Love you, just the way you are

> The soft clicks of chitin hooves hitting the hardened surface of generations old hive rock could be heard echoing down the corridor.
> The walls were softly lit by bioluminescent fungi, placed strategically on pillars with adequate spacing, allowing for visitors to navigate this far into the impregnable fortress that was the great Badlands Hive.
> For eons, it had stood the test of time, wars, skirmishes and invasions. All had attempted to knock down its walls to their foundation. All had failed.
> And walking down this corridor was none other but its very queen herself.
> Queen Chrysalis the first, whole borne queen, and Matriarch of Wastes.
> Ever since the failed invasion of Canterlot, the various infighting amongst the ruling hive queens and the tiring love drought, things had been looking dreary for the recently ascended queen.
> The last months trying events could not be seen on the queen’s form, however.
> A positively content energy emanated from her. Her mane was lush and shining, and her legs and horn had filled out into the perfect shape of a proper whole borne queen, free from the characteristic holes of the changeling race.
> Her thighs, belly and loins had grown bigger and stronger from the steady flow of love she had gathered, and her horn radiated arcane might. Her chest was broader and sturdier, as was her shoulders and neck.
> Gone was every trace of the starved hungering beast. In its place was this creature of feminine temptation and maternal grace.
> She was also quite sure she had the biggest teats this side of the Ghastly Gorge.
> Indeed, Chrysalis had grown into the perfect resemblance of a changeling brood mother of the old legends, from before the unification.
> Humming the tunes of an old nursery rhyme, she moved unwavering to her destination, at the end of the hall. A great pair of onyx doors made from shiny hive marble.
> The doors was flanked on either side by a pair of behemoth changelings. Towering drone specimen fed concentrated love throughout their lives, allowing them to grow the size and capability to go head to head with the toughest of adversaries.
> Though their total inaptitude for subterfuge and stealth, they could go hoof to hoof against a battalion of Canterlot soldiers, and come out on top.
> A heavy investment for any changeling hive, but well worth it, to protect that which stood the queen’s heart so close.
> A small greeting nod is all the signal the humongous creatures needed to step down from their post and allow her entry.
> With a gentle heave of changeling telekinesis, the black doors open up, revealing a wide bedchamber, coloured in relaxed cerulean hues. In its centre sits a luxurious bed, lined with aqua marine coloured silk and pillows.
> The soft light from a magical lamp illuminates a corner of the bed, and its sole inhabitant as he looks to her.
> “Hey honey, how was your day?”, comes the cheerful question from Anonymous in pyjamas, as he puts down his book, and pats the vacant side of the bed next to him.
> Taking a calming breath of her husband’s scent and devotion, the changeling queen allowed herself a moment of happiness with a warm smile in greeting.
“Dreadful, but all the better now that I’m by your side again”, Chrysalis replies.
> Scooting hastily to the bed, throwing away the covers, and snuggling up to his side, the snug bug in a rug that is the changeling queen heaves a long sigh.
“You have no idea how much I needed this,” she sighs, closing her eyes and pressing into his form. “I’m positively starving.”
> The mighty whole born queen of the changelings, the first of her name, Matriarch of the Wastes, Chrysalis, jolts with a start, as she realizes her astronomical mistake.
> Turning to look at her king, her consort in everything, she sees his features twist, his brows rises, his smirks widens, and his lips draw back to reveal pearly canines in a barely withheld guffaw.
> His face turns to hers, as their eyes lock. They both know it is inevitable. It always was.
> “Hi Starving, I’m Ano-“.
“Finish that sentence and I’ll have you turned into a gelding,” Chrysalis hiss.
> Chuckling in his usual whimsical way, Anonymous pats her flank to calm his justifiably irate wife, and places a small peck on the top of her head.
> “I love you too, honey. Tell me about your meeting with the other queens.”
> Chrysalis mewls at the contact, indulging in the freely given love, as she mulls over how she is going to breach the topic.
“…They are concerned that we are aiming to usurp their hives,” she says after a long pause.
> Anonymous’ smile falters a bit, but maintains some of its infectious humor as he begins tracing small circles with his hand on top of the queens thigh.
> Anonymous drops his head down beside her ear. “Are they that jealous of you filling out in ~aaaaaaall~ the right places, honey?”, he asks huskily, whispering the last words.
> “A whole borne changeling queen, with the stature, might and figure to go head to head with the Sun princess herself…”, he continues on, squeezing her thigh with a warm hand.
> Shuddering at the intimacy of his actions, Chrysalis steels her nerves, and places a hoof at his forearm to stop his – highly appreciated – affection.
“You would not understand, beloved. It- it is of concerns from before… us.”
> Noticing her nervousness, Anonymous retreats to his side of the bed. She can sense that he feels her trepidation, and respects her wish for a rational answer.
> He sits further up, using one hand to steady himself, and another to give her chitinous shoulder a reassuring pat.
> “Try me,” he says.
> Letting out a frustrated hiss at her situation, Chrysalis looks to him, and begins explaining.
“You know of the behemoth vanguard outside our chambers, right?”
> Anonymous nods and smiles again. “Yea, big loveable logs. They’re kinda hard to miss.”
> Looking at the closed doors, shortly grasping mentally at the mountainous hive mind just outside their chambers, Chrysalis sighs for the hundredth time that day.
“What I am about to tell you is changeling politics and military strong hoofing. This must be kept between us, beloved.”
> Nodding his consent silently, Anonymous turns to face her in full.
“... Behemoths are… in nearly every sense of the word… a wasteful use of Ambrosia, pure love extract. The extract is extremely rare, extremely powerful, and its magic properties lets it bring beings from the very brink of death, back to life.”
> Chrysalis stops for a second to gather her thoughts, looking down at the bed lining before she continues.
“They need a considerable portion of it monthly to sustain their bodies, their strength and their magic. Without it, they would wither away, having been an even greater drain to the hive.”
> “What’s the issue then? We have the four biglings outside, keeping watch, and probably another three or four stationed around the hi-“
“We don’t ‘only’ have eight behemoths, Anonymous. Our hive sustains 17 behemoths,” comes the dull continuation.
> The king’s jaw – to his credit – goes slack as he ponders her answer.
> “Oh… I take that is a lot of Ambrosia, then?”
> Nodding her agreement, Chrysalis continues.
“It’s a veritable mountain of it, beloved. A regular changeling could survive for years from a ration the size of a plate. With the might of ten behemoths, the Badlands Hive could take on every other hive on the continent at once.
> “So… with another seven of them on top, it looks like we might go to war with Canterlot.”
> Chrysalis snorts in a dry laughter as she rests her head in the lap of her king.
“We would not go to war, beloved. It would be a simple conquest. No other hive has had this many since… well, ever. With nearly two dozen behemoths, one of the largest gatherings of loyal changelings, and a love filled whole born queen…”
> Chrysalis sighs as she lays down on the bedding, sighing as his fingers massage her scalp.
“We would be unstoppable.”
> Chuckling again, Anonymous bows his head to pepper her mane with kisses. “So, honey, why don’t you? Why don’t you subjugate the opposing queens and their masses, and make for Canterlot?”
> Chrysalis raises her head and looks into his eyes. A brief moment of silence passes between them.
“I… would not risk this.” She mutters. “I am content with my lot in life.”
> The king’s left eyebrow travels a fraction of an inch and a teasing smile cracks his facade. “Oh, really now? The great changeling powerhouse of the Wastes is ‘content’?”
> Chrysalis narrows her eyes, as she stares at her mate.
“Why do you think I do this, beloved? Why I ordered the hive to pour humongous amounts of work and resources into expanding and fortifying this already insurmountable citadel? Why I ordered the nursery to make me two dozen behemoths, despite their costs? Why I ordered five times the amount of patrols out there, in the Wastes?”
> As she speaks, her tone and intensity accelerates, until she reaches a vocal peak. Her eyes soften, and her mouth closes with a soft clack.
“I did it for you,” she says.
“You are the single greatest thing that has ever happened to this hive, to its subjects… to me…” Chrysalis continues meekly. “Your love knows no bounds, no discrimination or hatred towards my lings. It’s the purest love we’ve ever had.”
> The queen’s head sinks to absentmindedly look in the folds of the delicate bed cloth.
“A whole born queen is made to rule, beloved. Ever since my… growth spurt, I have felt the emotions of the other queens. A regular queen can not sense it, but an almighty ruler must know of internal threats and upsets.”
> Anonymous carefully places his hands on either side of her muzzle, and bring her up to face him again.
> “What frightens you, honey?”
> Chrysalis does not look him in the eyes as she recalls the vileness of her fellow queens.
“They know of you. They know of your unending love for me. They know of you constitution, of how your love has no end. And they fear me. Their heads are clouded with thoughts of queen slaying, jealousy and most of all, maddening fear. They want you for themselves, enthralled to their hives.”
> The human begins carefully stroking her face in slow and methodical patterns.
“I… I am afraid, Anonymous”, she says, quivering. “The first whole born queen in millennia… I am so afraid of losing you,” she continues. “I had the behemoths ordered to stand guard in every corridor leading to this inner sanctum. You would not notice them, for they are hidden even from the hive mind.”
> The humans slow petting stops.
> The changeling queen heaves an empty chortle.
“Behemoths are beasts of war, beloved. Employing two or three of them to protect a hive is unorthodox but still justifiable... Having so many to guard a single being is sin…” Her voice trails off.
“But I do not care for the melodramatics of the other queens!” Her voice grows and a fire flares in her eyes. ”To the pits of Tartarus with their schemes and jealousy! I have no dreams of conquest, not anymore. I just want to keep everything as they are, right now.”
> Silence reigns for a long time as Anonymous studies her face.
> “You are…” He begins. “Oh honey…”
> Anonymous begins placing delicate pecks on her snout, as she closes her eyes.
> “You. Are. Without. A. Doubt. The. Most. Loveable. Bugbutt. In. The. World.” He says, each word paused with a kiss.
> Giggling at his whimsical antics, Chrysalis looks her betrothed king in the eyes, exchanging breaths from the closeness of their faces.
“Where would we… where would I be without you?”
> The kisses halts, as he contemplates his answer.
> “Hmm, probably still here”, he asserts determined. “Granted, no biglings, and there would probably be fewer smolllings as well. However, you would still be here, honey,” he says, planting a big smooch on her snout. “You would not give up.”
> Chrysalis scrunches intensely, both from the contact and the wave of affection clashing into her. She plants her hooves on his shoulders, pushing him back onto the blankets with her following his motion as she straddles his midsection.
> Anonymous chuckles as he looks up at his queen in adoration, his eyes trailing down her sleek and powerful neckline, to her chest, down her front till his gaze catches her luminescent abdomen.
> Its light has grown over the last couple of weeks, and its translucent surface lets someone close enough see the contours of large, oval…
> With his face dropping into a similar oval shape, Anonymous looks at the face of the now beaming queen.
“I thought I’d keep it a secret a little bit longer.”
> The king looks down at the belly of his wife, placing one hand on her wide thigh, and another on her midriff.
> The soft green glow grows in intensity as he stares at it, head filled with nervousness and love.
> “Are they… you know?” he asks.
> The innocent tone of his question catches the queen by surprise, evoking a soft laughter. It quickly fades as she sees the saddened look on his face.
“No, not yet,” she starts.
“But they are ready for it, and I have a haunch you might be helpful in assuring that.”
> A predatory grin slips on the king’s face as realisation dawns on him.
> “I was hoping you would say that,” he smirks.
> Chrysalis horn flares up, and his clothing disappears in the blink of an eye.
> She does not need her psychic powers to feel the sweltering lusting for her or her body exuding from her mate beneath her.
> Nor does his hungry eyes roaming her form, his hands stroking her legs in worship or his heavy breathing of her scent declare his unrestrained desire as much as his raging erection.
> She can feel its shape straining defiantly against the confines of her plump rear, pushing teasingly against her marehood and staining her dock and tail with pre.
> Mewling in delight, Chrysalis lifts her body to reorientate and lower herself on him, as she kisses his face wildly.
> A pleased purr from deep within her chest flows as she feel him finding entrance and filling her up. Anonymous breath catches in his throat as he throws his head back into pillow, a low moan crossing his lips.
> “Oh honey~”
> Nickering, Chrysalis stops her kisses, and leans back, swallowing up more of his length in her burning nethers. Feeling her hold of her mate, she begins rhythmically squeezing down on his length.
“Is- is it to your liking, beloved? Is it everything you–you hoped for, my king?” she asks, traces of jitters in her voice.
> Anonymous stops and looks back at face. “You are incredible, Chryssi,” he says, as he begins thrusting his hips upwards, eliciting a myriad of squeaks from the changeling.
“Ha-h I kne- knew it! I alwa- always knew it!” Chrysalis’ ragged breaths hitches every now and then, to the tempo of his thrusts and her motions. Her eyes are pinched shut in euphoria as the feeling of his boundless love and cock propels her senses to ever higher levels.
> Anonymous’ hands are clenching tightly onto her thighs, feeling the subtle give of softened chitin and sturdy muscles working underneath.
> Only the soft moans and whines from the two of them breaks the calm of the chamber, with her softly glowing belly casting eerie shadow plays on the walls.
> One of his hands moves further in from her leg, down towards her nethers, cupping one of her ample teats. Massaging the supple orb in his hand, his fingers soon find a small teal nipple, and begins rolling it between his thumb and index finger.
> With a screaming crescendo in the form of a loud moan to the heavens, and a tense grip from her nethers, she comes.
> Her marehood clasp down on Anonymous’ member, undulating in its endeavour to drain him of his essence…
> With frazzled breaths, Chrysalis starts to wind down, enjoying the cosy feeling of a love filled afterglow. She looks down at her king’s face, hoping to find the same peace filled look on his features.
> Instead, he looks back at her with barely held mirth, and happy eyes.
“Wha- what’s the matter, beloved? Is something wrong?”
> “No, not in the slightest. I know you know how much I enjoy seeing you like this. Passionate, true to yourself, and oh so greedy,” he answers in a husky tone.
“’Greedy’? What do you mean ‘Greedy’?” She demands, her face scrunching in annoyance. “Was it not to your liking aft- after all?”
> Anonymous lays his head down onto the sheets, taking in a deep breaths to catch his bearing.
“Would you rather have bedded that thrice-damned Celestia?” Chrysalis continues. “I can change, you know, I have a whole repertoire of shapes. Wo-would you rather lay with a gryphon? I c-can do that! I will even do a cry-crystal pony, if that’s what you desire.” She asks, her voice growing frail as she works herself up into a small panic.
> “Oh Chrysalis, you know I only want you,” Anonymous whispers as he leans towards her, carefully hugging her midsection, standing from the bed. He turns on the spot, gingerly placing her back down on the bed.
> “I should have guessed all this bottled up love and the recent stress might have given you a… sensitive trigger”, he whispers into her ear, lightly nipping at the tip.
> Chrysalis squirms in his grasp, still feeling sparks of exhilaration from her recent high.
“Easy, beloved. I- I am still se~…” she breathlessly plead.
> “Rest, honey, and let me handle things,” he murmurs besides her head.
> Anonymous starts retreating off her frame, placing delicate kisses down her form, as he makes to stand besides the bed. Grabbing her powerful thighs, he drags her to him to the edge of the bed.
> “I never meant anything mean with what I said. I just meant that we have all the time in the world to enjoy one another,” he continues, as he began teasing her still sultry pussy with his cock.
> Whinnying in barely held anticipation, Chrysalis took a hoof to her muzzle to stifle her sounds.
> With a smooth push, Anonymous presses his length back in, starting with a slow and methodical pace. His thrusts are firm and unyielding, pushing from the very tip, till their hips meet in passionate greeting.
> No feverish rush.
> No hasty sexual dash.
> No careless fucking.
> This was deeper, more meaningful, more heartfelt. This was not sex. This was not fucking. At that moment, Chrysalis understood a great many things. What Anonymous had meant. What he had fell. What he was doing.
> He exclusively meant to breed her.
> To make a proper brood mother of her.
>The one thing she had always hinged after, hoping to make her own. The realisation roared in her mind, rekindling her passion and joy to the act.
> Soft moans begins filling the bedroom, as their lovemaking maintains its measured pattern. And this time, it’s different. She starts noticing his feelings. His joy in seeing her like this, his pleasure derived from her, how much he wishes for their act to bear fruit.
> And it fills her heart of hearts with bliss.
> His hands and arms are no longer roaming, but easily propping up her legs, gently stroking their shape. His focus is only on her, her senses and her pleasure.
> Her climax is slower, but reaches so far deeper into her being. Her build up is a wondrous leisurely stroll, taking its time to warm up her entire being, from the tip of her hooves, to the top of her curved horn.
“Ano-Anonymous, I’m so close.”
> He smiles an assuring grin. “That’s it, Chryssi. Don’t force it, relax and let it take you.”
> She does, and like a tidal wave, it washes over her. Her entire body thrashing as Anonymous keeps his ever-steady pace throughout its entirety.
> Throughout her culminations, the one thing that has remained constant is her king’s pacing.
…
> She has culminated twice, before she starts to feel Anonymous twitch, but still he keeps his deliberate rhythm. When he finally comes, she reaches yet another high. Feeling his jerking cock inside of her envelopes her in jubilation, a primal part of her sense having been fulfilled at the thought of being thoroughly bred.
> She can feel it, the fickle warm feeling as his seed finds her eggs. Each egg finding it partner slowly starts lighting up, add to her already persistent glow.
> Slowly, her king withdraws from her marehood, and lays down beside her, panting.
> “Honey… did you use that aphrodisiac pheromone you mentioned a couple of weeks back?”
> Turning her head to Anonymous, she smiles.
“Only a teeny tiny bit, beloved.”
> “Huh… works pretty well.”

-------------------**-------------------

> Chrysalis gently stirred from her sleep, to the feeling of soft butterfly kisses on her jaw. Giggling like a filly, she squirmed in the embrace of her bed mate. The delicate touch of Anonymous’ arm wrapped around her form, to snuggle her tightly to his broad chest.
> His other hand was tracing gentle rings on her steadily glowing belly, sending small tickling arcs through her midst.
> Anonymous, sensing her shifting breathing, moved his head to her ear. “Morning, snuggle bug”, his baritone voice echoed delightfully in her head.
“Good morning to you too, beloved,” she murmured.
> Turning her head, Chrysalis opened her eyes to take in his visage.
> His hair was messy and much too long, halfway giving him the look of a savage. A stubble covered his jawline and neck. His cologne was fading, shifting over his scent into his own natural musk.
> Raising her hoof, Chrysalis booped his nose.
“You need a shave. Badly.”
> Smiling, Anonymous dragged a hand across his face. “Bah, it’s surely not that bad,” he began, twisting his body to grab a small mirror from the bedside table. “I kinda like the more roguish looks.”
> Turning to stand, Chrysalis made for the adjacent bathroom, to have the first shower - and hopefully clean off the scent of male from her frame.
“Rugged rogue or not, you are still a ruling king, ‘your majesty’”, her voice drivelled through the crack in the door. “Our subjects would rather flee from you, than come to you for advice. You should be presentable.”
> Adjusting the knobs, Chrysalis closed her eyes and stepped into the heated sprinkle of underground spring water.
> She could hear Anonymous get up from the bed, surely to grab a robe from one of the hidden closets in the wall. Sensing the love energy cascading off him coming closer, she peeked behind the blinds as the water washed over her.
> “Say, honey, what’s the name of the royal hairstylist, again?” he asked, turning his head around the agape door with a thoughtful look on his face.
“Atta, beloved.”
> Nodding his understanding and scratching his stubbles, Anonymous looked to have made up his mind. “What’re your plans for the day?” he asked.
> A sour look crossed her muzzle.
“I am afraid I’ll have to go back to the council with the other queens. Yesterday was only a formality, the initial presentation, the official greeting and the oath of Sanctuary”, Chrysalis explained. “With all the formalities, we only had time to shortly graze the most pressing topics.”
> Stepping into the dampening moist air, Anonymous looked at her with empathy. “Would it help if I went alongside with you?”
“Under no circumstances can you come to the meeting!” she snarled, her face scrunching in defensive self-righteousness. Her head swimming with thoughts of what the other queens might try, should he show up.
> Immediately holding his hands up in a disarming fashion, he continued. “Easy there, honey, if you don’t want me interrupting your meeting, I won’t.”
> Annoyance and frustration burned out of Chrysalis, as fast as they had come roaring to life.
“I… I am sorry, beloved. It is just, I have no idea what plots and schemes the other queens have already crafted to get to you. It is simply too dangerous for you to be there.”
> Walking to stand beside the shower, Anonymous cupped her face in his hands. “I understand, honey. I just wish things weren’t like so.”
> Looking further down her body, his eyes caught her vibrant midsection. “Besides, it’s not just me we have to take care of, anymore. You best believe I will be beside your bed with homemade cooking when you are a big, grumpy, brooding momma.”
> A heavy blush found its way on Chrysalis face, as the earnest declaration of adoration for her took hold.
“Y-You too”, she stammered.
> Snickering at her stumbles, Anonymous released her face, taking on a more solemn look as he placed a hand on her chest. “Listen to what I said, honey. You carry our future foals, the labour of our love. Take care of yourself.”
> The sense of magnitude his words carried left her breathless, staring adoringly into his twinkling eyes.
> Placing one last chaste kiss on her cheek, he turned to leave. “I’ll go get shaved so you can finish up here, before your meeting.”
“Anonymous,” came the off-pitch yelp. “When I get back…” Chrysalis trailed off again.
> “Yes, honey?” he asked, Cheshire smile threatening to spill out.
“When I get back, could you maybe do that thing with the scented oil with my hooves again…?” she asked, fidgeting in place as her last words trail off into a murmur.
> Snickering good-heartedly, he nodded. “Mint or lavender?”
> “Mint! You know how I hate lavender.”

> A good fifteen minutes later and two rigorous washings later, Chrysalis entered the large hall outside her bedchamber. Despite her best efforts – and the workings of an imported gryphon deep scrub – she could still smell dim fragments of Anonymous scent.
> Snorting in annoyance at her wasted effort, she looked to the two remaining behemoths standing watch outside. They were easily two and a half times her height, even after her growth, with legs the size of tree trunks, and horns the size of full-length dragoneer harpoons.
> Their shells were shining in the dim light of the hall, with no blemishes or cracks along the exterior armor plating. Woe to the unwelcome intruders that stumbled upon one of these leviathans.
> For the moment, though, she had their undivided attention, as they stood firm and vigilant. “Blessed mornings, Allmother”, came the greeting from one of them, as it kneeled.
“Good morning, Caci”, came her reply. “Good morning to you too, Albo.”
> Likewise prostrating herself as her sister, Albo bowed. “Blessed mornings, Allmother. His majesty, Allfather, left with the rest of the royal squadron to find the royal mane stylist, one ‘Atta’,” she reported.
“I expected as much, thank you.” Chrysalis replied. “I will be…” she started, halting as the ever-reasonable voice of her mate echoed in her mind.
> ‘You carry our foals…’
> Looking over the two behemoths for a moment in silence, Chrysalis made up her mind.
“I want the two of you to accompany me to the Sanctuary as honour guards,” she declared.
> The heads of the two sisters swivelled upwards in apparent bewilderment, exchanging a glance between the two of them, before returning to her. “But Allmother, usually it is only you alone who go to the meeting. Well, you and the royal notary.” Albo said.
> Tapping her horn for emphasis, Caci continued. “And we aren’t skilled in hornwriting. Indeed, we would crack the tiny pen if we tried grabbing it...”
> Seeing Chrysalis’ deadpan look from their explanations, Caci bowed her head. “For the hive, Allmother.”
> Nodding and smiling at their consent, Chrysalis turned to walk, the two behemoths falling in line with her in the middle. Both of them kept a respectful distance, yet remaining within distance to strike down any would-be assassins.
> A whole born queen could never be too careful.
> In comparison to her own steps, those of the two behemoths echoed greatly in the silent hall as they walked the endless paths towards the outside.
> The occasional window to the outside assisted the sporadically placed light pillars to light up the passages in the warm glow of the early morning sun. As they walked, they passed several embrasures in the walls, with armaments and spears standing close by.
> The construction and expansion of the hive had added many a new additions to the existing defences.
> Heavy ballista’s with their broad oaken arms stood firmly planted on the floor, flanked by mounts with barbed highpoons. Each fearsome spear hooked to heavy iron chains for bringing down mighty dragons with ease.
> Small and sturdy arbalests hung from racks, with quivers of iron tipped broadhead arrows for shooting pegasi out of the sky. The detrimental effects of iron on pony magics would mean even stray scrapes could incapacitate the flying pests.
> As it was still early morning, they would only come across the occasional lookout, or guardling, standing watch at their designated post.
> All stopped and kneeled, offering their salutations and respect to her.
> As they walked, Chrysalis kept catching Caci stealing peeks over her shoulder, to look down at her. The coursing curiosity flowing in the mind of her ensemble was easily sensed by her keen empathy magic.
“Is something the matter, guardling?” she asked, a small part of humour honeying her words.
> Realising her mistake, Caci shrugged nonchalantly, trying to diffuse the awkwardness of the question. “Nothing at all, all mother. I was just wondering.”
“About what?” Chrysalis pressed on.
> “Well,” Caci said stiffly. “With all due respects, Allmother, I couldn’t help but notice the lighting from your, uhm, midst.”
> Blinking owlishly, Chrysalis looked to the smooth wall next to her, noting how indeed she was casting a potent light off the reflective hive rock.
“Huh, well, I guess I am pretty glowing,” she said, recalling the effect of hers and Anonymous lovemaking on her egg clutches. She had hoped it was not as noticeable in brighter surroundings, though.
> Caci continued. “I was just wondering if everything was as they should. When you had come out from the royal chambers, you had the scent of his highness clinging to you – more so than usual, at least,” the changeling finished quietly.
> Chrysalis mouth opened. And closed it. If it would have been any other subject than a behemoth, such details would have been pointedly ignored, and any questions quelled. She was still getting used to the more independent thought processing gifted to the giants.
> Well, that combined with the large quantity of time spent close to the royal couple, it was no wonder their guards had noticed.
“That is… for a later time, Caci. Anonymous and I will make a statement when we see it fit,” Chrysalis explained, a mask of royalty slipping over her face.
> Giving a small salute, the guard turned her head back forwards, seemingly happy with her queen’ reasoning, or lack thereof.
> Making their way down to the central entrance of the hive, the enormous twin doors leading outside stood open to let in the still frail sunlight, and warming breeze.
> As with the royal chambers, the entrance was heavily guarded, by both behemoths and the smaller armed pheidoles, soldier cast changelings. All of the regular sizes changelings had armour and weapons forged of hive marble and obsidian equipped or within easy range of their position.
> While the behemoths stationed out here towered above all their comrades, their stature and bulk were a fraction short of her accompanying guards. Well, it was only natural to save her best ace for last, in the case of a successful siege, Chrysalis mused.
> Nodding to her once again bowing subjects, she turned a sharp right, towards the south. The great sun shielding tents of the Sanctuary stood out from the otherwise monotone wasteland as giant sails in the soft current.
> Beneath the drifting sails of weave stood the simple platform named Sanctuary, with the wide onyx hued table carved out on top. It had stood for time immemorial, as past queens had met and negotiated agreements, offers and demands.
> Large crystalline decanters and goblets with refreshing ambrosia stood proudly on its face, reflecting in the still low sunlight. Serving pure love as a simple a refreshment was lavish, but none the less, also a signal of power in the minds of the royal attendees.
> As her ensemble got closer, Chrysalis could make out the shapes of the already assembled queens.
> The lilac coloured queen Buddleia of the Baltimare hive. Buddleia bore a dull expression, her head turned to look at the ever-constant land surrounding Sanctuary, as she tapped impatiently on the table surface. It did not take the skill of empathy to sense her clear annoyance towards being dragged to the gathering.
> To her right, sat queen Noctuid of the Hollow Shades. Her reserved demeanour a stark contrast to her table partner. The queen’ ashen grey mane and fluffy wings left the impression of huge moth.
> Next again, was queen Mentha, hailing from the frigid Luna Bay. The only thing colder than her icy eyes and aqua mane was her manners. She regarded her fellow queen with no sign of either affection or annoyance towards one or the other.
> Lastly, conversing enthusiastically to her stock still associate was queen Albuna of the secluded Forbidden Jungle hive to the south. The region was abundant with dangerous beasts and dangers, a jarring contradiction to the carefree nature of its queen.
> As per customs, only the queens sat at the table, with their respective honour guards watching from the edge of the sails. Chrysalis noticed with no small sense of glee that while she was not the only one bringing behemoths along, Buddleia’s single behemoth looked downright malnourished next to hers, while Noctuid’s pair was hardly reaching their shoulder height.
> As the table occupants inevitably noticed her guards, the talks faded out, as they watched. With the two lings assuming their designated post, Chrysalis continued on alone, now the centre of the table’s attention. Flicks of yesterday’s jealousy and anger flared from across the gathered.
> Buddleia’s barely held anger and contempt of her was the most palpable, with its touch almost clouding the air around the queen. The two of them had budded horns before, viciously even, but the opportunity had not come up after Chrysalis’ growth to whole-born.
> Noctuid’s blank façade did little to hide her jealousy of Chrysalis growth and the Badlands Hive’s growth. After all, the Hollow Shades hive used to be the most powerful, with its sheltered position near the centre of Equestria.
> Unsurprisingly, Menthas calmness was as impregnable as ever, as was her emotions. Still, Chrysalis could catch the telltale traces of fear of her newly grown power and might. The Luna Bay hive was, after all, the smallest hive, and could be trampled by just about any of the other. Annihilating it would be a trivial matter.
> Lastly, was the youngest queen Albuna. Her cherry outwards appearance was perfect, but her emotions revealed a ravenous deep pit of self-doubt, and insecurity.
“Blessed mornings, Queens,” she greeted, hoping to start the meeting on a positive note.
> “You are late, Queen Chrysalis,” came the dry response from Noctuid.
> Ears turning back in ire, Chrysalis turned her head towards the appointed notary with a questioning look. The drone procured a small sun watch and studied it. She shook her head back.
“Queen Noctuid, I am not late as the sun has not yet passed mid mornings. I am just the last to arr-.
> “Guess the fae clutches hang tighter some mornings, aye?”, came the mocking interrupting drab from Buddleia, as she elbowed her side companion, hoping to garner some mirth.
> Feeling her griff around her neck flutter in indignation, Chrysalis reigned her emotions, and turned calmly.
“He is not fae, you reprobate. He’s a human.”
> Guffawing, Buddleia continued. “Fae, human, ironcursed both of them. What is the difference anyhow, as you’d lay with one another? She asked.
“Well, at least I don’t have to resort to begging like a pony to have a mate warm my blankets,” came the sharp reply. Judging from the immediate effect on the opposing queen’ poise and emotions, Chrysalis had hit a soft spot.
> Slamming her hooves down on the table at the jab, Buddleia rose to her full height wings splayed and fangs bared.
> “Ooooh, that’s really bucking rich, coming from you, after your roaring success in the North.”
> Albuna chuckled good heartedly at the exchanging barrage, while Mentha was busy flicking dust specs off the table, distant from the ongoing escapade. Noctuid on the other hoof, looked on in exasperation.
> Before Chrysalis had a chance to retort, she was interrupted by the soothing void from the ashen queen. “Ladies. Now is not the time for mindless bickering like whimsical stallions,” Noctuid said.
> Snorting in defiance, Buddleia dropped down in her chair again, as Noctuid’s gaze roamed around the gathered, looking for opposition. Chrysalis narrowed her eyes, but remained silent.
> “Now then, with yesterday’s rites passed, we can move on to the more pressing matters,” Noctuid continued. “We have the ongoing situation with the mating hydra pair down south, near the Amber hive. Due to the pair’s size and natural aggression, Albuna has requested outside help, to join with her forces and out the two.
> Albuna nodded enthusiastically. “We could reeeeaaaaally use some help. The nest is close to the hive’s pollen sites, and their presence slows our foraging for the loveless months down to a crawl. I already have twenty wounded crop workers in the infirmary, with another five close calls.”
> Buddleia chimed in. “How old are they? Are they mature, or just fooling around?”
> “We estimate them to be about 56 summers each, they are some mighty big ones. They are nursing three newly hatches. My hive only have a dozen squadrons battle ready, but they have never come across a hydra, let alone two.” she responded, griff rustling in frustration.
> Putting her head in her hoofs, Buddleia began moving around small cups and decanters on the table like miniatures on a war table. “If it takes twenty squadrons to drive out a single hydra…”
“It’ll take at least sixty to kill them off, considering hydras territorial nature and ferocity guarding their young,” Chrysalis summarised.
> Silenced ruled across the table, as the scale of the request settled.
> “Or a single behemoth,” came the dry afterthought from Mentha.
> Noctuid looked to her fellow queen, brows wrinkling in thought. “That is a… possibility,” she consented”. “A behemoth could do it. But the only hives that has any to begin with, is the Hollow Shades, the Baltimare, and the Badlands Hive.”
> “The Hollow Shades might be too far away,” Albuna said. “We need them driven off or killed yesterweek.”
> Buddleias eyes widened and her mouth opened, as the dots connected in her head.
> “If you are thinking of offering your services, I suggest feeding the poor thing some of your decanter’s ambrosia first, dear,” Noctuid said. “She looks about ready to topple over from the journey here, much less ready of facing a nesting hydra-dame”.
> With a low hiss from the jab, Buddleia closed her mouth. The rest of the queens turned towards Chrysalis, her feeling yet again as the centre of attention.
> While she did have the hive-power to do so, it would be costly. The logistics and guards to accompany the behemoth would again mandate further supplies. Infirmary workers and assistants, tools and materials to take care of any wounds… To speak nothing of the ambrosia!
> The travel would have to be by ground as the behemoths wings could only carry it short distances, further slowing down the process and increasing supply demand. It would no doubt weaken her ability to enact her full power. But again, it could also help win over an ally hive.
“I… I will extend a helping hoof in Albuna’s time of need. The Badlands Hive will send two behemoths to vanquish the hydras and their young. The Badlands Hive will supply provisions and protection for the behemoths in return for accommodations and low level resupplying for their return. For the greater hive,” Chrysalis asserted lastly. Albuna gave a short cheer, as she smiled profusely back at her.
> The feeling of gratitude and relief gushed from the amber queen, speaking volumes of the victory Chrysalis had won with the southern hives gratitude.
> With a dampened smile, Noctuid turned to the scribe. “Did you catch that, dear?”
> Nodding dutifully, the drone answered. “Yes, your highness.”
> “Splendid. With that taken care off, we have the reported desertions to the newly founded Chrystal Empire hive to discuss,” Noctuid said, looking down at a small parchment. “With the arrival of the newly crowned king Thorax, small hives in the region have all but consigned to him, undergoing voluntary metamorphosis.”
> Mentha took over. “The Luna Bay hive has lost approximately two hundred lings to the honeyed words of the fallen king,” she nagged, allowing herself an uncharacteristic sign of anger.
> Nodding in turn, Noctuid continued. “Likewise, my hive has lost a substantial amount of sublings. The knowledge of sterility does little to dissuade them from the endeavour.
> “Sterility…?” asked Albuna.
> “No regular ling undergoes a second metamorphosis without its cost,” Mentha explained glumly. “While the deserters can live off of the radiant love of the Crystal Heart, they doom their lineage.”
> “Indeed,” Buddleia budded in. “It takes a queen to survive it unscathed and come out as whole born. Like Chryssi.”
> Fangs flashing, Chrysalis took to retort.
“Just what exactly is your problem with me, Buddleia? Your angry stench hangs over the table like a foul cloud.”
> Rising from her seat, Buddleia began making her way around the table. “What my problem is, that while the all of the other Equestrian hives suffer from lack of love and runaways, your hive thrives. You speak of the greater hive, building it to sit atop a pedestal. But what have you done to help your fellow changelings?” she asked.
> Chrysalis rose as well, to face off the opposing queen. While Buddleia had grown to be a mature queen, she was still a head shorter than Chrysalis.
> “You build fortifications. You foster more behemoths than ever recorded. You harness your sublings’ adoration,” she carried on. “While your fellow queens struggle to meet the expectations of their hive, you trample all over this, parading your powers like a common showpony.”
> Griff, fangs and wings flared and a low growl emanating, Chrysalis looked downright frightening. But still Buddleia continued enclosing in on her.
“Brave words from a lowly whoremother,” the snarling Chrysalis said.
> Now standing close enough to lock horns with her, Buddleia looked her in the eyes, taking a deep breath to continue her charade. And stopped. “You have laid with him. This morning, I wager.” She snarled. “You practically reek of him.”
“So what if I have. I have his eternal adoration. More than you can ever claim to have witnessed from any one of your lays.”
> “You can fuck like rabbits for all I care, it will ne-“, Buddleia came to a grinding halt. Quickly taking a step back, she flared her wings, casting a small shadow from the bright sun, over the place where Chrysalis stood. The rest of the queens followed her gaze downwards.
> The ever constant green glow of her eggs could be picked up, by the treasonously reflective surface of Sanctuary. A couple of gasps could be heard from the table.
> “Ovir…” Buddleia began. “You dare come here as Ovir?!” she thundered.
> And that is when the second day of the Queens meeting was cut short.

-------------------**-------------------

> Anonymous found himself enjoying the quiet morning in the hive.
> Having kissed his queen goodbye, he sought out Atta, the royal hair stylist. Which really is to say, the most competent little ling in the hive equipped with a pair of scissors.
> Despite his assurances of the quality of her work, the poor thing was a nervous wreck by the end of the escapade. Bidding Atta goodbye with a well-deserved head pat, and a small love induced headache, Anonymous made for the hive library.
> Nigh endless bookshelf upon bookshelf stretching on in nigh endless rows, filled with genuine mountains of books, scrolls, scriptures, documents, parchments, texts, essays, albums, and everything in between.
> Gigantic mirrors letting in the brightly glowing sunlight illuminated the many-coloured backs of the tomes, creating a myriad of dulled hues.
> Walking past the lengthy scientific papers, the heavy law books and the stale history books, he finally found what he had set out to find. The true epitome of literature. The one Magnum Opus of Equestria.
> The largest ever collection of romance novels.
> Diving into the collection with barely withheld glee, Anonymous began reading from the top left row, enveloping himself with stacks of books.
> Following what felt like hours of mushy drama, the soft poking of a hoof on his shoulder caught his attention.
> “Um… your highness, blessed Allfather?” came a cautious voice.
> Utterly bewitched by the words, Anonymous gave a small start.
“Ye- yes, what is it?”
> A petite librarian stood tall next to him, staring intensely at the floor. A small pair of green tinged half-glasses rested atop her muzzle. “Blessed Allmother has a-announced her return from the meeting, she will be back shortly.”
> Surprise on his face, Anonymous looked out the window puzzled to try and gauge the sun position.
“What time is it?”
> As if she had expected the question, the mare answered promptly. “A quarter to eleven, Allfather. The meeting appears to have been cut short, for some reason. A messenger arrived before the queen and her guards, carrying orders for the preparation of bolting the main gates.”
“Bolting the gates? Did the messenger say anything about what happened at the meeting?”, worry starting to seep into his voice.
> Fidgeting in place at her own lack of knowledge, she continued. “The message said nothing of the reasons as to why. Only the orders for preparation for bolting, as well as the awakening of the behemoth reserves.”
> Quickly rising from his seat, Anonymous stormed out the library.
“I have told her time and time again, behemoths needs their forenoon nap. They get so grumpy when they’re sleep deprived,” he said, more to himself than the fumbling librarian left behind in his wake.
> Taking the stairs three steps at a time, the human quickly made his way down from the higher levels. All around him, changelings rushed to and from places, carrying additional bolts and ammunitions, medical supplies and spare armour pieces.
> The main hall was a flurry of traffic, yet the king felt none of the bustle of bodies. Steering straight to the gates with a calculated stride, the sea of lings dispersed in front of him, as they sensed his presence.
> Reaching open doors with anxiously looking guardlings and behemoths flanking him, Anonymous gazed across the arid surroundings. The stature of the two behemoths stood out like a pair of sore thumbs, making spotting his spouse a trivial task.
> While the two behemoths towered over the whole born queen, the difference in presence between the two made the fearsome war beasts look like a pair of nervously looking embers next to the roaring bonfire that was Chrysalis.
> Her mane and tail flicked from side to side, powered by her fast gait. Her elongated fangs and griff were bared and clattering audibly against the soft scales of her neck. Her grandiose horn sent drifting sparks of teal magic flying as her powerful step hit the dirt beneath. As the distance between the two of them closed, Anonymous could make out the thin-slitted pupils constantly scanning the surroundings.
> Raising a hand in greeting, Anonymous smiled wide.
“Hey honey, how was the-“
> A frustrated yowl of resentment roared out from the sturdy frame of the changeling queen.
> “Fel and foul miscreants! How dare they banish me from Sanctuary?! What about the Oath or the sacred grounds! Sanctuary lies on Badland Hive land, and they dare dismiss me like a lowly interloper” Chrysalis hissed. “Arrrgh, to Tartarus with the lot of them!”
> Quickly walking up to her, Anonymous enveloped the agitated queen.
“Easy, Chryssi,” he began. “Did they hurt you or any of the guards?” he asked, placing a reassuring hand on her chest.
> Feeling his gentle touch, and empathy to her, Chrysalis locked eyes with him. All of her pent up anger, hate and resentment was evident in her emerald eyes, a resounding beacon of justified fury. His hazel eyes in turn did not waver from hers.
> “No. It’s much worse. They- they banished me,” she said, eyes trailing off to towards the south. “I have been cast out of the Council of Queens, Anonymous.”
> Taking in a deep sigh, the humans shoulder sagged, as relief spread across his face. “Thank the heavens, I thought you were hurt. You came back looking like you about had to bite off the face of one of the other queens.”
> “They humiliated me, Anonymous! Do you know what happens to exiled queens? No councils. No trade. No nothing.”
> The echoing words of the distraught queen echoed down the populated hall. The nervous glances, and murmurs from the on looking changelings started to spread out, like a whispering wave cascading from around the pair.
> Sensing the smouldering hysteria flaring, Anonymous quickly seized the moment.
“So what if the council want nothing with us. Honey, we are thriving! Look around you. Look at the mighty walls protecting us, at the armaments and resources stockpiled tenfold, at the faces of your loyal hive. Sense their undying love and devotion to you, their queen.”
> Grasping her cheeks and dragging her face to his, he continued unabated.
“To Tartarus with the other queens. They can’t offer us anything we already have in spades,” he said, placing a tender kiss on her snoot, as his hands delicately rubbed the ghosts of tears from her eyes. “We don’t need them any more than they us. Call off the wakening, and let our sublings have a well earned rest.”
> Slowly, but surely, as understanding spread across her muzzle, her wings and lips eased, dropping into a their usual resting place. Her griff folded back in again, leaving behind her sleek neckline smooth and uninterrupted. Her pupil slits calmed, returning her eyes to their prior splendour.
> In the place of the bloodthirsty and confused changeling ready to tear her foes to shreds, stood instead a whole borne queen. A being content with what she had, and everything she could ever want. A small awkward smile blessed her features.
> “Yo-You’re right, beloved… Like always,” she said, stiffly. “I- I must have looked like a horrifying beast when I got here,” she said, glancing towards the cautiously optimistic guardlings flanking her.
> Drumming lightly on her snout, Anonymous locked eyes with her again.
“My black rose, even if you have the eyes of a wolf, I shall search them and find the beauty of the beast,” he recited, a supple grin on his features.
> A small chorus of ‘awws’ from the nearby sublings was heard around the two of them.
> “You’ve been reading your romance novels again, haven’t you?” Chrysalis sighed in defeat, her cheeks growing a shade of red from embarrassment.
“Hollow Pine was a criminally underrated author. He never really got the breakthrough he deserved!”, his voice filled with mock indignation as he lightly tapped the front of her muzzle.
> Chrysalis moved a hoof to boop him back, and turned towards the hive. “I’m tired, beloved. Care to join me for an early lunch?”
“Gladly,” Anonymous answered, turning to follow.
> A small being walking towards the hive caught his attention. The diminutive changeling shuffled along, slowed down by the heavy weight of the mighty book on its back. The green chitin on her flanks and shoulders immediately identified it as belonging to the hive.
> Listening carefully, the strained huffs and puffs from the toiling mare could be heard across the silent land.
> “What’s taking you so long, belo-,” Chrysalis began, as she too spotted the lone ling. “The notary? What is she doing here, the meeting should still be in effect.”
> Plopping down in a heap on the ground before the royal couple, the tired changeling made a halfway salute in a weary greeting. “Royal Notary Scriba, reporting back from the Council,” she said.
> Stepping forwards to pick up the treasured book, dusting off its cover, Chrysalis looked as Anonymous instead opted for picking up the mare, cradling her like one would a nymph. Considering the size difference between the two, the comparison was not far off.
“Oh dear, oh dear,” Anonymous fussed, looking over the frazzled changeling as he walked through the central gates of the hive. “So, tell us, Scriba. Why are you back here already?”
> Looking up at the paternal face for a silent moment in awe, the notary quickly gathered her wits.
> “We-well, Allfather, shortly after Allmother was exi-“, Chrysalis gave off a low hiss at the near mention of her departing, “wa- was most unjustifiably ousted from the Council, the remaining queens agreed on breaking up, and postponing further negotiations for tomorrow morn, the last day of Council,” the mare said duly.
> Chrysalis huffed in displeasure. “Of course they would. Sitting around on my lands, doing nothing but gorging themselves on my ambrosia and hospitality. I should bring out the behemoths and drive out the thankless cretins.”
> Placing a comforting hand on her withers, Anonymous leaned in and blew a small breath of air in her hair, throwing the long strands in front of her eyes.
“You know, Honey, the best way to show those queens that you don’t care for them or the council would be to allow them to stay. Let them drink their fill, have a taste for pure love in quantities few of them can ever spare. Let them know that the concern of having multiple foreign hive queens on our lands are beneath us,” he said mischievously.
> Chrysalis was silent for a long while, studying his face, as they walked through the cool halls. “Your whimsy notwithstanding, you never stop surprising me with your flair for politics, beloved,” she said.
> Smiling down at his wife, Anonymous was caught by surprise from the small awkward faux cough coming from the changeling in his arms.
> “Ex-excuse my intrusion, Allfather, Allmother, but there is something else.”
> The pairs attention diverted from one another. “What is it, loyal notary? Anonymous asked in words honeyed with honest happiness at his wife’ earlier remark.
> Tapping her hooves awkwardly together, creating a soft clicking, the notary looked off to the side.
> “Well... Queen Albuna also dragged me off to the side after the meeting, requesting an audience with you, Allmother. Preferably today, around dinnertime”
> Blinking a couple of times, Chrysalis mulled over the information. “Huh, meetings between queens aren’t that uncommon. I’ll allow it, considering agreement set in stone before my... leaving of the Council.”
“There you go, honey,” Anonymous said encouragingly as he squeezed his hand on her side. “A positive attitude and look on new situations are important to stay healthy and fresh, for both you and the eg-“
> “Queen Albuna also mentioned that she wanted to meet Allfather Anonymous,” Scriba added.
> “I will tear off her wings and force feed them to her if she so much as touch a hair on his head!” Chrysalis roared, wings and griff clattering.

> It was a very uncomfortably looking amber queen Albuna who shuffled into the royal meeting halls, flanked by four menacing looking behemoths, watching her every move like hawks. The occupants already present in the hall did little to ease her evident nervousness.
> Having already woken up the behemoths, the whole borne queen of the wastes was relishing in her ability to prove her power, having an additional eight behemoths stand guard in a corridor like pattern, from the enormous entry doors, spaced out all the way up to her pillow arrangement.
> Countless pheidoles armed to the fangs with grim weapons looked on, casting glances between their beloved Allmother and the foreign queen, waiting for the smallest sign of orders.
> Chrysalis herself had draped her form on a heightened plateau of comfortable silken pillows, head held high. Although her outwards appearance was the epitome of a calm interest, her tense leg muscles and faintly glowing horn told volumes of her apprehensive state.
> A meeting requested by another queen carried with it a long string of obligations, rules and expectations. It was a safe haven for the good willed requesting queen to present their case or offer to a fellow queen. Just as the requestee was granted safety from harm to and from the place of meeting, the proposed queen again withheld the right to break off negotiations for whatever reason.
> And yet, for all the rules and laws of ancient times past, having another queen in a hive was always a strained experience.
> Amidst all of this, the tense behemoths, the alert sublings, and the nervous pair of queens, sat Anonymous, the catalyst of it all.
> Clad in a fine woven silken shirt with intricate patterns swirling across his broad chest, whirlpool like designs on his breast catching the faint glow of the magical lights as he breathed. A modest pair of deep coloured trousers helped accentuate his long stature, and a fine pair of onyx black shoes finished off his attire. He had an aura of calmness around him, as his face wore a welcoming smile, lightly drumming his fingers on his thigh watching the first changeling queen besides his wife approach.
> Eventually reaching the mesa of green cushions, Albuna bowed low in front of the ruling queen.
> “Queen Chrysalis, I thank you for taking the time to allow my request and offering your hospitality in my time of need,” she began. “I come here, hoping to lay out the finer details discussed at the Council this morn, so that it might benefit the both of us.”
> Chrysalis raised a hoof and waived it a dismissive fashion. “I recognise your gratitude, queen Albuna, and respond in kind. Adhering to the ancient codes is only proper. Any queen requesting a meeting must be granted passage and leave, as is your right of your stature. Although I do ask that we cease with mentioning the Council. It is not a matter of interest to me at the time.”
> Nodding her understanding, Albuna raised her head, a court smile on her lips. “Of course, queen Chrysalis.” Turning her head towards him, Albuna bowed her head once again in front of Anonymous.
> “I have heard many tales of your kind, Allfather. It is rare to see one of the fae in this day and age. Spirits preserve me, that I might experience being in the presence of one.”
“Likewise, queen Albuna, I have been told of your actions this morn, and I thank you for extending an olive branch, supporting us. Rest easy, enjoy the refreshments and indulge us in your proposals,” Anonymous said.
> Chrysalis could feel the feeble emotional link between the two of them, as Albuna took the feelings of his honest thanksgivings like a starving would a hot meal. A pang of jealousy stirred as this was usually only shown and given to her or the sublings of the hive.
> However, defying the risk of entering another hive, and kneeling at the feet of another queen was commendable, so she allowed the amber queen a respite, willing her unruly feelings to rest.
> Bowing her head again, Albuna turned back to include Chrysalis in her appeal. “I come here to once again thank you for the offer of assistance, understanding the costs such an endeavour. While the Forbidden Jungle hive can never hope to replace the Ambrosia expended, I would like to offer a humble alternative in return instead.”
> One of Chrysalis eyebrows raised slightly in genuine surprise at the offer of previously unheard repayments. Anonymous likewise leaned forwards, elbows resting on his knees, supporting his chin in his hands.
> “Please proceed, queen Albuna,” Chrysalis said.
> Smiling at their evident attention, Albuna continued. “Well, I am glad I have your interest. The jungle has many flowers, some of which only grows there, and when you infuse them into love honey, it becomes something of a potent ointment.”
“Love honey?” Anonymous asked.
> “A kind of palatable love. Sticky stuff, but goes well on toast,” Chrysalis explained. “While I am appreciative of your offer, what makes your medical condiments different from Ambrosia, a thing we already have plenty of?”
> Despite the softly inquisitive tone of the whole borne queen, Albunas smile and optimism was not deterred. “Well, while Ambrosia is more powerful, it still inherently relies on love magic. Our love honey, or ‘clover honey’ as we like to call it, concentrates the healing properties of the flowers, strengthening their effect. It is also easier to gather and store, practically keeping for months if not years.”
> While her hive could produce ample enough amounts of Ambrosia, it spoiled easily, and needed delicate handling when stored. A potent substitute was vital for long lasting operations and outposts.
> A downright cavalcade of questions and planning inquiries immediately followed between the two queens, discussing the finer details of the expedition, notifying the necessary servants, preparing guards, and so on.
> Eventually, as the discussions continued from the late afternoon well into the evening, delectable and exquisite cuisines from all reaches of the southern Equestria was brought fourth, so that the meeting could continue unabated.
> Anonymous watched on in humble interest. While the finer details in the planning and negotiations were beyond him, he still contributed with pieces of smalltalk whenever the discussions grew too dull. Through it all, he felt an inert joy seeing his wife at work. She was invested in this, trying to find the best possible solution for each and every topic. While she did try to favour her own interests, she was not unfair in her offers.
> Finally, after many hours of crunching the numbers, and reviewing the plans, the two hive queens had an expedition set in parchment. The rally points was set and the supplies counted and ordered for preparation.
> Drawing a heavy but content sigh, Chrysalis leaned back on her pillows. “I am pleased with the arrangements. How about you, Albuna?”
> Looking over the list of supplies one last time, the amber queen nodded in excitement. “Definitely, Chrysalis. This is beyond what I had hoped, and more than I expected. Once again, thank you.”
> “Think nothing of it. Few foes can be used as fodder for behemoth training, so it’s mutually beneficial for both of our hives. Will you and your party accept an offer of boarding for the night?”
> Rising from her seat, she carefully rolled up the official documents and lists. Drawing forth a long tube of shining black hive material, she uncapped one of the ends by twirling a small piece of string. Placing the parchment inside and placing the lid back on, she retied the string, sealing the container shut.
> Placing the tube under one of her wings, she stood to regard Chrysalis again. “I thank you for the offer, but I must return at once for my tent and my attendants. I want this decree back to my home as soon as possible, so that preparations can begin at once.”
> Bowing her head in turn, Chrysalis said: “I understand, my expedition will set out by tomorrow morn, then. They should be at the northernmost rally point by the afternoon of the day after tomorrow.”
> Smiling in glad anticipation, Albuna bowed back. “I will await their arrival within the fortnight. Thank you for your hospitality, Queen Chrysalis, and for your presence, Allfather.“
> Bidding his goodbyes and watching the smaller queen leave through the doors with her procession of behemoths, Anonymous turned to his wife.
“Well, I think that went pretty well, all things considered,” he said, stretching and cracking his back. Chrysalis in turn said nothing for a long while, as she read over the papers, absentmindedly bringing over a small plate of baked goods.
> “The teats on that mare are made of sturdier stuff than hive rock for walking in here alone. It doesn’t take the skills of a whole borne to sense her desire to experience being near you,” she said bluntly.
“Being near me?”
> Chewing loudly on a crunchy sugar cookie – home made with love, of course. “Yes, beloved. You know the positive effect you have on… well, all things changeling. Just being near you makes me feel like a cat frolicking in the rays of an afternoon sun.”
“So you are saying she wants to hug me?”, he asked innocently.
> A short chuckle escaped the Badlands matriarch. “Hug you? Anonymous, my beloved, she wanted to ravage you, and flee out the window across the hall with you in tow. Make no mistake, she might act civilised, and she sure was on her best behaviour tonight, she still wants you for herself. Her acting was on point, but the underlying craving for you was near palpable.”
> Rising from his seat, and walking over towards her, Anonymous gave a short mock of a bow and extended his hand.
“And what if I don’t love her, as I love you?”
> Taking his offered appendage, Chrysalis got to her hooves, and looked up at him with surprisingly solemn eyes. “I do not know, beloved. Just like a loving human can bring prosperity to a changeling queen, I can only imagine what a spiteful human could do to bring a queen to her knees.”
> Nodding in understanding, Anonymous looked out the large glass panels.
> The quiet hour of an early twilight outside had extinguished the flaming colours of a missed sunset, leaving behind the colourful palate of purples to dance through the slightly green tinted windows of the hall, as they walked.
 > Chrysalis enjoyed this immensely. The steadying feeling of her mate, and his assurances in her decisions helped calm her frayed nerves immensely.
“What if they tried mind controlling me?”
> “Excuse me?” she asked, unnerved of a possible exploit she had not considered.
> Shrugging his shoulders, Anonymous continued, brows furrowed. “What if I was mind controlled into loving them?”
> Weighing his question for a long time, Chrysalis horn faintly started glowing as she walked. After a short while, she flashed her smile at him as if an unsaid hypothesis was proven.
> “Remember when Albuna mistakenly called you fae?” she asked.
“Yes, I do. I didn’t want to correct her and highlight her mistake,” Anonymous said.
> “I am glad you didn’t. It would have been awkward for a royal to correct another,” she said matter of factly. “Anyhow, wrong as she and the other queens might be of your origins, humans and fae are polar opposite. Fae are inherently magical creatures, and shun cold iron for its anti-magic properties.”
“And with humans having iron in the blood…” he started.
> “You are in every sense of the word, immune to magic manipulation. And with mind control belonging to a school of magic, you cannot be controlled by magical means,” she said, picking up a bit of speed to get ahead of him.
> Anonymous eyes trailed down from her face.
> Slowly sashaying her rump in a tantalizing display of curves, her tail leaped to and fro with a barely withheld temptation of her sweltering nethers. The ever so soft jiggle of her thighs could raze a town like any earthquake. The soft hues from the window still the wide caught in her vibrant mane, sending small sparkles of sheen prancing across her neck.
> Chrysalis looked over her shoulder to fix him with a smouldering gaze. “I know of other means to get what I want, however,” her sultry voice danced with glee.
> Whatever deities had graced her form with this level of allurement would forever hold his gratitude. With gargantuan effort, Anonymous tore his eyes away from the display to look her in the eyes.
“I guess I still owe you that massage from this morning.”
> “You do.”

-------------------**-------------------

> The heavy wall length curtains excelled in cladding the furniture and shapes in the bedroom in near perfect darkness. Only the barest sliver of indistinct early morning light dared to draw a line at the drapes feet.
> A roaring silence held the room in a tight grip, only losing its grasp with the sound of its inhabitants’ calm breath and the bed cloth and pillows dragging against one another with their movements.
> It was in this almost cocoon like environment a very proud Anonymous found himself in.
> He had woken up a couple of minutes earlier, simply enjoying the total lack of sound.
> Having his eyes already adjusted to the dark absent of light, the fluorescent light of his bed mate was as apparent as the midday sun to him.
> He watched with equal parts fascination and adoration on the small slope of his pregnant wife’s belly, as her breathing moved around their priceless treasures. The eggs moved around in a lazy ballade, as they jostled with the occasional twitch of their mother’s legs.
> Chrysalis’s abdomen radiated a calming heat outwards, basking his forehead in its soothing flush.
> Delicately placing a broad palm on the top of the maternal mountain, his face was lit up by both a content smile, and the growing glow within. Chrysalis took in a deep sigh, humming deeply in sleepy delight at the early morning infusion of love.
> ‘Ovir’, she had called it. A warm feeling of pride swelled in his chest. She really was pregnant.
> A soft knocking could be heard from across the bedroom.
“Yea, yea, who is it?” Anonymous asked quietly, as he carefully rolled over to the side of the bed.
> A very timid looking Scriba peeked her head around the frame. “Ma-many apologies, blessed Allfather, but it’s urgent,” she whispered.
> Holding up his hand in a sign for her to pause, his other lightly poked the side of the still snoozing queen Chrysalis beside him.
“It’s for you, honey,” he said, sitting up off the side of the bed.
> Another deep sigh caught the lethargic matriarch. Slowly stretching her joints as a mighty yawn crossed her lips, the queen opened her eyes to the sight of a very nervous looking drone
> “What is it, Scriba? I want to sleep in, and forget about the damned council,” Chrysalis said, lazily scratching her eyes.
> “Ab-about that. The other queens have requested an audience,” Scriba said, slowly walking in the room to stand before her.
> The soft thud of a hoof hitting the pillows could be heard as Chrysalis took in a ragged breath, half way towards a hiss in honest annoyance, staring pointedly into the ceiling above.
> “Of all the hardships I must endure…” she sighed. “Fine, fine, let us see Mentha first. I am really not in the mood to talk to neither Noctuid nor Buddleia at the moment.”
> Chrysalis dragged herself to the edge of the bed to sit beside her king, stealing herself a steadying nuzzle beneath his chin. Chuckling softly, he in turn placed a hand on her cheek, lovingly brushing the locks of early morning mane out of her face, scooting it behind her ear.
> “The queens insisted on meeting with you in union,” Scriba added, bracing herself for the possible retaliation. The growing clacking of a griff hitting chitin echoed in the room. Fixing the poor changeling with a withering glare, Chrysalis motioned for her, as if to ask for more information.
> “I bet they wanted a meeting within the morning as well, correct?”
> “A-actually, they wanted it within the quar-quarter hour, blessed A-Allmother,” the shaking notary said, looking as if standing before her deathbed. Anonymous felt Chrysalis tense her muscles in barely withheld fury. The clattering of her griff grew louder.
> “Tell them I deny them entry by my right as proposed queen...”
“Honey, I know they have been a thorn in your side these couple of days, but do you really think-“, Anonymous began, trying to soothe his wife.
> “…Until I can be ‘presentable’”, she finished with no signs of sincerity, the last words dripping with distaste.
> Anonymous, on his part, wrapped an arm around her in a half hug.
“I’ll go wake up the kitchens and prepare the behemoths. You take a long bath – use that nice shampoo I got you, and we’ll meet with the queens by two hours from now. How does that sound?”
> The queen simply nodded into his arms, burying her face from the day’s hardships.
> Smiling, Anonymous turned his head towards the small mare. “Scriba, could you be a dear and arrange for some refreshments for the queens and any ensemble they might have brought along. Buy us some time, would you?”
> The little notary nodded feverishly. “C-Certainly, Allfather,” was all the human caught, before the mare disappeared like pretend love after a one night stand.
> Quickly jumping to his feet, Anonymous got to the adjourning bathroom, washing off the worst signs of his slumber. Running a wet brush through his hair and beard, he finished off with a speedy but sufficient brushing of his teeth.
> Opening the semi closed door ajar, he nearly bumped into the pouting mother of his children. Chrysalis placed an accusing hoof on his chest, tapping with a parody of indignation.
> “You haven’t smooched me good mornings,” she huffed. “You always do.”
> A hearty laugh escaped him at the sight of her adolescent theatrics.
“And forever I shall smooch you good mornings,” he promised, embracing her in a deep kiss. It was a quick but deep one. Borne off the circumstances; it none the less conveyed the earnest compassion shared.
> Staring into his eyes with tenderness, she sighed. “Will you come back and join me in the showers after your errands?”
“If it is my queen’s wish, I will serve.”
> Tapping her hoof on his check with mirth, she smiled. “It is.”
> Stepping aside to allow him passage, Chrysalis slipped past him, closing the door behind her. Soon after, the soft drizzle of water could heard.
> Anonymous snapped back into the moment, putting on a shirt similar in execution as that he had worn the day before. Zipping up his pants in quick succession, he only had to crawl around the floor for a short moment before finding his shoes haphazardly strewn beneath the bed.
> Last night got out of control way harder than he remembered, he contemplated.
> Tossing the thought aside, he opened up the large doors out, to the sight of four large pairs of eyes looking at him bafflement.
> “Ble-Blessed mornings, Allfather,” came the greeting from Caci, snapping into a deep bow alongside her sisters. “We had not expected to see you or Allmother befo-“
> Quickly waving her explanations off, Anonymous pointed out two of them.
“Caci and Neptunis, you’re with me.” His voice came out gruffer and deeper than he would have liked. Almost made him sound like his old man, he thought, scratching his chin.
> The effect of his paternal tone was instant. Snapping into official salutes looking straight ahead, the two appointed nodded jointly.
> “Lead the way, Allfather.”
> Nodding his approval, Anonymous’s stride continued onwards, the long gait of the behemoths easily matched his own, catching up behind him within moments.
> Their pace was brisk, and made navigating the inner halls a rapid process. They did not meet any regular changelings, besides the occasional guard post stationed in the dark hallways.
> Quickly turning a corner, and taking the stairs the same way he had the day before, the pacing of the behemoths slowed considerably. Their large hooves too wide to pace the steps at anything faster than a slow walk.
> “Allfather, what’s hurry, it’s barely past sunrise and we’re running around the sanctum like flies. Are we under attack?” Neptunis asked.
> Glancing back over his shoulder mischievously, Anonymous stopped for a moment at the feet of the stairs to let the two guards reach him again.
“No, not yet at least,” came the cryptic answer. “The other queens have requested an audience, all four of them. Chrysalis wants the castle to be ready for anything.”
> The surprise was evident on the mare’s face. “You mean…” she began.
“Yes, she wants the kitchens opened.” He answered the unsaid question, a teasing smile playing.
> “Um… The kitchens? Then what about…” Caci said in turn, brows furrowed and eyes blinking in bewilderment.
“And she wants the behemoth reserves awoken.”
> A small light appeared in the eyes of the giants. “Ah, of course,” she said. Then her ears and mouth drooped. “They are going to be really grumbly being waken up this early.”
“I hope to bribe them with promises of belly rubs and Ambrosia,” Anonymous explained.
> “…That could work,” came the short reply.
> Finally reaching his first destination, the king quickly woke up the executive chef and rallied her head chefs, explaining the situation. Having put in motion the preparations for a meal worthy of the guests, he left the kitchens to fend for themselves.
> Standing outside the now bustling kitchens, the shrill sounds of metal utensils and fires starting to roar all but a whisper on the other side. Anonymous poked Caci’s leg.
“What’s the fastest way to the behemoth quarters from here?”
> Taking a quick look at her surroundings, Caci pointed out a corridor with her mighty horn. “Down that corridor, then one left and two rights, left again and then just keep walking. You’ll know when we’re there.”
> Not ten minutes later, Anonymous had to give her credit. The pair of doors before him towered over him. While the height was about the same as the ones to the royal bedchambers, the width they held was bordering on the ridiculous. The massive frame of the doors were kept in line by equally massive hinges of well-oiled hive steel.
> Three behemoths could easily stand shoulder to shoulder in the entrance, with amble breathing room to spare. A feat not without its merits. In the event of an attack, the behemoths would not be slowed down by something as silly as congestions.
> Walking forward, Caci’s horn shone brightly in an emerald light, as did the two pitch-black circular door handles. Bracing her hooves against the pull, the behemoth slowly but surely hefted the double doors wide ajar. Naught a sound escaped the now open doorway.
> The soft light of the outside pedestals could only manage to faintly reflect off healthy blank chitin inside the barracks. Various forms laid motionless, sleeping soundly, scattered around the soft sleeping nests.
> Tsking in contempt, Caci stepped forward. Anonymous eyes travelled up the length of the behemoths armoured neck. A great griff extended around her head, similarly to Chrysalis’s own. Except this one had the size befitting a behemoth.
> A thunderous clap echoed into the drowsy hall, as her fins retracted promptly, hitting unyielding scales.
> “At attention, nymphs. Queen’s orders,” Caci roared in a commanding resonance.
> For a short moment, nothing was said. Then a voice echoed from the back of the hall. “Urgh, shut up and close the door. We stood guard for hours for the better part of yesterday. Our watch doesn’t start till four hours from now.”
> Clearing his throat, Anonymous tapped the indignant Caci with her extended griff, before she could yell out new commands, create another fierce clap or tear into a fellow sister. Whichever came first.
“Sorry for the wake-up this early, girls. I need you,” he called into the darkness.
> Though the light inside the barracks was dim, the shape of several heads popping up was easily recognizable as his voice reached them. “…Allfather… the Allfather? It’s the Allfather!” An echoing chorus roared and then silenced to hear his words.
> Smiling at their undivided attention, Anonymous continued.
“Could you be a bunch of darlings, and come talk with me for some time?”, he said. “I promise belly rubs and extra rati-…”
> Quickly motioning for his guards to step aside as he did the same, a cacophony of heavy hooves hitting hive rock emanated from inside. A large gathering of behemoths streamed into the hallway outside, standing at attention, still like statues.
> Anonymous mentally counted their heads as he walked down the line with his original entourage, smiling at his final count. The fourteen heads stood staring off straight ahead, their eyes following his step closely. Reaching the end of the line, he stopped in front of the last behemoth.
> The changeling in front of him was of a more demure stature than her sisters, having a feet or so less in height and bulk. Still, he had to careen his neck backwards to look her in the eyes.
“You’re new, aren’t you?” he asked, lightly tapping a pair of knuckle on the armoured frontal carapace piece.
> Blinking in surprise at being addressed, the young mare’s head snapped downwards to look at what was happening at her front. “Ye-Yes sir. My name is Chalco, sir,” she said, a hoof hitting her temple with a audible crack in nervous salute.
> Bending her neck to his level, Neptunis quietly whispered. “Behemoth Chalco has been selected to accompany behemoth Alba for the tour to the Forbidden Jungle. She finished her growth in the nursery last week, and has been at the barracks since then.”
> Giving a reassuring smile to the jittery giant, Anonymous turned down the hallway again the same way he had come.
“Fantastic, I can’t wait to read the report on the matter. Now then, the four other queens have asked for an audience with us. Chrysalis and I need everyone able to attend the meeting.“
> A massive hoof shot up into the air in question. “Didn’t we do the exact same thing yesterday?” one of the mares asked.
> Smiling apologetic, Anonymous nodded.
“Yes, you did. In truth, I care little for the whimsy and political games of the other queens. On the other hand, it’s only proper that we follow the same laws as they,” he admitted. “I need you all at the royal meeting halls as soon as possible, looking big and strong for the other queens. Could you do that for me?”
> “For the hive, Allfather!” came the immediate response.
> Watching the ensemble of behemoths march off into a random corridor, Anonymous let out a deep sigh.
> “You really are too generous sometimes, Allfather,” Caci commented dryly with a huff. “Behemoth caste are made of sturdier stuff than to tire from simple guard duty.”
“Perhaps you are right, Caci. I just want to keep the peace and morale of the royal guard. No matter, I need to return to the royal chambers. I need to freshen up before the meeting,” he conceded, turning back the way they had come from.
> As he walked, the rhythmic pattern of the behemoths walking behind spurred his mind to drift. Why would the other queens banish Chrysalis from the council, only for them to request an audience less than a day later? Queen Albuna had been alone the day before, with her request. It hinted that the current affair did not concern only a single queen, but rather the entire council.
> Did they want to reconcile with Chrysalis? Did they want an extension of the three day meeting?
> Deep in thought as he were, Anonymous only caught the glimpse of Scriba out the corner of his eye, as she appeared in the junction he had just left. Huh, that was strange. Was she not supposed to accompany the-.
> Following close behind the petite scribe came a gathering various changelings. None of which were from the Badlands Hive. Continuing his pace, Anonymous could pick out regular changelings carrying books and scrolls, pheidoles armed with sheathed weapons, and even the occasional behemoth.
> It was the queens’ presence that caught his attention, however. Carrying themselves with an aura of power, they cared little for their surroundings. At least they did, until the purple one sensed his smell or the sound of another pair behemoths walking close by.
> “Halt, fae,” a shrill voice called out, echoing in the quiet hall.
> Stopping and laying his face into more hospitable folds with a shrug, Anonymous turned to address the group. While Caci and Neptunis had followed behind him before, they now stood as a pair of shielding pillars in front.
> The purple queen from before walked in front, with the rest of the tour following close behind. He recognised the orange queen Albuna, as her wide eyes followed his. The group halted a short couple of steps in front of the pair of ominous looking behemoth.
“I do prefer ‘human’, or Anonymous amongst friends, if you please,” he began, giving a short bow. “Whom do I have honour of speaking to?”
> Chuckling mockingly, the purple queen raised a hoof to her chest. “I am queen Buddleia of the Baltimare Hive. With me are the ruling queens of the Council. And I care little for your preferred semantics, fae,” she finished with a derisive drawl.
> The thunderous clacking of Caci’s griff bounced off the walls. “Remember your place, queen. You are addressing the Allfather of the proposed hive. Show respect in kind and prostrate yourself,” she hissed, voice laced with malice.
> Turning her attention away from the king, Buddleia careened her head up at the towering changeling. “And who are you, again?”
> Anonymous noticed a small gathering of on looking heads peaking around the corners behind the group of queens, no doubt alerted by the prior ruckus.
> Puffing out her chest, the vanguard loudly stomped an armoured hoof into the hive rock, creating a circular crisscross pattern of cracks. “I am Caci, first of the royal behemoth guard, leader of the Badlands Vanguard and tertiary commander of the Hive forces.”
> The queen’s lilac pupils shrank a fraction in defiance at the display. “And do you speak for the hive?” She asked in a sarcastic voice.
> Sharply turning her horn downwards the human to accentuate her point, the behemoth continued. “No. He does.”
“Ladies, ladies, a moment of your time, please?” Anonymous asked holding up his hands in a disarming fashion as the pair of heads turned to him, one looking up and the other looking down. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves and head straight for a brawl. We are here for your proposal, and nothing more.”
> “Allfather Anonymous is right,” Noctuid commented sagely. “Stay your horn, Buddleia. We are here for different matters.”
> Turning her head back to regard her fellow queen, Buddleia hissed. “’Allfather’ my tail vent, I’ll break off my own horn before I follow the whimsical theatrics of a pathetic holeless’s bed toy.”
> The following series of gasps from the on lookers was quickly followed by an encompassing silence. No one said anything. The trembling Scriba’s head pivoted from royal to royal in rapid succession, trying to discern who would speak up. Queen Albuna just shook her head in disappointment.
> “Besmirching the Allfather…” Caci whispered with an unfathomable expression etched on her face. “Sacrilege…” Neptunis echoed in turn.
> “Buddleia,” Noctuid began, only to then grow quiet as the feeling in the hall shifted. The earlier soothing feeling like that of a loving homestead and a warm hearth that had hugged the nearby changelings quickly started growing colder, leaving behind the dreadfully bitter aftertaste of deep animosity.
> The intense shift in emotional gravity was easily perceptible to the empathic mares. Usually only a feeling sensed when a cover was blown, the reaction in the gathered changelings was instant. Some rattled their griffs, while others shook their wings in a nervous buzz. All of them checked their surroundings, searching for the source of the emotional vortex.
> The methodical steps of the onyx heels broke the cacophony of chaotic noises, all heads turning back to the biped. Stopping to stand in front of the lilac regent, the human’s face turned to a sharp scowl, as the king loomed above the fuming queen.
“Then what about the whimsy of a royal?” Anonymous coldly asked slowly, all remnants of his prior hospitality gone. “Need I remind you that I carry the same might and right as proposed whole borne Queen Chrysalis, as dictated by the Laws of Change?”
> Buddleia’s griff extended and flapped pathetically against her neckline in agitation as she returned his coldness with fiery defiance. “Do not spew the laws to me, fae. Only lings are governed by it.”
> Clearing her throat, Mentha spoke up. “The Laws of royal Courtship governs only matters for in-hive relati-.”
“Lings and their spouse,” Anonymous corrected voice sharp as a whip and intolerant of objections. “The laws mandate royal rights be extended to the designated mate of a queen. Chrysalis’s status as Ovir cements my stature, as the laws speak nothing of the species of the consort.”
> “I don’t care for whatever charters you think you know. The Council would never recognise you and grant you rights like a queen,“ Buddleia snapped.
“Splendid, as I in turn care little for your opinions or tea parties. However, in the eyes of the legislation, we are equal, whether you like it or not, Buddleia, and I will not hesitate for a second to drag you out from these halls if you defile my wife’s name again.” His glacial chill eyes sought out the notary, who looked for all the world like she was trying to will herself into an adjacent wall. “Scriba, you have your orders.  The meeting begins in five quarters. Blessed mornings, queens,” he finished, nodding to the rest of the flabbergasted royals.
> Turning on his hell, the human stalked back down the hallway, the two behemoths following close behind as they kept a watchful eye on the shrinking group. With his fast pace and the many turns of the hive, they were soon out of hearing range.
> Anonymous stopped and bent over, clutching his knees as his ragged breath betrayed his calm stoicism. A drop of sweat traverse his hairline down to his brow.
“Ha, well… how did I do?” he asked, glancing at the two guard mares.
> “Fantastic, Allfather!” Caci cheered with fires in her eyes and the pitch of a fan girl. “I had half a mind to throw that purple leech out the window. You carried yourself and the hive admirably,”
> The king’s face lit up at the enthusiastic praise, a gratuitous smile appearing on his face. As his glance hovered from Caci face to her sister’s, his optimism haltered. The tall behemoth’s far off stare back the corridor they came from caused a growing sense of unease in him. Her face was laid in thoughtful folds as she took in a number of steadying breaths.
> Standing tall again, he walked over to the distracted mare and tapped her foreleg. The humongous ling jolted in surprised at the contact of his hand.
“Something the matter, Neptunis?”
> Eyes widening, she lifted the touched appendage in an awkward manner, and looked down at the human. “No, A-Allfather. Nothing’s wr-wrong.”, she jittered, slowly placing down her hoof again. “Let’s head back to the royal chambers, Allmother awaits your return.”
> Looking into her eyes for a moment, the human nodded.
“Yes…”, he slowly stated, as he studied her features. “She does.”
> The walk back was kept in silence, with only the echoing of their steps to break the mute monotony. They did not come across any of the other royals again, only meeting the various lings wakening up for the day’s tasks.
> Arriving outside the great doors to the royal quarters, Anonymous excused himself and stepped inside. The room was still clad in darkness from the heavy drapes, with only the light of a magic bed lamp to offer respite.
> Stepping over to the window still and heaving back the cloth, he started unbuttoning his clothing. Standing as naked as the night before, he crossed the chamber and opened the door to the smell of wet mane, the foggy mists of warm water and the calm humming of his wife.
> Knocking his knuckles on the door to announce his presence, he stepped into the clouds and pulled back the curtain. Seeing his wife sitting amidst the falling water with closed eyes, her face a façade of calm serenity, he could not help but smile.
> Carefully stepping into the slick bathtub, the human kneeled down behind the queen. Gently, his broad hands reach for the back of her head, idly combing through the long strands of silken hair. Never once did her humming stop.
> He sat like that for a while, letting the waters rinse through the beautiful rains of emerald, watching the lights and water catch one another in its healthy sheen. Extending a hand, he grabbed a small bottle of gryphonian soap. Emptying out a small amount in his palm, he began working the exotic mixture into the flowing fiber.
> So enraptured in his task, Anonymous did not notice the halting humming. Careening her neck to turn her head halfway towards her back, Chrysalis opened an eye and observed him.
> “What troubles you, beloved?” she asked casually.
> Anonymous shook his head, and continued his work.
“Nothing, honey.”
> Huffing in well-meaning humour, the queen turned her head forward again. “You make for a great king and an even greater lover, my dear. But you also make for a poor liar. Did the behemoths give you trouble?”
“Not in the slightest,” he said, pinching a small fold of maternal fat on her flank in good-natured revenge. “They are good lings, and honourable examples of loyal soldiers.”
> Having finished the lathering, Anonymous let the streams wash away the soap, shielding his wife’s eyes with the back of his hands. Not for long, though. Chrysalis rose from her position and turned her front to his, her eyes glowing with soft affection. Carefully placing the frogs of her hooves on his cheeks, she gave him a chaste kiss on the lips.
> “Beloved, open your heart for me. Let me ease your aches.”
> The human’s shoulders sagged and his previously furrowed brows calmed in the light of his wife love.
“…I met the other queens,” he admitted.
> Defying her soft looks, Anonymous could still feel her muscles stiffen, as her eyes took on a more hostile glaze. “What did they do, did they hurt you?” she asked, a hint of worry in her voice.
> His eyes darted to the side, as he recalled the earlier confrontation. Chrysalis squeezed his cheeks lightly.
> “No…” he began. Then his voice and face turned dark. “Well, yes, Buddleia mocked and slandered you and your stature in front of the other queens and their attendants.”
> As he retraced the events, his arms and hands rose, clutching with his fingers as if fantasising of throttling the purple regent. Chrysalis looked on his form with apprehension, so far away from the calm king she loved. His eyes was squinting with malice and his brows crossed in a sharp angle.
 “It made me feel furious. Incredulous at the nerve that she thought so little of you, that she would dare badmouth you in our very home.”
> Then slowly, his arms fell against his sides and his breathing slowed.
“I reminded her that we were of equal stature, you and I, and that I could retract her grant of request. And that was that.”
> Chrysalis features softened again. “And nothing more?” She asked with a breathless voice, softly tinged with her endless adoration for his defence of her honour. A small smile escaped him.
“And nothing more,” he repeated.


-------------------**-------------------
> The soft lights from the pedestals lit up the whole scene at their feet.
> The only sound heard in these majestic halls were the occasional flicker of behemoth wings scrapping against one another, readjusting, and the all too familiar clicks of hooves on hive rock.
> The atmosphere in the meeting hall was borderline frigid, as the four queens strode in, walking side by side in a closely knit group. Or, that is to say, the majority of them.
> While the her fellow regents faces were stoic masks of neutrality, Queen Albuna was her usual cheery self as she walked with the leisure and ease of a ling at home, leading the ensemble. Beaming up to Chrysalis, she quickly cleared the way to the offered pillows for the guests.
> She gave a quick courtesy bow to the ruling queen, and getting a familiar nod in turn, sat herself on top of a small mountain of velvet pillows, a way off centre.
> A timid servant quickly stepped to her side, with an offering platter of refreshments, and ambrosia. Like with the council days before, the silvery decanters cast the light’s reflections across its neighbours on the ceramic surface.
> The remaining queens, however, stood stock still before the plateau. The usually calm and collected Mentha cast nervous glances as her tense ears swivelled to and fro. This was most likely her first time seeing this many behemoths so close. In truth, it was a first for all three of them.
> Buddleia, on her part, had foregone all resemblances of proper court manners, and was fiercely staring daggers at the laid-back king, fangs bared with a low hiss. Anonymous, on his part, took her provocations in stride, opting for ignoring her completely, as he lazily toyed with a delicate crystal goblet with his dextrous fingers. The glass contents, a deep red wine, left fading imprints as the container swirled.
> Noctuid, to her credit, simply observed her two fellow queens with a raised eyebrow and a solemn expression. Tapping their flanks with a rapt flick of her soft wings earned her their attention, as she gave a small courtly bow before Chrysalis. Her two partners followed her example.
> Chrysalis returned a bow of her own. Every ling present knew it was all but a farce, a mere step on the ladder of changeling court rules. A leftover from ages past.
> But as sure as the eons passed, the ancient rites had to be upheld.
> “Blessed mornings, Chrysalis”, Noctuid began, her voice going through the words without much enthusiasm. “We thank you for taking the time to allow our request passage and offering your hospitality for our meeting.”
> A small furore passed quickly through the gathered onlookers, as the sound of dutiful scribes quickly transcribed the words. Chrysalis regarded the queens before her for a short pause, before she seemed to gather her wits. “I recognise your gratitude, queen Noctuid, fellow queens, and respond in kind,” she said.
> Nodding her head, as Albuna had done the day before, Noctuid turned her head to regard the human, as he regarded the spectacle. “Blessed mornings greet you, Allfather Anonymous,” she addressed him, her words a notion warmer from before.
> While his hand idly playing with the goblet seized its moving, his hand at his temple made no move to indicate he had heard her. His brow furrowed, before his eyes turned from the merlot coloured patterns in his glass, to bore through the red eyes of the moth like queen.
“’Mornings, Noctuid,” he said simply in return.
> The alabaster queen said nothing as she took her seat, a neutral expression on her façade. If his distanced greeting had affected her, she hid it well.
> The other queens mimicked her movements, seating down beside her, and partaking in the offered refreshments. No one said anything for a while, as the queens supplied themselves. Finally, Chrysalis herself broke the silence.
> “Tell me the reason for this most unorthodox of meetings, queen Noctuid. First, you… exile me from the council of queens, only to then demand an audience barely a day later.” She took a long draft of her glass, letting the ensuing quiet speak for itself. “If one did not know any better, one might think you all mad.”
> Buddleia let out another growl, but Noctuid was as quick as ever, snapping her magic around the lilac queen’s muzzle before she could speak up. “Chrysalis,” Noctuid began. “With the passing of the past days’ events, the council recognized that it would be in everylings best interests to sort the pressing matter at hoof as quickly and painlessly as possible.”
> “Oh, what ever the matter would that be, queen Noctuid?” Chrysalis asked with childish innocence, as she brought up her own goblet with swirling pools of softly glowing ambrosia.
> Despite the numerous theories racing through her head, she wanted her worst fears confirmed from the pale queen’s own muzzle.
> “Well, to be quite frank, Chrysalis, it’s a matter of…”
> With a sudden jerk to escape the magic grasp pressing down on her mouth, Buddleia jumped to her hooves, pointing an accusatory hoof at Anonymous. “We are here because of the fae!”
> The surrounding behemoths tightened their grasps on their towering weapons, watchful of the foreign queen’s sudden movements. Chrysalis raised a hoof, signalling them to stand down. She turned her eyes back to the fuming queen before her.
> “Choose your next words carefully, queen Buddleia of the Baltimare Hive,” Chrysalis warned. “The laws of change…”
> Turning her fury and directing it back to the draped matriarch of the Badlands, Buddleia continued. “Free me from your lectures, you hypocrite. You have effectively abolished the delicate balance of the council yourself.”
 > Sighing, Noctuid continued. “Buddleia is correct, to a degree. We are here because of Anonymous, his amokinesis… and to some extent, you, yourself, Chrysalis,” She finished.
> No one said anything for a long while. Anonymous noted how Queen Albuna’s face carried the same degree of surprise as was readily apparent on his wife’s features. Chrysalis herself broke the silence.
> “Anonymous’s skills in manipulating love has never been a secret. Humans’ ability to do so has been well known throughout changeling mythology for millennia. Forgive my ignorance, but I fail to see how the bond between my mate and I changes anything.”
> For the first time, Queen Mentha spoke up. “Oh but it has, Chrysalis. While not directly interfering with the balance of power, your stature as Ovir supports the long hypothesised idea that a ‘Being of Love’ could bless a queen with spawn of royal stature.”
> Emptying her glass of softly glowing ambrosia, the queen of the northern bay pressed on. “Willing or not, your bond has not only shaken the balance of power between the hives. You have uprooted its very foundations, and grasped it for your own advanta...”
> The sharp sound of glass hitting none too gently against a sturdy table rang clear throughout the throne room.
“Baseless accusations and other falsehoods are to be left outside the sacred halls of meeting, queen Mentha,” Anonymous commented dryly, as he got onto his feet, striding across the floor to look out the massive windows in the wall.
> “The queens are talking, fae. Know your place and stay your tongue,” Buddleia tutted in indignation.
“And a wing clipped queen will fall from this very window if you do not state your business here”, the human retorted.
> “Enough with veiled threats already!” queen Noctuid interjected. “Chrysalis, on behalf of the ruling matriarchs of the Baltimare, Luna Bay and Hollow Shades hives, we three queens of the Council demand that you surrender the loveship of Anonymous the human to the Council of Queens. His love is to be shared amongst all of us, for the betterment of all changelings.”
> A furore flushed through the gathered subjects. The noisy scribbles of the notary, the threatening hisses from the armed guards and the gasps of the common changeling as the weight of the demand settled in.
> A brief glance was shared between the human and his mate, before she turned to regard the pale queen.
> “Queen Noctuid,” Chrysalis slowly began. “You are, without a shred of doubt, raving mad.”
> Queen Albuna got to her hooves huffing. “You never mentioned this plan of yours at yesterdays’ meeting, queen Noctuid. I want no part in this estranged fanfare of yours.”
> Noctuid studied the agitated southern jungle queen for a moment. “You are already entwined with the Badlands hive, and as such, carry an inherent bias. That is the reason for keeping you in the unknown, queen Albuna. We did not expect you to see things from our point of view.”
> Slowly, the pale matriarch got to her hooves as well, the remaining queens following suit. “Regrettably, dearest Chrysalis, you do not have much choice in this matter.”
> Standing herself, the whole born queen of the wastes walked down from her plateau, to stand in front of the group of requesting queens.
> “Why, pray tell, would that be, ‘dearest’ queen Noctuid,” Chrysalis asked innocently sweet, a mask of fake curiosity plastered on her face.
> Lightly bending her neck, Noctuid looked up at the imposing figure of the broad shouldered queen, a poorly veiled threat of physical harm evident in her body language. “Why, it is a simple matter. If you will not yield control of the human voluntarily, we three ruling queens of the Council demand a duel of change for the right to Anonymous.”
> The mocking self-assuredness on Chrysalis face was quickly washed away, for a façade of worry and fear to replace it. “Y-You dare request a duel to settle this?”
> “Yes, I do. As do queen Mentha and queen Buddleia,” Noctuid confirmed. Looking over her shoulder, she motioned to a pale changeling from her hive. The small being stepped forward to present a signed document for them all to see. “The full details and official rites for a dual of change has been procured and signed by yours truly.”
> Turning on the spot, Noctuid continued as she strode towards the notaries. “Bear witness, so that it may be known that the Council of Queens has officially extended a demand for a duel of change to exiled queen Chrysalis of the Badlands Hive, if she will not comply with our request.
> Clutching the paper, Chrysalis sputtered as she read through the cursive details. “This is a mockery. The Council of Queen cannot officiate and extend such decree without…”
> “Without an overwhelming ruling majority of Council.” Mentha finished. “However, with queen Albuna having left the meeting shortly after your departure, and your official exile from the Council, the ruling majority voted unanimously in favour of the proposal.”
> As Chrysalis read the same lines of text over and over again, Anonymous casually strode back to be by her side, studying over the texts as he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
> “This… this is insanity, unadulterated insanity. N-No royal duels have been held for… ages. You would risk toppling ancient queendoms just to satiate your endless greed?!” Chrysalis roared accusingly, as she read the thrice cast challenge.
> “You are the one who forced our hoof, Chrysalis,“ came the accusing tone from Buddleia. “You started this mockery of a deadlock, and you can end it all the same. Consign the chains of the fae voluntarily; no royal blood needs to be spilled needlessly.”
> Looking up from the golden paper crackling in her fluttering telekinesis, Chrysalis levelled an icy glare at them. “And what if I refuse your challenge? What if I deny your request, and have you thrown at the gates?
> Noctuid returned her glare with a Cheshire smile. “Why, we are quite sure that rulers of Equestria, the Crystal Empire, the Griffon kingdom, the Minotaurian queendom and the Kirin queendom would be quite interested in news of a changeling queen in possession of a mythical human.”
> Tapping absentmindedly at her chin, she looked at Anonymous. “With the simple beings they are, some of them might even fear the repercussions if they did not act in time, and slayed the human before the changeling queen could spellbind him, and in turn, acquire near goddess-like powers.”
> Queen Chrysalis of the Badlands hive paled at her words.
> “Oh how frightful they would be, if they learned of this,” Buddleia continued mockingly. “They might even lay siege to a fortified hive in their desperation. And ancestors know how long those things last.”
> “Say, such a siege would only last for however long, before an opportunistic intruder could happen upon a weak spot in the walls and exploit it,” Mentha commented with a faraway thoughtful look on her face.
> Queen Albuna rose to stand on the other side of Chrysalis, fangs barred. “You’d fall so low as to cooperate with the ponies and their allies, and betray a fellow changeling queendom?” Her tone was laced with barely withheld contempt. “Where is your honour as fellow queens ?”
> Queen Buddleia stood to face the amber queen’s challenge. “Our very honour bid us to do what is best for our sublings. We are all here, not borne out of ambition, but necessity.” Turning to level a glare at the now catatonic Chrysalis, she continued. “Besides, in the eyes of the Council, Chrysalis is nothing but another subling of a foreign hive. Nothing more.”
> Chrysalis stared at the floor at her hooves, her eyes showing clear as day the fear coursing through her. What could she do? Risk her life and the lives of her eggs in a thrice cast duel of change, or give up the love of her world, enslaving him to serve as little else than an empty loveless husk.
> Or, she could act in her own interest, and trust in her armies and behemoths. The Badlands Hive had never faced a greater foe, but surely, with her sublings might, they would persevere, right?
> But at what cost? Thousands, hundreds of thousands, would die for her and Anonymous’ sake. The damned alicorns would enter the fray and the Elements would be called upon.
> As well as the Crystal Heart…
> Glacially cold fear caught hold of her heart of hearts. Frantically, Chrysalis threw her head around, searching for Anonymous’ eyes. Quickly, she found his warm comforting glance and a reassuring smile accompanying it. Tears of equal measures of happiness and sorrow filled her eyes.
> Pictures of her beloved, chained to the side of a damp cell, drugged out of his mind, with no collection of her or their love, pressed down on her. All she had ever dreamed off, all she had ever wished for and all she had ever fought for. All to be forgotten and trampled on.
> Thoughts of what would happen to her hive, her behemoths, her sublings, her love, threatened to swallow the world around her.
> In the now silenced meeting hall, the damning echoes of queen Noctuid’s hoof steps thundered through the sitting audience. “Chrysalis, state your choice. Surrender Anonymous’ love willingly, or face the combined might of a continent,” she said, as she stopped in front of her.
> With the speed of a sleep walker, the whole borne queen’s head turned to regard her fellow regents. Like in a haze, her words were slow and unsure.
> “I... I... I wi-...”
[spoiler]“I accept the terms of your duel, he said.”[/spoiler]
> “No…”, Chrysalis whispered breathlessly as she shut her eyes.
> A cacophony erupted instantly. Gasps and shouts cried out. Orders and commands were shouted out. Heads were turned so fast the protective scales creaked to stare at the human, who now stood, tall and proud, by his queen’s side.
> Opposers and supporters cried out from their respective camps, adding only more noise into the discord enveloping the gathered.
> “You, you can’t do that,” Buddleia shrieked, scrambling towards the man, in a staggered charge. “The duel is meant for Chrysalis alone! No being can take on her responsibility,” her voice boomed.
“Tough luck, fuzzy buzz,” Anonymous said, waving off her claim with the golden papers in his hand. “Your document says nothing of who the challenge is meant for. Only that it was extended from your three hives, to the Badlands hive.”
> With an angry shrill, the Baltimare matriarch tore the paper from his grasp, combing through the intricate texts as ancient curse words flew from her frothing fangs. Meanwhile, queen Mentha simply observed the ongoing events, looking like a deer caught in the headlights.
> “I-I-I, I would never…” she stammered. Then, she focused her anger at the pale queen. “Noctuid, you never said anything about fighting the human!”
> Queen Noctuid said nothing for a while, as Buddleia’s continuous shrieks of frustration pierced the talks and murmurs in the meeting hall. She studied the human’s eyes for a long while, as her face revealed nothing of what she was looking for.
> “No,” she said calmly. “I did not.”
> Looking flabbergasted at her, queen Mentha opened and closed her mouth a few times. She looked from Noctuid, to the jaw dropped Chrysalis, to the raging Buddleia, to the mirthful Albuna and back again. “We-Well, what happens now?”
> “That’s quite simple now, is it not?” she asked. Stepping forwards, she grabbed the lilac tail of the still fuming Buddleia in her magical grasp, and began dragging her back towards the heavy doors. Mentha followed dutifully behind her, stealing occasional glances back inside the room.
> As the moth queen reached the door frame, she turned around. “Chrysalis, Allfather Anonymous, we meet in seven days, on the face of Sanctuary. Do try to be there.”
> With that, she turned her back to them, and walked out. The various followings of the three queens quickly followed in their path, to leave under the watchful eye of the stationed guards.

> A couple of hours later…

> “You are a lunatic to even consider it, much less go through with it, Anonymous!”, Chrysalis cried, her voice echoing off the walls.
> The human looked on calmly as his wife paced back and forth in the small room. Outside the doors, he could hear the dampened flurry of busy changelings scurrying around. Inside his ears, he could hear the blood and adrenaline pumping.
> Never had he seen her this upset. Her temper had never been spurred to such degree. Not until now.
“What alternatives do we have, honey?”
> The queen’s head whipped around, her hair flailing along with it. “Alternatives? I am the ruler of the mightiest hive of this continent. I command the largest army of pheidoles. The tallest behemoths bend their knee to me. To Tartarus with alternatives!”
> Sighing softly, the humans shoulders sagged.
“And what good would that do? They can’t do what I must. At least I have a fighting chance.”
> Chrysalis eyes narrowed, silvery tears drifting down her cheeks as she took a shivering breath of air. “You know nothing of what you speak, Anonymous, of what you will face.” she said. “I should go there. If nothing will save me from death, let love at least save me from life.”
“You know as well as I, that I would never accept that,” he said.
> Chrysalis looked him in the eyes for a moment, before casting her head downwards, tears dotting the floor. “Mother grant mercy, I hate that part of you,” she muttered.

-------------------**-------------------
> Recoiling from her harsh words, Anonymous rose from his seat.
“I need some air, clear my thoughts,” he said.
> As he passed her, his hand hovered over her downcast head, fidgeting with the notion of an earnest caress, but he dismissed the idea, leaving the brooding queen to her dark thoughts.
> Closing the door behind him, the human’s shoulders sagged as the weight of the cramped room’s atmosphere lifted. Outside, the ongoing stress and bustle of active changelings running from one place to another and back again.
> However, his entry into the fray was thankfully spared by the eight statures of the ever loyal behemoths, standing watch. Occasional glances flew his way, as the gloomy state of the two royals of the hive most have shone like a dreary beacon throughout the premise.
> Caci’s towering figure was easy enough to pick out, even among her peers.
> “Your highness,” she began, “is everything at peace?”
> Mulling over her words as he turned to address her, a stray thought came to mind.
“No, these few hours, even fewer things are,” he said. Turning again, he picked out the next changeling mare in line. “Neptunis, send for Scriba, I have matters I would like to discuss with her.”
> Snapping to attention, the stoic behemoth replied; “At once, I’ll find the honorary royal notary, Scriba.”
> Waving her off with a small acknowledging nod, Anonymous leaned up against the near tree trunk thick forelegs of Caci, as he studied the crowd passing them by.
“Tell me, ‘o’ wise and mighty first of the royal behemoth guard, leader of the Badlands Vanguard and tertiary commander of the Badlands hive’, what is with the hurry?” he asked, tone filled with reminiscent mirth, nodding towards their surroundings.
> “P-preparations for the dual, Allfather,” Caci replied, caught off guard by his use of her titles. “Such an event has not been held for ages, they take time to plan and arrange.”
> His resting pole leaned as its owner shifted her weight.
> “Of course, none of the guardlings or watches have swapped their posts for the preparations. The impregnable defenses of the hive remains ever vigilant,” she reported, emboldened by his attention on her work, and a small trace of pride evident in her tone.
> Clapping her leg goodheartedly, Anonymous continued observing in silence.
> Naught but a few minutes had passed, before Neptunis returned, the royal notary following dutifully behind. Scriba had brought a massive tome with her, silvery winding letters cladding the treated surface.
> Stopping in front of the king, Neptunis saluted. “Reporting, the retrieval of honored royal notary Scriba was a success, Allfather.”
> Now it was Anonymous’ turn to blink owlishly at the stiff vocabulary of the guardling.
“Thank you, behemoth Neptunis, that is all,” he nodded, passing the guard, to look over the jittery changeling.
> The notary held her eyes stiffly cast down, a nervous hoof clacking awkwardly against her temple, in a civilian’s attempt at military doctrine.
> “Royal notary, Scriba, r-reporting, Allfather Anonymous.”
> Smiling down at her, the human’s hand petted the soft mane on her head.
“Thank you for coming here on such short notice. I want to go over some details of the recent hours with you, if you have the time?”
> Stretching her legs to press into the contact, Scriba’s features relaxed and a droopy smile graced her face. Humming a small node, the notary was all but left from the world. A moment passed, a moment where her erratic nerves could be at peace, and the strain of the past days on her horn writing could mend.
> Anonymous continued his ministrations in response to the quirky reaction, the display a welcome sight in light of the council’s demands.
> Snorting in impatience, Caci clacked her griff in two rapid claps. The sounds easily pierced the noisy background, drawing the attention of the changelings passing by, before they returned to their tasks.
> Scriba flinched at the sudden clatter, returning once more to the world of mortals.
> “The Allfather asked a question of you, honored royal notary,” Caci commented dryly.
> “O-Of course, Allfather A-Anonymous!” the petite changeling squeaked.
> Sensing the moment had passed, Anonymous reached up to knock on Caci’s frontal bulwark. An easy method of getting the vanguard’s attention, he had noticed.
“That goes for you as well, miss.”
> A moment passed, as she looked to the other behemoths, some shrugging, others looking on in barely held amusement.
> “You want me. To assist you and the honored royal notary. In discussions. Regarding politics?” she asked, looking down at the fist insistingly tapping on her front, her sentence stopping every now and then to accentuate her bewilderment.
“I thought you’d never ask,” the human said. ”You can leave the tome here, Scriba, you won’t be needing it where we’ll be going.”
> Leaving the remaining guards behind, the human began striding through the ocean of busy subjects, his cortege following in the wake he left behind.
> As they made their way through the hive, advancing towards the upper levels, the bustle of worker drones slowly diminished, being replaced by the occasional guard in posts filled with weapon stocks.
> Moving further up, the fortifications gave way to massive windows with magically enhanced glass facades revealing the night sky, dotted with myriads of stars. The full moon hung solemnly, lighting up the mountains in the horizon.
> Finally, the king reached his destination, opening a large pair of marbled doors leading out to the royal balconies.
> Intricately decorated statues of hiverock stood interspaced, on the plateau surrounded by a small hedge fence of a dark marble. Pedestals with magic fire illuminated the area, casting away the oppressive dark of the mildly chilly autumn night.
> Anonymous walked to the edge of the balcony, leaning his frame on the smooth polished surface of the stone fencing. From this vantage point, he could easily see the moving dotted trail of magical torches far below, running from the hive out towards Sanctuary. He turned to look back at the odd pair standing a respectful distance away.
“Tell me, notary Scriba, was I wrong?”
 > “Pardon me, Allfather? The petite mare began, casting a quick look on Caci for reassurance. “I don’t understand...”
“Was it not my right to accept the duel?”, he asked again, striding back towards her.
> “I-I-I really am not in a position to question...”
> Anonymous now stood right in front of the nervously shaking changeling, her shaky breaths caught in the wind.
“Tell me, Scriba, was I a fool to put myself in my queen’s place?”
> “I don’t know!” Scriba finally relented.
> Anonymous watched her for a moment.
“Caci, was I...” he started, still looking down at the scribe.
> “A right proper idiot of the ages, Allfather,” the answer came immediately. Scriba’s eyes reflected the shock her flabbergasted expression held. Anonymous’ before wrinkled brows now took on an apathetic expression, his stunned stare gazing across the wasteland.
“I… I’m a what?” he inquired, turning to look up at the guard.
Taking in another breath, the behemoth continued. “Only a downright imbecile would take up such a challenge. It’s foolish beyond mortal measure for one to face the power of not one, but three changeling queens in their prime.”
> “Ca-Caci, stop, I think he…” Scriba lamented.
> “Why, I don’t think the courts have ever witnessed such an order of id...”. Whatever the captain meant to say petered out, as she looked down at the human’s flabbergasted expression.
“That bad?” Anonymous asked monotonously.
> Caci nodded. The king’s shoulders sagged, as he leaned his weight back on top of the marble surface of the fence.
“I appreciate your… honesty, Caci. I do.”
> “T-Thank you, Allfather,” the behemoth replied awkwardly.
> Scriba shuffled over to stand beside him, supporting her stature on the fencing in a manner much the same as the human’s.
> “If I may, Allfather, perhaps we could reconcile with the other queens, offer something in return for deconstructing the trials?”
> The heavy huff of Caci’s breath tickled the hairs on Anonymous’ scalp, as the behemoths obvious disapproval emanated from her lungs.
> “A royal unable to stand off in a Duel of Change is unfit to lead a hive. They would be shunned from the courts. Even by their own hive. The time for negotiations have long passed, notary.”
> Caci stomped an armored hoof into the ground, to accompany her self-fueled righteousness. “No, I say we should have caught this malignant plot in the bud, and killed the queens inside the very halls of our hive. Meeting here under the guise of good will and clear carapace, only to stab a threat at our heart of hearts.”
“You would have fought the queens inside the meeting chamber?”, Anonymous asked, his eyebrows a fraction of distance from his hairline.
> Clacking her crest in confirmation, the captain nodded. “Why, yes, counting all of the present soldiers and the behemoth vanguard, we obviously had the physical advantage at the time, an-“.
> The giant’s words was abruptly silenced as the hysteric form of the otherwise calm and collected notary impacted the fortified chitin on the behemoth’s face, knocking her head back. “Are you positively brain vented, captain Caci?!”, Scriba shrieked.
> Locking eyes with the irate buzzing changeling on her snout, Caci blinked in confusion. “Am I what now?”
> Scrunching up fiercely in frustration, the notary puffed up in educated animosity. “You would attack three foreign queens under the protection of royal request, inside the very halls they just had a meeting in?”
> Giving no answer in return besides a casual shrug, the notary continued, tapping her hoof impatiently.
> “Are you so blindingly brutish that you would cast away millennia of traditions, values, and etiquette, to have a chance of throttling a royal?
> “As a matter of fact, yes I am!”, Caci replied, snorting. “Had you not heard how they disrespected both the queen and Allfather Anonymous?”
> The petite notary’s wings flickered angrily, as her temper flared. “I thank the ancients that someling managed to hammer a piece of discipline into your skull, and you didn’t.”
> “Oh yea?!”
> “Yes I do. Because at that point in time, in that place you and your guard were in, could you, beyond a shred of a doubt, have guaranteed that the Allfather wouldn’t have been hurt, or worse, killed in the ensuing skirmish?”
> “As a matter of fact, I…” she started, only for her enthusiasm to trickle out of her voice. “I… I could not,” the behemoth repeated breathlessly as her legs buckled beneath her, and she sat with a thud.
> “It is as you said, captain, the time has passed. The mask is drawn.”
> Scriba’s features softened, as she jumped off the slouching giant. “So, what do we do now, Allfather?” she asked, looking to the human.
> His eyes glancing from the form of the disheartened behemoth, to the face of the frazzled mare, Anonymous was silent for a long time.
“I wager all I really can do is try to make a honest end, of an honest start,” he said.
> Scriba walked over besides him, sitting on her hunches, as her otherwise orderly mane fell from her head as soft streams of azure. “But how, Allfather?”, she asked.
> Placing a reassuring hand on her head, paternally patting the soft hair on her head, the human smiles down at her reassuringly.
“I need armour.”

~ Meanwhile, in the hive library…
“Nevar, where in the seven hells are the tomes on duel regulations?!” Chrysalis roared in frustration.
> The calm changeling at the queen’s side took a quick glance on the adjacent bookcase, before the ethereal grasp of a humble telekinesis took hold of an old musty tome sitting on the shelf.
> ‘Requests, Challenges, and Duels for dumdums’, the golden spine read in elaborate runes.
> “Right here, my queen,” she replied dutifully.
> A mumbled thanks followed as the whole born queen tore open the book, pages flying past her quickly skimming eyes.
> ‘In a Duel of Change, no hexes, curses, jinxes, enchantments, bewitchments, charms, voodoo or other otherwise malignant spells may be cast on the opponent.’
> ‘No outsider may help or assist either contestant, either physically or magically while inside the area of battle.’
> ‘The duel is settled using either might of hoof, horn, wing, fang, claw or weapon. In the event of weapon usage, only telekinesis is allowed, at no more than eight hoof steps from the caster.’
> As Chrysalis read through the multiple pages worth of stocky laws and rules, a shiver coursed through her as she reached the final rule.
> ‘The victor is chosen in three ways: The opponent yields, the opponent is incapacitated, or the opponent dies by the might of the victor.’
> Closing the tome with a loud thump, Chrysalis took a shaking breath.
“Mother’s mercy, what have they done?” she asked aloud.
> “Would you like me to answer that, my queen?” Nevar asked dryly, ears turning towards her regent.
> The whole borne groaned into her hooves, massaging the bridge of her snout. This day had been the worst of her life, growing more and more dreadful by the hour.
“No, but you can tell me what other disasters and crises has arisen within the last hour.”
> Taking a reaffirming look down at a small piece of paper procured from a petite bag on her hunches, the secretary quickly resumed looking back at her charge. “Overseer Matabele has requested your presence in the nursery.”
> Figures, Chrysalis mused. The overseer had a mind sharp as a whip, and few things in the hive passed him by unnoticed. He was the primary driving force behind her behemoth guard, and the initiative to no small amount of changes to the operating procedures in the hive programs.
> His work had improved the lives and recovery of numerous changelings in the hive, earning him both the respect of overwhelming mare population, and the adoration of the few of her stallion subjects.
~ Some time later…
> Carefully sniffing the ethereal whisks of steam rising from her cup, Chrysalis had to add yet another achievement to Matabele. He truly did brew the best pepper-thorn tea in the hive.
> Sighing deeply, she looked up from the edge of the old chineighse porcelain, and spectated her host pouring a himself a cup.
> Across from her, sitting in a chair similar to her own, Overseer Matabele reclined backwards, his own cup of steaming tea held in his magical grasp.
> His winding horn’s few minuscule cracks here and there, and the crow’s feet accenting his eyes were the only indications of a long and busy life. Usually, the few male drones that ever blessed the hive preferred simple jobs in the nursery and basic tasks in the infirmary.
> Matabele, however, was of a different sort, however. He had insisted on being assigned more and more work when he first started as an assistant nurse, taking on greater degrees of responsibility and facing the challenges he came across.
> Lost in her thoughts, Chrysalis failed to notice how the overseer had caught her studying him, as he tilted his head slightly.
> “What’s on your mind, my second-favourite queen,” his hoarse voice asked.
> Snapping out of her stupor, the queen’s brows furrowed.
“In these days, more than you know, Matabele. Also, second-favourite?” she asked, taking a careful sip from her cup’s warm contents.
> Chuckling to himself, Matabele leaned forward to grab himself a small biscuit, dipping it in his tea. “Do allow an old stallion the joy of playing favourites. Honourable Queen Amber’s suggestion of using ‘clover honey’ for treating patients was most interesting.”
> Invoking his magic, the old stallion browsed through a small notebook from the table, turning a couple of pages before continuing.
> “The idea to combine love honey with restorative herbs... most intuitive. It’ll be a great boon for the infirmary.” he commented.
> Scoffing softly, Chrysalis could not help roll her eyes.
“You have grown rebellious in your long years, overseer.”
> Finishing the last bite of his treat, the stallion put down the notebook again, and looked at his queen’s lightly peeved facade.
> “So it would seem, my queen,” he said acknowledgingly, levitating the small bowl of biscuits. “But long years do tend to grant a resemblance of wisdom.”
> Cocking an eyebrow, Chrysalis took one of the offered salt biscuits.
“Oho? To what end does this newfound wisdom go?”
> Picking up a small stack of papers, Matabele quickly scanned them over, before hoofing the gathered stack to her. Returning a questioning look the other way, Chrysalis took the papers, starting to read the swirly lines.
> “It is my report on the vanguard program. The current status of those not yet ready to join it, a recount of the stockpiles of ambrosia, as well as three varying estimates for how long the hive can sustain the current and final number of behemoths.”
> Turning over the page, Chrysalis quickly found a number of graphs detailing a corresponding number of timelines.
> Idly waving a hoof in exasperation, the overseer picked up a new paper in his magic, delivering it the same way as its predecessors.
> “This is a confirmation of the temporary halting of the behemoth program due to a potential future ambrosia shortage”, he said with a sliver of professional chagrin. “The behemoth nymphs have already been placed in stasis, until either you or I calls it off.”
“I wanted to speak with you concerning this, but it seems your wisdom exceeds the speed of my own hooves...” Chrysalis commented in agreement. “A great many things will be decided within the next week.”
> None of them said anything, as the weight of her words sank in. Shoulders sagging, Chrysalis looked to her host, her face mired by fear and sorrow.
“Tell me, Matabele, besides I, you are the single most knowledgeable changeling on the continent concerning humans, correct?”
> Nodding solemnly, Matabele’s features softened at the unsure tone of the queen’s voice. “I believe I am, my queen. You *did* ask me to nurture the honourable Allfather back to health after his appearance out in the wild, all that time ago.”
> Seemingly satisfied with his answer, Chrysalis continued.
“Then I ask you, overseer Matabele, do you believe Anonymous to stand a chance when he must face the three queens at the trial?”
The overseer was quiet for a long time, as he mulled over his answer, weighing the various considerations before making up his mind. “Yes, I believe in the Allfather.”
“You do?” she asked.
> “Do you not, my queen?” he returned her question with another, a mild surprise covering his face.
> Casting down her head in shameful embarrassment, Chrysalis stared holes into the table between them.
“I do not know, Matabele,” she explained, her magical grasp of the cup flickering as she delved into her own insecurities. “I want to believe. By my heart of hearts, I want to believe he will persevere, and come out on the other side, so that I may again kiss his soft lips.
> Taking a steadying breath, she continued.
“I want to feel his honest love for my true self, so that I in turn may love him unwaveringly until the end of days.”
> Silvery tears streaked across her cheeks, falling to silently kiss the bottom of her now empty teacup as they fell. Chrysalis turned her sights back to meet the stallion’s gaze.
“I want it to believe it to be possible so very much, Matabele. I feel as if… as if I would break into innumerable pieces if I were to consider the… alternative.”
> Again, the silence ruled in the long pause.
> “Do you know something he does not, Chrysalis?” the overseer asked softly, voice emanating sympathy.
> Chrysalis eyes glazed over, as she wrought her eyes from his.
“It is not something he does not know. It is something he could never understand. The dangers he will face inside that arena, the very pinnacles of the changeling race. Queen Mentha, the greatest in the arts of subtlety, Queen Buddleia the Ever Shifting and Queen Noctuid, the Moth Sorceress.”
> Standing from her seat to pace around the room, Chrysalis barely took breath before continuing.
“He will cross with centuries, no, millennia worth of experience in the greatest incantations, tactics and reality-bending powers ever known to our kind,” she concluded.
> Watching her calmly from his seat, the stallion put down his now empty cup of tea down.
> “If I may be so brash, my queen, I believe you still do not know everything there is about to know the Allfather,” Matabele finally said.
> Taking her silence for as a sign to proceed, the overseer rose from his seat, to stand beside the regent.
> “Back when Allfather Anonymous wandered these treacherous lands that surrounds us all, it was not his love for you that kept him standing, as he did not know of you yet.”
“I am not sure if I understand your point, overseer…” Chrysalis began.
> Lifting a small handkerchief to dap the remains of tears off the face of his ruler, the stallion continued.
> “You see, my queen, beneath the soft and caring facade of the Allfather, in his very centre of being… There is a core of the strongest hive rock I have ever witnessed in all my years.”
> Scoffing in annoyance, Chrysalis turned away. “You mean to equate the two scenarios, as if they are alike, Matabele,” she said. “A hydra’s claw and a cat’s can never be comparable.”
> Smiling reassuringly, he continued. “My point is, that very core inside him let him overcome the wilds, his wounds, his fatigue and the biggest threat he had most likely ever faced at the time.”
> Nodding his head knowingly to her midst, he concluded. “Combined with the blessing of your love, and the knowledge of you two’s future kin… You asked me if I believe in the Allfather. I in turn ask you again, how could you not?”
~ Some time later.
> The walk back to her chambers from the overseer’s office was a very sobering experience to Chrysalis.
> The earlier buzzle of her subjects had passed down for the night. Having already dismissed her assistant, as well as the designated guard, she had simply opted to wait at the doors for Anonymous’ return from his walk.
> No matter how little she felt like crediting the old stallion, Matabele’s words had struck a cord in her.
> With not a minute to consider, her lover had laid down his head on the block for her, and taken her place in the arena.
> Sure, she could have commanded one of her behemoths to represent her instead. Each and every one of them would have happily done so, most likely getting themselves crushed in the ensuing fight.
> It would have been nothing but an empty stalling of her current situation, offering little hope of actually succeeding.
> Hearing the tell-tale sounds of heels hitting the floor echoing towards her, Chrysalis shuddered as she quickly dispelled the remnants of her dark trail of thoughts.
> Turning the corner, Anonymous’s elegant stride revealed nothing of the deep thoughts his facial features spoke leagues of. Evidently, his solitary walk indicated that he had made the same decision as her, to relieve his entourage of their duties.
> Spotting her form, his face lit up in a tired smile. Before he utter a word, Chrysalis bowed her head.
“I am sorry for my actions earlier, Anonymous, I beg your forgiveness. I understand now that you did what you did from your love and adoration of me. You have willingly put yourself in my stead, and for that, you have my eternal gratitude.”
> Crossing the distance between the two of them, the human brought up a hand to delicately guide her head upwards, stealing a quick kiss on her lips.
> “Honey, you’re hormonal,” he said with a soft chuckle. “Please don’t ever ask for my forgiveness, you already have my all.”
> Peppering her jawline and cheeks with small pecks, a filly-like snicker escaped the whole borne queen. Pushing a hoof against his chest, she looked into his soft eyes.
“Care to join me in the royal quarters, beloved? I have had a most dreadful day, and only your lovely ministrations can help.”
> A mischievous glint sparkled in his eyes. “From the way your thighs are rubbing together, I have a hunch that I would very much like to indulge in your offer.
> A blush erupted on her cheeks, but before she could retort, the human had already torn open the doors, all but dragging her along with into the softly lit sleeping quarters.
> Throwing herself onto the emerald sheets, she craned her head back across her shoulder, looking on as the human disrobed slowly. Meaningfully unbuttoning his shirt, Anonymous flexed his arms and chest as his upper body contorted lavishly in a display very much for her pleasure.
> As his arms moved downwards, undoing his leggings, a most gracious act of balancing on one foot, and then the other was mandated to complete the act.
> Standing before her, only clad in a simple piece of cloth, his excitement was plain to see, through the pitched fabric.
> Responding in a similar fashion, Chrysalis fixed him with a smouldering stare, as she moved onto her back with a deliberately slow roll. Achingly slowly, she spread her plump and glistening thighs, letting her mountainous teats roll as they wished, and flashing him her damp, lightly pearling nethers.
> From her marehood, a faint trail of her excitement ran down her thighs, to stain the cloth beneath her in a dark hue. A single drop of fluid slowly made its way down the mountainous ass, the sole center of Anonymous’ attention.
> With a soft flickering of her long tail, Chrysalis waved around the heady pheromone-laden air surrounding her, enveloping the chambers in her scent.
“~Oh beloved~”, her singsong voice called huskily. “Your queen needs her consort to do his duty,” she said as she winked twice at him in rapid succession.
> Anonymous stood still as he watched the display in front of him, entirely enraptured by her sensual manners as her body ushered him far away from the worries of the mortal world.
> Taking in a deep breath, he shuddered with a pleased hum, his covered manhood throbbing heartedly.
> Clearing her throat softly to emphasize her request, she barely had time to register his speed before he had dived forward headfirst.
> Grabbing her vast thighs with his hands, clinging on like a drowning to a life raft, he barely stopped for a moment to consider the sight before him.
> The soft ebony teats resting peacefully above his prize rocked back and forwards as he playfully adjusted his grip. The soft heat emanating from the cushioning pair was dwarfed by the warmth from the luminous belly peaking lightly above.
> The tender emerald glow reflected in his eyes, as the feeling of his staggered breath across her engorged moist lips made Chrysalis shiver in anticipation.
“Anawn...” she mewled impatiently, placing a soft hoof on his head.
> Taking her cue, and being the cultured man he was, Anonymous enjoyed performing oral, as much as Chrysalis enjoyed receiving it. Starting slowly, he began placing kisses as light as a feather along the insides of her silky thighs, as his hands tenderly kneaded her soft udders.
> Pleased with her successful persuasion, Chrysalis leaned back on the bed with a content croon, opting to allow herself the greedy joy of focusing on the experience in full.
> As he progressed further in towards his destination, the human opted for swapping out the kisses with long broad tongue strokes along her fat exterior lips.
> Shifting his shoulders inwards, his hands moved from tending to the two immaculate orbs, to the perky nipples adorning each one. Lightly rolling the pliant tops between his fingertips, Anonymous continued cupping each in his palms, as his ministrations went on.
> The soft whine occasionally escaping the hoof covering the queen’s mouth was a clear indicator that his efforts were very much appreciated.
> Seeing her clit poke out, Anonymous took the “invitation”, catching it between his lips and holding it. A squeal rocks through the room.
> “What was that, honey?”, he asks honestly, starting to lift his head to look up.
> A pair of hooves crisscross behind his head, catching him by surprised. With a heave of muscles, his lips are all but thrown back to her nethers. Heavy thighs resting around his head, Anonymous only catches a few notes of the echoing moan from Chrysalis.
> Electrical buzzes flying through her body, she is washed away on the tide of the pleasure flowing all around. Deaf to the world, she rests her head back on silken pillows, a pleased sigh escaping her lips.
> Laying there for several seconds, in the bliss of an incredible afterglow, all the worries of seep out of her stressed mind. Instead, filling her with a pleasant warm touch of conte...
> An insistent finger prods the side of her hips, drawing her attention. Looking down, the top of her lover’s head sits enveloped in her wide back legs. It is funny, it is almost like he can’t bre-
“Mother’s mercy, Anonymous!” Chrysalis shrieks, rapidly undoing his meaty prison, dragging him up beside her on the sheets.
> A series of gasps rock his body, as he draws in precious air.
“Anonymous, beloved, are you okay?”, she asks voice sharp with worry, as she softly claps his face with a hoof. His eyes wander for a bit, before catching her eyes.
> …W-was that good for you too, h-honey?”, he asks raggedly, prodding up himself on an elbow. The queen cannot help a deep flush from exploding across her checks. Scuffing in relived annoyance, she pushes him down into the mattress.
“Your jokes, Anonymous,” she comments dryly, as she straddles him, “does a poor job to ease your beloved queen’s worries.”
> Despite her solemn tone, a telltale sense of mirth plays along with a delightful tingle, echoing in the good-natured chuckle vibrating in the broad chest beneath her front hooves.
> Leaning down to drag a long tongue across his lips, she picks up the unmistakable taste of him and herself. The pale scent of his natural musk and the tickling feeling of his downy stubble teasing her senses is quickly washed away by the wave of affection of her pouring from him.
> Repositioning herself to sit comfortable on his pelvis, his eager manhood jutted defiantly horizontally from its anchor. Nestled in the soft and warm embrace of her maternal teats, the hard throbs rocking the rod prompts a few errant drops pre from its tip.
> The sound of the twos conjoined panting in the little room is the only sound, their closeness nearing a near breath sharing affair.
> Lifting her heavy posterior up and dragging a slow hoof down his chest, Chrysalis catches his cock in her soft frog, guiding it towards her dripping lips.
> Watching in barely held anticipation, Anonymous looks on as his manhood is swallowed greedily, disappearing behind her moist feminine folds.
> As their hips join together, the two sigh deeply, enjoying the intimate feeling of the other.
> “Chrysalis, you really are the most beautiful mare I have ever seen,” Anonymous starts, as he begins moving his hands towards her nipples.
> Tsking in mock disapproval, the queen catches his hands with her hooves, stopping his advance. Her heady voice purrs from her lips, a chime of excitement sweetening her message.
“Let me, beloved Anonymous, guide the reins for tonight.”
> Her tone chains his being, as his eyebrows crest in surprise. Seemingly accepting her demand, the human concedes his defeat, laying down his hands by his side.
> A happy smile crests her face, lightening up the room. Placing her hooves on his shoulders for support, she slowly moves herself up, dragging herself up on his length.
> Stopping just short of his tip, she repeats the action in reverse and glides down the slick surface. Thighs shuddering in pleasure, Chrysalis bites her lips softly, as she picks up a slow and methodical rhythm in her effort.
> Pacing herself, the changeling queen maintains a clockwork-like flow in her ministrations. The soft clapping of bodies making contact and the total control of the situation is exhilarating to her.
> Feeling the tip of his manhood slowly spreading her is exquisite. This is what she desired for so long, what she needed, what she was made for. All to fulfill her deep-seated instincts.
> The pleasured look on his face only confirms her in what she feels from him, the love, the pleasure, the trust.
> The deep moans of the human beneath hear, and the trembling cock spearing her pussy is filling up her world.
> Anonymous’ consented submission, her position on top, and the feeling of her setting the pace catches quickly catches up with her.
> Slowing down her movement all for naught, the sensations and thoughts guides her over the edge again. However, where the earlier culmination was swift and violent, this one is gentle and filled to the brim with the affection from her love.
> Taking his shaft to the hilt, her marehood grips his cock like a vice. Separate muscles spring to action, working their hardest to milk him of his seed, desperate for the finale her body so deeply yearns for.
> In the midst of her throes of passion, she feel Anonymous surrender to the pleasure, washing her insides white in a flood of cum and her heart of hearts with passion.
> The throbbing continues for what feels like eternity, only spurring her own culmination further on.
> Finally, breathing staggeringly, Chrysalis looked down at the face of the human, the long locks of her hair falling in cascades around her features, framing her face in a sea of delicate azure.
> Anonymous, in kind, is in no better condition. His chest moves as his lungs fill and empty, a light sweat pearling on the top of his brow.
> Moving slowly to keep him inside her, Chrysalis carefully moves to lay on his chest. Taking great care to move her long horn out of the way, the great queen laid her head peacefully in the crook of his neck.
> Lovingly, Anonymous sees his chance, moving his arms around her back, catching her in a fond embrace.
“Anonymous…”, Chrysalis begins, but falters.
> Humming in confirmation, the human drums softly with his fingers, encouraging her to continue. The seconds go by in the silence.
“Do you… promise to always hold me, like this?”
> Anonymous pauses, sensing the tenseness and softness in her voice.
> “Always, Chrysalis.” he says.
“And never letting go?”
> “Never.”
> A throaty purr leaves her throat, her soft griff clapping in content.