The Twin Queens Consort

"Anontios; keep Chrysalis from bothering us. We have duties that need attending." Nightmare Moon chirps, raising from her throne with a stretch. The attending guards are slowly clearing out.

Another day, another Court. Reports were still looking good, but whispers of a Cockatrice were bothering some of their denizens near the border of the fog. Most other beasts could be captured for the Arena, but a Cockatrice was an annoyance. Hadn't Chrysalis mentioned something about wanting one? Hm.

Chrysalis huffs from her own throne, giving Nightmare a playful glare.
"My most Monstrous Mistress. Are you still upset that I didn't share when he fin--"

Chrysalis finds herself stopped short, as a firm hand grips the base of her horn.

Anontios, healed, and re-armed in more fitting, Thestral-Esque armored fittings, now bore Bracers, Vambraces -- and still just a loincloth. The Queens liked to keep him a little skimpy, while proper armor was being forged. The Nurse Drone that served as his pillow sat beside him, attending his long-term recovery and health. She watches curiously.

His usual position was standing between their thrones at attention. They had yet to figure a proper, decisive tasking for him. This is what Nightmare intended to narrow down tonight, growing weary of sitting idle.

They'd garnered a bad habit of whenever all three of them were alone together... things tended to take a very distracted course of action. So, tonight, Nightmare would part, and spend the time to plan herself. Without distraction.

She found that Anontios promise to her seeming to supercede Chrysalis' more... playful orders, so Nightmare knew Chrysalis couldn't get up to much.

"Of course, My Queen." Anontios nods, holding Chrysalis' horn firm.

"...Anontios. Our dearest Champion, Sword of Nightmares and Shield of the Hive. Release your Queen?" Chrysalis playfully purrs, glancing up to him.

Anontios leans close, his lips to her ear.
"You are to behave, your Majesty. Lest you upset your other."

When Nightmare Moon learned that Anontios could willingly disobey orders, she started a playful war with Chrysalis; the two constantly trying to pit Anontios against the other, seeing whose orders he would supercede on whose behalf. With his innate connection with their desires, it was typically whoever got their first order in, would be the winner; and he would never break or commit to an order if it would upset the other.

Chrysalis pouts. Anontios does, however, plant a small kiss behind her ear, before standing straight and releasing her. Her ears flick, content.

Chrysalis had tried experimenting with transformation, following when she learned he cared not for any other Thestral or Drone. She tried a few various forms, species -- even a male, attempting to entice him; instead, she discovered that Anontios had figured a very particular spot to massage her that would force her to lose composure, and lose focus on her shape-shift, reverting to normal. He seemed to only prefer her as her true, Queenly form.

She was flattered, of course, but a touch huffy that her machinations were not panning out.

Chrysalis finds another small kiss planted upon her, this time on her cheek; from Nightmare.
"We will not be long. Perhaps you and Anontios can relieve our citizens of this Cockatrice concern? I doubt either of us desire more statues for the garden."

"...Very well, Moonie. Inform me of your battle plans when they are completed. I am certain they will strike terror into hearts and minds, just like they always do."
Chrysalis sighs, nuzzling her other.

This is the part where Nightmare Moon would depart.

To leave and begin her diabolical planning.

Why is she still standing here?

She's not sure. Something is missing.

She feels a hand gently take her chin, turning her head. She permits it?

Anontios tenderly places a kiss on her lips, before releasing her.

Did he --?

...No. She was waiting for that.

A troubling development.

More then just Tactics on her mind, now, she departs, a slow canter taking her out of the throne room.

Chrysalis and Anontios are left; the former slowly rising from her own throne, throwing a playful glance to Anontios. Seeing him in action against such a creature would be a good test for his supposedly magically-resilient hide... and maybe she could find a few ways to sneak around Nightmares orders.

Before stepping off her own seat, she looks to Anontios, huffing.
"Carry me." She states simply, upturning her nose and looking away.

She'd been expecting a long pause, or nothing at all. Instead, almost immediately, firm arms scoop underneath her as she's lifted off her hooves, swept into a bridal carry.

Oh.

"Where to, your Eminence?" Anontios questions, his tone a soft whisper.

Was he being playful?

She kind of liked this.

Chrysalis recovers from her fluster, letting her usual devious sneer take her face as she holds a hoof forward, awkwardly directly her new mount through the halls. Commanding a creature larger than her had it's benefits, and she would boast this prize. This behavior gathered a few strange stares, the Thestrals thoroughly confused, while the Changelings watched in admiration, some even cheering.

The little Nurse Drone toddled after them, hot on Anontios' heels.

Hours are spent in Nightmare Moons private study, slowly sprawling defensive and offensive battle plans. Reviewing their mixed patrols, accounting for logistics, numbers, their reach... they could hardly afford a true offensive across Equestria. It would need to be something concise. Deceisive. Crushing, in one swift move.

She browses the reports from the spy network. Chryssi's Changelings were an invaluable source of information, and Equestria hardly had a way to discover the spies. Nightmare didn't administrate them, however. She left them to Chryssi. Managing the proper Twin Queens army was her forte.

...She finds herself distracted, thinking about Chryssi. Leaning on her hoof, she sighs. Due time for a break, anyway. A servant is quick to provide her with a drink, encapsulated by its soft glow.

Nightmare wondered what they were up to.

Turns out, Nightmare Moon didn't have to wonder for very long.

She's compiled most of her plans; Equestria would, inevitably, try to counter-attack. The Sun Princess held a certain proclivity towards protecting her little ponies; which meant she would shy away from a numbers assault, despite having the troop count advantage. Instead, she would likely try to send some smaller task force to retrieve the Element of Loyalty, or, would find some suitable replacement before performing a similar strike.

Celestia had a bad habit of pulling useful items out of her flank, Nightmare Moon had found, and wasn't willing to be caught off guard again. Most of her plans involved laying down fortifications and traps, ensuring any path they take would be heavily bogged down. Air patrols to counter any attempts to fly over the fog, ground patrols to ambush any stupid enough to try a ground approach, and a defensive line on the Everfree side in case they tried to snake around.

That would be enough for today. Now, she's relaxing with a glass of wine, sitting idly beside the roaring fire, enjoying the quiet end to an extremely productive evening.

There's a brisk, attentive knock at the study door.

She lowers the glass of wine, looking over her shoulder.
"Enter." Moon commands. The door creaks open.

One of her Thestrals flaps into her study, stopping beside her and bowing.
"My Queen. Queen Chrysalis and the creature have returned, bearing the Cockatrice's head." It reports, using its wings to accentuate the servile bow.

"...Hm." She grunts. Not unexpected, but she would like to see it.
"And where are they now?"

"Awaiting you in the throne room, to dedicate the beasts slaughter to both Queens, whole." It answers, lowering the bow.

"...Take our finished orders, and distribute them to the various Commanders." Moon deigns, floating the small pile of tied and sealed scrolls towards the Thestral. He dutifully takes them, before quickly whisking away out of sight.

Slowly, Moon rises -- and wobbles slightly.

She may have had more wine than anticipated. Two bottles sat empty beside her now-drained glass.

...No, she was fine. She was of Nightmares, of course. The Nightmare Moon did not get... tipsy.

A firm scowl takes her face, securing her demeanor as she exits the study.

Nightmare Moon enters the the Throne Room to find a... she wouldn't say peculiar, but an odd sight.

Chrysalis is directing some of her Changelings, as they buzz about several feet off the ground, trying to balanced a recently-mantled Cockatrice's head, to secure it to the wall. Chrysalis doesn't seem able to decide just how high, or to the left, it should be to fit in with the other decorations.

She glances over to see Anontios' casually sat on the steps leading up to the throne. That same Nurse Drone is currently slathing their regenerative golden sludge across his leg, patting it in.

Anontios meets her gaze.

It may be the wine, but she gives a dismissive huff. Her head tilts back, chest puffed as she steps beside him, looking down at him.
"...Welcome back, Human." She growls.

Anontios shifts in place, the Nurse Drone backing up as he takes a knee, lowering his head to her.

Hm.

Good.

A cruel sneer takes her lips, and she shoos the Drone away.

"...You have performed efficiently. Await in my chambers for... your reward. Move briskly." She commands. Anontios dips his head lower, before rising and jogging out of the Throne Room.

She looks to Chrysalis, who yet remains absorbed in directing her Changelings.
"Left... no, higher. Not that high. Lower. Oh, you meager fools! You dropped it too low! Higher. Now to the right. MY right." Moon can hear Chrysalis command.

With a vindictive grin, Moon leaves Chrysalis to her workings, stalking back into the halls. The wine had fueled a terrible desire to get her back for how Moon had found her, following Anontios night in the Arena. It was time for comeuppance.

"Leave us."

The simple command sends the Changeling and Thestral pair that had been guarding the doorway to her room, flapping down the spiral staircase.

Anontios stands at attention partway into the room, staring forward.

The doors slowly shut, handles glowing in a deep-blue hue. Nightmare Moon walks past her usual mantle, instead, seating herself directly at the foot of her and Chrysalis' bed.

She tilts her head back, throwing Anontios a glare.
"Disrobe your Queen." She states firmly; her tone still harsh, but not as loud.

She closes her eyes as the helmet is slowly lifted from her head, placed tenderly on the steps beside her.

She could get used to this.

A hand slowly traces along her cheek -- before sliding down her neck, to unclasp the peytral and its connecting neck-plates.

The plate that protects her barrel and back is slowly unclasped, and carefully lifted. Gingerly, he guides her wings through each of the slotted holes, gently stroking them with each motion as they unfurl, released.

A haughty, deep purr escapes Nightmare Moon as her head tilts back, eyes shut, enjoying the attention.

This mixture of a tender massage and a disrobement continues until Nightmare Moon sits in the buff, enjoying a gentle neck-stroke.

She finally stirs, growling. She turns, planting a hoof against Anontios before shoving him backwards, sprawled across their mattress. This time, cushioned by hefty blankets and pillows.

She follows him, stepping up as she stalks overtop to loom above, positioning herself to bring her height over his, for once. Nightmare Moon stares down at him from a tilted, dominant gaze, flicking her attention over the mans form.

Definitely tipsy. But also, definitely enjoying this.

"...How might I serve you, my Queen?" Anontios asks softly from underneath her. His hand gently strokes her foreleg.

She blinks heavily, wobbling slightly. Might be more than tipsy.

A contemplative huff escapes her, and she lowers herself directly down with a muffled thump, half curled atop of him, half onto the bed.
"...Comfort your Queen." She mumbles, still gruff -- though it soon slips into a soft, quiet whinny as he embraces her, slowly stroking her. A hand tracing her neck, her chin -- rubbing over her ears. The other, cupping her cheek, stroking a thumb through her dark fur.

Chrysalis had a feeling she'd know exactly what she was going to find. Anontios had slipped away, his ever-attentive Nurse Drone sitting quietly where she had told him to wait. She'd been so enraptured in the afterglow of watching Anontios, her prized toy, simply ignore the effects of the Cockatrice and slay the creature, that she had hyper-focused on mantling her new prize. She had a feeling a particularly midnight-flavored Queen was responsible for his disappearance.

Checking her dear Moonies study revealed only that she had spent the evening drinking. Not unusual for her, but two entire bottles was new. Someoje had trouble focusing, she knickers quietly to herself. Chrysalis glances over the requests Moon had left out for the spy network; she'd review them later.

With a saucy saunter to her step, Chrysalis trots into their bedroom, floating the crown from her head, expecting that she'd taken up the promise she had Anontios make.

Color her surprised when she finds them gingerly cuddling on the bed, asleep.

Somehow, that made her more jealous than if she'd walked in on Moonie getting railed.

Chrysalis stands by the side of the bed, staring down at the pair. Nightmare Moon is nestled against Anontios, one of his hands still idly stroking her cheek.

She purses her lips, debating. She had the two unaware, perfectly vulnerable.

Cruel, devious thoughts.

Diabolical, even.

Or... she could lay down on his other side.

It did look... comfortable.

With a haughty eye-roll, Chrysalis steps onto the mattress, curling up against Anontios' free side. As soon as she's settled, Chrysalis finds Anontios' free arm draping overtop of her, fingers slowly brushing through her mane.

...She would complain about Moonie stealing Anontios' away tomorrow.

The room falls silent, graced only by light snores, the ever-present dusk sky offering only the most dim of pale-yellow light through the open windows.

The Nurse Bug appears between the crack in the door, before it sits outside of it, buzzing quietly.