To Ne'er Come Down Again

Following the hatching of his wriggling brood, Anon quickly adjusted to a new daily routine. On the days he had work, he’d get up, dote on his lover and young, grind through his shift, then return home to spend time with his family. His days off weren’t any less busy, seeing as how he’d ensconce himself with his offspring and mate. So far as he could tell, each of the little ones were as happy and healthy as shapeshifting grubs could be, although he was still hoping to get some peace of mind from their visit to the doctor.

Even with their offsprings’ rather unique pedigree, it took some time to summon the lone medical student from Thorax’s hive. Nearly two weeks had passed before the babs were able to go in for their checkup. After scheduling the day off at the bowling alley, Anon, Chrysalis, and their young saw their towards town and the clinic therein. For all intents and purposes, it should have been a painless endeavor; sadly, the Matriarch was less than pleased with the entire affair.

“Must we have them be seen by some simple pony and one of my treacherous brood?” Chrysalis grumbled, ignoring the four grubs latched to her back and neck.

Ferrying the six remaining babs atop or within his shirt, Anon rolled his eyes. “Yes. You said yourself that they hatched quicker than a usual bunch. Having them get a once-over won’t hurt anything.”

“It will if they get indoctrinated by those simpering, kindhearted abominations I used to call kin,” she seethed. “I’m their mother; If I say they’re fine, they’re fine.”

“And I’m their father!” the man asserted, defiantly slapping a hand to his chest and inadvertently drawing a squeak from one of the grubs. Immediately fishing out the squirming and sniffling hatchling, he apologized, kissed the little thing’s cheek, and perched it on his head. “Anyway, like I was saying, I’m their father and I say they’re gonna get a checkup.”

Quickening her pace and cutting him off, Chrysalis leered over at him. “Obstinate hyu-man, you should defer to my better judgement on the matter.”

“If you don’t want to go, hand ‘em over. I’ll do it myself,” he sighed. He would really rather she be there with him and their kids, although he wasn’t about to force her into going. If she wanted to stay home and sulk by herself, she’d be free to do just that - still, knowing she’d likely be recalcitrant about the matter, he’d issued a small bribe before things took a turn. “Just remember, if you go back to the house, you’re not gonna get ice cream.”

Though her menacing squint could have frozen even the bravest of hearts, the man didn’t budge an inch. It was only after a few tense few seconds passed did she finally relent. “The sundae will have brownie bits and salted caramel…And don’t forget the sprinkles!” she hissed, trotting back to his side.

Fighting to contain his smile, Anon nodded. It was a small and relatively inconsequential victory, yet he hoped it would be the first of many that day. He had little doubt that his lover’s rancor would be on full display, having to deal with a member of her former hive and the Princess of Friendship, although he hoped she’d restrain her animus urges. He’d do what he could to keep her calm and relatively placid, although something told him things wouldn’t go smoothly.

Parading through the woods and into the outskirts of Ponyville, the little family made their way to the clinic. He’d made sure to schedule their appointment as early as possible, in the hopes of avoiding any undue attention from the townsfolk, but there were still a few ponies up and about. Fortunately, the most they got were a few halfhearted waves of greeting and a couple odd stares.

It didn’t take them long to reach their destination and, thankfully, their journey went without further outburst from the cantankerous changeling. Walking up to the counter and speaking with the nurse, Anon and his company were quickly whisked into a large exam room towards the back of the clinic. As the man eased himself to the carpeted floor, fully content to busy himself by playing with his young, Chrysalis conspiratorially inspected every nook and cranny of the area.

“You don’t have to be this worked up,” Anon murmured. Patting the carpet beside himself, he smiled up at her. “Come and sit, I’m sure they want to play with their mom.”

“They play with me nearly every day. I’m sure they’d understand that I’m trying to ensure nopony seeks to do them harm,” she distractedly replied, buzzing up to and opening a set of cabinets.

Brushing aside her concerns, he attempted to steer the conversation into a more pleasant and markedly less paranoid direction. “Speaking of playing with them, what’s your secret? Most afternoons they seem pretty tuckered out and it’s almost like they fight for your attention.”

“That’s because they do fight for my attention - well, fight as much as hatchlings can,” she snickered, peering down at the man. Her smug grin wilted almost instantaneously, seeing the look of shock on his face. “Please, there’s nothing to be concerned about. They simply wrestle and the winner gets mommy time.”

“T...that’s awful!” Anon bleated, genuinely dismayed with the revelation. Had he known she’d been hosting miniature pit-fighting competitions between his precious babs, he would have put a stop to it long ago!

“It’s not awful, it promotes strength and cunning among them - plus it’s good exercise or something,” she flippantly stated, stooping low and peeking beneath the exam table. “At the end of the day, they are all fed and well tended to. There’s nothing to -” she fell silent, as he was abruptly stood up and wheeled around.

“No more of it,” the man insisted, gripping her shoulders and scowling over at her. “Even if some might end up being taller, or smarter, or stronger, or faster, we should treat them the same. They’re our kids! We shouldn’t have them playing gladiator for attention!”

Though the notion was absurd, he could see a sliver of reasoning in the practice. Before, back when Chrysalis had been forced to tend to her hive without aid, survival of the fittest would have been viable and quite possibly necessary means of survival - now, free from persecution and the burden of having to steal love, the principal no longer applied. As far as he was concerned, he wanted their young to be cared for mentally and physically - which meant abstaining from favoritism and splitting their affection as evenly as possible.

“You would have me simply abandon one of my tried and true tenants of raising a hive? To forgo what has kept me and my kind alive for generations?” she muttered, her tone darkening.

“You don’t have to do this - at least, not now. I swear, I’ll do everything I can to care for you and them,” he whispered, waving at the hatchlings shuffling around on the floor.

She studied him for a moment, scanning his face for any signs of weakness or deception, before locking eyes with him. “And if I refuse to stop?”

“Then…” Anon trailed off, having begun before he knew what he was going to say. He’d meant what he said, he’d do virtually anything for her and their offspring, but proving that was another matter entirely. Plucking the three remaining grubs from his person and placing them on the floor, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around his mate. “Then you’ll have to live with the fact that you’re hurting me and them…”

The mare started and went rigid in the man’s grasp. Though he’d been with her for some time, Anon couldn’t help but feel anxious about his rare confrontations with her. He was fully aware of the things she’d done and what she was capable of, being a master of subterfuge and a former villain of renown, so there wasn’t much he could realistically do to stop her. Tightening his grip, he caressed her cheek with his own.

Regardless of her haughty and bullheaded nature, he’d grown increasingly attached to her and he wanted nothing more than to make her and their kids happy - that being said, he didn’t want their young to develop a mean-streak or grow up jaded and bitter. If he had anything to say on the matter, the tykes would eventually have plenty of friends and be well adjusted - hopefully.

Seconds dragged by without the Queen saying a word, causing Anon’s anxiety to spike. There was a chance that she hadn’t taken him seriously, or dismissed his concerns outright, leaving him with one final gambit. There was a damn good chance that what he was about to pull off would do more harm than good, but it was the only thing he could think of. Pulling away, he stared into her eyes and put on a brave smile.

“I want them to have a chance for something you didn’t. Chryssy, please, just trust me on this…” he breathed.

Her pupils dilated, gooseflesh formed on her neck, and she stepped back. Glancing to one of the open cabins, with her horn going alight, she evoked her fearsome power. Levitating the decade of their hatchlings, including two which were steadily advancing up the man’s pant legs, she gingerly hovered the gaggle of grubs into the cupboard, closed the door, and slowly spat a gobbet of resin on the hinge.

Before Anon could ask what she was doing or why she was doing it, she was upon him. Without the slightest bit of warning, she toppled him onto his back and stepped over his supine form. Peering up at her, feeling a knot form in his stomach, his heart started to race. There was only one occasion when she’d been this forceful with him before and it had resulted in a rutting session that had lasted for hours.

As he went to push himself up, she placed a hoof on his chest and pressed him back to the floor. Her snout twisted in a conceited grin, as she leaned in and brought her muzzle to his ear. “I love when you’re like this…”

“L...like what?” he sputtered, feeling her tongue tease his ear.

“So assured, so adamant that you’ll be a good father to our offspring. If I’d had a King like you a century ago, we would have ruled all Equestria,” she purred, breathing hotly upon him.

Anon shivered, his pants promptly tented, and his mouth went dry. He’d been right - somehow, despite trying to just be a supportive and good parent, he’d tickled her amorous interest. Craning his head and looking at the clock, he knit his brow. If the doctors’ offices in horse-land were anything like those on earth, they’d likely be waiting a while before being seen - as such, maybe a quickie was in order.

While he couldn’t have fathomed that he’d be considering dicking his mate at the clinic, his experience with the changeling left him with few options. She was absolutely insatiable once she’d been sufficiently worked up, intentionally or not, so denying her would sour her already precarious mood. Given that she’d been particularly venomous about their visit to the physician, turning her down would likely do more harm than good.

As she bit down on his nipple, shaking him from his stupor, he knew what he had to do. His hands sailed to his groin, deftly unbuttoning his pants and undoing his fly, as he made himself ready. If nothing else, maybe a hasty lay, as well as the subsequent serotonin and dopamine boost, would allow them to soldier on throughout their kids’ checkup a little easier - that and he’d be able to check off ‘Screwing in a Doctor’s Office’ from his bucket list.

“If you’re - Smooch - wrong, I get to - Smooch - call the shots with - Smooch - our next batch,” she cooed, kissing her way up his chest.

With his manhood freed from its constricting confines, he reached up and tenderly caressed her neck. The sheer abruptness of it all, paired with how hellbent she seemed on getting some action, did nothing to deter his interest. The decision had been made and there was no going back, yet one small problem remained - where they were going to do the deed. Going at one another on the floor wouldn’t be the worst choice, although there was a perfectly good…

“Get on the table,” he instructed.

Bolting upright and looking behind herself, a devilish grin split Chrysalis’ features. Turning away, she flipped the mane from her face and sashayed over to the sturdy piece of furniture. “Oh doctor,” she began, crawling onto the exam table, “you simply must help this old mare out…”

As Anon got to his feet, he was suddenly enveloped by a brilliant green aura that swiftly hauled him upwards. Levitated just above the floor, guided by his lustful mate’s magic, his body sailed across the relatively cramped room. Virtually helpless, he watched the Matriarch shifting in place.

“Please,” she whined, rolling to her back and sorcerously extending the table’s stirrups, “I need a thorough exam.”

As cliché as the performance was, his excitement mounted. Though they’d roleplayed on a number of occasions, the setup and execution was almost too perfect. As his feet touched down, the magical aura around him dimmed and his freedom was restored - well, almost. His unfastened pants and boxers were wrenched downward, just as the Matriarch lifted her hind legs and placed them onto the metal rests.

Lying supine, coyly covering her chest and snout with her forehooves, she batted her eyes at him. Even though Anon knew good and well it was an act, he couldn’t help himself any longer. Stepping out of his trousers and kicking them to the side, his eyes wandered over her form. Her soft underbelly, deliciously supple thighs, and demure expression belied the ravenous carnal beast that she was, but he couldn’t care less. Stepping forward, he delicately caressed her hind leg.

“I’m sorry, Ma’am, it appears as though you’ll be needing an invasive procedure,” he chuckled, cheesily playing his part.

Looking to his face, with her eyes going wide, she stifled a gasp. “It’s n...not going to be unpleasant, is it?”

“It may be a bit intense,” he sighed, stepping between her legs. Grabbing his manhood and drawing his glans over her winking, juicy entrance, he smirked. “Thankfully, I have just the right tool for the job.”

“Please, doctor, be gentle,” she whispered, as a bead of drool escaped her barely contained smile.

“Trust me,” he purred, “I’m a professional.” With that, he shuffled forward and unhurriedly sank his length into her inviting depths. Just as luscious, hot, and snug as ever, her velvety interior embraced his steadily plunging tool. Bit by bit, inch by inch, he drove himself into her, until he’d sheathed the entirety of himself within her.

“Oh doctor,” she moaned, gyrating her hips and clenching around him, “it’s just so big! I...I don’t know if I can handle it!”

Bending at the waist, leaning over her, he gradually moved his face to hers. “Just lay back and try to relax…”

The moment he finished speaking, he started moving. Rocking his hips back, withdrawing a bit of his length from her vice-like marehood, he thrust back into his lover. A throaty groan escaped her, as she closed her eyes and rolled her head to the side. Though it was likely an act, her impish visage fanned the flames of his passion. Reaching out and turning her muzzle to face him, he sweetly kissed her on the lips.

The affection, though tame in comparison to his bucking hips, seemed to set her off. Her forelegs snapped up and around his chest, drawing him to her while pulling him into a deeper kiss. More than happy to oblige, Anon heatedly made out with his the Queen - his Queen. As their tongues entwined, he slipped one hand around the back of her head.

Her gossamer mane drifted through his fingers, her canal rhythmically seized around his pistoning cock, and her juices dribbled down his groin and to his inner thigh. After months of countless beddings, in more positions he’d thought possible for a man and a mare, they’d learned just how to work with one another. Though one might think that the regularity and frequency of their lovemaking may dull the experience, they’d be dead wrong.

The more Anon and Chrysalis learned about one another, the more they honed their carnal skills. In a sense, their libidinous escapades could almost be likened to a form of combat - an exceptionally messy, loud, and rewarding combat, but a combat nonetheless. They’d discovered where to caress or nibble, how to thrust or flex, and when best to employ their sensual skills upon their mate. It was like a very sensual game of cat and mouse, with each trying to best the other on a regular basis.

“Harder, Doctor, I need it!” the changeling howled, pulling away and throwing her head back.

Straightening himself and peering down his chest, Anon watched his shaft disappear into a reappear from the lurid and excruciatingly sinful entrance of his lover. Her lower lips were pulled out with each backstroke, with only a fleeting second before his tool hammered back into her. There was no way in hell he was going to last too terribly long, what with the thrill of fucking her inside a clinic, so he knew he’d have to make his final moments worth it. As he adjusted the angle of his thrusts, aiming for the g-spot buried in her depths, his hand shot to her groin.

The instant he executed his two-fold attack, her whorish moaning raised several octaves. Playing with her clit and accosting the sweet spot within her was almost always a winning combo, even if it wasn’t the easiest thing to pull off with a quadruped. Writhing gently beneath him, winking and squeezing his manhood, she cracked an eye and peeked up at him. As he noticed the faintest smirk on her lips, just before her horn started to glow, he knew he’d fucked up.

Her sorcery played over his body, sending tingles through his limbs and to his core, pushing him further towards his limit. Grinning down at her, realizing they were both in their final moments, he pulled out his trump card. Closer and closer his release came, until he could bear it no longer. Drawing a breath through gritted teeth, he held on until the very final second before unleashing his ultimate weapon.

“I love you so fucking much!” he grunted. Hilting himself with one final thrust, allowing her womb to kiss his glans, he unloaded into her.

Either due to the influx of scalding foal-batter, his passionate admission, or possibly both, Chrysalis brayed and thrashed on the table. Her hind legs kicked out and clenched around his waist, trapping him in place and ensuring every virile drop of his seed was deposited as deeply as possible. In the blink of an eye, her horn flared to life and hauled him downward, bringing their faces together. Hotly making out, climaxing in tandem, the pair rode out their ecstasy.

Between the noises of their fervent and spontaneous rutting, and the fact that they were solely focused on feeding one another’s lust, both were completely heedless to the excited whispers and jostling from outside the door. It was only after the trio of voices had a rather brief and heated argument that someone issued a knock. Anon’s head whipped around, realizing that they were about to get walked in on, yet something was wrong - the legs securely holding him did not slacken, holding him securely in place.

Looking to the Matriarch’s face, he gulped. He’d been around her long enough to know that the shit-eating grin she wore was an ominous portent for something depraved and, in all likelihood, painfully embarrassing. Shaking his head and pressing a finger to his lips, pleading that she wouldn’t, his prayers fell on deaf ears, as she drew a breath, chuckled to herself, and opened her fanged maw.

“Come in!” the Queen merrily announced.

It was all Anon could do to twist his head and apologize to the physician or nurse who’d just gotten an eyeful, but it was so, so much worse than that. Two creatures stood in doctor’s coats, a reformed changeling and a rather lanky earth stallion, while a mulberry figure stood with her head pressed to the door-frame - yes, her. There was only one mare so shameless as to listen in on him while he was getting his dick wet, and it was none other than…

“Twilight Sparkle...I see your voyeuristic proclivities are as strong and healthy as ever,” Chrysalis haughtily intoned, twisting her head at an unusual angle. “And you’ve brought friends! Doctor Greymare and…” she fell silent, squinting at the drone. “Don’t tell me...Arista?”

The aqua colored changeling beamed and nodded enthusiastically, before tensing somewhat. There was the barest glimpse of his smile faltering, he covered his muzzle with a hoof. “That’s me,” he responded, his tone flat and free of cheer.

“Well well! I’m happy to see that your treasured Princess of peeping saw fit to have you interrupt our hot, impassioned mating session,” Chrysalis tittered, obscenely screwing herself on the man’s semi-rigid shaft.

“It wasn’t my idea to barge in!” Twilight squawked, petulantly stomping a hoof. “I would have been happy enough to listen and -”

“Can we please get some privacy for a second?!” Anon bellowed, glaring at all parties involved. Though he would reluctantly discuss his and Chrysalis’ sexual habits with a legitimate medical professional, he was not about to have a casual conversation while balls-deep in a bug-horse. “Just give us a minute or two and we’ll-”

“Where are the grubs?” the good doctor interrupted, concernedly looking about the room.

“They’re in the cupboard,” Chrysalis groaned, dismissively waving to the aforementioned cabinet.

The Princess knit her brow and trotted around the table, eyeing the adhered doors of the hatchlings’ improvised confines. “You just jammed them in there?!”

“Please, they’ll be fine. It’s not my fault that this absolute stud saw fit to rut me! I mean, for goodness sake, who am I to turn down his advances,” the Queen giggled, constricting around his tool.

Anon glanced down at the brazenly salacious Matriarch, before wincing over at the alicorn. “Twilight, I swear, I didn’t-”

“See how he insists on knocking up his poor, helpless broodmare,” Chrysalis mused, flexing her legs and causing him to thrust into her. “He’s an absolute beast.”

“H...he is an impressive s...specimen,” Arista stammered, stepping over to affectionately paw at the man’s leg.

“Not for you!” Chrysalis hissed, ineffectually kicking out at the drone. “He’s mine! Go find your own hyu-man to sate yourself with!”

“For Celestia’s sake!” Greymare shouted, putting an immediate end to the wholly inappropriate and unprofessional scene. Grabbing the drone by the tail and scowling at the Princess, he turned and stomped from the room. “You have ten minutes to have yourselves presentable and have your offspring ready for their exam.”

As the trio departed, with Twilight taking up the rear, Anon noticed two things; for starters, while slipping glances at the fornicating couple, the alicorn was moving much slower than her medical companions - secondly, and more alarmingly, he spied a single bead of nectar rolling down her inner thigh. Though it came as no surprise that she’d been turned on by listening to and subsequently barging in on them, seeing a tangible note of her arousal was slightly disquieting. As the door was closed, finally giving the duo some modicum of privacy, he wriggled from his lover’s grasp and prized her legs apart.

“Remind me never to take you anywhere in public,” he grumbled. Stepping to the side, fully intent on retrieving his pants, a hoof shot forward and caught his arm.

“Before we present ourselves, perhaps we should clean up a bit,” she mused, hungrily licking her lips.

Scanning the room, finding it wholly lacking in any ways to get washed up, he rolled his eyes. “And just how are we supposed to - Oh fuck!” he hissed, her lips wrapped around his softening length.

Gazing up at him, while she slurped the cocktail of her juices and his spunk from his shaft, she contentedly hummed. Truly, in all the lands of all the worlds he could ever imagine, there couldn’t exist a more wanton beast. Allowing her to suck him clean, swearing to himself that it was simply out of convenience, he watched her lips swab his manhood.

Finishing the job with startling speed, she swallowed the dregs of their shag and hopped from the table. “Fresh seed every day keeps the doctors at bay,” she laughed. Magically wresting the cabinet door from its hinges, she hovered their squirming brood to the gently used and only slightly damp exam bed.

“I don’t think that’s how the saying goes,” he groused, finally free to get dressed. Once he’d slipped back into his discarded trousers and underwear, he straightened his shirt and walked to his mate’s side. “Ok, we’re ready now,” he announced.

“You shouldn’t be so concerned about others seeing us conjugating,” Chrysalis arrogantly whispered. “It’s completely natural and I wouldn’t be surprised if they’d like to observe copulation between a hyu-man and the one and only true changeling Queen left in Equestria.”

“I am not going to plow you in front of a bunch of doctors,” he hissed, spotting the door gradually swinging open.

“Spoiled sport,” she huffed, watching the physicians enter with the Princess. “Tell me, what exactly will the exam of my progeny entail?” she demanded, stepping between the group and her offspring.

“We’d just like to document a few measurements from the little ones and ask you two a few questions; it’s standard procedure, you have nothing to worry about,” Greymare responded, wheeling a small scale into the room.

Wielding a clipboard and pen, Twilight approached the couple. “Let’s start with the basics, was there anything abnormal about the conception or pregnancy?”

“No,” Chrysalis sighed, clearly disinterested with the question. “Once I discovered how utterly prolific his love was, I induced an ovulation cycle and he thoroughly inseminated me. The gestation and birthing were run-of-the-mill - having said that, I’m absolutely certain my sire’s presence and doting behavior were immeasurably beneficial with the - Don’t touch them!” she blared, seeing the drone reach for one of the hatchlings.

“It’s fine, he just wants to get their weight - right?” Anon interjected, smiling at the reformed changeling.

Arista flinched and shrank away from the irate Matriarch. Peering up to the man, he nodded to the pile of squirming young. “Could you help? I just need you to place them each on the scale for me.”

Anon nodded, scooped up one of his progeny and sat it on the scale. “Sorry, she’s so vocal.”

“Oh I know,” the drone weakly chuckled. “The only time she isn’t loud is when she’s bragging over somepony she’s defeated or when she’s sleeping.”

“I am not!” Chrysalis petulantly shot back, turning her nose up at the borderline rude yet glaringly accurate statement.

“And what is this little guy’s name?” Greymare inquired, waving at the grub being weighed.

“I - uh - I think that’s Blue,” Anon remarked. “Honestly, I’m not sure; they all look nearly identical.”

“The simpleton took to marking them with colors and shapes,” the Queen griped, strutting over to the scale. “Considering the brands he so studiously applies regularly get wiped off throughout the day, he has a hard time telling them apart like we can. Just mark them down as one through ten - that will suffice for now.”

The comment about Anon not being able to differentiate his own kids stung a bit, though he tried not to let it get to him. He felt sure that, given enough time, he’d be able to pick them apart and come up with proper names for them - for the time being, he was doing the best he could with what he had. It wasn’t his fault that they were all roughly the same size and color - still, it did remind him of a question he kept forgetting to ask about.

“How do you know which one is which?” he asked, quirking a brow and looking over to his mate.

Chrysalis pursed her lips and thought for a moment. “We just know. They’re as different to me as the colors of a rainbow.”

“Really?” the man quipped, glancing at the drone for confirmation.

“She’s right. It’s hard to explain, but each changeling has a distinctive feeling to them. I’m pretty sure it’s so we can identify one another if we’re disguised or not,” Arista explained, squinting at the scale’s dial. “Huh…”

Anon’s interest in the subject shifted to one of concern, noting the changeling physician’s peculiar reaction. “What ‘Huh’? Is something wrong?”

The drone shook his head, before nodding to Twilight. “This one’s weight is above average,” he noted. Levitating a length of cloth measuring tape from the open cabinet, he glanced between Chrysalis and Anon. “May I measure him?”

Looking to his mate for confirmation, Anon shrugged. “I don’t see why not.”

Carefully checking the grub’s length, Arista knit his brow. “Definitely on the hefty side. And you’re positive about the hatching date?”

“Of course I’m sure! I watched them emerge myself!” Chrysalis barked. “They’re simply well nourished and cared for, why are you acting so surprised?”

Although Anon wasn’t entirely sure what all the fuss was about, something definitely had the doctors’ and Twilight’s interest. “But they’re healthy, right?”

“They certainly appear energetic. Responsive to stimulation, clear eyes, no sniffles or anything out of the ordinary,” Greymare noted, systematically pressing his stethoscope to the hatchlings and checking their limbs.

Furiously scribbling on her clipboard, Twilight cleared her throat. “I’d like your family to come back in three months, if that’s alright. As I’m sure you know, this is the first recorded case of a human reproducing with an Equestrian creature, let alone the fact that we have next to no documentation on pre-reformed changeling development.”

Anon really didn’t mind the small inconvenience - after all, the Princess was covering the bill and she continued to help with their finances. “That’s fine. Just let us know -”

“No,” Chrysalis interrupted, impudently stomping a hoof. “I’ll only allow it if Anon is given an extra week of vacation. His labors at that accursed bowling alley are taxing and I require a small bit of leave time for him.”

Without looking up from her notes, the Princess nodded. “That shouldn’t be a problem, although I’d need a predetermined date. If you can tell me when he’ll be needing the time off, I’ll be sure to get it approved.”

“Don’t I get a say in this?” the man grumbled. He felt bad enough for being caught quite literally with his pants down, as well as subtly demeaned by not having proper names for his kids, so being used as a bartering chip did little to help his mood.

Locking eyes with him, the Queen’s lips curled in a grin. “You’ll thank me,” she sternly stated, before leering over at the alicorn. “I’ll be sure you get the details - once we have our plans in place.”

As the three negotiated the future visit to the clinic, the pair of doctors finished examining the decade of younglings. With all ten deposited on the table, the grubs blissfully pawed at one another or explored the cushioned surface. It wasn’t until Doctor Greymare trotted from the room, wheeling the scale out, did Anon realize they’d already completed their checkup.

“Outside of being unusually large for their age, they’re all as healthy as can be,” Arista hummed, reading over the chart. “Even though you won’t be scheduled to come back for a while, don’t hesitate to pay us a visit if something comes up. I may not be a resident here, but I’ll come flying if you need me,” he continued, smiling over at the Queen.

“Barring anything calamitous, I doubt we’ll have need of your services,” Chrysalis groaned. Setting four of the hatchlings on her back, while carefully placing the remaining six about the man’s torso and shoulders, she only eventually looked to the drone. “What? Why are you staring at me?”

“C...can I - um - get a hug?” the drone meekly inquired, bashfully rubbing his neck.

“Why?” the Matriarch spat, heedless or uncaring of his trepidation. Glancing up to Anon’s face, noting his pained expression, she rolled her eyes. “Fine. I’ll allow you to have a hug.”

No sooner had she reluctantly given her blessing than Arista rushed over and wrapped his forelegs around her neck. “I really am glad to see you and I’m happy that you’re free. You probably won’t believe me, but the hive was buzzing when we got news that you’d been pardoned! If you’d ever like to come and visit, we’ll be sure to roll out the red carpet for you, Anon, and your hatchlings.”

“I…” Chrysalis cut herself off, apparently taken off guard by the assertion. “I’ll consider it. Now get off me. My mate has promised me an ice cream sundae for tolerating this wholly unnecessary trip, and I haven’t had breakfast yet.”

“Funny,” the drone began, stepping back and thoughtfully rubbing his chin. “What with all the love I smelled in here, I thought you wouldn’t be hungry for another -”

“Bah!” the Queen protested, storming out of the room and into the hallway. “Come, Anon, don’t bother yourself with this rabble.”

Giving himself a moment, listening to the sound of his lover’s retreating footfalls, the man slowly turned to Twilight and Arista. “Sorry about that, she gets kind of testy at times. I really do appreciate everything you all have done for us and, for what it’s worth, I wouldn’t mind visiting Thorax’s hive.”

“We’d be happy to have you!” Arista bleated, grinning from ear to ear. “There are still a few drones who suspect she may be up to something, but Twilight said she’s been doing much better since she started staying with you!”

“I...really?” Anon blurted.

“Believe it or not, Chrysalis has made tremendous strides,” the Princess chimed in. “She hasn’t tried to overthrow the government or seek revenge, her mental state appears to have improved tremendously, and she genuinely seems to relish your company! All in all, I’m exceedingly pleased with how well -”

“Is somepony conspiring against me?” Chrysalis hissed, poking her head through the door. “If you have been plotting my downfall, I swear, I’ll hear about it from Anon. Believe me, I have ways of loosening his tongue.”

“We’re not conspiring, I was just thanking them for looking after us,” the man groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Even if that is true, don’t act terribly surprised if I thoroughly interrogate you later,” the Queen darkly snickered, trotting up behind him to squeeze his rump.

“Anyways...Thanks again. We’ll be in touch,” he sighed, turning and guiding his mate towards the exit.

Though the day could have smoother, he took solace in the fact that it could have easily been much, much worse - still, it was a bit disconcerting to see her being borderline hostile with one of her reformed offspring. From what he’d heard, Chrysalis’ former hive had attempted to extend the olive branch at least once, shortly after their mass metamorphosis. If there was even a slight chance that she could make amends with them, he’d happily take it - after all, he would like their kids to have some shapeshifting friends.

“So…” he murmured, walking along beside her, “it’s nice to see that Arista still has warm feelings for you.”

“Hmmph,” Chrysalis snorted, furrowing her brow. “Why would he not? He and his ilk are pale shadows of their former glory.”

“You know, maybe they could use a strong, smart, and remarkably cunning Queen to help them out - I mean, to be fair, you did see to their survival for ages,” he thought aloud, hoping she’d take the bait.

Stopping dead in her tracks, the Matriarch scowled over at him. “Do not attempt to persuade me with appeals to my vanity. They abandoned me and I’ve washed my hooves with them - that’s that.”

“But what if our kids become pals with some of the new changelings? Twilight’s School of Friendship has at least one from Thorax’s hive there and she seems pretty nice,” he muttered. “And I’m not appealing to your vanity, I just want everyone to get along.”

“Even without those traitors’ help, I’m sure our brood will be just fine,” she groused, affectionately patting and repositioning a hatchling on her shoulder. “If they’re half as - ugh - amiable as you, they’ll likely be making plenty of companions around town.”

Hearing the remark, Anon did a double-take. “So you’d be ok with them having friends?”

An odd array of emotions crossed the Queen’s face, before she turned her head. “Only so long as their acquaintances fully appreciate the splendor of a superior changeling. Regardless, this venture has been taxing and you owe me and the little ones a reward for our cooperation.”

While he wasn’t sure how to take her reaction, he didn’t want to press the issue. Though it may have seemed like a small victory, the fact that she hadn’t balked at the notion of their kids socializing was an immense relief. Smiling to himself, he rested a hand on the small of her back. “Brownie bits and salted caramel, right?”

“And sprinkles,” she corrected, moving through the lobby and to the exit. “All this talk of friendship is going to cost you extra.”

“Oh yeah, before I forget, what was that bit about a vacation? I’m not complaining or anything, but I am curious to hear what you’re planning,” he remarked.

“And you can stay curious,” she grumbled. “Outside of teaching you how to differentiate our brood, my lips are sealed.”

Keeping pace with her, he leaned in and nuzzled his cheek against her muzzle. “As long as I get to spend my time off with you, I’ll be pleased as punch.”

The barest hint of a blush crept into her face, yet she kept her eyes facing dead ahead. “Unless you’re trying to provoke me into having my way with you in front of half of Ponyville, I’d suggest you stop.”

As entertaining as the idea was, one exhibitionistic act was enough for the day. “Still, thanks,” he whispered.

Pecking her snout and withdrawing, she pressed her body against him. He had little doubt that she’d be asking for another heaping helping of his love later that evening, but he didn’t mind. Despite her being belligerent, ornery, and more lecherous than anyone or anything he’d ever encountered, he was truly happy to have her. Though she was a handful at times, the pros far outweigh the cons and, as such, he’d do what he could to keep her happy - so long as it was within reason, that is.

As Sugarcube Corner came into view, with the sun blazing overhead, his spirits lifted. His offspring were healthy, his lover seemed content, and his hopes for the future were high. Something told him that their kids would turn out just fine, though he couldn’t rightly explain why. Lovingly stroking his mate’s side, he was left to wonder what the future held for himself and his little family...