Andy stood at the oven with his hand firmly grasping a hot skillet sizzling away the bacon his wife brought him. The hatchlings, all of them, except for the little bundle of joy in Chrysalis arms, watched as he carefully placed the meaty goodness on a plate he set for himself instead of having one of the maids cook for him. They were curious and drawn by the hot aroma. Did those strips of meat really smell so good? Though their stomachs are full at the moment, the smell did attract them. Andy noticed this and wondered if maybe a changeling could eat something other than emotions.
"What is that papa?" the second youngest hatchling asked in a high-pitched yet extremely adorable voice, pointing at the fine-cooked breakfast as he rinsed the skillet off. She clung the edges of her T-shirt and shuffled from around the corner to have a better look, her deep blue eyes reflecting the sunlight as her hair lost it's band. Andy looked over his shoulder and smiled at his curious daughter. It was the first time any of the Changelings referred to him as anything other than king or master. It felt nice, though not the proper word he wanted to hear.
Still, he could not complain about having someone in his family open up and call him 'papa'. Andy did not think he would ever confide with the Changelings to change how they act in the real world, but that did not mean he couldn't help the adjust to a new lifestyle. As adamant and persuasive Celestia and Luna were about him taking things one small step at time with the hatchlings, he had a very strong feeling that what these children need is a father that can be gentle yet firm. All they need is a little push into society, with him as their protector.
A chuckle left Andy as he took his seat at the table. His mind drifted to what Chrysalis said to Reginald, though the little girl at his right with her hands firmly grasping his pant leg waited for an answer. He bit down on his tongue and stared into the open, remembering the difficulty of being a normal family. Normality is something he and his family deserve, not the opposite. Why couldn't the citizens of Canterlot see that?
What would it take to have them put the past aside and turn over a new leaf? Chrysalis made a hard sacrifice so she and her children could flourish as a species. She left her home, her twisted mother, and all the opportunity of conquest for her children, so why should she suffer the hatred those ponies give her?
Silence took hold in the kitchen after the little one tugging his pant leg received her answer from the Princess of Changelings. Birds sung from the window to the guards patrolling the mansion, their various tunes hitting every note as they enjoy the morning. Tension rose as curling nervousness in everyone's throats and drifted around the them. The joy that which they absorbed from Andy ceased in his cast expression to the green-eyed monarch. It seemed as thought the happiness inside him died at her idea.
"Do you really want to take them to the park?" Andy asked, sipping on his second cup of coffee as began to stir from the atmosphere. She felt her father's uneasy nature and whimpered at the unsavory emotion. This made him calm down a little, but only by taking deep breaths. "The last time we tried to take them anywhere we ended up coming back here to avoid the nobles."
"They cannot keep me and my children from having a normal life in Canterlot." Chrysalis said, looking at him sternly, looking straight into his eyes—into his soul. This made Andy a little nervous.
"I know, but the recent acts of discrimination have put me on edge. We just got the east wall cleaned of all that graffiti, but still haven't found out the little shit that did it." Andy said aloud, reminding her of their current troubles. "Don't get me wrong. I want to take the kids out and let them be free to have fun, but I don't know if that is a good idea."
Chrysalis heard her own heart like a magic bomb roaring in the distance. Her first reaction to this argument was near feral. Very close. She could not stand having someone argue with her; even the slightest tune irked her so badly. She didn't care much what others would do or say, or whether or not Andy would side along with her, she wasn't going to put herself and the hatchlings back in the shadows. She had known too much what hiding in the darkness entailed or the pain she been through these last seven months. Her reaction when she glared so seriously was enough for him. She was not going to hide in the house because of new troubles brewing.
Chrysalis gaze was steady on her husband. "Well those insufferable scumbags can buck off for all I care. You may have accepted us, but they are my children. I decide what is best for them, not you."
Andy wanted to say something to that, but what could he say to the Changeling? It's not like her old nature would die out so easily with simple words of reason. Plus she completely disregarded the hatchlings being his children as well. She made him completely irrelevant as a parent. How dare that woman!?
Andy took this as a blow a hard blow to the trust he believed to have with Chrysalis and stopped himself before things could escalate. He closed his eyes briefly and shook his head without saying another word to the huffing princess. His heart decelerated a little from that pinch of reality reminding him how aggressive she is. He clutched the fork, cell in his body screaming to argue with this woman. Every single fear he ever felt since they dated welled up to choke him—to choke back the urge to remain silent.
He resumed eating breakfast, never looking up from the plate for the rest of the morning.
"And here I'd thought we moved past the kids being mine now." he whispered to himself, but Chrysalis had excellent hearing.
She realized he hadn't argued with her about sharing the responsibility. She approached to look at him and admit being wrong, but he had already finished his plate and stood up before her hand could touch his. Andy was a man of integrity. Of dignity. Of pride. He would not let himself be treated as though his opinion did not matter. Chrysalis, however, struck a good blow and tempted his anger to rise, and he didn't want to express that in front of the kids. He did not want to fill them with the sour taste of anger.
It was not easy though, to keep his emotions in check. Andy had to do everything Cadance taught him to suppress the very release so his children would not be sickened by his anger. He had to push hard and dig deep in himself to kill the negative emotion by casting himself into a lifeless feeling. Easier said than done though, especially when it is natural for a person to release what they feel through their body. To Andy it was like going toe to toe with a power that cannot be seen or touched, something he discovered through Cadance' lessons. Still, he had so much to learn about keeping complete control of everything that makes him who he is. If he didn't, then the hatchlings might feed off the negativity and poison themselves, maybe even kill themselves. They're not as resistant as their mother is.
"I'm going to take a shower before we go." Andy said after dumping his plate into the kitchen sink, letting one of the maids to clean up his mess. He turned to look at his worried wife over his shoulder, seeing her shrink with regret. "Kids, go upstairs and get ready. Your mother wants us all to go to the park, so that is what we are going to do." He said calmly, before retreating to his bedroom.
Chrysalis tried to reach him from behind, but he walked faster than she could. The baby was fast asleep. "Andy, hang on a minute. I shouldn't have—"
She broke off at her husband still making his way upstairs, watching him take each step further away from her without looking back, as though she did not exist. The door to their bedroom echoed when he slammed it a little too hard and Chrysalis was left to her thoughts. She was disgusted—if not sick—of her herself for making Andy feel like an irrelevant piece of their family. Him. The only stallion to love her for who see is. How could she say those things to him?
These thoughts went through Chrysalis' mind as the hatchlings made their way to their rooms. She didn't want to admit that she was wrong to treat him that way, but arrogance would only make things worse.
Chrysalis sighed to herself. "He is just worried about me and the hatchlings getting hurt, but I had to act like a bitch and tell him they're not his kids. Great. I hurt my own husband. When will I ever learn?"
She pinched the bridge of her nose tightly, going into her thoughts while Forest cooed in her sleep. "This is not as easy as I had thought it would be." She told herself, thinking back to the first week she had to learn sociality under Celestia's tutelage. By the heavens that was so horrid, having to hear the alabaster alicorn rant and gossip about the many methods of sociality. If that had been done instead of attacking with brute force, the Canterlot Wedding would have gone smoothly without a hitch in it.
She knew Andy was emotional. Most of it had to do with feeling his emotions all the way from the bedroom—or lack thereof. She pushed her guilt aside in order to do what a good wife had to do, but she felt it, the burning sorrow of her husband thinking he was not necessary for her. She could feel the man blaming himself for not trying a little harder and for not finding a way to convince the Changeling. Losing an argument is very easy to deal with, but Andy never expected to have one with his wife. It was a huge blow to his pride, but having your significant other disregard that you are the father was even more of a personal blow. And now knowing this went through his mind and he had been hurt. . . .
"Buck me," Chrysalis said, breathing deeply, as if she'd been robbed of air by the guilt in her chest. "I better fix this before Andy comes back downstairs. The last thing I need is for him to avoid me."
Water sounded in the private chamber of Andy's shower, trickling from the walls down to the drain, showerhead hissing as it hung over his head. Stream rose from his body as twisting vapor and drifted around the room. The bright rays of Celestia's sunlight shone through the window and cast a shadow over his face. He pressed his palms against the wall and sighed beneath the hot water. It seemed as thought the world around him held its breath the entire time.
He heard Chrysalis' words play in his mind like a broken record stuck on the same note. His first reaction was depression, a small groan to himself. He didn't care what the others think about him and the Changelings, or whether or not they will accept them, but to have your own wife turn on you was a little harder to deal with then most troubles in his life. Still, he wasn't going to put himself in that kind of situation with her, another argument that might lead to dangerous consequences.
"So she still doesn't trust me. . ." Andy shifted, a small twist of his body, and he looked out the curtained window to see the world was going on without him or the Changelings. He wasn't surprised by it. The nobles have been ignoring him and Chrysalis since it was found out that they were lovers.
He went to laugh at them for being so arrogant when a cold breeze touched his skin. He shuddered and the sound of the bathroom door opening and closing pulled his mind out of its stupor. Just the sound of the door made him think that someone mistakenly entered the bathroom, but that would mean he forgot to lock the door.
"Occupied right now," he said, watching the curvy shadow remove a single clothing. "Come back in a few minutes."
The shadow responded with but naught a giggle, the owner being a brave female as the depressed man covered his region with the shower curtain. She paced back and forth through the bathroom, not speaking, not approaching, just tormenting him with her presence. Andy was becoming frustrated by this intruder's ignorance. He glared at the female as she freed her wings and stretched them.
"Seriously, get the fuck out of my bathroom before I kick your ass and scar you by slapping ten inches of dick across your face!" Andy yelled, anger taking over.
The woman laughed and stepped forward to see if he would really do such a thing. She shivered with anticipation of pleasuring him, placed a hand on the curtain, and gently pulled it apart to let herself in. Andy stopped abruptly of assaulting the woman and with a small gasp, realized how close he was to making the biggest mistake in his life. There was no doubt of her being in the shower now. Good god. He might have to plug his nose with tissues, but he regretted having to do so. It would prove his only weakness being her.
Just the sight of the smiling Changeling—that gorgeous figure she possesses without having to try—was making him feel a little grateful for having her in his life. Beauty had a way of insidiously trickling into his life and taking hold or wrenching his awareness away from what is happening around him. Perfection was such an abomination until she appeared.
She shuddered as the hot water dripped past her large breasts, and pulled herself to him, held him tightly, pressing her face into his chest while tremors of his love wracked her body. She inhaled the wet masculine scent of him and took solace in his shock. Andy was no immortal or a mighty force of power, at the very least with her on top of the predatory food chain and yet he didn't want to further above. But that did not matter, because he is her husband. Her Love. Her perfect prince. Never once had he tried to put himself in a position of power or take it. He was content with being a simple man that can live without power; and that is what made her love him so much.
Chrysalis brushed her mouth over his neck and burrowed even closer, happy that he didn't ask her reason of being in here after just arguing. Then again, she wasn't certain she could speak right now. Her mind had gone so blank at his touch that Luna could build a fake memory. Her heart slowed to the same pace of his and she feared that he would leave her to bathe alone. Her breath came in slow and ragged, a staccato gasp, her lungs dry and achy.
"I'm sorry for saying those things to you. I meant none of what I said." She breathed, digging her nails into the man's back so he could not leave her. "It's just so very hard to understand and cooperate when my children are involved. I only want what is best for them."
Andy went to push her away and say it will be alright in a little while, but her eyes met his and built a strong connection. He wrapped both arms around her back and stroked loving caresses down the back of her head, soothing her in a shush, breathing equally, allow her to follow his breath, his heart, at her own pace. He closed his eyes and let himself relax on her head, allowed himself to hold her securely. The moment he did, her shudder began to adjust to the slower, steadier rhythm that is his voice. Their breathing evened out as he kissed her forehead, listened to the sad hiccups die with her guilt.
"It's okay," he pet the back of her head, sparkles brightening in her mane from all the love he has for her. "We've only been married for a couple of months. We're going to argue and fight every once in a while."
"Yes, but it was wrong of me to say those things to you. I insulted you, and most of all. . . hurt you."
"It's fine baby, you're just thinking about the kids."
"And I should be thinking about trusting you more," Chrysalis clenched to him as if for dear life, teary-eyed and ashamed of herself. "I should be trusting the man I married with my children, but. . . but it's so hard."
"Because you never had someone in your life and that is understandable;" Andy whispered, allowing the Changeling to cry on him. "There is nothing wrong with having a lack of trust in me. I know it's hard for you because of what Blueblood did to the other Changelings. I know you still need time to adjust."
"Why must you be so compassionate with me?" she asked between hiccups and looked up to him. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy, but that did not stop Andy from smiling. "What do you insist on understanding how I feel?"
"It's simple," he leaned a little closer to her, breath shaky as she did the same. "Because I fell in love with a misunderstood yet insanely beautiful Changeling that just wants to be happy."
Chrysalis giggled after a small peck of his lips. "You are so loving and compassionate that it's almost sickening. Cadance would get a stomach ache if she knew how you act around me."
"Yes, but I'm pretty sure that if she saw me right now, Shining Armor would kick me so hard in the sack I would lose my ability to reproduce; and I want us to have children of our own."
Children of his own, Chrysalis thought. She'd never expected him to want a child with her, let alone children. Was this really the same man she fell in love with or an imposter that took advantage of their argument and locked the real Andy somewhere?
Andy needed her. He needed to comfort her in his arms and keep his unfailing cool, the strong man she could count on. He could take charge and think for her when life is too much. He could through every problem, every crisis. And this was both to her.
He pressed his finger under Chrysalis' chin and lifted her head to look down at her, to look into her eyes, searching, head no doubt, for her happiness. It was there, the eyes of a giddy teenager meeting his excitedly. He waited for her response, not requesting or forcing her to speak or do, just as she knew he would.
"I love you," she whispered, receiving his warm smile and a tender caress of her cheek.
"Not as much as I love you." Those words were all it took to drive her over the edge.
Chrysalis locked both arms around his neck and went up on her toes as she pulled his head down to her. He did not hesitate or question what she was doing.
Andy's lips brushed across hers and a blazing phoenix took wing in her stomach. She hadn't expected that much of herself, but it was a delightful cure from the guilt gripping her. She closed her eyes, her lashes fluttering for but a moment as his mouth coaxed her, with tender kisses, his tongue running along the gap for entry.
His gentleness brought tears burning deep behind her eyes. In all those generations, reborn again and again in a dark cocoon, freezing in an ice-cold world of hatred, she had never once imagined having someone understand her. Treat her with respect. Treat her with love. It was a dream come true when they kissed the first time, and it was the same. Wonderous. She opened her mouth and pushed him to the wall. The world seemed to stand still.
Andy kissed her with absolute care and command, dragging the mare with him into their alternate realm of bliss, pushing away depression and replacing with something else. Joy.
Intense heat welled up from Chrysalis' center and surged through her body, rushing through her veins. She had doused the fire for what felt like ages, until this man fueled it with a kiss. He seemed to "know" her. To know who she really was on the inside. He wanted her to be queen she was, and kissing her was like taking that first step into her role. Knowing she was the queen in someone's eyes. His love was a haven not to be discovered. Lust consumed the Changeling, reducing her to woman who needs her true love, allowing herself to rise from holding onto the past.
She tasted unique; if not exotic and wild, a free, untamed goddess, bent on claiming her mate. Bent on loving him just as strong as he does. He felt surrounded by her power when he'd never thought to know that magic can grow between a man and a Changeling.
There was love and desire. Lust even. Chrysalis was a mare of strong tastes, but the strongest emotion, the strongest appetite was true love. She tasted it in his kiss. Felt it in the way he held her midair by her flanks. She let go of her doubts of finding true love and gave herself up to him, just like the night before. She surrendered herself to the hellfire exploding through her body, the flames of their love dancing all over their bodies in green, granted by her mate.
When she lifted her head and rested her forehead against his to see the green flames engulfing her mate, she stared into his nearly glowing, mercurial green eye. The eyes of a Changeling King in the making.
"Take me, my love. Right now. Make love with your princess," she whispered, needing him so desperately it was unbearable. She wanted him, yes, right there, knowing what and who she loved, she wanted to be the part of him that will be replaced. She wanted her power to bind them as one. "Claim your princess."
"Not my princess," he whispered, slowly pushing his arousal deep into the moaning mare, until her limit was reached. "My queen."
Chrysalis took a deep breath and to think past the arousal throbbing in her flower. Her eyes hazed with Andy's and they leaned in for another kiss. She was waiting for him to take it to the bed and gift her with ecstasy. They drew closer. . . closer. . . closer. . .
"My King and Queen, hurry up with your baby-making and get dressed." A frustrated Changeling yelled on the other side of the door, startling Andy and Chrysalis as he knocked on the door as hard as he could. "The others are getting impatient and Forest's bed sheets need to be changed because she pooped through her diaper."
Chrysalis and Andy stiffened as the young hatchling made his way out of the room, giggling at his little accomplishment. They looked down to see he went soft and glared as the green flames disappeared.
The two lovers took in deep breaths and returned to staring at the door. "BLACK LEAF, YOU LITTLE SHIT!"
