"Come on, honey. Don't frown; that suit looks good on you," said Cadence as she saw Shining stop once more and began to adjust the collar of his cerulean suit and white shirt.

"I'm not frowning, it's just... uh... very hard for me to breathe in," the stallion said grumpily, still fiddling with his collar. "And why did we pick it up at the most expensive clothing store, anyway?"

"You talk as if you had to pay for it," the princess remarked.

"Yes, hubby, don't be such a prude. We went to this store because it belongs to one of my children. And it was rather generous of him to give you a full set of clothes," the queen winked at him. "Along with that wonderful bracelet for Cadence."

She nodded at the beautiful platinum and gemstone bracelet that hung around the alicorn's front leg, worth as much as Shining's annual salary.

"Yes, he was very kind, but what's wrong with my old coat?" The unicorn asked, wondering how the changeling had managed to become a famous fashion designer.

"You mean that disgusting moth-eaten rag?" Chrysalis frowned. "Come on, Shiny, you can't show up in front of your family in the clothes you wore to the prom."

"And stained with strawberry jam," added Cadence.

"So yes, it was vital. And since today is a wonderful chance for me to get to know your folks, it's got to be perfect. You have to shine when you're in the company of me and Cady."

She put her leg around his neck.

"I'd look like a worthless wife if I let my hubby walk around in an old jacket," she smiled.

"I agree. Your family could misunderstand us if that happened. And besides, it matches our dresses perfectly," Cadence added as she put her arms around his neck, too. "And it wasn't easy for us to match them with the color."

"Of course," the stallion sadly nodded, remembering the forty minutes they'd spent trying on half the store and driving one of the clerks to a nervous breakdown before they'd been sure they matched Chrysalis' evening gown and Cadence's airy dress. And that's not to mention the long hour at home during which they changed and applied their own makeup. And while in Cadence's case it was understandable, Chrysalis might not have taken that long to get ready. After all, she's a changeling and could just change her appearance. But no, she insisted she had to look natural today. Eh...

"Imagine; in a little while, the three of us in front of your parents," Cadence went on to say. "How happy they'll be when they see you."

"You sound like they've never seen me before," he said sarcastically.

"Definitely not so handsome," the princess declared, snuggling closer to him.

"And in the company of such charming companions as ourselves," Chrysalis interjected, doing the same thing that made the unicorn feel trapped in a vise.

"Besides, we're not going to them empty-hooved," Cadence said, showing off a large box tied with a ribbon. "Once I give them this wonderful crystal set, made by the best craftsmen in Equestria, they will be truly delighted. I hope you haven't forgotten your present."

"No, dear, I hold it to my heart," he answered, lifting his front leg with difficulty and pointing to the package hanging at his side, which contained a box with a prefabricated model of a ship (which his father liked to collect), a silver frame with a family photo (in which both mares, like predators, cradled Shining at their feet, holding a marriage contract), and a bottle of expensive wine.

"By the way, where is your present, Chrysalis?" The princess asked. "We agreed that I would take Mrs. Sparkle, and you would have to buy something for her husband."

"Don't worry, my gift is on its way, and I'll get it soon," the queen replied, glancing at the street sign. "Yeah, this is Violet Street, which means he's not far away. Do you mind if we wait for him?"

"Him? Did you hire a courier?" The unicorn asked.

"Well, almost. You'll see," she said with a smile as she stopped at the post and looked around.

Soon a tall, athletic pegasus in a policestallion's uniform came around the corner and handed her a small box with round holes in the sides.

"Here you go, Mom," he said. "Jizzle gave it to me half an hour ago."

"Thank you, dear," the queen said, taking the box and stroking the pegasus on the head several times. "I hope you didn't wake it up?"

"I don't think so. At least when I checked on, it was lying still, so I don't think my running disturbed it," he smiled as he looked at Shining and Cadence.

"That's good. You and Jizzle are great," Chrysalis praised him.

"Thanks, mom," the pegasus said. "Well, I'm off. It's time to get back to patrolling the streets and protecting innocent ponies from dangerous criminals."

"Goodbye, sweetheart. Take care of yourself. And remember, if you get a tummy ache again, ask Milla to make you some mashed boiled apples or boiled rice."

"Sure, mom. Well, good-bye," he nodded, and spread his wings and flew off toward the center.

"Another changeling! And, on top of that, a policestallion. How many of them even live in the city?" Shining Armor mentally asked himself. His guards didn't seem to be any use at all. Oh, what if some of they were changelings, too?! Well, that would explain a lot. For instance, why there was such a great influx of volunteers during the last draft.

Cadence, meanwhile, was interested in another, equally important question. She looked with interest at Chrysalis's box, where through the holes she could see a curled up leathery lump that was sniffling and snoring quietly.

"Oh, what's that? You decided to give Shining's parents a pet?"

"Yes," the queen smiled beamingly.

"Is it dangerous?" The princess asked.

"Not at all, these creatures are abundant near our hive, and my children adore them," the queen said. "It's harmless, I assure you, and the Shiny’s family will love it."

"I doubt that very much," the unicorn sighed, remembering how angry his mother had been when he'd brought a kitten from the street when he was ten and it had torn apart her favorite couch.

"Don't worry, they'll love it right away," she winked, and, levitating the box to her right side, continued walking with them down the street.

"By the way, I've been meaning to ask you," Shining Armor asked as they walked, "How many changelings live in Equestria?"

"Well, somewhere around twenty thousand," she answered nonchalantly.

"What?" The stallion opened his mouth in surprise.

"And these are all your children?" The alicorn aghast, no less astonished.

"Of course not. Many of them come from other hives."

"Others? So there are other hives?" Shining asked.

"Of course there are, silly. You don't think I'm capable of producing that many babies," Chrysalis chuckled. "There are several queens in the world and they, like me, take care of their children and help them find love among other peoples by infiltrating their society."

"Wow," the stallion said in amazement.

"But don't worry, hubby. Many of them, like me, want to live in peace with the rest of the species and have no plans to make war on the ponies, except for a couple of outcasts from the western desert. But they live almost at the very edge of it, and are unlikely to dare attack anyone that far from home. And besides, I and the other queens get in their way from time to time, keeping the honorable name of the changelings out of the way."

"But... if changelings live among us, why did you have to pretend to be me and make such a mess of the wedding?" Cadence asked.

"It's simple, Cady," the Queen replied." Now they live among you secretly, and they're afraid to show their faces to ordinary ponies. I want to change that and make it so that you accept them and they don't have to hide all the time. I believe that one day changelings will be able to walk around unmasked and be friends with ponies without the risk of being imprisoned or beaten up.

"Yes, that would be great," the princess nodded approvingly.

"And besides, if I succeed, the other queens may one day decide to make peace with you, so that their children will stop starving. And then, who knows, maybe even Ashaisha and Rohara will stop feuding with everyone and start making friends with other peoples."

"Are these the outcasts you spoke of?" The unicorn asked.

"Yes, and they're scoundrels. But, like me, they love their children very much, so I can't judge them too harshly. I want to be an example of all the changelings, not an enemy."

"Well, I didn't know that. You're very noble, my love," Shining said, involuntarily delighted by her words, rose and kissed Chrysalis on the lips, glancing sideways at Cadence for fear that she might not like it. But she didn't show any displeasure and just smiled at him sincerely.

"Phew, they've really made up and aren't mad at me anymore. It's hard to believe, but it looks like this marriage is slowly starting to come back to normal. And I'll be very comfortable in it," he rejoiced mentally, squaring his shoulders and stepping confidently between his two wonderful spouses.

They continued on their way and soon found themselves on the outskirts of Canterlot, in an area of small cottages and cozy two-story houses.

"Well, we're almost there. Just a few more minutes and we'll reach Mr. and Mrs. Sparkle's house," the princess said with a swift movement of her foot, fixing her mane. "I wonder if Twilight's friends are here yet?"

"Yeah, me too," the queen added in a slightly shaky voice.

"What is it, Chrissy?" Cadence asked, noticing her agitation. "Is something wrong?"

"No, it's okay. It's just that I'm not quite sure that your acquaintances are going to be happy with me. After all, I pretended to be you the other day, and I wasn't very polite. I'm afraid they won't like me. Especially Twilight."

"Oh, don't worry so much. I know Twilight well. She's very forgiving and kind and her friends are really sweet. You won't have any trouble with them, I'm sure," the princess whispered, walking up to her. "So don't worry, Chrissy. I'll back you up if you need me."

And she kissed her lightly on the cheek.

"Y-yes, thank you," the queen said, chuckling softly.

"Wow, and they have become much closer than I thought," the stallion thought upon noticing their kiss, somehow experiencing a slight thrill from it.

Meantime, they were approaching his parents' house. It was a simple one-story cottage with a small courtyard and a low white fence, much inferior to the place where their son now lived, but quite comfortable and beautiful, like many houses in Canterlot.

Walking along the narrow stone pathway, surrounded by porcelain breezies and ducks, Shining, with his wives at his sides, came to the front door and, gathering his courage and taking several deep breaths, pressed the doorbell.

"Here we go," he said mentally as he heard hurried footsteps on the other side. He was so tense, as if he were preparing for a terrible battle with a superior adversary.

And then the door opened and his mother came out to meet him, dressed in a beautiful homemade dress along with small earrings and a necklace.

"Shiny, darling!" She rejoiced, walking over to the stallion and giving him a big hug and then beginning to kiss him. "How glad I am to see you, my darling! Oh, what a splendid costume you are wearing! You look so handsome in it!"

"We told you," Cadence chuckled.

"Mom! Please, stop it!" said Shining, embarrassedly, trying to free himself from his overprotective mother's embrace. "I'm not the only one here!"

"Oh yes, I know, hello Cadence," she said to the princess. "Oh, what a dress! And the bracelet! I've never seen anything so intricately carved and cut. It cost a fortune, I'd wager."

"Yes, Mrs. Sparkle," the alicorn nodded, bowing cheerfully, "But thanks to a good friend of mine, I was able to get it for free."

"Really? She must be insanely rich to be able to give such expensive gifts. It's Princess Celestia, isn't it?"

"Not exactly, I'm talking about mine – I mean, Shining's and my third half."

"Ma'am," the queen bowed in turn.

"Uh, yes, it's a pleasure to meet you," Mrs. Sparkle looked frightened at the tall queen looking up at her.

"Likewise. I am the Queen of the Hive and Lord of Desert Albion of the Western Valley of the Deathly Hallows, Chrysalis Miridia Erashan," the queen introduced herself with the long title, surprising Shining Armor and Cadence with it.

"What?" the queen asked, seeing their reaction. "You told me yourself that when you meet your husband's family, you must behave as if you were at a reception. And on such occasions, you're supposed to give your full name and titles."

"Yes, something like that," the stallion grinned awkwardly as he looked at his mother.

"Well, I'm Twilight Velvet, or just Mrs. Sparkle, for family and friends," the mare said with a smile after a moment's silence. "Lord and mistress of this house and all that is in it."

"And I'm also the mother of our sweet and humble Shiny," she added, stealthily pulling out a handkerchief and quickly wiping the unicorn's forehead with sweat, causing the unicorn to be embarrassed again.

"Yes, I know. I'm honored," Chrysalis said, and walked over to her, about to give her a family hug.

Mrs. Sparkle looked at her fearfully, and then at Shining, but when she saw him nod good-naturedly, she too stepped toward the queen. But before they could embrace, there was a sudden peal of thunder behind Chrysalis, frightening the beast in her box, and a flash of lightning that illuminated the area and shadowed the queen, making her look unusually ominous and gloomy.

Mrs. Sparkle gave a startled gasp and stepped back, her croup pressed against the wall.

"What's that? Where did the lightning come from?" Shining Armor shuddered as he looked up at the clear evening sky.

"Rainbow!" suddenly exclaimed an orange Earth pony dressed in a plaid tight shirt that popped out of the door and angrily poked her foot behind the guests' backs. They turned around and saw a small cloud hovering low there, with a blue pegasus with an iridescent mane, dressed in a short summer jacket and leather skirt. "You promised you wouldn't do that!"

"Yeah, yeah, I know, Applejack, sorry. But it was so funny that I couldn't help myself," she replied, laughing as she rolled her back on the cloud.

"Have you forgotten how you once angered Princess Luna with that? And almost cost us Nightmare Night?" Applejack reminded her angrily.

"Oh, come on, it's just a joke. Nothing bad happened," the pegasus said nonchalantly.

"Really?" The earth pony glanced meaningfully at the frightened Mrs. Sparkle, who had one leg over her heart, and Shining Armor, whose mane stood on end.

"Uh, yeah, hee-hee, well, I just..." Rainbow Dash grinned awkwardly, rubbing her neck.

"I apologize for my friend," the Earth pony said as she walked past the assembled guests to the low hovering cloud and jumped up and grabbed the pegasus by the tail, dropping her to the ground. "She just doesn't realize that tonight is not the night for jokes."

"Aw, don't be such a bully. You're acting just like Twi..." The pegasus tried to object, rising to her feet, but the earth pony quickly gagged her with her hoof.

"And that's why she apologizes to you and promises it won't happen again," the earth pony finished for her. "Isn't that right?"

"Uguhum-wum!" Rainbow Dash said indistinctly with the hoof in her mouth.

"That's good. Now, let's get acquainted," the earth pony said, simply fixing her shirt and wiping her hoof on it. "My name is Applejack, I'm an apple farmer from Ponyville and a friend of Shining Armor's sister."

She held out her leg to the queen.

"Yes, I remember you, pony. We already communicated when I was, ahem, in the guise of Cadence," Chrysalis said, shaking her.

"That's right. And I remember you put my muffins in the garbage can then," Applejack remarked.

"Well, yes, I was rather rude to you, and I apologize for that," the changeling lowered her head guiltily.

"Bah, let's forget it," the earth pony said quietly. "I'm not vindictive. Besides, my little sister Apple Bloom pulls a lot of tricks when I make her eat oatmeal. So I'm used to it."

She winked cheerfully.

"And I wouldn't mind a fresh start at all."

"Neither do I," Chrysalis said with relief. "And I really hope that you and I can be friends."

"I don't have any preconceptions about changelings. Although, truth be told, I'd never seen one before that wedding."

"Really? I'm surprised to hear that from the neighbor of one of my daughters who lives near your farm," said the queen.

"Is that so? Do I know her?" Applejack asked with marked interest.

"I think so, at least she spoke positively of you more than once as a kind and generous neighbor who was always willing to share an extra bag of fertilizer or carrot-eating vermin," said Chrysalis.

"Carrot? Wait a minute, its mean the Golden Harvest is..."

"Yes, she is my daughter," the queen smiled.

"Wow! What a piece of news! I swear on my apples, I certainly didn't expect this. And... and her husband?"

"Oh, he's an ordinary earth pony. The same as you."

"And does he know who she is?" Applejack asked with interest.

"As far as I know, yes," confirmed Chrysalis.

"Holy molly! Big Mac will be surprised!" cheerfully stomped her hoof the pony-cowboy. "And their foals? How on earth did they manage to..."

Rainbow let out a low cough.

"But we can talk about that later," Applejack hurriedly said.

"I agree, we'll have plenty of time to chat about everything at the dinner table," the blue pegasus added as she flew up to the queen and shook her leg unceremoniously. "By the way, I'm Rainbow Dash, the fastest and coolest pony in Equestria. Hey, nice, outfit. Exactly like the vampire lord from Night of the Blood Moon. Only cleaner and without the cobwebs."

"Rainbow!" Applejack was horrified by this behavior, but Chrysalis only grinned merrily:

"Yes, yes, I know that movie. Very interesting. So you like horror movies?"

"Hell, yes! What could be better than a good horror movie and scary fanged monsters lurking on the other side of the screen? I've been watching them with Scootaloo every night since she moved into my house," the pegasus said cheerfully. "Though she prefers modern movies, to tell you the truth, I prefer the classics. Like Nightmare on Beech Street or Thursday the Fourteenth."

"Really? By the way, I used to play in a horror movie, too. Even though it was a long time ago, seventy years ago," said the queen.

"Seventy years?" mentally marveled Shining Armor. It only now dawned on him that he had no idea how old his long-lived wife was.

"Wow! No way! You played a part in a classic movie?!" The pegasus spoke excitedly.

"Just a minute," the queen burst into a bright flash of flame and appeared as a pale unicorn with stitches in her skin and a tall black mane arranged in a fanciful tower. "I was created by a mad genius to be the bride of a terrible monster!" she uttered with an otherworldly groan, and then added in her former carefree voice: "I was a real star in the days of black and white cinema. It was made by one of my sons, who believed that the future lay in scary movies."

"That's great! Hey, you're pretty cool for a changeling queen. I'm sure Scootaloo will be delighted when I tell her that I met you. If you like, we could hang out sometime or even..."

"All right, Rainbow, that's enough," Applejack stopped her this time. "Don't distract the queen.

"It's okay, I don't mind a little conversation," Chrysalis said, regaining her natural appearance.

"Ha! See, A.J., she's not as boring as you are! All right, ponies, let's get inside. I'm starving, and there's a whole bunch of snacks waiting for us."

"That's right, we're all standing outside. Please, come in," Mrs. Sparkle agreed, heading inside with her guests.

"You see, Chrissy," Cadence whispered softly, "I told you'd be welcome here."

"Well, so far it's going pretty smoothly," the queen nodded as she and the others entered the spacious hallway.

Shining's parents' house was very cozy and furnished, mostly with antique furniture and various figurines and vases on small shelves and dressers. And, of course, there were framed family photos of young Twilight and Shining Armor with their parents hanging everywhere.

"It's very nice here," the queen said as she approached one of the pictures of little Shining bathing in the tub with the duck (thereby making the stallion blush profusely). "You can tell right away that this is home to a loving family."

"Thank you, we are very proud of our children," smiled Miss Sparkle. "I hope I can visit your hive someday and meet yours too. As far as I understand from my Shining's story, I've become a grandmother to a great many grandchildren."

"Yes, it is. And that doesn't embarrass you one bit?" Chrysalis asked.

"Not at all. Children are happiness, and it doesn't matter if they're changelings or ponies."

"Ha, well, well! You're a very progressive mare, Mrs. Sparkle," the queen complimented her.

"Thank you. And a very young grandmother, too," said Twilight Velvet. "But I sincerely hope this is only the beginning. Have you thought about foals yet?"

"Well, actually, we haven't..." The stallion began.

"Of course, Chrysalis and I have discussed it, and she's talked me into having a foal with Shining," Cadence answered in his place.

"You did? But what about..." The unicorn was about to interject when Chrysalis spoke:

"It would be nice for me to have a few babies, too. Otherwise, I haven't cared for little larvae in years."

"But wait! I haven't..." The stallion tried to intervene again.

"And how many little ones are you willing to risk?" Mrs. Sparkle asked them.

"One," Cadence told her. "That's a start. And then, who knows, maybe there'll be two or even three."

"What?" breathed Shining startled. "Three?"

"And I think I'll start at thirty," added Chrysalis.

"Thirty?!" The stallion said dazedly.

"What? You think it's too little? Well, all right, all right, seventy," said the queen, misunderstanding him. "But no more than that. I still have to keep in shape."

"Oh, dear mother," the unicorn muttered in a trembling voice, feeling his legs buckle as he imagined a whole horde of bug-foals biting and shoving and dragging him in all directions.

"Well, son, stay on your hoofs. We all get a little scared at first when our loved ones start telling us about foals," said a dark blue stallion, dressed in a roomy tweed jacket, who entered the hallway at that moment, with a chuckle. "But it's not that bad. A big family is the key to success."

"Oh, yes, Dad. You always know how to comfort me," Shining told him with a rather sour expression.

"Of course! After all, what are parents for?" The older pony winked as he approached his guests.

"I agree with you completely. So you're Shining's dad? Pleased to meet you," Chrysalis told him with a bow.

"Likewise, my dear queen. And yes, my name is Night Light and I'm the father of the brat who charmed both the lovely changeling and the equally beautiful alicorn princess," he grinned, kissing each mare's leg in turn before walking over to his son and ruffling his mane in a familial fashion. "Oh, you clever seducer! You can tell at once – my genes!"

"Dad, please don't do it!" Shining exclaimed grudgingly, trying desperately to free himself.

"Come on, son, take it easy. You're not ashamed of your old daddy, are you?" His father said nonchalantly, winking at the two mares, who giggled merrily as they watched the scene.

"No, but you're treating me like a little foal," the unicorn replied. "And Twilight's friends are right here," he added mentally, seeing Rainbow Dash and Applejack smirking. "So, please stop."

"Well, well, look how serious you've become," Night Light grinned as he released him and Shining, blushing, fixed his bangs.

Soon several other mares entered the hallway, who, as Chrysalis remembered, were also friends of his husband's sister. The first of them was a small pink earth pony, wearing a light, colorful dress decorated with candy-colored buttons. She jumped up to the guests in short jumps and cheerfully greeted everyone and turned to the queen, quickly shaking her leg.

"Oh, hello there, nice to meet you! Though, we already know each other! Well, I mean, not really! We didn't know each other that well the last time we met, because you looked like Cadence, so I thought you were her. Yes, I forgot to introduce myself, my name is Pinkie Pie! I'm Twilight's friend! Remember when I showed you how the festive hall was decorated and what fun I had planned for everyone? Oh, yes, that time you thought they were too childish, and I was very upset at first, but then I was relieved and stopped being sad and sulking at you! Especially now that you're married to my friend Twilight's little brother! Did I mention she and I are friends? Ah, never mind! Now that you and Shining are a real family, we can have a reconciliation party! You like make-up parties? I do! I can bake you the biggest, biggest reconciliation cake! Do you changelings eat cake? If so, what kind of filling? Unfortunately, I don't know how to add love to them, but I do bake with exceptional love! Does that count? Does that sound like true love? Tell me! Does it?" She was gibbering rapidly, not stopping her vigorous tugging of the queen's leg and rejoicing like a little filly.

"Um, well... I am..." mumbled Chrysalis confusedly, not having time to answer any of her questions, and looking embarrassed at those around her, who seemed to be amused by the scene.

"Pinkie, leg," Applejack whispered to her.

"Leg?" Pinkie didn't understand.

"You'll tear the queen's leg off," the farmer pony explained more lucidly.

"Oh, I see!" The mercurial mare said without the slightest embarrassment, releasing Chrysalis, whose limb was still trembling. "Well, what about the party? It's still on, right? What am I talking about? We haven't talked about anything yet! Well, then let's start all over again... ahem... so, I..."

"Wait, Pinkie, why don't we save this conversation for later?" said Applejack, pulling her hastily away from the queen. "I'm sure you'll have a wonderful reconciliation party with her, but some other time. Do you agree?"

"Well, of course I am! You don't have to go any further, Applejack! I understand you perfectly! And you're absolutely right – a party is never redundant," replied Pinkie, not embarrassed in the slightest. "Besides, I don't have to bake a conciliation cake now, because Mrs. Sparkle has lots of goodies on the table, and we'll be tasting them very soon! Oh, I can't wait!"

And after saying that, she stormed out of the hallway.

"Wow! That was something!" Chrysalis could only utter as she stared after her.

Maybe she imagined it, but she was willing to bet that when Pinkie Pie took off, her dusty silhouette hovered in the air for a few seconds, as if the speed at which she'd launched was faster than the speed of light.

"Yeah, Pinkie Pie's a pain in the croup," said Cadence cheerfully. "But she's really nice and sweet and never a dull moment."

"Oh really?" grinned Chrysalis, then looked at the snow-white unicorn who was wearing a beautiful evening gown with silk bows and jewelry. "Hi, are you... um..."

"Rarity, it's a pleasure to meet you, my dear queen" the mare said with a bow, lifting the hem of her dress like a court lady.

"So am I, Rarity," the changeling told her. "I must say you have a very refined taste. Your outfit looks divine."

"Oh, thank you, Your Highness, you're too kind," the unicorn said, crouching respectfully again.

"Please, don't be so formal. I didn't come here as a changeling queen, but as my Shiny's consort. So you can address me simply by my name and without ceremony," Chrysalis told her.

"Of course, Your Highness... I mean Chrysalis" said Rarity, smiling embarrassedly.

"Now, where is your esteemed daughter whom I saw at the wedding?" The queen asked Mr. Sparkle. "And whom I sent to the crystal mines beneath the city," she added mentally, remembering with regret that unpleasant story.

"Yes, Dad, where's Twilight?" Shining didn't see his little sister in the crowd.

"I think she's still in her room. I'm surprised she hasn't come out," said Night Light, glancing around the hallway. "Twilight! Honey! Your brother and his wives are here! Where are you?"

There were hurried hoofsteps in the back of the house, and soon a purple unicorn dressed in a slightly stretchy sweater and dark tights, accompanied by a small purple dragon.

"Yes, Daddy, I'm on my way. Sorry, that I'm late. I had to send a little letter to Princess Celestia," she said as she approached her guests.

"Yeah, just a little one," the dragon added. "The size of a good rug."

"It was a very important letter, Spike. You know it was," Twilight pointed out.

"Of course," he sighed, kneading his tiny paw, which had a large callus on it.

"Hey, Shiny, how are you doing?" She said, throwing herself around her brother's neck.

"All good, little sis. How are you? Studying something again?" He smiled, snuggling up against the unicorn. "More friendship problems, right?"

"Sort of. I'm doing some very important research on which the fate of all of Equestria depends," she glanced around embarrassed. "But I'll tell you about it later. Hi Cadence! It's so good to see you!"

"Me too, Twilight," the alicorn replied, hugging her neck gently.

"Hey, Spike! What's up, little brother?" The stallion, meanwhile, asked the dragon, bumping his hoof on his fist.

"All right, mate. I hope you don't mind me poking around in your computer while Twilight was busy."

"Of course. And what were you doing there? Playing my video games again?" The unicorn chuckled.

"Yeah," Spike smiled. "They're a bit dated, though. But I liked Lost Griffons a lot."

"He-he, I see. When I was a foal, I loved play in it too."

"By the way, if you want, we can go to Shining's room later," Cadence whispered quietly, turning to the queen. "I think you might be interested to know how he lived when he was little."

"That's just what I need!" The stallion said, horrified.

"Well, Twilight Sparkle, a pleasure to meet you," said Chrysalis, looking at the purple unicorn. "Again."

"Um... yeah, hi," Twilight said with a strained smile. "How's it going?"

"Fine, thanks," Chrysalis told her. "I hope you're alright."

"I hope you're okay, too," Twilight said briefly, turning away from her.

It was obvious that she didn't really want to have a conversation with the queen.

"Look, I understand that you must be uncomfortable with my presence, because you're still upset with me about the other day. But I assure you, I only did it out of necessity, and I didn't want to hurt anyone."

"Really? So when you trapped Cadence and me in the mines and left me to die, you didn't mean it?" The unicorn said with tension in her voice. "And when you took control of my brother's mind, too?"

"Twilight, why would you say that?" Cadence said reproachfully.

"No, no, it's all right, Cady," Chrysalis sighed sadly, her head down. "She's right. I deserved it."

Changeling looked the mare straight in the eyes.

"And I'm sorry for what I did. I know words aren't enough, but I sincerely hope that our relationship isn't completely ruined, and that I can earn your forgiveness someday."

"Yeah, me, too," Twilight said stiffly.

There was an awkward pause.

"By the way, I almost forgot, we didn't come to you empty-hoofed," Shining Armor said, deciding to lighten the mood. He removed the bag from his neck, taking out the gifts for his parents and passing them to them, before setting the bottle of wine on a small table.

"Oh, thank you, son. Well, would you look at that! It's a replica of Jack Blackbeard's sailboat! That's a fine ship. She'll fit in nicely with my collection," said Mr. Sparkle, looking at the picture of the ship on the box.

"Always welcome, Dad, Dad," the stallion brushed him off.

"And this is from me," Cadence added as she gave Mrs. Sparkle her gift, "a lovely crystal set that's perfect for formal occasions."

"Thank you, Cadence, that's so sweet," Mrs. Sparkle said as she took the box from her. "In that case, I'll put it on the table tonight."

"Well, let me give you a present too, Mr. Sparkle. My children caught it recently," said the queen, lifting up the box with the holes in it. "I'm sure you'll like it."

"Oh, what is it? Some kind of pet?" Twilight suddenly asked a question.

"Uh, yes. It lives near our hive, and I..." Chrysalis wanted to tell her, but the unicorn interrupted her.

"Oh, my! How cool! I've always loved little animals! You don't mind if I look at it, do you?" She said quickly, and without waiting for the queen to say yes, she grabbed the box with her telekinesis.

"Sure, but be careful, it likes to..." Chrysalis tried to warn her, but Twilight had already ripped the lid off the box and a small scaly beast jumped out, looking like a lizard but with big, curious eyes and long legs.

Twilight cried out in fright and surrounded herself with the magical barrier that the lizard had hit. It wrapped its paws around its walls and licked it a few times with her tongue before slowly slid to the floor.

"What... what is that?!" The unicorn exclaimed.

"Wow, it's an emolizard!" Spike said as he walked over to it. "I haven't seen one of those in a while."

"What kind of lizard?" Cadence asked again.

"Emolizard," replied Chrysalis, as her telekinesis lifted the beast and placed it on a nearby chair. "They called it that because it feeds on other pony's emotions. Well, it's almost like a changeling, and in exchange it gives its feeder a pleasant sensation, so it won't want to leave it."

"Well, isn't that cute!" Mr. Sparkle said as he stroked the lizard on the head several times, and it squinted with pleasure.

"Isn't it dangerous?" Shining asked.

"Not at all," Chrysalis assured him.

Then Mr. Sparkle let out a low chuckle, and a relaxed smile appeared on his face. He slowly sat down on the floor, and the lizard rubbed his neck nonchalantly.

"It's better not to abuse its caresses, though. Especially if you're going to hitch a wagon," the queen said as she picked up the emolizard and put it back in the box.

"All right, little one, you stay here for now. I think Shining's daddy has had enough positive emotions for one day."

"Huh?" Night Light said with a shake of his head. "Uh, that was weird, but it felt pretty good."

"Well, it was. It charms are very specific. After a hard day's work, though, they're a great way to take the edge off," said Chrysalis.

"No doubt it's a very useful pet indeed," Shining Armor nodded. "But it would be better to keep it in the terrarium. At least for the first half of the day. To avoid embarrassing situations."

"Yes, you're right," the queen agreed.

"Well, you two talk while I go check on the potato casserole," said Mrs. Sparkle. "Darling, would you mind escorting our guests into the living room?" She asked her husband, heading toward the large archway behind which the kitchen was visible, the scent of cooking wafting in delightfully.

"Of course, my love," said Shining's father, and with a gallant gesture he invited everyone to follow him.

Sparkle's living room was small but fairly furnished: several cushioned sofas, bookshelves surrounded by a fireplace that crackled merrily, a large television by the far wall, and a pair of plant pots in the corner by the window.

As the queen stepped into the room, she heard someone's startled squeak. Turning toward the sound, she noticed a lurking yellow pegasus behind one of the tubs, in which a small palm tree was growing.

"Um, who's that?" She asked Rainbow Dash, who was walking next to her.

"That? Just another one of our friends. She's so shy," Dash told her, flying over to the tub and pulling out a trembling pegasus dressed in a thick hooded sweatshirt and a long skirt.

"No, Rainbow, please don't," she begged in a low voice, covering her head with her front legs.

"Come on, don't hide!" Rainbow told her, not letting her get away. "We've already told you there's nothing to be afraid of."

"That's what you think," the pegasus objected.

"Sorry. When we told her the changeling queen was coming here, she got a little scared and decided to... ahem... spend the rest of the evening in the corner," Dash added, glaring at Chrysalis and unceremoniously placing her friend next to her.

"And now you can meet her," she solemnly proclaimed, giving her friend a slight nudge at her side.

Chrysalis stared at the yellow pegasus with interest, causing her to cringe and shrink back into the floor.

"Well, it's nice to meet you," the queen extended her leg. "My name is Chrysalis."

"Y-yes, it's the same. And I'm Flat-tershy," the pegasus replied quietly, afraid to raise her head.

"Uh, excuse me? I'm afraid I didn't hear you," the queen interrupted.

"Fluttershy," the filly repeated, still quiet.

"Fluttershy? I see. Come on, don't be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you or eat your love without asking. I came here as a guest, and I want to get to know everyone," the queen tried to reassure her.

"O-okay," said Fluttershy nervously.

"By the way, I can't help but notice that you look painfully familiar to me. Tell me, have we never met before?" Chrysalis asked.

"Uh, yes... at the wedding," the pegasus replied in a whisper, giving her a startled look and covering her head with her legs again.

"No, that's not what I mean. Somehow I think I've seen you somewhere before we were married," Chrysalis continued to insist.

"I d-don't think that's possible. I-I've never been to Changeling land before," Fluttershy said, stammering.

"Don't think? Wait! I have remembered! Is it really you?!" The queen suddenly said loudly.

"I AM?" Fluttershy squeaked in surprise.

"Are you Angry Video Game Mare?"

"Huh? Fluttershy raised her head in surprise as she stopped shaking." Y-You saw my show ma'am?

"What?" said Rainbow Dash incredulously, staring at them both.

"Please, no need for these "ma'am". And yes, I love your show. And I'm not the only one. My kids love it too; you're a real idol. A lot of them love to watch you critique old games. So that's really you? You look a little different in person."

"That's right. I usually wear glasses and a white shirt in front of the camera to fit the image of the stereotypical geek mare," the pegasus remarked, raising her head without fear and looking directly at the queen. The faint shadow of a smile appeared on her face.

"Fluttershy, have you been that tough, cursing mare all these years? And you didn't tell me about it?" Rainbow Dash asked, her mouth wide open. "No. It can't be. You've got to be kidding me. You just look a lot like her."

At these words, Fluttershy took a small pair of glasses out of her sweatshirt pocket and put them on her nose and folded her mane into a ponytail, saying in a loud voice:

"In the name of the blessed feces of the swamp hydra! Did they really add moth monsters to the level with the lava demon? No one has ever managed to screw up the Mega Pony franchise like these greedy, grit-sucking losers from Manehattan! This game totally sucks! What were they thinking?!"

"Yes, it's definitely you!" said the queen cheerfully. "I never would have believed that one day I would meet you in person."

"Hee-hee, well, thank you," Fluttershy smiled. "I didn't know changelings had ponynet."

"Of course we have. We may not live like the ponies, but that doesn't mean we're savages. We, too, have the benefits of civilization, though not in such abundance as you have," said Chrysalis.

"Well," the blue pegasus lamented. "Fluttershy, I've known you for years, and I never thought you'd be so cool. But where do you shoot all these videos?"

"At home, in my basement," her friend told her.

"Is there a basement in your cottage? And there's a whole bunch of consoles and video games in it?" Rainbow Dash spread her wings in amazement. "And you've been hiding this from me?"

"Well, you never actually asked me that," said Fluttershy.

"That's not fair! If I'd known who you were, I'd have moved in with Scoots a long time ago."

"Hee-hee, that's why I didn't tell you anything," the yellow pegasus grinned as she looked at her friend. "Just kidding. And since you and Scootaloo like video games so much, you're welcome to drop by once in a while."

"Thanks. In that case, meet us tomorrow," Rainbow Dash readily accepted her invitation, and then headed toward the others.

"You're welcome," Fluttershy nodded, and turned to Chrysalis again. "And yes, it's a pleasure to meet you, Chrysalis. And you're not that scary."

"That's what I told you," the queen remarked, holding out her leg again. "Well? Peace?"

"Peace," the pegasus said as she shook it, and walked with Chrysalis to the couches where the other guests were already seated. They talked about various topics, occasionally putting their hoofs and wings and telekinesis into a plate of vegetable snacks or pouring themselves a peach juice from a carafe that stood beside them on the coffee table.

The loudest speaker was Mr. Sparkle, who was curious to hear from his son how he was doing and how he felt now that he was a family pony.

Chrysalis sat beside Shining's left leg (Cadence was on her right) and snuggled up to him to join the conversation, occasionally correcting him or answering questions about changelings that came at her from all sides. Many of those present were eager to learn about her hive, or about changeling customs and traditions, or what them life was like, and the queen tried to answer them as thoroughly as possible.

"I never would have thought your kind would be so interesting," Mr. Sparkle said after a few minutes, as the queen told him the differences between the changelings of the various hives. As it turned out, they were as different as some insects. Some of them had no wings, others had eight legs or long stomps, some lived among trees or on top of mountains, and others didn't look like ponies at all and lived deep underground, only occasionally coming to the surface.

"It's amazing," he added when Chrysalis had finished. "Listening to you, somepony could write a whole doctoral dissertation, couldn't they, daughter?" He asked, turning to Twilight, who was remarkably quiet, especially for a unicorn with such an inquisitive disposition.

"Yes, Daddy," she nodded quietly, watching her brother, who was already talking about how he'd had to break up his wives yesterday when they were fighting over a seat in the carriage.

A few minutes later, Mrs. Sparkle entered the room.

"Honey, I'm all set. You can invite our guests to the table," she said.

"All right. Well, friends, it's feast time," he said cheerfully, rising from the couch and heading with the others to the other end of the house. They entered a spacious dining room, in the middle of which was a long lacquered table covered with a white tablecloth and served with beautiful dishes given by Cadence. There were bowls of salad, fresh buns, and sliced fruit, and soon, as the guests were seated, Mrs. Sparkle appeared, holding a large sheet of vegetable casserole with her telekinesis, which was covered in a cheese crust.

"Oh, dear wife, you've outdone yourself today," Night Light said after seeing her cooking, playfully pinching his wife with his telekinesis. "I didn't expect such splendor."

"Hee-hee, you sycophant! You always say that," she remarked as she cut the casserole with her knife and gave each of the guests a slice.

"Because it's always true," said the master of the house. "And I'm pretty sure you're the best in the kitchen."

He leaned discreetly over to Shining who was sitting next to him and whispered softly while his wives were talking to the guests:

"You see, son, what a table a good family should have? I hope your beauties are feeding you just as well."

"Oh, Dad, you don't know how much," the stallion said, trembling, remembering the night before, when he could hardly move because he'd eaten too much.

As soon as the casserole was distributed to the guests, everyone at the table began to eat, discussing various news and daily affairs at the same time. Fluttershy was telling Rainbow Dash about the song she and Octavia had composed for her show, Pinkie Pie was explaining to Spike the benefits of certain pies, and Rarity was talking to Mrs. Sparkle about a new clothing line she'd recently seen in Manehattan. And, of course, many of the guests turned to Chrysalis time and again. The queen was a true soul of the company and willingly took part in various conversations, whether it was a conversation about the apple harvest that Applejack raised or answers to questions from Rarity, who was interested in whether changelings can change their clothes in addition to their appearance. As soon as the queen answered that it was not at all difficult for them, the white unicorn's eyes immediately lit up with enthusiasm, and she asked Chrysalis to send one of her children to help her design new dresses, if possible.

"And they could work as models for me," said the mare animatedly. "With your ability to change your appearance, you were born to appear on the catwalk."

"Well, Rarity, I'll see what I can do. If memory serves me right, one of my daughters once told me she really wanted to be a model, and so did a couple of my sons. Unless, of course, that doesn't bother you."

"Oh, not at all. It's quite common in show business," the fashion designer winked.

Then, when the main course and appetizers were eaten and dessert was served, the guests started talking about Shining Armor and his family again, bringing up certain related topics.

"By the way, brother," Twilight Sparkle suddenly joined the conversation, "can you tell me more about your family life?"

"Sure, sis. What do you want to know?" he asked.

"Oh, absolutely everything. You're married to two very attractive wives, and I'd like to know how you're getting along with them now."

"Well," the stallion said with a glance at both wives. "I wouldn't say the first week was perfect. Cadence and Chrysalis fought a lot and sometimes even started fights. But now, that's all behind us. Even though I still feel like a mouse being chased by two cats at once (the queen snorted merrily at that), I think our troubles are finally over."

"That's right, dear. I admit I underestimated Chrysalis," she added. "Even though we weren't the best of friends in the beginning, I've forgiven her now, and I'm comfortable with her being part of our family. You could say I've grown to love her."

"Oh, thank you, Cady. So, you don't have to worry, Twilight Sparkle. There are no problems in our family. And I'm glad to be in the caring hooves of your brother and your babysitter. They are very kind and sensitive ponies. And I firmly believe that in time our family will become extraordinarily friendly and strong," ended the changeling’s queen.

"Are you sure?" Twilight asked with a noticeable look of excitement on her face, looking at Shining and Cadence.

"Well, yes. Is something wrong?" A little surprised by her reaction, the stallion replied.

"No, nothing. It's just, you were sort of forced into this marriage," she said in a half whisper.

"Heh, don't look so worried, sister," the stallion grinned. "I assure you, I've come to terms with it. And I'm quite happy to have two charming spouses at once."

And he kissed each of his wives tenderly on the cheek.

"Hee-hee, ah, hubby, that's so sweet," giggled the queen.

"Yes, you're so nice when you take care of us," smiled the princess.

"I see. By the way, Shiny, what would you say if I asked you to leave Canterlot for a while and come back to Ponyville with us?"

"To Ponyville?" the stallion asked, surprised, as he finished his piece of cake and wiped his lips with a napkin. "I don't know. I've got too much to do at work right now. I've got new recruits to train, and there's the annual report of the captain of the guard. And besides, I'm a family stud now and I've got other responsibilities. Well, you know."

He nodded briefly, pointing to his wives, who smiled sweetly at him, while his father gave the unicorn a familial nudge with his foot.

"Yes, of course, it's just that I need to do some research there, and I could really use your help. So I thought you could get away from here for a while. Just for a couple of days."

"Research? Does it have anything to do with your friendship lessons?"

"Almost. I can't give you the details yet, but trust me – it's very important. So, what do you think?" The unicorn asked with pressure.

"Well, you know I'm always glad to help you, little sister, but I'm going to be pretty busy in the near future and can't go anywhere. Besides, it's your weekend and you can take some time off from work."

"Heh, what are you forgetting, Shining? It's Twilight. The best way for her to relax is to spend time doing research or burrowing into books," Spike remarked, making Rainbow Dash giggle softly.

"Of course," the stallion winked merrily, "But the books can wait. Besides, it's not every day you and your friends come to visit us in Canterlot. And you should take advantage of that to have a good time. Hey, why don't you come over to my mansion yourself the other day? We could have a little picnic by the pool. Right, girls?"

"That's not a bad idea," Chrysalis smiled.

"I agree, I love parties like this," Cadence added.

"Wait, so you live in a mansion now?" Asked Rainbow Dash, with her eyes rounded in surprise.

"Well, yes!" The unicorn said boastfully. "In a large and beautiful mansion with a swimming pool, a spacious courtyard and a lot of rooms for recreation, where there is a huge TV, a sauna, a bar with strong drinks, and also a whole room with arcade games machines."

"Wow!" The blue pegasus gasped. "It's amazing! We'll definitely have to come back and have a drink before we head back to Ponyville."

"But..." Twilight tried to argue, and the suggestion made her uneasy.

"I support. I've always wanted to be in an expensive mansion with my best friends," Rarity said. "Say, do you have a butler? You know, a gallant gentlecolt in an expensive tuxedo and a nice bow tie."

"No, I'm not yet rich enough to employ servants," replied Shining jokingly.

"Well, not yet," said Chrysalis.

"But..." said Twilight again.

"Hey, why do we need a picnic? We could have a whole pool party there, with corn dogs and piñatas and water games!" Pinkie Pie put it in enthusiastically.

"But..."

"What kind of games do you have in there?" Fluttershy asked vividly. "I could make some clips there for my upcoming show about classic arcade."

"But..." said Twilight for the fourth time.

"Heh. Visit the expensive house. I don't know," Applejack remarked. "But I'd never turn down a fun time by the water, though. Oh, I wish I'd brought my guitar."

The friends and relatives of Shining began to discuss how and what they could do at his house, until suddenly Twilight stopped them:

"Listen, girls! This is all very tempting, but I'm afraid we won't be able to visit Shining."

"What? You've got to be kidding me. We get a rare chance to hang out in a mansion with a big TV and booze," Rainbow Dash stared at her perplexedly.

"And a sauna. My fur is desperately begging me for good care," Rarity said.

"Yes, yes, that's great, but we don't have time to rest," Twilight insisted. "We've already been here a lot longer than we planned, and we've forgotten all about our responsibilities. Pinkie Pie, you're having a pep party for the sick foals in Ponyville tomorrow."

"Oh, that's right," said the pink mare.

"And Fluttershy has animals waiting for her at home," the unicorn reminded her.

"You're right," the pegasus gasped.

"Applejack needs to go back to the farm because Zap Apple picking season is about to start, and Rarity is having a fashion show in three days and she needs to get ready. And Spike and I have a few things to do, if you think about it."

"What you mean? I thought we already took care of everything when..." The little dragon tried to interject, but Twilight stepped on his foot under the table.

"Oh, yes, those things, of course," he said hastily, wincing slightly.

"Exactly. So, as I said, we would be happy to spend time with you, Shiny, but we must go home. Maybe sometime later," Twilight finished.

"P-sss, Twilight, aren't you forgetting someone?" Rainbow Dash turned to her.

"Oh, yes. Of course I did. I'm sure you have urgent things to do, too, Rainbow Dash," added the unicorn embarrassed. "You know, sleep on a cloud or something else."

"Hey, I'm not lazy!" The pegasus frowned at her.

"All right, in that case, another time," said Shining, a little surprised by his sister's behavior.

The next part of the dinner continued in the same light-hearted manner. The guests ate and discussed news, occasionally returning to the newlyweds and their family life, and when supper was over in half an hour, after a delicious dessert of custard cakes, of which Mrs. Sparkle had made a tray (most of which Pinkie Pie was the sweet tooth), they all began to go home. But before they did so, Cadence and Chrysalis paid a farewell visit to Shining's room, where they looked with interest at his desk with its old computer and some posters on the walls, one of which showed a pretty young mare in a summer swimsuit (oh, how confused the unfortunate stallion was). Finally, they headed for the exit.

"Goodbye, Mrs. Sparkle, it was a pleasure to visit you," said Cadence, walking out the door with her husband and wife.

"So were we, it was a lovely evening," Mrs. Sparkle replied, kissing her daughter-in-law on the cheek, and walking them to the gate with Night Light.

"Yes, that's true, but I still don't understand what happened to Twilight." The stallion remarked as the three of them stepped out onto the road. "She was acting really strange today. I mean, stranger than usual."

"I think it's because of me," Chrysalis said in a sad voice, looking at Cadence. "I did trap the two of you in the Crystal Caves. That's why she hates me."

"Oh, never mind, Chrissy," the princess brushed her off. "Yes, Twilight may not trust you now, but in time, she can forget about it and forgive you. After all, I could."

"Yeah, well, to be honest, you and I made up under slightly different circumstances," the queen giggled, playfully biting the alicorn on the ear.

"Speaking of which. I've wanted to know all night what you two have been whispering about." The stallion asked. "And what happened to you two that you became friends so fast?"

"Shall we tell him, Cady?" Chrysalis asked.

"We will, Chrissy," she nodded.

"Well, I won't beat around the bush and tell him straight out: we slept together," the queen said bluntly.

"What?!!!" Abruptly frozen in place, exclaimed the stallion.

"Slept together, dear," repeated the princess. "We decided that since we were all equal in this family, we shouldn't be ashamed of our feelings, and so we... um..."

"We realized that we could make love not only to you, but to each other from time to time," Chrysalis finished for her.

"I can't believe it!" he mentally gasped.

"But don't think we don't love you anymore," Cadence added. "You're our husband, and we still want to be with you."

"It's just that we realized that in an unusual marriage like ours, there should be more freedom, and that when we make love to each other, we're not cheating on you."

"Really?" the unicorn snorted incredulously.

"Exactly," the princess confirmed. "And now that we're all sorted out, it doesn't make sense for us to hide and do it apart anymore, so we'd like to have a threesome sometime."

Alicorn playfully licked her lips.

"Oh, my!" thought Shining.

"So, what do you think, hubby?" Chrysalis asked.

"Do you agree with us?" Cadence rubbed his shoulder.

"Well, I... um... actually... I don't know what to say. I understand a little, of course, but... it's kind of weird..."

"Seriously? And we thought you were more open to unusual fantasies," Chrysalis snorted. "Especially when we found those adult magazines under your bed."

"Oops!" Mouthed the blushing stallion.

"So, you don't have to worry, love. You'll always come first for us. Right, Chrissy?"

"Right, Cady," the changeling said in tune with her. "And no matter what happens between us, we won't stop loving you. You, me, and Cadence, we'll always be together. And nothing can break our love."

"Y-yes, I guess so," Shining Armor grinned nervously, feeling very confused on the one hand, and excited to think that his two beautiful spouses had recently had passionate mare sex and now wanted to take him on as the third.

"That's wonderful. It looks like we'll have something to do later tonight," Cadence went on to say, fondly stroking her husband's belly. "You have no idea what an interesting fetish Chrissy has."

"And how unbridled Cady can be," the queen finished, hugging him sideways.

"But first, we'll need to stock up on something important," said the princess. "So, let's go shopping!"

"Shopping? But it's nighttime, and all the stores are closed," Shining said.

"No, not all of them," winked Cadence. "The adult stores are open twenty-four hours a day."

"And we'll need to buy something special to make this night unforgettable," she whispered in his ear. "A couple of new sex toys, like anal balls or vibrating rings, and some seductive outfits. Say, something made of latex. And, of course, a pair of lace panties and stockings."

"Don't you have any of those things?" The stallion asked.

"No, no, dear, it's not for us," the alicorn giggled.

"It's for you," the queen said with a lick on his cheek. "And you and I, we're not the same size. So we'll have to try it on."

"N-no," Shining mumbled fearfully.

"Yes," Cadence whispered sweetly. "And we'll test our purchases while we're at it. I wonder if they allow you to check out toys in the store."

The stallion swallowed a lump in his throat.

***

Three days later.

"Well, will you be there soon, Cadence?" Shining Armor said, sitting on the couch in front of the television. Next to him was Chrysalis, her foreleg resting comfortably on the unicorn's neck.

"I'm coming, dear! You know popcorn requires a special approach," said the princess, coming out of the kitchen with a large bowl of caramel popcorn and several glasses of juice, which stood on her tray. As she approached the others, she placed it on the coffee table and sat down beside Chrysalis, placing one of the queen's legs in her lap, thus making the changeling smile playfully.

"Well, everything is ready," said the princess. "What kind of movie are we going to see tonight?"

"Maybe a comedy. It's been a long time since I saw Code Name: The Janitor, you know, the movie about the overweight zebra stallion who thought he was a secret agent. It's a fine movie for a night like this," Shining said.

"Come on, let's have a horror movie, something classic and bone-chilling," said the queen, taking a handful of popcorn with her telekinesis and popping one into her mouth.

"How about something romantic?" Cadence suggested. "Something to get us in the mood for another hot night."

"Oh, no. If you make me watch this, you'll have to entertain yourselves tonight," the queen shook her head. "Because that's the kind of movie I usually fall asleep to."

"You naughty girl!" She poked her on the side playfully and said something to Cadence.

"And why would we want to be in the mood? We have a good time every night without any movies," said Shining to the queen.

"I agree, any night is hot in your company," Changeling interjected. "Oh, I'm having such a good time with you guys."

She lay down on Cadence's lap, and Cadence gently stroked her mane, making the queen purr softly.

"Good girl," Alicorn told her, fixing the collar around Chrysalis' neck that she had left from their morning fun.

"Oh, yeah, the last few days have been great," the stallion said. "I can't believe that only a week ago you girls were willing to fight each other to have sex with me."

"Yeah, it feels like years ago," Cadence nodded, "and in a whole other universe."

"But the important thing is that it's in the past now, and we'll never fight again," Chrysalis said as she sat up straight and kissed each of her spouses on the lips in turn.

"And every day our love will grow stronger and stronger," she finished.

"And we'll have plenty of time to make it happen," Cadence added. "Tonight, dibs on me being the leader of our relationship."

"All right, my love, but first let's take a little rest and enjoy the movie. So, what have you decided? What movie shall we watch?" The stallion asked the question, moving to the center and pulling both mares to him.

While they were sitting in front of the TV and acting like a normal happy family, a small shaky shadow moved faintly in the courtyard by the gazebo. With slow steps it approached the house and peered through the wide window, behind which all three spouses were clearly visible.

"Heh," the unknown person grinned softly, and her lips stretched into a wide smile.

Author's Note

Here comes the new chapter. I'm waiting for your opinions and evaluations.

And I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Centurion Pike-Wall for his help in fixing the mistakes.