A lot can happen in a single moment and sometimes you have to replay that moment over again in your mind to really piece together what happened. To him what at first appeared to be a chaotic frenzy of movement was in fact a calculated and well-timed plan of escape.
It started with his mother placing her hoof against the left side of his face so that the right side would press against her neck. By doing this she safe guarded his eyes, covering them both up. There was then a bright flash of light that he could just barely make out around the edges of his mother’s chitin. This was followed by the shouts and cries of the room’s non-changeling inhabitants, plus Ocellus.
He had a brief moment to spy a dome of pink magical energy encasing the alicorn, along with the five other creatures that stood behind her, all of whom bore grimaces of discomfort as they wiped at their tearing eyes. Then his mother’s wings buzzed to life, lifting them both off the ground and out into the massive blue cavern. Odonate flew beside them to the right and Phasmid on the left. Peeking around his mother's neck he could see the other four changelings, each following closely behind them, one of which carried a cringing Sandbar.
Their group descended abruptly to the ground, landing among multiple crowds of ponies that began to point at them and gawk. Circles of green fire began to erupt among the ponies, revealing numerous changelings hidden within their ranks. The infiltrators then set about hissing and snarling menacingly at unicorn, pegasus and earth pony alike, sending them all galloping away in fear. Once the changelings felt they had caused enough havoc they flew off into the air, heading straight over the white smears above and out of the ponies sight.
Before flying off in different directions, the other changelings transformed their appearances into pegasi, while Chrysalis lowered her hooves onto the fluffy surface and placed him down in front of her.
“I’m going to disguise you before we continue,” she explained to him. “Just relax, okay?”
After he nodded his understanding to her, she leaned over and touched her horn against his. A curtain of green magic circled them both, replacing their dark grey carapaces and cerulean manes with buttermilk fur and hair the color of sandstone. Once again she scooped him up with her front hooves and then they flew off, leaving the pony structures behind in the distance.
The sound of rushing wind filled his ears while rolling hills of green passed by underneath. Far off in the distance, in the direction they headed, he could see a gargantuan stalagmite. It stretched like a lumpy unicorn horn toward the blue ceiling and looked to be made of a pale purple stone. On one side of the rock face a large cluster of pony structures had been built. Most were ivory in color and some had been capped with roofs of shimmering gold while others were varying shades of purple.
“Are we going there?” he asked his disguised mother.
“No,” she answered, “we will be traveling this way only a little while longer and then we will be heading south.”
“Back to the hive?” his voice squeaked.
“No, we have to go somewhere else,” she replied while shaking her head. “The hive is not safe anymore.”
She held him a little tighter, her legs cradling him protectively against her chest. He closed his eyes while with one ear he listened to her rhythmic heartbeat, melting into the moment of calm and the feeling of safety. With the hectic events of the day left behind, he drifted into a dreamless sleep.
“Yes, Pupa is safe, did everyling make it here?”
“We are all accounted for my queen.”
“We weren’t followed?”
“Not from what anyling can tell.”
“And the colt from the school?”
“He’s been safely placed in a pod.”
It was much darker when he cracked open his eyes. Instead of being held in his mother hooves, he was laying across her back. Phasmid, and a few other changelings stood in front of Chrysalis, answering any questions she had for them. The entirety of the group stood in a cavern of light blueish grey stone.
“Are Katydid and Lacewing faring any better?” she asked.
“Yes,” a female changeling answered. “They are awake now and the coughing is much less severe. They’ve also reported it was indeed Leech who attacked them.”
“Disgusting wretch…” Chrysalis muttered as her muzzle and gaze both tilted down. “And the pyre?”
“Odonate is personality overseeing the preparation,” a different female changeling said, her tone sorrowful.
There was a long moment of silence and in it he attempted to sit up. His movement roused his mother who looked back at him.
“Would you like to get down?” she asked.
After a nod of his head, she lit her horn up. A field of green magic surrounded him, carefully lifting him up and placing him down next to her. He awkwardly shuffled on his hooves, as he looked from one changeling to the next.
“Should we leave your highness? Phasmid asked, looking up from him and back to Chrysalis.
“Just for a few moments,” Chrysalis said, “wait outside, I’ll call you all back shortly.”
The Changelings all bowed and trotted out of the room, into an inclining tunnel. Chrysalis lowered herself down onto her belly, reached out and pulled him against her neck. Tenderly she nuzzled her face against the back of his head and he found himself nuzzling her in return. The only sound in the cavern now, during their embrace, was of water droplets falling from the tips of stalactites and into puddles on the floor.
“I know I said it once already,” she whispered, “but I am so sorry I let them take you away. I wish I got to see you emerge from your cocoon.”
Breaking the hug, she held him away from her to look over his features. Her horn lit up and he could feel her manipulate his messy mane, straightening it out near the back while tucking parts of it behind his ears to expose his face.
“My little Pupa,” she smiled, “you are such a beautiful daughter.”
“Pupa?” he asked, tilting his head slightly, causing some of his mane to fall back over his face and across his muzzle.
“Your name,” she chuckled gently, “my sweet little one.”
“Pupa,” he repeated to himself and couldn’t help but smile. “I like that.”
“Good,” Chrysalis smirked as she rose to her full height again. “Now then, I want to hear all about what happen to you today but first we have to take care of a few things. I need you to be quite but I also want you listen and to pay attention, okay?”
“Okay.” He nodded up to her.
Chrysalis turned to face the caverns entrance and adapted her posture to one of regality. He tried to mimic her, standing up straight with his wings tucked back and head held straight.
“You may return now,” she called out.
This time accompanied by Odonate, Phasmid and the other three changelings entered the cavern again.
“I wish to formally introduce you all to Pupa,” Chrysalis said to them, “my daughter and princess of the hive.”
“We are at your service princess,” the group of changelings said as they bowed in unison.
That night
Phasmid patiently watched from a ledge of a small canyon, a silent guard for the two silhouettes below who sat together in front of a flickering neon green fire. He could scarcely imagine the pain the larger of the two figures was going through, but it must have been immense since he could sense her anguish from so far away. It was an awful emotion, grief; with such a bitter and chalky taste. Phasmid hated that flavor, it reminded him of a bereaved mother and a dejected sibling.
Odonate could also sense the feelings; but because the changeling was standing closer by, on the canyon floor just feet away, it was more than just grief. There was a splash of starchy disgust and the sour metallic tang of anger. It drew his mind back to that day when he was dragged free from a pile of rubble and the fact that he couldn’t stop another traitor; but when he heard his queen speak, his ear perked up and he set aside the memory.
“Pupa, I want you to listen careful to me,” Chrysalis said to him, while she kept her eyes on the flames before her. “I have to tell you something. Though I wish it could have waited till you were older.”
He looked up at her, also able to sense the misery in the queen changeling.
“Life, is not easy,” she continued with the fire reflecting in her eyes. “Changes come and there will be times when you feel overwhelmed. In those times, you can’t just curl up in a dark corner and hide away. You have to keep your pride and continue onward no matter what is thrown in your way.”
The queen went quiet again, and he looked thoughtfully back to the fire. Something inside was nagging at him.
There was a small closed box; made from a rich cherry brown wood and beautifully polished, displayed at the end of a carpeted isle. It had four golden metal handles attached to it, two on one side and two on the other. Floral arrangements of varying sizes and colors surrounded it.
The strange tall creatures that walked on their hind legs were there and stood in a line off to the side of the box. Each one of them would take a turn to kneel down in front of the box, alone or in pairs, and stare down at it for a short amount of time before getting up and walking away.
“But isn’t it bad to hold in your feelings?” he asked, voice cracking.
Chrysalis gazed down to him and when he looked back up at her, to the lament in her eyes, he couldn’t stop his tears from flowing any longer. His mother pulled him in against her a second later and he buried his muzzle against her carapace. His ear flicked when something wet dropped against the back of it, and it caused him to look up. Twin streaks ran from his mother’s eyes and down her cheeks.
“No, you can’t always keep them locked up,” she told him, letting one of her hooves stroke the back of his mane. “But you also can’t let them control you. You need to find a balance, the right time and place to let them out.”
He nodded and remained against her, giving his support the only way he could. It must have been enough though because in the bitterness he was tasting, there was the savory hint of joy.
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More please
Ah how adorable Chyrsi has her heir back
If my prediction is true then things will end very badly for pups and chrissy
9492751 We didn't want to say 'KILLED CHILDREN' in a fanfic meant for children!
Anybody want a pizza roll?
So I got lost somewhere when he is she and she is he? Can I get a clear answer please?
Please understand that I don't comment under each chapter, these would only be calls for more and faster Chapters. (I don't want to be THAT guy)
But over all it's a verry solid Chapter. Gj
9496533
Pupa refer to himself as "he". To anyone else Pupa is she. If story is talking from Pupa perspective, then it is by using "he". If it is from anybody else perspective, Pupa is recognized as she.
Great chapter keep it up.
So I guess that settles it, then. The changeling children were killed, not merely taken. I hope Chrysalis and her hive make it. But taking Sandbar was most certainly a mistake, one that almost certainly precludes pony assistance until it's rectified. Excellent chapter!
Great job Chryssie, you have effectively guaranteed that they will hunt you down
Nice chapter
9496533
Pupa is gender confused from her previous life when she was a male human.
9496582
I think he was taken more as a hostage for safe travels. She would still be very suspicious of Twilight and she knew if they had one of the students she wouldn’t have done anything.
9496597
Yes i kinda figured that as well.
BUT, by taking Sandbar with her Chrysalis has practically guaranteed that Twilight will hunt her down to get him back.
I bet those two dislikes is for the character's name.
Well Leech was smart enough to set this up so that even knowing that he'd be blamed; he could pass it off on others. After all Leech is a drone, a drone takes orders and while they'll easily switch sides; they'll still take orders. Or at least that's what Chrysalis thinks. I mean its not possible that there's an unknown player or that Leech would do it because HE would gain something.
Poor Sandbar :(
9496592
He's not gender confused, he just identifies as male. It's not that hard to understand tbh.
9496606
Yeah, if she just wanted him to cover her escape she should have left him somewhere to be recovered, not put him in a pod. Now Twilight *has* to hunt her down.
You'd think she'd learn that holding hostages doesn't make ponies leave you alone by now?
9496533
He was a male in the previous life and still identified as such, but is born a female
Honestly, I am not more convinced than ever that Leech is being set up. The reason is simple. He's been too visible. The evidence was oddly in his room, he was seeing flying away, and the two caretakers are alive and as witnesses. If his purpose was to disable the caretakers and eliminate the nymphs in order to sew discord between Thorax's hive, Chrysalis's hive, and Equestria, why the heck not make things more difficult for Chrysalis by also killing her two caretakers? That's that many fewer followers Chrysalis would have. So either the caretakers are in on it, or perhaps the spy/traitor somehow disguised themselves as Leech to better keep their own position as a traitor among Chrysalis's ranks hidden. Until we get something from Leech's own perspective, we'll never know for certain.
And the closing of the chapter I find interesting. Though it's not the same as Thorax's hive, Chrysalis and Pupa are technically sharing emotions here between the two of them. More may yet develop from this.
9496606
Eeeyup.
That's right, Chrissy, share!
Leech is seemingly very sloppy, almost like he wants them to take everything at face value. Question is, how will we prod them for retribution? If they just passively accept he's a traitor and let him go Scot free, they'll have a harder time accidentally discovering the truth...
Keep going! ;)
You know what would be a very satisfying end to Leech? Have Chrysalis drain his love and lifeforce so thoroughly that he shrivels into an actual husk.
Amazing Chapter!!!
If the queen is so professional and non lethal when she is absolutely livid than nothing can Stop her if she becomes violent
After reading Change, I am already worried for Chrysalis' future with the presence of a rival queen targeting her heir. It's really tough to feel sympathetic for canon Chrysalis after all of the things that she's done, seemingly all for the sake of a superiority complex, but here (at least without the events after the Reformation of the Changelings) one can genuinely feel bad for her. Yeah, she's definitely getting manipulated, but combine the facts that she doesn't know there is a new queen, she had most of her children killed and her favorite kidnapped, and she's an enemy of Equestria, and you can see why she'd have no reason to doubt the validity of the note.
People, you could be the most cautious and wary person out there, but without knowledge of an enemy's existence it'd be near impossible to avoid this kind of trap - especially when emotionally distraught. Considering that Chrysalis may have had the only hive for a long time as well, it's no wonder she'd be quick to believe Thorax and Twilight were plotting against her.
God Chrysalis didn’t deserve any of this I’m sorry- at least she has Pupa though
Have a text error.
the interactions here were great... though I really question the logic of actually taking the student since it means they will be pursued
Pepper is a much better name then pupa
9721966
Its the simpel rule: better to have it without need. Than being in need and not having it...
Also additional emotional rations
Ouff, right in them feels.
9721966
They are hunted enemys anyway...
9496934
Actualy Grubs are genderless. The Gender is formed in the Cocoon. Chrysalis made him a her. Royal jelly = Queen (remember the pink glowing selective feeding)
9496606
Invasion, attack on royals - twice. Sandbar not that worse...
Childhood is over. Cold ,hard life is following from now on...
9538399
have you seen celestia and luna acting malicious? the latter can invaded dream of anyones one continent and entombed them in coma with dream monsters.
9617831
but she is. karma from centuries of enslaving and kidnapping are getting back to her.
11079177
I can give some darker titels to you from Fimfiction...
I love this mother/daughter relationship so much. Leech, Thorax, and every other changeling traitor will Burn.
Personally
Quiet
11079504
Most 'dark' title in that style make me felt claustrophobic. Like sitting in a closet and watching a roadshow with no music and all actors are made from cardboard cutouts.
The open ended nature of FiM left the fandom to filled the gaps. Many fanfiction groups become vast and big fantasy worlds in their own right. Truly contrast when push against typical fantasy webnovels and mangas.
I came to indulged myself in fantasy world. I came to how each writers make lore. And i came to find unique Isekai novels.
I do not come to see universe-devouring cosmic horror so pathetic that it get killed by a little ship(cthulu).
Doctor who is an exeption
This chapter is all about:
camo.fimfiction.net/o7AwSPVhcg1dV_6Hdhnw0f8k6170Jj9wIwm0tShhPUg?url=http%3A%2F%2Ffc00.deviantart.net%2Ffs71%2Ff%2F2013%2F338%2Ff%2F6%2Fcool_story_kaiba_meme_generator_now_thats_what_by_fox_fire_vash-d6ws8pt.jpg
Great chapter. Love the coordination of the action.
*Still doesn't think Leech ever actually returned from his last trip to Las Pegasus.*
Well, there goes any hope of him going over to the skittle side willingly.
Great chapter as always!
11534779
Fuggin, Skittle side! I love that, that's what I'm gonna call their collective now, Skittles bughorses!
Things will get better, hopefully.
'you to be quite but' - quiet
A very sad fate for all her siblings