After a morning of work, Rhino gives himself a pep talk as he heads towards the library. "Ok, mix it in with small talk, don't be direct, you're just here to get a feel for her thoughts." He sighs as he shakes his head. "Hopefully we can make it over this last big hill and everything will fall into place. I've got too much planned to let it be wasted now."
He knocks on the door and only has to wait a few seconds for it to be encased in a pink aura and opened by a lavender unicorn. She quirks an eyebrow at him. "Should I even bother telling ponies they don't have to knock?"
He chuckles. "Sorry, as long as you live where you work, some of us will always knock."
She shakes her head and lets him in. "So, anything I can help you with?"
He shrugs. "I'm just here to browse, maybe chat a little."
She smiles as she heads back to her desk. "Alright then."
As he peruses the shelves, Rhino gives it a minute before talking. "So, I would ask what you have been up to, but I think the sporadic towers that appeared in town sort of answer that question."
She snorts. "They are not sporadic, they are meticulously placed to provide the greatest amount of coverage as possible in order to serve their function."
He nods. "Ah, my mistake. Out of curiosity though, what function would that be? Is it some sort of experiment?"
She shuffles a bit. "In a manner of speaking. They are a system built to detect changelings based off the unique signature of their magic so that they can be found whether they are disguised or not."
He looks over at her. "But to do that, you would have needed a sample of changeling magic..."
She nods. "I tried to do without it for the longest time, but I actually had to get a sample of that from the Princess. She had a few things left over from the invasion that still had the residue."
He tries pressing a bit. "Why do all that though, expecting another invasion?"
She rapidly shakes her head. "No no no, nothing like that! Don't go around saying things like that either! You know how the rumor mill is in this town..."
He holds up a hoof. "Alright, you have a point. But... If you aren't invasion paranoid, then... Why?"
She looks around a moment before quickly answering. "It's umm... You know, for safety, yeah! I have the detectors set up so that I can make sure nopony gets replaced and that no changelings are spying on us! Those are the only reasons!"
He forces down the eyebrow that threatens to raise itself. "Ah, alright then... How very civic minded of you." He starts perusing the books again. "So, where's Spike? I expected him to be around."
She grabs onto the change of subject. "Oh, that’s actually a very interesting story. Right now he should be coming back from a trip he went on to bring a baby phoenix back to its parents. He'd been raising it for a while now, but with it getting bigger he said he wanted to make sure it grew up right so he volunteered to bring it back himself!"
He lets the eyebrow raise. "A phoenix in a library?"
She giggles. "You know, that's the first thing everypony says... " she looks at the clock, "Oh, I need to get going to pick him up from the station, would you mind cutting this a bit short? I need to lock up."
He waves her off. "No problem." He leaves as Twilight begins grabbing a few things before exiting herself. Rhino heads home, unsatisfied with his findings and a little worried now.
***
Later, back at the house, things are relatively quiet. Luster and Gel, in their disguises, currently occupy the kitchen. Thanks to the former's guidance, things had progressed rather smoothly, and they're now pulling finished dumplings out of a pot on the stove.
Gel giggles, excited. "These look delicious! I'm sure they'll love these!"
Rhino walks in for where he had been playing with the pets in the living room, his nose sniffing rapidly. "Mmm, something smells good..."
Gel leaps over to him, a dumpling in her magical aura. "Apple dumplings! Try one, love!"
Luster's eyes widen and she holds up a hoof, trying to stop them.
Unfortunately, Rhino's attention isn't on Luster at the moment. He pops the dumpling into his mouth and his eyes shoot open instantly. His mouth contorts as the hot dumpling sears the inside of his mouth. He pulls all sorts of faces as he rolls it around, trying to coat it in cool saliva. He eventually succeeds and swallows, panting as soon as his mouth is empty.
Luster rolls her eyes and quickly brings him a glass of milk.
He chuckles as he gratefully takes the glass. "Only a few days here and you know me so well." He drinks down the entire glass thankfully.
Gel lowers her head, ashamed. "I-I'm sorry, love. I didn't realize it was that hot..."
He laughs and nuzzles her. "Trust me love, it wasn't the first time I've scalded myself on hot food, and it won't be the last."
She nods, if hesitantly. "I-if you're sure..." She glances at the tray before turning to the other mare. "Could you bring them into the living room when they've cooled down?" The earth pony nods and Gel smiles in response. "Thank you."
Rhino lifts up one with his magic and blows on it before popping it into his mouth. "Mmm, excellent."
Luster smiles, giving a little bow of gratitude. Before anything else could be said, there's a knock on the door.
"Ah, that must be them." He looks at Gel. "Shall I get it or do you want to?"
"You can." She giggles, playfully winking at him as she makes her way to the couch. "You were the one to invite them, after all."
He just smiles and shakes his head as he makes his way to the door. He opens it to find the Goodall sisters on the other side, the similarities in their appearance really coming out when Mane doesn't have her white coat on. "Hey you two, welcome to our little home." He steps to the side and holds the door open for them, glad that his wounds are healed enough to where he doesn't need bandages, even if it's still sore and can be seen if you know where to look.
Manila almost bounds in as Mane walks calmly inside, the two of them noticing Angel almost immediately. Manila bounces over and hugs her tightly. "Angel! I haven't seen you in what feels like forever!"
The white mare hugs her back, smiling kindly. "It's good to see you again, too." She pulls away, smiling playfully. "How are things with Big Mac?"
Manila blushes lightly as she twiddles her hooves. "Fine, you know, just the one time hanging out so far, but we talk now when I pass his stand, so that's good."
Gel nods, gesturing towards the seats nearby. "Would you like to rest your hooves?"
The mare giggles. "Yes, we are absolutely exhausted after the fifteen minute walk!" She sticks out her tongue to show she is kidding as they sit. "So, what's new with you?" She looks at the necklace.
Noticing her look, the white mare beams, raising a hoof to touch the gem. "Well, we gained a couple of roommates, Rhino saved me from great peril, and then he proposed to me." She taps her chin, pretending to think. "All in all, things have been nice." She playfully winks at her stallion.
The two mares latch onto the last item in the list and speak simultaneously. "He proposed!?" They look at the stallion accusingly. "Why didn't you tell us!?"
He laughs nervously. "Umm... it never came up?" He phrases it as if he's asking if that is a valid excuse.
The mares narrow their eyes at him.
Gel waves a hoof, smiling nervously. "H-hey, now. He wanted both of you to know, but I wanted to be the one to tell you." She taps her hooves together, averting her eyes. "S-so please don't be mad at him..."
Mane waves a hoof. "It's fine dear, we're only teasing. Congratulations though, both of us are so happy for you!"
She blushes in embarrassment, leaning over to peck Rhino's cheek. "T-thank you, Doctor Goodall. W-we're really happy, too."
The doctor nods. "Normally I would ask how he did it, but you already sort of told us. What was all that about saving you from peril? My sister said something about a timberwolf and it keeping you from work?"
She nervously laughs, rubbing the back of her neck. "That's what he said? Well, um..." She glances around the room, trying to come up with a way to explain the real reason.
At that moment, a certain yellow earth pony walks into the room, a tray full of apple dumplings held by the edge in her teeth. She places it on the end table and moves to head upstairs.
Manila raises a hoof quickly. "Wait! Don't go! Who are you? And thanks for the dumplings!"
She stops, turning to look at the mare in confusion. She points a hoof to herself, trying to be sure she meant her.
The mare nods. "Of course I mean you, silly! I didn't see anyone else bring dumplings."
The yellow pony turns to face them, uneasy. She puts a hoof to her throat, shaking her head dejectedly.
Gel speaks up, realizing what her friend means. "This is Luster. She's...well, she can't answer your questions." She sheepishly smiles. "She hopes you like the dumplings, though."
Rhino leans forward and looks at the mute changeling. "I could help translate for you if you want to chat with all of us."
She nods, smiling kindly as her mind reaches out to him once more.
As he pushes back to open the link he comments. Just be sure to do enough motions to where it looks viable that I'm translating.
That shouldn't be a problem. Luster sits on the floor between the couch and Manila's chair. She looks around, unsure of what to do.
The receptionist looks at her excitedly. "So, who are you, how do you know them, and how did you convince them to share their love nest?"
She blinks, tilting her head to one side. Share their love nest? What does she mean by that? She shakes her head and raises a hoof before pointing at Gel. I'm Gel's friend. As for who I am... She points to herself before pointing to a violin nearby. I'm just a simple musician.
Rhino translates. "She's Angel friend, a musician, and she's a little confused about that last comment."
Manila giggles. "It's just that most couples don't exactly open their homes to friends especially when they just got engaged. I was just wondering what you had to do to get them to let you in."
Luster gives her an even look, gesturing to Rhino's torso. I helped him with his fight. She points at his face and pats her chest. He was the one to offer it to me. I just accepted.
Rhino relays the message again. "She helped me out during the fight, I offered her a place to stay afterward."
Mane hums. "It seems many things happened because of that timberwolf encounter..."
The yellow mare turns to Rhino, an eyebrow quirked. Seriously? That's what you told them? She points to his chin. How did you explain the burns?
He gestures to it himself. No one had seen it! It was covered by bandages!
The two guests look curiously between the two mental conversationalists.
Then I suppose that explains why they didn't see the bite mark, either. She points to his side. And probably a good thing, too. As a pet doctor, I'm sure they'd be able to recognize the difference between a tiger's bite mark and a timberwolf's. She glances at the sisters, gesturing towards the plate. Aren't you going to try some?
He looks to them as well. "She asked why you haven't eaten any yet."
"Oh!" They both quickly pop a dumpling into their mouths and hum appreciatively. Manila sums it up quite nicely as she reaches for another one. "Our compliments to the chef!"
Luster smiles, nodding gratefully. Thank you. It's an Apple family recipe.
"She says thank you."
As Mane finishes her dumpling, she looks curiously at the burn on the stallion's chest. "Rhino, were you using fire to fight the timberwolf?"
He blanches. "Erm, well, not exactly..."
Luster notices his hesitance and rolls her eyes, elbowing him in the side and gesturing to the sisters. Just tell them the truth! The worst that might happen is they get disappointed at you lying to them before!
He looks at her seriously before his face softens and he looks towards Gel. "Perhaps it's time to air out the secrets? Want me to build them up to it?"
She somehow manages to pale with a white face but nods, hoping things don't turn out badly.
Mane looks at the curiously. "What's going on here?"
Rhino waits a moment until he finds the words. "Well, Mane, Manila. We called you here to tell you something important. Now, you both know Angel, and you like her right?"
They nod.
"Well... Angel doesn't naturally look like this..." He trails off.
Manila waves a hoof. "That's okay, lots of ponies use makeup or dye their manes a little. We don't care."
He grimaces. "It's a bit more extreme than that... But just keep in mind your feelings for Angel, ok?" He turns to Gel.
Much like the previous day, the white mare stands up and, moving into the center of the room, slowly strips away her disguise. The blue flames flow along her body in a slow, meticulous manner, trying to make the shift less jarring for them. As it finishes, she opens her eyes, fear and hope filling the pure-blue spheres as she looks to the sisters.
Manila however, has always been one to obey her flight or fight response. She shrieks and points at Gel. "Ahhhhhhhh! Changeling!" She tries to bolt but is left hanging in the air as Rhino's magic holds her in place.
Mane meanwhile, is simply staring at Gel, her head tilted to one side.
At her coworker's scream, Gel's ears flatten against her head and a soft whimper escapes her throat. She hangs her head, saddened that she reacted in such a way.
Seeing the changeling's reaction gives the panicking mare pause. She takes another look at Gel and mutters. "Aww, I didn't mean to make you sad..."
Mane is still silently looking at the changeling with an unreadable expression.
The nymph waves a hoof half-heartedly. "I-it's fine...you didn't mean anything by it..."
This doesn't settle the mare' feelings. "You even sound like Angel does when she gets sad... Now I feel really bad..." She slumps in the air, still held by Rhino.
Gel looks up at her, feeling a mix of hope and fear. "...if Rhino lets you down...do you promise not to run?"
She nods. "I promise."
The blue changeling turns to her stallion, nodding. Her gaze turns towards the yellow mare off to the side, who immediately moves to pick up her violin.
While Mane still looks at Gel, Rhino releases Manila, who sits in place and looks at the ground. The stallion looks curiously at Luster. "And what did you lunge for that for?"
She nonchalantly shrugs. Just a precaution.
The nymph steps forward, gently tilting the mare's head up. "Please don't be so down..." Her kind smile turns playful. "...or I'll have to use a technique Rhino taught me to cheer you up."
She looks up slightly. "What?"
Gel immediately starts tickling her co-worker, giggling the whole time. Luster, meanwhile, watches this in confusion, turning to Rhino, hoping for an explanation.
He shrugs. "What? I used what worked."
Manila meanwhile, is in hysterics as she squirms beneath her tickle torture. She tries to form words but they are always overrides by laughter.
The nymph grins, stopping for a moment. "Ready to cheer up, Miss Manila? Or do you need a bit more?" She wiggles her forehooves at her.
Manila holds up her hooves. "No! No more! I give! I'll cheer up!" She lets out a few more laughs before she calms down. "So... changeling huh?"
Gel nods, sitting on the floor in front of her. "Yes. I know it's a bit shocking, but...well, I trust you." She glances over at the other sister, smiling softly. "Both of you."
Manila looks over to her sister. "Mane? You haven't really reacted to any of this..."
The doctor gets and up approaches Gel, getting right up in her personal bubble as she stares at her face. Suddenly she raises a hoof and barely touches one of her protruding fangs. "Fascinating..."
Gel blinks, surprised by this. "...um...t-thanks?" She squirms a bit, uncomfortable from her being so close but finding it hard to ask her to back up.
Rhino stands up as Mane takes Gel's mane in her hoof and looks at it closely. "Definitely not mane... membrane perhaps..." She bends it a few different ways.
Gel winces as the doctor tugs her mane on accident. "...y-yes, it is...i-it's also a bit sensitive..."
A light growl comes over her mental link with Rhino. It's also mine...
The nymph giggles, playfully winking at him. "Calm down, love. She's just curious."
He narrows his eyes despite this.
Luckily, Mane realizes exactly what she is doing. "Oh, oh my, I'm sorry, I just got so caught up in being able to see an undocumented species up close."
Gel quirks an eyebrow at this. "We may be another species, but we have the same needs as you." She moves over to Rhino, tenderly kissing him to help him become calmer.
As he wraps a protective foreleg around her, Mane quirks an eyebrow as she regards the two of them. "For different reasons I think... But anyway..." She straightens up. "I guess this explains your mysterious qualification of changeling experience."
She nods, rubbing the back of her neck. "Yea, I was a combat medic. Had to learn a lot to make sure my fellow soldiers didn't perish unnecessarily."
Manila smirks. "I imagine Rhino is becoming quite the student of changeling biology as well."
Gel blushes brightly, embarrassed by the mare's words.
Before anything else could be said, the door to the guest room opens, revealing a certain yellow-tinted changeling. He's looking down at a tube of acrylic paint as he enters the living room. "Rhino, next time you're in town, could y-" He stops as he looks up, seeing two mares that aren't normally there. Of course, he feels the need to joke about this. "We're having guests over? If you'd told me, I'd've put on my face!" He laughs at his silly little joke.
"There are more!?" The mares exclaim, though while Manila is astonished, Mane is ecstatic.
"Yep!" Flick grins at the mares before turning to Rhino, confused and curious. "More what, exactly?"
Luster simply facehoofs at her brother's actions.
Rhino follows Luster's example. "It's a good thing we already got the initial shock out of the way..."
The drone suddenly realizes what they mean. "Oh, more changelings..." He turns to the sisters, grinning wolfishly. "Either of you seen a drone, before?"
They shake their heads. Mane looks him over. "Another colorful one... What differences are there between drones and... females?"
He gives her a flat look. "What's the difference between stallions and mares?"
Gel pipes up from her spot next to Rhino. "I-I'm called a nymph, Doctor Goodall..."
She smiles. "Just making sure there wasn't anything more than that."
He nods, smirking teasingly. "Are you sure you didn't just want an excuse?"
Rhino coughs. "If we could reel this all back in to Gel's revealed identity..."
Flick shrugs. "Fine by me. I'm just saying I'd be up for the good doctor to examine me." He winks at her before motioning for Rhino to continue.
He nods. "Ok, so, you two know Gel is a changeling now." They nod. "And you realize why that means she can't come to work right now." More nodding. "Okay. In that case, I'm going to pass out for like an hour. You guys have fun." With that, he falls over onto the couch, unconscious.
The changelings stare at this in shock. The drone rubs the back of his neck, catching a glimpse of red in the stallion's fur. "...I suppose he must've agitated one of his wounds, somehow..." He glances at Mane, sheepishly smiling. "Could you help me with his wounds?"
"Oh dear..." Mane walks over quickly. "I was wondering when Manila said today was the first day he had started skating everywhere again since he got back. I guess it was a little early."
"Probably." He parts the fur, revealing one of the deeper teeth marks had indeed opened back up. "Damn, Port really did a number on him...I didn't realize just how deep these bite marks went..." He turns just as his first aid kit arrives, floating in his magical aura.
She nods. "They look like they have been healing... They might have started bleeding further down but I can't tell...sorry, we are 'everything but pony' doctors..."
"It's just the one." He gestures to the specific one. "It's from a tiger - the canine went deeper than the rest. It would take longer to heal." He looks up at the blue nymph, frowning slightly at the state of shock clear on her face. "Maybe your sister could escort Gel away for a bit? Maybe into the kitchen?"
Manila gently starts guiding Gel away. "Come on, lets get you some tea or something..." She looks to Luster. "Do you want to stay or come with us?"
The yellow mare glances at the other two before following them into the kitchen.
Gel trembles slightly, her gaze focused on her hooves.
Manila looks around and soon has a hot cup of tea that she sets in front of the changeling. "Here, try this... Changelings like tea, right?"
She takes the glass, staring at the liquid inside. She looks up at her coworker blankly, almost as if she's unsure of what to do.
Manila pats her carapace hesitantly, but more comfortably after a moment. "Don't worry, he'll be fine, it's nothing too bad. It just likely happened when he was still on something that dulled the pain so he didn't know to stop."
She tenses, wincing slightly. "...F-Flick's medicine...oh, dear Luna..." She glances at the drink. "...c-could I have some...a-apple juice?"
Manila switches out the cup with one of apple juice and keeps the tea for herself. She sits next to Gel and puts a foreleg around her. She looks over to Luster. "Well? Come over here and get in on this girl group hug."
The mare blinks in confusion but does as she's told, walking over and draping a hoof over Gel's shoulder, if a bit awkwardly.
Gel tentatively sips the juice, unsure of what to expect it to do, at the moment.
Manila speaks. "Umm... Angel? How are you feeling?"
"...w-worried..." She sighs, looking at her friend. "...I-I'm the reason Rhino's injured..."
Manila peeks back into the living room. "Well... Maybe you want to go check on him? They didn't have much to do."
She shakily nods, slowly getting up. "Y-yes. I should do that." She walks out of the kitchen in a mild daze, leaving Manila and Luster alone in the kitchen.
Manila glances to the yellow earth pony and dryly remarks.'"I don't suppose you're a changeling too?"
She looks at her with a flat expression. With a quick burst of purple flames, she becomes her indigo self, fangs and all.
The mare is unmoved. "Yeah, saw that coming. Rhino's not one, is he?"
She shakes her head.
"Just making sure." She quickly drinks her tea before setting the cup down. "Shall we check on them?"
She nods, gesturing towards the door.
The two arrive back in the living room to find Flick and Mane putting the first aid kit away. Gel is laying on the couch next to a still unconscious Rhino. The stallion looks no worse for wear, but now sports a small wrap of bandages over the opened wound.
Flick notices the newcomers, smiling warmly at them. "Don't you worry none. Doc should be feeling much better, come morning." He turns to Mane, chuckling a bit. "Thanks for your help, again, Miss..." He trails off, curious.
She answers the implied question. "Doctor Mane Goodall."
He laughs, shaking his head. "Another Doc! That makes things a little confusing." He tilts his head, smiling kindly at her. "May I call you Mane?"
She smiles at him. "You may." She turns to the nymph on the couch. "Now, you understand that this was just a small scare right? He's still fine and is recovering normally, it was just a bit early to push himself."
Gel nods, tenderly nuzzling her stallion's cheek. "...I know...but I don't like seeing him hurt like this..."
Manila nods. "I understand... Since this kind of killed the mood, I think we'll be heading out. It was good to see the real you, and I hope you can come to work safely soon."
Flick rolls his eyes, motioning to the indigo changeling. "Let's give them some privacy, sis." She nods and follows him towards the stairs.
The remaining nymph holds up a hoof to the sisters, nervous. "Y-you won't mention this to anyone...will you?"
They shake their heads, Mane speaking for the two. "You have our word." They leave quietly, leaving only the couple left in the room.
She gently strokes Rhino's mane, smiling softly. "...and you have my word, love...I will do everything to keep you, and our family, safe..." She snuggles up against him, closing her eyes to rest with him.
***
About two hours later, the green stallion's eyes open. He groans lightly as he thinks out loud. "Ugh... What happened?"
"You accidentally opened a wound." The nymph in his embrace giggles, gently kissing him. "Everything else went well."
He smiles. "Even when I'm unconscious, I still end up making sure you're close to me, huh?"
"Maybe." She smirks, winking at him. "I don't mind it, though."
He sighs before kissing her gently, but not pulling away.
She breaks the kiss, playfully nipping his neck, a hoof tracing tiny circles in the fur on his chest.
His eyes are soft as he looks down at her. As his tail wraps around hers, he leans down and lovingly nuzzles her neck.
She laughs, playfully pushing on Rhino's chest with a hoof. "Remember, love, not until you're fully healed." She teasingly winks at him.
He smirks. "I didn't insinuate anything. I'm just laying here loving you." He nibbles up and down her neck.
"...you say one thing..." She smirks right back, giving him a lidded gaze. "...but your love has a small amount of desire in it...just a small amount..."
"Doesn't seem like a bad thing to me. It just means I find you sexy." He pulls her closer and kisses her again.
She happily kisses him back, blushing brightly. She pulls back a second, looking up at him with worry on her face. "...you really should take it easy for a bit. That means no using Res for a bit...not until your body is completely ready. Okay?"
He huffs. "I suppose Blinking is out of the question?"
She raises an eyebrow at this. "Doesn't that spell wear you out if you use it too much?"
"Well..." he begins, "technically I suppose, but I was more thinking on the fact that I use it by compressing my body into a tube between two points that would probably irritate the injuries."
She stares at him in horror. "...p-please don't describe that to me again..." She shudders, silently wishing she could forget things. "Y-yes, you're forbidden from Blinking, as well...the spell, I mean..."
He sighs, but nods. "Alright, but only because you asked." He nuzzles her again, rubbing one hoof behind her head in her mane.
She sighs in relief, content to just lay there with him a bit.
Of course, some things just had to be addressed. "Rhino? Where did you go after work?" She peeks an eye open, curious.
He lets out a light growl knowing that he has to back up a bit in order to speak to her face, and he was quite comfortable with their heads resting together. "I... went to see Twilight."
She blinks, surprised at this. "...really? What about?" Her nervous tone tells that she has a good idea of what he said.
He continues. "If you were to ask her, I came to browse and chat. Really though, I was trying to get a feel for her thoughts and attitude regarding her devices and changelings. Results were... Inconclusive."
"Oh." She frowns, a little disappointed. "Well, I'm sure you tried your best...but this doesn't change the fact that we have to tell her, at some point..."
He sighs again, the mood well and truly dead. "I know... It's one of those things... We have to do it... But there's so much that could go wrong..."
"But that's life." The nymph nuzzles his cheek, smiling warmly. "You have to take chances to get somewhere...it's what brought us together...and it's what lead you to rescuing me..." She sighs softly, resting her head on his chest. "We just have to have faith..."
He hums in his chest as he thinks. "I suppose so... Doesn't mean we can't prepare, though."
She glances up at him, curious. "...what did you have in mind?"
He nuzzles her as he speaks. "Just a few little things... Don't let her go on a paranoid rant, emphasize that you are not invading and have not replaced anypony, express that you only want to be able to live your life... Things like that."
She giggles, playfully tapping his nose. "You say that like I wasn't going to do those things anyways..." She trails off before sighing softly. "...okay, so I didn't think of that first one...but still!"
He simply kisses her lightly on the nose. "Just making sure, love. We only get one shot at this..."
"...you're right..." She nods, simply holding him for a moment. "...we need to be careful...and...maybe we could have some backup?"
He sighs. "I was debating that... but I also worry that too many would make her feel threatened."
"...I suppose that's true..." She groans, shaking her head. "...but how many would be enough?"
He thinks. "Perhaps just one extra... Silk perhaps?"
She smiles, nodding once more. "...I think she'd be a big help...she should definitely come, at the very least..."
He nods. "Ok... Anything else?"
"...not sure..." She scratches her head, thinking a bit. "...should we bring Flick and Luster? Or do we just want to tell Twi about them?"
"Let's get her used to the idea of one changeling and maybe mention them later on." He rests his forehead against hers. "The question is how much to tell her... I don't think she needs to know about the outpost incident, but it does sort of come up when the other two are mentioned..."
Gel giggles, gently kissing him. "I'm sure you'll figure it out. For now, though, you need to rest..."
He chuckles. "I just woke up, no way I'm tired. Plus... it'd be shameful for me to ignore you." He brings her closer to him.
She blushes brightly, tapping her forehooves together. "...i-if you say so..."
He raises an eyebrow as he moves a lock of her mane out of her face. "Would you rather I stopped?" He gives her a peck on the lips.
She quickly shakes her head. "N-no. P-please, keep going..." She shyly smiles up at him, her blush growing ever brighter.
He smiles as he leans down toward her again. He nibbles her neck gently while his hooves run through the back of her mane. All the while he has her as close as possible, their bodies pressed together.
She coos softly, her tail wrapping around his waist to keep him close. She teasingly licks his horn as he nibbles, knowing how it makes him react.
His whole body shivers at the action. This cause him to lean up, smirking, as he mimics the action on her horn.
She squeals, her back arching in response, pressing her body further up against his. She moves a hindleg slightly, gently rubbing her thigh against his most sensitive area, and teasingly nips his neck.
He shivers again as he feels his blood diverting. He leans down and gently nips the tip of an ear before whispering into it. "Nothing too strenuous... Right?"
She nods, giggling softly. "...nothing too strenuous..."
"Well then..." He levitates a blanket next to them. "Should we just cover ourselves to avoid awkward situations, or move things up to the room?"
She smirks, pulling the blanket over with a hoof and draping it over them. She immediately pulls him into a passionate kiss, her legs wrapping around his waist.
His own forehooves wrap around her back as he licks her lips with his tongue, eyes closed.
They continue on like this for a while, kissing, cuddling, caressing. They know better than to let it go too far, so they make no attempt to do so.