"Laying a trap for your own friend, who you knew would pursue you? Queen Chrysalis may appreciate your cunning..." Tremor mumbles.

It was morning, and they'd taken the night to rest, instead. Their plan of flying there was bust, now, because they had a... hostage.

Tremor had learned a new way to disable a Unicorn. A very... undignified way.

Jacking the horn. It had put the purple pony into a drooling stupor.

He wasn't sure what was worse, though. The fact that he had watched, or that Barfy had looked jealous.

Actually, was the Human even aware that Barfy had selected him as her mate?

She was doing all the Changeling mating tells. Repeatedly bumping into him with her flank, prolonged short-range eye contact, direct physical eye contact, mating chirps... no reaction.

Tremor walks alongside Anon, Barfy huffily following a few feet further back. Twilight was tucked under Anon's arm, bound in the same rope that Tremor had been bound in prior.

She was completely out of it, mumbling something about Celestia.

Anon kept wiping his hand on his shirt.
"Why the fuck was it so sticky...?" He grumbles.

"...Anon." Tremor pipes up.

"What's up, buddy?" Anon glances over.

"...Buddy?" Tremor repeats, confused.

"Yeah? We're friends now, so you're a Buddy." Anon nods, grinning.

"...Oh." Tremor hums. Humans had... an odd way of making friends. And were oddly forgiving, but also grudge-holding.
"Why were you prepared to capture this Twilight?"

"Oh, she's a control freak. I knew she'd find me, and probably wouldn't be willing to let me leave. She's kind of the reason I'm even here, so she feels this... overhanging sense of responsibility." Anon explains.

"...You are surprisingly astute, while maintaining an impressive density of the mind." Tremor muses aloud.

Anon raises an eyebrow.
"...Thanks? What do you mean by that?"

Tremor nods behind them, to the pouting Barfy, who is looking away.

"You continually ignore her. Is it on purpose?" Tremor asks, incredulous look painted on his face.

"What? No. I'm not ignoring her. What?" Anon sputters.

"She is jealous, and has made distance. You give your attention to another." Tremor warns.

Anon looks at the stupefied Purple Pony in his arm.
"...Really?"

"...Give me the Twilight, I will carry her. Carry your Barfy." Tremor instructs.

Twilight is passed off in a glow of deep-green magic, being secured to Tremor's back. He was sturdy for a Changeling.

Barfy is surprised when she's scooped from the ground, now dangling in Anon's arms as he catches up to Tremor.

For a moment, she continues to pout... then it melts away, and she leans into his side, chirping with contentment.

"...If you have to handle the Twilight again before we arrive, please do not do it while she is on my back." Tremor requests politely.

"Honestly, I should just teach you how to do it. Ever cranked it, Tremor?" Anon snorts, scratching Barfy's head.

"Have I what?" Tremor pauses, visibly disgusted.

Well, that was unpleasant.

Tremor felt dirty. A shiver runs up his spine as the Unicorn drools on it.

But, the Unicorn was Re-stupefied for their journey. They'd have to do this a few more times, to keep her pacified; the Hive had proper Magical Negation for ponies, but until then... Eugh. And since Barfy didn't seem keen on letting Anon do it again...

Double Eugh.

"Since we can't fly there, now... we will take the tunnels." Tremor explains, pausing at the side of a large cave.

"...Subtle."

Tremor steps beside it, pushing aside a rock. It reveals another smaller hole.

"Oh. Actually subtle." Anon hums.

"We have a tunnel network through some of Equestria, so we don't always have to travel in disguise, or for Changelings who haven't found a guise yet. Follow me; they are complex." He warns, climbing in.

Anon shrugs, about to step in -- Barfy cuts in front of him, going first.

"Well bescuse you, Barfster." Anon mumbles.

Barfy pauses, throwing a very... particular look at Anon, which he does not catch.

It wasn't entirely unpleasant, traveling by tunnel; kind of cramped, but kind of comfortable. The dirt was reinforced with their weird, alien movie material stuff. And probably some level of magic, because there is no way they crossed that much Equestria, that quickly. It was what, days?

Anon may or may not have exited the tunnel to burgle some local food, with the help of the Changelings.

Barfy got her usual; but in the case of Tremor, Anon permitted him to feed on him, as a thanks.

They were a little hesitant, as the act of draining love was taxing on the drained; Tremor didn't want another body to lug around, and Barfy was worried for him.

Apparently, Humans are just chock full of love. Tremor got a better meal than he'd had in months, and Anon felt none the worse for wear after.

For Tremors mission, that made the both of them all the more vital to bring back. Human love was... hard to describe. Potent?

In the meantime however, Barfy was playfully slow, and refused to get behind Anon, requiring him to push her to get her going again. She'd chitter every time he did. She may be able to speak now, but she loved her words.

Tremor wonders how the Human is actually this dense.

Oh, the Unicorn is stirring again. Tremor groans, dreading what he has to do next.

"So you like your Queen, yeah?" Anon tries asking, pushing Barfy forward again.

"Of course. Every Changeling adores her. She is our Queen, our Ruler." Tremor proclaims.

"Is that cuz she's your super-bug-mom or something?" Anon asks.

"Because she strives and battles to ensure we can have what we need to survive." Tremor grunts, clarifying.

"Oh, gotchya. So she's chill like Celestia?" Anon muses, trying to imagine a buggy Tia.

"...One, do not compare the Queen to the Princess. Two, she loves us. She cares deeply for us, and the health of the Hive. And such a task is... trying." Tremor warns.

"Oh, I know the type. Gotchya -- Damnit, Barfy, keep walking!" Anon huffs, pushing the Nurse Drone.

To push her, he has to shove her ass.

Barfy chitters, staring up at Anon. She's totally doing it on purpose.

Queen Chrysalis sits, or rather, stews on her throne, deep in the dark, dimly-lit tunnels of the Changeling Hive.

Her mood had plummeted lately, having lost not one, but two of her more valuable assets; the loss in Canterlot stung even worse.

Her scowl turns to the Drone that timidly tries to creep into the room; even the guards had been giving a wide berth. They look away; any message wasn't going to be pretty.

"...Speak." Queen Chrysalis growls.

"...Tremor is back, your Majesty." He squeaks out, bowing his head low.

"You impudent --" Her mouth smacks shut. He was back? Tremor was one of her best Infiltrators, and they had lost contact.
"You mean he has reached out?" She demands clarification.

"No, your Royalness. He is... here. With the missing Nurse Drone. And the one who took the Nurse Drone. And... a hostage." He continues to list off, face flinched and watching the queen through a squinted eye.

It was good news, sure, but her mood had been so foul, he might catch a punishment simply for delivering the news so slowly.

"...What?" She mumbles.

"He just arrived now, your Majesty, and is on his way here, to the Throne Room." The messenger clarifies, cowering.

A long, tense silence. Some whispering among the guards.

Chrysalis breaks into a triumphant cackle. Finally! Something had gone her way!

"Remember. Behave. I will speak on your behalf, but you are to pay the Queen her respects." Tremor warns. He was just happy that now that they were in the Hive again, non-Changeling magic was muted. He could stop cranking the Unicorn.

Anon blows a raspberry. "I got this."

Tremor groans, shaking his head, passing several curious Changelings; before emerging into the Throne Room, flanked by numerous guards.

Atop her throne, Queen Chrysalis. Lounging, grinning wickedly as Tremor returns.

"Tremor, my most loyal departee; I see your excursion in Ponyville has turned fruitful. I admit, I was... worried, when you lost contact." Her toying voice carries over the room.

Tremor kneels, depositing the purple Unicorn beside himself. Barfy falls in line beside Tremor, also kneeling.

Anon gives a little wave, scratching his nose.

"And I see you have brought... a lot. Explain, would you? How have you come to capture Celestia's prized little pupil?" She hums, leaning forward, interest piqued.

"...I did not, your majesty. I failed you, and was defeated by the Bipedal Human, Anon, that is here with us. He bested myself, captured the Element, and recovered your Nurse Drone... and named her. Barfy." Tremor relays, a heavy tone in his voice.

Chrysalis tilts her head. That was... not the answer she was expecting, even remotely.

"...Barfy?" She mutters, squinting.

...That, was her Nurse Drone? That... is not a breed of Changeling she has seen naturally emerge from their eggs. Yet, undeniably, that was one of her Nurse Drones. Golden stomach, and the pheromones of a Nurse.

She slowly lowers herself from her throne, almost akin to a spider crawling down its web, approaching. Both Tremor and Barfy kneel lower, the surrounding and watching Changelings falling silent.

"You bested one of my Elites, an Element, and rescued my Drone?" She asks dryly, approaching Anon.

"He wishes to--" Tremor tries to cut in, but flinches at her wicked glare.

"I am not speaking to you, Tremor. Silence." She growls, eyes unmoving.

"I mean... yeah? I'm Anon, by the way." He holds out a hand.

Chrysalis glares at it.
"I did not ask your name."

"Sure, but you should probably know it." Anon shrugs. His hand is still out.

A worried hush falls over the room; if Tremor could sweat, he would be drenched.

Chrysalis slowly forms a wicked smile, her fangs showing. No respect? A challenge, even? This one is bold.

Anon, clueless, smiles back widely. Wide enough to show his pearly lil' meat chompers.

Chrysalis tilts her head, inspecting him as he matches her toothed expression. Not a vegetarian like the Ponies... hm.
"...Why did you best my Infiltrator?" She prods, dryly. Still on guard.

"Tried looking like me and picked a fight. Lost to a chair." Anon shrugs.

Chrysalis glances at Tremor, who visibly shies further away. He identified and bested him. Another hm.

"...Right. And what of the Element, the Twilight Sparkle?" She continues. Twilight had well proved a thorn in her side; how did the Human best her?

"She never looks down." Anon shrugs. "Walked into a snare. Simple stuff."

Chrysalis tsks. Noted. Traps work well, then. But that doesn't explain how they transported her the entire way from Ponyville.
"Her magic?"

Anon air-jerks.
"Jerk the horn."

That finally breaks Chrysalis' demeanor, confusion taking her face. Bullshit.
"Really?"

"Yeah, puts them in a stupor for a few hours. Always funny. If they start waking up, do it again." Anon snickers.

"How did you discover this?" Chrysalis toys, her threatened and threatening posture slowly fading.

"Accident." Anon refuses to clarify further, looking away.

Chrysalis raises her head to a more regal, relaxed posture, still staring down the biped.
"And my Drone? You rescued her from Canterlot? Why?"

"She looked cute, I dunno. Made Twilight mad, so it was funny too." Anon shrugs.

Chrysalis notes the soft hue that Barfy's face takes when she's called cute.

She relaxes further, humming softly. So that's what happened... saturated in love unknowingly.
"It is clear it was not Tremor who brought you here, but you, him. The return of my Drone is appreciated; but why do you bring me an Element, accompanied by my Elite, then?"

"Oh, I want to defect. I'm kinda fucking sick of the Ponies." Anon crosses his arms.

"...Seriously?" Chrysalis hums.

"It is true, your Majesty. They have a habit of... demolishing his home." Tremor adds quietly. Chrysalis glances down, though she does not scold him. Interesting.

"You return my Elite, my Drone, and bring a hostage, wishing to join the Changelings?" Chrysalis finally steps close enough to breath on Anon's face, eyeing him up.

Until she feels something push against her chest, having her step back.

The Nurse Drone just put herself between them.

The Nurse Drone just directly confronted the Queen.

A shocked hush fills the room.

Chrysalis tilts her head, glaring at the offender.

Barfy holds her head high, stance wide, stood in front of the Human for a long moment. She does not bar her fangs; but she makes her surprise allegiance clear; before finally bowing again.

Chrysalis slowly let's out a low cackle, that grows into a cruel laughter. She had never expected such a behavior from one of her own. Emboldened by the Love, hmm?

"Interesting. Well, I certainly cannot let you leave, now." Chrysalis growls.

"Fine by me. Is it cool if I'm like... your Advisor, or some shit? A job title would be pretty cool, since Barfy is already your Ambassador to Equestria." Anon smiles, completely misreading the situation.

Tremor and Chrysalis stare at him, blinking several times.
"...What?" They both mutter.

The next several minutes, Anon shows (whats left after Twilight) the official declaration from Celestia acknowledging Barfy, and details an awkwardly in-depth plan to use Twilight as a hostage in negotiations; it was jammed in his bag with what few other things survived.

He defects, returns her Drone, brings her Elite, brings her a Hostage, and had set up Political tunnels that rooted right under Celestia's hooves.

Devious. She was starting to like this Human.

"...You are surprisingly conniving." Chrysalis hums, inspecting the parchment. It was the real deal; she forged enough Equestrian documents to know.
"Very well, Human -- Anon, was it? You will be my Royal Advisor. Tremor -- have the previous Advisor relinquished to tunnel duty. The Nurse Drone will return to the --"

"No." Barfy coughs.

Chrysalis raises an eyebrow. One slight was comical; a second? Offensive.

Wait. When did Nurse Drones have vocal cords? This confusion overwrites Chrysalis' initial upset. Just how deeply was 'Barfy' changed?

"With... Anon." Barfy affirms, before bowing.

...Still subservient, though. Good. Interesting. Very, very interesting. It seems today was a day of tolerance. She would be playing this by ear.

"P-pardon my... interruption, your Majesty -- but I believe that may be best. It is as if she has... adapted, to him." Tremor adds in, bowing his head.

Chrysalis hums in thought.
"...Tremor, and... 'Barfy'. I am assigning you to the Advisors personal retinue. Follow his orders -- and do not disobey mine, again. This is the extent of my mercy."

Tremor, and Barfy, are quick to lower their heads. Anon pats Chrysalis on the back, gaining a perturbed look.
"Hey, thanks Chryssi. Want me to watch Twilight, too? Tremors good at keeping her pacified."

Chrysalis' gaze slowly moves to the hand on her back, then to the creature. As Emotivores, Changelings were aware of emotions that other creatures exuded -- that wasn't the best way to identify the best time to feed on love.

And this Human was... simple. Awkwardly honest. No tinge of lie, of deception directed at her. And... oddly, brimming with a latent love. Hrm. Keeping him around might also prove a good, temporary food source until they could capitalize these new advantages.

In light of her recent failings... Chrysalis would have to adapt her plans.

Which meant... tolerating the opportunity that had been hoofed to her and her Hive on a silver platter.

"Very well, Anon. Do not disappoint." She commands, allowing the hand of her new Advisor to remain.

One of the worker drones faints.

Author's Note