As the light of morning sun basked over the village, Rarity was already up and about in her home. Walking through her kitchen wearing a thick, plush robe that covered the much more revealing lingerie she had on her figure beneath. Cheerfully making breakfast for two as pancakes and eggs were cooked and placed beautifully on plates before her with an assortment of fruit carved with care to appear as beautiful as possible on the plate. Presentation was important to her, not just in her craft of sewing but in any act she can apply it to. Daintily she carried them to the table in her dining area. Making sure the jams, syrup and juice was all in perfect placement as well. A meal fit for royalty was what she was after as she was essentially making exactly that.
As strange as things had started out between them Rarity felt that she was allowed to feel an amount of joy in her current situation. Certainly the events from a few nights ago frightened her and all of the events from before that had left her with a deep melancholy. But it made her all the more grateful to be with someone right now, in her own home when she went to bed. So she was allowed to enjoy this, was she not? Sure she hadn't told the others about the things that she and Blueblood had gotten up to together but that didn't seem like it needed to be shared right now. Better to address it after the other crisis had passed. When they all knew where they stood in terms of relationships.
So caught up in her task of meal making she hadn't even noticed the sound of her front door opening, not expecting such a thing with it having been locked. So it was a surprise when she turned her head to see instead of the man she had planned to spend her breakfast with but instead her little sister approaching her. "Good morning Rarity. Wow, that looks delicious!"
"Sweetie Belle! Why... what are you doing here?" Rarity asked, trying to hide the amount of alarm in her voice as her sister began to pull out a chair for herself.
"I figured I had some time before school started so I'd come have breakfast with you. Good thing too. Would have been bad if I hadn't showed up and this all went to waste."
"Yes... yes it would. Um... Sweetie, maybe you should go wash your hands first?"
"Really? Well... I guess I could if you want me to?" She said, not having expected to be deterred from eating the food that was freshly laid out for her.
"Yes, I think we really should. Right now, while there's still time." Rarity insisted, walking over to help her out of her seat.
"Still time for what?" Sweetie asked in reply though found her answer coming down the stairs from Rarity's bedroom. Price Blueblood casually walked down with a large yawn as he stretched his arms out above himself. His presence alone had Rarity worried about Sweetie Belle laying eyes on him but the fact he had decided to descend the stairs in just his boxer shorts and nothing else set an unfamiliar panic in her heart.
"Good morning Rarity, I believe I smell a wonderful breakfast lovingly made for WHO is this… young lady!?" Blueblood shouted in surprise seeing the girl in the room who bared a striking resemblance to Rarity. Her eyes looking him over and moving downward as Rarity's hands clasped around Sweetie Belle's face and trying to cover them.
"Good morning your highness, my little sister decided to come by. Unannounced, to join us for breakfast."
"Good morning, your highness!" Sweetie Belle said, trying to pry Rarity's fingers apart over her eyes to see him standing in front of her nearly naked.
"Good morning everyone!" He greeted them back, retreating up the stairs as he spoke. "I'll just be a moment! Not too long, don't wait for me, thank you then!" As Blueblood ran back up to Rarity's bedroom she sighed and dropped her hands from Sweetie Belle's eyes, her sister turning around to look at her in shock.
"So was that THE Prince Blueblood!?"
"Yes, it was." Rarity replied to her sister.
"So... why was he-"
"Sweetie I know you have a lot of questions and I would be happy to answer them but first I have to make a third plate for breakfast. You may feel free to sit and begin without us."
"Okay... um... Rarity?"
"Yes, Sweetie?"
"Did I ruin something?"
"Oh heavens no, darling. Never." Rarity said, giving her little sister a kiss on the forehead. "Like I said there's a lot to explain but for the moment let's just enjoy our meal together."
"Okay then." Sweetie Belle agreed, taking a seat at the table while Rarity began to cook up a plate for herself. Even though the spread on the plate was immaculate Sweetie was taking her time eating it. Slowly processing the events that just unfolded moments ago. Until Blueblood himself finally came downstairs again, this time in a stunning white attire that seemed far more impressive than what she would normally see in her humble town. "Welcome back your highness."
"Thank you. You may call me Blueblood, no need for formalities. I am afraid I didn't catch your name."
"I'm Sweetie Belle." Sweetie said, extending a hand for her to shake with him. "It's nice to meet you."
"Likewise, dear Sweetie." He said, taking a seat where his plate had been set for him and carefully laying his napkin on his lap. Sweetie had rarely seen a boy... or to be more accurate, a man, behave so properly before. Usually it was just her sister that put importance on etiquette like this. "And doesn't this look delicious, I can hardly wait to try it." Blueblood exclaimed as he cut a piece of pancake delicately for himself while Sweetie Belle watched his movements. Almost fascinated with every action he took. As he began another piece a question finally spilled out of her.
"So how come you were at my sister's house?" The bluntness of the question made him nearly choke on his pancake and Sweetie thought she heard Rarity's spatula hit the pan in surprise.
"Ahem... well, you see, your sister is just the most talented seamstress I've ever met. So much so that last time I spoke with her in the capital she invited me to visit and have a suit made by her personally."
"Oh, I see. She's made several dresses for me too in the past." Sweetie Belle explained.
"I bet each looks absolutely stunning on you." Blueblood complimented and Sweetie couldn't hide the slight blush to her cheeks having a man tell her such a thing.
"Thank you. She always tries her very best and I really appreciate it." Sweetie explained. "Though usually she doesn't want me walking around in my underwear while doing the fittings."
"Um! Yes well... that was my fault I'm afraid. I was er... in a hurry to do some...? Errands? Errands, yes! While I'm still in town, she was very kind in letting me get fitted first thing in the morning."
"Wow, that sure was nice of her. What errands are you going to do?"
"Well... I thought I'd visit..." Blueblood began, struggling with where to take this story next as he tried to dodge the truth of why he'd been here. Though Rarity saved him as she emerged from the kitchen with a plate of her own.
"Now Sweetie Belle, it's impolite to pester someone. Especially when they're a guest."
"Okay... I'm sorry Mr. Blueblood."
"No harm done. Now, shall we eat this fine meal your sister prepared without many questions in between?" He asked, the trio doing exactly that and enjoying what they all agreed was a very fine meal created by Rarity for them. Once it was completed Blueblood made sure to excuse himself and inform Rarity that he planned to return later that night. For them to work on his suit, of course. Giving proper goodbyes to both her and Sweetie Belle he made his way out the door, feeling much more confident in his story holding up as it shut behind him to leave the sisters to talk among themselves.
"You're dating the prince!?" Sweetie Belle asked in amazement of her sister.
"It's not like that." Rarity explained, cleaning up after their meal.
"But... but he was in your room all naked and stuff!"
"Not naked! He was wearing... something. Not much of something but something." She sighed and shook her head. "Of course he would come downstairs at just that moment dressed like that."
"I didn't know boys could look like that..." Sweetie Belle said thoughtfully and there was a twinkle in her eyes that raised her sister's concern even further.
"Sweetie Belle, don't go thinking about... all of that you saw! You're too young to think about it."
"But I already saw it! I can't un-see it!"
"Well... try not to remember it a lot." Rarity said, feeling exhausted despite it being the morning still. "Look I don't really know what I am to Prince Blueblood. Maybe this won't last, he will have to return to the castle eventually."
"Oh. If he does... are you going to go with him?"
"Heavens no, I'm not ready to leave all my friends and family behind. You are all too important to me."
"Okay." Sweetie Belle agreed, a sound of relief in her voice. "Do you love him?"
"I... I care about him. I'm not certain I'm ready to say I love someone just yet. Things are still a little confusing for me right now."
"Yeah... I understand." Sweetie Belle said, surprisingly she was one of the few people that could understand Rarity's feelings better than anyone right now. "Did anyone find Spike yet?"
"...no, not that I've been told. He's still out there somewhere. But I'm sure Twilight will let us know when she's ready to come back with him."
"Okay. Hey Rarity, I love you."
"Oh I love you too, my dearest little sister." Rarity said, giving Sweetie Belle a big hug that felt very warm as she was squished against the soft robe on Rarity's body. "Now off to school with you, alright? Once I've got everyone out of my store I do have to actually open it to serve customers today.
"Alright, I'll see you later Rarity!" Sweetie Belle said happily, leaving the store for Rarity to lock the door behind her as she prepared to get things presentable for work. Even though this morning had been something of a shocker it had left Sweetie Belle with a lot of odd thoughts in her mind. Not the least of which is what it might mean if her sister became married into the royal family. Would she then become a sort of princess herself? That might be fun! Get a tiara that was even more impressive than the one Diamond wore along with a gorgeous gown. Well... another gorgeous gown in the collection she had. Then there was the memory of seeing Blueblood. Not at the table but before, on the stairs.
So far in her life Sweetie Belle had only seen one boy dressed like that and it was Spike. The image of him in his underwear was still present in her mind and even though she was mad at him the idea did make her excited. Now she had the image of Blueblood the same way and it made her wonder how other boys looked like that. Maybe even... without their underwear? Both she and Rarity got to touch Spike before so didn't that mean she deserved the chance to also touch-?
"Sweetie! You awake!?" A voice called out as she was brought out of her thoughts by the sound of Apple Bloom's voice.
"Oh! Uh... yeah, yeah I'm fine!"
"Ya sure? Yer face is all red like an apple and ya were walkin' in a trance. Ain't sick are ya?"
"Nope! Nope, feeling just fine! Shall we get going?" Sweetie Belle said, finding herself to be the third person that was at Carousel Boutique this morning wanting to avoid having to confront some uncomfortable feelings.
After his rather short adventure of fleeing from his home, Spike had come to appreciate the mobily trains offered in a new way compared to the past. What was before just a simple method of transport was now to him a blessing of modern technology. Something he was grateful for even more on the inside of a guest train car as opposed to being a stowaway among the luggage in one of the less filled boxcars. Exiting the guest bathroom, Spike made his way down the hall of passenger cabins. Each with its own door and curtains to allow the travelers privacy as they rode the rails. He had his own on this train car too, with a legitimate ticket no less. Though to be honest the company he shared was less comforting than the time he'd spent with Box Car and Spare Bit sharing a can of beans in that open box car. Arriving at his personal cabin within the passenger car, Spike walked in to find his travel companion waiting on him.
"Took you long enough. Was worried you fell in." Damselfly taunted from her seat in the passenger's cabin. Looking through some magazine that had been provided for the riders to read to pass the time.
"Ha ha. Funny." Spike said, closing the door behind him and sitting across from her. She was still in her human disguise and interestingly enough Spike felt he could still tell her face was her own in either changeling or human form she took.
"You know it's a good thing you decided to come back with me. Going off with that crazy, muscle bound maniac wouldn't have ended well for you."
"You don't know that." Spike argued. "Maybe I could have started a whole new life in the Dragon-Clan territories."
"You would have hated it." Damselfly retorted. "It's all rocky and rough, the plant and animal life there is just as harsh as the people. Nothing like your precious girls back home."
"So you've been there?" Spike asked her and she hesitated for a moment.
"Yes, it was a long time ago but I visited once. There are many caves that a changeling nest can be built in but they're often searched for jewels by the locals."
"Wouldn't that make it easier? For... y'know, what it is you guys do?"
"You would think that's the case but the people there are thick skinned and breathe fire. Plus they fight each other as much as they're willing to fight an enemy. If you're suspicious enough, those are grounds alone for a beating."
"Huh." Spike said, still wondering if that was true or not. Sure Devour did beat him up but Spike swung back just as much. Afterwards he made sure he was okay too. Maybe it was just a different kind of community than he was used to. This made him consider something else. "Damselfly? Why did Devour say you weren't 'just another changeling'?" To his question she let out a heavy sigh and put the magazine down.
"I knew this was going to come up eventually."
"Well... you don't look like the other changelings I saw either. Or act like them at all. So why is it everyone thinks you're such a big threat?"
"Fine, I'll tell you. But first..." Sliding to the end of her bench she patted the side next to her. "Come over here and lay down."
"What? Why!?"
"Because you're exhausted." Damselfly said plainly. "You've been on the run for days and you just got your ass beat by a grown man. You need to sleep."
"I can't... if I do, Luna will find me."
"Then tell her you're coming home when you see her. Just get over here." Grumbling at her order Spike did as she asked, moving from his side of the train car to hers and sitting next to her. Damselfly let out a frustrated groan and put her hand on his head, pulling it down onto her lap. "Just get comfortable already. So, who do you want to sleep on?"
"Can't you just stay like you are if we have to do this?" Spike groaned, feeling like he was being treated like a child. "Besides, if you're going to tell me a story I'd rather hear it from your voice than someone else."
"...very well. I still can't understand your insistence on me looking like myself." Damselfly agreed, Spike pulling his legs up on the bench to rest on it. Her lap was admittedly a much more comforting place to lay his head than the seat. "Well, you've already said it yourself. I'm different. What you'd call a Changeling Princess."
"You're royalty?" Spike asked, trying not to get too comfortable.
"Not exactly. We're not royalty in the sense of you humans and your kingdoms. Chrysalis is a Changeling Queen simply because she can produce a hive of her own and control them as she wishes. Like her I have the ability to lay eggs and have children."
"So... you can become a queen too if you wanted?"
"If I wanted."
"...do you want that?"
"Ha! Please. Being responsible for a brood of brats, having to find a place to make a home and then somewhere else to feed off of victims. Enough to support my whole hive. It all sounds like such a hassle. Besides, eventually I'd have a princess of my own and that never ends well."
"What do you mean?" Spike asked, feeling more tired but also fascinated by her words.
"When a Changeling Queen has a princess of her own she raises the princess up to do one of two things. Either to go off and find some males to make a new hive somewhere else, or to kill the existing queen and take over as the new leader."
"Wait a minute?" Spike leaned up to look at her. "You killed your own mother!?"
"Don't interrupt." Damselfly said, forcing his head back down onto her lap. "No, I didn't kill my own mother. Though she probably would have been proud of me if I had tried. My mother was... unique. She didn't just have me, she had my sister as well."
"Sister? But aren't you all like brothers and sisters in the whole hive?" Spike asked, feeling sleepier.
"Biologically, yes, we're all part of the same hive and brood. But when there's more than one princess the queen usually chooses one of the two and kills the other. This prevents too many possible enemies for her in the future and from the hive becoming fractured. Instead our mother thought that having some competition would make us stronger. Force us to work harder."
"Oh... what was... your sister's name?"
"Mayfly."
"Hmm. I like your name better."
"So did mother. In fact mother often liked me more than my sister, which just made May try all that much harder to earn her affection. Affection I never wanted from her. It was... horrible. I hated every moment of it. Being told I need to do more or I'd eventually be killed by May, while being praised in front of May to drive her that much harder to work. If I'd had the opportunity I would have fulfilled a queen's ultimate fear and joined forces with my sister to murder her. But May would never allow it. She needed that approval from mother so desperately."
"You could... have just... ran away." Spike suggested with a yawn.
"That's all I've been doing since you found me dying in that forest. Look how far it got me. Bringing Twilight Sparkle's bratty kid back to her." Damselfly began to stroke Spike's hair, his breathing slowing as he began to fall asleep on her lap. She let out a sigh, looking out the window of the train as they traveled. "I hope you got away from it all, May. Doing whatever it is you want to. We're finally free of her forever."
Sweetie Belle let out a sigh of relief as her school day was coming to an end. While normally school wasn't something she excelled at or was excited to attend she was pleased that it was a normal, routine thing still in her life. Something to keep doing and progressing in to forget the less happy memories she was working through. Though today had been more frustrating for her in a different sense. Even though she shouldn't be thinking about it, the picture of Blueblood in just his boxers stuck in her mind throughout the day and she wasn't able to let it go. In fact it would probably be coming to bed with her tonight where that pillow she kept nearby for things other than sleeping would see some attention later. Forgetting about that for now she was happy to collect her books in her bag and leave her class room to make her way outside and back home. Maybe the girls would even want to hang out for a while before it got too late.
That had been the plan at least, until someone unexpected approached her from behind and tapped her on the shoulder. "Hey, Sweetie Belle?" The voice called out, one she recognized but rarely ever spoke directly to her.
"Rain Catcher?" Sweetie asked, looking up at the taller boy. "Sorry but I don't know where Scootaloo is. She's probably outside already."
"No no, I'm actually here to talk to you." He said, smiling at her in a way that made her a little uncomfortable but also curious.
"Me? What did you need?"
"Well, thing is I heard you were single now?" He asked, Sweetie Belle feeling very confused at that statement. "That the thing with you and Spike ended?"
"W-what!? Wait a minute, what do you know about me and Spike!?"
"Nothing really, just I guess he's left town now, right?"
"Y-yeah... he's... out." Sweetie Belle said, her heart pounding as she held her book bag against her chest. How much did he know? What did he know!? Who told him there was anything between the two of them in the first place?
"So I was thinking, since he's out now, did you want to go out sometime?" Rain Catcher asked her, that smile on his face making her feel all the more uncomfortable. He wasn't unattractive for a boy but she barely knew him. Just that he got into a fight at that party with Spike. The one where things got out of hand for her between the two of them. Now here Rain Catcher was talking to her, showing interest in her. It made her face hot and her heart beat faster.
"But hold a second, I thought you and Scootaloo were together?"
"Oh that? Yeah well, we sort of broke up last night." Rain Catcher said.
"Really!? But... but why!?"
"Couldn't tell you. I guess she just got tired of it, y'know. So, I was thinking maybe we could try hanging out together?" One of his arms came up and dropped on her shoulder. It wasn't gripping her hard but it felt heavy, like it was holding her in place. Sweetie didn't understand any of this but something felt wrong.
"Look I... I don't think that's a good idea. Scootaloo is one of my best friends and even if she wanted to break up then I think it's best that we don't hang out like it didn't happen. I didn't even think you liked me."
"Of course I like you, who wouldn't like you? Girl like you is completely gorgeous. Besides it's just two people hanging out, what's wrong with that?"
"But... I-" As she was struggling to come up with an answer someone else beat her to it.
"What are you doing?" Another voice spoke up, one that Sweetie Belle knew distinctly. She turned her head to see her friend Scootaloo standing nearby, looking at the two of them with a horrified face. "What's... what's going on here?"
"Scootaloo?" Sweetie Belle asked confused, Rain Catcher's hand finally leaving Sweetie's shoulder as he turned to face her.
"What's with that look? Something the matter?"
"Why are you talking to Sweetie Belle like that? What are you doing!?" Scootaloo demanded, approaching him with a pained face.
"Look, babe, we talked about this last night, didn't we? You said we should stop."
"I... I said... I said we should stop. But I never said we should stop... stop us!"
"Oh? That right?" Rain Catcher asked, seeming far less broken up than her. "Guess I didn't really understand then. Cause you didn't wanna continue. So I figured we were stopping."
"I wasn't ready..." Scootaloo whispered. "I told you I wasn't ready and you said that was okay!"
"I did say it was okay. So we stopped, y'know, for good. I thought we agreed on that?" Rain Catcher asked and Sweetie watched as the tears welled up in Scootaloo's eyes looking up at the boy who had been flirting with her moments ago.
"How could you? After all of that? After all of that it's just... it's just over now?"
"You're not going to make a scene or anything are you?" Rain Catcher asked. "We don't have to act like it's a big deal."
"It's a big deal to me!" Scootaloo suddenly shouted. "I trusted you! I trusted you and I defended you! But you still... Diamond Tiara was right. She was right about everything. You're horrible!"
"You didn't think I was so bad last night when I had my hand in your-" his sentence didn't get to continue as Scootaloo's hand swung upward with a slap that hit hard enough to make him stumble. Sweetie Belle backed up from the two of them, all the remaining kids in the hallway did as well to give them space as Rain Catcher felt the area where she had hit him. "That make you feel better about it?" He asked her, Scootaloo's hands balled into fists at her side and tears running down her face. "If it makes you feel better, you use your mouth better than Tiara did too."
"I hate you!" Scootaloo shouted, raising her hand to punch him. Though Rain Catch caught her hand by the wrist this time. Undeterred she raised her other hand but he caught that one too just as easily.
"First one I let you have because you're a girl, but you keep this up and I might forget that." Rain Catcher warned, letting her arms go and pushing her away. "With a boy's hair cut like yours it would be easy anyway." Scootaloo looked about as crushed as Sweetie Belle had ever seen her but she still balled her fists up, getting ready to approach him again. Before she could do anything more though a black blur ran across the hallway and tackled Rain Catcher to the ground. Everyone moved aside as Sweetie Belle was able to make out the sight of Rumble wrestling on the ground with Rain Catcher, the two boys trying to get past each other's hands to punch one another.
"What's going on out there!?" The sound of Miss Cherilee's voice cried out over the crowd egging the boys on to continue to fist fight each other. As she was standing there, dumbstruck by everything that had happened, a hand landed on her shoulder again. A matching one landing on Scootaloo's with a girl appearing between them.
"Time tah go!" Apple Bloom said as she pulled her friends around to face away from the fighting boys and head out of the school to the front doors. How things had escalated so quickly from moments ago when Rain Catcher started talking to her Sweetie Belle couldn't figure out but what did stay with her was the look on Scootaloo's face. Heart broken and betrayed. It made her remember that morning in her sister's house when she learned about Spike and she made sure to grab hold of Scootaloo's hand and hold it tightly as they left that noisy mess behind them.
Deep within a cave that had been dug some time ago by changeling hands sat a young girl. Stones in her arms that she had collected that were all relatively the same size and shape. A distance away was a small pool of water that had formed from a nearby stream that was leaking into the cavern. Not enough to flood, but just enough to make a pool with a bit of depth to it. It was here she had devised her game. Taking one of the rocks in her right hand, she threw it into the air and watched it arc until it landed into the water with a satisfying plunging noise. Close to the center but not as close as she wanted. Still it was better than her other attempts, a trail of pebbles that hadn't quite reached the water lined the floor of the cave leading up to the pool. Her skill in her self made game was improving.
"Damselfly." A womanly voice spoke up from behind her, making the girl jump. "What do you think you're doing?" Dropping the pebbles in her arms, Damselfly turned to look up at the woman before her. Covered in a green gown with a black crown atop her head. Surprisingly clean for how dirty everything else was down here. Damselfly herself was wearing a white dress that was dirty and had holes in it she had found for herself some time ago as most of the changelings around her never even bothered with clothing.
"Nothing, Mama." Damselfly answered her, looking away from the harsh gaze that stared down at her.
"That didn't sound like 'nothing' to me. Wasting time again is more like it." She replied, Damselfly feeling a chill run up her spine. She hadn't broken any rules her mother had set for her, but that didn't mean punishment was far behind anyway. "Did you eat today?"
"Yes, Mama."
"Good girl. Tell me how you did it." She knew the question meant more than just finding out if her daughter was fed well. She wanted to know how well she performed out in the world.
"I went to school during their recess time and found a girl. She liked a boy so I stayed and talked with her until I could drain her enough that she got sleepy. Then I went and found the boy and told him I'd give him as many kisses as he wanted. So I did until he got sleepy too. Then I came back home."
"That's all?" Damselfly nodded her head. "Did anyone see you come back home?"
"No Mama, I made sure of it."
"Hmmm. Open your mouth." Doing as she was told Damselfly opened her mouth wide, her mother kneeling in front of her and checking the inside of it, lifting the edges of her lips up. "I see your fangs have come in strong enough. Did you bite anyone to drain them?"
"No Mama." She said through the fingers holding her mouth open. When she seemed satisfied her mother let go of her jaw and stood up.
"Why not?"
"Because there didn't seem to be a reason to..." She answered, not really understanding why she had to bite someone. She could do it. She knew the venom in her fangs would make a victim that much easier to drain the energy from. Sometimes she even felt the urge to do so instinctively around a human. But it seemed pointless most of the time."
"Is that so?" Her mother's wings buzzed lightly as she turned her head. "Your sister is finally home. Let's find out how well she went hunting, shall we?"
"...yes, Mama." Damselfly agreed, hating this part the most. She didn't want to compare their efforts. She didn't even want to talk about how she got her food. Given the chance Damselfly just wanted to do what she had to do to survive and then be left alone. Her mother often encouraged her to go play games with the other human children if she liked them so much. That way she could learn more about them and then much more easily drain the life from them. But that wasn't really playing with others, that was hunting them. She wanted to play, not hunt.
Exiting the chamber from where Damselfly had made her little game area, she followed her mother through the winding tunnels of their nest. Other changelings walked, crawled or flew around them. All making space for their queen and princess as they passed by. None stopping to speak or even greet their rulers, simply continuing to work as they were supposed to. Even if this was home it often felt cold to her. Besides her mother there was only one other person in the hive that was like her. The other young green haired girl with black skin and insect-like wings approached them from the entrance of the hive. "Hello Mayfly, did you eat today?"
"I did, Mother." Mayfly answered. Most humans couldn't tell one changeling apart from another but Damselfly could see the differences between her and her sister clearly. She was built stockier, stronger, thicker. Damselfly often felt like a thin branch in comparison to Mayfly who's body seemed to show it was built to be tougher. Not only that where Damselfly let her hair grow as long as she pleased Mayfly always kept hers cut short. Not seeing a need for such a thing of vanity.
"Very good. Now tell us how you did it." Her mother knelt down next to Damselfly, putting a hand on her shoulder to make her face her sister. Observing her Damselfly could see that Mayfly was bruised up. Her face had a scratch on it and her eye looked like it had been punched.
"I fed on one girl and three boys today." Mayfly answered curtly, though kept her eyes directed downward.
"That's very impressive. How did you do it?" Their mother asked, keeping an eye on her one daughter and a grip on the other.
"I found a girl by herself, so I waited until she let her guard down and drained her until she fell asleep. Then I went and found the boy she liked."
"Go on. Give us even more details." Her mother urged Mayfly on, Damselfly able to tell that her sister didn't want to continue.
"The boy was with his friends... they... didn't like her. Said she was a pest. So I kept pestering them until it made them angry. When they tried to leave I pestered them more and they tried to hit me. They kept at it until they got tired and left."
"I see... so you fed on their hate? Not their love?"
"Yes, mother. I did." Mayfly answered and her mother let out a deep sigh.
"Hate is an emotion you can feed on but it will make you sick if you eat too much. Damselfly, did you eat on hate today? Or love?" Her mother asked her and Damselfly remained quiet. The hand on her shoulder gently slid down behind her and grabbed her by the wings, pinching them together and making her wince with pain.
"L-love! I... I ate off of love. From just one boy." Damselfly explained, trying not to show her pain.
"And the girl he actually liked." Her mother continued. "Numbers don't matter as much if you have to give up so much energy to get just the scraps of what humans offer. You should try to be more like your sister, Mayfly."
"Yes... Mother." Mayfly said, her hands balling up into fists.
"Hmm... you two should be old enough by now to extract love the way a changeling is meant to. Perhaps it's time to move on from such simple lessons as school yard crushes and kisses to something more mature. Tomorrow I'll show you both how a woman takes from a man.
"Yes, Mother." Said Mayflay
"Yes, Mama." Said Damselfly
"Very well, if you've both eaten today then go do whatever you wish. Your mother has to help expand the brood further." Walking away from her daughters she called three males to follow after her, heading to her own bed chambers. Damselfly only knew a little bit about what went on in there when the males would go with her. They wouldn't come back and about a month later her mother would lay a clutch of eggs that needed to be cared for. Always the chance of another princess like herself to hatch from one. Always the chance she could be replaced if she let her mother down too much.
Once she was out of sight Mayfly turned around to head back towards the entrance. Damselfly noted this and followed after her. "Where are you going, May?"
"Back to get more food." She answered.
"But you already ate. Why not just stay home tonight?"
"You heard what mother said. It wasn't enough. If I can't get it right then she'll get mad at me and replace me."
"Who cares? Just stay home today." Damselfly protested, grabbing her sister by the wrist. "You know, I made up a game in one of the empty chambers in the hive. We could play it together."
"Games? You're thinking about games!?" Mayfly pulled her hand away hard from her sister. "Of course you can think about games. Mother loves you the best!"
"She doesn't... she really doesn't love me at all. She's just saying that."
"Well then I wish she'd stop saying it!"
"So do I..." Damselfly agreed. "May, please, just stay home? With me? We can just stay home together and play."
"You can stay home and play. The Perfect Princess who can do no wrong. Every time mother lays more eggs she's looking for a daughter to replace me. I know it! I can feel every time she looks at me. Like she wants me gone."
"May, don't-" Damselfly tried to reach for her but her sister pushed her away onto the ground.
"Why do you even care? She's just going to kill one of us anyway." Mayfly asked.
"Because... you're my sister. You're my family."
"Well then stop thinking of me as your family. You're just my competition. You want a family, go kill one of those humans and take their place. I'm going out to make sure I'm the next queen." With that Mayfly crawled up out of the caverns of the hive back towards the entrance, leaving her sister behind to reach out for her.
"May, don't just go!" Damselfly called out, her eyes adjusting to realize she wasn't in her hive anymore. Instead of a tattered white dress pulled from a trash can she was dressed as a human woman in black and sitting inside of a train car. Groaning she rubbed her eyes, looking down at the dragon blooded boy who was sleeping comfortably using her lap as a pillow. Sighing she took in a deep breath and gazed out the window to see the sun had set and it was already nightfall. They'd be at their destination tomorrow and from there who knew what the future held for either of them. "Jeez Luna, the least you could do is give me some good dreams for once when I'm going out of my way to bring this brat to your doorstep."