Ivory stalked through the thick green brush of the royal gardens. A lone speck of green in the vast wasteland that surrounded their city. He examined his surroundings for his quarry. He then scanned the small tree line in front of him when he caught a glimpse of his prey. A small dark leg dangling just below the thick leaves. Licking his lips he carefully made his way to his destination. Careful to not let his target realize he had caught onto them.
Unbeknownst to Ivory a pair of red eyes was carefully watching his movements. A bead of sweat fell down his cheek as Ivory brushed past his position. They were so close Ebony could have tapped him if he wanted to. Ivory crept up till he was about a couple meters from the trunk. Ivory contemplated his options as he stared up at the leg of his target. It looks like she hadn’t noticed his movements. He could keep sneaking up on her though if he was spotted she could easily escape or he could risk it all. He took a couple more steps to the trunk and made his decision.
Breaking out into a sprint he rushed toward the tree like a madman. Bounding up the tree like a cat he reached up and tapped the ankle of the hiding girl above him. Jumping off the tree he shouted. “Got you Proteus!” He continued to sprint through the winding garden of King Danaus that was at the center.
“Get back here. You little monkey!” Proteus exclaimed flying after her cousin. Ivory sprinted as fast as he could. Zigging and zagging through the flowerbeds, bushes, and hedges trying to lose his rapidly advancing cousin. He finally saw his base just ahead of him. With one final push he pumped his legs as fast as they could go and charged for the mighty statue.
However, just before he could touch the statue a figure jutted into his path. He tried to stop but it was too late the two bodies slammed into each other. They were sent tumbling to the ground in opposite directions.
“Watch where you're going!” The stranger shouted getting off the ground. “Oh it’s you.” It growled looking down upon Ivory.
Ivory looked up to see another changeling about his age looking down upon him with seething eyes.
“What do you want, Chasm?” Proteus hissed landing next to Ivory and helping him up.
“I was taking a nice little walk when this thing jumped me.” He stated.
“I didn’t jump you. it was an accident I was trying to reach the statue. We were playing hide and seek.” Ivory fired back.
“Whatever. What are you doing out here anyway? I thought beasts should stay inside.” He spat. Ivory tried not to let his words hurt him but no matter what they still left their marks. Which stung like hell no matter how small they were.
“He’s not a beast or an animal or a monster. He’s a human and your prince. You uncultured swine.” Proteus growled getting between the two.
“What’s the difference? Humans are animals. They attack and kill us just for existing. He’s no different no matter what you want to believe.” He stated sneering down at Ivory. Causing him to shrink back.
“No they aren’t and no he isn’t. There are some bad humans but not all of them.” Proteus seethed getting in Chasm’s face.
“Who told you that? Your mother? No she would never say that about humans. She probably hates them the most.” He sneered. “It was probably that aunt of yours. Our precious dimwitted queen.” He continued with a wicked smile. “She’s going to be the doom of this Hive just you watch. Our previous King and Queen must be rolling in their cocoons.” He sighed.
This lit a fire in Ivory’s stomach. It was one thing to insult him but no one messes with family. But before he could respond a voice bellowed behind them.
“You don’t talk about our mom like that!” Ebony ran over to where Ivory was.
“Oh great it’s the brother.” Chasm sighed. “At least you have green eyes like the rest of us.” He nodded to Ivory. “Unlike him he looks like a demon with those red things.” He sniffed.
“Don’t insult my brother. Jerk!” Ivory barked in Chasm’s face.
“Get away from me.” Chasm snarled easily pushing Ivory back due to his larger stature.
Due to their second cocooning Chasm and their cousins were about two heads taller than the humans despite being about the same age. Unlike humans changelings cocoon themselves twice. Once to shed their larval form at age 5. Then at age 12 giving them a large growth spurt. This is so they can get to full size faster to fit into outside societies quicker.
“Don’t push my brother!” Ebony bellowed shoving the bully back. However, even at full force Ebony could barely budge him.
“I don’t know how such weaklings are able to beat a changeling.” He laughed throwing Ebony to ground.
“Leave them alone!” Proteus lashed out socking the boy in the face and grabbing him from behind.
“Get off of me!” He cried trying to shake her off. Seeing a moment of opportunity. Ivory lunged at Chasm trying to punch his exposed stomach. While his blow connected Chasm’s chitin skin did more harm to Ivory’s hand than the changeling. Ivory recoiled shaking his injured hand. Seeing an opportunity Chasm’s horn lit up and he unleashed a concussive wave knocking Proteus and Ivory down.
“You little bastard! You dare touch me! I’m the son of Councilman Fissure. I don’t care if you are our “prince” you don’t belong here!” He roared kicking Ivory in the stomach. Ivory yelped in pain as the wind was knocked out of him.
Ebony’s eyes widened in horror as he shook off the throw to see his brother get kicked around. First he was shocked then came the rage as Chasm kicked Ivory once more. His blood boiled as a righteous fury gripped and twisted his heart. Raising his hand he charged a concussive spell like his mother had taught him. He was gonna knock the wind out of him and send him flying. To get him away from Ivory so they could get help.
Crimson energy swirled and twisted in his palm. Though as his brother was struck with another blow. His rage boiled over and the magic in his hand bristled and cracked. Once it was properly charged Ebony let his rage loose.
“Get away from Ivory!” Ebony screamed. The crimson energy arced through the sky. The shimmering crimson light drew chasm out of his assault but there was nothing he could do. The bolt hit it’s mark square in the changeling’s chest.
Chasm let out a blood curdling scream and fell to the ground clutching his searing chest. Veridian blood gushed through his clutched fist and pooling onto the ground. Ebony was too shocked to even register his own hand was burning. Ivory and Proteus looked over to the still screaming Chasm in dismay.
“Prince Ebony, Prince Ivory, Royal Child Proteus. What happened here!” A voice called waking them out of their shock. Ebony looked up to see a royal guard standing over him. “Prince Eboy what happened to your hand?” He asked grabbing his arm and examining his hand.
Ebony was still too shell shocked to respond his eyes returning to the shaking body of Chasm whose screams turned to whimpers. He meekly pointed to Chasm his throat too dry to speak. The guard looked over to where his prince was pointing and put the pieces together.
“You there check on him! The rest of you check on the royal family!” He ordered as a couple of other guards rushed over. “Now Prince Ebony please tell me what hap-”
“What is the meaning of this!” A gruff voice bellowed. Everyone turned around to the source. It was a tall top heavy but well built changeling. He thin wavy blue hair and narrow fierce eyes.
“Councilman Fissure.” The guard stated and saluting.
“Is that my son!” He roared charging past the guard and to his whimpering son.
“What happened Chasm?” He whispered placing a soft hand on his son’s shoulder. “Is he all right!” He barked at the guard attending to Chasm.
“Well it doesn’t look life threatening but I wouldn’t say he’s fine.” The guard responded gently moving Chasm’s hand and surrounding the wound in his magic.
“How did this happen?” He asked though as he looked across to Ebony having his seared hand taken care of. The pieces clicked together.
“So it was you. You little demon. You attacked my son!” He roared stomping over to him but the guard stopped him from getting close. “Get out of my way! That little monster attacked my son!” He barked trying to push past the guard. But a spear pointed to the head changed his tune.
“With all due respect Councilman Fissure I need you to step away from the prince.” The guard warned.
“You’ll protect him but what about my son. This boy clearly attacked him and I demand justice!” He roared.
“Your stupid son started it!” Ivory spat fed up with Fissure’s accusations. He tried to stand up but fell back clutching his side were Chasm kicked him.
“Don’t you lie to me boy! My son would never hurt anyone.” He spat. “Unless he was provoked.”
“We didn’t do anything!” Proteus fired at him. “He shoved Ivory first!” She continued.
“Enough! I may be a councilman but I was once a colonel!” He shouted approaching the guard. “Now get out of my way.” He warned. Thankfully for Ebony the royal guards were completely loyal to the royal family. Regardless of the race of that family.
“I cannot do that. Now please stand down before things escalate.” The guard ordered readying his spear.
“You think you can fight me boy!” He bellowed. “Now get out of my way before things get ugly.” He growled his horn flashing angrily. He was right things were about to get ugly but not in the way Fissure thought.
Fearing the destruction that was to come next the royal children and the guards took a step back from the councilman. Then another, then another, then another and when they felt they were at safe distance, they took another few steps back.
Fissure was surprised by their reactions. He didn’t think he would scare them that badly. Perhaps he still had that intimidating presence from his service after all. No matter what his wife said. Though as he stared into the frightened eyes of those around him. He realized something they were not staring at him. Their eyes were slightly off to be looking right at him. No, they were looking at something behind him.
That’s when Fissure felt it. A frightening cold presence had washed over the garden and the epicenter was standing right behind him. Turning his head slowly he came face to face with a sight that made his blood cold. It was Queen Chrysalis and she was not pleased.
The magic that was around his horn was snuffed out by the Queen’s icy presence. She stared down upon him with eyes that could cut through steel. A chill ran up and down his spine freezing him in place.
“Councilman Fissure.” She breathed.
Que-Queen Chrysalis.” He stuttered. Taking a second he regained his composure to continue. “Well it’s a good thing you’re here. Maybe you can deal out some proper justice. That tyrant of yours assaulted my son.” Pointing an accusatory finger to Ebony.
Chrysalis’s lip curled in a silent rage at his foul and accusatory language. But she did not respond. Instead she calmly walked over to the silent body of Chasm, and quickly examined the wound. It wasn’t serious and had already began to heal nicely from the little healing magic used.
“You there. Why did you stop healing him?” She asked the cowering guard.
“Oh um sorry my queen.” He spurted rushing back over to Chasm and patching up the body.
“Well now that you’ve seen the damage how do you intend to deal with this, my queen.” He asked but Chrysalis paid him no mind instead she turned her attention to Ebony. The guards magic healing his burned hand.
“Ebony what happened here?” She asked sternly. The prince shuffled in front of his mother. He shyly looked up into her cold eyes petrifying him. His mother rarely got this angry but when she did it was the scariest thing ever. A raised eyebrow from his mother told him to get on with it.
“Well we were playing hide and seek and Ivory and Proteus started chasing each other. Then I don’t know what happened next.” He stated.
“Ivory accidentally ran into Chasm while I was chasing him. Then Chasm started calling Ivory names. Like monster.” Proteus interrupted. She could see her aunt’s rage flare when she said that word. “Then we started yelling at him to go away that’s when Ebony showed up.”
“Well then Chasm insulted you. Then he called Ebony a demon because of his eyes. So I yelled at him to stop and then he shoved me to the ground.” Ivory spoke up holding his side. Chrysalis didn’t respond and returned her attention to Ebony. Who began to whimper. He looked at her with wet eyes and continue.
“Well after he pushed Ivory I tried to push back but I wasn’t strong enough so he picked me up and threw me to the ground. Then Proteus punched him and grabbed him from behind him so Ivory punched him in the stomach but it didn’t do anything.” He muttered.
“Then Chasm used a spell knocking everyone down. Then he- then he started kicking and stomping on Ivory!” Ebony blubbered. “I didn’t mean to hurt him it was just a concussive spell like you taught me. I-I don’t know went wrong. I’m sorry mom.” Ebony whimpered. Chrysalis pulled her crying son into her arms.
“Shh it’s okay just relax I’ll take it from here, Thank you.” She cooed rubbing his head. She then walked over to Ivory and lifted up his shirt. The large bruises on his chest and stomach made her blood boil.
“Well Fissure it seems my children’s story holds water. Anything else you wish to say?” Chrysalis asked.
"Well while the evidence does support their story we still aren’t positive who started it. After all we haven’t heard my son’s side of the story.” He stated.
“Fair enough.” She agreed striding to Chasm and shooing the guard away. Her horn lit up and her own magic surrounded the injury. Chrysalis’s magic made short work of the superficial wound almost completely healing it. Once the wound was sufficiently healed Chrysalis began gently shaking the boy coaxing him awake.
Chasm eyes fluttered open and shot open at the sight of his queen. “Qu-Queen Crysalis, what is happening?” He asked. Though as he came to consciousness the pain in his chest came back. He groaned and clutched it.
“Chasm before my guards take you to the hospital to get that properly healed. Tell me who started this fight.” She ordered. Chasm looked to the three royalty then to his father.
“I’m sorry Queen Chrysalis, but it was your own son, Prince Ivory. He shoved me and then to defend myself I pushed back but then they all ganged upon me and gave me this.” He stated. Chrysalis bore into the boy’s eyes with her glare but he did not break. He shrunk back and averted her gaze but kept his mouth shut. Finally Chrysalis relented and stepped away from him.
“Guards take him to the hospital.” she ordered two guards saluted and took off with Chasm between them.
“Well there you have it. I think we know who was being truthful here. I trust you’ll punish your children appropriately, my queen.” Fissure chirped. “I know a being a parent can be hard especially when you’re raising two little devils but-” Before Fissure could finish Chrysalis spun around and struck the man in the face with the back of her hand.
“I have heard enough!” She snarled. Marching onto the councilman her frigid eyes giving way to an inferno. “You have accused my children, insulted them behind my back, and then you had the nerve to insult not only my parenting but my sons right in front of me!” She rumbled. “For these transgressions against me and my family I challenge you to a duel!” She boomed.