Rolling, golden fields of wheat under a soft blue sky gently kissed with clouds, as far as the eye can see. Stretching far into the distance beyond what a mere man can see, crossing grassy hills, parted only by simple dirt roads, burgeoning forests and monumental mountains on the fields furthest edges.

A younger Anontios stands amidst the ever so gently swaying crop, in naut but a simple cloth garb and his sandals. His bare hand brushes its breezing edges, tickled softly as he stares out.

There is a warm, familiar smell. It's like it gently cups his face, turning him around.

A small hovel, nestled in the middle of these never-ending fields. Thatch roofing, simple stone and wood support, and a nearby well. A single, sizable tree, where a swing gently sways with the same breeze that coats the wheat.

The smell of fresh bread. The smell of home.

"Who are you?" A voice -- soft spoken, concerned.

A rustling to his side slowly turns Anontios gaze, as he sees...

Luna stares at the strange biped, so deeply immersed in its own memories. Few so fiercely dreamed of something so simple. She doesn't know what any of this is, but she knows it is not Equestria. The air feels... calm. There is no magic here.

She doesn't know how she got into his dreams. The lands of Dusk that the Twin Queens rule, wards outside magic with Ancient, Changeling rites. But this creature sat absolved from it, from within the heart of the mists.

She calls out to it, asking who it is. Slowly, it turns to look at her.

It doesn't speak. It's as if it looks through her.

She stares at him, only a dozen or so feet away, immersed in the roiling wheat. But she is... familiar. Like an aspect of Nightmare Moon, some distant reflection. Smaller. Both bear symbolism of the Moon; but this ones fur is a softer blue, its Mane that of the stars, not the deepest night.

No words are shared, as their gazes both slowly return to the hovel.

It is aflame, crumbling to dust as the wheat around it alights, brilliant flames flowing outward and flashing across the fields as it all goes up in smoke, crackling in a roaring flame.

Luna watches in horror as hovel bursts into flame, crumbling. The pleasant smell of freshly baked bread slowly twists in her nostrils, to a horribly unpleasant smell of... burnt, cooking flesh.

She turns to look at the creature again, but finds him different.

Gone are the simple clothes, and the feeling of peace. Taller, older; chest bare, covered in partial armor and scars. A spear gripped tightly in its hands as it watches the fire from underneath a glinting helmet, face now hidden. The only thing she feels from the creature is sorrow.

It reaches out towards the crumbling hovel, its grip loosening on the spear -- then its chest pulses softly, with the faintest blue hue, before fading.

It turns, grip tightening and crossing the field away from the smoldering ruins. The wheat shrivels behind it, leaving only a wake of grey ash that blows away in the wind; twisting shades of deep-blue and sickly green swirling around it, until the creature is fully obscured.

Lunas' eyes flash open, heart thumping in her chest. She's quick to throw herself from bed, blankets left tossed about; the doors to her room slam open, remaining askew as the Princess thunders down the hall, earning several concerned glances from the day-staff.

She must tell her Sister as soon as possible.

Anontios blinks awake, lulled from... This wasn't one of his usual nights, where he dreams of nothing. That much he knows. He remembers... the smell of fresh bread, and little else. His memories -- It's like trying to breach a wall of solid fog, a flickering mirage that's quickly fading, receding to nothingness. Even the smell of...

The smell of what?

A warm breath by his ear, its owner sighing softly as her near pitch-black fur softly brushes against his bare torso, ethereal mane wisping quietly, subdued in her rest.

The smell of her. That is what he remembers. His Queen, nestled against him with her head lain across his chest, head beside his, holds a crisp, frigid scent; not far from mint. His hand gently strokes the side of her face, eliciting a small purr as she gets comfortable.

Anontios' other arm is out of commission, currently pinned underneath his other Queen; in contrast, her chitinous body, though sturdy... has a little squish to it, almost spongelike in nature. Her mane does not swirl in an everpresent wind, but simply drapes alongside her; perhaps its magic is rather how it always seems to partially cover her eyes, no matter how its strewn about. Maybe with her lack of fur, she preferred the simple act of physical contact itself.

The door to the Twin Queens bedroom echoes a knock, before silence resumes in the room.

"Mm..." Nightmare Moon stirs softly. "Execute that miscreant, would you Anontios?" She mutters. There's an audible 'Eep' behind the door.

When Anontios does not rise and brutally maim the poor creature in her cruel name, and another, much more tentative knock echoes, a sigh escapes her. Perhaps she put off the day for too long. Shifting in the comfortable sheets, Nightmare Moon moves from nestling against and across Anontios, to leaning against him so she could 'sit up' somewhat.

Mood now soured from being forced to exit her most comfortable reprise, she clears her throat. If she had to be miserable now, so did their subjects. A rough, magical flick of the little Nurse-Drone startles it awake, wide bug-eyes trying to process the sudden and forceful emergence to late-morning.

"Enter. And you, out." She firmly growls, before flicking her scowl to the pseudo-pillow.

One of the two massive double-doors to the Queens room slowly creaks open, a Thestral Guard of darker palette peering in nervously -- and flinching back as a scuttling, panicked Nurse-Drone bolts out from the bed, between the crack in the door, and out of sight. The confused Thestral, stepping aside as the drone rips past it, audibly gulps; stepping into the room and quickly snapping to attention, a bead of sweat rolls down his temple.

Anontios grunts quietly as his buggy pillow beats a hasty retreat, having overstayed its welcome. Slowly trying to look up, a forceful swirl of deep-blue magic pushes back down against his forehead, and he relents to remain laying, staring up.

Though one of his hands does begin to stroke along Nightmare Moons toned back, tracing the edges of her feathery wings.

A low hum emanates from the Nightmarish eminence, wings twitching in instinctual response; this sole act of affection from Anontios may have been what grants the Thestral Messenger mercy for interrupting her comfortable morning.

Nightmare Moon was a little surprised of how quickly she came to value this... bedroom situation. Perhaps she needed to shift her schedule around so she could sleep in, more. It's not like the time of day ever changed; Eternal Dusk. And when she and Chrysalis had her grand and total victory -- Eternal Night.

"My Queen, word has --" He starts, but his eyes snap to movement in the bed. Chrysalis' head slowly lifts up and into view, throwing a generous glare in the Thestrals direction.

Nightmare Moon snorts to herself -- Chrissy was always quick to remind their mixed denizens the equality of their standing, which included plural referrals whenever they shared a room. Moon was pretty sure she enjoyed being a little petty about it, which she understood entirely.

The Thestral quickly kneels, swallowing hard.
"M-my apologies. My Queens --" He pauses, glancing up expectantly. "There is news, from our spy in Canterlot."

Chrysalis stares for a moment, tongue flickering like a snake. She huffs, muttering "Better." before laying her head down again -- now occupying the spot on Anontios' chest that Nightmare Moon had been.

As Nightmare addresses the messenger, their conversation fades into ambience -- Chrysalis is distracted from a return to rest, as Anontios shifts his head; his nose presses into her mane, and she feels him take a slow smell, his breath hot on her neck. A confused eyebrow raises from her, humming softly.

"...Whatever are you up to, our Champion?" She whispers.

"Your smell." He returns, muffled under the surprisingly silky sea-green hair. That earns an interested huff from the Chitinous Overlord.

"My scent." She corrects, tilting her head to flash her fangs. "Do not tell your Queen she has a smell."

"My sincerest apologies." Anontios relents.

"Good heat source." She hums, laying her head down again, nuzzling into his chest.

Unlike Nightmares Mint-Like scent, Chrysalis smelt of... it was almost floral? There was another scent underlaying it. A pheromone, likely from part of how she communicates her rank to her Changelings, that had some kind of spice to it. For such a pair of fierce creatures, both were simply... pleasant. In visual, in scent, in feel. To smell Queen Nightmare Moon was to be reveled in her tender, crisp aura -- to smell Queen Chrysalis was to surprise you for daring to get so close, teasing the nostrils with a fragrant but punchy feel.

Another paced huff of hot breath splays across Chrysalis back, sending a tingle down her spine.

"And what might I, Queen of the Changelings, hold the scent of?" She asks playfully, eyes shut. Anontios finds the words he begins to mull over unneeded, as they are ripped from their little moment by an expectant cough from their third.

"Will you two cut it out?" Nightmare Moon chides, snorting at them loudly.

Both blink, looking to Moon. The Thestral has already gone, the door shut, the trio alone again -- properly, without a certain Nurse Bug.

Nightmare Moon rises, giving her wings a stretch as they unfurl to their full length.

"Our predictions were correct. The Princesses intend to form a quality-based squad of insurgents, keen on investigating; lead by their Element of Magic. They know we have done something to the artefacts, but not what." She informs the ill-attentive pair, making the report compact.

With a new, looming challenge to their rule, Chrysalis' face slowly contorts into a devious, twisted smile. She too, rises, wings creaking out to length before buzzing furiously, sweeping her from the bed. That was all she needed to hear, for her comfortable demeanor to slip away.
"Then I suppose preparations are to be made, my most Vicious Valkyrie? I shall assemble a counter-squad of my infiltrators, to be prepared to cause havoc in Ponyville, lest we need the distraction." Chrysalis offers, landing beside her designated mantle. Her crown is gently raised with her magics, placed upon her head.

Unlike Nightmare Moon, who bore fur and feathers, Chrysalis needed little in way of morning routine. Chitin did not get matted laying in bed, and her mane was not the same kind of hair that Ponies like Moon beheld to their scalp.

"Most devious, Chryssi. We shall lay shadow-bound patrols of our own Thestral Knights to await, opening a predictable but subtle path in our patrols, to lure them to a place of our preference. If handled well... hostages, or heads, could prove another crippling blow to Canterlot; one that would buckle them for good." Nightmare Moon relents, holding her head high.

Like two twisted, cruel creatures deeply in tune; this is why their partnership worked so well. Two sides to the same coin, the Brutal Regent, face of the Kingdom, and the Cunning Spymaster, forming foundation in the shadows. The bedroom is soon filled with a most vile, evil laughter as the Twin Queens thoroughly enjoy things so easily falling into place. Not born of coincidence, chance or mishap -- but through cooperation, tactics, and efficiency.

With the chance to cripple another of the Elements, their excitement was abound. Chrysalis threw open the door, buzzing down the spire to relay her commands. A harsh, deep-blue glow enraptured Nightmare Moon, surrounding her -- before she disappeared in a burst of raw energy, intent on the Royal Baths to prepare.

Anontios, still laid back and covered in the blankets, rested his hands on his stomach, fingers interlinked. A cold silence filled the room; in their excitement, he had been given no orders. He simply had no part to play in preparation; his role was in the ensuing action. So, he would wait.

Sleep does not take him, as his slow, quiet breathes continue, looking up to the dome-shaped ceiling, tracing its intricacies with his eyes.

Until there's a quiet shifting, distant in the corner of the room.

Slowly, Anontios head tilts, only partially -- just enough so his eyes can wander towards the sound. Buried in blankets and pillows, he holds a hidden position.

One of the curtains, draped partially over one of the several arches in the wall that leads outwards to the encircling balcony that traces the entire circumference of the spire, rustles quietly. Then a hoof slowly emerges. It is no Thestral, nor a Changeling. It bears not their pointed ears, fangs, or bat-like wings. It is dressed in a simple, fur-concealing bodysuit, with goggles over its eyes. The back is split open, allowing for small, feathery wings to emerge from.

It's a Pegasi, with a yellow-tinted fur, and a hint of red mane peeking out of their hood. Both its mane, and its tail have been cropped short. It silently creeps out from behind the thickly-woven curtains, creeping through the bedroom. How long he's been inside for is unknown -- but their conversation, and morning rest, had not been private. The Queens were not the only ones playing the spy game.

Another sound tickles Anontios' ear, this time towards the door to the bedroom. The unknown Pegasi has crept towards it, and knocks softly. Once. Twice. Then, a three-tap in quick succession.

After a short pause, It creaks open, the quiet sound of careful hooves stepping inside -- with the sound some something dragging, buzzing weakly. Anontios can't see from this angle, the blankets blocking his view; and to lift his head might be to expose himself.

The door carefully clicks shut, and the large room is quiet for a moment. Who ever they are, they're listening.

Anontios paces his breathing, patient. Waiting.

Then, a whispered hush, the intruders softly discussing something. Anontios strains his ear, eavesdropping.

Author's Note