“We can’t just sit on our hooves and wait! This cannot be the end of our species!” A changeling on the right called out.
“We wouldn’t be in this situation if it wasn’t for your betrayal!” Someone in the back section angrily hissed.
A voice shouted up from the back of the left side, “It was the Queen who betrayed us!”
For the eighth time that day, the entire room burst into a hundred different arguments, each one screaming at each other, not listening to what the other was saying. The room had been divided into three sections, and the divisions were far from equal.
“I say we fly out and burn them all!” Came a yell from the right.
“We need to bait them in, where we have the advantage!” Another yelled, this time from the left side of the room.
“You would have us sit and wait for our deaths!”
“You would have us rush out and die by the thousands!”
At the front of the largest group, the left partition, General Aphid pounded the ground with her right hoof three times, calling for attention. “The time for isolation has come to an end! The Masquerade cannot be unbroken! The ponies cannot be defeated in battle, not while their Princess still walks amongst them. The time has come for the changelings to seek allies. For if we are to conquer Equestria, we need strength from outside of the hive!”
Opposite from her, General Labrum shook his head, “There is room only for one species in this world. We saw what happened when Saint Phasmatodea attempted to make an alliance with a rogue faction from within Equestria; when it came time to draw knives, the ponies were nowhere to be seen, and their alicorn leader was defeated by six ponies! Changelings can only rely on ourselves, as we have for tens of thousands of years! This is how Panar wove it to be! We will have war, us against the world! Panar wills it!”
“Panar wills it!” The right partition behind him yelled.
‘Two bickering halves of unequal size, united in their hatred of me and worship of my dead son. Things would have been so much simpler if he hadn’t vaporized. Now I don’t even have time to resurrect him.’
Queen Chrysalis shook her head slowly as the two sides began yelling at each other again. On her left, the Lodgers took up the majority of the room. On her right, the Moderates were grouped up, only half the size of the Lodgers. And in the back of the room, where Queen Chrysalis sat on her throne, the Loyalists were half the size of the Moderates. That meant the Reformists coalition outnumbered the Loyalists six to one.
General Labrum was not finished, “This war was inevitable! Panar has woven it to be thus, and thus it will be done! We will not give up! We will never surrender!”
Queen Chrysalis rolled her remaining eye. Despite Labrum’s posturing, no one was arguing against him. That was for the simple fact that none of the three factions even wanted to stop fighting against Equestria. The real division was when it came to how to fight them.
Aphid sneered, “You want to fight so badly, go on then! Charge right at the ponies, noling will stop you!”
“The Fourth Hive must act as one, or we will perish. When we fight as less than that, the ponies will divide and conquer, just as they did in Canterlot!”
“Then shut your damned muzzle and think for once in your Panar-forsaken life! We cannot win alone!”
“Relying on non-changelings is what killed Saint Phasmatodea!”
Once more, the room went wild with arguments as the respective leaders went back to yelling at each other. Hooffights even started breaking out between the two factions. The air was abuzz with changelings as the two factions started infighting again.
‘Enough of this. The day drones alone dictate the fate of the hive is the day after I’m dead.’
Queen Chrysalis held up a hoof. Her most loyal supporter looked at her upon seeing the motion, then turned to face the crowd.
“SILEEEEENCE!” High Marshal Pharynx yelled from the base of the throne. The fighting and yelling stopped at an instant, with some changelings freezing mid-punch to stare at Pharynx.
He gave a half bow to Queen Chrysalis, giving her the room.
Queen Chrysalis rose slowly from the Mythril Throne. Two changeling drones from the Eleventh Legion stopped checking her scarred up wounds and backed up from her. Standing high above the crowd, Queen Chrysalis spoke loudly, her voice carrying across the throne room.
“The War For The Sun is not yet at an end. None argue against this. Though The Promised Day has taught us many lessons, one of the most important that was imparted was that Equestria is mortal. We are not cowards. We are not prey. In the face of a setback, we do not give up and pretend nothing happened. We lick our wounds, and then we plan once more.
“Sure, we could try to wait them out. A war of attrition. But that is a war they would win. We have only a single generation of ponies, and no ability to grow food to sustain more if we let them out of the pods. Further, waiting gives them time to test the functions of the anti-magic field. No, we must take the fight to the ponies.”
Queen Chrysalis looked towards General Aphid, “Seeking allies that we can use but not rely on would be ideal. However, before that can be accomplished, we must break the blockade the ponies have put around the Badlands. No one goes through that line of defense unseen. We cannot go through or around them. Their defenses form a perimeter around the entirety of the Badlands. All they need to do is see us coming and send off a signal to their masters in Canterlot. We cannot go above them. Pegasi patrols hold the skies above their defenses. That means we must go under them.”
Murmurs and whispers started and then quickly grew in volume. Queen Chrysalis continued while she still had the room’s attention.
“There is but one route out of the hive still. We must work slowly. We must work carefully. I myself shall lead the effort, once I have taken the time to heal. We shall map our way out, burning a holy crusade under the hooves of the ponies who think us trapped. The war is not yet over. We must unseal the Underhive!”
General Aphid and Labrum looked at each other. After a moment, Labrum nodded slowly. Thirty more seconds later, and Aphid gave a single nod herself.
“All in favor of unsealing the Underhive?” She called for a vote.
“Aye!” The room cheered.
“All against?”
“Nay!” A couple changelings in her own factions yelled, as well as a few in the Moderates.
“The Aye’s have it. The Underhive shall be unsealed, and efforts to map out a route to Equestria shall begin at once!”
‘The right words, in the right ears, at the right time. You may think you have stripped my power over the Fourth Hive, nymphs, but I have been ruling for centuries. I am the Fourth Hive!’
I slowly ran a hoof along the length of the wooden desk.
This was the final matter of the business. Five days of working to find all of Count Double Dealings’ assets, organize them, sell or incorporate them, and use the newly acquired funds for our own organization. We would not be keeping anything long term outside of contacts. Buildings and land were sold off. Bank accounts and vaults were emptied. Employees in his various businesses let go.
I had stayed up long after the sun had arisen during the day the Count died. I also used up as much love as we could safely harvest, and put it all towards interrogating each pony. It still took the better part of three days to get through each one. Coverup efforts would likely take the entirety of the month.
As for the Count and his assets, that wouldn’t take as long.
I had left the matter of visiting his estate disguised as him to another changeling. That pony still made my blood boil, though I couldn’t find out why. Disguising myself as him just made me want to zap my own reflection. But that was all handled, and with the funds the Family had space to grow. Amongst a few purchases of property in the periphery of the Big Apple was the small office space I was currently in. Several rooms, each now being taken up by a changeling and their work stations, and one large office on the second floor, the only one with a view. This building was to become the nervecenter of the Fifth Hive here in Manehattan.
I sat down in my pleather chair and smiled.
“Hail to the King.”
“You done yet?’
“... Yes Coxa, I’m done.”
“Good, because we got shit to do.”
“Alright, what’s the situation?’
Coxa deposited a few folders on my new desk. He pointed to the one on top, which I opened first. It contained brief descriptive documents of properties, written by one or two changelings. There weren’t photos, but there were sketches and blueprints.
“Two apartment complexes. Thalamus got them cheap, so we finally have habitation for the changelings.”
“Perfect. Current residents?”
Coxa shook his head, “One of them has some. The other was being renovated when the owners foreclosed, so we got it empty. And before you ask, yes, we did hire a company to finish the renovations.”
“So it will be a while before it’s available?”
“Yes.”
“Alright, move what changelings we can into the occupied building. Make sure they understand that there are ponies within the building, so disguises need to be worn.”
“Sounds good. Next order of business, warehouses. The warehouse currently being used to house those ponies hasn’t been sold yet for obvious reasons, making it the last of the Count’s assets besides his personal estate itself.”
His personal estate was a large mansion over in… some city. I didn’t really care, and I wasn’t the one who went to visit it.
“Have we purchased any new warehouses?”
“Not yet.”
I nodded, “Let’s get on that. Preferably have them close to the main one. Once we have at least one purchased, I want that warehouse modified to be as secure as possible. That’s where we’ll store the ponies.”
“Sure thing, boss. I’ll put together a team and have them be the dedicated engineers and construction workers or whatever. I’ll first check out the guys and girls who modified the carts, they seemed to know their way around tools.”
“I like it. Good thinking. Any progress on speakeasies?”
“Thalamus has a location for the first one, here in Manehattan.” He pointed to the second folder.
I opened it up and examined its contents.
“Basement. One large room, several back rooms, including a kitchen. This sounds perfect. What was– ah here we go, formerly a night club by the name of Last Chance. Ah. We’ll need to clean the place up and completely change the decor, then.”
“You got something already in mind?”
“As a matter of fact, I do.”
Art deco, open stage, a bar, the whole shebang.
“When did you become an expert on pony interior design?”
I set the folder down, “... Another time. Not now.”
“What?”
“Not now. I’ll explain later. To both you and Thorax.”
Coxa squinted at me, “Uh… okay?”
“Listen, just don’t worry about it. What’s next?”
“I’ve put together a report on our current operations, in exactly the way you outlined. Next folder on the pile.”
I picked up the folder, flipped it open, and smiled.
“FASB compliant. Oh, I love it, Coxa.”
“What?”
“I like it.”
I looked over the Balance Sheet first.
“Yeah you better like it, it was a pain in the ass to learn. Why do we even have to do it this way?”
“... Makes it harder to fuck up, makes it easier to read, and because I said so.”
“Is this how ponies do it?”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“If not, then they eventually will. Probably.”
“And you know this, how?”
“Same reason I know some things about interior decoration.”
“So you’re going to explain that too?”
“Yes, yes.”
I picked up the Income Statement.
“We’re spending a lot of bits. No loans, though.”
“Of course not. You know just how much documentation you need to apply for one of those. Cash only.”
“Cash only… Wow, that’s a lot of bits.”
“Yeah, but look at the incomes up at the top.”
“Are we really making that much?”
“Vanhoover is now in the network. Most major cities, outside of the Southern ones, Canterlot, Las Pegasus, and Cloudsdale are now buying salt from us. Give it a month, and all of Equestria will be begging us for booze. It’s getting to the point where we’re going to have to visit small towns just to find consistent suppliers.”
“Do it, just don’t get caught. Huh. I honestly didn’t expect there to be a supply issue.”
“You got any strange ideas that will somehow fix it?”
“... Look around for ponies that have been recently put out of a job. Specifically, find the brewers that the Prohibition has unemployed. It might be in our interest to get into production, as well. We’ll be distributing for the most part, but if we can establish a vertical monopoly, we’ll be taking dives into pools filled with bits. We’ll have so much money, we’ll have no idea what to do with it. I’ll put together the rough ideas of this final phase of expansion. For now, keep doing these miracles.”
“Sure thing. Hey, I’m taking one of the apartments that are available.”
“Hmm? Oh, sure, go ahead. You definitely deserve it.”
He smiled, “Glad to hear there’s no argument. Are you taking one, too?”
“No. I’ll stay with the rest of the drones until the housing crisis is solved.”
“That’s… admirable. Stupid, but admirable.”
“I’ll basically live in this office, anyways. Besides, being near everyone else will help both of us. They can voice any concerns or ideas they have, and I can be there to listen to them. I’m not exactly holding court or anything, so this is how they’ll get their voice.”
“... You sure you’re Chrysalis’s son?”
“No one else has stepped forward to claim me. Maybe they’re afraid I’ll kill them, like I did Eucharis?”
“Ha! That’s dark, I love it. But anyways, next order of business.”
The second to last folder was rather thin.
“Weapons. Armor. Hmm… It’s expensive to hire blacksmiths for these.”
“I’m telling you upfront, it’s going to be cheaper and safer to get the raw materials, rather than hiring some pony to make these, or try to get our hooves on guards’ gear. We already have some lings with metalworking experience.”
“Forgers, from the hive? That’s a stroke of luck.”
“The best were in the Praetorians. These were some of the lings that made the bulk of the Legion’s helmets and armor and whatnot. Still, better than nothing. The experience will be extremely helpful in the longrun, too.”
I nodded, “I agree. When we have the spare funds, do it. I think it’s time we establish a Legion or two of our own. Especially when we finish getting into contact with the West Coast exiles.”
“A new Legion?” Coxa asked.
“We’re going to need to defend ourselves. That means training in both anti-Equestrian tactics, as well as anti-changeling tactics.”
He sighed, “That’s a tall order. Definitely going to require a lot of training. A new Legion it is. I’m sure Froghopper will be happy to hear he gets to be part of the military again.”
“You know what, that’s a good idea. Make sure he’s in the new Legion. He’s shit at scouting.”
“That wasn’t his fault and you know it.”
“... I’m still mad.”
Coxa wrote some notes, “I’ll put him in charge of training scouts. Despite your opinion on his skills, he's actually pretty good at doing it. You got a name for this new Legion?”
“The Thirteenth Legion, The Red Right Hoof. No, you’re not supposed to get the reference.”
“I figured. Last order of business.”
I picked up the last folder, and opened it up. It had few details, but what it did have…
“Coxa.”
“Phasma.”
“What am I looking at?”
“An archeological digsite, way down south in the jungles.”
“That’s not what I’m looking at.”
“It is. That photo right there is the main thing of interest to the archeologists. I found this information while trawling around for anything of interest in the news. Then I put on a disguise and got the information directly from the associated university. You wanted magical artifacts? Here’s your best chance.”
I exhaled, “You’re saying this is the real deal?”
“As best as I can tell.”
I flipped through the pages. Photos, sketches, diagrams, descriptions, the folder had it all. Coxa had sourced it from Manehattan University’s offices, apparently.
Coxa spoke while I read, “The southern jungles are still hot. The E.U.P. have hunkered down in the nearby border of the Badlands, so the expedition team will have to be small. Maybe ten changelings max. I’ll be too busy here running the entire operation. I’d say you’d be too busy to go, but judging by that picture, you’re going to have to be there.”
“You think I’m going to be a glorified can opener?”
“That’s one fucking hell of a can, Phasma.”
“... Yes. Yes it is.”
I tossed the folder down onto my desk. The photograph slid out of its pocket slightly. It was a black and white picture of an old temple, overgrown and in the middle of the jungle. Right at the base was a massive sealed door. There were a series of symbols along the edge, and I could make out a few. However, the one that interested me the most was the largest one, which sat in the center of the door.
Right on the middle of the door was the changeling symbol for Command, a three pointed crown.
“Which one is it?” I wondered. Then I spied one of the symbols along the edges, “Sacrifice. That was the symbol for the Third. I remember seeing it on the covers of a few of the books that were recovered and sitting in the Fourth’s Vault.”
“I said it was one hell of a can. Was I wrong?”
“The Third Hive… No Coxa, you were not wrong.”
Ooh. Curious to see what they've found, though I have a guess.
I'm waiting for the inevitable deathmatch between thorax and pharynx
You were the chosen one! It was said that you would destroy the Fourth Hive, not join them! Bring balance to the hive, not leave it in darkness! You were my brother Pharynx. I loved you!
It seems that taking out the ascended royalty along with being almost splattered in a failed invasion as lead to Chrysalis being forced to make an actual parliament with the Lodges as the majority party.
Of course she isn't going to let something like that stop her from exercising absolute authority, it just means she has to be a little more subtle about it.
What's the bet if it wern't for the whole 'hive being surrounded by the enemy' she would have been deposed completely?
phas possibly found where his grandmas hive was? this could tell us quite a bit about changlings before chrisalis and the old queen herself. i am verry interested to see what this leads to
I wonder if the Fourth Hive's focus on underground warfare is going to lead to earth ponies digging into how deep their connection to the earth can go. We know from the Pie family that there is a lot of untapped potential there.
Ooooh, now that’s a cliffhanger I can get behind, let the adventure began!!
We really needed that change of pov. MC only was getting a bit stale.
...That's not what happened, but then again, those here was probably away from Canterlot.
You're already dead, you just don't know it yet...I don't think Thorax can stop Phasma to brutalize him.
...That will gain time, but that's it, then again that's what she wants.
Indeed, you ARE the Fourth, He's the Fifth.
... Looks like Chrissy either didn't know, or didn't CARE about such a place, since she was in control of the Hive.
10829898
I was surprised that just after a chapter mentioning how Chrysalis didn't even allow them to have a voice, she was having councilors openly disagreeing with her about the next course of action and worshiping her rebellious son...
...speaking if which, why didn't Chryssy tried to shift blame to Phasma's failed coup, stating the chaos, betrayal among ranks plus having the Queen herself weakened after the duel with the Prince were the reason Daybreaker managed to win back Canterlot?
10829929
To summarize:
That's why.
Blaming him would weaken even more of what's left, and they are STILL on the Phasma side, and we all know how she LOVES to a be a manipulator.
Would he continue to be a saint when the remnants of the Fourth Hive realize that he's alive?
The Chaos Insurgency? MTF Alpha One? Something about a Roman Legion?
Finaly getting my fix for today. This Fimfiction story is one of the best literature drugs ever
Chryssy is gonna have a heart attack when she learns Phasma is alive.
This could backfire really badly for Chrysalis. It seems the only reason she is still in charge is because all of her lings think Phasma is dead. When they find out he's not only alive, but actually thriving in the criminal underside of Equestria, six out of seven will jump ship immediately. On top of that Phasma might actually be able to beat Chrysalis in a fight now that he is fully grown, especially if he finds a MacGuffin in the third hive.
Well Chrysalis is gonna lose most of her lings real soon it seems and it also looks like we'll be getting a history lesson about the third hive soon. Nice chapter.
Well, Phasma certainly left a mark on the hive. Chrysalis better get real good at politics and PR real fast, or else she'll not rule for long after everyling realizes Phasma is still alive.
Hah, Phasma got "posthumously" deified. When it comes to light he's still alive, I bet someone will miss the memo and before Phasma can clear it up, a bunch of lings will treat it like a religious event. Phasmatodea, the chosen of Panarthropo and Jesus-ling.
Yay, Pharynx is alive. I hope he can survive meeting with Thorax and Phasma intact. Phas will be furious if he learns Pharynx killed Oest, but I can't imagine Thorax just letting his brother be harmed.
If this is not setting up for a crossover episode with Daring Do, I'm gonna be disappointed.
Don't worry Coxa, I don't get it either.
i was only reading this far“Panar wills it!” The right partition behind him yelled. until id clickd and this came to mind
(ignore after 5 second's)
10829929
Probably because that would be showing may problems internal to the royalty to the general public, she probably sugar coated their deaths that's why he is a saint now (aside from the fact that he is royalty)
At least that's my theory
10829960
Someone else already said it, but he'll probably be seen as Jesus-ling. A living god. On the other hand, it'll give Phasma a chance to use the classic line 'the rumors of my death were greatly exaggerated.'
Well google gave me this
dam The Third Hive that is one hell of a fin. now if Phasma can crack the sucker.
10829988
the Brotherhood from "The Elder Scroll's" ?
Hmmm..
Indiana JonesDaring Do arc coming up?10829886
It was literally spilled out that its probably the third hive.
10829889
The referance is priceless but the execution was sloppy..
10829898
Mostly likely. Or put under outside the hive. Having to build a new from scratch...
10829903
True but dont forget a badic fact. A City/Castle that get abandoned for good will be mostly stripped of anything. There will be mostly likely only scraps left. Should Coxa not he the missing Princess/-Queen than perhaps thats were she is with her decendants.
10829907
Outside the anti magic area perhaps but dont forget everything living inside the Badland and tunneling trough the earth...
10829915
Daring to and the Bug King! That book well be AWESOME
10829921
I was already missing the survivers view. Perfect timing ♡
10829945
Nice. Very nice 👍
10829960
Probably yes. Just that its one below his King. Still it will be funny when Coxa keeps booping that titel in Phasmatodea face
10829982
The deadly kind would be conviniently
Oh god oh god oh god the plot thickens this’ll be big! I can’t wait to get out of this business arc, it’s kinda boring but I prefer Phasma’s interactions with Luna and Cadance and his fight scenes over anything else so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
10829927
Chrysalis killed eye witnesses ...
Dead? Probably just have his winged taken and denie him membership of the fifth hive.
Also a nice way to get rid of problematic Changelings im sure...
Nice 👍
A raided / empty hive is nothing but walls filled with echos of the past. More than wall and door markings will probably not found
10829935
Phasma will have one huge population growth ones they found out about the fifth hive.
10830027
Really hope so 👏
10829929
Noone would be stupid enough to belive her outside her followers. No need to get her ass on more fore than she alrwady suffers.
10829983
Phasmatodea will need the money badly ones his followers start joining the fifth hive
10830014
He already did, in chapter 77, when meeting the survivors from the Lodges.
10830047
Every chapter a new adventure with a new view here or there... What do you think will happen ones Cadance has Divison P. pulling the brwaks hard ones the bomb collors come out?
10829986
Even without Phasmatodea being the better option Chrysalis is playing on borrowed time really...
10829988
That a huge understatement
Cant wait for Coxa to punch his boopable snoot with that titel
He most likely will have his membership revoked and never be accepted as member of the fifth. That causing him to become Chrysalis or Thorax follower...
Pretry sure we all hope for it ♡
10830013
Otherwise Chrysalis would probably sitting in a dungeon cell instead the throne...
10830014
Again? How fitting...
10830020
Probably a bit harder than the Nymph combination to his siblings... But not as tough as cutting open the Vault i hope...
10830057
I wonder what Chrysalis things about all her Weave boosters disposal... What did you guess was her reaction? Absolutely livid? Rather sad and dissapointed? Only a minor inconvenients?
Everyone must know about her actions... How she is still on the throne is a mystery to me...
The Third Hive...
What an unexpected twist.
Anyone else feel eager?
The Third Hive eh? I'm guessing Phasma will find both literal and figurative skeletons in the closet within that place.
I am the senate!
Alright! We are going Indiana Jones now, just remember Phasma, you must choose…wisely
Damn. It's as if KK has 20 different plot ideas to throw in before we even reach near the end of the story.
Awesome chapter
10830068
I think public backlash with dissolve it and then hopefully she’ll coordinate with Phasma for him to covertly reintegrate the changelings. Although I think that’s where things will finally go wrong, because too many things have been going right so far…who knows
...Just to put ALL OF US in the same Hive-Mind here, WHAT is the Underhive ?
Most of us(myself included) know what is, but the details(and chapter about it) failed me to at the moment, so just to remind everyone about it.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KcM9lGauR5U
Meanwhile the Fifths Hive: "Am I joke to you?"
Shepard.
Rex.
Nice
Ah yes, the height of luxury, pleather. Pony leather, Equestria isn't so different from the Rim afterall.
“The Thirteenth Legion, The Red Right Hoof. No, you’re not supposed to get the reference.”
Hmmm, I am trying to figure out this reference. I think it might be Wheel of Time? Band of the Red Hand?
Good chapter though, very much enjoying the story.
10830082
Alone for the history its worth retaking the place. I would make the old hive a token hive in Phasmatodea place later on.
10830087
Not anymore ~
10830092
I doubt any hive has a self destruction button/trigger. Whats the point? Destroying a valuable Hivestructure?
Yet i get the joke so 👍
10830095
Purrrfect ♡ More ideas = More to read
10830101
Not really. Changelings population wasnt the biggrst at the start and there numbers are only decresing. At the moment no new Eggs are layed to replace the killed population. The truth is Changeling kind is dying out. Even if Phasmatodea would get Daybreaker and Chrysalis of his back he still need to make sure his race is replacing older Drones. Most important is that Nymphs have to be raised right. That takes 1-2 decades. Phasma only can work hard to slow down population decline at the moment. The true challange is saving his race over the next 500 years by steady increasing population and raise em well. Interlectual, moral and making sure they keep a good military.
10830106
Chrysalis probably by accident hit some swarm of nastys and than the Pony siege is getting seriouse fun on there way like hoofville.
10830133
I know it was a referance but i could get it pinned down. Great job!
10830262
Easy "I rather destroy this treasure than allow it to end in the hands, claws or hooves of the enemy!" That is the purpose of the self destruct button
Phasma: edex.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/montypython.gif
10830264
You dont destroy a museum for pettyness. That the very least this structure is. At best its literally the fifth hives future secondary hive wile the primary one will be in Canterlot. After all Thorax will probably accend at one point or another so the old hive would make a great base for Thorax!
I doubt the fourth hive or Canterlot have one. Never the fifth hive since its just wasted effort...
10830270
You do when you are that paranoid and have so many enemies, before Thorax all the queens operate like that, keeping their secrets no matter the cost
10830275
Actualy thats wrong. Its at one of the vault chapter were they keep everything documented since the Queens expected to be killed by one of there own.
10830279
With all sorts of traps and only her knowing how to access it.