wing “My navigation skills are perfect in any condition, as for handling a fight in ze darkness… I’m afraid zat I lack ze proper tact.”
>“Guess its plan B, then…” Moonlight sighed “Prenchie, take the kid and the crybaby with you! I’ll handle these guys”
>What?! No! You couldn’t accept that!

“Wait! Moonlight, we can’t leave you behind like that!”
>“Don’t worry, little dude” Moonlight chuckled “I may be outnumbered, but these guys forgot that you don’t fight a Night Guard in the dark.”
“But…”
>“Zis is no time for discussions, Mon Petit” Aegia quickly flew to the front and grabbed Thorax’s hoof “Monsieur Zorax, do not let go of my hoof under any circumstance, please.”
>Thorax slowly nodded and said with a meek voice “O-Ok…”
>DANGIT! This is all your fault! You…
>You couldn’t do anything. She had already taken her decision, and besides… there was no other way.
>You swallowed your tears as you called for Moonlight.
“Moonlight! Please… take care of yourself”
>Moonlight rolled her eyes and barked at you “Just go already!” Immediately after that, Aegia flew towards the exit, holding Thorax firmly with her hoof”
>As the changelings started to advance towards you, Moonlight threw some bombs to every direction, making the entire hallway so dark that you couldn’t even see your own muzzle
>The moment the lights went out, you heard an agitated changeling yelling “GET THEM BEFORE THEY …AGH!”
>You then heard another changeling voice screaming “OH NO! FORGET ABOUT THE BAT PONY! DON’T LET THE… AIIIEEE!”
>You couldn’t see anything, only hear the buzz of the changeling’s wings, the metal clashing, the screams of the scared changelings, and of course, Moonlight’s terrifying hissing.
>Sometimes the hallway would get illuminated by an occasional magical laser being fired, or a changeling morphing into some creature, but those lights faded away as Moonlight quickly and efficiently, took down the source.
>It felt like years had passed before you reached the exit. You wanted to look back at that hallway but, dangit! You couldn’t even move your neck! The only thing you were able to do was to close your eyes and mutter to yourself
“Moonlight…”

>Thorax lowered his head and let out a heavy sigh “I’m so sorry, Anon. This is all my fault. I should’ve been able to predict an ambush like that. I…”
>Aegia quickly interrupted Thorax “Should stop drowning in self-pity and point ze way to ze zrone room” Aegia was no longer carrying her usual stoic expression, instead, her face had become stern “How can you expect to convince anypony to join your side when you lose your composure at every challenge?”
>Thorax opened his mouth to reply “I…” but he just closed his eyes, shook his head and sighed “ I’m sorry… Guess I have to grow a thicker skin, huh?”
>Aegia nodded “Oui, and it would be wonderful if you can do it before we reach Chrysalis” she then turned to you and narrowed her eyes “As for you, Mon Petit. Moonlight is ze General of ze Guard for a good reason. She has come out victorious from much worse situations. You have to give her more credit.”
>You felt a tear running down your face.
“I know... it’s just… dang… it’s hard you know? And… no, you’re right… we have to continue moving forward, for Moonlight and everypony else, we have to end this.”
>“Zat is what I wanted to hear” Moonlight smiled before looking at Thorax “Monsieur Zorax, I zink is time to resume our little tour through ze hive.”
>And so, with a heavy heart and guided by Thorax, your group continued ascending the changeling hive. This time, Aegia was galloping at the front while Thorax, who was still carrying you on his back, followed her closely.
>*CRACKOOM* Well, at least those two were still having a blast.
>After a while, the top of the hive and the end of the stairs was finally in sight. And while your group still had to ascend quite a bit, you couldn’t help but feeling hopeful at the prospect of putting an end to this nightmare.

>It seemed that Thorax was feeling the same, since he didn’t hesitate to point out with an excited voice “You see those big doors? It means that we’re almost there!”
>Aegia chuckled “I hope your plan works out, Mon Petit. I would simply love to see Chrysalis’ face when…”
>Everything happened in less than a second. A changeling came from one of the holes in the walls, and tried to tackle Aegia, who despite the surprise, managed to send the attacker crashing into a nearby pillar.
>Aegia quickly jumped back and adopted a defensive position “Seems like we have more unexpected company. Mon Petit, I’m sorry but… HIYA!” Another changeling came from the wall, and just like the previous one, his attack failed when he got slammed into the ground with enough force that it cracked a little.
>Aegia combed her mane as she looked at you with a smile “As I was saying, it seems like I was unable to predict a second ambush. I do not know ze number of enemies, only zat zey outnumber us by a large margin. I’m sorry, but you will have to continue wizout me.”
>You wanted to protest so much, but the look in Aegia’s eyes… it hurt, a lot. But you had to keep going, otherwise the sacrifice that Moonlight and her have done will be for naught.
>As you watched Aegia slamming every changeling that came from the walls, ceiling and floor. You mustered
“Thank you, Aegia”
>A tear ran down your face, but in the end, you gulped down your sorrow and said to Thorax.
“Come on, man. It’s time to end this”
>Thorax slowly nodded “I-I agree. Let’s go” He then started galloping towards the big doors. With you on his back. Seriously, not being able to move sucked so hard.
>After some time of continuous ascending, you couldn’t hear Aegia’s fight anymore, which of course only helped to make you even more worried.

>Well, worried was an understatement. You were frickin’ terrified. After all, the sound can be excusable, Discord and Eris’ ruckus was still going on, but if Moonlight and Aegia were fine, they would’ve joined you by this point, right?
>Sadly, there was nothing that you could do at this point, other than to seriously hope Chrysalis didn’t hide a small army by the throne room, because then you would be totally screwed.
>Luckily, you didn’t encounter any other changeling on your way, but you did indeed notice that the empty cocoons were glowing more intensely the closer you got to the throne room.
>In fact, by the time Thorax and you arrived at the throne room’s doors the green glow was so bright that you could only see in that nasty green hue.
“Thorax… tell me my man, are we finally there?”
>“Y-Yeah…” Thorax nodded and gulped “Seems like this is it… so… what now?”
“We open those doors, and hope that Chrysalis doesn’t kill us before you can convince the entire hive to drop an entire lifestyle that has worked for hundreds of years for an uncertain future.”
>“Well, to be honest, it is a bit of an overstatement to say that the changeling way has worked, I mean, we’re always hungry for love. Thing is…” Thorax said with a surprisingly calm tone “A-Anon, this plan of yours… Are you sure that it was the best idea?”
>You could see that he was incredibly nervous about the whole thing. So you decided to lighten up the mood with a little joke.
“I’m gonna be honest with, my friend. The problem with my plans is that, on a good day, they usually have a 50% chance to backfire. While on regular days, the percentage hovers around 70, but hey, that’s still better than most!”

>Thorax let out a chuckle and nodded “I remember Princess Celestia mentioning something similar… about her own plans…” He then lowered his head and sighed “Anon, I know that I say this a lot, but if Chrysalis, you know, make us go “poof” then I want you to know that you were the best friend I’ve ever had.”
>Well, joking was a bad idea. Time to get more… uh… proper.
“Thorax, my man, I was just joking about that part, we’re gonna get out of this, after all the story of the changeling’s savior must have happy ending, and when all of this is over, would you want to come with me to my school’s winter trip? I want to have a good friend with me in case it sucks hard”
>Thorax smiled and eagerly nodded “I don’t know what a winter trip is, but I would love to go with you! Do you think that maybe I could bring a couple of… AAAH!”
>Out of nowhere, Thorax got engulfed in a blue magical aura and started to being levitated, making you fall flat on your face “The traitor… has… hnng… been captured”
>When you looked at the source of that magic, you saw Glimmer… dang it! You thought she was unconscious.
>But wait, if Glimmer was here, then that means… Oh, no…
>“I… I got the… prince…” You quickly got engulfed by a purple aura that, just like Thorax, levitated you from the ground. The responsible was Twilight… of course.
>Thorax was trying with all his might to break off Starlight’s magic, but all his struggles were for naught. He could only say with a desperate tone “A-Anon? Did we lose?”
>Well, this was indeed a bad situation, but on the other hoof…
“Do not lose hope, Thorax! They are going to take us with Chrysalis anyway. Isn’t that right, Twilight?”
>Twilight didn’t say a thing, she only opened the doors from pair to pair with her magic and threw you and Thorax into the throne room.