//------------------------------// // The Reveal // Story: Latex and Lace // by starshine_dash //------------------------------// A/N: This wonderful picture was done by RainbowShy1241 who is an awesome pony and I owe them more than I can think of. "Are you sure about this, Vinyl dearest?" Octavia asked, pulling the cart containing her and their foals toward Town Hall. They were all under a blanket while Vinyl provided them with breakfast, thanks to yet another spell from their doctor. Without it, the two mares could never keep up with 8 foals. "Absolutely Tavi, I can't stay cooped up in the house forever, and since I seem to have lost the ability to transform, I may as well make it public. You did send a message to Twilight, right?" The earth pony nodded, turning the last corner to the town hall, "Yes, I did it yesterday. She's probably already waiting for us." "I'm sorry, I'm just nervous." "You've been DJing for years, and I've seen those pictures you 'volunteered' for in Playcolt. How ever could you be nervous?" Vinyl blushed, "Well, back then, I wasn't really naked. I'm completely naked now..." Octavia rolled her eyes as the building grew in front of her, "Honestly, you'll be fine, Twilight understands, you're in the Princesses' graces, and I love you." "I know... I'm just..." "No more worrying. It'll make your milk sour and Rock and Blues won't get any love." "Fiiine, you always know what's best." "Of course I do!" the mare said with a grin, "I did read every book on child-rearing in the library." Vinyl just sighed and nestled down further under the light covering, petting over one of her children's manes. The texture and curl told her it was Zero, and then the feathery wings confirmed it. She smiled softly and then eeped as she felt a fresh set of lips on one of her teats. Octavia giggled as they finally approached the door, Twilight and the Mayor coming out to greet them, "Octavia, Vinyl, good to see you both!" the unicorn said with a smile. "Good to see you too, Miss Sparkle. Miss Mayor," the cellist said with a small nod. "So what can I do for the Princess' protege and two of our more famous residents?" "Well, Miss Mayor. Vinyl has had some side effects from having children. We would like you to hear us out before you run screaming into the Everfree." "Of course!" the mayor replied, looking legitimately confused that anypony could tell her something that would shock her so severely. However, as Octavia and Twilight began to relate Vinyl's story, and the uniling herself removed the blanket to reveal herself, the mayor found herself becoming more and more willing to bolt until she heard about the Princesses. Upon completion she nodded, "So, you wish to hold a town meeting to explain the situation? If she is under the Princesses' grace, then I'm sure it will be fine." Vinyl nodded, "Yes, I'd like to have the chance to tell everypony before somepony sees me and sends an angry mob my way. It wouldn't be good for the foals." "Foals?" asked the Mayor, "Oh yes, I had heard you'd started a family. May I see them?" Vinyl chuckled softly at the mayor's brightly gleaming eyes and giddy smile, "Sure, mayor. One's having lunch right now, but uh, I've been in worse positions," she said with a blush as she removed the blanket. Resting in the cart, curled up as close as they could get to their mother in a smile pile were 8 precious foals. Blues and Rock were having a slight argument over who got to be closer, until Roll rolled over and landed in between them. Jazz was curled up under Vinyl's chin, sound asleep while Rush was having lunch, his diaphanous wings fluttering rapidly and making a sound like a cicada. The other three were curled up together beneath one of Vinyl's forelegs, dozing and nibbling on each other. The mayor let out a sigh and smiled, "Such darlings... I do hope you take good care of them." "Don't worry, we plan to," Octavia said, staring at her foals for a moment before turning back around, "Twilight, I'd like you to make the announcement so it will be accepted more readily. As popular as her DJ-PON3 persona is, discovering she's half-changeling could lead to a riot." "Understandable. Is this afternoon okay for you? It will take me a little while to get the summons out," the mayor said, looking up at the sun to judge the time. "That would be fine, Mayor," the earth pony said, shifting the weight of the yoke slightly, "We were planning on stopping over to SugarCube Corner for some lunch and to handle Pinkie Pie's desire to plan parties for our wedding and such." "I think I'll join you," Twilight said, smiling, "I haven't had a cupcake in a few days. We'll see you this afternoon, Mayor?" "Of course, my little ponies. I'll get those summons out as fast as I can." "Thank you," Vinyl said with a smile, laying the blanket back over them. They walked to the confection connection in silence and Twilight held the door open so Octavia could enter with the cart. The trio worked themselves into a corner table and waited for PInkie Pie to show up. No sooner did Twilight open her mouth to wonder where the party pony was than the mare burst out of the cart, holding all 8 foals, napping peacefully, and hollar at a volume usually reserved for Fluttershy, "Babies!" The couple blinked and Twilight facehoofed before they all started laughing. Pinkie put the foals back in the cart with a smile, giving each of them a kiss on the cheek before turning to the table with a wide grin. Vinyl smiled back, "Hey Pinks." "Hey Vinyl! So what can I getcha today? Gotta keep up your energy to keep up with all those foals. I have enough trouble keeping up with the Cake's twins!" The trio placed their order, Pinkie bouncing back behind the counter to retrieve it before returning in a flash with a pile of tasty pastries for the group. She pulled up an extra seat and sat down, enjoying a few herself. As the meal proceeded, she would be holding one of the foals, then suddenly holding another. If the mare could settle down, she would make one hay of a mother. After a brisk conversation and a satisfying meal, the four ponies and cart full of foals left for the town square where the Mayor was almost finished getting the podium set up. The crowd was slowly gathering as Vinyl hid herself under the blanket and was moved close to the podium by her fiancee. As soon as every pony in Ponyville had arrived, the Mayor spoke up, "Fillies and Gentlecolts. We have a very important announcement today. With that in mind, I give the podium to Twilight Sparkle!" Twilight nodded and stepped up as the mayor stepped down, "Hello everypony! Now, this is very important, so, please hold all of your questions until the end. As some of you may have heard, Octavia and Vinyl Scratch recently had quite a few foals. Now, this is a joyous occasion and I'm sure we're all happy about that, but it has had some complications. Vinyl's story is long and complicated and not for me to tell, but suffice to say she has always been the Vinyl we know, or the DJ-PON3 we enjoy the music of. So, it is with the authority invested in me, by her, and by Princess Celestia of Equestria, that I reveal her secret to you all. As a complication of her birth, she has been unable to reassume the form you are all used to. Vinyl has always been part-changeling, but now she is unable to hide that fact. I assure she is no threat, and she is under the protection of myself, my friends, and the crown. Vinyl, if you could step forward please?" The uniling did as she was asked, exiting the cart and standing next to the podium. She was wearing her trademark shades and aside from a slightly darker coat, the wings, and the carapace on her undersides, she didn't look all that different. A few murmurs of concern rustled through the audience, but nopony made a move for violence, which was good. Vinyl stepped up to the podium and smiled, "Hey everypony," she said with that slight buzz below her voice, "It's me. I know I've hid this from all of you for my entire life, but, after having 8 beautiful foals, it seems my body doesn't want to hide itself anymore. Please don't treat me any differently than you used to, I'm still DJ-PON3." Several ponies nodded while others murmured assent or concern, but by and large the reaction was relatively indifferent. Shrugging, she stepped down from the podium and Twilight took her place yet again, "Any questions?" Nopony said anything, so the mayor declared the meeting over and the crowd rapidly dispersed back to their daily lives. Twilight laid a hoof on Vinyl's shoulder and smiled, "That went better than I expected. Some of the ponies in this town don't like change." "Well, I'd have felt better with a more decisive reaction." "I know, dear," Octavia said, nuzzling her fiancee, "But, come, we have a wedding to plan." "Oh my gosh!" shouted Pinkie, appearing from the cart full of foals, "You have to let me help!" "Of course, Pinks," Vinyl said with a grin, "I wouldn't have anypony else plan the reception. We're gonna handle the wedding itself though. Got some ideas." "Okie doki Loki!" she said with a smile and hugged both of them, deciding to hug Twilight as well, "Just make sure you have Rarity do the dresses, otherwise she will freeeak!" Octavia rolled her eyes, "That was actually our next stop, Pinkamena. We wouldn't dream of having anypony else make the dresses for such a momentous occasion." Pinkie's eye twitched when the cellist mentioned her full name, but otherwise remained a smiling, happy pony, "Well, I gotta get back to the bakery before the muffins burn or Derpy will KILL me!" she said with a mild look of terror before vanishing in a pink blur. "That pony..." Octavia sighed before hooking the yoke back up and beginning to walk toward the boutique, Vinyl clambering into the cart to make sure the foals didn't wake up alone. The meeting with Rarity took far longer than either mare thought. Measurements were taken, retaken, and dress ideas were sketched and scrapped. They finally managed to escape her clutches when the foals began to demand dinner. They returned home exhausted and ate a quick meal of daisy sandwiches and a crisp salad while Vinyl fed the kids. After enjoying their meal and getting everypony settled down for the night, the two mares adjourned to their bedroom, where they snuggled up next to each and kissed warmly. "You know, Vinyl dearest... I do believe we should invite Mr. Nash to the wedding." "Oh? Why's that?" "Well, we would not be together if it were not for him." "Huh, hadn't thought of it that way. I guess we could invite him." "I'm glad you think so. So, that's my family that still talks to me, your family, the Elements, Berry, Carrot Top, Derpy, and another 58 ponies." "Sounds right... This is going to take forever isn't it?" "Well, the town hall is booked two months from now, so we have until then." "Two months... Yay..." Vinyl said, looking for all the world like someone just killed her pet. "Oh, don't worry, dearest. I'll take care of everything. What I don't handle, Pinkamena will." "You're right. I trust you." "Good, now, let's get some rest. It's been a long day." The two mares snuggled up with each other, Octavia gladly being the little spoon this night and were soon asleep. Lucky for them, they had foals that slept through the night like their parents, at least for now.