The sun hangs high over the sky of the south eastern swamp where the changelings dwell now, since Queen Chrysalis moved them years ago. Three changelings are coming out of the hive cave and heading over to a catapult device.

"Jules... Are you sure we should calibrate the catapult? I mean it hasn't been used in years..." Jules rolls his eyes as he addresses the changeling in the middle of the trio.

"Nigel, trust me... The head of ordinance said that no matter how hard they tried they just couldn't calibrate it. so I figured we should give it a shot." Jules states as they reach the catapult.

"I don't think any of us know how to calibrate this thing though..." The third changeling points out while looking at the release lever.

"Winston, Winston... Always the pessimist. Look, I know we can do this!" Jules boldly claims as he stands up on two hoofs and points dramatically before landing back on all fours.

All of a sudden a bright light falls out of the sky and crashes into the ground a small way from the catapult sliding across the floor. The three changelings run over to the crash site and wait for the dust to clear. Once the dust settles Ryota can be seen sitting in the dirt rubbing his head.

"What the hell was that bright light? Damn thing nearly killed me..." Ryota looks up to see the three changelings and they stare at each other for a full minute.

Ryota and the three changelings suddenly point at each other and say in unison "What the hell are you supposed to be?!"

Ryota stands up and looks around before looking back at the changelings. "Where the hell am I?" Ryota asks while feeling slightly nostalgic.

"Y-you're trespassing on changeling territory! This swamp is our home!" Jules states in defence.

"That's right! We should take you to Queen Chrysalis and she will decide what to do with you!" Nigel states alongside Jules.

"He looks kinda funny..." Winston points out which makes the other two sigh deeply

"Look just follow us and don't cause any trouble okay?" Jules requests Ryota before he starts leading them to the hive cave.

Ryota sighs and complies by following the three into the cave. Ryota can see many other changelings all of different size and stature doing different tasks in the hive. The three lead him to Queen Chrysalis's chamber where she is lying on a large heart shaped pillow staring into a mirror with sad eyes.

"Your highness... We brought you a trespasser who is unlike anypony we have ever seen." Jules softly states.

"Yeah, he walks on two legs and doesn't look normal." Nigel adds.

"He has a familiar scent..." Winston randomly states.

Queen chrysalis waves her hoof in the air to shoo the three away and they leave without argument. "Come closer... I'd prefer not to speak much louder than this..." Ryota nervously walks over to Queen Chrysalis.

"Umm I don't quite know what to tell you... I was falling from the sky when I was hit by this beam of light and then crashed here... Not much else to my story." Ryota states as he sits down.

Queen Chrysalis sits up and turns to face Ryota. "You are an interesting creature... Two arms and legs... Although your eyes are... Familiar somehow, like I have seen them before." Queen Chrysalis suddenly jumps off the pillow and pins Ryota down, laying on top of him.

"H-hey what the hell are you doing?!" Ryota tries to struggle but finds it useless.

"Why is it when I stare into your eyes I feel such sadness and want... Why do I feel so angry and annoyed with you? We have met for all of about a few minutes and already you have me mad... Why do you make me feel this way... Answer me!" Queen Chrysalis suddenly throws the nearby mirror against the wall and as the shattered pieces fall to the floor Ryota's eyes widen. He suddenly looks at Queen Chrysalis whose eyes also widen and she bring their lips together in a passionate kiss which drags on for several minutes.

After Queen Chrysalis finally lets go Ryota sighs deeply and lays his head back against the floor. "Well... This answers a lot of my questions... Who I am... What I am... Where did I come from..." Ryota looks back up at Queen Chrysalis who is staring at Ryota with a mixture of emotions.

"Ryota... Second in command to the changeling horde and my lover... Where in the name of Equestria have you been for the last five years?!" Queen Chrysalis asks before lying down on Ryota and putting her head on his chest. "Do you have any idea how much I've missed you? Feeling this deep sorrow and pain every lonely night and not knowing why..."

"My queen... Please allow me a moment... From what I can piece together I was transported to another world which caused me to take on another form in comparison to my original form... I am still able to shift and with my memories returned I should be able to revert back to my original form with little effort. I have no excuse for my absence only that I was unable to return as I was stricken of any knowledge to do with Equestria. Were I'd of been able, you know how badly I'd of tried to return to you... My queen." Ryota states in his defence.

"I see... Well it appears you were looked after and kept yourself healthy as well as in shape. Quite a bit happened while you were away and I don't know how you will react to some of it... The emotion essence shipments from Ecstasy have kept us afloat and the alchemical process for turning them into coloured sweets has been ever more successful. For the record I truly have missed you Ryota... I plan to find whatever force took you from us and make it pay a thousand fold for my five years of sorrow." Queen Chrysalis states with angry eyes.

"Even in my absence the hive seems to function better then ever. Although one should never expect less from the queen of the changelings. If it's alright with you, my queen, might we stay like this for a while..? I'm not really eager to move given our affectionate position." Ryota warmly states to Queen Chrysalis who nods to agree.

"Plus, you know if you did try to move no matter how hard you tried... I'd not let you and you would not win." Queen Chrysalis chuckles slightly and snuggles Ryota closer, closing her eyes and for once in the past five years relaxing.

Several hours later in the afternoon Ryota has shifted back to his original form. He is bigger than a normal changeling and only slightly smaller than Queen Chrysalis. His wings are also slightly bigger than a normal changeling's. Ryota stretches as he explores the hive learning all the new expansions that took place during his absence. After a little exploration Ryota manages to find the emotion alchemy lab where Winston, Jules and Nigel are working to make the powder emotion into sweets for the hive.

"Nigel, what was the result from that love string sweet we tried to make?" Jules prompts Nigel who is mixing glowing chemicals.

"Umm... Well it didn't quite taste how you would expect it to..." Nigel dodges the question before making a batch of heart shaped love sweets.

"They tasted like shear overall disappointment *Hic*." Winston innocently states as he downs a vial of light pink glowing liquid happiness.

"Well it's nice to see you three never change." Ryota chuckles as he walks over to the trio.

"Ryota!" The three say in unison and gather around him.

"I had a feeling it was you we brought in here, you had a very familiar scent about you~" Winston states with a tune.

"Even so we had no idea who you were... It's quite odd how everyone in the hive forgot about the second in command..." Nigel adds looking perplexed.

"It hardly matters now does it? What does matter is that we got our buddy and head of the emotion alchemy lab back~" Jules states looking very pleased.

Ryota walks over to various test samples of vials and sweets the trio have made. "I take it these are the test samples? Are you still using the same formula but trying to use it in different forms?" Ryota asks looking the samples over.

Jules walks over and sighs slightly. "Well we have tried to some success... Trying to use it to make a drinkable liquid form is proving... interesting." Jules eyes Winston who only moments ago downed a vial of liquid happiness test sample.

"Oh right... Well the liquid happiness trials are actually going well it just needs a little less love essence to be perfect~" Winston happily informs Ryota.

"As for other forms of the sweets we have had little progress with as we only get a little essence to play with. The queen allocates the majority of the essence shipments to the main production of sweets to keep our hive going." Nigel explains starting another batch of love sweets.

"Well, I've got time to make up for being away with you guys before the queen wants to see me later. You have made many expansions to this place I hardly recognise it." Ryota nervously explains looking around the lab.

Jules hands Ryota a lab coat and smiles. "You have no idea how good it is to have you back~" Jules states as the others nod happily.

When Ryota finally finished helping the trio and exploring the vastly expanded hive. He made his way back to Queen Chrysalis chambers and laid down on her heart shaped pillow sighing deeply. Queen Chrysalis walks into the chambers shortly after and lays down beside Ryota.

"I never got to give this pillow to you... Did Ecstasy deliver it instead?" Ryota asks rolling over onto his back.

"Yes, she did. It was shortly after you were taken from us." Queen Chrysalis explains as she snuggles up to Ryota.

"I can only wonder what else changed while I was away... How much is different now?" Ryota ponders out loud lost in thought.

"I'm not sure when would be the best time to tell you... However, I doubt any time will be perfect and she returns tomorrow from an outing with my guards." Queen Chrysalis begins explaining.

"Hmm? You wouldn't send your guards out with just any changeling... Who is she?" Ryota asks looking into Queen Chrysalis eyes puzzled.

"Well... The morning you were taken I was looking for you to give you some important news. It's a bit late now to give you that news but tell you what came after... You see Ryota the changeling returning to the hive tomorrow... Is your daughter." Queen Chrysalis states with a smile.

Ryota's eyes widen and he becomes very speechless. "I... She would be around five I guess... I have a daughter..." Ryota can barely find any words to express his surprise.

"I know it's a surprise to you but I hope you're happy. I will let her introduce herself and with luck she will accept her father. She takes after her mother in being a defiant child but definitely has traits of you in her." Queen Chrysalis explains as she slides on top of Ryota and kisses him playfully.

"I am happy my queen, I am just surprised that I actually have a child. Although, this should of been an expected outcome given how active we were." Ryota states as he kisses Queen Chrysalis back and nuzzles her neck.

"Hmm now that you know I'd like to welcome you home formally... My second in command... Ryota. You wont get much rest tonight I assure you." Queen Chrysalis looks into Ryota's eyes with pure desire.

"I'd request you to be gentle but I know my queen would never give me an easy return..." Ryota smiles and prepares himself for the extremely rough night he has ahead of him.

Author's Note

Two out four chapters pre-read. Okay, halfway there. It's so close.