A Queen's Guardby MechawreckerChaptersInfiltrationContactReflectionCrossroadsResolutionsEpilogueInfiltration“I still don’t think it’s a good idea.” Twilight paced around the room, her frantic hoofsteps echoing as she contemplated the sudden turn of events. Her panic session cut short as Starlight’s voice broke through her trance. “I promised that we’d give her a chance to redeem herself, so we can’t just turn her to stone after accepting her surrender.” “What if she goes rogue again? It was bad enough when she impersonated Cadence, but letting her stay here could lead to Equestria’s destruction if we’re not careful,” Twilight countered, adjusting a pencil to better align with her desk. Starlight placed a comforting hoof around her barrel and soothed, “That’s what the magic inhibitor is for. As long as she’s wearing it, she won’t be able to use any magic to transform or hurt anyone.” “I don’t know,” Twilight repeated, biting her lip with worry. “I still think we should imprison her in Tartarus for a while. Maybe some time down there will make her reflect on her choices.” Sensing her trepidation growing, Starlight stared up with teary eyes and pleaded, “I know more than anypony how it feels to commit heinous crimes, and it was only through your understanding and forgiveness that I realized how horrible I’d become. You changed my life and helped me overcome the worst parts of myself I never even knew existed.” Leaning in, she wrapped her in a caring embrace and whispered, “So please, give her the same chance you gave me.” Twilight’s gaze softened as their shared memories came flooding back. Returning the gentle hug, she pulled Starlight closer and smiled, “You’re right. I’ve always believed in turning my enemies into my friends, and that shouldn’t change now. Thanks for reminding me.” The two continued hugging until a shout from the floor interrupted their embrace. Turning to face the basement stairs, Twilight gestured a hoof and mumbled, “Uh oh, it doesn’t sound like Thorax and Pharynx are having much luck. I can’t imagine she has anything nice to say.” Starlight cast a worried glance down the shadowy steps and sighed, “I’m more concerned about what she’ll say to me. I was the one that destroyed her sacred throne and turned her entire hive into essentially a different species. I’m not looking forward to the reunion.” “Come on, Chrysalis. Aren’t you going to say anything?” Thorax’s watery eyes stared at the figure in the cell, begging for any sign of acknowledgement or recognition. When none came, he puffed out his cheeks and called, “I know it wasn’t easy to surrender, but now things can go back to normal! Once you reform too, you can lead your hive into a new era of peace, friendship, and lo--” His voice cut off as a pair of neon-green eyes flashed dangerously in the dark cell. His former queen fixed him with a look of utmost hatred and hissed, “You are no longer my hive! I have no hive! All I see are a bunch of miserable little insects too cowardly to stand up and fight against their pony cultivators!” Thorax staggered back from her sudden outburst with a look of shock, but swiftly shifted to concern as the device around her horn sent an electric shock throughout her body. Gazing at her trembling form with pity, he shook his head and whispered, “I’m sorry you feel that way. I’m sure the hive would love to have you back if you learned how to share love instead of just take it. It isn’t too late to change paths.” Pharynx held out a hoof to stop him from speaking. Glancing at the rage still burning in the fallen queen’s eyes, he drawled, “You’re wasting your breath, Thorax. It’s clear nothing you say will reach the Queen’s ears, at least not right now. Perhaps we should give her more time to readjust before talking again?” “You’re probably right,” Thorax sighed starting towards the staircase. “I’ll try again later once the girls have made some progress. Are you coming, Pharynx?” Pharynx glanced at Chrysalis’s still furious expression before waving a noncommittal hoof. “Don’t worry about me. I just want to talk to the Queen again before we leave. Go upstairs and tell those ponies we’ll be done soon.” “Their names are Twilight Sparkle and Starlight Glimmer,” Thorax said pointedly. “You’ll need to remember them since they’re responsible for integrating changelings into pony society.” Pharynx watched his brother ascend the stairs before turning toward the prison cell. Before he could say a word, Chrysalis grumbled, “I never would have expected it of you, Pharynx. Thorax I can understand since he’s always been so meek and wimpy, but I thought my most trusted soldier would have fought back against the pony invasion.” She glared at the disgustingly sweet shades of navy and purple that adorned his reformed carapace. Pointing out the opals adorning his chest, she adopted a demeaning smirk and shot, “Look, the ponies are already decorating you like their subservient little housepet. I hope you enjoy a life of padding after them and groveling at their hooves, because that’s the fate you’ve doomed the hive to.” Pharynx waited patiently for her insults to end before taking a deep breath. Glancing around to ensure nobody was in sight, he lowered his head and whispered, “My Queen, you needn’t turn your ire on me. I know you’ve always had the changelings’ best interest at heart, so I’m here to reassure you of my loyalty.” Chrysalis’s eyes widened as a wisp of green magic surrounded his body. The sleek, shiny colors on his carapace gave way to the harsh blacks and reds of traditional changelings, jagged holes carved themselves into the tips of his forelegs, and his straight teeth elongated back into their normal fangs, sharp and ready for a fresh meal. After a moment of stunned silence, Chrysalis broke into a wild grin and clambered to the bars of her cell. Fixing him with an approving stare, she hissed, “I see you’ve improved your disguising magic. Not even I could see through your illusion at first.” Pharynx’s chest swelled with pride under her admiring gaze. Transforming back into his reformed disguise, he whispered, “I can’t stay long or Thorax will grow suspicious. Rest assured that, no matter what the rest of the hive may think, I will always follow you, my Queen.” Chrysalis licked her lips as he left, relishing the love he had gifted her during his transformation. Gazing around her lonely cell, she began formulating ideas for her escape, all the while savoring the thought that, even though most of her hive had abandoned her, she still had one loyal subject she could count on. Contact“Horrid! Reprehensible! Uncivilized!” Rarity’s shrieks echoed around the meeting room as the others covered their ears to muffle the sound. Stomping her hooves on the floor, she let out an aggressive snort, causing puffs of steam to escape her flared nostrils. “Rares, Ah’ don’t like her any more than you do, but try to calm down, would ya’?” Applejack called, trying to dull the relentless ringing in her head. Rarity fixed her with a frantic glare and hissed, “I absolutely will not calm down! Did you hear what she called me during our lessons yesterday? She said I was a scaly old hag whose talent would dry up the moment I stopped bending over for those snobby politicians!” Applejack opened her mouth to shoot back a retort before Twilight shouted, “Enough!” The two whipped around as her horn flashed a dangerous purple. Taking a deep breath, she turned to Applejack with a resigned grimace and asked, “How did your lessons go? It can’t be worse than Rarity’s, right?” A scowl flitted across the farmer’s face before being replaced by a noncommittal frown. “Ah’ wouldn’t exactly call it a success, but she mostly just stayed silent and wouldn’t respond to anything I said.” Twilight rubbed her temples to quell the pounding headache threatening to crack her skull open. Fixing the other two with a desperate gaze, she pleaded, “Do either of you have any thoughts on how to change her mind? I promised Starlight I’d help reform Chrysalis, but I’m running out of ideas.” “We could throw her in--” Rarity began. “Yeah, other than that,” Twilight interrupted, again turning to Applejack for advice. Applejack rubbed her chin, mulling over the different strategies she had used to calm Applebloom during her early years. “Maybe the reason she’s so stubborn is because she’s taking lessons from us. After all, we’re the ones who foiled her plans in both the Canterlot Wedding and her own hive, so it’s not surprising she’d hate our guts.” “Of course!” Twilight exclaimed, clapping her hooves together. “It’s not that Chrysalis is incapable of change. We’ve just been going about this the wrong way.” A quill and parchment appeared in front of her as she began scribbling a letter to the changeling hive. Dotting the final period, she rolled up the paper and said, “I’ll have Spike send this to Thorax as soon as he gets back. In the meantime, maybe we should take a break from lessons since they’re probably doing more harm than good.” Twilight jumped as a knock echoed throughout the entrance hall. Turning to face the castle doors, she mumbled, “That must be him.” Pulling open the heavy doors, she straightened her face into an optimistic grin and started, “Welcome back, Thorax! I see you got my--” Her voice faltered as she caught sight of the knocker. Instead of Thorax’s vivid coat and goofy smile, she was met by the dull shades and stony expression that resembled the changeling leader, but felt nothing like the kind, hopeful friend she had been expecting. Pharynx’s gaze hardened as she continued staring at him in surprise. “Is there a problem?” Her eyes widened as she snapped out of her stunned stupor. Clearing her throat, she stammered, “Of course not, Pharynx! I was just surprised since Thorax usually handles these kinds of affairs.” His purple eyes glinted as he pawed the ground to avoid eye contact. Gazing around the crystal castle, he explained, “Thorax is currently preoccupied with other business, so he sent me instead. I hope there’s no issue with that.” Twilight stood aside to invite him in. “Not at all! I understand Thorax has a lot on his plate right now. If he ever needs help with ruling, I’d be more than happy to give him some advice.” “I’m sure he’ll appreciate that,” Pharynx replied, glancing at the basement stairs. “Regarding the reason I’m here, is the Queen still in the dungeons, or have you moved her elsewhere?” “We moved her into one of the detention rooms,” Twilight said, leading him upstairs. “They’re just like normal bedrooms with a magic field that prevents her from leaving so long as she’s wearing her magic inhibitor.” They stopped outside a reinforced door where she cast a spell to undo the locks. Turning to him with a concerned frown, she cautioned, “Chrysalis has only gotten angrier since our lessons began, so please try and convince her to reconcile before it’s too late.” Pharynx’s muzzle curled into a smirk as he started towards the door. “Don’t worry, Princess. I’ll make sure the Queen gets all the help she needs.” The door clicked shut as Pharynx entered the shadowy room, casting a brief ray of light before being swallowed once more by darkness. As he peered around, a pair of green eyes flashed in the air, locking onto his own before slowly drawing closer. “I see you’ve returned,” Chrysalis whispered, approaching him with an appraising gaze. Her eyes roved over his reformed carapace, narrowing with each distinctly pony-like feature. Pharynx grinned as his body became enveloped by a burst of green flames, leaving his true, unreformed body on full display. Turning on the lights, he affirmed, “Indeed, my Queen. I promised I would aid in your escape, so I intercepted a message meant for Thorax and came here in his stead.” Chrysalis scanned his face for any signs of deceit or treachery. Once she was satisfied with his loyalty, she wrapped his frame in her delicate wings and crooned, “That’s why you’re my favorite hatchling. No matter what, you’ll always protect your Queen and follow her orders. You’ll obey my every command and help me escape from this wretched prison, won’t you?” She licked her lips as waves of love came pulsing off his body, feeding her with energy for their great escape. Leaning closer, she nibbled his ear, chuckling as he let out a muffled whimper. “Aww, is someone excited to see his Queen? I can tell you have a lot of love to share with me, so there’s no need to hold back~” Pharynx’s muzzle tightened as her angelic voice floated through the air, caressing the sensitive tips of his twitching ears. Fighting the urge to bend down and pleasure her, he allowed her to siphon off more of his love energy, shivering as the magic tendrils enveloped his carapace. “I aim to service my Queen in whatever manner she requires.” Her satisfied grin widened as the energy surged through her deprived body. Ceasing her loving ministrations, she gently stroked his exhausted form and crooned, “I’m very proud of you, Pharynx. Keep bringing more love, and I’ll see that you’re rewarded for all your hard work~” The two locked gazes, their eyes burning with lust and desire. Pharynx felt his pride fall out of his sheath, eager to do his Queen’s bidding. Indicating his erect member with a hopeful gaze, he stroked the shaft near the base, begging for permission to satisfy her every need. Her muzzle curled into a knowing smirk as she bent down, preparing herself for the moment they would become one in both body and mind. Anticipating his penetration with bated breath, she flexed the muscles in her core, causing her glistening honeypot to wink for the ecstasy it desperately sought. A gasp of pleasure filled the room as his member circled her outer lips. Pressing against her warm entrance, Pharynx licked his lips and gave a tiny thrust, sliding the head of his cock along the folds of her enticing pussy. “My Queen, you’re so beautiful! I’m so lucky to be able to bed you like this.” Chrysalis gave a grunt of annoyance at his teasing probes before bucking her hips impatiently. Glancing back at his trembling frame, she hissed, “I ordered you to satisfy me, not waste time pleasuring yourself with my body. Now, do as I command and thrust!” Her command echoed inside his head as the tip of his cock hastily aimed toward her inviting cunt. Bracing himself against her heavenly thighs, he gripped her haunches with his forelegs and mounted her. “As you wish, my Queen.” “Aghh!” Chrysalis let out a cry of pleasure as his cock buried itself into her cavernous pussy. The curved ridges scraped against the sides of her needy tunnel, sending electric shocks throughout her body. “Yes! Just like that, Pharynx! Give your Queen what she desires!” Pharynx’s jaw clenched shut as her velvety walls squeezed around his impressive girth, attempting to coax out another batch of hatchlings. Squinting his eyes to resist premature orgasm, he hissed, “As you c-command, my Queen.” The room filled with a combination of wet slaps and quiet moans as both tried their best to hold on as long as possible. Relishing the feeling of his cock sliding against her deprived nerves, Chrysalis bit her lower lip and cried, “Pharynx, make sure you pump a big load into me! Give me everything you’ve got in that massive cock of yours so we can raise another changeling army together!” His eyes widened as she clenched harder around his ensconced member, effectively trapping him in her sacred chamber. A familiar tingling sensation began building, warning him of his inevitable release. “My Queen, I’m not going to last much longer!” A manic grin consumed her muzzle as she began meeting his thrusts with her hips, forcing his cock deeper into her dripping love tunnel. Fixing him with a burning stare, she taunted, “What’s wrong, Pharynx? Don’t you want to cum in your Queen’s hot, wet pussy? Don’t you want to spill your seed into my clenching snatch and pump me full of hatchlings?” Her demeaning voice echoed in Pharynx’s head, sending more tingles throughout his overworked body. Finally reaching the peak, his cock gave a series of wild throbs as it prepared to stuff her womb with as much spunk it could take. “AHHmmpph! MMhhhh, Hhaaa!~” His howls of pleasure were drowned out as Chrysalis forced him deeper into her quivering pussy. Her vice-like muscles massaged around his member until a rush of cum erupted from the tip, painting her inner walls white with sperm, ensuring her womb would have plenty of material to work with later. After several moments of unbearable pleasure, Pharynx’s hind legs gave out as he fell backwards onto the floor, creating a loud squelch as his cock slid out of her used pussy. Chrysalis jumped at the sudden exit before glancing at his crumpled form with a satisfied smile. “Well done, Pharynx. I’ll surely have another batch of hatchlings after this.” His eyes flickered open as he slowly reclaimed his senses. Focusing on her voluptuous body, he adopted a submissive smile and grinned, “I would be more than happy to satiate your desires again, my Queen.” “I’m sure you would,” she taunted, wiping away the cum now leaking out of her stuffed pussy. “Perhaps if you deliver more love energy, I’ll allow you to fulfill more of my--” *click* Both their gazes whipped towards the door as the sound of the lock echoed throughout the room. After a moment of panicked silence, Chrysalis rushed to clean the jizz staining her crotch as Pharynx transformed back into his reformed disguise, making sure to hide his still erect member with a hasty illusion. A moment later, the door swung open to reveal who had interrupted their post-orgasm highs. Their eyes widened as the opaque crystals gave way to reveal, not Princess Twilight, but Ocellus. The three locked eyes for a moment before Ocellus let out a blood-curdling scream at Chrysalis's unreformed carapace. “W-What is s-she doing here!? Why is s-she in the castle!?” Before she could make any more noise, Pharynx grabbed her with his magic and levitated her to stand next to him, away from Chrysalis’s aggressive glare. “Ocellus, calm down! Stop shouting or you’ll draw the entire town here!” Her voice cut out as he placed a muffling spell on her muzzle until she stopped screaming. Once her breathing returned to normal, he canceled the spell and placed her back onto the ground. “Ocellus, what are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be at that friendship school?” Her terrified eyes remained fixed on Chrysalis as she stammered out an explanation. “I-I wanted to get Headmare Twilight’s permission for my friends and I to visit the Castle of the Two Sisters again.” Pointing a trembling hoof at Chrysalis’s raised form, she exclaimed, “What is she doing here, Pharynx!? I thought she was defeated once the hive reformed.” Her expression relaxed as he explained Twilight’s lessons and his role, carefully leaving out the more explicit aspects of their meetings. When he finished his speech, she cast Chrysalis an apprehensive glance and stuttered, “A-Are you sure she’s really reformed? She’s not just trying to get closer and take over Equestria again, right?” The other two shared a brief smirk before Pharynx soothed, “Of course! Once she finishes Twilight’s lessons, she’ll be ready to join pony society, and you won’t have to worry about her any more. I promise!” Ocellus took a shaky breath to calm her nerves before making her way towards the door. Avoiding eye contact with her former queen, she gave a nervous flap of her wings and mumbled, “I’ll take your word for it. I need to find Headmare Twilight, so I’ll see you back at the hive.” “Hold it!” Her hoof froze above the door handle as Chrysalis’s sharp voice cut through the air. Jumping slightly, she whipped around and nearly toppled over at the queen’s intense stare. “W-What do you w-want!?” The two held their gaze for several moments, both trying to read the other’s mind. Ocellus felt a bead of sweat run down her cheek as she stared into the face that caused her more nightmares than any headless horse could ever hope to inspire. Eventually, something within Chrysalis’s green eyes dulled as she finally broke the awkward staring contest. Turning away with a frown, she waved a dismissive hoof and grumbled, “Nothing. Go about your business, little one.” Ocellus blinked as her former queen stalked away towards the bed, burying herself under the covers. After a moment of confused silence, she shook her head and slipped out the door, letting out a sigh of relief. Pharynx stared after Ocellus’s retreating form before turning his attention to the buried mass on the bed. Sitting down on the pillowy mattress, he lifted the covers and whispered, “My Queen, are you okay?” Chrysalis glanced at his concerned frown before turning away with a huff, not dignifying him with a response. Burying herself deeper into the covers, she growled, “Leave me now. Come back when you have more love energy.” Taken aback by the sudden dismissal, he reached out a hoof to stroke her delicate frame and pressed, “If there’s something bothering you, please tell me so I can--” “The only thing that’s bothering me is your disregard for a direct order from your Queen!” she hissed, knocking away his comforting hoof. “I wish to be alone, so leave now and make up a report for those insolent ponies before they grow suspicious.” Pharynx’s eyes narrowed as she returned to her cocoon, but didn’t press the issue. Starting towards the crystal door, he cast her another affectionate smile and hummed, “I’ll be back tomorrow with more love energy, your Highness. Please feel better soon.” Chrysalis emerged just as Pharynx rounded the corner into the hallway. Her throat tightened as she felt an overwhelming urge to call out, but his dark carapace disappeared behind the door before she could find the words. The clicking of the lock echoed throughout the empty room as she was once again plunged into total silence. Staring at the place he had just vanished, her outstretched hoof fell onto the bed sheets where it lay as trapped and helpless as she was. With no one to talk to, her mind began wandering away from the silk blankets and towards her unspoken conversation with Ocellus. It was the first interaction she’d had with a changeling that wasn’t Thorax or Pharynx after the hive reformed, and the first time she’d ever seen a changeling afraid of her. Her eyebrows furrowed as Ocellus’s terrified expression burned itself into her memory, a harsh reminder of her isolation from the rest of the hive. Memories of the old days when her brood loved and worshipped her as their Queen came rushing back as she clenched her jaw tight, trying to repress the thought of her beautiful children being corrupted by the stain of friendship. “I swear, I will reclaim my throne and my children from those vile ponies if it’s the last thing I ever do.” Reflection“So, how have your lessons been going?” Twilight asked, bracing herself for another one of Rarity’s tirades. Applejack propped her hooves on the table and leaned back with a satisfied smile. “They’re a heck of a lot better than last week, that’s for sure. Instead of ignoring me all day, she’s actually paying attention and taking notes on the importance of honesty.” Twilight’s eyes snapped open at the surprising news. Pinching her foreleg to make sure this wasn’t a dream, she said, “Are you sure you were teaching the right changeling? We are talking about Chrysalis, right? The same changeling that tried to take over Equestria multiple times and repeatedly refused to learn anything even remotely connected to friendship?” “Ah’m just as surprised as you are,” Applejack replied, pulling a loose hair from her mane. “Her change in attitude came out of left field, but she hasn’t made any fishy moves, and the magic inhibitor is still on her horn, so there’s no funny magic business going on.” Twilight’s muzzle curled into a frown as she rubbed her chin. Turning around, she fixed Rarity with a questioning gaze and asked, “What about you, Rarity? How is she doing in your lessons?” Pursing her lips, Rarity gave a quiet cough and started, “Well, she’s certainly not the most pleasant creature to be around, but I’ll admit she’s gotten much better since last time. She even apologized for calling me scaly, but that’s too little too late in my opinion.” Twilight gaped as she struggled to find words to reply. Hearing that the Changeling Queen apologized for anything felt more concerning than if she had threatened to trap them all in gooey cocoons for the rest of eternity. Her gaze wandered to the ceiling where Pharynx was having another one of his frequent chats with Chrysalis in her room. As she listened, a faint, rhythmic thumping made its way into her sensitive alicorn ears, causing a nasty seed to plant itself inside her head. Pushing back her chair, she turned towards the staircase and said, “Thanks for the report, girls. I’m going to keep watch for a while in case she’s planning something. Hopefully this is just me being paranoid, and Pharynx’s message is finally getting into her.” “Aggghhh! Oooooh…” Chrysalis moaned as Pharynx’s cock slipped out of her stuffed snatch, a wave of hatchling batter following in its wake. Resting against her bed’s headboard, she let out a chuckle and stroked his softening member. “Your skills are improving, but you’ll have to try harder than that if you want to outlast me~” Pharynx groaned as his overworked shaft gave a twitch at her loving caress. Scooting closer to her delicate frame, he leaned against the headboard and sighed, “I always aim to please my Queen. I’m so glad you chose me to be your bed mate.” Her eyebrows furrowed as she let out an annoyed huff. “There wasn’t much choice considering the rest of the hive won’t look at me without shrieking and running away.” It took a moment for the weight of that sentence to settle as she stared blankly at the opposite wall. She always knew her former subjects wouldn’t have a particularly high opinion of her, but she’d always secretly hoped that they’d come to her defense out of loyalty or dedication, even as her throne was shattering to pieces around her. Ocellus’s terrified expression flashed through her mind as a dull ache replaced her post-orgasm bliss. The sight of her changelings, her children, shrinking away from her in horror made the former queen long for her old hive back, but how could they accept each other when they were practically different species now? Waving away the ridiculous thought, she concentrated on Pharynx just in time to hear him say, “...so it should be done by tomorrow. What do you say, your Highness?” She blinked as his expectant grin overtook her vision. Clearing her throat to cover the momentary weakness, she pursed her lips and barked, “I don’t care about any of that nonsense! When can you get me more love energy?” Her harsh tone cut through the air, causing him to flinch at her sudden aggression. Swallowing the nerves buzzing in his stomach, he stammered, “I just said I would visit tomorrow, but if you have other plans…” Chrysalis felt her cheeks redden as she realized her mistake. The warmth of the covers suddenly felt like a furnace while his continued gaze only worsened her burning humiliation. A concerned frown laced his muzzle as she tried desperately to avoid eye contact. Placing a hoof on her delicate frame, he fixed her with a knowing look and asked, “Are you feeling alright, my Queen? You’re usually more alert than this after our mating sessions.” A tense silence hung in the air as she refused to meet his gaze. His worry deepened as she brushed off his comforting hoof and made to stand up, wiping away the excess cum dribbling down her legs. Reaching forward, he rubbed her soft haunches and started, “I can tell something’s bothering you. If you’d confide your troubles to me, I could--” “How has the hive been?” Pharynx stumbled at the unexpected query. “I’m sorry, what?” “The hive,” she repeated, gazing at the far wall. “How have the other changelings adjusted while I’ve been in exile?” His eyes darted around the room as multiple answers emerged, some more honest than others. Pawing the bedsheets nervously, he cleared his throat and hissed, “It’s been terrible! Without you, the other changelings have fallen into disarray, and my brother spends more time padding after that new dragon lord like a love-sick diamond dog than properly ruling the hive. Ponies are constantly taking advantage of our weakened state, so it’s imperative that we--” “Pharynx, tell the truth.” His voice cut off as Chrysalis fixed him with a pointed stare, evidently seeing through his blatant lies. After a moment of fruitless gaping, his stiff shoulders began to sag. Biting his lip, he lowered his gaze and reluctantly mumbled, “The hive has been extremely prosperous as more changelings integrate into pony society. Trade, knowledge, and general content have skyrocketed far beyond previous years, and many regard Thorax as the greatest leader in recent history.” A shard of ice pierced her heart as he described each of Thorax’s accomplishments. New nurseries, greenhouses, and more comfortable dens were popping up left and right thanks to investments from neighboring kingdoms, and there didn’t seem to be a single changeling apart from them that disagreed with his leadership. Sensing her growing despair, Pharynx rallied at once by adding, “But his incessant friendship-mongering has completely ruined the hive’s safety! Not only did he disband the guards and patrols, he also allowed the ponies to send troops into our territory. We need you back on the throne, or changelings as we knew them will be gone forever!” Chrysalis glanced out her window where a group of students were playing in a nearby yard. Her eyebrows raised as she made out Ocellus’s cerulean carapace, her gleaming shell dancing brilliantly with the mass of fur, scales, and feathers. Ocellus let out a high-pitched giggle as an orange dragon tackled her to the cool grass and began tickling her. Although Chrysalis couldn’t hear them, it was obvious they were having the time of their lives, which made her simultaneously happy for her former subjects and saddened that the source of that glee was her defeat and imprisonment. “Pharynx, was I a good queen?” Pharynx gave a start before prostrating himself at her hooves and ranting, “Of course you were a good queen! You gave us life and nurtured us until we were strong enough to survive. You brought the changelings from a race of negligible parasites to the most feared and respected race in all of Equestria. You even led the assault that would have claimed Canterlot for the hive if that pansy princess hadn’t--” “Was I a good mother?” Pharynx froze. A dense silence filled the room as the next words died on his tongue. His heart began to race, pumping blood throughout his panicked body as his mind frantically searched for an appeasing answer. “I don’t… why...” He bit his lip as her direct order to be honest echoed in his ears, but something in his mind forced him to disobey. His muzzle opened and closed repeatedly while the two halves of his conscience battled for dominance, each urging him in opposite directions. Chrysalis’s face fell as the silence dragged on. Without turning to face him, she dragged herself back to bed and curled up under the blankets. Suppressing the urge to break down and cry, she whispered, “I see. You’re dismissed, Pharynx. Come back tomorrow when you have more love energy.” Pharynx reached out to her despondent form, but pulled away as she retreated deeper into her cocoon. Seeing that nothing he could do would help now, he silently made his way towards the door, only stopping once he was outside the magical barrier keeping her in the room. Casting one more worried look at her motionless figure, he cleared his throat and mumbled, “Goodbye, Mo-- my Queen.” Crossroads“Now remember, we’re doing this because we believe you’ve earned a little freedom, but you’re still being confined until we can fully trust you.” Chrysalis rubbed her newly unblocked horn, wincing as it shot a few sparks after being disabled for so long. Fixing the ponies with a forced smile, she bowed her head and replied, “Of course. I promise you won’t regret this, Princess.” Rarity gave an unconvinced sniff as Chrysalis teleported back to her room. Shooting Twilight a reproachful frown, she asked, “Don’t you think it’s a bit early to remove the inhibitor? What’s stopping her from just draining all our love and going on a rampage?” “Ah’ think we should give her the benefit of the doubt for now,” Applejack countered. “After all, even you can’t deny she’s made some good progress.” “I want to believe she’s really changed,” Twilight started, “but if what I suspect is true, we might have a lot further to go with her than I thought.” The other two glanced at each other to see if either of them had understood her ominous prediction. When neither could come up with any ideas, Rarity pressed, “What do you mean, darling? Did you hear her plotting something, or is this just speculation?” Twilight’s horn lit up as she teleported a pair of binoculars onto the table. Brushing her mane aside, she strapped them onto her head and whispered, “Make sure the Elements of Harmony are in the royal vault tonight. For everyone’s sake, I hope I’m wrong.” Pharynx scanned the vacant hallway, making sure no one could catch them off-guard. Signaling the all clear, he flew behind a supporting column and whispered, “My Queen, the coast is clear!” Silence greeted his report as Chrysalis continued to stare at the floor, completely distracted from their current mission. Rolling his eyes, he returned to her side and tapped her shoulder, causing her to let out a squeak of alarm. “Pharynx, don’t touch a mare without announcing yourself first!” “Your Highness, this is no time to daydream! You’re lucky the Princess doesn’t have any guards in her castle, or we surely would have been caught by now,” he hissed. “Whatever is bothering you must wait until after we’ve claimed the Elements of Harmony and used their power to take over Equestria!” Turning his attention to the heavily fortified door, he concentrated his magic on the lock and began fiddling with the dial. “My Queen, I’m sure this door would yield much faster if you used some of your legendary power.” Chrysalis glanced at the door with a sigh and lit her horn, causing the entire vault to shatter. Pharynx staggered back as the magically reinforced, blast-proof safe exploded, leaving behind nothing but an old, ornate chest in its wake. Shaking off the impromptu shell shock, he brushed dust and debris off his carapace and marveled, “Incredible! I’d nearly forgotten how impressive your magic is at full strength.” Levitating the exposed chest to sit next to her, he blew the residual dust off the glass casing and grinned as the Elements of Harmony came into view. “Finally! After weeks of groveling and pandering, we’ve finally claimed the source of their power for ourselves! Now we can rebuild the Changeling Empire back to its former glory, and rule Equestria once and for--” “Wait!” Pharynx stumbled as she cut off his practiced victory speech. Bookmarking his place in the soliloquy, he turned to her and asked, “Yes, my Queen? Is there something wrong?” Taking a shaky breath, she ran a trembling hoof along the top of the case. The cool glass sent shivers up her spine as the lid slowly fell away, revealing the artifacts in all their mystical glory. A ray of moonlight hit their immaculate surfaces, causing the gemstones to sparkle in their frames, practically begging to be worn by a creature worthy of their power. Chrysalis felt the familiar surge of greed and lust she’d get when trying to conquer Equestria. Her eyes flashed as the beams of light shone through the dimly lit hall, but something about this plan felt different than any of her other attempts at seizing power. Even as the elements lay there, completely vulnerable and open, her hoof refused to pick them up, as if some invisible force were keeping her from taking them out of the box. An unfamiliar feeling began swelling in her chest as the keys to all her wildest fantasies glinted like stars in their soft, velvety cushions. Turning to face him directly, she swallowed the lump trapped in her throat and croaked, “I-I can’t. I can’t do this anymore, Pharynx.” Pharynx ground to a halt as his brain struggled to process her words. Shaking his head to dispel the confusion, he let out a small chuckle and stammered, “What do you mean you can’t do it? It’s not protected by any spells or traps, so what’s the problem?” Chrysalis stepped away from the chest and fell onto her haunches, kicking up a cloud of dust as she fell. Staring at the rock-strewn floor, she bit her lip and whispered, “Ever since I became queen, the safety and happiness of my hive has been my only concern. Everything I ever did was to ensure that my subjects would have enough love to eat, space to live, and skills to hunt whenever I was gone. All I ever wanted was for them to be happy.” Pharynx’s eyes widened as tears began falling down her cheeks, leaving tiny droplets on the ruined carpet. Stepping over the ornate chest, he approached her trembling form as she continued, “I never wanted to hurt anyone. I had to put the security of my subjects before others, and now I’m paying the price for my decision. My children have abandoned me, my hive has a new leader, and all of Equestria sees me as nothing but a monster bent on world domination.” “No… no that’s not true,” he whispered, wrapping a hoof around her shaking frame. “All you have to do is use the Elements of Harmony--” “And then what?” she cried, holding back the flood of tears threatening to pour out. “You saw how Ocellus reacted when we met. If that’s how my subjects view me as a creature, I don’t want to imagine how they’d see me as their queen. The hive I knew is gone, and nothing can ever bring it back. Not even the Elements of Harmony.” Her watery eyes clenched shut as more droplets escaped down her glistening face. Struggling to maintain her composure, she gave a small sniff and hiccupped, “I’ve seen what Thorax has done with the hive. He’s helped his subjects, improved their lives, and made sure they’ll never have to fight or starve ever again, which is much more than can be said for me.” Pharynx’s eyes narrowed as she pushed ahead. “That’s not true…” She ignored his mumbled protest. “All I’ve ever done is make my children miserable because of my own selfishness and ego. They deserve a better ruler, one that actually cares about his subjects and knows more than just fighting and hunting. Maybe then they’ll be able to look at their leader without flinching or recoiling in fear.” Pharynx’s foreleg around her tightened as he drew her closer. “That's not true.” Again, she ignored him to deliver the final, heartbreaking, gut-wrenching blow. Dissolving into a hopeless, despondent waterfall, she cried, “I no longer have a home amongst the changelings, and returning would only cause them more grief. It would be best if I just disappeared and faded into nothing. If that’s what it takes for my children to be happy, then I’ll gladly take whatever punishment the ponies have in store for me.” “That’s not true!!!” Pharynx’s hoof smashed into the floor, creating a spiderweb of cracks throughout the room. His horn glowed brighter than it ever had on any battlefield, and his wings gave a great flap, sending dust and rubble flying through the air. Fixing her with a furious glare, he pinned her to the ground and screamed, “You’re not a burden, you’re not selfish, and you’re most certainly not a monster! I don’t ever want to hear you say you don’t have a home because without you, the hive wouldn’t even exist!” Jumping off of her stunned carapace, he ranted, “You want to talk about accomplishments!? Sure, Thorax has done all that posh with the greenhouses and dens, but he had the help of four alicorn princesses alongside every other kingdom in Equestria. You, meanwhile, were all alone with no one to turn to and hundreds of hungry mouths to feed. Not exactly an even playing field in my opinion!” His breaths came in short, rapid bursts as he continued, “Before those ponies began tossing around ‘friendship’, we changelings were seen as scum! Every creature considered us nothing more than love-sucking parasites to be captured on sight, but still we survived. We survived because of you and your constant, unconditional love, and there’s nothing in the world that can ever repay all that you’ve done for us!” Chrysalis gaped at his heaving, trembling form, so unlike the calm, collected Pharynx she had previously known. Her thoughts were interrupted when he turned to face her, his deep purple eyes gazing straight into her broken soul. Swallowing the last of his reservations, he staggered to his hooves and asked, “Do you know why I chose to follow you back in that jail cell? Do you know why I chose to support a prisoner despite all the risks it would pose?” She shook her head, having always assumed it was out of loyalty to the queen or disdain for his brother. Why else would he risk so much for someone like her? Pharynx slowly approached her prostrate form, his eyes never breaking away from hers. “I didn’t do it out of some misguided sense of loyalty to the throne or petty disagreement with my brother. I did it because of you. I risked everything because I wanted to help you.” Her eyes widened as he wrapped his hooves around her trembling frame and pulled her into a caring embrace. Stroking her soft, beautiful mane, he leaned in and whispered, “I love you, Chrysalis, and nothing is ever going to change that.” A wave of heat surged through her as Pharynx’s body overflowed with a tsunami of pure, untainted, consensual love. Squeezing their barrels together, Chrysalis felt a similar love escape her own body, mixing with his own to form a shining spire of refined love that radiated throughout the entire castle, casting a faint glow on every crystal it touched. The two shielded their eyes as a warmth spread between them, filling in the cracks and holes in their carapaces. The gleaming spire enveloped their bodies, transforming their dark color schemes to cool pallets of navy and white. Their manes and tails brightened into more vibrant tones of red and green, and their tattered wings stitched themselves together until they resembled a pair of majestic butterflies. Eventually, the shining beacon dimmed to a small shimmer before extinguishing entirely. Staring in awe at her body, Chrysalis gave her new wings an experimental flap and exclaimed, “What in Equestria just happened!?” “I think we reformed by sharing our love with each other,” Pharynx replied. “I don’t need to use an illusion to retain this form anymore.” They sat for a while taking in their new appearances, but Pharynx’s eyebrows furrowed as the ornate chest came back into view. Running a hoof along the glass, he asked, “What should we do? Do you want to go through with the plan or turn back now?” Chrysalis took one last glance at the elements she had sought for so long before pushing away the glass case. Rising to her hooves, she sighed, “There’s no point proceeding now that we’re reformed. I think it’s time to turn ourselves in.” “What!?” Pharynx exclaimed, stumbling over a loose piece of rock. “My Queen, there’s no need for that! We could easily repair the damages and return to our room before anyone notices. If we hurry, there should be enough time to--” She shook her head with a sad smile. “No, Pharynx. It’s time we face the consequences of our actions. If we hide this now, it’ll only prove that we didn’t learn our lesson, and they’ll never trust us again. We have to find Princess Twilight and tell her what we did before it’s too late.” “You won’t have to look far.” The two whipped around as an invisibility bubble flickered into sight. Twilight lifted her binoculars with a wry smile and glanced at the destroyed vault. “I really thought that would last longer. Looks like this princess is getting a refund.” Pharynx jumped to stand in front of Chrysalis, but Twilight held up a placating hoof. “Relax, Pharynx. If I was going to arrest you, I would have done it already.” She pointed to the staircase leading upstairs and smiled, “Let’s have a talk in my office." Resolutions“It’s not too late to run.” Pharynx tapped the floor with a hoof, glancing around the empty meeting room. Fixing his queen with a worried frown, he pressed, “We can both teleport, and I know a place in the Everfree Forest where we could escape--” Chrysalis placed a hoof on his muzzle and sighed, “There’s no point. Even if we could avoid them for the rest of our lives, we’d never be able to see the hive again. I’d rather be trapped in Tartarus forever if it meant I could see you and my children, even through the cold bars of hell.” Her green eyes narrowed with fear, but the conviction behind them never faltered. Swallowing the lump forming in her throat, she resolved, “No matter what the ponies have in store for me, I’ll accept it with a raised chin like a real queen should.” Pharynx broke off as her burning determination gave no room for negotiation. Grasping her hoof with his, he shifted closer to her trembling frame and comforted, “You truly are a queen worthy of praise. No matter what happens, know that I will always stand by your side.” Before she could return the gesture, the door to the room burst open. Breaking apart, Pharynx swiftly returned to his seat while Chrysalis turned to stare at Twilight’s approaching form. “Princess Twilight, I--” She froze as another pony followed close behind. A pony whose face had haunted her darkest, most twisted fantasies ever since her throne’s untimely destruction. “Starlight Glimmer…” Starlight glanced at her seething face before taking a step forward. “Hello, Chrysalis.” “Why is she here?” Chrysalis barked, turning away with a resentful huff. Twilight took a seat at the table and explained, “I’ve invited Starlight because she’s the one that convinced me to give you another chance instead of throwing you in Tartarus right away.” Chrysalis’s eyes widened as she sat up straight. Shooting her a disbelieving snort, she hissed, “Why would Starlight give a rat’s tail about reforming me? She’s the one that destroyed my throne and turned my hive against me!” “I did it because I know exactly what it’s like to control and manipulate other creatures, and I wanted to help you before it was too late,” Starlight said, fixing her with an apologetic stare. “I’m sorry for exiling you from your family, but I had to save my friends and show the changelings that there are better ways to get love than stealing it by force.” She pointed to Chrysalis’s light coat and flowing mane with a smile and added, “And it looks like your subjects weren’t the only ones I managed to convince.” Chrysalis gaped for several seconds before relapsing into embarrassed silence. Once Starlight’s chuckles died down, she stared into the ceiling and asked, “So, what happens now? I’m guessing you already know what we were planning to do, so how am I being punished this time?” The two ponies glanced at each other before Twilight grabbed a quill and began scribbling on a piece of parchment. “Before I hand down any punishment, do either of you have anything to say in your defense?” Pharynx shook his head, unwilling to distance himself from his queen. Chrysalis gave him a kind smile before turning to look Twilight right in the eyes. Taking what could be her final free breaths, she licked her cracked lips and whispered, “Only that everything I said in the vault was the absolute truth and nothing more. I don’t expect any mercy after betraying your trust, but please allow the changelings to visit me wherever I end up going.” Twilight stared back into her pleading eyes with an unreadable expression before writing down one final line. Dotting the last period with a sense of finality, she rolled up the scroll and sealed it with her royal stamp. “Very well. Queen Chrysalis and Pharynx, I, Princess Twilight Sparkle, hereby find you guilty of destruction of royal property, improper use of deadly magic, and conspiracy to overthrow the government.” They both flinched as the weight of their crimes came crashing down. Any one of those would be enough to land them in jail, but all three would surely earn a life sentence in Tartarus. Chrysalis felt a hoof grasp her own and turned to see Pharynx peering at her with unflinching courage. Feeling her heart melt at the sight, she wrapped him in a loving embrace and whispered, “Thank you, Pharynx. Your devotion and loyalty mean more to me than any prize I’ve ever sought. I hope we will see each other in another--” “As such, I sentence you both to mandatory friendship lessons at the School of Friendship beginning next fall and house arrest at the Castle of Friendship starting now.” They both gaped as she finished her speech, convinced they must have heard her wrong. Rubbing her ears to clear away any blockage, Chrysalis turned her stunned expression and stuttered, “I’m sorry, could you repeat that again, Princess? I don’t think I heard you right that time.” Twilight let out a small chuckle and answered, “You heard me perfectly, Chrysalis. I’m sentencing you and Pharynx to mandatory friendship lessons at my school, and you won’t be allowed to leave the castle until you finish them, so you’d better work hard if you want to leave any time soon.” “B-But that’s so lenient!” she cried, standing up at once. “After everything I said, after everything I’ve done, how can you just let it go without punishing me first!?” Starlight gave her a knowing look and explained, “You’ve already endured your punishment in the form of exile from your hive. Despite what you said, I know you miss your changelings, and I know how much it hurts to lose those you care about.” “Besides,” Twilight supplied, pointing at their reformed carapaces, “you’ve proven that you reflected on your past mistakes and learned your lesson. The fact that you stopped before going through with your plan and even tried to turn yourself in shows how much you’ve changed far more than any physical alterations possibly could.” She flashed them a teasing grin and finished, “However, that doesn’t mean you get off scot-free. If you think the School of Friendship’s curriculum is a joke, you’re in for an unpleasant surprise.” Chrysalis sat in stunned silence as Pharynx’s ears perked up. Speaking for the first time since they entered, he asked, “If we’re both receiving the same sentence, does that mean we can still be together while we complete these lessons?” The two ponies glanced at each other before Twilight unfurled the royal decree and started writing an amendment. “Yes, I think you've earned that much. After all, it would be cruel to separate you two so soon after your extravagant confession.” Pharynx gave a sigh of relief as he and Chrysalis resumed their tight hug, only letting go once Twilight cleared her throat to get their attention. “Regarding your living conditions, I already have a room set up for Chrysalis, but you’ll need accommodations of your own. We can set up another room for you by tonight, or you can simply stay with her for the duration of your sentence. Which would you prefer?” Chrysalis wrapped a wing around his hesitant frame, nodding to assure him of her choice. Pharynx smiled at her answer and returned the affectionate gesture, planting a quick kiss on her beautiful cheek. “No need, Princess. I’d prefer to stay by my love’s side.” Epilogue“GOAL!” Everybody cheered as the ball soared into the net, signaling yet another point for the unstoppable duo. The score keeper flipped another page on the record so that the board now read ‘14-03’. “I don’t know why they’re still playing. It’s obvious who’s going to win,” Pharynx drawled, tapping his hoof impatiently. Chrysalis hushed him with an admonishing glare. “It’s not over until the timer runs out or someone surrenders. I would have thought you of all changelings would know about that.” She glanced at Ocellus’s shining form as she and the orange dragon gave each other a claw-hoof bump. Smiling with pride, her hooves started another round of applause as she called, “Nice work, Ocellus! Remember to keep those wings tucked!” Ocellus gave a start as her name was called, but quickly adopted an excited grin as she waved back to her former queen. Running over to the stands, she paused to catch her breath before panting, “Did you see that? The ball went right over his head!” Chrysalis gave an amused chuckle and patted her softly. “That was quite a shot, young one. It appears old changelings aren’t the only ones with holes in their hooves~” Ocellus’s giggles were interrupted by the shrill cry of the whistle as the game prepared to start again. Jumping in place, she leaned closer so only they could hear and whispered, “I need to get back to the field, but find me after the game ends. There’s still so much about new changelings I can teach you!” The two waved her off as she sprinted back onto the grass. Chrysalis’s muzzle curled into a small smile as she sighed, “It’s crazy to think that just one year ago she was running away from me in terror. How these younglings forgive so easily, I’ll never understand.” “Look who’s talking,” Pharynx quipped, giving her a playful shove. “Don’t you have a picnic with Starlight and the others planned for tomorrow?” “Touché,” she hummed, returning the challenge. “You’ve been spending too much time with your brother and that witty dragon. I think you’ve forgotten who the queen is here.” His cocky grin didn’t abate as he lifted her hoof to his mouth. Lavishing her beautiful chiton with a series of quick pecks, he whispered, “Never, my love. You’ll always be the only one I worship.” Dragging his long tongue up her sensitive body, he stared into her beautiful green eyes and hissed, “If you don’t believe me, I’d be more than happy to prove my loyalty again~” She returned his advances by caressing his smooth barrel with her other hoof. Fixing him with an alluring smirk, she chuckled, “I’d love to, but we should probably be gentler now that I’m having your hatchling.” Pharynx choked on his tongue as the shocking news blindsided him out of nowhere. Shooting her an alarmed stare, he swallowed the lump in his throat and stammered, “A-Are you serious, dear!? Are you really having a child?” Chrysalis let out a high-pitched bark at his frantic expression. Struggling to hold back her laughing fit, she sighed, “Of course not! I’m just joking, honey.” Her amused chuckles tapered off as he clutched his rapidly beating heart. Pretending to watch the game, she waited until he reached for his water cup before adding, “After all, what kind of breeder would I be if I could only have one child at a time?” A chorus of angry shouts sounded as Pharynx spit out the water he was drinking all over the front row. His wide eyes shined with a flurry of emotions, begging her to stop playing with his heart. Her grin widened as he apologized to the ponies he just soaked. Pulling him in closer, she licked his twitching ear flap and pressed his hoof against her womb so he could feel the eggs developing in her belly. “Don’t act so surprised,” she giggled, relishing the shock on his adorably stunned face. “I am a Queen after all. Let’s see if I have more young than your year~” Author's Note A/N: Aww, look at them. I think Pharynx is looking forward to being a father. Pharynx: Children… multiple children… hive children… *faints* Chrysalis: Is he okay? I don’t think he’s breathing anymore. A/N: Don’t worry. All that hyperventilating will feed his body enough oxygen for a while. Thanks for Reading!
Infiltration“I still don’t think it’s a good idea.” Twilight paced around the room, her frantic hoofsteps echoing as she contemplated the sudden turn of events. Her panic session cut short as Starlight’s voice broke through her trance. “I promised that we’d give her a chance to redeem herself, so we can’t just turn her to stone after accepting her surrender.” “What if she goes rogue again? It was bad enough when she impersonated Cadence, but letting her stay here could lead to Equestria’s destruction if we’re not careful,” Twilight countered, adjusting a pencil to better align with her desk. Starlight placed a comforting hoof around her barrel and soothed, “That’s what the magic inhibitor is for. As long as she’s wearing it, she won’t be able to use any magic to transform or hurt anyone.” “I don’t know,” Twilight repeated, biting her lip with worry. “I still think we should imprison her in Tartarus for a while. Maybe some time down there will make her reflect on her choices.” Sensing her trepidation growing, Starlight stared up with teary eyes and pleaded, “I know more than anypony how it feels to commit heinous crimes, and it was only through your understanding and forgiveness that I realized how horrible I’d become. You changed my life and helped me overcome the worst parts of myself I never even knew existed.” Leaning in, she wrapped her in a caring embrace and whispered, “So please, give her the same chance you gave me.” Twilight’s gaze softened as their shared memories came flooding back. Returning the gentle hug, she pulled Starlight closer and smiled, “You’re right. I’ve always believed in turning my enemies into my friends, and that shouldn’t change now. Thanks for reminding me.” The two continued hugging until a shout from the floor interrupted their embrace. Turning to face the basement stairs, Twilight gestured a hoof and mumbled, “Uh oh, it doesn’t sound like Thorax and Pharynx are having much luck. I can’t imagine she has anything nice to say.” Starlight cast a worried glance down the shadowy steps and sighed, “I’m more concerned about what she’ll say to me. I was the one that destroyed her sacred throne and turned her entire hive into essentially a different species. I’m not looking forward to the reunion.” “Come on, Chrysalis. Aren’t you going to say anything?” Thorax’s watery eyes stared at the figure in the cell, begging for any sign of acknowledgement or recognition. When none came, he puffed out his cheeks and called, “I know it wasn’t easy to surrender, but now things can go back to normal! Once you reform too, you can lead your hive into a new era of peace, friendship, and lo--” His voice cut off as a pair of neon-green eyes flashed dangerously in the dark cell. His former queen fixed him with a look of utmost hatred and hissed, “You are no longer my hive! I have no hive! All I see are a bunch of miserable little insects too cowardly to stand up and fight against their pony cultivators!” Thorax staggered back from her sudden outburst with a look of shock, but swiftly shifted to concern as the device around her horn sent an electric shock throughout her body. Gazing at her trembling form with pity, he shook his head and whispered, “I’m sorry you feel that way. I’m sure the hive would love to have you back if you learned how to share love instead of just take it. It isn’t too late to change paths.” Pharynx held out a hoof to stop him from speaking. Glancing at the rage still burning in the fallen queen’s eyes, he drawled, “You’re wasting your breath, Thorax. It’s clear nothing you say will reach the Queen’s ears, at least not right now. Perhaps we should give her more time to readjust before talking again?” “You’re probably right,” Thorax sighed starting towards the staircase. “I’ll try again later once the girls have made some progress. Are you coming, Pharynx?” Pharynx glanced at Chrysalis’s still furious expression before waving a noncommittal hoof. “Don’t worry about me. I just want to talk to the Queen again before we leave. Go upstairs and tell those ponies we’ll be done soon.” “Their names are Twilight Sparkle and Starlight Glimmer,” Thorax said pointedly. “You’ll need to remember them since they’re responsible for integrating changelings into pony society.” Pharynx watched his brother ascend the stairs before turning toward the prison cell. Before he could say a word, Chrysalis grumbled, “I never would have expected it of you, Pharynx. Thorax I can understand since he’s always been so meek and wimpy, but I thought my most trusted soldier would have fought back against the pony invasion.” She glared at the disgustingly sweet shades of navy and purple that adorned his reformed carapace. Pointing out the opals adorning his chest, she adopted a demeaning smirk and shot, “Look, the ponies are already decorating you like their subservient little housepet. I hope you enjoy a life of padding after them and groveling at their hooves, because that’s the fate you’ve doomed the hive to.” Pharynx waited patiently for her insults to end before taking a deep breath. Glancing around to ensure nobody was in sight, he lowered his head and whispered, “My Queen, you needn’t turn your ire on me. I know you’ve always had the changelings’ best interest at heart, so I’m here to reassure you of my loyalty.” Chrysalis’s eyes widened as a wisp of green magic surrounded his body. The sleek, shiny colors on his carapace gave way to the harsh blacks and reds of traditional changelings, jagged holes carved themselves into the tips of his forelegs, and his straight teeth elongated back into their normal fangs, sharp and ready for a fresh meal. After a moment of stunned silence, Chrysalis broke into a wild grin and clambered to the bars of her cell. Fixing him with an approving stare, she hissed, “I see you’ve improved your disguising magic. Not even I could see through your illusion at first.” Pharynx’s chest swelled with pride under her admiring gaze. Transforming back into his reformed disguise, he whispered, “I can’t stay long or Thorax will grow suspicious. Rest assured that, no matter what the rest of the hive may think, I will always follow you, my Queen.” Chrysalis licked her lips as he left, relishing the love he had gifted her during his transformation. Gazing around her lonely cell, she began formulating ideas for her escape, all the while savoring the thought that, even though most of her hive had abandoned her, she still had one loyal subject she could count on.
Contact“Horrid! Reprehensible! Uncivilized!” Rarity’s shrieks echoed around the meeting room as the others covered their ears to muffle the sound. Stomping her hooves on the floor, she let out an aggressive snort, causing puffs of steam to escape her flared nostrils. “Rares, Ah’ don’t like her any more than you do, but try to calm down, would ya’?” Applejack called, trying to dull the relentless ringing in her head. Rarity fixed her with a frantic glare and hissed, “I absolutely will not calm down! Did you hear what she called me during our lessons yesterday? She said I was a scaly old hag whose talent would dry up the moment I stopped bending over for those snobby politicians!” Applejack opened her mouth to shoot back a retort before Twilight shouted, “Enough!” The two whipped around as her horn flashed a dangerous purple. Taking a deep breath, she turned to Applejack with a resigned grimace and asked, “How did your lessons go? It can’t be worse than Rarity’s, right?” A scowl flitted across the farmer’s face before being replaced by a noncommittal frown. “Ah’ wouldn’t exactly call it a success, but she mostly just stayed silent and wouldn’t respond to anything I said.” Twilight rubbed her temples to quell the pounding headache threatening to crack her skull open. Fixing the other two with a desperate gaze, she pleaded, “Do either of you have any thoughts on how to change her mind? I promised Starlight I’d help reform Chrysalis, but I’m running out of ideas.” “We could throw her in--” Rarity began. “Yeah, other than that,” Twilight interrupted, again turning to Applejack for advice. Applejack rubbed her chin, mulling over the different strategies she had used to calm Applebloom during her early years. “Maybe the reason she’s so stubborn is because she’s taking lessons from us. After all, we’re the ones who foiled her plans in both the Canterlot Wedding and her own hive, so it’s not surprising she’d hate our guts.” “Of course!” Twilight exclaimed, clapping her hooves together. “It’s not that Chrysalis is incapable of change. We’ve just been going about this the wrong way.” A quill and parchment appeared in front of her as she began scribbling a letter to the changeling hive. Dotting the final period, she rolled up the paper and said, “I’ll have Spike send this to Thorax as soon as he gets back. In the meantime, maybe we should take a break from lessons since they’re probably doing more harm than good.” Twilight jumped as a knock echoed throughout the entrance hall. Turning to face the castle doors, she mumbled, “That must be him.” Pulling open the heavy doors, she straightened her face into an optimistic grin and started, “Welcome back, Thorax! I see you got my--” Her voice faltered as she caught sight of the knocker. Instead of Thorax’s vivid coat and goofy smile, she was met by the dull shades and stony expression that resembled the changeling leader, but felt nothing like the kind, hopeful friend she had been expecting. Pharynx’s gaze hardened as she continued staring at him in surprise. “Is there a problem?” Her eyes widened as she snapped out of her stunned stupor. Clearing her throat, she stammered, “Of course not, Pharynx! I was just surprised since Thorax usually handles these kinds of affairs.” His purple eyes glinted as he pawed the ground to avoid eye contact. Gazing around the crystal castle, he explained, “Thorax is currently preoccupied with other business, so he sent me instead. I hope there’s no issue with that.” Twilight stood aside to invite him in. “Not at all! I understand Thorax has a lot on his plate right now. If he ever needs help with ruling, I’d be more than happy to give him some advice.” “I’m sure he’ll appreciate that,” Pharynx replied, glancing at the basement stairs. “Regarding the reason I’m here, is the Queen still in the dungeons, or have you moved her elsewhere?” “We moved her into one of the detention rooms,” Twilight said, leading him upstairs. “They’re just like normal bedrooms with a magic field that prevents her from leaving so long as she’s wearing her magic inhibitor.” They stopped outside a reinforced door where she cast a spell to undo the locks. Turning to him with a concerned frown, she cautioned, “Chrysalis has only gotten angrier since our lessons began, so please try and convince her to reconcile before it’s too late.” Pharynx’s muzzle curled into a smirk as he started towards the door. “Don’t worry, Princess. I’ll make sure the Queen gets all the help she needs.” The door clicked shut as Pharynx entered the shadowy room, casting a brief ray of light before being swallowed once more by darkness. As he peered around, a pair of green eyes flashed in the air, locking onto his own before slowly drawing closer. “I see you’ve returned,” Chrysalis whispered, approaching him with an appraising gaze. Her eyes roved over his reformed carapace, narrowing with each distinctly pony-like feature. Pharynx grinned as his body became enveloped by a burst of green flames, leaving his true, unreformed body on full display. Turning on the lights, he affirmed, “Indeed, my Queen. I promised I would aid in your escape, so I intercepted a message meant for Thorax and came here in his stead.” Chrysalis scanned his face for any signs of deceit or treachery. Once she was satisfied with his loyalty, she wrapped his frame in her delicate wings and crooned, “That’s why you’re my favorite hatchling. No matter what, you’ll always protect your Queen and follow her orders. You’ll obey my every command and help me escape from this wretched prison, won’t you?” She licked her lips as waves of love came pulsing off his body, feeding her with energy for their great escape. Leaning closer, she nibbled his ear, chuckling as he let out a muffled whimper. “Aww, is someone excited to see his Queen? I can tell you have a lot of love to share with me, so there’s no need to hold back~” Pharynx’s muzzle tightened as her angelic voice floated through the air, caressing the sensitive tips of his twitching ears. Fighting the urge to bend down and pleasure her, he allowed her to siphon off more of his love energy, shivering as the magic tendrils enveloped his carapace. “I aim to service my Queen in whatever manner she requires.” Her satisfied grin widened as the energy surged through her deprived body. Ceasing her loving ministrations, she gently stroked his exhausted form and crooned, “I’m very proud of you, Pharynx. Keep bringing more love, and I’ll see that you’re rewarded for all your hard work~” The two locked gazes, their eyes burning with lust and desire. Pharynx felt his pride fall out of his sheath, eager to do his Queen’s bidding. Indicating his erect member with a hopeful gaze, he stroked the shaft near the base, begging for permission to satisfy her every need. Her muzzle curled into a knowing smirk as she bent down, preparing herself for the moment they would become one in both body and mind. Anticipating his penetration with bated breath, she flexed the muscles in her core, causing her glistening honeypot to wink for the ecstasy it desperately sought. A gasp of pleasure filled the room as his member circled her outer lips. Pressing against her warm entrance, Pharynx licked his lips and gave a tiny thrust, sliding the head of his cock along the folds of her enticing pussy. “My Queen, you’re so beautiful! I’m so lucky to be able to bed you like this.” Chrysalis gave a grunt of annoyance at his teasing probes before bucking her hips impatiently. Glancing back at his trembling frame, she hissed, “I ordered you to satisfy me, not waste time pleasuring yourself with my body. Now, do as I command and thrust!” Her command echoed inside his head as the tip of his cock hastily aimed toward her inviting cunt. Bracing himself against her heavenly thighs, he gripped her haunches with his forelegs and mounted her. “As you wish, my Queen.” “Aghh!” Chrysalis let out a cry of pleasure as his cock buried itself into her cavernous pussy. The curved ridges scraped against the sides of her needy tunnel, sending electric shocks throughout her body. “Yes! Just like that, Pharynx! Give your Queen what she desires!” Pharynx’s jaw clenched shut as her velvety walls squeezed around his impressive girth, attempting to coax out another batch of hatchlings. Squinting his eyes to resist premature orgasm, he hissed, “As you c-command, my Queen.” The room filled with a combination of wet slaps and quiet moans as both tried their best to hold on as long as possible. Relishing the feeling of his cock sliding against her deprived nerves, Chrysalis bit her lower lip and cried, “Pharynx, make sure you pump a big load into me! Give me everything you’ve got in that massive cock of yours so we can raise another changeling army together!” His eyes widened as she clenched harder around his ensconced member, effectively trapping him in her sacred chamber. A familiar tingling sensation began building, warning him of his inevitable release. “My Queen, I’m not going to last much longer!” A manic grin consumed her muzzle as she began meeting his thrusts with her hips, forcing his cock deeper into her dripping love tunnel. Fixing him with a burning stare, she taunted, “What’s wrong, Pharynx? Don’t you want to cum in your Queen’s hot, wet pussy? Don’t you want to spill your seed into my clenching snatch and pump me full of hatchlings?” Her demeaning voice echoed in Pharynx’s head, sending more tingles throughout his overworked body. Finally reaching the peak, his cock gave a series of wild throbs as it prepared to stuff her womb with as much spunk it could take. “AHHmmpph! MMhhhh, Hhaaa!~” His howls of pleasure were drowned out as Chrysalis forced him deeper into her quivering pussy. Her vice-like muscles massaged around his member until a rush of cum erupted from the tip, painting her inner walls white with sperm, ensuring her womb would have plenty of material to work with later. After several moments of unbearable pleasure, Pharynx’s hind legs gave out as he fell backwards onto the floor, creating a loud squelch as his cock slid out of her used pussy. Chrysalis jumped at the sudden exit before glancing at his crumpled form with a satisfied smile. “Well done, Pharynx. I’ll surely have another batch of hatchlings after this.” His eyes flickered open as he slowly reclaimed his senses. Focusing on her voluptuous body, he adopted a submissive smile and grinned, “I would be more than happy to satiate your desires again, my Queen.” “I’m sure you would,” she taunted, wiping away the cum now leaking out of her stuffed pussy. “Perhaps if you deliver more love energy, I’ll allow you to fulfill more of my--” *click* Both their gazes whipped towards the door as the sound of the lock echoed throughout the room. After a moment of panicked silence, Chrysalis rushed to clean the jizz staining her crotch as Pharynx transformed back into his reformed disguise, making sure to hide his still erect member with a hasty illusion. A moment later, the door swung open to reveal who had interrupted their post-orgasm highs. Their eyes widened as the opaque crystals gave way to reveal, not Princess Twilight, but Ocellus. The three locked eyes for a moment before Ocellus let out a blood-curdling scream at Chrysalis's unreformed carapace. “W-What is s-she doing here!? Why is s-she in the castle!?” Before she could make any more noise, Pharynx grabbed her with his magic and levitated her to stand next to him, away from Chrysalis’s aggressive glare. “Ocellus, calm down! Stop shouting or you’ll draw the entire town here!” Her voice cut out as he placed a muffling spell on her muzzle until she stopped screaming. Once her breathing returned to normal, he canceled the spell and placed her back onto the ground. “Ocellus, what are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be at that friendship school?” Her terrified eyes remained fixed on Chrysalis as she stammered out an explanation. “I-I wanted to get Headmare Twilight’s permission for my friends and I to visit the Castle of the Two Sisters again.” Pointing a trembling hoof at Chrysalis’s raised form, she exclaimed, “What is she doing here, Pharynx!? I thought she was defeated once the hive reformed.” Her expression relaxed as he explained Twilight’s lessons and his role, carefully leaving out the more explicit aspects of their meetings. When he finished his speech, she cast Chrysalis an apprehensive glance and stuttered, “A-Are you sure she’s really reformed? She’s not just trying to get closer and take over Equestria again, right?” The other two shared a brief smirk before Pharynx soothed, “Of course! Once she finishes Twilight’s lessons, she’ll be ready to join pony society, and you won’t have to worry about her any more. I promise!” Ocellus took a shaky breath to calm her nerves before making her way towards the door. Avoiding eye contact with her former queen, she gave a nervous flap of her wings and mumbled, “I’ll take your word for it. I need to find Headmare Twilight, so I’ll see you back at the hive.” “Hold it!” Her hoof froze above the door handle as Chrysalis’s sharp voice cut through the air. Jumping slightly, she whipped around and nearly toppled over at the queen’s intense stare. “W-What do you w-want!?” The two held their gaze for several moments, both trying to read the other’s mind. Ocellus felt a bead of sweat run down her cheek as she stared into the face that caused her more nightmares than any headless horse could ever hope to inspire. Eventually, something within Chrysalis’s green eyes dulled as she finally broke the awkward staring contest. Turning away with a frown, she waved a dismissive hoof and grumbled, “Nothing. Go about your business, little one.” Ocellus blinked as her former queen stalked away towards the bed, burying herself under the covers. After a moment of confused silence, she shook her head and slipped out the door, letting out a sigh of relief. Pharynx stared after Ocellus’s retreating form before turning his attention to the buried mass on the bed. Sitting down on the pillowy mattress, he lifted the covers and whispered, “My Queen, are you okay?” Chrysalis glanced at his concerned frown before turning away with a huff, not dignifying him with a response. Burying herself deeper into the covers, she growled, “Leave me now. Come back when you have more love energy.” Taken aback by the sudden dismissal, he reached out a hoof to stroke her delicate frame and pressed, “If there’s something bothering you, please tell me so I can--” “The only thing that’s bothering me is your disregard for a direct order from your Queen!” she hissed, knocking away his comforting hoof. “I wish to be alone, so leave now and make up a report for those insolent ponies before they grow suspicious.” Pharynx’s eyes narrowed as she returned to her cocoon, but didn’t press the issue. Starting towards the crystal door, he cast her another affectionate smile and hummed, “I’ll be back tomorrow with more love energy, your Highness. Please feel better soon.” Chrysalis emerged just as Pharynx rounded the corner into the hallway. Her throat tightened as she felt an overwhelming urge to call out, but his dark carapace disappeared behind the door before she could find the words. The clicking of the lock echoed throughout the empty room as she was once again plunged into total silence. Staring at the place he had just vanished, her outstretched hoof fell onto the bed sheets where it lay as trapped and helpless as she was. With no one to talk to, her mind began wandering away from the silk blankets and towards her unspoken conversation with Ocellus. It was the first interaction she’d had with a changeling that wasn’t Thorax or Pharynx after the hive reformed, and the first time she’d ever seen a changeling afraid of her. Her eyebrows furrowed as Ocellus’s terrified expression burned itself into her memory, a harsh reminder of her isolation from the rest of the hive. Memories of the old days when her brood loved and worshipped her as their Queen came rushing back as she clenched her jaw tight, trying to repress the thought of her beautiful children being corrupted by the stain of friendship. “I swear, I will reclaim my throne and my children from those vile ponies if it’s the last thing I ever do.”
Reflection“So, how have your lessons been going?” Twilight asked, bracing herself for another one of Rarity’s tirades. Applejack propped her hooves on the table and leaned back with a satisfied smile. “They’re a heck of a lot better than last week, that’s for sure. Instead of ignoring me all day, she’s actually paying attention and taking notes on the importance of honesty.” Twilight’s eyes snapped open at the surprising news. Pinching her foreleg to make sure this wasn’t a dream, she said, “Are you sure you were teaching the right changeling? We are talking about Chrysalis, right? The same changeling that tried to take over Equestria multiple times and repeatedly refused to learn anything even remotely connected to friendship?” “Ah’m just as surprised as you are,” Applejack replied, pulling a loose hair from her mane. “Her change in attitude came out of left field, but she hasn’t made any fishy moves, and the magic inhibitor is still on her horn, so there’s no funny magic business going on.” Twilight’s muzzle curled into a frown as she rubbed her chin. Turning around, she fixed Rarity with a questioning gaze and asked, “What about you, Rarity? How is she doing in your lessons?” Pursing her lips, Rarity gave a quiet cough and started, “Well, she’s certainly not the most pleasant creature to be around, but I’ll admit she’s gotten much better since last time. She even apologized for calling me scaly, but that’s too little too late in my opinion.” Twilight gaped as she struggled to find words to reply. Hearing that the Changeling Queen apologized for anything felt more concerning than if she had threatened to trap them all in gooey cocoons for the rest of eternity. Her gaze wandered to the ceiling where Pharynx was having another one of his frequent chats with Chrysalis in her room. As she listened, a faint, rhythmic thumping made its way into her sensitive alicorn ears, causing a nasty seed to plant itself inside her head. Pushing back her chair, she turned towards the staircase and said, “Thanks for the report, girls. I’m going to keep watch for a while in case she’s planning something. Hopefully this is just me being paranoid, and Pharynx’s message is finally getting into her.” “Aggghhh! Oooooh…” Chrysalis moaned as Pharynx’s cock slipped out of her stuffed snatch, a wave of hatchling batter following in its wake. Resting against her bed’s headboard, she let out a chuckle and stroked his softening member. “Your skills are improving, but you’ll have to try harder than that if you want to outlast me~” Pharynx groaned as his overworked shaft gave a twitch at her loving caress. Scooting closer to her delicate frame, he leaned against the headboard and sighed, “I always aim to please my Queen. I’m so glad you chose me to be your bed mate.” Her eyebrows furrowed as she let out an annoyed huff. “There wasn’t much choice considering the rest of the hive won’t look at me without shrieking and running away.” It took a moment for the weight of that sentence to settle as she stared blankly at the opposite wall. She always knew her former subjects wouldn’t have a particularly high opinion of her, but she’d always secretly hoped that they’d come to her defense out of loyalty or dedication, even as her throne was shattering to pieces around her. Ocellus’s terrified expression flashed through her mind as a dull ache replaced her post-orgasm bliss. The sight of her changelings, her children, shrinking away from her in horror made the former queen long for her old hive back, but how could they accept each other when they were practically different species now? Waving away the ridiculous thought, she concentrated on Pharynx just in time to hear him say, “...so it should be done by tomorrow. What do you say, your Highness?” She blinked as his expectant grin overtook her vision. Clearing her throat to cover the momentary weakness, she pursed her lips and barked, “I don’t care about any of that nonsense! When can you get me more love energy?” Her harsh tone cut through the air, causing him to flinch at her sudden aggression. Swallowing the nerves buzzing in his stomach, he stammered, “I just said I would visit tomorrow, but if you have other plans…” Chrysalis felt her cheeks redden as she realized her mistake. The warmth of the covers suddenly felt like a furnace while his continued gaze only worsened her burning humiliation. A concerned frown laced his muzzle as she tried desperately to avoid eye contact. Placing a hoof on her delicate frame, he fixed her with a knowing look and asked, “Are you feeling alright, my Queen? You’re usually more alert than this after our mating sessions.” A tense silence hung in the air as she refused to meet his gaze. His worry deepened as she brushed off his comforting hoof and made to stand up, wiping away the excess cum dribbling down her legs. Reaching forward, he rubbed her soft haunches and started, “I can tell something’s bothering you. If you’d confide your troubles to me, I could--” “How has the hive been?” Pharynx stumbled at the unexpected query. “I’m sorry, what?” “The hive,” she repeated, gazing at the far wall. “How have the other changelings adjusted while I’ve been in exile?” His eyes darted around the room as multiple answers emerged, some more honest than others. Pawing the bedsheets nervously, he cleared his throat and hissed, “It’s been terrible! Without you, the other changelings have fallen into disarray, and my brother spends more time padding after that new dragon lord like a love-sick diamond dog than properly ruling the hive. Ponies are constantly taking advantage of our weakened state, so it’s imperative that we--” “Pharynx, tell the truth.” His voice cut off as Chrysalis fixed him with a pointed stare, evidently seeing through his blatant lies. After a moment of fruitless gaping, his stiff shoulders began to sag. Biting his lip, he lowered his gaze and reluctantly mumbled, “The hive has been extremely prosperous as more changelings integrate into pony society. Trade, knowledge, and general content have skyrocketed far beyond previous years, and many regard Thorax as the greatest leader in recent history.” A shard of ice pierced her heart as he described each of Thorax’s accomplishments. New nurseries, greenhouses, and more comfortable dens were popping up left and right thanks to investments from neighboring kingdoms, and there didn’t seem to be a single changeling apart from them that disagreed with his leadership. Sensing her growing despair, Pharynx rallied at once by adding, “But his incessant friendship-mongering has completely ruined the hive’s safety! Not only did he disband the guards and patrols, he also allowed the ponies to send troops into our territory. We need you back on the throne, or changelings as we knew them will be gone forever!” Chrysalis glanced out her window where a group of students were playing in a nearby yard. Her eyebrows raised as she made out Ocellus’s cerulean carapace, her gleaming shell dancing brilliantly with the mass of fur, scales, and feathers. Ocellus let out a high-pitched giggle as an orange dragon tackled her to the cool grass and began tickling her. Although Chrysalis couldn’t hear them, it was obvious they were having the time of their lives, which made her simultaneously happy for her former subjects and saddened that the source of that glee was her defeat and imprisonment. “Pharynx, was I a good queen?” Pharynx gave a start before prostrating himself at her hooves and ranting, “Of course you were a good queen! You gave us life and nurtured us until we were strong enough to survive. You brought the changelings from a race of negligible parasites to the most feared and respected race in all of Equestria. You even led the assault that would have claimed Canterlot for the hive if that pansy princess hadn’t--” “Was I a good mother?” Pharynx froze. A dense silence filled the room as the next words died on his tongue. His heart began to race, pumping blood throughout his panicked body as his mind frantically searched for an appeasing answer. “I don’t… why...” He bit his lip as her direct order to be honest echoed in his ears, but something in his mind forced him to disobey. His muzzle opened and closed repeatedly while the two halves of his conscience battled for dominance, each urging him in opposite directions. Chrysalis’s face fell as the silence dragged on. Without turning to face him, she dragged herself back to bed and curled up under the blankets. Suppressing the urge to break down and cry, she whispered, “I see. You’re dismissed, Pharynx. Come back tomorrow when you have more love energy.” Pharynx reached out to her despondent form, but pulled away as she retreated deeper into her cocoon. Seeing that nothing he could do would help now, he silently made his way towards the door, only stopping once he was outside the magical barrier keeping her in the room. Casting one more worried look at her motionless figure, he cleared his throat and mumbled, “Goodbye, Mo-- my Queen.”
Crossroads“Now remember, we’re doing this because we believe you’ve earned a little freedom, but you’re still being confined until we can fully trust you.” Chrysalis rubbed her newly unblocked horn, wincing as it shot a few sparks after being disabled for so long. Fixing the ponies with a forced smile, she bowed her head and replied, “Of course. I promise you won’t regret this, Princess.” Rarity gave an unconvinced sniff as Chrysalis teleported back to her room. Shooting Twilight a reproachful frown, she asked, “Don’t you think it’s a bit early to remove the inhibitor? What’s stopping her from just draining all our love and going on a rampage?” “Ah’ think we should give her the benefit of the doubt for now,” Applejack countered. “After all, even you can’t deny she’s made some good progress.” “I want to believe she’s really changed,” Twilight started, “but if what I suspect is true, we might have a lot further to go with her than I thought.” The other two glanced at each other to see if either of them had understood her ominous prediction. When neither could come up with any ideas, Rarity pressed, “What do you mean, darling? Did you hear her plotting something, or is this just speculation?” Twilight’s horn lit up as she teleported a pair of binoculars onto the table. Brushing her mane aside, she strapped them onto her head and whispered, “Make sure the Elements of Harmony are in the royal vault tonight. For everyone’s sake, I hope I’m wrong.” Pharynx scanned the vacant hallway, making sure no one could catch them off-guard. Signaling the all clear, he flew behind a supporting column and whispered, “My Queen, the coast is clear!” Silence greeted his report as Chrysalis continued to stare at the floor, completely distracted from their current mission. Rolling his eyes, he returned to her side and tapped her shoulder, causing her to let out a squeak of alarm. “Pharynx, don’t touch a mare without announcing yourself first!” “Your Highness, this is no time to daydream! You’re lucky the Princess doesn’t have any guards in her castle, or we surely would have been caught by now,” he hissed. “Whatever is bothering you must wait until after we’ve claimed the Elements of Harmony and used their power to take over Equestria!” Turning his attention to the heavily fortified door, he concentrated his magic on the lock and began fiddling with the dial. “My Queen, I’m sure this door would yield much faster if you used some of your legendary power.” Chrysalis glanced at the door with a sigh and lit her horn, causing the entire vault to shatter. Pharynx staggered back as the magically reinforced, blast-proof safe exploded, leaving behind nothing but an old, ornate chest in its wake. Shaking off the impromptu shell shock, he brushed dust and debris off his carapace and marveled, “Incredible! I’d nearly forgotten how impressive your magic is at full strength.” Levitating the exposed chest to sit next to her, he blew the residual dust off the glass casing and grinned as the Elements of Harmony came into view. “Finally! After weeks of groveling and pandering, we’ve finally claimed the source of their power for ourselves! Now we can rebuild the Changeling Empire back to its former glory, and rule Equestria once and for--” “Wait!” Pharynx stumbled as she cut off his practiced victory speech. Bookmarking his place in the soliloquy, he turned to her and asked, “Yes, my Queen? Is there something wrong?” Taking a shaky breath, she ran a trembling hoof along the top of the case. The cool glass sent shivers up her spine as the lid slowly fell away, revealing the artifacts in all their mystical glory. A ray of moonlight hit their immaculate surfaces, causing the gemstones to sparkle in their frames, practically begging to be worn by a creature worthy of their power. Chrysalis felt the familiar surge of greed and lust she’d get when trying to conquer Equestria. Her eyes flashed as the beams of light shone through the dimly lit hall, but something about this plan felt different than any of her other attempts at seizing power. Even as the elements lay there, completely vulnerable and open, her hoof refused to pick them up, as if some invisible force were keeping her from taking them out of the box. An unfamiliar feeling began swelling in her chest as the keys to all her wildest fantasies glinted like stars in their soft, velvety cushions. Turning to face him directly, she swallowed the lump trapped in her throat and croaked, “I-I can’t. I can’t do this anymore, Pharynx.” Pharynx ground to a halt as his brain struggled to process her words. Shaking his head to dispel the confusion, he let out a small chuckle and stammered, “What do you mean you can’t do it? It’s not protected by any spells or traps, so what’s the problem?” Chrysalis stepped away from the chest and fell onto her haunches, kicking up a cloud of dust as she fell. Staring at the rock-strewn floor, she bit her lip and whispered, “Ever since I became queen, the safety and happiness of my hive has been my only concern. Everything I ever did was to ensure that my subjects would have enough love to eat, space to live, and skills to hunt whenever I was gone. All I ever wanted was for them to be happy.” Pharynx’s eyes widened as tears began falling down her cheeks, leaving tiny droplets on the ruined carpet. Stepping over the ornate chest, he approached her trembling form as she continued, “I never wanted to hurt anyone. I had to put the security of my subjects before others, and now I’m paying the price for my decision. My children have abandoned me, my hive has a new leader, and all of Equestria sees me as nothing but a monster bent on world domination.” “No… no that’s not true,” he whispered, wrapping a hoof around her shaking frame. “All you have to do is use the Elements of Harmony--” “And then what?” she cried, holding back the flood of tears threatening to pour out. “You saw how Ocellus reacted when we met. If that’s how my subjects view me as a creature, I don’t want to imagine how they’d see me as their queen. The hive I knew is gone, and nothing can ever bring it back. Not even the Elements of Harmony.” Her watery eyes clenched shut as more droplets escaped down her glistening face. Struggling to maintain her composure, she gave a small sniff and hiccupped, “I’ve seen what Thorax has done with the hive. He’s helped his subjects, improved their lives, and made sure they’ll never have to fight or starve ever again, which is much more than can be said for me.” Pharynx’s eyes narrowed as she pushed ahead. “That’s not true…” She ignored his mumbled protest. “All I’ve ever done is make my children miserable because of my own selfishness and ego. They deserve a better ruler, one that actually cares about his subjects and knows more than just fighting and hunting. Maybe then they’ll be able to look at their leader without flinching or recoiling in fear.” Pharynx’s foreleg around her tightened as he drew her closer. “That's not true.” Again, she ignored him to deliver the final, heartbreaking, gut-wrenching blow. Dissolving into a hopeless, despondent waterfall, she cried, “I no longer have a home amongst the changelings, and returning would only cause them more grief. It would be best if I just disappeared and faded into nothing. If that’s what it takes for my children to be happy, then I’ll gladly take whatever punishment the ponies have in store for me.” “That’s not true!!!” Pharynx’s hoof smashed into the floor, creating a spiderweb of cracks throughout the room. His horn glowed brighter than it ever had on any battlefield, and his wings gave a great flap, sending dust and rubble flying through the air. Fixing her with a furious glare, he pinned her to the ground and screamed, “You’re not a burden, you’re not selfish, and you’re most certainly not a monster! I don’t ever want to hear you say you don’t have a home because without you, the hive wouldn’t even exist!” Jumping off of her stunned carapace, he ranted, “You want to talk about accomplishments!? Sure, Thorax has done all that posh with the greenhouses and dens, but he had the help of four alicorn princesses alongside every other kingdom in Equestria. You, meanwhile, were all alone with no one to turn to and hundreds of hungry mouths to feed. Not exactly an even playing field in my opinion!” His breaths came in short, rapid bursts as he continued, “Before those ponies began tossing around ‘friendship’, we changelings were seen as scum! Every creature considered us nothing more than love-sucking parasites to be captured on sight, but still we survived. We survived because of you and your constant, unconditional love, and there’s nothing in the world that can ever repay all that you’ve done for us!” Chrysalis gaped at his heaving, trembling form, so unlike the calm, collected Pharynx she had previously known. Her thoughts were interrupted when he turned to face her, his deep purple eyes gazing straight into her broken soul. Swallowing the last of his reservations, he staggered to his hooves and asked, “Do you know why I chose to follow you back in that jail cell? Do you know why I chose to support a prisoner despite all the risks it would pose?” She shook her head, having always assumed it was out of loyalty to the queen or disdain for his brother. Why else would he risk so much for someone like her? Pharynx slowly approached her prostrate form, his eyes never breaking away from hers. “I didn’t do it out of some misguided sense of loyalty to the throne or petty disagreement with my brother. I did it because of you. I risked everything because I wanted to help you.” Her eyes widened as he wrapped his hooves around her trembling frame and pulled her into a caring embrace. Stroking her soft, beautiful mane, he leaned in and whispered, “I love you, Chrysalis, and nothing is ever going to change that.” A wave of heat surged through her as Pharynx’s body overflowed with a tsunami of pure, untainted, consensual love. Squeezing their barrels together, Chrysalis felt a similar love escape her own body, mixing with his own to form a shining spire of refined love that radiated throughout the entire castle, casting a faint glow on every crystal it touched. The two shielded their eyes as a warmth spread between them, filling in the cracks and holes in their carapaces. The gleaming spire enveloped their bodies, transforming their dark color schemes to cool pallets of navy and white. Their manes and tails brightened into more vibrant tones of red and green, and their tattered wings stitched themselves together until they resembled a pair of majestic butterflies. Eventually, the shining beacon dimmed to a small shimmer before extinguishing entirely. Staring in awe at her body, Chrysalis gave her new wings an experimental flap and exclaimed, “What in Equestria just happened!?” “I think we reformed by sharing our love with each other,” Pharynx replied. “I don’t need to use an illusion to retain this form anymore.” They sat for a while taking in their new appearances, but Pharynx’s eyebrows furrowed as the ornate chest came back into view. Running a hoof along the glass, he asked, “What should we do? Do you want to go through with the plan or turn back now?” Chrysalis took one last glance at the elements she had sought for so long before pushing away the glass case. Rising to her hooves, she sighed, “There’s no point proceeding now that we’re reformed. I think it’s time to turn ourselves in.” “What!?” Pharynx exclaimed, stumbling over a loose piece of rock. “My Queen, there’s no need for that! We could easily repair the damages and return to our room before anyone notices. If we hurry, there should be enough time to--” She shook her head with a sad smile. “No, Pharynx. It’s time we face the consequences of our actions. If we hide this now, it’ll only prove that we didn’t learn our lesson, and they’ll never trust us again. We have to find Princess Twilight and tell her what we did before it’s too late.” “You won’t have to look far.” The two whipped around as an invisibility bubble flickered into sight. Twilight lifted her binoculars with a wry smile and glanced at the destroyed vault. “I really thought that would last longer. Looks like this princess is getting a refund.” Pharynx jumped to stand in front of Chrysalis, but Twilight held up a placating hoof. “Relax, Pharynx. If I was going to arrest you, I would have done it already.” She pointed to the staircase leading upstairs and smiled, “Let’s have a talk in my office."
Resolutions“It’s not too late to run.” Pharynx tapped the floor with a hoof, glancing around the empty meeting room. Fixing his queen with a worried frown, he pressed, “We can both teleport, and I know a place in the Everfree Forest where we could escape--” Chrysalis placed a hoof on his muzzle and sighed, “There’s no point. Even if we could avoid them for the rest of our lives, we’d never be able to see the hive again. I’d rather be trapped in Tartarus forever if it meant I could see you and my children, even through the cold bars of hell.” Her green eyes narrowed with fear, but the conviction behind them never faltered. Swallowing the lump forming in her throat, she resolved, “No matter what the ponies have in store for me, I’ll accept it with a raised chin like a real queen should.” Pharynx broke off as her burning determination gave no room for negotiation. Grasping her hoof with his, he shifted closer to her trembling frame and comforted, “You truly are a queen worthy of praise. No matter what happens, know that I will always stand by your side.” Before she could return the gesture, the door to the room burst open. Breaking apart, Pharynx swiftly returned to his seat while Chrysalis turned to stare at Twilight’s approaching form. “Princess Twilight, I--” She froze as another pony followed close behind. A pony whose face had haunted her darkest, most twisted fantasies ever since her throne’s untimely destruction. “Starlight Glimmer…” Starlight glanced at her seething face before taking a step forward. “Hello, Chrysalis.” “Why is she here?” Chrysalis barked, turning away with a resentful huff. Twilight took a seat at the table and explained, “I’ve invited Starlight because she’s the one that convinced me to give you another chance instead of throwing you in Tartarus right away.” Chrysalis’s eyes widened as she sat up straight. Shooting her a disbelieving snort, she hissed, “Why would Starlight give a rat’s tail about reforming me? She’s the one that destroyed my throne and turned my hive against me!” “I did it because I know exactly what it’s like to control and manipulate other creatures, and I wanted to help you before it was too late,” Starlight said, fixing her with an apologetic stare. “I’m sorry for exiling you from your family, but I had to save my friends and show the changelings that there are better ways to get love than stealing it by force.” She pointed to Chrysalis’s light coat and flowing mane with a smile and added, “And it looks like your subjects weren’t the only ones I managed to convince.” Chrysalis gaped for several seconds before relapsing into embarrassed silence. Once Starlight’s chuckles died down, she stared into the ceiling and asked, “So, what happens now? I’m guessing you already know what we were planning to do, so how am I being punished this time?” The two ponies glanced at each other before Twilight grabbed a quill and began scribbling on a piece of parchment. “Before I hand down any punishment, do either of you have anything to say in your defense?” Pharynx shook his head, unwilling to distance himself from his queen. Chrysalis gave him a kind smile before turning to look Twilight right in the eyes. Taking what could be her final free breaths, she licked her cracked lips and whispered, “Only that everything I said in the vault was the absolute truth and nothing more. I don’t expect any mercy after betraying your trust, but please allow the changelings to visit me wherever I end up going.” Twilight stared back into her pleading eyes with an unreadable expression before writing down one final line. Dotting the last period with a sense of finality, she rolled up the scroll and sealed it with her royal stamp. “Very well. Queen Chrysalis and Pharynx, I, Princess Twilight Sparkle, hereby find you guilty of destruction of royal property, improper use of deadly magic, and conspiracy to overthrow the government.” They both flinched as the weight of their crimes came crashing down. Any one of those would be enough to land them in jail, but all three would surely earn a life sentence in Tartarus. Chrysalis felt a hoof grasp her own and turned to see Pharynx peering at her with unflinching courage. Feeling her heart melt at the sight, she wrapped him in a loving embrace and whispered, “Thank you, Pharynx. Your devotion and loyalty mean more to me than any prize I’ve ever sought. I hope we will see each other in another--” “As such, I sentence you both to mandatory friendship lessons at the School of Friendship beginning next fall and house arrest at the Castle of Friendship starting now.” They both gaped as she finished her speech, convinced they must have heard her wrong. Rubbing her ears to clear away any blockage, Chrysalis turned her stunned expression and stuttered, “I’m sorry, could you repeat that again, Princess? I don’t think I heard you right that time.” Twilight let out a small chuckle and answered, “You heard me perfectly, Chrysalis. I’m sentencing you and Pharynx to mandatory friendship lessons at my school, and you won’t be allowed to leave the castle until you finish them, so you’d better work hard if you want to leave any time soon.” “B-But that’s so lenient!” she cried, standing up at once. “After everything I said, after everything I’ve done, how can you just let it go without punishing me first!?” Starlight gave her a knowing look and explained, “You’ve already endured your punishment in the form of exile from your hive. Despite what you said, I know you miss your changelings, and I know how much it hurts to lose those you care about.” “Besides,” Twilight supplied, pointing at their reformed carapaces, “you’ve proven that you reflected on your past mistakes and learned your lesson. The fact that you stopped before going through with your plan and even tried to turn yourself in shows how much you’ve changed far more than any physical alterations possibly could.” She flashed them a teasing grin and finished, “However, that doesn’t mean you get off scot-free. If you think the School of Friendship’s curriculum is a joke, you’re in for an unpleasant surprise.” Chrysalis sat in stunned silence as Pharynx’s ears perked up. Speaking for the first time since they entered, he asked, “If we’re both receiving the same sentence, does that mean we can still be together while we complete these lessons?” The two ponies glanced at each other before Twilight unfurled the royal decree and started writing an amendment. “Yes, I think you've earned that much. After all, it would be cruel to separate you two so soon after your extravagant confession.” Pharynx gave a sigh of relief as he and Chrysalis resumed their tight hug, only letting go once Twilight cleared her throat to get their attention. “Regarding your living conditions, I already have a room set up for Chrysalis, but you’ll need accommodations of your own. We can set up another room for you by tonight, or you can simply stay with her for the duration of your sentence. Which would you prefer?” Chrysalis wrapped a wing around his hesitant frame, nodding to assure him of her choice. Pharynx smiled at her answer and returned the affectionate gesture, planting a quick kiss on her beautiful cheek. “No need, Princess. I’d prefer to stay by my love’s side.”
Epilogue“GOAL!” Everybody cheered as the ball soared into the net, signaling yet another point for the unstoppable duo. The score keeper flipped another page on the record so that the board now read ‘14-03’. “I don’t know why they’re still playing. It’s obvious who’s going to win,” Pharynx drawled, tapping his hoof impatiently. Chrysalis hushed him with an admonishing glare. “It’s not over until the timer runs out or someone surrenders. I would have thought you of all changelings would know about that.” She glanced at Ocellus’s shining form as she and the orange dragon gave each other a claw-hoof bump. Smiling with pride, her hooves started another round of applause as she called, “Nice work, Ocellus! Remember to keep those wings tucked!” Ocellus gave a start as her name was called, but quickly adopted an excited grin as she waved back to her former queen. Running over to the stands, she paused to catch her breath before panting, “Did you see that? The ball went right over his head!” Chrysalis gave an amused chuckle and patted her softly. “That was quite a shot, young one. It appears old changelings aren’t the only ones with holes in their hooves~” Ocellus’s giggles were interrupted by the shrill cry of the whistle as the game prepared to start again. Jumping in place, she leaned closer so only they could hear and whispered, “I need to get back to the field, but find me after the game ends. There’s still so much about new changelings I can teach you!” The two waved her off as she sprinted back onto the grass. Chrysalis’s muzzle curled into a small smile as she sighed, “It’s crazy to think that just one year ago she was running away from me in terror. How these younglings forgive so easily, I’ll never understand.” “Look who’s talking,” Pharynx quipped, giving her a playful shove. “Don’t you have a picnic with Starlight and the others planned for tomorrow?” “Touché,” she hummed, returning the challenge. “You’ve been spending too much time with your brother and that witty dragon. I think you’ve forgotten who the queen is here.” His cocky grin didn’t abate as he lifted her hoof to his mouth. Lavishing her beautiful chiton with a series of quick pecks, he whispered, “Never, my love. You’ll always be the only one I worship.” Dragging his long tongue up her sensitive body, he stared into her beautiful green eyes and hissed, “If you don’t believe me, I’d be more than happy to prove my loyalty again~” She returned his advances by caressing his smooth barrel with her other hoof. Fixing him with an alluring smirk, she chuckled, “I’d love to, but we should probably be gentler now that I’m having your hatchling.” Pharynx choked on his tongue as the shocking news blindsided him out of nowhere. Shooting her an alarmed stare, he swallowed the lump in his throat and stammered, “A-Are you serious, dear!? Are you really having a child?” Chrysalis let out a high-pitched bark at his frantic expression. Struggling to hold back her laughing fit, she sighed, “Of course not! I’m just joking, honey.” Her amused chuckles tapered off as he clutched his rapidly beating heart. Pretending to watch the game, she waited until he reached for his water cup before adding, “After all, what kind of breeder would I be if I could only have one child at a time?” A chorus of angry shouts sounded as Pharynx spit out the water he was drinking all over the front row. His wide eyes shined with a flurry of emotions, begging her to stop playing with his heart. Her grin widened as he apologized to the ponies he just soaked. Pulling him in closer, she licked his twitching ear flap and pressed his hoof against her womb so he could feel the eggs developing in her belly. “Don’t act so surprised,” she giggled, relishing the shock on his adorably stunned face. “I am a Queen after all. Let’s see if I have more young than your year~” Author's Note A/N: Aww, look at them. I think Pharynx is looking forward to being a father. Pharynx: Children… multiple children… hive children… *faints* Chrysalis: Is he okay? I don’t think he’s breathing anymore. A/N: Don’t worry. All that hyperventilating will feed his body enough oxygen for a while. Thanks for Reading!
