As I walk the woods, south of Dodge Junction, out in the distance is the hive with its blown off top as I face the south. During this long routed, slow paced walk, I have a strange feeling, like I should be at the hive to protect those who had betrayed me nearly two and a half moons ago. I am of knowledge though that the drones I have sent are also inside, so I shall take that into consideration.
Finally arriving at the desert portion, where the hive starts, I bow my head and sigh.
“Whatever this feeling in me is, it has to lead to something pleasant. Well, at least it will not likely hurt not to attend something as important as a calling. How ridiculous of a- ...thought... wait... a calling... that was quite a strange thought.”
I blink to keep my eyes from opening any further, then I gallop quickly over to the hive, that is until two familiar changelings make an exit for the hive, only to see me, prompting them to run to me.
“Carve? Carina?”
“Queen Chrysalis! Boy, are we glad to see you! You should’ve seen Carve up there!”
“What happened, my guard posers?”
“Let’s just say... I was the speaker of a severely unusual calling and managed to show the hive that they needed you.”
“What? You did only that? B-but what about guard duty? And the freakouts?”
“Well, by the end of yesterday, everybody knew that it was us, so Carve and I just dropped the whole guard thing.”
“Uh, Queen Chrysalis? What do you mean as in freakouts? Because there wasn’t any of that going on, I mean not on a large scale.”
“Never mind, Carve. It’s nothing to fret about. However, we will have to make sure that Thorax is located elsewhere during my recoronation.”
“Oh, the hive already is taking care of Thorax’s locale. Carina and I saw the funniest part about it though... the changelings have already dug his room to shreds.”
I hold my hoof over my growing smile, all under a scrunched nose.
“I suppose that is quite amusing. Well, no matter. When will the recoronation be available to commence?”
In the distance, I hear what sounds like a long shout, followed by cheering. Now, alongside Carina, Carve looks to be trying, and failing, to hold in a chuckle.
“Right about now? Because it sounds like they just got rid of him.”
I nod.
“Yes. Now then, I have a recoronation to attend. At that recoronation, Carve, I think you are going to like the surprise I will prepare for you.”
“Make that double, then. Because I already am surprised.”
“What was it? Was it something that I said?”
“Well, you said surprised me in a ‘peaked curiosity’ way.”
“Well, I’m glad I made you curious then. Now, you two, join the rest of the hive and prepare to start the recoronation. I will be present momentarily. And Carve, your friends will be proud of you when I announce this surprise.”
“Huh? My friends?”
I nod.
“Yes. You know who I am talking about. And I will quickly go and get them. Side note being, Carina, you’re son is staying there.”
“Oh, Rusty, Pane and Aita. Okay.”
Carve nods, Carina, following suit. I proceed to wave goodbye and swiftly fly over to Las Pegasus.
;=;
Aita, Pane and I finally get to my house, following having to get a refund at Greta Scone Corner for Pane’s danish being flavored raw cherry instead of strawberry. Everything else went rather smoothly over. But then, nearly half an hour after we get home, I notice that Aita hasn’t left Carve’s room ever since our return. After a little bit of discussion from Pane, the both of us decide that I can handle the situation the best. I walk over at the closed door and knock on it.
“Hello? Who’s there?”
“A-aita? You’ve seemed awfully quiet since we came to my house. Are you okay in there?”
Aita sighs.
“No.”
“I should come in then.”
I proceed to open the door, only to see that Aita is laying on Carve’s nest, looking about as bored as any foal would without anything to do in the room. He appears to be pawing at the floor, kind of like how Carve did when she came home early from Akron.
“Aita, Pane and I noticed you were staying in Carve’s room for a while, and we thought I could talk it over with you. So, what do you think is wrong?”
“I-I think... I-I’m starting to miss Wisconsin. I think I’m getting, well...”
“Homesick? Believe me, Aita. I’ve been there before. Remember saying how you knew about Carve?”
“Yes.”
“She was launched into this place called Rolling Acres, following the failed Canterlot Invasion. After I found her and tried to let her heal, I stayed for three weeks straight in Rolling Acres, waiting to see the changeling. I never left once. I started missing Pane after the first twenty four hours of my presence.”
“You were away for three WEEKS?!? Did you have anything to eat?!?”
“I had cereal with me as well as some water. Aita... if you feel homesick, you’re telling the right pony if you’re telling me. You just have to be patient. You never-”
The doorbell rings.
“Hold on, Aita. It looks like we have a visitor.”
I rush over to the living room, seeing Pane open the door, revealing none other than Queen Chrysalis.
“Pane Fall?”
“Hi, Chrysalis.”
I am prompted by Pane to wave.
“Oh, greta Lasti.”
“Greta, Mone Clisaris.”
“How well did your talk with Pane Fall go? Well, I presume.”
I nod.
“Yes. So, uh, what’re you doing here? I thought you wanted me to watch Aita for the rest of the day.”
“Well, I did. But that was before I could confirm some admirable news.”
“A-admirable? D-do you mean...?”
Chrysalis nods.
“You, Pane, and Aita are all invited to my recoronation.”
“A RECORONATION?!? You got your hive back?!?”
“Yes, Pane Fall. And it’s all thanks to the one changeling you know most about.”
“Well, what’re we waiting for? I’ve got to get Aita out here.”
“I already know, Rusty!”
Aita gallops out of Carve’s room and into the living room.
“So, we’re going now?”
Chrysalis nods at Aita, prompting him to squee with joy, jumping up and down.
“Oh, I can’t wait to see Mom again!”
“Well, Aita, you barely have to. We’re heading to the hive. Let’s go, everyone. We’d best be going.”
And with that, the four of us all leave the house.