It was carved entirely into the face of a vast sandstone formation, contained beneath a curved, vaulted ceiling. Its externally-facing buildings were blended expertly into the rock, matching the color perfectly and with very narrow windows. But as they approached, she saw the vast space behind them—many streets and levels stacked on each other. There were few walkways connecting them, but why would there have to be?
Now she understood the use of the word “swarm.” She could think of no other way to describe the constant activity she saw, like looking into an open beehive. Thousands of changelings moved in that city—carrying things, working in sunlit courtyards, or just walked along the walls from place to place.
The city was a true hive, continuing down into the earth like a termite mound. A constant breeze of cold air drifted out towards them, carrying with it the scent of many, many bugs. She had smelled it before, when turning over logs in the woods, and scattering whole communities of insects from beneath.
It didn't disgust her the way it had then.
Her awe was apparently the appropriate reaction. Pachu'a let the two of them stand and stare for as long as they wanted, taking in the incredible scope. His body flashed, and suddenly the tattooed hunter was beside them again. "Go no closer in disguise," he said. "If it pleases you, strange queen. Civilized bugs do not hide their faces from each other. We change only when we require the powers of another body, or while hunting."
So much for looking small and unintimidating. Amie sighed, then dismissed her illusion. Her brother did the same a few seconds later. At least they were still far enough that the whole city didn't stop to stare. "How do you keep such a secret? Ponies must've found you by now."
"No pony ever travels here," Pachu'a answered. "And we accept no guests from other tribes whose location we do not also know. If some vile creature turned against all standards of cooperation and mutual benefit—it would be fierce, devastating war. And it would probably fail besides. We have taken measures in Equestrian society, guiding them away from this place and others like it."
"Nobody wants to live out here," Pavati added. "Ponies don't appreciate the heat. Without a shelter like ours, they never stay long. Their towns are small. But we watch for explorers, make sure they go somewhere else."
Amie could hardly imagine the scale of maintaining such a conspiracy. Not quite on the level of faking a moon landing, but—how many hunters did it take to keep a city this big fed?
"We would never betray your trust," Amie said. "Your help saved our lives. We want only peace and cooperation with our... cousins."
Pachu'a nodded. "If we thought otherwise, I would've left you to the ponies to discover and punish. But the Elders are... hopeful of what you represent. Your brother's nature could mean a change for all tribes, if we understand him."
Soon they reached the city proper, entering through one of many doors cut into the rock. Amie's hunter escort radiated annoyance at having to walk inside, rather than fly. But no number of angry looks would teach her and her brother to fly.
The city was even more impressive from inside. It was organized like nothing she'd ever seen—every structure built on each other, with a dense connecting spine traveling to each building. Through it flowed water, waste, and electricity. If visiting Agate was like stepping into the past of her own civilization, Sonoma was seeing the way aliens might build.
Amie knew nothing of civics or city planning, so she couldn't really tell what they were looking at exactly. But there were very few private areas, no homes or apartments she could see. Every building had multiple entrances and exits, and traffic passed through them all.
At least they had some familiar things. There was plenty of art—rich woven blankets and tapestries, sparkling jewelry of semi-precious stones, and of course the tattoos. Almost everyone was naked, displaying the tattoos along their bodies with pride. There were themes to each group, though she didn't know enough to tell them apart.
There was music too, echoing from many parts of the city at once. She heard woodwinds and drums mostly, mixed with rhythmic chanting. Maybe she was imagining things, but the working bugs seemed to move along to the music, surging forward when it rose, and slowing down when it ebbed.
As Pachu'a had said, she saw many bugs tending to the young. They looked—nothing like children. There were eggs, crawling things somewhere between her and a maggot—then the bugs she guessed were their kids.
The hunters led them steadily downward through the city. Wherever they went, bugs stopped what they were doing to stare at Amie. They parted respectfully ahead of her, and sometimes even bowed. Amie felt their shock and amazement at every junction and street. Some of that was for her, but just as much was for Wes—maybe even more of it. They'd seen visiting queens before, but not whatever kind of bug he represented.
Finally they reached deep underground, beyond the touch of the sun. The air here was cooler, and perpetually damp with condensation. It soothed her aching body after a long journey, made her sigh with subtle relief. This was the climate bugs were meant to live in. Damp and warm. What did that make her, a cockroach?
The city continued into a series of mazelike burrows, taking them around and backwards and up again in a way that seemed deliberately calculated to confuse her.
"How does anyone get around?" Amie asked. "There are no signs or addresses in this place. It can't be efficient to memorize it all."
"Smell," Pavati answered. "Every job has its scents. The nursery, workshops, hospital... each one is different. Every bug can follow."
But not her. There were many smells here, invisible trails crossing in every direction. Amie could tell them apart, but that didn't mean she would be able to follow one.
Finally they came to a fine stone facade, covered in glittering green... glass? It looked softer, and had its own smell. The bugs had carved many intricate patterns into it, with similar styles to the ones they used on their tattoos. There was only one doorway here, wide and perpetually open.
"The Elders are inside," Pachu'a said. "Given that we walked all the way down here, I don't doubt they will be waiting for you. They already knew the date of our arrival, so there is no need to announce you." He gestured inside, but Amie didn't obey.
"Is there anything we should know before we go in? We don't know any of your rules. We might be able to follow your customs if you tell us what they are."
“The Elders do not expect much from formalities,” he began. “They are older than any other bugs in Sonoma, hence their name. That age has given them wisdom you can’t imagine. Each of them has gone blind, but in payment for that sacrifice, they have gained another kind of sight.”
He lowered his voice, glancing nervously to either side. “It is no secret, yet it is not something to be discussed lightly. These bugs can see into the future. They are the reason I was in Agate at the right moment to find you. Their magic is without equal in all the world.”
Amie grinned, waiting for the punchline. It didn’t come. Pachu'a just stared back, expression resolved. She sensed only the same total confidence he always radiated. He believed what he said.
“How does that work?” Wes asked. “Does everything they see always happen? Can they guess which finger I’ll hold up?”
The hunter shook his head sharply. “They feel only the general shape of the future. Yet their visions are not absolute, or they would serve only to torment us. Their foresight gives us a direction to aim, and shows what we should change. They did not tell me another swarm of changelings had arrived—they told me that I could prevent much suffering if I traveled into the mountains. When I left, we imagined it was our own. We were wrong.”
Amie and Wes shared a look. Wes’s skepticism remained. Amie was less certain—she’d seen so much strange magic since coming to Equestria that she couldn’t be sure what was real, and what wasn’t. Maybe magic really could see into the future.
“Will they tell me how to guide my swarm to prosperity?” she asked.
Pachu'a looked away. “Perhaps. None know the depth of their wisdom. Whether they are willing to share it when asked is a decision only the Elders can make.”
The other two hunters turned back the way they'd come. They bowed to Pachu'a, then walked back to join the city without so much as a farewell. But they probably had families waiting for them, worried after their greatly-extended journey. Did changelings even have families? If they were all born from eggs, hatched from the same queen...
"Speak the truth to the Elders. Civilized creatures cannot lie to one another. We are not prey. These ancient bugs deserve your respect. Their wisdom is great, and their vision casts long shadows into the future. If Queen Kaya is there, I cannot prepare you. I am not a queen."
What does any of that mean? Amie took a tentative step forward into the entrance. Wes followed beside her, huddling close. Their escort didn't, however.
She went a little further into the gloom, watching him over her shoulder. "We don't get an introduction? They just expect us to walk right in?"
He nodded, then dropped into a bow. "It was a pleasure traveling with you, Queen Amie Blythe. I hope your negotiations are friendly and fruitful. I hope Sonoma can help you pull your bugs from the brink of starvation. No one deserves to suffer as they have."
Then he rose, and vanished into the darkness behind them. But they weren't left in pitch black, not with the steady orange glow emanating through the building's not-glass walls.
Wes crowded in close to her, whispering into her ear. "Are you sure about this, Amie? Seems like the perfect place for us to disappear. There's not even any soldiers down here. Just a scary door."
Amie nodded. "I didn't see guards anywhere, Wes. Or anything that looked like police." She sighed, scanning the darkness ahead with sensitive eyes. She saw no one, but she could feel bugs beneath them. She even sensed their anticipation, building as the seconds passed. Pachu'a was right, they did know she was coming.
"They used to be humans too," Wes continued. "Why are they so weird? Meanwhile ponies were never human, and their towns seem great. Maybe a little old-fashioned, but great. You know, like—streets, houses, people wishing you good morning. Cafes and trains and bookstores."
Amie nodded. "Their ancestors were human once. But I don't think any of these bugs ever were. Earth is a story from their mythology, Wes. We're... history."
"Makes you wonder what humans they came from, exactly. I think I've seen photos of somewhere carved into the rock. Too bad we didn't know we were gonna get ripped away like this. We could've brought a copy of Wikipedia along."
"Camp has a library," Amie said. "I think we have an encyclopedia." But no matter how much she wanted to delay going inside, she couldn't keep standing there forever. Important people were waiting through that door, the ones who would decide whether Stella Lacus would starve or not.
"Don't let them push you around," she whispered, wrapping one leg around him in a tight hug. "I'm not Mr. Albrecht. I'm not trading you away. If anyone tries anything, we'll get out."
He smiled weakly up at her, flicking his tail towards the ominous darkness behind them. "Sure, Amie. I know what you mean, but I'm not expecting a miracle."
Together they walked through the doorway, into the Elders' chambers.
This reminds me of those people in China who think a huge part of western history is fake. Like, ancient Greeks were just a bunch of uncivilized barbarians; Pyramids were secretly built by Napoleon; everything supposedly written by Aristotle was in fact written by some random guy 2000 years later, etc. Ancient Greece and ancient Rome are just stuff that European barbarians made up to cover up their own insignificant and short history. Flat Earthers exist in different forms around the globe, I guess.
Does mean all changelings were human at some point in their history.
well this is going to be vary interesting ..
This will be one of the harder parts of the journey. Who knows how often the elders' already imperfect vision changes. Amie's plea may fail before it even begins. Success will mean so much though.
The queen's on a whole other level, though I wonder if the elders are more advisors or she's the eldest of them all if all the hive came from her.
Familiarity, Wes. Wouldn't expect a similar social structure to occur where different biology exists. Still, it's a little uncanny that the pony civilization resembles humanity much more than their actual descendants. Convergent evolution yes, but you'd be expecting things to mostly rhyme, not repeat.
11445830
The blog introducing this story states humanity as being the source of all changelings, either through transits or descent.
Of course it is left there
I wonder how the meeting will go. Amie is smart to keep the fact that ponies know about the fact that she's a changeling hidden from them.
Why is Wes such a backstabber and a dumb one at that? Sure, let’s make an enemy of this powerful swarm that knows exactly where all of our people live. I’m sure nothing will go wrong. I really don’t like Wes. He needs to grow some brain cells and some honesty.
Man, how did this guy end up as the food changeling? He knows nothing about friendship it seems.
Also, there’s no risk of betrayal by Pachu’a’s tribe. You can sense their emotions. Even if they fake that somehow, their hive is clearly not in a desperate condition, food wise, so they won’t be eager to just eat Wes like Stella Lacus might have become. The risk that they try to subjugate Amie is a necessary one, honestly.
So is Sonoma the name of this hive? I feel like this isn't the first time the word has been dropped, but I don't think it really registered for me before.
11445962
Where did Wes even suggest backstabbing anyone? I can see him being uneasy about making himself vulnerable before these strangers, but nothing beyond that.
11445982
Amie gave her word that she would accompany Pachu’a along with Wes to Sonoma. This is now the second time Wes had suggested breaking that word. The first time was even worse because he made the suggestion openly in front of Pachu’a and company. He’s an idiot and bereft of ethics.
This is such a huge occasion. Finally meeting the elders of a changeling tribe. This will be the most changeling interaction outside her own tribe. I'm sure she will make a good first impression.
11445825
PLEASE tell me they're a *tiny* minority. I can't tolerate that brand of ignorance.
11445986
We also have to remember he's more or less aloof with some introvertedness added too. He's more focused on the situation than the consequences. Adding the unknowns of strangers or the increasing stress of the social situation, he actually thinks it's an option to slip away without seriously compromising the camp. He thinks differently from most people.
11445986
Wes is implied to be neurodivergent and is nervous from being thrown into an unfamiliar situation. He's not an unethical idiot, he's being irrational because he's scared (and not without reason).
11446052
Depending on where you look on the internet, I guess. Sometimes I click on a related post on social media and then the algorithm would decide I love to see this kind of stupidity and then my feed would be filled with them.
11446121
Plus, he has only recently been betrayed by Albrecht, the camp leader who should have been looking out for him - and instead may have been leading him on a one-way trip to vivisection. Some trauma's to be expected, perhaps a fear of individuals with authority?
So, future seeing changelings. Interesting... Impressive numbers, though I do wonder what they've done to the ponies to make it. I'm still sketched out a bit by how they call them prey...
Amie's about to be a very busy mother.
The campers bought in vehicles at the start. I'm really curious how this swarm's myths and creation legends fit those in now once they find out.
All I think of now is humans from 2100 arriving to Equestria as confused changelings with even more advance tech.
11446208
Unless changelings are super high efficient on only a little bit of love, I'm quite apprehensive in looking at what they have in their larders. Still, until mass "reformation" becomes an option and nature being nature, the hive has to make a living somehow.
What a cliffhanger! I hope the other queen likes them.
11446496
If/When Amie finds out, I have a feeling she's gonna have a huge existential crisis...
Gahhh, cliffhangers
11446208
Amie once she learns the things queens have to know will put him in his place considering changelings aren't mindless slaves so every queen must have a way to keep her people in line.
Yes, what changeling could possibly be foolish enough to put personal, petty ambition before the well-being of their entire species?
"Wes, you only have four fingers, and that's counting your rear hooves."
"That's still a 25% chance if they're guessing."
I can hardly blame either sibling for being weirded out by the alien society surrounding them. Here's hoping the negotiations go smoothly. Any number of dealbreakers could end up hitting the table, and not all of them could come from this hive...
Onward, to everything.
11447859
The ends never justify the means, until you're desperate. What if you were given that chance to save a thousand or more people, at the cost of one person's life or sanity? What if it were your life you were sacrificing? It's completely understandable how a military vet would get drawn up into a mental problem of The Greater Good.
11448868
Thats why she will have keep him in line considering that I get that he was worried but he had very little to gain from his actions and plenty to lose. . Considering they knew nothing about the new bodies what exactly could they find without killing another child or adult to compare. As queen she will have help her people and keep them in line.
Into the unknoooown 🎵
11448892
Of course, though what does concern me is the question of where Amie's limit is. What does it take to make her desperate and use ends to justify the means?
11449665
So far she has a conscious keeping her line more than the princesses who promote harmony yet commit genocide. That the equivalent of us wiping out anyone with Japanese blood after pearl harbor.
11449667
Not what I was getting at, but I understand where you're coming from. What I mean is that I'm curious what ends Amie needs brought to in order to start thinking ends justify the means. Few people have a conscience strong enough to take them to their deathbed.
11449671
But it also how hard the other guy pushes the lines between right and wrong. Considering how many things did we never imagined ever being done in the name of safety yet blurred the lines between right and wrong.
11449685
I'm not even sure what you're trying to say anymore, I apologize. It feels like we're having two different conversations.
11449710
Before terrorism came along would we have imagined torture used to get information. Before pearl harbor would we have imagined locking people up for where their family came from. They push us and we lost our morals in order to fight. We got sense that it was wrong after the fact.
11449733
As a matter of fact, we've imagined many heinous acts before they were committed. I'd suggest reading up on history. But again, I'm having issues understanding what you're trying to communicate, and so I won't be continuing further, as you aren't speaking on the same topic as I. I was addressing the topic of desperation relative to morality. You're focused on something else.
I wonder what is going to happen to create chaos and destroy their relationship with these bugs? It always seems to happen.
I say Amie should take up a new royal name in the future, to sound properly regal.
I came up with Queen Amie-nirenas, in reference to an ancient Nubian warrior queen, though giving her (so far) peaceful rule over Stella Lacus swarm, perhaps sth like Amie-nitore would be more fitting.
Also, worldbuilding! Somona swarm seems really cool, I love indigenous people living interesting lifestyles in interesting places. Personally, Somona reminds me of the Chachapoyas, their cities and sanctuaries carved into the mountain cliffs in a hot, damp, wilderness.
That was a great chapter, impatiently waiting for more!