Coco broke the silence that had been between us since we had finished breakfast: “Pin, you’re beating yourself up over nothing. I promise I’m not upset.”
Keeping my head down in shame, I felt Coco’s eyes on me from across the table.
“I have a brother,” she reminded me. “I know that certain physical events are outside your control first thing in the morning.”
I stared into my coffee cup, not daring to look up at her. “I’m ashamed of myself because that’s not what happened.”
“Really?” Coco asked, sounding more at ease than I was.
“I woke up early, and you were right there. I could smell you. I felt your warmth, the texture of your coat, and your breathing. I was enjoying doing nothing but holding you, then my mind went places I shouldn’t have let it and I… reacted before I could control myself.”
“I thought I had hurt you for you to put space between us like you did,” she said with an echo of concern in her voice.
I still could not lift my eyes to her. “I am sorry for waking you up and for-”
“Don’t apologize,” she insisted. A hint of a giggle came into her voice as she told me, “That was quite a reaction for me just being there.”
I looked up to her and saw no hint of anger or disgust with me in her expression.
“If I hadn’t been dead tired last night and fallen asleep first, I had planned to see if I could coax that kind of response from you.” She smiled at me. “I’m flattered that I didn’t have to do anything for you to consider me so enticing.”
My blush, which had only subsided a minute ago, renewed itself.
“Pin, we’re going to be living together.” Coco reached over the table and took my hoof with hers. “I’m not sure how you feel about such things, since you’re more traditional, but I hoped that at some point we could take full advantage of having each other all to ourselves.”
“I gathered that after our conversation last night.”
“Are you opposed to the idea?”
I surprised myself by giving an immediate and sincere response: “Not at all.”
Coco giggled at me. “That was a fast answer considering it came from somepony I’ve had to give snuggling lessons to.”
I raised a playful eyebrow and reminded her, “I nibbled you without prompting,”
“True, but you...” Using her free hoof, she took a long sip from her coffee while studying me.
I fidgeted under her gaze like a colt. “What is it?”
With a self-sure smile, she put her coffee down. “That’s the key.”
“What’s the key?”
“You are a Canterlot gentlecolt who respects mares. You won’t go much past the boundaries you think are proper or I’ve invited you to cross. Even with the nibble, it took a good bit of teasing before you acted on impulse.”
I blinked. “I never thought of it like that, but it fits.”
“It also explains why you took to your training so well. You wanted to be more affectionate, but until I made a clear shift of the boundaries between us as part of our lessons you didn’t feel you could.”
I grinned at her. “With you as my teacher, I couldn’t help but be an eager student, psychological blocks or not.”
She smiled back at me. “I think I have an idea for your exam.” Coco got up from the table. “I’ll be right back.”
She left the kitchen with energy in her steps. I did not have long to wonder what she was up to before the returned to the kitchen.
“The heart’s desire,” I whispered in recognition, as she came close to me.
Coco held up a hoof and touched the blossom behind her right ear. “The other flowers you’ve given me have been beautiful and tasted wonderful, but I wanted to keep this one.” She gave me a too fleeting kiss. “It’s very special to me, as is the stallion that gave it to me.”
“For my exam you want to complete our courtship?”
Coco nodded. “As best we can, since we’re not following the exact steps your Mom and Satin described.”
“I don’t think how the steps are carried out matters as much as honoring their intent, but we can try.” I got to my hooves and bowed to her. “Lady Coco, I ask that you allow me the privilege to return the loving gesture you gave me the other night.”
Raising my head just enough to see what I was doing, I used my magic to braid a strand of her mane behind her left ear.
I lowered my head back down and told her, “If my offer is agreeable to you, please return still wearing this braid.”
Her hoof raised my chin so I would look at her.
“Good stallion, you shall have my answer by the evening of this day,” Coco told me, touching her nose to mine and looking into my eyes. “We shall discuss what boundaries our relationship will have then.” She smiled and added, “If there are any barriers left at all.”
*****
I hummed the melody to Coloratura’s The Magic Inside while walking through the storefront and taking notes on what needed to be restocked. Getting low on cufflinks and tie pins again, I thought, peering to a display cabinet.
The store’s bell chimed as the door opened,
“Pin, I’m in urgent need of your assistance!” Rarity called, sounding as if she were being dramatic rather than in distress.
“I’m right here,” I answered, turning to her.
“Oh! My apologies, I didn’t mean to shout at you. I thought you would be in the back.”
“I was taking a quasi-break and checking my inventory,” I told her, putting my notepad down. “What can I do to help?”
“Do you still have dress collars and ties for school aged foals?”
“I do.”
“How many?” she asked.
“In the foal’s section, I have thirty five collars of varying sizes, nineteen bow ties, and twenty eight Langshoof ties. I know that I have a few ascots and stock ties behind the counter too.”
“You’re quite sure?”
“Very.” I tapped my pen against my notepad. “I counted the ones in the foal’s section less than ten minutes ago.”
“Wonderful!”
Rarity turned and exited the shop, leaving me standing alone and confused.
“What was that about?” I asked the empty storefront.
The shop’s door opened again and the store’s bell chimed its welcome again.
“Here you go, darlings!” Rarity said, holding the door open for half a dozen colts, one of which was Rumble, and a pair of fillies to come in. “Mister Pin will help you.”
The foals wandered around the shop looking at what was on display.
Cheerilee followed the colts and fillies in. “Children, I know Mister Pin’s shop is interesting, but I need you to make your choices so we can get back to the others on time.”
“Whoa, did you make all of this?” a lanky colt with a snail cutie mark asked as he continued to walk between the racks and shelves.
“Not all of it, but most of the clothing items in the store were made by me or by Miss Coco Pommel,” I answered.
“Is she your partner?” a light green colt with a pair of scissors for a cutie mark asked.
“She’s his special somepony,” Rumble informed him.
“Is she the nice mare at Rarity’s?” one filly asked.
“Did she have a short blue mane with a braid on this side?” I asked her, using my hoof to indicate my left ear.
She smiled and nodded. “She had a pretty flower behind her other ear.”
“That would be her,” I confirmed.
“We just met her, she’s nice,” the second filly said.
I smiled. “I think she is too.”
“Mister Pin, these students would like ties to wear to the Celebration,” Cheerilee said, sounding like she was trying not to giggle. “Miss Rarity ran out of her selection, so we were hoping you might have some.”
“I do.” I made a gesture toward the foals’ section of the shop. “Everypony, please come this way.”
As I helped the other students, Rarity did her best to help Cheerilee answer the foal’s questions about items in the shop and about making clothes.
I noticed that Rumble and one filly had broken away from everypony else and were moving through the displays and racks as if looking for something.
“Do you have a bow tie like Miss Octavia’s?”
I turned my attention back to the filly who’s turn had come. “I’m not sure if I have one just like hers, but I have pink ones that should be close.”
I showed her the pink bow ties I had and she smiled.
“I like that one,” she said, pointing a hoof.
“A very good choice,” I told her. Remembering she was the filly who had asked about Coco, I added, “Miss Coco designed and made this one.”
“That makes it even better!”
“I’ll tell her you said so. Let me measure your neck for your collar.”
The filly raised her chin up and I levitated my measuring tape around her neck. “Do you like Miss Octavia’s music?”
“I do!”
I had to readjust the tape, due to the filly moving with excitement.
“Liza, you need to hold still,” Cheerilee reminded her in a kind tone.
“Sorry, Mister Pin,” Liza said.
“You’re fine. I get excited about my favorite musicians too.”
“When I play her music to my flowers, it helps them grow,” Liza said.
I took Liza’s measurement and removed the tape from around her neck. “I had heard the right music can help plants grow. I didn’t know it really worked.”
“It does with her music. My flowers are a whole hoof taller now.”
“I believe they scheduled Octavia to play at the Celebration,” Rarity said. “You might meet her there.”
Liza all but hopped in place. “You think so!?”
“If I bump into her, I’ll mention she has a fan who would like to see her,” Rarity said.
Liza did hop up and down at Rarity’s words. “Oh, thank you!”
Rarity smiled at the exuberant filly. “I can’t make any promises, but I’ll see what I can do.”
I put Liza’s bow tie and collar in a bag. “Here you go.”
Liza stopped hopping and took the bag from me. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Noi, Rumble, you need to come over here,” Cheerilee called.
The two foals came back over, appearing reluctant to stop what they had been doing.
“You go ahead,” Noi said to Rumble, sounding less than enthusiastic.
“You sure?” Rumble asked her.
Noi nodded.
As I assisted Rumble, I noticed Noi kept looking around the shop with a purpose. The more she searched, the more dispirited she got until her ears fell in disappointment.
“Dear, whatever is the matter?” Rarity asked.
Noi looked up at her. “I don’t see what I was looking for here either.”
“Ask Mister Pin about what you wanted,” Rumble said. “He’ll help you.”
“I’ll do my best,” I promised. After putting Rumble’s collar and his chosen tie in a bag and giving them to him, I turned to Noi.
Noi looked up to me with hopeless eyes and pointed a hoof towards her chest. “Do you have the floofy thing that Major Mare wears?”
“You mean a pleated stock tie with ruffle trim?” I grinned as light returned to Noi’s eyes. “I sure do. I keep stock ties in a different section behind the counter.”
“I told you he’d know what you were talking about,” Rumble said.
Noi lunged and pulled Rumbled into a hug. “You were right! Thank you so much!”
Rumble gave her an embarrassed, reluctant hug back. “You’re welcome.” He went stock-still and blushed as Noi gave him a nuzzle.
“Uh, dude, ain’t cha going to say something?” the stocky colt with the scissor cutie mark asked. “Piña might get jealous.”
“Maybe they’re forming a herd,” the lanky colt suggested. “Piña is Noi’s best friend.”
“Piña’s my training partner, not my marefriend,” Rumble grumbled.
“Then you won’t mind if ask her out,” the stocky colt said. He breathed on a hoof and then rubbed it on his chest. “I am quite the catch, you know.”
“Sure, if you’re going by the pound,” Rumbled snapped.
“Rumble, well behaved ponies do not make fun of others!” Cheerilee scolded. “If I hear something like that from you one more time, you will have detention. Apologize to Snips right now.”
“Yes, Miss Cheerilee,” Rumble said, his ears folded back. “Sorry Snips. I shouldn’t have said that.”
Snips, looking smug, just smiled.
I guided Noi over to the display counters, went behind them, and pulled out my selection of foals’ stock ties for her. “Here’s what I have available.”
“They look great.” Noi looked over the stock ties for a moment. She turned her head and asked, “Miss Rarity, what would be a good color for me?”
Rarity walked over and studied the stock ties. “Let us see here.” She levitated one of the pleated, ruffled ties to Noi’s neck. “This one would bring out the color of your eyes. It’s not quite what Mayor Mare wears, though.”
“That’s okay.” Noi smiled at her. “It will let me have a bit of my own style too.” She turned to me and said, “Can I have this one?”
“Sure,” I said. Rarity levitated the tie to me, and I put it and Noi’s collar in a bag for her.
“Rarity, could you take the children back to your shop?” Cheerilee asked. “I need to settle accounts with Mister Pin.” She looked a little worried, as she pulled out her money pouch and weighed it in her hoof. “I’ll pay you as soon as you get back to the shop.”
Rarity leaned close to me and confided, “I found out from a source who wishes to remain unknown that Cherrillee tried to get approval from the Equestria Education Association to use school funds to pay for the foals’ collars and ties. She wrote to them about how she would use them to show the foals how to tie their ties as part of teaching them how to dress for job interviews and formal occasions. She told the board that this would be a one time use of school funds associated with the Celebration that she would not ask for again too.”
“Sounds reasonable to me,” I said, “but I take it something went wrong.”
“The board approved her request, but the chancellor vetoed it at the last second and wrote back to her that ‘school funds are not to be used for frivolous extracurricular activities’. The poor dear didn’t even have enough time to organize a fundraiser. Cheerilee promised the foals that they could get their collars and ties today and she won’t go back on her word so she is paying for all of this herself.”
My ear twitched in irritation. “Like Tartarus she will,” I whispered back.
Rarity gave a slight nod. “Then you and I are in agreement.”
“Pin? Rarity?” Cheerilee looked at us with concern. “Is everything okay?”
“Rarity and I will send you a combined invoice,” I assured her. “You and your students can go ahead. It will take us a bit to calculate the total, with all the purchases to tally up and applying all of your discounts.”
Cheerilee gave me a confused look. “What discounts?”
I listed: “Your educator’s discount, your client referral discount, your haberdasher’s appreciation discount, your…”
As soon as I slowed down, Rarity picked up with, “Your civic service discount, your support of the arts discount, your affectation enhancer’s discount, your-”
Cheerilee raised an eyebrow in a way only a teacher about to discipline a fibbing student can.
“Oooo, they’re in trouble,” the lanky colt said.
“They might be, depending on how many ‘discounts’ they give me,” Cheerilee told the colt.
“We can discuss such things later, dear,” Rarity said. She made a point of looking to the shop’s clock. “You wouldn’t want to be late in getting the students back to the schoolhouse would you?”
Cheerilee, her voice cracking a touch, responded, “No, I wouldn’t.” She put her money pouch away and gave Rarity a hug. “Thank you.”
Rarity returned the hug and patted Cheerilee on the back. “You’re welcome. Consider it a thank you for all that you do for Sweetie and the other students.”
Cheerilee waved for me to come from around the counter. “You get a hug too.”
I made my way to Cheerilee and received a hug from her.
“Thank you,” she told me.
“You’re welcome,” I said and gave her a hug back.
She let go of me and turned to the students. “We need to get going so we can get the others and head back to the school. What do you say to Miss Rarity and Mister Pin for helping us?”
“Thank you!” the students said in chorus.
“You’re welcome,” Rarity and I replied.
After ushering the students out of the shop, Cheerilee paused in the doorway, turned, smiled, and waved back at us. “Thank you again!”
As soon as the door shut and the students were out of sight Rarity let out a relieved breath and sat down.
“If that was just a small portion of them, I can’t imagine what it was like at your place,” I said.
Rarity groaned. “Discord would have been proud of the chaos. If Coco and Satin hadn’t have been there I don’t know how I would have managed.”
I stepped back behind the counter and replaced the display racks of stock ties back into their cabinet. “You would have managed it.”
“Speaking of Coco,” Rarity said and gave me a look. “I noticed her appearance was different when she came into the boutique this morning. She’s wearing a real flower instead of her barrette, and I believe somepony braided a strand of her mane.”
“I think the single braid looks good on her. I’m glad I didn’t bungle it since I’m so out of practice.”
“Pin, she’s talked with me about this possibility since the other night,” Rarity told me with a hint of a warning. “She is taking you two finishing the tradition seriously.”
“I’m glad she is; I am,” I said in a gentle tone to not seem combative.
“I know you are, but she’s so fragile right now.”
“Rarity, I love Coco, and I’ve told her as much.”
Rarity’s ears snapped up and she looked at me with a startled expression.
“I will never do anything I think will hurt her. She’s the treasure of my life.” I looked down at the display counter in front of me, tapped a hoof on its glass top, and sighed. “But I don’t want to put her in a crystal display or a gilded cage either. I want to live with her, which means she and I will have to take chances that might end up hurting one or both of us.”
Rarity touched a hoof to my cheek. “Darling, I have full confidence you, of all ponies, can strike that balance with her.”
“Thank you.” I looked up I saw something in Rarity’s eyes that sent a shock through me.
She gave me a wan smile as if sensing my thoughts.
“Rarity, I-”
Rarity cut me off with a tap of her hoof to my nose. “We have both been fortunate.” Her smile brightened and the shadow that had been in her eyes vanished. “I have found the stallion who makes my heart soar and who catches me in my worst moments. You have found the mare you cherish above all else and who allows you to express all the affection you’ve held back over the years.”
“We’ve both been very lucky,” I agreed.
“Don’t worry, darling. We all have our little wonderings on what might have been, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t want what we have now.” Rarity tapped me on the nose with more force. “I would prefer, however, to never be described as an ‘occasional friend’ by you again.”
I chuckled. “I promise, I will only describe your as one of my best friends from now on.”
She nodded with satisfaction. “That’s very good to hear.”
The store’s clock chimed half past the hour.
“I need to get back. The girls and I still have so much to do.”
“Thanks for letting me in on the fun,” I said as she turned to leave. “I’m glad I got to help you and Miss Cheerilee too.”
“I hope I didn’t put too much of a strain on your inventory bringing them here.”
“Not at all, adult clothing moves fast, not so much with foals’. It will give Coco and I an opportunity to work on new designs too, as we restock.”
“You’re always thinking of her,” Rarity commented with an amused smile.
“I am. Speaking of which, before you go, could you tell me something real quick?”
“I’ll be happy to.”
“What time does the Ponyville Day Spa close? It’s been so long since I’ve been there I’ve forgotten.”
*****
“Rarity was right,” I said, as I looked at the spa’s hours, “which means I have just enough time to pull things off.”
Aloe looked up from her calendar as I stepped in. “Welcome to-” She paused and her smile grew. “Mister Pin!”
“Hello, Aloe.”
“You haven’t visited us in ages!” Aloe trotted from behind the counter and gave me a hug. “We’ve worried about you.”
I returned her hug and kidded, “I haven’t been trying to work myself to death.”
Aloe released me and then poked me in key spots on my shoulders and neck. “You are still too tense. You do not have to be near the point of collapse to come and see us. We can help you with day to day stresses too.”
“Sister, did we have another appointment so soon? I have not finished preparing the room for them.” Lotus stepped through a beaded curtain and into the reception area. She gave me a smile. “Mister Pin, it is good to see you have returned to us.”
“It’s good to see you too.”
“If you wait a few minutes for me to prepare, I can begin whatever treatments you would like,” Lotus offered.
“While that sounds nice, I was wondering if I could ask for you and your sister’s help.”
Aloe moved to stand beside Lotus. “We’d be glad to help. What can we do for you?”
“I read your book on pampering special someponies.” That statement gained me two smiles and two sets of perked ears from the sisters. “I was wondering if you had some of brushes and combs that you described in chapter five for sale. I have a basic grooming kit, but I wanted a nicer set for what I have planned for this evening.”
Lotus’ grin expressed that she was more than eager to help.
Aloe nudged Lotus. “Sister, do not make such faces when there is a customer present.”
Paying no heed, Lotus, in a voice that was almost a purr, asked, “Would you like to see our full selection?”
After a slight hesitation, I answered, “Sure.”
“Come this way,” Lotus said in the same almost seductive tone and gave a turn of her head showing the direction in which I was to follow. “Let me help you select the perfect grooming instruments for you and your special somepony.”
Aloe sighed. “Lotus, keep in mind Mister Pin is on a schedule this evening.”
“He will have made his choices in thirty minutes,” Lotus assured. “However, I will not allow him to do so uninformed.”
Lotus kept her word. With five minutes to spare, I returned to the front desk with a set of brushes and combs that she assured me would make any pony I used them on happy and relaxed. I placed on the counter, along with the brush and comb set, a blanket from the Crystal Empire woven from wool from crystal ewes.
Aloe stroked the blanket with hoof as if it were a delicate living thing. “I see Lotus introduced you to our newest import.”
“I’m glad she did. I never thought I would find wool that could match cashmere for softness. When she told me about the blanket, I thought she was kidding. When I touched it I knew her statement that it would ‘make the pony you pamper feel nothing but luxurious relaxation’ was true.”
“My sister and I never exaggerate the quality of what we offer.”
As Aloe rang up my purchase, I remarked, “Lotus must have written chapter five.”
Aloe laughed. “She did. I cannot match her enthusiasm and knowledge in brushes, combs, and their uses. She, however, cannot match my expertise in oils and scents.”
“She taught me a lot just in the time I spent with her, and I appreciate it.” I paid Aloe, and she gave me my change. “Thank you both for the grooming kit and for writing the book.”
“Just a moment, please.” Aloe bent down and disappeared behind the counter. When she stood back up, she put a small spray bottle and what appeared to be a fuzzy oven mitt on the counter top. She held up the mitt. “Do you remember these being discussed in our book?”
“I do. It’s a grooming mitt. They can be used at the end of a grooming session to remove any loose hairs from a pony’s coat.”
“Very good,” Aloe said and put the mitt in the bag with the grooming kit.
“I didn’t-”
Aloe held up the spray bottle. “Do you remember something like this from the book?”
I nodded. “I think it’s grooming spray, often made of plant oils and herbal extracts to help a pony’s own oils make their coat shine.”
“Good! You are a very attentive reader.”
“The book was an interesting read, and she provides ample motivation to pay attention to details,” I said.
Aloe beamed at me. “During the evening, after you brush and comb her, use two sprays of this on the mitt and then run it along her coat. In the morning, use the mitt again, without adding any more sprays. It will make her coat shine so ponies will be jealous.” She added the bottle to my bag and then held it out for me to take.
“Aloe, I need to pay for those.”
“I will not hear it. You read our book, bought a top tier grooming kit, one of our finest blankets, and allowed my sister an opportunity to share her love of grooming techniques and tools. You have also directed ponies to our spa many times. Consider them a thank you for your past and continued support of our business.”
“Thank you.” I took the bag from her using my magic. “I will use them to the best of my abilities and will keep sending ponies your way.”
“Please remember, if you ever need oils for any use, please come and see me.” Aloe grinned in a way that mirrored the eager smile Lotus had given me. “The proper application of the right oils can do wonders for couples that our editors would not allow me to describe in our first book.”
Ignoring the intense blush that came to my cheeks and corresponding wave of bashfulness that pinned my ears down I asked, “You wouldn’t have a copy of your other book for sale here, would you?”
*****
After completing my second set of purchases at the spa and receiving a larger bag for my items, which had a bold print of the Ponyville Day Spa’s symbol on both sides, I trotted toward my next stop. Though I knew that no pony could see what was in it, I could not help but feel self-conscious when ponies glanced at the bag as I went past them.
I arrived at Berry’s, braced myself, and stepped in.
“Welcome!” Berry greeted.
“Well hello.” Lyra looked at the bag on my back and smiled. “Does somepony got a relaxing night planned?”
Bon Bon turned her head at Lyra’s comment. Her eyes widened when she saw me. “Pin?!”
“Good evening ladies,” I greeted them.
“That’s a pretty logo,” Lemon Hearts said. “Where is it from?”
“The Ponyville Day Spa,” Lyra answered.
“Oh!” Lemon Hearts said.
“Lyra, Hearts, behave,” Bon Bon told them.
“Sis, we’re through with our homework, can we meet up with our friends now?” Piña asked, after opening the store’s side door and poking her head into the storefront.
“Sure!” Berry nodded toward me. “Say hello to Pin, before you go. He just stepped in.”
“Uncle Pin!” Piña ran to me and gave me a hug that sat me back on my haunches and the bag to slide from my back. “Thank you for helping Noi! She told me all about what you, Rumble, and Miss Rarity did for her.”
I returned her hug. “I was glad I could help.”
Pinch walked through the side door, looked at the state that Piña and I were in, and shook her head. “Piña, you made him drop his bag.”
My eyes widened as Pinch moved toward the open bag. “I’ll get it for you,” she offered.
I lifted the bag with my magic and held it in the air so it folded closed again. “Thank you, but I’ve got it.”
Pinch’s eyes lingered on the bag, and she exclaimed, “You went to Aloe and Lotus’ spa!”
Piña, still holding onto me, leaned so she could see the bag. “What did you get?”
“We were about to ask him that,” Lyra said.
“It’s for Coco, isn’t it?” Lemon Hearts asked.
I nodded. “We’re going to finish-”
The shop’s door opened behind me, and I hear a filly’s gasp.
“Rumble, I’ve got him, he’s right here!”
I turned my head and could just see Noi out of the corner of my eye. “What do you mean ‘he’s right here’?”
“I’ll get Miss Coco!” Rumbled called from outside. “Keep him there!”
“I’ve got him!” Piña declared. “He’s not going anywhere!”
I grunted as Piña strengthen her grip on me.
“Thanks! I’ll be right back!” Rumble shouted, his voice sounding as if he were flying away from us.
“Pin, what did you do?” Berry asked through a laugh.
“I don’t know!”
Noi sat on my tail, pinning it to the floor, and put her forehooves against my back, shoring up Piña’s hold on me. “We’ve really got him now!”
I tapped on Piña’s shoulder with a hoof. “I need those ribs,” I said in a wheeze.
“Sorry!” Piña eased up on her hold. “Barrel says if I keep training I’m going to be as strong as Sis is before too long.”
“I’ll believe it.”
“Excuse me,” Bon Bon said with an amused smile. “Why are you keeping Pin from going anywhere?”
“Liza, Rumble, and I wanted to deliver our class’ thank you note to him,” Noi answered. “We went to his shop, but he wasn’t there. We were talking about what we were going to do when Miss Coco showed up. She said that she needed to talk to him too. We offered to help her find him, and we came here first to see if we could get Piña’s and Pinch’s help.”
“I was picking up gifts for Miss Coco,” I explained and nodded towards the bag suspended in my magic. “I wasn’t expecting her to come back early.”
“I don’t think she was expecting to either,” Noi said. “She seemed worried about something.”
I did not like the sound of that.
“Hello,” Lemon Hearts said to Noi and gave her a small wave. “I’m Lemon Hearts. I think you came into Bon Bon’s the other day, but I didn’t catch your name.”
“I’m Noi, Golden Harvest’s sister.”
“She’s my best friend and Rumble’s and my new training partner,” Piña told Lemon hearts.
Piña’s statement received raised eyebrows from Berry and Bon Bon and with giggles from Lemon Hearts and Lyra.
I turned to look at Noi as best I could. “Is Coco okay?”
Noi nodded. “I think so, she just seemed… almost sad.”
Piña gave me a reassuring pat on my back. “Uncle Pin, don’t look so worried.” I glanced down at Piña and she smiled up at me. “I’m sure Miss Coco is fine. Liza is with her, and Rumble’s sure to find them soon, so she won’t be alone.”
“Liza is the kindest, sweetest filly in our class,” Pinch said. “If anypony can make Miss Coco feel better, it’s Liza.”
Noi and Piña shared a glance and then looked toward Pinch.
After a second or two of Noi’s and Piña’s scrutiny, Pinch blushed and started to seem uneasy.
“What?” Pinch asked.
“Nothing,” Noi and Piña said together.
“He’s right here!” Rumble said, sounding as if he was right outside the store’s door. “They got him!”
I heard Coco giggle behind me. “They certainly did.”
I let my ears and head fall. “I confess! They apprehended me before my devious plans were complete,” I said, acting the part of a foiled villain.
“Thank you for your help, girls, I’ve got him from here,” Coco said.
Noi and Piña released me and moved to stand on either side of Rumble.
Coco bumped her shoulder to mine. “We’ve been looking for you,” she told me with a smile. Though she had put on a good face, I could tell something was bothering her.
“So they told me,” I said, glancing at Noi and Rumble.
“Hello, Mister Pin,” Liza said as she stepped in front of me. “Our class and Miss Cheerilee wanted to send you a thank you letter for helping us.” Liza stood by Coco and presented me the notes.
“Thank you!” the gathered foals said together.
“You’re very welcome.” I gave them a slight bow. “I am always happy to help others feel and look their best in their finest.”
Liza looked to Coco. “What did you want to talk to him about?” The filly’s ears folded in worry. “Is it bad?”
Coco told Liza, with a noticeable touch of disappointment, “It’s not too bad, but it looks like we’re going to have put off our plans for the evening.”
“That’s terrible!” Piña said. She pointed a hoof at the bag I still held aloft in my magic. “He got your gifts and everything!”
“Lyra,” Lemon Hearts said.
Lyra answered, “Yes, Hearts.”
“She’s wearing her flower and a braid,” Lemon Hearts pointed out.
Lyra’s eyes widened. “Oh! That’s what was going on!”
The foals looked to Lyra. “What was going on?” Rumble asked.
“They were planning a special date,” Lemon Hearts answered. “I bet that’s why Pin is here. He was getting wine to share with her.”
“That’s right,” I said. “I picked up Coco’s gifts first, since the Day Spa closes before Berry’s and Barrel’s. I was hoping to pick up the wine and be home before Coco came back, but she found me first.”
“You might not be able to go out, but maybe you could still give her presents to her?” Liza suggested.
“I think that is an excellent plan. That would help both of us cheer up.”
“If she came looking for you, you two need to get going,” Bon Bon prompted. “I’m sure that you will have some planning and talking to do.”
“That might be best,” I acknowledged.
“That’s Bon Bon,” Lyra said. “Always the practical one,” she said and looked towards Bon Bon with affection.
“Somepony has to balance you out,” Lemon Hearts teased.
“I’m not that bad!” Lyra said.
“Now might be the time for us to make our getaway, while they distract everypony,” I stage whispered to Coco.
“I get a hug from Miss Coco first,” Piña declared. Coco laughed as Piña ran up to her and gave her a hug. “I’m sorry things didn’t turn out for you two.”
“We’ll make the most out of it,” Coco promised.
“We’re next!” Noi said when Piña let go of Coco. Liza and Noi hugged Coco at the same time. “Thank you for helping our class get our ties,” Liza said.
“I had a great time while everypony was in the shop.” She gave them a hug back. “Thanks for helping me find Pin.”
“You’re welcome,” Liza said.
“It was fun,” Noi added. “If you ever lose him again, just come get us.”
“I’ll do that,” Coco said with a smile. She looked towards Rumble, as Liza and Noi ended their hug with her. “Would you like a hug too?”
Rumble blushed. “I would, but…” Rumble glanced at me and then back to Coco. “I better not.”
Noi gasped. “You can’t turn down a hug!”
“Coco’s his special somepony,” Rumble said, pointing a hoof at me.
“I give hugs to other ponies’ special someponies all the time, and nopony else gets jealous,” Piña pointed out.
“But you’re you,” Rumble said. “You could hug anypony, and nopony would mind.”
“Noi hugs to lots of ponies too. She told me about giving you a hug in Uncle Pin’s store for helping her, so I know you know what I’m talking about.”
“He didn’t seem to mind too much either,” Noi said with a grin.
Rumble's blush returned as the other fillies and mares in the room all looked at him. “That’s different!”
While Noi, Piña, and Rumble continued to debate, Pinch snuck over and gave Coco a hug. “My aunt and Noi are crazy.”
“They’re like Berry and Golden when they were that age,” I said. I gave Pinch a grin, “There might be a some crazy in them, but it’s a good kind.”
Pinch released Coco and gave me a hug. “Take care of Miss Coco,” she said, in a quiet tone.
“I’ll will,” I promised.
Pinch sighed, let me go, and shook her head at Noi, Piña, and Rumble. “They’re still going at it?”
“It’s no different than you being friends with Noi and me and us giving you hugs and you giving us hugs,” Piña told Rumble.
Rumble sighed in exasperation. “Like you said, we’re friends, we can do stuff like that.”
Seizing the opportunity he presented, I asked Rumble, “You don’t think I’m your friend?”
Rumble turned to me, seeming shocked. “No! I mean, we are! That’s not what I meant.”
“Miss Coco’s not your friend?”
Coco let her ears droop, her tail fall to the floor, and slumped in feigned rejection. She looked so pitiful that I had to stop from giving her a hug myself.
Rumble’s eyes widened with a touch of panic. “That’s not it either! Miss Coco is one of the nicest mares I’ve ever met! I liked talking with her when she was brushing my coat and teaching Piña how to braid my…” Rumble trailed off as he realized what he was saying and turned bright red.
I chuckled. “By your logic, since I’m your friend, and she’s your friend there shouldn’t be any problems if you gave her a hug.”
Rumble gave a conceding nod.
Coco cast off her act and asked Rumble, “Can I give you that hug now?”
Rumble nodded and moved towards Coco, who took him in in her forelegs and gave him a full hug.
“Thank you for helping us,” Rumble said and returned Coco’s hug.
“You’re welcome,” Coco said to Rumble, giving Noi and Piña a wink over his head.
*****
“I don’t think Rumble knows what he’s gotten himself into,” I said as Coco and I entered my apartment.
“What do you mean? Noi seems sweet.”
“She is, but she and Piña combined can be a hoofful. They are like Applejack and Rainbow in that they’re friends, but there’s a competitive vibe between them.”
“Do you think they’re both interested in him as a training partner or a training partner?”
“I don’t know. I think Noi and Piña both want to train with him, since Noi, Golden Harvest, Piña and Berry all compete in the Sisterhooves Social. Something more could be going on.” I chuckled. “But considering how protective of him Piña was with Sassy, I doubt the second version of ‘training partner’ happening with Noi and Rumble is too likely.”
“True.”
I levitated the bag to the coffee table. “Speaking of being protective of others, is everything okay?”
“To be honest, no. Sassy did a check on our progress with the orders. We were fine, at the start, but the three of us took the time off to see the lantern beetles, which ate up what little slack we had. When the foals showed up and needed help with their ties, we fell behind. If we don’t push, we might not reach our deadlines.”
“So you need to go back tonight,” I surmised.
Coco nodded. “I do.”
“We’ll both go.”
Coco looked at me with surprise. “What about your orders?”
“Thanks to you, I’m ahead of where I needed to be. If I can, I would like to help take the pressure off of you three.”
Coco angled an ear, tilted her head, and asked, “You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.” I smiled at her and touched my nose to hers. “Do you have any clue how adorable you look when you do that and how much I have to restrain myself to not kiss or nibble your ears?”
“You sweet, silly thing.” Coco smiled and turned her head.
I gave the tip of her offered ear a kiss and then a light nibble. “We might not have the evening we planned, but we can still spend it together.” My ears snapped up as I thought about the items in the bag again. “Speaking of which, would you like your gifts now or when we have our official date?”
Coco looked towards the bag. “What about giving me one and leaving the rest as surprises for later?”
“I like that idea.” I went over to the bag, opened it, and looked down into it. “Choices, choices.”
“Pin, I have a feeling you spent too much on me.”
“I would rebut that, but doing so might ruin some of the surprise.” Careful not to damage anything as I shifted items in the bag, I drew out the blanket. “This is the first part of this gift.” I held the blanket out to her. “Feel it first, please.”
Coco touched the cloth with her hoof. “Oh, wow.” She had a look of wonder as she stroked the blanket. “This cloth is fantastic. What is it?”
“You’re not allergic to wool are you? ”
“No.”
“Good. It’s made from the wool of the Empire’s crystal ewes.”
Unfolding the blanket, I draped it around her shoulders. “What do you think?”
“It’s amazing.” Coco drew the blanket around her so it cocooned her. “I can’t believe this is wool.”
“I don’t know enough about the cloth, or the wool it’s made of, to fill a thimble, but it caught my attention as soon as I felt it.”
“This is so comfy.” She snuggled into the blanket. “I wonder what clothes made of this are like.”
Her question prompted several internal questions of my own and inspiration for a quick, rough plan. I filed my thoughts away, promising myself I would return to them when I had time.
“I was told that if you lie down on the blanket while I-” I stopped myself.
Coco raised an eyebrow, “As you...?”
“Give you a massage and pamper you,” I offered as in incomplete answer.
Coco wrapped a portion of the blanket around me and pulled me close. “It seems to me you had more planned.”
“I did.” I wrapped my forelegs around her. “But I didn’t even get the chance to get our wine or dinner ready.”
“You didn’t need to cook. We could have gotten-” Coco eyes widened and her ears shot up in panic. “Dinner! I forgot! I was supposed to get dinner for Rarity and Sassy!”
“Don’t worry. We can pick it up on the way over.” I kissed her forehead. “I distracted you, so you can blame the delay on me.” I touched my nose to hers. “There is one thing I would like to do, before we go.”
Coco smiled. “Sure.”
“Lady Coco, thank you for keeping the braid and returning to me.” I kissed her with as much appreciative, loving emotion as I could. When we broke the kiss, I returned to touching my nose to hers. “I look forward to discussing where our relation shall go and having the opportunity to braid your beautiful mane and tail.”
Coco’s eyes flashed. “Sir Pin, I will wear this braid until that time.” She reached up with a hoof and gave me a gentle nudge for me to turn my head. When my head was as she wanted, she nibbled my ear, sending a thrill up my spine, and said in a sultry voice, “I hope that time is not too distant, or I very well might pin you against something.”
*****
Coco opened the boutique’s door with her key. “I hope they’re not too hungry.”
“They’ll understand.” As I followed Coco into Rarity’s, inspiration struck. I shut the door behind us, and grinned at her. “I just had a thought.”
“What?”
“Direct them to the kitchen. I’ll unpack everything there. We’ll give them a bit of a surprise that should make up for the delay.”
Coco smiled back. “I like the way you think.”
I trotted toward Rarity’s kitchen as Coco went toward the workroom.
I put our orders from the Grazing Meadow onto the counter. I could hear voices from the back of the shop, but could not make out what they said. Keeping one ear turned toward the door, I gathered the silverware. I smiled as the voices from the back began to come closer.
“I understand darling, delays happen,” Rarity said.
“I wonder if she didn’t have a nibble or two of Pin, before she headed back our way, and lost track of time,” Sassy teased.
Rarity gasped as she stepped into the kitchen. “Pin, what are you doing here?!”
“I was hoping to have dinner with three and then help you with your orders,” I said as nonchalant as I could. “Coco said that you were in a bit of a bind, because of the foals coming today. So I’m volunteering my services.”
“What about your own orders?” Rarity asked.
“I’m where I need to be, if not ahead, thanks to Coco. I wanted to pay you back for letting me borrow Coco as much as I have and for the opportunity to go see the lantern beetles last night even though you were pushed to get things done.”
“Are you sure? While we would appreciate the help, it will be a long night.”
“I’m sure.”
Rarity walked up to me and gave me a hug. “Thank you, darling. You have no idea how much your being here will take the pressure off.”
I gave Rarity a hug back. “It’s the least I could do.”
“I think you’re just bound and determined to have dinner with Coco tonight,” Sassy said. “By the way, Rarity, since you’ve got him right there, check his ears to see if I was right about Coco having a pre-dinner nibble.”
“Your date! We were so busy I forgot!” Rarity let go of me and turned to Coco. “Darling, I’m so sorry!”
“There is no need to apologize, Rarity. You’re the pony that brought us together, and we’re behind because we were helping Cheerilee and a whole school’s worth of foals. Pin and I both agreed that helping you was far more important.”
Rarity hugged Coco. “You two are worth more than your weight in gemstones.”
“Since we’re giving out hugs,” Sassy said and hugged me. “Thank you. We needed the help.”
“You’re welcome,” I said, giving her a polite hug back.
Sassy looked over to Coco. “At least you don’t growl like Piña does when I hug your special somepony.”
“Here’s a bit of gossip,” Coco said. “Rumble and Piña have a new training partner.”
“Really?” Rarity asked, seeming to be equal parts surprised and intrigued. “Who?”
“A cute little filly named Noi,” Coco answered.
“Harvest’s little sister,” Rarity said and hummed. “Now when you say practice partner, are we talking the training variety or is there a little bit of something going on between the three of them?”
“We didn’t get to ask,” Coco said.
“Oh, so you found this bit of information out when you found Pin.” Sassy released me and gave Coco a curious look. “Where was he?”
“He was at Berry’s, about to buy some wine for us to share. Rumble and his friends helped me find him.”
“That’s so sweet of both of them,” Rarity said. She paused and gave me a smile. “Darling, how did your little errand go?”
I’m in for it now, I thought to myself. “It went well,” I told her.
“What errand?” Sassy looked to Rarity with an ear turned in confusion.
“He went to the Ponyville Day Spa and got me gifts,” Coco said.
“Ooo! I’ve heard about the Spa from Rarity. It sounds wonderful.” Sassy leaned towards Coco. “What did he get you?”
“I don’t know all of what he got me; we agreed to save the other gifts for later. He gave me one thing from out of the bag tonight. He got me a marvelous blanket of the softest wool from the Empire.”
Sassy smiled as she cut her eyes toward me. “Looking to do some cuddling?”
“I wouldn’t be opposed to it,” I told her.
“So when you say ‘gifts’, how big a bag of goodies are we talking about?” Sassy asked Coco.
Coco sat back and gestured in the air a square a touch broader than her chest and about the same distance in height with her hooves. “It’s about this big.”
Rarity gave me look. “Sounds like you made Aloe and Lotus happy.”
“I don’t know about that, but I hope to make Coco a happy mare in the next couple of nights.” Only when Rarity and Sassy grinned and Coco blushed did I realize how poor my choice of words was.