//------------------------------// // 7 - Inspection // Story: Reforming the evil // by SkarinOfAtmora //------------------------------// Five days passed since Umbra, Chrysalis and Luna found themselves a pet. After the choices were made, Fluttershy made sure to equip their guests with everything they need to properly take care of their new little friends. To Sam's surprise, Umbra and Chrysalis showed actual care towards little Thana and Pintsize. Though their methods differed, Umbra was practically training Thana to be a war beast while Chrysalis made sure Pintsize had everything he needed to grow up into a beautiful swan, the results were already showing. Thana was very obedient and loyal to Umbra, the former queen even siccing the panther cub at Sam in some sort of act of defiance, while Pintsize viewed Chrysalis as the best mother ever and followed her around like a little puppy. Fluttershy was also happy with the results and even laughed at the antics Chrysalis and Umbra caused with their new pets. Since she understood animals to a degree nopony else did, she often translated if Umbra or Chrysalis didn't understand what their wards wanted. Even Sam didn't mind that Thana used him as a scratching post since he barely felt her small teeth and claws. It turned out that Tiberius was the oldest among the new arrivals and, like Luna did with Umbra and Chrysalis, had to separate Thana and Pintsize when an argument broke out. All things considered the three got along just fine. And so we find ourselves five days after the adoption and Sam's first interaction with Pintsize, one with unexpecting results. "He said WHAT?" Chrysalis screamed in outrage while Sam stared at Pinsize with wide eyes. Fluttershy was trying very hard to stiffle a laugh. "He called him daddy." the yellow pegasus repeated once more and Chrysalis was ready to tear Sam apart. Umbra showed no restraint and was laughing her flanks off on the couch while Luna sat in the armchair and petted Tiberius in her lap. "That is not your daddy Pintsize!" Chrysalis pulled on her hair in frustration. "Oh this is priceless!" Umbra said between laughs."You and the monkey a happy family!" and then broke out into laughter as Chrysalis tried to atmoze Umbra with her glare. "Umm, I wouldn't laugh if I were you." Fluttershy said timidly and Umbra's laugh was replaced with a piercing glare. "What do you mean?" the unicorn leaned towards Fluttershy over the table, the pegasus mare shuffling in her own armchair. Fluttershy pointed to Thana who was staring and Umbra and mewled something. "What is it?" "She says Don't be mean to big bro." Umbra's eyes were the size of saucers and it was Chrysalis's turn to laugh her head off. "What? Thana! He is not your big brother, he is your enemy!" Umbra stood to her hooves, trying to bring some sense into the panther but the feline stood strong. "You dare to defy me? Treason!" "Thana says Sam helped her get stronger and that one day she wants to be as strong as him." with every word Fluttershy said, Umbra's fiery gaze tried to reduce Sam to ashes. The human was blisfully unaware of what was going on around him. Next thing you know, Pintsize is on top of Sam's head quacking happily and Thana is hanging on his pants like they were tree bark. The two former queens stared in shock and horror at their two companions and then slowly directed their gaze at Sam. "What does Tiberius think?" Sam asked and looked at the possum in Luna's lap and got a possum sounding reply. "He says you're a pretty cool guy and can date his mommy." Fluttershy said with a smile directed at Luna who blushed before smotherin her little Tibbykins with hugs and kisses. "Thank you for the honor." Sam gently tipped his head, mindful of the cygnet on top of it. "Pintsize, get back her right now!" Chrysalis stomped her hoof (leg? Help!) and pointed at the spot beside her. "I had high hopes for you Thana. You will face severe concequences for your actions! No treats for a month!" Umbra tried to act tough but she already admitted to herself she couldn't do that to the little cub. And as it always has been in this house, there was a knock on the door. Finding this situation rather amusing, Sam ignored the knocking until it got so loud that it couldn't be ignored any longer. Gently picking up Pintsize he handed the cygnet to Chrysalis. "Take care of mommy while i get the door." Sam the looked at Chrysalis and smirked."Son." the changelings jaw almost hit the floor. Then it was time pry Thana off his pants and hand her to Umbra."We'll play later." he also smirked at Umbra."Little sis." the reaction was the same and now Luna was the one laughing hystericaly. Sam then went to the accursed door."Alright, alright! I'm coming!" he swung the door open and found Ponyville's resident princess Twilight Sparkle standing before him. Her mane was tied into a bun and she wore her glasses along with her teacher outfit, a white bluse and brown knee-high skirt along with a matching bag. There was parchment and a quill already floating beside her. "Good morning, misterrr... Sam?" she said while eyeing him and the human inew this tone well. It was questioning time. "Good morning, Miss Inquisitor." Sam said with a deadpan look. "Sarcasm. Minus one point." Twilight squinted and scribbled something on her parchment."I was sent here by Princess Celestia to assess the situation of her VRP." "VRP?" Sam asked with a raised brow. "Villian Reformation Programme." "Twilight, you do-" "That's Miss Sparkle to you, sir." Sam rolled his eyes at her tone."Minus one po-" he slammed the door right in her face. "How many points is that?" there was silence on the other side for a while. "I'm sorry." Sam opened the door again and found Twilight sheepishly looking at the ground. "What did we learn last year?" "Don't agitate the grumpy human." Twilight said timidly, one of her hooves boring into the ground. "Excellent. Now let's get rid of this." Sam quickly snatched the scrunchy that held her bun in place. "Hey!" "And this." the glasses were next as he folded them and slipped them inside her bag."And what did we learn recently?" Twilight's ears drooped down. "Don't pretend to be something you're not." the purple alicorn answered, remembering the time she tried to be a strict principal and it backfired badly. "Excellent. Plus one point." Sam patted the top of Twilight's head and moved to the side."You may enter." Twilight nodded and stepped inside. "I really am here to check up on you." Sam just shrugged. "It's fine. That whole inquisitor act was unneccesary though." "I'm sorry. Again." Twilight scratched her cheek sheepishly."It's just, Princess Celestia asked me personally to complete this task and I want to do it right." "Personally? Then why didn't she come here?" "She's a busy pony." Twilight replied quickly. "Really?" Sam asked with a raised brow. "And she may or may not be a little scared of you right now." she pulled him down and quietly added. "You didn't hear this from me." "Hear what?" he winked and Twilight nodded in satisfaction."Besides, it's not all bad." the duo entered the living room to find find Umbra and Chrysakis telling their pets how horrible Sam was but the little ones wouldn't budge."Also-"he lowered his head"-tell Celestia knight to D3." the alicorn nodded, scribbled something on parchement and it vanished. "Twilight! I'm so happy you're here!" Fluttershy greeted her friend and the two hugged. "It's good to see you too, Fluttershy." "Twilight! What a joyous visit!" Luna hugged the younger alicorn tightly. "G-good to see you as well Luna." gasping for breath once regaining freedom she looked over to Umbra and Chrysalis who were snarling in her direction."Um, hi." she offered a little wave but all it got in return were "humphs" and a quick retreat to their respective rooms. Meanwhile, a letter popped up in front of Sam and he opened it. I demand a rematch! In two days. Canterlot castle. Six p.m l. sharp. Bring cake. Celestia. Sam folded the letter into a plane and expertly tossed it towards the thrash can. He'll stop by Pinkie's before leaving, maybe even get himself something tasty. The girls settled on the couch and began chatting so Sam retreated to the kitchen to prepare some drinks and snacks. He pulled out four glassess and placed them on a platter. Opening the fridge, Sam took out a bottle of orange juice and smiled. "If only you could see me now, Garen..." Sam quickly shook his head to dispel the memories of the past and took the platter with the glasses and juice to the living room. "So, a herd?" Sam almost tripped as Twilight shot off her question as soon as he was in view. "I'm still getting used to it." he sat the platter on the coffee table and plopped down into an armchair. "It doesn't exist where I come from." "Well, if you would be so kind and tell me, maybe I can make a scientific and psychological explanation for you." Twilight said but already knew his answer. "Who wants juice?" Sam cut that conversation in the bud and proceeded to pour the juice into the glassess. Twilight sighed deeply. "I understand your frustration, young Twilight-" Luna placed a hand on Twilight's shoulder."-I, as well as Fluttershy, would very much like to know more about Sam's past, but-" "But why all the mysteries?" Twilight jumped to her hooves. The purple alicorn didn't like unknowns and Sam acting so mysterious and defensive has bothered her since day one."Is it true you know nothing?" she asked Fluttershy who sank a little into the sofa. "I-I know very little." She glanced at Sam, fearing he was getting angry but he seemed perfectly content pouring juice all around. "Doesn't it bother you?" Twilight received a negative head shake from the pegasus. "Twilight, sit." Luna forcefully sat Twilight back down and looked her straight in the eyes."Sam will tell us when he's ready. Even if that never happens I-, we-" she looked at Fluttershy who nodded with a smile."-we will love him all the same." Luna then looked at Sam who accidentaly overspilt one glass and quickly ran to get a towel to clean it up. "I know you will but what if-" Luna put a hand over Twilight's mouth and looked at her head mare. "Permission to speak freely." Fluttershy knew what Luna was about to say. The same thing he told her once her friends talked her into prying on Sam's past. Fluttershy nodded, going along with some of Luna's old fashioned habbits. The lunar princess locked Twilight with a gaze that demanded the utmost attention from the mare and spoke with a tone that was only used in the most serious of times. "I have seen but glimpses of Sam's past through his dreams and I will say this-"Twilight's eyes were wide in anticipation"-imagine a world where the Everfree would be considered a beautiful garden and a manticore no more than a small pest, roaming through it's flora." the young alicorn's ears suddelny drooped and her eyes shrank to pinpricks."A world where Umbra and Chrysalis are naught more than annoyances and just a few nights ago, I witnessed another terror." Twilight was regretting asking now."A terror that would make Tirek cower in fear." at the mention of Tirek, Twilight's entire body froze and Luna removed her hand. Twilight knew that Luna wouldn't lie just to to get her off Sam's case so whatever Luna saw must've been terrifying. "Twilight." Fluttershy began softly. "Sam fears that by mentioning his world too much would bring his past here. And, umm, he says he loves it here and wants to protect our world from his." Twilight was looking down at her hands, ears flat on her head and a feeling of great shame going through her. "I... I don't know what to say..." "We are all curious, Twilight." Fluttershy took the lavander alicorn's hands into hers. "When Sam is comfortable, I am sure he will tell us everything we want to know." "Until then, stop pestering me." Sam plopped down into his armchair and wiped off the spilt juice with a towel."I'm not mad or anything, but it gets annoying after a while. I know you ponies like to know everything but I'm not sharing." Twilight let the words sink in before taking a deep breath and then exhaling. "Alright. No more questions about your past." "Thank you." "However, I do have questions about the programme." Twilight pulled out a parchment and quill at the ready."First of, is everything under control?" "More or less." Sam replied with a so-so wave of his hand. "Fluttershy is an excellent teacher." Luna added, making the pegasus laugh giddily. "Why thank you Luna." "Right." Twilight said a little confused and wrote something down."Alright, um, how long do you think they should stay in the programme?" Sam blinked a couple of times. "Until they learn the lesson I guess? What kind of question is that?" "What I meant was, how long do you think it will last?" "Oh... Um, decades? Centuries?" Sam shrugged and was met with a deadpan look from Twilight."What? You're trying to reform two evil queens who wanted world domination and absolute obedience. You're asking me to make a stone turn to sand on it's own." "It can't be that bad." Twilight said flabergasted. "Some progress has been made with the pets." Luna joined in. "Both Chrysalis and Umbra are showing an uncharacteristic affection towards their respective companions." Twilight looked at Luna with a raised brow. "Aren't you part of the program as well?" "She gratuated this morning." Sam said with a smirk. "Luna's a good pony now." Luna blushed a little but felt her heart flutter. "Yes she is." Fluttershy gently nipped Luna's ear and the blue alicorn felt even warmer inside. Fluttershy then leaned closer and whispered in Luna's ear."But I'm thinking we'll let her be bad tonight." you could literally see steam coming from Luna's ears as her coat turned a shade of red. Sam snickered while Twilight shot him a dirty look. "You're a bad influence." Fluttershy quickly retreated from Luna and hid behind her mane in embarrasement."But, I've never seen Fluttershy this happy so I can't really complain." "Thanks." Sam nodded curtly before gulping down his glass of orange juice."Best drink ever." Twilight raised an amused brow. "It's just ordina-aaaaand you didn't have it before." Twilight finished with an understanding nod."Right. Anyway, it seems you have everything under control." Sam made another so-so gesture."Now that that's done, let's talk about you three." Twilight pulled out another piece of parchment and prepared herself to write down all the details of her friends newfound relationship. The rest of the afternoon was spenty by telling Twilight all the details about how they formed a herd and the lavander mare tried to put a scientific angle to everything. Once she got carried away and started asking "adult" questions, the conversation was put on hold by Fluttershy who was to embarrased to answer Twilight's questions and shortly after the young princess left to tend to her other duties and wished them all the best. The rest of the day went by pretty uneventful and Umbra and Chrysalis only made quick stops to the fridge. Sam, Fluttershy and Luna lounged on the couch, cuddled, engaged in small talk and the ocassional flirt and generaly enjoyed eachothers company. Soon night arrived and Luna found herself once again before the door of Sam's room in that nice night gown. From that first time she slept with them, like actualy sleep, Luna opted for normal pj's but today was special. Tonight was the night she will share the love of her herdmates with both body and soul, if all the flirting and teasing of the last few days was anything to go by. So, taking a deep breath and steeling her resolve Luna raised a hand for a knock before the door suddenly opened and revealed Fluttershy in a similar, albeit light green, nightly gown. "I-" before Luna finished, Fluttershy pulled her inside, a very cheeky smile on her lips.