I levitated Big McIntosh’s suit bag to him. “There you go. Thank you. I appreciate your business and the information.”
“You’re welcome.” McIntosh glanced toward the back of the shop. “Is Miss Coco in?”
I shook my head. “She’s helping Rarity and Miss Saddles today.”
“Applejack asked me to tell her hello,” McIntosh said.
“I’ll pass the message along when she comes back tonight.”
McIntosh gave me a curious look. “Is she helpin’ you during the evein’s?”
“No, she’s staying here.”
McIntosh’s eyebrows rose.
I blushed at his silent implication. “It’s just for a few days,” I explained. “She’s staying with me while Miss Saddles is staying with Rarity.”
“That’s goin’ to start some gossip.”
“Oh, I know it,” I said, putting McIntosh’s bits in the store’s register. “Even if she could have gotten a room, it would have been crazy for her to pay to stay at the inn when I have a free room here.”
McIntosh stood there studying me. He grinned and switched the sprig he had been chewing on from one side of his mouth to the other.
“What?”
“Your folks were here the last couple of days, right?”
I nodded. “They, my sister, and her fiance came for a visit.”
“Ponies in the market were talkin’ about you havin’ visitors, but I didn’t hear the particulars.” He chuckled. “So it’s goin’ to be you and her alone.”
I felt my blush reach my ears. “True.”
He chuckled again, fuller and louder.
I pointed a hoof at him. “You know I’m not that kind of stallion.”
“I didn’t think I was that kind of stallion either. But when Sugar Belle invited me to rest for the evenin’ at her place, when I went up to Our Town for deliveries a while back, she proved me otherwise.”
I stared at him, astonished at his admission.
“Mares can be right convincin’, when they want to be.”
The store’s bell chimed as Sassy stepped into the shop. She stopped and smiled at my friend across the counter. “You must be Big McIntosh.”
McIntosh nodded to her. “Eeyup.”
“Rarity’s told me about you,” Sassy said. “She said you have a lovely voice.” Her smile turned teasing. “Sounds to me she was right. She was right about you being handsome too.”
Big McIntosh blushed. “Thank you. Please, tell her she’s got a nice voice too for me.” Giving Sassy a polite but wide berth, he left the store.
“He’s taken,” I told Sassy.
“I know.” She grinned at me. “Rarity mentioned he blushes easily, so I had to give it a try.”
“What can I do for you?” I asked.
“You don’t have go formal on me. I’ll behave. I know you blush easy already.” Sassy’s expression changed to one that was almost sad. “I’m here about Coco.”
I swallowed as a worried lump formed in my throat. “Is she okay?”
“She heard from the acting company. They are planning to do a more contemporary show and won’t need the number of costumes they thought since most of the case won’t be performing with clothes on.”
“Oh no.” I slumped in disappointment. “She needed that commission.”
Sassy nodded. “It’s only about a third of what she was hoping it would be.”
“What can I do to help?”
“Rarity sent me out under the auspices of getting a few things for the shop.” Sassy motioned her head towards her saddlebags. “I got what we needed, but I was also asked to find out if you could come up with a surprise pick-me-up for after our mares only combination congratulations and sympathy dinner. You are to appear at the boutique at seven o’clock this evening.” She pointed a hoof at me. “Don’t knock, that might give things away. We’ll let you in.”
“I’ll be there,” I said. I smiled and raised an eyebrow. “What’s this about the dinner being mare’s only?”
“Rarity and I want Coco to ourselves for a while.” Sassy’s grin regained its liveliness. “We will provide the main courses for her and you’re in charge of dessert.” She waggled her eyebrows. “Or, if you’re bold, you could be dessert.”
“I don’t know how Rarity would react to me being dessert, considering her stance on nibbling. However, if Coco asks to nibble me or to be nibbled I will not deny her.”
Sassy laughed. “Good to hear.”
The store’s bell chimed again as a customer entered.
“I better go.” Sassy gave me a wink over her shoulder as she walked away. “If you want to keep with the dessert theme, invest in caramel or chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and strawberries. Inviting her to use them in creative ways may give her spirits a needed boost and enhance the evening for both of you.”
Caramel approached the counter, stopped, and looked back at Sassy with a curious expression as she exited the door. “Who was that?”
“Miss Sassy Saddles,” I told him, trying to keep my embarrassment out of my voice.
“I don’t think I’ve seen her before,” Caramel stated.
“She’s Rarity’s assistant and store manager from Canterlot,” I explained. “I think this is her first time visiting Ponyville. She’s here helping Rarity meet all her orders. ”
“Ah.”
“I’ll be right back with your suit,” I told him.
“Before that, I’d like to make a suggestion or two.”
I paused in mid-turn. “Sure.”
“Stick to the whipped cream. Caramel or chocolate syrup would take forever to get out of your coat, unless you’re planning to invite her into the shower to help get them out of your coat afterward.”
“I would never have thought of that,” I admitted.
“Put down something easy to clean on your chosen spot first too,” he added.
“I take it these suggestions are coming from the voice of experience.”
Caramel smiled and shrugged. “Mayyyyybe.”
I’m learning more about my friends than I really wanted this morning, I thought to myself.
*****
I felt odd as I waited outside of Carousel Boutique with my picnic basket. While there were not too many ponies walking by, I wondered what they thought of me sitting in the middle of the walk to Rarity’s like a pet waiting to be let in.
Rarity eased the boutique’s door open and peeked outside. “Right on time,” she praised. She paused and pointed a hoof at the picnic basket in front me. “Did Sassy not mention to you we would have everything for dinner covered?”
“She did, but she told me you put me in charge of providing Coco’s dessert. I did my best to follow the spirit of her advice while making sure we could enjoy our treat while in public.”
Rarity gave me a blank look.
“I bought caramel sauce, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and strawberries. I got two gallons of ice cream too. One for us and one in case you and Sassy would like some.”
“I believe I’m missing some context as to how enjoying ice cream could be seen as indecent.”
“I’ll let Sassy fill you in as to what she suggested that Coco and I do with the toppings.”
“Knowing that much I’m uncertain I want to know anything else.” Rarity gestured for me to follow her. “Do come in. Sassy should be bringing Coco to the front in a moment.”
“Thank you.” I stopped inside the doorway and looked around. “You’ve been busy.”
Dresses of all colors and descriptions hung from every one of the store’s displays. Several moving racks occupied the storefront’s floor and held even more dresses. While there was room to move, the remaining space seemed cramped compared to the boutique’s typical openness.
“Now you can see why I’ve needed both Coco and Sassy. Without them there would have been no way I could have finished all of this.” Rarity sighed. “Though, it turns out we’re not as close to being finished as we thought. The last of the orders I will take until the Celebration is over came in from Canterlot in today, along with Coco’s message.”
“How is she doing?”
Rarity sighed and looked toward her workroom. “She’s putting on a good face, but we can tell the news disappointed her. I’m hoping staying busy will help her keep her mind off of things.”
“It does for me.”
Rarity looked back to me with an apologetic expression. “Speaking of staying busy, there is more to do than what I had thought. I’m going to need a lot more of Coco and Sassy’s help. We’ll most likely be working long after the shop’s normal hours, so I will be providing them lunch and dinner for the next few nights.”
“That’s-” I stopped, hearing ponies coming towards us.
“I thought I heard somepony besides Rarity,” Sassy told Coco as she led her from the workroom. Sassy dropped her head to be on a level with my saddlebags.
“Oooo, what did you bring?”
“I brought strawberries, caramel and chocolate syrup, and whipped cream.” I grinned, enjoying the mixture of surprise and amusement on Sassy’s face. “And two gallons of ice cream,” I finished.
“Are you trying to have dessert with all three of us?” Sassy said gave me a flirtatious smile. “I’m game, if Coco doesn’t mind sharing. I hope Thunderlane isn’t the jealous type, though, if Rarity joins us.”
“Sassy!” Rarity said. “You’re making our dessert sound scandalous.”
“I could be,” Sassy teased. “It all depends on what and how much we let others sample of ours.”
“I brought one gallon of ice cream for you and Rarity and one for Coco and me,” I informed Sassy. “Since you said I would be in charge of dessert for the evening, I didn’t want to leave you two out, but I was hoping to take Coco to something special.”
“I’m not sure I like the thought of you taking Coco to places unknown,” Sassy said and moved to stand beside Coco like a protective older sister. “Where are you planning to steal our Coco off to?”
“It’s a surprise,” I said.
Coco looked up to the taller mare. “'Our' Coco? You’ve only known me for a few days.”
Sassy looked down at Coco and smiled. “I’ve become fond of you in a short amount of time.”
“I can’t blame you,” I told Sassy, “she had that effect on me too.” I was glad to see Coco blush at the complement.
“We will allow her to accompany you only if you promise that she will be returned to us with no indications of having been sampled as dessert herself,” Rarity said, with a poorly suppressed smile.
A knock at the boutique’s door drew our attention.
“Come in,” Rarity called.
The door opened and Thunderlane stepped halfway into the shop. He paused as he took the four of us in. “Is now a bad time?”
“There is never a bad time for you, Darling.” Rarity made her way to Thunderlane and gave him a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek. “What brought you here?”
“You.” Thunderlane said and kissed Rarity’s temple. He gave Rarity a return hug and told her, “While I admire your work, I don’t think I would look very good in a dress.”
Sassy put a hoof to her chin. “We might surprise you. You have lines we could work with.”
Rarity leaned back from Thunderlane and scanned him from ears to hooves. “Now that you mention it...”
“Sorry, Rarity, but don’t start getting ideas,” Thunderlane said. “Big McIntosh is the only stallion I know of who is bold enough to pull off one of your outfits in public in Ponyville.”
“Wait, what?” Sassy asked. She looked toward me. “Is he serious?”
I nodded. “He is.”
“Nooo.” Sassy shook her head. “I can’t even picture McIntosh in a dress.”
“Dress, makeup, and wig,” Thunderlane said. He held up a hoof at Sassy’s disbelieving expression in a display of sincerity. “I promise.”
“It’s true,” Rarity said. “I have photos.”
“What in Equestria prompted him to do something like that?” Sassy asked.
“To make a long story short, Big Mac will do anything for his sisters,” Rarity said.
“I’m sorry.” I gave them an apologetic bow. “I hate to break this up, but where I’m planning to take Coco is time sensitive.”
“So it’s a swap of ice cream and toppings for some Coco?” Sassy asked.
I smiled and nodded. “I believe it will be a sweet deal for all involved.”
“That was terrible,” Thunderlane said.
I levitated one gallon of ice cream and the promised toppings from my picnic basket. “Here’s yours.”
Thunderlane looked over the ice cream and toppings, as Sassy took them in her magic. “Looks like you went all out.”
“If you ask nicely, Rarity and Sassy both might share with you,” I kidded, gaining me a laugh from Sassy and a suffering look from Rarity.
Using her magic, Rarity opened the door for us. “Remember, I expect Coco back tomorrow in the same condition she is leaving us.”
“I will behave,” I assured her.
“You’re not requiring Coco to follow the same rules,” Sassy noted.
“Ssshh,” Coco said, holding a hoof up to her mouth. “Don’t point that out. I might take advantage of it.”
Sassy laughed as I blushed. “Rarity was right; he does get flustered when you’re involved.”
“Shall we?” I asked Coco, hoping to escape with some of my dignity intact.
Coco nodded and smiled. “Sounds good to me.”
Coco led our way out of the boutique, and I shut the door behind us.
“I take it you know,” Coco said, giving me a less than authentic smile.
“I do.” I tried my best to give her a full smile back. “Sassy stopped by and told me the news.”
She sighed. “I don’t know whether or not to be upset about it.”
“Let it fall into our rule of not worrying about things for a bit.” I touched my nose to hers. “We can talk about it, if you want to, when we get back to my place.”
“That sounds good to me.” Coco perked up a bit and asked, “Where are we going?”
“On a kind of picnic, if I tell you too much more it might ruin the surprise.” I pointed a hoof in the direction out of town and towards the Everfree Forest. “Everypony meets up on or near the hills close to Fluttershy’s cottage.”
Coco told me, as she joined me in walking down the path, “I didn’t know that there was an event planned for today.”
“It’s not a thing you can set a date for,” I explained.
“Now I’m even more curious.”
Even though she seemed enthusiastic, Coco did not have her typical energy.
“I don’t mean to be selfish and keep you out. I know you’ve been working your tail off. If you would like to rest back at-”
Coco cut me off with a nuzzle to my cheek. “I am tired, but I want to see what you have planned and have our ice cream picnic.”
“If you’re sure. This might be the first night, but it will go on for a couple of more days.”
Coco gave me a reassuring smile. “I’m sure. Besides, Rarity will need a lot more help than she expected, so this might be our only chance.” She looked at me with concern. “Are you going to need help at your shop?”
“I will be fine,” I assured her. “There are a lot more mares than stallions, so I don’t have near the number of commissions she has to work on.”
“Thank you for understanding. She needs all the help she can get.”
“You don’t have to thank me. She invited you here to help her. I was lucky to get your help when I did.” I nuzzled her ear and told her in a soft tone, “And even more lucky for the time to get to know what a wonderful mare you are.”
We made our way to the edge of town. Families and groups of friends had and set out picnic blankets on the grass on and around the hill and grassy fields between Ponyville and the Everfree Forest. Some pegasi had gathered stray clouds and positioned them in the sky above us, making it a two tiered gathering of townsponies. The sounds of colts and fillies playing, ponies talking, and occasional laughter from those around us provided lighthearted background noise to the growing twilight.
“The mystery deepens,” Coco said as she looked around. “I see ponies gathering, but I don’t see anypony setting anything up.”
I nodded toward a section of grass near the foot of the central hill. “Speaking of setting things up, that looks like a good spot. We can see the fields and the forest from there.”
“So it has something to do with the Everfree Forest,” she ventured.
I nodded. “The major part of it does.”
When we got to our spot, I put our blanket down and set out the ice cream and toppings.
“Look, it’s the first firefly!” a colt cheered.
“There’s another one!” a filly said.
Before long, the whole of the field was alight with fireflies hovering through the air.
“Oh wow.” Coco said, as she looked around. “I have seen a few fireflies outside of Rarity’s window the last couple of nights, but nothing like this.”
“It’s actually late in the season for them.” I passed her bowl of ice cream to her. “While having this many out is a good sign that what I hope will happen will be tonight, it also means that we’re about to lose them for the year.”
“You look a bit sad,” she said.
“I am a bit. I’ve loved fireflies since I was a colt. They are another reason I loved coming to Ponyville. You don’t get many fireflies in Canterlot.” I turned to her and smiled. “I’m glad I got to share their last hurrah for the year with you, though.”
Coco and I enjoyed our ice cream while watching the fireflies hover around us. I kept half an eye on the Everfree Forest, hoping to catch an early sign that we were all there at the right time.
“How did you know that we should be here tonight?” Coco asked.
“When Big Mac came by to pick up his suit, he told me that Granny Smith had noticed some signs that the end of the firefly season was here and that she had put her guess on the big event starting tonight. If it doesn’t, he invited us to an alternative that is sure to happen a little later at the Apples' farm.
“They’re starting!” somepony cheered. “The first one lit up!”
“Speaking of the main event,” I said and nodded toward the forest.
For a second or two, nothing seemed different with the Everfree Forest. The green canopy and dark trunks of the forest maintained their intimidating, wild appearance as we all watched for any signs of change. A light blue glow in one treetop caused expectant mutterings throughout the gathered ponies. After a moment, the glow faded.
“That was pretty,” Coco said.
“That’s just the start,” I said, not able to keep the foalish excitement out of my voice.
As if the initial glow had been a signal, more and more blue lights began to shine throughout the forest’s canopy. Several lights ascended above the canopy, while others descended from the leaves to float among the trunks of the trees. As the glowing lights shone and faded, they caused the branches and trunks of the trees to cast shadows that made it seem as if the forest itself was moving in accordance to the lights’ patterns and painting the tops of the trees in a muted bluish silver tone, giving the Everfree Forest a beautiful and eerie appearance.
“The trees look like they’re dancing,” Coco said, sounding awed. “What is doing that?”
“They’re beetles,” I explained. “They only come out about three or four days a year close to end of summer. They’re about the size of your hoof, so when they glow they can really put out some light.” I smiled as I watched Coco stare at the forest. She had a happy, wondrous smile that made me glad that my idea was something she enjoyed.
“Do they ever fly out of the woods?” Coco asked, not taking her eyes from the Everfree Forest.
“Not that I know of, they are like the timberwolves and other creatures of the forest in they keep to the trees. Ponies have found a few of them of them outside the forest after nights like this, but it’s not common.”
“If one of them comes this way, I want to catch it!” Coco said.
“I would go get one for you, but their lights stir up the creatures of the forest. That’s why not too many ponies are much closer to the woods.”
“You don’t have to do that. I can enjoy them from right here.” She leaned against me and gave a happy sigh. “I can enjoy you here too.”
She and I ate the rest of our ice cream and watched the beetles light up the forest in relative silence.
I thought she might have gone to sleep when Coco gave a slight gasp and pointed a hoof. “Did you see that?!”
I turned my attention to where she indicated and made out shapes moving among the trees and the occasional flash of glowing yellow eyes. “Timber wolves,” I told her.
“Rarity told me about them.” Coco shuddered. “They don’t sound very nice.”
“They’re not. Thankfully they won’t come outside the trees with this many ponies around.”
Over the next hour, the number of glowing lights decreased in number until just a few remained. Ponies began packing up their supplies and gathering any errant members of their groups.
“I think it’s over for tonight,” I said.
“That was wonderful,” Coco said. She looked up at me with a sleepy, full smile.
A shadow drifted over us in a way that struck me as unnatural. I looked around, after noting that the shadow did not move on. “What’s going on?”
Coco giggled and pointed upwards. “We have company.”
I looked up to see Sassy, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Rumble, and Thunderlane looking down at us from a cloud above.
Sassy grinned and waved. “Hello!”
“What are you doing up there?” I asked.
“We were watching the lantern beetles,” Thunderlane responded. “Now they’re gone for tonight, watching you two being cute is the entertainment.” He glanced beyond us, and his smile grew. “You have incoming.”
Coco and I turned towards where Thunderlane had been looking.
Dinky, Pinch, and Piña were running our direction, dodging ponies and their picnic spreads on their way.
“Seems like most of Ponyville came out tonight,” Coco said.
“I wouldn’t be surprised,” I told her. “While it’s not an official event, it’s almost one with all the ponies that show up.”
“Pony pile!” Piña declared, when they drew closer.
My ears pinned back. “Oh no.”
Before I could prepare myself for their enthusiastic hugs, I found myself rolled on my side and under the combined weight of three fillies.
“Hello, Uncle Pin,” Dinky said and giggled.
“Hello to you too,” I said.
“Girls,” Coco said and then paused with theatrical skill.
The trio of fillies, their ears perked, looked at her with expectation.
“Could you help me find out something about Pin?” she asked them.
“Sure!” Pinch said. “What would you like to know?”
Coco smiled mischievously. “Is Pin ticklish?”
All three fillies grinned ear to ear.
“Wait!” I pleaded. “I can answer that! You don’t have to-!” I could not get another word out as the three fillies tickled me without mercy. I laughed and tried to squirm away, but Coco leaned against my back and blocked my escape.
“What brought this on?” Berry asked, as she and Muffins walked up.
“Call them off!” I begged between laughs.
“I think we have our answer, now,” Coco said. “Thank you.”
I flopped to the ground and did what I could to get my breath back with the three fillies resting on me.
“Pinch was right,” Berry said to Muffins. “Here they are.”
“Good evening,” Rarity called from the cloud above. “I see you found them too.”
Berry, Muffins, and the fillies looked up and waved to our friends on the cloud. “We guessed they would be here somewhere, when we heard the lantern beetles were starting tonight. Looks like you did too.”
“Am I really that predictable?” I asked nopony in particular.
“Yes,” Muffins said and smiled at me. “We love you for it, though.”
“How did you three get up there?” Piña asked.
“I asked Twilight to teach me a Walk On Clouds spell,” Rarity said.
I raised my head to look up at her and teased, “I wonder what prompted that.”
Rarity gave me a look, but did not respond to my comment. “It was a bit of a strain for me to cast it three times in a row, but I managed. Where are Barrel and Turner?”
“They’re packing up our stuff,” Muffins said. “We ended up setting up so close to each other we just moved side by side. We were about to head back, when Pinch said that she thought she saw these two.” Muffins gestured with a wing towards Coco and me.
“Oooo, they had ice cream,” Piña said, after examining the jars of toppings and bowls Coco and I had left out on the blanket.
“I didn’t pack extra bowls or spoons,” I told her. “But you’re more than welcome to dip the strawberries into the ice cream and any of the toppings you’d like.”
“Thanks, but we just had brownies and cookies.” Piña leaned back on her hindquarters and patted her belly. “I’m full.”
“Could I sneak one?” Dinky asked. “That whipped cream looks delicious.”
I smiled at her. “Of course you can.”
Dinky moved off my side and set her attention on the strawberries.
“What do you think?” Berry asked Coco. “About the beetles and the fireflies, I mean.”
“They were beautiful. It was quite a show.” She leaned over and nuzzled the top of my head. “I never did say thank you for bringing me.”
“I was glad I could share it with you,” I told her, feeling my face warm with a blush at the attention we were getting.
In the forest, a timberwolf howled a long note.
“I should pack us up too,” I said, rolling back to upright. “We don’t want to chance anything with the beetles having riled them up.”
“Please, just a second!” Dinky grabbed a strawberry, dipped it in the chocolate, then the whipped cream, and then popped the strawberry in her mouth. “Ank oo. Ter elly ood.”
“Dinky!” Muffins scolded. “Manners!”
“She said thank you, at least,” Berry pointed out.
I smiled. “I can't take much credit for them. You’ll have to tell Bon Bon thank you for the chocolate and Strawberry Sunrise for the strawberries.”
Everypony moved off the blanket, and I packed the picnic supplies back into the basket.
I levitated the last of the strawberries and the bowl of whipped cream towards the fillies. “Would you like one for the road?”
“Can I have one too?” Sweetie Belle asked from her cloud perch.
“Sure,” I said, looking up toward her. “But you’re a little out of reach for me to use my magic to bring you down.”
“I could jump so you can catch me,” Sweetie Belle offered.
“You will do no such thing,” Rarity said in a final tone.
“Could I get down too?” Sassy asked, looking a little pale. “While I enjoyed seeing the show from up here, I think I’ve had about enough of being up in the air for tonight.”
“I could carry Sweetie down and you could carry Miss Saddles,” Rumble suggested.
“Or I could just push the cloud towards the ground and let them hop off,” Thunderlane said, grinned, and patted Rumble on the back.
“Oh.” Rumble’s ears fell, and he looked away from Thunderlane. “That would be safer.”
Rarity reached over Sweetie Belle and rubbed Rumble’s shoulder with a hoof. “You were very kind to offer.”
“He might have been trying to show off for his training partner, and you ruined it,” Sassy told Thunderlane with a wink.
“Nah.” Thunderlane waved the thought aside with a wing. “Even if he was, carrying another filly for a flight might cause a bit of green eyes. I’m sure he wouldn’t want that.”
Rumble blushed, groaned, and put his face down into the cloud. “I uz ust eyeing oo be ice.”
Sweetie bumped shoulders with Rumble. “You were, thank you.”
Thunderlane maneuvered the cloud down so it floated just above the ground while Pinch and Dinky grabbed and dipped their strawberries.
Sweetie hopped off the cloud and came to get her strawberry. “Thank you!”
“You’re welcome.” I winced at Sassy’s appearance, when I glanced over to her. “You okay?”
“Glad to be back on the ground is all.” Sassy leaned against Rarity. “I was doing fine until I looked down at you and the others.”
“Darling, you should have told us you have trouble with heights,” Rarity said in a sympathetic tone.
“I typically don’t. I think being on the cloud, with no railings or things like that worked on some part of my brain that doesn’t usually get bothered about being up high.”
“Thunderlane would have caught you had anything happened,” Rumble said, puffing up with pride. “He’s done it before.”
Sassy, less pale than she had been, smiled at him. “I’m sure he would have tried, but I weigh more than Rarity does.”
“He still would have caught you,” Rumble assured.
“Then I would have to duel Rarity for him,” Sassy said. “Tall, dark, handsome, and a personal hero? You don’t find stallions like that every day.”
“However lovely you are, I’m sorry.” Thunderlane put the back of a hoof to his forehead and acted dramatic. “Even were you to win, which I doubt you would, my heart would still be Rarity’s.”
Rumble rolled his eyes, and Sweetie Belle giggled at Thunderlane’s theatrics.
Thunderlane dropped his hoof back to the cloud. “However, since my brother does not seem to have a special somepony, only a training partner, I would have recommended you pursue him as a worthy substitute.”
Rumble gave his brother a startled look, and his wings fluffed.
“Hmmm,” Sassy said and studied Rumble. “He is rather cute and has very nice manners. He’d be just the right size to snuggle too.” She gave Rumble a wink, and the colt blushed in response.
Piña bristled up and gave what sounded like a low warning growl to Sassy.
Rarity giggled. “Dear, I’m afraid he’s a little too… inexperienced in life for a mare such as yourself. Besides, you didn’t fall and get caught, so there is nothing to consider.”
“True.” Sassy folded her ears down and acted saddened. “I will have to continue to wait for my special somepony it would seem.”
“We’re packed and ready to go,” Barrel said as he and Turner walked up. “You about pulled together, Pin?”
I put the strawberries and whipped cream in my picnic basket and secured its top. “I am now.”
“Then let us head back,” Turner said and glanced towards the Everfree Forest. “I’d rather we not test our luck with the lantern beetles stirring up the beasties in the forest and everypony leaving.”
“You guys go on,” Thunderlane said. “I’ve got to put this cloud back where I got it or Rainbow will have my ears. I’ll catch up with you once I’m done. It should take just a minute or two.”
“Would you like some help?” Rumble asked.
“Thanks, but I’ve got it,” Thunderlane told him. “Stay with them. If trouble comes, you can fly to get help.”
Sassy moved to stand next to Rumble and put a foreleg around his shoulders. “It would be nice to have a capable flyer with us, if something does decide to come along.”
Piña half stomped, half walked over to stand in front of Sassy. “Since he and I are the fastest of the group, we’ll be at the front.” She took one of Rumble’s hooves. “That way we can get a good head start toward town.” She pulled Rumble out from under Sassy’s foreleg. “Come on, Rumble. Let’s take point.”
I thought I heard Rumble whisper, “Thank’s for the save,” to Piña as she guided him past.
Smiling at Piña’s and Rumble’s backs, Dinky called, “We’re not that much slower!”
Pinch giggled and announced, “We’d probably be faster, since we’re not holding hooves,” gaining her a glare from Piña.
“She’s still not letting him go,” Muffins pointed out in a whisper, as she and Pinch went after them. “That’s so cute!”
“Sassy, that was a bit much,” Coco chided.
Sassy gave her an unrepentant smile. “If they are going to play games about what they mean to each other, I believe I can have a little fun.” Sassy gave me a pointed look. “Besides, it may prompt one of them to commit to that next step.”
“I wonder though,” Rarity said, giving a look of her own to Coco, “if it happens, which of the two will be the one to take the initiative.”
“Just who are you talking about?” Turner asked. “These two are already special someponies.”
“Live-in special someponies,” Sassy said with relish. “We all know what the next step from that is.”
“She’s staying with me for a few days,” I tried to correct.
I was ignored.
Berry gave Barrel a smug smile. “I told you.” She bumped shoulders with him. “Now, about that dinner out...”
Barrel groaned and looked skyward. “I should have known not to bet against you. After the celebration, we can go wherever you want.” He bumped Berry back. “Agreed?”
“Piña and my folks too?” Berry prodded.
“Piña and your folks too.”
Berry kissed Barrel on the nose. “Agreed.”
“You bet on me staying with him?!” Coco asked the pair.
Berry grinned and nodded. “I did.”
“We’ve got a couple bets going on about you two,” Barrel said.
I sighed and let my ears drop. “Dare I ask as to what and who you’re betting on?”
“No, that may sway the odds.” Berry gave me a wink. “I’m berry sure on my choices, though.”
*****
I opened the door to my apartment and stepped in. I held the door open for Coco and asked, “Did you enjoy the beetles?”
Coco, who looked distracted by some thought, snapped her attention to me. “I did! I think Rarity mentioned them a while back, but things have been so busy I had forgotten about them.” She smiled her genuine, bright smile as she walked pass me and into the apartment. “The ice cream was great too. Thank you.”
“You're more than welcome.” I closed the door behind her and turned the lock. “I’ll get everything cleaned and put back up. Would you like the first shower?”
Coco seemed distracted again. She was looking at the furniture in the den in a way that gave me the impression she was seeing more than what was there. She blinked and turned to me. “Oh. Sure, that sounds great.”
“Are you okay?”
She nodded. “I’m fine.”
I felt a touch of concern, but decided not to press her. I made my way into the kitchen and unpacked the picnic basket. I had just turned on the water to clean the dishes, when Coco hugged me from behind.
“Pin?”
I turned off the water and turned my head so I could see what I could of her. “Are you really okay? You seem distracted.”
“To be honest, I’m a bit of a mess. Can we talk now?”
“Sure.” Coco loosened her grip on me, and I turned to face her. She rested her head on my chest, and I hugged her and put my cheek on her head. We held each other for over a minute, not saying a word.
I kissed her forehead and told her, “I know where we need to be right now.”
Coco looked up at me. “Where?”
“On the cloud chair.” I took her hoof with mine. “Would you like to try it?”
Giving me a small smile, she nodded. “That sounds great.”
Holding each other’s hooves, we walked into the study. “Ladies first,” I said and nodded to the chair.
Coco, with a dainty hop, got onto the chair. She did an adorable circle, like a cat testing a bed, and settled down. “Oh, wow, this is nice.”
I joined her on the cloud chair. “I am glad you like it.”
She leaned against me. “It’s so comfy. How do you not stay on this all the time?”
“It feels off to me, getting on it alone. It was made for two ponies to share, and it felt too big and empty when I got on it.” I gave her temple a nuzzle. “With you here it feels right.”
Coco drew in a quick breath and hugged me around the neck.
I hugged her back. “I didn’t mean to upset you saying that.”
“You didn’t. My thoughts and feelings are a wreck and that slipped out.” She gave a dainty huff and leaned back from me. “I’m frustrated with myself and a little with Rarity. I know that being frustrated with Rarity isn’t right, which makes me more frustrated with myself.”
“Which causes a negative emotional feedback loop; I’m very familiar with those.” I gave her a comforting squeeze. “Why are you frustrated with yourself?”
“I wanted that contract before I came.” Her eyes reflected her inner turmoil. “Now that I’ve gotten it, my nerves are worse than when I was waiting for it.”
“Why?”
“Manehatten is the center of the costuming world, but beyond that it’s empty for me. While I’m back in Manehatten, I’m going to miss everypony here, especially you.”
“You’ll be able to see your friends there though, right?”
Coco shook her head. “I was too busy working for Suri to make friends.” She gave an uneasy giggle. “I don’t even have a place I can work there anymore. Since I’ve been here, I let my membership with the shared workshop I had been working out of lapse to save some bits.”
“I would have helped you with that,” I said. “I’m sure Rarity would have too.”
“I know you would, that’s why I didn’t say anything.” Her ears fell, and she looked away from me. “I didn’t want to burden either of you two by asking you to save me again.”
“Save you?” I could not keep my confusion out of my voice, and my right ear went askew. “What are you talking about?”
“I didn’t have a full-time job. I didn’t have a workshop. I didn’t even have a place of my own. Rarity somehow finds out about my situation, swoops in and offers me a job to help her with her shop.” Coco drew in a breath and continued, “Then you appear and offer me another position, treat me like a full professional, feed me, introduce me to your friends, and have shared so many good times with me.” She touched her nose to mine. “You’ve made me feel like I’m worth something.”
“You are worth the world to me.” I looked into her blue eyes and told her, “Coco, I love you.”
Coco’s eyes widened at my confession.
“I will move to Manehatten if-”
“No!” She put a hoof over my mouth with surprising speed. “No,” she said again, in a more gentle tone, and removed her hoof from my mouth. “A big part of what makes you, you is that you are here, in the home and town you cherish, close to your friends. I cannot and will not ask you to move.”
“For you, I would, though.” I braced myself as her expression shifted to something I could not read. “Maybe this was a horrible time to tell you how much you mean to me, but-”
She pulled me into a kiss that made my eyes widen, my ears snap to their full height, and my tail go straight back from my haunches.
Coco broke our kiss and grinned up at me. “This was the perfect time to tell me.” She grinned and gave me a light shake. “Pin, are you okay in there?”
I refocused my euphoria-addled brain and smiled back at her. “I think so.”
“Good, because I want you clear-headed for this.” She gave me a lingering, softer and more intimate kiss. “I love you too.” She smiled and put her forehead against mine, resting the top of her head against my horn. “I am so glad to hear you say you love me, I can’t even tell you.”
“My Grandfather and Dad taught me not to say ‘I love you’ to a mare without meaning it from the core of my being. I’ve been trying to show how much I cared for you as best I could.”
She kissed my nose. “You have done a wonderful job.”
“Thank you. I didn’t know if you wanted me in your life the way I want you, but hearing you devalue yourself when I think so much of you stung.”
“You silly pony, you’re the main reason I was stewing in my own thoughts. I’ve been trying to figure out the logistics of completing my costuming contracts while living here. It will add a couple of challenges, but I would only need to go to Manehatten now and then during certain stages of the projects.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want you living here prove to be a huge pain in the flank. I think I’m as averse to interfering with your love of costuming as you are about me moving.”
Coco nodded. “I’m sure. Living here would also make it easier for me to work contracts from Canterlot too, if I can break into the market.”
“I’m sure Rarity could introduce you to the right ponies for that to happen.”
Coco’s expression turned to one of annoyance. “Speaking of Rarity, if she doesn’t quit playing games with me about what she is planning with her new shop she and I might have words.”
“So she’s not giving you any details?”
“Not one! Sassy is tormenting me by dropping hints that she knows things that I don’t, which is making it worse.”
I had to fight a smile at her cute, flustered expression. “I’m not sure what I think about Sassy myself.”
Coco sighed. “I like her. She has a good heart, but she doesn’t know where the line is with her teasing sometimes.”
“While we’re on the subject, a question occurred to me, and you may know the answer. If you’re here and Sassy is here, who sent the orders from Canterlot?”
“I don’t know that either,” Coco said, a touch of irritation returning to her voice. “Neither of them will tell me.”
I smiled as she hid a yawn behind her hoof.
“Coco, I want to restate it, no matter what happens or what you decide my home and workroom are always open to you.”
“Knowing that you’re looking out for me and want me here is keeping me sane right now.” She blinked and yawned again. “I’m so sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize. You’ve had a long day. I feel bad for keeping you out.”
“I would have stayed out all night with you to see what we did.” She smiled at me with a sleepy look in her eyes.
“There is a lot more I want to show you.” I smiled back at her. “There is so much more I want to learn about you and from you too.”
“I would love for us to talk more, but I’m fighting to stay awake.” She guided us down onto the softness of the cloud.
I pulled her close and touched my nose to hers. “Are you comfy?”
“I’m more than comfy. Your snuggling has progressed very well.”
My heart sped up, as Coco leaned up, kissed my ear, and gave it a light nibble.
She settled back in my forelegs, turning her back to me so I could hold her as the little spoon. “If I wasn't about to fall asleep, I would give you a test to see if you were ready for training in more advanced displays of affection.”
After having said that, Coco fell asleep in moments.
With the combination of holding the mare of my heart, the nibble, and her words echoing in my mind it took me a while to compose myself enough for sleep take me too.