Elsewhere, some changeling drones were experiencing new and strange things. Love was being offered to them, not through pods or one on one seduction. Everypony around them seemed to be gently bathing them in the stuff. It was new, strange, and confusing. It was more love than they had ever gotten at once, even if they were still wary of getting too close to anyone.

It didn't stop the feelings.

Soon, some of the drones were starting to feel the changes inside them, subtle but growing. They had been warned what that would be, but most of them had doubted it would be true, until it was. One drone put a hoof to their belly. "We're really going to lay an egg? I never laid an egg before."

"None of us did." Another smiled brightly. "But we're going to make some little ones, huh? How does it work? Are they actually our children?"

One shrugged with her wings. "I think they are, kind of? We will be their mothers. All the ponies, fathers. They will be bats, remember? Batponies, like Skyline's little ones."

"Yeah, they'll have ears and wings, but they won't be changelings, I don't think. And we'll all be together, raising them, right?" The drones came together at that, chattering with fear and growing excitement.

One rolled an eye. "So much for having a life as a soldier, or working hard to earn your love. I'm happy to stay here, but not if I can't do anything else."

Another looked about the room. "We're still soldiers. Our disguise is perfect. They will keep loving us as we work, and make batponies. They love us."

A few of the drones exchanged looks. "Yes, I guess they do. We haven't even tried anything yet, but they give us love anyways." They wiggled happily. "And that means we're gonna lay eggs." One colored at that. "I was never a broodling before, but I knew one. She was nice. I listened when she talked about it."

That got many drones to gather around that one, curious for details. "She laid many eggs. Alright, fine. I'll share what she told me." They began whispering with the other drones, and were soon sharing stories of their own. "She said it felt really good. She loved laying eggs, and was proud of her kids. Will we be proud? I hope so. That would be nice."

Many of them nodded along with that idea. If they were going to do something, it'd be nice if they could be proud of it afterwards. One raised a hoof. "Skyline looks very happy with his foals. They are very happy with him. They even give him more love."

That got their ears perking up. "Yes, I like him too. He has been very kind to us." They moved closer together. "Should we let him know? I want to tell him what we're doing."

A communal nod rippled through them, as they all agreed to catch Skyline up on their progress.

"I would like to join."

Luna considered the pony before her. They were a bat, but they were not quite right. Like someone had only heard of bat ponies had put the parts together in their best attempt to make one. They clearly had no reference material to start with, and the result was clumsy. "Why?" Luna sat on her haunches before the potential new hire.

Chrysalis rubbed at her neck and cheek. "I heard you're doing interesting things here, and I want to be a part of it."

Luna huffed gently at the poorly-disguised changeling. Part of her wanted to snatch up the chance for another changeling for the ranks. But another was a bit more reserved. "There's a lot of work involved. You'll be a night guard, and that isn't an easy position to fill. Are you certain you're ready for it?"

Chrysalis tapped her chin. "I think I am. What does it involve?"

Luna launched into an explanation, describing the duties of the position in exacting detail. "Are you willing to take on this duty? You will be a force of protection for good ponies while the sun is down. You will follow my orders and those of superior rank."

Chrysalis gave a solid nod. "I think I can handle that." She lowered herself down into a bow. "I want to do this. I can do this."

Luna leaned closer, considering Chrysalis with narrowed eyes. "Very well. Report to Skyline to begin. He's an expert on your kind, and will tell you how to begin. Understood?"

Chrysalis smiled in pleasure. "I understand. I'll see him right away." She bobbed her head and left without a moment's hesitation.

Luna watched her go, then sighed softly. "I hope this goes well. I didn't expect one of them to just wander to us." She laughed suddenly. "Then again, Skyline did just that. I'm being overly paranoid."

Skyline looked up as a knock sounded from his door. He stood up and approached it, his foals orbiting him. "Who is it?" He took the door by a wing and drew it open, revealing a strange and not quite bat pony. "What? Changeling? Your disguise is awful."

"Is that what it's supposed to be?" The new 'bat' entered, looking Skyline over. With a rush of green flames, she took on a proper batpony form, though larger and regal. "There. I trust that is better? Hmmph."

Skyline backed away the moment she talked. She wasn't hiding her voice. "C-Chrysalis?!"

"Queen Chrysalis. Your queen." She scowled at Skyline. "And I demand you tell me what you're doing. Why are you not at the hive? Why have you taken more drones? Why shouldn't I rip you apart and drain what's left of every drop of love it contains?!"

Skyline drew in a deep breath. He knew how she would respond to any excuse or plea he could make. So he took a risk. He grabbed each foal by a shoulder, dragging them to his sides. "I am doing you a favor, Ma'am. I am doing a service to all changelings."

Chrysalis inclined her head at that. "Are you now? Care to explain what that 'service' is?"

Skyline tilted his ears back, wary and unsure if he could talk her around to his point of view. "I'm the father of two new batponies. An entire new species we can hunt. I'm creating new food for us."

Sure Arrow rolled her eyes. "I am not food. You're a jerk." She was facing Chrysalis without fear. "Go away. The drones are all happier away from you. They're not hungry anymore."

Chrysalis reared up with her hooves over each foal, about to stomp down on their heads. "I'll be the judge of that." She sneered at Skyline. "Bold words. The tale of wild eggs are just a myth anyway. Really, being filled to overflowing with love? That much love would kill any creature to give. Anyling knows that!"

Skyline smiled confidently at that, though he kept his children close, each under a wing. "Any single creature. They bathe us in the love of dozens of them all at once, constantly."

Chrysalis arched an eyebrow, still glaring at Skyline. "Is that so?"

Night Wind pushed back against Skyline's wing. "She's not going to hurt us. She doesn't know how happy we are, and how much we want to share it with everyone."

Chrysalis howled with renewed laughter. "Little whelp, why would I care how happy you are? You're just a little snack." She flicked her tongue over her lips, sizing up the little bat ponies. "Mmm, tasty little morsels."

Skyline's ears twitched forward in challenge. "No, you won't. They aren't yours to eat." He huffed softly, wondering if he was making a mistake. But he had to do something, anything to get Chrysalis on his side. "Not yet. They need to make more bat ponies. You can worry about that later, when there are lots of them."

"But the taste." Chrysalis began salivating at the idea. "Such a delicious morsel." She slithered towards Skyline. "But you? What are you doing, running off like this?"

Skyline squeezed both children. "Working on this, Your Highness. I planned to return when we have whole herds of bat ponies. It will take a while, but that is how devoted I am."

Chrysalis ruffled herself up, getting ready to stomp over Skyline. "That better be true, changeling." She glared down at him. "Now, show me your magic. How did you create these?"

Sure Arrow laughed outright at Chrysalis. "Father already told you. He gets love, and makes eggs with it, and we popped out." She nodded firmly, quite sure about how she was made. "He's going to make more bats, and we'll have more brothers and sisters."

Chrysalis finally glanced over at the foals, barely worthy of her attention. "Love doesn't make eggs. Changeling eggs, perhaps, but not bat pony eggs."

Skyline stepped aside, pushing his foals out of the way. Though they weren't under his wings anymore. "I've managed so far, Your Highness. But you're risking the plan being here. If they spot you, the whole thing could crash down."

"No need to worry, little minion. I have a disguise." She waved over her far improved bat pony disguise. "Isn't it a lovely form, hm? Far better than the one you have."

Skyline clenched his teeth. "I am shamed before you, My Queen." He dipped his head low. "Please allow me to continue my work."

Chrysalis wandered closer, examining Skyline's colt, first. She tilted her head from side to side. "Hm, yes, they are well made. Certainly something we can use for future missions."

Night Wind retreated away from Chrysalis, keeping Skyline in the way. "What missions?"

Chrysalis looked over at Sure Arrow. "Well, hunting, of course."

Sure Arrow shifted in place. "Hunting what?"

"Bats." Chrysalis snorted with disgust. "What else would a bat ponies be good for?"

Sure Arrow stamped her hoof. "Oooh! Bats. But they don't taste good. I don't know if they'd fill up any changeling's belly."

Chrysalis went suddenly quiet, eyes scanning back and forth. "You've been thinking about this." She sneered, as close to a smile as she tended to get. "Good. Skyline!" Skyline jumped at being addressed with a shout. "Keep an eye on the drones. If any of them come to harm, I'm holding you responsible."

Skyline dipped his head in agreement. "Of course, My Queen." He shuffled, nervous and unsure how to deal with her. "Do you intend to stay here?"

"Uck, no." She turned for the door. "How you manage playing with your food for so long escapes me. Make it worth the wasted time." She stomped towards the door with a huff.

Skyline rose, standing at attention. "I shall do my best, Your Highness." He watched her go, breathing a sigh of relief once she was out of the door. "That was..."

Sure Arrow crashed into his side. "Amazing! That was Queen Chrysalis? She's just as bad as you said she was."

Night Wind shook his head with less excitement. "I hope she stays away. Father, you should tell Luna about that."

Skyline wrapped a wing over each foal. "Maybe not right now. We shouldn't risk anything happening. If I need to talk to her again, I'll be ready." He sighed softly, taking a seat. "Besides, she knows what to look like now, and could change it, so Luna would have a hard time watching for her."

"You can do it!" Sure Arrow nuzzled Skyline. "That's why she's the queen, right?"

Skyline tucked her under his wing. "Oh, no. She's the queen because she fights hard and will eat anyone who disagrees with her." He chuckled with building tension. "So we have to keep her happy, if we don't want to get munched ourselves."

Sure threw a hoof at the whole thing. "We could take her on, dad! You have guard training and she don't!" She stood proudly, quite certain that guard training was the best kind of training.

Night Wind found himself shivering under Skyline's wing. "Um, you have me too." He nuzzled into a wing. "If you think I could help."

Skyline gently wrapped Night Wind with that wing. "What I want is for my little lovelies to head to bed. You both have school in the morning, hm?"

Sure Arrow gagged. "School! Blegh! Who wants that?"

Night Wind groaned in solidarity. "I don't want to go either. Learning about math and history and stuff is boring."

Skyline rose up, a foal held in either wing. "Good guards know about math and history 'and stuff'. Come on." He carried them into the bedroom, depositing each on their own bed. "Get some rest, you two. I'll be by to get you in the morning, for school."

Both groaned at that, but laid down for the night without much more fuss.

Author's Note

You knew she had to stop by eventually, right?

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