Ebony stared at his fleet or what was left of it. All but one of his ships was destroyed his Battleship. His opponent was good first she took out his dirigible destroyer, then his artillery airship, even his gun blimp fell to her insidious forces. Her most recent victim was his air-carrier and while his battleship was still flying one more hit and it was finished. However, his opponent was not fairing much better it was a deadly battle for her as well. For every ship she took he took one of hers now she was left with only her gun blimp. He stared into the green serpent eyes of his adversary. They were cool and calm no matter how great the losses she remained unfazed. She stared into him like a cat would to a mouse waiting for it’s struggles to cease and the meal to begin.
“Well, Ebony make your move.” Chrysalis said with a wicked unnerving smile on her face that had been there the entire game.
“E7.” He stated. The two opponents looked at each other. Chrysalis looked down to her board.
“Miss.” She smiled even wider slowly placing the white peg on her board. Ebony’s heart sank he knew this was the end his battleship was holding on by a thread and she had zeroed in on it.
“A5.” She stated knowing full well the answer.
Hit.
Ebony placed the red peg on the last hole on his battleship. That was it. His fleet was destroyed.
“So who won, Ebony?” She smiled sweetly at her son. If there’s one thing Chrysalis loved more than winning is hearing her opponent admit it. Even if that opponent was her own son.
Ebony glared up at his mother. While she did win in terms of the game if this was a real battle this would have been a pyrrhic victory. She would have been able to do little else with only a gun blimp. Hardly anything to relish in and he was not about to indulge her.
“It was more of a draw than a real victory.” He stated crossing his arms defiantly.
“Oh no my sweet boy that’s not how this works. Now who won?” She asked again tensing her body ready for pounce. But Ebony wouldn’t budge.
“It was a draw.” He squeaked boldly.
“Last chance Ebony. You can admit it the easy way or the hard way.” She said her smile growing wicked again.
“Never!” He shouted in defiance backing away slowly.
“Alright.” She sighed and with that she sprang from her position on the couch and snatched Ebony up. Putting him into gentle headlock. With her prey firmly in her grasp she began to pinch and pull his right cheek. Not enough to hurt but still unpleasant.
“So who won?” Chrysalis asked but Ebony would not falter easily to her demands.
“It was close!” Ebony blubbered trying to free himself from her grip but to no avail. Chrysalis giggled.
“Now it is time to break you.” She laughed releasing his cheek. Ebony felt a cold chill run down his spine. He knew what was next. He desperately tried to free himself from her grasp but she was too strong. With her free hand she noogied the poor boy mercilessly.
“Who won?” Chrysalis laughed. Ebony tried to hold strong against her torture but every man has a breaking point. Finally he couldn’t take it anymore.
“You won, you won, you won.” He frantically spouted.
“That’s what I thought.” With his admission of defeat she dropped the boy and patted him on the head. “Goodgame, Ebony.” She smiled and sitting back on the couch.
“Yes congratulations Chrysalis. Three cheers for our Queen’s triumph over a child, Huzzah!” Alexandrae shouted lifting her wine glass into the air. Her words dripping with sarcasm.
“Huzzah!” She shouted raising her glass in the air again this time being joined by Papilia who was laying on her lap.
“Huzzah!” They shouted once more this time all of Chrysalis’s sisters who were scattered about the room joined in. Laughing as they did so.
“Oh shut up all of you.” She stated sticking her nose up.
“Of course. Last thing we want is to anger the great military commander, Chrysalis.” Alexandrae continued and throwing up a faux salute. Earning her a pillow to the face from Chrysalis.
While this was going on Ebony walked over to the small group of Ivory and his cousins.
“Why didn’t you just tell her she won. You know she’s not gonna rest until you did.” Ivory asked.
“It was close! All she had left was a stupid gun blimp hardly a ship.” Ebony snapped back sticking up his nose.
“Okay what game should we play now that we’ve indulged Chrysalis’s inferiority complex. What game shall we play next?” Arthemis asked walking over to the cabinet.
“Pictionary!” Papilia shouted.
“If we’re doing Pictionary you and Priamus can’t be on the same team.” Alexandrae stated.
“Okay, that’s fair. I guess that is the only way you could stand a chance to win.” Papilia responded staring up at her smiling ever so sweetly.
“You wanna go bitch?” Alexandrae growled. Papillia didn’t say anything but her cheshire grin was answer enough.
“Language!” Arthemis called.
“Chrysalis! We are taking these two down.” She shouted falling perfectly into Papilia’s trap just like last year.
“Let’s do it!” Chrysalis exclaimed downing the last bit of wine and slamming it on the table.
“Pictionary it is then.” Arthemis sighed. “Wanna be on a team Exadeus?” She asked.
“Sure Mom.” The young changeling chirped.
“Proteus?” Ebony asked his cousin.
“Okay.” She nodded.
“I guess that leaves me and Ivory.” Belus smiled to which Ivory nodded.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Hmm is it a tire swing?” Papillia asked looking at the couple of lines on the paper.
“Yep!” Priamus answered smiling.
“How the fu- how did you get a tire swing from that!” Alexandrae shrieked bringing the picture up closer to her face. “You didn’t even draw a circle!”
“I didn’t need a circle because there’s the tree and there’s the rope.” Papilia said pointing to the largest line and another one next to it that was connected to what was to be the branch.
“I swear you two have to be cheating.” Chrysalis huffed sinking into her chair.
“At least I can make out what they were drawing. Unlike that chainsaw of yours.” Alex shot back. Alluding to the last drawing Chrysalis attempted. Which looked more like a man holding a large termite next to a woman with enormous hair than a chainsaw.
“My chainsaw drawing was great you just didn’t get it.” Chrysalis stated. “Ebony look at this doesn’t this look like a chainsaw?” She asked holding the picture in question. He gulped nervously.
“Yes of course mom I totally knew what it was.” He responded chuckling nervously.
“Don’t ask him! Of course he’s going to say yes.” Alexandrae snapped.
“Okay enough.” Arthemis asserted. “Well in an unsurprising turn of events the Papillia and Priamus remain Pictionary champs.” She pronounced.
“Okay what’s next?” She asked.
So they continued to play various games well into the night. Arthemis won a game of Trivial Pursuit, with Alexandrae right after her. While Ivory won at a game of Aggravation, followed by Ebony, and lastly Proteus.
Though as the clock struck ten o’clock it was time for the games to end.
“Alright everyone time for bed.” Chrysalis yawned rising from her seat followed by everyone else. They followed her to a room that is usually kept shut except for special occasions. Inside was nothing much other than a fireplace couple of chairs and one massive bed that took up almost the entire room. The special occasion this time? Loves Embrace day.
“Okay everyone before we go to sleep gather around the fire and for the story King Danaus and Loves Embrace day.” Arthemis chirped taking her spot in the largest near the fireplace and using her magic to light it. Everyone took their spot as they did every year. Ebony and Ivory sat with their cousins in a circle around her. While the others sat in the open chairs around them. Once she got comfortable Arthemis began her long tale of this magical day.
“Loves Embrace day was started centuries ago by our ancestor King Danaus.” She started. “It was back when our empire had but one small Hive and before Equestria was even founded. Well, one winter was especially harsh even and with our tough skin changelings would die from the cold. Not only were the people freezing but they were starving as well. There just wasn’t a lot of love in the world to feed on. Partly due to the three bickering tribes to the north.” She sighed. Taking a deep breath she continued the story.
“One night a terrible blizzard threatened the hive. The winds were so fierce it would knock changelings down, shatter windows, and blow down doors. It was so cold it could freeze water in mid air. Indeed it looked to be the end of our hive.” She said accenting each verb. “But King Danaus had an idea. The reinforced doors and windows held firm against the mighty storm. So he ordered his guards to bring every changeling to the castle regardless of status. With every changeling inside he passed out blankets and when they ran out he had the banners and any other pieces of cloth torn down. But it still wasn’t enough. So he ordered every changeling to share what they had. To curl up with one another and keep each other warm. Sharing what love they had with those around them. Leading by example he settled down with a regular family with 5 hatchlings and others followed.” She continued a warm smile spread across her face.
“On that night the rich laid with the poor. The pacifists laid with the warriors. The progressives with the conservatives. Families who never met each other kept each other warm and fed. When they awoke the next morning they were greeted with the warmest sun they had ever felt, and they could feel a love in the air that wasn’t there before. To commemorate such a joyous morning the king ordered a celebration. So they danced ,they sang, they even exchanged gifts.” She beamed and each of the children became giddy at the parade tomorrow and gifts they were going to receive.
“Since that day when the weather grew cold changelings all over the empire spend the night with families and friends. Playing games, telling stories, giving gifts and when it was time for to sleep we would spend the night with each other. Like the changelings centuries ago.” She finished.
“Alright everyone into the bed.” Arthemis smiled rising from her chair and snuffing the fire with her magic.
Chrysalis was the first one in. Removing her dress she climbed into the covers in the middle of the massive bed. Ivory and Ebony followed her taking up their spots next to either side of her. Nestling into her warm embrace. Papilia and Priamus cuddled up with one another next to Ivory with Papilia laying a hand on his head. Arthemis meanwhile formed her own little pile with her three children. And with Alexandrae in between her and Ebony their family chain was complete.
“Goodnight boys.” Chrysalis whispered licking each of their foreheads.