Chrysalis is smiling at me again. I don’t think anyone is brave enough– or stupid enough– to tell her that her smiles are creepy as fuck. Self-preservation and all that.
“Prince Phasma, you have been working hard at your studies.”
‘But I failed yesterday’s first exam?’
“I do my best, Queen Chrysalis.”
She nodded, “I know. Which is why I have secured a luxury for your efforts.”
At this point I’m expecting her to give me a slave or something equally horrible. She brings over a jar from her desk. I can hear whispers coming from it…
“-I don’t know, with-” “-need you my-”
‘No, it couldn’t be... There’s going to be an awful catch to this. Okay, which puppy am I going to have to strangle?’
I closed my open mouth before I drooled. I don’t even know when I opened it in the first place.
“With hard work comes rewards that make it worth it. You might not have realized what you are working for, so I shall enlighten you. You will be my second-in-command of the changeling race, and together we shall bring an end to the miseries that have befallen our people.
“Prince Phasma, you will be the key to the fall of Equestria, and with it, you will bring the hive an unlimited supply of love. Enough not just for us, but for every drone that bows to us. No more rationing. No more hiding. This is what we are working towards. This is a goal worth fighting for.”
‘She is buying my loyalty with pure love!’
“I do as you command, mother.” I can’t even take my eyes off the jar.
No matter how hard I try, I can't. Stop. Staring!
“I need more than a mindless drone, Prince Phasma. I need a commander, a war master who will bring ruin upon my enemies. You are more than a weapon, you are Prince Phasmatodea of the Fourth Hive Dynasty. Princess Celestia shall come to fear your very name!”
“... I will not fail.”
“No, you won’t.” With that, she uncaps the jar and hooves it over to me and I take it up in my magic. My magic had shifted over to a light orange hue from the changeling green shortly after starting magic lessons.
I could hear the whispers much clearer now that the love was sooo close...
‘Oh by the nine, I have missed this!’
I was in my room, standing at my open, empty chest. Staring at it. Staring through it.
‘Do I…. Should I….’
I growl and shake my head.
‘No, one thing is clear. I need to find out what happened to those who came before me. I will not be just a footnote in changeling history. Or worse, scrubbed from it entirely. If she had a hoof in their possible demise, then I am in danger. She could very easily dispose of me when we are victorious.’
I felt uncomfortable and sweaty. I wanted to vomit.
‘She’s got me like a dog on a leash. I am a fucking drug addict and she holds a monopoly on the supply.’
I began to pace the room.
‘I doubt there is any possible way I can secure a supply of love outside of her directly, which means I have to play nice and follow orders. I will do whatever she says until I can get the truth.’
I remembered that tomorrow I will meet other changelings outside of Officer Katydid for the first time.
‘Allies. Resources. Information. I cannot make bricks without clay.’
If I am worrying over nothing, then tomorrow will pass by unremembered to all but those in the class.
But if she killed her offspring before me, then what I set in motion tomorrow will be the end of Queen Chrysalis, ruler of the Fourth Hive Dynasty.
‘As it is woven, So it shall be.’
A loud knocking on the door woke me up.
“Prince Phasma, it is time to wake up,” came a muffled voice on the other side.
“Muh,” I eloquently reply, and turn over in my bed to face away from the door.
Heedless of my stern warning to not wake me up, the door opens and Chamberlain Eucharis moves into the doorway.
“Prince Phasma, it is time for you to attend infiltration class.”
“Nnnnuh.”
Eucharis sighs softly to himself, "Every damn day.” The Chamberlain then tilts his head forward and shoots out a firework illusion spell into the room. The immediate BANG! and flash of lights sends me shooting off my bed.
He repeats himself, “Prince Phasma, it’s time to wake up.” With that, he steps back, and closes the door behind him.
I groan and my eyes. This was not a fun way of waking up, but after sleeping past the start of just a single lesson Chrysalis arranged for the Chamberlain to make sure I was awake on time.
‘They really need to invent alarms.’
“Queen Chrysalis, it is time to wake up,”
I stood up and stretched, producing a series of satisfying pops.
‘Today is the first day I will see changelings that are not my mother, military, or the two Broodnurses from so long ago. First impressions are everything…’
I lamented the lack of a mirror to make myself presentable. I would ask Chrysalis to see if she can procure one but let’s be honest; what could I even do? I don’t get bed-head since Chrysalis is the only changeling with hair. I can’t brush my teeth since toothpaste hasn’t been invented yet. Or maybe it has and there just isn’t any in the hive.
BANG!
I open my door and step out into the hall, waiting for the Chamberlain. Currently, he is closing the door to Chrysalis’s personal bedchamber, cutting off a particularly nasty string of curses. He turned around and walked up to me.
“Are you ready, My Prince?”
“Whoever invented mornings needs to be hanged, drawn, and quartered.”
Ignoring my ramblings and opening the door to the throne room, Eucharis led the way out of the royal wing of the hive. We walked past the throne room and into the grand hall. I hadn’t seen the grand hall since I first arrived in the upper echelon of the main hive spire. In fact, I had forgotten the existence of the hive outside of the throne room, which I only caught occasional glimpses of.
I followed Eucharis as we descended a few staircases down into the hive proper. Yet again I was met with the spectacle of changelings stopping, staring, and bowing.
‘Only this time, they’re bowing to me, the prince.’
There was a lot more staring going on than when the Queen first took me up. A few changelings even gasped when they saw me, then ran off to go tell their coworkers or friends that the prince was walking through the halls for the first time.
I felt my face heat up despite changelings being unable to blush through solid chitin. I wanted to stop being a public spectacle as soon as possible. Being told that I would be looked up to and have my every action scrutinized is one thing. Experiencing it first hoof is entirely another. I could claim that I would be fine all I wanted, the truth was another matter.
I was not subjected to being the center of attention for too long thankfully, as we soon stopped halfway down a large, busy corridor, in front of a door. A sign above the door read Classroom 431 in Equish.
Chamberlain Eucharis looked to me and grinned, “Here we are, My Prince. I will be here to escort you back to your chambers once class is finished.”
“Ahem,” I cleared my throat, “Thank you Chamberlain.”
We stood there a long moment before Eucharis spoke up.
“Your class is inside, Prince Phasma.”
“Yes yes, I’m getting to that.”
But before I could use my magic to open the door, Eucharis leaned over to me and whispered in my ear, “Don’t worry My Prince. Everyone was anxious during their first day of school.”
‘So basically I’m acting like a child. Get your shit together, Phasma, you’re not six years old.’
“Thank you, Eucharis,” I said quietly.
Then, I opened the door to the first changelings I would meet outside of the royal court.
So he will have Thorax, Pharanx, and Ocellus in class?
Mmm, do I smell a coup? Though one day to form and execute one would be very ambitious. That is, assuming Phasma hasn't been planning this for longer since this is the first time he's mentioned it. Especially because he's only heard of the on-goings and structure of the hive from a select few 'lings and never seen or experienced it himself.
Either way, I'm interested to see how his and Chrysalis's games play out and how he eventually lives up to the story's title.
Here’s hoping that stuff starts to get interesting.
10518501
I don't think he's planning it to occur the same day, just started on the path to gathering supporters for a coup later down the line.
Both Chrysalis and Phasma are woken up the same way
Like mother like son lol, he may not fully accknowlwdge it but he is indeed her son.
10518629
Yes, Chrysalis will be going after Shining's 🐴 and Phasma will be after Cadence's 🐱
“As the new ruler of the hive, my first act is to declare that ‘morning’ no longer takes reference to the motions of the Sun Witch’s flaming gas ball. ‘Morning’ begins when I wake up, and everyling can just learn to adjust!”
10518684
Where in the name of the hive did this come from?
Oooh hopefully things will start picking up now.
10518518
That was another thought of mine, but words are important. Specifically:
"Setting in motion" usually means that the person is prepared for the event of setting the thing in motion, a culmination of plans if you will, not that they are preparing for it. But words are also hard sometimes and they don't always mean what we interpret them to be.
10519019
Setting in motion is just pushing over the first domino.
Perhaps not very accurate in this case, as what's going to happen is more akin to setting up the dominoes. In which case, Phasma is just being overdramatic. And totally not me messing up the phrasing.
Someone's an Elder Scrolls fan.
10519127
With the metaphorical (and literal) pile of feces Phasma has to deal with, especially when Chrysalis is around, I think he's entitled to a being little overdramatic.
Or dragged into the street and shot.
#garfieldhatesmorningstoo
#napattack
10518796
Chrysalis would resolve problems with the defenses of Canterlot and Phasma would take infinite love supply?
It sounds like something Chrysalis would plan
Maybe even to make sure they won't fell in love with each other but with them ,or at least Cadence with Phasma
Phasma being somewhat addicted to love wouldn't mind either
10519856
Now that you explain it I agree with this logic.
10520607
10520629
Like I said, any progress made is dependent on our protagonist’s competence and competence is highly dependent on one’s knowledge in a field.
Nonetheless most modern people are aware of several military improvements shown in the show to be lacking. Lumping soldiers into groups and formations. Having a clear and well known rank structure and chain of command reliant on martial capacity rather than social hierarchy. Armor made of materials other than gold/copper or carapace (assuming the appearance doesn’t come from a cosmetic covering) with better coverage than is depicted. Of course the protagonist must be aware both of the extent of his knowledge as well as his shortcomings. It would after all be unfortunate if he assumes as an ex human he is inherently wiser in the ways of war and attempts to apply tactics picked up from an rpg as I have seen occur in other stories on this site.
Primitive firearms would be fairly easy to manufacture. The show has shown that materials with properties similar to steel and the methods necessary to form them do exist. Wether the changelings have access to these is another matter. The industrial capabilities between entities are not equal after all. Basic black powder requires a mixture of charcoal, saltpeter, and sulfur. Charcoal is easily produced. Saltpeter and sulfur are both abundant and easily accessed on earth. However our human may not no this off the top of his head, have the practical knowledge to identify these products in nature, and they may not be as abundant as on earth. But then, magic gauss rifles are sorely under utilized in my opinion.
Assuming political and cultural advancement and superiority which would in theory allow a belligerent to be easily overcome their opponents has been the downfall of innumerable wars, diplomatic efforts, business enterprises, et al. The most obvious recent example being the Iraq war. Assuming ones political superiority is foolhardy.
10520711
10520629
Magic and crystals =magic rifles, artillery, coil guns, railguns.
Magic can help to jump steps if someone knows how
Also better to focus on normal artillery or artillery as a giant rail gun, cannon in the start.
At the beginning there maybe not enought materials for every soldier's equipment.
Lets hope for the best and plan for the worst...
Great chapter
Time to set the first act!
I relate to this on a spiritual level
Wait.... did Chrissy just get the same treatment.... XD even she is not safe from the waking call
I would have them drawn and quartered, and THEN hanged.
Big brain moment, lol
That would be Celestia.
Well Buck!
Oooo man how will he handle this situation yikes!
Sneaky lil’ destiny reference, eh?
10782789
or elder scrolls
10786567
There’s a joke to be made about the Thalmor and Talos here, but I’m too lazy to come up with it.
Chamberlain is the male Changeling with the biggest balls to wake em both with firework
10518501
We all will hype every chapter until than
10518517
??? Why starts? Its amazing from the beginning
10518518
Everything has a beginning after all...
10518629
Nice (^.^)/)'(\(^-^)
10518684
Quite the adventurer i see
10518697
Nice idea but practical Impossible
10518882
Didnt they already
10519292
Who isnt ?
10519856
Love addicted get to fall with the Princess of Food...
Is it... Inevitable? Dun duun DUUUN!!!
10520711
This comment is something that should be added to the story...
10704483
Chamberling has balls big enough to beat Celestia into submission with em
10772004
Forshadowing
10788838
Dawww...
No your less than 1
Like mother, like son....though considering the mom, that may not be too good.
10518517
I beg to differ, in my opinion.
And the rebellion is born.
This
10821883
He’s a religious zealot, lol.
This bug should have enough power if he can wake up Chrysalis with loud spells.
10518684
Hmmmm, not sure if Pure Troll...
i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/131/399/fry.PNG?1307468855
Or Half Snowflake in the face of disapproval.
In any case it is...
Changeling can't blush? Perhaps they have a pheromone equivalent?
What in the name of Talos?
11327234
Are we sure it is Skyrim or is it Destiny since he keeps seeing space in his sleep?
Praise be the Nine, for may they bless us with 50000 cheese wheels!
10519481
Or better yet, do both, but just in the correct order: dragged into the street and shot (non-lethally--there are far worse things you can do to someone than kill them. You can let them LIVE!), THEN the person is to be hanged, drawn, and quartered.
And for those who who objected to the traditional order of HD&Q, one only needs to refresh themselves on what was involved with that little form of torture: the hanging was conducted almost to the point of death, then the noose was removed before expiration (see? I'm not the only one to have the idea of making them suffer more by "letting them live"--at least for a little while longer). Drawing was the point at which the lethal strike was delivered, involving emasculating, disemboweling, and finally beheading. Quartering was done after death.
Although, TBH, there is merit to the complaint on the order of HD&Q: if it were me inflicting the punishment, I would simply forego the beheading and let the horses pulling apart the body do the final work to end the Morning Bastard's life.
#downwithmornings
11593038
Come on, the inventor of mornings deserves MUCH worse than that!
To bad be can't have any romance inside the hive, not even a innocent no cooties one.
Mother deer would find drones beneath him for certain.
I love the humorous detail of that both he and Chrysalis are woken up in basically the exact same manner, a request, then a second request in the form of illusionary fireworks.