I started to wake up. There was a humming sound in the air and I pulled my wings tighter around myself, pressing my ears against.
The soft droning engine sound didn't go away.
Slowly my brain started to catch up with the rest of me and I slowly blinked my eyes open. Oh yeah airsh- Looked down at a changeling sitting beneath where I was hanging, looking up at me.
I blinked sleepily at him.
He blinked back.
"Good morning, Thorax," I said and suppressed another yawn, "...Actually, I have no idea what time it is anymore," I said and glanced at the window where sunlight was streaming in.
"Early afternoon, sir," he said, "Good afternoon."
"Good afternoon," I answered and yawned again, "Skitter wants to see me, I take it?"
He nodded, "No hurry, sir. She said when you had a moment."
I slowly stretched my wings before releasing with my tail and flapping down onto the floor, "Might as well now, on the way to food. Lead the way."
Thorax nodded and got up, "This way, sir," he said and headed for the door. Not that we needed to go very far, the changeling quarters were literally straight across the narrow hall.
He pushed it open and allowed me to enter, causing me to blink at the sight.
Well, they had been careful not to make a mess at least. But everything in the room that wasn't bolted down had been piled up in one corner and tied down. Someling had covered the porthole with a blanket and they had set up those small glowing balls of resin they favored for light. As close to one of their hives as you could get on an airship and without covering the entire place with resin.
Skitter was in the middle of the bed, surrounded by every drone that accompanied her, bar for Thorax. Six in total.
She looked up from talking to one of them when I walked in and smiled, "Good morning, sir."
"Good morning, Skitter," I said and suppressed another yawn, "...How are you guys doing? I know you don't like airships."
"We're good, sir," Skitter said and looked at me for a moment, "You taste better."
"I feel better too," I admitted, "had too much to drink last... night before last."
"Mhmm," she said with a small frown, "If you say so, sir."
"So what's on your mind, Skitter?" I asked and sat down, "Curious about Nocturnis?"
"...Yes, but not what I was thinking about," she admitted, "Wanted to know how you felt today."
I smiled at her, "Thank you," I said and sighed, "...And yeah, yesterday was not the best. But you don't need to worry," I said before I smiled at her, "And don't eat a large meal before we arrive or you'll turn into a princess twice from me meeting Luna, Sparks and Sunny again."
Skitter smiled at me, her wings making a small buzzing sound.
"Now, I think I'm going to go find something to ea-" I said and then paused, spotting Thorax getting to his hooves as well.
I sighed softly and looked at Skitter, "I don't need a guard here. And we're soon back to Nocturnis and Amber."
"Yes sir."
"...You're not going to stop are you."
"No sir."
I rolled my eyes and turned towards the door before I paused, "Skitter, what does Zeez...Zeezzke...That thing Chrysalis sometimes call me..."
"Zeezzkekeezzkzk?" Skitter asked, shifting slightly as she regarded me. Every changeling was looking at me.
"Yes, that," I said and turned back to her, "What does that mean? I never did find out."
Skitter looked down at her hooves, her wings doing another small buzz, "W-well... it's difficult to say really. Old changeling words take a lot from context and position and who the speaker and listener is so I'm not su-"
"Skitter, you're being evasive," I said with a small smile, "Is it something rude? I don't mind, I'm just curious."
She shook her head, "The most likely translation... there isn't a word for it in this language. In context it means something similar to... maybe... 'friendly queen of different hive'."
"Queen?" I asked and frowned, "Wait, old changeling don't have gendered words and I'm a royal so that tracks," I agreed before I raised my eyebrow, "Wait, wouldn't I be princess then? I guess you could argue Queen for Celestia or Luna, but I'm not sure it applies to me."
Skitter blinked at me in slight confusion.
Oh, hey, my headache is coming back.
I took a deep breath before slowly letting it back out, "What are the other possible translations to that word, Skitter?"
She considered it for a second, "Life giver, sister, lover, hunter of predators or honored daughter. It can also mean future enemy and largest threat in a political sense. Ancient changeling isn't the most precise language, it's a lot of emotion and context."
"Thanks Skitter," I said and headed for the door, "I'm going to get some breakfast now."
And forget this conversation ever happened. I have to stop asking questions of changelings.