The Long Night, as the villagers had come to call it, threw tradition out the window for several days. Every changeling and pony save for the four sent off to Canterlot by Queen Euphoria had been ordered to stay within the boundaries, the foals and nymphs were strictly forbidden from playing in the forest—none dared to question it. Not after they saw the terror amongst the adults.
Or the way Queen Euphoria’s fangs were extended to their full length as she returned from stalking about the village to scour for attackers with the rest of the guard. Even Aspire knew full well not to speak until she smiled, her fangs back to their normal length, and gave everyone the okay to return to their homes in groups.
Though he made darn sure to keep Sure Stroke close by his side all the way up the path, right up until the moment he saw her through the door into her parents’ house.
The quick kiss goodbye they shared had been barely enough to keep him calm, but it had to do. Offers from Drizzly and Skydancer to sleep on the couch or even share a bed wrap with Sure Stroke were refused with the heaviest of regrets.
Everyone was meant to be in their own house that night. If he hadn’t walked through the door when he did, his mother would’ve come looking for him.
Faith hadn’t stopped pacing until Esalen returned from walking Toola home, escorted by Tailwind and Fleetwing. Even then, the twins knew full well it was time to huddle close to their parents to ease their worry.
But life went on. Today, the spiritual successor to Trade Day would commence, and the former nymphs and foals would take the first real step into adulthood.
By moving out of their parents’ houses.
A gentle prod to his shoulder jolted Aspire out of his memories of days prior. Blinking twice, he turned away from the plate of blueberry muffins his mother had placed before him and leveled a quizzical look at Esalen.
His sister arched a brow in reply. “Are you going to daydream all day, smugling?” she teased. “We’re going to be late to see where our house is if you don’t start eating.”
“Sorry.” Aspire ducked his head, his chitinous ears drooping slightly as he grabbed a muffin and took a quick bite. “Just thinking over the past couple days.”
Esalen’s features softened. “Oh. Oh, then I’m sorry.” She blew a deep breath through her nose. “The Long Night frightened everyone, I shouldn’t be so cold.”
“It’s not like I was holding up a sign, Essy. I don’t take it as a slight.”
“I know.”
A small smile of thanks flitted across her face, Aspire deftly flicked the tips of his tongue out to taste the relief emanating from her. A lie, he knew, but one for his benefit.
How very Enchanter of her. Grandpa would be proud.
Esalen took a deep sip of her tea, her eyes fluttering shut as she savored the warmth. “So,” she began, “are you excited?”
“Isn’t everyone?” he asked, smiling back at her.
“Well, yes. But I’m asking you.” She opened her bright pink eyes and met his gaze, her smile spread into a full, toothy grin. “I feel like I could just bounce straight out of my carapace!” she practically squealed.
Chittering, Aspire shook his head. “That’s Toola rubbing off on you,” he quipped. “As for me, I’m … I don’t know how to describe it.” The young changeling reclined in his seat and took another bite of muffin, chewing slowly to savor the sweet, fluffy morsel. Turning his gaze toward the ceiling, he sighed happily and said, “Finally get to live in our own house! With Doodle!”
“And Toola,” Esalen added almost wistfully. She hummed a low note, a cadence of rapid thumps against the wood made Aspire glance down to find her bouncing. “I finally get to hold her every night!”
The twins beamed and waggled their ears. Their joy was palpable, a delightful sweet taste of cotton candy fluff that made their meal all the better, strange though his girlfriend might think it. “Too sweet!” she’d probably scoff and stick out her tongue, her eyes dancing with mirth. “Your changeling tastebuds are all broken!”
And then I’d boop her nose and tell her that her pony tastebuds just weren’t developed to handle such high quality sweetness, Aspire thought with a fond smile. I can tease her all day and night once we move in.
They finished their breakfast in relative silence, each took the time to relax and just revel. When they finally finished, Aspire held out his hoof in silent offer to take her plate and glass. A gesture she accepted with a nod and quick thanks before she trotted off to retrieve their saddlebags—which contained the few things the pair hadn’t yet packed away like books, toothbrushes, and brushes. Basic amenities.
Everything else was stored away—in boxes rather than slime pods, so to avoid them hardening in the sun. Not nearly as fun or easy as some might think. Hardened slime might as well be solid rock.
Aspire rinsed their plates and cups, then took the time to scrub them all down with a soapy sponge before he put them back in the cupboard.
The sound of hooves thudding a cadence against the wood floor made his ears twitch. He turned left, smiling as he came face to face with his mother. Turning away from the cabinet, he greeted her with a hug. “Morning, mom,” he said softly, squeezing her tight.
“Good morning,” Faith whispered, her hooves snaked around his shoulders, squeezing him so tight he thought his carapace might crack. She nuzzled into the crook of his neck, then planted a gentle kiss on his cheek. “My little nymphs all grown up, and about to live together in their new home.”
“Just down the way,” Aspire said. He drew back to hold her at foreleg’s length and gave his sunniest smile. “It’ll be just like having us here. Only, we’ll be less likely to break grandma’s stuff and eat all the food.”
She snorted and shook her head. “Well, I won’t miss you breaking my mother’s things,” Faith admitted. “But, I’ll miss hearing those little hooves thudding against my floors, or the pair of you arguing and wrestling about.”
“I thought you hated that. Though, if you really want, I can go start something with Essy right now and—”
His mother covered his mouth with her hoof. “Hush, you troublesome changeling,” she scolded, her sad smile never faltering. “I’ll miss having you both here, but I’m happy and proud. And I know you’ve been waiting to have Sure Stroke in your home.”
“And Essy,” he corrected. “And Toola, too. She’s fun.”
“Of course.” Her golden eyes shone with pride, despite the tears welling up. “And today, you get that. But for now …” she trailed off, gently tugging him forward into another embrace.
He didn’t resist.
What nymph would resist their mother’s hug?
Aspire laid his head upon her shoulder and closed his eyes. For just a few moments longer, he was under her roof, still her little nymph. Another cadence of hooves made his ears twitch, he cracked open his eyes to find Esalen entering the kitchen again, her smile faltering a moment as she tilted her head and regarded their mother in silence.
Her tongue didn’t flicker out. She knew.
Deep down, everyone in the house knew this day would come, and how much it would hurt Faith.
Esalen needed no prompting or reminder. She simply acted.
The saddlebags were set down on the floor, forgotten for a few moments while Esalen joined the hug and laid her chin on Faith’s opposite shoulder.
Aspire didn’t say a word when he felt hot tears pattering upon his shoulder plate. His hold simply tightened as he nuzzled his mother’s shoulder, his nostrils flaring as he inhaled her scent, the scent of home, like he might never see it again. A familiar sting made him squeeze his eyes shut.
For just a few minutes, they were the same naughty little nymphs she so lovingly raised. In a way, they always would be.
Just slightly down the road.
Aspire buried his face in her shoulder and pretended he didn’t feel the tears rolling down his cheeks.
Every year when Trade Day drew near, the little village came together in a rather lovely, lesser-spoken-of communal tradition. Something to help the young adults take that next step along the path, as well as offer a gift of goodwill from the old to the new.
Each household was arranged so there would always be four rooms—if there weren’t four to the house, the residents were expected to welcome visitors in need of a place to stay and keep to the practices of a good host until they left. One of the oldest traditions in Respite.
Naturally, one could be invited by older friends to fill an open room, or a group could sign up to live together. Otherwise, it would be arranged on moving day at Queen Euphoria’s house.
Since their group had long planned to live together, Aspire was quite happy to avoid that mess. No offense intended to Neat ’n Orderly and Prim ’n Proper, of course.
With his saddlebags slung across his back, he stood in the sitting room with Esalen, Sure Stroke, and Toola Roola, each glancing about, their eyes flitting between the twin hallways on either side of the room. Both led to a fork with a pair of bedrooms at either end, and a bathroom in between. Directly across the room, there was an open doorway which led to a sizable kitchen outfitted with wooden cabinets, a large pantry, an icebox, and an oven and stove. A wooden table and four chairs were set up in the dining area, just before a half-door and window leading out to a small backyard and Neighagara Forest.
Just like every home in the village, albeit with a slight variation in the layout.
“The Wood brothers altered the traditional layout on your house a bit,” Warm Welcome grunted from the doorway as though he’d read Aspire’s mind. He trotted inside, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow as he looked at the furniture he’d moved in with Drizzly, Mantis, and Rock Solid’s help, then turned to aim a tired smile at his friend. “Is that the last of it?”
Drizzly brushed a lock of damp, stormy gray mane out of his eyes. “I think so.” His gaze flitted to Sure Stroke. “Do you think that’ll be enough, sweetheart?”
Aspire let his gaze sweep over the four wooden desks, nightstands, and various carpets—all purchased as gifts by their families. A flick of his tongue gave him a taste of satisfaction and joy from his housemates.
Especially his girlfriend.
“I think so,” Sure Stroke replied, trotting over to wrap her father and Warm in a tight hug. “Thank you.” Turning to Mantis, who tried to hide himself away in the corner and pretend there was an interesting speck on the wall, she sidled over to brush her shoulder affectionately against his. “And you too, Mister Mantis.”
The burly changeling’s ear flicked. He turned to offer a tiny smile and nod. “Welcome,” he replied softly, reaching up to pat her head. Then his chocolate brown eyes flitted to Toola, a hopeful glimmer shone within.
Scarcely had a second passed before Toola bounced over, beaming and squealing in delight, to try to tackle her father in a hug, babbling her thanks faster than any but he could understand. Mantis barely flinched, though. He simply buried his muzzle in the crook of her neck and nuzzled her, wrapping a single foreleg around her shoulders in return.
The love between adopted daughter and father was just perfect. Delicious.
Aspire could only smile. Who wouldn’t in with such love washing over them? Respectfully, he turned away to grant them their moment and approached Warm Welcome with Esalen.
“Thanks, daddy,” Esalen said, catching him in a hug first.
Not to be left out, Aspire caught him from the other side. “You’re the best,” he added softly. “Thank you all for this.”
Warm Welcome chuckled, tiredly nuzzling each of their cheeks. “You’re welcome. I’m glad to help you all just like my parents helped me.” He drew back, his smile still in place. “So, any idea on rooms? Or have you not looked yet?”
“They haven’t looked yet,” Faith called from the hallway on the right. She emerged, her golden tail swishing merrily, with Skydancer and Ladybug trailing in her wake. The trio smiled, though perhaps none brighter than Faith herself. “The rooms are plenty large, but quite cozy I must say. I’d wager you’ll have plenty of room to store your canvases in your closet, Sure Stroke, dear.”
“Canvases? Ha!” Skydancer rustled her wings. “I could hide those nice Wonderbolts who ran that flight camp you went to, honey! Remember Sergeant Stormy and her daughter?”
Sure Stroke shuddered despite the fond smile upon her face. “Yes,” she replied. “Spitfire loved to get Soarin to hold me while she and Fleetfoot tickled me. Those three were terrible teases.”
Sounds like three pegasi after my heart, Aspire thought with a grin. Shaking his head, he turned to nose against her cheek, then stepped back to look at the three mares in turn. “I’m good with whichever as long as I have room for my desk and books. Do you three have a preference?”
To his left, Esalen dragged her hoof across the wooden floor in a long, slow half-circle, her face flushed a deep black. “Well,” she said, drawing out the word. “Toola and I have sorta talked things over a bit and …” Black chitinous ears laid flat against her scalp as her words failed her and a wobbly smile tugged at her lips. She held out her hoof, bending her leg at the elbow as if to offer it to someone.
In fact, she was doing just that.
Toola Roola took her cue, skipping over and taking the offered limb with a merry giggle, and pressed herself against Esalen’s side. “Essy and I have decided we’re going to share a room!” she crooned. “One of the ones on the left, I think, would be good!”
Her face still flushed, Esalen bobbed her head. “We thought it might be a good time to—you know—take that next step.” She shifted from one hoof to another, her eyes flitting from her parents to Toola’s. “Since we’ve been together for two years and all.”
That they had. Aspire flicked his tongue, the cotton candy and cake batter taste of their shared love made him want to buzz his wings, and only grew stronger when their parents moved to voice their approval and offer congratulations. But he quashed the notion as quickly as it came.
Esalen and Toola had a point—well, two, really. With as close as they’d grown over the course of two years of dating and that they’d stayed true, why shouldn’t they think themselves ready to take that next step in their relationship? And an extra room for guests or storage wasn’t a bad idea at all.
But Aspire’s mind lingered a bit longer on the former, and then it began a treacherous little jaunt over to Sure Stroke. Specifically, visions of himself waking each morning with her, his lovely Doodle, held tight in his hooves while they dozed together in a gelatinous bedpod made of his own slime, and wrapped warm and snug in a nice bedwrap, his snout nuzzling into the crook of her neck.
By love, the mere thought brought a wistful smile to his face.
A quick glance to his right found Sure Stroke gazing back at him, her eyes seemed far off, the same look of wonder she wore when daydreaming or looking at scenery to draw. She bit her bottom lip and seemed to consider the prospect. Behind those beautiful, deep blue eyes, Aspire could see both desire and uncertainty.
A discreet poke of the twin tips of his tongue confirmed it—Sure Stroke wanted it too, but she just wasn’t sure about something.
Timing, maybe? Or perhaps just plain nerves at the prospect, or how to go about broaching the subject. Either way, it didn’t really matter why. Only one thing concerned Aspire:
Sure Stroke wasn’t ready.
If she wasn’t ready, they weren’t ready. Separate rooms it would be. He would just have to make the call in her stead.
Aspire winked, then aimed a winning smile at the girls. “I think I’ll take one of the rooms on the right so you two have some—ah—privacy.” He casually turned away and trotted over to take position next to a solid oak vanity and nudged it with a hoof, internally, he winced at its size and weight. Moving it to Sure Stroke’s room would prove to be a challenge.
The things he did for his Doodle.
His smile never abating, he looked over at Esalen and waggled his ears before continuing, “I would hate to be rude or voyeuristic by tasting anything during the evening hours, wouldn’t you agree?”
In that instant, Aspire wished he’d snagged Esalen’s cameras from one of the boxes before he’d made his comment. As soon as the words left his lips, twin blushes spread throughout their faces, even to the nape of Toola’s neck and the tips of her ears.
Ladybug chittered, fixing him with a faux stern look. “Now, now, Aspire, you’d better be careful teasing your housemates,” she warned, her eyes twinkling. “Given the fourth member of your little home, I don’t think you want to cast that particular stone.”
He sucked in a breath through his teeth at the sight of his sister’s eyes flashing and her blush slowly abating. Cursing Ladybug, Aspire gave a nervous chitter and turned his attention to Sure Stroke. “H-How about you go pick your room, Doodle? Dad, you wanna help me carry this thing?”
Chuckling, Warm Welcome trotted over to take his place on the other side. “Smooth, son,” he muttered. “Very smooth.” Warm then turned to aim his smile at Sure Stroke and said, “Honey, why don’t you go take a look at the rooms and pick? We’ll bring your things along once you’re ready.”
Sure Stroke bobbed her head, feathers fluffing merrily. “Sounds like a plan!” She glanced at Esalen and Toola, and said, “Er, not to jump on the teasing bandwagon, but I think I’ll leave that wing of the house to you two. Probably best that way, if you’re doubling up.”
Her piece said, she trotted passed the mares, pausing to nuzzle her mother and Faith’s noses before she turned down the hall.
Aspire and his father shared a nod, then began to channel magic. With twin hisses, they lifted it up, Aspire gritted his teeth at the weight. “I’ve got my end,” he ground out.
“Likewise,” his father replied. “I’m going to turn, it might dip.”
“I’ve got it. Just don’t drop the whole thing without warning me.”
Slowly, Warm Welcome turned just as he said, then began to walk toward the right hallway with Aspire carefully bringing up the rear. The pair were mindful of the wall, slowly making that turn at the corner so they didn’t carve a groove or put a chip in the woodwork on the first day. Once through, it was a short walk straight through to the bathroom door before they could set it down and await Sure Stroke’s direction.
She stood before the bedroom door on the left, her feathers twitched in consideration. Sure Stroke hummed a low note and tilted her head. The proverbial wheels in her head turning at full velocity. Clicking her tongue, she glanced over her shoulder at the opposite room and flicked her tail.
“You need it darker and warmer to keep your slime gelatinous right?” she asked.
Aspire waggled his hoof in a so-so gesture. “I can close the blinds and put slime over them. It’s not that big a deal.”
The young mare rolled her eyes. “Which is easier to deal with for it, then: sunrise or sunset?”
“Rise,” Warm Welcome cut in with a note of humor in his voice. “Keeps it warm and gooey. It’s dry heat we have to worry about.”
“Thank you, Warm,” Sure Stroke replied, turning to trot toward the rightmost door. She nosed against his cheek, then tossed a mocking look at Aspire. “Nice that some of us can stop being tricky and teasing for a bit and help! I’ll take this one.”
With a roll of his eyes, Aspire shot a smirk at his grinning father. “Yeah, yeah, help me pick up the vanity, you traitor.” He lit his horn again, grunting as he lifted his side. “Can’t even let me tease my girlfriend in peace.”
Warm Welcome chittered and shook his head taking up his side in turn. “Not at all, son. But the sooner we finish, the sooner I get to rest my old knees. So let’s get this done.”
A fair point. One Aspire certainly couldn’t argue, either. Together, they carried the vanity through the open doorway and into the room, guided by Sure Stroke to turn and place it against the nearside wall.
“One down,” she said, trotting by with a flutter of her wings. “I think the bed next. Aspire, help me carry it?”
He barely paused to catch his breath. The young changeling hastened to follow along in her wake, a small smile spread across his muzzle. “Right behind you, Doodle.”
Not a bad place to be, if he was perfectly honest. Living together was going to be a delight.