Hivemind Control

"Just a little higher, darling!" called Rarity. "This is the last one!"

Rainbow and Twilight flapped their wings in sync, making their final lap around the inside of the hive for the day. Rainbow had fought back against the Changelings so hard that she'd nearly shattered her spine, and strapping her down so tightly that she couldn't move had caused some of her muscles to atrophy. She would fly again, and probably even go back to full power, but first, she needed to go through physical therapy. Twilight was helping Rainbow work out while she was still recovering.

Twilight was adjusting well to the body-morphing effects of the toxin. Her mind was still hers after a few weeks, and her front hooves were slowly shifting to their changeling forms. She was progressing faster than Celestia and Luna had, which made sense, as she was helping the toxin along, but not as fast as Cadance had. Then again, the wiggleworms fed on lust, and Cadance had that in spades.

When they landed, Rarity walked briskly to them and gently rubbed their shoulders. "Very well done, girls. We'll be through this in no time."

"Thanks, Rarity," huffed Twilight. "I'd almost forgotten how good it feels to fly."

"I'll never forget the feeling," smiled Rainbow. "I hope I never lose it again."

"Come along, you two," chuckled Rarity. "You're both very sweaty, and it's time you had a bath."

The trio made their way to the bathroom, called for a double tub, and Rainbow and Twilight settled in for a light soak while Rarity scrubbed them. "I can't believe we're on our way out of here," said Rainbow as Rarity rubbed her down with a rag. "Especially leaving the other three when we go. We should all be able to leave."

"Cercus is working on it," assured Twilight. "Since he has to convince Chrysalis to let him make any big changes to the hive, I'm amazed he's not leaving you two behind."

"Well, if there is one thing that working in pony care has taught me, it's that it's a great place to listen to gossip and rumours," said Rarity. "I have my hoof on the pulse up there, and according to the scuttlebutt, the only reason I'm not a regular servant is because Cercus said to keep me as I am. I wasn't told why, though. As for Rainbow, she's seen as more of a liability than an asset. Keeping her here is more trouble than it's worth."

"Ha!" spat Rainbow. "I guess nopony told them that I'm untamable. The rumours there are definitely true. I'd cause more damage sticking around here than I would going back to Ponyville. They'll be glad that I'm gone."

"I bet they will," smiled Twilight. "I'll certainly feel better with you two at my side."

"We'd never leave ya hangin'," smirked Rainbow, wrapping a hoof around Twilight's shoulders. "Not by choice, anyway."

Twilight shuffled in her seat. "You don't think the price we paid is too high, do you?"

Rarity shook her head. "The changelings were smacking me around in the most rude fashion imaginable. Having to take Cercus'... advances... is a small price to pay for his protection. None of the other changelings are allowed to handle me at all for two hours every day, plus I'm allowed free time to spend with you two."

"I spent the last month and a half pinned to a rack," nodded Rainbow. "A blowjob a day to be able to move freely throughout the hive is nothing."

"Yeah, but we're giving up our free will," worried Twilight.

"Just to Cercus," assured Rarity, magicking over another towel to help clean Twilight. "Applejack said it sounded like a good deal, and I trust her judgement."

Twilight shrugged. She had tried to talk to Applejack about it, but every time she started, Cercus was around. She didn't want his commentary to shift Applejack's decision, but hearing that Rarity had already had the discussion with her, and that Applejack thought they were doing the right thing put her at ease. She wasn't in the clear yet, but it was something, at least.

Before too long, they'd be doing this all again, not in the changeling bathroom, but at the Ponyville Spa and Bathhouse, or perhaps even in their own private bathrooms. They weren't going to be in the hive much longer, and the desire to be out among other ponies was rising the more that option seemed viable. They just had to wait for Cercus' command.

After their bath, Twilight bid the others farewell. Rainbow was going to the dining hall to bulk up on Applejack's cooking so she could at least try to be back on top of her game for her return to Ponyville. Rarity needed to return to her job while she was still in the hive; bathing and grooming ponies and changelings alike, be it coiffing a mane and tail or polishing a carapace. As for Twilight, she needed to go back to her bedroom and wait for Cercus to come in and administer her per diem.

She didn't have long to wait. "I see you're right on time," he noted, moving over to the dresser on popping open one of the bottles. "Are you ready to begin?"

"Actually, do you mind if I ask you something, first?"

"Go ahead."

"I was talking to my friends today, and Rarity said that she'd heard a rumour that the only reason you picked those two was because they're not contributing to the hive as much as the others."

"That's not true," answered Cercus. "I picked all five of your friends. The only reason those two are coming with us is because they're going to be of more use outside the hive than inside, but I'm currently in negotiations for the other three. In fact, I've even started laying the groundwork for bringing them back to Ponyville, though I suspect it will prove a long process."

"How long?"

"The negotiations have to be done before we leave. It's not like it's a quick run from here to Ponyville, and if I leave you for a few days without any of my excretions, you'll end up bound to all changelings, or if I have to leave you with another, you'll be bound to them as well as me. You'd have less freewill, either way. I'm sure you don't want that."

"How long until the groundwork is done?"

"A few months, I hope. If I had you already at my full command, perhaps we could rush the whole thing and be done in a month, but I'm not holding my breath. As of now, we just have to depend on Princess Luna and her handler making sure it all works out."

Twilight nodded and drank down her potion. "That's all I needed to know for now." She lowered herself to the floor and opened her mouth.