//------------------------------// // Chapter 29 // Story: Pinning the Heart // by Random_User //------------------------------// My ear tilted as somepony knocked on Mom and Dad’s front door. “I’ll get it,” I declared. Upon opening the door, Silent’s grin greeted me. “Seems you remembered just fine, Filter,” Silent said to the stallion beside him. “Come on in,” I invited them. As soon as he stepped into the house, Silent’s eyes scanned the room and his ears swiveled until he located Sassy. On seeing her, Silent’s smile changed to one of infatuation and his eyes never left her. Filter gave Silent a nudge. “Don’t stare too hard. You don’t want to look creepy to the ponies who don’t know you.” Silent snorted and gave Filter a look. “Says the stallion who ogles the chef in front of her father and her customers.” Pinch poked her head over the back of Mom and Dad’s couch and grinned. She said something to Piña, who was sitting beside her, and they both scrambled off the couch and into the living room. “I didn’t know it was going to be that kind of after party,” Minuette said, after glancing as if to make sure the fillies were out of the room. “Too bad they’re already out of uniform and we don’t have any music going. I bet Hearts would have loved the show.” “Min!” Hearts said, blushing to her ear tips. “That’s my coltfriend you’re talking about,” Sassy told Minuette. “Ooo!” Minuette grinned at Sassy. “Which one?” She waggled her eyebrows. “Or both?” “Silent Wing,” Sassy said. “The one on the left.” “Ah, you went with dark and handsome.” Minuette nodded in approval. “Not that the other stallion is a lesser choice, mind you. There’s a lot of good looking stallion there, if you’re into them.” Filter blushed at the complement. Dinky and Pinch peeked into the den from the living room’s doorway. “They’re here!” Dinky said with excitement. She glanced back into the living room. “You promise he’s your brother?” Filter smiled, as Coco came into the room. “I Pinkie promise he is,” Coco told Dinky, as she walked toward Filter and the group’s four foals followed at her hind hooves. “Hey, Sis,” Filter said, and hugged Coco off her hooves. “He picked her up like Dad does me,” Dinky said in awe, as Coco returned Filter’s hug. Coco giggled and patted Filter’s shoulder, as he put her down. “He’s strong, thanks to all his training and wearing his armor all the time.” Filter’s ears went up, when he saw Satin on the couch. He gave her a bashful wave. “Hello again. It was a lovely wedding.” “Thank you,” Satin said. “I’m glad you could be there.” “I am too.” Filter bowed his head to the foals. “Thank you for inviting us to eat with you. We enjoyed it.” “You’re welcome,” Pinch, Piña, and Rumble said together, while Dinky remained motionless. “Dinky, you’ve got to breathe,” Piña said and bumped shoulders with Dinky. “Is she okay?” Silent asked. “She’s fine,” Pinch told him. “She has this reaction to Royal Guards who talk to her.” “I don’t know, Sis,” Piña said, giving Dinky another bump. “She’s almost as bad now as when she met Shining Armor.” “Awww, you have a fan,” Silent teased Filter. “So do you,” Sassy said, as she approached Silent and gave him a hug. Silent wrapped Sassy in his wings and reached his head up to touch noses with Sassy. “I wonder what that feels like,” Piña muttered to herself. One of Sassy’s ears turned in Piña’s direction. “What does what feel like?” “A wing hug from a bat pony,” Piña said. “It’s soft, warm, and delicate, like being wrapped in living silk,” Sassy described. She put her head on Silent’s and gave a contented sigh. “It’s wonderful.” “Would either of you want something to drink?” I asked the new arrivals. “I would,” Filter said. He glanced at Silent. “I think he’s a little too wrapped up for a drink right now.” Silent snorted. “Jealousy can be such an ugly thing.” Grinning, I motioned for Filter to follow me. “I’ll show you where the food and drinks are.” As Filter followed me, the foals followed him. “I thought I heard a familiar voice,” Dad said as Filter and I stepped into the kitchen. “Welcome.” “Thank you for having me,” Filter said. He smiled at Stormbreaker, who was sitting at the kitchen table with Dad and Turner. “It was a great wedding. I wasn’t expecting the literal fireworks during the ceremony.” “Nopony was,” Turner said with a sigh. “I’m not sure what went wrong.” “Nothing went wrong,” Thunderlane, who was leaning against the kitchen counter, told him. “They just got a head start.” “It had to because Satin and Strombreaker touched,” Turner said. “Their physical contact must have allowed their love to-” “The fireworks!” Dinky blurted, causing Filter and me to jump forward half a step. “Love makes them work, right, Dad?!” “Sort of,” Turner said, looking puzzled. “It’s what gets them to ignite. Why do-?” “I think I’ve got it,” Dinky said in a quiet voice and with unfocused eyes. She appeared as if she was seeing something inside her mind. “That’s how I can prove it,” she whispered to herself. Muffins leaned into the kitchen’s doorway. “Is everything all right? I thought I heard Dinky shout.” She smiled, after looking at Dinky. “So that’swhat’s going on.” She gave an affectionate, suffering sigh. “Looks like we have two of you crazy ponies now.” “What do you mean?” Turner asked. “She has the same look you get when you get one of your ‘inspirations’,” Muffins explained. “Really?” Turner said, seeming proud. “What’s running through that noggin of yours?” he asked Dinky Dinky shook her head as if to refocus. “Just some ideas I had for a project.” She smiled at Turner. “I think I might need your help for parts of it, though.” “I would be glad to help.” Turner looked intrigued. “What kind of project are we talking about?” Dinky glanced at Pinch, seemed to catch herself, and then looked back to Turner with a quick turn of her head. “I’m not sure what it’s going to be, but I know it’s going to work.” “She even sounds like you,” Muffins said to Turner, “vague and determined.” “As much as she takes after you, with her kindness and good looks, it’s nice to know there’s a little of me in there somewhere,” Turner said. Muffins blushed. Dinky ran up to Turner and hugged him. “Thanks Dad.” Turner smiled and hugged Dinky back. “You’re welcome, muffin.” ***** We followed Lemon Hearts, Minuette, and Twinkleshine outside. “Wait a second,” Satin said. “I get a hug, before you go.” Satin gave each of the trio a hug. “Thank you for all that you did today. The food was delicious, the decorations were gorgeous, and the flowers you chose were beautiful and tasty. Getting to have you there was a real treat too.” “We had to make things special for our tutor,” Minuette said. “We should thank all of you,” Lemon Hearts said. “Thanks to everypony pitching in, this was the nicest set up and take down for an event we have had in awhile.” We waved as Lemon Hearts, Minuette, and Twinkleshine walked away from us. “Come on, Lug,” Silent said, poking Filter in the shoulder with a hoof. “We need to follow their example.” Dinky’s ears fell a bit. “I guess the party’s over, isn’t it?” “It’s winding down,” Muffins said. “We’ll need to go soon too.” Coco leaned and whispered something in Filter’s ear. Filter looked apprehensive. “I’m not sure I should ask her something like that. It might come off kind of creepy.” “Then I’ll ask her.” Coco smiled at Dinky. “Would you like a hug from a Royal Guard, before he goes?” “I can have a hug?” Dinky looked at Filter as if not believing what she was hearing. “Really?” Filter smiled and nodded. “If you want one.” Muffins giggled, as Dinky rushed over to Filter and hugged him. Because of the difference in their sizes, Dinky only could get her forelegs around his midsection. Filter chuckled. “Thank you, but it’s going to be tough for me to give you a proper hug back like this.” Dinky tilted her head back and looked up at Filter. “That’s all right. I got to hug a guard.” “That won’t work. I’m the one supposed to be hugging you.” Filter bent down and picked up Dinky as if she weighed as much as a paperweight. Dinky gave a light squeal of delight and hugged Filter around his neck, as he returned her hug and blushed. “You made her evening,” Satin said. As Filter put Dinky back down on the floor, she held onto one of Filter’s hooves. “Will we get to see you tomorrow?” “I’m not sure,” Filter said. “It depends on a lot of things with work and what all of you will be doing.” “We are going to be scattered around the city most of the day tomorrow. You could meet up with us for dinner, if you would like,” Mom told Filter. “We were planning to go to a restaurant that Satin has been recommending.” “That sounds great,” Filter said. “Where do I need to be and when?” Mom looked over to Satin. “What was the name of restaurant again?” “The Tasty Treat,” Satin told her. “There’s no way he’s going to miss it,” Silent said, through a laugh, as Filter’s ears perked and his eyes lit up. “You and Sassy are invited too,” Mom said. “Thank you, but we have reservations for tomorrow night,” Sassy said. “Oh?” Rarity gave her an intrigued look. “Where do you have the reservations?” “At Silver Platters,” Silent said with a smile. “Silent!” Sassy all but gasped and turned to him. “You didn’t tell me that. The Silver Platter’s too expensive.” “For you it’s-” Silent’s ears shot up as Sassy gave him a quick kiss. “We’ll debate this as we walk home,” Sassy told him. “We should get you to bed too,” Stormbreaker told Satin. “Would you like me to see if I can find a carriage for hire real quick?” Satin shook her head. “No thanks. The walk would do me good, and it might help the foal calm down for tonight.” “We’ll walk with you, until we need to take our turn,” Silent said. Rarity grinned in a sly way, and Sassy caught it. “What are you smiling like that for?” Sassy asked. “I was contemplating the possible interpretations of ‘we need to take our turn’ and ‘as we walk home,” Rarity teased. “We live in the same direction,” Silent said, with a bright blush. “Dinks, you need to let Filter go,” Amethyst told her sister. “You can’t keep him, and we need to head back to Uncle Spring's too.” Dinky looked at her hooves as if surprised they were still holding Filter’s hoof. “Sorry!” she said and let go. Filter chuckled. “You’re fine.” As if they had shared a signal among themselves, Satin, Stormbreaker, and most of our friends walked away. Piña, looking glum, hugged Berry on her side. “You okay?” Berry asked, putting a foreleg around Piña. “Yeah,” Piña answered. “I’m just sad they’re leaving.” Pinch hugged Piña’s free side so she could reach around Pina and hug a bit of Berry too. “Piña sandwich!” she declared and nuzzled Piña. “Now you can’t feel bad.” “Thanks,” Piña said and nuzzled Pinch back. Looking as if a thought had come to her, Pinch turned her head toward Coco and me. “If Miss Summer and Mister Chaser are staying with Satin and Stormbreaker? Where are you two going to sleep?” “I’m on the couch,” Coco said. “I brought a bed roll, so I’m camping out in the living room,” I told her. “Slight change,” Berry said. “Coco is sleeping with me and Barrel is on the couch.” Barrel looked surprised at Berry’s words. “I’ve behaved myself today,” he said, in mock protest. A devious smile came to his face. “Or are you jealous Satin got to snuggle with her and her nice, soft coat and you didn’t?” “Could we have miss Coco?” Piña asked, before Berry could respond. “The bed is big enough for the three of us, and that way Uncle Pin doesn’t have to sleep on the floor. “Miss Coco, I’ll have to be in the middle,” Pinch mock whispered. “Piña is a sleep snuggler.” Piña looked indignant. “So are you!” “So is she, judging by this morning,” Berry said. “If you’re in the middle, you could get it from both sides.” “Ever thought there would be a time ponies would debate about who was going to sleep with you?” I asked Coco. Coco giggled. “Can’t say I have.” ***** “This is kind of creepy,” Coco whispered to me, as we went down the stairs to the library’s basement. “I like to think of it like a part of a Daring Do book,” I whispered back and grinned. “Descending the dark, long unused stairwell our heroes braved onward towards their sought treasure,” I narrated in mimic of an old time radio show host’s voice. Coco smothered a giggle with her hoof. “Don’t do that. If you make me laugh, we’re going to get into trouble.” We made our way to the end of the basement’s main hallway, and I knocked on First Folio’s office door. “Just a moment,” a voice answered from inside the office. A second later, the door opened. “How can I help- Pin!” Folio hugged me. “I haven’t seen you in moons!” “Hello Aunt Folio,” I said and hugged her back. Folio seemed to notice Coco standing behind me. “Hello there,” she greeted, as she let me go. Coco, smiling, gave a shy wave back. “Hello.” Folio gave me a curious look. “Who is this young mare?” “This is Coco Pommel,” I told her. “Coco, this is First Folio, the library’s archivist and special collections expert.” Folio snorted. “He’s making me sound like something special. I take care of all the dusty old tomes nopony wants to look at.” “That’s not true,” I said. “In fact, Coco and I would like to get access to the Haberdasher's special collection.” One of Folio’s eyebrows rose as she gave me a grin. “Doing a mare a favor are we?” I felt myself blush. “That sums it up.” I opened one of my saddlebag’s pouches and levitated out a box of ginger snaps. “I brought the customary ‘bribe’ too.” Folio teared up, as she took the ginger snaps from my magic. “You didn’t have to do that.” “Grandfather wouldn’t have been happy with me, if I hadn’t,” I told her. “I miss that old stick in the mud,” Folio said and ran her hoof along the edge of the box in a self-comforting way. “I miss him too,” I said, and my ears fell a little. “He was quite the stallion. He and Weave raised a good stallion too.” With her free hoof, Folio patted me on the shoulder. “He’d fuss at both of us for making a scene over him, so let’s stop there.” She turned and stepped towards her office. “I’ll be right back,” she told Coco and me. “I need to put these in a safe space and get the key for that room.” Coco moved closer and asked in a soft voice, “Weave?” I turned to her. “I guess I never have told you Grandmother’s actual name. It was Fine Weave.” I chuckled at myself. “It almost feels weird to say her actual name. Everypony in Ponyville, including me, called her Nana so much it might as well have been her name.” Folio stepped out of her office and closed the door behind her. She gave Coco and me a knowing look. “You two are more than friends.” I nodded. “She’s my special somepony.” “I see.” Folio asked Coco, “Where are you in your courtship?” Coco blushed. “We completed it not too long ago, ma’am.” “And you’re letting him walk around as if he was unclaimed?” Folio gave a “tsk, tsk” and shook her head. “You better watch it. Some filly around here might try to nab him from you.” Folio gave me a look. “You haven’t done your part for her either.” I held up my hooves. “We didn’t go by all of the traditional courtship rules.” “As precious as she is, you better follow them more closely or somepony might try to sweep her off her hooves,” Folio said and motioned for us to follow her. “You don’t want her catching the eye of somepony like your cousin or Blueblood, while she’s in Canterlot, do you?” “No I wouldn’t,” I said, not able to keep all of the protective growl at the thought out of my voice. “Rarity’s told me about Blueblood, but who’s the cousin I’m supposed to watch out for?” Coco asked. “His name is Pinprick,” Folio told her. “Most of the family doesn’t like to talk about him much,” I said. “I can understand why too,” Folio said as she stopped and unlocked the door to the collection. “He’s the opposite of Pin personality wise, but they look a lot alike. If you ever see ‘Pin’ wearing a gaudy red jacket, check to make sure he’s got the right cutie mark. If it’s a stallion with chess pieces on his flank, kick said flank before he puts the moves on you and gets hoovesy.” “Thanks for the warning.” Coco gave a light giggle. “I won’t mind checking Pin’s flank to make sure he’s the right stallion from time to time.” I blushed as Folio laughed. “I’ve got to get back to my office.” Folio gave Coco and me a teasing look. “You two don’t do anything in here you wouldn’t do in front of your parents.” “She seems like a very nice pony,” Coco said, after Folio had left. “She’s one of the hidden treasures down here in the basement that more ponies should get to know.” I could feel my smile get heavier. “She, Nana, and Grandfather were good friends. Whenever Grandfather needed some extra inspiration for a new design, we would come here and he would look through the archive and Nana I would visit with Folio and share the ‘bribe’ of ginger snaps.” “Pin.” When I turned from looking at the door to Coco, she touched her nose to mine. “You’re looking sad again,” she said in a gentle warning tone. “You’re right, no doldrums.” I felt the vigor return to my smile as I told her, “Grandfather would have loved to have been able to show you the archive. I hope I can do as well showing it to you as he did with me.” During the next few minutes, I showed Coco the archive’s catalog and where its various holdings were. While she was looking over the first items that had caught her interest, I dusted off the desk in the room's corner. She brought her selected items to the desk, and I helped her get her workspace arranged. There was a natural pause in our activities, and I watched Coco scrutinize and work from images in a magazine she had pulled from the collection. Her alternating between studying the illustrations and giving careful attention to the notes and drawings she created set a rhythm that was engrossing and made her motions look like a choreographed dance rather than any effort on her part. Her look of relaxed concentration and gentle humming as she sketched design ideas made me smile, and I stood there for long moments admiring her and her skill. Coco glanced up at me and smiled. “Pin, are you in there?” I blinked and then shook my head. “I can’t help it. Watching you work is hypnotic.” Coco giggled. “You’re sweet, but you can’t stand here and watch me work all day.” “I wouldn’t mind,” I told her with honesty. She motioned for me to get closer. When I did, she gave me a brief kiss on the nose. “I know you wouldn’t, but shoo. You promised you would enjoy yourself today.” “I will, but, before I go, I would like to remedy the issue Folio pointed out.” Using my magic, I braided the same strand of her mane I had before she and I had completed our courtship. “This signals you have somepony courting you or that you are in the trial period with them,” I explained. Coco smiled as she took the braid with a hoof and gave it a look of fond familiarity. “I doubt anypony is going to try to lure me away from you.” I gave her an exaggerated uncertain look. “I don’t know about that, judging by some of the glances and stares I’ve seen you get.” Coco gave me a smile. “I will not be lured away from you by anypony, no matter what they tempt me with.” “Ponies around here have a lot to lure with,” I half joked, feeling a touch insecure as I thought of what some ponies in Canterlot could offer her. “Fortunes, mansions, private airships, vineyards, titles, world trav-'' Coco cut off my listing with a hoof to my lips. “Would they cook for me and take the time to do all the sweet things you do for me? Probably not. Would they brush out my coat and mane, making me feel like the most adored mare in Equestria, and let me enjoy brushing theirs out? Very unlikely. Would they wake up worried that I had been a dream that vanished from their life? Almost certainly not.” My insecurities scurried away at her words, and I smiled and kissed the frog of Coco’s hoof. Coco replaced her hoof with an earnest kiss of her own that held more than a modicum of restrained passion. She looked me in my eyes and told me, “I know they would not love me like you do or could ever get me to feel as much love for them as I have for you.” I held still, my heart pounding, as Coco reached up, braided the same strand of my mane she had as part of our courtship, and tucked it behind my ear. “You better go, or there’s a good chance we will end up doing things in here we wouldn’t do in front of our parents.” ***** I stepped out of the library and shielded my eyes from the morning sunlight. Where to? I thought to myself. I have a free day and no clue what to do with it. “There is the very stallion we needed,” a stallion who sounded like Turner said to somepony I could not see. After Shifting how I stood to avoid the full brunt of the sun’s light and blinking my eyes back into focus, I looked at Turner and the four foals with him. “How did you know I was going to be here?” “It was nothing more than a matter of timing,” Turner said. Piña trotted over to me and gave me a hug. “I’m so glad we didn’t miss you!” “I’m glad to see you too,” I told her and gave her a hug back. “We would like to ask a favor of you,” Turner said. “Dinky, Pinch, and I each have a spot of research to do in the library, but Piña and Rumble have another task they would like to accomplish. Since I can’t be in two places at the same time, nor can I guide them around Canterlot as you could, we were wondering if you would be as kind as to help them in their endeavor.” “Sure,” I told Turner. I looked to Rumble and asked, “What do you need help with?” “Since Noi and Kevin couldn’t come with us, we wanted to get something special to take back with us for them,” Rumble told me. “I can help with that,” I told him. “Wonderful!” Tuner said. “Our predicament is solved, and we can research to our heart’s content.” “Or until lunch,” I reminded him. “Of course, my good chap.” Turner patted me on the shoulder as he, Dinky, and Pinch went past me. “Wouldn’t miss it for all the tea in Trottingham.” “You’re going to have to let him go, if we’re going to get to go,” Rumble teased Piña. “Did you two have anything in mind to get them?” I asked the foals, as Piña let go of me. “Since we’re an official training trio now, we were going to get Noi something to wear to keep her mane back like Rumble got me,” Piña said. I did my best to suppress the smile that came when I noticed Rumble’s blush. “Then a trip to Canterlot Boutique is in order. What about Kevin?” “That’s going to be harder,” Rumble said. “Pinch suggested things, and we had some ideas too, but we don’t know if we could get any of them before we left,” Piña said. “Why don’t you tell me about what you’ve come up with on the way to Rarity’s?” I said and motioned with my head for them to follow me. “Depending on what you’ve got in mind we might have to hustle, but I’m sure we can find something for him before you have to get on the train tomorrow morning.” ***** “I’ve never been here,” Piña said, as we stopped in front of Rarity’s boutique’s door. “It’s pretty fancy,” Rumble said. “That’s right, you’ve been staying here the last couple of nights,” Piña said. I opened the door for the foals and heard a gasp and Sassy giving a frantic whisper to somepony. As I stepped into the boutique, I got a brief glimpse of somepony with a deep purple mane and tail rushing through the boutique’s back door. “Who was that?” Piña asked Sassy. “Just somepony visiting the shop,” Sassy told her, in an evasive tone. “She thought you might be customers, so she ran off.” “Out the back?” Rumble asked, his ears at odd angles. “She’s a friend of mine and Rarity’s, so she can leave that way,” Sassy explained. She seemed to make a deliberate shift to her demeanor and she grinned at Rumble and me. “You three make an interesting trio. What brings you here?” “We’re wanting to get Noi a surprise,” Piña said, putting a foreleg across Rumble’s shoulders. “I’m the guide and escort,” I said, raising my hoof. “I see,” Sassy said. She gave the foals a slight bow. “Welcome to Canterlot Boutique, where everything is sleek, chic, and magnifique.” With a graceful motion of her hoof, indicating they should follow, she told them, “Please come with me. I’m sure we will have something that Miss Noi would like.” While Sassy assisted the foals, I wandered the shop, admiring its décor and the dresses on display. The fabric used for one dress caught my eye. With a light hoof, I touched the dress and studied the fabric’s weight and texture. “If you are interested in that dress, I would be happy to make alterations for you.” I turned to Rarity, who gave me a teasing smile. “I am always happy to help stallions reveal their more feminine side.” “After seeing what you did with MacIntosh, I don’t doubt it.” Rarity raised an eyebrow. “Or are you looking for a dress for a particular special somepony? If it’s who I suspect it might be, I have her measurements on file.” “Speaking of Coco and dresses, you did a wonderful job with her bridesmare dress,” I complemented. “I cannot take credit for that one,” Rarity said. “She made it while she was working with me in Ponyville.” Rarity’s words made me pause. “She never mentioned it was hers,” I told her. “I will have to say something to her, then.” “She’s so shy about talking about her own work,” Rarity said with a small sigh. “She’s good enough to have her own line, but she refuses to step forward so ponies can acknowledge her skill.” “I know I floated an past her about how I could help, but she say’s she’s not ready to ‘step out there’ yet.” “What did you suggest?” Rarity said. “Giving her some display space in the shop.” Rarity looked at me with surprise. I turned back to the dress. “I don’t think I’ve seen this material before. Did you make it?” “It’s from the Crystal Empire, actually, but thank you for the vote of confidence.” Rarity prodded me in the chest with a hoof. “No trying to change the subject. You can’t say something like you did and then change the subject.” “We’re ready Uncle Pin!” Piña said, as she, Rumble, and Sassy walked up. Perfect timing, thank you, I thought towards Piña. “Then we better get going, if we’re going to grab something for Kevin,” I told her aloud. Rarity gave me a look that told me she was not through with our topic of conversation and she would follow up on it later. Making sure not to make eye contact with Rarity, I asked Rumble, “What did you end up getting her?” “A nice head band and some tail scrunchies.” Rumble reached into the bag he was carrying and pulled out an embroidered periwinkle head band and a matching tail scrunchy. “He picked out the hair band, and I pinked the scrunchies,” Piña said. “If those are for Noi, you picked an excellent color,” Rarity praised. “Those will go well with her coat and mane.” “They match her eyes too,” Rumble said. I smiled, as the three mares collectively said, “Awwww!” Rumble blushed and put the headband and scrunchie back in their bag. “You have a very good training partner there, Piña,” Rarity told her. Piña bumped her shoulder against Rumble’s. “I know.” “Speaking of ‘partners’,” Sassy said while making a show of looking at the braid in my mane. “It seems somepony is staking her claim.” Everypony’s eyes turned to me and the braid tucked behind my ear. “Considering the looks he got yesterday from some of the mares at the wedding, I can’t say I blame her,” Rarity said. Piña looked at me with a meaningful smile. “She looked like she wanted to catch Aunt Satin’s bouquet yesterday pretty bad too.” “She surprised me with that display,” Sassy said. “I didn’t know she could jump like that.” “Coco may be small, but she’s strong, quick, and…” I tapered off, as Piña and Rarity giggled and Sassy grinned at me. Rumble winced as if he had watched me walk into a trap of my own design. “Flexible too?” Sassy asked with a suggestive tone in her voice. Deciding to cut my losses, I remained silent as I stood there and blushed. ***** Dinky all but pranced as she walked alongside Pinch. “I take it she found what she was looking for,” I said to Turner. “I think she did, but she asked me to keep quiet about what she was looking into until she can prove it can work.” Turner’s smiled held a good bit of paternal pride. “Judging by what she and I found, I think it will.” He asked Coco, “Were you able to find what you needed?” “Yes!” Coco said, sounding very pleased. “The archive had what I needed. I’ll have to visit the collection a couple of more times to gather everything I’ll need, but it’s all there.” Tuner looked behind us. “Did you two find what you were looking for?” “We did!” Pinch said. Rumble, his mouth occupied with the handles of the bags he was carrying, nodded in agreement. “Seems Uncle Pin was the only pony who didn’t find something today,” Pinch said. “I didn’t need to look for anything,” I said and took Coco’s tail with mine. “I found who I was looking for a few months back.” “Are you going to stand for that?! somepony said in an exaggerated tone. “He’s being affectionate with your sister! Out in public no less!” “The scandal!” a mare said and giggled. “At least they are not doing something vulgar like nibbling each other's ears,” another mare said. “What such a sight would have done to the foals!” “You three are horrible,” a fourth voice said. Our little herd stopped and waited for the four ponies behind us to catch up. “Seems he’s possessive too,” Silent teased. “He’s not even letting her tail go so she can give you a hug,” Coco looked to Dinky with a grin. “Would you mind giving my brother a hug for me, since I can’t right at the moment?” Dinky looked at Filter with anticipation. “Could I give you another hug?” “Sure,” Filter said. He all but caught Dinky, as she flung herself at him. “Hello to you too,” he told her, through a laugh. He picked her up and gave her a hug back. After Dinky and Filter finished their hug, our herd continued on to Mom and Dad’s. Piña knocked on the door and we waited for a couple of moments. Dad opened the door with an uneasy expression on his face. “Dad, is everything all right?” “Satin’s having a bit of a rough time,” Dad said. “Oh no!” Piña glanced through Dad’s legs and looked further into the house. Dad, with a grin, stepped out of the way. “Go on. Satin could use a little T.LC.” “Thank you!” Piña said and dashed inside. “It’s not serious I hope,” Sassy said. “Nothing more than some stomach issues,” Dad assured. “The poor dear,” Rarity said. “Come on in,” Dad told us. “We’ll have to discuss changes to our dinner plans.” Berry, Mom, Muffins, and Summer Rain walked into the room as we all got settled in the den and joined Barrel, Storm Chaser, Thunderlane and Rumble. “How is she doing?” Dad asked. “Still green, but she is fine,” Mom informed everypony. Storm Chaser looked towards the legs of the trio of mares as if expecting somepony smaller to be with them. “Where did the little filly go?” Summer Rain smiled. “She’s glued to Satin, who’s holding her like she was a doll.” She tilted her head and looked thoughtful. “This is going to sound strange, but her being there seemed to help Satin relax and help her stomach calm down a bit.” “Earth pony mare’s magic,” Berry said with conviction. “As soon as we discuss our change in dinner plans, I’ll be right back in there so I can rest against Satin’s back so she can get a double dose.” “If you can pry my son away from her,” Summer Rain said. “I never thought I would see somepony nest worse than Chaser did, but I have now.” Mom looked to Sassy and Silent. “I am sorry you canceled your reservations to join us when it looks like we will be eating in.” “We didn’t do a complete cancelation,” Silent told her. “Friends of ours took our reservation, so it all worked out for everypony involved.” “We might not have to change too much,” Filter said, in a self-conscious way. “The Tasty Treat does carry-out.” Silent studied Filter with an amused expression. “I wondered if you were going to mention that.” Filter did not acknowledge Silent, but blushed. “We don’t know the menu, though,” Sassy said. “He does,” Silent said, poking Filter in the side with a hoof. “He has the thing memorized, from what I can tell.” “I can help ponies pick out something they might like,” Filter offered, looking bashful, as everypony in the room’s full attention went to him. “They have a great raisin and pineapple fried rice that’s light on the stomach too.” Storm Chaser smiled. “I sense an ulterior motive.” “He’s trying to curry favor with a cute curvy curry chef and her cantankerous curmudgeon of a caretaker,” Silent said. Sassy giggled. “Nice alliteration.” Silent gave her a slight bow of his head. “Thank you.” He told all of us, “Filter’s even working on a redesign of their menu.” He turned to Filter and asked, “How’s that going, by the way?” “It's done, but figuring out where to get it printed has become an issue,” Filter told him, looking even more uncomfortable with the scrutiny he was getting. “Do you think they can handle this many orders coming in at once?” Mom asked, smiling. Filter nodded without hesitation. “I know she can.” “There is more than one pony working there,” Silent said. “Or can you only think of her?” he teased. Dad grinned. “I think we have our solution then. I’ll get a pad and a pen, and you can take everyponies’ orders.” Filter smiled. “I’ll be glad to.” As Filter helped ponies decide what to try, Rumble’s and Thunderlane’s, who were sitting with Storm Chaser on the couch, eyes remained on Filter, as he described The Tasty Treat’s various dishes and flavors. “Is that everypony here?” Filter said, after taking the last order in the room. “I think so,” Barrel said. Filter flipped to the next page in the pad. “Let me go get the orders from the back, and I’ll be off.” “We’re going with you!” Rumble blurted, after sharing a brother’s look with Thunderlane. I lifted my hoof. “I’ll go too. I can help carry things back.” “I’d like to go,” Rarity said. “I would hate to miss a chance to see Saffron again.” “Give me your keys,” Silent told Filter, and held out his hoof. Filter stared at him. “What?” “Where did you leave the menu?” Silent asked. Filter seemed to make some connections in his head. “You are not going to my place to get the menu!” “Think about it for a moment. You show up with all these orders, which I’ll mention you helped get for them, and a possible new menu you’ll gain all kinds of brownie points with the old grouch.” Silent gave his hoof a slight shake. “Hoof them over.” Filter hesitated and stared at Silent’s hoof with indecision. “Give him your keys,” Mom said in her authoritarian voice. “When an opportunity comes, seize it.” “Yes, ma’am.” Filter said and gave Mom a smile. ***** “Do you smell that?!” Rumble said, raising his nose in the air like a hound. “I do!” Thunderlane said, and took a sniff of his own. “He pointed a wing to our left and took the corner. “This way.” Filter chuckled, took in a deep sniff, and then let out a happy sigh. “That’s coming from The Tasty Treat alright.” “That is a wonderful smell,” I told him, after taking in the aroma myself. “It smells even better inside,” Rarity said. After taking the turn, we walked a small distance to the restaurant. Silent was standing next to the front door and shaking his head at Rumble and Thunderlane who were gazing into one of the restaurant’s windows. “You two need to tone it down.” Silent kidded them, “You’re going to freak out the guests and you're getting drool on the window.” “He beat us here?” I asked nopony in particular. “He’s quiet and fast, when he wants to be,” Filter said. Silent grinned and pulled an artist’s protective portfolio from his saddlebags. “Here you go.” “Thanks Silent,” Filter said, and tucked the portfolio into his own saddlebags. “Hold still.” Silent made a show of examining Filter and brushing off Filter’s shoulders. “We can’t have you going in there without looking spiffy.” “He looks handsome just as he is,” Rarity said in a supportive tone. Silent opened the door and grinned at Filter. “You’re on big guy.” The smell from the door opening was delicious. When we stepped inside, the pleasant scents of spices, baking bread, and jasmine tea brewing were overwhelming. I was glad to see that the restaurant had patrons but did not have so many that our putting in our orders would have caused them problems. A grinning, younger mare with a light orange coat and emerald green eyes and mane trotted up to Filter. “Welcome back Mister Filter.” She glanced at the rest of us and her smile grew. “Welcome, friends of Mister Filter. How many of you will there be all together?” “We won’t need a table this time, Poppy,” Filter told her. Poppy’s ears fell a touch. “You won’t be staying? Saffron will be disappointed to hear that.” “We were planning on bringing an entire herd of ponies, but things went a bit off,” Filter said, reached into his saddlebags, and took out the pad he had written our orders on. “We would like to place several carry out orders, though.” He offered the pad to Poppy. “I hope that makes up for us not staying.” Poppy took the pad from Filter and read down the first page. Her eyebrows rose as she flipped to the second page and rose even further when she flipped to the third. “These are very detailed orders.” Poppy looked up at Filter and smiled. “I take it you shared one of our menus with them.” “He was our menu,” Silent said. “He helped us make our choices from memorizing the menu he drew up for Saffron, which is in his saddlebags right at the moment.” A mare who seemed to be a family relation to Poppy walked up to our group. “Good evening and welcome to The Tasty Treat. How can I help?” “Aunt Panch, look!” Poppy said and held out the pad to Panch and flipped the pages with our orders on them. “They are going to need help in the kitchen with this many orders.” Panch’s eyebrows rose in a manner very reminiscent of Poppy’s when she saw the orders. “That they will.” She glanced at Filter in a knowing way. “However, it would be poor service for us to not let our guests take a seat and have some naan while we prepare their meals.” “Saffron will want to talk to Mister Filter,” Poppy said, sending a message to her aunt with her eyes and a playful twitch of her ears. “He created a special project for her and has it with him.” Panch smiled warmly. “Please seat our guests, and I tell Saffron about the orders and her special caller.” She paused as she looked at Rumble and Thunderlane, whose eyes were trained on the back of the restaurant as if trying to sneak a glance into the kitchen through the bead curtain at the back of the room. “I sense you two have questions about our cooking.” “We do!” the brothers said in unison. Rumble, blushing, added, “Ma’am.” “They both have a keen interest in the culinary arts,” Rarity said, with a smirk. “Despite him being a Wonderbolt and weatherpony by trade, the meals prepared by Thunderlane are as good as any chef. His brother here, Rumble, is showing a budding talent for cooking himself.” “You’re Thunderlane?!” Poppy asked, as she gave the pegasus another look. “I am,” Thunderlane said, putting on his charm and giving Poppy his Wonderbolt smile. Rumble gave his brother a disbelieving look and a snort. “I didn’t recognize you out of your uniform,” Poppy said, blushing. “I love your shows. I go to them every time I get the chance.” “Poppy, dear,” Panch said in a prompting way. “Right! Sorry.” Poppy said and gestured towards an empty table. “Please sit down and relax. We will bring out some naan for you soon.” We took our seats on cushions arranged at the table, and Panch and Poppy went to the back of the restaurant. Rumble and Thunderlane studied the meals of the ponies around us, making comments between themselves about what they thought was in the dishes and what techniques were used to make them. Some of the ponies whose meals they studied seemed to find their discussion of their choice of meals amusing, others gave them grouchy looks which they ignored in their enthusiasm to study the new dishes. “Getting nervous yet?” Silent asked Filter. “A little,” he admitted. He put a hoof on the pouch with the redesigned menu in it. “I hope she likes it.” “You’ll soon find out,” Rarity whispered to him. She waved at somepony and greeted, in a louder voice, “Saffron, there you are, darling!” A mare carrying a basket of naan and a tray with small bowls with a variety of dipping sauces approached the table. “Rarity, it’s so good to see you!” she said, as she put the naan and sauces on the table. Faster than I would have guessed either of them could move, Rumble and Thunderlane grabbed pieces of naan. Rumble sniffed the bread. “This smells wonderful!” Thunderlane, through a mouthful, said, “Et astes gate ooo!” Rarity rolled her eyes and gave a suffering sigh. Rumble broke off a piece of his naan, and reached it towards a sauce. “Careful, that one is very spicy,” Saffron cautioned. “Try the one to the left,” Filter said. “It doesn’t kick as hard, but it’s got a great flavor.” Saffron paused, as if struck by something. She looked back and forth between Rarity and Filter and asked, “You two know each other?” “We recently met,” Rarity explained. “He is the brother of a dear friend of mine who went with me to attend a wedding yesterday.” She gave Filter a look. “He was one of Princess Celestia’s personal guards for the event too.” Filter blushed and fidgeted, looking like a nervous colt who had been put on the spot. “It was a bit of a surprise, but I was there.” “He was just telling us he had hoped to show you something, if you were not too busy,” Rarity partially fibbed. “I have to admit, I am rather curious about what he designed for you.” The mare’s eyes went to Filter, and she gave him a warm smile. “Filter, I said you didn’t have to do anything for me or the restaurant.” “You told me I didn’t have but I wanted to.” Filter pulled out the portfolio from his saddle bags and then the menu from an oversized folder inside it. Treating the menu as if it were a delicate historical document, he placed it on the table before Saffron. The menu he had created was a functional work of art. Under the name of the restaurant, which was written in beautiful calligraphy near the top of the page, the restaurant's offerings and prices were listed in matching calligraphy in two columns. On its edges, Filter had made a beautiful colored drawing of a desert oasis with a twilight sky that complimented the restaurant’s purple and orange colors. “Filter!” Saffron breathed with shock. “This is gorgeous.” She looked up at him. “How long did you spend on this?” “Spend on what?” Panch asked, as she approached the table with a tray of water glasses suspended in her magic. “By Luna’s stars!” she said, as she looked at the menu. “Your suitor has considerable talent.” Saffron blushed. “Mother!” “So he’s an official suitor now?” Silent asked in a half serious tone. “I had the impression that Coriander did not approve of my buddy.” Panch gave a light snort. “My husband would think one of the princesses was not good enough for our daughter. His heart is the right place, but his head is lodged in his-” “Mother,” Saffron interrupted. “Please consider our guests.” “I am just a guard, so I can understand his concern,” Filter said. “But I want to do whatever I can to help Saffron and The Tasty Treat succeed.” Poppy approached the table, looking concerned. “Uncle wants to know what is...” Her words drifted off, as her eyes lingered on the menu. She looked up to Filter. “You did this?” Filter nodded. “I did,” he acknowledged in a soft tone. “Cousin, if Uncle will not allow you to court him, I think I might have a try at him,” Poppy told Saffron, with a prodding grin. “A handsome and kind stallion with such talents is hard to come by.” Saffron gave Poppy a less than amused look. “I would not approve of that.” Filter’s ears went up and he smiled at Saffron. “Let us return to the kitchen,” Panch said to Poppy. “Let’s see what we can do to distract my husband for a moment or two so they can talk.” Poppy glanced toward Thunderlane and Rumble. “If a Wonderbolt and his brother, who both are friends of Miss Rarity accompanied us to the kitchen, would that be enough to keep his attention?” Panch looked towards the brothers and grinned. “I believe it would be.” Thunderlane and Rumble both jumped to their hooves. “Thank you!” Thunderlane said. “I have so many questions.” “Me too!” Rumble said. “Perfect,” Poppy said, and motioned for Rumble and Thunderlane to follow her. “Visit with your friends,” Panch told Saffron. “We’ll start on the orders and keep your father busy.” “Thank you, Mother,” Saffron said, as Panch and Poppy walked past her. Rarity moved to take Thunderlane’s previous spot, opening a space next to Filter. Filter beamed and blushed as Saffron sat down beside him. “Hello, Saffron.” “Hello, Filter,” Saffron said with a sweet smile. “Poppy told me you were the one who helped get the order together.” “I did,” Filter said. “We were going to come here, but Miss Satin wasn’t feeling well and-” “Miss Satin?!” Saffron interrupted. “You mean Satin Stitching, who is expecting soon?” Filter, looking shocked, answered. “Yes. It was her wedding we went to yesterday.” “Is she okay?” Saffron’s eyes widened. “Is the foal okay?!” “They are both fine, dear,” Rarity said. “Satin was having a bit of… discomfort is all.” Saffron looked relieved. “I’m sorry she is not feeling well, but I’m glad nothing serious happened. Satin and Stormchaser have been regulars of ours for a good while now and we consider them friends.” “Sis has had only wonderful things to say about The Tasty Treat,” I said. “So you’re the brother she has mentioned.” Saffron studied me. “You resemble her a little bit. Mister…?” “Just Pin, please,” I said. “Thanks to Filter, and his knowledge of your menu, Satin’s dinner plans for everypony didn’t have to shift that much.” Saffron smiled, as she looked up to Filter. “She and I have much to thank Filter for this evening.” “There is a slight issue with the menu,” Filter said. “It would be expensive to have them printed with this much coloring and detail. I might have to simplify the design a good bit and maybe even take out the colors to get the cost down.” “That would be such a shame, though,” Saffron said. “How much are we talking about?” “Cousin!” Poppy said, as she hurried to the table. “Thunderlane mentioned Miss Rarity was here, and Uncle is wanting to see her.” “I will have to go then.” Saffron got up from the table. “I need to be helping with the orders too.” “I will accompany you,” Rarity said. “I would like to see Coriander again, and perhaps me going to him would cut down on the possibility of any unpleasantness.” “Too late,” Poppy whispered, and nodded towards a heavy set stallion who had appeared from the kitchen doorway. Saffron sighed. “I am sorry, Filter. I am sure Father is going to make a mule of himself again.” “It’s all right,” he whispered back. “I got to visit with you for a bit, so it’ll be worth it.” As she stood, Saffron sneaked in an endearing bump of her shoulder to Filter’s. “I’ll come out with the meals and to say goodbye,” she promised in a whisper. “Panch could use some help with the orders and our ‘visitors,’ please,” the stallion said to Poppy in a commanding tone, as he approached the table. “Yes, Uncle,” Poppy said, as she and Saffron headed to the kitchen. The stallion’s expression softened, when he looked to Rarity. “Miss Rarity! It is so good to see you again!” “Likewise,” Rarity said with a winsome smile. “I am glad to see The Tasty Treat is still doing well.” Coriander puffed his chest with pride. “My daughter runs a fine restaurant.” His eyes went to Filter and his good humor disappeared. “Have you come to harass my daughter again? If Miss Rarity were not here, I would have words for you.” “Coriander, please don’t use such a tone with my friend,” Rarity implored. “He created something wonderful for the restaurant and was showing it to Saffron,” she said and made a gesture with her hoof towards the menu on the table. Coriander’s harsh gaze dropped from Filter to the menu. A look of surprise came to his face. For a second, he seemed to be impressed by the menu, but his expression firmed again. “This is pretty, but it would cost a fortune to have printed.” His eyes went back to Filter’s. “I thought you promised my daughter to create a new menu, not an art piece.” “I wanted to talk to her about that,” Filter said. “I wanted to-” “You wanted to impress her, but you didn’t think about the business aspects of what you were doing,” Coriander said, cutting Filter off. “That is the problem with you artists. Everything has to be pretty, but you don’t think about how things have to work in the real world.” “I take a bit of umbrage at that statement, since my successful businesses focus on making pretty things,” Rarity said in an even tone. Coriander’s expression softened again, as his attention returned to Rarity. “Miss Rarity, you are an artist, but you make things that meet their purpose too.” He made a rough gesture towards the menu. “This is pretty, but is useless as far as The Tasty Treat is concerned. I have tried to find printers who could help us make a new menu, but the prices are too high to do something like this.” He looked toward Filter with a harsh eye. “If he could help my Daughter with practical matters, such as creating an affordable menu or finding us a supplier of peppers who won’t gouge us like the one we are dealing with now is, I might think better of him.” Filter, for all his brawn and size, looked like a colt who had been scolded and dismissed as he looked towards the table top, and his ears fell. “Miss Rarity, while I would like to visit with you more, I am needed in the kitchen,” Coriander said. He gave her a slight bow. “We will have your order prepared as soon as possible.” “Thank you,” Rarity said. “It was good to see you again.” Coriander turned and all but marched back to the kitchen. “Grouchy, fat, cuss,” Silent growled. “He’s right, though,” Filter said. Using his magic, he turned the menu so it faced him and sighed. “It’s pretty, but it's not utilitarian.” I smiled as a thought came to me. “Not at the price a printer in Canterlot would charge for it. I know a pony you need to talk to about the menu who might be able to help.” Rarity hummed an approving note. “If you are thinking of the same pony I am, I believe he could.” Filter’s spirits seemed to rise a bit. He chuckled and asked, “Would either of you know somepony who grows enough peppers to supply a restaurant?” “I don’t,” Rarity said. “Neither do I, but if there is somepony out there, I know the pony you can talk to to find out,” I said. Filter’s ears perked with curiosity. “Who?” I grinned and told him, “Mom.” ***** “If you lick that plate clean in front of everypony, we are going to have words,” Rarity told Thunderlane, who paused halfway bent towards his plate with his tongue out. “Use the naan to get the last of the sauce up,” Filter suggested with a smirk. “We have to go back,” Rumble said, just beating his brother in snatching one of the last pieces of naan. “We will,” Thunderlane said, as he used the naan to get up every drop of curry sauce still on his plate. Satin giggled. “I take it you liked it.” Rumble, his mouth full, nodded with enthusiasm. “I think he might want to go back to see Poppy again too,” Thunderlane teased. Piña asked, in a touchy tone, “Who’s Poppy?” “Saffron’s cute cousin, who is working at the restaurant with Saffron,” Silent said in a manner that seemed aimed to goad things on. “She gave him and me some cooking tips,” Thunderlane explained. “She didn’t pay me as much attention as she did him, though,” he added with a grin. “Oh, so she was spicing things up in the kitchen with him.” Sassy gave Rumble a teasing smile. “I bet he turned wonderful colors.” “That’s not what happened!” Rumble protested. “Poppy and Saffron andSaffron’s Mom and Dad were being nice to us.” Silent’s expression soured. “Speaking of that bloated pustule, I can’t believe how he acted towards you,” he told Filter. “You went through all that trouble to make the restaurant a menu, and he couldn’t even be civil.” “You made them a menu?” Dad asked. “It didn’t work out, though,” Filter said, sounding dejected. “Can we see?” Coco asked. Filter looked towards the kitchen door, started to get up, and then hesitated. “Please,” Dinky said, giving Filter puppy eyes. “You can’t say no to that face,” Silent teased. “You would be a monster.” “I would like to see it too,” Mom said. “All in favor,” Summer Rain said and raised her hoof. “Aye!” we all voted and raised our hooves. Filter laughed and finished standing up. “I can’t argue with that can I?” “Nope,” Barrel said with a chuckle. Using my magic, I levitated Filter’s dishes from the table and, using clean cloths, wiped down and then dried his section of the table to make sure nothing would get on the menu. “He feels really bad about the menu,” Dinky said, her ears angled down. “Saffron, Panch, and Poppy liked it, but he’s been trying to get in good with Saffron’s dad so their courtship can officially begin,” Silent told her. “Coriander seems to think Filter is an artist in guard’s armor and as soon as his time with guard is up that he won’t be able to help Saffron with The Tasty Treat in any meaningful way.” “That’s so mean!” Piña said. “Yes, and no,” Pinch said. “He’s trying to make sure that Saffron, and her business, are safe. He could do a nicer job of doing it, though.” She looked to Silent. “Have Saffron’s dad and Filter sat down and talked?” Silent shook his head. “I think Saffron floated the idea, but Coriander didn’t take her up on it.” “Very poor judgment,” Mom said, her expression serious. “You never know what kinds of connections can be made with a pony, if you do not learn about them and talk with them.” I grinned as I recognized the look on Mom’s face. She’s about to get in the zone, I thought to myself. Dad and I met eyes and he smiled and nodded in a silent signal that he must have had a similar thought. “Coriander issued a challenge to Filter about a problem The Tasty Treat was having,” I told Mom, as I began gathering ponies’ finished plates. “I suggested that he talk to you about it, since it concerns making business connections.” Mom all but purred, “This could prove an interesting project.” Filter stepped back into the kitchen, the protective folder held in his magic, and halted as everypony looked at him with expressions of anticipation. “Why are you giving me those looks?” “We have been discussing your conundrum,” Mom said. She waved a hoof toward the clean portion of the table. “I would very much like to see your work now.” “Yes ma’am,” Filter said. He took the menu from the folder and placed it on the table. I stayed back, as the ponies who had not seen the menu gathered around Filter. “I can’t see!” Dinky said, hopping up and down and trying to get a glimpse of the table top. Filter smiled, caught Dinky in mid hop with his magic, and put her on his back. “Better?” he asked, glancing back towards her. “Yes! Thank you,” Dinky said, as she hugged Filter’s neck and leaned so she could see the menu. “Wow!” “It’s great,” Muffins said. “How could he not like it?” “It’s too complex to print without it being expensive,” Filter said. “He is right,” Mom said, while she examined the menu. “It is beautiful, but would not be cost effective to print as it is. That does not excuse his poor demeanor toward you, though.” She glanced up at Filter. “Do you have a simpler version? Perhaps even a draft?” Filter nodded. “I do.” “Good,” Mom said. “Do you hold onto the wedding invitation for Satin and Stormbreaker’s wedding?” Filter’s ears went up and he grinned. “I did! I really liked the design. You want me to mimic that style working from the draft?” Mom nodded. “Davenport, who is the pony I would recommend you contact, gave us a good price on printing the invitations. If you simplified the menu’s design to something akin to the level of detail of the invitations, I am sure he would give a reasonable quote you could take to Saffron and her father.” “I can do that,” Filter said. “Silent mentioned that you were challenged by Coriander.” Mom all but commanded, “Tell me what the challenge was.” “The Tasty Treat is getting put over a barrel on the price of peppers they need,” Filter told her. “Coriander said that if I could help with that he might think a little better of me.” “Hmmmm… peppers.” Mom closed her eyes, appearing to focus inward on something. “Peppers, peppers, peppers,” she chanted to herself. Filter looked to Dad with concern. Dad waved his hoof dismissively. “Don’t worry. She does this when she’s putting her full concentration on something. She’ll come around, if you give her some-” Mom’s eyes shot open. “Lemon Hearts was in a band, and may still be, with a mare named Pepper Dance.” “She’s still in the band,” Satin confirmed. “So is Pepper.” “Pepper’s family specializes in growing several varieties of peppers, and their farm is not too far from Canterlot,” Mom told Filter. “Talk to Lemon Hearts first, she will put you in contact with Pepper.” Filter grinned. “You’re amazing! Thank you so much.” “Give her a hug,” Dinky said, in a whisper loud enough for all in the room to hear. Filter turned his head towards Dinky. “Her husband might object to that.” Dad snorted. “No objection here. Hug away.” Keeping three hooves on the ground, and not upsetting Dinky’s balance on his back, Filter hugged Mom with one foreleg. “Thank you.” “You are welcome,” Mom said, and returned the hug.