This morning, I ended up in a meeting with Pharynx, Areola, Carve and my top drones about what we should do to celebrate Hearth’s Warming. Quite a bit changed in the last year, two returning changelings being the biggest. Yes, last year was cut short, but I’ll make sure that won’t happen again.
As Areola and I enter the throne room, Aita teleports in in front of the throne.
“Ah, Aita,” I greet. “Lovely of you come by and visit. My teacher and I just got back from a meeting before we began festivities.”
Aita looks down and paws the ground as we approach him. “Oh yeah. I forgot you usually start celebrating Hearth’s Warming a few days early.”
I shake my head. “No need to fret. Come by any time you’d like. Besides, we could use some company now that we have Carve and Pharynx here.”
“Twilight suggested that I visit you, since I was quite homesick. I know I never used to live here, but-”
“We know what you meant,” replies Areola, giving Aita a hug. “So why were you homesick now? You didn’t seem like that after you brought me back to life.”
As Aita answers, he progressively tears up. “I’ve been feeling that way since school ended. Winter break means the anniversary for when I moved is coming up… and that got me thinking of all the traditions I was a part of back home… like when Sophie would gather me and Tim at night so that we could watch Christmas specials.”
When Aita reminisces about his time in the real world, it gets me thinking of when I was his age. He never really got to partake in his traditions last year; all that time was spent visiting Carve, and then Carina having Kuma. Maybe he could use a recounting of my past, one I haven’t recounted for years.
“Well, you have me and Areola now. Have a seat on the throne. I think you’ll like what we have in store for you.”
Aita does as I tell him by flying and landing on the throne, joined soon after by my teacher and myself.
I clear my throat to prepare for a long-winded story. “There once was a time where even I was an innocent soul, a clean slate… I was a late dreamer.”
As I explain to Aita, my mind flashes back to roughly forty years ago, long before I ever became Areola’s student.
In my flashback, three changelings as old as I was broke stalactites off that would turn into plushes for them to attack. I used to be stunned my peers acted like this. The one in the middle stepped forward.
“What are you looking at?” He asked in a cocky tone.
“I-Isn’t that a little savage?”
“It’s called target practice, puritan. Maybe you should try it someday.”
The younglings trotted past me, the one who was just talking to me brushing up against my wing.
At your age, while my peers had already let the normalized souldier behavior infect them years before, I had different aspirations that kept me largely safe.
After that one incident, I went to the throne room to talk to Areola’s mother about it.
“Ah, good afternoon, Chrysalis. What seems to be the problem?”
“Um, Queen Wavelength, those bullies keep pestering me about their ‘target practice’.”
Wavelength sighed. “As usual. You wait here and enjoy my throne guards’ company while I take care of this.”
Areola’s mother was an inspiration to me when I was small. As queen, she would treat her subjects with respect and dignity… well, as long as they were whitelisted.
Still in the flashback, perspective shifts away from me and more toward former changeling queen Wavelength as she trailed the peers that pestered me.
“Sirc? Setinege? PIgemen!”
Those uh, translate to Silk, Stinger and Pigment respectively.
“Si, Mone Wehivreneges?” Stinger called out, appearing in front of Wavelength, Silk and Pigment right behind. “What is it?”
“Did you changelings tease Chrysalis again?”
“What, no!” Silk protested. “We were doing target practice until she objected! Besides, Stinger was the one who responded!”
Wavelength had a massive scowl on her face, instantly seeing through Silk’s wording. She started walking, locking eyes with the three changelings.
“If you three do that ONE MORE TIME, SO help me mother! Go back to your nests, and think about what you did!”
Once she was done, Silk, Stinger and Pigment shrieked and ran off as Wavelength told them. Perspective shifts back to mine from same time, where the then-queen returned to her throne room.
“There we go, Chrysalis. All taken care of…” Wavelength flew back to her throne and groaned. “The grubs these days are getting out of hoof.”
“You’re telling me. I can’t go one day without getting teased. No one seems to aspire to be something other than a guard.”
“Except you and my daughter. I have an idea, Chrysalis. Areola ended up discovering Hearth’s Warming earlier this month. If she and you could start a holiday pageant together, will it do something to keep your peers in check?”
“Absolutely, Queen Wavelength!” I saluted. “I accept your request!”
I snap back to reality when Areola starts chuckling at the final bit. I seem to’ve said everything out loud. My cheeks are a bit green with embarrassment.
“Oh, that takes me right back, my old student. That’s exactly what mother recounted at the very end of the year.”
“She was also thrice as assertive as I am.”
My remark sort of worries Aita a little bit.
“Of course, this was forty years ago,” I clarify. “Assertion was key back then, and as you’ve seen, that’s changed.”
Aita bows his head in relief. “So was that how you and Chrysalis met? By assembling a Hearth’s Warming pageant at your mother’s request? That’s actually kind of cool.”
“Precisely,” Areola confidently answers.
“Amusing though that you bring Hearth’s Warming up…” Chrysalis briefly pauses, seeing that we are well aware. “besides it being that time of year.”