To Ne'er Come Down Again

It was just another afternoon at the Ponyville bowling alley - actually, no, it was a particularly stressful, arduous, and messy afternoon at the Ponyville bowling alley. Between a pin machine nearly catching fire, a senior pony taking a tumble, and a colt’s birthday party, the entire day had been one ordeal after another. Short staffed as they were, Anon found himself staying well past the end of his shift.

Truth be told, he’d completely lost track of time - that was, until he heard a ruckus from somewhere near the entrance. Brushing off the noise as a hopefully small mishap, he continued to sweep pizza and cake crumbs up from the floor. An overly excited filly had made a grand mess of things and, as always, he’d been left to tackle the aftermath.

“Get out of my way, you common tart! What have you done with my hyu-man?!?” a voice angrily rang out, sending a shiver up his spine.

The contemptuous vitriol and timber were unmistakable, immediately telling him whom was causing the scene. Dropping his broom and bolting towards the disturbance, he grit his teeth. Though he didn’t think anyone was in any immediate danger, he needed to intervene before things escalated out of control.

Rounding a corner and skidding to a halt, Anon stumbled upon a rather disconcerting sight. His manager, a rather trim mare named Seven-Ten, was sorcerously pinned to the ceiling by a vibrant green aura. The poor pony’s eyes were as big as dinner plates, while she fruitlessly struggled against her arcane bonds.

“I ain’t done nothing with him! Are you crazy or something?” she squawked, staring down at her transgressor.

Standing beneath the equine was a monstrous creature. Covered in jet black hide, with a dark cerulean mane and tail, it stood nearly twice as tall as the average pony, yet those features were only part of what made it imposing. A pair of harlequin, cat-like eyes rested above its fanged muzzle, squinting menacingly up at its captive.

“Am I crazy?” it chuckled, hovering Seven-Ten down to eye level. “Or am I crazy for figuring out that you’ve SEDUCED MY HYU-MAN AND THAT YOU ARE HOLDING HIM AGAINST HIS WILL?!?”

The beast’s roar reverberated through the building, sending several ponies ducking for cover or fleeing towards the fire escapes. There were only a scant few creatures which could and would openly display such hostilities in Equestria, and this one was one of the worst. Ordinarily, the Elements of Friendship or a Princess would be called to deal with a problem of this caliber, yet there were two small problems; for starters, the fiend was heavily pregnant, with a prolifically swollen abdomen hanging beneath her - secondly, and most troublingly, it was hunting for its mate.

“Chryssy, could you please put her down?” Anon groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Anon!” she bleated, thoroughly dropping the mare and rushing to the man. Bowling him over, completely heedless to her gravid state, she tackled the man to the floor and pressed her chest to his face. “If you are hurt, so help me, I will raze this establishment to the ground.”

“I’m fine!” Anon huffed. Pushing her away, he locked eyes with her and forced himself to scowl. It was only the second time she’d left their home without him, as far as he knew. Since she likely had been expecting him to return over an hour ago, he couldn’t fault her for hunting him down - still, he wasn’t about to condone roughing up strangers. “I just got stuck working a little late, it’s no big deal.”

“To you!” Chrysalis countered, unsteadily stepping back and allowing him to stand. “What if something had happened to you? Without your rugged strength and this charm, I’m sure these ponies would hunt me down without a second thought!”

Shaking his head, Anon looked to her belly. Unlike with humans, or apparently mammalian ponies, the Queen’s pregnancy had progressed at an unprecedented rate. In the span of just over a month, since they’d started cohabitating and regularly fornicating, she’d nearly doubled in mass. Her abdomen, rounded and hanging beneath her, held approximately a dozen eggs and would hail the beginning of their rather unconventional family.

“They’re not going to do anything to you, even if I wasn’t around, I promise,” he whispered, pushing himself up. Stepping over to her, he leaned over and pecked her snout. “You worry too much.”

“I...I...You worry too much!” she hissed, churlishly turning away and trotting to the door.

Walking along after her, Anon nodded to the manager. Thankfully, being a rather robust earth pony, the mare rolled her eyes and waved for him to leave. He was already overdue to leave and after suffering the covetous wrath of his changeling lover, Seven-Ten likely wanted both of them to leave as quickly as possible. Jogging to the Queen’s side, he tenderly stroked the mare’s back.

“After you feed me dinner, you will bathe me and then massage my hooves. To have me come out and liberate you from that insufferable den of clattering pins and contemptible mirth, you should be ashamed of yourself,” she grumbled, drifting closer to him despite her harsh tone.

“I…” Anon faltered, catching himself from teasing her.

The two ran smack on a regular basis, although it was almost always endearing and playful. They’d poke and tease and taunt and flirt from sun up to sun down, schedule permitting, and they rarely had any actual disagreements - sure, there was some bickering between them, but it always amounted to nothing. Whether or not they fully realized it, their relationship had continually strengthened over time.

“I what?” Chrysalis groused, stopping and glaring up at him. “I’m sorry I’m a big, boorish hyu-man who neglects my mate? I apologize for not bringing you breakfast every morning? I’m going to serve as your hoof stool for the evening?” she mocked, turning to face him and prodding his chest.

“I wanted to ask you something,” he softly said, kneeling down to face her. “You’re not going to run off once our eggs have hatched, are you?”

Rearing back, she sneered. “Why in Equestria would I do something as foolish as that? Yes, of course, let me abandon one of the most robust, loving creatures I’ve ever laid eyes upon! Because that makes sense!”

Anon hadn’t really known what to expect, so her vehement reaction caught him unawares. Though she’d often tormented him with threats of fleeing and starting a hive somewhere, he’d had nagging doubts about where her intentions truly lie. Even though she could be a headache at times, he’d grown fond of her snarky attitude and pithy wit - and that wasn’t even taking into consideration how good she was in the sack!

“Why do you ask? Have I finally broken you so badly that you wish for me to - Oof!” her ridicule was cut short, as the man shot forward and wrapped her in a hug.

Holding her, rubbing his face against her neck, his grip tightened. The last year had been one hell of a wild ride, with Chrysalis’ inclusion being the most recent and jarring chapter. Over the past few months, he’d breached the interspecies barrier with her; they shared a lovely cavernous cottage, she was delightful company, and they were on the cusp of starting a family. If she actually did leave, he wasn’t sure what he’d end up doing with himself.

With the slightest shiver, she reluctantly pushed him away. “While I’ll accept this affection as an appetizer, you still owe me a meal,” she quietly admonished, her tone softening.

“Have anything specific in mind?” he inquired, getting to his feet.

“Dessert Spoon,” she smoothly replied, turning and sauntering in the direction of their abode. The sex position had become a recent favorite of hers, since she’s been steadily growing larger.

Catching up to her, Anon grinned. Regardless of the fact that she was growing steadily closer to delivering a clutch of eggs, her lecherous appetite hadn’t died in the slightest - in fact, if anything, she’d become even more ravenous in the bedroom. She’d been exceptionally candid about how his licentious energy served as both sustenance and a remarkable source of entertainment - as such, she’d become voracious throughout her pregnancy.

Anon didn’t mind servicing her, telling himself it was for the good of their to-be offspring, but the truth of the matter was that she was by far the best lay he’d ever had. She was a sexual goddess capable of unimaginable heights of depravity, and he’d only just scratched the surface of her prowess. Having only spent a relatively small amount of time with her, she’d never once failed to rouse him to action.

“So did I miss much while I was at work?” he hummed.

“I completed the grubs’ den, took a swim, and lazed about for most of the afternoon,” she responded, glancing over at him. “There is still some baked lasagna in the fridge, although we could stop somewhere to pick up some takeout - that is, if you’re so inclined.”

With his smile widening, Anon reached over and stroked her mane. “Nah, I’m good, but thanks for asking.”

Metamorphic capabilities and lusty demeanor aside, one of the most noteworthy things about Chrysalis was how much she’d changed in the past few weeks. Where she’d once been callous and cynical towards him, she’d ever so subtly warmed to his presence. She no longer treated him like a walking marital aid, he was berated less and less frequently, and she’d even begun helping around the house unprompted. There was still room for improvement, yet the same could be said for anyone.

The rest of their short journey out of town was spent in relative silence, and the pair soon found themselves home. Opening the door and ushering his mate inside, Anon saw himself in and locked up behind himself. Even if he hadn’t promised to spend some quality time with his lover, the bedroom was always his first stop after a long day’s work.

“I was wondering,” he began, steadily unbuttoning his shirt, “how many kids have you had?”

Crawling onto the bed, Chrysalis eased herself down onto her side. “Eight hundred and forty-two, if memory serves. Why? Are you hoping to claim the coveted position as my most generous stud?”

“Nah - I mean, maybe? It’s not really a competition,” he chuckled, slipping out of his pants.

“Well if this brood shares half of your virility and strength, don’t be shocked if I demand another donation from you,” she tittered. Splaying her legs and revealing her moistening loins, she pawed at her prolific belly. “But enough of your silly musings. Come and give Mama some lovin’...”

Stepping to the bed and peered down at her matronly form, Anon was stricken by how attractive she was. It’s not like he was into pregnant chicks - well, he hadn’t thought he’d been into pregnant chicks - but there was definitely something profoundly alluring about seeing her with a large, swollen belly. As his eyes played over her body, a peculiar notion struck him.

“I know changelings feed off love, but it’s odd seeing a female without teats,” he commented, realizing all too quickly she may consider it a slight. “That’s not a complaint, I promise!”

“Ponies and their gross inefficiencies, I swear,” she snorted. “They can only produce one or possibly two foals at a time and they rely on breastfeeding. Their hanging, udder-like bosoms swaying beneath them, ripe with milk for their young, I can’t see how anyone…” she grew silent, sniffing the air.

Kicking off his shoes, Anon hastily removed his socks and began fiddling with his belt. He’d learned that she had an almost preternatural skill for sensing depraved thoughts and, as such, he’d often find himself sensually provoked until she got what she wanted; it was absurdly hot and it had led to them screwing on nearly every conceivable surface in their house.

“Anon,” she purred, drawing his attention. “Might you be interested in something like this?”

Affixed to her crotch, just above her slavering marehood, rested a pair of ripe, succulent bosoms. Each breast was roughly as large as a melon and adorned with a jade colored nipple. She would be somewhere around a C or possibly D cup, by human standards, yet compared to a pony her rack looked positively pornographic.

As if stimulated by his gaze, a bead of milk formed at her teat. He gulped, surprised by how enticing the addition of mammaries were. Despite the strange direction the afternoon had taken, she wasn’t done toying with him yet. Shrouding her newfound jugs with her aura, she invitingly wobbled the obscene mounds of flesh back and forth.

“Anon, my dear hyu-man, you look parched. Please, let Mama quench your thirst,” she purred.

With his excitement mounting and more than a little curious about her offer, Anon stepped out of his boxers and clambered onto the bed. As he brought himself between her parted thighs, the aroma of her sex wafted to him. Over his time with her, he’d steadily learned how to tell when she was truly worked up. Since she could will her nethers to moisten or wink, the actual clues were a bit more subtle.

Her tone and body language were one indicator, although taste and smell were harder for her to hide. Once sufficiently aroused, her scent would take on a very delicate floral note, while her loins developed a singular, almost spicy tang. The only reason he’d come to notice the differences were because they fucked like rabbits and it wasn’t uncommon for her to seduce him out of boredom.

Lowering himself, he kissed his way up her inner thigh, over her sex, and to her breasts. Soft and supple, he tenderly rubbed his face against the pair of mounds. Like icing on a cake, the pair of knockers somehow accentuated her already impressive sexuality, causing his mouth to water. Wrapping his lips around one of the leaking buds, he felt something ethereal softly constrict his hardening manhood.

“Get comfortable and let me warm you up, Darling,” Chrysalis murmured, sorcerously stroking his length.

Whether her motherly act was a ruse or not mattered little and only served to quicken Anon’s pulse. As he nursed upon her, her milk washed over his tongue and coated his taste buds. Warm, rich, and with a curious fruity note, the creamy fluid had a startlingly pleasant flavor. Easing himself onto the bed, he reached up and massaged her nethers.

She reached down and affectionately stroked his hair, while he rubbed her clit with his thumb and suckled upon her teat. “Such a big, strong boy.”

“Mmmhmm,” he hummed, nodding slightly.

His mind wandered to the various Mommy themed smut of his home-world, stoking the fires of his lust. Though he was physically a bit larger than her, the experience of being treated in such a caring, depraved fashion was a first for him. Bucking his hips, growing harder with each passing second, he embraced the dynamic.

“You know, once I’ve birthed our eggs, I could maintain this aesthetic for you,” she sighed. As he slipped two fingers into her, she clenched around his digits. “Imagine coming home to your personal broodmare, heavy with offspring, while adorned in a sundress. Would you like that?” she continued, drawing a hoof over his cheek and causing him to look upwards. “I’d bet you’d love to keep me barehoof and pregnant?”

The notion was certainly an appealing one and something he hadn’t really considered. Even if she wasn’t thoroughly knocked up, there was nothing keeping her from appearing as such. Shifting lower, abandoning her dribbling bosoms, he sank his face into her groin. As he pressed his lips to her sopping wet and vividly colored entrance, his tongue delved into her depths.

Moving his hands from her groin to her bust, he leisurely played with a stiffened nipple. She groaned above him, apparently pleased with his efforts, while she continued to mystically jack him off. With the taste of her arousal overtaking the sweetness of her milk, he lapped at her entrance with increasing zeal.

One of the most enchanting things about bedding her was the gratification of knowing he brought her pleasure. Though there was an all too real chance that others had done the same in the past, her sounds of delight and the sensation of her excited shivers were downright awe inspiring. Shifting focus to her clit, feeling her tremble and wink against his chin, he peeked up at her rounded belly.

“Fuck it,” he grunted, pulling away and pushing himself up. She’d sufficiently roused him and, so help her, she was about to get a banquet.

“Yes, my Love,” she sensuously intoned, lifting one leg to better allow him access, “feed us.”

Shuffling forward on his knees, he inched closer to his lover. Straddling one of her hind legs, while resting the other on his shoulder, he prodded her marehood with his turgid length. While the position would have been possible with a human, the changeling’s form made the endeavor all too easy. Slowly, taking his time to relish the sensation, he sank into her depths.

Given her additional heft, she’d been slightly less physically domineering with their escapades as of late - that being said, he didn’t mind in the slightest. Being in control of a creature as arrogant as Chrysalis had a certain charm to it and he’d grown to enjoy being the one in charge. Bucking his hips, steadily sheathing himself within her velvety confines, he only stopped once he’d fully hilted her.

Waggling her hips invitingly, causing her bosoms to wobble about on her abdomen, she licked her chops. The warmth and snugness of her snatch was, as always, unparalleled. Besides having complete control over her anatomy, she was graced with the skill and experience to wield her body like a carnal champion. As he began steadily thrusting into her, she hungrily milked his shaft.

Holding her leg, using it for additional leverage, Anon peered down upon her. The view was, in a word, sublime. Curvaceous and expecting, impending motherhood suited the changeling exceptionally well. There was something primally beautiful about such a fertile female and he’d grown increasingly fond of the look - hell, if he could find the spare bits, he’d even considered commissioning someone to paint a provocative portrait of her.

Silent, save for the occasional pleased grunt or whimper, the man and Matriarch savored the experience. Seconds passed, turning to minutes, while they steadily moved faster. Even though Chrysalis wasn’t quite as mobile as her paramour, she gripped his pistoning length with every plunge.

“R...right there,” she croaked, as he shifted slightly.

Anon’s licentious time with her, while entertaining, had given him keen insight on several of her sensual preferences. Besides determining her various erogenous zones and what types of dirty talk got her worked up, he’d learned to spot the telltale signs of bliss which were difficult or impossible to fake. Angling his thrusts towards her g-spot, his hand ran down her leg, over her thigh, and to her entrance.

Tauntingly, hoping to provoke a reaction, his thumb caressed the area just to the side of her winking, engorged clit. It was a dirty tactic, and one which rarely failed to evoke her ire, yet he couldn’t help himself. There was something magical about having her genuinely beg for his affection and it always managed to get him worked up that much more.

Quivering and feebly humping towards his hand, Chrysalis’ composure fractured. “Please,” she sighed, affixing him with a heavily lidded gaze.

The quiet plea was simply perfect. At times, his teasing would spur her to alarmingly demand him to perform or, at worst, had caused her to flip the tables and subjugate him, but this was different. Warranted or not, her weakened and needy state compelled him to act. Unleashing his full potential, he plowed her with barely restrained fury.

Where once the room had been relatively silent, a shrill howl of ecstasy quickly cut through the air. Between the sounds, sensations, the lingering flavor of her loins on his tongue, and the sight of the magnificent, erotic beast beneath him, Anon was pushed to his limit. Tightening his grasp on her leg and clenching his jaw, his attempts to delay the inevitable came to an abrupt and cataclysmic end, as something twisted his nipple.

Magically adding a twinge of pain to his rapture, she uttered a single, ruinous word. “Cum…”

And Anon came. Snorting, fucking her like a beast possessed, he was pushed past his limit. His manhood violently throbbed and pulsed within her, disgorging his virile load and coating her interior with his seed. Like so many times before, she’d claimed his essence and bested him.

Panting, shuddering to a full stop, he dully peeked down at her. Smugly smiling up at him, proud that she’d driven him to finish, she affectionately clamped herself around his cock. “That’s one more for me.”

“That - Cough - that’s playing dirty,” he protested.

“All’s fair in love and war,” she glibly retorted, batting an eye at him.

Knowing full well that winning with her was an elusive affair, Anon snickered to himself. She really was special, even if she’d tried to overthrow a world government, kidnap ponies, and nearly derailed a royal wedding in the past. Cautiously moving back and unsheathing his softening length, he shakily dismounted.

“Come on,” he whispered, softly patting her fetlock, “after we take a shower, I’ll throw the sheets in the washer - again.”

“It’s not my fault that someone enjoys breeding their concubine so much,” Chrysalis tittered. Laboriously getting to her hooves, she shakily stepped off the bed. “Once the linens are in the wash, you must eat. I can’t have my stud going without,” she imperiously added, unsteadily trotting towards the bathroom.

Watching her retreat, Anon was left with two options - he could either follow after her and join her for a shower or toss the bed sheets and blanket into the laundry. As the obvious choice glanced back at him and issued a sultry wink, he scampered after her. Since he was already buck naked, slathered in juices, and in dire need of a shower, the laundry could wait just a little while longer.

“Already pining for a second round?” Chrysalis mused, lifting a hoof and moving into the already running shower.

“Or…” he murmured, stepping in and slapping her backside, “maybe I just want to help wash my Queen.”

Tittering like a schoolfilly, she batted a hoof. “I suppose I could let you venerate me - after all, you did just ingloriously lose to my clearly superior intimate prowess.”

Sinking his fingers into her tush, his hand wandered to the cleft of her ass. “Like when I lost the other night and had you squirting like a horny teen on prom night?”

“That hardly counted, you know - Mmmm…” she trailed off, feeling his fingers graze her cum-slick nethers.

As he nonchalantly fingered her with one hand, he reached over and grabbed the shampoo. “Here,” he began, offering her the bottle, “I’ll get your back-half.”

Turning her head and watching him take a knee, Chrysalis immediately rocked back. Jamming his face in her tush, she snickered to herself. “Be sure to get me nice and clean…”

With his nose pressed against her taut, fleshy pucker, Anon drug his tongue over her snatch. Besides the first non-human he’d ended up banging, she was also the first creature he’d eaten out after creampieing. His initial experience with the exceptionally messy oral had taken him completely by surprise, after she’d unceremoniously seated herself on his head following a rather spontaneous rutting.

Grabbing ahold of her thighs, he dug in and dined on her nethers. Stroking her clit with his chin, his tongue plunged deep into her canal. With most of his load trapped deep within her, her piquant nectar dribbled over his lips. Without having to look, he could already tell his refractory period had ended. Sensing a shudder run through her, he knew it was time to give her what she really wanted.

Straightening himself, he aligned his stubborn erection with her snatch and plunged in. Catching her off guard was only the first part of his hastily laid plan; he wasn’t about to suffer a second loss, and he had a pretty good idea of how to tip the odds in his favor. Grabbing the dock of her tail and giving it a firm tug, he slammed his waist against her.

Her legs visibly shook at the first thrust, as she peered longingly back and up at him. “Don’t b...be too rough, think of our foals - Mmmph!”

Pounding into her, heedless of her pitiable protest, he spanked her rear. He knew good and damned well that she liked it rough, regardless of how large she’d grown, and he wasn’t about to fall prey to her pity card. Reaching out and wrapping her dampened hair around his free hand, he pulled her head back.

A guttural, absolutely depraved groan escaped her, as she seized around his jackhammering length. Even with their roles reversed, she wasn’t completely helpless. Broadening her stance, she braced her forelegs and rammed herself back upon him.

Relenting, if ever so slightly, Anon fell into a steady rhythm of railing her from behind. Warm water splashed and pattered over their colliding bodies, adding a refreshing element to the somewhat impromptu encounter. Inspired by taking the lead, feeling power course through him, he leaned forward and hauled on her mane.

Acquiescing, Chrysalis craned her neck and locked lips with the man. No sooner had their faces met than their tongues went to war. Though she may not be able to lick him clean, an act he’d grown rather fond of, he could still share their residual flavor. With his nuts wetly slapping against her clit, they made wild, passionate love.

Unlike in the bedroom, Anon showed little restraint with his regal mate. Pulling her hair and squeezing her soft flesh, he fervently made out with her. Having gone without release, her limits were pushed to the brink. Firmly holding the upper hand, realizing he had her wrapped around his finger, he pulled back and nibbled her lower lip.

The Queen’s moans gradually raised an octave, her legs quaked, and she rocked back with an unsteady, almost feverish rhythm. His trick had worked and, sure enough, she’d been pushed to the edge. Momentarily considering how best to finish her off, while he continued to savagely hump away, inspiration hit him.

Kissing his way across her cheek and down her neck, he drew a breath and steadied himself. “You’re my Queen,” he growled, sinking his teeth into her shoulder.

Though he didn’t really bite her that hard, his tactic had a profound effect. Wailing incoherently and lewdly squirting her feminine juices over his lap and upper thighs, her body was wracked with a monumental climax. His hopes of screwing her throughout came to a swift and rather jarring end, as her legs buckled and collapsed. Driven back by her chaotic movements, while his manhood was entombed within her convulsing marehood, he lost his footing. Almost on instinct, as he fell backwards, he grabbed her haunches and hauled her along with himself.

With a meaty Thud, the man found himself rather disgracefully sat upon by his lover. Pushing himself with one arm, he pawed at her side. Although he hadn’t meant to send her off balance, she’d ended up taking a tumble. It would have been bad enough were it just the two of them, but the fact that she was harboring their young filled him with concern.

“Are you ok?” he blurted, anxiously rubbing her back.

“I...I’m - Huff - I’m quite alright,” she panted, casually rolling back onto him.

Cursing himself, with his lust stamped out completely, he hugged her to himself. “Damn it, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to-”

Before he could continue, she shifted atop him. Rolling her head back, being mindful not to poke him with her horn, she awkwardly met his eyes. “If you did mean to, do you think you’d still be in one piece spooning with me?”

Anon opened his mouth to speak, but words failed him. She had a point - she could easily have mystically righted herself, additional girth or not, and that was only one of the tamer options for her. Had she wanted to, he had little doubt that her sorcery could mop the floor with him. Mercifully, her admission and relaxed demeanor told him he wasn’t in trouble.

Choosing to stay silent, he lay with her in the basin for some time. Their affection eventually came to a reluctant end, after Anon glibly joked about her being a water bug, leading them to wash one another and rinse off. Once cleaned and dried, they shambled into the living room to relax and wind down for the evening.

Even after having consumed a two course serving of Anon’s energy, Chrysalis joined him in finishing off the remainder of their leftover lasagna and a small salad. Without a television, they’d often read, chat, or simply relax and listen to the radio in their quieter hours - that was, if they weren’t harassing one another in some form or fashion. Though it was simple, just lounging around with one another was immensely relaxing.

“When are you betting they’ll be ready?” he asked through a forkful of lasagna, giving her belly a small prod.

Chrysalis shrugged, running her tongue over the plate she’d just cleaned. “Could be days, could be minutes - honestly, there’s no way to pin it down.”

“I’m guessing…” Anon murmured, thoughtfully tapping his chin, “Sunday morning, right after I make us breakfast burritos.”

“Nonsense,” she rebutted, incredulously raising an eyebrow, “it wouldn’t be until after I’ve had something sweet to feast upon.”

“I gotcha - so you’d rather have french toast, waffles, pancakes,” he counted off, slowly slumping to his side and onto her flank, “or me.”

A testy look crossed her face, but it was drowned out by a barely restrained smirk as she looked away. It was a magical moment, one where Anon could tell she’d been about to mock him for being silly or droll, yet she either wouldn’t or couldn’t bring herself to do it. Resting against her haunch, he set his empty plate onto the coffee table.

“You got any plans for tomorrow?” he asked, squirming and flipping onto his back.

“No. After storming the bowling alley and that divine session in the shower, my hooves are killing me,” she grumbled.

Reaching up, Anon scratched her chin. “You know, I could bring you around in a wheelbarrow.”

“And have the peasants see a Queen trundled about like a bale of hay?” she spat, leering down at him. “I’ll pass, thanks.”

Before long, Anon found himself starting to nod off. Having worked an extra long shift and being sapped by his paramour had quite literally left him drained. He couldn’t say what it was like for ponies to have their energy sapped by a changeling, but it wasn’t that bad - at worst, it made him feel relaxed and slightly sleepy. Wearily pushing himself up and onto his feet, he motioned for her hoof.

“Let’s get you and those babies to bed,” he whispered, helping her off the couch.

Nodding with her hoof in his hand, she strolled beside him to their chamber. In short order, the pair had crawled into bed under a freshly laundered set of linens. Chrysalis wriggled up to and against his back, pressing herself against him to leech off his warmth, as she got comfortable. Dimly lit by the glowing flora above, the two drifted off to sleep.

Ripping Anon from his slumber, a scream resonated throughout the cavern. Bolting upright in confusion and alarm, he frantically looked around the bedroom. Dulled by having been jarred awake, it took him a moment to realize something was dreadfully amiss. Chrysalis was no longer in bed beside him.

“Babe?!” he shouted, clumsily rolling off the mattress.

Glancing into the bathroom, if only to ensure she wasn’t there, he ran into the yawning expanse of their grotto-made-home. Silence greeted him, but not for long. A second, yowl soon cut through the expanse, causing him to turn. Though he couldn’t be completely certain, it sounded as though it had come from the center of the cave - at or near the pool.

Bolting through the rooms, bumping into doorways and furniture as he went, rushed to her. There was no mistaking it, the noise had definitely come from his lover. Rushing through the living room and nailing his toe on a leg of the coffee table, he never slowed. If someone or something had hurt her and their unborn kids, so help him, he’d put a stop to it.

“Babe?!?” he yelled again, panic straining his voice. Rounding a corner and coming into view of the small pond, he froze - there, partially submerged in the cool, clear water, was Chrysalis.

Standing in the pond, with only her head and shoulders above the surface of the pool, she winced and ground her teeth. Dashing to her, from the opposite side of the tiny lagoon, he crashed into the water and waded over to her. There was no one or nothing else present, though his concern was only left slightly diminished.

“Can’t a - Gah - mare have some privacy?!” she grunted. Clamping her eyes shut, with her nostrils flaring, her entire body tensed.

Before Anon could ask what she’d meant, realization hit him like a freight train. Acting on instinct alone, fueled by adrenaline and worry, he leapt into action. With as much speed as he could muster, he splashed over and seated himself beside her. Some part of him recognized that she’d mentioned something about privacy, but that wasn’t his concern - no, the only thing he cared about was being there for her.

“Are you - Nnnngh - deaf?!” she barked, weakly pushing him away. “I’m - Buck me - trying to spawn here!”

Wrapping an arm around her shoulder, he stroked her sweat-streaked face. “I was part of this and I’m going to see it through,” he uttered, his voice shaking.

Be damned what had compelled him to say those words, but they seemed to mollify her to a degree. Truthfully, he’d been surprised he could say anything at all, given how badly his mind was racing. There he was, sat in a pool with his mate, about to watch her birth a clutch of eggs. He wasn’t sure what he could do to help her, yet he refused to leave her side.

Petting her, hugging her, and offering comfort in any way he could, he was lambasted by a chaotic mixture of curses and praise. To say the whole experience was peculiar would be an understatement, although she didn’t seem to suffer throughout the ordeal - hell, if anything, she appeared to be getting some sort of pleasure from the event. The changeling would spontaneously flip from begging him to kiss her to slapping him and telling him to leave her be, but he didn’t budge. Finally, after what felt like a small eternity, a single sea green egg floated to the water’s surface.

Acting on impulse, Anon released Chrysalis, moved deeper into the pond, and retrieved the bobbing ovum. Roughly the size of a tangerine, albeit of an oval shape, he cradled the little spheroid in his hands. Unlike most eggs he’d ever come across, its surface was somewhat soft and pliable - almost leathery. By the time he’d finished marveling at the object, a second bobbed up next to him.

“Shit,” he absentmindedly cursed to himself, scooping the egg from the water.

One after another, his encapsulated progeny appeared. After the fourth egg emerged from the braying Matriarch, Anon darted into the living room and retrieved a small blanket from the sofa. Gingerly placing each ovum into the soft linen, he’d periodically reassure Chrysalis and pepper her with kisses. It wasn’t until she’d completed her tenth birthing did she finally fall completely silent.

The room stood still, with the water rippling gently around the man and mare, as they looked to one another. “I...Is that it,” Anon asked, genuinely unsure of her response.

“Yes,” Chrysalis croaked, falteringly taking a step from the water.

Before she could fully emerge from the pool, her legs crumpled. Were it not for the man standing nearby, she would have crashed to the stone floor - luckily, that wasn’t the case. Pivoting and diving over to her, Anon cushioned her fall with his body. While he was no expert, it was painfully obvious that the delivery had taken a heavy toll on her.

As carefully as he could, he squirmed around and pushed himself up. A curious strength and sense of peace welled up within him, allowing him to effortlessly haul her up and into his arms. Holding her to his chest, in a close approximation of a bridle carry, he stepped over, retrieved the bundle of eggs, and trudged back towards their private chamber.

“Just put them in the den I made,” Chrysalis exhaustedly whispered, apparently having noticed him grab their unhatched young.

“No, it’s cold and they can sleep with us tonight,” he firmly stated, overcome with some unknown paternal urge - that was, until a sudden concern hit him. “They won’t get squished in bed with us, will they?”

“Grubs and hatchlings often use eggs as makeshift balls, so I’m sure they’ll be fine,” she muttered, nodding in and out of consciousness.

Satisfied with her flippant answer, Anon brought his Queen and their brood back to the bedroom and did what he could to make everyone comfortable. The instant Chrysalis’ head hit the pillow, she blacked out and started snoring softly. Considering this was her umpteen-hundredth birth, he wasn’t too worried about her - still, he covered her in the blanket and issued her a goodnight kiss.

As for the eggs - well - those were an entirely new issue to deal with. Swaddling them in their makeshift bindle, he warily slid the precious bundle under the sheets. Crawling in after them, sandwiching the sack of unhatched young between him and their mother, he rested on his side. Laying one arm atop the eggs, he stared over at his mate.

A dizzying array of thoughts assailed him - some good, some bad. He’d actually made life with this magnificent creature, yet that felt like a double edged sword. Pride, ambition, and hopes waged a pitched battle against his fears, self-doubt, and reluctance. It was all grand and terrifying, but there was nothing he could do. Like it or not, he was now technically a father.

Whether it was because of exhaustion, the emotional roller-coaster of the evening, both, or some unknown element, he passed out in no time. The last thing to pass though his mind was the mental image of some far-flung future. He, Chrysalis, and their litter of children living all happily together, well adjusted and content, as one big family. The vision was a sweet fantasy, seeing him fastly off to sleep...