//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: The Second Journey: Misunderstandings // by Kaille //------------------------------// ~Chapter 4: Perspective~ So I found myself, in a situation, feeling not unlike that of seeing a shrink. I was lying on a couch on my back, head propped up against the arm, with Rarity sitting on the other couch, sipping tea. To make matters a little worse, she had gone and grabbed a pencil and notepad, working on dress designs. It felt like she was taking notes though. "So, Ink, what kind of issue are you facing?" She said, suddenly breaking the silence and startling me slightly. I looked to the side to see her staring at me, art supplies lying on the couch next to her. "What is it that's bothering you? I hope it's nothing too serious. Have you and Chroma talked about it?" I gulped. "That's what I'm afraid of. I am rather uneducated on Equestrian relationship norms." "Ahh." Rarity said, lifting and lowering her head slowly in a single exaggerated nod. "I forgot you are not exactly from around here, are you?" She said with a slight chuckle. "But, I cant help you resolve this issue if I do not know what exactly the issue at hoof is." I nodded in response. "Yeah. First, before I mention the other party. . . how is Equestria on relationships between more than two ponies?" Her eyes widened. ". . .Oh." She gulped and looked to the side slightly, staring off into space, thinking. My nerves heightened. "That does not come across as a very promising reaction." She blinked and refocused, coming back to the world. "Oh! Sorry, dear. Lost. . . in a memory." She shifted position on her couch, taking a more relaxed and comfortable position. "But on the matter at hoof; it's generally accepted. There are those who believe that having a single partner is the only morally right thing, and those that adopt more of a herd mentality. It is really up to the individual." I sighed. "That's the same as where I'm from, but polygamous relationships are mostly frowned upon." She suddenly stopped and stared at me, eyes wide. "Well that explains why you are so unsure about it. I assume those values are ones you grew up around?" I nodded. "But why would that type of belief exist?" I turned over onto my side, staring at her. "The gender ratio on Earth from male to female is near one-to-one. Equestria, appears to be closer to three or four to one." Rarity was taken aback further. "Why. . . there are that many stallions where you're from?" I shrugged. "Well, not stallions, per se, but yes. A lot of men." "Huh." Rarity said, still surprised. She stopped and thought for a moment before closing her eyes and sighing. "This. . . is not knowledge many are privy to. I trust you can keep this confidential?" I continued to stare at her, confused. "Yes, anything you say will not pass my lips. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." I said, carefully pantomiming the appropriate actions. She blinked and shook her head. "I'm not going to ask how you learned of that particular method of promising, but nevertheless, thank you. Anyway. . ." She sighed once more. "I have had a few relationships over time. A couple with stallions alone, and one. . . Two stallions and two other mares." This took me by surprise. "I. . . never would have thought you the type to enter such a relationship, Rarity." She snorted, most unladylike. "Believe me, dear, neither did I. I'm still not fond of a herd that big. But. . . it was in my experimental time. Now, I was incredibly close to all involved. We had been good friends at the time, all through school, and we noticed how we got closer and closer over time, never really separating from each other, and becoming very much more physical in our interactions. Not in any lewd manner, mind you, but hugging and touching constantly. "Eventually, we all went for a summer camping trip, away from our parents and the prying eyes of society. We had a bit of alcohol involved as well - stupid idea, really - and one of the stallions and mares got incredibly inebriated. They began getting even more feely with all of us, and. . . well, the point is, though I may not be a huge fan of herds, those were some of the best days of my life I spent with those ponies, and I wouldn't trade them for the world." I blinked, taken aback. "What became of those friends and that herd?" She sighed. "We drifted apart after one of the mares turned into a fiend for attention. She disappeared one day, and none of us saw her again. But, again, what I mean to say is that I know from experience, as you put it, polygamous relationships can be a wonderful thing. There are about as many herds as there are couples in Equestria." I slowly took this in, thinking it over. "Well. . . I think the biggest thing for me would be to adapt to a. . . herd. . . but you don't think there would be too many issues around with it?" She shook her head. "Dear, it wouldn't be anyponies right to interfere. But, I highly doubt many would act on their opinions. Ponies love and tolerate all around them and all cultural values, to a certain degree." I sighed in relief. "Thank you, Rarity. This has actually helped a lot." She blinked. "It did? Well, I didn't feel I really got across what I was trying to say correctly, but if it helped, then wonderful!" She blinked for a second, and turned curious. "May I ask who the other party is, if it isn't snooping?" I grimaced. "I would actually appreciate keeping it under wraps for now. Trust me, if things work out, you will find out. One way or another." She nodded. "I understand, dear. But know, we will all be here if you need us." I nodded in return. "And I thank you very much for it. I will see you next time then?" Rarity nodded, smiling. "Of course, darling! Good luck finding the answer to your predicament. I hope everything works out for you." I smiled back, and waved in farewell as she brought the furniture back to wherever she retrieved it from. ~ I casually walked the halls of the castle back towards Princess Luna's room, still embroiled in the confines of my psyche. Talking to Rarity helped, but this was going to be something I need to solve myself. But accepting new cultural values, if I can, was not an overnight process. Although, my biggest concern was still how Chroma would take the proposition. I may be on the fence about herds, but her? I have no idea. I reached the door to Luna's quarters, with a guard flanking each side, standing rigid and staring forward. I was closest to the earthpony one on the left, and the unicorn one on the right glanced at me before rapping on the door quickly. "Your Majesty, Master Ink is here." I heard a bit of shuffling and giggling, before a response was called out. "Please grant him entry, honoured guard!" Luna called out. The unicorn lit up his horn, igniting the doors with his magic and pushing them open. I looked through to see Princess Luna and Chroma, and I thought to myself. Oh, they're just. . . uhh. . . Lying on. . . The bed. . . Wrapped around. . . Each other. . . Staring at. . . Me seductively. . . . . . My mind proceeded to shut down. A few seconds passed, and - *Pomf.* *THWACK!* *Thud.* Once my brain rebooted, I noticed some scrambling to my left, and looks of shock on the faces of the guard to my right and the mares in the room, who all proceeded to burst into hysterical laughter. I looked over, and noticed that I had a major wingboner. And I smacked the guard to my left in the face with my wing, knocking him over. He was back in position now, a few feet away, blushing profusely, but he cast a nervous glance at me. The two of us where unsure what to make of the situation. "Uhh. . . sorry? Eh heh heh. . ." I anxiously said to him before shuffling into the room and nudging the door closed, an awkward grin on my face all the while. I turned back to the still laughing mares, who had laughed to the point of rolling off the bed. I walked up to them and nudged them, a wry grin across my face. "Well, thanks for that, ladies. Way to have me make a foal of myself." Their mirth died down to a manageable level, allowing them to respond. Chroma spoke first. "Oh, hun, that was too good! The look on your face. . !" She burst into another fit of giggles. Then Luna provided her view. "But we feel the greatest part was beholding mine guard flying to the side!" She suppressed her own fit giggles by putting a hoof to her mouth, squeezing her eyes shut. I snorted, grinning. "I appreciate it. Who is the one responsible for this devilish plan?" Their hooves simultaneously shot out, pointing to each other. The looked at one another after, seeing what they had done, and burst into another fit of laughter. I rolled my eyes and sighed. "Very well. I must torture both of you then!" I leaped at them, using my wings to tickle them. We ran around the room, laughing, having a grand time. A few minutes passed, and we collapsed on the bed, panting and laughing. I was flopped in the middle, wings and hooves splayed out. Luna was on my right, Chroma my left, flopped atop my wings, but not uncomfortably so. Our laughter died down, and we simply lay there, enjoying the company and relative calm.