Baen disembarked his train and took in his surroundings. The hustle and bustle of the Central Station always irked his hearing, too much noise, but one learns to bear with it. Baen ventured through the winding maze of ponies until he managed to pull himself from the crowds, and was met by more ponies. Baen had been the unfortunate pony that had decided to visit Manehatten during a time Manehattites called, ‘tourist week’. During this time is when ponies far and wide just decide to pick the start of that week to vacation or see relatives. The congestion of traffic on and off the road is known to drive ponies insane. Though Baen was given a bit of a berth due to not only his reputation as the Infamous Barbarian known by most of Equestria, it was also the fact that the pony known as Hemline had mass produced those photos of him in Rarity’s suits to promote them. He still seethed in private at seeing them in those blasted magazines. Granted he and the fashion pony of Ponyville reached an agreement on the whole suit issue, she would pull the photos as long as he models for her one more time, no questions asked.
Baen chuckled inwardly, “I swear those mares will one day be the end of me.”
Soon Baen found himself in front of Coco’s building; he smiled as he entered the structure and the lift. As the lift ascended, he couldn’t help but think on what the night’s events might hold. He had never had dinner with a mare’s parents, for that matter, he never actually had a relationship. Though he had the occasional romp in the hay, and only one time before had he almost started a relationship. But that was a memory he wished to remain as such, a memory. Upon exiting the elevator, he approached the familiar door and knocked. It was opened immediately and he was yanked inside.
Coco was visibly stressed, her mane and tail sticking up at odd angles and her eyes frantically darting around.
Baen glanced at his distressed marefriend, “Coco, is there something troubling you?”
Coco shook her head for a moment to clear her head, “Oh Baen,” a somewhat sleepy gaze was on her face as she gave him a small smile, “Sorry, I’ve just been a little stressed about tonight all day. I just want everything to go well. But I keep thinking of what might go wrong and what my parents might think of you, oh Celestia I jus-“
Baen planted his lips on hers silencing her.
Pulling away, he flattened her mane back to its regular style, “Coco, calm yourself. It’s unbecoming of you.”
Coco sighed and nodded, “You’re right, I’m probably worrying for nothing.”
Baen smiled warmly, “Why don’t you just make yourself presentable, and I’ll make us what Vinyl calls, a pizza. Then we’ll sit in the living room and eat our lunch?”
Coco smiled and pecked him on the cheek, “Make sure you don’t burn down the kitchen.”
“Coco, have some faith,” he playfully responded as she trotted to the bathroom, “I only almost did that once….and that was because the stove burned me.”
Coco lightly giggled as she left the room.
*
Before them lay an empty pizza plate and two smaller plates. Nibbles was nearby, nibbling on a piece of crust. The ponies smiled at each other as Baen cleared his throat.
“I must ask Coco, what are your parents like?”
Coco looked to the side as she searched for her words, “Well my mother is a nice mare, and she works as a baker uptown. My father is an actor and he’s a bit…..odd.”
Baen raised an eyebrow, “Odd? How so?”
“Trust me,” she half-smiled, “you’ll know when you meet him.”
Baen chuckled, “I fear for my sanity.”
Coco place a hoof on his armored one, “Baen, I really do hope this goes well. I don’t want to lose you.”
“As do I,” his gaze was both comforting and warm as a fire on a cold winter’s night, “I’ll be there by your side, and I’m not going anywhere.”
Coco smiled at her coltfriend as the time for the dinner drew nigh.
*
Both ponies stood out front of their place of judgment, Coco’s parent’s house. Baen blinked in surprise. A wrought iron gate barred entrance to the main property. The house within the white brick wall lining the land was a two floor mansion of a home. The roof was made of red thatch and the stone of the building was as white as the property border wall.
“Coco,” Baen asked blankly as his formal armor gave a dull glow in the evening light, “just how well off are your parents?”
Coco smiled sheepishly, “Well my Dad’s income combined with my Mom’s…they can afford it,” she then quickly added, “B-but that doesn’t mean they’re millionaires!”
Baen shook his head as the gates swung inwards, “You’re worrying again.”
Coco glanced to the side slightly ashamed, “Sorry.”
“It’s fine,” he eyed her, “I must say that you look ravishing tonight.”
Coco blushed as she glanced down at herself. She was wearing a pretty nice dinner dress that was a light turquoise with some lighter blue trim to it. Her eyes had eyes-shadow that complimented her mane and eye color perfectly. Her mane and tail were even slightly curled. Baen however was dressed in his formal armor and his mane and tail, at her insistence, was much more manageable looking. Baen stood before the dark oak doors as Coco knocked. A few moments later, the door opened to reveal a smiling mare. She was around average height for a grown mare and was only slightly chubby, but that did not deter from her looks. Far from it, it gave her a more motherly look. Her mane was a dark blue at the front while the rest was composed of pink and purple streaks. Her tail was nothing but streaks of the three colors. Her mane and tail curled upwards ever so much at the tips of the hairs. Her coat was a cream white and she had three gingerbread ponies on her flanks. Her eyes were a deep blue.
The mare smiled and embraced Coco, “My little Coco Bean! I’ve missed you so much!”
Baen stifled a chuckle as Coco blushed embarrassingly in her mother’s hug and squirmed, “Mom! Not in front of my coltfriend!”
At that word, the mare released Coco and gazed at Baen, her smile had all but vanished as she analyzed the barbarian before her. Her gaze made Baen feel very small, it was as if her pupils were cutting him like a surgical blade, seeking imperfections.
The mare remained stone-faced as Coco rubbed the back of her head, “Um….Baen. This is my mother,” Coco gestured quickly, “Ginger Bread.”
Ginger raised an eyebrow and flatly stated, “Coco, who’s this?”
“Oh!” Coco said, “This is Baen. My coltfriend, the one you and Dad wanted to see remember?”
“Right,” her response was decisive and fairly blunt.
Coco trotted past her mother as Baen followed, “By the way, where is dad?”
Ginger shut the door, “Your father will be down in a moment,” she waved a hoof to the second level as she shook her head, “Honestly, he gets so lost in that room of his.”
“Ah my dear Ginger,” the voice of a stallion rang out, “I merely get invested.”
In a second, a fully armored stallion trotted in. The armor made the stallion resemble a griffon made of black steel. The large armored wings flapped for a moment as the black chain mail shifted. Ginger Bread face hoofed as her husband inhaled sharply.
“ROAAAAAAAAR!”
The roar of a metallic lion echoed through the home as Baen and Coco’s mane were blown back. Baen blinked while Coco gave a small smile.
“Hi Dad,” she said casually, “rehearsing for another part?”
“Yes my ever observant Daughter,” the griffon reached up and removed his helm. The stallion underneath was beaming. His coat was a dark yellow while his mane, like his wives, was multiple colors. It was styled quite nicely, medium length yet slightly wavy. It was a series of light and dark green streaks. A lone brown streak was on his bangs. The stallion tapped some areas on the armor as it opened and he literally stepped out of it. A pair of wings showed that he was a Pegasus. On his flanks were three masks, two blue and one pink.
Ginger trotted to her husband, “Masq, why must you walk around in that thing? We have,” her gaze hardened as she gazed at Baen, “guests.”
The stallion hugged Coco before gazing at Baen, “Nice plate. But I’m a chain mail and plate mail type of pony.”
Baen blinked, “Hm, you know your stuff sir.”
“Of course!” the stallion dramatically bowed, “Masquerade at your service. One of Manehatten’s premiere stars,” he extended a hoof
Baen smiled as he shook the hoof, “Coco did tell me that you were an actor.”
Masquerade glanced at his daughter, “Did she now? Well I hope she didn’t tell you everything about me.”
“No,” Baen smirked, “she said she would save that for small talk and jokes.”
Masquerade laughed as did Coco, Ginger remained silent.
After the laughter, they adjourned to the dining room and sat at the table as Ginger brought in the pasta had made in a massive potluck pot. When everypony was served, Masquerade broke the ice.
“So Baen,” the stallion was currently wearing a vermillion and gold musketeer outfit, “word on the grapevine is that you were thawed out from stone by Princess Twilight Sparkle. What an honor.”
“Indeed,” Ginger added, “You must be so happy.”
Baen shrugged as he swallowed his first helping, “Well I am truly grateful to her, she and her friends are,” he mulled the words in his head, “unique.”
Masquerade pointed his fork at the stallion, “I don’t doubt it, they’re the Elements of Harmony after all,” the stallion gazed into space, “Ah, just to be in the lime light like they are. It must be fantastic.”
Baen shrugged, “They have their moments.”
Ginger cleared her throat, “So Baen, how long have you been seeing my daughter for?”
Baen glanced up as both Masquerade and Coco became nervous, “For a few months, well, occasionally out of the months. She’s been busy. But I have sent her gifts and letters.”
“I see,” Ginger looked over at her daughter with a smile, “did you know the best merit a coltfriend can have to her mare is always being by your side?”
Coco blushed and sunk a little in her seat, “Mom…”
Baen titled his head, “Did I say something wrong?”
“No, no,” Ginger waved her hoof, “I’m merely wondering why my little Coco Bean’s new coltfriend isn’t spending more time with her.”
Baen sat up straight, “I live in Ponyville with my friends-“
“Ah you rent a room,” Ginger leaned forward, “Interesting.”
Baen chuckled nervously as her eyes dissected him again, “Well…I sort of…live there.”
Masquerade cut in, “Ah! Well your friends must be quite the bunch and very generous indeed!”
Ginger titled her head with a neutral expression, though her tone sounded a little to chipper, “Or maybe he has no money to pay his way. Do you work Baen?”
Baen looked to the side as Ginger clicked her tongue, “I thought as much.”
Coco looked at her mother in shock, “Mom!”
Ginger gave her daughter a warm smile, “I was merely getting to know Baen, that’s all.”
Coco scrunched her face, “No you weren’t. You always do this!”
Ginger narrowed her eyes at her daughter, “Don’t you use that tone of voice with me young filly.”
Coco backed down as Baen snorted, “Might I interject here?”
Ginger stared evenly at Baen, “No you may not, this is a family matter.”
Coco looked at her mother, “Mom, he’s my coltfriend.”
Ginger inhaled, “NO he is not!”
Everypony was silent.
“Coco, I care a great deal about you. But listen to me and face reality, you’re too good for him,” Ginger stroked her daughter’s mane, “he’s a savage who freeloads in a house and can’t even spare a moment to come and see you. I’ve seen this before. In the end he’ll just hurt you and move on to another mare.”
Baen smacked his front hooves on the table, “I would never do that to her! How dare you!”
Ginger stared evenly at the barbarian, “I’ve read the headlines and heard all the gossip about you and what you’ve done since you’ve been awakened here. I forbid you from seeing my daughter again you savage, now get out.”
Baen remained on the spot as Ginger’s eyes flared, “GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!”
Baen snorted in anger as he gazed at Coco with an apologetic look. He then galloped out of the home and onto the darkened street.
Coco cried silently in her chair as she sped away from the dining room.
Ginger glanced at Masquerade, “It’s for the best, and she’ll thank me one day. It’s like I said about that Suri Polomare, that pony is no good.”
Masquerade shook his head, “Dear, you didn’t have to do that. Coco is a grown mare; she can take care of herself.”
“I just don’t want her ending up with a lunatic.”
Masquerade just slowly nodded as he flicked the feather in his cap.
*
The next morning, Baen sat in silence in a park. He was in his usual armor and could only stare in silence at the ground. He had never felt like this before. It was like a part of his being had been ripped out and all that was left was a hole. He stared into the distance and blinked as somepony sat beside him. He then noticed a saddened Coco across the way with her mother and father.
“Why so glum dog?”
Baen turned his head and looked at a familiar pony, “Blueballs, so good to see you.”
Blueblood snorted in anger. One could visibly see he had ditched his usual attire for regular clothes.
Baen sighed, “Why exactly are you here? You don’t strike me as a pony that would walk with the common folk.”
Blueblood looked into the distance, “Well frankly, though I hate to admit it. I came to see you.”
Baen raised an eyebrow, “And why is that?”
“Well since our little meeting at that dinner,” Blueblood explained, “I seek to avenge myself upon you! So I’ve been keeping watch on you as well as follow you in secret.”
Baen rolled his eyes, “Wow, that must be so good for you,” he noticed the family of three getting ice creams.
Blueblood noticed his gaze, “Oh yes, I heard you and that mare were together. It would only make sense after all.”
Baen was silent.
“I mean after all, two mongrels as a couple are only fitting,” Blueblood leaned in closer, “And when you have puppies, they will be ones only you love,” he then whispered in Baen’s ear, “How could an ugly mare like her ever be fit to be called a lady.”
Blueblood backed up slightly when he noticed Baen’s eyes staring into his, fire ignited in the pupils of the stallions eyes.
Baen then spoke through gritted teeth in a tongue none have ever heard before, “Þú sonur hóra!*”
Baen brought his forehead into Bluebloods face. In an instant, Baen was upon the stallion and rained a series of punches down upon the stallion who was cowering under him.
“Ekki alltaf tala um hana þannig að þú hundur!*”
Blueblood was then hurled down hard on the park bench, the bench snapping in two. Baen loomed over him as he unsheathed his axe. Then he felt a pair of hooves wrap around his neck.
“Baen, stop! That’s enough!”
Baen turned his head and gazed at a tearful Coco.
Blueblood could barely stand as blood dripped from his nose, “I won’t forget this! Mark my words! I’ll have retribution!”
Blueblood then barely hobbled off before some nearby medic ponies took him away.
“There! I knew it! Coco, get away from that stallion this instant,” Ginger trotted up to the pair, “You see now! He attacked a noble pony.”
Baen then glared at the grown mare, “To defend your daughter’s honor.”
Ginger grit her teeth, “Step away from my Coco Bean righ-“
“MOM THAT’S ENOUGH!”
Masquerade, Ginger, and Baen both stared in surprise at the fuming mare as she jabbed a hoof into Ginger’s chest, “Listen Mom. I’m not your little Coco Bean anymore,” Coco stood beside a still stunned Baen, “I’m a grown mare that can make her own decisions. I don’t need you protecting me anymore.”
Ginger opened her mouth to speak but Coco cut her off, “Baen is the pony I love, sure he might be violent and bullheaded. But he’s also compassionate and caring,” Coco steeled herself and became stoic, “Mom I love you, and I always will. But if you can’t see that both Baen and I love each other and not support it,” she spoke with finality, “then as a mare I once had the displeasure of being employed to once said, ‘tough cud, mkay?”
Ginger’s expression was unreadable while Masquerade was staring at his daughter in shock. Baen was as shocked as he was, never before has she spoken in such a manner.
Ginger looked to the side and sighed, “Coco…,” she gave a small smile, “You really are your mother’s daughter. I realize I’ve been…protective,” small tears appeared in her eyes, “It’s just that I don’t want to see you hurt.”
Coco smiled warmly, “Don’t worry mom, I’ve been fine so far,” she then added with a small chuckle, “Plus if anypony tries to hurt me, my scary coltfriend will handle them.”
“Yep,” Baen nodded, “It comes with the package.”
Ginger glanced at her husband who nodded, “Well then,” she approached Baen, “Young stallion. You will treasure my daughter, make her happy, and be the nicest pony in this world to her. You will keep her safe and never hurt her, do you understand?”
Baen nodded, “Yes ma’am.”
Ginger nodded, “If you ever break her heart though,” she whispered in his ear in a low voice, “I’ll break your spine like a twig.”
Baen trembled as she pulled away.
Ginger then nodded, “And I must apologise for my way of speaking to you last night. So as a way to make it up to you, we’ll go to a lunch,” she smiled warmly at the stallion, “As a family.”
Coco nodded, “Alright.”
Baen nodded, “Right.”
Masquerade was garbed in full samurai armor, “Right.”
Ginger snapped her head around to her husband, “CELESTIA DAMMNIT MASQ!”