Chapter 74 - Princesses, Plans, and Proposals
Fredrick whistled a jaunty tune as he walked to his restaurant, having spent the night with Narrow. Hopefully now, that mare would just learn to call for him for food. Or eat something that wasn’t rations. He reached the main door and unlocked it with the spare key he kept very well hidden, before ducking inside to begin his day.
As he moved to place his sign outside, he heard somepony call out. He looked up to see his confectioner trotting towards him.
What happened next seemed to play out in slow motion, a sound played out, that of a swooping bird. There was a flash of white and sparkling pastel colours as something swooped down from high above, snatching the poor colt up and flying away as quickly as it came…
“...Well that’s unfortunate,” the griffon said. “Where am I going to get a replacement confectioner?...Suppose I’d better start advertising.”
In a castle, far, far away... Princess Celestia neatly deposited her package on her sizable bed as she wiped her brow. It had been a long time since she'd flown that far.
"I'll go and freshen up," she hummed and smiled at the colt. Before she disappeared into her bathroom, she turned and winked at him. "Don’t go anywhere ~"
“Sweet Cel-” the colt said, before clamping his mouth shut. “...Probably shouldn’t be saying that. Still, what have I gotten myself into?”
"I heard that!" Celestia called out. "I'm rather glad you think I'm sweet~"
The colt looked around the bedroom, looking for something, anything he could use to get away. He shakily moved off the bed and began his investigation. He soon found the reason for his kidnapping, an empty sweets box with his address circled in red ink.
“Oooooh buck,” the white earth pony said as he poked at the box. He remembered this. He’d gotten an idea in his head that maybe he should play to the rumors that Celestia had a sweet tooth big enough for her whole castle. He’d made some of his finest goods and packaged them up before sending them to the castle.
He’d regretted doing it after it was done, of course. What were the odds that Celestia would even get the box, much less take an interest in him?
Apparently, very, very high.
In the moment he had paused to reflect, the alicorn emerged from her shower. She had removed her usual regalia and her mane lay limp, rather than flowing on its own.
"In the time I just had, I have realised that I may have acted a tad hasty," she smiled bashfully. "I hope I haven't scared you too much my little pony."
“To be fair, I sort of asked for this,” the stallion said as he pointed at the box. “I, uh...take it you liked them, your highness?”
"I have lived a very long time my dear," Celestia took a seat on a vanity couch as she ran a long-toothed comb through her mane. "Those were some of the most delectable treats I have ever eaten."
“Glad to hear it,” the stallion said as he tried to inch his way to the door. Maybe if he were quick enough, he could get out.
"Guess I scared you a little too much," Celestia sighed as she opened the door for him. "Would you...at least permit me to reward you for your generous gift?"
The stallion paused in his retreat before actually drawing closer to the alicorn on the bed. “What did you have in mind, your highness?” Maybe she would be reasonable after all.
She leaned her head forward and placed a chaste kiss on his muzzle, before pulling back and blushing lightly. He blushed as well, looking away.
“I...guess you really liked my sweets, then,” the stallion said.
"You could say that," Celestia giggled as his adorable reaction. "Relationships are rather fleeting things for one such as I. But... I believe one should make the most with the time they have. Long courtships are tedious after the first hundred times or so."
“I see,” the stallion said before getting his blush under control. “I suppose that might explain why you just...carried me off then.”
Celestia chuckled nervously and smiled. "Ahh, I was feeling a little impetuous, and perhaps my sister has rubbed off on me a little. I do apologise for that. I'll have my finest chariot return you home..."
“Well, perhaps you shouldn’t send me back empty hooved,” the stallion suggested. “Maybe if you gave me a list of things you’d like me to try my hoof at making?”
“W-Well,” Celestia said. “Perhaps… something that would go well with a date? That is, if you’d like to.”
“Oh my,” the stallion said, blushing again. “You really liked what I made, didn’t you?”
“What can I say?” Celestia chuckled and gave the stallion a stare that could turn anypony on. “I like a stallion who knows how to please a mare~”
“Meep!” the stallion said, blushing deeply. “I...didn’t expect this reaction from what I did!”
“As I said, a long courtship is tedious,” Celestia said, crossing her forehooves. “I’ll not push you into anything my dear. And, if you have a relationship with somepony already…” Rats, she’d forgotten about that. More than once she has had to deal with a spurned lover, because their spouse was more infatuated with her than them.
“No, I’m not...with anypony,” the stallion said, rubbing one foreleg with a forehoof. “I just...didn’t expect you to want...that, so soon after you got my...gift.”
Oh my gods. He was the most adorable little thing! Celestia just wanted to snuggle him forever.
“Well, it might be a little hasty to just straight to that,” Celestia giggled, moving to her bed. “Maybe, you’d like to stay for a bit? Have some tea with me?”
“Tea sounds good,” he squeaked out before joining her on the bed.
“Excellent!” the alicorn trilled and her horn glowed for but a moment. A few seconds later, a maid opened her door and trotted inside.
“You called? Your Highness.”
“Indeed I did Sweet Leaf. Could you be a dear and fetch me a pot of Zebrican Tea, and some of those sweet biscuits I like?”
The maid glanced at the stallion, but did nothing beyond that. “Of course Your Highness.” And just like that, she had left as quickly as she came.
“Well, while we wait,” Celestia hummed. “I never did get your name dear.”
“Huh?” the stallion said before looking at the box. “Coulda sworn I put it on there...ah well. I’m Sweet Tooth, my talents lie in making all sorts of desserts. I’m, ah, normally employed by Fredrick of Las Pegasus…”
“Ahh, he is known to me, only through correspondence from a third party though,” Celestia chuckled, remembering Twilight’s rather lengthy report of her date the other night. “I am told he has quite the reputation.”
“It’s said that before he went steady, he had managed to sleep with almost all the mares of Las Pegasus,” Sweet Tooth agreed. “Mostly, though...they were the ones coming to him. He just...never turned them away.”
“That’s…” Celestia wasn’t quite sure how to respond to that. Surely that must have been an overestimation. There were several hundred thousand ponies in that city. Her mind did some quick math and she blinked. “Does he ever leave the bedroom?”
“In order to run his restaurant, yes,” the stallion said. “And he does have a few rules regarding who he sleeps with...He’s just very, very good.”
And now he was taken for good? Celestia was a little annoyed she’d missed her window.
Oh well.
She had a cute little stallion right here, and she was going to make sure he was happy. The maid soon returned with their tea and bowed politely before leaving.
“Ah, here we are,” Celestia said as she poured their drinks. “And these shortbread biscuits are wonderful. They’re made by my own confectioner here in the castle.”
Sweet tooth picked one of them up and nibbled on it a little, tasting the thing and humming. “Not bad...not bad,” he said with a nod. “Not what I would make, but still not bad.”
“Oh?” Celestia raised an eyebrow as she sipped her tea. “You could do better than my royal chef?”
“I would do it differently, but I wouldn’t say I would do it better,” the stallion said. “My typical assortment of biscuits is dark, milk, and white-chocolate flavored. Tastes vary, so I try to cover all my bases. I’d serve a small tray with all of them with your tea.”
As he looked up, the princess’s eyes were wide with expectation, her ears drooping ever so slightly as her tail wagged back and forth. A puppy-dog face with a thousand years of practise was a dangerous weapon.
“Ack!” Sweet said as he held up a hoof in an effort to block out the look he was getting. “It’s not like I have any on me! Giving me that look isn’t going to make biscuits suddenly appear!”
Her bottom lip pouted out as she stared closer at him, a small whine building up in her throat…
“I’ll make you some later, just stop with the look!” Sweet begged. At those words and the promise of cookies, the Look vanished and Celestia clapped her hooves, relishing her victory.
“You could probably win wars with that look,” the stallion muttered as he sipped at his tea.
“Remove the ‘probably’ from that statement,” Celestia hummed as she sipped her tea as well and waited for that to sink in. The Yaks never were quite the same after that day.
“And now I’m suddenly aware of how futile resistance was,” Sweet said with a sigh.
“You lasted longer than most,” Celestia chuckled. “It makes me wonder how long you’d last in other ventures.”
The stallion said nothing, merely electing to gulp his tea to silence himself from saying anything. He didn’t need to be a student of Fredrick’s to know where that line of thought was headed!
“Oh, you are adorable,” Celestia giggled. “I’m sorry, but you have the cutest reactions. It just makes me want to tease you more.”
“M’not adorable,” Sweet muttered before chomping on a biscuit. “Fredrick’s officially graduated me...the moment I can actually use his teachings, that is. I just…never had the courage to try.”
“Oh, so he teaches his… trade as well? How interesting.” Celestia folded her forehooves and gave him an amused look. “Then try it. I promise I won’t think any less of you. But, I am curious.”
Sweet Tooth took a deep breath, then another, presumably psyching himself up, before he turned to Celestia with a...rather different expression than before. “I wonder which is hotter,” he mused aloud. “You, or your sun?” He looked the mare over a few times before shaking his head. “Definitely you. I doubt anything could outshine how attractive you are.”
“Not bad… but surely you can do much better than that little colt,” Celestia mused. She’d heard that one a couple of times. Then again, she’d pretty much heard it all by this point.
Sweet, however, seemed to be taking his deep breaths again. “Okay, and that was about all I could manage as-is. How does Fredrick do it?” he muttered.
He seemed, tense. Celestia moved next to him and draped a wing over the hyperventilating stallion.
“There, there, I’m sorry if I put you on the spot,” she hummed. “Take nice, slow breaths. In… out…”
Sweet Tooth followed her advice, regulating his breathing and calming down...until he realized one important factor.
Princess Celestia. Was touching. Him.
That was enough for him to start hyperventilating again.
“You really are quite skittish aren’t you?” Celestia sighed, removing her wing. She moved a few paces back and sighed. “Is this better?”
“Yeah, I’m just...not quite used to female contact yet,” the drone said, taking a sip of his tea. “It’s not something I have the...best of history with.”
“Something bad happened?” she asked, taking a seat on her couch and floated her teacup over. “Would you like to talk about it?”
“Let’s just say I was used,” the stallion said. “I’ve been getting used to the idea that not all females are like that...slowly.”
It didn’t take much for Celestia to put the pieces together. She gasped and put a hoof to her mouth, realising that her foolish actions had placed him in a very difficult position. She’d just swept him off of the streets, and he was scared of…
“I’m such a fool,” she muttered to herself.
“Nah, at least you got to know me before you tried anything like that,” Sweet Tooth said. “At least you care, unlike those…” He trailed off, not having any proper words for his torment.
“Your situation reminds me greatly of somepony else I know, a rather quirky stallion named Level Ledger,” Celestia replied. “I will not pretend to understand what has happened to you. But you have my sympathies, and my most sincere apologies.”
“Yeah,” Sweet Tooth said as he bit into his biscuit again. “I’m a lot better now. I can actually leave the kitchen during operating hours, and walk down the street without fear. It’s just...settings like this…”
“What can I do to make it up to you?” Celestia asked. She pondered and then her horn shone for a moment, as she coated herself with a glamour spell.
Soon, a rather attractive male alicorn lay there.
“Better?”
…she still had her normal voice though…
“...Noooot really, and you don’t need to make it up to me like that,” Sweet said with a chuckle. “A for effort though. Really, I had been about ready to try my hoof at a situation like this...just, not with you…”
Celestia giggled as she removed the spell. “Well, you could still practise if you like.” She smiled and nodded her head. “I could be your study buddy. And you can pay me in cookies.”
“Why does it sound like you’re getting the better end of the bargain?” Sweet mused aloud. The princess shrugged and nonchalantly sipped her tea.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about my Sweet.”
“No, see, cause you get cookies and to laugh at my expense, and I get...nada,” the stallion illustrated. “So...yeah, explain to me why I would agree to this?”
“Hmm…” Celestia tapped her chin and smiled. She hopped up and walked closer, until those large doe-like eyes were only an inch from his own. He could feel her sweet breath against his ear as she smiled.
“I think we could work out a suitable reward system~”
“Eek!” Sweet said, blushing again. “Oh dear. You’re...awfully blunt. You’ve...all but said what you want from me, multiple times.”
“But as I said, I won’t push you into anything… and, perhaps a slower courtship might be a nice change of pace.” She took a step back and smiled. “Does… that sound acceptable?”
“I suppose I can deal with that,” Sweet said with a nod. “So long as you don’t try to sweep me off my hooves again.”
“With some practice, perhaps you’ll be the one doing that next,” Celestia giggled. “I’ll go and arrange a carriage to take you home. You can relax here, or take a walk around the castle if you like.”
“I think I’ll stay here, for a bit,” Sweet said as he sipped at his tea. “It’s rather...soothing, this stuff. I might have to get some for my home.”
“I’ll have some ready for you to take with you,” Celestia nodded, and with one last look, left the stallion be while she went to make good on her word.
“Well,” Sweet said to himself as he nibbled the biscuit. “That went...very well indeed. At least for me.”
When Ledger awoke that morning, he noticed that he was down all but one of his mares. Only Scope was lying there, hugging a pillow at the far end of the bed. Twilight, Cider and Midnight were all missing.
Well, some noises from the kitchen told him where Cider was at least. Knowing better than to wake Scope up without coffee in hoof, the drone covered her up with the blanket before trotting out to check on the status of coffee and breakfast.
Coffee was waiting from him, as was an annoyingly perky Sun Song, glass of juice in hoof as she waved at him from the table.
“Yohoo! Morning Level~” she greeting him, her demeanor blindingly bright.
“Morning ponies,” Ledger grumbled as he retrieved his coffee. “I will never understand you.”
“And I will never understand why ponies insist on drinking that yucky stuff!” Sun motioned at the coffee, the sweet elixir of life itself. “Give me a glass of mango juice and I am good. To. Gooooo!!”
Ledger plunked a sugarcube in his cup before sipping it, sighing happily at the caffeine. “I have nothing against morning ponies or mornings in general,” he said. “So long as I’m caffeinated beforehoof.”
Sun responded, but the drone tuned out, sounds of ringing steel coming from outside as Midnight yelled at someone.
“Oh dear,” Ledger said, turning to a window. “Any clue what Middy’s up to?”
Sun hummed and nodded, rocking in her chair. “She’s teaching that little dragon how to use a sword. Dunno why though, apparently she just dragged him out there and started training. I swear, that mare is obsessed.” Sun remembered the last time her and her sister met the thestral mare. The twins had been put through the ringer before Midnight would even talk to them.
“Well, I’ll go out and try and salvage something of him to send to Fredrick on my way out,” Ledger said as he sipped his coffee again. “Who knows, there might even be enough of him left to count.”
“Doubt it, Cousin Middy is brutal when she gets serious… though, you probably know that already huh?” Sun giggled and fluttered her wings. “She’s so cool when she fights though.”
“True, but he is a dragon, the scales alone might help him,” Ledger pointed out.
“One can only hope,” Sun nodded as they heard another yelp.
“Let’s just hope they don’t wake up Scope with their training,” Ledger mused as he sat back in his chair.
It was around then that a little ball of hate and anger descended the stairs. It looked up at Ledger and bared its fangs, demanding a sacrifice to sate its insatiable appetite for destruction.
In other words, Scope demanded coffee!!
Ledger lit his horn up and levitated a thankfully prepared second cup of coffee off the table, plonked a sugarcube in it, and passed it over to Scope. The little nymph grabbed the cup, snarling at Sun, who was trying to sneak in a hug. The thestral ducked behind Ledger.
“Eek! Scary!”
“Meet Morning Scope,” Ledger said. “Get too close, she’ll take a hoof off.”
“Eeyup, that she will,” Cider nodded. Twilight followed her and walked right up to Scope, scratching her under the chin as the nymph started to purr before taking a swig of her coffee.
“And then there are some that can get away with anything,” Ledger said as he finally killed his morning coffee. “Sadly, I don’t think I’m one of them.”
“You ever tried?” Twilight asked, kissing his cheek.
“She starts hissing if I get too close when giving her coffee,” Ledger deadpanned.
“Aww, this little sweetheart?” Twilight cooed, nuzzling the purring nymph. “She’s far too sweet for that.”
“She’s just sweet because it’s you,” Ledger said. “I guarantee anypony else gets close, she’ll start taking limbs off.”
“I don’t think she would do that,” Twilight replied and headed for the backyard. “I should go and see if Spike’s still alive. Be right back.”
Leaving Ledger alone with Scope and Sun...and seeing as how he was intent on still living today, he left the little nymph alone.
“Whoo!” Sun cheered and nuzzled Scope, seeing as how Twilight said it was safe…
There was a frenzied motion of hooves, fangs, and the sounds of something being torn…
A few seconds later, Sun lay twitching on the ground, looking like she just lost a fight with a blender as Scope calmly sipped her coffee again.
“Sheesh,” Ledger said as he looked Sun Song over. “Is there anything you didn’t break?”
Scope just shrugged as Sun twitched again, before sitting upright and smiling. “Totally worth the absolute agony I’m in right now!” she said with her usual bright smile.
“Aaaand we shoulda seen this one coming,” Ledger said, only mildly shocked that he hadn’t. “Just as long as she doesn’t try again, I don’t see a problem…”
Sun had already pounced and snuggled the nymph, said nymph’s horn started glowing dangerously…
“Scope, no murder at the breakfast table,” Ledger said with a sigh.
“Fine…” The nymph pouted, then teleported the thestral… somewhere. “Have fun batbrain~”
Inside Sugar Darling’s bedroom, the nymph idly wondered why it had started raining dizzy Thestral mares. And whether this would be better or worse than the griffon she already had.
“You do realize that she’ll find her way back, just to snuggle you, yes?” Ledger asked the nymph.
“If she can make it back in the next half hour, I’ll let her snuggle me,” Scope chuckled darkly and told Ledger just where she’d sent her.
“Oh my,” Ledger said. “Well, I guess Midnight will have to raid a nightclub to get her cousin back…”
“If I tell her,” Scope nodded. Perhaps it was a little mean sending her there of all places… Still, Moondancer was there to keep Sugar in check…
Ledger just shot an unamused look at the nymph.
“Urgh, fine, whatever,” Scope sighed. “I’ll go and get her myself.” She got up from the table, stealing an apple to munch on for the trip as she headed out the door.
“My house certainly ain’t spoilin’ fer quiet no more,” Cider nodded. “It’s gettin’ rowdy around here.”
“Well at least you have some form of entertainment easy to hoof,” Ledger said as he blew a kiss to Cider.
She caught it and placed her hoof against her cheek. “You wanna get the others, tell ‘em breakfast is ready.”
“Can do,” Ledger said as he got up to fetch Middy and Twilight from the outside.
When he got outside, he saw Spike holding a wooden sword and shield, ones designed for earth ponies. Midnight was wearing her usual armour but her wingblades had been swapped out for dulled training ones.
And it looked like Spike had been run through the wringer and then some. Twilight was busy berating Midnight for being so rough on him, and Midnight was arguing back, saying how he’d never truly learn if she took it easy on him.
Ledger gently coughed, in an attempt to gain the attention of both of them. The two mares turned and looked at the interruption.
“Oh, heya Levvy!” Midnight waved as Spike groaned and held out a claw.
“Bro… save meeee…”
“When you two are done arguing, Cider says breakfast is ready,” Ledger said, hoping the promise of food would see them both inside. Midnight all but vanished, a bat-shaped dust cloud was all that remained as she zoomed inside.
Twilight shook her head as she helped Spike to his feet. “So, want to explain why you’re out here letting Midnight kick your flank up and down the yard?”
“Well,” Spike said slowly, twiddling his claws together. “She figured that one, I could use a little toughening up. And two, it’d be a little hard to act all knightly when I can’t even fight like one.”
“There’s more to being a ‘knight in shining armor’ than fighting,” Ledger said with a sigh. “It’s good to get some combat skills, yes. Even better if you never had to use them because you knew how to defuse a situation before it ever got to fighting.”
Spike nodded and groaned slightly as Twilight picked him up and put her on his back. “Come on then Sir Spike. I’ll let you ride me until you feel better.”
Ledger snickered, but decided to refrain from commenting directly. At least in front of Spike. He did wiggle his eyebrows at the mare suggestively, though. Twilight tilted her head and shrugged, walking past him and heading for the breakfast table. As she sat down, her ear gave a flick and her eyes widened as she blushed.
“You okay there Twi?” Cider asked, the alicorn just groaning and burying her head in her hooves.
“She’s just realizing what she just said,” Ledger commented as he followed the mares inside, before sitting at the table. “Which I will refrain from repeating in front of Spike or Midnight, for different reasons.”
“Aww, I missed out on poking fun at Twi-Twi?” Midnight pouted with a mouthful of toast. “Boo.”
“I’m sure you’ll have plenty more chances,” Cider giggled and now it was the alicorn’s turn to pout. Ledger rolled his eyes but began eating his own breakfast, not interfering for the time being. So long as they didn’t think to team up on him…
“So, what’s the plan for today?” Twilight said, wanting a change in subject.
“I got a job, well, aside from being your Number One Assistant,” Spike said proudly. “I’m gonna work a day or two with Fredrick at his restaurant.”
“Well, now that’s…” Twilight tilted her head and looked at Ledger. “I trust Fredrick’s going to take care of him?”
“He’ll probably put Spike through his paces in the kitchen,” Ledger mused. “But I trust him to take care of everyone under his wing.”
“And I’m not a baby Twilight” Spike huffed and folded his arms. “I can take care of myself. It’s you I’m worried about. You… tend to fall apart when I’m not around.”
“W-What?” Twilight coughed and spluttered. “I-I do not! I can handle myself just fine.”
“Says the mare who is capable of defeating ancient evils, but can’t even cook toast.” Spike snickered.
“I can so make toast!” Twilight defended herself. She wasn’t a terrible cook. Just… couldn’t make much beyond a sandwich or yes, some toast.
“Alright, but my point still stands,” Spike said.
Midnight watched the pair and looked at Cider and Ledger. “Is this how siblings act?”
“Yes,” Ledger deadpanned. “You would not believe the arguments my sister and I got into.” It was a toss-up some days between himself and Critical, and the Trio, for ‘most noise made in the house.’ Especially when they started separating the Trio. For their own good.
“Eeyup, ah reckon Fritter and I have had our share of scraps as well,” Cider chuckled, remembering their more recent one. “Now eat up y’all, busy day remember?”
Spike nodded and grabbed his plate, upending the entire contents into his waiting maw in just a second or two. “Done!”
“Somebody’s rather anxious to get started on the day,” Ledger chuckled as he ate his own breakfast in a slower, yet still quite quick manner. “Looking forward to more training?”
“Something like that,” Spike nodded and got up from his chair.
“And since you’re done eating, I guess you can take him,” Midnight said as she grabbed some more pancakes. Both her and Twilight had rather sizable stacks that they were currently mowing through.
“If it means skipping out on doing the dishes from your feast, sure thing,” Ledger said as he polished off his breakfast. “C’mon Spike, let’s skedaddle.” He stood up and stood near the door, waiting for the drake to join him.
“Roger!” Spike nodded, also glad he could skip out on chores. Once they left, Midnight frowned and looked at Cider.
“Seriously?”
“Ah wouldn’t worry, he can wash the dishes tonight,” Cider chuckled. And she was feeling… creative.
“And so Twilight completely snaps and enchants this old doll,” Spike giggled as he told the drone about some of his stories. “The whole town winds up in a hoof-to-hoof brawl over the thing. At least until Princess Celestia shows up to fix it.”
“Oh dear,” Ledger said with a small laugh. “Reminds me of the time my sister and I got into an argument so heated, we wound up casting the first spell we thought of at each other. She turned me completely white, whereas I…” The drone looked aside for a bit, coughing out his reply to mask it.
“Aw come on, tell me what you did,” Spike asked, poking his side with a claw.
“Fine,” Ledger grumbled. “She’s an illusionist, so I...may have made a small feedback loop. And applied it to her so she couldn’t cast anything. Mom got involved real quick then, forced us to make up and take our spells off each other.”
“Dude…” Spike whistled and shook his head. “Reminds me of when Twilight had spent all day writing a report to Celestia, and it wasn’t until after she sent it, that we found out that Rainbow and Pinkie replaced all her inkwells with disappearing ink.”
“Ah yes,” Ledger said with another grumble. “Amy thought she’d get me to smile if she did the same to me one day. But I got her back, though.” The drone was smirking at the thought as to how that vengeance had played out. Amy still hadn’t pranked him again after that one.
“Somehow, I don’t think I want to know,” Spike replied dryly. “But, if Miss Amy is anything like Pinkie Pie, then she’s just biding her time. I’d watch your back Lev.”
“My back is fine, it’s my front I’m worried about,” Ledger said. “Ah, here we are. This is your stop.” Ledger stopped right in front of Fredrick’s restaurant.
“Cool,” Spike nodded and waved to Ledger. “Thanks for bringing me here. I’ll see you later.” The dragon vanished inside… and when he would eventually emerge, he wouldn’t be the same drake…
Twilight had returned to Ponyville for a few Princess-related tasks. Cider and Midnight had tidied the house and while the earth mare tended to her greenhouses, Midnight lay on the back of the couch and groaned.
“Urgh, I’m sooo bored,” the thestral sighed and kicked her hooves into the air. She missed her Guard work, busting criminals and keeping the streets safe. She could still work if it wasn’t for her unpredictable transformations…
That was when she groaned and put her hooves to her forehead as she felt a rather terrible headache coming on…
“Hm?” Scope said as she peered over the edge of her little cloud nest. “Did you say something, Mistress?” The noise had gotten her attention, causing her to briefly pause in her writing.
“Nothing…” Midnight replied, rubbing her temples. “Don’t worry about it.”
“Yeah, I can see that’s a lie right off the bat,” Scope said as she shut her book and flew down. “So, what is it? Fever, nausea, foal chewing through your belly?”
“I said it was nothing!” Midnight snapped at her, her eyes a deep ruby red and her fangs appeared to be a little longer for just a moment, before they reverted back to normal.
“Yeah, and who do you think Ledger would chew out if it turned out to be something?” Scope replied. “You or me? C’mon, just tell me what it is, get this over with.”
Midnight sighed as she sat back into the couch, motioning for Scope to come closer so she could hug the nymph. “I’m just… worried about a lot of things,” the Thestral said as she stroked the changeling’s head. “The pregnancy, the wedding… I wish I could still do my job to take my mind off of it, but with my dangerous mood swings…” She trailed off and sighed. “Don’t ever get pregnant Scopey, it’s a pain in the flank.”
"I'll do my best," Scope said, not admitting that she enjoyed the cuddle. “But I don’t think you have to worry about either of those things. Don’t you have ponies doing things for the wedding?”
“Yes, and that’s the problem!” Midnight exclaimed. “I hate feeling so… useless.”
“You’re far from that,” Scope sighed. “You’re entirely necessary. You’re the one that got Ledger together again. Hell, even I could tell he was...shaken, for a drone, when we first met. How far he’s come just because of you…”
“I guess…” Midnight said and hugged Scope closer. “When did you get so smart anyway?”
“Are you saying I’m not?” Scope asked with mock hurt.
“You joined this herd, that hints at at least some degree of brain damage,” Midnight giggled and kissed the tip of her horn.
“I blame Ledger being so persuasive,” Scope said. “Though I’m certainly not complaining now.”
“Nor am I, you’re so danged adorable~” Midnight replied and nuzzled her. “Thanks though, I feel a little better.”
“M’not adorable,” Scope muttered. “And you really don’t have to worry about the foal either, y’know. I’m pretty sure you’re going to be an awesome mom that won’t let him or her play with sharp things, and Ledger...well, not even dying stopped him for long.”
“That… that scared the hell out of me,” Midnight admitted. “I don’t know if I ever told him that. And I know I’m going to be an awesome mom… as will all of you as well. He or she will be our foal, not just mine and Ledger’s.”
“If you’re sure,” Scope said, not sure how she’d fare as a mother to a foal. Heck, she was barely bigger than a teenaged colt or filly.
“Positive,” Midnight nodded and snuggled her again. “After all, I gotta have somepony teaching them how to out snark their dad after all~”
“It’s a good thing we picked up Twilight then,” Scope quipped. “She’ll teach them everything.”
“You know, given our personalities, I suddenly fear for this kid’s upbringing,” Midnight shuddered as the front door swung open and Sun Song stumbled inside. Her mane and fur were a mess and she panted like she’d just run a marathon.
When she saw Scope, her eyes narrowed and she pointed a hoof at Scope.
“Not… cool…” She groaned and collapsed on the floor. That griffon and those mares had been relentless. She’d barely managed to escape intact.
“Did I forget to go get you?” Scope asked ‘innocently’. “Whoops.”
“Scopey,” Midnight said in a low tone, a gentle squeeze reminding the nymph whose grasp she was still in. “What did you do to my little cousin?”
“I...sent her somewhere after she tried to cuddle me before I had my morning cup of coffee,” the nymph admitted.
“Well, while I agree that you shouldn’t poke a sleeping Ursa…” Midnight shook her head and looked at the dishevelled thestral. “You okay cuz? No injuries or mental scarring?”
“Having you as a cousin helps,” Sun replied from the floor. “But yes, I escaped relatively unscathed… Turns out that griffons also make good meat shields.”
“Griffons?” Midnight tilted her head. It wouldn’t be Fredrick, he knew better now. So… oh?
“Why do I feel as though an unstoppable force has met an immovable object?” Midnight said, wondering just how much of that club was still standing if Fred’s brother really was there…
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Wow, what Midnight said at the end there makes me want to know what happened there. Also do you have a map of the changeling lands? It would be cool to see it.
nice chapter hope spike comes out ok on a side note what hapend to chrissy
Oh dear... I foresee Spike The Epic coming down the line.
- Trained in Culinary and Gentlemanly arts by the (Former) Playbird of Las Pegasus.
- Trained in the combat arts by the Thestral that makes changelings shit themselves.
- Trained in Verbal Wit by a Brainling.
Sir Spike's theme!
Why you gotta ruin Spike's entire innocence!? He will never be the same again...
Why would Celestia give out someone else's personal information like that, especially regarding that subject? The specific identity of the disturbed person isn't relevant, anyway. I can believe her mentioning knowing someone like that, but I would think she'd know better than to say who exactly.
Actually, Celestia seems rather OOC in general this chapter, but that moment sticks out most prominently.
Freudian slip or deliberate hint? I don't remember if that ever came up in previous chapters, but it does make sense with some of what little we've seen of him.
7128717 While it is sad that Spike is going to lose his innocence. His is growing up and a part of growing up is learning stuff like that. Plus at least it will be Fredrick who will be teaching him so he is in very good claws.
7128732 I think it is more of an immortal syndrome thingy...she talked about him like she talked about some long lost friend.
Scope could train Spike in Draconic as well.
As a full adult crater maker?
Midnights flickering a bit there, I hope Level has her a nice quiet root cellar somewhere, filled with beetroot.
HIFW I remember that thadius said the story was going to end around chapter 80:
3.bp.blogspot.com/-G90Oz8onQTA/U-fh0Ojj5gI/AAAAAAAACFQ/sKz2bYhyzZ0/s1600/Sword+Art+Online+II+Episode+006+-+Watch+Sword+Art+Online+II+Episode+006+online+in+high+quality+(4).png
1.bp.blogspot.com/-vnYRy8fuww0/UxFdmssGKzI/AAAAAAAABkU/CHghAgpKkkw/s1600/EevZbVX.gif
y u do dis
Did Sweet Tooth just manipulate Celestia?
Can't tell if need Brohoof or Suplex.
Spike is going to become a MANdragon.
... I imagine of Discord tried bothering Scopey before coffee, he'd get mauled just the same.
So the road to Sunbutt's heart IS through her stomach.
7130219
Pls no end, Thadius.
pls
I hope you do the latest episode with all the changes you've made to spike and his character development.
Sweet is a drone?!? Huh. TMYK.
drone
uh...that would explan his level of nervousness
*5 minutes later*
...
.....
well... that happened... 
Fredrick is very chill about this........
Nuzzling tiger tummies...
oh, this made me think of an old online comic "elf life": there's a minor character who runs an exotic clothing shop. her name is...
Fredricka of Hollow Woods.
The answers i have found the last times is:
- They surrender
- They negate with eatch other
- They contradict eatch other
- Big Bang...
10965542
oh, that reminds me of a scene in the comic book "all star Superman", where a creature similar to a Sphinx asked Superman "what happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object?" and Superman answered "they surrender."
Scope can be mean, a Thestral can be a snuggly buggy as well.
11498914
Exactly where I hear the surrender option.