//------------------------------// // Sweet Meetings // Story: Gathering Pieces // by Random_User //------------------------------// Cobalt glanced over his shoulder at his parents. “Are you ready?” Field chuckled. “You sound a little nervous.” “I am.” “You went into the Everfree forest, without asking permission,” Mosaic said. “Going into Twilight’s castle invited by three of the princesses shouldn’t be a big deal.” “I’m not going to live that down am I?” “No until you’re our age.” Cobalt knocked on the castle’s door. After a brief wait, the door opened. Spike poked his head around the door and grinned. “The hero returns!” Spike looked over Cobalt’s shoulder. “Hello!” he greeted Field and Mosaic. “Come on in, the princesses are waiting for you.” “Cobalt.” “Yes Dad?” “Hearing the princesses are waiting, now I’m a little nervous.” Amore and Mend met them as they moved down the hall. Cobalt ran towards the pair. “Amore! Mend!” Amore took Cobalt into a hug. “Hello again Cobalt.” “I see how it is,” Mend teased. “The young mare gets the hug.” “Mend, I’m sure he’s glad to see you too,” Amore said, releasing Cobalt. Cobalt gave Mend a hug. “I didn’t know you would be here.” “I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.” Mend looked over Mosaic and Field. “These your parents?” “They are. This is my mom, Mosaic Tile, and my dad, Fieldstone.” “We owe your sons a great deal,” Amore told them. “I owe Cobalt for my freedom, and Stone for his bravery in the battle against the Nightmare’s.” “We’re very proud of them,” Mosaic said. Mend stepped towards Mosaic. “Hold still.” Mend examined Mosaic, giving her a prod or examining touch. “Good bone structure, toned but not over developed musculature.” She looked over Mosaic’s surprised face. “Open your mouth.” Mosaic, cutting her eyes towards Field, did as ordered. Mend looked over Mosaic’s teeth. “Overall, I would say you are in good health.” “We try to take care of ourselves,” Field said, “but what does-” Mend took Field's chin in her hoof and examined his mouth. “Both your son’s show some interesting characteristics, so I need to know about you two to know more about them.” She felt on his chest and shoulders. When he winced as she hit a tender spot, she asked, “You both work with heavy loads don’t you?” “We do,” Mosaic said. “But-” “I have herbs that will help you with the soreness.” Mend looked to Mosaic. “You picked a good one. ”After finishing her examination, Mosaic patted Field’s chest, which gave a deep reverberation. “Does he take care of you like he should?” “He always has,” Mosiac said. “Is he still able to get the fire to rise?” Amore gasped and put her hooves over Cobalt’s ears. “Mend!” “Cobalt knows how he got into this world. There’s no shame in talking about it.” Mosaic looked to Field. “You’re still young, but if you ever need a little extra spark don’t be embarrassed and just ask. I’ve got stuff that’s sure to get the flames high again.” “Thank you, but,” Field hugged Mosaic to his side, “she is all the spark I need.” Mosaic blushed and hid her face behind a hoof. “If I ever need any flint and kindling, I will come to you.” He kissed his wife’s head. “This is a fire I want to keep going for as long as possible.” Mend hummed a thoughtful note. “Stone got your size and her personality. Cobalt takes after you, being an affectionate, hugging pony like you, but her build.” “Now we have answered you questions, let me ask one of you,” Mosaic said. “Why do you need to know more about our sons?” “I like to know as much as I can about anypony I am working with or on.” Speaking of which, I need to get you two to Celestia. We have a lot to talk about.” Mend looked to Amore. “You can uncover his ears now.” Cobalt looked around at the grown ponies. “Is everything okay?” “Your parents are in great health, but we’re about to be late for our meeting. ”Mosaic put a hoof on Cobalt’s shoulder. “Can I entrust you and Spike to make sure that Amore behaves while I’m gone?” Cobalt nodded with exaggerated seriousness. “We’ll do our best.” “Watch her close,” Mend said, as she guided Field and Mosaic down the hall. “She can be a hooffull.” Amore laughed. “Compared to you, I’m no trouble at all.” Cobalt turned around to face Amore. “We’re supposed to be meeting too.” He bowed to her, folding a foreleg under himself. “I am here to answer my Princess’ summons.” “This will not be a formal meeting. Since I am not from Ponyville and have no connections in Canterlot, there is little I could do to contribute to the preparations for tonight. I was hoping to spend time with you outside of the lessons we had been doing.” She smiled at Spike. “You are more than welcome to join us. Is there a place where we could go to get a snack and talk? I would like to get out of the castle and the bustle going on with everypony getting ready for the celebration.” “Sugar Cube Corner,” Spike said with finality. “It may not be much calmer, but it’s a different craziness.” “Sounds delicious,” Amore said. “Everything they have is wonderful,” Cobalt said. “Then it that's where we'll go.” ***** “Just to make things clear,” Mend leaned forward on the table between her and Cobalt's parents, “you can either sign this enrollment form, or I’m going to coltnap your son and train him myself.” “Mend, we agreed to not put any undue influence on anypony regarding the decisions they would make today,” Celestia reminded her. “I’m not trying to influence them. I am stating what will happen, if need be. That colt has the most potential I’ve seen in years. I will not let it go to waste.” “You don’t have to worry about that,” Mosaic said. “I agree; he needs training for his talent.” “That makes two of us,” Field said, as he passed a quill to Mosaic. “Mares first.” “Thank you.” Mosaic took the quill from Field and signed the enrollment form. She returned the quill to Field. “Twilight doesn’t know?” “She doesn’t’ have a clue.” Celestia watched as Field signed the enrollment form. “I asked her for a preliminary report on her research on Cobalt getting his Cutie Mark. She has been so absorbed in working on it she hasn’t even noticed what has been going on in Canterlot.” She glanced towards a clock on the wall. “Shining and Flurry will greet her at the train station any time now. They are to distract her for as long as possible. If they can’t, we have a backup plan in place.” Field put the quill back in its inkwell. “What would that be, if you don’t mind me asking?” “Pinkie Pie,” Celestia said, with a bright smile. ***** “I can’t believe I missed all of that,” Spike said. “It wasn’t as nice being there, for parts of it.” Cobalt looked down at his sundae. “I was so worried for everypony.” “I’m just glad-” Spike paused, turned his head, and let out a ball of flame. The flame coalesced into a plain scroll. He grabbed the scroll out of the air, before it could fall. “Good catch,” Amore praised. “I’ve had lots of practice.” Spike examined the scroll. “That’s weird. It’s for me.” He broke the seal on the scroll and read the message. “What does it say?” Cobalt asked. “Pony of interest incoming, mode of transportation was faster than expected. Distraction tactic number two needed. Contact agent Cotton Candy.” Spike turned his head and released another spurt of flame. He caught the second scroll in his other hand and looked at the pair of seals affixed to the scroll. “This is for you, Princess.” He passed the scroll to Amore. “It has a Your Eyes Only spell on it, so it’s got to be important.” After swallowing a bite of his sundae, Cobalt asked, “What’s a Your Eyes Only spell?” “It’s a spell that keeps anypony but the one that it’s for from reading a message. They’re used when things are getting bad.” “That’s not the case here,” Amore assured Spike, looking up from the scroll. “It’s good news I must keep secret a while longer.” “Does it really make the message unreadable to everyone but you?” “It should.” Amore turned the scroll so he could see the side she had been reading. “Can you see anything?” Cobalt shook his head. “Nothing.” “I’ll contact agent Cotton Candy,” Spike said, sliding from his chair. “I’ll be right back.” “We need to head back to the castle,” Amore said. “Twilight shouldn’t know I am here just yet.” “Can we stay till we finish our ice cream?” Cobalt asked, looking hopeful and sounding a touch sad. “I promise, I’ll be fast.” “Cobalt, are you okay?” “We won’t be able to do this again,” he said, his voice cracking. “I know you are an important princess, and have lots to do. I don't think I'll see you again af-” He stopped, as Amore touched his nose with a hoof. With a gentle smile, she told him, “You will see me again. I assure you.” “There are no frowny faces allowed in Sugar Cube Corner!” Pinkie Pie hugged Cobalt from behind. “I would ask what’s got you blue, but you’re blue all the time.” When Cobalt looked up at Pinkie, and she looked down at him, their noses came close to touching. “I’m all right, Pinkie.” He gave her a brave smile. “I was worrying about something is all.” “The only thing you have to worry about is that what’s left of your sundae will melt if you don’t eat it. I hate to hug and trot, but I’m on a super-secret distraction mission while the princesses get everything together for a great big celebration that will be full of lots of surprises for everypony.” Cobalt’s smiled turned into a true one. “If your mission is super-secret, why are you telling ponies about it?” “To make their frowns go away.” She let him go from the hug. “I’m glad it worked.” She waved at Amore. “Hello.” “This is Princess Amore,” Cobalt told Pinkie. “I know who she is, silly; she will be a big part of the celebration and a lot of other things I can’t talk about too.” “Pinkie, shouldn’t you be distracting somepony right about now?” Spike said, as he returned to the table. “You’re right! I’ve gotta go! See you at the party!” Pinkie raced out of the shop, leaving a puff of confetti behind. “Twilight won't know what hit her,” Spike said. Looking surprised, he thumped his chest with a fist. “Another one?” He turned his head and breathed out a plume of flame that turned into another scroll. He grabbed the scroll from the air and looked it over. “It’s for you, Princess. It’s from Stone.” Amore took the scroll from Spike and read it. “We won’t be going back to the castle,” she told them. “We’re needed here to serve as another distraction.” “I take it something in the plans broke down,” Spike said. “Twilight wasn’t the only one who got here early and we are now acting as a contingency plan for some new arrivals.” She looked to Cobalt with a smile that hinted that she knew something she was not sharing. “Cobalt, it seems your brother is concerned about you.” “What do you mean?” “Stone wrote me, quote, ‘and tell Cobalt to be careful about putting on the charm with who he is about to meet,’ end quote.” “I could teach you a thing or two about handling fans, before whoever it is gets here.” Spike rubbed the claws of one of his hands against his chest. “I am a rather important dragon in the Crystal Empire.” The door to Sugar Cube Corner opened, and Freight stepped in. She glanced around the shop, until her eyes came to the table where Amore, Cobalt, and Spike sat. “There you are!” Cobalt intercepted Freight and hugged her with enthusiasm. “I can’t believe you’re here too!” She hugged him back. “Who else would they trust to make sure the last of the party supplies got here on time?” She let go of Cobalt and looked back towards the door, where Care and Windless were looking around the shop with amazement. “Come here for a second, you two.” Care and Windless trotted over to the table. Windless paused in awed wonder when we looked at the princess. “You’re Princess Amore.” Amore smiled. “I am.” “Wow. I didn’t know you would be here.” “Hello, Princess,” Care said. As she bowed, she paused and nudged Windless. He joined her in bowing to Amore. “You don’t have to bow. I’m here as regular pony.” “You can pick out what you would like for a snack, but it can’t be too big,” Freight told them. “From what I could tell from the shipping manifest there will be a lot of food served tonight and I don’t want you ruining your appetite.” After returning to standing, Windless grinned at Cobalt. “You must be the magic compass Mom told us about.” He approached Cobalt and held out his hoof. “My name is Windless Night. Thanks for helping Mom with the Nightmares.” “I didn’t do much of anything,” Cobalt said, shaking the offered hoof. “The Lunar Guard, my brother, and our friends are the ones that took care of the Nightmares.” “I got to meet your brother for a minute, he seems kinda cool.” “He is.” Cobalt turned his head, as Care moved towards him. He glanced back at Windless. “Are you twins?” “We are.” Windless grinned, and added, “I was born first, so I’m her older brother.” “Do you have to tell everypony that?” Care asked Windless. Cobalt bowed to Care. “My name is Cobalt Blue. May I have the pleasure of knowing yours?” Care blushed. “My name’s Care Package.” She glared at Windless, as he snickered at her. Freight prompted, in a coaxing, teasing tone, “Care, you’re supposed to offer the gentlecolt your hoof, when greeted like that.” Care offered a hoof, which Cobalt accepted and bowed over. Cobalt asked, “Is there anything I can do for you to make you feel welcome here in Ponyville?” “You can quit flirting with my sister for minute and tell us what the best thing here is that counts as a quick snack,” Windless said. “Windless, he’s just being nice,” Care told her brother, with a touch of a growl in her voice. Windless nodded towards where her hoof was still being held by Cobalt. “Then why is he still holding your hoof?” “It’s because I’m not letting go of his.” She hugged Cobalt, and wrapped her wings around him. “Thank you for helping everypony with the Nightmares and making sure Mom got home.” Cobalt appeared stunned. “I was just the guide.” “That’s not what Mom told us. She told us you and your brother were both brave and went through all kinds of stuff. Dad said you even stood up to Mercy, and she can be scary.” “Your Mom and Dad told you about me?” Cobalt asked. “You’ve met my husband, but you didn’t know it,” Freight said. “His name is Starless Night.” “You’re married to him?!” Freight laughed. “With all that was going on in the Crystal Empire, I never got to tell you about them or about me being married to Starless. Stone knew about Care and Windless, since I mentioned them to him on the trip back to Canterlot, but I take it he didn’t tell you.” “He didn’t.” “Sis, let go of him or kiss him and get it over with,” Windless teased. “If we take too long, Mom won’t let us have a snack.” Care blushed. “I wasn’t going to kiss him!” “Sure you weren’t.” “Cobalt, you should give her a hug back,” Freight suggested. “Getting a full wing hug from a bat pony means a lot.” Cobalt nodded and gave Care a timid hug. “That wasn’t much of a hug,” Spike said. “I’ve see you hug lots of ponies. I know you can do better than that.” Cobalt shifted how he held Care and embraced her. “Sorry about that, I’ve never given a hug to a filly before. I was nervous and didn’t know what to do.” “It’s all right,” Care assured him. “I was nervous about meeting and thanking you. I kind of hugged you without thinking about it. So I know what it’s like, just from the other end of things, if that makes any sense.” “It does to me,” Cobalt said with an understanding grin. “That’s better,” Freight said. “For second, I thought you didn’t like her hugging you.” “No, I like it,” Cobalt said. “It’s so warm and different from a pegasus wing hug.” He looked down Care’s wings. “It feels so soft and delicate. It’s like being wrapped in a warm silk blanket.” “Our flight membranes are delicate,” Freight said. “That’s why a bat pony wing hug is so special. We have to depend on who we are hugging not to hurt us.” Blushing, Cobalt met Care’s eyes. “Thank's for trusting me like this.” “Mom, ponies are staring,” Windless said. “Care, you can let him go now,” Freight told her. Care took her wings from around Cobalt and let him go, as he released her. “I’m Spike,” Spike said, giving her a wave. “I’m Care, pleased to meet you.” “Are you going to give him a hug too?” Windless teased. “He saved the Crystal Empire, twice.” “It’s cool,” Spike said. He offered a fist to Windless. “I didn’t know my reputation had spread that much.” Windless tapped a hoof to Spike’s fist. “I’m into the Crystal Empire. I found about you by keeping up what’s been going on there.” “Windless and I have never been here before,” Care told Cobalt. “What do they have that’s tasty?” “Everything’s great! Just choose something you like.” “Do they have any fruit pies?” “All kinds of them, come on, I’ll show you.” Cobalt looked to Windless. “Want to come with us?” “Sure.” Cobalt led the twins to a display on the other side of the shop. “He doesn’t have a chance,” Spike said. “Just what are you implying?” Freight asked. “Care might as well have hung a sign on him that said, ‘this colt is mine and the rest of you back off.’ No filly I know would give a wing hug like that to a complete stranger.” “Unless that stranger saved Equestria and helped their mother get home,” Amore said. She cut her eyes toward Freight. “However, they would have to learn about that from another pony, and her reaction to meeting with Cobalt seemed strong.” “I told both my foals and my husband about what happened,” Freight said. “You can’t point a hoof at me for her behavior just on that.” “You didn’t intervene either, after she hugged him that long,” Spike said. “It did strike me as odd,” Amore said. "Most mothers would not care to see their daughter act as Care did." “Let me tell you both a little story, one that my daughter knows and that may be playing into this. During one of my first solo training flights, our ship got an emergency signal from a group of Luna Guards that had run into a bugbear during a training exercise. My instructor insisted that I not give up the wheel, despite me wanting to give it over to him. I piloted the ship to the coordinates and landed it as close as I could. The guard was still fighting with the bugbear, when we got to them. While we were descending, I could see three hurt guards on the ground.” “That must have been intense,” Spike said. “It was. As soon as we touched down, my instructor ordered me to do what I could to help, while he got the ship ready for an emergency take off that was sure to be over the ship’s weight limit. I helped carried the wounded to the ship, while other members of the crew helped keep the bugbear back.” “You have a habit of get pulled into adventures you weren’t intending to it would seem,” Amore said. Freight seemed to see something other than what was around her. “Starless couldn’t fly, but he and the other guards kept the bugbear distracted and allowed us time to get everpony on board. It was rough take off, but we made it off the ground. We were so cramped in the ship we only had space for the couple of Guards that had gotten roughed up bad to lie down while Mercy worked on them.” “Wait, Mercy was there too?” Spike asked. “She was the team’s medic. After that, she trained on learning offensive magic so that nopony around her would have to go through something like that again.” “I think she accomplished her goal. What happened to Starless?" “His left wing was broken, he had cracked ribs, and he had scratches all over. If hadn’t been for his armor, it would have been much worse. After Mercy stabilized the other Guards, she gave something to Starless for the pain. Since there wasn’t much room in the ship, I ended up holding Starless to keep him sitting upright and to keep an eye on him as the medicine took effect.” "That must have been rough for the guy, being held by a mare that had just helped save him," Spike joked. Freight gave a light snort. “He kept apologizing, for getting blood on me and putting me in an awkward position. I ended up putting his head on my chest and telling him to shush so he wouldn’t disturb the others. Right before the medics loaded him on a stretcher, Starless sat up, touched his nose to mine and thanked me for all I did and told me I was brave, selfless, and talented mare. For a second, I thought he was about to kiss me, but he paused and the medics got him first.” “He who hesitates is lost,” Amore said. Spike asked, “What happened after that?” “For a week, nothing happened. I didn’t even know Starless’ name. Because I wasn’t a family member, when I tried to find out how everypony was doing all I got in response was a uninformative ‘they are recovering well’ answer, as per protocol.” “They could have said something to you, considering what you did,” Spike commented. “After I sent the inquiries through the official channels, I got a letter from a pony, who shall remain nameless, who provided me with news on how things were going.” “Your source wouldn’t have been at the event herself would she?” Amore asked, with a knowing smile. “I never said the pony was a she,” Freight said, while giving a return smile that confirmed Amore’s suspicion. “When I found out that Starless and the other two guards were mending well, it took a load off of my mind.” “You didn’t go see them?” Spike asked. “I couldn’t. Between my training schedule for becoming a pilot and the tight visiting hours for non-family members at the infirmary, I never could check in on them myself.” “Bummer.” “A few days after I got my informal response, there was a knock on my door. When I answered it, there stood Starless, in full dress uniform. He greeted me in much the same way that Cobalt greeted Care, thought without the bowing due to his ribs and wing.” “So, he sought you out,” Amore said. “I take it he thanked you for what you had done?” “Yes, after he offered to pay back the cleaning costs of my uniform.” “What a doofus,” Spike said, earning him a look from Freight. “I mean, he could have been smoother than that.” “Oh, he was,” Freight assured. “He told me that while he was in the infirmary that the thought of how I held him made the recovery bearable. He told me he wanted to show his appreciation for my piloting skills and saving him by taking me to dinner.” “Much better,” Spike said. Amore glanced at Care and Windless, who were talking with a pony behind the shop’s counter. “Seeing those two, I assume things went well.” “The dinner went well. He bumbled things, after he escorted me home. He recovered well, though.” Spike’s spines rose. “What did he do?” “It’s what he didn’t do that got to me. After walking me back to my apartment, thanking me again, and wishing me a good night, he acted like he was just going to leave. He must have picked up on me being disappointed. He stopped and asked me what was wrong. I asked him if he had thought about kissing me when they were about to take him off the ship. He didn’t answer at first, but then confessed that he had thought about it.” Amore sighed. “While that’s not the most enthusiastic answer he could have given, at least he was honest.” “I asked him why he didn’t. He said he did not want to overstep himself and that it would have been inappropriate in front of our fellow Guards.” “So he was being professional,” Spike said. “There’s nothing wrong with that.” “I asked him why he didn’t at least offer to give me a hug before he left, since we had such a wonderful night and we had pretty much hugged each other the entire time on the ship.” “You trapped him,” Amore said. “I tried, but he turned it on me. He told me he didn’t want to give me a hug until we had seen each other a few more times and when he had recovered enough so he could hold me and get both wings around me.” “Whoa,” Spike said. “That was bold.” “It was perfect. Till that point, I didn’t know if he was interested in me or if he was taking me out and thanking me out of a sense of duty. I told him that since I couldn’t get a hug from him, I wanted the kiss he intended to give me on the ship, or I might think he was being insincere. You know what that scoundrel did in response? “ “What did he do?” “He kissed my nose.” Spike blinked. “That was it?” “He told me that would have been all he would have had the courage to do, while in the ship and everypony watching. He told me he was sure that if we were to see each other more that his admiration and appreciation for me would grow and he could far more into a kiss whether ponies were watching or not.” “No wonder you ended up marrying him,” Amore said. “Debonair and handsome is hard combination to pass by.” “I knew he was teasing me, so I teased back. I suggested that every time we went out we could kiss to gauge see how were progressing between us.” Freight smiled. “It didn’t take long for us to figure out that there was a bond forming between us that was more than us riding the excitement of our meeting the way we did. By the time he healed up enough to give me that promised hug, we were devoted to each other.” “They’re coming back,” Amore warned with a whisper. “I found happiness and love due to a chance meeting,” Freight told Spike. “If she finds the same with her chance meeting with Cobalt, I will not step in the way.” Windless was the first to return to the table. “Can I sit by you?” he asked Spike. “Sure.” Windless pulled up a chair and settled beside Spike. “What did you end up getting?” Amore asked him. “A chocolate cupcake,” Windless replied. “Cobalt said he would bring it with the rest.” “A good choice, Pinkie makes those, most of the time, and they are delicious,” Spike said. “I like mine with a little quartz sprinkled on top.” “That’s right, you can eat rocks too.” “I just eat gems. I’ve tried rocks, they taste horrible. Maud, Pinkie’s sister, likes to eat gems and rocks of all kinds.” “I’d like to see that.” Care pulled up a seat next to Windless. “Have you asked her?” Windless gave her a panicked look. “Care, don’t.” “Ask me what?” Amore said, smiling at Windless. He bowed to her, almost putting his forehead on the tabletop. “It’s nothing, Princess” “It’s not nothing, it’s important to you.” Cobalt slid Windless’ cupcake in front of him. “Ask her. I promise, she’s nice.” Windless remained silent, staring at the table, as Cobalt put a slice of apple pie topped with whipped crème in front of Care. “Did you know you are the first pony, outside the Empire, that has recognized me at first sight?” Amore said. “No, Princess.” “Just Amore, please.” Windless looked up at Amore’s smiling face. “I can’t tell you how flattered I am that you knew who I am. You can ask me anything you like.” “Are there any bat ponies in the Crystal Guard?” “I don’t know.” Windless looked miserable and his ears wilted. “I should have known.” “That does not mean there aren’t or there can’t be,” Amore said. “I know a pair of ponies you could talk to about that.” Windless perked back up. “Who are they?” “Empress Cadence and Shining Armor are friends of mine. I could introduce you to them.” “You’d do that for me?” “Of course.” “Thank you.” “You could be the first bat pony in the Crystal Guard, ” Cobalt said. “That would be cool.” Windless smiled and took a bite out of his cupcake. “Hmmm, you two were right, this is great. ”He glanced over at Care’s plate. “How is… you ate it already?” Care grinned. “It was the best pie I’ve ever tasted.” “How could you tell? You just inhaled it!” Ignoring her brother, Care asked Cobalt: “You said the orchard that grew the apples for the pie is here in Ponyville, right?” “Sweet Apple Acres is right on the edge of town. It’s Applejack’s family’s farm. They grow all kinds of stuff there, and their apple cider is the best.” “We if go, could we meet another of the Elements?” Windless asked. “Another?” Spike asked. “Pinkie met us, not long after we landed, ”Care explained. “I should have known.” Amore told Windless, “There’s a good chance you will meet all the Elements this evening.” “All of them?” Windless asked, in a nervous tone. “I wouldn’t be surprised, why?” Windless flushed from his cheeks to the tufted tips of his ears. “Looks like somepony has a crush,” Spike said. He narrowed his eyes at Windless. “It’s not Rarity is it?” Windless shook his head. “Pinkie doesn’t seem like she’s the one. There wasn’t much of a reaction from Applejack’s name. It’s not Rarity. Rainbow Dash? Nope, nothing there either.” Spike counted on his claws, and his eyes widened as he looked up at Windless. “Don’t tell me it’s Twilight!” “It’s Fluttershy,” Freight said. Windless sunk in his seat till he all but disappeared under the tabletop. “Mooom!” “He was about to figure it out anyway.” Field turned to Spike. “Windless likes to draw, and there for a while Fluttershy’s picture was everywhere. He used her as a reference and turned into a fan.” “She has such graceful lines, it’s easy to draw her,” Windless said. “I hated that she looked scared in so many of the pictures, though.” “You should tell her that, if you meet her tonight, ” Spike said. “I’m sure she’d appreciate it.” “If he can say anything to her at all,” Care teased. Twilight’s voice could be heard from outside: “Pinkie! We don’t have time to stop for a snack! There is something going on at the castle!” The door to Sugar Cube Corner opened, and in stepped Pinkie. “We’re not stopping for a snack; we’re stopping for some help.” She pointed a hoof at the three foals. “Are you three up for helping with some pastry transportation?” Windless stood up in his seat. “Sure!” Twilight made her way around Pinkie and stared at the Amore, Freight, Spike, and the foals. “What in Equestria is going on?!” “Hello Princess Twilight,” Care said, giving her a quick bow and a wave. “Hello to you too.” Twilight waved back, seemingly on instinct. “Freight, is this your filly?” “She is. Her name is Care. She’s mine and Starless’.” Freight nodded to Windless. “That’s my colt, Windless.” Windless bowed, “Hello, Princess.” “Hello to you too, it’s nice to meet you. ” Twilight froze and stared at Freight. “Did you say you and Starless’?” “No time for chit chat, we have desserts to move!” Pinkie said. “You four, march to the kitchen, on the double. We’ve got a cart to load.” “Yes, ma’am!” all three foals, and one dragon, replied. After replying, they raced to the back of the shop. Shining, with Flurry riding on his back, entered the shop. “Pinkie, what are you up to now?!” “I’m distracting Twilight and getting things done, silly.” Pinkie pointed a hoof at Amore. “You’re going to help me and the foals get things moved.” She pointed towards Freight. “You’re going to help keep Twilight occupied by telling about your foals and your husband to Twilight.” She turned to Shining and pointed at him. “You’re going to get Flurry a little treat for being such a good filly this afternoon and then go to the back of the shop so we can get you hooked up to the cart.” She pointed at Flurry. “And you stay cute as a button.” “I’ll hold Flurry, while you get her treat,” Twilight offered, sounding resigned. Flurry giggled and laughed, as Twilight used her magic to levitate the filly into her forelegs. “When Pinkie’s like this, you have to go with the flow.” “That’s the spirit!” She motioned for Amore to follow her. “Come on, Amore, we’ve got goodies to deliver!”