//------------------------------// // Chapter 20 // Story: Pinning the Heart // by Random_User //------------------------------// “I hope dinner was passable,” I said as Coco and I walked into the den. “I tried to get a table at restaurants I know, but they were booked solid with everypony coming into town for the celebration.” “It was delicious,” Coco said and gave me an appreciative nuzzle to my neck. I nodded towards the coffee table. “Satin sent you a package, along with your invitation.” “She didn’t have to do that.” Coco went to the coffee table, opened the envelope, and pulled out her invitation. “This is beautiful. It will make a wonderful keepsake.” Coco put the invitation aside, taking care not to damage it. She looked toward the package and then glanced around. “Do you have any scissors?” “Allow me,” I said and used my magic to undo the tape holding the box closed. “Thank you,” Coco opened the box and peered into it. Her cheeks flushed, and with slow motions, she closed the box back up. “Do I want to know?” “She sent items for events after we complete our courtship,” she said with a giggle. “Speaking of our courtship,” I said, took a step back from her, and bowed. “Lady Coco, it warms my heart you kept the braid and still wear the flower I gave you. Please, grant me the privilege of completing the braiding your mane and tale.” Coco slipped into her royal mare persona. “Good stallion, I have looked forward to you braiding my mane with great anticipation and am relishing the thought of you braiding my tail.” Her voice’s sultry tone caused me to blush. “You honor me.” She turned, gave me a look over her shoulder, and drew the tip of her tail across my nose. “I am also looking forward to discussing the end of our courtship and the possibility of us sharing in a prosperous and pleasurable future together.” While I controlled one aspect of myself, I could not keep my nostrils from flaring as I took in her scent. It took me a second to gather my rational thoughts and tell her, “If you would follow me, I have prepared a spot that should meet our needs.” I walked with brisk steps to the study door, stopped, and turned. I tilted my head, seeing Coco still at the entrance to the short hallway. Coco smiled and moved with fluid feminine grace towards me, giving her hips a slight sway with each step. She stopped less than a foreleg’s length away from me and raised an eyebrow. “You seem to be afflicted by something, good sir. Your cheeks are quite flushed for such a short stroll.” After a second, I surrendered to the fact I could not come up with a proper response. “How do you do that?” I asked, breaking my act. Coco giggled, turning back into herself. “You’re adorable when you’re flustered, did you know that?” “I’m glad, since I seem to find myself in that state a lot around you.” I smiled at her. “I’m serious, though, you disappear into your character, and that walk was something else.” “I could teach you,” Coco offered. “That walk of yours?” I shook my head. “Thanks, but I could never pull it off. I don’t have the hips for it.” Coco laughed. “Not the walk, acting lessons is what I meant.” “I would love that.” I opened the door to the study. “Oh, Pin,” Coco said in a sweet tone. I had put a comforter and a blanket of mine on the floor and topped them with Coco’s Empire woven blanket. Around the edges of the blankets, I had placed jonquils and red chrysanthemums. Using my magic, I lit each of the candles I had placed around the room. “That was pretty.” Coco’s ears snapped up, and she looked at me. “What?” I asked with concern. “That’s why you wanted to use matches to light the candles at dinner.” Her ears fell. “You didn’t want to give the surprise away.” I kissed her nose, and her ears went back up. “Was it still a surprise?” She smiled. “It was.” “Then everything went just as planned,” I said. I took her hoof and led her to the blankets. “I know it will not be as nice as the cloud chair, but for what I have in mind, this will work better.” She nestled down in the center of the pile. “This is very comfy.” She seemed to notice the bag from Aloe’s and Lotus’ and her ears perked up. I went to the bag and pulled out the grooming set. After returning to the blankets, I presented the teak wood box to her. “This is for you.” She opened the box and her eyes lit up. “Pin, these are amazing.” “I was promised you would love them.” When she looked at me, I blushed. “May I?” “Please.” She gave me a seductress’ look. “You must undress me first, though.” Struck mute by her words, I nodded and put aside the grooming kit. I had to lean in close to her to undo the clasp on the back of her collar. She kissed my neck just under my jaw, making my hooves tremble as I took the collar off her. I levitated the dress from her, making sure not to tangle its delicate strands. As I moved it, the candlelight made it look as if I was guiding a net of captured stars. I floated the dress over to the cloud chair and lay it out full spread. “That is the most eye catching and imaginative dress I have seen.” “Thank you. I didn’t think I could pull the design off.” I turned to her in surprise. “You didn’t mention you made it.” “I didn’t want to make a big deal about it,” she said. “You should!” I told her and bumped my nose to hers. “It’s amazing.” Coco blushed and ducked her head. “Rarity said it would get me some attention at the Celebration, if I wore it.” “What do you mean, ‘if I wore it?’ It would be a crime for you not to.” “I made it for tonight. I didn’t plan on wearing it for any events. I wanted it to be special.” “It is, as are you.” I picked up the curry brush from the set and began stroking Coco’s neck and chest with gentle motions. “Please, wear the dress tomorrow. Rarity’s right, it will get you all kinds of attention.” I kissed her nose. “Everypony should see and appreciate a beautiful masterwork like that, along with its creator.” Coco giggled, lifted her chin for me as I worked higher, and hummed in appreciation. “This will make completing our courtship more difficult.” “How so?” I asked, continuing to use soft, circular motions on her coat. “We’re both going to be distracted.” “I can’t argue that. I’ve been looking forward to doing this for days. Hang on for a second; I’m going to move so I can get your back.” I paused and she gave me a brief kiss. “Thank you, for the gifts, for dinner, for everything.” “You’re welcome.” I smiled and touched noses with her. “I enjoy showing my appreciation for you. It makes me feel wonderful, and I hope it makes you happy.” She wrapped her forelegs around my neck and pulled me in for a more lasting kiss. She released me and said, “Pin, I don’t want us to break tradition when we’re this close to finishing, so let me start us off with my questions.” “Sounds good,” I said, and moved so I could start grooming her back and sides. “Does your family approve of our relationship?” I chuckled. “They do.” “Do you think we can live together and make each other happy?” “Without a doubt,” I said. I stood and moved to her other side. She giggled. “Will you let me cook for us once in a while?” I laughed, and kissed her back just below her shoulder blades. “Sure, anytime you want.” As I reached her lower back and flanks, I looked to her for approval. She smiled at me and gave me a caring but firm look. “Pin, this is a bit out of order, from the way your mom and Satin described how this should go, but we need to discuss this. I appreciate you being respectful and tender, but I like it when you let the unbridled side of you come out.” Her eyes lit as she added, “I really liked when you got creative the other night.” She swept her tail and draped it over my neck and shoulders. She drew her tail back, caressing my coat with its soft strands as she did so. Her scent mixed with the aroma of the flowers that her tail had disturbed as it had swept towards me, making a heady mixture that made my heart go faster. “I will be sure to keep that in mind from now on.” I turned my attention towards her croup, made a show of placing the bristles of the brush on a certain spot on her lower back and at a specific angle, and then drew the brush in a way that followed the curve of her hip to and then close to the ridge of her spine on the right side. She gasped as my hoof moved close to an area further back on her hindquarters. I gave a light flick of my hoof causing her to jump a little and squeak. “That one I learned from a book.” I finished up on Coco’s right side and moved to her left. Coco turned her head towards me. “Since we’re going things out of order, what do you think you and I will need to address?” I continued to brush her. “I want to meet and get to know your family.” She blinked. “That’s it?” “That’s it.” “Something about me has to irritate you. There has to be something about me you have to want to ch-” Shifting once again, I stopped her words with a kiss. “What few little foibles you have, I find adorable and I wouldn’t change them for the world. If there is one thing I would like you to change, and we’ve talked about it before, is that you don’t value yourself for being the wonderful mare you are.” “Foibles?” Coco arched an eyebrow. “As an example; you don’t like asparagus.” She made a face like a filly tasting something bad. “Bleh!” “That just leaves more for me when I cook it, so it’s not even a bad thing.” After removing the loose hairs from the curry brush, I put the brush back in the grooming set box and pulled out a dandy brush. “All that came off me?!” Coco gawked at the pile of loose hair I had collected and set aside on a washcloth. “You’ve been stressed, that causes hair to come loose. Neither of us have taken a shower in two days too.” “I’m so embarrassed.” She hid her face between her forelegs and covered her head with her hooves. “If that’s what came off with the curry comb, I dread what will come off with the dandy brush.” She lifted her head and looked to her blanket. “Maybe we should put a sheet down so I don’t get the blankets dirty.” “Don’t worry about that.” I tapped the dandy brush to my horn. “I can take care of cleanup with no trouble.” She looked at me, as if horrified at some thought. “I don’t stink, do I?!” I laughed. “No, you don’t stink.” I kissed her ear and gave it a teasing nibble. “You smell scrumptious to me.” “You’re biased though,” she said sounding relieved. “Do you think Sassy wouldn’t let us know if either of us was getting a little ripe?” “True.” I began with the dandy brush on her shoulders, giving her coat light flicks to tease out what hairs the curry comb had missed. “Back to your family, I’m not sure if you’ve ever mentioned their names or what your brother does.” She watched me work her coat for a moment and had an expression of trying to remember something. She blushed and bit her bottom lip. “I don’t think I have.” “Don’t feel bad, I didn’t tell you Grandfather’s name until the other day, and I still haven’t told you Nana’s.” “Mom’s name is Stage Light. Dad’s is Picture Frame. Light Filter is my brother’s, and he’s a Royal Guard.” “He’s a guard?” I shifted my position and continued to brush her. “I would have thought his talent would entail something creative like the rest of your family.” “He is. He’s a designer and helps create the Guard’s training manuals and recruiting posters. He still has to go on patrols and stand guard too, though.” “Ah, he’s in Internal Publishing and Support. That fits.” I shifted again and continued brushing. Coco smiled. “You’re enjoying this.” I looked at her, grinned, and nodded. “I hope you are too.” “Enough to make a regular practice of it, if I can talk you into it,” she said and leaned to touch her nose to mine. “You don’t have to talk me into anything, I volunteer.” “You’re going to spoil me with all this attention. I get to groom you too, though.” “That sounds good, but you must be careful. As the fillies revealed the other night, I’m ticklish.” “Oh, I haven’t forgotten,” she said in a way that made her words an appealing threat. “Don’t look,” I said and gathered the hairs from the dandy brush and from around her. “That bad?” she asked with a wince and closed her eyes. “Not at all.” I put the hairs with the others I had gathered before and folded the washcloth over them so she would not try to look at them. I returned the dandy brush to its spot in the box and pulled out the finishing soft brush. “Your turn,” Coco coaxed. “Ask away.” “Does having my friends pop in at odd times bother you?” She laughed. “No! They’re part of being here and with you.” I brushed her shoulder. “I’m glad. We’re an eclectic bunch.” “Which makes it even more fun. You’re a family, and it’s something I want to be a part of.” “You already are.” I moved again. “Will the workshop have enough space for us both to work on our projects if your business takes off?” She stiffened a bit and hesitated before answering, “I’m not sure.” “Good.” She turned her head to look at me. “It’s cramped for us as it is.” I smiled. “Now, I have a reason to expand it.” One of Coco’s ears turned. “Pin, are you sure?” “I meant it when I said I wanted to build my life around yours. If that requires literal construction, I’ll be glad to do it.” “That will cost a fortune,” she said with a worried frown. “In Canterlot or Manehattan, it would. It won’t in Ponyville. If building was expensive, the Apples would have lost their farm years ago with as many barns as they’ve built and torn down.” I moved to her other side and looked in the kitchen’s direction. “On the second story of the extension, if we can work it, we could put…” She tilted her head at me and gave me a poke with a hoof. “Pin?” “A nursery or foals’ room,” I finished. She blushed and smiled. “Pin, while I like the thought, we’re not even through our courtship yet.” “We’re close.” I removed the hair from the finishing brush, while Coco hid her eyes again. I put away the brush and took out the combs I would need. I combed her mane and hummed a note. “Is there a style you would like?” “I’ll let you pick.” “Tell me if I do something that makes you uncomfortable,” I said and started using my hooves and my magic in combination. “I hate that I’ll have to take the braids out tonight.” “If you like them, I’ll be glad to do them again tomorrow.” I kissed the back of her neck. She gave a little start. “Oh, you were prepared. I just noticed you put the tri-fold dressing mirror in the corner.” “I wasn’t kidding when I said I had been looking forward to this. I wanted to make it as perfect as possible.” I scooted back towards her tail. She looked over her shoulder at me. “That was fast, and I didn’t even feel a tug.” “I’ve had practice. Mom and Satin made sure that I could braid manes before I left home.” I stroked her tail with a hoof. “You have a beautiful mane and tail. I love the bi-color in them.” I levitated a comb to me and, taking it with my hoof, separated her tail into the sections I would need. “Pin, you still have a question left.” “I’m saving it for a few minutes more, if you don’t mind.” “I’ll ask you a non-courtship question then. Did Cranky and Matilda come by today?” “They did. I take it they stopped by Rarity’s.” “Rarity was still out of foals’ ties, so she sent them to you.” “I’m still not sure why they wanted one. They didn’t say too much when they bought it.” “They didn’t say much at the boutique. Rarity said she could figure out who they could be buying it for.” “I couldn’t either. I haven’t heard of them adopting or taking care of anypony, much less a pony that age.” Coco wiggled a little, turning her head one way and then the other. “I can’t see what you’re doing.” I chuckled. “I’m nearly there.” “There is a part of me that wants to see what you’ve done, but another part wants this to go on,” she admitted. “We can do this as often as you like. I would enjoy it every time and I have so many ideas I want to try with the colors of your mane and tail.” “Pin.” I looked up into her eyes. “I love you.” I smiled. “I love you too.” After a few more seconds of braiding, I declared, “I’m done, but you can’t move yet.” “You’re getting me back for teasing you aren’t you?” “That is not what I had in mind.” I move to the bag once more and drew out the grooming mitt and spray. “But there is just one more thing I would like to do before you see yourself.” “You just want to rub your hoof all over me,” she teased. “I will admit that is part of the appeal.” I sprayed the mitt with two mists from the bottle and settled down beside Coco. I ran the mitt over Coco’s coat. “This won’t take long.” “There was something else odd that happened today. Muffins and her girls came by. Dinky was telling Amethyst, Muffin’s older daughter, that she had seen Amethyst as a foal at the Celebration set up.” “That’s weird.” I moved further back on her and made my strokes more like caresses. “You have the most wonderful coat.” “Thank you.” She squirmed as I continued with the mitt. “I think Rarity and Thunderlane know something about what is going on. They both were acting like they we’re having to be careful of not revealing something while talking with each other. The way Cheerilee was acting yesterday, before everypony showed up, I wouldn’t be surprised that she’s in on what’s going on.” “Here’s a bit of news that I don’t think has gotten out yet. There’s a reason Cheerilee and Amethyst are going after Riff at the same time. They’re already together.” Coco turned her head and watched me move to her other side. “So that’s why Cheerilee had that reaction to Muffins’ comment. Muffins didn’t have a clue did she?” “From what I could tell she didn’t,” I said and shifted towards her shoulders. With a few more caressing strokes, I finished. I levitated the tri-fold mirror to stand at the front of the blankets. I got to my hooves and then offered a hoof to Coco. She took my hoof and stood. “Thank you.” She looked toward the closed mirror with anticipation. I kissed her cheek. “You look stunning,” I told her, as I opened the mirror. “Oh, Pin,” she breathed. “Do you like it?” “Yes!” I had braided her mane in a waterfall style, giving her mane the appearance of being a woven crown near the top of her head, taking the remaining strands of her mane into a small bun at the back of her head below the braid line. She turned so she could see her tail in the mirror. “Oh my goodness,” she said. “Your tail’s coloration inspired me.” I had made a central braid of the darker middle section of her tail and woven braided strands of the lighter outer sections into the central braid at every interval of the central braid making a full waterfall braid of her tail. “Would you wear these to the Celebration tomorrow?” “Of course I would!” She pranced in place and smiled. “These are wonderful.” She paused and looked at her reflections. “My coat looks fabulous too!” “I’m glad you’re so happy. I was afraid I’d-” She spun, wrapped her hooves around my neck, and kissed me. “I’m ecstatic! I look like royalty!” I hugged her back. “You’re my Lady Coco, so you’re royalty to me.” “Pin, you’re blushing.” I kept my voice steady as I told her, “I would like to ask you that question.” She smiled and bumped her nose to mine. “Ask.” “May I make love to you tonight and as often as you would like from this night on?” Coco looked at me as if stunned and blushed all the way to her ears. My ears tilted back. “Too bold?” She smiled and gave me a tinder spark of a kiss. “Yes, you can make love to me, I will ask for you to frequently, and no that was perfect.” “Keep hold of my neck for a second, please,” I said and levitated her off the floor. Getting to my hooves, I carried her using a combination of my magic and a foreleg towards my room. Coco nuzzled me under my chin. “You’re such a gentlecolt.” “You may not think so after tonight,” I said and opened the door to my room. “Promises, promises,” she teased. ***** “You realize we’re in for it,” I said to Coco as we walked towards Ponyville’s central square. “That’s fine,” Coco said nonplussed. “You’re rather relaxed about it. I’m sure Sassy alone will give us fits.” “She will.” “Berry will not be much better.” “I know.” “Rarity will want to know ‘every little detail’ too.” I could hear Coco’s smile in her answer; “That’s fine.” I glanced over at her and she turned her smiling face to me. “You’re blushing.” “So are you.” She leaned against me. “They can’t grill us too much. We’re going to be too busy.” “They’re patient.” I leaned my head against hers. “They’ll isolate us at some point and the questioning will start.” “And oh the answers I will give them.” I felt my blush intensify at her tone. I leaned back up, as we came to the edge of the square. “You don’t have to give them all the details.” “If they’re going to ask questions, I’m going to make them jealous.” “What if they ask me questions?” She kissed my cheek. “Blush, as you always do, and give honest answers.” “Uncle Pin! Miss Coco!” Piña waved to us from where she Barrel and Berry were sitting beside the fountain. “We’re over here!” Coco and I made our way to the fountain. Piña rushed over and gave me a hug. “Are you excited? I am!” “I’m nervouscited,” I told her and hugged her back. “Whoa, Coco, you’re coat looks great,” Berry said. Piña released me and hugged Coco. “She’s super soft too!” Piña nuzzled against Coco’s coat. Coco laughed and told them, “Pin went over me again with the grooming mitt after we got out of the shower this morning.” Barrel chuckled while Berry stared at me. “Did I hear ‘we got out’?” Berry asked. “And what’s this about grooming mitt?” “We’ll talk about it later,” Coco said and made a subtle glance towards Piña. “Pin,” Barrel said, “now might be your only chance to escape.” “He can’t go anywhere, we’ve got to get to the castle,” Piña said. “You need to let Coco go, if we’re going,” Berry said. “I can’t, she feels too nice to let go of.” Barrel looked up. “I think we’re about to have somepony join us.” Rumble landed near to our group and trotted over. “Good morning!” he said. “Thunderlane wanted me to tell you he, Rarity, and Sassy are at the castle. They had some special meeting to go to.” He tilted his head and looked at Piña, who had still not let go of Coco. “Why are you holding onto her like that?” “Give her a hug and you’ll see!” Piña said. She released Coco and stepped back. Rumble looked to Coco for permission. “Come here,” Coco said and took Rumble into a hug. “Whoa.” He gave Coco the slightest start of a nuzzle, blushed, and jumped back from her. “Sorry.” Coco giggled at him. “You’re fine.” “Don’t feel bad, I did the same thing!” Piña said. She looked to me and asked, “What did you do to her?” “I’d like to know what all he did to her last night and this morning too,” Berry said. Coco leaned close to Piña and stage whispered, “He pampered me from nose to tail. I think he’s one of the spa ponies part time and hasn’t told us.” “Nah, he’s too shy for that kind of work,” Barrel said. I looked around. “Where’s Pinch?” “Prince Shining Armor came by and got her earlier this morning!” Piña said. “He bowed to her and everything. He said that she was needed for a quick meeting too.” “We should head to the castle ourselves,” Turner said, as he, Dinky, and Muffins joined us. “We don’t want to anything less than punctual with royalty involved.” “You’re right,” Piña said. “Twilight really doesn’t like it when ponies are tardy.” Our group moved through town and towards the castle. Ponyville was the busiest I had seen. Ponies were trotting around town running last-minute errands before the market shut down for the celebration. Crystal and Royal Guards patrolled the streets. While the Royal Guards remained stoic, the Crystal Guards glanced around at the buildings and ponies around them seeming to be as fascinated by them as the town’s ponies were of them. “They’re so awesome looking,” Rumble said. “The Lunar Guard will be here tonight,” Dinky said. He turned toward her. “Really?! Pip’s going to flip out.” As we approached the castle, Turner stated, “I’ve always considered the castle more as the town library, but having the guards around has changed the atmosphere.” “That’s why Twilight doesn’t have guards,” Muffins said. “She enjoys keeping the relaxed feel of Ponyville.” “Good morning everypony!” The Crystal Guard stationed at the castle doors greeted. “You must be here for the meeting.” “We are,” Barrel said. The guard nodded to his Royal Guard counterpart. The Royal Guard opened one of the castle's doors for us. “Take the first hall to the left and the meeting will be in the third room on the left.” “Thank you,” we said in chorus. Piña lingered for a moment, as the rest of us approached the door, and stared at the guard. He gave her a smile and raised an eyebrow. “Can I help you?” “Can I try something?” The Crystal Guard shrugged. “Sure.” “What are you doing?” Rumble asked, as Piña moved closer to the guard. Piña put her hoof behind the guard’s right leg. “Cool, you can see through them!” Piña’s exclamation got a mirthful snort out of the Royal Guard, and a full belly laugh out of the Crystal Guard. “Piña!” Berry chided. “I’m so sorry, sir,” she said in a mortified tone. “She’s fine,” he said and gave her a smile. “I have a daughter her age. She’s curious too.” “Piña!” Dinky hissed through her teeth. “Behave! You will get us tossed in the dungeon!” “We rarely throw anypony in the dungeon, much less foals,” a voice said. “It’s the prince!” Piña said. We all bowed, and the two guards saluted, as Shining Armor approached. “At ease you two,” he told the guards. “Please, don’t bow,” Shining said to the rest of us. “You’re doing us a huge favor and this event is supposed to be as informal as possible.” We returned to standing. “Dinky, dear,” Muffins said through a giggle. “You need to breathe.” “He’s right here, Mom,” Dinky said in a whisper. “You must be Dinky,” Shining said to her with a winsome smile. He held out his hoof to her. Dinky stared at the hoof for a moment and then touched hers to it. “You know my name,” she said as if not believing it and she looked up to him. “Rarity described you, Piña, and Rumble to me.” Shining smiled and bowed over Dinky’s hoof, causing Dinky to blush. “She said there would be a good chance that you three would be with everypony else.” Releasing Dinky’s hoof he turned to Piña and repeated the greeting ritual he had done with Dinky. “It’s nice to meet you, your highness,” Piña said, as Shining bowed over her hoof. “The pleasure is mine. Please, just Shining.” He turned and shook hooves with Rumble. “I’ve heard you’re a future Wonderbolt.” Rumble’s eyes widened. “I’m trying to be, sir.” “He’ll make it,” Piña said with certainty, gaining her a smile from Rumble. “I was asked to escort you three to the library. Starlight, Sunburst, and Flurry are there, and they would like to meet you.” “Princess Flurry is here?!” Piña said, and then slapped her hooves over her mouth. Shining glanced at Piña. “She is. If we didn’t bring her, Twilight and Flurry wouldn’t have been happy with us. They don’t get to see each other that often.” “Our daughter has a fascination for expecting mares and foals,” Barrel told him. “Flurry will like you then,” Shining said to Piña. “Follow me, and I’ll take you three to her.” Piña all but skipped behind the prince while Dinky and Rumble smirked at her and walked behind them. The rest of our group continued to the room where we were to meet with Twilight and the others. “There you are!” Rarity said, as we stepped into a spacious sitting room. “I told Twilight you would be a touch early.” “Did Shining meet you?” Twilight asked. “He did,” Berry said. “Twilight, if Flurry comes up missing, don’t worry, it’s most likely that Piña has run off with her for a while.” Twilight laughed. “Come in everypony. I double checked to make sure there would be enough seats.” As everypony standing moved to find seat, Sassy grinned at Coco and me. “Well, Coco, he must have treated you right last night, your coat is all but glowing.” Rarity gave her a light tap on the shoulder and admonished, “Sassy, not here.” “I sense some gossiping going on,” said a feminine voice just outside the room. I turned around as Princess Cadance, Spike, and a blue-coated crystal pony colt who seemed at least a hoofful of years older than Piña and Pinch stepped into the room. Those of us who were not royalty, a guest of royalty, or a dragon, bowed to the princess. “None of that!” she told us. “This is Twilight’s celebration, not some stuffy Canterlot gala. Besides, I’m not a princess of Equestria, so I’m just Cadance to all of you.” Cadance was taller than I had expected. I had to look up at her, after returning to standing. “You were right, Rarity, they’re perfect,” Cadance said. “Thank you, darling. I’d like to think I have a sense for these kinds of things.” Cadance looked over Coco for a moment and then to me. “Are these the two you were telling me about?” “That would be them,” Rarity said with amusement. “You two went through the full Canterlot courtship?” Cadance asked. “As best we could,” Coco answered. I could only nod in agreement. Cadance laughed in a kind way. “I rarely awe ponies. That’s more Celestia’s and Luna’s thing. I’m not sure what to do to break him out of it. ” “Pin’s quite shy,” Rarity said. “It might take a few minutes to get him to say anything. He’s a big romantic like Pinch and I are and a fan of yours too.” Cadance looked back to me. “I have fans?” I blushed and nodded. Twilight gave an amused snort. “Cadance, you’re the Princess of Love, how can you not have fans?” “Your highness, please excuse the interruption,” a Crystal Guard said as he entered the doorway and bowed. Thank you for the interruption! I thought. “Wild Wind, at ease, you shouldn’t be so formal around the ponies you will be escorting.” “He’s our guard?” Sassy said from behind me in a tone that did nothing to disguise her delight. The sergeant glanced at Sassy and then to Cadance. “Sassy, down girl,” Berry said. “You’re scaring him.” “Come in, and sit down you two,” Twilight said. It took me a second to realize she was speaking to Spike and the colt. The colt hesitated and looked to Spike. “It’s okay,” Spike told the colt. “They’re all good friends.” The colt nodded and walked with Pinch into the room. There might have been hoof width between him and Spike, but not any more than that. Twilight gestured with a wing for them to sit next to her. “Please, everypony sit down,” Twilight said. After a moment, she added, “You too Wind.” The guard shook his head. “Thank you, Princess, but I’m-” “To do as you’re told,” Cadance said as if only half joking. “Yes, Princess!” Wind trotted towards the closest empty chair in the room to him and sat beside Sassy. Sassy looked him over as if he were a treat and gave him a flirting smile. I noticed there were three empty chairs left. Cadance sat on the other side of Spike and the colt, leaving two seats unoccupied in the room. After everypony sat down, Twilight addressed us: “Thank you for coming so early this morning. I wanted to introduce you to Crystal Hoof so he would know who he will spend the day with.” Crystal Hoof gave a meek wave to us. “Hello.” Twilight looked past us as the sound of two sets of hooves approached from the hallway. She smiled and declared, “Good, the last of us are here. Please come in and have a seat.” I turned my head as Thunderlane and Pinch walked in the room. Cadance smiled. “How did things go?” “Very well,” Thunderlane said. “Pinch was perfect, and things are moving right along.” “I knew she would be the right pony for the job,” Twilight said. Pinch smiled, blushed, and bowed her head. “Thank you.” “Crystal Hoof, this is the filly I told you about, Ruby Pinch.” Cadance said, gesturing to Pinch with a wing. “She and Spike will be your tour guides of the town.” Crystal Hoof gave her a shy smile. “It’s nice to meet you.” He turned to Spike. “Isn’t she the filly that helped you and Sweetie Belle?” Spike nodded. “That’s her. I think you’ll like her.” “If she helped you, I like her already,” Crystal Hoof said. “Everypony, please introduce yourselves and tell what you do,” Twilight said. We took turns introducing ourselves to Crystal Hoof, who seemed to relax as everypony told their names and occupations. “Wow, there are a lot of different talents in the room,” Crystal Hoof said. “Ponyville is a great place,” Spike said. “You can find a niche here, no matter what you do.” “Speaking of finding your niche,” Twilight turned to Pinch, “are you ready to start things off?” Pinch nodded. “I am.” “Great!” Twilight tapped her hooves together. “Crystal Hoof, you’ll be having breakfast with Pinch and her family at their home. After that Pinch will take you to the activities that have been set up for the Celebration.” “Sounds great,” Crystal Hoof said. There was an awkward pause as nopony moved. Cadance reached out a wing, and poked Crystal Hoof on the back. “She means you should go with Pinch now.” Crystal Hoof started. “Oh! Right!” He hopped from his seat and walked up to Pinch. He looked away from her and rubbed one foreleg over the other. “Thank you for doing this for me.” Pinch grinned. “I can’t wait to introduce you to everypony and show you around.” Spike got down from his chair. “I don’t mean to be pushy, but we better get going. We’ve got lots to do and plenty of ponies to meet.” “Wind, please accompany them,” Cadance said. Wind got to his hooves and bowed to Princess Cadance. “I will guard them with my life, your highness.” “I doubt anything serious will happen,” Twilight said. “But this is Ponyville, so don’t get too relaxed.” “Yes Princess.” Wind bowed and followed his wards out of the room. Twilight watched the door. “How did the meeting go?” she asked Thunderlane, after the sound hooffalls faded away. “It went very well,” Thunderlane told her. “The special guest will be in position for lunch.” “That’s wonderful,” Cadance said. She leaned forward in her seat. “How did their meeting go?” “Even better,” Thunderlane said. “Pinch reacted as you two predicted and even got a hug for being so understanding.” Cadance’s voice rose in excitement as she asked, “From him?” “From him,” Thunderlane confirmed. Cadance clapped her hooves together and giggled like a filly. “That’s perfect!” Sassy raised her hoof. “Excuse me, but I’m feeling out of the loop.” “That’s part of the plan,” Twilight said. Muffins also raised a hoof, “Twilight, we can’t help if we don’t know what’s going on.” “Trust me. You’ll be more able to help by not knowing.” Twilight smiled at us. “We wanted to meet with this group of ponies so early this morning because you will be involved in a delicate part of what will happen. We needed to give you a little bit of a heads up while having as little impact on how you behave and feel as possible and so you could stay calm even if odd things happen.” Cadance told us, “Today, ponies may act off to you. Conversations may take odd turns. There may be unexpected… disturbances. Part of this will be because of cultural differences. The other part of it will be because these sort of plans always have unexpected things happen. We ask that you take such things in stride, remain calm, and be the ponies you are.” “We can do that,” Turner said. “Oh yes,” Cadance said in a near purr. “There is one more thing we would like you to do. Send lots of love towards your partners today.” Sassy’s ears angled back as if Cadance’s words had stung, but she put them back into place. Cadance smiled at Sassy. “I noticed you noticing Wind.” Sassy grinned. “I was wondering if he looked as good out of his armor as he did in it.” Rarity cut her eyes toward Sassy and gave a warning noise. “Wind is taken,” Cadance said, “and yes, he does.” Sassy sighed. “Why is it all the good and handsome ones are taken?” Cadance giggled. “There will be some available stallions, guards and otherwise, at the celebration.” “I could use some guidance as to which ones I could consider pursuing,” Sassy said. “I would be glad to help. I did quite a bit of research for tonight to help such connections happen.” Cadance cut her eyes towards Twilight. “While I am glad to help whoever I can, there is a certain somepony who I was hoping to assist who says she’s too busy for ‘romantic entanglements.’ Maybe you could help me convince her to take some time of her schedule to pursue a partner or two.” Twilight blushed and gave a Cadance a look. “I’ve got to help run the country and continue my studies!” Cadance snorted. “When I courted your brother, I was in school and training to become a full princess. You can take time to find somepony special too.” “There are so many variables to consider in choosing a partner though!” Twilight protested. “I can’t invest that much research time right now.” “Twilight, look at finding a partner as an advanced form of making a friend, not a science project. Since you’re the Princess of Friendship, it should be natural for you.” Twilight grumbled an answer I could not hear. “You’re making things too complicated and regimented.” Cadance assured Twilight, “Getting to know your partner then figuring out and working through how their variables and your variables could fit together with yours is an unstructured process that is a lot of fun.” Sassy giggled. “She’s right. Even if the relationship breaks down, fitting ‘variables’ together while your together is always fun.” Cadance grinned. “I think you and I will get along great.” “I’m doomed,” Twilight groaned. “Now there’s two of them!” “Excuse me?” a filly’s voice asked from the doorway. “Are my mom and dad here?” “We’re over here, Dinky,” Muffins said, turning to look at the door. “Mom!” Dinky trotted into the room, Rumble following behind her. “I got to hold…” She stopped and stared at Princess Cadance. “You’re his wife.” “If you mean Shining Armor’s, yes I am,” Cadance said with a smirk. “She is also a princess,” Turner reminded Dinky. “Sorry Princess!” Dinky bowed. Rumble stood beside Dinky and joined in her bowing to Cadance. Cadance waved a wing at the foals. “No bowing, please. I’m here on semi-official and unroyal business. I get the impression you’re a fan of Shining.” Dinky blushed. “Yes, Princess.” “Don’t be embarrassed. I’m a big fan too. It’s one of the reasons I married him.” Cadance turned to Rumble. “You must be Thunderlane’s brother.” “Yes, Princess,” he responded. “I’m Rumble.” “I’ve heard you’ve taken on two ‘training partners’,” Cadance half teased. “That requires a lot of commitment. I wish all three of you happiness and success.” Rumble blushed and smiled. “Thank you, Princess.” Twilight gave a polite cough and then looked towards the room’s clock. Cadance sighed. “Right, we can’t forget the schedule. I’ll reign in my romantic curiosity for the moment.” She gave Rumble a wink. “I’d like to meet your training partners sometime today, if we could arrange it.” Rumble’s wings fluffed in shock, and he nodded. “We’re all in Miss Cheerilee’s class.” “Which you’re scheduled to meet after lunch,” Twilight prodded with a grin. “Hint taken, Twilight.” Cadance stood and gave us a bow. “Thank you all for helping us. We will see you again at lunch. If you would like some, breakfast for everyone helping with the Celebration is being served in the dining hall on the opposite side of the castle.” Twilight stood and smiled. “Great! We’re still in the time buffer I put in till our next event. We’ll need to teleport to be on time, though.” “Teleport away,” Cadance said. Twilight lit her horn, and with a hiss, a pop, and a muted flash of light Cadance and Twilight vanished from the room. “So, bro, you got the attention of the Princess of Love herself,” Thunderlane teased Rumble. “Not bad.” Muffins’ stomach growled, and we all turned towards her. Looking embarrassed, she grinned. “Sorry.” “Let’s get you a breakfast muffin or two, love,” Turner said and gave her a hug around her shoulders with a foreleg. “That should quiet things down.” “We could all do with some breakfast,” Thunderlane said and stood. “Besides, it would be rude to turn down the invitation of a princess.” He offered his hoof to Rarity and helped her to her hooves. “Thank you.” She put a hoof to his cheek. “I hate we will lose you for so long this afternoon.” “That's the one downside of being a Wonderbolt. Your time is not your own anymore.” Thunderlane moved to Rarity’s side and wrapped a wing around her. “I hope the performance will make up for it.” “I’m sure it will. I will get to have this evening with you, though, right?” Thunderlane nodded. “As soon as I can clean up, change, and get myself looking presentable I will be by your side.” “Speaking of getting presentable, is the plan still on?” Sassy asked. She gave a meaningful look towards Coco. “We girls have so much to discuss.” “Patience, darling, we will have her this afternoon,” Rarity said. “What are you two plotting?” I asked. “Two? I’ll have you know there will be eight of us.” Rarity looked to Coco, Dinky, and Muffins. “If we can get these three lovely ladies and to join us in getting ready for the Celebration, that is.” “That sounds great,” Muffins said. “Excuse me,” I interjected. “I promised to braid Coco’s mane and tail for tonight.” Sassy gave me a flat look. “Really?” “He did,” Coco confirmed, “and I would like him to.” Sassy tapped a hoof to her chin and appeared to be weighing her thoughts. “It won’t take long,” I said. “I don’t know,” Sassy said, acting unsure. “I was picturing this as a mares night kind of thing.” “I’ll share the flowers he got me with everypony,” Coco said. “I can’t eat them all by myself.” “Bribery!” Sassy said and put her hoof to her chest mock offense. “Coco, he’s being a horrible influence on you, if you’re stooping to such levels to spend more time with him.” “What if he braided your mane and tail too?” Rumble suggested. Sassy sighed and let her ears fall. “No, that won’t work. Coco made it clear yesterday that Pin was hers and she will not share.” “Wait a minute,” Dinky said. “Rumble will need to get ready too, and Thunderlane won’t be around.” “Are you suggesting we should invite him too?” Rarity asked with a knowing smile. Dinky nodded. “He might want to braid Piña’s mane too.” “What about Noi, then? We wouldn’t want to leave her out.” Sassy gave a look to Rumble and asked, “Would we?” Rumble shook his head. Muffins stomach growled again. “Why don’t we get breakfast first and then debate the situation further,” Turner said and patted Muffins, who was hiding her face behind her wings in embarrassment, on the back. Rarity giggled. “Let’s.”