Many of the changelings would describe the communal bathing area as one of the most relaxing chambers within the hive and Pupa could be counted among that group.
Housed within a wide cavern and completely layered in resin, the room was beyond recognizable from its original state of eroded stone. Alcoves of diverse proportions peppered the smooth walls, each containing a plush bedding of absorbent moss that could be used for drying off after a peaceful soak.
Gardens of carefully cultivated bio-luminescent fungus pocketed the room’s circumference. Amethyst mushrooms with lengthy stalks towered over patches of vein like turquoise lichen and carpets of sea foam moss. Each worked in concert to cast the chamber in a breathtaking mixture of greens, blues and violets.
A pool sized basin had been carved into the stone floor along one section of the chamber and filled with magically warmed water. Ledges for sitting upon ringed the tubs perimeter and each varied in their depth beneath the water’s surface to accommodate changelings of any size. As if to demonstrate this feature a group of changelings, resting after a long day of tunneling, foraging and scouting, already occupied the bath with differing portions of their bodies above the waterline.
Each one gave a respectful bow when they noticed Chrysalis and her daughter had entered the chamber.
Opposite the larger bath, where the queen directed her daughter to go, single-changeling sized basins had been constructed. Easy to fill and crafted with a drain, the smaller tubs were made for cleaning oneself of grime before slipping into the pool.
With her horn glowing a soft green, Chrysalis levitated a nearby bucket and dunked it into an adjacent mini cistern of water provided by the snow-covered mountain peaks above. Thanks to Termite and her workers ingenuity, a portion of the melted runoff was redirected throughout the hive, supplying the changelings with clean fresh water. It was also freezing and needed to be warmed once the tub was filled; something her mother did easily with a simple spell.
“In you go,” Chrysalis said, nudging her daughter into one of the bowl shaped depressions.
As instructed, Pupa stepped into the near steaming water, settled down onto her belly in the center of the tub and closed her eyes. Normally the changeling queens were attended to during their baths by Mosquito or another, but from time to time and perhaps as a form of bonding, her mother would wash the nymph herself.
While softly humming, Chrysalis scooped up some of the warm water and began to rinse the nymph’s sticky mane. Then, through a mixture of magic and gentle hoofwork, she massaged the young changelings scalp, gradually flaking away the leftover bits and pieces of dead carapace. Throughout the endeavor Pupa’s eyes remained closed as she peacefully listened to her mother’s melody.
“Her first molt,” a voice whispered from the pool, causing the nymphs ears to twitch and swivel in that direction.
“It has almost been a year,” said another, “soon our own nymphs will emerge from their cocoons.”
Pupa beamed when she thought about that. While she had found ways to have fun while helping to care for the larva, and her mother did take time out to play with her when she could, the nymph yearned to have other changelings closer to her own age to interact with.
“There, all done” Chrysalis declared.
Blinking her eyes open, Pupa looked up at her proudly smiling mother and then turned her head around to check her body. Sure enough she couldn’t spot a single leftover bit of her old carapace.
“Now stand and I’ll rinse you one more time,” Chrysalis said while using her magic to simultaneously pull a stopper in the tub’s bottom, refill the bucket with water from the cistern and warm it up.
The nymph climbed to her hooves as the water around her drained, freed to flow down through the mountain were it would eventually marry into a passing stream. Again the bucket gradually overturned above her, starting at her head and ending at her tail, washing away any leftover dander that attempted to cling to her.
“Go on then,” her mother said, giving her cheek a quick nuzzle, “join the others, I’ll be over shortly.”
Unable to restrain a grin, Pupa was off like a shot.
“Pupa! Don’t,” Chrysalis began to call out but as the nymph leapt into the air, she realized it was already too late.
With her legs tucked against her barrel and her breath held, Pupa cannonballed into the center of the pool, splashing all of the ‘formerly’ relaxing changelings. When she felt her hooves touch down on the basin’s bottom she sprung herself upward to breach the water’s surface where she paddled around in a circle. A couple of the dripping changelings had disapproving frowns on their faces but most seemed unperturbed by her antics and simply returned to their quiet conversations with one another.
“I wish you wouldn’t do that Pupa,” her mother said whilst stepping into the pool and onto the ledge specifically molded for her tall stature, “the bath is not meant for foalish behavior.”
A small smile was the nymph’s only response and perhaps that’s why Chrysalis used her magic to pull her daughter over to her; and since Pupa knew she had no chance to slip free from her mother’s power, she played dead. Her head lulled off to the side and she dangled her forked tongue from the side of her muzzle while her legs went limp, left to drag over the water’s surface.
“Ah, I see. I guess you don’t want to go out tomorrow,” her mother said nonchalantly, placing the mischievous acting nymph on a ledge beside her.
“No! I do!” squeaked Pupa, straightening up her posture. “I want to see the zoo.”
“You remember the trip isn’t just about the zoo don’t you?” Chrysalis pressed the nymph. “It’s a lesson in blending in among your prey and how to harvest love for yourself.”
“I know,” the young changeling said, buzzing her wings nervously.
“Do you remember the rules I laid out?” Chrysalis questioned, tilting her head to the side as she studied her daughter.
“I'm to remain disguised all times,” Pupa began, “unless you tell me otherwise.”
“What else?” her mother quizzed.
“No getting distracted and running off,” answered the nymph, “I must stay by your side.”
“What will you do if we get separated?” Chrysalis asked.
“I have to stay calm, find someplace safe to go, release my pheromones and wait for you or one of the others.” Said Pupa.
“And what if you’re somehow discovered to be a changeling?” Chrysalis continued.
“I have to do whatever it takes to escape, change my disguise multiple times and look for a place to hide,” Pupa replied, “then I release my pheromones and wait until you or one of the others can come and get me.”
Chrysalis couldn’t hold the stern look any longer. The frown on her lips melted away into a teasing smirk and she let out a little chuckle.
“Very well,” her mother remarked. “The trip into Filladelphia is still on.”
“Yes!” Pupa hissed gleefully to herself.