“Your majesty, may I interest you in some dessert?” The changeling nurse asked as she wheeled over another small cart of food. This one being covered in various types of desserts ranging from cake, to ice cream.

The middle aged man sat back in his bed as he covered his mouth to expel a small burp that would have been pretty loud had he not taken the precaution.

“No thank you, my dear. I think I may have eaten too much far too quickly. This food doesn’t seem to be settling well in my stomach.” He groaned slightly as his belly let out a loud gurgle from the enchanted food.

“Are you sure? I know the cooks made this cheesecake especially for you. It would be a shame to not have at least one small slice.” She giggled as she began cutting into the untouched cake, Charles watching her like a hawk as the knife slowly pressed through the cake and slid to its edge a couple of times before the piece floated onto a small dish and over to in front of him teasingly.

“Weeeeelllllllll.” He trailed off as the cake rocked back and forth in front of him teasingly. His eyes flickered from the slice of cheesecake to the nurse as a grin spread slyly across his face. “You are enjoying teasing me aren’t you?” He chuckled seeing her grin before gently placing the cake onto his lap.

“I have to keep our king happy and healthy. If it means I must tease him slightly in order to get him to eat, then its a win/win situation for everypony.” She giggled as she poured him a large glass of milk. “So then, you enjoy your cake and drink your milk. Regain your strength and then you’ll be right as rain in no time.”

“Thank you, my dear. I honestly didn’t think I would get out of my funk. But this... this has helped me quite a bit. Thank you.” He smiled warmly toward her causing her to place a hoof over her mouth to interrupt a burp that was trying to escape, she making herself giggle a little louder than she had anticipated in order to cover said burp.

“I’ll just head to the balcony to check on the other nurse.” She smiled softly as she began her trot to the balcony.

As the changeling nurse exited onto the balcony, she rolled her eyes at the antics of the king before speaking to her queen through the hive link.

“Queen Chrysalis, everything is set. The human seems to be digesting the food very well, as he stated that it seems to not be settling well. You should have him at your advantage within the next couple of minutes.” The nurse smirked seeing her queen smile deviously.

“Excellent! You two know the plan, so just follow it without fail, and we shall never go hungry again.” She purred as she stood up. Not daring to leave her natural form as she began walking to the edge of the balcony door and peeking in to see the human rubbing his face gently.

“It seems that the enhanced food has taken effect. Let us begin, shall we?” She grinned toothily to her two changeling drones.

“We shall await your command.” They stated in unison as she gave a smirk before stepping around the corner of the door frame into full view of the human laying in bed.

Charles heard the heavier hoofsteps upon the cobblestone floor and pulled his hands down from their position on his face. His eyes felt tired for some reason, along with his stomach turning flip flops, which didn’t make him feel all that well overall. The fact that when he opened his eyes to see the changeling queen just strolling into his room through the balcony didn’t help that fact either as his mood immediately turned sour.

“What do you want? Is it already that time again?” He growled out only to see her smile.

Chrysalis clicked her tongue several times giving a disapproving look as she strolled up to the side of his bed and sat down quietly before speaking.

“Now now, you shouldn’t act that way. After everything that has happened to you in the past week, I am surprised that you haven’t just keeled over from misery.” She tutted soothingly as she gave him a sideways glance. He looking over to her as their eyes connected for just a moment before he felt the tiredness begin to ache in his eyes once again.

“I have no idea how you would even know about what I’ve been through, but I would ask that you be courteous enough not to mention anything to me about it. I have had quite a hard time and wish to be alone.” He sighed as he removed his hands from his face, letting them fall to the cover stretching across his lap.

“I am sorry. I know it must be hard on you right now.” She spoke out in a caring tone, surprising the human that sat quietly in his bed. “I have lost many children over the eons, and know what it feels like to have them taken before their time. They do not have the same lifespan as I so I must watch as time takes them as well when it comes.” She sighed flattening her ears to her head as she looked away. “So please, do not think that I do not feel your pain.” She said soothingly.

“Does... does the pain ever go away?” Came the shuddering words of the human, surprising the changeling queen for a moment as she turned her head to look at him, but paused as she noticed several small wet spots on his cheeks.

“If you have had as many children as me, then it does get better over time. The pain never fades, but it does soften a bit. When you are a being that lives like a leech in order to survive and are looked down upon because of the methods which you use in order to survive. You will grow numb to those emotions in time. Then, losing a youngling will barely affect you.” She sighed softly before seeing him glance up to her eyes once again, the whites of his eyes flickering green for a moment before slowly fading back to their normal white, the bags under his eyes beginning to become more pronounced and darker.

“I don’t know how you do it... living for so long and having to deal with seeing your children pass. To you, I am but a mere foal when it comes to what you’ve experienced in life. You have seen and done so much that I can’t even hold a candle to you. Your ability to change and adapt to situations surpass that of even Celestia’s. I wish that I could just forget about this pain and move on.” He sighed out as he kept rubbing his eyes.

“I... could help you with that you know.” She purred softly as she scooted a little closer to the bed and sat down on the floor. “I could make everything right once again. You would never have to feel sadness again.” She grinned evilly as she watched one of her changeling drones walk around the corner in the guise of Marina in her pegasus guise.

Charles’ attention snapped up as he heard the soft hoof steps of another pony entering from the balcony. He took in a sharp breath as he began to tremble, staring wide eyed at the small filly standing and staring at him with tear filled eyes.

“Daddy?” She spoke out in the perfect mimic of his former daughters voice. He burst out in tears as he spread his arms wide as the filly bolted into his loving grasp.

*Burrrrrp*

“Scuse me.” She stated softly with a smile before looking off to the side to see her queen covering her mouth with both hooves as her cheeks puffed out.

Charles sat there, quietly weeping as he hugged his faux daughter. All the time the queen of the changelings feeling his unconditional love pouring out with such force that she could feel her belly swelling up from overconsumption.

As if things couldn’t get worse, or better, depending on who you were at that moment. Another set of hoofsteps were heard, causing the three to look to the balcony door only to see Starlight coming in through it.

“Star... Star come here! Your sister... she’s alright!” He spoke out as the whites of his eyes began to turn green, the white slowly fading away.

Without hesitation, the changeling in the guise of Starlight bounded over and began to give a fake cry of happiness as he was wrapped in the hug along with his faux sister and father.

“Everything could be perfect for you once again...” Chrysalis whispered softly into his ear causing him to give a soft nod.

The changeling queen stepped back from the bed for a moment as she was quickly surrounded in green flames, reappearing as Celestia at his bedside. Charles slowly lifted his gaze to the changeling queen in the guise of the mother of his one and only child. Once their eyes connected, his eyes shone a bright green and stayed as his lids looked slightly heavy.

“I... I want that... more than anything.” He stated in a broken sentence as he slowly climbed from the bed still holding his faux children.

“Then that is what you shall have.” She smiled warmly to him, he smiled back in return as he closed his eyes and pressed warmly up to his faux bride. She giving an evil smile out of his view as her horn lit up brightly.

“You shall have it, for the rest of time.” She purred out as they vanished in a flash of light.

*Several days later*

“I am sorry doctor, but I simply cannot wait any longer. I am beyond worried about my husband and wish to see him. Even poor Starlight hasn’t seen him since...” Celestia trailed off as she let a pained expression escape her before continuing. “Since we lost Marina.” She finished causing the doctor to sigh.

“Your majesty, as much as I dislike the idea of you barging into the King’s chambers just to check on him. I completely understand. Although I still do not advise such actions, I cannot stop you. But please, if you do plan to go in there. At least do so in a less that abrupt way, so as to not startle him.” He sighed softly as they trotted up to the door to the King’s room.

“Very well.” She sighed out as she raised a hoof and gently tapped on the oversized door. “Dear? Are you awake?” She asked but got no response. Again she knocked on the door, a little harder this time. Calling out a little louder as she pressed the door open and into the room.

“Midnight? Charles? Are you... here?” She stopped as a cold chill surrounded her as she looked around the dark and vacant room. No candles were lit, the fireplace had long since gone out, and a cold chill from the evening wind as it blew quietly through the open balcony door.

Celestia quickly bolted through the room, searching high and low for the king before finally galloping onto the balcony and taking flight as she frantically looked around. After failing to find her love, she landed on the balcony, wide-eyed and panting.

“Your majesty, where is the King?” The doctor frantically asked as he looked around the room in shock.

“I... I don’t know.” She spoke out in horror. She had already lost a daughter, and she wasn’t about to lose her husband so soon after that.

Author's Notes:

Edited by ReFro