“This-...this can't be the right place.”
Twilight couldn't help but purse her lips and furrow her brow, as she saw her changeling guide give a tilt of his head and trot over to one side of the road.
Glancing from the site of her dismay and back to Phyll once more, she gestured a hoof towards the waiting stallion “I-...what are you doing?”
“I assume you have questions? It seems prudent to get them all settled here, before we head in.” Phyll casually replied, gesturing back with his own disguised hoof.
“This is the Silver Estate!” Twilight exclaimed in a slightly shrill voice, before abruptly slapping a hoof across her own mouth. There weren't many other places it could be, on this side of town. The Silvers seemed to favor their privacy, something that she could appreciate after her near outburst. Forcing herself to calm down a bit more, she steadily lowered her hoof and once more tried addressing the issue at hoof “This is the-”
“Silver Estate, yes.” Phyll patiently nodded.
“It sure is.” Applejack noted from Twilight's side, making no attempt to hide her scrutiny of the opulent estate. Pursing her own lips in thought and giving a tilt of her head, the farmpony turned towards Phyll “Is it just me? Or has this place gotten bigger since Ah was last here?”
“Correct. They added a conservatory along the East wing.” Phyll bluntly responded, before gesturing to the addition in question.
“Uhm. Can we circle back around to the part of the conversation about how this is the Silver Estate?” Twilight asked, with just a touch of bemusement at the tangent.
Phyll tilted his head up and stood a bit straighter “Of course. What about it?”
“...It's the Silver Estate.” Twilight slowly reiterated.
“And you're inferring that this means that the Silver family is comprised of changelings?”
The young princess considered the question for a moment, before glancing downwards slightly “I'm...I was somewhat concerned about the possibility, yes.”
“They aren't changelings.” Phyll easily assured.
Twilight nodded at that with just a bit of sheepishness “Right, that-...that would actually be pretty unlikely, now that I think about it.”
She had to refrain from ducking her head, as she admitted to letting her thoughts run away from her like that. While the Rich family was certainly more well-known throughout Ponyville, anyone with any familiarity with the subject knew that the Silvers were the wealthiest family in the whole town. And they were vieux riche at that. Old money. The kind that could track its roots to before Nightmar-...Luna's banishment; the sort that even the upper echelons of Canterlot society couldn't turn their collectives noses up at...
While Twilight had gained a sobering appreciation for the ability of changelings to infiltrate pony society, pulling off something like that would have been beyond implausible. That possibility chased from her mind now, she turned her attention back to Phyll “So, if the Silvers aren't changelings, I suppose that would mean-”
“Family doctor.” The changeling supplied. Leaning back for a moment, the stallion bowed his head forward for a moment “My apologies. You were going to ask if the changeling in question was an employee of sorts, correct?”
“Uhm, yes. And it's alright. That's sort of exactly where I was going.”
“Again, my apologies for rushing you.” Phyll replied with another nod, before gesturing a hoof towards the estate “Anyway, I believe you would know her as Honest Care. She should be still be here if my estimates are correct.”
“Hold on. Did you say Honest Care?” Applejack piped up at that.
The disguised changeling opened his mouth for a moment before pausing, as he visibly considered why AJ might be speaking up “...She's the one that picked the name. I'm fairly sure she didn't mean it ironically.”
“Ah-...Ah suppose it's not really important or nothin'...just kind of an odd choice, all things considered.” Applejack relented after a moment.
“She was always rather empathetic. Probably would have been happier staying back at the hive as a caretaker.” The stallion noted.
“If that's the case, how'd she end up here?” Twilight asked, genuinely curious.
Phyll shrugged “Excellent bedside manner, good at putting ponies at ease. And many of our own healers and caretakers learn their ways by learning them from ponies, in the field...and we wanted more eyes and ears in Ponyville.”
“Because of us?” Twilight asked with a raised eyebrow. To which Phyll only shrugged, not even bothering with denying it. Frowning slightly at that, the princess' attention was quickly drawn to the friend at her side “Is everything alright, AJ?”
Visibly shaken from her thoughts, Applejack looked over “Huh?...Oh, right. 'Course, Sugarcube. Just-...just was thinkin' 'bout the time Applebloom took that tumble. Honest Care was the one that ended up taking a look at her leg and settin' her aright...”
“...Is that alright?” Phyll quietly asked, before Twilight could think to.
Applejack blinked at that, before giving a tilt of her head “Huh...Guess it kinda is. Ah suppose it just feels- she sorta struck me as a nice sort.”
“Still is.” The changeling easily replied.
“Well...alright then. Time's a-wastin', isn't it? Got a lot of changelings to meet-up with, right?” AJ asked, shaking off her sudden bout of introspection and setting a brisk trot down the cobblestone path leading on to the estate. After sharing a brief glance with one another, Twilight and Phyll wasted no time in following after.
There was actually a fair bit of walking left for them, as they left the packed dirt of the road and started trotting up the cobblestone path that would eventually lead them to the front door. While Filthy Rich's own home was luxurious enough to have its own swimming pool and staff of live-in servants, the Silver mansion was sprawling; there were even side paths branching off the main path that circled off to other parts of grounds. It made it feel to Twilight like she was the one paying a visit to royalty, instead of the other way around.
Picking up her pace briefly, to draw alongside her friend, the young princess quietly cleared her throat to gather AJ's attention “So...I can't say I've ever had the pleasure of meeting with the Silvers.”
“Hm? Oh, you don't got nothin' to worry about, Sugarcube. Ah mean, shoot, yer a princess now, right?” The farmpony quickly reassured.
Twilight nodded in turn, before tilting her head towards Applejack “I suppose it's a bit much to say that I'm really worried...I just can't ever recall ever meeting them. I mean, I've seen their filly here and there, but I don't really think I know anything about them.”
“Well, Ah guess you could say they're real straightforward about things, if that's what yer wonderin' about. Not a lot of bandyin' about between the two of them...Filigree can be a bit forceful.” AJ supplied with a shrug.
“Filigree?”
The farmpony gave a nod at that. “Yup. Silver Filigree and Pewter Pick, her husband. Pretty upfront about everything Ah'd say, all things said-and-done.”
“Hm.” Twilight chewed the inside of her cheek lightly at that. Glancing to the set of doors they were steadily approaching and then to Phyll, still lagging a bit behind the two of them, the purple pony leaned in closer “And...is everything alright? You seemed a bit bothered a few moments ago.”
AJ blinked at the question before giving a chuckle and wave of her hoof “You don' gotta worry about me, Twi. Not that Ah don't appreciate it. Ah just got a lot on my mind is all.”
“Oh. Well, if you ever need to talk...”
“Ah might take you up on that, after things have settled down a touch.” Applejack replied with a small smile.
A smile that Twilight was all too happy to return “Anytime you need-”
“I can still hear both of you.”
“I'm sorry?” The purple princess blurted out.
The disguised Phyll trotted up alongside the two “Not that I mind. But if that was meant to be a private conversation, I could still hear the both of you quite clearly from back there.”
“Oh...” Twilight slowly replied, drawing to a brief pause.
Applejack gave a shake of her head at that, before giving a quiet huff “T'wasn't nothin' being said that needed to be kept quiet about. Ain't no secret that Ah can't talk to Twilight if Ah need to.”
“Fair enough.” Phyll easily replied, as he sidled up along the oaken double doors that marked their intended destination. Looking back to the two mares, he gave a tilt of his head to the heavy doors “Would either of you like to knock, or shall I?”
Twilight found herself staring for a moment at the question, before looking between AJ and the still disguised changeling “Uhm...well, I suppose it should be me, shouldn't it?”
“Seems appropriate.” Phyll replied, which was met with a supportive shrug from Applejack.
Swallowing down some small amount of anxiety, Twilight soon shouldered through it and stepped up to the large double doors. Spotting the metal plaque on the door within easy reach of the average hoof, she lifted her hoof. Taking one last breath, she beat her hoof against the knocker with three even thrusts of her limb.
Everyone gathered waited idly, as the loud, knocking noises died down, eventually leaving them in relative silence. Glancing to the side as the seconds wore on, the young princess cleared her throat for a moment, before looking to her two escorts “So...how long do you think I should-”
Naturally, one of the oaken doors took just that moment to creak its way open, leading the purple mare to turn her attention back and stand up a bit straighter “Hello! I'm so sorry to bother-...”
Twilight drew to a sudden pause, as she found herself staring at empty space, having expected to see somepony at the door.
“Uhm...Is there anypony-”
“Wha? What's somepony sorry for?” A slightly tired voice rasped out, leading everyone's gaze downward.
“O-oh! You're Silver Spoon, right?” Twilight quickly blurted out, as she realized that it had been the little gray filly that answered the door, and not one of her parents.
Still dressed in what seemed to be some rather wrinkled, and probably expensive, silken pajamas, the young filly hazily lifted her glasses to rub at her eyes before letting them drop back down “Ms. Twilight? What are you doing here?”
“I-...are you just waking up?” Twilight hesitantly asked, furrowing her brow, before pointedly turning her gaze to the lovely Summer day the filly seemed to be missing out on.
“I've been awake for a while...” Silver Spoon pitifully replied, as she idly rubbed at her cheek with a hoof. Loosing a mighty sniffle, before trying to swipe at her nose with the same hoof, only to loose even more sniffles “I don't think I've been sleeping much...Been feeling- been feeling-...I've-...Ah, ah...”
Twilight blinked at that strange response, before leaning in with concern “You've been feeling...?”
“Uh, Sugarcube? You might want ta-”
“I-I've been feel-...” Silver Spoon cut the farmpony's warning short, as she abruptly took in a sharp breath.
“Is everything al-”
“Aaacchhhh-Choooo!!!”
Both Applejack and Phyll ended up stumbling backwards a few steps, intent on avoiding the splash-zone of the mucus and spittle laced expulsion. AJ had more than enough experience dealing with a sick little sister to have seen what was coming and the disguised changeling seemed to have picked up on the Earth pony's caution.
Twilight wasn't so lucky.
“...Eh....ehhh...” The purple princess quietly gasped out, as she stood stock-still, some part of her thinking that standing still might make the situation less gross. A more logical part of her realized it was far too late...
Giving another sniff and bringing a sleeve up to wipe at her face once more, Silver Spoon awkwardly adjusted her glasses back into place, before she finished croaking out what she meant to say “...I've been feeling a bit...under the weather...”
“I-...I'm sorry to hear that.” Twilight managed to awkwardly reply. Forcing down the urge to shiver in disgust at the film of-...the purple pony stopped herself from thinking about it too hard. Leaning back and closing her eyes as she tried to take in a deep breath, she stopped herself, as she was reminded of the approximate locations of certain...fluids.
She was pretty sure a small amount of the filly's mucus might have actually gone into her mouth.
“You alright there, Twi?” AJ asked from the side.
“Yep...yep. Yep.” Twilight quickly replied, her eyes still closed. A moment later, her horn was set aglow with the power of her magic. Feeling her magic sliding over her face for a moment, she peeked an eye open to catch sight of the scraped away mucus that was now hovering in the air in front of her. Trying not to make a face at that, she let the gathered up goo fall to one side of that cobblestone path they were still standing upon.
“If this is about that book I checked out, I can go get it, Ms. Twilight...” Silver Spoon quietly offered, before giving a light shake of her head. Turning to one side, the gray filly gestured inside absentmindedly “I jus' have to go back up to my room...”
Frowning at the obviously unwell pony, and having shaken off most of her shock over being sneezed on, Twilight gave a quick shake of her head “Oh, no. No, no, no, I'm not here for that. You're not even late yet, I don't think you- I can certainly have Spike waive any fees-”
Applejack took that moment to trot closer to the ailing filly, before tipping her hat back and leaning closer “Uh, you sure you should be up-and-about answerin' doors, darlin'?”
“I'm not that sick...” Silver Spoon replied with a quiet whine, that would tell most adults that, yes, she was that sick. Loosing a quiet cough into her hoof, the gray filly looked to one side before muttering “It's jus' a stupid cold...”
Applejack had to roll her eyes at that, more familiar with these kind of antics from a foal than Twilight “Alright. Yer not foolin' anypony like that, darlin'. And Ah'm pretty sure yer Ma and Pa aren't goin' to be happy seein' you out of bed.”
The gray filly let out a noise that was somewhere between a groan and a whine at that, before giving a deep frown “But Tiara promised that she'd come over...”
“I'm not so sure visits are a good idea, right now. You wouldn't want your friend getting sick too, would you?” Twilight gently pointed out, as she tried not to think about the odds of her catching this cold now.
“...What are you even doing here anywa-any-...ah. Ah-” Both Applejack and Twilight snapped back quickly from the filly, as she started breathing in, the two of them sharing in the knowledge of what was about to occur “...Ah!...Huh...Accccchhhhooooo!!!”
This time Twilight was a bit more prepared, her horn taking on its trademark glow half-a-second before it was too late. Blinking in momentary relief and surprise, as she watched the mucus and spittle splattering against the translucent magical barrier that had popped into existence in front of her, Twilight soon found herself snapping her attention to something small and blue whipping upwards through the air.
Quickly letting the barrier drop, after the worst of the sneeze had passed, the princess focused her magic on the task of gently plucking the object out of the air before it could make its way to the ground.
“Ugggghhh...I'm sorry, I didn't mean-...uh, wait...” Silver Spoon muttered, as she again tried to rub at her nose with her sleeve, only to draw to a pause. Blinking in tired confusion for a moment, the filly squinted upwards at the trio of figures in front of her “I-...no, no, no. I think my-”
“No worries. I managed to catch them.” Twilight quickly reassured. Leaning in, the princess used her magic to gently float Silver Spoon's glasses back into place. Smiling for a moment as the filly gave a few blinks as the corrective eyewear found their proper place once more, the purple mare let her expression slip into a small frown “Uhm...I think you might have a bit of...mucus on your-”
“Don't worry about it.” Silver Spoon raspily replied, waving away the older pony's concern with her same snot-covered hoof she'd just wiped her nose with “They- they've been like that all day. I don't even notice anymore...Uhm, thank you.”
“No problem.” Twilight responded, her smile creeping back into place.
Giving another sniffle, before clearing her throat and adjusting how her glasses sat upon her nose with her hoof again, Silver Spoon glanced back up to the small group “So, like...why are you all here again?”
“Might be best if we talked about it with yer parents, darlin'.” Applejack supplied with just a touch of awkwardness.
The little filly furrowed her brow at that, a touch suspicious at the response “Uhm...am I in trouble for something?”
“What? No, no, no.” Twilight replied with a shake of her head, before gesturing a hoof to the stallion at the back of their group “It's just that-...Mr. Davenport needs to speak with someone and we thought they might be here. You're not in trouble.”
“Oh...aren't you the one my mom bought that big green couch from?” Silver Spoon absently asked the supposed pony.
After a few moments of visible thought, he gave an easy nod “I do believe so. I hope she's still satisfied with her purchase?”
“It's really scratchy...” Silver Spoon muttered, before giving a shake of her head. Looking back up to Twilight “If you need somepony, we can ask my mom...She keeps track of pretty much everypony here.”
“If it's not too much trouble?” Twilight asked with a tilt of her head.
Silver Spoon gave a shrug at that “It's fine.”
“I really appreciate it. We can just wait here if-”
“MMMOOOOOMMMMM!!!!”
All of them gave a startled jump, Phyll included, as the little filly abruptly put her surprisingly powerful lungs to the task of getting her mother's attention.
Silver Spoon, apparently not thinking much of it, gave a series of small coughs, before taking in another breath. In an only slightly quieter voice from before, the gray filly soon added to her previous exclamation “Ponies at the door for you!!!!”
Still trying to settle her breathing from the mild fright Silver Spoon had just given her, it took a moment for Twilight to take note of the filly clearing her throat again and looking back up towards her “Mom should be here in just a sec...”
“Uhm, thank you...” The princess stiffly replied, her ears still pinned down flat against her head.
Applejack, once more rubbing her over-stressed ears this day, turned to the side for a moment before muttering to herself “Forgot they did that...”
Phyll merely settled for closing his eyes for several seconds, as he brought his own breath under control. Peeking one eye open and looking towards the distracted filly, the disguised changeling did briefly clear his throat before speaking up “I meant to say...sorry for the scratchy couch.”
Silver Spoon blinked at that, before shaking her head absently “It's fine. We've got a lot of couches anyway...”
Before that line of discussion could be picked at any further, their collective attention was caught be the sound of steadily approaching hoofsteps. Silver Spoon herself tiredly glanced upwards, as a mauve-coated mare sharing her same silver tresses came to the doorway.
Pursing her lips and furrowing her carefully maintained eyebrows, the older mare peered down upon the ailing filly through the pair of half-moon spectacles resting upon her nose “And just what are you doing out of bed?”
Looking to one side, as many children did when being chastised, Silver Spoon looked back up to her presumed mother “There was somepony at the door, and I was already up, and I thought-”
At seeing this, Twilight ducked her head a bit, feeling somehow responsible. Clearing her throat, the purple mare took a step forward, holding up a hoof “Uhm...I think this is really more my fault than anypony's. I'm sorry for causing any trouble, but we were hoping that-...uhm...”
Twilight found herself trailing off, as the older mare turned her attention towards her. Taken aback by the unwavering look being sent her way over the pair of lens, she briefly found her thoughts taking her back to the days when she would take lessons from the sterner, more intimidating teachers, that Princess Celestia occasionally assigned her.
“...I'll just wait here.” Twilight eventually finished, earning a curious raising of an eyebrow from the wealthy Earth pony. It was, thankfully, a short-lived moment, as the older mare quickly turned her attention to the gray filly in front of her once again.
“Now...just what was it you were thinking, Silver Spoon?”
Ducking her head briefly, the filly glanced up before giving a sniffle and replying “I thought it might be Diamond Tiara visiting...”
“We've already discussed this, we can't have you-”
“I know. It's just...Ms. Twilight needs something...” Silver Spoon eventually trailed off, as she made a poor attempt at changing the subject.
The older mare gave out a long sigh at this, before raising a hoof to the bridge between her eyes. A scant moment later, she lowered her hoof before turning to the gathered ponies at her doorstep “You'll have to forgive me my rudeness; my nerves are somewhat frayed at the moment.”
Twilight gave a quick shake of her head at that “It's no problem. I can completely understand how you might be more focused on Silver Spoon here.”
“I appreciate your understanding.”
“I've had to look after Spike from time-to-time, when's he become sick. I really do understand what it's like to be worrying about someone in this condition.” Twilight quickly added. A moment's thought later, she quickly realized that she'd become a bit distracted, before holding out a hoof “Sorry about that. We haven't met yet, I don't believe. I'm-”
“Princess Twilight, yes.”
The purple princess blinked at that momentarily “Oh-oh...You would probably already know I am, wouldn't you? I mean, not that I necessarily expected it from anypony. But, I suppose it's not like it's a secret or anything-”
Twilight was abruptly brought out of her somewhat self-conscious rambling, as the mauve mare in front of her tapped Twilight's outstretched hoof with her own with a hoof-bump. Giving a tilt of her head that deftly shifted several silver strands of her mane back into place, the older mare set her hoof back down “Silver Filigree. And let me again apologize.”
“Uhm. What for?” Twilight asked, a bit thrown by the apology. So much so, it took her a moment to remember to lower her own outstretched hoof.
“Well, I certainly should have come forward to congratulate you on your rise in status before now. It's hardly appropriate to let such an accomplishment go unrecognized for so long.” Filigree calmly explained, gesturing with her hoof before letting it settle across her daughters withers.
“Oh. That's really- I really wouldn't have even known how to respond to that.” Twilight quickly admitted.
“I did assume that your time would have been rather taken up by other, more important matters.”
The princess gave an awkward smile at that, before giving a shake of her head “It really is fine. We hadn't even been properly introduced yet, so it's perfectly understandable...And I have been kind of busy lately.”
“So, I can see.” Silver Filigree nodded at that, before turning her attention towards Applejack and giving a nod “Ms. Applejack. It's good to see you're still in good health.”
AJ rose a hoof to give a tilt of her hat at that, before responding “Thank ya kindly. Hope the rich life's still treatin' you and yours alright.”
“We somehow manage. The hardest part is avoiding Spoiled's little get-togethers without leaving her feeling too insulted.” The older mare replied with a shrug and surprisingly casual tone. Turning her attention to the last member of their little party, Filigree gave a tilt of her head at the stallion's presence “And Mr. Davenport...Color me curious.”
The disguised changeling gave his own shrug at that “It's something of a curious day.”
“I see...So, tell me how I might help you, Princess Twilight.” The older mare eventually asked, focusing her attention back upon Twilight.
“Yes. Well...we were actually hoping to find a certain somepony.”
Filigree gave a tilt of her head at that “Somepony?”
Phyll took that opportunity to step forward “Yes, we were hoping that Honest Care might still be here? I understand she was coming down to check on your daughter.”
The older mare briefly exchanged looks with her own bemused daughter, before letting an eyebrow creep upwards “And may I ask what it is you needed her for? Princess Twilight?”
“It's a bit difficult to explain. You see, Mrs. Silver, Honest Care is a-...going on a trip.” Twilight eventually offered.
“A trip? Now? This is hardly the best of times for her to be leaving Ponyville. If Silver Spoon's condition worsens-”
“I'm not that sick, Mama.” The gray filly at her side groaned, before turning to the side and coughing lightly into her hoof.
To which Filigree only rolled her eyes, before turning back towards Twilight “Honest Care's very nearly the only pediatrician in Ponyville that I trust to manage my Silver Spoon. When is she supposed to be leaving?”
“Uhm...today?” The princess shrank a bit, as she offered up that presumably unwelcome news. And sure enough, the older mare's expression hardened into a rather stern frown, as she processed this news. Taking her hoof from her daughter's withers and raking it across her silver coif, Filigree took an agitated breath before using that same hoof to adjust her own spectacles.
“Well. I suppose I will need to fetch her quickly, won't I?” Silver Filigree seemed to be asking more of herself.
“I'm sorry?” Twilight hesitantly offered.
Silver Filigree pursed her lips at that, openly scrutinizing the purple alicorn at the same time. Lightly adjusting the frames of her eyewear once more, she slowly let out a breath before nodding “Well...let me see if I can't fetch Honest for you, Princess Twilight. We need to have this all sorted out...”
“Thank you...And you can just call me Twilight, Mrs. Silver.” Twilight replied with a smile and a nod. Blinking for a moment as she thought about her words, she quickly cleared her throat before leaning back and gesturing with her hoof “I mean, if you like. You don't have to...But if you do, I'm perfectly comfortable with it...That is, even though I'm a princess now, you-”
“Take a breath, Sugarcube. She ain't gonna bite if ya don't want her callin' you 'Princess', Twi.” Applejack eventually interjected, giving her purple friend a light tap of her hoof to get her attention. Getting a word in edgewise, the farmpony turned back towards the older mare “She's still gettin' used to all this, Fil.”
“Fair enough. I have enough of Spoiled's friends trying to kiss my hooves all the time, so the change of pace would be welcome.” Filigree replied with a shrug, before turning back towards Twilight “So, Twilight...I believe we both need to have words with Honest Care?”
Before Twilight could respond, the mauve-coated mare turned back inside, her intent apparent. Clearing her throat for a moment, Filigree turned and gave a tilt of her head back towards Twilight “Honest Care should still be with Pewter. If you'll give me just a moment...”
“Of course.” Twilight brightly said, happy to have seen things calmed down ever so slightly. Taking her eyes off of Filigree, she spared a hopeful look back towards her two escorts. And while Phyll still looked rather impassive about all of this, she soon found her mood dampening again as she noticed AJ pinning back her own ears suddenly...
“Uhm, AJ? Is something-”
“PEEEWWWTTTTER!!!!”
Twilight felt only a brief moment of relief, as her jaw snapped shut in surprise, that she didn't accidentally bite into her tongue. This small consolation was almost completely overshadowed, as she jolted ever so slightly into the air. Her wings fluttering of their own volition for a few moments, the young princess again found herself settling her frayed nerves.
Giving a shake of her head, as she fully processed this little...quirk of the Silvers, Twilight spared a glance for AJ. Twilight now had a better grasp of why the farmpony's ears had been flattened now, as well as the apologetic look she was now receiving. Turning back towards the home's occupants again, she was given a moment's warning when she saw Filigree taking in another deep breath, now knowing what it portended to.
“Please bring Honest Care to the front door!!!!” Silver Spoon's mother called back into the large house. Taking a moment to adjust her glasses once more, Filigree turned her own ear deeper into the mansion, apparently waiting on a response.
Clearing her throat awkwardly, if quietly, Twilight took a moment to glance back towards her own wings and their now ruffled feathers.
'...Dash is probably going to have something to say about proper wing maintenance, when we get back...'
Frowning briefly, at the strange places her mind could take her at times, Twilight was shaken from those thoughts by her own ears quirking on their own. Bobbing her head a bit, she gave a listen to the sound that caught her attention...
“...One moment, sweetheart...”
Giving a nod at that, Silver Filigree brushed her mane to the side before turning back to her guests “Well...that should be that, I suppose.”
Resisting the urge to rub at her ears, Twilight gave an apologetic smile to the matron of the family “I really am sorry about bringing this up on such short notice.”
“Why ever should you be sorry, Ms. Twilight? It's not as if you are part of the reason Honest Care has to leave, correct?” Filigree asked, as she looked over her glasses to the young princess.
“I-...It actually kind of is my fault she has to leave so suddenly, I'm sorry to say.” Twilight said in an apologetic tone, even as she failed to notice Phyll's attempts to get her attention.
She couldn't help but have her attention drawn by how the sunlight seemed to catch the lens of Filigree's glasses, obscuring her eyes for a moment “So...I take it you do know why my pediatrician has to leave then?”
Twilight's lips buttoned up at that moment, even as Phyll cringed a bit “I'm sorry?”
“If you think this is somehow your fault, Ms. Twilight, that would suggest you played some part in all of this? Or am I misunderstanding?” Filigree pressed, even as her daughter gave a bored yawn from her side.
“Well...No. That's accurate.” Twilight conceded.
“So, may I ask you just why it is Honest Care needs to be going on this trip?” Filigree asked, adjusting her spectacles once more.
The young princess found herself freezing up at that question for a moment, even as it occurred to her that the older mare might have lead her into this little trap.
“Uhhh, Fil?” AJ abruptly stepped forth, not sure entirely how she could help, but very aware that Twilight was floundering a bit “Ah think that what Twilight here was tryin' to say here was-....Uhh, that is to say...”
“It's official business!” Twilight quickly blurted out, even as Phyll abruptly facehoofed.
“Official business?...As in, official 'princess' business?” Filigree asked with a tilt of her head.
“Yep! That's right. Ah guess we really shoulda lead with that. Eh, Twilight?” AJ asked a bit nervously.
Twilight gave a quick nod before bowing her head “Sorry. I probably should have mentioned that.”
“So, if I'm understanding this correctly, my daughter's pediatrician needs to go on a trip. And this somehow is of such importance, that it necessitates the presence of an Alicorn Princess to see it through in an official capacity?” Silver Filigree evenly summed up, with an elegant eyebrow arching up ever higher as she did.
And suddenly the young princess realized, there was no good response for that.
“And...somehow, Mr. Davenport is involved in all of this?” The older mare asked with a raised eyebrow for the stallion. For his part, the disguised changeling didn't bother looking up, quite content to not contribute anything else to do this dialogue.
There were several moments of silence, as the threesome tried their best to not too obviously share looks of uncertainty with one another. It was eventually Applejack that turned towards Twilight with a sigh.
“Us square dancin' around the truth is startin' to feel like the wrong way ta do this. If we jus' explain things...Ah'm really startin' think we oughta just come clean on this one, Sugarcube.” AJ offered, extending a hoof towards the young princess.
“Come clean about what?”
Twilight could certainly see how the mingling of genes had played out between little Silver Spoon's parents, as she caught sight of the stallion that surely had to be the filly's father. He didn't quite match Big Macintosh in terms of size, but the fellow was pretty far from scrawny, as he easily filled the rest of the doorway with his approach. Unsurprisingly, given his daughter, he had a coat of fine gray fur and shared in the family tendency towards corrective eyewear. And just above those round glasses, a neatly trimmed dark blue mane.
“We've got quite the social event forming on our front door, don't we?” The stallion noted in a robust tone, as he took in everyone's presence.
“So it would seem...” Filigree noted with a scrutinizing look towards her guests, before turning towards her husband “Did you bring-
“Honest Care is right here, Fil.” The stallion, Pewter, interrupted with a gesture toward the sheepish looking mare that seemed to be ducking behind him “May I ask what's going on?”
A mighty sniffle came from Filigree's side, before Silver Spoon decided to chime in again “I think Honest Care might be in trouble...Or maybe, like...Ms. Twilight, I guess? I'm not really sure.”
“Oh...So, you think it's one of these two that's landed into some trouble, do you?” Pewter asked his daughter in a knowing tone, to which the filly had the good sense to look abashed. The corner of his mouth briefly twitched upwards at this, before he turned his attention to the gathering “So, what exactly is going on here?”
“It seems, Twilight and Applejack are here to take Honest Care away from us...I'm still a bit uncertain as to Mr. Davenport's involvement.” Filigree noted, turning a pointedly appraising look towards the other stallion. For his part, he settled for clearing his throat uncomfortably.
“It's kinda hard ta explain, Fil.” AJ admitted, taking a step forward to draw the couple's attention. Taking a moment to tilt her hat back, AJ found herself glancing to the side “That is, Ah can't honestly say quite how much we're allowed ta-”
“It's my fault.”
Everypony turned their attention towards Honest Care, as she stepped out from behind Pewter, only to duck her head back down at all of the gazes landing on her.
“That is-...” She trailed off for a moment, occasionally glancing towards the disguised Phyll, as she shuffled on her hooves. The awkward silence came to an end, as Silver Spoon gave another mighty sniffle at Filigree's side, before breaking out into a fit of coughs. Snapping from her apparent discomfort, Honest Care almost immediately started to move towards the coughing filly before digging her heels in.
"I, uh- I have some lozenges right here. I meant to-...” Honest Care began, nodding her head to her saddlebag for a moment, before ducking her head. Visibly flinching a bit, as Silver Spoon gave another raggedly cough, she couldn't stop from looking towards Phyll in a silent request for permission.
“Well? What are you waiting for?” Filigree abruptly snapped, startling Honest Care into action before the disguised Phyll could really convey anything. Quickly trotting over, she turned towards her saddlebags before reaching in and pulling out a small baggy. Pulling open the bag with her teeth, she quickly fished a couple out, before proffering it to the filly.
Taking a moment to adjust her glasses and focus her gaze on the hoof held in front of her, Silver Spoon cleared her throat before rasping out “Th-...Those aren't gonna taste as terrible as the other stuff?
“No, no. This will just help ease your throat a bit. Just let it melt in your mouth like a hard candy.” Honest Care easily explained.
“Oh...What flavor is it?” Silver Spoon asked a bit suspiciously.
Honest Care smiled at that, before dropping the lozenges she had already retrieved back in and holding the open bag out for the filly to inspect “All kinds. You go ahead and pick.”
Blinking at that, the filly reached a hoof into the bag before fishing one of the cough drops out and scrutinizing her pick “...Purple usually means grape, right?”
“Is that alright?”
“...Yeah. Thank you.” Silver Spoon easily replied before clearing her throat for a moment and popping it in.
“Remember, just let it melt in your mouth. That should help with the coughing.” Smiling to herself now, Honest Care took back the bag. Turning back to Filigree, her apparent good mood quickly withered away, shrinking down as she offered the bag to the older mare “I, uh-...If she-...you can just give her another when she starts coughing again...”
“I'll keep that in mind, thank you...Now if you could tell me why...” It was Filigree's turn to trail-off as she turned her attention back towards her others guests. While they recovered as quickly as they could, it wasn't hard to catch both AJ and Twilight staring.
“So, a princess, a farmer, and a shopkeeper show up on our doorstep and...what am I supposed to take away from this?” Pewter chimed in again, glancing between everypony present with an upraised eyebrow.
“Right. Sorry. I suppose-...” Twilight began, earning the stallion's attention, before faltering. Clearing her throat for a moment, she looked back to the waiting family, and holding up a hoof “If I could just have one moment?”
“Of course. By all means.” Pewter replied with a nod, before his wife could object. This did lead to Filigree sending a look his way, that Twilight didn't think she could readily translate.
Taking a couple of steps back, the young princess turned towards Phyll, before leaning in “...Phyll?”
“Yes?” Phyll replied, stepping to the side a bit to allow room for AJ to join the conversation.
“...I think Applejack might be correct. It may be best to simply try to explain the situation honestly with them.” Twilight admitted to the disguised changeling, as she gestured to her friend.
“Ah can't say Ah disagree with that in the least. 'Sides, Ah kinda think Fil's already onto something here anyhow, ya know?” AJ offered to Phyll, in the hopes of persuading the changeling.
“You're probably correct. It would be pretty hard to believe that she isn't suspicious at this point.” The changeling agreed, leading Twilight to duck her head in momentary embarrassment; the young princess had given away quite a bit more than she intended. Although, that could be attributed to Filigree's shrewdness thus far.
It seemed like the older mare wasn't the sort to let any stray comment go un-scrutinized.
Clearing her throat, Twilight turned her attention back to Phyll “So...I think it may be best if I explain the full situation to the Silvers.”
“...As you say.”
Twilight blinked at his easily acquiescing to her decision, before reminding herself that the changeling had made it pretty clear that he was ready to follow her lead. Taking in a deep breath, she stepped forward once more, earning Filigree's and Pewter's attention once more “Sorry for before. I think everyone here is in agreement that we should just be honest with you about what's happening.”
“Oh? Were we struggling to come to that decision?” Filigree asked with a somewhat sour look on her face.
Before Twilight could even really duck her head in embarrassment at the question, the older mare's attention was drawn to her husband, as Pewter laid a hoof over her withers.
“Let's go easy on her, dear. I'm sure Ms. Twilight is already under a great deal of pressure as it stands and I'm sure she has her reasons.” The stallion soothed in a steady tone, before taking a moment to adjust his glasses. Gesturing his hoof back to the waiting group “We should let them say their piece, before we judge.”
“...Fine, fine. Of course, you're right about this, Pewter.” Filigree soon relented, letting out a puff of air and raising a hoof to massage the bridge between her eyes. Lowering her hoof, she nodded towards Twilight before tilting her head towards the meek Honest Care to her side “Please, Twilight...What exactly is it that Honest Care has done?”
“Oh. Well-...she hadn't exactly done anything. Certainly nothing wrong, that I know of. It's just she-...that is...” Twilight steadily trailed off at that, a bit put out by Filigree's seeming presumption about Honest Care's possible guilt. Looking past the older mare, it was hard not to notice how uncomfortable and shame-faced she was. It seemed rather unkind, at that moment, to leave the changeling in that position to the young princess.
“Perhaps...Maybe it would be best if Honest Care was the one to-”
“I'm a changeling!”
It would surprise no one to know, that this elicited some stares from everyone present.
“...Oh! Sweet stars above! That felt good to say out loud...” Honest Care opined, raising a hoof up to her brow before sliding it down her side. Taking in a deep breath, before exhaling it giddily “Seriously, you have no idea how- how-...Oh.”
It was at this moment, she finally noticed everyone staring at her and it sunk in just what she had done.
“...Eeeeep! Eeeee-I mean-...That is to say, Eeeeee-it would be a very weird thing to- I am so sorry Phyll. It's just, it's been so long and then when Twilight was about to say-...which is to say I'm not a changeling...My mistake.” Honest Care started babbling anxiously, looking anywhere but back towards her audience. Snapping her lips shut for a moment, she briefly looked ready to burst out of sheer nervousness.
“It's alri-” Phyll almost began.
Before he could finish though, Honest Care gave out another loud squeak before raising her hoof and beginning to gesture wildly “Oh no! No, no, no, noooooo! I didn't mean to say all of that! It was just a joke. Please don't tell Queen Chrysalis, Phyll!...I mean, don't listen to that! You have to tell Queen Chrysalis! It's your duty! You can't betray the swarm! I never should have asked that of you! I am so, so-”
“Toma. It's not a-”
“Oh no!...I didn't say any of that. Nobody remembers any of that. It's fine. Who's Phyll? I don't know anyone by that name. I don't know anyone, bunch of strangers. No way anyone here could know about our Queen- Their Queen! That is the Queen of the Changelings, which we are not. Changelings. And if we were, I still wouldn't know you, Phyll...I mean, Davenport...Mr. Davenport- I mean...who are you?”
“...Are you finished?” Phyll eventually asked, after it seemed she had eventually come a halt.
“...I'm sorry.” Honest Care, or Toma, eventually squeaked out, as she turned her head down to stare at her fidgeting hooves.
"There, there now. Ain't no use cryin' over it now. You clearly had a lot you needed to get off your chest there.” Applejack chimed up in a kindly tone, trotting a couple of steps over before setting a hoof over Honest Care's withers.
“Really?...I mean, what? I don't- I have no idea of what-...Hi, Ms. AJ.” The flustered changeling eventually settled for, before again turning her eyes to her shuffling hooves.
“Huh...” Silver Spoon noted from the side, before giving another sniffle. Turning towards her mother and garnering her attention with a tap of her hoof “Hey, can I tell Diamond Tiara about Ms. Honest being a changeling?”
Filigree had to blink in confusion at the odd question, before leaning down “And why would you need to do that?”
“Cause she'd totally be jealous.” The little gray filly replied, before swiping at her nose again with her pajama sleeve. Clearing her throat a moment, she gestured with her hoof “I mean, DT's always bragging about how she has her own Prench maid...”
“I'm not sure I understand. Why would you want to make your friend jealous?” Twilight couldn't help but chime, starting to lean in, before remembering the earlier incidents.
“Not, like...really jealous. Just sorta jealous. Like it's cool and stuff.” Silver Spoon elaborated a bit.
“You want her to think its cool?” Twilight asked with a tilt of her head.
“Totally. I mean, she'd be all like-...” Silver Spoon trailed off for a moment, before blinking and rubbing at her nose. Seeing this, Filigree quickly fished out a handkerchief before pressing it to her nose.
“Blow.”
The little gray filly groaned a bit, before eventually giving in. One phlegmy expulsion later, and her mother was rolling up the soiled cloth and tucking it back away.
Giving a shake of her head, Silver Spoon adjusted her glasses again, before looking back up to Twilight “It's just like...cool, you know? Like how you get to live at the library. And how you're, like, a princess now or whatever.”
“You think its cool that I live at the library?”
“Yeah, kinda. I mean, you get to borrow all the books you want and they're like...already there, right? So there aren't even any late fees. That's kinda cool.”
There were several seconds of silence on Twilight's part, before her face was split with a huge grin for Silver Spoon's words.
“Are you alright, Ms. Twilight?” The little filly eventually asked, looking up with curiosity at the princess.
“What? Oh, yes!” Twilight quickly blurted out, shaken from her brief moment of glee. Giving a nod of her head, before leaning down a bit with an awkward smile “It's just...nopony has ever really noticed before. It is really, really cool and I'm just glad somepony else thinks so...If you want, I could bring over a few-”
“Ahem.”
Twilight jumped slightly, as Silver Spoon's mother pointedly cleared her throat. Having reacquired the purple princess' attention, the older mare gestured back towards Honest Care “It might be best, if we finished addressing the matter at hoof.”
“Oh. Oh, right. I'm sorry about that.” Twilight quickly apologized, sparing a smile for Silver Spoon as she focused back on why she was there in the first place.
“Of course, it is your royal prerogative, Ms. Twilight. But there remains the pressing manner of why my daughter's pediatrician needs to be dragged away?” Filigree prompted in an even tone.
“Uhm...did you not hear?” Honest Care sheepishly asked from the side.
“Yes, yes. You're a changeling. Apparently Mr. Davenport's a changeling. Everypony's a changeling.” The older mare said with a dismissive wave of her hoof.
“Well, perhaps not everypony...Though this does explain the Quills and Sofas shop, just a bit.” Pewter noted, with a nod towards the still disguised Phyll.
“Just to be clear, that was established well before I came here.” Phyll pointed out.
“I stand corrected.” The gray stallion said in a pleasant tone. Giving a tilt of his head and holding out a hoof towards Phyll, Pewter continued "May I ask, what is your part in all of this, Mr. Davenport? Or...what was it she referred to you as?”
“That'd be Phyll.” AJ quickly supplied for the still disguised changeling.
“I see.”
“Uhm, hold on a moment. Is Honest Care being a changeling really not that big of a deal for anyone?” Twilight finally managed to ask, putting to words her apparent bemusement at their downplayed reactions.
“Why should it be?” Filigree asked in a mild tone.
“Because...I'm not who I claimed to be?” Honest Care supplied.
Silver Filigree gave a small roll of her eyes at that “My dear, hardly anypony is exactly who they claim to be.”
“Speaking of which, can we presume that 'Honest Care' isn't your real name?” Pewter asked, with a gesture towards her.
“Uh, no...” Came the hesitant reply, before she turned towards Phyll questioningly. Her ears perked up just a bit, at the nod of approval from her superior, for her unspoken question “It's Toma.”
“Very well, Toma. You've already been serving as my daughter's pediatrician for years, have you not?” Filigree asked.
“Yes?”
“That would mean, that before now I had already entrusted you with my only daughter's health up until this point?”
“...Also, yes?”
“And have you done anything but provide for Silver Spoon's health while serving in that capacity?”
“Oh, no, no. Not at all.” Toma quickly replied with a shake of her head, as she held up her hooves against the very idea of it.
“So then, I see no point in changing my estimation of you. Now...” Filigree said with a nod towards Toma, before turning back towards “...we were just discussing why she needed to be dragged off.”
“...Huh. Well whad'ya know.” Came AJ's simple exclamation. Bringing a hoof up to tip her hat to one side, before glancing to Toma “Ah gotta say, Fil here makes a pretty good point. Ah mean, ya never steered us wrong before with Applebloom.”
“Uhm, yes, well...It's not that we're trying to drag Toma away or anything like that.” Twilight quickly supplied, waving away the notion with a wave of her hoof.
“It's a pre-planned move. Organized by Princess Twilight, Princess Celestia, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and our Queen.” Phyll eventually supplied, apparently not bothering with denying anything.
“Oh? Must be rather complicated, to involve so much royalty.” Pewter noted.
“It really isn't, I promise. And it definitely isn't anything nefarious.” Twilight quickly reassured.
“Then what is it, exactly?”
“We-...we found a way that the changelings can live up in the Crystal Kingdom without needing to feed upon ponies for sustenance. But for it to work, all of the changelings need to relocate.”
“...I'll admit, that's markedly less complicated than I thought it would be.” Pewter conceded a few moments later. Turning towards his wife, before gesturing towards Toma “Well, you heard her, dear. We shouldn't keep them any longer than we already have; I'm sure...Toma? I'm sure she still has quite a bit of packing to do.”
“Now hold on. There are still some matters we need to settle.” Filigree objected, with a somewhat indignant look for her husband. Gesturing a hoof back towards Silver Spoon “If you'll recall, Silver Spoon is still quite sick and-”
“I'm not that sick!” Silver Spoon groaned, before again giving another sniffle. Wiping at her nose with her pajama sleeves again, she then pointed towards Toma “Ms. Honest Care totally said it would even be alright if Diamond Tiara came over.”
Toma immediately ducked her head at that, once again being fully put on the spot in front of Filigree “I-...I didn't exactly say that, ma'am. What I meant was that is seemed like she was no longer contagious...”
The older mare pursed her lips at this.
“... And that, as long as Silver Spoon got plenty of rest it...might not hurt if she had a visitor or two?” Toma eventually finished.
“...Well, fine then. I suppose I'll need to go pay Spoiled a visit.” Filigree eventually conceded.
“You mean it?” Silver Spoon asked hopefully.
“If...you get yourself off to bed right now, missy.” Pewter added from the side. Trotting over and beginning to usher his daughter off with a hoof “You heard Ms. Toma quite clearly, I'm sure. If anyone's going to visit you, you need to get plenty of rest.”
Filigree took a moment to rub at one of her temples with her hoof, before letting out a sigh “It's going to be like pulling teeth I'm sure...”
“Perhaps try finding her au pair. She seems like a sweet sort.” Pewter suggested.
“That's Maddy. The Prench maid I told you about.” Silver Spoon chimed in.
“So, uhm...is everything alright?” Twilight eventually asked of the increasingly peculiar family.
“Not quite, Ms. Twilight. We'll still need to discuss the question of whether Honest-...Toma will be allowed to continue serving as our pediatrician.” Filigree said with a shake of her head, as she trotted past her visitors.
“Oh, well, I can certainly bring up the-”
“You worry too much, sweetheart.” Pewter easily assured his wife from the doorway. Gesturing back inside with his hoof “I'll start looking into some investments we can make in the Crystal Empire. We corner a few markets here-and-there and it shouldn't be too much to put a bit of economic pressure on them. Their economy is still something of a fledgling at this point.”
“What?!” Twilight blurted out with a bit of alarm.
“We'll talk about that later, Pewter.” Filigree quickly waved away the stallion's words. Turning towards the purple princess on her way out “If we have time, we can discuss it when you next come over. We'll have dinner. Invite your friends.”
“Uhm...”
“I trust you'll put Silver Spoon back to bed?” Filigree abruptly asked.
“Of course, right after she's gotten herself a bath.” Pewter replied with smile and a nod for his wife.
Hearing that, Silver Spoon tried to dig her hooves in a bit at the thought “I'm just going to get dirty again. Everytime I sneeze, I-”
“Tut-tut. Off you go, young lady.” Pewter interjected before his daughter could go on, giving her a nudge to the behind with his hoof to get her moving.
“So...just to be clear, no one here minds that she's a changeling? And it's alright if she has to leave?” Twilight asked again, gesturing a hoof to the equally bemused, and still disguised, Toma.
“We can discuss that at length at a later time, Ms. Twilight.” Pewter replied in an easy tone, as he began to shoo Toma out the doors. Starting to pull the door large double doors closed “Oh, and it was nice to finally meet you face-to-face, Ms. Twilight.”
“Uhm, likewise.”
“We'll need a means to stay in contact with Toma, if anything does come up however.” Filigree added from the side. Brushing her mane to the side for a moment, she pressed her lips together for a moment “And...naturally, I apologize if we made you uncomfortable, Ms. Twilight. It's just that this is all a lot to take in.”
“It's no problem. I completely-...I kind of understand.” Twilight admitted.
“Yes, well...our offer does still stand. I should expect you'll be joining her, Ms. Applejack, when she does decide to visit.”
“Sure. Wouldn't miss it.” AJ quickly affirmed.
“Excellent. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go arrange a playdate.” Filigree declared, before giving one final nod to them all and turning to march towards the road that lead into town.
Everyone watched as the older mare marched off to do her task, allowing a slightly befuddled silence to fall over them all.
“...They-...they took that better than I thought they would.” Toma eventually mentioned.
“Fil's always been the sort that when somethin's settled, it's settled. At least, as far as she's concerned.” Applejack commented, before giving a shrug “And Mr. Pewter's always been a pretty easy goin' sort. Ah can't say Ah'm too surprised by how it went.”
“Still, that one thing he said about manipulating the Crystal Empire's economy...”
“Awww, don't worry about that, Twi. That's just his was of bein' funny, you'll find.” AJ was quick to reassure her friend.
“If you say so...And I suppose, things are going petty well so far.” Twilight eventually admitted in a more hopeful tone. Smiling to herself, before turning towards Phyll “What do you think, Phyll?”
“It took a bit longer than I was hoping.” The male changeling noted, before taking note of how the words might impact the young princess “But, overall, things are proceeding smoothly enough.”
“Right. Well, you still make a good point though. We've got a lot of work ahead of us.” Twilight conceded with a nod.
“Should...should I introduce myself or-...I thought it was just going to be Phyll?” Toma admitted, glancing between everyone questioningly.
“Change of plans. The new rally point is at the Golden Oaks Library.” Phyll quickly explained.
“Oh...why are we going there?”
“Well, Pinkie Pie's throwin' y'all a party for one. Be a right shame to disappoint her, Ah'd say.” AJ supplied.
“She's throwing a party?...So, she's glad we're leaving or-”
“Oh, no, no, no! Pinkie's actually really happy to get a chance to really meet everyone, that's all. It's just a normal Going-Away Party.” Twilight explained. As if waiting for his cue, Phyll trotted up to his fellow changeling, before offering the brightly-colored, glitter-covered party invitation.
“Oh. Oh, that looks neat.” Toma noted, as she took the invitation in her own hooves.
“Yep. We're gonna be deliverin' these all over town, as it turns out.” AJ added.
Twilight gave a nod at that, before bringing a hoof to her chin, as a thought crossed her mind “I just hope things are going as well for Ditzy and Rainbow Dash...”
With Ditzy Doo...
“Alright, take care now, Lichen! Be sure to write!” Ditzy Doo cheerfully proclaimed, as she waved after her departing changeling friend.
Letting up on the flapping of her wings, she set down on the road, before turning her attention to her postal bag “Wow! This is going so well, I'm over half done! I might even have time to come say goodbye to everyone at the party!”
With Rainbow Dash...
“Alright. So, I'm looking for 202 Farm Road and...197, 198, 199 and...600?” Rainbow Dash came to a halt as she quickly glanced between the written down address and the number posted on the roadside mailbox.
“Wait...what? How can that-” Stopping, she glanced behind her, just to be absolutely sure that she hadn't been miscounting. Finding the infuriating truth to be that, no, she hadn't miscounted she again gawked at the mailbox “Wha-...How in the world did it skip that far ahead? This is- I mean this is Farm Road and-”
“This is actually Celestia Boulevard, ma'am.” A passing stallion commented.
“What? Since when?” Rainbow Dash abruptly demanded of the passerby. Visibly frustrated when the stallion just shrugged, before continuing to march on “But-...but this barely even counts as a boulevard! And it was Farm Road just a second ago.”
Frowning in annoyance, as she again glared down at the address written down on the invitation, she soon gave a flap of her wings “Alright, we'll see about this...”
A few seconds later, and she had already zoomed down to the end of this street and was laying her eyes on the waiting street sign “...Celestia Boulevard...Wait, how is it intersecting with Farm Road?! I was just on Farm Road!”
Sure enough, according to the sign, she was officially standing at the intersection of Celestia Boulevard and Farm Road.
Staring in disbelief, Rainbow Dash almost didn't notice when a mare walked up “Uhm, is everything alright?”
“What? No! How can this Farm Road intersect with Celestia Boulevard?! I mean, it turns into Farm Road going that way and-”
“Oh! This road eventually loops back in on itself.” The mare easily supplied.
“What?...But that doesn't explain-”
“Yeah, they re-named this part of the road after Princess Celestia some time back.” The mare elaborated.
Rainbow Dash had to stare in disbelief for a few seconds “So...wait. What you're telling me is-”
“Celestia Boulevard used to be Farm Road.” The mare agreed with a nod.
“...Huh?” The blue pegasus cleverly replied, with an arched brow. Giving a shake of her head, she was about to to hold up the address to the passing mare, only to see them start to leave “Hey, wait! I just-...and she's gone...”
Looking back up at the street sign once more, before turning to look down what was apparently the continuation of Farm Road, Rainbow Dash had to scratch at the back of her head in thought.
“So, I guess I can just go this way, right?” She asked herself before trotting down the intersecting street. Rainbow Dash didn't get far, before she found herself digging her hooves in “What?! Oh, come on! How can it already be in the 6000s?!”
Taking to the air for a moment, so she could free up her forehooves and bring them to her face, RD let out a huge puff of air in irritation for the bewildering street she was on.
“Everything alright, miss?”
“No! I can't even- These streets don't even make sense! I was just looking for 202 Farm Road and now I'm in the 6000s?! How does that make sense?!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed again. A moment later, she sagged in mid-air, all of her energy briefly leaving her after that little outburst “...Sorry, sorry. Just...just ignore me...”
“You're looking for 202 Farm Road?”
“What?...Yes! Do you know where it is!?” Rainbow Dash asked, her hopes restored, as she took the confused stallion's face in her hooves.
“Err...well, yeah. It's on the other side of town.” The stallion eventually explained, gesturing with one hoof in the general direction he meant.
“...What.”
“Oh yeah. Farm Road used to be the main road going through town. But they kept chopping it up and renaming different parts of it. It's kind of a mess really...” The stallion explained.
Giving a brief flap of her wings to back up, Rainbow Dash brought her hooves back up to cover her face in sheer despair at the bizarre layout of her hometown.
“Uhm...do you need directions?”
Lowering her hooves, RD took in a deep breath, before letting it out “Yes, please.”
“Alright, well what you do is you turn down Celestia Boulevard here. Go down about three blocks. Then you take a left and take the Tunnel-”
“Ponyville doesn't have a tunnel.”
“Tunnel Avenue. There was supposed to be a tunnel, but they decided to scrap the whole thing and- It's not important. Take Tunnel and then you'll be back on Farm Road. Then you take a right on Luna Lane. That used to be Farm Road too, before they-”
“They renamed it too, I got it. Listen, are you sure you actually know where 202 Farm Road is?” Rainbow Dash eventually asked, holding up the invitation again in her hoof to again look for any hints she might have missed.
“Oh yeah. That's where I live.”
“...What.”
With that the mystery stallion, deftly leaned forward before snapping the invitation up from Rainbow Dash's in his own hoof. Giving a great, cheeky grin for the confused pegasus he gave a shrug “The twins wanted me to say 'hi' by the way.”
“Wha-...wait a minute! Was that you before too?!” Rainbow Dash demanded, referring to the two earlier passersby.
“Yep! Sorry about that. But I wanted to have a little fun with you, before I have to leave.” The stallion, now revealed to be a changeling, explained in a gleefully unapologetic tone.
“But-”
“You remember all of those pranking sprees you would get up to?”
“...Huh.”
“Yeah.”
“So, wait a minute...who are you exactly?” Rainbow Dash eventually asked.
“Heh. If I told you that, you'd just try to prank me again.” The stallion replied with a shake of his head.
“...Yeah, probably.”