a chapter · 4:43am Aug 5th, 2013

well here's the chapter yall asked for.

Luna est Cor Noctis

Arc 1 Luna Est Gelida

Chapter 12: Travails and Journal Tales

Section 1 of 3

Part 4 of 4

(Note: from now on I’m using Hir, Shi, to refer to the changelings since equally they can choose to have both a schlong and a third entry, or both depending on preference. Queens(and the rare King) are the Exception to this rule since they dedicate themselves to the hive as that sex, ‘and it shows.’)

(Windbreak Valley along the Griffica/Equestrian border, township of Applecrest, Fields Wind Tavern, nine hundred ninety third Celestial year, twenty ninth day of spring)

*clack**slch**Glug**glurgl* Bright blue eyes shined from the black creatures as they ate the red fruit, its sweet juices dribbling down the corners of their jaws. The left one looked up at the lavender pony standing near it, it finished its last piece of the fruit with a ravenous bite. The lavender filly held the creatures gaze with her own a hopeful smile upon her face as the chitinous creature gulped down the last of its fruit. “Glimmering Wisp have more?” The creature asked plaintively as its companion finished its pieces as well.

Twilight’s ears laid back. “I’m sorry, those were the only apples I had, we should probably observe the effects, before you eat any more,” the lavender filly answered with a serious tone that brooked no argument.

“What wrong? pony said safe. Glimmering Wisp lie?” The dark creature asked, perplexed by the pony’s answer.

Twilight held up a hoof to forestall the anticipated response. “No, I did not lie, however Velt, I would rather we wait incase there are any undesirable side effects.”

Velt turned to the other black creature next to him as it stared at Twilight questioningly, “what side ef- eFLUEaghhhh--- Hghrgggg.” Collapsing on the floor both creatures stared uncomfortably at the wall which suffered a sad fate, being blasted with a greenish stomach paste that slowly slid down towards the floorboards. Twilight nodded with a small grimace at the scene, having been prepared for an unpleasant reaction. Gathering magic to the tip of her horn Twilight grasped the greenish fluid on the wall and pulled the majority of it off, siphoning it slowly into a nearby bucket repurposed from the bathing chamber.

“I guess it didn’t work...” Twilight’s face pulled even further downwards into a pouting frown, before sighing and relaxing her features. She faced the two dark creatures nearly passed out on the ground. “I’m sorry that you and Rhode had to go through that. Would you like me to help clean you up?” The lavender filly asked calmly as the last of the spewed liquid was wiped from the wall by a wet towel within her magical grasp.

Velt nodded slightly. “Experiment not work! Hurt... You feed us?” The creature asked eagerly.

Twilight sighed. “When you’re clean, Velt. I don’t mind that you and Rhode are changelings, but I would not enjoy tasting regurgitated food on your lips. Maybe some water to clear out the residue?” Twilight answered lifting forward two filled beakers of the clear fluid.

Sighing in response Velt accepted the container of water lifting it from Twilight’s with his own signature green as hir regained balance on his hooves, next to Rhode who was doing the same. Taking a deep draw from the flask, hir carefully maneuvered it through and around his vocal pipes, clearing what remained of the greenish excrement. Nodding to Twilight, hir released his grasp on the flask letting her catch it and gather it towards herself. Clearing them of their contents down the drain, Twilight placed the flask alongside others like it within her pack.

“Alright I’m ready, are you?” Twilight stood to her current full height of three feet, four and a half inches. She was about eight inches shorter than the nearby changelings. Velt strode forward calmly, his chitinous hide glistening in the medium light of the room, as shi approaches the lavender unicorn.

Twilight was opening her mouth to speak, Velt darts forward, stealing the filly’s breath with a kiss. Twilight relaxes into the kiss, allowing Velt to take the lead as Rhode trots over to them.

Rhode glanced over his options while Twilight was distracted by Velt. Glancing at her starburst cutie mark shi gets an idea. Shi places a hole riddled hoof on the young pony’s shoulder, then gently, shi nibbled on the lavender coat working his viscous tongue over her lavender coat, drinking mouthfuls of love directly, the delicious substance over filling him with its intensity as shi worked hir way down. Letting a hoof glide softly down her withers as shi pecked and prodded hir way down to the distracted filly’s pert flank. Working his tongue over the muscles, Rhode caused them to relax under his deft ministrations.

Twilight moaned into Velt’s mouth, her joyful vibrations further feeding the changeling as hir wrestled with Twilight’s tongue with fervour. Velt traced circles in Twilight’s mane with a hoof, while holding her close with the other. Velt glanced at Rhode and gave a subtle nod, making sure to keep the lavender filly’s attention with his oral play.

“Wisp good,” Velt confirmed before hir fell back to the floor, content and full. Twilight turned her head towards one of the changelings and Kissed him.

Slowly the feeling in her extremities returned as she broke the kiss from the changeling before her, then slowly, as if without difficulty lifted herself from the floor to a standing position. Her lips pulled back in a radiant smile that shined love and kindness around her, Upon the two changelings at her hooves.

Velt was the first to react, his eyes shooting open, then glaring in disbelief at the pony standing above him. Hir lay there, physically drained, while his body processed the massive amounts of love energy hir had absorbed. Panting heavily hir gasped out, ”How, Wisp... not tired?” his high pitched multi-toned voice complained.

Rhode shared equal parts disbelief, annoyance ,and understanding as hir gazed at the pony standing between them, while she turned to his companion to answer, “First, I’m surprised you changelings don’t recover faster. Second is that I’ve had some practice in the Everfree forest, lets just say some creatures are best avoided if one wishes to remain physically pure, and mentally sane.” The lavender unicorn then turned and walked over to her pack, pulling out several roots, a leaf, a blood red flower, and a beaker.

Ingredients gathered, Twilight trots back over to Velt and Rhode with the reagents in hoof. Laying down gently between the two black chitin armored drones, Twilight begins working on the potion. Crushing and mixing the ingredients, then holding it over a simple mage fire she summoned up, all the while waiting on the two changelings to be ready to stand again. Finally, after a few minutes of waiting, Rhode and Velt both began to stand up shakily, definitely an improvement over the utter exhaustion and lethargy they felt minutes ago.

By the time they finally steadied their knees enough to walk, Twilight disperses the magefire underneath the small glass bottle, the contents shimmering a sparkling blue. Twilight passes the potion to Velt first “Here, take a sip, it should help invigorate you until you’re back to capacity.” Twilight spoke smoothly as Velt took the beaker and downs a sip of the contents without question.

Velt’s eyes widened as the potion takes nearly immediate effect, hir eyes dulling somewhat as Velt toppled over slightly from the system shock. Twilight turns to Rhode next and offers the sparkling brew. Before he could place a hoof against the beaker in denial, Velt bounced off the floor like a rocket, slamming against the roof hard.

Landing back onto the floor with a bang, Velt, in a blur of motion, flips back onto his hooves again before turning to Rhode and giving a bouncing nod that would make even a bouncing spring green with envy. Turning back to the brew, Rhode grasped it within hir telekinesis field while Twilight watched Velt’s bouncing antics, Taking a smaller sip, Rhode was able to contain his excitement and remain calm and collected physically as Twilight finally manages to catch the errant changeling that was flying without wings.

Rooting Velt firmly into place next to Rhode, Twilight lets out a sigh of consternation, “I... didn’t expect that to happen, Sorry. I really didn’t know the potion would be this responsive to changeling physiology.” The lavender mare shrugged, while Rhode face hooves in annoyance, when Velt starts scraping the chitin along his back against the floor, albeit with less enthusiasm than he had a minute before.

“Not Wisp fault, accident.” Rhode stated simply, while helping his fellow changeling back up off the floor. His multi toned voice ringing clearly. “Pony speak?” Shi paused to look at hir companion then back to the lavender filly.”We ready.”

Twilight shook her head in agreement, “Not that it’s too important, but I was wondering if I could trade with your hive, some love in exchange for having a changeling guide when I get to this City.” She states pulling a map from her saddlebacks and placing it flat and face up before her, placing a hoof on a round Circle in the meeting place between Equestria, the dragon hegemony, and the griffon city states. At the confused looks the changelings gave her, she responded “It’s called Pax Nexus, If it’s as big as suggested, then I’ll need one, I’d also wish to request some time with a changeling or two so I can further study and test my experiment. It has the potential to save many changeling lives, if I can get it to actually work.”

Rhode spoke first, “Mother, speak with Wisp.” Hir stated before hir eyes dull, mouth gaping open slightly.

“Umm Rhode? Are you ok?” Twilight asks as the changeling stands silently at attention.

Velt lightly taps Twilights outstretched hoof with hir own while shaking hir head. “No, interrupt Transfer! Is... Delicate.” Answering the unasked question, raising a few more.

“Transfer?” Twilight repeats tilting her head to the side.

Velt smacks a hoof to hir face opening hir mouth to respond, only to close it as Rhode closes hir mouth, hir eyes changeling from pure turquoise to more pony like, with slitted grey ovals in the middle. Velt turns to Rhode then lowers the front half of hir body in a deep bow.

“Rhode was transferring temporary control over the hive mind, to the Queen.” Rhode ignores Velt, turning to face Twilight giving her a slight smile. “Hello Glimmering Wisp, my two drones tell my you’ve been quite the... cooperative pony. So tell me. What is this deal you wish to make.”

“I was hoping for a changeling guide in Pax Nexus when I get there so I don’t get lost. I’m offering to feed the changeling in exchange for some time to continue my food experiments with him, and for guiding me around the city, if thats ok with you?” Twilight sheepishly answers.

The Queen scoffs slightly lifting Rhodes hoof to her chest. “Now I’m going to excuse your lack of manners to me on grounds that you are probably ignorant of procedure, but next time I hope you will be more learned of such things.” Rolling her eyes slightly with a sigh, “Anyway back to the matter at hoof, you wish to experiment on one of my children, after they guide you through the city, safely, with only the promise that you will feed her, am I not correct?”

“Yes Queen...” Twilight pauses searching for a name but coming up blank.

“Ferrus my dear. Unlike the metal, I am not as rigid.” The changeling responded with a smile.

Twilight dips her head in thanks and continues continues. “Yes Queen Ferrus, that is exactly what I ask, the experiment with solid food could be a perfect solution for starvation amongst changelings, incase you run into areas with low amounts of love energy. If I can get the process working correctly, then you will have an almost perfect love substitute for changelings.” The lavender filly jumps a little in glee, imagining a few of the possibilities, should the experiment turn out as a success.

Queen Ferrus smiles slightly at the young pony’s antics, Velt standing next to her as still as a rock. ‘Now if only my children would be so carefree.’ She bemoans mentally with a gentle sigh. ‘Maybe if her experiment works...’ Ferrus shifts her posture, her countenance brightening at the thought. “Hmm, I would accept, but you must be in the city for a week at the least for this to be a fair trade. Seven days within the city working with my changelings, what do you think of these terms?” Queen Ferrus countered.

“Hmm... I had only planned on staying within the City for a few days... or at least until my supply of herbs and potion regents run out. However if you have somepony resupply me using a list of necessary ingredients I give them, I think I’ll be able to stay for the entire time. I like being able to help both your kind and the other ponies. is that ok?” Twilight answers hopefully her eyes lifting towards the Queens.

“I think your guide should be able to search for the ingredients while you’re working your potions, but the changeling will have to be using bits from your coffers-” Twilight gives the Queen a blank look. “Purse.” The changeling corrected. At Twilights comprehending look, Ferrus continues. “Your guide changeling will have to be using your bits to purchase supplies to restock your ingredients, just make a list and my child should be able to read it and understand where to get them. Are we in agreement?” The Queen concluded.

“Considering I don’t really use bits for much anyway, I don’t really have any disagreements to that.” Twilight answers, lifting a lavender hoof towards the queen. Queen Ferrus responds in kind and they both shake binding the deal.

“Good, I’ll be leaving this body so I can prepare the drone that will be awaiting you at Pax Nexus when you arrive. It was interesting to meet you.”

“it was nice meeting you too, maybe we can speak some other time. Maybe even in person someday. Good night!” Twilight joyfully answers before Rhode feels control return to hir body.

Shaking hir head a little as cognizance jumps back to the changeling. “Always give headache.” the changeling mutters lowly through clenched jaws. Velt walks over to help him, holding his shoulder steady with a hoof.

Velt’s hoof disappears from Rhode’s shoulder after a few seconds, long enough for hir to steady hirself the rest of the way when the changeling looks over, shi finds Velt covered in lavender as Twilight pulls him in a bear hug, giggling in everfecent joy. Velt couldn’t breath, completely surprised by the strength the filly was putting behind the simple gesture of love. After a few seconds, Twilight dropped the changeling, Velt fell gasping on the floor as shi caught hir breath.

Seeing her first victim get back up Twilight excitedly charges her next one, completely blindsiding Rhode with a tackle hug, forcing him down to the ground. Completely stunned as shi lay there on the floor Rhode just stared dazedly at the lavender filly squeezing hir spine with a bone crushing hug.

Letting go of Rhode’s neck Twilight jumps off the larger changeling, Trotting surely over to the bed, Twilight stops at the foot, before turning on the two changelings in the room. The lavender filly pulls from her reserves, lighting her horn. Two bottles of a viscous silvery substance lift out of Twilight’s saddlebags, covered in a similar magenta glow as her magical appendage. She lifted the bottles over to the two changelings, set them on the floor. “Here, take these potions of haste, then leave the room, and head to your own. It’ll be a good enough cover up. to make it look like we made a business transaction, at least.”

Rhode and Velt walk over to the rooms main entry way that they had entered through what seemed like ages ago. Twilight jumps over to the entrance and winks at them before trying to open the door. However the portal holds firm against her magic. Turning to the changelings she finds both their horns aglow, annoyance spreading across their features. “WAIT! We speak, terms. Then agree on, action.” Velt nearly yells in agitation.

Twilight stops pressing her magic against the door, then turns her full attention upon the two changelings. “Sorry, I thought you would agree to a swift plan, We can’t really stay in the same room together for the night, can we? also I’m leaving early in the morning, so I really don’t want to disturb you if my Morning is too early for you.” The lavender filly admits sheepishly, “So Here’s the plan I’m going to open the door and talk about the great ‘deal’ we made and how our amount of bits will grow from our partnered venture.”

Both Changelings nod in agreement, “Wisp explain, we understand,” Rhode and Velt walk over to the room door, turning back to Twilight, they announce. “We agree.”

The lavender filly sighs in relief, “Alright put on the business pony disguises you had on before, so that I can let the barrier down.” Both Velt and Rhode burst into green flames, Twilight noting with a good deal of interest that the flames were brighter than the pitiful embers she saw when they arrived. As the flames around the two changelings died down, Twilight reached out and grasped the threads of magic holding the powerful barrier weaved around the room, and cutting them causing a resultant flash from her horn as the power being fed to the spells fled back into her core through her natural focal point. Twilight responded with only a slight nod to the two changelings, as the last hints of their fires flickered and died away completely, before a smile took command of her lips and she burst into Bright, cheerful conversation. “Thank you for your time Good sirs, I do hope your boss will be alright, here’s a regenerative drought to help with the natural healing process.”

Velt took the hint and answered swiftly, “No, no Miss Glimmer, that is quite alright. keep the potion, someone else might need it more, besides my packs are full as it is. Not that I don’t mind the offer, but I think our trade agreements have accomplished a great bit more than a mere potion would.” Velt answered putting a hoof against the flask of reddish yellow fluid held within Twilights magenta magical field, and pushing it back towards the lavender filly.

Twilight gave an extended sigh, before pulling the potion back towards herself. “I guess you’re right.” What do you plan for the positions of swiftness though?” The lavender filly asked, honestly curious what the changelings would do with it.

Me and my partner here Will probably be using them to get back to our headquarters at Manehattan in record time, and keeping one for further research to figure out why it works the way it does.

Twilight nodded sagely before speaking up again. “Thank you again for your time. I hope we can make similar barters and trades in the future, until then stay safe young friends.”

Velt and Rhode both nod, giving their thanks before turning away from the door as Twilight closes it. Alone finally, Twilight begins searching the room once more as she feels another feeler enter her chamber, through her low powered magical barriers.

Twilight finds it hidden near the bed. Grasping the link with her magic, she cuts off the flow, destroying the connection powering the spells matrix, and causing it to fade away.

finally feeling ready for some actual rest Twilight assures herself that she closed the rooms front door, Taking the key the Barkeep had given her, she locks the door into place, ensuring that there would be a lack of intruders should any try. Closing her eyes meditatively Twilight lays against the bed sheets, next to the indistinguishable form of Fang buried underneath Twilight’s cloak, and simultaneously killing the fires of all the lights within the room, making the whole room pitch black.

Finally resting her head on the pillow Twilight let go of her power, the day, and it’s worries and the Realm of dreams finally taking the lead after months of taking the backseat, while the lavender filly rested.

big thanks goes to my prereaders
janushayed who is the guy who approves all of my chapters.
Skeeter The Lurker Guy who reads and lends a hand when asked.

Clop scene courtesy of Fimbulvinter

Editor people that yell at me for writing inferior chapters that they fix.
Aeondragon Good Jokes and definitely knows how to fix a bad chapter.

eh yea... anyway you'll get the full version when I get back.