As the years passed, Sleight and Chrysalis enjoyed their life together, ruling over the Changelings with care and compassion, and loving each other deeply. It all seemed so perfect... but it wasn't.
Though they had been going to more royal functions over the years and receiving better treatment, there was one pony who definitely wasn't warming up to Chrysalis; Princess Cadance, and honestly, Sleight couldn't blame her. Cadance still held a grudge over Chrysalis' kidnapping and impersonation of her all those years ago. Chrysalis returned the favour, the memory of how Cadance and Shining Armor had expelled both her and the hive from Canterlot and further the downward spiral of the Changelings still was a painful scar in her memories.
Even with the peace treaty between Changelings and ponies in full effect, the enmity between the two remained as strong as ever. Whenever they crossed paths, they made it a point to either ignore each other, or trade thinly-veiled insults. Sleight couldn't help but be perturbed at the ongoing rivalry. He knew Chrysalis and Cadance had a twisted history, but he hoped that one or both of them would get over it eventually.
Unfortunately, Sleight's hopes were in vain. Every time he and Chrysalis went to a royal gathering, there was some kind of bad blood between them. Sometimes, it was as simple as cold glares. Other times, things got verbal...
Flashback...
Sleight and Chrysalis arrived in Canterlot for a celebration of the founding of the capital, and by extension, pony culture itself.
"You sure you're okay coming here?" Sleight asked Chrysalis. It hadn't been too long since their last trip. "I know pony history isn't really your thing..."
"True, but I do have a pony for a husband now." Chrysalis pointed out. "It wouldn't hurt to learn about your culture, since you've already learned so much about mine..."
"It's your call, Chryssy." Sleight smiled. "I don't wanna force you, but if you're up for it, I support you wholeheartedly."
"And that's why I love you." Chrysalis grinned.
"Hey, when you've got it, you've got it." Sleight chuckled.
As they continued walking, the couple bumped into another; Shining and Cadance.
"Oh... hello, you two." Shining nodded, trying to be civil.
"Hey, Shining." Sleight smiled. "How're things?"
"They're good." Shining answered. "Right, Cadance?"
"Oh, sure." Cadance nodded. "Everything's been running smoothly. Good weather, low crime rate... no pests to worry about..." She glared at Chrysalis as she said that.
"Yes, because living in a sparkly little crystal wonderland is so hard." Chrysalis snarled. "It must be even harder to maintain that fancy mane of yours. Poor you."
"At least I can actually do something with it." Cadance scowled. "Unlike that spider's web reject hanging out of your head."
"What did you just say?!" Chrysalis snarled.
"Okay, let's just calm down." Sleight declared. "Nopony came here for trouble."
"Sleight's right." Shining added. "We're here to enjoy ourselves, not fight."
"I can enjoy myself." Cadance huffed. "Just as long as I have the right company."
"On that, we agree." Chrysalis scowled. "Come on, Sleight."
"Shining, let's go over there, where the air's a little cleaner." Cadance declared.
As the stallions followed their wives, they shared a silent, long-suffering look.
The present...
While Chrysalis and Cadance didn't always clash during those gatherings, the times they did were painful to watch. Both Sleight and Shining were forced to endure those spats, despite their attempts to defuse them.
But if there was anything Sleight learned in his time growing up, it was to never get between two mares. Especially if one of them is your highly-powerful and terrifying when angry wife. All he could do when the two met was try to talk Chrysalis down... for all the good it did.
Chrysalis and Cadance's past encounters had bred a fierce enmity between the two, one that could not be quenched by any outside force. And their quarrels had only grown more vicious over time, the anger of both mares increasing with each encounter, to the point where both stallions feared where it would lead them, especially since they could do nothing to stop things from escalating.
Without a doubt, their most recent clash had been the worst yet. Sleight could barely even bring himself to remember what happened that day...
Flashback...
The royals had gathered together for a show of solidarity between the myriad races inhabiting Equestria and beyond. Prime Minister Head Strong of Minostan and Baron Broadbeak of Aerovis was in attendance, as was Cheftainess Strongheart of the Buffalo.
"Whoo, look at this." Sleight smirked. "Last time I saw this much diversity was when the circus took in that Griffon/Diamond Dog/Reindeer act a couple of years back."
"I must admit, we Changelings haven't had much interactions with these other species." Chrysalis declared. "We tended to focus on ponies above all else. The others were just... there."
"So you didn't try to drain any of those guys of their love?" Sleight asked.
"Sometimes, when food was scarce." Chrysalis admitted. "But those examples were few and far between. Their love just doesn't taste the same way ponies' do. Ponies remained our principle food source because of that."
"How nice for us."
Sleight and Chrysalis turned to see Shining and Cadance behind them.
"Well, look who it is." Chrysalis sneered. "Little miss prissy-Princess. You're looking as irritatingly well-coiffed as always..."
"And you're looking as... rustic as always." Cadance sneered, using a backhoofed insult.
"Come on, honey." Shining cringed. "Don't start in, okay?"
"Yeah." Sleight nodded. "Isn't this whole gathering about how all the different species in the world can come together in the spirit of harmony? That's a really good lesson, isn't it? Sure is one to live by, huh?"
"Of course." Chrysalis smirked. "I'd be perfectly willing in live in harmony with all races. It's certain individual I have a problem with..."
"Watch your tone, Queenie." Cadance growled.
"Or what?" Chrysalis sniggered. "Did you forget what happened during our first encounter? Things didn't turn out so well for you, if I recall..."
"Oh, I recall." Cadance said through gritted teeth. "I also seem to recall you and your children taking an express flight out of Canterlot, courtesy of myself and Shining."
"Please don't drag me into this." Shining gulped.
"That's right." Cadance glared at Chrysalis. "You got the drop on me during our first meeting, but my and Shining's love was more than enough to take you down. If anypony here shouldn't be making threats, it's you."
"H-hey, I wonder what kind of eats they've got over at the buffet table?" Sleight nervously tried to change the subject. "Maybe we should check it out, huh, Chrys? ...Chrys?"
"You can check it out." Chrysalis said blunt, her eyes glaring hatefully at Cadance. "I need to put this oh-so-perfect and purer-than-thou Princess in her place."
"What did you just call me?" Cadance growled.
"You heard." Chrysalis sneered. "This whole 'how, aren't I so beautiful, and lovey, and oh, so very sweet and perfect' act? It makes me sick."
"It's not an act." Cadance declared. "I am the Princess of Love, after all."
"How sickeningly saccharine." Chrysalis gagged. "Taking on your form was something I did not relish. To have ponies look at me like I was some divine bringer of love... ugh!"
"As opposed to some love-draining insect freakshow?" Cadance shot back.
"How dare you?!" Chrysalis roared. "You... simpering little goody-good!"
"Okay, maybe we should dial it back a notch..." Sleight suggested.
"Cadance, everypony's staring..." Shining whispered.
"I don't care." Cadance spat. "I'm doing what I should have done a long time ago."
"You can try." Chrysalis sneered.
The two got into each others' faces, their horns locking in combat.
"I know you'd show your true colors sooner or later." Cadance taunted her old foe.
"I am a changed monarch." Chrysalis admitted. "But not that changed!"
"Don't kid yourself." Cadance sneered. "You haven't changed at all. I can see it in your eyes, plain as day. You may no longer want to conquer us, but you're still the same rotten, overgrown bug."
"That's it!" Chrysalis shoved Cadance back.
"Yeah. It is." Cadance said coldly.
Cadance fired a blast of magic from her horn, which caught Chrysalis in the side.
"Oh no." Shining gulped.
"Is that the best you've got?" Chrysalis sneered, firing a blast of her own.
"Chrys!" Sleight yelped.
Cadance dodged the blast.
"Too slow, old bug." Cadance sneered, returning fire.
Chrysalis dodged the blast and fired again, this time singing the tip of one of her wings.
"Ahh!" Cadance yelped.
"What's the matter?" Chrysalis smirked. "Did I damage one of your precious, perfect feathers?"
"Raaarrgh!" Cadance tackled Chrysalis.
To the horror of all the attendants, the two began grappling with each other, scrabbling over the floor.
"Filthy bug!" Cadance yelled.
Shining and Sleight stood, frozen in shock, unsure of how to stop the confrontation.
"ENOUGH!!"
Suddenly, Cadance and Chrysalis were enveloped in fields of golden magic, and forcefully separated. Celestia stood before them, her horn glowing in the same golden light, looking furious.
"Have you two forgotten why we're here?" She asked her captives. "This gathering was meant to celebrate how all our different races can live in harmony. You two are making a mockery of the very reason we're here."
"She started it." Chrysalis pointed at Cadance.
"Actually, you started it... when you foalnapped me!" Cadance spat.
"I don't care who started it." Celestia growled. "Honestly, I expected better from both of you. Chrysalis, you have shown great progress over the years, yet you can't seem to let go of this petty grudge? And Cadance, my dear niece, I am disappointed that you would give in to your hate like that."
The two lowered their heads, suitably chastened.
"Now, can you please put aside this petty rivalry, and embrace the spirit of the gathering?" Celestia asked.
"Yes, aunt Celestia." Cadance sighed. "...As long as she stays away from me."
"That suits me just fine." Chrysalis sneered.
Released from Celestia's magic the two turned away from each other, and walked off.
The present...
Sleight shuddered at the memory of that day. Chrysalis had been in a bad mood for days afterward. No matter what he said, she refused to admit her own culpability, blaming it all on Cadance. Sleight was at his wit's end, and he was actually started to dread another invitation to Canterlot, for way of Chrysalis and Cadance clashing again.
Fortunately for Sleight's nerves, he received the next invitation during Chrysalis' egg-laying period. It was for a meeting about expansion of certain territories in Equestria.
"Maybe we should cancel." Sleight suggested, as he looked over the invite.
"It sounds important." Chrysalis noted. "An expanded territory could work for us. Maybe you should go."
"Well... okay." Sleight shrugged. "If you think so. You take it easy with those eggs while I'm gone, okay."
"Relax, Sleight." Chrysalis smiled. "I've done this more times than I can count."
"Doesn't stop me from worrying." Sleight admitted, kissing her.
The next day, Sleight traveled to Canterlot, joining the gathering at the castle. As he entered, he waved at some of the other royals. Shining arrived after him.
"Oh, hey there, Shining." Sleight smiled.
"Hello, Sleight." Shining nodded.
"Where's that wife of yours?" Sleight asked.
"I'm afraid Cadance has a cold." Shining sighed. "She couldn't make it today."
"Well, Chrysalis is busy laying eggs right now, so she couldn't come either." Sleight declared.
"Maybe that's just as well." Shining admitted. "Because I'm really not in the mood for another catfight."
"Me neither." Sleight groaned. "At first, I found it kind of hot, but now, it's just scary...our gals can really hold on to a grudge, can't they?"
"I know." Shining sighed.
"You can't really blame them, though." Sleight shrugged. "A lot of rough stuff went down between them back in the day."
"I know, I was there for it." Shining admitted. "And true, it wasn't exactly a picnic for me, being mind-controlled and fed on by Chrysalis, but I've gotten past that."
"No offense, but for the Princess of Love, your wife really holds on to a grudge." Sleight noted.
"She's usually the sweetest mare around." Shining sighed.
"Chrysalis can be the same." Sleight admitted. "She really cares about her children, and the hive. Nothing's more important to her."
"...You really love her, don't you?" Shining smiled.
"I sure do." Sleight grinned. "It kills me to see her so messed up over this."
"Me too." Shining sighed. "It just isn't like Cadance to be so angry."
"Maybe we should talk about something else." Sleight suggested. "I heard you were a Royal Guard before you married Cadance?"
"Captain, actually." Shining smiled.
"Not bad, considering how young you must have been back then." Sleight admitted.
"Thanks." Shining nodded. "And what about you? What were you before you became the very first Changeling King?"
"I was a performer in this traveling circus." Sleight smiled.
"Oh, I used to love the circus when I was a colt." Shining grinned. "What was your act?"
"Card tricks, of course. I was 'Sleight, the Mystifying and Extraordinary'!" Sleight announced.
"There's a mouthful." Shining chuckled.
"Hey, ya gotta have a big, grand-sounding name if ya wanna go places in showbiz." Sleight declared.
"And did you go places?" Shining asked.
"Actually, no." Sleight admitted. "I was in a dead-end job with barely any income. About the best I had was a roof over my head. But then, after getting a balloon caught in a tornado of all things, and landed in the Changeling territory, where I met Chrysalis, and everything changed. Now, I'm a King, with a place of my own to rule alongside my adoring wife." He sighed blissfully. "So, how'd you meet Cadance?"
"She was my little sister's foalsitter." Shining declared. "I was smitten with her at first sight. But I was a little shy, what with her being a Princess and all."
"No kidding." Sleight smirked. "It must've been like crushing on the head cheerleader, times like, a hundred. Right?"
"Pretty much." Shining admitted. "For a long time, I thought it was best we just stay friends. But after Twilight went to Ponyville and I was promoted to Captain, I decided to take the plunge, and tell Cadance how I really felt."
"And how'd she take that little bombshell?" Sleight asked.
"Better than I imagined." Shining grinned. "She admitted that she felt the same way. We started dating, and not long after that, I asked her to marry me. That of course lead to the wedding... and our encounter with Chrysalis."
"Ooh, sorry about that." Sleight cringed. "Didn't mean to bring that back up."
"That's okay." Shining shrugged.
"Guess we're more alike than I thought." Sleight declared. "We both started out as regular ol' Unicorns, and wound up marryin' royalty."
"That's one way of looking at it, that's for sure." Shining nodded. "You're okay, Sleight."
"Thanks, Shining." Sleight grinned. "You're not so bad yourself." He sighed again. "It's too bad our wives don't feel the same way about each other..."
"I know." Shining frowned. "But what can we do? it's not like we can force them to like each other..."
"Maybe not..." Sleight suddenly got an idea. "But maybe we can get them to finally iron things out!"
"How can we possibly do that?" Shining frowned.
"With a little misdirection and subterfuge, of course." Sleight grinned.
"Huh?" Shining squinted.
"Trust me." Sleight smirked. "This is my specialty..."
After the gathering was over, Sleight and Shining found a private spot in which to discuss a plan to get their wives to stop their feud. Shining didn't like the idea of going behind Cadance's back, but he knew it would be better for all concerned if the animosity between her and Chrysalis was defused once and for all. After working out the fine details, they returned to their respective kingdoms, ready to put their plan into action.
"So, how was it?" Chrysalis asked as Sleight entered the throne, her egg-laying done for another year.
"Oh, pretty so-so." Sleight shrugged. "Everpony had their own ideas about what to do, but we came to a decent compromise in the end."
"Good to know." Chrysalis smiled. "I'd hate for any undesirables to encroach on our territory. Especially any from the north..." She scowled. "Was Cadance there, by any chance?"
"Actually, no." Sleight told her. "She was at home with a cold. At least, that's what Shining said."
"Good." Chrysalis sneered. "The less interaction either of us have with her, the better."
"If you say so." Sleight suppressed a grin. "Oh, by the way, Celestia told me that's she'd like us to come to Canterlot again next Friday."
"Again?" Chrysalis frowned. "is there another gathering coming?"
"Not exactly." Sleight lied. "More like she'd like a little one-on-one time with us."
"Odd, that doesn't sound like Celestia's usual way of doing things." Chrysalis mused.
"That's what I thought." Sleight kept up the charade. "But I guess talking face-to-face will help get our respective points across. So, you up for it?"
"I suppose so." Chrysalis nodded. "At least Celestia is willing to speak with me after what happened before."
"Yeah, she's a real peach." Sleight nodded.
The next Friday, Sleight and Chrysalis traveled to Canterlot. Unbeknownst to Chrysalis, Shining had spun Cadance the exact same story. The two led their wives over to one of the conference rooms in the rear, taking care to get by different, previously-established routes. Sleight had chosen the quickest route, so he and Chrysalis got there first.
"Okay, Celestia told me that she wants you to talk to her first." Sleight declared. "She said to go in and wait for her."
"Very well then." Chrysalis shrugged.
As Chrysalis walked into the room, Shining and Cadance arrived.
'Right on time...' Sleight thought.
"Oh, hello, Sleight." Cadance scowled. "Where's that wife of yours?"
"She's... around." Sleight smiled.
"Okay honey, you can go first." Shining declared.
"I don't see why my aunt's being so secretive about this..." Cadance frowned. "But I suppose she always has a plan for things..."
Cadance entered the room, coming face-to-face with Chrysalis.
"You!" The two females chorused.
"What is this?" Chrysalis frowned. "Where's Celestia?"
"That's what I want to know!" Cadance scowled.
Suddenly, the door was slammed shut, and magically locked.
"What the-?!" Chrysalis snarled.
Both Queen and Princess rushed over to the door.
"Open this door right now!" Chrysalis yelled.
"Sorry, Chrys." Sleight face popped into the window. "We can't do that."
"We?" Cadance frowned. "Don't tell me..."
"Sorry, honey." Shining's own face joined Sleight's. "This is for your own good."
"You tricked me!" Cadance snarled. "Your own wife!"
"I didn't want to, but you left me no choice." Shining admitted sadly.
"Sleight, I'm warning you..." Chrysalis snarled.
"Look, here's the long and short of it." Sleight declared. "The two of you won't be leaving this room until you've settled this rivalry once and for all."
"You think a door can keep me contained?" Chrysalis sneered. She tried to fire a bolt of magic... but nothing happened.
"This one will." Sleight declared. "The whole room has been surrounded in a magic-proof field. Neither of you will be able to use your magic while you're inside."
"I'm guessing that was your contribution?" Cadance glared at Shining.
"...Sorry." Shining said sheepishly.
"You think locking us in here is going to change anything? Well, you're wrong!" Cadance yelled.
"We'll see." Sleight smiled.
"Well, I'm certainly not going to play your little game!" Chrysalis marched over to a corner of the room, and sat down petulantly.
"Neither am I!" Cadance sat down on the opposite side of the room.
"I'm starting to see a problem with the plan..." Shining frowned.
"Give 'em time." Sleight said confidently. "They'll crack."
"I hope so." Shining sighed.
Inside the room, Chrysalis and Cadance tried to ignore each other, but they were both so angry, and needed somepony to take out the bile on.
"Your husband must have convinced mine to go along with this crazy scheme." Cadance snarled.
"For once, we agree." Chrysalis snorted. "I saw the look on his face. Clearly, he doesn't wear the armor in your house."
"Well, at least I married a real stallion, and not some two-bit sideshow shyster." Cadance retorted.
"Well, we can't all marry knights in glittering armor, like some saccharine fairy tale Princess." Chrysalis shot back.
"At least I deserved a happily ever after." Cadance sneered. "In fairy tales, creatures like you get slayed, like the monsters they are."
"Monster?!" Chrysalis roared. "You-!"
The two locked horns again. Unable to use their magic, they resorted to physical force, grappling and pulling each other to the floor. Chrysalis was stronger, but Cadance was quicker, and their struggle reached a stalemate.
"Give up yet?" Chrysalis scowled.
"Why? You gonna kill me if I don't?" Cadance taunted.
"I... I don't do that anymore!" Chrysalis declared.
"Still keeping up the story, huh?" Cadance jeered.
"Yes... because it's the truth!" Chrysalis yelled. "I'm not the Changeling I once was!"
"It's hard to believe that, considering what you put me through." Cadance retorted.
"It wasn't anything personal, you know." Chrysalis snorted. "Foalnapping and impersonating you was just a means to an end."
"It was personal to me." Cadance growled. "You almost ruined what should have been the most wonderful day of my life. Not that I'd expect a Changeling to understand such an important ceremony as a wedding."
"You'd be surprised what I understand." Chrysalis declared. "I understand full well what a magical moment a wedding can be."
"That just makes it worse." Cadance told her. "You separated me from the stallion I love, all to put your twisted plan into motion."
"I know what I did was wrong." Chrysalis admitted. "But you and your husband almost killed my entire hive when you blasted us away."
"...We did?" Cadance frowned.
"For a time, it seemed like you had." Chrysalis recalled. "We were all separated. I had no idea if the majority of my children were alive or dead. Can you understand what that feels like?"
"Of course." Cadance glared. "I'm a mother too, you know."
"And were you ever separated from your children like that?" Chrysalis asked. "Away from your offspring, believing you had lost them?"
"...No." Cadance admitted.
"Then you don't understand." Chrysalis scowled.
"...Well, it's not like you left us much choice." Cadance pointed.
"...True." Chrysalis sighed. "But your actions left repercussions that followed for years. Our hive declined, slowly, but surely, as we struggled to survive. Our attack on the Crystal Empire was meant to avert that, and to pay you back for causing it."
"But it didn't work out that way, did it?" Cadance growled.
"No." Chrysalis nodded, recalling how Cadance's nephew used the power of the Crystal Heart to blast her away from the Crystal Empire.
"Which is exactly what you deserved." Cadance spat.
"I was only doing what I thought was best for my hive." Chrysalis insisted. "That's why I agreed to the peace treaty with your aunt afterwards. It seemed like the best thing I could do for my children at the time."
"Whatever you say." Cadance glared.
"And then I met Sleight..." Chrysalis smiled. "That's when things really started getting better. He saved my children, showed me love like I never felt before... a love I never even knew I needed."
"You... really do love him, don't you?" Cadance realised.
"You're just seeing that now?" Chrysalis scoffed. "So much for being the Princess of Love..."
"Well, your beloved husband was the one who put us in here." Cadance frowned.
"Sleight always was a trickster." Chrysalis admitted.
"Honestly, Shining has his sneaky side, too." Cadance admitted. "During one of our earlier anniversaries, he put together this interesting little trail of surprises, leading up to a big party."
"Good to see he's good for more than just standing around, looking pretty, and putting up forcefields." Chrysalis snarked.
"You better believe it." Cadance smirked.
"Well, Sleight has his charms too, you know." Chrysalis declared.
"He's a snappy enough dresser, at least." Cadance remarked. "Shining only wears his fancy clothes for special occasions."
"Well, at least he doesn't try to make a big show out of everything." Chrysalis frowned, remembering Sleight's first introductions
"No, Shining's pretty down-to-earth." Cadance admitted. "He's not into big, grandiose royal type things."
"Sleight does prefer not to get too into doing speeches and proclamations." Chrysalis declared. "He prefers to let our hive make their own mistakes, rather than force his will on them."
"And you're okay with that?" Cadance asked.
"Actually, yes." Chrysalis nodded. "As long as my children are happy, so am I."
"I feel the same way about the citizens of the Crystal Empire." Cadance declared.
"Well, looks like we actually have something in common." CHrysalis noted.
"...Maybe I've underestimated you." Cadance admitted. "There's more to you than I thought."
"And you as well." Chrysalis noted. "I suppose we have been letting this grudge fester a little too long..."
"Yeah, maybe..." Cadance sighed.
A short while later, Sleight and Shining suddenly heard the sounds of laughter. Peeking through the window, they saw their wives laughing their heads off.
"Well, I'll be." Sleight smiled. "It actually worked."
"You sound surprised." Shining frowned. "This whole thing was your idea."
"Yeah, but my ideas usually have a 50/50 chance of success." Sleight shrugged.
"You couldn't have mentioned that sooner?" Shining grumbled.
Ignoring him, Sleight opened the door.
"Hello, ladies." He smiled. "Feeling a little better disposed towards each other?"
"You could say that." Chrysalis admitted.
"Well if that's the case, I suppose we can let you out now." Shining smiled.
"Thanks, Shiny." Cadance kissed him on the cheek.
"You too, Chrys." Sleight urged.
"It's about time." Chrysalis joked.
"Sorry we had to put you through all this." Shining apologised. "We only did it because we care about you so much."
"Yeah, it was an act of love." Sleight added.
"We understand." Cadance nodded. "You only had our best interests in mind."
"But if you ever try something like that again, you'll be sorry." Chrysalis glared. "I don't know about Cadance, but I will not be merciful in my retribution. Understand?"
"...Yes, dear." Sleight squeaked.
"And you, Shining?" Cadance glared at her husband. "You'd be lucky to end up sleeping on the couch if you pull a lousy stunt like this again."
"...I know." Shining cringed.
"Good thing we came to our senses when we did." Chrysalis declared. "Can you imagine these two, trying to run our kingdoms without us?"
"I know." Cadance chuckled. "They'd be hopeless!"
The mares laughed loudly.
"Gee, thanks..." Shining pouted.
As they walked away, Chrysalis and Cadance continued talking.
"You know, there was this one time when I was visiting Twilight in Ponyville." Cadance recalled. "I got back to find Shining had let the royal decorators paint the inside of the ballroom two different colors!"
"Oh, that is classic!" Chrysalis guffawed.
"I think I liked them better when they were fighting..." Sleight half-joked.
"Still, at least this means we can hang out more." Shining admitted.
"Well, there is that." Sleight smiled.
At long last, the feud between Chrysalis and Cadance had been nullified, thanks to their husbands' efforts. The two became much more friendly to each other, which meant Sleight and Shining could also become closer friends... even if it meant they had to occasionally endure their wives' jokes about them.