The next month was… insane. A lot happened so here's a basic recap. Firstly, the electrical and gas/mana stuff was all set up. It felt nice to have that. Grandma and Grandpa got their own place, one of those pre-manufactured houses. It was cheap and has bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, livingroom, ECT.
I just recently got a bathroom inside and I had no idea how badly I needed a shower until it was finished.
Wood Ax is now working on the first barn.
I got my baronesses papers back. I am now Baroness Lovely Days of Stardrop Town. Lower Nobility, Rank 1. Basically it means I'm nobility and as far as that's concerned all it amounts to is that I get the chance to talk with other nobles or other nobles can talk to me directly for this or that Investments in the town.
All in all, it just means more resources. Possible connections, and income.
Other than that, the only other things of note were my meetings with the members of my parents gang. It went well enough and given the situation in Baltimare I made the first choice for the town and use of my authority as Baroness. Construction of a boarding school/orphanage. Baltimare has enough problems and a country town would do them better than a city full of warring gangs and cheap politicians sending them the bare minimum to keep food on the tables for those foals.
“Already going to be a pain and a half to handle all the farming here, getting to know the locals, dealing with problems…and basically trying to run an entire town…” I groaned.
On the bright side, Town Hall had a spare room I converted Into my office. While the mayor was still gonna be around and a thing, mainly to take most of the paperwork off me, I still had stuff to look over. Bright side, this position gave me access to the town records and census.
So I sat going over all the records and residents that have ever lived in Stardrop Town, however brief.
“Alright, let’s see who’s been living in this…weird town.” I muttered.
There was a fair amount of records here. Majority of the towns first generation residents all came from Canterlot, Manehattan, Trottingham, and Las Pegasus with later on immigrants from the Minotaur, Zebra, and Griffin nations. There is one resident dragon, but he lives in the woods it seems. Hm.
“Surprised to see all these different races here…” I hummed, trying to see where the dragon was specifically in the woods.
The records didn't really say. It looks like they do come to town once a month, first Friday of the month like clockwork for supplies. Mainly recharging some mana batteries, rice, grain, beans, and they always pay in either old Equestrian Platinum bits or in gemstones or raw ores.
Platinum Bits? If I remember, those went out of circulation… what, almost seven hundred years ago because of a platinum shortage? Back then a Platinum Bit was worth a thousand gold bits. Well, more like ten thousand bits now due to the metals value and the historical collectivity. Must mean this drake is very old.
Aside from that there was a collection of maps and blueprints of the town over the years. And a tax record. Woah. Hopper's family farm is called Moonfall Farm? Cool. Ouch. Two hundred and fifty bits in taxes monthly? That's three thousand in taxes a year…
Not just them. Back in the day, looks like Melody was paying about two thousand five hundred a year. The farms are being taxed oddly high.
Same for the other businesses in town. Most pay several thousand or more in tax, with the local Barnyard Bargains paying the most, almost twenty thousand a year. Housing tax seems low at least. Most house holds pay no more than a hundred or less a month and most ponies regular tax payments are twenty to sixty, but few actually get anything back.
This is wrong. There is a lot of bits here, yes but maybe…
As I dug through the papers I caught out local Dragon residents tax file…
Well, now I know why the baroness payment was so high. He pays almost ninety thousand in taxes or commodities a year… hm. Actually, according to this he also owns rights to minerals, ore and such within the forest. That's almost three thousand acres of land. Still, even selling ores and maying his payments from his personal horde he can't be that rich… something is off.
“Yeah, something ain’t right here.” I frowned.
I put all the files back into a pile and headed out. Hmm… wonder who can lead me to this dragon? He comes to town once a month… someone has to know-
I froze in place at what I was looking at… Flurs… walking out of the Brothel House…
"Oh, Hey Lovely." She said with a nod, hood and cloak still on as usual.
“Uh…hey there Flurs.” I said. “What were you…doing in there?”
"Oh that? The Geezer sells potions. They order a regular shipment of anti-pregnancy potions and some other… specialty potions." Flurs said with a shrug. "They pay good so I deliver." I felt an unexpected sigh escape my breath. I mean, it wouldn't have been bad if she was… it would just be awkward…
“Alright…so do you know why business taxes are…a bit egregious?” I asked carefully.
"Nope." She shrugged. "Why? Numbers not adding up?"
“Not adding up is definitely something.” I shook my head. “Property tax’s are either reasonable or just straight up non-existent…but the business taxes are way too high…seriously the bottomline for stores is two thousand a year.”
"Ouch. Thought taxes like that only get paid in Canterlot?"
“Yeah me to, and sure while people did come from Canterlot, there’s also a lot of people from other races that came here as well.” I frowned. “So I’m really confused by that and wondering where a lot of this money is going, cause there’s no way this high of business tax’s aren’t getting smuggled somewhere.”
"Hmm… did you check with the Other Town mayor?"
“Was gonna do that, but I was going to ask where to find the Dragon that lives here.” I said. “Cause meeting them would help me a bit on figuring some stuff out.”
"No, Lovely I don't think you heard me. I asked have you spoken with the OTHER TOWN mayor?"
I frowned. “Um…what are you talking about?” I asked carefully.
"Other Town. The… screw it, I'll just show you." Flurs said, pulling me along with her magic. We walked to the edge of town was, and here I spotted a large cave with the words Other Town carved into the top of it. "Welcome to Other Town. The town under Stardrop."
There's two towns here?!? … No wonder Baroness was so expensive…
“Alright…so now I understand why buying this entire place was stupid expensive…” I muttered. “But…what, how and why?”
"You'll see once we actually get in." Flurs said.
I followed her down. The further we went the darker it got. Was so dark I couldn't see a thing. Flurs lit up her horn and after walking for a while we came to an opening- Sweet Celestia's Cake Addiction!!
All around me were… creatures! Changelings! Thestrials, Weird bat looking Griffons, Species I didn't even know the name to!
The whole ceiling of this cavern was lit up by huge glowing crystals hung on the rock ceiling that stretched up for maybe a mile or more. Some of the buildings here reached the top, acting as home, work, shops and supports for the ceiling all at once!
"This is Other Town. Home to the lesser known residents of the town and various creatures and monsters." Flurs said. "Friendly Monsters. Mostly."
“What in Celestia’s fat ass…” I muttered in awe.
Flurs snorted. "Well, not every species exactly lives or prefers the surface. What with in the past them being hunted, killed and treated as outcasts, they made underground sanctuary towns and cities like these all over Equis. Technically Other Town has been here longer than Stardrop, but Celestia found out after the town had been established top side and Instead had the two towns be individuals but also one town. One for the usual day loving types and the other for the odd, the strange and the abnormal types. Heard Princess Luna loved these places, and she was fighting for them during the whole Nightmare Moon thing."
“Alright…” I rubbed my temples. “Ugh, this just got…five times more complicated, and I hate it.”
"Well, that's life. Now come on, let's go find the mayor."
“Alright…” I took a deep breath. “How well do you think they’ll take it to me having…bought everything?”
"Eh, they probably won't care."
“Eh, fair.” I shrugged, not knowing much about these people or who even lives here but pretty sure they’ll just go ‘if you don’t fuck with us, we won’t fuck with you’.
As we walked through the crowds I got a good look at some of the Creatures here. Some looked impossible. Others looked unnatural. I saw one bipedal creature with green skin, wearing a black suit and dress shoes, no eyes but a nose, mouth and a Question Mark from his forehead down to where his eyes would be.
I saw…
"Hey Flurs." The zombie pony waved.
"Hey Jaw Bone." Flurs said with a nod as we kept walking.
“Uh…” I blinked. “What?”
"What? That's Jaw Bone. He's a zombie." Flurs said matter of factly as if that was a normal sentence.
“There’s…a lot I’m missing here, and you just saying that like it’s a normal sentence is…concerning…”
"Well I come here regularly since I came to town so, it's normal for me. Hi Bob." Flurs said, giving a wave to the giant blob of blue slime with a single eye.
"Hi Flurs!" Bob said, making a hand form from their slime body and giving a wave while a mouth shape spoke words…
“I’m…I’m so confused…”
"About?" Flurs asked.
“Just…all this…” I motioned. “Like, you’re just trotting along like everything’s fine and dandy I’m following along wondering what in the world is happening.”
"I guess you would find it all hard to believe but trust me. Everyone here is really no different than the people topside. Hey Kile!" I looked up to see what/who Flurs was waving at… only to see an abomination of rings with eyes floating with wings, many wings not even attached to itself above us.
"HeLLo FlURs." It said before flying off elsewhere.
"That was Kile." Flurs said with a shrug.
“What in Discord’s Browser History was that!?!” I shouted in panic.
"Dunno. Says he's an angel but personally I think he was some magic experiments gone wrong. Said he ran away from home when his dad and big brother started getting into a real bad argument over some project their dad was working on." Flurs said with a shrug. "He wandered for years before settling here in Other Town."
“Uh…alright…” I gulped. “Is there…any other crazy races down here that I should know about?”
"Hmmm…" Flurs seemed to be thinking that over.
“Uh…is there that many here?” I asked nervously.
"Well, define Crazy?"
I face-hoofed.
The walk to the mayor's office left me honestly exhausted. All these creatures here feel like they should be impossible but here they are, living little over a mile under the town above.
The mayor's office was a small building. Wood painted a grey-off white with the word Mayor written in blank paint along the top of the entrance.
I walked in and froze immediately.
Growing up I learned a lot about old, extinct races. Mainly because I found them interesting. So when before me at a desk sits a Shadow Pony, an Umbrum, and yes the horn is red and curved, I felt the last bit of my sanity die then and there.
"Is she alright?" The Umbrum asked.
"Eh." Flurs shrugged.
“I…it’s an Umbrum…” I slowly giggled like a loon.
*So, who is she Flurs?" The Umbrum asked.
"Mayor Ink Claw, this is Lovely Days. The new Baroness of Stardrop and Other Town." Flurs said.
"Ah yes, I received a letter from the assistant mayor top side. I was expecting a visit. Pleasure." He, Ink Claw, said as he turned to black flog, floated through his desk and rematerialized as a full pony in front of me with an outstretched hoof.
“It’s nice to meet you.” I said, gently taking his hoof and shaking it. “I can’t wait to know this is all just some outrageous fever dream in the end…”
"Oh my, seems she might need some assistance…" Ink Claw said.
"On it." Flurs said. She raised a hoof, and slapped me across the face.
One. Flurs is apparently way stronger than she looks cause I got knocked across the ground… and two… OUCH!!!!!!
“Ow~!” I whined, rubbing my cheek. “What the buck Flurs!”
"You snap out of it yet?" She asked.
"Was that necessary?" Ink Claw asked.
"Probably not but it was better than splashing cold water on her."
"How?"
"At least she's not wet." Flurs shrugged.
"Right… Apologies miss Days, er, Baroness Lovely, as I'm sure you know Flurs is… unconventional in her approaches and first time visits to Other Town are often… shocking."
“Y-yeah…it’s very shocking.” I shook my head. “So…there’s a lot to unpack here…”
"Come and sit here. We can discuss questions you might have." He said as he led me to a sofa. I sat down and began collecting myself
“Alright…” I sighed. “So, my first question is, why are the taxes for businesses so high?” I inquired. “Cause I did some digging through the records and…yeah all the Businesses are getting taxed quite hard.”
"I'm afraid that's our fault." Ink Claw sighed. "Back when the town above was being built, Other Town had already been here for almost a century. Discovering this and knowing of the hardships all our kind go through, she declared all Night Creature settlements to be tax free on businesses owned and operated. We pay housing and export taxes on products but the town above ended up having to pay for the missing taxes the businesses down here are exempt from paying."
“Well…that explains why everyone’s living expenses are so low.” I said honestly. “And by ‘she’, you mean Celestia and Luna?”
"Celestia. Princess Luna had been Imprisoned in the moon for…. Little over two hundred years by that point." Ink Claw said.
“Alright…so there’s nothing I can do about that…” I sighed. “So do the town’s folk topside know about this town?”
"Yes but few visit. Fewer visit up there." Ink shrugged. "Legally we're one town but the reality is we are two very different towns."
“I…can tell.” I sighed. “Which, again, would explain why this was all so expensive since I was technically buying two different towns.” I shrugged. “So…what should I know about this town?”
"Well, despite being subterranean we do have agriculture. We have the largest meat farms in Equestria. Not too difficult considering there aren't that many. We export refined metal, gravel, meats, specialty produce, and limestone. Every inch dug means more expansion for the city, money in the budget and space for homes for the generations to come or just more farmland."
“That’s rather interesting.” I said with a nod. “Though…doesn’t explain why the Dragon has the highest tax…”
"He used to be a sort of guardian for this town long ago. When Celestia made her rulings he retired and wanted to try and pay back what we can't, being said taxes. So, he opened his own mine, purchased the largest plot of taxable land in the area and has been digging up metal from the top side as well as down here since. His fire is what fuels all our biggest smelters. We save them for the metals that need more heat to melt and shape."
“Well then.” I said. “This is very interesting.”
Ink nodded. "For the most part we just stay down here. Save the occasional curious foal or teenager. Heh. I went topside once in a winter back when I was a foal. Got spotted and shifted to fog and ran. I hear they still tell that Shadow Pony story."
“Oh so that’s where that story came from.” I said in realization.
Ink chuckled. "Yes well, some of the foals still do that. Takes some fruit or an item as proof they went topside. Nothing valuable just whatever they find left outside or in the trash or from a garden. It's almost a rite of passage for foals down here."
“Sounds about right.” I nodded. “So…about the alien’s bit…is that real?” I inquired.
"Alien? Oh you must mean Queen Clutch and her brood. Their hive is a bit south of here but connected to Other Town by several tunnels. Their whole hive is dedicated to technology and science. Sometimes they bring their experimental topside."
Well, Wood Ax did say they were Alien Changelings…
“Well…that does explain some things.” I nodded. “So…what do you know about Jumino?”
"Personally not much. I know a sorcerer and Flurs topside know more and down here… maybe old Barkeep. Been around since Other Town was founded so he might know a thing or two. Aside from him, the local ghosts probably know something."
“Alright…gonna have to talk to them…” I muttered. “So…what questions do you have for me given that I’m…now your boss.”
"Well, it's not much but I have been considering a project regarding multiple access points top and bottom of the town. Basically they'd be large elevators and even stairs for folks to tour topside or down here. Equestria is marching towards a more unified future from what I've seen with Princess Twilight and the other races. So, I am hoping Other Town can be the first of our settlements to embrace the positive changes. So many still worry about how the creatures on the surface will react and I can't blame them, but a slow approach is a good starting point. At least to get the residents above and below to better interact and know one another before we consider tourism."
“That sounds like a good idea.” I nodded. “The town top side is rather welcoming, especially to someone new like me…and also to the fact that I literally bought their entire town.” I chuckled.
"And ours. So, any other questions or would you like a tour?"
I hummed, thinking about certain things. “I’ll probably have some of my questions answered through the tour.”
"Very well then. This way." Ink said as he led me out to the town. I noticed Flurs has run off…
“And Flurs has run off while I have to see…all this…” I sighed. “At least, hopefully, you’ll do a better job at being a tour guide than her.”
"I'd be a lousy mayor if I couldn't." He chuckled.
And so Ink gave me a tour of the town. It was interesting. What with some of the residents being ghouls, zombies, vampires, demons and other such odd creatures. Like the town Nutjob Anon the… whatever he is. He's the odd bipedal I saw earlier with the green skin and all black suit. He works in the meat processing plant but spends his time off work causing trouble. Or screwing around… literally.
The ghosts were nice if cold. Also literally. They work to keep the meat cold.
“Alright…so far Anon is…weird.” I answered.
"Yes well, we take all kinds down here." Ink said with a shrug. "Though, to be fair he did just appear here one day some years ago and just settled in."
“As in he just…magically appeared out of nowhere?”
"Basically."
“Well…that’s something.” I blinked. “Alright…so, what’s next?”
"Hm, well I suppose next would be having you meet with Barkeep. He looks kinda like Anon but different and as his name suggests runs the main bar in town."
“Hmm…that’s strange.” I brought up. “But currently, I really need a drink…”
Ink walked me over to a large stone sitting in an unremarkable corner of the town. On this stone was a wood door, well kept and in a wooden frame, all kept clean and oiled. Using his magic Ink opened the door. Inside was a place that was full of all the different creatures of the town talking, listening to music, dancing or just drinking. It was far larger than it should be given the rock the door was on, and as he walked us up to the main bar and stools I met him.
Barkeep was a little shorter than Anon, had pale, white skin with a sleek greeted back mane and thin mustache, a red and black vest, pants and shoes and greeted me with a smile. "Nice to meet you." He spoke with a voice that seemed to coax a sense of trust and comfort from me. "You're new in town."
“Well…new to this town that’s for sure.” I said carefully. “It’s nice to meet you.”
"Barkeep. And what's your name little lady?"
“Lovely Days.” I answered. “So, I hear your an important person around here.”
"If by important you mean old and I always carry good liquor, then sure, I'm important enough." He laughed.
“You have wisdom and experience on your side.” I said with a smile, trotting over and taking a seat. “And also good liquor is great cause I need some.”
"Anything in particular?" He asked as he pulled up several glasses.
“Not really, cause I really need something to help me…process everything that I’ve been seeing right now.” I answered.
"I got just the thing." He said, quickly bringing up a shaker, putting a few cubes of ice and pouring small amounts of various liquors in it rapidly before closing it, shaking it for a minute and pouring the mix into a cup for me and sliding it over. "This here is called the Mental Massage. Destress your brain some."
“Thank you.” I nodded, grabbing the drink and taking a sip of the thing.
It started off sweet, like roasted honey peanuts and slowly melted into a savory bitter, almost olive like tang that seemed to slide down my throat and warm my stomach. The warmth traveling from my belly, across my torso and back, up my neck and resting in my head where I finally felt the stress and tension in my head relax, unwind. My thoughts slowed to a gentle pace and took in the memories and experiences of the day one at a time.
“Oh…okay…that’s…that’s good.” I sighed happily.
"He does always know what the drinker needs." Ink stated with a chuckle. "Usual for me." He added, quickly being rewarded with a mug of a frothy darol gold colored drink.
"So, what brings you to my bar, Lovely Days?" Barkeep asked.
“Well, I’m the Baroness of both towns…and I literally just learned about this town today and all of it’s…occupants.” I said. “I also was told that you might know a bit about Jumino’s.”
"I might know a story or two." He said with a smile and a shrug.
“Anything that can help me…either understand the jumino’s more, or deal with that stupid snake.” I said honestly.
"Heh. Well, first story goes like this."
I woke up the next morning with a mild hangover. Nothing like at the salon in Stardrop but still there. I huffed as I turned around. The sheets tangling in my legs as if begging me to stay in bed.
I lay there for some time debating on if I should obey them. With a groan I pulled and kicked them off of me and rolled back around and onto the ground. My hooves hit the floor with a tired thud.
I yawned as I went to get some coffee.
“Well…thankfully it’s not as bad as before…” I muttered.
As I sat waiting for the brew to finish I thought back on the stories Barkeep told me. Honestly I don't know what to think of them and frankly if they're true at all then that raises so many questions about who Barkeep is to even know those stories.
I frowned asy brew finished and I poured myself a mug.
Well, no use thinking about all that now. Now… shit, what was I supposed to do today?
“Ah buck…” I frowned, trying to think of what in the world I’m supposed to be doing today.
As I sipped my coffee I tried to remember what I was supposed to do today. I know I had a meeting… conference? Fuck what was it? I know it was going to be important…
Knock. Knock.
I looked to my door, hearing the two quick knocks. Who's that? Guff would announce himself.
I quickly finished off my mug, put my glasses on and went to the door where… some mare was standing. She had a deep, almost crimson red fur, a hot pink mane and, if I'm being honest… was rather attractive. And I am not into mare's. "You're miss Day's, yes?" She asked.
”Yes…yes I am.” I said, trying not to blush at how pretty this mare was. “And who are you ma’am?”
"Oh, I'm Queenie. You don't remember, at the bar last night you said you'd help me and some others find work in the surface village?"
I… right! I remember. Some of the bar patients found out I was the new Baroness and asked if I could help them get jobs topside to try out! They drew straws and Queenie was first!
Though… looking at her, aside from her rather… attractive figure, she doesn't resemble a usual Other Town resident?
“Alright…so what are you?” I inquired. “Cause while you are…very attractive, you don’t resemble any…of the ‘usual’ residents in Other Town.”
"Oh, yes right. I'm a Succubus." She said with a smirk on those….soft… ruby red-
Wait- Stop! Not into mare's! Also a what?!
“Ugh…why me?” I whined.
"Is something the matter?" She asked, pouting adorab- For fucks sake how is she making me Bi?!
“Why must you be so sexy and adorable you horny she beast?” I whined, not knowing why but I was patting her head while I was whining.
"Hm? Oh, oh I'm sorry I forget this happens." She said. "My species has a unique Ability. We draw in the mortals with flowers like moths to a flame."
Mortals with…
Her species is like cat nip for virgins?! I'm… embarrassed but still… agh!
“Putting my sexual experience aside!” I said, maybe a little too quickly even as my face felt like a roaring fire. “So you want a job?”
"Oh yes! I heard there is a brothel up here and I wish to put my skills and abilities as a Succubus to work. I've been having all this sex for years to eat, but to eat and get paid! That's a win win!"
Trying… not… to… think… about… that…
“Now…do you eat souls?” I asked carefully. “Cause while you’re work would be…good…I don’t want you murdering people through it.”
"Hm? Well, yes but not in the way you're thinking. See, mortal souls naturally give off little flaks here and there. Normally they absorb into the air or ground or merge with a treasured item, like a pet or a toy or ring. The item holds a small part of those flakes of your soul. And those flakes are what I eat when I have sex. My species naturally has the ability to absorb these flakes, but only while in intimate pleasure. As Lovers would."
“Alright…good to know that it’s just flakes and not…literally sucking the soul out of someone’s privates.” I said nervously.
"That is a harsh stigmata and pretty offensive."
“I literally just learned Other Town, and all the races there, were real and alive yesterday.” I answered. “I’m sorry for sounding offensive.”
"It's alright. I know you don't mean anything by it but it's just a heads up in case or for future reference." Queenie stated. "So, shall we go or do you need to… cool off first?" She asked.
My face was red as a rose, heat was forming back there and I could feel my impulse control plummeting.
Nothing against Queenie but I don't know if I want to lose my virginity to her succubus magic attraction… do I?
“Curse you horny…” I grumbled, trying to get some self control back even if I…looked into their beautiful ruby eyes again.
"Oh my, I don't think I've ever seen the effect hit someone this badly? Um, I normally don't do this but you might want to let me-"
My impulse Control zeroed out as I leaned in, wrapped my hooves around Queenie and kissed those soft, cherry flavored lips, pulled her in and slammed the door closed behind me.
We walked down the road to town from the farm. I kept a rain coat on hoping to hide the crimson I still felt from pure awkward embarrassment…
I lost my V-card… to a mare. A succubus… and I enjoyed it. Like… a lot. Like, so much more than I imagined. Had it just been her effect… it would have work off after the first… ending… but then I kept going… and going… and going…
"For a first timer you had a surprising amount of endurance and energy." Queenie said from behind me, making my already permanent blush that much harder. "You also tasted quite sweet. Almost like a peach and honey."
“Shush…” I muttered. “It…it was the heat of the moment…I’m an Earth Pony…and…darn it, why did you make me Bi?”
"I didn't make you Bi Lovely. I can't change a pony's sexuality. Yes I can make a mare attracted to me but given that after your first release after the cherry popped you kept going, you were always Bi, just didn't know it." She stated matter of factly.
Could that be true? I'll admit when it comes to my own… likes, and dislikes, I never had a clear… attraction. I could always tell a mare was hot or a stallion handsome but I never felt attraction to them. List, admittedly, a few times. Before Queenie there was this one mare who worked for my parents who was… attractive and it confused me. And male guards I did have a few I fantasized about… and that mare thinking back… mostly… cuddling and… being…
Holy shit I am Bi?!
“Oh my Celestia…” I muttered in realization. “I really am Bi…”
"Told you~" Queenie said in a single song tone. "Perks of being a Succubus is that I can always tell a virgins sexuality based on their reactions around me."
“I mean…alright…” I sighed. “Just…wish my first time was…a little more romantic…or at least have a first date…”
"Succubi don't really date. Or be romantic. Not in our nature, but if you ever want a friend with benefits you'll just have to ask and I'll oblige." She said.
That made me stop for a while… I quickly opened the book and found Queenie. Labeled as Friend. Smaller title. With Benefits.
…Okay now I know the junimos are poking fun at me…
“Alright you adorable nature spirits, you have to be messing with me at this point…” I muttered bitterly.
I closed the book and led Queenie to the Brothel.
The Three Sisters. Margalo, Pinch and Peach, the last two being twins, gave Queenie a mock interview and… tests, independently, each one. She passed and starts Friday.
"Yes! Thank you Lovely!" She said, grabbing me and planting a wet kiss on my lips…
I just tried not to think of where these lips were recently and more or less enjoyed it.
With that Queenie went back home and so did I. But not before buying some things the sisters apparently sold…
Not saying what I bought, that's between me and my bedroom/bathroom.
The next day I was introduced to Mika the Thestrial. "Hi!" The tiny bat-like pony pegasus waved to me.
“Hi there Mika.” I said with a smile. “How are you doing today?”
"I'm super excited I can't wait to get my new job, Queenie got hers and I'm super-duper excited!" The fast talking, hyperactive small Thestrial said, their wings beating like a hummingbird's.
“I know you are.” I smiled, lightly patting their head like they were a very excitable foal or an adorable pupper. “Come on, let’s find you a job.”
We began to walk. Well, I walked she flew. "I can't wait til we get there, it's gonna be amazing!" She squeed.
“So what do you like to do Mika?”
“Oh I like lots of things like Balloons and Candy and fish and cake and ice cream and flowers and lemons and limes and apples and books and trees and-”
Oh boy… she’s… she’s gonna be… eager.
"You sure are eager." I said, kind of concerned that she might be…too eager.
"I just can't wait until we get there I have been dreaming about getting a job like this since I was a fully and I'm so excited!"
“What job you getting?” I inquired.
"I wanna be a post courier!"
Post courier?
“Like…a Mailmare?”
"No! A mailmare just delivers mail through town. A post courier delivers packages all over Equestria. Some of the fastest fliers in Equestria started out as post couriers. I get to fly all around the sky and travel all over Equestria. Maybe even the world!"
“That’s good to hear.” I nodded with a smile.
“Oh I hope I get it! I’ve been working in the Other Town mail delivery for years but I really want to get the job! I’ve gotten so used to Other Town I can practically fly around it and deliver the mail with my eyes closed! I did that once and only miss mailed four packages!”
“That’s pretty good.” I nodded. “You must really love doing your job.”
“Oh I used to hate it at first I thought it was so boring but then I got to know all the creatures on my routs and now I know them all by name and their hobbies, their likes, their dislikes their deepest darkest secrets and I wanna do the same up here but meet interesting ponies all across the land and who knows I might even get to know the Princesses if I have to deliver a package to them!”
”Well, that is a good goal to strive for.” I nodded.
We arrived at the Stardrop post office. Mika, already being a postal employee, all she needed to do was submit a transfer application and then submit a request to enroll in the Equestrian Courier program. And that was it.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!” Mika said as she hugged me tightly.
“Your welcome Mika.” I chuckled, hugging back and still thankful for my earth pony strength or I might have been wanting air from how tightly she was hugging me.
Once Milka was done hugging me she rapidly flew back home and I also did the same. Well, I walked home. Before I did though I took a quick detour to the Junimo tree. I was walking into the tree when I spotted my Heart shaped Junimo by the little hut.
“Hey there little guy.” I said softly. “What you doing out here?”
They hopped in place for a bit before walking into the hut. I Kneeled down and looked inside and… what the?
There’s a tunnel in here?
“Hold up what?” I asked in surprise.
I saw my little Junimo down the tunnel and with a shrug I followed them through.
The tunnel was small but I managed to slip through. When I emerged from the other end I found myself in another tree, only this one was… huge. Towering so high above I can’t see the ceiling from here. In front of me was a exit carved into the trunk of the tree and from it a bright light shined through it. Slowly I walked through the exit and once my eyes adjusted I was in a huge meadow of flowers. Sitting in the field was… me?
The Other me looked around and smiled. “Hi Lovely.” She waved. “Glad you made it.”
“What in Celestia’s snow white plot…?” I muttered in absolute confusion.
“Relax. It’s me.” She said. “Oh, well here I look like you cause you’re who I’m bound to.” Bound to? Heart Junimo!
“You’re the Heart Junimo?”
“Yup!” She said with a nod. “It’s nice to finally talk to you. Welcome to the Realm of Spirits and Magic.”
“It’s…good to be here.” I nodded.
“I was hoping to talk with you. In your home realm I’m unable to convey speech. Here I’m freely able to speak and more.”
“And that’s a good thing.” I nodded. “So, what do you want to talk about?”
“Well, honestly there’s not a real simple way to put it. And I know it’s gonna sound odd, believe me, but what I’m gonna tell you is the honest truth alright?”
“Is it going to be any weirder than what I’ve been dealing with over the past few days?” I asked.
“Possibly. It will even be crazy but trust me, if you don’t go through with it then the evil spirits in your realm won’t be stopped.”
That got my attention.
“Alright, so what do I need to do?” I inquired.
My junimo took a long, deep breath. “You need to get pregnant.”
….WHAT!?!?!?!?