“You’re not authorized to enter the royal wing at this hour,” the Royal Guard next to the door said to Officer Katydid.
“What are you talking about? I am scheduled to enter at this hour every two out of three days,” Katydid replied.
The royal guard paused for just a moment, “The Prince’s lessons were canceled due to-”
“The ceremony?” Katydid asked incredulously. “Who told you that nonsense? Step aside, I am mandated by the Queen herself to continue the tutelage of the Prince.”
He wasn’t, in fact. Chamberlain Eucharis had told him that lessons today were canceled due to the ceremony but Katydid wanted to see the Prince immediately. Said Chamberlain was currently speaking with the top commanders of the Swarm to organize the transition of power.
“Now step aside.”
The Royal Guard, wanting to avoid the Queen’s potential wrath, stepped aside. Katydid wasted no time in opening the door and heading down the hall to Phasma’s room. Katydid raised his hoof to knock, but decided he didn’t want to risk Queen Chrysalis overhearing from the end of the hallway. Instead, he opened the door.
He saw Prince Phasma, now High Marshal, curled up on his bed. Katydid shut the door softly behind him as he walked up to Phasma. Katydid stood there for a moment, watching the nymph’s chest rapidly rise and fall with his breathing.
“Phasma?” He called out softly.
He froze, then slowly sat upright, looking at the ground.
“Hello Officer Katydid. I was… under the impression that I had today off.”
Katydid frowned. “You do, but…. Phasma, what’s wrong?”
Phasma sniffed. “You know, I’m your boss now. Isn’t that weird? Chrysalis just put me straight right at the top of the military-in...in… oh damn it, I don’t know the word for that. What I mean to say is that she didn’t put me in charge of a squad to have me practice leadership skills, she just put me at the top. She hasn’t even taught me any military strategy.”
‘Military what now?’
“Who taught you how to swear?”
Phasma looked up at Katydid. “Chrysalis says she wants a commander, but she trained me to be a Prince. I didn’t even think I’d get this far, yet here I am, with far more power than changelings who have been in the Swarm their entire lives. They’ve got far more experience than I, why am I High Marshal?”
“No ‘ling has seen combat outside of the infiltrators, Prince Phasma. That’s why you have this position, getting assigned to the Swarm just meant a cushy duty filled with standing around. I don’t remember the last time we had a breakthrough from the Underhive. Now, you’ll make an army outta the layabouts I call equals.”
Phasma tilted his head at that.
“It’s true!” Katydid says, “I bet if Chrysalis sent the Swarm out right now, they’d just be that: a swarm. No tactics, no organization. Just chaos running rampant.” He shakes his head, “Against an actual military, we’re hopeless.
“Only the infiltrators have any experience with combat, and that’s mostly the critters they occasionally face out in the wilderness. Wolves, timberwolves, cragadiles, lions, maulwurfs, sand worms, and so on. Sure, the Swarm is trained to fight these too, but they only leave the hive on patrols. The last expedition into the Underhive was at least a hundred years ago!”
Phasma rubbed his muzzle. “Why doesn’t Chrysalis get her hooves on Equestrian strategies? Why does she want me, who has no experience or training in fighting or strategy, to lead the army?”
It didn’t take long for Katydid to come up with an answer. “I think it’s because she believes in you. You have met every obstacle with a determination and zeal few changelings could match.”
“All I’ve done is take a few tests-”
“AND,” Katydid continued, “she’s not alone. We all believe in you, and hope is a powerful thing. As pony as it sounds, hope can mean the difference in war. The hive doesn’t have much at the moment, Phasma. The only way to bring in more materials and goods is the infiltrator network, and that’s already pushed to the max on bringing back love and what information they can gather. You’ve been training all this time, receiving an education that already is above what every other changeling receives.”
“I don’t know how to fight,” Phasma retorted.
“That will be solved starting very soon. Our lessons are to transition into more martial focused ones as soon as possible.”
Phasma sighed. “I’m the High Marshal with orders to radically reform the entire military, because… we need to conquer Equestria. We need to conquer Equestria because we need more food…
“So we need more food. And I take it we can’t compromise other sectors of the hive to get more? If that’s the case, why is our hive so far away from Equestria? Wouldn’t a lot of logistical problems be solved by being closer?”
“You should ask Queen Chrysalis that yourself,” was all Katydid could offer.
“I will. In fact, I have a number of questions I’m going to ask.”
That got Katydid’s attention. “Oh, like what?”
The next day Eucharis woke me up as usual and I made my way into Chrysalis’s study. This has been my daily routine for every day I’ve been a nymph. However, when Chrysalis entered the study, I decided to break tradition.
“Prince Phasma.”
“Queen Chrysalis. Before we start today’s lessons, I have some questions I’ve been meaning to ask.”
Chrysalis raised an eyebrow. “Very well, Prince Phasma. As long as this does not take too long, ask your questions.”
‘Best not beat around the bush, then.’
“Where are my brothers and sisters?”
Chrysalis leaned back.
“I had thought that you knew the answer by now.”
“Then let me rephrase: what killed my siblings.”
She smiled. “Ah, now there’s a question. Let me answer it with one of my own; why do I hide their existence?”
I had to bite back a joke. This was serious, after all. In fact, I wasn’t going to hold anything back.
“Because you killed them.”
Chrysalis frowned, “Infanticide? Do you think so low of me, Prince Phasma?”
“I did. I had feared the worst, and that I would share their unknown fate. Hence me trying to… clear this up.”
“Then I shall clear this up, as you put it. I did not kill my nymphs.”
When she didn’t continue, I pressed further.
“Then what did? And why conceal their existence?”
“I did not conceal their existence. I simply… neglected to inform my subjects about topics they needn’t know.”
“A lie by omission…” I trailed off.
“... Is a valuable tool that you should use often,” Chrysalis picked up, making me snort.
“How consistent of you. And you didn’t answer my question. How did they die?”
Chrysalis rolled her hoof as she spoke, “Wyrm attack, training accident, crushed by a falling rock. The list goes on.”
“Those sound like awfully mundane deaths, considering the responsibilities and power you’ve given me.”
“Changeling royalty make the best leaders. Before you, my predecessors and I maintained a policy of status quo. That meant princes and princesses were put in charge of security teams. The Underhive is very dangerous, you know.”
“You expect me to believe that you go through princes and princesses like a pony goes through toilet paper?”
“Come now, Prince Phasma. You undervalue your kins’ worth. It’s more like a pony goes through candles.”
My expression fell flat.
‘At least she’s being forthcoming with answers. Far more than I expected. I guess I can understand that. Wait, wouldn’t…’
“Wouldn’t an expedition to the Underhive be the perfect opportunity to have me learn and practice leadership skills? To test my mettle?”
“You’re a High Marshal, Prince Phasma, not a squad leader. You are not as expendable as your predecessors. With the exception of dealing with… noteworthy threats… a commander leads from the rear. You have a mind sharper than the fangs of any warrior I have encountered, Prince Phasma. I need a commander, not a drone.”
“How eloquent. I expected more… Oh, I don’t know, intrigue? Betrayal? Rebellion?”
“The Hive would never survive a catastrophe as tumultuous as a rebellion, Prince Phasma. Rebellion. What an alien idea. A pony dissents. A changeling obeys. Though soon enough, ponies will obey, too.”
I sighed. “Right. As well as griffons, dragons… If they died like that, why not, I dunno, make them martyrs? They died protecting the hive, and all that.”
“Because that would support the idea that we are mortal, Prince Phasma. A royal changeling is above concepts such as death. Best to let the memory fade, as well as the shame. I don’t think I have to tell you that none of this leaves this room.”
I thought over what she said.
‘Chrysalis is far more laissez-faire with this than I expected. If she was telling the truth, at least.’
“No vague threats, no ultimatums, no ominous one-liners? You are very… happy today.”
‘Shit, there’s the creepy fanged-smile again. That shit’s nightmare fuel.’
“We grow ever closer to the promised day, Prince Phasma.”
“Ah, there’s the one-liner.”
“Now that your curiosity has been sated, we will begin lessons. An important topic today, your final lesson in changeling biology: love extraction.”
Eh. I think that things are moving much too quickly.
I love this.
also where is the Nightmare Moon tag? Or Thorax or Phalanx?
Yet he never asked the questions on why the Hive wasn't closer to Equestria, or why they've never captured books on Equestrian military procedures, etc. He got the answer on his siblings, but so much remains unanswered.
At least she does seem to value him... as much as Chrysalis can value anyone, I suppose.
Apparently Phasma has to turn a swarm into a functional military with no formal training in the matter, no clue what kind of military he's facing, and no material to work off of... That's no mere molehill he has to climb, that's Olympus Mons.
Nice. I'm enjoying the progression and how you're dealing with conflict so far. Not a super substantive comment from me, but good work nonetheless! Looking forward to the next update.
Is this your first story? Very interesting write. Great Chapter
And I wanted to ask green armor Chrysalis more like from a cartoon or from a comic book about the history of Chrysalis?
I really like the story. I find myself waiting for your updates!
I like where this is going
10543282
You see, there's a good reason why he didn't ask those: I forgot. I can easily put those in the next chapter, though.
10543286
Thank you!
10543313
Yes, its my first story.
10543331
And I look forward to all of your comments
10543274
That seems to be the point of contention. I have around 10-15 arcs planned, and I really don't know how to pace these first three any slower.
I could have included an expedition to the Underhive, but for the reasons stated in the chapter (as well as a lack of combat training yet), it really wouldn't make sense.
To slow down the pace, I would need to fill in the story with something, and I don't have anything for that gap. I'm not about to make a beach episode or other filler, so the story moves forward.
10543410
Hot springs episodes are better than beach episodes, anyway.
Great spot for a main character to reflect, converse, and come to a realization of something if a story gets stuck. Beach episodes are just fan service.
10543410
you could have interlude chapters showing other changeling POV, showing there thought on Phasma
10543586
Or even one that showcases the changeling mindset as it goes about some menial task that is suddenly disrupted by Phasma's changes
10543586
10543617
That sounds like a fun idea, I'll see if it can fit somewhere. If not, oh well.
10543365
Fair enough, then!
10543410
Lmao. I cant help but chuckle at the idea of a beach filler.
But yeah, no thank you.
Another great chapter!
AWESOME story dude! I look forward to the next chapter!
10532888
Meh, it's only another 281,000 words till I'm caught up.
10543854
Gimme prince phasma in a bikini pls
10545001
All of this is why i proposed the Changelings get underground and rule from the shadows after removing the immortal rulers.
Step 1: fak up the immortals
Step 2: Replace the entire nobility
step 3: Rule forever as the secret elite
step 4: Rename yourself ¨Illumiling¨
Step 5: profit
10544401
No seriously I actually need fanart for that. This fic deserves fanart and Phasma in a bikini needs to be part of it.
10548802
I'm looking into getting actual art. We'll see about bikini Phasma.
This sounds exactly like how a despot describes "removing unfit successors". Just replace wyrm attack with "hunting accident" and it sounds like you're somewhere in Medieval Europe, asking the King why there doesn't seem to be anyone else in line for the throne.
10549904
I mean when you're an unaging absolute monarch stalinist statist despot you get the luxury of killing a child or two who might leave succession in question.
I also like how she immediately puts the blame on him if he feels like rebeling, too. A nice touch.
Poor guy doesn't realize he's chowing down out of chrissi's palm
Well... Im 30 and i got killed by my environment almost 5 times... I can see how all her children die by accidents and attacks from strong wild beast.
I wonder how this continues. Are the Nightmaremoon accident and the Invasion of Canterlot not 1 year apart?
10579112
A month or two at best. The first few seasons, up until Twilight's ascension, all canonically occur in a single year. It's a busy time.
The episodes are not all in chronological order either, though the major events (Nightmare Moon, The Wedding, Sombra, etc) are.
The real answer is even simpler: control.
you know reading this makes me think of enders game in a way, not entirely just a bit... and its a welcome thought
10651024
cough governments right now cough
Chrysalis and the grimreaper are smiling buddys i guess since both there smiles seem to promise doom.
10543281
Thorax tag i agree. That cuddlebug needs like Spike his due respect
10543282
At that time of this chapter release i kinda expected Chrysalis want to depopulating the swarm by removing the lower third of the population with worst performance. Making Phasma a scapegoat of some kind.
10543410
Your side story will fill that hole very well
10543472
Unless they forget the swimsuits and suffer
'sandy asscracks'...
10543586
First Fang? Chrysalis? That guy that get almost framed to death?!
10543673
Very nice
10543854
Phasma vs Chrysalis. The owner of the Sand castle to fall first has to buy everyling a ice
10544341
That bearly anything Especially if you use auto read function ( text to speech ).
10544401
Cadance putting Phasma in a heart motive bikini
10545317
Dont spoil the secret masterplan
*playing with moustage*
10548802
And all mares drooling over him?
10549394
*Readers will remember that*
10549904
Very sad and very accurate. I fear for Phasmatodea back than to this day
10563196
Or he playes the parts she expect him to do until its no longer needed.
10651024
Trust is good, control is better... As they say in the old days until now... Very very sad...
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- - ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
i pretty like this chrysalis are the closest to the original what i had readed thus far. But sadly what i saw already in the series the power shift are so hard u cant "go back the old ways" like prey predator circle. that is out of reach.
10543410
This aged well.
10971448
Yes, it was an intentional callback to that comment. However, important stuff still happened in that. Nothing is filler for filler's sake, even the filler-y stuff has important things going on.
Chrysalis words ring hollow... Very unlikely scrubbing her former children from memory is purely beneficial. Shows how even immortality has its limit and up and downs...
Hallo hallo, this was a good chapter. Getting a bit of Equestria at War vibes from this but minus World War 2 Equestria.
Just fade away, just like Phasmatodea will eventually, never to be remembered. Chrysalis just throw another stone to sink her own boat.
11790600
War is coming and it will be raging all over Equestria.
Equestria at war indeed...