Everfree Island

by scrungusbungus

Post Contest Chapter - Webbed Up

Chrysalis didn't have much more to say, either with attitude or genuinely after that little tidbit Anon dropped. Even with AppleBloom bombarding her and Anon with a number of questions about who Faust was, she eventually lost steam when she saw Chrysalis was in a mood.

Traveling by oversized spider was an interesting experience for the intrepid trio. A little sore and odd, but they got back to the cave in record time, the evening sky peeking over the tallest of the trees as the shadows lengthened and stretched.

The idea of Faust just being a hallucination had started to dip from Anon's mind once he saw her interacting with Sweetie, but now the levity of things was coming to bear. Chrysalis had a mom, who happened to be the shoulder sitting nuisance that claimed it could restart reality? Part of him hoped they just shared a name or something, considering how not very bug-like Faust was.

It doesn't take long for the cave to come into view.

...

Sweetie is still scoping out the same tree, a short distance from the chicken coop. Looks like she's drawn some kind of diagram into the dirt by the fence, which Scootaloo is slowly adding to with a claw. AppleBloom is a little confused at first, but her eyes nearly bug out of her head when she sees her friends, launching out of Spider-Twi's grasp to run over to them.

It's a surprisingly warm reception, as AppleBloom tackles Sweetie into a hug. It takes Sweetie a second, but she smiles, before hugging AppleBloom back. Both head over to Scootaloo, stopping by the small fence as AppleBloom bombards them both with questions. Of course, she hops the fence without a thought to throw her hooves around her other friend.

Unfortunately, the other half of the reunion isn't quite as exciting. Faust flutters out of the cave at the commotion, looking over everything with surprise -- especially Spider-Twi, until her gaze falls unto the Queen of the Changelings.

Both tentatively approach the other, each displaying a surprising amount of guard towards the other.

"Chrysalis?" Faust says first, after a long, long pause. It's a quiet, surprised noise rather than a proper word.

"...Mother." Chrysalis returns shortly, glancing away.

"You're... smaller than usual. Thin. Have you been eating?" Faust asks, taking a step forward.

"It likely pleases you to hear that I, nor my brood, can eat since this rupture to our reality." Chrysalis suddenly turns back, spitting.

"That's not what I..." Faust trails off, but Chrysalis doesn't give her a chance.

"Do not pretend like you care. And who are you, to speak about my state? Look at yourself. Is this all that remains of the Mother of Alicorns? Some pint-sized Breezie whose lost control of her so-carefully construed realm?" Chrysalis jabs a pointed hoof at Faust, who falters, taking a step back.

"Mother of Alicorns?" Anon mutters, as AppleBloom nudges his leg, having wandered back over to him. Like Celestia and Luna?

"Ah' mean, she does have wings n' a horn." AppleBloom whispers, the pair watching the slowly worsening familial reconnect with the same assurance someone in a wheelchair going down the stairs.
"Is that Miss Faust? She's awful short. Is she like the Princesses?"

"Uh... kind of." Anon shrugs. He had no idea, honestly. Mother of Alicorns was a loaded title, and Faust never really talked about herself. Not that Anon asked. He got used to just rolling with how weird pony-world was, and adopted that mindset when all this happened, too. That might need to change going forward.

"This isn't my fault, Chrysalis. This --" Faust tries to relent, but Chrysalis won't stand for it.

"Oh? Is it mine, as you've likely already assumed? Or perhaps another of your so dutifully-raised daughters has failed you? Tell me, how fares your Mare on the Moon? Or perhaps, the favorite?" Chrysalis continues, taking an aggressive step forward.

"Chrysalis. Enough." Faust warns, her torn face finally twisting to fury.

"Yes, enough. Fret not, Mother, for it was not I that set the world on this path, as much as you wish it was."

"I never created you for that, Chrysalis. I made... many things in this world, all with great variance!" Faust tries to explain, but Chrysalis snorts at her words.

"You made me -- my kind, to eat love. A never-ending hunger, and a ceaseless hunt, that drives us to be the villains for your little Elements. But you never expected us to get so close, to be such a threat that you beguiled your eldest into the Harmony she so eagerly champions." Chrysalis snarls, holding her head high.

"Chrysalis, I never intended for the Changelings to live like this, nor were you made for such a purpose. You were never even meant to leave the swamp --" Faust starts, but Chrysalis cuts in.

"Yes, the bearded one's meddling. I remember. And yet, here we are, Mother. Or... were. Before your latest, greatest screw-up." Chrysalis chuckles. It's a slow, pitiable laugh that soon grows in loudness until she's cackling. But there's no joy in it.
"You'll finally have what you wanted. To watch us wither, and fade, so you can go back to playing favorites."

Faust is silent, lips pursed and words caught in her throat.

Chrysalis shakes her head, sighing dramatically.
"Whatever. Enough of this."

Right as Chrysalis goes to turn however, she finds the human in her path, watching her with a dour expression.

"Move." She states simply, but surprisingly quietly.

"Nope." Anon retorts, scratching his nose.

"It wasn't a request." Chrysalis growls.

"That's nice, but... it's my camp, and you're welcome here. Stay. We'll figure something out to help you feed again. Promise." Anon explains, ignoring both Chrysalis' and Faust's widening eyes.

"Why? You know what I am. We are not friends, human."

"But... we could be."

"You, the little Pal of the Elements, would befriend a Changeling? Enough with your falsities."

"Well, technically I'd be your second friend, but that's semantics."

"Second? Who are --" Chrysalis trails off, as Anon nods towards the particularly yellow filly. And snorts loudly.
"You're joking. I was using her to hide from her mess of a sister."

"Friendship is a give and take type of transaction. Just... I'm not gonna try and convince you of anything more than this. Stay, at least for a while, and let me try to help you. So you can help your hive."

Chrysalis falls silent, glaring at Anon. Her gaze never softens... but her lip doesn't curl like it did towards Faust. Eventually, she rolls her eyes, turning towards the cave.
"Fine. But I'm taking the comfiest bed here, for I deserve no less."

Well, that would be his bed, but Anon will take the victories he can get. He doubt he won her over with promises of being buddy-buddy, but there wasn't really a reason to just let her starve herself out. Watching Chrysalis slowly pace towards the mouth of the cave, Faust slowly approaches him. there's a droop to her flight, landing on his shoulder.

Faust takes in a long, slow breath, steeling herself as she faces Anon. Composure returns to her face, and her voice steadies.
"I suppose you have questions for me, after hearing all that."

"Honestly? We can save them for later. I... think you two have been through enough tonight."

"You... don't want to ask me anything right now? I haven't exactly been forthcoming with you, Anon."

"I've always figured you've got more going on. Like, come on. Anybody who claims they can reset reality tends to come with baggage, I'd imagine. Well, after I finally figured you weren't just a voice in my head given form." Anon laughs, spinning a finger beside his temple.

"I suppose that's one way to look at it. Are you... sure?" Faust asks quietly.

"Talk to me when you're ready, Faust. Not like I'm going anywhere. Just... I think you've been given a pretty unique chance here. With Chrysalis, that you might never have gotten before."

Faust purses her lips, sighing.
"I'll consider your words. Thank you, Anon. Though, I think somepony else could use your attention at the moment." She says, gesturing behind him.

Spider-Twi is squinting at the chickens, tilting her head. They're fairly unabashed by her presence, wandering around their containment as she watches. Scootaloo is much more on guard, hiding behind the makeshift coop, fluffed up and peeking out from behind it.

"Give me some time to figure out... Chrysalis' situation. I think you've rounded up enough Remnants for the moment. How was the Apples farm, anyway?" Faust asks.

All Anon can muster is an 'eesh' expression as he remembers what he saw in the house.

Faust slowly lifts off his shoulder, hovering.
"That bad? Well... good job. I knew you were the right one for this."

"I'll ask what you mean by that later." Anon huffs, hands on his hips.

"Sure. I owe you that much, at least." Faust says quietly, before quietly fluttering towards the cave.

Quite the development. Mother of Alicorns... so he's been trying to swat Celestia's mother like a mosquito?

Feels like he got off easy with the zaps.

...

"Twi... you messing with Scootaloo?" Anon asks, joining the irregulars by the coop. The birdified Scootaloo, and the Spiderfied Twilight. AppleBloom was over with Sweetie, looking over the tree. Now with someone to actually verbalize their intent, it sounds like they want to build a treehouse, like the one they had prior. That should keep them busy.

Twilight blinks, turning her attention from the hiding Scootaloo, and towards him. He was getting a little more used to seeing her like this, especially now that she wasn't dangling herself from a flesh-web in her basement. It just reminded him of one of her many spells she's subject herself to in the name of progress, altering herself for whoever knows how long.

Except this time... she's some kind of spider-pony. And a bit less verbal.

"Ahnnnn.... nonn." She says with a surprising amount of warmth, nuzzling into his neck.

And a fair bit more affectionate?

Still kinda grimy though.

---

"Anon!" A distant, familiar voice calls out to him.

He's in the middle of crossing the Ponyville town square, headed for the train station with a packed bag slung over his shoulder. Pausing and looking towards the voice, he sees... Twilight running towards him. Her hair looks frazzled, and she's panting up a storm. How long has she been running for?

Anon stops, waiting for her to catch up.
"Hey Twilight." He greets simply, as she comes skidding to a halt beside him.

"Why didn't you tell me you were leaving?!" She exclaims, huffing loudly as she catches her breath.

"Well, I tried leaving a note for you on your door, and your table when I couldn't find you at any of your usual spots. None of the other girls had seen you around either, so I was gonna try sending you a letter or something." Anon offers.

"Letter? From where?" She presses, stepping close.

"From Canterlot. I'm not going that far, Twi, I just got a bartending gig through one of AppleJack's cousins." Anon explains. The relief is palpable on Twilight's face as she sighs loudly, wiping her brow with a hoof.

"Oh. Canterlot? That's... not far at all. Okay. Phew. Okay." She mumbles, nodding to herself.

"You alright? Normally you just teleport everywhere, I'm surprised to see you running around." Anon laughs, leaning to poke one of her frayed strands of mane back into place.

"Well, I had been to all the spots I thought I could find you! Then I realized that when you weren't at any of the major locations, you were probably at the intermittent locations between locations in transit, so I thought going on hoof would increase my chances of finding you before you left." Twilight rambles, entirely unaware of Anon slowly fiddling with her mane.

"Think we ran around each-other?" Anon chuckles.

"Probably." She huffs. "Were you going to leave without saying goodbye?"

"Spunkle, I spent like an hour looking for you, and my train leaves in fifteen minutes." Anon tries to object, but stops when he sees Twilight's face pout.

"And, you know, it's Canterlot. You visit the place like every two weeks to see Celestia, I figured we could just... hang out whenever you're in town." Anon continues -- and Twilight instantly perks up.

"Promise? Send me your work schedule every week, and I'll manage my visits to the Princess around it!" She exclaims, hopping forward so close she nearly bumps into him.

"Okay, okay! Will do. Promise. But I've gotta go now, Twi, I can't miss my train."

"I could teleport you there." She tries to offer, but Anon physically flinched.

"You know I hate that shit." He quickly shoots the idea down.

"I'm sure you'll stop getting sick... eventually, if you go through enough exposure to it." Twilight tries, smiling not-so-innocently.

"Yeah, no dice. Good try though." He pats her head, standing.

"Well -- at least write me! Okay?"

"Alright, Twi. Will do."

"Like... weekly?"

"Weekly? You know how much ink costs, right?" Anon scoffs playfully.

Suddenly, Twilight presses into his legs, hugging him tightly.
"Promise?"

Anon sighs, leaning down to awkwardly return the hug.
"Alright, alright. Promise."

---

Lucky for both of them, there was a closer water source than the Ponyville coast. There was a river, albeit a bit small and devoid of anything that would serve as an actual snack, that ran through the lower area behind the cave.

Well, more like a creek. It's a little separated from the trees, and Anon checked thoroughly for things like leeches or the like, but it seemed pretty clear.

Bathing an oversized spider-pony is... an interesting task. She's surprisingly willing to listen to his instructions, clearly still the intelligent nerd of prior, even if her verbosity has been a bit hampered since her transformation.

She's half-submerged, sitting patiently on the creek bed. Anon is trying to scrub free some of the griminess that stuck to her, likely from her residing in that basement alone. No tools at hand, he's going old-fashioned with water, and raking through her fur with his fingers.

Twilight's making this odd, throat-purring chittering sound whenever he scratches along her neck and spine.

"What, this a hard to reach spot or something?" Anon chuckles, watching Twilight's ears flatten against her head as she leans into it.

A rustling from the nearby ferns draws his attention, though Twilight seems entirely subsumed in simply enjoying the sensation of the trickling creek.

The other, natural-borne bug pony slowly emerges, frowning slightly when she realizes she's no longer alone.

"Hey, Chrysalis." Anon quaintly greets, before splashing Twilight a few times.

"Queen Chrysalis." She corrects, before glancing between the pair with confusion. "What are you doing?"

"Bathing Twilight. She's a bit grimy from her old den in Ponyville."

"That... you're adapting to this nonsense weirdly quick. Do you have a thing for insectids or something?" She scoffs, pausing by the side of the water.
"Unlike the Pony, our kinds Chitin remains resolute from filth."

"Really? That's pretty cool." Anon nods.

"It... is." Chrysalis slowly mumbles, confused by her bragging taunts going unchallenged.

"How's the bed? They're pretty easy to make, so if you need me to make you one that fits you better or something, let me know."

"Changeling beds primarily comprise of the excess byproduct of our builder drones. A bed of leaves is... odd, but not entirely unpleasant." Chrysalis relents, sitting.

Silently, she dips a hoof into the water, watching the stream curve around it.

She sits in silence for some time, simply watching Anon scrub down Twilight. Her fur is looking brighter, now that it's getting at least somewhat properly washed, but she's just not quite as colorful as she used to be.

"How did you meet my Mother?" Chrysalis suddenly prompts.

"Uh... woke up, and she was buzzing around my head. Never seen her before." Anon answers, shrugging.

"You know she's the reason you're here, right? She pulled you to this world." Chrysalis states, watching Anon.

"I was getting that feeling." Anon nods.

"...Do you not care?" She scoffs.

Anon looks to Twilight, who tilts her head at him, wondering why he's stopped scratching.

"No, not really. I found what I care for again." Anon answers simply, pressing Twilight's nose.

"...Hm." Chrysalis huffs.

---

"So this is the place, huh?" Twilight muses, slowly perusing around his new abode. A bit on the small side, but it would allow for some savings.

He'd picked up a place close to his work, after crashing in a spare room his boss supplied for a few months. One floor, single bedroom. Good commute, location close to the shops, and had a cozy vibe to it. Couldn't ask for much more.

Plus, tall doorways. A blessing.

Twilight was in town for a visit with Celestia, discussing some of the recent changes to Ponyville. So in the meantime, she swung by to see his new place.

"A little light on the furniture..." She muses playfully, giving him a look.

"Still trying to find someone to make me some human-sized ones." Anon huffs, shutting the door behind them. It was pretty light so far, kind of stuck to the necessities until he was flush again. Still, nice to have a place to call his own.

"I think the Princess has contracts for making furniture for the larger sized dignitaries, did you want me to ask her about it?" Twilight offers, turning in place to look up at him.

"That'd actually be pretty sick. My feet still dangle off the bed, though at this point I think I'm used to it." Anon snorts, getting a giggle out of Twilight.

"I remember seeing you nearly fall off everything you try to sit or lay on. How are things with your work? Adjusting to the Canterlot lifestyle?" She continues, poking her nose into his fairly underfilled hall closet.

"Snoopy." He comments playfully, as Twilight pulls her head out of her closet squinting at his accusation.
"It's going pretty good. Getting used to the whole Nobility thing was a bit weird, but not too unlike my old world. Job is good, though. Managed to actually stick with it, and unlike the Apples, my hands actually give me an advantage in my jobs day to day."

"That's good. I'm glad you've found your place, Anon." Twilight smiles.

"How have you been faring? Ponyville still the boring little backwater that bursts into activity?" Anon asks, stepping over into the kitchen.
"Oh, you want something to drink? I've got... water, potentially out of date milk, and half a Hoof-E-Cola. We'd have to go splits on the cola, though, cuz I've been fiending for that thing all day."

Twilight makes a noise, waving a hoof.
"I'm alright, thanks though."

"How long are you in Canterlot for?"

"Five days. The Princess is swamped with meetings, but she's been wanting to discuss something about Ponyville with me."

"Any clue what it is?" Anon asks, slumping back onto his couch, claiming the cola for himself.

"I wish. She's always cryptic in her letters, so I'm waiting to see." Twilight shrugs, hopping up on the couch beside him.

"Well, if you need a place to crash... though I bet she's got you set up at the castle. Oh, your family is here too, right?" Anon tries offering, but both crack a smile as they look around the barebones home.

"As tempting as it would be to steal your couch in revenge, I'm alright. Staying with my family, my Mother's been missing me." Twilight laughs, before groaning and sinking into the cushions.
"And asking me when I'm gonna meet a nice colt, when she's getting grand-foals..."

"What, haven't met that special somepony yet?" Anon teases, poking at her side.

"Well..." Twilight trails off, stealing a glance at Anon.

---

Dinner was both easy, and a bit odd. Chrysalis can't eat until Faust figures out how to alter the magic affecting her, and Faust doesn't eat, period. Sweetie already fed herself with things gathered from the jungle, but Anon tried to supply the fillies with some fish-strips and eggs nonetheless. Scootaloo ate most of their portions, and the trio is setting up a temporary spot to sleep closer to the coop. A bit of an odd choice, but Scootaloo really doesn't seem intent on leaving the coops fencing.

That mostly left himself, and Twilight. While her diet was a concern at first, it turns out (in this form) Twilight was more partial to meat, picking up the fish rather than the berries and such Sweetie had collected. Hopefully she doesn't go after one of the chickens.

She's still crunching through them, tearing them apart with her limbs and wolfing them down.

There wasn't much left for Anon at the end of the day, but that's kind of the consequences of cramming your camp full of hungry creatures without preparing for it. He'd spend tomorrow gathering more, maybe take the detour and hit the coast again.

Chrysalis looks quite comfy on his bed, nestled up on it. She's staring at the wall with a distant gaze, sighing softly to herself. Faust has perched on one of the higher extrusions in the cave wall, uncharacteristically quiet. The trio of Crusaders were set up in a snuggle-pile with the chickens, until they got their plans for a proper treehouse going.

Anon's bed situation found itself resolved when Twilight finished her meal. Mostly in the case of the prompt happening of her picking him up, and webbing herself to the ceiling, in the starting stages of what was likely going to be a pretty big web-bed.

A touch weird, but now that she wasn't dirty, she actually wasn't a terrible cuddle. Just... had to get used to all the legs. And the fact that with how sticky the web was, he wasn't going anywhere.

They'd start figuring things out tomorrow. With a few of the Remnants found, there were undoubtedly more with varying levels of... reason. Sleep might take a while to take him, no small thanks to what he heard from Faust and Chrysalis today, but he had a feeling things would be alright. If the pleased noises of the spiderized Twilight that was currently dangling him from the ceiling was anything to go by.

He slowly ruffles her mane as she presses her face against his chest, exhaling loudly.

Anon never got a chance to tell her, last time. Maybe this time.

"Ahh...nnnnooon." She mutters quietly.

"Yes, Twi?" Anon responds, lifting his head.

"Missed... you." She slowly mumbles into his chest, numerous limbs pulling him closer.

Or maybe she'd tell him.

Author's Note:

Thanks for reading this the last chapter I HAVE TOO MANY STORIES
i dunno when the contest is done being reviewed so im gonna dump it now

Obligatory romance because I only write romances they just happen to slowburn for x wordcount

Comments

[FTR2017]

I did not expect an update for this one, yet am really pleased with the addition to it.

Also, I think that Anon did not get dragged into another version of Equestria ... but it is the same one that he crashed into, only it got affected by the eldritch horror that invaded Faust's joint.

Those flashbacks are cute, too.

[L33T30]

Bummer it ends here

[ThunderBasilisk]

Its so weird how you made what is supposed to be horror inducing very wholesome. I like it.

[Drowned Owl]

That's a satisfying ending imo, good job.

Now please update Anonberich Von Mussberg!

[Verdauga]

How impressively wholesome.

[Xowatle]

Thank you for all the work and dedication that goes into the stories, they are always a delight to read