//------------------------------// // Meanwhile... // Story: Fed up // by Billblok //------------------------------// Princess Luna’s moon hung high in the sky that evening, full and brilliant. Being full, the moon rather enjoyed this night, for that’s when its reflected light was the brightest, and it could see what was going on in the night. While it was in fact pleased that its own surface residents had now started up a little society of their own in the warm “daylight” of its sibling body, this night was a particularly special cold night in the badlands, for within the changeling castle (now a full-fledged hive) a section of workers cut off from the bigger group, donned warm black robes, and gathered around a bonfire out in the sandy clearing. This only happened once a year, and the moon has secretly attended since the founding of— “Whatcha doin’, moon?” the sun asked. “Oh for—sun, what the hay?! I’m trying to listen!” This only happened once a year. It was a time when the children of harmony gathered to the fireplace on a national scale. (1) Lepidos, a young changeling with slim, pretty wings and long ears that curled around like antenna, was one of the attendees to this event, and she was quite excited. Not just for the general goings of harmony, which sometimes kept her up at night, but because this was a special meeting. “Greetinkz, evrylink; and welcome to the zixty zixth annual meetink of the cult of harmony.” Brother Formici’s voice rang out over the desert, strong and proud in such a way fit for a leader; in spite of his unfortunate speech impediment. This changeling had since day one been in a constant battle with getting his pronunciations in check. None dared laugh though, for Formici was a digger drone, and digger drones, while they did not have obvious fangs like other changelings, they did in fact have an exceedingly strong carapace, along with a wicked horn. So basically, Brother Formici was a walking tank. Lepidos admired him for his prideful nature. “If I can get a roll call, pleez?” One changeling spoke up. “Brother Formici, with all due respect, we’re a hive mind; and don’t exactly need to do a roll call.” Formici’s left eye brow arched slightly on his plated forehead. “And? the queen knowz we meet, but we ztill meet ‘in zecret’. It iz but the zpirit of thinkz!” The other changeling flinched. “Apologies Brother Formici, forgive me for my senselessness.” “There iz no need for fear, brother; all are friendz in the cult of harmony! Now, North hive?” Several of the changelings groaned over the prospect of audible roll call. “I will not have any complainink either; North hive, pleez?” “All present!” “Zouth hive?” “Lampyres is absent.” “Zuch a shame, any reason?” “Sick with Chitincrack, Brother.” (2) “I zee. Very well then. Eazzt hive?” This continued until all twenty-five sectors of the hive had stated roll call, each rather bored after the three minutes that had passed. However, the great leader was pleased, and they could now move on to better things. “Now brotherz and zizterz,” Brother Formici continued. “Let uz reczite our code of honor!” The crowd put their hooves over their hearts, and with a little more enthusiasm than the rest, Lepidos recited with them: By understanding that love must be given first to receive more, I swear to one day release my true pony self And feed on love without making anypony braindead. “Brotherz and zizterz, it brinks me much happienezz to zay that we are that much closzer to achievink our goal! Today, one of uz haz crozzed the boundary between pony and changelink to do the harmoniouz! Zizter lepidozz!” “It’s ‘Lepidos’, Brother Formici,” She said. “My happinezz iz zo great, I cannot even zpeak properly! Come to the front zizter, zo you can tell uz of your good deed of spreadink harmony!” This was it! This was the moment! This was the point where she could shine! With a proud smile upon her face, Lepidos stepped up beside the leader. “I smiled at a filly!” There was a great gasp that erupted from the crowd, then a roar of applause, far outmatching any other sort of applause. She beamed. A single tear made a path from Formici’s right eye, down his face and onto the floor. “Ah, what wonderz I have whitnezzed! We have come long zince my father’z father’z founding of zhiz cult! Our zizter haz given uz hope; hope for achieving our goal! Zhiz forager haz begun buildink the bridge for our zpeciez! Already, I feel I too can zmile at poniez!” The leader placed his hooves on her shoulders. “Tell uz; did she zmile back??” “She did!” Lepidos fluttered her wings excitedly. “And it wasn’t nervous or anything, it was the sincerest smile from a pony I have ever—meep!” Brother Formici could no longer control his happiness, and snagged the female in an embrace, contrasting greatly with the female changeling’s own slender body. Lepidos awkwardly returned the hug with a nuzzle while the crowd cheered ever louder. When the crowd calmed, The cultist leader spoke once more, breaking the embrace. “Brotherz and zizterz, I believe it’z time to move forward onzce more.” The crowd murmured. “The tazk ahead of uz will be a hefty one, but I am thoroughly convinzced it iz now in our capabilitiez. Tomorrow at dawn, we zshall head out, with the guidenzce of Lepidozz—“ “It’s ‘Lepidos’, Brother.” “Watever—With the guidenzce of Lepidozz, we zshall head out and rizk ourzelvez for the zake of the greatezt virtue of harmony: Friendzship!” The crowd gasped at the sudden turn of events, but Formici silenced them. “Do not fear ziz! For ziz iz the very thing we all zeek to accomplizsh! With one final puzsh, we can truly achieve the harmony we all dezire, and never go hungry again!” He sighed. “But if any of you are feelink nervouz over ziz becauze you merely zought food, you may leave now, and I zshall not punizsh you.” None moved from where they were, and his happiness returned. “Wonderful! Now the only thing left is receivink the queen’z blezzing.” Suddenly, all formalities dropped when said queen spoke up from the very back: “I’ll think about it; but didn’t I make it rather clear that curfew was two hours ago??” The changelings trampled over eachother, trying to turn around so they properly bow to their queen. Queen Chrysalis tapped her hoof in disappointment. “I swear,” she huffed. “I try to make sure you kids get a good night’s sleep, and now you’re sneaking out to play your games! Quite disappointing;” She snapped her gaze at Lepidos. “Especially from the children that I raised myself!! Especially you!” Pushing through the nervous crowd, she rather forcefully pulled Lepidos back up on her hooves. “I thought you of all foragers would know a little better than to head outside unprepared.” Lepidos’ ears fell. “But Mommy, I’m not foraging right now—” Chrysalis silenced her with a hoof to the muzzle. “Not now; Mommy’s real tired. It’s eleven in the evening, and we should all be in bed.” The changelings moaned a collective “Awwwww…” “No, I’m not hearing any of it! Everyling knows what you’ve been doing, and I’m sure you don’t want any of the other adults yelling at you, so march!” Lepidos whimpered. “Mommy, we’re sorry--” “MARCH, NYMPHS!!” Obediently, the nymphs scampered away from the fireplace, back to the hive proper. Once she was sure they were all back where they belonged (and not tangled up in the silly cloaks they wore at that time every year), she let out an exasperated sigh, following them. “Children sometimes. What’s next, visible pupils, shorter fangs and actual manes…? Still, I’ve got a promise to keep.” The moon sat overhead. If it had a mouth, it would have been slack-jawed. “Mistress! Mistress Luna!” Just a moment, Moon. “But Mistress, this is important!” I said just a moment! “What are you busy doing that’s more important than the cult of harmony resolving for change in harvesting love??” Luna smiled. Perhaps the giving of love. She placed a kiss on Rainbow Dash’s forehead, tucking her in. Now, what is so urgent that you’d try to interrupt me helping a rather distressed pony sleep? If the moon had a mouth, it would have probably gagged. “Ick; why do you insist on doing that to full grown mares?” It’s only right to give a mother’s comforting touch when putting ponies into slumber. The moon would have gagged if it could. “But you’re not her mo—” I’m most certainly old enough. “You’re old enough to be a great great grandmother, and that’s creepy.” There was a time of silence as the princess considered the moon’s retort, during which she took a trip to the royal kitchens and indulge in what would count as a day-goer’s lunch. Being a heavenly body, the moon was rather patient as she contentedly ate her cheese sandwich. However, Luna was no such fellow. Are you going to tell me your important message? The moon cleared its nonexistent throat. “The Cult of Harmony has reached a consensus.” Are they the group of young changelings who usually can’t get anything done because of the queen? “Yes, but she said she’d think about it.” Ah yes, the assuring lie to get irritating children out of your mane. I’m certain she has decided to simply leave them inside “Actually, I overheard her mumbling to herself.” And…? “And she said she had a promise to keep; this was only shortly after she said she’d think about it.” Very well then; I’d like you to watch the changeling hive for the queen’s decision. “It shall be done. But wouldn’t this be spying?” Luna smirked. Who would execute the moon for spying? The moon was silent, completely understanding in the power that Luna held over it. Don’t answer that. The moon changed its gaze back to the changeling hive. “Okay, Future moon’s problem I guess.” --- “Your highness, what is your decision?” The advisor asked at Queen Chrysalis’ bedside. The queen, given the circumstances that she was now in her favorite nightgown and stockings getting ready to sleep in her luxurious bed, which was only meant for her and her alone; was rather patient. “I’m thinking about it, Honeycomb!!” Chrysalis rolled her eyes. “It’s not every day you decide whether or not you’ll send out a bunch of kids into enemy territory!” “With all due respect, that was your fault.”(3) The moon stifled a laugh, then flinched at what happened next. Queen Chrysalis cuffed the changeling advisor. “Let’s not play the blame game here! How about you ask yourself who swore to follow me into the invasion??” The advisor whimpered, stuttering out an apology. “Now now, I have you here to advise me, not cry,” Chrysalis replied, squeezing the changeling in a hug. After a momentary time of comforting, she let go of the changeling. “Better?” “I—Yes, my queen.” She wiped her eyes. “Um… may I make a suggestion?” “Absolutely! You are my advisor.” “I… I think you should make a decision… It’s been five hours.” Chrysalis stroked the advisor’s head, rolling her eyes. “And I think you’re a broken record, honey. I have five hours left; give me time to sleep on it.” “Choosing not to choose—as you’ve said to me, your highness—isn’t choosing at all.” Chrysalis snorted. “Who assigned you to this position!?” “You did, your highness. Shall I tuck you in?” Chrysalis lie down on her pillow, sighing. “Proceed, Honeycomb.” “Very well,” She acknowledged, pulling the queen’s covers up to her neck in the gentlest way she could. When she was certain that Chrysalis was comfortable, she hopped up on the bed carefully, curling up by her rear legs. “What’re you doing?” “Article twelve, section nine,” Honeycomb explained. “During an important decision by her highness, an advisor or other sort of assistant must be present with her highness at all times.” “I SAID I’D THINK ABOUT IT!!” The moon giggled. “I don’t even care if she says no anymore, this is quality entertainment!” “What? What’s going on here? Entertainment?! I must see, I must see!!” “Gosh dang it Sun, stop pushing!!” --- Lepidos wasn’t a naughty nymph. She should know; the filly she smiled at made it quite clear that she was very nice, even if not verbally. She ate her motherly love, practiced her morphs, and shared the love she foraged from the outside world. She even kept her chitin black and oily; using only the best oils, just like her mommy! So why, oh why was she doing something so despicable like sneaking into mommy’s room?! Brother Formici told her to do so, being the most in the good queen’s favor (AKA mommy’s little girl). Still, she really felt the butterflies in her stomach. She voiced her concern to Formici. B-brother, I’m not sure I can do this… Immediately, The cult leader’s voice replied to her with that same charisma as always, even when just awoken. Mnng, wha… What’s that? Do what? I’m s-scared… Oh right; scouting. Sister, now is not the time for anxiety— That doesn’t matter, because I am scared… When she heard mommy’s light snoring, she jumped and dove under the bed. Oh no!! Is she awake?! I hope she’s not awake!! Sister, you know mother’s not that light a sleeper. Please, the cult NEEDS you to do this. I c-c-can’t! Sister, we won’t know until you try it! Lepidos swallowed her anxiety to make an attempt at scouting. In this case, she had to scout the queen’s mind by establishing a deep connection, a very personal and close thing; definitely not something you do to a sleeping changeling. However, Formici had somehow managed to convince her that any violation of a changeling’s sleeping space would be justified by the joy of never worrying about harvesting love again. It was by these ideals that Lepidos fluttered her wings to alight on the bed, and with extreme care, crossed horns with the sleeping queen to establish a deep connection. Ever so carefully sneaking around through her mind, she eventually found what seemed to be archives. Lepidos had hardly thought Mommy was so organized with her thoughts. I’m so sorry Mommy… She thought as she started opening the files. Her eyes were immediately opened, and she learned a great many things. Like her favorite color, (green), her favorite food, (Steak with wine) and her favorite activity! (Impersonating lovers of high standing) She also learned a couple things that she didn’t want to learn, but that wasn’t the point. The point was that she couldn’t find a thing. Poor Lepidos was losing patience, and nerve. Where is it…? Everything’s out of order… Just keep searching! But it makes no sense!!! Sister, you must not give up!! Frustrated, Lepidos Closed the file cabinets, heading off to the other sectors. Conveniently, the doorway to “Active thought” was just around the corner, right next to the doorway to “Ear worms”.(4) Near the front, she had finally found what she was looking for, in a nice little book. She picked it up and started to read, feeling rather guilty. The book appeared to be an active account of thoughts in sentences. Some was erased out presumably by forgetting, but the rest was still legible. Flipping to the back she, full of relief, found the answer. What am I going to do with those kids…? Sometimes they irritate me to no end. But it’s impossible not to love them. So you know what? I think I’m going to actually let them go with supervision. I’m a queen; I’m quite competent that I can take care of them, so I’ll do it… Lepidos smiled in glee. She said yes! She’s going to do it! After all this time, she was going to let them go into Ponyville, or Canterlot, or wherever! She read it again, just to see if she was dreaming. …Provided little Leppy decides to stop reading my thoughts of course… “Can’t sleep, honey?” Lepidos turned around, in terror at the Queen’s disappointed mental apparition. Immediately, she fell flat on her face in a bow and expressed her repentance. “MommyI’msosorryIwastoldtodoitbymybrotherandhesaidweshouldbesurethatyouwantedtotakeustoequestriabeforewemadeanyactualplansandIneverintendedtolearnaboutthetimeyou—” “Get out, please.” Lepidos’ ears drooped. “Yes, mommy…” --- “Do you realize that you’re not allowed to enter changeling’s minds without permission?” Lepidos nodded; a deep set frown upon her face. She knew she had been naughty, especially since mommy didn’t even care that she was on her bed. The queen sighed. “Formici talked you into this, didn’t he?” Lepidos nodded again. “Of course; that nymph is far too good at convincing changelings to do things.” Lepidos bowed her head, ashamed about actually listening to him. Chrysalis clicked her tongue. “I’m going to have to make him a hive supervisor someday. At any rate, I think we’re going to have to have a little talk about this eventually. Do you understand?” Lepidos nodded once more. “Sorry, I can’t hear your head rattle.” “Yes…” Chrysalis quirked an eyebrow. “Yes…?” “Yes, mommy.” “Good girl.” Lepidos blushed lightly as mommy kissed her on the forehead. “Um, are you going to still let us go to equestria?” Chrysalis beamed. “Absolutely! As a matter of fact, you and the rest of your little group is a perfect option for getting there!” She was perfect for the job?? How honorable! That she and a bunch of little… fillies would be useful is… confusing? “…Really? Why?” “Oh it’s quite simple—Ponies don’t have the guts to attack children. We can come in and invade, and nopony will even lift a hoof!” “Uh, what?” “Oops, did I say ‘invade’? Sorry, I meant ‘Integrate’! Yes, we’ll be integrating the ponies with us. It’ll be so quickly accomplished; we’ll be all done before they even know what’s going on!” “…Why would we want to integrate them into our society?” “Because our society is superior!” “But that’s not--” Chrysalis booped her on the nose. “You think too much, sweetie. Anyway, I think you need to be in bed now.” Lepidos stuttered, but finally complied with a weak “Okay,” and snuggled up to the queen, quickly falling asleep with a lullaby spell. Satisfied that everything was going to be perfect, Chrysalis also settled in, but not before addressing another problem. “Honeycomb, out. I've made my decision.” With a simple nudge, the changeling advisor awkwardly flopped off the bed. The moon stared down at the now sleeping changelings silently. There was only one thing it could say after all this. “Invading again…? Are you kidding me?”