Chapter Three: I have a sister.
Chaser flew over to the clinic. He hoped that Patience would be there. He reached the door. He took a deep breath, then walked in.
He made his way to the reception desk. The receptionist was not there. He looked about for her. Great. Wouldn't you know, in a rush, and no pony is here.
He heard a voice he recognized calling to his right, and down the hall. He took a look as a mint green young mare with a light blue main was waving to him. Oh' forget the receptionist! I just found who I am looking for. He made his way to Patience who is waiting for him after seeing him.
As he got to her she spoke first. "Why hello my Lucky Star. So how is the wife and your new bundle of joy? There isn't a problem is there? Is Fluttershy sick? Should I get my things? I should get my things shouldn't I?
Patience despite her name was not always patient herself. She rifled off a few more questions before Chaser had a chance to answer even one of them. "This is about her third month home, after her four days of stay here, and problems with a newborn is not too uncommon. Even after such a time at home.
“Actually I am none to surprised that you have shown up. So what seems to be her symptoms? Does she have a cough? Is she hot to the touch? Did she try to fly? Some do try that young. Successfully I might add! Did she hurt herself? Do you think she twisted something? I'll just go get my things. Come with, you got to tell me what I need to prepare for."
Chaser loved his friend dearly, but right now he was getting rather impatient himself, waiting for an opening to speak with her. "Please Patience, stop! It's not Fluttershy. She is fine."
Patience gave a quick nod. "Well, that I am glad to hear. So you must be here about Stella. It's not all too uncommon for the mother to develop a few complications as well, even after being home for this amount of time. So, is she feeling queasy? Is she having dizzy spells? A loss of energy? Is she sleepy. Is she hot to the touch?"
Chaser rolled his eyes, and felt he needed to interrupt her again. "No! It's not Stella. She is fine as well."
Patience gave a smirk with a touch of playful mirth to her body language. "So you came to see me for yourself, have you, for a personal need? Well, you dog you! Come to flirt with me then?"
She bat her eyes at him playfully. "You know I am not that kind of mare, I don't fool around with a married stallion."
She gave him a light playful swat with her tail as she turned around to head back into the room she was in. Before she got far she tilted her head back to him with that same smirk. "For you though, I just might make an exception," She finished with a wink.
Chaser shook his head. I can't believe her. Well, actually, yes I can.
She had always been like this with both him and Kicker. In mild frustration he implored to her. "Patience Please!"
She chuckled some, then turned back to him fully. "I'm sorry, just teasing you. So, what are you here for? What ails you my friend?" She finished asking with a sheepish grin.
Chaser felt relieved that she might stop, and was going to give him a moment to speak. He hoped it would last for more than a moment before she started in with the questions again. "Please just let me talk."
Patience looked a little sorry. This made him feel he just might be able to get a few more words in. "We have a situation at home. Bring a few of your things if you wish, but I don't think you are going to need any of them. It is a family issue, not an illness or injury. I can't tell you much more here, but I must ask that anything you see, you keep off the books. Literally. OK?"
Patience stood there a little confused. "Well, I am not a family counselor you know, but you come here to see me personally. Didn't you?" Chaser nodded. "Well, if you feel I can help, in that case I will have to close any appointments and transfer them to Heart Healthy till I get back. I am not leaving one of my best friends hanging."
Patience now stood in thought. "Though I am not booked, up or have any other appointments today, so I think I will skip that and just head out with you. I will at least let the desk know I am leaving. Oh' Gotta get my small personal emergency med kit. Never know when I might need that." Patience quickly headed in and out of the room she had previously came out of. She had a small light-brown faux leather bag in her mouth. She said as best she could with the bag in her mouth, "Reddy!" Then she headed to the front desk.
Patience got to the reception desk and put her little bag down. The receptionist is there this time. Patience gave her the word she is heading out. "Please direct any new appointments for me today to Heart Healthy. I am heading out today, and am not sure when I will be back. OK? Bye!"
Patience without waiting for a response picked up her little bag and headed out the door where Chaser was already waiting. Patience thought to herself, He is in a rush. I hope this is nothing too serious. Or actually, why would he be here, to see me at this moment, about something secret, if it wasn't? I will find out soon enough.
The two headed off to Chaser's home. Patience had hoped that he would fill her in at least a little along the way, but he would not say a thing.
The two got to the door. Chaser turned to Patience before either one had gone in. "Patience, as I said, we have a very unusual situation in there. I need you to promise me that you not tell anyone what I show to you."
This put Patience a little on edge that he be this insistent about this, mostly with her.
Though in her short time as a family doctor and pediatrician specialist, she has seen in her profession bad situations before. So she felt there was little he could show her that could shock her. She also trusted him. She agreed to his condition.
She put her bag down for a moment so she could tell him so. "I will treat this as patience and doctor confidentiality, as would be expected. Better yet, I promise to keep it off the books entirely, as you previously suggested. Now let's get in there, I am dying to know what this is all about."
Chaser nodded then opened the door. Patience quickly stepped inside after picking up her bag. She just as quickly squealed.
This made Chaser jump inside, as though something was wrong. Then he saw her rush inside as he followed her in.
She dropped her bag halfway in, then she gave a cooing sound, "Ooooo... She is so Cute!" She moved in to pick the little red foal up who was sitting next to Fluttershy.
As she did she looked about to the other adults. "Who is she? She is indeed so cute! And she looks a little like each of you. Actually, other than her color, she looks exactly like Fluttershy. How odd."
Triumph was scared stiff the moment some unknown mint green pony with light blue main rushed in, and quickly picked her up. This fear melted just as quickly as she could feel that same comforting feeling she liked coming from this new pony as well.
Patience was now rubbing a hoof under the little one's chin playfully. This made Triumph giggle. That made Fluttershy giggle as well, as she watched.
Chaser closed the door as he said, "Well, I brought you here to help us establish that. You well know, she is not ours. In fact, she is not even a pony, not like us anyway."
Patience looked at the little one she is holding. "Not a pony? Well, she looks like a healthy little pony to me!"
She sat down as she continued to hold her. "So if she is not yours- Well, Yes, I know she is not yours!" She rolled her eyes after. "Who does she belong to then? Is she homeless or something?"
Stella answered, "Yes, something like that. Actually it is much more complicated than that. Please put her down and let her come to me. She has something to show you, and I think it is best you are not holding her when she does."
Patience put her down, while feeling a little hurt. "Well, okay if you insist, but you know I would never hurt her right? What is this about anyway? This is starting to seem a little strange. Well, more than this already has." Her eyes darted back and forth between Chaser and Stella, then rested on the new little red foal.
Triumph headed back to Stella as Stella replied, "Oh' things have yet to get strange, we are no-wheres near halftime yet. Just stay sitting. You just might need to for this.
Patience felt that she might need to prepare herself to see something as odd as the little one explode or something. She got for herself an unease vibe like something bad was about to happen. She sat as quiet as she could waiting to see what was next. She felt herself overreacting emotionally inside. Being asked to put the little red foal down, over what might happen, made her a little extra jumpy.
Triumph was already sitting next to Stella, and Chaser sat down on the other side of Triumph. Fluttershy started to get all excited as she blurted out, "Do it, Blue Eyes!"
This made Patience lean in a little more. She knew this little pony did not have blue eyes. So what Fluttershy said did not make sense, and kept Patience more confused over the situation. She focused right on the red foal she was recently holding.
Triumph prepared herself to reveal her true form to this new stranger. She felt odd about feeling uneasy at looking her normal self in front of others.
With a small will of courage she built up energy in her. In a green swirl of magic, the little red foal was replaced by a dark gray pony looking thing with fangs, deep sky-blue eye, thin transparent teal wings, and a curved little horn on her head.
Patience looked in shock, while putting her hooves to her own cheeks. "Oh' my gosh! What is that!"
Stella quickly replied, "Yes, that was my first reaction. See now, why I asked you to put her down?"
Patience never took her eyes off the unusual little gray filly as she nodded. "So what is she? Why did you need me to see her? Is she sick? You never said anything about this."
Stella shook her head. "No, not that I know of. We did need you to see her though. For another reason."
Patience continued looking at this odd foal. "Not that I am complaining or anything. She is very unusual. And look at those blue eye. Those very blue eyes. I mean WOW! Just look at them. No wonder Fluttershy mentioned them. Why, they practically make her as cute, and adorable as ever." She lifted her head slightly to glance at Stella. "Can I hold her again?" Patience looked hopeful.
Stella was a bit surprise that Patience is taking this so well. "Well, I don't see why not. That is if she will let you."
Patience leaned forward and had her hooves open wide in an invitation to the little gray foal. "Come here. I won't hurt you. I just want to see you a little better. Is that OK?"
By this mint green pony's behavior to her, Triumph felt she was safe to be near. So with a smile she walked back to Patience's waiting hooves as requested. Plus she could not resist the temptation to find out if she would feel the same around this pony again as before.
Patience carefully picked her up again. Patience was pleased at getting to hold her once more. She found out she did not feel anything like she first thought she might. The little one's shiny exterior made Patience first think she had a bug like hard carapace shell. She was not like this at all. She was softer then she looked. Her exterior was smooth and glossy, but had give like soft leather. Over all she now seems more like an odd reptile than any kind of bug. A bit of a mix she thought. She was extraordinary to Patience. A truly alien pony to behold.
Patience remarked as she continued to tease and tickle the little one in her care. "I never saw anything like her before. I did see in an article once, something about a far off race of strange and possibly powerful ponies called changelings.
This got the attention of everyone in the room, as though everything had just stopped.
Triumph was pleased herself that she could still feel what she had while being near this new pony again. But she paused her giggling when she heard Patience mention the name changelings.
This made Patience pause at tickling her. But Patience wished to continue with what she wanted to say as she looked down on who she is holding.
This made Triumph a little uneasy, and unsure what to think. Her yes widened some while in thought. She knows of us...
Patience took note of Triumph's change in her eyes as she continued. "The findings was over six-hundred years ago. I do wonder if she is one of them. The description of them is just like her. They were described of as all Dark gray ponies. They all have full blue eye, light-green transparent bug like wings, a small curved horn, fangs, and legs with holes in them. All of them, just like her."
Stella had to ask, "Do you really think she is one of them?"
Patience gave it some thought, then looked to Stella. "I think it is very possible. I don't see why not. She fits the description perfectly. As for me, and what I truly think, I really would not know. I only know of the name from the article, as a sort of legend long ago."
Patience got herself more comfortable before she continued. She also felt unusual about holding something that might be what she is beginning to talk about. She never thought she would ever see one. "Some explores calling themselves The Outbacks had found them. But no mention of where. There was a short study made on these changelings by them, but not much info obtained, or that is given in the article. I think they were holding back much more on what they found.
"What was said, is there is a lot of them. They seemed very methodical in what they did. Some watched, while others worked, but those that watched was not looking at the workers, but looking out for them. It did not look like any kind of slavery going on.
“Patrols walked the perimeter. In and around the mass group. Again, not looking like they were keeping the others in line or anything like that, but looking for anything else.
"They lived and worked around a dark castle structure, looking like it was made of lava rock. The walls of it looked twisted and craggy. It had a foreboding feel to it they said.
"Some of these changelings left in groups all over. And brought back many things. It did not look like they farmed anything, but scavenged what they can find from all around.
"Something about it, looked like some kind of emptiness to it all, to the explorers. No art, no music, some of the young did play, but looked like structured play time. As if play was to meet some kind of goal. Play, seems more like a learning task than anything else.
"The older ones fought for sport, but it did not look like sport, or for fun. It looked like more training. The whole place was more like a structured military camp then a community of individuals."
Patience took a glance down at the little unusual thing she is holding. She noted the teeth and the horn as well as the wings. Then she imagined being around a lot more like her, but bigger. The thought bothered her a bit.
Triumph noticed this. It made her wonder more as to what this mint green pony was thinking about her.
Patience then looked back into those deep blue eyes. To see these eyes in one so young looking, made Patients feel more calm.
Seeing Patience relax more, Triumph felt she may not need to fear the ponies finding out of her being a changeling. She felt it might not matter. She wondered more about what the ponies do think of changelings. As she has be listening she been discovering the ponies did not know them at all, it would seem. Only a few might know a little of them, like Patience does.
Patience again went back to enjoying holding this strange foal in her care, as she continued her tail while looking at the other two adults. "The sight of them scared the explores and they did not feel safe getting to close, or sticking around for too long.
“They also put a note not to go looking for them. That is possibly why there was no mention of where they were found. How they came up with the name I do not know. That is all I know. The article was quite vague about everything. Again, I think purposely. As if the article was meant to be more of a warning than anything else."
Patience stopped and looked back down to the little odd foal she is holding. She remembered the foal suddenly going still after she said changeling, and had to ask, "So you know this name, changeling?"
Triumph just stared at her while staying still, not sure if she should answer. She just blinked, but nothing else for a moment.
Triumph is considering Patience question. She fidgeted a bit as she tried not to look at Patience as she thought. They don't know what I am. They don't know what a changeling is. I don't think they would hate me for being one. I thought any of the ponies might not like me if they know I am a changeling, because my clan don't like the ponies. I thought the ponies don't like changeling either. But, that is not so. So, is it okay if I do tell them then?
Triumph looked back at Patience with both more wonder and worry. She hoped telling them would be okay, but out of fear, she still resisted.
Patience took her overall behavior as a sign of recognition. She looked back up to Stella. "I think she does know this name. But she seems reluctant to say. That is, if she can talk. I am sure she knows."
Stella and Chaser both nodded their heads. Chaser spoke. "Yes, I think she is reluctant to say as well, and she can talk. I found this out when I found her. The whole time, both Stella and I have felt she has be holding back something about herself. Despite everything else she has said to us."
Patience took on a look of interest as Chaser continued. "I found her while on my way home. She was all alone while being chased by a young wyvern."
At this Patience brought a hoof to her mouth. "Oh, no. The poor thing. She must have been terrified. Being all alone with some monster chasing after her. So, then what happened?"
Chaser continued. "The wyvern got a hold of her. But I hit it, making it drop her. After making sure to chase the wyvern away, I went back to look for her. When I did find her she was on the run again. I found she was running from me after. She was actually afraid of me! I was sure of it then.
He took a moment to collect his thoughts on what happened after. "So I lowered myself to her and started to talk to her calmly. That is when I found she could talk. After I brought her home, I found she can talk much better than I first thought, I might add."
He paused as he thought of her time talking. "It is amazing the vocabulary she has at her age. Actually, I have no idea just how old she is. I just assumed she is as young as Fluttershy, but she might be four or five years old for all I know, and just small for her age, or just looks small and real young to us."
Stella took that moment to interrupt, by clearing her throat. "While you were out, I had a little chat with her. She told me she is not even a yearling yet. Though this still does not give us an exact age. Still it does make her ability to talk as well as we found so far, rather remarkable.
“Fluttershy can say a few words, but not think as well as Triumph yet. Maybe her kind learns faster or something. I do wish I knew more about her. But the name is a start. That is if indeed she is one of these changelings in that article."
Patience nodded, "Right. So what else can you tell me? What did she tell you? And why are you sharing all of this with me? I would almost suggest giving her over to the authorities, but if that article I read was right about changelings being possibly dangerous, and none we should be dealing with, I am not so sure that would be the right move. That is to tell any that you have her."
Patience took a moment to stroke under Triumph,s chin again. Not a tickle this time, but a soft caressing. Triumph liked this, and smiled.
Patience loved the little ones. This one was no different to her. This adorable bundle Patience saw her as, please Patience to have around. As this continued Triumph felt that same feeling she liked again while with her.
Triumph thoughts swayed as she struggled with these conflicting emotions. All of them are concerned about my clan. They feel I am a changeling now. But this one holding me... She... She must know I am a changeling and she does not hate me for it. She likes me still. I can feel it. She likes me a lot. Why? And do I tell them? Should I?
Patience continued talking as she pampers the little bundle with care and affection. Patience hoped she could help make who she has, feel more at ease. "She does not seem mean or dangerous, but that does not say the rest of them are not.
“Besides, there has been no formal announcement about them to the community, and I am sure both of the Princesses knows of them. Celestia and Cadence both might. That is if I do. Neither one has said anything about this.
“Celestia herself might not wish any of us to get involved with them. This is possibly why hardly anypony has ever talked about them. So, as I asked, what do you know? What did she say to you?"
Chaser gave a sigh. "We are getting to that. What little we do know, from what she said, is her kind doesn't like ponies. She did not want us looking for them. She thinks they might hurt us if we end up with them, likely due to that they don't like us. So you might be right about that article you found, being some kind of warning. She gave us such a warning herself.
"As you can see, she has both a horn and wings like an alicorn. And as such, they all have power. Perhaps great power. She told us they can all do many sorts of magic. One thing they can do well is change form. Even at her age she was able to do it. You know, I now think that name changeling does fit. She got excited when she did change, as if expecting to at some time.
"Not even a unicorn goes through spontaneous form changes. Not that I know of. Perhaps some do. Unicorns do have that talent to change things, even themselves, among other things. But her excitement about changing, that makes me wonder now."
Chaser moved himself a little closer to Patience and Triumph. He leaned down to Triumph some, and asked with a gentle voice, "Please tell me. Are you a changeling?"
Triumph nodded her head while feeling that she might as well give in, and tell him the truth. She felt she could trust him to know now.
Stella stepped in on this, "Well, we have a name for what she is now. And what we do know about confirms we can't just bring her back to them. Or tell anyone else about her. We just don't know what might happen after that. And Chaser and I have decided to keep her.
Patience tilted her head a little with her attention on Stella. "So, you didn't want me to help you find them or something? That is not why I am here? I am a doctor, not an explorer as you know. I don't mind doing a little traveling, but that is for having a vacation. I am not into dangerous missions, as you seem to think this might be. So I am guessing that you would not be asking me to do that. So, then what?"
Chaser chucked some. "No, nothing like that. Something a little easier, but you may be just as reluctant at doing it, just the same. We want you to lie for us."
At this Patience laughed out loud and startled everyone, mostly Triumph and Fluttershy.
Fluttershy now hid next to Stella, and pulled the big bunny close to her and hugged its head. Triumph remained still in Patience's hold.
Patience stopped her laughing and the two foals calmed down as well. With a smile out of amusement, Patience continued. "Oh' is that all?! Alright, spill it. What is this about? From what Stella said, you do intend to keep her, right?"
Chaser sighed again. "Yes, we wish to keep her as our own. Not adopt, but say she is ours, our foal. Stella's and mine."
Patience stifled a chuckle. She eyed Chaser as she asked, "Alright, how do you intend to manage that one!? And what does this have to do with me?"
She thought for a moment then gasped, before Chaser could respond again. Her eyes went wide, then she spoke sounding a bit frantic. "Do you intend for me to tell everyone and put it on record that this unusual pony, or changeling is yours? That Stella had her the same day she had Fluttershy? Is that what you are asking me? Is that why you came specifically to see me!?"
Chaser gave a nod. "You are one smart cookie. No wonder you got through med school at your age to become a family doctor. Yes, that is what we are asking. That you say, we had two foals, but one was thought to be stillborn, but you found out later she was instead alive! Some time after, and decided to make sure she was going to stay alive before telling us about it. And that day is today! Yes, Three months after having her. But today, just the same."
Patience brought a hoof to her head as she slid it down the side of her face. "Unbelievable! I would think Kicker put you up to this. But I am guessing you came up with this yourself? This is too much!"
Chaser asked with worry in his voice. "So you won't do it?"
Patience gave him a smirk, then talked more calmly. "I didn't say that. It's just not something one hears everyday. You know?
“I mean, what you are asking is not impossible. I could do it. The paperwork would not be the problem. I can deal with that.
“It's the lie. If something goes wrong. If someone finds out the truth. My reputation could be shot. I might even lose my position in the clinic, for falsification. Do you understand what you are asking of me. What if another pony sees her like this?"
Triumph understood her worry. Part of it anyway. She did understand her worry of another finding her looking like a changeling. And that might be trouble to them all. She felt that showing her true form to others is not such a good idea anymore. Not with what everyone was saying.
She felt like doing what she did again, as an answer. She felt so good and recharged with her time spent around Patience, she felt she could easily give her trick another try.
With a glow to Triumph's horn Fluttershy came out from hiding to have a better look. Everyone else paid attention as well. A moment after, a swirl of green magic replaced her with her new look of a red foal, the same she had before turning back to normal.
Patience took a long hard look. "Hmmm. That is a nice trick. I almost forgot she can do that. Almost."
Triumph was not finished. She decided to tell her about her trick. "I can stay this way. No other will know."
Patience gave this some thought. Everyone else stayed silent as they gave her time to think after seeing she was thinking. After a few minutes she spoke again. "I must admit, the idea is tempting." She kept her eyes on the little red foal. "You say it is no trouble for you to stay looking like this?" Triumph nodded.
"I really don't wish to say no." Patience thought some more. "If you can stay looking like this, and you all agree never to tell any other. Including you Fluttershy. No more, calling her Blue Eyes. OK?"
Fluttershy at this nodded feeling she understood.
Patience sighed. "I guess I will do this. But I must be informed of any other changes. This is risky for me. Chaser you do realize I am doing this for you and your family. And I just can't resist helping this lost foal to have a good family like yours. Or I would not be doing this at all."
Chaser leaned in and gave her a hug. "I knew you wouldn't let us down."
Patience giggled. "Oh' my! What did I tell you earlier. I'm not that kind of mare."
At this Stella felt like questioning the two. "Star Chaser! What is she getting at? What happened earlier?"
Chaser quickly let go of Patience and rolled his eyes. "Oh' nothing," he stated while trying to look as innocent as he was.
Patience giggled once more. "Oh’ I'm just teasing him again."
Patience had a thought. "I brought my little med kit." She lifted Triumph a bit. "Could I give her a quick examination? Nothing too invasive. I just wish to see how extensive her change is, and possibly how healthy she is."
Stella gave it some though. I was wondering this myself. I thought it best to put it off till much later. But if Patience does it right here, it should be okay. "I suppose so. I don't see any harm in it."
Patience while still having a hold of Triumph went over to get her bag, and brought it back where she sat. She placed Triumph in front of her. Then she opened her bag. She got out a stethoscope.
She breathed hard on it and gave it a good rubbing to warm it up. She knew the shock of a cold stethoscope is quite unpleasant, mostly for one that might not expect it to be so cold.
Patience leaned down to Triumph and stroked her on the top of her head. "I am going to give you a quick and simple examination. I will not hurt you though. I promise. This will be just a simple check up. Partly to tell how healthy of a pony you are. Understand?"
Triumph didn't understand a check up, or an examination. She never went through a checkup before, so she did not know what to expect. She did trust her and let her do as she wished. So she nodded just to let her know it was okay. She also felt the might learn something from this herself.
Patience nodded in response. "Perfect. Now just hold still, and let me guide you."
Patience first lifted Triumph's front left hoof, to get at her chest on her left side. She placed the stethoscope to her chest, and listened carefully. She could hear a heartbeat. She concentrated on the rhythm. After a moment she pulled the stethoscope away. "Well that sounded normal."
She shifted the stethoscope a little lower further back along the foal’s side. "Now breath in deep, and slowly."
Triumph did as asked. Patience repeated this on the other side. "Well that sounded normal as well."
She put the stethoscope back into her bag and pulled out a short wood stick, and a light. "Now please open your mouth." Triumph did as asked again. Patience used the stick to hold down her tongue as she leaned down to have a good look inside with the light.
A moment later she pulled the stick out. "Well, that looks normal also." But something was bugging her, something she wished to find out.
She beckoned for Fluttershy to come over. Patience got out another stick. She did the same check with her. After sitting up she said, "I thought so."
Stella had to ask, "Though what? What did you find?"
Patience held up a hoof. "Not sure yet. I wish to check a few more things." She looked at Fluttershy then back to Triumph. The two looked exactly the same to her, except the color as she noted earlier. But she could not understand at first why the voice was different. Inside the mouth was identical, but further back, there she found a slight difference. Normal, but not identical.
Patience placed her hoof under Fluttershy's chin and felt around her neck. Then she had Fluttershy turn to her side as she looked over Fluttershy's wings. She lifted the nearest wing out, and felt around it carefully.
She next felt along her side as she lifted the wing higher. She continued to feel around one of her front legs. After she brought out her light and looked into her ears. "Humm..." She exclaimed.
She then went back to Triumph and looked her over the same way as with Fluttershy. “Even in the ears are the same.”
She set down her light after turning it off. "I think I understand why her voice is different but not so much why the color is. She does have two main variations to Fluttershy. The color is the most visible.
“The area of her throat around her voice box looked, and felt different too. Aside from that, everything else with her seems exactly the same as Fluttershy. Her wings, overall shape, even her bone structure is identical.
"It is as if they are identical twins, yet with just the two main differences. Voice and color. But I can’t say why.
"I can't tell she was anything else other than a pony like us either. Whatever she is, or was, I can't find any signs of. For all I can tell without further test, I can say she is a perfectly healthy little pony foal, just like Fluttershy."
Patience put everything back into her bag and set it aside. She picked up Triumph again. And went back to tickling her under her chin. "And such a cute little pony she is. Just like Fluttershy," She said as she reached over and tickled Fluttershy some as well. Both the foals giggled.
Chaser remembered something important. "One last thing. There is one other that knows of Triumph."
Patience remarked, "Triumph! So you did pick out a name already. I like it," She finished saying with a smile. That smile shortly became a frown. "So who is this other who knows of her?"
Chaser didn’t know what Patience’s reaction would be, so he said calmly, "You might not like this. It's Cloud Kicker. And I am not talking about the little filly."
Patience quickly face hoofed. "No. Not him."
She looked back to Chaser. "Tell me you're kidding. You are kidding, right?"
Chaser shook his head slightly. "Nope. He was the first to see me with her."
Patience tilted her head and asked with worry. "So, what do you intend to tell him then?"
Chaser shrugged. "The truth. He knows of her already, and he asked to let him know whatever I find out about her. He will keep this a secret."
Patience raised her voice a little. "You think that joker can keep something like this a secret?"
Chaser nodded. "Yes. Sure. We both know he is a little off at times, and he likes a little horse play every now and then. We both know that, but he is a good guy. Something else you should know, as well as I. We spent enough time with him while growing up. So, what’s the problem?
Chaser sat while rubbing the bottom of his chin. He knew Patience use to flirt with Kicker at times. "To tell the truth, I am a little surprised that the two of you never hit it off, or even got together. The two of you are more alike than you may seem to think. At least to me, you both are.
“You gotta admit, he's fun to hang out with. He most always was. He made you laugh plenty. Even Miss. Fussy Misty has taken a shine to him lately. So how bad can he be? Why didn’t you grab him yourself?"
Patience looked down. "He is not my type."
Chaser chuckled. "Sure he isn't. And Celestia really doesn't raise the sun every morning.
“I have seen how you were like around him. That is mostly why I am surprised the two of you are not together now. I am willing to bet you are just jealous that Misty got to him first. Am I right?"
Patience took on a look of shock, then calmed herself, and sighed. "OK. You got me. Can't fool you about it. I am a little upset with him in choosing Misty instead of me. Like you said, we did spend a lot of time together. And well..."
Chaser Opened his mouth wide. "Oh' I see. You did have a crush on him after all. I thought so. You weren't just flirting with him just for laughs. So, why did you wait so long to tell him the truth?"
Patience nodded. "I did have a crush on him. I just wished he noticed I did. And not think I was just... I don't know... Having fun at his expense. You know, joking around as friends sometimes do. I wish he saw me as... You know, the successful career mare I was trying to be.
"I should have pursued him like Misty did. He probably was not even looking my way during the time I was spending on getting into my profession. And after I got it, he might have felt I was now out of his league.
“Now Misty is with him because she did what I didn't, and got to him first. Even though I knew him the longest."
Stella got in on this. "I am sorry Patience. I guess Misty was just a little quicker in asking him. That's how it goes sometimes. You can't always just leave them guessing, you got to at some point let them know how you feel. Like Chaser did with Me."
Stella worried that this might affect Patience’s decision. "But I am sorry. Is this going to be a problem? Do you not trust him with something like this? Are you not going to do this? Now you are aware that he knows, and knowing what he can be like?"
Patience looked to Stella then down to Triumph. While looking at Triumph she did not have the heart to say no. "I don't think it will be a problem. And Chaser is right, Kicker is better then he makes himself out to be with his goofing around, and jokes, and all. And Misty likely would not have anything to do with him if he wasn't trustworthy. So long as we can get him to keep his mouth shut about this, I think it will be fine that he knows."
Chaser suggested, "We have been cooped up for a bit, and I think it would be a good idea to get the little ones and ourselves some fresh air. We can hunt down Kicker and inform him of what is going on. But with your OK Patience, can we can say Triumph is ours?"
Patience nodded. "Yes. Officially, and legally she will be yours, once I get the paperwork settled." She then looked over at Fluttershy and said with a smile. "Looks like you have yourself a twin sister now."
Fluttershy smiled and jumped about. "Yea!" She did not know or care about the concept that Triumph is not her biological sister. It was exciting for her to hear she has a sister at all.
Triumph leaped out of Patience hold and started to jump about with Fluttershy. Not caring at all either wither Fluttershy was her real twin sister or not.
Triumph has many sisters, but somehow Fluttershy seemed more special to her. Fluttershy was unique. A concept she was told by her clan not to care about, or feel as important.
But in this moment she did, just the same. Fluttershy was one out of many that meant more to her than any of the others she knew of in her clan of changelings.
Part of it had to do with Fluttershy’s personality in liking her right away, much as Chaser did, and a pleasing physical appearance that told of a warm kindness about them both.
All the others in her clan were the same to her. Friendly, but lacking in a kind gentleness. Even with each other.
As Triumph though more about it, she thought Fluttershy to be so much more soft, kind, and fun to be around.
Stella was the only one to truly freak out at first seeing her. But Fluttershy just looked at her with interest, until Stella started yelling. Fluttershy continued to look at her with interest shortly after, and just wanted to play.
Now Fluttershy is to be her new sister she will get to live with. This made Triumph very happy.
Fluttershy came closer to Triumph and nuzzled her. Triumph received this same feeling she got from Chaser, and Stella, then Patience some time after. But now she is receiving it from Fluttershy.
And there was something near electric about it this time. Something about it excited Triumph like never before. It was more than just comforting. Triumph was beginning to think she understood what it is she was receiving, and possibly feeling herself as well.
Chaser said it once to Stella, and Triumph thought on it. I love you, he said. So, I think this is what love is. I like it. I like it a lot. I am so glad to have come here. I... I can feel the love. And it is wonderful! It makes me feel better every time feel it. Why have I never felt this before from my own?
This became a troubling question for her. That, and the idea she felt lied to about the ponies by her own clan. It was almost enough to make her wish never to return to her own clan of changelings.
She liked this life more than the life of a single changeling made to strive to be better for the sake of all the others. At first she felt it was the right way to be, and think. Something about that felt cold and empty to her now.
Now, she feels it is better to be loved for who you are, rather than be liked for what others want you to be for them. And better to be around others full of love, then be around those that feel you are important, so long as you make yourself important to all of them.
She was beginning to wonder if any of her kind can love like these ponies do. She wondered herself if she can love. Seeing that she is a changeling and not a pony. She wondered if she is just able to enjoy what is around her, and wondered if it is the same as love, or somehow something different?
She worried about this. Do I love my sister, just as she loves me? Can I? Is it enough that I like her as much as I do? What is it that I do feel? Is it the love Chaser called it that I feel for Fluttershy?
Can they feel my love, if I do love my sister? Do they feel from me, what I do from them? They must. They seem so happy when I feel this coming from any of them. They must feel it as I do too.
Triumph was not sure on how to go about asking on such a question. She was not sure she understood it enough yet, on what exactly to ask. So she left the question alone and continued to enjoy her time with them as best she could. Maybe it is not important. What I do have is nice anyway.
As she continued to nuzzle Fluttershy back in return, she continued to think, Yes, this is very nice. And on her face she kept a contented and very pleased smile.
Patience stated, I can't get over that she can change like this, a full change into a pony, and stay that way. Young foal unicorns can do magic, but not to this extent.
This is beyond an illusion, or even levitation. What is just as incredible is she thought to do it on her own, to help the situation. She seems rather remarkable."
Chaser nodded. "Indeed. She was the one that gave me this idea of making her ours. It was her that first thought of changing into what you see now, to hide herself from her own. For us! Now she is doing it to hide her true form from other ponies too, for much the same reason. She is doing it to help out."
Chaser remembered what he had thought of her back when she was first playing with Fluttershy. "It's as if it is her calling to help others, or how she was raised to be. To think of others, more then herself.
"I am not too sure her people are all that bad, if they taught her to be so kind and helpful, even if they don't like us ponies. This thinking of her's might stick with her all her life, for all I know.
“It is a good way to be. And we will do our best to make sure she grows up still feeling it to be important to be as kind and thoughtful of others as she is."
Chaser smirked. "She is sort of like you Patience, she is one smart cookie. And I like the idea of her being Fluttershy's sister, and for them to grow up together."
Fluttershy went over to her big stuffed bunny. She sits it up. "Bunny!" As Triumph joined her Fluttershy did as best she could to pick up the big toy, and accidentally dropped it on Triumph. Fluttershy fell over while doing this, and they both got smothered by the Bunny. Both of them gigged after.
Stella came over to Chaser to put a hoof around him and lean on him in comfort. "Yes, as I said before, I think this will work out. Just look at those two. They love each other. They don't even care that they are not the same. But the way Triumph is, and looks now, who could tell?"
Stella brought her eyes over to Patience. "And thank you Patience for going along with this. I don't care if she is not mine. I will love her just as if she is mine. And I too think it will be good for Fluttershy to have a sister as well.
As far as I am concerned she is mine now, and that is how it is going to be. I actually wanted another foal, and now I have two."
Patience got back up after sitting to talk about Kicker. "Well, I am glad you got what you wanted Stella. Let's go and tend to this last matter." She looked over to Chaser. "Did Cloud Kicker say where he was going to be?"
Chaser stood up and shook his head. "No. Darn it! I never asked where he was off to. But he seemed in a rush to get there."
Then Chaser smirked again "Oh' yes. He said something about not missing an important date. I think he is out somewhere with Misty."
Stella had a thought right after standing. She looked over at Fluttershy then to Triumph. Something was missing. Fluttershy being a foal has a diaper on. It dawned on Stella that Triumph didn't. Seeing how she did not have one, I am not too sure if she needs one. But if we are to be going out. It just would not look right if she didn't at her age.
Stella halted everyone. "You know, I just noticed Triumph does not have a diaper. I am not sure if she needs one, but I think she should. At least for appearance."
Triumph had no idea what Stella was talking about. She decided to ask. "What is a diaper?"
Stella thought to go with the most simple answer. "It's what Fluttershy is wearing."
Triumph felt that if Fluttershy has one that she should too, just to be more like her sister.
Triumph told Stella so by asking, "If she has one, can I have one?"
She still had no idea what it is for, other than something to wear. Though she did notice Fluttershy was the only one with one on. This she felt was a little odd to her, after she thought about it more. Why only her?
She glanced around at the three adults. She noticed something else. All three adults has a mark on their rear flank. Each quite different.
Patience has one of a flying green Turtle with white wings. Stella has one of a red sphere, and five small blue stars in an oval around it. Chaser has one yellow star with a trailing arc-streak behind it.
Because Fluttershy's rear flank is covered, Triumph could not tell if Fluttershy has a mark or not. So she looked at her own rear flank and found it missing a mark. She didn't know what to make of it. She was nether upset, or happy about it. She didn't know enough about the marks to care if they had any importance. But she did like them.
Stella saw that Triumph was looking all about at each of them, and determined what it is she must be curious about, after Triumph looked at her own blank flank.
Stella knew she must have a question about it so she asked, just to be sure. "What is it sweetie? You want to know what these are?" Stella asked while pointing to her cutie mark.
Triumph nodded, but had another question in mind. "Yes, do I get one?"
At this, Stella was not sure, But she could help answer part of her question.
Stella thought each of them here could tell her a little about their own cutie mark. She stared with what they are. "These we call a cutie mark. When one comes across their special talent, this mark appears as a statement as to what that talent is.
"Sadly not all of us ever finds out what it means, as with mine. I got mine while looking at the stars one night. I felt like I was floating among them for a time. I fell asleep. When I woke up, I had my mark. But I never found out why."
Triumph did not look so happy to Stella. Triumph did not know how to feel about that, but she did feel sorry for Stella. Stella though this might be the case.
Stella thought it best that Patience should explain hers. Stella felt Patience has a much much better tail to tell on what hers is about. "Patience, would you tell Triumph what your cutie make stands for? You know it best."
Patience was delighted to have a chance to tell of this. "Of course I will."
Triumph, with curiosity piqued, she listened in on Patience's story.
"You see Triumph, I was always in a rush when I was little. At times, I still am. Never quite grew out of it."
Triumph felt this might take a while and decided to sit. Everyone else standing, did the same.
"Back when I was younger, I wanted everything now. Success and freedom, like most everyone else older than me. I thought I could get it quickly. I was smart, and I knew it. But not smart enough, and I found that out the hard way."
Triumph knew what it is like to learn things the hard way. Her current situation was a reminder of that.
"One day when I was much younger, I was taking a test at school. It was a test on cloud formations. Simple things. Their names, what the properties of them are, if they are dangerous, how they might change, how one might deal with them, and other such things."
Triumph realized, she didn't know much about clouds herself. She didn't realize it could be a complex subject. They just looked nice to her at times. That is when they were not all dark and stormy.
"During that test, I was stuck. It was not because I didn't know the answers, I did know them. I just had my mind on other things. It was the last test for the week, and it was a long one. We each got to go out and play, but only after one finished. If you finished early, you got to leave early."
Triumph remembered this is how things are like back with her clan. At times, if she got something done she was asked to do, she could leave to play, but only after she finished. Most anything she was asked to do, including any task, was for her education. To one day make her useful to the clan.
"I had in my mind everything else but the test in front of me. I thought of what I might do after, but did not concentrate enough on the test itself. I just wanted it done and over with, but was not finishing it"
Triumph felt she could relate. She often thought of other things she rather be doing than some task. Like when she wandered off to get away from flight practice. This she regret doing. But is now regretting it less and less. She wondered more as to what Patience did with what she was supposed to be doing.
"In time, I saw one finish and leave. I got envious. I looked at the test. I was thinking so fast, I did not come up with the answers I wanted."
Triumph knew this feeling. There was many times she saw others doing what she wanted to do, while stuck with some task or lesson. She wanted to get done what she was doing after, and fast.
"I took a deep breath, and focused. I cleared my mind and tried to think of only each question, one at a time. This was hard, as I kept getting distracted by each finishing and leaving, before me.
"I did my best to keep my mind steady and calm. I slowed myself down enough to think strait. Each answer came to me after. I continued to focus on only my work. In time I did finish, and I was far from last to do so."
Triumph felt happy for her. She knew how great it felt to get something done, and out of the way.
"I felt a sense of accomplishment, because I slowed myself down enough to think strait. I next to never did that, I most always rushed things, and did not do so well. This time was different. I felt right about doing it this way, at that time. Shortly after, I turned in my paper, and got my OK to go out, I also got my cutie mark. Later I also found I got all my questions correct."
Triumph liked this story. She felt she understood it some.
Patience pointed at her cutie mark. "If I slow down to work things out well, I get to fly freely through life like I wanted. As far as I can tell, It's what my cutie mark is telling me. My talent is, to figure things out well, if I take the time to do it right. I applied this to be who I am today."
Patience gave it over to Chaser. His story was not at all the same, but it did tell him what his cutie mark meant, or so he thinks. "Okay Chaser, it's your turn. Tell her what yours is about."
Chaser prepared his tail. Much like with Patience, his cutie mark helped shape his life. But his mark dealt more with luck than how he tried to do things.
"I was out, looking at the night sky. Just like Stella did, only I did not fall asleep or anything like that. I was a young colt then, and a friend to Patience. Out of the two of us, I got mine first."
Triumph liked Patience. She is glad Patience is a friend.
"As I looked, I saw what we call a shooting star. This one looked like it came down near by. I saw where it moved off to. I took a chance and searched for it."
Triumph thought she knew where this is going. An adventure story.
"I was a little too young to be off on my own. But I went on my own anyway."
At this Triumph felt something scary is going to happen next. She listened with anticipation to find out just what.
"It took longer than I thought to find whatever it is I was searching for. Actual I had no idea what it might be. I was drawn to search anyway."
Triumph no longer felt she knew what was to be next, she just hoped it would be nothing bad and scary.
"I about gave up looking, still I searched some more, feeling I would not find it. In time I did give up. I was out way too late, and the sun was just starting to rise. I felt I would never find it now."
Triumph is at least glad nothing horrible happened like she thought yet, but him not finding anything was not good to her either.
"As I was headed back home, I saw something sparkle in the distance. Something was reflecting light from the sun as it came up. I went to see what it could be.
“And there in a patch of dirt that got punched out from this thing landing, I saw shiny light red crystals sticking out of the dirt. I knew this had to be it!
“Right when I thought I had lost it, I found it. I was sure it was what I was looking for. It was marvelous. Pinkeid-red gems coming out of the dirt. I went to pick it up, and found it to be hot. I found after a flat stone. I pushed this gem covered dirt ball onto the flat stone, using another rock.
At this point Triumph is getting excited. Does, he get it home safely? I sure hope so.
"At that time what I had was still covered in dirt. I had to get it home to clean it off, and so I did."
Triumph breathed a sigh of relief. She was glad that tension was over. She continued to hope nothing else bad might happen to him, even after this much has gone so well for him.
"I felt I should wait till it cooled before trying to clean it. So I did my best to hide it. Later that day I got it back out to finally clean it.
“When I did, I saw it was a bright yellow stone with those pinkeid-red gems coming out of it. It looked wonderful, far better than I first thought it might be. I thought to myself, what a find. After that, I got my cutie mark."
Triumph felt something must have been missing from this story. She decided to ask. "Why? That is it?"
Chaser laughed, at this question. He knew it was a simple story. "Sorry, hun. Nothing too exciting happened. All I did is find a pretty stone, covered in light red gems. That is all."
Triumph felt confused, and that there still must be more to it. She didn't understand what all this meant. She pointed to his cutie mark. "Why you get that?"
Chaser smiled to her simple question. He realized she must not understand luck. That is, the luck of finding things that are valuable. "My talent is I tend to find things of value. And not all things of value are what you might think they are, when you find them."
Triumph still didn't understand. She still looked confused to him. "What is value?"
"Don't know what value is huh? Now, how do I explain?"
Triumph continued to stare, but gave a slight nod. She didn't understand value, or luck.
"I tell you what, I didn't understand it either at first. But since that time I kept finding things that held meaning for me in my life. That rock I found. In time it made me think of one pony I was starting to like."
Triumph felt this was going to turn into another story. Both Stella and Patience smiled knowing what he did with the rock, and who the pony is he was talking about.
"I was still young then, but I saw one filly of my age who moved to Cloudsdale. One that I wanted to get to know. Something about her looked so familiar to me. Something I enjoyed having around. It was my gem covered stone she reminded me of. I felt I found the one for me.
“It was like the stone I found, had told me who I was going to find. She was beautiful to me, and still is."
At this Stella felt charmed, and flattered by his words. He still thinks I am beautiful. Her smile broadened. Not going unnoticed by Chaser, who glanced at her and smiled back.
Triumph is still wondering who this pony is Chaser is talking about. She didn't notice the glance exchanged by Stella and Chaser made to each other. She only saw Chaser smile for a moment, but was not sure why.
"I went to talk to her. She was friendly enough, but she just was not all that interested in me at the time. Not the way I was with her. And I intended to gain her interest."
Triumph held still waiting for what came next, this was beginning to get more interesting to her, but she didn't understand something. What does he mean, gain her interest? Did she not want to be his friend? I wonder why.
"The stone gave me an idea. Remember I told you things can have value?"
Triumph nodded. She felt she might get a chance to learn something about that now.
"I thought the stone just looked nice, and that is all. But ponies do like to have nice things, even things that just look nice.
“If a thing is something you want, it has value. How much value depends on how much you want it. Like food. Food on it's own is not worth much, until you want something to eat. And the more hungry you get, the more valuable that food becomes to you."
Triumph's eyes lit up. She understood, and Chaser felt she did by her expression.
"I liked my new found stone, but I liked this new pony I found more. I thought I might give it to her, in order to gain her interest in me, in return. And you know what?
Triumph was not sure, so she shook her head.
"It worked! The pony I am talking about is sitting right behind you."
Triumph turned her head and saw Stella smiling down at her.
"Yes, Triumph it was me. And I still have that very stone in Chaser and my bedroom. I keep it on my side of the room, every night and morning, so I can see it, and remember how we got together.
“I first felt I should not take such a rare one of a kind stone from him. But he insisted. I did like it a lot. I felt it matched my coloring. I was so taken with it, I was pleased he insisted that I have it. I saw he cared more on how happy I was with it, then keeping it himself. That was what first got us together. His show of generosity, and fondness for me that continued from then on."
Triumph was quite happy about this, but she still didn't understand Chaser's cutie mark. She turned her head back to Chaser. After all of that, she still had that same question. What did it mean.
Chaser saw she is still looking confused.
"I guess I can't blame you if you still don't get it. I will try once more."
At this, Triumph was not too sure if she wished to sit through another story. She did enjoy them, but she was not sure if she was ever going to understand this.
"What I have to tell, might be more simple than just another story."
Triumph felt relieved in not having to hear another one. By now, she was just getting frustrated with not knowing what he was trying to tell her with them. She wished to be just told what it meant. Not try and figure it out from a story.
"Luck. It is a thing, some think we have. And some may have it more than others. It is like being strong or smart. Only it is not something you actually work at to improve. Unless one considers the idea of doing things that might help make things work out for you."
Triumph felt completely lost. She sat in more frustration. She hoped this would be over soon. She did not like being confused.
Chaser knew he was losing her.
"let's say you want food, right. Now let's say you go looking for some, and you don't know where any is, but you look just the same. If you find some, it is at times what we call being lucky. If you don't find any it is what we call being unlucky."
Triumph started to come around, but was still confused.
"Now, to help build your luck, you get a lot of food, or remember where some is, so if you go looking again, you are more likely to find some."
The wheels in Triumph's head is turning, but she is still feeling she has yet to reach full understanding about this. Though some of this did remind her of training with her clan.
Going on adventure trips to find where things are she discovered to be quite helpful, if she ever wanted to find such things again, if asked to. After a first search, she was more able to find it again, knowing where to look. This much she felt she did understand. She just did not know what it had to do with his cutie mark.
Chaser saw her change in features. She now looked less frustrated, and more interested in what he had to say.
"Though in the case of true luck, one is just real good at finding what they are looking for, without having to know where to look in the first place. That person with good luck just finds it anyway."
Again Triumph was not fully sure what he meant, but felt this time she was getting the idea.
"As for me, remember what I told you about things of value?"
Triumph simply nodded. She remembered the value of food when she is hungry, and wants food. This was also starting to make her feel hungry in return. She has not eaten in awhile.
"Well, I am, according to my cutie mark, one who can find things of value without having to look for it all too hard. Some times, just trying, is all I need to do."
Triumph felt she was now getting it.
Chaser saw this and went for what he thought would be the cu degraw. The last stroke that would end her confusion. "I will try and connect the dots for you. I found the stone, but only after I stopped looking. Luck helped me find it then.
“When I found Stella, the stone got me interested in her. At this, Stella was valuable to me to have in my life, and the stone had value in helping me gain her interest in me when I gave it to her.
“Lastly, my luck helped me find you. And it was lucky that I did, or that wyvern would have taken you. And now you are here, with us.
“And to me, you are valuable to me. Why? Because like you. I am very happy to have found you and have you as part of our family. Do you see now?"
Triumph didn't care about that cutie mark anymore. The last few words he said to her, meant far much more to her. It made her eyes well up with tears.
But for a moment she felt she did fully understand. And this luck he was talking about was a wonderful thing to have, and she was so glad he has luck, even without fully knowing what luck is. She knew his luck helped saved her, as far as she understood.
Chaser didn't mean to make her cry. He felt bad about this. He thought he just upset her by reminding her that she was almost taken by that red winged beast. He quickly regret what he said.
Triumph surprised him. She went over to him and hugged his front left leg. She said clearly enough for him to hear, "Thank you."
She was taken over with emotion that he said to her he valued her as part of his family. This she understood perfectly well.
Chaser didn't know what she was thinking. He first thought she was upset. But her last actions, and words told him something else. He decided to just go with it, and held her with his other hoof in return.
The two had their moment together as the others watched.
Fluttershy wanted in on this. She went to join them. Fluttershy loved having Triumph around. She felt she might get lots of hugs herself by having Triumph here.
Fluttershy didn't care by who she got them, or why, so long as she did.
To Fluttershy having Triumph around was a good thing. Even if her new sister seemed sad a lot. It only made Fluttershy want to comfort her new sister more. And getting to do so, was nice to Fluttershy as well.
The three got distracted after a time by Stella. Stella felt their time was running short. Story time had taken longer than expected, and they all needed to get going.
Stella got everyone's attention. "I do hate to break this up but we should get going."
The others agreed that this distraction on cutie marks took too long. They needed to get out and find Kicker.
Stella picked up Triumph, and Fluttershy, and put them onto her back. She addressed Patience and Chaser. "I will be back in a moment."
After she walked into Fluttershy's room. She set Fluttershy in her crib, and set Triumph on the changing table. Fluttershy watched as Stella got a new diaper out of the drawer below.
Stella with practiced ease, managed to slip the new diaper on Triumph with no trouble, then stood her up on the table.
Triumph shook her hind quarters as she looked at what she was given. Something pink with puffy white clouds covering it as a pattern. It stayed snug to her rump with a hole for her newer longer pink tale, one just like Fluttershy's tail.
It felt odd to her having this pink puffy diaper on. But if it made her look more like Fluttershy having it on, she liked it, and her new pink tail that matched.
Now that Triumph thought about it, being a pony like she is now, felt strange all over. It took a bit for it to grate in her mind how much different her new body feels.
Despite how strange it felt to her to be so different now, she enjoyed this new feel. Triumph also felt softer, to herself now as well.
She liked her new color, though she liked Fluttershy's color more.
She didn't know what to think about the new long tail and main. It felt heavier, and more cumbersome than how she was, but she liked the look if it. It was a bit of a trade off for her.
Stella picked her up and put her on the floor. She did the same with Fluttershy after turning around to retrieve her.
Fluttershy quickly joined Triumph. Triumph shook her rump in the air again. "I got one now too." Fluttershy giggled at this, then Triumph did as well with her.
Fluttershy felt her new sister was being funny. Fluttershy liked her all the more for it.
Stella went to shoo them out. "OK, you two sillies, out you go." The three of them joined the other two in the living room.
Patience had herself a giggle of her own after seeing the two foals dressed the same, and making them look all the more identical. "OK, I guess we are all ready now. Anything else we are missing?"
Stella had a look around. "Just your bag. Are you taking it?"
Patience shook her head. "No, I don't think I will be needing it right now. And I know it will be safe here, when I do need to get it again.
Stella nodded. "OK, good enough. Let's go then." With that the group headed out the door.