"Breed her!!!" Rainbow exclaimed, flabbergasted.

"To death???" Applejack cringed, shocked.

"It's NOT what it sounds like!!!" Twilight stated again. "That is not going to happen. It is an issue I've been meaning to address with Chrysalis. It's just come secondary to everything that's been happening so far. Right Chrysalis?"

Chrysalis glared. She glared until Twilight caught on.

"Oh right, sorry sorry sorry. You can speak freely again, I didn't mean to forbid you. But please tell them the truth."

"The truth is that it's what needs to happen if you want the changeling race to continue," Chrysalis said flatly.

Twilight's eyes went wide as her emotions spiraled. "I said I wanted the truth, Chrysalis. That's an order."

Chrysalis took a breath as she fully turned to Twilight. In her most measured tones of her multifaceted voice, she spoke. "This is the Changeling way."

The room was silent but for the sound of a very rapidly beating heart.

"Twilight," Spike knocked at the door. "What's going on in there?"

"Spike I have a stash of bits in my bed side table go ahead and take the whole bag and hit the comic book store or the arcade or whatever I don't care just please give us some privacy for the next few hours OK!!!" Chrysalis wasn't sure how Twilight could make her voice seem frantic and yet monotone at the same time.

"Ok, if you say so Twili..."

The rest of his words were cut off as a powerful sound proofing spell suddenly enveloped the room. It suddenly came back down again. "And if you did hear anything that was going on in here please for the love of all things don't tell any pony about it and I promise we'll have a talk about it later. "

"Sure thi..." The spell went back up.

Twilight turned back to the rest of the room. Chrysalis was left wondering why parts of her mane now stuck out at impossible angles.

"OK. So. OK. So.... OK....... So." Twilight was clearly stalling for time. But calling her out on that would be kicking her while she was down.

"You're stalling for time." Chrysalis mentioned.

"No I'm not!" Twilight exclaimed.

"..."

"..."

"Goodness gracious, they're fighting like a married couple already." Twilight turned to Rarity with a look of absolute betrayal.

Rainbow snickered. Applejack and Fluttershy still looked aghast. "So, what's been going on with you and your new roommate for the last week?" Rainbow seemed to be purposely misreading the situation. Chrysalis couldn't help but feel disgusted, at the flavor of the emotions now raging through the room. The other changelings visibly cringed at it.

Not for the first time, Chrysalis thought she could feel Twilight attempting to consciously rerail her train of thought. Unlike previously though, this did not lead to ordered streams of emotions that were difficult not to indulge in. Rather than one big tempest of swirling emotions, she seemed to have organized them into several smaller ones, none of which seemed any less chaotic than the original.

"Chrysalis. I'm not sure why you'd think this was even an option. Rest assured, even on the off chance that I wanted and or needed to breed with you, it certainly wouldn't be to the death."

"So you would force me to stay your indentured broodmare for as long as you could keep me alive. I didn't think you capable of such cruelty. But rest assured you cannot break me. I'll never beg for leniency."

"... Well, hopefully they at least have a safe word."

"Ok Rainbow, y'all need to shut it for a few." Rainbow snickered until Applejack indicated in the direction of Fluttershy. Though her face was hidden, it was obvious she was turning a little green at the conversation. Rainbow cringed, and looked apologetic. Applejack looked relieved and made her best attempt to quell the emotional storms raging against one another. "So what exactly is 'the changeling way' and why does it sound so brutal?"

The ponies in the room were shocked as for the first time, Chrysalis seemed to be delighted to speak. "Unlike you ponies who seem to breed weakness into your species, we changelings strive to perfection. This is why it is so important for all things in the hive to be done by the will of the queen. And if the queen is not strong enough, a new queen will take over and build the hive stronger."

Applejack looked hesitant. "... And you've, done this? Beaten another queen, and bred them... to..."

"Wait," Rainbow interjected, her inability to read the room for once being helpful. "How could she breed somepony? Aren't you, you know, a mare?"

Chrysalis rolled her eyes. "Only lower species are concerned about such things as that." The ponies seemed puzzled by this response. "Have you simple creatures really forgotten so quickly?"

A green flame sparked below Chrysalis, enveloping her in a moment. As it burned away her form was replaced, with a remarkably similar one. Smaller, furrier, and not full of holes. Quite simply, it was Chrysalis, but as a pony. A horn, no wings, onyx black fur and her green mane. A mark of a green flame and a black crown sat on her flanks. Definitely not average looking, but definitely a unicorn mare.

Before any comment could be made on this the flame sparked again. And again when it cleared moments later the image hadn't changed much. A unicorn, but this one with a sharper jaw, wider hooves, and a slightly heartier frame. A unicorn stallion, though again a far from average one. A stirring of emotions in the room made Chrysalis turn to Rarity, giving the mare a confused look.

"Oh, goodness," she managed through what sounded like a dry mouth.

"Hey now Rarity, don't be perving on Twilight's new wife." Rainbow still seemed intent on stirring up every ponies' emotions, and Chrysalis expected this to make Twilight's all the more unpalatable. That seemed to not be the case however.

Twilight was now up close to Chrysalis, seeming to be examining her. "Wait, so are you saying that changelings don't naturally have any gender?" It wasn't that Twilight's emotions had calmed, it seemed more that her curiosity had simply suppressed them. Curiosity was a... curious thing to taste.

"Why would we need such a thing as gender?" Her flames once again enveloped her as she returned to her original form. "We are Changelings, we are whatever we need to be to hunt." Chrysalis seemed proud by this declaration.

"That's fascinating." Twilight said, the thirst for knowledge glimmering in her eyes.

"But it's not what I'm concerned about," Applejack cut in. "I think we really need to know, what do you do with other changelings' hives?"

The emotions all settled into a much more dower state. Even Twilight's curiosity died down at the inquiry. Chrysalis didn't like that, but she figured it would come back with explanation. "Exactly what I'm assuming you're thinking. When two hives become aware of each other, either one will flee, or they will fight. The final confrontation should be between the queen of each hive, although typically the battle is long since decided. The victor of the fight will either use the loser to incubate a large clutch of eggs, or take the genetic materials needed to raise a clutch of eggs themselves. Either way, the loser typically doesn't survive." She gave a divisive smile to Twilight. "It's not exactly a smart tactic to keep alive a threat as obvious as a rival queen."

"So you've done that. Beaten another queen, and ra..." Twilight stumbled over the words.

"Your pony explanations don't mean anything to me. A queen can inject another with eggs through their ovipositor and force fertilization, or take their genetics through their ovipositor and use it to fertilize their own eggs."

"And what did you choose in that situation, when you took all the other hives?"

Chrysalis glared. "I take what I need and leave nothing to chance. I could have gotten more changelings by breeding other Queens, but my children are stronger and more competent than their drones. The changelings I took from their hives I used to build my hive bigger, and they didn't last much longer than that."

Applejack looked sickened. "That... still sounds really horrible."

"No, it's actually really not." Everypony seemed shocked at the soft words. Fluttershy, looking more composed, straightened up to speak. "I think I get it now. Kinda like Applejack before, I was thinking about this the wrong way." She looked up, seeming to think for a moment. "There are certain species of ants, they will overrun other colonies, kill most of the mature ants, and steal the larva. It's just how they've evolved, it's their nature."

"But they're not ants, Shy." Applejack interjected.

"But they are not ponies either. We can't judge them by pony standards." She seemed to think about something again. She turned fully to the fallen queen. "But Chrysalis. Your species is advanced enough, I think you can realize it's time to change."

Chrysalis stomped up to Fluttershy, hissing violently in the absence of the ability to shout. To her surprise, the pegasus didn't flinch. She couldn't even feel her emotions stir. The gaze she gave her at the moment didn't seem like anything could break it. "Insolent pony. Suddenly thinking yourself strong. Changelings are the superior species and we will not yield to the ways of lowly ponies."

Fluttershy now stood face to face with Chrysalis, the queen kneeling down to glare into her eyes. "Then how did you lose?" Chrysalis drew back to strike her, but found herself unable to. "When a species finds its usual ways unable to sustain itself, it either goes extinct, or it adapts to survive. That's nature's way."

Chrysalis glared, but finally broke away, stomping to the middle of the room. "What would you have me do? Yield? Assume that a species I've hunted my entire existence will not turn against us? Trust ponies?"

"... Yes." Chrysalis now turned, rage attempting to flare. However the words spoken from Twilight seemed to signal that she'd gotten her emotions back under control. The tempest cleared and her ordered emotions restored, she now gave off a flavor that made it more difficult for her anger to build. She didn't respond as Twilight stepped up to her. "Chrysalis, I know you're probably used to feeling in control. And having some creature else control your fate is probably very scary."

"I fear nothing," Chrysalis sneered.

"You fear for the safety of your changelings. But rest assured that I meant it when I said that they are our changelings now." Chrysalis couldn't really back up with ponies surrounding her on all sides. Thus she didn't draw away as Twilight raised a hoof, and placed it gently on her shoulder.

"I can't possibly trust you. Every creature only does what's best for themselves," Chrysalis declared.

"And I believe, it will be better for ponies if we and changelings could live side by side. It doesn't matter if you trust me right now Chrysalis, because I promise on my pride as a Princess of Equestria... and my willingness as a Changeling Queen, I'll do everything I can for your changelings and you to be happy." Twilight held her position, face to face with Chrysalis and giving her the most trusting look she possibly could.

"..., .... Well, I ship it." Thwack!.

Despite being struck in the face with a rather large book, and now falling from her perch on top of the bookshelves, Rainbow laughed all the way down.

"Sorry for using a book as a weapon, Twi. But I didn't want to ruin the moment. I think things were finally getting back on track."

Taken aback by both Rainbows words and Applejack's actions, Twilight once again corralled her emotions. "Chrysalis, just how long do changelings live?"

Feeling remarkably calm at the moment, Chrysalis responded. "Queens can live as long as they have love. Regular changelings have similar life spans to ponies. I believe it's linked to you having always been our prey."

"So we don't have to worry about another generation of changelings quite yet. For now, can we just focus on our changelings that we do have. Bringing them to Ponyville and making them a part of the community is going to be tough. I'd much rather have you here to help."

"You'd really keep me around, knowing what a threat I could be?"

"We could be a threat to each other. So how about this. I'm not sure how I can phrase this as an order so how about just a promise. If I ever do anything that can directly harm any of our changelings, I'll give you full control of the hive back."

Chrysalis was stunned. "How are you not lying right now?"

"Because if I'm ever going to get you to trust me, I have to trust you first. But Chrysalis, I'm putting a lot of trust in you. Please, can you give me something. You don't have to show me I can trust you, just show me you'll do whatever you can to help your changelings too."

"Of course I'd do anything for my changelings."

"Even if it means going against the changeling way?"

"..."

"Chrysalis. Help me to help you."

"... ok." A calm now spread through the rest of the room, reminding Chrysalis of the other ponies there. She pulled away from Twilight's touch, finding her breathing to be heavy. "What is the plan then? What could a changeling possibly do in a pony society?"

"We can figure that out together." Almost as if she too felt the sudden shift in emotions in the room, Twilight added on quickly. "All of us, we can help find something for all of them. Any ideas girls?" She finally looked away from Chrysalis, asking the rest of her friends.

There were a few moments of hesitation. Minds seemed to be working, but emotions seemed stable, and hopeful.

"Even if they aren't ponies, they are pony like." Rarity suggested. "Technically speaking, they can do anything ponies can do. The real challenge would be... well."

"That some ponies aren't going to want them around." Applejack finished the thought very honestly. The feeling of that was bitter, but not prominent. "I mean, I could easily invite a bunch of them to come work the farm. But I don't think just using them to help us is going to help much. If ponies see them, really see them helping and getting along. I think that could work."

"So, what can they do for ponies that no pony, no creature else could?" Rarity asked.

"What about a fantasy brothel?" Rainbow Dash suddenly suggested from her fallen position behind the shelf she'd been on. Chrysalis didn't know until then that glares could be felt. Rainbow seemed to feel it as well. "What, they can literally be anypony, and they can't get themselves or anypony pregnant."

"Rainbow, seriously. Why can't you get your mind out of the gutter right now?" Applejack snapped, seeming ready to tear into the pegasus.

Seeming to realize she'd finally stepped over a line, some time ago, Rainbow came from behind the shelf looking sheepish. "Sorry. It's just, I've never seen Twilight get that frazzled. I mean has she ever had a special somepony? I didn't want to let it drop until I could get at least some mileage from it."

"Y'all been acting like this just because you wanted to tease Twi. Really?" Applejack glared hard.

"Yeah, sorry," Rainbow said while rubbing the back of her head.

"Rainbow... it's not like I've never thought about relationships. But I've always had much more important things to think about. Especially right now. Tease if you want, but I'm a princess now, and I've got responsibilities to deal with first."

"Yeah, I guess. But tell me this at least, because I've literally never heard you say it about anypony. Do you think Chrysalis is hot?"

Twilight sighed with exhaustion. "What I think of Chrysalis's physical appearance is not relevant. We just need to get along enough to do what's right for our changelings. Right Chrysalis?"

They turned to see Chrysalis giving Twilight a suspicious look. She shook it away before responding. "Yes, and we still don't have a plan on that."

"Oh oh oh," Pinkie exclaimed. "Perfect idea. What if we have one of them come work at Sugarcube Corner?"

"I don't know Pinkie. Wouldn't that be a little too public for the first changeling?" Twilight wondered aloud, already considering the details.

"No no, it'll totally work. Mr. and Mrs. Cake have been wanting to hire new help there for a while, but they don't know if they can afford it. If a changeling is willing to take part of their pay in love it could really help them, it would still be fair for the changeling and no ponies except for maybe Cadence and Shining Armor have more love to share than the Cakes."

Twilight's emotions seemed to rise at the idea. "The question there, would be if the changelings would be willing to work for love. Chrysalis, do you think you could ask the hive, see if there's maybe an infiltrator that's had some baking experience and likes the idea. Not as an order, see if they want to do it."

Sighing, Chrysalis closed her eyes and felt the hive mind come over her. Chatter that usually stayed at the edge of her senses now flowed through her. She went through her children one by one, though little time passed for the ponies around her. As she came out of it, she suddenly realized that allowing herself to be that defenseless among these ponies should have been very dangerous.

"There are a few who would be willing to try, and one that previously worked in a restaurant while under cover. Of course they are back at the hive, so they'll have to make the trip here."

"That's actually perfect." Twilight exclaimed, suddenly taking Chrysalis's hooves in her own. "We can work out the details with the Cakes while they're on the way here. Please tell them to start heading this way, but be discreet. We still don't need ponies freaking out. They'll get used to seeing changelings soon, but let's take this gently. OK?"

Chrysalis couldn't deny, Twilight's emotions at that moment were delicious. So much so Chrysalis almost felt sated just off of them. Too much junk food she figured, but right now she didn't care. "Ok," she agreed simply.

The moment was broken by Pinkie's sudden excited chattering. "This'll be great. Everypony at the shop has been curious about changelings ever since we got back."

The mood in the room soured again instantly. With hoof upon forehead, Rarity inquired. "Pinkie, did you tell ponies around town about Chrysalis and the changelings being here?"

"Of course. Everypony should know when there's potential new friends around."

Dragging her hoof from her forehead, Rarity inquired again. "Did you not think it appropriate to be discreet about such a potentially delicate situation."

For the first time Pinkie seemed concerned. "Well, no pony said it was a secret."

There was a tense silence.

"She's got us there I guess. No pony said to keep it quiet." Applejack admitted this begrudgingly.

"Your pony command structure is really pathetic." Chrysalis added on.

With a sigh, Twilight decided to see how much damage control might need to be done. "How many ponies did you tell about this, Pinkie?"

"Just most of my regulars at the shop," she explained, gleeful once more.

Twilight rubbed her eyes with a hoof. "Pinkie, almost the whole town are your regulars."

Another tense silence.

"I hate to say I told ya' so, but..." Applejack said, looking frustrated.

Though the commotion in Twilight's emotions wasn't major, Chrysalis still enjoyed indulging as she felt her working them back into order. "Chrysalis, have you noticed any strange emotions in town? I know you've been stuck here, but you haven't noticed anything that felt like fear, panic, or anything that might indicate ponies might be forming a mob, have you?"

"None whatsoever," she stated bluntly. "This town's emotions seem remarkably calm. There does seem to be a background feeling of anxiety, but it seems very ingrained and would likely predate my arrival."

Twilight considered. "That's probably related to the random monster attacks we have to deal with."

"Monster attacks?" Chrysalis inquired.

"Semi regular thing in this town. You get used to it, and there's never any lasting damage done. Except Trixie's cart that one time," Twilight explained while in thought.

"You ponies are weird. Why would you live here." Chrysalis wondered.

"It's home," Twilight said with a smile. "Hopefully, someday you'll see it that way too."

"I doubt it." Chrysalis said dryly.

"What's important is it seems like you, I-25, D-3, and S-19 and 23 are safe for now. Overall I think this meeting was... at least not as bad a disaster as it could have been." Twilight smiled.

"It was eventful, that's for sure, Rarity added. "I for one am going to need a trip to the spa. I'm dragging you along Fluttershy, you don't get a choice."

"Ok Rarity." Fluttershy agreed.

"Rainbow Dash," Rarity turned on the other pegasus. "I'd recommend you go take a long, cold shower if I didn't know you frequently bathe by flying through clouds." The rest of the ponies grumbled as Rainbow looked embarrassed.

"Yeah, sorry. I took that a little too far."

Rarity sighed, and then turned to Twilight and Chrysalis still together at the center of the room. "Twilight, it's been lovely. And Chrysalis," she sighed again. "Welcome to Ponyville. It only gets weirder from here."

Both the statement and the genuine feelings from it confused Chrysalis. Even more so as they seemed to be mirrored by the other ponies as they began leaving. With a quick order her changelings left as well, going back up to the room where Chrysalis was staying as they had been since the day after she'd woken up.

The room cleared, Twilight gave a sigh of relief. "I'm sorry if that was a lot for you and the changelings to deal with."

"We are not so..." Chrysalis stopped and considered before she began again, her voices more synced. "I don't know how you ponies show appreciation. But right now I can't find reason to doubt that you are trying to help me and my children. What would you say in my position?"

Twilight smiled a pleasantly sweet smile. "In this situation, a pony would just say Thank you."

Chrysalis nodded. "Than thank you, Twilight."

"And thank you for giving me and the others a chance.

Chrysalis gave Twilight a suspicious look again, but again brushed it off. "I fear being around those element bearers so long that I've eaten a bit too much." I think I'd like to join my children upstairs for a nap."

"You don't need my permission. You're free to enjoy yourself as long as you stay inside for now. As for me," she now let out a grumble of annoyance. "I have a little brother to go find and potentially have a very awkward conversation with. Have a good nap, Chrysalis."

Chrysalis nodded, and found herself watching Twilight as she left. Confusion plagued her own emotions.

'It tasted different coming from Twilight, but it did taste familiar. But there is no way Twilight was feeling that, right?'

Author's Note

Twenty minutes to midnight and just starting author notes. Sorry, was in no state to write yesterday and I've been dealing with distractions all day today. Editing was fast and dirty, so hopefully it isn't too bad. Much like in the story itself, this got a little off the rails. I'm Ok with it, but I think it's a little weaker than I originally hoped this chapter would be. Might put in an extra edit after publishing, so hopefully no one jumps on this to fast. Sorry for the delay and I how you enjoy. Comments always welcome, good or bad.