Chapter 43
“Thank you for your patronage,” Coco told her customer.
“Thank you for the wonderful dress!” The mare hugged Coco. “It’s better than I pictured in my mind.”
“You’re more than welcome,” Coco said and gave her a hug back.
The mare let Coco go, and all but skipped out of the store with her dress bag.
I chuckled at Coco’s astounded expression. “I take you weren’t expecting such an enthusiastic thank you.”
“This is going to sound silly, but I’m still getting used to getting a thank you,” she said and walked over. “Ponyville is such a different place from Manehattan.”
“For the better, I hope.”
“Very much for the better!” She sat down beside me and smiled. “I still have moments where I don’t believe this is real.”
“What do you mean?”
“Two years ago, I was worried I could ever make ends meet on my own. Now, I’m here with you and I’m a partner in a shop. It’s like I’ve stepped into a dream.”
“You’re the mare of my dreams, so it’s only appropriate I help you reach yours.”
Coco took my hoof with hers. “Pin, I-”
The store’s bell chiming caused her to pause.
“Hello?” a voice called from the door, sounding as if they were reluctant to intrude.
“Radius?” I asked, as I got a glimpse of his pony form in the doorway.
“We’re at the counter,” Coco said. She gave me a small smile, a look, and gave my hoof a squeeze, as if promising to continue our conversation later. “Come on in.”
“You two have everything looking good,” he said as he walked through the shop. He had to weave back and forth through the displays several times as he approached. “You’ve got even more stuff out.” He stopped and looked at one of our formal jackets. “New designs too.”
“Coco’s been encouraging me to stretch myself in new directions. She’s been teaching me the finer details of costume making too, which has allowed me to make modifications to patterns I wouldn’t have been able to before.”
“That’s not true,” Coco said. “I saw that suit you made for Spike. That was an impressive design.”
I felt a warmth in my chest knowing she meant it. “That was a fluke. The drive to help him inspired me. You inspire me all the time.”
Radius grinned. “They were right. You two are the perfect ones to talk to.”
“Talk to us about what?” I said.
“Well… I...” Radius’ words did not seem to want to come for a second. “Sorry. I’m a bit over my head. That’s why they sent me to see you.”
Coco gave Radius a supportive smile. “You’re fine. Who is ‘they’?”
“Pinch, Piña, and Noi, mostly. Dinky added some comments too, but she had me spitting into test tubes, so I didn’t catch all of what she said.” Radius drew in a bracing breath and then said, “I want to know how to conduct a Ponyville courtship ritual.”
My ears went in confused directions. “Ponyville courtship ritual?”
I am not sure what my expression must have been, but Coco looked at me and giggled.
Radius nodded. “I want to do things right with Junebug.”
“But there isn’t a Ponyvi-” I stopped as Radius’ ears fell in despair.
“There isn’t a Ponyville courtship ritual?” he said, looking disappointed. “They were so sincere, though.”
Coco gave me a light shoulder bump. “I thought what we did worked rather well.”
“That it did.” I told Radius, “Coco and I adapted the customs from Canterlot and made our own ‘courtship ritual’ to follow that served the same functions.”
“That would be perfect!” he said, perking up. “They said to ask you something about talking flowers too, but I’m not sure what they meant.”
Coco tilted her head, which made me smile. “Talking flowers?” she asked.
Things clicked together in my mind. “The meanings of flowers!”
“Oh!” Coco laughed. “We can help there, too. Would you like something to take notes with?”
Radius’ eyes widened. “Courtships are that involved?” He drew himself up and stated, “It will be worth it for her, no matter how complicated it is.”
“It’s not too complicated,” I assured him. I got Radius a quill, some paper, and ink, so he could take notes.
He listened with his full concentration, as Coco and I explained the old Canterlot traditions and what we had done to adapt them.
A short time after Coco and I began giving Radius a basic outline of the courting process, a customer came into the shop. As soon as she saw us at the counter, she asked, “I know you won’t be open for too much longer, but would you mind if I browse for a few minutes?”
The customer had a slight Canterlot accent, which piqued my curiosity. When the mare’s light brown eyes settled on Coco she seemed to recognizing her.
“Please browse all you like,” Coco said. “If there is anything we can help with, please let us know.”
“Thank you,” the mare said and then inspected the store as if trying to take in every detail of both the mares’ and stallions’ displays.
Moving as if not wanting to draw attention to himself, Radius wrote something on the notepad he was using and turned it to face Coco and me. “Something like this then?” he said and tapped the edge of the pad with his hoof.
The message read, “Starving changeling. Must have sensed your love. Keep going.”
Coco nodded, slid the notepad to herself, and examined it as if studying something detailed. “That’s very close.” She wadded up the note and tossed it into the trash can. “You’ve got the idea.” Coco leaned against me and took my tail with hers.
I gave Coco’s mane a quick nuzzle and took her hoof with mine. “The important part about the whole thing is learning about each other and about each other and letting your guard down. It’s easier to do when we’re doing something together.”
Giving us an encouraging smile, Radius picked up his quill again. “What would you recommend?”
“Casual things that allow you to talk. Cooking together, walks, visiting shops, going to the market, that kind of thing.”
Coco nodded. “Talking while you’re doing day-to-day stuff, even chores, is great to start off with. From what I can tell, you two have been doing things like that a lot.”
“We have.” Radius’ expression became bashful. “What if you want to… get closer?”
“How close?” Coco asked.
He gestured towards Coco and me. “Not quite that close, right now, but heading there.”
“Pin’s the expert on that.” Coco looked at me. “Now that I think about it, once you felt comfortable, you moved things along very well.”
Radius looked up from his writing. “What do you mean, ‘felt comfortable’?”
“Pin was hesitant to express his feelings at first, because of his upbringing as a gentlecolt,” Coco said. “Once he knew I was open to being touched and receiving compliments, he did a wonderful job of showing his affection in more personal ways.”
“The mane and tail braiding?” Radius asked.
“And more.” Coco game me a teasing look and flicked her ear.
I blushed and decided the best course of action was to remain silent on the matter.
As Radius, Coco, and I continued to talk, the customer drifted closer and closer to us. She stole glances at us as she moved through the displays, as if checking to see if we were paying any attention to her.
“I would talk to Aloe and Lotus at the Ponyville Spa too,” I told Radius. “They have some great tips on how to set up brushing sessions and they have books that-”
The customer swayed and stumbled into one of our standing racks. She tried to catch her balance by getting hold of the rack itself, but only pulled it and the shirts on it down on top of her as she fell to the floor.
“Hold on, we’ll help you up,” I said, using my magic to lift the rack it back to standing upright. The shirts on the rack were a tangled mess, and a few of them remained on the floor and draped over the mare.
“I’m so sorry!” the mare said. “I tripped over my own hooves.”
Radius got to the mare and offered her a hoof. “Are you okay?”
“I think so,” she said. She took Radius’ offered hoof and stood. “I hope I didn’t damage your shirts,” she said. She picked up and dusted one shirt off with a hoof. “I think they’re still clean, but-”
Using my magic, I picked the other shirts off the floor and put them back on the rack.
“Don’t worry about that,” Coco said. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’ll be fine.” The mare said. “It was a clumsy moment on my part.” She patted the shirt she had been dusting off. “You have such wonderful designs. I got distracted and didn’t pay attention to where I was putting my hooves.”
“You’re love drunk,” Radius said.
The mare looked horrified for a fleeting second, but she composed herself just as fast. “I like the clothes here, but not that much,” she joked, playing his words off.
“Would you like to sit down?” I said. “That was a pretty hard fall. Not to mention you had a rack of clothes fall on you.”
“I’m fine, really,” the mare insisted. “Thank you for being so kind, though.”
“Please stay for a few minutes,” Coco said. “Is there anything we can get you? Water? Tea?”
“You’re both really sweet, but I’ve caused you enough trouble,” she said and turned as if to go. “Thank you for being so kind. I will tell everypony how nice you’ve been to me, even after I rearranged a part of your store.”
“They know and they want to help,” Radius said.
The mare paused and looked over her should with a winsome smile. “Know what?”
With a flash of green fire, Radius showed his true form. “They know what we are.”
“What are you doing?!” The mare looked at Coco and me as if fearful of our reaction. The mare tensed as if readying to make a bolt for it, even as she studied us.
Coco gave the mare a caring, disarming smile. “If you need love, we’ll be happy to give it to you.”
I nodded. “You don’t have to wolf it down and make yourself woozy.”
“How do you know about that?” the mare asked.
“They’re friends of several changelings, including me.” Radius made a gesture towards Coco and me with a hoof. “Do you feel any fear or disgust from them?”
The mare gave a slow shake of her head. She turned and approached the counter. “You really want to give your love away?”
“We’d be glad to,” Coco said, and I nodded in agreement.
“So, they weren't exaggerating.” She looked towards Radius. “The talk at the Viewing really happened?”
“It did,” Radius confirmed. “I take the ‘extras’ in the crowd reported in.”
“They did.” The mare sat down with careful movements as if she were having trouble processing everything.
“I believe introductions are in order,” I said, prompted by my etiquette training. “This is my fiance, and business partner, Coco Pommel,” I said and nodded to Coco. “The gentlestallion who helped you up is Radius, and I am Royal Pin.”
The mare’s attention went to Radius. “You’re Radius?”
Radius nodded. “I am.”
“Why don’t we close up the shop a little early?” Coco whispered to me.
“I think that would be a good idea.” I had not made it halfway to the front door when its bell chimed, announcing Gena, Piña, Noi, and Cubitus entering.
“Uncle Pen!” Piña said as soon as she saw me. “We have the latest issue of the Foal Free Press for you and Miss Coco.”
“You two are in some of the photos Featherweight took at the Viewing,” Noi said.
“Radi, June was looking-” Cubitus’ words halted, and so did he. He stared at the mare, his ears back, as if she were a threatening timberwolf.
“Cubi, what is it?” Gena asked, and then her eyes went to the mare at the counter too.
Noi looked at them and then at the mare. “You two okay?”
“She’s a changeling,” Gena said.
“Oh, that’s all,” Piña said, sounding relieved. “I thought there was something wrong.”
The mare’s eyebrows went up.
“She’s not from the Hive or Sanctuary,” Cubitus clarified, as if he expected Piña to change her opinion.
Piña shrugged. “No big deal.”
The mare’s jaw dropped open, and she stared at Piña.
“Come say hello,” Radius said.
For an uneasy second, nopony moved.
Ceasing the initiative, Noi stood straight and put on a warm smile as she walked towards the mare. “Hello, I’m Noi. I’m part of the Envoy Team which has been helping Ponyville and Sanctuary work with each other.” She approached the mare and held out her hoof.
The mare looked at Radius with disbelief. “Look, if this is some kind of trap, spring it. I’ll go without a fuss.”
Radius laughed. “No traps. No tricks. I promise.”
After looking back at the foals, the mare shook Noi’s hoof. “I’m Osima.”
Noi’s smile grew. “Welcome to Ponyville.”
Osima waited as if expecting the other horseshoe to drop. When nothing happened, she looked she looked confused. “That’s it? No running, no screaming, no calling the Guard?”
“Not unless we need to,” Cubitus said with some gruffness.
“You were after Coco’s and Pin’s love, weren’t you?” Gena asked, sounding protective of us.
Osmia nodded. “I sensed their love and got drawn in. I don’t know what they were talking about, but when I got closer, I got love coming from Radius too. I thought he was a pony until he showed me who he was.”
Radius seemed shocked. “I was giving off love?”
Cubitus sighed and then asked Coco and me, “He was talking to you about Junebug, wasn’t he?”
“He was,” Coco answered.
“That’s so sweet!” Piña said. “Congratulations!”
“Thank you.” Radius blinked and then looked at Cubitus. “You knew?!”
Gena giggled. “Radi, everyone in the hive knows. Whenever you and Junebug are together, you give off love.”
Radius blushed. “Look, I’m glad to find out, but let’s keep this between us since I haven’t gotten to talk with-”
The front door’s bell chimed, and June Bug and Dinky stepped into the shop. “Coco? Pin? Is everything okay? It’s past closing for you, but your sign still says you’re open, and there’s a lot of ponies still here.”
“Thanks for reminding me.” I used my magic to flip the shop’s sign. “No secret pleas for help, I promise.”
“We found him,” Gena said and pointed a hoof at Radius.
Junebug paused. Her eyes went to Radius and then to Osmia. While she maintained a neutral expression, there was confusion and a hint of worry in her eyes.
“You must be Miss June Bug.” Osmia gave Junebug a beguiling smile. “Radius was kind enough to help me up after I got tangled up in a rack of clothes and fell.”
Junebug’s ears snapped up. “Are you okay?”
“Other than my pride being a bit bruised, I’m fine.” Osmia looked at the rack of shirts she had pulled over. “I’m more worried about what I did to the shirts than what happened to me.” She turned her attention back to Junebug. “I can see why Radius is so fond of you. You’re a caring pony.”
Junebug looked at Radius with pleased surprise. “You told her about me?”
Osmia shook her head. “He didn’t, but I was eavesdropping on his conversation with Miss Coco and Mister Pin, so I picked up your name.”
Seeming more relaxed, Junebug moved closer to the group at the counter. “I can’t imagine what he could have said about me would be worth listening to.”
“He said lots of things.” It was clear Osima was enjoying playing with Junebug. Her grin made her look like a filly who was enjoying keeping a secret. “Things interesting enough to help distract me to the point I ran into a rack of shirts.”
Dinky moved with quiet steps to stand at my side. “Is Radius in trouble?” she whispered.
“I don’t think so,” I said. “Not yet, at least.”
“What were you three talking about that involved me that could have been so distracting?” Junebug asked Radius.
“Now he is.” I leaned closer to Dinky’s ear and whispered, “We need a change of topic, stat.”
Dinky nodded and trotted forward. “Thank you for helping the Research Team, Mister Radius.” She went straight to Radius and hugged him. “Twilight and Dad already have all kinds of ideas for the samples you gave us. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier, but I got too excited and forgot to.”
“You’re welcome,” he said and hugged her back. He opened and closed his mouth, acting as if it were dry. “It’s going to be a couple of days before I can provide any more, though. I’m drained.”
“Who’s this precious filly?” Osima asked.
Gena and Cubitus bristled.
Osima glanced at the two nymphs, but kept her friendly expression. “In fact, except for Noi, I don’t think I got any of your names.”
“I’m Dinky. This is Gena and he’s Cubitus.” Dinky gave Gena and Cubitus a concerned look. “You two okay?”
Osima held up her hoof right hoof. “I promise, I have no ill intentions for anycreature or anything.”
“What is going on?” Junebug asked.
“I’m a changeling,” Osima told her.
Dinky looked confused. “Why is that a big deal?”
“She’s not from the Hive or from Sanctuary,” Noi said.
“Really?” Dinky’s ears went up, and she looked at Osima with excitement. “You’re from Thorax’s brother’s group, then! That means you’re one of the original changelings!”
“Dinks, don’t!” Cubitus warned, as Dinky rushed over to Osima.
“Give it up,” Gena told him, with a suffering smile. “She’s having one of her moments.”
“Original changelings?” Osima smirked as Dinky circled her and looked her over from horn to tail.
“You haven’t metamorphosed, have you?” Junebug asked and stepped closer to Osima.
“I can’t say I have,” Osima said, seeming leery of Junebug’s sudden scrutiny.
“Wonderful!” Junebug said. “Dinky and Princess Twilight have been hoping to find an unchanged changeling to test a couple of their theories on. I’d be interested in studying you too, if you don’ t mind.”
Osima looked at Radius as if wanting an explanation.
“Dinky’s a budding scientist who works with Princess Twilight to study changeling magic. Junebug’s an entomologist.” Radius smiled and shrugged. “They can get enthusiastic about us.”
Osima’s eyes widened, and her ears pinned back in alarm. “She doesn’t ‘collect’ bugs, does she?”
“Nope,” I said. “She draws them. Her house is filled with diagrams and bug decorations. She raises bugs that help gardeners and farmers too.”
“Her house is real cool in one way and kinda creepy in another,” Cubitus said, which got him an elbowing from Gena.
Osima looked around at all of us and laughed in an amused and relieved way. “I can’t believe it. Here I am, a changeling, discovered for what I am in the middle of a store and ponies are interested in me rather than terrified.”
“You’re a pony too,” Dinky said, sitting down between Gena and Cubitus, who moved closer to her so their shoulders touched the instant she sat down.
“Relax. I’m not going to run off with her or anypony else.” Osima studied Gena and Cubitus for a moment and her ears drifted up with recognition. “Now I remember why I thought I should know your names. You two were with the special units, weren’t you?”
“We were,” Cubitus said.
Osima gave them a curious look. “If they are accepting of us, why keep the disguises?”
“We don’t have to, but I enjoy being a pony,” Gena said and relaxed a bit.
Cubius never took his eyes off of Osima.
“You’re not going to let your guard down, are you?” Osima asked.
“Everypony is safe,” Dinky said. She hugged Cubitus and gave him a reassuring shake. “You don’t have to worry.”
“Get his ears,” Gena said.
Dinky reached up with a hoof and stroked the tuft on the top of one of Cubitus’ ears. “There you go. Just relax. It’s not like she’s going to ponynap anyone with all of us right here.”
“True, but-” Cubitus gave an accepting sigh and relaxed a little. “I can tell from her voice she’s from the Canterlot division. You have to be careful with them. They’re double sneaky.”
“I was part of the Canterlot division, but not as an operative,” Osima admitted. “I was in a support role, much like you were, but thanks for the compliment.”
“You’re a secondary scout to Ponyville,” Radius said.
Osima nodded. “What the first team reported was hard for many of us ‘separatists’ to believe. It sounded too… friendly and tempting.” She grinned. “I guess you could say it had all the trappings of a trap.”
Cubitus groaned, while Gena, Noi, and I chuckled at the pun.
“Then there’s a team of you here, isn’t there?” Gena said.
Osima nodded. “There is.”
“How many?” Radius asked, for the first time sounding like he was concerned about Osima’s presence.
“Three agents and two support,” Osima said. “Well, now there’s one support, considering I’ve about to be taken in.”
“You mean arrested?” Noi smiled and shook her head. “You won’t be. The Princesses have decreed that as long as a changeling doesn’t hurt anypony or break any laws, they are welcome to come and go as they want.” She gave Osima a copy of the Foal Free Press. “You can see a copy of the proclamation on page five.”
Osima took the paper and turned to the page. There were a few silent seconds as she read. A conflicted and sad look came over her as she folded the paper back up. “What if someone wants to be taken in?”
“You ask to be, and we take you to Sanctuary,” Radius said and put a hoof on her shoulder. “As a guest, not as a prisoner.”
Dinky and Gena looked at Cubitus with pleading puppy eyes.
Cubitus sighed and nodded.
“Thank you!” Dinky said, and then she and Gena ran to Osima.
Osima looked down in shock as Dinky and Gena hugged her. “I-” She stopped trying to say anything and hugged the fillies back. She fiddled a bit with the paper so she could hold them both without it pressing into either of them.
Noi took the paper back from Osima. “Now you can really hug them.”
“Thank you.” Osima held both the fillies close and took a deep, calming breath. “You two are wonderful. I needed that.” She looked toward Radius. “I’m sorry. I had a weak moment there. As much as I would like to be, I can’t be taken in right now.”
“Why not?” Cubitus asked.
“There’s someone else who needs to be. She’s… not coping well with all that’s happened. We’re all not doing well, to be honest. Our supplies are low, we’re on constant high alert, and Pharynx is making us move our location every few days. We’re exhausted, hungry, love starved, and scared.” Osima took in a slow breath and let it out. “If she gets taken in, that will help her and give me a chance to tell the others that are thinking about leaving that everything the first team said was right.”
“So there are others that want to come back,” Radius said.
“There’s a growing number of us who want to return to the Hive or join Sanctuary.” Osima patted the fillies’ backs and let them go. “I feel like a double traitor. First, I abandon the Hive, now I’m planning-”
“You’re not a traitor,” Gena interrupted. “When I first got here, I almost ran off to go back to the Hive and the old ways of doing things too. Spiracle got me to stop before I did. I wanted to be loyal to the Hive, but he told me following the old ways wouldn’t fix anything and for us to help everyone, we needed a new way of doing things.”
Somepony approaching the front of the store caught my attention. I moved closer to the door to see who it was, just as Coxa, who was in her natural form, tapped on the door and waved.
I used my magic to open the door. “Welcome,” I greeted, as Coxa, Amethyst, and a younger mare I did not recognize walked into the store.
“You were right, they were here,” Coxa said to Amethyst.
The younger mare froze at the sight of Osima. “I… I’m…,” she stammered. She tucked her tail and looked ashamed. “I’m so sorry”
Coxa rubbed the young mare’s back with a hoof. “Nessie, quit beating yourself up.”
“Vanessa!” Radius trotted up to the young mare and hugged her. “I’m so glad you’re here!”
“Radius?!” Vanessa asked. “Is that you?”
“It’s me,” Radius assured. He pointed a hoof towards Cubitus. “The bat pony colt is Cubitus.”
“Cubi?!” the mare asked.
Cubitus grinned. “Hey, Nes.”
Vanessa giggled. “You’re adorable!”
“We think so too,” Gena said.
“Gena!” Vanessa reached out with a hoof, and Gena rushed over to join in on the hug.
“Keratin is here too,” Gena told Vanessa. “Right now he’s with his special somepony and Princess Twilight, if I had to bet.”
“Yep,” Dinky said. “They were going to work with her today, while Junebug, Dad, and I got samples of the sticky stuff changelings make from Radius.”
“So, how did they catch you?” Osima asked Vanessa.
“They didn’t.” Vanessa’s eyes went to the floor. “I saw Coxa and...” She sniffed. “I broke cover. I had to ask how the nymphs were doing. I didn’t even know it was her, and then she hugged me and I knew it had to be her before she even said anything.”
Gena held Vanessa tighter. “Dinks, I’m going to need help on this one!”
“Got it!” Dinky trotted over and hugged Vanessa.
Vanessa looked down at Dinky as if befuddled by what was going on. “You’re a filly aren’t you?”
“She is,” Cubitus said. “Dinky hugs anyone that’s not feeling good.”
“Sometimes without asking,” Amethyst said, giving Dinky a look, which caused Dinky’s ears to pin back with guilt.
“You don’t care I’m a changeling?” Vanessa asked.
“Nope.” Dinky smiled. “You’re a pony who needs a hug. That’s all that matters to me.”
“But… I’m not a...” Tears went down Vanessa’s face. She pulled Dinky and Gena closer and curled herself around them as if she wanted to make as much contact with them as possible, as she sobbed.
“Nessie!” Coxa said and hugged her from behind. “Oh, sweetheart.”
“Don’t let Pinch hear you say you’re not a pony or she’ll give you a lecture on how changelings are ponies,” Cubitus warned.
Piña pranced in place as if not sure what to do.
“Come here.” Amethyst hugged Piña and told her, “She’ll be okay, but she’s been through a lot.”
“You’re not in your pony form,” Radius said to Coxa. “Why not?”
“Thorax, Spiracle, and I think it’s time we quit hiding who we are,” Coxa said. “It feels disingenuous to say we want to be part of a community while not showing who we are.”
Gena’s ears fell. “Does that mean we’ll have to quit using our pony forms, too?” She looked brokenhearted.
“You can keep being a pegasus,” Coxa said and released Vanessa. “We adults are trying this to see what the reaction is going to be.” She asked Coca and me, “I hate to impose, but would you mind letting Vanessa have some of your love?”
“We’d be happy to,” I said, and Coco nodded in agreement.
Vanessa stared at Coco and me in disbelief. “Are you serious?”
Cubitus snorted. “Yeah, I know the feeling. We went through all that trouble to steal love from ponies and they give it away, if you ask for some.”
Osima glanced up at the shop’s clock and told Vanessa, “You stay here, get some love, and then go to Sanctuary with Coxa.” She stood up and seemed to build herself up. “I have to meet up with the others at the rendezvous point.”
Vanessa sniffed and let go of the fillies. “If you go back, I go back.”
“Nessie, you need love.” Osima made a gesture towards Coco and then towards me. “Their love is quite delicious. It’s tempting for me to stay and have a second serving with you, but no matter how much I don’t care to, I need to get to the rendezvous point on time.”
“Please! You don’t have to-”
Osima closed the distance between her and Vanessa and put a hoof to her lips. “Listen to me. I can do more good with you here. I can tell how the ponies took you in, gave you the love you needed, and then allowed you to go on to Sanctuary.”
“No.” Vanessa’s expression became determined. “I won’t let you leave without me.”
Osima raised an eyebrow. “You ‘won’t let’ me? Really?” She lowered her hoof to Vanessa’s chest and gave her a slight push.
“Hey!” Gena said, as she and Dinky struggled to help Vanessa fight to stay upright.
Dinky looked up at Osima with a betrayed look. “I thought you were nice.”
“I am, but I needed to make a point.” Osima gave Dinky her full attention. “If you and Gena had not helped her, she would have toppled over, right?”
Dinky nodded.
“Vanessa is love starved,” Osima told her. “Since our reserves ran out, she’s been giving every bit of love she could to others. She’s very weak and she’ll get sick if she doesn’t get a reliable supply of love.”
Dinky’s eyes widened, and she looked up at Vanessa with concern.
“Vanessa is a study in contradictions,” Osima said. “She won’t stand up for herself, but she’d wrestle a cragadille to help someone else. You’d rather go up against a full grown dragon than do something nasty to a nymph around her too.”
“The dragon part sounds like somepony we know,” Noi said and looked towards Piña.
“I don’t know if I’m a dragon by myself, but if Mom was with me, we would be,” Piña said.
I chuckled. “Yep. I think I’d choose the angry dragon over you two. If Muffins were in the mix too, I would definitely pick the dragon.”
“Vanessa, you need to stay here. You can get the love you need, and it will help me convince others to rethink things.” Osima put her hoof to Vannessa’s cheek and looked into her eyes. “You can’t tell me you don’t want to stay and help Coxa with the nymphs again.”
“I do, but...” Vanessa took Osima’s hoof with hers. “You shouldn’t have to face going back by yourself. You’ve been my only friend since the split. I know you’re trying to help me, but I would feel horrible if-”
Osima removed her hoof from Vanessa’s grasp and tapped her nose. “Hush. I am repaying you for all the times you shared your love with me when you didn’t have any to spare.” She gave Vanessa a self-assured smile. “Besides, you staying here will give me a reason to sneak away from the others that much faster.”
“Ozzy, I-” Vanessa stopped herself and gave Osima a grateful smile. “Thank you.”
Osima looked towards Coxa. “You take care of her. She’s the reason I kept my sanity during all of this.”
“I will,” Coxa assured.
“Please save a little love for me,” Osima said to Coco and me, with a flirtatious note to her words. “I plan to take you up on your offer once I get back.”
“We will,” Coco said.
Without another word, Osmia walked out of the store, only slowing down to close the door behind her.
“She didn’t want to go,” Vanessa said, her voice filled with guilt.
“She’ll be back,” Cubitus said. “The Canterlot teams were our best for a reason. She’s given herself a mission, and she’ll see it through.”
Noi giggled. “That’s quite a change. You were trying to protect everypony from her, and now you sound like she’s a hero to you.”
Cubitus blushed. “Every nymph admires the Canterlot teams. They’re like the Wonderbolts or the Shadowbolts of the Changelings.”
Coxa rubbed Vanessa’s back with a hoof. “Let’s get some love in you, and then we’ll head to Sanctuary.”
“How much love does she need?” Noi asked.
“She could use a reliable source for the next couple of days,” Coxa told her. “She won’t be able to take too much in at one time without making herself sick, but if she can get a steady supply, she’ll be back to herself in no time.”
Dinky looked up at Vanessa. “Maybe not this time, but would you mind if I test some things while you’re taking in love later?”
Vanessa’s ears went back, and she looked nervous. “What kinds of tests?”
*****
“You’ve both been wonderful,” Coxa said, as I took her finished mug of hot chocolate from her. “Thank you so much.”
“I’m glad we could help.” I looked over to where Vanessa had fallen asleep, half leaned against Coco. She was wrapped up in one of our blankets and had Dinky and Piña snuggled against her. Noi, who was settled against Vanessa’s side with her head on Piña’s back. Vanessa held Gena in her forelegs as if she were a stuffed toy, her chin resting on Gena’s head.
“I’m glad she felt at ease enough here to let her guard down and get some rest,” I whispered.
“If she can’t relax here, she can’t relax anywhere,” Amethyst said and gave me a bitter-sweet smile. “You’ve carried on your grandparent’s tradition of being welcoming and kind to everypony so beautifully. It’s no wonder when somepony needs help or support we all end up over here.”
“I’ve tried,” I said, feeling a twinge of sadness at them not being with us. They would have loved all this, I thought. Nana would have volunteered herself, Grandfather, and me up to donate love every day and made a schedule for changelings to stop by and get some.
The doorbell chimed, and my ear turned toward the front of the apartment. “That must be our other guests. I’ll let them in.” I made my way out of the spare room, put the finished mugs I had gathered down in the kitchen sink, walked through the apartment and then down to the back door. I found myself all but nose to nose with Berry, before I could get the door open all the way.
“I am berry upset with you,” Berry said. “There’s a sick nymph in your house, our fillies are involved, and you didn’t tell me or Muffins as soon as things happened.”
It took me a second to gather my wits enough to respond. “We wanted to get some love in her first. She’s fragile right now, so we wanted the foals to be there for her too. We sent a messenger as soon as we thought it would be okay.”
“Berry, calm down,” Muffins urged. “They were taking care of the nymph. The foals are safe, and we’re here now.”
“Hello, Muffins,” I said, just able to look past Berry’s face through the crack in the door. “I’m glad they found you. Dinky said you might be out of the house and Tuner was probably in the basement and wouldn’t be able to hear anypony knock.”
“I was out, but they didn’t have to track me down. I was going home from the market when I saw Cubitus running towards Berry’s with Pinch and Kevin, so I figured something was going on. I waved them down and found out what had happened. After that, we stopped at my place so I could put the groceries in the fridge real quick. Then we went to Berry’s, got her, and now here we are.”
I opened the door all the way and stepped aside. “Please, come in. Everypony is in the spare room off the kitchen.”
Before heading in, Berry paused and gave me a quick hug. “Sorry. My herding instincts have kicked in, and my little sister wasn’t where I had thought she would be. I was waiting for her and her friends to stop by to drop off our paper, but they didn’t show up when I thought they would and started getting worried.”
“You don’t need to apologize,” I told her and hugged her back. “I’d be worried if Satin didn’t show up when I thought she would.”
“Thank you for taking care of everypony too.” Berry let me go and then smiled. “Let’s go see this new little one.”
“She’s not too little,” I said, as Berry walked in.
“I can’t believe she’s here,” Kevin said to Cubitus, as the trio of foals went past. “I mean, I hoped we’d see her again but-”
I did not catch the rest of what he said, because of Muffins patting me on the back and giving me a smile. “It looks like you’re providing the safety zone again.”
“I’m always glad to.”
We made our way up to the spare room and entered just as Gena said, “I think I’m stuck.”
Berry giggled. “It looks like it.”
“You’re right, Pin. She isn’t a ‘little’ little one,” Muffins said. She smiled at Amethyst. “Hello, Ammy.”
“Hi, Mom,” Amethyst got up from her spot and hugged Muffins.
Vanessa stirred and opened her eyes. She seemed startled, as if she was not sure where she was, and she clutched Gena tighter.
“It’s okay,” Gena said and patted one of Vanessa’s forelegs with a hoof. “You’re safe.”
“She’s got that right,” Cubitus said. “Coxa and Pinch’s and Dinky’s moms are here. If anyone messed with you, they’d have a really rough day.”
The foals gave Vanessa some space. She sat up and watched Kevin with curiosity as he and Pinch approached her.
Kevin smiled. “Hey, Ness. It’s me, Kera-urk!”
Vanessa grabbed Kevin in a bear hug with impressive speed, lifting him off the floor. “Keratin! I am so glad to see you!” She smiled at Pinch. “Hello.”
“Hello,” Pinch said, sounding like she was trying not to laugh. “I’m Pinch. Kevin was telling me how glad he was you were here.”
“I’m glad he’s here too,” Vanessa said and put Kevin back on the floor.
Gena giggled. “We can tell.”
“Cubi, Gena, and Keratin were in one of the first groups I got to help raise in the nursery before they went on to their full training,” Vanessa explained to Pinch. “They are very special to me.”
“Ness has a soft spot for all us softies,” Gena said to Pinch.
“I do.” Vanessa grinned and looked at Cubitus. “Even the ones who try to act like hard shells.”
Cubitus snorted. “Compared to these two, I am a hard shell.”
“Riiight,” Dinky said, and then stroked one of Cubitus’ ear tips with a hoof.
Cubitus melted at Dinky’s touch and tilted his head toward her. “That’s not fair, Dinks.”
“Is it true?” Vanessa asked, as she let go of Kevin. “Are you two really…?”
Pinch smiled, nodded, and held hooves with Kevin. They leaned together so their heads touched and closed their eyes.
Vanessa’s eyes widened. “They were right!” she half whispered.
“I think Berry’s held off as long as she can,” I warned, as Berry fidgeted in place.
“We might want to make some room,” Piña said and . “Vanessa, this is my sister, Berry Punch.”
“Sister?! I thought she was...” Vanessa stopped herself, hid her surprise, and smiled. “Nice to meet you, Miss Berry.”
“Nice to meet you too.” Berry held out her forelegs. “May I?”
Vanessa nodded, and Berry took her in a motherly hug. “I’m sorry to worry you. As soon as I get more love in me, I’ll be fine.”
“I can’t believe they sent a sick filly on a mission,” Muffins said. “There’s something wrong with them.”
“They didn’t send me,” Vanessa’s confessed, and her ears pinned back. “Osima helped me sneak in with the team so I could scavenge love.”
“So they know you’re here?” I asked.
She nodded. “I think they all suspected I would defect too.”
“You did not ‘defect’,” Coxa said. “There is no conflict or hostilities. There is a difference of opinion we are working out. You needed help, and you came to us for it. That is all.” She smiled. “Besides, you will do much more for all of us changelings back in a nursery helping with the nymphs. We could really use you in Sanctuary right now. We’re about to have another couple of eggs hatch any day now.”
Vanessa looked stunned. “You’d let me have my position back?”
Coxa laughed. “Of course I would! I want you back. The nymphs want you back. Everyone in Sanctuary wants you back with us.”
“Yep,” Gena said and raised a hoof.
Cubitus and Kevin both raised their hooves in agreement.
“Wait a second,” Cubitus said, and gave Kevin a poke with his hoof. “You’re not a Sanctuary changeling. You’re a Ponyville changeling. You don’t get a vote.”
“I’m voting for all the Ponyville changelings,” Kevin said with playful defiance. “We’re unanimous that we wanted her back.”
“All one of you!” Cubitus said and laughed.
“Wait a second,” Vanessa said, glancing around the room. “Did Radius and Miss Junebug have to leave?”
“They’ll be back soonish,” Coxa said, with a secretive smile.
“I’ll make you two a cup of hot chocolate while we wait for them, if you’d like one,” I said to Berry and Muffins.
“Yes, please!” Berry and Muffins said together.
“The weather team promised to bring in the cold air, and they did,” Berry said and shivered.
“I know what will help you warm up,” Amethyst said. “Snuggling up with Vanessa and helping supply some love for her.” She hummed a contemplative note and studied the ponies on the floor. “How to arrange everypony to maximize comfort and love output is the question.”
“I’m sure you’ll have us in our proper spots in no time,” Muffins said.
As Amethyst began giving instructions as to who should be where, I went into the kitchen to make another batch of hot chocolate. I let my thoughts drift as I stirred the beginnings of the hot chocolate together.
A voice interrupted my wandering musings. “Pin?”
I turned and smiled at Coco. “Everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine.” She sat down, leaned against me, and relaxed into my side. “It’s been a much more eventful day than I could have imagined when I got up this morning.”
“No argument here.” I leaned my head against hers. “Since we’ve got a moment, what did you want to talk about earlier?”
“Now may not be the best time for us to discuss it.”
The odd tone in her voice concerned me. I sat up and asked, “Is something wrong?”
“There’s nothing wrong. I promise, but I would like to talk to you about a couple of things that...” She paused and seemed to search for the words she wanted. “That will require some discussion.”
My ears shifted in various directions while my thoughts and concerns ran wild.
Coco giggled. “I love you,” she said and gave me a kiss. “Tell your ears to settle down and your mind to quit coming up with scenarios to worry about.”
“I’ll try.” I said and touched my nose to hers.
“Oh! I almost forgot. Can I borrow your camera? The foals and Amethyst wanted pictures for the Foal Free Press.”
“Of course,” I said. “I think I put it up, though.”
“Hall closet, second self from the top on the left side?” Coco asked, as she stood.
“That’s the spot.”
“Thanks!” she said and headed to get the camera.
“You’re welcome.” I returned to stirring the pot. “Just about ready,” I said to myself, after giving the pot a few more stirs and watching the first of the steam rise from the hot chocolate.
“It smells good,” Coco said as she returned to the kitchen.
“Thank you.” I grinned and whispered, “While I’ve always enjoyed it, I’ve gained a much greater appreciation for hot coco in the last few months.”
Coco blushed, but looked flattered. “Behave,” she said, and went on into the spare room.
I prepared the two mugs of hot chocolate, adding a few marshmallows to both, and then returned to the spare room. I stepped in just as Coco took a photo of the pile of ponies on the floor.
Vanessa between Berry and Muffins, who had tucked her wing around the nymph. Gena was curled in a small ball in the space between Muffin’s forelegs. Dinky and Cubitus cuddled against Amethyst who leaned against Muffins’ other side and under her wing. Berry had Kevin and Pinch resting against her side. Piña nestled against Berry’s chest, and Noi rested against Berry with her head on Berry’s leg leaned so it rested against Piña.
“Good thing you have a free hoof,” I whispered to Berry, as I set her mug in front of her. I chuckled, as Piña gave a slight noise. “She’s already back asleep?”
“She’s had a busy day, and she’s cozy,” Berry said.
“She’s not the only one asleep.” Muffins nodded toward Vanessa, who was curled against Muffins so I could see only a small portion of her from under Muffins’ wing. “I didn’t realize how sick she was. The poor thing is acting like a foal with a cold, eating and then going right to sleep.”
“I’m worried about her,” I said. “She feel asleep while Coco and I were trying to give her love too.”
“That’s actually a good sign,” Coxa said. “Give her a few days, and she’ll be back to herself.”
“I have a question about what happened with Osima,” I said. “If you don’t mind answering something personal.”
Coxa did not hesitate and responded, “I’d be glad to answer.”
“Radius said Osima picked up on Coco and my love from outside the shop. From how far away can changelings detect love?”
“That’s not personal at all, and it depends,” Coxa said, appearing to be amused by my question. “There are a lot of variables at play. How hungry the changeling is, whether the love has other emotional flavors they like, things of that nature. Thorax could pick up on the love given off by the Crystal Heart and the ponies of the Empire from miles away. However, the Crystal Heart’s magic and its ability to spread love is a special case, and he was all but starving. Your flavors of emotions and love must have been quite to Osima’s liking. I would say she was pushing the edge of a changeling’s typical ability to identify a source of love at that distance.”
Dinky giggled. “That reminds me. Uncle Pin, Thorax told me he thought Mom smells like muffins too.”
“She does,” Gena confirmed. She put her nose close to Muffin’s chest and took in a long sniff, as if enjoying a scrumptious smell from an oven. “Muffins and fresh fruit and sunshine.” She snuggled back against Muffins and hummed. “It’s wonderful.”
Muffins smiled and then shook her head. “Of all the things I might have guessed I could be known for, my smell wouldn’t have been one of them.”
The doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it,” Coco said. Before she left the room, she passed the camera to me and whispered, “I think you’ll need to be ready to take pictures.”
“I can do that.” I moved so I would have a clear view of Vanessa and most of the room.
Cubitus raised his head and gave Dinky a slight nudge. “I think you’re going to want to see this.”
Berry nuzzled Piña. “Piña, they’re here.”
“Mmmm?” Piña opened her eyes, but she still seemed half asleep. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to snore.”
“You weren’t snoring,” Noi said, through a giggle. “Junebug and Radius are back.”
Piña’s ears perked up. “They’re back?” She raised her head and yawned. “That was fast.”
“They were gone longer than you think,” Pinch said. “You were sleeping pretty good.”
Piña rubbed her eye with a hoof. “I couldn’t help it. Sis is warm and comfy.”
“She is,” Noi agreed.
The sound of approaching hoofsteps drew everypony’s attention.
“She’s in here,” Coco said, as she stepped in the door.
Coco was followed by Junebug and Radius and then by Spiracle, who was holding a bundle wrapped in a blanket.
Spiracle stopped and stared at the pile of ponies. “I thought nesting was a changeling practice.”
“Not anymore,” Cubitus said.
“We have something similar call pony piles or snuggle piles,” Muffins explained. “We don’t do it for sleeping, though.”
“We should fix that,” Piña said. “For napping, making a pony pile is great.”
Coxa smiled at Spiracle. “I see you brought her.”
“I agree with you and Radius. This might be too intense of an introduction for the hatchlings and nymphs to be around. “It’s better if they meet here.”
Berry’s and Piña’s full attention went to the bundle that held Arista.
Vanessa stirred, as if the higher level of energy in the room caused her to wake. She poked her head from under Muffin’s wing and looked around as if trying to piece together what was happening.
“Poor thing’s still groggy,” Berry said.
“She’s probably love drunk too,” Coxa said.
“A little,” Vanessa said. “I feel a lot better than I did, though.” Her eyes went to Spiracle and her drowsiness vanished. “Sir!”
“At ease,” Spiracle told her, and smiled. “I am glad to say I am out of that position.”
Muffins took her wing from around Vanessa and sat up along with Berry.
Vanessa’s eyes went to the bundle Spiracle was holding. The bundle moved, and she gasped. “Is that…?”
“Arista?” Spiracle nodded. “It is.”
“Would you like to hold her?” Coxa said.
Vanessa sat up, sniffed, and her ears went back in slow arcs. “I do, but-”
“But nothing.” Coxa moved to Vanessa and gave her a hug. “You’re feeling guilty again, aren’t you?”
Vanessa nodded and tears welled up in her eyes. “I wanted to be there when she hatched. I should have been there when she hatched.”
“Stop beating yourself up.” Coxa tucked Vanessa’s head under her chin and held her like she was comforting a foal. “You did your best. You took care of her and the nymphs when Spiracle and I were on our missions.”
“I had a choice to stay or go. You didn’t.” Vanessa broke down and cried. “I left her and the nymphs and the eggs and-!”
“You didn’t have a choice,” Spiracle said. “I heard about what happened. When Chrysalis fell, Pharynx invoked the emergency protocols. You got a direct order from a superior to evacuate. You did what we trained you to do, and I’m glad you did. As frantic and tense as things were, I they might have used force to make you leave.”
“I know, but...” Vanessa clung to Coxa and sniffed. “They needed me, and I abandoned them. What kind of caretaker leaves eggs and nymphs behind?”
“The kind that gives others her stores of love when she’s about out herself.” Coxa smiled as Dinky and Gena moved closer to Vanessa while trying not to be noticed. “Just so you know, you’re about to be hugged.”
“What?” Vanessa jumped when Dinky and Gena contacted her. She looked down, sniffed, and then smiled with appreciation at the fillies. “Thanks, but-” She sniffed again. “You’re going to get snot and tears on you.”
“Worth it,” Gena said. “Besides, you took care of me when I was little and put up with my snot and crying.”
“Nessie, if you weren’t a good caretaker, we wouldn’t let you hold Arista,” Spiracle said and offered her the bundle.
“First, she needs a hug from you,” Coxa said and let go of Vanessa. She stepped back and took Arista from Spiracle. “Go on.”
Both Vanessa and Spiracle stared at Coxa as if not believing what they were hearing.
“I can’t hug him!” Vanessa protested.
“Yes you can,” Gena said. “We’ve been working on him. He gets three hugs a day, minimum.”
“Three hugs a day?” Vanessa said.
Gena nodded. “Three hugs from Coxa and me a day. If we can get him to take more, we given them to him.”
Vanessa looked up at Spiracle with her ears back in trepidation. “I don’t know if I can. He’s my superior.”
“Was your superior.” Spiracle said and hugged Vanessa. “I’m glad you’re back and safe. Coxa and I were both worried about you.”
Vanessa sat there in shock for a few seconds and then put her forelegs around Spiracle.
Dinky giggled. “Looks like the hugs they’ve been giving you are working.”
“They’re growing on me,” Spiracle said. He let go of Vanessa, put his hooves on her shoulders, and looked her in the eye. “The eggs, hatchlings, and nymphs were all fine and taken care of. You did what you needed to do to keep yourself safe and the best you could under the circumstances. Let the rest go.” He grinned and added, “That’s the last order you’re going to get from your former superior.”
Vanessa sniffed, smiled, and then nodded. “Yes, Sir.”
“Here you go,” Coxa said and passed the wiggling Astria to Vanessa. “She’s a little fussy, due to all the emotions in the room, but she’ll calm down.”
Vanessa took Arista as if she were as fragile as spun sugar. She smiled and used a hoof to open the blanket wrapped around Aritsa so she could see her better. “Oh, my goodness!” She smiled and offered her hoof to Arista, who stopped wiggling and gave her full attention to Vanessa. “You’re beautiful. Like a little gem.” She looked up at Coxa and asked, “Was blue when she hatched?”
“She was,” Coxa said.
“You have your dad’s eyes too,” Vanessa told Arista. She had a sad smile as she said, “I’m sorry I broke my promise about being there for your hatching. I was so looking forward to it and to meeting you.”
“I’m sure she understands.” Coxa hugged Vanessa around the shoulders with a foreleg. “We’re all just glad to have you back with us.”
Smiling, Coco made a motion of taking a picture.
I had been so focused on the conversation, I had forgotten I had the camera. I snapped a quick picture of Vanessa holding Arista while squeezing Coxa and Spiracle into the frame.
“That will make a wonderful picture for the paper,” Amethyst said.
“Paper?” Vanessa asked.
“Our class runs a paper for Ponyville,” Pinch said. “We’ve been using it to tell ponies about changelings and what’s been happening with Sanctuary.”
“We were passing the last of them out when you came to Uncle Pin’s,” Piña said. “Our latest one was about Arista’s Viewing and what Princess Celesita has declared about how ponies should treat changelings.”
“We have a couple of extra copies,” Noi said. “Would you like one?”
“We could tell you about Arista hatching and the viewing, while we show you the paper,” Gena said.
“That would be wonderful.” Vanessa turned and touched her nose to Arista’s. “You won’t mind if I hold you for a little while, would you?”
Noi dashed to her saddlebags and then returned with a copy of the Foal Free Press. The foals settled back down on the blankets on the floor with Vanessa, who tucked Arista between her forelegs.
I snapped a couple of more photos to capture the scene.
Berry and Muffins lasted a whole three minutes before they joined the foals on the floor.
Junebug eased her way over to me. “Radius and I will go get everyone supper. Does Pizza from Golden Crust’s sound good?”
“It does, but you don’t have to do that,” I whispered back.
“We want to.” She glanced towards Radius, who was giving his full attention to listening to the foals tell their versions of the Viewing, and then leaned closer to me. “It will give me a chance to talk to him about this mysterious ‘research project’ he’s been working on alone.” My face must have shown something, because Junebug’s eyebrow rose. “I take it you know about whatever it is?”
I limited my response to as innocent a smile as I could muster.
*****
“Thank you Uncle Pin,” Piña called over her shoulder as she, Berry, Noi, Pinch and Kevin walked away.
I waved back and smiled. “You’re welcome. It was fun.”
“You sure you’re okay to walk?” Radius asked Vanessa.
Vanessa nodded. “I’m good. I’m more drowsy than love drunk now.”
“Just you wait until we get back to Sanctuary,” Gena said. “You’re going to love it.”
“I think we’re going to have to put off the tour, though.” Spiracle said. “She’s tired enough as it is.”
“Can she nest with us?” Gena asked.
“We’ll see,” Coxa said. She turned and smiled at Coco and me. “Thank you both for helping Vanessa and for the love.”
“You’re welcome,” I said.
“We’ll be looking forward to having lunch with her tomorrow,” Coco said.
As the other Sanctuary changelings and Junebug walked away, Radius paused and whispered to Coco and me, “Thanks for everything. Especially the tips. I’ll pick up my notes tomorrow when I come with Vanessa.”
“We’ll hold them for you,” I promised. “We can even keep going with the pointers, if you’d like, since we got interrupted.”
“That sounds wonderful.” Radius grinned and then trotted off to catch up with the others.
“Thank you both for all the fun and for looking out for Dinky,” Muffins said and hugged Coco.
“You’re welcome,” I said. Dinky hugged me, and I looked down, grinned, and hugged her back. “You’re welcome too.”
Amethyst shook her head. “Come on, you two. Dad’s going to be worried about you, even with the note you left, and I’ve got to get home.”
Dinky gave her sister a look. “You’re going on another date with Miss Cheerilee?”
“And with Riff.” Amethyst gave Dinky a look. “You run around with your special someponies all the time, so don’t act like I’m doing something wrong.”
“There’s a big difference.” Dinky let go of me and faced her sister. “We’re working on projects together most of the time, and I don’t date my sister’s teacher.”
“You better brace yourself then, if that’s what you think. Cheers and I are working on how we’re going to get Riff to ask us to marry him.”
Dinky looked horrified. “You can’t marry them yet!”
Amethyst snorted in amusement. “What do you mean ‘yet’?”
“You can’t marry them until I’m out of Miss Cheerilee’s class,” Dinky said.
“Sorry, Dinks, but we’re not waiting that long to make things official.” Amethyst said, not sounding sorry in the least. “If Riff shows up with rings tomorrow, Cheers and I might just drag him down to Town Hall and have Mayor Mare marry us right then.”
Dinky turned to Muffin’s and begged, “Mom, please tell her they can’t do that!”
“Don’t worry, Dinky, that won’t happen.” Muffins gave Amethyst a mock stern look. “She knows that if Tuner and I don’t get invited to the ceremony, we wouldn’t be happy with her.”
“Aww, Mom, you spoiled my fun.” Amethyst got a sly grin and asked, “What if we set it up where you and Dad could be at the ceremony too?”
Muffins feigned thinking about it for a second. “That might work. We’d have to talk to your father about it, though.”
Dinky gasped. “Mom!”
“I’m kidding.” Muffins scooped Dinky to her side with a wing and nuzzled her. “Besides, I know for a fact Cheerilee wants a full wedding. Even if Riff proposes tomorrow, it’s probably going to be a little while before they tie the knot.”
Dinky breathed out a sigh of relief.
Coco and I waved as Muffins and her girls walked off.
“Stay warm!” I called to them. “It’s getting cold.”
Coco gave a soft giggle. Even though she looked as if she were trying to keep a straight face.
“What is it?”
“She does smell like muffins,” Coco said.
I laughed. “I think that’s one of many reasons Turner calls her his ‘muffin’.”
Coco gave me a teasing look. “And I’m your ‘cup of hot coco’.”
I thought about it for a moment and then shook my head. “No, you’re a more complex flavor than that. More… sophisticated, but still delectable and sweet.” My ears rose, as I had a devious thought. “Hold still for a second.” Coco stayed still, a curious look on her face, as I leaned over and sniffed her mane.
“Pin, what are you-” Coco giggled when I kissed the tip of her ear.
“Mint,” I whispered to her. “A flavor that’s great on its own and can make everything sweet in life even better.” I gave her mane another sniff. “Yep. You’re my minty treat.”
“You silly pony.” She turned and kissed my nose and then rested her forehead against mine.
A colder breeze blew past, making us both shiver.
“Wow, I wasn’t expecting that,” I said. “Should we head inside?”
Coco looked up at me. “That sounds good, but… Could we take a walk? I’ve got some energy I need to burn off.”
The worried angle of one of her ears caught my attention. “You’re thinking about something.”
She nodded. “A couple of things.”
I waited for a long second to see if she would say anything else. After concluding she was not going to, I asked, “Want me to get your jacket or your scarf?”
“My scarf, please.”
“I’ll be right back,” I said and let her go. She really is stewing on something,, I thought, as I ducked back inside. She’s too quiet. I put my scarf on and then grabbed Coco’s. I hope I didn’t upset her having everypony over.
I stepped back out, locked the door, and then offered Coco her scarf.
Coco smiled her knowing, teasing smile. “You’re worrying.”
“Did I-”
Smiling, she booped my nose with a hoof, cutting me short. “No, you didn’t.”
“You su-?”
“I’m sure,” she said, before I could even finish.
“I promise I-”
“I know.” She took her scarf from me. “I also know we talk about serious things better on the hoof because we’re not busy trying to read each other.”
After Coco put her scarf on, we walked together toward the park.
She said, as if committing to jumping off a high dive, “We’re running out of room in the shop.”
A wave of relief came over me. “We are. The displays are getting too crowded. If we didn’t have that open spot near the counter, I doubt everyone would have been able to stand together this afternoon.”
“We’re going to have to make do for a while, though. The paperwork for an expansion could take a while to work through, and we’ll need to save up the bits.”
“The paperwork won’t be a problem. Nana and grandfather got the preliminary permissions needed to expand the shop a long time ago. We would just need to go to Town Hall to have them updated and get another building permit.”
Coco’s ears perked up. “That makes the red tape a lot easier. The bits would still be an issue, though.”
“That won’t be an issue either,” I told her.
“Pin, I know the business is doing well, but not that well.”
“The business is doing great, thanks to you, but the reason that bits won’t be a problem is that Nana and Grandfather left me the funds to expand the shop. I payed for the storage expansion from my savings, so we still have plenty to work with. They had planned to expand the shop when I got older and became a full partner with them. Their health issues kept them from going through with the construction.”
The memory of their decline stung a bit, and I did my best to not let it show. As usual, my attempt at a poker face failed me.
“Oh, Pin, I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” I sniffed and gave her a smile. “Since I was alone, I wouldn’t have been able to maintain a larger shop. I didn’t go through with the plans either, so I’ve kept the funds in a separate account from mine and the shop’s. We’ll have to make a couple of changes to the initial plans, since we’re serving mares and stallions now, but that won’t be a big deal.” I chuckled and looked up at the emerging stars. “If the second thing you're thinking about is something we can work through like the first, we’ll be in good shape.”
“We’re going to need help if we expand the shop.”
“Yes, we will. Keeping up the front and directing customers is going to be a big job by itself and we can’t do that, design, and make clothes at the same time. Hiring somepony won’t be that big of a deal. If we don’t get applications from ponies in Ponyville, I’m sure Rarity could give us a couple of names to look into.”
“I’m sure she could.” Coco relaxed a little. “Should we wait until after the wedding to get started?”
“That might be best. There a could be a delay in updating the building permit or getting the contractors in or something of the sort. We don’t want to be trying to straighten that out while getting everything in place for the wedding.” I thought about it for a moment and then hummed an uncertain note. “However, if we want to get started as soon as possible, we all but have everything set for the wedding right now.”
“We have enough on our plate right now. I think we should hold off.”
We walked a distance in loving quiet. I basked in her warmth and her presence, glad the issues we were facing were ones we could overcome with planning and working together. Images of the next few months went through my mind, and I had had a thought. “There is one thing I would like to talk with you about.”
“Sure,” Coco said.
“We haven’t made any honeymoon plans.”
Coco made a happy, thoughtful noise. “We haven’t.”
“Would you like one?”
“Yes, but I’m not really sure where we would go. I lived in Manehatten, so it’s not too special to me and you’re not much for crowded cities. There’s Los Pegasus, but it isn’t my kind of thing.”
“Not mine either, to be honest.”
“Appaloosa would be charming and quiet, but it might get dull after a couple of days.”
“I worried Ponyville would feel that way to you.”
“Ponyville is anything but boring.” Coco looked towards Twilight’s castle, which rose above the rooftops of the rest of the buildings in Ponyville. “We’ve helped the princesses and met a future king. We’ve been in the middle of changeling invasions and been magical study participants. Now, we’re getting to play minor parts in making connections between Ponyville and Sanctuary. I think Ponyville has more going on than Manehatten, in some ways.”
I chuckled. “It may not be the traditional sort, but Ponyville has its own form of entertainment.”
“Wait a second.” Coco gave me a look. “You’re trying to lead me somewhere with this, aren’t you?”
“Lead you somewhere?” I said, feigning innocence. “Me? Why would you think I would do something so dubious?”
“Pin, you had an expansion built onto your shop while I was away. Planning so things go smoothly is something you do.”
“To be honest, I had a vague thought rather than a plan. I wanted to run it by you first, though. What if we went somewhere further away?” I smiled as she tilted her head with curiosity. “Somewhere up north?”
Coco’s eyes lit up, and she gave me an excited smile. “The Crystal Empire?! That would be wonderful!”
“We have a plan then,” I said, glad she was so thrilled at the idea.
We walked along for a couple of minutes in comfortable silence.
Coco hummed a note, breaking me away from my thoughts about how we were going to arrange our trip to the Crystal Empire. “You all right?”
“Sorry. I was thinking about the Crystal Empire, which led me to think about the Crystal Heart. That made me think about what Coxa had said about changelings and sensing love, and then about Osima finding us, and then about Vanessa.”
“I’ve had that kind of train of thought before.”
“I can’t imagine what they’ve gone through. If I lost my family and my home and then found out the way I had been living was based on lies, I think I would have a complete breakdown.”
“I feel sorry for them both. Vanessa’s such a loving soul. Osima seems like a good mare too. I’m glad they were there for each other.” My ears fell, as I thought about Osima returning to Pharynx’s group alone.
“You’re worrying again.”
“I’m worried about Osima, and to a lesser extent, her team. Going back without Vanessa is going to be tough for them.”
“I’m sure the team will be fine, and Osima seems the type that can handle herself.” Coco bumped her shoulder into mine. “You only met her for a few minutes and you’re concerned about her?”
“I am.” I laughed at myself. “If I was a changeling, I would have been a ‘softie’ for sure.”
“Don’t you worry about her. She’ll be back, probably sooner rather than later.”
“You sound sure about that.”
“I am. The way she asked us to save some love for her was all but a promise she’d be back.”
“She was rather forward. She’s almost the opposite of Vanessa. We all but had to coax Vanessa to settle down on the blankets with us. If the fillies and Cobalt hadn’t been there, I’m not sure she would have.”
Coco giggled. “She was a cuddle bug after she got on the floor with us, though.”
“I can’t blame her for wanting to snuggle with you. As many ponies compliment how soft your coat is, it surprised me Amethyst didn’t put you in the middle of the second pile so everyone could enjoy it.”
An odd look passed over Coco’s face. “I didn’t fit into the pattern she was working with by myself, so I volunteered to sit out. Besides, they were running out of room on the blankets.”
“What you do you mean you didn’t…?” The implications of what she meant hit me. “Oh.”
There was no problem to fix or anything ‘wrong,’ but it still stung me she had felt excluded.
Not sure how to respond, I said, “I’m sure Gena would have been happy to snuggle with you.”
“I’m sure she would have, but it didn’t feel right on some level.” Coco sighed. “I think Coxa picked up on what I was feeling. I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable, so I asked if they would like pictures and then volunteered to go get the camera.” She nuzzled my cheek. “Don’t get that look on your face. It’s fine.”
“No, it’s not. It hurt you.”
“It didn’t ‘hurt’ me. I just felt...”
“Like you were missing something,” I supplied.
Coco’s ears pinned back. “I feel horrible even saying anything.”
I kissed her temple. “I’m glad you can tell what you are thinking and what your heart wants. You’re not being greedy, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“I feel that way.”
“You shouldn’t. I felt something similar when I asked you to move in with me. I was asking you to leave your home, your family, your friends and professional connections, and everything else. Even with all that, you told me you were happy to call Ponyville home and now here we are.”
“Having a foal is very different. They require so much. They need care, and parenting, and support, and then when they’re older there’s schooling costs, and-”
“We can provide all of that.”
“But we’re not ready. Even after we get the store expanded, it’s going to be awhile before we’re settled enough to have a foal.”
I smiled, as I recalled a conversation with Grandfather. You were right, I thought. I didn’t understand until I found the right mare. I felt my ears pin back in slow arcs of their own accord, as some of the unpleasant memories associated with my conversation with Grandfather came to me.
Coco’s eyes shown with concern. “Pin, what are you thinking? That wasn’t a good series of expressions.”
“I remembered something Grandfather told me I didn’t really get until now.”
“What was it?”
“It will take a bit of explaining to put it into context, and it’s linked to an unhappy topic.”
“That’s fine. I don’t care whether it’s pleasant.”
I had a hard time meeting Coco’s eyes as I told her, “There was a time when I was a teenager I thought I was a mistake.”
She gasped. “Never say such a thing!” Coco chided me. She hugged me, bringing us to a halt. “Don’t even think it!”
“I realize I was wrong, but back then I was in a rough state. When I was living in Canterlot, I got bullied throughout school about being an unplanned foal. They would call me ‘Royal Mistake’ and all sorts of other things. When I got to Ponyville, and away from the boarding school, it was better. Now and then somepony at school would take a shot at me about it, but not very often.”
“Foals can be cruel. Did your parents try to help?”
“Sort of. But their ‘helpful’ conversations were always awkward. Before I came to Ponyville, a couple of our talks were really awkward. I think their knowing that Nana and Grandfather were planning on taking me in made them feel as if they had to seem disingenuous to me.”
“Did you feel that way? That they were lying, I mean.”
Feeling ashamed of myself, and my ears pinned back, I nodded.
“Oh, Pin.” She pulled me into a hug so my head rested on her shoulder. “Your parents love you to pieces.”
“I know that now, but teenage me had some serious doubts.” I suppressed a laugh, as I realized how firm of a hold she had on me. “I keep forgetting how strong you are. You could pin me whenever you want, couldn’t you?”
“I have before.” She giggled and whispered in my ear, “You didn’t seem to mind too much.”
“Not at all.” Coco released me, and I touched my nose to hers. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” She made a point of looking up at my ears. “Ears back up. They’re too cute for them to be pinned back like that.”
“Thanks,” I said, and coaxed my ears upright.
“They tell me what you’re thinking, too. They can’t do their job if they’re fold back.”
“They’re good at that.” I angled my head as if trying to see one of my ears and gave it a mock annoyed look. “They’ve gotten me into trouble more than once by announcing what’s going on in my head.”
Coco’s expression dimmed a little. “Speaking of troubles,” she prompted in a gentle tone.
“Thankfully, the ‘trouble’ part is pretty much over.” Coco and I resumed walking, and she took my tail with hers. “Being a typical teenager, I kept what was going on bottled up and acted like everything was normal for Nana and Grandfather. But one day I got bullied again during an already rough day at school and I couldn’t hide it anymore. When Nana asked me how my day had been, when I got home, I broke down. Nana didn’t even say anything when she took me into my room, got on my bed with me, wrapped me in her wings, and let me cry. After I got control of myself again, she and I had a long talk about what had been going on and what I was feeling. During the discussion, she asked me if I felt like I really was a mistake. I told her I didn’t know. Grandfather must have been close by, because as soon as he stepped into the room. Without saying a work, he pulled my chair away from my desk and sat down facing Nana and me. For a second or two, because he was so quiet, I thought he was mad.”
“Was he?”
“No, he was concerned and… hurt. I guess you could call it that. He asked me if living with him and Nana was so bad, and I immediately sad no. I told him that living with them had been the best thing that had happened to me. But my leaving Canterlot made me feel like my parents didn’t really want me. I knew it hurt Satin when I left, and having ponies be nasty to me about moving made what I felt about it worse.”
“That must have been hard to say,” Coco said, giving me a sympathetic look. “How did he react?”
“He didn’t, for a few seconds. Then he said a parent’s foremost responsibility was to make sure they provide their foals and keep them safe.” Nana added, ‘And cared for and loved.’ Grandfather said those were goals that good parents aimed for, but they were unnecessary for a foal to make it. He told me, ‘Your parents are good parents, in they have done more than provide the basics for you. They knew that staying in Canterlot would smother the wonderful, lively spark you have in you, so they let us have you. They knew your sister was going to miss you, but she was going to be going to university before too long, and she would have missed you no matter what. They love you so much, they chose to miss seeing you grow up rather than seeing you unhappy and your potential stunted.’ ”
“He was right,” Coco agreed.
“I thought about for a bit, and I realized what he said was true. I felt a lot better and joked that only the only mistake was when my parents had me. He told me I was wrong. He said that if parents waited for the ‘perfect’ time to have a foal, they would never have one. ‘There are always challenges for parents with a new foal. They have to adjust how they live, their financial plans, and how they are going to take care of their other foals, if they have any,’ he said.”
“I remember when Mom had Filter. To me, it was as if the entire world changed. Our routines, their work schedule, my schedule, everything was different.”
“Nana said my being born when I was meant that she and Grandfather had the chance to raise a colt when they wouldn’t have been able to otherwise.”
“They sound like such wonderful ponies.”
“They were.”
We reached the usual turnaround point in our walks, and Coco lead me further down the park’s path.
“Bit for your thoughts,” I said to her, after a couple of minutes.
“I was thinking about what your grandfather said. I think he’s right, but I still don’t want to rush into anything. It would be nice for our foal to be close to the same age as Rain so they could grow up together, though.”
“What if we use Satin’s and Stormbreaker’s approach?”
Coco giggled. “I think it’s a little late for me to pin you down on the couch and tell you we’re going to make love or we’re breaking up.” She burst into full laughter, as I blushed and stammered for a couple of steps.
“Not that part,” I said. “I meant them agreeing to allow things to happen at a certain point.”
“I know.” She leaned against me and put her head on my shoulder. “But when would be a good starting point?”
“Since you’re going to be the one carrying the foal, I think you should be the one to set the timetable.”
Coco thought, making cute expressions and thoughtful noises as we walked on. The path looped us back to the beginning of the walking trail and pointed us toward home.
“I’m not sure,” Coco said, rekindling the conversation. She gave a light snort, as if amused and irritated at herself at the same time. “After all my questions, and our talking things out, I don’t know when we should start trying.”
“Nothing has to be decided tonight." I moved closer to her and took her tail with mine. "When you're ready, I'll be ready."
"Thank you." Coco leaned against me. "You have no idea how much that means to me."