Twilight had gone to visit her brother, sister-in-law, and niece in the Crystal Empire. Spike, unfortunately, couldn’t come as he had organized an Ogres and Oubliettes weekend with Big Mac and Discord. Starlight Glimmer had come but only so she could spend time with Sunburst. They had not seen each other in ages.
While walking through the streets of the empire, Cadance caught sight of a peculiar creature. It was the size of a filly and covered in so much thick pink fur that it looked like a huge ball of fluff. Curious, Princess Cadance approached it.
Twilight instantly recognized the pink ball of fluff and was about to issue a warning when Cadance let out a childish squeal and glomped it.
“Oh, what an adorable creature!” Cadance exclaimed.
Shining Armor, who was pushing Flurry Heart’s baby carriage, went over to collect his wife.
“Honey, you really should let the poor thing go,” said Shining Armor.
“He’s right,” said Twilight as her eyes darted back and forth nervously. “You should let her go, right now.”
“But she’s so fluffy! I want to bring her back home! Maybe even make her Flurry’s new playmate!” Cadance argued.
“No, Cadance. You need to let her go, like right now. Immediately,” said Twilight.
“Twily, what’s wrong?” Shining Armor asked his little sister.
“There’s something you should know. That pony is Fluffle Puff and she happens to be-”
“Mine!”
Approaching the group was an alicorn mare with a silver coat and emerald mane. At first, nopony seemed to recognize her, but Twilight had heard the mare’s claim on Fluffle Puff and knew exactly whom this was.
Chrysalis quickly dropped her disguise as green flames enveloped her, stripping away the facade to reveal her true form.
“CHRYSALIS!”
Fluffle Puff let out a gasp and ran over to Chrysalis. Chrysalis looked down at Fluffle Puff whose innocent blue eyes gazed so lovingly at her.
“Sorry I left you alone for too long,” Chrysalis apologized as she rubbed her nose against Fluffle Puffs.
“Pfft!” Fluffle Puff responded, not at all offended.
Chrysalis and Fluffle Puff soon found themselves surrounded by the royal guard. Cadance and Shining Armor were ready for a fight. Chrysalis was also prepared for battle.
“Wait! Wait! Stop! Don’t fight!” Twilight Sparkle objected as she went to defuse the situation.
“Twilight, this is Chrysalis. Remember what she tried to do?” Shining Armor reminded, furiously powering up his magic.
“Yes, I remember, but you can’t fight her!”
“Why not?” Shining Armor looked suspiciously at Twilight.
“Shiny, don’t look at me like that. I haven’t been replaced by a changeling.”
“That’s what a changeling would say!”
“Shining!” Cadance scolded.
“Don’t be so paranoid, Shining Armor. I have no interest in taking over your Crystal Empire at all,” Chrysalis said.
“Oh, yeah right! We have the Crystal Heart which is crystallized love! How can you not want it!?”
“Because I have a much better source right here,” said Chrysalis as she gestured towards Fluffle Puff. “Also, there’s something you may need to know.”
“And what’s that?” Shining Armor challenged.
“Fluffy has a sister, and she doesn’t like it when ponies bully her.”
A sudden chill quickly surrounded the group as something emerged from Chrysalis’ very shadows. A dark portal appeared as a nightmarish mare stepped out.
Fluffle Puff let out a gasp.
It was her Big Sis!
Marksaline stood proud and tall and terrifying as well as she grinned at the guards.
“So, who wants to suffer first?” the Necromorph Queen asked.
The guards trembled at the sight of Marksaline. She then lifted them all into the air and sent them flying out of the Crystal Empire.
“MY GUARDS!” Shining yelled.
“Don’t worry,” said Marksaline reassuringly. “I made sure they landed in the snow. It should break their fall.”
Cadance eyed Marksaline with terror. She looked like an alicorn, but the Princess of Love instinctively knew this creature was no mere alicorn. She radiated with darkness and evil.
She was dangerous.
“So, this is the so-called Crystal Empire. It’s so...”
“Gaudy,” supplied Chrysalis.
“I was going to say ‘tacky’, but ‘gaudy’ works.”
Fluffle Puff saw how scared everyone was and decided that she needed to fix things and make everyone friends.
She stood tall, confident, adorable.
She knew her cuteness was a weapon to get whatever she wanted.
She used her cuteness to get extra snuggle time with Chrissy.
But now she was going to use it to protect her Crissy.
“PFFT!” Fluffle Puff loudly declared as she approached Cadance and gave her the most innocent blue-eyed look she could come up with.
“Aw~” Cadance let out. “How adorable!”
“Cadance, it’s a trick!” Shining Armor warned.
“But look! How can anything sweet and adorable be evil?”
“Changeling!” Shining Armor hissed.
“Fluffy isn’t a changeling,” said Chrysalis.
“It’s true,” confirmed Twilight. “She’s a fluffy pony for obvious reasons.”
“And this ‘fluffy pony’ is Chrysalis’ friend?” Cadance asked.
“They’re more than just friends,” said Marksaline.
Chrysalis shot the Necromorph alicorn a warning glare.
“Oh, that’s just so sweet!” Cadance giggled. “So, Chrysalis, you’re not as bad as I thought.”
“I’m still Queen of the Changelings,” Chrysalis defended. “I just think that invading you ponies is not the best way to get the love we need.”
“Did you learn that from meeting this adorable little thing?” Cadance asked.
Chrysalis blushed and nodded silently.
“Oh, how precious!”
“Cadance! She’s evil! She imprisoned you, took your place, and brainwashed me!” Shining Armor yelled.
“But Shining, can’t you see? Chrysalis has truly found her special somepony!”
“Special somepony?” Shining Armor blinked as she looked at Fluffle Puff. “Wait a minute, you replaced me with that!?”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Twilight Sparkle asked.
“Well, I mean, what I’m trying to say is...”
“Shining Armor, do you feel emasculated that the Queen of the Changelings no longer think you are attractive and have settled for a pink fluff ball?” Chrysalis questioned, grinning mischievously.
“Yes! I mean no! I mean wasn’t I good enough for you!? Wait, that came out wrong!”
Chrysalis laughed and Fluffle Puff went over to Shining Armor to give him a comforting boop on the nose.
“How about we talk over some tea?” Cadance invited. “I really want to know how this love story started.”
“Yes, that sounds lovely,” Chrysalis agreed.
“I prefer the blood of my enemies, but tea sounds divine,” said Marksaline.
“Pfft!” Fluffle Puff agreed.
“Come along now, Shiny. You too, Twily,” Cadance called her husband and sister-in-law. “And don’t forget Flurry Heart.”
Shining Armor stood next to Twilight Sparkle, bewildered.
“...What just happened?”
“Big brother, I’ve been trying to figure that out myself.”