The Crystal Empire: the shining gemstone of the Frozen North. An ancient city-state thawed from the icy grip of time, still reclaiming the glory lost to King Sombra’s reign of terror and the thousand-year banishment he’d brought upon it. Despite the icy winds blowing off the mountains, the brilliant crystals kept the empire pleasantly cool. With each passing moon, the Crystal Heart recovered a little more strength, spreading its warming influence across the tundra and reestablishing the empire’s former dominance over the region.

The streets split off the central Crystal Castle with the fractal precision of a snowflake. Pathways followed leylines flowing back to the Crystal Heart, resting at the towering seat of power’s base, harmonious arcana in its purest form in full view for all see. Its proximity to the crystal ponies warmed their hearts, fueling its majesty further and more abundantly. Truly, a sight to behold, a beacon of hope and love shining against the encroaching cold.

Twilight had been gushing like that since the snowy wastes had melted into crisp meadows along the railway. At least Applejack could say somepony was having a good time, unlike her and Chrysalis, or rather her and Classy. Their group left Twi’s place after throwing together a few last-minute supplies, and Chrysalis had kept the disguise up ever since. The Imperial Express set them up with a private royal suite, so it was less about fooling anypony and more just having an excuse to keep her mouth shut.

Despite the rough start to the day, Classy was still curled up against AJ, ready to siphon any strand of love she could. The only warmth Applejack could feel though was the fur pressed against her side. There probably wasn’t a single drop of love flowing out of her, to the changeling’s likely frustration. It wasn’t for a lack of trying either. No matter how much she stroked that luxuriously soft fur, she couldn’t get her mind off of wrestling her own heart. It sat in a lump somewhere in her throat, wracked with too much guilt to squeeze even a sliver of love out of it. Her spiraling thoughts couldn’t focus on anything but herself, which just made it worse.

Why was her heart being so difficult about this? Luna said love was supposed to spring up forever from ponies, yet her well had run dry. The only thing sitting at the bottom was pity she could dredge up from time to time. So many maybes buzzed around her head, and she couldn’t pin down the truth behind any of them. Was she scared? Confused? Jealous? There had to be a reason she wasn’t seeing.

There were plenty of ponies stronger, faster, and smarter than her. For peat’s sake, Twilight seemed just a bit taller every time she saw her. Give it a few years and she’d probably be on par with the other princesses, easily outpacing one measly little farmer. Chrys shouldn’t be any different. It was a good thing that she was back in fighting form as long as she didn’t go back to her old villain ways.

But Chrys wasn’t going to do that. She said it herself that it’d be pointless without her hive, and Applejack believed her. It didn’t stop with her words either. Pharynx, Ocellus, Iridescent and Prim; she’d steered each one of them away from her for their own good. Applejack refused to believe it was all part of some ginormous ruse with a billion moving parts. Frankly, Chrys wasn’t that smart. She might remember a bunch of stuff down to the littlest detail, but recalling what a 3D chess board looked like was way different than knowing how to play it right.

So what was it? What was keeping her from giving Chrysalis any love?

“The next stop is the Crystal Empire. This is the last stop of the Canterhorn Imperial line. Please make sure you…”

Applejack tuned out the rest of the announcement and tapped Classy to get her moving. She reluctantly shifted to the other side, splaying out over the rest of the seat, listlessly looking at nothing while Twilight and Fleur started getting their stuff together. The dog definitely wasn’t looking forward to going on their walk anytime soon.

Fleur bounced AJ’s saddlebag on her hoof. “I know I always travel light, but it doesn’t even feel like there’s anything in here.”

“It’s not like we’re roughing it in the wilderness. I just snagged the dreamcatcher and a few things for getting ready in the morning.”

Fleur gave a simple nod and tossed it over to Applejack.

“Are you not going to carry it for her?” Classy asked.

“She’d insist on carrying it herself.” The guard gave the lazy pooch a once-over. “Shall I carry you instead?”

“If it’s by the end of your spear, no thank you. I think I can manage by myself.”

Fleur smirked. “You know me so well.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow at the low-key violence being bounced back and forth. “I hope this isn’t what your check-ins are normally like, Captain Fleur.”

The guard snapped to attention. “Not at all, Your Highness. I usually speak with Applejack or Granny Smith. It’s the Apple family’s safety that I’ve been tasked with.”

“That’s not exactly what I was hoping to hear.”

“Don’t worry your pretty pony head, Twilight Sparkle.” Classy rolled off of the seat and shook her fur back in order. “It’s just how we work. We’ve struck our own little aggressive accord.”

“Right.” The Princess of Friendship did her best to sigh the dismay out of her system. “Either way, we’re here now, so we should talk to Cadance and my brother as soon as we can. I just hope they got Spike’s message in time.”

“If not, then I’m sure they’ll just love the surprise of me showing up at the gates.”

Applejack bent down to look Classy in the eyes. “No one said this was gonna be easy. But we’re gonna stick together and see this through.”

“Yeah. We’re going to help them, whether they want me there or not. Perfect plan.”

She might’ve been getting sick of Chrys’ temper, but it wasn’t like she could shake the tension off herself either. Cadance and Chrysalis had been at each other’s throats the last time they met in Ponyville. Harmony bringing the Princess of Love and the Loveless Queen together made about as much sense as frying apple fritters in oil and water. Hopefully, the friendship problem was on the outskirts of town. The less those two saw of each other, the better.

Fleur led the group, guiding them through the train until they reached the railcar door. Outside stood several Imperial guards. While Applejack didn’t recognize any of the crystal ponies, there was a familiar, chipper-looking pegasus leading the pack who was a sight for sore eyes.

“On behalf of Their Imperial Highnesses, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Prince Shining Armor, we welcome you to the Crystal Empire.”

“Flash Sentry!” Twilight said in delight. “It’s so good to see you again.”

A small smile broke through the guard’s steadfast demeanor. “You remember me?”

“Of course! I remember all of the volunteers who moved to the Empire with my brother. Fleur told me all about it.”

“I wanted to make sure you knew the hooves that followed Their Highnesses,” Fleur explained before offering a friendly smile of her own. “Still, it’s good to see you again, Sentry.”

“Likewise, ma’am.”

She looked over Flash to the other guards standing behind him. Their eyes were going ninety to nothing, searching up and down the train platform for threats—or rather, one threat in particular. “Get a hold of yourselves! She’s the dog!”

The group recomposed themselves on the double. They stood up straighter at proper attention, only sparing a few cautionary glances towards Classy.

“May I remind you that the Changeling Concordant are allies of both Equestria and the Crystal Empire? Every changeling has either been pardoned for their crimes against our nations or punished accordingly.”

“Yes, Comm—Captain.” Flash replied succinctly.

“Reprimanding your former subordinate for me?” Classy put a paw to her heart. “I’m touched.”

Fleur rolled her eyes and sighed, putting her own disdain for the changeling back in its box. “If everyone is accounted for, we should go to the castle at once.”

“Before that—” Flash Sentry trotted to Classy and unfurled a scroll with an uneasy frown. “—By order of her Imperial Highness, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, love-eating changelings are not permitted to remain shapeshifted within the borders of the Crystal Empire.”

Classy snickered with a puff of air through her nose. “Are you serious?”

“What?” Twilight’s shot up in alarm. “May I see that scroll? That doesn’t sound like Cadance at all.”

The stallion nodded and passed it to Twilight to peruse. The group crowded around the parchment to take a gander over her shoulder. Classy reared up on her hind paws and leaned on AJ to steal a look, too. While a lot of it was written pretty fancy, Applejack could get the gist of what was there. Sure enough, the imperial princess had carved out a rule all gussied up that specifically targeted the last love-eating changeling in the world, signed with an official seal by Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and dated today.

“She could’ve just said ‘No Chrysalises Allowed’ at the top and spared everyone the trouble,” Classy joked half-heartedly.

“This is serious, Chrysalis!” Twilight argued before turning back to Flash. “You’re asking—no, forbidding her from using her natural abilities!”

“I-I’m sorry, Your Highness, but these orders are absolute within the Crystal Empire.”

She threw the paper on the ground and stomped on it while flaring her wings. “These orders are discriminatory!”

The princess’ anger echoed with primal strength nearing Luna’s Royal Canterlot Voice. Everypony on the platform stopped in their tracks at the angered alicorn. Even Chrysalis was taken aback with Twi’s spirited defense. Flash was rendered speechless, but the crystal pony guards behind him hardened with resolve.

Chrysalis finally cut in between the guards and Twilight. “Look. I really don’t care one way or the other, but you do realize that I’m keeping these forms up for both our sakes, right? No one wants me to be here, myself included.”

Flash cleared the nerves out of his throat. “I have my orders.”

“Suit yourself.” Chrysalis flared back to her normal self, rising above everypony around her in an instant. The crowd that’d been watching the scene unfold gasped together at the villain’s sudden appearance.

Even though he asked for it, Flash grimaced seeing Chrys’ true form. It wasn’t like she was helping herself either with the sneer on her face as she eyed the gawkers and rubberneckers. The Crystal Empire bore a different contempt than Ponyville with a far more gloomy shade of bitterness hanging in the air. Nopony panicked. Instead, the crystal ponies lost just a little bit of their luster in her obsidian presence.

Chrysalis brushed her mane back and smiled venomously. “Ah, yes. That’s so much better, isn’t it?”

“We’ll take you to see Her Highness at once.” Flash turned right around, doing his best to avoid eye contact with the former queen.

Twilight brushed a wing against the changeling. “Don’t worry. We’ll get through this together.”

“Easy for you to say. They adore you.”

“Then you have my permission to eat their adoration.”

“It doesn’t work like that. Not here.” Chrysalis looked towards the center of the city. Whatever resentment was percolating beneath her chitin fizzled out as she went slack-jawed.

“What? What is it?” Applejack asked.

Chrysalis took the liberty of lifting AJ just enough to get a better look at the Crystal Castle. They hadn’t noticed it on the way in, but around the middle of the tower was a magenta bubble jutting out from the side. It wasn’t the first time Applejack had seen that shield.

Twilight fluttered up to get a look as well, her eyes widening upon seeing it. “Is that one of my brother’s force fields?”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Flash Sentry answered. “Prince Shining Armor erected it once he received word of Chrysalis’ return.”

“Of course he did.” Chrys smacked her head with her hoof. “Just had to hear I was getting on a train to send the palace into lockdown.”

“Actually, Miss Chrysalis, I didn’t mean it like that. His Highness has maintained that shielding ever since Princess Twilight’s report of your appearance in Ponyville. It used to cover the entire city, but the shield’s been reduced to covering the royal family’s living quarters.”

A lump of sinking dread settled in the bottom of Applejack’s stomach. “Chrys has been in Ponyville for months now.”

“Yes ma’am, she has.”

Applejack didn’t know much about how unicorn magic worked, but she’d already seen the cost of keeping strong spells going just for a little while. Days of casting did a number on Shining Armor before, and Cadance was on death’s door just trying to keep Sombra at bay when the Empire reappeared. If that shield had been up in one way or another all this time…

“Y’all? I think we found the friendship problem.”

If there was a word to describe the trot through town with Chrysalis, it’d be oppressive. It was feeling more akin to a funeral procession than a royal visit with how quiet everypony was being. All the changeling did was hold her head up and follow the guards, paying little mind to the crystal ponies around them. There was a wake in her walk that left a trail of darkness. The waves crashed against the ponies, casting their eyes away from their loveless visitor. It could easily be mistaken for respect if not for the subtle tremors in their legs. They were used to fear.

Chrysalis had known marching through town was a bad idea from the beginning. Even Twilight was showing signs of having a second thought or two. There were only so many smiles she could give before it just became too uncomfortable. Still, she had to remain resolute. The Cutie Map called them for a reason. Applejack just hoped it was a good enough one for the trouble.

The guards guided them towards the Crystal Castle, its loving splendor stretching higher and higher the closer they got. The Imperial spire shimmered in the sunlight, its perfect symmetry warped by Shining’s shield stretching awkwardly out of its side. Underneath the massive structure was Foundation Square, the public plaza where the Crystal Heart resided. It freely shined its brilliant, warming light, welcoming everyone in the Empire. However, Chrysalis fell behind, her steps slowing as they drew nearer. Applejack was about to ask, but the answer was obvious: Princess Cadance had come to meet them.

Rather than a friendly greeting, a swarm of guards surrounded Princess Cadance and the Crystal Heart on all sides, both on the ground and in the air. The Alicorn of Love herself stood cold and resolute underneath the heart at the center of it all, ready to defend her new home against the encroaching shadow.

In the face of the overwhelming force, Applejack felt a small tug on her tail. She turned around to see Chrysalis standing at the edge of the square. “You said that Harmony sent us here, right? The same whatever with those Element necklaces you’ve got?”

Applejack pursed her lips in thought. “Kinda? That’s how the Cutie Map works, least as far as I know. Why?”

A tired, forlorn smile crossed the changeling’s face. “What do you think the odds are that Harmony changed its mind and wants me dead?”

Before Applejack could reply, a cyan shield flashed between them, stretching between the tower’s support struts. Reaching out a hoof, she tapped the bubble, feeling a warm shock stopping her from pushing forward. “What the hay?”

Even Chrysalis appeared a little confused by it at first, but then her eyes shrank in panic as she screamed, her voice barely penetrating the barrier with a muffled, “Applejack!”

In a flash, the wind was knocked out of Applejack and she was on the ground, held down by sturdy hooves. She started squirming on instinct, trying to shake whoever had gotten her, but there was nothing for it. There were at least four ponies she could see on top of her, with more at the ready if she tried to start something. Judging by the panicked cries of Twilight and the slew of curses hurled by Fleur, she wasn’t the only one they’d gotten the drop on.

“Let go of her!” Chrysalis roared from the other side of the shield. She readied her magic for a blast. It sat at the tip of her horn, sparking with barely withheld emerald might, but she didn’t fire. Her seething maw and flaring nostrils couldn’t hide the overwhelming fear burning behind her furious gaze.

“Check them, now! All of them!” Cadance ordered, her voice cracking with stress.

Applejack’s body tingled with the familiar flow of magical energy. A warm hug from all sides carried her from the edge of the square to the center with Cadance. Vicious snorts drew her eyes to Fleur being held completely still so she wouldn’t knock the dampening ring off of her horn. She had more guards keeping her still than Twilight.

Mi Amore’s resolute mask had shattered completely, revealing the fractured Cadance behind it. The poor mare was about two trots shy of a complete breakdown by the looks of it. A thousand incoherent apologies stumbled out from under her fraying breath. “Quickly, Sunburst! Please!”

“Coming, Your Highness!” The bearded orange stallion galloped, his star-filled, dark teal cloak billowing behind him. He skipped to a halt, nearly dropping his hoof-full of tools and magical gadgets. He silently screamed seeing Chrysalis on the other side of the force field.

“Sunburst!”

“Sorry, sorry! I’m on it!” He quickly ducked down next to Twilight and fumbled through his gear.

“Sunburst? What is—” A stream of magic and tools spiraled around Twilight, interrupting her question.

“Sorry about this, Princess,” Sunburst whispered. “It’ll just be a moment. Could you focus on the tip of this wand?”

“What for—augh!” A flash like a camera pulsed out, blinding the princess for a second. A tongue depressor caught her mouth and held it open, allowing Sunburst to do a quick scan inside. More unwelcome tests and procedures orbited around the princess until she caught on to their purpose. “Don’t tell me you think I’m being mind-controlled.”

“Well… not anymore?” Sunburst tittered with a nervous smile. He stood up and turned to Cadance. “She’s clear!”

Cadence looked more disturbed by the revelation than anything else. “What about Fleur?”

Sunburst nervously approached the captain, her face an unreadable stone trained directly upon the invasive princess. She wasn’t just angry, she was furious.

Cadance sucked in her lips. “Please. We need to make sure you’re okay, Fleur.”

“I was perfectly fine before I got dogpiled by somepony’s contingent of guards.”

“Lis-Lis, please…”

“Betraying your allies to your own fears. Such cowardice is unbecoming behavior of any pony, let alone a leader of a nation, Cady.”

The princess’ head fell low. She had nothing to say to that.

“I’m very sorry about this, Captain de Lis. I’ll just be a moment,” Sunburst assured. Fleur silently complied, but kept her unrelenting gaze transfixed on Cadance. He quickly ran his tests, and with a final flash, Sunburst nodded in approval. “Yep! Just as impressive and terrifying as always. She’s also as clean as a whistle.”

The results just made Cadance wilt further. “W-what about Applejack? She’s been exposed to Chrysalis the longest out of any of them.”

“Of course, Your Highness. But we should let Princess Twilight and her guard—”

“Check her first, Sunburst!”

The court mage nodded sheepishly before quickly tip-toeing over to the earth pony. He knelt down and fiddled around with his tools. “Please give me a minute or two, Applejack. I need to recalibrate my instruments.”

“I ain’t going nowhere thanks to your friends here.” Applejack tried to smile, but the hooves digging into her joints were mighty uncomfortable. “Got me pinned real good."

Sunburst forced another small laugh. “Y-yeah, I’m aware. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive us.”

“Does Shining Armor know that she’s doing this to his sister?”

“More than that. This was his idea.” The wand he’d been working on started glowing a lot brighter than it had been with a high pitched whirring noise. “You’re not prone to seizures, are you?”

“Don’t think so. Why?” Applejack asked warily.

“Because this is going to be a little on the bright side.”

Sunburst covered them both with his cloak, shutting his eyes and burying his face in his forelegs, and then, all was white. A searing, brilliant flash filled her vision, soaking everything in magic. It swam all over, brushing around the sockets and tickling her brain, overloading every sense. It dug deep, looking for something to grasp onto and pull out. Applejack was almost worried it’d yank her eyes right out of her head, but it might be preferable to the spellwork shooting through her skull. And as quickly as it came, the light was gone, leaving only stars in its wake.

“Applejack? You okay, Applejack?”

After blinking herself back down to reality, Applejack frowned. “What in tarnation was that? I’d swear my life flashed before my eyes if I could’ve seen a lick of it!”

“A wand of illusory counter-spell. If it’s not strong enough to break an illusion, then it will at least detect it. Thankfully, you’re not under any…” he trailed off with a faltering smile under Applejack’s harsh gaze. “Actually, you probably don’t want to hear about—yeah. Anyway.” He shuffled to his hooves and nodded firmly. “That’s everypony, Princess Cadance. Not a single one of them is under the effects of any baneful spellwork.”

“But—no. That can’t be right.” Her breathing quickened and she whipped around to Twilight. “You said the Cutie Map called you here.”

“Yes, it did. Chrysalis and myself,” she explained as calmly as she could while still being held down. “We both came here to help.”

“You expect me to believe that, Twilight?” Cadance laughed, exhaustion dripping from every forced chuckle through her panting. “The Cutie Map thinks that there is anything that she can do that’s even remotely helpful?”

“At least she’s not running tests on in-laws and schoolmates,” Fleur growled from the ground.

The exacting words cut through the excuses trembling on the tip of her tongue. Shameful tears pooled in her eyes and sank her head low again.

“Now, if you’re done experimenting on us, Your Highness, would you kindly release us?”

Torn between hope and terror, Cadance looked between her friends and her resident court mage. “Sunburst, are you absolutely sure—”

“Yes! Completely! Beyond a shadow of a doubt and then some! Now, would you please order the guards off of our esteemed guests, Your Highness?”

With a hesitant, yet resolute nod from their ruler, the soldiers stood up and helped the Equestrians to their hooves. Sunburst was on them immediately, undoing the wards keeping the dampening rings on their horns. Cadance stepped forward to help with Twilight, letting Sunburst focus on Fleur. Before she could get to work, Twilight reached up and pulled the older princess into a deep hug.

At first, Cadance froze in shock, but when her eyes fell on the familiar coat pressing against her, It was simply too much. Cadance crumpled under the weight of it all, crashing into Twilight and clutching onto her for every shred of comfort and safety she could find.

“It’s okay. I forgive you,” Twilight promised before her precious family could say anything. “Everything is going to be alright. I promise.”

Cadance continued to weep loudly, unable to tie two words together. She was wracked with worry and sorrow, just so scared, tired, and probably tired of being scared. Even after being roughed up, Applejack couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. After freeing Fleur from her silencing, Sunburst moved to help Twilight, but she gently pushed the mage away. This was far more important than her horn.

“And that’s why Twilight is a better pony than I will ever be,” Fleur whispered to AJ.

“Eeyup. Our friend’s one in a million, that’s for sure.”

“What’s that?” one of the guards asked, pointing towards the ground.

Applejack looked down just in time to see a ring of green fire finish wrapping all the way around her hooves. Emerald magic flared up, and she fell right through the ground. She popped up through the other side of the surprise portal to come face-to-face with Chrysalis. The changeling greedily snatched her out of the air and planted her firmly in front of her.

“Are you okay? What did she have her filthy minions do to you? They didn’t hurt you, did they?” Chrysalis’ fear boiled over into rage as she bared her fangs. “I swear, if even one strand of your golden hair is out of place, I’ll—”

“Woah, woah! Easy! I’m fine! See?” Applejack rotated her shoulders and turned her head from side to side. It was about the only movement she could manage in the changeling’s vice grip.

Words weren’t enough for Chrysalis. She entered full all-mother mode, spinning the pony around with her magic to check every inch for herself. True to her word, when she caught any errant hairs or scuffed-up fur, she brushed it back down into place. AJ was a little worried that she’d be spit-shined with changeling goo if the grooming session went on for much longer.

Several guards approached, readying to rescue Applejack from the changeling’s clutches. Chrysalis pushed the mare behind her, blocking their way. “Back off! She’s mine!”

“Hey, that’s enough!” Applejack ran around to the other side between the changeling and the guards rushing over from the castle. She hadn’t realized just how far they were from the others. “Can we all just take a second and cool off?”

“I am cooler than every blasted cucumber in your stupid refrigerator!” Chrysalis yelled at the top of her lungs, making sure everypony could hear just how relaxed she was.

“Good. Glad to hear that. Now, let’s get back over to the others and figure out what’s going on in the Empire.”

“What’s going on is that your pretty pink princess over there has an axe to grind. Probably straight through my neck. I’m not going anywhere near her!”

“Look. I can’t argue that she’s a bit on edge with you around, but the Cutie Map chose you and Twi for a reason. I know it might sound nuttier than a bag of squirrels to you, but it’s always worked out for the better in the end.”

Chrysalis sneered as more and more anger built up in her burning eyes. They turned up to the Crystal Heart, narrowing into predatory slits. When it simply kept shining in spite of her will, she relented. “Whatever. Let’s just get this over with.”

The changeling trudged past, forcing herself forward towards Foundation Square. She kept her eyes on the ground, refusing to look anywhere else. Applejack kept right at her side as Chrysalis trudged along. The changeling’s obstinance had completely evaporated, revealing the deeper truth behind the bluster that only AJ was close enough to see.

“Chrys? You’re not scared, are you?”

Chrysalis said nothing, though she did freeze in place for just a moment before forcing the next step.

Applejack couldn’t believe it. She thought Chrys and Cadance were gonna be butting heads the entire visit. Half the reason she’d tagged along was to keep the peace. The farmgirl was fully prepared to wrangle an ornery changeling back before getting herself in a heap of trouble. The last thing she expected was for the both of them to be terrified of each other. Applejack wasn’t sure if that made things better or worse.

“Are you feeling better?” Twilight asked Cadance gently.

Cadence sniffled and nodded with a frail smile. “I’m so sorry, everyp—everyone. I just…”

“Hate me, right?” Chrysalis suggested coldly.

Cadance recoiled in surprise from the changeling’s sudden appearance.

Chrysalis gave a single, hollow chuckle. “Don’t be so shocked. The feeling’s mutual.”

“It is. I… I hate you so much. You’re a twisted perversion of everything I am.” She rubbed her eyes. “But now, I’m the one behaving like a tyrant. Please, just tell me what you want and leave us alone.”

“I want Twilight Sparkle’s stupid table to leave me out of whatever this is. But I don’t ever get what I want,” Chrysalis growled bitterly. “What I want is always bad or wrong. Selfish. Cruel. Take your pick.”

Cadence blinked, absolutely dumbfounded. “You mean… the Cutie Map actually sent you here?”

“That’s what we’ve been saying, Cadance,” Twilight urged with another supportive hug. “I was confused at first too, but the map thinks that there’s something that both Chrysalis and myself can do to help solve a friendship problem.”

Applejack nodded in agreement. “And pardon me for saying, Princess, but after getting the fool zotted out of my eyes, it kinda looks to me like you got yourself a doozy of a problem.”

“I don’t know why you’re all dancing around it,” Chrysalis spat. She crossed her legs and looked away. “Just get it over with!”

“Get what over with, sugarcube?”

“Oh, please. It’s obvious! The paranoid Princess of Love is going crazy because of yours truly, so what’s the quickest way to solve this friendship problem?” Chrysalis glared sidelong at Cadance. “Well, Your Highness?”

“Me?” The Imperial princess backed away. “How should I know? The only problem I have is that you’re here in the first place! I don’t want you anywhere near my family or my friends, you love-sucking monster!”

It was Chrysalis’ turn to be flabbergasted. “You don’t? You mean you really—” A snicker split her face into a smile before she cackled with manic glee. “You really have no idea what I’m talking about, do you? No wonder you’re slowly going mad from fear!” Seeing the confusion growing on everypony’s face only filled her with more joy. “Even you, Twilight?”

The princess forced a few nervous chuckles while looking at the others. “Well, we’re both here to help Cadance. If you have an idea, I’m all ears.”

“That’s so precious.” Chrysalis raised a hoof to Twilight’s cheek. “Here, let me run it by you and see what you think.”

Before Twilight could question it, Chrysalis’ caress turned firm as she pushed Twilight’s jaw closed. Her head shot down next to Twilight’s ear and she began whispering something. There must’ve been a little magic woven into her lips as AJ couldn’t hear a thing despite being right next to them. At first, Twilight tried to fight it, but her curiosity won in the end as she listened closely. Soon, her gaze shrank back in horror from whatever the changeling was telling her. Finally, the changeling slowly raised back up and smiled while Twilight was rendered speechless.

“What did you say to her?” Cadance asked firmly.

Chrysalis smirked. “Well, Twilight Sparkle? What did I say?”

It took a few steady breaths, but Twilight found her voice again. “You’re wrong, Chrysalis. The Map doesn’t work like that. Harmony doesn’t work like that!”

“I thought it was a pretty swift resolution to all of this.”

“Your way is no way to solve anything!” Twilight fired back.

“Okay, you two. Ain’t no reason to rile each other up,” Applejack said. “Mind filling the rest of us in on what’s going on?”

“Nothing!” Twilight yelled over the changeling. “She didn’t say anything! At least nothing that bears repeating.”

“Why are you so scared of the truth, Twilight?”

“I’m not scared of your reprehensible conjecture!”

“But killing me would solve everything in an instant. Why deny it?”

“No!” Twilight cried in dismay.

Everypony was taken aback by the proclamation, Cadance especially.

“You can’t be serious. Shining and I barely repelled you last time. What makes you think I could do that?”

“I could say, but you’ll have to ask my good friend Twilight Sparkle if you really want to know. I told her exactly how you could do it, too. I wouldn’t even be able to fight back, right Twilight?”

The young princess shrank back, her ears wilting as she put the pieces together in her head. “It’s more than that. Struggling would likely make it worse.”

“Oh. You poor thing.” Chrysalis hugged the alicorn, coiling around her like a viper. “Don’t dwell on it too much. It’ll likely never happen, that is unless you tell Cadance. Or she could try to figure it out herself if she really wanted to,” she mused, tapping her chin. She smiled viciously and leered at the Imperial princess. “But that would be, what, ‘reprehensible?’ I believe that was your wording Twilight.”

“Or maybe you lied to her and this is all just a trick,” Cadance suggested with a stern frown. “You are known to do that, after all.”

Twilight shook her head. “Chrysalis didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know. All she did was string a method together.”

The changeling released her prey to give the Imperial Princess her full attention. “And I’d be rendered absolutely helpless to stop you. Just think about it, Cadance: no more shields. No more night terrors. Just a peaceful, carefree life for you and your family for the rest of your days. It’s not even that hard. All you have to do is ask Twilight Sparkle how to crush your most feared enemy like a bug. Though, I wonder if she’ll be willing to tell you…”

While she didn’t understand the deck, Applejack knew a game of cards when she saw it. By the looks of it, Chrysalis figured herself to have the winning play. No matter who won, the whole thing just made Applejack sick. Maybe it was just something about being a predator, but Chrysalis threw death around so easily, so flippantly, so callously. It was a lie she was completely comfortable with telling when it suited her. If it didn't matter, Chrysalis wouldn’t be so rightly scared of it.

Princess Cadance put her hoof over her heart and took a deep, calming breath. Holding it in and silently counting to three, she exhaled it along with a sweep of her hoof. With renewed vigor, she looked her opposite in the eyes. “Chrysalis. I may despise you, but I would never consider such a heinous act to be a viable solution to anything.”

“Of course you wouldn’t, Princess. The Crystal Empire is famously gracious by peacefully dispensing with their shadowy foes.” Her eyes flicked over to the statue of Spike, the Brave and Glorious.

“You are not an enemy. The Crystal Empire and the Changeling Concordant are friends.”

Chrysalis clicked her tongue. “Presuming I’m part of that little commune of traitors.”

“Then consider yourself Equestrian for all I care,” Cadance quickly amended. “The point is, I shouldn’t be singling you out among other citizens of our nations.” With a flourish of magic, she summoned a piece of parchment and shredded it to pieces. “As a show of good will, consider my narrow-minded decree directed at you rescinded. You may shapeshift as you will whenever you visit the Crystal Empire.”

Chrysalis grinned, showing the extent of her vicious maw. “Are you sure about that? What if you’re playing right into my hooves?”

“Do you have something that I should be worried about?”

“Would you believe me if I said no?”

“I wouldn’t believe you either way.”

Her high and mighty glee soured at the nonanswer. “Whatever. If we’re done here, why don’t you and Twilight do a little catching up? I’m sure you have plenty to talk about.”

With a sigh of relief, Cadance relaxed just a little bit and smiled. “For once, I couldn’t agree with you more, Chrysalis.”

Chrysalis’ eyes narrowed, trying to get a read on the collected Cadance. With nothing more to say, she offered a deep, wordless bow to the princess before turning her back and trotting away. Despite the permission, she didn’t bother throwing on a disguise. When she reached the edge of the square, she stopped and looked back. “Coming AJ?”

“Oh! Uh… I guess I should go with her, huh?”

“Please do,” Cadance urged, the remaining tension slowly drifting off her shoulders now that Chrysalis was gone. “I would like some time to catch up with Twilight. Shining and I have missed her so much.”

“Don’t worry, Princess. An Apple always appreciates a family reunion.”

“Thank you, Applejack. And for what little it’s worth, I am so, so sorry for everything we put everyone through.”

Twilight leaned in and raised a wing. “And in the meantime, I’ll think about something we can do to help my brother and Cadance.”

“What in the world did Chrys even say to you?”

“Like I already said, it’s nothing that bears repeating. The only thing you need to know is that she’s testing me. Luckily for us, I’m a very good test-taker.”

“A test? How in the hay is telling you grisly secrets a—”

“AJ!” Chrysalis shouted with growing impatience. “You coming or what?”

The farmer sighed. “I better get going. See y’all after a while.”

Applejack bowed herself out before galloping to catch up with the changeling. Whatever this was going on between the lot of them, all it was doing for her was testing her patience.

Author's Note

If you find a simple mistake in the GSP (Grammar, Spelling, or Punctuation), please let me know through a private message rather than leaving it in the comment section. Thank you for reading!