Been a bit longer than usual, but what can I say. Perfection can never be rushed!

I kid, I've just been a bit busy lately. So it took a bit longer.

In any case let's get on with it!

Begin!

Interlude – The Changing of The Guard.

Captain Pearl Pov

Of all the things I expected to happen in my life, this…this was never one of them.

My rank is Captain of Celestia's Solar Guard, specifically her travelling guard. A group of five with myself at the helm, all sworn to obey and defend Princess Celestia with our lives.

I wasn't supposed to be assigned to travel alongside her today, I was assigned to escort a group of the nobility to Griffonia on a diplomacy mission. But…I needed to come here, I had to.

I had to look at that Human in the eyes and ask him why!

Why did he kill my nephews, two young colts barely out of basic training.

Both killed on their first day by him for no Celestia damned reason!

"I tried to kill Celestia. But I missed and hit the guard...uh, your sons instead. I didn't mean to kill them, it was an accident. I wasn't…I didn't have control, I couldn't control what I was doing. I didn't mean to kill anyone."

Only to find out that it was all a bucking accident?

I had looked at that creature in the eyes as he spewed his words…and I didn't see a monster looking back at me or at my sister Ruby.

I saw shame and regret, I saw a young stallion who spat every word with self-loathing for being the cause of it all.

A fair number of recruits sign up to get away from their lives, a fair few more have good reason to.

If the Human ever decided to do the same, I wouldn't be surprised.

'Though no quite so Human anymore…'

His appearance was unnerving at first and it took all my training to retain my composure as I…rather foolishly I admit, begin to aggressively question him.

I had seen him a few times in the past and he had never looked quite so…alien as he did when I saw him again. Covered from toe to shoulder in black chitin, with sharp nails and eyes that made even me nervous.

There was a darkness within those orbs, an anger that threatened everything around him. It put me even further on edge and admittedly did not help me to keep my anger in check.

Still…done now, and now my squad and myself are on the mission assigned to us by Princess Celestia herself.

"Retrace their steps Captain, use the signature spell and follow it back to their hiding place. Once located, I want you to burn it down. Make certain there is nowhere for them to go but with us after the deal is made."

"And if there are others inside?"

"There shouldn't be…but make certain it is empty first, this deal is one of diplomacy. Death will undermine every and any deal made today. If there are any Changelings or the like inside, try your best to coax them out. If they refuse…you have my permission to do whatever is necessary."

"I…understand Princess. I won't let you down."

"I know you won't, Captain. You never have."

We had followed their green signature, a thick line that faded the further away from the dome we got. But after a mere hour of flight, the glow stopped…

It looked like the entrance to a cave…and yet the feeling it gave off was nothing short of deadly. Every part of me was screaming at me to run away.

"Captain Pearl," Fleetfoot said, the mare looking ahead nervously. "T-This looks dangerous…"

My traitorous heart tugged at me as I took note of her worried face, a deep pang echoing within as she looked at me with those pretty brown eyes.

'Come on Pearl, you ended it for a reason…Duty comes first, duty must come first. Not matter how much I want to…'

"Nevertheless Private Fleetfoot, we must go in and burn it down," I replied, fighting with all the training I had not to draw her close and hide her from the world. But as she looked back at the entrance and swallowed audibly…it became very difficult not to do so.

I had never hated myself more when I snapped at her before…

"Come on soldiers, we have a job to do."

I took the lead as usual and walked inside, my group following me as we entered the darkness.

"Lights."

Private Cupcake lit her horn up and shot a bright ball of light, her eyes widening as it went up and up and up…until the darkness swallowed it whole.

"I can't keep my horn lit, Captain," she said, her horn flickering as if in agreement. "My magic…it feels heavy here, I can't use it for long."

"Then turn it off for now," I ordered, reaching within my armour and pulling out a flare, before twisting it and throwing the light as far ahead as I could.

It made it a few feet before the darkness swallowed it.

"This is a problem," I muttered, flinching as somepony bumped into me.

"Sorry," Fleetfoot said, her barely visibly features clearly frightened as her eyes darted around. "Captain I think we should retreat, this place…it feels wrong."

"What do you mean, Private?"

"Can't you feel it?" she asked, her breathing becoming quickly shaky. "Something's watching us."

'Fleetfoot's always been scared of the dark…I wish I could hold her, I wish I could…'

"This isn't the time for paranoia, Private," I chastised, walking a little slower through the dark passage. "Remember your training. Keep a cool head and breathe, in and out nice and slow. I won't let anything happen to you-to any of you."

I cursed silently at the slip up, but it seemed to do the trick as Fleetfoot visibly relaxed, a hint of smile barely there to see in the darkness.

"Yes sir."

There was definitely a change in her tone…full of love and adoration. It pained me to hear it.

We continued walking for around ten or so minutes, nothing but the sound of our hooves and breathing to keep us company.

And then it happened.

"Captain…" Fleetfoot's voice was so frightened in that moment, I couldn't stop myself from turning to face her, my stoic leader act fleeing as I realized why she had spoken.

We were alone.

"Private Cupcake, Private Limelight?!" I shouted, my voice echoing eerily in the darkness. "Sergeant Wood?!"

I received no response, only the increasingly panicked breathing coming from Fleetfoot beside me.

"Stay with me Fleetfoot," I said, reaching out to pull her to me. "Keep in contact at all times and…"

I spun around to where she had been with wide eyes as my hoof grabbed nothing.

"Private Fleetfoot!" I shouted, spinning around to no avail.

She was gone!

I ran forward for a few more minutes, but it was almost impossible to see anything that wasn't within a few feet.

"PEARL!"

Fleetfoot's voice screamed for me down the dark corridor, the clear fear in it driving me to race as fast as I could towards it, towards her!

"I'm coming Fleetfoot!" I shouted, panting as I kept sprinting. "Keep talking, I can't see anything in here!"

"I'm scared, I'm so scared!" she cried, sobbing driving me to speed up. "No I don't want to die, anything but that, please. I…I…m-my wings, w-what's…"

"Keep talking hon, keep talking!" I yelled, turning to my left and entering what appeared to be a barely visible chamber.

"Why would Celestia do that…why would she….Luna….no, no, no…"

I could scarcely see anything…but as I squinted, the vague shape of somepony stood out to me in the corner of the room. They were holding themselves as if in agony.

"Fleetfoot?" I asked, edging closer slowly. "Is that-"

"Stay back!" she yelled, cowering away and clutching at her head as I neared. "Don't come near me!"

"Hey, hey it's me," I soothed, edging closer still. "It's okay. Remember what I told you, breathe deeply. In and out nice and slow."

I reached out with a hoof…and then she turned her head.

"Holy Celestia!" I cried, backing away as a Celestia damned Changeling turned to face me.

'Where's its horn?'

Fear was prevalent, but anger quickly took root as I realized I'd been tricked.

"Where is my squad, Changeling?!" I shouted, drawing my sword and pointing it at the monster threateningly. "What have you done with them?!"

The Changeling was clearly frightened as it looked at me with wide, fearful eyes. Tears were trailing down its…tears were…

'It's crying?'

"Pearl," the Changeling said, it's voice, Fleetfoot's voice clear as day. "W-What are you doing?"

"Fleetfoot?" I whispered, backing away slowly as she tried to come near. "No, it's a trick! Stay back! Don't come any closer or I'll slay you where you stand."

"Pearl it's me!" the Changeling cried, flinching back at my tone.

"You can't be," I replied, shaking my head. "W-Where are the other's?!"

The Changeling clutched at her head and moaned in obvious pain, tears leaking down her face as a jagged horn suddenly erupted from its head, blood trickling down from it.

"Bucking hell!"

"It hurts Pearl!" it sobbed. "Run! Before it happens to you!"

"Before what happens!" I shouted, suddenly very afraid as it looked at me, fangs creeping out from beneath its muzzle. "Where is my squad?!"

"Dead," it replied, whimpering in pain. "T-They refused so they melted, became part of the…OF THE HIVE!"

Its voice changed, Fleetfoot's impersonated tone becoming intermingled with some duel aspect.

My eyes widened in fear and I shook my head, refusing to believe that my squad, my team…my friends were all gone.

"You're lying!" I yelled, my fur suddenly very itchy. "Where are they?!"

"She gave me a choice!" the Changeling continued, ignoring me as it sobbed. "Change or die. I didn't want to die, Pearl. I was so scared! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!"

She looked at me, reaching out with a hoof. "Help me, Pearl!"

Before I could react, the Changeling dove forward, its speed knocking my sword away before I could think to use it as the creature clung to me helplessly.

"GET…off?"

'That scent…blueberries?'

The creature, it smelled just like Fleetfoot.

"Fleetfoot?" I looked down at the whimpering Changeling and blanched as I watched what was left of her twin winged Cutie Mark become overtaken by black chitin. "What's happening to you?!"

"Die or change," she sobbed. "I-I had no choice. I was scared, don't hate me."

"It's okay, it's okay!" I tried to soothe, trying not to panic. "We'll get you out of here and back to Princess Celestia. She'll know what to do, she'll change you back."

She looked at me, puzzled. "Celestia? Why would I want anything to do with her?"

Now it was my turn to be puzzled. "What do you mean?"

I was trying to ignore it as I spoke, but I was so damn itchy I couldn't stop myself from scratching my back.

She stiffened in my hold, eyes wide as she gasped and looked at me in horror.

"I'm sorry Pearl," she whimpered, nuzzling against my barrel. "It's too late, I can hear her, I can feel her. It's too late, she's got you."

My head ached…

"Indeed I have," said a feminine voice, buzzing ever so slightly and…sad. "I am sorry little ones. You should never have come here, but your fate was sealed the moment you entered the hive."

"Did you kill my squad?!" I shouted into the darkness. "Did you…did you do this to Fleetfoot?!"

"She had little choice," the voice replied, tone clearly upset. "I am sorry, I could only delay it and hope that you left in time. But you stayed too long, so I offer you a choice as I did the others. Die and become what feeds the hive, or accept what I offer and change to become its subject."

I coughed as she finished, flecks of red horrifying me as I suddenly noticed how weak I felt.

"It's a defence mechanism," the voice explained. "Fleetfoot realized it earlier but you ignored her, you really shouldn't have. It's not your fault, but I cannot stop it from killing you as you are now. All I can do is offer to change you so that it stops trying."

"Please don't say no," Fleetfoot pleaded, the alien face her voice came from suddenly somewhat recognisable as she looked at me, that expression so…familiar. "I don't want you to die. I love you, I love you so much. Please don't die, please!"

"Kiss him sweetie, show him, make him remember what he threw away."

I coughed, some of the flecks of blood hitting her cheek. She ignored it and grabbed my face gently, my rapidly weakening body not strong enough to stop her as she pressed her lips to mine.

The kiss was…so familiar. I had missed it.

"Poor Fleetfoot was so heartbroken when you left her," the voice said, gentle and soothing "She understood that duty came first, but she has never stopped loving you. Listen to her, don't throw your life away."

I collapsed to the ground, my body unresponsive to my mental commands as Fleetfoot lay down beside me.

"Please Pearl," she whispered, nuzzling me lovingly. "I love you…I…I can feel…You…You still love me too. I can feel it, I…oh…oh this feels wonderful!"

"It is a joy that no other can feel," the voice cooed. "I offer it to you, Pearl. Change, join Fleetfoot. Join the hive and experience love like no other. You love her, you love her so much. Join with her, be with her forever…"

I…I was too weak to say no…I couldn't die here, I had to…to warn the Princess…

"Okay…" I whispered, all resistance gone as Fleetfoot let go a happy cry. "I won't leave you here alone."

"I love you, Pearl," she said, kissing me once more.

"I love you too."

…

"I am sorry you ever needed to make this choice…but this is going to hurt."

Pain erupted within me as I felt everything begin to change.

"Disbelieve if you wish, but Celestia has knowingly sent you to your death. And once you are changed, I will show you as I showed Fleetfoot. I will show you exactly who Princess Celestia truly is."

My muzzle opened in a silent scream, Fleetfoot's calming shushing sounds, her gentle nuzzles being all I had to distract me from the agony of what was happening to me.

Fur became chitin, wings shifted and changed, fangs began to creep out from beneath my muzzle.

I couldn't hold back the scream as a horn erupted from my forehead.

…and then it was over.

I shivered as the last of the change overcame me, my armour long destroyed by whatever violent magics had changed me.

"It's okay honey," Fleetfoot soothed, kissing the bridge of my muzzle repeatedly. "I'm here, I'm here."

"The Princess," I whispered, tired beyond belief. "We need to warn her about this place. She'll change us back."

Fleetfoot looked puzzled and shook her head. "Celestia? But we don't serve Celestia, remember?"

"What are you talking about?" I asked. "We are her guard. We serve…we…we serve Princess Celestia. We…"

"We serve our Queen and King," Fleetfoot said, rubbing my head with a look of concern on her face. "Give it a moment, you'll understand."

"Indeed he will."

Images began to flash before my eyes.

Celestia and Luna in a war, smiling with blood flowing, killing with a grin on their faces.

Luna having sex with a stallion…a stallion who was fighting with all he had to push her away as she laughed and laughed. He finished, she finished, she got off…

And cut it off, still laughing as he bled out and died.

I watched as a Changeling was dragged in chains in front of Celestia and Luna. I watched as Luna raped a stallion who cried out for the Changeling, his eyes becoming less and less focused as he lost himself to madness.

I watched as the Human known as Richard Tyler was torn from his world and forced to stay. I watched as he was abused and hurt and used.

I watched as a very familiar Changeling entered his life with bad intentions…but who's heart was changed by him, who grew to love him and become a better individual.

I watched as he was torn away from her by Twilight Sparkle. I watched as they attempted to remove the love he had for the Changeling.

I watched as he killed my nephews in a fit of uncontrolled hatred, hatred that would never have been there if he had been left alone. My nephews would never had died had Celestia and Luna just left him alone.

I watched his own power kill him as he desperately tried to control it, refusing to kill another due to his lack of control ever again. I watched as Luna stole him into her realm of dreams and tried once again to dominate through any means necessary.

I watched him wake up and avoid his mate, fearful and ever so tired.

I watched as they were both dragged away from their home and towards the dome.

I watched…and realized that I had been on the wrong side all this time.

Celestia was the enemy. Luna was the enemy.

I opened my eyes to see Fleetfoot's just before me, her once alien features now so familiar to me.

"Did you see?" she asked.

I nodded, looking around the room and realizing that unlike before I could see clearly.

"They need our protection," she continued, watching me for my reaction. "We must go to them."

I looked back.

"Yes," I replied, standing up with a strength I had never possessed before. "We must protect the King and Queen."

We stood straight and smiled at each other, a glorious feeling flowing from her and into me.

And with nary a thought, we flew out of the hive and towards our King and Queen.

King Richard and Queen Chrysalis.

And boom, done.

Next part IS Parlave Oum's finale, no more fucking dome after that one.

Cya, Stay Snuggly!