The morning goes smoothly, Rhino and Gel go to work while Mist and Bio go around town to do their own things. After, of course, Rhino made his mother promise not to buy more food, to which she laughed and agreed. The day is rather slow at the office, so when Rhino calls Gel to the back for something, she doesn't think twice about leaving the front desk under the sole custody of the pets.
Selena doesn't seem to take notice of the mare's absence, as busy as she is typing on the typewriter. She pauses momentarily to read what she wrote, sighing quietly in annoyance. 'Why must the p's and q's be so far away? It's completely throwing off my rhythm.'
Mercury pokes his head out of a drawer. 'What could you possibly need so many q's for?’
She turns to the fox, frowning slightly. 'It's not about needing it so much. I just have to pause my flow to stretch and hit it so I don't slip and hit 'a', instead.'
Specter looks up from the wooden block he likes to chew on. 'Actually, I've been meaning to ask about your interest in that machine. I thought at first you just liked the sounds it made, but did you plan on using it to talk to Mom and Dad from the start?'
'Actually, I learned by watching Mom.' She smiles slyly. 'She likes to talk to herself while she types. I think she believes it helps.'
The squirrel chews idly on his block. 'I didn't ask how you learned, I asked why you learned.'
She sniffs, licking a paw idly. 'It seemed like something a refined feline like myself should know.' She smacks the top of the foxes head as he laughs at her. 'Besides, I think we could use a way to send clear messages to Mom and Dad.'
Specter tilts his head. 'Like what?'
Mercury pops his head up next to the typewriter and reaches out a paw. 'Like: We want table food!'
Selena rolls her eyes. 'They still wouldn't do that, but that's the general idea.'
Specter sets down his block and walks over, trying to see what’s on the paper. 'You've been working on this one for a while now... anything important?'
'No, just some practice sentences.' She scratches a claw through the last one. 'It's a little harder than it looks.'
The kit jumps in front of the machine. 'What's so hard around jumping around on buttons?' He reaches onto the typewriter and pushes random keys.
Selena looks at the paper, bemused. 'You wrote complete gibberish. I can't even say what you just wrote, it's so jumbled.'
'See?' He smiles smugly at the kitten. 'Exactly what I meant to put on there.'
She smacks him in the back of his head. 'We're trying to communicate with them, not confuse them.'
'Ow!' He rubs the back of his head. 'What could be so important that you would need to hurt me for it?'
She pushes him away from in front of the typewriter. 'If you don't have anything to say, please don't mess with the machinery.' She quickly types up a sentence saying who wrote the part above. 'There.'
Specter walks up. 'He does raise a good point though, you do seem determined to tell them something. Is it anything in particular?'
'Maybe.' She playfully bats at the fox's ear. 'I figure we could use it to ask for specific things, like pettings or snacks.'
The fox gets in one of his remarks. 'Or not so small things?'
She narrows her eyes at him. 'What are you getting at?'
He simply smiles at her. 'What do you think I'm getting at?'
Specter face palms.
Selena shakes her head. 'No. No matter what you say, I'm not going to ask them to give you some of their food.'
Mercury puts a hoof to his chest, as if wounded. 'I'm hurt by your accusation! Do you truly think food is the only ambition I have? Besides, maybe I was hinting that you could ask for bigger things. Of course, we aren't limited to actual things, maybe favors, actions, anything!'
Selena holds up a paw, bemused. 'I intend on using this skill for reasonable requests. I don't think we should expect too much, anyways. After all, they could always say no.'
He waves a paw. 'Oh please, between us we probably have enough cute to get anything we want.'
Specter shakes his head. 'Don't count me in your crazy plans, I'm quite happy.'
'And all I want are pettings.' Selena sniffs, pushing the carriage to one side, locking it in place.
The kit's tail swishes as he smirks. 'Yarn.'
The gray-blue feline scowls at this before smirking as well. 'They already provide me with that, Mercury.'
His eyes pop open. 'Wait what? When did this happen? Where was I?'
She tilts her head at him. 'Since they came home last week.' She purrs, her tail swishing in her contentment. 'Your move.'
He sputters as he tries to come up with something before he raises a paw. 'Ah!' He saunters up to Selena before suddenly taking his tail and rapidly flicking her nose with the tip of it before diving back into one of the drawers.
She rubs her nose, frowning at the drawer he dived into. 'How uncouth.' She turns to the squirrel, nodding towards where the kit made his exit. 'I'm so glad you aren't like that. I don't think I could handle two of him.'
Specter shrugs. 'He's not all bad. He makes things interesting at least.' He looks back at her page. 'So is this just a day for practice or are you going to leave them a message?'
'Just practice.' She smiles at him, eyes narrowed slightly. 'Unless you want me to leave one for you, of course.'
He thinks for a moment. 'Can I ask for a hat? I like that one Dad has.'
'Sure.' She nudges the carriage once more, unlocking it and quickly starting the message. As she stretches to hit the 'p' key, she asks him, 'Did you want it the same color, or a different one?'
'Black and red both look good on me so same color is fine.' He pats his head as he imagines that hat. 'If this works, remind me to tell you to get yourself a dress or something to reward yourself.’
She finishes up and turns to him, frowning slightly. 'Dresses are uncomfortable.' She purrs, her gaze going off into the distance. 'If I were to wear something, it would be a collar, like Miss Opalescence wears. Except with a moonstone instead of an opal. Oh, I hear they're so radiant!' She catches herself, licking at her back to appear nonchalant. 'Of course, that's only if I were to ask for something.'
Specter frowns. 'I remember that cat from one time when she came to Fluttershy's...' He shivers. 'I didn't like the way she looked at me...'
Selena grimaces, looking awkwardly at her paws. '...you were probably wise to stay in your tree house. Just saying.'
'Agreed.' His ears twitch as the sounds of the two ponies approach. 'About time they came back, I was starting to wonder.'
Gel smiles at Selena, stopping in front of her desk. "Have you been having fun?" She glances at the typewriter, blinking in surprise and, pulling the paper out, reads it carefully. "...Rhino, I don't think all pets are a natural at typing...or, at least, not Mercury..." She puts it down on the surface next to Specter so the stallion beside her could see it. "Maybe Selena learned it from somewhere?"
Rhino smirks. "Well, either Fluttershy has a secret pet education program, which I wouldn't put past her, or our little blue princess has been watching you."
"Oh?" She turns to Selena, gently petting her. "Is that right? Have you been watching me work?"
Selena simply purrs, giving a small nod. She taps the paper with a paw.
"Something else you wanted me to see?" She giggles, looking back at the paper. "...huh. Love, did you know Specter would like a little fedora like yours? In the same color pattern, even?"
He blinks. "I... did not know that. I guess that explains why he's always playing in it." As the squirrel climbs back up to his favorite spot on Rhino's head, the stallion suddenly smiles. "I have an idea, why don't I go see if Rarity would be willing to copy my hat for him? It's probably wouldn't take that much since it'll be such a small hat. In the meantime, you and my parents can relax or coo over the other two little ones."
"...well...sure.." She smiles playfully, bumping his side with hers. "...but only because it might not take that long..."
Selena watches this exchange before turning to the squirrel, a small smile on her lips. 'Maybe I will ask about that collar, next time...'
***
Later that day, both stallion and squirrel walk through the streets of Ponyville looking quite dapper in their fedoras. Specter rides on top of Rhino's while he fiddles with his own while wear a happy smile.
Rhino looks up at the squirrel. "You know, I'm surprised Rarity was so agreeable to this request. Though, I suppose with the minimal fabric investment it is actually a very good thing from a business perspective." He recalls a certain scene that happened just before they left. "Not sure if Opal is looking forward to being the model for her owners latest inspiration though..."
Specter says nothing of course, but the look on his face suggests he is completely fine with the discomfort of a pet that likely sees him as prey.
"Doctor! Doctor Rhino!"
The stallion's ears perk up as he seeks out the owner of the voice, revealed to be a blue female pegasus with green mane and tail. "Yes?"
The green-maned mare stops in front of him, panting slightly. "Thank Celestia I found you! You have to help me!"
He goes into professional made as he answers. "Of course Ma'am. What's wrong?"
"It's my poor little puppy!" She sniffles, tears in her eyes. "I don't know what's wrong with him, but he hasn't moved at all! I-I tried petting him, but he yipped in pain!"
His eyes widen considerably. "Oh no..." He looks up. "Specter? Can you make it home on your own?" The squirrel nods, leaping off and taking both hats with him as he scurries down the street. Rhino turns back to the distraught mare. "Lead the way."
She nods, flaring her wings and taking off, making a beeline to the treeline. She apparently wants to get there as soon as possible with the speed she's going.
Rhino's hooves glow with the familiar light of Res as he begins speeding after her, his eyes narrowed and focused as he keeps track of her. His thoughts are already racing with probable reason for the case.
They move for a while before the mare lands at a campsite. She turns and points at the tent, whimpering softly. "H-he's in there."
He nods, quickly making his way over and walking inside the tent. Inside though, there is nothing, not even a sleeping bag. Rhino stops, confused. "What? Where did it go?"
Instead of a verbal response, like he expected, he receives a sharp blow to the head as the tent collapses on top of him. Outside, a changeling stops by the mare, saluting. "It is done."
She smiles at this, a sea green flame covering her form and revealing the nymph underneath. "Excellent. No pony can escape that snare." She chortles, turning to look at the writhing mass of fabric. "Now let's hope the Sergeant is having as easy a time."
Meanwhile, at the Rhino household, Gel feels a familiar presence pressing on her mind. In the corner of her eye, she also sees 273 in his Cold Snap disguise land in the back yard.
She groans, refusing the connection once more before heading outside. "Hello again, Sergeant. I could've sworn you headed back to the hive after the incident at the library." Where's Rhino when you need him?
Both changelings stay in disguise as the drone responds. "Unlikely ma'am. Given that you have been incredibly efficient on all previous missions, yet it took you a month to give a poor excuse for a report on this one, we figured out what was wrong and you should be happy to know we are taking steps to free you."
She blinks, thoroughly confused. "...free me?" She narrows her eyes at him, scowling slightly. "Explain yourself, soldier."
The drone smiles as he sees some of her military attitude coming back. "I'm not surprised you can't remember much ma'am. It does seem like separating your target and captor from you is helping you regain control of yourself though. Don't worry, we'll have you back to yourself soon."
"Captor?!" She growls, jabbing him in the chest. "Take me to where you're keeping him. And that's an order!"
273 considers this for a moment before smiling. "Well, I'm under orders not to follow your orders until you can be proven free of his influence, but I can understand why you would want to see the one that held you against your will for so long." He turns around and flares his wings. "I'll show you where he is."
Gel nods and lets out her wings, her scowl still on her face. "That will be greatly appreciated, Sergeant."
As they take off, her mind goes out to the stallion. ...don't worry, love...I'm coming...
Meanwhile, back at the campsite, the changelings notice that the stallion has stopped thrashing in the tent.
The nymph narrows her eyes at this before signaling to the other changeling to check it out.
The officer nods, carefully approaching the canvas, horn lit and ready. He leans forward and cautiously pokes the material with a hoof.
The material instantly flops to the ground, no longer having an occupant to retain its shape. The rustle of leaves causes heads to turn and see the green unicorn leaning against a nearby tree, gingerly rubbing his head with a hoof.
314 growls, pointing at the stallion. "Get him!"
The drone immediately complies, rushing forward and pinning the stallion to the tree. He opens his mouth, speaking in a flat tone. "By order of the General, you are under arrest. Any last words before I take you in, criminal?"
"Considering I don't know what I'm being accused of... nah." His horn flares and the drone is blasted away from him, skidding and bouncing across the ground. Rhino winces as that move makes his already present headache flare a bit. Gel... can you hear me?
"Hey!" The Corporal scowls, wings flared in anger. "What do you think you're doing, resisting arrest?" She races forward, horn lowered in an attempt to stab him.
She doesn't get within fifteen feet before a figure lands between them, gripping the changeling's head under her foreleg and twisting, sending the officer flying and rolling off to the side.
The dust clears, revealing a familiar blue nymph, eyes narrowed dangerously. Loud and clear.
Rhino gives Gel a half-smile, the other half of his mouth a grimace. Good to see you, love... Ow... His eyes unfocus a moment and he stumbles as the knot on the back his head gives a painful twinge from the abuse it took.
The other drone makes a beeline for the stallion. "He still has her under his control, get him!"
Rest now, love. She gives him a quick hug before turning to the rushing changeling, eyes burning with anger. "Under his control? I'll have you know my mind's the clearest it's been in a long time." She smirks, lowering her stance. "Do you want me to prove it by whipping your flank again?"
The drone bares his teeth. "That was practice sparring, this is a mission." He surrounds himself with magic as he adjusts to aim for Gel. At the last second, he dives towards the ground, tensing his legs as he hits it in order to try and spring upward to catch her back surprise.
She simply spins and kicks him in the chin with a hindhoof, sending him flying up and into a nearby tree. He impacted so hard, the top breaks off and falls to the side. Gel scoffs, lifting herself onto her hindlegs and holding her forehooves up defensively. "You forget, I taught you all you know."
273 arrives in his natural form to a tense scene, having been left behind by the faster form of Gel when she sensed Rhino halfway through the flight. One of the drones is dusting himself off while the other groans from the base of a tree. The corporal is in a defensive stance and the Sergeant Major is nowhere to be found. As the recon Sergeant looks back at Rhino and Gel, he notices something radiating from them that makes his eyes widen. "They're... they're giving off love!"
Gel huffs, turning to look at her inferior. "About time you noticed." She holds out a hoof, speaking in her most authoritative voice. "Leave us alone now, maggots, or I'll whip your flanks so hard that meringue will look at you and feel sorry!"
The enemy changelings' wings buzz in agitation as 273 looks around. "I guess we have to enact the alternative plan then..."
Gel scoffs, lowering her stance, even as blue flames trail up her spine, the chitin shifting to better suit her current bipedal fighting style. "It seems as if you wanna do this the hard way." She smirks, narrowing her eyes at them. "So be it."
The four changelings look to each other and nod. They each use their wings to launch off the ground and are soon circling the blue nymph.
The Elite stands in the center, watching them try to surround her. "What's the matter? Too scared to attack me?"
The Corporal, the least experienced of the group, falls for this taunt, diving straight at her.
Gel smirks and leaps, flipping in the air. At the peak of her jump, she catches her inferior's head between her hindlegs, continuing her spin and slamming her rump into the ground, and the nymph's face along with it.
She quickly gets up, revealing the Corporal's head is stuck in the forest floor. She gestures at the rest with a hoof, the corner of her mouth twitching in a smile. "Anyone else want a piece?"
The remaining foes growl as they all decide to attack at once and at various points. One drone goes for a full body tackle, his body engulfing in magic, as another drone aims for her head. Finally, 273 dives lower for a leg sweep. All of them come in from different directions.
Gel holds out three of her hooves, lighting each of them on fire. Each of her forelegs stop the MPs while she simply kicks the Sergeant off to the side with a hindleg. She narrows her eyes at them, shaking her head almost condescendingly. "I thought I taught you better." She slams the drones together and tosses their unconscious forms away. "Don't telegraph your attacks if you don't want them countered."
At that exact moment, she gets flattened against the ground. The drone on her back looks down haughtily at her, his forehooves crossed over his chest. "Thanks for the tip." He turns to the Sergeant, who was still conscious, albeit injured. "Get the collar. We're taking her back."
He salutes. "Yes, Sergeant Major!" As he darts over to the bags, the Corporal begins wiggling and soon yanks her head out of the ground, gasping.
She turns to the blue nymph squirming under the drone. "Not so tough now are you?" She back hooves Gel across the face, causing a small crack in her chitin.
She yelps in pain, glaring up at the changeling in front of her. "...you wouldn't...be so cocky...if I was...free..." She groans softly, having difficulty breathing. "...Sergeant...Major...lay off the...extra helpings...will ya?"
He snorts at this, turning up his nose at her. "My chitin is dense. More so than yours, traitor."
273 approaches with a thick collar, the metal it is made of cold to the touch and seems to warp the air around its dark surface. "Now hold still... just need to make sure you can't pull any surprises..."
She spits a blob of slime on his face, still defiantly scowling at them. "This. This, right here, is why I want out." She struggles, growling in anger. "Oppression of any changeling with even the slightest thought of independence. Of finding love."
The changeling on top of her pushes her face into the ground. "And traitors like you are the reasons we have these measures." He looks up to 273. "Stop stalling and put it on her!"
The scouting Sergeant tries to wipe the goo off his face and only successfully gets enough of it off to see. As he tries to lift the collar back up with his magic, it fizzles out, causing him to growl. "Darn her and her slime..." He picks up the collar with a hoof and starts forward again, this time with the other changeling holding her head into the ground and still.
She continues to resist them, trying to get free even as she's forced to breath dust. She realizes that she's completely helpless, whimpering softly as a single word crosses her mind. ...R-Rhino...
The stallion, who had been watching the entire fight through blurry eyes and fuzzy mind from his head wounds, focuses as he hears this word. Seeing the scene before him, he grits his teeth and summons his magic, despite the hammering in his head. His horn glows brightly as a ring of his magic suddenly appears around the neck of the changeling pinning Gel and squeezes hard enough that spidery cracks instantly appear on the chitin there. The Sergeant Major gurgles and grabs at his neck before being suddenly picked up by it and tossed heavily into 273, the two of them narrowly missing the Corporal as she looks wide-eye as they fly past her and not into, but through a nearby tree.
Gel gasps for air, standing back up on shaky hooves. She looks to 314, a cocky smile on her lips. "This is the part where you give up." She holds up her forehooves, ready to fight, re-energized by her stallion's love. "One way or another."
The Corporal hisses as she slowly back away, grabbing one of the unconscious MPs and dragging it over to the pile with the other insensate drones. She rouses 273, the only other relatively able-bodied changeling left and between the two of them, they carry the other three changelings off, the two of them looking back to give the couple a last dirty look before they are lost to the forest.
The blue changeling sighs in relief before rushing over to her stallion, tenderly embracing him. "...oh...I-I'm so sorry, Rhino...I-I didn't mean for this to happen..."
The stallion eases himself onto the ground. "It's fine love... we didn't know something like this would happen... but we got through it..." He reaches a hoof to the abused spot at the back of his head and flinches in pain when he touches it. "Yeah... that's gonna suck for a day or two..." He brings his hoof back around and sees it has a bit of red on it. "Figures..."
Her eyes widen in shock. "O-oh no. Y-you're bleeding." She hefts him onto her back, gritting her teeth from the exertion. "C-come on, we need to get you home. Y-your parents can help."
He dismounts her groggily. "I'm sure the skin just split or something... can't be sure since I can't see the back of my own head, but I'm fairly certain I'm right..." He takes a few shaky steps forward. "Just... a bit unstable, maybe just help me steady myself?" He smiles hopefully at her.
She sighs, gently pressing her side up against his. "...if you're sure it's not that bad...then I'll believe you..." She entwines her tail with his, giving him a peck on the cheek. "...come on...let's go home..."
***
The two slowly make their way through the woods, each leaning on each other, and each happy to give aid to the one that needed it. They angle their journey so that they eventually come out behind Rhino's house, from the secluded tree-laden border that had been so useful to them. As they approach, Rhino holds back and gestures to Gel. She understands and backs away from him a moment to resume her form of Angel. The two then cross the border into the yard.
They stop in front of the back door. Making sure he wouldn't tip over, Gel carefully raises a hoof and knocks on it. "Mist? Bio? W-we need help..."
Mist's voice can be heard approaching from the other side of the door. "Oh, there you two are, we were wondering why you ran off in such a hurry and-" The red pegasus cuts herself off as she opens the door and sees the two of them, Rhino especially. "What happened?! Quickly quickly, come inside." She ushers them in.
The white mare carefully leads him over to the couch, gingerly helping him up onto it. "...h-he's hurt...a-and bleeding..." She tears up, sniffling softly. "...I-I don't know what to do..."
Rhino sighs as he lays down on his stomach on the couch. "It's just a head injury... it's probably not that bad..." Not that those words stop his mother from instantly darting over and starting to separate his mane trying to look through it to the wound.
She calls over her shoulder as she finds it, causing Rhino to flinch as she touches it. "Bio, get down here with the first aid kit!"
Gel bites her lip, fidgeting slightly, feeling like she wasn't helping. "...i-is there...a-anything I can do?"
Bio just shakes his head as he gently pushes Mist to the side. "I've got basic medical training, let me see..." He pulls out some supplies and starts cleaning the wound.
Mist looks back at Gel from her side. "How did this happen?!"
She squeaks, caught off-guard by the question. "...I...I-I..." She bites her lip, averting her gaze. ...damn it...what should I tell her?
Don't ask me-OW! He flinches as his dad dabs at the spot.
Bio puts a little ointment on the injury. "There we go... not much else we can do with that, btu the blood made it look worse than it was. He is going to have a nasty knot there for the rest of the day and maybe a bit of tomorrow."
"...oh..." She quickly walks up to Rhino, tenderly nuzzling his cheek. "...I should've been there...I-I should've stopped them sooner..."
Mist approaches her. "Stopped who? Who did thi-" She stops as she sees a blue liquid leaking from Gel's cheek. "What... what is that on your cheek?"
The white mare blinks, touching a hoof to the spot, pulling away with a sticky blue substance on her hoof. She grimaces, floundering for an excuse but unable to come up with any. ...I...I think I'm bleeding...a-and your mom saw...it...
Love... my head was recently leaking... I am in no shape to think of excuses. He sighs as he shifts on the couch to allow room for one more. This may be the decreased cognitive function... but... should we tell them?
...I...I guess we have no choice...they need to know, anyways... She turns to the two of them. "...you want to...k-know the truth?"
The two parents nod resolutely. "Yes. It's much better than telling us a lie."
As soon as you're transformed... lay next to me... it'll help. Rhino watches tensely.
She sighs, stepping back from the couch a bit. "...here goes..." She closes her eyes, a circle of blue fire forming at the bottom of each hoof. As the parents watch, they slowly climb up her body, white fur being replaced with blue chitin as it goes. Eventually, the circles ebb away, ending their path at the tip of her horn and tail. She opens her eyes, nervously looking at them and laying next to her stallion, gently nuzzling his neck as she braces herself for what the older ponies will say.
As he sees the synapses in his parents brain slowly connecting the dots, Rhino protectively puts a foreleg over Gel.
Bio is the first to react, understandably, as his horn lights up and he adopts a fighting stance. "Changeling! Get away from my son!"
She whimpers, turning away and burying her face in his chest. "...I-I knew this would happen..."
Mist's wings flare as she too goes defensive. "Rhino, get away from her!"
The stallion simply continues holding the nymph. "No."
Bio growls. "What do you mean, 'no'? You saw what they did in Canterlot! You helped me fight them off from the house, we barely got out of there!"
Rhino simply continues speaking calmly. "I know."
"P-please stop yelling." Gel looks up at them, despite her nervousness. "I-I know what happened in Canterlot. I-I was there." She bites her lip, lowering her head. "...I tried to stop them...I knew it was madness...but when the General gives an order..." She trails off and visibly shudders, not wanting to continue that thought.
Bio swipes a hoof in the air, approaching threateningly. "Liar! I saw every single one of you changeling laughing and smiling the entire time you were destroying, terrorzing, and abducting that day. None of you were the least bit repentant! Why should I even consider trusting a creature like you!"
Rhino raises his voice for the first time, his normal deep gentle voice adopting an edge harsher than a knife and a force like a wall. "BECAUSE I DO!"
Both parents take a step back at their son's sudden outburst as they see him angrily look at them.
"...h-he knows I'm a changeling...a-and he loves me, anyways..." She frowns softly. "...i-it's not about how one looks...or even their heritage..." She stares at them, resolute. "...it's about who they are."
As Mist opens her mouth, Rhino cuts her off. "If you're about to say something like 'how can I know she's not just using me', think on this: These injuries were caused by changelings that came to take me because they thought I was controlling her. She took them all on, and beat them. She didn't have to, she chose to because she cares about me just as much as I care about her."
Mist's wings slowly start to fold down as she puts on a thoughtful face. Bio, though, shakes his head as he remains in his threatening pose. He looks back to the couple and shakes his head again, before putting his gaze on them once more. He takes a few deep breaths before gruffly announcing. "I'm going for a walk."
As he heads quickly to the door, Rhino calls after him. "Dad. Tell, no one."
Bio exhales deeply before replying without looking back. "...fine." With that, he is gone.
Gel simply trembles, her heart hammering in her chest from fear. ...i-is it over? W-will they stop giving off so much...r-rage?
Rhino nuzzles her as his mother sighs. I don't know, love...
Mist shakes her head slowly as she looks back at the couple. "He... needs some time to calm down and process all this..." She looks at Gel specifically. "For now... thank you for saving my son..." She gives a small smile.
Gel shyly smiles, nodding a bit. "...n-no problem..." She sits quietly a moment before holding out a hole-filled hoof. "...m-my name is Gel...if I'm to be completely honest with you..."
Mist looks warily at the hoof before slowly reaching out her own to touch it. "Just Gel, huh?" After a moment of touching the hoof, she becomes more relaxed with the idea. "Well... it's... good to meet you... again..."
She giggles, starting to calm down, herself. "Same. Though...I assume you have some more questions, due to this." She motions to herself, glancing at Rhino. "He certainly did, when he found out."
"Yes... but," the pegasus mare shakes her head, "I think this is enough to think about for one night... we can talk tomorrow..."
Rhino smiles as he lifts his mother up with magic and brings her over to nuzzle her. "Thanks Mom..."
Mist giggles as she nuzzles him back before standing up as he sets her down. "Well... you know I always said I'd support you whether you fell for unicorn, pegasus, earth pony, or even zebra." She starts to head upstairs. "This is the same thing really... just not one I saw coming."
Gel watches her leave before sighing softly, resting her head on her forehooves. "...I'm glad your mom took that well...but I'm still worried about Bio..." She nervously chuckles. "...for a moment there, I was sure I'd find myself up against a wall, again..."
Rhino nuzzles her lovingly before kissing her forehead. "I wouldn't have let that happen. I told you, love, I'll keep you safe..."
She smiles softly, letting her eyes slowly drift closed. "...I should never have doubted you..."