Why Humans Shouldn't be Allowed in Equestria

“This is supposedly the only place in Canterlot that is not warded?”

“Sort of. I think there's gaps between in places, but they're too small to hide in. If there's any left hiding here, it'll be somewhere they can move if they can.”

We worked our way through the main thoroughfare, with plenty of street ponies taking a moment to see the humans. A couple of times a light flashed that elicited confusion among the populace for a moment, and a guard struggling with themselves to not start rushing us. Luna's influence kept the guards from bothering us, now that they know the paper is for real at least.

About a mile from where we came in, the magic lights started to become less common. Another half mile and they were just sparse, as well as looking older, or not kept in repair. The street ponies thinned out as well. The ones we did see went nude far more often, and looked like they actually worked for a living. It was easy enough to tell when we got there. The magic gas-light looking poles only went down the main street. The cobblestone path was only in minimal repair, and the whole place was tightly packed with buildings and just looked older and shabbier than the shining tourist trap that is Canterlot's royal district. This place looked like the ass-end of London in the nineteenth century, according to various books.

“Picking anything up yet?”

“I cannot locate a precise location, though there is a faint signature. It may be a false alarm, residue from the... invasion, but I doubt it. It has been too long. There is likely one, perhaps two. Farther away, hidden, or... recently deceased.” Not something either of us wanted to hear.

“Let's head further in then. Maybe you can pinpoint it when we're closer, whatever the answer is.”

“Indeed. The distance will vary according to the surroundings and interference, but I will notice them when we are close enough.” I didn't have any precise numbers as to where or how close, but she was the one the hive told everything. No reason to doubt her powers, other than she probably still needed practice. 'Knowing how' and 'actually doing it' are two different things, and the same reason I almost died in the forest. But I don't have genetic memory like ants or bees or changelings, so it's probably better for her.

If it wasn't daytime we wouldn't be able to see where we were going. Well, I wouldn't. Never actually thought about if Aranea can see in the dark. One of those things that never comes to mind.

“Hey Aranea.”

“Yes Nohbodi?”

“Can you see in the dark?”

“If I use magic, otherwise no.”

“Just wondering. One of those things that just came to mind.” That went nowhere. Then I had a better idea. “Is prostitution legal here?”

“According to my knowledge, yes, if the laws have not been changed recently. It is frowned upon though, due to influence from older, more conservative ponies.” She stopped. “Do you... require one? Is my new form a problem?” Her self-esteem is probably the only reason I managed to get a girl like her in the first place, but sometimes it got a bit much.

“Of course not! I mean, where would a changeling go if they had to hide and needed love? If there's a place around here, that's probably where we'd find them.”

“Of course. Similarly to how I used to... survive.”

“Don't worry. You'll never have to do that again.”

A sniffle. She was getting used to certain human reflexes. “T-Thank you Nohbodi.” We held hands the rest of the way. We didn't need protection (In any sense of the word) out here, but it was still nice to be next to the other.

One building in the inner-city had a tough-looking pony standing near the door, looking bored. He had a scar over his muzzle and a short-cut mane. Well, whorehouse or drug den, either way it was a chance. We were hoping for the former. Never thought I'd be thinking this was a good idea. We walked up to him.

“Whaddaya want?” All business. A good sign, if this is the only circumstance where it would be.

“Whatcha got?” I responded with a combination of a smirk and a sneer. Think Billy Idol album covers.

He gave us both a hard looking-over, focusing more on Aranea than me. “Bringin' this one for work? Could find somepony that'll go for it.” Yeah, we had our place.

“Nah, she's with me. Y'see, there's a... mutual friend of ours that ain't into the idea. So we come here to play it out, yeah?”

He nodded. “Yeah, we got somethin' fer that. Get in quick.” He held open the door just long enough for us to get in, ducking to clear our heads. It closed behind us unceremoniously.

The place was dimly lit. A short hallway led to an open room. It was fitted out with old furniture that was probably supposed to look fancy at one time. A rickety staircase was on one side, leading to a path that ran on both sides above us. Equally rickety banisters, when not outright missing, covered the sides over the drop. The top was lined with doors. We could hear the sounds of business. One sounded like smacking or spanking. The parlor was littered with ponies, mostly younger ones, in various types of saddles, lace, and other things that I guess were supposed to be sexy. One was shaking near the corner. I didn't know if Equestria had drugs or what kind, but that one was cranked out on something.

Aranea leaned in and whispered to me. “Yes, there is one here. They must have a unicorn paid to dampen the effects, there is interference with it. It is likely designed to stop detection magics in general.”

A older unicorn in an only slightly faded lacy saddle came up to us. Must be the mistress of the house.

“What'll it be, darlin'?”

I told her the same thing that I did at the door, crappy grammar and all.

“Why, yes, we can do that for ya.” She turned and called to the cranked-out pony. She timidly came forward, having noticeable trouble walking straight.

“Y-Yes, mistress?” She wasn't on drugs. She'd had the everliving shit beaten out of her. Something was broken for sure. Just as likely things had been broken and badly healed before.

I looked at Aranea. She nodded. This was the one.

“You got a job darlin'. Don't disappoint.” she said with a look that can easily be described as sadistic.

“B-But I just finished! I-I-I can't take anymore! Please, if-” A loud * whack * echoed through the room. It drew the attention of a few of the wandering ponies, but no one dared to say anything or intervene.

“Don't ya dare talk back to the mistress! You defy anythin' and it's right to tossing you into a ward!”

The poor thing was scared to death. She probably thought she was going to end up dead. The mistress floated a key to Aranea and myself. “4F darlin's. Have fun you three.” finishing in a sing-song voice. “Oh yes. Money up front.” Kind of expected that. We handed over the requested bits. I didn't know if it was cheap or not. Judging from this seedy place it was cheap. We wound our way up the stairs to the door, followed by the other one, shaking as much as ever. The key needed a bit of rattling and working about in the old door, every sound and second making it worse for her. I'd rather tell her now, but if we blew our cover they might hold her hostage or something. As long as she didn't have a heart attack before we were in private.

We locked the door behind us, and Aranea took off her new dress. No use shredding this one. We should really start carrying spare clothes. I smiled at the shaking pony. “You can change to your real body you know. We know.”

“Y-You do? Oh p-please please don't let anypony know! I'll be good, I'll do anything you want!” She shifted to changeling and took off the saddle. “D-Do what you want with me. Please don't hurt me too much...” She looked almost like Aranea during the change. Must be running on just enough for survival, and looks like a lot of the energy went to healing. I wondered why she didn't say anything about Aranea yet. The pheromones must need the body. I sat down on the dingy bed next to her and put an arm over her shoulders. She shuddered at the contact, expecting violence.

“Watch her.” I said with a smile that could only help if she knew what I knew. “You're gonna love this.” She wouldn't dare disobey an order, and looked at Aranea.

Aranea set her dress on a hook in the wall and shifted. The other stared with wide eyes as the signals were received. She literally threw herself on the floor to bow as quickly as possible. The sound echoed out the door. Something tells me no one would be surprised to hear it.

“M-Mighty and terrible queen. I-I-I have been trapped here! Please don't be to harsh...”

Aranea looked on with pity. “Calm yourself. I am not Chrysalis. We are here to rescue you.”

The little changeling pulled her head from the floor. It looked like there was a bit of blood on it now from the impact. “W-What? Really?”

We explained to her about how Aranea was the new changeling queen, and that we were finding the survivors – with royal support, no less – to help. Provided they were peaceful, of course.

“O-of course, your majesty!” She returned to bowing, but scuttled forward and began kissing her hooves. “I'll gladly be part of this new hive!”

Just like that, it was done. The first addition to the hive. Also just like that, Aranea had significant holes in her legs. Not nearly as bad as the little one, but you could tell that the collective hive wasn't doing that well.

“First, we must supply you with enough energy for health. Nohbodi, can you please help her?”

“Of course.” I scooped the changeling up from the floor and held onto her. She was so light I was surprised. I held her kind of one one holds a puppy. Very gently. The care started to heal the worst of it, but it would take a while.

“Nohbodi, why do you not give her energy as you have given me?”

“He has another way?”

“Yes. It is wonderful. Thanks to him, I was the first changeling since... before, to be whole.”

“Oh, please do so! I need it!” I stopped moving and stared at Aranea. It meant more to a human. I know she loved me, but still...

She didn't get it.

“Aranea... You didn't know?” It took a few days to get used to this place, after figuring it out. This just stopped me in my tracks.

The smaller one got her fear back. “You'd defy the queen? W-What's going on?” This one must've been a spy working far enough away from the battle to survive the blast.

“Nohbodi, I... do not understand.” That honestly hurt.

“Aranea... You really don't get it?”

“Get what, Nohbodi? I know you gave me so much energy because you care for me. Can you not do the same for her? Can humans only do so for one being?”

“No, it's... Aranea... Humans don't do that just for care. It's for love. It wasn't just feeding you to me. The first time we did that together – every time we did – it was for love. It's different than just feeding someone. It's more than care, it's love. I love you...” A tear hit the little changeling, and quickly slid down, disappearing into one of the many spaces in her legs. She was slowly healing just from the emotion, but even emotions this intense are slower than some kinds of physical contact. Especially when they're in a state this weak.

Aranea knew I loved her. She knew what love was. But, for all her life, and for what she has to do to feed, she couldn't really comprehend love as humans know it. Her eyes slowly widened. The very idea of it. She knows emotion, she knows devotion, she knows slavery. But it wasn't until then that the very idea of such devotion being willing, that it was done for the sake of another, was – while not anathema – still alien to her. The realization of what it meant to a human slowly dawned on her. She ran over and wrapped her arms around me, nearly jumping into it. The tears flowed freely.

“N-Nohbodi... I did not know, did not understand... W-What it meant to you. I am so sorry, please forgive me!”

“Shh, it's okay, it's okay...” I said softly, while stroking her hair. “Things are different here. We'll talk about it later, and I'll explain everything.”

We held each other for a long time. The little one took in a lot of it, through instinctive reflex more than choice, hurt as she was. It didn't get her back to full health, but it did a lot. Even the minor physical wounds were healing. She'd probably have to see a doctor later for some of what she's been through. A knock on the door broke up the moment.

“Time's up sweeties! Gonna need ya to be on your way now!”

I took an amount of bits equal to what we paid at first and opened the door. “Gonna need more time.” I grabbed her hoof with more force than necessary, shoved the bits in, and closed the door again. The sound of steps faded outside of it. The mistress probably wasn't happy with being handled roughly herself, but money was money. Besides, I had a plan.

I looked at the changeling on the bed. “Feeling better?”

“Yes sir. I haven't had this much care in a very long time.” She said it through tears. I wasn't sure if it was seeing a queen that wasn't a complete bitch, or the idea that someone could really care to any degree.

I looked at a clock mounted on the wall. It had been about an hour. Not a surprise things were measured in hours here. “Alright, we're getting out of here, and you're coming with us.”

“But the wards!”

“Aren't a problem. Told you we had royalty behind us. I mean besides having a queen here. Luna's got our backs on this, and things are gonna change.” She absolutely lit up at that. She ran towards me and jumped, hugging me at the waist and holding on for dear life. “Now like I said, we're getting out of here. Were there any other changelings here?”

“No... Well, there was one more. She died last month... Mistress beat her too hard, and she never woke up...” We all took a moment for the fallen.

We were too late. I was going to be sure that that bitch was going to pay dearly.

“Well, we're getting you somewhere safe. What's your name?”

“Um, I don't have one.” Spy or not, she was just another drone to Chrysalis.

“We'll get you a name soon then. Let's go.”

Aranea grabbed her dress and we stashed it with us. We exited the door and worked our way back downstairs, little one in tow. The mistress was waiting.

“Did she do well? Wouldn't want to have to punish her again y'know.”

I stepped up past the other two. “Oh, don't worry about that. In fact, we had such a good time, we're going to take her home with us.” I made a reasonable attempt to replicate the sadistic smile she gave earlier.

“Can't let ya do that darlin'. See, she's my property, and she stays here. If'n ya want her, you gotta come again.” She saw Aranea, but kept it up. Times when doubling down is a really bad idea, right?

“You don't get it. We're. Taking. Her.”

She didn't like the sound of that. “We got trouble! Scar, get in here!” She had more balls than was good for her. The door-pony rushed in and stood by her. “This fella says he's taking her home. He needs some sense put inta him.”

“Well that just ain't gonna do. You folks gotta leave now, without tha girl.”

I'm not normally a violent person. Really. But some just had it coming like you wouldn't believe. I wasn't going to enjoy it, not really. But believe you me that it needed to be done.

Aranea stepped forward, full changeling queen body active. This Scar guy got the first real scare in years. One shot from the horn and a wall of force slammed him against the wall. I thought I heard a couple of cracking sounds too. He was out cold, and probably in traction for a while after.

I called out to the rest of the room. “What would you guys do if you were free?” They weren't saying anything yet, but there was a palpable excitement in the room.

“You think I'm gonna letcha get away with this? I'll kill ya myself! This here's my property, and I'm gonna keep it!” She lowered her horn at me. I grabbed it and light flashed between my fingers, like when I fought Luna. But there's no happy ending for this one. I slammed her head to the floor and put a foot over the base of the horn.

* CRACK *

“EEEEYYYYAAAAAAH!”

The bloody horn-stump emitted sparks, but they only went an inch or two before fizzling out. The rest stood on in stunned silence. A cheer rose up throughout the room. I think I heard a previous abuser getting his ass handed to him in one of the locked rooms. The workers descended on the two twitching bodies that were their oppressors as we left with the first new member of the hive. We'd get back to Luna and get more citizenship papers. I grabbed the bag with the bits I'd spent on the way out. Aranea went back to human and put the dress back on.

OK, so maybe I did enjoy it.