The store’s welcome bell chimed, and I looked up from my order records. “Welcome to Coco and Pin’s Attire and Designs. How can I be of service?”
“You sound so happy saying that,” Satin said as she and Stormbreaker came into the store.
“It makes me happy to say it.” I looked up at the store’s clock. “I didn’t expect you two back so soon.”
“We saw all the places we had on our list and we wanted to be back before Rain’s afternoon snack time,” Satin said.
“Mom and Dad could have taken care of him with no trouble,” I assured her.
“I know, but he’s been fussy about his feedings. They shouldn’t have to face that.”
“He can tell we’re anxious about getting ready for the move,” Stormbreaker said. “I feel bad our stress is making him stressed, but this is the right move for us.”
“The last time I saw him, Rain wasn’t stressed at all. He was curled up with Dad on the couch taking a nap.”
Satin giggled. “Rain has that effect on Dad. Every time he holds Rain, Dad nods off.”
“It must run in the family.” Stormbreaker nuzzled Satin’s ear and hugged her to his side with a wing. “Every time I hold you in my wings you go to sleep.”
“I think it’s a pegasus thing,” Satin said. “Holding Rain is like snuggling a downy hot water bottle.” She leaned against Stormbreaker and tucked her head under his chin. “You’re a warm, soft, sexy, heated blanket.”
Coco stepped out from the back of the shop. “I thought I heard you. How did it go?”
“We’ve got it narrowed down to two, maybe three, choices,” Stormbreaker reported.
“That’s great,” Coco said. “I’m glad you’re not having to face what ponies have to go through to find a place in Manehattan. Even when the process goes well, it’s still a colossal pain there.”
The sounds of a fussy foal came from the apartment.
Satin looked at the shop’s clock. “I thought we had it timed about right.”
“I changed the cover on the cloud chair, so you should be good to go, if you want to feed him there,” I told Satin.
Satin gave me a guilty look. “Sorry about that.”
“He couldn’t help it. Foals make messes, that’s what they do.”
“That was a big, nasty mess, though,” Stormbreaker said.
“Nothing that won’t come out after a good washing,” I assured him.
Satin and Stormbreaker went past and into the back of the shop.
I smiled at Coco, as she joined me behind the counter. “How are things going?”
She touched noses with me. “Steady.”
“That’s a modest way to describe things, judging by the numbers I went over.” I tapped the pile of records with a hoof. “You’re getting new orders at a good rate and the new sign for the shop isn’t even out front yet.”
“We’re getting more orders,” Coco corrected me and smiled. “It’s our shop, and you’ve got more orders to work on than I do.”
“For right now, but more and more ponies aren’t coming to see me. They want to talk with ‘Miss Pommel’.”
“I wonder who’s responsible for that?” Coco said, giving me a playful accusatory look.
“You are, for having artistic talent and a flair with fabrics.”
“That is sweet of you to say, but I think you insisting on keeping a certain display up for almost a week might have had something to do with it.”
“I felt a little selfish for keeping the display up, but I felt compelled to let Ponyville know I was the luckiest stallion in Ponyville because I was yours.” I gave Coco my best rascal’s smile. “That it helped business was a bonus.”
Coco raised an eyebrow. “Was coming up with the ‘Star Catcher’s Net’ name for my dress a selfish act too?”
“That was an act of inspired desperation. When Lily asked what the name of the dress was, the first thing that came to my mind was Tantalizing Desire, since that’s what I feel whenever you wear it, but I thought that might give the wrong impression.”
Coco blushed. “Pin!”
“After rejecting the first name, I remembered us dancing under the stars at Twilight’s Celebration, and the name popped into my head.” I touched my nose to hers. “I’ll never forget that night. You looked as if you had enticed stars down from Luna’s sky to dance with you.”
The shop’s door opened before Coco could respond.
“Welcome to Coco and Pin’s Attire and Designs,” I greeted, after leaning back from Coco.
“Hello,” Berry said, as she, Dinky, Gena, Piña and Cubitus entered the stop. “Sorry if we’re interrupting anything,” she teased.
“Coco and I were discussing how well things are going with the shop, and she was downplaying her part in the uptick in business,” I told her.
“We’ll continue our ‘discussion’ later,” Coco said and bumped shoulders with me.
“What kind of discussion are you needing to have with him?” Mom asked, as she stepped from the back of the store. “Is it anything I could assist with?” She gave me a mock stern look. “Even if he is a grown stallion, I will make sure he behaves himself for you.”
“Aunt Study!” Piña said and ran to Mom.
“Hello, sweetheart,” Mom said, as she hugged Piña.
Gena’s ears went up, and she smiled. “Aww!”
Berry joined Piña in hugging Mom. “It’s so good to see you.”
“It is good to see you both,” Mom said. “When I found out that you were in the middle of all the events going on here, I worried about you but it did not surprise me to learn you had jumped in to help ponies in need.”
“You think changelings are ponies?” Gena asked.
Mom looked at Gena with an appraising eye. “Of course I do. Ponies come in all shapes and sizes.” She smiled at Gena and Cubitus. “I see you two are keeping up your affectations of being non-changeling ponies like most of the changelings in Canterlot.”
“You can tell we’re changelings?” Cubitus said, sounding surprised.
“I cannot tell you are changelings just by looking at you. I recognized you both from the descriptions of you I got from Pin’s, Pinch’s, and Piña’s letters.”
Berry and Piña let Mom go. Mom smiled as she looked at Dinky. “Hello, Dinky. Could I get a hug from you too?”
“Sure!” Dinky trotted up to Mom and gave her a hug. “I’m glad to see you, Miss Study.”
“I am glad to see you too.” Mom glanced at Berry and Piña, who were easing their way toward the doorway to the back of the shop. “You two go on up. Satin is settling down in the study and getting ready to feed Rain.”
“Thank you!” Piña trotted through the doorway and out of sight. The sounds of her hurried hooves going up the stairs started a second later.
“I’m conflicted,” Berry said. “I want to see Rain and Satin, but I want to talk with you and Coco about wedding plans.”
“There will be time for planning later.” Mom patted Dinky’s back with a hoof and then let her go. “Besides, Coco and Pin seem to have everything well in hoof already.”
“We’ve had our plans made for us, more than anything,” I said. “Several ponies have given hints, or outright stated if they didn’t get to do things for the wedding they would not be happy with either of us.”
“Let me guess. Bon Bon and Lyra are going to be providing sweets, the Cakes will provide the cake, Twinkle Shine and Minuette will do the main dishes, Filter will design the invitations, and Davenport will print them.” Berry looked at Coco and grinned. “Rarity will make your dress, if I had to wager.”
Coco nodded. “I’m not sure Rarity would speak to me again if I didn’t let her make my dress.”
Mom looked at Gena, who was fidgeting in place and staring at her. “Would you like to ask something?”
Gena nodded.
“Please do,” Mom told her.
“Can I get a hug too?”
“Of course,” Mom said and held out her forelegs.
Gena hugged Mom with enthusiasm and hummed with satisfaction.
Mom looked down at Gena and smiled. “You’re the filly with the ability to read ponies when you hug them, Piña wrote about, if I recall correctly.”
Dinky grinned and nodded. “That’s her.”
“May I ask what you are getting from me?”
Gena closed her eyes and leaned her head against Mom’s chest. “Precise, organized, energetic.”
Mom cut her eyes toward me. “Since you nodded with every word, I assume you agree with her assessment?”
I had not realized I had been nodding along with Gena’s descriptors, but I smiled. “I wouldn’t argue with it.”
“What about you, young stallion? Would you like a hug?” Mom asked Cubitus. Mom looked puzzled, when Cubitus hesitated.
“Cubi’s not as much of a hugger as Gena,” Dinky said.
“Cubi?” Mom smiled at Dinky in a teasing way that made Dinky blush. Turning her attention back to Cubitus, she said, “If you ever want a hug from me, you just have to ask.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” Cubitus said, looking bashful.
“How is your brother doing?” Mom asked. “I understand he has been quite busy in his new position.”
Cubitus’ bashfulness disappeared, and he smiled. “Radius is running around a lot, but I think he’s enjoying being able to help everybuggy get settled. He’s a lot happier here than at the Hive.”
“We think he’s got a marefriend now too,” Gena said.
Mom looked intrigued. “Who might that be?”
“Miss June Bug,” Cubitus told her.
Mom laughed. “I cannot say I am surprised to hear that.” Mom asked Gena, “How are Coxa, Spiracle, and their egg doing?”
“They’re doing great,” Gena answered, but her tone seemed off somehow. “Spiracle likes being in charge of security and Coxa loves being head of the nursery. There are four eggs they are taking care of, including hers, and three hatchlings from the Hive.”
“When is the egg due to hatch?” Mom asked.
“About another month,” Berry said. “Piña has the expected week highlighted on our calendar.”
Gena went still, as if not wanting to draw attention to herself.
Cubitus, looking uneasy himself, put on a smile. “I can see Piña working with Coxa in the nursery at some point. She’s always excited to visit there.”
Berry looked toward the back. “Speaking of being excited about visiting little ones, I can’t stand it any more. I’m going to head on up.”
“I will go with you,” Mom said. “I would like to introduce our new friends to Insight.”
As Berry, Mom, and Cubitus moved towards the back, Dinky hurried over to Coco and gave her a hug. “Hello, Miss Coco.”
“Hello to you too,” Coco said.
“Mmm!” Dinky said and snuggled into Coco. “You’re super soft again!”
Coco giggled. “Pin’s been taking good care of me.”
“I do my best,” I said. Gena looked toward me, and I held out my forelegs before she even asked.
Gena giggled, appearing to be back to her normal self, and hugged me. “I’m that predictable aren’t I?”
“If you didn’t want a hug, I’d worry.” I gave her a hug and asked, “Am I getting any better?”
Gena nodded. “You have, but more practice wouldn’t hurt.”
Still holding onto Dinky, Coco shuffled towards me, and leaned her head on my shoulder. “Better?”
Gena nodded. “Yep!”
“Swap with me,” Dinky told Gena. “You have to feel her coat.”
Dinky let go of Coco and hugged me. I hugged her back, and we both watched Gena with shared anticipation of her reaction.
Coco and Gena hugged, and Gena’s eyes widened.
“Oh wow!”
“Isn’t her coat super soft?” Dinky said.
“It is!” Gena looked up at Coco and asked, “How do you get your coat this soft?”
“Pin’s the pony responsible. I lay down on a blanket, relax, and stay still while he takes care of me,” Coco said. “You’ll have to ask him about his coat care secrets.”
“There aren’t any secrets involved,” I said. “I follow the instructions from a book I got at the Ponyville Spa. To sum it all up, I brush her coat using specialized brushes in a specific order and then use oils to help her coat stay healthy.”
Gena leaned away from Coco just enough to look at me and ask. “So can anypony feel like this?”
“It might be possible, but Coco has a good coat to start with.”
“Dinky has a nice coat too,” Gena said. She looked at Dinky and asked, “Would you like me to help you see if your coat can get this soft?”
“I… I...” Dinky let go of me and took a couple of steps back.
Gena’s ears pinned back. “Dinky, did I say something wrong?”
Dinky shook her head. “Gena, I-”
The store’s door opened, and the bell chimed.
Dinky stopped, but expression made it clear she was still going through some inner turmoil.
“Welcome to Coco and Pin’s Attire and Designs,” I greeted, doing my best to keep my worry about whatever was going on between Dinky and Gena out of my voice.
“It’s us, not a customer,” Thunderlane said. He led Noi and Rumble through the displays to us. “The shop’s new name has a nice ring when you call it out like that, though.”
Noi announced with enthusiasm, “The first newsletter is out!” She pointed to Thunderlane’s saddlebags. “We saved everypony a copy.”
“Noi, something’s wrong,” Rumble said, after looking at Dinky and Gena.
“I think I hurt her, but I can’t tell because her feelings are all swirling together too fast,” Gena said, sounding as if she was trying not to panic. “I didn’t mean to hurt her, I swear!”
“You didn’t hurt me. I’m worried about…” Dinky paused for a doubtful second before finishing, “About us staying friends.”
“What do you mean ‘staying friends’?” Gena asked, her ears going at odd angles. “You’re always going to be my friend, Dinks.”
“Cubi told me you have been feeling jealous when he and I do things together.” Dinky blushed and added, “Especially if I give him a hug.”
Gena closed her eyes and sighed. “Cubi, you dofus, why couldn’t you keep that to yourself?”
Dinky looked more upset. “Gena, it’s not-”
“Time out!” Noi said, and made a ‘T’ with her hooves. She looked at Coco and me and asked, “Is Cubi here?”
“He’s upstairs,” I said.
“Thank you.” Noi turned back to Dinky and Gena. “You two sit right there until I get back with Cubi. Rumble, you make sure they behave and don’t go anywhere.”
Rumble saluted her with a wing. “Yes, ma’am.”
Noi walked towards the back of the shop with purposeful steps.
Coco maintained a serious expression but only half hid her smile. She complimented Noi, “Your tie looks very nice.”
Noi paused in the store’s back doorway and gave Coco a smile. “Thank you. I wear it every time I have official duties with Ponyville and Sanctuary.” With a determined look, Noi resumed her march into the back.
Gena, still looking concerned, managed a small smile and giggled at Rumble. “Thanks for the snack.”
Rumble blushed. “She can be bossy, but she wants to do the right thing.”
“And you admire her for that,” Thunderlane said.
Rumble nodded. “Yeah.”
Thunderlane asked Dinky, “Where’s the rest of the research team?”
“Twilight found something interesting in the books Sunburst brought from the Crystal Empire, and Pinch and Kevin are helping her, Starlight, and Sunburst follow up on whatever it is she found,” Dinky said. “There are only so many books to go around, so I volunteered to help the Training Team, Gena, and Cubi distribute the newsletter.”
“You still haven’t come up with a name for your team?” I asked.
Gena gave a frustrated snort. “We’ve tried Hospitality Team, Culture Sharing Team, Ponyville Welcoming Committee, but none of them fit. They don’t describe what we do, and they’re not snappy like ‘Research Team’ or ‘Training Squad’.”
Noi marched back into the storefront with Cubitus following close behind her. Behind him were Mom and Dad, who appeared curious about what was happening.
“I’m still not sure what’s going on,” Cubitus said to Noi.
“Everypony can tell things have gotten weird with you three, and now Dinky and Gena are making each other upset just talking to each other.” Noi pointed a hoof to a spot on the floor to show where Cubitus was to be. “You three need to work things out right now.”
Dinky looked horrified. “We can’t talk with everypony here!”
Noi gave Dinky an uncompromising flat look. “I talked with Piña and Rumble about what was going on with us in the middle of the school yard with everypony watching and listening.”
“But that’s you! You three could talk about anything in the middle of the market and not care if everypony heard you.”
“If the three of us are going to have a talk, could I have a hint about what we’re supposed to be talking about, please?” Cubitus asked Noi.
“You told Dinky you could feel Gena get jealous of you and her,” Noi said in a tone that insinuated Cubitus should have known.
“That’s what this is about?” Cubitus said, sounding relieved. “I thought there was something serious going on.”
“This is serious,” Noi insisted.
Cubitus held his hooves up in a placating manner. “I meant serious serious; somepony getting hurt serious. I am taking things seriously, but I’m glad nothing terrible is going on.”
“Good,” Noi said. “If you could feel what Gena was going through, why didn’t you talk to her about it?”
“She was staying quiet about it, so I didn’t want to push. I thought she would get over it or needed some time before she talked to me or Dinky about what was going on. I told Dinky what I was getting from Gena since she wouldn’t have been able to sense it. I didn’t want it to be a surprise, if things came up.”
Dinky told Gena, with rushed words, “I know he’s been your friend a lot longer, and I’ve been hogging him, and I should have talk to you, and-”
“Dinks, it’s okay,” Gena said, cutting off Dinky’s apology. “You haven’t been ‘hogging’ him. How many times have you been around him when I wasn’t right there with you?”
Dinky thought for a moment before answering, “Not too many.”
“I live in the same nesting area with him so I get to see him a lot more than you do too, but that’s not the point. I’ve had a crush on him for a long time. Now you’ve gotten interested in him too.” Gena smiled as Dinky’s face turned red. “Don’t deny it. You know I can tell.”
Dinky turned to look at Cubitus as if realizing something. “You could tell too, couldn’t you?”
Cubitus grinned. “It was kind of hard to miss.”
“You having a crush on him gives me all kinds of trouble, since I’ve gotten a crush on you too,” Gena said to Dinky. “That’s part of what Cubi’s been picking up on. I want you to smile and get the warm fuzzies for me like you do for him.”
“Gena, I-” Dinky looked disappointed in herself, as she told Gena, “I like you. I do, but I’m not… I mean I don’t...”
“She doesn’t like fillies and colts like I do,” Noi said.
“Oh.” Gena grinned. “That won’t be an issue.” With a flash of green fire, Gena shifted her appearance to a colt version of her pegasus form. “I kinda like being a colt.”
Dinky froze and stared at Gena.
“I think you broke her,” Cubitus said.
“Ponies can’t shift between being fillies and colts like you can,” Noi said. “She’ll have to work through it, but she’ll get there.” She pointed a hoof at him and then at Gena. “You two need to talk now.”
Cubitus raised an eyebrow. “Are you going to make us work all the way through this right now?”
“The best time to work on points of friction between ponies is as soon as possible and, when you are able, before they become issues,” Noi said.
I recognized where the advice Noi had given Cubitus came from and chuckled. “Mayor Mare will be happy to hear you’re quasi-quoting her.”
Noi smiled. “She’s been teaching me a lot.”
“Gena you know I like you, now that we can feel emotions from each other,” Cubitus said, sounding embarrassed. “Even before we came here, I was hoping if we survived long enough to grow up maybe you and I could become partners outside of being agents.”
Gena blushed and his ears fell in a display of bashfulness. “I had hoped we could too.” Gena pointed a hoof at Dinky. “She has a big crush on you though, and I have a crush on her. Not as deep as I have on you, but I do. That could be an issue for us, if it keeps getting stronger.”
“I understand, she’s cute, smart, caring, and delicious to be around,” Cubitus said looking at Dinky.
Everypony looked at Dinky and waited. As the shop’s clock ticked the seconds by, Dinky blushed even more.
Noi, smiling, prodded, “Dinks.”
“Yes?!” Dinky squeaked out and then covered her mouth with her hooves in embarrassment.
“You need to say something,” Rumble told her.
“I don’t know what to say. I didn’t think anypony would be interested in me and now two of my friends are calling me cute and delicious, one of them was a filly and is now a colt, and, and-!” Dinky stopped and half-gasped. “I can’t even think, much less say anything that’s going to make sense!”
Gena walked over to Dinky and hugged her. “Dinks, breathe.”
“What were you two talking about that got all of this going?” Cubitus asked.
Gena giggled. “I asked her if she would let me try making her coat as soft as Miss Coco’s.”
Dad, Rumble, and Thunderlane laughed, and Dinky hid her face against Gena’s shoulder.
“I think you need to address what grooming can mean between ponies in your next newsletter,” Mom said to Noi.
Noi giggled and nodded. “I think that’s a good idea.”
“Since you like me and her, and I like you and her, maybe we could try what Noi, Piña, and Rumble are doing,” Cubitus suggested.
“You mean a herd?” Gena said, sounding surprised. “Changelings don’t do herds, though.”
“Changelings don’t date ponies for real either, but that’s what my brother is doing.” He sighed and rubbed his forehead with a hoof. “Though Radi still hasn’t figured it out, that's why June Bug’s been asking him out for coffee or lunch every other day.”
“I would have thought he would have picked up on what was going on from June Bug’s emotions,” Mom said.
“Radi’s always focused on not upsetting anypony when he’s one on one with them so he wouldn’t give himself away. He’s great at ‘grazing’ through a crowd or public place for love, but he’s never been good at getting love from a single target through direct interaction. He’s been getting better about reading one buggy at a time, since we’ve been able to give off emotions too and he’s gotten more practice, but he’s still pretty clueless.”
“I think June Bug is going to give him lots of opportunities to get the hint, but Radi could use another ‘bump’ if he doesn’t clue in how serious she is soon,” Gena said. “We’ve got our own filly issues to sort out first.”
“It shouldn’t be too hard for us.” Cubitus nodded towards Dinky. “I think she’s worth trying something new for. What about you?”
“I do too.” Gena met eyes with Dinky. “I’ll share him with you, if you would let him share you with me.” Gena swallowed and looked vulnerable. “Or is me not being a ‘real’ colt going to be too weird?”
“You’re a ‘real’ colt right now.” Dinky hugged Gena back, as if realising she had failed to do so until then. “You don’t have to be a colt all the time if you like being a filly more, though.”
Gena’s ears shot up. “Is that a yes?”
“It’s a yes,” Dinky confirmed and smiled.
Gena cheered, hugged Dinky closer, and took her in his wings. “I’m so glad!”
Rumble made a motion with a hoof to catch Cubitus’ attention. When Cubitus looked at him, Rumble mimicked hugging somepony with his wings and pointed toward Dinky and Gena.
Cubitus nodded and then wrapped Dinky and Gena in a full wing hug.
Gena stared at Cubitus with wide eyes. “You gave me a wing hug.”
Cubitus blushed. “Yes.”
“You gave me a bat pony wing hug,” Gena said, sounding giddy.
Cubitus looked at each of his wings as if not understanding Gena’s excitement. “Yes.”
“I’ve wanted a bat pony wing hug forever,” he said and nuzzled Cubitus’ cheek. “Thank you!”
“Why is everypony down here?” Piña asked, as she led Berry, Satin, and Stormbreaker, who was carrying Rain tucked in one of his wings, into the storefront. She stared at the hugging trio. “What is going on?”
“We’re a herd now.” Gena told her.
Pinch stared in shock. “Gena?!”
“You look good as a colt,” Berry complimented. “You’re throwing the typical balance of herds off, though. There’s more mares in a herd than stallions, most of the time.”
“That’s an easy fix.” Cubitus let go of Dinky and Gena and changed his form to that of an earth pony filly with the same coat and mane colors as his bat pony form.
Rain made a startled noise, and acted as if he might cry.
Cubitus winced. “Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to scare him.”
“He’ll be fine.” Satin said and then nuzzled Rain’s head until he calmed down. “He’s used to me doing magic, but having somepony burst into flame is something new. He’ll get used to it.”
“Oh my goodness, he’s so cute!” Gena said.
“You having a colt’s voice and looking like a colt is messing with my head,” Piña said.
“I have a question for you two, if you don’t mind answering,” Dad said. “I’ve noticed changelings don’t mimic unicorns that often. Why is that?”
“We can’t use our magic like unicorns can,” Cubitus explained. “Most of us can only push our magic to go a little further than we can reach with our hooves or our horns. Somepony would notice we don’t use magic like a real unicorn does, if we stay as a unicorn for too long.”
“That’s interesting,” Dad said. “It must be something to view another group of ponies with the mindset of picking up their customs and habits enough to blend in.”
Cubitus grinned and nodded. “Even though it was part of our training, it was still fun to me to learn about how to watch ponies to see what they do.”
Piña stared at Cubitus as if she were not sure what to think. “You two talk the same and act the same, even though you look and sound different.”
Cubitus shrugged. “To changelings, it’s no big deal to shift appearances. We’re still the same bug underneath, no matter what we change into.”
Coco’s ears went up. “Like changing costumes and rolls for actors.”
“Pretty much,” Cubitus said.
The store’s door opened, and its bell chimed.
“Welcome to Coco and Pin’s Attire and Design. How can we help?” I said.
“You can start by telling us why everypony is down here instead of up in your apartment,” Barrel said.
I glanced at the ponies around me. “I’m not sure. The whole thing happened on it’s own.”
Muffins giggled as she, Amethyst, Barrel, and Turner, joined us. “Everypony’s herding again, if I had to bet.”
“Dinky, would you mind introducing us to this colt?” Turner said, in a protective tone.
“Hello, Mister Turner, it’s me,” Gena said.
“Ah!” Tuner said, sounding far more relaxed. “I should have recognized you, Gena.” He tilted his head and asked, “Why did you decide to become a colt?”
“To help make Dinky feel better,” Gena said. “She was worrying about something, but it’s fine now.”
Cubitus poked Gena’s shoulder with a hoof. “We need to tell them.”
“Tell us what?” Tuner said.
“They’ve made a herd,” Amethyst said.
“How could you tell?” Gena asked Amethyst, her ears up in surprise.
“Remember, I’m in a herd too.” Amethyst said. “I know the signs of one forming.”
“Oh, that’s right!” Gena said. “Cubi was storing up the love you three were sharing for the others on his team when he got caught.”
Barrel opened his mouth as if to say something, but his stomach interrupted him with an audible growl. He grinned. “My friend just asked me to ask all of you if we could continue this conversation at the park. Packing food into baskets and saddlebags and not being able to eat any of it after a day moving barrels of wine all over town has made him impatient.”
Dad laughed. “That sounds like a good idea. We’re all ready to go. I’ll go get our things and we can head out.”
“I’ll help you carry stuff, Dad,” Satin said.
“Stormbreaker could help too, if he lets me carry Rain,” Berry hinted while giving Stormbreaker a look.
“Wait a minute, he’s our mascot, we should get him,” Piña said.
I shook my head, as our friends’ banter continued. “I’ll close up the shop and catch up with you,” I said to Coco.
“We’ll close up the shop.” Coco booped my nose with a hoof before I could say anything in response. “It’s our shop, so I should help. Besides, everything will get done faster, if we work together.”
Feeling giddy warmth at Coco’s words, took her tail with mine and touched noses with her.
“I don’t think Gena and I will need too much for dinner,” Cubitus quipped.
“We won’t need dessert, that’s for sure,” Gena agreed.
With a low rumble, Barrel’s stomach made its impatience known again.
Berry poked Barrel’s belly with a hoof. “You hush. We’re about to go.”
There was a flurry of activity as ponies went up stairs to get picnic supplies, changelings reverted to their previous appearances, and Coco and I worked to close up the shop.
With a display of agility and cunning, Rumble wove through everypony and asked Stormbreaker to hold Rain. After securing his nephew, and getting jealous looks from Berry and Piña, Rumble introduced Rain to Gena and Cubitus with a look of familial pride.
Coco and I did our best to make quick work of closing up the shop, but the others were ready to go before we finished.
“Go on, everypony,” I encouraged. “It will only take us a couple more minutes to finish up, and we’ll be right behind you.”
After everypony left, Coco and I hurried through the rest of what we needed to do to close up.
“That didn’t take long at all,” Coco said, as we walked through the workroom and towards the back door.
“It goes much faster with you here.”
Coco gave me a mischievous smile. “I’m tempted to finish up our ‘discussion’ with you right now, but since they might wait on us to eat I think we need to put it off for a little bit longer.”
I paused as I put my hoof on the door handle, and kissed the tip of her ear. “I look forward to it.”
“I would like a quick word with you, though,” Coco teased and then leaned as if to kiss me.
A knock on the door made us both jump.
“Again?!” she grumbled.
I chuckled and gave her a peck on the nose, before opening the door.
“You’re still here!” Pinch cheered, as soon as I got the door ajar.
“You just caught us,” Coco said, in a good humored tone.
“When we saw the ‘closed’ sign out front, we thought everypony might have already left,” Pinch said, after the door was open.
“I think we interrupted them,” Kevin said. “I was going to say something, but you knocked before I could.”
“Interrupted them?” Pinch’s eyes widened and she blushed. “I’m so sorry!” She apologized to Coco and me.
“I’ll get a kiss from him later,” Coco assured Pinch. “How have you been?”
Pinch gave Coco a hug. “Busy.” She smiled and hugged Coco a bit more. “Wow, you’re soft. Uncle Pin’s been taking good care of you again.”
“Spoiling me, is more like it,” Coco said, as she returned Pinch’s hug.
“You do the same for me,” I pointed out.
Kevin glanced past me and into the shop. “Is everypony else upstairs?”
“They went on ahead while we closed up the shop,” I told him.
Pinch let go of Coco and then gave me a hug. “Has Piña or Mom foalnapped Rain yet?”
“Rumble got him first,” I said, hugging her back.
“That’s impressive,” Pinch said. “Rumble’s been talking about looking forward to seeing Rain again, but I didn’t expect him to get Rain first.”
“Rumble’s so proud of being an uncle, he smiles and fluffs up every time he talks about Rain,” Kevin said.
“I can’t wait to see him again,” Pinch said. “How big is he now?”
“Not too much bigger, but you can tell he’s grown.” I shut the door behind us and locked it. “Ready to go?”
Pinch nodded with enthusiasm. “Ready!”
“Can I get a hug from you too?” Coco said and held out her forelegs to Kevin.
“Sure!” Keven said and hugged Coco. “Woah! Pinch wasn’t kidding.” Kevin looked up at Coco. “You need to be careful. If Gena ever hugs you, she might not let you go.”
I laughed. “Gena did hug Coco, but she got distracted by something and let her go.”
“What happened?” Pinch asked.
“I think I’ll let her tell you about it when we get there.”
As we walked toward the park, I noticed something seemed to weigh on Pinch and Kevin even though they appeared excited about the picnic. I debated asking them what was going on, but decided to let them bring up whatever was bothering them when they were ready.
*****
“I don’t think this is working!” I told Pinch, who was clutching onto Barrel’s neck and shoulders, as I lay across his back like a pair of saddlebags.
“Nope, but it’s fun!” Gena said, as she held onto Barrel’s left front leg and let him carry her along.
“It’s a good team effort, though,” Barrel praised as he strolled toward the pair of baskets we had borrowed to make our goal.
From what I could tell, Gena, Pinch, and I were not a hindrance to Barrel at all.
Kevin ran back and forth in front of the advancing titan, keeping just ahead of him. “What should I do?!”
“I don’t think there’s anything you can do,” I told him.
“Nope,” Thunderlane said, as he walked beside Barrel. “Barrel’s a beast.”
“That’s it!” Gena exclaimed. “Kevin, change into something big and stop him!”
“We all agreed, no using magic or flying,” Dinky said, grinning as her teammate carried us on.
“That’s why you and Thunderlane wanted the last play to be full tackle instead of touch!” Gena said, looking up at Barrel. “You tricked us!”
Kevin hopped up onto Barrel’s back and rested himself across Barrel’s hindquarters. “It’s like we’re not even here,” he marveled.
After a few strides more, Barrel carried us and the ball across the goal line.
Our friends, who were sitting near the imaginary sidelines applauded, cheered, and laughed.
Barrel stopped, turned towards his fans and gave them a sports hero’s smile. “Thank you!”
“The game ends in a tie!” Amethyst, who was serving as our referee, called.
After putting the ball down, Barrel lifted his foreleg straight out, raising Gena so she was even with his chest. “We’ve got to feed you out. You don’t weigh enough for a filly your age.”
Gena glanced down toward the grass and then back up at Barrel. “How strong are you?!”
“Very,” I said, as I slid from Barrel’s back. On my hooves again, I patted his shoulder with a hoof. “Thanks for being gentle with us, you big showoff.”
Barrel grinned. “You’re welcome.”
“That was great!” Kevin pulled himself up and then sat on Barrel’s back. “I knew earth ponies were strong, since we’ve been training with Noi and Piña, but I didn’t know you were that strong.”
“It was an impressive feat to watch, I agree,” Radius said, as he and June Bug approached our group from the nearby walking path.
“Oh my goodness!” June Bug said. “He’s so cute!” She smiled and waved a hoof at Rain, who was cuddled against Satin on a picnic blanket, drawing his attention away from Radius. “Hello there. What’s your name?”
Satin smiled and patted Rain’s back with a hoof. “This is Intense Rain.”
Rain went back to looking at Radius, who was in his natural form, as soon as June Bug stopped waving.
“Oh, I see how it is,” June Bug said, feigning being insulted. “I’m not as interesting as Radius.”
“I think he’s the first changeling Rain’s ever seen out of their disguise,” Stormbreaker said.
“He’s curious, but he’s also scared of me,” Radius said, his ears falling in sad display.
“Radius is a very nice changeling,” June Bug assured Rain. “You don’t have to be scared of him at all.”
“Give Radius a hug,” Gena suggested. “That will show him he has nothing to worry about.”
June Bug’s ears perked up. “You think that will work?”
“Hugs help with just about anything,” Dinky said.
June Bug blushed and asked Radius, “You want to try?”
“If it wouldn’t bother you,” Radius said, blushing himself.
“It wouldn’t bother me at all.” June Bug hugged Radius and smiled when he wrapped his forelegs around her. “You see? He’s not scary at all.” She patted Radius’ back with a hoof. “He’s a cuddle bug.”
Cubitus snorted and then broke out into full laughter as Radius’ blush deepened.
“It seems pony and changeling relations are improving at a faster rate than we had expected,” Spiracle teased, as he and Coxa approached our group from town. “I thought you were going to escort Miss June home.”
“I asked him to join me for a walk,” June said.
“Radi, you can let her go now,” Kevin said. “I don’t think Rain’s scared anymore.”
“Rain?” Coxa asked.
Satin sat up and picked Rain up from his spot on the blanket. “This is Intense Rain. He’s mine and Stormbreaker's son.”
Coxa cooed, “You’re so precious!” She leaned closer to him and smiled. “You’re still pretty new to the world aren’t you?”
“A little less than six months,” Stormbreaker said.
Coxa looked up at Stormbreaker. “You must be Stormbreaker. He looks a lot like you.”
“Thunderlane and I are his uncles,” Rumble declared with pride, before Stormbreaker could respond.
Thunderlane nodded with a wide grin, as he drew himself up.
Berry laughed. “If you three puff up any more somepony could use you for feather dusters.”
“You can puff up all you want,” Piña told Rumble. She hugged Pinch to her side with a foreleg and grinned. “I’m proud of being an aunt, and I’m not ashamed to show it either.”
“You’re still not too sure about me are you?” Coxa held her hoof out so Rain could reach it. “You don’t have to worry. I’m a cuddle bug too.”
With a tentative expression, Rain reached out and took Coxa’s hoof with his. After a second, his tentativeness disappeared and he began touching as much of Coxa’s hoof and foreleg as he could reach as if curious about her.
“Would you like to hold him?” Satin asked.
Coxa’s eyes lit up. “May I?”
“Sure,” Satin said and transferred Rain to Coxa.
Rain made uneasy sounds for a moment, but then settled down as Coxa cooed over him and offered her hoof to him again.
“You’re so warm and soft,” Coxa said to Rain. She giggled, as Rain mouthed her hoof. “I take it we’re getting along better now?”
Spiracle watched Coxa with a tender smile and an expression I could not read, but it seemed to hold some worry in it.
“Pin, would you be so kind as to introduce us?” Mom prompted.
“Of course! Mom, Dad, this is Coxa and Spiracle that I have written to you about.” I nodded toward Radius. “The stallion with June Bug is Radius. Everypony, this is my Mom and Dad, Intense Study and Useful Insight, my sister Satin Stitch, and her husband Stormbreaker.”
“I understand congratulations are in order,” Dad said to Coxa and Spiracle. “We’ve been told you two are expecting your own little one soon.”
“Thank you,” Spiracle said, his tone sounding off.
“It looks like her egg will be the first one to hatch in Sanctuary,” Radius said, his tone not quite right too.
“How long does it take for a changeling to come into the world?” Mom asked.
“About twelve months,” Spiracle said. “The egg forms fast and is laid about five and a half months in. From there, the egg remains in the nursery and the little one inside develops on its own.”
I thought I noticed Coxa, Gena, June Bug, Piña, and Radius tense a little as Spiracle explained the timeline for changeling eggs to hatch, but I was not sure.
“Laying an egg around the halfway point sounds a lot easier than what ponies have to go through,” Barrel said.
“It’s worth it, though,” Satin said and gave Rain a mother’s smile.
Coxa looked down at Rain then at Satin as if comparing their respective sizes, and her eyes widened. Sounding equal parts horrified and sympathetic, she said, “Passing an egg is not fun, but things had to be… intense, with as big as he is.”
Satin laughed. “It wasn’t pleasant.” She stroked Rain’s mane with a hoof. “But he wasn’t this big then either, so it wasn’t as bad as you might be thinking.”
“Even so.” Coxa gave Satin an impressed look. “You’re a tougher mare than I.”
“You and Dinky think a lot alike,” Piña said.
“I take it that carrying a foal full term doesn’t sound like fun to you either,” Coxa said.
Dinky nodded with full seriousness. “You’re uncomfortable for months, and then things get painful, and then there’s blood, and yuck, and all kinds of icky stuff.” She closed her eyes and shook her head as if trying to dispel thoughts from her mind. “None of that sounds like something I want to go through.”
“You don’t have to worry about anything,” Gena said. “I don’t think it’s possible for changelings and ponies to mix.”
“I don’t believe I’ve ever heard of such a thing,” Spiracle said. He gave Gena a curious look and then asked, “Why did you bring it up like that?”
Gena glanced at Dinky. “Well...”
Coxa gave Gena a knowing smile. “I take it you talked.”
Gena nodded. “We did.”
Coxa raised an eyebrow. “And?”
“Noi got us to work things out with Cubitus,” Gena said.
Radius asked Noi, “How did Cubitus get pulled into this?”
“Dinky and Gena both have crushes on Cubitus, and Gena has a crush on Dinky. To fix the problems between them I had to bring Cubitus into their discussions.” Noi smiled. “Since he has crush on both of them, it was easy for them to work out things out.”
“Somepony here is a mix of emotions.” Coxa gave Dinky a playful smile. “What kind of solution did you come to that made you feel like that?”
“We’re going to share him,” Dinky answered, blushing.
Kevin smothered a laugh behind his hoof, as Radius’ mouth fell open.
“What do you mean, ‘share him’?” Radius asked.
“They’re going to share me too, but I can’t change into a colt, which could be a problem later, but I want us to try anyway because they like me and I like them, and I don’t want to hurt their feelings being in love by being with only one of them, and-” Dinky stopped her hurried and rambling explanation, as Amethyst burst into laughter.
“It sounds like they agreed to form a herd,” June Bug told Radius.
Radius looked toward Spiracle as if needing guidance. “Can they do that?”
Spiracle shrugged. “I don’t know of any law or decree in Equestria that says they can’t.”
“They can,” Pinch said with certainty. “About a week ago, we found a couple of books from the Crystal Empire that talked about how things were between changelings and ponies. From what Twilight, Starlight, and Sunburst have been able to translate from Old Ponish, things weren’t great, but there was some cooperation between ponies and changelings. There were a few places where changelings and ponies lived together too.”
“If that was the case, what made things go bad between us then?” Stormbreaker asked.
Pinch explained, “There was a huge magical fluctuation that affected how magic flowed in the world. During the time the event was going on, which may have been over a year, Sombra took over the Crystal Empire, Discord showed up and messed up the rest of Equestria, and Chrysalis became much more aggressive towards ponies. She declared that changelings and ponies should not coexist because ponies were meant to supply food for changelings since changelings were superior beings. After that, she led raids on the city states who were allies of Equestria.”
“That would put a strain on diplomatic relations,” Dad quipped.
“Celestia and Luna were able to seal away Discord and Sombra, but Chrysalis escaped to the Badlands and took the other changelings with her,” Kevin said. “To help defend the hive, Chrysalis had her throne made of the stone that interferes with magic she and the changelings found there. Not too long after that, the hive got desperate for love to feed on, and the organized sneaking of changelings into Equestria to gather love began.”
“When you say ‘lived together’ do you mean they lived in the same towns or that they lived together as families?” Mom asked Pinch.
“There were changeling and pony couples and herds, but there’s nothing that says one way or the other whether they had foals or nymphs with each other,” Pinch said, sounding as if the thought troubled her on some level.
Kevin met Pinch’s eyes, gave her a supportive smile, and then hugged her.
June Bug asked them, “You two have been planning that far out?”
Pinch returned Kevin’s hug, before answering, “Sort of.”
“We’ve talked about it,” Kevin said. “It started out as a joke between us, after we heard about what Twilight said about wondering if ponies and changelings could cross from Mister Barrel.”
Berry gave Barrel a critical look.
Barrel looked sheepish and muttered, “I thought they would think it was funny.”
Kevin met eyes with Pinch. “We did, but it’s not a joke for us anymore.”
Pinch’s ears drooped a bit. “I had hoped we could have one, but it might not be possible.” She attempted to appear cheerful again. “One of the good things we found out is that changelings and ponies in those communities followed the changeling way of bringing up foals and nymphs and raised them as a community, so we still could help raise a nymph if we adopt.”
“What about a mare having a changeling’s foal?” Amethyst asked. “Would it work that way?”
“That way probably doesn’t work either,” Kevin said. “Since ponies have foals and changeling’s lay eggs, it looks like our reproductive systems can’t work together.”
“You two could find a stud, if they don’t,” Coxa said. “From what I understand, it’s not an uncommon practice with herds that comprise all mares who want to raise foals.”
“I suggested that,” Kevin said. “Pinch is thinking it over, but she’s not too sure about having a foal if it’s not ours.”
“I thought changelings were monogamous,” Dinky said. She looked at Kevin with concern. “You sure you wouldn’t get jealous when Piña... um...” Dinky blushed and looked away.
Gena giggled, put a foreleg around Dinky’s shoulders, and hugged her. “You are too cute. You can’t even say it.”
“Kevin’s a changeling, remember?” Cubitus said. “Changelings are raised knowing their partners are going to have to gather love from others in any way they can.”
“But this is so different,” Dinky said.
“I thought of a solution to that kind of issue,” Pinch said, blushing.
“This ought to be good, if it’s got you flustered,” Berry said.
“She suggested neither of us could get jealous of the other if we both had a turn with the stud,” Kevin said, blushing as much as Pinch.
“That’s quite practical,” Radius said.
Rumble stared at Radius as if not believing what he had heard. “Did you say it’s ‘practical’?”
Spiracle grinned at Rumble. “Remember, we’re changelings and we’re more flexible with sharing lovers.”
“I won’t be ready to have a foal any time soon, so we’ll have a long time to think about what we’re going to do,” Pinch said.
“A very long time,” Berry said.
Rain squirmed in Coxa’s forelegs and made fussy noises.
“What’s wrong little one?” Coxa looked Rain over from head to tail and adjusted how she was holding him. “Am I getting one of your wings? Is that why you’re not happy?”
“Around this time, it’s usually one of two things,” Stormbreaker said. “He either needs a diaper change, or he’s hungry.”
Coxa took a cautious sniff. “I don’t think it’s your diaper. You must be hungry, then. I guess I need to give you back to your mommy, don’t I?” She passed Rain back to Satin. “Thank you,” she said with emotion in her voice.
Without a word, Gena trotted up to Coxa and hugged her. She leaned so she could see around Coxa and told Spiracle, “This is a hug moment.”
Spiracle nodded and hugged Coxa.
Pinch and Kevin fidgeted as if uncomfortable while June Bug, Piña, Cubitus, and Radius seemed to guard their emotions.
“Spill it,” Noi said to Kevin.
Kevin looked at her with surprise. “What?”
“You’re worried. They’re worried. Piña and Pinch are worried. You’re all worried about the same thing; I can tell.” Noi poked Kevin’s shoulder with a hoof. “Don’t make me sic Dinky on you.”
“I was asked not to,” Kevin said, looking away from Piña’s eyes.
“By who?” Noi asked.
“By me,” Coxa said, sounding as if she were near to crying.
“Coxa, you don't have to say anything you don’t want to,” Spiracle said.
“Please tell them,” Piña pleaded to Coxa. “I know you didn’t want me and the others to say anything, but everypony should know what’s going on.”
“It’s about your egg, isn’t it?” Berry asked, looking concerned.
Muffins’ ears went back with worry. “I bet it is.”
Coxa swallowed and nodded. “The nymph is developing too fast.”
“Too fast?” Mom asked.
“It’s further along than a typical changeling egg should be at this point.” Coxa took a second to gather herself and told us, “The shell is hardening and turning opaque as if it’s going to hatch soon.”
“How soon?” Muffins asked.
“Two or three days,” Spiracle said. “If the typical signals are reliable, which we’re not sure of at this point.”
“When did the symptoms start?” Turner asked.
“I’m not sure. I think, maybe, not long after we moved to Sanctuary. Whenever I checked on the egg, it seemed fine, but there was always something that made me feel as if I was missing something. About a week ago, the egg started it’s final phase. I knew it was well ahead of where it should be then.”
Berry looked at Piña. “How long have you known?”
“Yesterday afternoon,” Piña confessed. “When I went to visit the nursery, I saw the egg and found out what was going on.”
Berry looked at Pinch.
“Pinch and Kevin didn’t know until this afternoon,” Spiracle said, before Pinch could say anything. “Since this is not something anybuggy could do anything about, we asked them not to say anything so nobuggy would worry. Piña was the one who convinced us to ask Twilight for advice.”
“What did Twilight say when you told her?” Dinky asked.
“She said she had an idea about what may be happening, but she needed to get a couple of things that could measure magical flows ready to move before she could say for sure,” Coxa said. “She told us not to worry too much, since changelings have had so much change since we metamorphosed that what is happening to our egg is probably related.”
“She was going to bring one of your changeling feeder detectors too,” Spiracle said to Dinky. “Twilight said that it would be the thing that would most likely prove her theory was right, but she didn’t go into any more detail.”
“What do you think she’s trying to measure?” Cubitus asked Dinky. “What can your detectors do hers can’t?”
Dinky looked toward the grass at her hooves and appeared to ponder.
“Is there anything… wrong with the egg, other than it’s developing fast?” Noi asked in a delicate tone.
Coxa shook her head. “There is nothing ‘wrong’ with the egg. The silhouette of the nymph looked healthy, before the shell hardened enough to where we couldn’t see it. The egg is at the right temperature, the right size and weight, and everything seems good.” She took a deep, slow breath. “I realize I’m being paranoid, but I wanted some kind of explanation about what’s going on.”
“It’s your little one, of course you’re going to be concerned if something unexpected is happening,” Berry said.
“She wants to know if it’s feeding from you,” Dinky said, as if she had gained an insight. “That has to be what Twilight wants to test with the detector.”
“What do you mean?” Coxa said.
Dinky looked towards Spiracle. “Do you visit the egg too?”
“Whenever I can.” Spiracle said. “For the last few days, Coxa has hardly left the nursery, so I have all the more reason to go there to check up on both of them.”
“I bet Twilight’s going to see if your egg is taking magic from you and her like a foal does from its mom,” Dinky said.
“Foals take in magic?" Radius asked.
“They do,” Turner said. “They get it through their mother’s milk and through coat to coat contact with other ponies. Dinky and Pinch think that foals’ eyes look the way they do early on because they are involved in a foal's ability to draw in magic somehow. Twilight thinks they might be onto something, since changeling eyes appear very similar.” He drew himself up with pride, as he told Radius, “Twilight’s thinking about getting Dinky, Pinch, and Kevin to help her do a study about it.”
Dinky gave Turner a look. “She asked if you would like to help too.”
Turner waved Dinky’s words away with a hoof. “You three, Starlight, and Sunburst will be all the help you could ever need. While I’ll be glad to help when I can, I doubt there is going to be anything you can’t manage on your own.”
Rain’s fussing became more emphatic.
“Speaking of taking in magic, it sounds like somepony is getting impatient for his own feeding.” Satin nuzzled Rain. "I think we have enough light left for me to feed you and then us to pack up and get back to Pin’s before dark.” She settled herself down on a picnic blanket and placed Rain near her belly. “Give us just a moment, sweetie, and then you can eat.”
“You’re going to feed him here?” Radius asked, blushing.
“Yes.” Satin smiled at Radius with amusement. “Is there something wrong?”
“No, but don’t you want privacy?” He looked at June Bug with concern. “Should we leave?”
“Nopony has to go anywhere.” Stormbreaker pulled out a blanket and covered Satin’s hindquarters and midsection with it. “There you go.”
“Thank you.” Satin adjusted her position, and her horn lit. A slight glow shown from under and through the blanket. “Let me scoot you a bit. There we- Oh!” She looked at the foal sized lump in the blanket with wide eyes. “Somepony was hungry.”
“He has been outside, moving around on his own, and got excited watching everypony play,” Mom said. “For a little one, that leads to a strong appetite.”
Spiracle chuckled. “Radius, your instructors covered pony reproduction in your training. This shouldn’t be a surprise.”
“I wasn’t expecting to ever be this close when it happened.” Radius looked anywhere but at Satin. “I thought nursing was done in private.”
“Not with all ponies,” Stormbreaker explained. “Pegasi and bat ponies are known to nurse their foals in public in view of others.”
Radius’ blush spread to his ears. “That would be a bit of a surprise, if you’re not expecting it.”
Cubitus gave an exasperated sigh. “Radi, you’ve been a mare. Why is this bothering you?”
“It feels voyeuristic to sense what a foal and a mare are feeling when they’re nursing. It’s an act of love that’s supposed to be shared by them; not… sampled by others.” Radius’ eyes went towards Satin, but they stopped at the edge of the blanket covering her. “We’re taught to take love however we could, but taking love from a foal and mother during a feeding has always seemed profane to me.”
“You are such a sweetheart,” Mom said. She smiled in a devious way and told June Bug, “It seems you found yourself a good one, June.”
June Bug blushed and gave Mom an appreciative smile.
Radius looked puzzled. “What do you mean, ‘found yourself a-’ ” His words stopped, and his eyes widened. “Oh,” he said in a tone of realization. Wearing a sheepish grin, he asked June Bug. “I’m pretty dense aren’t I?”
“As a rock!” Cubitus said.
“Cubi!” Piña, Pinch, and Noi scolded.
“Wait a second,” Satin said. “Don’t changelings nurse their nymphs?” she asked Coxa.
“That’s one thing we can’t do, even if we change forms,” Coxa told her. “Changelings have both sets of reproductive organs, but we don’t have true mammary glands.”
“That’s why her egg is developing faster!” Piña exclaimed without warning, making Noi, Pinch, and Rumble jump. She looked at Coxa with relieved excitement. “Before everybuggy changed, the eggs had a harder time getting the love they needed. Your egg’s getting better nutrition than the eggs before everybuggy got their new bodies so it’s hatching faster.”
Pinch looked at Piña with admiration. “I think you and Dinky figured out what’s going on.”
Dinky’s ears went up. “What about the other eggs, are their nymphs developing faster too?”
“It’s hard to say, since they are still so early on, but it’s something we can keep a lookout for,” Coxa said. “I can say they are quite healthy, though.” She cried, and wiped her tears away with a hoof. “I’m sorry. I’m just so relieved there’s an explanation for what’s going on and it’s positive rather than what I was afraid of.”
Dinky glanced over at Kevin as if seeking his opinion.
Kevin nodded and pointed a hoof towards Coxa. “Dinky, Piña, hug needed.”
“Can do!” Dinky said. She and Piña both trotted over and joined in the group hug.
“Eeek!” Amethyst yelped in shock, as Muffins grabbed her up in a full wing hug with surprising speed. She smiled and turned so she could give Muffins a proper hug. “You all right, Mom?”
“I’m fine.” Muffins nuzzled Amethyst. “I needed to hug one of my daughters, and you were the closest.”
“My egg hasn’t hatched, and I’m already overprotective.” Coxa sighed. “This isn’t a good start for me as a mom is it?”
“Make room,” Berry said. She somehow squeezed herself into the group hug and looked Coxa in the eye. “You stop that right now. I’ve seen you with the Cake’s little ones and around Piña, Pinch, and the others. You do a wonderful job of taking care of them and guiding them. You should have told us about what was going on, though. Even if we couldn’t have done anything for your egg, we could have given you and Spiracle support.”
All of us ponies voiced our collective agreement.
Berry turned her head and nodded towards Muffins. “I can’t tell you the number of times Barrel and I’ve gone to Muffins and Turner for advice about what to do with Pinch.” She smiled, looked down at Piña, and added, in an older sister’s teasing tone, “I’ve even asked them what I’m going to do with Piña.”
Piña, smiling back, stuck her tongue out at Berry.
“Same for me getting advice about Amethyst and Dinky from her and Barrel,” Muffins said.
“You’re in a new home, your first egg is about to hatch, you have new neighbors that live completely differently than you’re used to, you’re getting used to getting emotions from other changelings, your body has completely changed, you’re taking care of Gena now, and there have to been dozens of other things that are putting pressure on you, whether or not you’re thinking about them,” Berry told Coxa. “You don’t have to face all of that by yourself. Let us help when we can.”
“I haven’t been facing everything alone. Spiracle has helped me a lot. Gena’s been there for me too. As have Cubitus and Radius.” Coxa looked down at Piña and smiled. “Piña’s been a blessing too. She’s helped me so much in getting the hatchlings acclimated to their new home.”
Berry gave Coxa a faux half-stern look. “That’s great to hear, but you are going to let us help you right?”
Coxa smiled and nodded. “I promise, when I need help, I will ask for it.”
“I’ll make sure she does,” Gena said.
“I will too,” Spiracle said. “I have a feeling she’s going to be having enough eyes on her for a while. I won't have to worry about her too much though.” He smiled and let Coxa go. “Shall we head on back?”
Coxa nodded.
“I guess that means we have to let her go,” Berry said to the fillies.
“Thank you all,” Coxa said. “I can’t tell you how much it means to me to have so many ponies looking out for us.”
“Please send us a message when the egg hatches,” Berry said. “We’ll all be on pins and needles until we hear something.”
“We will send our swiftest messengers with the news,” Spiracle said and gestured towards Gena and Cubitus.
“You will be coming to tell us first, right?” Berry asked them in a mock threatening tone.
Piña nodded in silent agreement and gave the pair of ‘messengers’ a serious look.
“We’ll split up so you will find out the same time Kevin does,” Cubitus assured. “We already promised him he would be the first to know.”
Berry smiled and nodded. “That will work.”