So the first thing to note is that the inside of a changeling hive looks like the inside of some alien city. Like the whole thing was dark, almost pitch black, which was thanks to every wall being covered in black, crystalized resin. It wasn’t completely pitch black, because about every ten or twenty feet, there were weird lamp like structures that were embedded in the walls. The only reason why I didn’t immediately run back out of the Hive was because Chrysalis was with me, and I was dating her now. Chrysalis wouldn't just drag me into her homeland to murder me right?

Chrysalis was more than capable of doing that on Equestrian soil, thank you. Yes, I can see how strong Chrysalis’s forelegs are, yes they are beautiful, and enticingly good at giving hugs. Also yes, those same forelegs could probably break my neck like a twig.

Oh yeah, there’s a bunch of blue, blueish green, or completely green eyes just staring at me. Why? Because I am pony, and I guess ponies aren’t very common inside of changeling Hives.

“You know, everyling, it is impolite to hide in the shadows and stare at the Queen’s guest,” Chrysalis chuckled. “This is Fruit Punch, who I am currently courting, and he is quite the delightful little stallion. Treat him as you would your fellow changeling; he might be your king one day!” My girlfriend announced, and shortly after a changeling came out of the shadows, and had casually landed next to me.

Or rather, right in front of me. “Uh… Hi.”

“Your highness,” the changeling stood at full height. “Are you sure you want to date a midget?” You fucker! I am fun sized according to Chryssy! You’re only two heads taller than me!

Okay, I’m short as fuck, but you don’t yave to point it out.

“Yes Entenna, I wish to keep courting Fruit Punch despite is vertical challenges.”

“Oi, fuck you!”

“Oh? You want to reach that point in the relationship, Fruit?”

“Uh…” Fuck. My cheeks are warming up now.

Entenna laughed. “Glad to see that you still play such foalish tricks on your future mates, your highness.”

“Of course, as a Queen, I must be a role model for my Hive. Entenna, can you be a dear and fetch Skitter and Scatter, and have them meet me in the throne room? I still have a few places in the Hive I would like to show Fruit. Namely the nursery.”

“Is it… wise to take a Pony into the nursery? No offense to you, your highness, but how do we know that Fruit won’t just hurt a nymph, even if it is just by accident.”

“I believe Fruit will be careful, and I can supervise my stupid little stallion.”

I perked up. “Hey, I’m stupid, but I’m also dumb!” I pouted. Before I could protest, Chrysalis urged me to follow her.

Oh. My. God.

Baby changelings are precious! Like Jesus Christ, them big ol’ eyes, those adorable little fangs, the stubby legs! Oh my god! I remained perfectly still, sitting on my rump, holding a nymph like I would my own child. It’s so tiny, that I’m scared of accidentally hurting, or startling the baby changeling by moving too much. The little bugger is reaching his little hooves up to my face.

D'aww… He looks like he wants to bite my face off, but he’s so cute!

“I take it that your heart has been won over by that little nymph?” Chrysalis asked. Well, I guess she’s right, because now I’m playing a little game with the baby. The improvised game mostly involved me booping my nose against that nymph’s nose, and the nymph had to try and grab my nose with his hooves and baby fangs.

“And I suppose the nymph likes you just as much?” Chrysalis chuckled as the baby began to giggle like a little child as we played our game.

Chrysalis

I couldn’t help but to sit back and watch Fruit Punch playing with a nymph. The nymph was clearly enjoying the attention, and Fruit was ever so gentle with it that it had shocked me. Fruit was currently being more gentle and more attentive to the nymph than some of the drones, who’s job is to watch over and play with the younglings of the Hive. Needless to say, I was impressed, and my cold blooded heart warmed up a little as I watched the interaction.

“Yowch!” Fruit flinched when the nymph and successfully nipped his nose. “Man, you’re a strong little fella eh? Betcha you’ll grow up big, strong, and fully ready to become the very best little buggy that ever was!” Fruits brought the nymph up to his cheek and nuzzled it. Fruit then slowly looked up at me. “Can I keep him?”

“No Fruit, you may not keep the nymph. Maybe once he can walk, I can arrange playdates between the two of you?” I cocked my head to the side.

“Deal.”

“Your highness!” I turned to see… two of my best guards, Skitter and Scatter, saluting me. “Entenna said you were seeking us?” Skitter asked.

“I believe I instructed that drone to meet me at the throne room… Worry not, I can give you your assignment from here,” I pointed to Fruit, who was now napping with the nymph, who was now curled up underneath Fruit’s head… that is adorable. “Once Fruit is awake, I want you two to accompany him, and make sure no’ling tries to drain him. I would like to marry Fruit at some point, and I cannot do that if he is drained of all of his love. And, though it is not required, can you give Fruit Punch a tour of the Hive?”

“Of course, your majesty.”

“If something should arise, I shall be in my throne room, attending to other duties.”

“Yes, your highness,” Scatter said. I nodded to the two guards after planting a kiss on Fruit’s forehead, and trotted past them to the rest of the Hive.

Fruit Punch

I slowly raised my head off of the nymph I was ‘protecting’, and smiled fondly at how cozy the nymph was. God damn, dude, when I thought changelings were already oddly cute, Chrysalis decided to show me what a baby changeling looks like? Chryssy, what the actual fuck? Now all I want to do is sit and play with babies- what the heck is wrong with me? I used to actually hate children quite a fair amount, they’re loud, obnoxious, and kinda smelly.

In the case of this nymph, he was just kinda smelly. Other than that, he was so delightful!

“Sir,” a hoof tapped my back, and I slowly sat up to look at the changeling that- “My name is Skitter, this is Scatter, and we will be accompanying you while you explore the Hive. If you'd like, we can also give you a tour, or just sit and play with the nymphs. I personally don’t mind what you wish to do, as long as you remain within mine, and Scatter’s sight… it is our Queen’s command to keep an eye on you, after all.”

I sat up and stretched. “Aight… I assume I gotta leave the baby in the nursery, right?”

“Yes sir, especially nymphs as young as the one you were just playing with.”

“Aight then… will-” I jumped when another changeling dropped from the ceiling and collected the nymph I was napping with. “Holy- do all you guys just randomly drop in from god knows where?” I asked. Like Jesus Christ, that is the sixth one today!

“Well sir, our species heavily relies on stealth to hunt prey and to survive; we kind of have to be good at being sneaky.” Skitter said. My eyes drifted to Scatter. “She doesn’t like to talk all that often, sir, so I usually speak for us.”

“Are you two siblings or something?”

“Yessir, twins in fact,” Skitter answered in a heartbeat.

I then stood up. “C’mon, show me around the Hive, it sounds like a fun pastime since I’ll probably be here for a little bit.”

As Skitter had decided to show me a cool little fountain that was apparently spewing liquid love(it was pink. Cool) , something caught my ears. Like the sound of yelling, yelling something meant to hurt somebody’s- okay, somebody was getting bullied. I quickly snuck away from my guards, as doing that surely won’t have any repercussions, and trotted around the fountain to see three changelings standing over a fourth, who was currently cowering and curled up into a ball. My blood began to boil when I saw one of the first three changelings spat on the cowering changeling.

The cowering changeling was crying.

“Not so much of a tough guy without Pharynx around, huh?” One of the bullies set a hoof on the cowering changeling, while winding up another to begin beating down on the poor fella. Well, I can’t just standby and let this happen. So, without making a dumb battlecry that’ll sell my cover, I ran forward as fast as I could while screaming the only appropriate thing I could think of:

“Leeroy Jenkins!” I shouldered one of the changelings, specifically the one getting ready to beat the shit out of the changeling on the ground, sending them to the ground with a thud. “Aight, what the fuck are y’all doing to this fella?”

“And what do you think you’re doing in our Hive, pony? Do you have a death wish?”

“Well… death does sound like an appetizing thing, but I would also like to keep living. Before we end up yelling and or beating each other to a pulp, why don’t we exchange names?” The apparent lead changeling nodded, surprisingly.

“I am Coxa, this is Tibia and Tarsus,” Coxa said, pointing to his two lackeys.

“Name’s Fruit Punch, also known as Fruit, I am currently dating your Queen. So feel free to murder me and see what your Queen does when your Queen finds out that you murdered the Queen’s coltfriend. Trust me, it will not end well for you,” I snarled.

“You’d seem like the type to flaunt your position, pony-”

“And you’re beating somebody up because they’re weaker than you.”

“Because he is worth nothing to the Hive, Thorax has to be the worst changeling to ever changeling in the history of this Hive! He can’t scout, he cannot capture anycreature, and can’t even gather love or fight!”

“And so you beat him up for being weak… You fucking foul piece of shit.”

“What-”

“Being strong does not mean you can beat others, who cannot fight, down into the dirt. Shitbags like you only have friends because you’re a brute who’ll beat the hell out of them for not blindly following your worthless carapace.” Coxa began to tear up a little bit, but I wasn’t done. “You are not worth anything to anyling, all you do is wander around the Hive, don’t you? You just wander until you find some poor bastard to beat the shit out of to fill in the void that is your worthless, empty life. Am I correct?”

“... yes,” Coxa almost whispered.

“Say it louder, I can’t hear you!” I shouted.

“Yes!” Coxa was now crying.

“Now go take your worthless ass somewhere else, like helping the Hive with patrols, gardening, whatever the fuck, I don’t give a shit. Go actually do something that serves the Hive as a whole rather than beating down the individuals who can’t, or won’t, fight back against you.” I slowly moved my gaze to Coxa’s friends. “And you two aren’t any fucking better. Quit following this worthless waste of oxygen, or I will find you, and I will ask Chrysalis to kick your shit in. are we clear?” All three changelings nodded before running off.

All three of them were crying.

I then spun around, got down on my… knees? I don’t know, I have four of them if they’re knees. “Hey bud,” the changeling looked up, and was shivering. “Don’t worry, I won’t verbally lash out at ya. Are you hurt?”

“No…”

“No, no, you’re hurt. Not physically, but you’re hurt.”

“W-what do you mean?”

“You just got verbally abused and were about to get physically abused. I don’t think you’re doing very good mentally.”

“I-I suppose I’m n-not.” I settled down next to the crying changeling. “What a-are y-you doing?”

“If you wanna cry your heart out, do it, it’s good for you. If you need a shoulder to cry on, I’m here.”

“B-but won’t I ruin your fur by crying on you?”

“It might, but some fur isn’t worth anything. Your emotional well-being’s what I care about, so c’mon… Thorax was it?” The changeling nodded. “Just cry, vent, anything. I’ll listen, and I’ll try and see if I can’t get help for you.” Thorax didn’t need anymore coaxing, he buried his face into my shoulder and started crying. Y’know, wet fur sucks, but it’s not too big of a deal. Thorax just kept pouring tears, while the muffled sounds of his woes verberated through my whole being. “Good, good, let it out. I want you to cry… sometimes crying is what you need to feel better.”

“Fruit Punch!” I looked up, I was laying in the same position, with Thorax using me as a pillow, to see my escorts. “What in the Hive are you doing? One moment we were going over the history of the Hive and you… is that Thorax?” Skitter asked, his wings went from buzzing constantly, likely from irritation, to him being kinda scared. I simply nodded. “Sir, we need to run. If Pharynx catches you, or us near his brother, he’ll beat the hell out of us-”

“What are you doing with Thorax?” A voice that absolutely demanded authority rang through my ears. A changeling ran ahead, before stopping and glaring at me.

“Sup,” I waved at the new face, who looked incredibly angry. “Your brother was just getting bullied, so I helped him out, and got him to vent everything to me. Poor fella just needs a friend or two, so I’m volunteering to be his friend. So here we are, I’m letting Thorax hug me,” I gestured to the two forelegs wrapped around my neck. “And I’m staying here until he wakes up, or feels better.” I assumed this was Pharynx, and began to study me.

“So you’re the pony that’s managed to woo the Queen…” Pharynx sighed. “You’re lucky that I have orders that I cannot lay a hoof on you,” the drone walked up to me and got really close to my ear. “And I suppose I should thank you for helping out my brother… But I should let you know, if you hurt Thorax’s feelings in any way, shape or form, I will drop those orders and drain you of love, got it, pony?” Pharynx whispered.

“Yeah, yeah, don’t get your wings in a twist, Mr. Pharynx. I’ll make sure to take good care of Thorax.”

Pharynx nodded. “Good, because noling, and definitely nopony, has the right to bully my brother except me.”

“You just love him,” I smirked. Pharynx growled at me, and I knew he was hiding the fact that this changeling does in fact, love his dorky little brother. What? Pharynx gives off big brother energy! Pharynx flew off to do whatever the heck, most likely watch me from the shadows, and disappeared from my sight.

“Sir, did you just… talk to Pharynx,” I nodded. “And garner some respect from him?”

“Uh… I guess. Say, why does everybody seem to know Thorax?”

“Just… about every drone in the Hive sees Thorax as weak, mostly because Thorax isn’t.. The most competent drone in the Hive. Neither I, nor Scatter really bother with Thorax; he leaves us alone, so we leave him alone.”

“Fruit Punch?” Thorax asked quietly. “You didn’t leave me behind?”

“What kinda friend would I be if I turned my back on somebody who needs me?” I chuckled. “If you wanna keep relaxing, we can stay here.” I looked to my escorts, and the two of them nodded.

“That… would be very nice, thank you Fruit.”

“Fruit?” I looked up to see Chrysalis standing over me, looking kinda mad. “Why did three drones run my way, crying about a mean pony?” She asked. “You didn’t hurt anyling in here, did you…” she stopped when her eyes fell on the sleeping form of Thorax.

“Well, those three changelings were harassing this guy here, so I put a stop to it. Since I can’t really do any physical harm; I’m a twig of a unicorn, I figured I could use my tongue to do the fighting for me. Granted, I may have gone a little too far with calling those three idiots worthless, but hey, it ticks me off when I see the little guy get pushed around for something out of their control.”

Chrysalis sighed. “Well, I suppose verbal lashings are better than actual lashings. Do please tone down your verbal assault, you made me have to direct Coaxa and his friends to therapy with how harsh your words were.”

Fuck.

“Whenever you feel like it, please allow Skitter and Scatter to lead you to my throne room. We are hosting a feast in your name!” Chrysalis pranced. “With your verbal lashing, you’ve garnered quite a bit of love and admiration; Coaxa and his friends aren’t a favorite amongst my Hive, as they berate and beat anyling that isn’t Skitter, Scatter, Pharynx, or myself. And it’s only because those four are more than capable of blasting Coaxa to dust.”

Huh.

Author's Note

the contents of the yell were kinda mean.