Twilight was incredibly relieved Sunset Shimmer, the mare that seemed to be a perpetual state of horny around other mares, was finally out of the house and in her own place. That mare was a bit too open with her lesbianism, practically to comedic level it seemed most of the time. Twilight was just happy to not have to share a roof with her, and more than thankful she didn’t have to keep her room’s door closed and locked almost all hours of the day. Unfortunately, Sunset’s new place was just a few doors down from Twilight now.

Twilight couldn’t understand any off what was going on with Chrysalis, that mare always came across as a willful egoist that was fully intent on exerting her will on those around her, but that wasn’t how she was now. Chrysalis was actually reveling in the whole slave experience and showed signs of genuinely enjoying it. How had Spike managed to break her so easily? Had the entire domineering queen act actually been a facade that Chrysalis herself had bought into? Was all this some elaborate ruse? If so, how long until Chrysalis snapped and made a go at resorting to her old tricks? But until then, Chrysalis was reveling in being Spike’s slave a more than disturbing degree. Spike even had special rules regarding Chrysalis, he also had special rules regarding Celestia and Luna but the point still stood.

Twilight just couldn’t fully wrap her head around the idea that voluptuous, mildly protective, slightly kinky, yet friendly mare that was now following Spike around had been a villainous antagonist she and her friends had once fought. She had yet to find the versions of Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash that resided in this universe, same went for most of the ponies she had grown up with Canterlot. Twilight didn’t even want to think about what her parents were like this universe; it was why she deliberately avoided visiting or contacting them. Twilight had to admit; Spike did a good job ruling over his territory.

A set of modestly dressed changelings passed her by on the street, a few giving her a friendly wave. The exchange reminded her how things had ended up shortly after Thorax had become the ruler of the changelings, a significant juxtaposition when compared to Chrysalis's choice of attire that was so slutty in its design it shouldn’t have even been legal for use in public. That reminded Twilight, she had heard the changeling lands were guarded by the canceling power of an artifact that had no effect on changeling magic but basically canceled out all other kinds of magic. Spike had sent some changelings, with pony assistants and dragon overseers, to gather as much data as they could on the artifact and bring it back him. He wanted to see if the selective nature of the artifact could be replicated, and if so then they could apply it to holding facilities to allow the guards full access to their magics but disable the magical capabilities of the inmates.

Before any of that could be done magical technologies with similar magical signatures to that of changelings needed to be produced, on account any other magical technologies wouldn’t be useful and chances were what little non-magical technologies available weren’t sophisticated enough for an analysis project. Apparently, the project Twilight had a hand in creating and Spike’s acquisition of Chrysalis had triggered the beginnings of a technology boom.

From the sounds of it, Spike also had commissioned the creation of a town near Big Macintosh’s farm, probably a good idea when you took the recent population boom into account. The changelings now were even friendlier than those that you found under Thorax’s rule, which was saying something. It still creeped Twilight and Pinkie out that Chrysalis was now open, gregarious, and completely subservient to Spike. It didn’t help that she openly paraded around in incredibly skimpy attire and was prone to open public displays of affection, and that was discluding her borderline nymphomaniac relationship with Celestia and Luna. Twilight still had trouble getting around how horny Celestia and Luna were in this world; it didn’t help her first genuine encounter with them had been in some sort of lust-addled stupor she hadn’t been able to hold off.

Twilight didn’t like the feeling of sexual urges for Celestia, the mare had been like a second mother to her. She didn’t like the sexual urges she had for Luna, despite being in effective exile until recently the Luna she knew was like that loony aunt you only seem to really see at family holidays. And the less said about her surprising sexual urges towards Chrysalis the better, even if she was a massively attractive mare that...no, Twilight stopped herself before that line of that went any further. That all said, changes in Spike’s territory didn’t start kicking off until around the time he had managed to get Chrysalis. Twilight had a bad feeling about coming events, especially the planned wedding of her brother.

Spike showed he wasn’t like other dragons, the fact he had multiple projects for advancing of innovations in various fields was proof enough of that, but there was one thing bugging Twilight above all else. It was something that had been gnawing at the back of her mind since she had learned about how the power structure of this world operated. Something Twilight dared not ask at the fear of being insensitive. She was going to ask it now; she had played around with disinterest long enough.

“Why is your sister even hanging out in this place?” Twilight inquired to Spike; they were at a pony operated diner that had Rarity’s stamp of approval upfront, Chrysalis was seated next to Spike in a pink-tinted translucent dress, with no undergarments to be seen, it was so transparent Twilight questioned how it could possibly make much more difference than going nude.

“My sister has a bit of gambling problem, especially when it comes to territory,” said Spike, “she lost all her territory and its residents in a duel. She only managed to keep Azure due to the fact when she was a stallion he was so new of an acquisition that he didn’t count as one of the assets she would lose. Of course a few weeks later the one she lost to ended up losing to one of Garble’s subordinate dragons. She has no territory to speak of at the moment, and will only lay claim to any territory she wins for herself.”

“Given her lack of resources desired by other parties, I guessing that could last longer than she is willing to admit,” said Twilight.

“Indeed,” said Chrysalis, “but my sources have it that she is sitting on information regarding hidden deposits in her former territories, chances are she’ll use a loophole to reclaim some of those grounds upon Spike’s victory.”

“Care to explain that one,” said Twilight with interest.

“According to dragon competition rules and guidelines, if a dragon of relation to the victor stakes a claim on property or territory the losing party has some sort of access to they are granted temporary ownership of that territory, at most, it lasts a year or two. But during that time she can treat the territory she temporary control over as if it were her full-time territory, maybe even issue some territory claiming challenges around to rebuild her territory during that time.”

“I recall learning of that policy,” said Spike, “most dragons aren’t aware of it, and even fewer try to take advantage of it.”

“Regardless,” said Chrysalis, “I sent a copy of those findings to both your siblings, seeing as you were quite insistent on making sure they are up to date on dragon policies.”

“Very good,” said Spike, shortly after his saying this a member of waiting staff showed up at their table. Twilight almost did a double take, the waitress was Sassy Saddles, and was in a mildly revealing green waitress outfit. “I think I’ll have the salmon steak, I hear the fish are extra fresh for the city today.”

“Honeyed garden soup for me,” said Chrysalis, “I absolutely love sweets but I need to watch my figure.” Twilight practically gagged on the inside at what Chrysalis said.

“Garden salad with extra onions and lettuce,” said Twilight, “I’ve been smelling extra fresh veggies almost as soon as I was in the door.”

Sassy gave a silent nod and was on her way, once she was out of earshot Spike said, “What’s that mare like where you’re from?”

“Sassy Saddles,” said Twilight before taking a moment to think, “she’s a business consultant Rarity hired to operate one of her shops, her Canterlot shop to precise. It’s a bit of surprise to see her as the waiting staff for a dining establishment.”

“Yes, well, she’s actually being punished,” said Spike, “She’s actually one of Nail’s ponies, he claims she messed up something important and he requires her out of his territory for a bit, she should be heading back home after the tournament.”

“Aren’t you worried about the competition?” Twilight inquired, she couldn’t quite understand how Spike was so relaxed about it all.

“He’s pulled a similar stunt before,” said Spike, “a four on two competition where my two were severely handicapped, they still won. My choice is probably my best bet, seeing as I’ve actually intentionally had members of all my elites go up against similar challenges.”

“Numerically, probably,” said Twilight, “but have you had them practice against other elites under similar circumstances?”

Spike facepalmed, “I take it that particular set of practice drills slipped your mind,” said Chrysalis with mild amusement, “I’ll arrange for a few such practices to go down with enough time to spare for the competition.”

“Thanks for pointing that out, Twilight,” said Spike, “I guess I really have started being too complacent.”

Author's Note

I little reflection from Twilight and a few other things was something I felt was needed. We’re working our way up to the competition, hopefully, that will start happening in the next few chapters, I’m hoping to write it well enough that requires more than one chapter.