"So, if you're friends with Lacy, why did you tease Breezy about talking to his sister?" Bruiser asked as he toweled off his mane.
In the middle of a drying spell, Twist looked over. It was a little funny, because Twist's shaggy mane kept getting blown around in the magical field as he spoke. "There's a difference between talking to his sister and talking to his sister, if you catch my drift."
He didn't, but Bruiser nodded anyway. "Are you going to Sunridge after this?"
The drying spell left Twist's bangs covering his eyes. Lifting them with a hoof, the unicorn colt looked at him with brows raised. "Oh? She invited you to Sunridge with us? You really must have had a good apology. Yeah, there's a pretty tightly knit group of us headed over there. Don't expect everypony to be okay with you right off the bat."
Bruiser shrugged. "That's fair enough, I guess. Thanks for the warning. Anypony in particular I should be worried about?"
Twist looked at the mirror over the sink and primped. There really was no other word for it. "You've already met the worst. Breezy is really protective of his sister, even though he's younger. They're pretty close, so Lacy's group and Bree's group all come together at least once a week. Sometimes it's Sunridge, sometimes we go all the way to Sol Market for Pony Joe's. We went to Upper Cliffside to watch the sunset, once. But we almost got in trouble for going so far and staying so long."
Bruiser smiled. "My dad's mothers live in Upper Cliffside, the view is really amazing."
"Mothers?" Twist asked, one eyebrow quirked.
Mane finally dry, Bruiser put his hat on to cover his expression. Hopefully, his new friend wouldn't mind such relationships. "Yeah, my dad was adopted by two pegasus mares."
"Is he a pegasus?" Twist asked, leading the way out of the locker room.
Bruiser shook his head. "Nope. Earth pony like me. My other dad is a unicorn."
Twist looked up, putting the pieces together. "So your dad has two mothers. You have two fathers. How do you feel about all this?"
Bruiser looked over, drawing Twist's gaze. "It's way better than my old family. I have two sets of grandparents who love me. Two parents who love me. My old family...wasn't so nice." Bruiser ducked his head and wiped at his cheek to hide the tear.
"Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't know. But," Twister turned his foreleg to show Bruiser a long thin scar near the top. "I know about families that aren't so nice." Noting the surprise, Twist clarified, "I'm safe now, thank Celestia. My aunt and uncle are pretty cool."
"So, you're okay with...weird families?" Bruiser asked.
Twist sighed. "If you had any idea how weird my family was..."
In a blur, something dropped out of the sky. Twist turned to see it just in time, raising a shield in a futile attempt at saving himself.
Unfortunately, the assailant crashed through the shield and tackled Twist to the ground. Bruiser blinked and found Lacy on top of Twist, pinning him to the ground and mantling her wings at him. "You're not being mean to him, are you Twist?"
"Wha?" Twist asked, groaning in pain and confusion.
Lacy leaned in. "You know I told you to leave him alone! Bruiser even apologized today."
"Lace, seriously? Yeah, I know. Now let me up." Twist said, huffing in annoyance. "If you're gonna tackle anypony, go find your brother. He was a total snot at practice today."
With a sweep of her wings, Lacy fluttered away from Twist and closed on Bruiser. "Bree doesn't mean it, Bruiser. He's just being protective."
Sighing from his place on the ground, Twister mumbled, "No, that's okay. I'm fine."
Another pegasus landed near Twist and helped the unicorn to his feet. "Jeez, Lacy. You really bowled him over to protect your coltfriend." The new pegasus started brushing the dust off of Twister.
"No-oh! Tickles. Watch the feathers, Cheery!" Cheery laughed and concentrated on Twist's belly. "Cheery!"
"He's not my coltfriend, Cheery Meadows!" Lacy said, garnering no attention from the mare in question. "Hey! Why don't you stop flirting with your coltfriend?"
Cheery let up as Twister fell to the ground to try to escape. "Twister! I just got you cleaned off and now you're all dirty again! Come here!"
Lacy sighed as Twister rolled away, patting playfully at the invading feathers. "We'll get to Sunridge eventually, Bruiser. These are my friends. I guess you've met Teal Twister, so that's Cheery Meadows. They're both a year ahead of us, but as you can see, not much more mature." With the ongoing antics, Bruiser had to agree.
"I really am sorry about Breezy, but maybe you two can make up on the way to the bakery. He's got a unicorn and earth pony friend that come along too. Earth pony is Dusty Chestnut. Unicorn is Ginger Glow. Dusty is cool, Ginger kind of has a not-so-secret crush on Breezy. We pretend not to notice and Bree is remarkably oblivious." With a smile, Lacy pushed the front of Bruiser's hat up with a wing.
Blushing at the sudden attention, Bruiser's brain stuttered to a halt. This was the danger zone Lovely warned him about and Bruiser looked around to try and get on another subject quickly. "Should we maybe do something about them?" Bruiser asked as he looked over Lacy's shoulder to see Twist charging his horn. Lacy turned around in time to see the spell send Cheery rocketing upwards.
Turning back halfway, Lacy shrugged. "They'll be fine. Cheery loves Twister's...twisters."
Sure enough, a giggling Cheery came back down in circles, floating to the ground safely. She pecked Twist on the cheek, earning an impressive blush before she scampered back to Lacy and Bru. Twist followed behind more sedately, his blush still evident.
"Are we ready to go?" Cheery asked cheerily.
"Well, we still have to wait for...oh there they are. Come on, slowpokes!" Lacy called across the field.
***
"Come on, slowpokes." Lovely called, levitating a bag beside her.
Behind her, Second sighed, concentrating on the ten bags he was now floating above him. "Are we done yet?"
"If I may, sir. This was all your idea." Silver said.
Second exhaled slowly. "How was I supposed to know that Core's marketplace had suddenly attracted attention from the fashion scene? Last time I was here, this was all mining companies and supply stores. Now I'm getting dragged from one chic, unique, magnifique boutique to another. Not to mention how these bags seem to keep multiplying."
"And I could help you with that, sir." Silver offered.
Second shook his head. "It's your day off, Silv. And you don't have to call me 'sir.' I feel old enough as it is."
"If you're old what does that make me?" Silver asked.
"Respected." Second said proudly.
"Rather be young." Silver deadpanned. Turning to Lovely, Silver made his move. "Madam, if I might make a suggestion. There's a cute family-run bakery in Prominence that would be a perfect pick-me-up for the two of you. I'll take the bags home."
Lovely looked at him, concerned. "Are you sure, Silver? Seems like you should get to do something more with your day off."
"Oh, I fully intend to make the most of it." Silver said, reassuringly. "I have an invitation to a poker game in Helios. An old friend apparently is intent on losing a lot of money tonight. Although, spending the middle of my day with you two was a good time. The banter alone between you two was remarkable."
"I'm starting to realize where Life gets his casual bickering from." Second said, looking at Lovely intently.
She put a hoof to her chest. "Me? Surely not! Let's not bring up how a certain somepony treated their son during his formative years. No wonder he equates love with disdain!"
"Your words can wound, my loving prose-smith." He cooed, taking her hoof to plant a kiss.
She laughed and pulled him in closely. "My words are but a whetstone upon which the blade of your own guilt is sharpened, you old hut-builder."
Silver retrieved the eleven shopping bags effortlessly and nudged the pair towards the edge of the sidewalk. "Well. I can see you two will be a while. The bakery is called Sunridge. There's a taxi for you." Hailing the cab, Silver all but shoved the two inside and made his escape.
One taxi trip later, the Story's stepped out in front of Sunridge Sweets. Walking inside, Lovely pointed out a nice cozy booth sized for two in the corner. "I'll go stake out our seats. Surprise me with something sweet, my love."
As Second went to order, Lovely observed the few ponies assembled. They seemed content enough and in a neighborhood like Prominence, that was rare. The ponies who called the wealthiest district home were notoriously hard to please and their moods shifted with each new trend.
While Second made his way over, Lovely couldn't help but notice a gaggle of schoolfoals enter. Their loud voices quieted only moderately, but they seemed a decent sort. A unicorn colt scolded a pegasus who'd teased him while a pegasus colt and his unicorn and earth pony friend laughed about some joke told outside. In the rear a pretty pegasus filly waited for an earth pony who'd held the door for the group. Said final earth pony wore a strikingly familiar cowcolt hat.
Lovely glanced around, finally seeing her husband. Gesturing for Second to hurry up, Lovely nearly bounced in excitement. Catching her expression, Second tilted his head at her and picked up his pace. "What is it?"
"Sit, quickly!" He followed the order, his lips splitting into a half-grin from amusement and annoyance. "Bruiser just walked in. No! Don't look!" Her magic held his head in place before he could turn around.
Second frowned. "Lovely, what on Equestria..."
"Sh-sh-shhh!" Lovely warned, her gaze stuck to the group of foals. "He's here with friends. I think one of them might be the filly he has a crush on."
"That's good isn't it?" Second asked, confused. "Why can't I look?"
Lovely rolled her eyes. "Oh, can you imagine if he realized we were here? I'd be mortified to see my grandparents when I was out with my friends. Especially at his age."
"I thought we were cool grandparents!" Second protested.
"Well, I'm sure I am." She said with a grin. "It's you I'm worried about."
By chance, the bigger booths took up space in another corner of the restaurant. Cheery and Twist placed their order quickly and then made a beeline for a booth with enough space. Ginger and Dusty followed suit in no time and were at the table before Breezy could protest.
"Hey, littlefeathers, you're up. You gonna order or what?" The pink mare at the counter asked teasingly.
Breezy puffed up in irritation. "The name is Breezy, not littlefeathers."
"Well, since you asked so nicely, my name is Velvet Step. Pleasure to meet you." Velvet said pleasantly.
"Be nice, Breezy." Lacy warned.
Huffing, Breezy placed his bits on the counter. "I'll have a triple chocolate cupcake and a small vanilla shake."
Velvet rang him up with a smile. "You got it, Mr. Feathers, sir. Okay, lovebird and cowcolt, you're up. What'll it be?"
"Velvet Sugardimples Step! Don't you sass those young customers!" A mare's voice called from the back.
"Mo-om!" Velvet protested.
The little red foal on her back laughed and clapped his hooves together. "Mo-om!" He copied.
"Now why can't you do that so she can hear you?" Velvet said wonderingly.
"Ahem." Bruiser coughed to get the pink earth mare's attention.
Turning back to face the last two customers of the group, Velvet nodded. "Yeah, rustler, what can I get you and the pretty filly?"
Lacy spoke up instead. "I'll have a vanilla cupcake with chocolate crème frosting and a bottled water. What about you, Bru?"
Looking over the selection, Bru took a stab in the dark. "I guess I'll have a bottled water too. And, um, have you got red velvet?"
With a laugh, Velvet slid the foal on her back onto the counter, much to his delight. "Here's a Red Velvet!"
Bruiser turned to look at the foal in confusion. With a giggle, the little cream cheese-maned foal reached out and booped Bruiser on the nose.
"What a cutie!" Lacy said, clapping her hooves together.
"I think this one's too big to eat, ma'am." Bruiser said, poking the foal's nose in return.
"Suit yourself, guess you'll have to settle for one of the smaller cupcakes. Especially if you keep calling me ma'am." Velvet said with a huff, picking up Red and settling him back on her back.
Bruiser laughed. "Not too small, please, Miss Velvet."
She sniffed in mock disdain. "I suppose that'll do. Will this be together or separate?"
From their booth across the room, Lovely doubled down on her magic to keep Second in place. "Let me go. What if he doesn't have the bits?
Or the sense? He has to make a good impression!"
Lovely snorted. "Oh, and having his grandpa appear out of nowhere and pay for them is going to make a good impression. Honestly!"
Back at the counter, Bruiser beat Lacy to his bitpurse. "Together, Lady Velvet of the House of Sweets."
Velvet looked at Lacy with a wry grin. "Better hold on to this one, little filly."
Bru and Lacy blushed together. "Um, we're not..." Bruiser started, but didn't seem to know how to finish.
"He's just..." Lacy trailed off and they shared an awkward glance
Together they finished the sentence. "We're friends."
"Uh-huh. Yeah, okay. Just saying, keep this friend close." Velvet said, collecting the bits off of the counter.
Letting go of Second, Lovely smiled wide. "See! He can be taught!"