//------------------------------// // into the night // Story: Apocalypse: Worlds End or New Beginnings // by Blue dragon 116 //------------------------------// Living underground sucks, their is no reliable way to tell time unless your near the entrance or have a very good internal clock. Which thankfully I do and it tells me a week has passed since my abrupt awakening and interesting conversation with Chrysalis. And in that time we have had a few more, mostly about human anatomy and social norms you know boring crap I can only guess at. Especially since I didn't spend a whole lot of time in normal society, but I answered as best I could none the less. Today was a normal day in the hive consisting mostly of me following Chrysalis and observing the day to day activity's of the hive. All this led up to me somehow being volunteered to help maintain the hive. Now don't get me wrong I aint above good old manual labor, I would just like to have a say in it. Not have someone tell you that your helping someone and waited till the last minute to tell you. So the majority of my day was spent wondering to various odds and ends of the hive with a few other changelings, doing what they called routine maintenance. It was during a stroll from one job to the next that I saw something amazing. As we rounded a corner we found that the tunnel had partially collapsed and their were many changelings running around trying to clear the debris. And among the throng and crowd stood Chrysalis she wasn't supervising, she wasn't giving orders no she was dirty and dust covered doing what she could to help. Moving or destroying boulders with magic, or helping one of the other changelings do the same. Now I knew Chrysalis wasn't your average queen, or anything like the outside world thought she was. But seeing this really proved it beyond a shadow of a doubt. With her help the obstruction was cleared in no time and things returned to normal for the changelings. Shortly their after night had fallen on the outside world and the hive began to wind down and settle for the evening. Being bored out of my mind and starting to feel claustrophobic I strolled aimlessly around the hive just to pass the time. When I came upon a disturbing sound that at first I wasn't quite able to make out but as I followed it to the source I discovered it was sobbing. And the one sobbing was none other that Chrysalis tucked away in the corner of a room in one of the less traveled sections of the hive. More than a little confused I slowly approached her and then sat down beside her pulling her into a hug to try and comfort her. At first Chrysalis was rigid and reluctant but I began to whisper encouragement to her and she began to sob once again except now on my shoulder. Slowly the tears and sobs stopped and all was quite once again, save the occasional thought or murmur across the hive mind. Slowly Chrysalis looked up at me her eyes blood shot and cheeks stained with tears. "Thank you Thomas" She said her voice cracking slightly but otherwise brushing off what just happened. "Now if you will excuse me I must return to my duties." She said standing and trying to walk past me only to be yanked back in front of me by her tail. At first she looked between my hand still gripping her tail firmly and my level stare. Her surprise slowly became annoyance and then irritation at the fact I wouldn't release her tail. She had just opened her mouth to tell me off im sure but I beat her to the punch. "I don't think so your not leaving here until you tell me what has you so upset." I stated my tone and expression leaving no room for argument. But that didn't stop Chrysalis from trying to come up with a argument none the less. Though she quickly let out a exasperated sigh and lay down across from me, only then did I release her tail but put myself squarely between her and the exit. "So would you care to tell me what it is that has you upset" I said as Chrysalis seemed very interested in her hooves all of a sudden. I waited for her to begin but she just sat their avoiding eye contact and speaking in general, until I cleared my throat rather loudly finally claiming her full attention. "Its nothing really Thomas." Chrysalis said rather weakly earning a scoff and "Spill it" look for her trouble. "Fine you want to know what's wrong look around you Thomas and tell me what you see." Their was a long pause before I answered saying. "I see a proud people scraping and fighting to survive and a Queen who has done all she could think of to help her people." "Everyday Is a struggle just to live" Chrysalis said a lone tear rolling down her cheek to be wiped away by my hand. "That's true" I Said cupping her face in my hand and holding her head up to look me in the eye. "Their is a saying where I come from what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." Their was a long silence as we both pondered what was said. And it led me to a interesting train of thought. Changelings feed on the emotions of other creatures to survive. I have emotions and they don't feed off me... not that I know of at least maybe I should offer. "Do you think you could feed off humans Chrysalis?" I asked completely out of the blue catching Chrysalis completely off guard. Their was a long silence as Chrysalis stuttered and stammered as she tried to think of a answer. "I don't know" She finally stammered out " I guess I could try" With that said her eyes began to glow a bright green and then nothing happened. A frown crossed her face as her eyes returned to normal and she stared at me quizzically. "I don't understand" She said confused " I can feel your emotions but I cant grasp them to feed on" Their was a long pause as we stared at one another trying to figure out what to do. Until Chrysalis smiled broadly and began to lean forward and then touched her horn to my forehead. And then she started to blush profusely when she realized our faces were mere inches apart. I broke the silence saying. " I trust you to know when to stop so take what you need." as I spoke a draped a arm over her neck in a hopefully comforting gesture and tried to think of something else I could do to make her relax. Then I remembered my bag I've had on my back ever since retrieving it from the hole I left it in. With a thought two things powered up inside one making a chirping sound to signify power and then another to show it was connected. Then I concentrated on what I wanted it to do earning a confused look from Chrysalis. That was answered by my reassuring smile and the sound of music playing from behind me starting off quite a first but picking up volume as Chrysalis relaxed and began to finally feed off my emotions. I could feel a slight draining feeling as she fed but nothing that was overwhelming or I couldn't handle. As the song played I closed my eyes and let the music lift my spirit and as it did I began to sing with it ever so softly. As I sang I let my mind wonder to the few plesant memories I had. The memory of a beautiful sunset, the jungle during a storm, sunrise on a beach, the few good things my life of running gave me. Shortly after she started I could feel Chrysalis sway gently back and forth in time with the song and I smiled to myself. Then almost as if queued by the song the draining sensation left as the song ended leaving me a little light headed but otherwise unfazed. When I opened my eyes I saw Chrysalis staring at me quizzically earning a warm chuckle from me in return. "Let me guess" I said smirking "You want to know were that music came from?" Chrysalis nodded yes and I chuckled again before laying my bag in front of me on the floor. Then I opened it and pulled out the two items in question a small blue speaker with a small flashing blue light and my I-pod and sat them on the ground between us. Chrysalis looked at the two things in front of her and then back at me confused before she said. "What the hay are these things?" "These my dear" I said chuckling and motioning to my things. "Are what made the music." And to prove my point with another thought the speaker sprang to life with another song. Surprising Chrysalis causing her to jump back and then glare at me accusingly as I rolled on the floor laughing, only to realize we had company. In the door way and a little inside the room were many of the changelings who lived here. With more coming in as time passed all with a quizzical and apprehensive look to their eyes. "Now that just wont do" I exclaimed jumping to my feet surprising many of the changelings causing them to stumble over themselves comically. I spun around and faced Chrysalis with a critical glare and said. "Why are your subjects so apprehensive to approach have they never heard music before?" Chrysalis shook her head and said. "No they have heard music before, its a big way we fight boredom and depression here and pass on our history. No the problem is they have never heard music like that much less seen anything like those things." I let out a sigh of relief and said "Well that's good to hear I was afraid I would have to teach it to you" And then an interesting thought crossed my mind. "So how do changelings dance?" At this Chrysalis gave me a critical glare before she looked behind me and then nodded yes and then looked back at me. First she began sway from side to side eventually hopping on two legs from one side and then the other. This sight caused me to cringe, if this is what passed for dancing here these creatures were stuck in the dark ages so to speak. But then it got worse she stopped and I was just about to comment when she jumped back on her hind legs and bounced around and at this sight I visibly cringed. And that wasn't all my head began to ache and their was a warm feeling under my nose and upon further inspection revealed it to be blood. I stared at it dumbfounded for I don't know how long until a voice said. "Are you alright Thomas your bleeding" I looked up to see Chrysalis had stopped her dancing and was looking at me with concern. At first I didn't answer I simply stared at her blankly before finally saying. "Please tell me your joking." "Of course im serious im concerned for your health, your bleeding" As soon as the words left her mouth the other side of my nose began bleeding alongside the one that already was, and i had to fight the urge to face palm. I let out a exasperated sigh and shook my head in disbelief and faced Chrysalis with a blank expression. "I meant your attempt at dancing, were you serious about that." I said hoping she was joking but I knew she wasn't. And she said as much when she gave me a withering glare and bluntly stated. "Yes" "Well I hate to burst your bubble but that sure as hell wasn't dancing." I deadpanned matching her glare with one of my own. "That my dear looked like an epileptic dog trying to take a shit" "And what would you call dancing" She spat angrily glaring at me earning a chuckle in return. "Im glad you asked" I said chuckling to myself and with thought the speaker sprang to life and I struck a pose. "This is dancing" and as soon as I said that the music began and I went through several different dances everything from the Bernie mac to the two step. And surprisingly enough the changelings caught on quickly understandably they were a little hesitant at first but they got it down. At first it was mostly random stumbling, falling into and all over one another, it was beyond hilarious. Especially since it took the majority of the changelings a good couple of hours to get it down enough to be considered decent. After they all got it down everything was goin great all the changelings had smiles and were having a good time. And then things got interesting because at one point "Every where we go" by Hollywood Undead came on, and the changelings started dancing dirty .Especially Chrysalis who was grinding her ass on my crotch and looking back over her shoulder at me smiling. Seeing that michevious smile on her face I thought discussing human anatomy with someone who apareatnly wanted me to be her mate wasn't such a good idea. But I thought what the hell so when she turned away from me I cocked my hand back and slapped Chrysalis firmly on the ass. And two things crossed my mind.The first being Chrysalis's ass was strangly mallubile kind of like a exercise ball filled with sand, it would give to certain extent but after that it would stop. The second was that the entire room was completely still and all eyes were on me all except Chrysalis who was froze in place. She slowly turned and looked at me with a expression that borderlined blind rage or maybe something else I realy couldn't tell. "Do it again" She commanded her voice takeing on a seductive, commanding tone her eyes half lidded, her best bedroom eyes. I simply stood their frozen in disbelief I never would have thought Chrysalis liked it rough, of course I never bothered to ask so go figure. After a few tense moments of me and Chrysalis having a stare down she finally turned away, causing me to grin and slap her ass once again. Earning me a laud moan and the death glare from hell but I was to busy rolling on the floor laughing to notice the last one. Eventually everything went back to normal and everyone was lost in the moment just enjoying themselves and having a good time. Then the night started to get late most of the changelings left and went back to were ever they came from but with smiles on their faces. until their were only a few changelings left aside from me and Chrysalis. By now I had sat down to catch my breath and watched as Chrysalis got better and better all the way to the point where it seemed she was floating across the floor in time with the music. And as I watched the rest of the world seemed to fade away until she was the only other person here and a song came one that fit the scene perfectly as I listened and watched. I found myself following her every move the way she swayed back and forth so gracefully, the way her flank and whole body would bounce as she danced and one solid though crossed my mind BEAUTIFUL. As soon as that thought crossed my mind Chrysalis froze and then looked back at me her jaw on the floor with confused look to her eyes and deep blush. At first I was confused as to why she stopped, but then I heard the collective gasp and murmurs across the hive mind and then it hit me like a semi loaded with bricks. And this was the first time I cursed the hive mind and the fact my thoughts could be heard everyone in it including Chrysalis. Who was no longer just staring at me she had slowly approached me with me noticing and broke me out of my brooding. "Do you really think im beautiful?" She said her voice trembling slightly and her eyes misted over slightly. I stared at her taking this all in for a long second before pulling my warmest smile and pulling her down into a hug saying. "Everything in any world has beauty it just takes time to see it some things longer than others." We sat their staring into each others eyes. Chrysalis was the first to make a move she slowly leaned in and kissed me before pulling back blushing profusely and curled up on the floor next to me. Quickly falling asleep a goofy grin on her face I followed shortly after, though my rest was short lived as the sound of a familiar song drifted through the halls of the hive and awoke me, drawing me outside and into the night.