Chapter 2 - A Changeling of Pace
~Chapter 2~
- Changeling Of Pace -
Two weeks after Hearts and Hooves Day
The Hay Bale Cafe, Ponyville
It had been a perfect day so far. The sun was just setting. There were enough clouds to keep the deep red sky nice and picturesque. The last of winter's gentle breezes promised just a whiff of the oncoming spring. And here she was, enjoying it all under a parasol at Ponyville's most popular outdoor hangout, the Hay Bale Cafe, in the VIP back lot no less. The cafe had arguably been a little early with the parasols, but she enjoyed the touch of colour over their candlelit dinner of alfalfa soup and red rose salad, her favourites.
The perfect bit? No, it wasn't the weather, though it was quite nice. No, the perfection sat across from her, gazing kindly back at her with his bright green eyes, devoting all his attention to her, making her feel like the very centre of the universe. Dare she say, like a princess. Everything from his long, curly jet black mane, his sharp sculpted features to his gleaming charcoal gray fur was almost tailored to her dreams. On top of that the young unicorn stallion had made the day a fairytale come true for her. Sure, she had started out the morning not knowing what to expect, but now she knew it had been everything she had ever wanted.
He had suddenly called on her early in the morning at her inn, waiting for her with a beautiful breakfast for two laid out by the inn's fireplace. He had then taken her out for a slow walk around the surrounding countryside, stopping by the local apple farm to partake in cups of the world famous Apple Family cider, dispelling the rumour that they were impossible to get out of season. He then took her for lunch on a hot air balloon, somehow using his magic to shield them both from the last of the winter winds. Now after an afternoon listening to the Ponyville Philharmonic Orchestra, he was rounding off the day with a nice, long chat over dinner and the finest Berry Punch vintage wine (The Element of Harmony year, a good year).
Still, despite how perfect it had been, she couldn't help but fidget nervously. He seemed to notice this, obviously, as he gave her a look of gentle concern. "Are you alright, Twinkle Shine?" He asked, his tone gentle, caring, even genuine. "You seem to have been preoccupied with something all day long. Would you share with me what troubles you so?" He asked, placing a comforting forehoof on her own.
"Oh, um, it's...it's nothing." Twinkle Shine said, meekly, casting her sapphire blue eyes down to gaze at her empty salad bowl. She trembled a little, letting out a little puff of steam as she gave a little sigh, her cheeks blushing profusely.
"Twinkle Shine, everything about you matters to me." The gentlecolt said, getting up to unwrap the muffler around his neck to wrap it around the scarf Twinkle Shine already had on. "And I shall be frank with you, I am not only saying this because I've been paid to escort you today. I believe in being a good friend to my clients, like any other good business pony." He said, wrapping a forehoof around the scarf, drawing it close about her neck.
"Um, I know, Vex. You've been very kind, especially to somepony like me." Twinkle Shine slowly looked over her shoulder to give him a watery smile. "You see, it's about today, actually." She said, biting her lip. "You, um, you know how my friend, Night Blossom, arranged this for me?"
"Yes. If I may speak freely of her, I think you have a good friend in her, Twinkle Shine." The stallion chuckled goodnaturedly, returning to his seat. "I have never received such a demanding request. She was...quite detailed." He gave a wry smile as he seemed to recall his client and her request. She had been specific about everything, from Twinkle Shine's ideal stallion down to everything she'd want in a first date. To an extent it saved him a lot of trouble planning the whole affair.
"Oh, I'm sorry. She wasn't...too troubling, I hope?" Twinkle Shine said, worriedly.
"Oh, no. If anything, I took it as a challenge." The stallion smiled, "And as it turned out I enjoyed every moment of it. If that was trouble then you, Twinkle Shine, can trouble me any day." He gave her an honest smile.
"Did she, um, did she tell you why?" Twinkle Shine whispered, "As in, why she arranged this?"
The stallion's expression turned grave. He gave a little nod. "Yes, she did. So, tell me, Twinkle Shine, does it bother you? That I'm a changeling?" He asked, "Feel free to be frank with me, just as frank as I am with you."
"Um, no, I..." Twinkle Shine squeaked quietly, looking down at her lap.
"Please, Twinkle Shine." She felt a forehoof gently caress her own. "You can be honest with me." He said, reassuringly. "I don't mind if you say 'yes'. Just take the step with me."
"Uh." Twinkle Shine shifted nervously in her seat before finally blurting out, "Yes, I'm sorry, yes."
"Good." To her surprise the stallion gave her a comforting smile of approval. "Don't you feel better already?" He asked, knowingly.
"Um...yes." She said in surprise. "Yes, I do."
"Admitting the problem is the first step." He nodded at her. "And without sounding too patronizing, I think you've been very brave in seeing me today, knowing exactly what I am." The client, Night Blossom, had originally planned on not telling her what he was. He had disagreed quite vehemently, stressing that he would only take the job if she agreed to tell her. Thankfully she did, though not without asking for a hefty discount. Quite the haggler she was.
"I know that, Vex." She said, ears twitching sheepishly. "And I'm sorry I let it bother me. It's as bad as being bothered by any of the other tribes."
"No, your fear is warranted. My kind haven't given you the best of first impressions. But I can assure you that much like there are good and bad ponies, there are good and bad changelings." The stallion, Vex, said, graciously. "Now, I won't keep secrets from you. Night Blossom took the liberty of telling me what happened at the Royal wedding, and I think she was right in doing so." He said, giving her a serious look. "Being brain washed is a harrowing experience. There is nothing worse than losing control, becoming someone else's puppet."
Twinkle Shine only gave a silent nod in reply, the twin sapphire pools of her eyes watering up with her most repressed fears.
"And I can assure you now, everything you did was because of that evil influence upon your mind. As for now? You are entirely free of any and all changeling magic, I can assure you." Vex said, giving her a comforting pat on her forehoof.
"R-really?" Twinkle Shine suddenly gasped, looking up at the stallion with a desperate, almost hopeful look in her eyes. "Y-you mean, I'm not a threat to h-her majesty anymore?"
"Cross my heart, hope to fly. Stick a cupcake in my eye." Vex said, crossing his forehoof across his chest before... "OUCH!" He squeaked, cradling his eye. "Bug darn it! OW!"
The creamy white unicorn before him broke into a fit of giggles, much to his chagrin. But he quietly celebrated every little bit of laughter he managed to eke out of her. For him it was teasing rare smiles from clients like Twinkle Shine that made his job worthwhile. "I'm glad you're enjoying this." He gave a dry chuckle.
"I-I'm sorry." She giggled, helplessly. "I-I'm just so happy, Vex. You told me the one thing I've so very much wanted to hear." She beamed brightly for the first time through tears of earnest happiness. "You s-seem to know exactly what I want to hear, Vex. How do you do it?"
"Personal experience." Vex said with a simple smile. "Because that was something I wish somepony could have told me." He sighed, before quickly shaking his head. "But trust me when I say, your mind and heart is yours and yours alone, Twinkle Shine. And anypony you ask will be able to tell you the same." He gave her a winning smile as he gave her forehoof a tight squeeze with his own. "So chin up, be happy, alright? A frown on a mare as beautiful as you is a crime unto nature."
"B-beautiful?" She squeaked, exploding into a furious blush. "No, of course not, I..." She shook her head in fierce denial. She felt a forehoof gently caress her cheek, stopping her head mid-shake.
"I don't blame you for thinking that. You are a hoofmaiden to an alicorn princess. It's only natural to compare yourself to her. But that's comparing apples to oranges. You, Twinkle Shine, are everything a pony could aspire to." Vex said. "And just to prove it..." He added, without missing a beat. "Those two stallions behind you have been eyeing you all evening." He whispered in a low voice, nodding at the two offending stallions in the normal seating area behind her.
Twinkle Shine couldn't help but look around at his prompting. She just about caught the two stallions in question looking away to study their meals with renewed interest.
"Want me to have a word with them?" Vex asked with a grin, "Though to be honest I can't blame them for being jealous."
"U-uh, n-no, please, don't." Twinkle Shine's creamy coat turned the shade of the sunset.
"Your beauty, Twinkle Shine, isn't just on the outside. You're a mare who thinks of others before yourself. You thought of those two jealous stallions before yourself. And you considered the safety of your princess above and beyond your own." Vex said, gently. "Few ponies can be so selfless. That puts you above the rest of the herd as far as I'm concerned."
"T-thank you, Vex. You seem to have a way with everything. You're...almost like a real friend." She gasped as she realized what she had just said. "Uh, I-I mean, sorry, I didn't mean it that way!"
"No, I understand." Vex gave her a reassuring grin. "It's my job after all. But even your grocer can be your best friend, cabbages and carrots aside, right? And that's what I like the most about my job. I get to make friends all day long. And the pay's a nice bonus." He gave her a wink.
"Ah, um, th-then..." She fidgeted again, "How much do I...?" She asked, reaching for her saddlebags in a hurry.
"Your friend paid me in full already." Vex said, giving her a dismissive wave. "Told you you've got a good friend." He reached into his own saddlebags with a burst of emerald-green magic from his horn. "This is my card. Anytime you want to talk, feel free to send me a letter." He said, offering her a smart little white business card.
Vex
Escort Stallion
Gentlecolt for Mares Escort Service
Ponyville, EquestriaPlease direct all inquiries to the above address. Replies guaranteed in 24 hours, 7 days a week.
"Oh, th-thank you." Twinkle Shine said, accepting the card and pocketing it in her saddlebag carefully, almost reverentially.
"Thank your friend." Vex said with a gracious smile. "I can tell you still have questions." He said with a little chuckle, noticing her telltale fidgeting.
"Oh, um, if you don't mind me asking then." Twinkle Shine twiddled her forehooves a little, peering up at him uncertainly. "Do you....do you really feed on love? I'm just curious. N-not that I mind or anything." She blurted.
"That's usually the first question I get." Vex gave a little nod, "The answer is yes, I am a hunter of love. Love is to me what hay and apples are to you."
"So, um, have you, uh, have you been...?" Twinkle Shine shifted about uneasily once more. "Eating me?" She asked before she could stop herself, "Wait, that didn't come out right!" She gasped.
"That's quite alright." Vex said, "And yes, I have been 'eating you'. You have been most delicious. Far more appetizing than my usual fare, if you don't mind me saying, my lady." He gave her a wink.
"A-ah...oh. Um." The mare before him exploded into furious blush that managed to put even their red wine to shame. "T-this m-must b-be the wine." She chuckled nervously, fanning herself with a forehoof as she picked up and downed the nearest glass available with a burst of magic. She did an epic spittake. "T-that w-wasn't water, t-that was more wine!" She squeaked, managing to turn two shades redder somehow. "I-It's n-not like I love you o-or anything! Uh, I mean, I do like you, but, not so much love you!" She flailed her forehooves about wildly, as if waving them might disperse the crushing tension. "But I do! I mean, I don't! Don't misunderstand me, I...." She planted her face squarely into the table as if hoping her face might anchor her runaway mind. "Oh sour apples, what's wrong with meeeeeee!" She cried into the table.
Vex was a changeling before he was a gentlecolt. He couldn't help but chuckle at her expense as a little mischievous grin spread across his muzzle. "Twinkle Shine, you're adorably cute, you know that?" He decided to voice his thoughts.
A massive cloud of steam erupted from her frizzled lilac mane, forming a foggy little cloud that hung over the burning mare. What bit of her still seemed to be functioning let out a soft, cute little moan. "Uuuuuuu..."
"Twinkle Shine? Feeling ready to go back to your room?" Vex asked, cheerfully.
The creamy mare only gave a little hiccup in reply.
"I think that's a 'yes'." Vex nodded, raising a hoof for the waiter. "Bill, please. Oh, and a cup of water for the lady...possibly a cold towel too."
The early winter moon rose up above the wispy windswept clouds to find Vex making his way back to Twinkle Shine's inn, his wobbly client leaning against him for support. Her little hooves were practically tripping over themselves, causing her to stumble into him a few times. By that point Vex had thoroughly regretted putting the poor lightweight through the cider and wine. Twinkle Shine, as it turned out, made for a very clingy and needy drunk.
He breathed a sigh of relief as he finally found himself at the inn's front door. He opened it just enough to call out to the idling receptionist at the desk. "Ma'am, can you please help this young lady back to her room?" He said, waving two bits at the mare behind the counter.
"Certainly, sir." The mare was quick to leave her post.
"Huh, wha..." Twinkle Shine murmured blearily, her numbed mind seemingly slowly but surely registering Vex's words. "Wait, a-aren't you....uh...coming upstairs?" She managed to ask muzzily, peering up at him with quizzical, almost hopeful eyes.
"I think you'll be in capable hooves." Vex said, graciously, nodding at the receptionist with a smile. "This innkeeper will see you safely to your room, Twinkle Shine."
"B-but..." Twinkle Shine slowly but surely tightened the one forehoof she had curled around his neck for support. "Um, I-I'd like, uh, you to take me?" She suggested, showing just a hint of rebelliousness.
He returned her embrace, but kept his gaze steady, almost stern. "We wouldn't want even a single unsavoury thought to taint the honour of an immaculate maiden such as you, Twinkle Shine." He said, gently. "Now, go on."
Much to his secret amusement the young mare was surprisingly more wilful than he expected. "But...um...bed...you...me...uh." Twinkle Shine blinked, seemingly torn between confusion and sheer embarassment.
"Oh." Vex's expression softened as he gave the mare a gentle pat on the head. "Everything's special. But some should be truly special, between your beautiful self and your most special somepony." He said as gently as he could.
"I-if it costs extra I can...." Twinkle Shine was about to reach into her saddlebags with her magic when she noticed the gentle but stern expression on Vex's face. "I-I mean, no, I mean...." She blurted, raising a forehoof to plug up her errant mouth. "Uuuuu..." She gave a muffled groan into her hoof.
He sighed as he leaned in close to whisper gently in her ears. "You of all ponies, my dear, should never have to pay for that. You deserve true love and, dare I say, you've earned it."
"S-sorry, I d-didn't mean to insult you, I..." Twinkle Shine buried her face in her forehooves. "Uuuuuuu, what's wrong with me?!" She demanded of her forehooves.
"That was quite alright." Vex gave her yet another comforting pat on the head, ruffling her mane gently. "You meant well, I'm sure. Now, good night, Twinkle Shine. I look forwards to seeing you again, hopefully soon." He said, gently passing her over to the waiting receptionist, who was very carefully studying a rock on the ground with almost ferocious interest.
Twinkle Shine mumbled something indistinct into her forehooves before the receptionist very kindly shepherded her inside where she could finally hide her face in peace.
Vex looked around. The street around him had frozen. Many, many pairs of eyes were glued to him, all sharing a single look of utter disbelief. They quickly looked away from his accusing gaze, resuming their evening strolls.
"Real smooth, casanova." A voice said behind him. A dark figure peeled itself from the shadow under one of the inn's many balconies. "That cutie pie was practically throwing herself at you. What's the problem? Left your balls at home?" The chirpy voice chuckled as the figure stepped out into the silver moonlight, revealing a tall, black and white feathered eagle-type gryphon.
"We've been over this, Hale." Vex snapped at his gryphon co-worker, manager and only friend. "My kind doesn't understand 'love'. Not the same way you do. It wouldn't be fair on them."
"What's there to understand?" Hale demanded as she fell into stride beside him. "I like you, you like me, let's get it on."
"First, that was all sorts of wrong." Vex gave his friend a jab in the ribs, eliciting a chuckle from the gryphon. "Second, if your sandwich and your soup had a relationship going, could you ever claim to understand that?"
"Eh, I prefer a good Sunday roast myself." Hale shrugged. "The hot stuff they get up to in my mouth? Mmm Hmmm!"
"Fine, let me dumb it down for you, feather brain." Vex said, irritably, turning down the street to lead them back towards their office. "You gryphons are hunters, right? Well, imagine trying to have any feelings for your prey other than 'yummy'."
"Huh." Hale muttered, "You make a point. You're saying you changelings don't understand love at all?"
"Not the way the rest of the sane world sees it, no." Vex shrugged.
"But you're aware of this difference." Hale pointed out. "So you can bridge that gap if you want to, right? Be the first changeling to crack the mystery of Love. Whoah, instant cheesy novel blurb if I ever saw one!" She chuckled.
"Huh, yeah, like that'll ever happen." Vex sighed. "I mean, it's probably our kind's last and only hope, and we don't even know it. Makes the Elements of Harmony look all kinds of convenient. 'In case of impending doom, use these'."
"Well, that mare might be a start." Hale pointed a claw over her shoulder at the inn behind them. "She's all sorts of gaga over you."
"Jeez, Hale, leave the poor girl out of this, will ya?" Vex sighed, exasperated.
"Whoah, protective already. See?" Hale chuckled. "Should I be jealous, Vexie?" She asked, batting her eyes playfully. "Cause you know I'm always here to teach you eveeeerything about 'Love'." She whispered, leaning in to blow playfully in his ear.
"Shut the bug up already, Hale." Vex laughed, pushing his friend away. "Gotta say, your bugfoolery aside, you really delivered today. All the information you dug up on her was perfect." He said.
There was just a flicker of emotion on Hale's face at the not-so-subtle change of topic. "Heh, course it was. I'm not a member of the Gryphonian Guard covert ops division for nothing." She said, puffing out her feathery chest with pride.
"You mean 'ex'." Vex reminded her. "You're now manager of the biggest comfort stallion service in Ponyville."
"Pfft, the only one in Ponyville." She laughed, heartily as they turned into a small side street that housed their headquarters. "550 bits. Boy, we cleaned up good today. This Night Blossom must be royalty or something." She gave a loud throaty chuckle. "And that's after the stupid discount you gave her."
"I wanted the job." Vex shrugged. "But on my terms. Twinkle Shine deserved to know what she was getting herself into."
"What, you knew she was going to be a real hottie or something? I'm sure that wasn't in the information pack I gave you." Hale laughed, patting him on the back. "Jeez, you and your soft spot for the quiet cuties."
"She's got some bad history with my kind." Vex said, dismissively. "She needed this. I think she deserved it, even if it were for free."
Hale gave him a long, slow look, before sighing in exasperation. "Dude, you gotta let the past go. You can't keep going around cleaning up after her mess. You've got your own life to live." She said as they came up to their glorious little ramshackle shop front, only to find somepony had very artistically scrawled 'Bugs' over the sign, such that it now read 'Bugs for Mares'. A few more choice words had been scrawled all over the shop window and doors, words like 'Bug Bucker', 'Mare Eater'.
"Uh, yeah, cleaning, as I was saying." Hale muttered. "Hey, Vex, wanna go hit the Saddlebag for a night cap instead?" She quickly offered, kindly.
Vex didn't reply. He was too busy eyeing the words scrawled in big green lettering on his shop window - 'Bug Brand Brain Washing, 100 Bits'.
"No, you go on ahead." Vex finally muttered as he reached up to rub the at the paint. He rubbed, and rubbed, and rubbed as furiously as he could with his forehoof, gritting his teeth as he succeeded in only smearing it across his window. "Bug darn it! Bug DARN IT!" He growled as he rubbed harder and harder. The glass beneath cracked warningly under the strain.
"Whoah, Vex, dude. Chill." Hale reached out for her friend, flaring a wing out over the changeling. "Hey, calm down!" She barked, tugging at him. Bits of the glass seemed to shatter. The changeling went on rubbing, slowly smearing something dark red across the glass. "Oy, Vex!" Getting no response she finally smacked him across the face with a claw. "Vex! Snap out of it!" She barked, angrily.
Vex froze amidst his furious wiping, before finally letting his forehooves fall to his sides. The glass creaked as it was relieved of his pressure. He quivered under her wing. A few faint hiccups filled the night sky.
Hale remained quiet, holding him steady. Both knew there were no words to console the changeling.
At least not yet.
The Day After
The Hoofmaiden's Quarters, Royal Apartments, Crystal Palace, the Crystal Empire
"Urgh." Twinkle Shine collapsed onto her luggage just moments after stepping through the door into her home, the royal hoofmaidens' private quarters. The carpets were emerald green, just like his eyes. Ugh. The plush lounge sofas were black, just like his soft curly hair. Ugh. Even the crystal panelling that made up the walls were a soft dark gray, just like his fur. UUUGH! "Uuuuuuuuuu..." She gave another long, drawn out moan, rolling onto the floor in a futile attempt to cool her burning face.
"Oh, Twinkle Shine, you're back." A certain midnight blue thestral greeted from where she was hanging idly from a crystal chandelier. "So? So? How was it?" She asked, gleefully.
"Uuuuuuuuuu...." Twinkle Shine said in reply, steam curling up out of her ears as she struggled to melt her way into the floor.
"C'mon, gimme the juicy details!" Night Blossom pleaded. "It's been dead boring here for 2 whole weeks. The princess postponed all her duties indefinitely and locked herself away in her room on some urgent business she won't share. Minuette still hasn't figured out the flag pole she's got stuck up her plot. And I'm boooored!" She wailed, clutching her fluffy ears. "C'mon, throw a bat pony a mango here! Please!"
"Uuuu." Twinkle Shine moaned into the floor once more.
"Wait a sec, he didn't hurt you, did he?" Night Blossom's expression turned dark and dangerous as she swung down from the chandelier like a vengeful wraith. "Tell me, Twinkle Shine. Tell me he hurt you, and I'll fly over there right now and give him a new career as an eunuch." She growled, striding up to Twinkle Shine, rage towering.
"N-no! Uh, he was very kind to me!" Twinkle Shine quickly corrected her friend, suddenly fearing for the poor stallion's safety. "In fact, you were right. He helped me, uh, get over things." She added, in a more subdued whisper. "Thank you, Night Blossom." She pulled herself up to give the thestral a watery little smile. "Thank you so much."
"Hah. Good for you, Twinkie!" Night Blossom broke into a big smile as she pulled Twinkle Shine onto her hooves, quickly curling a wing around her. "Well, you can thank me by sharing a little with your ol' buddy, Night Blossom." She whispered, "How was he?" She asked with a wide, almost hungry grin.
"Uh, he was nice." Twinkle Shine twidled her forehooves a little, blushing profusely. "Very gentle with me, very thoughtful."
"In bed." Night Blossom added impatiently.
"Oh, uh, ah..." Twinkle Shine burned an entire new shade of crimson as she remembered her embarassing faux pas. "Uh, there was no bed." She whispered in a single breath.
"No bed?" Night Blossom blinked. "Whoah, kinky." She broke into an even bigger grin. "Was it on the floor? A table? Or, ah, in the snow?" She pulled the blushing hoofmaiden even closer. "C'mon, at least tell me about the foreplay!"
"Uh, there was no foreplay." Twinkle Shine squeaked.
"Oh. Oh my." The thestral was practically shaking now. She licked her lips as she went on, "You just went straight for it? Rough au naturel? Oh my." She threw a hoof up to her mouth to stop herself from giggling furiously. "Did you get any sleep at all?"
"No. I couldn't, I..." Twinkle Shine whispered.
"Ooooooooooh." Night Blossom had to stomp her hoof a few times to steady herself. "Yeaaaah, filly! Looks like I got my bits worth!" She squeed excitedly, pulling her friend into a tight embrace before twirling her around. "Come on, come with me! You simply must give me a blow-by-blow breakdown! Every last detail!" She squeaked, pulling the poor mare after her.
"But, I, uh..." Twinkle Shine cried as she was helplessly fillynapped by the strong thestral. Thankfully for her somepony else came to her rescue.
"Oh, Twinkle Shine, welcome back!" Minuette greeted cheerfully as she trotted in. "Glad to see you back. You had a good holiday?"
"Oh, uh..." Twinkle Shine whispered.
"Hah! She only had the best holiday EVER thanks to yours truly." Night Blossom puffed out her chest proudly. "Night Blossom, making your night, every night."
"Oh. What a surprise." Minuette rolled her eyes at the thestral. "If you're so good then you can come help me make my night. His highness the prince is coming back tonight. I need to go fetch the princess and tell her we've prepared a dinner for two for her." The maya-blue unicorn threw a pair of pink oven mittens at the thestral's chest. "Make yourself useful and watch the apple pie. Take it out at the ding of the timer, not a moment before." She ordered, before turning on her heels and trotting off.
"Ugh, way to rain on my awesome-parade." Night Blossom muttered, picking up the mittens in her mouth. She urged Twinkle Shine towards her luggage, gesturing for her to go attend to herself first. She then trudged off, mumbling something indistinct into her mittens.
Twinkle Shine had about three minutes altogether to herself to move her luggage back to her room before a loud shriek shook the entire royal apartments. The creamy mare gasped, ears perking up in alarm. "The princess! The others!" She whispered urgently to herself, launching herself out of the door without sparing a moment of thought to the possibility of danger.
She galloped across the apartments at record speed, bounding over furniture and screeching around corners. She allowed her hooves to guide her straight to the princess' room. Whatever it was, even if it wasn't here, she'd be here by the princess' side to keep her safe.
She pushed through the stout crystal door, horn sparking to life, ready to face whatever dangers lurked within.
She was greeted by Minuette dancing on her tippy-hooves, eyes wide, looking the very picture of barely-repressed panic. Minuette spared her a glance, before glancing back at the princess' desk, before glancing back at her, almost pleadingly.
Taking Minuette's silent but frantic cue, Twinkle Shine ventured an apprehensive glance of her own at the desk. There, amidst a pile of golden princess horseshoes, sitting in the middle of Cadence's crystal empire breast plate, was a little pink ball of fluff. A very filly ball of fluff.
The little pink alicorn filly was eyeing her own forehooves with shaky wide-eyed disbelief bordering on outright fear. She aimed her big, bright magenta eyes at Twinkle Shine, mouth gaping wide open, seemingly struggling to articulate her confusion.
Twinkle Shine herself was frantically grasping at straws for words to voice the chaos that was her mind. She looked up at Minuette, raising a trembling hoof to point at the little filly.
Minuette only shook her head slowly, unable to grace this bedlam with words.
"Hey, no need to be screaming. Look, I got the pie out safely." Night Blossom muttered as she stepped in after Twinkle Shine, bearing a steaming apple pie on her back, her pink oven mittens stylishly covering her fluffy ears. "So little faith in...oh." She followed everypony's gaze towards the little filly on the table. "Daaaamn, that Shining Armour's smoother than I give him credit for. When did he knock up the princess and popped out a mini-Cadence?" She chuckled nervously.
"PINK!" The filly squealed, suddenly bounding off the table and leaping for the pink mittens, little pink wings fluttering wildly. She disappeared with a soft 'whoosh' into Night Blossom's soft, thick mane. She popped back out from the depths of her mane, took a deep breath of air, before pulling the mittens and Night Blossom's fluffy ears into a tight snuggle. "Piiiiiink~!" She squeaked triumphantly. "Mine!"
There was a pregnant silence. It gave birth to many more awkward little silences. It was finally punctuated by the apple pie falling off the thestral's back and smushing on the floor. Its passing was not missed.
"Okay, she's Cadence." Night Blossom finally muttered, flatly. "And before you ask, it wasn't me."
"Cadence, dear! I'm home!" A very familiar voice came from outside. It was the voice of the ponypocalypse on four legs.
The three mares shared wide-eyed stares. "Buck me." Night Blossom mouthed silently, giving voice to their silence. For once Minuette did not disagree.
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My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
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Cadence's married life makes me laugh so hard. I also find Cadence's lack of self-esteem regarding gmher appearance to be hillarious.
Try googling "In Media Res".
Oh wow, 12 dislikes already. I don't know what went wrong.
Oh well, freedom of opinions and the like. I guess I just can never write anything without attracting a ton of dislikes. 
4753584 Thanks.
4753728 Well, considering this is Vex's possibly biased opinion....
Well, at least I hope it is, for Shining's sake.
4754033 I made a few edits to make it clear it was more Vex's joking opinion than anything.
Thanks for that.
4754979 Me too.
4755229 Very descriptive title, isn't it?
4756619 Thanks.
I'm glad you like my Cadence. She swings between over-the-top bouncing-off-the-walls as a filly to calm and collected as an adult, something I'm sure is going to be fun to make use of. I'm just wondering just how much she'd lapse in terms of decision-making ability as a filly.
4756661 I can't imagine anyone having an easy married life after what those two have been through. I mean, let's not even get started on the trust issues in the aftermath of the wedding. Then they get an entire empire to manage as a marriage gift.
4757158 Thanks for that. I think I didn't pull it off quite as effectively here. Ah well, I live and learn.
4759020 Nah thats tottaly fine. Story is cool tho. Dont worry 12 dislikes pale in comparison to 52 likes.
I don’t think you’re actually any kind of person, anymore. I am convinced that you are some kind of vic writing robot.
Answer me, Penbot! What is your mission?
Now that Twinkle is a bit more confident, let's work on articulation next.
queerandgay.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/eau-my.jpg
are we sure the shining would really find a problem with his wife being a filly ... she sounds extremely cute and wouldn't it be better then the mixed messages a doppelganger would be sending.
seriously its not as bad as being replaced by a chrysalis, why not tell him and work togather with him and twilight and save the day. ( plus shining might be more timely knowing for the periods she changes back that it could end soon ... that or check the laws to see if theirs some kind of precedence?)
I enjoyed seeing Twinkle Shine turn red during the entire chapter and watching Midnight misinterpreting every sentence of Twinkle's fate with Vex to be something dirty.
4759020 Hey, at least your like/dislike ratio is better than the ratios for my stories...
This is good. I look forward to more!
You're doing well dude, keep going. Already loving Vex's character.
My heart totally sank when I read poor Cadance's unfounded fear that her husband had lost interest so easily
Ffffffffffffffffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!!!
I kindly wait for the next chapter.
Uhm sir could I please have some more?
Fine you may have more in the future.Filthy peasant.
What was that, a peasant asking for more!
B-But sir I would very much enjoy more.
Well you shall have none from me!
I said I would very much ENJOY MORE!
last chapter was in 2014, author was last seen in 2018. rip.