Chrysalis felt her stomach turn as she stepped onto Sweet Apple Acres’s ground once more. She had a multitude of little excuses for coming, but she didn’t know exactly why she was there. She knew that coming here might be giving her exactly what she wanted, but there was something that compelled her to leave her home and make her way to the farm.

Besides, since it clearly didn’t work the first two times, this one would surely prove that Cadence was wrong. Or that what she saw was really a delusion. Either way, it would prove something and she’d get to feel smug about it.

Applejack turned her head to see Chrysalis near the gate. Instead of stumbling in shock or preparing to fight, she simply smiled to herself before turning around fully.

“Ya know, Ah figured you and your buddies would be visiting Fluttershy or somethin’.” Applejack chuckled. “Cozy’s at least got a reason to be around here so often. But with you and Tirek also payin’ visits, am Ah gonna have to expect Sombra to come by for Hearth’s Warmin’?”

Chrysalis scoffed and immediately turned her head up. “I assure you, I’m not here for any sort of pleasantries…”

“Alright, then what brought you here?” Applejack asked. “Looking for more food after Cozy ransacked yer fridge again?”

Chrysalis flinched. She didn’t want to have Applejack know about her intentions, so this seemed like the perfect excuse to jump on and use to her advantage. “I…yes, actually. …How did you…?”

“Heh, Babs was tellin’ me some tales about Cozy,” Applejack chuckled. “It’s nice that they’re gettin’ along over in Manehattan.”

“Yes, how fortunate for her…” Chrysalis said, barely hiding the venom dripping from her words.

“Well, ever since Big Mac took a good chunk for Boys Night, there might not be a lot left in reserve, especially durin’ cider season, but lemmie see if Ah can at least get you a lil’ something…”

As she started walking back towards the barn, she heard Chrysalis’s stomach rumbling behind her. “Heh heh, maybe more than a lil’ something…”

Chrysalis turned her head as a light blush started to form. She truly was hungry, but this felt like unwanted pity from Applejack. Still, she could at least use this as part of her cover…

Applejack led Chrysalis to the barn, walking all the way to the back corner.

“Well, you’re in luck, we still have some left in reserve,” Applejack smiled, grabbing a bucket full of apples, sliding it towards the hooves of the changeling.

Chrysalis looked down at the bucket of apples, then back up at Applejack with a mix of confusion and concern on her face.

“Yeah, would’ve had more, but your buddy Tirek apparently goes through cider by the barrel. Least that’s what Big Mac told me,” Applejack chuckled.

“You’re just…giving this to me?” Chrysalis squinted her eyes suspiciously. “Just like that?”

“Course,” Applejack shrugged. “Ain’t much, but it’s at least something, right?”

Chrysalis remained unconvinced. She knew ponies were far too trusting and naive, but something felt off. “There’s no catch?”

“Well, now that you mention it…” Applejack coyly looked off to the side before taking a step forward. “Ah’ll let you keep the apples if you tell me the real reason you came here.”

Chrysalis flinched, her eyes widening for a split second. “How did you-”

“Just had a feelin’,” Applejack chuckled softly. “If you were actually looking for food, Ah doubt you’d suddenly come asking me for it. Ah’m sure you still have your ways of feeding. Or at least gettin’ yer own food.”

Chrysalis straightened herself out. “Hmmph, you’re more clever than I thought. Very well. I came here today because I had questions. Questions that I demand you answer.”

Applejack leaned against an empty barrel to get more comfortable. “...Alright, shoot.”

Chrysalis’s eyes darted to the side. There were plenty of questions on her mind that she could fire off. “Fine, first off, why do you ponies keep…inviting me to these competitions?”

“Well, why do you keep saying yes to our invites?” was Applejack’s simple response.

“Tch, you’re not going to make this easy, are you?”

“Ah dunno what sort of answer you’re looking for, here,” Applejack shrugged. “You think we wouldn’t invite you, Cozy, and Tirek if we didn’t enjoy your company at least a little? Unless there’s a different reason as to why you keep comin’ back…”

“Ha!” Chrysalis stomped her hooves against the dirt. “You think I’m here to make friends?! I don’t care about the motivations of the other two, but I’m here to win and get as much love as possible!”

Applejack kept her cool and stood her ground, despite Chrysalis shouting and sneering at her. “You know, for someone who claims they ain’t trying to make friends, ya sure start socializing with others a lot more during the month.”

Chrysalis felt her heart skip a beat in her chest. “Where’d you come up with that ridiculous assertion?”

“Pfff, like you’d really pay a visit to me on any other day,” Applejack scoffed. “Unless this is your excuse to try and get closer to me now,” she teased.

Chrysalis’s pupils shrank, “No, NO!” she blurted out, immediately getting haunting flashbacks. “If you think that I’m going to fall for your ploy to ‘reform’ me, then you are SORELY mistaken!”

“Woah, there!” Applejack took a step away from how panicked Chrysalis was getting. “Who said anythin’ about reforming you?”

Realizing that she was slipping back into paranoia, Chrysalis pulled back and awkwardly cleared her throat.

“Look, Ah know you and the other two ain’t too keen on being ‘good’, but we ain’t got ulterior motives in having y’all join the fun,” Applejack explained. “Well, not unless ya wanna count something like Sandbar wanting Tirek to plow him. Or Mina and…everything about her.”

“...You’re sure about this?”

“Heh, you know I ain’t the type to lie,” Applejack winked.

“...Right…” Chrysalis felt an odd feeling of warmth from Applejack’s words.

“Course, it might do ya some good to be a lil’ more friendly with the rest of the competition,” Applejack advised with a soft chuckle. “Ah figure the love would taste better when it’s more intimate.”

Chrysalis turned her head up with a sneer. “Please, what would you know about a changeling’s feeding habits?”

“Not a whole lot, admittedly,” Applejack casually shrugged. “Ah know quite a bit about love, though, and having a big family to take care of. One of the few things we have in common, at least.”

Chrysalis paused, her expression softening just for a moment.

“Ah remember you used to have a lot of changelings under your rule back at your old lair. Bits to bushels ya cared about ‘em,” Applejack started, smiling softly as she looked up at Chrysalis. “And Ah’ve seen how you still treat the changelings that we call our friends.”

Chrysalis furrowed her brow in consternation. “What sort of point are you getting at?”

“Well, despite everything you say about ‘em, it ain’t a stretch to say that ya still consider Thorax, Pharynx, Ocellus, and the other changelings your family. And ya still care about them, even if ya won’t say it out loud.”

Applejack’s response pierced Chrysalis. She remembered the Mother’s Day card she received. Her expression got more and more dismayed the more she thought about it.

“Course, that’s just the changelings. Ah won’t presume to know how you feel about us ponies and dragons and griffons and whatnot. Though from how I see it, we’re all getting more comfortable being ‘round you, so maybe you’re also startin’ to get comfortable around us.”

“I…” Chrysalis’s breathing started to get heavier, becoming more conflicted with Applejack’s words.

Applejack jumped on the barrel to give herself a little height boost and look Chrysalis directly in the eyes. “Ah know you want to feed off our love, but maybe you can settle for being loved instead.”

As Chrysalis stood there, mouth agape, Applejack slid the bucket of apples closer to her. “Well, I best get back to work,” she said as she walked past. “Don’t forget your food!”

By the time Chrysalis could fully process anything, Applejack had already walked out of the barn. She was left alone with just the bucket of apples.

She had been looking down at the apples for what felt like an hour, Applejack’s words echoing in her mind the entire time.

“...Hmph.” She levitated one of the apples up to inspect it. Even if she wasn’t starving, it couldn’t hurt to have some food.

Chrysalis took a bite, causing some of the juices to start dribbling down her chin. She stopped mid-chew, instantly straightening up on full alert.

This tasted far different than any other apple she had stolen before. It was sweeter, juicier, tastier…

Chrysalis took labored breaths as she stared at the apple with confusion and longing. As she swallowed it down her throat, she felt a warmth that enveloped her entire body, a sweetness that could rot her teeth, a comfort she hadn’t felt in a long time.

A comfort that she wanted to feel again.

She took another bite, then another, and another, getting greedier until there was nothing left but the core.

Chrysalis kept the core held up with her magic, staring at it while her heart pounded in her chest and her mind tried to reconcile all the different emotions running turbulent inside her.

She stomped her hoof angrily on the ground, tossing the core aside as she prepared to storm out, but found she didn’t even make it a couple steps out before she turned around to grab the entire bucket and leave before anypony saw her.

Spike found himself in a familiar place, a starry void, seemingly endless in size. If this wasn’t a dream, he didn’t know where he was.

And with that familiar dream came an all too familiar voice and face that appeared in a quick flash of light.

“Good evening, Spike,” Princess Luna said with a soft and warm smile.

“Princess Luna,” Spike returned the smile with a playful bow. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company tonight?”

“Well, with the month coming to a close, and our team still behind, I thought it’d be useful if I went around and provided a little assistance to the rest of the team,” Luna explained, stepping closer.

Spike scoffed and puffed his chest out in pride. “Heh, I’m flattered, but I’ve been doing just fine so far.”

“I see.” Luna smirked and started to turn away. “Well, if you don’t wish to receive any pleasures tonight, then I shall be on my way…”

“Hey hey hey hold on!” Spike called out, his voice wavering. “I mean, I wouldn’t mind having a little fun! You came all the way over to me, after all…”

“Hmhmhm…very well then…” Luna giggled. “By all means, what or whom do you desire tonight?”

Spike took a deep breath. There was a LOT on his mind after being pent up for a little over three weeks. And he could only choose one. “Aaah…fuck…hm…Thorax?”

Luna nodded. A simple enough request. Her horn lit up, changing and warping the world around them.

Spike found himself over in the changeling’s hive, specifically, Thorax’s bedroom, where a dream version of the changeling king awaited.

“Hey Spike, I’m nice and ready for you,” Thorax said, slowly stroking himself on his bed.

Spike grinned, knowing it was a dream, but fully giving himself up to the fantasy. “Perfect, I’ve been waiting for you, too!”

Spike sidled up to Thorax, carefully mounting his body, letting the changeling’s cock slowly work its way into his ass.

Spike still winced as he fit Thorax inch by inch. Even if none of it was real, he could still feel things in the moment.

Thorax shuddered as Spike gradually sat down on top of him. “Nnnf! Fuck…that feels so good already…!”

“Y-You’re telling me…” Spike let out a breathy laugh, Thorax’s full length was inside him, making him feel tense. He leaned forward to grab onto Thorax’s antlers for support. “Okay…I’m ready…”

Thorax put his hooves on Spike’s hips. “Alright…here we go…!”

Thorax started thrusting, slowly at first to make sure Spike could acclimate to the speed.

Spike tilted his head back and snorted smoke from his nostrils. “Ffffuuuuck…!” he said with a low growl, his grip on Thorax’s antlers getting tighter.

“Nnngh! Ah!” Thorax gasped and squirmed. His back arched, trying to get more out of each thrust.

Spike panted heavily, his arms trembling and his toes curling. “Fuck…you feel so good…!” he grunted, looking Thorax in the eyes.

“S-So do you…!” Thorax moaned, his hooves rubbing Spike’s butt as he thrust into him. “Oooh, you’re so big and cool and sexy, Spike!”

Spike lost his composure and snorted, the immersion breaking as he started to chuckle between his moans. “Laying it on a little thick, don’t you think, Luna?”

“I thought it was accurate to his character,” Luna giggled. “But since you seem to be occupied now, I must attend the rest of my rounds. Best of luck, Spike.” She waved goodbye and teleported away, leaving Spike alone with the dream version of Thorax.

Spike turned back to Thorax, lifting up his rear in order to slam it down on the changeling’s pelvis. “Alright, c’mon, gimmie all the love you got, big guy!”

Author's Note

...Why do I hear frantic file shuffling?