I pulled the door closed behind me and sighed. That meeting had been informative if somewhat lacking in some details.
No sign of Discord yet. Nopony knew where he was hiding.
Mostly we looked at the security of Tartarus and the lower vaults. The vaults seemed fine, but Tartarus...
Guarded by a single dog and some enchantments. The hell!? Literally.
In any case, Luna would take me there and we would inspect it personally in a couple of weeks. I would follow that mare into hell itself.
As soon as that was done though, things moved on to some sort of magic chest Twilight couldn't open and then on to increasing the budget for the hospitals and for construction to help the recovery of Tirek's rampage.
Not that any of that involved me, but I stayed anyway to keep up to date and to keep them company even if I didn't have any more input to give.
My suggestion of hitting the chest with a big hammer until it opened it had not been appreciated though.
Oh well.
Releasing the illusion I stretched my wings with a grin. Twilight had offered to teach me how to fly.
Twilight had just learned how and Luna agreed with her. She thought it might be good for both of us... Twilight to learn it deeper by teaching someone else and me to learn it from someone that didn't do it without thinking.
So that would be fun.
I headed for the bedroom before I paused with a small frown at Fern. The little plant creature was laying on the floor, peeking in beneath the couch.
Huh?
I retraced my steps bent down to look beneath the couch. A pair of wide green eyes stared back at me from the darkness.
“Skitter?”
The eyes stared at me before they bobbed once.
Frowning I moved beneath the table to lay down next to the couch, shifting Fern out of the way to give me a better view of the changeling. She was squeezed in beneath the couch, just barely fitting between it and the floor by the wall. She was visibly shivering.
I carefully scooted in beneath the couch next to the trembling changeling, “...Skitter, why are you beneath my couch?”
The changeling Princess didn't answer, she just kept staring ahead as she shivered.
That's not good.
Pressing my side against hers, I focused on my love for her. The love of a friend is still love, not just as ...dense... as romantic love.
I felt slightly faint but Skitter kinda melted and relaxed against the floor.
I stopped focusing and relaxed again before I let her draw too much, allowing the silence to drag on for a moment before I spoke up again, “What's wrong?”
Skitter took a long slow breath before she spoke up, “...While you were at your meeting, sir, I visited the hive. The Queen wished to speak to me about the future.”
“I'm surprised that didn't happen earlier,” I agreed with a nod.
Skitter frowned, “She wanted to wait until I had recovered.”
Made sense.
I nodded and waited for her to continue. Skitter took a slow breath before she did.
“She said I should pick a replacement for my current duties and then return to the hive to be taught what I needed to know as the next Queen. She would conduct those lessons personally.”
Oh.
I sighed softly, “That makes sense, doesn't it? You are not a drone anymore, Skitter. You are a changeling princess and soon you will be their new Queen. I'll miss having you around, but it's necessary. So who is my new guard? Scarab? She seemed comp...”
“I told her to go fuck herself.”
I blinked at her, “...you did what?”
Skitter trembled and I settled my wing across her back, “I-I told mother that she was a selfish, underhoofed, backstabbing bitch and that it was her fault everything that had happened to the Hive. If it had not been for her in the hive would never have been banished in the first place and we would never have attacked Canterlot. I-I said that her dying would be the best thing that could ever happen to us and that she could go fuck herself if she thought I would let her turn me into another copy of her.”
Wow. I just stared at her in surprise for a moment. For a changeling to even say no to the Queen, it was... unheard of.
“What did she do?”
If she hurt Skitter, I'll find a way to make sure she didn't have time to die of old age.
“S-she smiled and kissed my forehead. S-she said she was proud of me.”
Fucking Chrysalis.
“That's good though, right?” I asked with a small frown.
“...I'm going to be banished from the hive! After what I said to her...”
“Did she say that?”
Skitter swallowed and shook her head, “No. But...”
“But nothing. You are her heir, she doesn't really have a choice.” I reassured her, “So what did she do?”
“S-she put me in charge of thirty changelings and told me to rule them as I wished and that she was always available for advice. Page, I have no idea what to do!”
I squeezed a wing in between her back and the couch, pulling her close before she could start to hyperventilate again, “Skitter, look at me,” and waited until she did before I continued. “You may not know how to do this, but there are ways to solve that. Luckily you know several ponies that know how to Princess. Come on, let's go talk to Princess Celestia... and wouldn't that fuck with Chrysalis?”
That got a small smile from her.
Perfect record scratch moment.
These updates have become my daily before-bed treat and I'm absolutely loving the directions that you've been going with this story.
That does bring up the question of how will the mystery box will be opened in this universe.
7414137 Can we not release that horrible eldritch monstrosity of a castle please?
Page is really growing fond of his wings and using them for emphasis and comfort, isn't he? Luna used them a lot for comfort, but I think Page taking so well to them is from his time as a human and our expressive hands/arms in casual conversation.
Actually, I get the impression that Page will be the one admitting he is an Alicorn, and a significant part of the reason will be because he doesn't want to keep his wings hidden because he likes using them so much.
Don't be silly, Page. This is a job for a drill press and an angle grinder. Maybe a milling machine.
Awn Skitter is being cute A.F. in this chapter. She cares, she'll do alright
The Manipulative Bitch™ levels Chrysalis achieved leave me stumped every time. She might be a horrible invader, but damn she knows when to leave the scene in just the right way. Twenty thousand years from now Page & cia will still remember her. Not in a kind light, but oh how will they...
Page, by now you should know that's what she wants you and skitter to do.
Who reads a new chapter of a pony fanfic at 3 A.M.
Me: ohhh boy 3 A.M.
A little bit hypocritical from Mr "I-don't-want-to-be-a-prince" Page.
It's nice to see that Skitter grew some independence as well.
7414175 Or how he likely couldn't marry Luna because of his current position, because Shining Armor had to work himself up to Royal Guard Captain at least. since he's a Lord, Page if going the nobility route if not exposing 'hey I'm a alicorn all along!' to everyone. He would need at least the title of Duke and hold territory to marry royalty, unless he was a Prince. *nudges and winks.*
7414184
Thermite........That is all
7414223 There is only one queen though. Equestria has enough princesses that they don't need new royalty to rule the lands. If Chrysalis dies, the hive would crumble most likely because no one is giving orders or directions. Page becoming royalty would do nothing at all, compared to Skitter becoming a queen. And I think that Page understands this aswell, and that that is the reason he isn't jumping to become it.
7414371 I won't disagree with you. That's why I said "a little", not "totally". It's possible for Page to be correct and still be self-serving. (BTW, that doesn't mean I dislike this situation - I think it's amusing that Skitter might show him up a bit.)
Another awesome chapter. Keep them coming.
-BFBL
Hah! I'm loving Skitter as she freaks out about it all. It's absolutely adorable, even if she is a love-sucking bug.
I love that she told Chrysalis off. And Chrysalis basically told her "atta girl" for it.
Also nice to see Skitter reacting more as an equal than a subordinate. Really opening up her character.
7414184 This is Equestria silly! Just use the magic of friendship!
Well, she did hadn't any lack any non-existing balls to do this kind of stunt right in committing an of las Majeste right in front of all the other Changelings. and suviving to tell the tail is an other.
princess is now a verb.
also good to see things back to normalish
Cute Skeeter is best Skeeter. Also, seeing her in a leadership rile may inspire BP a bit.
Alicorn bebes! Alicorn bebes e'rrywhere! Snrk...
Levity aside, hella story. I knew I tracked it for a reason.
Skitter needs a medal.
Ooooooh boy, I really, really love how Chrysalis is playng her cards. I see quite awesome things ahead.
7414209 calm youself patrick
Somepony should point out what he's doing to Skitter is exactly what he's avoiding himself, with Skitter riding on him to be moral support and example too.
7414461
You didnt know that already....
7414392 Chryssie knows she had fucked up changeling relations and her continued existence will remain a bit of a sore spot with most of Equestria. She's working to make Skitter a better queen, even if the process totally mind fucks the new princess. At least Chryssie will get some entertainment for it
YES! Skitter stands up.
7414209 Tell them my whole life why don't ya.
7414209 I stayed up till 5 >:D
"Lol who cares"
"Idk shush"
Yes~
Now. Kiss her.
KISS HER GODDAMIT
Dammit, so close :T
7414184 i heard that the pneunatic press or a red hot knife are the rage this days.
7944122
Nah liquid nitrogen and dry ice with a hammer are now what everybody is doing now
8415155
How about liquid helium and a hammer.
Stuff like this is why I have a 'Gold List': For when adding something to your favorites isn't good enough.
......it will work too....probably
Bout friggin time.
Aw, Skitter is so cute when she's nervous. Cute Skitter is best Skitter.
7414209
3 A.M.
Krabby PattyFIMFic approved!s3.amazonaws.com/colorslive/jpg_512x512/1428192-FRMa_MuZajoHMtzK.jpg
7414461
Everything is a verb. Heck, I could probably make "verb" into a verb! In other words you can verb pretty much any verb. ^U^
7907829
Kiss de girl. Sha-la-la-la-la-la Don't be scared, you've got de move prepared, go on and kiss de girl.
I do hope this love ship doesn't get knocked over by villain with semi-unclear motives.
*splash*
Ugh, like that.
7414209
"Ooh, ooh, me, I saw what you did there!!!!"
reminds me of "MLP time loops", where they tried lots of things to get the chest open. one of the funniest was Rainbow Dash putting it in a box, and having Derpy deliver it somewhere!
8998371
t4nky.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/skitter_and_her_pet_by_liujuin-d7xmtqd.jpg
Wait. So Page is doing everything possible to run from the responsibilities his transformation gained him (which confuses me since it's not that big of a step up from being Luna's consort). But then when Skitter is doing the same thing, he basically tells her "That sucks but you should have seen this coming. Lets get you to Celestia for leadership advice."
Seriously man, don't be that big of a hypocrite.
Greatly enjoying the series by the way.
9962589
To be fair, she is biologically obligated to lead the changelings. She's more akin to say an ant queen or a bee queen not so much Royal as the primary reproductive entity in a hive. Meanwhile, Blank Page's dodging of his possible Royal status is more because of the social implications that Equestrian citizens have put upon the alicorns rather than an actual physical obligation to rule. Mind you that's more my theory than anything, but given the insectoid nature of the changelings it makes more sense that way. Especially given that Chrysalis has indicated she is dying. As far as anyone knows the alicorn royalty aren't dying any time soon.
10049069
To be fair, Skitter has said nothing about ruling, the only thing she is against is following Chrysalis footssteps, becoming like her, ruling like her, not ruling itself.
For all we know Skitter wants to do it, or feels obligated. Without her there are problems, Page is just an extra, he could help but nothing would really change.
10049069
And Chrysalis' next move is to just live her life until she's dying and have the now emphatic Skitter take over the hive reluctantly in order to not let them die.
9945635
....what the...
10720195
That would be Skitter, the Warlord of Brockton Bay.
That made me giggle. Magnificent story, lovely chapter
Awful person, good mom