//------------------------------//
// Chapter 34: Parties and Hearties 
// Story: The Start of Something New 
// by Rhino 
//------------------------------//

It takes a certain kind of pony to party with proficiency. Yet even those with the thirst for such times would falter at the frequency of those thrown by Pinkie Pie. Many find it much easier to pick and choose which to attend, and this attitude can lead to awkwardness when it finally comes time to go to one. Such is the mindset Rhino finds himself in as he and Gel head towards their destination.

His nymph glances over and playfully rolls her eyes, bumping his side with her shoulder. "Care to share your thoughts, love?"

He grins sheepishly. "Just trying to think of how I should act during this. I don't think my usual strategy of standing on the edges and not saying much will work."

She taps her chin as she contemplates this. "...if it helps, I think it's only a few ponies..."

"That does help a bit... in some ways." He admits.

A third pony jumps in between them. "Some ways is better than no ways, but not as good as always!" A pink hoof taps her chin. "Unless you're talking about micro-ways, which means we need to help you out some more!"

Holding his chest to try and quiet his heart, Rhino gives the pink party pony a strained smile. "Hello, Pinkie."

"Hello, Rhino!" She beams and hugs him around the neck, Gel watching the two of them with a raised eyebrow.

He grunts, gingerly patting her back and waiting for her to let go. When he meet his wife's eyes, he just shrugs.

Pinkie happily nuzzles his chest, humming all the while. "So soft..."

Blushing now, he tries to gently ease her off him.

She springs back, unbalancing him and beaming brightly at them both. "I'm glad you finally decided to come to another party! After you declined the last two hundred, I was starting to get worried!"

After recovering his balance, the stallion clears his throat and scuffs the ground awkwardly. "I mean, you know parties just aren't really my thing..."

"But the bouncing baby bunny bonanza was made specifically so you and Fluttershy could have fun, too!" She pouts softly at him.

He frowns, tilting his head. "Was that one? They kind of all blur together for me."

"It was the twelfth one."

This information does little to narrow it down for him. "Well, I'm sorry, Pinkie. I'll pay more attention I the future, and I do appreciate you taking the time to invite me to ones you think I'd like."

She raises an eyebrow at him. "Pinkie Promise you'll pay more attention?"

He nods, smiling. "Yes, I do."

She pokes his chest with a hoof. "You gotta do the motions!"

He sighs. "Every time?"

"It makes it binding!"

"... it feels like signing a contract..." Still, he does the required hoof motions.

"Great!" She grins, taking his hoof and tugging on it a bit. "Come on, the party is about to start!"

"Wha- okay." He quickly resigns himself with a chuckle, making sure Gel is coming with them.

She sticks close enough for him to feel the cover for her wings and her fang pressing against his neck.

With this reassurance, he lets himself be guided to a familiar tree.

They're almost tossed inside, nearly crashing into Rarity. Instead, they crash into Applejack.

The farm mare is like a rock as they collide and bounce off. However, as they go to apologize, what they immediately notice is her change of headwear, from a normal brown Stetson to a large red one with white apples on it.

Gel carefully stands up, eyeing her warily. "...wow, you... really went all out with your silly hat..."

"It's just somethin' Ah had lying around." She tips it to them.

She nods, then glances to Rhino. "You have ours, right?"

"Right here." He digs into the saddlebags, pulling out hers: a frilly headband with deely boppers topped with hearts.

She gives a flat stare as she puts it on, shoving his on his head before he can see it. She turns and looks at the mares beside her. "What do you think?"

For all intents and purposes, it looks as if an obese yet colorful bird has roosted on the stallion's head, its head bobbing back and forth and its tail fanned completely to show off a rainbow of colors.

Many of them have to hold off snickers, some of them in simple party has and other normal looking headwear, just not for a party occasion.

Twilight clears her throat softly. "I umm, I think you win."

Gel gives him a big grin while Rarity offers a mirror.

He blinks, eyes wide as he sees it. "Where... did you even get this?"

"Silk."

"I now feel my small worries of what you two can get up to when you're together are completely justified."

The nymph gives him a questioning look. "...what kind of worries could we possibly cause?"

"Mischief." He says simply.

She raises her hoof to object, then taps her chin with it. "...only if we feel it's necessary."

He just snorts and smiles.

"Sorry to interrupt," Rarity offers them both a glass, "but you must try this exquisite punch Pinkie made!"

"It's different to the normal punch?" He takes it, sniffing curiously.

"There's roses in it." She smiles warmly at him.

Gel brings it up to her lips, muttering quietly, "At least it's not daisies..."

I thinks he knows not to put those in. Rhino says simply, drinking his and licking his lips.

I sure hope so. She glances around the other guests, brow slowly furrowing. "...wait, is it just you five?"

"Pinkie said somethin' about this bein' a small party." AJ comments.

"Yea, but where's Rainbow?" She glances at the party planner. "I don't think you wouldn't invite her."

"I did!" She shrugs a bit. "She just never responded to the invite. I even tried to send Applejack to invite her!"

"She said she was waitin' fer somethin' in the mail." The farm mare shrugs.

Gel raises her hoof tentatively. "How did you get up to her home, exactly?"

"Ah didn't. Ah yelled."

"...huh." She scratches her head. "I guess that makes sense."

Twilight waves a hoof. "I'm sure she'll drop by."

"If you say so..." Gel shrugs, leaning against her stallion thoughtfully.

He nuzzles her and takes another drink of the punch. "You know... I think I'm liking this party."

Pinkie grins, squealing excitedly and clapping her hooves - all four, as she had jumped for joy. "I'm so glad to hear that!"

"What about you?" He looks to his wife.

She quietly thinks, staring at the cup resting on her hoof. "...needs more cream puffs."

He dramatically gasps. "A dessert shortage? No!"

"No worries! I got something for that!" The party pony grins and pulls a rope, making another table of food fall down in front of them. Gel immediately pounces on the cream puffs, and Pinkie stuffs a cupcake in Rhino's mouth.

The stallion finds himself desperately trying to do two things: not be overwhelmed by sweetness, and not think about where the table came from.

The sight of his wife's backside swaying and slightly bouncing to an unheard beat definitely helps.

Suddenly, another distraction pops up as the door opens.

"Heya, Twilight! Aren't you excited that-" The new mare is cut off as Pinkie blows a party favor in her face, making her jump sideways into Rhino. His hat falls and lands on her head, covering her eyes.

"Not everything rainbow is yours, RD." Aj snarks quietly.

She lifts up her hat and frowns at her friend, then glances around at the rest of the library. "What's everypony doing here?"

Pinkie Pie immediately pipes up, "We're having a holiday party!" She spins a rectangle on a stick before handing the noisy device to Rhino.

Rainbow Dash isn't fazed by the randomness of her party-loving friend. "So what holiday would today be?"

"National Random Holiday Party Day! Woo-hoo!"

The only stallion in the room spins his noisemaker.

She gives Rhino a questioning stare.

He slowly lowers it, looking away awkwardly.

Pinkie gives him a small smile and puts his hat back on his head.

"So how come nopony invited me?" Rainbow looks at her friends, missing the pink pony pull out a pamphlet of papers, perusing them in confusion.

"Ah did. You were stuck in a book." AJ deadpans.

"...which book? What day?" She's clearly unsure, shuffling on her hooves and avoiding eye contact.

The farm pony shakes her head. "It was one of your Daring Do books."

"Oh." She shrugs a bit. "Sorry, too hyped for the next book. I have to make sure I'm one hundred percent sure I know what has happened before then."

The technicolor mare smiles as she takes a cup to drink. "Three months and twenty-six days. I can do this."

Twilight sips some of the punch. "Oh, you haven't heard? They pushed back the release another two months."

Rainbow, in the middle of a large gulp, turns and spits her drink all over Gel's face, where it starts to boil away. "Two more months?! I've been waiting so long already! I don't think I can take another two months! I'll never make it!"

Rhino snorts as he offers his wife some napkins.

She gratefully takes them, dabbing at the still-wet spots on her face before they leave a stain. "Did A. K. Yearling give any specific reason for the delay?"

"Not really, it's probably something personal." The princess shrugs.

"Oh." Gel seems a little disappointed. "I guess that makes sense?"

"How would you know anything about this before I do?" Rainbow snorts in annoyance, pushing closer to Twilight and Gel backwards, her rear hitting her husband's chest. "I'm her biggest fan!"

Now Gel just looks and feels awkward.

Twilight narrows her eyes while Rhino hugs Gel to him, getting comfortable. The lavender mare snorts. "I'm the one who introduced you to the series, and A.K. Yearling is one of my favorite authors!"

To her credit, Rainbow has the decency to look mollified. "Oh yeah..."

The nymph turns and nuzzles him, smiling as she sees Pinkie sneak a party hat onto Rainbow's head. "Wonder how big of fans they are?"

"Big enough to have a fan off?" He offers.

"Maybe." She shrugs, then thinks to herself. That would be interesting to hear... how in-depth would it go?

i don't know... think you'd join in? he chuckles.

If they don't get too geeky on me. She shrugs slightly. I'm a fan, but I'm not a hardcore one.

They tune back in just in time to hear the end of Rainbow's spiel. "Now who wouldn't want that?"

"Someone who values privacy." Twilight responds simply.

Gel blinks in confusion. "...what did we just miss?"

"The pitching of some desperate and probably weird plan to get a book released early?" Rhino theorizes, shrugging and floating a cream puff over for himself.

"Pretty much," Rarity confirms, taking another sip of her drink.

"Maybe we can just leave her alone to finish the book?" Fluttershy offers quietly.

"If she doesn't want our help, she can always just say no." She grins at Twilight. "Besides, you know you want her to autograph a book for you."

"... well... I guess it would be nice to meet her..." Twilight looks thoughtful.

"Hold on!" Gel steps forward, a hoof raised. "If you're going to see her, can I come along?"

Twilight looks over at her in surprise. "Oh? You want to?"

"Yea, why not? It sounds like it'd be fun." She wraps her tail around Rhino's neck and tugs him forward. "How about you, love?"

He winces as he looks down thoughtfully. "How long of a trip is it?"

The alicorn shrugs. "I don't know yet, I have to find out where she lives first."

"Maybe you should do that, and then he can decide." She taps her chin thoughtfully. "Since I'm here, can we browse the basement, again? I'd like to get ideas for costumes to request of Silk."

Rainbow frowns as she lands, sitting down on the floor by Applejack. "What's so special about the basement?"

As Twilight nods, the farm mare scratches her head. "Ah thought that was her lab."

Rarity promptly titters, waving a hoof with a blush on her cheeks. "Oh, it's probably nothing of interest to you two."

AJ shrugs as Twilight goes over to the nymph. "Did you want to go now or later?" She giggles as she sees Rhino nuzzling the tail around his neck.

Gel is visibly trying not to react, tickling his nose as she responds. "Now would probably be good. Don't know how much longer we can hold back."

Twilight looks a bit alarmed at this, clearing her throat and quickly going over to the door and unlocking it. "Go ahead, then! Rainbow and I have to discuss some things anyway."

As they hurry down, Pinkie walks over and pokes the alicorn's shoulder. "Twilight, what was that about?"

"What was what?" She asks.

"Your panic, her weird breathing, his flushed face..." She counts off with cupcakes as she speaks.

"Don't worry about it." She flicks the party pony's hat with her magic. "We have a party to enjoy."

"Sure, but don't mess with the fez!" She straightens it, grinning at her afterwards. "Fezzes are cool!"

The princess just laughs.





The next day, a normal stroll into town is punctuated by occasional skips as a creamy yellow earth mare enjoys the new band on her foreleg.

Beside her, her stallion is smiling softly, taking the moments where she isn't bouncing to nuzzle her cheek. He has his band on his horse collar, though the reason why is made clear by his muddy hooves.

She pauses in her glee to nuzzle him back. "I'm glad you could take a break to walk with me, Mac."

He chuckles, bumping her side gently with his own. "'Twas my pleasure, Manila." He casts a quick glance around before pecking her on the cheek.

She giggles, returning it. "You're still going to take a rest break before you keep going, right?"

"Maybe." He shrugs as well as he can while walking. "Depends on if Applejack won't be upset."

"Even she knows to watch her limits. I don't want to think of you hurting yourself." She smiles. "Nothing big, just a short break to get a drink and cool off every once in a while."

"Who am I to object to that?" He smiles, pulling her into a soft kiss.

Right at that moment, Manila feels a tap of something hard against her leg. She glances down and sees a young changeling, about Apple Bloom's age, looking up at her hopefully.

She smiles down at them. "Oh, hello there little one."

She gives a shy smile, then awkwardly holds out her hoof. "C-can I please have some love?"

"Dawww..." She coos, shooting a glance at her husband. "Of course you can."

He gives her another kiss as the young changeling places her hoof on the mare's chest, wings buzzing happily as she gets some love from her.

Manila looks curiously at the changeling as she feeds. "Did you forget to eat breakfast?"

The small blush on her cheeks is answer enough.

Manila giggles. "It's alright. We all do that sometimes."

She gives a small smile as she pulls her hoof away. "T-thank you, ma'am."

"No problem. What's your name?" She tilts her head curiously.

"Number nine one four." She nods her head respectfully. "What's yours?"

"Manilla Apple." Her smile fades a little as she looks at the ling. "Your name is a number?"

"I'm not important enough for a name." She shrugs, as if this is indisputable fact.

Her ears fold. "Aww, come on, that's not true. I'm sure your parents think you're important."

"I... you think so?" She looks at her hopefully.

Big Mac leans over and whispers into Manila's ears. "Changelin's don't know their parents. Gel said they're raised by all the breeders."

She grits her teeth to keep smiling through her wince. "Right... I forgot. Wait..." She blinks. "I don't remember hearing about a house full of changeling foals in town."

"There isn't." She beams brightly. "We're on what that one pony called a 'field trip'!"

"Oh... phew. I was worried for a moment there." She laughs sheepishly.

"Why?"

The question is simple, given by the little changeling before them.

She blushes. "Well, it's just... you know, thinking there was a house full of adorable little changeling foals who thought they weren't important... it..."

Macintosh gently pulls her into an embrace, mindful of the drying dirt caked on his legs. He nuzzles her cheek, clearly hoping to help her calm down a bit.

She hears her heart pounding in her ears as she calms down, still embarrassed. "Sorry..."

"No need to apologize." She hugs the mare gently, then walks away, waving over her shoulder.

Manilla waves back, looking wistful. "What a sweet filly..."

"Eeyup." The farmer glances at her before starting towards her work once more. "How badly do ya want one?"

She covers her face as she walks. "Pretty bad right now... I may have thought of checking if they were adopting if my crazy 'house of changeling foals' idea wasn't... well, you know."

"Careful. They hear ya, they might come runnin'." He chuckles, looking ahead and pausing a moment.

"Yes... I'll just go on with my day and give Applebloom a hug when I get home." She meeps as she bumps into him, looking up to see why he stopped.

There appears to be a couple ponies placing a sign above the doorway to the clinic - "Changeling Safe House".

Unsure if this counts as graffiti or she missed something, Manila walks up, calling to them. "Excuse me? Did someone hire you to put this up on our building?"

They jump at her voice, turning as one to face her. Then, glancing at each other, the one on the left speaks up. "No, we just decided to put it up."

"It's the truth, is it not?" The one on the left suggests.

"Well, yes..." She looks thoughtful. "Wouldn't you need to put up an awful lot of signs if you did that for everyone?"

"We have enough signs." She smiles before giving a bow and hurrying off with the stallion.

Big Mac blinks, looking in the direction they left for a moment before taking a sturdy branch off the ground. He then proceeds to knock on the other side of the sign, trying to get it off.

Manila raises a hoof, looking unsure. "You don't think they'll think we stopped serving changelings if we take the sign down... right?"

"Ah'm just movin' it." He knocks it onto the ground in front of the mare. "'Sides, Ah wanted t' check somethin'."

She picks it up, looking at it curiously. "What did you want to check?"

"The back." He awkwardly cranes his neck so he can bite the sign, turning it around after for her to see.

She tilts her head at the symbol on the back. "Huh... I wonder what that means..."

"Ah think Spike said somethin' about that, once." He taps his chin thoughtfully. "Ah'll ask him tomorrow."

"...should I be worried?"

"Probably not." He shrugs, hugging her close. "You think of a good sign to replace that. Ah'll make sure everythin's alright."

"Okay." She nods and kisses his cheek. "Have a good day!"

He smiles and, giving her one more heated kiss, turns and walks away.

"Have fun on your honeymoon?" Gel stands behind the mare, grinning at her.

She tries to straighten herself up, nodding and blushing. "Yes, yes we did."

"That's good." She rocks on her hooves a bit. "So... when should we expect your foals?"

Manila's face goes even redder as she squeaks. "I mean, we haven't planned... I'm not... but she was cute..." Seeing as words are failing her, she gives the changeling a firm hug.

Gel awkwardly pats her back. "I was just joking, you know..."

"... I'm going to keep hugging you so I don't have to respond."

She turns partly to the door, nervous. "Rhino? Help?"

"I thought we agreed hugs were good?" He calls back with a voice that almost projects his cheeky smile.

"But she's embarrassed, and it's making me embarrassed!"

The mare speaks up, letting her go. "Sorry... it's just you weren't the first one to bring that up today."

"You saw the little lings on their field trip, too?" She smiles softly at her.

"...yes." She admits softly. "One of them asked me for love."

"...were they not feeding them right?" She frowns, waving Rhino over with a wing.

As the stallion comes over, Manila shakes her head. "I think she said she just didn't have breakfast; I was worried, too."

"We should probably keep an eye out for that, just in case." She pulls her close as he stops next to them. "For now, tell us all you can remember..."