Queen Chrysalis' Foundation for Volunteer Incubators

It was an experience that she rarely felt, for a very good reason. Sitting there on a slimy bed while her royal physician looked over endless charts relating to her health was hardly the way Queen Chrysalis of the Changelings liked to spend her day. Things like whipping pony slaves with tentacles she sprouted from the walls of her hive were far more entertaining. But not sitting there in absolute silence. That wasn’t fair at all. Just because the hundredth anniversary of the day she drained all the love out of the former Queen until nothing more than a lifeless vegetable remained was coming up didn’t mean she needed a full examination before then. Especially when it involved rather extensive probing into areas that she regularly used, and took great pride in keeping in top condition.

“Oh please, spare me the boring details and get straight to the point already. I already know I am in perfect condition, just as I have been for the past hundred years. And I have maintained an exceptional fertility rate right from the start. If anything were wrong, I would know about it immediately!” The Changeling opposite looked at her blankly over the top of the clipboard. Her only mistake had been to give him the power that he now used to keep her there for the tests in the first place. And still he kept his silence, continuing to study his observations in great detail. “Surely you remember the notes you took down! If I wanted to wait this long in silence, I would have simply marched up to Canterlot Castle and begged those wretched ponies to throw me in the deepest dungeon they had. But being held prisoner inside my own hive is laughable at best!”

A probe from the roof lowered down. Chrysalis looked at it for a moment before it proceeded to clamp her mouth shut. “Thhs us trrssn! Yu cnn’t duu thss!” Her physician left the immediate room to the empty viewing room. It was usually filled with young Changelings, mostly to listen while she taught them about the sorts of things only their Queen could properly educate them in. Several more minutes passed. By then, Chrysalis had folded her front legs to tap one hoof against her shoulder, while her magic focused on trying to remove the clamp from her mouth. Each time she came close to prying it off, the physician tightened it again.

More minutes passed. She mumbled in great excitement as the physician finally exited the viewing room. “Release.” The probe from the ceiling of the room released Chrysalis’ mouth while returning to its position out of sight. “All of the vitals check with flying colours. Your brain chemistry is at its best, and there is no sign of damage in your reproductive organs from constant use. But, I have noted that your intake of love energy has declined in the months since the Canterlot incident. I recommend that you increase your intake as soon as possible.” Chrysalis slid herself off the bed with an undeniable level of enthusiasm. Freedom from the tedious hours of medical examinations. The ability to return to whipping ponies, asserting power over her minions, and of course creating more Changelings to continue growing her empire.

Upon exiting the physician’s room, several Changelings from her council immediately flocked for her attention. “Please, I have been forced to sit still for almost an hour. Can you believe it? I am in no mood for any problems you may require the advice of your Queen on at this moment. You can all return to your pods until I feel like burdening myself with the task you all present to me.” Many council members backed away with their heads just barely above the layer of slime covering the floor. That level of the hive in particular was always kept slimy for the appeasement of their Queen. In this case however, she was anything but appeased. The Minister of Captive Bunnies for Farming Love found himself huddling in terror as her slender hoof pointed in his direction. “You! Why have I not been provided with enough bunnies full of love to feast on lately? Take him to... the ‘special’ class.” A pair of brutish Changelings stepped up to drag the Minster away. “While you’re there, try changing into a footstool. I’ll leave you to work out what a foot is while they beat you senseless.”

Two fleshy green doors parted as she stepped into the main chamber. Behind, a huddle of grovelling Changelings cowered in terror that one of them would join the Minister of Captive Bunnies for Farming Love too. “My physician said that I need to feed on more love. So bring me more bunnies! Now!” Changelings darted in all directions as the doors closed behind her. The central table was lit by a series of glowing sacs that hung from the ceiling to let slime drip all over the goo-coated surface. At the far end, a single Changeling sat to one side of her royal throne. “Ugh, I could have sworn that I made it clear that I wasn’t to be disturbed in here. Oh wait, I did, on threat of immediate execution!” Chrysalis glanced back at the doors. “After the Changeling in question is dressed in a bunny suit and transformed into a footstool of course.”

The one sitting at the table didn’t even flinch. It took a few moments for her to recognize the recently appointed political advisor. A result of failing to capture Canterlot. Other Queens didn’t want her making such ‘stupid and rash decisions’ without consulting an expert on how to subdue ponies into being slaves first. This one had a certain knack for slipping her mind. “I would apologize my Queen, but that would cast the false impression that the matters I must discuss with you are not crucial to your continued rulership.” It was enough for Chrysalis to trample across the table and land down in her throne in haste. Her continued rulership over the Changelings? Was there something that could possibly interfere with her true purpose in life? Or was it something that could solidify it even further?

“It has come to my attention, that your popularity has slowly fallen, and not just because of your recent defeat. You see, by the Changeling Rule of Domination 427, subsection 2A, we are required to include all other major rulers in votes pertaining to the throne. My studies have shown that while the older Princesses of Equestria are content to let you be, the younger ones are not. Thus, I fear your chances of being re-elected as Queen may be in danger.” Her eyes dilated to the point that barely any of her irises were visible. There was a chance she wouldn’t be re-elected to the role she was born into. And that terrified her to no end. “Given the fact that you slept with the husband of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza on several occasions prior to the incident, I think we can consider her vote as void due to unfair bias. There is only one left that you will need to convince to ensure your victory in the upcoming one Queen election.”

Chrysalis slumped back into her throne, shoving her hoof deep into her cheek. She didn’t need to hear who it was. The answer was obvious enough. “Twilight Sparkle. Who was the pony with a pathetically shrivelled brain that actually thought promoting her to being a Princess was actually a good idea.” The political advisor raised his hoof to answer when Chrysalis rolled her eyes at him. “Oh right, that was Celestia. At least she’s smart enough to keep me in power. We wouldn’t want a love-starved maniac on the throne, now would we?” She looked over her shoulder at the stinger board. Several defective Changeling larva dangled from the picture of Twilight Sparkle. “Fine, get me a pen and paper. I’m the only one in this hive with the mental capacity to work out how to gain favour with pony princesses. Even if it means giving her a harem of Changelings to do her every bidding.”

A pair of Changelings entered from the other side of the room, carrying a third Changeling between them. On his back sat the royal pen and paper. “Hurry up! Oh, and would one of you go down to the ‘special’ class and inform them to suspend all activities? I shall be making personal revisions to the program in just a few hours!” One of the Changelings supporting the third bolted away at the very instant Chrysalis had picked up the pen and paper with her magic. The remaining two crawled away in fear. “Alright, let’s begin.” She produced a pair of glasses from an alcove in the wall. “Perhaps we can start by releasing fifty pony prisoners, I’ll have to negotiate about whether we can sap the last remaining love from them or not. Releasing prisoners always looks good on a résumé. And we’ll still have hundreds to continue using in secret anyway.”

For the next half hour, changelings entered and exited the room while she slowly made a list of reforms for her hive. Somewhere towards the end, the Minister of Captive Bunnies for Farming Love stumbled back in, dressed in a slimy bunny suit that bore several tears and patches of blood. Chrysalis left him to soak in the lesser of her royal slime baths. Throughout all of it, the political advisor took notes from the pad as the list grew longer and longer. “And we can promise to stop teasing the carnivorous rabbits of Happyvale for being too small to nibble anything larger than their own floppy ears.” She looked at the advisor over her red-rimmed glasses. “I think that’s it! Now, I shall have the royal scribe compose this into an official letter for the royal messenger to deliver.” As the two changelings in question approached, her advisor glared back while tapping his own notepad. “I’ve made several reforms, some of them at great personal cost! What is it that still has you bothered?”

He pushed the notepad towards her, emphasising the one line of text on the page that didn’t match anything on her own pad. ‘Kidnapping ponies for the purpose of incubating changeling eggs.’ The blood running through her cold body grew warm. Fertility was something she prided herself on. It was part of the reason she made such a successful ruler in comparison to the other Queens. She didn’t need to waste time negotiating for changeling incubators, or the exchange of drones to keep the hive running. There was always an abundance of larva to train in whatever position needed to be filled, and plenty more for her to throw at Twilight Sparkle’s face. But what her advisor was very clearly suggesting would throw all of that out the window.

“I... will have to consult the Matriarch on that reform. In the meantime, ensure that everything else is carried out, and evidence to prove so is documented. I will not be dethroned on the hundredth year of my rulership because one pathetic Element of Harmony thinks she’s better than me.” The growing amount of changelings present in the room all huddled away as Chrysalis exited the room. There were days of being unpleased, days of being upset, and days when everypony feared for their whole existence. This day was quickly turning out to be one beyond their wildest nightmares. Even the ones about the ‘special’ class.

There were no condescending remarks. No threats of execution by being fed to the carnivorous bunnies of Happyvale. Not even a single sneer of disgust as Chrysalis made her way to the conference room. Several watched in silent fear as she passed through the oozing barrier that sealed off the hive air from the sanctity of the room beyond. None dared touching the outer surface alone, to be caught peeking through at the other side would surely bring unimaginable consequences. One slowly approached once the end of her tail had passed through the gelatinous green surface. He could just barely see a silhouette of what looked like their Queen regaining her composure. A truly dark day indeed.

Ahead of Chrysalis, a long walkway that stretched out over what appeared to be an endless pit a hundred metres in diameter led to a central pillar. The walls all curved in to form a dome, from which a variety of differently sized screens glowed in hues of green. As she stepped onto the central pillar, random screens began to display live images of each of the changeling rulers. Most were Princesses of minor hives, and were only present because of their title. Those on the larger screens were Queens, like Chrysalis herself, and were surrounded by their respective offspring. Directly opposite the pathway sat the largest screen in the expansive room. Matriarch Cocoon, so old and bloated that there was virtually nothing pony-like about her at all. Nothing more than an enormous lump of flesh that the relatively young Queen couldn’t help but cringe at.

“Speak, foal! You summoned all of us for a very good reason, and I would like to know that you are not about to make us look stupid yet again!” Her voice was a horrific gargle, many of the Princesses displayed expressions of disgust. The Queens knew far better than to offend the Matriarch, focusing their attention instead on Chrysalis. She pawed at the stone surface in readying herself for what could easily end very badly for her. They have their own methods of staying in power; they don’t understand what it truly means to rule as I do. They don’t understand the severity of my situation. “Did you summon us to watch you beat the ground with your hoof, or to speak? Say something you maggot!” Chrysalis flicked her head up at the insult. It was the boost to begin that she needed.

“As you are well aware, the decision regarding my position as Hive Queen is coming up. But it seems that one of the new Princesses is determined to prevent my rule from continuing. While I have enacted some reforms to change her mind...” She took a deep breath. Not all agreed with her ways, a few would much rather see her dethroned altogether. What she had to say could very well give them exactly what they needed to achieve that. “The political advisor you assigned me, has determined that kidnapping ponies for incubating eggs... is unacceptable.” Many faces took on looks of horror at her statement. Matriarch Cocoon glared down at Chrysalis with a stare that could quite easily cause entire fields of flowers to shrivel up and die.

“Are you proposing that you cease your activities? The very activities that ensure our race continues to grow in numbers! All on the advice of a single changeling that doesn’t know the first thing about breeding?!” The following laugh caused every single changeling present to cringe in agony. “I assigned him to you because you’re a stupid maggot who thinks that sleeping with the future husband of a pony princess is the perfect way to stay hidden. I assigned him to you because you had your army break cover because you were discovered, when they could have seized power from within! And now you come to us, grovelling over the fact that you’re not the popular foal in Equestria? This is pathetic!”

It caused a stir in the back of Chrysalis’ mind. This was how they treated her for following their instructions. This was how she was treated for one mistake, a mistake that they refused to let go of. It called for revenge. And not in the typical way either. Something far more devious and unexpected would be required in order to get back at them for what she was taking. “Actually...” It was a very simple idea. One that wouldn’t take much to put into effect, but the results could redefine Equestria’s view of her as a ruler who made mistakes, into something far more rewarding and beneficial to herself. “I believe I have a new strategy to replace forced incubation for my hive. I will simply ask for ponies... to volunteer.”

The array of smirks and hidden laughs stopped dead. One of the youngest Princesses, no more than twenty years of age, actually fainted altogether. Even the Matriarch stared directly at Chrysalis for several silent seconds, her gluttonous mouth hanging open wide enough to swallow an Ursa Minor whole. Volunteer? Each knew the meaning of the word well enough, but actually considering what it entailed was an entirely new matter. Giving up time and effort without the expectation of reward purely for the benefit of ‘feeling good about one’s self’ was a truly alien concept. Even Chrysalis herself began to feel sick to her stomach about what she had just proposed. What pony in their right mind would willingly let a Queen lay eggs in them, even with the promise of great rewards in return? And to do it purely for the benefit of the Queen herself?

Almost ten minutes passed before the Matriarch finally spoke. “I severely underestimated you, Chrysalis... You are clearly out of your mind, and unfit to rule for even another second!” The young Queen lowered her eyes to the ground again. Perhaps it was for the best after all. At least she wouldn’t feel any shame or embarrassment after being turned into a vegetable. She wouldn’t feel anything, and no one would give her lifeless remains a second thought. “Which is why I will do nothing to stop you. If your wretched idea to regain popularity fails, then I see no reason why the ponies should be stopped from doing whatever they like with you. And if by an infinitely unlikely miracle that it does succeed... Well, we may have to consider exploring the idea in greater detail.”

There was another prolonged silence. Nopony had expected that sort of response, least of all the one who had put forward the idea in the first place. She shuddered as the full reality of what she had just announced settled on her. Entirely at the mercy of the ponies she would be reaching out to. The very same ponies who she had stolen family and friends from to help in growing her hive. Her decision, her responsibility alone. “If the reforms I have already enacted do not prove sufficient to change the mind of Princess Twilight Sparkle, then I can assure you that I will not stop until I have made this endeavour a success. And if she still refuses to vote for me, then I will simply eat her.” In succession, each of the faces surrounding her gave a nod of approval. Some took longer than others, the few that Chrysalis recognized as her political enemies added a discreet sneer.

At last, the attention returned to the Matriarch. “Very well. From now until your re-election as Queen of your hive, you will be on your own. No other Queen or Princess will be permitted to interfere with your affairs, and you will not be permitted to seek out our help. And if Princess Twilight Sparkle refuses your vote, then we shall choose a new ruler for your hive. I do believe that Princess Pierinae has followed your approach for some time now.” Chrysalis glanced at a small screen to the far left. Pierinae. The only one that still talked to her. That was a conversation that could wait. “If there isn’t anything else, I’d like to discuss this further with the Queens alone. That will be all, Chrysalis.” She waited until the Matriarch’s screen went blank before making her departure. With each hoof step, the room grew slightly darker, as another Queen or Princess left.

Right at the corridor that led back into her hive, she noticed one screen was still very much active. “I will need a few days to prepare; you have until then to meet me here, in private. Otherwise, you will simply have to follow me, wherever I am.” Her eyes remained focused on the oozing barrier ahead the whole time. In her hive, she was the supreme power. None questioned her authority, and all respected her without falter. Seeing disappointment was not something she was used to, or enjoyed. And she definitely didn’t want to face the disappointment of a changeling who had always seen her as a role model. Especially after making what could potentially be the decision that would end her short-lived status as a ruler. “Who knows, perhaps your sisters may decide to forgive me if this works out after all. Maybe you will too.”

When she stepped back through into her hive, the air of fear hit her strongly. That was how she had always ruled, through fear. Even when trying to provide love for them to feed on, fear was key in keeping them in line. “I need a hundred changelings ready in three days time, with the resources to grow a suitable establishment for a business venture I will be embarking on, alone. I will be gone for several weeks, in my absence you will perform your regular duties, and carry out the reforms I have made. That is all.” Not a single changeling made a sound while their Queen made her way back to the throne room. The silence quickly spread as her message passed through the entire hive. Not even the slightest hint of malice in her voice, and no reminders of how limited their minds were in thinking capacity. None of them knew how to react, since it had never happened before.

Inside the throne room, every occupant watched as Chrysalis sat down on the webbed seat of power. Only the political advisor dared to approach while she maintained an expression of deep thought. “I take it that you plan to act on the factor I pointed out then. I look forward to writing my next report to the Matriarch.” By then, several younger females had begun with the usual procedure of tending to her appearance, preventing Chrysalis from doing anything overly vulgar back at the advisor in a moment of anger. "Your report to her will seem like complete drivel if I have something to say about it." The relaxing sensation that came with having her mane and tail brushed helped to quell the spite she had for him. It was directly because of taking his advice that she had been made to look like a complete fool, and condemned herself to an increasingly terrible idea. One that she now had to make the most of before her inevitable demise.

“I’d like to see the Minister of Hive Construction here. And...” One of the changelings polishing her wings flinched when she caught on one of the holes. It didn’t faze Chrysalis in the least. “I’d also like to ensure that the Princess Pierinae’s quarters are ready for her arrival, whenever that may be. That is all.” The Minister entered the room shortly after. Several rolls of blueprint paper were resting on his back, presumably a selection of different schematics for her future establishment. “On second thought, the schematics can wait, and I will tend to her room myself.” The changelings attending to her stumbled back in great surprise when she got back to her hooves and left the room without further comment.

The silence of the hive continued even after the doors of Pierinae’s former quarters had closed behind Chrysalis. The dim light given off by veins of glowing fluid that ran through the walls was enough for her to see where everything had been for thirty years. A bed with a real mattress, blanket, and pillows. Life size toys lined every wall below pictures of their homeland. “I can still be a good mother. It’s just hard to spend time with one when there are thousands demanding attention.”