Strategically but inconspicuously combing through the beach brimming with creatures takes some time, but eventually 387 has to come to a conclusion which doesn't shed good light on the situation at all.
She's not here.
The second discovery which he'd found earlier was that while the Quest Security ponies have been using one partially cleared out entrance to the jungle in order to bring materials and food. Discounting his own and 93's points of entry, there was one more place further on the beach where someone had entered the jungle as well. Unlike Quest's guys, they were trying to be sneaky.
He has a good amount of recent experience at sneaking through forests which should be possible to translate into a jungle, but he's fully aware that there's a high chance that him straight up following the faint trail could end the same way as it did on the cruise ship. There's only one way to avoid it or at least lessen the impact.
387 lets out an annoyed sigh and heads off to Chrysalis's umbrella stuck in the sand.
"Your Majesty," he sits down next to her.
"And here I was actually starting to enjoy myself. Do you know that the drones managed to freak out a pair of crystal pony guards? Pretty funny, no?" she replies without even opening her eyes.
"Your Majesty, this is serious."
"It always is with you and that's your biggest flaw," she sits up, rolls her eyes, and pats 387's head as patronizingly as she can, "Alright, tell mommy what's bothering you."
387 tames his desire to hurl when hearing Chrysalis say 'mommy' in that half-sultry tone, and goes straight to the point:
"Gem isn't on the beach and someone carefully entered the jungle away from the mob of creatures to avoid being seen. I can't help thinking that it was her, and the more I turn what happened to me inside my head the more I think she's somehow involved both in the ship sinking and..."
"Aaaand?"
"Look, I don't know, and I'm going to follow the tracks. I just wanted to tell you what I suspected in case I woke up later stuffed inside a python with zero idea how I got there."
"Take 99380 with you," is all Chrysalis says before lying down again.
"What? Why?" 387 blinks in surprise.
"Tell the drone to shut up and sit on your back or something but take it with you."
"I don't understand."
"That's an order, 387."
"Fiiine," he breathes out through gritted teeth, "You know you could just tell me-"
"Meh, why waste time telling you my magnificent plans if you end up mind-wiped again anyway," she snickers.
387's eye twitches, but as much as he hates to admit it...
...she's right.
A plan based on his information formed inside her head is much safer than in his own.
"99380, get over here! You're getting a point ahead of time just in case."
"YAAAAAA -COMING- AAAAAAYYYY!"
[10013:1, 20100:4, 36658:3, 99111:2, 99380:4, 99526:2, Smiley: :-) :-) :-) :-) :-),
65536:1]
***
With 99380 on his back, 387 carefully scans his surroundings. A broken branch here, a leaf stomped into the ground there. The signs of someone heading deeper into the jungle are there for someone with 387's experience to notice.
YOU ARE READING
They're... ON HOLIDAY?
Fanfiction[SEQUEL TO: They're EVERYWHERE!] Several years after the changeling invasion of Canterlot, queen Chrysalis gets an invitation to attend a cruise followed by a stay in a luxury holiday resort on an island belonging to the Griffon Empire. Supposedly...
