Several moments of rest later, Rusty, and Luna come in.
“Um, Carve? You know what I said about that large name?”
I nod at Luna.
“Well, she’s here.”
She? Wait. Who is-
Queen Chrysalis?!? Here?!? Where I live today?!? Why?!? Wait. She’s missing her crown. Oh no! She’s missing her crown!
“Mone Clisaris!!!”
I get up and run to her. She closes her eyes.
“Risa Clisaris pa fa catoro leyur, Calev.”
“Nuta? N-neta le ga? Leyu te Solaz? Ehilihora?”
Chrysalis closes her eyes.
“No. It is not about those two drones... well, at least the latter drone.”
“Nuta leyu?”
“We have a king to overthrow.”
“Fu mono?!?”
Chrysalis nods.
“Yes. Exactly. When we join the rest that are outside, you may recognize a few of them. However, since I heard about what happened a few days ago, I’ll give you a task that doesn’t take so much energy.”
I deliberate on what’s going on. I always have had at least an average level of respect for Queen Chrysalis. She’s aware of Rolling Acres’ demo, so I bet the most that I will probably be required to do is some seemingly miniscule detail that no other member of royalty would ever take into consideration. Piecing together what Chrysalis said, I think back to some report that Thorax was out at the Crystal Empire. So, I’m pretty sure he’s the king that Chrysalis was talking about. Upon this realization, I get angered. Because of Thorax, one simple drone in such a complex home, Chrysalis has lost her hive. I sigh in a final agreement to join Chrysalis.
“A-aro. Zen ze pa rudeninur, Clisaris.”
“You’re welcome, Carve. You may come along with me, now. It will feel quite a bit like elder times once we start moving.”
I nod at my crown stripped queen, then I turn to Rusty.
“Rusty, I must leave with Chrysalis. She’s lost something, and I have to help her get it back.”
Rusty gasps.
“What? You’re leaving now? But-”
“I-I know what you’re thinking. Rolling Acres. Yes, it’s gone. But that’s why I want and need to help Chrysalis. She’s a changeling I care about, and her hive was wrongfully taken from her, and without warning. If Pane wonders where I am, tell her everything about what you saw today.”
Rusty gulps.
“Arrow.”
“Aro,” Chrysalis and I correct.
“But hey, I’m learning.”
I nod at Rusty.
“Where is Pane Fall? I can gather that she left, but where to?” Chrysalis asks.
Rusty and I shrug before Chrysalis walks by us. She stops, and looks back at me, prompting me to follow her. Rusty and I wave goodbye.
“Come back as soon as you can, Carve.”
“I will. There’s no telling how this will play out though.”
“Bye, I’ll see you soon.”
After the brief chat, with me going outside, Rusty closes the front door between us. When I face forward once again, I find myself in front of fourteen changelings, one of them, furthest to the right, looking quite young, about seven years old, and just like Chrysalis said, I recognize a few of them. One pair particularly close to each other in the small crowd are what I presume to be Cervix and Brand. Although another changeling is with the nymph, I can still recognize her. I think it’s the changeling that was named after the queen that once lived before one thirteen (Areola). Other than those three, I don’t recognize them. Everyone turns to Chrysalis now.
“Alright, my drones. If we’re going to arrive at the hive, we’ll have to find a way to arrive stealthily. The entire hive has transformed into rebellious traitors, inspired by a ‘convincing’ Starlight Glimmer. The plan is that we eventually turn the changelings against Thorax.”
“So, what do we all do?” the first left drone asks.
“I’m not actually going to reveal that until we arrive nearby our destination. However, I will tell you that I am aware that a select few of you have lives irrelevant to the hive, and have encountered recent events in those lives, so for those who fit this well, step forth.”
The pair of changelings furthest to the right do as Chrysalis requests, one of them being the seven year old looking changeling. Chrysalis nods.
“Hmm. I see. Perhaps you’d like to join Carve?”
“S-sure. I don’t see why not. Come on, Aita.”
The eldest leads who I presume is Aita over to me.
“Um, what does the large one mean by ‘recent events’?” Aita asks, prompting me sink my eyes.
“I-I don’t want to talk about it.”
“But why?”
Chrysalis turns to the three of us.
“Because anything can affect one changeling more than another! Do you understand, Aita?”
Aita just nods.
“Good. Now, let’s get a move on. There’s no time to lose.”
And with all of that, we head off to the south. For several hours of walking, there is nothing but desert expanse, that is until sometime when I supposedly have my supper, when I see a distant tower in the horizon. It looks jagged like it had before, only difference being that the top of the tower is gone. This must be the hive. Suddenly, the leading changeling, Chrysalis obviously, stops.
“Uh, Chrysalis? What’s going on?” the changeling accompanying Aita asks, who Chrysalis shushes.
“We must be stealthy, which will be of ease. However, my plan may involve avoiding certain reactions. You all must remember to blend in first, then turn the changelings away from Thorax.”
Everyone, including me nods at Chrysalis.
“Yes, my queen!”
“Now, before I dismiss you to your tasks, two changelings will be under special mission, posing as guards. Those two changelings will be Carina and Carve. I trust that you two will be able to handle this simple of a task. All you have to do is stand with the guards until they decide to help out.”
I drop my jaw. Now that I know what she’s heading towards, I have to wonder how Chrysalis can keep such a straight face when giving orders like what she just gave. I regain composure.
“So, are we going to replace anyone?”
Chrysalis smiles and shakes her head.
“No. What we’re doing will add a little speed to what we plan to accomplish. Perhaps we can slip in a detail about the old legend of the mirror stone, not to mention that attendance calls will be overbooked. Enough talking, though. We must enact it. Carina?”
“Carina” walks up to Chrysalis with Aita.
“Yes?”
“Aita will have to stay with me. This is a job only adult changelings can do.”
“I understand. Watch well.”
Chrysalis nods.
“Ready?” I ask Carina, prompting her to nod.
“Ready.”
Then, we catch up with the rest of the changelings.