Mornings in Ponyville were a picturesque affair. Birds chirped happily in the trees, a rooster crowed in the distance, and warm sunlight crept through Twilight’s bedroom-window, falling on a sleeping changeling queen. Chrysalis slowly awoke to the beautiful bird choir, the morning sun brushing across her back, a sense of peaceful contemplation in the air… it was awful.

Chrysalis growled, resisting the urge to jump out of bed to teach those blasted birds a lesson. Then, once the massacre was over, she would yank the curtains closed and return to her slumber. Maybe even catch a few of those feathery nuisances and store them for later; she was running low on meat. She grumbled, her eyes straining against the happy sunlight, the gentle warmth on her back making her feel sluggish and irritated.

She missed the badlands. She missed the desolate landscape where nothing grew, where nothing lived to annoy her. She missed her old hive, the cool and damp atmosphere of her own room. She missed her old moss bed, the rock underneath so much more comfortable than this overly fluffy mattress. But, if there was one thing she didn’t miss, it was how empty her old bed had been.

Fighting off the need to hiss at the encroaching sunlight, Chrysalis blinked the sleep out of her eyes, her slit pupils narrowing against the sun’s glare… and she found herself nose to nose with a snoring alicorn. Only, it wasn’t Twilight. Slowly, as to avoid waking her bed companions, Chrysalis carefully drew herself back, watching Luna’s sleeping features with a smug smile.

My my, this is a welcome sight. Chrysalis idly thought, her tongue running on her wickedly sharp fangs. So beautiful, so pure… so vulnerable. She leaned closer to Luna’s neck, her maw opening wide, teeth glinting dangerously. It would be so easy… a quick bite, a few pulses of venom…

Chrysalis pressed the tips of her fangs against Luna’s jugular, shivering as she felt the alicorn’s pulse underneath. The princess wouldn’t even feel the prick, and even if she did she wouldn’t have time to wake before the mind-altering venom took over her brain. And the next time Luna opened her eyes, it would be to greet Chrysalis as her master, ready to perform her new duties.

Chrysalis felt her loins stir at the thought, eager to add another alicorn to her breeding stock. It was tempting… so tempting. Her jaw tensed up, preparing to bite down… but instead she closed her mouth and simply laid a kiss on Luna’s soft fur.

Aaah, ponies are such hopeless creatures. Chrysalis sighed wistfully. She carefully deposited a second sloppy kiss on the crook of Luna’s jaw, her saliva glinting against the alicorn’s navy coat. So powerful... yet so peaceful and trusting, just like all prey animals. They really were made to be hunted.Made to be conquered, and ruled. So foolish. So soft. So…

“Are you quite finished?”

Chrysalis froze mid kiss, her eyes darting towards Luna’s. The not-quite slumbering alicorn huffed, her eyelids slowly opening to reveal the glowing orbs underneath. Chrysalis felt a hint of worry, wondering what spell the alicorn had just been casting, but she schooled her expression as Luna turned to her. The magical glow quickly diminished, whatever spell Luna had been casting interrupted, Luna’s eyes returning to their usual beautiful sky blue. The alicorn frowned as Chrysalis looked back with an innocent expression, her dark lips still pulling on Luna’s coat.

“While you have made a good choice in choosing not to attack me,” Luna intoned, her voice low and full of warning, “you will do well to cease your disgusting drooling.”

“Ah, so you were awake.” Chrysalis pulled back, a string of saliva clinging to her smiling lips. “Were you testing me?”

Luna didn’t bat an eye, her expression guarded and emotions tightly restrained. “Yes. In more ways than you realize.” She said cryptically.

Was that supposed to scare her? “Oh? And did I pass the test?” Chrysalis expression became sultry, her eyes half lidded, and she whispered, “did you enjoy feeling my fangs on your neck? Did you enjoy being at my mercy? Did the thrill of fear make your heart race?” Chrysalis pressed herself closer to the rigid alicorn, letting Luna feel just how excited this situation was making her. “If you want, we could wake Rarity up, she knows how to treat naughty girls like you…”

Chrysalis squawked in surprise as a blue aura suddenly took hold of her. The magic threw her off the bed like she weighed nothing, and she was pinned to the floor with implacable power. She vainly struggled against the alicorn’s magic for a few seconds, then she released a breathless snicker, and laid still. She watched Luna carefully step out of bed, her horn burning with raw magical power.

“Touched a nerve, have I?” Chrysalis gasped out, the magic squishing her a little harder. Still, she smiled, and sent Luna a sly wink. “I knew you were a submissive little slut…”

Luna’s wings flared open, ready to put Chrysalis in her place… but a slumbering moan stopped the princess in her tracks. Luna turned with a concerned expression, watching with wide eyes as Rarity tossed and turned, the unicorn obviously waking up to the commotion. Luna shot Chrysalis a glare, her cheeks tinged with red. She mouthed “not a word” to the downed changeling queen, her horn began to glow anew, and with a flash of blue magic she was gone.

“Eeek! What the…” Rarity squealed, the covers flying off as she stood on the bed, her head whirling around to find the source of the flash of light. “I swear to Celestia, if this is another paparazzi taking candid pictures of me I will…Wait… where am I?”

Chrysalis chuckled, shrugging off the remnants of Luna’s magic. “You are home, my pretty.” Chrysalis purred, smoothly getting off the floor, quickly pushing any thoughts of Luna out of her mind. Rarity blinked in surprise at her appearance, her eyes widening as her mind registered that she was indeed at the castle, and what had happened the day before was real. Chrysalis licked her lips, devouring her new mate with her hungry eyes. “You really are beautiful in the morning…”

She truly was. The disheveled state of the usually prim and proper unicorn had a very particular appeal to Chrysalis. No mascara, no lipstick, and her neck bare now that her collar rested inside the nightstand, to be used on special occasions. Rarity wore no subterfuge, no glamour; just her raw natural beauty. And the pleased blush coloring her cheeks wasn’t too bad to look at either.
Chrysalis continued licking her lips, her hooves softly clacking on the crystal floor as she snaked her way over to her latest conquest. Not many ponies got to see the fashionista in this state… and now no others would. Rarity was hers, forever. Hers... and Twilight’s.

“Oh my...” Rarity melted under Chrysalis’ gaze, her hooves reflexively messing with her tousled mane as her new lover stalked closer. “I’m flattered darling, but I know I look like a mess without my… *Mffft!*”

Whatever silliness Rarity was spouting was interrupted by a sloppy, passionate, and wonderfully aggressive kiss. The changeling quickly thrust her tentacle-tongue into Rarity’s mouth, coiling it around the unicorn’s tongue, wasting no time in unnecessary pleasantries. Chrysalis growled with satisfaction as Rarity’s eyes fluttered, the fashionista quickly responding to the kiss.
Rarity began to push back, fighting for control, but Chrysalis wouldn’t have it. She snarled in warning as she pushed the little pony backwards, their lips never parting once. Overwhelmed, Rarity stumbled and found herself lying belly up on the mattress, her changeling lover climbing over her.

Rarity began to roll away, trying to regain some semblance of control over the heated kiss, but she didn’t get far. Chrysalis made a point of showing off her superior size by pinning the moaning unicorn under her, their bellies brushing against one another as the changeling queen asserted her dominance. And yet Rarity still struggled underneath, the unicorn fighting back even as the fragrance of her excitement filled the room, making Chrysalis unbearably aroused. The kiss became even more aggressive, moans and snarls mixing together.

The bout of morning passion might have gone further, if not for the sudden knocking on the bedroom door. Both mares finally relented in their frantic kissing, Rarity still pinned with a mouthful of tentacle. Chrysalis leaned back with an annoyed grunt, finally allowing the kiss to end. Rarity patiently waited for the enormous tentacle-tongue to leave her mouth, her lips even suckling on it as it endlessly slithered out, teasing her new mate to the end. Chrysalis had half a mind to stuff something a lot harder in her mouth.

“How forward…” Rarity whispered breathlessly, her eyes twinkling with desire. The knocks echoed around the room, louder this time, and the unicorn sighed with obvious disappointment. “But it seems we’ll have to continue this later.”

Chrysalis frowned, very much opposed to the idea of stopping now; her excitement slapped against her carapaced belly, agreeing with her sentiment. She was considering just ignoring whoever was on the other side of the door when the knocks repeated a third time, this time accompanied with a muffled voice.

“Twilight?” Spike called, his scaled knuckles hitting the door faster than before. “Chrysalis? Are you in there?”

Chrysalis groaned, and she quickly got off the bed, liberating Rarity. “Just a moment young one, I will be with you shorty.” She called, shivering as she forced her member to retract into her sheath. She shot the unicorn a glance, taking in Rarity’s disheveled mane, her wet lips, and her flushed face. “You might want to hide in the bathroom. If he sees you in this depraved state there might be some very awkward consequences, for all involved.”

Rarity gave her lover a calculating glance, her eye flickering from Chrysalis to the door, but she didn’t comment. The unicorn simply smiled back and nodded, taking the time to place a teasing kiss on Chrysalis’ neck as she got out of bed. Rarity quickly crossed the room, her disordered tail waving alluringly as she stepped into the bathroom. Chrysalis had one last glimpse of the fashionista’s shapely backside before the door closed, and she shook her head in dismay. No matter, there would be ample time to enjoy the unicorn later.

Chuckling to herself, Chrysalis trotted to the bedroom door, wondering what Spike needed from her.

Back in Canterlot, Luna slowly drifted towards her sister’s balcony, her lazy flight giving her time to think about what she had learned the previous night. She touched down with a soft clicking of hooves on marble, her long legs carrying her inside, her mind elsewhere.

“Princess, you’re back! How did it go?”

Luna blinked, resurfacing from her inner thoughts and she looked around the room. As Thorax had promised, he had kept his vigil over her sister the whole night… and judging by his huge stomach he had not gone hungry. The changeling king was positively bulging with stored love, his carapace almost glowing with energy. Luna was momentarily flabbergasted —just how much love could Celestia produce?— then she shook her head and trotted towards the rotund changeling.

“King Thorax.” Luna greeted, nodding respectfully. “Everything went as well as could be expected. The information I have gathered is both reassuring… and alarming in some ways.” Luna eyed Thorax’s belly. “I see your night has been productive as well?”

“You could say that… *burp*” Thorax blushed as he covered his mouth, mumbling an excuse. “I’m glad you’re back, I really need to get back to the hive to share all this love.” He shook his head. “It’s making me a little… loopy.”

Luna watched the king’s rounded stomach, suddenly reminded of a giant green marble. She inclined her head just a bit. “I’m sorry for my tardiness, I had some things I needed to make sure of before I returned. I thank you for your help.” She glanced at the empty bed, her brow furrowing just a little. “And my sister?”

“Shower.” Thorax pointed at Celestia’s bathroom, almost falling in the process as his belly sloshed audibly. “Oops… I’ve never metabolized so much love in my life, all this nectar is a little hard to deal with.” He took a deep breath, steadying himself… and he snorted in surprise. He sniffed again, this time more carefully. He leaned forward, sniffing like a dog, his eyes glazing over, as if entranced by a scent.

“Could you stop sniffing me in this manner?” Luna asked, just a tad miffed. She knew she had not had the chance to shower yet, but Thorax didn’t need to remind her so rudely.

Thorax seemed to remember himself, a deep red blush appearing on his green cheeks. “I’m sorry, it’s just…” For some reason, he backed away from Luna, as if afraid to be near her. “I didn’t think it had gone that well with my mother…”

Luna narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean?”

“Y-you… You smell like…” Thorax gulped, looking very uncomfortable. “Well you smell like you’ve spent the night very close to Chrysalis… and she marked you, thoroughly.”

Luna blinked. “What?”

“Y-yes, you’re covered in changeling pheromones.” Thorax whimpered, covering his muzzle. “I wouldn’t go near my hive for a long, long while if I were you… Or near any other changeling for that matter…”

Luna’s eyes twitched, a vein pulsing on her temple. “Why?

“Well… She marked you as a…” he gulped, taking a few steps back. “She… hmm…”

“King Thorax.” Luna said through gritted teeth, her horn fizzling with anger. “What. Did. She. Do.”

“She… She marked you as a public use mare…” Thorax blurted out, blushing profusely. “A mare the whole hive can mate with whenever they want. What you ponies would call a whore… Wait, why is your horn glowing like that?”

Chrysalis had just flipped her latest pancake when the magically amplified scream reached Ponyville. She paused in her breakfast-making frenzy to listen to Luna’s shouts, the changeling being one of the few beings alive capable of understanding the ancient curses and insults the alicorn was screeching out. Chrysalis’ ears twitched as a large smile appeared on her muzzle: the shrieks were like music to her ears.

“My word, what in Equestria is that?” Rarity yelped, looking around the kitchen as the shouts shook the Friendship Castle’s walls, the many dishes on the food-laden table rattling before her.

“It sounds just like a siren screaming!” Spike said fearfully, his crumb-covered snout twisting with worry.

“Don’t worry, it’s nothing.” Chrysalis assured, a satisfied chuckle rising from her chest. “It should stop soon enough.” Just then the shouts were cut off, the last echoes ringing lower and lower. “See? Nothing to worry about.” She flipped the pancake over her shoulder, the sugary treat landing perfectly on top of the huge pile sitting in front of Rarity. “Now, eat.”

Spike eagerly obeyed, the little drake digging into his bacon sandwich with gusto. Chrysalis took a few moments to watch him eat, his satisfied smile making her chest well with warmth. She blinked, and rubbed a hoof on her pectoral plates, wondering if she was getting sick. She did feel a little light-headed lately, and the strange emotions rumbling in her heart… yes, she was probably coming down with something. She frowned, and decided to push the construction of the healing-pool chamber at the top of her hive-building priorities. Just after the nursery.

“Darling, not that I do not appreciate you making breakfast for me,” Rarity watched the plate of stacked pancakes, her eyes twinkling with hunger and regret, “but do you have anything less…” she eyed the maple syrup drizzling down the tower of sugary goodness, and she gulped. “Less fatty? I do have a figure to maintain.”

Chrysalis smothered a derisive snort, hiding her amusement by bending over to check on a platter of cookies baking in the oven. “I wouldn’t worry about your figure, my pretty.” She shot Rarity a teasing look. “Besides, I’m sure you will look beautiful with a round belly…” Full of my brood. Chrysalis completed in her mind.

“Yeah,” Spike chipped in dreamily, giving Rarity a smitten puppy-dog gaze, “and it’s not like a few pancakes will hurt.”

Rarity raised an eyebrow, then leaned towards the little drake, smiling demurely. “Oh, so are you saying I’m too skinny?”

“N-no! You’re not skinny!” Spike rushed to say, waving his claws around. “You’re way not skinny!”

“Oh… so are you saying I’m chubby then?”

Spike seemed to choke on his own tongue, and promptly started to try and dig himself out of the hole he had just jumped into. The words “curvy” and “just in the right places” were uttered, much to Rarity’s teasing amusement, and to Spike’s growing horror. Chrysalis watched the exchange with a thin smile, a hint of worry blossoming in her chest.

She had known about the little drake’s infatuation for Rarity of course, frankly it was a little hard not to notice. Even then, she hadn’t thought twice when pursuing the unicorn… but now she couldn’t help but feel… bad. She shook her head, berating herself. She tried to keep the silly thoughts out of her mind as she started to work on a new pancake, but the feelings wouldn’t stop nagging at her mind.

This is but a childish crush, it will pass. She told herself, tuning out from the impish unicorn and the flailing dragonling. And who cares anyway, that mare was mine for the taking. If his feelings persist until he is mature, I could always let him have her when he’s old enough. He is part of the hive after all.

The thought made Chrysalis hesitate, her brow furrowing in confusion.

Wait… is he? But… he’s not a drone, nor a worker, nor a warrior, and not part of the breeding stock… what is he then? She glowered at a bowl of freshly made whipped cream, her ears splaying back.

“Bit for your thoughts?”

Chrysalis jerked back from her confused thoughts, looking back towards the table. She was surprised to find only Rarity sitting there, nibbling on a small piece of pancake. “Where is the small one?”

“Spike? Oh, the poor little dear ran away after he accidentally compared my rear to a perfectly shaped cushy pillow.” Rarity tittered behind her hoof, her curls bouncing. “He is such a cute little sweetheart.” She said fondly, taking another minuscule bite from her piece of pancake.

“Not as cute as you were yesterday, filled with my semen.” Chrysalis said casually.

Far from being taken aback by the naughty change of topic, Rarity hummed in agreement. “I’ll admit I did enjoy the pregnant look you gave me… even if it was a chore to get rid of; my poor bathroom will never be the same.” She tilted her head, letting a strand of her curly mane fall on her right eye. “You know, I still haven’t decided if I should take my morning-after pills...”

“Yes, you have.” Chrysalis said proudly, looking straight into her willing broodmare’s eyes. “You know you’ve made your choice.”

“Hmmm, perhaps.” Rarity’s lips curled into a mocking smirk. “Or perhaps I’m just confident your weak release won’t take…”

“Weak? You certainly didn’t seem to think so when you were guzzling it down yesterday.” Chrysalis levitated a dollop of whipped cream in the air and left it to hover in front of Rarity’s muzzle. “Hungry for more?”

Once again Rarity didn’t let Chrysalis’ teasing get to her. She purred sensually, her tongue darting out to sample the floating white cream, her tongue slooowly running along the tasty treat. Chrysalis had hoped to catch the unicorn off guard, but she was the one who ended up being surprised by the lewd display, her mind going blank as Rarity made a show of sampling her cream. The unicorn took her time in savoring her sample, moans of pleasure echoing around the kitchen.

“Hmmm, delicious.” Rarity smacked her lips, sighing contently. She held her sultry gaze for a few more seconds, before breaking into a fit of giggles. “Oh my, I see I haven’t lost my touch.”

Chrysalis grunted, trying stop her length from spilling out of her sheath any more than it already had. This unicorn really was a professional when it came to flirting. It took all of Chrysalis’ willpower to keep herself from rushing around the small kitchen table, throwing the mare on the table, and ravaging her on a bed of pastries. Instead she flipped her pancake, grumbling about stupid sexy unicorns.

Still, Chrysalis smiled. Between Rarity and Twilight, her new hive was off to a magnificent start. To have such a perfect broodmother, alongside a queen worthy of herself already under her dominion…

“Don’t you look positively smug.” Rarity hummed, tilting her head as she watched Chrysalis’ self-satisfied smile.

“Why shouldn’t I.” Chrysalis said haughtily, swinging around to look Rarity in the eyes. “Twilight is mine,” she smirked, “and now so are you.”

“Am I now.” Rarity tapped her chin, her eyes lidded. “I seem to remember somepony begging to be whipped, squirming under my control…”

“Before you completely yielded and submitted to my rule.” Chrysalis asserted, smiling wide, her fangs glinting. “And then you willingly followed me to my hive, ready to take your place as my plaything...”

“Or maybe I came over because you gave me exactly what I wanted.” Rarity tilted her head, fluttering her eyelashes.

“Oh? And what is that?” Chrysalis leaned over the table, placing her elbows on the food-laden surface; the unicorn didn’t recoil, and even closed the distance, their snouts almost touching. “A ticket to sleep in a royal bed? A place in a herd? Love?” She snorted derisively, holding her chin in her hooves. “An escape from the crushing loneliness you obviously suffered from?”

“You would know about loneliness, wouldn’t you?” Rarity countered, her smiling lips quirking up when Chrysalis couldn’t hide a frown. “And yes, I was lonely, and finding that my darling little Twilight is looking for a herd is a most welcome surprise. But you forgot one reason, my main reason for coming here.”

“You are a horny harlot and I’m the best lay you’ve ever had?” Chrysalis let her tentacle tongue slither out from between her fangs, her eyes glinting. “Anxious for another ride with your queen?”

“Hmm, maybe just a little.” Rarity said easily, shrugging off the insult. “But no. I accepted your invitation because I was worried.”

Chrysalis blinked, taken aback. “Worried? What…”

“Worried about my sweet, naïve little Twilight.” Rarity sighed, her hoof idly playing with a strand of Chrysalis’ wispy mane. “That poor dear, so innocent and pure, how could she possibly deal with a perverted beast such as yourself. To be trapped with you, all on her own…” Rarity looked back into Chrysalis’ reptilian eyes, her gaze twinkling. “But now she isn’t alone anymore, is she? She has a friend she can count on, even in her most… intimate moments.” She patted Chrysalis’ cheek. “Thanks for letting me in, darling.”

Chrysalis stood still for a few heartbeats… then she growled, both angry and turned on by the mare’s duplicity. “Oh, I am going to make you scream tonight, my pretty little whore…”

“I look forward to it.” Rarity said heatedly, pushing her nose against Chrysalis’ wolfish muzzle. “Or maybe I’ll teach Twilight a few tricks, give her a few lessons on how to wield a whip, and I’ll get to hear your adorable squeaking again, hmm?”

Chrysalis tensed, ready to pounce on Rarity and put her back in her place… but the door leading to the main dining area opened just before she cold. Both pony and changeling turned in tandem, finding a blushing Twilight staring back from the doorway. The alicorn hesitated, her eyes flicking from her wife to her new... concubine? Twilight visibly became flustered by the thought, much to Chrysalis enjoyment. The alicorn awkwardly shuffled her way to the table, eyes on the ground, cheeks crimson. It was just too precious.

Chrysalis inhaled deeply, her body shuddering in pleasure. She just loved the taste of Twilight’s embarrassment, it was almost as delectable as her lust. The way the innocent alicorn had squirmed the night before, when Rarity had joined them in bed, feeling Twilight’s initial reticence slowly melting into confused excitement when the gorgeous unicorn had hugged her in her sleep… Delicious.

“Good morning sweetie.” Chrysalis greeted as Twilight approached the table, a big mischievous smile on her black lips. She expected Twilight to come sit by her side, as far away from Rarity as possible. “I hope you had a good… night…” Chrysalis blinked in surprise as Twilight not only trotted to Rarity’s side, but also sat right next to the pleased unicorn. “Wha…”

“Twilight, darling!” Rarity said cheerfully, shooting Chrysalis a quick little victorious smirk. She leaned closer to Twilight, trying to catch her flustered gaze. “Where were you last night? I heard you get up, and this morning you were not in bed... *Mmmh*!”

Chrysalis jaw fell open, her eyes bulging out as Twilight suddenly, and truth be told a little clumsily, kissed Rarity full on the lips. Judging by the shocked expression on Rarity’s face, the fashionista was just as surprised, even if her shock quickly melted into pleasure. Chrysalis was slapped in the face by a wave of pure satisfaction radiating from Rarity, almost overwhelming Twilight’s shy eagerness. This was not what Chrysalis had expected.

Twilight and Rarity separated with a sloppy *mouah*, the string of saliva connecting their lips proof of Twilight’s clumsy enthusiasm. They stared at one another longingly, panting slightly. Twilight’s eyes were full of cautious excitement, while Rarity’s were burning with desire.

“Oh… my…” Rarity breathed hotly, her glistening lips slightly open. “Why do ponies keep interrupting me with kisses…” She licked her lips sensually. “Not that I’m complaining…”

“I… I just w-wanted to.” Twilight stammered cutely. “Did I… was it okay?”

“It was marvelous.” Rarity purred, leaning forward to press her nose to Twilight, devouring the blushing alicorn with her lustful eyes. “I wouldn’t say no to a second one…”

Twilight gulped audibly, her blush intensifying. She whimpered helplessly, trembling as Rarity closed the small gap between them, her lips puckering in anticipation…

“Ahem.” Chrysalis cleared her throat as loudly and rudely as she could. Both ponies jumped, as if they had forgotten about her, and they broke out of their saccharine display. Twilight seemed more embarrassed than ever, and Rarity looked infuriatingly smug. “Sorry, I hope I am not interrupting?” Chrysalis growled, her horn fizzling with furious green energy.

“Of course not, dearie.” Rarity waved her hoof dismissively, and she leaned to give Twilight a little peck on her crimson cheeks. “We can always continue later.”

“How nice.” Chrysalis said through gritted teeth. “Here, eat.” She levitated a freshly made pancake towards Rarity’s stack… and completely missed her mark. The warm, syrup infused treat sailed over the pancake stack, before plopping right on top of Rarity’s head.

“EEEEEEEEEEEEEE!”

“Whoops.” Chrysalis said impassively as the fashionista shrieked in dismay, sticky melted syrup running all over her mane. “I slipped.”

“Chrysalis!” Twilight scolded her wife, before she turned to her whimpering friend. She quickly levitated the squashed pancake off her friend’s head, bits of it falling all over the place. “Are you alright Rarity?”

“My mane!” Rarity shrieked, her eyes wide and panicked. “What have you done! You monster!” The unicorn jumped off her seat, syrup running all over her neck. “It’s going to stain my coat! AAAAH!”

“Rarity, wait!”

Chrysalis couldn’t help but grin maliciously as Rarity ignored Twilight’s calls and ran off as fast as she could, no doubt to find the nearest bathroom. The fashionista stopped in the doorway, shot Chrysalis a death glare —this means war, her eyes seemed to say— then she was off to save her precious mane and coat. Chrysalis listened to Rarity’s diminishing hoofsteps, feeling both satisfied and angry at the same time. Having to resort to such petty means of vengeance felt like admitting defeat.

“That was mean.” Twilight said softly, watching her wife carefully. Chrysalis snorted, turning to retrieve the platter of cookies from the oven. “Why did you do that?”

Chrysalis rolled her eyes, her magic plucking the baked treats from the tray and putting them into a bowl. “Don’t play coy with me, Twilight Sparkle. I know what you are doing.” She didn’t need to see Twilight’s expression to know the alicorn had just winced; that mare was just the worst poker player in the world.

“I-I don’t see what you mean…”

“Trying to make me jealous.” Chrysalis spelled it out, her eye twitching. “How foolish do you think I am?” She suddenly turned, shoving the bowl of warm, lovingly made cookies under Twilight’s nose. “Using poor Rarity to get to me… I didn’t know you could be capable of something so hurtful.”

Twilight had the good grace of looking guilty, her eyes falling down to the bowl of chocolate chips and hazelnuts cookies. Chrysalis had to resist smiling: the alicorn was just too kind for her own good. Twilight was so quick to question herself, so ready to give others the benefit of the doubt… Something Chrysalis was more than happy to take advantage of, despite the vestigial hints of guilt nagging at her mind. She discarded the pesky foreign emotion with an internal scoff, and prepared to tease the alicorn some more…. But Twilight beat her to the punch.

“Isn’t that exactly what you did yesterday?”

Chrysalis froze, her mind screeching to a halt. Twilight’s voice had been soft, without a hint of accusation or anger, but Chrysalis could feel the pain under the casual tone. She looked into Twilight’s eyes, seeing the betrayal underneath… and for the first time in her life Chrysalis felt compelled to avert her eyes.

Of course she resisted the silly urge, and put on her usual wolfish smile instead. “This again? We’ve been over this: you gave me permission…”

“But you knew I didn’t mean it.”

Chrysalis slowly closed her muzzle, her eyes narrowing. She watched Twilight’s resolute expression, noting her stiff posture. Strange, she didn’t expect Twilight to push back so strongly. If her observations on the alicorn were correct, Twilight should have accepted the situation, compelled by guilt and fear of hurting Rarity’s feelings. Had Chrysalis miscalculated?

“Perhaps…” Chrysalis said carefully. If she gave a little ground, Twilight’s reasonable nature should push her to reach out and meet her halfway. “I just didn’t think it was such a big issue, lots of ponies still form herds: it’s only natural for your species, instinctive. This monogamous trend of the last few centuries seems silly to me, I didn’t think… I’m sorry.” Chrysalis wore her most sincere pout, wondering if it would work.

Twilight’s gaze wavered slightly, and Chrysalis smirked internally: she could almost feel Twilight’s natural kindness and tendency for forgiveness making her resolve crack. It was almost too easy…

“No.” Twilight shook her head. “You aren’t sorry, I know you aren’t.”

Chrysalis’ fake repenting expression fell away, replaced by a more genuine glare. How rude. She really was sorry! Sorry Twilight had caught on rather than sorry for her actions, but still, that counted.
Fine, if appeal to Twilight’s compassion didn’t work, Chrysalis would have to play dirty. Really, it was Twilight’s own fault for pushing the issue, not her own. The alicorn was forcing her hoof. Chrysalis playing nice was a kindness she didn’t usually extend to just anypony, Twilight was just being ungrateful.

“You didn’t seem to mind Rarity’s presence just now, while you were playing with her tongue.” Chrysalis taunted, her magic caressing Twilight’s lips, still glossy with Rarity’s saliva. “And don’t try to pretend it was just to make me mad.” Chrysalis gave her wife a shark-like smile. “I could feel how much you enjoyed it.”

Twilight blushed deeply, her eyes finally looking away. I win this round. Chrysalis cheered internally, savoring Twilight’s conflicted emotions. Oh, the alicorn was still angry, but her mind was now busy dealing with repressed lust for her friends, the long-buried feelings surging to the surface. Chrysalis smirked, confident the alicorn was about to fold like the naïve little girl she was…

“Excuse me, I have to go to the little filly’s room.” Twilight squeaked. “I’ll be right back.” She rose from her chair, trotted to the door leading to the hallway, and disappeared without another word, leaving a dumbfounded changeling behind.

Chrysalis blinked, wondering what the heck had just happened. She and Twilight had been in the middle of a contest of the minds! A duel of words and wills… and Twilight had just left her hanging! One didn’t just leave a battleground in the middle of a fight, much less for a toilet break! That was just rude!
And to top it all off, her cookies were getting cold.

Frustrated by the alicorn’s shocking lack of manners, Chrysalis grumbled and quickly covered the bowl in tinfoil, keeping the baked goods nice and warm for Twilight. She then set out to clean her baking tools, waiting for her wife to return.

Chrysalis had just put away the last pan when Twilight returned, and the changeling had to resist growling at her. Twilight nonchalantly trotted to her seat. She got comfortable. She removed the tinfoil. She levitated a cookie from her bowl. She took a big bite, a big smile instantly appearing on her lips as she chewed. She made pleased noises as she ate the tasty baked good, then popped a second one in her muzzle, humming happily. Then she finally seemed to remember she wasn’t alone, and focused back on her wife.

“Hmm, sowwy, these awe reawy good!” She mumbled with her mouth full. She swallowed, smacking her lips. “Where were we?”

Chrysalis trembled with barely contained anger. “We were talking about your filthy sexual cravings for your friends.”

“Ah, yes.” Twilight nodded, apparently completely unperturbed by Chrysalis’ bluntness. “Well, I do admit I enjoyed snuggling with Rarity yesterday. And the kiss earlier… that was…” Twilight seemed lost in thought, her cheeks reddening.

Chrysalis snorted. “There you go. You’re welcome.”

“But, that doesn’t excuse what you did.” Twilight shook her head, her expression turning serious again.

“And what did I do.” Chrysalis sneered. “Gave you exactly what you wanted? Made our hive stronger? Rescued that unicorn from a life of frustrated whoring while she waits for her prince charming? What did I…”

“You hurt me.”

Chrysalis physically recoiled from Twilight’s words. She hit the counter as she stumbled backwards, eyes bulging. Completely confused by her own reaction, the changeling held her chest, wondering why her heart was aching so much. Twilight watched her attentively, as if gauging her response. Judging by the guilt radiating from the alicorn, Twilight knew very well what she was doing. Confused and wounded, Chrysalis did the only thing she could think of: she lashed out.

“Hurt you? And what of it?” She snapped, her horn fizzling. She reared up and brought her hooves on the table, a few dishes clattering to the ground from the impact. “I haven’t broken the terms of our alliance, it’s the only thing that matters. Do you think I truly care about you?”

“I don’t know.” Twilight said softly, untouched by Chrysalis’ aggressiveness. “Do you?”

Chrysalis loomed over the smaller mare, showing off her fangs, her wings buzzing furiously. She opened her mouth to deny it. She wanted to tell Twilight she didn’t care about her, and was just using her, that she was just another breeding mare in her hive. She wanted to throw Twilight’s repulsive sentimentality right into her face, she wanted to tell the alicorn she didn’t care one bit… but the words died in her throat. She couldn’t bring herself to say it.

Because it would be a lie.

Chrysalis sighed in frustration, and she took a step back, all tension leaving her body. Her anger had been a show, of course… and Twilight had called her bluff. Bested by this little pony, an alicorn not even a century old… how shameful. She avoided Twilight’s searching gaze, and gave the most minuscule little nod. It was apparently enough.

Twilight gave a deep and long exhale, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her mind. Chrysalis frowned as she felt the wave of emotions surging from the alicorn: happiness, relief and a surprising amount of guilt all mixed in one sour-sweet blend. It was almost as if Twilight was deeply reassured… but also ashamed at the same time. Strange…

“You know,” Chrysalis began, watching Twilight carefully, “you should be proud of what you’ve just done.”

“W-what?” Twilight straightened on her chair, startled out of her thoughts.

“Using my feelings against me like you just did.” Chrysalis inclined her head, like a fencer acknowledging a worthy adversary. “That was surprisingly devious of you, one might even say… villainous.” Chrysalis gave her wife an appreciative smile. “I’m proud of you. I’ll make a changeling queen out of you yet.”

“N-no!” Twilight blurted out. “I didn’t… I haven’t…”

Chrysalis almost laughed out loud. Twilight had surprised her, true, but the young alicorn still had a lot to learn when it came to playing this game. Just a little remark and she was back to being all flustered, her whole façade of control completely shattered.

“A-and I still haven’t forgiven you for s-sleeping with Rarity!” Twilight stammered. She was trying to take back the reins of the conversation. How cute. “AND I want to know what you did in Canterlot! Everypony was completely crazy over there. Don’t try to deny it, I know you had something to do with…”

“Oh yes, that was me.” Chrysalis admitted instantly. She smiled innocently, snickering internally as Twilight choked back the rest of her tirade. “I knew I had to keep you busy for a while, so I made sure the princesses would keep you in Canterlot while I seduced your friend.”

“Y-you… what did you do…” Twilight shook her head, completely taken aback by the easy confession. “I mean, why… Why would you send me away, just to get to Rarity…”

“Oh, Thorax didn’t tell you?” Chrysalis said casually, tripping up the alicorn once more. Twilight’s strangled gasp was just too cute! “I thought he would have told you all about my nesting instincts, the little traitor.”

“How… How did you know…”

“I can smell him on you.” Chrysalis hissed, a hint of real anger boiling to the surface, before she smothered it down with her casual smile. “But don’t worry, I forgive you for hiding your meeting with him.” Chrysalis focused on Twilight’s shoulder. “I won’t even rip his head off for daring to touch you.”

“I didn’t hide anything!” Twilight shot to her hooves, outraged. “The subject never came up!”

Chrysalis quirked an eyebrow. “So you’re saying you didn’t lie. I just didn’t ask, is that it?”

“I didn’t have time to tell you!”

“We had plenty of time yesterday, while you were dragging me through the streets of Ponyville. That was not very nice, by the way.”

“Oh no, don’t even try to…”

“I mean, I showed you everything I did the moment you arrived. I was honest with you.” Chrysalis interrupted, her lower lip trembling as she pouted sadly. “But you, you try to hide your secret meeting with a rival king… And then I’m the unfaithful wife?”

“You spent the whole night copulating with one of my best friends!”

“Yes, but I asked you first.” Chrysalis whined. “I told you I wanted to take that unicorn for a ride, I asked for your consent… Is it my fault you didn’t understand I was serious?”

“We already talked about this! You knew full I didn’t...”

“I was only following my natural instincts.” Chrysalis’ expression turned pained. “I couldn’t help myself, I was in my nesting phase! Looking for more mates is perfectly normal! Isn’t that exactly what Thorax told you?”

“H-he… You…”

“Don’t you think it’s extremely unfair for you to ask me to conform to pony customs, when you will not even consider mine?” Chrysalis pleaded, her green eyes shining with crocodile tears. “Building a strong hive is my main purpose in life, it’s my role. I won’t keep you from being the Princess of Friendship… is it fair for you to ask me not to be a changeling queen?”

“N-no, it’s not, but…”

“I thought friendship was all about acceptance and compromises.” Chrysalis choked out, half sobbing by this point. “Or do you not care about me the same way I do?” She fluttered her wet eyelashes at her blabbering wife, tears rolling down her black cheeks. “Or… am I just another villain for you to reform?”

You asked for this, my sweet. Chrysalis thought giddily. Oh, her performance had been cheesy and completely transparent, but that didn’t matter. What mattered was that Twilight could not answer any of her points without sounding like the bad guy. Your move, my love.

Twilight’s eyes twitched, her mane springing out of place as she tried to find a way to express just how awful Chrysalis was being without sounding too rude… and she seemed to draw a blank. “E-excuse me, I have to go to the little filly’s room.”

Again? Chrysalis frowned, watching Twilight hurry away. What are you hiding…

“Of course sweetie,” Chrysalis purred, “but don’t take too long, or I might get bored. And if I do, I might go have fun with another of your little friends, hmmm?”

Twilight stumbled, and glared at her wife. “If you do that again to one of the girls I will send you to the moon. I mean it.” She warned. She then rushed to the door, ears twitching madly.

Chrysalis waited for Twilight to exit the kitchen, then she crept on silent hooves after her wife. She slipped out the door without a sound, stalking the alicorn through the castle’s corridors. She followed Twilight, keeping to the shadows, hiding behind the occasional pillar whenever Twilight looked back. The alicorn was being suspiciously careful…

Finally, Twilight reached the nearest bathroom, and she rushed inside before locking the door. Still wary, Chrysalis slithered to the door, her ears perked, ready to bolt if needed. She was right next to the door when voices reached her sensitive ears, the frantic whispering barely audible. Eyes narrowed, Chrysalis gently placed her ear on the crystal door, listening in.

“No! No compromises! You can’t let her gain ground on you like that.” Starlight hissed, making sure the bathroom door was locked tight. “How did she turn the conversation on you again?”

“I don’t know, it just… happened.” Twilight winced, her ears folding as Starlight groaned out loud. “It’s not my fault: she has rational arguments! Even if she uses them in the most unreasonably ways...”

“Twilight we talked about this!” Starlight held her head in her hooves. “If you try to be fair, she’ll take advantage of it. You have to push her back, take control!”

“I did…” Twilight shuffled on her hooves. “I think…”

“Okay, let’s go over our checklist. Again.” Starlight grunted, levitating and unrolling a parchment. “Item one, does Chrysalis understand that what she did hurt you.”

“She does now.” Twilight nodded, nervously pawing at her tail.

“Stop that.” Starlight tapped Twilight’s hoof. “Item two, does she feel bad about hurting you.”

“I think so...” Twilight thought back to how Chrysalis had reacted, and she amended. “No, I know so.”

“Really?” Starlight shot Twilight an incredulous glance. “Are you sure… Ok fine, fine, I believe you, don’t get mad at me.” She grumbled, and returned to her list. “Item three, does she care more about Rarity than she cares about you, we already dealt with. Even if Chrysalis did realize you were trying to make her jealous, the kiss still worked.”

“Don’t remind me…” Twilight blushed, her eyes glazing over. “That was… wow…”

“Yeah, I can see that was really awful for you.” Starlight did her best Maud Pie impression, rolling her eyes. “At least now we can cross item four, ‘will Chrysalis accept the idea of asking Rarity to leave’, since you don’t want that either.”

“I-I didn’t say anything about that…”

“Twilight, you spent five minutes describing how soft Rarity’s lips were.” Starlight glared at Twilight. “In excruciating details.”

“But they really were soft...”

“Item five,” Starlight interrupted grumpily, her tail twitching, “and the most important of them all.” She shot Twilight a serious look. “Does Chrysalis love you.”

“Yes.” Twilight said instantly. She recoiled from Starlight’s skeptical expression. “I mean, I don’t know about love love, it’s a little early to say… but does she care about me, does she like me? Yes.” She said, confidently.

“Hmm, good enough I suppose.” Starlight said dubiously. She snorted, her lips quirking up. “You know, most couples just ask if they love each other, or give each other flowers or other sappy stuff like that. You two are just ridiculous.”

“Oh really, we’re ridiculous? Remember when Trixie got herself eaten by a manticore, just to force you to come back to her?”

“That’s not why she did it.” Starlight grumbled. “It isn’t! Ok, let’s get back on topic.” She eyed her list, before letting the parchment roll itself back up. “That’s an all clear for phase 1, information gathering. How did phase 2 work out so far?”

“I don’t know…” Twilight fidgeted with her hooves. “I don’t really like it… sentimental manipulation really isn’t something I’m comfortable with.”

“But that’s what she does all the time!”

“Yes, but I want to help her be better, not become like her.”

“You need to break her down first, then rebuild her!”

Twilight sighed, shaking her head. “Starlight, I think this Chrysalis stuff is getting to your head… you’re starting to sound like your old self.”

“I know, I know!” Starlight groaned. “It’s just… I was the first to give her a chance, remember? And she slapped my hoof away.”

“That doesn’t mean we don’t have to try again.” Twilight smiled at her pupil. “And I know you two can patch things up. Just look at me and Trixie, you know that friendship can be a messy thing…”

“Please stop comparing Trixie to that bug.” Starlight grumbled.

“Fine,” Twilight giggled, “but you have to move back in and try to get along with Chrysalis.”

“I… I’ll try, for you. But if she even looks at Trixie funny…”

“She won’t touch you or Trixie. I swear.” Twilight said firmly. She now had proof there was good in Chrysalis, and that fact gave her all the confidence she needed. “I think I’m ready to go back, I know what I have to do.”

“Lecture her?”

“Yep!” Twilight chirped, completely serious. They shared a good laugh, any remaining tension leaving Twilight’s body. She smiled, and hugged her pupil tightly. “Thank you for your help Starlight.”

“Good luck Twilight.” Starlight hugged back, sighing into her mentor’s mane. “Don’t let that bug walk all over you.”

“I won’t.” They separated, and Twilight happily trotted the bathroom door. “I made some great progress with her thanks to you, I think she’ll behave from now on.” Twilight smiled. “I just know it.”

She puffed out her chest, ready to return to Chrysalis and continue their talk. She opened the bathroom door… and paused when she found a folded letter stuck to the other side of the door. Her heart skipped a beat when she realized the paper was fixed to the door with a trail of changeling resin. Twilight stared at the green ooze with wide eyes, her breath hitching in her throat.

“Oh… Ponyfeathers…”

“Whoops,” Starlight gulped, “did we forget the bubble of silence?”

Twilight said nothing, and just focused on the letter. Slowly, carefully, she detached the parchment from the door, her heart doing a summersault when she recognized Chrysalis’ hoofwriting, and she began to read out loud.

“Twilight, you were taking too long, so I got bored and left. I did warn you about that. There is food for the whole day in the pantry, please remember to eat once you are done dealing with that fetid business in the bathroom (yes, that means you, Starlight Glimmer).”

“Lovely.” Starlight groaned.

“There’s more…” Twilight frowned, reading the letter again. “Please tell that sack of… ok I’m not reading that… nor that… and that’s not anatomically possible!”

“Just keep on reading.” Starlight facehoofed.

“Insults… more insults… ah, there we go.” Twilight cleared her throat. “-with a spatula. Oh, and Twilight, I’ll forgive you for conspiring with my arch nemesis, since I am so nice. And in return I know you will forgive me for what I’m about to do.” Twilight’s frowned, and she unfolded the last bit of the letter. “You said not to touch your little girl friends, and I won’t, but…” Twilight’s eyes shot open, her reading ending with a strangled squeak.

“What? What’s she going to do?”

“She went to… she... she left to…” Twilight stammered, letting the parchment fall to the ground.

Starlight shot the paper a quick look, noting that Chrysalis had included a pretty good drawing of a smiling changeling queen being mounted by a muscular red earth-pony stallion… though she had been a little liberal with the size of the stallion’s… equipment.

“Uh, is that Big Macinto-”

“CHRYSALIIIIIIS!”

Off in the distance, a certain changeling queen heard her wife’s screams, her wings buzzing all the faster as she flew towards the apple orchards, a hungry smile on her fanged muzzle. Alicorns were just so fun to rile up!