Chrysalis and Fluttershy were busy setting the table, getting ready for their guests later that evening. Well, Fluttershy was setting the table, anyway. Chrysalis was just watching, not having any intention to help. Fluttershy rolled her eyes as she placed down silverware at each of the seats.

"You could help, you know.", Fluttershy suggested, trying to sound gentle.

Chrysalis put a hoof to her chin. "I could...", she walked a bit closer to the table, only to turn away again. "But I don't really want to."

Fluttershy heaved a sigh, looking up from her work to give Chrysalis her best set of puppy-dog eyes. And let me tell you, it's much cuter on a pony than it is a changeling. Chrysalis tried her best to turn her head away, but she found herself quickly giving in, sliding next to Fluttershy and helping to put the rest of the silverware at the table. Within a few minutes, they were finished.

"See, that wasn't that hard..", Fluttershy said to Chrysalis, who had walked back towards the couch.

"If you say so...", Chrysalis muttered, heaving a sigh. She said something else Fluttershy didn't quite catch.

Fluttershy tipped her head. "What did you say? I-I didn't hear you..."

Chrysalis waved a hoof dismissively. "Oh, nothing. Nothing important."

Fluttershy looked unconvinced, and simply shrugged. She headed towards the door, turning to Chrysalis. "I'm going to get some food for dinner. Can you stay here alone without causing any trouble?", she asked, eyeing the Queen suspiciously.

Chrysalis snorted. "I'm no foal. In fact, I'm much older than you, Fluttershy. Just go. I'll be fine here."

"If you're sure...", Fluttershy gave the changeling one last glance before she walked out the door.

Twilight was in her castle, making sure everything was ready for her to leave that evening. Starlight and Spike were in the library, they were busy helping to organize, yet again. Twilight's OCD, honestly. Ugh. Twilight flew down onto the ground, where Starlight and Spike were sorting out books into piles. Twilight walked up to the pair at work.

"Are you sure you two will be fine tonight?", Twilight asked.

Spike heaved a sigh. "We've been through this already, Twilight."

Starlight rolled her eyes. "Ten times, at least," she muttered under her breath.

Spike said something under his breath, then continued. "We'll be fine. Now stop worrying."

"It's not like the world's going to end, just because you leave.", Starlight chimed in.

"I guess...", Twilight conceded. "Alright then. I'm going now."

"But dinner's not for an hour yet!", Spike called as Twilight started to leave. The purple alicorn stopped, looking back at Spike. "I've got to go get the girls, remember?", she replied, and kept walking.

Spike went back to Starlight, and the pair continued to sort out the books. About an hour later, a blinding white flash made both dragon and unicorn jump. Starlight and Spike shared a glance, then looked up at the figure before them. The pair simultaneously groaned.

"Discord...", they said in unison, both sounding irritated.

"Why if it isn't my two favorite rejects!", the draconequus said in a cheerful voice. Starlight heaved a sigh, and Spike put a hand to his face. Discord popped up between them in another flash, his arms around each of their shoulders.

"What is it, Discord?", Starlight said, still irritated.

Discord tried his best to look hurt. "What, I can't pop in to see how two of my dear friends are doing?", he asked, pouting.

Spike sighed. "I'm guessing they didn't invite you to dinner, then?"

Discord nodded. "Well, I guess they sort of had a point, seeing as Chrysalis almost tore my throat out yesterday.", he said in false resignation, looking from Starlight to Spike for any pity. "You heard about that, right?', he asked, receiving a nod from both unicorn and dragon.

Starlight shoved Discord's arm off her shoulder. "So, why are you here?", she asked again.

Discord looked at Starlight. "Because I want to crash the party, and I want you two to come with me."

Twilight, along with the rest of her friends, excluding Fluttershy, of course, all hesitantly walked down the path to Fluttershy's cottage. They were all talking amongst themselves.

"Y'all said she wasn't reformed at all really when ya saw 'er, right, Rainbow?", Applejack had asked.

Rainbow nodded. "But you never know when it comes to Fluttershy.."

Pinkie bounced up from behind them. "Ooh! I wonder what they're making for dinner! I hope there's dessert!", she said cheerfully, licking her lips at the thought of sweets.

"Your mind would be on sweets, Pinkie. Honestly, darling, I'm surprised you're not as round as a beach ball, the way you eat.", Rarity remarked from just behind Pinkie Pie. The pink earth pony only giggled in response.

The only pony who hadn't spoke was Twilight. Concerned, Applejack walked up to where her friend had taken the lead. "You alright, Twi?", she asked.

Twilight, who was deep in thought, looked over to Applejack. "I-I'm fine. Just worried, is all..", she replied, her voice straining to sound calm. Despite that, her mind was racing a mile a minute. What if this doesn't go well? What if Chrysalis is even worse than before?!, she thought, trying not to panic. She stopped when she felt a hoof on her shoulder. Applejack gave her a reassuring smile.

"Don't y'all worry one bit, Twi. This'll all be fine, I'm sure.", the farm pony told Twilight, giving her a bit of reassurance.

"Hopefully...", Rainbow muttered under her breath. Applejack swiftly turned her head, glaring at the cyan pegasus.

The group simultaneously came to a stop at the door. Twilight walked closer to it and gave it a hesitant knock. A few moments later, the door opened, and Chrysalis poked her head out. She turned, calling, "They're here, Fluttershy!", to the shy pegasus that was in the kitchen. The door opened wider, and the five ponies that were outside piled into the small cottage.Twilight looked up at the changeling Queen who had opened the door for them, and Chrysalis gave her a cool smile in return.

Twilight leaned up to her ear. "I don't know what you're playing at, but it's not going to work, Chrysalis.", she hissed into the Queen's ear.

Chrysalis looked down, a smug smile on her face. "I'm not playing at anything.", she whispered back.

Twilight snorted, looking away. Noticing her friends were at Fluttershy's table, she walked over, sitting next to Applejack, who reassured her one last time. Fluttershy called out something from the kitchen again, causing Twilight to stand up.

"I'll help her, don't worry.", Chrysalis said calmly, walking into the kitchen. Twilight was about to give her a sharp retort when Applejack gently shook her head.

"I wonder what Fluttershy has planned?", Rarity thought aloud, her blue gaze looking intently at the kitchen.

"I wanna know, too! I'm hungry!", Pinkie was looking at the kitchen as well, her mouth watering.

Rainbow and Applejack looked at each other, both snorting in laughter. Soon enough, Fluttershy and Chrysalis walked out of the kitchen, plates in their hooves. After a second trip to the kitchen, everypony had their food. Fluttershy was a pony who didn't eat anything too out of the ordinary, so each pony had a simple salad in front of them. Well, all except Chrysalis, who didn't have anything in front of her.

Twilight looked over to the Queen who had purposely decided to sit next to her. "Um, Chrysalis, why aren't you eating?", she asked, looking at the changeling suspiciously.

"Changelings feed off of love, and emotion in general. Or did you forget that, Twilight?", Chrysalis sneered.

Twilight gritted her teeth. "I remember that..."

"And besides, our stomachs aren't made for digesting any food.", the Queen continued, looking at Twilight, who shot her a furious glare back.

With that out of the way, the ponies started eating, and an awkward silence fell to the table.