Love Bites

by MagnetBolt

Rating: everyone
Tags: Rarity, Queen Chrysalis, Twilight Sparkle, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Drama
Length: 9785

An alternate universe story - Ponyville Days is the biggest event of the season, celebrating the day the Pie Family founded Ponyville. This year, there's a special guest...

This story is set in the same AU as Ask Not The Sparrow - if you haven't read that, it's fine, but be aware that most characters have been swapped with their closest counterparts.

Ponyville Days is the biggest event of the season, or at least it will be once Rarity gets her hooves on it. She's invited a special guest to town, one who has a certain amount of history with one of her friends. Will things go as planned, or will it all end in disaster?

Since it's been at least a week since the last disaster, most ponies are already placing bets on which half of town gets destroyed.

A big thanks to all my readers. This one took a surprising amount of time to write, even though I had the whole idea in my head start to finish almost from the get-go. Some scenes just didn't want to come together, and it took a while to polish them. I hope you enjoy, and I've already got another story planned out for this continuity.

Published 2020-08-28 17:50:02 UTC
Last updated 2020-08-28 17:50:02 UTC

But Sometimes It's Just A Nibble

The bell over the door rang. A few moments later, the door opened. In every other shop in Ponyville, the door would have opened before the bell rang. Twilight considered this poor customer service. It was better to know ponies were coming before they’d even arrived.

The other shops agreed, but also weren’t willing to pay a hundred bits for an enchanted bell.

“How can I help you?” she asked, finishing the line she was writing before looking up. “Oh, Rarity! I wasn’t expecting you.”

Rarity looked past her into Twilight’s workspace, nodding slowly. “I hope I haven’t caught you at a bad time, darling.”

“No, I was just working on something for a client,” Twilight said.

Rarity hesitated, because she wanted to think that she was wrong about what was sitting in the middle of a half-finished magic circle. “Forgive me for prying, but that appears to be a fifty-gallon drum of restaurant-grade grape jelly.”

“It is,” Twilight confirmed.

“And next to that is a mold shaped suspiciously like a mare.”

Twilight glanced back. “You have a good eye! From just the outside, I wouldn’t be able to guess at the gender.”

“It isn’t as impressive a skill as you might think, Twilight, I just have a sinking feeling that I already know far too much about exactly what sort of project you’re working on,” Rarity said.

“I’m afraid my client requested confidentiality,” Twilight said. “I can’t confirm or deny anything.”

“That’s perfectly fine. I’d prefer, in fact, to know as little as possible about the details.”

Twilight nodded. “Thank you for respecting their privacy.”

“Yes, 'respecting their privacy'. Indeed.” Rarity scoffed. “If I might ask, are you terribly busy otherwise? With Ponyville Days coming up, I was hoping you’d donate a little something for the celebration.”

“Ponyville Days?” Twilight asked.

Rarity paused. “...Twilight, darling, you’ve been living here for years.”

“I don’t get out much,” Twilight said, shrugging.

“You haven’t noticed the decorations? The announcements?”

“I really don’t get out much.”

Rarity put a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “I have good news, then! There’s a celebration called Ponyville Days, celebrating the founding of Ponyville by the Pie family when they started their rock farm in Ponyville’s extensive gem fields!”

“Oh yes, I heard about that. Something in the geomantic leylines makes it ideal for gem formation.” Twilight stepped away from Rarity to her extensive, exquisitely organized bookcase. “I have a book here that has the details…”

“Don’t worry about the small things, Twilight,” Rarity said, not that it was actually going to stop Twilight from pulling down half a dozen books at once and flipping through them. “As you are… actually, as you probably are not aware, I was named this year’s Pony of Ceremonies!”

“That’s good,” Twilight said.

“I have a few things planned already. The traditional stone soup potluck, naturally, but I wanted to put my own touch on things. I’m sure as a fellow Canterlot native you can appreciate some of the events I have planned.”

“That’s good,” Twilight mumbled, flipping a few pages.

“There will be a silent gem auction, a town gala, a wine tasting, and of course, the piece de resistance, an ambassadorial visit! I suppose Ponyville is becoming more important since Princess Celestia’s return. Certainly, there are some very important people who are extremely interested in our little town!”

“That’s good,” Twilight said.

Rarity paused. “Twilight, help, I’m being eaten by Pinkie Pie’s pet cragadile.”

“That’s good.”

Rarity’s horn flashed, and the books in front of Twilight snapped shut. Twilight winced and looked up.

“Sorry. So what were you thinking? An illusory centerpiece? Animated servants?”

“For one thing, I’d hope you’ll attend this year,” Rarity said. “Actually, I came here hoping you could help me with the dietary needs of our esteemed visitor.”

Twilight paused. “Dietary needs? I’m not really much of a chef, Rarity. That’s really something you should talk to Applejack about.”

“If it was something normal, I would, but this is rather outside her realm of expertise,” Rarity sighed. “I mentioned the town potluck, yes? I assume you’re unfamiliar with the details?”

Twilight offered an embarrassed smile.

“The Pie family has a cauldron of simply titanic proportions, enough to feed the entire town,” Rarity explained. “Which is exactly what it’s used for. A rock - the same rock, I might add, since the founding of the town - is placed at the bottom and it’s filled with water, then heated to boiling.”

“...That does sound like Pie family cooking,” Twilight mumbled.

Rarity smiled. “Every family attending is expected to bring something to add to the pot. While stone soup might start out as just boiling water, once ponies add onions, carrots and so on it turns into a very nourishing stew, different every year.”

“That does sound a little better than plain rock broth. Is there something the Ambassador can’t eat? If it’s an allergen issue, I have some potions that would help.”

“They could eat the soup, but they wouldn’t really enjoy it,” Rarity said.

“A carnivore?” Twilight guessed. “I can’t do much about that. Even if I had meat - and those rumors are untrue, I stopped experimenting with necromancy after the Mayor had a long talk with me and made me pay all those fines - we couldn’t put it in the soup without ruining it for everypony else.”

“Thankfully, that won’t be needed either,” Rarity said. “What I need is a bottle of liquid love.”

“Liquid… love.” Twilight hesitated. Her cheeks turned red.

“Get your mind out of the gutter!” Rarity said, guessing at exactly what Twilight was thinking. “I mean it quite literally. Our guest eats love. I want to surprise them by adding love to the soup so they can find it as nourishing as we do.”

Twilight paled, her expression falling even further. “Eats love? You can’t be serious. You can’t have invited--”

“Queen Chrysalis herself!” Rarity crowed. “Can you believe she agreed to come? Why, she practically invited herself when she heard that we’d all be here!”

Twilight started pacing. “Oh, this is bad…”

“Twilight, please, the changelings are our allies!” Rarity sighed. “I know there are all those old mare’s tales, but they’re just stories. Why, I met Queen Chrysalis quite a few times when I was at Court with Princess Luna, and she’s a wonderful guest! A bit of a flirt, but that’s true of all changelings as far as I can tell.”

“I know who Chrysalis is,” Twilight said. “You know, I’m sort of--” she coughed. “--I think I might be sick. I probably shouldn’t go. In fact, I should close up and make sure I don’t infect anypony else!”

She started pushing Rarity towards the exit.

“What’s wrong?” Rarity asked, confused. “Twilight, don’t tell me… you’re scared of changelings?”

“What? No!” Twilight stopped in her tracks, frowning. “I’m not-- changelings don’t bother me.”

“Just tell me what it is, then,” Rarity said. “Please, Twilight.”

Twilight looked down. “It’s…” She shivered. “It’s nothing.” She forced herself to smile. “I’ll get to work on the liquid love. You just… take care of the rest.”

“Are you sure?” Rarity asked. Something in Twilight’s twitching, disheveled expression was even more twitchy and disheveled than normal. “You will attend, won’t you?”

“I’ll come,” Twilight sighed. “I promise.”

Rarity nodded and let herself be pushed outside. Twilight closed the door behind her, flipping the sign on it to closed. She slumped and groaned.

“I can’t believe it’s her,” Twilight groaned. She put the books she’d taken out back on the shelf. “Maybe it’ll be fine. It’s been years, after all! Oh no. It's been years, and I haven't even... No, I can't panic now. If I get this right, it'll go a long way.”

She looked around her shelves, looking for something.

“I really need to reshelve,” she muttered. “I haven’t done it in months. Liquid love…”

Twilight pulled a book free carefully, blowing dust from the cover and opening it up, flipping through it. “There was something… aha!”

She opened to a page showing two ponies deeply in love, staring into each other’s eyes.

“Philter of Love,” Twilight read. “The translation is a little rough, but this looks like what I need. Tuft of cloud… rainbow’s glow… pegasus feather… I’ve even got everything I need in stock!”

She grabbed a cauldron and hung it in the fireplace. It was time to get to work.

Rarity focused, and the wood under the massive iron pot burst into flame like it had been soaked in fuel. Pinkie’s mother nodded in approval from where she stood on top of a stepladder, putting her level with the lip of the mammoth kettle. It was tall enough that Rarity would need to rear up just to look over the edge, and it had taken a whole bucket brigade of ponies to fill it with water.

“There we are, Pinkie,” Rarity said, smiling. “I wasn’t sure you would have wanted magical assistance with getting the fire started.”

Pinkie smiled. “Ponyville Days is a celebration to bring the town together. T’would be a foolish thing indeed if I were unwilling to accept help from the ponies of our town, especially with how wet the wood is.”

“Is there anything else I can do to help?” Rarity asked.

“Could you pass me the spoon?” She pointed, and Rarity lifted a massive wooden spoon up to her, the bowl of it deep enough to serve an entire bowl of soup at once and the handle so long it could reach across a room.

“I have to admit I’m excited about all this,” Rarity said. “It’s a wonderful idea. I expect it would only work here, though. If we tried a stone soup like this in Canterlot, it would just end up full of expensive ingredients turning into a disgusting mush.”

“If they’re expensive, shouldn’t they be good?” Pinkie asked.

“That is what one would naively think, but delicacies are often just for showing off instead of really eating. It would probably end up being all truffles and saffron with nobles trying to outdo each other.”

“At least it sounds colorful,” Pinkie said. “I prefer a few carrots and tomatoes for that, though.”

“Indeed,” Rarity agreed. “And hopefully we’ll have a few special ingredients.”

“Special ingredients?”

Rarity smiled up at Pinkie. “With any luck, Twilight will arrive with something that the ambassador will absolutely love.”

Pinkie looked at Rarity with an unreadable expression.

“What’s wrong?” Rarity asked.

“You said that like it was a pun.”

“Call it an inside joke,” Rarity said. “Have you seen Ember? She was supposed to be helping me make sure everything was coming together. You’d think I wouldn’t have to start any fires myself with a dragon around.”

“I last saw her with Rainbow,” Pinkie said. “They were over that way.” She pointed towards the wine-tasting tent.

“Thank you so much, Pinkie. Let me know if there’s anything else I can do to help, hm? I just need a moment to check on them.”

“There you are!” Rarity snapped.

Ember jumped, losing her grip on her drink. The short glass clattered to the table, soaking Ember and everything in front of her.

“Agh! Why now?!” Ember groaned.

“You know the rules,” Rainbow said. “You spill your drink, you lose. You’re picking up the bill.”

Ember huffed and folded her talons. “Stupid pony rules…”

“What are you two doing?” Rarity asked. “And what is that smell? Are you drinking turpentine?”

“It’s Pie family moonshine, right Marble?” Rainbow looked over to the wine bar.

Marble Pie nodded silently, then held up a shot glass, offering it to Rarity.

“Oh, no thank you, dear,” Rarity said. “I wouldn’t mind a sip of one of the dessert wines, but I fear I don’t have the fortitude of my assistant.”

Marble nodded and smiled, trotting to the other end of the wine bar and nosing at a few of the bottles.

“I’ll trust your recommendation,” Rarity said. “Just give me one moment. I need to have a word with Ember.”

Rarity’s smile at Marble transformed into a scowl as she turned on Ember.

“What were you thinking?! You’re supposed to be helping me make sure everything is going smoothly!”

“Don’t be too hard on her,” Rainbow said. “It was my idea. Do you know they distill this stuff with real diamonds? I have absolutely no idea what that does, but it kicks like a mule with a black belt.”

“Should I even ask why this seemed like a good idea? The festivities are going to officially open any moment now!”

“Rainbow said we should try a little of everything,” Ember said.

“I thought I could tell you which ones were good and which ones were bad,” Rainbow said.

“Unless I’m mistaken, Marble is the one behind the counter, making that her job,” Rarity said. She glanced back and took the glass Marble offered her, containing a few sips of cherry-red wine. Rarity delicately sniffed at it before taking a sip. “A job she is quite qualified for. Excellent choice, Marble. Could you set a bottle aside for me?”

Marble nodded.

“Thank you. It will do wonders to soothe my nerves after all this. Were you able to check in with Applejack?” Rarity asked.

Ember snorted. “She told me she’s been doing catering and parties since before I was hatched and had it under control.

“Then all we have to do is wait for Queen Chrysalis to arrive,” Rarity said.

“Fluttershy’s keeping a watch for her so we get some warning,” Rainbow said. “All we have to do is relax until we hear the signal.”

“And what is the signal?” Rarity asked.

“It’s Fluttershy,” Rainbow said, more slowly. “What do you think the signal is going to be?”

“A pony-sized divot in the road?” Ember asked.

Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Just keep your ears open for a birdcall. I told her to do one of those majestic eagle cries.”

“I don’t even have ears,” Ember mumbled.

“Are you sure you didn’t mean a hawk’s cry?” Rarity asked. “If I recall correctly, an eagle’s call isn’t exactly…”

“Hey, who would know better, you or me?” Rainbow asked. “I’m basically part bird!”

“I’ll defer to what I presume is your expertise.”

Rainbow nodded firmly.

From outside, there was a squeaking sound like a very excited and feminine turkey.

Rarity looked at Rainbow and raised an eyebrow.

The squeaky turkey yelled out its alarm again.

“Okay. Maybe I was thinking of a hawk,” Rainbow admitted. She downed one last shot of the moonshine. “Put it all on Ember’s tab, Marble!”

“Hey Rarity, can I borrow a few bits?” Ember asked.

“Is it to pay off a bar tab?” Rarity sighed.

“Maybe.”

Rarity rolled her eyes and put a small bag of bits on the bar in front of Marble. “That’s coming out of your allowance, young lady.”

“But I need that allowance to buy gems!”

“You should have thought of that before making bets!” Rarity said. “It’s hardly proper behavior for a lady. I thought I taught you better…”

Marble watched the two ponies and the dragon leave, arguing the whole way about manners.

“...The drinks are free,” Marble said, belatedly.

She waited a moment to see if they were going to come back, then shrugged and pocketed the bits.

Fluttershy was waiting outside, perched on the gable of the house across the street. She spread her wings to get their attention, then pointed into the air.

A black chariot cut through the air, pulled by ponies in the indigo armor of the changeling hive. Two more guards flanked the ornate transportation, the late afternoon light making the deep carvings on the sides glitter and gleam as it cut through the air.

Other ponies had started to notice, and a crowd gathered.

“Alright everypony, keep the landing zone clear!” Applejack shouted over the crowd, gently pushing ponies back from an area cordoned off by velvet ropes. “Let’s not turn this into a disaster like the Sapphire Shores incident.”

“Applejack, over here!” Rarity waved. Applejack stepped over and lifted the rope to let her and Ember through. “Thank you. How do I look?”

“As perfect as always,” Applejack said. “How many hours did it take today?”

“It’s not about the journey, it’s about the destination.” Rarity tossed her mane, purely for dramatic effect. “Besides, even my best efforts pale compared to Queen Chrysalis. Every time I’ve seen her, not a single hair has been out of place.”

“That’s because she uses magic,” Ember said.

“And if I had the same quality spells, I’d use them too,” Rarity said. “I should ask Twilight to design something once things have quieted down.”

“Maybe she can use it on herself so she doesn’t always look like she fell asleep on top of a spellbook,” Applejack joked.

“That would be difficult, since she normally does exactly that.”

Rarity quieted, standing taller as the chariot swooped low over the crowd before coming to a soft landing on the street, the single occupant stepping out even before it had come to a complete stop. The armored ponies flying in formation swept back up, circling the town square from above.

Queen Chrysalis was exactly how Rarity had imagined. As tall as Princess Luna and even more slender, with a coat so smooth and fine that it looked almost like black steel. Her cerulean mane cascaded down until it nearly trailed along the ground, the same color tipping the feathers of her wide wings.

She smiled down at the ponies around her, basking in the attention as she stepped off the chariot.

“Good afternoon, everpony,” she said, her voice like a lover’s whisper yet somehow carrying across the entire square. “I hope I’m not too late. I was caught up with a little something in Canterlot.”

“Of course not, your highness,” Rarity said, bowing. “It’s so wonderful to have you here!” She nudged Ember with her magic, and the dragon bowed as well, if reluctantly.

“Yeah, great to see you again,” Ember muttered.

“Your highness,” Applejack said, matching Rarity’s bow.

“Ah, Rarity,” Chrysalis said, with her refined Canterlot accent, and just hearing her name from those lips was enough to make Rarity swoon. “It’s been too long! We’ll have to get caught up. I’ve been told a little about your adventures here. It must be exciting after all that time spent at Court.”

“Quite so,” Rarity agreed. “There is the occasional monster attack.”

“Yeah, and most of them are better behaved than the nobles back in Canterlot,” Ember snorted.

“Myself excluded, I hope,” Chrysalis said. “I’d like to think I’m a very well-behaved monster.”

Rarity laughed politely.

“I hope you’ll introduce me around,” Chrysalis said. “I’m looking forward to meeting the ponies that saved Luna’s sister.”

“This is Applejack,” Rarity said, motioning to the pony next to her. “She does a lot of the event planning around town.”

“I just make sure the ponies here have something to smile about,” Applejack said. “It’s nothing special.”

“Nopony is ‘nothing special’,” Chrysalis said. When she spoke, there was an odd trace of uptown Manehattan in it that hadn’t been there a moment ago. “As Queen of a people that rely on those smiles to stay healthy, you do me great service. Thank you.” She bowed herself, just a little. Applejack’s cheeks turned pink, but before she could find a suitable reply, a blue pegasus managed a hard landing next to her.

“Sorry about the delay, just had to splash some water on my face. You must be the Queen everypony’s talking about.” She was surprisingly steady when she raised a hoof up for Chrysalis to shake, in defiance of all etiquette. Rarity felt herself start to feel faint when Chrysalis took it and gave Rainbow a firm hoofshake.

“You must be Rainbow Dash,” Chrysalis said.

“Just call me Rainbow, your worshipfulness.”

“Please, just Chrysalis. I think all of you are a bit beyond worrying about mere titles, hm?”

Rainbow nodded. “See, that’s what I said to Rarity, but she tried to make me read a bunch of books on which fork to use and how to bow properly.”

“It was one book,” Rarity groaned. “A paperback! It was so thin it was nearly a pamphlet!”

“The only important thing is to copy what the ponies around you are doing,” Chrysalis said. “It’s always worked for me.”

“You should talk to Fluttershy,” Rainbow said. “She’s an expert at copying birds.”

“I would, but she seems a bit shy,” Chrysalis said, looking up at where the pegasus was perched.

“She’s not good with new ponies, your highness,” Rarity said. “I’m sure she’ll come down eventually, to be polite.”

“I could go get her,” Ember offered.

“No, no, I don’t want to ruin her day,” Chrysalis said. She waved to Fluttershy. Fluttershy waved back, but made no effort to approach. “She’s been brave enough for a lifetime already.”

“If you were an exotic bird she’d already be here trying to flirt with you,” Rainbow said.

“Maybe next time,” Chrysalis said. She looked around at the crowd. “I don’t suppose you know where Twilight Sparkle is hiding?”

“I’m sure she’ll be here any moment,” Rarity said. “She was working on a project for me.”

“She does lose track of time when she’s busy, doesn’t she?” Chrysalis sighed. She sounded more like she was recalling a fond memory than actually being annoyed at Twilight’s lateness.

“I’m here!” Twilight said, panting and pushing through the crowd. Applejack helped her through the velvet ropes, and the unicorn ran out, her lab smock still draped around her shoulders. “Sorry, I was just finishing something up.”

Chrysalis gasped. “Twilight! There you are!”

Twilight was wrapped up in a lime-green aura before she’d even come to a full stop, Chrysalis pulling her into a tight hug.

“Oh, my little ladybug, it’s been so long! I was afraid when you left Canterlot I’d never see my little huggy-buggy again!” Chrysalis said. Twilight grimaced.

“Huggy… buggy?” Rarity asked, her expression falling.

“Didn’t she tell you?” Chrysalis asked. “I’m her fairy godmother!”

Canterlot was many things. The capital of Equestria, the Dreaming City, the home of Princess Luna, and a beautiful metropolis of onyx spires and silver tracings. Soft blue lights floated in constellations that were different over every street, softly illuminating everything in starlight. Perched on top of the Canterhorn, it could be seen from a hundred miles away like a festival of lights.

It was also Chrysalis’ home away from home. She could stalk almost unseen through the streets when she wanted to be alone, and could bask in the adoration of ponies when it suited her.

Tonight, she was in the mood for something special. Not just the dull and cloudy love of ponies who looked up to her for her position, but the love of a pony who was truly grateful to her.

She was on the hunt, every sense extended, slipping from one shadow to another and searching for the perfect pony. It reminded her of the old days and the old ways, but without that cutting bite of near-starvation sharpening her to a ragged edge.

The streets opened up to a park. Chrysalis slowed and just watched for a time. A dozen foals were playing together, scrambling over each other on the jungle gym and swing set, just enjoying themselves in the way only foals could, not caring that other ponies could be watching or that they might look silly.

The last pony in the park was sitting in the sandbox, dragging a stick through the sand and muttering to herself, all alone.

It was too tempting to resist.

Chrysalis’ body shrank down until she seemed only a little older than the lone filly, and she trotted over casually, like she’d been there all along.

“Hello there,” Chrysalis said. “Why aren’t you playing with--”

The filly shushed her. “Can you move? You’re standing in my light.”

Chrysalis blinked and stepped aside. She tilted her head, looking at what the filly was drawing. She was using her stick to slowly draw circles and interconnecting lines, occasionally pausing to mutter to herself.

“What are you doing?” Chrysalis asked, perplexed.

“My brother is training to be a royal guard,” the filly said, obviously distracted. “I’m trying to figure out how to keep him safe.”

“This looks like a rudimentary shield spell…” Chrysalis muttered. It wasn’t her area of expertise, but she was able to recognize a few of the constructions unicorns usually used to describe their magic.

“Rudimentary?” the filly said, obviously offended.

“What I meant to say was, you look lonely. What’s your name?”

“Twilight Sparkle,” she said.

“Don’t you want to play with the other foals?”

“I’m not really big into running around,” Twilight muttered.

Chrysalis smiled. “I bet I know what will make you feel better. What if I gave you three wishes?”

Twilight’s brow scrunched in through and she looked up at the only-slightly-larger-than-her black alicorn filly. “Three wishes?”

Chrysalis nodded. It was an easy way to make a filly feel special. They always wanted the same kind of things - some kind of sugary treat, maybe to see the princess, once in a while they’d want to be more beautiful or graceful. A touch of Glamour was all it took to grant their desires for a night and a day, and they’d be forever grateful.

Twilight stared at her for a few moments with an oddly calculating gaze. Chrysalis could practically see wheels turning.

“Okay,” Twilight said. “Three wishes.”

“And what is your first wish, my dear?”

Twilight glanced at the dozen foals playing together. Chrysalis could almost taste what was coming. She was going to ask for them to like her. To look up to her and be their friend. The disguised changeling queen had a charm glamour at the ready.

“I want them to have parents,” Twilight said, nodding to the foals. Chrysalis stumbled, the half-cast glamour sputtering out.

“You-- what?” Chrysalis blinked.

“They’re from an orphanage. They come out here to play twice a week,” Twilight explained. “When they leave, they don’t have real homes to go back to. All of them have spent years waiting for a real family. And even when one of them does get chosen, for the rest of them it means a friend is gone forever and they’re still stuck, alone.”

“That’s not really…” Chrysalis considered, thinking. “That’s a lot to ask for.”

“It is,” Twilight agreed. “While you’re working on that, I’ll think about a second wish.” Twilight looked back down at the sand. “And don’t disturb the sand. I’ve almost got this figured out.”

Chrysalis watched her godfoal run off with a fond smile. “Twilight gets so embarrassed about it, it’s difficult to resist teasing her a little. Call it a bad habit.”

“I’m just a bit… surprised,” Rarity understated. “She mentioned she’d met you, but I wasn’t aware you two were close.”

Chrysalis sighed. “She’s a very prideful little pony. You wouldn’t know it, but her family is one of the richest in Canterlot.”

“They are?” Rarity asked. She watched Twilight join the line of ponies waiting to have their own contributions to the soup evaluated by Limestone’s critical eye. She hadn’t really noticed it before, because she hadn’t even thought about looking for it, but the way she walked, her head totally level with every step, had just a touch of finishing school about it. Even when she pulled a book from her saddlebags to read while she queued, a pony could have balanced a cup of tea between her ears without worrying about anything spilling.

“I tried to convince her to open her shop in Canterlot, but she refused,” Chrysalis sighed. “Twilight wanted to go somewhere she could make a name for herself. She had a whole chart showing possibilities. In the end it came down to this or Appleoosa.”

“Appleoosa?” Rarity blinked. “Whatever for?”

Chrysalis cleared her throat, and when she spoke, it was in Twilight’s voice. Exactly in Twilight’s voice. “The town’s rapid growth isn’t being supported by infrastructure projects! There might not be a lot of customers, but they’ll need help with all sorts of things. Instead of waiting for weeks for the right tool to be ordered and delivered by train, I can develop a spell to do practically anything they need!”

“She would have spent most of her time magically digging ditches,” Rarity noted. “Or knowing Twilight, automating the task and putting herself out of a job.”

“I think her real temptation was a chance to study the Buffalo Tribes,” Chrysalis said, her voice returned to its normal sultry tones. “There aren’t many scholarly studies about their culture.”

“So why did she decide on Ponyville?” Rarity asked.

“She found out Appleoosa didn’t have a town library.”

It had taken a few weeks to find families for all the foals in the orphanage. If not for the paperwork involved, Chrysalis could have solved it in just a few days. There were plenty of changelings that were excited by the idea of raising a foal, and some of them were even trustworthy and capable enough to do so.

In the end, ten changeling households had gained new family members (she’d been reluctant to separate siblings, so two of her subjects had adopted a pair of ponies). She knew they’d be loved. Chrysalis wasn’t the Queen of Love for a reason, after all. It had just been a matter of finding the perfect pairing.

And it had been rewarding. She’d found herself enjoying the challenge, matching a foal’s needs to what the changelings could provide. The older ones could largely take care of themselves, so they could go to changelings without quite as much experience in the needs of ponies. The youngest needed special attention and had been adopted by those who had integrated best into pony communities.

Chrysalis found Twilight again after she’d finished. The filly was at the library, pouring over two books at once and taking notes.

“Good evening,” Chrysalis said, back in her filly disguise. “It’s been a while, but I hope you remember me.”

Twilight nodded. “You promised me three wishes.”

“And you used one,” Chrysalis reminded her. “There are quite a few foals sleeping soundly tonight in their own beds.”

“That’s good,” Twilight said. “Could you get A Trot in Fire from the top shelf for me? That’s not a wish, just a request.”

Chrysalis tittered at the filly’s very specific and very safe choice of words, grabbing the book with her magic and putting it on the desk in front of the girl.

“I assume you came here wanting to know my second wish?” Twilight asked.

“I was curious what you’d wish for, yes,” Chrysalis admitted. “Your first wish was unexpected.”

“Was it too difficult?” Twilight asked.

“No, of course not. But it was much different from giving a lonely foal a new pet, or a magical night ruling Equestria alongside Princess Luna.” She’d found giving foals some idea of what they might want helped them decide more quickly.

“Why would somepony use a wish on something small like that?” Twilight scoffed. “If I wanted a pet I could go to the pet store. And ruling Equestria sounds boring. I’ve been to Court. It’s just sitting around while ponies read formal letters at each other while Princess Luna watches and decides who lied the least.”

Chrysalis couldn’t hold back a sharp snort of laughter at the extremely accurate description. She pulled out a chair to sit opposite to Twilight, leaning on the desk and listening.

“A real wish should be used for something important,” Twilight said. “It should make as many ponies possible as happy as possible. Otherwise, it’s spent poorly.”

“And you’ve used your time wisely, I take it?” Chrysalis asked, tilting her head.

Twilight nodded.

“So!” Chrysalis smiled and leaned back. “What will it be? What cause is worthy enough for a wish?”

“There was a blight on crops because of the early frost,” Twilight said. “A lot of ponies are hungry, and farmers are losing their farms. It’s all over the news.”

“I can’t turn back time and undo the blight.”

“I’m not asking you to,” Twilight said. “According to many sources, there’s so much food waste that we could feed three times as many ponies as we do, if it was properly distributed. I want you to find a way to keep the ponies hurt by the blight from going hungry.”

“That’s a much bigger task than finding families for a dozen orphans,” Chrysalis warned her.

“Yes. It is.” Twilight flipped a page in her notebook and wrote something down. “Are you saying you can’t do it?”

Chrysalis was about to say she couldn’t. She stopped herself.

After a solid minute of silent contemplation, she sighed. “It would be a massive operation. It could take a long time.”

“But you can do it,” Twilight said. “And that’s my second wish.”

Chrysalis inhaled sharply and pushed back from the table, her chair squeaking. “As you wish.”

Twilight nodded and went back to what she was reading.

“Are you okay?” Pinkie asked.

Twilight sighed, glancing back at Chrysalis until the changeling queen looked in her direction and then immediately looking away like she’d been caught with her hoof in the cookie jar. “Is it that obvious?”

“You’re wearing your lab smock,” Pinkie noted. “You must have been in the middle of a project. You’ve still got grape jelly on it.”

“You wouldn’t believe how much that stuff stains,” Twilight grumbled. “Anyway, I need you to do me a teeny-tiny little favor.”

“Before I say yes or no, what kind of favor?” Pinkie asked.

“I want to add this to the soup.” Twilight reached behind her smock, pulling out a small, corked bottle faintly glowing purple from within.

“You know Limestone has to approve anything before it gets added,” Pinkie said. “It’s almost ready to eat, too. She just went off to get the bowls, but when she gets back--”

“That’s why I’m asking you as a favor,” Twilight interrupted. “You know she’ll just say no if I ask.”

Pinkie glanced around, like her sister might appear at any moment. “She would say no. She doesn’t even like it when ponies show up with fruits or vegetables she hasn’t personally tried. Sometimes it’s for the best, though. A few years ago somepony brought a half-dozen durians and wanted to throw them in.”

“I swear to you, this is nothing dangerous,” Twilight said. “Rarity asked me to put together something special for Chrysalis. If we add this to the soup, she’ll be able to eat it and actually enjoy it.”

“What is it?”

Twilight smiled. She held the vial up in one hoof and raised her chin, instantly switching into the same stance she used selling her spells and potions to ponies. “I’m glad you asked! Tell me Pinkie, what do changelings need to fuel their magic?”

“Love?” Pinkie guessed.

“Correct! They can eat normal food, but to stay healthy, they need to be around loving, friendly ponies. Most of them have only a rudimentary sense of taste, by our standards. But what if there was a simple food additive that could trigger their taste for love and make pony food not only delicious, but nourishing?”

Pinkie leaned on the giant wooden spoon she was stirring with and nodded along to Twilight’s patter. “I bet most changelings would be pretty happy about that.”

“Indeed! And that’s why I developed this! Liquid love! It carries a significant amount of love energy, and it should be almost completely tasteless.”

“Almost?”

“One of the ingredients is liquid rainbow, so there might be a touch of spice depending on how completely the other ingredients recommended,” Twilight shrugged. “But in this volume of soup, it should be undetectable.”

“I don’t know…” Pinkie hesitated.

“Please? As a favor to me? If Limestone gets mad, tell her I forced you to do it.”

Pinkie sighed. “Okay. As a favor to you. But if something goes wrong, you’re going to clean up the mess, not me.”

“Thank you!” Twilight uncorked her bottle and poured it in. For a moment, the soup turned purple, then pink, then went back to normal like she’d added nothing at all. “You won’t regret this.”

It had been months of work. Really, it hadn’t ended. The blight had receded, and the next crop was promising huge returns thanks to extra field hands, but there were other ponies that still needed the help. Ponies who didn’t have a support system before Chrysalis had been forced to create one.

All because of the wish of one young filly.

Changelings were working alongside ponies in every city and practically every town of note, collecting charity and moving food from where it wasn’t needed to where it was. They were loved for it. The hive had never fed so well.

They’d also never had to do so much honest work, but it was paying dividends. It was a more than fair trade, even better for her people than adopting the orphans. Why hadn’t she thought of it herself? There were always ponies in need. If changelings were there to meet them, more the better.

A year and a day passed since she spoke to Twilight Sparkle in the library. She kept an eye on her, of course. There was something special about the filly. When the wish was well and truly granted, she found her again.

Twilight was sitting on a bench in one of Canterlot’s many quiet gardens. Against the lavender growing around her, she was well camouflaged. A crystal monolith, polished to a gleaming sheen, sat in the center. It was a somber monument.

“Your parents are worried sick about you,” Chrysalis said, when she sat down next to Twilight without warning.

The filly didn’t jump or scream. She sniffled and shrugged, rubbing at her eyes.

“Do you want a hug? It’s not--”

Chrysalis was about to tell her it wouldn’t count as her last wish, but Twilight grabbed on to her before she could finish, just holding her and pressing her face against Chrysalis’ chest. The changeling queen stroked Twilight’s mane, trying to calm her.

“What’s wrong?” Chrysalis asked.

“Shining Armor. He--” she sniffled. “He got sent North.”

“It’s where they send most recruits,” Chrysalis said. “They’re keeping Equestria safe from the Empire.”

“It isn’t fair,” Twilight said. “He promised me he’d always be there to protect me. He was supposed to get a job in the palace and, and…” She trailed off, unable to finish.

“I’m sorry,” Chrysalis whispered.

“I’m so scared he’s going to get hurt!” Twilight sobbed. “T-there was an attack just last week!”

Chrysalis took a deep breath. “You know what this garden memorial is for? I’m guessing you do, since you came here.”

“It’s for ponies who died fighting against the Empire,” Twilight whispered.

Chrysalis nodded. “Each of them went north knowing they were going into danger. They didn’t have to join up. They could have decided to become farmers, or dressmakers, or… what else do ponies do… become musicians? I’m sure some of them could carry a tune. But they decided what was most important to them wasn’t being safe, it was keeping other ponies safe.”

“But…”

“I’m sure wherever he is, what your brother is thinking is that he’s got a wonderful little sister back home, and he’s got to do his best to make sure nothing bad can happen to her. He’s a very brave and selfless pony. I see a lot of that in you, too. You could have wished for anything. A million bits. A castle of your own. But you spent your wishes on other ponies.”

“They needed it more,” Twilight mumbled, her voice muffled by Chrysalis’ chest.

“I needed it too,” Chrysalis said. “You opened my eyes, little one, and helped more ponies than I can count.”

“You helped them.”

“And I wouldn’t have thought to do it without you,” Chrysalis said.

“I know what I want for my third wish,” Twilight said, quietly.

“If you’re going to wish for me to bring your brother home, I might be able to do it, but it isn’t what he would want,” Chrysalis warned her.

Twilight shook her head. “E-even if he came back it just means another pony would have to take his place, doesn’t it?”

Chrysalis nodded sadly.

“Then I wish for you to end the war. Make- make the Empire stop being evil!”

Chrysalis winced. “I can’t do that.”

“Why not? You were able to do everything else! You’re the Queen of the Changelings! You should be able to do anything you want!”

Chrysalis looked down. “That would be nice. You’re a smart pony. You know I didn’t grant your other wishes by inventing parents out of thin air for orphans or filling bellies with fairy bread that vanishes at sunrise.”

Twilight wiped her eyes and nodded.

“It took hard work and time, and the efforts of many of my subjects,” Chrysalis continued. “I had to build a whole organization just to get food out to ponies who need it. Do you know what I’d have to do to end the trouble in the north?”

Twilight hesitated, not wanting to say it.

“I’d have to do exactly what Princess Luna is already doing. I know she wants peace and safety for all her ponies. There’s nothing more I can do, because Princess Luna is already doing her best to fulfill your wish, and the wish of so many other ponies whose friends and family are in danger.”

Twilight sniffled and nodded. Chrysalis squeezed her.

“How did you know who I really was?” Chrysalis asked, quietly, trying to change the subject. “I thought this was an excellent disguise.”

“C-changeling disguises have flaws,” Twilight muttered. “Like casting your real shadow across a sandbox instead of your disguise’s. Or the color of their magic always being bright green. Or…” she pointed at the crystal monolith.

Chrysalis looked, and saw her true form reflected in the mirror-finish of the crystal. She snorted. “Clever girl.”

“This must be Pinkie Pie,” Chrysalis said. “Twilight, would you be so kind as to introduce us?”

Twilight laughed nervously. “Pinkie, this is Queen Chrysalis. Queen Chrysalis, Pinkie.”

“Welcome to Ponyville,” Pinkie said, bowing politely from atop the ladder.

“You know, I can’t remember ever seeing a pot this large before,” Chrysalis said. “How did you make it?” She reached towards it, resting her hoof on the black, hammer-finished surface.

“Wait!” Twilight yelled, too late.

Chrysalis hissed and recoiled, holding her hoof like she’d been burned.

“That’s pure iron!” Twilight said. “I should have known-- let me see your hoof!”

She grabbed Chrysalis’ hoof, holding onto it tight and examining it for burns. And didn’t find any.

“What? But…”

“Hm?” Chrysalis asked, mildly.

“Iron burns changelings. Doesn’t it?”

“Oh, that’s just an old mare’s tale!” Chrysalis laughed. “I know what this really is. You wanted to hold my hoof~”

Twilight frowned and glared up at her.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to be embarrassed. Next time, just ask. There’s no need to make up a pretense.”

“It’s not a pretense! I thought you got hurt!”

“Then why are you still holding my hoof?”

“Can I offer you the first bowl?” Pinkie asked, interrupting whatever Twilight was about to sputter out. “The soup’s ready!”

“The soup is for the town,” Chrysalis said. “I’ll have a bowl, but please, serve the others first. I can practically see their mouths watering from here!”

“It does smell good, doesn’t it?” Applejack asked. “You want a hoof, Pinkie?”

“That’d be great, AJ!” Pinkie smiled. “Grab a ladle - Limestone’s already getting ponies lined up.” That was a very polite way for Pinkie to say that her sister was shouting at ponies who tried to step out of line.

Thunderlane just had to push his luck, ignoring Limestone for a fraction of a second too long while he flirted with Caramel. Limestone snatched the bowl out of his hooves.

“No soup for you!” she shouted.

“But--”

“Back of the line!” Limestone snapped, pointing.

Thunderlane sighed and stepped to the side, walking back past the whole town with his head down in shame.

“She’s a bit more crabby than usual,” AJ muttered.

“She has a crush on him,” Chrysalis said, with the air of an expert watchmaker diagnosing a troubled pocketwatch merely from the way it ticked.

“Limestone? The only thing she crushes is rocks!” AJ laughed.

“You’ll see,” Chrysalis promised.

Thankfully, Limestone only had to make an example out of a couple other ponies before things were moving smoothly and most of the town had been served. Eventually, the pony of honor was served.

Chrysalis politely brought the spoon to her lips, sipping at the soup.

“So, what do you think?” Rarity asked, watching Chrysalis intently, waiting for some kind of reaction.

“The truth is, I don’t have much of a sense of taste,” Chrysalis admitted. “But even so, there’s something…” She took a second spoonful, sipping slower this time, obviously trying to identify something.

Rarity smiled. “I had a secret ingredient added to the soup. Something just for you.”

Chrysalis looked at the bowl in front of her, narrowing her eyes. “What kind of secret ingredient, exactly?”

“Well, you’d have to ask Twilight for details on how she made it, but it happens to be liquid love.” Rarity smirked. “Just the thing for hungry changelings, no?”

“There’s no such thing as liquid love,” Chrysalis said.

“Or is there?” Rarity said, trying to sound worldly and mysterious.

“Twilight Sparkle, what did you do?” Chrysalis muttered, standing.

“What’s wrong?” Rarity asked.

Chrysalis pointed. Limestone and Thunderlane were, as Rarity would put it delicately, enjoying each other instead of the festivities. They were holding hooves, staring into each other’s eyes with a dull, happy expression.

“I suppose you were right about her crush,” Rarity admitted.

“It’s not right at all,” Chrysalis corrected. “Every type of love has a flavor, and every pony has a love language they speak. That pony would never act like that if she was authentically in love.”

“Maybe love changed her?”

“No. Love brings out what’s already in a pony. That kind of soft affection isn’t right for her. She should have a hard-edged love, the kind that only softens in private, like a sweet fruit in a tough shell to keep it safe from the elements. This is all wrong, and she’s not the only one.”

Chrysalis motioned across the square. Dozens of ponies were paired up, staring at each other like they were hypnotized.

“Oh my… I see what you mean, that really isn’t normal,” Rarity gasped. "Where's Twilight? We need to know what she did!"

Rarity looked around in a panic. It only took her a moment to spot Twilight in a crowd, but in that moment Twilight was already bringing a spoon up to her lips.

Chrysalis bolted over to her, knocking the soup out of her hooves.

"You didn't eat any, did you?" Chrysalis asked.

"I only had a little," Twilight said. "Why? What's wrong?" Her eyes started to glaze over when she looked into Chrysalis' worried face. "You look so cute when you're worried about me... I could just stare at you all day..."

“Twilight…” Chrysalis said, her ears drooping.

“Did I ever tell you how much I loved you doting over me?” Twilight asked, her eyes slowly turning pink. “You were always there and I pretended to be annoyed, but I really loved the attention, and I loved you!”

“I know,” Chrysalis said. “And I really love how you tried to make this special for me. Can you tell me exactly what you put in the soup?”

“I thought you might ask, so I brought the book!” Twilight pulled the ancient text out of her saddlebags, flipping it open to a bookmarked page. “Look. It’s got a prince and a princess in love, just like us except I’m not a prince! I could probably fix that with spells, though…”

“You don’t need to change a thing about yourself,” Chrysalis said. “Believe me, I’m an expert.”

Twilight giggled happily while Chrysalis read over the page.

“And this is the formula you used?” Chrysalis asked.

Twilight nodded. “It’s liquid love!”

“It’s not quite that,” Chrysalis said, gently. “Back when this was written, slang and metaphors were a little different from today. It literally translates to Philter of Love, but what it really describes is a love poison.”

“That sounds nice,” Twilight said dreamily.

“Your highness, what can we do?” Rarity asked. “I don’t think Twilight will be much help.”

“I might be able to cure them,” Chrysalis sighed. “I’ve had to do it before but…”

“But?”

“Never mind. Let’s just hope this works.”

Chrysalis braced herself, then opened her mouth and took a deep breath. A mist peeled out of Twilight like she’d started sweating smoke. Chrysalis breathed it in, and it faded from the air along with Twilight’s lovey-dovey expression.

“What have I done?!” Twilight squeaked, her cheeks burning.

Chrysalis was about to say something, but broke down into a coughing fit.

“Are you alright, your highness?” Rarity asked, putting a hoof on her shoulder. Chrysalis waved her off.

“It just… went down the wrong pipe,” Chrysalis said. “Twilight, are you feeling more like yourself?”

“I feel like I want to crawl into a hole and hide from everypony!” Twilight said. She looked around. “The whole- the whole town! This is all my fault! It’s a disaster!”

Everywhere they looked, ponies were in love, making small talk, enjoying each other’s company quietly and ignoring the world around them.

“I’m gonna be honest, if this is a disaster it’s a really quiet one and nopony seems upset,” Pinkie said. “Maybe we could do this every year.”

“If they’re left like this, they won’t eat, or drink, or do anything else except act like love-struck idiots,” Chrysalis said, her voice rough. “They can’t take care of themselves. They just waste away.”

“You can cure them, though,” Rarity said. “I mean, you cured Twilight!”

Chrysalis looked down at Twilight’s hopeful, desperate face. “Of course I can,” she said. “There’s nothing to worry about.”

She spread her wings, taking to the air.

“Don’t worry, Twilight,” Rarity said. “She’s an alicorn. She’ll have this fixed any moment now.”

Twilight nodded, watching the Queen fly high enough above the town that she must have been able to see every street at once. She couldn’t bring herself to say it, but almost everything Rarity had said had been wrong.

Something changed in the air. When a storm rolls in, ponies can feel it, that change in air pressure and humidity. You didn’t have to be a pegasus to tell something was happening. This was like that, a front moving through town, but in the air wasn’t oncoming rain but a strange mix of melancholy and fatigue. Mist started trickling out of the ponies staring into each other's eyes, swirling around and being sucked upwards.

A galaxy of diffuse pink and purple centered itself on Chrysalis, growing larger and larger as it absorbed every touch of mist from the ponies below. When the last trickles finally faded, the spinning hurricane of energy spun faster, moving inwards to a single point, like a fallen star the size of a marble floating in front of Chrysalis.

She bit down, and the light flared. The flash moved in the way light shouldn’t, a visible shockwave echoing across town. In its wake, ponies seemed to snap awake from some kind of dream. Or nightmare, in the case of a certain stallion who caught Limestone’s shoe on the chin before he could even begin to understand what was going on.

Chrysalis flapped her massive, feathered wings a few more times, then fell, going limp. Her guards dove for her, but it was clear they wouldn’t make it in time.

“Oh no!” Rarity gasped, running for her. “Twilight, help me!”

“I don’t have a Feather Fall spell prepared!” Twilight shouted, chasing after her. “Maybe I can figure out anti-gravity. How far up was she? If it was more than five thousand meters I might have enough time to do the equations before--”

“Just catch her!” Rarity screamed.

“Oh right! Telekinesis, duh!”

They got under her just in time. Rarity reached up, grabbing for her and finding the alicorn oddly slippery, like what she was seeing and what she was feeling were so different that getting a grip was almost impossible.

Twilight stopped next to Rarity, throwing a soft shield up like a huge pillow of magical energy. Rarity’s failing grip was still enough to slow Chrysalis, and the soft field of force absorbed the rest of the fall, the alicorn coming to a stop only inches above their horns, deeply embedded in a magenta cushion.

“Is the town…?” Chrysalis whispered.

“You saved everypony,” Rarity promised, despite not having actually checked.

“Twilight,” Chrysalis groaned, turning to look at her. “Never make that poison again.”

“I won’t,” Twilight promised.

“Good,” Chrysalis said. “Because--” She gasped and shuddered, her whole body crawling like her muscles were trying to tear through her skin.

Twilight felt her heart in her throat. “She’s having some kind of reaction to the love poison!”

“Back away,” her guards said, pushing Rarity and Twilight aside to look at her, lowering her to the ground. They listened to her breathing and looked at each other. “She needs love. True love. All of the false love in her body is toxic.”

“Where are we supposed to find true love?” Rarity asked. “They don’t sell it at the shop!”

“Maybe they do…” Twilight whispered.

“You are not going to mix together some concoction and make things worse!” Rarity declared. “That’s what caused this problem in the first place!”

“I don’t need to,” Twilight said. “Trust me. I think I have the solution.”

“Love should not taste like grape jelly,” Chrysalis complained, sticking out her tongue. “I’ve tasted every flavor of true love in the world and it has never been that sticky and sweet.”

She’d been moved to Ponyville General Hospital so the doctors could check her over. At least in theory. Mostly it was to get away from the crowd, and the doctors had not as of yet actually been allowed to examine her.

“That particular stallion has a unique type of love,” Twilight admitted. “I’m just glad it was enough to help you recover.”

“I was hoping you’d offer up some of your own love,” Chrysalis pouted.

“I can tell you’re feeling better if you can make jokes like that,” Twilight said.

“Is it a joke?”

“I came here because I needed to apologize,” Twilight sighed, looking away. “Everything that happened was my fault.”

Chrysalis nodded. “Yes, it was.”

“Aren’t you supposed to soften the blow and tell me I was only trying to make things special for you?”

“Twilight, please, I’m not that kind of fairy godmother,” Chrysalis scoffed. “Your friend, Luna’s student, she might be the kind that wants every complaint sandwiched in compliments, but you and I care about results.”

“Results from hard work,” Twilight agreed. “It’s how wishes come true.”

“Exactly.” Chrysalis smiled. “That’s why I can’t help doting on you. You spent your wishes on other ponies and made sure to get as much work out of me as you could.”

“And today I made you cover for one of my mistakes,” Twilight said. “Sorry.”

“I suppose I can forgive you, on one condition,” Chrysalis said.

“What kind of condition?”

“Princess Luna gets letters every week from her student. Mostly gossip, but… I admit I’m a little jealous.”

“You want me to write letters?”

“It’s not too much to ask, is it?”

“I guess not,” Twilight said.

“You sound annoyed,” Chrysalis said. “What’s wrong?”

“I just…” Twilight hesitated. “...it’s nothing.”

“You’re going to try lying to me? I invented lying, you know.”

“I wanted to see the real you, but you’ve just been wearing that stupid disguise the whole time!” Twilight blurted out.

“Is that what all this is about?” Chrysalis asked. Her body flared with acid-green fire, the fur and feathers burning away to reveal her true form. Ebony chitin armor, buzzing membranes for wings, a horn like a gnarled tree branch whittled into a spear. She had been beautiful. Now she was a nightmare.

Twilight relaxed, the tension in her shoulders vanishing.

“Is that better?” Chrysalis asked, her voice echoing like a colony of bees lived in her throat.

Twilight nodded. The changeling queen moved on the bed, making space. Twilight hopped up to sit next to her.

“You know, I was going to compare my disguise to wearing a fancy dress to an event,” Chrysalis mused. “And all you wanted to do was rip it right off me and leave me exposed. Maybe I’ve been teaching you the wrong things.”

“It’s not like that!”

“I know. That’s why I can tease you about it~” Chrysalis craned her long neck down to press her muzzle against Twilight’s forehead. It was the kind of kiss a skeleton might give, with no lips but the same feeling. “So, since you haven’t been writing to me, how about you tell me all about how you’ve been enjoying Ponyville?”

“I don’t even know where to start… I guess the interesting stuff started with Daybreaker--”

“No, no. That’s the kind of story that gets into the papers. I want to know about the little things. What’s it like running your little shop?”

“It’s not little! It’s one of the largest shops in Ponyville! By square footage, I mean. There are some… minor cash flow issues, but I have plenty of savings.”

“The biggest shop in town, hm?”

“I needed the space for separate labs and work areas to avoid cross-contamination,” Twilight explained. “Actually the building has an interesting history! It was a municipal building, but when the new town hall was built, all the departments transferred to the new location. It wasn’t originally zoned for commercial use, and the age of the building made bringing it up to code a problem, but that wasn’t a problem for me!”

“No?” Chrysalis smiled and settled down. Twilight nodded and leaned against her.

“Actually, it made for a useful way to demonstrate my skills to the ponies here! Like advertising, but it needed to be done anyway so it was essentially free, as long as I made sure to add a few extra flourishes to my work. That did lead to a minor problem when I miscalculated a repair spell…”