I studied her. She looked a little larger than I last seen her, probably gorging herself with Love day after day. Her chitin shone like black crystal, reflecting the green glow of the croach. Her semi-translucent blue mane was styled in a vain bun, twisted behind her crooked horn and held in place by gem-encrusted pins. Her green eyes shone as I approached, her fangs baring in a twisted smile.

She was genuinely happy to see me, but not in the usual familial terms. No, Mother was happy because when she had called for me, I came like an obedient little puppy.

“Welcome home,” Chrysalis said, words coming out smoothly, still retaining that purring tone. I wondered if all this show of confidence was something to let my guard down, so I gave the room one final glance. Then, she added, with a hint of annoyance, “We are alone, Luminous.”

I stared at her for a moment, feeling slight satisfaction at her reaction before shaking my head. “If that’s the case, then you can drop the act,” I replied. “I would rather not waste my time pretending to play nice.”

Chrysalis snarled, but she too schooled her emotions quickly, and gave me a very unconvincing smile. “Must we antagonize each other, Luminous? Surely we can forgive and forget? It has been years.”

I wanted to laugh at that. “I doubt that even you, Mother, would forgive or forget those who tried to kill you.” I sighed, rubbing my hoof on the ground before lifting it up to study it. “Now, you called me here for something. I am willing to listen.”

“Don’t use that tone with me, Luminous,” Chrysalis growled.

“What kind of tone is that?” I asked calmly, placing the hoof on the ground again before staring at her. “The tone that is implying that I’m doing you a favor?” My eyes narrowed. “Let us get something straight here, Mother. I’m not stupid. We both know that you are asking for a favor. So, either tell me what it is, or I’m walking away.”

When I turned away, she hissed. In a loud booming voice that I felt shook the walls, she shouted, “Don’t turn your back on your Queen!”

Sparing her a glance, I replied, “I have responsibilities that you are keeping me from. Either tell me why you called me here, or I shall leave until you’re ready to do so.”

“Arrogant youngling,” she seethed. “You are walking on thin ice, Luminous. There’s a limit on how much longer I’ll allow you to disrespect me like this.”

I turned around to face her. “If your loyal subjects were present, then you definitely would have to do something about it,” I replied cooly. “However, as we are alone, we don’t need to pretend.”

Her head shifted slightly, as to give my words some thought. “You are right. We are alone.”

I gave her a smile. “If you are thinking of finishing what you started all those years ago—” I exposed my neck, staring at her hard “—then come, if you dare.”

Chrysalis kept still, fangs exposed but saying nothing. After seconds of us staring at each other, she shook her head. There was a hint of amusement and exasperation around her, but as expected, it came out muted as she hid her emotions from me.

“Good,” I said. “So, what’s your reason for bothering me this time?”

She stood up and made her way down the elevated platform, her hooves making a sharp clicking sound with every step. The enclosure magnified the sound even more. “I have a need of your… expertise,” she said, the last word intoned with contempt, her left lip flicking upwards for less than a second.

I shifted towards the side, as if to flank her, making sure to put some space between us. She followed suit, and I continued to speak as if we weren’t circling around each other. “Huh. Imagine that. You think I actually have some talents now.”

Chrysalis ignored the barb. “I am sure you are aware of the situation at Dodge Junction recently? It concerns that.”

I looked at her for a moment, thinking about what she was saying. Was that why she called me here, to admit that she was responsible for the death of that changeling? And she called me to, somehow, cover her rear?

I snorted. No, even Mother wouldn’t be that stupid. Considering there were a lot of Hive Queens poised to remove her from power because of the failed Invasion, it would have been a fool’s errand. She was insane, not stupid.

“Okay, what is going on, really?” I said, keeping my voice neutral.

“I need you to investigate these changeling deaths,” Mother replied, solemnly.

One word caught my attention. “Deaths? There has been another?”

“It’s in a city called Star Tracks,” she replied, which caused me to narrow my eyes. “It hasn’t been discovered by Equestrian authorities, but another changeling has been killed,” she stated. “It was one of Queen Lepidoptera’s, but the Cluster found the body before an Equestrian could discover it. They took appropriate steps, unlike Queen Thysanura’s mindless drones.”

My eyes narrowed. “You made a deal.”

“That much is obvious,” Mother replied.

I scoffed. “I’m surprised any of the other Queens were willing to ask you for help.”

“Lepidoptera is weak,” she replied, smirking. “The changeling that died came from her spawn’s own little Cluster. Better still, it was a close friend of hers. She reacted as expected, closing her borders and ordering all of her Cluster to do the same, scared that the killer may come for her own kin next.”

I hated to agree, but she was right. While caution was understandable, that reaction was a little extreme and could disrupt the changelings in the city enough to make a few Equestrians suspicious. It also made Queen Lepidoptera susceptible to Mother’s own machinations. I half-wondered what was offered. Feeding trades? Share in territory? Whatever it was, it was enough for my presence to be called.

Besides, throwing me to stop a dangerous force that was cunning enough to kill two changelings and leaving without a clue was an opportunity dear old Mother would not miss.

“Just to be clear,” I began, “you are tasking me to investigate these deaths—”

“And stop whoever is responsible, of course,” she interjected.

I stared at her. “Of course. How could I forget? Stop whomever is responsible, and thus earning you a favor of another Hive.”

Chrysalis smiled. “Add the fact that in doing so, you could quell whatever curiosity the Equestrians are currently developing, keeping this… peace that we have.”

“Ah, yes. I’m sure you are doing this out of the goodness of your heart.”

“That’s for idealists like you, Luminous,” she replied.

I shook my head. “You must be one as well, if you think I would do this without compensation,” I said, growling out the last word. I straightened up a bit and gave her a narrow stare. “Make me an offer.”

Chrysalis’ expression soured. “Five filled pods for your Cluster. Newly acquired and still healthy to last you for years.”

“You want me to leave my Cluster, risk me, their leader, for only five measly pods?” I shook my head. “Give me a better offer.”

She stared at me for a moment before asking, carefully, “What do you want, then, Luminous?”

I smiled. “Two years ago, you drafted three of my infiltrators for an undetermined amount of time.”

“You want them back,” Mother realised.

“Yes,” I replied. “However, I don’t think that just getting my own infiltrators back should be a reward for this. In addition of getting them back, I want two more infiltrators.”

“Done,” Mother said, rather quickly.

“Well, since you are feeling generous, I also want an agreement of you not drafting more than two of my infiltrators for… what did you call it then? Emergency situations?”

Her eyes narrowed, but to my surprise, she said, “Fine.” She scoffed. “Any more requests?”

“Is that an offer?” I asked, giving her my own little twisted smile. She growled, glaring at me before shaking her head. Before she could say anything else, I took the initiative. “Then I’ll be off. I’ll send you reports via dead-drops in the usual locations.”

Before I could turn around, she said, “I wonder, Luminous, if you are even able to do this.” I stared at her. “Losing your infiltrators, and not being able to replace them for two years, and coming to me half-starved? Is it truly bravery that makes you put a strong front, and not desperation?”

“And what of you, mother?” I countered. “You look too plump. Has sitting on your throne, doing nothing, dulled your edge? Maybe the confidence you are projecting is but ignorance?”

Her face twisted as she growled out a nasty snarl. For parting insults, that probably got to her. Hard. Then, to add to the insult, I turned my back on her the second time, ignoring her shouts as I moved towards the doorway, posture straight, unafraid.

Only when I finally passed through the doorway and shut the golden door behind me did I finally relax. I shivered with nervousness I dared not show inside the chambers. Half of me wondered whether I overplayed my hoof, the other wondering if I underplayed it. Then my mind began to ponder over this new predicament, this new deal I procured, which had me risking not only my life but also cutting off my time on leading my Cluster and also training Silverfly.

The rewards were too tempting to say no to, though.

However, something odd was going on, and I didn’t want to be caught pondering about it inside Mother’s territory. Taking a breath, I made my way towards the room with the five pillars, meeting the messenger who offered me a rolled up parchment and another Gateway Gem, then blankly asked me how the meeting went.

“Splendidly,” I replied, before I was once again escorted towards the pillars that sped my way towards the entrance cavern. The messenger advised me that he was called back for another duty, thus leaving me with no escort as I exited the Hive Cluster.

The trip back to Fillydelphia was rather unremarkable. Once I was back out in the desert, I was actually half-ready to meet a faction of changelings that, after audibly swearing fealty to another liege, would attack me. Or maybe a confused group of giant scorpions that inevitably traveled where they should not, and come at me with their stingers.

Instead, I found the desert as empty as I came, and after a few steps forward, I activated the Gateway Gem once more, and found myself transported on the very same rooftop I had left earlier. I drained any excess magical energy that was left in the gem before moving quickly towards the markets and sold the drained artifact to a jeweler, who I knew would quickly cut it or sell it to another merchant out of town. While the price wasn’t enough to completely cover up the dent of buying the information from Mantid, every little bit helps, and I didn’t have to worry about Mother’s little gift for treachery anymore.

I left the rolled up parchment to my Guards, telling them to ensure the paper was free of any magic while I met with Gypsy. She was waiting patiently for my arrival, and we shut ourselves in the Feeding Chamber as I began to explain to her my visit in the Hive Cluster, and what Mother had proposed. My Den Mother listened intently, quietly, while I concentrated on recalling every detail by memory.

When I was done, she nodded and said, “Let’s get the non-essentials out of the way first. I have to admit, the local Gateway system intrigues me.”

“Seems to be a waste of magical energy,” I replied, shrugging. “I doubt we can adopt something like that to our Cluster. It isn’t large enough to warrant it, nor do we have the Love to power it.”

“True, but I was thinking more of escape options,” Gypsy said. “Something to bring changelings outside the Cluster, probably in a forest and in a somewhat isolated area.”

I nodded. “We’ll most likely only use it as emergencies, thus keeping the magical cost down. I like it. It’ll be a somewhat heavy investment, but let’s keep that option open.”

“Other than that, I’m pretty sure that the Queen was quite defensive of your visit.”

“I know,” I said, frowning. Mother had only shown me the entrance cavern, the welcoming hall, the Gateway chamber, the Throne antichamber, and the Throne Room. That left me wondering what was going on in the four other levels that I was, subtly, unwelcomed to visit. “Do you think she’s raising an army?”

“Possibly,” Gypsy replied. “Could it be used as another move against Equestria? Or one of the other Hives?”

“Against us?” I added, with a half smile. Gypsy returned it.

“If it was against us, I think she wouldn’t allow you to even enter the Hive,” she said. “Better to keep your target wholly ignorant than partially prepared. I am more concerned, though, about this new assignment given to you.”

“It seems straight-forward. Outwardly, success in the investigation will quell the unrest in Equestria while at the same time, it would garner favors for Mother from other Hives.” I shrugged. “It also benefits her by keeping me busy, in case I was planning any sort of sabotage against her. Either way, she feels that me taking an assignment is worth losing five infiltrators and making an edict that does not allow her to take all of them back at whim.”

Gypsy nodded solemnly, frowning. “I’d rather that you hadn’t blatantly challenge the Queen, but her agreement to your open challenge says a lot.”

“Obviously,” I replied, “she expects me to die while investigating. Nothing new. I’ll just have to disappoint her once more.”

The Den Mother laughed. “It’s what you do best. Though now you have me curious, Lumi. What’s your plan?”

“I’m assuming the parchment given to me will clue me in,” I began. “Once it’s cleaned, I’ll take a look, but I am pretty sure I will need to investigate the cities where these deaths have occurred.”

“Dodge Junction will be difficult,” Gypsy warned. “The Cluster there won’t welcome you.”

“I may not need to,” I said. “Investigating where the second death occurred may be enough to clue me in the right direction. I’m just hoping Hopper doesn’t find it suspect that a death of a family friend coincided with just after my visit.”

“Hmm,” Gypsy murmured. “I am sure he’ll know your involvement, especially since his Hive was the one that dealt with the Queen. I’ll write a letter, giving him a heads up of your visit, though. It’s better to be polite.”

“Agreed.”

Gypsy nodded. “Also, Lumi, one more thing.”

“Yes?”

Instead of verbally replying, she looked towards the glowing orb at the center of the Feeding Chamber. I followed her gaze, wondering what she was trying to convey when I understood her silent message.

“There’s no need,” I said.

“Lumi, you are probably working at a half-capacity,” Gypsy declared. “I’d rather have you operating hot than have you disabled if things go wrong.”

“I’ve been okay so far,” I countered.

“Only because you operate mostly within the Cluster Territory.” Gypsy shook her head. “You aren’t going to another city to feed under protection this time. You are now going against a party that, so far, successfully killed two changelings without giving themselves away. Even your mother feels the danger is warranted. Don’t be foolish.”

My lips narrowed, eyes closing for a moment before I nodded. Gypsy’s reasoning was justified, all things considered. However, I was not about to let my Cluster starve away again. Looking at the Den Mother, I said, “I’ll feed before I start my investigation.”

She seemed satisfied with that answer. “Shall we set up a letter to Keeper’s Tomes as well, set up a leave of absence? Or will you assign a gatherer to maintain your cover?”

Ah, I haven’t thought about that. “I’ll let you know before I leave.”

“Then I’ll make that letter, just in case,” Gypsy said with a small smile. She made her way towards the semi-translucent barrier of the Feeding Chamber, deeper into the Cluster, before looking back at me. “It doesn’t need to be said, but be careful, Lumi.”

The sun was reaching its highest peak when I exited the Cluster. That gave me a good nine, maybe ten, hours to prepare for my trip. The scroll that Mother gave me, finally clean of any lingering magical energies, was tucked cleanly inside my rucksack for reviewing later. I was just glad that the investigation was at Star Tracks, which meant I didn’t need to scout the city structure. That left me more time to scout any potential assets for short-term feeding.

The city was bustling, with a lot of ponies going towards their favorite cafes or restaurants to eat lunch. I half-wondered how Silverfly was holding up. This was going to be her first day without my guidance and I dared not show myself in Keeper’s Tomes yet. Not until there was a solid cover for my upcoming absence, at least.

Besides, it was time for a little hunt.

I made my way east, the increasing salty smell of the air indicating my approach towards the pier. Waters crashed weakly against the shore, with foals and fillies chasing each other in the less rocky areas, coats wet with water. I saw peddlers selling sandwiches, trying to reach a few passengers on a boat leaving towards the Dolphin Islands. I ignored them, my eyes roaming around to look for a stallion available to feed on. Personally, I was hoping to meet Aqua Spiral, a nice, young pegasus who felt more at home in the waters rather than the skies. I occasionally fed on him at times, and he was a solid asset.

However, imagine my surprise when I spotted Shaun inside a nearby white stone gazebo, sitting at a provided seating mat, staring out in the sea. His arms were behind his head, leaned towards one of the gazebo’s pillars. He was oddly missing his usual cup of coffee, and instead had a clear bottle of cold water, judging by the condensation on the surface. The books I saw with him earlier were gone as well, replaced by a brown, worn journal. I watched him for a few moments, his emotions surprisingly delving inward, as if he was deep in thought. He seemed to alternate between looking towards the blue horizon, then opening his book and writing on it with some sort of writing utensil that had been stuck on his left ear for safekeeping. He did that twice before I decided to approach him.

I slumped my shoulders a bit, making my walk less provocative. “Shaun?” I called, keeping my voice slightly lower than normal, adding a slight quiver to it. The reaction was immediate; he looked up at me, surprised and wary.

“Lumi?” he asked, softly closing his journal with both hands. He looked at my face for a moment. “Hey… are you okay?”

“Yeah,” I replied, smiling a bit. I made sure the action didn’t reach my eyes, hoping he noticed it. Judging by the way I felt a slight pang of worry escape him, he did.

“Bad news?”

I looked away slightly before giving him a short nod. “I’m being called back home,” I replied simply, hoping it was vague enough for his mind to fill. I was surprised when I felt his emotions turn, the sour tingle of his embarrassment and distress slowly flowing outwards.

What an empathetic reaction.

“That bad, huh?” he asked, frowning.

“I’m hoping it’s something that can easily be resolved,” I said. I looked at him for a moment, then towards the grey box. I shook my head, putting some life in my posture before smiling once more. Pointing at the box, I asked, “So, what are you doing here?”

“Trying to catch my muse,” Shaun replied, relaxing slightly. He gave me a small, reassuring smile, as he jokingly added, “She’s quite a fickle mistress.”

I laughed softly. “And here I thought you wanted to relax, having just submitted your last draft to the publishers.” I paused a moment, reading the mood around us before deciding to poke fun at him. “My, my, Mister Bradley. You are such a glutton for work?”

He relaxed even more, his emotions turning warmer and sweeter. “Why, Miss Lumi, I’ll have you know, writing is my passion.” He gave me an accusing look. “However, it is thanks to you that you prematurely shortened my time of rest!”

“What?” I shot back with amusement. “How’s that my fault?”

“All this talk of me being a spy,” he replied, shaking his head overtly. “I had hoped to sit somewhere, read a nice book, when a certain Floor Manager suddenly began planting ideas in my head. Now, I have to suffer trying to express my ideas before they forcefully explode out of my head, and for that, I blame you.”

I rolled my eyes, the edges of my lips twitching upwards. “Oh please, Mister Bradley. The solution is quite simple: don’t write.”

His eyes widened so over-dramatically I almost laughed. He sputtered, as if indignant, “Wha—how dare you, madam?” he demanded. “I am insulted. Thoroughly and utterly insulted that you’d even suggest that I should—! Words cannot describe—!”

Okay, that definitely got me laughing. And my reaction got him to smile, though he didn’t lose his supposedly affronted look.

“Laugh at my suffering as well?” He pointed at me in what I could only assume was mock condescension. “I shall warn you, Miss Lumi: do not meddle in the affairs of writers, for they are subtle and quick to anger.”

I was able to tone down my laughter to slight giggling. “Oh, did I anger the great Bradley?” I teased.

“Of course!” he exclaimed exuberantly. “However, the great Bradley is a benevolent writer. He shall generously receive any heartfelt apologies. The sooner, the better.” And he faked a huff, arms crossed his chest, looking away almost snootily. His smile, though, never left his face. Mine only widened.

“Then, would the merciful Bradley acquiesce to my humble request to treat him to dinner?”

“The lofty and kinglike Bradley accepts your… wait, what?” He blinked, arms dropping to his side, looking at me, slackjawed. I could only smile wider.

“Good,” I said with a bit of relish. “It’s a date then.”

He could only stare at me with incredulity.

Heh, gotcha.

Author's Notes:

I think at this point, I have enough to give that WRITE reviewer an idea how the story should go, plot wise at least. Still, I have no idea how I should feel since now, I needed ten chapters to basically give all of you guys a steady direction. Not even Feathered Heart took that long.

But then again, it had double the words per chapter.

I'm suddenly out of control! I'm getting arrogant! Blame coandco, shira, Permanent Temporary, Ponyboy245, TownCrier, Jack-Pony, and Denim_Blue for not reigning me in! And add GIULIO too, 'coz he loves doing last minute corrections!

*screams in the background like a jerky jerk arrogant assholic asswipe*