One thing that I quickly learned about changeling larva is that they are very different from pony foals. Even after only a week, a foal would be able to move around of their own accord. Some would even start demonstrating the magical traits unique to their race as early as a month after being born.
Larva don't have even a fraction of that autonomy. All a normal larva can do is lay still, cry, eat, and unmentioned necessities. It was the kind of thing that could drive a full grown mare to insanity. It was fortunate for that I had what I felt about my dear - sweet - mother to distract me. It was actually ironic that it was my anger that guarded me from madness, and I had a lot of ways to vent that anger.
I screamed, writhed, and spit whenever got close to me. Still, I wished I could do more; had more. Hooves to strike out with or magic to unleash, but it had to do. I felt a sense of anticipation when a magical aura picked me up from the crib I was resting in, anticipation that was washed away when I saw that it was Caretaker. It was here that I idly considered how fitting it was for a hive society to have a utilitarian naming system.
Regardless of what I thought of her name, I didn't concern myself with Caretaker one way or the other. She may have been a changeling, but she had nothing to do with her queen's crime. I only had to bide my time till I can strike. It was after I went through half the bottle I was given I was given that she showed up. There was a trace of apprehension in her steps as she approached. I smiled at that.
Caretaker back away from me slowly as Chrysalis's magic aura took over. She held the bottle more firmly than needed, but I knew that the hold wouldn't last forever. It still slackened sooner than expected when she brought me in for close contact. Once the bottle was empty, I quickly chewed through the soft material with my now well formed mandibles, spit it out, then took a deep breath. "Your Majesty, she's..."
The rest of Caretaker's voice was drowned under the sound of my own. Chrysalis levitated me a short distance back and turned me away from her. She was learning. That was bound to happen considering that I screamed and spit at her for what I guess was nearly a week. She was bound to become more cautious. It had been fun tormenting her, but fun was all it could be. There was no way that I could do anything significant as a larva. I only recently managed to figure out how to move around of my own accord. 'I wonder who's fault that is?' I turned my head and managed to get a glimpse of Chrysalis' face, and she looked frustrated. I would have felt sympathy for her it not for the small details of her orchestrating my assassination, taking from me my future, as well as everything I've known and loved. That fact allowed me to draw some satisfaction from her stress.
"Why does my daughter despise me so?!" she yelled towards Caretaker with a stomp and glare.
"It must be a phase Your Highness. Surely she will grow out of it," she said pleadingly rather than with the assuring tone she likely wanted. I would have liked to assure them that I did despise her.
"They why does she react only to me in such a way?!"
"I don't know, but you can never know what a larva will do next. She has done those things to me too."
‘Yeah, but mostly to keep up appearances.’
"Not every time you get close! I can't even bring her close without her reacting! Every! Single! Time!
"I...I don't know."
"You are the finest Caretaker in the this hive ... how do you not know?!" Caretaker simply backed away silently with her head held down. Chrysalis kept the distance the same and lowered her head threateningly with her horn still glowing from the spell holding me. "I recommend you find out before you instead learn how easily a changeling's rank can fall."
"Queen Chrysalis!" All heads turned towards a new changeling that I assumed to be male from his voice. His words were caught in his throat; likely due to a glare from the queen.
"Class, rank, and hive. Now!" she yelled while emphasizing with a hoof-stomp.
He flinched in fear then saluted. "Informant. Two. Hive 14."
She mulled over the information for a moment then resumed glaring. "What is an Informant from a Scholarly Hive doing here?!" That raised my already piqued interest.
His posture lowered significantly. "That is why I'm here Your Majesty. I have urgent news."
"Then out with it!" she snapped.
"For your ears only," he said with a gulp.
She snarled at him for a moment then relaxed slightly. "Very well then." After placing me back into my crib, she and the Informant were gone in a torrent of green flame. I wanted to know what was happening, but there was nothing I could do.
I heard the sound of tentative hoof-steps followed by Caretaker peaking over the stone crib's edge. She levitated me back up and looked me in the eyes. "I don't understand you. You're nothing like any of the larva I've helped raise. It's like...you know what you're doing." She shook her head suddenly. "What am I thinking. It's crazy to think that a larva knows what she's doing." I laughed a bit and she chuckled back. "Even you think I'm crazy."
'Not exactly.'
She sighed and glanced over to the door. "I wonder what was so important." She and I both mulled over the question. Whatever kind of news that Informant had for Chrysalis, it didn't seem like it would be good. "It doesn't matter." She returned her gaze to me then closed in for some nuzzling, which I decided to allow. "All that concerns me is making sure you grow up properly. I only wish I could make you understand how much your mother loves you."
'Oh I understand completely. How else could she have gone through with having me killed?!' I thought angrily while planning what I would do once I finally had hooves and magic. There were all sorts of spells I knew that would be perfect for dealing with her. I was particularly fond of the idea of using a memory spell to make her experience exactly how it felt when that blade first pierced my lungs.
"Somebuggy is a grumpy grub. Maybe…maybe you'd like me to try reading you a story again." That was something that was impossible for me not to perk up at. Sure it was a children's book, but after my first 'episode' occurring due to a book, it made sense that she would keep them from me. I looked at her with what I hoped was a curious expression; I couldn't really nod at her yet.
After a good amount of time without me making a fuss, she reached out with her magic and pulled out the same book that kicked off my rage. Now that I was no longer blinded by either panic or wrath, I took notice that the book was bound in a well aged cover. I found this beyond exciting because it meant that the story was actually a piece of changeling history. After bringing the book a short distance away from me, she began inching it closer; no doubt she was making sure I wouldn't react the same way I did last time: no chance of that. The last thing I wanted to do was lose book privileges for life.
Despite the time I was doing so wearing on my patience, I maintained an interested appearance as she moved the around me in close proximity. When she let out a sigh of relief, I knew she was done. "I am glad that I do not have to deny you my favorite story." She finally opened the book to the first page while beaming with enthusiasm.
Ants and the Aphids.
Long ago, on an island far away, existed an ant colony unlike any other in the world. This colony was very mighty; so much so that they were feared by all other creatures on the island, be they bug or beast. The ants were powerful, but their strength was not all theirs: not completely. The true source of their power came from the ones they protected, the aphids.
Under the protection of the ants, the aphids were able to eat, play, and grow to their heart's content. It was thanks to this safety that they were able to produce a nectar so sweet and nourishing, any ant that ate it would grow up big and strong. With the ants acting as guardians and the aphids ensuring they remained mighty, it was a bond that neither side was willing to throw away, until that very fateful day.
From beyond the island appeared an aphid unlike any those on the island had ever seen before. His chitin was an unheard of black and he was large enough to look down on any but the mightiest ants, but what truly set him apart was his mind.
Where other aphids were content to live under the protection of the ants, he was not. He felt that the aphids shouldn't have to share any power with the ants, and so he set out to break their bonds. He spun a tale of how the ants weren't allies, but were instead oppressors whenever he spoke to the other aphids. The lie he gave to the ants warned them that the aphids were planning to hoard some of the nectar that the ants depended so much upon. Every time he spread a lie to one more member of the island, the other lie would come closer to becoming truth.
The change came far faster than could be noticed by even the wisest ants and aphids. The ant leaders had taken to imprisoning any ant that was suspected of hiding any nectar. The aphids of course took it even further and stopped producing the nectar at all. Under the guidance of the Black Aphid, they produced a new nectar that would strengthen aphid, not ant.
War broke out with the Black Aphid leading his smaller brethren and the ants divided between wanting reconciliation, restitution, or repercussions. Divided and weakened, the ants stood no chance against the more numerous aphids and their powerful leader. The war ended as swiftly as it started with nearly all of the ants being wiped out.
With the ants defeated, the aphids made the black one their king. He sat upon his throne with a hidden smile over how it went exactly as planned.
With the story's end, I was having trouble figuring out what to think. On one hoof, it gave me a spectacular idea on how to handle my would-be-family once I grew up. On the other hoof, it was the closest thing to respectable literature that I've been subjected to since my demise and subsequent reincarnation.
As anger began to win over my demeanor, a loud wistful sigh brought my attention to Caretaker. "Everybuggy has told me that this story is an inspiration to changelings: and example of how one clever infiltrator can make any lie they want into truth simply with the right form and words." She ran a hoof across the pages as I watched silently, thoroughly interested in what she would say next. "I don't agree with them. To me, it feels like the story is incomplete, like it ended too suddenly. Every time I read this, I am left wondering what happened after the black aphid took over...No other story does that for me as well as this one."
I had to agree with her. Not only was the story incomplete, it felt like it skimmed over important details. I couldn't think on it long however when the whoosh signifying the queen's teleportation spell. I couldn't even think to look her way before she grabbed me with her magic and pulled me in close. I felt her having some jerky movements in the few seconds of nuzzling it took for me to regain myself and screech in her face. Chrysalis flinched for only an instant, then she resumed coddling me despite my efforts. "Do no fear my daughter," I heard her say into my ears with a shaky voice. "I know that I may be scary, but you will always be safe with me."
I stopped crying from sheer confusion. Never before had she tried to talk to me like that as I screamed; however my new habits wouldn't fade away that easily. A quick shift in my throat forced out my phlegm, which I immediately fired upon Chrysalis's face. The glob of spit that coated her face stunned her for no more than a second. She then simply smiled at me in an almost forced manner and began cleaning the mess left around my mouth not with her magic nor a cloth, but with her tongue. Imagine my reaction when the one I hated more than anything I've ever hated before started doing something so intimate to me. Without thought, I opened my mouth and bit down on her snout as hard as I could. "Gah!" she yelped out while backing away and losing control of her magic.
It was only thanks to Caretaker's quick reflexes and magic that I hit the ground softly. With me safe, she then went over to the queen. "Your Majesty" she said craning her neck to look at the queen's face then gasping " you're bleeding!"
This news caused me to widen my eyes. I didn't expect to nor intended to draw blood. I could even perceive the copper-like taste of her blood in my mouth. Despite all that I lost thanks to her, I for the first time felt like I went too far. "Your fault," I heard Chrysalis mumbling just loud enough to hear.
"Excuse me," replied Caretaker with confusion written all over her.
"Your fault," she repeated darkly.
Caretaker's eyes along with mine widened. She backed away slowly, trembling. "Y-Your Majesty, I-I don't..."
"It's all your fault!" The glare I saw her giving the frighted changeling terrified me. It was full of rage and lacking in all reason. Her horn lit up and the spell threw Caretaker to the far wall. "You've made her love you more than I, her own mother!"
"Your Majesty," she choked out. "I don't..." Another burst of magical levitation cut her off and knocked her into another wall.
"Did you know this?! Did you know that my plans failed?!" She approached Caretaker with steps that seemed to cut through the air itself and crack the stone below.
Seeing Caretaker's terrified and confused expression half hidden by Chrysalis' leg, I finally snapped out of my shocked state. 'I have to stop this!' I thought with panicked tears forming at the edge of my eyes. I took a breath and let out a sorrow filled wail.
It proved to be for naught when Caretaker as thrown again and hit with a magic beam. "She chooses your side even now! You intend to turn her against me, to make her into the queen you desire!"
'No! Please…You don't have to do this!' I held back further tears and instead squirmed towards them. I thought I was crazy to try and stop her, but that didn't matter. 'I have to try!' I crawled along as fast as I could while watching Caretaker being lifted by Chrysalis's magic and pulled across the room. 'Please stop! I promise, I won't cry again! I'll be a good girl; just stop hurting her!' Oh how I wished, begged even, that I could say something: anything that could stop her. My pleading thoughts reached nothing.
"Well," Chrysalis started with a calm tone that didn't match the void of rage that filled her eyes, " I will not let you take her from me." With one more burst of magic, Caretaker was thrown headfirst into the far wall. The sound of her collision was made silent by a sickening snap.
I looked over to Caretaker's motionless body with no clue what to think, but that lasted for only a second. I turned towards Chrysalis intent on glaring her down only to be once again stripped of thought. The changeling queen looked neither angry nor satisfied; she looked horrified. The rage that clouded her eyes was gone. She took a single step forward only to fall to her knees and hang her head. "What have I done?" Her voice was low, and broken. She raised her gaze and looked into my eyes as I looked into hers. She tried to forced her eyes to stay open, but they screwed shut and dripped with tears.
When her eyes weren't shut, they were staring at Caretaker. I however remained unblinking as I took in her downward spiral. Things remained unchanged until her eyes widened then she instantly dashed over to Caretaker and looked her over. 'Is she?' My heart spiked with relief when I saw the smallest of movement from Caretaker's body. 'She's breathing!'
Chrysalis turned towards the door and left in a rush. "Medic; I need a medic!" I heard her yell with a fading voice. I crawled over to Caretaker's comatose form and looked her over. I knew that there was nothing I could do for her, but I had to know how bad it was. I knew nothing about Changeling anatomy, so I was only left with what I knew about ponies. It hardly looked like she was injured at all, but that couldn't be true. Her body looked the same as before, until her head came into view. A blueish green fluid leaked out of a stub where her horn used to be.
The sudden sound of thundering hooves startled me and drew my attention back to the door. Three unknown Changelings stormed in with Chrysalis leading them. The horror and regret in the queen's eyes had been replaced by firm determination. The other changelings gently moved me out of the way then began casting some sort of magic over Caretaker's body. "Inner furnace is stable."
"Microfractures at the shoulder and flank."
"Horn is not salvageable."
"How'd this happen?" asked one looking at Chrysalis.
An instant of regret flashed across her face only to be replaced by a stern glare before the Changelings could even recognize it. "She disappointed me. Pray that you don't do the same." It was a bluff. I knew it couldn't be anything else. The three changelings fell for it all the same and carried Caretaker away urgently. Once they were gone, Chrysalis collapsed and pressed her face into the floor. Her body shuddered from her restrained crying. If I wasn't worried enough over her state of mind, her crying shifted halfway into laughing. "I hurt one of my s-subjects. I-I've never... Sure, I threaten, yell: what's happening to me?" She looked at me and replaced her mad revelry with a touch of realization. "It's you; you're the reason."
'What?!' I was confused. 'What does that mean? How am I the reason?' Chrysalis stood up and took a few steps towards me: her expression unreadable. 'What is she doing?!' I thought in fear.
What I feared meant nothing. I could only stay still when she picked me up, placed me back into my crib, and ran a hoof along my body. "Love," she said sadly. "I've sought after it for so long, that I thought I knew what it was. I knew it was powerful, but I never understood, ‘til now." She leaned in close and gave me a gentle kiss. "I love you."
She walked to one of the room's corners and lay down, but she might as well have left me alone. My mind raced as it tried to make sense of everything that happened. 'I'm the reason? She loves me?' I didn't have all the pieces, but a picture still formed in my head. 'This is my fault. I pushed her to this. If only I acted, normal...If only I didn't try to torment her.'
I learned a powerful lesson that day. Little did I know at the time, Chrysalis would be learning the very same lesson under a far harsher teacher: For every action, there is a greater and more horrifying reaction.