-Equus, Ponyville, Sugar Cube Corner, Twilight-
“It’s exhausting just dealing with just Jaded alone, I also have deal with Discord and the both of them making what sound like comically and ludicrously bad trade agreements with Prince Rutherford that they were possibly taking seriously!” I have since learned that it sucks to have an alicorn’s biology. Why? Because I’m immune to headache and migraine pills, also most poisons which some forms of medicine classify as. “Also, as per usual, I’m still trying to deal with lambkin and changelings wanting nothing to do with each other. There’s similar issues between Abyssinians and Diamond Dogs and a few others of notable mentions.”
“Do you need our help Twilight? Jade wouldn’t do anything crazy with me around, in fact she goes out of her way to say I’m cuddliest pegasus in the world.” When Fluttershy said this, me and my friends nodded. “Also please stop teasing me about it, our relationship is a totally platonic friendship! Now if only she and Jack would stop finding ways to antagonize each other that’s hard for me to find out about, they are getting too good at hiding what they are doing and they are currently even if you were running a score of what is quickly becoming the world’s longest running prank war.”
“That checks out.” Rainbow stated with a surety that we all had about it. “Also what has Jackass done lately to earn Jade’s ire? That Jackalope really knows how to prank.”
“How uncouth of you to use his full name Rainbow, even if he won’t respond to anything else.” Rarity took a sip of tea and poured some into a cup before sliding it over my way with her magic. “Also yes darling, you are the fluffiest pegasus of Ponyville.”
“No Fluttershy, the world’s longest running prank war went on for seven years straight in total with one prank happening a day without a single ceasefire being called. What Jade has is more of a rivalry in a slow and relatively cold prank war and Jack-butt challenge’s her to think harder every now and then.” Of course Pinkie would know that, why wouldn’t she? “There were rules of no collateral damage, overly harmful pranks or needless cruelty. Surprisingly those rules were never broken once. Have anything to add Applejack?”
“I don’t have much of any suggestions that are not going to be simplified down to me propping up the economy by selling the apples in bulk and trying to finagle things with that in some way. Which is probably not what you wanted to hear sugar cube.” Applejack was one of the four people I knew that had ‘jack’ in their name. She was my favorite among all the ‘jacks’ I knew. Jaqueline Sparrow should be kept away from Jaded La Perm at all times. Even if their friendship is really adorable, it breaks reality. “Also speaking of cuddliest Pegasus, Fluttershy has won the Miss Cuddles Award again. Don’t know why they keep sending it to my house, can you drop on by to pick it up later Fluttershy?”
“Of course, I’m so sorry that they keep sending those to your home by accident.” Fluttershy muttered into daintily biting a cinnamon roll.
“I want to win it at least once…” Applejack mumbled with her head down.
-Earth, Cape Suzette, Kahn Industries Headquarters, Shere Kahn’s Office, Shere-
From what my informants say, Caper Canine and Leap Lamb have finally arrived in Cape Suzette, both of them have quite a few injuries… I’m fairly surprised that none of them are permanent, it wasn’t hard to keep up with their antics in the news.
They were spotted traveling with the famous dog actor, rescuing people from a fire and beating or evading mercenaries.
Despite all attempts to bring her down, Miss Lambchop has proven to be a most fortuitous choice in handling the PET and the AI tethered to it.
I heard a knocking and nodded to myself.
“Come in.” Into the office stepped my son, many would be surprised that I even found love. I gave a small hint of a smile. He was not a businessman like I was, but he wasn’t a disappointment. “Mowgli, I see you are on time.”
“What did you want dad?” My child was more affectionate towards his mother, but that was understandable and it was clear why his voice was rather… flat.
While I haven’t been a harsh father, I have focused on many other things more than my family to all our detriments and have been rather cold and aloof. I never show weakness. I paid for most of the clothing, food and the very roof that was over our heads, he at least acknowledges that I cared somewhat.
“Mowgli, I want you to take a bodyguard over the course of the next week or so.” I was about to tell him why he needed one.
“Why?” Good question, as I did not know yet what was going to happen.
“An acquaintance of mine has arrived in Cape Suzette, they tend to attract… trouble.” In so many words, I have seen her draw some of the worst trouble the world has to offer.
“So are you a mob boss like rumors say?” Mowgli, please do not test my patient or your lack of wit with that statement.
“No, I’m just a businessman trying to predict when things are about to… go wrong...” It would give me peace of mind that my son wasn’t targeted by whatever comes from Pom’s presence in my city. “I just know it will happen while my acquaintance is present in Cape Suzette. I do not know the when, how or what of it, but it will happen all the same. I may be cold and harsh, I may drive hard bargains and do suspect business, but I am not criminal personally.”
“Says the guy that can intimidate anyone in a business suit without trying.” Oh Mowgli, how little you thought of me.
It doesn’t matter, I would not force a bodyguard.
“Even if you will not accept a bodyguard, then at least be wary of the coming days here in Cape Suzette.” I stated calmly, hoping he would take my warning to heart because it is me telling him this.
“You have no idea what to expect, yet your trying to warn me about it?” Mowgli then turned and started to leave my office. “You might want to get your head checked, it almost sounds like you care. I’ll get back to you later about that bodyguard.”
That’s the problem Mowgli, I do care.
-On the way to Cape Suzette, Shanty-
“I be happy to be seeing Pom, Smolder and Ocellus again.” Being on a boat always put me at ease, whether it be in the sky or on the ground. Hong Kong be a very nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there what with the child smuggling ring we broke up.
“Yeah, Pom and your friends are already there, it’ll take us another day at least to show up.” At least Bentley ran background checks on everyone on this boat, so there were no surprises here.
“Sure it’s nice and quiet, but I’m kind of worried that Carmelita isn’t on the boat with us.” Sly was reclining on a deck chair with a coconut full of rum next to him. I moved closer to get a whiff to make sure that it… “Stop eyeing my drink Shanty and get your own.”
“You be knowing they won’t be letting me anywhere near the stuff.” It was fairly obvious that they thought it would have an effect on me. Even if it wouldn’t, they would be knowing my number if they be seeing me down an entire bottle of rum. “They would be thinking I’m too young for it!”
That is being why I have to get…
“Besides, I already got you a bottle Shanty, so no need to raid the pantry solo.” Sly put an unopened bottle on the table next to his drink and looked away while whistling loudly in an innocent tone. “Just leave my drink alone and don’t cause too much trouble, maybe play a game of shuffleboard with Murray or spy on Mopsy to see what she’s doing.”
I did as he asked by taking the bottle and stashing it in my bag, then I be waiting for him to take a sip of his drink.
“The captain if I be seeing it right.” The grin on my face could not be shaken as Sly sat up coughing and sputtering. He managed to not spill any of the drink, aside from what had already entered his mouth.
“Shanty!” Laughing at Sly’s slightly angry indignation as I be running towards the stern of the ship giggling all the way.
-Cape Suzette, upper tier walkway, Pom-
“Pom can we talk?” Looking up to Ocellus from my strawberry ice cream, I looked out from the walkway at the canal of water below and the people meandering about.
Glancing at Dolly, she was still happily working through her snow bowl and humming happily at the flavors in it. Not like she was going to take it in the form of a snow cone without giving away that she was an abnormal dog, we wanted at least a little peace today.
“Sure.” The bench I sat on had some pleasant shade from a nearby tree.
Ocellus took a seat next to me and looked over the plaza.
“So, I’m guessing this is about you and Smolder?” I put that out there as I worked through my scoop of ice cream.
“What, no! I can handle our beautiful relationship just fine on my own.” Oh thank goodness, that might have led to awkward questions about changelings that I really didn’t want to ask or know. “Though maybe I could use a little advice about it.”
“Well as long as you two are not going too far into physical affection too soon, then you should be okay. You know the hummingbirds and bees right?” Thankfully she nodded as an answer to my question. “I would ask, but I’m not sure if I want to know if you know… with an ovipositor…”
“Please don’t. Just know changelings are compatible with just about anyone, we naturally have to be.” Ocellus turned a little red. “Which is why I recently found out some things about my shapeshifting.”
“Like what?” She had me curious now.
“Well I’m not a fluffmancer, but… I did mimic your ability a few days back while I was disguised as Dolly. I transformed my paws to have spider hairs on them.” Which if what Ocellus was telling me is correct, that means she can mix and match attributes of anything she has ever seen. “I also added proportionate dragonfly wings while looking like her so… yeah. I just realized that my people don’t have to go all in on a transformation. The properties of the appearance are still weaker than the real thing, but with enough spider like hairs it didn’t matter.”
“So going to tell your hive about this revelation and is that what has you worried?” She seemed a little nervous.
“Well for the most part nobody really thinks about it. I mean we can’t shape away our injuries as they will translate to whatever we transform into. So why should we be able to mix and match more than one given trait like a Draconequus?” Okay so Ocellus was a little bit disturbed by find this out apparently. “I mean, what if I were to transform into something that synergizes with something else and become stronger for it, but wouldn’t want to change back to being me?”
“There’s nothing wrong with being yourself Ocellus, which includes all aspects of you and whatever form you happen to take. It’s still you regardless of outward appearances.” I continued eating my ice cream. “Anything else?”
“Well, yes actually. I was wondering, just how much of a force multiplier you are for dogs in general considering how powerful Dolly is?” You know what Ocellus, I haven’t the foggiest.
I never made any of my familiars do more fighting than what was necessary when we took on the shadow monsters spilling into Equus, they actually held most of the shadows attacking us back while we sealed the problem with the keys that opened interdimensional portals between realms. The second time I fought shadow monsters it was with Big Mama and my Canis Minor god puppies, we had Fœnum Pom and her sheep dogs to help, plus all my friends were there and there was even a Big Papa. Don’t know what happened to my god puppies Big Papa, but I’m fairly sure if he were around he would have been my familiar too.
“I’ve never actually tested my familiars quite as much as I have Dolly, I think Dolly was plenty unique before her magic even got kick started.” If my familiars held their own against the ravenous shadow monsters to protect me and my friends, then they will still be patiently waiting for me. “I really haven’t thought about it much, but I would have to say that I possibly make dogs stronger well beyond their natural limitations just by being in their vicinity. If it’s one of my familiars, then I can obviously power them up.”
“I miss everyone. Cape Suzette looks really nice and vibrant, but it’s reminding me far too much of a Canterlot." Ocellus, given what we know, this kind of place is not so uncommon. "A gleaming city, very little in the way of farm lands and a place where a lot of odd people congregate.”
“Odd people tend to congregate everywhere and isn’t unusual in any world.” I’m being reminded of Huoshan because the city is built into the side of mountains and are layered on top of that. “I would know, I think I’m with the only changeling willing to befriend a lambkin. I’m sure other changelings would befriend lambkins… but it’s not going to be very easy unless the lambkin in question is heavily medicated to keep them calm.”
“You didn’t need medications to be my friend.” Ocellus said with a smile.
I continued licking at my snack thoughfully.
Eventually I sent a smile and some love Ocellus’s way.
-A few hours later-
“So what are Ocellus and Dolly doing again?” We were walking along the bayside of Cape Suzette, well at least Smolder was walking. I was lightly limping on three legs.
“I want Dolly to get used to Ocellus’s scent, that and I want them to be friends so Ocellus is going to the skate park with Dolly to make sure she stays safe.” I had asked Molly about it when she gave us a ride into the city and she told us of a few places of interest and a few places to stay away from. Apparently mad scientists were known quantity around here. “I’ll try to get you to spend time with her as well. Like Dodo, she’s going to be sticking with us when we leave.”
“Are you still upset that you’re taking one of the older dogs from the Dalmatian family?” Smolder asked as we listened to the sound of clanging buoy rocking nearby.
“Better the older dog, than one of the younger pups.” I wouldn’t know how to live with myself if I took Dolly’s baby sister Dorothy instead of her, at least Dolly knew what she was getting into. “I got Dolly talking to her family, for a while she was reticent to contact them and it had me worried. She’s going to miss them a lot and I’ve accepted her as family and her family has accepted me after I gave them a call on the way here after takeoff.”
“Hey at least you’re walking now, not bad for about two days unconscious and five or so days of constant rest after being brutalized.” Dragons like Smolder tend to roughhouse more than any other species on Equus, which is a bit strange when you compared them to their calmer and more collected cousins the longma. “Hey look at that, I think that’s the plane Molly was talking about. What was it, the sea something?”
“The Sea Duck I believe it was called.” From what I heard some of Molly’s friends lived out on the docks, this one had an airplane that was easily recognizable. She mentioned how cargo businesses went downhill, but cargo planes still flew supplies in out and out of this place. This place used to be a big hub and was now less needed, it was fairly active forty or so years ago. From the looks of things the cargo businesses around here were still going, just not as much for smaller planes like this one. “Apparently Donald’s sister Della knows the guy who lives here personally.”
“Must be hard for small businesses to keep going around here.” Smolder stated while looking at all the fishing boats. “At least the fishing around should be pretty good, used to go fishing with my brother Garble.”
“Speaking of family, I’m going to tell you what I told Ocellus, don’t try to play fetch with Dolly when you are spending time with her.” It was quite interesting for me to know why she hated it with a passion. “She hates it.”
“What dog hates playing fetch?” Smolder asked as she we sat down to look out into the bay. “I mean I can understand Zipporwhill back in Ponyville has a possible talent for understanding dogs like you, yet even that dog loved playing fetch.”
“Try to take it from Dolly’s perspective, she has ninety eight brothers and sisters. Now imagine playing fetch with all of them all the time. ALL, THE, TIME, with no one being in the mood to do something else.” I watched as Smolder’s face slowly changed into a look of understanding horror. “One of the reasons she hates playing fetch so much is because she has done an entire week of nothing but that once, another reason is that she finds the effort entirely boring if decent exercise. She likes more stimulating activities like skateboarding, sky diving now apparently after the street luging incident across the bridge and anything that gets her blood pumping like spending time around me when I’m in danger. She likes martial arts too, which she is learning from me to actively figure out how to do more intricate skateboard tricks in combat. She's taken to it like a duck takes to water.”
“Yeah the Sea Duck is still a prideful plane as ever.” We both looked to the bear that walked up on us. “Kit Cloudkicker, nice to meet you!”
“Not exactly what we were discussing, but let’s go with that.” I answered in reply as I shook his left paw with my left hoof. “Pom Lambchop and my friend here goes by Smolder.”
“Yo.” Smolder stated as she waved at the bear lazily, I really should learn if Dragons and Changelings have last names. Changelings might not, but Dragons certainly did. “Just hanging out with my friend.”
“What happened to her?” Kit stated as he took a seat with us.
“Got into a brutal seven on one fight, her opponents were far worse off than she was afterwards surprisingly.” Smolder looked up to me for being tough, but I still didn’t appreciate my ever bleating heart putting me in most of those situations. “Pom here knows how to defend herself very well, you can say we’re here in Cape Suzette on vacation and hopefully she will get the time to heal. Lots of people want to beat her up for being a professional at martial arts.”
“What happened to the other guys?” Kit asked, he was a big guy and was friendly sounding.
“A number of things like broken limbs, bleeding cuts from the edges of my hooves and what passes for a lot of bruises, I hope they are okay after what I did to most of them.” I was underselling the situation by quite a lot by not mentioning magic or world eating shadow monster summoning shadow copies of my friends that were more than pale imitations. Kit looked at my legs, looked like he didn’t want to comment on them. “Only one of them really deserved the beating they took from me. My left eye is mostly fine and just needs to heal, the muscles in my right leg still need time to recuperate since I threw it out while I was fighting all of them.”
“At least you had your friend Smolder there to help you right?” Kit tried.
“I wasn’t there, she held her own against them by herself. Pom’s really awesome like that!” Smolder commented with a prideful smile. She was wearing a loose shirt and was keeping her wings tightly under wraps beneath it. Here there be dragons and nobody was the wiser and it would stay that way since we didn’t want any trouble. “Also before you ask, I’m older than I look… I’m just a bit short.”
Yeah ‘Smol’, as Ocellus puts it, was truly a cute nickname for Smolder. I wasn’t about to use it, because Ocellus was the one that had a monopoly on it and wasn’t about to give permission.
“Teenager…” I whispered to Kit. “No growth spurt.”
“Ah, your little britches has issues with her size then.” Kit seemed to understand as he whispered back and nodded, he sound like he already knew what it was like. “I used to be that small too, ugh I really should work out more because I’m looking a lot like my adoptive father figure. Not that he was an entirely bad role model, but I’ve come to realize that I’ve become a bit ‘too’ much like him. A true lookalike really, I miss all the crazy adventures I had with him. Not exactly the most virtuous guy, but he always tried to do the right thing.”
“I think you look alright, I mean bears are supposed to be big and whoever you’re talking about sounded like a good person. I don’t know if bears are supposed to be this friendly, I think teddy bears just don’t quite do big guys like you justice.” A lambkin wouldn’t go within a mile of an Ursa Minor much less a Major, I was one of rare few who went to Equestria knowing that’s where star beasts tend to tread more commonly. Well star beasts that weren’t my Canis Minor and Major. “I mean you came over here to see if I was okay. Even if moving around is still a bit painful, I’m not a complete invalid at the very least like I was last week.”
“I’m the friendliest as you’ll ever see around here. I’ll trying to get into shape to return to my passion, Sky Surfing.” As he said this the bear flicked out a boomerang shaped piece of metal. “Also I’m glad to hear your doing okay… well mostly okay.”
“Isn’t that a bit small for you?” I asked immediately.
“I can still use it, even my father could… though I guess getting a bigger one or at least having a spare on me wouldn’t go amiss. I need to go earn some quick cash for that, maybe I can talk to Molly about it...” With that Kit seemed to be thinking deeply. “Thanks for talking with me, I’ve been training to myself hyped up to be back in the sky again. My best friend is going to be running a flying circus and I agreed to join her when she asked me if I wanted to take part. Hope you have a good time in Cape Suzette, Miss Lambchop, Smolder.”
“Hold up, how much money do you need?” I had plenty, enough to keep Shanty fed for months at least.