The Love of an Apple

I asked Cara “What are we doing today?”

Cara replied “Ah am going to show ya the hive and explain to ya how things work in the hive.”

I asked nervously “Sooo, how many eggs did Ah lay?”

Cara said “Ya laid twenty and ya will lay twenty every week for the next 6 months. These are ya starter clutches, they mature faster than ya later clutches. They are there to help the hive start up, they mature fully within 2 weeks and help ya take care of later clutches.”

I said trying to hid the panic in my voice “Thanks for telling me, Ah don’t think Ah’ll ever get used to laying.”

Cara said “You will, it will come as easily as breathing in time.” I felt conflicted part of me hoped she was wrong and another part of me hoped she was right

We trotted past several changelings discussing duties and a few cracking jokes. I blinked at that, all Chrysalis’s drones did was snarl.

I asked “Our drones seem a lot more friendly than your mother’s, why is that?”

Cara chuckled “Do ya really think Ah am as boring as mah mother?” she then got serious “Ah’m trying to promote peace between ponies and changeling races that mean teaching tolerance and respect for pony culture as well as respecting ponies themselves.” I smiled as I nodded at her statement, it was good to know that progress is being made towards peace. Cara said “Ah have something to show ya.” I nodded and followed her into a large cavern. Changelings were watering all different kinds of plants.

I gasped in shock “This is a farm! HOW?”

Cara said “Because we farm produce that doesn’t need light, we farm Night Pumpkins, Shadow Plums, Shade Berries and Nevershine Apples, we couldn’t grow them in the Badlands and had to forage for them but Equestria provides us with all we need to grow them, good soil, plenty of water.”

I smiled as I said “It’s beautiful, I love it.”

Cara said “Ah knew ya would , part of the reason Ah set it up actually.” I blushed as I felt her lips on my cheek, I followed as she shook her hips seductively in front of me. By the time we got to the sleeping quarters, my face felt a hot as the sun.

Cara said “These are the sleeping quarters.” I stared at the sleek domes carved into the rock, they were all well furbished and had large structures made of our goo and what looked like chitin.

I asked “What are those beds made out of ?”

Cara said “They are made of chitin and changeling goo, we make them out of our recycled carapaces once we shed. Our first shedding happens 3 weeks after we hatch with exception of the starter clutches, they have it on the first day.”

I said “That’s weird, you use your own shedded chitin to make furniture !?”

Cara replied “We couldn't afford to waste anything back in our old home, wood was scarce and brittle and rock was too steadfast, we wanted our bed frames to be able to bend under a bit of weight rather than snap in two.” I nodded, that made a lot of sense.

Cara said “Ah hope that we can get some nymphs into the local schools, it may help increase our acceptance in the neighbourhood.”

I said “That isn’t a bad idea actually, Ah think that should be our next call. We should bring that up with the princesses to see if we can get that arranged.” Cara smiled and she beckoned me to follow her again.

We arrived at a huge complex full of books. I said “Twilight would love this place.”

Cara chuckled “She’s actually in there right now, last time I checked on her she had 50 books levitating around her as she scribbled notes.”

I laughed heartily “Good old Twilight, always reading, always studying. Anyway I would like to speak with her.”

Cara nodded as she said “Of course, come see me later. I have a lot of work to do particularly with Iron Compass, he wants input on who he should give promotions to.”

I entered the library and looked at my purple Alicorn friend sitting at a table with very tired eyes and twenty pages of notes. I asked “Are you okay, Twilight?”

Twilight shouted “Applejack!" and gave me a big hug. I realised I now stood a head or 2 above her.

I returned the hug and said mockingly “Come on Twilight, you know you're not supposed to shout in a library.”

I watched as she started to panic “Oh no, I shouted in a library.”

I nudged her “Relax noling or pony is in here, you can calm down. I was only joking.”

Twilight said as she calmed down “Thanks, it’s good to see you. We were all so worried about you and...”

We both were suddenly in a mess hall and a pony shouted in a super excited voice “Surprise, I hope you enjoy your APPLEJACKISSAFENOW and APPLEJACKISACHANGELINGQUEEN party !!!”

I sighed “Pinkie, Ah’m really grateful but...”

A tomcoltish voice shouted “Come, on Applejack, it’s all just a little fun.”

I spotted Rarity who said “Of course, Rainbow Dash is right and we were all so worried about you, we’re all glad you're safe, right Fluttershy?”

Fluttershy said quietly “Yay.”

I smiled come here girls “Ah’m big enough to give ya all a hug.”

Five of us were about to hug when Rarity said “Come on Rainbow Dash, you were asked.”

Rainbow Dash said “But it’s too mushy for me to do that.” I watched as a purple aura pulled Rainbow Dash closer and I wrapped all my friends in a big hug.

Twilight said “Umm Applejack, it’s a little tight.”

I replied as I let them go “Ah’m sorry, all will be fine.”

***************************************

Meanwhile

A bug on the wall said across the hivemind (“My queen we need to do something about this.”)

The Queen replied (“We will, I already have a great plan. I bet she will be enthusiastic to see her famous singing friend.”) She transformed into Rara and smiled.