Enchanted

by The Whiskey Spirit

Ch 55: Note

‘Cadence’ let out a breath of relief as she watched the elf fall through the portal she had created. For the first time, she saw a twinge of fear run through him. A fact that made her smile, despite the pain she was feeling.

That smile was short lived as she was reminded of the changeling beside her. “What took you so long!?” She shouted at him, her anger clear upon her disguised face.

“I apologize, my Queen.” The changeling replied demurely, his head lowering in obedience. “I had not believed him capable of injuring you so. I was attempting to acquiesce to your wishes and only take my shot when necessary.”

She glared at her soldier for a short time, his head bowed for the duration, seemingly prepared to receive some form of punishment. Despite her anger, she couldn’t bring herself to do so. She might have lost a leg, but as he had stated, he was simply following her orders. she should have acquired more information on the elf before she had attempted to confront him.

Perhaps her power was making her too self-assured. She clearly couldn’t simply use mental magic to get rid of all her problems. If that elf was trouble, then she could only assume what his pet chimera was capable of.

It was fortunate, then, that she was not with him. Though she was loathe to admit it, she likely wouldn’t have won if the chimera had been in the room with the elf.

That raised the question, however. Where was this chimera? What was she doing?

Shaking her head, she decided to place those questions on the back burner. She could have one of her changelings look into that. For now, she had an issue she had to solve.

Sending the elf back to the hive was not ideal. She had brought the backup in case he had attacked on sight and proved to be a troublesome foe. Her plan started and ended with getting a hold of his mind. It would have been a great boon to have the enchanter on her side.

Now he was gone, and his disappearance would be noticed. She had to think of something, and fast.

Perhaps she could get the Princesses to believe him to be the attacker? No, that was a venture that was unlikely to be fruitful. Luna clearly seemed to verge on the edge of trust with that elf, though she seemed to be resisting her own desires to trust him. she would likely hear the tale, but find some flaw that would make it fall apart.

Celestia… well, that fool tried to see the best in everyone. She would not believe that the elf had been behind the attack. She would need something else.

Maybe she could claim that the ones behind the attack, who was clearly not her, had taken him. That they attacked the both of them when they were alone, injuring her and taking the elf. It was feasible, at the very least. She could say that they likely wanted to prevent him from completing the work he was hired for.

The sounds of metallic hooves on tile brought her from her thoughts. The changeling before her still had his head low, having not received any response from his Queen in some time.

“Go, there shall be no punishment this day.” With a deep bow, the changeling faded from view, his invisibility spell slipping over him. With a grimace, she peered at the leg that had been severed from her. She had to be quick, meaning this was going to be painful.

Scooping up the leg in her magic, she pressed it back to the stump it had left behind. She had to take a moment to steady her breath before she cast the spell.

White hot pain flared up as her body was magically forced to heal the connection. Flesh and carapace regrew in the matter of moments, nerve endings reconnected, and sickening noises sounded out. She was left breathing heavily, but her leg was reattached, and after a swift test, was fully functioning. It was only a few moments later that the guards burst through the door.

They were prepared with weapons drawn, faces masked by stony demeanors, and a Princess at their heels. It was none other than Celestia herself that had entered the hall, though the group swiftly came to a halt as they took in the scene. Looks of shock and horror threatened to break through their masks. Celestia held no such reservations, the sadness and horror she emenated was almost painful, and she showed it clearly on her face.

Celestia’s eyes darted around, taking in the destruction, before landing squarely on Cadence. “Cadence! Are you okay!? What happened!?” The mare asked, panic tingeing her voice.

“We…” She started, out of breath as she looked up to Celestia, fear in her eyes. “We were attacked. I… They…” What was the elf’s name again? Ah, right. “They took Aurick!”

Shock played across Celestia’s face, even as she bit her lip and tried to hide her growing fear. Behind the disguise, Chrysalis couldn’t help but smirk. It seemed like things were going to work out for her, though it’d be best she not test her luck until the time of the wedding.

There were too many variables at play for her to ruin it by being impatient.

~-~

Ashwyn frowned as she munched on the chunk of meat. It had only been five hours since she had started, and she was already tired. Doing as the Alpha had asked, she had gone out to find just how many changelings were in the castle. It was irritatingly boring, and yet frightening at the same time.

She continuously expected her intentions to be found out. The possibility of the changelings assaulting her being a constant thought in her mind. She was confident in her ability to defend herself, but as the Alpha had stated before, she was untrained. She was sure the changelings within the castle had at least received basic training. If there were too many of them, she might not be able to defeat them.

If there was one thing she had learned when she was hunting the Alpha, it was that sheer physical superiority didn’t mean that you would win. She had to be cautious, and that put her on edge. Though, because nothing had happened yet, and all she was doing was wander around the castle, sniffing the air, she was terribly bored as well.

As such, she tried her best to enjoy the meal before her, as it was the only spice to the days events so far. Sadly, that meant she wasn’t paying as much attention as she should have been. This fact was made clear when she found a note sitting atop her food when she looked down. The scent of a familiar changeling in the air.

Recognizing the scent of what the Alpha assumed to be the informant, she grabbed the note before it got any meat juices on it. It was short and simple, but the contents were enough to make Ashwyn unnerved.

We must meet.

I shall await you in your room.

Ashwyn couldn’t help but swallow a lump in her throat. Could it be a trap? Was this changeling truly the informant? Should she go? She didn’t know the answer to any of these questions, but knew she must make a decision all the same.

Not for the first time, she wished that the Alpha was here. He would assuredly know what to do. Should she go ask him? No, this changeling was only contacting her. If it truly was the informant, perhaps bringing the Alpha would make them flee? It was not a risk worth taking.

Her body tense, she swiftly finished her lunch and stood up, taking one more glance at the note before stuffing it into her mane. With a resigned sigh, she stepped out into the hallways of the castle and slowly made her way back to her room.

She had a changeling to meet.

Comments

[shadow wolf1573]

As a changling I feel I have enough sway I the matter. The only way for ash to save our elf boi.
.
.
.
Is to wear a maid outt

[The Whiskey Spirit]

9577480
Truly you are a master strategist.

[shadow wolf1573]

9577567
My mind knows no bounds

[Chancegunnett]

I have always been a sucker for forbidden romance, like a prince who is tasked with saving a princess, but instead finds love and respect within his great enemy, the dragon guarding the princesses tower. As she bared her wicked teeth, he would begin to find beauty in her otherwise aggressive and deadly exterior, soon he'd find himself growing to adore her temperament, and personality overall. In the end, forgetting his original mission completely, choosing instead to acquire the fiery heart of his adversary.

This story handles this trope VERY well, not too overboard, and not to underwhelming, it's *tongue click* noice

[Simbul]

Sending the elf back to the hive was not ideal.

So he was sent to the changling hive?

What a cliffhanger!