Chapter 35
The next dawn came way too fast.
But I suppose the sun doesn't stop for anypony. Well, I guess it could for Celestia, but she wouldn’t do that without a very good reason and… even I could admit that this didn’t count.
“Be careful,” Luna said as we stopped by the ramp over to the pink and white royal airship.
“I promise,” I answered and smiled up at her, “We’ll be back soon. And when we do, we’ll stay as long as we can.”
There was a buzzing of wings and Amber landed next to us, “Sir,” she said, “Queen Chrysalis and Princess Skiter want to talk to you.”
I wouldn’t mind seeing Skitter before we left, but Chrysalis… I could do without.
“You know they won’t give up until you do,” Sunset said and rolled her eyes.
“Yeah,” I sighed, “But I don’t have time to go down into the hive right now.”
“That’s not a problem, sir,” Amber said, “They are inside the docking tower.”
I blinked at her and then nodded, looking at Luna, “I better go see what they want.”
“Best go investigate,” Luna agreed and gave me a small kiss before she walked over to where Sparks were talking with one of the ship officers.
Sunset nodded, “I’m going onboard and get out of the wind, see you at our quarters,” she said, “Want me to bring your bag?”
“Thanks,” I said and shrugged it off, allowing her to take it in her magic before she turned and headed up the ramp.
I turned to Amber, “Lead the way.”
She did so, bringing me into the docking tower and to a free chamber, usually used to store goods to be loaded onto one of the airships, but for the moment it was empty.
If by empty, you meant ‘contains a Changeling Queen, a Changeling Princess and three dozen changelings.
All of whom were looking towards me as Amber opened the door.
That’s… a bit creepy.
But allies or not, Changelings are predators and it wouldn’t do to show weakness before them so I forced myself not to break step as I walked into the chamber, “Queen Chrysalis. Princess Skitter,” I said and gave them a slight bow, “You bellowed?”
Chrysalis got up from where she had been lounging on a pile of stacked canvas, “Ah, my little predator,” she said as she slowly moved closer through the gloomy light of the chamber, “It is time you fulfill your promise to me.”
“This isn’t a good time,” I said and raised my head to met her eyes as she approached, “I don’t think we will be able to just move around the countryside looking for-”
Chrysalis moved past me, brushing her side against mine as she rounded me, walking around to face me again before she paused, “You would break your promise to the Hive then, my little pony?” she almost purred, “We have waited for more than two years, I think we have been more than patient. You did promise me… you promised my daughter…”
“I’m not breaking my promise to you,” I said, “But we are going for a specific reason. The talks between the Yeti and the Griffons are going to take up all the time while we are there, we won’t be able to just go around looking for the other Hive.”
She took a step forward, making me look up towards her, “And after the talks?” she continued.
I refused to be intimidated and looked up at her, meeting her eyes, “After, it might be a possibility,” I admitted, “But we have no idea how long it will take and I have a time when I have to be back to Nocturnis.”
“So it is decided then. My daughter and thirty changelings will accompany you,” Chrysalis said and walked past me, “I expect success in your mission, Daughter,” she said without looking back.
The door closed behind her.
I blinked back after her before I turned to Skitter and her large group of Changelings.
Skitter almost looked slightly embarrassed, “Sir.”
I rubbed my forehead next to my horn, “Hello, Skitter. Good to see your mother hasn't changed.”
Getting up from where she had been sitting, Skitter walked over to me and I blinked, looking up at her,
“But you have,” I said and shifted my wings, “You’re taller.”
“So are you, sir,” Skitter said with a small smile before her wings buzzed softly, “...Can we do this?” she then asked.
I sighed, “if you mean, can we squeeze thirty changelings onto the ship, then I think so, yes. If you’re asking if it’s possible to actually make contact, yet alone peaceful contact with another hive, I honestly have no idea even if we do find the place.”
Shaking my head, I then smiled and hugged her with a wing, “Good to see you again, Skitter.”
“You too, sir,” the changeling princess agreed and hugged back.
Letting go, I leaned a bit to the side to see thirty pairs of slightly glowing eyes watching us. As I looked at them, every single one of them tilted their heads slightly as one.
Seriously, changelings… so cute. Also creepy. But mostly cute.
I sighed softly and shook my head before I looked up at Skitter, “Okay then, let’s get you and your group moved onboard and let the Captain and the guards know that you’re coming along. I assume you would prefer one of the cargo bays over quarters?”
Skitter nodded, “Yes, sir,” she agreed with a small smile, “Plenty of time to make it comfortable.”
“Just don’t cover it all with resin,” I said and rubbed my forehead with my hoof, “That stuff doesn't come off easily and I don’t think Sunshine would like it all over her airship.”
Seriously, Changeling resin did not come off, it was like superglue or something.
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Nice. I always wondered if you stop your chapters from hitting 1k words. Cause they all stop just before then.
10959850
If you stopped and looked at the chapters of all the stories in this series combined, then you'd see that there are quite a few more chapters under 1k, rather than over.
10959857
Yes. That is why I asked if it was intentional or not.
Chrysalis's "Always in control and deciding" attidute is always great to read. She known from beginning, that Page will be forced to refuse, so what plot she is doing by him this time?
10959850
maybe she's trying to play match-maker with skitter and page?
10959869
Wrong comment I think my gamer
Skitter returns! I missed her.
The changelings of Hiver's stories are always cute and creepy to read about. I love it.
10959869
Oh come on... Celestia doesn't need yet another mare (if a changeling can be considered a mare) to get into Page's harem before she can.
31 Cuddlebug's make for great company ♡
The Changelings could spy on the Yeti's during recess between talks. Also there emotivore nature makes em perfect in talks and to keep pesky assasins away
Time for a 32 Cuddlepile! 31 Changelings and Page
Skitter
A marking of pheromone of the Equestrian Hive. Clever Queen!
And so Chrysalis strikes again with her moving on with her plans in a way that Page can't fully deny her. At least he will have some time to talk with Skitter on the trip...
If she doesn't find a way to have some Happy Fun Times with him!
man, chrissy has turned into that friend of your parents that's always trying to get you to date her daughter and its fantastic
O,o this is going to be fun==
Page: *sigh* I should have known I couldn't stop Chrysalis from being herself but is both you and 30 changelings really necessary?
Skitter:
Sir. The last time the Hive allowed you to leave Canterlot on an airship...IT CRASHED.
Page:
.......point taken.
10960060
..... point taken.
Page: Did I ever mention how creepy your mom is?
Skitter: Your point?
Page: She's really starting to resemble Cadance, and not because your mom has taken her form again. Of course, it's pretty creepy about Cadance, too. They're both trying to play matchmaker with me and several mares... and you... and... other fema--oh, hell! I forgot about Griffonstone! Cadance will no doubt try to hook me up with Gilda, too!
Skitter:
10959977
Certainly a lot better than she ever ended up in canon (Midnight unfortunately isn't aware of most of that)
10959858
Sorry, i just realised that i misread your earlier comment. My bad...
Page they just marked you XD
Just kiss already!
Oh.....yes
Page....Page go lewd the changelings!
You can have an orgy!
10960105
Considering Midnight/Twilight's personality she would probably really want to look into all the differences, choices, and history of this timeline.
So if there is a chance for her to return to her original timeline she would know how to fix now known mistakes and make things better
10960186
probably not safe for their health, what with him accidentallying a princess into existence once
10960104
Does Page even know who Gilda is? Because Cadance and Chrysalis have no business knowing, she's basically nobody even by griffon standards. They seem to be trying to hook him up with the leaders which... Well, Griffonstone doesn't have a leader because Grandpa Gruff would never tolerate it.
Adorable as always
There are so many things that can go wrong with this trip
10959911
Did not consider that
10960186
I did not consider that, but as soon as it was mentioned it became obvious, especially since the changelings in this world uses pheromones
10960219
Meh. What's the worst that can happen?
Chrysalis: "Page!? I sent 30 lings and Skitter to go with you to Griffonstone to find the other hive--and every one of them is now a princess! WHAT DID YOU DO!?
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
Page: "I'm sorry, but I couldn't help it. Did you know you bugs are just SOOOOO cute! Creepy, but SOOOOOOO CUTE!!
Chrysalis: "wait.... why are there 62 changeling princesses here?
Page: "Oh, yeah, we forgot to mention. We've got good news. We found the other hive! And they're all SOOOOOOOO CUTE, TOO!! Creepy, but CUUUUUUUTTTTTEEE!!!
Chrysalis: "
Page: "By the way, did I mention they have a cute princess, too? Just like Skitter.
Skitter: "Yeah, only now, they have 30 additional princesses. Just like us.
Chrysalis: "
Page: "We're all going to establish a new Hive at Nocturnis. It's going to be called 'PAGE-HIVE'! Wooot!
Chrysalis: "whathaveidone???
10960104
A twilight will know who gilda is by association with rainbowdash
Well I figure if you're making buildings/hives out of the stuff then it better be pretty damn tough.
Off on another voyage to disaster, now if only my actual PC was working properly so I could get on with my own writing...
10959903
At this point, I could see Chrysalis herself giving Celestia a push in the right direction by “innocently” asking her if, seeing how the princess seems so very reluctant and everything, she could have her spot with Page instead...
10960496
Well, a Chrysalis shaped clue-by-four is still a clue-by-four, one of several possible Mk 4 variants. We shall have to wait and see which one is actually used.
10960268
O by the Hivemind... Thats ... Genius ♡
Amidst the Shipping HQ ruins...
Discord: Cadance, I came as soon as I finished my sandwhich after I heard!
*A pink hoof burst out of the rubble.*
Discord: What caused all this?
*Cadance waves her hoof around wildly.*
Discord: Chrysalis did what?
*Her hoof flopped.*
Discord: She tried to kiss Page, finally?
*FLOP!*
Discord: Not exactly, but you could see it in her eyes?
*Her hoof hit the ground hard.*
Discord: There was hunger there, you say?
Like a puppy version of the borg, or if those aren't similar enough, any scifi robot zombie will do.
Because they are buggos, that is all.
10960104
Cadance: ...who the feathers is Gilda? You are talking about the wrong griffin! SUNBURST! Look thru my notes on non-pony candidates!
Sunburst: Hmmm...Found it! Chapter 27 and Chapter 28 of "Duties". The griffin in question is actually Silverlining, daughter of King Darkfeathers. Lion body. Falcon wings and head. Tried to flirt with Page a bit during a Saldian hunt and fed Page fish so good that he considered marrying her for exactly four seconds.
Cadance: See? NOT Gilda! You're welcome silly Comment Section!
Sunburst: Also according to the notes, Cadance tried to bribe King Darkfeathers with gemstone trade agreement to get Page and Sunset to buck each other during the diplomatic visit. That...was a bit of an overkill in my opinion...
Cadance: SUNBURST! YOU DIDN'T NEED TO REMIND THEM OF THAT!
10960659
indeed they are...buggos that need huggos.
10960268
You sent The Savior of the Hive to make peace with other hives and He found them creepy, but Sooooooo Cuuuuuutttttttteeeeeee!
10960542
It’s mostly a possibility that crossed my mind because it seems very in character for this version of Chrysalis. I’m pretty sure she genuinely does like Page by now (in her own “don’t project your pony sentiments on a changeling queen, you foal!” way, of course), plus if I recall correctly she sees herself as her hive’s past while Skitter is its prospective future. That means that on the one hand she’s actually not going to mess with her daughter’s relationship with Page too flippantly because even aside from personal feelings that’s an important political connection, but on the other she’s probably quite aware of what’s going on between Page and Celestia and not so above it all as to not give that matter a decent nudge -- again, all just for the good of the hive if anyone were to ask and she considered them worthy of an answer.
And on the off chance that Celestia were to actually accept her offer in that scenario, or make an even more unlikely offer to share in return? Well...she still wouldn’t get between Skitter and Page if she could at all help it, but surely an old queen who’s done her damnedest for her hive, whose glory days are behind her, and who wasn’t even allowed to die in peace deserves some kind of small retirement benefit.