//------------------------------// // Chapter 7 // Story: Ebony and Ivory: Mother's love. // by SGZone //------------------------------// Journal entry: 1195 A.E.(After Empire), 7th month, 6th day. I think I’m going to start dating these things now. Too many things have been happening to number them. It has been awhile since I’ve written anything down. After reading my previous entries I feel like a spoiled brat. I can’t believe I actually wrote any of that but Arthemis did say be honest. Though, I’m troubled by strange events occurring across the central hive. I suppose it started with the discovery of a group of basilisks. While basilisk sightings are not uncommon such a large number of them is. I thought it was only a few but they found several almost a dozen and that’s not including the young. Curiouser they had not found a nest so clearly something drove them from their nest. Normally I would say it was farmers or maybe bandits but I have a feeling it’s more than that. Then there was the attack on the four harvesters. It was a mother and her three children the father is a soldier in Alexandrae’s personal company. She was the one that told him. Said he shattered like glass before her. Fell to his knees without a peep. We have to find whoever did this. Journal entry: 1195 A.E. 7th month, 7th day. No luck in finding whoever the killers are. We raided some nearby abandoned structures. Mostly bandits who swear they had nothing to do with the attack. I believe them but we sent them packing regardless. Some tried to fight and stay. A poor decision as Alexandrae is not in the mood for arrogant pests. She’s desperate to find them. Barely seen her at the meeting room. I told Priamus and Arthemis to check up on her when they get the chance. Worried she might work herself to exhaustion, again. Priamus and Arthemis have done a great job with easing the subject’s fears. This was the first murder committed on homeland soil  by an outside force since I’ve taken reign.  Only a matter of time I suppose. On a much lighter note the twins have been getting better. Growing stronger everyday. Dr. Hale remarked on how quickly they’ve bounced back. They’ve been unhooked from the machines and eating the food, well for the most part. Ivory is still apprehensive about the grool but Ebony eats everything you put in front of him.  They’re still too weak to make the hard journey, though. For the best I don’t feel comfortable sending them out there until we find out what’s happening. Papilia adores spending time with them as do I. She now has them set up in the nursery that we grew up in. I didn’t think it would be a good idea to put them in the new one with Arthemis’s hatchlings. Worried, they might hurt each other and Arthemis might get angry. Journal Entry: 1195 A.E. 7th month 9th day. We still have no leads on the attackers and Alexandrae is getting frustrated. Shattered a chair by throwing it against the wall. It just doesn’t make any sense. No traces. No footprints in the sand, no camps, nothing. Ebony and Ivory are doing fine they’ve moved onto flavored food. Ivory’s favorite thus far is Applesauce. Ebony still not the picky eater is gobbling down everything, even mashed peas. Disgusting. Their energy is coming back as they’ve started crawling around, and are quite the little explorers. I think they’re starting to wear Papilia down but she seems happy. Journal Entry: 1195 A.E. 7th month 10th day. Thank the stars we got a break! We didn’t find them but we found their hideout! Our suspicions were correct they were Changelings from another hive. However, that’s where the good news stops as we believe they are from the Lazarius Hive, or what’s left of it. I still hadn’t hatched when they attacked with several other hives. And I was just barely ten years old when their main force shattered to splinters by my father and Alexandrae. However, they did tell me about it when I was much older. How when the war was lost they started to attack our Sub-Hives across the world. Hundreds of Changelings died along with dozens of non-Changelings caught in the crossfire. Even worse those moronic masses thought we were behind the attacks! We need to get a handle on this before they become a big enough threat again. Things are actually getting good for our Changelings abroad. Journal Entry 1195 A.E. 7th month 11th day Nothing to say on the  Lazarius Changelings. However, Mirage was strangely friendly today. She smiled and waved while leaving. Strange, she’s up to something. Enough about her ,though, as Ebony and Ivory were adorable today. As I entered the nursery the two dropped whatever they were doing and sped like trains over to me. They’re incredibly playful and happy despite everything. Not to mention talkative. Ivory is definitely the more talkative of the two babbling on and on in his adorable little baby talk. Ebony doesn’t speak as much but he’s got a lion’s roar in that little body.  Ebony still has fascination with sucking on my hair. Papillia thinks it’s gross but I find it rather adorable and it’s not like my hair’s dirty or anything. Chrysalis hummed a sweet little song as she practically skipped down to the nursery. Nothing interesting happened in the council meeting. With no new information on the rogue changelings. One would say that would be too disconcerting for one to be in such a good mood. Chrysalis didn’t have time to fret right now. As her favorite time of the day was right around the corner. “Ebony~ Ivory~!” Chrysalis sung walking into the nursery. Ivory gave cry of joy barreling towards the monarch. His brother was confined in a highchair with Papilia feeding him. This did not sit well with the tyke as the monarch lifted Ivory into her arms. He began struggling to free himself of from his plastic prison. Papilia snatched the jar of mashed carrots as they teetered from the vibrations. When he realized he was trapped he let out a loud albeit high pitched howl for Chrysalis’s attention. “I haven’t forgotten you Ebony.” She cooed walking over to him and placing a tender hand on his head. “First though, you need to eat.” She said kneeling down and grabbing a spoonful of mush in her magic. Ebony didn’t pay any heed to the food before him instead reaching out for a strand of Chrysalis’s silky hair.  Chrysalis, however, pulled even further from his grasp. “No Ebony, not until you eat some more.” She chided. “How much has he had already eaten?” Chrysalis asked Papilia “Not much he still needs a couple more spoonfuls.” She replied. Taking a moment to wipe some leftover Applesauce on her face. Most likely from Ivory’s messy eating. “Okay Ebony four more bites? That sounds good right?” She asked to no one in particular. Despite being with the two humans for only a week feeding them was quite the learning experience. First they were surprised at how much the two humans could eat. A changeling at their age may only feed about twice a day maybe even once and are at risk to be overfed. This misunderstanding almost caused Papilia to have a breakdown. Panicking she was feeding the two too much. “How much have they eaten today?” Chrysalis asked as Ebony took a big bite. “Quite a bit actually. When they woke up they had some milk. I was also able to get Ivory to eat some peas and experimented with Ebony and a mashed banana.” She replied. “How did he like it?” Chrysalis asked feeding Ebony his second bite as Ivory began to wriggle in her arms. “Ate it without hesitation.” Papilia deadpanned distracting Ivory by handing him his favorite ball. “Of course he did. Do you think there’s something wrong with him? He just eats whatever’s in front of him. Do you think he’s sick?” Chrysalis asked worry rising in her voice.  Papilia could only shrug knowing about as much about humans as her sister. Chrysalis gave a deep sigh of defeat and moved to give him his third helping. However, before the food could reach Ebony, Ivory pitched his ball at Ebony, beaming the poor baby in the nose. Ebony’s reaction wasn’t immediate first he looked up at Chrysalis stunned face. Then came the waterworks. Ebony gave a loud shrill cry makingthe two Changelings flinch. Chrysalis was the first to react. Dropping the small spoon and lifting the bawling baby in her magic placing him in her arms. “Shh it’s okay Ebony please stop crying.” She soothed bouncing up and down trying to get him to stop. “Ivory why did you do that?” She scolded. Ivory just looked blankly at her not understanding what he had caused. “Well say you’re sorry.” She ordered bringing the babes closer in her arms. Ivory took a second to look at the crying baby confused. Not knowing what to do he did the only thing he could and held Ebony’s wet face in his tiny hands . Thankfully this calmed the howling baby a bit turning from sobs to wheezing breaths. “You see Ebony it’s alright, Ivory didn’t mean it I think he just wanted to play.” Chrysalis sung rocking him. “By the gods they’re loud.” Chrysalis heard someone call from the doorway. Spinning around she was surprised to see Dr. Hale. Who had taken a very hands off approach to the two since releasing them. “I thought they’re howling that one time was bad it appears to get so much worse.” He groaned walking in. “Well as you said they were rather weak back then. Now they’re so much stronger. Aren’t you?” Chrysalis cooed nuzzling both of them. “Indeed I’d say they’re about ready to make the journey back to human civilization.” Dr. Hale commented. Though she didn’t show it those words were like a punch in the gut. “Oh! Are you sure? When exactly?” She asked trying her best to conceal the disappointment in her voice. “I’d give em another two days then they’d be ready to go.” Dr. Hale responded giving them another look-over. “Who will go with them? Are we sure the road is safe? What will they eat?” She frantically asked. “Well I thought you were going to settle that, Queen Chrysalis.” asked a bit perplexed by her behavior. “Oh, right, I-I’ll get the necessary preparations underway. Thank you Doctor you can go now.” She commanded. Dr. Hale stood there for a moment wanting to pry on why she was acting so strange but decided against it. Chrysalis sorrowfully looked down at the two boys in her arms who were looking up at her perplexed and Ebony was already sucking on a strand of hair. “Hey sis mind if we talk for a second?” Papillia asked with a look of determination. “Oh of course. Papilia what about?” Chrysalis responded. “You don’t want them to leave do you sis?” Papillia questioned further taking a step closer to her. “What-what do you mean. That was the plan after all.”  Chrysalis said bit caught off guard by her sister’s questioning. “Yeah but plans change and now I bet you want them to stay. With you. Right?” Papilia probed further. Chrysalis felt a hot sweat go down her back. She was right. Chrysalis had forgotten that they were not meant to stay and she didn’t want them to go. “I-I-no-I-I-ma-maybe.” Chrysalis confessed flabbergasted by her sister’s sudden confrontation. “What does it matter anyway? It’s not about what I want. It’s about what’s best for them, and that’s being with other humans.” She said regaining her composure but with a touch of remorse in her voice. “Maybe, but they’ll be orphans and who knows who they’ll end up with. Maybe an abusive human who uses them?” Papilia pondered causing Chrysalis to snarl slightly at the thought. ‘I'd break them in half.’ She growled. “What are you getting at Papilia?” She asked her voice turning razor sharp. “Just that if you decided to adopt them. It would cause trouble and not everyone will approve, actually, most won’t. Probably not even Alexandrae and Arthemis.” She stated. Chrysalis winced knowing she was right. “However, if you do decide to adopt them. I will support you Chrysalis.” She whispered placing her hand on Chrysalis’s cheek. Chrysalis was taken back at first by her sister’s warm touch but gratefully melded into it. “Also if you do decide to do it. Tell the family first. Remember what mom and dad said: no matter what, above all else family is most important.” She said giving her a peck on the lips and leaving her alone with her thoughts.