The Best Laid Plans

Chrysalis laid still as the sound of hooves marching in tune with each other resounded throughout the darkened halls. Her body still felt numb, but feeling was slowly coming back. There she laid as four changelings paraded her, and she held her head up in a regal manner, while the two changelings she was mating with prior now walked in front of her. Both walked proudly, but Pharynx showed it more. His head was held high and his body radiated with confidence, while he occasionally glanced back smiling as he stared at both Chrysalis and her lower body.

At his side walked Pandinus, who was preoccupied with the note that Pharynx talked about earlier on. She watched him read it, and at the corner of her eyes, she watched changelings from all over the hive flock towards her. They didn't obstruct her path, and all of them bowed before her as they looked on with surprise to see her body glowing the way it was. She could see the puzzled reactions of them all and saw a fair amount of whispering as she passed. She cared not for any of it, but she knew both her and Pharynx would be the talk of the hive for quite some time.

"My Queen, would you like me to read some important points to you?" Pandinus asked as he looked over his shoulder.

"I would appreciate it," she mused as she waved her hoof.

"As you wish," he began as he cleared his throat. "Most of the report specifies that the assault drones are ready and in position to act once nightfall arrives. The escape route has been marked out, and once the targets have been incapacitated, they will return with them and my squad will be able to swap in and act out their daily lives."

"Perfect," she hummed. "But what about the target leaving Ponyville?"

"The target is Starlight Glimmer, the princess' pupil. From what the recon unit gathered, it looks like she's going to a festival in her old village for the next few days, taking her out of the picture completely. This means one member of the squad won't be needed."

"What an inconvenience," Chrysalis huffed with annoyance.

"What should we do about her?" Pandinus asked.

"We'll ignore her for the time being," Chrysalis began. "As much as I loathe having her running about, it will matter not when I have all four princesses in my possession. Even with her being Twilight's pet sow, her magic won't even be able to touch us here. One pony by herself isn't a threat when up against an army, but it would be amusing to see her get crushed under the swarm if she tried."

"Very well, My Queen," Pandinus added with a hint of worry in his voice as he looked to his captain. "The end of the report… also says that 'he whose name shall not be spoken' isn't in the area as well."

Pharynx looked on with disdain and winced in fear, while Chrysalis just stared forward with a stoic look on her face.

"Worry not about that traitor," Chrysalis spoke with confidence. "Once we've established my rule over Equestria, he'll show up eventually and he will be captured. It's not a matter of if, but when. As for Starlight, my previous point stands; she’ll be ignored and the plan will proceed as scheduled. Have the changeling set to replace her stay here and resume normal duties."

"I'll see to that myself," Pharynx spoke up. "We've arrived at the chambers, My Queen."

Chrysalis turned her eyes up and saw the area around her change. What was once darkened halls was now a large, open area, outfitted with large pools of green glowing slime. As they traversed the new chamber, she stared at a few of the pools and saw a bunch of females floating inside of them, curled up slightly as they appeared to be unmoving or even breathing. She knew better as once she herself would enter a vacant pool, her body would start to go into a form of statis for the next twenty-four hours. Her body would be given nutrients from the pool itself and the eggs would grow quickly inside of her, until she woke up and was ready to lay them.

Each occupied pool also had a guard stationed at it in order to constantly monitor the female in case any complications arose and they had to be pulled out. The occurrence was very rare, yet having a personal guard looking over the incubated female gave them a sense of safety and security.

She came to a stop as the group came to a more decorative part of the chamber. Two guards donning crimson royal guard armor were already present by the pool on each side. The area was lined with twisted lamps holding small glowing larvae from less sentient grubs that also lived in the hive, and the pool itself was much larger and a darker shade of green. It was more potent than the other pools and was specifically made for a queen, letting her have the healthiest clutch possible.

"Here's your pool, My Queen," Pharynx spoke as he looked to the changelings carrying her before he waved his hoof in a downward motion.

The carriers did as ordered, and turning sideways, they placed her down near the edge so her body could easily roll into the pool.

"Before I'm incapacitated for the next twenty-four hours, we have one more issue to discuss," she began as she looked to Pharynx. "Since your former sergeant isn't in charge anymore, we have the matter of getting a replacement," she turned her vision to Pandinus. "As such I'm putting Sergeant Pandinus in charge of the squad."

Pandinus' ears perked up and his eyes went wide.

"You showed notable leadership skills while I was disguised earlier, and even knowing your old superior was engaging in law breaking activity, you stayed behind and monitored the situation, showing your loyalty to the hive. I think it's only fitting you lead," she said with a smile before turning to the next. "I know this is last minute, but I trust you have no qualms with this, Pharynx?"

"I have none and I was actually looking to have him lead the group anyways," Pharynx replied as he directed a smile to Pandinus. "Congratulations on your promotion, Sergeant."

"I… I'm grateful you view me capable enough to lead the mission, My Queen," Pandinus bowed and spoke modestly, while doing his best to not appear overly confident. "I promise I won't disappoint you."

"I trust you can get him outfitted quickly enough so the rest of the infiltration team doesn't wait long?" Chrysalis directed to Pharynx.

"This won't be a problem, but you know how paperwork can be backlogged for a few days, so the promotion won't be official until the mission is complete and you've returned to the hive, Sergeant," Pharynx in turn directed to Pandinus.

"Very well, I thank you once again, My Queen," Pandinus replied as he bowed once again.

"Good, I look forward to hearing from you when your team has completed the initial phase. Now if you five could turn around for a quick second, Pharynx and I need a bit of privacy," Chrysalis ordered as the four carriers and the new sergeant turned away, letting Pharynx view her by himself.

Pharynx smiled and knew what she wanted without her saying it. She gave him a warm smile as he approached her, and once he was close enough she craned her neck forward and kissed him on the lips. It was quick but intense as both pressed hard against each other. Their tongues danced and both cooed gently into each other’s mouths as they wrestled each other in a show of dominance. There was lust and perversion in their kiss, yet also sorrow, since they knew they wouldn't get to see one another for the next twenty-four hours.

As quickly as it started, it was over. Pulling herself away, she gave her captain one last smile, before she rolled her body into the slime pool below. As her vision became nothing but green, the pool quickly started to take effect. Her heart slowed down, the blood pumping through her started to diminish, and her eyes started to feel heavy as she sank more into the pool. Before the darkness took her, she stared at her abdomen one last time and smiled contently as she slipped into unconsciousness. Things were looking up for her and she looked forward to the bright future that was ahead for her, her children, and her race.