The little grey rock didn’t show any signs of movement for the past hour. She had a growing urge to kick the defiant pebble because no matter how hard she focused on the stone, it remained on the floor in the same spot her mother placed it.
“How are our guests doing?” Chrysalis asked Odonate from her bed of pillows.
“The earth ponies put up a bit of a fight when they were cocooned,” answered the guard, “but they are sleeping peacefully now.”
“And the wounded pegasus?” inquired her mother.
“She was too injured to be placed in a pod so for now she is in a cell,” Odonate explained. “She has a fever, her front leg was broken and she had a dislocated shoulder, but Earwig has been tending to her. So far she’s reset her fracture, popped her joint back into place and dressed the rest of her wounds. Once her fever breaks she should be well enough to join the others.”
“I see,” said Chrysalis, “and how are Aphid, Weevil and Featherwing?”
“Other than a few bumps and scratches, they are fine,” said Odonate, “but I told them to stay in the hive and rest up for now."
Her mother nodded before glancing over.
“You’re not giving up already are you?” the changeling queen asked Pupa.
She had stopped trying to move the stone while listening in on their conversation.
“No,” Pupa said defensively and turned back to glare at the pebble.
“Are you focusing your magic like I showed you?” Chrysalis asked.
“Yes,” the nymph huffed.
“Show me,” the queen said, putting her full attention on Pupa.
The nymph stared hard at the stone, telling it to lift up into the air over and over again in her mind. She tried narrowing her eyes, clenching her teeth together, folding back hear ears, and readjusting her posture but none of it seemed to help.
“You’re not focusing your magic,” stated Chrysalis, “you’re just making faces.”
“I’m trying…” Pupa muttered and sat down on her rump.
“Pupa, come here,” her mother commanded.
Sluggishly the nymph rose back to her hooves and with her head down, walked over to her mother. Once she reached the older changeling, her mother directed her to seat herself, then placed one hoof against the nymph’s chest.
“Start here,” instructed Chrysalis, pushing slighting with her hoof. “Don’t worry about moving the rock, don’t even think about casting a spell. I just want you to focus on this spot inside you.”
At first Pupa just gazed at the floor in front of her, and her mother must have had an inkling that that was all she was doing because the matron began to press her hoof a little harder into her chest. So after exhaling through her nostrils, Pupa centered her attention on the spot where she could feel the warmth from her mother’s hoof.
“Good,” whispered chrysalis, “keep concentrating on this spot.”
Something gradually began to stir within the nymph’s chest. It felt like it was a part of her and yet not bodily, slowly turning under the surface of her carapace. A shiver of excitement ran through her, causing her focal point to slip and she felt the spark begin to wane.
“Don’t lose it,” her mother said, “you know where it’s at now, take control of it.”
Taking in a determined inhale, Pupa again focused inwardly to retrieve the intangible feeling. Her mind pictured it as an expanding drop of honey, green tinted and glowing; and it began to grow and roll in on itself while rotating in place. She exhaled again and swallowed the saliva that had been building up in her mouth.
‘I have it,’ she thought, not daring to speak and lose her grasp on the spark again. ‘Now to move it.’
With her head still tilted down, Pupa channeled the power from her chest to her horn. Her eyes wandered up and forward across the chamber floor, absently straying along with the flow of energy, until they stopped at a pair of dark hooves. Then a streak of uncontrolled green energy shot forth from her horn and pushed her backwards against her mother.
Squirming back to her hooves and recomposing herself, the nymph looked over to Odonate. The guard was holding up his right leg while inspecting the small smoking pockmark in the stone where his hoof would have been.
“Did she get you Odonate?” Chrysalis asked.
“No your highness,” the guard said before coughing. “Looks like my reflexes are still just as good as ever.”
“I’m sorry,” Pupa told Odonate and looked back at her mother. “I didn’t mean to do that.”
“It's fine your highness,” he reassured the nymph. “Even if you did get me, it wouldn’t have been a severe wound.”
“Right,” agreed Chrysalis, “just the loss of a hoof or, at worst, the leg from the knee down.”
Pupa gaped at her mother with wide eyes and the changeling queen simply looked back at her with a neutral expression; however she couldn’t keep it up and had to cover her muzzle with a hoof as she began to laugh. Odonate also apparently couldn’t help but find the nymphs reaction humorous and allowed himself a couple of gravely chuckles.
“Pupa,” Chrysalis said, stroking the nymph’s mane, “it would only have caused a small hole at the most.”
“In all seriousness though,” Odonate said, “it’s impressive that she learned to channel her magic so quickly.”
“Really?” the nymph asked, looking from the guard to her mother.
“It is,” confirmed Chrysalis, “but it also means I’ll want you to work harder at the lesson I gave you.”
“Oh,” Pupa said quietly.
“Yes, and for that you’ll need a proper meal to keep up your energy,” her mother said while climbing to her hooves, “so it’s good that our pantry has some new stock. Come along and let’s get some lunch.”
Her little wings buzzed excitedly as Pupa crawled over one of the five new pods that now hung alongside Sandbar’s. Within she could see a pale lapis furred pegasus stallion with a plum colored mane, though his colors were tinted green by the material of his enclosure. She had already fed from the other ponies and was eager to compare this one’s taste to the rest. Opening her mouth wide, the little nymph drew out a long pink ribbon of delicious love energy.
“None of them appeared to have been harmed during the evacuation,” Mosquito said to her mother, “and Katydid thinks the new clutches of eggs will hatch any day now.”
“That’s good,” Chrysalis said, though she didn’t express any emotion at the news.
“And Lacewing says that the new nursery is almost complete,” continued the attendant.
Chrysalis gave only a single nod as she watched her daughter.
“Ah, would you like to visit it your highness?” asked Mosquito.
“Not at this time,” her mother told Mosquito, “maybe in a day or two.”
“Did you want to be informed if the larva begin to hatch?” inquired Mosquito.
“Yes,” Chrysalis said, but only after an uncomfortably long stretch of silence.
Mosquito looked like she wanted to say something more but decided against it.
“That’s enough Pupa,” said the queen changeling, “come back down now.”
“Okay,” the nymph chirped before dropping from the pod and hovering to the floor.
“Let’s continue your lesson,” Chrysalis said.
The little grey rock shook slightly as Pupa stared down at it unblinkingly. Gradually a thin field of green magic coalesced around the stone and caused the nymphs heart to quicken. At an almost painfully glacial pace it started to rotate before rising into the air at a height even with her muzzle. Carefully she pushed it with her magic, sending it to drift lazily until it was over the chosen location, and then released it to fall among a pile of similar size pebbles.
An accomplished grin stretched the nymphs muzzle and her little fangs poked out from under her lips.
Huh, looks like Chrysalis is scared of bonding with the new nymphs now. That's... not a good sign.
Pups did a thing awesome
Pupa op
Aww, Pupa's just too cute
9567119
She did just have to relocate due to an traitor's attack, and rescue her Royal daughter. Most likely that'll be temporary, as Pupa herself will likely help drawing Chrysalis out of this funk.
More please
Pupa is just so adorable and so is nice Chrysalis
Excellent chapter!
GG for the feature!
Pupa is adorable. I'm wondering when she'll have the next flash of insight from her previous life, because I'm positive there are more of those to come. Now that she can move pebbles into a pile, I wonder if she'll start using them to create drawings on the ground. Possibly of things no-ling and no-pony will recognize.
I do hope the pony that's being treated medically will remember that in the future. That could have a drastic effect on how things play out at some point.
9567119
Aye, that's the distinct impression I get as well. The scars from Cicada's horrendous act are too fresh in her mind. I wonder if Pupa will bond with them instead?
To PlagueRat: Thank you once again for the awesome chapter!
9567389
👍
9567457
I notice the rate at which you post chapters seems to be slowing down, is there a reason for that?
9567504
That's normal. Pretty much all multi-chapter stories slow down after the first few chapters. As long as it doesn't slow to a stop, I wouldn't be too worried.
9567504
I like to have 2 or 3 future chapters finished. I needed some time to catch back up due to different things.
9567548
Okay.
For some unknown reason I think that pupa should be really good at runes, I'm talking about Nordic magic rune things here! Magic door ways, enchanted weapons and armour, wooden swords that can cut steel! And so much more!
Although the wooden sword through steel would only be achievable by layering the runes (think Russian doll but in sword form and each layer attached to the other through the pommel or something) and being done perfectly by a powerful practitioner.
9567796
I kind of see runes as being a changeling thing since chrysalis made a golem type doll the "mean" six from some sort of tree voodoo ritual I think runes isn't too far a stretch to try to play within any case pupa learning and trying out spells shall be fun!
I can't think what to say other then, I'm loving this keep up the great work man!
(awkward cough) urrrmm thank for your time.
Next task for Pupa: Towers of Hanoi!
At least the food is being taken care of. Hmmm, how to arrange clandestine meetings with the ponies...
Keep going! ;)
This is good parenting. I learned recently that it's more important to compliment and encourage a child by calling them a hard worker when they succeed, rather than telling them how smart or talented they are. Some kids are naturally inclined to doing well with certain things at a young age, but if you tell them that, they'll be proud of themselves but also feel like they can get by without working at it. If you imply that a child did well because he worked hard, they'll keep trying hard and learn the importance of practicing, even if they already have natural talent.
I wonder..
Did you plan making pupa have a new evolution in changeling history?
Ah, losing the leg from knee down is a minor changeling injury. With them being shapeshifters this checks out.
In all honesty though, would be cool if Pupa really had that kind of raw power instead of making a tiny laser of doom. I mean, if it left a visible pockmark on the stone then it is quite likely that it could have sliced clean through Ordnate's leg. Though it would probably only be a needle sized hole.
Caring mother Chrysalis is best Chrysalis, change my mind.
Honestly, it's not a characterization you see too much in the fanfics, and you absolutely NEVER see it in the show. It'd be nice if the ponies would open up their eyes to this, though. Seriously, Chrysalis breaks down your door demanding her child be returned to her and you react like she's demanding the kingdom for a 3rd time. The hell's the matter with you, Sparkle?
9567389
Personally, I'm hoping that when Chryssie tries to teach Pupa how to shapeshift, the first form that Pupa takes is...
cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*fmmF9LymBuB7uKXVYlshHQ.jpeg
A fast learner even outside her experiences
At last! My power is beginning to manifest! Soon.......
Adorable ~
Tough luck for the captured Royal Guards.
Pupa is only days old in her nymph state.
I wonder when one would normaly try learn magic.
Chrysalis push her hard because she is gifted.
Especially in times like this every advantage can make the difference between life and death.
9570789
Not bad but... How about less nightmare fuel and more like pink fluffy unicorns dancing on rainbows
Pony filly/colt will do for the time being...
9567119
Its a day or two since she lost her Nymphs. That mare needs time to mourn. Also Pupa is the Hives best potencial salvation asset so when possible she will directly train her.
9567177
Nope. The rapid development is adequate since it comes from the locked away mind after all.
9567209
Lets hope so
9567389
Cant imagen what it is so have more than one child and getting to fond out all but one were murdered in there bed... If that isnt traumatic...
Im sure Pupa will be one great big Sister.
Death by adorable plus magic? This Nymph will be unstoppable...
Dang, I was right. Leech(?) did kill the nymphs. That's sad :(
Bruh, I'm sorry but you have done a horrible job developing Pupa. I couldn't give less of a fuck about her. Like... she hasn't driven the story in any meaningful way. It feels like she's just a plot device that exists as something for Chrysalis to care about but otherwise, her existence is meaningless in the story... I just... I can't with this. Literally the only thing I find interesting is the ponies being held captive and all I want if for them to go free and kill the entire hive. Holy shit this attempt at making changelings the protagonists has been a flop. It literally feels like you want the reader to root for the objectively evil side. Frankly I don't think I can keep reading at this rate lol. It's just passing me off more than anything.
11488693
I cannot find fault with you because you are not wrong, but at the same time dang man. That is a bit harsh and deconstructive for what is likely someone’s first story. You are a good writer. Can’t you give some tips on how to avoid those issues in a future story instead?
Are we sure Pupa just trained for levitation?
She seem to have Charmed all our hearts by now
👍
So, is she going to recover more of her previous memories and/or personality? Because right now, there is not much point in there being an HiE aspect to this story.
Well, she IS doing better than Freakazoid with his brick.
Chrysalis probably don't care to mutch about other Ling Larve, I mean she carrs for them like we would for others, but she is not as invested as with her own born ones.