The Teal Changeling

by MrAlterad

First published 2nd of August, 2015

Princess Chrysalis was born a queen, but she has much to learn about becoming one. The war between her hive and Princess Luna may provide the lesson, assuming what follows doesn't destroy her kind...

The Changeling General, war hero, driven to win at any cost. The Moon Princess, Equestria's guiding light, seeking to protect her ponies from an unseen threat.
Between these two, a secret war was waged. Between these two, stood a young changeling princess: Chrysalis
Born of a different color from her mother's hive, Chrysalis finds herself being drawn towards the center of the conflict. With those she holds dear backing her, she'll march into the heart of this war, changing the fate of her race. For better, or worse...

---

Set in the Trio-verse, an AU where Celestia was banished, instead of Luna. No prior reading required.
Want to give my most sincere thanks to Seiya, Llyrisviel, and docontra for their help editing this tale.

Prologue - Color

Hibernation. While ponies were knocking leaves from their trees, The Badlands south of their borders underwent a change of its own, unguided by pony hooves. The temperatures fell, bringing the flooding rains upon the scorched earth, signaling the need for the hive to seal their burrow, and sleep.

Every year it was always the same. Gather what food they could for the next clutch the queen would lay, and ultimately grow hungry over the four months that composed of the monsoon; their hibernation season. Fortunately, this year was different.

A lone changeling wandered through the deepest parts of the hive. He took in a deep breath, smelling the faint hint of sulfur as he took his time enjoying the moist warm air, hearing a steam chute go off further down the corridor. He then paused for moment, wiping dew from his decorated helm, a relic passed on from his predecessor; the helm of the general; the helm worn by the one named Mantis.

Entering the hatchery, he paused when he noticed his queen, asleep in the room's center; an exhausted, yet happy look hidden under her long dark orange mane. Behind her stood two of her royal guards, Bastion and Aegis; taller than the queen, they watched Mantis silently, still as statues. Laying around her, reaching to the walls of the chamber, were countless eggs in varying shades of amber, each of them half the size of the helm Mantis wore.

This clutch was thrice as large as last years. A fact that played through the changeling's mind, his chest swelling with pride. Thanks to a bold strategy of his own design, the hive now had plenty of food to support the new clutch, and even more. This year, no changeling would go hungry in the ‘spring’.

As he circled the room, he noticed that the queen didn't sleep alone. Curled in a ball close to her was a hatchling, one Mantis recognized; a royal guard almost two years old. While barely able to talk, he was already the size of a mature drone, and in another six years, this royal guard would reach his full imposing stature as one of the queen's personal protectors.

Seeing the hatchling made Mantis wonder if any new guards lay dormant in the clutch around him, making his eyes scan for any eggs larger than the rest. He took the clutch in slowly, seeing these eggs as the evidence of a brighter future. His future. He then paused when an unusual color caught his eye.

Nestled behind a part of the clutch, sitting apart from all the others, was an egg sporting a cool deep blueish green color. Teal. The color brought back memories that made the soldier pause, his good mood melting away as he took it in. The egg was easily twice as large as the rest, and its color quickly washed away the pride he'd been holding. It was different. He was the sire of this clutch, which meant he was also the sire of that egg. A teal egg.

“Teal?” he stated under his breath as he approached the egg, “This- This isn't our color. It's a cold color. A weak color; a color better suited for ponies.” He then shook his head, glaring angrily at it. “We have no need for another color in this hive, this one is better left abandoned!” he declared as he adopted a disgusted look. When he reached the egg, he bent close to it, the telltale spots on it informing him the hatchling inside was female. His eyes widened as he took a step back, his mouth hanging open.

“A queen's egg!? I sired a queen?” he asked, his mind immediately sifting through the implications and the impact this could have on the hive's future. He stood there for several moments as his mind played it out, and all he saw was chaos. A hive needed unity to survive, and her color was the most basic of means of breaking that. A fact he could look past, if it weren’t for one thing. “Why teal!? Why couldn't it have been red? Even purple would have been acceptable!" he spat out furiously; he then placed a hoof atop the egg as he adopted a dark scowl. "No! Our hive has no need for a queen like this! Queen Amber is all we need, and with this large clutch, we can capture even more-”

The air was knocked out of him as she was sent sprawling. With quick reflexes, he rolled back into the wall, coughing as he sprung into the air, hovering there as he saw the queen's hatchling now standing between him and the egg. The royal guards simply watched in silence. Mantis stood as the second in command of the hive. It wasn’t their place to interfere with him, unless he threatened their queen.

“You would strike Mantis, you nameless child!?” Mantis spat, his body shaking in the indignation of being caught off guard by a hatchling. His eyes snapped to the egg, before his wings buzzed loudly as he charged the young guard, intending to smash him into the teal eyesore. Before he could reach his mark, he was slammed into the ground by an orange telekinetic force, making him let out a small groan as he saw his queen glaring at him, her horn glowing.

“Is there a problem, Mantis?” Queen Amber asked, punctuating her question by putting more pressure on him. “Child, bring her here,” she commanded of the young guard, who suddenly looked very sheepish as he gave a small nod.

“Yes mama,” he replied, carefully carrying the egg towards her. As he placed it next to her, she rolled it close, cradling it as she let go of her general. Mantis took in a ragged breath as he got on his hooves, while Amber gave the hatchling a small smile.

“It's 'Your Highness' now,” she cooed as she rubbed the egg lightly, getting a flustered look from the child.

“Umm, no name-” the hatchling let out.

"And you've just earned it,” Amber quickly replied as she pulled the hatchling close, getting a confused look from the young changeling. “Well Mantis, is there a problem,” she asked again as she gave the general a slightly detached look.

“Your Highness, the egg is teal!”

“I don't need your powers of observation to see that, Mantis.”

“But, it's teal!" Mantis let out in exasperation, put off that she couldn’t see what he saw. "It is a weak color! A color a pony would wear!” he let out in a heated rant, “That, and it's a queen's egg! You're in fine health, the hive doesn't need two queens, it'll only lead to chaos!”

“Mantis, are you suggesting that our future can't support two hives?” she asked coolly as she raised an eyebrow, getting a surprised look from him.

“Two hives?” he asked, his mind immediately picturing the potential logistics behind the possibility, “I mean, if we can get all of Equestria under our hooves, then-”

“Then we could support three, or even four hives,” she pointed out, “Mantis, capturing that village was just what we needed, and the Moon Princess is none the wiser thanks to your clever ruse.” Mantis couldn’t help but smile at her praise, though the grin was short lived as his eyes fell back to the egg.

Amber then made a sweeping motion to the room’s contents, “This clutch is just the first; in a decade, our hive will be three times the size it is now!” she said, a glimmer in her eye that left the general in awe. “The time for another queen is coming, and she'll be ready when we need her,” she stated as she continued to pat the egg. Her brow then furrowed as she glared at Mantis. “And if something untimely were to happen to her, you can rest assured that you'll be following suit shortly after. Understand?” she asked, and Mantis returned her glare, before lightly kicking the ground.

“As long as I breathe, she will live,” he stated, avoiding eye contact with his queen as he did.

“I think you meant to say 'As long as she breathes, I will live',” Amber replied, before making a dismissive gesture, “Now leave me, I'm quite tired, and dealing with you isn't helping.”

“I understand, Your Highness,” Mantis replied as he bowed lightly. As he turned to depart, he gave a dark glare to the hatchling that got in his way, getting a glare in return as he left. Immediately after he departed, Amber let out a weak sigh as she collapsed, rubbing the small egg as she pulled the hatchling closer.

“That was a very brave thing you did,” she said in a kind tone as she looked to the young royal guard, who blushed in turn. “Tell me, why did you stop Mantis?” she asked, and the hatchling's face scrunched up as he pieced together her question, and his reply.

“I, dinna wanna see egg get hurt,” he replied, a small fire in his eyes that made Amber's heart swell with pride. With a warm smile, she indicated the egg.

“This little one is special, she's gonna need someone to keep her safe,” she added as she pointed to the hatchling, “You will be her shield, her protecting wall; your name will be Bulwark. Understand?”

“I- I'm, Buulwok?” he replied, getting a small chuckle from his mother.

“Close enough.”

“Who...?” Bulwark asked as he gently touched the egg.

“Her? Her name is Chrysalis, and though Mantis doesn't want to see it, she's our future,” Amber explained, that glint returning, making her own guardians smile at her mirth. “And with his aid, I'm going to make sure that all of you will have a brighter tomorrow, free of hunger,” she promised, and though the hatchling didn't understand what she meant by that, he smiled all the same.

“Buulwok keep Chrysalis safe...” The young royal guard said sternly, surprising the queen.

“You get her name right, but not your own?" she asked, letting out another small laugh, "Yes, Bulwark will suit you fine...”

“I'll be dead before I see that maggot become queen!” Mantis mumbled resolutely, before reaching his destination. Looking to the ceiling, his anger started to ebb away as he saw the fruits of his labor.

Lined up in a large series of amber cocoons were sleeping ponies, an entire town's worth. A town believed by Equestria to have been swallowed by the sea. “We don't need another queen, or another hive for that matter. We just need one. And with this, we won't know hunger anymore.” he stated, a confident smile punctuating his words. “With this, we have all we'll need to take even bolder action,” he added, his mind already at work planning the next harvest. The second, of many to come...

Author's Notes:

Somechangeling isn't getting a '#1 Dad' cup this Hearth's Warming Eve...

Welcome to The Teal Changeling, and the Trio-verse!
As stated in the story's page, you don't need to read other entries of the 'verse to enjoy this one. And I do hope you enjoy it.

1. Genuine Sugar

The hatchling princess bounded through the chambers, eager to reach her destination and get her fill before joining up with her companions. Despite her minute size, she moved faster than a fully grown drone; a fact she took pride in. As she entered the feeding room, her eyes went to the ceiling, looking for her favorite treat. She then frowned as she realized that her shadow had fallen behind.

“Come on Bulwark! How am I supposed to have breakfast if you're too busy being slow!?” she shouted into the corridor she came from, before looking to the hanging pods that were out of her reach.

Despite her wishes, a queen's body matured slower than other changelings. Her clutchlings were now full grown drones, yet she was still the size of a sixth month old hatchling. That, and her wings weren't strong enough to get her off the ground. Feeling the ground start to shake at her guard's approach, she stepped to the side as he trampled into the room, breathing heavily from the chase.

He, on the other hoof, was easily thrice the size of a typical drone, and if he stood next to the hive's queen, he'd stand just a little bit taller; which was about right for those born to be the queen's royal guard. Being tall next to a typical drone, he easily towered over the princess. However, since this size gap was present for as long as she could remember. It didn't bother or intimidate her in the least. Bulwark gave her a sheepish look before letting out a sigh.

“Your Highness—”

“It's Chrysalis!”

“Of course, Your Highness. I'm reminding you there's still nectar back at—”

“I don't like nectar!” she interrupted as she adopted a pouting look, “I like it better from here,” she added as she indicated the cocoons on the ceiling, “Now, your princess needs help getting up, take me to that one,” she ordered, pointing to her favorite pod, one that was giving off a weaker glow than the others around it.

“Yes, Your Highness,” he replied without hesitation, kneeling down so his princess could hop on his back. “If Queen Amber finds out-”

“I'll tell her I'm sorry and promise never to do it again,” Chrys replied with a dismissive gesture, “Up!” she finished as she tapped his back twice with a hoof, getting a small sigh from the guard as he lifted her closer to the pods.

Never having liked nectar, Chrysalis relished the taste of drinking directly from the source. Nectar always came in one flavor, and though it wasn't a bad flavor, it was monotonous to taste the same thing every single day. Her annoyed look became one of anticipation as they reached the pod, for of all the others she'd sampled, this was the only one that had a sweet taste to it. That, and the pony in the pod was pleasant to interact with, which was a bonus in the young changeling's eyes.

“Now keep us here for a minute, I'll be quick this time!” she explained, not wanting to keep her clutchlings waiting. Seeing Bulwark give an assuring nod, her horn glowed as her magic connected to the cocoon, making her awareness to her surroundings fall away...

“Come on gramps! You gonna sit in that chair all day?” The light blue unicorn filly asked with a smile as she circled around the old stallion, who had been quietly taking in the bright view of the ocean from the deck of his house before her arrival.

“As lively as ever, Star Shell,” he replied with a weak chuckle. “Let's see if this old bag o' bones can still walk,” he added as he stood up, his body groaning in defiance, which he ignored. “Well, will you look at that!” he let out as he gave the filly a smile, “So, what does my favorite grandfilly wanna do today?”

“Something short! My friends are coming and I don't wanna be late.” The filly's eyes then widened in excitement, “How 'bout a story?” she asked, getting a considering look from the stallion as he left the deck, walking to the beach with the filly at his side. He considered it for a moment, a salty breeze blowing through his silver mane as he nodded.

“A story huh? Give me a minute, I think I have one just'n mind,” he said with a weak smile. A look of pain flashed through his eyes, and the entire seascape briefly fluctuated and flickered, making the filly pause, her eyes flashing green as she looked around in concern. However, the moment passed, and the old stallion taking in a deep breath as he continued his slow walk.

“Let's see, how'd it go again? Ah yes... Once 'pon a time, there was a sly, shifty stallion that lived by the shore. This stallion had it all; he was rich, had lots of friends, and lived out his dreams with a smile on his face.” He then let out a strangely somber laugh, getting a confused look from Star Shell. “Despite all that, he wasn't a very good father. He and his son, they would argue all the time. They never saw eye to eye. Well, one day, his son became a parent of his own, and felt he was ready for change. So, he left our little town of Tampa Neigh with his wife,” he said, pausing for a moment to look to his home, a sad look in his eyes.

“Gramps?” The filly asked, unsure where this story was heading, yet eager to hear more.

“Huh? Oh, right,” he said as he shook his head, “Anyway, the old stallion was sad that his son left, and, he admits, a touch bitter." He then paused, letting out another short laugh, "Okay, very bitter. He ended up pushing his friends away, and spent all his bits to try and feel better. And wouldn't yah know it, just like that, the old stallion had gone and set himself up to live the rest of his days alone. Didn’t happen overnight, but happened all the same. As those lonely days wore on, the stallion found a new dream to help him sleep at night. He dreamed that his son would forgive him, and maybe, let‘m meet his grandfilly,” he finished as he turned to the sea, sitting down as he enjoyed the breeze.

Something was off. The filly looked up to him, a worried look in her eyes as she reached to touch him. He spoke before she could.

“I wanted to meet Star Shell in person, yah know? But I guess meetin' her in dream was fulfillin' in its own way,” he said, giving the filly a warm smile, making her take a step back in realization, her eyes wide. Don't know who, or what you are.” He then shrugged, “To be frank, I don't really care. I just wanna thank yah, for lettin' me spend time with her, even if was just a dream.” He then turned to the filly, giving her the sweetest smile she'd ever seen, a smile that wasn't meant for the filly named Star Shell, but the one wearing her mask. “Thank you. Yah've made the last few months of this old stallion's life, happy ones.”

Chrysalis' eyes snapped open as the connection faded. Her horn took in the last bit of love the pod was ever going to give, as the weak amber glow it gave off faded away. She stood there, on her guard's back, her mouth falling open as she placed a hoof on the lifeless pod.

“Highness?” Bulwark asked, noticing an unfamiliar expression on her face. She ignored him, feeling a tightness in her chest that made her frown.

“I-I'm done,” she said as she looked away from the pod, “Take me down,” she ordered, and he did so, bringing them to a pair of drones who'd been waiting for them; Chrysalis' clutchlings, Momo and Darrin.

While having hatched from the same clutch, these two were already full grown drones; making them noticeably bigger than the princess, to her slight annoyance. Momo was a female worker who had a slightly reddish tint to her wings and eyes. Darrin was a soldier, his eyes a fierce shade of yellow. He was stouter and a little bit taller than Momo, and when he saw Chrys coming down he took a step forward.

“You just couldn't help but get a snack in first, could you?” Darrin asked sarcastically with a smile, getting an unexpected jab in the shoulder by Momo, “W-What was that for?” he asked in mock pain. His question was ignored as Momo stepped closer to Chrysalis. Chrys jumped off Bulwark's back after he landed, and was caught off guard when Momo gave her a soft hug.

“M-Momo?” Chrys asked in surprise, making no effort to free herself.

“What's gotten into her?” Darrin asked impatiently, getting a small glare from the female drone.

“Chrys, are you okay?” Momo asked as she looked into her clutchling's green eyes.

“I, I don't know,” Chrys admitted as she glanced to the side.

“Your cheeks are wet,” Momo pointed out, making the princess rub her eyes in surprise.

“Highness?” Bulwark asked as Darrin took on a contemplative gaze, looking from Chrys to the pod she had just fed from.

“...Did your favorite snack die?” he asked, earning a glare from all three of them that made him take a defensive step back. “What? It's a legitimate question.”

“You could be nicer about it, she's clearly sad!” Momo proclaimed, getting an annoyed look from Chrys.

“I'm not sad, it was just, just, unexpected,” she replied, fooling no one as Darrin frowned.

“What's to be nice about?” he said coldly, “Food gets old and dies. That's just the way things are.”

“Yeah, but that means there's less food for the hive,” Momo pointed out, “Right?” she asked as she looked to the princess.

“Well, yes, but ... he tasted better than the others,” she said weakly, keeping the stallion's unexpected gratitude to herself. She then glanced to the pod, her chest hurting again as she did. She didn't like this pain. She didn't understand it. She wanted to know why it hurt to see that amber glow fade away.

“Sorry to say, Chrys,” Darrin began as he adopted a know-it-all posture, “This is why you shouldn't get attached to your food,” he said, making Chrys hesitate as Momo stepped in between them.

“Why did it die?” Momo asked, giving Chrys a concerned look.

“He was old...”

“Then it was simply his time,” Darrin added coldly, “It's always someone's time, sooner or later.”

“It is?” Momo and Chrys asked in unison.

“That's right.” He then adopted a more considering look as he glanced between them, “Chrys, don't let it bother you too much. Trust me, tomorrow, you'll forget all about it, and it won't be long before you find a new favorite, okay?” he assured, getting a weak nod from her.

“Maybe, well. I don't know, I guess we'll see,” she replied in an unusually uncertain manner, making the others share brief concerned glances. “Come on, let's go to our spot, like we planned,” Chrys added, hoping to get them off this topic, getting a small smile from Darrin.

“Now that's what I'm talking about! Let's get going!” he let out, moving ahead as Chrys followed, before she forced herself past him to take the lead, Bulwark and Momo sharing curious looks before following after. As the young princess continued to lead the others towards the surface, she found her thoughts constantly wandering back to the old stallion.

As the tunnels started to thicken with drones at work, Chrys got on Bulwark's back. Moving through the hive, drones moved out of the way of the lumbering guard and its passenger, leaving plenty of room for Darrin and Momo to follow in their wake. As they made their way, many of the passing changelings gave the princess curious looks.

Some had a fond look, while most simply saw her as an object of interest. However, there were a small number that saw her as a threat. Despite this, they all left the princess alone, protected by the queen, and by Bulwark.

“You don't suppose they closed off our spot, do you?” Momo asked as she hovered around Bulwark. “I mean, the rains are coming, so they probably did,” she added as her ears fell.

“It's fine,” Bulwark stated, “Made sure it wasn't sealed,” the giant replied confidently.

“Good job Bulwark,“ Chrys replied, eager to distract herself from her thoughts as she gave the guard a twisted smile, “See, you can do more that just stand around and egg-sit me!” she let out as she patted him on the shoulder in a condescending manner.

“Good thing too,” Darrin interjected, “This'll probably be the last time we can hang out here this year,” he pointed out, catching the princess off guard.

“What? why!?”

“I'm gonna be busy for the rest of the week getting the nectar stored,” Momo pointed out, giving her friends a sheepish grin. “I went and asked for too much work again,” she added, making Darrin shake his head in astonishment.

“Always taking on more than you can chew," he said, getting a nod of agreement from Chrys and Bulwark. "I'm gonna be on 'hatchling' duty for the rest of the week while the rest of the soldiers help with sealing the tunnels,” he added with a sour look, making Chrys let out a long sigh.

“You do know I can pull you both off of all that, right?” Chrys pointed out, getting a hesitant look from Momo.

“We know,” Darrin quickly replied, “But that'd be bad.”

“Why?” Chrys asked, looking a little annoyed.

“We have jobs to do, Chrys,” He stated, “We can't just ditch them because you're lonely. You've got the big guy here, so you should be fine, right?” he asked, making Chrys appraise her protector with a disappointed look.

“Yeah, because having this stick in the mud with me all the time is just grand,” she replied as she glanced to the side.

“You could always talk to Lores,” Momo suggested, “Maybe learn something interesting?” Her eyes then widened at the idea, “Something queen-like, perhaps?” she added, and Chrys was about to poke fun at the idea, when a faded cocoon came to mind. She then paused, taking a moment to consider the option before nodding to Momo.

“Actually, that wouldn't be a bad idea,” Chrys said, getting a smile from her hovering friend.

“Really!? Lores will be happy to hear that!”

“You're familiar with that old worm?” Darrin asked, getting a nod in return. Before he could make any further comment, the group came to a halt, seeing that the tunnel leading to their spot had already been plugged by a large stone. Plugged, but not sealed.

“Bulwark!” Chrys let out in disappointment.

“It's fine, Your Highness,” Bulwark replied as he kneeled down, letting his charge hop off before he moved to the boulder. With a small grunt, he dug his hooves into its side, and rolled it out of the way, letting in the light of day. Darrin let out a small whistle as Bulwark motioned to the now open passageway.

“Royal guards sure are something else,” Darrin said in awe as he walked around the stone, “This must have taken four workers to move!”

“Bulwark has his uses,” Chrysalis said matter-of-factly, giving the guard a small smile, which he returned. With the way open, the four of them went out onto a part of the hive reserved for the princess and those she chose, their spot.

The air was cool, the wind letting out a small roar as it brushed against the canyon wall. Halfway up the wall was the raised platform the four changelings embarked upon, enjoying the hot sun overhead as their eyes took in the Badlands before them. Momo let out a pleasant sigh as she hopped into the open area, sprawling out on her back, bathing in the sun with a smile.

“It's been a little cold lately,” she pointed out, 'a little cold' being a typical summer day to a pony.

“Well, the rains are coming soon, so that's only natural,” Darrin pointed out as he lay down as well, taking in the sun. Chrys wanted to join them in their sunbathing, but her mind wandered as her eyes fell to the horizon beyond.

Spread out beyond the cliff was a land of tan earth, scorching heat, and sparse vegetation. It was land so inhospitable, that only the changelings would dare to call it home. Anything else in The Badlands were simply monsters and small lizards. Still, to her mother, and all the members of the hive, this corner of The Badlands was home. This was their realm, where no pony would wander, no dragon would claim, and no snake would trespass. It fit the hive perfectly.

To Chrysalis, all she saw was a responsibility she couldn't wrap her head around. One day, she was going to be a queen. Whether of her own hive, or a successor to her mother's, she didn't know. What she did know, was that she didn't like this view. However, she did like its company.

“Something wrong, Your Highness?” Bulwark asked, getting an displeased look from the princess.

“Come on Chrys, join us!” Momo let out, before looking to Bulwark, “You too big guy, this'll be the last chance we can sunbathe this season, we shouldn't squander it!”

“Momo's right,” Darrin added, “Let's enjoy this while we can. Some of us have a busy week ahead.”

“You make it sound like all I do is slack around and eat,” Chrys said with a raised eyebrow as she started to approach the offending drone.

“I don't know about slacking, but I'm right about eating!” he declared, looking to the others, “Right?” he added, getting a small nod from Momo, while Bulwark simply glanced away.

“I do not eat all the time!” Chrys let out indignantly.

“What I wonder,” Darrin began as he ignored her reply, “is where you pack it all. I mean, it's not like you're getting any bigger.”

“Darrin...” Momo let out warningly, which was ignored by the drone.

“Maybe she's as big as she's going to be,” Darrin let out teasingly as Chrys' face darkened, “Striking terror in ponies everywhere, beware, the Midget Queen comes-” he was interrupted by said queen pouncing on him. As he had been laying prone sunbathing, he was easy pickings. Momo and Bulwark watched as Darrin tried, and failed, to free himself from the mighty Midget Queen. Once she had his ear in her teeth, he started to slam the ground with a hoof.

“I give, I give!” he let out, being freed from Chrys as she adopted a confident pose.

“That'll show you, lowly peon!” she said as she let out an 'evil' laugh. “As punishment for insulting your queen, you must carry me around for the rest of the day!” she commanded, getting a sigh from Darrin as he reluctantly nodded.

“That's what you get for teasing her,” Momo let out as she rolled onto her belly.

“Yeah yeah, and all that stuff about humble nectar,” Darrin said dismissively as Chrys motioned him to rise, getting a smile from the princess as he stood with her on his back.

“Bulwark, I have a new carriage for the day, so you're free to take a break.”

“Your Highness, I'm always happy to protect you,” Bulwark said, his voice carrying a level of certainty that always managed to catch Chrys off guard.

“Well, I'd be happy if you left me alone for the rest of the day,” She mumbled, making the guard adopt a contemplative gaze as he looked to Darrin.

“Is Mantis still out?” Bulwark asked, shifting the ambient mood around them as each of them adopted a sour look. Momo and Chrys also looked to Darrin, eager for his answer.

“Yes. He's not supposed to return till tomorrow,” he replied. Being an aspiring soldier, it was natural for him to know what the general was up to. As a close clutchling to Chrys, it was only natural that he kept an eye on her biggest obstacle, and biggest threat.

“Then ... I guess Darrin can take my place,” Bulwark said reluctantly, making Chrys look to him in surprise, before adopting a wide smile.

“Really!? In that case, let's go!” Chrys let out as she hit Darrin in the shoulder, “Take me to Lores!”

“What? Now?” he asked, getting another jab in the shoulder for his trouble.

“No questions, I'm the queen and we do what I say!” she said resolutely, making Darrin roll his eyes as he waved to Momo and Bulwark.

“Later Chryssy, later Darrin,” Momo let out, giving them a smile that unnerved the soldier.

“Just so you know,” Darrin began as they re-entered the tunnels, “I'm going to make you regret this.”

“That's not how you talk to your queen—” Chrys began, being interrupted when Darrin halted.

“Chrys, we're inside again, don't call yourself that,” He quickly whispered, making Chrys's eyes widen in realization, before looking to the side, ears falling. Seeing that down look on her face made Darrin adopt a sour look, and they continued down the hall for several minutes before Chrys spoke up.

“...Darrin, if I were to leave, and make my own hive, would you and Momo come with me?” she asked, getting a small chuckle from the drone.

“Where's this coming from?” he asked, getting a flustered look from his princess.

“I just want to know, if this is something I'm gonna do alone.”

“If it came to you leaving the hive to start your own, we'd go with you, no questions asked,” he said resolutely, getting a small smile from the teal changeling.

“You sound very sure of yourself.”

“At this point, I think we'd end up surprising our fellow clutchlings if Momo and I left you up high and dry,” he finished, getting nothing from the young queen on his back as he continued down into the hive's bowels.

“Thanks,” she murmured quietly, and being the considerate clutchling he was, he pretended to not have heard it.

Author's Notes:

Meanwhile Bulwark goes on a mini-adventure to gain a power-up.

This story will be about twenty thirty thirtyfive chapters long. , average length being somewhere around this chapter's length.
I hope you enjoyed the opening of this tale, and thank you for putting up with changeling social norms.
(ponies are food)

2. Taking a Step

As the pair continued down toward the halls where Lores’ workshop resided, Chrys noticed the looks given by the changelings they passed. Without Bulwark, she felt more glances being cast her way, and she didn't like it. She briefly considered changing her colors to avoid their curious looks, but thought better of it; she didn't want to deal with the fuss Darrin would make of it. Unfortunately, her silence didn't stop him from making one anyway.

“So, why'd we ditch the others so early?” he asked, “Is there something you wanted to check out?” He then adopted a sour look as he glanced to her on his back, “This isn't about what happened to your breakfast, is it?” he added, getting a cross look from Chrysalis.

“My business with Lores doesn't concern you.”

“Fine, leave me in the dark, see if I care,” he replied dismissively, “So why'd Momo seem chummy concerning Lores? Can I get an answer for that one?”

“Hmph. You ask a lot of questions for a carriage,” Chrys replied with a sigh, “She wants to be a caretaker next year,” she said simply, making Darrin's eye’s widen in realization.

“So, she is going through with that,” he replied with a smile, “No wonder she's familiar with the lorekeeper,” he added, getting a small nod from Chrys.

“She wanted to be a caretaker for this year’s clutch, but now there isn't going to be one,” Chrys said, sounding disappointed as Darrin looked to her.

“You're still on about that? Her Highness will need her strength in the spring,” he pointed out, prompting her to glance to the side.

“I know. It's just, there'd still be a clutch this year if Mantis had kept his dirty mouth shut...” she said in an off-put tone, making Darrin consider her for a moment before adopting a small smile.

“So, Momo talks to Lores so she can learn how to look after hatchlings, while our Princess wants to ask about food,” he guessed, his smile widening as he felt Chrys' glare trying to bore its way through the back of his head. “Feels like I guessed right.”

“He thanked me, okay?” Chrys replied in annoyance.

“Huh?” Darrin asked, caught off guard by her somber tone.

“The pony this morning. He thanked me. He knew I wasn't a pony, and he thanked me,” she explained, making Darrin pause as he looked to her, an unreadable expression on his face. “I want to know why,” she firmly added, knowing it was strange to care about such a thing, seeing Darrin think just that by the slight shift in his eyes. They stared at each other for a moment longer, before he continued down the hall.

“We skipped out on sunbathing for a pony,” he said, letting out an annoyed sigh. “Still, if it'll help you feel better, then it is what it is,” he added in a slightly detached tone.

“You won't tell anyone, right—”

“Like I would do something so stupid,” He cut off, giving Chrys an insulted look. “Mantis would stir up trouble if he knew you cried for a pony.”

“I didn't cry!”

“If you say so, Your Highness,” he sarcastically replied, making Chrysalis frown at him. She considered berating him for it, even biting his ear in protest. However, her confusion born of the emotions tied to what happened to the pony kept her still, making her wish she had kept the whole thing to herself.

Before either of them could strike up a new topic to dispel the silence, they reached Lores' workshop. Having one entrance, Darrin stopped at the opening, looking inside to see that Lores was the only changeling in the chamber. “I'll keep an eye out for you. Make sure you find all the answers you're looking for,” he said, his oddly soft tone making Chrys pause as she entered, giving him a curious glance. "You skipped out on our the last chance to sunbathe this year for this. It's clearly important to you, though I don't get why," he said, letting out a small sigh. "Chrys, you're going to be a queen one day,” he stated firmly, getting a hesitant look from her, “A queen must be determined, and focused, just like you are right now about this whole … pony business. So, make sure you see it all the way through.”

“All the way through?” she asked, making Darrin glance to the side, before adopting a fiery look.

“That's right. You're determined to get your answers, and that gives you direction. Chrys, a queen leads, and a drone follows. A queen can't lead without direction,” he affirmed, making Chrys frown.

“That sounds like something Mantis would say.”

“They are his words,” Darrin admitted bitterly, making Chrys' adopt a slightly bothered look, “Just because he said it, doesn't make it any less true.” He then nodded into Lores' cavern, “I'll be here, so have at it,” He finished, giving her a small smile, which made her sigh as she looked away.

“You spout good advice when I'm down, and tease me when I'm up. Can't you be Nice-Darrin all the time?” she asked as she raised an eyebrow to him.

“What, I can't treat you like a pampered princess all the time,” he replied confidently as he pointed past Chrys, towards the female drone who seemed to be patiently waiting for them to finish. “For instance, it's rude to keep a valued member of the hive waiting,” he quipped, making Chrys blush slightly.

“I see how it is,” she said as she gave him a twisted smile. “I'll be sure to let Momo and Bulwark know how you treated me,” she added, getting an almost alarmed look from Darrin, before he decided to be completely focused on watching the hall, turning his back to her.

Putting away her smile, Chrys turned to Lores. As she did, she noticed a pegasus stallion behind a caged part of the cavern. As the princess approached, Lores noticed Chrys' growing curiosity, and addressed the princess after a polite bow.

“Don't mind the pony, Your Highness, he's just a dud that knows a lot, for a pony,” she added with a small smile, making said pony roll his eyes, wearing a small smile as he gave the princess a curious look.

“Dud?” Chrys asked.

“A loveless pony. They're rare, but they do happen,” Lores explained, her expression implying that she found the notion to be strangely tragic. “That aside, what brings you to my workshop?” she asked with a smile, making Chrys pry her eyes from the yellow pegasus to the oddly matching changeling.

“A pony thanked me. Why'd he do that?”

“What?” Lores asked flatly, completely caught off guard. She then shook her head, “Could you give me some more context, Your Highness?” she asked, prompting Chrys to eye the ground for a moment before looking Lores in the eyes.

“An old pony I fed on this morning thanked me for feeding from him. He knew I wasn't the pony I was pretending to be, but thanked me for pretending to be that pony anyway. I want to know why.”

“And I'm guessing there's a reason you can't ask this pony why?” Lores asked as she adopted a contemplative look.

“R-Right,” Chrys replied as she glanced to the side, giving Lores nothing more. Chrys could feel Darrin looking her way, and though she was curious about the expression he was giving, she chose to ignore him.

“Did his love taste ... sweet?” Lores asked as she raised an eyebrow, getting a nod from Chrys as her eyes widened.

“Is that why he thanked me?”

“Uh, sort of,” Lores replied as she started pacing, “The flavor of love varies on how you take it. Present yourself as a pony sibling and you can either get a sour or salty flavor, while you can get a tangy flavor if you're the pony's lover,” she divvied out, years of enjoying what she did showing, a glow in her eyes as she continued on. “Love only tastes sweet when the pony's affection is towards you, instead of the pony you're pretending to be,” she added as she turned to the princess, “This old stallion you speak of, his gratitude was genuine. It has to be, if the love you tasted was sweet.”

“Yeah, okay.” Chrys said as she nodded, before her brow furrowed, “But, why? I was pretending to be his grandfilly. It was all a lie. Shouldn't he have been mad?” she asked, and Lores gave her an apologetic shrug.

“Ponies are nice at times when it just doesn't make any sense. It's probably one of their strangest traits,” she explained, just at a loss as Chrys. “Maybe it would be better to ask a pony. I know a lot of things about them, but there's also a great deal I don't,” she admitted, prompting Chrys to eye the yellow pegasus, getting a small laugh from Lores. “Not that one. He knows a lot of things, but ponies he knows not,” she finished, noticing the disappointed look on Chrys' face. “Sorry I didn't have the answer you were looking for, Your Highness. Is there anything else you wanted to know about ponies?” Chrys shook her head, her dissatisfaction prompting her to go back to bathing in the sun. As she was about to turn around, a small curiosity did come to mind.

“...Actually, yes,” Chrys began, her horn flaring as her body shifted to the form she was most familiar with, the blue filly Star Shell, “Why do I always feel hungry after being like this? Mom- Queen Amber told me it’s because pony bodies work differently, but she didn't have the details.”

“Ah, you came to the right drone,” Lores replied, beginning her pacing anew, “Ponies have warm blood. It lets them stay awake in cold weather, but because of this, they need to eat more. Taking their form naturally makes us hungry faster.”

“How much do ponies eat?”

“Typically they eat four times as often as we do,” Lores quickly replied.

“T-They eat eight times a day!?” Chrys replied in amazement, “No wonder being like this makes me hungry,” she added as she returned to her natural form.

“Uh, actually, they only eat three times a day.” Lores replied, making Chrys look to her in a moment of confusion. Her ears then perked when she heard Darrin start to laugh.

“Our little princess eats twice a day!” he let out as his laughter escalated, earning him a glare from Chrys as she started to blush. “She almost eats as much as a pony, and yet she's still-”

“Darrin, don't,” Chrys said, her eyes glowing fiercely for a moment, her small stature failing to sell her threatening pose, prompting Darrin to lose his ability to speak, as his laughter carried down the halls. Luckily for Chrys, she had a trick she gained from her mother for such an occasion. Darrin's laughter was cut short as Chrys grabbed him by the ear with her magic, a small sneer on her face as she gave his ear a twist.

“Ow! Cheater!” he said, making her sneer turn into a smile, before letting go and turning back to Lores.

“About that,” Lores began, “from what the queen told me, having such an appetite is natural for a growing queen,” she explained. She then looked like she was about to get really technical, but thought better of it.

“Hear that Darrin? It's. Natural,” Chrys said proudly, only getting a small chuckle in turn from her clutchling. “Tch,” she let out, before giving her attention back to Lores, “So ponies eat more to keep their bodies warm. Can't we use that to stay up during the monsoon?” she asked, getting a nod from Lores.

“We could, but it would mean needing a lot more nectar.”

“Can't we eat pony foods?”

“Well, yes. However, there's little such food in our lands, and we still need nectar to feed our hatchlings. That, and our bodies can only manage foreign food other races eat while we're shaped as them. If we have any food besides nectar in us when we return to normal, there's a high chance of getting terribly ill.”

“O-Oh,” Chrys replied, wide-eyed. “That's good to know,” she added, hearing Darrin clear his throat.

“Soldiers such as myself are taught that before heading into the field.”

“Didn't ask you, Darrin,” Chrys said dismissively.

“And yet you were told all the same,” he said with a grin, “While it's not a big deal for workers like Momo-” He then paused as something down the tunnel caught his eye. His entire posture then shifted, becoming harder as his brow furrowed. “Mantis,” he hissed, making Chrys blink, ears dropping as she quickly took in her surroundings, briefly considering hiding, before looking back to her clutchling.

He was looking to her, waiting to see what she'd do. She hesitated for a moment, before looking to the ground, kicking it as if were at fault, before she stepped forward. Lores looked on curiously as Chrys reached Darrin's side. Glancing down the hall, the princess saw Mantis heading towards them, with his personal royal guard, Sledge, towering a pace behind him.

Mantis's eyes met hers, and she held his gaze for a second, before glancing away. Before Mantis could reach them, Darrin moved to place himself between Mantis and Chrys, to the princess' chagrin.

“General, you're back early,” Darrin said, making Mantis raise an eyebrow.

“Step aside Darrin, I have words with her,” Mantis said coolly.

“Then give them, she can hear you just fine like this,” Darrin replied as he frowned, “I am her guard right now, so you're going to talk over me,” he added, getting a small smile from Mantis.

“Go help bring in our haul. That's an order,” he stated, and Chrys could see Darrin start to shake in anger. There was a brief pause between the two of them, a pause that went on far longer than Chrysalis liked; a soldier that disobeyed suffered exile, at best.

“You heard him,” Chrys said as she pushed Darrin aside with her magic, “He gave you an order, so take care of it,” she added, getting a look from him, a mixture of hesitation and disappointment, before he turned back to Mantis. He gave the general of the hive a forced salute, before passing Mantis to carry out his orders.

“Darrin,” Mantis said, making Chrys' clutchling pause, “You shouldn't waste your time with this one, she'll only drag down your ambitions.”

“Is that an order too?” Darrin asked, a dangerous rasp in his voice.

“Merely a suggestion,” Mantis said as he waved dismissively towards him. As Darrin started to depart, he glanced over his shoulder, his eyes catching Chrys'. She gave him a subtle nod, which he returned as he left. “My little changeling,” Mantis began as he turned to her, “what foolishness led you to put away your shield?” he asked as he took a slow step towards her.

“What I do with Bulwark isn't your concern,” she said, a little surprised as she realized she'd just taken a step back from him. Without Bulwark or mother, this was her first time being alone with Mantis, and she was taking it about as well as she feared. Her heart was already pounding, and her head was starting to ache as he took another step forward.

“I'm gone for a month and you go and let your guard down. You should know that your life is important to the queen, so what you do with your shield is my concern,” he replied in a hollow tone, making Chrys resist the urge to scoff at his 'concern', “You need to be kept safe, after all,” he added as he took another step forward, bringing him into the room.

“I was safe, until you showed up,” Chrys replied as she again found herself backing away from his advance. She glanced to the side, seeing Sledge put himself in a position to intercept Lores if she chose to involve herself. To Chrys' annoyance, and slight relief, Lores didn't seem interested in such a notion, looking on with a contemplative expression. Mantis then stomped his hoof, making Chrys flinch, drawing her eyes back to him.

“Keep your eyes on the obstacle in front of you,” he said with a sneer as he lowered his head towards her, taking another step forward. She looked to him, wide-eyed as she felt her back hooves seem to move of their own will, taking another step back. Mantis was in control of this exchange, whether she liked it or not, a realization that brought Darrin's words to mind.

A queen leads, a drone follows. She wasn't born to be a drone. At the very least, she wasn't born to follow Mantis. He took another step forward. Imagines of what he might do to her flashed in her mind's eye as she resisted her body's desire to take another step back, which brought Mantis closer to her. His sneer seemed to weaken a moment, before it became a vicious scowl, his fangs exposed as his eyes seemed to radiate a promise worthy of her terror.

Mantis took another step forward.

Chrysalis stood her ground. Despite her body's wish to flee, she didn't falter under his suffocating aura. She wouldn't allow herself to back away any more; a resolution that empowered her, making the fear in her eyes trade out for determination she didn't know she had. Her head still throbbed, and she could hear her own heartbeat; despite that, she didn't give ground. Mantis blinked in surprise, raising his head as the scowl and glare gave away to an appraising look.

A queen leads, a drone follows. Chrys took a step forward, daring to take back the ground she lost. Before her hoof could land, she felt the air shift by her mane, causing her to step back. It took her a moment to realize that Mantis' hoof was right next to her head; he had lashed out at her, purposely missing, a cold look in his eyes as she met his gaze, her mouth falling open. She had taken pride in her speed, believing it would help her against him; a belief he had quickly shattered.

“Don't press your luck, princess.” He then moved his hoof under her chin, her bravado gone as he brought his head closer to her, “You're still too weak to challenge me; you'll always be too weak, it's in your color,” he declared, his gaze drilling into her eyes for a moment before he took his hoof away, stepping around her as a strange smile appeared on his face, one Chrys didn't recognize. “Still, holding your ground, I think you've managed to impress me-” He paused, his ears shifting as his eyes went to the opening to the chamber, his diverted attention making the world outside of their exchange return to Chrys in a rush of fresh air.

She resisted the temptation to collapse as she looked to whatever distraction had freed her from him. Her heart then skipped a beat when she saw Momo standing there in the opening, surprise evident on her face as she looked between Mantis and Chrys.

“You have no business here,” Mantis said to Momo, making her ears fall as he turned to her, “Leave,” he ordered, and Momo hesitated for a moment, before adopting a forced smile as she entered the room.

“Bulwark sent me to look after Her Highness,” Momo began cheerfully, a crack in her voice being the only evidence to her fear, “So here I am,” she added, but before she got too close to Chrys, Sledge got between them, his massive frame making Momo flinch as Mantis started to approach her.

“M-Mantis, shouldn't you be overlooking the troops?” Chrys said in an attempt to keep his focus on her, getting a side-glance from the changeling as he raised an eyebrow.

“Something wrong princess? Worried of something happening to your clutchling?” he asked in a cold tone.

“She'd make for a poor queen if she didn't care,” Lores interjected, getting a surprised look from the others, “Mantis, you're done here,” she added in a composed tone, getting a hostile glare from him. “Don't give me that look, you're well aware I'm not one of your soldiers, and neither is Momo,” she said as she pointed to the door. Mantis seemed to consider something for a moment, before he continued walking, passing Momo as she stood rigid. Sledge followed after him as he left the room, before glancing back.

“Princess, without your guard, you're a liability. A hive has no need for a queen that puts herself in danger's way,” he said coldly, before leaving, making Momo stick her tongue out at him, before coming to Chrys' side. Chrys, for her part, sat down, her legs feeling oddly weak as she looked to Momo, trying to settle her emotions. Over the fear, pride, relief, and frustration, one emotion won out over the others, as her brow furrowed.

“Momo, why'd you stand up to him!?” she asked, making Momo pause, before she rolled her eyes.

“Because the Big-Bad-Mantis was picking on my clutchling, that's why.”

“Momo, I'm protected by Bulwark and mother. I'm pretty sure Mantis likes Darrin, but what do you have?” Chrys asked, getting a sheepish smile from Momo.

“My go-get-'em attitude?” she replied, leaving Chrys speechless as she sat there, looking at Momo in astonishment.

“Seriously Momo, you shouldn't have done that,” Chrys said as she adopted a somber look, “And I shouldn't have left Bulwark behind.”

“Hey now, Mantis is gone again, and we all still have our heads, so no pouty face.”

“I'm not pouting.”

“Right... Do you want to get a snack to cheer you up?” Momo asked, and Chrys couldn't deny that the idea sounded appealing. She then pictured a cocoon, its light having faded away. She suddenly felt a little sick, and she wasn't sure if it was because of that image, or from the way Mantis cornered her, as she shook her head.

“There's nectar back home, I could go for that,” she said, getting a concerned look from Momo.

“Chrys?”

“I'm... not in the mood for anything else,” she said weakly as Momo came to her side, kneeling so Chrys could jump on her back. “I think I'll walk,” she added, forcing herself to her hooves as she looked to Lores, noticing the caged pegasus in the corner giving her an appraising look. “Lores, why'd you step in?” she asked, a little confused that the lorekeeper had been silent through the whole thing till the end.

“I wanted to see if our princess could stand by herself,” Lores said with a small nod, as if that was all the answer she needed to give, “Don't be too shy to come back later if you have any questions, Your Highness,” she finished with a smile, getting a small nod from Chrys as she turned to leave.

“...Did you find what you were looking for?” Momo asked as they left, staying close to Chrys.

“What? Oh, no,” Chrys admitted, before looking at her hooves, “But, I did learn something big, so it wasn't a waste,” she said as her eyes adopted a determined look, getting a curious glance from Momo as they went deeper into the hive.

Author's Notes:

Mantis lounged down into his chair, taking a sip from his favorite mug. The one with #1Dad written on its side.
No actually, take that mug away, he doesn't deserve it. Sure, he brings home the bacon, but he's emotionally abusive! And that's bad.
Thanks as always for reading!

3. Royal Treasures

Throughout the hive's tunnels were small illuminating mushrooms. Just bright enough to light the way for the changelings, all these mushrooms gave off an amber glow. All except those in a particular room in the hive, which gave off a greenish blue glow. One of Queen Amber's personal guards, Aegis, was guarding the entrance of this room; looking out for the princess in Bulwark's place.

Said princess was laying on a heap of smooth rare stones; a small collection of pebbles floating in her magic. Having been taken in by a bout of melancholy, she bid Momo to take off after having a midday meal, and had kept to herself since, relatively speaking. The silence carried between the princess and the guard was shattered as the sound of stone breaking on rock rang from the room.

Glancing to the door's guard, a displeased look grew on her face. She didn't mind Aegis, but he was no Bulwark. She briefly wondered where her personal guard was before her mind wandered back over the day's events. Once again the pony came to mind, but thoughts of him were brushed aside as she replayed her encounter with Mantis. She frowned as one of the pebbles she held started to spin.

The sound of stone striking stone rung out again, prompting a curious look from Aegis as Chrys began to hurl another stone towards a changeling-shaped rock formation on the far end of her room. The structure was surrounded by debris and rock fragments from years of abuse. Another rock was hurled against its face, making the stone bounce off, letting its protest be heard before rolling to a stop.

Four more stones were cast before her frustration started to ebb. She let out a tired sigh as she rolled in her rocky bed, her eyes falling to the wooden bookshelf that held her things. She found herself thinking that the bookshelf once belonged to a pony, making her face scrunch up as she pushed the obvious notion to the side. She then eyed her collection of colored egg shells resting on the bottom rack; placed where she could easily see them.

Standing in the center was a mostly intact teal eggshell, hollowed out, sitting as a bowl. Next to it were seven shell fragments of varying hues of amber, as well as an almost complete eggshell. Each of the fragments had a name and number etched on them, names of their original owners.

When a clutch starts to hatch, each hatchling is given a number based on the order they hatched in; a number they wear as their name till they're old enough to give themselves a name of their own choosing. Of her clutch, she was the only one to start off with a true name. The mostly intact amber egg next to her shell was slightly larger than hers, Bulwark’s egg; she didn't have to look to know that nearly all of its pieces rested within, with only two fragments of the entire egg missing.

Levitating her own egg over, she smiled as she looked upon the two fragments resting inside: A spotted fragment had Momo – 1 written on its side, while another fragment bore Darrin – 77.

Chrys' heart ached as she looked to the other fragments resting on the shelf, picturing herself putting the two left inside her shell outside to join those seven others. She could clearly remember when all nine fragments were nestled happily in her shell. Her brow then furrowed as she recalled who had driven those seven clutchlings away from her.

The largest stone in her bed was cast, with more emotion then all before, causing a boom that caught even the stoic Aegis off guard. The 'face' of the 'statue' had shattered into countless pieces; dust swirled in the air as Chrys huffed at the target, her eyes itching as she placed her egg back on the shelf, falling onto her bed in a frustrated heap.

You'll always be too weak, it's in your color.

Another rock was sent flying across the room, but it failed to hit its mark, striking the back wall before bouncing to the floor. Looking to it, her eyes shifted to a teal mushroom rooted between her and the pebble that missed. She looked at that mushroom for several moments, before glancing to the side.

Her horn then glowed, causing the mushroom to brighten slightly in reaction to her changeling magic. Her horn's glow then shifted orange, slowly turning the mushroom a matching color in the process. Now it was a lone amber mushroom in a room of teal light, yet, she envied it. The other mushrooms didn't care about the color of their neighbors.

Her horn then brightened, and she felt her mane tingle for a moment, before her magic faded away. She ran a hoof through her hair, seeing a color matching the amber mushroom in front of her, making her let out another long sigh.

“If you're going to change your mane, maybe you can change that sighing problem while you're at it,” a warm voice suggested, making Chrys flinch, her horn glowing teal as her mane returned to its natural color. She then turned around, seeing her mother standing there with a mischievous grin on her face. “Oh, don't change on my account,” she said as she sat down next to Chrys' bed. “So let me guess; Mantis?”

“Mantis,” Chrys replied as she glanced to the abused statue in the corner.

“Hasn't even been back for half a day,” Amber mumbled as she shook her head, “What'd he say this time?” she asked as she pulled Chrys closer, making the princess blush as she adopted an annoyed look.

“He said that my color was weak, after I tried standing up to him.”

“You stood up to Mantis?” Amber asked in surprise, letting out a happy little cheer as she hugged Chrys, who was now trying to free herself, in vain. “Ohh Chryssy, you'll be a queen before you know it!” Amber let out, making Chrys slump in defeat as she gave her mother a confused look.

“What makes you think that?”

“Well, you're starting to assert yourself,” Amber pointed out, “An important queenly attribute!” She then nuzzled Chrys' face, getting a put off look from the princess as her blush deepened, before Chrys was put down. “Oooh~ My little hatchling's gonna be all grown up soon!”

“...I don't like being little,” Chrys mumbled.

“You don't have to worry about that. When you hit your growth spurt, you'll be as big as your clutchlings before you even realize it!” Amber then nodded to herself, “In fact, you should take some time to appreciate your size. Right now, the world is so big and mysterious, but once you become a bigger part of it, you'll realize just how small it is,” she said as she looked to the cold walls of stone, “Appreciate being little while you can, Chrys, cause you're only little once,” she stated with a sagely nod, getting an uncertain nod from Chrys in turn.

“Could you stop calling me a hatchling? I'm just as old as the others, you know,” she requested in an off-putting tone.

“Oh? So you're ready to set out and run your own hive?” Amber asked coyly, getting a hesitant pause from her daughter. “Don't let what Mantis says get to you. Your color is perfect! I wouldn't want you any other shade,” she added resolutely, getting an uncertain look from Chrys.

“How can you be sure? Have you had a teal hatchling before?” she asked, her eyes widening at the prospect, “Wait, I am the first, right?” she added worriedly, getting a small laugh from Amber.

“Of course you're the first, and I'm sure you're perfect because we changelings were a cool color before we were my color.”

“You mean purple?”

“That's right. My mother's hive was quite strong, so I can assure you that color has nothing to do with it,” Amber said with a nod. Chrys then gave her a very skeptical look.

“Didn't your mother also run off to fight a ghost, and never returned?” she asked, getting a bashful look from Amber as she glanced to the side.

“Yes... L-Look, the point is, your color doesn't matter. What you do, that matters. For instance, I'd have crushed Mantis years ago for his attitude towards you, but it just so happens that he's really good at what he does.”

“He's also really good at ruining my day,” Chrys retorted, disregarding the fact that the day already had a bumpy start. “Does he really hate me for my color?” she asked as she looked to the queen, who rubbed her chin for a moment before pointing the amber mushroom.

“Doesn't this mushroom grab your attention?” she asked, making Chrys look a little put-off as she eyed the mushroom, before nodding.

“It stands out since it's the only one like it in the room. So you're saying Mantis hates me because I stand out? But I'm a princess, I'd stand out without being a different color.”

“It's not because you stand out, but because you're different. So, can you tell me what he doesn't see?” she asked as she gave Chrys an eager look. The princess thought on it for a bit, before looking to her mother with a skeptical look.

“The amber mushroom is still a mushroom?” Chrys answered, being caught off guard as Amber gave her another proud hug.

“That's exactly right! You're a mushroom- er, changeling! Your color doesn't matter.” Her face then scrunched up in thought, “Well, okay, your color matters, but it doesn't matter,” she affirmed, nodding to herself.

“Huh?” Chrysalis asked incredulously.

“Chrys, this is your color,” she said as her horn glowed, turning the amber mushroom back to teal, “It's a part of you, and who you are. It's important because it's you. And you, are a changeling; a small one who will grow into a fine queen; of that I have no doubt!” she proclaimed, getting a small smile from Chrys. “And Mantis doesn't want to admit that. Unfortunately, he's a pretty stubborn one. Though, I guess you'd have to be pretty stubborn to earn the title of Mantis.” she said as she let out a sigh. “Either way, he'll be out of our manes once spring's past.”

“You mean after we capture the Moon Princess?” Chrysalis asked, getting a nod in turn.

“With the princess of the ponies under our power, the rest of them will fall into disarray, and we won't need Mantis anymore,” Amber said with a genuine smile, before adopting a contemplative look. “Maybe I should start looking for a replacement?” she considered, prompting an unamused look from her daughter.

“You're gonna get rid of him, but haven't planned his replacement,” Chrys said, letting out a sigh, “Maybe you rely on his schemes a little too much, mother.”

“H-Hey, don't get fresh with me,” Amber said indignantly, before adopting a sharp grin. “Shouldn't you be doing something other than laying about in your room casting stones?”

“But, Bulwark hasn't returned from whatever he's doing. And Darrin's busy-”

“Perks of being queen!” Amber interrupted, “Darrin will be here soon for you, I've ordered it so, and Aegis can protect you till Bulwark returns.” She then tapped her chin in thought, “Honestly, I can't see why he wanted to scout the Badlands,” she said, making Chrys blink in surprise.

“Bulwark is outside?”

“He didn't tell you? He informed the forward guards about it-” She then adopted a look of realization, before rubbing her temple, “The soldiers must have been told to keep him in the dark about Mantis' return.” She then let out a heated sigh, “Four more months...”

“And we capture the princess, and take Canter Town,” Chrys finished, her eyes widening in thought. “About that, erm, about ponies. Mother, feeding off of them doesn't harm them, right?” she asked, making Amber blink as she raised an eyebrow.

“Where'd that come from?” she asked, getting a sheepish look from Chrys.

“Just curious. A queen needs to know these things, right?” she said, giving Amber a smile, that the queen fell for.

“Already thinking ahead,” Amber replied as she adopted a radiant smile, her eyes glowing with pride, “It's completely harmless, dear. If it harmed them, then our food wouldn't last nearly as long,” she added, getting a small sigh of relief from Chrys. “Was that a sigh of relief just now? What's up, something bothering you?” Her eyes then narrowed, “Hmm, maybe I haven't been giving you enough hugs.”

“Uh, it would be bad if it harmed them, that's all.” Chrys quickly assured as she glanced to the side. “So, why does love come in different flavors?” she asked, getting an appraising look from Amber, winning a nervous smile from Chrys.

“Did you skip out on nectar to taste ponies again?” Amber asked, making Chrys wince.

“Yes, and you didn't answer my question,” she quickly replied, a determined look in her eyes. Amber sighed as she rubbed her head.

“Different flavors? I'm not sure,” she then nodded to herself, “There's a reason for it, but I've never actually considered it before.”

“'There's a reason for it?' That's what you always say when you don't know,” Chrys said in a disappointed tone.

“Well, it's true. There's always a reason for things being the way they are. If you're curious, you could ask Lores to look into it.” Her brow then furrowed, “So, you've been draining from the cocoons," she stated, making Chrys glance to the side. “You know you're not allowed to do that—”

“Says the one that ‘plays’ with her food,” Chrys quickly replied, almost instantly getting a flustered look from Amber.

“Th-They taste better when you mess with their dreams, is all,” she replied before glancing to the side herself. Chrys caught onto her words, considering them for a moment before nodding to herself.

“Do they taste sweet?” she asked, making Amber consider it for a moment before shaking her head.

“More like bittersweet,” she admitted, “I've never managed completely sweet, not for a lack of effort,” she stated, making Chrys nod to herself.

“We seek the flavors we like, and sweet is a popular flavor...”

“Oh? Looks like someone's trying to figure something out,” Amber said with a small smile, getting a sheepish grin from her daughter in turn. Amber's ears then perked as she glanced to the door, prompting Chrys' eyes to follow. Next to Aegis stood Darrin, who looked a little surprised to see the queen with Chrys.

“Your Highness,” Darrin began as he kneeled, “Permission to speak freely.”

“I'm not Mantis, Darrin, what's the problem?”

“It's just, while I appreciate getting back my day off, when Mantis gets word-”

“Don't fret over the small things Darrin, Mantis is in a good mood. I'll make it work,” she said with a sinister smile, getting a small nod in turn from the drone as he looked to Chrys.

“I'm at your disposal, Highness,” he said with a light bow, making Chrys frown for a moment before hopping to her hooves, heading out of her room as she passed Darrin.

Chrys paused when she saw Bastion standing in the hall, who gave her a warm smile, which Chrys returned. Easily her favorite royal guard besides Bulwark, Bastion was Amber's most trusted protector, and he was the strongest, making up the last of the four royal guards in the entire hive.

“Come on Darrin, let's go find Momo,” Chrys said, getting a stoic nod as he followed her, Aegis a step behind. “Later, mother!” she shouted, getting a small wave from the queen as they made quick work leaving the Royal Halls. Chrys was expecting Darrin to say something about what happened earlier, but he kept quiet as they left her home behind. She then stopped in surprise when she found Momo waiting for them outside of the queen's tunnels.

"Yo!" Momo said with a beaming grin, getting on her hooves to join the others.

“Momo, you were waiting for me?” Chrys asked in surprise, getting a sigh from Darrin.

“We were worried,” he said as he gave Chrys a side-glance, “Is it really that surprising?” he added, making Chrys' brow furrow.

“You were worried?” She said as she stomped her hoof, “What were you two thinking!? Standing up to Mantis like that!”

“I was thinking something like: 'Oh shoot, Chrys needs my help,'” Momo said with an honest expression.

“I'll admit, I wasn't being all that smart at the time,” Darrin admitted, “But, it's hard to be rational when your blood is boiling. Sending me away was the smart decision, Chrys,” he said reluctantly as his brow furrowed, “It just ticks me off that that's how things are.”

“Mantis has too much power,” Chrys said as her ears fell, “The hive needs him. His schemes have done so much... I hate it, but that's simply how it is,” she admitted as she kicked the ground.

“Did I miss something?” Momo asked.

“I was on the verge of attacking Mantis,” Darrin explained.

“Oh, well, I'm sure you would have beat him!” Momo said with a confident nod, getting side glances from Chrys and Darrin. “Right?”

“I'd be dead,” Darrin replied, making Momo blink in surprise, earning a small glare from Chrys. She couldn't stand how blunt he could be. “His shadow would crush me. That, and I'm not as fast or powerful as he is,” he admitted as he looked to Momo. His eyes then glowed briefly as he added, “But I'm getting close,” he stated confidently, getting an appraising look from Momo as Chrys shook her head.

“That's why I don't want you two getting between me and Mantis,” Chrys said as she glared at no one in particular. “It was stupid to send Bulwark off.”

“True,” Darrin said, before quickly adding, “It was stupid of me to assume Mantis wouldn't return ahead of schedule.” He then gave Chrys a hard look, “And like it or not, we'll get between you and Mantis if it'll save you,” he declared, getting a small nod of agreement from Momo.

“Why!?” Chrys asked in frustration, “Is it because I'll be queen one day? There's a reason for everything, right? So why would you two put your necks on the line for me?” she asked as she stomped her hoof.

“Chrys...” Momo said, about to take a step forward, hesitating as her ears fell. She glanced to the side as Darrin stepped closer.

“Yes, we do have other reasons for risking our necks to be with you, but the first, and most important reason is the very fact that you're our clutchling,” he said resolutely, “You've been in danger since before we hatched. Even now, you're in more danger than myself or any of the soldiers on the field. Out there, they have each other. In here, you only have the three of us,” he said, making Chrys look between the two of them.

“I want to know those other reasons,” she insisted, her eyes carrying more concern than anger in them.

“Well, one is that good old 'hive bond',” Darrin said matter-of-factly, “Protect the queen, serve the queen. You're gonna be a queen one day, so that's probably part of it. There's more, but I think I'll keep that to myself for now,” he said as he glanced to Momo, who was eyeing her hooves for a moment before looking to Chrys.

“I promise, I'll tell you when I'm ready,” Momo said, giving Chrys a reassuring, yet sad, smile. “It's just, something that's hard to confess,” she added as she rubbed a hoof over her other leg, getting a curious look from Darrin.

“Hard to confess?” Chrys asked.

“It's like...” Momo began as she thought for a moment, “It's like telling someone you can't do sleep-overs because you still wet the bed. It's not something you can just blurt out on a whim.” she said with a confident nod, before her eyes widened. “Not that I know anyone that does that!” she assured as Chrys and Darrin raised an eyebrow at her.

“So ... where'd that analogy come from?” Darrin asked as he gave Momo a mischievous grin.

“L-Look, it was the first thing to come to mind, okay!” she replied indignantly, “What about you, huh? Aren't you gonna explain yourself to Chrys?” she asked as Darrin looked to Chrys.

“Pretty sure I said I'm keeping that to myself,” he said dismissively, “Honestly, I might just die before I bother to tell either you,” he added with a sharp grin, “It's not like you need to know why we cling to you.”

“I'd still like to know, thank you very much,” Chrys replied as she gave him a hard glare.

“Well, guess you're gonna have to wait then,” he countered, matching her glare, causing a moment of silence to fall on them. Momo then coughed into her hoof as she stepped between her clutchlings.

“The sun's still up. We can still fall back on our original plans!” she said with a beaming grin, melting the glares her clutchlings were sharing.

“You seem adamant on sunbathing,” Darrin said in an amused tone.

“It's not that often I get a day off,” Momo said with a nod, getting a sigh from Chrys.

“I'm sorry. I've really messed this all up-”

“You broke off early because of the pony this morning, but we can blame the rest of this frustration on Mantis,” Darrin quickly said, getting a nod from Momo.

“Let's not worry about that now," Momo stated, "Bulwark said he'd return to our spot when he got back, so let's give him a smile when he does!”

“Yeah, about that.” Chrys began, “Why'd Bulwark head into the Badlands? Isn't it dangerous to go alone?”

“He is a royal guard, Chrys,” Momo pointed out, “Though, I didn't really ask why when he left, I had things on my mind,” she admitted, before walking next to Chrys, offering her back to the princess.

“Just a moment Momo,” Darrin said, a bothered look growing on his face, “I'm Her Highness's 'carriage' today," he said as he motioned for Chrys to hop on. "Let's get going if we wanna catch what's left of the day.” He added, prompting Chrys to look between her clutchlings, her heart aching for a number of reasons, as she shook her head.

“Aegis, stay behind us,” Chrysalis ordered, getting a nod from the royal guard as she started down the tunnels towards their destination. “I'll lead.” She then looked to Darrin with a small grin. His eyes widened for a moment, before he let out a small sigh.

“Then I guess we'll follow,” he replied.

“Sounds good to me!” Momo let out, as they went to their spot on the cliff. As Chrys led them through the hive, she once again found her mind wandering towards what happened this morning. She then pushed it all aside, choosing to save it for tomorrow. It didn't take too long for them to reach their spot, and the way was still open for them.

“...You going to join us, Aegis?” Momo asked as she stepped into the sunlight, giving the unfamiliar guard a curious look.

“I'll keep watch, but nothing more,” he said simply, getting a disappointed look from Momo as he did just that. As Chrys walked onto the outcropping, she briefly looked out into the Badlands, wondering what her Bulwark was doing, before she lay down, letting out a long sigh as she enjoyed the sun's warmth.

The three of them enjoyed themselves for a time, talking about their latest acquisition from the land of ponies, helping keep Chrys' mind from anything other than their company. Near sundown, just before they were deciding to go inside, Bulwark returned, catching the others off guard as he flew up from beneath the outcropping.

“Bulwark!” Chrys let out excitedly, more so than she intended as her horn glowed, giving Aegis a small push. The royal guard took the hint, and left before Bulwark could notice his presence. “I mean, uh. What took you? Why'd you go into The Badlands?” she asked as she adopted a displeased look.

“To learn something.” Bulwark said as he limped to the princess, getting concerned looks from the others as he added. “No worries, Your Highness, I ran into a snake. Nothing I couldn't manage,” he assured as Momo and Darrin came closer. He didn't look injured, though he was covered in dirt. Before they could press for details, he looked to the princess. “Did you find your answer?” he asked, and Chrys looked to him, trying to imagine how big the snake must have been to cause him to limp like that. She then shook her head as she considered his question.

“No, but I have some direction now,” she replied as she looked to the horizon, spotting the first hints of the coming monsoon in the distance as she looked to the others. “There are things I need to learn, before I become a queen,” she added, a fire burning in her chest.

“You can say that again.” Darrin said, getting a small glare from Chrys as Momo let out a small laugh.

“He's got you there, Chrys. Don't worry, we'll be there with you. No matter what Mantis pulls.”

“Let me worry about Mantis,” Bulwark said with a determined glare, “Just do what feels right, Your Highness.”

“I think I'll do just that.” Chrys said as she gave Bulwark a big smile, “That's a lot better advice than what you said this morning,” she pointed out, prompting Bulwark to glance to the side.

“Do what feels right, as long as it doesn't get you in trouble,” he corrected, getting a small chuckle from her.

“No promises,” she replied, getting a sigh from Darrin and Bulwark, and a laugh out of Momo. “So, about this snake, are they as big as I've heard...?” Chrys asked as she looked to Bulwark, who adopted a smile as he told them of his encounter. A short story of peril and adventure that followed them as they returned to the hive, looking to call it a day.

Author's Notes:

"You see Chrys," Momo began, hesitating for a moment, "The truth is, I'm actually-" Her horn then glowed before her body shifted into a form that made Chrys' eyes widen, "The Moon Princess."

Chrys' eyes flew open in surprise. Her room was darker than usual, making her take a look around in confusion, before her brow furrowed.

"Stupid dream."

---

Thanks again as always for reading, and I hope to see you next time, on DBZ TTC!

4. Poisonous Answers

Chrysalis stood on Bulwark's back, who was hovering in the air while the princess's horn glowed, its magic connected to a cocoon hanging from the ceiling. After several moments, her eyes opened as her magic faded, looking to the pod with a disappointed look on her face. She was starting to get annoyed, which Bulwark took note of.

“No luck?” he asked, getting a small shake of her head as she motioned for him to land. “That's the twentieth you've asked; well, don't worry, Your Highness, one of them is bound to know.”

“It’s Chrysalis,” she replied offhoovedly, “And I know that. I just keep getting the wrong ones,” she said as her brow furrowed, looking between the many pods. “One of them has to know his name,” she added, getting a confused look from Bulwark, which she noticed. “The name of the old pony from yesterday.”

“You fed off him for months, and you never got his name?” he asked in disbelief.

“L-Look, I was pretending to be his grandfilly, so he was just gramps to me, okay?” she replied in a flustered tone.

“My apologies, Your Highness, I didn't mean to upset you.”

“You didn't upset me,” she replied as she glanced to the side.

“Yes, Your Highness,” he said, getting a small sigh from Chrys. “Weren't you looking for why he thanked you when we started?”

“Well, yes.” She then hesitated, “But since the first four were a bust, I figured I wasn't going to find that answer here,” she explained as she indicated the cocoons. “They don't know what a changeling is, so they can't really give me a satisfying answer, not without ruining their dream anyway.”

“Have you given up?” That got a bothered look from her.

“Me? Give up?” She then shook her head, “No. I think there's still a pony I can ask...”

“Just point the way, Your Highness,” he said, and she looked to him for a second.

“Right, it'd probably be less wasteful to go there first. After all, we've got a few more days till the rains come,” she said with a nod, “I can find his name before then.”

“Why's the stallion's name important?” he asked with a hint of concern. She looked to him, briefly considering an easily believable excuse over the truth. And an excuse is what she gave.

“It's not important,” she lied, “It's just, with Darrin and Momo being busy, I need to do something to keep myself occupied,” she added, hopping off his back, “Come on, we're heading to Lores. There's a chance the pony there has answers.” Bulwark tilted his head in thought.

“Lores keeps a cocoon with her?” he asked, getting a small laugh from Chrys.

“She has a pony caged up in there, and she talks to it. Since he's well aware of us changelings, he may have my answer,” she explained, before leading them on, navigating through the busy tunnels.

With all the soldiers and their haul having returned yesterday, the hive was even more crowded. Tunnels were being sealed to prevent flooding, new food was being integrated, and extra nectar was being stored in preparation for the awakening when the rains ended. Despite all this activity, changelings still moved to give the princess space in the tunnels. It helped that she was easy to spot, even without her guardian.

Reaching Lores' chamber without incident, Chrys paused when she found the drone looking over several bowls of nectar, each varying in color from typical gold to glimmering scarlet.

“Ah, welcome back, Your Highness,” Lores said as she saw them, her attention caught by the sound of Bulwark's heavy steps, “Did you have more questions?”

“Yes, but not for you,” Chrys replied as she glanced to the caged pony in the corner. “I'm going to talk to him.” Lores blinked at that, giving Chrys an odd look, before nodding.

“Of course, just be aware that he's an ... odd one. And that's by pony standards,” she said with a small smile, getting a curious look from Chrys as she approached the pegasus.

Reaching his spacious stone cage, which was sealed by a large boulder, she eyed him curiously; he was letting out a strange sounding snore. His fur was dirty, his mane was a mess, yet his feathers were well tended to, a notion Chrys found oddly novel. Past the dirt, she could see that his fur was a lighter shade of yellow, while his mane was short and gray. She glanced to Bulwark, who gave her a small shrug as she looked back to the pony.

“Hey, get up, I got questions,” Chrys said as her horn glowed, giving the pony a nudge on the shoulder with her magic. The pegasus mumbled something about 'five more minutes', rolling over to see the princess with a sleepy gaze. He blinked for a moment, rubbing his eyes, before they widened in realization; he then rolled to his hooves with startling haste, giving Chrys an unexpected bow.

Getting a proper look at him, she now saw that he was younger than she thought. He wasn't old, but he wasn't a colt either. She couldn't quite place a pony's age between those obvious tiers, but she could at least guess that he was older than her age combined with Bulwark's.

“If it isn't the young princess from yesterday,” he said with a wide grin, “I didn't even hope to us having a conversation!” he added excitedly, making Chrys blink.

“Huh? You wanted to talk to me? Why?” she asked, frowning in suspicion.

“You're a changeling princess!” he let out energetically, “There's only one of you in all the world! And you've come to me for answers,” he added as he adopted the brightest grin she's ever seen a pony give her, making it clear to her what Lores meant by 'odd'. The pegasus then blinked, before adopting a composed look, coughing into his hoof. “How can I be of aid, young princess?”

“Uh, right,” Chrys replied, shaking her head in an attempt to rid herself of her bafflement, “There was an old stallion that thanked me yesterday, for pretending to be his grandfilly. Do you know why?” she asked, and he contemplated it for several moments before nodding to himself.

“Well, he probably assumed you were another pony pretending to be his family member, and was grateful. He probably didn't get to see his grandfilly often, but that's just a guess on my part.”

“You're saying that if he knew I was a changeling, things would have been different?”

“Maaybee,” he replied with a sheepish shrug, “Honestly, I shouldn't speak for the old fellow. I can't claim to know what he was thinking. I'm an rare species expert, not a pony expert,” he said with a proud expression. “What do you suppose, princess?” he asked, and Chrys raised an eyebrow at him as she contemplated his reply.

“I … don't think it would've made a difference, if he knew I was a changeling,” she replied, speaking only on a hunch.

“Well, from the sounds of it, I think he appreciated the fact that you stood in for his grandfilly, right?” he asked, getting a small nod from Chrys, “But you're not satisfied?”

“No,” she said, getting impatient with his questions.

“Your Highness,” Bulwark interjected, “Perhaps it would help if you gave some details?” he suggested, getting a conflicting look from Chrys, before looking back to the pegasus.

“Knowing more would help,” he admitted with a nod. Chrys considered doing that much for several moments, before nodding to herself. Her chest then tightened slightly as she recalled her time with the stallion, but she ignored the ache.

“He was very old. He liked to collect seashells and loved the ocean breeze. Moving wasn't easy for him, but he liked to tell stories. And ... thanking me were his last words,” she replied as she adopted a distant look. It took a moment for those words to register to the pegasus, who glanced to the side for a moment as he adopted a somber expression, lost in thought.

“Princess, are you sure you're asking the right question?” he asked, making Chrys adopt an annoyed look at the insulting implication. She then blinked as she considered his words, before her eyes slowly widened.

I just wanna thank you, for lettin' me spend time with her, even if was just a dream.

He was grateful that she had filled a hole in his heart. She knew this, yet, the entire thing still gnawed at her. He had passed away, thanking her, and it hurt. Just as then, her chest was hurting, and her eyes stung. She looked to the pegasus with a troubled look in her eyes. She had been asking the wrong question.

“Why- Why does his death bother me?” she said out loud, recalling the confusion her clutchlings shared at her sadness. “He was just a pony. All he did was thank me.” She then recalled how his love tasted, “And-” Her brow furrowed as she eyed the ground, the ache in her chest starting to become too much for her as she came to understand what had been eating at her since yesterday. “And, he's gone.” Her eyes started to water as she looked to the pony, then to Bulwark, “I'll never get to hear his stories again, or walk together on the beach, or ... or...”

“H-Highness?” Bulwark asked in alarm, seeing her on the verge of tears as she looked into his eyes. His brow then furrowed slightly as he moved around her, placing himself between her and the pony, before kneeling to her side. He gave the pony a warning look, who seemed to pick up on the unspoken message as he looked away from the guardian. Chrys looked to Bulwark for a moment longer, before hanging her head, leaning against his foreleg, as she started crying.

“Why?” she asked between small sobs, “He was just a pony- But, I feel like I've lost a clutchling,” she painfully whispered. Bulwark hesitated for a moment, before carefully giving her a small hug.

“You liked him, Your Highness,” he said as she grabbed his protective hoof, “So it's okay to be sad.”

“It- It is?”

“Yes,” he said softly, his words offering her strength, her shoulders shaking slightly as she let go of the frustration and confusion she'd felt since yesterday. She stayed in his embrace for a minute as she vented her emotions, neither of them bothered as Lores and the pony both kept to themselves, daring only to give the princess concerned looks.

Eventually, the ache started to ebb away, and her tears died down. She took refuge in his hold for a moment longer, before giving his hoof a small push, ending the embrace as he let go of her. Slowly stepping back, she rubbed her eyes as she looked to him. She then glanced to the side for a moment, before adopting a determined look in her eyes.

“I cared for a pony...” she said, before looking to her guardian. “Bulwark, I want to know his name,” she said, before eyeing the ground, “It feels wrong, not knowing that much.”

“I understand, Your Highness. I'll help the best I can.”

“Thanks, Bulwark,” she said with a small smile. A moment of silence then fell over them, before her brow furrowed in annoyance, “And, it's Chrysalis.”

“Of course, Your Highness,” he replied, mirroring her smile. She rubbed her eyes again, feeling as if the weight on her chest had gotten a little lighter.

“...I think I can understand now why mom didn't want me feeding directly from the cocoons,” she said as she walked around him.

“She didn't want you getting attached?” he asked, getting a nod from her as she eyed the pony.

“Look, pegasus. Thanks, for the help, I guess,” she murmured, getting a bright smile from him.

“Think nothing of it, princess!” He then scooted closer to the bars, an excited look on his face, “Since I helped you find your answer, sort of, may I ask you a few questions about changelings?” he asked, prompting Chrys to look at him for a moment in disbelief, before letting out a tired sigh.

“What do you want to know?” she asked in an off-put tone.

“Lores told me a lot about your race. Like, how you can only make nectar from pony love, the different kinds of changelings, and your shapeshifting limitations. Are you bound by those same rules?”

“Rules?” She asked as she raised an eyebrow, “You mean the weight and gender thing?”

“That's right!” He let out, before adopting a sagely pose, “As it goes, when you shapeshift, your gender and weight remains constant. This means you can't shift into the opposite sex, and the size of your new form is limited by your base weight,” he said with a nod, “So, are you?”

“Yes, I am. Because of the weight limit, it's bad to shapeshift into anything bigger or smaller than our true forms. Royal guards are too big to shapeshift into ponies, shrinking down makes it harder to move, and they can get sick from ... what was it? Irregular blood flow?" she asked no one in particular, before shaking her head. "At least, that's what mother- the queen told me. Haven't tried it myself. I don't like being sick.” She then rubbed her chin for a moment, “Not too sure why our gender is limited. The queen said she'd tell me when I'm older.”

“I- I see.”

“Another thing that separates me from drones, is that I can wield spellcrafting magic,” she added as her horn glowed, levitating several pebbles in front of her as she adopted a proud grin. Her grin widened slightly when the pony clapped his hooves together.

"Impressive, princess! Lores told me that beyond the common changeling spells used to make cocoons, nectar, shapeshifting and so on, that magic is different for royal guards and yourself. Can you elaborate on that for me?” he asked as he put his hooves together in a pleading gesture, making Chrys take a step back in surprise.

“F-Fine, but then you're done with questions,” she said with a hard nod, getting an agreeing nod from the pegasus, “Earth ponies have magic that makes them tougher, and lets them do weird things to the soil. Pegasi can stand on the clouds and control the weather. Unicorns can use spellcrafting magic like I can. A drone can't mimic these kinds of magic. A royal guard can mimic the magical qualities of a race, such as the earth ponies and pegasi, but they can't wield spellcrafting magic.”

“Amazing!”

“My turn,” Chrys began as she raised an eyebrow to him, “Are you not right in the head? Pretty sure other ponies wouldn't be as … happy, if they were in your position.”

“Well, I guess I am an odd one, as ponies go,” he said with a sheepish grin, “You see, I love observing rare creatures!” He then puffed his chest out as he gave her a fierce grin, “Have you ever met a pony that's snuck into a chimera's lair? Well, you have now!” He then nodded to himself, “As a professional, I recommend against doing such a thing. They don't like it, and have a mean bite.” He then gave Chrys another smile, “And thanks to my 'captivity', I'm easily the most knowledgeable in the field of changelings; as a pony anyway,” he added as he noticed Lores raising an eyebrow at him.

“Does that have to do with why you're a dud?” Chrys asked.

“I suppose. I've never been too interested in ponies, and I never found one that matched my interests. I also travel a lot,” he added as he gave his wings a small flap, “It was just my good fortune that I was in Neighgarou when it was overrun with changelings!”

“...And you don't want to leave and continue looking at other rare things?” He actually paused to consider that one.

“No, not really. This is a pivotal time for your hive. I want to see how it plays out. That, and I enjoy helping rare creatures such as yourself.”

“'Creature'?” Chrys replied as she glared at him.

“Oops. Sorry, habit,” he replied as he blushed, “Still, it's more polite than what other ponies would call you,” he said with a nod, making her raise an eyebrow at him.

“And that would be?” she asked, making him hesitate as he adopted a sour look.

“A monster.”

“A monster?” she asked incredulously.

“I know, right?” he replied, frowning, “I mean, that's just rude! Sure, you can shapeshift, and yes, I suppose you lock us in cocoons and keep us in a dream state so you can feed off our love, but that's no reason for such a harsh label!”

“Calling us monsters,” Chrysalis replied as she glared at nothing in particular, a tingle running down her spine as she looked at the pegasus. “It's ponies that are the monsters. Earth ponies are twice as strong as our soldiers, pegasi can fly faster, and control the weather, and all unicorns can use spellcrafting magic! You can choose from a large palette of foods to rely on. You can stand in the cold like it's nothing. You're active all year round. There are a whole lot of you, and you frolic in the sun as if you owned it; and you'd call us monsters!?”

“No, I wouldn't,” he quickly replied, putting his hooves up defensively, “But they would.” He then coughed into his hoof, “Oh, and we kind of do own the sun,” he admitted sheepishly, making Chrys blink, her mouth hanging open for a moment in astonishment.

“How arrogant are you ponies!?”

“Hey now, it's the honest truth!” he replied as he took a step back, “Princess Luna raises the sun and moon every single day. It's what she does.” He then blink as he quickly added: “As well as look over our dreams.”

“Raising the sun and moon? That's just a silly pony belief,” Chrys replied dismissively.

“Yeah, I was skeptical once. But if there's one thing just as rare as you in all of Equestria, it would be Princess Luna.” He then leaned closer to Chrys, “When I was still a colt, I went out of my way, flew halfway across the country, to see her raise the sun on the Summer Sun Celebration in Canter Town.” He then gave Chrys a very determined look, “Trust me on this, Your Highness, I saw her raise the sun. Her power is genuine.”

“Says you,” Chrys said with a nod, before turning her back on the pegasus. “Come on Bulwark, let's return to the cocoons, I'm done letting this feather-brain waste my time.”

“...But, I'm not lying,” the pegasus murmured in a sad tone, getting a side glance from Chrys. She briefly reflected on their exchange, before letting out a small sigh.

“What's your name?”

“Princess?” the pegasus asked in surprise.

“In case I need to curse your existence,” she quickly added as she avoided eye contact with him.

“Dud,” he responded, getting an exasperated look from Chrys.

“That's not your real name, that's what you are!” she said in annoyance.

“I like it more than my real name. And, it was given to me by changelings,” he said with a smile, before letting out a small sigh, “Real name's Grumpy, Grumpy Gust,” he admitted, making Chrys raise another eyebrow at him.

“You don't really seem all that grumpy.”

“Right? I'm not even all that gusty!” he let out as his brow furrowed, “I tell you what, my parents were the worst. I'd like it if you called me Dud instead.”

“That name's not much better,” Chrys muttered, not caring if the pony heard her or not, as she left Dud to talk to Lores. “Lores, how much magic would it take to raise the sun?” she asked, catching the drone off guard as she looked up from her work.

“Uh, I'm not sure, Your Highness. The queen and yourself are the only ones that can answer that question,” Lores said, making Chrys think on it for a moment before looking to Bulwark.

“We're heading home,” She stated, getting a confused look from Bulwark.

“I thought you wanted to go back to the cocoons.”

“I did, but, Bulwark, what if he's right? If the Moon Princess can raise the sun and moon... Just how is mother supposed to fight against somepony that powerful?" Chrysalis then adopted a determined look, "She needs to know, we need to make sure if it's true or not, before we try fighting this 'Luna',” she explained, making Bulwark's brow furrow.

“Mantis isn't going to like this,” he pointed out, making Chrys hesitate for a moment.

“Even he'd be worried about mother's safety,” she replied as they quickly made their way to the queen's chambers.

Author's Notes:

"We kind of do own the sun! Really, we do! We even have an alicorn princess that's renting it on a 1000 year lease!" Dud let out.
"Yeah, right." Chrys replied in an unamused tone.

---

Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and the introduction of a new character. Thanks as always for read!

5. Family Time

“You sure you want to do this?” Bulwark asked in concern as they made their way to the Royal Halls, making Chrys hesitate for a moment. “Bringing this up could lead to delaying the attack on Canter Town.”

“I know,” Chrys said, a determined look in her eyes, “Which will tick off Mantis. But, what am I supposed to do? Just stay put and not tell her!?” she asked, scoffing, “Above all things, her safety is the hive's number one concern. Mantis will listen. He won't like it, but he'll listen. And if he's got a problem, that's what you're here for. Right?” she asked with a sharp grin, getting a solid nod from Bulwark.

“Of course,” he replied, a fiery look in his eyes.

Reaching the Royal Halls, they were informed by the guards that Mantis and Amber were in a meeting. Chrys hesitated on hearing this, frowning at nothing in particular as they made their way to the war room unimpeded. When they arrived, she peeked inside, seeing Mantis and Amber talking about their recent success over capturing Thundercloud.

The room itself had a number of maps on the wall, most of them being tunnel maps. The Queen and her general were standing around a large stone table that had a sprawling map covering it. Chrys noticed that Bastion and Aegis were standing at the queen's side, but Sledge was nowhere to be seen.

“Highness?” Bulwark asked in a quiet, curious tone. Chrysalis ignored him as she eyed Mantis, yesterday's events briefly playing through her head, before she took a step forward. Mantis and Amber paused when they noticed her enter, getting a frown from Mantis, while a surprised looked from the Queen.

“I need to talk to Her Highness,” Chrys said as she ignored the looks she was given, walking up to the table they were overlooking.

“We're busy Chrys, can it wait till later?” Amber asked in a warm, but impatient tone.

“No, it's important,” Chrys replied adamantly, getting a raised eyebrow from Mantis.

“No?” he scoffed, “You think it's more important than our coming invasion of Canter Town?” he asked in a condescending tone.

“Yes, it is,” Chrys replied, prompting Mantis and Amber to exchange looks, “It's about the Moon Princess,” she added, making Mantis raise an eyebrow towards her.

“And what can you possibly know about her that we don't?”

“Silence, Mantis,” Amber stated coldly, getting a small bow from the General, before giving Chrys a subtle glare. “What's on your mind, Chrys?”

“I talked to several ponies in the feeding room about her," she lied, believing that to have more credibility than admitting that a crazy pony told her about the princess, "They all believe that the Moon Princess can raise and lower the sun.”

“We know of this already,” Amber replied, “It's just pony superstition,” she assured, making Chrys shake her head.

“How do we know that? What if it's true?” she asked, making the Queen look to Mantis.

“Ghost confirmed it,” he stated, “He's been in Canter Town for years observing her. By his words, it's nothing more than a well timed light-show,” he explained, getting a hard glare from Chrys.

“But how does he know!? He's just a drone! He can't use magic like myself or mother!” She blinked, “I mean, Her Highness,” she added, hiding her embarrassment to spare Mantis the satisfaction. Amber rubbed her chin as she appraised her daughter, before nodding.

“She does have a point," Amber said as she looked to the general, "Mantis, can we direct Ghost to do a more thorough investigation?” she asked, making Mantis' mood lighten slightly as he briefly considered it.

“It's not too late to send word to him. He can investigate during the winter, but we won't get the answer till we've opened up the tunnels again.” His brow furrowed as he looked to Amber, “We won't get his report until we're about to set out.”

“If that's the case, perhaps it would be best to postpone the attack,” Amber stated, making Chrys feel an unexpected chill run up her spine. She looked to Mantis, who was giving her a cold look, before he turned to the Queen.

“That's something we mustn't do, Your Highness,” he said, and Amber looked to him for a moment, her brow furrowed in thought.

“Why?” Chrys asked as she took a step forward, getting a surprised look from Mantis and Amber. “Why can't we put it off for a month? If the ponies are right, Her Highness would be in danger!”

“...My Queen, may I enlighten your daughter on the importance of this attack?” he asked, surprising Chrys with his question as Amber looked to him for several moments, before nodding her head.

“Please do,” she replied, making Mantis smile briefly, before he washed his face free of emotion. He then adopted a professional stance as he looked to Chrysalis.

“Princess, we've taken Tampa Neigh, Iron Trot, Neighgarou, and just this week, Thundercloud. We've kept their suspicion away from The Badlands, but thanks to our recent attack, that's not going to last much longer,” He explained as he tapped the table with his hoof, motioning for her to look.

“I'm not a hatchling, Mantis. I know all this already!” Chrys replied in an annoyed tone.

“Knowing the outline doesn't let you see the whole picture!” he quickly replied, “You wanted in on this meeting, so you can enjoy learning what's needed to be a part of it,” he said resolutely, making Chrys frown as she eyed the table, which was taller than she was.

Reluctantly hopping onto Bulwark's back, she got a better view of the large map; a map that showed most of the continent. There were several markings on it, written in words most changelings wouldn't understand, but Chrys did; words written in the pony language. The map also had border lines, indicating the influence of pony magic on the land, and how its reach waned with the loss of those towns.

Mantis hovered to the east side of the map, indicating a marked spot on the east coast. “Tampa Neigh was our first ploy, where we dug a number of large tunnels under the town. It took three years to make those tunnels, and as they were made, my soldiers infiltrated the population. When everything was in place, we captured the ponies, called back most of our infiltrators, and collapsed those tunnels. Tampa Neigh was swallowed by the sea, and our infiltrators traveled to Iron Trot, spreading the word of the terrible disaster, being the 'sole survivors' of the town.”

Her eyes hovered over the eastern coast for a brief moment as Mantis moved along. Tampa Neigh was the home of the old stallion. It had been a small town, whose population was now mixed with all the other ponies in the feeding room. Seeing that town on the map made her chest ache slightly, but she pushed that feeling aside; Mantis was continuing on, and she didn't want to fall behind.

His hoof hovered over Iron Trot, a mining settlement that was close to The Badlands. Its location lined up perfectly between Canter Town to the north, and their hive in the south. “Three years later, we successfully repeated this strategy with Iron Trot, collapsing the mines that weaved through the area, claiming its population for our needs.”

Chrys could still remember the excitement following their success at Iron Trot. Any doubt to the risk behind Mantis' ploys were swept away with that victory. And shortly after his return, one by one, she'd had to remove the shells of her other clutchlings from her egg, leaving just Momo and Darrin.

Mantis then looked to Chrys with a raised eyebrow. “Naturally, losing two whole towns so close to each other was bound to raise suspicion, so we held off on the next target for a while.”

He then indicated the doomed town, Neighgarou, further north, which rested close to a large mountain on the western side of Equestria. “This time, we left no spies to tell the tale. We took the population overnight, added some features to shift the blame, then razed the entire town." He then pointed to the mountain overshadowing the town, "The general assumption the ponies agreed on was that a dragon attacked Neighgarou, as there was one sleeping in the mountain at the time.” He then adopted a rather proud grin, “We made that dragon our scapegoat,” he emphasized, making Chrys wonder if that dragon had anything to do with Dud's presence in the village. As Mantis indicated the pegasus settlement of Thundercloud, Chrys' brow furrowed.

“Why are all the targets southern towns?” She asked, “Isn't that stupid? Wouldn't that make it a bit obvious that something from The Badlands was causing this?” She asked, getting an impressed look from Mantis.

“Huh, I can't believe you noticed that. Yes, it is obvious, and I'm getting to that, Princess.” He replied as he looked back to the map. “Tampa Neigh, Iron Trot and Neighgarou were operations to secure resources. Because of those victories, the hive is the largest it has ever been.” He said with a proud smile. “Our attack on Thundercloud wasn't to secure resources. Which is good, as we only captured less than half of the population; what we really gained from it, was confidence.”

“Confidence?” Chrys asked in confusion, getting a smug smile from Mantis as he continued.

“The attack on Thundercloud served several purposes. Being a pegasus town, it was stationed on a cloud in the sky, making it mobile to the inhabitant's whims. This made it a perfect staging platform for any offense into The Badlands, so it needed to be removed. Doing so would also impact the weather in Equestria's southern region, dissuading any of its forces from crossing during the winter.” He explained as he looked to Chrys, raising an eyebrow, “The operation was also staged, to see how well we fared at an open assault against pegasi. See, we have a tactical advantage against earth ponies and unicorns, since we can fly. Pegasi can negate that advantage, so our mettle needed to be tested against the fliers.”

He then placed his hoof over the marker for Thundercloud, grinding it underhoof with a smile. “The outcome, was as expected. Only trained pegasi were a threat to our troops, and most of them were captured before the attack began, under cover of night.” He explained, making Chrys' head spin a little at all the information he was feeding her. She hadn't realized what amount of effort went into the victories her life revolved around, and thanks to his droning on, she was indeed starting to understand.

“And ultimately, Thundercloud was bait. We took it with force, disguised as ponies. Those that got away will carry word of pegasi from The Badlands attacking and destroying Thundercloud,” he said with a small nod, “And over the winter, the Moon Princess is going to strengthen the southern areas, and try and locate these ‘pegasi’,” he said with a small smile, “Leaving Canter Town exposed,” he finished as he lightly tapped the marked town to the north.

“So, all of this,” Chrys said as she indicated the whole map, “was so we can attack Canter Town while it's exposed?” she asked, getting a nod from Mantis and Amber. She looked from them to the map, having no words to offer. She was impressed, and she didn't want to admit it; not to Mantis, and not to herself.

“We need to capture the Moon Princess,” he emphasized, “Ghost believes that she loves all of her subjects. She is their greatest asset, their ruler, and with that much love, there's no telling how much nectar we can gain from her," he said as he leaned on the table towards Chrys, "Though we've made it appear as nature at fault, it likely won't take long for her to connect the fallen towns to what happened at Thundercloud.” His brow then furrowed as he looked Chrys in the eyes. “We need to capture her, before they discover what we really are. I have no doubt, even if we do nothing, that Equestria will learn of our existence before the end of next year.” Chrys eyed him for a moment longer, before glancing to the side.

“Okay. I get it, we need to attack Canter Town as soon as we can,” she reluctantly admitted, “But, if she's strong enough to raise and lower the sun and moon, then when the queen fights her, she could lose,” she said with a concerned look in her eyes. “We should wait, and learn more,” she added, blinking in surprise as Mantis gave her a caustic glare.

“Chrys,” Amber began, giving the princess a steady look, “it's a risk we need to take.”

“And, if the princess was that strong, then what?” Mantis asked cold tone, “We seal our tunnels? Hide away with what we have and count ourselves lucky!?” He then shook his head, “We've done that for far too long; it got us nothing but hunger and fear,” he said, a hint of shame flashing in Amber's eyes as Mantis swept a hoof over the map. “Thanks to my risks, that era is behind us!”

“Your risks? Don't you mean the hive's risks?” Chrys asked as she gave him a glare.

“Then were my risks, my plans, my coordination, you little-”

“Mantis,” Amber interrupted, giving him a cold glare, “remember your place.” The drone glanced to the side, taking in several deep breaths.

“My apologies, Your Highness,” he said with a small bow, getting a smug smile from Chrys.

“Look,” Amber continued, “instead of postponing the attack, we should think of a way to better secure our victory,” she said, making Mantis blink, before giving her an agreeing nod.

“Yes, of course! I'll get on it immediately,” he replied, giving Chrys a sly smile of his own as he did.

“But Your Highness—” Chrys began as she stepped forward.

“That's enough, Chrys,” Amber said sternly, “If the Moon Princess can actually raise and lower the sun, then what does that mean? I've never tried such a task, there's undoubtedly a complex spell behind it. Maybe it's easier to do then we think. Either way, Mantis is right. I've abandoned laying a clutch this year for this plan, something I haven't had to do in decades. We're committed to this attack.”

“If you lose—”

“I won't,” she said confidently, before giving Chrys a reassuring smile, “Don't worry, dear. If the worst does happen, and it won't, the hive will still have you,” she assured, making Chrys' frown as she stomped her hoof, on Bulwark's back no less.

“I don't want to be your backup plan!” she declared, getting a surprised, and almost pained look from Amber.

“There are a lot of things in life we don't want,” Mantis began, “But, if you don't want that, it can surely be arranged,” he said with a subtle grin, making Chrys take a small step back in surprise.

“Mantis, was that a threat?” Amber asked coldly, prompting the general to shake his head.

“Of course not, Your Highness, I was simply referring to securing our victory. In fact, I already have some ideas in mind if you're interested.”

“...In a moment.” Amber replied as she looked to Chrys, “Anything else you'd like to add?” she asked, making Chrys look between them, glaring at no one in particular as she shook her head, making Amber turn to Mantis. “Capturing the Moon Princess would be the best outcome, so make sure Ghost looks into this matter more thoroughly. We can go over better securing our victory over the next few months.” She then looked between Chrys and Mantis, before giving him a dismissive gesture, “We're done here,” she said firmly, getting a bow from Mantis before he made to leave, pausing a moment as he passed Bulwark and Chrys.

Mantis' eyes met hers, and for a moment, she was struck with a strong desire to step back; she felt as if he was about to attack her. But the moment quickly passed, and he continued on, Bulwark's eyes glued to him as he left the room.

“Mother—”

“That's enough, Chrys. I'm happy that you're worried, but we've got to take risks if we want to have a brighter future. Understand?” she asked, making Chrys shake her head as she hopped off Bulwark's back, walking over the table towards the Queen.

“No. I don't understand,” she firmly replied, “How are we supposed to have a 'brighter future' if you fall in battle!?” she asked, getting a painful sigh from Amber.

“Look dear, before you were born, before I gave Mantis his title, times were rough. There was barely any nectar for the hive, and if something happened to one of the ponies we fed from, it was a big hit to all of us. Mantis, he took a risk, and thanks to that, we have the hive as it is now,” she said as she adopted a warm smile, “Now, the tunnels are bustling with activity, and there's hope for an even more plentiful tomorrow,” she added as she got closer to her daughter, “And, because of that risk, I also have you,” she said as she placed a hoof on Chrys' cheek. “Don't worry dear. We'll win. Just wait and see,” she assured, making Chrys glance away for a moment, before looking to Amber.

“...I want to help,” she murmured, getting a proud smile from the queen.

“You have no idea how happy that makes me. Still, I'd rather you didn't. You're just as important to me as I am to you,” she added, making Chrys blush as she glanced to the side. “So, do you understand?" she asked again, getting a small nod from Chrys.

"Doesn't mean I have to like it," she muttered under her breath, getting a small laugh from Amber.

"That's fine, I'd be concerned if you did," the queen stated with a nod. "...Now, I believe you mentioned talking to ponies earlier?” Amber asked as she raised an eyebrow.

“I-” Chrys began wide-eyed, “I may have been in the feeding room again,” she admitted, making Amber place a hoof on her head, as if trying to stave off a headache.

“Chrys, you need to stop feeding from the cocoons.”

“Why?” Chrys asked as her brow furrowed.

“Because ponies can talk and have feelings too,” Amber replied heatedly, “If you got too attached to any of them, it would cloud your decisions. You may even end up putting a pony's life ahead of a changeling's!” Her gaze then softened as she looked Chrys in the eyes, “Ponies are not pets, or 'friends', dear. They're food. I need to know you understand that,” she finished, looking to her daughter in expectation.

However, Chrys couldn't nod. She felt as if she would be betraying someone if she did. Her mother, the old stallion, herself? She wasn't sure who, but she didn't want to make that betrayal, so Amber got no reply from her daughter, no assurances that she wouldn't become attached. The silence between them troubled the queen, making her frown as she took a step back, a troubled look on her face. The continued silence prompted a confused look from Bulwark, who eyed his charge, before subtly nodding to himself in understanding. Amber however, didn't understand, and it drove her to action, making her turn to one of her guards.

“Aegis, deliver a message to Mantis for me. I want guards posted at the feeding chambers, Chrysalis isn't allowed inside.”

“W-What!?” Chrys asked in surprise, getting a determined look from her mother.

“No more talking to ponies, Chrys. If you want a taste, you'll have to wait till you've shown me you understand the importance of how we treat our food. Food is food. Seeing it as anything else, is dangerous,” she stated, before making a dismissive gesture, “We're done here,” she declared, and seeing Chrys about to object, “Chrys, that's enough,” she warned, making Chrys' heart sink as she closed her mouth, looking away as she felt her eyes start to itch.

Seeing that sad face, Amber hesitated for a moment, before steeling herself, and turned around, leaving Chrys and Bulwark to themselves as she left the war room. Chrys wanted to make her reconsider, but she couldn't muster the words. Amber was right. Food was food, and seeing it as anything else was dangerous to the well being of the hive. It was a fact of life, yet, Chrys didn't like it.

“Why does it have to be that way, Bulwark?” she asked quietly, wondering if she'll ever get the chance to learn the old stallion's name.

“I'm sorry, Your Highness, that's simply the way things are,” he said, making her frown as she directed him out.

“I don't like the way things are,” she replied, words she'd only say to Bulwark, or her clutchlings. She then hopped on his back, not feeling up to walking herself. "Can you take me to the others?" she asked, noticing the disapproving look he was adopting, "I know they're busy, but I really want to talk to them right now."

"I understand, Your Highness," he replied, carrying her off as they sought out Momo and Darrin.

"General Mantis," Aegis began as he gave the drone a salute, getting a curious look in return.

"Orders from the queen?" Mantis asked, getting a nod from the royal guard.

"She wants guards stationed at the feeding chambers, the princess is to be kept out," he explained, making Mantis raise an eyebrow.

"How did that happen?" he asked, and as Aegis explained Chrys' reaction to the queen’s lecture on ponies, Mantis' face darkened. "I see. Orders received, thank you Aegis," he replied, releasing the guard, who quickly left to return to Amber's side. Mantis then continued down the hall to his room, Sledge returning and taking a step behind him as Mantis' mind reflected on what just happened.

The princess had interrupted their meeting in order to assure the queen's safety. It had been annoying, and infuriating, but her heart was in the right place. She even listened to his words. Admittedly, she had almost postponed the attack, but that was, as the ponies put it, simply water under the bridge. Or at least, it would have been.

"You foolish little hatchling," Mantis muttered, his words heard only by Sledge, "Truly, a color fit for a pony," he added, his mind weighing his options for several moments. He then stopped, and turned around, his brow furrowed, "Let's go, Sledge, there's work to do."

"Work?" Sledge asked, a little confused, "I thought we were done with all that. What're we doing?" he asked, getting a cold look from his master.

"Culling the herd."

Author's Notes:

Resting alone, on the floor of the cavern, was a shattered mug.

---

I promise that there's no more intended bulk exposition to be had for a while.
I want to add some uplifting words here, but after finishing that chapter, I can't really think of anything appropriate that wouldn't be spoilers. Sorry.
Thanks again for reading, and I hope to see you beyond the cliff's edge!
I also wanna thank OCisbestpony for help with editing.

6. Between the Hammer and Wall

Chrys sluggishly opened her eyes, seeing the mushrooms in her room being dimmer than usual. The rains were coming in two more days, and the preceding chill was now making its presence known through the caves, dimming the mushrooms and making it difficult for her to wake, depriving her of energy to even get out of bed.

With the stature of a hatchling, she was just as affected by the cold as they were; tomorrow would be colder, signaling the start of hibernation for the young. Drones, however, having larger bodies, could manage the early chill far better. Chrys wasn't a drone, or a hatchling, and she had her own means of tackling the cold. Being semiconscious, she gathered her magic, and used it to heat the stones of her bed.

She let out a pleasant sigh as she felt her body take in that heat, and after several minutes warming up, she rolled out of bed, feeling ready to tackle the day. Her brow then furrowed as she realized she'd need Bulwark to wake her tomorrow, or she'd end up beginning hibernation with the rest of the hatchlings. She wasn't a hatchling, so that wasn't going to happen.

Reaching the doorway, she paused and looked to Bulwark, standing guard as always. He noticed her, and gave her a small bow.

“Sleep well, Your Highness?”

“Yes. Not like I had a choice in the matter,” she mumbled, the events of yesterday flying through her mind; cold air made falling asleep easy for changelings.

“Staying up this season?” he asked, making her tilt her head.

“Don't know. Momo's staying up, so I might,” she admitted, leading them towards a syrupy breakfast as she did. After the so-so meal, she let out an aggravated sigh. “Why'd she have to be so busy? I didn't even get to see her last night!” she stated to no one in particular, “I had to settle for Darrin instead,” she added in aggravation, his condescension playing through her head as Bulwark looked to her.

“It’s troubling,” Bulwark said, getting a curious look from his charge. “Aegis told me that Darrin's been reassigned,” he explained, “He's to guard the feeding chambers. The inside,” he emphasized, making her hooves tremble in anger.

“Of course he is. I'm sure Mantis gave the order personally!” she let out, reconsidering sleeping through the monsoon, just to pass the time till the hive was rid of him. The picture of the general being gone played through her mind, slowly diffusing her temper. She then let out a halfhearted sigh, “Momo, she's helping Lores today, right?” she asked as she looked to Bulwark, who gave a small nod. “To Lores' then.”

“They'll be busy.”

“Then we can help,” Chrys said in a considering tone, “At least, having you help should speed things up, right?”

“Right,” Bulwark affirmed, following behind Chrys as they left the Royal Halls behind them.

Traversing through the tunnels, they found it far less busy than the previous days. Many members of the hive were still rousing themselves to tackle the final two days before hibernation. The drones they did encounter were a little surprised to find her awake ahead of them, a fact that brought a small smile to the princess. Her smile then faded when she recalled something on a related matter.

“Bulwark … would you mind waking me tomorrow?” she asked as she glanced to the side.

“Of course, Your Highness,” he replied, as they reached Lores' room. Chrys was about to comment on him calling her by her name, but she paused when she noticed something missing from the room.

“Momo's not here?” Chrys asked in surprised, seeing Lores sitting impatiently next to several barrels of treated nectar, ready to last through hibernation for the small number that would remain awake to look after the hive. Chrys also noticed that Dud was sleeping in his cage; she then looked away from him in annoyance, seeing Lores shake her head.

“She's supposed to be helping me get these out of here,” she explained as she indicated the barrels, “What's up with her? It's not like her to be late,” she added, letting out a sigh, “Still, if you're looking for her, she should be here shortly.”

“Then we'll wait,” Chrys replied as she entered the room, Bulwark a step behind her, “Is this for the Sleep Watch?” she asked as she tapped one of the barrels, getting a nod from Lores. “...And what about him?” she asked, sounding disinterested as she pointed towards the caged pony.

“I'll be placing him in a cocoon tomorrow, there's still some things I want to ask him,” Lores said as she eyed the doorway in anticipation. “Did you have more questions for him?”

“No,” Chrys quickly replied, “He has nothing else I need; he's just a pony,” she added as she glanced to the side, her mother's words playing in her head. She then noticed that Lores looked like she wanted to reply to that, but thought better of it. “What? What were you going to say?” Chrys asked curiously, making Lores hesitate for a moment.

“I wouldn't discard him so quickly, Your Highness. It's true, he's a dud. There's no way for us to get nectar from him. But he has knowledge, and conversing with him isn't … unpleasant,” she admitted, making Chrys raise an eyebrow at her.

“Getting attached to ponies is dangerous,” she stated simply, getting a nod from Lores.

“I am well aware,” she said as she adopted a regretful look, “I've told him too much about changelings in the time he's been here. A small part of me worries that everything he's done around me is an act. That when the opportunity presents itself, he'll break out and take everything he's learned to Equestria,” she then slumped down as she let out a long sigh, “That old stallion, you enjoyed being with him, right?” she asked, surprising Chrys, who adopted a flustered expression.

“I-I guess,” she stuttered out as she looked to the side, getting a small smile from Lores.

“You're right, Highness. Getting attached to ponies is dangerous. I often find myself wishing our diet wasn't solely reliant on them,” she then let out another sigh as she glanced to the stone cage, “But, that's not how things are. We need nectar to feed ourselves, and our young. I have to tell myself that daily,” she said as she looked to Chrys, “It helps me remember what's important,” she added, getting a nod from Chrys.

“The hive is more important. We need them to live.” Her brow then furrowed as she looked to Dud, sleeping obliviously, “That's just the way things are,” she stated, not liking the sound of it.

“Highness,” Bulwark stated in alarm, making Chrys' eyes follow his gaze, seeing something else she didn't like. Mantis stood in the doorway, Sledge standing behind him. The general had a cool collected look about him, as his eyes met Chrys's.

“Ah, Her Highness is here too, this is convenient,” he said as Sledge entered the room after him, “Would either of you know the whereabouts to a young drone you're both familiar with, Momo?” he asked, making Chrys blink as she turn towards him.

“Whereabouts? What's happened to Momo?” she asked wide-eyed as Mantis raised an eyebrow at her.

“That's what I'm here to find out. My soldiers reported that she was last seen with you. Do you know where she is, or where she's gone?”

“Seen with her!? I haven't been with her in two days!” Chrys replied, glaring at him, “What's happened, is she missing? Who said I was with her last!?”

“By all accounts, she's missing. No one in the hive has seen her since last night,” he stated matter-of-factly, making Chrys' mouth hang open for a second, before she glanced to the floor, her mind racing at this information. “What about you, Lores?”

“I can't say, Mantis,” she replied in a worried tone, “I was expecting her this morning...”

“I see. Well, if neither of you know, then I guess that's that,” Mantis said dismissively, turning towards the exit. “Hopefully she didn't get caught up in something started by someone else,” he added, his words striking Chrys, making her heart skip a beat. She looked to him, her confusion and worry shattering when she caught a look in his eyes; they were smiling. She had no doubts as to whom had been the last to see Momo. In that moment, her emotions found direction, bringing a dangerous calm over her as she stepped forward.

“Mantis, what did you do to her?” Chrysalis asked in a quiet tone, her shoulders trembling as she eyed the ground. Mantis paused, his eyes aglow with that smile, as he gave her a speculating look.

“Whatever do you mean, Princess?”

“What did you do to her!?” she asked as she slammed a hoof down, her horn flaring in preparation as she took another step forward. Her gaze met his, his amber smile basking in her teal rage without a care.

“Now Princess, it's not wise to throw accusations like that around—”

“Bulwark,” Chrys interrupted as she glanced to her looming shadow, seeing a fire in his eyes that matched her own. “I can't stand him anymore,” she said coldly, making Mantis take a guarded step back as a tempered calm fell over him. Sledge stepped forward, an open smile of anticipation on his face as Bulwark moved in front of Chrys.

“Just say the word,” Bulwark let out in a low voice, so quiet that she almost missed it.

“Mantis, you will tell me what you've done with my clutchling,” Chrys said, making the general raise an eyebrow at her.

“You're seeking to cast the blame of her disappearance on me? How childish-” he was cut off when Sledge pushed him to the side, his large hoof lashing out and intercepting a barrel of nectar Chrys had hurled at Mantis. The barrel exploded from the impact, spraying nectar and wood fragments over Sledge, as well as the entrance of the chamber. He stood there for a moment, shaking his hoof slightly to toss off nectar, as if he hadn't even felt the attack. The four of them eyed each other for a moment longer, before Mantis let out a small sigh.

“Sledge, keep away from the princess, and keep her puppet away from me,” he ordered as he started to circle around the messy floor, his eyes on Chrys, her eyes on his.

“Bulwark, be careful,” Chrys said, not hearing a response from him, but feeling as if he nodded to her words all the same.

She eyed Mantis down for a moment longer, her heartbeat ringing in her ears. The image of the broken statue in her room briefly came to mind. Tapping the ground twice, her wings buzzing, she charged Mantis, feeling the ground shake behind her as she did. Barely aware of the thought, her horn glowed as she ran, grabbing wooden fragments with her magic. She crossed the distance between them in a breath's span, bringing her armada to bear as she lunged at him.

He effortlessly blocked her strike, fueling her rage as he rolled away and dodged the flying debris, seeming more concerned with that than her. Swipes, stomps, leaps, bucks, he took many hits in stride as his eyes followed her magic; in the several seconds she went at him uninterrupted, he had smashed her wooden weaponry, or knocked them from her grasp. Twice she tried to slow him down by grabbing him with her magic, but she found it difficult to focus while attacking magically and physically, making it easy for him to force his way out of her clutches.

As they weaved around the room, their spat was overshadowed by loud booms from the other combatants. The ground shook. The walls reverberated. Dust fell from the ceiling with each impact. It was simply noise to Chrys. Her eyes were only on Mantis; she had faith in Bulwark. Mantis jumped back again, but before Chrys could pursue him, Lores got in the void between, bringing their melee to an unexpected halt.

“Stop, both of you! Nothing good will come of—” she began, being cut off when Chrys shoved her to the side with her magic, to the drone's dismay.

“Stay out of this!” Mantis and Chrys said in unison, making the drone look at them wide-eyed, before taking to the air. Her ears fell as the two combatants continued their fight, all while destroying her cavern in the process.

Chrys' anger was starting to be fueled by frustration. All Mantis did was dodge, take hits too weak to harm him, and smile at her. He never once tried to counterattack. Her breathing and heart rate were elevated, but she was far from feeling fatigued. Yet, for some reason, she had a sense of foreboding, as if he was somehow winning this fight without having to raise a hoof against her.

There was a loud crash behind her, giving her reason to pause. She stood there for a moment, her eyes locked on Mantis as she tried to figure out how to wipe that smug look from his face. Seeing that attacking him with her hooves was simply a wasted effort, her horn glowed brighter as she grabbed anything loose on the cavern floor. She adopted a smile when Mantis looked past her, raising a surprised eyebrow as a large number of rocks broken from the guard's fight were now hovering in the air. She then hesitated when his smile returned. He picked up a large pebble lying next to him, before eyeing her.

“This, is all I need to win the fight,” he stated, his eyes brimming with a level of confidence that shook Chrys. She then took a step forward, hurling her stones at him as hard as she could. As she did, he casually tossed his rock in the air, before pivoting on his hoof to buck the rock with his back leg. She was momentarily caught off guard when it flew on by her, easily missing, without any effort on her part.

She then grinned as he started to get peppered by her attack. He rolled as her rocks rained on his corner of the cave, staying close to the ground, keeping his wings tucked in as he weaved and dodged. Despite his efforts, she still caught him several times, broadening her grin when she heard him curse in pain. Her grin melted when she realised she was out of stones. With the last of them cast, he stood up, rubbing debris off himself as he readopted his smile, despite being battered, to her surprise.

“Looks like you remembered what I told you: 'Eyes on your obstacle'. A shame really, you had your eyes on the wrong target,” he said as he looked past her, making Chrys' eyes widen as she felt something large fly past her, crashing into the wall to her left. Again, the room shook, leaving a small crater in the wall that sent cracks spreading out.

Her heart skipped a beat as Bulwark slumped off the wall. He was beyond battered and bruised. He rose to his hooves, holding his neck as he did, his eyes focused on Sledge, who was just as battered. Bulwark had a pained look on his face, and something about the way he cradled his neck gave her the impression that he was holding his breath. Seeing that melted away her anger for fear, her ears falling as she took a hesitant step towards him. She then felt a chill run down her spine as a shadow loomed over.

Looking back to Mantis, she saw him almost standing over her, a hoof raised in preparation. As he swung, she closed her eyes, feeling nothing for a moment as he chuckled. She then flinched when he placed his hoof under her chin, lifting her head as her eyes opened to see his own peering into her.

“And a little distraction undoes you both,” he said with a sneer, “What did you hope to gain with this mess?” he asked coyly, “Did you even consider what you could lose by attacking me? How the hive would feel about this?” he added as his eyes adopted a sinister glow, he then looked up from Chrys towards the guards, his eyes shifting towards surprise.

Chrys felt something large fly over her, and in her wound up state, she immediately fell to the floor as what flew over her crashed into Mantis. Her eyes still locked on his, she saw him disappear under Sledge, who was sailing across the room, bringing Mantis along with him as they crashed into the far wall. The impact created a plume of dust and rock, sending more cracks snapping through the wall as Mantis and his guard were swallowed by the debris.

She got on her hooves, her mouth hanging open as she looked to Bulwark, his back hooves returning to the ground as she did. He bucked Sledge; a fact that played through her head as Bulwark approached her, slowly, a small smile on his face. He tried to speak, but his attempt only brought on a fit of coughs that brought him to his knees, prompting Chrys to move to his side in alarm.

“Bulwark!?” she asked as he tried to give her a reassuring look.

“You there, stop gawking!” Lores shouted, making Chrys look from her, to the doorway, where a number of soldiers had gathered, not sure what to make of the scene they'd stumbled upon. “Get Aid and his assistants! We've got injured here!” she ordered, making the soldiers glance to each other hesitantly.

“Now!” Chrys added, making them notice her, before they all stood tall, and nodded, leaving to do just that. “Bulwark, you'll be okay, Aid's coming, alright!?” she added desperately as she looked to him. He looked to her, mouthing ‘Of course, My Highness’. Her eyes widened as he passed out before her, slumping onto the ground with a heavy thud. Her heart skipped a painful beat. “Bulwark!?” she shouted desperately as she reached out for him.

As she touched him, she felt a chill crawl down her spine. Another shadow was looming over her, this one being far bigger than the previous. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Sledge standing over her, a fierce glare aimed at Bulwark.

He then lifted a hoof, preparing to stomp. She turned to face him, placing herself between him and Bulwark, her horn glowing as she tried to push his hoof away. His glare became all the more heated as his focus shifted to Chrys, and an odd sense of certainty fell over her when his eyes met hers. He was going to attack her, and he wasn't going to hold back.

“Sledge, stop!” she heard Mantis shout, but Sledge showed no signs of hearing it, his hoof coming down, easily powering through the magical grasp trying to keep it back.

The world seemed to slow down as that hoof came. She could dodge it; she knew it, but doing so meant letting Bulwark get hit instead, so she stood still. Abandoning Bulwark wasn't an option to her, making her come to understand just how important Bulwark, Darrin and Momo were to her. She then realized, if she were crushed right now, there'd be no one to stop Sledge from finishing him off.

She wasn't going to lose Bulwark, nor her clutchlings. Not while she could still stand, not while she could still fight. Her eyes glowed as she rolled to the side, her horn flaring with strength she didn't know she had as she lifted Bulwark out of the way.

The hoof came down.

Even though it missed, she felt pain course through her body as the ground cracked and shattered under the blow, knocking her away from Bulwark as Sledge eyed her coldly. Before she could recover, she found him standing over her again. She rolled, then winced in pain as her body lurched. The tip of her tail was pinned by his other hoof. Learning this caught her off guard, as Sledge brought his other hoof up, a smile on his face as his eyes met hers.

“Sledge!!” Mantis cried out, genuine fear in his voice as he crawled from the crater he'd been planted in, trying to close the gap between him and his guard as quickly as he could. Chrys could tell it wouldn't be quick enough, her eyes seeing Lores look on in horror, as Sledge's hoof came down.

Everything seemed to slow down again. Her eyes were glued to his hoof as it started to descend. Her horn glowed, but the strength she had to save Bulwark didn't answer her call, filling her with a sense of desperation as she vainly pushed against the coming blow. Why? Why couldn’t she make it budge? Was she really that weak!? Chrys suddenly felt the weight on her tail lighten. She moved before she could fully understand this fact, rolling to the side as the hoof hit the ground. The blow wasn’t as strong as the first. She looked to the royal guard, confused as the towering soldier toppled.

Her mouth fell open as she saw Sledge crash into the ground, his eyes tearing up in pain as a dirty yellow pegasus stood over him. Sledge twitched on the ground, his legs drawn in defensively as he shook in pain. The pony had an annoyed look on his face as he eyed the downed guard for a moment, before glancing to Chrys. Their eyes met, and he gave her a small smile, before taking to the air. All eyes fell on him, as he lazily flew back into his cage, through a large hole formed near where Mantis and Sledge had crashed.

Mantis eyed the pegasus with a completely baffled look, which Chrys noticed. Simply seeing his face dispelled her own confusion, as her horn quickly glowed, catching Mantis in the back of the head with a rock. The blow knocked Mantis to the ground, but he quickly got back on his hooves, rubbing the back of his head as he glared at her. He took a threatening step towards her, but stopped when Lores placed herself between them again.

“Both of you, that's enough!” she declared, pointing at Mantis, “You have a traitor to lock away,” she said as she pointed at Sledge, still paralyzed with pain, “And you-” she began as she looked to Chrys, being surprised to see that the princess had turned to Bulwark, looking over him with a scared look on her face.

His breathing was ragged, and he occasionally coughed, and he wasn't responding to his name. Lores’ ears fell as her anger was abandoned. “Princess, give him some room,” she said calmly, hesitating before placing an assuring hoof on Chrys' shoulder. Her eyes were wet as she looked to Lores, “Don't worry princess, Aid's on his way. Bulwark's tough, he'll be fine, alright?”

“R-Right,” Chrys said, not sounding completely assured as she rubbed her eyes. “I'm staying with him,” she said with certainty, getting a nod from Lores.

“Of course, just give him some room,” she added as additional soldiers entered her now mostly ruined room.

“Get Sledge tied up and locked away,” Mantis ordered coldly, getting a salute from the soldiers as they did just that. “Lores, about that pony-”

“He's my pet, and he's quite tame,” Lores quickly replied, with a hint of relief that Chrys took note of, as Lores turned to Mantis, prompting him to raise an eyebrow at her.

“'Tame'?”

“What else would you call a pony that rescued the princess, and yourself in the process I might add, that returned to his cage?” she asked as Dud spun in place for a moment, before laying down, like a cat would, to Mantis' dismay. He then composed himself before looking back to Lores.

“Fine, fine,” Mantis replied almost dismissively, getting a small, curious look from Chrys as he turned to the guards gathered around Sledge, “I want three guards watching that pony until it's properly contained again. Bind its wings,” he ordered, wincing as he eyed his own wings, not quite working as intended, making him frown. “Not bad, Bulwark,” he mumbled as he passed Chrys, her eyes locked on him.

“Where's Momo?” she asked with an unsteady breath, making him pause, before looking to her.

“I don't know where your clutchling is.”

“Is that true, Mantis?” Lores asked, making him blink as he looked to her. Chrys saw an expression on his face she'd never seen before, hesitation.

“It's true, Teyra,” he assured her, before turning his back to them, continuing to the door.

“Wait—”

“That's enough, Your Highness," Lores stated, "At the very least, he doesn't know where she is,” She added with certainty, getting an odd look from Chrys, “Teyra ... was my name, before earning Lores,” she added as she eyed the damage to her room, making the princess briefly wonder what history Mantis and Lores had, before resting her head on Bulwark, feeling the beginnings of regret start gnawing at her.

“Mantis!!” a familiar voice shouted out, making Chrys' eyes snap to the doorway, seeing Darrin standing there, a dark scowl on his face, “What did you say!?”

“That's not how you talk to me-” Mantis began, cut off when Darrin moved in close to him.

“What did you say to Chrys!?” he asked again, making Mantis give him a smile that made Chrys' eyes widen. She understood what would come next if Darrin persisted. “Well!? Answer-” He was interrupted when a small grasp of magic caught his ear, and twisted. He winced as he looked past Mantis, seeing Chrys giving him a fearful look, subtly shaking her head. He looked between Chrys and Mantis before glaring at nothing in particular. “...I'm not fit for duty, commander, permission to be dismissed.”

“Denied,” Mantis said coolly.

“Mantis...” Chrys let out in a pleading tone, her eyes cast down as he gave her an appraising look. She wanted to yell at him; tell him to stop, to let Darrin go. Bulwark lay before her, and Momo was missing. She was scared; scared of him. Yet, her pride kept her from asking him to stop. So, she had no more words for him, only a spark of hope. Mantis eyed her for a moment longer, before looking to his almost-insubordinate soldier.

“Darrin, you're being reassigned. The Princess has lost her guard, you will fill in until our Queen can decide on an alternative,” he stated, getting a surprised look from Darrin and Chrys, before Darrin gave a forced salute.

“Understood, sir,” Darrin replied, getting a small nod from Mantis, before leaving the room. Darrin looked over his shoulder for a moment, his eyes watching the general, before quickly moving to Chrys and Bulwark's side. “...How's the big guy?”

“Lores says he'll be fine,” Chrys weakly replied.

“And what about you?”

“I'm fine too,” she said, her eyes lighting up slightly as Aid and his assistants entered the room, seeing the two fallen guards, and at Lores' guidance, came to look over Bulwark.

“Yeah, not buying that,” Darrin replied as he sat next to her, “Dummy,” he whispered as he discreetly tapped her on the head, seeing her ears fall as her shoulders started to shake.

A haze started to fall over her as she looked at the events that had transpired in the last few minutes, her mind casting suspicion over nearly everything; seeing each moment as a thread coiled tightly around her.

He came, holding a weak accusation over her head. Momo was missing. He subtly goaded her, and she fell for it. He kept her attention on him, when she should have been helping Bulwark. He distracted Bulwark with a pebble, leaving the wounded form resting before her. He expected the fight to draw attention, he expected Darrin to come, and even attack him.

He left with a smile, because he could have easily taken Darrin from her too.

She saw those threads together, and saw a web that she was now trapped in. He wanted something from her, and she doubted it was her life. If she died, the queen would make him follow suit. He wanted something, and all that had just transpired was to deliver a message to her. He was going to get what he wanted, or he'd take everything dear to her, and crush it underhoof.

Did he plan on losing Sledge? What did he want from her? What would happen if she brought this to the Queen? What should she do? These questions followed her through that haze, trying to find direction, trying to figure out how to get free of the web he was spinning around her.

“Chrys,” Darrin said, drawing her from her thoughts as she looked to him in surprise, her cheeks feeling wet, “Whatever you decide, I'll follow you. I promise, I won't fall, or abandon you,” he said with a fierce look, a fire burning in his eyes that she dared to take strength from. Chrys looked on silently as Aid tended to Bulwark, lost in wondering what the next two days would bring, before the monsoon came. One thing she knew for certain, that made her chest ache; Bulwark wouldn't be waking her up tomorrow.

She'd need to ask someone else to do it, a fact that cast her thoughts forward, in the process making her realize something. Mantis made his move today, and he was undoubtedly waiting for her to make the next one. It was her move, and sitting around and crying wasn't going to make her situation any better. So she sat there, taking comfort in Darrin's presence for a moment longer as she looked to those in the room, her eyes pausing on Lores and Dud for a moment, before looking back to the door.

She then closed her eyes, holding a hoof over her chest, trying to calm herself and think of what she needed to do, taking several deep breaths. Thoughts of Momo and Bulwark came to her, and instead of pushing them away, she held them close, steeling herself for their sake; after several moments, she felt herself composed enough to take action, her eyes opening as she found direction. She then placed a hoof on Bulwark, muttering a small promise heard only by her heart, before forcing herself to her hooves.

“Darrin, I'm going to talk to him,” she said as she wiped her eyes, “Can you promise not to do anything … dangerous?” she asked as she looked to him, giving him a determined look.

“...I'll try my best, Highness,” he replied hesitantly, getting a frown from her.

“I want more than your 'best',” she stated sharply, not giving him a chance to reply as she ran out of the room. He looked after her for a moment, considering her words, before nodding to himself as he followed after her, to Mantis.

Author's Notes:

"Sir, are you going to get your wings looked at?" Soldier A asked.
"It's not part of the plan, so it'll have to wait." Mantis replied, wincing as he tried to flap them, getting a confused look from Soldier A as the general continued down the tunnel.

---

Teetering on that E for Everypony rating, aren't I?
Regarding Momo: She's 'safe'.
Thanks again for reading, catch you again in chapter seven! (hopefully)

7. Seeing the Threads

Chrysalis ignored the looks she was given as she ran through the tunnel, following the direction Mantis had left in. She ran with great haste, her wings flapping in an attempt to increase her speed, as if instead of pursuing Mantis, she was running from the worries that threatened to slow her down.

Bulwark was going to be fine. Momo was somewhere safe, and waiting.

With each step, she told herself this, ignoring all else around her. So naturally, she was caught off guard when Darrin managed to get in front of her and stopped, forcing her to run right into him.

He let out a small grunt as they collided, skidding back several paces, but managed to keep both of them from toppling over. Her momentum lost, she looked to him, seeing a troubled look, which made her frown as she hit him in the shoulder.

“Move it, Darrin, we need to get Mantis!” she demanded, her hit doing nothing, more to her annoyance than anything else.

“No. First, you're going to tell me what happened,” he said, his eyes matching hers as they glared at each other. She could feel the specter of her worries catching up to her, but she knew, if she was going to get anything from Mantis, she needed to be calm, and, she needed help. So, she glanced to the side, and surprised Darrin by jumping on his back.

“Keep going, I'll talk,” she said as she gave him a troubled look. He gave her a nod, and continued down the hall as Chrys recounted what happened. Her conversation with Mantis, the accusations they tossed, the fight she started, and how it ended.

Shortly after she finished, all she got from him was brewing silence, which held until they reached a split in the tunnel. Without even pausing, he turned towards the tunnel that lead to the Royal Halls, getting a questioning look from her. “Mantis went this way?” she asked, getting a nod from Darrin.

“If I were him, I would deliver what happened to the queen personally. It would make me look better,” he said coolly, before raising an eyebrow to her, “Chrys, do you really want to talk to him now?” he asked, getting a doubtful look from her.

“No, I want to stay with Bulwark, but I need to know, Darrin. He wants something from me, and I need to know what.”

“I can guess what,” Darrin said as he glared at nothing in particular, getting a curious look from her, one which shifted to annoyance when he didn't elaborate.

“Well?” she asked, and he was about to reply, but his answer was cut off when he spotted Mantis ahead of them. “Mantis!” she shouted, getting a curious look from him as he turned towards them.

She then blinked when Darrin increased his pace, making Mantis raise an eyebrow as he adopted a defensive stance. Glancing over Darrin's shoulder, she saw his glare had shifted to hatred, making her eyes widen. He was going to attack Mantis.

Chrys did the first thing that came in mind to stop him. She bit his ear. In the same motion, she yanked her head to the side, catching Darrin off guard and making his direction change. She then closed her eyes when she saw him drive them towards the wall.

There was a crash, followed by the world turning white. Her ears rang for several moments as she clutched her head, rolling on the floor in pain, tears in her eyes. “Darn it, Darrin!!” she shouted over the pain, the world slowly returning to her as she saw Darrin standing over her, cradling a bump on his head as he gave her a very heated look.

“You run me into the wall, and yell at me!?” he said.

“Yes!!” Chrys replied as she bonked his muzzle, making him rub it and shake his head before glaring back at her, “I had to do something dumb to stop you from something dumber!”

“Says the hatchling that picked a fight with Mantis!”

He said the 'h' word. With her anger having plenty of fuel to propagate a lack of restraint, she tackled him, slapping and biting and bonking all while punctuating a fact of life.

“I'm! Not! A! Hatchling!"

“Are you two gonna wrap this up anytime soon?” Mantis asked as he let out an exasperated sigh, making Darrin and Chrys look to him, then to each other. She blushed slightly as Darrin stepped back, before helping her to her hooves. They both then adopted a determined look as they turned to Mantis.

“Mantis, we need to talk,” she said, composing herself as he looked him in the eyes.

“Oh, is that what you wanted? It was starting to look like you just wanted to waste my time. Again.”

“That was-” she began, before shaking her head. “Look, what do you want from me?” she asked, making Mantis adopt a disappointed look.

“I don't know what you're going on about, and I don't care. I need to tell Her Highness about what transpired,” he said dismissively as he started to turn around, making her slam her hoof down.

“Mantis. I want to know what you did to Momo,” she said, grinding her hoof as she tried to stay composed. “I want to know what you want. I want her back.”

“This again? I've already told you-”

“Mantis! Stop lying!” she demanded as she took a step forward, looking him in the eyes. “Please?” she added in a more composed tone, prompting a sigh from him.

“Words aren't going to get you anything from me, Your Highness,” he said with certainty, before turning his back to them, continuing down the hall. Chrys' shoulders trembled as she glared at the ground, her anger making her still throbbing head ache more. She then blinked, before gently placing a hoof on her temple, feeling the sure signs of a forming bump.

“Mantis,” Chrys began, grabbing onto a thread, looking to pull him close with it. “If you don't speak with me, I'll tell the queen that you hit me,” she threatened, making Mantis pause. He glanced over his shoulder, looking to her eyes. There he saw a fire burning bright; he knew she would carry through on her threat.

“And you think she'll believe you after what you did?”

“Do you think she'd believe you if you said 'she ran herself into a wall'?” she asked as she adopted a snide grin. He considered her for a moment longer, before turning them, surprising her as he gave an impressed smile.

“I suppose you've earned this conversation now rather than later. Fine, I'll hear you out, Your Highness,” he then raised a cautionary hoof, “If, and only if, we speak alone.”

“Yeah, that's not happening,” Darrin said immediately, getting a glare from Mantis and Chrys. “Glare all you like, I'm not budging on this one Chrys. If you two are gonna talk, it's where I can see you,” he stated, prompting another sigh from Mantis.

“If that's all, then we can talk in the Windtrap,” he suggested, “It's big enough and loud enough for you to watch us, but not overhear us,” he added, making Darrin look to Chrys, who gave him a small nod.

“Right then. Let's get this over with,” Darrin said impatiently, before turning around and going back the way they came. Chrys hopped on his back, and they both kept looking behind them as they went down into the depths of the hive, seeing Mantis several paces behind them. As they got closer to the Windtrap, Darrin looked over his shoulder to her.

“Chrys, keep away from the well, alright?” he whispered, a sense of fear in his voice that she'd never heard from him before. “Don't give into him easily, he'll hold Momo over you to make his plan come together, and don't keep anything from me. Okay?”

“D-Darrin...” Chrys replied, never seeing him this worried before, she then adopted a determined look as she gave him a nod. “I won't keep anything from you. Promise,” she assured, getting a small smile from him as they spotted the end of the tunnel.

Entering the chamber, the constant roar of air was prevalent. In the Windtrap's wall were over a two dozen drone-sized holes that either led to the surface, or to other parts of the hive. The scent of The Badlands clung to the room, and it was warmer in the chamber than the rest of the tunnels.

The room was shaped like a thick ring, having three tunnels attached to it, each of them linked to the ring by a small bridge. The tunnels each had a guard posted, a precaution to keep hatchlings out. At the edge of the ring, where it would connect to the walls, was instead a gutter where the run-off water descended during the monsoon.

When the rains came, the air vents would bring in water, which would drain away beneath this chamber into several places below. Most of the water would become stored in large basins to supply the hive's needs through the year, while a small amount of the water went into the well in the room's center.

The well was wide enough for two drones to fit side-by-side in it, and water that would fall into it fell down, down, down into the depths of the earth. Chrys could see the air ripple from heat coming from the well, dug down into a large chamber where the earth was so hot, the bottom of the chamber glowed red. Suffice to say, that well was a death trap for any changeling that couldn't fly.

When the rains came, the well would turn the water into steam, and heat up the lower tunnels of the hive. There, the hatchery would remain warm and moist enough for eggs to incubate comfortably. It was also in those lower tunnels where the Sleep Watch would reside, kept active by that heat while the rest of the hive slept through the monsoon's chill.

Hopping off Darrin, Chrys eyed Mantis, who eyed her, as they both entered the large room, leaving Darrin at the door so they could converse alone. As they got closer to the center, Chrys paused, not wanting to be near the well. Seeing this, Mantis adopted a small smile, before motioning the guards to back down the tunnels, leaving just Mantis, Chrys and Darrin in the chamber.

“Mantis, where's Momo?” Chrys asked as she looked up to him, getting an appraising look in turn.

“She's in my custody, under guard someplace outside the hive,” he answered coolly, making Chrys tremble in anger for a moment, making her take several deep breaths in an attempt to stay calm.

“So, you lied to Lores.”

“Why should I give her the truth?” he asked as he raised an eyebrow at her, making her shake her head dismissively.

“What do I have to do?” she asked, holding her head up as she glared at him.

“Leave,” he said with a shallow sneer, his answer making her blink in surprise.

“W-What?”

“Leave the hive. Run away, and never return,” he said with a cold stare, before letting out a long sigh. “That's what I'd like to say, but that's unrealistic,” he added, getting an annoyed and confused look from Chrys, making him raise an eyebrow. “If you left and never returned, Her Highness would likely force the same fate on me.” He then waved a hoof dismissively as he elaborated, “I want you to leave, and not return until after we've taken Canter Town.” He then took a step towards her, but she didn't budge as he lowered his head, “I want you out of my mane. I don't want to see you. I don't want to breath the same air as you. So, you will leave, and you will do so with the queen's permission.”

“...And Momo?”

“She'll be let back in, and as long as you stay out till summer, they'll all be safe and sound. Oh, and don't think you can take any of them with you,” he said as he raised an eyebrow, “I want them where I can see them.”

“To make sure I don't come back early?” she asked, getting a small nod from him.

His words, his demands, rolled in her head for a minute, her pent up anger starting to bubble over as she saw another reason for why he instigated the fight. He wanted Bulwark wounded, so he couldn't go after her when she left. He was holding her clutchlings and Bulwark against her, so he could get rid of her, and she didn't understand why.

He said it was because of her color. Her mother said it was because she was different. These were simple answers that didn't give what he was putting her through justice; she wanted to know.

“What did I do?” she asked quietly, her eyes looking to the ground. Over the roaring breeze, Mantis didn't hear her, making him bend closer.

“What was that?”

“What did I do to you!? Why do you hate me!?” she shouted at his face, making his brow furrow as he matched the glare she gave him.

“Why!? Where do I start!?” he asked as he started to pace around her, “You have all the time in the world, and you waste it while everyone else is working hard. You're privileged, and the thought that you're going to inherit all the work of all those that came before you infuriates me! You're not fit to be a queen!” He then shook his head, “No, you're not worthy of being a queen!” He then pointed a hoof at her, “You don't know what it's like, to always be hungry. And I'm not referring to that 'appetite' of yours; I mean true hunger! The kind that eats at you, makes you weak and gaunt as you see the clutchlings you grew up with waste away and perish before you! The Queen and I know that feeling, it's what drove us! And, of course, I despise you because you. Are. Weak. It's in your color.”

“In my color? In my color!? What does that even mean!?” she asked as she took a step towards him, her glare matching his. “I can't help that your life was terrible, so you have no right to hold that against me! Besides, it's thanks to you that I don't know what 'true' hunger is!” She then shook her head in disbelief. “You say I do nothing with my time? What am I supposed to do? 'Queenly' things!? I haven't even reached your height, so just what am I supposed to do!? I don't have drones to order, I don't have responsibilities to fill, so what am I supposed to do!? You say I'm not fit to be queen!? What makes you think you get to decide that?” she shouted, before shaking her head again in disgust, “You, you're just full of it!”

His words weren't reasons, at least not to Chrys; they sounded more like excuses.

“Tch, I shouldn't have expected anything more from you,” he replied dismissively.

“You're not done!” Chrys replied, “Why do you hate me? Why have you spent so much time taking away what's dear to me? Why are you so bent on making me alone!?”

“Because I look at you, and I see the death of our kind,” he said coldly, leaving Chrys speechless as he turned to the side. “Little pest," he added, making Chrys tremble for a moment, taking all of her mental effort to keep herself from lunging at him. "Before you leave, you should keep this in mind. I have a number of loyal soldiers who share my grievances with you.” He then adopted a small sneer, “You see, Her Highness taught me something interesting when I saw your egg for the first time. You can place a lot of power over someone when you tie their life to yours.” He then raised an eyebrow, “If something happens to me, or if I lose my standing in the hive, those soldiers are under orders to get rid of you, and your precious clutchlings,” he assured, making Chrys' eyes widen. “So go ahead, tell Her Highness that I 'hit' you, and we'll just see how that plays out.”

There were soldiers that would follow such orders? She immediately found the idea ridiculous. Soldiers willing to harm her? She was a princess! However, harming the others was easier for her to see. That, and reflecting on how Sledge acted against her cast doubt on her assumption, making her put more weight into his threat then she normally would.

He then turned his back to her as he started to leave. “You have two days till the main tunnel is sealed, you better be gone by then,” he finished, pausing for a moment as she tugged his tail with her magic, getting an aggravated look from him.

“I want to see Momo,” she asked in a small voice.

“You're not in a position to ask for anything!” he shouted as he turned on her. “Oh, and you better leave Darrin in the dark. You can't control him as well as you'd like, and I don't need him tripping over my hooves in a vain effort to protect you.” He then considered something before adding, “And so would your guard, even if he's in no condition to do so. Now, make your plan, and leave,” he finished, before continuing on his way out, making her glare at his retreating back, hatred fuming in her eyes as Darrin came to her side. Her glare persisted for several moments after Mantis was out of sight, before she let out a tired sigh. She then gave Darrin a considering look, before hopping on his back.

“Well?” he asked.

“Give me a minute,” she quickly replied, Mantis' words played through her head; he wanted her out, and she had two days to do it.

But, leaving the hive? Right as the monsoon's about to begin? It was either that, or he would-

She then shook her head, not daring to consider that outcome. Leaving the hive meant she'd need to head to Equestria, and she also needed to talk to her mother about it. There was something else about this, something about this whole situation that gnawed at her, but she couldn't place her hoof on it. She then looked to Darrin.

You can't control him as well as you'd like...

The way he put that infuriated her. Darrin wasn't her soldier, he was her clutchling. Still, she could see it being hard to talk him into staying behind...

Her eyes then widened as she looked to where Mantis had left from. Mantis was setting down what she could and couldn't do, and she realized that if she played along, she'd never get one over on him; that she'd never keep those close to her safe.

“Darrin, don't let Bulwark hear this, not yet anyway,” she began, her chest aching when she pictured him back at Lores' chamber, “Mantis, he wants me to leave the hive,” she said, feeling Darrin's glare as she added, “He wants me out of here before we seal the main tunnel, and he also—”

“Wants you to convince the queen you want to leave,” he finished, getting a slightly surprised look. “He wants to make sure it doesn't fall onto him. If you left suddenly, he'd be the first the queen blamed.” He then glanced over his shoulder, looking her in the eye, “Chrys, once you leave, he'll get rid of you.”

Well, now she knew what had been gnawing at her.

“He'd really do that, wouldn't he...?” she said, feeling a little hollow at the realization.

“And, I bet he'll try to pin it on Equestria. That way he'll be free,” he added as her brow furrowed.

“Well, isn't that just great!?” Chrys let out, wanting to hit something. While hitting Darrin was a tantalizing idea, she simply let out a frustrated sigh as she rested on his back. “So, I need to leave the hive, and avoid whatever he's got in store for me...” she said as she glanced to the side, feeling as if some unseen weight had been added to her shoulders.

“If you need a plan, I can help, you know.”

“I don't need your help making a plan, Darrin,” she replied, feeling a little insulted. “I just, need some time to think...” she added as she glanced the way Mantis left. “Let's go back.” With that, he gave her a small nod, before carrying her off to Lores'.

As they went, her mind looked through a number of possibilities, trying to weave together something that could protect her from whatever Mantis had in mind. She considered taking Darrin and Bulwark and leaving the hive immediately, but quickly dismissed the idea. Mantis was likely waiting for that, Bulwark wasn't in any shape for fleeing, and of course, it meant abandoning Momo. That wasn't an option. Her eyes then widened in realization, her ears falling as she looked to her clutchling.

“Darrin, what about Momo? If I get away from him, won't Mantis-”

“Don't think about it,” he said in a stern tone. “We don't know enough, and going down that train of thought will blur your vision,” he said, getting a surprised look from her as she glared at him.

“But, Darrin, don't you care!?”

“Yes, I do,” he replied, sounding a little hurt, “But I have faith.”

“In who?”

“In Mantis,” he said with a scowl.

“W-What!?”

“I have faith he won't throw away a bargaining chip so wastefully,” he then paused, looking to her, “Outside the hive, if he does threaten Momo to get to you, it's a bluff. You need to get away from him. He'll still need Momo to keep Bulwark in line.”

“What about you?”

“I'm going with you,” he stated matter-of-factly, getting silence from Chrys, earning a curious look from him, before he continued on, letting her mind wander again as she considered what she'd need for leaving the hive.

She'd need to talk to her mother about leaving. She'd need a guide to Equestria, and she wasn't going to settle for a soldier; she couldn't trust them in this situation. She'd also need a royal guard to protect her in Bulwark's place, likely Aegis. Supplies for the trip. Knowledge to help get through the Badlands safely. And how to tackle whatever ploy Mantis had in store for her.

It was a lot to work out in two days, which Mantis was probably counting on, but she wasn't discouraged. She wasn't going to let him win.

She put her thoughts to the side when she noticed they were coming on Lores' chamber. The place was bustling with activity, and many paused when they noticed their arrival. The large number of workers then made the effort to avoid her gaze, undoubtedly hearing her attack against Mantis, who to the normal changeling, was something of a hero to the entire hive.

Several drones were gathering debris and leveling the damaged floor, while a pair were aiding Lores in replenishing the nectar the fight had ruined. Chrys noticed that the guards for Dud were gone, and to her surprise, his wings weren't bound; his cage however, had been 'repaired', with the broken side being filled in and sealed in stone. Her eyes then saw, on the far side of the room, nestled next to the wall, Bulwark, who was being looked over by Aid.

Bulwark was laying on an old pony mattress, with Aid covering certain spots of Bulwark's body with a waxy resin-like substance. When Darrin and Chrys reached them, Aid took notice, and motioned them back.

“Give him some room, it's difficult for him to breathe right now,” he ordered, paying no mind to whom he was talking to. Chrys was too concerned with Bulwark to care.

“How long will he be out?” Darrin asked.

“He'll be awake sometime tonight or tomorrow. His body will fully recover in about a week, but he won't be able to talk again for several weeks.” He then looked to Chrys, raising an eyebrow, “And he shouldn't exert himself, or it'll take even longer to recover his voice.”

“So, he's going to be fine?” she asked hesitantly.

“Yes, in time,” he assured, getting a small relieved smile from her. He then looked over his shoulder, “Lores, you want us to move him out of here?”

“No, he's welcome here." Lores replied, "Besides, after seeing what it took to get Sledge out of here...”

“What happened?” Darrin asked as he looked to her.

“He was sensitive after being hit in the, well, let's just say he wasn't in the mood to make things easy,” she said as she made a dismissive gesture, “Took a whole squad to get him out of here,” she added, getting a nod from Darrin as he looked to Chrys, who was eyeing the caged pony in the room with an odd look on her face.

“He saved you, right?” Darrin asked, getting a nod from Chrys.

“Stay with Bulwark,” she said as she got on her hooves, seeing Darrin get up too, “Please? I'm just gonna talk to Dud.”

“Dud?”

“The pegasus,” Chrys added, getting up to move. Before she could start off, Aid stopped her, giving her an appraising look.

“Looks like you were hurt during the fight.” Aid pointed out as he tapped her on the forehead, making her wince in pain.

“No, this happened afterwards.”

“Whatever you say, Highness,” Aid said as he grabbed some of the waxy substance on his hoof.

“I'm fine Aid, you don't—”

“Not gonna hear it,” Aid replied as he tapped her head in annoyance, making Chrys wince as he expertly applied the stuff on her bump. It felt cool to the touch, before it started to warm, ebbing the pain as Chrys looked to the side. “And what do we say?”

“...Thank you.” Chrys mumbled, getting a nod from Aid as he stepped back from her, seeing Darrin trying to hide a laugh from her. She gave him an annoyed look, before turning to the hive's top healer. “Aid, Darrin's hurt too, you should be more thorough with him, he ran into a wall.”

“What's this?” Aid asked as he turned to Darrin, getting a surprised look from the soldier. Smile briefly, Chrys left him to his fate as she went to the sleeping pony.

Reaching his cage, she noticed that there was a bit of that healing wax spread on his forehead, giving her the impression that he must have had rocks fall on him when Mantis and Sledge crashed into the wall.

“Hey. Wake up,” she said as she poked him with her magic, giving her a sense of deja-vu when he sleepily looked over his shoulder to her. He blinked at her, before his eyes widened, and he rolled over to look at her with an energetic smile.

“Well met, Princess!” Dud let out, before his eyes went to her forehead. “Healing resin?” he mumbled in confusion, “But you looked fine after that mess,” he added before shaking his head, “Did you have more questions for me?” he asked, getting a short nod from Chrys.

“About earlier, you ... do know we're going to fight Equestria, and capture the Moon Princess, right?”

“Uh, yep!” he replied enthusiastically, making Chrys shake her head in wonder as she sat down.

“Then why did you save me?” she asked as she pointed at him, then herself. “You're a pony, and I'm a changeling. Doesn't that make us enemies?”

“No. That makes me a pony, and you a changeling,” he said with a flat look as he tilted his head.

“You wouldn't say that if you were a dud,” Chrys replied with an unamused look.

“I suppose there'd be a lot of things I wouldn't be saying if I wasn't,” he said matter-of-factly, “What with being in a cocoon and all,” he added, getting a slightly exasperated look from the princess.

“You haven't told me why you saved me.”

“I didn't? Well, sorry about that. Let's see, I guess there's lots of reasons, which do you want to hear?” he asked, and Chrys' brow furrowed in thought before letting out a small sigh.

“All.”

“Oh, alright!” he replied as he took a moment to think, “Okay, you're a princess. You're a changeling. Like I said last time, there's only one of you in the world. You're young.”

“I'm not a hatchling,” Chrys replied almost on reflex.

“That you're not,” he replied, before blinking in confusion, “Where was I … oh! That brute woke me up from a nice dream. He damaged Lores' room. He had a look that rubbed me the wrong way. And, of course, because I wanted to,” he said as he gave her a stern nod, “If somepony in front of me is in trouble like you were, I'd want to help. That's why I saved you.”

“So, you didn't want something in return?”

“What, you mean since I helped, you owe me?” he asked, looking a little surprised, “I hadn't considered that!” He then shook his head, "I didn't want anything in return." His eyes then widened, "And don't get me wrong, I'm not some sort of hero-pony, but a rare-species-expert-pony," he reaffirmed with a nod.

“So you never thought of being let out? You didn't even once think about Equestria?” she asked, finding his lack of loyalty baffling.

“Should I?”

“Yes!” she said, frowning as she stomped the ground, “How can you not care about your home!?”

“I didn't say I don't care,” he quickly replied, getting a confused look from her.

“Huh?”

“I care.”

“Then why did you help me? I'm not good for Equestria,” she asked, her head starting to throb from talking to him. He looked to her, his brow furrowing slightly as he considered her words.

“I think I can see what you mean. But, I'm not really worried,” he said, making her raise an eyebrow towards him.

“Was that an insult? Are you saying we'll lose?”

“Not really,” he answered bashfully, “I don't think you'll win, but I don't think you'll lose, either,” he said, making her shake her head in annoyance.

“And what about Equestria?”

“Equestria will win,” he replied, his confidence leaving her speechless for a moment.

“But, if that's true, then we lose,” she insisted as she motioned to her surroundings, getting a confused look from him.

“Equestria protects its own. Changelings want to prosper. Equestria will win by protecting its own, but I'm not sure about changelings. I want them to prosper, but as they are right now, I have doubts.”

“So, you helped me because you think Equestria will win anyway?” she asked, making him frown, as if she'd missed an important detail.

“No. I told you why I helped. Equestria had nothing to do with it.”

He helped her because he wanted to. He cared about home, but he didn't want to protect it from her. He's a pony, so of course Equestria was involved, just as much as she was involved in the hive for being a changeling. And trying to make sense of the way this pony thought was making her head ache all the more, bringing her hooves to her head in frustration.

“Ooh! Why am I wasting my time with you? Momo's in danger and here I am talking myself in circles with a pony that doesn't make sense!” she let out, getting some curious looks from the drones as Dud gave her a surprised look.

“What's that about Momo?” he asked as he edged closer to Chrys, a hint of concern in his voice that caught her off guard.

“Mantis, the hive's general, is holding her hostage so I'll do what he wants.”

“The fellow that was here earlier?” he asked, frowning, getting a nod from Chrys. His expression then became more neutral, to her surprise. “Oh, alright then.”

“What do you mean 'alright then'?”

“Nothing. Momo will be fine,” he stated confidently, making Chrys almost sway and topple over in confusion.

“How do you know?”

“Because she's Momo,” he said as if that cleared up everything, “I don't see her sitting quietly as a hostage.”

“You know her?” she asked, prompting Dud to point at Lores. “So, you're not worried about Momo either?” she asked, and he appraised her for a moment, before his eyes widened in realization.

“I like Momo, so I do worry, but, I know she'll be fine. Just like I know Equestria will be fine.”

“How?”

“Faith.”

“Faith...?” she asked, getting a nod in turn as he raised his two front hooves, flats up.

“Equestria's been going strong for a little over five hundred years now, thanks to Princess Luna and us ponies,” he said as he bobbed one of his hooves, as if it was carrying Equestria in it. “I have faith it'll keep going,” he said as he looked to the other hoof, “Momo comes across as very loyal, stubborn, and dependable. I can see her finding a way out of her problem without anypony's help.”

“But what if she doesn't? What if she needs help?”

“She may need help, but what can I do?” he asked as he pointed to his cage, “If I could, I'd try and help her,” he said, making Chrys realize she was in a similar position as he was, only her cage was made of fear and threats.

“So, you'd help her, but not Equestria?” she asked, feeling as if she was starting to understand something about this oddity before her.

“There are plenty of ponies to help Equestria, but how many ponies are there to help Momo?” he asked with a serious expression, a small fire in his eyes that she took note of.

“...You're an odd pony, Dud.”

“I'm well aware,” he said, getting a small nod from Chrys as his words rolled in her head.

“Thanks Dud. For helping me, again.”

“Think nothing of it, Princess,” he said with a smile, before she turned back to Darrin and Bulwark.

She could easily see Momo trying to free herself from Mantis' grasp. But, she could also see Mantis tightening the reins on her. Her eyes then widened in realization as she looked to Darrin.

He had faith in Mantis. Was it because they were both soldiers?

Chrys had faith in Momo, but she feared Mantis more. In a way, she had more faith in Mantis than Momo, a realization that made Chrys' brow furrow for a minute, her anger aimed at herself more than anything.

Mantis was controlling her, making her stride to his beat, in more ways than she realized. Dud was right, Momo wouldn't want to be held as a hostage. She'd try to break free, and she was stubborn enough to pull it off.

Though this realization didn't dispel her worry, it did lessen it, giving her hope as she looked back to Dud. She then eyed Darrin and Bulwark, the threads of a plan coming together as she returned to their side.

The first thing she'd need to do, is talk to her mother...

Mantis let out a sigh as he left the Queen's presence. Informing her of the fight went about as well as he expected, being that he left with his head still attached.

As he left the Royal Halls, a soldier from his private unit saluted him. Mantis could tell by the nervous look the soldier was giving him, that he didn't have good news to report.

"Let me guess, we couldn't track her down?" Mantis asked, shaking his head in wonder as the soldier nodded.

"She turned into a pegasus during our pursuit, and we lost her in the clouds. We've been searching the area and haven't seen a trace of her. We can assuredly say she's nowhere near the hive right now."

"She went pony..." Mantis said as his mind raced, "We only have the main tunnel and auxiliary tunnel open right now, correct?"

"Yes, Mantis."

"Then inspect all that come in. She may try to impersonate a soldier."

"You think she'll come back?"

"I can't say. I thought I had her pegged down, but her escape has proven otherwise," he said in annoyance as he turned to the soldier, "Either way, she escaped as a pony, that kind of effort makes a changeling hungry, and the only nectar around for miles, is here."

"I understand sir, I'll pass on the orders," the soldier said with a salute, before leaving. Alone again, Mantis shook his head, feeling a light migraine coming on.

"Curse you, Momo. I should have known better!” he let out as he glared at nothing in particular, “Maybe she'll have the good sense to take my warning seriously, and stay as far away from here as she can."

Author's Notes:

I have a really twisted mind. When I pictured father and daughter shouting at each other, I found the mental image to be very cute. Also, if Mantis wore pants, the entire hive would be on fire right now...
Concerning Momo(again): I personally hate it when a likable character in a story is killed off to motivate the hero. I don't write what I hate. So I'll just leave that confession there for now.
As always, thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

8. Close Words

“How are you going to convince the queen?” Darrin asked as they walked back to the Royal Halls, getting an odd look from Chrysalis. “I'm assuming you've got something in mind?” he asked, making her pause for a moment.

“...Darrin, it's the queen's job to lead the hive, right? To work towards a better tomorrow?”

“Well, yes.”

“If I'm being forced out of the hive, then I thought, perhaps I should start doing that,” she said, getting an amused smile from Darrin. Chrys adopted a flustered look. “What? What is it this time?”

“Isn't that why you argued with Her Highness about the Moon Princess' 'power'?” he asked, making her pause for a moment, realizing the truth of it. She then heard Mantis’ words from earlier play in her head, making her release an aggravated huff.

“Mantis. He said I wasn't fit to be queen. He never gave me the chance to prove otherwise.” She then looked to Darrin, a determined look in her eyes, “He didn't intend it, but once I get away from him, I'll finally get that chance,” she declared, getting an appraising look from Darrin.

“You mean, you're going to Equestria?” he asked, getting a nod in turn.

“I'm going to see if the power this 'Luna' has is genuine. And who knows, maybe I can do more once I'm there. Like, enthrall her, or something,” she added, half serious, half uncertain.

“Well, it isn't gonna be any safer than staying in The Badlands, living off of supplies,” Darrin replied, giving a small glare towards no one in particular. “You'll need to find Ghost in Canter Town. If you're caught by the Moon Princess—”

“I won't,” she quickly affirmed. “And besides, we need to know just how strong she is.”

“Right, but first you have to convince Her Highness to let you go,” he added, making her wave a hoof dismissively.

“Let me worry about that,” she replied, bring their conversation to a close, shortly before reaching the Royal Halls.

When they arrived, they were directed to the queen, finding her in the hatchery. Chrys paused at the doorway as she saw a slightly sad look in Amber's eyes, her gaze focused on the empty chamber, a look that melted away when she noticed she had company. She turned towards Chrys and Darrin, Bastion and Aegis standing close to her as she let out a small sigh, before composing herself.

“Mantis told me about the fight,” Amber began as she gave her daughter an appraising look, “Is it true that you started it?” she asked, making Chrys frown for a moment, before nodding. “And it's because Momo's gone missing?”

“Yes. I thought he did it.” She then shook her head. She wanted to tell the truth, but Mantis' threat was still fresh in her mind. “I still think he did it,” she added, before her ears fell. “And now, Bulwark's hurt,” she finished, prompting Amber to walk towards Chrys, placing a reassuring hoof on her shoulder.

“Don't worry Chrys. We'll find Momo, and Bulwark will recover.” Her demeanor then darkened, “Which can't be said for the other one.”

“Sledge?” Chrys asked as she tilted her head, making Amber scowl.

“Forget his name!” she stated coldly, a heated look in her eyes, “A royal guard that attacks a queen, or a princess, is a traitor to the hive, to his role, to his very self,” she declared, getting a heavy nod of agreement from Bastion, with Aegis' brow furrowing in kind. She then waved a hoof dismissively, “He'll be taking his last breath before sunset.” A fact that didn't bother Chrys, not after getting an uncomfortably close look at the bottom of his hoof.

Amber's gaze then softened as she eyed her daughter, “It's terrible that Bulwark was wounded, and I'll admit that I'm a little disappointed in you. But, your actions brought to light a terrible changeling, so, I'm not going to punish you,” she said as she nodded to herself, getting a surprised look from Chrys.

“You're not mad with me?”

“No.” Regardless, she frowned. “Don't get me wrong. Attacking Mantis was a terrible idea. He's done so much for the hive, and I know how much you two can't stand each other, but you must learn to control yourself.” She then let out a sigh, “Seriously, you couldn't even wait a few more months.”

“But, Momo-”

“Is being looked for by a number of our soldiers. I know you want to blame him, but Mantis speaks highly of her, and Darrin,” she added as she glanced to Chrys' clutchling, “I can't see him willing to harm either of them,” she added, making a chill run down Chrys' spine as she looked to her mother.

She then mentally cursed Mantis as she glanced to the side.

“...Is that right?” Chrys replied, seeing another thread being exposed before her. Seeing that thread led her thoughts towards the reason she came here, making her look to Amber. “Mother, about what we talked about yesterday,” she began, making Amber arch an eyebrow.

“About becoming attached to ponies?” she asked, making Chrys quickly shake her head as the old stallion, and to her surprise, Dud, came to mind. “Then what?” Her eyes then widened, “You mean about the Moon Princess?”

“Yes. I've been thinking about it since last night,” she then hesitated. She was used to feeding her mother white lies, but something about this one felt wrong; it felt heavy. Still, she needed to do this, so she took a deep breath, and continued. “I've been thinking, that it's about time I did something to help out,” she finished, making Amber blink in surprise, before adopting a big smile.

“My little princess wants to help~” she said proudly as she got closer, nudging Darrin back with her magic as he did. He took the hint, and quietly left the room, giving Chrys a subtle nod, which she returned.

“Yes. But, I don't think you'll like it.”

“Oh come now, what's not to like about it?” Amber asked coyly.

“Probably all of it,” Chrys replied, wearing a weak smile, before taking another deep breath. “I'm going to Equestria, to see just how powerful the Moon Princess really is,” she affirmed, and her mother's smile persisted for a moment, before it started to fade away.

“You're- You're serious?” she asked cautiously, getting a small nod in turn, making the queen shake her head. “No. Not happening.”

“Mother. I'm going,” Chrys said sternly.

“No. You're not.”

“Yes, I am!” Chrys insisted, holding a hoof up as her mother was about to repeat herself, “Capturing her is everything, right? We need to know. I can get into Canter Town and check, I can fit in with the ponies and fool them, but you can't!” she pointed out, “You're too big to fit in. And, you need to conserve your strength,” she added, getting an exasperated sigh from her mother.

“Chrys, I appreciate that you want to help, but we're sealing the main tunnel in two days. Once the rains start, The Badlands will be flooded! Just to get to Equestria, you'll have to cross it! Even by air, at best it'll take you a week to cross, which means dealing with the creatures that stay awake in the monsoon. Then, once you get past that, you'll have to deal with the Equestrian winter. And all that is before even getting to Canter Town! It's too dangerous, and I don't want my little girl going through that.”

“Mother, I know it's dangerous,” Chrys replied, almost sounding insulted, “But, I need to do this.”

“You … need to?” Amber asked in confusion.

“Everyone in the hive works hard, playing their part. What have I done? How can I expect to be a queen after we've won against Equestria if I don't contribute?” she then shook her head, “And it's not just that. We need to know if this 'Luna' is as strong as ponies believe. Ghost can try his best, but he'll never know as well as either you or I can.”

“But Chrys, if we lose you-”

“You can lay another queen's egg,” Chrys replied bluntly, getting a shocked look from Amber. “You're more important to the hive than I am,” she added, making Amber glance to the side, a sad look on her face as Chrys took a step forward, “Mother, we all have our part in the hive. We each have a stake in this, a risk. Let me be a part of it too. Let me take this risk.” She then gave her a hurt look, “Or, do you think I can't do it?”

“I didn't say that,” Amber quickly replied, bringing a troubled hoof to her forehead. “Mantis. What did he say? Did he put this crazy idea in your head?” she asked, getting a surprised look from the princess.

“No. This is my idea.” She was being forced to leave the hive, but she intended to be productive while she was at it. “No one else’s. I'm going to leave, whether you want me to, or not. Though,” she added as she adopted a sheepish look, “I'd like it if you let me...”

A silence fell over them for several moments, both of the looking each other in the eyes. Chrys with a determined look, while Amber wore a worried look. Chrys' eyes then widened when she noticed her mother's eyes starting to get misty.

“My little girl wants to go and do her part,” she said as she adopted a smile, her horn glowing as Chrys was levitated into her mother's hooves, to her slight dismay. “She wants to go face danger and help make sure we'll win against the Moon Princess,” she then hugged Chrys, who blushed as she tried to look to Amber.

“M-Mother?”

“Chrys, there comes a time in every drone's life, when they stop calling me that,” she began, making Chrys' ears fall, her heart sinking at where she felt where this conversation was turning. “It's the day they choose their name, and pick their role in the hive. It's a happy day, and an auspicious day. But, it's also a sad day. On that day, I'm no longer their mother, but their Queen.” She then held Chrys out at hooves length, tears in her eyes as she continued to wear a sad smile. “Chrysalis, going out, into danger, to do this, means you're no longer a hatchling.”

“I'm not a hatchling,” Chrys replied as she glanced to the side, getting a chuckle from Amber.

“Indeed. Not anymore,” She replied as she wiped her tears away. “Sweetie, you can go. I won't stop you from wanting to make your mark, to play your part in our future. But, it's going to be dangerous, so don't expect me to let you go empty hoofed.”

Amber's brow then furrowed slightly as she looked to where Darrin had been, “The trek across The Badlands will be rough. It'll be cold, and wet. A normal drone would need to travel as a pony, or be driven to sleep by the temperature. Especially as they got closer to Equestria. Traveling as a pony means needing to carry more nectar.” She then eyed Chrys curiously, “You still know that heat spell?” she asked, getting a quick nod from Chrys, prompting Amber to adopt a contemplative look. “I'll need to teach you how to cast that spell as an enchantment.”

“About that, there's another spell I want to know before going, if you could show me,” Chrys asked, making Amber raise an eyebrow in surprise.

“Someone seems to have really thought this through,” she said with a proud smile. “As long as it's not too complex, you've got two days till the rains began, and the sooner you leave, the safer the trip.”

“Right,” Chrys replied with a nod, not intending to leave any earlier than right before sealing the main tunnel. She wanted the hazard the rains brought present when she encountered Mantis. Whatever he may have had in store, his efforts could be compromised by the weather, and she'd take any advantage she could against him. Even if that made the trek riskier, she considered it worth the risk.

“So, what's the spell you had in mind?” Amber asked, making Chrys smile slightly.

Just a little surprise in store, for the one driving her out of the hive. After all, another advantage she had over Mantis, that he had no chance at matching, was her magic.

“Why are you here?” an unfamiliar voice asked, pulling the sleeping princess out of her dreams. Okay, not entirely. The air was cold, and Chrys was having a hard time convincing her sleepy self to open her eyes. “...I see. She didn’t command you otherwise,” the voice added. Chrys frowned weakly. That was Aegis’s voice. Who was he talking to? “It’s fine. I won’t stop you.” Chrys shifted in annoyance. It’d be nice if Aegis would stop talking. There were heavy, mismatched hoofsteps approaching her. She then felt something warm touch her cheek. A hoof? There was a low, assuring grunt over her, making her frown deepen as the sleeping princess finally opened her eyes.

Standing over her was Bulwark. He had a drained look to him, and there were tan, glistening wrappings around his neck. Despite his haggard look, he was giving her a smile. He had come to wake her up, like she asked. Her drowsy state still hung over her as she took him in, her body cold and sluggish. He looked hurt, and she felt as if she were at fault. It didn’t make sense, and she didn’t like that. Her horn sputtered to life, her body glowing slightly as she warmed her body. With the heat, it wasn’t long before her drowsiness faded, being traded in for alarm. She blinked, eyes wide as she got on her hooves, giving Bulwark a flustered look.

“Wh- What are you doing, you idiot!?” she asked, her eyes looking over the bandaging Aid had imparted on him. He simply gave her a sheepish shrug. “Don’t give me that look!” she said, her eyes starting to sting as she hit him, “You’re supposed to be staying down and getting better!” she added, his ears falling as she hit him several times, her little slaps doing nothing to her loyal guardian.

She then shook her head, his body glowing teal as she tried to push him away. “Go back and get better!” she ordered, getting a small, unhesitant nod from him, as he turned away. She blinked in surprise as he left her side. He never left so easily. She looked to him, seeing him limp towards the door. A limp he was trying very hard to hide. And though he still towered over her, for some reason, he felt small. Her heart ached at the sight, a simple, unanswered question making her frown at nothing in particular. Was he ashamed of their loss? “B- Bulwark, wait!” she added, making the guard pause in confusion. She looked over him. Soaking in his injuries. Recalling the fight. Feeling the fear she felt when she saw him fall.

He was hurting. And not just physically. Despite that, he came to wake her up, just as she had asked of him. Any doubts regarding what came next were swept away by that act.

He mustn’t know of her plan. Not yet. Not in the state he’s in. The last thing she wanted to do was make things worse for him. But, she also didn’t want to just leave him high and dry. He deserved far better than that. She glanced to the side, silence falling between them as she considered what she should do next. She then walked up to him, eyeing the ground as she rested her head against one of his legs.

“I’m sorry,” she said quietly. There was a moment of silence, before Bulwark let out a deep, odd sounding laugh. Chrys’s face turned red as she frowned at the guard, who quickly succumbed to a fit of coughs. He raised an assuring hoof at her alarmed expression as he collected himself. He then took in a slow, careful breath, before mouthing something to her. She frowned, unable to understand his silent reply. Still, it wasn’t too hard for her to piece together his intent. “No. It’s not alright!” she added, making him glance to the side. He then mouthed something she could easily read, making her ears fall. “You don’t have to apologize…” she added, before adopting a determined look. “Next time, we’ll win. Right?” she asked, getting a fired up look from him as he nodded. He then swayed slightly, his eyes closing briefly, before he caught himself. He shook his head as Chrys slapped him. “Good. Now get back to Aid, dummy!” he nodded to her, giving her a small bow before turning back to the door.

“Bulwark,” she said again, feeling something dangerous nearly slip off her tongue: Please come with me. Instead, she said: “Thank you. See you later.” He nodded at that, none the wiser, as he limped out, an aggravated Aid waiting for him outside her room. Chrys eyed the doorway for several minutes after he left, her mind sifting through all manner of emotions over what she’d caused to her first friend. Sadness, regret, self-loathing, and anger flowed through her, before she settled on the one she found the most important to her.

Determination.

What remained of the two days leading up to sealing the last tunnel passed at an alarming pace. Making plans, learning new spells, giving goodbyes, keeping her guardian in the dark, securing freedom. She had so much to occupy her time that she had little chance to sleep, making those two days seem as nothing more than a blur to her.

The time to leave arrived.

She yawned as she looked out towards the grayish light of day illuminating the far end of the tunnel. She then shook her head, the path ahead of her coming to mind as she tried to dispel her fatigue. Her horn was giving off the faintest of glows, her magic keeping her warm despite the cold breeze blowing down the tunnel.

Standing close to her was Aegis, her guardian on this trek. He had a barrel strapped over each shoulder, carrying enough nectar for their journey to Canter Town, plus a little extra, at Chrys' request.

The chill in the air made her departure a quiet one, with only her mother, and a small number of changelings seeing her off. Mantis wasn't there, despite her efforts to keep him locked inside while she left, making her let out a small sigh as she looked to her onlookers. Among those faces were the clutchlings she'd held close before, and seeing them standing there made her heart ache, a bittersweet pain of sadness and joy. Darrin wasn't among them, a choice she had enforced. She wanted him to stay behind.

She then eyed her mother, who was standing at her side, having just finished speaking of Chrys' reasons for leaving the hive. Amber then turned to her daughter, a smile on her face, tears in her eyes, which also made Chrys' eyes start to sting.

“You'll stay safe, right, Chrysalis?” Amber asked, getting a nod in turn.

“Yes, Your Highness,” she replied, making Amber shake her head.

“It's Amber now. Not highness, not mother. A queen is equal to another, and when we next see each other, it'll be as queens. Understand?” she asked, making Chrys' chest ache even more, making her rub her eyes as she gave the queen a fiery look.

“Yes,” she replied stalwartly, as Amber knelt down and kissed Chrys on the forehead, making her blush as the queen placed a hoof on her cheek.

“I'll see you, in Canter Town.”

“In Canter Town,” Chrys replied with a nod. Amber then turned to Aegis, who was silently watching.

“Her life is your priority, don't disappoint me like Sledge did,” she said coolly, getting a nod from Aegis. She appraised him for a moment, before turning back to Chrys, “Well dear, take care of yourself.”

“I will, Amber,” Chrys replied, taking a step forward, before hesitating a moment, “Take care of yourself.” She then raised another hoof, but hesitated again. There was something she wanted to say, something she'd never felt comfortable saying before. The very thought of saying those words made her features turn a shade of red. Despite that, she wanted to say it.

Because, a small part of her was afraid. Afraid that this would be the last time she talked to her mother. Afraid that Mantis would win, that the journey to Equestria would claim her. So the fact that her pride was getting in the way of saying two little words was starting to upset her.

“Chrys?” Amber asked curiously, making the princess flinch, before cursing her own pride, as she turned around to face the queen.

“L-Love you!” she managed to spit out, making her blush deepen further as she eyed the ground, her mind racing in embarrassment at having said that with a number of witnesses present. Lost in how flustered she was, she didn't notice the queen approach her until she was scooped up in her mother's hooves, being given a tight hug.

“I love you too, sweetie,” Amber replied, making Chrys' eyes water as she returned the hug. They held each other for a minute, both of them hoping for the best with all their hearts before their embrace came to an end.

Chrys was placed on the ground, and after standing there for a moment, collecting herself, she turned to the exit. Again, she hesitated. Her ears popped up when she was given a light push, making her look to Amber, who was giving a proud smile. Chrys nodded, and after taking a deep breath, cast her eyes forward, intending to no longer look back, as she marched forward.

Walking out, she passed a bottleneck in the tunnel. Nestled a little past it rested a large boulder, waiting to plug the entrance. She kept going forward, climbing closer to the light, and as she did, she felt a strong presence of magic emanating behind her. She didn't look back, as she heard the boulder shift from its resting place, and with a dull boom, closed off the main tunnel.

Continuing up the tunnel, Chrys took note of a small drone sized hole that'd been opened up on the floor recently. A tunnel that connected to the Windtrap, now open to receive the water that would soon come to flood this path. An alternative way into the hive. A fact that briefly played through her head, before she looked forward again.

Mantis didn't intend to let her back in once summer came, but she'd already planned for her return as well, and that hole was a small part of it. Keeping her thoughts to herself, she avoided the hole as she squinted at the growing light ahead of her. She then paused as they reached the tunnel's opening, her eyes widening at the vista before her.

It wasn't the same landscape she saw when she sunbathed with her clutchlings at their spot on the cliff earlier in the week. The land of cracked earth, colored orange and tan with stark blue skies, was now dully colored, the sky completely overcast by a blanket of gray clouds. She felt a drop of water hit her on the nose, surprising her by the small stimulation as she noticed specks of rain drizzling here and there. The rains were beginning, and somewhere out there, Mantis was waiting.

“Aegis,” Chrys began as she looked to her guard, but was interrupted when she saw someone flying towards them. A lone drone with yellowish wings whose presence confused Chrys, as she took up a guarded pose. The drone landed before them, and when his eyes met hers, she let out a small sigh, the glow in her eyes showing her that the drone before her was in fact her clutchling. She then gave him a harsh glare.

“Darrin, what are you doing out here!?” she snapped, him being the last drone she expected to see. Darrin eyed Aegis, who had a guarded look about him as Chrys looked to her guardian. “Aegis, can you hover around and keep an eye out? I want to talk with him alone.”

“Understood, Your Highness,” Aegis replied as he took to the air, prompting Chrys to give Darrin a bothered look.

“Well?” she asked.

“I'm going with you,” he replied resolutely, getting a small glare from her.

“Come on Darrin! We went over this yesterday, and now you're gonna change your mind!?”

“Yes, I am. I had my doubts,” he then shook his head, “I still have doubts. Trusting a pony to protect you?”

“So he's out of the hive then?” she asked, making him nod, before he gave her a shrug.

“Assuming he isn't halfway to Equestria right now, he's hidden in the clouds. Watching you,” he explained in a skeptical tone.

“You talked to him, right?”

“I did. He's odd. Too odd. Chrys, what if he likes to collect rare creatures?” he asked, making her falter for a moment.

“I … didn't consider that,” she admitted as she glanced to the side, before shaking her head, “Look, if that's the case, I'll trap him in a cocoon after we're past Mantis. So, go back to our spot, and stay with the hive.”

“About that,” he said as he looked to the south, his eyes on a particular cliff face, “After letting him out, and seeing our spot on the cliff,” he said as he turned his back towards Chrys, “Seeing it all by myself, made me think about how our time together earlier this week may be the last time—”

“It isn't,” Chrys quickly insisted, making him turn on her.

“Saying it doesn't make it true!” He then shook his head, “Just because you can believe that, doesn't mean I can. I can't trust that wishful thinking will make it happen,” he said as he looked her in the eyes, “I don't want it to be the last time. That's why I'm going with you,” he assured, making her hesitate for a moment.

“Darrin, you need to stay and keep Bulwark from chasing me. He's too big to blend in with ponies, and he'd have a tough time finding me anyway.” Darrin let out a small huff at that.

“He'd know where you're going; the castle at Canter Town.”

“And what about Momo?”

“If Mantis has her with him, we can rescue her,” he replied, making her shake her head.

“No, Darrin. Fighting Mantis isn't the plan, it's getting away. He's not going to just let us rescue her!”

“I know that!” he replied, a frustrated look on his face. “It's dangerous. We both know that. That's why I'm going with you, to help even the odds.”

“Darrin, you're staying. You need to. I don't want—”

“You don't want me to get hurt? What about you? What about Momo?” he asked as he slammed a hoof down, “This isn't about what you want, Chrys.” He then shook his head, “You can't always get what you want, so stop making it about you. I'm going with you, and we're rescuing Momo. Then, we're all heading to Equestria,” he declared, his words racing through her head as she eyed the ground, her shoulders trembling.

“Making it about me? Always getting what I want?” she asked, before glaring at him. “This is about me! Everyone would be just fine if it wasn't for me! And I know I can't always get what I want,” she replied in frustration, “I want Momo to be safe. I want Mantis to just leave us alone. I want to know the next several days are going to be safe and free of scary things!” She then shuddered for a moment, before eyeing the ground. “I want Bulwark to come after me. And, I want you to go with me.”

“Huh?” Darrin asked as he blinked in surprise.

“I want all three of you to go with me,” she stated, her eyes stinging as the drizzle started to pick up, “I don't want to go to Equestria with a loopy pony and a guardian I don't know that well.”

“Then let us come with you,” Darrin said in a calm tone, a slightly guilty look on his face.

“I can't,” she said as she looked to him, “Mantis isn't going to sleep through the rain. He's going to be mad when I get away.” Her brow then furrowed, “And I will get away.” She then shook her head, “He's gonna keep scheming. He's gonna try and make sure I'm 'taken care of'. And, if he can't do that, the very least he's going to do, is make it very hard for me to come back.”

“Chrys—”

“Darrin. I need you to stay because I need a way back in,” she said in a calm tone, making him pause for a moment, before his brow furrowed.

“And you feel like telling me this now?” he asked, getting an annoyed look from her.

“I figured you were smart enough to figure it out!” she shouted at him, making him take a step back in surprise.

“I mean, yes,” he replied bashfully, “Before letting the pegasus out, I was thinking of what to do during the monsoon.” He then shook his head before looking back to her. “I'm still going with you.”

“You stubborn shell-head!” she replied as she tried to hit him on the head, slipping past him as he effortlessly dodged her, making her slip on the now slightly muddy ground.

“C-Chrys, are you okay?” he asked, getting a ball of mud in his face for an answer.

“You're staying,” she stated as he wiped his face clean, giving her a small glare.

“I'm going.”

“Staying!”

“Going!” Darrin insisted, making Chrys tremble again as she glared at him. They held each other’s gaze for a moment, before she eyed the ground.

“You, don't trust me. Do you?” she asked in a small voice, making him raise an eyebrow at her.

“You asked a 'loopy' pony who knows a great deal about changelings to help you reach Equestria,” he replied flatly.

“Okay, that does sound a little bad,” she admitted, before looking to him, “But he's, well, different from other ponies. Do you really think anypony would take him seriously if he flew off and ditched me to inform Equestria? That anyone would believe him explaining what we are?”

“Honestly, I'm more bothered by the idea of him ditching you,” he then waved a hoof dismissively, “That aside, it's not that I don't trust you. I do. I think you've got a good shot at getting out of Mantis' net. It's just, I don't like the idea of you taking him on by yourself.”

“Well, he's my problem,” she replied, feeling a little relieved to hear that he trusted her. “You and Momo are in danger because of me. I need to do this, and I don't want either of you to be more involved then you are. So, you're going to stay behind, you're going to play 'nice' with him, and you're going to make sure that when we've taken Canter Town, I'll be able to return without a problem. Got it?” she asked, getting a frustrated look from him as he eyed the mud, as if it were at fault.

“You're not going to yield on this, are you?” Darrin asked as he looked her in the eyes.

“No. I'm not,” she replied sternly, making them stare at each other for a moment, before he gave her a smile, which caught her off guard.

“Chrys, you once asked me why I risk my neck for you,” he began as he took off his soldier's helm, looking to the hole in the ground that was the hives main tunnel, “The reason that I kept from you, is because I've lost faith in Queen Amber.”

“Huh?” Chrys asked, not having expected that from him.

“Mantis the hero. Mantis the leader. There are some that even whisper the word 'king'. Mantis has gained too much power, and it's because Her Highness can't control him. This is why you have to leave. This is why Momo is missing. This is why we're ‘risking’ the hive against Canter Town instead of waiting for more intel on the Moon Princess' power.” He then looked to Chrys, a determined look in his eyes, “These wins that Mantis gave the hive has made Amber complacent. She's even yielded to your demands,” he stated, making Chrys brow furrow.

“Darrin, don't speak poorly of her,” she said in a threatening tone, making him nod as he glanced to the side.

“My apologies, Your Highness. The truth is, I don't see my future as a part of her hive. I haven't for a long time now,” he said, looking Chrys in the eyes, before kneeling. “Chrysalis, with your word, I wish to serve under you,” he said, making her take a step back in surprise, “I'll be your eyes, ears, and strength. I'll help you through your hardships, and will give my life to see the future you wish come to be." He then looked at her in anticipation, "Will you have me, as your first subject?” he asked, his words making her falter for a moment, caught unaware by how happy she was to hear his pledge.

If it came to you leaving the hive to start your own, we'd go with you, no questions asked.

Well, she wasn't quite going out to start a hive, but his sentiment still came across, realizing itself at this moment. A moment that brought a silly smile to her face, before she shook her head.

“Idiot. You can't be my first subject,” she replied, getting a surprised look from him that got a chuckle from her, “Bulwark's already taken first.”

“Oh. Right,” Darrin said, looking a little embarrassed as he cleared his throat. “Then, as your second subject—”

“Momo beat you to that one too,” she quickly replied, a small lie that made Darrin roll his eyes towards the heavens.

“And what about third!? Did Lores beat me to that one? Or was it the pony?” he asked in annoyance, making Chrys' chuckle blossom into open laughter, her eyes watering up as she let out the first good laugh in what felt like weeks. Darrin looked on, his annoyance shifting to a smile as he saw her mirth.

“Y-You can be the third, slowpoke,” Chrys replied after managing to compose herself, her breathing heavy from laughing. “And as my first order, you must call me Chrys.”

“I understand, Your Highness,” Darrin replied, mimicking Bulwark's voice as his did, getting a hurt look from Chrys which made him instantly regret it. “D-Don't worry Chrys, he'll be fine.”

“Yeah, he will,” she replied as she nodded to herself, before adopting a small sneer, “As your queen, I order you to stay behind and make sure I can return later,” she said, prompting Darrin to look as if her words had physically hurt him.

“But, Chrys-”

“Darrin. You trust your queen, right?” she asked as she gave him a side glance, making his brow furrow for a moment.

“That's not fair—”

“Darrin. Please?” she asked as she looked him in the eyes, making him falter for a moment, before he kicked the wet ground in frustration.

“I'll … stay behind,” he said in a slightly defeated tone, getting a smile from her as she looked up to him.

“Thank you,” she said, almost in a whisper, making his frown melt slightly as he nodded.

“I'll make sure things stay good on this end, and that he honors returning Momo,” he said with a determined look. “So just be sure to stay away from him, and don't get caught by ponies,” he added, getting a nod from her as they both looked to each other for a moment, “Oh. You don't mind if I do some recruiting, do you?” he asked with a sly look, getting a confused expression from her. “I know a number of changelings who'd also like to follow you,” he added with a smile.

“I- Well- That'd be great!” she replied enthusiastically, the news catching her unawares. “Darrin, will you be there?” she asked, getting a curious look from him, “Canter Town, will you be there with the attack?”

“Count on it,” he assured. "And, will you see it all the way through?" he asked, reminding her of the last time he asked that question, making her give him a determined smile.

“You know I will," she said confidently, getting a small laugh from him. "Then, till Canter Town?” she asked, a hopeful fire beating in her chest as he nodded.

“Till Canter Town,” he replied with a nod, both of them wearing a smile. He then blinked, his smiling fading away as he looked past her to the raining lands beyond. “We both need to get going. This rain is making me feel sluggish, and it's likely to make Mantis impatient.”

“How are you getting back in?” she asked curiously as he gave his wings a few quick flaps to get water off.

“Lores and some of our clutchlings are holding the door to our spot open,” he said as he gave her a small grin, “Just in case you convinced me to stay a second time.” And with that, he gave her a nod, and jumped into the air. “Till Canter Town, stay safe, my queen!” he added, getting a nod from Chrys as he flew off.

Almost immediately after he parted, Aegis landed at her side, getting a confident look from the princess as she hopped on his back.

The rain had picked up during her conversation with Darrin, and looking to the west, she saw the clouds in the sky darkening further. The rain would only get heavier, and the wind would pick up soon.

“Aegis, let me know if you get cold, I can use my magic to keep you warm,” she said, getting a surprised look from him.

“You needn't concern yourself, Highness,” he replied, a little flustered, “Cold weather doesn't bother a royal guard,” he assured, getting a small smile from her as she nodded.

“Also, we're going to be ambushed by traitors soon, so keep your eyes to the ground,” she said, making him pause for a moment as he eyed her. Seeing the princess offering no more words, he raised an eyebrow to her, before taking to the air.

As they ascended, her eyes looked to the cliff, watching Darrin as he flew away, heading towards a familiar landing. Her gaze lingered for a moment longer as he disappeared into a passageway that was supposed to be sealed. She then nodded to herself, before looking back to the main entrance of the hive.

Within that hole in the ground, her home, a question still bothered her, nagging at her from the back of her mind. A name she wanted to learn; a name that would offer her some sort of closure for the old stallion that thanked her. Now, she wasn't going to be getting her answer for a number of months.

Her brow furrowed for a moment, before she let out a sigh. The answer was waiting for her down there, she simply needed to return safely to find it. This thought assuring her, she cast her gaze forward.

Her eyes then widened as she noticed the ground growing distant from them, broadening her view of the lands beyond. At that moment, she really wished she could fly on her own, because of how open and inviting the air and landscape was compared to the hive. A small smile on her face, her gaze found focus on the ground.

Mantis was waiting for her, and she was ready for him.

Author's Notes:

Thank again for reading, and I hope to see you in the next chapter!

9. Badlands' Rumble

Admittedly, Chrys didn't think that flying through the rain at a brisk pace would be an annoying affair. Her face being peppered by the water proved otherwise, prompting her to use Aegis like a shield as she looked down to the surrounding land.

The Badlands region was a large valley walled off by a ring of tall mountains, with the hive being nestled in the southern part of that ring. From the hive, the northern mountains were too distant to be seen, even if conditions were clear, and the mountains to the east and west were quickly lost in the thickening rain as they continued north.

The interior of the valley was rocky with almost little vegetation; the terrain being dotted with gorges and ravines of varying size, born from countless years of the earth being soaked and dried out. She kept a watchful eye out as they flew past those gorges, seeing small rivulets of water pouring into them. Mantis, and whatever he'd brought with him, was likely hiding in one of those holes.

“Highness,” Aegis began, “May I ask what you meant by being ambushed?”

“I meant that since I'm out of the hive, Mantis is going to get rid of me now that I'm out of sight of moth- of Amber,” Chrys replied bluntly, making Aegis frown slightly.

“He's not getting rid of anyone, Highness. He just doesn't want you, or the hive, at risk,” he assured, his tone troubling Chrys, making her eye him for a moment, before looking towards the direction they were heading.

“Take us to the right. Keep near the mountains, and low to the ground,” she said, eager to see how he reacted.

“But, Highness, that would add more time to our-”

“Aegis, it wasn't a suggestion,” she replied sternly, looking him in the eyes as he glanced towards her. They held the gaze for several moments, before his ears fell. Looking away from her, he kept his eyes forward as he continued north, getting closer to the ground as he did.

“...Aegis?” she asked in a worried tone.

“I'm sorry, Your Highness. I cannot do that. I do want to take you to Equestria, I really do. But, your safety comes first,” he said as he gave her a reassuring, and determined look.

Chrys's brow furrowed as she glanced to the side. She then took a deep breath, before looking to the clouds. He horn flashed brightly, twice in quick succession, a signal to the one flying above; a signal for help, assuming Dud wasn't out to betray her as well.

“Princess, was that a signal?” Aegis asked in a concerned tone, “You didn't have Darrin follow you, did you?” he asked, getting silence in response as she avoided even looking at him. She then noticed the barrels of nectar strapped to his shoulders, and gave them a suspicious glare.

Aegis was compromised, so what need would there be in carrying nectar to a destination he had no intention of taking her?

With a quick flip of her magic, she popped both open, seeing one half filled with nectar, and to her dismay, a soldier inside the other. The drone blinked at her in surprise, before it started to move. Chrysalis went into action, grabbing the barrel's side and giving it a hard twist, making it tilt over and drop the changeling within.

The sudden loss in weight made Aegis tilt unexpectedly, making her slide off as she saw the other barrel follow suit. What became of said barrel was lost to her. Mostly because she was now plummeting towards the ground.

Her heart threatened to leap from her chest as she frantically flapped her wings. They ached from the panicked effort, but managed to slowed her descent. Her efforts made her crash into the ground at an angle, making her slide across it, getting washed in mud, before coming to a ragged stop.

"...Off to a great start," Chrys mumbled as she rose to her hooves, her eyes falling to Aegis as he approached her, a concerned look on his face. She couldn't make out where the soldier was, or where the nectar had landed, but she did make out a yellow blotch in the sky that was quickly approaching them.

“Highness, are you alright?” Aegis asked in authentic worry as he looked over her, making Chrys avoid his gaze as she glanced north. Her eyes widened as she spotted the soldier that had secretly accompanied them, flying in that direction. She had little doubt that he was off to fetch Mantis and his cronies. This in mind, she turned to her former guardian, giving him a determined glare.

“Aegis. I'm going to Equestria,” she said sternly, taking up a defensive posture. “If you want to protect me, then keep me away from Mantis.”

“Highness, I can't do that,” he said with a focused, yet regretful look in his eyes, “The journey is far too dangerous. You're likely to fall to the cold long before reaching Equestria. It's my duty to protect you, and that's what I intend to do.”

“Said the guard who dropped her~” a certain yellow pegasus replied, making Aegis turn around in time to have an empty, cracked barrel placed atop his head. Distracted by his new headwear, Aegis was unable to stop Dud from effortlessly passing him. The pony then landed next to Chrys, “Not part of the plan I take it?” he asked as he nodded to Aegis, prompting her to glance to the side.

“You're not gonna turn on me too, are you?” she asked, making him raise an eyebrow at her.

“I don't really take myself as that kind of pony,” he stated, as if that alone was reason enough to trust him, “So, we staying?” he asked as he looked to Aegis, who was now managing to free himself from the barrel. Chrys shook her head, hopping on Dud's back.

“Let's go. Mantis has a royal guard backing him, we need to run,” she said, giving a glare to no one in particular.

“What about food?” Dud asked as he started to move around Aegis, who was now free of the barrel. “Didn't you want to talk to, uh, Mantis?” he asked as he started to gallop, making Chrys hold onto the pegasus.

“Too risky now,” she mumbled, getting a nod from him as Aegis gave them a surprised look.

“That's ... not Darrin! That's a pony!?” he let out, before shaking his head, “Let go of Her Highness!” he demanded as he charged after them, getting a small smile from Dud as he continued to gallop.

“Dud, why aren't we flying?” Chrys asked worriedly, making Dud hop in the air, spreading his wings out to glide as he indicated towards his destination; a barrel half-filled with nectar.

“You're going to need that, princess. I recommend grabbing it,” he said as he turned, curving around it as Chrys nodded. Her horn glowed, trying to wring the barrel out of the mud. It took longer than she liked, as Aegis had caught up to them when the barrel became free with a pop.

“Highness, get away from him, he's dangerous!”

“Highness?” Dud mirrored as he gave Aegis a funny look, getting an confused look in turn. “Princess, he's not on our side, right?” he asked as he looked to Chrys, seeing her shake her head.

“Your Highness, it's for your—”

“There it is again,” Dud said as he scrutinized Aegis. “Highness. Why do you call her that, when you're not on her side?” he asked, his question seeming to physically hurt Aegis, making the guard glance to the side for a moment, before his brow furrowed.

“Ponies are the enemy. You will release her!” he said, his horn glowing as his body was washed in amber flame. As his form began to change, an excited gleam appeared in Dud's eyes.

“Princess, you should hide. The one that left will bring back others,” Dud said as he stretched out a wing for Chrys to disembark. She rested on his back for a moment, barely hearing his words as she watched Aegis change.

Aegis's form became a head shorter, but his forelegs became bulkier. His body's color shifting to brown, his mane becoming bushy and encompassing his head and neck as his features became more feline; the body of a lion. His wings stretched out, becoming bat-like, and his tail grew more defined as it turned into a scorpion's tail.

“A Manticore!? It's been years since I've last seen one!” Dud let out excitedly, popping Chrys from her awe, making her shake her head as she quickly hopped off his back. The second she did, Dud jumped up, taking flight. Aegis watched him for a moment, before following after him.

She watched the pursuit, quickly understanding why Aegis changed. Manticores were fast; so fast that Dud wasn't even trying to outrun Aegis, but outmaneuver him. She saw him get dangerously close to the barbed tail several times, and wanted to feel worried for the pegasus. The fact that Dud seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself didn't really help with that endeavor.

In fact, from how their fight was playing out, Chrys was under the impression that Dud was more aware of what Aegis was capable of as a manticore then he did. Dud's efforts to dodge the barb left him exposed to Aegis' claws several times, which the royal guard never took opportunity of.

“Hey Mr. Royal Guard. Did you know a single drop of the poison in your tail is enough to paralyze five adult ponies for days!? Isn't that incredible?” Dud asked excitedly as he narrowly dodged said tail, making Chrys adopt an unamused look.

"Really?" Aegis asked in a confused tone, "Wait. You- S-Stop talking!" he added, seeming to blush as he tried to strike Dud again. Chrys simply shook her head, before taking her eyes from the aerial bout to look north.

With Dud and Aegis preoccupied, there was nothing standing between her and Mantis, who would likely be here shortly. The smart thing to do would be to hide. However, she still had her trump card, and Dud was still close by. So, instead of hiding, she stood out in the open, placing the barrel of nectar to the side as she kept an eye out for Mantis.

She didn't have to wait long. As the rain grew heavier, she spotted several dark figures in the sky. Her focus was drawn to one in particular, that was larger than the rest, and as they got closer, her eyes widened. She gritted her teeth as she glared at the figure, cursing Mantis's name as she did.

Leading the group of soldiers was Mantis, riding on Sledge's back.

“Of course Mantis would have found a way to save that brute!” she let out in frustration, her words drowned out by the pattering rain. “He probably convinced mother it wasn't worth her time to witness the event! Great. Just. Great!” she finished as she slammed a hoof down, splashing mud on her face in the process. Now, instead of having to get away from Aegis, she had two royal guards to contend with. Honestly, the dozen soldiers flying with Mantis were nothing but an afterthought compared to that.

Still, she stood waiting, albeit less composed.

Three drones separated from the group, joining Aegis in his attempt to catch Dud. Her eyes followed them, noticing the yellow pegasus taking note of the additional pursuers. He responded by getting closer to Aegis, grabbing some of his feline whiskers with his teeth and pulling down, forcing Aegis to reel from the unexpected assault, being turned on his back mid-air in the process.

Suddenly falling from the unfavorable turn, Aegis worked to right himself as the drones behind him scattered to avoid colliding. Dud had bought himself several seconds, which he used to quickly ascend towards the clouds. It didn't take long for the pursuit to continue, and Aegis was quickly catching up. It was difficult to tell in the rain, but Chrys felt as though Dud was giving her an assuring look as he disappeared into the gray ceiling.

She then looked back to the source of her strife, who landed before her, hopping off Sledge as the rest of the drones surrounded her. Besides Sledge, they were all in the form of pegasi, to keep warm. Mantis, however, shifted back to his natural form as he approached her, a matter of pride, she assumed.

“Ah, Princess,” he began as he gave her an empty bow, “Good thing we were close by. Who knows what that pony would have done otherwise?” he said with a small smile, making Chrys take a step forward.

Several things came to mind that she wanted to reply with: 'Thank you for being close by'. The pony's with me. He's tame. Shut your stupid face. I'm not letting you catch me, or whatever it is you want to do with me!

“Where's Momo?” she simply asked, making him raise an eyebrow at her.

“You didn't hear? I suppose not,” he said dismissively, “She was found last night, and was returned to the hive. I guess the soldier who was supposed to inform you, forgot to.”

She really hoped that was the truth, but she knew better than to trust him. Still, that was all she needed to hear. She didn't want to waste any time talking to him. His words had no value to her. So, she glanced to the clouds, seeing Dud weaving in and out of them at regular intervals. It was time to use her trump card.

Mantis noticed her diverted attention, his smile widening as he eyed Dud.

“Don't worry about the pony, Your Highness, there are plenty of places to bury him,” he said snidely as he motioned behind him, indicating a gorge a short gallop away. Chrys simply ignored him as she channeled her magic, her heartbeat climbing in preperation, horn glowing brightly as she generated four quick pulses of light. “...What was that?” he asked suspiciously, getting a snide smile in turn as her posture shifted. Her heart was now racing as she patted the ground with her hoof, ready to charge at Mantis, her peripheral vision catching a yellow blur diving out of the clouds towards them.

She continued gathering her magic, storing it, letting it accumulate, and as she did, she began to charge Mantis. He had a cautious look about him, his eyes on her horn, wondering what she had in mind; wondering what trick she had to power the confident smile she wore.

Dud's dive continued, his pursuers hot on his tail as he came closer, earning a side glance from Mantis, who motioned to Sledge.

“Keep your eyes on the obstacle in front of you!” Chrys shouted, keeping their attention as she raised her head. Mantis' eyes then widened in realization, bringing a hoof over his face right as her spell went off.

The land and skies for miles around were soaked teal, her natural color. Her light pierced through the rain, reflecting off the clouds back towards the ground, making her horn a source of light whose intensity rivaled the sun. Her eyes were shut, yet the strength of that light still made them water. Still she smiled; the drones around her were crying out, their sight being stolen from them.

As her magic gave away, the teal landscape returned to its gray complexion, and she staggered on her hooves for a moment. She'd never placed that much power into a spell before, and it drained her more than she expected.

Her heart then nearly leapt out of her chest when she felt herself being scooped up, and carried into the air.

“Gotcha! Princess! … I think,” Dud let out, getting a small sigh of relief from her, “That sounded like the princess sighing. Excellent!” he added as he spun around in mid-air, making her eyes widen when she didn't feel him carrying her anymore. Before she could make sense to why, she felt herself land on something soft.

She blinked as she realized she was now on Dud's back.

“Let me know if I'm about to fly us into anything, as I forgot to close my eyes,” he said sheepishly, flying in an upward direction as he started to lead them from the others. “And princess, if you end up in a falling situation again, I suggest turning into a bird, or something.”

Even though she felt a little lightheaded, that didn't stop her from frowning at him.

“I'll save you, Highness!” Aegis called out, making Chrys look behind her, seeing that they were being followed by Aegis, with Sledge a little behind them, unaffected by her spell. Her eyes then widened when she saw Aegis' stinger closing in on Dud.

“Dud, dive!” Chrys shouted, feeling her heart cry out as they immediately went into a dive, the poisonous barb narrowly missing the pegasus as they did.

“What's wrong? Was that Mr. Royal Guard?” Dud asked as they plummeted, her eyes widening at the terrifying pace the ground was approaching.

“Stop diving!!” What was the expression? Oh! “Level out, now!” she added, which he hastily did, narrowly avoiding the ground in the process. “The guards can see-”

The world flickered orange, the water in the air around them turning into mist as something big, heavy, and burning crashed into the ground behind them, creating an amber explosion. The blast washed past them, knocking them apart from each other, sending them rolling through the mud.

Chrys let out a groan as she got on her hooves, seeing Sledge standing in the center of a steaming crater, traces of amber flame sputtering out in the rain as he looked back. Her eyes then widened when she realized she was alone. Looking over her shoulder, she saw the lines Dud's body made in the mud lead over the gorge, now several paces behind her. Quickly hopping to her hooves, she ran to the edge, the slippery ground almost making her slide over into the dark crevice.

The depression stretched to both sides of her, barring her way a decent gallop's length in both directions. Far wider than she could hope to jump, she noticed a number of outcroppings littering the sides of the gorge's walls. Her ears fell as she looked as best she could; Dud was nowhere to be seen.

“Looks like the little princess has lost her pet,” Sledge said with a sneer, making her turn towards him with a hateful glare. His glare matched hers as he approached, his intent clear before he even reached her. He stopped however, when Aegis landed in between them, his scorpion tail stopping right in front of Sledge's chest.

“What are you doing here?" Aegis asked, before shaking his head, "You will keep your distance, traitor,” he said threateningly, prompting a sigh from Sledge.

“Calling me a traitor,” he mumbled, “Right, right,” he added dismissively as he casually pushed the barb away. He then eyed Chrys for a moment, before turning around, “Master, are you alright?” he asked as he looked back to where they came from, his eyes on Mantis, who was walking to meet them.

Seeing Mantis walking confirmed a small suspicion Chrys had when she saw him riding on Sledge's earlier. His wings were still recovering from their fight two days prior.

“Don't turn your back on me!” Aegis shouted at Sledge, “You're supposed to be dead!” he added, getting a bored look from Sledge.

“Aegis, it's alright,” Mantis assured, getting a confused look from the guard.

“How!?” Aegis asked as he took a heavy step towards Mantis, making the general take a cautious step back, “He nearly killed her! He's a threat to Her Highness, and he's an insult to what royal guards stand for!” he added heatedly.

While Mantis and the others were occupied, Chrys was busy plotting her next move. She had no food. No guard. Was completely outnumbered. And her only means of getting away was likely injured at the bottom of the gorge.

Her spell couldn't blind the guards, but it worked fine on drones. Thinking this, she eyed Mantis, then the gorge. She then blinked, and looked back to Mantis.

It looked like Sledge being alive had crossed some line for Aegis. He had a heated look about him, and wasn't buying into Mantis' assurances, which was making the general give short glances towards her, and Sledge. Sledge nodded in understanding, approaching Aegis cautiously from behind while the heated guard was focused on the general. Chrys felt a chill run down her spine when she realized what would come next, and shouted out for Aegis. All three of them paused, looking at her in unison, earning a glare from her.

Her eyes then shifted to confusion when she noticed strange movement happening off to the side of them. The ground itself seemed to be moving. As if a long tube of earth and rock was slithering over the mud, moving towards Mantis and the guards at a brisk pace. As she noticed it, she caught a sweet smell in the air, which made her sway slightly, making her shake her head. Mantis and the guards also seemed to falter for a moment, as if some unseen force had nearly knocked each of them off balance. They all shared a confused look, and before any of them could react to it, the tube of earth reached them.

Chrys took a panicked step back as it attacked, immediately reminding her of the gorge behind her. It reached Mantis first. The coil of earth hitting him like a whip, sending him flying flying through the air, a look of pain and shock on his face as he crashed into the mud with a wet thud.

Caught off guard, Aegis turned around in time for it to start coiling around him, making Chrys' eyes widen as the earth tightening around his fur started to change. Its texture and color shifted to better match Aegis' manticore coat. However, the parts of the coil touching the ground kept its earthly appearance.

With a majority of the tube anchored to the ground, Aegis let out a cry, before the coil rose up, carrying him with it, hurling him to the side. Aegis flew for a second, wings moving frantically to level out, for naught. He crashed face-first into the earth, sending rocks and mud flying. He lay there, unmoving, leaving only Sledge standing before the monster, who took a step back as the mass paused a moment, as if considering him.

Then, there was a flash of light that startled all of them. A trident of white that arced across the sky, touching the ground in the distance, its abstract fork-like pattern burning its silhouette on her eyes. A second afterwards, a deafening boom followed that skyward fracture, thundering for several seconds; a noise that made her jump in fright, making her hind legs slip into the gorge.

Her heart was racing as she flapped her wings frantically, aiding her as she pulled herself out of the gorge. As she tried to compose herself, her eyes fell to Sledge and the monster, her vision slightly out of focus, as the sweet smell seemed to get thicker with the 'thing' having gotten closer.

Another flash of light split the sky, this one to the south. Its light illuminated Sledge's and the monster's silhouette, making Chrys' eyes widen in understanding as she took in the creature before them. She had hoped her teal light she would summon unwanted attention. And now, it was here.

The coiled mass rested on the ground, gathering up like a bundled rope as it wound up for the next attack; the tube of earth was a snake. One whose body length was longer than seven or eight drones standing in a line, and being as thick as a drone's waist.

It struck out with terrifying speed, its scales shifting and changing as it did, working to blend itself in with its surroundings. Sledge managed to avoid the brunt of the blow as he jumped to the side, making the snake slide slightly in the mud as it poised its upper body to strike.

In another flash of light, Chrys was able to make out the rest of the creature's body. It had the upper torso of a pony, matching in size; it's mouth was open, revealing two large fangs, readying it to latch onto Sledge.

It was what the changelings referred to as a snake, but to a pony, it went by a different name. Lamia, a blood drinking monster.

There were many dangerous creatures in The Badlands, with Antlions and Lamia being among the most so. Chrys never considered her light drawing such a monster to them, as Lamia were supposed to sleep through the monsoon, just like changelings. Clearly, the one attacking right now didn't care about that.

The flash of light illuminating them ended in an instant, making Chrys lose sight of the upper body, its coat blending in perfectly with the heavy rain. One thought came to her, which was punctuated by the thunder that followed. She was standing on the wrong side of the gorge.

As Sledge tried to take flight, it pounced on him, coiling and wrapping its body around him like a vice. Sledge let out a cry of pain, bringing Chrys's awareness back to her as she turned around, eyeing the gap before her. She then stumbled slightly, the act of turning around being too much for her spinning head.

There were a number of things lamias were capable of, so she could only assume the sweet smell that was making her dizzy was its doing. Still, the notion of falling down, or becoming the snake's forth target, gave her enough drive to focus through the haze.

Looking into the gorge again, she took note of the outcroppings resting on the opposite side, her eyes wandering from left to right, till she spotted something she could use. Her horn then glowed, before she was wrapped in teal fire, her wings growing out and becoming feathery, her body turning white as she took the form of a pegasus filly she'd once seen in somepony's dream.

She then blinked as the change affected her eyes, making the world seem clearer, as if the rain wasn't even there. It seems the eyes of a pegasus were suited for heavy weather, a fortunate surprise on her part.

As the change ended, she felt her heat enchantment die off. Oddly, she didn't feel any colder than before, a fact she didn't take the time to appreciate as she could hear the struggle behind her getting closer. Giving her feathery wings an experimental flap, she took several steps back, before taking a deep breath and running towards the edge.

She closed her eyes as she jumped, picturing how Dud glided as she spread her wings out. To her relief, she didn't fall; not quickly anyway.

Her eyes opened, surprise evident when she saw the opposite wall quickly approaching. Her first 'flight' was rigged; she wasn't even daring to shift her wings, lest she send herself falling. Her heart then cried out when a breeze shifted her path, making her wings adjust involuntarily. She then blinked, as her shift had kept her on course, leading her to stumbling over as she landed on the outcropping.

Having landed safely, she let out a long sigh of relief, which shifted to a light fit of giggles brought on by that sweet, enticing smell. She then shook her head again, almost falling over in the process.

Something crashed into the top edge of the gorge, where she had been a moment prior, making her eyes widen as she looked for a place to hide. Spotting a large piece of rock, she rushed behind it, daring a glance around the corner to the source of her panic.

Sledge stood there, looking weak as he climbed to his hooves. He then hopped back, over the gorge, taking flight. Just in time to avoid the snake as it tried to reach for him. It glared at the flier, and with its shifting tail, picked up a rock as large as the one Chrys was hiding behind, hurling it towards the fleeing changeling.

Sledge managed to dodge it, flying back as he put distance between them. The snake looked to him for a moment longer, before it began to turn around. Chrys let out a sigh, but her lungs seized up as the snake paused, eyeing the ground before the gorge; eyeing the tracks. It then peered down into the hole, making Chrys pull her eyes from it as she waited. She was on the ‘safe’ side, but she still didn't want it to notice her.

Over the booming rain, the rivulets of water pouring into the gorge, she could swear she could hear the snake hissing as it looked down. There was a crash as rock shattered, making Chrys flinch as the hissing got louder. She sat there for a moment, listening with all her heart, waiting as the moments paused by at a painfully slow pace. As she heard the hissing get weaker, she finally let out the breath she'd been holding. After several seconds, she’d dared to glance around the rock, seeing a portion of the snake's tail driven into the opposite side's wall as an anchor.

It was climbing down into the gorge. She felt this was important, and terrible, but the sweet, sweet smell kept her from realizing why. However, she did find herself oddly curious to where Dud was.

Said pegasus was washed up on a ledge deep in the gorge.

At the bottom was a growing stream of torrential water, running down towards an unseen destination, and it had dragged him along when he splashed into it. Getting out of the water proved to be a struggle, taking longer than he liked. Pulling himself out from the ledge he grabbed onto, he took a moment to catch his breath, before taking in his surroundings.

It was dark. Water was pouring in from the rain, as well as countless small waterfalls that were illuminated by the gray sky far far above him. Unable to glean anything more useful, he let out a small sigh as he recalled how he ended up down here.

“So, royal guards can do a dive-bombing explosion. Neat. Wish Lores had told me about that one,” he mumbled as he got to his hooves, involuntarily wincing as he moved his hind legs. “Looks like galloping is out for a bit...” he added as he let out a small sigh.

Everything had been going so well, so he guessed it was inevitable for something like this to happen. Granted, only he saw it as 'going well', a fact that he suspected bothered the princess. Still, before being hit by that explosion, today had been the best day Dud had had since the first time Lores woke him up to ask questions.

He was let out of his cage, permanently, to help the princess reach Equestria. Now he was flying freely again. He even got to tangle with a manticore and a royal guard at the same moment. And very very recently, got his first bath in what felt like years. Today was proving to be a great day. Sort of.

He then stretched out his wings, a smile coming to him when the only protest they made was an ache born of fatigue. Living in a cage for several months didn't do his endurance any favors. His eyes then widened, brow furrowing as he glanced around again, wondering where his passenger was, not seeing her anywhere nearby. Okay, maybe today wasn't that great. Not right now anyway.

“Princess, you down here!?” he yelled out, his voice drowned out by the storm, making him aware that the water level was rising. His ears then fell as he tried to peer through the darkness, worry starting to settle in. “Okay. As I recall, the big guy exploded, and sent me flying over. The princess was pretty light...” he said as he looked back up, giving his wings a solid flap as he started to rise, “So, maybe she didn't fall in!” he assured himself as he increased his pace.

He flew up and up, making his way out of the gorge in a short span, returning to the now lightning ridden Badlands, pausing just beneath the clouds. He then followed the gorge the opposite way the water had dragged him, and it wasn't long before he spotted several dark figures gathering near the edge. The guard, the manticore, and their leader.

They looked injured, making Dud wonder if that was the princess's doing. Circling around them, he saw no sign of her, making him frown in thought. He suggested she hide, so maybe that's what she was doing. Nodding to himself, he eyed the changelings for a moment longer, before looking south.

He didn't know where the princess would hide. The gorge? That outcropping of rocks to the left? That antlion pit far to the right? He could guess all day, but instead, he flew higher, keeping himself distant from the changelings as he flew south, back where the nectar had been left.

Sooner or later, the princess would either light a beacon for him, or return to get the food. That's what he thought as he passed over three drones that were heading towards the guards and general. “Were those the ones that chased me?” he wondered out loud, getting a rumble of thunder in reply as he found the area all this had started in.

There, he spotted the other nine drones, standing close together as they tried fruitlessly to look around, their sight still lost to them. Dud's smile widened at seeing this, casually gliding towards the barrel.

He noticed the contents inside were getting rained on, with a small layer of water already resting over the nectar. Circling around, he spotted one of the lids the princess had thrown off resting a little bit back, and after pulling it out of the mud, returned to the barrel. He then noticed a extra drone, disguised as a pegasus, eyeing the barrel in surprise. As if she hadn't been expecting a feast to be lying in wait under the rain.

Dud didn't know where this newcomer came from, but he wasn't letting her take what was left of the princess' food. And, he was under the impression talking with a bunch of blind drones around wasn’t the best idea in this situation. So, he dove into her, sending them both rolling through the mud. She surprised him by how quickly she reacted to the attack. Getting out of his hooves in short order, she jumped back and adopted a defensive pose. She then blinked when her eyes met his, and Dud himself paused when he took note of her appearance.

She had a short, light red mane and matching tail, while her coat was a very light shade of purple. In fact, if it wasn't for the constant lightning sharpening her features every few seconds, he'd have confused her coat for gray. His eyes were drawn to her mane, the color and the way it curled around her ear reminding him of a certain 'missing' changeling.

“Dud?” she asked, making him blink, before his smile widened. Today really was turning out to be the best.

Chrys waited several minutes, thankful for the reprieve her hiding spot gave her as she let the sweet smell weaken, along with its effects. Light and thunder constantly lit up the sky as she collected herself, wondering how long it was safe to stay hidden.

She then noticed movement at the top of the gorge, the side she had abandoned. Mantis was peering down into it, with Sledge and Aegis at his side. All three of them were battered, and Sledge himself looked particularly weak, as if he could topple over at any moment.

Mantis was talking, but she couldn't make out the words through all the noise. Sledge and Aegis looked to each other, and after a moment, they nodded. Aegis went down into the gorge, and after a second, Sledge followed after him. Both were descending after the snake, and more likely, after her. The guards quickly passed by her hiding spot, Mantis's eyes on them as they delved deeper into the gorge. When she was certain they were out of sight, she peered around the rock, looking to Mantis, seeing a focused look in his eyes.

He was battered, and couldn't fly. He was still in his natural form, meaning he was tolerating the cold as he looked on, a fire in his eyes that made Chrys realize something about him. Once he set his sights on something, he didn't stop until he got what he wanted. He could have left her, taking the guards with him, leaving her fate up to the snake and the drowning rain. Instead, he waited. He wanted confirmation.

Chrys glared at him, her form shifting as she was wreathed in teal fire, which quickly sputtered out as she returned to her true form. The chill of the rain hit her unexpectedly hard, making her curse his name as she already felt her body's heat begin to leach away into the cold. She then stepped out of her hiding spot, eyes still locked on his. He looked on, his eyes not focused on her, making her realize he couldn't see her dark form through all the rain, while she could easily make him out with the cloudy backdrop behind him.

Her horn then glowed as she picked up a rock. Once again, a certain statue came to mind as she cast the stone, putting as much of her strength in it as she could. Mantis noticed the glow of her horn, his eyes falling towards hers in surprise, right as her attack connected.

The rock hit him squarely in the head. It let out a metallic clang that was clearly heard over the storm. The impact knocked the helm free from his head, Mantis himself toppling out of sight.

Chrys wore a proud, snide grin at the sight, which she carried with her as she appraised her side of the gorge. She had picked this particular ledge when she jumped in, because it had a path that led back to the top, it just required some jumping. With great haste and purpose, she got out of the gorge, looking back to Mantis, where he lay, in the mud.

She watched in satisfaction as he staggered to his hooves, rubbing his head as he noticed the dent made in his decorated helm. He then noticed her, and gave her a cold look, before picking it up. Chrys then took in a deep breath, really hoping he could hear her words.

“Good luck explaining that to Amber!” she let out snidely, seeing him tremble in fury.

Her smile then faded when she noticed that there, standing behind Mantis, were three soldiers. He made a small motion with his hoof, sending the drones after her. Her eyes widened as she turned around and started running.

The act of running reminded her of how cold she was. She wanted to blind them too, but she doubted she could dodge them in her compromised state. She wasn't running nearly as fast as she could. Stuck between casting a spell, and shapeshifting, she found the choice made for her when the first drone to reach her got a hold of her hindlegs.

She summoned her magic as quickly as she could, panic guiding her actions more than reason as she let out a bright flash that was only a third as powerful as earlier. Still, it was enough to disorient them for a moment, freeing her from the one that grabbed her. She then shifted back into a pegasus, the cold fading away as she started running again, surprised by the speed she was putting out in this form.

However, she still couldn't fly. After a few seconds, the drones were able to make out where she ran, and quickly caught up to her. They came close, ready to grab her, ready to give her to their general. Instead, they were sent sprawling when a pair of pegasi plowed into them.

She blinked as Dud and the mysterious newcomer planted the drones in the mud. It quickly became clear that the drones wouldn’t be getting up anytime soon from that. Chrys looked to Dud, then to the other pony with a curious, and confused look on her face.

The light-purple mare turned from her victims, striding up to Chrys. Their eyes met as the mare gave the heartiest of grins. Looking into her eyes, Chrys saw through the disguise as her mind's eye showed her the changeling hidden beneath the fur and feathers. Her eyes began to water, her chest aching from unexpected joy as she stepped towards the mare.

"Momo?"

“The one and only!” Momo said with a warm smile, making Chrys leap towards her.

“Momo!” she let out as she gave her clutchling a fierce hug, one so tight and full of emotion that she didn't want to ever let go. Momo embraced her in kind, a serene look on her face as she did.

A small voice in Chrys' head was spinning with questions. How'd she get away? What was she doing out here? How'd she find her? That small voice that was pushed to the side, the princess simply happy in knowing that her clutchling was safe, and out of Mantis' hooves. Dud then cleared his throat as he eyed the onlooking general, making Chrys and Momo follow his gaze, before letting go of each other.

“We should go, before the rest come,” Dud pointed out, making Chrys adopt an annoyed look, before nodding in agreement.

“Chrys, hop on!” Momo said, getting no complaints as Chrys nodded.

“Let's go topside!” Dud shouted as he pointed up, getting a nod from the others, before they took flight. Chrys’s eyes then widened.

“Wait! We need to get the nectar!” she pointed out, making Dud look to her.

“Got it right here,” he said with a happy nod, pointing to a barrel sitting close to where he had flown in from. “So, let's shoot for the clouds!” he added as he scooped up the nectar, before ascending. Momo followed suit, making Chrys cling to her tightly as they climbed up.

As the ground became distant, Chrys looked back, seeing Mantis standing on the opposite side of the gorge, his eyes watching her as she escaped his grasp. He then vanished as they broke into the clouds, making Chrys tighten her hold even more as they did.

The rain in the cloud was so thick, that any trace of mud from their encounters was washed off them. Chrys' eyes clung shut as she felt small pellets of something hard bounce off her. For what seemed like an eternity, they ascended, the rumble of thunder, the crashing, the chaos born from the clouds over The Badlands washing over them as they did.

Then, unexpectedly, it all stopped.

She felt the sun on her fur, its light so dominant that she felt compelled to open her eyes, letting out a gasp at the scene before them.

As far as her eyes could see, in every direction, was a sea of rolling white clouds. The breeze blew through her mane as she looked to Momo and Dud. Both were soaked, just as she was, but they also looked incredibly clean. With the storm now beneath them, she took in the shifting cloudscape before her, looking to the sun with a growing grin. Despite the odds being stacked against her, she’d gotten away, with her clutchling at her side.

Now she could continue forward, without worry, to Equestria...

Author's Notes:

Party assembled; now, to Canter Town!
Hope I didn't disappoint with this chapter.
Thanks as always for reading!

10. Bright Feathers

Mantis’s head throbbed as he watched the princess disappear into the clouds. Were he younger, he’d likely curse her in some underwhelming fashion. ‘Go ahead, run! I’ll be waiting!’, or something to that effect. Instead, all he offered her departure was a scowl, his body feeling a little too cold for anything more emotive. He then looked to his downed and blind soldiers, before letting out a long sigh. He shifted, taking on the form of a pegasus, before picking up his helm.

“Hmph. Not bad,” he mumbled under his breath, a hint of pride in his voice. He wouldn’t admit it out loud, but there was something admirable in being bested by someone he thought beneath him. He quickly dismissed the odd feeling as he glanced to the gorge, seeing Sledge hovering out, alone. “Aegis?” he asked.

“Double checking. Looking for the runt,” he quickly replied. Mantis let out a small huff.

“Pointless. She got away,” he said, holding his helm towards the guard, whose ears fell.

“I- I should have stayed. I’m sorry, master,” Sledge said, shame written on his face.

“It couldn’t be helped,” Mantis said dismissively, “We had an unexpected interloper.”

“Cursed snake,” Sledge replied, rubbing his neck, wincing. “Should I hunt the princess?” Mantis tilted his head at that, briefly glancing to his most loyal soldier.

“If you wish. Capture or kill, I care not which.” Mantis considered the matter for a moment, “I want you to deal with the pony. He knows far too much.” He then gave Sledge a hard look, “But don’t forget your primary goal.”

“I won’t, master.” Sledge then frowned, “What of Aegis?” Mantis’s head throbbed more at the question, making the general sigh. Had she not gone away, Aegis would have been the perfect watchdog to the ‘tower’ Chrys would have been locked in.

“I’ll calm him down,” he said with a sigh, “Can’t have him running back to the hive.” He then gave Sledge a cold look, “Humor him until you reach Equestria, then deal with him.”

“With pleasure,” he replied, following Mantis’s gaze, looking north.

Chrys felt a tingle crawl down her spine. It was only natural, as the air was cold, and her fur was wet. Despite that, she was feeling pretty good with herself right now.

“So!” Dud began, “On a scale of five to ten, I'd give our escape top marks!” he let out happily, before wincing in pain, the barrel shifting slightly in his grasp. “Okay, maaybee a nine. It went pretty well, right?” Chrys let out a small sigh as she looked to the stallion.

“A nine?” she asked as she raised an eyebrow to him, “We don’t have enough food, and no Aegis to back us up!” She then blinked as she looked to Momo. Her expression then softened as she rubbed her cheek against her clutchling. “Yeah, easily a ten,” she mumbled, her words only heard by Momo.

“Thanks Chrys,” Momo whispered in turn with a warm smile, before speaking up. So… what did I miss?” she asked, making Chrys and Dud exchange looks.

“Who's going first?” Dud ask, the clouds beneath them rumbling as he did, their promise of danger lost to them.

“Going first?” Chrys asked.

“Well, Momo's here. That wasn't part of the plan," he replied before pointing to Chrys, "You somehow beat up those two big guys—”

“Their names are Sledge and Aegis,” Chrys said flatly, “Sledge was the one you took down a few days ago.”

“How could I forget?” he asked, before shaking his head, “Who’s first?” he added expectantly as his body shifted, his hooves working to get a better grasp on the barrel he carried.

“Momo, what are you doing here?” Chrys asked curiously, not in the mood to divulge her luck regarding the snake's attack. “Mantis told us you were returned to the hive. That was a lie, right?”

“Well, considering I escaped him several hours after he 'took me in'. Yep! I big fat lie!” she said flatly, getting a surprised look from Chrys. Dud however seemed to nod in agreement, as if he had expected it.

“How'd you escape?” Chrys asked, briefly wondering if a snake had been involved. Momo actually gave Chrys a bashful look.

“Well, it wasn’t easy. Me against six soldiers... But, I managed,” she said before glancing away, "barely," she added under her breath.

“You took down six soldiers?” Chrys asked, making Dud chime in.

“Eight, if you include the two she planted in the mud. You know, the ones that were chasing you,” he pointed out, making Momo blush slightly.

“I wanted to be ready when Mantis took me in. Guess all that effort paid off,” she said with a bright smile, making Chrys frown in thought.

“You knew it would happen?” she asked in an unfavorable tone, making Momo wince, as if she had unexpectedly put a hoof in her mouth.

“Y-Yes,” she replied weakly, before letting out a sigh, “I've known for a while now.”

“And you still stayed with me!?” Chrys asked, “You have any idea how I felt these last two days!? I was scared!” The princess then blinked at her words, blushing as she glanced to the side.

“The word you're looking for is 'worried',” Dud said as an aside, getting a small glare from Chrys as Momo's ears fell.

“I'm sorry,” Momo mumbled as she eyed the clouds, “Darrin told me this would happen. That Mantis would use me as a bargaining piece. But, I didn't want to leave you like the others did.”

“Darrin?” Chrys asked, getting a small nod from Momo.

“Chrys, you remember that big fight him and I had … about three years ago?”

“You mean the one that ended with you two having to be looked after by Aid for several days?” she asked in a curious tone, before giving a flat look. “No. It completely slipped my mind.” She then glanced to the side as she mumbled: “Idiot.”

“Eh heh heh,” Momo let out sheepishly.

“It's not funny!” Chrys quickly replied, before her eyes widened in realization, “Wait, that fight had something to do with this?”

“Yeah. Guess now's the best time to finally fill you in,” she said, pausing a moment, getting a curious look from Dud and Chrys, before she took a deep breath. “Before our fight, Mantis approached me. He told me it would be in my ‘best interests’ to distance myself from you.” She hesitated. “He, well, he said it in a very scary way,” Momo added, letting their imaginations fill in the gap. “When I told Darrin, he said I should do just that.”

“W-What!?” Chrys asked in surprise.

“That's exactly what I said," she replied with an annoyed huff, "He told me I'd just become a liability to you. A token Mantis would use against you.” She then let out a sad sigh, “He was right, of course. But, I didn't want to hear that. I didn't want to believe that. I told him that I'd never let that happen, that I'd protect you.”

“And he tested you,” Dud assumed, getting a surprised look from the others, before Momo nodded.

“He said that if I wanted to protect Chrys, I should have become a soldier, instead of a worker. He said that a soldier protects the queen, and that I didn't stand a chance against a recruit like him." She then adopted a proud look, "I was strong. I took on work even my peers couldn't. So, I was confident I could beat him.” Her pride was then exchanged for a bittersweet smile, “I'm the oldest of our clutch, so I've always wanted to set a good example. So I worked a lot, helped out, and tried to be there when the others needed me.”

“Momo...”

“Darrin... He was focused. He never liked Mantis. He became a soldier so he could one day take him down. So when we fought, it came as a surprise to me, that I lost,” she admitted, getting a considering look from Chrys.

“Why didn't you two ever tell me this?”

“I was ... ashamed,” she said, letting her words carry in the wind for a moment before she glanced to the side. “I think Darrin kept quiet for my sake... When Aid was looking over me, I thought about it. How was I supposed to protect you, if I couldn't defeat a recruit?” She then let out a small laugh, “I only realized later that Darrin was beyond a simple recruit at that point, but the fact still held. I lost to a single soldier, so how was a worker like me supposed to win against Mantis?”

“Clearly, you got better,” Dud pointed out, getting a nod from Momo.

“I don't like giving up,” she said resolutely as she looked to Chrys, “Giving up on you wasn't an option.”

“Why?”

“That's-” she began, before her face flushed, “Still embarrassing to say. lLter, I promise,” she said, getting an appraising look from Chrys.

“Okay,” she said with a nod.

“Where was I?” Momo asked as she tried to recollect herself, “Right. After thinking about if for a couple days, I challenged Darrin to a rematch. I told him I wasn't going to give up, that I wasn't going to abandon you like Mantis wanted. It annoyed him, and I lost that time too, but I did gracefully,” she said as she glanced to Chrys, “You calling us idiots and crying kept us from taking it too far that time.”

“I- I didn't cry! But you were being idiots!” Chrys affirmed, getting a small chuckle from Momo.

“I challenged him. Again and again and again. I never won. He was constantly getting stronger. But because of that, so was I. And I guess, he was fine with that. After our first fight, he never tried pushing me away again,” she added as she wore a thankful smile. “When I saw you, standing alone against Mantis a few days ago, I was scared, but I was also ready.” She then blinked, before frowning. “A couple months ago, Darrin told me he could take on an entire squad by himself,” she said, making Chrys' eyes widen in surprise.

“And he said he's not strong enough to fight Mantis...” she mumbled.

“So, the guards that Mantis left to look after you weren't nearly enough!” Dud pointed out, getting an embarrassed smile from Momo.

“Darrin wanted to keep our fights a secret. Guess it worked, since Mantis underestimated me.”

“I didn't even know,” Chrys said, sounding a little disappointed, “Wait. You guys fought at our spot, didn't you?” she asked, getting a small nod from Momo.

“Sorry to keep you in the dark, and, sorry that I worried you,” she said as her ears fell, “I thought Darrin would tell you when Mantis made his move, but I guess he didn't.”

“The impression I got from Darrin was that he expects the worst outcome,” Dud said, “He had a couple of scary promises for me when we talked yesterday,” he added, this information seeming to surprise Momo.

“You and Darrin talked?” she asked in a quiet voice, before shaking her head and looking to her clutchling. “So, we good?” she asked, getting an appraising look from Chrys, before she rubbed her cheek against the back of Momo's neck.

“Momo, you're okay! Yes, I'm a little mad that I was kept in the dark, but I'm still glad you're safe!” she exclaimed, getting a small sigh of relief from Momo, before she adopted a bright smile. When it became clear Chrys had nothing more to add, Momo looked to Dud curiously.

“So. What's going on? What's Dud doing here? Did Lores let him out?”

“Well, Mantis wanted me to leave, or else...” Chrys said as she glanced to the side, making Momo's ears fall, “A- And Darrin guessed he'd attack me once I left, so I made a plan to get away.”

“Where is Darrin? Bulwark?”

“I made Darrin stay behind. Bulwark...” she began as her ears fell.

“He got hurt in a fight,” Dud finished, getting an annoyed look from Chrys. “What? It's true.”

“A fight I started,” she added, getting a concerned look from Momo.

“Is he gonna be alright?” she asked, getting a small nod in turn.

“Aid said he'll be fine, though he won't be able to talk for a while.” She then adopted a glare, aimed at no one in particular, “Mantis told me you were missing. I assumed he was behind it, so I fought him.”

“...And you called me an idiot,” Momo mumbled, making Chrys flush as she eyed the clouds. “Why'd you bring Dud?” she asked, before lowering her voice to a whisper, “I mean, he's a pony.”

“Huh, I never noticed,” Chrys replied flatly, rolling her eyes, “He helped me and Bulwark in that fight. I didn't know what Mantis had in store for me, but I figured having a pony on my side would help. Which it did.”

“So … I guess we're off to Equestria?” Momo asked, getting a nod from Dud.

“Your princess wants to talk to Princess Luna, or something like that.”

“And food, there's that too,” Chrys added. She then hesitated for a moment, before eyeing Dud curiously, which made him look to her, tilting his head in wonder. “Dud, come closer,” she ordered, which he followed without even a hint of a fuss.

She then looked into his eyes, her changeling magic shining through despite her pegasus form. She peered into his heart, and in her mind's eye she saw impressions, outlines of ponies, creatures, monsters, that Dud had encountered. There was nothing solid, nothing she could get a grasp of. She could feel that there was a number amongst those forms that he liked, but none of them he outright loved. No family. No special somepony. No ponies he held strong ties of 'friendship' towards. There was nothing solid in him for her magic to latch on to, nothing for her to feed on. He truly was a dud. “It'd be really useful if you decided to fall in love with something right about now,” Chrys said as she adopted a disappointed look, making Dud raise an eyebrow to her.

“I'm no relations expert, but I don't think love works that conveniently,” he said, before glancing to Momo, “Right?”

“R- Right?” Momo mirrored, just as unsure as he.

“So yeah, sorry Princess, but this nectar’s all we have for now.”

“Stop calling me that, it's annoying,” she replied dismissively, “Call me Chrys,” she added, getting a small smile from him as she paused, recalling something Darrin had implied earlier. “You like rare things, right?”

“Do I!? Yes! Specifically, rare creatures!” he quickly replied, “Though I am fond of other rare things too.” He then adopted a look of wonder, “You'd never believe the things I've seen and been through. Oh! I should tell you about the time I was paralyzed in a manticore cave for an entire week!” he added enthusiastically, making Chrys hold a hoof up.

“About that. I was wondering, do you well, collect rare creatures?” she asked, his enthusiasm quickly winding down has he looked at her, before his expression became annoyed, even insulted.

“I'd never even think of doing such a despicable thing,” he said in a hot tone, turning towards them for a moment, his mouth open in preparation to add more. He then paused, before closing his eyes as he took in a deep breath, shaking his head before looking to them. “I'm not fond of such notions, Princ- Chrys,” he explained, making Momo and Chrys exchange concerned glances. His course then shifted, making Momo hesitate for a moment, before following him.

“Where are you going?” Chrys asked suspiciously.

“Turning north,” he said flatly.

“Wait, now we're heading north?” Chrys asked in surprise.

“Yep. We've been heading east this whole time,” he explained, making Chrys glance to the sun, centered in the sky.

“How can you tell?” Momo asked.

“The Badland winds move west to east. I've been following the wind to get us some distance from the others. They know we want to go north, right? So I went a little east to make sure they didn't stumble into us.”

“Why east?” Chrys asked, getting a sheepish smile from him.

“Honestly? Because it's easier to fly with the wind. Being in that cage for so long has well, sapped my stamina. In fact, I could really use a break right now,” he added with a small smile, before eyeing Momo, “You're hungry, right?”

“I-I'm perfectly fine,” Momo replied. Her stomach gurgled in protest, getting unamused looks from Chrys, and even Dud.

“Momo, how long have you been a pegasus?” Chrys asked.

“...Since I got free,” she answered in a small voice.

“Wasn't that a little over two days ago?” Dud asked, getting a weak nod from Momo, making Dud change his course.

He flew up towards the top of a large thundercloud, and after getting a small nod from Chrys, Momo followed. With a quick turn, Dud flew through the cloud, his wings spread out, seeming to cut off the top plume as he passed through it. He then looped around, placing his shoulder on it, pushing it away from the much larger chunk he separated it from. Once it was pushed away a distance Dud seemed happy with, he flew over it, gently resting his rump on it as he held onto the barrel.

He then let out a smile fitting for one that had spent the last five months resting on a stone floor. With the barrel still in his hooves, he stretched out the best he could, letting out a pleasant sigh as he did.

Seeing this, Chrys eyed Momo for a moment, the notion of standing on a cloud enticing her to motion her clutchling closer. When they were over it, Chrys hesitated for a moment, before jumping off.

She landed on the cloud, its soft texture giving and swaying slightly at her weight. It was soft, easily the softest thing Chrys as ever felt, making her smile as she followed Dud's example, and laid down too, eyeing the sun above as she stretched out her fatigued body. The fact that she hadn't gotten much sleep in the last few days was quick to make it's presence known to her.

As she lay there, she looked to the blue above, feeling the warmth of the sun. It's heat made her let out a pleasant sigh, feeling as if she was being congratulated for her success against Mantis. She then blinked when she noticed Momo was simply floating above the cloud, prompting Chrys to wave her over.

Momo hesitated for a moment, before flapping down to Chrys' side. She then landed, her wings pausing as she planted her hooves on the cloud. She promptly fell through, disappearing in a plume of white, making Chrys blinked in surprise as she heard Momo let out an indignant yelp.

“M-Momo?” Chrys asked, adopting a frown as Dud started to laugh. Momo popped out of the cloud, wings flapping, a flustered expression on her face as the changelings shared a confused look.

“A drone can't stand on the clouds. That's pegasus magic,” he pointed out, still chuckling a little as he sat up, propping up the barrel as he waved towards Momo. “We're gonna have to find shelter below the clouds when its time to sleep.”

“I- Well-” Momo began, realizing her presence would prevent them from resting where it was safe. “S-Sorry that I'm just a drone,” she said as her ears fell.

“Momo, you don't need to apologize,” Chrys quickly said as she approached her clutchling.

“She's right,” Dud added in an assuring tone, “Besides, the barrel can't stand on the clouds either. We'd need to rest on the earth anyways. I mean, I don't know about you, but I can't really carry this thing while sleeping. Also, I don't trust these clouds.”

“Huh?” Chrys asked, making Dud motion to the clouds around them.

“These clouds, they shift and change. They're nothing like the clouds in Equestria. They're wild,” he said with a slightly troubled look, “There's no telling what could happen if we slept on them,” he added, making Chrys appraise the cloud she lay on, before putting a hoof in it out of curiosity. Pulling it out, she scooped up a bit of the cloud in the process, making her eye the white puff-ball for a moment, before blowing it away with a short breath.

She watched as it caught on a breeze, flying off and out of reach. She then laid her head between her hooves as she eyed the miniature cloud. From the warmth of the sun, the soft bed, and fatigue that gnawed at her, it was only natural that she'd start to doze off. Without even putting up a fight, she closed her eyes, and was out like a hatchling.

Momo eyed Chrys curiously, flying around the cloud for a closer look, before adopting a warm smile as she realized the princess was asleep.

“Nectar?” Dud asked, making Momo blink as she looked to him, presenting the barrel to her.

“Pass. That needs to last,” she said flatly, before eyeing the pegasus. “Dud, why are you still here?” she asked, making him blink before tilting his head.

“Lots of reasons,” he began, making Momo nod in familiarity.

“Top three.”

“Okay, the biggest one is because I want to. Second biggest is because I told her I wasn't the type of pony that would abandon her. Thirdly, because Darrin is scary.”

“He threatened you?”

“No. He made promises,” Dud replied with a sense of weight, before giving Momo a smile. “Still want me to leave?” She considered the question for a minute, before nodding.

“Yes. You're free now,” she then hesitated, “You helped Chrys. Twice, apparently. So, thank you.” She then frowned, “And I really mean that.”

“I know,” he replied, his sincerity making her falter for a moment.

“You don't need to stay with her,” she added, making him consider her words, before shaking his head.

“I don't think leaving her is a good idea,” he replied, hopping on his hooves as he presented the barrel to her. She took it, her eyes widening at how heavy it was. “You'd have to carry that, and her,” he stated, making her frown as she looked at him.

“You think I can't do it?”

“How tired would you be after doing that for a whole day? What if an antlion paid the two of you a visit while you slept?” he pointed out, making her glance to the side with no answer to give. “I won't need much nectar, I can ration my portion. Besides, there's strength in numbers and all that,” he added with a small grin.

“I guess..." she conceded, eyeing the barrel for a moment, before her stomach growled, making her blush. "You're not gonna turn us in as soon as we reach Equestria, are you?

"Nope," he said with no hesitation, making her look over him for a moment, before letting out a sigh.

"...Thank you.”

"If you wanna thank me, then make sure you eat some nectar," he said with a coy smile, getting a flat look from her, before she let out a defeated sigh. She eyed the barrel for a moment, then looked to Chrys with a bothered smile.

“Wish I could lay on the clouds,” she mumbled, getting a small chuckle from Dud as Chrys flinched, suddenly springing to her hooves.

“I- I'm awake!” she stated firmly, getting nods from the others.

“That you are,” Dud replied, making Chrys rub her eyes as she looked to him.

“Don't worry Chrys, you weren't out for long,” Momo assured, getting a sigh from Chrys as she shook her head in an attempt to rid herself of fatigue. Her eyes then widened as she recalled that she was standing on a cloud.

Once again she dug her hooves into it, feeling the texture with a small smile. This was the first time she's ever had a chance to appreciate a pony's magic. She'd been taught that pegasi could walk on clouds, but she never considered trying it out herself.

She then eyed her feathery wings, recalling how she glided across the gorge. She was a young queen, which meant her shapeshifting was perfect, and it was her natural power that spared her from the snake, the guards, soldiers, and Mantis. A pegasus could glide. A changeling couldn't. Thinking this made her glare at nothing in particular, as she looked across the clouds.

She was outside of the hive, in a dangerous environment. If she wanted to make it to Equestria safely, she'd need to use whatever means she had available to do so.

Admittedly, she was just trying to persuade herself into doing something she's wanted for as long as she could remember. Flight. However, she needed to work through her changeling pride to accomplish that as a pony. Her changeling wings weren't strong enough to carry her. Did the same hold true for her pegasus wings? Regardless, she wanted her first time flying to be accomplished the way she was born, as a changeling.

“Something on your mind, Chrys?” Dud asked as he walked to her, making her realize he no longer had the barrel. She then noticed Momo had it, and was eagerly putting away her hunger with it.

“It's nothing,” Chrys quickly replied as she walked around the cloud, eyeing their surroundings as she did.

The entire cloudscape seemed similar to the ground, a notion enforced by the fact that she was walking on it, sort of. There were rolling clouds that were flat, while there were others that sprouted out of the white plain like hills or mountains. Clouds so big they cast shadows over the others, shadows illuminated by flashes of lightning.

“It's all so … different,” she said as she took it in, no sense of vertigo present to take away from it all. “Like it's a completely different world,” she added as Dud stood next to her, taking in the scene that was as much a part of him as his feathers.

“It feels like that because it's unfamiliar,” he stated confidently, “Dark forests with strange plants and creatures. Oceans and lakes deeper than the sun can touch.” He then adopted a small smile, “Caverns home to shape-shifting wonders,” he said, an excited gleam in his eyes, “There are many different worlds! There's so much to see, so many rare and unknown things just waiting waiting to be found!” He then blinked, before shaking his head, “Sorry. I ... got lost in the moment there,” he added as he rubbed the back of his head.

“You like exploring?” she asked as she raised an eyebrow to him.

“Naturally. After all, it's easier to find rare things when you go out to look for them.”

“...I suppose it's even easier when you can fly,” she replied as she eyed her wings again, stretching out her white feathers, feeling the breeze brush past them.

“Well, naturally.”

She hesitated for a moment, giving her wings an experimental flap. They were her wings, and if she flew, it would be of her own strength. But, doing it as anything other than a changeling just seemed … wrong. At least, for her first time. She wanted her first time flying to be special, something she did as her natural self. And while she wasn't in a position to get what she wanted, she didn't see a reason to simply throw away that sentiment. Not right now at least.

“We're done resting," she said as she turned to the yellow pegasus, "Dud, you can carry me.” She added, making him look to her in surprise as she hopped on his back.

Her body was briefly covered in fire as she changed back to a changeling, making Dud let out a surprised yelp from the heat. She then mirrored his cry, the cold air hitting her like a splash of icy water. Her horn quickly glowed as she recast her enchantment, making the sapping sensation vanish almost instantly.

“Momo, you good?” she asked as she eyed her clutchling, who eyed the barrel for a moment, before flying to their sides.

“Yeah, I'm good. Gotta make this last after all,” she replied, her eyes widening in surprise as Chrys took the barrel from her with her magic.

“I'll carry it. Since you couldn't rest, you shouldn't have to.”

“Chrys, I think Dud's the one that needs the rest more,” Momo pointed out, getting a small laugh from Dud.

“She's a lot lighter than that barrel, and carrying it with my hooves was awkward,” he pointed out, getting an annoyed look from Chrys.

“Did you just call me small?”

“Huh? I said 'light',” he replied as he adopted a confused look, “I'm no social expert, but most of the mares I've talked to like hearing that,” he added, making Chrys blink in surprise. “Won't carrying that tax your magic?” he asked with a considering tone, making Chrys recompose herself as she shook her head.

“I'll be fine.” Her magic wasn't spent yet, though she doubted she'd be able to carry it like this all the way to Equestria. “Now, let's get moving. The sooner we're out of The Badlands, the sooner we can stop worrying about food.”

“Right you are!” he let out energetically, before jumping off the cloud, making Chrys strengthen her hold on him in surprise. Her eyes widened as he fell for several moments, making her close them as she felt her heart trying to leave its cage. She felt him place a reassuring hoof on hers as he leveled out. Her eyes opened, seeing the horizon again as she let go of the breath she'd been keeping. She then gave the pony an annoyed look.

“D-Dud, don't ever do that again!” she let out in a flustered tone, getting a smile from him.

“Don't worry Chrys, when you can fly, you'll want to do silly stuff like that too!” he stated confidently, getting a skeptical look from her as Momo flew to his side. After Chrys regained her composure, she gave him an odd look.

“Dud, you do know what I meant about food, right?”

“Food is food. Once we're in Equestria, you'll need to stay looking like a pony, right?” he asked, getting a nod from her, “Then you can enjoy pony food instead of nectar,” he pointed out, making her adopt a skeptical look. Admittedly, the notion of not having to go through the work of siphoning love from some random pony had its appeal. But, eating pony food? “Don't worry about it too much,” he added, “We can fly over that river when we get to it.”

“River?” Momo asked in confusion.

“Erm, we'll deal with it when we need to,” Dud elaborated, getting nothing in return as his company thought on the possibility.

Ponies are food. Not pets. Not 'friends'. But, the very pony she was holding onto, couldn't be food. So, what did that make him? Once again, the old stallion on the beach came to mind, making her glance a little to the north east. The general direction of what remained of Tampa Neigh.

She then shook her head. She didn't know what Dud was supposed to be to her, and she didn't feel like asking right now. So she pushed those thoughts aside, glancing to Momo as she adopted a curious look.

“Momo, if you've been free from Mantis for a few days, that means you've been out here, right?”

“Right.”

“Have any stories?” she asked, getting a nod.

“Well, I managed to use a flaremander to get away from an antlion,” Momo began, getting an excited gasp from Dud.

“Flaremander and antlion!? I'm already liking this!” he let out, getting a small smile from the others as Momo continued her tale. Time passed as she shared her time in The Badlands over the last two days, the climax prompting Dud to tell a story in turn.

It was true, they were having a hard time believing the tale he spun. As his story concerning a daring escape from a cockatrice involving a tarnished silver spoon came to an end, they took notice of the sun hugging the horizon.

Night was coming. It was time to seek shelter.

Author's Notes:

"Why are you called Grumpy Gust?" Chrys asked.
"Because everywhere I go I leave angry ponies in my wake!" Dud let out, his eyes widening as he quickly flew away, an angry mob of ponies with torches and pitchforks following after him.
"H-Hey, stop! I need him for flying!" Chrys let out, making the mob turn towards her, all of the ponies pausing for a moment as they took a deep breath.
"Wake up!"

~~~

"I-I'm awake!"

---

Another day, another chapter. A post-action winding-down-leveling-out talking about things chapter!
Hope you enjoyed it, and thanks for reading!

11. Monsters

Lores let out a tired sigh. It had been a busy week for her. Far busier than expected, thanks to Chrysalis.

Because of her, Lores had to remake a whole barrel of treated nectar. Had to oversee her chamber being repaired. Instruct the princess on the common dangers of The Badlands, and she had to part with a pleasant social partner, even if he was a pony. Oh, and let's not forget about having to prepare a batch of extra potent nectar, which Lores secretly switched out with what Chrys was supposed to leave with.

Yet, despite all that, she had a smile on her face. She may hold hidden disgruntlement towards the queen, but the princess was well worth her consideration. As she reached her private chamber, separate from the one she worked in, she found her smile fading away.

It was the only chamber in the hive that had books in it, resting on stone shelves crafted into the wall. A pony creation, Lores still saw value in them, and had quite a collection. However, the reason her smile was gone, was because standing next to her old stone desk, was Mantis; his decorated helm rested on it, which she couldn't help but notice had a large dent in it.

“Well, I'm guessing she escaped?” she asked as she approached him, trying to hide her satisfaction when he gave her a small nod.

“An entire squad loyal to my cause. Two royal guards. The perfect ambush. And she still. Got. Away,” he said as he started to pace around her, making her raise an eyebrow at him. “Why do I get the feeling the barrel of poisoned nectar I had prepared for her isn't the barrel she left with?” he asked as he gave Lores a neutral, yet appraising look, getting a coy grin from her.

“What are you implying?” she asked innocently.

“Teyra, I saw your pet pony helping her,” he replied, unamused. “Tell me, why'd you side with the princess?”

“Because, she's not her mother,” she replied stalwartly, her smile gone. “You saw the look in her eyes, when she held her ground against you. There was a spark in there. She stood up to you- She stood up to something standing in her way that she had little chance of surpassing. As far as I'm concerned, that makes her a far better queen than Amber. I'm not going to let her potential be snuffed out because of your petty hatred.”

“Petty?” he said dismissively, “She was 'grounded' from the feeding chamber because she's shown attachment to ponies.” He then shook his head in exasperation, “And now you've gone and sent her off to Equestria with the help of one!” he added, getting an annoyed look from his old clutchling.

“Well, you weren't giving us many options to work with. I mean, you even poisoned her food on the off chance that she got away.” She then shook her head before letting out a sigh, “Honestly Mantis, there is such a thing as trying too hard.”

“Hmph. It would have worked had you stayed out of it,” Mantis mumbled in annoyance, getting an odd look from her.

“What's with you? You seem more, composed, than I expected you'd be.”

“The cold air gave me plenty of time to think over it,” he said as he fiddled with his helm, “Aegis and Sledge are following her. The Princess and her company have limited food. They need to cross through the mountains, which are snowlocked by Thundercloud. There's nothing more I can do on this end, besides sully her name. And Darrin is intent to keep that from happening.” He then let out a small laugh, “You know, he was waiting for me, when I returned. He threatened me; said if I harmed you, everything was off.”

“That was awfully sweet of him,” Lores said with a smile, before she gave Mantis a cold look. “You returned Momo, right?”

“There was no Momo to return, she made her escape with the princess,” he said dismissively as he looked to her.

“You're not lying to me, are you?” she asked skeptically.

“There are no secrets between us,” he stated confidently, “It is as I said. I didn’t know where she was when you originally asked.” She raised an eyebrow at that, “Momo helped the princess escape, and that's that. Now, as I said, I had some time to think about it. Chrysalis won't make it to Equestria. And if she does, it'll be after she's lost her clutchling, and your pet pony,” he said, his certainty making Lores falter for a moment.

“What makes you say that?”

“'There is a reason for everything'. That pony is a dud. He can't connect, at least not completely, to those around him. Whatever the reason, he won't be staying with the princess for very long. As for Momo, she won't survive the trek through the mountains, it'll be too cold for her, even as a pony. You think the princess will be in any state to finish after losing her clutchling?” he said with a small smile, making Lores frown.

“I wouldn't be so sure it'll happen like that, Mantis,” she replied sternly, getting a disinterested shrug from him, prompting her to sigh. “You don't see any value in her journey, do you?”

“Value? You mean assessing the Moon Princess' magic?” he asked, getting no reply from Lores, “That never mattered in the first place.”

“What?” she asked with an odd look.

“Don't sound so surprised. I've always had a solution for dealing with her. After all, drones, royal guards, ponies, princesses, and even a queen. All are the same, when you add a drop of poison...”

The three of them eyed the clouds beneath for a moment. Chrys and Momo shared a determined look, while Dud carried a haphazard smile, as they dived back into the storm. At his suggestion, Momo tailed right behind him as he weaved through the cloud, turning often, as if he was guided by an unseen hoof that helped him avoid the lightning within.

Breaking through, the world of white skies was traded in for one of dark and torrential rain. Already they were completely drenched, and in the fading light of day, it was hard to make out the terrain. Chrys' changeling vision could pierce the darkness, but not the rain, while Dud's could do the reverse.

From what they could see, The Badlands were flooded beyond recognition.

The gorges were gone, completely submerged, and the flat land had been traded out for bumpy, hilly terrain. Lightning gave them brief images of the drowned landscape, the arcs of light being mirrored in the growing lakes. In almost a day's time, half of valley was submerged, or, at least this part of it was, leaving pockets of raised land exposed, like islands.

From what Chrys had been told, over the next few days the rain would drown the valley, till only the highest outcroppings of land and rock were left. Then, the rain would begin to dwindle down, becoming nothing more than a constant drizzle that kept the water from receding.

Before the monsoon's end, The Badlands would become the largest lake on the continent. Most of the hive's entrances would be submerged, the one on the cliff being one of the few that remained above water.

“We need to find high ground!” Chrys shouted out, getting a nod from the others as Dud led them closer to the surface.

They passed a low hill. Then a flat hill... A hilly hill.... Hill with an odd shaped rock on it... Oh! A large pillar of stone with a flat top. Promising, but lacking shelter... Another hill... A small field of tall jagged rocks... Oh great, another hill...

After ten minutes of flying, something unique caught Dud's eye, making him circle around a large, dome-like island with a large number of tall jagged rocks surrounding it. Almost a minute passed as he made the full circle, before he pointed to a cave higher on the hill; its entrance looking almost like the mouth of a beast.

“Well, that'll probably do,” Chrys said warily, getting a nod from Dud as he approached it, slowly. He then paused, his eyes looking elsewhere. Following his gaze, she noticed movement around the large rocks near the hill's base, at the waterline.

He glanced to Chrys, giving her a curious look. She blinked as she realized he was waiting for her permission, getting a nod from her. He nodded in turn, and flew closer for a better look. He then frowned as they took in what the commotion was about.

It was a fight between two monsters.

One was a large insect-like creature twice the size of a royal guard. It had a flat body, its carapace covered by small spines that helped it dig through earth, and swim through water. On its sides were three flat legs, six total. It had a thin and long winding tail that cut through the water with ease, and from its six-eyed head were two large pincers, each easily as long as a drone.

An antlion.

In the dry months, it stayed in one spot, a constructed funnel of sand and gravel dug in the ground that it would rest in, waiting for a passing meal to wander by. It would then cause the funnel to grow, making the broken dirt and sand composing it draw towards the center, dragging its meal closer.

Now, with its trap flooded out, it took to the water as it did to the dry earth, becoming an aquatic hunter that made The Badlands no less dangerous to any thirsty denizen. In this case, that being a snake.

This one was different from the other, a fact immediately apparent to Chrys. It's scales didn't shift and change, and there wasn't any enticing smell on the breeze. By looking at its pony half, Chrys assumed it was a ... mare?

She wasn't as long as the snake from before, being about half as long, which made her the same length of the antlion she faced down, minus its tail. In the flashes of light littering the scene, Chrys could make out red and tan scales, with a darker diamond pattern following her spine. Her coat matched her tan scales, and she seemed to be putting a lot of effort in keeping herself between the antlion, and the cave far behind her.

“What's up?” Momo asked as she came to their side, her eyes widening as Dud pointed out the two below. “O-Oh! Guess this rock's taken,” she added, turning towards the next hill in their path. Dud however didn't follow, making Chrys appraise him.

“Dud?”

“...I don't like this,” he said, eyeing the two monsters as they kept moving in a cautious manner. The antlion wanted to pass the snake, and she wasn't letting it. It'd shift to the left, she'd whip her tail towards it, cracking the ground in front of it. It would try to bite at her tail in turn, and she'd pull back in time to avoid those pincers.

“I don't care,” Chrys replied with a frown, “Let them fight, we need to find shelter!” she demanded, making Dud eye her for a moment.

“Momo, take Chrys,” he said, making Chrys blink in surprise as he moved to Momo's side. “I'm gonna help.”

“What? The snake!? Why!?” Chrys asked.

“There's something about this I don't like, so I'm going to help.”

“No, you're not!”

“Chrys, let him go,” Momo began, “We don't really need him with us, do we?” she pointed out, making Chrys look at her in surprise.

“I'm not leaving, I'm just helping her,” he said in an assured tone. “If you leave me, that's your choice,” he added as he glanced over his shoulder, giving her a small smile, “Though, I'd like if it you didn't.” He then frowned, as he shrugged slightly, making Chrys bounce on his back, “You should be with Momo, what I'm going to do isn't safe.” Chrys consider him for a moment, the thought of leaving him here playing through her mind. She then shook her head, before hopping over to Momo. Before he flew off, Chrys got his attention.

“Dud, why do you want to help her? She's a monster!” she stated, getting a surprised look from him.

“A monster? Just like a pony, or a changeling?” he asked, making her adopt a confused look, “I'm helping because she's protecting something important, just like you were,” he explained, confusing her all the more.

With that said, he didn't waste another moment as he flew down, circling closely to the antlion and snake, both beasts eyeing the intruder as he did. Chrys watched him for a moment, his words playing through her head as Momo considered her.

“Chrys, are we staying?” she asked, getting silence in return as Chrys' eyes went from the fight, towards the strange cave higher up. Indecision plagued her as she glanced between them.

Her eyes widened as the antlion charged forward, pincers spreading wide to bite the snake.

Dud dived as it did, ramming his shoulder into the side of its head, letting out a pained grunt as the antlion missed its mark. The snake blinked in surprise, quickly glancing to the yellow pony, before she acted. She spun her tail around, lashing out at the antlion. A solid crack, like a whip, rang out as she hit the snake in the side. The sound made Chrys wince, her mouth falling open as the large creature was sent rolling back into the water.

A terrified wail pierced through the rain and thunder, making all eyes look towards the cave. An antlion, half as big as the other, had come up from the other side of the island, and was making its way towards the entrance. The snake didn't even hesitate, she abandoned the 'shore', leaving the antlion and Dud behind as she slinked up the wet ground as fast as she could.

Chrys tapped Momo's back, ushering her to fly in for a better look. As she did, the larger bug sprung out from the water in pursuit. Dud took notice, frowning as he proceeded to hamper it in the process, constantly getting in its face, blocking its vision. Momo watched him for a moment, before nodding to Chrys. With her aerial advantage, as speed that caught the princess off guard, the two of them reached the cave's entrance before either monster.

Being this close, Chrys immediately found her first impression of the cave warranted. The mouth of the cave was exactly that, an open jaw of stone with crafted, jagged teeth lining its top and bottom. Several of the 'teeth' on the jaw were missing, letting entrance into what Chrys could only assume was the snake's den. Along the roof were a number of different colored rocks, strung together by string, hanging down in decoration, a notion she found strange.

Momo paused as they reached the mouth, her eyes widening as she did. Chrys shared in her surprise, heart skipping a beat as they saw something neither ever expected to see. The snake's hatchlings. There were two of them, both the same size as Chrys, being only a little bit longer. And, likely because of the pony resemblance, she found herself thinking of them more as a filly and a colt than lizards.

The filly's scales were shifting in color, the tones changing vibrantly in an expression of panic, instead of trying to blend in. The colt, his scales greatly resembling the snake rushing up the hill, stood between the filly and the approaching antlion, in her defense.

He was telling her to run.

“Chrys!” Momo let out desperately, her tone asking that they help. Chrys looked back to the snake climbing up, realizing it was their mother. This played through her head, as if that detail was the most important factor of what was transpiring. She frowned as she eyed the cavern, the roof protruding from the surrounding rock offering a safe vantage for her to stand on.

“Up top!” Chrys ordered, pointing to the roof, getting a determined nod from Momo. As she flew by it, Chrys jumped off, placing the barrel down as she looked to the second antlion, just in time to see it reach the rocky teeth that separated it from the hatchlings. Her horn began to glow.

Mama snake let out a desperate cry as the antlion got its pincers around one of those teeth, making the rock crack from its strength. With a loud pop, the tooth started to tilt inwards, towards the hatchlings. As it leaned, it was wrapped in a teal glow, making Chrys frown in effort as she tried to make it fall the other way.

Her horn flared as the long rock petered, leaning in neither direction as she tried her best to knock it on the antlion. It was heavy. Far heavier than the barrel, bringing to mind Sledge's hoof as she felt her magic start to waver.

Momo then rammed into the broken rock, popping it out of Chrys's grasp, making it fall towards the antlion. It let out an alien cry as the rock crashed on top of it, making Chrys let out a relieved sigh.

Then, mama snake arrived. She slid to a halt, bringing her tail around, swinging high in the air before slamming it down on the antlion. Chrys felt the earth shake as the snake’s tail smashed through the rock, breaking it in many segments as she crushed the monster into the ground. She then planted her hooves into the mud, swinging her lower torso around, pulling her tail back, before whipping it into the antlion's side, sending it sprawling down the hill.

Seeing the antlion roll down the hill filled Chrys with a sense of accomplishment, making her adopt a fiery grin. The sound of several rocks being cracked like eggs killed that grin, drawing her attention back to the cave's opening. The larger antlion had arrived, despite Dud standing on its head. Its pincers took down the entire front row of teeth in a single bite, making the rocks tumble to the side.

“Lin, Ren, get insside!!” the snake shouted, her voice snapping the hatchlings from their shock, making the colt pull his sister deeper into the cave as their mother placed herself between them and the antlion.

Seeing her stand between the monster and those she loved reminded Chrys of when she stood between Bulwark and Sledge. Even though she was a snake, the reason she fought drove Chrys, making her understand why Dud wanted to help.

Her horn glowed as she picked up a rock as big as her head. The antlion lunged forward, making the snake coil up, preparing to take a hit as its pincers opened. As they closed, Momo came slamming down from a brief dive, bringing all four hooves to bear on its head, smashing it into the ground. The antlion let out a cry of annoyance as it scuttled back, whipping its head to the side, making the snake duck under the swing as the monster tried to attack the interloper.

“Momo, aim for the center of its back!” Dud let out, right before he landed into said spot, hitting with his forward hooves. The blow made the antlion's body twitch oddly, bringing its slick tail around towards the pony. Alarm flashed through Dud’s eyes as he pushed off the lion, barely dodging the tail. In its distracted state, the antlion failed to notice the snake slither around the rocks, bringing its tail under the beast. As she did, Chrys shouted at the antlion, dropping her rock on the monster's head, earning its attention as all six of its eyes looked to her.

The distraction presented Momo the opportunity to strike, which she eagerly took. Getting past its tail, she crashed into the same spot Dud had, eliciting a brief cry from the antlion, before its body went rigid. It was frozen, head held up, tail still coiled for another attack, as if time had stopped. However, its eyes were still looking around, hungrily, as it found itself unable to move. Dud hovered around the immobile beast, letting out an impressed whistle as he did.

“You pack a hard punch, Momo,” he said, making her blush slightly.

“Pony, get off!” the snake let out, making Momo's eyes widen in surprise as she saw the rest of the snake get under the antlion. With a hop, Momo flew to the side, and shortly after, like a coiled spring, the snake lashed out, sending the antlion sprawling down the hill. It crashed, rolling once, before sliding back into the murky water it came from.

The four combatants stared at the water for a moment, as if expecting it to burst forth with a vengeance. When it became clear that wasn't going to happen, the snake slowly looked to her unexpected guests, before slithering, as quickly as she could, towards the cave.

Momo returned to Chrys' side as the princess watched the snake return to her hatchlings, which were waiting for her right in the cave's entrance. Hopping on Momo's back, Chrys picked up their nectar as Dud joined her, a big smile on his face.

“That went pretty well too!” he said, prompting him to look towards the snake and her hatchlings, which Chrys mirrored. Her eyes then widened in surprise when said snake bonked both hatchlings on the head.

“What did I ssay about going outsside!?” she shouted, making them cower back in shame as the colt mumbled something under his breath. “What wass that?”

“Not when it's rainin',” the filly repeated.

“And?”

“We won't do it again,” they both answered in unison, getting a cold, appraising look from the snake, before she brought her tail around, wrapping both of them up and pulling them close, giving them a hug.

“You better not, you nearly sscared me to death,” she said, making Dud and Momo smile, while Chrys looked on in wonder. The filly started to cry, apologizing repeatedly as she returned the hug, while the colt glanced to the side, his face blushing. The snake then ended the hug, looking over her shoulder to glance at the fliers, her eyes pausing on Chrys.

“Why'd you help? You're not hungry, are you?” she asked suspiciously.

“Because we wanted to,” Dud replied, before glancing to Momo and Chrys, “Right?”

“Right!” Momo let out energetically, her enthusiasm catching Chrys off guard. The snake eyed them for a moment longer, before looking out into the darkening surroundings.

“I don't want to owe a group of changelingss anything. You can sstay the night, if you wissh,” she said, slithering further into the cave without waiting for a response.

“Mama, what's a changelin'?” the filly asked, rubbing her eyes as they descended out of sight.

“Let's get going-” Chrys began, stopping when she saw the looks her companions were giving her. Both of them had a sparkling glow in their eyes, each of them giving her a pleading look.

“I've never talked to a lamia before!” Dud said as he flew uncomfortably close to her.

“Did you see the little ones! They were adorable!” Momo let out, “We gotta stay the night!”

“I completely agree!” Dud let out, prompting both to share a smile, some unseen bond forming between them as they looked back to Chrys.

“Can we!?” they asked in unison.

“W-What!?” Chrys replied, “That was a snake!”

“Lamia-”

“Whatever! Point is, no!” she said stalwartly, making both of their ears fall.

“I suppose you're right,” Dud said as he gave a dragged out sigh, “I mean, we helped save a snake, and now we have the chance to talk to her.” He then held up a hoof as Chrys was about to interject, “No no, I understand. I suppose I can wait till next time. You know, when I'm in The Badlands again, saving ‘snakes’,” he finished as he turned away, dejected. Chrys let out an annoyed sigh, before seeing Momo's face, on the verge of tears.

“M-Momo, I said no.”

“But, Chrys, hatchling snakes!” she said as she gave an even more pleading look, her eyes prepared to set off waterworks that would put the rain to shame. “Can we at least talk to the hatchlings for a little bit? I promise, if the big one attacks, I'll knock her senseless!”

“I can hear you!” the snake cried out from the cave, “I'll take you on anytime, featherbrain, jusst ssay when!” she added, getting a slightly alarmed look from Momo.

“Still, it would be nice, sleeping in a cave...” Dud pointed out as he looked out into the lightning riddled Badlands, night's shadow now in full force. Chrys then shook her head in annoyance, tapping Momo to put her down, making them land at the cave's mouth. “We're staying!?” he asked, his excitement mirrored by Momo. Chrys sternly shook her head.

“No. You don't get it. That's a snake in there! Look, you wondered how I got away from Sledge and Aegis. I didn't. A snake came, drawn to my light spell, and it knocked them aside. Like pebbles!”

“Oh,” Dud replied, his eyes widening in surprise, before adopting a considering look, “But, that was a different lamia.”

“Snake. It's a snake. And it doesn't matter if it's a different one. A snake's a snake!” she repeated, the fear from that encounter still fresh in her mind.

“Princess, it does matter,” Dud said calmly. “One snake is different from another, just like changelings, just like ponies.”

“No, it's not!” she replied, slamming a hoof down, “Snakes are monsters! They're no different from those antlions!” she said as she pointed to the broken teeth, “They both crushed those rocks like it was nothing.” She then shook her head, “If anything, she's the bigger monster, since she sent both antlions flying!”

“Chrys...” Momo said, looking like she wanted to say more, but simply glanced to the side.

“Well, actually, you may be right, about the antlions anyway,” Dud said as he glanced out into the waters nearby. “I'm not a creature expert-” He then blinked, before smiling, “Wait, I am a creature expert, well, a rare one anyways.” He then paused before adopting a sheepish grin, “Right, what I was gonna say was that I'm pretty sure one of them is eating the other right now.” He then shook his head, before looking to Chrys. “Princess, why would you help a monster?” he asked, making Chrys consider him for a moment. “Why would a monster help you?” he added, making her frown.

“She isn't helping us, because we're not staying,” she replied sternly, getting a small smile from him.

“A few days ago, you called ponies monsters.”

His words made her recall the heated rant she threw against him about ponies and changelings. He was right, she relied on a pony to escape, and she called ponies monsters. Her expression softened a little as she saw what he was inferring, making her glance to the side for a moment.

“Ponies have it easier than we do,” she said, eyeing the ground as she did, “But, I guess they're not really monsters,” she admitted, before looking him in the eyes, “But, snakes drink blood. It's all they eat. How can you say they're not monsters if that's their diet?”

“Wellll, you can choose your food, right?”

“Right. And what if she chooses us?” she asked as she raised an eyebrow.

“The three of us can take her,” Momo interjected, getting an agreeing nod from Dud. “She's not the only one that can smash rocks,” she added with a confident smile.

“We need to sleep, and resting in the open isn't going to be very restful,” Dud added sagely, his words punctuated by a rumble of thunder. “Besides, aren't you curious?”

“About what? The snake?” Chrys asked incredulously, getting a nod from Dud, which prompted her to shake her head. “Yeah, no,” she then glanced to the side.

“Come to think of it,” Momo began as her eyes widened, “Chrys, can't you shapeshift into the snake's filly?”

“What?” Chrys asked flatly, Dud's eyes lighting up as he stepped closer.

“That's right! She's the right size for you!” he added, making her lean back form him, looking between them.

“I- Well, that is-” Chrys let out, now feeling conflicted. The idea of being able to shapeshift into a camouflaging snake did sound appealing. “H- Hey! Why are you two ganging up on me?” she asked in an attempt to change the topic. “Just ten minutes ago, you,” she said as she pointed at Momo, “suggested leaving him!” she finished as she pointed at Dud.

Dud and Momo shared a look, making her briefly blush in shame, before coughing into her hoof.

“I'm over that. It's all behind us,” she said resolutely, getting a smile from him. He then placed a hoof on Momo's shoulder as he shook his head.

“Still, we should respect Chrys' wishes,” he began in a sad tone, “If she wants us to leave this comfy shelter for sleeping in the rain, then that's simply what must be done,” he added as he glanced away. Momo looked like she wanted to complain, but her ears simply fell as she let out a sigh.

“I get it. Come on Chrys,” she said as she walked close, presenting Chrys the opportunity to hop on her back, making Chrys hesitate.

For some reason, she couldn't help but feel like she was the bad guy in this situation, making an unwanted sense of guilt bubble up. She didn't want to stay, but what were the odds of them finding another cave anytime soon if they left? She was also tired, and having that guilt piled onto her fatigue was a little more than she was willing to tolerate.

“That's not fair,” she mumbled under her breath, before looking them in the eyes with a frustrated glare. “I'm going to have some very mean words for you two if the snake decides to have us for dinner,” she added, getting a big smile from her companions, their smiles dispelling her guilt, making her let out an annoyed sigh as she turned around, and entered the cave. Momo followed, moving to her side, while Dud followed from the other.

“She won't have us for dinner, since we helped her!" Dud declared, before glancing to the side, "At least, I sure hope so,” he added, before that curious glow returned to his eyes. “The mother and colt were constrictor type, but the filly was easily a slithering type! I wonder if the father stayed, or moved on?” he asked in wonder, getting Momo's attention.

“Constrictor? Slithering?” she asked, eager for an answer as Chrys rolled her eyes. Before Dud could answer, Momo gave Chrys a brief hug, making the pegasus pause as the princess blushed. “Thank you Chrys. I really mean it.”

“I-I didn't do it for you. I'm just tired, and I want to learn shifting into a snake, is all,” she replied, fooling nopony, as the three of them descended into the cave.

As they did, Chrys could make out a low glow ahead of them, feeling that it was warmer inside the cave than outside. There were many hanging stone decorations, some with intricate carvings made on them. After traveling a short distance, they came across an opening, where the snake was waiting with an impatient look in her eyes, her children sitting behind her, peaking from over her back to see their strange guests.

“You're fine with ssharing in a 'monsster'ss' hosspitality?” it asked sarcastically, getting a small glare from Chrys as Dud stepped forward.

“Quite so! I'm Grumpy Gust, but you can call me Dud!” he said with a nod, getting a slightly surprised look from the snake.

“I-I'm Ssarah,” she replied, before moving to the side, letting them into the chamber. After entering, she started to push on a large round rock, shaped like a wheel, with a hole big enough for a pony to squeeze through in the center. It looked quite heavy, and before her guests could complain, the entrance had been sealed. Sort of.

“Just to keep any wandering antlionss out,” she assured, spending a moment to make sure the 'door' was secure, a moment Chrys used to eye their surroundings.

The cavern walls had a number of paintings. Snakes of varying sizes and colors detailed with great care. There were small holes near the roof, where the source of light was coming from, and if Chrys had to guess, the heat as well. She then looked to the snake as she turned to them.

“Thank you for ssaving Lin,” she said as she indicated the filly, before indicating the colt, “and Ren,” she added as she adopted a brief smile, rubbing both on the head.

Momo had a look, as if she wanted to let out some sort of strange, d'aww inspired noise. To Momo, she found the mother's gesture towards her children beyond cute, and was having a hard time staying composed for it. Ssarah then opened her mouth, as if to say more, but no words came forth, only an annoyed sigh. “I can't believe a pair of poniess and a changeling hatchling helped—”

“I'm not a hatchling, snake,” Chrys interjected, getting a glare from Ssarah.

“That's Ssarah,” she said, before giving Momo and Dud a suspicious look, “You're all changelingss, aren't you?”

“Just these two,” Dud quickly answered, getting a brief look from Chrys. “What?”

“Some discretion would have been nice,” she muttered, despite the fact that she was standing in front of Ssarah in her changeling form.

“Uhm, Sarah-” Momo began.

“It's Ssarah, not ssarah!”

“That's not what she said,” Chrys replied with a small grin.

“No, she said ssarah,” The lamia replied, before frowning, “ssarah.” Her frown deepened, frustrated by her inability to shorten her own name.

“So is it Sarah, Ssarah, or ssarah?” Chrys asked as she took a step forward, her antagonizing grin growing, which faltered when Momo stepped between them.

“Chrys, be nice,” she said in a calm tone, making Chrys eye her for a moment, before letting out a small huff. “Ssarah, I'm Momo. Can I … talk to your hatchlings?”

“'Children',” Ssarah replied.

“Huh?”

“They're children, not 'hatchlingss',” she insisted, getting a confused look from Momo. "I don't like the word. If thingss were the way I wanted, Lin and Ren would've been born the same way as poniess," she said as she let out a sigh, "Don't call them hatchlingss. I don't like it."

“Same way as ponies?" Chrys asked, "Does that mean ponies aren't hatched from eggs?” she added, finding the concept alien to her. Momo looked between Dud and Ssarah, a curious look on her face.

“If not from eggs, then how?” she asked as she looked to the pony in the room. The others looked to him as well, making Dud blink as he realized the situation he was now in.

“Uhh, well, you see-” he began, his mind racing before his eyes widened, adopting a small smile as he nodded to himself, “It varies.”

“It... varies?” Chrys asked, finding herself more than curious to this question's answer. Lin and Ren were also interested, a fact Dud and Momo took note of.

“Well you see, for pegasi, a mare and stallion need to wish upon a rain cloud.” He then clapped his hooves together, his voice mimicking thunder, “Then bam! A foal appears, and if their wish was genuine that foal will live a blessed life!” His expression then softened a little, “But if it wasn't, the foal born will have a bumpy start.” He then blinked before shaking his head. “Now, for earth ponies, they have to plant their love into the ground and wait till the next harvest to get their foal.” He then nodded sagely, “Unicorns have a complex spell for it. I've heard it's quite a hassle, magicking a foal into being.” He then adopted a small grin as he looked to Ssarah, who had the look of one that was about to get unwanted attention. “Though now I'm curious, how does it work for a lamia? I mean, since you're half pony, that means there's more to it than just hatching from eggs, right?” he asked unabashedly, making his audience turn towards her.

“Yeah Mama, tell us!” Lin asked.

“What? I- Uhh. You ssee,” she let out, her face slowly blushing as she gave Dud a brief glare, “I'll tell you when you're older. Bed time!”

“Awww!” Ren let out in disappointment.

“Ms. Sara- Ssarah,” Momo began, “Is it alright if I … tell them a bedtime story?”

“A story?” Ren asked wide-eyed.

Momo gave Ssarah a pleading look, which the snake considered for a moment, before letting out a long sigh.

“I'll be close, sso don't try any of that love-eating nonssensse,” she said, getting an excited cheer from her children, the filly scampering off to her room excitedly as Momo followed after her. Ren watched them go for a moment, before turning to Ssarah.

“What do changelings taste like?” he asked. Bonk. “Ow!”

“Don't be rude to the oness that ssaved you.”

“S-Sorry,” he mumbled, before following after his sister and Momo. Chrys eyed them for a moment, glancing to Ssarah, then to where Momo went. She then eyed the barrel of nectar in her grasp. She placed it down near the door, and after hesitating for a moment, followed her clutchling, leaving Dud behind.

“So, how does it work?” she heard him ask Ssarah as she went deeper into the cave, seeing a small red lizard move from one of the holes in the wall to another. She felt a small surge of heat born from that lizard's passing, making her wonder if it was a flaremander.

Little lizards, gecko-like in appearance, that resided in The Badlands. Flaremanders were mostly harmless, as long as you didn't startle them. Their bodies generate a magical heat, and when spooked, they flared, burning anything that could threaten them. The hive once tried taming the lizards to keep them warm through the monsoon, but feeding them through the rainy months proved too difficult. Flaremanders didn't care for nectar.

Seeing it made Chrys realize how warm it actually was in Ssarah's home, prompting her to end her heat enchantment, feeling a small weight lift off her shoulders as she did. She didn't realize it until now, but her magic was pretty close to being spent, and she was beyond tired. She shook her head, trying to sway the fatigue as she reached a smaller room, where Momo and the children were.

The first thing that caught her eye, were the two little stone beds nestled in the corner. Seeing those piles hit Chrys with an unexpected sense of homesickness, making her glare at nothing more than her sentiment. She hadn't been gone for even a day, but after dealing with Mantis and antlions and now snakes? She let out a small sigh as Momo was about to begin her story, before noticing Chrys.

“Oh, Chrys. Did you want to … you know...” she said hesitantly as she glanced to Lin, who was giving them a confused look, making Chrys take Ssarah's children in.

Lin's scales were constantly trying to match the color of the rocks around them, even trying to mirror the shadows cast by the dim light in the room. Her short mane and coat were changing color too, but it was more gradual, subtle even. Because of their room, she was currently tan, with hints of gray mixed in. One thing about her that didn't change, that Chrys took note of, was her slitted blue eyes, as blue as the sky.

Ren on the other hoof, greatly resembled his mother. He even had a similar diamond pattern down his back. His eyes were blueish green, which Chrys couldn't help but appreciate.

Looking between them, she didn't hesitate, after all, it was a completely harmless thing to do, so she looked into Lin's eyes, her own eyes glowing as she looked into the filly's heart. There, she saw her love for Ssarah and Ren, but, that wasn't what Chrys wanted. Looking beyond that love, came a feeling of understanding, a sense of certainty. Feeling as if she'd become a little more than the changeling she was a moment before, Chrys broke eye-contact with Lin, dispelling the figures cast in her mind's eye.

“You're not up to anythin' funny, are yah?” Ren asked, making Chrys raise an eyebrow at him.

“Just changeling things,” she said, before calling on her power, being briefly wreathed in flame as her body shifted. She then let out an indignant yelp as her hind legs formed into a snake's tale, making her fall over in the process.

“Whoa!” Ren said wide-eyed as Chrys sat up. Looking over herself, she eyed her lower body curiously, finding herself having surprisingly little difficulty moving with a snake's tale. The ease of using an unfamiliar form made her recall gliding across the gorge, making her wonder if this ease of control was part of being a queen.

“She looks like me!” Lin said as she came closer, a sense of wonder in her eyes that made Chrys look to her with a proud smile.

“That's right!” Chrys said, her voice mirroring Lin's. They looked at each other, as if looking into a mirror, which Chrys couldn't help but find novel. She's taken the form of other fillies before, but she's never been face to face with them.

“What else can you do?” Ren asked excitedly, getting an annoyed look from Chrys.

“You're addressing a queen, you know,” she said, before adopting a smug smile, “So, you should count yourselves lucky to be in my presence,” she added as she returned to her normal form, “Have you ever seen magic before?”

“Was that what you did with the large rock?” Lin asked eagerly. Chrys nodded as her horn glowed, and before she knew it, she was showing off to the two of them. All the while Momo watched, a serene smile on her face, as Chrys' concerns about being in a snake's den faded away...

Meanwhile, back at the first cavern, Dud was nodding to himself sagely.

“That was very informative, thanks!”

“I sshould bite you for putting me on the sspot like that,” Ssarah replied, letting out a small huff as she did.

“On a related tangent, Chrys, she ran into a snake earlier today, a slitherer. It must have been large. It took on two royal guards and stood out on top.”

“Sslitherer? Don't you mean lurker?" Ssarah asked, making Dud tilt his head as she continued, "Anyway, royal guardss are the really big changelingss that never tire or get ssick, even when sshapesshifting, right?” she asked as she eyed a drawing on the wall, one of a green snake fighting a crude sketch of a changeling.

“Yep!”

“Hmm, there aren't too many lurkerss around here. Sspecailly around the changeling hive. Ssouth... That, may have been my mate sshe ssaw,” she said, before hesitating, “Though, he sshould have been assleep already. He doessn't have a home like mine,” she added as she made a dismissive gesture.

“I was curious, why aren't you asleep?” he asked, “I mean, I guess you don't have to since it's nice and warm in here.”

“The heat'ss for Lin. She hass her father'ss blood, sso she'd get tired if it wasn't for the flaremanderss.” She then nodded to herself before cutting off Dud's next question, “And yess, we could ssleep through the rain if I drove the lizardss out, but I'd rather sstay awake. Givess me plenty of time to teach them,” she added, adopting a small smile. She then eyed the pegasus curiously. “Sso, what'ss a pony doing with a pair of changelingss? You don't appear to be their thrall.”

“Just helping them towards tomorrow,” he replied with a smile, getting a confused look from her.

“Thank you, for not calling uss monsterss. Poniess are sso sscared of uss, it'ss upssetting.”

“Drinking blood doesn't really help.”

“I'll have you know that we live on antlionss out here,” she said defensively.

“I know,” he said with a nod. An excited gleam then appeared in his eyes. “Is it true that once you get a taste of something, you're driven to drink all you can?” he asked, getting an uncomfortable look from her.

“N-No. Well, yess, but that'ss more like a rare trait than the norm.” Her eyes then narrowed, “Did my mate bite the little changeling?”

“Not that I'm aware of,” he replied as he considered Ssarah, “Chrys had scrapes and bruises, but I didn't see any bite marks on her.”

“That'ss good. My mate, Ssnare-”

“One 's' or two?” Dud asked, getting an bothered look in turn.

“...One,” she admitted in a small voice, before shaking her head, “Hiss name is Ssnare, and he doess have that trait. If he got a tasste of her, he'd follow her to the edge of the world to drink what'ss left.”

“I see,” Dud said, wondering if this Snare got a 'taste' of the royal guards.

The two talked for a little longer, mostly on the finer points of Ssarah's life in The Badlands. However, Dud did reciprocate, giving Ssarah answers to what Chrys and their journey involved, which, at the very least, she found interesting. When their curiosity was satisfied, Dud let out a long yawn, before glancing down to where the others went.

“Huh, I thought Chrys would stay in here,” he said, just now realizing that wasn't the case. Ssarah blinked as she looked down the tunnel, before wrapping her tail around Dud's waist, tightly. “Ack- Bit tight,” Dud let out as Ssarah moved around him.

“I don't like how quiet it iss. You better hope your princesss and her clutchling haven't placed my children in thosse creepy cocoonss.”

“They're fine,” Dud said confidently, giving Ssarah a smile. She eyed him for a moment, before letting out a small sigh, letting him go. “You sigh a lot.”

“I’m a mother,” she replied flatly. “And you're an odd bird,” she pointed out, as she proceeded down the tunnel. Dud rubbed his side for a moment, before letting out a small laugh.

“Yeah, I get that a lot,” he replied as he followed after her, pausing as she did when they reached the cavern.

Lin and Ren were sleeping soundly in their beds. At some point, Momo had returned to her changeling form, and she was laying next to the wall, sound asleep, with Chrys bundled next to her. Despite being in a 'monster's' cave, Chrys had a peaceful look on her face. Dud had no doubt they would be sleeping well, in spite of the dull thunder that managed to leak its way into the cave.

“Tch,” Ssarah let out in annoyance, “That little brat kind of lookss cute when sshe's assleep.”

“They're even cuter as pegasi,” Dud said with a sagely nod, “Though, I think that's just me,” He added as he looked over them, before glancing to the side, a sad smile on his face. “Have a good night.”

"You're not gonna sstay up and keep an eye on me?” she asked. Dud shook his head, getting a smile from her. “Good to ssee there'ss a pony out there that doessn't think I'm out to eat them.” She then paused for a moment as she looked over her children. “Thank you, for helping me. It … meanss a lot,” she said quietly, getting a nod from him as he picked a corner of the room separate from the others, curling up into a ball as he closed his eyes, letting his fatigue do the rest of the work, falling asleep.

Author's Notes:

Long Chapter is Long.
Did you enjoy it? I sure hope so!
Thanks again for reading!

12. Heritage

It all changed again, for the seventh time. A different cage. A different occupant. A different villain. A different location. Between those changes, there was only one constant, and that was the pony carrying the cage.

He hurled his side into the glass pane as hard as he could, his hooves wrapped protectively around a golden birdcage. The phoenix inside let out a nervous chirp. The window didn't budge, making the yellow pegasus' eyes widen in surprise.

“Thief! Thiieef!! Somepony stop him!” a stuffy, self important voice called from the opposite end of the room, making the teen-aged colt slam his side into the window again, frowning in effort as it refused to give. As a pair of bulky butlers entered the room, the thief noticed something about the window that made him want to facehoof.

With a quick swipe of his hooves, he unlocked the window. With a simple push, the decorated pane swung open, making the colt flap his wings, jumping out of reach of the approaching stallions as he took to the air.

It all changed again.

He was now sitting in the corner of a back alley, the iron birdcage being home to a rare snow dove. He was several years younger now than the moment before, but it transitioned from one segment to the next without him even noticing. He was now covered in grime, dirty from a life choosing to spend his time in the shadows of Thundercloud.

“So, little fellow,” he began, leaning against the wall of an abandoned cloud-home as he took a tired breath, eyeing the white and blue bird, “Do you know your way back home?” he asked as he unlatched the cage's door. “It'd be really swell if you did,” he added with a small smile. The dove eyed him, shaking its head briefly. At least, Grumpy Gust was pretty sure it just shook its head. He considered the bird for a moment, eyeing the dark alley he hid in, before giving the snow dove a small nod. “Well then, luckily for you, I know the way. So, I guess I'll just have to show you!”

Before the next change happened, the dream seemed to freeze, as if some greater power was placing its influence over it. He paused, noticing a tall figure blocking the way out of the alley. It wasn't the fact that she was blocking his way that stopped him, after all, he could fly, it was more of who she was that trapped him.

Standing a head taller than most ponies, there was no mistaking that dark blue coat, or her star laden mane.

“Forgive me, Mr. Gust, for spying on your dream like this,” Princess Luna said, bringing a hoof over her heart, “I assure you, I wouldn't have done so without great cause.”

Dud blinked, her words making him aware of the dream, and as if waking up, his colt-self was switched out for his true self. The cage in his hooves was now empty, its occupant having returned home long ago. He put the iron trapping down, adopting a big smile as he gave Luna a brief bow.

“Think nothing of it, Princess Luna,” he said with a smile, “Is it ... before midnight?” he asked curiously, getting a very brief look of confusion from her as she nodded. “This really is the best day ever!” he said, his wings spreading out as he let out an energetic cry, making the princess raise an eyebrow in surprise.

“Mr. Gust, I require your focus,” she said, a hint of impatience in her voice.

“R- Right. Sorry about that, Your Highness,” he replied sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his head, “Didn't think I'd ever get to talk to Equestria's one and only alicorn,” he added, making her glance to the side distantly, before looking back to him with a determined look.

“Mr. Gust, you were among those missing since Neighgarou was destroyed, presumed dead,” She then tilted her head, “Clearly, that's not the case. What are you doing in The Badlands?”

“Well, I'm in The Badlands to get out of The Badlands,” he explained, making her tilt her head in thought.

“So, you're leaving. And you're coming home?” she asked, getting a confused look from him.

“If you mean Equestria, then yes, I am,” he replied, nodding to himself before pausing, realization dawning on him. “Wait, you know who I am?” he asked as he adopted a bashful look.

“Seeing your dream told me that much.” She then took on a slightly sly smile, “I also recall that a number of years ago, several ponies of high standing begged me to send the Shadowbolts to capture a certain yellow pegasus. One that loved to break into their homes and free rare pets.”

“You … seem a little happy to say that,” he pointed out as his grin grew, “Nopony likes being in a cage,” he added, before adopting a contemplating look. “Well, nopony normal anyway.”

“And were you put in a cage? Perhaps by a group of pegasi that reside in The Badlands?”

“What? No,” he quickly replied, before he frowned slightly, looking to her. “My friend's ... father? I think he's her father. Anyway, he did put me in a cage. Oh, and they're not pegasi.”

“Then what are they?”

“Afraid I can't say,” he added sheepishly.

“Why not?” she asked as she raised an eyebrow.

“Because I'd betray my friend if I did,” he added, giving Luna an apologetic look.

“Your friend? Did...” she started as she gave him an expectant look.

“Oh! Her name's Chrysalis.”

“Did this Chrysalis free you?”

“She did!” he added as he approached Luna, “She was caged too, but she's free now. I think she wants to talk to you,” he said excitedly, getting an appraising look from Luna.

“Where is she?”

“Um, like a few paces away from me,” he replied, before his eyes widened in alarm as he stopped moving. “Unless, she ditched me. Did she? She might have! She did not want to sleep in that cave, after all. Then again, maybe not,” he added, before looking straight to Luna. “So, what took you so long?”

“Huh?” she asked, before adopting a frown, “And just what is that supposed to mean?”

“Well, you haven't been in my dreams before now. I've been in The Badlands for a while...”

“You have?” she asked, before adopting a troubled look, “You're the first pony I've sensed inside those lands. Some sort of magic must have been hiding you.”

“Well, that’s interesting,” he replied, more to himself, thinking about how the hive's remained hidden despite having several towns of sleeping ponies in it.

“What’s that?”

“I can't tell you. Not right now anyway.”

“Why?” she asked, looking none too pleased.

“Because, it's important to my friend. If anyone's gonna tell you, it'll be her.”

“Chrysalis?”

“Call her Chrys. That's what she wants her friends to call her. She's a princess, just so you know.”

“A princess?” she said in surprise, before shaking her head, “Mr. Gust, I'm gonna need more than that. Equestria is at war with some faction that we know almost nothing about!”

“Umm,” he said as he brought a hoof to his chin in thought, “This faction is desperate. Their very survival is at stake. They're scared of Equestria, and haven't even considered seeking alternatives to survive. Chrysalis' father has set her people on the edge. I can see her being the one that determines what side of the edge they'll fall over. I want to help her, and when you talk to her, I think you'll do the same.”

“What makes you so certain?” she asked as her eyes narrowed, making him give her a smile as he sat down, raising both hooves, their flats pointing up as if he was carrying something in both.

“Because, Princess Luna is a wise and loving pony who will open her heart to compromise,” he said as he raised one hoof up and down, “Chrys has a good heart, and her world is growing bigger with each step she takes,” he added as he shook the other, before gently bringing them together. “And when you two meet, something is bound to change for the better. It'll be interesting to see how it turns out,” he finished, giving a sheepish grin, making Luna think over his words for a moment, before glancing to the side.

“...These days, it's rare to converse with a pony that sees the glass as half full.”

“Having a glass in the first place is the most important part,” he said with a small smile, getting a considering look from her, before she nodded.

“Yes, I suppose so,” she replied, mirroring his smile, before adopting a more serious expression. “Mr. Gust, because of everything that has happened, I won't be able to send the Shadowbolts to help with your departure of those flooded lands. If possible, there's something I'd like you to take care of. You may trust your friend, and I'm happy that you believe in my integrity, but I have very little to trust you on.”

“You want me to prove myself?” he asked, before adopted a more guarded pose, “I'm not gonna turn on Chrys.”

“I'm not asking that,” she quickly replied, “There's a matter you'll have to deal with if you want to leave The Badlands from the north. In fact, I want you to use the north road.”

“A … matter? Can I talk to her about it?”

“You're free to tell her what you will. Now, concerning this task...”

Chrys awakened with a start. The back of her head then flared in pain, followed by Momo letting out a small cry. Chrys rubbed the back of her skull as she looked to her clutchling, who was cradling her nose, her eyes watering from the impact.

“S-Sorry Momo,” Chrys whispered.

“Why'd you do that?” she asked sleepily.

“It was an accident, go back to sleep, I'll do the same shortly,” she assured, making Momo eye her for a moment, before giving her a smile as she lay her head down. Chrys lay there, her side nestled next to Momo's, waiting as she looked over the others.

Lin and Ren were still sleeping in their beds. Dud was in the corner, dreaming the night away with that strange sounding snore of his. Ssarah wasn't to be seen. When Chrys heard Momo's breathing steady out, she carefully freed herself from her clutchling. She wasn't in the mood to go back to sleep, for it had been a bad dream that woke her.

A dream of being chased by monsters. Of the Moon Princess finding her hive, her magic being used to shake the earth, causing the tunnels to collapse.

She wanted to get that haunting experience out of her head, so she left her sleeping companions to reach the nectar she left near the cave's door. She was going to have a small snack to ease her nerves, a fact she didn't want the others to know.

When she reached the chamber to the cave's exit, she was a little surprised to see Ssarah. The snake's body was coiled into a circle, the center of it opened up like a ring. She had a small flaremander, half the size of Chrys, resting on her lower body, which she occasionally pet as she eyed the center of the ring. She seemed to be interested with whatever lay in that center, fiddling with the point of her tail in it, failing to notice Chrys' presence.

She eyed the snake warily, wondering if getting the snack was worth getting her attention. She then glanced to the side as she realized something. All three of them had been asleep. If Ssarah wanted them harm, she would have done so by now. She let out a small sigh, before continuing to the barrel.

Ssarah flinched when she finally noticed Chrys, earning an annoyed look from the snake.

“What? Can't ssleep in a 'monsster'ss' cave?”

“No, I can't,” Chrys snidely replied, trying to get a glance at what she was working on as she walked past. Since Ssarah's body was as thick as Chrys was tall, she had little luck with that endeavor.

Reaching the barrel, she popped the lid, taking a gander inside. Before she could help herself, she hesitated, recalling that this was supposed to last them till Equestria. Half a barrel of nectar, for two adults and a growing queen, to last them for another six days at best. After thinking about that a few times, she lightly thunked her head against the barrel, before plugging the top.

“Thought better of it?” Ssarah asked curiously, getting another look from Chrys.

Dud said she wasn't the same snake from before, and he was right. Ssarah didn't deserve the animosity she was showing her, a realization that made Chrys frown at nothing in particular. Lin and Ren were cute, and they were Ssarah's children. Could a mother be a monster? Her dream was still fresh in her mind, so she was still wary, but, after what's happened, Ssarah deserved some trust, or at least, consideration.

“Yes, we need it to last,” Chrys admitted as she eyed the barrel, before looking to Ssarah, “Why are you still up?” she asked, not quite sure what time it was.

“Not your bussinesss,” Ssarah replied with a frown, patting the flaremander resting on her side as she did. Chrys gave her an indifferent look, before turning back to where Momo slept. “But, if you want to know, then take a sseat,” she added as she looked to the side, making Chrys pause, eyeing her for a moment. She then turned to her, ready to say something disbarring. Instead, she simply walked over, a curious look on her face.

As she approached, Ssarah's body began to shift, her snake portion breaking the ring as she opened it up for Chrys to see what lay inside. The flaremander rested lazily as she moved, and when she was finished coiling her body around her like a bundle of rope, she pointed to the ground with her tail. There, Chrys saw several rough drawings made in a pile of sand.

One of Dud, his eyes being swirly lines, as if he wasn't right in the head. Another of Momo, a smile on her face. And the last looked very similar to Momo, albeit smaller, and wearing a terribly nasty frown. Chrys happened to be wearing a matching look as she saw it.

“Why are you drawing us?” she asked, her horn briefly glowing as she blew the look off of her 'portrait's' face.

“Getting a firsst passs down for later,” she said as she began to redraw Chrys' face. She did it with dexterity and practice that impressed the princess, her new version complete in mere seconds. “My children were ssaved by a changeling princesss, her clutchling, and a pony. That'ss ssomething worth adding to the wall,” she explained, before motioning to the drawings surrounding them. “That, and it'ss been...” she said as she looked between them all, before her eyes fell to one not too far from the door. A drawing of a snake wearing a crown, with another bowing to her in respect. “A little over ssix hundred yearss ssince my family'ss lasst converssed with royalty,” she added, making Chrys' eyes widen slightly as she saw the cavern in a new light.

“How old is this home?” she asked curiously, wondering if it was older than the hive.

“Three hundred and sseventy sseven yearss. My great-great-grandfather found it, and recorded our family hisstory in it,” she said, pride evident in her voice as she pointed to a drawing further along the wall that resembled the cave's entrance. She then let out a sigh, “Gonna have to replace thosse lower teeth in the morning,” she said, getting a confused look from Chrys. “Thosse teeth keep antlionss from wandering down the tunnel. That'ss why I'm sstill up, to keep an eye out. The door helpss, but having an antlion waiting at it iss nerve-wracking. Once there'ss light again, I can replace them,” she explained in an annoyed tone as she looked back to her rough sketch.

“Great-great-grandfather?” Chrys asked as she raised an eyebrow, “Shouldn't there be more 'greats'?”

“Heh. My grandpa wass quite the lamia, lived for over three hundred yearss. Rocksslide did him in,” she said with a bittersweet smile, making Chrys' eyes widen further.

“How old can you snakes get?”

“Keep calling uss ssnakess and I'm gonna sstart calling your kind bugss.”

“F-Fine,” Chrys replied, biting her tongue before she added something antagonizing.

“Now, for how old? Dunno. I heard there'ss an old mysstic out wesst that'ss been around ssince the lasst time we had a queen. Going off that, at leasst ssix hundred yearss.”

“There's a snake- a lamia, that's older than my mother?” Chrys inquired, trying to wrap her mind around the notion. “Is that common?”

“No, not really. It'ss rare,” she then adopted a far off smile, “Personally, I'd love to break one hundred.”

“Why's it rare?”

“Longer you live, the more likely ssomething bad will happen,” she stated matter-of- factly. “Though, it workss both wayss. There are good thingss too, and we lamia like to record both.”

“Working both ways?” she repeated, giving Ssarah a skeptical look, “It took far too long for something good to happen to our hive,” she added bitterly, before kicking the ground, “And that 'something good' wants me dead.”

“Ah yess, this Mantiss,” she said, getting a curious look from Chrys, “I guesss it'ss not eassy, being a princesss.”

“You called me princess earlier,” Chrys pointed out as she indicated the sand drawing, “So, what did Dud tell you?”

“Jusst about everything,” she replied, making Chrys let out an annoyed sigh. “Sso, it wass bad, before it wass good?”

“Yes. There was never enough food... I've never asked much about it, because no one wants to talk about it,” she explained as she looked off, as if trying to see what it must have been like.

“Sso then, it'ss not eassy being a changeling.”

“No, but it used to be.”

“Huh?”

“The queen before my mother, Violet Widow, her hive had food. Supposedly, it was plentiful, and didn't involve ponies.”

“No poniess? What happened?”

“Violet, she left the hive. Went out to fight some sort of ghost. She left before mother's egg hatched. And she never came back. Months afterwards, there was an earthquake. A terrible earthquake.”

“My family knowss of a terrible earthquake,” Ssarah added, her eyes on the wall near the door, on a drawing of rocks falling over many lamia. “That wass right before Equesstria was founded. Ssound right?” she asked, getting a nod from Chrys, “Musst be the ssame calamity.”

“Anyway, the hive was practically destroyed. From what I've been told, only a few eggs, my mother, the royal guard left to protect her, and a small number of drones survived. Grandma's hive was the first, she was the first queen, and now, it's all gone.”

“But, now good thingss are finally here,” Ssarah said in an attempt to comfort Chrys.

“Assuming we win,” she replied, before adopting a determined look, “We will win. We need to.”

“Dud seemss to be of the mind that ssomething elsse will come from all thiss.”

“Huh?”

“He sseemss to think that you'll find ssomething better.”

“He should mind his own business,” Chrys replied a she glared down the tunnel said pegasus was sleeping.

“Well, to each their own,” Ssarah replied with an amused chuckle. “Go back to bed, princesss, you're disstracting me from drawing your sstory,” she stated, making Chrys frown. She opened her mouth to object, and let out a yawn instead, making her blush slightly. Making to leave, when she was about to exit the room, she paused, looking over her shoulder. Her nightmare came to mind, and she didn't like the idea of going back to sleep with it waiting for her. So she turned to Ssarah, hoping to dispel this lingering fear that plagued her.

“Ssarah, what … do you think a monster is?” she asked, getting a surprised look from her, before she smiled.

“Hah! Up until a few hourss ago, I thought they were love ssucking sshapesshifterss,” she said with a beaming grin, getting a lovely frown from Chrys. “Now, not sso much.”

“...Why?”

“Musst have ssomething to do with ssaving my children,” she replied sarcastically. “Assking me, I'd ssay a monsster is ssomething we're sscared of, ssomething we don't undersstand. Well, now I undersstand a little more of changelingss. And, it lookss like you undersstand a little about lamia,” she finished with a small smile, making Chrys reflect on her words, adopting a small smile of her own. Ssarah's tail then reached out, grabbing something hanging from the ceiling.

Chrys watched as she unhooked one of the string decorations, before it was presented to the princess. It was a thin ring wrapped in dried grass, with an interlacing spiral of string connected to a smaller ring in the center. From the outer ring's bottom hung several strands with beads and feathers attached to it. Chrys grabbed it in her magic as she gave Ssarah a curious look.

“Hang it over you before going to ssleep. It'll help you resst eassy.”

“What is it?” Chrys asked as she eyed the mundane trinket skeptically.

“A dream catcher.”

“...Why's it in here?” she asked a she indicated the lobby.

“To help me ssleep. But, I won't be needing it tonight,” Ssarah said as she adopted a distant look, before making a shooing motion towards Chrys. She looked from Ssarah to the trinket for a moment, before giving a small shrug as she continued down the hall.

Returning to the others, she glanced at Dud as she walked past him, hearing him mumble something as he adopted a smile. He was still asleep. Shaking her head in wonder, she returned to Momo's side, hanging the dream catcher on the ceiling before curling up next to her. As she closed her eyes, the last things she wondered as she faded into sleep, was a question. Just what was Dud dreaming about?

The slight giggles coming from Lin made Chrys stir from her dreamless rest. Opening one of her eyes, she saw Momo standing before the children, as some hot pink earth pony mare. Lin was trying to mimic the color, while Ren was looking away.

“That color hurts,” he said in annoyance, getting a small laugh from Momo as Lin let out a triumphant cry. She was now the same shade of pink, and Chrys had to admit, they were painful to look at. “Where'd your wings go?” he asked as he dared a glance.

“You know, I'm not really sure,” Momo admitted as she glanced at her back, “Never liked being an earth pony, I like flying,” she stated, before being wreathed in amber flame, returning to her very light purple coated pegasus form. “This one's my favorite, since the mane is pretty close to my natural one,” she said with a smile, getting an envious look from Ren, which was mirrored by his sister.

“Wish I could fly,” he said.

“Me too!” Lin added, before letting out a small gasp as she noticed Chrys was awake, watching them with a small smile on her face. When Chrys realized she was smiling, she quickly switched it out for a frown. “Can Chrysie fly too?” she asked wide eyed, making Chrys look a little taken aback.

“I-I see no reason to answer that,” she quickly replied.

“She can fly,” Momo quickly added, getting a disarmed look from Chrys. Momo then came to her side, nodding to her back as she gave Chrys a wink. She hesitated for a moment, catching the excited look in the lamias' eyes, as she hopped on Momo's back. With a few flaps, Momo stated hovering in the low room, making Lin clap her hooves together. Ren however, wasn't impressed.

“You're not flyin', she is,” he said as he pointed to Momo, who adopted a sagely look.

“And I can't use magic, but she can,” Momo pointed out, “We help each other, working together to do things we couldn't do alone. I'm helping Chrys fly, and her magic helps us in all sorts of ways. Understand?” she asked, getting confused looks from the lamias.

“Work together?” Ren asked, right before they heard a particular snake clearing her throat at the door. They all looked to Ssarah, who had a small smile on her face.

“That'ss ssomething poniess and changelingss do to be ssafe and happy,” she said as she looked to said outsiders. “Sso, how long you three gonna sstay? Ssun's been up for an hour.”

“Let's wake up Dud, we gotta get-” Chrys began, pausing when she noticed that Dud was in fact awake. With that grin on his face, she was left with the impression that he had awakened first.

“Before we leave, I need to tell you two something,” Dud began as he approached Momo and Chrys, “I just talked to Princess Luna,” he admitted unabashedly, making Chrys and Momo give him an odd look. When they realized he was being serious, their expressions shifted to surprised confusion.

“Wait wait wait, what? When? What did you tell her!?” Chrys asked, making Dud put his hooves up defensively as Ssarah and her children looked on curiously.

“I talked to her while I was asleep. She came to me in a dream,” he said matter-of-factly, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

“In your dream?” she asked.

“Yes. I did say she looked after our dreams when I told you she rose the sun.”

“You … did?” Chrys asked, looking to the side for a moment before looking back to him. “So, not only can she supposedly raise the sun and moon, but she can also go into ponies' dreams?” she asked skeptically, getting a nod from Dud. “You're serious?” she pressed, truly hoping that this was indeed a joke. A shake of his head dashed said hope. “But, if she can actually do all that...” Chrys began, her dream of Luna crushing the hive with her magic coming to mind. “A- And you're sure it wasn't just a dream? You're not spouting some nonsense to throw me off, right?”

“Pretty sure it was her,” he said, doubt now showing on his face before his eyes widened, “I mean, I did feel awake in my dream when she appeared, so it must have been real. Oh! About your questions, I didn't tell her about changelings, or the missing ponies. At least, I'm pretty sure I didn't,” he added with a hesitant smile.

She stood there for a moment, letting his words sink in as she took in the new notion. Princess Luna could see the dreams of ponies? And Dud talked to her, and didn't give anything away. She looked to him, a confused look on her face.

“Why didn't you say anything?”

“Because that'd be bad for you,” he said as he nodded sagely. He then raised a hoof, “But, because I didn't talk, the princess doesn't trust me. So, when we're about to leave The Badlands,” he then hesitated for a moment, a bothered expression flashing across his face as he continued, “When we're about to leave, we need to make a stop at Thundercloud.”

“The pegasi city Mantis crushed?” Momo asked curiously, getting a small nod from him.

“The weather factory's been tampered with. It's gonna make getting into Equestria very hard if we don't fix it.”

“And you can fix it?” Momo asked, making him shake his head.

“Do I look like a weather expert?” he asked with a raised eyebrow, “Well, won't know till I try. If I can't fix it, then we'll just have to break it till it stops working. That, and there may be food there that'll help us get the rest of the way,” he pointed out, all the while Chrys looked on, her mind racing.

Thundercloud. Weather factory. Resupplying. It all went over her head as she looked between the pony and her clutchling. Was it all a lie, or was Dud being genuine? She couldn't tell. Some small voice in her head doubted him, his words, his affirmations. Momo didn't seem bothered by his words. Neither was Ssarah. So, why was she finding it hard to believe him?

He helped her realize her feelings for the old stallion. He helped her get away from Mantis. He even helped Ssarah, an act that earned them shelter through the storm. So, why wasn't she able to trust him? Hadn't he earned it by now?

Was it because he's a pony?

As she thought this, she realized the others were looking at her curiously, making her blush as she quickly glanced to the side.

“Er, you mentioned food in Thundercloud. I guess you mean pony food?” she quickly asked, trying to drive away her confusion as Dud nodded.

“Yep, and it's better than nothing,” he replied with a smile. “I told her your name, and that you wanted to meet her, but very little else.”

“I see...” she replied, before her eyes widened, “Wait, she decided to talk to you now? Why not earlier?”

“I'm guessing those cocoons in the hive do something that blinds whatever magic Princess Luna uses to sense dreams,” he replied, though he didn't sound all that convinced about it. “So, Chrys, are you okay with this?” he asked, his tone and the way he glanced to the side making her appraise him for a moment.

If she had to guess, she'd say that for whatever reason, Dud didn't want to actually go to Thundercloud. But, he still pitched the idea. Once again her suspicion was flaring up, casting doubt over his intentions again. She frowned at her own thoughts, making her take a step back as she closed her eyes. She then took a deep breath, pushing aside the unneeded noise in her head, before looking over the situation his information presented in a more composed manner.

Even if only for supplies, they'd need to go through that abandoned city anyway, before reaching Equestria. Coming to this conclusion, she opened her eyes, before looking to Dud.

“Where is it?” she asked, ignoring the concerned looks Momo and the others were giving her.

“Well, Princess Luna said that it wasn't too far from the northern mountains,” he then stood tall, his voice sounding more feminine as he tried to radiate a regal aura. “'You should be able to spot it, when you see it,'” he said, his act putting even more distance between her troubled thoughts as she gave him an unamused look.

“Don't ever do that again,” she said, getting a small chuckle from Momo as Dud gave a sheepish grin.

“Heh,” Ssarah let out, getting a 'what now?' look from Chrys. “Oh, I jusst pictured you being a pegassuss like the other two. You three flying like a little flock of birdss traveling through the sstorm. Ssoundss like a sstory worth writing,” she said with a small smile, “It would be a little better if that flock were a family though,” she added, a grin growing on her face as she watched their reactions.

“This joker would make a terrible clutchling!” Chrys pointed out as she indicated Dud, getting a small laugh from Momo as Dud nodded in agreement.

“I don't want to be a changeling,” he admitted, “If I was, then changelings would be less rare.”

“How's that?” Momo asked curiously.

“Well, being a rare thing isn't as rare as not being one. If I were a princess, I wouldn't consider myself being very rare, since I'd wake up everyday being one.” He then pointed to Chrys, “Do you wake up everyday thinking 'I am the princess!'?”

“W-Who would think something like that!?” Chrys said in exasperation as she blushed slightly. They must never know.

“That's what I mean.” He then indicated himself, “I don't feel all that rare, I kinda am, since I'm the only free pony in The Badlands right now,” he pointed out, making Ssarah shake her head.

“When I ssaid family, I wass more referring to the princesss being your daughter,” she said, her grin growing as she pointed between Dud and Momo.

“That's even less funny,” Chrys replied flatly, getting an agreeing nod from Dud, a frown on his face.

“I completely agree, me being a father?” he scoffed, “There are some things that you shouldn't joke about,” he added, before he blinked, his frown vanishing as quickly as it appeared, “After all, she's a princess,” he finished in a cheery tone, making Chrys and Momo exchange a curious look. He coughed into a hoof before starting to head out of the room, giving Ssarah a smile as he passed her. “So, shall we get going?”

“You're leavin'?” Ren asked in a disappointed tone.

“That's right,” Momo said as she turned towards the children, “But, sometime soon, we'll be back to visit, okay?” she asked, her eyes glancing to Ssarah, who gave a small shrug that got a smile from Momo and her children.

“Okay!” Lin and Ren said in unison, making Momo smile, as well as Chrys, before they followed after Dud.

In short order, the six of them were standing at the mouth of the cave, its teeth replaced. It was raining, but it wasn't as hard as yesterday's storm, and the lightning was less frequent. Feeling the cool air outside the cave, Chrys recast her enchantment, before picking up their barrel and hopping on Momo's back.

“I'm curiouss to hear the resst of your sstory. Don't be afraid to come back and fill uss in,” Ssarah said with a smile as she leaned on the cave's wall.

“We'll tell you, if I'm in the mood for it anyway,” Chrys said, not even looking at her as she tapped Momo's back. “Let's go,” she added, getting a nod from her clutchling as she took to the air, pausing and turning around to wave at the lamias, an act mirrored by Dud, which was returned by the three of them.

And without further delay, they ascended to the clouds, returning to the world of white as they made their way north.

Three days had come and gone since the princess left, and the hive had grown quiet. Hibernation was in full swing. But not all were asleep. The very drone that helped her escape let out a troubling yawn, one born of boredom. Lores glanced at the books on her shelf, considering taking another round at them, when the sounds of someone approaching caught her ear. She blinked as she took in Darrin, standing at the entrance to her home, a troubled look on his face.

“You and Mantis are clutchlings,” he said matter-of-factly, his tone making her ears fall.

“That we are,” she replied as stood up, “Does that bother you?”

“Yes. I wanted answers, so I went to the Silent Halls to learn of those he’d hold close to his heart,” he said as she started to approach her, “Consider my surprise when I found your name sitting next to his. Just what is your relationship?” he pressed, getting a sigh from Lores.

“The same as what’s between you and Momo. Clutchlings that respect each other, and care, in our own ways.” Darrin’s eyes narrowed at that, before he glanced to the side.

“If that’s true, then why did you help Chrysalis escape?”

“Heh,” she let out, her talk with Mantis coming to mind, “Just because we’re clutchlings, doesn’t mean we always see eye-to-eye,” she replied, letting out an amused chuckle at the small nod he gave. “I helped Her Highness because I like her. I see in her the potential of a bright future. And unlike my clutchling, her color doesn’t bother me in the least.” He considered her words for several moments, before taking a more casual posture.

“You’re an odd changeling, considering who your clutchling is,” he pointed out, making her tilt her head. “You kept a pony as a pet,” he then motioned towards her books, “You indulge in their knowledge, and you’re not afraid to stand up against Mantis.”

“We both know what we’ve been through,” she replied dismissively, before raising an eyebrow, “You saw the others, in the Silent Halls.” Darrin glanced to the side at that, before his brow furrowed.

“Lores, what do you believe Mantis wishes?”

“Wishes?”

“With the hive. With Amber, and Chrysalis.” Lores hesitated at his question, giving him a considering look.

“Where’s that coming from?”

“Curiosity. I want to know if I have the old drone pegged right. Who better to ask than his clutchling?” Lores frowned at that, before tilting her head.

“Mantis… He wants to secure the future for our race. He doesn’t trust Amber with the task, so he’s trying to do all he can while he’s calling the shots.” She then nodded to herself, “He wants to shape the hive into one that uses ponies as food. To be unafraid of Equestria. To be unafraid of the races of the world that frolic in the sunlight, and little else.”

“And Chrys?” Lores frowned, before glancing to the side.

“I don’t think he truly knows what to do about her,” she admitted, making Darrin raise an eyebrow at that. “He hates her, but he also respects her on some level. He doesn’t like that, which only makes him more irritated by her.”

“He respects her?” Darrin asked skeptically.

“She stood up to him. She beat him at his own game and got away. Say what he will, but he’s well aware that his blood runs through her veins. If she weren’t born teal, he’d probably have taken her under his tutelage.”

“And Amber would let that happen?”

“She let him have a Royal Guard. That’s never happened before.” Lores then frowned. “Mantis is smart, clever, and thorough, but when it comes to Chrys, he trips. His anger for her makes him act rashly, and no one is more aware of this than he.” Darrin gave her a small glare.

“If you’re looking to garner sympathy, you’re talking to the wrong drone,” he said coldly. “Hatred or not, he’s putting our hive at risk by attacking Chrysalis.”

“She’s expendable to him,” Lores said flatly, feeling a chill run down her spine as Darrin took a heavy step towards her. “It’s true. He doesn’t fear the Moon Princess. He’s confident in his schemes. Amber will be fine, and if Chrys falls in Equestria, he’ll be able to convince the queen that he is far from fault.” Lores then shook her head. “No, I don’t think Mantis even needs that. He’s a hero to our hive. Amber can’t just get rid of him. Not now. Not without causing an incident.” Darrin frowned at that, “...However, if something did happen to Chrys, I suspect it wouldn’t be long before Amber birthed another queen. Should that happen, Mantis will make sure she’s raised to be what Amber wasn’t.”

“Ruthless?”

“Yes.”

“...Why does he hate her color?”

“Mantis has his reasons for hating teal. In those regards, she is beyond blame.” She then frowned towards Darrin, “And his hatred is foolish, but I think I understand where he’s coming from.”

“And what reason is that?” he pressed, making Lores shake her head.

“That’s for the princess’s ears, not yours. Suffice to say, it involves a pony, and Mantis’ pride.” Darrin frowned at that, considering what she said, having confirmed a number of his suspicions. He turned to leave, but paused before exiting.

“Lores, when Chrys becomes queen, will you join her hive?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder. Lores was caught off guard by the question. Growing up with a clutchling that likes asking odd questions like that made her practiced in quickly replying.

“I shall, once what’s between her and Mantis has been put to rest.”

“I see. Then I guess she’ll be counting on you a great deal more, come spring,” he said ominously, a smile on his face as he left. Lores’ ears fell at his words.

“There is a great deal she’ll be inheriting when that happens,” she replied offhoovedly, getting a confused look from the soldier. “Let’s just say there are some things Amber and I prefer to keep to ourselves,” she assured, getting a considering look from the drone, before he left. She stared at the entrance for several minutes after he left, his ominous words floating in her head. Despite Mantis’ hatred for the princess, he was still her clutchling. She truly hoped it wouldn’t end in the way Darrin just envisioned...

Author's Notes:

"Hello everypony. Did I miss anything?"
"Oh hey Luna, it's only been twelve chapters since the story started. What took you?" :chryssmug:

---

Day 2 of The Badlands has finally begun!

~breezes past days 2 through 8~

Anywho, I hope you enjoyed the chapter! It had a lot of talking.

13. Scent of Hope

Hunger is a terrible thing. At least, that's what Chrys has been told. Over their travels to The Badlands' northern mountains, she never had the chance to experience it. A fact that meant someone else was abstaining their share of the nectar. Dud and Momo refused to come forward, both backing the other when she tried to corner them on it, making it difficult for her to pick out the 'culprit'.

Their food concerns at this point seemed to be their only concern. After all the trouble her first day in The Badlands presented, Chrys was a little disappointed, and relieved, that nothing noteworthy happened in the subsequent days. No lamia or antlion encounters worth mentioning. No run-in with pursuers. Just rain, and white skies.

Besides their food, there was another thing eating at her. Their journey north was becoming colder with each passing day, making her exert more effort with her heat enchantment than she liked. Dud seemed fine with the cold, while Momo complained every once in a while, before she stopped doing so entirely, never once hearing Dud do the same. It also helped that she dubbed herself the 'Official Princess Carrier', meaning she got to enjoy the warmth radiating from her clutchling's magic.

While feeling a little drained of magic at the end of the passing days, since the nectar was now almost gone, carrying the barrel had become almost effortless. A fact that worried Chrys, a worry that was shared between the three of them, but never mentioned out loud. That concern would only hold until they reached Thundercloud, where they'd get more food. Pony food; a fact Chrys was more than ready to settle with, considering their 'supplies'.

Knowing they were getting close, Chrys had her eyes on the horizon. The sun was getting close to setting, its low height starting to turn the white sea a lite shade of orange as their eighth day in The Badlands was drawing to a close.

The northern mountains were in sight, piercing through the cloud cover like islands of stone, their peaks topped with caps of white. The mountain range was thick enough to dominate the horizon, besides an obvious break in the stony wall. That break being the valley leading out of The Badlands, into Equestria.

With daylight starting to fade, they became more aware of what lay beyond the mountain range. Still a great distance away, they could make out a line of tall clouds, higher than any of them have ever seen before, being illuminated by flickers of lightning.

“Is that Thundercloud?” Chrys asked, eyeing the wall of white and orange with a raised eyebrow.

“Can't tell from here,” Dud replied with a frown, “But it's definitely not a good thing.”

“Why?” Momo asked.

“The clouds are too tall, even for me. Flying over them would be bad, if not impossible. If Thundercloud is stuck somewhere in the middle of all that, we'll have a really un-fun time trying to find it.”

“And here I thought all the hard stuff was behind us,” Chrys replied sarcastically, getting a small smile from Dud. “If it's gonna be like that, then we should worry about it tomorrow and look for a place to sleep.”

“I vote the mountains,” Momo offered, indicating the range that they were quickly approaching. “We won't have to worry about being rained on.”

“Yes, but it'll be cold,” Chrys mumbled, before looking to Dud, “So, you gonna tell us about Thundercloud now?” she asked, getting a sheepish look from him. “You've told a lot of stories in the last few days, but you've never mentioned Thundercloud, and I get the feeling you've been there before.”

“You could say that,” Dud replied. “Let's find a place to sleep first,” he requested, “I don't like talking about home,” he quickly added, making Momo and Chrys share curious looks.

Flying on, they continued north, reaching the mountain range as the sun started to touch the horizon. Before reaching the valley, Chrys caught something in the air. A sweet scent. It was faint, coming from the west, and for some reason, it made her feel nostalgic. She didn't understand why it made her feel like that. She was certain she'd never smelled this aroma before.

Though she didn't quite understand what she was smelling, any pony could quickly pick it out. It was the sweet smell of crisp apples.

“What's that smell?” she asked, getting a confused look from Momo.

“Smell? You mean the earthy mountainy smell?” Dud asked, making Chrys shake her head.

“No, it smells sweet, it's coming from the west.”

“I don't smell anything sweet,” Momo pointed out, getting an agreeing nod from Dud.

“How can you not smell that?” Chrys asked, taking in a deep breath before looking to the mountains on the left.

“Good question,” Dud said as he adopted a considering look, “Maybe only a changeling queen can smell it?” he asked, sound a little excited by the notion, “Wanna check it out?”

“Yes,” she quickly replied, making him bow towards her, while flying.

“Lead on, Your Highness.”

“Right. Momo, that way,” Chrys said, feeling a little energized as Momo shifted course. Was it the smell's doing?

As they shifted west, unbeknownst to them, several sets of eyes followed. Seeing them change direction, they left their hiding place in pursuit...

Chrys guided them for almost half an hour, following the scent where it was stronger, diving them into the mountain range in the process. Their path led them below the clouds, almost to the bottom of a small valley nestled between two large peaks.

The twin peaks had an odd shape about them, almost as if they had once been a single peak that had cracked and broken down the center, leaving a thin valley in the process. As if guided by an unseen hoof, Chrys' eyes spotted a cave's entrance, which they quickly reached under her guidance.

They paused when they reached the opening. It was an old, broken cavern nestled on an outcropping of stone. It was placed in such a manner that reaching it on hoof would prove quite difficult, if not impossible. Not that it mattered to the fliers. The cave was spacious, the opening easily thrice as tall as Momo or Dud. Having found the apparent source of Chrys' curiosity, they landed at the cavern's opening, prompting Chrys to hop off Momo's back.

“So the smell is coming from here?” Momo asked as she eyed the broken cave, getting a nod from Chrys.

“This is convenient, we can use the cave to sleep in!” Dud pointed out, before blinking, “Hey, feel that?” he asked, his mane blowing back from a breeze exiting the cavern. “There's an air current! This cave must have an exit somewhere further in.”

“You think it's safe?” Chrys asked them both, eyeing the broken rocks and cracked walls.

“Don't know. I'm not a cave expert,” Dud pointed out, making Momo take a step forward as she eyed the walls.

“These cracks look old. It should be safe as long as we don't go around breaking things,” she said confidently, looking to the others. “If there's a breeze, then it's probably not flooded. Though, we won't really know till we go inside.”

“Alright. Let's check it out,” Chrys said, the smell stronger than ever as she started in, being followed by the others.

“Since it's getting dark,” Momo pointed out, “how about sleeping here, then check it out in the morning?” she suggested as they took in the interior, finding little evidence of anything wild having decided to make this place their home.

“Let's go a little further,” Chrys said as she placed the barrel to the side, “if it goes pretty far then we can wait till tomorrow,” she said, her horn giving off a little glow to light the cave for Dud as Momo came to her side.

“We don't want to spend too much time on this,” Dud added, getting an odd look from the others as he joined them, eyeing the barrel, “We're almost out of nectar.”

“Right,” Momo and Chrys replied in unison.

The light leaking into the cave suddenly darkened, make them pause. Chrys look behind her, a little confused. Momo and Dud however, quickly turned around, eyeing the two figures that were entering the cave. There was no mistaking the fact that one was a royal guard, the other being a manticore. Dud started to crouch low as Momo took a step closer to her clutchling.

“Momo. Take Chrys and run,” Dud said, placing himself between them.

“W- Wait-” Chrys began, being interrupted when Momo tossed her onto her back.

“Be careful,” Momo said, getting a small smile from him, before she flew further into the cavern, leaving him alone with Sledge and Aegis.

Aegis charged after the princess, his tail swiping at Dud as he did. The pegasus rolled to the side, making no effort to keep Aegis trapped near the door. Aegis passed, and didn't stop. Sledge however, was eyeing Dud with a happy grin.

“Oh, I've been looking forward to this,” he said as he took a casual step towards the pegasus, getting a disappointed sigh from Dud. “And what's with that?” he asked as his eyes narrowed.

“I thought you'd try and go past me. I was kind of looking forward to it actually,” Dud said, before his smile widened, “Did you know you can take down a changeling royal guard in one hit if you catch them right between the legs?” he asked, making Sledge's face turn red. The guard answered with a heavy stomp of his hoof, creating several cracks that stretched to the wall. “Oh, I guess you do.”

“I'm going to crush you. I'm gonna take my time with it.” Sledge said confidently, slowly approaching Dud, before stopping a step from the pegasus. “Then, the princess.” Dud simply tilted his head.

“I'm not so sure about that. The other one, he likes to call Chrys 'highness'. I'm sure Chrys and Momo can deal with him.” His brow furrowed. “You're the more dangerous one,” Dud assured, before rolling to the side in surprise, a hoof smashing into the ground where he just stood, sending out more cracks from the impact. “I gotta give them time, by wasting yours.”

“Hmph, nothing wasteful here. Master wants the pony that knows too much dead, and I'm more happy to carry it out,” he said, grinding his hoof into the stone, before pulling it out, sending rock and dust flying at Dud, who jumped to the air to avoid it. “And I'm not going to be caught off guard this time.”

“You mean when you completely and utterly failed to step on Chrys?” Dud asked as he smiled, flying around in attempt to get behind Sledge, who slammed his hoof into the wall, sending more cracks and stone flying, keeping Dud back. “You know, I can keep doing this all night,” he added, Sledge's glare making him smile wider.

Truthfully, he could only keep it up until it was fully dark. Sledge had the advantage of sight, which was growing with each passing moment. He then rolled to the side, in the air, dodging another crunching blow. He winced as rocks crashed into his wings, making him flutter back, deeper into the cave. “So do you just like to smash with your own hooves, or are you unable to shapeshift into something cool like the better guard-”

Sledge charged towards him, narrowly missing Dud as he crashed into the wall, sending large cracks that split up to the ceiling.

“I'm guessing not. You're just a big wrecking ball, unlike the other one,” Dud replied, giving Sledge a flat look. “I mean, this would a lot more fun if you were a dragon or something.” He then sighed, “But you’re not. How boring.”

“Shut. Up! That fool is not better than me!” Sledge shouted as he charged again, his body being wreathed in flames as Dud's ears fell. Dud jumped to the side, eyeing the forgotten barrel as Sledge missed again. Not that it mattered. He plowed right into the opposite wall, creating an explosion of rock and flame.

That was when the ceiling decided it had enough of this abuse, and came down on them both.

Aegis was hot on their tails, and Chrys wasn't open to having a heart-to-heart with him right now. Dud was dealing with Sledge, alone. She wanted Momo to go back, so they could help. Instead, she clung tight as she closed her eyes, her horn glowing to light the way, as Momo delved deeper into the caves.

Dud is going to be alright. Get away. Meet up later, and get away.

Those words raced through her heart, before opening her eyes again. He was going to be alright. He needed to be. How else was she gonna yell at him for selfishly staying put to keep Sledge off of them?

“Still with me?” Momo asked, getting a nod from Chrys as she continued through the cavern. It didn't help that the cave didn't show any signs of shrinking. It twisted and turned, all the while Momo ignored broken areas of stone and cavern, areas that seemed more natural than the wide path they were following.

When Aegis was close enough to lash out at her with his tail, she also flew closer to the ceiling, keeping to the young stalactites in an effort to slow Aegis down, which worked.

Having gained a small lead, she hesitated when the cave opened up into a wide cavern. At the opposite end of the cavern was a collapsed tunnel, the only other exit, a pile of rubble and stone too packed for anypony to get through. As she moved into the room, towards the collapsed path, Chrys found her eyes taking in the place.

Scattered around the room's edge were a number of paper thin, broken, smooth rocks that had a purple tint to them. In the room's center was a small pool of rare stones, which brought to mind Chrys' bed. Seeing those purple stones and bed together reminded Chrys of home. This room wasn't natural, and demanded attention, and thanks to Mantis' schemes and cronies, she wasn't in a position to look into it. They needed to escape.

She then cast her eyes forward as Momo flew closer to the collapsed exit. There was a small break in the rocks, big enough for a hatchling to barely squeeze through, that the scented breeze was blowing through. Chrys then glanced behind them, seeing Aegis enter the room, charging towards them.

“Momo, get down!” Chrys ordered, her clutching responding immediately as she ducked, making Aegis fly past them, almost crashing into the collapsed tunnel. As Momo started for the exit, the way they came in, Chrys came up with an idea, and let go of her magic, covering the cavern in darkness. Momo faltered for a moment, before catching on Chrys' intentions. She then quietly landed, hoping Aegis would leave the chamber in a false pursuit of them.

With the only source of light lost, all three of them were just as blind as ponies. So Momo and Chrys stood there, in complete darkness, waiting.

Thanks to the small roar of the air passing through the tunnel. They couldn't hear Aegis, or each other. If it wasn't for the fact that she had a tight grip on her clutching, Chrys would begin to feel as if she'd lost track of Momo in the darkness.

Seconds grew into minutes as they stood there, both trying to hold their breaths as well as they could, waiting for some sign, some evidence that Aegis wasn't nearby. That he wasn't a pace away. That he wasn't breathing down their necks.

There was a flash of amber as Aegis shapeshifted, illuminating the entire cavern. He held a stone in his hooves. Momo took flight, but the sudden illumination blinded her from Aegis' attack. She lurched suddenly as his stone hit her, making her roll into the ground. Chrys was separated from Momo, her heart skipping a beat at the sudden absence. She rolled on the ground. Before Chrys could get on her hooves, Aegis's fire died down, casting them back into the dark.

“Highness, we need to talk,” Aegis let out, landing near Chrys, which made her scoot back from him, towards Momo. The cavern was illuminated again as Aegis shifted back into a manticore, revealing Momo rising to her hooves, clutching her side. Before she could jump away from him, he took a step forward, his tail coming around, before everything went dark again.

“Momo!?” Chrys let out, hearing a small yelp from her clutchling.

“It's okay, he just scratched me,” she replied, making Chrys eye the darkness, before hesitating.

“You want to talk, fine, but leave Momo alone!”

“That won't be a problem, Your Highness,” he replied hesitantly, making Chrys appraise where she heard him for a second, before something alarming came to mind.

Did you know a single drop of the poison in your tail is enough to paralyze five adult ponies for days!?

Chrys' horn glowed as she turned towards Momo. Her clutchling had a scared look in her eyes, her body standing rigid and unmoving. Chrys then hopped back, fearing she'd be stung next. To her surprise, Aegis made no effort to attack her. She eyed him carefully, before moving to Momo's side. She was trying to speak, her eyes looking to Chrys, as if telling her to run.

“I've scratched her, so it should only last a few hours,” Aegis pointed out, getting a glare from Chrys.

“You wanted to talk. Well?” she said as she stomped a hoof, “Out with it!” she demanded, getting a small nod from him.

“This last week, spending time with Sledge, has given me some time to think,” he then frowned, before glancing to the side. “Time to doubt. Mantis saved Sledge from execution. He recruited him to help apprehend you, and protect you,” he added, getting a small scoff from Chrys, “Your highness, you claimed Mantis intended to get rid of you. I should have listened more, but I had no reason to doubt his integrity.” He then frowned, mostly towards himself, “Not until I saw Sledge...” He then looked Chrys in the eyes. “Please, I know I'm asking for much, but could you shed some light on why you think that way of him?”

“Why'd you sting Momo, if you wanted to talk?” Chrys asked, giving him a dangerous glare.

“After you 'escaped', Mantis told me that Momo was a traitor that filled your head with lies.” He then looked to the side, a lost expression in his eyes, “I'm not certain if that's true or not. That's why I only grazed her.”

Chrys stared at him for a moment, her mouth hanging open. She then glanced to the floor, feeling herself trembling. Mantis called Momo a traitor? She wished she could smack the drone with a rock. She then recalled doing just that a week ago, the mental image calming her down a little, before looking to Aegis.

“Now you want to be filled in?” she let out, pointing at him, “Dud's stuck with Sledge, Momo can't move, and you want to be told how stupid you've been!?” she added, before shaking her head. “Mantis hates me. He wants me dead. Gone. Out of his way. He threatened to kill Momo if I didn't leave the hive. I left because he pushed me! He pushed me because he wanted to kill me where mother couldn't see! And you're helping him do it!” she let out, getting a terribly troubled look from him.

“B- But, if that's true, then Sledge would have to deal with me first.”

“You think!” Chrys replied, getting an ashamed look from the royal guard. “And it is true! Amber trusted you to protect me, and what have you done to do that!?” she asked, before shaking her head. She glowered at him for a moment longer, before glancing to the side. She then took in a deep breath, looking back to him. “If you want to do that, then we need to deal with Sledge. I'm not a hatchling, Aegis. I had a plan, and having you help me was part of it. Are you going to take me back to Mantis, or help me reach Equestria?” she asked, a fire burning in her eyes. He looked over her for a moment, before giving her a nod, kneeling before her.

“Your Highness, I have made a horrible mistake, and am not worthy of your forgiveness.”

“You're right!” she bitterly replied, looking to the side as she did.

“Please, allow me to stand by your side, and protect you.”

“Even if that means fighting Mantis?” she asked as she raised an eyebrow.

“Mantis wishes you harm. He is not my master. The Queen is, and to wish harm upon her princess is unforgivable. I will help you fight Mantis.”

“Then prove it, by helping us save-” she began, hesitating for a moment, looking to Momo, before nodding to herself. “By helping us save my friend, Dud.”

“As you wish, Your Highness,” Aegis replied, a strong sense of resolve radiating from him, making her smile.

Her eyes then widened as she noticed an orange glow coming from the way they came. Aegis saw the glow reflecting in her eyes, making him quickly turn around to see an large amber fireball flying their way.

Sledge was at the center of that ball, and his course shifted when he spotted the princess, making Aegis place himself between them.

“Princess Chrysalis. Forgive my use of force,” he stated, sweeping a hoof around, catching the princess off guard as his tail swept her and Momo up, and hurled them towards the far end of the cavern. He then braced himself for the coming attack.

Sledge crashed into Aegis, coming to a complete stop as their collision rocked the cavern. Both were obscured in amber flame, which spread out in every direction, threatening to reach Momo and Chrys as they slid into the rubble at the cavern's end.

The blast sent cracks from where it originated, through the floor and ceiling. Rocks were hurled. Stalactites fell. The rocky bed in the room's center was cleared out and destroyed. The purple rocks cracked into smaller fragments. And for a moment, the breeze leading into the room reversed directions. As the force of the blast died down, Chrys got on her hooves, looking to the room's center with a pained look.

“Aegis!!” Chrys shouted, her ears falling when she saw only one royal guard left standing at the destruction's center. The flames started to die down, the cavern growing darker with their passing. However, the ground glowed and smoldered with magic where Sledge stood, looking over Aegis's form with an indifferent look on his face, before kicking the fallen guard to the side.

Chrys's eyes followed Aegis as he slid across the ground. Another royal guard, laying on the ground, thanks to Sledge. Her eyes then focused on said guard, a hated look brimming within them.

Sledge looked battered. Like a cavern had collapsed on him. Seeing him like that made her think of Dud. She then eyed Momo, her heart racing as she recalled her last fight with Sledge.

“So, princess, you going to make this easy?” he asked, before eyeing Momo, immobile at Chrys' side, “Or really easy?” he added with a sinister grin, his intentions not lost on her. She looked between him and her clutching, her chest feeling tight, before she gave him a hard glare, and took a step forward.

“R- R- Run.”

Chrys' eyes widened, her step faltering as she glanced to Momo from the corner of her eye. There were tears running down her clutchlings eyes, her mouth moving slightly, mouthing the message Chrys barely heard.

Pieces of the day she fought Mantis flashed through her eyes. Her fear in not knowing if Momo was safe. Of seeing Bulwark injured because of her failure to keep calm. Now, she was cornered again. No less so than when she stood between Sledge and Bulwark.

She'd been lucky last time. She couldn't count on luck again. She couldn't win a fight against him. She'd have to run. But, she wasn't leaving her clutchling behind.

‘Save yourself’. Those were the words in Momo's eyes. Chrys frowned, shaking her head. She wasn't running without her. Even if that meant that Sledge would be the only one leaving the cavern.

Leaving the cavern...

Chrys gaze went from Momo, to the small gap in the collapsed tunnel behind her, and her eyes widened. Her mouth fell open for a moment, seeing their escape, just ripe for the taking. Sledge's explosion had widened the gap.

Her magic may not be at full strength, but what she had would be enough. It needed to be enough. Turning her attention back to Sledge, she gave him a fiery glare, before charging him.

He blinked in surprise, before adopting a small smile. She jumped up high, hoof raised to hit him in the face, and he smugly let her have the hit. Her horn flashed brightly, sending out a blinding pulse of light that stretched out through the cavern, causing Sledge to let out a cry of annoyance as Chrys hit him in the eye. He then let out another cry as he swung his head, hitting her, and sending her flying back.

The air was forced out of her lungs when she landed, but she kept it together, her horn still at work with another task as she ran across the room, to get behind him.

Sledge held a hoof over his injured eye, vision in the other quickly returning as he turned to the sound of Chrys' hooves. There was then a brief flash of teal light, and a small burst of heat, before the sound ended.

His eye looked to where she should have been. Now, the princess was nowhere to be seen. He blinked in surprise. He spun around the room, a heated glare on his face as he tried to spot her. Even with one eye, the amber glow from his explosion still illuminated the area, and she was nowhere to be seen.

“You think you can hide!?” he asked as he crashed his hoof through the ground, sending pebbles flying in all directions. He was certain she still couldn't fly, and that she couldn't have left the chamber so quickly. “Guess you don't care what happens to-” he began, looking to where Momo lay, only, she wasn't there.

Nothing there but a collapsed, and completely sealed tunnel. Had Momo been faking it? Did they both fly out when he was distracted? No. She'd been crying. Oh yes, he saw those tears. So how'd they both disappear? Was it the princess's magic?

“Fine. Hide if you will. There's only one way out of this cave. Don't worry, I'll make sure your pet pony screams before I end it,” he added, strolling towards the exit at a slow pace, hoping to draw the princess out. He then paused, his nostrils flaring as a familiar smell assaulted him, making him rear back.

Chrys tried to watch him as he moved back, but it wasn't easy. Her back was pressed to the wall, her coat and scales making her perfectly blend in with it. The stone was cold, sapping even, but she didn't care. What she did care about, was how genuine his words had been. If he was being honest, then that meant Dud was still okay. For now.

Her eyes shifted, trying to see Sledge, but the eyes of a lamia were less suited to darkness than a changeling's, to Chrys's surprise. She'd heard that they were good at finding things in the dark, but that was proving to not be the case. All she could make out in the chamber, was the hint of burning embers at its center, which was partially obstructed by Aegis' still form.

She wanted to know more. She needed to know more. Why did Sledge fall silent? Why was he stepping away from the cavern's entrance? Her desire to know made her mouth tingle in anticipation. Then, almost out of frustration, she stuck her tongue out, to her own surprise.

Her eyes widened as she was given answers. It was the strangest sensation she's ever felt, from a sensory standpoint. She licked the air, as if tasting it, and felt as if she understood the layout of the four figures nearby. Wait. Four?

There was Aegis, in the room's center. He tasted a little crispy, but there was also stale air leaving his lungs. He was breathing.

There was Momo, her scent carried on what breeze trickled in through the hole Chrys had plugged. She smelled scared, terrified even, making Chrys' heart ache for her as she turned her head in her direction.

There was also Sledge, near the room's center, who seemed to be on the verge of panic.

“No! Again!? Again!? Why are you hunting me!?” Sledge let out, taking several more steps away from the cavern's entrance. He had a sickly taste about him, as if he were about to gag, and her confusion to his actions cleared up when she licked the air a second time.

A sweet aroma hit her. A familiar smell, that reminded her of hiding in a gorge while the rain fell. Only, this time it didn't make her head spin, making her wonder if that was because she was shapeshifted as Lin. In fact, the scent had a strange feeling tied to it, that made Chrys think of her mother. Must be a lamia thing.

There was a small, hissing laughter coming from the entrance. She couldn't see it, but she knew it was there, and so did Sledge. The lamia from the storm.

Wait. If she could sense where it was, that meant it knew where she was.

It was waiting at the entrance, while Sledge stood put, at an impasse. Chrys took the opportunity to move, working her way back towards the rubble. She didn't want to be in this cavern anymore.

She found herself licking the air as she moved, a natural habit ingrained with her current race that she embraced, and when she started moving, so did the lamia blocking the entrance. She knew that, but Sledge didn't. It was going right for him. What Sledge did know, however, was that something was moving around the room's corner. Something that couldn't shift its scales as quickly as his hunter did.

She heard Sledge take to the air, flying directly towards her. She closed her eyes and stopped, not that closing her eyes made any difference, as Sledge's hooves crashed into the wall around her, missing her. She let out a sharp cry as she was pelted by debris.

She could feel him standing over her, readying another attack. She dived forward as best she could, going between his legs as she was pelted by another near miss. He let out a frustrated grunt, she was still hard to see, even while moving.

Slithering away from him, she paused when she realized that the lamia was now right in front of her. It had paused too, taking in the figure before it as Sledge turned around. It then whipped its tail past her, catching Sledge in the face, making him stagger to the side for a moment.

Chrys stood there, caught between two giants. Momo and Dud seemed so far away, Aegis was down for the count, and now she was beginning to doubt she'd be able to escape the wall before her. It could see her, where Sledge couldn't.

She then flinched when she felt it rub its muzzle against hers. It was a warm touch. A reassuring touch. She was confused for a moment, before she recalled that she was shapeshifted as a lamia. Did it know Lin? Or was it simply the fact that she looked like a young lamia? She couldn't see its eyes, so she couldn't confirm such a connection. What she did know, or at least hope, was that the situation had just turned in her favor.

She was then surprised when it picked her up in its hooves, cradling her as it turned towards Sledge, who was moving from side to side, eyeing the darkness fearfully.

The lamia didn't speak. Not knowing if it knew Lin, Chrys kept quiet as well, fearing to alienate her guardian by saying something Lin wouldn't.

Sledge moved to the side, taking to the air as he tried to head towards the exit. The hunter grabbed Sledge’s back hooves with his tail, pulling down and slamming Sledge into the floor. The lamia then gave Chrys a brief hug, gently putting her down, and patting her on the head, before turning to give Sledge its full attention.

Chrys sat there, almost in a daze at the turn of events. Being pat on the head felt nice. She then shook her head, snapping herself out of the daze. She needed to get Momo out of here. As the hunter approached Sledge, Chrys approached the rubble. Quickly climbing to the top, she heard stone crash and break as the others went at it. She paid them no mind, moving the rocks she placed out of the way.

She crawled through an opening big enough for her, sensing Momo laying further ahead, before she hesitated. She looked back into the room, the breeze distorting what she could make out inside. The breeze was muddling her senses? Was that why the lamia didn't find her hiding behind that rock back in the rain? She then shook her head. Questions for later.

Though she couldn't sense him know, she knew Aegis was still in there, and there was nothing she could do to help. Talk to the lamia? Convince it she was friends with a changeling? She wasn't about to press her luck, but she still felt shame well up in her, as she sealed the way behind her, leaving Aegis behind.

Looking ahead, she sensed that this portion of the cave was significantly more constricting, barely high enough for a drone to walk through, and there were plenty of spots where a drone would need to lower their head to pass. Even better, she could tell that it sloped up a short distance away. Reaching her clutchling, she grabbed her with her tail, pulling Momo over her shoulder, moving as best as she could as she went further in.

“Don't worry Momo, it's me,” Chrys said in an assuring tone, “I- I'm sorry for leaving you in the dark. I'd try to light the way, but my magic's just about spent. But, don't worry, we're getting out of here,” she added, feeling Momo's head nod slightly in response.

She then glanced over her shoulder, trying to peer into the darkness beyond, seeing in her mind's eye Aegis and Dud, fallen, waiting to be saved. She wanted to go back. To help them both. But she was scared. Scared of what she'd find if she turned around. Scared of things getting worse if she did. So, she looked ahead, her chest heavy, her face wet, as she started forward.

Dud once said that he trusted Momo would be fine, because he had faith in her. Chrys was trying to do the same for the two left behind. But it was hard. So very hard, to believe. Still, she moved forward, Momo's weight on her shoulders reminding her of what she needed to do. They needed to get away. They knew where to meet up. Where they must go, even if it was never said.

Thundercloud.

And so she moved forward, noting the apple-like smell in the air, its presence trying, and failing, to comfort her. It was nothing more than an odd curiosity that drew them there, nothing more than a distraction from her thoughts. A distraction she wouldn't indulge, as she began to climb the dark tunnel, leaving the dull echoes of the clash between the hunter and royal guard, behind her.

Author's Notes:

How to make a chapter 20% more intense. Just add Sledge.
I get the feeling the fights were still lacking description. I think I may need a separate editor for fight sequences.
Things are looking dicey for just about everyone, hopefully everything will clear up next chapter. Big thanks to Fourpony for help with editing, and thanks as always for reading.

14. What was Left Behind

At the cave's entrance, buried under a small layer of rubble, was a cracked barrel. One a certain yellow pegasus was currently calling home, and who was trying really hard to vacate.

So that was the good news. Dud loved good news. He was still alive. Getting into the barrel in time was a stroke of luck, sparing him from a pummeling that would surely ground him for weeks, at best. Being trapped, on the other hoof...

His face was flushed, and he had a headache; mostly because he was upside down, blood rushing to his head. His back was resting on the barrel's bottom while he kicked up, time and time again, at the lid with his hind legs. His wing feathers were glued together, thanks to what was left of the nectar. He didn't know if Chrys and Momo were safe.

Naturally, this was far removed from a good day, assuming it wasn't tomorrow. He had blacked out at some point, and now wasn't sure when it was. All these negative facts tried to weigh on him, make his kicks falter, make him pause and wallow in doubt.

He never cared for such emotions. He wanted out. He wanted to make sure the others were safe. So he ignored those feelings, as he had practiced, over years of training his temper. But there was one emotion that he couldn't push down, one that made his heart race, one that made him distant towards others.

Fear.

Not fear for himself, but fear for others. If the barrel survived the cave-in, so did Sledge. And though he had faith in Momo and Chrys when dealing with the royal guard, he knew what waited for them at Thundercloud. They'd need him, and even though it was the last city in all of Equestria he'd want to visit, he'd help them through it all the same.

So he continued to kick against the lid, his legs long numb from the ache, his efforts grown weak from exhaustion. And still, he kicked. Time was easily lost on him, and at some point his efforts ceased, his legs refusing to even try.

He didn't like being afraid, or angry. He tried his hardest to avoid indulging those emotions. He avoided the city he grew in. He maintained minimum contact between collectors, while trying to free rare creatures. And, he tried not to get too close to anypony that'd be put in danger's way.

Maybe it was because of that, as he felt his consciousness slip away, that an odd realization crossed his mind. He didn't want out simply to help a creature as rare as Chrys or Momo. He wanted out, to help his friends.

Chrys awoke to the sound of humming, and warmth. She blinked, her eyes taking in only darkness, as she slowly tried to put together what was going on.

She was in a tight embrace, nestled in Momo's hooves, and wrapped by her feathery wings, making Chrys feel safe and content as her clutchling's warmth slowly invigorated her. Momo was humming an old lullaby, one Amber once sang to them when they were still hatchlings. Chrys shifted slightly, her tail coiling around Momo as she sought more warmth, making the humming pause.

“...Did I wake you?” Momo asked, getting a tired nod from Chrys as everything started to come back to her.

She had dragged her clutchling away from danger, leaving two others behind in the process. She must have fallen asleep at some point, succumbing to the same weakness to cold most lamia shared with changelings.

“Wait, you can talk?” Chrys asked as she put a hoof to Momo's chest, gently pushing her away.

“Yeah, I can move again. It's been a while, though I'm not sure how long,” she explained, letting Chrys slither from her grasp.

She then shifted back to her original form, briefly illuminating the hall in the process. She had climbed some distance before succumbing to the cold, as the ceiling was now back to its original spacious height, the low point behind them out of sight. Her horn then glowed, feeling enough of her magic replenished to cast her heat enchantment, and let out a weak glow to light the cave.

Looking to Momo, she saw an unharmed, light colored pegasus, who was mostly just dirty from being dragged over stone. Momo squinted at the weak light, looking to Chrys, before approaching her, rubbing her face, to the princess' surprise.

“You were crying,” Momo pointed out, making Chrys glance to the side, before turning towards the direction they came from.

“I ... I left them behind,” she said, her ears fallen as she eyed the ground.

“Chrys, what were you supposed to do? Stay and fight?” Momo ask softly as she pulled Chrys close, making the princess eye her.

“I don't know. I was scared to even try anything else,” she admitted, to one of the few she'd say such a thing to. “...Momo, what should I have done?”

“What you did,” Momo quickly replied, making Chrys blink in confusion. She didn't know what answer to expect from her, but it certainly wasn't that.

“But, I left Dud and Aegis behind—”

“And they both would have wanted that, if it meant saving yourself. Aegis goes without saying. He's a royal guard. He's an idiot, but he's still a royal guard. He would throw his life away to save yours.” She then glanced to the side, a worried look flashing across her face, “Dud, he would do the same. He stayed behind to stall Sledge for us. I know it's not what you want to hear, but running away was the right option,” she affirmed, getting a frown from the princess.

“You wouldn't be saying that if—”

“Chrys, don't,” she interrupted, “If I were in Dud's place, it wouldn't be any different. I want you to live,” she added, getting a bothered sigh from the princess as she rested her head on Momo's chest.

“That's not really helping,” she replied, making Momo place her head against her clutching, making the princess blush.

“Chrys, I get it. You're blaming yourself for this. But, you shouldn't. Sledge,” she then shook her head. “No, Mantis put you in this position. Don't blame yourself for his malice,” she insisted, making Chrys glance to the side for several moments, before giving Momo a small nod. “Good. He deserves all the blame, not you. Now, since we're alive, and up and running, let's go back for them, alright?” she asked with a smile, making Chrys eye her for a moment.

“Momo, I don't want to lose anyone. Is that too much to ask?”

“No, it's not,” she swiftly replied, “But Chrys, you're going to be a queen someday, and that someday is going to be sooner, rather than later. It's not easy, but a queen must be ready for loss,” she stated, getting a pained look from the princess, making Momo pull her closer into a hug. “But that doesn't need to be now. I don't want to lose anyone either. I don't want to lose them,” she then shifted Chrys, so they were looking eye to eye, giving her a small smile. “Though, I have to admit, I'm a little more worried about Dud, over Aegis,” she added sheepishly, rubbing a small scratch on her side, before letting go of Chrys. The princess then hesitated, before hopping on Momo's back.

“It doesn't need to be right now,” Chrys affirmed, before adopting a determined look. “Thanks, Momo,” she mumbled, getting a nod from her clutchling, before Chrys started directing her back the way they came.

With Momo flying, it didn't take long to find their way back to the room where the battle took place. It looked nothing like before. There were several additional craters, and parts of the ceiling had collapsed from the battle between the lamia and Sledge. Aegis was nowhere to be seen, and there was no evidence to suggest he was buried under rubble.

Much to Chrys' chagrin, the opposite end of the chamber had completely collapsed. When she tried to clear the way, more stone came falling down, making Momo pull them out of there.

“Well, fine then!” Chrys shouted out, aiming her frustration at the decimated cavern, “We'll just take the other way out! Come on Momo, Dud said there's another exit, so let's find it.”

“Then we can come back around,” Momo offered.

“Or light a beacon,” Chrys added, her horn flicking in time with 'beacon', “Aegis must have gotten out, and he'll help Dud when he finds him,” she asserted, hope beating in her chest as Momo brisked past where they woke up.

The breeze they had originally followed was gone, its outlet plugged with the collapsed tunnel, so Chrys guided them by following her nose. That sweet smell's source had to be near the exit. And even though she didn't want to admit it, considering their current situation, she was still curious. After all, it had been that aroma that led them to these broken tunnels.

After flying for what felt like forever, but was closer to half an hour, they saw a light coming from ahead. It was weak, and giving off a purple glow. When they were close enough to see its source, they had reason to pause.

The tunnel opened up into a vast, decorated cavern, and at its center was a tall, broken tree that was covered in purple glowshrooms. They hovered at the entrance for a moment in awe, before Momo started into the room, moving in a slight curve towards the tree as they took in the chamber.

To Chrys, eyeing the cavern, it reminded her of the Windtrap back home, only significantly larger. There were several tunnels connected to the room, and several other points that may have been passageways, but were closed due to collapse. There was a breeze circulating in the chamber, and all around the cavern's edge were shaped rocks, given deliberate form.

They looked like changelings.

Some where simply standing upright, as if at attention. Others looked like they were in the middle of a task. A conversation. Walking from one moment of life to the next. The statues were crude, and varied in quality, with the ones closer to the wall looking more like sculptures crafted by an amateur. However, the ones closer to the tree were sculpted with a show of experience that made them look life-like.

The tree in the center was large, its trunk as thick as three royal guards standing end to end. It was broken. Snapped in two by a single chunk of rock that was bigger than any of the rooms in the Amber Hive. The tree's roots were anchored in stone, and several of them were wrapped around the slab that struck it down, as if it was trying to keep the rock from leaving after having shared its grievance.

“C-Chrys, are we where I think we are? Is this the first hive?” Momo asked, making the princess blink, not believing her eyes.

“We found the first hive?” she stated in confusion. “W-We found the first hive!” she added, her eyes lighting up in shock.

The way their words pierced through the silence made their ears fall. Hearing their echoes fall upon the abandoned chamber made them feel a small sense of foreboding, as if their voices would awaken the dead. They both felt it. This place was a tomb, and it was sacred.

The first hive. The abandoned hive. The forgotten hive. The old stories of this place didn't do it an ounce of justice. They had been left with the impression that the Violet Hive was the same size as their own, only with a more plentiful supply of nectar.

At Chrys' direction, Momo flew closer to the tree. As they approached, they noticed that the large tree-slaying rock was the only piece of debris in the room's center. There wasn't even a loose pebble to be seen. It was as if someone had cleared it out, dragging it all to the room's edge. Debris, that was used to populate the chamber's borders with its silent congregation.

Getting a closer look at the tree, their wonder didn't ease up. The tree's bark was black, its branches filled with circular holes that mirrored the ones they sported in their legs. The similarities drew their attention. This tree was connected to them somehow, just like the how glowshrooms were tied to their color.

The 'shrooms close to them brightened in Chrys' light, starting to turn them teal in the process, a fact that bothered her. She shifted the color of her light to match the glowshrooms, letting out a small sigh as they returned to their original, five-hundred year old purple.

Now under the tree's leafless canopy, they noticed a number of its roots fell into a well near the base, a well of stone. It was empty, and Chrys couldn't help but wonder what it was for. She felt that it wasn't for water, but something more important. Several dead roots were poised over it, as if seeking to reach for what used to lay within.

“Chrys, look...” Momo whispered as she indicated the slab of rock that towered over them. It was covered in writing. Etchings in stone divided into square chunks, each surrounded by sculptures of branches and leaves, among other things. The letters were as big as Chrys's hoof, written in pony.

“Take us to the top,” Chrys quietly replied, seeing from a quick glance that it was a record of some kind.

Reaching the top of the stone, her eyes fell to the first entry. Its outline was surrounded by sleeping changelings, resting on leafy branches, tears pouring from their closed eyes. At the top center was the queen, Violet Widow, a hexagonal gemstone radiating light from her neck. Her eyes were closed, and Chrys took a moment to take her in. Her grandmother, the first queen. She had a kind, loving look about her. Chrys then faltered when she started reading the passage, her chest aching as she did.

'Our queen is dead. We all felt it, as sure as if we'd been there to see it. I should have been with her. I should have insisted on accompanying her. Somewhere out in the world, she sought to defeat the Spirit of Chaos with the Queen's Gem, and fell. Even those trapped in Winter's Sleep felt it, many were crying. Our queen is dead, and her hive followed.'

Chrys took it in, one passage among many. Spirit of Chaos? Queen's Gem? Those didn't matter compared to the first line. The message carried a weight that didn't escape them. It was a fate she was working to spare her mother from. So, the words drew her in, and she read them out loud as they did, her voice trembling as she and Momo were exposed to their history.

She read on, continuing the first entry.

'Princess Amber felt it. A hatchling of a different color, she felt it all the same, and she balled her heart out. Mother Mountain felt The Queen's passing, and cried too. But the cries of the mountain were too much for us. Not long after feeling her fall, the ground trembled. Tunnels collapsed. Those resting in Winter's Sleep would never wake up. We were separated from the princess. I can only hope Aegis was able to get her out.'

An Aegis of a different color. A different time. But, reading his name made Chrys pause, recalling the two left behind. She felt conflicted. Her heart wanted her to read on, but it also wanted her to leave it for later, to find Dud and Aegis.

Still, she read on. This stone's been waiting for hundreds of years for this day, and she couldn't pull herself away from the answers it gave.

Momo hovered lower as they looked to the second entry. Its border was made of branches and leaves, but several of those branches had holes, tunnels, weaved into them. Within one of those tunnels, were two small changelings, barely noticeable compared to the vastness of the branches and tunnels around them.

'Woke up this morning with a hole in my heart. It was the same as yesterday, and the day before. Merrin feels it too. Each day we wake up feeling our loss. Our queen was dead, and for all we knew, we were the last two survivors of the mountain. There's no way out. Merrin and I have searched the tunnels, and we've found no exit. She wants to find the princess, and protect her. I've chosen to stay, exit be found or otherwise. Claire can't leave, and I can't stand the idea of leaving her alone in our abandoned home.'

Claire?

The name felt familiar, but Chrys couldn't recall ever hearing it before. Seeing her confusion, Momo gave her a considering look. Chrys motioned her to continue on to the third entry.

It was wrapped in branches too, but now the leaves were wilting. The bottom of the entry's border was buried in a small layer of them. Merrin and the author were etched into opposite sides, a mare and stallion, looking over the wilting leaves with sad expressions.

'Claire is dying. It can't be help, being broken like that. Merrin told me that a mere “pebble” couldn't do her in. She insists Claire is dying of a broken heart. I can only suppose it to be true. She's lost so many of her children. We feel it when we wake up. But Claire can't sleep, her heart has no time to rest. And we have no means of consoling her. We've started storing nectar, for the inevitable.'

As Momo moved to the next entry, Chrys eyed the tree, at Claire. The next section's border was little different from the last. More leaves were gone, added to the pile at the bottom. Merrin had a smile on her face, standing over the author's shoulder as she eyed him crafting a poorly made statue. He didn't look all that amused by her reaction.

'Merrin laughs at my poor stonework. I'm improving, but she finds my insistence to do it myself worthy of teasing. I feel obligated to do this, it's that simple. Regardless, she's doing some sculptures of her own. Her skill is really amazing. The mountain cried again, luckily we were in Claire's chamber when it did. The sturdiness of this cavern is a testament to our survival. The nectar's come down to a trickle, but we've saved enough for a few months. We're both putting on a brave front, but we're worried. If I were to admit a moment of weakness, I'd prefer being buried alive, over starving.'

Chrys eyed the passage for a moment, lost in thought. They made due with what they had, and persevered. That's what she took from that passage as she eyed the next. The branches had no leaves, but the author and Merrin were looking to a six-petal flower, tears streaming down their eyes.

'Claire's being stubborn. Defiant even. Our hive provided her love, and she provided us nourishment. Her purple leaves have fallen. Her nectar has stopped pouring. Yet, she still stands defiant to her fate. A flower bloomed at her trunk. In all our years under her care, this has never happened before. The flower had no scent, but I felt energized when I took it in. It's beautiful. The color reminds me of the Princess. Is she still alive, somewhere outside? How would she eat if that were the case? Is she living the life of a pony? We don't know, and we likely never will.'

Chrys eyes started to sting as she read the next, holding a hoof over her chest as she took it in. Merrin and the author held their heads down in reverence. Merrin was holding something close to her chest. The leaves were gone, the flower's petals were laying before them, wilted.

'Claire is dead. The mother of our race shed her last petal this morning, but she left something unexpected in its place. Hope.'

“Hope?” Chrys asked, Momo mouthing the word as they continued on.

The frame of the next passage was wrapped in thinner branches, its leaves budding with new life as the two changelings glanced over a worn book. They both looked happy.

'Our Hope grows with each passing day. I'm certain the princess is alive, somewhere out there. I'm intending to leave a record of what happened here behind. Perhaps on that large stone. Merrin suggested copying my journal, instead of telling a story of our race. I told her that wasn't gonna happen. She convinced me otherwise. Nectar isn't a concern anymore.'

The next entry was shorter than the rest, most of its space devoted to a depiction of Merrin, her body covered in roots and leaves. The author looked over her from the side, tears in his eyes, a hoof rubbing her cheek affectionately.

'There was a cave-in when we were exploring one of the tunnels. Merrin was gravely injured. I stayed with her, and kept her company as she faded away.'

Chrys's cheeks were wet, but she ignored it as she kept reading, hoping the pain in her chest would fade away with the passing of the words. The next passage had no leaves. The author was all alone, surrounded by dead branches.

'I woke up today with a hole in my chest. It took years for the me to adjust to the queen's passing, but I had Merrin to help me through that, as I helped her. What am I to do, all alone?'

Beyond that, there were no more borders. Just words etched in stone, as if the sculptor had lost the drive to add any flare to it.

'Merrin is buried with our Hope. My love for them both should be enough to keep her going. Love is eternal, right? I want our Hope to live on after I'm gone, and I don't want her to be left alone.'

Chrys' eyes hovered on that entry for several moments. It was the last one. Had something happened to the author? Had he given up? Her ears were low as she glanced to the side, and Momo took in a sniffling breath as they let his final words hang in their hearts. Chrys then blinked when her eyes caught something at the stone's base, and with a hint of hope, directed Momo towards it.

There was one final passage.

'It's been so long since I've written in my journal. So long since the last message I've etched into this stone. I remember it being harder than this. Regardless, this is my last entry, and it's directed towards you. Be you pony, changeling, or something else entirely, this is who we were. This tree. This stone. These words. We cared for our queen, and for Claire. We cared for each other. And we lived happily in our caring mountain. We may look like monsters, but trust me, we are anything but. If you find our Hope still alive, please, give her just a little love. She is our future, and that's all the future needs to prosper. I'm going now, to join Merrin's side.'

Silence fell over them as Chrys finished reading. She then looked to the husk of Claire, her chest feeling hallow as her eyes traced over its branches. Once upon a time, her race and this tree shared in harmonic prosperity. The tree was dead, along with any hope of such a future bounty.

He stayed behind to leave a record. To leave a light for the future. So where was this 'Hope' he wanted to trust them with?

As she wondered this, she also noticed something about the air. The scent that she'd been following wasn't coming from the tree. Something else drew her here.

“Why'd we forget?” Momo asked, making Chrys look to the stone for a long moment, its opening line coming to mind.

“They lost their queen,” Chrys began, “And before they could come to terms with that, they needed to abandon their home, to save themselves,” she pointed out, placing a heavy hoof over her chest. “They didn't want to remember. Mother- Amber must have been too young to make sense of it, and the others must have been too ashamed to tell her about what was left behind,” she speculated, glancing to the side, before taking in a long, deep breath. She felt shaky, like she would stumble over if she tried to walk. “Let's, let's take a look around, that breeze is coming from somewhere,” she insisted, making Momo glance to her. She had a tired, emotionally worn look in her eyes.

“We're not gonna find his hope?”

“Unless it's on the other side of this stone, we're not,” Chrys said in a drained voice. “I, I don't want to see if it's ruined. I don't think I'd be able to take it right now," she admitted weakly, before glancing to the side. "We've spent enough time in here,” she added, making Momo hesitate, before nodding. They then circled around the stone, getting a better look of the cavern beyond. Chrys' eyes followed the stone as they rounded it, and Momo stopped when they were on the other side.

The rock's back face was completely decorated with changelings. Every single one of them had their own personality to them. At the slab's bottom, in the center, were several taller changelings. A pair of royal guards, standing each side to their queen, Violet Widow. Some of the drones around them looked like they were arguing with their neighbor, or playing with a clutchling. Some of the changelings were hatchlings, eyeing the queen, wide-eyed and happy. A majority of the changelings had a soft, caring look about them, their eyes directed towards their Hope.

Their eyes, directed to a small tree, several paces away from the stone.

Its bark was black, its branches no different from Claire's. It had amber leaves that gave off the faintest of glows. The tree was barely bigger than a sapling, by pony standards, and at its roots was a small pile of stone, and a small opening in the ground parallel to the stones, that had been sealed by the tree's roots. Two small graves, both with a marker. One for Merrin, and one for the architect, the author. Mantis.

Chrys eyed his grave for a moment, her chest aching as she felt conflicted. She took a moment to remind herself he was a Mantis of a different color. Of a different time.

Looking from the graves, sitting ahead of them, were two small statues. Merrin, leaning on Mantis' shoulder, as they both looked at Hope. They were smiling. Chrys found herself smiling as well, a bittersweet smile, mirrored by Momo.

The breeze shifted slightly, making the sapling's leaves rustle, drawing their eyes. They could have sworn they heard it call them. But as they stared at it, there was no other sound coming forth. It was just a feeling. A feeling that left them speechless.

The life before them was sacred. It was Amber's tree. They understood this, on some instinctual level, and both were filled with a sense of happiness, at seeing it alive and well. With little need for provocation, Momo landed before it, and as they walked under its thin canopy, Chrys' eyes widened as she found the source of the smell.

On the tree's trunk was a teal flower, in full bloom. It held six petals, the tips darker than the flower's center, where the scent sprung forth, calling the princess. Chrys couldn't resist the temptation. She walked up to the flower, bringing her face close as she took in a deep breath.

She felt a tingle travel down her body as she did, feeling a little lightheaded as she took a step back from it. She then shook her head, the lightheadedness fading, along with her sorrow, her apprehensions, and her fears. Her horn brightened, her magic feeling replenished. The flower instilled with her a positive feeling. She felt like she had, before entering the final dream of the old stallion. Happy, and worry free. She was full of hope.

“Chrys?” Momo asked as she moved to her side, eyeing her clutchling with a hint of surprised concern.

“This is where the smell came from!” Chrys pointed out, making Momo appraise the flower, before taking a whiff as well. She also staggered back, her form flashing from pony, to changeling, then back to pony.

“W-Whoa. That felt weird. It was nice, but weird,” she affirmed with a smile, looking just as reinvigorated as Chrys. “I guess it's the same for me as it was for Mantis. Well, this Mantis,” she added as she looked to his statue, “I didn't smell anything. It must be a 'queen only' thing,” she added, sounding a little envious as she did.

“I wonder what it means-” Chrys began, before she noticed something at the tree's base. “Momo, look!” she stated wide-eyed, indicating a small bowl beneath the flower, on the ground. The bowel had several roots poised over it, and every several seconds, a drop of nectar fell into the bowel. It was filled to the brim, “It's making nectar!” she exclaimed as she turned to her clutchling. “We need to tell Amber about this! We won't need to attack Equestria if we tell her about Hope!” she added, the realization being mirrored in her clutchling's eyes as she appraised the tree.

“Well … it's kind of small,” Momo pointed out, getting an annoyed look from Chrys as Momo blushed, “I mean, it's great! Really, it is!” she added as she spread her forelegs out, “This can change everything for us! But, it's not enough. Not right now,” she affirmed, making Chrys eye the sapling for a moment, before reluctantly nodding in agreement. Her eyes then darkened as another thought came to mind.

What would Mantis think about this tree?

She took a step back as she looked to it. It seemed so small, in the shadow of the watchful stone. In the company of Claire's husk. In the center of this vast, abandoned cavern.

Mantis would crush it. If only because it was an alternative provided by Chrys. She was pretty sure he was that petty. Thinking of the hateful drone soured the mirth the flower gave her, making her glance to her surroundings.

“Momo, eat up,” she said as she indicated the bowl, “We need to keep moving. We'll be back later, but for now, let's keep this between us,” she added, making Momo blink in confusion.

“Huh? Why?”

“If we went back to the hive and told Amber, Mantis would destroy it.”

“He would?”

“You think he wouldn't?” Chrys asked as she raised an eyebrow.

“R-Right, he probably would, since it's a good thing...” Momo affirmed as she eyed the bowl. “So are we leaving Dud in the dark? I mean, I can see him getting really excited, hearing about all this,” she stated with a smile, making Chrys consider it for a moment.

“Not yet. If Princess Luna can look into his dreams, well... It's not that I don't trust him. I don't trust her.”

“But we'll tell him later, right?”

“Well, I guess,” Chrys replied, looking a little put off as she glanced to the side, “But you're the one doing the talking. He gets overbearing when he's excited.”

“Heh, fair enough,” she replied, “So does that mean we're still heading to Equestria?” she asked, getting a considering look from Chrys, before she nodded.

“Yes, but I need some time to think on this. For now, let's find the others first,” she stated, getting a nod from Momo, before she approached the bowl.

“This is great, I was kind of famished,” she added sheepishly. Right before she could take a lick, her brow furrowed. “Wait, you should go first—”

“Momo, I know you and Dud have been starving yourselves for me. So, let's not argue, and just eat,” she stated firmly, making Momo look to her for several moments, before letting out a small sigh, lowering her head and taking a lick of the nectar. Her eyes then widened in surprise.

“It tastes different! I- I really like this!” she let out, getting a curious look from Chrys as Momo hungrily chowed down.

“Different?” Chrys asked curiously as she approached the bowl, which Momo presented, making the princess take a small lick from it. It was sweet. It tasted exactly like the love the old stallion gave her.

Love's flavor is determined by the intended recipient. Nectar has a flat flavor, it was made from pony's love with no intended recipient in mind. From a pony, nectar was neutral. However, nectar from Hope had an intended recipient. This fact played through Chrys's mind as she eyed the sapling. It was so small, yet well over several hundred years old, and its nectar was sweet, and nourishing.

After Momo had her fill, Chrys finished what was left, before returning the bowl to its place at the roots. They both then eyed the tree for a moment, their hearts in unison as they made a silent promise. They would return, and give this tree the love it needed.

Chrys then hopped on Momo's back. Before she took flight, they both took a moment to take the place in again. The watchers set in stone. The purple glowshrooms. The amber leaves. The teal flower. Here, their heritage lay, having waited patiently for half a millennium. What was another couple weeks or months compared to that?

With a light tap from Chrys, Momo took to the air, and after she flew a single loop around the chamber's center, they moved to follow the breeze. They found it coming from a tunnel halfway up the chamber's side, and Momo paused as they reached it.

In unison, they both looked back to what lay behind them.

“We'll be back. Without a doubt,” Chrys stated, getting an agreeing nod from Momo, before they continued forward.

They climbed and climbed, ascending against the breeze as they did. And it wasn't long, before they saw the light of day ahead of them.

Dud's eyes opened, his heart racing as his awareness returned to him. The sound of movement in the cave stirred him, making him thump against the barrel.

“Chrys, Momo? Any help would be nice~!” he said, adopting a hopeful smile. Silence answered him, making Dud's smile falter for a moment, before the barrel started to shake. He then flinched back in surprise when a barb pierced through the lid. With a wood-snapping twist, the lid flew away, revealing a manticore looking down at him.

There was a brief pause as their eyes met. Aegis looked like he'd been caught in an explosion, his fur was dark and covered in soot. Seeing a lack of being attacked by the guard, Dud gave him a small smile.

“You still call her 'Highness', right?” he asked.

“I always have, and I always will,” Aegis replied flatly as he stepped back from the barrel, letting Dud crawl out. Or, at least try to. His hind legs felt like limp noodles, so he found himself trying to twist around and pull himself out with just his forelegs, but he got out all the same.

“Great~! Where is she? Where's Chrys and Momo?” Dud asked as he took in the cave, looking a lot more broken than before the cave-in. As he sat himself up, his eyes fell to the entrance, the weak glow of an approaching dawn illuminating the cavern.

“I don't know,” Aegis replied with a worried look, “I think they went further in while Sledge was fighting. I wasn't able to go any deeper,” he stated, looking very disappointed in himself, “I couldn't clear the way, it only made more rocks fall,” he then glanced to the side. “I came this way to find another means into the mountain from the outside." He then gave the pony an unamused look, "I admit, I forgot about you. It's good you spoke up, her Highness wanted me to save you.”

“And for that, you have my thanks!” Dud let out, trying to stand up, and succeeding with some effort. He then gave his wings a flap, and winced. The feathers were stuck together because of the nectar, and didn't respond well to movement. “I don't suppose you'd mind carrying me to a passing cloud?” he asked with a sheepish grin, getting a distant look from Aegis.

Dud then blinked in surprise when Aegis' tail wrapped around him, placing him on the royal guard's back. Without saying a word, Aegis ran out the cave, and took flight, making Dud hold tightly to him as the guard started to curve around the mountain, his eyes peeled for any openings.

“So this is what it feels like to be Chrys!” Dud said energetically, getting an annoyed look from the guard.

“Keep an eye out,” Aegis said sternly, making Dud nod as he began doing just that, “I was supposed to kill you,” he added, making Dud blink in surprise, “The reasons were very simple, you know too much. Yet, her Highness is fond of you, so understand this, pony, I've got my eyes on you,” he stated coldly, getting a smile from the pony he just threatened.

“That's fine, as long as you're protecting Chrys, watch me all you like,” Dud replied, “You've got a better chance against Sledge than I do,” he affirmed, making Aegis hesitate for a moment.

“He isn't a concern anymore.”

“You beat him?” Dud asked, making the manticore shake his head.

“It wasn't me, it was someone else. Sledge was buried alive in the tunnels.”

“Oh,” Dud replied flatly, “Well, it's a good thing you'll be protecting the princess from him now.”

“Didn't you just hear me?”

“Yes? Sledge is buried? I'm gonna hold out that he's still in a position to make Chrys' life dangerous. Until I see him fallen with my own eyes, I'll always assume that.”

“Why?”

“It's safer that way,” Dud stated matter-of-factly, before adopting a small frown, “I should have been keeping an eye out earlier, but Chrys got a whiff of something strange, and I was a little too excited to stay focused,” he explained, getting a curious look from Aegis. “The princess smelled something in the air. Drew us here. Neither myself or Momo could smell it. Did you?” he asked, making Aegis shake his head, which got a small smile from Dud. “I wish I could have gone further inside. I wonder if those two found it?”

“Whatever this 'it' is, it better not pose a danger to them,” he replied with a slightly threatening tone, before glancing to the pony on his back. “Why do you need a cloud?”

“Oh. To get the sticky off my feathers!”

“Very well.”

“So, what fought Sledge? You make it sound like it wasn't you.”

“That is- He was- It was a lamia,” he quickly explained, making Dud appraise him. A lamia? Was it Ssarah's mate? Regardless, he doubted that the guard would know the answer to that one.

“Hey, Aegis,” Dud said, making the royal guard blink as he gave Dud an appraising look, “Welcome to Team Chrysalis~!” the pony added, with a beaming grin.

“...You are an odd pony,” Aegis said, a small smile on his face. “I'll get you a cloud in bit, so continue keeping an eye out for any caves,” he added, his smile fading as they reached the eastern side of the mountain, seeing an orange glow looking to break into the horizon.

It was the beginning of dawn. That moment, when the sun's light touched the highest peaks first, before crawling the lands around it.

As Aegis circled, Dud directed him to fly close a cloud hugging the mountain, and to the guard's surprise, Dud hopped off as soon as he was close enough to. He rolled around on the cloud for half a minute, his wings getting wet from the moisture. He then gave them a good flap, clearing what nectar remained away, before joining Aegis's side. As the line of sunlight climbed halfway down the mountain, something caught Dud's eye in night's fading shadow. A teal glow.

“Down there~!” he let out, practically shouting in Aegis' ears as he did. When the royal guard spotted the light, he didn't hesitate, diving towards it, and the pegasus followed.

“Chryss~! Momoo~!” Dud shouted, seeing the glow start approaching them, fading out as the two groups spotted each other.

“Highness!” Aegis let out, his greater speed making him reach them sooner. He paused before them, a relieved look on his face. He then blinked when Momo, with Chrys on her back, passed him, flying right towards Dud.

Dud and Chrys were caught off guard when Momo plowed right into him, tackling him with a hug.

“Dud! You're alright!” she let out, getting a surprised, almost flustered look from the pegasus as he nodded. The hug was brief, as Momo fluttered back a small space, letting Dud see them both, smiling, and getting a smile from him in turn.

“I have to say, you two are looking great!” he let out in awe. They looked like they'd spent the whole night resting and relaxing. And was it his imagination, or was Chrys just a little bit bigger than he remembered?

“You look like a mess,” Chrys replied flatly, before looking to Aegis. “Nevermind. You look like a mess.”

“My apologies, Your Highness,” Aegis replied, trying not to sound put off as he did.

“Still, I'm glad to see you're both alright,” she added, before adopting a small frown. “I was worried I'd have to find replacements for the both of you,” she added, making Momo roll her eyes towards Dud, getting a knowing smile from the stallion.

“I'm sorry to inconvenience you, Highness,” Aegis replied with sincerity.

“What happened to Sledge?” Chrys asked.

“I-” he began, before glancing to Dud, “can't say for certain,” he stated, making Chrys frown, before Dud grabbed their attention.

“You two wouldn't believe what happened to me!” he let out, making Chrys and Momo share a brief glance, “I got to ride a manticore! Do you have any idea how many ponies can say that!” he added, before adopting a sagely look, “I wouldn't recommend it, they bob up-and-down far too much.”

“I can imagine,” Momo replied, letting out a small laugh, which Dud mirrored. She then glanced to Aegis, adopting a frown as she hovered up to him, bopping him right on the nose, to everyponies' surprise. Aegis shook his head, rubbing his nose and backing up slightly as Momo got right in his face. “So, where's my apology?” she asked heatedly. “You didn't have to sting me, you know! We could have fought Sledge together!”

“I wasn't sure who to trust-”

“You still didn't have to sting me! Chrys had to drag me. In complete darkness! Do you know what that felt like!?”

“I- I'm sorry,” Aegis stammered.

“Sorry isn't good enough now! You'll have to pay,” Momo said with a heavy nod, getting a small smile from Chrys and Dud as Aegis appraised her.

“What would you ask of me?” he asked, making Momo look over him for a moment, before glancing to Dud. She then adopted a smile, one with only a dash of malice.

“You have to answer all of Dud's questions,” she replied with a nod, getting a gasp from the pony, who caught Momo off guard with a brief hug of his own.

“Oh thank you Momo! There's soo many things I wanted to ask, but he was all 'I'm gonna keep my eyes on you'!” he let out, before rounding on the royal guard with a beaming grin.

“I, I don't like where this is going...” Aegis admitted, getting a small, satisfied laugh from Momo and Dud.

“Stop laughing like hatchlings,” Chrys interjected, masking a smile of her own as the two did just that, keeping a warm smile in laughter's place. The princess then looked to her guard with a raised eyebrow, “Be sure you make up for your mistakes, Aegis,” she stated, making the royal guard look to her, saluting without hesitation, before giving Dud an apprehensive glance. “Now come on. There's someplace we need to go,” she added before giving Dud a considering look. “Dud, you're up. We need to find Thundercloud.”

“Yeah, I suppose so,” Dud replied with a nod, before turning around, eyeing the wall of clouds north of them. His smile then faded, before he shook his head, and looked back to his friends. “So, did you find your smell?”

“Yes. But we can talk about that later,” Chrys replied as she pointed forward, “First thing's first.”

“We're going into that?” Aegis asked curiously, getting a nod from the princess.

At her provocation, Momo started forward, and Dud quickly joined their side, with Aegis tailing behind them. As they proceeded towards the wall of thunderclouds, Chrysalis glanced over her shoulder, eyeing the broken twin-peaks behind them, as they grew distant.

Author's Notes:

"So Aegis, what happened in that mountain?" Dud asked excitedly, "You know, after you woke up?"
"You'll need to wait till the next chapter, pony."
"Awww. You're no fun!"

---

Thank you as always for reading.

15. The Skies Before Equestria

Dud eyed the amber wall of clouds as they approached, painted by the dawn's light. Occasionally a bolt of lightning would escape the fabricated barrier between The Badlands and Equestria. Thunder was constantly greeting them, and it was only getting louder with their approach. Seeing where they needed to go, Dud veered to the west, the others exchanging looks as they followed after him, leading them on a path parallel to the storm-wall.

“Thundercloud's this way?” Chrys asked with a raised eyebrow, getting a nod from the pony.

“The clouds are traveling east,” he indicted with his hooves, “Thundercloud is their source, so the city will be to the west. We just have to follow this till we spot it.”

“How long will that take?” Aegis asked impatiently. “I thought Her Highness was intending to reach Canter Town?

“She is,” Dud quickly replied, “and I'm guessing it'll be a few hours at most. Heading to Thundercloud first is the safer way,” he added, his point punctuated by a crack of thunder.

“Agreed,” Chrys affirmed. “That mess looks even worse than what we came through,” she added, glancing back to the rolling clouds over The Badlands.

“Just was is that?" Momo asked, making Chrys and Dud share a look.

"When Mantis took Thundercloud," Chrys began, "he did something to it, making that storm to keep the ponies out during winter."

"Oh," Momo replied, frowning at the mention of Mantis, "So what's going on in there?” she asked, eyeing the storm apprehensively.

“If I were to guess, it's a nasty blizzard,” Dud offered, “One full of lightning, snow, sleet, and maybe even freezing rain.”

“Freezing rain?” Chrys and Momo repeated in unison, getting a nod from him.

“It's rain so cold, it becomes ice when it lands,” he replied, a troubled look on his face. “I've never seen it myself, only heard of it. It's very dangerous, even to a pegasus.”

“Y-Yeah,” Momo began with a sheepish look, “so I'm completely on board for not going into that.”

“Same,” Dud replied, eyeing the the wall of clouds for several moments, before he decided to give his attention to the royal guard. “And speaking of 'going into that',” he began with a beaming grin, “Aegis, I've got those questions you owe me!” he added, getting an uncomfortable sigh from the guard. “Sooo, what happened before you pried me out of the barrel?”

“Barrel?” Chrys asked with a raise eyebrow, “You were trapped in the barrel?”

“Yep!” he declared, sounding quite proud with himself. “Sledge was smashing the tunnel, trying to squish me. Caused a cave-in, so I used the barrel for cover. But, I got stuck inside,” he explained, his smile faltering for a moment before looking back to Aegis. “Soooo? What happened?”

“...I woke up to an unsettling smell. It was the lamia's, the one that's been following Sledge and I since it first attacked us,” he hesitated for a moment, glancing to the side. “Its smell is noxious. More so to Sledge than myself.”

“It always smelled sweet to me,” Chrys pointed out curiously, before looking to Dud, “Why's that, Mr. Creatures Expert?”

“Rare creatures,” Dud pointed out, almost sounding offended, before giving her an amused smile. “If it's the same one that kept Mantis from getting Chrys the first time, then that was probably Ssarah's mate, Snare.” He then adopted a more sagely pose, turning towards the others as he started flying backwards, “Snare is a slithering type of lamia, which means he can camouflage, has a poisonous bite, and noxious gas. From what I've read, a lamia's poisonous fumes are tailored towards a specific foe, so as not to inversely affect unintended targets. It smelled worse for Sledge, because that's the one Snare was hunting.”

“Why is he hunting Sledge?” Momo asked, “Why not Aegis too?”

“Ssarah told me he has a rare condition. He must have gotten a taste of Sledge's blood. He's driven towards drinking all that's left.”

“Yes. That must be it,” Aegis replied, looking off to the side as he did.

“So then what?” Dud asked, “You woke up, aannd..?”

“They, were fighting...”

Aegis stirred as another explosion wracked the chamber, debris bouncing off of him as his eyes opened. The crater he lay in had lost its fiery glow, but the cavern was lightened by a pair of new craters in the cavern's left wall. There were cracks snaking out from those impacts, and with another thunderous boom, Aegis saw those lines crawl further into the ceiling.

Looking to the source, he saw Sledge constantly moving, crashing and smashing into anything that he was close to, as if he were fighting an invisible foe. The almost nauseating smell in the air tipped Aegis off to the unseen monster, and he could see the fume's effects on the frantic royal guard. He wasn't just attacking at nothing. He was delirious, and afraid.

Aegis got on his paws, shrugging off the pain, his keen sense of smell making it easy to pin down where the lamia was. It was keeping within tail's reach of Sledge, waiting for the opportunity to strike. Thanks to the guard's erratic behavior, it was presented with plenty of chances, weakening Sledge, blow after blow. Because of Aegis' senses, he was able to pick out something that at first troubled him, before that worry shifted to relief.

He couldn't smell the princess.

Before he could start acting on this knowledge, Sledge started to charge, seemingly in a random direction. As he gained speed, his body was wreathed in orange flames, and another fiery explosion wracked the cavern as he plowed into the wall opposite of the other craters.

Aegis raised his tail as he stepped back, sensing the snake coming closer as Sledge started to recover from his attack. Aegis then paused when the lamia revealed itself to him, its camouflage melting away as their eyes met. The guard's mouth fell open, but a brief grunt of pain from Sledge made him close it, the manticore and lamia turning towards the delirious guard in unison

Aegis noticed the cracks of the new crater spreading across the ceiling at an alarming rate. Rocks started to fall from those wounds as Sledge turned towards them. Aegis wrapped his tail around the lamia, catching the snake off guard as Aegis started running towards the room's entrance.

His reasoning was simple. He couldn't smell things that were downwind of him, so the princess must have left through the room's entrance, making her downwind of the gust they'd followed to this chamber. He also saw the cracks of the new crater snaking towards the ones on the opposite end, and had a good guess at what would happen when they connected.

Indeed, as Sledge gave Aegis a surprised look, the ceiling started to come down behind them. Aegis adopted a small smile as he saw the traitor become buried in an instant. With the lamia in tail, the two stopped at the room's entrance as the cave-in pattered to an end. Everything went dark for Aegis, the only source of light now gone.

“You saved Snare?” Dud asked, a little surprised, “That sure was nice of you! We'll need to let Ssarah know next time we're in the neighborhood.”

“Why'd you save him?” Chrys asked, making Aegis blink, before glancing to the side.

“He was the one fighting Sledge, instead of you, Your Highness. I owed it to him.”

“So what happened after that?” she eagerly pressed, “He didn't turn on you, did he?”

“No. He left my grasp, and disappeared into the caves. I searched as best I could for several hours, but when I never found even a hint of your scent, I returned to the caved-in chamber where Sledge fell.”

“How'd you see in the dark?” Chrys asked.

“I followed my nose and ears, and occasionally shifted forms to briefly light the way, Your Highness,” he explained, “I tried to move the rubble. I recalled a closed tunnel in that room, and guessed that you made your escape through there-”

“You'd be right,” Momo interjected.

“But I couldn't get through the debris. The cave seemed content to pile on more as I tried to clear it. So I turned around and made my way out to find another means inside, finding him in the process,” Aegis concluded as he pointed to the pony.

“Huh,” Dud replied, “I thought the longer version would be more exciting,” he added, getting a slightly miffed look from the guard. “Next question! Does Sledge have something against shapeshifting? I wanted to see some cool creature while fighting him,” he said, before rolling his eyes, “but he was nothing but a let-down.”

“Dud,” Chrys began, “you have an obsession, and it's not a healthy one.”

“You think there are healthy ones?” he asked as he tilted his head, getting a flat look from the princess, before she looked back to the guard. Aegis eyed the pony for a moment, before addressing the question.

“Sledge is the youngest of the Royal Guards,” he pointed out, “I suspect Mantis hasn't given him the chance to go out and learn a new form.”

“Go out?” Chrys asked, before appraising the manticore, “Aegis, where did you learn that form?” she asked, and Dud looked like he was about to answer for her, but stopped himself, before he stepped on Aegis's paws.

“The Queen has always had two guards. She intended for you to have two as well, and she'd already set you as Bulwark's charge, which he eagerly accepted,” Aegis said, a hint of pride in his voice, “However, before Sledge hatched, Mantis convinced The Queen that he was important enough to have a guard of his own.”

“Okay, and how does that lead into you going out for a new form?” Chrys asked impatiently, the idea that Sledge having been originally intended to be her guard being discarded by the mental image of the bottom of his hoof.

“The reason for two guards, is so one can go out and find new forms, while the other can stay behind and protect Her Highness. We may be Royal Guards, but we're also changelings. Our greatest power is taking shape and using abilities of other creatures.” He then nodded to his wings, his tail swinging in the air for emphasis. “As a manticore, I can fly faster than a pegasus, and I can paralyze my enemies with just a sting. This was because I went on a journey long ago to find a monster, and learn its form.”

“And you found it in the Everfree Forest!” Dud let out, unable to keep it in any longer.

“The Everfree?” Aegis asked, “That- That must be the pony name for it. Bastion called it the Dark Forest. There are all kinds of strange and powerful creatures there that suit our needs perfectly,” he stated, before eyeing the wall of clouds. “Bastion made the journey long ago, before I hatched. Bulwark and Sledge haven't had the opportunity to make it.”

“So if Sledge is the youngest,” Dud began, “why is he able to stand hoof-to-hoof with Bulwark? Or you?”

“While he may be lacking in versatility, he did spend most of his life with Mantis. While Bastion and I stood stoically close to Her Highness, Sledge trained. He knows how to fight the way Mantis does, and he's very proficient with the fire-blitz technique. I believe Bastion is the only one of us that's stronger than Sledge.”

“Huh, isn't that something,” Dud said, glancing to the clouds as he did.

“Dud, what exactly are we looking for?” Momo asked, catching him before he asked another question.

“Huh?” he replied in a confused tone, “Uhh, Thundercloud?”

“Yes, I know that,” she replied flatly, “I meant, well, what does Thundercloud look like?”

“Oh. You'll know when you see it. It'll look like five clouds held together that don't look like clouds.”

“Five clouds held together,” she repeated, before giving him a nod.

“Aegis,” Chrys began, adopting a frown as she glanced to the side, “You know how to freeform, right?” she asked, getting a nod from the guard, and confused looks from Momo and Dud.

“Freeform?” they asked in unison.

“It's a kind of shapeshifting only The Queen and Royal Guards are capable of,” Aegis replied, before giving Chrys a curious look. “Why do you ask, Your Highness?”

“Because I wanted you to teach me how to do it. It was my intention to learn it while we were traveling together through The Badlands,” her face then darkened a little as she gave him a small glare, “but, someone, went and ruined that!”

“I-I, that is-” he stammered, “I mean, Queen Amber never taught you?”

“She wanted to teach me after I 'grew up', but with the sudden need to not be in the hive anymore, there wasn't enough time to pick it up. What with learning new spells and worrying about Momo and Bulwark and planning my escape and...” she let out in a heated rant, before glancing to the side.

“My apologies, Your Highness. I'll teach you right now, if you wish.”

“...After we find Thundercloud.”

“So once again, what is freeform?” Momo asked, getting an apologetic look from her clutchling.

“Aegis, show them,” Chrys ordered, getting a brief salute from the manticore, before his form was wreathed in amber flames. Instead of turning back into a changeling, his body shifted, appearing different from before. His mane was darker, his claws longer, his waist thicker, his legs thinner.

“Ooooh~” Dud let out energetically, “Freeform means you can change the attributes of your form? You don't need to simply mirror someone you've seen?”

“That's right," Aegis replied, "It takes a small amount of practice, and guidance, but once you've got it down, you can shift your look as I did,” he then glanced to the side, before letting out a sigh, “Or do something a little more ... undignified,” he added, before shifting again. Everyone's eyes went wide as they took in his new form. He was a sky blue pegasus with a golden mane. Only he was still the same royal-guard-size. He was a really big pony, and he was unexpectedly handsome.

“Well, aren't you a looker!” Dud let out, “Silly size aside, pretty sure there are a number of mares in Equestria that'd fall for that face,” he added, making Aegis blush at the notion, before he shifted back into his manticore form.

“Why manticore?” Momo asked curiously, getting an odd look from the others, “I mean, isn't that like why I'm always a pony, to stay warm? I thought the cold didn't bother royal guards.”

“It doesn't,” he replied curtly, “Truth is, I prefer this form more. I feel I can better protect Her Highness like this,” he added as he glanced to Chrys.

“But doesn't that make you hungry faster?” Momo asked.

“It does, but it's just a minor annoyance. Like this, I won't need to eat for at least another week, before my body starts to weaken,” he explained, before raising an eyebrow, “I grew up in the time before Mantis's boon. Bastion and I were no less touched by hunger than rest of the hive. I've grown used to tolerating it.” He then adopted a small smile, “Hearing Sledge complain over the last few days about his hunger, was satisfying.”

“Well, this is nice~!” Dud let out, getting a confused look from the others, “I mean, hunger is bad, but since he can turn into a really big pony, that means he can eat pony food!”

“You're right!” Chrys said wide-eyed, before adopting a small smile.

“That … is right,” Aegis replied, as if he never considered the possibility before. He then gave the pony an odd look, “Why did you say that? You could have kept that to yourself.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because I threatened you?”

“Pfft,” Dud said as he rolled his eyes, “Like you're the first to ever do that,” he replied as he waved a hoof dismissively.

“He's just nice like that,” Momo added as she gave Aegis a small smile, “So Dud, what're we gonna do if Thundercloud is up there?” She asked as she pointed up, at the very top of the wall of clouds, “You once said that it's dangerous to fly that high.”

“Thundercloud won't be up there.” Dud replied confidently, before adopting a serious expression, “And it is dangerous. Don't ever fly that high.”

“Why?” Chrys asked.

“It gets harder to breath the higher up you go. Up there, it's hard even for pegasi. You could pass out, and enjoy sleeping through a long and intimate journey towards the ground.” He then eyed Momo, before adding: “That, and Momo would likely freeze over.”

“W-What?” Chrys asked in surprise.

“Momo taught me something new,” Dud replied, getting a confused frown from the princess, “Did you know that part of a pegasi's natural magic includes tolerance to cold weather? Apparently, it's colder the higher up you are,” he added, pointing to the white peaks of the mountains nearby, “And pegasi aren't bothered by that cold.”

“But Momo is,” Chrys continued, “because she can't use pegasi magic,” she finished, eyeing her clutchling, who was wearing a bothered look.

“Yep,” he replied, “She's got the warmth of a pony, but that's not enough to tackle winter-cold. Not without wearing something heavy anyways.”

“You mean clothes?” Momo asked, before her eyes widened, “Wait, were you planning to get me clothes when we reached Thundercloud?”

“The thought did come to mind,” Dud replied, “We need food, but that doesn't mean we can't get other things we'll need while we're there.”

“...So are you gonna talk about your home now?” Momo asked, getting a brief, bothered look from the pegasus.

“Well, what do you want to know?” he asked as he gave her his typical smile.

“What's it like, a pegasus city?” Momo asked.

“It's cloudy,” Chrys replied, “Like, it has buildings, but they're made of clouds,” she added, getting a surprised look from her clutchling. “What? I used to feed from the cocoons, after all. I saw the homes of pegasi in their dreams.”

“Did you see Thundercloud in those dreams?” Dud asked, making Chrys frown.

“I … don't think so. I vaguely recall this one mare who was from someplace called ... Cloudsdale?”

“I like Cloudsdale,” Dud replied with a nod, “It's small, but welcoming. Thundercloud... well, how about a story!” he let out, getting looks of anticipation from Chrys and Momo, which earned a curious look from Aegis as Dud cleared his throat.

“A long time ago, the three kinds of ponies were divided. Each race thought they were the best, and that the other two were trying to take advantage of them! Well, after one particularly bad winter, things got worse. But, three ponies, one of each tribe, opened their hearts to each other, and together, worked to unite the tribes under one banner in a new land; Equestria!” Dud explained as he spread his legs out in emphasis, before adopting a more serious look, “However, nopony changes overnight, and pegasi can be really stubborn. So, time passed, unicorns and earth ponies started making homes in the newly founded Equestria, however, Pegasi didn't need to make new towns. They could simply move their old ones across the sky! Though ... because of the winter, only one of their cloud cities survived well enough to bring to our new nation. That city, was Thundercloud.”

“So Thundercloud is really old?” Chrys asked, recalling the Violet Hive as he nodded.

“It really is,” he added, with a small frown, “Old, like an ancient grumpy stallion who doesn't like foals playing on his cloud.”

“So when you said pegasi were stubborn...” Momo prompted.

“Oh, right! You see, there were many pegasi in Thundercloud that held onto their belief that they were the best. Over the many years, that belief grew weaker, but there were ponies, powerful, rich ponies, that passed it down to their foals...” Dud then paused, taking a contemplative look. “Short version: Thundercloud was home to a bunch of bigots that looked down on just about everypony but other rich bigots.”

“Rich bigots?” Chrys asked, her confused look matching Momo's.

“Uhh, they're ponies with a lot of power that they didn't really earn that think they're better than other ponies, because of that power.”

“So they're like a princess,” Momo stated, getting a dark look from Chrys, which Momo countered by sticking her tongue out, “Just teasing Chrys.”

“She's is a lot better than those ponies,” Dud replied flatly, “she cares about others.”

“I don't want to be compared to these 'bigots',” Chrys replied, before focusing her attention on Dud. “Where are you in all this?”

“I'm right here, flying with a group of friends off on a journey to save their hive.”

“R- Right,” Chrys replied with a brief blush, “but I meant back before all this.”

“I'm … still not in the mood to talk about it. Maybe later,” he stated, getting curious looks from the others, that went unanswered. “So Aegis, anything fun happen on your journey through The Badlands?” he asked curiously, and Aegis looked to him for a moment, before giving a small nod.

Time passed as they exchanged stories, and in the process, Aegis opened up. He was quick to answer Chrys and Momo's questions, and hesitant for Dud's, but after a while he saw why the others trusted him. Not that it made him any less suspicious. He let trust put the princess in danger once, and he didn't intend to do so again. However, he did find Dud's presence, tolerable.

After flying for most of the day, it looked like they'd be leaving the mountains behind them before finding Thundercloud. With the white peaks now on the horizon to the south, their pace quickened when they spotted something odd ahead of them.

Sticking out from the wall was a collection of grouped clouds, small in size by the towering wall it was attached to. From this far out, it looked like the wall was being sucked into that small grouping, like a funnel. Dud knew that it was actually the opposite, the storm was being fed by that funnel.

Where that cluster connected to the wall, was a giant rift, something like a dark divide that cut the entire wall in two from top to bottom. Dud let out a low whistle as they got closer; lightning was crossing the rift every other second, the faint echos of their rumbles brushing against the breeze.

“What- What is that?” Chrys asked apprehensively.

“That, is Thundercloud,” Dud replied. “Now I can see why Luna's Shadowbolts couldn't reach it,” he added as he pointed towards the divide, “The clouds are being made there, feeding that massive storm, one side traveling west, and the other east. I don't know how far the western half goes, but it's probably just as long as the side we've been traveling along.”

“So those clouds to the side are the city?” Momo asked, getting a nod from him, “Isn't this a bit much?” she asked as she pointed to the rift.

“Can't say. I'm not an expert weather pony. I mean, Princess Luna told me about the Weather Orb, so maybe this is what happens when it's left to deposit a nation's worth of winter into one spot?” he suggested speculatively.

“We are not flying into that,” Aegis said stalwartly, “I can protect Her Highness from any manner of beast, but, that?” he said as he took it in.

“We don't need to go into the rift,” Dud pointed out, “The city is outside it. We just gotta turn off the weather factory and let the storm die on its own.”

“What was that about a weather orb?” Chrys asked.

“Huh? Oh! It's an old relic that used to be wielded by unicorns to help move the sun and moon,” he explained, “Then Princess Luna appeared, so the orb was retooled for the pegasi of Thundercloud.”

"Really..." Chrys said, wondering how true that was. An orb that helped ponies move the sun and moon? There must be some truth to it, considering the massive squall this orb was now feeding.

“Is it safe,” Momo began, “being that close to the storm?”

“Uhhh...” Dud replied, before adopting a sheepish grin, “I can't say. Guess we'll find out shortly,” he added, his eyes looking to Thundercloud, his smile gone as they continued on.

As they got closer, the changelings came to understand something. Distance is misleading; Thundercloud was in fact quite large. Composed of five cumulus clouds tied together by white chains, the four of them saw the damage that'd been wrought by Mantis' attack on the pony city a month prior.

Holes.

Buildings, statues, streets, nearly everything had drone-sized holes driven through them. A statue of a pegasus general standing tall on his back hooves, a hole where the hind legs were, leaving the statue floating limply near its base. A cloud home floating on the city's outskirts, a hole drilling straight from the roof through to its base. Several of the chains that linked the five clouds together were broken, the ones intact stretched out and strained against the weight of keeping the city whole. The entire city was damaged.

Going through the ruins, they crossed the first of five sections. It had many tall spires that were lined with balconies. Pegasi homes. The clouds the towers were made of were given sharp shapes, angular roofs and lofts being supported by pillars, giving the illusion that the entire cloud was made of white stone. The spires were just as hole ridden as anything else they saw, and as they flew past, it became pretty clear that the entire city was deserted.

Chrys and Momo looked on, wide-eyed as they flew by. Dud looked through distant eyes, as if he was seeing it, but wasn't taking it in. A fact that made Chrys and Momo share a worried look for him. Dud guided them through all the same, flying towards a certain place with purpose, leading them to a segment of the city that had shorter structures, spaced out around roads and paths.

“The whole city is made up of five segments,” he explained, “four of them were made for pegasi only,” he added as he approached the road, motioning the others close as he followed it, “This section, referred to as Tradencloud, is for visiting earth ponies, unicorns, and occasionally other non-fliers. It was for trading and socializing,” he said with a hollow smile.

“Dud, are you alright?” Momo asked, making him blink, before he glanced to the side.

“I've never liked this city. I'll be fine. It's just a bunch of clouds,” he added as he motioned around, “Everypony that was here is either in the hive, or in Equestria. So they're all safe, and that's what's most important,” he said, his face still distant. Momo looked like she wanted to press him, but she hesitated, glancing to the side before looking around.

“So, the other segments don't have roads?” she asked, settling on changing the subject, for now.

“What does a flier need roads for?” Dud asked.

“Good point,” she replied as she eyed their ransacked surroundings. “Are we looking for supplies here?”

“In a minute, there's a welcoming station at the center square we'll want to hit up first.”

“Why's that?” Aegis asked suspiciously.

“So you two can walk on clouds,” Dud replied, eyeing Momo and Aegis.

“I can do that just fine,” Aegis replied, shifting into a large pegasus. The colors were different, but he was still unexpectedly handsome, getting a small smirk from Dud.

“Right, but there's a way that'll let you do it as a manticore,” he explained, “Ah, and there it is,” he added as he pointed forward, the path opening up into a large circular clearing.

The circle's outer ring was lined with stalls. Most made of cloud, but there were a few made of wood and cloth. In the circle's center was a tall solitary building, which Dud had pointed to. The building was just as ruined as the others, making Dud fly in through one of the holes in the front side. Momo followed after him, but Aegis paused, too big to fit in.

“H-Hey, wait a second!” Aegis let out indignantly, making Dud pause, looking back, before letting out a small laugh.

“It's just a cloud, Aegis. You can fly right through,” he pointed out, Aegis adopting a surprised look, before his face flushed.

“Won't that make another hole?” Momo asked, blinking as Aegis flew through the cloud, the wall reforming as he entered. “Wait, huh?”

“I think it was that fire-blitz trick that made the holes,” Dud said, a small glimmer of wonder in his eyes, “It's something drones can do, right?”

“Right,” Momo replied, getting a satisfied smile from him as he lifted up a turned over desk made of cloud, shuffling some debris aside as if looking for something. Momo watched him as he did, and her eyes widened when she saw some of the non-cloud items disappear into the floor.

“Dud, why are some things falling through the floor?” she asked, making him briefly glance over his shoulder, before he continued his search.

“Lack of magic. Unicorns have a spell that can let items and ponies rest on clouds like a pegasus. However, it needs to be refreshed every once in a while, or it'll wear off.” He then picked up a quill, and placed it on the turned over desk, where it rested. “This isn't enchanted, but the desk is, to keep things from falling through.” He then blew the quill off the desk, and they watched as it fell through the floor without even pausing to consider the trip it was about to undertake.

“Now,” he began as he returned to his search, “I'm trying to find- A-ha! Jackpot!” he let out with a satisfied grin. He then turned to the others, showing several, identical necklaces, each with a smooth white rock at its center. “These are Cloudstone Amulets. They let visitors walk on the clouds,” he explained, quickly placing one over Momo's neck, “Try it!” he added. She eyed the necklace briefly, before gingerly landing on the cloud, her eyes widening when she didn't plummet through it. “And one for you,” he said as he presented one for Chrys, who grabbed it in her magic.

“So I don't need to be a pegasus if I'm wearing this?” she asked curiously, seeing the smile her clutchling was wearing. She then donned the necklace, before hopping off Momo, landing on the cloud as if it were solid, puffy ground, making her smile too. “We can keep these, right?”

“I don't see why not,” Dud replied, eyeing the two amulets he had left, presenting them to the royal guard. “Here Aegis. You're a bit big, so it may take two to keep you on top,” he said, and the guard eyed the pendants for a moment, before placing them around his paws. His form then shifted briefly, making his paws a bit bulkier past the amulets to keep them from sliding off. He then landed, adopting a brief smile, before looking to Dud.

“Thank you.”

“Don't mention it!” he replied, before looking to Momo and Chrys. “So now we just gotta find supplies, and then head to the weather factory."

“Okay,” Chrys replied, before moving towards Aegis' side. “There's something I want to talk to Aegis about, I want you two to look for supplies while I do. Okay?” she asked, making Dud and Momo share a confused look.

“Are you going to...” Momo began, a tree coming to mind as she got a small nod from Chrys.

“...learn freeform?” Dud finished, making Chrys blink as she looked to him, before giving him a nod too.

“What about Sledge?” Momo asked.

“Did anypony see him tailing us?” Chrys asked, getting a 'no' from everyone.

“He's not going to be heading our way,” Aegis replied confidently, “Unless he somehow spotted us as we turned west, he'll assume we've gone north, into the storm.”

“What makes you sure?” Dud asked.

“Because that was the plan, before we ambushed you. We knew you were heading to Equestria, and I can follow your scent when you're close. It was my idea to wait at the valley for you,” he added, before adopting a guilty look, “Sledge hasn't a reason to think we'd come this way. I didn't even know you were intending to head towards Thundercloud till earlier today.”

“Sounds good to me,” Dud replied, “Momo and I will return before sundown, and we can call it a night before tackling the Weather Factory tomorrow. Is that the plan?”

“Yes,” Chrys replied, before giving Dud a small frown, “Now get moving, I'm getting hungry.”

“Oh. Right!” Dud let out, “You won't be able to practice if you've got pony food in your system, since shapeshifting like that will make you sick,” he said, nodding sagely before turning to Momo, “Well, we're up! Let's find what we can!”

“Right!” Momo replied with a firm nod, and with a beat of their wings, the pair flew out of the building. As Chrys watched them fly out, she stepped out after them, watching them circle around the area for a moment, before disappearing into the surrounding clouds. She then turned toward her guard as he came to her side.

“...Aegis, if this is the moment where you betray me, I swear on my mother there will never be another royal guard born for as long as I live,” she stated as she looked to him, making the guard look flustered as he took a step back, kneeling down, nearly placing his forehead on the ground.

“I would never dream of it, Your Highness! I swear, your word is my command,” he added, getting a small sigh from Chrys.

“You're more uptight than Bulwark,” she stated, a sad look in her eyes as she looked off in the distance. “I wonder how he's doing...”

“He's doing fine, Your Highness,” Aegis said confidently.

“How can you be sure?” she asked, and he hesitated for a moment, before nodding to himself.

“Because he's determined. He's probably already left the hive, and is flying to Equestria as swiftly as he can for you,” he said, and Chrys eyed him for a moment, before adopting a small smile.

“Yeah, he probably is,” she replied, walking around the guard as she took in the ruined marketplace. Her eyes then went further up, seeing another section of the city blocking her view of the stormy wall beyond, muffling the torrent of thunder it birthed.

She then paused, her eyes fixated in that direction. She could feel … something. It felt like a pulling sensation. But it was fairly weak, barely noticeable even. Was it the storm? The weather factory?

The wind shifted direction with a sudden gust, making her take an unexpected step back, the wind's chill briefly overpowering her enchantment. Aegis moved in front of her, cutting the breeze off, only it was a little late for that, as the gust was short lived. She looked to the figure towering over him, before her eyes widened.

The breeze brought something she'd only seen in the dreams of ponies. Little flakes of white; snow. She raised a hoof, catching a snowflake, which quickly melted in her grasp, making her consider the drop of water for a moment, before looking to her surroundings.

With the passing gust and the snow, Chrysalis was made more aware of how quiet this place was. It felt eerily similar to the caves she awoke in this morning.

“Dud said this place was old,” she began, her ears falling as she looked to Aegis, “And we destroyed it.”

“Highness?” he asked, confused by her dower expression.

“Aegis, what would you think if I told you none of this needed to happen?” she asked as she indicated the empty square.

“I don't follow, Your Highness. This is a pony city. They've lived their entire lives not knowing the strife we've suffered,” he said, before pausing, “I mean, the strife we endured before your time,” he added, before taking in the city.

“You don't feel anything, seeing an old place like this ruined by our hooves?”

“I feel ... out of place,” he admitted, “I feel there is something dangerous here. I feel a need to stay close to you, and protect you. All this, it's just clouds to me, Your Highness.”

“That's what Dud said...” she stated, pausing for a moment. “So, is our hive just a bunch of tunnels then?” she asked, adopting a small frown as she eyed him.

“That is...” he began, his mouth hanging open as he considered her words, before his ears fell. “Her Highness, Queen Amber, she wanted to keep you out of the feeding chambers, and now I see why. You've grown attached to ponies.”

“And is that bad?” Chrys asked in annoyance, not afraid to corner him on the claim.

“They're our food-”

“But what if they don't need to be?”

“I'd say that sounds like wishful thinking.”

“But, what if there was a way!?” she asked impatiently, giving him a fiery look that made him pause.

“Then, I guess we wouldn't need to war with the Moon Princess. But, wouldn't that also make all this, wasted effort? We've destroyed four pony towns to secure food. If there was an alternate means all along, what does that make our actions?” he asked, making Chrys' eyes widen, before she glanced to the side.

“Warmongering,” she replied, before looking back to her guard. “Aegis, I've found another way,” she stated, the look she gave him leaving him little room for doubt.

“I, I see... I'm sorry to say, Your Highness, but it may be too late for an alternative. We're committed.”

“I know. We're already committed. That's just the way it is,” Chrys replied, not liking it one bit. “Mantis will get in my way if I go back, and the means I found isn't strong enough to feed the entire hive. But, I have this feeling, that if we move forward on Canter Town, we'll be making a mistake we can't back away from.”

“May I ask why?”

“Dud. He's confident about Equestria's strength. I didn't see what he saw,” she said, before glancing in the direction of the storm-wall, “The ponies are capable of something like this, and our little hive is looking to pick a fight with them. Even if we capture Luna, it may not be enough,” she added as she indicated their surroundings. “How many ponies do you think lived here, before we cleared it out?”

“...About twice our hive's number,” he guessed.

“Aegis, do you think Mantis knows what we're up against?”

“Well, he did manage to clear this city out. You should have more faith, Princess, in what we're capable of,” he replied, making her consider his words for a moment, before shaking her head.

“Dud knows what we're capable of. He knows what Equestria is capable of, and yet he's certain we'll lose if we attack Canter Town.”

“Then he must know something you don't,” Aegis replied, giving her a fiery look of his own, “If you truly think he's worth our trust, then you must find out what that is.”

“Yes... You're right,” Chrys replied, looking in the direction Dud and Momo flew off in.

She had grown attached to ponies. Even now, she was thinking about how Dud felt, seeing this place like this. He said he never liked it, but it was clear that it still ate at him. Still, he knew something she didn't, and she found herself more worried about how this place was affecting him. A realization that made her frown at herself.

Aegis was right. When she next saw Dud, she intended to press him on what he knew. Thinking this, she glanced to the side, before adopting a determined look.

She then shifted into the form of Star Shell, the old stallion's grandfilly, who was a light blue earth pony. She found her new colors oddly matching with the cloudy environment, as she turned to her guard. It was time to learn freeform.

Author's Notes:

Return of the Exposition: The Returnening, episode 3, part 1.
The 'Reaching Equestria' part of the story is almost done!
Thanks as always for reading, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter.