//------------------------------//
// Royal Runaway 
// Story: Phantom Krystal: An Unstable Ruby 
// by Lifeblood_Wisp 
//------------------------------//

Zoey looked wide eyed at Archnis, dumbfounded at what he had requested of her. It took her a moment to realize she was thinking to herself and had not responded to Arachnis for at least fifteen seconds. Eventually, she snapped herself out of it and planned to get some reasoning for his seemingly irrational intentions. “B-but why? You can just leave us after one screw up! Think about how Chrysalis would-“

“She wouldn’t feel a damn thing…”

Zoey’s words stopped dead in their tracks as she processed what Arachnis had said. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Even as a changeling, she at least knew that mothers naturally loved their children, blood related or not. She tried to ponder the possibilities, but only came to two conclusions: Either Arachnis was in his feelings, Chrysalis didn’t have any, or maybe even both were true. Nevertheless, she tried to find the reason in what Arachnis wanted to do. "Even so, you're an asset to the hive. We wouldn't be as threatening without you."

"Exactly." Arachnis said. "Listen, I don't know how to explain it, but I've heard Chrysalis talk about me...about why I was..made. I need to know if it's true. It's my life...I should have the right to know more than anyone." He continued. Zoey began to understand his intentions better. As she pondered further, she realized that the purpose for Arachnis' existence was never a topic that was talked about in any great detail. She wondered if Chrysalis had any deeper plans for him. "I understand, kind of, but just leaving everything like this doesn't sit right with me. Are you even sure you're gonna be ok?" Zoey asked. Arachnis sat down. "I can take care of myself, should it be necessary, but that's not what I'm worried about. It's finding an answer. I feel I'm ready to learn more, but I still feel something. It feels like nervousness, but it's not exactly that.

Zoey sat beside him. She couldn't fully understand why he wanted to leave, but she knew it meant something important to him. It went against her own sense of judgement, but she was willing to help him. It was only fair after what he did to free her. "Arachnis. If you're really leaving, then I'm coming with you.  " She said. For the first time in a long time, Arachnis smiled. He was grateful for the kindness that Zoey was showing him. "I uh..thank you." He said. He got up, and walked out his room. Zoey followed, sticking as close to Arachnis as she was when she was first assigned to be his protector. They swiftly traversed the hive and made it through the main entrance. Once outside, they slowed their pace. 

"So, any plans on where we're going? Cuz I have an idea on where we can head." Zoey said. Arachnis wondered what she meant. He originally planned to head back to Tirek's conquered castle, but he decided to be open minded. "I was planning to head to Tirek's castle, but I'm more than open for suggestions. There aren't a lot of places that'll let changelings in." He responded. “It’s called Ponyville. Ponies there don't exactly like changelings, but they do know quite a bit about Chrysalis. She’s sent me there more times than I can count. There's a forest near there, so if we need to hide out, we can." Zoey explained. Arachnis pondered the thought of sneaking around for answers as opposed to demanding them upfront. While he was capable, there were definitely some ponies out there who could overpower him. “Hmm…ok, we’ll go to Tirek’s place, then head to Ponyville.”.

Meanwhile at the hive, Chrysalis sat atop her throne, distressed and disappointed with herself. She had lashed out on her only real shot at a child, and suddenly he disappears the next day. She had sent out multiple search parties, most of which searched around the perimeter of the hive, and some searching within. Whenever approached by a party, sparks of hope would flash inside her, and when they would come up negative of her son’s location, those same sparks would dim, and fade. Eventually, those little sparks became ones of anxiety. She tried to think of place where Arachnis might’ve gone. 

And then it hit her. 

The last place Arachnis was at was Tirek’s castle! Chrysalis thought that perhaps something there interested him, or maybe there was someone there that he had unfinished business with. Either way, at least she had somewhat of a lead. She called for Search Party C, which consisted of a delta, two betas, and a sigma, betas being the most common changelings, those that walk on all fours and have wings on the back. Sigma changelings resembled insects, in the sense that they have six limbs; two that they walk on, and four that they use for other tasks. The entire party bowed before their queen. Chrysalis eyed them with sharp eyes. “You are to go to Tirek’s castle to look for your prince. Should he resist, I want him back alive.” She said. The party confined their understanding with either head nod or a “Yes, your highness.”. They set off with haste. 

Meanwhile, Arachnis and Zoey were about to reach Tirek’s castle. The entire time they had been walking in silence. Arachnis needed it, for he was pondering why he was made. Zoey, on the other hand, felt highly uncomfortable with it. Along with telling herself that she had enough, she also decided to break the silence. “So…what are you gonna do once you find out why she made you?” She asked. “I’m going back, and confronting her about it. What I do next depends on what she says.” Arachnis replied. “Oh, ok” Zoey said. She felt that was enough social interacting until they made it, although something about this didn’t seem right to her. She felt concerned for that might happen in the future. If Chrysalis really didn’t care for Arachnis the whole time, how would he react. If things were to go how she feared they went, Arachnis might end up seriously hurt, or even worse. She tried not to think about it too much, for the feeling pained her. 

Just as she suppressed this looming thought, Tirek’s castle came into view.