“Luna, I really don’t care what kind of ‘security measures’ you need to follow,” I say, my voice firm and my eyes set. Several days had passed since the destruction of the cult, and we had been cleared to resume our quest. Well, almost all of us. “I’m taking Jason with me.”
“Lady Floyd, your cousin is a changeling,” Luna repeats for what has to be the seventh time. “What kind of panic do you think she’ll cause when she’s seen out in public?” Gesturing to the door, she continues. “It’s in everypony’s best interest for Jason to stay out of sight.”
I snort, stamping my hoof. “To hell with everyone else! He’s my cousin, and he’s my responsibility! I will fight you on this, Luna!” I insist, my determined look morphing into a glare. I dunno how Jay got here, but he’s family, and I’m going to live up to Pie family standards.
Luna gives a sigh of exasperation, rubbing her temple. “I see you won’t drop this matter. Very well, Lady Floyd. In recognition of your aid in stopping the vampony cult, I release Jason into your custody.” Stepping aside, she allows me to enter Jay’s room.
We exchange a look as I open the door and step inside. Jay’s laying on his bed, nose deep in a book. I’m actually rather surprised. Jay was never really one for reading. Might have picked up the habit while he was off playing mountain man.
“Hey,” I spoke, pushing the door closed with a hind leg. “How are you doing?” I walk over to a rocking chair, taking a seat. Pinkie was nice enough to give me and Jay some space. I think she’s off with Cheese or something.
Closing his book, Jason sat up. “You know how it goes, Floyd. Wake up as a bug horse in a world of a girls’ cartoon, and find out your cousin is the girliest looking one.”
I nod in sympathy. “Yeah, I know how that goes, Jay. Believe me.” Scrutinizing him, I ask another question. “So... how are you on the whole uh nymph queen thing?” Unlike me, Jay had been rather actively masculine.
“What do you think?” he asks, snarling lightly. “I’m a freaking little girl horse! I’m not you, Floyd! I was perfectly fine as a guy!” His wings buzz on his back, reminds me of a cicada. Grabbing the book, he chucks it at the wall, seething with probably as many emotions as I do.
Getting up, I sit down on the bed, pulling him close. “Hey, I know what you're going through. I wasn’t all that happy with my arrangement either. Hell, I’m still not. Not being human or male doesn’t bother me. This,” I pat my chest, showing off the new scar tissue, “this bothers me. This isn’t my body. I’m not comfortable body jacking someone.”
Jay snorts, his fangs peeking out over his bottom lip. “Guess I got lucky there, huh?” Glancing up at me, his eyes soften. “I just... I can’t believe you’re alive. When Uncle Dan came out to my cabin, I...”
I shush him, rubbing his back. “It’s alright, even a ‘true Norseman’ like you has their moments of weakness.” After a moment, I glance down at him. “Do you remember how you got here? What was the last thing you were doing on Earth?”
Putting a hoof on his chin, Jay scrunches his muzzle in thought. “I remember I went out hunting. I uh... got pretty drunk before hand...” Pouting, he looks up at me. “I think... I think there was an avalanche. But, I don’t remember anything between then and waking up in this town.”
I nod, taking in that information. It was possible that Jason had died, just like I had. I can already rule out Discord; if it had been him, he would have already teleported in and bragged about it. Or would he risk it? I scared him pretty good, as I recall.
“Whatever happened, Jay, you're here now.” I pull him closer, nuzzling the top of his head. “You're coming with the crew and I for the rest of our trip.” Jay stuck up for me when we were kids, and now, I get to return the favor. I blink at my own behavior, before giving a barking laugh.
“Uh, what’s so funny?” he asks, a confused look on his face.
Pulling away, I trot a bit away from the bed. “I’m an emotional wreck, Jason. Half the time I’m flying into fits of rage, and the other I’m crying my eyes out, in some type of existential crisis.” Shaking my head, I try to gather my thoughts. “And yet, here I am, giving you support. Who the hell do I think I am?”
After a moment, I hear a set of hooves hit the floor, and the next, one of those hooves is placed on my side. “Floyd, you’re a good person. You always have been. Sure, we’re assholes, I don’t think either of us will argue that point. Maybe this is you starting to move past it?” I turn my head, giving him a skeptical look. “What? I said ‘maybe’.”
Giggling softly, I put a hoof on his head. “I dunno, I’ve never been a maybe kinda guy.” Embracing him again, I rest my head on top of his. “I love you, Jay.”
He grunts softly, hugging me back. “Yeah, love you too, Fly.”
I snicker at the old nickname, pulling away from him. “Alright. That’s enough hugging.” Nudging him back to his hooves, I trot to the door. “Come on, we have a train to catch, first class seats too. Don’t have to share the car with anyone but our little group of weirdos.”
Jay laughs, following me out into the hall. “That would be that Blueblood guy and your ‘big sister’ Maud, ya?”
“Plus Cheese Sandwich and Pinkie Pie.” I stop, tapping a hoof on the floor. “Right, that reminds me.” Reaching into my mane, I rummage around until I find the necklace Luna gave to Cheese, not that he needed it. “This will let you see Pinkie.” I slip it around his neck.
“See her? What is she a ghost?” Jay questions, giving me an odd look.
“Kinda sorta.” Pinkie phases through the wall, waving at him. She giggle snorts as Jay starts at her. “It’s nice to meet you, Jason! I hope that we can be friends.” Leaving my cousin to his dumbfounded state, Pinkie turns to me. “Maud and Blue got everything on the train. We’re just waiting on you two.”
“Great!” I turn, placing my head under Jason’s belly, then raising my neck so he slides down onto my back. “Always wanted to do that,” I mutter to myself, following Pinkie out into town. Maybe Jay’s right, maybe I am moving past this stuff. With a spring in my step, I head towards the train station, leaving Hollow Shades in the dust.
“You know Blue, we didn’t need royal suites.” I step out onto the twentieth floor of Manehatten’s Grand Circle hotel, which appears to be one of the city’s finest. “I think everyone would have been happy in a normal hotel.”
“Nonsense.” Blue struts past me, our room keys hovering in his magic. “A visit to a horror town like Hollow Shades deserves to be offset by something nice!” He stops in front of the first room, bowing his head. “And, I’d like to try and make our time here nice, Lady Floyd.”
A warm feeling spreads through my chest, and I open my mouth to respond, only for Maud to step up and take a room key for him. “Thank you.” Unlocking the door she steps inside, Pinkie bouncing in after her, with Jason covering the rear.
“I get the distinct feeling she doesn’t like the idea of us getting close.” Blue sighs, fixing his tie. Passing the remaining door key to Cheese, he turns his attention to the bellhop, who had just come out of the elevator next to ours. “Thank you, good sir.” Levitating the stallion a bag of bits, he gave him a kind smile.
“Gee, thanks your uh, Highness!” the bellhop clutches the bag close to his chest. Tipping his hat, he zipped back into the elevator, leaving us alone.
“I think she’s just being protective,” I assure him, placing a hoof on his shoulder. “I think she is anyway.” Stepping away, I grab a few of our bags. “Come on, the faster we get settled in, the faster we can go see the sights!”
“Quite right.” Blue cheers up, grabbing his and Cheese’s bags up in his magic. He actually travels pretty light, all things considered. He’s got like three bags to my one. My none. I keep most of my stuff in my mane. “I know quite a few out of the way places.”
“Oh yeah?” I ask, watching him enter the ‘boys’ room. Something apparently happened between Pinkie and Cheese, and now Maud wants us to have separate rooms. I don’t want to know what they did, it’s too weird. Frowning, I glance in on Maud. I hope she doesn’t think Blue’s trying to get into my pants, or under my tail. Whatever.
“Oh yes,” Blue responds, regaining my attention. “One can only take high society for so long. Especially the food.” Standing in the doorway, he gestured with a hoof. “There's this old pizza shop down on 7th and Vanderbull, I stop there everytime I’m in the city.”
I shoot him a smile. “Sounds good, can’t ever go wrong with pizza.”
With our stuff safely stowed away, we had a group meeting in the ‘girls’ room. After a few minutes, our schedules were set. I’ll spend the day with Blue, Pinkie will stay a relatively close distance with Cheese, and Maud will uh... try to help Jason shapeshift.
Yeah. Maud, the most solid, unbendable rock of a mare, is going to help teach a changeling how to shapeshift. Don’t ask me how the hell she plans to do that, given her rock solid nature, but who am I to deny her the chance?
Making sure my mane feathers were in order, I step out of the room with Blue. “See you guys later! Jay, don’t give Maud a hard time. If you need a hug, just give her one, she doesn’t mind!” Clearing my throat, I chuckle softly. “He’s actually older than me.”
“If I recall correctly, you said he was a good year older.” Blueblood calls up the elevator, giving me a smile. “I can only imagine what trouble you two will get up to now, what with one of you being a shapeshifter.”
I snigger, nodding in agreement. “I promise not to go burning down any barns. I don’t think that’s covered under the Elements fund.”
“Not if it’s intentional!” Pinkie chirps, bouncing over to us, Cheese in tow. “Princess Celestia said it was to keep us from abusing our position. If you make a mess, you gotta clean it up!”
“Can’t have ponies not cleaning up after themselves!” Cheese agrees, nodding his head fast enough to be a blur. “Even us party ponies have to pack up the party when everypony is done. Or my name isn’t Wreck-Gar! But it’s not.”
I eye him for a second, meeting his bright smile with a flat look. “Alright, just remember, we’re good for at least three blocks. Please try not to get rubberbanded back. That freaking hurts, man.”
“Okie dokie loki!” Pinkie saluted, sharing Cheese’s smile. I mean it, Pinkie. This is going to be my first real date, and I’d rather not get a headache during it. “Okay, okay.” She drops her hoof, rolling her eyes. “Geez, your baby sister gets one date and she gets all high maintenance.” Winking at me, she trotted into the elevator as it arrived, not bothering to wait for the doors.
Cheese pronks after her, only to smack into the elevator doors. He gives a chuckle, shaking his head. “Right! I’m the corporeal one. Silly me!” He steps in as the doors open, holding it for us.
Blue and I exchange looks before stepping onto the elevator after him. We split up upon reaching the lobby, Pinkie and Cheese going off to do whatever, and Blue and I starting our day together. The crowds are much more diverse here. That’s not to say Canterlot and Ponyville aren’t diverse, they just tend to lean towards one tribe over the others.
This place, however, is jam packed with various types, including a few crystal ponies. I spot a handful of strix, and at least one griffon. I get a few looks, though I’m not sure if that's from my currently blank flank, or my royal company. Either way, I just wave them off, and look up at Blueblood. “So... where to first?”
“Hmm... Blueblood rubs his chin, clicking his tongue. “The Manehattan Natural History Museum is hosting an ‘obscure and bizarre history’ exhibit this month. I’m sure it’ll be interesting.” He gives me a hopeful smile, and I swear I can see the sweat drop forming on his head.
“Sure!” I chirp, nodding my head. “Obscure and bizarre history is something I’m way into.” I smile as he relaxes, and watch as he stops a cab. I climb inside, taking a seat. Our driver is a gruff looking earth pony with some nice mutton chops. Always wanted those, though unfortunately, as a human I had been cursed with baby face.
“The Natural History Museum please,” Blueblood requests, climbing in after me. The driver rejoins traffic, pulling us along.
We sit for a few moments of silence before I speak up. “So, what was it like? Growing up royalty, I mean.”
“A mixed bag, really,” Blueblood responds, looking out the window. “I'm not ashamed to admit that I was a brat growing up. Chip on my shoulder and all that.” A long sigh escapes his lips before he continues. “My mother died in childbirth, and my father didn't want anything to do with me. Aunt Celestia was the only family I had.”
I reach over, putting a hoof on his shoulder. “I can relate, to the chip on the shoulder thing. I didn't get along with my parents in the slightest. Dad wanted me to be a lawyer like him.” I giggle snort, picturing myself in Phoenix Wright’s suit. “Can you imagine that?”
He laughs with me, and a smile spreads across my face. I feel that warm feeling from before, and a flutter in my chest. Is this what having an attraction to someone is like? It's not bad, honestly.
“I can only dream of how things would be if you had gone to law school.” Blue turns back to me, his brief bout with funk behind him. “I'm sure Lady Pinkie would be less...”
“Spazzy,” I finish for him. “Yeah, Pinkie’s a spaz, but ya know, it suits her. ‘Sides, I'm a bit of a spaz too, so I can't really call her out for it.”
With mood lightened, the taxi ride goes rather quickly. Blue gets out first and opens the door for me, levitating a tip to our driver. He smiles at me, holding his hoof out. I stare for a moment before offering mine. Taking my arm in his, he leads me up the front stairs and into the museum.
The place is about what you expect, with many exhibits based around, well, history. Following a few signs, we end up at the 'Bizarre and Obscure’ exhibit.
“Come on, I wanna see all the weirdness.” I tug Blueblood along, eyes going from exhibit to exhibit. My eyes land on the closest, some type of book. “Alright, let's start with this one.”
“Lead the way, milady.” Blue smiles, letting me pull him along. He’s kind enough to read the plaque, while I peer intently at the book. “It says here that this is the uh... Book of Clop. Dated to 500 AU, the book can produce erotic fiction about anyone the reader wishes.”
I burst out laughing, leaning against Blue for support. “Oh that's great! How the hell didn't something like that catch on?!” I reign in my laughter, smiling sheepishly at a few annoyed tourists. “Well, it is bizarre, I'll give you that.”
“I can only wonder what sexually starved being made this thing.” Blue eyes it for a moment before turning to me. “If it wasn't years younger than his reign, I'd have thought Discord was the author.”
“Eh, I don't think he's the type to read about it.” Resisting the urge to test the book out, I meander towards another display. This one had a large black square, set on a pillar.
Above it read ‘The Gatekeeper.’
“The hell's the gatekeeper?” I ask, leaning in to get a better look. A crash of thunder strikes and I jump back, hearing my heart beating in my ears.
On the front of the black box, a stallion’s head had appeared. He sported a mangy black mane and matching cloak. “Never, ever come close again to me, maggot!”
Oh. It's that gatekeeper. I'm not surprised. It's been at least a week since Equestria hit me with a reference. Good location too. Getting over my initial fright, I snort. “Who you calling a maggot? You’re just pissy the keymaster isn't here.”
“Shut up!” the gatekeeper snaps, glaring at me. “Don't disturb me again, maggot, or I'll send you to the Black Hole.” Sneering, he fades from view and the box goes quiet.
“Dick,” I huff, wishing I had could flip him off. “Come on, Blue. Let's see the rest of this place.” Grabbing his hoof, I walk away with my nose in the air. Damn floating head, he's lucky he's a museum piece.
The rest of our visit is pleasant, with some highlights being the skeleton of the only bicorn Equestria has ever seen, a strange container that allows cats to talk to spiders, and the 'ritual mask of bad advice’, which shouted at me to 'Take drugs! Kill a bear!’
I laughed at that last bit long and hard. Two references in one? Good show universe, good show. Near the end of the exhibit, I pause to take stock of my feelings.
Spending time with Blue has been some of the most fun I've had on this trip. I dunno, being with him makes me feel normal, like I'm not a wreck. Glancing back at him, I feel a smile spread across my face.
After our thorough exploration of the exhibit, Blue takes me to a pretty nice place for dinner and a show. Given how he's dressed for the occasion, I pull my Moxxi suit from my mane, and with a stop at a restroom, I get all fancied up.
“I know I promised the pizza place,” he starts, locking arms with me. “But I wanted to make our first real date something to remember!” He swept his arm out towards the building in front of us. “This is the Historic Manehattan Theatre. They’re showing a rendition of 'The Ice Pony Cometh’.”
Escorting me inside, he stops at the podium in the foyer. Smiling at the pony behind the podium, he passes her a pair of tickets. “The Theatre doubles as a dining hall and a ballroom. We can start off with dinner, do a little dancing and end off the night with the play.”
“You went all out with this didn't you?” I ask as the hostess leads us to the dining hall. The palace is big. The front half is set up like a restaurant, with a wide open space in front of the back wall, which has a big stage built into it. “Wow, Blue. You go above and beyond. Wasn't expecting this at all.”
Blue blushes, pulling my chair out for me. “I just wanted to make a good impression.” Taking his seat, he gives me a nervous smile. “You’ve never had a date before. I just want this to go off without a hitch.”
I take my own seat, nodding at the hostess as she passes me a menu. “Blue, relax. I'm loving this so far, way more than I thought I would.” I grace him with a smile. “I mean that, really.”
He smiles back, levitating his menu up. “I’m glad, I’d have hated to waste your time.” Peering over the menu, he clicks his tongue a few times. “I think I'll go with the sage and tulip soup.”
I look over my own menu, noting all the flower-based items. There's even one or two grass-based ones. After some debate, I go with the flower salad and garlic stew. “So,” I start, munching on a breadstick. “Chip on your shoulder, huh? What changed?”
Blue sighs, primping his mane, which I think is a nervous tick. “I made life Tartarus for those in the castle. I was the definition of ‘spoiled noble’. I don't know why my aunt put up with me.”
“So what changed?” I ask again, leaning in closer.
“My aunt was devastated when Sunset Shimmer ran away.” Closing his eyes, Blue took a moment to speak. “She would lock herself in her room and weep. When she saw me again, she swept me up on a hug, and begged me to forgive her. She thought she hadn't been a good enough aunt.” Hanging his head, his voice trembles a little. “I didn't want to see my aunt cry again, so I promised her I'd be a better pony.”
“And you are a better pony,” I tell him, patting his head. “Take a little pride in yourself, geez.” I set my hat down, sitting back in my chair. “No need for both of us to be self-loathing.”
We chat away the meal, with me telling him the story of Romeo and Juliet. Personally, I like Hamlet better, it's just more interesting and less angsty. I honestly forgot how fun this was. You know, just telling stories. Guess I get it from my grandmother. Storytelling was always her thing.
Music catches my ear and I look over at the stage. Some musicians had taken to the stage, including a griffon on piano, and Octavia on her cello. Blue clears his throat and gets my attention.
Rising from his seat, he takes a step towards me. “Care for a dance, Lady Floyd.”
I get up from my seat, taking his offered hoof. As we walk out onto the dance floor, an idea occurs to me. I walk up to the stage, rummaging around in my mane. Come on, help me out here... Pulling a series of musical sheets from my mane, I smile upon reading the name of the song.
“Hey,” I call out, getting the griffon’s attention. “Think you could play this for me?” I ask, holding out the sheet music.
Chuckling, he takes the papers, looking them over. “I don't normally take requests, but this is new to me, so I suppose I can make an exception.” Placing them on his note thing, he starts to play.
I smile as the familiar notes hit my ears, and I go I rejoin Blue. “I thought you’d like to hear a bit of human music.” I rub my neck, looking at all the other dancing couples. “I don't really know how to dance, so...”
Smiling gently, Blue takes my hooves, rising to his back hooves and pulling me up with him. “Let me lead then, nothing to worry about.” I nod, letting Blue guide me along the dance floor.
I've never been this close to someone, like this at least. Every time I look at Blue, he smiles at me and I feel my face heat up. My heart is thumping in my chest, my limbs like jelly. He doesn't get mad when I stumble or scrape my hoof against his leg.
He spins me around, pulling me close and letting me hang from his arms. My breath hitches in my throat, our muzzles inches apart. Leaning down closer, he locks eyes with me, as if to ask for permission. It only takes a moment to make up my mind, as I close my eyes and lean toward.
Our lips lock, and the world falls away. All the fears and guilt just vanish. The only thing that matters is this moment, with us together. A few beats pass before we pull away, our faces flush and our breaths coming out in puffs.
“So... how was your first kiss?” Blue asks, eyeing my face critically.
“Better than I thought it would be,” I respond, leaning against him as my legs shake. “Seems like something I’d like to do again.”
His smile brightens, and he leads me back to our table. Finding that my mouth felt like it was a desert, I shakily sip from my drink, feeling the excitement drain from my body.
“Thanks for this, Blue. I mean it, more than before. This has been one of the best nights I’ve had in Equestria.”
Blue looks genuinely surprised, and it takes him a moment to reply. “I’m glad you're enjoying yourself. I was worried that you would hate all this.” Reaching over, he rests his hoof on my arm. I let him, a giggle escaping my lips.
After a few minutes, the musicians take a final bow, and the staff close the stage curtains. Plays aren't exactly my thing, besides the oddball ones like Irma Vep, or Rocky Horror. But I haven't seen a pony play before, so it had to be good.
Watching the stage intently, I rest on my elbow. As the play starts, I almost instantly find my expectations have not been met. “Geez,” I whisper to Blue, catching his ear. “Haven't these people heard of ‘show, don't tell’?”
Raising his eyebrow, Blue whispers back. “Oh? Not enjoying the show?”
“This play is enraging me,” I huff, sending a glare over at the stage. “The dialogue is terrible, the clichés are blatant, and they’ve wasted Chekov’s gun already.” I've written better scripts than this. Hell, those shitty stories I used to write in middle school are better than this.
You know what? I am going to write something better than this. I'll show the hack writers of Equestria what good writing is. Actually, screw that, I'll give the ponies of Equestria stories they've never even dreamed of! A sense of purpose washes over me, and I feel a tingle ripple across my body. Equestria look out, Floyd the Storyteller is gon-.
“Floyd.”
I blink, realizing that Blue was shaking me. “Huh? Sup, Blue? Did I zone out and miss the rest of the play?” Jeez, I hope not. That would be a pretty shitty thing for me to have don-
“Look,” he insists, pointing at my side, towards my rear. “Your flank.”
I stare at him for a second. “What about my flank? I know, it's...blank.” The world seems to freeze and my eyes widen slowly. There on my flank was a cutie mark; an inkwell with a stone quill resting in it.
I have a cutie mark. A weightless sensation fills my heart and I sway out of the chair, fading out of the world.