You know what really, really sucks? Fucking up your sleep schedule. As a very order-oriented pony, there is inevitably a lot of routine in my life. Get up, brush my teeth, use the toilet, shower, check to see if my fur's presentable, all that stuff. I don't question it, I just do it because it's my morning routine. Rather, it's my routine when I wake up. I mean, I'd done it a lot in the past, it was kind of a thing for me when I was trying my hardest to keep up with my studies while doing work for the Mafia, to say nothing of stake-outs and hunting my targets, but it still sucks.

It's very strange to wake up at seven in the evening, sun's down, and you feel like you're getting ready for your day. There's just something that feels off about it, like you're breaking out of the norm and stepping into alien territory. For me, the problem laid in the fact that I didn't have access to my personal library out here, and I doubted that there were any late-night activities available in a small town like Ponyville. I certainly couldn't practice my magic all night, not that my horn felt very up to it after the strain I put it through, so I wasn't sure how this was going to work out for me.

My stomach noisily gurgled while I was in the shower, and I realized that I was very hungry. Maybe I could start there, to kick off my night. When I went downstairs, I found Spike and Fluttershy seated on the living room sofa, watching a television show while several animals sat around them on the floor, watching the TV as well. Well, Angel was perched comfortably on top of Spike's spined head, but other than that, the animals were staying off the couch.

"...and that's all there is to it Martha!"

"How dare you, you...you animal!" a female voice chimed in from the TV. "I can't raise five children on my own! They need a bull in their lives!"

"Well it's not gonna be me, honey!" the gruff male responded. "I've got places to be, and they're far away from here."

Ah. Some minotaur soap opera. That would explain the occasional sniffle from Fluttershy as the show progressed. Personally I could never get into shows like that. They're way too bland and predictable for me. I was willing to bet money that if someone wasn't already in the hospital with some kind of grievous, possibly fatal injury, they would be soon. I wonder how many of that cow's kids are actually the bull's best friend's offspring?

"He's a jerk!" Spike stated with a pout, shoveling a handful of popcorn into his mouth from the oversized bowl in his lap. "He should stay. She wants him to stay 'cuz she loves him."

"O-oh, yes, she does Spike, but he's so unhappy!" Fluttershy said, sounding as if she were on the verge of tears. "Grace is his true love, all the way in Griffonstone!"

Spike crossed his arms over his chest stubbornly. "Then he should've been with Grace instead."

Fluttershy smiled through her weepy sniffle. "Everyone makes mistakes, Spike. Some worse than others."

"So are you saying that the kids were a mistake, or he was making a mistake staying with her?" I asked, walking over towards the sofa and sitting down next to it.

Fluttershy violently jolted where she sat, and I could see that she was struggling to resist the reflex to grab the nearest huggable thing and hold it close. Lucky for Spike, considering I knew for a fact that she was stronger than she looked. His head would've popped off like a doll's if she'd gotten the right kind of grip on him.

"Wh-oh! Twilight!" she almost shouted, her surprise quickly giving way to a cheery smile. "How're you doing now?"

I shrugged. "Eh, better. My magic still feels weird. You know those cramps you get from doing too much physical labor at once? That's kinda what my horn feels like, or the closest thing I can compare it to."

"I could massage it!" Spike said, holding his claws up in the air.

I quickly waved him off with a hoof. "No, you can't really massage this away Spike, but thank you. It'll just take time to recover from it."

"Aw...okay."

"Don't worry Spike, I'm sure you'll have plenty of other chances to show off what your claws can do," I said, using my weakened magic to levitate a few popcorn kernels into my mouth. "So! What're we watching?"

"The Unhappy Eight," Fluttershy said, pointing to the screen. "It's a show about a cow and a bull that've been together for a few years, but the bull wants to be with a mare living in Griffonstone, but he and the cow already has five kids, and they're both really unhappy with each other...."

"And the kids aren't happy living with unhappy parents, the mare's unhappy...Unhappy Eight. Got it," I said, chewing the popcorn in my mouth for a moment. "Sounds about right for a soap opera."

"It's such a tragic love story," Fluttershy said, her voice trembling. "I feel so sorry for all of them!"

"The only soaps I can really get into are the kind you find in bathrooms and kitchens," I muttered, rubbing the remaining drowsiness out of my eyes with a hoof. "I prefer action movies. The more over-the-top and ridiculous, the better."

"I like cartoons," Spike added, holding a handful of popcorn in front of himself. "Like Roadrunner and Mickey!"

"Oh, I love Mickey!" Fluttershy chimed in, drawing her attention away from the show on the TV for a moment. "He's so whimsical."

I flashed a devilish grin. "I prefer more slapstick comedy myself. I usually watch whatever cartoons Spike's watching at the time though, when I'm not busy."

"Yeah, mom does lots of stuff, but she always comes home," he said, pausing to munch a mouthful of popcorn. "An' thpend time wih me."

"Spike! Don't talk with your mouth full!" I scolded him, frowning. "Where're your manners?"

"Thorry!" he said, flecks of crunched-up popcorn spewing from his mouth.

I would've smacked my muzzle with my hoof if it weren't for the brace. "Swallow before you talk again."

"Well I think that's great," Fluttershy said to me, scooting over and patting the spot next to herself, between her and Spike. "Being a single parent usually means you hardly ever have the time or energy for your child."

I moved over and hopped onto the couch, sitting back and getting comfy between the two of them. "How would you know?"

"Oh, it's just what I've heard," she said, leaning back until her weight let her sink into the backrest. "Ditzy Doo's the mailmare that delivers to this part of town, and she works twelve-hour shifts almost every day just to make ends meet. She's got a foal too."

"Oh...well, that's unfortunate for her."

"Hey mom?"

"Yeah hun?"

He pointed at my middle. "Why're you naked?"

"Huh. So I am," I mused, looking down at myself. "Guess waking up at night threw me off more than I realized."

"Sure it isn't because you're comfortable here?" Fluttershy asked.

"I don't even walk around naked in my own home most of the time," I explained, shrugging. "Still pretty sure it's because I woke up in unusual circumstances. Didn't even think of it."

"Isn' that bad?" Spike asked, the telltale crunch of popcorn emanating from his maw.

I looked down at myself, then shrugged. "No, I think it's fine. I'm alright here."

"Something wrong with being naked at home?" Fluttershy asked me, never looking away from the TV.

"Canterlot's a city full of paparazzi just looking for some scandal or quick cash catching a noble in a compromising position in their own home," I explained, reaching over to pick up a few kernels in my hoof. "Can you imagine how many paparazzi I probably have following me around after the whole Nightmare Moon thing? They were enough of a problem back when I was just known as Celestia's student."

"That sounds like a big problem," Fluttershy said, reaching around in front of me to get some popcorn from the bowl. "I hope that doesn't become an issue."

"Eh, I can deal with it if it does," I mused, shoving the popcorn into my mouth and, unlike Spike, took the time to chew and swallow it down. "So, who's doing who and what's happening right this moment to shake up all their lives?"

As Fluttershy began to all-too-happily talk me through a lot of the recent events, I began to veg out. It didn't particularly interest me, but she seemed excited to get to talk with me about it, so I lended her enough of an ear that she couldn't say I wasn't listening to her. It was one of those moments when you're sitting on a couch with friends, and they've got a show on that you just can't enjoy, but you take the opportunity to just chill out and give your mind some rest and maybe exchange some banter with them in the process. I mean, the only times I'd experienced that was with people I worked with back in the day, but the idea was the same. I'd hesitate to call any of those people my friends, however...aside from Shady maybe.

As the clock hit eight and the show ended, I heard a familiar yawn from a certain baby dragon next to me. Fluttershy had gotten cozy leaning herself against my side as the news kicked on, and Spike finished off the bowl of popcorn. That wasn't the 'I'm really bored' yawn, that was the 'it's nearing my bedtime and I'm really starting to feel it' yawn. I only sat there for around ten more minutes before I ushered him off to the bathroom so he could get his teeth taken care of and get ready for bed. Angel migrated from Spike's head to his animal cage in the meantime.

It was only ten minutes later that Spike was curled up on the couch next to me, wrapped up in a blanket. I gave it a little more time, and when I was sure he was out for the count, I slipped carefully off of the couch and motioned for Fluttershy to follow me. I slowly opened the front door with my magic, and stepped outside, closing the door behind both of us with a soft click.

"What did we come out here for?" she asked, walking a few steps away from the front door.

"I'm thinking of heading into town, seeing what's going on, that sort of thing," I answered, motioning towards the cottage with a hoof. "I know I've been doing it a lot, but...would you mind keeping an eye on Spike again? I'd just sleep, but I don't think I'd get very good sleep after sleeping all day."

"Oh, that's fine, Twilight," she said, fluttering her wings as she stepped closer to me. "He's asleep already, and I was going to head to sleep soon as well."

"Well...if it's okay with you, then I guess I should get dressed and take off," I said, shrugging. "I'll try not to come back drunk and noisy, if only so your animals don't maul me once I step through the door."

"I'm not sure how late anything's open in town myself," she explained, taking one more step towards me. "I try not to go out when it's dark."

"Yeah, you don't seem the type," I said, giving her a quick once-over. "There a reason you're trying to edge closer to me?"

She gave me a sly smile and smoothly unfurled her wings. "Oh, you know...this."

The way she moved was akin to a cat as she closed the distance between us, weaving her head to one side and nuzzling her cheek against the side of my neck while her chest pressed against my own. The soft touch of her wings encompassed my withers almost completely, and her cheek nuzzled up along my neck to my own cheek, while her forehoof curled behind my own, lifting it less than an inch and holding it between us. I curled my hoof around hers in turn and lit my horn, my magic spreading over her middle and urging her closer, eliciting a surprised squeak from her. She looked back at the aura of magic brushing through the luxuriously soft fur of hers, then looked to me, her half-lidded gaze boring into mine as she gently touched her lips against my own.

I eased my head back and giggled. "You know, I said it once and I'll say it again, you are a really saucy mare for someone named Fluttershy."

Her smile widened and she gave me a quick smooch on the lips. "I'm not hearing a complaint in that sentence."

I gave her cheek a brief nuzzle with my own. "No, definitely not."

What happened next was nothing short of a thing of beauty, if you were to ask me. I could feel her press into me while her hoof pulled at my own, urging me to respond as her lips met mine once again. There was nothing quick about that sultry touch, or the gentle caress of her tongue against my lips. There was a kind of gentle urgency to the way she was pressing against me, and it was only a second later that I opened my mouth to kiss her back, that tongue of hers sliding into my mouth and running over my own.

She only held the advantage against me for a very brief moment. While she certainly had the disarming allure and curves that would make any red-blooded stallion or pony of dual gender feel ten degrees hotter just at the sight of her, I wasn't some idiot stumbling over her hooves trying to figure out how to deal with an attractive mare. On top of that, I had my magic. The small amount of magic I had around her midsection spread over her body, right under the base of her wings and up to her withers, firmly pushing her back while I stepped forward at the same time.

She responded exactly as I expected her to. She fell back onto her rump while her wings released me from their downy grip, fluttering in surprise from my sudden boldness. I sat down as close as I could to her, our breasts still pressing firmly together, fur intermingling and our racing hearts thumping against one another. Now I could put my forelegs to better use...like running them down her sides, caressing the softer fur that's usually hidden under her folded wings and gripping her in a way that was a lot more physical than my magic could be. Non-unicorns tended to appreciate that more, though there were some that enjoyed the out-there feeling of being handled by something that could encompass their entire body.

Her forehooves trembled as she pressed them against my breast, sliding them slowly up toward my withers while she tilted her head to the left, a muffled moan humming between our muzzles that made my heart skip a beat and my loins surge with excitement. What else could I do but respond in kind? I tilted my head in the opposite direction and our lips parted only lightly, but the gentle wet smack of two ponies kissing only became that much more pronounced now that we were both diving completely into the act.

Soon, my forelegs wrapped around her and insistently pulled her closer, the startled moan that she let off only bringing a smile to my face as she slid a few inches forward and was forced to sit up straighter thanks to our bodies being so close together. I had to do the same, but I didn't mind in the least. I could feel those trembling forehooves sliding up and encircling my withers, holding me tight and pulling at me just as eagerly. She wanted more of this just as much as I did, as my swelling stallionhood could attest.

I couldn't tell you how long it lasted. Could've been twenty minutes or an hour, but I didn't really care at the time. My hooves wandered over her body wherever they could, brushing over that smooth and soft fur of hers, teasing around the base of her wings, even going down to rub over her flanks and cutie marks, which made her do the cutest little discreet wiggle against me. I found a fondness for toying with her wings during it all. She fluttered and flapped them every single time I so much as brought my hooves near them! I think she was nervous about me touching them...or maybe she was excited by the prospect. Really hard to tell at the time.

I swear, it was enough to make a pony go full Shakespeare.

How could I describe such elegance? Such beauty within my grasp, as every sensual sway and gentle trill of heavenly bliss set my heart and soul ablaze? Should I describe her coat, so soft and so pure? Perhaps the gentle flutter of her wings, or the sweet taste of her love-parched lips against mine own would do. No, no justice can be done. For a mare so pure yet full of carnal want, nay, hunger, there can be no words. Only feeling.

Or I dunno, some stupid, flowery bullshit like that.

When we finally parted, it was a slow, and languid thing. Her muzzle dipped below mine and she nosed at my throat, cooing quietly while she burrowed her snout into the fur of my neck. I just sat there and held her close, since she seemed so intent on nuzzling me. I felt strangely exposed, not just because of the erection I was sporting in that moment, but probably also because I was outside, in the open, without any clothes on. Not to mention, I was feeling pretty moist behind my balls.

"Mmm-hm...you really got into that." she mumbled against my neck.

"So did you," I mused quietly, gently stroking a hoof down her back between her wings. "Once again, I must reiterate, we aren't in a relationship."

"Hmm, yeah we are."

Alarms went off in my head. "Uh, no, we're not."

She pulled her head away and smiled at me. "Are we friends?"

"Yeah, course we are."

She leaned in and gave me a small, almost chaste kiss on the lips. "Then we're in a relationship. Just a very unusual one."

I gave her a strange look. "By that logic, I'm 'in a relationship' with all of my friends."

"No, you've just got a normal relationship with them. Just good friends," she said, leaning back and looking down between us. "Ours, however...."

I felt my cock twitch when her hoof pressed down on the head and gave it a flick, making my length sway slightly. I could barely see the precum leaking from the tip, and I was willing to bet she'd gotten some of it on her hoof. She didn't hesitate to raise her hoof and lick the edge of it clean.

"Ours is very strange."

I snorted and shook my head. "Are you trying to push my buttons, filly?"

"Only because you didn't push mine last night." she retorted, giving me an exaggerated pout.

"Yeesh, I can't help but wonder what you're like when someone isn't around to keep you satisfied."

"I'm pretty calm actually," she said, pressing her hoof against my chest. "But right now you're here...and I'm tempted."

"More like you're a temptress," I teased, slowly releasing her from that embrace and getting to my hooves. "As much as I'd love to take you to your bedroom and elevate your voice a few octaves, Spike's in the house and I'd rather not he hear us or wander in and ask what I'm doing putting my plug into your slot."

She stared up at me pensively for a moment, then let out a frustrated sigh. "Fine. I understand."

She stood up as well, her wings folding against her sides while I tried to calm myself down. My heart was still beating pretty fast, and if my erection was any indication, I was very much feeling the stimulation still. It didn't help that her eyes were drawn to it like a moth to a flame. I could see her glancing down at it a few times while we stood there, or at least, she was looking down towards my barrel.

"Are you heading back to Canterlot, soon?"

I gave a small nod. "Yeah, heading back tomorrow I think. I'm expecting some phone calls and I really need to get my new place in order."

"Next time you stop in..." she said slowly, biting her lip. "I mean, Spike's a dear and I like watching him, but...m-maybe you could find a foalsitter for him next time you visit?"

"Well I can't make any promises, but I'll see what I can do," I said, looking up at the stars in the sky. "I'd hate to keep him from the few new friends he's got now."

She hummed pleasantly and turned her side to me. "Well then, next time I'll make sure to have some whip cream and maraschino cherries ready! I want a Twilight sundae."

"Ooh! Throw in that collar you like to wear and you've got a deal," I said, stepping up next to her and pressing my side against her own. "Kitty-cat."

Her only response was a playful meow and a cat-like nuzzling of her body against my own, her entire side running along my body while she ducked her head under my chin. She could do a very convincing purr, I had to admit. I couldn't replicate the sound no matter how hard I tried. Then again I can't even roll my R's, so what chance do I have of faking a purr?

With the seductive pegasus dealt with, though not in the way I would've preferred, we both headed back inside. I would've waited for my swelling to go down if you know what I mean, if only to spare Spike the sight, but let's have a real talk about that sort of thing here: it's not a very unusual sight. Stimulation happens every day, whether it be in a pony's mind or from outside influence, and for the most part, ponies are nudists by nature. Seeing floppy stallion dick at an early age isn't strange unless you're unbelievably sheltered. It's still kinda embarrassing to fall out of your sheath in public because it shows how bad you can control yourself, but hey, it happens.

Obviously, I don't know a lot about what that feels like. I don't usually go outside without clothes on.

It didn't take too long for me to get myself under control, thankfully. Fluttershy didn't make it easy on me. I swear she was trying to tempt me even as I was walking out the door. That tail-flick of hers wasn't accidental.

Sure seemed to take a lot less time to reach town compared to the previous walks. Maybe that was just because I was more used to the paths by then. Regardless, when I got into town, Ponyville was...very different. I'd gotten only a glimpse of it when I'd gone with Spike and Fluttershy to grab some dinner, but at the time I was busy chatting with Fluttershy. Too busy to do what I usually do in the city.

Walk, observe, and listen.

Growing up relying on my senses to get me out of danger when other options weren't openly available to me gave me an appreciation for my environment, no matter how disgusting it may have been. In Canterlot, if you took a walk around the richer neighborhoods, you got to hear pompous ponies conversing about business deals, gossiping about one another, and in some cases, badmouthing the lower class. If you wandered into the seedier parts of the city, you got to hear a very different tune. Gunshots on occasion, ponies in alleyways conducting illicit deals, a miserable stallion trying to make ends meet being yelled at by his wife for not doing exactly that...the sky's the limit.

Ponyville was alien to me in that respect. I walked between the houses, deliberately stalking the alleyways, and...nothing. Nothing of note, that is. There were the occasional arguments, but they were tempered, controlled and quiet in comparison to the screaming matches I was used to. It didn't matter where I went in town, and I certainly took my time looking around, exploring the place in ways I couldn't in broad daylight. Skulking among the shadows, hiding from the naked eyes of the judgmental innocents of the world.

I almost wished for trouble to find me. The silence was unnerving all on its own. I felt like something would jump out of thin air and suck me into the darkness I took solace in, when I was stalking around like that. It made Ponyville feel too innocent. Usually even in small towns, you can spot a drug dealer, or someone selling off-market firearms, something! Even in Ponyville, how could there be none of that?

It was getting pretty late by the time I decided to put an end to my wandering and settle in at the local bar. Same place Applejack took me to, obviously. If I'm staying in Ponyville, I'm sure not going anywhere else. I remember thinking at the time it was a shame that I didn't have anyone to drink with.

Strange how the fleeting wishes are the ones that usually wind up getting granted instead of the ones that really matter.

The night had started so well for me, too. I went in, walked up to the bar, got myself comfy and ordered a few drinks. I let the warmth of the alcohol spread through my system and the tipsy sensation dull my my senses just a little...but then, I started hearing buzzing. Distinct, unmistakable buzzing that could only come from one source. Not like bees, not like flies, not like mosquitoes.

Changelings.

It's not something most normal ponies would notice. On the contrary, for someone like me, it wasn't all that uncommon. Once you start to dabble in mind magic and you become more aware of such outside influences, there's not really any going back outside of maybe getting your memories wiped. Some knowledge, once gained, cannot be forgotten. It's like muscle memory.

That buzzing was from the presence of a changeling hivemind. Close proximity, it felt like. I'd been exposed to it before, albeit only for a few seconds. Obviously I managed to resist it, or else I wouldn't be here right now, remembering all of this. It's how their Queen does her hypnosis.

Speaking of which...the buzzing was far too loud in the back of my mind for it to be coming from a mere infiltrator. Usually I identify them and leave them be. Changelings gotta eat too, and while I may despise their Queen, I won't get in their way when they're just doing what needs to be done. I'll fuck them up if they try to lay a hoof on me or my own, but other than that, well...I've always had bigger problems.

It didn't take me long to pinpoint the source. If there's one thing I knew about my associate, it was that she didn't make for a very good infiltrator herself. The tall supermodel figure, trim and slick, smooth and glistening auburn fur that appeared to be washed and oiled several times over, with long brown mane and tail that had been combed and brushed to perfection. She was never one for not standing out, even when blending in was the whole point.

She was looking right at me when I finally locked my gaze on her. I took another drink from my mug, and the corner of her muzzle rose into a long, knowing smile. Without a word, she turned to face me and slipped out of her seat, motioning with her head towards a booth further in the back, less lit than a lot of the other booths in the bar. It was of a circular shape, meant for larger groups of people, but there wasn't a lot of life in the bar that night either, so it was no big deal.

The moment we were both seated, I watched her horn light up with a sickly green glow, and I quickly lit my own. "Oh, no no no. I'll be the one casting the spells here."

She stared at me for a brief moment, then shrugged. "Suit yourself."

I quickly weaved the spell I knew she'd had in mind. I'd made a few deals with her in the past, though the first deal was made without my consent, and almost cost me my life. I didn't much trust her not to try to slip something extra into her spell, and I was already a little tipsy as it was. I wasn't going to let her work the magic around us.

As soon as the spell was in place and we had the privacy needed to talk among ourselves, I sat back in my seat. "So. To what do I owe the pleasure, Queen Chrysalis?"

"Mm, nothing in particular," she cooed, leaning closer towards me. "I wasn't expecting you, but since you were here, I thought you probably wanted to talk."

"Huh, so you weren't here spying on me then?"

She pouted at me and purposely slouched. "You always think so little of me, Twilight. What did I ever do to you?"

I gave her a dirty look. "Bitch, you tried to stab me in the back and turn me into a pod-snack."

"You and your ponies were promised to me and you broke the deal," she said dismissively. "If anything, you betrayed me."

"Like I told you, I wasn't informed. If I was, I would've shot you a lot sooner, and probably in the correct part of your chest," I retorted, crossing my forehooves. "Guess it was your lucky night as well as your worst."

"If you didn't know illegal magic, the kind that gets ponies sealed away in stone statues if they misuse it, you'd be sleeping dreams of perfection so you release all of that bottled-up love you've got sealed away in that black heart of yours."

"Says the Queen of Mindfucks," I quickly said, heaving a sigh. "Alright, so what's the real reason you're here? Don't you dare say you're just passing through, a five-year-old could come up with a better lie than that."

She scoffed and waggled a hoof at me. "Ugh, you're no fun. Fine, I'm here checking in on recent events. Maybe it's surprising to you, but an event like you and your friends getting the power to defeat a living Goddess in battle tends to raise a lot of questions. I just have the luxury of being able to get past borders without a problem."

I could feel myself tense up on reflex. "You've been spying on my friends?"

She looked at me with a hint of surprise. "My my. You really have changed. Don't think I didn't feel that. That was a lot of white-hot anger."

"You didn't answer my question," I growled out, leaning closer to her. "Have you been spying on my friends?"

"Ooh, if I could feed off of your fury, I'd be set for weeks," she teased, grinning wide. "When you get angry, you burn like a silent inferno. Celestia forbid anyone ever give that fire a reason to get noisy."

I slammed my hoof down on the table in front of both of us, never moving my gaze away from her. "Answer. My. Question."

"Ugh, fine! You're no fun," she said, leaning a foreleg on the table. "Yes, I have been. Nothing malicious, I promise! Just observing, and taking the time to collect information."

"...Let me be absolutely clear, Chrysalis," I said slowly, reaching into my pocket to pull a cigar from my case. "I might just be tempted to kill you if you dare to lay a hoof on them, directly or indirectly. I'm not in the habit of indirect genocide, but you'll have brought it on yourself and your people."

"Clear as crystal. Mm..." she said, visibly shuddering after taking a look at me. "I can feel that. That's what I like about you, Twilight. You don't hesitate when it matters."

"Yeah, well, that still doesn't explain why you're here."

"Excuse me?"

I used my magic to light my cigar, taking a long drag from it and slowly puffing it out in small balls of sweet smoke. "You didn't need to come here to get a report on my friends. There's another reason you're here. What's going on?"

She stared at me for a time, shifting in her seat while my eyes bore holes in her. I wasn't lying when I said that she wasn't a very good infiltrator. She couldn't even stay calm with someone like me staring at her in such an accusing way.

Eventually, she cracked a smile. "Still as sharp as ever, aren't you Twilight? Age hasn't slowed you down one bit."

"Would you stop trying to evade my questions already?" I asked, sitting back to rest against the seat. "I would think by now you'd understand that that really doesn't work."

She rolled her eyes and slumped in an exaggerated motion. "You really are no fun, even now. Fine, if you must know, I got word of a defective that stole love from the hive fleeing to pony lands, and the last place my changelings had seen him was in Canterlot. They couldn't find him, so I decided to kill two birds with one stone by coming here to look for him myself while investigating you and your friends."

"I'm guessing he's not here then?"

She bared her teeth in frustration, then shook her head. "Unless he's crafty enough to stay hidden from his fellow changelings, no, he's not."

I could've taken a shot at her, but I held my tongue. Changelings rely far too heavily on their ability to read emotions. People like me, who could guard themselves enough to be completely unreadable to her kind, tended to have a big advantage over those connected to her hivemind. The one she was talking about though, he was a free-thinker. All the benefits of a changeling's emotion-reading senses without the deprivation of individuality that most changelings in the hivemind suffered from. Well, I say 'suffer', but Chrysalis prefers to think of them as 'perfectly unified'. Guess when you're sitting pretty at the top of the pile, everything looks just fine, huh?

"Can't say I've noticed any either lately, but then I haven't spent a lot of time in Canterlot the past few weeks," I said, scooting away from her. "Now if you don't mind, I'm going to order a few more drinks, then I'm going to head back to where I'm staying. Sleep schedule's already screwed up enough without me staying out 'til morning, not that there's much of anything to do in this town."

"Oh, where do you think you're going?" she asked, her tone far too sweet to be genuine. "I believe you owe me something."

I was just starting to slip out of the booth when I turned to give her an incredulous look. "The fuck do I owe you?"

The big grin Chrysalis flashed me wasn't very comforting. "Love, my dear. Unless you forgot our agreement? I gave you some information...so where's my love?"

Memories of previous agreements came rushing back to me, forgotten due to how little she and I actually interacted after that first time we worked together. She always had a lot of good information to give thanks to her network of changeling infiltrators, and that had always made her a useful asset for me to keep in contact with...even if she demanded love in return. I'd never given any myself, instead offering my crew, which I could tell always bothered her for some reason. I didn't want to entertain the possibility that she was attracted to me, but I had a hard time coming up with any other reasonable explanation.

"Your information was completely innocuous to my purposes, and you gave it freely," I responded quickly, glaring at her in disapproval. "I owe you nothing."

"On the contrary, I gave you information about my recent operations and gave you the assurance that I mean no harm," she said, purposely licking her lips. "I'd say that information was very useful to you, if only to put your own mind at ease."

It was in that moment that I was given a very clear reminder that Chrysalis had her moments. She was the very center of the changeling hivemind, and she could be far more devious than I usually gave her credit for. She may not have been much of an infiltrator, but I had forgotten to question how much of that was actually an act.

"This was a trap, wasn't it?"

"Yes, and like a fly into a spider's web, you didn't see it until it was too late," she said, leaning in a short inch closer to me. "So...do we still have our agreement? Or will you be making an enemy of me?"

I genuinely debated the possibility at the time. Having Chrysalis as my enemy wouldn't be all that different from having her as an ally, and I use that term very loosely. She had a habit of siding with whomever could benefit her the most at the time, and that wasn't always me. She'd never openly stabbed me in the back, but there was almost always some other motive to anything she did, especially if it involved me and my crew.

Still, making her a full-on enemy wasn't to my benefit, so I hissed in a breath through my teeth and nodded. "Fine. I'll give you love, long as you don't wind up killing me or something."

"No pawns for you to hide your heart behind this time," she said, her hooves suddenly grabbing me by my withers and firmly shoving me against the backrest of the seat, holding me down. "Now pucker up, pony."

It wasn't a kiss that had any kind of seduction or passion to it. It felt more like I was prey, and she had pounced. Her lips felt slightly off, like a pony's but more firm, and a strange jaggedness that made the rough way she was kissing me that much more uncomfortable to me. My hooves flailed briefly, but I didn't want to make a scene, so I tried to settle my tense body down and endure.

This is a good time to note that I've never been fed on by a changeling. Directly, that is. Love could be absorbed through ambience, apparently ponies just exude love like a cloud of energy into the air, but the far quicker method was to force it out. I was unfortunate enough to not have someone else to throw in Chrysalis's path. One changeling I used to know described feeding on ambient love not directed at them with the scenario of a thirsty pony begging for water, and another holding up a water bottle, using a dropper to extract the water, and then dripping the water into the thirsty pony's mouth. The direct method was just the thirsty pony wrestling the water bottle from the other pony's hooves and chugging it.

I could feel it as soon as her tongue forced its way into my mouth, my muffled sounds of alarm dying down as all my attention was commanded by the sensation of warmth boiling through my body. I felt like something was escaping me, being pulled out from my very core, enough to make me feel nauseous and weak. I tried to put up some kind of token resistance by pushing at her with my hooves, but I think she just took that as foreplay. That or maybe she was relishing the chance to finally get some love out of me.

Nothing about the kiss was enjoyable. Her tongue was far too long and dipping down my throat, and her grip was iron-clad, holding me down as my strength began to flag. Her lips mashed aggressively against my own, and she barely gave either of us any time to breathe. Every so often I could see her eyes shift back to their slitted shape and natural coloration, and the more she fed on me, the more listless I began to feel. Emotions rushed through me unchecked, and at one point I think I sobbed, the overwhelming sensation of sadness echoing through me like a lance through my heart. I felt helpless...nor did I feel like doing anything about it.

I fought back a whimper as I tried to reach for anything to bring me out of the sudden rush of despair. I could feel my heart racing, but I just felt so cold. It was only when Chrysalis stopped, when she pulled away from me and licked her lips with a satisfied groan that I gasped for air and slumped forward against the table, trying to catch myself. Just as suddenly as it had begun to crush me, the weight of sadness lifted, and I began to feel at least a little more normal again, not that that was saying much.

"Mm, like wine stowed away for centuries," she trilled, her natural voice coming through in all of its dual-toned glory. "It's always the ones that guard their hearts that taste the best."

I would've loved to give her a witty retort, but I felt like I'd just run ten miles non-stop. I was struggling to catch my breath, and my heart was still racing, my stomach was acting up and the world spun all around me. If she'd gone any longer, I probably would've passed out then and there. A brief glance was given to the crowd, who hadn't seemed to notice anything unusual going on in our corner, thankfully. I turned my head and kept an eye on Chrysalis instead, though I made a point to keep myself on guard. That would've been the perfect time for her to try to mind-control me.

"Don't worry too much, I'm sure you'll be fine," she said, patting me on my wither and scooting away from me and back around to the other side of the circular booth. "Eventually. I do so hope we get to work together again in the future. You're delectable!"

It was only when she finally left me alone and I couldn't detect the idle buzz of her hivemind that I finally allowed myself to relax. Among my many other experiences in my life, that had to be one of the least pleasant of them all. Well...maybe not as bad as having to work as 'insurance' during a pony slave trade deal, but that one hurt my soul far more than it hurt my body. This was certainly a very close contender though.

My breathing felt shallow as I laid myself partially over the table, and I couldn't tell how much time was passing. It was like being lost in a daydream, with only the occasional stimulation from boisterous bar-goers rousing me from my thoughtless daze. When I finally managed to rouse myself enough to get a few more drinks in me, I spent a few hours drinking by myself, trying to keep my distance from anyone else other than the bartender. While I'd never experienced it personally, I'd seen the state of some of my crew whenever she fed on one of them, and they were of far lesser mental fortitude than myself. Very unpleasant to try and deal with.

I think it was...I don't know, I recall three in the morning in my head, but considering the state I was in, it actually could've been sooner or later than that when I finally headed back to Fluttershy's place. I was feeling a bit more in control of myself, at least enough to make the walk back. Since most bars usually close around two in the morning, I figured maybe I left sooner than three. I was drunk, I was exhausted, and all I wanted to do was go and pass out.

Fortunately, I managed to get back to the cottage without any real issues, aside from feeling sluggish all the way. I didn't even want to walk up the stairs to Fluttershy's room, I was so out of it. Instead, I eyed Spike on the couch, curled up under a blanket and laid partially over a pillow. Without a word, I stripped out of my clothes and kicked them off onto the floor, climbing onto the sofa while using my magic to shift him to one side.

"Mmgh...whuh?" he mumbled sleepily, lifting his head to look at me. "Mom?"

"Hey hun. Mom's really tired," I mumbled, flopping down between him and the backrest, laying a foreleg over his back. "Love you."

He wiggled under my grasp and leaned his weight in towards me, yawning. "Love you too mom...."

He was out in seconds once more, both of my forelegs acting as a cover and a new pillow for him while I took the pillow he'd been using to rest my head. It wasn't long after that I was asleep myself, feeling just a bit warmer with Spike huddled so close to me. She'd drained me quite thoroughly, but I don't think she could ever make me feel nothing for my own son.