I opened my eyes.
I had half a day. We had that long before the solar guard descended on this place like the literal wrath of a goddess.
Sunrise.
Maybe a little longer.
Kicking off from the roof, I let go with my tail and turned it into a flip as I spread my wings and caught the wind.
I could not take Chrysalis on my own, she was just stronger than me. But this entire thing hinges on Chrysalis being Chrysalis.
I swept around, dropping my invisibility spell as I folded my wings and dove through the open window before spreading my wings again, flaring a bit to lose speed not to run into the far wall, turning it into a circle.
There was a yell of alert but I ignored it as I banked around before coming in to land on the crystal map before Chrysalis.
She looked unbothered as drones surrounded the map, “There you are. I was told there was another alicorn somewhere,” she said before she smirked, “Come to defeat me, little pony?”
“No,” I said and settled down on the table, laying down as I met her eyes and folded my wings, crossing my forelegs on the table, “Just want to ask why you’re acting like a desperate idiot.”
That got a reaction from her, her eyes widening slightly and she barred her fangs, “What did you say?” she asked as the drones hissed.
“Come on, this?” I asked and looked around, “This is dumb, this draws attention and you know you can’t defeat the ponies with force. You tried that with complete surprise when your last deception failed. Didn’t work out for you then, won’t this time and you’re too smart to think it will now.”
Chrysalis stared at me for a long moment before she spoke up, this time she shifted to sit up as she looked down at me, this time seeming more cautious, “Who are you?”
“My apologies,” I said and stood up, giving her an elegant bow as I spread my wings, “I am Prince Blank Page of Nocturnis, slayer of Tirek, leader of the Thestrals, speaker of the hive. And a bunch of titles I can never keep straight.”
“Hive?” Chrysalis asked with a small hiss, her eyes narrowing in suspicion “Which hive?”
I sat down and folded my wings again, “Check if you like.”
Chrysalis hissed, “Hold him!”
A pair of drones jumped onto the table and grabbed my shoulders. I rolled my eyes but didn’t move as Chrysalis approached me slowly and carefully before she sniffed the air by my mane before she jerked back, staring at me with wide eyes and taking half a step back, “You carry the mark of my hive! How!?”
I smiled at her, “If you know about me, you know I’m not from this world. Back in my world, I he-”
“Traitor! I know you couldn’t be tr-”
“Excuse me,” I told Chrysalis and ignited my horn, grabbing a chunk of changeling gunk from a drone that was using it to secure Talon firmer to the wall and threw it at Shinings mouth, making the rest turn into muffled sounds.
“Now,” I continued and shrugged her drones off, “As I was saying, in my world your hive is allied with the ponies after the failed invasion. It was that or be destroyed. And because you did, your hive flourished.”
Chrysalis hissed at me, baring her fangs as she took a full step back, her wings buzzing, “Impossible!”
Oh come on.
“Search your feelings, you know it to be true,” I told her, holding my hoof out towards her, “With ponies willingly giving you love, even allowing you to harvest from the Crystal Heart, your hive is growing. Your Princess is growing nicely.”
Chrysalis froze. Completely frozen, stopped moving completely, she didn’t even seem to draw breath before she spoke up quietly, “Princess?”
“The reason you do all this,” I said and stood up, walking to the edge of the table to meet her eyes, “You think you are getting old, that you need to gather enough love to get a Princess before you no longer have time to train her. Desperate for it, same reason you tried something as risky as what you did in Canterlot. Back home, Princess Skitter is a friend of mine. I have represented your hive several times to the other ponies.”
Chrysalis still didn’t move, her eyes still flicked around, “...You’re lying. I would never pick Skitter as my Princess,” she said quietly with a small hiss.
“Normally no,” I said and met her eyes again levely, “But when the good health of your hive relies on good relations with your food source and not just try to steal it? I know you can taste my emotions from all the way over there. Am I lying? Have I said one untrue word since I landed?”
“...No…”
I smiled at her and changed to changeling, “Zazzikz zrzzikzz zirrkzz.”
Hive over all. Or somewhat like it, similar meaning at least.
Her eyes went wide again, her jaw working slightly before she managed to speak, “You speak changeling?”
“Some,” I admitted and cleared my throat, “As well as any pony can I think, but it hurts my throat and there are a lot of words I don’t know or can’t pronounce. I’m told my accent is awful.”
“It is,” Chrysalis said almost absentmindedly, looking towards the side before she turned to look at me again, “If what you say is true, you have a changeling name. What is it?”
I scowled, “I don’t know, they refuse to tell me. But you mostly call me, ‘my little predator’. Or if she’s annoyed, Zezk-” I tried to say before I stopped and cleared my throat again, “...Yeah, still can’t manage that word.”
“Zeezzkekeezzkzk?” Chrysalis hiss clicked, her wings buzzing against her back.
“That’s the one. Whatever it means.”
Chrysalis looked at me closely for several long moments before she took a slow deep breath and looked to the drone next to me which was staring at me with wide eyes, “Release him. Then wake the Princess of Magic. We have plans to make.”
“E-excuse me? Queen Chrysalis?”
Everypony turned to look at Talon where he hung on the wall contained in changeling resin.
“Yes, scaled one?” Chrysalis asked, looking up at him.
“Could you let me down as well? I can get everypony some food.”
Chrysalis turned and looked at me for a moment and I nodded with a small smile,
“Should have some hot chocolate ready. Because Midnight will be pissed when she wakes up. This will go much better with a ready bribe. I trust him and so can you.”
“You will be under guard. Behave as such,” Chrysalis told Talon before looking at another drone, “release the little wyrmling first.”
I wonder if we get to find out how embarrassing his changeling name is.
Nice
dangit I didn't know the next book was out I have some catching up to do... STARTING WITH A BINGE REREAD OF THE ENTIRE SERIES!!
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happy reading! drop a follow on the author for when this could happen again
Classic, Page is gonna Page regardless of where he is.
Why am I getting vibes that this means 'that which is betrothed to my daughter' and that his chrissy has basically declared him married to skitter without his knowledge
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...or how kinky is
Well Shit Page did it again
Discord missed to get Pony Waifu snuggel points
Time to get the Hive future into high gear.
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I am going to laugh like a hyena if Windy was right
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Very
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Always worth it. Maybe a comment per chapter?
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Page is starting a new Page for Chrysalis Hive ♡
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Windy once is better
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Looks like she hopefully have a better future than the show. Maybe if it gets out that he saved everyone from changelings it could make a difference for bat ponies in this world.
Shinning, would you please stop acting like an overprotective moron, driven by hatred, for once?
"Of course not, you assigned her as my guard and I accidentally overfed her."
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There's a good chance that, without Talon there, Thorax is dead and Shining learned nothing.
My guess is that [bug horse noises that is Page's changeling name] is either A) a rude insult or B) something like "Hero of the Hive" and his world's Chrysalis just doesn't want Page figuring out that she actually respects him and is grateful for helping her.
Well that was easy
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It’s surprising the number of villains in mlp that only really needed a talking to by a level headed individual to make them see reality…
Really makes one wonder if Equestria should invest more into some psychiatrist program for all these distraught and delusional individuals.
Thanks for chapter!
Have a good day!
Another win for diplomacy! Much better than starting a siege in the middle of town.
One missing apostrophe to be hit with the jackboot today:
at Shining's mouth
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I can't find what you're referencing.
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Honestly, it probably couldn’t hurt. Just make sure the therapists in question enjoy a better reputation than they often do in our world, because attaching a stigma to being the sort of pony or other creature who visits them of one’s own volition is only going to be counterproductive.
Really, Shining may be powerful unicorn and honorable to the core, but being so fast on jugdement is very bad trait for any commander.
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Maybe keep him tied up until negotiations are finished. That way his grudge won't ruin possible peace. I get that it wasn't fun insulting his sister and almost marrying the wrong girl of course he is also the one who chose not to apologize. Just because applejack gave an excuse apology doesn't mean you shouldn't say sorry yourself when you mess up even if it is as part of a group. And him using that excuse makes wonder what cadence sees in him because I wouldn't want the guy who doesn't know the difference between me and imposter.
Chrysalis = Cannon Timeline
Chryssi = Pageverse
Chrysalis: He's perfect. Our offspring will be stronger than any changeling before now!
Chryssi: No! I tamed him first; get your own predator.
Chrysalis: Oh yeah? What are you going to do to stop me? I don't see you in the same universe as him.
Chryssi: That's it! You're dead as soon as the portal is finished!
Princess Skitter watches the exchange from next to Cadance, across the room from the bickering queens.
Skitter: Are you sure letting her borrow your looking glass was a good idea? I don't think Page will be able to make it five steps from the portal before our Chrysalis kidnaps him. I don't think she'll let him out of her sight anytime soon.
Cadance: Oh, I'm counting on it...
Hah, bet she didn't expect that
Today is not going the way she expected
I hope the day comes when we find out what that means, cause...
Changelings have this kind of reaction to it
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tbf psychiatrists kind of did themselves in with the whole female hysteria, child abuse and lobotomy stuff, leaving today's profession to pickup the pieces
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This
I mean a good psychiatrist would probably have prevented, at least, Starlight Glimmer and Cozy Glow.
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Well it didn't help that the powers that be decided not to bother making sure to get as much information possible on both sexes. Girls were considered only important for having children for a long time. Cooking cleaning was a bonus for the men and the fact that Girls have brains completely passed them by for years. And they are still making up for that huge mistake. I think sometimes the boys in charge wouldn't mind if Girls went back to being housewives and moms.
MEANWHILE IN PAGEVERSE JUNGLE PYRAMID
Statue: And Page's diplomacy strikes again!
Discord: Well not surprising with Page's past experience. Too bad that charm doesn't seem to work on self important unicorn stallions.
Statue: Yeah..Shining is ridiculously rude in this universe. Maybe Page should add a "Shining Armor pinata party" clause to the negotiations?
Discord: No...Page is not THAT fun.
Statue: OH! OH! I got an idea! Gimme some chaos power!
Discord: What?! I'm not dumb and helping you escape
from hanging out with me!Statue: I just need a tiny bit! Besides Hiver hasn't given me enough material to do anything interesting yet!
Discord: Hmmm...oh fine but only a tiny bit! *gives a tablespoon of chaos magic*
Statue: OK! Annnnnnnd...DONE! That Shining Armor now cursed with random moving itch spell! It'll last for two hours while he's stuck on the wall!
Discord: Oh my Cadance! I love this! I'm honored to be roommates with such petty evil awesomeness!
Statue: Thank you!
*Both magical beings continue happily enjoying Shining's suffering*
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I believe Black--Soul is referring to "Beloved Seed Provider".
It's a grand ancient title among the changelings
inside my head!(Sidenote: I am truly starting to think Hiver is messing with me!)
That was handled well, and could have gone much, much, worse.
Giving advise for the Thestrals, now helping to broker peace for the Changelings...
With how much Page has already contributed to this universe in the short time he has been here, Celestia and Luna are gonna feel a little bit humbled.
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the sad part is most of what women 'traditionally' do only started in the 1800s, before then they ran businesses, plowed fields, owned land and ran corporations its just the industrial revolution and the massive concentration of wealth bought laws and rules to enfeable women in the courts and under the law so they could be used as a passive workforce so they could shut men out of the new factories, then after a generation or two they had rewritten traditional roles and covered up their crimes
history is actually a lot more nuanced than most people ever learn.
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Getting the vote was a good start to making us girls equal but unfortunately lately I think they want us girls back where used to be. Hopefully we can find a way to put those idiots in their place and make them stay out of our lives when we don't need them.
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And the whole wedding excuse makes me wonder what cadence sees in him because I wouldn't want the guy who can't tell the difference between me and imposter.
You all know one of Chrissy's demands will be some serious Snu-Snu times with Page to get her a Princess....
...Which will in turn then have the Alicorn Princesses demand that Page then impregnate them before he can leave.
Either way it will suck or be some serious fun memories before he returns to his dimension.
I have favorite chapters in this series. This is now one of them. Great job, Hiver.
Archivment unlocked,
'Seed provider over the multiverse'
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2nd Unlocked Achievement: Time To Get BUSY!!!!!
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Nice
...
Page: Surrender now and here's my terms!
Chrissy: Never!
Page: Z..z...zzzhhccchhhcc? Zeezzkekeezzkzk?
Chrissy: Fair enough, all forces stand down. release the prisoners and serve hot coco
Page: .....what did i just do?
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and interdimensional alimony
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That's.... quite a succinct way of putting it.
Dark Humor at its finest!
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it really is a profession that only starts after the invention of antidepressants and other pharmacuticals in the late 1960s, everything before that is a lot of dark shit
I love how Page just binds Shining's mouth without even a moment's hesitation. This will certainly be interesting, and I am now really curious what his name is in changeling. It must have some significance if the was willing to accept his word so quickly once he spoke it.
*Several changelings pile on to Page*
"I said hold him not smother him!"
"But he's warm and smells good your majesty"
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Nah, Thorax is probably still alive, after all Spike was the one who found him in the first place, so Thorax is probably still hiding there, escaped, or, if he did get caught, is in prison, for the worst part. Or he might've just left the Empire or made a base near the outskirts of the city so he could still feed off the ponies and Heart, while still maintaining a healthy distance from them so as to not get noticed.
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I think it might be some sort of title with some sort of cultural significance and/or symbolism to it, like "Mirror Image" or "Self-Reflection", which would have some connotations like "Iron sharpens iron, and mirror image sharpens mirror image." Also, because Changelings pride themselves on imitation, having a Changeling who is capable of imitating even another Changeling is considered truly exceptional among their kind, even more so for the Queen herself. It could have connotations like "One who truly understands you, to the point where they could pull off a flawless imitation of you. They practically know you as well as you know yourself, read your thoughts, finish your sentences, like if you're looking in a mirror." However, like the mirror image, they can also be considered your opposite in every way, like how an image in the mirror raises its left hand when you raise your right hand. Hence, it could also be seen as a double-edged sword, ready to strike you down at a moment's notice. But the Mirror Image never aims for your detriment, only your improvement, so they may do things that you don't agree with, but they and you know, that it is all for your benefit at heart, even if it means you must die. And if a Queen considers you a Mirror Image of herself, that can make you be seen as someone indispensable towards a Hive's survival or endgoals, possibly even someone she'd consider as a replacement, commander or auxiliary ruler or voice of governance, when she retires, dies or is incapable of ordering the Hive.
EDIT: It's also possible that when a Changeling or multiple changelings are considered "Reflections" of each other, they could end up with close intimate relations to each other, like "blood brothers" or maybe even become "lifemates" or whatever passes for courtship in the Changeling species.
Or maybe something like "True-Sighted", "Clear-Sighted" or "Visionary" because of how Page can see through Chrysalis easily, despite her machinations, and understands her reasons for doing so. Possibly might be "Future Provider" because he helps provide for the future of the Hive, and could have "Beloved seed-bearer" connotations, because that also concerns the hive's future.....
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Cuddle bugs going to cuddle