Celestia did not smile. Not even a trace of a smirk. Not a single muscle contracted on her face. Yes, it was pure deadpan. Her eyes traced the text, stopping a few times here and there, and little else happened.
“What happens now?” wrote the changeling, trying to break the silence that started feeling awkward.
The Princess took her time to think before answering. “I would prefer you stay here, in Canterlot. While I do not doubt Twilight’s abilities, I would like to be more personally engaged in the subject of changeling research.”
Another piece of text flew to Celestia. “Can I stay here,” she read aloud. “You mean here, in the cave?”
Nod.
“Well…I don’t see why you couldn’t stay here. But wouldn’t you prefer your former room up there, in the castle?”
Head shake.
“Oh…okay. Are you sure? I won’t be able to check up on you during the day, and you’ll be alone here for most of the day.”
Shrug.
The Princess sighed. “If that’s what you want, then fine. Nopony should disturb you here, so this might not be the worst place for you to stay in after all. Umm, do you need anything? Food? Drink?”
Head shake.
“Oh, right, you just…ehm,” coughed the Princess, suppressing another wave of nausea. “In that case, I think I’ll be going. It’s getting late and, uh.” She paused, staring into Chip’s eyes. The changeling seemed to lose his cheer all of a sudden. Did that…thing he did somehow affect him? Would he be alright? “Goodnight,” she finished, giving a small nod and vanishing in a bright nova of light.
Chip blinked away the shadows dancing before his eyes. He kept staring at the same spot, his mind mostly wandering. The room was silent, lit by some kind of magic source that wasn’t visible to the naked eye. For the first time in a very long while, Chip was alone.
* * *
Miles away from Canterlot, far up north, something moved in the pitch black of the night. Several figures dashed through the landscape, a subtle dim light surrounding their bodies. Their colors blended with the darkness, barely visible to the naked eye.
Their target was in sight now. Under Luna’s moon, the valley looked almost peaceful. The nearly vertical walls were riddled with thousands of holes, each bearing a mystery. A secret that was deadly enough to warrant the use of the Princesses’ most elite scouting forces.
Silverline, the leader of this operation, stopped and dropped on his belly. He didn’t have to turn around to know his ponies did the same, soundlessly following his every move. Seconds later one of them crawled beside him, a strange apparatus attached to his head. The soldier looked around, causing a lens to extend and retract from the machine.
A few short moments later the pony started gesticulating with his hooves. Silverline read those movements as an “All clear, no hostiles”. He hoped it would stay that way, but the many missions he already participated in taught him to predict the worst possible scenario at any given time. With a soundless sigh, the silver-maned pony turned around and begun briefing his men using gestures.
“Objective is to scout out enemy forces. No magic. Terminate mission on contact. There will be no coming back for anypony.”
They all knew this already. It was the same as with any other mission that they were called upon. Princess Luna and her sister Celestia used Silverline’s troops only when there was no other way to solve a problem. While scouting wasn’t their usual line of work, it didn’t mean that the ponies didn’t know how to sneak around or loose pursuit.
As soon as each pony got their assignment, the group dispersed, dashing from cover to cover with trained precision and discipline. Their eyes were darting from shadow to shadow, always vigilant and ready to tackle any enemy sentry that might have had the misfortune to bump into one of Silverline’s ponies.
As trained as they were, knowing full well whom they were facing, it was all not enough. Deep in the goo covered nest, Chrysalis smirked under her nose. She knew they were coming as soon as one of her changelings felt them at the edge of the canyon. They were well hidden, she had to give them that – she didn’t know how, but their smell was only faint, something that could have gone unnoticed should the hive be well fed.
“What could the ponies want from poor little ol’ Chrysalis, hmm?” hummed the Queen, stirring the hive to life. Yes, she would let them come a little bit closer and capture them. She would need to act fast though, as the enemies were all blasted unicorns. Having your prey teleport away was the most infuriating thing ever.
“Time to feast, my darlings….”
* * *
Chip tried to sleep on the cold stone floor, but for some reason he felt uneasy. Something was bugging him, and he couldn’t quite put a hoof on the problem. Was it the loneliness? The silence? The faint smell of changeling?
“I guess I should have taken the suite…maybe I could talk to Luna then.” He paused for a second, looking up for no particular reason. “I wonder what Twilight is doing?”
Well, it was just a few hours since they parted. She was probably asleep, looking forward to meeting her friends or going out somewhere, doing some pony stuff. Come to think of it, would she feel relieved now that Chip was gone? Changeling research kind of confined her to the library walls, and the only time they went out ended disastrously. Did he actually apologize for causing so much trouble? Should he? Was it actually okay to do that?
Chip got rid of sleep for good now. Little by little he was reaching the conclusion that checking up on the mare wasn’t such a bad idea. After all, the Princess didn’t say that he couldn’t talk to her. And apologizing for the trouble he caused as well as thanking her for the time they spent together seemed like a pony thing to do.
A green light filled the chamber and with a muffled pop Chip disappeared.
* * *
She was asleep. The changeling was finishing up a letter that he had been writing for the last half an hour, glancing ever so often at the sleeping mare. She was kind of cute, all silent like that, her mane a purple and lavender hurricane. Not to say Spike wasn’t adorable in his little basket – he had his tongue lolled out, his small body sprawled across the blanket he should be sleeping under.
Adorable? Cute? Where is this coming from? reflected Chip, gingerly placing the note beside Twilight. As he was leaning over her, her gentle breath blew across the swollen changeling’s face. It smelled of some kind of flowers. And it was nice.
Second! :D
Short chapter makes me sad.
1427141 So whos the first?
1427154 Certainly not me!
The party reclaim the first place!!!
1427152 Indeed it does Rig, indeed it does.
Well that was short... But nonetheless I am happy there is a update.
Seventh!
Yay update, short chapter, but all's well none the less. Keep up your amazing work.
Didn't expect to see this in my favorites.
Hah at chip watching Twilight sleep...
Yeah, this one is short as I'm trying to get back into the spirit of things. Namely writing.
Maybe next ones will get a bit longer
1427141 your first can't you count
Awesome chapter.
This took a while to update but still worth it
Aww, and just as it was getting in groove the chapter abruptly ends.
cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/400x/23140562.jpg
1428429
If he forgets himself, it might end up like that Thanks!
updaaaaaaaate~!
also, congrats on 111,009 words.
you should really edit this chapter so it's a perfect 111,111. FOR SCIENCE!
1427899 My first facehoof? I don't understand...
And of course I can, see?
2 1 4 3 6 5 7 9 0 8
Simple, duh.
1428429 Ahh Nosferatu, the original vampyre.
None of that sissy sparkling skin shit.
1429288
bastonate.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/twilight-blade.jpg
agreed
1429240 I'm leaving now
*backs away slowly*
1429321 that reminds me of something
Skip to 2:00
[youtube=uemuP3GrZ5k]
I hope the swelling dies down soon, it must be painful
Ha, I had been missing this story, glad its updating again.
1427156 Chapter is first. I am last. Soon I will not be last.
1429833 I, Changling is first. I am now last. My hold on last will loosen soon. For when someone comments again, they will be last.
But you are first to claim last. So the title of first last goes to you, and as I said before, I am second.
Call me second last.
1429338 Jokes I forgot the Q.
It's: 2 17 4 3 Q 6 5 71 9 0 83 10
Oh hey, you're back!
I missed your work!
Hmm, so Chip is starting to develop other emotions? Interesting...
1430533 DISCORD!!!!!!!
Oooooookay. Creepy.
And those Black OPS ponies are hosed.
1432033
denver.mylittlefacewhen.com/media/f/img/mlfw856_troll_discord.jpg
1432228 the ultimate lord of trolling
1430521 However, lastly I call you first. For you are first to say second here, and last to say first. Making you first to be second last.
1432243 Everyone is first in one way. As you were first to reply in an explicatory riddle, forcing me to reply second explaining why I'm first. Since I was the first to explain that I was first I am first in that regard. Also, since you were the first to call me first last I have to call you first for calling me first last. As you said you were last first you are first last, but since you were first to call me first last the position of first last must go to me, however I am not first last as you were the first first last. Making you two firsts in the one regard, however, I said I was the first second of the conversation, and you said the chapter was the first first, but that chapter was not the first first, it is the fifty-eighth first of the firsts, as it is the 57th chapter of the story, the true holder of first lies with the description, as it was first first among all firsts for this story. So really, no one is aloud to be first after the description has been posted, as that is the true first first, for it was posted first. The first chapter, however, is second to the first first, but it is the first second. It is also the last second as well as the description being the last first.
What you said about being the last last was true, as you were the first last last, and thusly the last last, because anyone else who takes last would be the first last, as their last came after yours, and since everyone knows the last position is the most, being second, third, fourth, fifth, etc. Your last is last, as the last is not first it's last. So the scoring system is backwards for last. Therefor your last is last last and shall always be last. So you now hold the position of first last last.
But now I am the first to reply in a three paragraph explicatory riddle, so I am first, but you replied in riddle first, so I am second first for this. As I came second but was the first different type.
1432234
narwhaler.com/img/g4/w/discord-troll-or-not-troll-my-little-pony-G4wjnK.jpg
1432298 yay that's my favourate trollspere line
1432282
I am last, and currently I am the last last... But 1432243 was the first last last, so I am last last last... but I am also the first last last last, and also the last last last last...
You know what? Eventually, we're gonna get a lot of "last"s for one person, so how about optional simplification... "last last" becomes "2last", and my ranks would become "3last" ("last last last"), "first 3last" ("first last last last"), and "4last" ("last last last last")...
Also, I am first 4last and 5last... This is gonna go on forever...
1428476
Yay! A new chapter! I'm also excited that you're trying to get back on a role again!
1432651
Also, I am the first to make a comment on their own comment (at least on this chapter), and therefore (on this chapter), I am the last to comment on their own comment... which makes me the first last, the 2last, the 2first, the last 2first, the 2last 2first... and even the 10first and 10last...
Oh, and also the first last first 2last 2first 10last first...
1432282 I'm the first to second you on that.
so shorrrrrrrrrrrrrttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
Chip: Creepy stalker mode activated.
Instead of arguing over comment position, I'll try to comment on the chapter itself... like we're supposed to be doing.
Man... a swollen face makes conversing fairly difficult for Chip.
And really troops? You think you can outstealth the masters of disguise?
I'm reading FiMfiction when I should be writing an essay for a college assignment.
I have no regrets.
1435102 Quite.
1440610
Hey! I did comment to the chapter itself...
I just got distracted by the last last first stuff... ε:
Yay an update! Too tired to check if you fixed him randomly talking last chapter.
Glad to see that you are getting back in the swing of things.
Damn it! It's been so long since I was talking about the first last second tenth or whatever!
Happy Halloween!!!
3 weeks and no update!?!!?
Take your time.
Season ε starts tomorrow!!! I mean, everyone already knows this, and I know everyone knows this, but I'm so excited!!! See, even the mane six are excited!
846303 if you ever finnsh this it will be to soon
1615905 Yeah but if that was the case then the queen would be stuck to an egg sack so i am assuming that there are females that do it for her