Bug Wife

Forty-eight guards. Fifteen unicorns, twenty-two pegasi, and eleven earth ponies. They patrolled Ponyville in groups from morning to night, ever on the lookout. Once in a while, there would be a Changeling drone amongst their ranks as well, attempting to blend in the crowds of ponies.

It had taken two days for Chrysalis to get a measure of the soldiers, their mannerisms, where they liked to go at certain times of the day. Names, voices, how they held their weapons, who they flirted with, which ones were easy going or by the book; she took in as much as she could. She did stick out like a sore thumb amongst the townsfolk, but they paid her no mind, allowing her to sit amongst her friends, enjoy a sunny day, and learn the best ways to be unseen by the armored morons.

She didn’t bother attempting to learn anything from the drones that would tag along with the guards. A single glance told her that none of them knew what they were looking for. The fools could barely transform, much less detect when somepony else was doing so. Even if they could, this form was fully hers now; even another queen would have issue detecting her. After the second day, she was easily able to move wherever she wished without being seen by anypony in golden armor at any time in the day. It came just in time as well, as while the drones couldn’t tell a Changeling from a hole in the ground, the unicorns did have spells that could negate her transformation and turn her into her original self, and under Princess Twilight Sparkle’s order they had been randomly stopping ponies to cast it on them.

This all made things more than a little annoying, but Chrysalis was forced to push ahead. Her wedding was in just a few days, and there was so much to do.

Anon had wanted them to just go to the courthouse with just a few close friends, but as soon as word spread that plan had been blown to smithereens. Chrysalis hadn’t realized just how well-liked she was amongst the townsfolk. The moment that they heard she was getting “remarried”, she had dozens of mares coming to her house insisting that they do something proper. A cake, a dress, a nice, quiet spot at Sweet Apple Acres, food, dancing; a regular country jubilee. All supplied by them of course. A thank you for all the work she had done with the kids, she had been told.

Both her and Anon attempted to protest, but then the foals came to the house one day with drawings, and Sweetie Belle and the fillies started asking if they could be flower mares. While she had ruled an empire and toppled nations, Chrysalis found it nigh impossible to say no to children with puppy dog eyes. So, against her better judgment, she found herself at Mrs. Rarity’s boutique; possibly the last place she wanted to be.

This wasn’t because she was really against having a big wedding. It was sweet that so many of her neighbors wanted to see her get married for what they thought was the second time. No, the issue was with Rarity herself. The elegant and refined mare was, without a doubt, a pervert.

The moment that Chrysalis had stepped foot in her establishment she had felt the lust oozing off the walls. The mare found some sort of sexual gratification dressing others up, though she hid it very well. She wasn’t winking unabashedly, or staring, or flirting, or doing much of anything other than being a professional. In fact, if she wasn’t able to sense her emotions, the queen would have no idea that the unicorn was enjoying her work far more than was healthy. Knowing the mare was quietly getting off to all she did was so much worse than if she was just a regular horndog that made a scene. Still, She was the only dress maker in town, and she had offered her services for free to boot, so she’d have to deal with the degenerate until she was walking down the aisle.

The bell attached to the boutique’s front door jingled as she opened it and stepped inside.

“Welcome to the Carousel Boutique. Where every garment is chic, unique, and magnifique,” Rarity called from somewhere deeper into the shop. “I’ll be right with you, darling.”

Chrysalis looked around, a shudder running through her. She could feel the lust flowing from the mare in an even greater concentration today. No doubt it meant she was going to be in rare form. Lucky her.

“My apologies. I was in the middle of-- oh, Chryssi! Why didn’t you say it was you, dear!”

Rarity, her red-rimmed glasses threatening to fall off her muzzle, trotted into the waiting room. Around her neck was a measuring tape, and floating beside her head was a pin cushion filled to bursting with pins.

“I was in the middle of working on your dress. Come and see,” the unicorn said with glee, grabbing her hand with magic.

Trying her best not to shudder again, Chrysalis allowed herself to be led into the boutique’s main room. There were dozens of pony mannequins with dresses as well as scraps of cloth adorning their frames, but, in the end of the room by the window, was a mannequin that Rarity had made especially for her.

It had been somewhat difficult designing the perfect wedding dress for a hyoo-man woman. Chrysalis, of course, had no idea what their species wore for marriage, and she had never thought to ask Anonymous since she hadn’t considered actually getting married until he brought the idea up. Thankfully, Rarity had taken her lack of knowledge for a desire to make simply the most perfect dress, and while the mare didn’t have a large number of bipedal clientele, she had been eager to sink her teeth into such a challenge. Together, they both had gone through a dozen designs, the latest being what Rarity had turned from paper and ink into cloth right in front of her.

As much of a degenerate as the mare was, Chrysalis had to admit that she knew her way around fabric. Even in its obviously unfinished state, the gown was breathtaking. Simple yet elegant, flashy but subdued. It was the sort of outfit that a queen should be seen in.

“It is still in the beginning stages, but I think it’s turning out quite nicely,” Rarity said, trotting over to the dress, her tail wagging as she walked around the mannequin. “What do you think, dear? Is it too much? Too little? Just the right amount but somehow nowhere near enough?”

“It’s… beautiful,” Chrysalis replied. “Far more work for a simple wedding deserves, Rarity.”

The unicorn let out a scoff. “Simple wedding? Oh, poppycock, dear. From what I’ve been told your wedding will be something to behold! It won’t be a royal wedding of course, but I imagine ponies will be talking about it for years to come. Now, while I have you here, would you mind if we were to do a fitting?”

Rarity trotted up to her with big, pleading eyes. They were an almost identical match to Sweetie Belle’s, though ruined by the wave of eager lust pouring from the unicorn.

“I know you’re busy, but I’ll do my best to be quick. I’d just like to be totally sure this gown will be a perfect fit.”

Chrysalis didn’t need to sense emotions to tell that was a lie, but even so she did her best to smile at the mare. “I’d be delighted.”

The pitch of the squeal Rarity let out would only be heard by bat ponies as she tap-danced around the room. Chrysalis did her best not to roll her eyes while she kicked off her shoes and began to undress. Usually, she’d be a bit more hesitant to undress around a pony. The little buggers were extremely curious about what was under her and Anon’s layers of clothing, and she could feel the eyes and taste the lust from both sexes whenever she went to the market, but with Rarity she didn’t have that worry. The unicorn didn’t give a fig for her nude, sexy form, only the thought of putting clothes on it.

In a flash, Rarity had the dress draped over her body, pulling and tightening, adding a quick stitch here or some pins there. Scissors and rolls of cloth floated into the air, as well as bundles of thread and needles. Chrysalis did her best to stand perfectly still as it all weaved around her, so as not to be stabbed.

“So, how is your husband? Is he ready for his big day?” Rarity asked.

“He’s excited,” Chrysalis said. “A bit confused, but touched that everyone wanted to throw a big wedding for us.”

“We’re happy to do so, darling, especially after all the help you’ve been with the foals.” Chrysalis felt Rarity give her side an affectionate nuzzle. “You should hear Sweetie Belle. She just goes on and on about you.”

The lust disappeared from the unicorn for a moment.

“You also do so much for poor Cheerilee. The mare had been running herself ragged trying to teach the entire class. With you in the evenings she has had so much more breathing room for her lessons. Let’s also not forget all the treats and goodies you’ve given ponies. You haven’t been here long, darling, but I promise you that you’re a valued member of this community.”

Chrysalis couldn’t understand why, but she felt a warmth in her chest at the unicorn’s words. “I’m… glad.”

Rarity nodded, and the moment was torpedoed when the lust came back in full force. “Be sure to move and stretch dear. I need to see just how much this gown might need to take.”

_~_~_~_~_~_~_~

If Rarity would have gotten her way, they’d have been at it for the whole day and most of the night, but Chrysalis was only able to stomach an hour or so before she made her excuses and left the shop. The constant, non-stop chatter she could handle, but so much lust for so long gave her a headache. Thankfully, the gown was very nearly done. One more fitting and she’d be ready to walk down the aisle, or so Rarity insisted.

She made a quick stop at Sugarcube Corner, were Mrs. Cake practically frollicked to and fro. Ever since she had asked the earth pony to be her maid of honor, she was almost certain that a smile hadn’t left her face. Out of every pony in town, she might have been the most excited for their wedding. The queen had to give Mr. Cake the bits behind her back for their catering services since Mrs. Cake refused any payment. The stallion hadn’t been all that thrilled to take her money, but his wife seemed intent on making enough food to feed most of Equestria, so Chrysalis insisted. She might have been an evil queen, but even she knew the value of paying one for their hard work.

The two chatted, and Chrysalis was led back into the kitchens to see an absolute mess. Pinkie Pie, usually a ball of energy, was obviously tired. There were bins upon bins of baked goods, and pallets piled high with bags of flour ready to churn out more. Mrs. Cake had her try some cookies that would be at the reception, and let her know she was about to start on her wedding cake. There had been a glint in her eye as she said it that made the queen somewhat concerned, but she trusted her friend. All she asked was that the mare not work too hard on her account; a request that was unabashedly ignored as she was led to the door with a nuzzle and a goodbye.

Outside, Chrysalis found herself leaning against the shop’s door frame, staring up at the sky. She smiled.

“Sir, please just hold still for a moment.”

“This is ridiculous! Everypony here knows who I am!”

“I’m sure that’s the case sir, but we really need to--”

“I don’t care who the hay is running around! You can’t just cast spells on ponies!”

Near some food stands, an older stallion was shying away from a pair of guards. The old colt was wagging a cane at them, frowning only as the elderly could. The pegasus guard was very clearly bored, while his partner, a smaller unicorn mare, looked exasperated.

“Sir. This spell is perfectly safe. We just need to make sure--”

“You ain’t making sure of nothing!” the stallion grumbled. “You’re not using that fancy magic to turn me into no frog!”

“Sir, we don’t…” The mare let out a sigh. “It’s to see if you’re a Changeling.”

“A what?”

“A Changeling.”

“One of them fancy, prancy bug critters? Why’d I be one of them?”

“Sir, there was a town meeting explaining why the guard is here yesterday.”

“Bah! I only go to them things to eat the free food and use the toilets since they got the bar that helps me stand back up.”

The mare covered her face with a hoof. As she did this, her partner leaned toward her.

“I’ll distract him, you hit him with the spell. If we do it quick enough he won’t even notice,” he whispered.

The mare’s ear flickered. She gave her partner a sideways glance, then gave him a small nod. Giving her a wink, the stallion cleared his throat.

“Sir, look at that over there! They’re having a big discount on chocolate pudding!”

The old stallion’s head snapped around so quickly that an audible crack filled the air, making both guards wince.

“Pudding?! Oh, the missus would love that. Where did you say it was, son?”

As the old coot looked around, the mare’s horn lit up. In the blink of an eye, her spell shot out. It would have hit the stallion right between the eyes, but at the last moment he turned back toward them.

“Are you sure you’re seeing that right, boy? I did--whatintarnation?!”

The spell hit his thick bifocals, bouncing off and causing it to fly off into the air. It flew over ponies heads, through stalls, right past the water fountain in the middle of the market, bouncing off the head of the metal Celestia seated in the middle of it, and toward Chrysalis. The queen, still watching the cloud crew up above kicking some thunderclouds apart, had no chance of getting out of the way.

There was a pop, and a flash of light. The queen blinked. Why did she feel so much shorter? Why did it feel as though her balance was entirely off? In fact, if she didn’t know any better, it felt as if she was no longer standing on her feet.

Her eyes crossed, and she looked at what was very clearly a muzzle right in front of her. She blinked again, lifting up and examining a hoof.

“Oh shit--”

“What the heck are you doing, young lady?!”

“Oh shoot. Did that hit somepony?”

Without thinking, Chrysalis barrel rolled away from the door. In two hops, she was able to launch herself into a nearby bush. It was much too small for her to properly hide in, so, seeing that, she slid herself under a stall. Her horn stabbed into the wooden frame, causing her to let out a whispered curse. Before the stall’s owner could see what had hit their livelihood, she was moving to the next hiding spot.

Most ponies were focused on the elderly stallion tearing the guards a new one. Those few that weren’t watching the commotion were just barely able to make out a black blur that scurried around stalls and ponies, ducking and weaving and sliding and hopping. If they had looked very carefully, they might have seen a pair of huge, panicked eyes just before the blur disappeared into an alley.

The only one that did get a proper look at the Changeling was a little foal, who waved at her as she raced by. She tried to say something to her mother, only to be gently shushed as the elderly stallion let out a very colorful string of language, whacking the pegasus guard over the head with his cane.

“Fucking, fucking, fuckfuckfuck!”

Chrysalis leaned against a wall. Wings that she hadn’t had in months buzzed in abject terror. Her heart was in her throat, and she could hear nothing but the pounding of blood in her ears.

Just one shout would do her in. Her friendships, the foals, the market deals, her wedding, her wonderful husband would be gone and done. All of it would be replaced by a prison; chains if she was lucky, an eternity as a statue if she wasn’t.

Slowly, she slid down the wall, not able to catch her breath. Her eyes were glued to the space just outside the alley. She felt for certain that in moments, a mob would be charging toward her, or the guards, or the Elements of Harmony. It was all over. Everything she had built here was about to be undone.

The queen tried to change herself back into a hyoo-man, but couldn’t focus while in the middle of her panic attack. All she could do was sit there and breathe. Her panic was so great that there wasn’t even an ounce of fight in her. With her current power she could have leveled this entire town, but at the moment all she could think about was how sad Mrs. Cake would be when she found out she wouldn’t be a maid of honor anymore. And Anonymous…

Just as the thought of her husband crossed her mind she saw someone walking past the alley. He was much too large to be a pony, and even as dirty and tired as he was, he was still so handsome.

“Anon!” she called out, her voice breaking.

Anon stopped midstep. He was holding a boutique of flowers in his hand she saw. He must have come to the market to get them before coming home. Every few weeks he liked doing that for her. She always told him that she’d end up just feeding them to her Everfree plants outside, but he still got them for her anyway.

Chrysalis out a whine as he turned toward her. She tried getting up, but her legs were shaking too hard. His head cocked to the side as he stared at her. There was confusion in his face, but, very quickly, it was replaced with realization. He broke off into a sprint toward her, flowers flying.

She could feel his worry as he ran toward her. It didn’t matter that she was no longer a hyoo-man at that moment. He knew right away who she was, and came to her without thinking. The queen let out a sniffle as he stopped right in front of her, kneeling down.

“Hon, what’s wrong? Why are you behind Bonbon’s shop? Did something--”

Chrysalis wrapped her hooves around his neck, burying her muzzle into his sweaty chest. A queen did not weep, nor did she babble and blather like some hatchling whose eyes hadn’t yet opened, but that’s exactly what she did. The thought of the guards, ponies, imprisonment; all of it disappeared in her husband’s arms. She was scared, and he was there to comfort and protect her. He was here to help, as he always had. Everything was going to be alright now. The queen held him all the tighter as she cried. She could feel his worry while she held him, but more than that she could feel his love. Pure, unburdened, complete love directed solely at her. It surrounded her like a warm, comfortable blanket. She did her best to focus on it and not the cold terror in the pit of her stomach.

It took what felt like ages, but she felt her heart rate begin to slow. Her shaking subsided, and she was able to open her eyes once more. She found that she was no longer sitting in a dirty alley, but in her home. She was on her couch, wrapped in a blanket, in her husband’s lap. She could feel one of his calloused hands rubbing the space between her insect-like wings.

She reached up, trying to wipe the snot and tears from her face with a hoof. When she ended up just smearing her face up, she erupted into green flame, turning once again into a hyoo-man, completely naked but otherwise fine. Anon flinched in surprise at her transformation, but didn’t move away, nor did he stop rubbing her back. With his free hand, he offered her a handkerchief. She took it, cleaning herself off as best as she could.

It was a relief to find out she could turn back. Much of her anxiety disappeared as well. Her breaths became less shaky, and much of the tension left her. She leaned against Anon, resting her head on his shoulder.

“Anon?” she said, her voice hoarse. “Did anyone see you carrying me while I wasn’t hyoo-man?”

“I don’t think so,” her husband replied, reaching up to place a hand on top of her head. “I took you through that alley and up past the Apple’s. I didn’t see a soul.”

Chrysalis nodded, hugging him tight. If that was the case, nopony had seen her. She might actually be in the clear. As terrifying as that had been, they wouldn’t have half of Equestria’s armed forced knocking at their door.

Anon ran his fingers through her hair. “You wanna talk about whatever happened back there?” he asked.

“The… the guard hit me with a spell that turned me into what I was before,” she told him truthfully. “It caused a bit of a panic attack, as you saw.”

Anger mixed in with her husband’s love. She felt him tense, sucking in a mouthful of air. She quickly planted a kiss on his cheek, trying to diffuse that anger before it grew.

“There’s no need to cause a fuss over it,” she assured. “I’m completely fine, and it was no doubt just an accident.”

Anon said nothing for a good while. She could feel emotions swirling inside of him. Worry, confusion, anger. He took a deep breath.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Yes, I’m sure.”

“I’ll still have a conversation with Twilight about it. They can’t be shooting spells all over the place like that. You could have been really hurt.”

A warmth filled the queen’s belly. She leaned back, grabbing his face and gently smooshing his cheeks together. Anon allowed her to do so, staring up at her with no suspicion, no doubt. He had absolute, total trust in her.

“Thank you for carrying me home,” she said, giving him a toothy, happy smile. “That means so much more than you know. Truth be told I… My little episode has given me a lot to think about. It made me realize things I hadn’t considered so important to me until the thought that I might lose them.

“I--”

Before Anon could finish his thought, she pulled his head between her breasts. She squished them together using her biceps, engulfing the man’s face. He sputtered, and she let out a little laugh.

“You’re going to make such a good husband.”