Chapter 65 - Fear no evil, fear the cute
Midnight had eventually found Fritter and gotten her to calm down. Deciding that some exposure might help, Midnight went and found Cider and Scope, and the foursome went to make a certain delivery to a certain bar on the Strip.
As they walked, Fritter noticed that her little sister was a little shaky.
“Heh, you hit the cider early today huh?” she teased her.
“Oh shut up!” Cider retorted. “Fer yer information, ah’m a little nervous as to how this is gonna go down. Ah put a lot of time, money an’ effort inta this. It’s not so much that ah need it t’work. Ah want it t’work!”
They soon approached the Love Shack and the cerulean mare took a deep breath before the foursome entered.
“Your leading ladies have arrived!” Midnight shouted, earning a groan from Scope.
“Middy, can’t you ever enter this place normally?”
“Aw, now where’s the fun in that...did you… just call me, Middy?”
The Changeling blinked, but was a second too late to avoid the nuzzling hugs she was now getting from the bat. “Gaaah, getoffmeeee!”
A familiar unicorn walked out from...somewhere, most likely the back, and smiled widely. At Apple Fritter. It looked like Sugar Darling remembered her~ “Well hello there,” the mare purred to Apple Fritter. “Are you here for business...or pleasure?”
Apple Cider looked from Sugar, to Fritter, then back to Sugar again. “Sis...did you…?”
“Whut? She’s a hot mare and sure as hay knew what she was doing,” Fritter nodded. She looked back at Sugar and winked. “Well, it was business, but now ah’m thinkin’ mighty highly of the second~”
Cider rolled her eyes and placed the crate she was carrying on the ground. “Business first if y’all don’t mind.”
“Spoilsport,” Sugar said, coming closer nonetheless and inspecting the crate. She froze and reread the label, before looking up at Apple Cider. “You...made some?”
“It’s all ah can make fer now, at least until the other trees mature. So I could produce about… about this quantity every month and a half or so.” She also took a thirteenth bottle from her saddlebag. It was half empty though.
Shut up, she had to check for… quality control. Yeah, let’s go with that.
“An’ this is so y’all can sample it first. See if y’all like it.”
Sugar took the bottle and sniffed it lightly, a waitress coming up not a moment later with a glass for the mare. Sugar took it and nodded her thanks, before pouring out a small measure of the wine and sipping it. Cider held her breath, waiting for a reaction...
The moan the mare let out after having some of the wine, was of the sort they might expect to hear from some of the other rooms of this place. “That...is the best wine I have ever tasted,” Sugar said with a pant.
“Ah’ll admit ah found it to be pretty good,” Cider said. Though, there was the saying that the harshest critic was yourself. “You sure it’s that good?”
“There is nothing I have had that can compare to what I just tasted,” the mare said as she eyed the rest of the bottle. “Hmmm...I think I can offer you a...generous sum for this crate. We occasionally get a client or two with deep pockets that we could sell something like this to.”
“Ah’d appreciate that,” Cider smiled. Oh yes, this day was turning out quite nicely. “Oh, this can be served quite well chilled as well, but you’ll need to store it in a wine cellar or a shelf. Keeping it chilled fer too long will sap the taste away.”
Midnight had dragged Scopey away while the ponies talked business, though Fritter had opted to stay so she could og- observe the meeting.
“That won’t be a problem,” Sugar said as she hummed, considering how best to pay. “Would you prefer the bits, or a check?”
“Either is fine,” Cider nodded. “A check is easier t’carry though.”
“But the sound of jingly bits is sooo satisfying,” Fritter added, earning a nod from her sister.
“The amount I am thinking would be impractical to carry,” the disguised nymph hummed. “Give me just one moment to write it up?” Cider nodded and hefted the crate back onto her back.
“No problem, ah’ll take these to yer cellar… or, whatever y’all have here.”
“Or,” a new voice said from off to the side as Two-Step joined them. “I could do that. Probably better that way.”
“Ah, well, if y’all insist,” Cider said, looking at the new pony. Fritter was looking at her too, though, in a completely different way~
Two-Step giggled and walked closer, before taking the crate from Cider’s back and putting it on her own. “It’s probably better this way,” she said. “It can be a little...difficult for non-employees to find where everything goes.”
“And while she takes care of that, I’ll go to the office and take care of you,” Sugar said. Both of the disguised nymphs turned and sauntered off at the same moment. Some things did run in the family~
“Oh my… ah reckon ah know what ah want fer Hearth’s Warmin’ now,” Fritter drooled and her sister rolled her eyes and looked at her.
“Sis, before you go unwrappin’ them. Y’all realise… what they are right?”
Fritter frowned and looked at her. “Y-Ya can’t be serious…”
“Those mares, heck, most of them here are all Changelings,” she whispered. Fritter paled as she looked at her sister, her mouth open in silence for a moment.
“But… they’re… still mares right?” she finally asked. Cider blinked, then shrugged and nodded.
“Well, ah reckon so. Ledger did say once that it’s awful hard to change gender, an’ ah reckon they ain’t those fancy illusions neither. So, yes?”
Fritter, actually looked a little calmer. “Well, ah guess that’s okay then. Still a lot weirded out though…”
A minute passed before Sugar came back, with a check in her magical grasp that she was quickly drying. “And here we are~” she said with a happy hum. “I believe that this should make up for all the work you put into making those bottles.”
Cider looked at the check, then sat down very fast and very hard. “T-That… that...that’s a lot of bits Miss Sugar. Ah… are y’all sure? Can y’all even make this amount back?”
“I’ve been here for quite a while, dear,” Sugar said with a small nod. “I have savings and investments that haven’t done much but grow. This is fair payment for what you’ve brought me...and if you keep bringing me things like this, I can promise more.”
“So yer sayin’ yer old and rich?” Fritter giggled, poking at the mare as Cider just stared at the check and nodded a few times, mumbling something. Fritter suddenly remembered what Cider had said and pulled her hoof back, looking away.
“Ah, I know that reaction,” Sugar said as she looked at Fritter. “Somepony knows a secret~”
“Ah… guess,” Fritter said, still not looking at her. “This is… just a little weird fer me.”
“It probably is,” the disguised nymph agreed. “But if you must know, dear...you’re still quite memorable to me. That hasn’t changed. Just because you know more about me, doesn’t mean I’m that different. I’m still a mare with...wants, needs...desires…” The more Sugar talked, the more husky her voice became.
Fritter shuddered at that last part, though, what the reaction meant might not have been what Sugar was aiming for. Midnight trotted back over, with Scopey in tow as she looked at the group.
“Hey, what’s going on here?” she asked. “Everything alright?”
“Just peachy,” Fritter said in a quiet tone. Sugar hummed, before looking at Midnight.
“Were the two of you in the same city for the same disastrous reception?” she asked. There was another awkward pause, before Fritter nodded slowly.
“Ah...ah live in Canterlot...and, ah was catering fer the wedding. So, ah was inside the castle when… when they…”
“You should probably talk it over with somepony sooner or later, dear,” Sugar said, wanting so badly to hug Fritter to reassure her, but knowing that was a bad move at this point. “I’m mostly familiar with how to get drones used to nymphs again. Ponies used to changelings is a new matter entirely.”
“It’s… fine,” Fritter said. “And, ah have no problems with you. Ah reckon yer a nice mare n’all. And, y’all certainly know which buttons to press~ It’s just…” She shook her head and snorted. “Ah don’t like stallions okay. Les’ jus’ leave it at that!”
“If you say so,” Sugar said, restraining herself still. “I just wish I could help…”
"Ah don't need no help. Ah'm jus' fine!" Fritter replied with a small huff.
“Dear, I can practically feel how uneasy you are around me now,” Sugar said. “We’re not oblivious to the pains a pony has.”
“...Tha’s cheatin’,” Fritter pouted. Midnight nodded in agreement as the Earth mare looked at her. The Thestral was actually privy to what had happened that day, but sworn to secrecy. “Ah… ah’m not comfortable… Could you?”
Midnight took a breath and nodded. She looked at Sugar with a solemn expression. “Okay, have I ever told you, what I went through during that day? What… almost happened to me?”
“No, I don’t think you have,” Sugar said, leaving out that there had been rumors flying through the changeling community for a while. “Though I don’t imagine it was anything pleasant.”
Midnight nodded, gulping as she dredged up those memories again. All the lust and joy she usually emitted was gone, nothing but negativity remained as she remembered that day. “I was… confronted by a Black Changeling. And, my Love was forcefully taken from me. The Love I had for Moondancer was gone…”
“I can’t imagine how that must have felt,” Sugar said sadly. “I’d offer an apology, but I wouldn’t know where to begin…”
“It wasn’t you, and the Changeling that did it was utterly obliterated by Ledger,” Midnight responded, then gave Sugar a hug. “And you’re making my Moonie happy again. You have no idea how grateful I am for that.” She sighed and let go, looking at Fritter. “But, my emotions weren’t the only thing they wanted to take… luckily the shield activated before they could… but Fritter… she, wasn’t so lucky…”
Apple Cider blinked, and as the pieces fell into place, she gasped, looking at her sister, who nodded to confirm the story. Sugar visibly wilted at the thought, her ears folding back as she took a step back from the mare.
“I’ll...understand if you don’t want to talk to me, after something like that,” the disguised nymph said sadly.
“It’s why ah don’t like stallions,” Fritter finally said. Just thinking about it made her sick to her stomach. “Ah don’t hate you Miss Sugar, an’ ah ain’t dumb enough to blame all of ya, fer the actions of a few.”
“...Still, you’re about to be sister-in-law to a changeling family,” Sugar pointed out. “That’s going to be awkward at family reunions.”
“Ah know,” Fritter said with a weary sigh. She looked at Cider and hugged her tightly. “Ah’m sorry ah didn’t tell ya sis…”
“Yer darn right you should be sorry, dang idjit!” Cider chided her, her accent particularly thick. “Ah can’t believe you didn’t tell yer own sister! But…” She held her a little tighter as tears dripped onto Fritter’s coat. “Ah’m glad yer okay…”
“Aww, I wish I had my camera,” Sugar said with a happy sigh at seeing the family moment.
“Mm, moment's gone,” Fritter said, letting her sister go. “I guess I feel a little better, getting that off my chest.”
“Thought Sugar would rather just get you off,” Midnight giggled, earning a punch in the shoulder from Fritter, wincing painfully as she did.
“Mm, maybe, but I don’t know how Moondancer would take it,” the disguised nymph said with a hum. “I’d have to run the idea past her…”
“Run what by me?” a voice asked as a pair of cream-coloured hooves snaked their way around the nymph’s neck, the Unicorn in question having teleported in almost silently and without a flash.
“Hello there,” Sugar said, enjoying the hug. “Apple Cider and Apple Fritter were just making a delivery, and Midnight was being Midnight.”
“Midnight is ever anything but?” Moondancer giggled, eeping when the bat slapped her rump with a wing. She smiled at the Apple sisters as well. “Ah, my name is Moondancer, I teach at Celestia’s School and am also using this one here as my personal cuddlebug.”
“Nice ta meet ya,” Fritter nodded, and Sugar had definitely caught the mare checking out Moondancer’s flanks and adorable face. Sugar hummed before she whispered something to Moondancer, something that hopefully, Midnight would stay out of.
“Threesome with Fritter?” the nymph asked her marefriend.
Midnight’s ear twitched and a toothy smile split her face. Ohh, was Sugar in for a surprise.
Moondancer blinked and looked at the earth pony, before leaning over to whisper back. “Exactly what kind of mare do you take me for?”
“The kind that teleports into my room at all hours of the day and night and crawls into bed with me, in multiple senses.” Now the whispering had become a hushed conversation. Hopefully the other ponies would understand…
“Well good,” Moondancer replied. “You know me oh so well. And of course we can. I was actually wondering why it was taking you this long to ask for one.”
“Uh, is there a problem?” Cider asked, wondering what all the hushtalk was about.
“Nothing that can’t be...discussed. At length, which I would like to do with this wonderful mare,” Sugar said as she stood next to Fritter.
“Now y’all wanna help?” Fritter frowned slightly. “Well ah’m afraid it’s gonna hafta wait, we have a lot of work t’do back on the farm.”
“That we do,” Cider sighed. “But, it’ll be easy to do with mah sis.”
“Eeyup, tain’t nuthin we can’t do together.”
Midnight was trying soooo hard not to say anything lewd.
“Mmm, such a shame,” Sugar said before sighing sadly. “As Cider isn’t currently somepony I’d feel comfortable in asking back to my boudoir.”
Cider stumbled and looked at the mare. “Wait, WHAT?”
“Moonie and Sugar totally wanna bang your sister,” Midnight finally spoke up, giggling madly. Cider just blushed and snorted, while Fritter blinked… then shrugged.
“Meh, why not?”
“Fritter?” Cider blinked.
“What, yer bangin’ like, four other ponies. And that Unicorn is mighty cute.”
“Oooh, so the threesome is back on?” Sugar asked unashamedly. “Wonderful~”
“Mhm, Ah’ll swing by later tonight,” Fritter nodded and then planted a kiss right on Sugars muzzle. The nymph hummed into it, before she broke it and gave Fritter her best bedroom gaze.
“We’ll be waiting~” she said.
Fritter nodded and turned to her sister. “An’ now you know whut it’s like when you get all kissy face with yer herd in front of everypony.”
“Ah do not get ‘kissy face’,” Cider counter-argued, the two siblings continuing to bicker as they left the building, leaving Scope and Midnight behind, seemingly forgotten.
“Well… that happened,” Scope muttered.
“...Yup,” Midnight nodded. Sugar sighed as they left, before turning to the pair from Ledger’s herd.
“I should probably reward the pair that helped set up our entertainment,” Sugar Darling said, half to herself and half to Moondancer.
“Oh? What are you scheming now?” Moondancer hummed, kissing the top of her head. Sugar’s smile was just a touch too wide to be completely innocent as she hummed, considering all her options.
“Mistress, I do not trust the look on that nymphomaniacs face,” Scope shuddered. “I think we should run as far and as fast as possible.”
“Sweet Dream,” Sugar called out. “I think an old friend of yours is back~”
“Oh bloody hell!” Scope cried as a Violet came running towards them, the smaller nymph already making a break for it.
“Come back!” the new nymph said as she gave chase to Scope. “I just wanna be friends with you!”
“Oh dear,” Midnight chuckled and shook her head. “Now that was just mean Miss Darling. I almost wonder what you have in store for little old me~?”
“Oh dear, don’t worry,” Sugar said as her horn flashed. “Let’s just say, it wasn’t a coincidence your stallion found a book of sex magic. Nor will this one be.”
Midnight blinked again. Oookay… What was she up to?
“Thank you for helping me refine my teleportation spell, Moony,” Sugar said to the mare still hugging her. “Before I just had to make the best guess as to where Ledger was. Now I can stick a book in his desk from a city away.”
“This… will prove to be interesting for me, won’t it?” Midnight said with a bemused smirk, wondering what devious ideas she was putting into her buggy’s head.
“Let’s just say, I would expect anything from him the next time you two are together, dear,” Sugar said before giggling.
Hmm, she was tempted to go find him right now. But, who knows where the heck he was. Scope was still running from Dream, but the larger nymph was getting closer. However, she lacked Scope’s freedom of movement. Where the small nymph could more easily dart under ponies, Sweet had to go around them.
And that was when one of the ponies Scope was diving under moved and tripped over the nymph, sending her sprawling across the ground.
“Aw holes,” she muttered. Sweet Dream was on her in an instant, picking her up and cuddling her, cooing soft words as she held Scope close.
“Dammit, how is this a reward?” Scope asked the club owner. It was Sweet who replied though.
“Oh, I can reward you~” she whispered huskily into the smaller nymph’s ear. Scope frowned, and decided to burst the mares bubble.
“You do realise I’m taken now right. My marefriend, and a trained Changeling hunter is standing right there.”
Sweet Dream paused before looking over at the thestral with a curious eye. Surely this little one was joking, yes?
“Hmm?” Midnight looked back. “Try not to cuddle her too much, that’s my job.”
“...Awww…” Sweet said sadly. She gave Scope one final nuzzle and kiss before, quite reluctantly, letting her go.
Scope looked at the pouting nymph and she felt like she’d just kicked a puppy. “Urgh! Fine. You can hug. That is all. Got it?”
“It’ll have to do,” Sweet said before hugging Scope again. “Mmm...I’m gonna miss spending time with you…”
“You only had one night, and half of that was spent with some faceless stallion that could barely give me a decent reaction.” Scope deadpanned.
“I’m still gonna miss you,” the disguised nymph said, giving her a squeeze before letting go. “There, I’m good for now.”
“Only for now huh?” Scope chuckled, before yelping as Midnight scooped her up this time. “Gah! Why do I feel like I’ll have to sleep with one eye open?”
“Aww, don’t be like that,” Middy cooed. She looked at Sweet and giggled. “You should see her sleep in her little cloud nest, it’s soooo adorable~”
“I am not adorable!” Scope yelled.
“Not when you’re being all shouty you’re not,” Sweet agreed. “Ah well. Guess I’ll just have to look for somepony new to spend time with.”
“One down, now if I could only get Amy off of my back,” Scope chuckled darkly. Which also gave Midnight an idea.
“Oh yeah, I still have to go see her. Let’s go Treasure~”
“Dammit!”
“Take care of her,” Sweet Dream said, giving Midnight a friendly hug. Midnight had put Scope down to return the hug as the small ‘ling headed for the door.
“And seriously, calling me by that name in here,” Scope muttered as she brushed past Sugar.
…
…
Aw hell.
“And what name would that be?” Sugar asked sweetly. Scope cursed under her breath and then muttered something that even Midnight couldn’t hear.
“Didn’t catch that,” the disguised nymph said to the smaller one, with only a small smile on her face.
Scope groaned and dragged her hoof along her face. “Grrrr, I said my name is Secret-Treasure alright.”
“...As in Secret-Hoarder?” the violet ‘ling asked with a genuine, wide smile.
“...Yes,” the small nymph replied quietly, not wanting anybuggy else to hear.
“Moondancer,” Sugar said to the mare that, surprisingly, still hadn’t gone anywhere. “Fair warning. I’m about to hug that little nymph. Hard.”
Moon nodded and teleported, landing expertly on Midnight and tackling the bat with a light giggle. Scope knew that she couldn’t outrun the Noble, and just surrendered to her fate. Sugar all but tackled the small nymph and held her close, not saying anything and barely not breaking bones or chitin with the pressure she was exerting on Scope.
“I don’t see why everybuggy makes such a big deal out of this,” Scope said, not wanting to admit that she was leaning into the hug. “I mean, I’m pretty sure Ledger cried. So… yeah.”
“Hearing that you not only proposed such a name change to him, but that he accepted, doesn’t make me want to hug you any less,” the larger ‘ling warned the smaller one.
“Yeah, kinda figured that… Still haven’t told his mom yet though… or any of his dads.” Scope shrugged. “S’not that big a deal.”
“You do know what was done to him, yes? To hear he recovered from that...to the point where he accepts you doing such actions around him...you’ve been good for one another.” Sugar nuzzled the smaller nymph, letting her affection for the one that had healed Ledger be known.
“Yeah well… I guess, I kinda, sorta maybe, love him,” Scope blushed, looking at her hooves. Sugar cooed and gave the small nymph a kiss on the head.
“You take care of him, you hear?” she whispered to the little ‘ling.
“Yeah,” Scope nodded. “Someone has to, he has this annoying habit of getting into ridiculous amounts of trouble.”
“He always was one to ask ‘and why are you doing things that way?’” Sugar said with a giggle. “You’ll be the best voice of restraint for him I can imagine.”
“Mhmm, beating him up is a lot of fun,” Scope giggled. “Still, if shit hits the fan, I’ll protect him. S’my job…. and my desire.”
“Good,” Sugar said before finally letting the diminutive ‘ling go. “Somepony has to, he’s too busy fording ahead to protect his flank all the time.”
“Mmm, and that flank is far too yummy to let anything bad happen to it,” Scope giggled as Midnight finally escaped Moondancer, not that she really wanted to.
“Okay you two,” Sugar said as she gave Midnight a hug. “Go and find your stallion, make sure he’s not getting up to too much trouble.”
“He’s out and about with Twi-Twi somewhere,” Midnight said as she relieved Sugar of Scopey-hugging duty. “I’m sure they can’t be causing too much trouble…”
“So I was researching some tomes Celestia gave me the other day,” Twilight hummed as they walked down the street. “Necromancy is fascinating.”
“Wouldn’t know, never touched the stuff,” Ledger said with a shudder. “I think there’s a section from the Black Book on it, but I didn’t pay it much mind.”
“Well, I don’t plan on casting it myself,” Twilight replied with a wave of her hoof. “But it doesn’t hurt to know how it works in case I ever go up against it. And given what I’ve had to fight so far… a necromancer would be on that list somewhere.”
“Fair enough,” Ledger replied as he called up his rather distasteful memories from his time in the Red Burial Mound. “From my...experiences, most necromantic creations have a central core of magic that binds them and holds them together. Identifying that and destroying it is your best bet.”
“Yeah, and most can’t regenerate once their body has broken apart, unless the caster is there to revive them again.” Twilight paused and looked at Ledger. “Why are we talking about fighting the undead?”
“You brought it up,” Ledger pointed out. “And one of us has experience.”
“...I fear that if we continue, we’re just inviting a zombie apocalypse to happen,” Twilight said, poking out her tongue.
“Like it would be any worse than the lizard one that nearly happened,” Ledger retorted, sticking his tongue out as well.
“Don’t tempt fate,” Twilight giggled. “And somehow, Midnight will be the one that starts and ends it… I can see it now.”
“Considering her training, I wouldn’t doubt it,” the disguised drone replied with a nod. “Though, I do doubt that she would start it. On purpose, anyways.”
“Yet we agree that she could start it,” Twilight nodded. “Well, regardless, let’s move on to a different topic.” The Alicorn thought for a moment before looking at the drone. “So what’s up with you and Discord?”
“We’re...not exactly friends, not exactly rivals. We...tolerate one another, but that relationship is strained at the moment,” Ledger said as he thought about the spirit. “He probably doesn’t like the fact that I’ve only ever called on him when I was in trouble, though if he says he doesn’t like the chaos that’s been brewing in this city, I’m going to call him a liar. And he also probably doesn’t like the fact that I know his weakness.”
“Aside from the Elements of Harmony and Fluttershy?” Twilight asked. This was now highly interesting.
“Yup, but out of respect for him, I’m not telling,” Ledger said, making a mental note to magically blank a page or two of his book before lending it to the Alicorn. “He has been rather helpful in his own, roundabout way.”
“He does have his moments,” Twilight said with a small smile. “Then you have the moments where he gets jealous and threatens to banish a mare to another dimension…”
“Hmm…” Ledger hummed as he considered the situation. “Jealous of what or who?”
“Ah, well Fluttershy made a new friend when she went on an expedition a few months ago, needless to say, Discord thought his place as Fluttershy’s friend was in jeopardy. And the last Grand Galloping Gala was certainly one to remember.”
“The solution seems simple then,” Ledger said with a smile. “Discord needs more friends. More friends that aren’t Fluttershy or me. Hay, until I know what he thinks about me, I would rather not see him again for a while. The last words I heard from him were...not pleasant ones.”
“What did he say to you?” Twilight asked. If Discord was threatening him…
“Just that if I called on him again, he would not be pleased, or happy, or something. In a tone that suggested I might find myself on the wrong end of a prank war with a Chaos Spirit.”
“Ah,” Twilight said, before frowning as she felt a weight on her back. “Discord, get off.”
“When I find that delectable Violet Queen again, perhaps I might,” Discord chuckled. “But I heard somebuggy talking about me and my ears were burning.” He leaned over to show that his ears were indeed on fire. “So what’s up?”
“Twilight asked what my deal was with you. Considering I haven’t sold you anything or bought anything from you, I don’t know what she’s talking about,” Ledger said with a wide smile. He hoped Discord caught on.
“Hmm, I give it a seven, but don’t give up your day job chuckles,” Discord patted him on the head. “But I was bored, and Chrysalis is just no fun at all. All she does is yell at me, so I figured I’d come and hang out with you guys.”
“We’re kind of on a date,” Twilight replied. The she got a small smile, actually, scratch that. Her smile was downright creepy. “But, there are some wonderful ponies you could play with at Cider’s farm~”
“Oohh, that sounds fun,” Discord clapped his paws. “Well I think I’ll do just that. Have fun kiddies! Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, your day would be dreadfully boring otherwise.” And with a flash of light, he was gone.
“...This is revenge against my mother, isn’t it?” Ledger deadpanned to Twilight.
The Alicorn looked at him and smiled. “Now would I hold a grudge like that? You just said that Discord needed more friends after all~”
“She’s just trying to make sure I don’t enter a relationship like my first one,” Ledger said, not sure if Twilight would ask or not. But if she did, he’d be honest with her. He owed her that much.
“Your first? You mean Midnight?” Twilight blinked.
“...There was somepony before that,” Ledger said. “And we did not part amicably.”
“Oh… I’m sorry to hear that,” Twilight said, looking a little wilted. “But, it sounds like it’s not a happy tale and we’re on a date. So lets go and have some fun!”
“Las Pegasus is well known for being a city for fun,” Ledger said with a snicker. “You lead the way, your highness.”
“I’m sure you and I are thinking of completely different types of fun,” Twilight said, that last word was a little husky as she winked at him, and trotted off with a slight sway in her flanks. Ledger let off a happy little sigh as he watched her go, before following after her. He could watch those flanks all day~
“Well, I’m sorry I pushed Twilight to such an extreme,” the Madame said to Apple Leaves. “But I felt it necessary at the time.” The fact that she’d helped clean up helped, surely.
“She’s not my daughter, but ah do agree that you could have been just a tad more gentle-hoofed.” Apple Leaves had finally finished tidying up and had poured the two some tea. Twilight Velvet had gone off somewhere, presumably to cool her own head.
As the Madame went to sip from the teacup, a pair of yellow eyes floating inside it stared back at her.
“Well, hello gorgeous~” the cup winked at her.
The Madame hadn’t had her share of experiences with Joyful for nothing, though this was certainly new. She gingerly put the teacup down and pushed it away before looking at Apple Leaves.
“Can I have a new cup, please? Mine has eyes in it.”
“Oh pooh, and I was just about to get a taste of those luscious lips,” the cup morphed into the Draconequus and looked at a bemused Madame, and a confused Apple Leaves. “Well now, two lovely mares. This must be my lucky day~”
“...I may not have my son’s desire to learn about things weird and forgotten, but I do believe I know of you,” the Madame eventually said, before looking at the Apple mare. “My apologies if this gets confusing.”
“I may be weird, but I am most certainly not forgotten.” He looked at Apple Leaves and pouted. “You know who I am yes?”
Apple Leaves shrugged. “Ah’m guessing your one of my daughters strange friends.” She sighed and trotted out of the room. “Ah’ll go and make some more coffee…”
“Honestly, there is just no love these days,” Discord waved his hand and looked at the Madame. “And you, why are you so serious? It’s hard on the eyes.” With a snap of his talons, the Madame now sported a party hat and her mane was now like Celestia’s, wavy and glaringly bright.
“Ahh, much better.”
The disguised nymph took in the changes, sighed once, and then her horn flared in a silver light. A pulse of magic rushed out from her form and stopped about one foot away from her body, before the changes were...undone, by whatever she was doing.
“When you live with a manic ball of energy and three drones that can destroy anything if they put their mind to it, you learn defenses or get used to replacing everything,” the Madame replied.
“Well now, I think I’m falling in love… or I have heartburn again.” He pulled his own heart out of chest and looked at it with a scrutinising gaze, before pulling down a zipped on his chest and putting it back. “Hmm, I don’t really know.”
“Should I expect you to make any form of sense in the near future?” the disguised nymph asked as she sipped at her tea.
“What fun is there in making sense?” Discord replied as he floated upside in the air. “So you’re Ledger’s Mommy huh? That must be interesting.”
“My son does seem to find the most interesting things out and get into the most sticky situations of any drone I’ve known,” the Madame replied, her shield not dropping. “Sometimes I wonder if he goes looking for trouble, or if trouble goes looking for him.”
“A little of column A, a little from column B,” Discord waved a hand. A wave of his had had the two seated at a candlelit table, sharing a plate of spaghetti. “Now, tell me more about you my dear~”
“What’s there to say?” the Madame replied as she thought about changing the pattern. “I’m only the second most influential ‘ling back in the lands. Everybuggy was expecting me to take the throne from my brother, but I was happy letting him be king. I was always a reasonable nymph.”
“But Queen would fit a mare such as you oh so well,” Discord bat his eyes at her. “Surely you must have entertained the idea once or twice?”
“That would require me taking the throne from my brother, and I’m not one to do that. Our parents preached equality and followed it as well as they could.” The Madame tried a noodle of the spaghetti and hummed, liking the taste. “Thanks to my brother and mine’s efforts, it’s becoming a reality. I’m much happier being the one everybuggy tiphooves around, even if they don’t really know why.”
“Hah! You and Sunbutt would get along quite well,” Discord chuckled. “And I bet having no Black’s around is making the Lands a little lighter eh? You’re welcome for that by the way.”
“It was...until some members of the citizenry started showing signs of becoming dark,” the Madame replied. “And we don’t have anything relating to how to help them stop or remain in control of their little color-shift. We don’t even know how it’s happened. My brother is of the opinion it’s a natural survival adaptation inherent to the Changeling race as a whole. I’m inclined to believe him. Others...not so much.”
“The Kings and Queens think they were a cancer that needed to be removed,” Discord said, weaving some spaghetti to look like a Changeling. “And in order to help Celestia, I played the villain… in a way, it was Tirek that ultimately decimated their kind… I just opened the door for him.” He made the pastaling dance around, like a puppet on some strings. “You all seem to think that the Blacks were the result of something they brought upon themselves… but, I know differently.”
“I would welcome any information you would choose to share,” the silver nymph said honestly. “The last incarnation of the Blacks were a pox on every house. But if there were a way to have them and not have that...hostility, to us…”
“They were hostile, because they were negativity incarnate. The first Black,” Discord dimmed the lights. “Was the result, not of dark magicks gone awry, but of a Changeling that fell so utterly into despair, that happiness, that love was meaningless to him.”
“And thus he had to steal his emotions, and he fed on the negativity in everypony around him, and brought it forth,” the Madame said solemnly, seeing where that was going.
“It was very much like those ‘vamponies’ in those ridiculous books,” Discord told her. “One led to another, then another… like a house of cards. The reason the Pinks fled the Lands? Not because they were scared of the Blacks…” He leaned forward, his face obscured by shadows save for his glowing yellow eyes. “But because they were scared that the other Hives would find out that the First Black… was a Pink.”
“Oh dear,” the madame said as she put a hoof to her mouth. “...A Black is what happens when a Pink breaks? The very thought is...”
“A Black is what happens when any Changeling breaks,” Discord said, leaning back and clicked his claws, summoning two glasses of Crystal Berry Wine. “Pinks are just a little more susceptible is all.”
“...Is there a way to stop it?” she asked quietly. “Seeing so many of the changelings fall to this...it’s tearing at the kings and queens.”
“There are a few, though technically the first falls under a genocide of sorts, so you might not like that solution.” Discord sipped at his wine glass, before inhaling the liquid. “Mmm, delicious and scenty~”
“We’d rather come through this little crisis intact, yes,” the nymph said, picking her wine up and sniffing at it. Hmm, that smelled rather good.
“Oh you’d be intact, you just wouldn’t be Changelings anymore… you’d need a cuter name. Hmm, Bugponies? No... Flyponies… ahh, Flutterponies!”
“We’ll call that option ‘not-A’,” the silver ‘ling said before sipping her glass of wine. Oh dear, this was rather good stuff. “Are there any others?”
“Perhaps, but just giving you the answer is no fun,” Discord replied, eating his little pastaling. He would be missed. “Tell me, what’s in it for me?”
The Madame hummed for a moment, before an idea crossed her mind and she looked at the spirit. “What do you think of Pinks?” she asked bluntly.
“Ahh, they are delightful, a creature after my own heart,” Discord said. “In fact, I plan on teaching your little daughter a few tricks. She is quite talented at Chaos Magic.”
“For every good lead you give us, I’ll leave the reality-reinforcing wards around her room undone for another day,” the mare offered. “I might even call her here right now if you give me a really good one.”
“Hmm, nice try, but while I will teach her a few tricks, it’s not really that high on my priority list,” Discord said. “I am an ageless Spirit, to be honest, I doubt there even is anything you could offer…”
“Free reign to do as you will for my son’s bachelor party,” the Madame said, thinking of the one thing she could possibly offer him. “As long as I don’t ever hear about it.”
“Bah, like I need a reason for him to hate me,” Discord replied. “To be honest, I’d prefer him as a friend that I can annoy every now and then. One day I’ll teach him not to be such a stick in the mud.” He suddenly smirked and leaned forward. “I wonder, just how desperate you are to get that answer~”
“They’re considering quarantining their own subjects,” the Madame said in a very small voice. “...if you know anything, please. Please help us.”
“With that knowledge, I could ask for just about anything couldn’t I?” Discord said, relishing the power he held over an entire race. “Maybe have your race worship me as a god? Or something a little more…” he cupped her cheek. “Intimate~”
“If it means saving them...saving ourselves,” the Madame said before drawing a deep breath. “Then by all means. Name your price.”
Discord remained silent for just a moment, as his claw trailed down her back, listening to her reactions, before pulling back and chuckling.
“Just kidding! Fluttershy would never forgive me for doing something like that.” he clapped his hands and the romantic atmosphere disappeared, the room returning to normal. “Besides, if I romance a mare, it will be because she wants to.” He poked her nose and clicked his fingers again. “You’ll have a little book waiting on your desk when you get home. Look forward to that.”
“You have my thanks,” the mare said with a nod of her head. “Whenever you think of something you want in return...let us know.”
“Yes, yes... “ Discord waved a hand. It was exhausting being a good guy. “Don’t be so quick to give up next time though. You are far more fun when you fire back. I fully expected to have you talk me into this sooner.” He slowly faded away, and smirked as he did. “Oh, and be sure to ask Wishy-washy about Midnight. That should prove to be a lot of fun~ Tatah!” And just like that, he was gone.
“Hmm,” the Madame hummed as she sipped at her leftover wine. The ‘meek and helpless’ act hadn’t been one she used for a while, but it had its uses. And while it was true things were bad, back in the Lands, they weren’t nearly so bad as that.
“Now who was Wishy-washy?” she hummed aloud.
“Hey there beautiful,” Wishful hummed as he strode in. “Hmm, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing much, just dealt with a rather...bothersome spirit,” she said as she looked at her husband. “And what have you been up to? You’re strutting, that means you’re up to something.”
“...Nothing?” he asked, as a Pink blur attached itself to the Madame’s chest.
“HI MOMMY!” Joyful-Heart stared up at her with huge eyes.
“Hello there, dear,” the Madame said as she gave her daughter a hug. “Did your step-daddy call for you?”
“Ya-huh! There’a sad pony here. So I gotta give ‘em a dose of JOY!” the Pink ‘ling responded before detaching and running off. She had her target. It was time to strike!
“Um, surprise?” Wishful shrugged.
“Let’s just hope that whoever her target is knows how to deal with Pink ponies,” the Madame sighed. Damage control was going to be massive on this one. As it always was.
“Perhaps, maybe it won’t be so bad this time?” Peaceful wobbled in, a little dizzy after travelling with his daughter. “Also… I found these scrolls?”
Wishful’s eyes widened and he lunged for them, but the Madame was faster…
“Oh my,” she said, reading through them. “Well...somepony was feeling...adventurous.”
“I was sugared up after having dinner with Midnight and…” he looked at his wife and husband. “I am just digging a bigger hole for myself aren’t I?”
“That certainly seems to be the case in some of these,” the nymph replied with a snicker.
“I take it that little ball of Lust inspired some of these?” Peaceful mused, looking over his wife’s shoulder.
“What? Of course not!” Wishful blushed. Aw hell, now he was thinking about that again…
“Ooooh, this one…‘Get the guest room on the farm, discreetly take down soundproofing wards on son’s room, and then-’”
“GAH!” Wishful made another grab for the scroll again.
“I rather think Ledger might not appreciate your doing that,” the Madame said with a smile as the scroll danced away.
“He doesn’t have to know,” Wishful found himself saying before thinking. So he was a little curious about that mare. She shouldn’t be so damned attractive! “Come on… just gimme the scroll back so I can obliterate it!”
“I am hardly done reading it,” the silver unicorn said as she gave it another glance. “Oh dear. Where did you get the idea for a cucumber?”
“Dinner was rather inspirational okay!” Wishful gave up. At least she wasn’t saying no~
“Hmmm...this isn’t your hornwriting,” the Madame finally observed. “Nor there...or here...this is...Oh my. Ledger wrote this?”
“I was sugared up and regret many things about this trip,” he pouted.
“You will,” the Madame said in a tone that caused both of her husbands to shudder.
“I am now uncertain if I should run or not?” Peaceful said with a raised eyebrow. She just chuckled and drew him close before doing the same to Wishful.
“Oh boys,” she said with a grin. “This trip has only just begun.” Both stallions gulped, but their excitement was clearly visible already. Maybe this little vacation wouldn’t be so bad after all~
“Guest room,” the nymph said before her horn glowed and the three of them vanished.
Cider and Fritter had returned to the farm, though their argument hadn’t lessened in the slightest. So now that had to settle it the Earth Pony way.
A royal flank-kicking.
The two mares squared off in an empty patch of the field. And when an apple fell from a nearby tree, once it hit the ground, the two mares charged. Given their natural strength, they were trained in a martial art, so that they could learn control and learn how to hold back, so they would accidently hurt somepony or worse.
So when the two mares sparred… it tended to rack up property damage. Fritter tried a sweep kick, which Cider leapt over and lashed out with a forehoof. Fritter caught it and continued her arc, tossing her sister over her shoulder and towards the ground. Cider extended her other forehoof and when she struck the ground, she turned the fall into a roll, reversing the flip on her sister.
Fritter had no such luck in countering the throw and landed on her back with a hard thud, before quickly rolling away as Cider’s hooves struck the ground where she previously was.
“Heh, not bad Cider. And here ah thought yer lovelife made you sloppier than a pig in mud!”
“Ah practise when they aren’t around,” Cider replied, picking herself up and brushing some dust from her coat. “Ah honestly don’t know what they might say if they knew.”
“Heh, ah reckon Middy might be a little ticked that we haven’t sparred with her,” Fritter chuckled. “Now,” she suddenly struck the ground with her forehooves, causing a large stone to jut out of the soil. “Rollin’ Earth, Shattered Boulder!” She spun and bucked the rock with her hind hooves, breaking it into hundreds of pieces and sending them flying at Cider.
Apple Cider took a breath, before she mimicked Fritter’s move, only she skipped the first step and pirouetted, lashing out repeatedly with her hind hooves and kicking down any stones that would have struck her. That was when Fritter came in low and tacked her around the barrel, slamming Cider into the ground and causing the earth beneath her to crack under the force of the blow.
Apple Cider coughed, not having expected that move. That was certainly new one. Fritter stepped back, giving her sister a chance to recover and get to her hooves.
“Plantin’ Hoof?” Cider coughed again, wincing slightly. “Didn’t know ya knew that.”
“Learned it a while ago, been waitin’ fer a chance to use it on ya!” Fritter said, swaying from side to side before dashing forward again. “Wanna see it again?”
“Ah ain’t no one-trick pony,” Cider replied. She waited for Fritter to get close, and then slammed the ground for Shattered Boulder, except give how close Fritter was, the boulder slammed her right in the chest and sent her skyward. Cider jumped up and flipped forward, bringing her hind legs in a downward arc.
“Cloudbreaker! Hard Rain!”
Fritter was slammed by the attack, sending her spiralling downwards and slamming into the ground with a small impact crater. Cider landed and dusted herself off as Fritter groaned from her new hole. She didn’t even try to move until Cider helped her up.
“Seriously?” Fritter pouted, trying to pop her dislocated shoulder back in. “A Pegasus style? What the hell?”
“Heh, figured that’d get you… wouldn’t have worked if y’all didn’t get cocky though.” Cider reached over and put Fritter’s shoulder back in with a loud pop. The mare groaned in pain, but shook it off a moment later.
“Ahh, that was fun though. It’s been too long.”
“Eeyup,” Cider nodded, looking around the destroyed clearing. “Hmm, think we went a little overboard?”
“Nah,” Fritter giggled, then one of her ears flicked. “Hey… you hear that?”
In the distance, there was a...sound. The sound of hooves rapidly approaching. Along with a giggle.
“What is that?” Cider blinked, looking in the sound’s direction. Except now it was coming from behind them.
“Foe, Fum, Fi, Fee…” the pair of Apple mares heard.
Fritter and Cider stood back to back, ready to counter any sudden attack.
“I’m here to comfort a sad pony~” they heard from Cider’s left, Fritter’s right.
The ponies took a defensive stance, the chanting was a little weird though. And for some reason, Cider thought the voice sounded familiar. The next thing Fritter saw was a pink blur headed right for her chest. One that was too small to be a full-sized pony.
“What the!?” Fritter instinctively raised a hoof to attack the incoming projectile, but Cider caught sight of what it was and slapped her hoof down. The blob of pink attached itself to Fritter and giggled as it hugged the hay out of her.
“Hyuh?” Fritter looked down at the blob on her chest. “A filly?”
The filly in question looked up and smiled at Apple Fritter. “Hiya!” she all but chirped at the larger mare. “I’m Joyful Heart!”
“Ah shoulda known,” Cider chuckled. “Well sis, she seems to like you, so best o’luck with that.”
“What? Who is this little filly!?” Fritter cried as Cider trotted away, leaving her sister to her cruel fate.
Joyful went from hugging Fritter to riding on her back in an instant, now hugging her from behind. “I’m just somepony that doesn’t like seeing other ponies sad,” she ‘explained’.
“Sad? Ah ain’t sad,” Fritter replied with a small frown. “Ah’m sore as hay after gettin’ the crud kicked outta me by mah sister, yer sittin’ on a mighty painful bruise by the way.”
“Whoops, sorry,” Joyful said as she got off the older mare and sat in front of her again. “And he said you’d say that. He also said to mention one word and then I’d have proof I was right.”
“An what word might that be?” Fritter asked.
“Changeling,” the little filly said seriously, watching the mare’s emotional state. Fritter stiffed, before slowly looking down at the filly.
“An’... who told y’all t’say that?” she asked slowly.
“Daddy did,” Joyful said. Technically step-dad, but she wasn’t one for calling her dads anything but dad. “And see? Totally different than you were a minute ago. You’re an upset pony, and I don’t like that.” That being said, the pink filly reattached herself to Fritter’s front, hugging her again.
“Ah’m not upset!” Fritter frowned again. She started to limp towards the house, with Joy still attached. The filly said something into her chest that was muffled by their bodies.
“Whut?” Fritter paused and looked down again.
Joyful looked up and repeated what she’d just said. “I said, you and your sister are pretty bad at lying.”
Fritter sighed, before looking up. “Yeah, guess we are. But it ain’t none o’yer concern. Yer too young to understand it all anyway.”
“I might surprise you,” Joyful said with a giggle, having taken the mare’s momentary distraction to give herself slitted eyes. “And it kinda is.” She had to wonder what Apple Fritter’s reaction would be to the fact that she was cuddling a changeling…
“Yeek!” Fritter backpedaled, but the little nymph managed to stay attached. She giggled again, enjoying the moment before the mare came back down from her panic. Assuming she did.
The mare ran around for a moment, before stopping when she realised her new accessory wasn’t coming off.
“Fine, what do ya want?”
“I jus’ wanna know why you don’t like us,” the pink filly said with a sniff and pouty lip.
“Ah don’t like stallions,” Fritter explained. “Changelin’s in particular, but ah’m a little uneasy around males of any species…”
“My big brother’s a changeling male,” the filly countered with. “And my soon-to-be big sis Apple Cider is your sister too. She doesn’t have a problem with him.”
“Because they didn’t hurt her!” Fritter suddenly snapped.
Joyful whimpered a little at the sudden volume, then a little more at what had been said. Apple Fritter sighed and hugged the filly.
“Sorry, but like ah said, it’s complicated…”
“Some nasty drones hurt you,” the filly said simply. “And now you don’t like any drones because of it.”
“Well, ah guess it’s not that complicated then,” Fritter gave a weak, forced laugh. “Yeap, that’s pretty much the long and short of it kiddo.”
“Big brother’s not like that,” the pink filly said with a shake of her head. “He wouldn’t hurt anypony unless they hit him first. Why can’t you give him a chance, miss Fritter?”
“Ah know he’s an okay stallion…” Fritter sighed again. “Still… ah don’t know…”
“Please?” Joyful asked, using every art of being cute that she knew with that one word. Pouty lip, sparkly eyes, tears in the corner. The works.
“It ain’t that simple,” Fritter said. She frequented Applejack’s place, and Applebloom used this trick all the time. This earth Pony had quite the cuteness immune system. Then Joyful sniffed and seemed ready to cry at any second, from the way she was trembling.
“An’ yer waterworks won’t work either,” Fritter deadpanned. “Look little… uh, what was yer name again?”
Too late, Joyful was actually crying now. It was just a few tears, but she was starting to build up to a bigger cry.
Ah crap. Fritter looked around, wondering just where Ledger was. “Alright, alright. Ah at least promise t’try alright!”
“You mean it?” Joyful said as she calmed down a little from her cry at the mare’s words. “You promise to give big brother a chance?”
“Yeah, ah’ll talk with ‘im when he gets back okay?”
“Yay!” Joyful cheered, happy again. “Hiya new big sister, I’m Joyful!” the nymph reintroduced herself, hugging the mare. Fritter rolled her eyes, she’d walked into that one face first.
“Mah name is Apple Fritter, and yer a right snake in the grass ain’t ya?”
“Just a little~” the nymph said with a giggle. “Mommy says I take after her in getting what I want. I just look at it as me helping ponies to try things that I know they’ll like!”
“Yeah, remind me never t’introduce y’all to Applebloom,” Fritter groaned as she trotted back into the house. She looked around, but nopony seemed to be home… which was strange.
“Now, wherein the heck is everypony?” she wondered.
“Maybe they went out to do things?” Joyful said. “That just gives us more time to get to know one another!”
“Ah guess, jus’ lemme go take a bath or sumthin,” Fritter groaned. “Ah still feel rough from mah fight with Cider.”
“Mkay!” Joyful said as she leapt onto the larger couch, getting comfy and looking over to Apple Fritter. “I’ll be waiting.”
Fritter nodded, she just needed to get her towel from the guest room first…
A minute later, Joyful heard an ear piercing scream from upstairs. The small nymph rushed upstairs, wondering what could possibly be going on. Apple Fritter was sitting outside the guest room, her face was burning red and she held up her towel to cover it.
“What happened?” the small nymph asked with a tilted head. Fritter jumped when she heard the filly’s voice and her eyes cast a quick glance to the guest room.
“...nothing,” she managed to squeak out.
“You’re still a terrible liar,” the nymph pointed out. Fritter just groaned and then bolted for the bathroom, wondering if she should have a cold bath now.
“...Ponies are weird,” Joyful said before walking back downstairs.
“I still feel like I should go and do… stuff!” Scope protested as she followed Midnight to Amy’s place. She wasn’t at work, so Midnight may have cheated and accessed the Guard records to find out where the nymph lived. It was a fairly nondescript apartment building, one that both Midnight and Scope were rather disappointed in.
“You know,” Midnight said.
“Yeah, I also expected more,” Scope nodded as they went inside. They went to the top floor and Midnight looked at door numbers until she found the one she was looking for.
“Here we go,” Midnight nodded and raised a hoof to knock. It was suddenly unnecessary as the door creaked open to reveal Amy’s face. Presumably. She wasn’t disguised at all, and she was...sweaty and panting a little? What had she been up to?
“Oh hi mares!” the Pink changeling said happily. “I’m a little busy at the moment, can this wait?”
“Maybe?” Midnight said. “It’s about the wedding actually, and you’ve been proving difficult to track down.”
“Acey and I have a day off today, so I figured we’d make the most of it,” the pink nymph said without opening the door any wider. “Seriously, if you could come back in like an hour…”
Midnight blinked, and then her mouth opened a little. “Ah… oh, um… okay.”
The door suddenly opened as a large Griffon poked his weary head out. “Ahh, Midnight, my most beloved student. Please come in! Really, I insist!”
“Acey~” Amy said, looking up at the griffon. “You’re recovered already?~” She looked back at the mares and grinned maliciously. “Better make that two hours…”
“Our friends are here,” Ace said, dragging the bat inside. “It would be rude to turn them away after they came all this way,” the Griffon replied hastily.
“Oh sweet Hives it’s pink in here!” Scope exclaimed as she was dragged along with Midnight. “Seriously, there are other colours in the spectrum!”
“I had those too!” Amy chirped before looking at Ace. “They were on a wonderful blanket that somehow caught fire.”
“What can I say, spontaneous blanket fires are a common problem,” Ace shrugged. “Especially when they cause seizures.”
“I feel as though I don’t want to know,” Scope muttered, wondering if she should go and get some sunglasses.
“So ah… you sure we’re not interrupting?” Midnight asked, the scent of what they were up to was quite potent…
“Not at all!” Ace nodded quickly.
“You might be, but if you are, Acey’ll pay for it later,” Amy said with a wide, evil smile. “So, what’s up with the wedding?”
Midnight nodded as Ace wilted slightly. “Um, okay… well, we decided on a date.”
“Oh goodie!” Amy said as she trotted over to her calendar. Which was also pink. “What day? I need to put in a request ahead of time so I can have that day off.”
“Three weeks from now,” Midnight nodded and gave her the exact date. “Actually… I was wondering, if you still wanted a shared ceremony. Ledger and the rest agree if you want to.”
“That doesn’t sound bad at all,” Amy hummed as she marked the day down. “What do you think, Acey? Up for a shared ceremony with Ledgy?”
The Griffon walked over to her, taking one of her hooves and kissing it. “As long as I spend the rest of my days with you my love~”
“Flattery will get you everywhere except out of the bed,” Amy returned. Ace clicked his beak and flopped back onto the couch, using Midnight as a pillow.
“Ah well, was worth a shot,” he chuckled, as Midnight tried shoving the heavy Griffon off with no success.
“Sooo, details on where you’re all having yours,” Amy asked as she used her magic to extract the batpony from under her griffon.
“Aww, she was a comfy pillow,” Ace pouted as Midnight whacked him on the head with a wing.
“Well, we’re having it in Ponyville, in Twilight’s castle,” the Thestral explained. “And Princess Luna will be the one presiding over the ceremony.”
“I have...no problems with any of that,” Amy said before taking Midnight’s former place as Ace’s pillow, snuggling her gryphon happily. “What about you?”
“No problems here, and little Lulu will make for a fun day,” Ace chuckled, using his talons to try and fluff Amy up like you would a normal pillow, tickling her sides in the process. She giggled a little before looking over to Midnight.
“And are we to assume you’ve gotten most of the things taken care of, like catering and decorations and a cake?”
“All taken care of,” Midnight nodded. “All you gotta do is tell us how many guests you’ll be inviting and show up. Simple no?”
“Hmm, I don’t plan for anypony to come if it’s out of town,” the nymph replied. “The mares and fillies and colts I work with can’t come if it’s all the way out in Ponyville. Plus I still have to find a seamstress that will work with me on my dress, and don’t get me started about the wedding bands or the cake.”
“Huh? Have you been having some trouble?” Midnight inquired.
“Not everypony is ‘ling friendly,” Amy muttered under her breath, apparently forgetting about Midnight’s thestral ears. The next thing Ace knew, he was without a pillow as Midnight pulled the pink changeling into a tight hug.
“Ack!” Amy said, not having expected this. “What...what’s the matter?” she asked the thestral mare hugging her.
“Doesn’t matter that you’re a Changeling, every mare should be able to have the wedding she wants,” Midnight said, kissing the top of her head. “But don’t you worry. You and I are gonna have the most magical damned wedding EVER!”
“...I still need a dress, and my own cake,” the pink ‘ling pointed out. “Along with the wedding bands.”
“Right!” Midnight nodded and started to drag Amy to the bathroom. “We’ll get you cleaned up and then I am going to help get you those things!”
“But…” Amy weakly protested as she was pulled along. “But my day with Acey…”
“You’ll have all the time in the world with Acey, he isn’t going anywhere,” Midnight nodded as the Griffon crossed the room to whisper in Amy’s ear.
“When you get back, I ‘will’ see to it that you get what you want,” he said in a tone that even caused Midnight’s heart to skip a beat and shudder slightly.
“You’d better,” Amy replied in a tone that was just as husky. “Right, lead on Middy!” The Thestral simply dragged the nymph into the bathroom, muttering something about stupid sexy bugs and birds…
Scope sat on the couch and looked at Ace, seeing as he was the only ‘not-pink’ thing in the room. The Griffon stared back at her, and the two remained that way until Midnight dragged a freshly showered Amy back out a few minutes later.
“Mistress?” Scope asked, “Did you… actually bathe her?”
“Well she’d take too long otherwise,” Midnight nodded. Amy huffed and crossed her forelegs.
“Just because I asked if Acey could be the one joining me for a shower instead of you…”
Midnight turned and gave the nymph a bedroom gaze and licked her lips.
“Be glad I’m taken,” she purred and then looked back to her marefriend. “Could you go back to the house, tell them I might not be home tonight?”
“Really?” Scope asked. “Well, whatever. Sure. I can do that.”
“Aww...Fiiiiine, if it’s for the wedding,” Amy said before going over to Ace and giving him a kiss.
A really deep kiss. That didn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon.
“Save it for later loverbug,” Midnight said. “He’s coming with us after all.”
“Sounds fun,” Amy said once the kiss broke, licking her lips as she looked her griffon over. Ace just shrugged. It had been a while since he spent any real time with Midnight, so this might actually be fun.
“Right, so tell Ledger you’ve eloped with Ace and Amy,” Scope chuckled and before Midnight could retort, she teleported from the room.
“So where’re we goin’, Middy?” Amy asked as she hugged Ace from behind, essentially riding the griffon.
“Ponyville,” Midnight replied. “So pack an overnight bag. Cause we’re going on a roadtrip!”
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Does it not bother anyone that the Cover Art mare's cutie mark is sideways? I mean, if she's sitting down like that, it shouldn't be right side up for us...
Sex you say? Seemingly interesting story. Fine. I'll review this here story.
*reads full summary*
Oh? Hm.
*sees 500k plus words and over 50 chapters*
Alright, you have my attention.
Wait, what is Midnights cutie mark for? I can't remember or don't know
love the discord sceen and the fight and the last bit with amy maby chrissy migt come in the next chapter
Now Discord's mentioned it, we're betting Gossip has much higher chances to encounter Celestia!
Can Fritter make a comeback? Will the Changelings evolve into Flutterponies?Time will tell!
Keep going! ;)
The story is going to end when Amy meets Pinkie and the world explodes...
I do so hope Discord is using his little bug freinds to spy on his big bug freinds. I mean, earwigs hear Everything.
I wonder whats in Discords Little Black Book for Madame? Phone list for various suppliers in Las Pegasus? Recipies and positions?
If everyone is off to Ponyville, with the Pinkie Welcome and Rarity Dresses, will Ace also manage to get one of Zecoras Energizer Potions?
7054203
Amy + Pinkie + Joyful.
The world will die as it lived; with three pink equine-creatures riding the rainbow confetti-streamers blast all the way to the moon in a barrel.
7054203 They already met once I think. Ponyville hasn't met them both at the same time though.
7054203
Silly billy, everypony knows they'll just divide by zero, make it work somehow, and cause the world to not-explode.
7054203 Amy and Pinkie and Joyful all meet together.
Pfft, yeah, I can imagine Chryssie being rather nonplussed about Discord.
I think Ace is still the strongest.
Nice scene with Discord.
The funny thing is ledger know a way to help blacks because he became one if only lightly.
But he would be in no hurry to tell his parents.
So the answer is there but out of easy reach for the lands.
"Rolling Earth, Shattered Boulder"?
Sounds like someone's been reading/watching One Punch Man. Kinda makes me wonder just how many types and schools of martial arts the Equestria of this story has.
Why is the axe goddamned?
7054109 bro this is one of the best stories on this site. Definitely read.
The Madam kinda remind me of Natasha from The Avengers with the act she pulled.
7054109 Definitely one of the best stories on the site. Fair warning though - there is a place or two where things get really, REALLY dark for a short while. Thankfully it gets better immediately after.
Also, unrelated to the chapter, I feel like Midnight and Ledger's relationship fits this song really well.
I never believed in love
Now I'm sleeping in a bed of roses
I was lost but now I'm found
You made me see when I was blind
7052909
You could also say he's very good at multitasking.
Though, I'm not sure that one comes across as well...
7054998 - Actually, that reference came from the Xenophilia fics. This was written waaay before One Punch came out.
Ok... im confused... what happened to Fritter? I knew she got put in a changeling pod but why does she hate stallions? What happened specifically?
7094950 She was raped by a drone. That was what almost happened to Midnight.
I'm going to be honest, I was so bored with this chapter that after Discord left I skimmed the rest. Actually the last several chapters have left me... dissatisfied. Everything feels so perfect. You had two great chances for drama with Velvet being angry that her daughter is dating a changling as well as potential chaos from Discord and nothing came from either of them.
I don't want to sound rude or mean since the story is well written but there needs to be more conflict and less prefection. When Cider delivered her wine I knew it was going to be good and work out for her because EVERYTHING works out for these characters. And when someone does something wrong one talk and everything is fixed. I hope you can see where I'm coming from.
Anyway I think I'm going to take a break from this story for a bit.
7064443
I KNEW IT
thanks for confirmation
I asked before because it was awfuly familiar
I mean herding... interspecies relationships...Rolling earth
7146316
Ok...here I allow myself liberty of disagreeing with you
Tough I love your work as well and I really like epical story and drama I actually dont think that every story needs dark plots and drama to push it forward.
Story can be driven by romance and day to day slice of life events and still may apeal to certain group of readers. After all Xenophilia itself is a proof thatmost of the story can be completely peaceful
I acctually like this lazy pace and it is somehow original to see a long story not driven on by grim events
Well I'm liking the story
huh? oh, right the Chamelos attack.
Excellent worldbuilding. Great development of Discord.
Some trauma needs to be worked trough...
This start to get more serious, the day is coming slowly closer. Magnificent chapter once more, I absolutely love the humor ♡
Discord is a great character, always nice to see him and other interact, LL sure has a future friend in him I guess?
Ace sure is busy this days, I wonder if he buff op from constant rutting
👍
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Hope they don't suffer from friction burns, because that what overindulgence can lead to. Lube help though