The diamond dogs were quickly alerted to the identity of their mysterious creature and Duke was thankful for the quick response. When he offered to help hunt down the creature, Luna found herself slightly perterbed.

"It is not that we do not appreciate the offer," she explained "but that we do not wish to kill it...him. This is yet another species. Be it sapient or not, Max is certain they are capable of sapience; if not now then in the near future. If we must be the ones to teach them, Tia and I shall. We do not wish to see them destroyed. There have been enough orphans and shattered families in the last few decades to last us another era."

The old dog nodded.
"Apologies. I did not realize it was not some monster. Most clawed creatures we have come across in the depths were dangerous beasts."

"So your first reaction is defense. It is understandable. I fully support defending oneself. However, I hope it will not come to that. Not only that, but where there is one there could be others. With these being flying beings, their range is significantly larger than unicorns, earth ponies, or even diamond dogs. It may take time to find out where it rests."

"Or it could be passing through," the elder added. "We came across other packs in the underground who were the same. Some were mad, some had lost their way. Others were merely uninterested in joining together. Only two or three of the packs we have contacted wished to join us even if they all celebrated the news. It saddens me, but I do not know if we shall ever recover what was lost."

"I suppose it is worst for you in particular, Elder Duke. You can remember what you have lost. For Tia, myself, and for most of ponykind it has been generations since we lost our place. There are none alive who know how far we've fallen, only scattered records and the knowledge that something was lost. The changelings are not too injured by their own losses from what I have heard as their over-queen had a habit of driving her subjects to paranoia and bloodlust. Betrayal was common, so there is no real feeling of loss at the deaths of their fellows. Merely discomfort and fear at the subject of extinction. Even that is a new idea to the queens that has been brought up by Maximus."

"Extinction," Duke muttered, tasting the word. "I do not believe we are at that point. There are many packs still roaming even if we are scattered. Hopefully the directions we left will help. Hopefully we shall one day be strong again."

The diamond dog looked to the horizon, squinting.
"I was worried we were still under the ocean. From here I can not see it, though. It makes me wonder just how far we traveled in the darkness. Makes me wonder how easily we could have missed you. Even a single degree from one of our expeditions, and we never would have been close enough to come into contact with you."

"We are quite a distance from the ocean, yes," Luna said. "One of the things Max is still asking about is better maps. That is going to be a long and demanding project in and of itself."

"Would it be possible for us to receive one as well?" Duke asked.

"I would be delighted to send a copy once we have it," Luna said, turning to face him. Seeing the look on his face she quickly added "and one of our current versions as well? It may not have much for your location but anything would be better than nothing. I do remember hearing one of the unicorns speaking of a simple copying spell."

The diamond dog gave a polite bow in thanks before walking to a small burrow near the walls of the keep, which was connected to a tunnel that lead nearly directly to their current home.

"I'm glad you are so eager to speak with them," Celestia said as she landed beside Luna. "I do not know why, but I find their presence slightly unnerving. Perhaps it is the teeth."

"Well when you've spent as much time near sharp teeth as I have..." Luna trailed off with a smile. "You never seemed nervous."

"It's not...I just keep wondering if they would ever try to eat a pony. I know Max and the changelings wouldn't because that would be the exact opposite thing they need to survive, but the diamond dogs do eat meat."
The solar alicorn sighed, shaking her head.
"It's silly, but I worry about the griffon doing the same. If they decide ponies are edible we could be looking at a very difficult encounter."

"I'm certain its not that bad. Max would-"

"He was the one I was asking about such a thing," Celestia interrupted. "He agrees that it would complicate it all to no end. If it wasn't done purposefully, what do you say to the pony's family? 'I'm sorry, but this griffon ate them because he didn't know any better'? Luna, this is a very bad situation. A predator like the griffon would rely on killing their prey quickly so they don't get hurt during any struggles. So quickly that even if the griffon could understand the pony, the pony wouldnt have a chance to cry out. Max, Seven and Crystal all agree on this, which is why I have asked them to find this griffon as quickly as possible. Even if more information would be preferred, we do not have the luxury of time. It would be easier to capture it and work things out from there than wait for it to harm somepony and have to work out the ethics-debacle later."

Luna nodded. They'd already started talking about whether or not they'd have issues communicating with the griffon. Max didn't think they would, citing the diamond dogs which had no reason to speak Equish. While the written word of the diamond dogs was different from any of the pony scripts or changeling script, all spoken languages seemed similar enough to make communication relatively simple. It was something innocuous to her, but it drove the changeling stallion up the wall. Literally.
'I have never seen someone pace along the ceiling before...'

It certainly made diplomacy simpler. Now if only there weren't seven different written languages to try and learn. Or eight, the griffons might have their own. What about the minotaurs?

"Do you know where they are?" Celestia asked, looking over the otherwise empty dining room.

Luna shrugged her wings.
"You asked them to find the griffon post haste. It's possible they're working on it."

Celestia took another bite of her meal, some new variety of steamed vegetables and herbs the chef was trying out, this time using a very strong and spicy herb he'd recieved from a diamond dog cook. It wasn't a bad taste, but Luna wasn't really used to any sort of 'fire' as Max called it. Perhaps in the future she would grow accustomed to it, but for now it was uncomfortable.

"I think I like this," Celestia said with a small smile. "I may have to look into trying these types of dishes more often."

"Oh wonders, the mare who moves the sun enjoying something hot," Luna commented, rolling her eyes. "I still prefer minty or tart."

"Well, yes. Mint-leaves are nice as a snack, but the vegetables get boring after a while. It's nice to know there are other ways to prepare them. I think Max was also trying to get Emerald to fire-roast some of them. Emerald was a bit upset at such a simple cooking technique, but I remember eating them like that a long time ago."

"I asked Emerald to make some pizza the next time the dogs visit. I believe they'd enjoy it. Duke also promised us a new kind of drink. Something they made in the tunnels called Biting Water. I admit, I'm curious. Crystal thinks it will be a form of strong drink, much stronger than wine."

"I look forward to trying it."

"-just wouldn't stop asking me for support. I told her several times why it wouldn't work and even asked if there was something she knew that I didn't but the mare had nothing more than a desire for information."

Luna giggled, poking Celestia's side with a wing.
"I'm all for exploration and discoveries, but I'd like a bit more information before we start funding expeditions. There is also the issue of not even knowing if the area has previously been explored or claimed. Then there is the problem of general lawlessness since the defeat of Discord. Everypony is trying to pull themselves back together and it takes time, so even as we speak the world is attempting to heal around us."

"The scouts have started on their maps and we're not even close to mapping out to the nearest keeps. It's going to be a long endeavor."
Celestia sighed, ruffling her wings in irritation. There was more, always more to do. The baths they enjoyed were one of the few times they'd been finding to relax, even with the changes to their ruling system that the changeling had suggested. Certainly Luna was happier with more to do and Celestia herself was enjoying the more hooves on approach, but with less of a buffer between the rulers and the ruled, everything was suddenly much more visceral. Everything was much more real.
'In a way it is an improvement, but I did like having other ponies to take care of the day to day...or taking care of the day to day minutia in theory.'

"I have set aside some time for us to learn to properly use blades tomorrow afternoon. I know you would rather do things through diplomacy but as you saw, that is not always a solution. I would prefer we never run into such a situation again, but I find it unlikely. As such, I would feel better knowing you could protect yourself."

Luna opened the door to her room and stopped cold, both of the alicorns left staring at the scene before them.

Max and Crystal, the alicorns expected to engage in explicit activities. Thus seeing the two on Luna's bed was no surprise. Seven's inclusion was what the two found so shocking. She was resting her forward body on the bed as a brace while the stallion was thrusting deep inside of her. Crystal was sprawled on the bed resting on her belly, her legs spread in such a way to allow Seven access to her nethers. With each thrust, the male was driving Seven's muzzle deeper into the other queen's folds, which was causing Crystal to squirm and moan along with the other two.

"Well we know they get along," Luna whispered before giggling. "Max did mention Seven having some trouble with her reproduction control, leading to wasting a lot of seed. I guess she needed more um, more?"

Celestia sighed, moving to continue down the hallway until a tug on her tail stopped her.
"Luna, you know I have no intention of joining...that."

"I know," Luna said, moving closer and planting a simple kiss on the older mare's cheek. "I wish you good night, and if you need anything let us know. In the meantime well, I have no such qualms of joining the fun. If you do change your mind, I'm certain we can find some way to squeeze you in."

Celestia turned, watching Luna briskly walk into the room with a wide grin on her face.
'It would be so easy, walking in there and just...'
She shook the images from her head. It was alien, these ideas of joining in, but she wasn't scared of them anymore. She just wasn't ready. Maybe she'd never be ready.

Max felt the two alicorns as they wandered closer and as they opened the door. He wasn't particularly surprised to feel a little bit of conflict in their emotions, nor that Celestia didn't follow Luna into the room. Thrusting into Seven's body while kissing along the queen's neck, he opened an eye to watch as Crystal threw her head back and let out a moan of pleasure. A blue blur landed on the younger queen in the next moment, pinning Crystal's face to the bed under Luna's flank as she pulled the queen's flanks up and began kissing and licking her beta to a pleasurable oblivion.

"Geeze, Luna," he chuckled, slowing as he and Seven stared in mirth.

Seven gave a breathy chuckle as well.
"Not wasting any time, are you?"

Luna pulled back, a trail of cum connecting her lips to Crystal's flanks for a moment. Lighting her horn, she began to play with Crystal, dancing her magic over the sensitive flesh even as she responded.
"I have been busy. Not all of us can rut all day and night. As such I wish to 'catch up.' I owe Crystal at least two nights worth of pleasure and I intend on making good on that debt."

"If I wasn't, helping Seven with the drone population, we'd all be turning you into, a fuck-toy."

"We could, turn you into, a mass of pleasure," Seven huffed, her eyes fogging slightly at the constant strokes driving into her depths as her body prepared for its due.

Max grinned at the Seven's increasing inability to speak, nipping and licking at her neck before giving a powerful thrust into a similarly powerful buck. Both changelings locked up as their orgasms struck and Seven groaned as her body worked overtime, pulling the seed into her body and refilling her internal stores. Not only did the mare begin to radiate a sense of fulfillment over their link at the restoration of her bodies stock, but the muscular tube was hugging, rubbing and pulling at his shaft, attempting to milk him for all he was worth.

"God that feels good," he muttered into her ear as their climax faded. "Feel better?"

"Much," Seven muttered, her eyes slowly focusing on Luna and the alicorn continued brutally dominating her beta. Crystal squealed as she peaked, firing a gyser of lubricating fluids high into the air as Luna watched the muscles spasmed. The stream arced through the air, spattering over the floor a good distance away.

"Oh, that's what it looks like," the blue mare giggled as she continued working Crystal's tunnel with her magic. "I wonder if I can get more distance if I work you harder?"

"Max! Do Something!"

The stallion slowly pulled out of the queen, basking in the feeling of Seven's body doing its best to retain every drop.
'I don't know, Crystal. I'm mighty curious myself. What do you think, Sev?'

'I think one more should be fine. She'll survive it.'

Max and Seven jumped on the bed, moving to either side of the lunar alicorn as Luna focused completely on her task. Crystal's growing pleasure, seen both in her body's convulsions as well as her increasingly panicked kicks from her lower legs, had her completely enraptured. A giggle escaped her, and she leaned in to give the winking clit a kiss as it pushed out into the air.

Cum on, Crystal, let's see your best shot.'

'You jerk I'm going to-oooh!

The entire group laughed and chuckled as the queen peaked, a weaker stream of cum emiting from her that didn't even clear the bed.

"Well that was just pitiful," Max muttered, watching as Crystal's legs went limp. "I mean, i think even my worst gets better distance than that."

"Fuck...oooh..ugh..."

"I do believe Crystal is done for now," Luna giggled. Setting the still shuddering bug down she looked up and realized her position between two grinning changelings.
"Oh...um...could I interest you two in a parley?"

Seven roughly pulled the alicorn off of Crystal while Max moved her to the other side of the bed, clear of their current plan. After a quick oral battle, Seven twisted and fell forward, pinning the alicorn to the bed.
"So, dominance plays. I want to give them a shot as well."

jumping up and using her aura to capture Luna's muzzle, Seven leaned down and basked in the sensation of the alicorn tongue working her already-slicked inner walls.
'Well, what are you waiting for?'

"Luna, you are hereby temporarily demoted from alpha to 'toy" Max chuckled, taking his own position at the alicorn's flank. Lining up with her weeping need he easily penetrated her, earning a moan from both Luna and Seven, though Seven's was a second-hoof moan. Shifting and bracing his forehooves on her belly he gave another thrust, grinning at the queen as Seven's eyes crossed.
'Come on, Seven. Hold it together.'

'I don't want to, it feels soo good,' she sent back, grinding down and forcing the blue mare's face deeper between her flanks. 'Oh, I can't believe we were missing out on this. Y-you know my sisters are going to need, a little help as well. I'm going to enjoy sharing this...information..'

Max began his rythmic thrusting anew, enjoying the shuddering and quivering of the pinned mare for a few moments before Seven leaned across and kissed him. He leaned into it, attempting to continue his rythm. It wasn't as strong though, leaving him to soon break away so he could focus on his current task.
'Didn't expect that, when did you start kissing?'

'Since it, draws a positive reaction,' Seven muttered drunkenly.

Max smiled as the queen's mind called forth an image of Celestia locking lips with the queen. Even as Luna began bucking and mumbling into the queen, Max directed the queen's attention to the door. The one currently hiding a single point of emotion that thought they were watching without being seen.
'She's watching you. How does that make you feel?'

"Tia!"
Seven came hard, her rear legs locking up and driving down with the entirety of her weight, driving Luna into a slight panic as her muzzle actually entered the queen's vaginal canal. She slumped slowly, leaving Max to push her off of the last remaining mare. He smiled down at her, pushing on Luna's neck as he pulled the still shivering queen, causing Luna's face to come lose with a wet plop.

"I think she just tried to eat you," Max whispered, leaning down onto the dazed alicorn.

"I, didn't think that possible," the mare gasped, giving him a quick kiss. "Two down, Maximus. Two to...go."

"I'm in no hurry," he said, settling into a slow and deep rythm. "Are you?"

The mare didn't need to answer, wrapping her forelegs around his neck and allowing herself to become a vessal rocking gently on a sea of pleasure.

Celestia winced as the Seven squealed. The heat in her cheeks was slowly spreading through her wings and back to her tail too. The mare had shouted her name, thinking of her while engaging with others. Seeing the action dying down to a slow burn between Luna and Maximus, she quietly closed the door and trotted down the hallway, magic covering her hooves to silence her steps. She just wasn't certain what to think anymore. What was she afraid of? Could she participate in such things?

The next morning a very confused maid would spend several minutes trying to discover the origin of the odd stain-trail that lead to Luna's private quarters before deciding it was best not to think of such things.

Author's Notes:

Been kind of stuck, but i think i figured out where i want to go with this. Gonna be figuring out how to bring in the birbs next. I think i know how that will go but...eh, we'll see. Changelings aren't much of a threat at the moment, the two keeps to the north are basically one and a half and friendly, the dogs are setting up a city to the...east I think I said? I really need to write another map. These stories get complicated