As they made their way through the hive, Chris' eyes were glued to his surroundings. He just couldn't get enough of it. The place was even bigger on the inside than it looked on the outside. All the space made him feel like a kid again, and the fact that they were moving through a literal tunnel made him feel like an adventurer, exploring a cave for some secret treasure. It was all so wonderful.

He stared in awe at the ceiling of the structure, watching with glee as the natural crystals that made up it's surface glittered and gleamed with light so dazzling he was sure it would make his eyes hurt if he stared too long. He looked down at Chrysalis to see her smiling up at him.

"Do you like it? It is rather difficult to make such an elaborate hive, so seeing your reaction to it lets me know that we did a good job somewhere along the line."

He smiled back at her. "I love it. It's so bright and there's so much space! The whole atmosphere of the place makes me feel like a kid in a candy store. It's all so new and exciting."

"I see. I'm glad you like it so much. It would have been disheartening to hear you voice distaste for our creation." Chrysalis said, a hoof over her heart.

"I would never!" Chris answered back, returning his gaze back to the hive just in time to see one of the passageways close up. His happy expression was soon replaced by one of confusion.

"Um...Chrysalis?" He began, "Why did that tunnel just close up like that?"

Chrysalis looked at her companion for a moment before giving him a reassuring smile. "Oh, those little things? Don't worry yourself over them. While I do caution you to be careful, I see no need for concern. It is simply a mechanism we changelings use in all of our hives. Magic built into the tunnels makes them close and reopen all on their own. The passageways change quite frequently, and what they lead to does as well, so I would advise not running off on your own for a while."

Chris nodded his head at this. " Yes, yes. That's right, I understand. I'll be carefu- wait. Did you just say...magic? As in...real magic?"

"Quite. Do you not possess magic where you hail from, Chris?" she asked, curiosity in her tone.

"Nope. Where I come from, magic is fake and is only present in fiction." He answered.

Chrysalis' face fell after hearing that. "I see. How unfortunate."

Chris smiled down at her, scratching his nose with a finger as he spoke. "Not really. In exchange for having no magic, we ended up getting advanced technology. Even now, humanity is expanding its knowledge with the help of that technology."

Chrysalis smiled after hearing that. "Oh? I see. What kind of technology do you have where you come from?"

"Well, before I left, it seemed like the most recent tech to hit the market was cars that can drive themselves."

Chrysalis grew confused again. "I'm sorry? Cars? Driving? What is that?"

Chris chuckled nervously. "Oh, sorry. That's right. You have no idea what i'm talking about do you? Cars are like giant metal things that can get take you from place to place faster."

Chrysalis seemed to understand now. "Oh! So it is like the carriages in our neighboring countries. I see now."

“Yes. Exactly like that.” Chris held up a finger to emphasize his point.

“We changelings have never seen fit to use such things, i’m afraid. We prefer our own wings to travel by vehicle. However, traveling long distances can be rather tiring.” Chrysalis said, her attention on the path ahead of them.

“I’d imagine so.” Chris said. “Such physical exertion must be quite a burden on your bodies.”

“Oh no! Our bodies are built for such lengths. However, it is only natural that one would grow exhausted after such a long time airborne.” Chrysalis explained.

“I see.” Chris said, his finger to his chin in thought. “So, where are we going, Chrysalis?”

“We are headed to my chambers.”

Chris’ eyes widened. “Wait, what?!”

“Relax, Chris. I assure you my thoughts are as pure as the winter snow. There is nothing to fear. I simply thought that since there is no way for anyone other than a changeling to navigate their way through the passageways, that I would simply forgo the tour and lead you right to the only room that never changes position. Mine.”

Chris thought about this for a moment, mulling it over in his mind before shrugging and letting it go. “Fair point. Let’s go.”

“To think you would assume me to be anything other than purely trustworthy.” Chrysalis began to giggle, and Chris soon joined her. They were laughing all the way to the door of her chambers.

“Well, here we are! Please, step inside.”

Chris took a look at the open passageway, staring at it for a small moment before taking a tentative step toward it...only to be pushed lightly toward it by Chrysalis, who smiled when he looked back at her.

“Oh, stop being such a nymph and go on! It won’t bite you.”

“I hope you’re right about that.” Chris said as he heeded her words and went inside… and saw the simplest of rooms.

It was more of a surprise to him that after all the grandness of everything else he’d seen, he’d come here and see some thing so simple. It was almost spartan in comparison.

A single bed in a far off corner of the room. A nightstand next to that made out of what was no doubt the same glowing crystals he’d seen in the walls, given its slight glow coming from a cluster of those same crystals in the very center of it. All the way across from that sat a lone bookshelf, filled to the brim with knowledge he couldn’t help but instantly be interested in. But there was one thing he had to address first.

Fortunately, it seemed Chrysalis had already guessed as to his line of thinking and brought it up for him.

“It is....rather simple, isn’t it? I prefer not to give my children too much of a show of my power, lest they be scared to approach me. Heck, my throne already does quite enough of that.”

Chris closed his eyes and nodded his understanding.

“I just want them to see me as less a queen and more a mother. Someone to rely on in their times of need, rather than a symbol to be idolized and kept at a distance. So, I use things like this to show them that I, like them, am as normal a changeling as they are. The only true past time I engage in is reading, as you could probably-”

Chris’ attention was once again overtaken by the bookshelf of untapped knowledge in his line of sight.Chrysalis giggled.

“I see we have found something you like, hm?”

Chris’ seemed to break out of his state at the sound of her voice. “Hm? Wh-what’s going on?”

“You, silly! You’ve been staring at my books this entire time! I’m just waiting for them to catch fire with how intensely you gaze at them.”

Chris blinked and blushed. “Uh...sorry. I’m not normally like this. It’s just, i’m in an unknown place and well, I kinda wanna know the story behind it all you know?”

“Ah, i see...” Chrysalis said. “You want to learn of our culture, is that it?”

“Is that...weird?” Chris asked, scratching the back of his head nervously.

“Nonsense!” Chrysalis waved away the question. “Come! We shall have you properly educated by dinner tonight.”

“That reminds me,” Chris suddenly thought, “What do you all eat?”

“You shall find out when dinner arrives.” Chrysalis said, in a matter of fact tone. “For now, you learn.”

The two spent the better part of the morning, and even a bit of the afternoon, studying up on Changeling culture. From what they ate, to how they dressed, to their celebrations, events and holidays, all the way up to how their government system worked. Chris bore a smile as Chrysalis regaled him with tales of all the times she's had to listen to old fools, or Cordages, as they were called in changeling language, ramble on about topics ranging from love shortages, which was slightly confusing to Chris, to maintaining secrecy, to whether or not diplomacy is a better alternative to invasion, which Chris found to be a non-issue as soon as he heard it. They went over things from history, the founding of all changeling kind, to what little advances in technology they were able to make, starting with the Pool of Emotion, a large pond of stored love used for emergencies when natural reserves are low.

"It can also be tapped into for several other things, such as power, magical energy, and of course, food." Chrysalis had told him during their study session.

But there was one small issue with all this new information. Something that stuck out too much to Chris, and he had to know what it was about.

"So, I don't think i'm ever gonna get used to the use of magic in this place, but...that first bit...about...feeding off of love. Is that...true?"

Chrysalis giggled. "Surely you aren't afraid we'd do such a thing to you. Are you?" The look on his face told her all she needed to know.

"Oh, you poor dear. Of course nothing will happen to you. You are our esteemed guest after all. No harm shall come to you as long as you are with us. You are safe to do as you see fit."

Chris stared for a moment, before nodding and smiling, reassure of his safety.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I must make arrangements for your personal escort. Can't have you getting lose on your way through the tunnels." Chrysalis trotted out of the door, but just before she closed it fully, she poked her head back inside.

"You know, if you ever do feel up to offering your love to the hive, come find me. I can assure you we will do everything in our power to make it an enjoyable experience for you." She giggled, and Chris couldn't help gulping nervously, even with a smile on his face.

Author's Note

Hi, Guys! I'm back! I haven't been on this fic in a while, so tell me in the comments if I did as well as the last two chapters. Thanks! And as always, Enjoy!