Transcend - Part 4
#4 of Transcend
The sound of the door opening jogged Chrysalis out of a pleasant nap and her eyes blinked open slowly to stare into the embers of the fire. Night had fallen and it was growing cold. Without even turning around to peek over her shoulder, she leaned forwards and nudged a log onto the fire to help warm her, casting her gaze around for her blanket.
"You're late," Chrysalis stated flatly, still not turning around.
"Ah had a little trouble," Evergreen said, his tone strained.
Chrysalis blinked once and turned her head, raising a brow at evergreen.
Evergreen was filthy. His mane was matted with mud, his entire right side was coated in it. Broken twigs and leaves clung to him in various places. His sack also rustled as though with broken glass.
"What happened to you?" Chrysalis asked, staring.
"Ah had a disagreement with a tree about who had right of way," Evergreen said, deadpan. "Ah think the tree was correct, ter be honest."
"Once more I bring to your attention that you are not smarter than you look," Chrysalis stated. She turned back to the fire, and in her periphery, saw Evergreen limp over towards the bed.
chrysalis' ears splayed backwards a moment, and she rounded on him again. She rose to her hooves and stepped over closer, peering down at his foreleg. "You're hurt."
"Ah...it's nothing," Evergreen responded hesitantly, shaking his head. "Jus' rolled me hoof when the tree took exception to mah argument."
"You're limping," Chrysalis narrowed her eyes.
"Well Ah don't want to put my full weight on it, do ah?" Evergreen retorted, raising a brow.
Chrysalis rolled her eyes and lifted a hoof to push evergreen over suddenly, splaying him across the bed and removing the sack from his reach before he could respond.
"Ah'm all messy!" Evergreen protested.
"Shut up, you big oaf," chrysalis said flatly, leaning down and lifting her hooves to touch at his foreleg, kneading them slowly down the length of the limb.
Evergreen twitched and winced when Chrysalis reached the last joint before his hoof, his ears splaying backwards. "It's nuthin," he reiterated.
"It's not nuthin," Chrysalis responded with a huff. "You've sprained it. You're not to walk on it for at least a day."
"But Ah got stuff to do," Evergreen complained, trying to push himself to his hooves.
Chrysalis pushed him back down firmly with a hoof, her eyes narrowing. "If you get on your hooves, I will cut your mane back until you're bald, and then I'll start on your tail, too."
Evergreen flattened his ears, whining up at her faintly before sighing and then laying back on the bed, huffing a moment. "But who'll do all the work?"
Rolling her eyes, Chrysalis turned around to peer around the room, looking for a bandage or similar item. Her tone was sarcastic as she said, "Oh, I don't know, I mean, it's not like there's a pony who's staying with you or anything,"
"Ah couldn't ask yer to do that. It's only a sprain," Evergreen stated, starting to roll over to get up.
Chrysalis didn't even turn around. "If you stand up, I'm going to find a rope and tie you down."
Evergreen blinked once at that, harrumphing and then relaxing once more. "Ah might be into that, yer know."
"I shall bear that in mind if I ever become desperate enough to want to seduce you," chrysalis said with a shake of her head. "Do you have any bandages here?"
"There's some under the bed," Evergreen said, pointing with a hoof, and then moving to reach down and get them himself.
"Stop that, the more you move your hoof, the longer it'll stay hurt for," Chrysalis explained, as she ducked under the bed and rummaged around. She dragged out a small black case, and popped it open. Inside were several dried herbs and flowers, bandages, and even a needle and thread for more serious injuries.
Looking up at Evergreen for a moment, Chrysalis pulled out the bandage and gingerly lifted his hoof, trying her best not to hurt him. She carefully wrapped the bandage around his hoof, making sure it was firm but not tight. In a previous masquerade, she had been a nurse. In that time she had learned more about healing and the like than she had ever cared to. Wrapping injuries, stitching up deep cuts, tending to sick ponies whose entire goal in life seemed to be to throw up on everything they possibly could, and obnoxious children who just screamed. It was one of the very few masquerades that she'd abandoned early purely on account of the job she was forced to take.
"Where did yer learn to treat injuries?" Evergreen asked, raising a brow.
"My brothers got hurt a lot," Chrysalis lied smoothly. "Especially as one of them was a pegasus."
Evergreen gave a slight nod at that, wincing as Chrysalis pulled the bandage tight over his hoof and then stuck it down with the little clip to hold it in place.
Chrysalis inspected her work carefully, before deeming it complete.
"But there's a problem," Evergreen stated.
"And what would that be?"
Evergreen held up his hooves, showing the mud on them, "Ah'm still all messy."
"Filthy beast," Chrysalis said with a shake of her head. "I'll help you into the other room, and I'll clean you. But you are forbidden from placing your weight on that hoof."
"Yes, Mother," Evergreen quipped, gingerly rolling over onto his stomach and beginning to rise onto three hooves, carefully holding the injured hoof in the air. He limped off the bed and towards the back door while Chrysalis scowled at him.
Chrysalis trailed after Evergreen, making sure he wasn't having too much trouble, and then ushered him towards the cauldron. She lit it up the log pile with a deft flick of a match, and stood beside him while she waited for it to get warm.
"So how'm I gonna get clean without getting the bandage wet?" Evergreen queried.
"I'm going to help you, dumb oaf," Chrysalis stated, supporting his weight to help him into the cauldron.
"Well... Thank yer," Evergreen said with a hesitant nod. "Ah'm...not so good at accepting help."
"I've noticed, I'm the same way. Now, put your hoof on the edge," Chrysalis said, tapping the part of the cauldron she was referring to.
Evergreen did as commanded, carefully placing his hoof on the edge of the cauldron, eyebrows raising.
Humming faintly, Chrysalis dipped her hooves into the water. She began to scrub them across Evergreen's back and the bottom of his mane where she could reach. "Use your good hoof, fool. I'm not doing this all by myself."
"Yes Ma'am," Evergreen responded, his ears pinning back a little bit as he used his good hoof to begin rubbing at the mud covering his chest.
"So what exactly happened?" Chrysalis asked, shifting slightly and picking up the comb she had purchased, beginning to drag it through his mane.
"Ah had an altercation with a tree," Evergreen repeated.
"I got that," Chrysalis said, rolling her eyes. "But how did that end up with you looking like you mud-wrestled a hydra?"
"Ah was tryin' ter get at a Niteshade crop and slipped. Thankfully, ah didn't nudge the flowers, or ah wouldn't have made it home at all. Took a good tumble down a slope, though," Evergreen said, relaxing back a little bit of a faint, contented sigh as she kneaded across his neck with her hooves.
Chrysalis' eyes widened and her ears splayed backwards. She realised that she hadn't told him about the shopkeeper's little 'accident'.
"I...Uhm. About the niteshade," she murmured uncertainly.
Evergreen scowled. "Did that shopkeeper try ter stiff you?"
Chrysalis shook her head slowly. "He gave me full price... but... uhm... he's dead."
The stallion paused, blinking once and turning his head. "...What?"
"He's dead. He managed to shatter the jar of niteshade...he slipped," Chrysalis explained, her ears splayed backwards. "I tried to save him! I really did!"
Evergreen gave a faint sigh, shaking his head a moment, his brow furrowing. "Ahhh...these things happen. Yer didn't inhale any of it, did yer?"
Chrysalis shook her head, fighting to keep a very strange smile off her face. Evergreen was more worried about her safety than the fact that the shopkeeper had been killed. It filled her with a strange warmth--like the energy she got from love, only different. Warmer.
"I kinda cut myself when I jumped out the front door though," Chrsalis ysaid, letting the smile stretch her muzzle, but morphing it into a more sheepish smile than triumphant.
Evergreen turned around at that, looking her over carefully.
"Ah shouldn't have sent yer to sell it," Evergreen stated flatly, lifting his good hoof to stroke along her mane gently, rubbing at her neck to check for cuts. "Ah don't see much damage...but yer coulda been killed.."
"It was his fault," Chrysalis said, sniffing once. "If he was paying more attention to where he was going, and not to leering at me, he wouldn't have tripped."
"Leerin' at yer?" he asked, his eyes narrowing slowly as his expression darkened.
"Yeah...why do you think I got those extra bits?" Chrysalis asked with a sly grin. "I just batted my eyes at him and he passed them over."
Evergreen scowled even more at that, accusing, "Yer been throwing yerself at the males in town?"
Chrysalis blinked, her ears pinning back. She shook her head. "No. No. You have it wrong, I was just batting my eyes at him to get the bits he owed you. Surely you've had a pretty girl bat her eyes at you to get you to do things for her, right?"
The stallion frowned slightly, turning back to face the front, his expression and tone grumpy. "Ah suppose,"
Giggling faintly, Chrysalis continued to wash him, leaning in to rest her chin on the top of his shoulder, her tone turning teasing, "Sir Evergreen... are you... jealous?"
Evergreen's ears splayed and he scowled again. "Ah'm not jealous."
"You souuuund jealous," Chrysalis affirmed, a sly grin on her muzzle.
"Ah'm not jealous," Evergreen reiterated, shaking his head and crossing his forehooves.
Chrysalis tutted, gripping his forehoof by the elbow joint and placing it back on the edge of the cauldron. "You're jealous, admit it."
"Ah'll not lie ter yer," Evergreen stated flatly.
"Admiiiit it~" Chrysalis sing-songed with a grin.
Evergreen grit his teeth for a moment, his eyes narrowing, and rounded on Chrysalis. "Yer impossible!"
Chrysalis grinned innocently, leaning in to rub her nose against his own, her eyes peering into his, a purr in her tone as she repeated, "Admit it."
The stallion scowled more. "Fine. Ah was a little jealous."
"And why were you jealous?" Chrysalis pressed, grinning and keeping her position, staring into his eyes.
Evergreen's cheeks flushed faintly, and his ears pinned back. The lie was obvious in his tone as he said, "Ah... Ah don't know."
"Oh, you know, Sir Evergreen. And you're not getting out that tub until you tell me," Chrysalis promised, grinning.
"Fine," Evergreen hissed, eyes narrowing at her, "Ah think Ah'm starting ter like yer."
"There..." Chrysalis soothed, lifting a hoof to gently rub under his chin, grinning. "Was that so hard?"
The stallion shook his head for a moment, looking down at the cauldron so he didn't have to meet her gaze any more. "Maybe not fer you."
Chrysalis grinned at that, nudging Evergreen once and then drawing back. "You've been a good boy, so you can get out now."
Evergreen clambered out of the cauldron, making sure not to put his weight on his bad hoof, and the changeling helped him, supporting his weight until he was stable. She draped a towel over his back, scrubbing it across his form to dry him, seeing as he was only allowed to use one hoof at the moment.
Standing there, getting dried by Chrysalis, Evergreen's expression softened and he gave a faint little sigh.
"Ah'm being ungrateful," Evergreen said, shaking his head slightly and turning towards her. "Thank yer, Cee. Yer a very nice pony... At least when yer not insulting me."
"You love it," Chrysalis said with a grin, leaning in and scrubbing her hoof through his mane. "I think I'm starting to like you too, Evergreen."
"Well Ah'm glad," Evergreen responded, his ears tilting back a little bit. "Ah'm glad yer collapsed out in front of my cottage. Or ah would have never found yer."
"And I'm rather glad you found me. Or I'd be, you know, dead," Chrysalis stated blandly. She moved the towel from his neck and mane to along the underside of his neck and then up his chin. Smiling, she began rubbing her nose against his own affectionately.
"Thank yer for the bath, Cee," he said with a slight nod. His tone was completely innocent and sincere as he offered, "Ah'll have ter return the favour later on sometime."
"Anything to get your filthy hooves on me, huh?" Chrysalis accused playfully, smiling at him.
"That's not it all," Evergreen blinked, looking chagrined. "Ah just don't wanna get such an act of kindness and not repay it to yer somehow."
Chrysalis smiled at him, nuzzling her nose against his own gently, watching him. He looked so cute like that, flustered and embarrassed. It was endearing. He was so close now, staring into her eyes as he spoke, and she was certain that he was going to kiss her. No pony of any worth would ignore such an opportunity.
"You don't have to repay me," Chrysalis chided with a smile.
"But Ah feel like a have ter..." Evergreen admitted, shaking his head again and then gently nuzzling his nose against hers, tentatively.
"Then don't, oaf. It's more of a gift than a service," Chrysalis explained.
"Ah... don't know," Evergreen admitted, shaking his head once more and nudging her gently. He turned away to move to the other room.
Chrysalis stared at him for a long moment, her eyes slowly narrowing, asking indignantly, "And just where are you going?"
Evergreen's ears splayed backwards, and he turned back towards her, "Ter the other room?"
"No. You're not," Chrysalis stated flatly, her eyes narrowing. "You are going to get back here and kiss me as is proper."
The stallion blinked at that, his expression uncertain. "But..Ah...--"
"--shut up," Chrysalis growled, stamping her hoof. "Get down here, and kiss me."
Evergreen lowered his head slightly and slipped down towards her again with unsure steps, his cheeks faintly flushed. "But Ah don't know--"
Chrysalis' hoof cut his words off. "No talking. Just kiss me."
Evergreen opened his mouth to speak again, but Chrysalis made an impatient sound, cutting him off before he could vocalise any complaint.
After a few seconds of waiting, she began to tap her hoof against the ground impatiently. "I'm waiting."
Even though she was ordering him to kiss her, she wasn't prepared for him to actually do it. It wasn't as if she didn't know it was coming, or like she expected him to refuse. But the feel of his lips against her own quite suddenly in a firm, forceful kiss, somehow surprised her.
At first, Chrysalis tensed, and then relaxed into it, lifting a hoof to rest on the back of Evergreen's head to keep him from pulling away prematurely. She twined her hoof into his mane happily as she closed her eyes, just enjoying the simple sensation of his warm lips against her own.
And then, it was over.
Chrysalis tried to reach for Evergreen, to make him kiss her again. But the stallion had already pulled back, terminating their contact. His cheeks were flushed faintly and he was panting a little bit.
She wasn't quite certain how long the kiss had lasted but as she became aware of her surroundings again, she realised that she too was panting softly, and her heart was beating somewhere in her throat.
"W-wow..." Chrysalis whispered, staring at him for a moment, blinking.
"Wow indeed...Y-yeah," Evergreen repeated, watching her for a moment, cheeks just faintly flushed. "Ah... don't know what ter say."
Chrysalis smiled and took a nimble step forward to capture Evergreen with her forehooves encircling his neck. She leaned in to rub her nose against his own for a moment. She stared into his eyes, her tone warm as she demanded; "Then shut up and kiss me again."
Chrysalis hummed to herself as she trotted back to the cottage dragging a sled piled high with wood.
As she began to stack the wood in the fire, she cast a warm glance towards the prone form of Evergreen, who was soundly asleep on the bed. She reflected on the past few days as she set the wood inside the fireplace to restart the fire.
Had it really been two weeks? Two entire weeks? But the days totalled up, and there was no denying that it had been quite some time since she had turned up almost dead on Evergreen's doorstep.
Evergreen's hoof had long since healed and he had grown closer to her as she tended to him. She had done everything for him: cooking, cleaning, and feeding him. She had coddled him like a small child and, despite his constant complaints and whining, she knew that he begrudgingly loved it. No doubt he had never had anyone look after him before.
Chrysalis had managed finally to get to the point where she could visit Ponyville without affecting the guise of a grief-stricken pony. It had grown wearying very quickly to act the part of a traumatized mare. And Evergreen liked her more than ever.
Her senses were slowly growing more in-tune and she was confident that she was garnering a large amount of energy from Evergreen. She could sense her limits now. She deemed small magics to be a viable option for her if she needed to use them.
And for the first time in many, many decades, Chrysalis was content. There was no masquerade to maintain, no one needing to be pleased, no duties to be done, and not even an army of changelings for her to look after. She just existed now.
And as Evergreen grew to like her more, she found her affection for him growing in turn. It was odd. She had never really liked the partners she stole energy from. And Evergreen was the furthest from what she would have thought she would go for. He was just a woodspony. He didn't try to be anything more, or anything less. He was content with his flowers and his herbs and his existence, here in the cottage. And so was she.
But the ever-present worry nagged at Chrysalis' mind; eventually, he would get sick. He would waste away in front of her and inevitably die. She had seen it happen once or twice; it usually took a month, and was preceded by headaches and odd twitches. The effect could be slowed by magic, like a leech injecting anaesthetic to keep the pain of a bite from registering, just so that it could steal more blood before being noticed. In the case of changelings, it was to keep their partner alive long enough to steal as much energy as possible.
As the fire got going, Chrysalis turned her attention back to Evergreen, creeping over to the bed and then worming her way up against his form. She pushed herself into the embrace of his hooves and gave a happy sigh, resting her cheek on his foreleg.
She would be truly sorry when she had to leave him. There was no longer any kind of animosity in her heart for him. She didn't want to see him suffer, didn't want to punish him when he did something wrong. Nothing. Of course, she still called him 'oaf', and 'dolt', but it was a playful insult. The same as him calling her 'Princess' whenever she complained about doing some act of physical labour.
After their first little make out session, Evergreen had been quite willing and eager to continue, and for the most part, she was happy to go along with it. A week ago, though, he had tried to initiate a more... intimate contact, and she had rebuked him. Hard.
Chrysalis liked him, liked him more than she had liked anyone else, but no one had ever, and likely no one ever would, touch her in that way. She would never be comfortable enough with her assumed forms ever to become intimate; the only time that kind of thing would happen was with another changeling, a purely physical act that had no enjoyment in it and was strictly for reproduction.
But even after she rebuked him, he held her no ill will. He merely accepted that it wouldn't be happening and moved on. And he hadn't whined about it, attempted to broker the proposition again, or made any mention of it. The perfect gentlecolt.
Chrysalis wormed in closer against the stallion, peering up at his sleeping face, smiling warmly for a moment and leaning up to kiss his nose gently. She sighed contentedly and rested her head down again, closing her eyes.
Who knew how long she had left with Evergreen; for now, she was content. And she was going to make as much of their time together as she could.
"Ah want ter take yer out tonight," Evergreen said.
Chrysalis lifted her head after a moment, blinking slightly and peering back at him. She gave a sleepy, noncommittal sound. "Out?"
The stallion nodded in response, smiling. "Ah want ter show yer something, but it's near the top of the mountain trail. We'll have ter pack snacks."
A soft sigh left the changeling and she lifted her head to peek at the window. Her ears splayed backwards as she complained, "But it's almost dark."
"That's kinda the point," Evergreen said with a slight grin.
"Why would you want to go traipsing through the Everfree at night?" Chrysalis queried, staring at him.
Evergreen shift his weight from side to side, as though thinking of the proper way to word his next sentence. "It's a secret."
"Secrets, now?" Chrysalis asked, arching a brow at him. "Very well. But this had better be worth it."
The stallion gave an earnest nod, grinning at her for a moment. "It'll be worth it, Ah promise."
With a faint sigh, the changeling rose to her hooves and began to stretch slightly. "Will we need clothes?"
Evergreen pondered on her question a moment, and shook his head. "Ah don't think so. It's warm this evening, and we'll be fine once we start walking."
"And you're not going to tell me where we're going?" Chrysalis asked suspiciously.
"It's kinda hard ter explain," Evergreen admitted, lifting himself to his hooves and moving over to the bed. The woodspony rummaged around underneath it for a few moments before coming up with a small wrapped package and furtively slipping it into a carry sack.
Chrysalis noticed his moving of the package, but said nothing. She instead focused on smoothing down her mane with one hoof.
Evergreen turned, selecting snacks from a fruit bowl on the shelf, and moved towards the front door. "Yer ready?"
"Ready," Chrysalis replied, falling into step behind him. "I trust we're not going too far?"
"Not far at all," he said, smiling over his shoulder.
Chrysalis pondered for a moment, watching the stallion, "...You're trying to be romantic, aren't you, Sir Evergreen?"
"W-what? No!" Evergreen protested, his eyes wide, refusing to meet her gaze. Instead, he focused on the ground in front of him as he opened the door and led her outside, heading left, down a path that led away from the direction Ponyville was in.
Chrysalis could tell from Evergreen's reactions that he was being untruthful. He really was a horrible liar.
It was a good half hour of walking before they reached their destination.
The trees of the Everfree Forest opened up into a wide meadow rife with bell-shaped blue flowers, closed for the evening, it seemed. They all stood, turned downwards, bobbing faintly in the warm breeze winding throughout the clearing. They looked strikingly similar to the flower that was Evergreen's cutie mark.
The stallion led Chrysalis up to the crest of the hill, and dug in his pack for a moment. Coming up with a blanket, he threw it out over the grass so they had something to lay on. He plopped down on one side of it, smiling faintly at her.
Chrysalis stepped up to him, and then settled herself down beside him as he laid out the pack and dug around in it once more, tugging out the package he had tried to sneak into it. Unfolding it revealed a pair of candles in metal holders, which he began to set up.
Raising a brow, Chrysalis watched as he placed down the candles but didn't say anything. He was trying to be romantic, and she was going to play along. She found it cute, and it was nice to have someone trying to win her favour with their actions.
Once the candles were set up, Evergreen lit them with the box of matches he produced from the sack. He raised a brow at her in expectation.
"They're nice," Chrysalis said with a faint smile. "But so much for you not trying to be romantic."
"Ah'm not," Evergreen protested. "They're just there for extra light."
The mare sniffed at the air a moment, and leaned in closer to one of the candles, inhaling the scent coming off it. It was a mildly acrid scent, strong and pervasive, and yet soothing. "You put herbs in the candle wax, didn't you?"
A sly smile stretched the stallions lips. "Indeed Ah did. Same stuff I put in the fire the other night."
"So why are you trying to get me all relaxed?" Chrysalis asked, a faint note of accusation in her tone.
"Ah just want yer to be relaxed," he said with a shake of his head, looking up over the trees at the edge of the clearing. In the distance, the sun was creeping below a mountain range. "Not long now."
"Not long until what?" Chrysalis inquired, shifting slightly to lean against him, peering over the horizon at the setting sun as well. She was genuinely curious as to what he was planning.
"Yer'll see," the stallion said with a secretive smile.
Rolling her eyes, Chrysalis resumed lounging against him, resting her cheek along the male's shoulder and peering over the trees with him.
After a time the stallion leaned forward and blew out the candles, plunging the two ponies into almost complete darkness. The moon was in a full darkness phase, and Chrysalis could barely see her own hoof in front of her face. Chrysalis opened her mouth to speak, but was hushed by the stallion's hoof. "Quiet. Just watch."
Chrysalis stayed silent, rolling her eyes and just laying against him again, watching the horizon. It was a few moments before she realised that there was a growing light rising from the clearing.
The flowers around them, drooping and heavy, were beginning to bloom. As the petals spread, a soft blue glow began to emanate from the petals and the stalks at the centre of the flowers, growing in brightness the further the plants blossomed. All around the pair, glowing blue flowers bloomed into life, washing them in the soft blue radiance. And then, one after another, the flowers began to seemingly sneeze. Each flower jerked and swayed reflexively as a puff of blue powder shot from the centre, some kind of pollen, that had the same glowing properties as the flowers themselves.
The pollen hung in the air in swirling tendrils, curling into fantastic shapes as the gentle wind disturbed and agitated the weightless pollen.
Chrysalis could only stare, gasping in wonder. It was beautiful in a completely alien way. She had never heard of, let alone seen something like this before.
"Ah'm not so good at the romance thing," Evergreen said, and Chrysalis blinked once in surprise, having completely forgotten he was there in her raptured staring. "But ah hope I'm doing well."
His tone was nervous and hopeful, and Chrysalis found it utterly endearing how uncertain he was in the art of seduction. Suddenly, his lips were pressed against her own in a warm kiss.
Giving a happy sound, Chrysalis threw her hooves around his neck and returned the kiss full-force. She closed her eyes for a moment, to enjoy the kiss, before opening them again.
Chrysalis' eyes met Evergreen's, his neutral green gaze showing reflected dancing blue motes of muted glowing brilliance, and she let herself get lost in his eyes for a time.
This was perfect. There was nothing better than this. If it came down to a choice between feeding from the energy of Shining Armour, living in a giant castle with all her needs catered to, or spending her time with this simple woodspony... She would choose Evergreen every time.
After several long moments, Evergreen pulled back, breaking the kiss. He smiled at her smugly. "Ah told yer that yer would like it."
Chrysalis nodded earnestly, nuzzling her nose into his neck affectionately. She stared up at him as the blue glow of the flowers washed over them both.
Evergreen turned his gaze down to meet her own, smiling.
And it was in that moment, that Chrysalis came to a shocking realisation.
"I... I love you, Evergreen," Chrysalis said softly, blinking once, expressionless.
"Yer what?" Evergreen queried, raising a brow and smiling faintly, as though she was joking.
"I love you," Chrysalis repeated faintly, staring at him. Her expression turned thoughtful, as though she was just coming to terms with the fact herself. "It's... the only explanation. I've never felt like this about anyone before...and there have been many others. But I never really liked any of them... not like this. Not like I like you, and-"
Evergreen smiled and leaned into kiss her again to stop her from babbling. The changeling fell silent, her cheeks flushing with warmth. Smiling at her, he gently rubbed his nose against her own."Yer very cute when yer flustered,"
"I'm being serious, you oaf!" Chrysalis protested, smacking his shoulder with a hoof in rebuke.
"Ah'm being serious too," Evergreen replied with a grin, kissing her nose once. "Ah love yer too."
Chrysalis stared at Evergreen for a long moment, surprised. Of course she knew that; the bond between them was too strong for it to be anything else. But just hearing him say it out loud like that. It sent shivers down her spine. If she had wings with this form, she knew they'd be standing on end in excitement. Her heart fluttered like a butterfly as she stared up at him, feeling her breathing increase in speed.
"I love you," Chrysalis repeated, seemingly awed at her own ability to say it.
"Ah know, Cee," Evergreen said, lifting a hoof to wrap around her shoulders.
Chrysalis peered up at Evergreen for a long moment, watching the dancing blue motes reflected in his eyes. A faint whisper left her, "I'm ready."
"Yer ready?" Evergreen asked blankly, not quite cottoning on to what she meant.
"I'm ready," chrysalis confirmed with a shaky nod, feeling her heart flutter again as she said the words.
"What do yer- Ohhh..." Evergreen trailed off into a soft sound of realisation as Chrysalis pulled him close and pressed a fiery, passionate kiss against his lips, dragging him down with her onto the soft blanket.
A puff of glowing blue motes erupted around the couple's body as Chrysalis pulled Evergreen down into the flowers with her, her hooves wrapped up around his neck and shoulders, holding him closer to her chest.
The changelings heart was beating fast in her chest, a violent thumping rhythm that echoed in her ears in a drowning cacophony. She could hardly believe what she was doing. She was giving herself to this oaf of a woodpony.
But it felt so right.
Chrysalis paused, staring up into his eyes, her hooves twitching in nervous anticipation as she felt his form pressed against the entirety of her own. Her kind had not needed a new brood of hatchlings for her generation, not yet. And so, she was 'innocent'. Surely, she knew of the act, knew the requisite actions, the tricks, the art of seduction. It was part and parcel of what she was to understand this most base of actions; but she had never been comfortable enough with anypony to ever actually participate with them in this kind of union.
Evergreen held her gaze unwaveringly, unashamedly, gently letting his weight shift from his hooves, onto her form, tentatively letting her feel the full weight of his body against her own. Leaning down, he gently nose at the side of her neck and cheek, a hoof lifting to slowly stroke through her mane. "Are yer sure about this, Cee? Ah don't want ter force yer into anything yer not ready for."
The changeling stared up at him for a long moment. It was so sweet. She could send the desire in him, the lustful tinge to his 'aura' as it were. It could have been pheremones, it could have been animal instinct, but Chrysalis knew on some innate level when a male desired her, and Evergreen wanted her. He wanted her bad.
A soft shiver passed over the females form as she stared up at him, feeling a tinge of awkwardness wash over her. She marvelled inwardly at Evergreen's self control. His respect for her and her emotional well-being was more powerful than the animalistic instinct to fulfill the simple biological imperative of mating.
It gave her a sense of power, to be able to manipulate this simple woodspony to the point where she could force him to ignore his own base needs with a simple shake of her head, or a whisper that she wasn't ready. But, for the first time in her life, she wanted him to give in to his desires for her. She wanted to submit to his animalistic lust and give herself fully to him.
And so, drawing in a shaky breath, Chrysalis stared up into Evergreen's eyes, and nodded.
Immediately, Evergreen shifted, and pressed himself down onto Chrysalis properly, pressing their stomachs together. The natural arrangement of their bodies caused him to slip in between both sets of her legs, laying atop her, kissing up at her neck and chin.
He was so much larger, and stronger than her, Chrysalis suddenly noted. It gave her a sudden thrill to know that he could hold her down and have his way with her, and there would be very little she could do to stop him on a physical level. It made her shudder to think that she could command such a powerful male to her will with a mere whisper, make him stop with a word. Halt his desires with a simple command. And his devotion to her made her heart swell in her chest, a strange lump forming in her throat. She wanted to just wrap her hooves around him and hug him until the end of time.
But the movement of his body also caused the thick sheath between his hindlegs to quite deliberately press in between her own, rubbing up and then resting against the soft outer lips of her sex. It ignited a completely different desire in the changeling.
With a soft gasp of surprise at the sensation, Chrysalis wrapped her hooves around the larger pony, and shifted her hips towards him in an automatic expression of her desire, unconsciously grinding the heating petals of her sex up against the swelling flesh between his legs.
The changeling bit her bottom lip, her eyes closing, her hooves gripping around the male all the tighter as her hindlegs twitched in reflexive spasms at the sensation of something touching her there, her breathing coming in harsher panting as she felt herself moistening and heating at the simple touches, and, if possible, becoming even more sensitive.
Heart fluttering, Chrysalis pressed against the woodspony all the more eagerly, allowing her hindlegs to wrap around his hips as best as she could get them, and beginning to quite deliberately grind herself down against him, slowly and firmly, exulting in the quivering shocks of pleasure the delicious friction sent through her form.
For his part, Evergreen leant into the press of the females hips, giving her a stable surface to grind again, increasing the pressure, and by extension, the friction she could create with her movements. He watched with seeming amusement as different expressions passed over the changelings face, from confused delight to eager wantonness.
Biting her bottom lip, one of Chrysalis' eyes peeked open, and then the other opened to stare at him, the movement of her hips stilling as she endeavoured to even out her breathing. "W-what?"
The woodspony just grinned, leaning in to gently kiss at her nose, and pointedly grinding himself against her once, making her arch and gasp faintly. "It's yer first time, isn't it?"
It wasn't a question. It was more of a statement, really. He was only being polite in giving her the option to reply with a bald-faced lie. But neither was it an accusation. It was an observation from a caring stallion; rather than a snide allegation of inexperience.
The lie was quivering at the tip of Chrysalis' tongue, and she almost gave voice to it. But something stopped her. For once, she felt vulnerable. She felt exposed in ways she'd never before experienced, and it was a novel sensation. It made her heart flutter in her chest, and the blood rush in her ears. It made her feel alive.
Feeling warmth rising in her cheeks, Chrysalis gave a tentative nod to the woodspony.
Smiling and gently lipping at the blush on her cheek, Evergreen gathered her form up against his own with his forehooves, beginning to grind in against her firmly with slow presses of his hips. "Don't worry, Cee. Ah'll be gentle," he promised.
The woodspony shifted back a little bit, and a soft whine left the changeling before she could contain it, a pout on her face.
Evergreen grinned at that, and leaned forwards to kiss her muzzle gently again. "Don't worry, Cee. Yer'll like this, ah promise."
Chrysalis cocked her head to the side slightly, and her eyes widened as he kissed at her neck, then her chest, and then her stomach, a hoof pressing down to rest on one of her inner thighs, spreading her hindlegs open with an insistent, but gentle pressure.
The changeling didn't resist, watching him, her tail giving a helpless, nervous flick as his kisses trailed further down her form, pressing down to her lower stomach. She heard her own breathing heavy in her ears, her heart thudding violently in her throat. He couldn't possibly be going to...no. He couldn't be!
And then the stallion lifted his gaze to her face, his eyes narrowing mischievously.
Chrysalis barely had time to suck in a breath before he slipped his muzzle down further to place a kiss directly at the top of her sex.
Hooves flew to the changelings mouth as she tried to stifle the loud gasp of surprise that left her at the feel of soft lips touching her there of all places. Her back arched just slightly as she stared down at him with wide eyes, feeling the warmth in her cheeks growing in intensity.
The woodspony just grinned up at her in response, giving another gentle kiss to that oh-so-sensitive mound of flesh before drawing back slightly and lowering his gaze between her legs.
A sudden bout of self-consciousness passed over Chryaslis, and she tried to resist the urge to close her legs and roll away from him, instead allowing him to inspect her.
Evergreen was met with the sight of the mares spread legs; long, supple hindlegs splayed out for his enjoyment, the muscles under the soft hide visible. With a low happy hum, the stallion leaned in to gently rub his cheek against the oh-so-soft fur of the mares thighs, letting his gaze linger on where smooth white furred flesh became puffy, aroused marehood.
One of Evergreen's hooves lifted, and he gently applied pressure to the outer lips of her sex, spreading her open to reveal the smooth, slightly-moist, pale pink walls of her inner flesh to his gaze. His eyes narrowed a little bit at the sight of her flesh bared to him, and he licked his lips lustfully a moment.
Squirming slightly, Chrysalis was about to say something when Evergreen shifted and swooped in. She had time to register the fact that his hoof was pressing with more pressure, spreading her nethers apart even further, before the length of his hot tongue was suddenly pressed directly against the exposed inner flesh of her sex.
The changeling's back arched off the ground, and she pressed her hooves tight to her muzzle to muffle the squeal that escaped her as she felt that length of soft, hot flesh pressed against her sensitive flesh.
Grinning, the stallion pressed his advantage, free hoof lifting to rest on her stomach. Exerting a gentle downwards pressure, he held her still, and, grinning up at her all the while, began to press lick, after lick, after lick across her aching sex.
Shocks of pleasure rolled through Chrysalis' body, and her hooves flew from her muzzle to the grass below them, kicking up clods of dirt as she reflexively arched and quivered against his stimulation. One of her hooves found Evergreen's mane, and she twisted locks of his brown hair with her hoof to get a good grip, to hold him in place as she began to desperately grind her hips towards those wonderful flicks of his tongue.
Evergreen didn't seem to mind her forceful, eager actions, and dove in with redoubled enthusiasm, long, strong tongue lapping at her in a fervent attempt to bring her pleasure, working right in against her inner flesh, and then flicking off the top of her sex in a way that made a shocking tingle of pleasure race up and down her spine.
Chrysalis could feel something rising in the pit of her stomach, coiling and tensing in anxious anticipation of a release. She almost asked him to stop them, to give her time to recover, but her protests died amidst heated gasps tumbling from her quivering muzzle as the relentless lapping at her core just continued unabated.
Heated shudders wracked the females form as she felt the tension inside her grow to a stressed, almost painful precipice, and then a quick nip and tug at the top of her sex from the deceptively-skilled woodspony was all it took to send her screaming over the edge of pleasure and into an almost violent climax.
Her entire form arched and tensed, her legs wrapping around Evergreen's head reflexively and her hooves digging into the grass, twisting and clawing at it as her hips reflexively bounced and thrust towards the stimulation between her legs, the female biting her lip so hard she drew blood as delightful orgasm cascaded throughout her form.
Ripples of electric sensation shocked through her body again and again, robbing her of all conscious thought, and it was all the changeling could do to just maintain a rather strained grip on reality until the sensations began to lessen.
Soft shudders wracked her form as she came back down from the heights of ecstasy, her head spinning. She felt weak and shaky, and utterly content in the aftermath of the violent, pounding orgasm.
Slowly, Chrysalis lifted her head to peer down at Evergreen, taking several long seconds for her befuddled mind to process the broad grin on his face and the sheen of liquids that coated his chin and lips. Was all of that mess from her? She didn't even know. Her mind was too confused by the blissful sensations coursing through her form.
Her head laid back down, and after a moment, she felt Evergreen shift to lay with her, curling up against her and nosing gently at her neck.
With a soft, content sound, she lifted her muzzle to gently nose against the side of his cheek. The strong scent of her own arousal assaulted her senses, and she blinked a little bit at the overpowering scent. It wasn't unpleasant, just...different.
"Ah take it yer enjoyed that," Evergreen teased with a broad grin, gently, soothingly rubbing a hoof against her chest.
Chrysalis gave a content sigh and peered over her shoulder at the woodspony for a moment, her expression soft as she responded, "I'm too content to think up a mildly insulting rebuke."
Evergreen snuffed a laugh, kissing her neck gently. "Ah'm glad you enjoyed it."
And then the woodspony laid his head down on her neck and closed his eyes, seemingly content to just lay with her.
Confusion filled the changeling. Surely he wasn't intending on just snuggling now, was he? That made no sense. His desire for her was still pulsing strongly through his form, she could feel it. Moreover, she could feel it physically, in the form of a long length of warm flesh pressed against her hindquarters.
"Oaf...what are you doing?" Chrysalis inquired.
"Ah'm snuggling yer. Ah thought most gals liked that?" he responded with complete sincerity, gently nosing at her neck.
The changeling gave a pointed grind of her rump back against the length of flesh, making the earth pony gasp. "But surely you desire to be pleased to a level at which you just bestowed upon me, yes?"
A soft snort left the stallion, and he pressed in close, grinding the solid length of his desire against her back on reflex. His tone was soft and understanding as he said, "Ah don't need ter. Ah wouldn't do that for yer if ah was expecting something in return, that would be selfish."
Chrysalis rolled her eyes, turning over to face him, leaning in to kiss him, ignoring the flavour of her own liquids on his lips and tongue. "Is that the only excuse you can dream up for not wanting to be pleased?"
Evergreen flushed faintly at that, his ears splaying a little bit as he whispered, "Well...ah know it's yer first time. And ah'm just so...so worked up.
"Ah just don't want ter get carried away or something...Ah'm not in full control. I want yer so bad..." he trailed off for a moment, staring into her eyes, his cheeks still flushed as he gently nosed against her chin and cheeks, before admitting in a gentle tone, "Ah don't want ter hurt yer, or do something ter make yer like me any less, Cee. Not so soon."
Chrysalis just stared at him, lost for words. She had been serenaded by some of the best poets there ever were, she'd had songs sung in her honour, and ballads composed for her beauty. They had made her feel powerful, to know she had control over the hearts and minds of her victims so easily.
But Evergreen's earnest, simple response touched her in a way no elegant ballad or serenade ever could. The knowledge that he cared about her feelings to such a degree that he was willingly ignoring his own insistent needs just because there was a chance that he could hurt her, or do something to damage their relationship, made a large lump form in her throat. Her eyes misted over, and she found it suddenly hard to swallow. She tried to answer, but just ended up biting her bottom lip, staring at him for the longest of times.
"Did...did ah say something wrong?" Evergreen asked after a few long moments had passed, noting the tears in her eyes, his ears splaying backwards unhappily.
Chrysalis shook her head earnestly at his question, wrapping her hooves around him tightly and pulling him into a fierce hug. "I love you, you big, stupid oaf," she managed to choke out, smothering his face with kisses.
A soft little chuckle rolled from the stallions throat as he tilted his head gently towards the kisses. "Ah'll never understand mares."
"No...no you won't," Chrysalis confirmed, drawing away from him. Evergreen showed his displeasure at her moving away with a lingering touch of a hoof and a look of longing.
The woodspony's eyes widened, however, when Chrysalis took a few steps away and then pressed her weight onto her forehooves, leaning her chest down to the ground and straightening her hindlegs, spreading them slightly for balance and brazenly curling her tail to the side in invitation, looking over her shoulder with a smouldering gaze. "Now...ravage me, you beast."
Evergreen stared at her for a long moment, his mouth slightly open in a rather dumbfounded expression.
The changeling was momentarily afraid that he was going to misunderstand her obvious invitation. Her misgivings were allayed though, when she felt the firm weight of Evergreen's form suddenly over top of her own.
There was a moment of pressure between her legs, and she barely had time to squeak before she felt a large object suddenly sinking into her body.
It was unlike anything she had ever felt before; the soft, pliable outer flesh of the stallions member was at complete odds with the rock-hardness beneath, at once easing, and forcing her open around its considerable girth, stretching her and sinking deep into her body.
The changeling hiccuped faintly, feeling completely full, as her insides stretched almost painfully around the rigid length of flesh intruding upon her form. She could feel her inner muscles straining and convulsing in protest at the intrusion, squeezing around it in reflex, and obviously Evergreen felt it too, as a heated, breathy groan of approval rolled from his muzzle, hot exhalations washing against the back of one of her ears.
She felt his hooves around her, holding tight around her middle, and then a sudden series of rapid, eager thrusts, making her tense and arch in surprise at the sensations. It hurt. It hurt a lot. But there was something else mingled in with the pain, a kind of fierce, all-consuming pleasure and rightness to it all that made the pain bearable.
After several of the rapid, eager thrusts of her lovers rock-hard member, even the pain began to dissipate, leaving in its wake just a feeling of rapidly-rising pleasure and a sensation of fullness that a large meal could never begin to approach.
Each of the heavy thrusts rocked her to her core, making her squeak reflexively as they seemed to crush the air from her lungs. Her entire form rocked back and forth as the stallion took her with his lustful, relentless pace, and it struck her once more just how strong Evergreen was.
The thought was quickly chased out of her mind though, under the relentless assault of the stallions eager thrusting, leaving no room in her befuddled mind for anything but the sensation of her inner flesh vainly squeezing around the rigid length of flesh being stabbed deep inside her again and again.
Soft gasps built into low moans and squeals of unbridled delight as Evergreen's hips ground in against her more firmly, and with a snarl of triumph, the stallion sank himself into her hilt-deep.
It was perfect.
Chrysalis arched and cried out to the heavens in a strained tone as she orgasmed there and then, feeling the entirety of the thick member buried so deep, deep inside her, stretching her around the entirety of its unforgiving shape.
Hot dribbles of her liquids drooled down from around where the thick member was buried in her core, splashing to the grass in fitful dribbles as she panted and tried to catch her breath, feeling her inner muscles powerfully gripping and squeezing around the embedded length of flesh in rhythmic contractions.
The changeling was given no reprieve however, for as soon as her inner muscles had finished spasming around the trapped member, the stallion began to thrust again. But this was different from the measured motions of earlier. This was a stallion claiming his rightful mate.
There was no gentle lovemaking, no exchanged whispers or gentle caresses. The only thing that remained was their two heaving bodies and the delightful sensations of union as Evergreen pounded his mare into the grass with unrelenting motions.
His hooves gripped her hips, holding her firmly in place as his hips shoved into her own with a rapid, almost violent pace, his eager motions becoming jerky and desperate as his own pleasure rose towards a roaring crescendo.
Chrysalis felt the increase in his lustful motions, the raw power of his need and desire being translated into desperate, urgent, rough pounding. And it excited her. Part of her wanted him to stop, to cease using her brutally. But another, larger part of her, the part of her closest to her stretched sex, delighted and exalted in the raw lust for her that consumed her stallion.
She wanted him to stop, but she needed him to continue.
And by that point, nothing was going to stop Evergreen from claiming his mare.
Rough, pounding thrusts rocked the changelings form, and she cried out quietly with each of the harsh, unrelenting stabs of the thick member so deep inside her. She felt her insides fluttering around his thrusting length of flesh, squeezing and rippling around it, milking it. Her teeth bared, gritting hard as she tried to contain the sounds trying to break free from her throat as violent starbursts of pleasure spiked all through her form.
Her stallion snarled as he drove into her relentlessly hard a few times, and buried himself as deep as he could get, beginning to grind against her in a fruitless effort to sink a tiny little millimetre deeper.
Chrysalis' eyes snapped open, widening as she felt the head of the flesh buried inside her suddenly just swell, blooming to almost twice its size! It stretched her so wonderfully, so deep inside, that her orgasm just doubled in intensity. And then came the fitful bursts of gooey warmth pouring across the depths of her body again and again, filling her with the most wonderfully warm weight. A delighted scream left the female as she arched and rolled her hips back against him in exuberant orgasm, hoofs digging great divots in the earth, her mind going blank under the intense strength of a tumultuous climax.
Evergreen held his mare tight to his chest as he exploded deep inside her, feeling her depths cinched down around his flared member, forcing the bursts of his urgent essence deep inside her, coating her deepest barrier in his gooey liquids as he voiced his triumph with a heated cry of ultimate completion.
Chrysalis wasn't aware of passing out. But she was suddenly awake, eyes blinking open and slowly adjusting to the meagre light of the dancing blue motes, washing the area around her in blue tones.
Evergreen lay next to her, the warmth of his body pressed against her own, dozing contentedly.
Softly, the changeling lifted a hoof to move a lock of mane away from her stallions face, smiling slightly and leaning in to give him a gentle kiss.
The stallion's eyes opened after a moment, and he gave a happy hum, leaning in to kiss her in return, smiling. After a moment, he drew back and just lay there, staring into her eyes, before asking gently; "Ah didn't hurt yer, did ah?"
Chrysalis smiled in return, resting her nose against his own. "You most certainly did, Sir Evergreen. But it hurt so good."
Evergreen's ears pinned back at that, and nosed against her gently in apology. "Ah'm sorry. Ah just...ah lost control when yer...when yer well..." he trailed off, embarassed at his lapse of control.
A hoof lifted to gently quieten him, and she smiled at him warmly, removing her hoof to kiss him lovingly. "Don't you dare apologize for that again, Evergreen. That was the greatest thing I've ever felt."
"Yer...yer really mean that?" the stallion enquired hopefully, ears perking.
Chrysalis nodded gently, smiling at him and shifting closer, wrapping her hooves around him. "Indeed. Now hug me, oaf."
Evergreen smiled, pulling her into a firm hug, whispering into her ear, "Ah love yer, Cee."
The changeling smiled gently, resting her nose on Evergreen's neck, lifting a hoof to rest across his chest, enjoying the simple warmth of his form against her own.
Pulling back to stare at him for a long moment, she felt that mutinous lump rising in her throat again, and she took a deep, steadying breath. She wished she had better words to say it. She wished she were as eloquent as the ballad composers of the kingdoms of old. But she wasn't. And the only words she could find that were adequate enough were;
"I love you too, oaf."
Chrysalis' gait was a little bit 'funny' as she walked beside Evergreen towards the cottage. He had proved to be both a gentle and a rough lover, in turn. He had been far too skilled at making her legs tremble for it to have been his first time. But she didn't hold that against him; how could she?
She was pleasantly sore in a way that defied explanation. And she was content. It felt as though her heart had bloomed to twice its size and was radiating warmth throughout her form.
The two ponies were tired from their 'exertions' and so it wasn't until they were fully inside the cottage that either of them noticed the pegasus sitting in the corner.
Chrysalis was in the midst of another kiss with Evergreen, a low, happy hum reverberating in her throat, when she noticed him. Stiffening, her eyes widened as she turned to stare at the pegasus. The pegasus calmly stared back.
Evergreen followed her gaze and his expression turned from confusion and surprise to anger as he demanded, "What yer doing in my home?!"
The Changeling Queen lifted a hoof to soothe him, but kept her gaze locked on the pegasus.
She sensed what Evergreen could not.
The pegasus was a changeling.
Chrysalis stared, a stunned expression written on her face. She hadn't even considered the fact that some of her changelings might have survived. It had just never occurred to her. And now one was herein Evergreen's cottage, watching them.
"What yer doing here?!" Evergreen demanded again, his eyes narrowing.
The pegasus rose to all fours and began to step towards his queen only for the stallion to step between them, blocking his path, lifting a hoof.
"Ah asked, what yer doing here!?" Evergreen growled, his tone growing more forceful.
Chrysalis laid a hoof on the stallion's shoulder, trying her best to soothe him. She managed to squeeze out the words; "Evergreen... let me talk to him."
The stallion paused slightly at that, looking back at her, before slowly relaxing from his defensive stance. After a moment, he took a step backwards to stand besides her protectively, looking no less alert.
A name. She needed a name.
"Swiftwing," Chrysalis said, using the first name that came to mind. "Why are you here?"
"I am here to deliver a message," the pegasus said calmly, staring into Chrysalis' eyes. "...We are waiting."
Having delivered his message, the pegasus turned, walked to the door, and left without a single word. Chrysalis stared after him, her ears splaying backwards. She was barely aware of Evergreen pressing against her side and nudging her cheek with his nose, asking her a question that she didn't even comprehend.
Her changelings were still alive. More than one. Of all the possible outcomes, she hadn't considered this. Her entire life was dedicated to her changelings; finding them a way to survive without needing to use subterfuge. Finding a way for her entire species to survive with a better quality of life. It was why she had come to Equestria in the first place.
And it had just been so much simpler when she thought they were all gone.
And now...?
Chrysalis was vaguely aware of Evergreen asking her something, and she turned towards him with a listless expression, her eyes wide.
"He... I... Used to know him," Chrysalis murmured, dazed.
Evergreen gave a concerned sound at that. "And they're waiting?"
Chrysalis gave a nod, trying to come to grip with the new development. "I...don't know what to say."
"It's going to be fine, Cee," the stallion said, nuzzling his cheek against her own gently for a moment. "Ah'll not let them take yer back there."
Chrysalis nodded dumbly for a moment, and then murmured, "I... don't think it's going to be that easy."
"Ah'll not let them," he repeated fiercely, wrapping his hooves around her and holding her against his chest possessively. "Ah'll not let them take yer from me so soon after I found yer."
Chrysalis nodded slightly at that. She leaned against him and stared at the floor, lost in her own thoughts. "They're my family, though..."
"Ah don't care," Evergreen said forcefully. "Yer mine. And Ah'll fight for yer."
"It's not going to be that simple..." Chrysalis murmured with a shake of her head. "I can't just turn my back... I can't."
The stallion's eyes narrowed, and he lifted a hoof to pull her chin up, forcing her to look into his eyes. His tone was flat as he said, "Yer can't just go and say that. Not now."
"I...know. I don't want to go," Chrysalis whispered, her eyes starting to mist over. "But this changes everything!"
"It changes nothing," Evergreen stated, shaking his head defiantly and holding her close. "Changes nothing at all."
"You don't understand!" Chrysalis protested, feeling tears starting to well up in her eyes and form trails down her cheeks. "It isn't that simple!"
"Yer making too much fuss about this, Cee," the stallion said gently, nuzzling against her. "Don't cry, Cee. It'll be okay. We'll work something out. Promise."
"Y-you promise?" Chrysalis asked, gazing up at him imploringly, lost. She wasn't sure what to do. She didn't know how to handle this. She was hopelessly in love with this big oaf of a pony, but her changelings needed her guidance. She couldn't do both... and choosing between them? She was going to end up having to give up the reason for her existence, her very species, or the only love she'd ever known.
"Ah promise," Evergreen said.
Chrysalis didn't believe him. Nothing was going to make this okay, nothing at all. But... just for a little while, she leaned into his embrace to enjoy the comfort of his warmth, and tried not to think about how horribly her paradise was going to be destroyed.
Evergreen was asleep, snoring faintly as Chrysalis gently disentangled herself from his form and slipped over to the door. The nights had warmed considerably in the last few days and the fire gently crackling in the fireplace was there more for comfort than warmth.
Chrysalis eased the door open gently and slipped out, closing it quietly behind her and looking into the darkness surrounding the cottaget. The pegasus was nowhere to be found, but she knew he would be close by, watching.
Chrysalis closed her eyes for a moment, and when they opened again, they were a demonic green, glowing faintly. With the night forest lit by ghostly hues of blue and green in her 'true' eyes, she picked her way quietly away from the cottage.
She had only ventured a little way into the forest when there was a rustle above her. The pegasus changeling dropped from the branches overhead to land in front of her, bowing low. "My Queen."
The queen moved towards her changeling, staring for a moment and lifting his chin up with her hoof to make him meet her gaze.
"My beautiful child," Chrysalis breathed, gazing down at him. "Tell me... how many of my children survive?"
The changeling peered up at her subserviently. "Seventeen of us yet survive, my Queen."
Chrysalis blinked, feeling her heart flutter again. Seventeen. That was enough for them to flee into the dark lands beyond Equestria's borders and continue the species. Enough to slowly build up their numbers into a glorious empire once more.
Looking over her shoulder, her night eyes picked up the outline of Evergreen's cottage, hidden amongst the trees. She felt her heart breaking. It hurt. It hurt more than the magical blast that had halted her plan. It hurt more than those few days after the blast, spent wandering alone, knowing that her entire species had been wiped out.
Chrysalis had found a new life... Only for the past to rise up and ruin the new tranquility she had found.
Chrysalis nodded to her changeling, keeping her voice even as she commanded; "Show me the others. I wish to see them."
The changelings, it turned out, had fled into the Everfree Forest as well, taking refuge near the outskirts, in a giant hollowed-out tree.
Chrysalis quickly discovered that the changelings had been hunted by the royal guard, with their guard sweeps getting ever-closer. But finally, the searches had lessened in intensity. With the pressure off, they had been able to go forth forth and find their Queen.
"I'm proud of all of you," Chrysalis said, as she stood in front of a crowd of her beloved changelings, smiling down at them. "I am proud of you for staying together and finding me amid the chaos of our defeat."
And as she felt her heart breaking in her chest, she added, "We will rise above this. We will be united as a glorious empire with me as your Queen."
A rattling hiss of support rose from the crowd of Changelings. Chrysalis moved to the edge of the throng, to the Changeling she had dubbed 'Messenger.'
"Apprise me should anything change..but do not come to the cottage again," she ordered flatly. "My connection with the stallion remains only because he does not know of our nature and believes me to be alone."
Messenger nodded at her words, and lifted his gaze to her. "What do we do until then, my Queen?"
Chrysalis gave a faint sigh and lifted a hoof. "For now... I grant you some of my energy."
The changelings crowded around their queen, drinking in the energy of her love eagerly. Two weeks without love had sapped them down to nothingness, and she felt the drain on her powers as she gave to them.
"How did you all survive this long?" Chrysalis inquired. She allowed them all take some of her energy, like an attentive mother feeding her children.
"We were not as close to the blast, my Queen," Messenger said. He seemed to have elected himself as the 'voice' of the changelings. "It did not affect us so drastically. We survived the damage done to us and regrouped here to await our Queen's return."
Chrysalis nodded at that, looking around at them all as they fed from her energy. To think; she almost hadn't survived. And her changelings would have died here, alone, waiting for her.
Chrysalis cast her thoughts back to Evergreen, the simple woodspony that she undoubtedly loved. And then the giant wedge of her changelings that was being driven between them. She couldn't stay with him; not when her army needed her. The needed her support, and her love, just to survive.
Withdrawing from the crowd, she raised a hoof. "I must leave. But I will return. Relay all of your needs through Messenger, and I will see to them as I am able."
And then she turned, and was gone, slipping out of the giant hollow tree and heading back towards the cottage, her steps slow and steady.
She was sad. The first time she had managed to find a love that she reciprocated, and now, her changelings were back to get in the way. And for the first time ever, Chrysalis found herself wishing that she wasn't a changeling.
Chrysalis didn't stir when Evergreen awoke. The stallion chose to allow her to sleep, leaning over to kiss her forehead gently, brushing a lock of mane out of her face and smiling slightly. He rose from the bed and moved over to the fireplace, nudging a log onto it and then setting the kettle to boil.
Chrysalis woke to the shrill cry of the kettle boiling. Eyes opening slowly, she lifted her head. Feeding her changelings had let her feeling drained. She wouldn't be able to do that again for another week at least. Evergreen's love for her was strong, but it was not strong enough to sustain both her and her Changelings indefinitely and every time she gave energy to her army, she would, in turn, draw more energy from Evergreen.
She stared at him as he went about his morning business. Watching him setting the kettle and beginning to grind up the correct amount of ingredients to make his wonderful brew, and she felt her heart breaking further.
There was no happily ever after for them. No happy ending. She was a changeling, and changelings didn't make good housewives. The longer he was around her, the worse it would get. It was already visible, in the faint bags under his eyes, and the strained expression he sometimes wore.
Chrysalis was doomed to be alone in the world for all her life, fleeting relationships offering brief respites from her eternal loneliness. Her mother's advice echoed in her mind; Don't love what you eat. Well, it was too late for that. And now, she was going to pay the price.
She willed herself not to love Evergreen, to hate him. She dwelled on his shortcomings. He was an oaf, a dumb-as-a-brick woodspony who would never amount to anything more than a glorified flower seller, whose idea of a good time was sitting in front of a fire in a dinky little cottage hidden in the woods, away from everything.
Evergreen turned and blinked at her, moving over closer to brush away her tears with a hoof. "What's wrong, Cee? Why are yer crying?"
And that stupid accent. She loathed everything about him.
Chrysalis' bottom lip quivered and she stared up into Evergreen's eyes for a long moment, feeling fresh tears starting to cascade down her cheeks, her tone breaking as she whispered, "I-It's not fair."
The stallion nodded, wrapping his hooves around her in a gentle hug, rocking her soothingly back and forth.
"Not f-fair..." Chrysalis protested against his neck, burying her face in his mane and weeping.
She tried her best to hate him, to hate everything about him. From his nose, to his hooves.
But it was impossible.
She loved him.