Changes

It wasn't often that Chrysalis managed to sit and have a chance to think. It was weird having her head all for herself and not having any drone chattering on about some report or, Elysium help her, some pony song which had been playing in an infiltrated town.

She was laying on her bed, gazing at the door which Twilight had retreated through barely a few minutes prior and for the first time in her life found herself unsure of what to do. She wasn't tired, nor was she hungry so the two main problems for a Queen were solved, leaving her with a dilemma.

The room, her room, which she had been left in was furnished with plenty of pony needs but none of what Chrysalis would actually want. While it may have been true that Chrysalis wasn't one to read, she had enjoyed a few classics in her time and considered herself a fan of the Daring-Do series, contrary to what her outward appearance might show.

Beside her bed sat a side-desk, upon which sat a mini-calendar and a small mechanical alarm. In the corner of the room, next to the window which overlooked Ponyville, stood a sturdy wooden desk which carried several books, parchment and writing instruments.

Chrysalis rolled over and stared at the parchment for what felt like the longest time before pushing herself off the bed and making her way over to her desk. Sitting down, her aura levitated a quill and inkwell over, placing them off to the side.

Dipping the quill into the ink, she paused for a second and took a deep breath to gather her thoughts. Her eyes slowly inched over towards the door once again, where a crack of light shone through the gap at the bottom. Turning back to the parchment, she pulled the quill from the ink, cleaned it then began writing.

"Twilight Sparkle.

I have no reservations about what I have done. This letter isn't me asking for forgiveness or your sympathy; this letter will be the last thing I write as a Queen and I know you would wish to question what this means, but please finish this letter first.

Instar is the rightful heir of my species and as much as I wish to fight the truth, I fear I am too old and weary to even try.

A Queen is only as good as those below her and I cannot bare larvae which would follow. The moment your Elements hit us, I felt it. My purpose as the progenitor of my race was forfeit.

I felt this would be an easier way of explaining to you why I agreed so fast. I'm sure you understand that talking openly was never my strength.

Chrysalis."

Placing the quill down in her shaky aura, the mare hastily blew across the ink as a deep well of fear bubbled up within her stomach. She quickly rolled the parchment up and licked across the edge to seal it up before rising from the desk and moving towards the door.

Chrysalis knew there wasn't any turning back now. Either she left the letter or Twilight would find her in the morning and it would be awkward for the both of them, which she knew neither of them would want. Swallowing her fear, she pulled the door open and stepped out into the hallway.

Twilight was insistent that she remained in her disguise, yet Chrysalis wasn’t exactly one to listen to rules. If Instar had fallen from the sky like she had claimed, then no disguise would be sufficient, especially not the one chosen. Still, the mare went along with it and wandered through the halls towards Twilight's room.

It wasn't especially hard to find, even with the winding crystal hallways, considering Chrysalis could sense Instar from across the castle.

As Chrysalis made her way around the last corner, she saw Instar pacing outside of Twilight's room and wandered over. The mare held a look of confusion which only grew once Chrysalis drew near.

"What is happening?" Instar asked, closing the gap and nuzzling under Chrysalis's chin and neck as she passed.

"What needs to happen," Chrysalis replied, smiling down at Instar. "Come... daughter," she began, finding her joints begin to ache. "Let's get you ready," she continued, walking back over, wrapping a wing over Instar's back and guiding her down the halls towards the basement.

"I'm sure you've felt your instincts to feed recently? They're your body telling you that you should molt and become a Queen," Chrysalis explained, squeezing her gently. "We'll go down to the warmest area and make a small nest for you."

The pair quickly made their way down into the dark and dank basement, Instar following closely behind. Descending into the darkness, Chrysalis glanced back to make sure the younger mare was there, before entering the boiler room. A hot wave of steam washed over the pair, along with the hiss of pressure as it was released.

"Ponies certainly enjoy their machines," Chrysalis muttered then gestured to the center of the room. "Alright," she began, standing in front of Instar. "Relax and take a deep breath. There's a sac inside you which creates our slime. It's what you will use to create your hive."

Instar did as she was told and took a breath, feeling about inside herself and coming across a heavy sac just behind her stomach. "It feels weird."

"It will at first," Chrysalis replied, moving to the side and gesturing to the wall next to her. "Look at the wall and try to force it out."

Instar glanced at Chrysalis with a nervous look, then to the wall as she tensed her stomach and began to flex muscles that she didn't know were there. Her throat tightened, her mouth watered, then a glob of thick, gooey slime shot out and splattered across the wall, leaving Instar to pant and wipe her chin. "It... it tastes bad..."

"Well, of course it does. It's not food," Chrysalis chuckled, moving closer and brushing Instar's mane. "It will regulate temperature so it's perfect for a nursery."

"Nursery?"

"It's the part of the hive where you'll lay your eggs and raise your children."

"Oh," Instar muttered, a smile appearing. "How?"

"How do you lay eggs? Well, I think we should get started on your hive and then show you."

Twilight grumbled as she pulled herself out of bed. While she'd normally enjoy sleeping in, this time was different on account of the apparently reformed villain sleeping down the hall from her.

Leaving her own room, her magic pulled her bed head up and into a small bun, letting several strands fall and frame her face. She let out a short yawn and noticed Starlight wander down the hall towards her.

"Ah, Twilight, there you are," the mare said, moving over to intercept and walk beside. "Where did you go yesterday? I was trying to find you."

"Oh, uh... I went up with Instar to speak with King Thorax," Twilight replied, unable to look her in the eyes.

"I see... Did you also bring Chrysalis back with you?"

"What?! No, of course no-" Twilight replied, a little too quick. Yet, she saw Starlight giving her a deadpan gaze. "Whatever gave you that- you saw her, didn't you?"

Starlight nodded, then sighed. "Indeed. She was cantering around as if she owned the place. Need I remind you what she's capable of?"

Twilight winced. "No... I know full well what she can do, but you didn't see her after I had de-petrified her. She looked like she had given up, Star. Instar needs a mentor that can help her grow," she continued, waving her hoof, "physically. I can't do that."

Starlight didn't seem as convinced as Twilight would have hoped. "Fine, on your head be it. But if she comes near my room, I won't be responsible for what I do."

Twilight sighed. "Okay... Just don't do anything rash," she asked, looking worried and stopping in front of Chrysalis's room. "She is still our guest while she's helping Instar. I'm sorry for not telling you..."

Several emotions flicked over Starlight's face, but anger was never one of them. It did settle on annoyance though and she looked away for a few seconds. "I understand why you did it but I expect to be told the Queen that tried to kill me multiple times would be living with us..."

"I know. I'll try to keep the surprises to a minimum from now on," Twilight replied. "Are we good?"

Starlight rolled her eyes. "Yeah, of course we're good, Twilight. We're friends, it's not like I'm going to explode over one little mess up."

Twilight smiled and rubbed the back of her neck, having been reminded suddenly of all the times she did exactly that. "Yeah, that would be silly... Anyway, this is her room, in case you wanted to avoid it; I don't know."

"Ah, right in the main corridor to my room I see."

"What? I didn't realise," Twilight squeaked, looking up and down the hall.

"Relax, Twi. I'm just teasing," Star chuckled, placing a hoof on the mare's shoulder. "I have work to get back to, so I'll see you around. Try to make sure they don't leave fluids everywhere, okay?" she asked, walking off down the hall.

"Hey, that was one time!" Twilight retorted, letting out a huff.

Seeing the laughing Starlight turn a corner, Twilight turned and reached up to knock on the door. "Chrysalis? Are you awake?" she called out. After receiving nothing for a few seconds, she felt her anxiety grow and took a chance.

Her magic turned the handle and Twilight entered Chrysalis's room. It looked unchanged aside from the candle on the side which had melted completely and the letter which sat on the bed.

"Chrysalis?" she called out once again, hoping the former Queen wouldn't jump out to scare her.

When she received no answer again, she levitated the letter off the bed and opened it up.

"Reservations... Forgiveness... Last thing..." she mumbled, reading through the letter as a black hole of guilt hit her, causing Twilight to lower herself to the floor. She could only hear the thumping of her heart as that moment of petrifying Chrysalis replayed over and over.

Rising up, she galloped out of the room and cast a tracking spell to try and find the Changeling. "Chrysalis, Instar?!" she called, sprinting down the halls. She hoped the worst wasn't hadn't happened yet.

With a sudden ping, she scraped her hooves along the crystal floor coming to a stop and rushed down another hallway towards her basement.

Coming to a stop, Twilight could see that a slight waft of steam emanating out of the darkness, only increasing her concern. "Instar?" she asked, taking hesitant steps down into the basement.

Yet, once she reached the bottom, Twilight found that it had changed. Instead of the smoothed stone walls, there was a thin layer of chitin covering every inch. Her hooves pressed down, finding it actually slightly easier to walk on than she remembered from Chrysalis's hive.

Slowly, she inched her way down the hallway towards the familiar boiler room. She could feel the temperature rise slightly, possibly due to the humidity, but it wasn't unbearable like she would have imagined.

The books and boxes which were stacked up had been moved out of the way, now neatly piled in the corner, clearly having been taken care of from the translucent carapace covering and keeping them safe from the humidity.

Standing in front of the door, Twilight swallowed her anxiety down and turned the handle in her magic and let the door swing open to reveal a moist, humid boiler room.

"Instar? Chrysalis?" she asked once again, her voice now slightly holding a quiver.

Much like the hallway, the boiler room was covered in Changeling goop and chitin, only thicker. A pit had been dug in the corner, beside the boiler, next to which a bed of sorts was constructed out of a spongy substance. The wall on the other side of the room had been dug out and expanded with a doorway and another room.

"Twilight!" Instar gasped from the other room, before rushing out and over to Twilight. "Sorry for not waking up with you," she chirped, nuzzling under the mare's neck as she buzzed her wings.

"Looks like somepony has her in a tight leash."

Twilight turned her attention to Chrysalis, who was climbing out of the hole in the wall.

"What? Were you worried about little old me?" Chrysalis asked, chuckling as she wandered over. "I've never tasted so much worry from one little pony," she teased while watching Instar nuzzle and nip at the mare. "You'll make me blush if you keep it up."

"I... I thought..."

"I may not be able to lay eggs anymore but that doesn't mean I can't help Instar. Changelings are nothing but adaptable and as such I have resigned myself to be her nursery caretaker," Chrysalis explained, gesturing to the lack of the crown on the top of her head.

"Chrys is nice," Instar purred and clicked, rubbing herself over Twilight. "She's taught me so much!"

"I told you to use my full name," the Changeling stated, annoyance obvious in her tone. "But yes. She was lacking much information about our internal functions." Chrysalis gestured to Instar, "Show Twilight something you'd think she'd like."

Instar looked over and nodded. "Mhm!" she replied, then with a quick giggle she closed her eyes and focused inside of herself. She forced her magic up and let it fizzle over her lips, feeling them tingle.

The effect was immediate as Twilight's confused expression changed into one of worry as her cheeks darkened and she finally noticed Instar's soft, tasty looking lips.

She knew it was Changeling magic, and it took all of her Alicorn strength to hold herself back and not pounce the mare and indulge herself.

Quickly though, Instar pushed her magic back down, allowing Twilight a respite. "Did you like it?" she asked, leaning in and nuzzling up Twilight's neck, causing her to shiver.

Twilight's cheeks were flushed crimson, her tail was twitching and the familiar feeling of embarrassment was known to all of them. "It's... wow..." she muttered, unable to look towards Chrysalis.

Chrysalis giggled. "Aw, don't be so embarrassed. It is my job to get you two to make live eggs after all."

"Wait, what?" Twilight replied, her brain rebooting into scientist mode. "I thought you didn't need anypony else to make eggs?"

"We don't, at least for generic drones, but for live Princesses..."

"Chrys said we'd need to feed. A lot!"

"Oh," Twilight squeaked, feeling Instar nip at her neck.