//------------------------------// // Chapter 33 // Story: Pinning the Heart // by Random_User //------------------------------// Chapter 33 Hearing whispers and the working of a camera’s shutter, I floated toward consciousness. A hoof touched my shoulder, and a mature feminine voice whispered, “Hello, strange stallion in my daughter’s room.” I lifted my head from the comforter on Coco’s bed and turned toward the source of the voice. A later middle aged mare smiled at me and asked, ““Would you like some breakfast?” Though I had never met her, I felt I had seen the mare before. The mare put her hoof to her mouth in a signal for me to be quiet and then motioned for me to follow her. I glanced at Coco, who was still asleep. The mare patted my shoulder with her hoof. When I looked at her again, the mare whispered, “We’ll make breakfast for her too.” I eased away from Coco’s bed and followed the mare. At Coco’s bedroom door stood a pegasus stallion who was holding a professional grade camera. He grinned at me and patted the top of his camera with a hoof as if to tell me he had gotten the shot he wanted. He stepped from the doorway and allowed the mare and me to pass. As we stepped into the den, and the pegasus stallion asked, “Coffee or tea?” “Coffee, please,” I said, and looked back at him. “Hash browns or hay bacon?” The mare in front of me asked. “Hash browns, please.” I said, as we stepped into the kitchen, “I’d be glad to help cook.” “While it’s kind of you to offer, you will do no such thing,” the mare said. “Please, take a seat at the table.” I sat at the table as invited. The stallion began making coffee as the mare inspected the contents of the refrigerator. “I believe introductions are in order,” the mare said. “I’m Dramatic Flare, and this is my husband, Best Light.” “It’s a pleasure to meet you both,” I said. “My name is Royal Pin.” “How’s your back?” Light asked. “You didn’t look to be in the most comfortable position, when we found you.” When he mentioned it, I became aware my back and shoulders had a dull ache to them. “I’m fine, just a little stiff.” I rolled my shoulders and told Light, “Thank you for asking.” Presence gave me a teasing smile and a curious look. “Now that the pleasantries are over, I would like to know how you ended up sleeping on the edge of my daughter’s bed.” “I received a royal summons. I was to come and take care of Coco, who had caught something bad and needed tending after. I had been taking care of her, and fell asleep on the side of her bed.” Light stared at me. “Are you joking?” “No, sir,” I answered. “The summons is in my saddle bags.” “I’d like to see it, if you wouldn’t mind,” Light said. “It’s not that I don’t trust you, but, as a parent, I would like to see any royal letter regarding my daughter.” “I’ll get it right now,” I said. I got up, but Presence motioned to remain seated. “We can look at the summons later. How is she doing? If a princess asked you to come, she must be having a rough time of it.” “She is doing better. The medicine and ointment I brought from Ponyville’s alchemist have helped her sneeze and dropped her fever a little.” “Poor Coco,” Presence sighed. “She rarely gets sick, but when she does she gets very sick. I’m glad you’re here to help.” “So am I,” I told her. Light walked towards the table and set a mug of coffee down. “Here you go.” “Thanks.” I paused, when I noticed Light’s eyes. “What?” he asked. “You have the same color eyes as Coco,” I told him. Light grinned. “I think it’s the other way around.” “True,” I agreed. “Thankfully, for her sake, Coco takes after her mother in the looks department, as far as everything else goes.” Presence pointed a spoon at Light and shook it in disapproval. “Light, don’t say such things. You are a very handsome stallion.” Light chuckled. “Thanks, but I don’t think Coco would have appreciated being ‘handsome’ as her father when she could have been as beautiful as her mother.” I looked at Presence again and realized why she seemed familiar. “You’re the mare on stage in the pictures in the den.” Presence smiled and struck a regal actor’s pose without seeming to be aware she was doing so. “I am.” “And she’s just as gorgeous now as she is in those photos, don’t you think?” Light asked me with a wink. “She is,” I responded. Presence snorted. “I have gray hairs in my mane and I couldn’t fit into one of those dresses again if my life depended on it.” “That does not mean you're not still gorgeous,” Light told her. “You just have more experience in life that gives you a refined beauty.” Presence touched her head to Light’s. “Only you could make aging seem appealing.” “You’re the one who makes it look good,” Light told her. “I just take the photos.” Light gave Presence a quick kiss on the nose and then looked at me. “Speaking of appealing to others, you’ve been dating our daughter for a while now,” Light said. “Just how serious are you two?” “Very,” I assured him. “We have completed our courtship and are now in our trial period.” Light seemed confused. “You what and you’re in your what now?” Presence laughed. “I’ll explain later.” She regarded me with a raised eyebrow. “While she was in Ponyville, she was living with you, right?” Oh, crab apples,, I thought. “She was,” I told Presence. “She still has a room at my place.” Presence gave me an interrogator's smile. “How did living with her work out?” “Great,” I said without thought. “Better than great, really. At least from my perspective it did.” “From what she’s told me, it was nice for her too.” “Just so you know, I get to be the photographer for the wedding,” Light said. “There will be a wedding, right? If you’re planning on eloping, I will be very unhappy with both of you.” I did my best to stay calm as I told him, “Actually, I’m glad you’re both here so I could talk to you about that.” “So you’re going about this the old fashioned Canterlotian way?” Presence asked with an approving smile. “I am.” I glanced toward the kitchen door and listened for a second, to make sure Coco had not come out of her room. After determining we would not be overheard, I turned back to Presence and Light. “I would like to ask your daughter for her hoof in marriage,” I said to both of them. “May I have your blessing to do so?” “With manners like that, how could we say no?” Light said. “Let’s not be too hasty, dear,” Presence crossed her forelegs over her chest and acted uncertain. “We need to vet him to make sure he’s right for our daughter.” “He came all this way to help her feel better,” Light said. “There aren’t that many stallions who would fall asleep on the edge of her bed while taking care of her either.” “True, but a royal summons compelled him to be here.” Presence gave Light a mock unconvinced look. “We’ll never be sure if he would have taken care of our daughter of his own volition or not.” Before I could say anything, Light pointed out, “He’s gotten Filter’s approval. You know how protective he is of Coco.” “That goes in his favor, but Pin might have undue influence over Filter, since he’s been helping our son pursue that mare he’s enamored with.” Presence put a hoof to her cheek, tilted her head, and acted even more uncertain as she looked at me. “If only there was a way we could test to see if he loves her.” “Somepony already has,” I said. Presence blinked in surprise, breaking her act. “What?” “Coco and I took part in a study which all but proves I love her and that she loves me,” I said and grinned. “The study’s findings are in a report that is on your coffee table right now.” “I wondered what that was,” Light said. “Seeing those results would go a long way to-” Presence stopped herself in mid sentence and smiled at something behind me. “Good morning.” I turned to see Coco standing in the kitchen’s doorway and staring at Presence and Light. “Mom?! Dad?!” Coco said. “You’re here?!” “Why the surprise?” Presence said. “We wrote to you telling you we were coming.” “I’ve been sick, and haven’t been checking the mail like I should.” Coco gave a sneeze into a tissue and then sniffed. “I’m sorry.” “Pin told us you haven’t been feeling well,” Light said. “My poor little girl. Your nose is all pink.” As if prompted by Light’s observation, Coco gave a sniff. “It’s doing better. It was red yesterday, before Pin brought me the ointment.” “We saw the potion, the ointment, and the tissues on the table, and you were still in bed when we came in, so we figured you weren’t feeling well,” Presence said. “We were trying to figure out whose saddlebags were in the den too. When we peeked in on you, we found Pin asleep on the edge of your bed and answered our own question.” “Pin, you didn’t have to stay with me like that,” Coco said to me. “I didn’t plan to, but I fell asleep right where I was.” “I got a couple of wonderful photos of you two,” Light said. “I can’t wait to see- Achoo!” Coco gave another sneeze into her tissue. “Let me go get the ointment,” I told her. “Stay where you are, I’ll go get it and the potion,” Light said. On the way out of the room, he paused and gave Coco a full wing hug. “We missed you.” “I missed you too.” Coco hugged her father back. “We can’t hug for too long. I don’t want to get you sick.” “It’s fine,” Light assured Coco. “I’m old, but I’m tough.” “You’re not old, Dad,” Coco said. Light gave her a grin. “Well weathered?” Coco giggled. “That’s better.” Light let go of Coco and continued into the den. Coco sat down at the table beside me, and I put my hoof to her forehead. “You still have a slight fever.” “I’m feeling a lot better, though,” Coco said. “Whether or not you’re feeling better, after breakfast, you’re going right to the couch or to bed,” Presence told Coco. “I’ll sit with you in the den,” Coco said. “I want to hear about your trip.” “We’ll tell you about our trip after you and Pin tell us about the study you two were part of,” Light said, as he stepped back into the kitchen. “It sounds very intriguing.” “We’ll be happy to tell you about it.” Coco looked at me as if seeking confirmation for what she had said. “Of course we would,” I said. “How long are you going to be here?” Presence asked me. “Three more days,” I answered. “I will need to get back to my shop, after that.” “Good!” Light said, as he stepped back into the room. “Presence and I are going to be busy catching up with things at the office for the next few days. Since you’re here, we won’t have to worry about whether Coco is resting and taking care of herself.” Light gave me the jar of ointment and put the potion on the table. “Thank you,” I told him. “We can also learn more about each other, while you’re here,” Presence said. “Going by what Coco has told us about you, I think we are going to be part of each other’s lives for the foreseeable future.” I opened the jar of ointment, took a dollop of the medicine on my hoof, and then applied it to Coco’s nose with gentle rubs. “I hope so.” ***** “Ready?” I asked the foals. Noi grinned and nodded. “Ready!” I smiled, turned to Muffins’ and Turner’s front door and knocked. We did not have to wait long for Muffins to open the door. “Pin?” She looked past me to the foals. “The training trio and the research partners too?” She gave me a curious look. “What are you ponies up to? I thought we were getting together later.” “We were wondering if Dinky was available to help us greet somepony at the station,” I told her. “If you and Turner would like to come along, we’d be happy to have you.” “Turner’s working on the town square’s clock right now, or I’m sure he would come.” Muffins raised an eyebrow. “Dinky hasn’t said a word about meeting anypony today. I take it this is going to be a surprise for her.” “That was the plan,” I told Muffins. Muffins smiled. “Let me go get her, and we’ll head right on out.” “This is going to be great!” Piña said. “I hope so,” Kevin said, sounding nervous. “It’ll be fine,” Rumble assured him. “You’ve been around Pinch too much,” Noi teased. “Now you’re both worrywarts.” Pinch and Kevin both gave Noi annoyed looks. Dinky trotted out the door; followed by Muffins, who took a moment to lock the door behind her. Dinky asked Piña, “Who are we going to go meet?” “We can’t say,” Piña told her. “Uncle Pin made us promise.” Dinky looked up at me with curious eyes. “The only hint I’ll give you is that it’s somepony you know,” I told Dinky. Dinky’s ears perked up. “Miss Coco?” “You can tell it’s not Coco,” Pinch said. “His tail isn't wagging.” Dinky giggled. “True.” “Let’s go!” Piña urged. “We’re going to be late, if we don’t get trotting.” The foals led Muffins and me to the station. We stepped onto the platform at the same time the train came into view. “Perfect timing,” Rumble said. Dinky pranced in place. “Seriously, none of you are going to tell me who it is?” she said. Piña grinned. “And miss getting this cute of a reaction out of you? Not a chance.” Kevin chuckled, but smothered his laughter when Dinky looked at him. “Don’t act innocent,” Dinky told Kevin, giving him a less than serious glare. “I can tell you’re enjoying it too.” “I can’t help it,” Kevin said. “Your anticipation is great.” He looked around to make sure nopony was paying attention and told her in a quiet tone, “It’s got a fizzy taste to it.” The train came to a stop and ponies filed out from it onto the platform. Rumble took to the air and scanned the platform. “I don’t see- Wait, there he is!” He waved and called out, “We’re over here!” A stallion called over the noise of the thinning crowd, “Hey, Rumble! It’s good to see you!” “Mister Filter!” Dinky said with glee. She ran towards Filter, weaving through the remaining ponies on the platform in her haste. “Whoa!” Kevin sat down on his haunches as if pushed back by Dinky’s enthusiasm. He grinned and said, “She’s really excited.” Muffin’s laughed. “You should have been there when she and Turner got her device working. I couldn’t tell which of them was more thrilled over it, but they bounced around the house for the longest time.” Kevin’s joviality evaporated as Dinky led Filter over to us. “You know most of us already,” Dinky said to Filter. “The two new ponies are Noi, our other training partner, and Kevin, our other research partner,” she introduced, nodding to Noi and then to Kevin as she named them. “Hello, Mister Filter,” Noi greeted. “Dinky’s told us a lot about you.” “It’s nice to meet you,” Filter said. “She’s told me a lot about you too.” When Filter’s attention went to him, Kevin got to his hooves and shuffled closer to Pinch. “Hello,” Filter said. “Hello,” Kevin said in a meek tone. “Don’t be scared,” Dinky told Kevin. “He’s big, but he’s real nice.” The other foals shifted closer to Kevin as if ready to intervene. “You’re Princess Twilight’s and Spike’s assistant librarian right?” Filter asked. Kevin nodded, “That’s right, Sir.” “Just Filter, please.” He held out a hoof and smiled. “Dinky’s told me you’ve been helping with all kinds of research too.” Kevin smiled back and shook hooves with Filter. “I’ve been doing my best.” The foals relaxed, and Pinch let out a relieved breath. Filter grinned at her. “What?” Pinch blushed and glanced away. “That went better than I thought it would, to be honest.” “If all of you say he's a good pony, then he’s a good pony to me too,” Filter told her. He looked at Kevin with a searching expression. “Did you think I was going to be nasty to you or something?” “Not too much, since everypony has said good things about you, but…,” Kevin said. Filter raised an eyebrow. “But?” Kevin swallowed. “I thought, since you were in Canterlot during the event, you might-” Filter held up his hoof. “Stop right there.” He looked around and then leaned close to Kevin. “You’re not planning on gluing me to a wall with green stuff are you?” he asked with a grin. Kevin smiled and shook his head. Filter patted Kevin on the shoulder with a hoof. “Then everything is going to be just fine.” The last of the tension in the foals disappeared. “Next stop Uncle Pin’s!” Piña declared. “Then we can go to Mister Davenport’s to help pick up the menus, and then we can get ready for the party!” “You coming with us, Mom?” Dinky asked Muffins. “I wish I could go with you, but I’ve got an afternoon route today instead of a morning route today. Remember?” Dinky slapped a hoof to her forehead. “I can’t believe I forgot. That’s why you couldn’t help-” “I’m sure Amethyst will do just as good a job as I would,” Muffins said, interrupting Dinky gently.” Muffins grinned at Filter. “Welcome to Ponyville. Don’t let all the looks you’re going to get bother you too much.” Muffins hugged Dinky. “You take care, behave, and have fun.” “I will,” Dinky gave Muffins a hug back. Muffins let go of Dinky, took a few steps from us, and then flew off in the direction of the post office. Filter looked at me. “What did she mean, ‘looks you’re going to get?’ ” Piña and Noi looked at each other and giggled. “Ponyville doesn’t have that many stallions,” Rumble said. “Unicorn stallions are pretty rare here too,” Pinch added. “Oh.” He shrugged. “I’m sure I won’t get that much attention.” ***** It was hard for me to get the key in the shop’s door, I was chuckling so much. “Quit laughing and get that open,” Filter said, as he glanced over his shoulder as if worried about being pursued. “We tried to warn you,” Pinch said. “Yes, you did,” Filter said. I opened the door and waved everypony to move inside. “I might have you try on a suit and stand so ponies can see you through the windows. It would be great free advertising.” “Ha, ha,” Filter said, as he went past me. “Let’s wait here, since they’re going to be coming right back down,” Rumble suggested to the other foals. I told the foals, “You’re more than welcome to come on up with us.” Noi shook her head. “Thanks, but we’re good here.” “Dinky might not want to let her guard out of sight for too long, though,” Piña teased. “He’s not my guard!” Dinky protested. “He isn’t?” Noi said. She turned to Kevin and asked, “How excited to see him was she again?” Kevin smiled. “Pretty excited.” Dinky looked at Kevin with surprise. “Not you too!” “Play nice,” I said, fighting the urge to grin. “We’ll be right back down.” As I stepped into the shop and shut the door Filter asked, “What was that about?” “Foals being foals. I’ve got you set up in Coco’s room. Let me show you where it is.” “Coco’s room?” One of Filter’s ears angled out. “She has a room?” “She does.” “Oh. I thought you two were sharing.” “We keep separate rooms so if I stay up working on a project or she’s reading or whatever it is we’re doing we don’t disturb each other when we decide to go to bed,” I told him as he followed me up the stairs and into the apartment. “That’s practical.” I opened the door to Coco’s room for him. “Here you are.” “Thank you.” Filter walked into the room and put his saddlebags on top of the dresser. He looked around at the decorations and theater production posters Coco had put up and smiled. “This is her room all right.” “I realize she set it up a lot like her room in Manehatten now,” I said. Filter looked to the right of where he put his saddlebags and picked up one of the two pictures that was on the dresser. He smiled and touched the glass with a hoof. “She looks so happy with everypony here.” “That’s one of my favorite photos of all of us. That’s the night of Twilight’s Celebration.” He put the first photo down and picked up the second. “That’s my favorite,” I told him. “That’s the night we all braided each other’s manes.” “You gave her the heart’s desire that night,” Filter said, as he put the picture down. “She wrote to me about that.” His tone held a contemplative note to it. For a second, I wondered if I had irritated or worried him. Filter, seeming to pick up on my concern, grinned disarmingly. “We’ll talk about Coco after we get back from Davenport’s. The foals are waiting on us.” Filter and I went back downstairs and met up with the foals outside the shop. As I locked the door, Noi asked Filter, “Do you think they look good?” “Did what look good?” Filter said. “The expansions,” Noi said. “I didn’t have time to look,” Filter told her. “We went in, Pin showed me my room, I dropped my stuff off, and we came back down.” The foals all gave me a disappointed look. “I’ll make sure he sees them this afternoon, so you can talk to him about them later,” I promised. Filter gave me a curious look but did not ask any questions. Our herd made our way to Quills and Sofas. I held the door, as everypony else entered the shop. I heard Davenport great the others: “Well hello! I would ask if you were looking for quills or a sofa, but I have a feeling something else brought you.” I stepped in as Filter responded, “I’m Light Filter and I’m here for the menus you printed for the Tasty Treat.” Davenport beamed at Filter. “Of course! Pin told me you would come in today.” He gestured toward a trio of love seats that were arranged around a coffee table. “Please have a seat, and I’ll be right up with the menus.” Dinky sat between me and Filter on one of the love seats, and the other foals fit themselves on the larger of the other two. “I can’t wait to see what you did to change the menus for her,” Dinky said to Filter. “I hope they turned out all right,” Filter said, sounding nervous. “I have never seen Davenport turn out anything less than an impressive job, so don’t worry,” I told him. “Have you gotten to take Miss Saffron out yet?” Piña asked. Filter smiled and nodded. “I have.” There was a long pause, during which Noi, Piña, and Pinch stared at Filter with impatience. “And?!” Noi prompted, after a few seconds past. “It was very nice,” Filter said. There was another pause. While Filter’s expression was stoic, I thought I caught a hint of a smile. “He’s worse than Uncle Pin,” Pinch muttered. “It’s gotta be something they learned in Canterlot.” “Dinks, a little help here,” Noi said and gestured towards Filter with a hoof. Dinky nodded, turned to Filter, hugged his side, and looked up at him with puppy eyes. “Mister Filter, please tell us more about how things went.” “Wow, she’s giving you the full treatment,” I said. “That’s not even fair,” Filter told Dinky. Piña grinned. “She’s our secret weapon when we want to know something.” “I can see why.” Filter chuckled, looked back to Dinky, and told her, “We had a very nice breakfast at a quiet cafe that morning.” “Breakfast for a date?” Kevin said. “She runs her own restaurant, so lunch and dinner were out,” Filter explained. “That’s right,” Kevin said, looking embarrassed. “I should have thought about that.” “I didn’t think about it before I asked her out either, to tell the truth,” Filter said. “Saffron was the one who changed the plan from dinner to breakfast, after I asked her out.” “How did you get her past that meanie of a dad of hers?” Piña said. Filter grinned. “We walked past him, thanks to me helping them with their pepper problem. Her dad’s protective, but he’s not a bad guy.” Pinch asked, “What did you do after that?” “We walked around Canterlot for a while and talked.” “Where did you go?” Rumble asked. “We went through one of the botanical gardens and around downtown.” Dinky let go of Filter and gave him a wistful smile. “That sounds so romantic.” “I’m not sure how romantic it was. It was more...” Filter thought for a second. “Comfortable? Relaxing? I don’t think I have the right word for what it was.” “Perfect,” Pinch said in a tone that was almost a purr. “You’re easing into becoming better friends before you try to be romantic with her.” Piña giggled. “Like you and Kevin did?” Pinch blushed and gave her aunt a dirty look. Kevin leaned against Pinch’s side and touched his head to hers. “It worked for Pinch and me. It should work with them too.” Filter’s mouth fell open. “Wait.” He pointed a hoof at Kevin and then at Pinch. “You mean...” Kevin blushed and nodded. “I guess that means that you’re adjusting to living in Ponyville well,” Filter said. “Here we go!” Davenport trotted toward us from the back of the shop. He placed a large box and a folder on the coffee table. “Here are menus,” he said and patted the box with a hoof. “In the folder there is a sample menu for you to inspect, in case you don’t want to unseal the box for transport, and your invoice. I assure you, all the menus in the box are the same quality print as the one in the folder.” The foals leaned forward, their attention focused on the folder. “Open it,” Dinky whispered and gave Filter a nudge. Filter, with a cautious hoof, took the sample menu from the folder and put it on the table for everypony to see. The menu’s design was altered from the original to have an almost woodcut style appearance. The colors and the detailed embellishments had been removed from the previous version, but the new menu was a work of art of its own. “You did it again, Davenport,” I said, looking up from the menu. Davenport gave me a slight bow. “Thank you, but I can’t take all the credit. I had an inspired piece to work from.” “That looks great!” Pinch looked up at Filter. “I think it’s as good as the first one.” Filter’s eyes remained on the menu. He did not speak, but his smile conveyed he was ecstatic about how the menu had turned out. “Please see if the back is to your liking too,” Davenport said. Filter turned the menu over and his smile broadened. “This is perfect.” “You’re in the Royal Guard right now aren’t you?” Davenport asked. Filter looked up from the menu. “I am.” “You have any plans about what you’re going to do after you get out?” Davenport asked Filter. Filter’s eyes got an uncertain look to them. “Not really.” “If that’s the case, would you consider working with me to do some freelance work? I know of some ponies who could use your skills to update their business fliers and materials. I’m sure if I show them this menu and a couple of examples of other work you’ve done we could drum up enough business to keep you busy for a while.” “I’ll…” Filter paused and then nodded as if unsure. “I’ll think about it.” Dinky hugged Filter’s foreleg and looked up at him. “You could do it.” Filter smiled at Dinky. “Thanks.” A pair of ponies walked into Davenport’s store and began pursuing the store’s selection of sofas together. “Looks like I have to go,” Davenport said. “Thanks for letting me help with the project. I am sure your friend is going to like the menus.” “I’m sure she will too,” Filter said. Davenport shook hooves with Filter. “Think about what I said. You don’t have to get back to me right away.” Davenport nodded to us and went to take care of his customers. “Let’s get the menus back to my place,” I said. “With all the shenanigans that happen around town, I think it would be better for us to be safe rather than sorry.” “You need to let go of Mister Filter so he can move,” Rumble teased Dinky. Dinky looked at where her forelegs Filter’s leg and blushed. “Sorry!” she said and let him go. “You’re fine,” Filter told her. He stood, helped Dinky off the sofa, and then levitated the box of menus to his back. “I’ll hold on to the folder for you,” I said and picked up the folder. “Thanks.” We left the store and turned to head back to my shop. We had not gone far, when somepony called, “So you’re the ‘giant unicorn’ everypony’s talking about.” “Hey Sis!” Dinky said and waved a hoof. “It didn’t take you long to find him,” Amethyst teased, as she walked up to us. Dinky raised her nose in the air. “I didn’t have to find him. They invited me to be part of the Greeting Committee.” “Speaking of greetings, you rascals ready to come help me and mom get the you-know-whats ready?” “Sure!” Piña and Pinch said together. Rumble grinned and nodded, looking more excited than I had seen him in a while. Noi bumped her shoulder to Rumble’s and told Amethyst, “Somepony’s been talking about getting to help all week.” “I wonder who that could have been,” Amethyst said. She waved to Filter, as she led the foals away. “It was nice to see you again.” “Likewise!” Filter said and waved back. After the foals were out of earshot, he said, “Now I understand what Coco meant when she said the foals are something in a group.” I smiled. “They are.” “She adores them,” Filter said, as if leading me into a topic. Not knowing where he wanted the conversation to go, I responded, “It’s hard not to.” As Filter and I walked back to my shop, he would look at me as if inspecting me or looking for an insight. After we made our way through the shop and up into my apartment, I asked Filter, “We need to talk, don’t we?” “We do,” Filter confirmed. “Would coffee or tea go better with the conversation?” Filter chuckled. “Coco was right, you can’t sit down to talk with anypony without a hot cup of something.” “It’s a family thing I picked up,” I said. “Tea, please.” Filter continued on toward the guest room. “Let me go put these in a safe spot, and then we’ll talk.” I wonder where this is going to go, I thought to myself, as I walked into the kitchen. He’s got something on his mind he wants to talk to me about. I put the kettle on and grabbed a cup for Filter. The sound of Filter’s hoof steps approached. “Thanks for the escort to Davenport’s,” he said, as he entered the room. “I can’t take all the credit, the foals helped,” I said, trying to keep things light. Filter gave a lighthearted snort. “They did.” “Have a seat,” I said and took a seat at the table. “We can talk while we wait for the water to boil.” After he sat down, I was struck again by how big Filter was. I had to look up to meet his eyes like I would have for Big McIntosh. While McIntosh had a sturdier build, Filter was an imposing figure in his own right. “Mom and Dad wrote to me you went to Manehatten to take care of Coco,” he said. “I did. I took her medicine from Ponyville’s alchemist and did my best to make her feel better for a few days.” “They also said you asked for their approval to marry Coco, while you were there.” Now I know where this is going, I thought to myself. “I did, but I never got an answer. They were joking around with me about their thoughts on the subject and we got interrupted.” “I think they realized that after you left. They’ve asked me my opinion about you.” “And your opinion is?” Filter grinned. “Mostly favorable.” I smiled and snorted at his jesting tone. “Did you tell your parents about you coming?” “Yes, but not about the specifics of the trip or how long I was going to stay. I was planning to send them a follow-up letter after I got back to Canterlot.” “Good. When you write to them, you can tell them about what we’re up to.” “I’m going to need enough details about you and yours plans to send to them to make sure you and Coco don’t have to sneak off and get married in Los Pegasus. Dad’s always told Coco and me that if either of us pulled something like that, and he couldn’t be the photographer for our weddings, he’d disown us.” The kettle whistled. “He told me the same thing.” I got up and took the kettle off the stove. “Should I start with the personal plans or the professional plans?” I asked, as I prepared the tea. “Personal.” I motioned him to follow me. I led him to the new door that stood in the corner of the kitchen. “This is the second story room of the expansion,” I told him and opened the door. We stepped into the room and Filter glanced around. “We lost some counter space and a few cabinets, but I think it was worth it.” “The room looks nice.” He glanced around. “It’s empty, though.” “I had an idea what this room, but now I’m not so sure since it’s right next to the kitchen. I want to get Coco’s opinion, before I do anything.” “A foal’s room would be better closer to the bedrooms,” Filter said. It took me a second to get over my surprise at his statement and how casual a tone he used when he said it. “So Coco told you about our discussion about foals.” “She did. When she was with Suri, she thought there would never be a possibility for foals in her life. That you were open to having them meant a lot to her.” He gave me an approving look. “After seeing you two around the foals, I think you two would make great parents.” “Thank you,” I said, flattered by the sincerity of his words. “I’m sure my Dad’s first question would be, ‘And how do you plan to provide for your prospective family?’,” Filter said, doing a good impersonation of his Dad’s voice and demeanor. I laughed. “Let me show you the other part of the expansion. It will help answer that question.” “All right,” Filter said, as I led him out of the room and downstairs. “As it was, the workroom was adequate, but Coco and I almost tripped over each other several times.” I nodded to the back of the workshop, where there were still dust cloths hung up to shield the older part of the workroom from the newer section. “The new space is ready, but the specialty features aren’t finished. After they’re done, I can put some things in place. Before I did too much, though, I wanted Coco’s feedback on how she would like to have things arranged.” Filter and I parted the dust cloths and stepped into the new section of the workroom. “Very nice!” Filter said. “Built in cloth racks and storage, work counters with cabinets underneath, and…” He trailed off and stepped towards the quintet of mare styled ponyquins in the corner. “You got mare ponyquins.” I met eyes with Filter. “Like I said in my letter, I want this to be our shop, so she can thrive and be happy. Coco has refused every offer I have made her to display her dresses because she feels that she’s my employee and it would be wrong for her to display her works in my shop.” Filter studied me for a moment. “You don’t think she would be happy helping run the business as it is?” “Maybe she would, but she could do so much more. The dress that she designed for the Celebration was inspired. The bride’s maid dress she made to wear to Satin’s wedding was beautiful. The touches she has added to my patterns have brought them up to a new level. She has the talent to make a name for herself, and I want to help her do that.” “What if you tell her that and she says she’s happy with the way things are?” “I don’t want to put pressure on her to do anything, but I want to give her the option to. I hope I can be the supporting trellis she can depend on so she can grow and bloom to her fullest in whatever she chooses or tries.” Filter chuckled. “If I write what you just said to Mom, you’re definitely getting brownie points with her. She loves metaphors like that.” My doubts chose that moment to haunt me. I looked toward the three ponyquins and swallowed. “The one thing that I’m concerned with about asking Coco to marry me is that I’ll cause her to trap herself in a box that’s too small for her abilities or I won’t be able to provide a strong enough base for her to-” I stopped speaking, as Filter put a hoof on my shoulder. “You have nothing to worry about. Coco’s a strong mare. Having you and the shop to fall back on will give her all the support she could ever need.” He looked around the room and smiled. “If this is phase one, I can’t wait to see what you two come up with for phase two.” “Remember, phase two is contingent on if she agrees to marry me and if she agrees to the business proposal.” Filter laughed. “With that first ‘if’ the only thing you have to worry about is that she asks you first and ruins the surprise.” “That’s a good problem to have, I guess. You think she would?” “I swore a brother to sister oath of secrecy to her on that one, so I cannot say.” I smiled with gleeful relief. “Having a sister myself, I understand. What about the second part?” Filter hesitated, and his ears fell a bit. “Coco has some confidence issues. She’s always avoided being in the spotlight herself and worked to support others.” “She could do it,” I told him with certainty. “I know she can.” Filter gave my shoulder a shake. “One of the many reasons I’ve been looking forward to coming here and helping with your plan is you’re the only pony I know of who could coax her to take the lead role herself. We could get started tonight, if you would like. I think I’m as excited about doing this as you are.” “That sounds good, but there’s something planned for this evening I forgot to mention to you.” Filter raised an eyebrow. “And that would be?” “Our friends want to give you a proper Ponyville welcome with a get-together dinner in the park tonight.” “So that’s what Amethyst and the foals were up to. They were getting ready for the picnic.” Filter took his hoof off my shoulder and grinned. “A picnic sounds great, but that seems like a lot of work just to welcome me to town.” “Don’t worry about it. We have these get-togethers often. You coming gave us a good reason to have another one of our gatherings. Everypony will bring something to eat, so I hope you’re hungry.” “That won’t be a problem.” Filter sat back on his haunches and patted his stomach. “Mom said that I eat more like a horse than I do a pony, thanks to me being so big.” He looked up at me and grinned. “I’ll sample a bit of everything, so I won’t disappoint anypony by not trying what they brought.” “You may want to rethink that approach when you see how much food we’re going to have.” “Nah,” Filter said with bravado. “It won’t even be a problem.” ***** “You think he’s going to make it?” Thunderlane asked me. “I hope so,” I said and shook my head at the sight of Filter’s prone form. “If not, it’s going to be tough explaining things to Coco and her folks.” Dinky rubbed a comforting hoof over Filter’s side. “Mister Filter, are you okay?” Filter raised his head from the picnic blanket and gave her a reassuring smile. “I’m all right, but my eyes were bigger than my stomach.” “Amateur.” Barrel plucked another muffin from their basket. “Dad!” Pinch protested. “You have to leave some for everypony else.” “This is the last one. I promise,” Barrel said and then took a hefty bite out of the muffin. Kevin grinned. “He’s enjoying them.” Barrel swallowed. “They’re good,” he complimented. “Which did you like best?” Noi asked. “I don’t know if there’s a ‘best’ for me, but...” Barrel trailed off and grinned. “Go on!” Piña said. “I was thinking the ones with the cinnamon and sugar crumbles would go well with my coffee in the morning,” Barrel finished. Rumble sat up straight with pride. “Those are mine.” “I like those too,” Amethyst said. She turned to Rumble. “You sure you want to be a Wonderbolt? Barrel, Mom, and I could write you a recommendation, if you wanted to work with the Cakes.” “He could do both,” Piña said. “Thunderlane has two jobs.” “Speaking of working with other ponies,” Berry said and gave me a meaningful look. “I’m curious to know what you two have cooking up.” “Me too!” Muffins said. “Here! Here!” Turner said, adding his vote to his wife’s. “It’s a little too early to say,” I responded. “At the moment, Filter has some sketchy ideas, and I have some that aren’t quite stitched together, but that’s about it.” Noi gave me a disbelieving look. “Were those puns?” Pinch giggled. “Uncle Pin has a weird sense of humor.” “Did you like the new room and all the stuff they did with the workroom?” Dinky asked Filter. With a light groan of discomfort, Filter sat up. “I did. It’s a little different for me, since I didn’t see the workroom before they put the additions in, but they look great.” “I can’t wait to see Coco’s reaction,” I said. I caught Kevin grinning at my excitement out of the corner of my eye. “I’m curious what she thinks we should do with the new room too.” Amethyst, Berry, and Muffins glanced towards each other and then gave me a collective searching look. “What?” I asked. Berry gave me a knowing look. “It’s struck me you’ve been so eager to get the expansion done before she got back.” Turner chuckled. “I agree. The timing of it and our guest of honor arriving indicates a larger plan.” “It raises certain questions I am sure we would like to know about too,” Amethyst said. “Questions?” I responded trying to sound as clueless as possible. “What questions?” “Uncle Pin,” Piña said in a saccharine singsong tone. “Yes?” “Please tell us what’s going on and what you’re up to.” Piña made a tickling motion with her hooves. “If not, Dinky’s mom is right here.” “I like the way you think,” Amethyst said. “I’m not sure I do,” I said. “Are you going to answer the question?” Amethyst asked. “Not right at the moment. But if you wait for a-” “Wrong answer,” Amethyst told me, cutting me off. “Get him, Mom.” “This is going to be fun.” Muffins unfurled her wings and then wiggled her primary feathers as if warming them up. “Would anypony like to help?” “Sure!” Dinky, Noi, Piña, and Pinch said together. “You little traitors!” I said, feigning betrayed indignity. “Even after inviting you to be part of the Ponyville Greeting Committee, this is the thanks I get?” I looked at the colts. “At least the guys are on my side.” Rumble gave me a turncoat’s smile. “I’ll get his front hooves and you get the back!” “Sounds like a plan,” Kevin said, as he grinned and got into a ready stance. “You too?!” I said, continuing my betrayed act. “Sorry, Mister Pin,” Kevin said, without a hint of remorse. “We have to help our training and research partners.” “Charge!” Piña urged. “His ribs are his weak spots!” Pinch said, as she and the other foals rushed towards me. “Wait!” I said and held up my hooves, and the foals stopped just beyond grabbing distance from me. “I’ll talk! I promise!” The foals turned towards Muffins as if wanting her guidance. “We can still get him, if you want us to,” Piña said. Muffins grinned. “He promised to tell, so let’s hold off for the moment.” “You better talk fast, or the tickling starts,” Amethyst said. “I’ll talk, but I want to ask everypony something first. Who would like to take part in another Ponyville Greeting Committee event?” The foals’ hooves shot into the air and the adults of the group raised their hooves too. “Great!” I stopped and grinned. “Pin, you’re on thin ice,” Berry warned. “I’ll need your help when Coco comes back.” Swish, swish, swish; my tail went back and forth across the blanket. I ignored my tail, and told them, “Filter has agreed to help me make Coco’s coming back as special as can be. I would like you to help too, if you want to be a part of it.” “Of course we would!” Piña cheered. Pinch gasped, sat down, and covered her mouth with her hooves. Kevin turned to her, smiling, but with a look of slight concern. “What is it?” “He’s going to ask her, when she comes back,” she said. “Ask her?” Rumble said. “To marry him,” Pinch answered. “Really?!” Piña said and looked at me with wild-eyed excitement. “Is she right?!” I nodded. “That’s the plan.” “About time,” Barrel said. He asked Filter, “I take it you’re okay with this?” “I am,” Filter said. “What about your parents?” Thunderlane said. “I’m pretty sure they’re on board too.” “ ‘Pretty sure?’ “ Noi said. “Mom wrote to me about what I thought about Pin and his family, since I’ve met them. I had nothing but good things to say, so it will be fine.” “She wrote to you about something like that?” Rumble asked, looking perplexed. “She spent three days with Pin and she can’t tell he loves her?” “I don’t think there’s any genuine doubt with her,” Filter said. “She mentioned something about needing my input for the ‘Canterlot courtship tradition.” Pinch’s eyes went wide. “Oh, that’s right!” “What?” Piña asked. “The parents have to ask any immediate family member’s opinion about the pairing and consider their input, before giving their official approval,” Pinch explained. “What if they don’t?” Thunderlane asked. Pinch winced. “Then the wedding can’t happen.” “Nah, then we sneak them off to Los Pegasus,” Filter said. Amethyst laughed. “I like that plan.” “Speaking of plans,” Turner said and turned to me. “What are your plans for Coco’s return?” My tail started wagging again. “Here’s what I was thinking...”