An Unholy Matrimony

Chapter 4: The Weaving of the Web

Hello again, my dear friends. It has been long since I last contacted you all. I have quite a reasonable explanation as to why this is. You see, in my long leave of absence, Archnid and I have been doing a great deal of education. In the time since you have last seen me, I have taught Archnid some of the facets of human life (aside from Modesty, which is probably more alien to this race than I would assume, and considering I was among beasts, a bit of a moot point), while she has taught me the skills and spells native to our collective kind. And to answer that most burning question in your minds, I have indeed engaged in many carnal activities while I was away...

Ironically, this is where my next situation report comes in. Against all possible logic, following one of our sexual escapades, Archnid has, somehow, ended up pregnant. How this much has happened, I still am not entirely sure, but it brought me to thinking of a rather nagging problem in the back of my mind: Our hive was getting crowded. If there is no stillbirth, we are risking overpopulation. Soon, this hive would not be able to support us. And so I had to pop a very serious question.

“You wish to attempt diplomacy with the ponies?! Are you mad?!” Archnid screeched from within the subconscious speakerphone.

“As much as I hate to bear bad news, I'm afraid it may be all we can do,” I sighed, reclining within my Lovecraftian throne.

“Those ponies forcibly ejected Chrysalis' swarm! What makes you so sure that they will not do the same to us?!”

I let loose a plume of heat from my nostrils before I sighed deeply

“Because we are not her swarm, Archnid,” I spoke in a solemn tone. “Chrysalis invaded Canterlot for the same reason as we would; She was desperate, and her hive hungered.”

“I fail to see your point, Recluse,” replied my consort, her tone having changed to concern.

“Simple,” I began, clearing my head. “Rather than stage an invasion and use subterfuge to get our food, I propose we simply walk to their lands and try to make amends with them.”

“That's even worse! They'd smite us where we stand!”

“No, they won't! In the time I've spent with you, I've learned a great many things, as have you. This hive has learned the concepts of right and wrong, you have learned of the new emotions you can now consume and absolve, and I have learned of the many facets of our culture.”

For a moment, I took a deep breath, before revealing to her perhaps the most mind-blowing thing she had ever heard.

“Though it may seem like nonsense, we don't need to drain the love from them to consume it.”

Silence. I did not need to see my dearly beloved's face to interpret her reaction. She was aghast. I must have spoken something that went against all she knew. Or perhaps I was merely being stupid by pointing out such an error, or even making it myself. Either way, an eternity passed before either of us spoke again.

“But...how? All of this time, the only way we ever were able to feed was by taking it from them when they were not aware... and you have the gall to suggest an alternative?” Archnid growled, a mix of dejection and ire in her tone.

I felt smug for saying it, but I replied “Yes. Yes, I do.”

“Then do be kind to share. I am all ears.”

I cleared my head again before I began.

“Simply put, you know how we are often greeted by our subjects in a cordial and loving manner , how we feel more energized and elated as a result?”

“Yes, but I don't see how-”

“Perhaps this feeling may be caused by our bodies subconsciously taking in the love and adoration. Rather than forcing it out of their bodies, they are letting their emotions flow of their own volition. As a direct result, we are tasting even purer love than what we would doing things the traditional method. The same effect comes about whenever we engage in our little carnal escapades.”

“I see...” Archnid hummed. “So you're saying that if we were to simply coax the emotions out through social intercourse and the like, we would be able to feed more full-bodied emotions, with less detriment to the host?”

“Precisely, my love.” I chuckled, sitting up straight.

“I see...” There was a pause. “So what do you plan to do when we approach Canterlot?”

I smiled and cleared my throat again.

“Simple. We will go with the entire hive's occupants as a party. We won't hide behind any guise, and if we are stopped by the guard, we will accept capture. Chances are, we will be brought by the court, where I will make an appeal with the regency for our innocence in the hopes that we will be allowed citizenship to allow us to show the good we can do.”

“And what good could we do? As far as they're concerned, we're monsters!”

“We can consume far more than just love, my dear. We could consume sadness, grief, anger, pain, hatred... Sure, it may not taste as well as love would, but we would be able to do a world of good to the sick and downtrodden!”

“And what makes you think they would be in any way inclined to listen?”

“Oh, my dear consort,” I chuckled, gazing into the lights in the ceiling. “Have you all but forgotten the silver tongue which you fell in love with?”

A pause had been made, but was ended with the giggling of my dear maiden as I saw her approach into the throne room.

“When shall we make our exodus, then, my lord?”

I took some time to consider this notion. From what little I saw since my transformation, there was a vast expanse of desert, spanning a distance immeasurable. If we left too late in the day, we would become carrion for the birds, our quest prematurely ended. Too early into the day, however, would have us freeze to death. So I decided to choose an early leave.

“We will make our expedition at daybreak. Gather the swarm and let us rally our forces. If our emotion is what empowers us, then to be given resolve will fuel our journey for as long as it takes. We must be prudent in our use of time, after all.”

And so did my lover bow before me as she approached, playfully fondling at my nethers before whispering into my ear, “It shall be done, my little morsel.”

Contented, I brought my lady into my palms, pulling her inward to partake in a kiss before letting her take leave.

And so, come the morrow, I was standing before my swarm, my arms behind my back as I beamed a grin down upon them all. They were united in their elation towards me as I and my consort took in their adoration. I couldn't help myself but to laugh with pride as I looked down to them.

“Hear me, my subjects! Brothers and sisters! For long, we have been in a state of discontent. Even as I stand among you, we all feel the thrall of starvation upon us. Even as the love between I and Queen Archnid washes over you all, it is not enough to fill our collective stomachs. Even as we speak, we may only expect more within our brood, making our already meager supplies diminish even more. Is this the way that we are to live? Consistently struggling so that our insatiable hunger can be curtailed another day? Forced to live within these slowly more cumbersome caverns as more prosperous nations loom beyond the horizon? I would think not! Thus, I have gathered you today for what may be our final day in these decrepit caverns! We will make for the kingdom of Equestria, but we will not go there to invade them. For that is the foible of Chrysalis. Rather, we shall go to make amends for the past sins of our people! We will show these ponies that we are more than mere monsters whose appetite is slaked by emotion! We are the embodiment of emotion! We exemplify their virtues of camaraderie and understanding as it our secondary nature! We are as capable as individuals as we are within this swarm! We are a legion! We are together! WE. ARE. CHANGELINGS!”

Never before nor since that day had I tasted such grandiose admiration and elation as I did at this moment. As I would a fine chocolate, I indulged in its flavor, taking in every last ounce before I turned before the mouth of the caverns, taking into hand my beloved before mounting her lovingly.

“Changelings! Follow me, for soon, we will make home in Canterlot!”

And so we made a grand journey through the wastes beyond our hive. With no time to pause for breath, we looked out to the horizon, our only sustenance being our camaraderie to one another, and our resolve to see our quest to reach Equestria come to fruition. I and Archnid led the charge, taking to the skies so that we may better gauge our distance before we would finally reach the promised land.

By noon, the sun was in full force. Heat began to sizzle on my chitinous skin, forcing me to don my former appearance. At this juncture, the very idea of modesty was as alien as my biology at this point. I simply saw no need to wear clothes if they were only going to be of hindrance. Perhaps if I could consult a tailor, I could have a special outfit made that would carry across my transformations, but it was a moot point regardless. As it was, it would only serve to bake me alive. At some point or another, with no rhyme or reason, I was beginning to feel the tugging of my loins against my bride's chitin hide, looking down to see an erect penis between my knees.

I assumed Archnid took notice as she giggled within my mind and asked, “Is the feeling of my chitin against your skin making you feel bawdy, my dear?”

I chuckled in response and nodded.

“Well, feel free to, as you say, 'rub one out'. I don't mind; at this point, it would do well to help me cool off.”

Needing no further coercion, I began to slide my index finger and my thumb across the exposed skin of my penis, before wrapping my full hand around the surface, sliding it up and down, gripping it like the handle of a sword. I let out a sigh as I began to increase in pace, lying on the back of my darling mare, gripping my chest as my voice slowly began to rise in pitch. Strange images began to fill my head as a mound of flesh began to fill my palm. I felt a cold chill run from the base of my spine as something else quivered between my legs. For reasons I never deciphered until much later, my body was becoming a literal pleasure center, every inch being addled with hormonal bliss, locked in the act of my masturbation. Pressure began to build from within as my breaths became higher and more ragged in tone before finally, I could take it no longer. A primal scream echoed across the beautiful desolation of the desert as my nethers tingled and quivered, wetness pouring down my thighs as white spurts coated my darling's mane, leaving drips hanging upon the film as my mate giggled. I began to open my burning eyes before I gasped in astonishment at my form.

“What...what just happened to me?!”

Archnid giggled further and snickered, “It would seem during your little undertaking, you became a hermaphrodite. You needn't worry, though; you're still learning how to control your transformations, after all. We'll be approaching Canterlot soon, so if you'd be a dear, try and revert back so I may make my landing.”

I nodded, focusing my mind as my breasts and womanhood receded back into my body, my base form returning as I fluttered down with beetle-like wings. As I continued my stride, I began to gather the fluids that had escaped from me in my fingers, taking a taste of it to see if it was at all palatable. Strangely, my feminine fluids had a tangy flavor to them, almost like a peach. Perhaps at a later date I would attempt this again, but as it stood, I began to wipe the residue away in the sands before catching up to the rest, taking to my prior, masculine shape.

Alabaster walls stretched high above the horizon as golden spires began to poke out from the distance. Silhouettes of winged equines filled the air as golden gleams blinded us all. When the light ceased to blind us, ivory pegasi were encroaching upon us, gilded armor shining in the blistering hot sun. And boy, did they look so very unhappy to see us.

“Stay where you are, Changeling scum,” barked the closest guard. “This is as far as you come.”

Out of instinct, I raised my arms above my head in surrender.

“We did not intend to go any further without consulting you first, dear guard,” hummed I, my arms firmly above my head.

“Oh? And just what makes you so sure that we will even consider allowing you passage?” Quipped the guard, a patronizing grin upon his face.

“Simple,” chirped I, letting a smile come to my face, as well. “Because we are not here to fight. We are here on matters of diplomacy, and nothing more. We pose no threat to you, and we are more than willing to go in binds, if we must.”

For a moment, there was silence, before the guard growled, a scowl on his face as he turned to his fellow stallions, before they flew off, himself turning back to me.

“My men will return shortly with anti-magic bindings. Since Chrysalis' invasion, we have done research into finding ways to negate the Changelings' Transformation magics, and tests have shown its effectiveness. When they return, you lot will be put in them and taken to the Canterlot prison. If any of us see you outside the prison, you will be executed where you stand. Is that clear?”

I nodded, bowing in a particularly thespian fashion before returning my arms to a surrendering stance, kneeling down to eye-level.

For a considerable period of time, there was silence. None of us shared conversation (at least, none that the guard could here), but it was clear in the faces of my peers and the eyes of my queen there was genuine fear in them. Only I was resolute in this plan. I tried my best to calm them, but I only disquieted them further. So, we took a solemn vigil of the sun for a time, watching as it began to set before the other guards returned.

“Step forward, sir,” growled the captain, slapping a pair of cuffs upon my wrists, as well as one upon my horn.

Not long after, my companion and compatriots were fitted for cuffs, and we were dragged by a magic cord to into the Canterlot walls, the moon cresting overhead.

My feet were aching when Archnid and I were tossed into a cell together, the captain's cross expression having stayed the course of the trip.

“The council is still deliberating your case,” rumbled the captain as he looked into my eyes with a cold stare. “You will spend the evening here, in the meanwhile. If they agree to give you audience, you will be notified at daybreak. If they deny it, at best, you will be exiled.”

The guard paused for effect. “At worst, you will be executed.”

I gulped as he turned from us, a mark of what looked to be a very simple depiction of a glaring sun upon his flank.

“May Faust have mercy upon you.”

When the guard finally left, Archnid looked to me with a face of worry.

“I do hope you're right on this, Recluse,” quivered she, her eyes showing a distinct gloom. “I would hate for my final moment to be hearing the drop of a guillotine upon my neck.”

I looked to my queen as I began to scoot myself closer to her.

“Now now, my dear. We mustn't harbor such dark thoughts. We have come here with good intent. Our surrender should be proof enough of that,” I hummed, smiling. “Even if they do execute us, at least we will be given the courtesy of being executed together.”

That last comment did little to help my matron's melancholy, but I was glad to still have her company. I kept my eyes on her as I brought myself closer.

“Seeing as this may be perhaps our final evening, shall we partake in a final kiss?”

For a moment, Archnid glanced before she smirked just a tad. Then, she brought her full attention before me as I brought my cuffed hands over her neck.

“I suppose that there is no harm in that. If we are to die tomorrow, we should at least share one final moment of goodness.”

I smiled as I brought my queen into my embrace, our lips joining as our tongues danced in each others' mouths in an elegant ballet. Like a knot did they become joined as we looked deeply into each others' eyes, before eventually breaking the kiss with a smile. Contented, my queen laid down, bringing my head to her chest as I took my cuffed hands from her neck.

“Rest well, my king. Tomorrow will be a most faithful day,” she whispered, her eyes shutting as she drifted off into sleep.

“Good night, my queen,” I whispered back, letting the embrace of sleep take me.

My consciousness almost barely existed as I and my queen were escorted into the throne room of the Princesses of the Land, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Ebony and Ivory, these two extended an aura of harmony, hiding beneath a shell of animosity.

"So, Chrysalis,” hissed the ivory mare as her eyes let loose a piercing gaze, “you return again to my front door, and now you are so desperate to create an abomination such as this as a suitor?"

Well, now. Mistaken identity and an insult targeted towards me? How very unbecoming of a princess.

"Abomination? Why, your majesty, you wound me with such banter,” retorted I with a mildly cocky grin.

"Spare me your rhetoric,” snapped the solar mare. “Explain to me why I shouldn't fry the both of you where you stand."

Ouch. Truly a case of silk hiding steel with this one. I had to be mindful of my wording, but nevertheless, I cleared my throat.

"Because we come not to fight you, Celestia. Believe us when we say that in our current state of affairs, we are far from any capacity to even so much as wound you. I am of a silver tongue, not of a silver blade,” I began, motioning towards my dearest matron, “As for my dear consort, this is not Chrysalis. And even if she were, she is enthralled by the ills of maternal gestation. We come not to battle with weapons, but with wit and word."

Celestia rose her brow quizzically at this remark, not in much belief.

"Oh? And on what grounds would you negotiate trespassing upon my kingdom?"

This was it; time to put my silver tongue to work.

"Simply put, the kingdom from which we come is in far more dire straights. They are not getting the nourishment they require to sustain their lives, and in what could be a miracle of happenstance, happened upon me. Like you have pointed out, I am quite alien to this domain, just as much as their own. But this queen took me beneath her wing. Even with so little food to speak of, she cared for me as if I were her own blood and chitin. In exchange, I gifted her with food through what I will unabashedly admit as carnal and base activity.

"My appearance was of a great service to the overburdened hive, and when talks began of hybridizing, I was apprehensive at first. But, as we began to deliberate, we discovered that such an act would better allow our species to become more self-reliant. We could live more autonomously, without having to prey upon such innocent folk as yourselves just to keep our stomachs sated."

For a moment, Celestia looked concerned, but quickly returned to her poker face.

"I see...but why, then, would you encroach upon this kingdom, when you are doubtlessly aware of Chrysalis' actions?" She asked, her expression firm.

"Because Chrysalis' transgressions are not indicative of this hive. At heart, she had the same ulterior motive as us all; survival. As she may have told you, she and her people required food. While at heart, she was only doing what she considered right, her mind was very much wrong,” replied I, looking dearly into the princess' gaze.

"A grave understatement,” Celestia snipped. “If you recall, Chrysalis was bordering regicide when she came upon this kingdom. Had Cadence not arrived to intervene, she and her swarm would have very taken the capital, and by proxy, the entirety of Equestria."

I nodded, continuing.

"Indeed. I am very much aware. But you must understand that this was not solely Chrysalis at fault. You see, we changelings do not simply operate on the same mechanics as you ponies do. While you ponies are, at heart, raised with an ideal of camaraderie and understanding, we changelings are bred with it. It is engraved in each of our minds. While there is an individual in all of us, we are each part of a greater whole. Thoughts, Ideas, Truths, Lies, Hatred, Love, Sorrow, Jubilation...all of these and more are shared among each one of us within the Hive mind. There is no room for secrets or conspiracy. There is only knowledge and understanding.

"Many changelings are incapable of escaping the thrall of one changeling's commands upon them. Nor can they disobey. Those that do suffer greatly, and not for the disappointment of their peers. No... When a changeling disobeys a direct order, it can wound them more than anything else. It can even be fatal to be severed from the hive mind itself.

"But those who are able to suffer the pain and live to tell the tale...they are of a much greater breed. They are capable of being individual. Capable of staking their own claim of regency. They are capable of being just as noble and intelligent as you ponies... and perhaps even more so.

"But they are still vulnerable to the thrall of the hive mind. Hence where Chrysalis is concerned. Her hive hungered. The voices spoke to her...they begged and pleaded that she acquire food, and that she use whatever stratagem needed to do so... Thus, she obliged, consumed by the desperation and hunger of her subjects. She did not want to take over Equestria merely for the sake of power... Rather, she wanted to do so because it would secure the safety of her people."

Silence. For perhaps a quarter of an hour, a dead silence took the room. Though Celestia was doing her best to hide it, she and her sister were both awestruck by this speech. It was apparent in her stare that she was in dire need of introspection to take this information in. Clearly, I had struck her mute.

Finally, after a prolonged deafening from the silence, Celestia finally spoke.

"I see... So you say that Chrysalis was driven by desperation, instead of pure lust?"

I frowned and nodded.

"Precisely, your Highness,” I said somberly.

For a moment, I saw Celestia's expression change.

"...So be it. You have provided an understandable argument. You have my complete attention on this matter. What do you ask of me?" asked she, her voice showing her compassion.

Time to reel in this negotiation.

"We ask only that you take Chrysalis' example as a caution to the dangers that can arise from prolonged desperation, and that you give our kind a chance to show the benefit our kind, as opposed to Chrysalis' detriment. We ask only for you to take us in with open hooves and allow us to be of aid, so that you may be able to aid us, as well. We are not monsters, Celestia. And we are willing to prove this fact,” I pleaded, my eyes as wide and concerned as I could portray them.

It was then that I saw the mare smile and nod.

"...Very well. Scriber, take a note; As of today, this group of changelings will be spending the next month within the borders of Equestria as penance for the transgressions of Queen Chrysalis. If, at any point, the regency, or even the individual changeling should come to harm, let he or she who did such harm be brought to me and persecuted justly.”

I could not convey just how much my queen and I were beaming as those silken words reached our tender ears. The two of us were, in a word, ecstatic.

“Let it also be known, however, that if I should hear that these changes cause more harm than the good they should so claim, they will be banished from whence they came, and upon any further return to Equestria, they will be punished to the full extent of my capacity."

Needing no further explanation, the guards quickly came to us, releasing us from our bondage, after which we immediately hugged one another in pure jubilation. Afterward, I took a moment to approach Celestia and kneel in gratefulness before her, taking her hoof in pride.

“Thank you dearly, Princess. I assure you that we will do nothing but the best for this kingdom.” groveled I with a smile.

“I should hope so, King...”

“Recluse is my name, Princess. And my queen is Archnid.” I replied, a tender grin as I mounted my queen again.

“So be it, Recluse. Henceforth, you and your hive will make yourselves home in the town of Pasofino. It is not the most well-known town, but it is quite modern, and more than used to... shall we say, alien altercations. You should have some ease in getting acquainted there.”

I smiled and nodded, turning back to the cells to rally my hive together. Surely, the love and hope I had been filled with this day would sate my hive for a good while.

It has been a fortnight or so since my last entry. You'll be happy to know that, as it stands, Pasofino is quite a lovely town. Its rustic design very much betrays its modern technology. Time and again, I see very intrinsically-constructed machines aiding in construction, and the prattling of kids of Worker's Toyshop always did intrigue me.

Speaking of business, I took an occupation in counseling. I supposed that if I wished to earn a decent profit of emotion, what better way of earning it than making people feel better? Luckily, there was an empty building just beside the local elementary, which guaranteed me an equal measure of young and old patients. One visitor who came upon my office was a unicorn pony named Worker. A queer name, but it was certainly very to-the-point. Something about this unicorn reminded me of someone I once knew. Perhaps it was the mustache, or maybe it was the odd egg cutie mark.

In any case, Worker and I became close friends, partially because he had his own stories of his former life prior to here, but notably in that he would engineer props and gadgets to entertain the children. Using them, and a combination of my own changeling capacities, I have become something of a beloved comic, on top of being a counselor. “The Shrink of Many Faces”, they'd call me. Kids of young and old would come to me, I would be behind my desk as one of my many personae, I'd cheer the kid up, have a little fun with them, and if they were good enough, I'd give them one of Worker's wind-up toys as a gift. Worker became subsequently more famous as a result, and the two of us became beloved citizens.

As for Archnid, she too became something of a comic, acting as a sort of a mascot and jester. Like me, she would take a number of forms, but she did so to perform a number of magical acts and illusions, as well as cheering up the children. If they needed more personal help, they would be routed to me. Curiously, even though she was a natural quadruped, she was a fairly competent dancer. Ironic, how a former queen of an entire hive has now also become a queen of comedy. Although I suppose it's a nice way to indulge without having to resort to humping everything that moves. Not that I have anything against it, anyway.

So far, things have been rather pleasant here. For the most part, the ponies of Pasofino treat us with kindness and allow us to indulge in their happiness and affection, and think nothing more or less of it. I am among members of a kind civilization, and a steady job and a loving wife have kept me going for a good while. Honestly, what else more can I say?

Well, I feel it may only be appropriate to end this story with reflection.

When I awoke in this world, I did not expect to stay long. I was a prisoner to a parasite, and I was sure to be the host for only a short while. But, for some reason, it became something more. Somehow, I became more valuable to the Queen, not only as a food source, but as a romantic interest. While this alone was odd, the fact that I was actually feeling in some way similar was equally strange. Perhaps I took pittance upon the poor mare, who was in desperate times, just needing someone who could be of any great help. And though I was foreign to her entire world, it seemed that the stars shone in my favor, and we become true lovers. And when it came time to make it final, I decided to take roots in this world and make the true jump from my humanity and adapt to this world. Then, later, I would lead a sorry people to absolution and salvation by atoning for the sins of our kind.

In hindsight, do I show regret for my actions? In all my earnest passion, I say no. I believe I was fated to be here, and I am fated to remain, staying as an example of the good our people can do. This place feels right in my heart, and the happiness I feel from making others happy not only leaves a great taste in my mouth, but warms my heart, as well. There's not really that much more I can say than that. Doubtless, my adventures will continue, but I have taken root now in this world and in this town. I may heed a call to adventure in the future, but for now, the only future I must consider is the coming generation.

A brand new day will be upon Equestria. But until then, I wish you all the best.

Your King,

Recluse