//------------------------------// // Chapter 12: Working Like a Dog // Story: Unchanging Truths // by Rego //------------------------------// “Thirty-seven. Thirty-eight. That’s thirty-nine through forty-two…” Applejack muttered under her breath as she watched ponies trot by her stall of freshly picked, unsold apples. “Hey you,” she added as Rainbow Dash flashed in from above. “There goes forty-three, four, and five.” “What’s with the numbers, AJ?” Rainbow asked as she watched Applejack’s listing eyes settle back onto her friend. “Just counting the regulars passing by.” “Oh.” Rainbow Dash looked up at the sun. “Yeah, it’s almost lunchtime.” The mare’s eyes drifted towards the copious apples stacked neatly in her bushel barrels. “I’m guessing sales are kinda low?” “Kinda none is more like it. Haven’t sold a single apple this weekend.” “Well, lemme fix that,” Dash said as she whipped out a few bits and slammed them on the counter confidently. “Could use a little fuel after practicing my routines this morning.” Applejack smiled and nodded towards the barrel. “Thanks, Rainbow. Go ahead and take five.” “Five? But That’s only enough for like two.” “Today it’s worth five. It’s not like anypony else is buying. Might as well give a friendly discount to get some produce moving before I take the cart-full to Barnyard Bargains. At least he’s willing to pay regardless of who’s picking ‘em,” the farmer complained as she leaned over the counter and continued counting familiar faces in her head. Rainbow winced as she sucked in a sharp breath. “Yeah. I guess they’re not too happy with your newest bug on the farm, huh?” “Figured that out, have ya?” AJ huffed with a snort. “What was your first clue?” “Hey! Fluttershy had it pretty rough too when Dis—” Applejack slammed her hoof, rattling the cart and silencing Rainbow as she backed up. “Don’t you dare say that varmint’s name in front of me!” “Woah, woah, woah! Chill AJ. Relax. I’m on your side,” the speedster urged, pulling back from the ornery farmer. “I’m just saying I get it, alright? Fluttershy went through a lot too, but it worked out eventually.” The farmer grunted as she looked over her freshly bucked bushels. “Yeah, but Fluttershy ain’t running on a clock. We’re in the middle of harvest season, and ‘eventually’ ain’t gonna stop these apples from going bad. Even if I squeeze the entire orchard into cider, my customers are all still gonna be spooked away from buying for no good reason!” A smile slowly split Rainbow’s face as she thought about the mouth-watering proposition. “I’d totally be down for an orchard of cider!” The farmer chuckled. “Rainbow, I appreciate the sentiment, but I don’t think even you could fly enough to keep that much cider off your flanks. They’d have to resize your flight suit.” “Eh, just gotta fly at rainboom speeds everywhere I go. No biggie.” “I’ll keep that in mind if you think you can afford it on your new salary. Though I better not see you in the air after dipping into the harder stuff.” “Trust me, after becoming a Wonderbolt, I’m trying my best not to give them more reasons to call me ‘Rainbow Crash,’” the speedster assured with an eye-roll big enough to flip a barrel. After that, she looked around and down, darting to get a higher vantage point before coming back to the ground. “By the way, where is Chrysalis? She isn’t hiding out somewhere is she?” “Naw. She’s back on the farm I imagine. Probably working with Big Mac while Bloom is off playing with her friends.” “Wow. Almost feels a bit weird not having her around. Every time I’ve seen you recently, she’s been acting like that dog she likes to disguise herself as.” “Well, I don’t imagine we’ll be seeing much of ‘Classy’ anymore. Not when the entire town’s been put on high alert for suspicious pooches. Twi’s announcement wasn’t exactly what you’d call calming. Everypony’s still plenty spooked that we got another ‘villain’ around these parts.” Rainbow shrugged. “What can you do about it? It’s not like Chrysalis really helped herself after her last attempt to take over Equestria.” Applejack sighed as she sunk further into her hooves. “I wish I knew, Rainbow. Boy howdy, I wish I knew.” The path back home dragged on longer than usual. Even though she’d managed to sell every apple in her cart, she’d only just made it before dusk. After Rainbow had come around to see her, she’d wrangled up a few other ponies to come buy a few extra apples among their friends. Pinkie bought a bunch to make into a cake later. Rarity swung by and bought some for herself and the Crusaders. Twilight came and bought a bunch for everyone at the castle. Even a few others like Bon Bon and Lyra came along to buy some to make into sweets. It warmed her heart to see all of them do something as simple as buy an apple from her. The problem was, she couldn’t just sell apples to the same couple of ponies forever. Even her backup of Barnyard Bargains seemed shaky at best. When she’d taken an almost full cart of them to Filthy Rich yesterday, he’d been hesitant to buy them. After finding out the local farmer was “housing an evil changeling” as he put it, he was struggling to make a sale as well. He was planning on shipping them out tomorrow to the next town over to try and get ahead of the story of Sweet Apple Acres’ bug problem. If she was honest with herself, it wasn’t really the lack of sales itself that bothered her. It was more what it said that everypony was avoiding apples by association. They hadn’t changed their tastes at all, folks just didn’t want anything to do with Chrysalis, and her family was paying the price for giving the girl a chance. Seeing almost the entire town avoiding apples just hurt, plain and simple. How Zecora had managed living with it as long as she did was beyond AJ’s reckoning. Luckily, talking with Rainbow had reminded her that somepony else went through something similar. When Fluttershy came to buy some apples for herself and her animals, she’d immediately picked up on AJ’s frustration and offered to meet her later at the farm. She was also quick to add she wouldn’t let Discord tag along. He was still grounded, whatever that meant for an immortal spirit of chaos. As Sweet Apple Acres came into view, AJ saw three ponies waiting for her by the gate. Fluttershy was the first to notice and wave, followed by their forest-dwelling neighbors, Fleur and Zecora. AJ tipped her hat as she picked up the pace. “Evening y’all. Came for a bite to eat?” “While I’d never say no to Granny’s stew, We three have come here to check up on you,” Zecora answered before nodding a hello. “Thanks, Zecora. I’m doing alright.” The zebra shook her head. “I appreciate your friendly reply, But I’d prefer it if you did not lie.” “Okay, well I have been better, but thanks to y’all chipping in to chip away at my bushels earlier, today turned out a heck of a lot better than it was looking like.” “You’re welcome, Applejack,” Fluttershy said with a soft smile. She stepped forward and wrapped her friend in a wing hug. “I’m so sorry that you’re going through all of this.” “Ain’t your fault your mangy, mismatched freeloader’s got a grudge against Chrys,” Applejack spat. Fluttershy pulled away and frowned in disappointment, but then softened as she sighed. “I know you’re mad at him. I am too. Still, that’s no reason to call him names.” “Yeah, that’s my job,” Fleur interjected with a rueful smile. “Unfortunately, the best I’ve come up with so far is ‘Dipcord,’ but apparently Dash already coined that one. ‘Dishonored’ sounds too cool and Fluttershy won’t let me say ‘Dipsh—’” “Fleur de Lis!” Fluttershy shouted quickly over the mare. The guard snickered knowingly. “See?” AJ joined in the laughter. “To be fair, Chrys might have the same hangup.” “Wait, are you serious? The ex-evil queen has a thing against coarse language?” “She cut me off right quick when I almost said something similar in front of Ocellus. Come to think of it, even when she’s lost her temper, she ain’t never once said something untoward. Maybe changelings just swear differently?” “Well, she’s also a mother, right?” Fluttershy suggested as she tapped her chin. “Maybe she doesn’t like saying bad words around children?” Fleur tilted her head at the mare. “Fluttershy? Ocellus was in the room when Chrysalis told everyone she was planning on sealing Princess Cadance under her throne and siphoning her love until she died.” “Oh my… well…” The pegasus stammered as she pulled at her flowing mane and looked away. “Those are bad words to say, but none of them are bad words.” “We’ll just have to see if she drags out the soap if she ever catches Apple Bloom ever saying ‘horseapples,’” Applejack joked as she pulled the cart forward. “Why don’t y’all head up to the house while I put this away?” “Oh!” Fluttershy popped out of her hiding place and matched the farmer’s gait. “I’ll go with you, Applejack.” With a military salute and a bow respectively, Fleur and Zecora parted ways to head up to the homestead while Fluttershy tagged along for the quick trip to the barn. As they walked together, the pegasus simply smiled as she walked in silence with her friend. “Was there something you wanted, Fluttershy?” She shook her head. “No. I’ll be right here if you need me though.” “Right.” Of course the quiet pony would be just fine with saying nothing. AJ wasn’t sure why it irked her tonight. “Thanks Fluttershy.” The mare nodded and smiled sweetly and returned to walk in silence towards the barn. When they finally arrived, Applejack couldn’t stand the silence anymore. She needed to get something off her chest, though she wasn’t exactly sure what it was beyond a knot in her stomach. “Do you mind if I ask you something sensitive?” “Go right ahead. If it will help, I’ll be happy to answer if I can,” Fluttershy replied. “How’d you deal with me and the others when you were helping Discord?” Fluttershy tilted her head. “What do you mean?” “I mean, we all rode ya pretty hard when you were trying to get him under control. I know I wasn’t real happy about it, what with him chaos zapping those beavers.” “But I wasn’t happy about that either. It was a very mean prank.” “I know, but that’s not why I brought it up.” Applejack sighed as she pulled off her hat. “Here’s the truth, sugarcube. I didn’t want to give him a chance even after the princess’ little speech. And I kept it under my hat, but I was angry at you for even giving him a chance.” “O-oh…” Fluttershy dragged a forehoof across the dirt. “Are you still mad at me?” “It ain’t right, but I am. It’s not your fault, and the fact I’m doing the same thing now ain’t going over my head neither. I’m a dang hypocrite.” “If it helps, I’m not mad at you for taking care of Chrysalis. But, I’m still scared of her. I actually came with Fleur because I knew she’d protect me from her.” “You ain’t alone,” Applejack added as she unhitched her empty apple cart. “I’m the only one who saw Chrys in the forest that night. Underneath all that high n’ mighty talk, she was scared outta her wits.” Applejack bit her lip as she recalled seeing the changeling writhing on the floor in agonizing hunger pangs. It hurt even more now after getting to know the mare a bit better. “She was gonna die, Fluttershy. I told her it was okay, but she still didn’t steal any love from me when she had the chance. She must’ve known I was the last one she’d ever get.” “What stopped her?” “I don’t know.” Applejack sat down and began fiddling with her hat, grabbing it by the rim and wheeling it around with her forehooves. “I’ve been trying to figure that out, but I still can’t pin it down. Stubborn pride? Self-loathing? Plain ol’ stupidity? She’s so all over the place all the time, it’s rough keeping up with her mindset.” Fluttershy smiled softly and nodded in agreement. “I know what that’s like a little.” “The point is, she says she doesn’t want to steal love anymore, and I believe her. But I’m the only one who does. She only opens up to me.” “That’s because she trusts you.” Applejack groaned and smacked her hat down as she looked up at the barn’s rafters. “I know that, but that’s not the point!” “It’s not?” Fluttershy’s genuine confusion gave Applejack pause. Chrys trusted her. She had to on some level. Sure, AJ was the only one who was willing to give her love, but she’d never really thought about if there was anything more to it. The same thing had happened with Zecora. One innocent, obvious question had been mired within a pit of lies and misdirections. Nothing was ever simple until the farmer put the mind games down to ask why she was playing them in the first place. Applejack slammed her hat over her face and fell back onto the dirt. “Is this how it is with Discord or am I just a dang fool?” “I don’t know what you mean by that,” Fluttershy admitted as she gently laid herself on the ground next to her friend. “Here I am worried sick over nipping a sales problem in the bud before it gets outta hoof, but at the end of the day, it’s me still trying to fix things on my own. It’s completely outta my hooves as long as folks are afraid of Chrysalis.” “Oh! Yes, that’s right,” Fluttershy agreed as she caught on. “Chrysalis needs to be the one to change that on her own. I can’t make ponies like Discord, though I think he can if he mind controls them.” Applejack slowly pulled her hat down and stared at Fluttershy. “B-but he’s not supposed to do that anymore,” the pegasus amended meekly. “Well, he’s in good company, I guess. Chrys can do it too, remember?” Fluttershy nodded as she bit her lip and she shrank back. “So why don’t you think Discord won’t try?” Applejack asked. “I just have to believe he won’t. Even after everything that’s happened, we’re still friends,” Fluttershy replied with a smile. AJ couldn’t tell if the pegasus was just putting on a brave face or if she really meant it. “Do you think Chrysalis will try to mind control you?” “I don’t think so. She would’ve done it a long time ago if she was planning on it.” “Do you think she will later?” AJ shrugged. “I wouldn’t be able to tell you.” “Really? Why not?” “If she doesn’t eat love, she’ll die, right? I can’t very well guarantee she won’t get desperate someday.”  “But didn’t you say she was willing to die rather than steal your love in the forest? If she wasn’t going to then, why would she change her mind now when everypony knows she’s here? Don’t you trust her?” “I want to. But still…” Applejack looked at her hooves as she began pulling on her ponytail. She couldn’t just blindly say she wouldn’t ever try. Frankly, she didn’t like throwing around blanket beliefs like that. Saying something wouldn’t happen was just a truth waiting to be a lie after long enough.  That’s how it was with the first lie her mother told. A gentle touch brought Applejack out of her thoughts as she looked up to see her friend glowing with tender care. “Choose to trust her, Applejack.” “Choose?” “You have a choice, and I think you should at least try it. After all, how do you expect anyone to trust her if you don’t? You’re all she has.” “But it ain’t that simple, Shy.” “I didn’t say it would be easy, Applejack. It hurt when Discord helped Tirek. It hurt a lot.” Fluttershy looked at nothing in particular as her eyes glistened at the memories.  She quickly blinked back the betrayal with a deep breath. “But I have to believe he’s sorry and he wants to be better. I have to trust him. If not, how could I ask anypony else?” “But that’s not fair to you! Discord’s the varmint causing all the problems for himself! He shouldn’t be your responsibility!” “And Chrysalis shouldn’t be yours, but they need friends they can trust right now. That’s us.” Fluttershy stated resolutely. “If we believe they both can be better, then we should trust that they want to be better, too.” “And what if they can’t?” Fluttershy shuffled closer to Applejack and wrapped her wing over her friend. “Then we have each other and the rest of our friends. I try to think of it this way: I might spend my whole life with Discord, trying to show him how to make friends and be kind to others. But, if I can do that, then he doesn’t have to spend an eternity in chaos alone. I think that makes it worth a try. Chrysalis is immortal too, right?” “I think so,” Applejack said as she leaned into Fluttershy’s tender embrace. “As long as she’s got enough love to keep her going.” “Then you helping her now will set her up so she has a long, long time to enjoy life after you’re gone.” “So, a lifetime of friendship lessons?” “Or a lifetime with a best friend. If you think about it, it might not be fair for them to rely on us too much, but it’s not exactly fair to them that one day we’ll leave them even if we don’t want to. I can’t imagine how difficult that is for the princesses, Discord, or even Chrysalis.” Closing her eyes, Applejack’s mind drifted back to the pictures hanging in her room. “I think I might have an inkling or two.” After a few moments of feeling Fluttershy’s feathers on her back, Applejack took a bracing breath and shimmied out from under her wingspan. “Right then. We best not keep everyone waiting. I know I’m hungry, and Granny’s making spinach sliders tonight.” “Oh, I love those!” Fluttershy said with quiet, bubbly enthusiasm. “Then we better get going before Big Mac eats ‘em all.” Arriving at the house, the two late-comers took the back door through the kitchen and were welcomed with the familiar scent of freshly chopped vegetables and cream cheese. What they hadn’t expected was Chrysalis grumbling over the counter, slicing the veggies by hoof rather than using her magic to hold the knife. “No, no, no Chris. You’re doin’ it all wrong again!” Granny Smith complained to her sous chef changeling. “I’m doing exactly what you showed me to do!” Chrysalis pointed out as she expertly chopped the vegetables with all the finesse of the finely aged earth pony matron, including her jitters. “You’re going through all the motions just fine, but where’s the joy of cooking for company? We got more mouths to feed, so put some pep in your prep!” “I’m plenty aware of the fact that more ponies have shown up to eat this disgusting dreck you call food!” she roared. Fluttershy ducked behind Applejack, trying to hide behind the farmer. “A mare your age shouldn’t be raising such a fuss! I thought ya said ya liked artichokes and spinach?” Chrysalis stabbed the veggies she was cutting, sticking the knife right through the artichoke heart. “What does it matter anyway? I don’t eat pony food!” “Now, that don’t make a lick’a sense. How’d ya know what spinach even tastes like if ya don’t eat it?” Granny Smith huffed as she took a hoof-full of chopped veggies and threw them into a bowl with cream cheese and sour cream. As she stirred, she finally noticed the other’s arrival. “Ah great! AJ, can you see what’s eating Christopher here? I can’t make heads or tails of what she’s saying.” “It’s Chrysalis!” Christopher corrected. “What’s butterflies got to do with cooking?” Granny asked as she turned back to work with her bowl. Chrysalis' right eye was twitching something fierce. The wild bug looked about ready to burst a blood vessel. Applejack rushed in, trying to calm Chrysalis down. “Woah, woah. You alright?” “I thought you were thick, Applejack, but talking to her is like arguing with a bag of rocks, but somehow even less productive!” Chrysalis shouted so she could be heard. The fact that Granny Smith didn’t even seem to register the comment just upset the former queen more. “Did ya try smiling?” “Yes,” Chrysalis flashed a vicious grin, dripping with smug pride and vitriol for all who opposed her will. It was the perfect smile for a victorious villain. The sneering maw caused Fluttershy to gasp in fear at the sight of it. The tiny squeak called Chrysalis’ attention to her. “Oh wonderful. You brought the chaos bringer's little pet.” “Alrighty, Chrys. Ya made your point. You’re in a bad mood. Let’s let Fluttershy take over helping Granny out while we have a talk,” Applejack offered while turning to the shivering pegasus. “You don’t mind do you?” Fluttershy nodded, but then realized she should be shaking her head and adjusted quickly. “N-nope! I’d be happy to help.” Chrysalis grumbled. “That makes one of us.” “Alrighty!” Applejack clopped her hoof on the floor to gain control of the conversation. “That’s more than enough outta you. Let’s go before ya need to leave any more last words, big girl.” “What’s this? Going to try grounding me, AJ?” “In a manner of speaking. Let’s go up to your room.” “You mean the guest room I stole?” “No. I mean your room. The room that I cleaned out specifically to give you.” Applejack took a page from Granny’s book and spun the bug mare around and began pushing her out of the kitchen.  “Fine, fine! I’m going!” Chrysalis shouted as she stood no chance to overpower Applejack. As they passed her by, the smallest smirk crept across Fleur’s face. Walking into the living room, they saw Zecora talking to Big Mac, who looked exhausted. The zebra nodded a hello as they passed while the stallion sank lower with a frown. Apparently Granny Smith wasn’t the only one suffering the wrath of Chrysalis today. If Applebloom had come back home already, she was probably hiding in her room from the raging monster in the homestead. Chrysalis held her head high as she trotted up the stairs towards the master bedroom. The mare maintained perfect posture, only ducking to avoid bumping her head into any fixtures hanging from the ceiling. She stopped in front of the closed door to her room. After a moment, Chrysalis looked behind her to Applejack and bounced her eyes between the pony and the doorknob. She tapped her hoof expectantly as she glared at the smaller earth pony. With a sigh, Applejack stepped forward and opened the door for her majesty. Without even a simple thank you, Chrysalis strode into her room. Applejack closed the door behind them and turned to face the drama queen head on. “On the bed, now,” Applejack demanded. “So bold for such a little pony, but I’m not interested,” Chrysalis spat in reply. Removing her hat, Applejack dug out her comb and stared flatly between it and Chrysalis. The changeling proudly brushed her mane to the side and stepped onto the bed, letting her mane hang towards Applejack. “You should’ve been more clear with your intentions.” “Right.” Applejack pulled a stool to the side of the bed and then began methodically combing Chrysalis’ mane. After a few strokes, the former queen’s prideful smirk slowly drifted into a frown. “I don’t feel anything…” “Probably because this is more for me at the moment, not you.” “What do you mean?” Chrysalis asked sternly. “Sorry. It’s hard to love somebody who’s making everypony else miserable around them.” “But I worked hard today!” Chrysalis countered defensively. “I moved all of those stupid buckets into place and picked up every apple that fell on the ground!” “And I do appreciate you helping my brother out, but—” “No! No buts!” Chrysalis lifted herself to her haunches and tossed her mane behind her. “You said you loved hard work! I earned it!” “It’s a bit difficult to love someone who’s constantly lashing out!” Applejack yelled. “What? But I’m the victim!” “I know that! But that don’t mean you get to victimize everyone else!” Applejack fired back. She felt a tirade building up inside, but she was so tired from the headaches over the past two days and bit them back. Yelling wasn’t going to get anywhere. “Please, Chrys, I don’t want to be angry at you.” “Get used to it or get lost!” Chrysalis growled in rage. “That’s all you’re ever getting with me!” “Do you want me to? Do you really want to be alone that bad?” “If you aren’t going to give me love, what good are you to me?” “I never said I didn’t want to.” “Then give me your love already!” Chrysalis demanded. “I can’t if you’re trying to make me hate you!” Applejack screamed as she threw her hat down. She popped up from her stool and turned her back on Chrysalis. “Dagnabbit, girl. You really know how to get under a pony’s skin, and it’s working.” She turned back around to face the changeling, feeling her frustration burn in her eyes. “Do you want me to feel like this? Do you want to prove everypony that skipped buying our apples this weekend right about you?” Chrysalis said nothing as she sneered on her bed. “Yeah. Ponies ain’t buying Sweet Apple Acres apples anymore because you’re here. Know what? That ain’t fair for neither of us, but that’s what’s happening and we gotta deal with it.” Chrysalis clicked her tongue. “You can always kick me out.” “I don’t wanna do that to you!” “Are you sure? You said it yourself, I’m making everypony miserable just by being here.” “You don’t have to.” “Oh? And how do you propose I fix that? Be the spark of joy Granny Smith wants me to be?” Chrysalis joked as she plastered on her predatory smile. “How about you try talking instead of bottling everything up?” “Is that all?” The haughty queen tilted her head back and cackled. “Fine. What do you want to talk about, Applejack?” The angry earth pony almost threw in the towel right then and there. She wasn’t in the mood for another dang mind game with the lying queen. Not wanting to even think about her question, she decided not to think about it. “Why do you hate pony food, Chrys?” she blurted out. The changeling’s confidence was replaced with confusion. “What?” “You heard me!” “I know, but what a stupid question.” Applejack stomped her hooves. “It ain’t stupid, Chrysalis! Granny said you liked spinach, but then you’re complaining about it before dinner? In fact, you’ve been complaining about all the fixins here since your first dinner with the family. Why?” “Obviously it’s because I don’t eat food. I eat love. Satisfied?” “Horseapples!” AJ shouted. Chrysalis bristled and frowned deeply. “Language!” she rebuked forcefully through her teeth. “The little ones are in the next room!” Well, that answered that question definitively. AJ was pretty sure all of this yelling was bad enough for them, with word choice being the least of their concerns. “Fair enough. Still, I wanna know straight up. What’s wrong with pony food? I’ve seen you eat apples just fine, but you spat out apple fritters at the wedding.” The changeling snorted. “How very thoughtful of you to bring that up.” “Don’t try to change the subject, Chrys,” Applejack deflected, turning Chrysalis’ words with Luna against her. “Twi said you spat the fritters out when I wasn’t looking, but I’ve seen you happily chomp into an apple plenty. I know you don’t hate what we eat. How else would you know that my love tastes like apples?” Chrysalis grumbled as she kneaded the comforter. She finally slammed her legs onto the bed. “Fine! If you must know: you cook it!” Applejack blinked. “Wait, I’m sorry. What now?” “You cook it! You cook everything!” Chrysalis answered while pointing an accusatory hoof. “All of you ponies are constantly adding a bunch of weird things together when you could just eat food without ruining it. You all insist on making grain into bread, you cover vegetables with dressings, and worst of all, you cultivate molds and have the nerve to call it a food! You’re eating spoiled milk!” “So, what you’re saying is that you like raw ingredients?” “If I have to eat food, yes. I like it unspoiled before you ponies boil, roast, and fry everything to a crisp.” “Then why didn’t you say so?” Chrysalis averted her eyes. “Because who cares?” “I do! I care!” Applejack answered firmly, not letting the changeling run away. “Land sakes, Chrysalis. We could’ve just been serving you mixed vegetables or granola.” “But I don’t need to eat pony food! What’s the point of telling you?” “Because I want you to be happy here!” All of the bravado Chrysalis was wearing fell away as her rebuttals ran dry. She grunted bitterly as she shook her head like she was snapping a critter’s neck. “It’s true. We all do,” Applejack added. “Ha. Big Mac made his thoughts on me pretty clear today. He was shivering in silence the entire time.” “That’s just Big Mac. He don’t say much. And, to be fair, you have been a right terror since Discord unmasked you in front of the entire town.” Chrysalis said nothing. She curled up and laid down on the bed. Applejack sighed and picked up the comb and grabbed a length of hair. She carefully ran the comb through the silky smooth mane. As she worked, Chrysalis slowly raised her head to watch the other mare work. “Guess you feel that, huh?” AJ remarked with a smirk. Chrysalis still said nothing and just watched AJ stroke her mane. Applejack carefully grabbed another bundle to work on and pulled it closer to her. “Don’t get it twisted, Chrys. I’m still heated, but as I said before, I love hard work.” Chrysalis scoffed. “That’s not true. I already told you about the barrels, and you had nothing for me then.” The smaller mare shook her head. “Wrong effort, big girl. You telling me how you were honestly feeling was hard work too. I appreciate it.” “It wasn’t work, it was stupid!” Chrys complained in disbelief. Applejack chuckled to herself. “Ain’t gonna argue that one, but it’d be hypocritical to say that I don’t get hung up on stupid things too sometimes. Like hearing ponies tell me they don’t like apples really rubs me the wrong way, even if they’re well within their right to not like ‘em. It’s not like we eat pears around these parts. Hopefully just talking will get easier for the both of us.” The changeling sighed as she rolled onto her side and looked away. “You’re just as bad as Luna. She’s always trying to get me to reveal more about myself.” “Well, thanks for trusting me with such sensitive information anyway. I won’t tell Luna.” Chrysalis said nothing, but she could see the ghost of a smile in the big girl’s eyes. “If ya don’t mind me asking, how is talking about your food preferences revealing?” “I don’t know, you tell me,” Chrysalis grumbled, doing her best to look down her nose at the common pony while laying on the bed. “You wanted to know so bad, you can figure it out, just like the last time you wouldn’t let something stupid go.” Applejack pursed her lips as her eyes flicked around trying to think of something. “I dunno. It just seems like nothing. I wouldn’t even know where to start trying to hazard a guess. I mean, you’ve gotta have a reason, right?” “Of course I do.” If it was a lie, it was a pretty good one. However, it took so much to drag it out of her, there had to be something to it. Thinking back to the apple fritters, Chrysalis had thrown it away when Applejack wasn’t looking. She didn’t want to be seen throwing it away because she didn’t like it. Nopony in their right mind would throw a good fritter away. Then there was the stew from a couple days ago and then the broccoli and cheese that she seemed to be forcing down. She must’ve really hated the stuff since she wasn’t even able to play her disgust off. Maybe Chrys couldn’t eat things that were piping hot? But no, she had coffee just fine, and that was hotter. “You sure do make the weirdest faces when you’re thinking,” Chrysalis said with a mocking smile. “Who’s fault is it that I gotta try piecing this together?” “Mine, duh,” Chrysalis laughed. “But more importantly, you stopped combing.” “Cause I’m trying to figure this out without anything to go on. I’d have better luck selling shoes to a rattlesnake.” Chrysalis nickered under her breath. She tossed the rest of her mane over to Applejack’s side and shifted closer to make it easier to work with. “Fine. As entertaining as it is to see you struggle, I can’t eat confusion. If you absolutely must know…” Chrysalis trailed as she sucked in a sharp breath as she worked up the gumption to reveal the answer. “It’s-a-tell,” she whispered. Applejack arched an eyebrow. “What?” “Because it’s a tell!” Chrysalis fumed. “You know, a sign, a clue, a fault in my disguises.” “Still not getting it, sugarcube.” “Do I have to spell it out for you? I don’t like your food, so what happens if suddenly somepony’s wife starts hating their favorite food out of nowhere? I usually blame it on getting a cold, but If everypony knows that I hate eating pony cooking, then it becomes a dead giveaway when I replace somepony.” “I suppose that makes sense, but you’re not pretending to be other ponies anymore. There’s no harm in telling us you don’t want to eat cooked food.” “Well…” the changeling stammered as she tried to calm her nerves. “You try breaking centuries of habits! I don’t see you becoming any less stubborn anytime soon, Applejerk!” It was almost a relatable sentiment until the insult. The foalishness caught “Applejerk” completely off-guard as she doubled over in guffaws and fell forward on the bed. Chrysalis clenched her teeth. “Stop laughing! I’m insulting you!” Knowing Chrys was completely serious only made it worse. “I—I can’t!” Applejack tried to explain herself between fits of laughter, but she couldn’t manage to get a word in. Seeing the slap-happy farmer splitting her sides, Chrysalis grumpily leaned against her foreleg, waiting for Applejack to work it out of her system. After a good more bit of laughter, the giggly farmer coughed, trying to regain control of her voice. “You done?” Chrys asked flatly. “Hoo wee! I haven’t heard that one since before I got my cutie mark. I really needed that.” Applejack hopped over the bed and gave Chrysalis a surprise hug. Immediately, she felt a surge of her warmth leave her side as she squeezed the bug. “Thanks, sugarcube.” After Applejack let go, Chrysalis just sat on the bed, dumbstruck by the gesture. The changeling looked at her hooves and then back at AJ. “What was that?” “What was what?” the snickering pony asked. “That,” she repeated vaguely. “A hug. Sorry. Kinda got caught up in the moment,” Applejack admitted while scratching the back of her head. She felt her cheeks flush a bit having grabbed Chrys out of nowhere when she always put up such a fight being fed on her terms. “I’ll be sure to give ya a better one later if you’re still hungry.”  “I’m always hungry,” Chrysalis murmured robotically. “Of course ya are. Anyway, I’m famished, and we’re probably already late for dinner. Think you’re up for some socialization? I’ll see if we have anything left uncooked in the fridge for you to munch on so you don’t have to choke down cheese again.” “I guess. Plenty of apples if there isn’t,” she noted with a roll of her eyes. “Always looking on the bright side, aren’t ya Chrys?” “Don’t talk down to me, Applejerk.” “My apologies, your tallness.” Another goofy laugh escaped the petulant farmer. She kicked off the mattress and stood to her hooves. “Well, come on now. My food’s getting cold and Granny’s probably more ornery about that than the spat y’all had.” As she began to walk away, Applejack felt a hoof tug on her tail, pulling her back slightly. She stopped from the sudden resistance and turned her head. “Something wrong, sugarcube?” “No,” Chrysalis said as she let go and looked at her hoof, then at Applejack. “It’s nothing.”