It hadn't been Skyline's idea, but his home became a center point for the drones. They hung out almost every chance they had. If shooed away, they'd return as soon as the coast seemed clear. They helped out with chores if allowed, and were quite happy to curl up with somepony and just be there, if things seemed relaxed enough.

Skyline went to report to Luna about it. "Your Highness, this is getting a little much. I can't handle all of them at once, and don't always have time to cuddle the lot."

Luna giggled at that. "Would you like me to send them elsewhere?" She offered a hoof, drawing Skyline closer. "Your expression implies your enjoying this more than you are admitting, perhaps to yourself? You are their big sister, in a way. They trust your words, and that you will keep them safe in this confusing time."

Skyline eased into the hug with a soft chuckle. "You aren't wrong. They do make for some good company. They're just a little..."

Luna finished her thought. "Much?"

Skyline nodded quickly. "Much. They're not too far off from my first time, full of being unsure what's going on." She took a slow breath. "It's, um, nice. It's nice to know, for them, they have a place to be, to talk to, to get answers." She put a hoof at her chest. "A little part of me is jealous. I wish I had that before."

Luna ran a hoof along Skyline's side. "I'm glad you don't need it now. But if you should find you want that sort of support in the future, you can always ask."

Skyline flipped an ear back. "I felt awkward, and I still do. Luna, you care, but you're not a changeling."

"You are." She touched her nose to Skyline's cheek. "And you are giving that little love that none of the rest of us could. They would be worried about being too demanding, but you are literally being told to take care of them, by order of the Princess."

Skyline chuckled softly. "You just want more bats around, don't you?"

Luna turned an ear flat. "I would be lying if I said no, Skyline. I do. I also want those loyal to me to be safe and happy. You are helping with that." She put a hoof on Skyline's shoulder. "And I thank you. Now, how can I help make you feel a little better? Chasing the others away won't help, I don't think."

Skyline blushed softly. "I just wish I could give them all the hugs at once. Maybe having another mom around would help."

Luna hummed thoughtfully. "Well, there are expecting ponies in Canterlot. Have you considered reaching a hoof towards them? They may not be changelings, but they understand what it means to be an expecting mother. That is surely something that carries across species' lines."

Skyline shrugged. "I suppose. But they're all ponies. How much can I really have in common with them?"

"At least more than the average pony would." Luna chuckled gently. "They are female, and have life growing in them, and are full of the same anticipations and worries about it." She turned a hoof on herself. "I can't help there. I've never had a foal, and can only relay stories I've heard on the topic."

Skyline nuzzled into Luna's neck. "You are lovely to me, and that is all that matters. But yes, I do think you have the right idea. If I can find ponies who I could spend time with, to share what it's like, that would be a help, I think. If they get along with the drones, they may like it too. More options to badger, or even hug." She smiled with the thought. "The pony may even like it, once they stop being surprised."

Luna chuckled gently. "Yes, you should be fine. These ponies you are seeking would be female, and would understand your feelings better than the average stallion."

Skyline let out a breath as she laid down on the floor. She was still for a time, and Luna allowed it. It was a moment of decompression in a safe place.

"Mmm, they can be too nice to me sometimes." Skyline started rubbing her side slowly. "When they ask, it's not intrusive. I'm flattered they want to know what's going on in my life. But I'm not used to it." She sat up. "And I'll miss it the moment they wander off, damn them all." She laughed, thinking of her new drone family.

Luna set a hoof on her shoulder. "Take solace in the fact that you are loved and accepted here." She gave her a warm smile. "You have earned your place in this world, and in the hearts of so many ponies."

Skyline froze. "Huh." She shook her head slowly. "I, hm, have, haven't I." She smiled, one that spread through her entire body. "I never really noticed. Hm!" She was looking more pleased by the moment. "There's just that Chrysalis thread dangling there. How do we make it so she stops being a problem?"

Luna's ears turned flat. "Unfortunately, there isn't much I can do." She tapped at her chin in thought. "I could declare war on her? But she is not an upfront warrior. She would sneak to you, as she is already in the habit of doing, I hear."

Skyline nodded sharply. "That's true." She ran a hoof over her forehead. "She's going to want something. Food and power. She thinks, right now, I'm giving it to her the long way. What if..." She sat up with a smile. "What if I fell in the line of duty?"

Luna tensed up. "Skyline, please don't speak that way."

"I won't, I won't." Skyline rubbed her cheeks slowly. "But what if something happened, so far as she knew, that took me out? If I was dead, to her, she wouldn't bother looking for me anymore. Same with the drones. If my grand experiment ends in abject failure, all of us dead, so far as she knows, then that's that."

Luna lifted a hoof to argue, but nothing came out. She slowly lowered it, frowning deeply. "That would be a very cruel way to play this."

Skyline wiggled in place. "This is Queen Chrysalis. You can't be cruel to her, she invented the idea first. She has no love for me, or the drones. This is an arrangement, one that benefits her. I've given her all the love she's getting, so it's time to return it to her in spades."

Luna lifted a brow. "If you think you can do this. How can I help?"

Skyline snorted at that. "I know you'll want to, but unless you want to fake kill me, there isn't much you can do. I need to plan this out carefully." She stood up and stepped over to Luna's desk, lifting a piece of paper from it. Without asking, she began scribbling on it with a quill held in a wing.

Luna inclined her head at Skyline. "Hm, I appreciate your intensity, but this remains my office and bedroom, Skyline. You are not allowed to just start scribbling notes in the middle of my desk."

Skyline hiked a brow, smiling at Luna. "Oh, sorry." She didn't sound it. She returned to work for another moment before bringing it back over to Luna. "I'd like your seal, if you would be so kind, Your Highness."

Luna took the paper and looked it over. "No." She pushed it back at Skyline. "I demand you take at least a day considering it before you shove it at me for approval. You're riding a high, Skyline. Simmer down, then we may proceed. Now, it is time for bed. I shall have to evict you."

Skyline folded the paper away. "Sorry." She dipped her head low. "I'll keep you posted on any updates." She trotted from the room, nodding at the guards along the way.

The guards nodded at her as she passed, but she stopped as a wing came down in front of her. One of them, a mare, smiled at her nervously. "Skyline, sorry, please forgive me, but I heard a little."

Skyline slowed to a stop, facing the female guard. "What part? My plan to die?"

She nodded slowly. "Not that part. I mean I did, but I wanted to talk to you about a different part." She pinned an ear back. "I'm expecting. Could I help?" She glanced away and back. "It's my first time."

Skyline considered the mare, a chuckle escaping her. That mare wouldn't help. She was another lost little drone, hoping for support and somewhere to be loved. "I would be delighted to have you over. I'm sure the others would be too."

The mare shrank back, which was adorable to Skyline. "But you're doing stuff. I shouldn't bother you."

Skyline held her hoof up. "Oh no. Not at all." She beckoned the mare forward. "Stop by, when you're not on duty. The others will be happy to meet you. They are a little, well, they are as lost as you are. You'll find something to bond over. They will welcome you with open wings."

The mare didn't move for a time, but then she leaned in and hugged Skyline. The two embraced firmly, but briefly. She saluted and resumed her post.

Skyline saluted and started away from Luna's bedroom with a confident smile. She headed for home. Things were looking up, just like that. She rubbed her hoof along her side again. Yes, things were going very well. She hurried home and slipped in the front door, just to crash into someling.

The drone squeaked and rushed out of the way. "Sorry! I was looking for you!"

Skyline wiggled her ears and chuckled at that. "Looking for me? Why?"

"Because..." The drone closed their eyes. "I wanted a hug, and you're good at those."

Skyline laughed nervously. "I don't mind that." She held out her hooves, and soon had a drone between them, getting a proper hug. "How are you feeling? Oh! A pony mare, a real one, will visit soonish. She's expecting too."

The drone blinked at her. "Why did you tell me that?"

Skyline leaned in and gave them a little nip. "Because she's here for the same reason as you. You can bond over this confusing thing you're both going through." She rubbed her cheek to the drone's. "Are the foals home?"

"Yes." The drone sat back, tucking their tail under them. "I'm scared. I thought I was prepared, but then I felt the egg."

Skyline reached out and stroked their chin. "You felt it? You must be close." She lowered her head to nuzzle the changeling's belly. "Don't be scared. It will hurt, a little, but it will pass, and then you'll have an egg to hold. The love you feel coming at you will only grow stronger."

The drone leaned into the nuzzle. "That's what scares me. I don't know if I can handle that much."

Skyline made a purring sound in her throat. "Do your best, and I'll help you if I can. Remember, when you push the egg out, you'll have more room for love. It's the thing holding all that love you feel so full of right now."

The drone shrank back at that. "Then it will hurt, and then I'll be fine?"

"That's right." Skyline kept on nuzzling them. "It's going to be alright." She smooched that flat belly that gave no hints as to what was to come. "And you have me and all the other drones here to help you. We're a family. We take care of each other."

"Even you? Do you need hugs?" The drone nosed her in return. "I know you must."

Skyline wilted slightly. "Well, yes." Which is when she was tackled to the ground, being hugged so fiercely in return. She wanted to object a little, but it was actually kind of nice, and she melted into it with a soft almost purr.

Author's Note

Part of me is thinking we're drawing close to an end. Just have to tie up Chrysalis, maybe literally.

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