My alarm went off, rousing me from my sleep. I smiled, feeling Coco in my forelegs, her head tucked under my chin.
She pulled me in tighter with all of her legs and mumbled, “Five more minutes.”
Using my magic, I turned off the alarm and set it to ring again. “Five more, then we have to get up.”
She nuzzled into my chest. “This is nice. How did I end up here?”
“I don’t know, but you fit right in that spot.”
She wiggled as if testing the theory, drawing my attention to how close we were and how much contact there was between us.
“It is a good fit, comfy too.”
“Coco, if you keep doing that one of us will get up sooner than expected.”
She looked up at me with mischief sparking in her blue eyes. “So you find the situation titillating?”
I chuckled. “I do.”
She kissed me and I reciprocated. After a few seconds, I needed to shift away from her.
She broke the kiss. “I’m sorry, I’m tormenting us both.”
“Don’t apologize. You’re tantalizing, not tormenting.” I raised my hoof up to the braid in her mane and ran it along its length. “Good things are worth waiting for.”
The back doorbell rang, making both of us jump.
“Who in Equestria?” I asked and stopped as the ringer used the doorbell in a specific rhythm. “It’s Barrel,” I told Coco. “That’s the tune he hums when he’s had too much to drink.”
“This is awful early for a visit,” Coco said and slid off the cloud chair. “I hope he’s okay.”
“So do I.” I turned off the alarm clock and followed her into the den. I put my horn protector on the coffee table and told her, “I’ll go let him in.”
“I’ll get some coffee started.”
“Wait for a second, please.”
Coco paused and turned to me.
I kissed her forehead. “Thank you.”
Coco smiled. “I don’t think I deserve that sweet of a kiss for making coffee.”
“You do.” I gave her a proper kiss and her ears stood at attention. “That was for giving me the best night’s sleep I’ve had in a very long time.”
“You’re welcome. It was nice for me too.” She smiled and gave me a quick kiss to the nose. “Go let Barrel in, before he thinks he’s being ignored.”
I went down into the workshop and called to the back door, “Barrel, I’m coming, give me a second!” I could hear a muffled reply, but could not make out what he said. I opened the door and looked Barrel over. “Is everything all right?”
“My little girl is torn up about something, and Berry and I don’t know what to do,” Barrel said. “It’s a stupid thing to come see you about this early, but I couldn’t even sleep last night. Berry’s getting more and more worried about Pinch too.”
Barrel looked worse for wear. “Have you had breakfast?”
He shook his head.
“Let’s fix that.”
“Thanks, Pin.”
I led Barrel up into my apartment. The smell of coffee greeted us as we stepped in.
Barrel paused. “Who else is here?”
“Coco.”
“Oh, that’s right.” Barrel gave me an uncertain look. “I’m not… interrupting anything am I?”
“Barrel,” Coco said from the kitchen door, “Are you okay?” She walked up to him with concern in her eyes and her ears angled in worry.
“I didn’t sleep too well last night,” he confessed.
“What’s wrong?”
“Pinch has been having a rough time, and Berry and I don’t know how to help,” Barrel told Coco in the most defeated sounding voice I had ever heard him use.
Coco gave Barrel a hug. “I hate to hear that.”
Barrel looked down at Coco in surprise and then glanced at me.
“Hug her back,” I encouraged.
“She’s so little I might hurt her,” Barrel half joked.
One of Coco’s eyebrows rose, and she gave Barrel a squeeze.
“I take it back!” Barrel grunted and then hugged Coco. “I keep forgetting; do not question an earth pony mare’s durability. Living with Berry and Piña should have taught me that.”
Coco let go of Barrel. “What happened with Pinch? Is she all right?”
“She’s having trouble with stuff I’m not good with. Berry doesn’t know how to approach things either.” Barrel let go of Cocoa and gave her a grateful smile. “Thank you, that helped.”
“I’ll get breakfast started,” I said. “Come sit down.”
We moved into the kitchen.
“What’s going on?” Coco asked.
“Pinch seems to be feeling alone even though she’s got ponies around her all the time. We noticed it got rougher for her when she helped Sweetie Belle talk to Spike. We thought it would pass on its own. Then, during the voting for the class committee, she only got two votes.”
“Ouch,” I said, and levitated Barrel’s and Coco’s coffee to the table.
“That made things worse, but she bounced back a bit when she got the invitation to be a runner for Spike and Twilight.” He sighed. “She got hit hard again yesterday.”
“I would have thought getting the letter would have cheered her up.” I paused. “How do you two like your eggs?”
“Sunny side up,” Barrel said.
“Coco?”
“Over easy well done, please.”
I broke the first of the eggs. “Got it.”
“I take it Piña being in a herd got to her,” Coco said.
Barrel nodded. “When Piña told us more about it last night, Pinch seemed happy for the three of them. It seemed to sting her a bit too, though.”
“The thing with Liza might have played into it too,” I said and floated Coco’s eggs and toast to Coco.
“Thank you,” Coco said.
"What makes you think that?" Barrel asked.
"Even though Pinch helped Liza and Cloudy get together, it might have been another reminder she didn't have anypony for herself."
I levitated two jars to the table along with a butter knife. “Here’s the apple butter and jam I have. Would you like butter and cinnamon sugar instead?”
“I’ll have the strawberry jam, thanks,” Coco said.
Barrel gave me a teasing look. “I see who the favorite is here.”
“Ladies first, Barrel, you know that,” I lobbed back.
“That’s why I wanted to come see you; you’re into that Canterlot chivalrous stuff like Pinch is. I thought you might help Berry and me understand what’s going on in her head.”
“Is she going with Liza and Cloud to the celebration?” Coco asked.
“No, since they chose her to be the ambassador.”
“That’s about an even trade for her there, I would think,” I said, plating Barrel’s eggs and getting his toast from the toaster. "Unless she is interested in Liza or Cloudy."
“She’s not,” Barrel said. "Berry and I have never seen her so much as hint at she had any interest in mares."
“Then she’s got to find the right colt,” Coco said. “I’m sure she will.”
“Berry says it will be difficult for her, and I agree.”
“Why?” Coco asked. “She’s an intelligent, precious filly.”
Using my magic, I put Barrel’s plate in front of him.
“Thanks, Pin.”
“You’re welcome.”
“She likes stallions like Stormbreaker,” Barrel picked up his fork and pointed at me with it, “and our friend there. They’re not too common in Ponyville. If you two were the same age, I think she would try to talk you into forming a herd with him.”
Coco giggled at me, as I gave Barrel a questioning look. “I approve of her tastes,” Coco said. "We might have been able to work something out. I'm not too sure I'll be able to manage him by myself now that he's starting to come out of his shell."
“I’m not sure how I feel about this conversation anymore,” I said, turning back to cook my breakfast and hide my blush.
“What made you so worried about Pinch?” Coco asked.
“After dinner and Piña went home last night, Pinch was quiet. Berry and I still had a little more work to do. Pinch offers to help most times, but she and went up to her room instead. We thought she was tired and didn’t think much of it. After a few minutes, Berry’s mother’s instincts kicked in and she went to check on her. When Berry didn’t come back, and things were still too quiet, I went to check on both of them.” Barrel sighed and stared at his plate.
“Barrel,” Coco rubbed Barrel’s shoulder with a hoof. “Please, tell us. We might find out something that will give us a clue on how to help her.”
“I went to Pinch’s room. Berry was on Pinch’s bed curled around Pinch. There was an open book on the bed, and Pinch was holding her Princess Cadence plushie while Berry was holding her. Pinch looked drained and worried. This will sound horrible, but if she had been crying, I don’t think it would have been as bad.”
“Do you know what book she was reading?” I asked.
Barrel shook his head. “No clue.”
“I have books that destroy me on an emotional level, but I love them,” I said. “I was wondering if she were reading something like that. Did she say anything about what was going on?”
“Berry couldn’t get much out of her about why she was feeling bad. Berry told me she kept saying things like, ‘I’m being a silly filly worrying about stuff, don’t worry about it, Mom.’ ”
“I don’t think it was the book,” Coco said, “I think there might be a bunch of little things that might have gotten her down.”
Barrel looked down at Coco and gave her back a light pat before letting her go. “Thanks again.”
“You’re welcome.” Coco returned to her spot and I sat down beside her. “I think she’s been facing being frustrated, nervous, and scared and last night it caught up with her.”
“Is there anything we can do about it you can think of?” Barrel said.
“Keep being there for her is about all you can do. I faced something very similar while I was working for Suri. All the ponies around me seem to have somepony to go home to. I worried I never would. I worried about how my career was going since I didn’t even make enough to pay my rent. There were days I… shut down. Even when my parents were around to give me support, negative thoughts and depression gnawed at me bad some days.”
Moving to her side at the head of the table, I hugged Coco, entwined my tail with hers, and kissed her head.
She leaned against me. “Now, thanks to Pin, I don’t have to worry about things like that.”
“She doesn’t have a Pin, though,” Barrel said. “All those books she reads about emotions and relationships have gone to her head. I can’t say they’ve messed her up, but a filly her age shouldn’t be taking that kind of stuff as serious as she does.”
“Pinch is mature for her age,” I said.
“I know.” He groaned leaned his head back and rubbed his forehead with both his hooves. “If it were only as simple as finding her a good colt, lassoing him, and presenting him to her with a bow around his neck I’d do it.”
A thought came to me. “You may not have to worry about that. The letters didn’t come from Twilight.”
Coco and Barrel both looked at me as if I was uttering gibberish.
“Sorry, let me explain. Twilight has been working with Pinch for weeks now and she’s the pony who gave Pinch the books on emotions and relationships. I’m sure the two have talked. Twilight has to have talked with Spike and Sweetie Belle too. If Twilight mentioned Pinch and what she did for Spike and Sweetie Belle to Cadence and Pinch’s interest in relationships, then Cadence may be plotting something involving Pinch.”
“That’s a bit of a leap,” Barrel said.
“Maybe, but we know the Princesses set things to go the way they want. Look at Twilight coming here, for example. Celestia didn’t know for sure that Twilight would make friends and save Equestria and Luna, but she set things in motion so that Twilight had a good chance to.”
“You think that’s what’s happening now?” Coco asked.
I nodded. “The more I think about it, the more sure I am. Pinch is the only foal involved with the ambassador’s visit. Only ponies that she knows and who have ponies they love will be around too.”
Barrel grinned. “You’re right. That’s too much of a coincidence.”
“The mystery guest,” Coco said. “Pinch’s the key there. She has to be.”
Barrel’s expression became serious. “You think my daughter is bait for some kind of plot?”
Coco shook her head. “Not bait, as a… enticement.”
“Coco knows all about enticing somepony, so I would go with her on this one,” I said, causing Coco to turn red to her ears tips.
Barrel chuckled. “That’s quite a blush there, Coco.”
“I don’t think we have to worry about there being a threat to Pinch. The Princess of Friendship and the Princess of Love will not put a filly in harm’s way. If something happens, Sisters forbid, all the princesses, the Elements, Shining Armor, the Royal Guard, the Crystal Guard, and the Wonderbolts will be in Ponyville for the Celebration.”
Barrel relaxed a little. “You think the princesses are up to something?”
“I would bet all the bits I’ve made in the last two days that at least Cadance is up to something. This fits her modus operandi too well, from what I’ve read of her. She’s trying to bring Pinch and somepony together. Twilight, as the Princess of Friendship, is certain to have some stake in things too, even if romance is not the main goal of whatever will happen.”
A solid series of knocks on the back door made the three of us look towards the floor.
“That would be Berry,” Barrel said.
A series of more solid knocks came.
“I was wrong. That would be Berry,” he said and laughed.
I told him, “I’ll let them in.”
I trotted down to the workshop and then to the backdoor. “Just a second,” I called, while unlocking the door. I opened the door and smiled at the pair of visitors. “Good morning.”
“Good morning, Uncle Pin,” Pinch said, her expression calm, but her voice carrying some exasperation. “We noticed your kitchen light was on. Is my Dad here?”
“He is.”
Pinch tilted her head back and looked to the predawn sky. “Daaaad.”
I did my best to hide my smile. “Good morning, Berry.”
“Good morning,” Berry replied.
“Have you two had breakfast?”
“No, we haven’t,” Berry said.
“Come on up, I’ll fix you some.”
Pinch gave me a hug. “I’m sorry Dad’s such a worry wart. I’m sorry for being a mopey silly filly too.”
I hugged her back and chuckled. “You’re not a mopey silly filly. Coco was just telling Barrel and I how she felt like you while she was up in Manehatten. To be honest, I’ve felt that way many times myself.”
“Coco’s helped you though, right?”
“She has, and I hope I’ve been able to help her.”
“You have,” Berry said. She patted Pinch on the shoulder. “Let him go, or he won’t be able to let us in or make us breakfast.”
I led Berry and Pinch into my apartment. After putting away my protector, I made my way back into the kitchen. “How do you two like your eggs?”
“Over well, please,” Pinch said, before marching up to Barrel.
“Scrambled hangover dry, thank you,” Berry said and sat down across from Barrel. “I warned you that something like this would happen.”
“Dad,” Pinch said.
“Yes, Pinch,” Barrel said, sounding resigned to whatever was coming.
Pinch hugged him and nuzzled against his coat. “Thanks, but you didn’t have to go looking for help for me.”
Barrel hugged her close and nuzzled the top of her head. “My little girl was upset, and your mother and I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to get you help, so I went to the pony I thought could.” Pinch looked up to him and Barrel touched his nose to hers. “You've still got stuff running around in your head a bit, I can tell.”
“It’s just me being dramatic for no reason.”
“I know my girl. You don’t get dramatic without a reason, and last night it seemed bad.”
“I don’t have a real reason. I’m just…”
“What?” Barrel said.
“Scared, I guess.”
Barrel stroked her mane with a hoof. “Scared?”
“Princess Cadance is coming, with an ambassador. I’m supposed to be the main contact with him for the class. I don’t know why I was chosen. I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to mess things up and disappoint her, I… I want to talk to her about all kinds of things and if I goof up I may not be able to.”
“Be your usual intelligent, kind self and I’m sure everything will be fine,” Barrel assured. “Remember that Berry and I and your friends are going to be around. If things get out of hoof, we’ll be right there to help.”
“I don’t think you have to worry a thing about Crystal Hoof,” Coco said. “Rarity told me and Pin last night that he’s a shy pony that’s having a little trouble adjusting to life in Equestria.”
“I can’t think of anypony better to be Ponyville’s representative to him than you,” Berry said. “You’re calm, have emotional intelligence, and are friendly to everypony. If he can’t get along with you, we might as well throw him out of town.”
“I agree,” I said and levitated Pinch’s plate to the table. “Cadance and Twilight picked you for this. You are the right pony for the job, don’t worry.”
“Thanks, Uncle Pin.”
Barrel let go of Pinch, and she turned to face her plate. “This smells great, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Speaking of Pin’s domestic qualities,” Berry said with a smile, “how has being here worked out, Coco? Has Pin been behaving himself?”
“As much I have let him,” Coco responded.
“That sounds promising for future discussions,” Berry said.
“Did he give you your presents?” Pinch asked.
“Not all of them, we agreed that he would give them to me when we finished out courtship.”
“Are you going to finish your courtship soon?”
“We were planning on finishing it tonight.”
“Oh!” Pinch looked towards me. “Do you know how to braid?”
“I do. I was the one that braided that strand in Coco’s mane.”
Pinch leaned closer to Coco, who turned her head so Pinch could get a better look at the braid.
Pinch nodded. “You did a good job.”
“Thank you.” I floated Berry’s plate to the table. “Here you go.”
Berry smiled down at her plate. “This looks great, thank you.”
“Uncle Pin, are looking forward to seeing the princesses tomorrow?”
“I am.” I levitated Berry’s and Pinch’s cups of coffee to the table.
“Princess Cadance in particular?” Berry asked and took a sip of her coffee.
“It would be nice to talk to her again, if I get the chance,” I said and sat down at the table beside Coco.
“You’ve met her?!” Pinch asked. “I saw her at Matilda’s and Cranky’s wedding, but I didn’t get to talk to her.”
“I did. I got to talk with her for a bit, when I competed in the Equestria games.”
Pinch stared at me with intense interest. “What was she like?”
“Energetic and friendly would best describe her. If it weren’t for her being an alicorn and her regalia, I wouldn’t have thought of her as a princess. She comes across as somepony you could meet in the market and have a good talk with.”
“I hope I can…” Pinch’s conviction seemed to falter, but she drew herself up and said as if trying to convince herself and us, “I will do my best for her and Twilight.”
“We know you will,” Barrel said, took Pinch into his forelegs and hugged her to his chest. “She will think you’re a talented, big hearted filly, just like we know you are.”
Pinch sniffed, kissed Barrel’s cheek, and then nuzzled into his chest. “Thanks, Dad.”
*****
I looked at the shop’s clock and smiled. “Getting close to time,” I told myself.
The shop’s door opened and its bell chimed.
“You still open?” a cantankerous donkey’s voice asked.
“Yes sir,” I answered.
“Cranky, don’t be so gruff,” a sweeter voice said. Matilda stepped into view from behind one display. “Hello Pin, how are you?”
“Doing very well, how about yourself?”
“I can’t complain.”
“She never does,” Cranky grumbled, with a hint of affection.
“How can I help you this afternoon?” I asked. “Is there something wrong with Cranky’s suit?”
“No, it’s fine,” Cranky said. “We’ve something else you can help us fix.”
Matilda explained, “We need a colt’s collar and tie.”
Her request struck me as a little odd. Hoping she did not catch my pause, I told her, “My selection of ties for foal is over here, unless you want to see my stock ties.”
“He won’t need anything too fancy,” Cranky said. “We don’t want him to stick out.”
What is going on?, I thought to myself.
“Cranky, dear,” Matilda chided in a gentle tone.
“Sorry,” Cranky said. “A bow tie would work.”
I showed Cranky and Matilda what was left of my stock of foals’ bow ties.
“This one would be lovely,” Matilda said picking out a light blue tie.
“What size collar will you need?”
Matilda looked at me for a moment. “Oh dear, I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll figure it out.” I held out my hoof. “About how tall is he?”
Matilda bit her bottom lip. “A little lower, I think.”
I dropped my hoof in a slow motion.
“That’s about right,” Cranky said, and I stopped my hoof.
“What is his build?”
“In shape earth pony,” Cranky said.
I did some sizing calculations in my head. “I’ll give you three collars I think will work. Have him try them on and bring the two he doesn’t need back to me sometime soon.”
“You don’t need to do that, dear,” Matilda told me.
“If he’s going to the Celebration, I won’t be open for fittings or exchanges tomorrow. I would hate for him to go to attend with an uncomfortable collar.”
“Anything will fit him,” Cranky said. “Don’t worry about it.”
Matilda gave Cranky a patient look. “Dear.”
“You’re right,” he grumbled. “We’ll take all three,” he said to me.
I put the collars and the tie in a bag and rang them up, only charging them for one collar. “Thank you for your business.”
“Thank you for helping us,” said Matilda. “We’ll bring the other two back after the celebration, I promise.”
“No rush,” I told her.
The pair of donkeys left the store, leaving me with a puzzle.
“I wonder who they’re buying the collar and tie for,” I said to myself.
I did not have any time to ponder. The shop’s door opened again and in stepped Muffins.
“Good afternoon!” I greeted her.
“Good afternoon to you too,” Muffins said. “I have another delivery from Canterlot for you.”
Muffins approached the counter and put a box and two high quality envelopes on the counter. All of three were from Satin.
“I need you to sign for the package,” Muffins said and presented me with a clipboard.
“Thanks, Muffins. How are things going?”
“Things are slowing down. While I’ve been looking forward to the Celebration, I’ll be glad when everything is done.”
“I know what you mean,” I said and signed for the package. “I’ve got two more pick-ups and then I’m closing the shop.”
“You’re closing early?” Muffins gave me a look. “I don’t think you’ve ever done that.”
“I have, but it’s been a while. The last time was when I was sick as a diamond dog because of something I ate.” I returned the clipboard to Muffins.
“Oh, right, Applejack’s baked bads.” Muffins shuddered. “I’ve tried to put that whole thing out of my mind.”
“On the plus side, I do set some weight.”
“So did I, but I don't want to lose it like that again.” Muffins gave me a look. “This is going to sound strange, but have you seen anything weird going on with the school foals?”
“I can’t say I have, but I’ve been working so much I haven’t been around any foals much, outside of going to the market and yesterday. The only foal I’ve seen today was Pinch at breakfast.”
“Berry mentioned they had come over this morning, when I dropped some stuff off at her place.” Muffins’ high spirits lessened a little. “Poor Pinch. I wanted to give her a hug, but Berry said that she and Piña had already headed to the castle to help get things set up.”
“Why did you ask about the foals?”
“There’s been something going on for a while.” Muffins tapped the clipboard on the edge of the counter. “But whatever is going on has been happening more often since the wedding.”
“Matilda’s and Cranky’s you mean?”
Muffins nodded. “Several foals have said they are meeting new foals once and never seeing them again. Cheerilee has been asked by her students when the new ponies are joining her class but she says that there hasn’t been anypony new sign up for her classes in awhile”
“That’s… odd. Pinkie hasn’t thrown a new foal’s welcoming party, that I know of, either. Have you asked her about whether she knows about what’s going on?”
Muffins shook her head. “Wouldn’t that seem weird to her?”
“We’re discussing Pinkie Pie, who hides party supplies all over town ‘just in case’ she might need them for a surprise party, who can make the whole town sing on a whim, and who twitchy-twitches before things happen.”
Muffins giggled. “True.”
“Besides, I’m sure she would be glad to make sure everypony is safe.”
Muffins sighed. “Maybe I’m just being paranoid, but with all the stuff Ponyville goes through I get worried about my girls.”
“One of your ‘girls’ is a mare who’s not much younger than I am,” I pointed out. I looked at the box's label and saw that it was intended for Coco. I put the box on the floor and slid it under the counter. I picked up the envelope addressed to me and smiled, recognizing Satin’s elegant hoofwriting. I opened the envelope and pulled out a beautiful invitation. There was a note tucked in the envelope but I left it to read later.
“Oh, wow,” Muffins said.
I admired the invitation for a moment and then turned it so Muffins could see it too. “Davenport outdid himself with this one.” The invitation had scroll work around the edges and an intricate cross hatch sketch depiction of Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns.
“I got one too, but I dropped it off at home. I can’t wait to get back and open mine. That looks good enough to frame.”
Underneath the drawing, in perfect calligraphy, were the details for the wedding. I read the invitation and tilted my head. “They’re holding the wedding at the school? Satin didn’t mention that.”
“Isn’t that where they met?”
“It was.”
“That’s so romantic and sweet!” Muffins said. “Speaking of romantic,” she gave me a wink. “Good luck tonight.”
My cheeks warmed with a blush. “The word is out all over town I take it.”
“Nope, I overheard a certain sassy pony teasing somepony else while delivering a package to Rarity.” She grinned. “Your private life is still somewhat private.”
I sighed in relief. “Good, otherwise I would blush to my ears every time I stepped outside.”
The shop’s door opened again.
“I’m telling you, I haven’t been near any poison joke,” Amethyst Star said, as she and Dinky entered the shop.
“But I saw you helping at the castle!” Dinky insisted. “You were a filly again!”
“I don’t know any age regression spells either.”
“I know they exist though,” Dinky said. “Twilight told me about them.”
“They exist, but they are very hard to cast. I can’t manage one, must less make it last.”
“But you went to school with Twilight,” Dinky said.
“I was in the same grade, yes, but she was in a whole different class than me in her magical skills.”
Dinky paused and looked down to the floor and tapped her hoof. “I didn’t mean to spoil the surprise by seeing you, if you were practicing, I promise,” Dinky said. She hugged Amethyst’s side and clung to her. “Please, change back into a filly, when you can. I never got to have fun with you when you were a filly too.”
“Dinks,” Amethyst said in a caring tone. “I hate you’re disappointed, but whoever you saw wasn’t me.” She hugged Dinky and nuzzled the top of her head. “I would change back into a filly for you, if I could.”
Muffins asked, “What happened?”
“I thought I saw Amethyst as a filly at the castle.”
“It wasn’t me, Mom,” Amethyst said. “I can’t pull off that kind of spell. Even an illusion for something like that would be tough to cast and maintain.”
“Something odd is going on,” I said to Muffins.
“What brings my girls here?” Muffins asked and hugged her daughters.
“I’m picking something up for... a friend,” Amethyst said. “Dinks and I was going to head back home and get supper started after this.”
“A ‘friend’ with a white mane and tail and a musical cutie mark?” Muffins asked.
Amethyst blushed. “The Ponyville grapevine never ceases to amaze me.”
“It wasn’t the grapevine I heard it from,” Muffins said. “It was somepony a little more involved.”
“Ah-ha,” Amethyst said with a look of realization, “that’s right, she was at the meeting.”
Dinky looked up at Amethyst with wide eyes. “Sis?”
Amethyst looked down at her sister. “Yes, Dinks?”
“You have a coltfriend?”
“I’m working on it. It’s a complicated situation rut it looks like things are heading that way.”
Dinky squealed with delight and hugged Amethyst.
“Now we just have to work on you and Pip,” Amethyst teased and patted Dinky’s back with a hoof.
“Sis!” Dinky blushed and hid her face against Amethyst’s coat.
I chuckled. “I’ll get the order,” I said and turned toward the back counter. I levitated Royal Riff’s items next to the cash register and put them in a bag. “He paid in advance, so I just need your signature.”
“Is it who I think it is?” Dinky asked, still hiding her face.
“I can’t say. That would not be professional of me.” I nodded towards Amethyst. “She can though.”
Dinky looked up at Amethyst.
Amethyst gave Dinky a smug smile. “I’ll tell you, if promise to ask Pip to dance at least once tomorrow.”
“That’s not fair!” Dinky complained.
“If I don’t get your promise before we leave, I’m not telling you.” Amethyst walked over to the counter and signed for the order.
“Here’s the receipt,” I said, and gave the slip of paper to Amethyst. “Thank you for the visit.”
“You’re welcome.”
During the entire exchange between Amethyst and me, Dinky had fidgeted in place. “Fine, I promise!”
Amethyst raised an eyebrow. “Pinkie promise?”
Dinky made a full Pinkie promise. “Now, will you tell me?”
“Royal Riff,” Amethyst named.
“Our music instructor?!” Dinky looked shocked. “I thought he was going to be Cheerilee’s special somepony!” Dinky protested.
Amethyst looked to Muffins.
Muffins shook her head and crossed her forelegs over her chest. “Oh, no, you’re going to have to dig yourself out of this one.”
Amethyst looked back to Dinky. “You know about Piña, Noi, and Rumble right?”
Dinky looked confused. “Yeah, Pinch told me about it, why?”
Amethyst gave Dinky a strained grin. “Think about their situation and then mine.”
Dinky’s brows furrowed. “What do you mean think-” Dinky’s eyes widened. “You mean you and Miss Cheerilee?!”
“After she asked me in to help tutor some of the unicorn foals in her class and she and I worked together for a bit we clicked. I’ve been helping her organize a lot at her place and at the school. That’s one of the reasons I’ve been around the school more often.”
“You’re kidding,” Dinky said. “Please tell me you’re kidding.”
“You have to admit, she’s cute in that cheerleader outfit of hers,” Amethyst said, getting a gasp from Dinky. “She can dance too. You know how I like to dance.”
“You’re not kidding,” Dinky said in a horrified whisper.
“That’s how we started being interested in Riff. We met him a different musical events where he was playing or directing and the three of us hit it off. She and I have been keeping our relationship quiet, so pulling him in will take a delicate touch.” Amethyst put on an exaggerated scheming expression and rubbed her hooves together like a villain. “We have plans, though.”
“Poor mister Riff doesn’t have a chance,” Dinky said.
“Poor Mister Riff?! Just five minutes ago you were happy that he might be my coltfriend.”
“That was before I knew about you and Cheerilee. were planning to do” Dinky looked over to Muffins. “Did you know, Mom?”
“I didn’t have a clue, until yesterday.” Muffins said. “Cheerilee said something that I thought hinted at something, but even with the hint I didn’t expect this.”
“I think Riff could be very happy with Cheerilee and me,” Amethyst told Dinky with a grin. “On top of all the rest of Cheerilee’s good qualities, she’s a good kisser.”
“Sis, I don’t need those images!” Dinky protested.
“She’s flexible like a cheerleader too. She’s been giving me all kinds of private lessons that have improved my endurance and flexibility that I’m sure Riff will appreciate.”
Dinky’s ears pinned and her mouth dropped open in shock. “Sis! That’s just wrong!”
Muffins closed her eyes and put a hoof to her forehead. “Thanks, Amethyst. Parent teacher conferences will never be quite the same.”
I leaned on the counter and laughed.
*****
I looked around, doing a quick inspection of the kitchen. Everything was as ready as I could make it. I checked the oven. The stuffed acorn squash was doing well.
I glanced at the clock and took a slow, calming breath. “She should be here any minute,” I told myself.
I trotted to my room, past the candle lit den, to get the last thing I would need. I pulled open the top draw of my dresser and pulled out Coco’s bow tie. I looked at myself in the mirror, as I tied the bow tie around my neck. “Things have changed a lot since we last talked,” I said to my reflection and smiled, “including me.” I took another calming breath. “I’m sure she’s-”
The door to the apartment opened. “Pin?”
“Wish me luck,” I whispered to the mirror and stepped out into the hall.
“I’m right here. I was-” I stopped and stared at Coco. She wore a dress that was nothing short of inspired. Instead of cloth, it appeared to be strands of translucent silk woven into a netting that clung to her, and accented her curves Light blue gems decorated each junction of the strands. The points where the strands meet were most numerous around her neck and shoulders, along her spine, and near her tail. On the dresses’ collar, which was an elegant silver hoop necklace, sat a single sapphire that caught the candlelight just as her eyes did.
I must have stood in awe struck silence for a few seconds before Coco giggled. “I take it you like it?”
“It’s stunning,” I smiled at her, “as is the mare wearing it.”
“Thank you,” she blushed.
I raised a hoof to my tie. “I feel wholly under-dressed.”
She looked at my tie and smiled. “Not at all, and you’re a sweetheart for wearing it.”
“It’s my favorite,” I said with honesty. “It’s a special night too.”
She closed the distance between us and kissed my nose. “It is.”
The oven’s timer went off.
I held out my hoof. “If the lovely lady would do me the honor of accompanying me, I will serve dinner in short order.”
Coco placed her hoof on mine, and I led her into the kitchen.
I pulled out her chair for her, and she sat down. I had lit candles spaced out along the kitchen counter, but had not lit the ones on the table. I reached for the box of matches I had left on the table with my hooves.
Coco intercepted one of my hooves with hers. “You can use your magic.” When I looked at her, she smiled. “I’d like to see it.”
I smiled back and nodded. It took me a second of focus, but I managed to lite the trio of candles.
She looked at the now illuminated bouquet of the edge of the table. “They’re beautiful.”
“Heather for admiration and devotion, peonies for romance, magenta lilacs for love, irises for hope, and azaleas for gratitude,” I listed.
“Azaleas can also mean passion.” Coco gave me a teasing smile. “Are you trying to send me a subtle signal?”
I lifted her hoof and kissed it. “If it pleases the lady, if not, I do not mean to presume too much.”
“I find it very pleasing,” she said.
I took her glass and went to the stove top. I filled her glass with the warmed wine and placed it before her.
She smiled, looking a touch guilty. “Thank you. You didn’t have to do this.”
“It’s a special occasion,” I reminded her. My ears pinned back, as I had a thought. “Oops, I better get dinner out of the oven before it becomes more memorable than special.”
She laughed as I rushed to remove the squash from the oven. “Sassy told me to tell you the is expecting to taste some of your cooking before she heads back to Canterlot.”
“When is she heading back?”
“I’m not sure. She said something about taking a vacation here, but she didn’t give any details.” Coco took a sip of her wine. “I don’t know if she has any definite plans or not.”
“I take she’ll be staying at Rarity’s?” I floated Coco’s salad to her along with two choices of dressing.
“I think she will, Rarity made the offer for her to stay there at least.”
I plated Coco’s main dish and returned to the table carrying the plate on a hoof. “Tonight’s special, acorn squash stuffed with cranberries, quinoa, cheese, onion, pumpkin seeds, and chickpeas.” I gave her a bow. “Bon appetit.”
“I my coltfriend is a chef, a tailor, and a gentlecolt all in one. I'm a very lucky mare.”
I filled my glass with wine, plated my main course, moved my dinner to my spot at the table, and sat across from her. “It’s nothing fancy, but I hope you enjoy it.”
“It’s wonderful,” she said, after taking a bite. “How did you manage to squeeze in time to do this?”
“It looks complicated, but it’s not that demanding of a recipe. You have to prepare the ingredients, but the main thing you have to do is put everything in to a bowl and stir.” I took a bite and felt relief the squash had come out well. “How did things go with Rarity’s?”
“Every order was picked up, the cleanup went fast, and Thunderlane came by and swept Rarity off her hooves and into the sky.”
“Which means Sassy-”
“Is taking a hot bath, reading a steamy novel, or is already in bed,” Coco informed me. “Those were here plans as she told them to Rarity and me.” She smiled at me. “You’re looking out for her.”
I nodded. “She’s been working her tail off with us, and she’s your and Rarity’s friend.”
“Is she your friend, though?”
“In an odd way,. I’ll admit she’ can be a bit too much for me with all the comments and innuendo.”
Coco giggled. “Pin, that’s her way of flirting.”
“But she pokes at you and Rarity too.”
Coco raised an eyebrow and smirked.
“Oh,” was all I could say, as realization hit me.
“She would form a herd with you and me or Thunderlane and Rarity in an instant. If she could get us all in a herd, I think she would.”
“No thanks. The only mare I would be interested in that situation would be you, and Thunderlane is a good friend, but he doesn’t do a thing for me.”
Coco blushed. “I’m flattered.” She smiled and teased, “But what if I were interested in forming a herd with you and a pretty mare that wasn’t Rarity or Sassy?”
I thought it over for a second as I took a sip of my wine. Putting the glass down, I told her, “If it would make you happy, and it was the right mare.”
Coco’s ears perked in surprise.
“I’m serious. For you, and only you, I would.”
Her eyes never left mine. “I can tell there’s something unsaid in there somewhere.”
“The other mare and I would have to be careful to work things out. I would give them all the affection I could, but I doubt I could ever love another mare like I do you.” I grinned, “She and I could bond working together to spoil you, though.”
She giggled. “You spoil me well enough your own.”
“I try.” My ears went up. “Speaking of ponies getting together, I have an invitation for you from Satin and Stormbreaker.”
“They did send it here then. Rarity said that is what must have happened, since I didn’t get mine with hers and Sassy’s.”
“Satin also wrote me a note saying she had planned to send a single invitation for the both of us, but that Mom had cautioned that might be too presumptuous.”
“When is the wedding?”
“Just over two months from now.”
“Wow, they weren’t kidding when they said they would move fast.”
“Considering they already have a foal on the way, that seems to fit their pattern.”
“Speaking of foals, Rarity was telling me how good you were with the foals that came by the other day.”After hearing what Rarity had to say, Sassy asked me something that I realized we have never discussed.”
I felt one of my ears angle out. “I can’t think of anything we haven’t talked about.”
Coco’s eyes looked into mine. “Have you ever thought of having foals of your own?”
You’re in the manticore’s den now, a part of my mind warned, and my ears snapped to their ‘alert’ position.
“You’re so good with Piña and Pinch and all the other foals I’ve seen you with, her question made me curious.”
I opened my mouth, paused, shut it, thought for a second, and then tried to say something and failed.
“Your Mom warned me you would do this, if foals came up, and Rarity said pretty much the same thing. Sassy said she wanted a ‘full report of how bad he freaks out’ when it did.” Coco reached over the table and took my hoof with hers. “I want your honest answer, but I don’t want you to get worked up over it.” She squeezed my hoof. “I also don’t want you trying to guess what I think about having foals.”
“Until you came along, there hasn't been a mare in my life I that would have caused me a serious thought about…” I looked at the candles for a second and then back to her.
“Pin, you’re panicking,” Coco said with a touch of concern, but with a small smile too. “Try keeping it to a yes or no answer, if that helps.”
My eyes dropped to our entwined hooves. “I can’t. It’s not a decision I can make.”
“It’s not a decision; it’s a question of whether you would like to have a foal or two of your own.”
“On my own, no, I wouldn’t be able to do right by the foal. With somepony else… it would depend on a lot of things.”
“Pin, I am going to pin you down this time.”
I looked up to Coco. She looked more open and vulnerable, as I had ever seen her. “Would you have a foal with me?”
“If-”
“Pin, please!” Coco shook my hoof. “No if’s, no asking my opinion, no couching things; no thinking of alternatives or making backup plans, please, just an answer.” She swallowed and shook my hoof again. “I will not leave you no matter how you answer, but I need to know... for my sake,”
“Yes.” I lifted her hoof from the table and kissed it. “I would raise a foal with you.”
Hearing myself say I would like to have a foal with her aloud made the idea more real and allowed me to realize how much I liked the thought.
“Or two.”
Coco sniffed and then giggled.
“Or three,” I said and kissed her hoof again while grinning.
“Now you’re being silly.”
“No, I’m not. I had all but consigned myself to living alone until the end of my days. There aren’t many mares that would be interested in sharing my home and lifestyle, and even fewer that would find it and my profession appealing.” I snorted at myself. “To further limit my chances, there are very few mares that would put up with my personality quirks.”
Keeping hold of Coco’s hoof, I made my way around the table and hugged her.
I touched my forehead to hers. “You are the one mare I have ever met that I thought might want to join me here. You are the only mare I thought I could help reach your own dreams just by being me and doing what I love. You are the only mare that I would have foals with, however many you want. I would cherish them and do my best to support them in flourishing, as I want to do with you. They would be you.”
“They would be us.” She studied me for a moment, and smiled. “Aren’t you going to ask me about my thoughts about foals?”
I smiled back. “Coco, have you ever thought about having foals?”
“I have.” She did not say a word more, but her smile became mischievous.
Cadance in the Empire I love this mare, I thought. I touched my nose to Coco’s. “I would very much like to hear your thoughts on the subject.”
“I wouldn’t want to raise foals in Manehatten, so I would have to move to a place where I could stay long term.”
My ears perked. “What kind of place did you have in mind?”
“I would have to go somewhere where I could continue doing what I love while taking care of them. I will not miss raising my own foals. There aren’t that many places where I could work and call it home at the same time.”
“I see,” I said, feeling my smile grow. “What if you found that spot?”
“That would be a good start, but I would also need a stallion who would help me with the foals, help me support them financially, and who I thought would be a good father.”
“You want more than a stud. I can understand that. What if you found somepony that might be such a stallion?”
“I would flirt with him to gauge his interest, find out more about him and his personality as we dated, be open with him in our conversations about what each other want in our lives, and then…” She stroked my cheek with a hoof. “Wait to see if he would ask a specific question as to him, the possibility of foals, and me.”
“Coco.”
“Yes.”
My heart pounded in my throat and I had a second’s worth of trouble forming my words. “Would you be interested in having a foal with me?”
Tears came to Coco’s eyes. “Yes, I would.”
I felt tears run down my cheeks as I drew Coco close and kissed her.