Chrysalis

I can’t believe how clueless Ari is. Through the walk through the desert, which was a part of the rescue mission that he signed us up for I might add; I was trying to ward off the turquoise menace. Azure was reading too much into his help and thought he wanted her as a marefriend when really Ari was just too nice to not help a mare in need. While trying to protect my claim I was also trying to persist with the foalish notion that I wasn’t in heat.

The latter was truly justified, in the nearly five hundred years I have been alive I have never entered estrus, it just never happened. My mother obviously experienced the heat, but she had experienced her first one at one hundred years old not as late as I have. The best way I understood it from her is that the most long lived creatures such as Queen and king Changelings as well as Alicorns had the hardest time reproducing; it was nature’s population failsafe. If we entered estrus as often as ponies did the world would be overpopulated with creatures living up to ten thousand years old; the math still terrified me as much as it did when she first told me. However the failsafe was also a curse, Alicorns were down to just three mares and there was just myself for the changeling race now. Stallions of any species had this habit of charging into battle for some reason and dying, crazy I know.

But back to the problem at hand, I knew she could clearly smell me over his face and wings but the mare still insisted on challenging my claim. Okay, it wasn’t official then but I still intended to have him, I was willing to wait too. This wasn’t my heat talking either; I liked him for more than his body. He actually cared for me, was protective, and had a good sense of humor. But I digress, he was a gentlestallion so I shouldn’t have been shocked that she took a liking to him. He had a stallion attitude that most were missing from their soft lifestyles, hence why most were ‘coltfriends’ not ‘stallions’. That doesn’t mean I had to accept her interest without a fight though.

But I couldn’t just fight her without getting his acceptance as a marefriend first, not only would that confuse him it would probably scare him away. I don’t think I could handle it if I lost him, I had nothing left in this world.

Just short of directly confronting her I was impeding her attempts.

When she put her head on his chest I struggled to silence my warning growl, that is when she knew that I wasn’t going to physically touch her like a real challenge even though I had my scent all over him. Then she felt bolder and hugged him. I could feel his surprise and enjoyment at her hug and lost some restraint, he was looking at the dune, and she had her legs wide open to attack. That’s how she learned physical contact was still fair game if he couldn’t see me do it.

Ari didn’t even seem to acknowledge my intent. While at first I thought he wasn’t interested, it hit me that he may have different courting practices on Earth. It became that that was true when Azure had the gall to flag her tail at him, a screaming sign that said ‘rut me’ to any stallion. He was just feeling confused at the display; even so, I retaliated with what I could safely do: glaring and wafting my own scent over hers, my tail was working overtime as it flicked to spread my scent.

However that is all in the past now, we have Barium with us now and had some new resources. Jabbar and his gang had probably stolen them anyway. We were ready, I had healed myself from that small nick that Ari insisted on fussing over, I really had to show him healing magic when we had some down time.

Ari was now wearing a white thobe and a set of saddle bags were draped over each of our backs. In them we had water, food, money, a compass, and a map. The ponies didn’t even protest when we took them, they looked nervous, but lost it when Ari pointed out the conclusion that I had come to as well. Those brutes were slave traders, among the other diversions I believed they did. The Minotaur looked almost like a hired thug, a successful thug if his exotic, hybrid eahira was any indicator.

Azure was thankfully walking pressed to her new coltfriend’s side leaving me to have Ari all to myself, my stallion. I could feel my heart race every time I thought of him. Not only was he my first stallionfriend but he was the first stallion I actually had a long term interest in, he actually had the same lifespan as me. And our first kiss, oh, it sent my tail twitching just remembering it. I was going to have to tell him about my heat soon, perhaps when we were alone again.

I shuddered as a sudden chill went over my chitin. What was that? I looked around and even above at Celestia’s sun, but nothing was there.

Now, where was I?

Azure was walking with her coltfriend and I had my stallion. We weren’t alone yet but soon enough we would be. My gentlestallion had generously offered to walk them to the Equestrian border, which was about three days of travel away if we don’t hit any sandstorms. Then we would double back and find out why I was a wanted mare, I wasn’t naïve on that matter, it was going to be trouble. This wasn't the tame Equestrian rulers that wanted me for my invasion like they easily could have, no it was Saddle Arabia, a country I hadn’t been to for several hundred years. I hadn't a clue what they wanted.

A silence had fallen over us, I could feel Ari’s happiness, love, and nervousness. Then I felt curiosity enter him.

“Why were you guys in the Diamond Mountains anyway? That seems a long way to go for a date with your coltfriend.” I looked at the new couple, my ears perked forward, this should be good.

Azure and Barium looked guilty at each other. “We were leaving Equestria, we just couldn’t handle the princess’s decision to bring back that barbaric old law. Azure didn't agree with the law as well so we ran.” We both blinked at the couple, my ears slowly flattening as a inkling of an idea at what law they meant.

“What law is this?” Ari asked, tensing under his thobe. I pressed my muzzle against his cheek.

“You really haven’t heard?" Azure looked at our expressions in shock, before a look of pity entered her eyes.

“No.” But I had a good guess, I just hope I was just being a insecure foal, making a anthill into a mountain.

“The herding law was brought back." Buck. "Basically all single stallions must be paired with as many mares as they can handle. Azure was my best friend and I loved her but she was single and I was single. I don’t want anyone but her-“ Azure nuzzled him at that. “-But I knew some unwilling mares would get matched to me and Azure might have ended up with somepony else.”

I looked at Ari’s face as anger came through his fur through the thobe, ears pinned he looked ready to bite somepony. Barium thought so too as he backed up with his mare before nodding at Ari. “I understand how you feel as well, it is a scary and cruel law. It was chaos when we left, we weren’t the only ones leaving either.”

“Ari?”

He let loss a string of explelatives that had Azure and Barium spluttering at, those princesses were really in for it. Calming down with some snorts he responded, “Well now I wonder what the hell you are thinking going back to such a backwards place. I mean, herding has been dead forever for a reason right? Why change it?”

I didn’t have the heart to point out that the country we were in practised it still, somehow I didn’t feel that would make him feel better.

“Well for starters, with our birth rates so low we are looking at a population problem in the near future. Not enough foals are being born and less colts are being born as well. I mean no offense but I think the princesses were crazy for going down this route. We don’t want to return but we see now we can’t make it outside of Equestria.” They both looked dejected and Ari looked sad but didn’t argue with them. I mean Azure was beaten by that mare in less than ten seconds and that mare was the weakest member of the group.

What Azure added made my blood boil and ears go back, “I actually feel sorry for you now Chrysalis, as a Alicorn, Ari will be able to handle multiple mares easily-“ I narrowed my eyes at her. “-not mention he is the ONLY Alicorn stallion, I think the princesses will want to meet him for that reason alone. You don’t have any brothers Ari? Anymore Alicorns that could help them in your stead?” I think Azure was going for helpful with those last couple of questions, but it failed.

Ari was radiating sadness now.

“Nope, just me.” He looked down as we walked, anger fading and ears dropping at the reminder that he could probably never get home.

Azure and Barium picked up on his mood and grew silent. We walked on over the sand dunes in silence after that, I tried to comfort him as best I could with nuzzles but I could feel his deep sorrow. I wanted to erase it so badly.

****
Saddle Arabia
Ari

I know exactly why I was brought here, exactly what I am required to do, but it doesn’t mean I agree with all of it. Saving this planet wouldn’t be so bad if there was a set timeline, a set time to return home. Not that I didn’t like being with Chrissy but the thought of my home still made me miss it, I wouldn’t mind it if I had the option to return.

Listening to Chrissy’s breathing, smelling her scent, and feeling her presence was comforting to me and reminded me of a good reason I couldn’t leave: my marefriend. From the beginning I thought Chrissy was beautiful. But as she opened up, fought by my side, and listened to me I realized how much I really liked her, maybe even loved her.

My thoughts were derailed at a sound, I halted and Chrissy stopped as well. Our ears started to swivel as we kept our heads high and scanned the horizons. Nothing but boulders in the distance to our left and right, ahead there was nothing as well. Was it the gryphon? Looking up I saw a clear sky, not even a cloud floated by. Azure and Barium turned back to us.

“What is the problem?” Barium started looking around as well, the feeling of being watched wasn’t just felt by us.

A shiver passed through me in the heat, goosebumps forming along my back.

“We are being watched.” Chrissy spoke quietly as she swivaled her ears behind me. I understood her meaning and looked Barium in the eyes before swiveling my ears back then forward. He narrowed his eyes and Azure started looking around wildly as she caught on.

At a normal tone I spoke, “It was nothing, lets keep going the first town should be up ahead soon. “

With that we moved out again but it was hard to get the earlier mood back after the topic of home and then the knowledge that something was watching us. I don’t even want to know what creatures existed in this desert, the Diamond dogs were ugly enough.

I wanted to know something though.

Looking at Chrissy I turned my ears forward, “Can you teach me how to speak Saddle Arabian?”

She cocked her head at me before chuckling, “Yes, I suppose you do need to be able to order for us.”

What did she mean?

She must have caught my look because she gave a strained smile, “Saddle Arabia is still a very chauvinistic country compared to Equestria. Here they still practice herding, for the same reasons Sunbutt has reinstated the old herding law. Here stallions are expected to be in charge, not that you will have a problem with that my hubun.” Chrissy purred the foreign word over her tongue with what i'm sure was lust, her tail twitched and hit me. I latched onto the first thing I could think of, “ ‘Hoo-bun’?” I pronounced it, it felt strange rolling off my tongue.

“Love.” She purred out with a half lidded look.

Azure watched us, turned Barium and said, “My hubun.” Barium repeated it back to her with a smile on his face. They made a good couple.

“ ‘Ahbak.” Chrissy purred at me. “ Ah-ba-ka.” I repeated back to her, ignoring her active tail.

“I love you.”

We continued on like that for the next hour, I was eventually remembering the basic phrases in small sentences like ‘marhabaan aismi Ari’, which was ‘hello my name is Ari’. In that time Azure and Barium had moved to walk beside Chrissy and I, they were very interested in learning a new language. Not to mention it was being taught by an icky changeling, who would have thought that they could change.

Our lesson was interrupted as we noticed the sun moving, we had thirty minutes at the best to find shelter for the night. This was extremely inconvenient, I couldn’t wait till it moved on it's own.

Breaking into a trot we headed to the left, where two hundred feet away a small collection of large rocks formed a slightly protected clearing. I could have sworn I heard someone behind me, but looking back I saw nothing but sand flying from hooves and a setting sun.

The rocky clearing was sparse with a few scraggly bushes being the only vegetation, they were practically tumbleweeds. We slowed down as we entered the clearing, trotting done for the day.

I slid my saddle bags off my shoulder, hearing a satisfying clunk as my new supplies landed on the rock. Using my magic I removed my thobe from my body, it was like wearing a giant bed sheet with the way it just slipped onto my neck. But it hid my wings. I folded it in my magic as Chrissy rubbed her body alongside me as she walked ahead to pick out a spot on the wall. Her tail lingered a second longer than I expected and I caught a blast of her scent, causing a stirring below. Floating my thobe and bags over to her I laid down beside her. Across from us Azure and Barium had settled down beside each other.

Eating an oat cake I prepared for bed, wing over Chrissy and my thobe over both of us as a ward against the growing chill. The sun had left only to be replaced by a crescent moon, the night was beautiful though.

Good nights exchanged with Azure and Barium I turned to Chrissy, “Tusbih ealaa khayr, ‘iinaa ahbk.” Good night, I love you. She purred sleepily and replied, “Ahbk ‘aydaan.” I love you too. I was feeling very happy with life in this moment, I had a beautiful marefriend and I was learning my first second language, this world was being good to me. I settled my head down as a day’s worth of fighting and walking caught up to me.

A breeze ran through my feathers I cracked my eyes not quite ready to get up. The sun was just starting to rise. In my blurry vision I saw a yellow pony like shape holding my thobe to up to their face, really Barium? What are you doing? I yawned and closed my eyes, I felt so sleepy after everything. The oat cakes hadn’t even touched my appetite. Another breeze ruffled my feathers and Chrissy scrunched her face as she moved closer to me.

“Barium give me back my thobe. The air is still cold, yah knooowww!” Another yawn left my muzzle as I felt my blanket float onto my back, much better. As I drifted back asleep, the smell of water lilies drifted by and quiet hoof steps echoed in my ears.

“Ari! Why did you drink all my water?!” I opened my eyes and looked over at Chrissy in confusion, she stood in front of our bags holding her canteen upside down.

“I didn’t touch your water *yawn* Ask Barium, he was messing with my thobe before. He took it earlier this morning but he did give it back when I asked. Though I don’t think you want the water back now.” I snickered at my joke earning me a light jab from Chrissy’s hoof as she walked past, over to her unsuspecting victim.

Barium was hugging Azure in his sleep, a innocent grin on his muzzle. I stood and stretched before joining her in gazing down at his sleeping form. “What are you going to do to the water thief o' mare of mine?” despite my previously awkward morning wood I felt very mischievous this morning, Chrissy grinned at my question before yelling “GRUUUU Y RAW” , right in his ear. We all jumped in the air at Chrissy, she sounded just like a Diamond dog!

Barium landed on his hooves as Azure stumbled on her hooves. “What the buck is your problem Chrysalis?!” Azure screamed in Chrissy’s face. “I was just waking your coltfriend here with some Grumbleshooke, I thought I let him off easy considering he drank all my water.”

Grumbleshooke?

Barium looked confused, “What?! I haven’t touched your water! Did you Azure?” She shook her head and we all looked at each other.

“I thought it was you, Barium, cause you took my thobe around sunrise.” I said slowly having a bad feeling about this.

He looked freaked out now, “I wasn’t awake earlier and I didn’t touch your thobe…” He trailed off and we all looked at each other fear reflecting in our eyes.

Our stalker had gotten bolder; we had almost forgotten that we being watched with all the fun we were having learning Saddle Arabian.