In a turn of events that surprised most of the Changelings, Queen Chrysalis did not have Anon executed.

Apparently, his surprising level of deviousness and conniving actually had a good impression on her; by presenting his aloof, uncaring nature, supplemented by sheer results in such a short period, he was now on her good side.

And things kept going from there. His observations were... unique, and quotes of various 'Sci-Fi Alien Movies' helped them improve some of their infrastructure and general setups. He wasn't even perturbed when he saw how some of the 'grimier' sections of the Hive worked, apparently de-sensitized by Barfy.

It had been a week since he arrived at the Hives, after those few days of travel. Now, he was dressed in a fancy, Black and Green suit & sash reminiscent of a military officer; his personal request, with Changeling Style, woven by some of their workers. Chrysalis didn't understand his desire for clothes; but had to admit, it cut an imposing figure.

Now, Anon stands with his hands clasped behind his back, watching his personal section of hive-home be hoof-carved to his specifications, in the same section of tunnels as the Queens personal quarters.

Was he having them rebuild his Ponyville House 1:1 but out of bug materials?

You bet your ass he was.

Tremor had been made his personal guard, and dually tasked with keeping an eye on Twilight.. for a particular reason. For compliance sake, her little 'cell' was right next to Anon's house, like back at Ponyville. Funny. Though, instead of a tree-house, it was a dug-into-the-ground cell.

She didn't need to be pacified anymore, as she was fitted with some magic-stopping horn-ring Changeling thing. Anon zoned out when listening to them explain how it worked. Ring go on, horn go off, no need to crank. Easy. The Hives already had a general de-magic aura for non-Changelings, but it wasn't perfect.

What was interesting though, is the look Twilight keeps giving Tremor; and is also the reason he was specified to watch her. She's not happy about being captured, of course, but... the time during their travel had caused something. As Anon put it, "You try getting your horn jerked for a few days straight, back to back no downtime, and try not to develop feelings.".

Tremor didn't really know how to feel about that yet. For Anon, it was funny to watch.

On the other side, Barfy had been made Anon's personal attendant. His medical care, daily requirements; anything he needed, Barfy was to ensure he got it. This was... a much less passive role than expected. Not that it was outright demanding or a heavy workload; Barfy had entirely usurped control of having his house built, directing the worker drones herself. And deciding what Anon needed, herself.

Tremor sits beside Anon as the pair watch the Drones hard at work.

"This how you expected your Defection to play out?" Tremor asks. "She is very... hoofs-on with her care for you."

"Not at all. Pretty cool, though. Though Barfy keeps making changes to my plans." Anon huffs.

"What do you mean?" Tremor looks up to Anon, curious.

"Oh, like... she's making the bed twice as big, all the walking paths are like doubled in size... the door is huge, compared to before. She's making everything so spaced out, and she's setting up a huge pantry. She's even adding new rooms at the end of the hall." Anon grumbles. "The hell does my house need a Nursery for?"

Tremor slowly glances between the in-progress psuedo-human-home, and Anon.
"You're not actually that dumb, right?" Tremor face-hoofs.

"...Huh?" Anon mutters, looking down to Tremor.

"You ARE aware that the Nurse Drone you metamorphosized, named, protected, and have unconditionally shared love with, has claimed you as her Mate, right? You're coated in her pheromones. Everybug in the Hive knows it already. It's why Queen Chrysalis tolerated her behavior." Tremor explains bluntly.

"...Mate? Like, she's saying I'm her buddy?" Anon ponders. Like, the Australian sense?

"Lean down here for a second." Tremor motions.

Anon complies, hunching down with his hands on his knees; and gets a hoof-slap across the face.

Anon blinks a few times.
"Ow?" He mumbles, rubbing his cheek. "I know I said you can relax around me, but damn, Tremor."

"Sorry, you needed that. Let me repeat. She has selected you. As her Partner. Her Mate."

Anon is silent. Tremor can see the first gear turning in his brain.
"...Like...?"

"She wants to lay eggs. Eggs fertilized by you. She is crafting your home to fit your future spawn." Tremor explains slowly, and bluntly, enunciating each act.

Anon's eyes go wide. "What?"

"...In your terms, she wants to Fuck you." Tremor tries clarifying. He really can't make it more simple than that.

"But she's like a... pet! A funny little pug thing!" Anon retorts, throwing his hands in the air. "I got her a collar and everything! Why would she--?!"

Tremor raises an eyebrow. "I don't know what a Pug is, but I think you need to look at her again. Actually --" Tremor cuts himself off. Maybe Anon would benefit from a visual example. "Wait here a second."

Standing, Tremor stops one of the passing worker drones, and instructs them to bring a Nurse Drone, quickly. The drone nods, darting off.

Tremor then approaches Barfy, and gets her to pause her directing for a moment. He whispers something to her, and she tilts her head, before nodding.

Anon watches as Tremor trots back, and gets Barfy, and one of Hives Nurse Drones, side by side in front of him.

...

They barely look the same. Holy shit. How the fuck did it not click until now?

THAT is why Barfy was so heavy? She was like double the fucking size, especially in the back. Nurse Drones were tiny; she was Pony size. And not wearing the collar on her neck, but like a bracelet.

And giving him some serious eyes. Wait. She wasn't doing the funny slow-eye-blink thing. She blinked normally, like Tremor. When did she get those lashes?

And... wait. Mate? Nursery? Bug-Horse-Babies?

Anon's memories are rampantly re-ran-through, now viewing every interaction with Barfy through this new lens. Anon thought she was just thorough. Then he realizes how... sensual half of her goopings of him were. And how often she made physical contact with him. And how he just... touched her, constantly. Her butt, her mouth, her teeth; it was non-stop.

They were totally in a weird little Human-Bug-Horse relationship.

Anon crouches down, head in his hands, groaning. He was gonna need a minute to process this; this came on hard and fast. Was he ready to be a bug-dad? What would they look like? He hadn't even taken her on a date.

A long, pained sigh escapes Anon as he realizes the reality that had been ignored until now. Tremor sighs in turn, shaking his head and patting Anon's back.

Chrysalis paces in her personal quarters, ruminating in thought.

Anon had claimed he was willing to share his love... but feeding an entire Hive off of one source was too reliant. It would be good to bolster them out of this love-drought, but she needed action. Securement of the Changelings future.

The Metamorphosis that 'Barfy' -- Still a ridiculous name, but she refused to change it, apparently -- underwent was unique, as far as Chrysalis could tell.

Multiple Queens have existed before, in better times. And while Barfy was not a Queen, she held a significant amount of evolution behind the sheer amount of Love she had been processing. Thus, she needed to be treated as a Unique case.

Anon was devising an in-depth plan, utilizing their hostage, and his unique situation. Something about squeezing what they needed out of Canterlot, and using an opportune moment to form a Proper Changeling Nation.

She didn't know what he was planning, but if it was good for the Hive... she would let it play out. He had already made numerous improvements, calling upon a significant, otherworldly knowledge. Plus; he himself innately resisted Magic, not entirely unlike their own Anti-Magic wards. What could be more fitting?

For now, she has messengers report her Advisors progress getting settled in the Hive, and relaying his... odd requests.

"And? How is our Advisor settling in?" She prods her newest messenger.

"...Having a mental breakdown over the realization that he is, in fact, his Attendant's Mate. Apparently, their sense for pheromones is almost zero." It belays, bowing.

"I... see. Alert our dear Advisor that I would be willing to educate him on Changeling Romantic Culture. And ensure there is absolute clarity that is not an innuendo or interpreted poorly."

The last thing she needed now was to upset Barfy. Chrysalis favored her heavily, of course, as one of her Nurse Drones; especially now that she was a unique one. She looked forward to when her grasp of language improved.

Barfy is buzzing to herself in contentment.

She hadn't planned on returning to her Hive. She'd been content staying with Anon, in their continually diminishing house.

Well, until Tremor wound up there and picked a fight with Anon.

She wasn't happy with Tremor at first, but it was nice to see another Changeling.

And then Anon described his plans to defect.

Going back to the Hive, but WITH Anon? Barfy could work with that.

Emboldened by Rarity, Barfy has started trying to 'flirt' with Anon. They mostly go unnoticed, but she finds the time to ensure he smells of her pheromones.

She was admittedly a little worried about how Queen Chrysalis would react, but she wasn't about to stand aside and let her push Anon around; she wasn't even really sure where such courage came from. Drones never stood up to their Queen, Elite or not.

But during the week they've been here getting settled, Chrysalis and Barfy have come to an understanding of sorts. While she may not get her 'Nurse Drone' back, Barfy was worth far more than that; especially as recognized Ambassador of the Changelings to Equestria, which carried significant political weight.

Now, Barfy looks at Anon grumbles with his head in his hands, Tremor patting his back. She sighs, trotting over to nuzzle him. The poor thing; moving away from Equestria, adapting to a whole new life. It must be hard on him.

He took care of her; it was her turn to take care of him. She pulls him into a comfortable hug, throat purring to ease his worries as she rests his head against her gel-like underbelly.

Leaving Barfy to... figure things out with her mate, Tremor heads back to check in on their purple prisoner.

As his hoof-steps near, he can hear the sudden sound of movement in her 'Cell'. At Anon's request, it was a decently sized room, given basic and comfortable amenities, with some 'acquired' reading material to keep her entertained. Something akin to a cell-door kept her locked in, but accessible if needed. Since she, like Anon, needed actual food.

"I don't know what you Changelings are up to, but my friends and the Princesses will--" He hears her start to defiantly state, before he comes into view.

Her words trail off, and she glances away.
"O-Oh. Hi, Tremor." She mutters, tapping her hooves together.

"...Element of Friendship." Tremor greets her bluntly, sitting beside the cell door, to guard.

He wasn't a guard Drone. He was an infiltrator. This... he sighs. Whatever. Basically a vacation. And Anon let him feed on him semi-regularly. Take what you can get, Tremor.

"You... can just call me Twilight, you know." She awkwardly smiles, tucking her mane behind her ear with a hoof.

He checked if she was trying to bullshit him, for an escape. Several times.

She wasn't. 'Cranking the Horn' so much, as Anon put it, had unexpected side effects. Feelings. Apparently, cranking a Unicorn to completion back-to-back-to-back was both a sticky, and very impact full experience for the Unicorn.

"So... do you like to read?" She whispers, scooting a little closer to the door.

...She smelt like lavender.

Tremor sighs. He'd roll his eyes, if he had pupils.

...He didn't mind the smell of lavender.

"...I have visited your library on occasion, in disguise. I believe I still owe you a... guide to fur-care. I found I was lacking on the terminology, when discussions came up." Tremor admits.

Twilight gasps. "That was you? Is Grey Dixie okay?"

"I have not harmed anypony. I learned their schedules and operated as multiple faces between gaps in their schedules. I'm an Elite Infiltrator, after all." Tremor proudly boasts.

"Oh. Okay, that's good." Twilight sighs, relieved.

...She scoots a little closer.
"...I had no idea. I heard you even fooled Applejack and Rainbow Dash into thinking you were the real Anon."

"I did. Until he hit me with a chair. But yes, I did." Tremor affirms.

He startles slightly when he feels her hoof rub his wing-covers. When did she--?!

"That's... actually really impressive. If you have a moment... could we discuss how Changeling magic handles the transformation of your body? Does Mass remain the same? Is it more tiring to use larger forms? Changeling Information is... woefully outdated, and I would adore a chance to discuss it with... you." Twilight rambles slightly, before getting a little more... haughty, at the end.

Tremor was concerned at first, but... no, that's genuine. He doesn't feel any deceit. In fact, is she... is she emanating love at him?

Tremor clears his throat awkwardly. "W-while I shouldn't be giving up... Changeling Secrets... if I discussed it with you... Twilight, would that keep you... content, in your stay?" He fields curiously. If talking to her about his basic biology would keep her happy and quiet, he could do that.

Twilight excitedly nods, shifting into place to listen intently. She's still got a hoof on him, stuck through the bars.

Tremor has yet to push the hoof away, starting to discuss the specifics of Changeling Magic.

Author's Note