[Fiction] Adapting To Shared Love : Chapter 1: Tryout (Patreon)

Previous : Adapting To Shared Love : Prologue

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It had been some time since Starlight Glimmer and her friends made their daring rescue attempt at her castle, and already much had changed. Thorax had explained as best he could to Chrysalis how sharing love had quelled his hunger and, wanting to see if she could recreate the effects for the benefit of her changelings, she decided to run a trial experiment. 

She wished to establish a test hive somewhere in Equestria, to see if her children could truly coexist alongside ponies and thrive off the ensuing love as a result. Finding such a place that would agree to house them proved to be difficult, as most of Equestria was wary of the insectoid race. Ponies were right to be skeptical, of course, as the changelings did ruin a royal wedding and attempt a hostile takeover before. There was also the fact that they secretly kidnapped all of the princesses and replaced them with doubles, but Princess Celestia herself managed to keep that from being public knowledge; if the two kingdoms were to have the best possible chance for peace, then only a select few would be privy to that information. 

Surprisingly enough, one place agreed to have the test hive within its borders, and it was none other than the Crystal Empire. Queen Chrysalis didn't expect that, as she was sure the royal couple had a personal vendetta against the changelings, or at the very least with her. Then again, Thorax was residing there and personally knew the two, so he might have had some influence over their decision. 

Regardless of what she thought of Shining Armor and Candace, Chrysalis dispatched workers to the Empire, and in no time at all, their test hive was constructed in the castle's crystal mines below. With that done, she then sent the required number of changelings needed to properly run it, and appointed Thorax as its leader. Even if Queen Chrysalis herself wanted to oversee this new hive (which she didn't), she couldn't, as she was much too busy with ruling the main one.            

After allowing some time to pass, Queen Chrysalis decided to see if her little experiment had garnered results. She found it strange, walking down the bustling streets of the Crystal Empire, and in broad daylight no less. Granted, no pony knew it was her, as she had changed her form to that of an ordinary earth pony mare, but it was still strange nonetheless.  

For her disguise, she had lowered her height to match that of an average mare's and changed her sleek dark carapace into a white coat. Her mane was mostly unchanged, though; the same color and a bit neater, and still sometimes getting in the way of her left eye. Lastly, a simple heart seemingly carved from an emerald was what she chose as her cutie mark. With these radical alterations to her appearance, she easily passed as a typical tourist taking in the sights of what the Crystal Empire had to offer.     

So far, she was pleased with what she saw. Nearly everywhere she looked, her children were walking and talking with the crystal ponies; not only that, but they were doing so with their true appearances. None of them seemed like they felt the need to disguise themselves, not even a little. 

Walking past several stores, she gave their windows passing glances and spotted some changelings sweeping, restocking inventory, helping customers, or simply manning cash registers. They all looked quite happy, and definitely well fed. However, as much as she would have loved to approach any one of them for questions, there was somepony was she supposed to meet first. 

"Well hey there, my queen!" 

Or rather, some bug. 

Thorax landed in front of Chrysalis on his buzzing wings, a bright, cheerful smile on his face. Worried if anypony had heard him announce her as queen of the changelings, as there was a reason she was disguised, Chrysalis tried to act casual while looking for any witnesses. Thankfully, nopony seemed to have caught on.

"Alright, I'm impressed," Chrysalis said aloof. "Tell me, how did you know it was me? Also, remember that this is supposed to be a surprise inspection, so quiet with that name!" 

Eyes widening, Thorax smacked a hoof over his mouth. 

"Oh, sorry!" he whispered before bringing his hoof back down. "Uh, to answer your question, I know just about everypony here, and I've never seen you around before. We also agreed to meet around here, so I just, you know... kinda assumed. I was right though, wasn't I?" 

In response, Chrysalis raised her head in a haughty manner and faced away with a humph!

"Correct you may have been, but I'd advise that you exercise discreet next time. Should there be a next time," she added. "Chances are that I could have actually been a mare. Then what would you have done, hmm?" 

Abashed, Thorax furrowed his brows and rubbed at the back of his head. 

"I... see. Sorry. I'll try to be more careful in the future." 

"Good, see that you do," she said before walking past him, her head held high. "As an added level of precaution, during the duration of my visit, you are to refer to me by..." She halted in place, then brought a hoof to her chin as she took a moment to think of a plausible pony name. There was a multitude of options for her to choose from, but ultimately she decided on, "Chandelier. You will call me Chandelier." 

"Chandelier, really?" Thorax questioned. 

"I don't see why not," Chrysalis replied with a shrug. "Sounds befitting enough for one of my regal status, disguised or no, and it seems to resonate quite well with this crystalline eyesore these ponies here call an empire."

Staring at her, Thorax scratched at the side of his head. 

"Uh, but don't you think Chandelier's a bit of a mouthful? Can't I just call you Chandy instead?" 

"No," came Chrysalis's swift response before she continued her walk down the street. "Anyway, now that we have the matter of my alias resolved, can we move on to the entire reason for this meeting?" 

"The reason?" Thorax said in his momentary stupor, only to then give his head a quick shake when it returned to him. "Right, right, the reason!" 

Realizing that she had gone a bit of a ways ahead without him, Thorax immediately ran towards her. 

"S-so," he started once he caught up to her, "I think you'll be happy to know that, just like I said in my earlier reports, the experiment has been very successful so far." 

"That I can see," said Chrysalis, her eyes skimming through all of the changelings busy mingling with the ponies. "Still, this level of co-habitation couldn't have miraculously happened overnight. Surely there had to be a few hitches along the way, no?" 

"Naturally," Thorax answered with a light nod. "The crystal ponies had yet to return during the whole, ahem... wedding debacle, but they did later hear about it. Once the test hive was constructed and our numbers walked the streets, it made sense for the ponies here to a bit distant of us, to say the least. Luckily though, with help from Shining Armor and Cadance," Chrysalis slightly grimaced at their names, though Thorax didn't seem to notice, "I managed to set some things in motion that helped beak the ice for both of our kind." 

At that, Chrysalis halted, staring at Thorax. 

"Really now?" she said, tilting her head in interest. "My my, I'd say that you've succeed in piquing my curiosity. From the way you detailed your reports, I was under the impression that you were merely observing the entire time, not consulting with royalty to help bring about our kind's acceptance here. What exactly were those things you set in motion then, hmm?"    

Embarrassed, Thorax averted his eyes and rubbed a hoof at the back of his head. 

"Oh it wasn't anything special, my qu--er... Chandelier. Come, I'll show you." And with a wave of his hoof, Thorax signaled for her to follow him down the rest of the street. "We started off small, of course: a few outdoor parties that just about anypony could join. Half the staff were crystal ponies, while the other half were changelings. 

"And man, let me tell you: do you know how difficult it is to convince the more skittish of our workers from changing their form while they served snacks? Fortunately though, they did, and the ponies were more aware of our presence, which was just our intention. With each new party after that, we'd add more and more changelings, not to work, but to mingle with the crowd. Things went surprisingly well, and eventually when we started walking the streets, ponies just stopped being so distant." 

"Interesting," said Chrysalis in regard to that information. 

Moments later, in front of what seemed to be a hospital, she spotted a changeling in a nurse's outfit pushing a filly in a wheelchair. Seeing that, she was reminded of the other changelings she saw working in the stores earlier. 

Chrysalis then gestured towards the changeling nurse, saying, "Now that's a peculiar sight. Now how exactly did you accomplish that?"

"What, you mean some of us getting jobs?" Thorax asked. Chrysalis nodded, which prompted him to answer. "Oh, well... the hive doesn't need much maintaining, so a lot of changelings just took to wandering around up here, looking for something to do. I guess at one point one of these shops must have hired a changeling off the street, then another did the same, and another after that. Next thing I know, changelings are returning to the hive with bits and things they bought.

"I suppose that got several more changelings interested, so to help smooth any remaining tension, Shining, Cadance and I developed several training programs designed to help them pursue whatever career they'd like. Looking around now, you can see how well that went. We've become an integral part of the community; we've made new friends here, and some changelings even moved in with ponies! We love and are loved in return, and we haven't felt the need to feed in a long, long time since. We're almost always full."  

Hearing all she needed to hear, Chrysalis remained silent and stood still, merely observed her subjects as they went about their day. 

So, it was possible for changelings and ponies to love peacefully alongside one another. Not only that, but it was possible for them to be whatever they strive to be in this foreign land. This was excellent news indeed. 

"Hmm, I'm pleased to have witnessed this for myself, then," said Chrysalis. "It's still too early to tell, but perhaps with this information, we'll be able to--" She had to stop mid-sentence, as her stomach just then decided to start rumbling. The noise it made was loud, and she was a bit embarrassed that Thorax had heard it. 

Watching his queen blush as she stepped back and held her stomach, Thorax titled his head and smirked amicably. 

"Um. A bit hungry there, are you?" he asked. 

"S-silence!" she answered with a shake of her head. "I had to leave the kingdom early to get here, so I had no chance to feed on our love stores. I'll leave now and return so I may get to it!" 

She then turned her back to Thorax and made to leave the empire. However, as soon as she took a few steps, Thorax moved in front of her. 

"Wait, Chandy!" he said, causing her to stop. 

"Chandelier," she corrected him, her expression conveying annoyance.  

"That. Listen, you sound awful hungry, and I'd hate for you to pass out or something on the way home. Why don't I take you somewhere so you can fill yourself up with a little something before then?"

Chrysalis's face lit up.

"Ah, of course! Take me to the love stores at the hive here!" 

Thorax winced at her enthusiasm, then rubbed at the back of his neck sheepishly before replying. 

"Actually... the store's are all empty here. We haven't felt hungry in a long time, remember?" 

In response, Chrysalis visibly deflated.

"But," she said, "if there's no stored love, how were you going to feed me?" 

"Um..." Thorax looked up and down the street, then jumped as he pointed to a building before walked towards it. "Here, follow me." 

Chrysalis was confused, but followed Thorax all the same into the building. Moments later after stepping in, however, she was further perplexed by what she found. 

"What is this, some sort of diner?" she questioned. 

"Yep!" said Thorax with a cheerful nod. "I figured something from here ought to give you enough energy to make your trip." 

Chrysalis looked at the menu hanging above the counter, and upon reading its many selections, she had to keep herself from retching. 

"What, you mean pony food?" she said, trying to keep the disgust from making itself known in her voice. 

"I know," said Thorax, "regular food doesn't give us nearly the same amount of energy that love does. But hey, it's still better than nothing." 

Honestly, Chrysalis would have preferred nothing.

"But... but the chewing, though," she said. "It's... it's disgusting! All that masticating and... and swallowing! I find the whole process to be utterly revolting!" 

"You know, I used to think that too," Thorax replied, moseying his way up to one of the stools by the counter before taking his seat. "But Spike and all the others started sharing meals with me, and eventually I kinda grew to like it. I'm sure you will too, if you gave it a chance. Here, I actually know the perfect thing to order if you don't want to do any chewing." 

Finding a waiting call bell lying on the counter, Thorax dinged it twice, prompting a crystal mare waitress to step out from the kitchen door. Seeing Thorax seated on the stool, she immediately approached him. 

"Well hey, Thorax. What'll it be today?" she asked with a smile, pen and notepad at the ready. 

"Hey Glass Tray," said Thorax in return. 

Chrysalis managed to keep face neutral, but she was surprised that Thorax and the mare knew each other. Then again, she shouldn't have been, seeing how long Thorax had been living in the empire. 

"I'd like two of your best crystal berry smoothies, please. One for myself, and the other for my friend here. Oh, and put them on my tab; don't have my bit bag with me at the moment." 

Scribbling his order onto the notepad, the mare nodded.

"Alright, two crystal berry smoothies coming up," she said before heading into the kitchen. 

With the mare gone, Chrysalis, not seeming to know what to do with herself in the meantime, took a seat on the stool next to Thorax's.

"So," Chrysalis began, "a smoothie, huh?"

Thorax shrugged.

"Well you said that you didn't want to do any chewing, so..." 

Before he could continue, the door to the kitchen flung open as the waitress stepped out, a tray balancing two smoothies held by her mouth.

"Enjoy," the waitress said as she placed the drinks on the counter, then walked back to the kitchen.  

"Well that was fast," commented Chrysalis. 

Thorax took a quick sip of his smoothie, then responded her. 

"Oh yeah, Glass Tray's the best when it comes to smoothies! They're her specialty, and she can whip them up just like that! Anyway, go ahead, try it. Maybe you'll like it like I said."

Chrysalis glanced at the smoothie's straw tentatively. She didn't want to wrap her lips around the thin plastic and suck up what she was sure would be a horrid concoction to her taste buds. She just wanted some nice condensed love. 

Sadly, there wasn't any love available for her, so the smoothie would have to do. 

She opened her mouth, put the straw in, then began to slowly and steadily drink through it. The cold drink splashed and spread its sweetness over her tongue, and immediately her eyes widened as a result. 

"Well?" Thorax asked excitedly. 

Chrysalis released the straw, and sat straighter on the stool.

"It's... less terrible than I thought it'd be."

Thorax smirked; she wasn't fooling him.

"Hm, I knew you'd like it," he said before returning to his smoothie, drinking nearly half of it in a matter of seconds. To Chrysalis's surprise, he then recoiled and brought his hooves up to his forehead as if in pain. 

"What's wrong?" she asked worriedly. 

One of Thorax's rear legs kicked forward at nothing as he answered with, "Nng, brain freeze! Drank too fast!" 

"Brain freeze?" Chrysalis had never heard of that term before, but she was curious enough to experience it for herself. She secured the smoothie's straw in her mouth, and emulated Thorax by drinking a large amount of it. Moments later, she regretted that decision.

"Ahhh!" she cried, her head in her hooves. "This... this headache! Why would anypony buy these?! These smoothie things should be banned!" 

To her dismay, she heard she heard Thorax laughing. 

"Why are you laughing!?" she yelled, clutching him but the shoulders. "You should be helping me!"

Through his bouts of laughter, Thorax answer her with, "Give it... give it a bit."  

Angered and confused, but mostly angered, she made to shake him silly. She stopped, however, when she noticed that the pain in her brain was subsiding. Soon enough, it was completely gone.

"Huh... I feel better?" she asked. 

His smirk refusing to falter, Thorax nodded.

"Yeah, that's brain freeze for you. You have to wait for it to thaw out. But uh, you know what, Chandelier... this was short, but fun. You may not be yourself right now, but you had a cute face there when you were freaking out, and I've love to see it again sometime. Oh, that reminds me, actually!"

"Hmm?" hummed Chrysalis, observing Thorax as he searched his person.    

Moments later, he had what looked to be a rose hair clip secured in his magic. Where he pulled that out from, especially when he didn't have any bags or the like on him, Chrysalis hadn't the slightest idea.

"Here," he then said, fixing the rose hair clip over the left side of her bangs. "I remember you always had a problem with your mane falling over your left eye, so I bought this earlier to fix that." 

"O-oh," came Chrysalis's delayed reply. Curiously, she pawed at the hair clip, finding that it did indeed keep her mane at bay.

"I think it looks very nice on you," Thorax commented with a smile and a nod. "You know, if you ever decide to stop by for another check up, I'd love to have another smoothie with you." 

Chrysalis was a... a bit caught off guard by... well, a lot, actually. Perhaps it was because of her previous villainy, but never had somepony told her that they were looking forward to another meeting, let alone give her a gift. Truthfully, she didn't know how to properly respond. 

"Um... thank you, Thorax," she said. "I... I appreciate your gift, and... and I look forward to that as well."

Right then and there, Queen Chrysalis felt less hungry, and it wasn't because of the smoothie.  

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Months had passed after Chrysalis had confirmed Thorax's 'love-sharing' solution to be completely viable in ending a changeling's insatiable hunger, and just like before, much had changed. With permission from Shining Armor and Cadance, Queen Chrysalis and her changelings abandoned their original hive in the badlands and moved into the new one beneath the Crystal Empire. A lot of work went into expanding the new hive to accommodate them all, but once that was done, the changelings began learning from the previous occupants on how to share love, which was still an entirely new and strange concept. 

Not all of them were getting it at first, which in turn caused problems for their queen to resolve. Unfortunately, even though she didn't want to admit it, Queen Chrysalis was still a bit unsure about it herself, so she sought the aid of Thorax, who was much more experienced when it came to teaching others the subject. With his help, the changeling transition into pony society went by much smoother.    

He was such a major help in fact, that in order to continue distributing the workload of changeling governing evenly between the two, Chrysalis officially appointed him as co-ruler. She was less aggressive than she used to be and was no longer stressed from trying to save her subjects from starvation, and it was a decision that made sense to her; those who were part of the trial hive continued to see him as their leader (some dared to call him a king whenever they believed that Chrysalis wasn't within earshot), and he surprisingly had a knack for leadership. Though admittedly, his methods were a bit hooves-on for her standards.   

A proper king he may have been, but it was only in title and power. There was no wedding between him and Chrysalis like many changelings and ponies believed, and there definitely was no love. Aside from the occasional outing they'd partake for a shared smoothie (outings where she'd insist to go under the guise of Chandelier), Chrysalis kept their relationship strictly professional. 

Thorax was seemingly fine with where they stood, but that didn't stop him from trying to get Queen Chrysalis from out of her shell. Because of him, all of their subjects were walking amongst the ponies in their natural forms, making friends with them as they shared laughter and good times. That is, however, except for one. 

Queen Chrysalis herself...

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Next : [Fiction] Adapting To Shared Love : Chapter 2: Trueself