Skitter looked… sad. Her wings were flat against her back and she was laying on the resin covered floor, looking at her forehooves.
“We knew it was the likely outcome, Skitter,” I said gently as I settled down next to her.
“...I know, sir…” she answered and sighed, “I had just hoped she would listen.”
“There are other hives,” I reassured her, “We can try at more of them later. If we can convince even one of them, it should be easier with the next one.”
“Maybe.”
“Skitter,” I said and leaned my side against her, “It’s not always going to work.”
She scraped a hoof against the resin, “I suppose.”
“You know that, right?”
Skitter sighed softly, “I had hoped she would see it, I really had. It’s obvious, isn’t it?” she asked and looked at me.
“Maybe not from the outside,” I sighed, “And I’m not sure me being there actually helped in this case. Maybe it made things worse.”
Skitter made an angry buzzing sound, baring her fangs, “You didn’t deserve to be called that!”
“Relax,” I told her firmly, “Skitter, I don’t mind. I understand how it can look like that from her point of view. But if other ‘lings in other Hives view me like that, me being on these is not helping. It’s making things worse.”
Skitter kind of drooped a bit but she nodded, “...Yes, sir.”
I leaned against her side, focusing on my love for Luna. For Sunset. For Twilight. Skitters wings made a small buzzing sound.
I smiled and pulled away to look at her with a small smile, “Skitter, the best way to show people that you’re right and they are wrong is to do things your way and let them watch things work out for you. You have told them what they need to know, if they don’t want to listen, it’s not your fault.”
Skitter frowned slightly but nodded.
Sigh. I suppose this was something she was just going to need to work through. I wasn’t even sure what I could do to make her feel better here.
“I…” Skitter started before she sighed, “The worst thing will be returning to the hive and telling my mother that she was right.”
I shook my head, “She was absolutely not right,” I corrected her, “We just have not succeeded yet. Just because the first one didn’t work, doesn't mean the next one or the one after that will.”
Skitter hesitated, “You think it might work better on the next one?”
“We now know that having me there might be a bad idea,” I said and poked her with my wing, “Not saying ‘go alone’, I’m saying bring Royal Guards and maybe some mages for extra protection.”
“Yes sir.”
I smiled at her and then sat up, “Get some rest, okay? It’s been a long day.”
Skitter nodded, “Sweet dreams, sir.”
“You too,” I said and walked off. Before I had even left the room, Skitter was in a pile of drones. I couldn’t help but smile at the sight. Changelings was completely the wrong name for them, cuddle bugs is a much better name.
Maybe I should suggest a name change, it’d be good PR if nothing else.
The door closed behind me and I blinked at Amber, finding the changeling standing there waiting, “You sure you don’t want to join?” I asked with a smile.
Amber buzzed her wings and stood a bit straighter with a small smile, “Not my duty, sir.”
I smiled at her before I frowned and glanced towards the room I just left, “Wait, is cuddling Skitter their duty?”
“Their purpose to the Hive is to assist the Princess,” Amber said as she walked up next to me, “My purpose is to protect you. Before, my purpose was to gather love for the Hive.”
I looked at her, “I know you’re not a pony, Amber, so I’m not sure this will even apply, but… what do you want to do? You say guarding me is your purpose, but what do you want to do? Doesn't it ever get boring following me around?”
Amber looked at me in slight confusion, “How do you mean, sir?”
“If you could pick anything in the world, gather love, explore the world, learn a craft, become an actor, what would you like to do?” I asked as we moved along the passage.
“Protect you, sir,” Amber answered, looking at me like it was completely obvious.
I gathered her into a hug with my wing, giving her a small kiss on the temple, “Amber, I don’t know if I’ll ever understand ‘lings completely, but I do know what when ponies finally get used to you guys being around, you’ll never be lacking for love.”
Ambers wings buzzed softly beneath mine, “Thank you, sir. But most ponies, even in Canterlot, are still somewhat nervous around us.”
Letting go, I smiled at her, “They just need to get to know you, that’s all.”
And maybe the ones that lived the invasion to die of old age, but details.
“What about Nocturnis?” I asked with a small frown.
“It’s better, but not enough ponies for the entire hive.”
“That’ll change.”
Or maybe I don't know... think about it and ask yourself why it didn't work?!
Like the ones I pointed out
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11007922
That's one of the problems.
She didn't show,any proof,anything
Because things worked for her that doesn't mean that it can for them and they know it.
Even if it's true they know that they will be a lesser hive.
Oh yes don't bring the alicorns but bring alicorns soldier,that would help veeeeery much.
If she has to take soldiers she should take her changelings,the same way other queens will take their security with them to meet her
Don't try making the ones who got attacked into aggressors and changelings into victims .
Friendship and forgiveness works in two ways.
Changelings should also work to befriends the ponies and not victim-blame ponies into befriending changelings.
They accepted changelings but they don't have to like them
And where is love for Skitter hmmm?
Now that we know at least one long term outcome for the ponies in the Canon universe, I wonder what became of the "reformed" changelings in the of the new generation.
I think they could be also called:
- Cuddlebug
- Snugbug
- Snugglebuggle
- Boop the snoot Ling
All the hugs for Skitter!
She shouldn't be depressed though. Even just visiting a hive means that a healthy princess is presented. Which means that others may become curious and look deeper into it. Even if this endeavour fails, progress has been made. Even if it is slight.
Yes it is
Oh okay... wait what?
Yeah that
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I prefer Huggle Buzz
Page... To a Cuddle Bug, Purpose is their life! once other species understand that and can see that those of the Canterlot Hive are decent lings. Then what he said will ultimately happen.
11009608
Nice 👍
Well, as the saying goes: If at first you don't succeed,
give up and go hometry, try again.11009518
Well, if they lost their magic (or the majority of it, I note Marks were still a thing) then they're flat out dead from starvation, given that changeling love extraction is clearly a magical effect. Of course maybe you could argue that still worked but shapeshifting didn't, or something.
11009498
On the note of bringing soldiers, they'd be a decent show of unity so long as she has her drones as well, especially if they are clearly following her commands. Either way, Page personally was definitely a problem.
Grammar jackboot:
Probably should be: Just because the first one didn’t work, doesn't mean the next one or the one after that won't.”
Otherwise it sounds like Page is agreeing with Chrysalis.
MEANWHILE IN CANTERLOT CENTRAL PARK...
Pharynx: Ok I get trying to convince more ponies to favor us for the good of the Hive but Thorax...are you sure THIS is a good plan?
Thorax: I swear it works! I saw this done in Ponyville and that bouncy pony had the entire town singing her praise. It's foolproof!
*Thorax picks up a megaphone*
Thorax: Dear Ponies of Canterlot! Please smile and laugh for us...I HAVE A CANNON!
*Everypony does NOT do that and starts running in utter panic and chaos*
Pharynx: Oh my Hive...what have we done?!
it's hard to see Skitter fail at the first try.
chin up Skitter things will turn around.
11009518
ugh my guess is that hasbro forgot half of gen 4 and just wings it, they already smashed the alicorn button
Pone-stralia has lots of big murder lizards, but is lacking in enormous bugs, move the hive to pone-stralia!
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"Quick! We need something to wrap up this Movie! DEPLOY THE ALICORN!"
"But Sir, it's too soon! We need to at least setup a..."
"NOPE! THE ALICORN! NOW! DEPLOY IT! MARKETING DEMANDS IT!!!"
Personally, I'm looking forward to Thestrals (or Bat Ponies, since Thestral is borrowed), and hopefully how FLUFFEH they will be!
11009730
Tune In Next Week to See The Changeling Brothers and their Friendship Tank!
*Cue them driving in a rainbow painted British Mark 5 Tank*
I have the feeling that amber doesn't know the concept of hobbies or whatever.
11009518
Presumably, they jumped ship to the Equestria Girls universe where magic hasn't explicitly stopped existing. Also, imagine how much more advanced that world is with how long it's been offscreen.
11010029
I wonder if crystal pones are still a thing. I'd love to see all our favorite flavors in the new style
Wonder if the griffons had the Equestrian envoy followed…
2024... Still waiting for the next one
That should haven been done before the Queen, making her drones accompanying her salivating.
Maybe Blank Page and Luna should have been seen more with Changeling, with the Changelings playing needy house cats roles.
Rubbing against Blank Page and Luna, getting pet, snuggling up to them on occasion and out of nowhere starting to wrestling with one another laughing.
Silly Ling to get the big bad bug impression to change into 'silly cuddle buggies'