I pushed myself up from sitting against the mat and adjoining wall and stepped in front of Aranea. I may be weak, but Twilight and Luna were at their weakest against me. Zecora proved she was far more likely to actually figure things out first (Except for that one time), so I wasn't concerned with her actions.

Aranea sighed. “You will notice that I am not attacking you.” She maintained a neutral stance, waiting for a response.

It took a minute or so, but Luna returned to her previous state. Twilight took a few more to stop shaking. A blush so hard it showed through her brightly-colored fur remained for a good hour after she cleaned up after herself. I wondered if she could feel that through her magic. In the meantime, Aranea returned to human and we both sat down, an arm over her shoulder. It was a bit high for me now, but not uncomfortable.

“I will explain all that is requested of me, within reason, shortly. For now, allow Nohbodi to rest and regain his strength. Is that acceptable?”

Luna bowed her head slightly, or nodded. “Agreed. Send word to Twilight when he is hale and hearty, that this current mist of ignorance may be dispersed.” She exited the hut, more nobly than I thought possible from just earlier. I did hear something about her being thousands of years old. Must be used to almost any situation by now. Or jaded as all hell. Twilight nodded quickly and hurried behind her.

Aranea went out to hunt then. She returned a couple of hours later with a considerable assortment of the few creatures here that aren't too smart to eat. With proper food and a couple of days I was back to my old self. Still a little sore, but it was down to the 'walk it off' level. We did another outing for Zecora's herbs as thanks, as well as for all the bits past the bag it probably cost to have us there that long. I happily noticed that, though she was active, no holes had appeared since the transformation. Looks like it's back to lasting a while.

We traveled back to Ponyville for the first time since leaving for the Everfree. My clothes were ruined, from a fashion point of view. They covered at least. Aranea had converted her dress into a strapless. It only just covered enough now. Sure ponies went around in the nude the vast majority of the time, but they didn't have parts on display twenty-four-seven. We arrived at Twilight's castle an announced ourselves by knocking, for lack of any better way. A small dragon answered. Oh yeah, her assistant.

“Twilight! The humans are here!”

Twilight appeared a little while later. “Only one's a human, the other's a changeling.” Spike froze in place.

“I am not dangerous. I am not Chrysalis.” He was still shaken, but seemed capable of movement again. I'm no longer surprised at everything being taken at face value. Good for them it was true. Mostly.

“So you're feeling better, Nohbodi?”

“Yeah, much as I can for the time. I guess you're supposed to tell Luna to come here again? She said something like that I think.”

“Yes, I'm to contact princess Luna. Spike, take a letter.” She seemed slightly annoyed at that. Maybe she took it as a command. She looked at us. “Rarity's going to have a conniption-no Spike, don't put that part in!”

I watched as she dictated a request for an audience to Luna, and the mini-dragon breathed his fire, sending a plume of technicolor smoke out of a window. It didn't take long. Not for a reply, but for Luna to personally show up. She must've been waiting for this. Alighting on the floor, she greeted us in her standard, up-to-eleven voice.

“Greetings, Nohbodi and Aranea. Are you prepared to exchange knowledge?” We nodded in tandem.

Aranea, Luna, Twilight (Still a bit embarrassed being around the ones who saw that), Spike tagging along, and I retired to a study of some sort. We each took a seat and waited for the other to speak. Aranea started it off with the information that set the tone, and put our options for answers at their best point.

“When I was undergoing metamorphosis, it was in stages, as I was not able to form a cocoon. When a changeling queen is born, they receive energy from the hive. Since the fall of Chrysalis, the hive was broken, so there was none to be had. That is why I was in such a state during the changes, and why it required so much energy. Likewise in this state, I was given knowledge. The hive itself is a form of genetic knowledge, carried by the queen and, to an extent, drones. Experience gained while connected to a hive-mind is transferred to the hive to give to other changelings as needed. Queens require a vast majority of this knowledge, and thus it was given to me. I was not forbidden from sharing this knowledge, but be aware that anything perceived as a direct threat cannot be answered so summarily.”

Luna looked on with a serious expression. “This caveat is understood. You cannot endanger yourself any more than I could Equestria. With that in mind, let us begin.”

Author's Note

As stated in the post, any questions about changelings in this world will be addressed. If reasonably able to fit into the story, that is.