A thousand apples a day keeps the debt collector away.

Thus was the motto of the Apple family… at least when business was waning. Applejack grunted as she bucked one of her precious trees, apples falling straight into the expertly placed buckets around her, the muted thuds incredibly satisfying. It sounded like the jingling of bits to her, and the farm needed those bits. Badly.

With cider season still a ways off, and the proceeds from the Zap Apple harvest already spent, things were going to be a little tight for the foreseeable future. The situation wouldn’t have been too bad… if only they hadn’t needed to rebuild the barn a few weeks back. Again.

They might as well make barn raising a new seasonal Apple family get together, considering often they needed to rebuild the darned thing. The barn had seen it all: blown away, collapsed, trampled by a herd of cows, devoured by parasprites… and now they could add “gone up in flames” to the list.

“Darn twittermites,” Applejack grumbled under her breath, “where in the hay is that pest control pony when ya need ‘im.”

She collected her buckets, grunting as she hauled her produce into an empty barrel; her brother would pass through the rows of apple trees to gather the lines of barrels later on. She counted the many barrels she had already filled —she had started before dawn— and did a quick calculation: it was enough for a full day of sales and shipment. Any more and it would be a waste. They had the produce, the issue was selling it.

“We need more revenue…” She said under her breath.

Sweet Apple Acres had a hundred different issues that sorely needed fixing, from busted fences to the house shingles, and everything was another drain on their diminishing resources. Not to mention Granny Smith’s long belated hip operation.

Applejack blinked, the mention of Granny’s hip reminding her of her last encounter with Ponyville’s newest resident: Queen Chrysalis. The changeling was a right proper swindler, AJ was sure of it. But the promise of long forgotten recipes and centuries worth of experience was a hard offer to ignore. With the right marketing, and just a little help from some of her contacts in the pastry industry, she could turn that knowledge into a right gold mine.

She made a face, the thought of striking a deal with the changeling leaving a sour taste in her mouth. Still, it was a good opportunity to make some bits, and Twilight seemed to vouch for Chrysalis. What’s more, while she was selling apples in town the day before, she had heard some crazy rumor about Chrysalis being seen entering Carrousel Boutique, only for the sign to be flipped to “closed” without her coming out. Rarity only offered private fittings after hours for a very select few, the unicorn giving Chrysalis that honor spoke volumes. And it would make Twilight happy to see her friends get along with her wife...

“Applejack!”

Applejack snorted in surprise, jerking back as a purple blur seemed to burst out of the canopy above. She quickly recognized the frazzled looking alicorn, Twilight’s ragged mane full of leaves. The farmer noticed the wide-eyed expression on her friend’s face, her twitching ears leaving no doubt about Twilight’s state of mind.

“Well howdy Twi, Ah was just thinkin’ about ya.” She tilted her head, pointedly looking at Twilight’s fidgeting hooves, the alicorn dancing in place. “Problem with the missus again?”

“You could say that…” Twilight licked her lips, looking around. “You haven’t seen her, have you?”

“Chrysalis? Nah, not since yesterday.” Applejack shook her head. “She done something bad?”

“Not yet she hasn’t…” Twilight’s eye twitched. “Do you know where your brother is?”

That gave AJ some pause. “Big Mac? Why?”

“No reason!” Twilight grinned widely… and falsely. “I just need to talk to him, you know, friendly chit chat!”

Applejack quirked her trusty eyebrow. It was clear as day Twilight was hiding something, even without her knack for spotting a liar Applejack would have noticed the signs… but she decided not to pry, and just shrugged. “Well alrighty then.” She pointed her friend in the right direction. “He’s in the south field this morning, on plowing duty until noon.”

“Plowing, hmm?” Twilight breathed, a strange glint in her eyes. “Let’s make sure he keeps at it then.” She turned to her earth pony friend and nodded. “Thanks AJ!” Her wings flared open, ready to take off.

“Hey, wait up! Ah need tah ask you about someth…”

The alicorn was airborne before Applejack could stop her. Twilight flew off in a hurry, weaving through the apple trees in an impressive display of skillful wingwork. Applejack whistled, impressed: she didn’t know Twi had gotten so much better at flying. Usually the alicorn was still a little awkward with her wings, and sometimes she seemed to forget she even had them. Maybe she had trained with Rainbow Dash lately.

The apple farmer had half a mind to follow her friend, but in the end chose not to. Twilight was a big girl, if she needed her help she would have asked. Shrugging off the strange encounter, she went to her toolbox and fetched a hammer, the worn handle sporting a perfect splintered impression of her teeth. She descended the rows of apple trees, hammering the barrels closed, ready for pickup. It was a tiring process that left her neck sore for hours, but there was little she could do about it. She went about her job, focusing on the bits each barrel was worth.

She had just hammered the last barrel closed when a sudden flash of light startled her half to death. She stumbled back, the hammer falling from her mouth, and she blinked the spots out of her eyes.

“What the hay…” She began, before being interrupted by a very familiar voice.

“Applejack!”

The farmer huffed, rubbing her eyes moodily. “Twilight, land sake’s girl! How many times do Ah have to tell ya not to teleport right in mah face…”

“I was looking all over for you,” two hooves grasped at Applejack’s shoulders, shaking her lightly, “have you seen Chrysalis?”

Applejack groaned, exasperated. “No I have nawt.” She shrugged off Twilight’s grasp, and glared at her friend; she looked just as frazzled as before, maybe even worse. The farmer really hoped Twilight wasn’t going to come bug her every five minutes until she found her wife, like the time Twilight had lost her Smarty Pants doll.

“That’s good… I think…” Twilight bit her lips. “Hmm… do you know where Big Macintosh is?”

Applejack blinked, a little taken aback. “He wasn’t in the south fields? I hope that lazy bones ain’t off flirting with that mystery gal of his again…”

“South field? Thanks AJ!”

“Wait wut…”

Too late, once more, Applejack tried to reach out to her friend. She sighed in frustration as she watched Twilight fly away, quickly weaving around the trees… only to smack right into one just a few rows farther, a few apples bonking her head for good measure. Before Applejack could shout if she was okay, the alicorn grumbled and disappeared in a flash of magic.

Okay, something was definitely up. Applejack quickly put all her tools away, she tucked her hat down, and she started to head for the south field. After a moment of hesitation she returned to her toolbox, retrieved a length of rope, and was off at a thundering gallop.

“Huff!”

Twilight grunted as she reappeared at the edge of the apple grove, this second long-range teleport leaving her a little winded. She took a few moments to regain her breath, her eyes scanning the field of tilled earth before her. She spotted Big Mac on the other side, the earth pony apparently busy plowing the field.

Alone.

“Oh thank Celestia…” Twilight sighed in relief.

She took a deep breath and trotted towards the stallion, mindful not to trip on the furrows. Twilight looked around as she traversed the field, watching out for any sign of her wife. She was glad Chrysalis hadn’t gotten to Big Mac yet, but she still needed to have a word with him. Just to make sure he knew not to trust Chrysalis if she came to seduce him. She winced. This wasn’t going to be awkward at all…

Big Mac’s ears swiveled towards her as she came closer, the stoic earth pony pausing in his plowing to give her a stone-faced glance. He just chewed on his stalk placidly as she stopped next to him, her breath a little short. He blinked at her in greeting, and his eyes flicked to her mane. Twilight gave him an embarrassed smile, realizing how disheveled she must have been after all her running and teleporting.

“Hi Big Macintosh, how are you!” She asked with forced cheer, running a hoof through her mane to try and tame it.

“Good.” He answered simply.

“I’m glad! Haha…” Twilight grinned, just a little too widely.

An awkward silence stretched between them, the alicorn fidgeting on her hooves while Big Mac calmly stared back. She scuffed her hoof on the dirt, gulped, and bit on her lips. He, on the other hand, only slowly blinked and chewed on his piece of straw, sometimes moving it to the other side of his mouth.

Twilight racked her brain to find the best way to broach the subject, not helped at all by the fact that she used to have a crush on the red stallion. More than once she had watched him work from afar, admiring his chiseled physique, his glistening fur… and the view wasn’t too bad from this close either. His big muscled chest, beads of sweat running down his scruffy coat, the scent of a hard-working stallion…

“Miss Twilight, you’re drooling.”

Twilight jerked back, blushing like… well like an apple. “N-no I’m not!” She brushed her hoof against her mouth, just in case.

“S’okay, I’ve seen you watching while I work.” Big Mac drawled in his usual monotone.

“I-I’d never…”

“I don’t mind none.” Big Mac said casually. “If y’all wanted a sample you just needed to ask.”

Twilight stumbled back, stammering in protest. The stallion shrugged off his plow-harness and took a few steps closer to her. He quickly closed the distance, his gaze full of confidence, and stood towering over her. She could feel the heat radiating from him, sweat steaming from his flanks, his deep baritone voice echoing around her heaving chest.

“C’mon, the barn is a good quiet place.” Big Mac said huskily. He leaned down, his nose almost touching Twilight’s. “No pony will know…”

“I… I…” Twilight gulped. She felt like she was living one of her old fantasies: she couldn’t count how many times she had imagined this very same situation during her naughtiest private moments. “We can’t…”

“Ain’t no harm in a little fun.” Mac insisted. “It’ll stay between us... our lil’ secret.”

Twilight shivered, a heated gasp escaping her throat. This was a dream come true… but she shook her head firmly. “No.” She took a step back, giving the stallion a resolute frown. “I’m… flattered, but I can’t. I’m married, and I’ll have to ask you to remember that Chrysalis is taken as well.”

She felt a twinge of satisfaction as she said those words, it felt surprisingly good to say it: Chrysalis was hers. She might be ready to entertain the idea of sharing her special bond with Rarity, and even maybe with her other friends… but with a stallion she would use as a stud? No way in Tartarus.

Big Mac chewed on his stalk a few more times, his expression still completely neutral… then he blew a raspberry, the twig falling to the ground. “Oh bother, you’re no fun at all.” He said, rolling his eyes.

Twilight’s eyes widened, her wings flaring open. She knew that tone of voice. “Chrysalis?”

“Eeyup.” Chrysalis put on her usual snarky smile, the expression completely out of place on Big Mac’s face. “Before you ask, I didn’t do anything to him.” She nodded to the nearby forest. “He’s over there, rolling around in the grass with some mare.” She scrunched up her muzzle. “I can taste their love from here, almost nauseating it’s so sweet. They aren’t even mating yet!” She turned to the forest, cupping one hoof around her mouth to shout. “Get on with it! You two are just the slowest pair of- ouch!”

Twilight stomped her way to the Apple family barn, magically tugging along her disguised wife by the ear. She ignored Chrysalis’ complaints and marched them both to a more secluded spot, where they could have a firm talk. Some things needed to be said, and she wouldn’t be deceptive or manipulative, like Starlight had advised. No, she would be direct, and honest. She hurried her pace, Chrysalis stumbling after her.

On the other side of the field, partially hidden by the shade of the apple trees, Applejack watched her friend dragging her brother in a very intimate gesture, her mouth hanging open in shock.

“What in the hay…”

The barn doors groaned in protest as they were flung open, followed by a very irritated alicorn and her disguised wife. Twilight carefully barred the doors behind them, the shutters all magically closing, plunging the barn into darkness. A burst of pink magic later, and the lamps hanging from the pillars flared to life, their warm light bathing Twilight and the apparent Big Macintosh.

“Hmm, cozy.” Big Mac rumbled, giving an appreciative glance at the hay bales surrounding them. “So, choose your spot: where would you want to be plowed by mister red earth pony farmer, size large.”

“Will you stop bringing up that dildo!” Twilight snapped, her cheeks burning. “And change back right now!”

“Aaah, but why?” Chrysalis purred, shifting her weight to show off her disguise’s muscled frame. “I know from your diary you’ve been having naughty fantasies about this hunk of a stallion. Surely you’d love to get under this nice, tall, sweaty stud. Maybe for an hour or so?”

Out of patience, Twilight gathered her magic, and unleashed her spell on her wife. Chrysalis hissed as her disguise was stripped away, her true form forcibly revealed. Her black and green carapace gleaned under the flickering light, highlighting the deep grooves crisscrossing her exoskeleton. Twilight frowned as her eyes followed a particularly vicious lash mark, the scar running over Chrysalis’ flank, right where her cutie mark would have been if she was a pony.

“That was unpleasant.” Chrysalis snarled, showing off her fangs, green venom dripping from the points. Twilight didn’t even blink at the display of anger. Instead, she simply stood her ground. “I would have thought you would have been grateful, with me giving you a chance to live your dreams?” She leaned back, looking down at her wife with naked disappointment. “Not everyone gets the chance of marrying such a kind and understanding creature such as myself…”

“Then what.” Twilight calmly interrupted, unimpressed by Chrysalis’ theatrics. “I enjoy myself, you use it as an excuse to convince me to add the real Big Macintosh to our herd, and I can’t say anything against it because I technically slept with him already?”

“How dare you accuse me of such a thing!” Chrysalis rose to her full height, her eyes full of indignation. She stood up there, trembling in barely restrained fury… then she groaned and deflated, apparently giving up on her charade. “Alright fine.” She rolled her eyes. “Not that I’ve tried very hard to disguise my intentions.”

“You are unbelievable.” Twilight sighed, sitting down on the straw littering the ground.

“And you are delicious.” Chrysalis whispered, circling around her wife. “I could just eat you whole…”

Chrysalis leaned closer, sniffing at Twilight’s neck, inhaling her scent greedily. Twilight shivered as those wickedly sharp fangs nibbled at her coat, a gasp escaping her lips as Chrysalis’ warm tentacle-tongue coiled around her throat. The tentacle squeezed down, not enough to choke her, but hard enough to make her pant for breath. Chrysalis growled as she slowly pressed closer, her crooked hooves snaking around Twilight to grasp her tightly.

“Why do you keep doing this…” Twilight gasped out, her cheeks flushed from short breath and excitement.

“Why do I keep making you so wet?” Chrysalis purred, sniffing the air wolfishly. At Twilight’s head shake, she chuckled. “Why do I keep trying to fool you then.” Chrysalis tightened her tentacle for just a few seconds, obviously enjoying Twilight’s burst of excitement; there was no fear left in the alicorn. “My sweet, the sooner you accept what you have gotten yourself into, the better.”

“Tell me then.” Twilight turned to her lover, ignoring the grasping tentacle constricting around her throat. She watched Chrysalis’ eyes, her own staying firm and resolute. “I just want to understand.”

“You’ve married a changeling, my love, a changeling queen no less.” Chrysalis said condescendingly, closing the gap between them until their lips were almost touching. “To lie and deceive is our way of life, darling. It’s all we know.”

“But Thorax and his hive…”

“Are not true changelings anymore.” Chrysalis snorted derisively. “I’m sure they do not even know what their purpose in life is, now that I’m gone. They must be so lost without the lies, the hate, the constant hunger...”

“Maybe they are still a little unsure of their new life, but they are happier now.” Twilight insisted. “And it was entirely their choice…”

“Lies…” Chrysalis whispered with a humorless chuckle. “I heard about what happened to Pharynx. He didn’t want to be corrupted, he wanted to keep the old ways alive… and his real form was ripped away by force when Starlight and her whore got to him.”

“That’s not how it happened…” Twilight said softly.

“Oh really?” Chrysalis tilted her head, smiling at her wife. “And what about you, my sweet? Don’t you want to make me renounce everything that makes me a changeling? Don’t you want to reform me, to change me… to destroy me?” Chrysalis pressed her nose to Twilight’s muzzle, her eyes shining in the gloom. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

“You’re wrong.” Twilight said without hesitation. “I don’t want to hurt you, I want to help you.”

“And why do you think I need helping. Why should I want to be corrupted by your precious Harmony.” Chrysalis smirked, leaning back from her wife. “Unless you don’t think you could live with a monster like me, and you only married the promise of a nice, obedient, domesticated Chrysalis. Hmmm?”

A tense silence descended upon the barn, both alicorn princess and changeling queen staring at one another, challenging their partner. Twilight grit her teeth, trying to collect her thoughts. Like always, Chrysalis used a sprinkle of truth to sugarcoat her manipulating words, and it stung all the more to admit the changeling was right in some aspects. Since the start Twilight had done nothing but cling to the hope she could reform Chrysalis, because she thought it was the right thing to do. No, she believed it was right.

“You’re being unfair,” Twilight said, looking straight into the changeling’s eyes, “you knew I would try to reform you, that’s what I do.”

“And you knew I would be deceitful,” Chrysalis countered, “that’s what I am.”

Twilight smiled, raising a hoof to caress Chrysalis’ cheeks. “Then why are you telling me the truth, if you are such a liar. Why are you warning me, if you are so evil.”

“Maybe I just want to give you a false sense of security?” Chrysalis fluttered her eyelashes, leaning into Twilight’s hoof.

“Or maybe you’re not as bad as you let on.”

“Oh no, I really am just that awful… You’re just too naïve to realize it.”

“I may be naïve, but at least I’m not scared of my own feelings.”

“Sweetie, I feed on emotions, why would I be scared of them?”

“Then answer me out loud this time: do you care about me?”

Twilight’s last words echoed around the barn, and only silence answered. The changeling held Twilight’s hopeful gaze, her expression unreadable. They said nothing, the staring contest stretching on, Twilight’s heart beating a mile a minute in the deafening silence… until Chrysalis unexpectedly averted her eyes with a deep exhale. If Twilight didn’t know any better, she would have sworn the changeling seemed… ashamed.

“Fine.” Chrysalis spat. “Listen well, for I will not repeat myself.” She hissed, seeming almost angry with herself. “I care for you, Twilight Sparkle, like I’ve never cared for any other creature.” She glared at her wife. “There, happy?”

Twilight felt like her cheeks were about to burst into flames. She had said this to tease the changeling, she didn’t actually expect such a heartfelt admission. It was strange, seeing how fragile Chrysalis was in some aspects. For a creature who could become anything, seeing her so afraid of change was almost endearing.

“Oh, spare me your pity, it tastes awful.” Chrysalis made a face. “Yes, I care for you Sparkle, but do not think I will put aside my true nature just for you, nor accept to be corrupted like my old hive. I would rather die than betray the changeling way of life.”

“You don’t need to.” Twilight quickly reached out, putting her hoof on Chrysalis’ chest. She blinked in surprise as she felt how fast the changeling’s heart was beating, compared to Chrysalis’ calm demeanor. “I just want to make this work. I just want us to work out. As long as we’re honest with one another, as long as we work together, we’ll find our own way.”

“Peh, that is such a pony thing to say.” Chrysalis rolled her eyes with an amused snort. She slowly put her own hoof over Twilight’s, holding her close. “Here’s my rebuttal, Twilight Sparkle: prove to me you can be anything but a weak little sheep, and I’ll consider being anything else than a wolf.”

Chrysalis yanked on Twilight’s hoof, throwing the alicorn to the straw-covered floor. Twilight sprawled on the ground with a startled yelp, and she hiccupped in surprise as Chrysalis pounced on top of her, like a cat toying with a mouse. The changeling growled playfully, her fangs in full display, drops of saliva falling on Twilight’s muzzle.

“I’m a creature of instincts, my sweet.” She leaned down, pressing their noses together. “If you cower, I will pounce. If you run, I’ll give chase. If you submit… I’ll devour you!”

With a loud snarl Chrysalis snapped her jaws around Twilight’s throat, her fangs sliding harmlessly on the back of her neck. Twilight half moaned, half screamed, torn between wanting to push the changeling away… and pull her closer. The alicorn felt Chrysalis’ many sharp teeth pressing against her tender throat, the points slowly sinking into her coat, threatening to pierce through. And Chrysalis’ teeth weren’t the only things poking at Twilight, trying to sink into her flesh. She squirmed on the ground, unbelievably turned on, a loud whimper escaping from her lips…

*BANG*

Pieces of broken wood exploded everywhere as the barn was violently kicked open, the plank barring the entrance giving in, the doors almost flying off their hinges. Two shields instantly materialized over the two lovers, one emerald and the other pink, and both alicorn and changeling jumped to their hooves. They pressed their sides together, ready to defend their mate. Twilight prepared a battery of spells to deal with the would-be attacker, her eyes adjusting to the sunlight streaming from the open door, and...

“What in tarnation is happening in here!” Applejack stormed inside, worry and anger twisting her muzzle. “I heard screaming…” She stopped in her tracks, her mouth falling open. “Twi… Twilight?”

Twilight’s horn fizzled out, her eyes wide as saucers. She felt just like a little filly caught stealing from the cookie jar, and she was extremely aware of the sticky liquid dripping from her belly, where a certain part of her wife had just been rubbing. Not to mention the wetness under her tail, drips running down her thighs… Applejack could probably smell her!

“It’s not what you think!” Twilight blurted out, holding out her hoof in appeasement. “We were only talking, weren’t we honey?” She turned to her wife, hoping Chrysalis would help her for once…

“E-eeyup.” Big Macintosh stammered, his cheeks redder than ever. Twilight choked on a scream, but her evil changeling wife wasn’t done yet. “We weren’t doing nothing!” He shuffled on his hooves, doing a very poor job at hiding his huge erection, the dark red shaft leaking copiously all over the floor. “Just talkin’, yup.” His swollen stallionhood suddenly jerked up, hitting his belly, the meaty slap seeming to awaken Applejack out of her shock.

“What. The. HAY!”

Twilight recoiled from the furious shout. “Applejack, please listen…”

“YOU were Big Mac’s mystery mare?” Applejack erupted, pointing a trembling hoof at Twilight. “YOU’re the one mah brother has been ditching work for?”

“A-Applejack, this isn’t…”

“And then y’all have the gall tah come complain about yer wife making ya breakfast in bed… breakfast in bed!” Applejack stomped into the barn, her eyes full of sisterly rage. “While you’ve been gallivanting with mah BROTHER behind mah back!”

“Twilight, sweetums, teleport us away!” Big Mac shouted, his voice quivering with fear.

“And YOU! How dare ya fool around with one of mah best friends all hidden like!” Applejack turned to her ‘brother’, her anger somehow rising to new levels. “We’re going straight tah granny and yer telling her about this! Ya join a herd and y’all don’t even tell your family?”

“N-no!” Twilight shouted in desperation. “He’s not…”

“He’s not in yer herd?” Applejack’s eyes widened. “Are y’all being unfaithful?”

“NO!” Twilight yelped, taking a few steps back; Applejack was scuffing her hooves on ground, steam blowing from her nostrils. “I mean yes…” She shook her head. “Applejack, this isn’t even the real Big Ma-”

“Twilight,” Big Mac interrupted, “she’s gonna tan our hides if you don’t get us outta here!” he begged, hooking his hoof around Twilight’s neck. “Go!”

Startled by the sudden contact with the burly stallion, Twilight ran on instincts, her horn flaring to life. Applejack instantly charged them, her muzzle twisted with fury. Twilight squealed, her magic swelling as she hurried to prepare her spell. If there was one thing Twilight understood, it was that sisterly protective anger was a dangerous thing to mess with. She hooked one leg around Big Mac’s hoof, her magic engulfing him, ready to cast her spell.

“Git back here ya varmints!” Applejack barked. She leaped, trying to reach them before they could teleport away…

The barn was bathed in pink light, and Applejack skidded to a stop as she covered her eyes. She cursed, fully prepared to give chase all the way to the Friendship Castle if needed. She blinked the familiar spots out of her eyes, already starting to turn towards the door… and she paused when she realized Twilight was still standing there. But there was no trace of Big Mac.

No, in place of her brother, there stood Queen Chrysalis, in all her undisguised glory. The changeling blinked in surprise, her crooked hoof still hooked around Twilight’s neck.

“Oh…” Chrysalis looked down at Applejack, the farmer’s eyes widening in understanding. “Well this is awkward.” She glared at her wife, looking supremely disappointed. “You were supposed to panic and teleport us away. It would have been hilarious!”

“Sorry, but I do learn my lessons.” Twilight smirked.

“Ah well, I tried.” Chrysalis shrugged, unconcerned. “It was worth it just for the look on your face… and being called honey was a nice treat too. I like it, it’s sweet.”

“I’m glad.” Twilight fluttered her eyelashes. She turned to her friend, smiling innocently. “Applejack?”

“Uh…” AJ jerked back, her cheeks reddening with embarrassment. “Yes Twi?”

Twilight tightened her hold over Chrysalis’ leg. “Rope.”

Applejack quirked an eyebrow. “Rope?”

Twilight nodded.

Applejack tilted her hat down, her eyes narrowing.

Chrysalis’ eyes flicked between them, completely confused. “What are you…”

Before the changeling could finish her question, Applejack whipped her head back, grabbing the rope she had tied on her side. Chrysalis’ pupils expanded, and she instantly tried to bolt… but Twilight held to her leg, just long enough for Applejack to have her lasso twirling in the air. The barn exploded into a flurry of hooves, fangs, hisses and snarls. A cloud of shredded straw rose as the three of them rolled on the ground, a few hay bales crashing to the floor. To an outsider it would sound like two ponies were wrestling with a very angry panther.

When the dust settled Chrysalis was bound and gagged on the floor, an inhibitor ring secured around her horn. She struggled against her bindings, but the expertly tied knots held, leaving her hogtied and helpless. She grunted her displeasure, wiggling on the ground until she was glaring directly at Twilight and Applejack, the two ponies panting as they nursed a few scratches and bruises.

“Woowie.” Applejack whistled, flicking her hat back. “Now that there ain’t an easy critter to wrangle, no siree.”

“Tell me about it.” Twilight groaned. She ran a hoof on her flank, where a perfect impression of Chrysalis’ dentition crossed her cutie mark.

“She don’t have no poison in them fangs a’ hers, right?” Applejack asked, worriedly, noticing a similar bite mark on her leg. It wasn’t bleeding, but it did sting.

“She does.” Twilight put a calming hoof on her friends back when her eyes widened. “But she knows better than to use her venom. Don’t you?” She nudged her bound wife, smirking down at her.

“Hrrrmh” Chrysalis grumbled.

“Good.” Twilight smiled. She pushed Chrysalis’ mane out of her face, the anti-magic ring around her horn glinting in the streaming morning light; Twilight was really glad she had borrowed it from Rarity’s collection the day before. Smiling victoriously, she leaned down to whisper into her lover’s ear, “So, am I still a weak little sheep?”

Chrysalis glared at her wife, a growl rising from her throat… then she snorted in laughter, and graced Twilight with a respectful nod. Chrysalis gave her wife a passionate look, her eyes twinkling with desire, and the one part of her anatomy that wasn’t tied down slapped against her belly. It was clear Chrysalis didn’t mind this situation very much, on the contrary: it was turning her on.

Twilight gulped, her gaze drawn to her wife’s green stallionhood, her hoof unconsciously straying towards the pulsing member. This was a new feeling, having Chrysalis under her power, being on top... and the way the changeling was hogtied, it left her rear pleasantly available. Twilight panted, feeling strangely hot under the collar, her tail flicking in excitement. Maybe she should take the occasion to show Chrysalis her new spell…

“Twi, I’m real sorry I yelled at ya.”

Twilight jumped, reminded she wasn’t alone. “D-don’t be silly!” She turned to her friend, schooling her expression. “You couldn’t have known it was Chrysalis. She’s a little too good at this.”

“Ah suppose…” Applejack kicked the ground, looking ashamed of herself. “I was just so worried when I heard ya screaming… and then thinking ya were playing around with mah brother’s heart… It really got mah blood boiling.”

“I would have reacted the same way if I found one of you girls with Shining Armor... Actually, I would have been even angrier.” Twilight assured, remembering how upset she had been when she had heard her brother was getting married.

Applejack snorted, probably remembering the same thing. “Maybe… but I still feel mighty foolish for falling for that trick.”

“Oh believe me, I know how you feel.” Twilight chuckled. “The last few days have been… instructive.”

“Ya don’t say.” Applejack shot Chrysalis a grumpy look.

Applejack kept glaring at Chrysalis, her blonde tail flicking angrily. Then… her gaze shifted. Twilight could swear the farmer’s eyes flicked towards the changeling’s throbbing member, but surely it was just her imagination. Applejack’s flustered look was obviously from embarrassment, not interest, and she was licking her lips because they were dry... Right?

“Applejack?”

The farmer shook her head, as if waking up from a daydream. “Ah, sorry Twi, Ah’m a little tuckered out Ah guess…” She rubbed the back of her neck, frowning at herself, then she perked up. “Well, nothing a quick break can’t fix. Care to join me, say, around a nice pint of cider?”

“I’d love to.” Twilight said happily, enjoying this return to normality. She now realized she had been stupid to think she was alone during her wedding. No matter what, she could count on her friends. “Lead the way.”

The two ponies trotted towards the Apple family household, a hogtied changeling floating after them in a nimbus of pink magic. Applejack and Twilight chatted amiably, pointedly ignoring their prisoner. Their tails hitched a little higher than was strictly decent, but they did their best not to mention it, focusing on sharing their stories to avoid embarrassing each other. It was never polite to point out a mare’s estrus symptoms.

They also missed the large predatory smile on Chrysalis’ dark muzzle, the changeling chuckling to herself, her fangs dripping with a strange, glowing liquid.