//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: Ebony and Ivory: Mother's love. // by SGZone //------------------------------// Someone once said that being in charge means that you are second guessed by every clever twat with a mouth. Queen Chrysalis knew this to be completely true as the changeling council was filled with clever little twats. To be fair some of them were actually competent and could be relied on for advice or judgement; but the vast majority of them thought that being queen was as easy as taking out the garbage. While she absolutely despised it she couldn’t deny the Councils importance as it was the best way to hear her subjects concerns and pleas. With a final check up: brushing the hair from her eyes, wiping off any dirt, and ensuring she looked like the queen that she was. Chrysalis threw open the doors with elegant pageantry. All eyes of the 100 members were on her, just the way she liked it. She may not have been feeling like her old self but she could damn well act like it. Slowly she descended the stairs to her throne her head held high as the chamber bowed to her as she passed. Calmly and cooly she leaned back into her throne crossing her legs she motioned for the council to take their seats. “Let us begin. Who has the first order of business?” She asked her booming voice echoing throughout the chamber. A male changeling meekly stood from the second row on her right. “Thank you your majesty. Some scouts have reported a nest of basilisks to the east not far from our perimeter. It’s a small nest but some of our subjects are worried what would happen if it grew out of control. I am requesting some soldiers to remove them from the area.” He said. Chrysalis opened her mouth to render her verdict when she was interrupted by a changeling to the left of the in the first row. “So what we should just butcher some innocent basilisks that have done nothing?” She asked. Chrysalis silently groaned knowing full well of what was to come. Her fears came true as a third Changeling rose to respond. “Innocent? Basilisks are not Chokipos or Arachnias they are dangerous creatures that could kill dozens if not taken care of.” She shouted. The second responded to the third then a fourth one threw their hat into the ring. Then another and another until the entire chamber was bustling with arguments. Chrysalis rubbed her temples the beginnings of a headache forming. Almost everyday it was like this a simple request turns into an argument. Finally Chrysalis had enough hearing all she wanted to hear she let her voice be known. “Silence!” She barked effectively shutting them up, this time. “Councilman you will be given a small troop to rid the basilisks in the area. They are a real danger and must be eliminated by any means necessary.” She said. A changeling raised his voice to speak but a sharp glare kept him silent. “Now if-” but she was once again interrupted by the council doors being thrown open and two lightly armored changelings stepping through. ‘Well I did have feeling today was going to be eventful.’ she thought morosely.   “My queen our sincerest apologies for disturbing you but we have a problem.” One of them shouted kneeling at the top of the stairs. His partner followed suit clearly holding something in her arms. Chrysalis sprang from her seat and ascended to them. “What is the emergency?” She asked. They gave no response and instead showed her what the scout was clutching. Wrapped in rags were two human babies peacefully sleeping but dangerously thin. She could see their ribs poking out from their tiny soft bodies. “What happened?” She questioned. The changeling opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by a shout from a nosy council member. “By the fates, they brought humans into the hive!” He shouted. It’s funny how one sentence can turn a room of distinguished changelings into a complete fracas. There was shouting, banging, Chrysalis even heard one of them scream. Along with countless insults being thrown at the two ranging from traitors to human-coddlers to more personal insults. The two of scouts began to panic looking around for an escape from the vitriol but there was none. Finally, when some council members started calling for punishments did Chrysalis have enough. “SILENCE!” She shouted accompanied by a large flash and thunderous noise from her horn. With that outburst, the chamber became deathly silent and the air was heavy with power. Chrysalis’s horn still glowing with energy. Chrysalis took a deep breath before returning her attention to the two kneeling Changelings before her. “Now as I was saying. What happened?” She asked tersely. “We-well your m-mag-magesty. My p-partner an-and-” She stammered. Chrysalis growled under her breath like a lion. “Speak clearly!” She barked causing the two to recoil. “You are scouts in the Changeling army now start acting like it! No more babbling like a child!” She snarled. The two scouts sat there wide eyed in shock unused to their queen’s wrath. Only after recollecting her disordered thoughts did she continued.“Sorry, my Queen. Well, we had been ordered to investigate/salvage the razing of a nearby human settlement that we believed was destroyed by bandits. We were to find out any information on who was behind it and pick anything of value that was left behind. We found nothing and everyone dead, except for these two.” She said looking down at the two babies still asleep despite the commotion. “Alright, then but why bring them here? You do know the penalty for bringing in a human without the approval of the queen?” She inquired raising a suspicious eyebrow. Humans or anything else that was not a changeling unless a pet was forbidden to enter the hive. The only exceptions were ambassadors invited by the queen but even those were rare. It was one of the changelings most sacred laws and carried a hefty punishment. “Yes we knew full well of the consequences, but my queen look.” She said holding them up so that Chrysalis could get a better look, it was not a pretty sight. The two had clearly not eaten in some time. Their bodies were slightly pale and their faces sunken. Their limbs looked frailer than twigs with a skeletal body.  They could have been mistaken for the dead if it weren’t for the faint breathing. “We couldn’t just leave them there to starve to death and neither of us could put them out of their misery.” The other scout said finally speaking up. “This was the closest place that had food. We were thinking that they could stay here until they were well enough to make the journey back to Equestria.” He continued. Chrysalis hummed to herself mulling over their words. It would not be the first time she would have the blood of babes on her hands but as she looked down upon the two a string in her heart was pu “All right take these two to the royal infirmary he is a distinguished doctor and should be able to help them. When that’s done report back to your superior officer of your findings. Guards! Escort these two to where they need to go.” She ordered as two armed guards flanked the scouts. “Thank you, your majesty, but what of our punishment?” They asked. Chrysalis smirked at their question. “Do you honestly expect me to punish you two for not killing two helpless babies? Do I appear to be so cruel?” She asked with a playful smile. It was unfortunately lost on the two naive guards, though. “Oh no your majesty you are a paragon of kindness.” One of them desperately said. “Yes, as fair a queen as your mother. A heavy hand but a kind soul.” The other said nodding her head in agreement and giving the biggest smile she could muster. Chrysalis gave a deep sigh rubbing her temples as she did so. "But not too heavy of course." The other gritted his teeth. "Oh of course not, even but still heavy from your strength." She chuckled. “Just do as I command.” She said pointing to the door. The two scouts took their leave still giving Chrysalis large and creepy smiles before quickly closing the door behind them. Closing her eyes she began to descend back to her throne but was interrupted by a comment from the peanut gallery. “I must say Chrysalis I didn’t expect you would break one of our most sacred rules. Did recent events make you soft? Funny I actually expected more from you.” The female voice called. It was dark like tinted glass. Chrysalis shuddered turning to the source of the voice. It was none other than Mirage, Chrysalis’s most vocal opponent. Chrysalis expected a power grab to come from almost every one of the council member but she was the prime suspect. Mirage had a veritable rainbow of hair. Tall, with an hourglass figure and sharp eyes that held an even sharper soul. She was dangerously meticulous, cunning and intelligent. A great asset against a common enemy but Chrysalis wouldn’t turn her back on her for a second. “You know what’s really funny, Mirage?” Chrysalis responded narrowing her eyes and smirking. “I completely expected you to get giddy over killing something that couldn’t defend itself. Like a serial killer or a vulture.” She said smiling far too sweetly. For once that was enough to silence her rival as she took her seat glaring venom at Chrysalis. Satisfied Chrysalis continued her descent to her throne. “Now let’s get back to business.” She commanded. Chrysalis finally left the chamber a few hours later, annoyed and exhausted. Despite its hectic beginnings the meeting proceeded in its usual boring manner. It was a bit quieter Chrysalis noticed. The nobles were probably too scared to invoke her anger any further. Chrysalis snickered at the thought before giving a tired yawn cupping her hand around her mouth. It was at that moment that she was intercepted by Arthemis. “Chrysalis is it true? Have you allowed random humans into the hive.” She asked. Her eyes were wide in obvious paranoia as they darted back and forth wringing her hands together. “Oh for the love of the fates Arthemis not you too.” She groaned rubbing her forehead. “Yes, I did but they are just two babies no threat to anyone you have nothing to worry about.” She reassured her grabbing Arthemis’s shoulders, but her sister wasn’t convinced. “Still, though, are you sure?” She asked. “Arthemis please you're smarter than to fall into paranoia. You’ve been with me on my diplomacy trips you know that not all humans are terrible.” She said caressing her sister's cheek. “Besides they were almost starved babes. No threat to anyone and I couldn't’ just kill them or leave them to suffer.” She said. Arthemis gave a deep sigh before taking Chrysalis’s hand and removing it from her cheek. “I know. You did the right thing Chrysalis I guess I just scared myself. All I heard was humans in the royal infirmary and panicked.” She said before leading her down the halls. “Well enough of that let’s get going and grab some papers hmmm?” She chirped returning to her former self. “Yes, yes but first I need to go check on the two babies. After that, we can go.” Chrysalis said slipping her hand out of her sister’s. “Oh.. ok… I’ll wait for you at the foyer.” She replied slightly taken back by from her comment. With a quick nod, they went their separate ways. The walk to the royal infirmary was a short one not far from the council chambers should something terrible occur. A rather small clinic primarily used for injuries and checkups ran by a long trusted friend of the royal family, Doctor Hale. “Greetings Doctor Hale.” Chrysalis said smiling warmly as she entered the room. “Ah Chrysalis so good to see you again. I never asked but I hope that my reference to Doctor Halux was good. My apologies that I couldn’t do anything here but I don’t have the resources to check for those kinds of things.” He replied looking up from some notes on his desk. “He was very good Hale and don’t blame yourself. Doctor Halux was a fine doctor. So how are our two guests?” She asked walking between the two beds were the two babies laid sleeping soundly. An IV and heart rate monitor was connected to them but from what she could tell they were fine. Sleeping softly like two little angels. The one on the left had an almost full head of platinum blond hair so bright that it looked pure white his soft skin was a creamy white. His companion, on the other hand, had tufts of pitch black hair that absorbed all light that touched it with tan skin. “Ah yes, these two. Well, it’s a good thing they got to us when they did. Poor things were badly malnourished I had to quickly hook them up to get nutrients in them.  Thankfully though they weren’t too far to be at risk for refeeding syndrome. No permanent damage I think, got a couple of tough guys with us. I’d wager they were without food for about two to three days. They should make a full recovery.” He replied. “Thank you, doctor. So how long until they can make the journey back?” She asked. Doctor Hale stroked his chin in thought. Looking up at the ceiling then back to the babes and down to his notes. “Oh I’d wager a little more than a week just to be safe. It’ll be a few days till they can leave the infirmary and served small quantities of bland food. Then they can get back to eating regular mashed food after that. Luckily they’re roughly a year old and don’t need to rely on formula or breast milk.” He replied examining the two sleeping babies. “Ah, that’s good to hear…wait what’s breast milk?” Chrysalis asked raising her eyebrows quizzically. “Do you honestly not know Queen Chrysalis?” Hale responded. Chrysalis could only shake her head. “Well, it’s quite similar to how we feed our young. When they’re first born they need lots of nutrients and the way they can get it is by milk in female breasts that are sucked out through the nipples.” He responded.  “Now my queen there is another problem. Someone needs to take care of the two once they’re feeling better.” He said returning her attention to the issue. “With all due respect my queen I’m a doctor, not a nanny.” He said returning to his chair. “I understand Dr. Hale I wasn’t thinking about putting you in that situation. I’ll see if any of my sister’s are up to the task while I’m busy and if not I will contact the Hive for someone that can.” She replied. It was then that she heard a commotion coming from one of the beds. The white haired baby began to wake up. It stretched its tiny arms cooing softly as emerald eyes fluttered open. Chrysalis gently took his hand in her’s and quietly shushed him. “Easy now young one you have gone through a great ordeal. You need to rest.” She said her voice quiet and caring. It was then his twin began to stir as well. Chrysalis looked to her side as he followed the same motions as his brother in tragedy. This time ruby eyes fluttered open taking in the world around him. Chrysalis took his hand as well keeping him calm and shushing him. “Shh, you two need to sleep and get your strength back.” She whispered sitting down and gently rocking them. Two sets of eyes stared in sleepy confusion at the stranger rocking them. From the combination of her soft words and gentle movements the two boys gave a quiet yawn and drifted back to sleep. but not before flashing her two toothless smiles. Chrysalis couldn’t help but smile as she gently released their hands. “Dr. Hale what are their names?” She asked as she gently rose. “No clue. I’ve just been calling them One and Two.” He replied. Chrysalis said nothing but her one raised eyebrow said all that needed to be said. “What? I’m not exactly imaginative when it comes to names.” “That may be but we are not calling them One and Two while they stay here.” She said walking towards the door. “I will come up with more suitable names by the next time I see them. In the mean-time keep up the good work.” Disappearing behind the door frame to meet up with her sister.