To Ne'er Come Down Again

The first two weeks of having Chrysalis around were, for the most part, refreshingly pleasant. While she was nearly as amorous and forward as ever, she seemed to calm down slightly after a few days. Despite Anon’s initial surprise and concern with having a nefarious and staggeringly lustful roommate, he found himself growing acclimated with the arrangement - that was, until he came home from work one afternoon and discovered that she’d been doing some renovations.

Seeing himself into his apartment, intent to shower off after a long shift at the bowling alley, Anon had stumbled into his bathroom and found his guest clinging to the ceiling. A dark, viscous substance dribbled from her maw, while she affixed resinous gunk onto the ceiling’s corner. Neither budged for a moment, before the man’s shoulders slumped.

“No,” he growled, pinching the bridge of his nose, “absolutely not!”

Unflinching, the Matriarch leered down at him. “Then you tell me where I should construct the nest! Given the claustrophobic and shabby state of your hovel, it’s not like there are many options.”

“How much room do you need? I mean, a clutch of eggs can’t be that large, can it?” he groaned, peering up at the horrific mass she’d been depositing onto his restroom ceiling.

“You underestimate how utterly prolific a changeling Queen is. My last clutch numbered no fewer than a dozen,” she smugly chuckled. Twisting her head to the side, at a wholly unnatural angle, she grinned down at him. “So unless you have a better place for our impending offspring, this is where our nursery shall be.”

Screwing his eyes shut, Anon held up a hand. “I thought you said we had some time to prepare before - you know...”

Hopping from the ceiling and landing on her hooves, Chrysalis trotted to her mate. “Roughly two months, depending on a few factors. So long as I’m able to rest and you keep me well fed, I may just deliver within a shorter period of time.”

Anon was solely to blame for his ignorance. Upon hearing that he’d fertilized the changeling, a fact which she was mysteriously and adamantly aware of, he hadn’t pressed the subject. Knocked up roommate or not, he still had to worry about his job and tending to chores around his house. With so little time to prepare for an impending brood, he found himself between a rock and a hard place.

His monthly stipend from Twilight, for helping reform the slatternly evildoer, may be enough to get larger accommodations, yet that was a long shot. Supporting himself had always been a trial and, unfortunately, he’d soon have several other mouths to feed. Considering that Chrysalis had no job, no real friends, and was as good-natured as a horny, maniacal velociraptor, he doubted she’d be able to help much with getting new living arrangements - still, seeing her construction project did give him an idea.

“I’m going to ask Twilight if we can rent the next apartment over,” he murmured, trudging back into the living room to put his shoes back on.

“Why would you ask that harpy for anything? If you want to expand your domain, simply seize the residence from your neighbor,” Chrysalis hissed, promptly following along behind him.

“Only a few problems with that. First of all, I’m pretty sure that’s illegal - secondly, I’d rather not go pissing off a Princess and making a bad name for myself,” he replied. Getting to his feet and reaching for the doorknob, a hoof shot forth and held the door closed.

“You’re going to report me to that insipid Princess!?” the changeling growled, stepping between him and the exit.

Shaking his head, Anon let his arms fall to his sides. “No, I promise, I’m just going to ask her if we can get some more space.”

“And what’s wrong with making a bad name for yourself?” she continued, heedless or uncaring of his last response. “Are you ashamed of being my faithful servant and personal stud?”

Sinking to one knee and taking a deep breath to calm himself, he closed his eyes. So far as he knew, she’d only left the apartment once, since she’d arrived, and that had been because she insisted on having marshmallows in her hot chocolate - even then, she’d disguised herself for the perilously short excursion. Unwarranted and rampant paranoia or not, he’d have to find some way to help her get comfortable in Ponyville.

“Then come with me,” he began, reaching out and sweetly stroking her cheek.

Recoiling slightly, her lip curled. “Why should I? Are you afraid I’ll flee this little rat-hole and leave you for good?”

“I just wanted to show you off, that’s all,” he sighed. Hanging his head, he peered at the carpet.

Though he’d only known her for a short time, he’d come to learn several interesting things about his guest. Besides being irrationally suspicious and bawdy, she was vainglorious to a fault - as such, appealing to her pride and narcissism could and would be his best chance of circumventing her concerns. Leaning towards her, with his hand gliding down her neck, he smiled.

Chrysalis’ mouth flapped noiselessly for a moment, apparently thrown off by the affectionate gesture, yet she quickly knit her brow. “Fine - but only so I can assure you’re not doing anything insidious behind my back…”

Snickering to himself, Anon gave her a little peck on the snout. “Unless mounting you counts, I don’t think you have much to worry about.”

For the second time in less than a minute, the Queen was caught unprepared. A redness crept into her obsidian cheeks, before she relented and averted her gaze. Trotting past the kneeling man, she flung the door open and stepped outside. “I shall accompany you, but only if you buy me a sundae on our return trip,” she darkly muttered.

“On one condition,” he noted, steadily getting to his feet. “No tricks or transformations - I want you to walk with me to the Castle of Friendship.”

“Why in Equestria would I do that?” she scoffed.

“Because I want everyone to know you’re my little broodmare,” he chuckled. Without another word, he slapped her ass and walked passed her into the open air. Though it had been fleeting, he could swear he felt her tremble under his palm.

Cursing quietly to herself, she followed her host out and pulled the door closed behind herself. He considered her company a win, since she had willingly decided to accompany him on his excursion. Truthfully, he’d half expected her to lock him out and extort ice cream out of him - nevertheless, he was happy that he’d successfully baited her to go outdoors whilst in her original form.

One drawback of his rather slapdash scheme was that the residents of Ponyville were ignorant of the villain in their midst - that was, until she paraded out beside the man. Sticking close to his side, scowling at anything that moved, the Queen looked none too pleased about being out and about - then again, she seemed to have two natural settings: horny and/or vexed.

Walking at a brisk pace, Anon smiled and waved at the few townsfolk he happened to see; the creatures that returned his friendly greeting quickly fled, as soon as they saw his traveling companion. Looking over and glowering at the changeling Matriarch, he disapprovingly shook his head.

“Would it kill you to act friendly?” he whispered, keeping his voice low.

“Yes,” she spat, before loudly hissing at a young colt peeking his head through a window. “Really, these ponies are pathetic - cowering away in their homes whilst a Queen blesses them with her presence.”

“To be fair, they all remember you from terrorizing them, attempting to enslave their species, and nearly upending their society,” Anon grunted, watching a mare bolt at the sight of them.

“Hmmhmmhmm...Good,” Chrysalis clucked. Altering her course slightly, she rubbed her shoulder against his hip. “These lesser creatures are beneath me, and they should be relieved that I’m not currently seeking their subjugation.”

“Then just play nice,” he seethed, biting back his frustration.

“Why?” she demanded. Stopping in her tracks and causing him to slow, she waved a hoof towards the surrounding homes and businesses. “It’s no secret that I am superior to these miserable plebeians.”

“Because, if you don’t, I’ll be sleeping on the couch tonight! No ice cream, no more hoof rubs, no more morning cuddles!” Anon blared, ominously leveling a finger at her. “Got it?”

His outburst caused her to flinch, yet she didn’t back away. Squinting up at him, attempting to judge if he was serious or not, her eyes locked with his. Almost reluctantly, after a protracted pause, she began slowly trotting towards their destination. Watching her move past, Anon nodded to himself and quickly caught up.

He didn’t like raising his voice, but he’d had few options. Chrysalis was, without a doubt, one of the most obstinate creatures he’d ever met. If he needed to take a stand and put his foot down, for the good of them both, then so be it. As he glanced over at his guest, she pettishly flipped her mane and looked away.

“I’ll have you know, hyu-man, I don’t take kindly to being scolded. The only reason I haven’t blown you to smithereens is because any bits you are carrying would be vaporized in the blast,” she chided.

“Tell you what,” he hummed, cautiously reaching over and patting her neck, “if you’re on your best behavior, I’ll take us out to dinner tomorrow.”

Scrunching her snout, she peeked over at him. “Tonight,” she amended, looking down the road ahead, “and I’ll be requiring a hoof massage as well.”

Having reached a somewhat tenuous accord, the two continued towards their destination. While Chrysalis was by no means cheerful, she somehow managed to refrain from glaring or snarling at any of Ponyville’s denizens for the remainder of their walk. Realizing their trip may take some time, robbing him from what little relaxation his afternoon had to offer him, Anon was content with picking up some food for them - after they spoke with Twilight, of course.

Finding themselves on the threshold of the crystalline castle, the man loudly knocked on the door. There was no guarantee that the Princess would be home, although chances were good that somebody would answer the door. Sure enough, after a minute or so of loitering on the stoop, the pitter-patter of feet could be heard from within.

“Who is it?” Spike called out.

“Spike, hey, it’s me,” Anon instinctually replied. It’d been a few days since he’d seen the little guy, though he still wasn’t terribly thrilled with being deceived. He couldn’t say whether or not the small dragon was aware of Twilight’s scheme, yet he hoped his friend was an innocent bystander in the plot.

“Anon, my man! How’s it goin’ bud…” Spike immediately hesitated, as he opened the door and spotted the slender changeling.

The two stood there and eyed one another for a moment, before Anon intervened. “I know you guys have met before, but I’m not sure if you’ve been formally introduced. Spike, this is Queen Chrysalis. Chrysalis, this is-”

“Spike the Dragon, savior of the Crystal Empire,” Chrysalis intoned, cutting the man off and staring down at the runtish reptile.

“Y...y...yup, that’s me. A...and I protected Thorax too,” Spike stammered. Visibly shaking, but holding his ground, he extended a clawed hand towards her. “No hard feelings?”

The Queen’s eyes narrowed for a moment, before she gave an almost imperceptible dip of her head. “Where is Twilight Sparkle?”

Looking between his two unexpected guests, Spike hitched a thumb over his shoulder. “She’s - uh - in the map room. I can -”

“Lead the way,” Chrysalis grunted, nodding in the direction he’d indicated. Swallowing hard, the dragon did an about face and started jogging down a corridor.

Anon wasn’t sure what to make from the odd exchange. When dealing with Spike, Chrysalis’ tone and demeanor had become almost muted. She still seemed generally displeased, yet there was a subtle shift that he couldn’t explain. Making a mental note to ask her about it, if or when he found an appropriate time, he walked along beside the shapeshifter and into the bowels of the castle.

“Twilight!” Spike announced, heaving one of the double-doors of the map room open. “Anon and Chrysalis are -”

“Twilight Sparkle!” Chrysalis blared, magically casting the doors open and sending the pint-sized dragon reeling. “Your foolish machinations have failed spectacularly. Anon has planted the seed which will spell the doom of Equestria and see me ascend to the rightful Empress of this cursed land!”

Waking in front of the changeling, with his face pressed into his palms, Anon shook his head. “Twi, we need a bigger place. She says she’s pregnant and I can’t raise a family in that little apartment.”

Jamming a hoof to her chest, completely ignoring the man, Chrysalis continued her theatrical diatribe. “We require - no, demand a larger residence! Perhaps, if your sycophancy is adequate, I will allow you to be our court jester.”

“Uh...huh…,” Twilight slowly responded. Levitating a clipboard and pen to herself, she trotted around the map table and towards the pair. “Any specific requirements?”

“Somewhere cool and dark - preferably spacious enough to house a small army of our children,” the Queen tutted, watching the Princess scribble down notes. “It must have all the amenities, of course, and an extra-large, master bathroom.”

Nodding to herself, Twilight looked up to Anon. “Any requests from you?”

Taken aback by just how casually the alicorn was handling the situation, Anon rubbed his chin. “Maybe a Queen size bed?”

“Perish the thought!” Chrysalis scoffed, thrusting a hoof at the Princess. “We deserve a king sized bed!”

Unable to resist, Anon leaned over and slipped an arm around the changeling’s neck. “Is that because you want your King to be comfortable?”

Twilight snorted and screwed her eyes closed, doing her damnedest not to openly laugh. Blushing, thrown off guard by his quick wits, Chrysalis’ jaw hung slack, if only for a moment. Composing herself, apparently unable to offer a decent rebuttal, the shapeshifter reached out and nudged the hovering notepad with a hoof.

“Are there any unoccupied ruins about? If not, a network of caverns would be adequate,” the Queen remarked.

“Hmmmm,” Twilight hummed, tapping her pen against the clipboard’s rim. “Well there is the cave that used to hold the mirror pool. I was able to nullify the duplicative properties of the pond, after Pinkie’s incident, so I don’t see why that wouldn’t suffice.”

“That’s not too far of a walk from town, is it?” Anon asked, knowing that the grotto was somewhere within the Everfree forest.

Shaking her head, the Princess guided her notes onto the table. “Don’t worry, it’s right on the edge of the woods. Once a path is cleared, it would only be a few minutes’ walk from the village.”

“Good. I’d hate for him to be inconvenienced because of your ineptitude,” Chrysalis muttered. Seemingly pleased with the arrangements, she turned away and trotted towards the door. “I expect a moving crew to be over in the morning. Since my dear hyu-man will more than likely have to work, I’ll oversee the eventual move.”

Watching the haughty changeling saunter to and through the open doorway, Anon shifted his focus to the Princess. “Sorry about her, she tends to be…grumpy,” he lamented, keeping his voice low. “You’re really willing to let us have a cave?”

“Yes, I’d anticipated the possibility of you two looking for somewhere larger to live. To be frank, I’m just pleased as punch that you two seem to be getting along!” Twilight exclaimed, as cheerful as ever. “I’ll start making the arrangements tonight. If you two could start boxing things up, that would save everypony heaps of time tomorrow. I’m not sure if all the amenities can be installed that quickly, but it should be livable.”

Despite knowing he’d likely be up late packing, he smiled. “I’ll try.”

He’d had no way of knowing that the Princess would agree to their wishes in such a swift and decisive fashion, leaving him remarkably grateful - sure, he may not end up getting much sleep tonight, but a bigger place would definitely be worth the temporary annoyance of having to pack shit into the wee hours of the morning. He didn’t quite feel bad for barging in on Twilight, since she’d kicked off the entire fiasco, yet he’d be remiss for not thanking her.

“Just let me know if there’s anything I can do to pay you back. Really, you don’t know how much of a help this is,” he sheepishly whispered, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Well, since you offered, maybe we could scratch each other’s backs eventually,” Twilight chirped. “Since nopony has ever gotten the chance to study unreformed changeling youth, I’d like you to bring your progeny to Ponyville for checkups. All the costs will be covered, of course, but the data would be invaluable.”

He’d had every intention of bringing his offspring to get regular checkups, so he saw no harm in the proposal - hell, given that Chrysalis was seemingly sure she’d have a clutch, the complimentary doctor’s visits would end up saving him scads of money. Still slightly overwhelmed by the breakneck pace his life had been taking, he gave the Princess a brief hug.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to,” he uttered, releasing her and wheeling around.

It wasn’t like he was in a hurry to leave, considering everything Twilight had been doing for him, but he was reluctant to let Chrysalis wander around the palace unsupervised. He doubted she’d get up to much trouble, although he wouldn’t put it past her to do something petty to the gracious alicorn. Waving goodbye to the Princess, he saw himself out of the chamber and into the corridor.

Turning to his left, towards the stairwell leading to the exit, he found the Queen loitering just outside. Standing by the doorway, she impassively looked up at him. “Grumpy - eh?”

Anon rolled his eyes and shrugged. It wasn’t terribly surprising that she’d been eavesdropping on him and he wasn’t terribly concerned about the revelation - after all, he hadn’t said or done anything out of turn. Strolling past her, he softly patted her neck and motioned for her to follow.

“You can be, at times, so don’t try to deny it. Anyways, what do you want for dinner?” he asked, making his way to the exit.

“Takeout pizza,” she responded, “since there’s work to be done.”

Something about her choice struck Anon as off. He had presumed she’d ask for some fancy meal at a sit-in restaurant, given her imperious demeanor, so the relatively simple selection of a takeout pie seemed unusual. Glancing over at her, intending to lighten the air with a joke, he playfully elbowed her shoulder.

“You’re just doing that because you don’t want your hyu-man to be up too late packing,” he snickered.

Shaking her head, the changeling’s pace didn’t slow. “If Twilight is too much of an imbecile to arrange the packing and moving of your belongings, we’ll have to do it ourselves.”

The statement, while somewhat silly, caught Anon off guard. If only in a roundabout and nonsensical fashion, Chrysalis had shown a bit of compassion towards him - sure, it was only a shred, but it left him grinning from ear to ear. Drifting closer to her, as they moved out of the lobby and into the cool evening air, he rested a hand on her back.

As his fingers gently stroked her hide, she peeked up at him. “Is this paltry show of affection supposed to be an appetizer?”

“No,” he breathed, swiftly leaning over and kissing her cheek, “but that one is.”

“Kissing a villain on the Princess’ doorstep - how gauche,” she tittered, leaning into him and setting him off balance.

“Tease,” he taunted. Reaching back, he gave her rump a subtle squeeze.

“Flirt,” she countered, shooting him a wink.

The remainder of their evening was a blur of activity, though there was nothing particularly noteworthy about it. After retrieving a pair of pizzas, as well as some empty boxes from the back of the bowling alley, the two returned to Anon’s humble apartment and put themselves to work. It wasn’t like there was all that much to pack, although there was enough to keep them occupied until past midnight.

To Anon’s amazement, Chrysalis steadfastly sorted and stowed things from the bathroom with a minimal amount of complaining. By the time they were finished up for the night, nearly everything was stored in a number of boxes or bags; the only things they hadn’t packed up were the bed linens, a pair of towels, and a change of clothes for his shift the following day.

Too tired to do much else, the two showered and collapsed in bed. While there was a bit of affectionate spooning and passive groping, they passed out before things got too raunchy. With Chrysalis’ chest pressed to Anon’s back, and her forelegs softly holding him, they slept like bricks until the sun peeked through the window.

The bowling alley didn’t open until lunch time, throughout the business week, though their hours were different on weekends. Saturdays were one of the few days he dreaded working, since the place was usually jammed with families and loud, excited foals. Getting up early was the least of his worries, because he knew he’d have a busy day ahead. As his alarm began to blare, he instinctively reached out and silenced the device.

Gently crawling out of bed and getting to his feet, he wistfully looked over at the snoozing bug-horse. He wasn’t too concerned about her helping coordinate the laborers for the move, but he couldn’t help but feel slightly anxious. Leaning over and giving her a gentle peck on the cheek, he stealthily fled the bedroom, got dressed, and made his way to work.

He did have concerns about his to-be living arrangements, yet there was little that he could do about them. The Princess had promised that the place would be livable, which gave him some consolation, although he wasn’t sure what her definition of the word was. Needless to say, he’d be pretty upset if he’d have to use an unheated outhouse.

As expected, his shift was hectic as all get-out. Were it not for three different birthday parties, a colt getting his head stuck in the ball-return, and a cantankerous old mare insisting she’d seen humans in Equestria before, he may have had time to worry about things outside of work. It was only during his final hour on the clock did he get any news whatsoever.

“Long day?” Twilight asked, causing him to look up from wiping off a table.

“Yeah, just a bit. Is - uh - everything alright? She hasn’t tried to bite anyone’s head off, has she?” Anon sighed. Slumping into a chair, he figured that a visit from a Princess was worthy of a small break.

Shaking her head, Twilight seated herself opposite of the man. “No, she’s been relatively well behaved - well, no, somewhat well behaved. Outside of yelling at the construction crew and threatening to cocoon them to the ceiling, she wasn’t too bad.”

“Wait,” Anon started, straightening up, “construction crew?”

“Mmmhmm,” Twilight hummed. “I dispatched some engineers, carpenters, and masons to the cave last night, after you two left. I mean, it was just a cave.”

Askance, he stared over at the Princess. “What exactly did you do?”

“I’d rather show you, if it’s all the same to you,” she giggled. Hopping from her chair and trotting to the main register, she conversed with the manager for a moment, nodded, then waved over at the man. “I got you off early, you owe me a milkshake!”

Casting his head from side to side, amused with the alicorn’s flagrant abuse of power, Anon unseated himself and strolled over to her. Walking along beside her, the two left the establishment and headed towards the edge of town. It wasn’t long before the pair found themselves passing a small procession of ponies and carts bearing lumber and various pieces of equipment in and out of the treeline.

“Over there, you buffoon! Don’t you dare scratch that credenza!!!” the shrill, unmistakable voice of an exceptionally incensed changeling Matriarch blared.

“She sounds like she’s having a great time,” Anon grumbled, hiking up a small hill and to the grotto’s opening.

To his amazement, an exterior wall had been constructed over the cave mouth; replete with a doorway and small window, the barrier would protect his new home from the elements, pests, and unwanted visitors. Seeing himself inside, he stopped and marveled at what had to have been a herculean undertaking. A banister rested along the steep walkway leading down into the cavern, while a skylight had been installed on the opening above.

The entire den was a sight to behold. Most of the grotto had been sectioned off into rooms, though none held a ceiling. He was a bit confused as to why none of the chambers had been capped off, until he considered who was to reside there. Having the ability to fly, his mate and their young would be able to traverse the area with ease - that being said, there were still traditional doorways for those incapable of flight.

“In case you’re wondering,” Twilight proudly exclaimed, pointing to a sealed doorway at the far end of the subterranean home, “your room does have a door. Don’t want your little ones barging in on you and their mother.”

“T...thanks,” he sputtered, shuddering at the thought of an impromptu and ill-timed intrusion by their offspring. Surveying the area, it only took him a second to spot the tall, dark figure of a lone changeling. “Hey, Chryssy!”

“Who dares call me…” she fell silent, as she wheeled around and peered up at him. “Ah, yes, my stud. Figures as much,” she rather loudly crooned. Turning and trotting over to greet him, she sullenly shook her head. “I apologize that things aren’t done. If I’d had a team of drones at my disposal, the job would have been finished at least an hour ago.”

Dismissing her complaint, Anon knelt down beside the Princess and extended a hand. “Thanks, Twilight,” he uttered, waiting a second before glaring up at the shapeshifter. “Thanks Twilight.”

“Ugh - Fine! Twilight Sparkle, your negligible incompetence is forgiven - if only because of the short notice and the resources you lent us,” Chrysalis churlishly groaned.

“It’s no problem whatsoever! Now then, since everything looks nearly done, I guess we’ll leave you two to settle in,” Twilight beamed, looking to the few remaining laborers. “Alright, everypony, let’s wrap up for the day! These two little lovebirds probably want to relax for a bit.”

“I’m a lovebug, and I bite,” Chrysalis glowered, flitting deeper into their abode.

Anon stayed put, giving thanks to the workers as they saw themselves out. Once he’d given Twilight a small hug and escorted her to the exit, he closed the door and rested his back against the slab of wood. Though he was immeasurably appreciative, he felt drained. Left to adjust to his new home, after a full day’s work and lack of sleep, he wanted little more than to relax.

Tromping down the incline, towards his abode, he sought to get a better look at the place. Though his vantage near the front door allowed him to get a decent picture of the cleverly crafted dwelling, he wasn’t sure of the exact layout or any furnishings therein. Roughly circular, following the natural walls of the cavern, the structure looked to be roughly quadruple the size of his old apartment.

Peeking into the leading room, he found a small vestibule which led into a parlor. Besides the lack of ceilings, it really did feel comfy. As he pressed deeper, his lanky mate appeared from a nearby archway. Before he could take off his shoes, she lifted a hoof and gestured for him to follow.

“Come, I shall give you a tour,” she smugly proclaimed.

As she marched him through his home - their home, Anon marveled at the design of the place. Comprising three rings, with the outermost and innermost rooms separated by a small corridor, the configuration was highly atypical - that being said, it maximized the living space within the grotto. All of the exterior chambers, save for the den by the front door, were all bedrooms, while the innermost rooms consisted of a kitchen, an office, a pantry, a tiny gym, and a small sitting area which overlooked the inert pool.

He couldn’t say what sort of engineers Twilight had drafted, but the entire building was a work of genius. Chrysalis explained that there were several small, nearly imperceptible crevices along the cave ceiling which allowed for adequate ventilation and fresh air. Insulated by the bedrock and hundreds of tons of earth, the temperature would stay relatively temperate all year ‘round.

One of the best things about the arrangement was that it was, as far as he could tell, fully furnished. What little furniture he did have had been augmented by brand new chattels and appliances - hell, someone had even thrown a large pool float into the lagoon. They’d have everything they needed for themselves and their unborn youngsters

Probably the most fascinating feature of the place was the lighting; bioluminescent moss and plant-life lay within planters affixed to the walls and embedded in the ceiling. Apparently the flora were native to the underground environment and required next to no tending. The entire dwelling was basked in a subtle bluish-green glow, giving the home a mysterious, oddly soothing glow.

All told, the place felt like a palace - a strange, crypt-like, otherworldly palace. He could have never dreamt of living in, let alone owning such a home - then again, he never thought he’d end up in a world of talking, magical horses. Following along behind his mate, he chuckled to himself.

“Stop that, you haven’t even seen the best part,” Chrysalis tutted, peeking back at him.

Proceeding towards the back of the cavern, she led him to an ornate, onyx doorway. Turning sidelong, as she swung the heavy portal open, her smile broadened. Stepping in, Anon drew to a halt and inspected their quarters. Double the size of his old room, a dull pink light emanated from several glowing flowers along the relatively low ceiling.

To the side, an open bathroom rested behind an open curtain. Compelled, he walked over to give himself a better look and discovered a marvel beyond compare. Not only was the lavatory extraordinarily specious, but it held a massive tub. Hewn from the surrounding geology, the basin could easily fit two or even three people comfortably.

“In case you were wondering,” Chrysalis began, moving in next to him, “it’s heated by geothermal. The tap leads to a hot spring several hundred meters below, while the drain has everything pumped up to a valley outside. For a group of ponies, it’s a rather clever concept.”

“Huh,” he grunted. Peering upwards, he noticed a small horizontal slit cut in the rock-face. “Is that what I think it is?”

“A waterfall shower, yes. I couldn’t help myself from requesting it,” she affirmed. Flicking the faucet with her magic, water began to cascade from the slim opening.

Anon wasn’t sure what to say. The bathroom was resplendent and possibly the most lavishly unconventional one he’d ever seen. Wheeling around and facing the bedroom, he leaned against the doorway and tenderly rested a hand on Chrysalis’ back. To be sure, they’d definitely have more than enough room for a family.

As his eyes swept over the chamber, taking in the various fittings, they settled on the largest piece in the room. Their bed, for whatever reason, was oversized and shaped like a heart; it was a cute touch, if not a bit cliche, and left him wondering who’s idea it was. The thing had to have been constructed within the room, since there was no way it could have fit through the doorway in one piece.

“Let me guess,” he hummed, pointing at the uniquely shaped piece of furniture, “Twilight?”

Chrysalis balked and held a hoof to her chest, as if wounded. “As if that simpleton would ever think of something so fetching. No, that little beauty was my idea. Considering my avarice for your abundance of affection, I thought it was only fitting. ”

“And I’m sure that having the carpenters bust their butts didn’t bother you in the slightest,” he snickered. Be damned if he could explain how a group of ponies could have built something so large in such a short span of time, but it had to have been a daunting endeavor.

“As amusing as their lamentations were, they were only a byproduct of my design - no, I wanted a fitting place for us to be comfortable with one another’s company,” she bashfully admitted, her tone lowering to a near-whisper.

Walking over to the bed, he kicked off his shoes and crawled onto the mattress. Rolling onto his back, as he reached the oddly shaped headboard, he threw his arms wide. It felt exquisite - not too firm, nor too soft. Wriggling contentedly, he glanced down his chest and waved Chrysalis to himself. “Come on, I still owe you a massage.”

“It hasn’t been ten minutes and you’re already trying to bed me,” she tittered, trotting over and climbing next to him.

“Not like it’d be that hard,” he replied. As he shuffled over to make room for her, she eased herself down beside him. “After all, it’s not like I didn’t bag the biggest, baddest, most beautiful bedbug in Equestria.”

“Flatterer,” she halfheartedly protested, batting a hoof at him. “You don’t have to put on the charm. I assure you, I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.”

“You better not be going anywhere anytime at all,” he groused. Slipping an arm under her, he snuggled up beside her.

“You jest,” she sighed.

Furrowing his brow, his smile disappeared. “No, I’m serious, I’d really rather you hang around. You’re fun, snarky, and very easy on the eyes. Besides, if you ran off, I’d have to go chasing after you and I am not in good enough shape to keep up.”

“I…” she trailed off, looking to his face.

“Sorry, babe, looks like you’re stuck with me,” he lovingly admitted. Resting his head on her neck, he sensed her shiver. “As long as you’ll have me, that is.”

With a slowness almost belying hesitation, she rolled over to face him. “If this is some ruse to lull me into a false sense of security, they’ll never find your body…”

“Not even a little,” he murmured. Shooting forward, he delivered a little kiss to her snout. “Just don’t go running off after some bucking bronco when I’m at work.”

“Please,” she huffed, “as if some measly stallion could ever match your enthusiasm. I’m more worried about you chasing after some young strumpet, since you are an incubus.”

“And lose all this?” he purred, reaching around and squeezing her tush. “As if.”

The Queen tittered, before pulling herself to him. “What am I going to do with you?”

Returning her hug, he sighed. “I’m not sure, but I wouldn’t be opposed to something naughty - in any case, I’m just happy to have you around.”

“The feeling is mutual, even if you’re a bit overly-friendly with that no-good Princess,” she cooed.

“Don’t worry about Twilight. She’s not a bad mare, but you don’t have anything to worry about. What good is a Princess when I have a Queen.”

Holding one another, while they lay on their bed, the two relaxed and helped themselves to a well deserved nap. They could deal with unpacking later; for the time being, some rest was more than due. Cuddled up together, just before she dozed off, Anon could swear Chrysalis muttered something about her King; even if he’d imagined hearing it, the thought was enough to bring a smile to his face.

What the remainder of their day would hold was a mystery, yet that was a trivial point. As unlikely and bizarre as it was, something told him that everything was going to work out. He’d gotten a new pad, his mate seemed pleased with his efforts, and everything was right with the world - well, no, as right as recent events would allow. Feeling her breathing against him, sharing her warmth, he closed his eyes.

In a funny way, everything just felt right. Even back on Earth, before he’d ever arrived in Equestria, he’d never felt so at peace. He was sure they’d properly break in their new bed eventually, but that could wait. As he nodded off, safe and comfortable in his lover’s hooves, he was left to speculate on what wonders his future held...