By Palaikai
Love.
To some, it was the greatest feeling in the world; to others, it was breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Queen Chrysalis had learned over the years that love came in just as many varieties as the multitudinous foods the ponies stuffed themselves with; each had its own flavour, and there were some that she preferred more than others. Not that she'd always had the luxury of being choosy.
Caverns that had once been nothing more than a damp, smelly hole in the ground were now a home, rich with the piquant essence of true love. Ever since Twilight Sparkle had given up everything to be with her – her crown, her home in Ponyville, her Element of Harmony – a void that Chrysalis didn't even know was there had been filled in her heart; her Hive was more content than ever, feasting richly off the mutual bonds of affection that flowed between the queen and the former Princess of Friendship.
True Love was a taste unlike any other; the only time she'd experienced anything remotely comparable was after months of manipulating a fragile heart into believing that it was in love with her, but even that left a bitter byproduct that was at times hard to swallow.
Chrysalis traced a hoof lazily down the lavender alicorn's body causing her to stir lightly in her sleep, exhausted after the events of the night before. Satiating the desires of an entire Hive was an intense undertaking, but it was a sacrifice that Twilight Sparkle was willing to make, and the Changeling Queen's bosom swelled with pride at how well she had coped with the adjustment.
“Are you just going to look at me all night or are you gonna try and get some sleep?” the former princess asked sleepily, mulberry eyes unfocused.
The changeling hissed under her breath; she hated getting busted for staring, though she knew that Twilight didn't really mind it. The pleasure was in committing the act and getting away with it, but the alicorn loved nothing more than to ruin her plans. “D'you have any regrets? About what you've left behind?”
“I regret ...” Twilight started, then frowned. Articulating one's thoughts was always trickier when one was half-asleep. “I wish it had happened differently, that's all. My friends were supportive, even if they couldn't quite understand my feelings for you. Celestia, on the other hand … I think she felt betrayed.”
Looking around the grotto that was now their shared homestead, Chrysalis smiled. “It's not quite that fancy palace of yours.”
“That doesn't matter,” replied Twilight, snuggling in close to the Changeling. There were times she couldn't quite believe how much things had changed, but she felt in her gut that it was the right thing to do. Still, a part of her missed Ponyville and the friends she'd made there. “Home is where the heart is, so I've been told.”
Chrysalis' fangs brushed gently against her lover's coat as she peppered it with kisses, causing Twilight to moan softly. “You have to watch what you're doing with those teeth.”
“Do I?” asked the Changeling, a chuckle building in her throat as she bit Twilight's flesh just that bit harder. Love that hurt was spicy.
Twilight yelped, but not in pain, and her wings involuntarily unfurled. A blush broke out across her face, making her – in Chrysalis' admittedly biased estimate – at least twenty times more attractive. She pulled the alicorn close to her, their wingtips brushing against each other's, and kissed her passionately on the muzzle.
Her lips, just like her love, tasted sweet.