Chapter 31
Luna stared at me, her cup of sugar with some tea added to it slowly sinking back towards the table. “She wants what?”
I shrugged. “You heard me. Queen Chrysalis wants to move her hive to the Crystal Empire. And you have to admit that she has a good point, it would solve their food problem.”
“It was difficult enough to get Princess Cadance to accept them in Canterlot.” Luna said with a frown. “And only because she knew my sister and I would be here and able to handle Chrysalis if she tried something.”
“I know, I know.” I sighed. “I didn't say it was ideal.”
Stupid fucking situation. If the Changelings had not attacked, we would never have run into them like this.
Then this would have been much easier.
“What do you think, Skitter?” I then asked, turning towards my bodyguard who was sitting by the door.
The changeling froze at being addressed, scraping her hoof against the floor before she buzzed her wings. “I believe my Queen will make a wise choice, Lord Page.” she answered quietly.
She had seemed somewhat depressed since we left the hive. Barely said a word other than when addressed.
Need to talk to her later.
Luna shifted on the couch, looking thoughtful at the changeling before she nodded. “I believe it would solve the problem of how to keep the changelings fed without needing to mix too closely with ponies. I am, however, not sure it is the best idea. Changelings keeping to themselves in part of the Crystal Empire would not solve the main problem which is fear. Ponies fear changelings and changelings fearing what ponies will do out of fear.” she finally said as she turned to me. “If that is not addressed properly, that fear will grow and overflow. I have seen it happen before.”
“The tribes?” I asked with a small frown.
She nodded. “At first pegasi, unicorns and earth ponies occupied different parts of the land. There was little contact between them other than to trade for services. But for hundreds of years, suspicion, fear and jealousy grew. The wars were horrible enough to attract and create wendigos. It is something I wish to never witness again.”
Lighting my horn up, I reached to pour myself a cup of tea. I considered her words for a moment before I sighed. “...I don't think anypony does. But the fact remains that the changelings need to eat and their relationship with the ponies is tenuous as best as it is. If something happened to turn ponies against changelings... Skitter, how long would the supplies I saw in the hive last?”
Skitter sighed. “Less than a month, Lord Page, if there was no gathering of love. But a lot of it also remains transferred from the old hive or love gathered during... the invasion. The hive is currently experiencing a net loss, even with all harvesters out. If things do not improve, we may need to migrate in search for better grounds or... use internal methods to reduce the strain on our supplies.”
I wasn't sure I wanted to know what those internal methods was.
Being unable to sneak around was probably what caused them to gather less love. The punishment for a changeling being caught in a complete disguise was banishment.
That meant that everyone they met knew they were a changeling unless they were willing to risk it which made it difficult to gather the emotions they needed, even from the background 'radiation' of emotions during highly emotional events.
“How bad is it?” Luna asked, directed at the changeling in the room.
Skitter shifted uncomfortably beneath her gaze, seemingly forcing her wings to still. “By the end of the year, our reserves will be empty if things do not improve, Princess Luna.”
Damn it, Chrysalis! Why didn't you let anypony know about this before now! Stupid scheming bug! She should have gone to the Princess about it as soon as it was clear there wast a net negative on the love income!
Luna slowly nodded and then moved to jump off the couch. “I need to confer with my sister.” she said and gave me a quick nuzzle on the way past. “Thank you for bringing this to my attention.”
“Well, I figured it was important.” I said with a shrug.
She flashed me a quick smile before she left the chambers, the doors closing behind her.
Reaching to pick up my cup of tea again, I jumped off the chair and crossed over to take the place on the couch she had vacated.
“Lord Page... you did not tell her of Queen Crysalis...” Skitter said quietly as she left the door to stand before the table.
“You mean the manipulation?” I asked, sipping my tea with a raised eyebrow. “Tricking me down into the hive and threatening me, trying to scare me into doing what she wanted?”
Skitter seemed uncomfortable with the question but she nodded. “...Yes.”
Sighing, I put the cup back down, shifting to lean my side against the backrest as I crossed my frontlegs. “Several reasons. First of all, it was irrelevant. I was the one who started the negotiations to end the invasion so I do feel somewhat responsible for what happened to you and other changelings, Skitter. There is also the fact that it's the right thing to do. If Queen Chrysalis had simply 'asked' I would have still brought it to the Princesses' attention just like I did now. If I told Princess Luna of Chrysalis's methods in this case, it might affect things negatively. You and the rest should not need to suffer because Chrysalis is an idiot.”
“Oh.”
I nodded and chuckled. “As you can tell, I would make a pretty bad politician.”
That got a small smile from her and she jumped up to lay down across the chair I had vacated, her frontlegs hooked over the armest, facing the door as usual.
Picking up the first book, this one on armaments of the royal guard, I looked up my bookmark and started to read about types of spears.
There was a long moment of silence, only broken by pages turning before Skitter spoke up again. “Lord Page?”
Looking up from the book, I turned to her. “Yes?”
“...Thank you.”
“You're welcome, Skitter.”
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Awwwwwwwwww
Skitter is cute.
That is all.
There's a tiny part of me that likes to imagine that Skittering is the reincarnation of Taylor Hebert, at last having found a trustworthy authority-figure... and that world would end if she ever came across a parasprite.
6850643 I'm with you there. I don't think Equestria is ready for a Taylor Hebert. Earth certainly wasn't.
Skitter is cute is this chapter I do agree but. some how I am getting a feeling that Skitter is being used bye Queen Chrysalis some how either as a spy or as a possible weapon not sure how but something is defiantly up.
I wonder how Page and Luna feel about a herd with Skitter?
or dang as I am typing this I just though of something Skitter has fallen in love with Page
I think Chrysalis is setting up something to be with Page~
Awww Skitter, she doesn't deserve your loyalty.
WE LOVE YOU!!!
Kill Chrysalis and make Skitter the next queen. Profit everywhere.
This calls for a holiday!! National "hug-a- Changeling" day! Make it good luck! Like a chimney sweep!
Also Page definitely should make his spy a changeling, improve the media image!
I can't hate Chrysalis too much here. She's trying to maintain an image of power while her species is reliant on another. To some people, weakness leads to death. It's better in her mind to do this mindless run-around than to appear weak. She also knows he has a predators perspective, so he'll not take offense to it. It's normal in his eyes. Irritating, but normal.
6850757
Now now that'd be a wee bit too obvious now if Skitter knew a Changeling who knew a Changeling...
It would be funny if he has to go and speak with Cadence to have a better chance at convincing her, since he played a pretty defining role in stopping the invasion on her home and wedding. He might on success earn the title of 'Hive Speaker', or by ensuring her Hive's continuation 'Queen Consort'. XD
But in honesty he might reach a middle ground, perhaps convoys to the empire that return with tanks filled with love? Such as how Semi's travel to deliver gas to gas stations all across, but in this case it's love. They could do something in return as a symbiosis? because Chrysalis wouldn't be an idiot to not ensure good ties to those aiding her hive, Perhaps send her heir as a political prisoner to Cadence? Because we know she could be peeved about that day, or every anniversary reminded of it.
You know, I accidentally read 'Skitter' as 'Sister'...
Is what I think is gonna happen gonna happen?
Excellent politics, awful at PR. Better than the reverse.
Whatever happened to the pizza that Page was making?
A part of me wants think Chrysalis has some sort of direct connection to Skitter. She has the ego to need to know everything, and Skitter's place is just too perfect not to use as a spy/earpiece. No doubt there's info being given, regardless.
I actually pondered Skitter being replaced by the Queen at times.. but I think that's much less likely.
6850596
6850616
6850643
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6850756
We need piles of Skitter art, stat!
There could be also another BIG reason as for why Chrysalis wants the hive at the Crystal Empire, remember Sombra? Shadow Pony, Changelings have seen them as their worse enemy for the longest time. Now, how would Page react to the knowledge that there is an ENTIRE army of them crystalized UNDER the Crystal Empire? With Chrysalis perhaps likely wanting to smash them all to wipe out that species of equine? (We'd think that Page could likely flip out to the degree that he did about Discord, though Sombra was only ONE shadow pony free.)
Because they naturally make an environment of fear they couldn't prosper under, while said shadow ponies feed on fear. Wouldn't Chrysalis petition changeling brothels? as one method to get 'food' and be paid for it, because the oldest profession has been reliable before. Also it would be quite popular since the 'personnel' could become anything they wanted for love and fee, though it would be funny if he let slip that idea in hearing range of skitter or princesses for their reaction with the former thinking of it as a good idea and brings it to the queen's attention. *snickers.* Hive Advisor anyone? Royal Thinktank? Lunar/Hive Ambassador/liaison?
6851548 Agreed!!
I want to hug Skitter. Hug.
Nice chapter, good work.
6851686 Well, i found this thing. 57.media.tumblr.com/61e20198eccde6543b6003e5175d7805/tumblr_o14q5iQEBp1t1q5qzo1_r1_500.gif
6851565
I've read a story that has Chrysalis say that what goes on in brothels is to love like what wallpaper paste is compared to a five-star dinner - and about as appetizing. I always liked that notion. Changelings eat love. They do not eat empty lust.
6853279 There is a higher chance perhaps depending on who, not having a somepony may fall in love with a changeling. True any emotions gotten there at first could be that, though if any attempt to connect with another. That might open a whole new view and murky positive/negative light on interactions, though culture clashes may definitely work against that point. But it was a 'hopeful' idea where they could have viewed it as 'fast food'.
If not, what actions might be considered 'Fast Food' or up? Adopting a foal might earn a type of parental love if done right, hmmmm.
6853488
Prostitution is ultimately a business transaction, there's no real affection or passion involved in there at any point. The way I see it, for someone who lives on genuine depth of feeling, it should be about as palatable as trying to eat dirt. It's fundamentally involved in the growing of food, but that doesn't make it edible by itself.
6846880
Having dyslexia can be SO much fun...I first read that as "Pull out your plot..."
6853544 Indeed
I haven't checked this in a while and I didn't even realize a sequel was made. This series is one of my favorites; No convoluted plots, no overly annoying cliches and no jealousy or love triangles.
Keep up the great work.
6850653 who is Taylor Hebert?
6851253 Part of the problem is that Cadance would have a hard time trusting an army under the authority of Chrysalis. The weakness of the original treaty is that Equestria agreed changlings would still answer to Chrysalis, when she's the individual they don't trust. If Cadance was smart, she would agree to let the hive move up to the Crystal Empire, if Chrysalis A) Abdicates B)Stays behind in Canterlot, and C)The Hive officially recognizes Cadance as their queen. Either Chrysalis gives up her power, or the changling hive sees that she is putting her personal welfare above the Hive as a whole.
6857670 Taylor Hebert is the main character of a massive web serial novel, 'Worm'. And I do mean massive. That thing is longer than the entire Harry Potter series. It's set in a world where superpowers - and all that goes with them - started appearing on Earth in the late 1900's. The tone is pretty dark.
Taylor's power was bug control. Any insect in a range of... what, some odd city blocks? I forget exactly. Anyway, any insect in that range was under her total control. She could sense their location, their species, and eventually learned to see, hear, and speak through them as well. Since insects don't really pack a lot of stopping power, she had to use them inventively and use them ruthlessly - a combination that eventually became her MO in a lot of other situations, too. I'll spoiler-tag a few highlights.
When dealing with a regenerator, she hit him with so many poisonous insects that parts of him rotted right off. The second time she had to deal with the same regenerator, she carved out his eyes after knocking him out to make sure he stayed down. At one point, she fought the 'flying brick' of the setting (high-speed flight, invulnerability, and super-strength), who regularly went toe-to-toe with the kind of enemies that left entire cities condemned. She killed her outright by literally drowning her in insects.
At the climax of the story, she saved the universe. The methods she employed to do so very nearly earned her summary execution.
Maybe romance resorts? Open for marriages and honeymoons with every romantic whim catered to by a staff of tireless "hosts", with the first in the Crystal Empire if they have epic, legendary hot springs to set up a few lodges at? If that works out, set up a chain of them, in places like Los Pegasus and the Gallopacos islands...
666 upvotes? Can't have that. Read through the prequel and up to here today and I am quite enjoying it. The developing relationship with Luna was done quite well. Once I catch up to where the story is currently at, I will have to take hiatuses to read the story in bigger blocks since I doubt my emotions can be properly engaged with the short chapters as this story deserves.
+1
Ranseur, halberd, bardiche, voulge, fauchard, glaive, guisarme, glaive-guisarme…
6944925 Ach, a man after me own heart.
I'm glad I'm not the only one into that kind of stuff.
6944925 Those are the primary two handed spears, but you forgot about the winged/boar-spears, lances (it's a type of spear) and one handed spears :P
And the Billhook could be classed as a spear, though it's more of a polearm than spear (akin to Dane Axes, Crescent Axes ect)
And then if we go further into the later stages of the Medieval era, you can get pole axes- which are a hybrid of Spear, Axe and Hammer.
I'm kind of hoping Scarab turns up again.
6851465
or Skitter is Chrysalis in disguise. muahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
9098453
What if Skitter is Chrysalis's real form, and the one we know is her attempt at matching Celestia's stature.
A trade envoy. Regular trips to soak up love.
9995213
also consider the 'talk' he first had with the queen. naturally, take her side of things with a grain of salt... but it likely holds true that ponies id as ponies do, and absolutely ignore the details. lings have to feed on love? monster, seal them away with no access to ponies. completely ignore the fact this should kill them all. if the queen is to be believed, ponies marked themselves enemies first.
10320313
No one is ever truly blameless indeed.
10320319
Right, it's the sheeple mentality.
Imagine if there were real life Vampires, they can shapeshift, feed from you, and do god knows what else. Lings could have taken over the country easily had they planned for that.
First reaction of fear from the ponies, including celestia and luna is understandable... now, had the lings chosen to aproach Celestia and luna with their problem, with the fact that they do not hurn any pony with their methods? They would have helped.
Ling Culture is going against them here.
And fear of the uknown and alien fucked them over.
Mistakes were made.
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Politics is hard.
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PROPER politics are hard. You need to keep your word, negotiate mutualy beneficial deals(not force one sided contracts) That's why many don't make an effort.
Friendship is magic
Akin to a blood drive, perhaps they could ask for volunteers to donate love in exchange for a tax break?
Chrysalis
Skitter for hug bug
♡
11503741
Might actually work, nobels love their money!
:)