//------------------------------// // Chapter 72 // Story: To Be a Changeling // by PlagueRat //------------------------------// “I’m going to my room to check on Lady Lolth!” Pupa called out as she cantered between the parting doors that lead into the royal chambers she shares with her mother. Chrysalis was next to step over the room’s threshold, followed by an impressive procession of levitating books in her wake. When the last of the cargo passed into the chamber, Odonate entered with Mosquito trotting at his side, preceded by Phasmid with Bristletail. Releasing a tired sigh, the queen fell upon her favored chase lounge and sank down comfortably into the plush cushion like a pegasus on a new cloud. While she allowed herself a moment to stretch out her tired legs, the quartet of accompanying changelings magickly directed the books into a few haphazardly stacked piles beside her. “Is there anything else you need from us my queen?” Odonate asked. After a quick glance toward Pupa’s room, Chrysalis motioned for the group of four to move in closer. “I want to reiterate my wishes that any discussions of my daughters’ visions remain among current company and do not go beyond that door,” decreed the queen as she used her hoof to point at the chamber’s exit. “The last thing I want for Pupa right now are rumors or wild theories about her running rampant throughout the hive. I can’t stress how displeased that would make me, am I understood?” “Yes, your highness,” the foursome acknowledged with a bow of their heads. “For the time being I will not be holding court,” Chrysalis went on. “Odonate, any issues around the hive are to be delegated through you and if there are any problems that need my direct attention you will inform me of them right away.” “Yes, my queen,” the old guard said. “Bristletail,” continued Chrysalis, “you may return to your assignment as lead harvester in Fillydelphia but I would also like you to report on any changes they make in the city that might be related to our little incident there.” “I will, my queen,” answered the infiltrator. “Phasmid, you will accompany Pupa whenever she is not in her room, in my presence or with Katydid and Lacewing in the nursery. I want someling to be at her side just in case she has another episode.” Chrysalis told the young guard. “I will inform her that she must send for you as an escort when traveling the hive’s tunnels.” “As you wish, my queen,” said Phasmid with a nod. “Mosquito, starting first thing tomorrow morning, you will be assisting me in going through the documents I’ve precured from Canter-,” Chrysalis paused and squinted her eyes at one of the books among the pile. Channeling a levitation spell through her crooked horn, the queen plucked a smaller paperback novel trapped between two heavy hardcover tombs; which caused the stack to tumble over.   “My Lusty Bed Bug?” Chrysalis read the title aloud and furrowed her brow upon seeing the image on the cover. “What is this? This isn’t from the library. Where did this come from?” “Um, it must have accidentally gotten mixed in from that unicorn’s book collection,” quickly suggested Bristletail, who’s posture stiffened slightly as her eyes glanced from left to right. “Let me get rid of it for you, my queen.” Chrysalis arched her eyebrow and looked curiously at the infiltrator’s sudden onset rigidness. “There is no need for that Bristletail,” said the queen with little concern in her voice as she observed the novel out of the corners of her eyes. “I can just incinerate this trash with minor effort and be done with it.” The emerald glow of her horn began to increase. “Wait!” cried out the infiltrator whose eyes widened in shock at her own outburst. “Hum? Wait?” the queen questioned. “Er… I’m sorry my queen,” Bristletail said sheepishly and bowed, “please excuse my rudeness.” “Well, I suppose I can forgive your interruption,” Chrysalis said emotionlessly before nonchalantly tossing the paperback onto the floor in front of the infiltrator; “and I guess if you really are so eager to aid, I can leave the disposal of this to you.” “T-thank you, my queen,” stammered Bristletail as she magically scooped the book up and levitated it protectively behind her. Reframing from rolling her eyes at the infiltrator, Chrysalis cleared her throat and returned to giving her directions. “Getting back on topic,” the queen said, “Mosquito, tomorrow morning you’ll be assisting me in going through the books I’ve collected, and you’ll be keeping notes on anything that might relate to my daughters’ circumstances.” “Understood, my queen,” the attendant buzzed; “and I’ll be sure to bring extra writing supplies.” “Very good,” approved Chrysalis, “Now then, Odonate, I still need to discuss a few things with you but the rest of you are free to leave.” Dismissed, Phasmid, Bristletail and Mosquito give one last synchronized bow before trotting from the room. “Did you find Termite and stop her from doing her survey?” Chrysalis inquired. “Unfortunately, no,” admitted the guard, “she had already set out with Entypus and Aphid before I returned.” “I should have figured as much,” the queen sighed, “she’s too industrious to have waited. I’d rather not risk the bat ponies noticing them snooping around the side of the mountain right now.” “I’ll send out Tsetse to retrieve them,” Odonate said. “Tell her to keep the lowest profile possible,” Chrysalis groaned as she rose to her hooves, “and to pass that demand onto the others.” “I will, my queen,” obeyed the guard. “Thank you Odonate,” the queen said, “and be sure you get some rest after you speak to Tsetse.” “Yes, my queen,” the guard respectfully bowed and then trotted from the chamber.  The door to Pupa’s room cracked open and Chrysalis peeked her head in to check up on her daughter. When she scanned the area and was unable to locate the nymph from where she stood, she fully entered the chamber to find the youth. “Pupa?” the queen asked in a soft tone as she searched. Something on the floor brushed against her hoof and Chrysalis paused to glance down at a collection of stuffed toys that littered the ground near one of the wall’s recessed alcoves. Showing off the nymph’s preferences for what some may consider vermin, most of the disorder consisted of plush spiders, insects, lizards, snakes, and rodents of all sizes, shapes and colors. Chrysalis shook her head slightly and next checked the large stone sarcophagus that had been repurposed into a pillow filled bed, in the middle of the room. She frowned at seeing no sign of the nymph inside and moved on, looking into the back end of the chamber. There she spotted the nymph, laying curdled up and asleep on the floor, adjacent to her pet’s web. “She must have been exhausted…” Chrysalis whispered to herself. Carefully the queen levitated her daughter into the air, with the intent of transferring the slumbering nymph over to the coziness of her bed; but stopped when something fell from Pupa’s hooves and flopped onto the floor. When she noticed it was the large plush ferret, the same one she got the youth as a gift, the frown on her lips was replaced with a small smile. A faint emerald glow surrounded the stuffed toy and it floated up to follow alongside the nymph on the short journey to the nest of pillows. Pupa touched down on the soft cushions first and she snuggled the side of her face into the pleasing soft surface almost immediately upon contact. Unconsciously her little forehooves began to reach about the area directly in front of her, searching unsuccessfully for something that was missing; until the plush ferret was placed beside her and she could once again grip it comfortingly against her barrel. “Sleep well,” the queen silently mouthed, nuzzling her daughter’s cheek before quietly leaving the room.