Chapter 1: Life

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On the outskirts of Ponyville, one can find a few homes. One particular home stands out in more ways than one. Its size labels it as one of the largest houses in town, though currently only a single married couple live there. The couple itself also makes the home notable, much more so than anything else. Inside their bedroom, the two lay next to each other, the smaller form cuddled up against the slightly larger one.

The navy-blue changeling giggles quietly, tenderly nuzzling his cheek. "...thank you for the memorable day...I just hope it worked..." She puts a hoof on her lower stomach area, her smile faltering slightly. "...this means so much to us..."

The green unicorn stallion next to her gently puts his hoof over her own. "Love, I don't see a way what we did wouldn't have worked. I'm sure in a month or so, you'll have that same glow around you that Ditzy does every time we see her and her bun in the oven. Besides, if it didn't take, we can always try again."

"...I suppose you're right." The nymph looks up at him, winking playfully. "Either way, we'll both be happy...and, with some luck, our family will grow..."

"Yeah..." He chuckles as he nuzzles his wife. "Of course... now comes the part where I get to help you through the next step."

She blinks, confusion clear on her face. "...and...what would that be?"

He rubs her slightly blue-tinted chitin underneath her hoof. "The actual pregnancy of course."

She gives a small squeak, blushing brightly. "...o-oh...that sounds lovely..."

He kisses her cheek. "Don't worry Gel, I'll be with you every step of the way."

***

Two and a half-months later, the results of their actions that day can be heard clearly from one of the downstairs bathrooms.

Gel coughs, wiping her mouth with a nearby towel. She turns to look at her stallion as he holds her mane, breathing heavily. "...when you said that...I didn't think you meant it literally..."

He just smiles at her. "Like I said love, beside you every step of the way. Is more coming?"

She sits there a moment before shaking her head. "I-I don't think so...s-still, could you please...bring me some saltines?"

He nods, taking a small band from the counter next to the sink and binding her mane in a ponytail to keep it mostly out of her way. He pauses at the door. "Do you want anything with them, or is the little one not craving anything right now?"

She blushes softly, turning to look at him. "...applesauce and roses, please..."

"There it is..." He shakes his head with an amused smile. "Saltines, applesauce, and roses, coming right up. I'll bring it to you in the living room if you're out by the time I get back." He exits the bathroom and heads to the kitchen to prepare the lastest odd meal. Honestly, he's been more amused by her cravings than annoyed, it's only when she craves something they don't have that it gets troublesome. Still, they've gotten pretty good at stocking things the little one seems to prefer.

She simply smiles and shakes her head, gently placing a hoof over her belly. "...your daddy is really sweet...I hope that you'll turn out to be like him..." She closes her eyes for a few seconds before she feels the bile rising in her throat once more. "Ulp..."

Rhino arrives back in the living room a few minutes to find Gel lying on the couch, which had been moved closer to the currently crackling fireplace for the winter months, with a soft blanket over her belly. He takes a moment to appreciate the scene as the firelight frames her visage while she looks lovingly at her stomach. He remarks as he moves closer, bringing the coffee table with him. "You really do have that glow, you know." He sets her tray of food and a glass of juice on the table within her reach.

She smirks playfully at him as she pulls the tray slightly closer. "Not sure if serious or just flattering." She sticks her tongue out at him before starting to much on a few saltines. "Either way, thank you..."

He chuckles as he points to the blanket. "Any more room under there? I can pay for my spot in warm fluff if need be."

She giggles, pulling the blanket away from the back of the couch. "Be glad I accept that as payment. You also have the option to pay in belly rubs."

The stallion slides in between his wife and the back of the couch, naturally shifting so that she fits against his chest as he lays on his side. He gently curls a foreleg around her and strokes her stomach as she eats. He chuckles as he thinks of something. "Do you suppose we could get the little one to enjoy snuggling on the couch as much as we do?"

She sighs happily, nodding quietly. "...I think so...I think she'll also enjoy spending time with her daddy and mommy..."

He sneaks one of the rose petals from her plate. "Oh? Figured out the gender already?"

She shakes her head, giving him a coy smile. "...no...just a feeling I have..." She sees him take some of her food and opens her mouth, as if asking him to feed it to her.

He places the petal on her tongue. "Any feelings on... well, I would say species but honestly I'm not quite sure how to refer to her. Let's just go with: horn, wings, none, or both?"

She swallows before answering. "Yes." She takes a spoonful of applesauce and eats it. Delicious!

Rhino nods. Yeah, I'm glad Manila got us onto the list of 'family and friends' with the Apple family so we can get this special applesauce. Still not sure what's different aside from the fact that it takes them longer to make it, but it just has a little more savory flavor to it. He replays what she said in his head before looking at her curiously. "Wait, what do you mean 'yes'?"

She squirms slightly, trying to figure out how to word it. "...it's a little strange, to be honest...sometimes I sense she has a horn...sometimes I feel she has wings...other times, I don't think she has either...it's really confusing..."

He rubs her belly again. "Don't worry too much about it, love." He chuckles. "Besides, I'm sure you'll be the first to know if she has a horn when she's on her way out."

She frowns at this, giving him a sharp glare. "That's not funny, love."

His chuckle turns into a sheepish laugh. "Sorry, you know my jokes are hit-and-miss..."

"Yes, but they rarely miss." She sighs and shakes her head, rolling over onto her side. "You're lucky I love you."

He stokes the fire with a quick bit of magic before settling deeper onto the couch while embracing her. He kisses her neck as he responds. "I know I am."

She coos softly, turning to look at him over her shoulder. "...if I weren't restricted from transforming, I'd ask you to groom my wings as penance..." She smirks, narrowing her eyes at him. "...instead, I'll settle on having you feed me some more food."

He scoops a bit of applesauce onto a saltine and floats it over to her."Of course, princess." He sticks his tongue out teasingly.

She blushes, winking playfully at him. "Love the nickname, by the way. Have I told you that, yet?" She opens her mouth, lolling her tongue out for him to put it on.

He sets it in her mouth before responding. "I just thought you deserved the title for going through this, though you might end up giving it to the little one once she arrives."

She giggles, chewing her food slowly. Maybe...but if I'm a princess, does that make you my knight? She swallows and nuzzles him gently, purring quietly.

He nuzzles back, humming in his chest. I do recall taking on that title for you in various situations...

"You're not just my knight, though." She pulls away, smiling warmly. "You're my prince...and well-deserving of both titles, too, given...well, you know..."

His expression falls a bit as he averts his eyes. "I... prefer not to think about that incident... Well," he brightens up a bit, "except for the friends we made from it, of course."

Gel gently nudges him, giggling quietly. "They're really great, aren't they?" She lays there for a moment, enjoying his warmth, before grudgingly getting up, rubbing her eye with a hoof. "We should probably start getting ready..."

He tries to pull her back down onto the couch, a bit sluggish from enjoying the warmth. "Where are you going? I thought it was snuggle time."

She grabs his hoof in her teeth, pulling on him. We're having guests over. You're helping me straighten this place up! She lets go of him, panting softly before quirking an eyebrow at him. "You're really going to let your pregnant wife set everything up all by herself?"

He quickly gets up, a little flustered. "No no no, nothing like that! I just forgot that was today..." He starts pushing her a little towards the couch. "Here, why don't you relax and just tell me what needs to be done before the others arrive?"

She shakes her head, smiling up at him. "I'm not completely helpless, love." She turns to her food and quickly finishes it, leaving a single rose petal that she floats over to him. "I want to do this with you."

He looks at the petal a moment before grabbing and eating it. "Ok... remind who all is coming again? I know Luster, Flick, and their respective someponies are, but did Ditzy agree or are she and her husband spending the day together?"

Gel rolls her eyes, putting a hoof to her chin and pretending to think. "I seem to recall her sending a letter back saying they'd be here, no matter what. Something about her being able to spend time with her friends as well as her love?" She moves towards the doorway, pausing to look back at him. "Oh, Manila and Mac are coming, too. Applejack insisted."

He exhales and shakes his head. "You know, it never occurred to me that when we built a big house, it would mean we would be playing host so much to our friends. In hindsight though, it seems like it should have been obvious..."

She smiles playfully at him, flicking her tail slightly. "Rhino, are you nervous?"

He shakes his head. "No, it's not that. Although, it does bring to mind a question: Does this mean we're going to be the daycare parents? The parents whose friends all send their kids home after school with theirs so that they can stay at our house until they come to pick them up?"

She taps her chin, thinking a bit. "...I suppose that's possible..." She giggles, motioning to the backyard. "Good thing we have that veritable playground outside, just in case."

"True, it works for both foals and pets. Speaking of which..." He looks back in the living room where three forms can be seen snoozing in front of the fire. "I'm fairly certain those three have enjoyed the fireplace more than we have."

She nods, noticing how their pets are cuddling close to each other. "I think everyone enjoys a nice warm fireplace." She smiles knowingly at two of them, whose muzzles are mere inches apart. She turns towards him and nods towards the kitchen. "Come on, let's leave them be. We have to prepare, and let them rest." She winks at him. "You know how much Luster and Flick enjoy playing with them."

"Yes, even if they can't ever seem to separate Specter and Selena now. I never thought a cat and squirrel could get along so well." They head into the kitchen as he continues chatting. "Speaking of Luster though, when do you think she and Tavi are going to finally settle down in a home instead of traveling?"

Gel simply shrugs. "I suppose when they're out of a job. So likely never." She pulls out a large number of red and white roses, arranging them neatly in a fancy ceramic vase. She pauses to inspect it, a hoof on her chin. "...it looks fine to me, but, knowing Flick..." She sigh and takes it in her magic, heading towards the foyer. "You should probably start cooking. I'll get to work on decorations and setting the food out."

He nods as starts rummaging in the fridge and pantry at the same time. He raises his voice so she can hear him as he calls to her. "I'm thinking of whipping up a mushroom bisque, what do you think?"

She calls back to him. "I think that sounds-" Her voice is cut off my a loud crash, followed by a shrill shriek of terror from Gel.

Rhino immediately stops what he is doing and teleports to the entry room, protectively placing himself in front of Gel as he tries to assess what happened.

One of the windows next to the door has been shattered and shards of glass litter the floor around a roughly head-sized rock.

She trembles behind him, a hoof placed on her chest to calm her hammering heart. "W-what was t-that about?"

Rhino doesn't say anything as her ears try to hear anything outside other than the wind rushing through the now-broken window. He does this for a solid minute before sighing and closing the shutters to prevent any more snow from coming in. He gingerly grabs Gel and looks over every inch of her. "Are you hurt? Any glass any where? Did the rock hit you?"

She shakes her head. "N-no, I-I'm fine. J-just...startled..."

He sighs in relief and hugs her, eyes closed. "Good... at least you're safe..."

She hugs him back tenderly, glancing at the stone. She blinks, squinting before letting go of him and walking forward, stopping right in front of it. "...there's something...engraved in this..." She reads it to herself before her eyes widen in fear. She slowly backs away, tears running down her face. "...n-no...t-that's not true..." Her hindleg slips, making her sit on the ground. She doesn't notice this, so lost she is in her despair.

Recognizing one of her mood swings, Rhino looks at the stone to see what set her off. The engraving reads simply 'You do not deserve your lover'. His ears fold down sadly as he looks at the stone, before his mouth sets in a frown and he crushes it to dust with a strong burst of magic. He turns to his wife and takes her in his forelegs again, rubbing her back as he whispers to her. "You know that's not true... it's just that anti-changeling group again..."

"I-I know." She hugs him tightly, trying to control her sobs. I'm just so upset...that someone was so filled with hate that they did this. She sniffles, trying to dry the wet chitin on her cheeks with a hoof. I just thought...they'd given up...it'd been months since their last attempt...

Me too, love... me too... His horn lights up as he sweeps all the glass shards to just under the window. We'll have to be extra careful... at least they stick to words in public so they aren't arrested, so we don't have to worry about rocks most places... He nuzzles her neck comfortingly.

...that makes me feel a little better... She looks up at him, smiling softly. "...thanks, love..." She leans in and gently nuzzles his cheek, purring softly. "...sorry about these mood swings...I know they must be a hassle for you..."

"It's just a part of life, love. One learns to see past them." He gently slides her onto his back. "Come on, let's go down to the basement and see if I have a repair spell anywhere."

She nods, curling up against his back. "Okay..."

A small silver form, almost unseeable amid the white snow, narrows its eyes at the closed window, knowing her message had been received. It smiles grimly at the shudder she hoped passed through it's recipient.

***

Thankfully, time passes quickly after that, and soon friends arrive, bringing with them food and a joyful atmosphere.

Gel walks up to a couple of their friends, smiling kindly at them. As she had expected, the larger of the two, a goldenrod drone, is shuffling the roses about in their vase, frowning in concentration. He doesn't even notice her as she approaches. The nymph clears her throat, gesturing to them. "Is everything to your liking?" She glances at the other changeling. "...within reason?"

Silk Tease, the yellow pegasus with the drone, elbows him to try and get him out of the vase, before turning to Gel apologetically. "Everything is lovely, hon, you know how he is." She looks around the dining room with a discerning eye, spotting the lace-edged tablecloth. "I'm glad you're getting use out of the tablecloth I made for you, any complaints about it?"

She shakes her head. "Not at all. It's really quite lovely."

The other changeling finally finishes and turns to look at his friend, grinning widely. "Hey, if it isn't Mother Nexus!" He chuckles at the blush this brings across the nymph's face. "So, Hearts and Hooves Day. Love the set up you and Doc provided. Excellent flow." He glances at the mare next to him, leaning over and whispering into her ear, smiling all the while.

Silk's face whips around to him, her purple mane swaying to hide her blush for a moment as she pushes him playfully. "Hey, we only got married a month ago, mister!" She giggles as she slides up next to him afterwards. "But since you bring it up..." She lets the sentence hang to taunt him.

He grins, gently nipping the tip of her ear. "You know you'll like it." His wing extends and strokes her feathers tenderly, but he simply leans down and gives her a chaste kiss on the cheek. He does smirk a little afterwards, though. "Besides, you know I can drive you wild with just my hoof." He winks before heading over to the table with the drinks.

Gel turns to her best friend, confused. "...what did he mean by that? Haven't you...you know?" She blushes brightly, unable to actually say the word at the moment.

Silk just laughs at the shy nymph. "Shame on you, asking for my personal details like that." Her tails swishes. "But, well, yes, though only twice, everything else is pretty much experimenting to just before that point. My point is though, I can't get pregnant right now, I have to help see you through yours!" She casts a sideways glance at her husband. "Maybe when you’re close to being due, though..."

The navy changeling sheepishly nods. "E-either way, I would like to see what your firstborn looks like." She glances around discretely before leaning in. "Between you and me, newborn changelings are really small. I think you'll be glad to know that." She winks teasingly at her.

The pegasus giggles. "Thanks, that actually does give me a bit of comfort." She glances over to Rhino, who is chatting with Manila, the earth pony mare of the same coat color as her name. "How's he been doing with all the side effects of you growing a little one?"

She taps her chin, thinking a bit. "At first it was rough...but we've been adapting to them quite well." She glances around, curious. "...have you seen Luster? I swore I saw her walk in, but now I can't find her..."

Silk looks around. "Now that you mention it... Octavia seems to have vanished too..."

Before the nymph can reply, the drone walks back over. "I saw them sneaking into that door behind the stairs. Probably wanted some 'alone time', if you catch my drift." He waggles his eyebrows comically, a purposely-silly smile on his lips.

Rhino, who had been walking back over, managed to hear this announcement. "Really? Already? I guess I should be happy they at least chose an out of the way spot."

Gel quietly nods before turning to her stallion, worried. "...you cleaned up after this morning...r-right?"

He looks at her curiously. "What? My notes? You know there's always some level of mess on my desk, and I don't really see them snooping into them. Even if they did, I'm fairly certain Luster would be the only one to understand them, and only a bit less than half of them at that rate."

She whines softly, poking at the floor with a hoof. "I-I guess that's true...still, I can't help but worry..."

"In that case, it looks like i have no choice but to distract you." He gets behind her and starts pushing her towards the pair of guests he was just speaking to. "Hey look, it's Manila and Mac, the ponies responsible for getting us that applesauce you like, why don't you chat with them?"

She squeaks, shyly waving at them. "H-hi?"

Manila, easily the more talkative half of the couple, giggles as she gives Gel a light hug, careful of her stomach. "Hey you! Enjoying the first snowy Hearts and Hooves Day in a few years?"

She nods, slowly calming down. "Y-yes, I am." She looks from one to the other, curious. "How about you two? Any plans for this evening?"

Big Mac nods. "Eeyup."

Manila is the one to expand on that. "Mac told me he had something special planned for tonight, but he's being all secretive again and won't give me any details!" She looks at him and narrows her eyes.

He simply looks back with a knowing smile. "Nope."

The mare huffs, but giggles a moment later.

Gel smiles, feeling the love radiating from the ponies in front of her. "I'm sure it'll be a night to remember." She winks at her coworker before turning to the farmer. "I know this may seem odd, but how are the puppies doing? You know, with the cold weather and all..." She nervously laughs, averting her gaze.

As Manila has a light blush, Mac adjusts his typical sprig of wheat in his mouth to answer. "Well, they don't object to coming back in the warm house nowadays, but that pack all seems to love playing in the snow just as much as any other youngin. Winona joins 'em most of the time, but then there are times she just stays on the porch to keep an eye on 'em."

Rhino raises his own question. "Are they still ending up sleeping in Apple Bloom's bed every night?"

Mac chuckles in his deep voice. "Eeyup, makes for a good picture if you catch 'em before they wake up."

The nymph holds a hoof to her chest, smiling softly. "Aww...that's so cute!" She giggles, playfully bumping Rhino's side. "I've taken a couple of him with the pets in the morning. They were adorable with how they snuggle up against him."

The green stallion scuffs a hoof against the ground. "I'm just snuggable... I don't know why, I just am..."

The changeling takes this opportunity to hug him, gently kissing his cheek. "I wouldn't have it any other way, love." She nuzzles him lovingly, a soft purr escaping her lips.

Manila coos as she watches. "Aww..." She turns to the red stallion next to her and leans on him, kissing his cheek. "Do you think we look that cute when we do things like that?"

One can barely see and increase in the amount of red in Big Mac's face as he smiles and kisses her back.

Gel peeks open an eye, smirking slyly. "I think you definitely have the potential for it. That looks cute, already."

Big Mac just blushes harder as he tilts his head to hide his eyes behind his short mane.

Manila just giggles and hugs him tightly, her tail swishing happily behind her.

The nymph simply smiles at this. She notices a spot of gray in the corner of her eye, a small smile coming to her lips. "Please excuse me, I have a couple more guests to chat with." She winks at the couple as she walks away. "You two keep being adorable together."

Rhino follows as Gel heads to the last of their guests, a brown earth pony with an hourglass cutie mark and the bubbly grey mailmare, her stomach explaining quite well why she seems so happy these days.

She smiles as she reaches the couple. "Hello, Ditzy, Turner!" She looks at little further down, giggling softly. "And hello to you, little one." She turns to the mare, curious. "So, you told me you'd reveal your foal's gender today." She sticks her tongue out playfully. "Ready to spill the beans yet?"

The golden-eyed mare giggles as she rubs her stomach. "She's a filly... my own little filly..." she goes quiet as she pats her belly. "Just a few more months and she'll be here."

Gel squees in excitement, hugging her happily. "That's wonderful! Oh, our daughters could play together!" She giggles jubilantly, turning to her stallion. "Oh, won't that be great?"

He nods. "I'm sure they'll be the best of friends. Some of the strongest bonds are those formed during childhood."

She nods before turning to the brown pony. "What about you, Turner? You've been quiet this whole time..."

The stallion in question smiles warmly. "I'm happy, don't get me wrong. This is exciting for me as well, but it's also a little overwhelming."

Rhino raises an eyebrow. "I can't say I'm surprised by that, but what's got you worried?"

He shrugs slightly. "I guess I'm just concerned about whether or not I'll be a good dad." He waves a hoof dismissively. "It's just a minor issue, though."

Rhino pats the other stallion on the shoulder. "Hey, if you're worried about whether you'll be a good dad, you're already on your way." His own smile turns nervous. "At least you know when to expect yours, we've got about a five month difference between when pupae and foals are born, so ours could come at any time in that window."

Turner flinches slightly. "I'm not sure I'd be able to handle that. My condolences." He looks over to where their wives are chatting, smiling warmly. "Still, it's nice that they have something to bond over, right?"

"Yeah..." Rhino watches as Ditzy lets Gel feel her stomach, the nymph giggling the whole time. "As long as they're happy."

Chapter 2: New Life

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Three more months follow, and Gel's bump becomes very visible, though not nearly as big as those of mares. Her cravings still come and go, but they seemed to be for similar types of foods now, so they aren't bad. The couple hasn't had any big issues with the anti-changeling ponies since the day of the rock, a fact they are thankful for. Of course, no matter what, one must always be there for their friends, especially on the big days like this one.

A muffled scream can be heard through the walls of the waiting room in Ponyville hospital. Rhino and Gel look to the door anxiously at the voice of their friend, but they both know there's nothing more they can do but wait.

The nymph looks at her stallion. "...I know she'll be fine, but...w-will it be that painful every time?" She glances at the door, grimacing slightly as another yell sounds out.

He flinches at the scream, though he tries to remain focused on the book he brought to keep his mind from wandering. "It varies with every case, love. Some have it easy, others don't. Judging by the sound though, I think she declined the painkillers. The only thing I know that seems to be a constant for births, is that the husband's hoof is usually aching afterward from how hard the mother grips it when she holds onto him for support."

She looks at him, confused. "Why would she decline painkillers? She knows how much it's said to hurt, right?"

He shrugs as he closes his book at looks toward the doors. "Some prefer the all natural way, or maybe it wasn't a choice and Ditzy's contractions were too close by the time she got here. There could be a number of reasons, but the fact is, she is trying to squeeze something big through something small... it isn't easy."

She gulps quietly, visibly trembling at the very thought. "...um...I-I'll get Luster to make a metal band for you..." She tenderly nuzzles him, trying to distract herself from the cries from inside the room. "...I-I don't want to hurt you, after all..."

He wraps a foreleg around her comfortingly. "Don't worry love... I'm sure soon, we'll hear the part that makes it all worth it."

She nods, her ears perking up as the screams die down. "...is it over?"

Rhino feels his hackles rise up. "Not quite..." A piercing scream louder than any previous one passes through the walls causing all ponies to fold their ears down to deaden it. However, in the tense seconds afterwards, a different kind of cry can be heard, from a much smaller set of lungs. "There we go..."

Gel blinks, tapping her ear with a hoof. "What did you say, love? I saw your lips move, but I couldn't hear you..."

He takes her by the hoof and brings her closer to the doors to Ditzy's room, pointing first to his ear then to the wall next to the door, all with a big smile on his face.

She glances between him and the door, her ears finally recovering enough to hear a faint crying. Her eyes widen in surprise. "...i-is that..."

He nods as the crying quiets down and the door opens to reveal one of the nurses. She looks at the couple, eyes lingering on Gel for a moment before asking, "Are you two friends of the parents?"

The nymph nods, smiling nervously. "Y-yes, we are."

She smiles and opens the door wider for them. "Come on in, but don't be too loud. They're both very tired." She goes back into the room and helps the others medical ponies clean up a bit.

The couple walk inside to a heartwarming scene. Ditzy sits up in the bed, a hospital gown on and her mane frazzled more than it's ever been. Her face however, is smiling as she holds a small pink blanket-wrapped bundle in her forelegs. Turner is leaning with his head next to hers, a few tears making their way down his face as he too focuses on the small form.

Gel smiles, feeling how much love is surrounding the couple and their foal. ...they look so...content... She slowly moves forward, stopping a respectful distance away. She simply watches, finding it difficult to interrupt such a moment.

Ditzy looks up and sees them there, smiling and unfurling a weary wing to wave them over.

She nods and steps closer, looking at the face showing out of the blanket.

The new mother angles the bundle a bit to show a face much the same color as her own, though with a bit of purple tint. The mane is almost the exact same color as her mother's. As she lets out a cute yawn, a horn can be seen amid her mane, and as her eyes barely open, they are shown to be the same gold as her mother's.

Gel giggles softly, turning to Ditzy. "She's so adorable." She looks back to the filly, thinking a bit and letting her fangs hide, not wanting to scare her. She speaks quietly, drawing attention away from her action. "What's her name?"

Ditzy quietly answers as she brings the foal back against her chest. "Dinky... Dinky Doo..."

She smiles warmly, nodding in agreement. "That's a good choice. After all, an adorable name fits such a cute pony." She steps back next to her stallion, entwining tails with him. ...may I name our firstborn? I think I have the perfect one...it may need some minor adjustments, of course...

He nuzzles her lovingly, his eyes soft. Of course, love, but I get the next one.

That's fair. She giggles, watching the scene before them once more. ...I wonder what our other friends feel about this...having a foal of their very own... She takes notice of the pegasus starting to nod off. ...do you think we should leave them alone, for now?

Yes, like the nurses said, they're both tired. He smiles a nods to Turner, who nods back appreciatively. Come on love, let's head home.

She leans against him as they walk, happy for her friends and looking towards the future. She can't help but wonder, however, whether she'd be ready for her own to arrive.

***

The two walk back to their house, enjoying the sun gently warming them on this first official day of summer. However, the stallion notices something slightly off, and comments on this as he shuts the door and they set down their bags. "Is something wrong? You didn't say a word on the way home..."

She blinks as she's pulled from her thoughts, turning to him in confusion. "...what was that, love?"

He walks over and nuzzles her as he repeats himself. "Is something wrong? You were lost in thought the whole way home."

She sheepishly smiles, squirming a bit. "...w-well...I'm just concerned..." She moves over to the staircase, slowly working her way up it. "Ditzy sounded like she was really in pain...w-what if I can't take the painkillers? W-what if I can, but they don't work?" She's trembling by this point, stopping with a forehoof on the sixth step. "I-I don't know if I could handle the pain..."

He walks next to her and pulls her to him. "Hey hey... come on. I looked up everything I could using what you told me, and I found one of the painkillers that should work for you. It'll still be uncomfortable, but it'll still help." He hesitates a bit but decides to finish his thought. "And even if they don't, Ditzy proved you can work through it, and as much as I hate to see you in pain... isn't it worth it?"

She stands in silence, thinking over his words. She recalls the screams of agony, the unimaginable pain that she must've felt. That memory slowly fades away, the image of the three of them together, the love she could feel saturating the air of the hospital room.

It takes a few minutes, but she nods, closing her eyes. "...you're right...I have to handle the pain if our family is to grow..."

"Hey," he cups her cheek so that she is looking at him when she opens her eyes, "like I said, I'm doing my best to ensure you aren't in pain. Only if many things don't work will that happen. Trust me, ok?"

She smiles softly, leaning in for a quick kiss before continuing up the stairs. "I always do."

He stops her from going up to far with a hoof. "Hey, do you want me to levitate or carry you upstairs? I know pregnancy can make backs or hooves sore and we did just walk all the way home..."

She shakes her head. "No, I-I'll be fine. I don't want you to injure yourself on my account."

Taking this as admitting she would like him to, he levitates her onto his back, careful to place her on her side and bracing her with magic so she doesn't slide off. He ascends the steps to the second floor and heads into their room, setting her on the bed as he gets close to it.

She looks up at him, concerned. "...i-is your back okay? I-I didn't put too much strain on it, did I?"

He chuckles. "It's fine love, I'm not as strong as Big Mac, but I'm not just fluff you know."

She sniffles, her eyes tearing up. "...y-you're just being nice...I-I know I'm fat..." She covers her face, crying into her hooves. "I hurt your back, and you're trying so hard not to admit it!"

He blinks at this, unsure of what to think because of how different it is to how she normally acts. After a few seconds though, his reflexes kick in and he crawls onto the bed and gingerly embraces her, stroking her mane to try and calm her down. "You're not fat, love. You didn't hurt my back."

"Yes I am! Just look at me!" She gestures to her body, notably the same from before, aside from her small baby bump. "M-my chitin doesn't even hide the flab I'm gaining!" She collapses against him, sobbing heavily against his shoulder. "I try so hard to keep myself fit! I-I know how much you like me like that!"

He lets her cry and he rubs her back. "Love, you look exactly the same as you always have, except for where the baby is, but you haven't even gained half the weight Ditzy did by this point in her pregnancy. You're fine... why would you think you're fat?"

She turns to him, glaring through her tears. "When was the last time we made love?"

His face goes blank as he fails to find an answer to that. "Ummm..."

She lowers her head, staring at the floor solemnly. "Five months, three weeks, one day, four hours and two minutes. I'd say the seconds, but they're constantly changing..."

His ears fold down. "Ah... it's been a while..."

"...it has..." She leans against him, nuzzling his chest. "...p-please...I just want to feel pretty, again..."

He wraps his forelegs around her and rests his head on her shoulder. "Love, you look more beautiful every day to me."

She gently strokes his back, smiling softly. "...it's sweet of you to say that, but...w-well, actions speak more than words, after all..." She blushes brightly, unable to say what she wants to.

"What else do I need to do? We cuddle pretty much every chance we get, I bring you all your meals, I've gotten pretty good at rubbing your hooves at the end of the day, and I tell you how much I love you countless times..." He lets his voice fade before continuing. "I... don't know what else to do to show you..."

She puts a hoof on his chin, turning his head so they're looking at each other. "...I want us to make love...I want to know that I still turn you on...have that spark which causes you to become excited..."

His face instantly turns regretful as he turns his head away. "I... don't think we should... I don't think it would be safe..."

She whines, clearly quite upset by his words. "Why not? Y-you don't have to...y-you know..." She blushes brightly, tapping her forehooves together. "...I just...want to see your excitement...i-if we don't act on it, that's fine..." Her voice trails off to a whimper, and she closes her eyes. "...I-I'm sorry...l-let's pretend I didn't say anything..."

"Oh..." He looks downward. "Well... I just didn't try anything because I knew the temptation would be there, and I didn't want to hurt the foal... pupa... her. I mean... if we can avoid just that... I guess we can do whatever else we want... I just didn't think it was bothering you because you didn't bring it up..."

She pulls him close, gently kissing him for a moment. "...that's all I want...to feel like the most special nymph in the world, again..." She lets go of him and lays back on the bed, her tail curled around her hip to hide her intimate area. "...in the end...the choice is yours..."

He crawls over her as he dims the lights a little by shutting the curtains. "You know I always have trouble saying no to you..."

***

Two more months pass as the couple watch Gel's stomach slowly get bigger, though nowhere near the size Ditzy's was. That's not all there was to see though, a few changelings had actually moved into town, though they kept to themselves most of the time. Around midday one week into August, the couple are playing a game of chess, something they enjoy doing every once in a while.

Rhino green aura clicks his white queen down decisively. "Checkmate."

The nymph stares blankly at the board, uncertain of what just happened. "...I just...how did..."

The stallion just reaches his forehooves to the ceiling in victory. "Finally won one! I was starting to wonder if it was possible."

She stares at him silently before sighing, letting her lips curl up in a small smile. "...you're lucky these cramps were distracting me...still, good game..."

He walks around the table and puts a hoof across her shoulders, nuzzling her. "Good game indeed love, you are a worthy opponent and I look forward to future games with you." He plants a kiss on her cheek.

She giggles, quickly turning to capture his lips. She kisses him tenderly, a hoof touching his cheek. "And I with you. Next time, however, I plan on winning...and getting a prize from you." She winks at him before she starts to put the pieces away, humming softly to herself.

Rhino chuckles as his horn flares up and he starts to move the furniture back into their normal spots, instead of their currently close position so he and Gel could reach the board easily.

Suddenly she squeaks, her eyes wide in shock and the board with its plastic figures falling to the floor. She trembles, slowly turning towards her stallion. "...R-Rhino?"

He turns to her as he finishes moving the couch. "Yes-" he cuts himself off as he spies a rather large wet spot underneath her.

She nods, starting to panic a little. "M-my water just broke."

Compartmentalizing certain parts of his mind, Rhino puts most of his mental power into logic and comfort. He tries to keep his breaths steady as he holds a hoof up to her. "Ok, we have a plan remember? Hold on one second..." He opens up a nearby cabinet and pulls out at least half a dozen towels he had stowed there for the occasion, as well as a large white box. He quickly covers the nearby chair with a few of the towels and motions her towards it. "Alright love, just like we said: just sit in the chair and breath."

Keeping herself as calm as possible, she does as she's told before looking over at him nervously. "N-now what? M-my mind is blanking, right now..."

Rhino sets the towels and box just to the side of the end of the chair. He walks to her side and takes one of her hooves in his own. "This is the slow part, love. Just lay back as much as you need to, keep your legs spread, and we wait for your contractions to start and get to a certain frequency."

She nods, leaning back in the chair. "...y-you still have those painkillers, right?" She pants quietly, having trouble controlling her breathing at the moment. "A-and what is a co-" Her eyes nearly bug out of her sockets as a sharp pain runs through her abdomen. She shouts in pain, squeezing his hoof tight in response. "D-damn it, that hurts!"

He grits his teeth until her contraction subsides and she lets his hoof go, explaining things to her she should already know, but knowing his voice will do wonders to help her stay calm. "That, was a contraction. You're starting to try and squeeze her out. They'll be slow at first, but they'll slowly get faster and faster until there's only a few seconds between them, what's important is that you keep breathing." He goes to his box and opens the lid, taking out a small bottle.

In preparation for the birth, Rhino had used all his resources as a vet, or as those in his profession liked to call themselves, everything-but-pony doctors, to find some painkillers that would work on his wife and not have any dangerous side effects. Since changelings are naturally covered in chitin though, the usual IV drugs were not an option, and magic isn't supposed to be used on birthing mothers. This left him with pills.

He pops two small pills out and floats them over to Gel, along with a small glass of water. "Here, love, take these. They're the weak ones to help dull the pain a bit for this slow part. I'll give you the heavy duty stuff later. Give it a few minutes to start working."

She happily takes the pills, swallowing them down with a gulp of water. "...t-thank you...anything to dull the pain is a blessing..." She tries to calm her breathing, her horn lighting up and bringing a metal band from a nearby shelf. "...you forgot this...d-don't want to hurt you..."

"Right..." He unconsciously shakes his hoof as he thinks about her grip just from that first round and shivers a little, quickly putting the band on his left hoof since he'll need his right. "Ok, I'm going to get a few more things ready down here," he points to the floor just in front of the chair, "so don't worry, we'll get through this."

She nods and groans, holding his hoof tightly as the next one hits her. To her great relief, it doesn't feel like she's being stabbed anymore. To her displeasure, she feels a strong discomfort as every muscle in her abdomen clench at the same time. "...o-okay, Rhino...I-I trust you..."

He smiles to reassure her as he starts preparing down in what will be his work area. He sets out the extra towels so that he can grab them without having to look for them. Next he gets the disinfecting wipes, a bit of water that he can warm if he needs it, the rest of Gel's pills, set carefully to the side, a pair of scissors, and lastly, a soft pink blanket he sets slightly farther away and with a gentle touch.

She watches him, panting softly. "...what do you...plan on doing..." She sighs, shaking her head. "...already starting to get tired...not g-hngh!" She clenches her teeth, her hoof fiercely gripping the metal around his hoof. "...d-don't like...not knowing when...to expect those..."

"Thank you Luster..." He clears his throat as he looks at her apologetically. "Sorry love, there's no way to predict those." He moves his gaze down to between her legs. "Ok, you've started dilating, that's good."

She looks down at him with unfocused eyes. "...I started...what?" She shakes her head. "N-never mind...w-what can we do?"

He looks up at her. "There's nothing much else to do right now, love. We have to wait until they get closer together." He looks at his watch for another minute before looking back up just in time to see her whole lower body tense up as her bottom half quivers, her hoof gripping the one he has reached up next to her tightly. Her eyes are wide as her breath catches in her chest before the pressure eases off and she gasps a second for air. "Remember, love, breathe. I'd say we still have about half an hour before things really get going." He gets up and walks next to her again, taking his hoof from her a moment to stroke her mane. "You're doing great."

"Really?" She laughs, though it comes out a bit forced. "Then I'd hate to see failing." She closes her eyes, trying to relax and focus on breathing. "Oh, why haven't they come up with magic for those in labour..." She grits her teeth, forcing herself to breathe through the pain. "...whoever does would be famous forever..."

He continues trying to soothe her. "Most really don't want to mess with birth, seeing how important it is and how sensitive foals can be. They would rather let things stay the way they are than risk lives if things go wrong."

She pouts, crossing her forelegs over her chest and, incidentally, bringing his hoof with them. "...why does that have to make so much sense?" She groans, staring up at him. "...half an hour...I wish there was something we could do in the meantime..." She grunts, hugging the leg in her grasp securely to herself as the next contraction hits. "...I-I want to...focus on something other than this..."

He smiles but it looks more forced as the band only covers so much of his leg and she is currently hugging more than it protects. "I don't think much will distract you from this... they're only going to get faster and eventually bigger... She's telling you she wants to come out."

She whines but relents, letting go of his leg to hold onto the band with a hoof. "...I'd like to allow that request...now if only it wasn't so painful..."

A little less than half an hour later, Rhino focuses and stays in front of Gel. Her contractions are very quick now, about every 30 seconds and getting quicker and more painful every time. He doesn't say a word as he levitates the strong pills and another glass of water up to her, keeping his eye on the vital area.

She almost greedily takes the pills, sputtering around the water when another one hits. She groans in pain before swallowing, looking up at him. "...R-Rhino...p-please tell me it's time..." She can feel her heart hammering away, her sweat-slicked chest heaving with every breath drawn.

He nods as he takes his hoof away from her. "Sorry love, but you're gonna have to do this last part without my hoof, I need both of them for this." He gets closer to her birth canal. "Ok, you should be feeling her start to make her way out soon, let me know when you feel that."

She pants heavily for a few moments before suddenly yelping, eyes wide in surprise. "Horn! Horn!"

"Here we go then." Rhino looks up at her eyes seriously. "Alright, love, from now on, whenever you contract, I'm gonna need you to try and push her out. It's going to be hard, and it won't be quick, but you need to push and breathe every time. Ok?"

She stares down at him, incredulous. "H-how do I do that? I don't-" She bites her lip, cutting herself off as another hits her. She takes deeps breaths, trying to do as he says. She quietly gasps as she feels the form within her shift slightly. "...I-I think it's working...d-dunno how it did..."

"It's working because she really doesn't have any other place to go, only out." He keeps an eye on her exit, counting down the seconds in his head. "Alright love, again, push as hard as you can, squeeze her out!"

She grunts, trying to use as much strength as she can to get the filly out. She stops, panting and whimpering. "...h-her horn...s-she might get stuck...h-help her..."

He shakes his head. "I can't, love, she still too far in. Until I can see her, I can't do anything but encourage you. Just breathe and trust yourself to get her out of there safely."

She whines but pushes with the next contraction, sweat rolling down her face. "...p-please...t-tell me she's at least near...w-what about the bump? D-does that help?"

He eyes her bump, measuring with his eyes a moment before replying. "It does, I'd say you're just below halfway there, I should just be able to see her in a few more pushes."

"B-better than I expected..." She works with the next one, finding it hard to concentrate. "...y-you think this would...be easy...considering your little friend..." She laughs playfully before another contraction hits, causing her to groan and push once more. "...p-please tell me she's close..."

He peers into her. "Not yet... a couple more..." He looks back up at her, placing a hoof on one of her legs comfortingly. "Come on love, almost there..."

She whimpers but doesn't give up, trying her best to help her daughter on her way. After a few more times of pushing and questions, he stays silent. She looks down at him, concerned. "...R-Rhino?"

"...I see her..." He sounds awed as he spies a bit of pink within Gel's tunnel of blue flesh. He reaches up and shifts Gel a little and sees that the pink is her mane as well as a lighter horn he can barely see. "She's coming love, come on!" He holds out his hooves just below the birth canal.

Heartened by his words, she finds the strength to push onward. She cries out in pain as she tries to squeeze her daughter free. She whimpers softly, falling back against the back of the chair. "...h-how much more?"

"One or two more!" He pushes his hooves against the side of her canal so that he can grab his daughter as soon as possible. "She's tiny, so she'll come out all at once instead of a bit at a time..."

Gel nods, gritting her teeth and giving it all she's got. "Then be sure to catch her. I know you can do it!" She gasps as she feels her start to slip out. "N-now, love!"

The tiny pink form slides out into her father's hooves, any one of which is bigger than her entire roughly tennis-ball sized body. Rhino quickly takes the scissors and snips her umbilical cord before quickly starting to clean Gel's blue blood off her. His horn works to clean up Gel herself as he works on the newborn out of her mother's sight.

The nymph in question has collapsed on the chair, almost completely drained from the whole situation. ...h-how is she, love?

Rhino doesn't respond, a soft smile and his face as he turns and stands, walking over to Gel's side with a tiny pink cloth bundle in one foreleg. He offers the filly to Gel.

She nervously takes the bundle, peeking at the face of their newborn foal.

Her coat is a pale rose while her mane and tail are two tones of a pinkish-purple, one light and one dark. A tiny horn can be seen poking through her mostly straight mane. Suddenly, the filly lets out a few sounds of discomfort as her little eyes open for the first time and reveal their light green color, gazing up at the two large shapes above her.

Gel's heart melts as she looks upon their filly, a warm smile forming on her tired face. ...Rhino...she's perfect...just like we imagined...

She is... Part of him wonders exactly how they managed to perfectly predict their filly's appearance before she was even conceived, but he's not really too worried about it. He slowly leans down and gently nuzzles the tiny filly as he thinks to Gel. What's her name?

She smiles, watching as their daughter coos in delight at her father's actions. "...Ruby Pinch...her name is Ruby Pinch..." She tenderly nuzzles the cute foal. "...our own little treasure..."

Rhino breaks contact with the tiny filly, though half of him wished to stay, and looks at the scene as she rubs against her mother. "Beautiful..." He starts cleaning up up everything and soon has it all nice and tidy as he brings over a soft blanket and drapes it over Gel's lower half. "If you need to rest, love, let me know. You can keep her with you, or I can hold her while you sleep. Either way, you'll be up again in an hour for another new experience."

She blinks, looking up at him in confusion. "...what do you mean?"

He smiles. "Well, she's gonna be hungry."

She blushes brightly, quickly realizing what he means. "O-oh..." She glances at their filly, then up at him, smiling shyly. "...c-could you possibly...lay with us, love?"

He nods as his horn lights up. "I was hoping you'd ask." He gently floats the changeling and newborn over to the couch, laying himself down, then setting them in front of him.

Gel giggles, carefully moving back against his chest. "...this feels...right..." She looks down at the pink pony once more, watching as she quietly yawns. "...our little family is growing..." Her ear twitches, and she glances down to see the pets sitting in front of the couch, looking up at them in curiosity. She smiles at them, nodding towards the bundle in her hooves. "...would you little ones like to meet the newest member of our family?"

Rhino remarks as he curls around Gel and their foal. "Ah, right. I completely forgot what they would have been thinking that entire time..."

Specter is the first to approach the filly that is smaller than him. His nose sniffs her curiously as he peers at her.

Ruby actually sneaks a hoof out of her wrap and places it on the black squirrel's nose, giggling happily.

The nymph blinks, surprised. "...wow...that's a first..." She turns just in time to see the smirk on Selena's face, quirking an eyebrow at her. "...and what has you so amused, little lady?"

The Russian blue feline mews, stepping over to nuzzle at the filly's hoof.

The filly moves her tiny hoof to be on Selena's nose, letting out a sound very much like a pony looking at fireworks.

Finally, Mercury comes forward to look at the newest arrival, the silver fox's eyes twinkling curiously.

Ruby moves her hoof to his nose now, blowing a small raspberry at him happily before pulling her hoof back and trying to wiggle closer to her mom.

Gel giggles, holding her foal close. "...glad to see you're all getting along..." She looks at the pets, smiling softly. "...there's always room for you three, if you'd like to join us..."

The three young pets smile as they climb onto the couch. Specter takes his favorite spot, half burrowed into Rhino's mane and not far from Selena, who curls up on Gel's shoulder. Finally, Mercury digs under the blanket and settles himself in a spot where he is between the pony and changeling, nice and warm.

After they all settle in, the new-mother sighs happily, closing her eyes. "...this is much better...everyone together..." She yawns softly and slowly but surely falls asleep, much like the filly in her embrace.

Rhino watches until he hears their breaths start to slow down as they sleep. Smiling happily, he lights up his horn as he closes the curtains and dims the lights before closing his own eyes and drifting to sleep... or at least as much as he can get until Ruby wakes them up.

Chapter 3: First Day

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For most ponies, an alarm clock is what wakes them up early. For others, maybe it's a rooster. For new parents... it's a crying foal. Such is the case the first morning after Ruby's birth as her cries roughly wake up her parents while she lies in her crib next to the wall in their room.

Gel, used to getting up early, gets up and heads over to the crib. She carefully picks up their daughter, rocking her gently as she heads over to the bed. "...don't worry...mommy's here..."

Rhino, much less of a morning pony, grunts as his eyes crack open and lock onto his wife and daughter. "Feeding time again?"

She nods, laying sideways on the bed and facing him. "It seems that way..." She gently places the tiny foal in front of her, looking over to him. "...sorry you had to wake up this early...I mean, the sun's not even out, yet..."

He stretches out, a few pops sounding out before he turns back to her. "It's fine... I can just take a nap later or something." He sees Ruby maneuvering her way to her goal, her little nose poking Gel as she tries to find what she is looking for. "Besides, this is worth waking up to."

His nymph smiles, pulling him close and kissing him tenderly. "...I'm glad to hear that..." She squeaks as the little pony latches onto her. "...I-I guess she's getting better at finding them..." She shyly laughs, tapping her forehooves together.

He chuckles as Ruby starts her latest meal, her tiny tail slowly swishing back and forth as it pokes out of her cloth diaper they had made for her. "You know, it really is adorable seeing you curled around her as she nurses..."

She smirks slightly at him. "A mother's protective instinct." She yawns quietly, taking one of his forehooves and holding it close. "...it does feel nice, though...especially since I can feel the pressure in my teats lessening..."

He looks at her curiously. "Is it really that bad?"

She peeks open an eye. "...no...I got used to it...but that doesn't mean it'll be missed..." She sighs, nuzzling his hoof. "...why do you ask?"

He looks back to the suckling filly. "Just curious... You did walk funny for the first week you started producing."

She follows his gaze, smiling softly at the sight. "...I suppose I did...I'm not used to a larger teat size..." She shrugs, glancing away. "...it didn't help when I accidentally expressed every so often..."

"I'm sure it happens to every mom..." He reaches a hoof down and strokes Ruby's mane, causing her to turn and lick his hoof with a milk-covered tongue before going back to her meal. "You know... I think we should probably store a bit of your milk so we can just bottle feed her in the middle of the night. We could alternate it so that I could feed her half the time while you get some sleep."

Gel taps her chin, thinking about this a moment. "...that sounds nice, actually..." She pauses, looking at him with a playful smile. "...are you sure you won't mistake them for your own milk?"

He opens his more with a cheeky smile only to shut it abruptly and clear his throat with a slight blush. "I'll um, I'll be sure to label them or put them on a different shelf..."

She quirks an eyebrow at this reaction but doesn't point it out, shrugging slightly and hugging him gently. "...okay, love..."

He hugs her back, watching Ruby again as soon as they separate. The mini filly pushes around her mother's teats to make more come out for a few more minutes before she pops her mouth off and makes a few satisfied cooing noises. She turns over onto her back, gazing up at the ceiling for a bit before finishing her roll and starting to wiggle her way towards her father's fluffy form.

Gel smiles as their daughter reaches his belly and simply nuzzles the soft fur. "...I think she likes your cuddliness, too..."

Rhino's eyes shimmer as he slowly curls his body around the small pink one. He nuzzles her with his eyes closed, the filly reciprocating the action, as well as trying to bite his muzzle, which only tickles him.

The nymph can only laugh at this. "She definitely likes you." She cuddles close to the two of them, happy to simply be with the both of them.

The family of three stay like this for a time, the parents bodies creating a safe spot for the foal between them. The sun eventually peeks over their bodies, as it finally gained the angle it needed to shine down into the upstairs window. The three forms stir as the light goes over them.

Rhino stirs himself out of the light sleep he had fallen into, letting out a yawn before speaking to Gel. "I guess it's time to get out of bed... shall we go downstairs and get some breakfast? I think I can already hear the pets chomping on their food down there."

She nods, rubbing an eye sleepily. "...of course..." She looks around for their filly, confused for a moment. "...where did she..." She trails off, looking at Rhino's side with wide eyes.

The stallion follows her gaze and sees Ruby up on top of him, curled up into a little pink ball. "Awww... but how did she get up there?" He looks down to the bed and then back to where she is now, a height difference of at least three times her size.

She points at his hindleg. "Maybe she crawled up?"

"Hmm... maybe..." He starts to slowly stretch himself in preparation for getting out of the bed. "I guess we'll see in time if it's just me or if we have a climber on our hooves."

"Maybe..." She gets up, stretching quietly before turning to him. "...do you want me to take her for you?"

He shakes his head, his horn lighting up and levitating the filly for the moment it takes him to get out of bed. He sets her on his back once he stands up. The little filly shifts down into his fur a bit more but otherwise doesn't stir. Rhino smiles at her before offering his tail to Gel as he open the door.

The nymph is happy to take his tail with hers, entwining them. "Let's go get breakfast, shall we?"

The three make their way down to the kitchen. Rhino heads for the fridge as Gel sits down at the small table they use for meals when they don't feel like using the large table in the dining room. After he fixes them both a small glass of something to drink, he levitates Ruby onto the table between them, smiling as she yawns, waking up and looking around.

"Morning, sleepy head." She smiles sweetly at her. "Did you have a nice nap?" She takes a sip of her juice, making sure to keep an eye on their filly.

Ruby looks around at the unfamiliar room before making a few indistinct noises and dragging herself over to her mother. On her way, she passes her glass of apple juice and looks as though she could easily fit in it if she tried.

Rhino comments on this as the filly reaches Gel and looks up at her with an adorable look on her face. "I just can't get over how tiny she is..."

"She's simply the cutest pony ever." She leans down and nuzzles her, smiling softly. "I wonder if she knows that..."

The unicorn sips his milk before replying. "Oh, I don't deny she's the single cutest thing I've ever seen, but her size does make things a challenge to find for her."

She looks up at him, shrugging slightly. "I suppose that's true..." She stiffens up, looking down at the filly as she pops her head out of one of the holes in her hoof. "...t-that's a strange sensation..."

He chuckles. "Surely you saw it coming at one point or another? Any idea what you want for breakfast? I'd ask her what she wants but I think the answer's obvious."

Gel smiles, giggling softly. "Yep. She wants to play." She turns to the fridge, thinking a bit. "...how does hashbrowns sound?"

"Perfect." He heads to the fridge and soon has the food sizzling in the pan as he prepares it. He listens with a smile to the sounds of Gel and Ruby playing behind him as he grabs a bottle of ketchup out of the fridge and returns to the table with their plates. "Didn't have too much fun without me, did you?"

"Nope. We had a decent amount." She smiles as Ruby holds her hooves up to him. "She wants to play with her daddy, now."

He grabs a quick bite of his food before leaning down to Ruby's level and putting his hoof up to hers with a smile.

She coos happily, pulling it down and nibbling on the very tip. She looks up at him, eyes shining with curiosity.

He laughs as she tickles him, lightly rubbing her mane with his other hoof before kissing her head.

Gel watches this cute exchange with a small smile, silently eating her food. When Ruby leans into her daddy's hoof, though, the nymph squeals in excitement, loving how adorable the two act together.

Rhino looks up at the nymph as he sneaks another bite. "Enjoying the show, love?" He sets his head on the table and Ruby uses his muzzle to pull herself up on two hooves before flopping across his nose.

"Hngh." She puts a hoof to her chest, playfully smiling. "You two are just too cute!" She takes a drink of her apple juice, missing the moment their filly climbs up Rhino's nose and wraps her forelegs around his horn.

His eyes cross as he looks upwards at the pink mass. "Hey, what are you doing up there?"

She responds by nuzzling his horn before nipping at the base of it.

One of his eyes twitches as he mumbles to Gel. "Good thing she doesn't have teeth yet..."

The nymph nods, smiling coyly at him. "At least you don't have to worry about fangs, right?"

Ruby lets go of his horn to climb even further up, nestling on the top of his head in his mane.

Rhino looks over to Specter, who had just finished eating from his bowl of nuts. "Careful Specs, you might have competition."

The squirrel comes over, tilting his head as he spies the moving mass of pink in Rhino's mane.

The filly pokes her head out and, spotting Specter, coos and waves.

Gel giggles, winking at Rhino. "I think she's inviting him to join her."

He comments as the squirrel climbs up his leg. "I like how I end up being the living jungle gym."

Specter arrives in Rhino mane and pokes Ruby with his nose curiously.

She boops his nose, giggling happily. Then she pulls him close and hugs him gently, unable to completely wrap her forelegs around him.

The parents look on as the filly hugs the squirrel that's twice her size. His poofy tail twitches as he stays still, not sure what to do. He chatters a bit towards the other two pets in the room.

The feline, who was watching with narrowed eyes, gives a small mew, nodding once. She then points a paw at him, purring softly.

He nods, curling his paws around the pink filly.

Ruby sighs softly, cuddling up against the squirrel's belly.

Gel smiles warmly, tilting her head to one side. "...aww...that's so cute..."

Rhino chuckles, trying to keep his head still. "I'm looking forward to the day we find her asleep in a pile with all of the pets."

"So do I..." She finishes her food and moves over to check on their fox. "...are you alright, little one? You seem awfully quiet, this morning..."

Mercury perks up as Gel gets closer and curls himself around one of her legs affectionately.

She smiles, laying down on her stomach to hug and nuzzle him gently. "That's the Mercury I know..."

Rhino manages to sneak the rest of his meal while the rest of the room seems to be in a cuddlefest, his stomach pleasantly full. He flicks his ears as he addresses his head passengers. "You two ready to come down yet?"

Ruby pokes at the 'wings' along Specter's sides, curious. She looks up to him as if silently asking something, her eyes shining with hope.

The squirrel tilts his head at her, still unsure about what exactly the filly wants. He holds up one of his arms so that she can see better.

She squees in happiness, gently nuzzling it before turning to look over the edge of Rhino's head. She whimpers softly, holding onto Specter's paw.

Rhino's ears perk as he hears his daughter's cries, but he freezes as he feels Specter moving. Suddenly, all the weight on his head disappears and he sees Specter glide down from his head, the filly on his back.

Gel watches this in surprise, her body tensing to catch them. She stops when she hears Ruby's squeals of joy, showing just how much she is enjoying this. Seeing no immediate danger, she smiles softly. "...aww...that's so adorable..."

As they land, Ruby slides off, giggling happily. Suddenly she stops in place as her face scrunches up for a few seconds before she wiggles in place and makes noises of discomfort.

Concerned, Gel stands up, places Mercury on her back, and walks over, carefully picking her up. "What's wrong?" She notices a small stain on her diaper. "...oh...I guess it was a little too much excitement for you, wasn't it?" She turns to Rhino, embarrassed. "W-where are the spares, again?"

His horn lights up and a small white piece of fabric floats out of the hall closet. "Need some help or do you want to try it yourself?"

She turns to him, smiling softly. "I was hoping we could do this together."

He nods motioning her over to him as he takes the plates and glasses off the table. "I guess this is our first test of this, since the last time she went she just wet her blanket we had around her."

She grimaces slightly. "...it took a long time to clean that up..." She carefully lays their filly down on the table, undoing the edges of her diaper. "...so...ready to dive in?"

He nods, some wipes and powder floating from the closet as well. They unfold her diaper, the small yellow stain showing exactly what happened. As a team, Gel lifts up the filly's hindquarters, Ruby giggling the whole time, as Rhino slides the dirty diaper out and sets it to the side. His magic takes a wipe and cleans Ruby before sliding the new diaper under her and applying a bit of powder. Gel sets Ruby back down and fastens the diaper to complete the process.

The tiny filly looks up at them, cooing happily as she holds her hooves up at them. She clearly feels much better after they took care of it.

Rhino chuckles as he tickles her belly with the tip of his hoof before heading into a nearby room to put the soiled cloth diaper in the wash so they can reuse it.

Gel smiles, watching their little filly roll over and crawl around the tabletop. She stops in the center, looking around and whimpering softly. The nymph, seeing this, tilts her head to one side, curious. "...love, I think she's trying to find you..."

"Oh?" The sound of the washing machine starts just before Rhino walks in again.

Ruby turns and sees him, squealing in happiness and holding her hooves out to him.

He looks at her with a soft smile as he walks over and sits down. He gently grabs her and holds her in his forehooves against his chest. "Did you miss me? Is that why you were fussing?"

She immediately nuzzles into his fur, cooing in satisfaction. She curls up in his embrace and closes her eyes, quickly falling asleep.

Gel giggles, shaking her head. "I think you somehow gained our couch's ability..."

He chuckles as he adjusts her to where she's in one hoof as he walks. "I would say we need a carrier for her, but nothing would fit her right now... and I think she would just prefer to be on our backs anyway." He starts to head out of the kitchen.

Curious, Gel follows him. "I suppose that's true..." As he heads towards the door behind the stairs, she hurries up, now in step with him. "What are you doing today, love?"

As he head down the basement stairs he answers. "Well, I'm not quite sure to be honest. Probably something to do with this little one, but for now there is something I need to do first." He goes to his desk and pulls out a sheet of paper and quill with his magic, still holding Ruby in his foreleg.

The nymph moves next to him, slightly confused. "What would that be?"

"I need to write a letter to Mane and Manila to let them know we'll be taking some time off from the clinic now that Ruby is here." The quill scribbles down his words on the parchment. "I'm not worried about bringing her with us to work later, but for at least her first week until we know we have a handle on all her needs, I don't want to head to a place where we won't have all our suppies."

She nods, frowning slightly. "I suppose that makes sense..." She turns to Ruby as she yawns, smiling warmly at her. "...we want to make sure everything's just right, after all..."

After Rhino finishes the letter and pops it into the mailbox, the two decide to officially get the house ready for Ruby. They start by making sure both of them know where the diapers are stored on each floor, going over what to check if she starts crying, and things of that nature. Finally, they bring out some toys they had bought before she was born and set them out in the living room. It's at this point that the filly wakes up and makes it clear that she's hungry. After another round of nursing, the parents bring her into the living room to try and see if she'll be interested in any of her toys.

Curious enough, Ruby doesn't pay any attention to them, simply climbing on Gel's leg like it's a jungle gym.

Rhino takes the pink filly and sets her down on the blanket laid across the floor. He picks up a stuffed puppy toy and makes it move and jump in front of her to try and keep her attention. She ignores the pup and instead wiggles and crawls her way back over to where her father is laying as he controls the toy, curling against his chest and flailing her hooves in the air happily.

The nymph tilts her head at this, smiling playfully. "It seems as though she wants her teddy bear." She sticks her tongue out at him.

He smiles as he nuzzles the filly. "I know, but it's important for her to play with something besides us so her mind can grow as it tries to figure them out..."

"I know..." She taps her chin, thinking a bit. "...but how do we get her to do that?"

"Maybe if she sees them and not us..." He takes Ruby and sets her down in the center of her blanket and places some of the toys in front of her. Then he steps around and behind her and walks about halfway across the room before sitting down and motioning Gel to sit by him.

She blinks but nods, fluttering over to him. She slowly settles down next to him, nervously watching their daughter for a moment. ...I hope this works...

If it doesn't... how she'll probably act is going to hurt my heart... He watches the filly to see what she does.

Ruby waits for a moment, perhaps expecting her parents to come back into view. When they don't, she makes an unhappy noise and looks to the toys in front of her. She turns away from them almost immediately, her head craning around as she tries to find Rhino and Gel. As soon as she spots them, she smiles and tries to scoot towards them on her belly. When she finds that she can't go fast and that they are still so far away, she starts to let out small upset cries.

Rhino trembles as she makes those noises, his instinct is to go and comfort her but he bites his lip as he stays still.

Ruby still makes efforts to get back to her parents, not full out crying but getting close. She sets her legs under herself and pushes off with them, flopping over but trying again a moment later. Slowly, stumbling, she makes her way toward them in an almost step-like motion, crying for them the whole time.

Unfortunately, a few more seconds of this is all Rhino can take before he suddenly stands up and closes the gap between them, picking the filly up and holding her close. He makes shushing noises as he strokes her back, trying to calm her down.

She sniffles, burying her face in his soft fur, slowly calming down in his embrace.

Gel steps forward, gently putting a hoof on her stallion's shoulder. "...you tried your best...she just doesn't want to play with toys, right now..."

Rhino nods. "I just... I couldn't take it..." He keeps nuzzling Ruby to calm both her and him down.

She hugs them both, smiling softly. "...I understand...still, there's one good thing from all of this..."

"Hmm?" He looks to her. "What do you mean?"

She giggles, winking at him. "We can try teaching her how to walk."

He thinks back to how she was stumbling towards them. "She did seem to be trying, didn't she? Yeah... yeah, let's do that."

She gently nuzzles their filly, enjoying her soft coos. "...she might be a hoofful once she gets mobile, though...I know I was..."

He smiles at Ruby. "Well, they're supposed to learn to walk within a day or two anyway, and we saw this morning she can already climb. I'd say she was going to be a hoofful one way or another."

"...true..." She shrugs and moves over to the couch, picking up what appears to be a stuffed tiger toy on her way. She lays on her back, playing with the toy in her hooves. "...these are rather cute, though...where did you say you got this one, again?"

Rhino brings Ruby back over to the play blanket and sets her on it, but this time lays down on his side near her. "Just down at the toy store. they had a whole bin of stuffed animals, some were bigger than me!"

"That sounds interesting..." She glances at him. Seeing that he was distracted, she grins and tosses the toy at his head. "The tiger leaps at its prey!"

He sputters a bit at the sudden attack, before chuckling as the tiger covers his eyes. "Oh no! I'm blinded!"

Gel grins as she turns into a bobcat and leaps at him, knocking him onto his back. She licks and nuzzles at his face, purring happily.

He can't keep from chuckling as he comments. "So this is what Specter feels like when he and Selena are playing..."

"Yep." She gives him a playful grin, making sure to keep him pinned by his shoulders. "So, what do you plan to do about this?"

"Hmm..." He raises one hoof and boops her on the nose. "Bad kitty."

She squeaks, holding her nose with a paw. "That wasn't very nice..." She gets off him and pads back over to the couch, curling in on herself.

He tries to sit up, but stop as he feels Ruby trying to climb up his side. "Aww, come on now, I didn't even do it hard... Isn't that right, Ruby?"

The pink pony looks up at him and shakes her head.

Gel whines softly, quickly changing back to normal. "...you too, Ruby?"

Rhino purposely doesn't look at Gel as he picks Ruby up and sets her on his chest while speaking in a sing-song voice. "Mommy is a drama queen~!"

Gel quirks an eyebrow at this, her horn lighting up. "Oh, am I, now?" A glass of water comes into the room and dumps itself on his face.

Rhino's soaked mane flops over his eyes as he calls to Gel. "You're only proving my point, you know. At least you didn't get her blanket wet."

"You'd better be glad I didn't get a bucket." She narrows her eyes and carefully places the now-empty cup upside down over his horn. "Perfect!"

With his mane still in his eyes, he can't actually see what she did, but judging by what he can feel, he has a pretty good idea of what it was. He sticks out a tongue in her direction. "Drama queen~."

She quickly closes the distance and captures his tongue in her mouth, kissing him deeply before pulling back. "You know you love it."

"Maybe..." He moves his mane out of his eyes as he looks at her cheekily. "But in front of our impressionable daughter? Shame on you." His tone makes it clear he's kidding.

She flutters her eyelashes at him. "I think it's wise to show her we love each other." She lays down next to him, happily cuddling close to his side.

He just chuckles as his horn lights up under the cup and floats over a towel that he dries himself off with. As he floats the cloth away, he takes the cup off his horn and hangs it on hers before turning to Ruby. "So, did all that silliness teach you how to walk?"

She shakes her head, cooing happily at their actions.

Gel giggles, gently pecking his cheek. "At least she's being entertained."

He nuzzles her back. "True, though I think she's just nodding or shaking her head to the tone of my voice. I doubt a one day old can understand what I'm saying."

She blinks, looking at him in confusion. "...I thought she could..." She scratches her head, thinking a bit. "...maybe I'm just mistaken..."

He chuckles. "We can't come out knowing everything, love, but what do you say we have her go to sleep tonight after learning an important skill today?" He lifts Ruby up onto her hooves and holds her there for a moment before slowly drawing his hooves away. Her legs are shaky for a moment, but they stabilize soon enough as she stands on his chest.

Gel stares in awe, jaw agape. ...o-oh my...she's standing!

Rhino beams. I figure if she's been using her legs to get around all day, even if it isn't walking, then if she just got her balance and stood still, she'd be able to do it. He leans up and kisses the top of her head. "That's my girl..."

Ruby giggles, reaching out for his muzzle with a hoof. She stumbles and falls to his chest with only three hooves supporting her, blowing a raspberry in response.

He just chuckles as he blows a little air on the filly's stomach to tickle her. I didn't say she would master it yet.

She squeals in excitement, flailing her legs. She leans forwards and catches his muzzle, nipping him playfully.

Rhino smiles as he looks over to Gel. "Day one of parenthood, I have already been assigned the titles of 'teddy bear' and 'chew toy'."

The nymph sticks her tongue out at him. "You're going to be in trouble when she starts growing teeth."

He just continues smiling. "So are you, Miss Milk."

She rolls her eyes. "Don't remind me...at least I have your love to heal me, just in case..."

"I don't think it'll be that bad... but like I said this morning, we could always store some of your milk for when you need a break." He kisses her cheek before grabbing Ruby and placing her on her mom's chest. "Oh, by the way," he flicks the cup on her horn with his magic, "nice cup."

She looks at him, quirking an eyebrow. "My eyes are up here, love." She pauses, frowning inwardly. "...wait, that was cup, not cups...darn it..."

He chuckles as he nuzzles her while Ruby watches happily.

Chapter 4: Teaching

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The next morning both of the new parents are a little groggy, Rhino more than Gel, due to being woken up multiple times during the night in order to feed Ruby. However, thanks to a quick errand Rhino had run while Gel stayed home, this morning they were trying something to help with that.

Rhino looks up from where he is playing peekaboo with the pink filly as he hears the small motor in the pump turn off. "Well, it really didn't take you long at all to fill that bottle."

She gives him a wry smile. "This thing works fast, and my milk comes out that quickly." She pushes the machine off to the side as she puts the rubber nipple over the lip of the bottle. "I'm glad, though...it just didn't feel right..."

He nods. "Yeah, it honestly looked uncomfortable, sort of like if a foal had no technique or patience and just went as fast as they could."

She shrugs. "It's a new technology." She moves the bottle towards Ruby, smiling warmly. "Are you hungry?"

A sound from the foal's stomach would seem to confirm that. The pink filly immediately starts heading for Gel's teats to get her normal meal.

The nymph blinks, unsure what to think of this. "...Rhino? Please help?"

He raises an eyebrow at her. "Just pick her up with one hoof and feed her using the bottle. She doesn't know it's food yet."

She nods, carefully picking up their daughter with a foreleg. I'm sorry, I'm used to her moving for it on her own. She carefully holds the smaller bottle for her. "No, Ruby, this is your food."

The filly wiggles a moment as she tries to get out of her mother's grasp and back to what she sees as the only two sources of food, but soon relents and looks at the bottle in front of her. With her tiny tongue sticking out, she bats at it with a hoof, trying to figure out what it is.

Gel giggles, shaking her head. "No, Ruby, you drink from it."

She pokes the bottle with her nose, causing a small bit of milk to come out onto her muzzle. The filly makes a small squeak and wipes it off with a hoof before starting to wiggle again to get back to what she knows.

She frowns slightly, looking at the bottle questioningly. "...it's not that bad, is it?"

Rhino shakes his head. “I doubt it, she probably just isn’t used to the bottle.”

The nymph thinks for a bit before turning to him, holding it out. "Maybe you could show her it's fine?"

Sighing and trying not to think too much into exactly what he is about to do, Rhino takes the bottle. He walks t over in front of them and gets Ruby’s attention. "Hey, this is exactly the same stuff you're used to." He daps a few drops of the milk onto his hoof and licks it off so she can see. "See? Still good."

Ruby watches this the whole time and the tendency of foals to mimic their parents comes into play as soon as Gel offers the bottle to her again. She pokes the nipple of the bottle with her nose again and licks the milk as it comes out. As soon as she realizes it's the same liquid she gets elsewhere, she starts suckling in earnest.

Gel smiles softly, relieved. "...I'm glad she's taken a liking to it..." She turns to look at her stallion, curious. ...did you really like it, love?

Rhino coughs awkwardly as he turns away, a small blush visible on his cheeks. I, umm… No comment.

She giggles, playfully pushing his shoulder. You did, didn't you?

He stays turned away, but one can just see his blush growing around the sides of his face.

She leans over, gently nuzzling his cheek. There's no need to be embarrassed, love. I find it flattering...and besides... She gives him a small kiss. ...I don't think she'll mind if you share...as long as you leave her enough.

His blush stays as his mind tries to wrap around exactly how he is supposed to react to all this. Luckily, he gets a small reprieve as Ruby starts to make noises of discomfort, wiggling around and pulling unhappy faces.

Seeing this, Gel carefully places her on her shoulder, patting her on the back. It isn’t long before the filly burps, causing the changeling to sigh softly. "That's better, isn't it?"

As Gel sets the filly back on the ground, Ruby takes a look at the still partially full bottle, then to her mom before starting to head in a beeline for her teats.

Rhino’s blush fades as he chuckles. "I guess she's still hungry. It looks like she'll take the bottle, but she still has her preferred method of eating."

"It sure seems that way." She shakes her head before turning to him, eyes twinkling playfully. Maybe you should try her way, sometime.

His blush flares back into life at record speed as he scuffs a hoof on the floor. He actually manages to find his mental voice after a bit. Maybe… His tone makes it unclear whether he is serious or joking.

She rolls her eyes. You know you want to, Mister Milk Lover.

He nudges her lightly. At least you aren’t calling four gallons a week an addiction anymore.

Who am I to judge? She giggles, winking at him. We all have something we like, right?

And then we have somethings we love. He nuzzles her as he looks down fondly at the happily nursing Ruby.

She smiles, gently hugging him. Isn’t that the truth?

***

Later that day, the family are all in the living room for an important mission: teaching Ruby how to walk. The three pets watch from the couch as Rhino and Gel lay on their stomachs, facing each other, with a short distance between them.

Rhino looks to Gel, whom Ruby is currently snuggled against. “Ok, the main idea behind this is to call her to one of us, seeing how she tries to get there, setting her up on her legs, then letting the natural instincts do the rest to guide her muscles until they start knowing what to do. Should be simple, right?” The question is half to Gel and half to himself.

She nods, gently stroking their filly’s mane. “It should be...since she loves her daddy, she’ll be walking towards you, right?”

He taps the floor with a hoof. “Honestly I was thinking we would just go back and forth with it. I won’t deny you the joy of seeing her walking towards you with the adorable face.”

“I suppose that seems fair.” She looks up at him, smiling softly. “Are you ready?”

He nods, spreading his forelegs in a welcoming posture and smiling.

Gel looks to their daughter, gently nudging her. “Wake up, Ruby.”

The pink filly yawns, making a few quiet noises at being woken up. Her green eyes flutter open as she looks up at her mother, smiling and nuzzling against her more a moment later.

Rhino gets her attention by calling out to her. “Ruby? Over here. Can you come to Daddy?”

She looks over, smiling a bit more and starting to crawl over. She pauses, looking back at her mom, apparently unable to decide whether to stay or go.

The stallion looks to his wife. “Try setting her on her hooves and nudging her towards me.”

Gel nods, carefully placing their filly on her legs. “Go to Daddy.” She gently nudges Ruby, watching as she slowly totters forward.

With slow, unsteady steps, the filly makes it about halfway to Rhino before stumbling and falling onto the blanket. She blows a raspberry as she tries to work her way back to her hooves, but gives up after a moment and just crawls all the rest of the way over to him, nuzzling against the side of his face.

He chuckles and nuzzles her back as he comments to Gel. “That was pretty good for a first try.”

“Yes, it was.” She sighs softly, resting her head on her forelegs. “It was also really nerve-wracking.”

He tilts his head at her, causing Ruby to try and bite his nose. “Why would it be nerve-wracking?”

She nervously laughs. “...I thought she was going to cry when she fell...”

He cringes. “That wouldn’t have been good…” He looks to the filly and blows a little air on her belly to tickle her. “Do you want to try heading back to Mommy, now?”

She tilts her head at him, not really understanding his words, but smiling as he tickles her. He sets her back up on her hooves and nudges her towards Gel. “Call her, love.”

The changeling smiles warmly. “Ruby, come to Mommy.”

The filly makes happy noises as she heads towards Gel. Her steps are a little slower, but more coordinated this time. When she gets a little farther than she had gotten when she traveled to Rhino, she tries to lift both of her left legs at once, falling onto her side because of it. She just laughs as she rolls a few times before finishing with a crawl to her mother.

Gel giggles, gently nuzzling her daughter. “You’re getting better, Ruby.”

Rhino nods as he smiles at the two. “She’ll have this down in no time.”

She looks at her husband, smiling warmly. "It sure seems that way..." She helps their daughter up to her hooves once more, surprised to see her standing much easier than before. "...maybe sooner..."

He raises an eyebrow as he smiles cheekily at her. "Sooner than no time? Does she already know how and is just toying with us?"

"Oh, hush, you." She sticks her tongue out at him in mock-annoyance. "Are you ready for her next attempt?"

He laughs. "I'm always ready to watch her come to me."

She gently nudges the pink filly towards him. "Go to Daddy."

Rhino spreads his forelegs again. "Come on, Ruby. You can do it."

She coos happily, slowly moving forward. Her steps are more certain, and her bright eyes are focused on him the whole time. Two thirds of the way there, she stumbles, her front half falling to the blanket.

Rhino's eyes are encouraging. "So close..."

She looks up at him, staying there for a moment. She sticks her tongue out, a look of what appears to be concentration on her face.

Gel stares in confusion. "...what is she doing?"

The filly's body slowly rises, her forelegs trembling underneath her. She never takes her eyes off the stallion, eventually standing back up.

His eyes are wide as he looks at the filly. "That's it... you can do it..." He beckons her closer with his hooves.

She totters over to him, giggling in glee. She carefully covers the distance, wrapping her hooves around as much of his muzzle as possible and happily nuzzling him.

The nymph covers her mouth, tears of joy welling in her eyes. "...s-she did it..." She sniffles, smiling softly. "...I'm so happy right now..."

Rhino beams as wide as possible as he hugs the filly. "That's my girl... I'm so proud of you..."

Ruby coos happily, softly nuzzling her daddy.

Gel giggles, shaking her head. "She's getting close to being a hoofful...but I don't think I mind..." She stretches, yawning quietly before standing up.

Rhino looks up at her as Ruby starts trying to climb on top of his nose. "Going somewhere?"

She smirks slightly. "Just going to get some apple juice. You want me to get you anything?"

He looks to the filly staring into his eyes from her seat on his muzzle. "I think I'm good."

***

A little later that day, while the parents and foal are downstairs, two of the pets are a little worried for the third. Specter and Selena sit outside the den-like bed of their silver fox friend.

Inside, Mercury is curled up with his two favorite objects: his blanket and his squeaky fish, Mr. Bubbles.

'You know,' the kitten starts, 'you're probably just overreacting. Mom and Dad still love you.'

The fox doesn't move, but he still responds. 'I know...'

‘Then why are you sulking?' She paws at the tip of his tail.

He tries to curl tighter. 'I just feel like they don't have time for us lately... Ever since the pink one arrived...'

Selena opens her mouth to respond but can't find the words. She turns to the black squirrel, hoping he'll be able to find the words evading her.

Specter tries. 'Look, we knew Mom was going to have a baby, surely you saw them spending some time with it?'

Mercury shifts. 'Some, yes, not all of it. What do we get these days? A few pats on the head, food, and maybe some snuggle time. That's it. Even when they do pay attention, soon something the pink one does draws them away and it's back to being quiet as they see to it.'

'She's a baby.' Selena sighs, placing her paw on his bushy tail. 'She can't take care of herself.' She tilts her head, thinking a bit. 'Granted, they might consider taking care of her one at a time, but they're still getting the hang of being parents.'

Specter adds a few words. 'Things will get better once they get the hang of everything. It's only been a few days.'

The fox swishes his tail. 'I don't know...'

'If it really bothers you, I can always type them a letter.' She peeks inside, trying to make eye contact with him. 'Would that help?'

He turns his head to face her. 'What would it even say?'

'What you want to tell them.' She smiles warmly. 'Your feelings about the situation. Wishes. Stuff like that.' She turns to Specter. 'Does that seem fair?'

The squirrel rubs his head. 'Well... I guess that could work... If I can say something though: we're used to be the only things that need their attention. Maybe now that there's something else, we need to just stop waiting for them to give us attention, and be a little more active in giving it so that we get it? Does that make sense?'

Selena nods. 'It does. We should be careful, though. We don't want to hurt Ruby, after all.' She turns back to the den-bed and pauses, confused. '...where did he go?'

Mercury is already on his way down the stairs, looking for the couple of the house.

He finds the couple on the couch eating a leisurely lunch. Ruby is crawling back and forth between the two as they sit.

Gel's ear twitches and she turns to the fox, smiling softly. "Hey there, little one. Where have you been?"

Mercury walks up to her and sits at her hooves, giving her the cute face.

She giggles, gently petting his head. "You want to join us up here? We have plenty of room."

He smiles and climbs up, curling right up against the side of her that isn't towards Ruby or Rhino.

The nymph tenderly nuzzles his head. "Wouldn't you like to play with your sister? She is your family, after all."

The fox looks over at Ruby, but doesn't make a move to get closer to her.

Gel nervously laughs. "I guess that's a no..."

The pink filly, seeing the pet of her mom, coos brightly and starts crawling over the changeling's back. She reaches out a hoof to him, as if trying to touch his fur.

Mercury backs off a little, but doesn't want to leave Gel's side, so he can't go far.

She stretches further, whining softly when she can't quite reach him. She slips and falls, landing on the fox's back. Thankfully, the height difference wasn't large enough to cause any pain.

The fox is slightly flattened, but he still cranes his neck around to see if she is okay.

She laughs happily, nuzzling his back and reveling in the feel of his fur. She pulls herself up onto his back, choosing to lay down on top of him.

Mercury stares at her before slowly sticking his tongue out and licking the top of her head. 'Maybe you aren't so bad...'

She coos softly, smiling brightly at him. She reaches up and places a hoof on his nose, blowing a raspberry at him.

Gel, watching this, giggles quietly. "...isn't that just adorable, Rhino?"

The stallion nods as he sees the two other shapes watching from the door. "How come you two aren't in on this?"

Selena turns to the squirrel next to her, smiling playfully. 'What do you say? Want to join them?'

Specter performs a bow and gestures. 'After you, milady.'

She purrs, licking his cheek before walking into the room. 'Such a gentlesquirrel.'

His tail flicks happily as he follows her and they both crawl up onto the couch. Both of them end up in Rhino's lap, meaning they receive complimentary petting. They look to see if Mercury will join them, but he's a little... occupied by playing with Ruby.

Chapter 5: Trip into Town

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The next morning comes and proceeds mostly like the ones before it. As Rhino finishes putting away the dishes while Gel is on the tail-end of a rather large session of collecting her milk for later, he takes a look into the fridge. What he sees there gives him pause.

He looks over to Gel as she puts the last cap on the group of bottles she now has ready. "Well, a small bit of bad news."

The nymph glances up at him, curious. "Did you forget your mother's birthday?"

He blinks before shaking his head. "No no, that's not for another week."

"Learn something new." She turns the machine off and walks over, curious. "What's wrong?"

He points to the fridge. "We appear to be running low on groceries again."

She glances inside, silent for a few moments. "...we only have cheese and milk left." She looks up at him, confused. "Why did we let it get this low?"

He rubs the back of his head with a hoof as he looks off to the side. "Well... I have a tendency to use what we have... and I haven't really wanted to leave the house." He feels a tiny pressure on his hoof and looks down to see Ruby standing next to it and nuzzling it. "For obvious reasons..."

Gel sighs, gently kissing his cheek. "...go get some food, love...I don't want you starving on our account..."

He opens his mouth to argue that he isn't the only one that would go hungry, but remembers that Gel could technically survive exclusively on love. He closes his mouth and sighs as he lights up his horn and levitates his bags in. Once prepared he leans down to Ruby and kisses her. "I really don't want to have to leave you again... if only you could come with me..."

The navy nymph smiles, tapping her chin with a hoof. "Maybe we could."

Rhino looks at her curiously. "What do you mean?"

"I'm saying we could go into town together." She notices a certain trio looking up at them from their bowls. "All of us. It'd be nice to get some fresh air...and I was sort of hoping that we could show Ditzy our daughter." She nervously smiles, rubbing the back of her neck.

The stallion looks at the assembled group. "Well... that would be nice..." He sits and picks up Ruby, who giggles happily. "If we do though... we'll have to be careful, for a number of reasons."

His wife sighs, sitting down as well. "I have a feeling I know what they are...but please, remind me, just in case."

He looks at her seriously. "Are you sure? It might make you more worried..."

She frowns, quirking an eyebrow at him. "I'd rather know and be paranoid than not know and be unprepared." ^

"Fair enough." He entertains Ruby by wiggling a hoof in front of her as he speaks. "Well, obviously, because of her size, there's no way we're letting her walk around town because she might be stepped on or hurt. There's also the various responses her presence might get from any anti-changeling ponies we encounter along the way. Plus things like if she gets hungry or needs changing, and we don't even know how she'll react to suddenly seeing so many ponies."

Gel blinks. "...good thing I asked...I didn't even consider that last one..." She looks at their filly, who is currently gumming at Rhino's hoof. "...I think I have an answer for the first and third concerns you have..." She lights up her horn, bringing in what appears to be a sling from the other room.

He looks at the cloth curiously. "Not sure where you're going with this..."

She rolls her eyes and puts it on around her neck. "It's a carrier for her. I asked Port, and he was kind enough to give me one of the nanny-pouches they have lying around." She cinches up the sash-like article so it's snug against her chest. "With this, we could carry her easily. As for her other needs, I have a bag prepared just in case." She picks up one of the bottles. "I didn't spend time on these for nothing, after all."

He looks down to Ruby. "And here I thought your mom made those so we could each get a little more sleep when you want your midnight snacks."

"That too!" She strolls out of the room to go get ready.

The family prepares and soon they are on their way into town. Specter rides atop Rhino's head, as it is his favorite spot. Selena is curled up in the middle of the stallion's back, her eyes looking around as they pass everything. Mercury mirrors Selena by being curled up in the center of Gel's back, enjoying the smooth texture of her chitin. Finally, Ruby is in the cloth sling, not particularly visible at a first glance, and easily shieldable should anything happen.

Rhino looks over as Ruby lets out another string of noises, ending with a raspberry as she waves her hooves in the air to entertain herself. "Doesn't really seem to mind the trip, does she?

"Not really." She glances down, tilting her head to one side. "It's really quite curious...maybe it's because we're nearby?"

"Maybe..." He watches as she sits up to better see around them. "Either way, I'm not complaining if she's happy."

She smiles, nuzzling his cheek. "Neither am I."

They continue chatting as they get closer to town. "So... how close do you think we should let ponies get to her?"

Gel considers this a moment. "I don't know. I guess it depends on how well we know them."

He nods. "Well, yes, but I meant mostly for the average pony."

She simply shrugs. "I guess conversational distance seems fair. What do you think?"

"That sounds about right..." They reach the first few buildings that mark the entrance to the main part of town, the usual amount of ponies bustling back and forth on their own errands. Rhino moves protectively closer to Gel. "Alright, let's head to Ditzy's place."

Gel nods, glancing around nervously. She entwines her tail in his, seeking some form of reassurance. "Y-you remember the way, right?"

He looks around before heading down a street. "I... think so. You know how bad I am with places I don't go often."

She silently nods, pointing forwards. "It's at the end of this street."

As they walk, the majority of ponies don't particularly pay attention to them. Over the year that Gel had started walking around as her true self, most of the population had come to see it as just another part of the town. Some ponies however, still aren't used to it.

As the mint unicorn Lyra walks out of a candy shop, she serves as a prime example of this. As she starts to walk down the street, her eyes widen as she spots Gel. She immediately takes a sharp turn to the far side of the road and continues her walk over there.

The changeling doesn't show a visible response to this, but she still feels hurt by this. She says nothing as she glances at the mare in passing, wishing that she would give her kind a chance.

Rhino notices this. "I suppose with what happened to her when she was a bridesmare at the royal wedding doesn't exactly help her not be nervous around you..."

"...I guess..." She sighs, closing her eyes and leaning against her stallion.

Ruby, bored with watching her own hooves for now, decides that Mom is the next thing she wants to play with. She reaches her hooves towards Gel's face and makes little squeaks to try and get her attention.

She smiles down at her daughter, the cuteness of her actions warming her heart. Sadly, a chill goes down her spine, nearly extinguishing that flame. ...no... She subtly looks around, wincing at the sight of a couple glaring at them. She steps closer to Rhino, trying to ignore the sheer amount of malice coming off the ponies in front of them.

The blue earth pony stallion steps in front of them, blocking their path. His eyes narrow when Gel tries to avoid eye contact. "I thought you left town, bug." He snorts derisively, sneering as the orange unicorn walks up next to him but stays silent. "I guess that would've been too easy."

Rhino steps protectively in front of Gel and Ruby. His eyes are narrowed and the fur along his spine is starting to stand up aggressively as he speaks. "And we thought you had something better to do with your time than harass us. Guess we were both wrong."

The stallion raises an eyebrow at this. "Why are you protecting her? Don't you realize she's just using you as a food source?" He steps forward, eyes narrowed. "Or are you truly under her spell?"

Rhino snorts as he draws himself to his full height to look down at the other stallion. "The love she gets from me is freely given, and there is no spell altering my mind. We have told you this before, and yet you insist on spreading these rumors."

"There's no way to know for sure, short of a scanning spell." He smirks, shaking his head. "After all, she could be telling you to say that. I wouldn't be surprised if she told you to attack those who get close to the truth!"

Watching the exchange, Ruby starts to whine a little as her father glares harder at the stallion whose words ooze pride, anger, and disgust. She huddles closer to Gel's chest as she continues making noises of protest at the situation. Unfortunately, this draws the eye of the orange mare.

"And what do we have here?" She takes a step closer to Gel as Rhino is occupied with the stallion.

The nymph takes a step back, covering Ruby protectively. "N-nothing to concern yourself with." She glances around, noticing that ponies were starting to stare at them. R-Rhino, please calm down. W-we're making a scene.

He doesn't take his eyes off the stallion as he answers. I... am calm... How long I'll stay though way though... I don't know... His ear flicks as he hears Ruby's distress, causing him to pause. Ok... make sure to keep me between you and them. The large green unicorn starts to walk around the aggressive couple. "Pleasant as it always is to see you, we have more important things to do with our time."

"Oh, I'm sure." The earth pony rolls his eyes. "What are you planning on doing? Visiting another bug-lover?" He chuckles darkly. "Bad enough there's one of you. I can't imagine another."

Rhino barely manages to maintain a straight face as that statement is said. I guess with Luster traveling, Flick mostly flying around in disguise, and the few other changelings keeping to themselves, we really are their only targets... Good thing we usually only see our friends at each other's homes and sometimes businesses... I wouldn't want them to have to deal with this. "I'm not surprised you lack the mental capacity for imagination. Frankly though, I'm tired of talking to you." He and Gel are almost around the couple now.

The mare however, won't let them go so easy. "Oh? Are you doing something involving that thing you're hiding?" She points to the sling so that the stallion next to her and all the ponies who are watching can see it.

He looks closer, staring at the tiny hooves poking out before recoiling, eyes wide in horror. "Oh merciful Luna, what is that?" He scowls at Rhino, eyes narrowed in disgust. "What right have you to parade around with that unnatural...thing?!"

Gel stops in her tracks, her body stiffening. She turns to the earth pony, speaking with words that dripped with venom. "...what did you just say?"

Rhino’s hackles stand straight up, both in his own rage for that statement, and for the fear of his wife's response. He too, turns to the stallion, eyes alight in fury.

The earth pony stares in surprise for a moment, apparently not expecting this big of a response from them. "It seems as though I touched a nerve." He turns to the mare next to him. "What do you think?"

She smirks as well. "It certainly seems that way, but do you think they'll act on it with all these witnesses?"

"Witnesses?" Gel takes off the sling, putting it, and her daughter, on Rhino. "Let's talk about that. Ponies have witnessed us talk down Chrysalis. The princesses gave my kind citizenship. I have done nothing to you, and have gone about trying to live my life peacefully." She points at them, scowling angrily. "All you seem to do is harass us every chance you get. Don't you have anything better to do, or are you seriously that petty?" She points at the mare. "You even crashed our wedding reception. Who does that?"

The mare spits back. "We are doing our part to ensure ponykind never forget the threat you are! They may grow used to your presence, but we will never let them be in danger by being complacent."

Rhino's horn lights up imperceptibly. If you want, love, we can leave. I have a few good ways to make them not follow us.

Probably for the best. She takes a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She rubs the side of her head, feeling the beginnings of a migraine. "You know what, we'll be the bigger ponies here. We're going to walk away and leave you to your foalish ramblings. All I can say is...I hope you two are happy with each other. And don't try to mess with my friends. I won't be held responsible for the consequences." She turns and starts walking off.

The silver form on her back uncurls, looking at the rude couple for a moment. He sticks his tongue out at them before rolling back up, resuming his nap.

They move to start following the couple as they walk away, but find themselves unable to move their hooves. On the ground underneath them is an arcane circle in green writing. As they look up again, Rhino turns around and grins at them with his horn glowing the same green. The two stuck ponies are ignored as Rhino and Gel leave the area.

As they walk, Rhino looks down to the still slightly upset foal. "Did all that not agree with you, Ruby? I'm sorry..." The glow from his horn illuminates her face as he leans down and kisses her.

She nuzzles his nose, whining softly. Her hooves reach out to him, gently hugging him.

He chuckles as she hugs him. "It's all fine now though... no one will hurt you..."

She coos happily, gumming on his muzzle.

Gel puts a hoof on his shoulder, stopping him in his tracks. "Sorry to interrupt father-daughter bonding, but you should probably watch your step."

He looks up and sees he was a few steps from running into Ditzy's mailbox. "Oh... thanks, love." His tosses a glance up at his horn. "I'll let them go once we're inside."

"Frankly, I would've used some slime." She shrugs and walks up to the front door. "Of course, they'd probably have turned that into an assault charge, or something." She knocks on the door, patiently waiting for their friend. "...you know, I'm glad you stopped me."

He looks at the door as well. "to be honest... I was tempted not to... I had the same reaction as you, but..." he looks down at Ruby, "she told me it was worth turning away."

The nymph smiles softly, gently kissing his cheek. "I'm glad she did."

After a moment, a golden-eyed pegasus mare answers the door. She smiles wide as swim as she sees who it is. "Hey guys! I was starting to wonder because I haven't seen you in town for a few days."

“I'm sorry, Ditzy." She sheepishly smiles, gesturing to their daughter. "We were a little busy taking care of our newest family member."

Rhino opens the sling a bit so she can see the precious contents better.

Ditzy's and Ruby's eyes meet, the latter staring just as wide-eyed as the former. "Oh my goodness... She's so tiny..." The pegasus quickly backs up to let the family in. "Come in, come in. Dinky's playing in the living room right now."

They walk inside, not noticing the tiny filly squirming inside of her carrier. As they enter the living room, Gel glances around, curious. "Did you change the wallpaper? I know it was a different color the last time we were here...I think I'd remember this shade of blue..." She mumbles the last part to herself.

Ditzy nods. "Yeah, we thought we'd make a little change. To be honest, I hated that patterned wallpaper we had before."

She turns to the mare, confused. "What was wrong with it?"

The pegasus looks at her seriously. "I can respect a pony's different taste, but really? Clovers? All over the room? Bleh!"

Gel blushes, averting her gaze. "...I like the color green..."

Ditzy giggles as she walks over to her two month-old foal. "I'm sure you do, but I kept thinking something was growing on my walls. Not the best thing it could have been."

"...I guess that makes sense..." She walks forward next to her friend, smiling down at the little filly and holding out a hoof to her. "Hello, Dinky. How are you doing?"

The purple-grey filly holds out a hoof. "Muffin!"

Her mother laughs. "That's all she really says right now..."

Gel giggles, shaking her head. "I suppose that makes sense...she is still young, after all." She glances over at her stallion, confused. "Aren't you going to come and see her?"

"Hmm? What?" He looks up. "Sorry, I was trying to see what's up with Ruby. She's squirming."

She blinks, making her way over. "Really? Why?" She stops next to them, checking on their filly.

Rhino looks back down at the now softly whining foal. "That's what I'm trying to figure out, but she isn't holding still enough for me to see."

Gel thinks for a bit before turning to her saddlebags, pulling out a bottle of milk. "Maybe she's hungry." She pauses, turning to look at him. "Would you like to feed her, this time?"

He nods as he heads over to the couch. "Yes please. I want at least one practice session before the midnight ones."

She giggles, giving him the bottle. "That's probably a good idea."

Rhino takes the sling from around his neck and folds it into a makeshift blanket under Ruby while holding her in a foreleg. As soon as he brings the bottle near her, she latches onto it with all four hooves plus her mouth, suckling greedily. "Wow, you really were hungry."

Gel nods, surprised. "I don't think I've ever seen her drink that fast..."

Ditzy raises a hoof. "Don't let her drink too fast, she'll get the hiccups."

Taking her advice, Rhino pulls the bottle away so Ruby will let go before giving it back to her and stroking her mane a bit so she relaxes. The actions serve to slow her down to a more normal pace. "There we go..."

The nymph turns to her friend, smiling softly. "Thank you for the tip."

The slightly more experienced mom waves the comment off with a wing. "No problem. That's what friends are for, right?" She looks down to where Dinky is playing with some soft blocks, stacking them then pushing them over and laughing as she set them up again.

Gel giggles, watching the filly play. "I wonder how they'll get along together...you know, with Ruby being so tiny, right now."

"I have no idea," Rhino responds, "she's really only interacted with us and the pets so far. Speaking of which..." He looks down to the kitten and squirrel that had curled up against each other on the cushion next to him when he sat down. "I take it you two are content?"

The blue-gray feline mews softly before nuzzling the black form next to her, purring contentedly.

Specter flicks his tail a few times before curling it around the two of them as much as possible.

The nymph can only smile, holding a hoof to her chest. "Aren't they just adorable?" She blinks, feeling the kit on her back move. She looks over to where he landed, confused. "Mercury? What are you doing?"

The kit walks over to Rhino and Ruby, hoping up into the former's lap and giving the latter a quick lick before curling up again.

Gel stares at this a moment, a blank look on her face. "...too cute..." She smiles sweetly, leaning down and gently kissing both the fox and the filly on the forehead.

"Lots of love in your family, it seems." Ditzy observes, now with Dinky in her arms and sucking one of her hooves.

She turns to the mare, smiling playfully. "What can we say? We focus on love."

The two mares chat and play with Dinky while Rhino finishes feeding Ruby. She lets out a small belch to signal that she's full. Her father smiles and puts the sling and bottle away before walking over to the mares. "Alright, shall we see how they get along?"

Gel smiles and nods, despite the anxiety clear in her body language. "Please, by all means."

The stallion sets the tiny pink filly down and all the adults watch intently to see what the two foals will do.

Ruby, seeing the other foal, slowly stands up. Cooing brightly, she totters over to the larger filly. At the last moment, her hooves slip out from under her, causing her to fall flat onto the floor.

Dinky, tilting her head at the foal smaller than her head, babbles some baby noises at her. She crouches down on the floor to be more at Ruby's level.

The tiny filly giggles and taps the other pony's nose, sticking her tongue out.

The greyish-purple foal laughs and sticks her own tongue out before reaching over to her soft blocks. She plops one of the plushy cubes in front of Ruby, who is about the same size as one of them.

She tilts her head to one side, grabbing it in her hooves and trying to pick it up. Of course, with her being the size she is, she can only pull it towards herself.

Dinky smiles and takes another block and hits it on the ground a few times, making a short noise similar to 'bah' every time.

Ruby, seeing the other foal's actions, tries to copy her, but she can't even lift it. She climbs on top of it, looking around at the edges of it in curiosity.

As Dinky stacks two blocks next to the one Ruby is on, Rhino decides to break the silence. "Well, I think they're getting along famously."

Gel giggles, shaking her head. "I suppose that's to be expected, given Dinky's mommy." She winks playfully at the mare next to her.

Ditzy blushes as she looks away. "Oh, you!" The three adults all have a good laugh until the pegasus looks back at the foals and scrunched her face up. "Um... Ruby was a unicorn... Right?"

"Yes, she-" The nymph blinks, confused. "...what do you mean...'was'?"

The mare points down at the tiny pink foal. Rhino and Gel look at her and see that instead of a tiny horn poking through her mane, Ruby now has a tiny set of fluttering wings.

Gel stares in shock, her mind temporarily shutting down. "...but...horn...she...wings...I don't...what?"

Rhino has much the same reaction, his eyes wide as he picks up Ruby. He gently looks through her mane. "No sign of a horn..." He takes a hoof and strokes her wings, which flap faster in response. "And the wings are real... but... how could..." He sets her down before looking at his wife. More specifically, he looks at her horn and wings.

She notices where his gaze and squirms slightly. "W-what? Did you figure it out?"

He puts a hoof to his chin. "Well... not definitively... but... I mean, you were the variable in this..."

"...so...she inherited my ability to shapeshift?" She frowns, scratching the side of her head. "...then why did she just gain wings?"

"I have absolutely no idea..." He scratches his head as Ruby looks back at her wings, but doesn't seem concerned by them in the least. "We don't even know if this is all she can do..."

"...can she even fly?" She turns to Ditzy, hoping for an answer. "Do you know?"

Ditzy shrugs. "I don't know. Baby pegasi only fly sporadically starting at about a month old. Eventually they start thinking about it too much so they can't fly as well and they have to be taught to get better."

Gel blinks, unsure how to take this. "...um...okay, then..." She turns and sees Ruby attempting to lift a block with her wings, but eventually gives up. The nymph's eyes widen as she realizes that she's on a stack of blocks five high. "...R-Rhino? She'll be alright, right?"

He gently lifts the filly and the block she's on and sets them on the blanket. "Of course she will."

She sighs in relief as their daughter is put closer to the floor. "Thank goodness..."

He nods. "Yeah... one surprise is enough for right now."

***

They leave the house soon after and go about buying groceries. Gel waves goodbye to the visibly tense flowermare as they leave her tent. She sighs quietly before glancing around, thinking out loud to herself. "...next should be the applecart..."

Rhino, who volunteered to be the baby carrier, nods as he puts the supplies in his rapidly filling bags. The two make their way to the familiar cart, worked today by the orange Apple mare.

She tips her hat at them as they approach. "Hey you two, been awhile since ya'll both come to the stand while Ah've been working. How've ya been?"

"A little tired, but happy." The nymph giggles, elbowing her stallion's side. "We ran out of apple juice, and he couldn't stand being separated from Ruby."

"Ruby?" The stetson-wearing mare asks.

Gel nods, giggling softly. "That's right." She gestures to the sling around Rhino's neck and the tiny hooves poking out in an attempt to touch his face. "Applejack, meet Ruby, our daughter."

AJ leans over to get a good look at the filly, who had returned to being a unicorn before they left Ditzy’s house. "Well now, ain't she the cutest little thing ya ever seen? Heh, the size of her kinda reminds me of the time Ah got on the wrong side of some poison joke..." She looks up the couple. "Congratulations you two!"

"Thank you." She nods before pausing, a couple of the mare's words standing out at her. "I'm sorry, but...what's poison joke?"

The Apple mare, fiddles with her stetson. "Erm... well, it's a bit of an embarassin' story, so suffice to say if ya ever find yourself in the Everfree and see a small blue plant... don't touch it."

She blinks but slowly nods. "Okay..." She glances at Rhino, curiosity getting the better of her. Love, didn't we see something like that on the path to Zecora's, once?

I think so... I guess we got lucky. If that's what it was, anyway. He adjusts Ruby slightly as he wiggles a hoof in front of her. "So, mind if we get some apple juice?"

She nods. "Not a problem!" She laughs a second. "And, um, does the little one want anything?"

Gel shakes her head, smiling as their daughter starts sucking on the unicorn's hoof. "I think she's good, for now. I would like to get an apple pie as well, if you have any."

Applejack ducks behind the stand. "Shoot, we always got apple pie. It's one of our best sellers!" She sets a covered pie on the counter before setting a gallon of apple juice next to it. "Here ya go. Anything else I can getcha?"

She glances at her stallion before responding. "Maybe a couple of dumplings or fritters we could eat now?"

Quicker than they could blink, a plate with a couple of apple fritters appears in front of them. "Always keep some to spare. They ain't steamin' like they were earlier, but they're still plenty warm."

"That's perfect." She picks one up in her magic and bites into it, humming delightedly. Feel free to start eating yours, love. She playfully winks at him.

He chuckles as he levitates the bits to Applejack before biting into his own fritter. Hmm... apple taste is more subtle than I expected, I like it. He grabs the apple juice and stows it in his bag, but leaves Gel to take the pie, since he doesn't want it to get squished with everything else he's carrying.

AJ just laughs as she sees their faces. "Yep, they're that good. Don't be strangers now, ya hear?"

Gel kindly waves back before turning to face forward. I'm glad she's an open-minded mare. Maybe I could try investing in their farm...

Maybe... He notices a bit of whining come from the sling below him and looks down to see Ruby trying to grab the fritter. "Now now, Ruby, no solid foods for you yet." He pulls the fritter out of her sight and she blows him a raspberry for his trouble.

The navy nymph giggles, tenderly nuzzling his cheek. Good job standing up to her cuteness. I knew you could do it.

She just wanted it because I had it, she wasn't going all out yet. He looks back down at the filly, who is now content with sucking on her own hoof. We'll see if I hold up in the future...

Chapter 6: Meeting Everypony

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Two days later, the couple prepares for another gathering of their friends at their house. This time though, the main reason they were all coming, was the tiny pink filly now toddling after Gel or Rhino no matter where they go. The couple had sent the letters out yesterday and were sure that all their friends would be attending so they could meet their newest family member.

The parents have finished cleaning up the house and are now doing the final touches on cleaning up themselves in the bathroom. Ruby sits on the counter, simply watching them with curiosity as they freshen up.

Gel dries off her mane, looking at the stallion next to her. "You really are warming up to the idea of parties, aren't you?" She giggles, playfully sticking her tongue out at him.

He chuckles. "Well, definitely not a certain pink pony's definition of 'party' but I am getting used to gatherings of more than five ponies." He sets down his mane brush and tickles Ruby's belly. "Let's see if you feel the same way, huh?"

She giggles, grabbing his hoof and gumming it.

The nymph smiles at this, shaking her head. "It's official. She loves her daddy very much." She picks up the brush and starts running it through her mane. "Yea, I'm not so keen on Pinkie's parties. Especially after that 'mirror pool' incident." She winces as the bristles tug on a knot.

"Speaking of parties though," he looks over at Gel, "How do you think the Apple Reunion went yesterday? I bet Luster and Tavi had a blast."

She taps her chin, thinking a bit. "I don't know. I guess we'll find out later today." She finishes straightening out her hair and picks up her emerald earrings.

Rhino smiles as he sees the symbols of their marriage. "You know, those always look lovely on you."

Gel blushes, playfully pushing him. "Flatterer." She carefully puts them on before glancing around the countertop. "...where's your necklace?"

He simply points to their daughter, who has taken it as her new thing to suck on.

She stares at Ruby for a moment before turning to her stallion. "...would you be willing to take it from her, love?"

"Umm..." He looks at how much Ruby is enjoying his own symbol of their marriage. After a moment he leans down and blows a stream of air onto her belly. As she falls over laughing, he takes the necklace quickly and nuzzles her so she forgets all about it.

His wife smiles, gently kissing his cheek. "You handled that expertly."

"Why thank you." He dons the necklace and looks himself over in the mirror. "What do you think?"

"Stunning, as usual." She giggles, grabbing her frameless glasses and putting them on. "Do you think they'll be here, soon?"

"I'm not sure... why? Still feeling the female obligation to try and half your wardrobe?" He sticks his tongue out at her.

She quirks an eyebrow at him. "No, I was going to wear this and nothing else." She rolls her eyes, smirking slightly. "Besides, you know most of my clothes aren't suitable for public wearing."

He blushes lightly as he responds. "Right... but why the glasses?"

“Because I like them." She laughs brightly, picking up their daughter and placing her on the floor, but the tiny filly walks over to Rhino and nuzzles his leg. "Are you completely sure everything's ready?"

"Let's see..." He picks Ruby up as they head downstairs. "Living room's clean, snacks are out, everyone's clean, pets are fed... is that it?"

"I can't think of anything else..." She observes the foyer. "...I guess that's everything. Unless something we don't expect happens."

"Which, knowing this town, it very well may." They head to the living room and sit on the couch. "Any idea what to do to pass the time until they arrive?"

She blushes softly, squirming in place. "...could we cuddle?"

"Always."

***

The guests soon arrive, and all of them are gathered in the living room with Rhino while Gel waits outside of it. The father addresses everypony. "Alright, is everyone ready then?"

A goldenrod drone speaks up. "Yea, we are. Are we finally gonna see the little one, Doc?"

Rhino nods. "Yep." He turns to the door. Come on in, love.

Gel walks in the living room, watching the tiny filly toddle along behind her. She turns to face everyone with a warm smile. "Everyone," she gently strokes the pink unicorn's head as she stops next to her, "meet Ruby Pinch of the Nexus family."

The wall of 'aww' that comes from the collected ponies is practically tangible. At seeing so many ponies in front of her, Ruby presses herself against her mom, but doesn't whine.

She leans down and nuzzles her daughter. "It's okay, Ruby. They're our friends."

Ruby eases up a little at the physical contact, still looking at the assembled ponies with curiosity and wonder.

Rhino chuckles as he looks to them all. "So, who wants to hold her first? I know you all want to."

The drone nods at the pegasus at his side. "We would. Isn't that right, Silk?" He grins widely at her.

The yellow pegasus walks slowly up to the filly and picks her up, her eyes shimmering. She gently holds her to her chest as she turns to Flick. "I want one."

He nods, laughing a bit. "I figured you would!" He leans forward and gingerly kisses her, a warm smile on his lips. "Don't worry. I'll make sure we have one." He holds his hoof up, glancing at the filly. "You won't be upset if they're this tiny, will you?"

Silk looks at him incredulously. "Are you joking? It's less painful when they're tiny, and who wouldn't want an adorable little foal like this..." She nuzzles Ruby affectionately.

He chuckles, shaking his head. "If you say so." He smirks slightly, draping a wing across her back. "We can try for one the next time you're ready."

Manila is practically vibrating in her seat. "Can I see her next? Please?"

Gel giggles, turning to her best friend. "She did say please, Silk."

The pegasus reluctantly gives the filly to the earth pony. Manila squeals in joy as she tries to tickle the filly's belly. The foal's giggling only serves to make her happier.

The navy nymph watches this with a small smile, glad that everyone was enjoying time with her daughter. She notices a couple off to the side, simply sitting together. ...well, that's odd. She walks over to them, smiling softly. "Hello, you two. How was the reunion, yesterday?"

Octavia smiles. "It was very interesting, to say the least, but in the end, the family did what we enjoy best: spending time together."

Gel nods, smiling warmly. "That's always a good thing." She glances over her shoulder a second. "Is there any reason you're in a corner by yourselves, though?"

The grey mare's smile wavers a moment. "Oh, no reason. We just wanted to let the others have their fun with Ruby, first."

The navy nymph blinks, confused by this. "...even so, there's others you can chat with..." She hesitates momentarily, feeling how heavy the air is around them. "...is something wrong? You...seem to have a dark cloud hanging over your head..."

For the first time since the new-mother talked to them, the indigo nymph next to the mare puts a hoof on said pony's shoulder, concern clear on her face.

Octavia fiddles with a strand of her mane. "It's... really it's nothing to concern you about..."

Gel sighs, rubbing the back of her neck. "...well, if you're absolutely sure..." She turns to leave but stops, looking back over her shoulder at them. "If there's anything we can do - anything at all - don't hesitate to ask, okay?"

The grey mare looks at her for a moment, tilting her head before slowly nodding. "Yes... I'll keep that in mind."

She smiles and waves at them before returning to the others.

The nymph quirks an eyebrow, silently asking her what she was thinking.

"Just something that just occurred to me..." She looks at Rhino and Gel as they fawn over Ruby. "Maybe we could work something out..."

She follows her line of sight, wincing and looking at the gray mare in confusion.

Octavia looks quickly to the mute nymph as her question goes through her mind. "No I'm not sure! The idea is crazy, and not something you normally ask friends!" She calms down a little. "Would you even be willing to do something like that?"

The indigo changeling turns her gaze to the happy couple, and the tiny filly in the stallion's arms. She inaudibly sighs and turns to her mare, tenderly nuzzling her.

Octavia nuzzles her back, but her smile is still worried. "Are you sure? I don't want to force you into this, especially since you're the one that has to do it..."

She simply pecks her cheek, smiling softly and nodding.

"Okay..." The mare leans against the nymph, sighing softly. "I guess he would work, judging from what I've seen and what you've told me... How would we ever go about bringing something like this up, though? And when?"

She shrugs, shaking her head. After a moment of thought, she taps the cellist's chest.

Octavia sighs. "Yes... I know... doesn't mean the conversation is going to be any less awkward..."

The nymph appears to chuckle, wrapping her foreleg around the mare and holding her close.

The cellist nuzzles Luster again. "You're right of course... again..." She looks over to the other ponies. "Do you want us to go see the little one? She is adorable after all..."

She smirks, gesturing towards the crowd.

The two walk over to where Ditzy is just letting Pinchy toddle back over to her parents. Octavia looks to the blue nymph. "Are we too late for time with her?"

Gel looks up at them and shakes her head. "Not at all." She turns back to her daughter, gently nuzzling her. "This is Octavia and Luster. They're good friends of ours."

The nymph behind the cellist taps her shoulder, tilting her head to one side.

Octavia looks to her lover so Gel and Rhino would know she isn't talking to them. "I have no idea what we're considered, but we could always treat her that way, right?"

She nods and gestures to the stallion, smiling softly.

The mare looks to the parents. "Sorry if this is out of the blue, but Luster wonders if we are considered her aunts, considering how close all of us are."

Gel blinks, tilting her head to one side. "Why wouldn't you be?" She giggles. "Like you said, we're all really close. If I didn't know any better, I'd say we're all one big happy family!"

Rhino nods along. "I always thought it would be easier for the foals if they had a more personal connection besides 'friends of parents'. Besides this way they can come up with cute and silly things to call you."

Luster blinks, staring in undisguised surprise.

Flick laughs, waving to get attention. "Did you mean that about all of us? Even Mane, who isn't here?" He looks to Manila, his smile faltering. "Where is she, anyways?"

The mare answers with a small smile. "Sis said she was really sorry, but she already had a date planned for today. I hope it works out for her, she goes on enough, but they never seem to click..."

"Oh. Well, I hope it turns out well for her, too." He turns to the pegasus next to him. "She needs more love than that of her patients." He pauses, silent for a minute before holding a hoof up. "That came out wrong."

Silk lightly shoves him playfully. "Just a bit."

Gel giggles, shaking her head. "Oh, Flick...to answer your question, though, yes. We consider all of you as part of our family."

Rhino lifts up Ruby and walks over to Luster. "Would you like to hold your 'niece' then?"

She smiles and nods, carefully taking the filly with a forehoof.

Ruby, seeing someone so close in appearance to her mother, coos and starts trying to gum Luster's hoof.

She silently giggles, turning to the mare beside her. She holds the filly close, letting her do as she pleased with her hoof.

Octavia's eyes are soft as she gently strokes the foal's mane. "So precious..." Her eyes grow worried as she continues rubbing Ruby's head. "Wait..." She turns to the parents. "I thought you said she was a unicorn?"

Gel blinks, stepping forward and looking down at the filly. Instead of surprise, she sighs quietly and turns to her stallion. "She did it again, love."

He sighs, putting a hoof to his head. "What is she this time?"

She leans closer to the tiny pony, taking notice of the lack of feathers attached to her side. "Earth pony."

"Ah." Rhino looks to the confused couple. "She apparently has the ability to alter the presence of her horn and wings, she seems to do it on whim right now. She'll grow her horn back when she wants to."

Luster tilts her head to one side, confused. She turns to the mare next to her, hoping she could express what she wants to ask.

Octavia translates. "Luster wants to know if Ruby is an alicorn, or if she's just a special unicorn."

Rhino is the one to answer. "We think she's a unicorn, since she goes back to that most often, and we haven't seen her with both horn and wings yet. We're fairly certain it's just her changeling blood. How much else that affects... we're not sure yet."

The indigo nymph slowly nods, looking down at the filly cradled in her foreleg. She smiles warmly and gently boops her nose.

Ruby blows a raspberry in response while she puts her tiny hooves against Luster's.

Gel giggles, nodding slightly. "She's definitely warming up to you, 'aunt' Luster."

The nymph blushes and turns to Octavia, offering to let her hold her, now.

The grey mare takes the foal, leaning over her and smiling. As Octavia's mane hangs down over her shoulder, it tickles Ruby's nose. The pink filly scrunches up her nose before letting out a high-pitched sneeze.

As the filly rubs her nose, Rhino chuckles. "Well, I'm glad she reacted so well to her first sneeze."

"So am I." The navy changeling tenderly nuzzles his cheek before turning to everyone else. "So, who's hungry?"

***

After the gathering, the couple consisting of the goldenrod drone and the yellow pegasus take off to head to their home. Silk breaks the silence fairly quickly, always being one to speak her mind. "Ruby was quite the cutie, wasn't she?"

"Yes, she was. I can't wait to see what ours will look like." He playfully winks at her, grinning widely. He stops at the treeline and glances around quietly before being enveloped in a gold flame. He comes out in his primary disguise, a tan pegasus stallion. He sighs quietly and brushes a bit of dust off his shoulder. "Maybe they'll look like you, or like their fine father."

She giggles. "Considering we're both yellow, or at least the true you is..." she gives him the look she always does when he disguises himself instead of going about as he normally looks, "but then again, green and blue went and made pink, so what do I know?"

"Who knows?" He shrugs, staring up at the clouds above them as they walk. "Personally, I think purple is a nice color...maybe she'll have your mane?"

"I'd like that." She tilts and flies on her side for a bit. "How are you so casual about this, by the way? Usually ponies as a bit more hesitant, but you're all for it."

He blinks, turning to look at her. He stays silent for a moment before sighing softly. "Honestly, I'm a little nervous, too...but I feel that having a foal would also be quite nice..." He faces forward, letting his sentence trail off.

She angles her flight and ends up flying just underneath him to give him a long kiss. As they break it, she speaks. "I'm nervous too, but look how happy they are with theirs. I think it's more than worth it, hun."

He smiles warmly down at her. "I'm glad we agree." He glances up at their cloud home, a flash of concern crossing his face. "I just hope the foal doesn't change species randomly."

Silk nods as this thought occurs to her as well while she reorients heself to fly next to him. "Oh dear... well, who knows, maybe ours will be completely different. As far as we know, there's no way to tell how our genes will combine, so I guess we'll see." She pauses before adding. "Maybe we could look into wood flooring or something so they can't fall through."

"Good idea." He lands on the front step and pulls out a key. "I'll go out and find someone who does that this weekend."

As they walk inside, Silk immediately looks at Flick expectantly.

He looks back at her blankly. "...what?"

She snorts and crosses her forelegs. "We're in our home, and I don't recalling marrying a tan pegasus."

He chuckles nervously, quickly removing the disguise. "Sorry, I forgot." He stretches out, grunting quietly as the joints in his chitin pop. "Definitely feels good to be back in my own form, though." He moves forward and gently tilts her chin up, kissing her with a display of tenderness that only she will ever get to experience.

Her wings flutter as she catches her breath afterwards. "Now that... was the husband I know and love..."

He smirks, moving back from her. "I wouldn't let you forget, would I?" He slowly walks towards the couch, laying down upon it and closing his eyes. He doesn't try to fall asleep. Rather, he lets his mind wander, imagining the design of his next piece of art. "...definitely going to need more water color..."

Silk lightly pouts that he didn't do more, but smirks as she comes up with a plan to at least spend a little more time with him before he goes into one of his art zone-outs. She saunters over and runs a hoof along his wings as she passes him. "Oh Flick? Would you mind if we talked a little before you start on your art thoughts?"

The drone tenses, jolted from his thoughts by her actions. He turns to her, sheepishly smiling. "Of course. What's on your mind, Silk?"

She plays with a bit of his membrane-like mane as she speaks, a small pout on her face. "How come ponies never get to see me with my husband?"

He grimaces, lowering his head. "I don't want you to be hurt because of me. The very idea is painful..."

She lowers her head so that their eyes meet. "And what exactly do you think might happen?"

"...ponies trying to discredit your restaurant. Harassing you in the streets." He sighs, shaking his head. "I don't know. Maybe I'm just being paranoid...but with all that's happening to Gel and Doc, I can't help thinking about these things..."

She nuzzles him affectionately. "I understand, dear... but honestly... I think it would be worth it. If ponies discredit my restaurant, then I don't want them there. Remember, my restaurant appeals to a stronger impulse than petty suspicion. A few ponies leaving won't cripple us. As for the harassment... well, we can deal with them our own way."

He tilts his head to one side, curious. "...I suppose you're right. As always." He chuckles, shaking his head. "I'm lucky to have married you, aren't I?"

She gives him a single lick on his cheek. "Yes, yes you are. I can't say that I wasn't pretty lucky myself though." She squeezes next to him on the couch and looks up at him, fluttering her eyelashes.

"...do you have something in your eye?" He chuckles nervously, rubbing the back of his neck and averting his gaze.

"No..." She takes one of her wings and turns his head back to her. "But maybe..." she pushes him lightly onto his back, "I want to spend as much time with you as possible..." Her wings spread out as she looks down at him. "Perhaps I was touched by how much you care..."

He lays quietly beneath her, taking in her radiance. The sun shines through the window, its light lending to her appearance with a magnificent halo effect. He slowly smiles, a hoof rising to stroke along the unbelievably soft fur of her side. "Are you sure about this? You know I love you deeply...and I'd do anything to prove it. To make you happy."

"I know that very well..." She leans down, her eyes lidded as she pecks his lips before suddenly jumping off him. "And that is why you'll be going around town as yourself from now on." She caresses his face with her tail. "So I can be as affectionate as I want, anytime."

He grabs her tail in his teeth and gently tugs on it. "Fine, Miss Tease. I'll do it. However," he grabs her and pulls her close, "I want to kiss you some more. Does that sound fair?"

"More than fair." She crawls back onto the couch with him while wearing a sultry smile.

Chapter 7: Intruder

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The next morning as the sun peeks into the master bedroom on it's daily journey, a rather odd sight would had befallen its eyes, if it had any. Instead of it's usual two occupants, only the blue nymph is in the bed today. Her unicorn companion can actually be found downstairs in the living room with their daughter. The little pink hybrid is sleeping peacefully between her father's front hooves as he lies prone on the couch. His eyes show small dark circles under them as they slowly skim the book in front of him. His horn lights up as his aura envelops the glass on the table next to him, bringing it closer as he takes a sip of the cold milk inside before setting it back down.

His wife slowly wakes up, a hoof patting around the mattress for a moment. When she doesn't find the fluffy form she's looking for, she cracks open an eye and props herself up with a foreleg. She glances around the room in a half-awake state, trying to register what she's seeing. ...Rhino? Where are you?

In the living room, the stallion's ear twitches as her voice echoes in his head through their mental link. Downstairs, love. He lets out a tired yawn, covering his mouth with a hoof so as not to wake Ruby.

As she slowly, carefully makes her way down the stairs, she can't help wonder about earlier this morning. You left our dream last night and didn't return. Was something wrong? She reaches the bottom and heads towards the door of the living room, pushing it open quietly.

No... no, nothing wrong. He nuzzles the small filly in front of him gently, causing her to make content noises as she sleeps. She just got hungry in the middle of the night and I couldn't get back to sleep.

She walks over to him, the carpeting muffling her steps. She observes him for a moment, having become fully awake herself, before shaking her head. You need to rest, love. Badly. She holds up a hoof, quirking an eyebrow at him. How do you Res?

His face scrunches up as he tries to recall the words to explain his exact method, but after a minute, he sighs tiredly and gives a... simpler answer. ...magic?

She sighs, rubbing the bridge of her nose with a fetlock. I knew it. Your brain's starting to shut down. She walks over to him and gently puts a hoof on his shoulder. I have to go to the post office, today, but I'll be back soon. You try to get some rest while I'm gone, alright?

He starts rising from the couch. No, I'll be fine... let me just get her sling and we can all go...

She pushes more firmly on his side, frowning deeply. That wasn't a request, love. You know how I feel about you refusing to sleep. She runs a hoof through her mane, averting her gaze. I'll only be gone a couple of hours, three at the most.

He raises an eyebrow at her. Why would it take you hours to go to a post office?

Because I have to prove myself as the recipient. She sits down in front of him. You see, every half-year I receive a payment for a patent. This was done under the name 'Angelic Grace', however, so I'll need to fill out paperwork in order to receive it. She rolls a hoof nonchalantly. I figured that out the hard way when I went to get it last time. Thankfully, Angel is registered as one of my aliases, so the process is streamlined a bit. She blinks, frowning slightly as she remembers his current state of mind. I don't know if you'll remember this later, though, so I'll just leave it at that.

He nods slowly as this filters into his tired mind. Ok... He lets out another yawn. Remind me to ask you what you patented later... He motions her towards him with a hoof.

She leans forward and gently nuzzles him, giggling happily. You have my word. She gets up and heads out the door. She pauses to put on a pair of saddlebags they have in the foyer and leaves, closing the door behind her. She hums a quiet tune to herself as she trots down the road, wondering just how much she'll be getting this time.

As Rhino settles back down to see if he can catch a few winks, he can feel the room slowly warming up as the sun hits the house. An idea occurs to him that the cooler a room is, the more likely it is to help him get to sleep easier. He reluctantly get up and levitates Ruby onto his back before heading to the basement, which will cool off the slowest. He arrives in the makeshift runic lab and sets Ruby down on a couch cushion, tucking a soft blanket over her. However, as he turns to get on himself, he spots the disarray he had left his desk in the last time he was down here. Sighing, he walks over and starts to straighten it up so he can sleep without distraction.

***

Outside, a particular silver form watches the navy nymph until she disappears into the treeline. She huffs quietly and emerges from the thick undergrowth, shaking herself off. "It's about time." She quietly moves toward the front door, quietly pushing it open and shutting it just as carefully behind her.

She glances around, thinking out loud. "With the weather this warm, he'd likely be somewhere cool..." She heads upstairs, nodding to herself. "He might be in their bedroom. That seems like a good place to start." She opens the doors one by one, frowning more with each empty room. "This shouldn't be this hard. He's a freaking mountain of a pony!" She closes her eyes in an attempt to calm down. "...okay, so he's not upstairs. Maybe he's downstairs?" She quickly descends the staircase, glancing around cautiously. "Where would the entrance for that even be?"

Her hooves click along the wood flooring as she makes her way around the staircase, noticing the door there is slightly ajar. She smirks wickedly, pulling the door open and whispering softly to herself. "Perf-" She freezes as the hinges squeak, mentally cursing them for not oiling them.

Her ears perk to see if there's any sign he heard her, but the only thing she hears is the rustling of papers punctuated by the occasional yawn.

She sighs in relief, slowly walking down the stairs and glancing around, making sure to get a sense of the room before stepping out from her cover.

The room is fairly spacious, with cobblestones lining the walls. Furniture such as bookshelves and a few chests are scattered about. To one side there is a couch, and at the center of it all is her goal, standing over a desk as he messes with what lies upon it. His back is to her and his movements seem sluggish.

She grins, stepping forward and pulling a sharp knife out of her bag. She raises the dagger high above her head in her magic, eyes twinkling with anger. So sure is she that she'll be able to accomplish her mission, she shouts out as she lunges at him. "Die!"

***

A shout rings out from behind the stallion. "Huh?" Rhino moves to the side and turns around as he tries to determine the source of the shout. What he sees, however, he never could have expected. A knife encased in silver magic thuds into the desk right where he just was. He looks to the owner and is surprised again.

In front of him is what he can only describe as a silver-tinted changeling filly. Her mane falls slightly in front of eyes that emit an emotion he is unaccustomed to seeing from being this young.

Pure hate.

She huffs, glaring at him fiercely. "You're fast, even when you're tired." She yanks the blade out of the desk and holds it up to his neck, bearing her teeth at him. "I won't make that mistake twice."

He looks at the small changeling incredulously, unable to process a threat from a child in his current state. "Why are you doing this? I don't even know you!"

She falters, visibly taken aback by this statement. "What?" She pauses a moment before shaking her head, growling at him. "Don't play coy with me!" She stomps forward, so much so that she has to turn her head straight up to scowl at him. "I don't know what you did, but she's better than you deserve, asshole. Release whatever incantation you placed on her and I'll let you live." She sneers at him, pulling the knife away and waving it at him. "Don't, and you'll soon be begging me to let you."

His eyes lock onto the knife while his horn lights up. Suddenly her magic is not the only one grasping the knife as Rhino holds it in place. He switches his gaze to her as his eyes narrow. "You... do not talk like a normal filly... Why are you concerned about my wife?"

"You know very well why!" Abandoning her grip on the knife, she leaps forward and punches him in the jaw. "Let her go!"

Rhino stumbles and barely manages to catch himself before his face impacts the floor, the pure force behind the blow surprised him. Everything about this encounter is surprising him. He rises and shifts into a combat stance. "There's nothing to let her go from, but if you are suggesting what I think you are..." his horn glows brighter, "I won't let her be alone again."

She blinks, not expecting that reaction. "What are you talking about? Since when did you care about anyone else other than yourself?!" She growls, eyes narrowing at him. "You're not going to trick me again, so just give up the act!"

He hisses back. "What do you even mean, 'again'? We've never met!"

"Liar!" She roars in anger, leaping forward and throwing a punch straight at his chest.

He blocks her blow, but still gets pushed back a small bit. Over at the couch, unknown to either combatant, a tiny pink filly frowns and wiggles in her sleep, the emotions in the room, as well as the sounds muffled by the blanket over her are starting to disturb her slumber.

She scowls at him, her wings flared in indignation. "I hate liars!" She punches him again, and again, pushing him back with each strike. "Stop with the deception and let Gel be free!"

He continues blocking her blows with both magic and forelegs, doubting that he has the reflexes in his current state to strike back before she hits him. He continues trying to reason with the mysterious changeling. "She is free! I worked hard to make sure that she was free, free to be with me!"

She stops and falls back onto her hooves, panting softly. She doesn't let her guard down, however, backing away to keep him at a distance. "She would never be with a megalomaniac like you. She was raised better than that!"

The squirming under the blanket on the couch intensifies as Ruby starts whining softly.

Rhino groans as he plants his forelegs back on the ground. "What are you even talking about? How do you know how she was raised? Why are you attacking me?"

She begins to respond when the sound behind her reaches her ears. She looks to the sofa, confused by the noises coming from it. "...what is that?"

His eyes widen as he teleports between the intruder and his covered daughter. "Nothing that concerns you. This is between you and me."

She blinks, glancing from where he was to where he went, surprised. "So you gained a new power. Impressive." She shakes her head, stepping forward. "Even so, I'm not going to let you hide something from me." She pushes him aside, walking over to the wriggling mass beneath the blanket.

His horn lights up as he grabs the small nymph in his magic before tossing her to the other side of the room. He once again plants himself between her and Ruby, thinking that if she attacked him, then she might not hesitate to attack his child.

She quirks an eyebrow at him, bemused. "Seriously?" She gets up and brushes herself off as if she'd only stumbled. "I'm not leaving until I know just what is underneath that." Her magic grabs the edge of the blanket. "With or without your approval." She yanks it aside, focusing on the cushions beneath.

Having her blanket taken away proves to be the last straw for the little pink foal on her back underneath it. She trembles for a moment before squeezing her eyes closed, opening her mouth, and letting a piercing cry to show her displeasure. Her hooves thrash around as she continues, her tiny lungs giving all their worth.

Rhino immediately walks over and picks up the upset filly in his forelegs before sitting down. He's tries to calm her down, but at the moment she is proving to be inconsolable.

The nymph, meanwhile, simply drops the cover, jaw agape in shock. "...no. You did it. You really did it." She bites her lip and backs away, trembling slightly. "I can't believe this. I can't." She turns and flees up the staircase, the hoof falls heavy for such a small changeling. She pauses at the top, yelling down at him. "This isn't over!"

Rhino looks up the stairs and debates whether to go after the confused and maybe insane young changeling, but the cries of his daughter drown out those thoughts soon enough. He makes shushing noises as he sits there with her, trying to get her to calm down by holding her and projecting his love to her. He's not sure if she absorbs emotions yet, but they seem to have some effect on her mood, so he tends to use them anyway.

She continues crying, struggling in his embrace. However, the longer they sit there, the calmer she becomes. Soon enough, she's simply whining, looking up at him with tear-filled eyes.

He nuzzles her gently as he whispers to her. "I'm sorry you had to be here for all that... but I've got you now. It's all okay... it's all okay..."

She sniffles, hugging his snout tightly. Her whines slowly come to an end as well, and she holds him as much as her little form will allow.

***

She ran. Confused and angry with both herself and him, she ran. Into the treeline, down hidden paths, her small form allowing her in places others could not or would dare not to go. Finally, she comes upon a flat stone wall. Her horn lights up as her silver magic moves the rock in just the right way to open the passage for her to squeeze through to the cave beyond.

Eerie, green-tinted light filters in through the ivy-covered holes above. The cavern is obviously well used, a pile of ashes sits in the center of the floor while a pile of soft grasses lies against the wall. Every stone is in a place it can be used, such is the home of this changeling.

She stands at the entrance to her home, breathing heavily from her mad dash back. She grits her teeth and slams her hoof into the wall, eyes burning with fury. "Damn it!" She approaches the side of the room, sitting on a flat rock there. "This can't be true. Gel is with that...monster? Had a foal, conceived from him?!" She punches the floor, panting slightly. "This body is getting weaker. I can't let him get the best of me. Never again!"

Her rant is cut short by a rumble in her stomach. She picks up a charcoal-black container on a shelf next to her and takes a small amount of it into her body, looking at it afterwards and frowning slightly. The white glow emanating from it can barely be seen through the clear window. "My supply of love is running low. I'll have to act soon, before I starve to death."

She looks up at the skylights, her expression slowly shifting from anger to sadness. "Don't worry, Gel. I'll protect you, just like I promised."

She looks down to the stone floor. "It's taken me too long already..." She slumps down as she makes scratches in the floor with a hoof. "An entire year... has it really been that long? I finally found you after you had been cut off from the hive... We all heard talk of them going to get you back before, then all but one disappeared... including him. It couldn't be a coincidence. He was always determined. I listened... for months I listened, waiting to hear one single word of him, but no. He apparently cut himself off from them too. I tracked you down... only to see him."

She shudders. "I tried other ways... searching for I don't know how long to find some flaw, some missing information, something I could use against him for you... but there was nothing... I tried to watch, see if there was any point you were yourself instead of what he forced you to be. Again... there was nothing..."

She stomps a hoof. "I got impatient, thought maybe I could shock him enough to either reveal who he was to you, or at least interrupt his control, but I failed. My warning and the rock did nothing that I wanted... Then I find out you're pregnant... I couldn't do anything then..."

Her eyes close. "I waited until you delivered, I was patient until I could get him alone, out of town..." She looks at her hooves. "I had him... he was weak... he was mine... and then I choke at the sight of your combined blood..."

The nymph goes quiet for a moment before slowly standing up. "...what am I to do?" She walks over to the grass-bed, curling up on it. "I can't just attack him with you there. You're so lost in his control you'd probably hate me for it. I can't stand the thought of that..." She groans, covering her face with her hooves. "...but what choice do I have?"

She clenches her cloth pillow, anger welling deep inside of her. "I will not let him take you from me."

***

A few hours later, Rhino and Pinchy are back up in the living room. The stallion has been quiet, and the filly has been making all efforts to stay as close to him as possible since the small changeling invaded their home. Currently, the two are playing together with the pets and a ball. Arranged in a rough square, each pet has a corner while Rhino makes up the last one with Ruby against his chest as he lies prone. It's simply a game of rolling the ball back and forth, most of the time it goes to Ruby just to see the small smile on her face as she pounces on it before rolling it back to her father.

The front door opens, and a quiet clink sounds out. "I'm home!" She walks into the living room and pauses, blinking at the sight before her.

Rhino looks up from the spot he chose so he could always see the door. He smiles softly at her. "Welcome home."

She simply stares for a moment longer before turning to him, setting her bags on the floor. "Thank you. You got some sleep like I asked, correct?"

He winces, knowing full well that what happened earlier had robbed him of any notion of sleeping. "Umm, well... not exactly..."

She frowns and sighs, heading over to him and gently nuzzling his head. "Please, tell me what your excuse for not resting is, this time."

He looks down at their filly, who looks back up at him before nuzzling against his chest. "There was... a small incident..."

Gel blinks, turning to him, concern clear on her face. "What's wrong? Did you injure yourself? Did Ruby need to be fed again?"

"Umm... well..." he unfolds his legs so that she small bruises on them can be seen, "a changeling filly... may have broke into our house... she also may have been aggressive and attacked me. I think she thought I was someone else..."

She stares at his forelegs in horror, reaching out a shaky hoof but stopping herself, berating her thoughtlessness. She bites her lip and looks up at him, concerned. "...this...this isn't the first time a changeling attacked us in our home...but I'm glad all you gained are bruises..." She gently tilts his head with a hoof, frowning at the darker spot on his jawline. "...I'll get you some of that medicine. I'm sure we still have some left over." She stands up and heads to the connected bathroom, searching through the cabinet carefully. "I guess we'll have to be more careful in the future, won't we?"

"I guess... though I can't imagine unattended changeling young ones to be a common thing..." He smiles as he sees Ruby bring back the ball to him. He nuzzles her, then the ball before rolling it over to Selena so the pets could continue the game.

She walks back in, vial of salve in her magical aura. "It depends on how young she was. Like I said, we attend school for a few years and then go to a branch befitting our intelligence. At that point, we're considered adults." She gives him the container. "So it's quite a bit more common than you think."

"If we're going purely on looks, I'd say she was about the Crusader's age." He tickles Ruby with a breath of air before kissing her belly. "You are getting a full pony education and are stuck with me for a good portion of your early life. I'm not giving up my little girl early..."

She can only smirk at her husband's words, shaking her head. "You're already falling into the role of a protective father, aren't you?" The nymph giggles, sticking her tongue out at him. "Luna have mercy on any boy who takes a liking to her."

He chuckles. "Oh, I've been working on my speech for the first colt who dated any potential daughter of mine since I was in college. Gives me shivers sometimes when I play it in my head."

She tilts her head as she sits next to him, unable to help her curiosity. "Is it alright if I hear it, sometime? It sounds like a good speech, from what you say."

He looks away. "I don't know... it can get kind of dark at points... plus I'm redoing parts of it to accurately describe how we feel about our little princess here." He looks down to Ruby who is laying on her side, curled around the ball and gumming it with her tail swishing.

She looks at their daughter a moment, smiling warmly at her antics. "Those feelings really are hard to put into words, aren't they?"

"They are indeed..." He eyes the vial as Gel uncorks it. "I'm just glad I can get her to stop crying..."

She snaps her gaze to him, eyes wide in shock. "S-she was crying? Why?"

He sighs as he sets his head on the floor next to Ruby, who gets off the ball and hugs his muzzle. "The scuffle woke her up, and the emotions in the room may have made it worse, though until she can speak I don't really have proof that emotions affect her like that."

"That's troublesome." She frowns, tapping her chin in thought. "Maybe we can have Twilight's opinion on it? She might have a few ideas for us, right?"

"I was thinking about maybe suggesting we go see her after work or something this week. She'll be excited to finally meet Ruby, probably add her to the book right away." He lets out a yawn as he rolls his eyes toward Gel. "Can I get some of that stuff now? My legs are a bit achey."

"Oh, right!" She sheepishly smiles and starts to rub the medicine into his forelegs, making sure not to push too roughly on the sore spots. "You're right, though. She'd love to meet her."

He lets out a slow breath as she rubs the cool medicine onto his bruises. "Yeah... maybe she can help us figure a few things out about her too...' He lets out another yawn.

Gel glances at him, noticing the yawn. "Agreed. I would tell you about what my patent is, now, but you seem to be rather tired." She gestures to the couch, giggling softly. "Go get some sleep, love."

He curls a foreleg around her and pulls her close while looking at the pink filly hugging his muzzle. "I sleep better when I have both my girls..."

She smiles softly, gently nuzzling his cheek. "...that's fine with me...I could use a little rest, myself..."

He looks back to Ruby. "You're always up for a nap, right?" She lets out a tiny yawn in response. "Well, that settles that then." The three make their way over to the couch and curl up, Rhino in the back, Gel against him, and Ruby against her. The pets soon join them as the family settles down for a household nap much like the first night their foal came into their lives.

Chapter 8: Back to Work

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Soon, Monday some around, signaling the start of the work week. As has been the habit half the time these days, Ruby can be found in bed between her parents, put there after her pre-dawn feeding.

The little pink foal yawns as she wakes to the sight of the sun filtering through her mother's transparent wings to shine a light blue light on her. She looks to both her parents, seeing that they are still asleep. Working herself to her hooves, she toddles over to Rhino's muzzle, rearing up and pushing on it with her front hooves and making small noises to wake him up. She then moves over to Gel and repeats the process. She does this once more to both of them before she sees signs of waking from Gel.

The nymph's eyes slowly flutter open, confused. "...what..." Her eyes eventually focus on the tiny filly on her muzzle and she smiles warmly. "...good morning, Ruby...did you sleep well?"

She makes various baby noises back at her before nuzzling her and toddling back over to Rhino to try and get him up as well. She rears up again and climbs up onto his muzzle, looking down at his closed eye and making sound at it.

Gel playfully smirks and puts a hoof on her stallion's shoulder. She gently shakes him, leaning in close enough for her hair to fall around his face. "Wake up, Rhino." She kisses his forehead, giggling quietly. "We need to get ready."

His body shifts a bit as he opens his eyes slowly. He gazes in awe at the beautiful sights before him of his daughter and wife. Slowly, so as not to disturb the filly's footing, he raises his head enough to kiss Gel on the lips. "You look lovely this morning."

She rolls her eyes, pulling away from him. "You always say that, love."

He smiles at her. "Doesn't make it any less true."

She sticks her tongue out at him. "Flatterer." She gets up off the bed, stretching quickly. "We should get ready, though. We have work today, after all."

He gently levitates Ruby off his nose, the filly blowing him a raspberry for that, and looks to Gel. "When was this decided? I told you I didn't put a definitive amount of time off from work, so we don't have to go back today. The week comment was just an estimate."

"I know that." She walks into the closet, closing the door behind her. "Still, there's three reasons I want to go back. One, I'd like to show our daughter where we work." There's the sound of elastic snapping against chitin, immediately followed by a squeak. "T-two, it's about time for our pets to get a check-up. And three," she steps out, dressed in her sky-blue scrubs with the cloud patterns, "I don't want to keep you from something you enjoy doing."

He sticks out his tongue, which makes Ruby laugh. "You and your figuring out of exactly how to make me see things your way..."

She giggles, walking forward and tenderly kissing him, leaning over the bed. "It's one of the things I do best." She winks playfully at him before heading to the bathroom. "I just need to get a few items out of here before you shower."

He nuzzles Ruby as he responds cheekily. "Oh no! You might see me naked! Such a scandal!"

"Actually, I was more concerned with Ruby needing something when neither of us are available." She pokes her head out, smirking slightly. "I enjoy seeing you naked. I enjoy it even more when you're excited." She disappears for a moment before returning with earrings and glasses on. "All yours, love."

He quickly gets out of the bed and walks over to her, flicking her side with his tail. He whispers into her ear. "Good to know..."

She blushes and hurries over to the bed. She carefully picks up Ruby and hurries out the bedroom door. "Let's go wake the others up."

The morning proceeds normally, with all the family getting ready and heading out to town. Pinchy is once again in her sling and the pets are piled onto the stallion and nymph in various arrangements. Rhino smiles as they reach the small veterinary clinic, pulling out his key and opening the door for Gel.

She steps inside, smiling softly at the atmosphere of the waiting room. "Just like I remember...except for this..." She walks over to the desk, picking up an apple-shaped picture frame. She turns it over and smiles at the photo. "Look, Rhino. It's Manila and Big Mac."

He chuckles as he looks at the photo. "About time she put something like that on her desk. Only took her, what? A year? I guess she wanted to wait until they got engaged, and then she finally got that great photo from the reunion."

"It seems like it." She giggles and looks at the picture as well. She blinks, frowning and squinting at something in the background. "...is...is it me or...is the Apple Family barn just a wooden frame?"

He shrugs as he heads towards his office to put his stuff in there and retrieve the tools of his trade. "Maybe it was a new barn?"

"...maybe." She shrugs and puts the frame back down. "Still, that doesn't explain why Luster is fiddling behind them." She stretches, carefully placing Mercury and Ruby on the floor. "Keep an eye on her, little one. I want to be sure she won't get hurt."

He nods and curls protectively around Ruby, the foal laughing and nuzzling him.

She smiles and gently nuzzles him. "That's my kit." She starts setting up her workspace, placing the typewriters in the correct spots and turning to glance at the hallway. Did you see that balloon floating overhead, earlier? I could swear that no one was in it...

Test balloon maybe? He comes back in wearing his white coat with a few items in the pockets. Selena and Specter follow a moment later, having dismounted him when he needed to get dressed.

Maybe... She turns to him and stops, blushing brightly. "...y-you look great." She quickly averts her eyes, busying herself with the ribbon on the larger of the two typewriters.

He smirks as he saunters up to her, rubbing against her side. "Surely you're used to seeing me like this? Both at work and at home for special occasions?"

She meekly nods, glancing up at him. "...y-yes...b-but that doesn't stop my...a-attraction to doctors..."

"Well, lucky me then." He nibbles her ear teasingly as he moves to stand next to her.

She shivers from the action before playfully pushing him with a hoof. "You're lucky the little ones are watching." I'd be jumping your bones, otherwise.

I know. He winks at her and gives her a kiss on the cheek before turning and smiling down at Ruby, who has shifted in mercury's grip so she is now laying on top of him.

Gel smiles warmly at this little scene. "They really do get along quite well..." She turns her attention to the schedule next to the picture frame, reading off the list of morning appointments. She soon pauses, however, brow furrowing in confusion. "...I...I don't think I know this pony...I certainly don't recognize the name..."

Rhino peeks at the schedule, the name not ringing any bells for him either. "I guess we'll see who it is when they get here. Frankly, it's that first appointment that concerns me."

The nymph blinks, turning her attention to the first pony's name. Her eyes almost immediately widen, and she turns to him, accidentally bopping their noses together. She winces, rubbing her snout as she speaks. "I didn't even know she had a pet. What species is..." She trails off, realizing the pet's name wasn't on the appointment notice.

He shrugs. "No clue, last time she was here, I wasn't working here. It's probably in her file though."

She sighs, rubbing the back of her neck. "I suppose that's true..." Her ear twitches as the clock tower chimes, the bell sounding off eight more times before stopping. "It's nine o'clock. She'll be here, soon..."

At that moment, Gel suddenly feels her chair barely move. A series of small sounds comes from the floor in front of her. A look down reveals her daughter, eyes wide as she tries to get her attention.

She smiles warmly at her, leaning down and carefully picking her up. She nuzzles her belly, giggling quietly. "Did you want your mommy?"

Ruby laughs and hugs Gel's muzzle with all four hooves before starting to try and wiggle out of her grasp. Her head is very pointedly directed at a specific part of her mother's lower anatomy.

Realization quickly crosses her face. "Oh, you're hungry." She glances around and brings over a stool. She places it in front of her chair, and her daughter on top of that, at the same level as her teats. "There you go. Drink up!" She pushes her glasses back up her nose with a hoof, the other gently stroking Ruby's mane.

The filly heads straight for her goal, but stops and whines as she reaches Gel. She nudges the scrubs the changeling is wearing with her head, then switches to pawing at them with a tiny hoof, trying to figure out how to get past them.

The nymph blushes softly, embarrassed. She glances around to make sure no one is watching before standing up slightly, pulling the bottom half of her scrubs down far enough to expose the small mounds. "S-sorry about that, sweetie."

The filly doesn't show any sign of a grudge as she eagerly latches onto one and begins suckling. Her tail swishes back and forth slowly as it often does when she feeds.

Rhino smiles lovingly at the scene. "Decided to go with the non-bottle route until clients arrive?"

Gel smiles at him, nodding quietly. "I just hope she finishes before our first one shows up."

He chuckles. "Yeah... something tells me she won't be happy if you try to remove her before she's done." He strokes Ruby's mane fondly before tilting his head and looking at her closely. He hums to himself before quickly heading back to his office.

Gel blinks, watching him leave before turning to their daughter. "...I wonder what that was about...maybe Daddy's just being silly." She giggles at her comment.

Ruby's only response is to stop nursing a moment to make some satisfied sounds before getting back to it, a small amount of milk dribbling down her chin.

Rhino returns in about a minute, a ruler and scale both floating in his magic.

Gel can only stare at him in confusion. She can't even think of a response to his newly-acquired measuring devices.

He sees her questioning look. "What? I wanted to check something." He sets the scale on the desk and fiddles with it to zero it out. Then, he takes the ruler and sets it next to the prone filly who stays nicely still, occupied as she is.

She watches in silence for a few moments before cracking a smile. "You're going to measure her weight right after a meal? Is that wise?"

He continues looking at the ruler. "Well, it's definitely not the usual tactic, but I want to do this while I'm thinking about it before it slips my mind. Plus, this is mostly for my own curiosity. I should probably start an official growth chart for her though... I know Twilight would eat that up." He takes the ruler away and nods. "She's only a week old so it's not like I expected that much. She looks like she's grown a little less than half an inch from nose to tail base."

The nymph blinks, considering this. "...I have no idea what to think of that...I'm glad she's growing, though."

He nods, sitting back and leaning against Gel while he waits for Ruby to finish her meal. He lets the silence stay for a moment before voicing a thought to Gel. "Do you think... we'll do alright with her?"

She smiles warmly, leaning up to gently kiss him on the lips. "I'm certain we will. After all, you've proven yourself capable of rescuing me from Mimic. This'll be a walk in the park!" She sticks her tongue out at him teasingly.

Although not quite the answer he expected, her words still make him smile. "Maybe..." He lets out a breath as he looks back down at their daughter. "I guess we just take it one step at a time..."

She nods, leaning up against his fluffy side. "The first step's always the hardest. The journey will be worth it. Trust me." She glances down, catching sight of his watch. "Fifteen minutes until she gets here..."

As Gel finishes her comment, the door to the clinic opens and two familiar earth pony sisters walk in. One of them looking excitedly to the desk, the already open clinic tipping her off as to what she might find. "You're back!"

The navy nymph giggles brightly and waves at them. "Yep! Rhino took a bit of convincing, though." She teasingly elbows his side.

Manila narrows her eyes at him. "Oh? Didn't you want to come back to work and see us? Didn't you miss us?" By the end, she is very nearly pouting.

Rhino just chuckles and takes it in stride. "Well, sure but you know how many distractions there can be at home."

The mare sticks her tongue out at him. "I ignore you and your logic." Her tongue zips back in her mouth. "So, where the little pink ponified essence of cute?"

Gel blushes softly, tapping her forehooves together nervously. "W-well, she's nearby..."

Manila tilts her head, but Mane seems to understand as she carefully watches the changeling's face. Her facial expressions and her eyes darting downward give her away. "Ah, I see. Don't worry Gel, every mother has to do it, nothing to be ashamed of."

"I-I guess..." She rubs the back of her neck. In an attempt to change the subject, she picks up the picture frame and turns it towards them. "This is a cute picture, isn't it? Especially with how Big Mac's embracing you."

The female vet giggles as she looks at the picture then turns to her sister. "Oh yes, I seem to recall the first time you told me about that picture. Something about how you always enjoy the feeling of his big strong forelegs around you and how you sometimes imagine..."

"Mane!" The other mare pushes her to make her stop talking, which only makes the vet laugh.

Gel giggles, pulling the green unicorn next to her closer with a hoof. "I feel the same way about Rhino...at least, from what I heard." She winks playfully at them.

As Manila blushes, Gel feels the familiar sensation of Ruby separating herself from her. The little foal looks up at her mother with a smile and milk on half her face.

She smiles back, picking her up and gently dabbing the milk off her fur. "Did you enjoy your meal, sweetie?"

Ruby responds by babbling back in her usual array of baby noises as the two sisters 'aww' in the background.

Gel giggles, nuzzling her belly softly before turning to Rhino. "Would you like to hold her a little while?"

He nods as he takes the filly. "Let me just check something first." He puts Ruby on the scale for a few seconds before nodding and taking her off, holding her in his forelegs as he loves doing. Her responding nuzzling into his chest shows she enjoys it just as much.

The changeling quirks an eyebrow at him. "So, what's the ruling, love?"

He focuses on their daughter as he responds. "Nothing too exciting, or even more accurate than a rough guess because of when I did it, but she has definitely gained some ounces. Exact amount unknown of course, I just wanted to make sure and get a rough idea."

Manila giggles as she walks closer and looks at Ruby. "It's kind of sad knowing she won't be this tiny and adorable for that long..."

"Maybe." Gel shrugs, standing up slightly to pull her scrubs back up. "I'd like to think she'll still be adorable when she grows up."

Rhino comments as Ruby starts nibbling on the tip of one of his hooves. "She will if I have anything to say about it."

She smiles and gently kisses his cheek. "I knew you'd say that." She turns to the siblings, tilting her head to one side. "Are you going to stay here this morning?"

Manila shrugs. "Eh, what the hay, why not? It just means we get paid overtime." She scoots another chair behind the desk and looks to Gel teasingly. "You don't mind sharing, do you?"

"Not at all." She gestures to the smaller typewriter, where a certain feline is currently typing away. "You'll have to share with Selena, though."

Manila looks to the kitten whose odd tendency had become a normal part of life. "Anything to say today, Little Grey?"

She looks up at her and mews, pawing at her mane.

Gel looks at the page she was working on, readjusting her glasses as she does so. "'I could really use some milk right now.'"

Manila blushes slightly. "Umm... she does mean hers, right? Not yours?"

"I believe so." She looks to the cat as she rubs up against her body and purrs. "She's only ever had dairy milk."

The mare nods. "Just making sure."

A few minutes pass and as the second the clock hits the time of their first appointment, the front doors open and the town's party pony bounces through the door with a wicker basket on her head, eyes closed as she heads for the front desk.

Hesitation flickers across the nymph's face, but she smiles warmly at the approaching mare. "Good morning. How have you been so far, today?"

The pink pony opens her blue eyes and smiles winningly at Gel. "Just peachy pinkie keen! What about you? I hope you've had a good morning, especially because Gummy's been looking forward to his appointment and everything always goes so much better if everypony's had a good morning!"

She shrugs, relaxing slightly. "I'm feeling quite well. The fact I'm getting back to work is helping a lot, too."

Pinkie nods. "I understand. I love my job at Sugarcube Corner and can't wait to get to it some days! But of course, the most important thing that should be making you happy is your new baby! Can I see her? I've only heard a few things around town, mostly that she's tiny and pink, but all foals are tiny, and some of them are going to be pink, so that really didn't help much! So can I see her, huh huh huh?" The party pony is practically bouncing in place.

Gel blinks but nods. "S-sure. One second." She turns to her stallion. "Rhino?"

He looks up from where he had been contently sitting and holding Ruby for the last few minutes. After looking at Pinkie thoughtfully for a moment, he nods and stands up, walking over and tilting his foreleg.

Ruby lays on her stomach on top of his leg, gnawing on his hoof until she notices the large pink mass staring at her. She looks up, her green eyes meeting Pinkie's blue ones.

Surprisingly, Pinkie moves quite slowly as she approaches the foal. "Wow... she really is tiny... and pink." She waves a hoof at the filly with a cheery smile. "Hey there! Nice to finally meet you!"

Ruby sits up and starts sucking on one of her own hooves while looking at the large curious mare.

This only makes Pinkie giggle. "Aww... she's a cutie. What do you think, Gummy?"

A scaly green head pokes out of her basket and looks at the foal, unblinking.

Gel squeaks, backing away in shock. "I-is that an alligator? Y-your pet is an alligator?"

Rhino has a similar reaction as he quickly withdraws Ruby protectively against his chest, narrowing his eyes at the reptile.

Pinkie looks at both parents in confusion before her eyes widen in realization. "Oh, no no no no no no, you don't have to worry about Gummy!" She takes the alligator out of the basket and holds him out towards Gel. "See? He's nice. Plus he has no teeth." The baby gator opens his mouth and sure enough, not a single tooth can be seen in its maw.

She calms down at this and, audibly swallowing, carefully reaches out to pat the reptile on his head.

He doesn't even react to the touch, simply staring at nothing in particular before slowly blinking once.

Gel pulls her hoof back, awkwardly standing in behind the desk. "...s-so, you're here for an appointment, right?"

"Yep!" Gummy clamps onto her mane before she bounces back over to the desk. "Gummy's got a checkup!"

As Gel goes through the usual small questions with Pinkie, Mane comes back into the waiting room and looks over to Rhino as he holds Ruby. The stallion matches her gaze and tilts his head towards Pinkie as he mouths at the other vet. 'Are you taking this one or am I?'

She simply smiles and giggles before mouthing back. 'I took her last time she came, it's your turn.'

He sighs and looks back to the client as Gel finishes up.

The nymph appears to be quite confused. "I'm afraid I don't follow."

Pinkie tilts her head. "I know, right? I thought they just mixed it up since they named blueberries and blackberries after their color and they didn't want to call something redberries, but I have no idea why they called them strawberries! They taste nothing like straw, and they make terrible straws! Too many seeds..."

She slowly nods, pressing a few keys on her typewriter. "Why not call them 'roseberries'? They're part of the rose family, after all..."

This actually stops the pink pony in her tracks. "Wait, they are?"

She nods, holding up a glass of water. "True story." She brings it up and sips at it.

"Huh... I should ask Twilight about that, she smart about this kind of stuff. Well, she smart about everything, but she'll probably be smart about this too." She nods to herself. "Maybe I can throw a berry party afterwards..."

She nods, turning to Rhino. "Are you ready for her?"

He nods as he comes over and offer Ruby to her. "Just waiting for you to be done."

She smiles warmly, gingerly taking their daughter and cradling her in her forelegs. "Thank you for being so considerate, love."

He gives her a quick kiss before motioning for Pinkie to follow him to the back. In the examination room, Pinkie sets Gummy down on the metal table in the center. Rhino pulls out his stethoscope and starts to listen to the gator's heart and lungs, generally staying away from his mouth.

Pinkie only manages to stay still a few seconds before she starts bouncing in place and talking. "So, what's the word? Good, bad, okay, pickle, kumkwat?"

Sifting through the verbal assault, Rhino answers what he actual question is. "I'll know soon enough. He does seem fine at a casual glance, though." He starts peering closely at the scales on the gator's claws and tail.

She bounces over and stands next to him. "And at a formal glance? Semi-formal glance? Business casual glance?"

He finishes up and nods. "At all levels of glancing, he is fine. Though, I feel the need to ask: Since you saw Doctor Goodall last time you were here, I assume you talked to her about his, well, lack of teeth?"

She nods quickly. "Oh yeah, not really much to say though. I found him that way, and he's never complained. He's just my special Gummy Gator!" She brings the reptile into a hug, though his only reaction is a slight wag of his tail.

Rhino makes a few notes on the pet's chart before nodding and opening the door back to the front. "Well, that was everything, quick and easy. Just make sure to keep his mouth and scales clean and he should stay nice and healthy."

"Okie dokie lokie!" She salutes before snorting and bouncing back towards the front.

The party pony is checked out and soon the clinic returns to its usual quiet state it has when no clients are present.

Off to one side, Mercury has curled protectively around Ruby, the two of them sleeping as everyone else was focused elsewhere.

***

The small pink forms stirs from her short nap, her tiny tongue sticking out as she yawns. She looks down at her silver-furred bed and smiles, rubbing it with a hoof before crawling off him and getting to her hooves. She looks around the room, so different from her home that she is used to. She spies her mother exactly where she left her, but where could her father be? Her little legs start moving as she goes to find him.

The fox's ear twitches at the sound of hoofsteps, and he peeks open an eye just in time to see her wandering around the edge of the desk. Curious and concerned, he stands up and follows, glancing up at Gel as he passes by.

The nymph in question sees them walking off but smiles and waves a hoof. She obviously trusts him to keep the tiny filly safe, turning back to her typewriter and leaving them to their own devices.

Ruby walks along the wall down the hallway, looking around for Rhino. Surely he is around here somewhere? He's never too far away for too long. Unfortunately, all she can see is the large doors that will let her into other rooms. She stops at the first one she comes to, but quickly realizes a problem. How is she going to get in? The door is closed and only big ponies are tall enough to open it. She scuffs the bottom of the door to see if there is maybe another way.

Mercury stops right next to her, staying silent for a moment as she tries to open a door. He stares up at it, noticing the lack of a handle and the sign with a pony on the front. He shrugs and pushes it open, revealing the room beyond to himself and the little pony.

Ruby immediately toddles in, looking around the room. It looks similar to some they have in their house, with its tiled floor and porcelain seat, but there are two major differences. For one thing, it's much smaller, and for another, there is no green unicorn in it, which is the most important thing. She spies some smaller doors under the counter. Maybe they lead to where he is. She walks over and pushes her nose against them, seeing how one end moves and moving to it before trying it again. Slowly the door eases open enough for her to slip in, so she does. The door closes shut behind her, leaving her in almost complete darkness. She spins in place, but can't seem to find the door she came in. Thinking that she is trapped, the foal sits in place and starts to whine, hoping someone will find her.

Hearing this, the fox hurries over, his bushy tail pulling the main door with him, and bites the edge of the door. Slowly moving backwards, he successfully pulls it open, letting a yip escape as he tries to keep from slipping on the tile.

Ruby quickly stumbles out of the cabinet, not even bothering to look behind her in her haste to get out. She quickly toddles out of the bathroom and back into the hall, moving to the next door. As Mercury finishes shutting the first door, she looks at him and scuffs her hoof against this one, asking him to open it.

He looks up and sees a handle on this one. Considering it for a moment, he leaps up and wraps his foreleg around the bar-shaped metal. When it turns with his weight, he uses his hindlegs as leverage against the doorframe and pushes it open.

The room is larger than the last one, with a metal table occupying the center space. There are cabinets in this room too, but Ruby shies away from those after the last time. She walks further in, looking around for her daddy. Seeing nopony around, she sticks her tongue out and blows a raspberry. Suddenly, a flash of green catches her eye. She looks up and sees the color through a square hole in the wall, unfortunately, it's so high up there's no way she could reach it normally. She looks around again and smiles as she spies something that could help her.

Mercury drops down from the door handle, looking around for his charge. As he spies her, he yips, rushing over to the base of the counter, and the series of steps formed there, usually used to help larger pets onto the exam table.

Ruby stops and looks the kit at the noise he made, tiling her head at him.

He scurries up next to her, nuzzling her before turning back to the door, nodding to it.

She looks to the door, but then looks back to the fox, babbling to him before looking back at the stairs that can lead her to the bit of green she saw. Each step is approximately the height of her whole being. She rears up and places her hooves on the lip of the first step, but can't pull herself up and her rear hooves scrambled for purchase. She sets back on four hooves before glaring at the step with a look of concentration. Her horn is absorbed inside her head as a rustle along her back announces the return of her feathery appendages. She tries again to get up the step, her tiny wings flapping quickly. The tiny bit of lift is all she needs as she slips onto that first stair before rearing up and starting on the next.

The fox can only watch in silence, fidgeting a little more with each step she climbs. As she reaches the fourth step, he steps up behind her to make sure she is safe.

Although she has a few unsuccessful tries at some steps, the filly eventually makes it to the top of the counter. She shakes herself as her wings go back into her back and her horn returns. With that little change, she immediately heads for the hole in the wall where she spotted the color.

Mercury simply walks behind her, looking at the hole with the tall, leafy object on the other side. His moderate pace slows slightly as he notices a border to it, his head tilting in confusion.

The filly walks happily towards the familiar color. as she reaches the hole, though, she squeaks as she suddenly bounces off something. She falls back onto her rump and rubs her nose with a hoof as she looks up but doesn't see what she ran into. She tries again, but slow, and stops when she feels something blocking her. She whines and hits at it with a hoof, making a soft 'clink' sound.

The kit walks up next to her and sits down, wrapping his tail reassuringly around her.

Right at that moment, a brown head pokes out from the green mass, its cheeks bulging with nuts. It appears to stare at them a second before disappearing back into the foliage.

Ruby sinks as she realizes that the green mass isn't her father. She lets out a long raspberry before heading back down the stairs to the floor. Toddling out into the hallway, she stops at the next door and waits for Mercury.

The fox walks right next to her and easily pushes the door open with a paw. He gives her a small grin, his tail flicking behind him happily.

She smiles and walks forward to hug him, thanking him for his help. She looks around the room as she holds onto the silver fox. The room is fairly boring compared to the last one. The walls are lined with shelves containing boxes, supplies, and files with not much spare space to be found. A trashcan can be seen in one corner along with a few different trashcans for different things, but there is really only one thing in the room that catches her attention. A few white coats hang off to one side. Remembering what her dad was wearing last time she saw him, she heads towards them. Maybe he'll come to her if she has one.

Mercury watches her from the doorway, wondering what she's up to. He raises a paw, as if to approach her, but hesitates, unsure if she even needs the help.

Ruby reaches the coats and latches onto the bottom of one with her mouth. She starts yanking it every which way as hard as she can. Due to her size though, this doesn't really do much other than make the coat look like it's flapping in the breeze. However, she yanks it at just the right angle that to top flicks off the hook it was on and the entire coat floats downward, covering the filly.

Startled, the silver kit rushes forward and works his way underneath the cloth. He searches briskly, wanting more than anything to make sure she is safe. To an outside observer, he looks like a lump circling a smaller one, slowly moving inwards.

A silver nose pokes out of the expanse of white, making the filly smile and laugh as she pokes it with a hoof. As more of Mercury reveals itself, she walks over to him and climbs on his back, babbling to him and looking forward.

Glad she is fine, Mercury stands up and feels his way out of the room, knocking a mop and two brooms over on the way. He does get back out to the hall, the coat covering both of them completely.

As the two sit under the coat, Ruby's ears perk up as she hears a door opening close to them and hoofsteps approaching. Suddenly, the coat is lifted up and a large green stallion is smiling down at them.

Rhino chuckles as he speaks to the kit and foal. "Just what have you two been up to in order to make all that racket?"

Ruby of course, doesn't answer as she beams and holds out her hooves to her dad, who gladly picks her up, cradling her against his chest.

Rhino pets Mercury as the filly snuggles up against him. "Good job sticking with her."

He yips, tail wagging happily as he leans into the stallion's hoof.

The foal takes a moment from cuddling her dad to reach a hoof out towards the kit. Rhino, seeing this, crouches down so she can reach him. Much like her father, Ruby pets the silver fox while cooing at him.

Mercury smiles and leaps up, bracing his paws against Rhino's foreleg so he can more easily nuzzle the filly.

This little cuddle-fest continues until Rhino decides to stand back up and head towards the front, filly in grip and kit in tow. He calls to Gel and Manila as he enters the main room. "Hey, look who I found wandering around back there, making messes and getting into things."

Gel turns to him, smiling warmly at the three of them. "I see. It must've been an adventure, huh?"

Ruby just smiles as she looks down at the kit, snuggling against her prize.

Later that day, the shift at work is almost over. Rhino and Ruby are in his office as he takes care of a few things. Mercury, of course, is with them, keeping an eye on the foal. Specter and Selena are on the front desk, the latter using her tiny typewriter. Finally, Manila and Gel are happily sitting side by side as they do their job.

The door opens to signal that another customer is arriving.

The nymph turns to the door on instinct, smiling brightly. "Good morning! How are...you..." Her voice trails off as she sees the pony who arrived, her anxiety immediately rising.

The entering orange unicorn's eyes widen as well upon seeing the changeling. She takes a look towards the door, but sighs before begrudgingly turning back towards the nymph and approaching the desk, her eyes firmly locked on Manila. "Hello, I have an appointment." She gestures towards the red parrot on her back.

Manila nods she looks down at the schedule. "Ah yes, a new customer. Please fill out the basic information forms and we'll get your bird seen to." She motions to Gel, who is closer to the forms than she is.

She nods and grabs the paper, holding it out to the unicorn awkwardly in her magic. "H-here you go."

The unicorn glares at Gel before snatching the paper with her own magic. She goes to one of the chairs and starts filling it out, the sound of her quill scratching is one of the few things breaking the silence of the room.

Gel keeps her eyes down on her typewriter, filling out a form for a previous client's visit. She can't bring herself to do anything else, wanting to avoid any kind of malice from the unicorn.

The red-maned mare stand back up and walks over to Mania, floating the paper to her and doing her best to ignore Gel's existence for as long as possible.

The earth pony nods as she files the paper away. "Alright Miss... Hearth Warmer, Doctor Rhino will see your pet. One moment while we call him." She looks to Gel.

She nods and turns to the back, her mind reaching out to Rhino. Love, you have a new customer. Please stay calm when you meet her, though...I don't want Ruby getting upset.

Why would you say something like tha- His mental voice cuts off as he realizes exactly what might make her say that. I'll do my best... Rhino walks into the waiting room, Ruby carried in one foreleg and Mercury walking to the side. He tenses up as he sees the mare, but keeps his face straight. Walking over to the desk, he gently passes Ruby to Gel.

Hearth, who had maintained a mostly neutral demeanor until this point, grimaces quite noticeably as she sees the foal. One can easily see the disgust conveyed in her expression.

Gel, noticing the mare's expression, holds her daughter close. She gives the orange mare an even look, almost daring her to try and say something off-color about the filly. "This," she gestures to her stallion, "is Doctor Rhino. He'll be seeing to your pet, today."

Mercury stands at the side of the desk, staring up at the unicorn. He definitely recognizes her, and he doesn't like that she's here one bit.

Specter, sensing the tension, bounds over to the stallion, who relaxes as the black critter climbs up and onto his mane in his usual spot. Rhino gives the mare a very clear and impossible to misunderstand look that says, in short: 'You don't like me, I don't like you. Let's try to be civil about this, because if you aren't, you are outnumbered here.'

Hearth sees the look, but keeps her usual neutrality as she follows him.

The exam that follows is easily the most tense and quiet one Rhino has ever performed. Rhino only speaks to Hearth in short, direct sentences. Each time she starts to speak and he hasn't said anything, he shoots her an intense look and taps his hoof next to her pet. Of course, he'd never do anything to endanger her parrot, but she doesn't know this so it serves as a way to shut her up. Throughout it all, a pair of golden eyes from within Rhino's mane constantly stare at the mare, like the piercing gazes found in the darkness of so many foal's nightmares.

Eventually, the exam concludes and the mare swiftly gathers her parrot and heads to the front, not waiting for Rhino's order to do so.

Gel looks up as she rounds the corner, nodding to her. "That was quick. Are you ready to pay for the appointment, Miss Warmer?"

She sneers at the nymph and opens her mouth to respond, but the sound of Rhino clearing his throat right behind her makes her shut it quickly. She settles for a stiff nod.

The blue changeling takes a piece of paper and moves it over to the mare. "This is how much you owe."

Hearth puts down the required bits with more force than strictly necessary and heads towards the exit without another word. Mercury hisses in her direction as she exits the clinic.

Rhino exhales, trying to let the tension flow out of his body after that encounter. "Well... I think that went fairly well."

Gel nods before resting her head on the desk. "...considering who it was, I have to agree..."

Manila looks between the two of them. "Did I miss something?"

Chapter 9: Trials

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The next morning starts off well, with Ruby actually only waking them up once during the night so that everypony actually gets a decent amount of sleep. The entire family is in the kitchen, Rhino making his and Gel's breakfast while the pets already eat theirs. A small noise from Ruby as she stops sucking her hoof and moves toward her mother expresses her desire for her own morning meal.

The nymph smiles warmly and picks her up, scooting back and placing her on her seat.

Ruby immediately pounces onto the source of her milk, latching on and suckling away.

Gel squeaks, eyes widening in shock. Teeth! She bites her lip, trying to keep herself from pulling away from the filly.

Rhino's ears perk up as he turns away from the stove. What?

She turns to look at him, a tear in her eye. She's starting to teethe...and bit my teat...

He winces. Oh... that had to hurt... He takes to food off the burner and walks over, concerned. Mind if I look at her and you? Or would you rather me wait until she's done? Is she at least adjusting her grip?

I-I can't tell if she is...p-please take a look... She leans back in her chair, giving him plenty of room to see what he needs to see.

He crouches down to get a better height to view to situation. Ruby appears to be nursing normally, but does seem to be stopping to adjust her grip every so often. Rhino takes a little bit of magic and scratches behind his daughter's ear a moment. "Hey Ruby..."

She stops suckling and looks at him curiously, a small bit of milk left on her face.

He takes a hoof and gently tickles her side with it, making her laugh and letting him get a good view of her mouth, and the four white dots inside. "Yeah... her front incisors are coming in." He looks at Gel to see if there was any damage. "She didn't break the skin, so that's good. It'll likely just be a little sore afterwards. Maybe put some numbing cream or something..." Ruby quickly gets back to nursing as he stands up, Gel wincing at the infant feeds. "If it helps, putting pressure on those teeth probably isn't fun for her either, so she'll likely try to find a way to suckle without pressing them. Not sure how long it'll take her to find it though..."

"I hope it's soon." She looks down at her daughter, grimacing slightly from the uncomfortable sensation. "...she won't get fangs, will she?"

Rhino shrugs. "You're guess is as good as mine. These are just her front teeth. Judging by where your fangs are, we won't know if she has fangs until her third set, which come in around six months or so." As Ruby continues nursing, he comments again. "We might consider getting a teething ring so she doesn't see you, me, or herself as a chew toy. Also, from what I understand, when teeth are coming in like this, foals tend to get fussy from the discomfort. So we'll have to deal with that..."

She nods, gently stroking the filly's mane. "That sounds fun..." She trails off as she realizes her hoof hasn't felt something. She looks down, confusion quickly forming on her face. "...why did she turn into an earth pony, now?"

He looks down as well, rubbing his chin with a hoof. "Well, it's probably instinct since she wouldn't know this fact yet but... earth pony pain tolerance perhaps?"

"Really?" She tilts her head to the side, considering this a moment. "I suppose that makes sense..."

He nods, stroking the filly's mane. "You know... I think we should take a trip to Twilight's after work today."

"To get her opinion on this?" She sighs in relief as their daughter shifts into a position benefitting both of them. "Much better..."

He explains. "Well, that and I know she'll probably want to see Ruby anyway. The big reason I want to go though, is that I want to see if she has foal books. I think it's time we start reading to her. My mother did it to me when I was this age and its supposed to do wonders for their mind as they grow."

She nods, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Maybe...the books we have aren't for young ponies, after all...I think your rune books might be a bit too advanced." She playfully sticks her tongue out at him.

He chuckles as he pecks her cheek. "Not to mention gibberish to all but a few ponies."

"True." She pulls him close and rests her head on his shoulder. "Would you like to read to her first, love?"

He raises an eyebrow at her. "What? You don't want to help with the voices?"

Gel tilts her head to one side, curious. "I can copy voices I've heard...but making one up is quite difficult."

He waves a hoof. "Well, it's really only talking as you envision it being said. Maybe you'll be more inclined to help once you see me fail at trying to do female voices. Still, I'm looking forward to reading with her."

The nymph taps her chin, smiling coyly at him. "Maybe I will help, then...but you're going to be the main reader." She glances down at her daughter, tenderly stroking her mane. "Let's wait until she's done before we leave."

"Well, of course." He walks over to the stove and comes back with two plates of food. "There's still one or two things to do before work."

She picks up her apple juice, taking a sip of it. "And what would those be?"

Rhino picks up a fork in his magic as the smell of his eggs tempts him. "Well, for one thing, I'd like to eat. Secondly, I still need to shower. Speaking of which, we might consider giving her a bath one of these days. Washcloth cleaning is all well and good, but a good session of soap and water keeps the fur soft. That's for another time though, we don't have long this morning."

Gel grimaces, awkwardly shifting in her seat. "H-how about a shower, instead? That would work, right?"

Rhino quirks an eyebrow at his wife. "I thought we got you over your bath issues."

The nymph puffs her cheeks out, pouting at him. "That's not what I'm concerned about."

He tilts his head, ignoring the part of his mind that notices how cute her pout is. "Are you worried about her in the tub? Because I wasn't going to bathe her in that."

"No - well, maybe...but that's only part of it." She bites her lip, noticing their little filly finish and start to whine. "I think it'd be something to mention later, though...when we're talking with Twilight." She holds up the pink filly and carefully pats her on the back. "After all, I think she'd want to hear it, too."

"Hmm, well now you've got me curious." He watches the two until a small burp comes from Ruby, who giggles afterward. "Looks like it's going to be an informative day."

***

The day passes relatively normally, with Ruby only giving a bit of a fuss throughout the day. Luckily this is easily solved most times one she starts nibbling on one of her parents' hooves, and is solved more permanently with a quick store trip after work. Now, as the little foal gnaws on her new red teething ring, the couple approach Twilight's bibliophilic abode.

They stop on the stoop, and the nymph raises a hoof but stops momentarily, hesitant.

Rhino looks to her. "Something wrong?"

"...yes...I'm worried..." She glances down at their daughter, stroking her mane gently. "...what if we learn...something bad about Ruby? S-some problem with her biology?"

He sighs and nuzzles her neck. "There's always that possibility with hybridizing... but like you said, better to know, right?"

She closes her eyes, considering his words for a moment - but only a moment. She silently nods and, opening her eyes, knocks decisively on the door.

As per usual, a few moments pass before a familiar scaly figure opens the door and smiles at the couple. Spike looks to Gel teasingly. "Do I even need to comment on the fact that you still knock anymore, or is it more implied by now?"

The nymph waves a hoof at him, smiling playfully. "How else can I make sure I get to see my favorite little dragon?" She giggles, winking at him.

He chuckles as he steps aside so they can come in, eyeing the bundle around her neck curiously. "True. Good to see you again, Gel."

"Good to see you, too, Spike." She notices his gaze and smiles, walking towards a table in the center of the room. "Would you like to meet someone new?"

"Sure!" He looks towards the stairs but shakes his head as he mutters to himself. "Nah, I'll call her if we need her."

She pulls the sling off her neck with her magic and carefully places it on the table. "Spike," she gestures towards it as a tiny pink head with a red ring in its mouth peeks curiously out, "meet our daughter, Ruby Pinch."

The ring hangs out of Ruby's mouth as she looks up at the purple and green drake.

He chuckles as he smiles down at her. "Well, as a dragon, I whole-heartedly approve the name 'Ruby'." He carefully extends a claw towards her, which she bags away playfully with a hoof when it gets too close. This only makes Spike laugh more.

Gel smiles softly, laying down to look at the young dragon on his own level. "She is our little treasure. I was hoping you two would become good friends..." She glances at her stallion, tilting her head to one side. "...that is, if daddy Nexus is alright with that."

Rhino, who had kept his eyes on his daughter as the two friends chatted, snaps out of his little zone at the question addressed to him. "Hmm? Oh, yes, that's fine. Just be careful with her." He considers adding a sentence given Spike's gender, but decides with Ruby's age currently, there's no need for it.

A voice calls from upstairs. "Spike? I hear voices. Is somepony here?"

The dragon calls back. "Yeah, it's your favorite novel subjects!"

A few thumps occur upstairs before a lavender form trotts down the stairs when a bounce in her step. Her view of the foal obstructed by Rhino from this angle, she looks at the couple and smiles. "Well, good afternoon, you two."

Gel smiles, pushing her glasses up a bit. "Good afternoon, Twilight. Anything interesting happen since we last saw you?"

The unicorn taps a hoof on her chin before shaking her head. "Not really, things have been pretty quiet around here since Chrysalis went back to her hive at the beginning of the year and took Fluffle Puff with her. Oh! I did actually receive word that our book, 'The Truth About Changelings', did get through the initial hurdles, and should be on shelves in a few months!"

The nymph perks up, clapping her forehooves together. "That's fantastic!" She pauses a thought occurring to her. I suppose it's a good thing I didn't think to mention this before now...wouldn't want any extremists hearing about it...

Rhino thinks back to her. Somehow, I don't think the student of Celestia and Element of Magic will have any trouble getting publicity for her book...

She nods and clears her throat. "Twilight, could you please move a little closer? We'd like you to meet someone."

The student complies and walks around the table, her eyes instantly locking onto the small form in the center. They widen substantially as she looks between Ruby and her parents. "Is this..." She leans closer, but stops as she sees Rhino tense up while she does so. She leans back up and gives him a sharp look. "What did you think I was going to do? Take her in my magic and bounce around in excitement before zipping her down to my lab?"

The stallion simply gives her a flat stare as he raises an eyebrow.

Twilight blushes lightly. "Ok, fine, one part of me thought about it, but I wouldn't actually do it! She's just a foal after all!"

He continues silently staring.

She continues. "Plus... you'd probably never let me get far enough to do that anyway..."

At this, he smirks. I love how I didn't even have to say a word.

That certainly made things easier. The nymph takes a deep breath and lets it out, turning back to the lavender unicorn. "This is Ruby Pinch. She is our daughter, and..." She falters, noting the lack of a horn on the pink pony. "...normally a unicorn..."

Twilight looks at the first-time mother. "What do you mean 'normally a unicorn'?"

She sheepishly smiles, shrugging a bit. "Well...she was born a unicorn...is in that form most often...b-but she changes between that, pegasus, and earth pony every so often..." She rubs the back of her neck. "...I'm certain that's because of my genetics..."

Twilight moves her head down to the foal’s height to get a better look at her. "Fascinating... have any other anomalies presented themselves? And has she ever had both wings and a horn?"

"I haven't noticed anything odd..." She taps her chin, thinking a bit. "...and I'm certain she's never had both at once..."

One can practically feel the librarian's mind twitching at all the possibilities of the hybrid. "Limited transformation ability perhaps..." She clears her throat. "As much as i would love to find out absolutely everything there is to know about this little one, I'm sure you had your own reasons for bringing her here."

Gel nods and then hesitates, turning to her stallion. "...did you...want to ask her?"

He nods, facing the purple pony. "It actually would be appreciated to know everything we can about her so that we can be prepared. We were also wondering if you had any foal's books we could borrow." There was also that thing you wanted to ask her about that came up when I mentioned baths, but I assume that'll come up later.

"That's right. Also," she squirms slightly, embarrassed, "if you could check whether she will have fangs, that'd be helpful, as well...and, after all of that...I wanted to share some more information with you..."

Twilight beams as she claps her hooves together. "Oh, this is going to be so much fun! We're going to learn so many new things..."

Gel holds up a hoof, frowning slightly. "Be careful with her. I don't want her to be scared during your examination...and I want Rhino to be with you, to make sure you don't get too excited."

He quirks an eyebrow at her. "And where are you going to be during all this?"

She points to the shelves. "Looking for books, of course."

Ruby lets out little happy sounds as Rhino picks her up and puts her sling around his neck. "Ok. Where to, Twilight?"

She gestures with a hoof. "The basement of course, it's where all my equipment is." She opens a door and heads downstairs as Rhino walks over to Gel.

He nuzzles her gently. "See you in a bit, love."

She smiles playfully at him before she tenderly kisses his cheek. "You two have fun, okay?"

He chuckles before heading down after the mare while calling back. "We'll see."

She watches him follow Twilight down the steps before turning to Spike, tilting her head to one side. "Where are the books for young ponies, anyways? I never thought to ask, before..."

He waves for her to follow him to a bookshelf near the door. "We keep them right here so that small ponies can always get to them." He gestures to the bottom two shelves. "Any of them spark your interest?"

The nymph tilts her head, thinking a bit. "...well...I don't really know..." She taps her chin, frowning in concentration as she examines the books on the shelves. After half a minute, she pulls a book out and shows it to him. "...what's this one like?"

He looks at the book for a moment before recalling. "Ah, I think this is one about going to the park, playing on a playground, then falling asleep for a nap. It's all simple words with big pictures like a lot of these kinds of books."

She considers the book for a moment before nodding and putting it off to the side. "I suppose that's a good one. Do you think you could recommend a few more?" She gives him a hopeful look.

He taps his chin with a claw as he starts looking at the shelf closely. "Well... I haven't really had to pick ones out for parents before, but I'll give it a shot." He picks another one out and gives it to Gel. "This one is about a puppy, his siblings, and his mom. It's supposed to be cute."

She nods quietly and takes it in her magic, looking at it for a moment. "I think she'd like that one." She glances at the shelf as she places this with the other book, pulling out another. She stops, staring at this one in confusion for a second before turning to him, confused. "...why is this Daring Do book on this shelf?"

The drake snorts as he takes the book and sets it onto a pile next to the checkout desk. "Because Rainbow Dash ignores the rule that says 'don't try to put books back yourself when you return them'. With how often Twilight reorganizes, it's just easier to leave them out until one of us gets to putting them back."

Gel taps her chin, considering the book he just put down. "...could I borrow that book? I mean, it must be good if it's something Rainbow's reading, right?"

"Daring Do? Sure, I guess. It's one of the most popular adventure series around." He looks at the book a moment before shaking his head and taking another one off a shelf. "Let's start you on the first book in the series though."

"That's fine by me." She giggles, accepting the book he offers her. "I prefer to do things in order, anyways."

He nods before walking back over to the young one's section. "Alright, let's see if we can find you more books..."

Later, the two unicorns and foal emerge from the basement. The mare is laden with stacks of papers with everything from words to line scribbles on them, while the foal snuggles against the stallion, looking at said mare a little uneasily.

Spike looks up at the two of them as he finishes checking out the last of Gel's fairly substantial stack of books. "Hey, everything go okay?"

Twilight is giddy as she answers. "Perfect!"

The nymph notices the filly's expression and turns to her stallion, quirking an eyebrow at him. "How perfect is 'perfect'?"

He nuzzles the filly, who whines a moment before starting to chew her ring again. "Lots of results, tests went fine, but... Ruby wasn't a fan of some of the noises the machines made, or the things where Twilight needed her to be separate from me."

She quietly nods, picking up the stack of books with her magic. "As long as she's safe, I'm happy." She carefully puts the thin books into her saddlebags. "So, what did you find out about her?"

Twilight starts sorting through her notes. "Quite a lot actually. Do you want me to just start down the list?"

Gel nods, finishing packing up. "If you'd be so kind."

As she consults her notes, Twilight begins. "Alright, let's just start here... So, as you know, breeding combines both the genes and magic of the parents to make the foal. For the different pony species, one type of a magic will tend to take the dominant role so that the pony can become say... a true pegasus, not one that only has half pegasus and say... half earth pony magic, though sometimes mixes can be reflected in interests and talents, but still, ponies are easily identifiable by what they are." She flips a page. "Ruby, however, is actually currently hosting a combination of both changeling and unicorn innate magic."

Gel blinks, stunned by this. "...so...she really is a hybrid, then..." She frowns slightly. "...wait...even when she's not a unicorn, she still has that type of magic?"

"Well, in a manner of speaking." Twilight points down at her notes. "As I said, it's innate magic, so she can't actually get rid of it, but that doesn't mean it's always able to be sensed. Changeling magic contains partial amounts of unicorn, pegasus, and earth pony magic. By bringing one of these to the forefront, you can have the abilities of that species. Well, since Ruby isn't totally changeling, this only manifests partially. Her species changing to earth pony or pegasus, does give her the traits of those species, strength and wings respectively, but since part of her natural magic is decidedly unicorn, the full amount of her magic cannot be transferred. So say... when she's a pegasus, since she has half changeling magic, she can grow wings, probably glide, but there's no guarantee she could actually fly. Likewise, she wouldn't have the full strength of an earth pony, but it would still be more than her unicorn form. Rest assured though, she is definitely a full unicorn when she wants to be."

She slowly nods, a thoughtful expression on her face. "I suppose that makes sense..." She turns to Ruby, smiling warmly. "She really is unique, isn't she?"

The mare nods. "She is, and actually I think you had a hoof in making her what she is, at least partially."

Gel snaps out of her thoughts, turning to the librarian. "What do you mean by that?" She glances at the stack of notes, quickly becoming concerned by what she sees. "...you...you haven't said everything, yet...have you?"

The student beams. "Of course not! I told you, we learned a lot, and theorized a fair amount." She shifts a portion of her notes to the side. "But what I just told you did cover a decent amount. Now, what I mean was, according to Rhino here, you two predicted what Ruby would look like with startling accuracy, correct?"

She nods, slightly confused. "We did...why do you ask?"

"Well, such predictions are unheard of. I mean, one can make reasonable guesses based on both families, but here, I think something different happened." She points to a new page. "Again, the concept is built around changeling magic and innate magic. Foals are reliant on their mother's magic for a time, as they are completely encompassed by their bodies and thus surrounded by that magic. Changeling magic though, is naturally fluid and much more adaptable than ponies, and excels at changing their own body. As such, I believe unconsciously, you willed your foal to look as you had hoped, and your magic responded in kind, shaping the growing form inside you. Not to say you forced it on her, as changeling genetic material has enormous potential for what the foal would look like, so it was more like you guided it in a certain direction."

She can only stare in stunned silence. "...I-I had no idea...t-that's amazing..." She shakes herself, adopting a neutral expression. "...a-anything else you'd like to share?"

"A few more things, yes." She consults her notes yet again. "As you well know, changelings react to and feed on emotions. Obviously, Ruby is too young to actually feed on emotions, so we can't know if she actually can yet, or not. However, from a few small tests I performed while we were down there, she does seem to have a very heightened sense of empathy, as well as being affected by the emotions around her. She doesn't like to have negative emotions around her, for instance, and she gets upset because of it."

She tilts her head to one side. "That does explain why she was whimpering the other day...though, honestly, I assumed it was because of the other ponies..." She nervously giggles, rubbing the back of her neck.

Twilight takes her face out of her notes a moment. "Other ponies?"

Rhino clears his throat as he stands there, shifting his weight from side to side in a rocking motion as Ruby's eyes close. "Just some ponies who aren't taking the transition very well."

Gel turns away, muttering to herself. "...more like anti-changeling activists..."

Twilight's ears perk as she just picks up what Gel said. "Oh dear... do you want me to write to the Princess about it?"

She sighs, shaking her head. "It's fine. We just ignore them...besides, if the Princess took action..." She scratches the side of her head, confused. "...wouldn't that make them more enthusiastic?"

Twilight sighs. "It's difficult to tell most times... politicians are much better at predicting these things than I am... Just, let me know if thing get bad, okay? You guys are my friends, and I don't want to see you hurt."

She nods, smiling softly and putting a hoof on the mare's shoulder. "Thank you. That really means a lot to us."

"It's no problem..." Twilight clears her throat before going back to her notes. "There's just a few more things that you need to know about... From what I saw from a few x-rays I took, she likely doesn't have fangs."

Gel laughs, shaking her head. "That's good. I would not want to worry about those poking me."

"Well... you might not be so lucky if you have any more... remember, this was only a single case of your hybridization. As with all foals, there are a number of factors that can change, so... it is possible any future ones might have fangs." Twilight smiles sheepishly at Gel.

The nymph facehoofs, groaning softly. "...right..."

The mare continues, although a little more hesitantly. "Now, lastly, there was one thing I found that was slightly concerning..."

She frowns, noticing the apprehension in the air around Twilight. "...w-what is it?"

"Well... while I was taking the x-rays... I did notice that her bone density seems lower than it should be. I asked rhino if she was getting all the nutrients she needed, but he told me she'd been feeding fine, so it's not that." She scratches the back of her head as she consults her notes. "It's possible, and likely, that it may just be the results of the fact that you have an exoskeleton, while your husband has an endoskeleton. The mix of genetics may not have given her all of the ones necessary to have perfect bones, you see."

Rhino doesn't say anything as he continues rocking the now dozing foal, but one can tell he had heard or at least assumed the diagnosis from what Twilight had asked him. The way he had adjusted his grip to hold his daughter closer to him is a telling gesture.

Gel's ears flatten against her head, a small whimper escaping her. "...y-you mean...she's fragile? I-is that it?"

"It's, not exact at this stage..." she continues, "but it's not as bad as it could be. Her bones just won't ever be as strong as they would be normally. She could still do all the things that normal foals can do, there's no need to worry about that. However, under extreme stress, or in cases where other foals' bones would barely not be affected, hers would crack or otherwise. A high-calcium diet would help with this, but they still won't ever be standard... I'm sorry..."

The nymph trembles, lowering her gaze to the floor. "...if she can live normally...still be happy..." She sniffles, rubbing her nose with her hoof. "...then that's all that matters..."

Twilight looks down as she sees Spike hugging her. She smiles softly and hugs him back. Rhino walks over and puts a hoof around his wife, unshed tears shining in his own eyes, but held back. Everypony takes a few minutes of silence before they get back to things.

Gel wipes her tears away, smiling softly as she leans into her stallion's embrace. "...anyways...i-is there anything else you want to say?"

The student shakes her head as she puts her notes to one side. "No, that's everything. Didn't you say you had something you wanted to speak about earlier though?"

She nods, rubbing the back of her neck. "I did, and I do. It's something I didn't mention, before...about my kind."

Twilight's eyes flick over to Spike, who already has quill and parchment prepared. The mare nods at Gel to continue.

She sighs, closing her eyes. "My kind has an issue with...water. Most of us, anyways." She crosses her forelegs, shrinking in on herself slightly. "We can't submerge ourselves for any amount of time without consequence...much less when trying to get love..."

Rhino raises an eyebrow. "So it wasn't just a thing for you..."

The librarian looks at Gel curiously. "What do you mean, without consequence? What consequences are there?"

She squirms, clearly uncomfortable with the subject. "...o-our magic...m-more specifically, the one centered around...emotions...b-bodies of water interfere with our ability to...s-sense and absorb them..."

Twilight translates all this in her head. "Water acts as an insulator for your magic? It can't pass through it well?"

She shakes her head. "It can't. For every one of us...except one."

Rhino guesses the exception with a single word. "Port?"

She turns to him, nodding silently. "That's right."

As Spike scribbles all this down, she mutters to herself. "The ambassador is the only one they know of that isn't affected by this weakness... fascinating..."

The stallion continues looking at his wife. "Is that why you were worried about giving her a bath?"

She nods once more. "It is..." She turns back to Twilight, nervously smiling at her. "I hope you understand why I didn't tell you before...f-for your book, I mean..."

Twilight waves a hoof. "I understand. It's not really a great thing to be going around shouting weaknesses when there are bigots out there..." She looks to where she has just finished scribing and levitates the paper out of his claws. "I'll have to decide if I want to include this in my first book... probably not. Maybe it'll make volume two." She stows it away in her stack of notes.

Gel solemnly nods, turning to her stallion. "Was there anything you wanted to say, love?"

He looks up from where he had been watching his daughter again to make sure she was sleeping well. "Hmm? Oh, thank you, Twilight. For everything, I mean."

The lavender unicorn waves a hoof. "Just helping out some friends."

The navy nymph giggles, bowing respectfully. "We're lucky to be your friends."

Rhino carefully stands up so as not to disturb his passenger. "I think we should probably be heading home so the little one can have a nice long nap."

Gel nods, rising to her hooves as well. "Probably a good idea." She turns to the lavender mare, smiling warmly at her. "I hope to see you soon." She turns to the dragon, leaning down and gently nuzzling his forehead. "Both of you. Don't forget my little request, alright?"

Spike salutes. "Can do!"

The couple smile as they head out the door and on their way. After the door closes, Twilight turns to her assistant. "What did she mean about a request?"

He simply smiles at her. "Just agreeing to be a good friend."

Chapter 10: Reading

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Another day of work passes by uneventfully, and the family soon find themselves passing through the market district of Ponyville. Various venders voice their wares to all who pass by, hoping to strike a deal. Even the flower trio can be seen waving to potential customers and performing the odd eyelash flutter to draw more attention.

Gel quirks an eyebrow at the mares but says nothing, scanning the stands and buildings around them. I could swear that one of those flower ponies was eyeing you...

He shrugs, his eyes glancing over the stalls but not really paying attention to any of them. His mind is more on enjoying that today is his turn to carry Ruby in her sling and also making sure nopony runs into her. Probably just trying to make a sale. We did give them a fair amount of rose business during your pregnancy.

She shrugs, blushing slightly. What can I say? Ruby must love roses. She stops next to a vendor's tent, noticing a few snowglobes on the counter and shelves behind him. She looks over a few for a couple seconds before turning to him. Do you think Mist would like one of these? I mean, her birthday is coming up, soon, right?

Friday, actually. Speaking of which... His horn lights up and a piece of parchment slips out of his bag to hover in front of her. When I grabbed the mail on the way to work today, and I got a chance to sort through it in my office, I found this in it.

She takes it in her magic, reading it silently. As she does, her expression becomes more and more concerned, and she rolls it up before turning to him. "We have to get her a present. And I need to start tidying up the house for their arrival, Friday." She puts it in her saddlebag before grabbing a Crystal Empire snow globe and examining it closely. "I have no idea what to get her, though..."

"Hmm..." Rhino sorts out his thoughts a moment before replying. "Well, I've gotten her quite a few things over the years, but there's one thing I haven't gotten her in a while that I know she enjoys: windchimes."

She blinks, glancing around curiously. "Where can we find something like that?"

"Umm..." He looks around. "A garden ornaments stall, maybe? It seems like it's that sort of thing, barring the chance we actually stumble across a pony with a wind chime cutie mark."

"I suppose that makes sense." She starts to walk off before pausing, looking down at the curio in front of her. "Oh, right." She quickly puts it back on the counter and gives the pony a sheepish smile.

The vendor nods thankfully to Gel for not stealing from her, before turning and helping the next potential customer.

It turns out, neither one of Rhino's theory's on where to find wind chimes was correct this day. Instead, after walking around a short time, they found what they were looking for on a cart of a pony selling, strangely enough, bells and whistles among other common interesting noise-making devices.

Gel inspects each of the many chimes in turn, frowning slightly in confusion. "I never understood the draw of these...why would Mist want one?"

Rhino taps a chime with his hoof, listening to the sounds it makes as the bars hit the central section. The sound draws Ruby's attention, and she reaches her hooves out towards it from her sling, smiling as she does so. "Probably because you don't actually know what pattern it's going to make. It's just one of those simple things you can sit back and enjoy whenever you're doing something else outside." He chuckles as he strokes his daughter's mane. "You've gotta make sure to take them down if the wind gets really bad though, otherwise they go crazy and just make a racket."

"Oh...if you're sure..." She quietly taps a couple with a hoof. "I guess that makes sense...but why give that as a birthday present? Surely she's thought of getting one, herself..."

His smile turns sheepish a moment. "Well, yes, but it's the thought that counts... a particular saying that's been useful for me since you know I'm not great at spontaneously picking out gifts..."

She smirks playfully at him, bumping his side. "You did well with your gift to me."

He flicks her with his tail. "Well, yes, but I spend more time planning your gifts." He looks down at the foal against his chest and nuzzles her. "Especially this little one."

"Glad to know you care." She giggles, shaking her head. "Still, we have a couple days. We can think of a good gift by then, right?"

"I guess..." He sighs as he turns away from another small chime. "So, you really don't think one of these would be good?"

She shrugs noncommittally. "I just worry that someone else will buy the same thing."

Rhino sighs again before muttering, "Why are birthday's so complicated sometimes?"

Suddenly, a voice that is clearly not Gel's, comments from next to him. "It's only as hard as you make it, silly! Birthday's aren't supposed to be hard, they're supposed to be fun!"

The nymph turns and squeaks, jumping slightly at the the pink mare there. "Pinkie? W-when did you get here?"

The party pony tilts her head at the changeling. "Just now, you would have seen me if I was here earlier, right?"

"Y-yes, but I didn't see you arrive, either..." She shakes her head, rubbing her temple with a hoof. "...n-never mind..."

Pinkie giggles before bouncing in place and turning around in mid air so that she faces Rhino. "So... what was that you were saying about a birthday party? Because I don't think anypony has a birthday coming up in the next few days, and you know I know everypony in Ponyville, so I would know if there was a birthday coming up. So who are you talking then?"

Rhino backs a step away at the mare's verbal barrage, but answers her nonetheless. "Well, actually, the pony doesn't live here but my mother is visiting in a few days for her birthday-"

She cuts him off with a jump and shout. "She is?! Oh, I don't have much time then, I should get decorations and food and guests and invitations and all sorts of other things!" Her mind seems to be going a mile a minute as she practically vibrates in place.

Gel's eyes widen in horror at the energy of the party pony, and she nervously reaches out a hoof to the mare. "I-is that a good idea? I mean, she might not want a big party...r-right?"

The stallion holds out a hoof and opens his mouth to speak as well, but is cut off again as Pinkie jumps into the air. "Can't talk! Gotta go!" She quickly starts bouncing down the street.

Rhino quickly looks to Gel. We need to catch her.

She nods, hurrying off after the mare. Who knows what she might plan if left unchecked!

As visions of colorful horror flash through the couple's minds, their pink prey passes around the corner of a building ahead of them. They round it soon after, but the pony is nowhere to be seen.

The nymph turns around in a circle, frantically searching for the mare. W-where did she go? H-how did she do that?

I have no idea... A flash of pink appears on the edge of Rhino's vision, causing him to turn his head. His eyes widen as he sees the Pink pony a block over, bouncing from a completely different direction. She's... over there... but I don't know how...

Okay, let's look at this logically. She flares her wings, smiling brightly. I can follow her from the sky, and help direct you to where she's going. What do you think?

Probably a good idea... He chuckles nervously. Because she just disappeared again...

On it! She launches into the air, scanning the ground below her. She pauses when a pink form catches sight of a similarly-colored pony and immediately perks up. Her spirits fall when she realizes that it's not the right pony. Well, That one mare just opened her bar for the day, but I don't see Pinkie. Not yet, anyways.

Rhino looks around, Ruby giggling from the excitement around her. I swear I keep hearing the sound of her bouncing, but every time I look, she isn't there...

Gel turns and gapes, staring in shock. She's...jumping across the rooftops...in the residential area...

Try to stick close to her, I'll head there on the ground. He turns quickly and starts heading in the specified direction.

The nymph's eyes narrow, focusing on the pink pony. She glides over the rooftops in pursuit.

Pinkie bounces happily from house to house, humming a tune as she does so. Suddenly, instead of bouncing to the next roof, she falls down in between the houses. As Gel zips to check on her, Pinkie bursts out of a hay bale in a cart, and continues bouncing on her way out of the alley between the houses.

Bewildered, she follows her, flitting above the street. Where is she even going? I mean, this seems like a roundabout route to me.

Pinkie rounds another corner with Gel not far behind. Unfortunately, as the nymph goes around the corner herself, she realizes the pony has disappeared again.

Her eye twitches as she stares at the empty space in front of her. I lost sight of her... She groans and slams her head against the side of a building. I must be getting rusty. Yea, that has to be it...it's been over a year, after all...

Rhino responds as he reaches the area. Over a year since what, love?

You know, since I left the military. She pulls herself away from the wall, gingerly rubbing her horn. ...I don't know why I did that...

The stallion walks up to her, having spotted her from across the street. Because you're silly. He nuzzles her as Ruby reaches up and hugs her chest due to their proximity. Want some love to make it better?

She smiles, gently kissing his cheek. As a matter of fact, I do. She giggles, playfully winking at him. You know that.

He merely chuckles as ruby babbles up at her mother, smiling and tapping her hooves on her chitin. Rhino looks down at the filly. "Looks like she wants you to know she loves you too."

Gel smiles, leaning down and nuzzling the filly's belly. "I'm glad to hear that, and never forget...I love you, no matter what."

As the filly smiles and hugs her mother's muzzle, an 'aww' is heard from right next to them. All three of them turn to see Pinkie just sitting there smiling at the scene. "That's so sweet..."

The navy changeling can only blink for a few seconds. "...t-thank you..." She scratches her head, trying to understand what's going on. "...Pinkie...when did you get here?"

"When I figured out you stopped chasing me," she says matter-of-factly. "I can't get too far ahead of you, then it's no fun."

She stares at her in stunned silence, her glasses sliding down her nose. "...you...thought it was a game?"

"Well sure!" She smiles widely as she makes motions with her hooves to emphasize her words. "It's a chasing game! You chase me, I run. Everypony has fun!"

Gel raises a hoof, sheepishly smiling. "A-actually, we were trying to talk with you..."

"Oh?" She tilts her head, her poofy bangs hanging to one side. "What about?"

"W-well, it's about that party..." She rubs the back of her neck. "...you see..."

Rhino takes the conversation ball. "We would really just rather it be a small family affair, if you don't mind."

Pinkie nods quickly. "Okie Dokie Lokie! That's fine."

Gel tilts her head to the side, dumbfounded by the response. I would've thought she'd be more insistent...

The stallion raises an eyebrow. "Really? You're giving up just like that?"

Pinkie shrugs. "What's there to give up? I understand some ponies jsut want to party with their families. It's not like I'm some crazy pony who throws parties no matter if ponies want them or not. That'd be silly."

Gel slowly nods, putting her hoof to her chin. "That's very...mature. Thank you, Pinkie." She glances around before leaning in, curious. "I also heard a rumor...is it true that Spike spent a whole day with Applejack? Or did I hear that wrong?"

The party pony nods again. "Oh no, that was true. There was this whole adventure they had with saving each other's lives, timberwolves, debts, codes, and all sorts of things!"

The nymph stares at her blankly. "If it wasn't you saying it, I'd say that was a lie." She smiles, her ears perking up a bit. "What kind of codes, though? What encryption was used?"

Pinkie puts a hoof to her chin. "Well, Spike said it was his dragon code so... I dunno, would he use encryption for that? Does that make him a spy? Or a secret agent trained by Celestia since birth to forever be disguised as a baby dragon while secretly having a direct line to her?"

Realization crosses her face, and she gives the mare an embarrassed smile. "S-sorry, confusion on my part." She clears her throat and waves nonchalantly. "From what you said...I'd say it's like a knight's code." She giggles brightly, tapping her chin in pretend-thought. "I wonder why he chose that as a base..."

The pink pony shrugs again. "I have no idea, but if it lets him defeat timberwolf kings, I'm all for it!"

She nods and turns to Rhino, pouting. "We missed all the amazing stuff."

He snorts. "Frankly I think I can still live quite a full life without ever having to see a timberwolf king..."

She sticks her tongue out at him. "What's life without a little excitement?"

He opens his mouth to respond, but closes it with a grumble as he realizes he doesn't have a retort to that.

Gel giggles, playfully bumping his side. "Glad you agree." She turns to the mare in front of them only to gape in shock, as she is no longer there. "...where did...aw..." She puffs her cheeks out, pouting. "...I wanted to ask her for help with decorations..."

Rhino blinks and turns to the nymph. "We're putting up decorations?"

"Of course." She shrugs, starting to walk off. "I wasn't going to have a birthday party for Mist without decorations. It would be rude." She sighs wistfully, shaking her head. "Especially after she helped pay for our wedding..."

The stallion shrugs and smiles as they stand up. "Well, I guess it'll be fun to decorate for a birthday party, even if it is an adult's one." He chuckles. "And here I'd gotten used to Pinkie being the only one to do that..."

"Well, it'd also be when she meets Ruby." She turns to him, grinning slyly. "I want it to be memorable for everyone involved." She taps her chin in thought. "By the way, is Bio coming?"

He nods. "Yeah, Mom said she already sent a letter to him and he's just excited as her to meet our little pink joy." He strokes ruby's mane as he talks about her, receiving happy coos in response. "But apparently he has to take care of something at work that morning, so he'll be getting here around noon on the train. Mom's still flying in first thing in the morning."

"I suppose that makes sense." She waves at a pony in passing, missing their look of surprise when she turns back to her stallion. "Still, the fact they're both coming is a good thing...I'd appreciate it more if they came together, but that doesn't seem likely, now..."

He looks at her curiously. "Why would it matter if they came together or not? I mean, they live in separate towns so it's not really likely that they'll travel the same ways... especially with Mom trying to stay healthy by using her wings to get here."

She quirks an eyebrow at him. "Is it too much to ask that your parents be together for Ruby's sake?" She sighs, turning her gaze to the sky. "I worry about how it might affect her thoughts on romance...and yes, I know that's a silly concern, but that doesn't stop me from having it..."

"Frankly I'd think by seeing us she'd get quite a good example of romance..." He nuzzles her lovingly. "Besides, it's not like they turned out badly, they're both good friends and freely admit that they cared deeply for each other. Mom even told me on a few occasions that she's never found somepony quite like my dad."

She frowns, closing her eyes and leaning up against him. "...I just...I don't like the thought of a happy couple splitting up..."

He entwines his tail with hers, as they so love to do when walking together. "Neither do I, but things happen, times get complicated. I don't blame them for doing that, after all I know exactly why they did it. Now come on," he looks around to make sure nopony is watching before leaning down and nipping the tip of her ear once with his teeth, "how about we get back to more cheerful subjects?"

She shivers slightly, a soft coo escaping her lips. She immediately covers her mouth with a hoof, her chitin turning a brighter blue as she shyly nods.

He simply chuckles as they continue walking. "You and your noises..."

***

The couple arrive home, shedding their saddlebags and work clothes before settling down on the couch with Ruby as the pets go off to do their own things. Rhino smiles as he watches his daughter, who has forsaken her teething ring for the moment in favor of playing with the holes in Gel's legs.

The nymph looks down at the pink filly, giggling as she pops her head out of one of the holes in her leg. "I'm glad you're having fun, sweetie." Because that still feels a little weird to me... She gently pecks the top of the tiny pony's head.

The stallion chuckles as he comments. "At least she'll be too big to do that eventually, right? I'm still not sure why having anything through those holes weirds you out so much."

"Honestly, I don't know, either." She scratches her head with her unoccupied hoof. "Maybe it's just one of those irrational things..."

"Maybe..." As Ruby gets bored of her mother's leg, Rhino floats over a small stuffed puppy and she grabs onto it eagerly, looking up at him afterwards with wide shimmering eyes. He groans and covers his eyes with a foreleg. "Gel, she's giving me that ultimate adorable face of hers again..."

The nymph laughs brightly, shaking her head. "You know you like it, love." She bumps his shoulder. "You're her father. You know you'll be seeing that face quite often."

He peeks out from under his hooves to reply, but catches sight of Ruby again and is forced to pick her up and hug her affectionately purely from the power of her looking at him. He can hear Gel laughing at him as he does so and looks over to her as he nuzzles their daughter. "Oh come on, as if you'd do any different when she looks at you like that."

"I know I wouldn't." She smirks cheekily at him. "Watching you fawn over her is still unbelievably adorable."

"Remind you of when I fawn over you?" He asks as the filly's happy coos make him smile wider.

Her cheeks flush with color, and she quickly gets up and heads towards the door. "You feel like reading? I feel like reading. Great way to bond with Ruby!" As she finishes the sentence, she exits the room, the sound of hooves running up the stairs filtering into the room soon after.

Rhino chuckles as he looks down at the foal. "Well, that seemed to embarrass her.... Want to help me do it some more?" Whether she actually understands his words, or some combination of the bond between parent and child along with changeling emotion sensing, nopony knows, but Ruby nods nonetheless. Her father smiles more as the two wait for Gel to return.

The navy nymph returns after a few minutes, three thin books in her magical aura. "I couldn't decide which one to read. I'm not sure what she would like." She sheepishly smiles, pulling out a fourth book from behind her. "I even brought this Daring Do book, just in case..."

He raises an eyebrow. "Isn't that a bit much for a first reading session? I mean, maybe once she starts learning words, but now..." He lets his sentence trail off as he pats the spot next to him. "Of course, you know I'm always happy to hear your thoughts."

She rubs the back of her neck, nervous. "I didn't know that..." She moves over to him and climbs atop the couch, laying next to him. "...I never had stories read to me when I was younger..."

Rhino looks down at Ruby meaningfully before setting her down in front of her mother. The filly immediately moves to her head and starts nuzzling her mother's mane as her father leans down and does the same. "Well, does that make this story time for you too then? Or would you rather me read you something before bed?"

Gel blushes softly, gently kissing his cheek. "Either one works for me, love. I still can't decide which story to go with, though..." She glances at the thicker book and discretely puts it off to the side. "...maybe you could choose one?"

"Sure sure, I can do that..." He kisses her lips gently as he continues talking softly. "But right now, Ruby and I just want to know what it is that you want."

She gives him a lidded gaze, leaning in close to him. "You know what I want..." She quickly turns and nuzzles Ruby. "I want to read to our daughter. I hear it's important for mental development..."

Rhino blows a raspberry very similar to how his daughter does. "And here I was hoping to get you flustered again by fawning over you. I even roped Ruby into helping..."

"I know." She giggles, winking at him. "Next time, you should probably whisper."

He sticks out his tongue. "Weren't you upstairs?"

She rolls her eyes, picking up Ruby and putting her on Rhino's head. "Yes, I was. You're just that loud." She smirks, shaking her head playfully at him. "I also had to come back downstairs because I dropped my glasses."

"You and your accessories..." He laughs as Ruby starts snuggling deeper into his mane. "Everypony just loves to snuggle me..."

"Of course." She nuzzles his cheek, sighing happily. "You're just so fluffy and huggable..."

"Yes I am." He says proudly before levitating the three thin books from the floor. "But before my fluffiness induces sleep, as it does half the time, let's see to these books..." He picks one out and shows it to Gel. "What about one about puppies?"

The nymph considers it a moment, hoof on her chin, before nodding. "Sounds cute. Reminds me of those puppies Winona had last year..." She shifts her pose slightly, smiling warmly. "Go ahead."

"Alright, let me get everypony situated then." He scoots back on the couch, shifting to a prone position, and floated Ruby down in front of him and Gel. The book hovers on the edge of the couch in front of them all so they can see it. The title reads simply, 'Puppy's Day Out'.

The book opens and the first page turns. On the page is the picture of your typical farm, much like that of the Apple family, though there are less apples present among the fields of various foods. "Puppy was a pup who lived on a farm. He and his family were very happy." The page turns, now there is a picture of a mother dog, nudging a pile of her puppies. "His mom woke him, his brothers, and his sisters up one day."

Rhino pauses as he looks to Gel. Did you want to voice the mom?

She smiles and nods. Yes, though I'd like to hear how you'd say it, first.

He clears his throat and speaks in a higher voice, not as high as what he's going for, but definitely more than his usual deep voice. "Wake up my little puppies. It's a new day." His voice goes back to normal as he returns to narrating. "The pile of pups all open their eyes. They yawn and walk over to their mom. 'Good morning Mom!. What are we doing today?' They ask."

Gel clears her throat, focusing on the words in front of her. She reads the words with a warm, soothing tone, perfectly mimicking the princess's. "You're going to play outside, today. The farmer wants my help in the fields." She glances at Rhino, smiling nervously as their daughter laughs brightly at her impression. How was that, love?

Rhino blinks at her. A flawless imitation of Princess Celestia... it actually surprised me to hear her voice coming out of you...

She blushes, squirming in her seat. I-it's a trait all changelings have...n-no big deal...

It's still impressive. He nuzzles her before getting back to the story. He turns the page and another picture of the farm is seen, though this time with puppies running in all directions. "Puppy and the others all cheered. They loved playing outside! They all ran around, doing their favorite things." He turns the page again, showing a puppy on a hill. "Puppy went to his favorite hill. He could see everything around from on top of it! The best part about the hill though, was going down it. Puppy laid down, and rolled down the hill, smiling the whole time. 'Wee!'"

Ruby squeals, bouncing on the sofa in front of them. She puts her forehooves on the picture and touches her nose to it, almost as if she is trying to nuzzle Puppy.

Rhino smiles and nuzzles the filly before continuing. "He rolled all the way to the bottom of the hill. There, he found one of his brothers playing in a puddle.

'Hello Brother!' He said.

'Hello Puppy!' said Brother.

Puppy saw what his brother was doing. 'Can I splash with you?'

'Yeah! It's fun!'

The two puppies ran and splashed all in the puddle, getting wet and still laughing the whole time. Puppy loved his brother, and loved doing things with him."

"Puppy and his brother played all kinds of games together." The pages turn with each activity. "They played in the puddles. They rolled down the hills. They raced in the grass. They even played hide and seek in the hay bales in the barn." The page shows a setting sun. "As the sun went down, they could hear their mom call to them."

Gel picks up the next line, using her impression once more. "Alright, my little puppies, it's time to come back inside."

"All the puppies around the farm ran back to the house, barking happily. Mom fixed them dinner." The page reveals puppies wagging their tails as they eat. "They even had baths, though most of them didn't like it." The next page shows soaking puppies in a wooden tub getting bathed. "It got late, and it was time for bed." There is a picture of puppies all piled on top of each other in a basket. "Puppy's mom kissed all her pups goodnight before getting in her own bed. Puppy had a great day, and tomorrow would be even better. The end." The book softly closes.

Ruby laughs happily, obviously having enjoyed the story. She nestles herself right up against a foreleg, resting her head on it as she reaches a hoof out to the stack next to him.

The nymph by his side giggles brightly, shaking her head. "It seems like she wants another." She covers her mouth, realizing that she was still using the Princess's voice.

"Another one? Already?" He looks to his wife. "I think we may have made her realize a hunger for reading she didn't know she had. Looks like she got it from both of us."

She clears her throat before responding. "That's not necessarily a bad thing, right?" She smirks playfully at him. "It'd definitely drum up more business for Twilight, I think."

"Reading is only ever a good thing." He looks down as Ruby makes a noise and points again at the books. "Though at this rate she'll be on those thicker books in no time... Probably be talking our ears off soon after."

Gel pales slightly, recalling the books in the study. "...I-I should probably put my romance books, somewhere..."

"Maybe just move them to the top shelf and call them 'Mommy's special books'?" He offers as he slides the two remaining books to Ruby so she can pick one.

The filly doesn't see her mother nod, too busy reaching for the one that's to the left.

Rhino lifts up the book in question curiously. "Clear Skies and her cloud fort?" He looks to the changeling. "Onto fort making already?"

Gel shrugs, smiling softly. "Why not? Luster, Flick, and I played with one when we were younger. Pretended we were knights protecting a princess, Ivy."

He chuckles as he lets Ruby look at the cover more. "Remind me to get her a nice big box so she can have the traditional foalhood fun with it."

"Will do, love." She nudges him, her smile shifting into a smirk. "Go ahead and read it to her."

He cracks open the book and begins to read again.

Chapter 11: Others

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The next day comes and another couple finds themselves heading to one of their places of work. They wing through the air, making an odd sight if any were to look up. A yellow mare with purple mane and a rather alluring maid outfit, flying next to a goldenrod changeling drone, his long wings brushing against hers as she nears him every other stroke just to make contact.

He smirks at her as he spins in mid-air, never losing his pace and never leaving his spot next to her. "You really like trying to tease me, don't you?"

Silk Tease giggles as she makes a quick sideways loop around him. "I'd hardly consider this teasing, but if you want to think of it that way... tease by nature, tease by name after all." She winks.

He hums thoughtfully, tapping his chin with a hoof. "Point taken, though I consider brushing our wings together counts as teasing. As does this." Before she can respond, a sudden gust of wind flares up, brushing along the mare's belly.

She shivers in place, her eyes narrowed and a playful smile on her face. "Naughty drone, trying to lift my dress and get me all riled up before work. Are you just trying to get me to think about you all day?"

"Actually, I was trying to tickle you." He shrugs, chuckling quietly. "The caress was a happy accident."

"I'll say it was." She tilts herself sot the she ends up underneath him, upside-down. She gives him a quick peck on the lips before speaking. "I appreciate it regardless, hun."

He grins, pulling her into a deeper kiss, momentarily forgetting to flap his wings. They end up falling, landing on a cloud patch beneath them. He breaks their embrace, glancing around in unveiled surprise. "Wow. That was lucky."

"Sure was." She wraps her wings around him and nuzzles him happily. "Though I'm sure you wouldn't let anything happen to little old me, right?" She bats her eyelashes at him playfully.

"No need for the gaze." He returns the nuzzle, sitting up afterwards. "You know I'd save you. I was about to make an air cushion, but this cloud made it a little redundant."

"Yes, it's shame we don't have more time to fully enjoy it... I guess I'll just have to wait until we get back to the cloud that is our home." She sits up and messes with her outfit. "At least clouds don't leave grass or dirt stains."

He glances over the edge of the cloud, noticing a certain building nearby. "I think we're almost there." He glances over at her, smirking slightly. "Would you like to walk the rest of the way?"

"I sure would." She spreads her wings as she walks to the edge of the cloud before looking back at him with a slight shake of her covered hips. "Coming?"

The drone smiles, walking forward and gently kissing her. "Yes." He leaps off the cloud, gliding down to the ground below, apparently unaffected by her teasing action.

This, of course, only makes her smile more at the challenge. She glides down as well, alighting gently on the ground beside him, fluttering her wings a moment before folding them against her sides.

He looks around as they walk, reading the signs they pass by. "Interesting. It seems as though that one mare with the candy shop is now selling something called suckers."

"Hmm?" She looks at said sign to see that Bon Bon's candy shop is now selling something similar to a lollipop, except instead of a disk on a stick, it's a sphere on a stick. "The things they put on sticks these days... I would have thought she would have gone for a less blunt name though."

"Sometimes names are hard to come up with." He shrugs, shaking his head. "I'd like to try one, though. Maybe I can ask Gel for a loan..." He mutters the last sentence, not wanting the mare next to him to hear.

Unfortunately for him though, she's gotten used to how quiet he is sometimes, and thus hears him perfectly. "Exactly why would you need a loan? It's candy, it's probably three for a bit or something."

"Oh, no reason." He glances away, visibly nervous. "I just don't have any on me, and I don't want to bother you with something so trivial."

She sighs. "Hun, I swear sometimes... Look, here." She flicks him a bit from her saddlebags. "See? Problem solved. What happened to your bits anyway? I thought you had a little bit from those ponies that ask for your colored clouds."

"Oh, I spent them." He chuckles, heading over to the store. "You know me, I'm an impulse buyer. Be right back!" He rushes inside, not allowing room for any response.

Her tail flicks as she mutters to herself. "Like a foal in a candy store... with a secret."

He exits a minute later, one in his mouth and another floating next to him in his magic. He pops the former out, grinning widely. "She gave me two of them! I dunno if it was two-for-one or not, but these are quite big." He holds the dry one up, which is about the size of a golf ball. "Want one?"

"Umm, ok." She takes the sucker with a wing and looks at it curiously before popping it into her mouth. "Mmm..." She shifts it to one side of her mouth so she can talk. "That's good candy."

He nods, smiling warmly. "That's to be expected. She is one of the best, after all." He pops his own back into his mouth, starting off down the street. "This way, right?"

She nods as she continues holding the candy in one cheek. "Yep, sure you don't want to keep me company during my shift?"

"I'd love to, but I do have to try and get my own business of the ground." He glances at her, uncertainty flashing across his face. "You understand, right?"

"Of course, dear." She nuzzles him. "I just wanted to make sure you weren't just walking around town bored until you could come see me."

"Hey, I may be silly, but I know better than to waste time." He chuckles softly, draping a wing over her back. "Besides, I know how much you enjoy our little 'dates' at your workplace."

"True, having the keys makes for easy after-hours get-togethers... and private booths make it all the more fun." She bumps him lightly with her hips.

For the first time in their walk, he blushes. "True. I have no idea how they didn't walk in on us, last time."

"Simple." She lean against him as her voice turns sultry. "I told them not to."

He stops in his tracks, giving her an incredulous look. "I'm not sure whether to be surprised or impressed."

"Feel free to be both. I'm the kind of mare to appreciate either." She giggles before nuzzling him.

Suddenly, a voice calls out to them from across the street. "How dare you! and in public too!"

The drone turns to the source, staring at the orange mare in confusion. "May I help you, Miss...?"

"I was not speaking to you." The unicorn turns to the pegasus mare. "Shame on you, trading down to this... thing... when you had a perfectly good stallion not a month ago!"

Silk is too stunned at the accusation and insult to her husband to speak at first.

Flick tilts his head to one side, frowning slightly. "Trading down? A month ago?" He sighs, shaking his head. "I guess you're one of those anti-changeling activists, huh?"

She actually turns to him. "I am one of the ponies trying to keep our kind safe from yours, yes. And I will not have you stealing mares from perfectly good stallions."

He frowns deeply, unamused. "Who, exactly, did I steal her from?"

"That nice brown pegasus stallion of course, she's been with him for a while now, and I will not tolerate home-wreckers!" She stops a hoof to illustrate her point.

Silk snaps out of her stupor and narrows her eyes. "The only stallion I've been with is my husband." She pulls Flick close to her. "And that stallion you saw was this stallion, just disguised so we wouldn't be bothered by ponies like you."

"Like me? What about ponies like you? Harboring changelings in secret, then acting proud when you're found out, you might be worse than that couple who parade it around openly! At least you would be if they hadn't..." She shivers. "Made that little thing of theirs..."

A quiet breeze picks up, blowing through the street around the three of them. Flick steps forward, no longer annoyed but disgusted by the unicorn in front of him. "You better watch your words, Miss. Someone might take them the wrong way and lash out at you." He scowls at her, a low growl escaping his lips. "Savvy?"

The mare narrows her eyes at him. "I am not afraid of you or your kind, insect."

Silk steps forward, her nose less than an inch from the mare's. "Then be afraid of me. Because if you insult my husband, my friends, or their child, you and I will have a problem." Her wings spread aggressively. "And I don't care who you are. I take care of my problems. Got it?"

As the mare takes a step back, the pegasus turns quickly, giving her a face full of wing. The yellow mare quickly walks off, not offering another word as she walks away.

The goldenrod drone whistles, smirking playfully at her. "That was amusing. Chewing out a mare while wearing a maid's outfit." He chuckles, shaking his head.

A voice calls from behind them. "You think you can do that and just walk away?"

Flick starts, turning around to see the orange mare once more. He groans, facehoofing. "I believe this is called harassment, Miss."

"This is called a public service!" She marches toward them, only to have a rainbow blur thump down into the dirt between her and them.

A brash voice calls out to her. "Back off lady!" The dust clears and the familiar form of the local weather captain is revealed. "You're gonna leave my friends alone," she stomps a hoof, "now!"

Hearth takes a step back as an unseen wind flows through her prismatic mane, her reputation for rash action and harsh temper well known throughout the small town. Looking at Rainbow's aggressive and protective stance, Hearth decides that a strategic retreat is in order, and leaves without another word.

The drone sighs in relief, watching the mare leave to make sure she actually left them alone. He speaks to the pegasus in front of him distractedly. "Thanks, Miss Dash."

"Hey, no problem." She notices the drone adjust his wings and the wind going through her mane die out. "So that was you huh? Cool effect."

He shrugs, smiling warmly. "Glad you thought so. I felt like I needed to do something to emphasize how awesome you looked."

She laughs. "I don't suppose you're in the market to do that for me full time?"

"I think I'd run out of magic after half a day." He chuckles, waving a hoof nonchalantly. "Besides, I think Silk, here, might get jealous if I spent more time around around another mare than her."

The mare in question busies herself with her wings with a nonchalant face. "Just a bit..."

Rainbow just laughs again. "Yeah, I guess you're right, awesome as that may be, too many rumors would start because of it." She looks over her shoulder at where Hearth had disappeared. "She bother you a lot?"

"Actually, this would be the first time." He scratches the side of his head as he thinks a bit. "I think she's been bothering Rhino and Gel, though. I heard a few rumors, and she did mention them in an off-hoofed manner." He frowns, remembering the words that came afterwards. "And she also insulted little Ruby..."

"Ruby... Ruby..." Dash tilts her head to the side a moment before it comes to her. "Oh yeah, that's their filly that Twilight was going on about." Her eyes widen. "Wait... she's was insulting a newborn?! That little... Grr!" She paws the ground angrily for a moment before calming herself with a few rapid breaths. "There are some lines that shouldn't be crossed, not matter how you feel about someponies, er changelings."

He shrugs once more. "I don't mind if someone insults me. I only react when friends and family are being assaulted." He pauses before holding up a hoof. "Or my art, but that's just a quirk of mine."

RD nods. "Yeah... I get it. I still don't why she bothers you guys though, I mean, you're the cool changelings."

"I don't know." He sighs, shaking his head. "I can only imagine that she had a run-in with my kind, before. One that left a negative impression." He glances down the street, noticing a face disappear behind a corner. "Or she simply is a xenophobe."

"Maybe... I'll be honest, since I was in the middle of the Canterlot thing, I'm a bit wary around changelings too, not you guys though, you're cool!" She quickly explains. "But it's just, you know, I actually know who you guys are, the other changelings that have moved here... don't take this the wrong way, but all of them look the same to me! I barely see them around town, and when I do, I can never tell them apart so I have no idea if it's a different one, or the same one. Kind of annoying actually, makes it hard to trust them..."

Flick laughs, shaking his head. "Trust me, I have the same problem, sometimes. Thankfully, some of them have decided to adopt names and accessories to tell themselves apart. Psychic links aren't something ponies are used to, after all, and you probably can't sense the signature of their magic auras, either."

RD blinks at his last sentence. "Umm... what?"

"Yea, we have unique magical 'hoofprints', as I like to call them." He shrugs. "I don't know if pegasi can sense those, though."

"No no, I get that, or well, Twilight sort of forced it into my head one day... but i meant that first part. The link thing." She waves her hoof in a way to show she wasn't sure what word he used.

"Oh." He tilts his head to one side. "Well, back before the incident in town square - you know the one - we were a species of espionage. We used a mental link to keep in contact to prevent ourselves from being exposed." He glances off to the side. "Gel figured out that we could form links with ponies in that way, as well."

"Huh... ok... and you said you all did that, so I guess it's not weird for you..." Her mane falls in front of her eyes a moment and seeing it makes her shake her head. "Anyway, believe it or not, I didn't just happen to come across you two." She points to the drone. "I was actually looking for you."

"Oh good." Silk mutters to Flick. "Last time she was looking for me, she tried to rope me into emergency weather duty."

He bumps his wife's side before motioning for the weather mare to continue.

"Yeah... so..." Rainbow rubs the back of her head with a hoof, unsure of how to say this. "You do custom ordered clouds, right? The colored ones?"

He quirks an eyebrow at this. "You know this. You ran into four of them a year ago, remember?"

"Right right," she looks around, "But umm, you've only done them for events so far. Do you do more... permanent ones?"

"I could, in theory." He rolls a hoof, gesturing to her. "I take it you want one for such a purpose?"

"More like six... I was, you know, making some adjustments to my house... t-to make it more awesome, of course!" She laughs nervously.

Flick simply smiles warmly at her. "You don't have to be embarrassed. I make art of almost anything for customers." His expression becomes deadpan. "I will not make someone's 'personal' art. Seriously, somepony had asked me for that..."

"Huh?" She tilts her head, her embarrassment for asking somepony to help her with her house put on hold by her confusion. "Personal art?"

"A painting of them reclining on a couch." He sighs, rubbing the side of his head. "I have no idea what that mare was thinking..."

"Yeah... don't want to know." She shakes her head again. "Anyway, when are you available to do these for me, and is it gonna cost more for permanent, I can afford it either way, I just want to know ahead of time."

"Well, first, I'd need to buy the necessary supplies for permanence." He perks up at the change of topic. "I could do it today, and it would only cost a bit or two more for each cloud."

"Awesome. Meet me at my house when you're ready. It's the one with the rainbow falls. You can't miss it." Rainbow launches herself into the sky in a graceful backwards arc before flipping over and zipping away.

As she clears the dust from the takeoff with one wing, Silk muses out loud. "Well, I guess I know what you'll be doing today."

"Yes, you do." He smirks at her, playfully bumping her side. "Good way to get some more bits, too. See you when I come by for dinner?"

"I'd better get a goodbye kiss first~." She leans against him and flutters her eyelashes again.

"No need to ask me twice." He chuckles, pulling her close and kissing her gently.

Her wings ruffle, resisting the urge to flutter as they often do when he kisses her. She's slightly breathless as they part. "Now that, should keep me going until dinner." She takes a step forward and nuzzles him meaningfully. "I'll be sure to light some candles."

He smiles warmly, happily nuzzling her back. "You always know how to make those moments special."

"True." She turns and slowly walks away with a sway in her hips. "But the fact that I wear this half the time does give me an advantage."

"That it does." He laughs softly, turning to head off as well. I look forward to taking it off, tonight.

Naughty drone...

***

Meanwhile, on the edge of town, a grey mare kicks the door closed behind her as she brings in a box almost the size of her. She doesn't appear to be very hindered by the burden as she trotts into her living room and stacks onto a pile of other boxes of various sizes. She nods once with a smile at the pile before running a hoof through her long charcoal mane and straightening her signature pink bowtie. "I think that should do it. I don't know how my music sheets always end up being the last thing I bring in but the first thing I unpack..." She turns to the purple nymph on the other side of the room currently occupied with her own metal boxes. "Got everything?"

She nods, smiling warmly as one of the boxes beside her opens up, revealing a staff inserted diagonally. Without missing a beat, she reaches out and catches it with her hoof before it hits the ground. I believe so. Your cello is in the bedroom, by the way. I felt it wouldn't do for it to be damaged while unpacking.

"Thank you for that. There's a reason I don't like anypony other than you or I touching my cello." She looks around at the mostly empty room only occupied by the two females and the pile of boxes. "I'm not sure if it feels like home yet... or maybe that's just me being used to traveling so much..."

Hey. The nymph walks over, gingerly placing a foreleg around the mare. Don't worry about it. In a few days, this place will be familiar and welcoming. She glances around, pulling a box over and opening it up. That said, I think we should- She stops, staring down into the container. She pulls out a thin book, her heart aching at the implications. ...Octavia...is this...

The cellist gently takes the small book, running a hoof over the blank spot where a picture would go before setting it back in the box. "They did say... telling you that you can't have something... only makes you want it more..." Her gaze is soft as she looks at the book again before sighing and turning away.

Her changeling puts a hoof on her chin, turning her head to look at her. But we can have it. We just have to be patient. She closes the box and puts it in a corner, bringing a different one closer. Come on, let's unpack. Maybe we can find something fun to do along the way.

"I'd like that." She looks at the rest of the boxes. "It's so much more than a few suitcases... but at least I don't have to repack them in a few days." She ducks her head into the box and rustles around a bit before coming up with a small photograph of the two of them in a silver frame. "It's the picture box! Is this doesn't make this place feel homey, I don't know what will."

The nymph taps her chin, thinking a bit. How about a practice room? Or maybe something along those lines?

As Octavia places the photo on the mantle and goes back into the box for the next one, she comments from within it. "It would be quite useful, none of the rooms here had quite the perfect acoustics I wanted." She comes up with a smaller picture of a yellow filly in a white stetson and sets it in the middle of a shelf on the wall.

The silent changeling walks over to it, smiling playfully. Well, if it isn't young Fiddlesticks. I haven't seen her in a long time. She looks meaningfully at the mare behind her. I miss her, you know.

The mare smiles knowingly as she bumps her hips against Luster's. "Didn't she just take you to her family reunion not too long ago? How could you miss her already?"

She gives her a flat stare. Because of her eyes. She smiles softly, not even pretending to joke around. I like her for who she is, just as she likes me for who I am. You know that.

Octavia looks to the ground before slowly easing her eyes up to meet the nymph's. "I suppose fair is fair... Though I wonder if changelings ever feel this way... living so long in a disguise that they sometimes forget it is one..."

She shrugs, reaching into the box once more. It comes with the territory, for inexperienced soldiers. She pulls out a different picture, smiling softly at it. Look at that. It's our wedding photo. She nudges the mare's side, chuckling silently. Now, who is that lovely yellow mare in the white dress, again?

"Hey, I offered for us both to wear dresses, but you said you'd prefer the tux." The grey pony gives Luster a quick peck on the cheek. "Not that you didn't look dashing of course."

Thank you for the compliment. She smirks slightly, bumping her side with her own. You didn't answer my question, though. She places it right next to the picture of the filly, nodding satisfactorily.

Octavia rolls her eyes. "Fine fin Miss Not-So-Subtle." She fiddles with her bowtie a moment before it loosens. As the accessory comes off, her entire form seems to shimmer a moment before her grey coat is replaced with yellow, her dark mane becomes blue, and her purple eyes turn into a lovely sapphire. The transformed mare smiles as her bowtie. "Best bits I ever spent, and far easier than the dyes and contacts I had to deal with before."

Luster shrugs nonchalantly. I worked with what I had. She smiles, leaning forward and gently kissing her. I'm glad you have it, though. Those Canterlot elite are still fickle about who they let play music for them, after all.

The mare kisses back before voicing her agreement. "Yes, it's amazing. You wear a stetson and scarf in public once in that town and then nopony takes you seriously anymore. Although... I guess that actually isn't a problem here..." Her eyes slowly widen. "I could actually walk around like this..."

The nymph grins, nodding once. Precisely. Especially with some of your family here, too.

"True..." Fiddlesticks pulls a flat wooden box out and opens it, setting the pink bowtie in the cloth-lined interior. "I have actually become quiet fond of bowties over the years though. I wonder how 'Fiddlesticks would look in one..." Her eyes fall on Luster. "Or, on that note..." She takes a yellow bowtie out of the box with her mouth and approaches the changeling meaningfully.

She blinks, tilting her head in confusion. What do you plan to do with that?

"Just seeing something..." With a quick bit of mouthwork, with a little assistance from a hoof when needed, the yellow bowtie is soon snuggly around the changeling's neck, standing out against her dark purple chitin. The mare takes a step back to admire the view, a smile easily spreading across her face.

Luster looks at her, shifting on her hooves awkwardly. Do I look alright? I've never seen what a tie looks like on myself...

A small snort comes from Fiddlesticks. "That explains why you didn't wear anything like that with your tux... but you look very nice, dear. It's a little splash of different color on you." She goes to take it off. "I just wanted to see how it looked, and I was not disappointed."

She holds up a hoof, sheepishly smiling. Could I possibly wear it a bit longer? I actually kinda like it.

The musical pony smiles slyly. "I thought you might. Maybe later 'll wear my purple one, and we'll match."

I'd like that. She nods before she brings a shiny, metal violin over. After carefully tuning it, she gives her wife a playful wink and begins to play.

Behind her, the metal boxes begin to warp and shift, flowing up into the air above them. As the nymph moves out of the room, she clicks her hooves along the floor, providing a percussion of sorts to her makeshift melody.

The yellow mare smiles as her wife leaves. "Such a contrast to my own still style is always a pleasure to watch." One hoof reflexively reaches for the special pink bowtie in the wooden case before she catches herself. The lid clicks as she shuts it. "Still going to have to get used to this..." She rubs her bare neck with a hoof. "Still, we worked hard for this opportunity... I might as well enjoy all the benefits." She begins unpacking with a new spring in her step.

After a bit of work, the living room now actually looks like a room in a home instead of a warehouse. Fiddlesticks nods to herself as she brushes a bit of dust from her coat. With a quick turn, she heads towards the back door to see how her significant other is doing with the extra room.

At the exact same moment, Luster dances around the metal floor of the half-way complete room. With every note she plays, a new design or a new pillar appears, and she cycles through them as she performs, trying to get everything just right.

The yellow mare, sits just inside the new room, her ears perked and her eyes wide as she observes her wife's performance. Years of musical training lets her tell the changes each bit of the architecture makes to the sound, a trait she knows Luster shares and is using herself to perfect the place. She waits in silence, until the nymph is done.

She eventually slows her tempo, the steel solidifying as she tests out the final adjustment. She beams, lowering herself back down and putting her violin off to one side. Perfect.

"I have to agree." Fiddlesticks walks to the center of the metal room, listening as her hoofsteps echoed around. "And the room turned out wonderfully too."

Luster can only stare, blushing brightly in embarrassment. Thanks. I didn't realize you were listening, though.

"You know I never miss a chance to watch and hear you play." As her tail swishes lightly to the no-longer-present tempo, she nuzzles the changeling. "It's always so breathtaking..."

She giggles, happily returning the gesture. I'm glad you think so...of course, you're great, too.

"I keep telling you we need to do a duet but we never seem to get around to it..." Fiddlestick's eyes light up with an idea. "What if we performed for just a small gathering of our friends, hmm? Wouldn't that be fun?"

Luster gestures to the empty floor of the room, smiling warmly. That was the idea. I think we can fit up to twenty in here and have enough room for a few tables, if you want.

The mare quirks an eyebrow as she replies teasingly. "Trying to be competitive with Rhino and Gel's home's hosting capabilities?"

No, just trying to stake our own share of hosting. Musical entertainment and the like. She shrugs, glancing up at a silver chandelier hanging from the ceiling. We should probably install actual lights in here, at some point.

"Very true, and maybe consider getting you some different metals or some other way to make the room more colorful." The mare looks around at the entirely chrome-colored room. "Copper maybe? Just something..."

I wouldn't say no to that. She moves over to the side, fiddling with a few pulleys and switches hidden there. I set up some simple machines to help with the curtains, when we do perform for others, and a place to put your cello when you're not using it. She gestures to the other side of the room, where a cushioned rack lays. Just some items that came to mind while fleshing the room out.

"Glad to know you were thinking of me." The cellist moves over and inspects the space for her instrument, nodding in satisfaction. She giggles after a moment as a thought occurs to her. "Does this mean you're just going to take a chunk of the wall to make your violin everytime?"

Of course not. She picks up a darker-metal box, a twinkle in her eye. I had a special one made for me. I specified it to be made of a zinc-nickel alloy, so it's resilient. The strings are still steel, though.

"Well, look at you, going custom." Fiddlesticks walks over and gently kisses the nymph on her cheek. "I'm glad to see you treating yourself. You really do need to do that more often you know, you deserve it."

You know I prefer not to do that. She opens the box, pulling out a brown-red violin with a metallic finish. I just felt this would stand out less in our performances. You know how that one reviewer took a point off because of my old one.

The mare sticks out her tongue in a decidedly not-upper class manner. "He probably would have taken a point off if it was painted black with as much of a traditionalist he was, let alone if we performed looking like we actually do."

Luster shrugs, tuning her instrument carefully. You make it sound like you know him personally. Should I be jealous?

Fiddlesticks smirks. "I make it a point to know all the popular reviewers out there. I don't change my performances for them, but if there's something small I can use to tip the scale in my favor, why not use it?"

Ah. She finishes tuning, playing a few short notes. For a moment, I thought you had him as a roommate. I'm glad I was wrong.

One eyebrow slowly raises before it's owner just laughs and shakes her head before nuzzling her partner. "You really are cute when you're acting all subtle about your jealousy."

She blushes brightly, embarrassed by the mare's words. She continues to play with her violin, surrounding it in violet magic, as she inspects the inlays and bevels of the walls, acting nonchalant. Who says I get jealous? I was just curious. She pokes a hoof at a column, hesitating slightly. Did you have any roommates, though?

The yellow mare puts a hoof to her chin. "Well... there was those few years with that DJ... She certainly made that an interesting time..."

The nymph tenses slightly, subtly biting her lip. Interesting, how?

This only makes the mare smile more as she leans her side against Luster. "Nothing too big really, just the usual clashes between the world of shades and glowsticks versus the world of bowties and uniforms. Why? What were you thinking happened?" This last question is said in a teasing tone to convey that she knows exactly what her partner was thinking, but is trying to get her to admit it.

She slides her hoof across her lips. Not saying. Glad nothing too big happened, though. She glances around before nodding and rapidly drawing her bow across the strings. The first note is accompanied with a pole erupting from the floor before the stage. The stomp afterwards, a decently-sized circle flaring from the top of it. This pattern continues five more times, leaving them with a half dozen tables. I wonder if I'll ever meet this 'DJ'. I guess only time will tell.

Fiddlesticks nods. "She's definitely odd, but you get used to her over time."

A voice calling from outside the room interrupts any further conversation. "Hello? Is somepony back here?"

Curious, Luster walks over and opens the door, smiling warmly at the white mare standing there. Greetings. Would you like to come in? She accompanies this question with a bow and a wave into the room.

Momentarily confused by the mute nymph, the unicorn hesitates a moment, but smiles at the invitation and enters. "Well, thank you dear. It's nice to see you again, though I admit you are not who I expected."

She tilts her head in confusion, raising an eyebrow. She starts to think to her, but remembers she doesn't have a mental link with her. She pulls some metal from a nearby table, forming words in the air next to her. 'May I ask who you were expecting?'

Fiddlesticks is content to watch the two converse, curious as to who this pony is that her wife apparently knows.

The pony adjusts her curled purple mane a moment before responding with a small smile. "Well, um, this may sound a bit silly, but I had heard a few rumors that some of my favorite musicians had moved into the area. Their names are Melody and Octavia, have you heard of them?"

Luster smirks slightly, nodding her head. 'You could say that. I will say this - the rumors are true.'

Her eyes light up. "Really? Do you know where they might be? Not that I don't want to catch up of course, it has been a while since I last saw you, but I do wish to..." a small blush appears on her cheeks before she forces it away,"make them feel welcome of course, yes, that's what I'm going to do."

'I see.' She covers her mouth with a hoof, trying to hide her smile. 'I could take you to Octavia, if you'd like.’

The alabaster unicorn goes back to her eager state. "Would you, darling? That would be wonderful, and it would save me some aimless walking."

'Follow me.' She puts the metal she's using back where it belongs before heading towards the stage. They stop in front of it and she picks up her steel violin, using the metal for her next few words. 'Rarity, meet Octavia.' This is joined by an arrow that points at the yellow earth pony on the stage.

The fashionista looks at the yellow mare in confusion before turning back to the nymph. "Erm, Luster dear, I believe you are mistaken. Though she does bear quite the resemblance, I am fairly certain this is not the grey-coated cellist of which I spoke."

Fiddlesticks laughs at the mare's comment. "I'm afraid you would be mistaken there."

"I beg your pardon?" Rarity looks even more confused now.

The cellist simply smiles knowingly. "Oh come now, surely a pony such as yourself knows the things some ponies do to fit in high society. Some put on nice dresses, get their manes done, a little makeup..." she gestures to herself, "maybe some go so far as to adopt a new appearance entirely."

The unicorn's mouth drops open as she hears this particular bit of information.

At her guest's lack of a response, Fiddlesticks laughs again. "Are you really going to make me break out my cello to convince you?"

The fashionista jerks in place and clears her throat to clear her mind. "Ahem, um, that will not be necessary. It's just... wow..."

'At a loss for words with Octavia in front of you?' Luster floats her specially-made violin back into its case, trying hard to not laugh, even if it would be silent.

Rarity catches herself again. "A lady is never lost for words, she is just deciding which ones to use. It's simply much to absorb. Though... if she is Octavia... does that make you..." She lets the sentence trail off as she looks at the nymph.

She nods, smiling warmly once more. 'Correct. I'm Melody.' She bows, giggling in her thoughts. 'Not what you were expecting, I take it?'

"Not quite..." The white mare looks to where Luster had put her instrument. "Though, now that I know, I'm surprised I didn't notice the similarity between your music and Melody's sooner."

'It's easy enough for ponies to assume otherwise.' She shrugs, moving up the nearby stairs. 'Though, if you wouldn't mind, could you please keep this between us? We don't want to be chased wherever we go.'

"Of course darling, though, if I may be so bold," her small blush returns, "might I ask for a favor in return?"

The cellist raises an eyebrow, unsure of what she is getting at.

'I guess that depends on the favor.' The nymph rolls her hoof at the mare. 'May we hear what it is?'

"Would you mind terribly if I asked you two..." she suddenly whips out a flat square from her saddlebags, her face burning, "to sign my copy of your record?"

Luster blinks, stepping forward and lifting up the record, smiling softly. 'I'd be happy to.' She looks around, frowning slightly. 'If I had something to write with, anyways.'

As soon as she finished her sentence, a quill and inkwell zips out of the unicorn's bags to hover next to the record sleeve.

She jumps a bit at this, staring a second before taking the quill. 'Thank you, Rarity.' She quickly writes a bit before pausing, turning to the mare next to her. Should I sign it as 'Melody' or 'Luster'?

Fiddlesticks thinks a moment. "Hmm... Melody I think, since it's the name on the record. You did register that as your alias after all, even if most don't realize that's what it is."

She nods, quickly signing as suggested. She then turns to her mare, curious. Would you like to sign it, too?

The mare nods, taking the quill in her mouth and signing the sleeve. As the quill is taken from her mouth by Rarity's magic, she spits out a small tuft of fluff and smacks her lips. "This is why I prefer pencils..."

The fashionista laughs nervously. "I'll be sure to remember that..." She stows the record back in her bags before turning back to the couple. "I guess this means Luster settling down and the famous Octavia Philharmonica ending her touring are connected?"

The indigo nymph nods, sheepishly blushing. 'Yes, that would be correct.'

Fiddlesticks takes up the tale, tossing a hoof over the nymph's shoulder and pulling her close. "We decided we wanted more out of life than constant traveling and hotels. Selling records of our music with the occasional trip to Canterlot for a live performance seemed like the perfect way to do that. It took some time to make all the changes, but..." she nuzzles Luster, "it was worth it."

The changeling blushes softly, nuzzling her as well. I'll say it was. She smirks slightly and kisses the earth pony's cheek. I'm definitely glad to have the extra spare time.

Rarity smiles as the couples exchange small gestures of affection. "Oh, aren't you two just precious?" She looks at the yellow bowtie on Luster's neck and gets a small twinkle in her eye. "You really should come by my shop sometime. I'd be thrilled to make you some sets of outfits... a nice purple for the lovely mare, and a soft yellow for her wife."

Luster turns to the unicorn, smiling warmly. 'I think that sounds wonderful. We still have a few things to do first, though.'

"Oh, of course of course." She waves a hoof. "Entirely at your leisure, I assure you. Besides, I'm working on a new style of clothing right now, and I'm almost done with the first line. Actually... I should probably get back to it, I think I received a bit more inspiration while I was here, but we really should talk again you know. Thank you for a lovely time." She dips her head before heading towards the open door.

The nymph tilts her head in confusion. The metal next to her flies through the room, stopping in the air in front of Rarity. 'What are you working on?'

Rarity looks back with a smile, calling as she walks away. "Foal's clothing, darling!" With those final words, she is gone.

Luster freezes in place, the metal falling to the floor, forgotten. Foal's clothing?

Her wife's reaction is far greater. Her ears flop down and her tail sags as thoughts rush unbidden into her mind. She takes a shuddering breath as she tries to calm herself.

Seeing her reaction, she wraps her foreleg around the mare, holding her close.

"I'm sorry..." the earth pony whispers as she takes another shuddering breath, "I know I usually don't let it get to me, but... with all this talk of settling down, then with earlier I just..." She sniffs loudly.

Her nymph tenderly nuzzles her, stroking her back with soothing motions of her hoof. It'll be okay. We're on our way to solving it. We just need another two weeks.

Fiddlesticks wipes her eyes, still trying to calm down. "I know... I know... I just still have trouble finally thinking it's real..." She looks in Luster's eyes, her own emotions shown plainly in hers. "Do you think they'll still help?"

I know them. She gently kisses her mare. She'll find a way to make it happen. She never breaks her word, after all.

The kissing helping to calm her down, the yellow pony takes a moment before she replies. "Ok... ok... you're right... Thank you... for everything." Sh grabs the nymph in a warm hug. "For absolutely everything you've done for me throughout my life."

You're welcome. Just so you know, she nuzzles her cheek before letting go, if I were given the choice, I'd do it all again. Even with the consequences. She touches a hoof to her neck, a distant look in her eyes.

The cellist looks at her wife with shining eyes before gently brushing her lips against the nymphs. She takes her hoof and begins gently leading her to the house. "Come on, I think some tea will do us both some good."

She smiles and nods, happily following her.

Chapter 12: Past and Future

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Friday morning comes and the Nexus household finds itself awake at its usual time. Today though, they get to take things a little easier as it's a holiday and most ponies, or changelings, don't need to go to work. Judging by the sounds of laughter coming from the living room, some members of the family are enjoying the day off.

Rhino, laying on his back on the rug, smiles as he lifts Ruby into the air with his forehooves. Like an elevator, he brings her up and down, but is careful not to bounce her. With each trip up, she giggles at the highest point, and nuzzles his chest at the lowest. Beside them, Mercury is playing along by raising up on his hind legs at their pace, always staying at the foal's height. Specter and Selena observe the scene, amused, as they lay curled up together on the couch.

Gel enters the room, pausing in the doorway to watch the scene, a small smile on her lips. "I'm glad you two are having fun." She strolls over to them, a pan following behind her in her blue aura. "I made some cookies. Does Mist like chocolate chip?" She looks down at them, unsure.

Rhino stops, setting Ruby on his chest as he leans his head backwards to see Gel. "I'll tell you if I get one~."

"Are you sure?" She turns to him, brow furrowed in concern. "They're still hot, and I don't want you burning your mouth." She pauses, thinking about this a moment before continuing. "Again, I mean."

He sticks out his tongue and blows a small raspberry, Ruby mimicking him as he does so. "Fine, I guess you're right. Yeah, she likes chocolate chip, though Dad and I have always been more of the cookie ponies."

"Well..." She glances back at the doorway. "...I did make two other batches...I wouldn't recommend eating any of the first one, though."

"Hey, at least you're getting better, right?" He smiles at her, trying to comfort her about the kitchen mishaps she usually has.

"I guess...didn't expect a cookie to turn gelatinous, though." She shrugs, shaking her head. "I didn't know shortbread cookies were that hard." A tray comes floating in, accompanied by a glass of milk. "So I made some sugar ones, next. They looked a little plain, though, so I made the chocolate chip."

"Look at you, going variety. I half expected you to wear that apron I like." He winks at her. "You did wonderfully."

"We only have two edible options, though." She lowers the new pan low enough for him to see the light-brown cookies on it. "Feel free to have one, if you're hungry."

He wiggles his eyebrows teasingly. "I'd rather have you in an apron."

She playfully puts a hoof on his lips, smirking coyly at him. "You'll have to wait a bit." She removes her hoof and stuffs a cookie into his mouth. "It's in the wash. I got some cookie dough on it."

He goes to respond, but can't because of the cookie, so he resolves to sit there giving her an upside down glare. Of course, the lack of any real intent behind it plus his cheeks filled cookie kind of ruins any seriousness he's giving off.

Gel giggles, shaking her head as she holds up the glass. "Do you want to drink this, yourself, or should I feed you like Ruby?"

He levitates the glass over to himself with a blush on his cheeks, swallowing so he can speak. "I think the glass will do fine..."

She shrugs, leaning down to kiss the tip of his nose. "Suit yourself, love." She carefully picks Ruby up, cradling her in her forelegs. "You might want to sit up first, though. I don't want you to get milk all over your face, you know."

"Wouldn't be the first time, but it's still a waste of good milk." He shifts into a sitting position and sips the milk, a satisfied smile on his face. "Cookies and milk, always a wonderful combination. Come here and let me thank you properly..." He pulls his wife and daughter close before giving a passionate kiss to the former.

She happily kisses him back, blushing softly as they break it. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you wanted more than just milk and cookies." She sticks her tongue out at him and giggles. "I am glad you like them, of course."

He nods as he nuzzles her. "Just wait until Ruby's old enough to have both instead of one. For now though, I'll enjoy them myself. Oh, and bragging about you to my parents of course."

She nods, glancing at the glass with a small smile. "If you say so." She scratches her head, a flicker of anxiety flashing across her face. "Speaking of your parents, when is she supposed to be coming? You said today, but that's about it, I think..."

He shrugs. "All I know is that she said she was flying in this morning. It's difficult to pin an exact time to that what with all the variables flying has." He looks down at Ruby and rubs her nose with his own. "Ready to meet your grandma and grandpa today?"

She coos brightly, trying to hug his face with her tiny forelegs.

Her mother can only laugh. "I think that's a yes, love."

"Good." He looks back up to Gel. "I'm warning you now though, Mom told me years ago that she is going to spoil any grandchildren of hers, so be prepared for that. She'll probably even bring a gift."

The navy nymph stares at him in clear confusion. "On her own birthday? That's unusual..."

He chuckles. "Honestly I think she cares more about meeting her granddaughter than her birthday. Once ponies get over fifty, some of them stet downplaying them."

She blinks at this, scratching the side of her head. "I thought she was forty-five, at the oldest..."

Rhino shakes his head. "No, she just looks really young for her age. She's actually turning fifty-three this year."

Gel slowly nods, thinking about his words a moment. "I suppose that makes sense...I suppose that means she keeps herself in shape, huh?" She stands silently for a few seconds before turning her gaze downward, smiling softly at their daughter. "I'm sorry, I'm still really nervous...even though I know I shouldn't be..."

"That's because you're silly sometimes." He leans his head down and nuzzles her as Ruby snuggles against her chest at the same time, sensing her father's intentions. "Of course, I know full well I'm not exempt from silliness either. Look, they love you, they love me, they'll love her. What more is there?"

She hesitates before sighing quietly, her ears flattening against her head. "Their reactions to her...condition?"

A shadow of a grimace flits over Rhino's face but he spouts out his thoughts to keep himself from dwelling on it. "Her abilities will likely be a source of curiosity and delight, as for the small issue... we know about it, we know some precautions to take. They'll be concerned, but they'll love her all the same. They might even have suggestions."

She looks up at him, hope and concern conflicting within her. "A-are you sure, love?"

"Hey Ruby can't help what she is born with, all we can do is make the best of it. They understand that." He embraces her carefully from the side, mindful of the foal cradled to her chest. "On a lighter note, I think our daughter makes a good case on her own for why they should love her."

Gel glances down at her once more, noticing that she's reaching out to the stallion while babbling brightly. "I can't deny that. She's probably cute enough to make a stubborn mule smile." She gingerly gives him the filly, smiling warmly. "Don't you agree?"

Rhino takes the filly, who immediately starts nuzzling against his fur. "I couldn't agree more."

Suddenly, a series of knocks come from the front door.

The navy changeling jumps slightly, not expecting the noise. She blushes brightly, placing the pans of cookies on a nearby table. "T-that should be her. I'll get it!" She rushes out of the room, trying to hide her embarrassment. She opens the door, smiling nervously. "H-hello."

On the threshold stand a red pegasus mare, her short brown mane hanging just to the side of one of her golden eyes. She smiles warmly at Gel, reaching forward and bringing hr into a hug. "There's my favorite daughter-in-law."

Her blush flares back up as she returns the embrace. "A-am I not your only daughter-in-law, Mist?"

"Well, you are, but that doesn't mean you're not still my favorite." Mist holds the changeling at arms length. "It's good to see you again."

Gel giggles, nodding genially at her. "It's good to see you again, too. It's been a while - Hearth's Warming, if I'm not mistaken?"

"Way too long in my opinion, but at least I'm back now." She laughs. "Don't think this means I won't be popping in again during this years Hearth Warming."

The nymph laughs at this, finally relaxing. "I wouldn't want you to do otherwise." She glances to the living room door, tapping her chin a bit. "You know, Rhino is in there with Ruby. Would you like to talk with them, now?"

"Of course!" Mist eyes light up. "I can't wait to see the little one! I bet she's adorable..."

"You'd win that bet." She giggles, turning to the room with a coy smile. "Come, come. I want to see what they're doing before they notice us."

The two females walk back in to a curious sight. Rhino is back on the floor, this time on his stomach, and all the pets have decided it's time to pila onto him. All three and snuggled on his back, while he plays with Ruby. The tiny pink filly is being entertained as her father takes a blanket and puts it over his eyes, leaving his green muzzle poking out. Ruby pokes his nose with her hoof, causing him to suddenly whip the blanket up and expose his wide eye as he a silly 'rawr' sound. The filly laughs and falls backwards every time as this process repeats.

Gel smiles, playfully nudging the pegasus's side. "Isn't that cute? He does this on occasion, and she just loves it when he does."

The older mother smiles knowingly. "I always figured he'd be the kind of dad that would enjoy doing silly things with his children as long as it made them happy." She looks to the nymph. "He isn't hogging her is he? You get to have just as much time with her?"

"I do." She giggles, walking over to the group on the floor and nudging his shoulder gently. "Are you enjoying yourself, love?"

He looks up at her with a cheeky grin. "Actually, I'm being held captive by the various cute members of the family and forced to perform for the amusement of their leader. Quickly, defect from their team and save me!"

The nymph rolls her eyes teasingly, turning to their daughter and laying down like her stallion. "Ruby, there's somepony here to see you."

As Rhino laments the loss of his one chance to escape, the filly looks at her mother curiously.

She carefully picks her up, turning her so they're both facing the mare. "This is Mist, your grandmother."

Ruby's face is still curious as the pegasus approaches and leans her head down to the filly's level with a gentle smile. "Hey there cutie..." She slowly moves a hoof toward the filly's mane.

The foal smiles as the kind mare starts stroking her mane. As Mist reaches a certain spot, Ruby leans into her hoof at the feeling.

This makes the red mare giggle. "Just like your father and grandpa..." She continues stroking the filly's mane as she speaks. "No calling me 'grandma' though, no 'granny' or anything like that. Call me... Mimi."

Rhino shakes his head from where he still is on the floor. "You always did hate the thought of being called 'grandma'... yet you loved the idea of being one."

Gel taps her chin thoughtfully. "You want her to call you 'Mimi'? May I ask why?"

"Well, it's not too far of a stretch from 'Mist'." The older mare straightens up to look Gel in the eye. "It's more personal than just calling me by my name, and it doesn't make me feel old." She runs a hoof through her own mane. "The silver strands do that enough as is."

She tilts her head, confused by this. "What silver strands? I don't see anything like that..."

"Well, I try to pluck them when I see them but..." The older mare lifts up her mane where it naturally falls to one side of her head. "If you look at the base, you can see them."

The nymph leans close, seeing less than an inch of silver at the root of some strands. "It's not that bad." She smiles, shaking her head. "I like to think of them as proof of wisdom."

Mist laughs as she sets her mane back down. "Wisdom huh? I like that." She looks back at Ruby with a soft smile before turning to Gel. "Would you mind if I hold her?"

She laughs, carefully holding the filly out to her. "I don't mind at all. Please be careful with her, Mist..."

Mist takes the foal gingerly, sitting down so she can hold her with both forelegs. She looks down at the filly with a tender face. "Reminds me of when you were little, Rhino... Though she's not quite as much of a fluffball as you were."

The stallion chuckles as he stands up, the pets still on his back and not looking like they want to move anytime soon. "True, hopefully she's not quite as much of a rascal as I was..."

His wife looks from one to the other and back, confused by this. "What do you mean by that?"

Both of the ponies chuckle before Mist answers. "Oh, don't get me wrong, he was a sweet foal, but remind me to tell you some stories later about how much of a booger he was sometimes. Cheeky even before he knew what the word meant..." Her wings start messing with her saddlebags. I actually brought a little something for Ruby, if you don't mind me giving it to her." She pulls out a classic foal toy: a plastic key ring with the usual oversized colorful keys on it.

Gel blinks, glancing briefly at the red teething ring on the ground next to Rhino's hooves. "I don't mind...I mean, you went through all the trouble to get it, so..." She trails off, embarrassed by her own words.

"It was no trouble, I just saw it and thought she might like it because it moves and makes noise when she plays with it." She gives it to the foal, who takes it in her hooves. She shakes it once and, delighted by the noise she can now make with it, proceeds to shake it more, laughing as she does so. "It's mostly to keep them entertained."

"I see..." She taps her chin, thinking a moment. ...I hope she doesn't spoil her too much...I hear enough from Applejack about that pampered bully of Apple Bloom's...

Rhino tosses a glance Gel's way. I believe I did already warn you that she's going to spoil her. Don't worry though, as a product of her raising techniques, I can tell you she knows how to draw the line.

She nods slowly, still a little nervous. I can believe that... She watches Ruby play with the plastic keys for a few seconds, a bittersweet smile on her lips. ...I...w-when should we tell her? A-about her condition, I mean?

Well... I doubt you want to go through it more than once, so... maybe once Dad arrives? Mist blows a raspberry on the filly stomach, making her laugh and squirm while bringing a smile to the stallion's face.

Gel giggles, shaking her head. You're right, love. She clears her throat, gesturing towards the trays on the table. "W-would you like a cookie, Mist? Freshly baked!"

"I'd love one." She walks over on three legs and pops a cookie into her mouth. "Mmm!" She swallows. "Delicious! Well done, Gel! I guess you're past blowing up the ingredients?"

"A little..." She nervously laughs, glancing towards the doorway. "...I burnt the first batch..."

The older mare waves her unoccupied hoof. "That's no big deal, everypony burns something they're trying to cook occasionally." Ruby starts squirming which makes Mist look down. "Oh, you're just so cute!" She nuzzles the filly, but she just keeps squirming.

Rhino, recognizing the face his daughter is making quickly walks over. "Let's see..." He take Ruby in his magic and flips her over. "Yep, changing time." He and the levitating foal start heading out of the room as he calls back to them. "I'll handle it. You girls have fun."

"Okay!" Gel waves until he's gone, leaving her alone with the pegasus. She glances at her before picking up a sugar cookie, nibbling it absently as she tries to think of a way to phrase the question that's been on her mind.

Mist, for her part, looks fondly at the door Rhino had exited out of. "That's my colt... knowing him, he probably considers changing her to just be more time spent with her."

"We both do." She rubs the back of her neck, still feeling a bit awkward. "I didn't join, though, because I wanted to discuss something with you..."

"Hmm?" The mare turns to the nymph. "Is his the part where you say you're nervous about being a mother, I tell you you're doing fine, and then you end up asking for advice?"

She shakes her head. "That's not it." She steps forward, a small frown on her lips. "I just want to know...why did you and Bio break up? I just...I can't see why it happened..."

Mist's expression instantly drops. "It's, well, there's always a reason... I mean, we had our differences, everypony does..."

The navy nymph sighs, shaking her head once more. "Please...I don't like the thought of a happy couple being apart...surely your differences aren't too big, right?"

"No no, it wasn't that, we were still happy..." She sighs before walking over to a chair and plopping down into it. "It just... got too much after..."

Gel moves in front of her, sitting down promptly. "...after what? You can tell me..."

"Well... things started downhill after... Bio's mother passed away." She lets that information sink in before continuing. "He took it very hard... He threw himself into his work as a firepony at the time, and because of how their shifts work, I wouldn't see him for days at a time sometimes. He'd come home and was always withdrawn, tired... I tried to hold out, thinking he would snap out of it, but I think it just got worse. He started snapping at me, and I'll admit I snapped right back half of the time, which didn't help. He would always make sure he didn't actually raise a hoof to anypony though, just kept bottling himself back up. His father and I suggested mayybe he go see somepony, to get help getting past everything and realize what he was doing... but he was stubborn. Finally, I decided I had enough, so I moved out with Rhino and told him that I didn't want to raise my foal around what we were becoming. Rhino was four at the time, so he doesn't remember any of it." Mist pauses and takes a moment ebfore continuing. "My leaving finally broke Bio, and he did end up seeing a professional. He realized he was still grieivng and was expressing it in ways that hurt those around him. We still spoke, and we agreed that even though we were separated, we wouldn't raise our foal without either one of us. We stayed good friends, and well, the rest you probably know."

Gel whimpers softly, her ears flattened against her head in mortification. "I-I had no idea that...it was that painful..." She averts her gaze to the floor, unsure of what to say. "...I...I know what it's like to lose a parent...I lost both of mine...at different times, but I digress..."

"You poor thing..." Mist brings the nymph in for a hug. "Nopony really knows how they'll react. Everything worked out alright though."

"...I suppose..." She groans quietly, closing her eyes. She wants to say more, but worries that she'll mess up what appears to be a precarious balance between these ponies.

Despite this reservation, she finds herself saying something anyways. "Do you still love him?" She bites her lip, horrified that she just blurted that out.

The mare is silent a moment before responding. "I did tell Rhino I would always love his father. I wasn't lying..."

"Then, if he's over his grieving...then why aren't you two back together?" She grimaces, wondering why she is continuing to press this issue. "...s-sorry for being so nosy...I just..." She takes a deep breath, closing her eyes as she braces herself. "...I can feel how much you two love each other...when you both are in the room, I have trouble sorting Rhino's out of it. It's that potent."

"Is it really?" Mist actually sounds surprised by this as she stops hugging Gel and holds her at arm's length. "I would have thought after almost twenty years it would have mellowed a bit... Maybe I've just gotten used to it..."

"It seems that way, yes." She scratches her head as she considers this. "If it has mellowed out, then it was nearly powerful enough to rival that of the Crystal Empire's rulers...of course, that's a rough estimate."

"Well, I don't know about that... maybe it's just that old 'distance makes the heart grow fonder' thing coming into play. As for why we're not back together..." she thinks, "I don't know... once bitten, twice shy perhaps? Neither of us ever really discussed it. We've both dated other ponies since then, I know that much."

Gel droops, hearing those words. "...I-I see...well, if you're happy as you are, who am I to say otherwise?" She shrugs half-heartedly, laying down completely on the carpeted floor as she mutters to herself. "...getting Manila together with Big Mac was much easier than this..."

Mist is quiet for a minute before speaking again. "Do you really think it would work?"

She blinks, looking up at the pegasus in confusion. "...I'm sorry?"

The mare repeats herself. "Do you really think it would work, he and I... trying again?"

She stays silent for a second - just a second - before smiling, nodding genially. "I do."

Mist nods, but doesn't say anything more as the air conditioner kicks on and her feathers ruffle from the sudden blast of cold air. She moves off the chair since it lies almost directly in the path of the cold, rubbing her legs with a wing as she casts a glance at the door. "I wonder what's taking Rhino so long..."

The nymph turns her gaze to the door, tilting her head to one side. "I wonder that, too. Maybe she got hungry?"

At that moment, the door opens again and shows the the changeling is correct. Rhino walks on three legs as he holds Ruby in his foreleg and her bottle in his magic. "Sorry for the long wait, Little Miss Fussy here decided she wanted to eat after she got changed."

Gel beams at him, giggling softly. "I see. I'm glad that's all, because I was worried you fell asleep."

He chuckles. "You really think this little one would let me fall asleep?"

Mist has her own question for Gel. "Why would he fall asleep anyway?"

She waves a hoof dismissively. "I was just kidding, Mist. He does enjoy holding her as she falls asleep, though."

Mist giggles. "Oh, I know that feeling. I remember all the times I used to fall asleep with him while we were in the rocking chair. Sometimes I could even just set him on my back, lay on the ground and flap my wings, the motion put him right to sleep."

Rhino rolls his eyes as he sits on the couch while Ruby drinks her milk. "There you go, giving away all my secrets again."

His mother simply winks at him. "It's my job."

The navy nymph can only laugh, shaking her head at this. "Your family can be quite fun, love."

He smiles. "I can be a buzzkill sometimes, but that doesn't mean I can't be fun other times."

She sticks her tongue out at him. You know what I meant.

***

A few hours are passed by the group by doing the usual things: chatting, playing with the pets, playing with the foal, snacking, and all other sorts of various 'hanging out' type activities. Noon rolls around and Mist, Rhino, Gel, and Ruby head out towards the train station, the red pegasus happily wearing the sling with the foal in it.

As the group waits on the platform, Rhino casts a glance over at his mother and foal, letting out a small snort of air before turning back to watch the hill the trains come from. He thinks to Gel as they wait. I still can't believe she pulled the guilt card of her not seeing Ruby often so that she could be the one to carry her. That's cheating.

She smirks, playfully bumping his side with hers. Why Rhino, is that jealousy I feel coming off you?

Yes, yes it is. This statement is thought matter-of-factly, though the tone changes to slightly sheepish as he continues. I've just... gotten used to having you and Ruby all to myself, and I like the bonding... I don't really hold it against Mom, and I'm happy she is enjoying herself too, but there's still always that little feeling in your head that wants to always be holding the ones you care about most. You feel that too, right?

The navy nymph goes to respond but pauses, tilting her head to one side. Honestly...I've been raised by nannies until I entered the army... She cranes her neck, trying to see if anything was coming down the track. ...sure, Mom visit me every so often, but still...I've felt what you've described in the past two years, and it's overwhelming... She nervously laughs. It's part of the reason I was a little...physical, when I first moved in...well, that and your fur...

He raises a teasing eyebrow at her. What do you mean you 'were' a little physical? I don't recall you ever stopping. Of course, I don't think I'd ever want you to.

She can only blush, looking down the track once more. When's that train going to get here? We can't start the party until Bio's here!

He chuckles. Well, if you were to look the other way down the track, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

She squeaks, quickly turning the other way. She brightens up at the sight of the train, her embarrassment forgotten. That's the train, right? It has to be! She almost seems to be dancing in place, unable to hide her excitement.

He raises an eyebrow curiously as he bumps her side lightly. What's got you as excited as a filly on Hearth's Warming?

She jumps at the touch and looks at him, immediately forcing herself to calm down. She smiles softly, a twinkle in her eye. It's a secret! She giggles impishly as she faces forward, her gaze locked on the door of the train as it pulls into the station.

The doors open to let out the usual flood of ponies, though between a foal, a changeling, and a large stallion, the group is easily given their space so that they aren't jostled by anypony running into them. As the crowd thins, Rhino spots the grey mane and blue horn of his father, and soon the pony himself comes into view, smiling at all of them.

Gel smiles back, stepping forward and hugging him in a manner one would greet a good friend. She pulls away with a quiet giggle. "Hello, Bio. Did you have a nice trip?"

The mustached stallion nods at the nymph. "I did, even got a seat all to myself." His eyes, the same color of chocolate brown passed onto his son, roam over the assembled group, locking onto the small bit of Pink he can see poking out of the sling. "It's good to see you all again. Is that..."

Rhino answers with a proud smile as Mist tilts the sling so the foal inside can be seen easier. "Dad, meet Ruby."

The older stallion leans down the the filly, smiling as her green eyes look up at him. As he gets closer, Ruby reaches up a hoof and pokes his mustache with it, letting out a sharp sound and withdrawing it quickly. However, she soon extends the hoof again, poking the bristly facial hair that she is unused to and letting out a small laugh as she does so.

Bio chuckles as the filly plays with his mustache. "It's always the first thing they comment on..."

Gel covers her mouth with a hoof, trying to keep herself from laughing as well. They warmed up rather quickly to each other, didn't they? I'm kind of glad...

She does seem to get used to some ponies rather quickly... He smiles as the two grandparents nuzzle the tiny foal at the same time, much to her delight. "Shall we head back to the house, you two? I'm sure we can all dote on Ruby there just as easily as here."

"Fine, but I still get to carry her," Mist says in a 'there will be no discussion' tone.

Rhino doesn't say a word as they as they start walking, but thinks a few to his wife. You, me, and Ruby are going to be cuddling so much once these two are gone...

She smirks, entwining her tail in his. I don't mind that one bit.

Bio offers a topic for the trip home. "So, did you hear that they've started scouting towns for the Equestrian games?"

Rhino blinks. "Oh? I swear the fact that it only happens every four years gives me just enough time to forget it exists and be surprised when it comes around again..."

Gel tilts her head to one side, confused. "Equestrian games? What do you mean by that?" She looks to each of the ponies, hoping someone would clarify.

Rhino tries his best to explain. "Well, it's a sort of...gathering of the best athletes from various parts of Equestria that is held every four years. They compete in almost every single sport imaginable. It's supposed to foster both a sense of competitiveness and respect." He looks to his father. "Does that sound about right?"

Bio nods. "That's all the important parts."

The navy nymph slowly nods, putting a hoof on her chin in thought. "I guess that explains why we were never informed...of course..." She sheepishly smiles, looking at her stallion. "...I've never really been interested in sports, to begin with..."

Mist laughs. "Oh, neither has Rhino. He watches maybe five minutes of something before he gets bored and is then simply sitting there so as not to appear rude to those who are actually interested."

She giggles, smirking slightly at Rhino. "Oh? Is that right?"

He shrugs with a smile. "I've just never been that into them. Still, I understand that a lot of ponies get excited for the Games."

"Speaking of..." She looks to Bio, curious. "...you say they're 'scouting towns'? What do you mean by that?"

"Well," the blue stallion begins, "the games don't really have a set location. So, they pick a town each time to host them. It's a real boost for the tourist industry and a great honor for the town." He looks around. "Although, I think Ponyville's size and lack of an arena puts it out of the running."

"That's true...but what about Canterlot?" She turns her gaze towards the red pegasus. "Or Cloudsdale, for that matter?"

Bio explains. "Well, Canterlot hosted it last time, and the rules say a town can't host again for two times after it has. This way no town hogs it."

Mist continues. "They are actually scouting Cloudsdale this year, but they haven't gotten to us just yet. They do have to go all around Equestria after all."

Gel nods, looking up at the trees above them. "I suppose that makes sense...though I have to wonder if they'll consider our land for these 'games'..."

Her husband thinks on this a moment. "Well, with things so fresh right now, I doubt it this time. Plus, you guys do live mostly in the Badlands, so a little prep would probably be needed before they would consider that area..."

She visibly deflates at this, sighing softly. "...it was a nice thought when it lasted..."

He nuzzles her to cheer her up. "Hey, I said 'this time' who knows what will happen in four years? The might even have changeling competitors or sports if they can make the regulations for them."

She grimaces, blushing slightly. "Obviously, one thing would be no shape-shifting, right?" She nervously laughs, rubbing the back of her neck.

He nods. "Well, for the traditional sports yes, but if they made changeling versions or custom sports all together, maybe they might have a sport entirely dedicated to shape-shifting."

Bio comments. "Imagine if they had a hoofball game entirely consisting of changelings with no limits on what they could change to."

Rhino eyebrows raise, intrigued. "You know, I would actually watch that. It sounds interesting."

Gel taps her chin, thinking a bit. "...I don't think I could even guess the outcome of that...one question, though..." She looks to her husband, curious. "...what's hoofball, exactly?"

The green unicorn slowly shakes his head. "I probably should have seen that coming..."

The blue stallion meanwhile, clears his throat. "Let me explain to you exactly what hoofball is..."

The older pony's explanation serves to see them all the way home and included his own personal commentary on excellent examples of games, players, teams, and even good and bad seasons. This was of course, all said after he gave her an entire rundown of the sport, including rules.

They approach the front porch as he concludes. "And that, Gel, is hoofball."

She stares at him a few moments, an eyebrow quirked. "I would never have guessed you were such a big fan, Bio. Thanks for explaining it to me, though." She steps over to the front door, pushing it open and heading over to the kitchen. "Would you like a cookie? I have quite a few I made earlier today."

"Cookie? Don't mind if I do." He follows the nymph into the kitchen.

Meanwhile, as Rhino yet again looks at his daughter in her sling, Mist rolls her eyes and takes the foal out, giving her to him. "Alright alright, here. You really just love holding her don't you?" At the stallion's small blush but soft smile as the filly snuggles against his chest, the pegasus giggles. "Of course, at the end of the trip, judging by how much she kept looking back at you, I think she missed you just as much."

Rhino just smiles more and he nuzzles the filly and she responds in kind.

Gel returns to the room, a large platter of cookies floating next to her, as well as a couple glasses of milk. She smiles warmly, seeing her love with their daughter. "...aww...that's so adorable..."

"Isn't it though?" Mist asks as she peers at them through a small camera before a small click sounds from it. "And now I can look at it whenever I want to, hah!"

She blinks, looking at the mare incredulously. Was that really necessary? I mean, she could've just taken the picture... She brings the plate over to Rhino, offering him a cookie and one of the glasses.

He snags the snack gratefully. Oh, I doubt it'll be the last picture. She surprised me with it though, so she probably got the honest view. He kisses her lips lightly. You can take the next one you're not in.

She quirks an eyebrow at him. Why? Did you just assume I was jealous? She stands silently for a moment before turning and blushing brightly. Okay, so I was a bit jealous, but still!

As Mist and Bio chat a little, Rhino thinks teasingly back to Gel. But what? I was jealous of holding her, you're jealous of not takign the picture. Face it, we both want to smother her and each other in affection. He boops her nose gently. And you know it.

She playfully sticks her tongue out at him. You know me so well.

Suddenly, Mist's voice floats over to them. "Having conversation's in your heads again? You always get quiet like that when you do."

Gel jumps, turning to the mare in embarrassment. "...um...y-yes, we were..."

The mare giggles. "It's fine dear, but I do wonder if you plan on being able to do that with Ruby too." She laughs again. "A whole family chatting away among your own minds while to everypony else it just appears that you're giving each other meaningful looks."

She tilts her head, considering this for a moment. "...I would say so...but then I think about her trying to form a mental link with other ponies..." She shakes her head, sighing softly. "I wouldn't want her to be singled out because of something we accidentally put into her head."

The older ponies tilt their heads. "What do you mean?"

She flinches, tapping her hooves together nervously. "...w-well...there are some ponies who would...make fun of her for that...probably because of prejudice, I mean..."

Mist eyes widen in understanding. "Oh, you meant she would try to form links because of the fact that you have one?"

She nods. "P-pretty much, yes..."

Rhino comments as he thinks. "Well, I mean, even if we can't or don't link with her, she'll find out we have it between each other eventually, right?"

"I know that..." She pokes the floor with a hoof, avoiding their eyes as she speaks. "...I just want her to know how special it is...that it's not just something to form on a whim with someone you just met..."

He holds Ruby out so that she latches onto her mom's muzzle with all four hooves in an effort to cheer her up. "Then we'll just tell her that. Besides, I'm not even sure if she'll be able to make the bond herself, since you had to do it for us and she's only half-changeling."

"I know that." She blinks, looking at the filly who's currently muffling her words. She giggles, nuzzling the pink pony playfully before directing her attention back to the stallion. I'm more worried about her trying to form one with a random pony.

At the nuzzle, Ruby laughs and releases her mother, giving her a parting nuzzle before turning around and letting Rhino bring her back against his chest. Doesn't it require some sort of mutual want or something? I mean, I know ours came about that first night after i knew you were a changeling... of course, I'm just guessing what it requires really since I consider ours different from those temporary ones Luster makes with us occasionally so she can speak.

Those both are valid forms of the link. The difference is ours requires a strong love between the beings in question. She scratches at the back of an ear as she munches on a sugar cookie. Luster's simply requires respect, admiration, or, if I'm not mistaken, friendship from the one forming it, and acceptance from the former. She glances up, as if remembering something. There is another way for a link to form, though...

A few key parts of her argument sink in. Oh, I see what you mean, she could try and form a link, ponies might not know what she's doing, and then hold that against her... He continues the rest out loud for his parents' sake. "Well, she's probably going to figure it out anyway, so... I guess we just teach her about it and how to be careful with it. Same as magic, words, flying, and any number of other things."

She thinks for a moment before nodding. "...I suppose that's fair...doesn't mean I won't still worry, though..."

Mist comments. "Then you're doing the job of a mom."

Rhino nods in agreement. "Yep, now, shall we actually move to the living room to start the party instead of sitting here in the entrance hall chatting?"

"Sure!" Gel laughs, quickly walking into the living room with the tray and Rhino's milk glass. Make sure to grab the items from the hall closet, love!

Will do! His horn lights up and two wrapped packages float out of the closet and after him as he enters the living room. He looks to Gel as he enters. "As you requested, Miss Hostess." He floats the packages onto the coffee table next to the cookies.

"Why thank you." She giggles, gently kissing his forehead. "Remind me to thank you later, okay?"

"Of course," he responds, winking at her.

Mist giggles. "Oh you two, such a cute pair. You really didn't have to get me presents you know."

"Oh, but we wanted to." She smiles, nodding genially at the mare. "You deserve it, after all."

Rhino nods. "And, because it surprisingly hasn't been said yet," he sets Ruby on Gel's back before walking over to his mother and hugging her. "Happy birthday."

Gel pouts at her stallion, pretending to be upset. "I was just about to say that..."

"Woops." He laughs sheepishly as he extends an arm towards her. "You're free to join the hug and say it anyway."

She rolls her eyes and steps forward, hugging the red pegasus kindly. "Happy birthday, Mist." She starts, groaning inwardly as she suddenly realizes something. Damn it! I forgot to buy the cake! She glances at Rhino, nervous. P-please pardon my language, love.

He does the mental equivalent of a shrug and replies. I've heard you say worse at times when your... emotions get high. He spies their daughter climbing up the back of Gel's neck and onto her mane.

The nymph tries to look up at her mane, curious. "Ruby? What are you doing up there?"

Of course, the little filly doesn't answer, but burrows down into Gel's mane much like she does with Rhino's. Her green eyes peek out once most of her has been covered.

Gel puffs her cheeks out, pouting once more. ...I can't believe I'm missing out on her cuteness...

He nuzzles her as they carefully break the hug with Mist without dislodging the filly. She's just bonding with you. Besides, between you, her, and the pets, all kinds of things happen on my head or on my back where I can't see it well. Your turn. He sticks his tongue out at her.

She gives him a half-smile, wagging a hoof playfully. Touche.

He gets back to the matter at hoof. "So, what first, Miss Hostess?"

"W-well..." She glances at the cookies, brightening up as a thought occurs to her. "Since we don't have a cake, these will have to do. As for a candle..." She concentrates, a small wisp of fire appearing in the air above the plate. She looks to Rhino, gesturing towards the flame with a hoof. "...will this do?"

He simply looks at Mist, "What say you, birthday girl?"

The pegasus smiles as she looks around. "With my family around me, I'd say it's perfect. It's been years since I had candles at my birthday anyway, so I'm going to enjoy this." She takes a breath a blows out the flame to applause from everypony.

Gel pumps a hoof into the air, grinning brightly. "Alright! Time for presents!" She gestures to the table. "Which do you want to open, first?"

"Hmm..." Mist picks up the shorter present. "This one." She starts working the paper off the package as Ruby pokes her head out of Gel's mane to see better.

Gel smiles, nodding slightly. "I hope you like that one. It took three attempts to get it just right."

The older mare finishes getting the paper off, revealing the gift to be a picture frame she is holding with the back to her. She flips it over and looks stunned at what she sees before softly smiling.

It is a photograph, carefully placed in an intricate ebony frame. What made this special, however, was the picture, itself. It features Rhino and Gel laying together on the couch, looking down at the filly cuddling with a certain silver fox in front of and between them. They are leaning against each other, and, on top of their heads, their last two pets do the same. The window behind the seat perfectly frames the two smaller forms, the soft evening light illuminating their forms.

"This is..." Mist clutches the picture to her, her eyes closed. "This is perfect... I love it. I'm going to put it in a place I can see it every day at home."

Gel smiles warmly, nodding a bit. "I'm glad to hear that." She gently hugs the mare, her eyes closing as well.

Bio chuckles. "Back to hugging already?" He looks to his son. "I think you got your love of hugs from your mother, then waited until you found a wife that loved them just as much."

Rhino smiles as he looks away. "Maybe..."

She pulls away to point a hoof at the mustached stallion. "I'll have you know I love to cuddle more than I love to hug." She blinks a thought coming to her. Come to think of it...did Bio come here with a present?

Rhino thinks back to her. He might be waiting until we give ours.

Mist giggles as she sets the picture on the table and reaches for the next box before commenting to the nymph. "Cuddling is just advanced hugging, Gel."

"I understand what you mean." She glances at Rhino, smirking slightly. We prefer to think of it as foreplay, though.

He cheekily thinks back. So those days we enjoy spending just cuddled up on the couch are just long foreplay sessions?

Maybe I should add a 'sometimes', in there. She glances at Mist when the package makes a noise as it's picked up. It's not breakable, is it?

No. He answers as Mist gets into the paper and soon has the box exposed.

The mare lifts the lid off the box and smiles wide as she reaches down with a wing and pulls out the windchime, its wooden disks hitting the metal rods to create bell-like tones before she silences with with her other wing. "I can't even remember the last time I got myself a new wind chime... thank you, Rhino." She sets the chime back in its box before walking over and wrapping her son in a hug using forelegs and wings.

He responds in kind, leaning down to gently hug his small mother.

Gel blinks, genuinely surprised by this. ...I guess you were right... She turns away, gently placing Ruby on her blanket on the floor. She gives a small laugh, floating the plastic keys over to the pink filly. ...remind me to never doubt you again, love...

He chuckles as his mother squeezes him tightly. To be honest, I prefer your gift to her, it's much more personal. Feel free to doubt me when you want, it keeps me in check.

She glances up at him, quirking an eyebrow slightly but nodding anyways. ...if you're sure, love...

As the mother and son break their hug, Bio's horn lights up. A small box floats out of his bag as he speaks. "I actually brought a gift myself. I hope you like it, Mist."

The pegasus walks over and carefully takes the box that's about the size of her hoof. She starts unwrapping it, her eyes curious.

The navy nymph, also curious, cranes her neck, trying to see. "What is it?"

As the paper comes off, Mist looks at the box a moment before looking back at Bio. "You got me my favorite perfume?"

He motions to the box. "I figured it would last you a while. Do you still use this scent?"

"Definitely! Thank you!" She leans forward and gives the blue stallion a hug before pecking him on the cheek.

Gel giggles, smiling warmly at the actions as she whispers to herself. "I knew it..."

The older parents break the hug and Mist stows all of her gifts safely in her bag. She grabs another cookie as she watches Ruby toddle around Gel and Rhino's legs. The mare smiles warmly. "Just precious..."

She smiles, gently stroking the filly's mane as she passes. "Isn't she just?" She bumps Rhino's side, smirking slightly. "I think she'll become as skilled as her father...she takes after him so well, already..."

Mist tilts her head. "But... Rhino's skill is magic... and she's an earth pony..."

Rhino responds. "Well, she is right now anyway. Normally she isn't."

Bio sums things up nicely. "...What?"

"That's something she gained from me." Gel laughs brightly. "She was born a unicorn..."

Mist winces. "Oh dear... that wasn't any fun for me... was it any better for you?"

"Well, her horn did poke me at first..." She scratches the side of her head. "...but, since she was so small, it really didn't hurt too much..."

"Ah, I had noticed she was small, but I didn't say anything. I guess by how you're acting, that size is normal for changelings." Mist puts a hoof to her chin. "So... she can change species?"

"Yes," she shrugs slightly, watching as their silver fox walks up to Ruby, "but just to the regular three types, it seems."

Bio nods, looking at the filly. "Has she shown any other abilities?"

Gel shakes her head. "I don't think she has..."

Rhino continues. "She's usually a unicorn, but she's been an earth pony lately because she's teething and they're better at pain tolerance."

"Ah..." The pegasus looks at the new parents with concern. "Have there been any... problems... with the fact that she's a hybrid?"

The nymph flinches slightly, looking to her love with a small frown. "...w-well...there is one thing..."

Rhino picks up the filly as he explains. "There's a small issue with her bones... their density is lower than it should be, likely a result of Gel having an exoskeleton as opposed to my endoskeleton. It's nothing too bad, but still, her bones are weaker than normal."

Mist's wings droop. "Oh... I'm so sorry..."

"I-it's not too bad." She leans over and tenderly nuzzles Ruby. "She might not be able to do everything a normal pony can...but she should be able to live a relatively normal life..."

The grandmother works up a smile as the filly nuzzles her mother back. "Well... as long as it's only that... I'm thankful. It could have been far worse..."

"Well," Gel taps her chin, tilting her head to one side in thought, "there's also her increased natural empathy, but I don't really know whether that's a good thing or a bad thing..."

Bio muses. "Well, Rhino has that too, and he turned out pretty well. Though, I suspect hers is slightly different..."

"It..." She trails off, unsure. She looks to her husband, nervous. "...R-Rhino, would you like to take this?"

Her husband looks at his parents. "Natural changeling emotion sensing empathy. So, yeah... a little different."

They blink. "Oh... ok."

I don't think I could've said it better, myself. She nuzzles his cheek gently, her thoughts beginning to wander. "That's as much as we know, at the moment..."

The nod, everypony going silent for a moment, well, everypony except Ruby, who giggles quietly as she nuzzles Rhino's chest. Bio is the one to break the silence with actual words. "So... how do we refer to Ruby? Is she a foal... a pupa... something different?"

"Foal." Gel turns to Bio, her gaze even. "Despite what she gained from me, she is, by all means, still a pony." She smirks playfully. "She just has more compact cuteness."

This causes a chuckle through the room, and things soon switch to happier topics of conversations. The day goes on photos, laughter, and general good times with family. After the sun begins its journey over the horizon once more, the time comes for everypony to head home. The all stand on their porch saying goodbye.

Mist stand off the the side, her head to the sky as the wind blows through her mane, framing her thoughtful expression.

The nymph notices this, tilting her head to one side. "Is something on your mind, Mist?"

The mare responds simply. "Just thinking about how I'm going to get home..."

She opens her mouth to respond, but, with a quick glance to the mustached unicorn, quickly closes it. She shrugs and smiles warmly at them both. "However that ends up, I hope you both have a safe trip back."

Bio looks at Mist. "Aren't you just going to fly home again?"

She turns to him. "Well, the wind isn't great right now... a bit chillier than I expected, you know I don't do well with cold, and the direction is working directly against me."

He nods in understanding. "So... what are you going to do then?"

She looks up again. "Well... you know I'm not the strongest pegasus, so I don't want to risk fighting it..." She turns to the older stallion. "Would it be possible for me to maybe come home with you and fly out tomorrow morning?"

Bio gives one of the warmest smiles Gel has ever seen from him. "I told you, my door is always open for you when you need it."

"Well then," She walks over and nudges his side. "We'd better get going then since I'll need to buy a ticket." The pegasus turns back to the younger family. "You three take care now, and Gel, don't hesitate to send me a letter if you ever want some mothering tips and tricks!"

"I'll be sure to remember that." She giggles and waves. "You two have a nice night, okay?"

With a twinkle in her eyes, Mist calls back. "Don't worry, we will!" She waves back enthusiastically with a wing.

As they get out of sight, Rhino remarks to his wife while he opens the door for her. "Why do I think you had something to do with that?"

"Because you're silly that way." She sticks her tongue out at him and turns to head back inside.

Chapter 13: From the Past

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Two weeks pass in relative normalcy. There has been no sign of the silver changeling foal, and for that, Rhino is thankful. On the subject of foals though, the little pink hybrid is doing quite well for herself. She's back to being a unicorn most of the time, and always toddles after either Rhino or Gel, usually the one that's doing something the filly doesn't know about. Story time has become a daily occurance, and the filly instantly lights up whenever one of her books is brought over, though they quickly exhausted their supply of new books and are now reading through them all again to sate the filly's appetite. Finally, along with her appetite, Ruby's size is quickly growing as well. At a month old now, she's a little over double the size she was when she was born, almost the size of a small regular pony newborn and growing a little more every day.

At the clinic today, Ruby entertains herself with one of her stuffed toys. Next to her is Mercury, who may as well be her familiar at this point with how much he hangs around her. Gel sits at her desk, absentmindedly petting Specter as Selena types away on her tiny typewriter.

Rhino comes in from the back, standing behind Gel and snaking his head around to give her a surprise kiss on the cheek. "Miss me?"

She smiles warmly at him, happily kissing him back. "Just a little." She giggles, sticking her tongue out at him before turning her attention back to Ruby. "It's almost hard to believe how fast she's growing..."

"Hey now, it's only been a month. Still plenty of time to go. And aren't I supposed to be the one worried about her growing up?"

He shakes his head. "You're free to, but we might be in trouble if we both worry. Next thing you know we'll be smothering her for fear of missing anything."

"...true..." She sighs, resting her head on the desk. "...too bad we don't have another appointment to distract us...I'd like a good diversion, at the moment..."

Ruby walks over while the two are talking, Mercury behind her bringing her stuffed toy. The foal rears up and places a hoof on one of each of her parents' legs. She looks up at them with her big green eyes. "Bah!"

Rhino chuckles. "That enough of a diversion for you?"

She smiles, leaning down and gently nuzzling their daughter. "Not a diversion. A cuteness indulgence."

"Good point." He leans down as well, nuzzle the other side of Ruby's face t the same time Gel is nuzzling her. The foal practically squeals in happiness.

The nymph pulls away, looking at the silver fox with a smile. "What do you have there, Mercury? Is it Bubbles?"

The young fox shakes his head, showing them the small stuffed pony Ruby had been playing with and setting it down next to her.

"Oh, I remember this!" She picks it up, turning it over in her magical aura. "Pinkie got this stuffed colt for her 'monthiversery'...whatever that means..." She looks up at Rhino, curious. "...do you think she has a name for him?"

He shrugs. "I don't know if Ruby has a name for anything, or if she even knows the concept of a name."

"I suppose that's fair." She puts the toy down and picks up a fish-shaped squeaky toy, smirking playfully. "Look, it's Bubbles!" She floats it in front of the fox, wiggling it to make it appear to be alive.

Mercury rears onto his hindlegs as his eyes lock onto the fish. A smile graces his foxy face as he yips once.

Gel giggles, bringing the toy down enough for him to grab, if he wanted to. "He missed you. Did you miss him?"

Judging by how the silver fox grabbed the toy in his mouth, instantly laying down and squeaking it multiple times, all observing agree that the answer is 'yes'.

As everyone laughs, the door to the clinic opens, and an unusual patient shuffles in.

For all intents and purposes, it appeared to be a regular changeling. As she came closer, however, numerous spiderweb cracks became visible along her body and legs, the one she was holding up to her chest leaking a teal fluid. She stops dead in her tracks, eyes widening in shock at the two of them. "Y-you two? Where are the other doctors?" She looks around, clearly nervous.

Rhino tilts his head. "Well, I'm the only one here, but why is that a problem? We are qualified to treat you, and you quite obviously need to be treated..." As his eyes wander over her, they widen and he walks around the desk as Gel picks up ruby. "What happened?"

"I, uh..." She tries to back away but grimaces, accidentally putting some weight on her injured leg in her haste. She shakes her head, quickly pulling it back up to her body. "I fell off a cliff."

Gel tilts her head, unconvinced. "Then why didn't you try and fly, or at least glide?"

The charcoal-black nymph turns her head away, trembling slightly. "I wasn't thinking. That's all."

Rhino looks back to Gel. "Let's focus on how this happened after we make sure she isn't going to keel over on us..." He turns back to the strange nymph. "Do you want to walk to the back or would you rather be levitated?"

"I-I'd like to be carried." She glances at him. "If that's alright with your wife, of course."

The stallion looks back to Gel as she holds their child, a questioning eyebrow raised to her.

"It's fine." She waves her free hoof before standing. "I'll be joining you two, however. I want to help any way I can."

He nods. "Fair enough. Is Ruby going to be helping too?" His horn lights up as his aura starts enveloping the injured nymph.

"I think Mercury can watch her...or he could join us, too." She looks at the fox, curious. "What do you say, my little one?"

The kit bounds over to her, leaving his toy for the time being. Over at the desk, Specter and Selena look at each other before settling themselves down and waving to show that they'll run the front desk while the rest are busy.

The stallion looks at the nymph in his grip. "Is this hurting you at all?"

She shakes her head, her gaze focused on the filly in Gel's embrace. "...no, not at all..." She takes a deep breath, visibly relaxing afterwards.

The navy nymph next to him tilts her head, thinking a bit. ...is she...no, she couldn't be...

As the group moves towards the back, Rhino thinks to Gel. What was that, love?

I may be mistaken... She pauses her thoughts as the other changeling takes another deep breath. ...but it seems as though she's feeding on your concern. Using it to dull the pain.

Oh, well, that's fine, I can understand that. They arrive at the examination room and Rhino hovers the injured nymph over the table. "I'm going to put you down now, sorry if it stings or if the table's cold."

She looks at him, almost looking regretful. "It's fine. The pain's starting to fade."

"That may be, but you're still injured so you need to be treated." He eases her onto the table in a comfortable prone position. "We'll just work one bit at a time until we get everything..." He walks over to the counter and starts grabbing a few things he's going to need.

She tilts her head at him before turning to the other nymph, confused. "Colonel, does he know how to treat our kind?"

She nervously laughs, waving a hoof at her. "Y-yes, he does. I taught him a few things." She pauses before holding a hoof up. "And please, just call me Gel. I gave up my rank a year ago."

Rhino remarks as he comes back with disinfectants, bandages, creams, and a bit of sealant they use specifically for exoskeleton or shelled patients. "Have you two met before?"

She looks at him, gesturing to the patient. "I don't think I'd be able to say without reading her aura." She starts to say more when the nymph covers her mouth.

"That won't be necessary." She looks up at Rhino, clearly upset. "I know both of you...in fact, you broke my leg last year, doctor..."

He looks at her, confused, before an image of a dark chitin tower flashes in his mind and the answer slaps him in the face. He flinches, looking down to see if it's the same leg hurt this time as it was last time.

She sighs, shaking her head. "At least it's the other leg, this time." She gingerly extends it, wincing in pain. "Chitin can only heal by itself so much..." Her ears twitch as a small whimper reaches them.

Gel sheepishly smiles, backing out of the room as she gently rocks their foal. "I-I'd better see to her needs. Be right back!" With that, she turns and leaves the room, the door closing behind her.

Rhino looks after his wife, mumbling. "Wonder what she needed..." He turns back to the nymph, looking down at her leg. "Alright, let's see what we can do here..." his voice trails off before picking up again, "...and, for the record... sorry for what I did before..."

She blinks, staring at him in shock. "Why are you apologizing? We were the ones trying to keep the Colonel from you."

"I know... believe me, I remember..." He looks carefully over the limb before picking up a damp cloth. "Still... I know I didn't exactly take it easy on you... does the one I hurt give you any trouble?"

"No, it doesn't." She waves her left foreleg with ease. "I'm lucky that the General left some medicine for me..."

"Well, I'm afraid I don't have any of that, but I'm fairly confident in what we have here." He takes the cloth and starts gently wiping away the teal blood.

She winces, leaning away from the pain. "I-if you say so." She glances at the door, taking another deep breath. "So...was that your filly, out there?"

A proud smile makes it's way onto Rhino's face. "Yes, that was our little Ruby. What I easily consider my greatest achievement."

"She's so small..." She stares off into space, lost in her thoughts. "I didn't know we could have foals...that's interesting..."

He looks up at her with a sly smile as he finishes wiping the limb down. "Why? Got your eye on somepony?"

"Maybe." She blushes, turning to one side. "I don't think you'd be interested, though."

"Nonsense, it gives us something to talk about to distract you while I work. Who knows, maybe I could even help." He holds her hoof as he levitates the disinfectant. "Now, this is probably going to sting a bit, but try not to yank your hoof away, alright?"

She looks down at where he's holding her. "...I suppose...it's not you, though, just so that's out there..."

He chuckles. "Good to know not every female changeling wants me, especially since I'm married now." He slathers a generous portion of the disinfectant onto the wound.

Her wings immediately flare and she cries out, clenching her eyes shut. "Damn it, that smarts!"

He winces at her reaction. "Yeah... I warned you. This stuff is potent, not pleasant. Still, better than infections." He blows lightly on the area to help.

She grits her teeth, trying to keep herself from focusing on the pain. "That's true...it was the suddenness that got me, though." She shakes her head, turning her gaze to his face. "...have you...done this before? Because I find it hard to believe you keep a sealant in your office just for kicks."

He grabs a bit of cream and starts dabbing it into the wider cracks. "Well, on a changeling, no. Gel tends to stay out of trouble. However, accounting for a few things that are changeling-specific, this isn't actually too far from treating a turtle who cracked it's shell."

She stares at him, bemused. "So you're saying I'm like a turtle? That I am slow?"

He rolls his eyes. "No... just that you're shelled." He undoes the cap on the sealant and levitates a small brush. "Alright, you need to stay perfectly still once I start applying this until it sets."

"I think I can do that..." She blinks, tilting her head to one side. "...wait, does that include breathing? I don't know how long I can hold my breath..."

Rhino chuckles as he paints the sealant on. "Mostly keep the leg still, wouldn't want you keeling over on me when I'm sitting her fixing you up."

She nods, looking at the brush. "Understandable." She stays silent as he works, speaking up once he's done applying it. "You...you met the General, correct? You know...M-Mimic?"

The stallion stays quiet for a bit as he checks how smooth the application is. When he responds, it's in a much quieter and emotionless voice. "I did."

She shivers, noticing the air around him actually feels colder. "W-what's with the animosity?"

He responds bluntly. "One doesn't exactly think of sunshine and rainbows when remembering the one that orchestrated your wife's abduction, controlled her, and forced her to do things against her will."

Her eyes widen in horror and she shakes her head. "No, no, he wouldn't do that. He's a good leader. H-he saved my life!" She turns away, whimpering softly. "H-he's a good leader..."

Biting back a retort, Rhino settles on a reminder. "Stay still please. We want the sealant to at least semi-harden without any holes." His mind observes the nymph before him with an honest sense of dread, both for what he knows hurting her, and what she knows hurting him.

She doesn't respond, simply staring down at her injured hoof. She appears almost listless, as if she's shut out the world around her.

"Well... while that's settling, let me look at the other injuries to see if any of them are bad or if they'll just need a small bit of care." He walks around to her side, noting that the cracks appear over various parts of her body, including some on her back legs and shoulders, the most clustered area seems to be barrel and the plates changeling's have where a pony's ribs would be. The web of cracks extends from her side and head under her chest and stomach. He grimaces as he looks at all this, wondering how much pain she was in and knowing he's going to need a lot of supplies.

She glances at him as he moves around her, but otherwise doesn't acknowledge him. She takes a sucker from the jar on the counter, popping it into her mouth. She then pulls it back out, unwraps it, and starts sucking on it once more.

He walks back to her front, nodding as he looks at the worst injury. He grabs the gauze bandages and starts to wrap the limb thickly so as to dissuade movement that could impede healing.

She doesn't respond at first, her leg hanging limp from his magic. Finally, as he gets near the end, she says something. "...it...it was a long fall...I hit the side of the cliff a few times..." She flexes her wings and squirms a bit, obviously uncomfortable.

"I guess you're lucky you didn't crack things any worse than you did then..." The tension in the room is practically tangible as he finishes. As he decides what to work on next, Rhino makes the choice to at least get one thing out of the way first. "Listen... about Mimic..."

She tenses, her voice shaky as she speaks. "He saved me. I know he did." She taps the edge of the table she's on. "He provided a diversion when I almost got caught. Still don't know how he did it, though..."

As he looks her over, he responds quietly. "What happened?"

She bites her lip and, pulling the sucker out of her mouth, responds. "I was outside the hive, training in an attempt to get better...I tried to plant myself in a backwater town..." She closes her eyes, sighing quietly. "...one of the farmers became suspicious...was keeping so close an eye on me, I couldn't even plan to leave without looking suspicious...and then..." She trails off, unsure whether or not she should continue.

Rhino tries to guess the rest. "Things went downhill?"

"...no, actually..." She looks up at him, a bittersweet smile on her lips. "...I hear somepony yell about a changeling in the fields...everyone ran off to check it out...all but one colt..." She absently runs her hoof along the bindings. "He told me to follow him, and I did...we ran into the forest and he...he changed into his true self..." She blushes slightly. "...he said I was special...that he would like my help, my trust...I immediately agreed..." She tilts her head, gesturing to him. "...wouldn't you do the same?"

"Maybe... it's just difficult to envision him in that light with what I saw of him..." He sighs. "I guess maybe it was too much to hope that he was all bad..."

"Not everything is in black and white..." She taps her chin, thinking a bit. "...he became General just a month afterwards, though...I found that a bit strange..." She shrugs. "...I mean, he skipped a large number of ranks, so I can only assume he beat the previous General..."

"Ah..." He nods as he decides what to do now. "Can you flip over onto your back for me?"

She nods and does as told.

"Alright..." He rears up, placing his forehooves on the table just so he can get a better view. "Just a small bit of disinfectant and sealant should do the trick..." He grabs the potent liquid.

"If you say so..." She puts her candy back in her mouth, hoping it would keep herself focused on something other than the pain.

He notices her looking away. "Hey, it's fine. These aren't open, so I'm just making sure nothing gets trapped in the sealant. If anything you'll probably just feel cold."

"That's good..." She goes silent once more, likely still feeling a little awkward around him.

He starts applying the sterile fluid, letting the silence persist for a minute. "So... you decided to live here, huh?"

She nods, her eyes focusing on the ceiling. "I...I wanted to start a new life...didn't think I'd run into you on the second day..."

"Second day?" He reaches for the sealant. "You aren't one of the changelings that's been here a while?"

"No, I'm not." She sighs, shaking her head. "I moved in yesterday afternoon..."

As he puts a thin layer on her stomach, he continues. "Well, aside from the cliff incident, how are you liking things?"

She blinks, looking at him in confusion. "...cliff..." Her eyes widen and she nods. "Oh, everything has been fine. I haven't met anyone else, yet, though...I did try to say hi to this one mint-green mare..." She rubs the side of her head. "...she ran away before I could say anything..."

"Lyra... not the worst choice, but not a great one. She's scared of changelings." He finishes the area and looks at her face. "Any injuries on the inside of your legs I need to look at before I ask you to stand up so I can wrap you and get the rest?"

"I don't think there is..." She rolls over and climbs off the table, muttering to herself. "...they didn't get that part..."

His ears flick. "Did you say something?"

"Nothing!" She bites her lip, nervous. "Nothing important, I mean."

"...if you say so..." He crouches down and brings the stuff over to himself as he starts working on one of the spots on the outside of her hindleg. "Try not to kick me if I tickle you or something."

"I'm not ticklish." She looks at him, smirking slightly. "You don't have to worry about that."

"Good to know." His horn lights up as the roll of bandages starts rolling around her torso, covering the injured plates. After he finishes her leg, he looks at her again. "Can you move your tail a bit? I need to be able to get the bandages all the way around your leg."

She quirks an eyebrow at him. "Is that the real reason?" She smirks but does as told, moving her tail to one side.

He chuckles as he starts wrapping. "Yes it is, thankfully for both our sakes as I'm not sure what Gel would do if I had alternate motives and you were complying anyway."

"Likely the same as any jealous mare - assault me and tell me to stay away from you." She sighs, shaking her head. "Frankly, I don't think I'd blame her..."

At the subject of jealousy, Rhino remembers something. "You know, you never did tell me who that crush of yours was."

She grimaces, lowering her head. "...I...I thought it was obvious..."

His ears fold back. "Oh... what... what ended up happening to him anyway?"

"I don't know..." She sighs dejectedly. "...Port took him to see the Queen and...he never returned..."

Rhino doesn't know how to respond to this, so he maintains his silence as he wraps. When he finishes, he looks at her. "Did I get all of them, Miss... I don't actually know what to call you..."

"My number is 314." She shrugs half-heartedly. "I don't really have a name..."

He comments. "You could always make one if you wanted to, Equestria has a very good alias system."

"I...I can?" She tilts her head to one side. "I wouldn't even know where to begin..."

He walks around her, trying to see if he missed anything. "Twilight has a book on it in the library. You could try there. I think I got everything... are there any other spots you want me to look at?"

She shakes her head. "I don't think so..." She shrugs slightly, heading towards the door. "I'll go pay your wife, now..."

A small slip of paper slips out from one of the nymph's wings, drawing the stallion's eye as it flutters to the ground. He picks it up, his eyes widening as he looks up after the injured changeling and quickly follows her.

Gel turns her attention from the nymph to her husband, smiling warmly at him. "She tells me you were very caring. I'm glad to hear that." She turns as the door jingles, the nymph hightailing it out of there. She looks at the bits on the counter, frowning slightly. "That's strange...she didn't even wait for her change..."

"I think I know why..." His voice trail off. "First though, what did Ruby end up needing?"

"She wanted her diaper changed." She giggles, shaking her head. "Then she wanted me to read her a story before she fell asleep." She gestures to where a certain silver fox has curled up around the pink filly.

Rhino smiles at the sight, leaning down and giving Ruby a kiss on the head, causing her to shift a bit in her sleep. His thought fall back to the paper he found, causing him to pull Gel off her seat and into a passionate kiss.

She happily kisses him back, giggling as it ends. "Not that I didn't enjoy it, but may I ask what brought that about, love?"

He doesn't answer, instead he closes his eyes and rests his forehead against her as he poses his own question. "You now I love you and Ruby, right? And that I'd never let anything hurt either of you?"

"Of course I do." She frowns slightly. "Rhino, what's the matter? You're starting to worry me..."

He brings the card out from his pocket and shows it to her, the small bit of teal on it shining in the light. "She dropped this..."

"She did?" She looks closely at it. "Why did you return...it..." Her eyes widen, her body trembling in unmasked fear. "...o-oh my..."

On the small card is a simple message. 'Ponies Against Love Suckers. Fighting to rid Equestria of the changeling parasites.'

She drops the card, shaking. "...I knew she didn't fall off a cliff...why didn't she tell us the truth?" She sniffs, rubbing her nose with a hoof. "We could've helped her...possibly told Twilight about it..."

“I don't know... maybe they told her not to... it looked like there was more than one of them that got her, judging by the injuries..." He sighs as he brings Gel closer to him. "It was bad enough when there were a few. Now that they're organized..."

"...who knows how bad it might get..." She groans, leaning against him for comfort. "...I guess it was too much to hope they'd eventually let us be..."

"Maybe we'll get lucky and it's still only a few ponies..." He looks at the card again before stowing it in his bag. "Of course, we have no idea who actually attacked her, until then... I don't know there;s much we can do."

"...you're right..." She glances at their daughter, her expression hardening almost imperceptibly. "...we can make sure Ruby's safe...and we can let Twilight know about them. That much we can do." She taps her chin, thinking out loud. "Maybe we can modify that detection system of hers. Use it to keep an eye on our kind..." Her voice trails off as she moves over to the desk, pulling out a clipboard to write everything down.

Rhino looks proudly at her. "Not quite sure how that would work, but I'm sure between the two of you, you could come up with something." His thoughts wander to the card again and he smirks. "Though, at least they chose a memorable acronym."

"Kind of ironic, if you ask me." She looks at him, twirling a pen in her magic. "PALS that use violent methods. Who needs enemies?"

"Yeah..." He looks down and smiles genuinely at Ruby kicking in her sleep. "Still, we'll do everything we can."

***

The day drags on, the slight dour mood caused by the simple piece of paper seeming to bleed and compound into the very weather itself. Past it's zenith on the horizon, the last of the sun's rays only serve to barely cast light through the layers of dark clouds overhead. The wind barely tilts the downpour of rain as it covers the land, interrupted sporadically by arcs of lightning to be always followed by it's thundering companion.

The Nexus household is locked tight, the shades down and curtains drawn in all rooms to counter the storm's efforts. The family itself is gathered in the living room, each riding out the storm in their own way.

Ruby snuggles up against the familiar form of Mercury. She babbles and coos as the fox entertains her with his tail, trying to catch it before he pulls it away, only to repeat the pattern seconds later.

A bolt of lightning illuminates a nearby window, the deep rumble of thunder soon following. The filly jumps in fear, whimpering softly, but the fox curls up and nuzzles her, calming her down like each time before.

Gel, instead of making sure Ruby is calm, squeaks with the flash, tightly clinging to Rhino's body. She does blush from this, but her need for comfort outweighs any embarrassment she might have felt.

Rhino doesn't say anything. He just looks over at Gel and gives her a quick kiss on the lips. As a hoof rises to stroke her mane comfortingly, his eyes return to his book.

She leans into his strokes, smiling warmly from the gesture. She glances to her left, pouting at the two pets sleeping there. Is it wrong to envy them for being able to sleep through this?

He shrugs, leaning and nuzzling her. Somethings can just sleep through this, some can't. I probably could too, but it's not nearly late enough yet. Plus... I have to keep an eye on my two favorite girls.

She smirks, playfully batting his nose. Flatterer. She sighs, shaking her head as the turns to the blinds. I wonder why they scheduled a storm this big, though...aren't they worried about the animals out there?

Might be getting in one of the last few storms of the season for the crops or something. At least they give warning, right? He leans the other direction and nuzzles Ruby, the filly cooing at him as he returns to Gel. I've got you , nothing to worry about.

I never doubted you for a second. She glances at the window behind them as the wind picks up, frowning slightly at the tree branch clicking against the glass. Still, I feel bad for anyone caught outside in this...

Fair enough...but I don't think anypony would be out in that... He shifts his hoof from stroking her mane to draping over her and suddenly bringing her close against him as he starts kissing her neck and nipping occasionally.

She gasps and coos, her eyes fluttering closed from the sensations. She pushes him away, playfully smiling. Naughty stallion. We should at least wait until Ruby's asleep... She nods towards their filly, who is currently in a pouncing position, crouched as she approaches her father's tail.

He smiles as he watches the foal creep closer. Fine fine, you're right... but I'm taking at least 30 minutes tonight to lay there with you, showing you how much I love you in all those small ways that drive you crazy.

She blushes brightly, smiling warmly at his words. I look forward to it, love.

As soon as she finishes that thought, the pink filly leaps at him. She successfully snags his tail, happily chewing on the tip.

Rhino chuckles as he looks at the filly. "Why do I feel like you pounce on me more than your mom?"

She doesn't answer, instead looking up at him as she continues to chew. She raises a hoof, reaching for him with a small whine.

His heart melts as it always does, and he picks her up, cradling her in his forelegs as he turns so that she is between her mother and him. He leans down and nuzzles her, even as she is still latched onto the tip of his tail which barely reaches around this far. "Don't worry, we're right here."

She laughs brightly, letting go of his tail to hug and nuzzle his snout. The fox walks over to her and curls up next to her. He appears to be sleeping but has one eye cracked open, keeping a watchful eye on her.

Suddenly, the silence is shattered, not by thunder as it had been before, but by a series of crashes against the front door.

As Gel squeaks and grabs onto him while Ruby whines and does the same, Rhino looks towards the door in confusion. "Who could that be, especially out in all this?" He starts getting up to answer the door.

Gel yelps as she's lifted up, quickly letting go and getting to her hooves. "Were you not expecting anypony?" She walks next to him as they near the door. "I know I wasn't..."

"No... I wouldn't invite somepony over without telling you..." He reaches the door as another series of loud knocks crash against it.

"Then who is it?" She pulls the door open slightly, trying to peek out.

As the door cracks, a voice from outside calls out. "Hey Rhino! You gonna let me in or do you want me to become a seapony?"

The stallion starts as he hears the statement. "It couldn't be..."

Gel tilts her head, confused. "...couldn't be...who?" She opens the door the rest of the way, wanting to know what caused him to react in such a way.

There, standing on the porch is a red earth pony just as tall as Rhino, though more muscular. His black mane and short tail are plastered to him from the rain. As soon as his orange eyes spot the green stallion, he quickly enters the house and shuts the door behind him with a swift kick, drowning out the sounds of the elements as he sighs in relief.

Rhino, meanwhile, looks at the pony in shock. "Hydro? What... what are you doing here?"

Hydro looks up at the unicorn. "What? Can't come visit my best friend in the middle of a storm now?"

The navy nymph looks from one stallion to the other, beyond confused. "...love? How do you know this pony?" She eyes the earth pony cautiously. ...did you go through a sexy phase, or something?

Rhino coughs as he faces Gel incredulously. What?! No! No no no no... He composes himself and turns to Gel. "Gel, this is Hydro Pump, my best friend throughout most of my life and my brother in all but blood."

...now I feel awkward. She sheepishly smiles, holding a hoof out to the red pony. "N-nice to meet you, Hydro. I-I'm Gel."

The earth pony reaches out a wet hoof and shakes the offered one. "So you're the Gel I heard about when i was finally able to get Rhino's letters? Nice to finally meet the one this guy decided to pick after all these years."

She giggles, brushing a lock of her mane behind her ear. "I'll take that as a compliment. Let me get you a towel." She turns to leave the room, throwing a thought to her stallion. You sent him a number of letters, but this is my first time hearing of him? Is that correct?

Umm.... yes? Heheh... Rhino thinks nervously to Gel as he looks to Hydro, who is occupied with trying to keep his dripping to a minimum.

Gel soon returns with a fluffy towel, levitating it over to the earth pony. "Here you go..." Her voice trails off as her gaze falls on his side. She holds up a shaky hoof. "...H-Hydro? W-what's that?"

"What?" The pony looks down at his side to see a fairly large patch of his side covered in abrasions. "Oh, that... had a bit of an incident on the way here. Really weird..."

Rhino tilts his head. "What do you mean? What happened?"

Hydro puts the towel over his head. "Let me dry off first, then I'll tell you..."

The nymph nods, turning to the hall closet. I'm glad Flick provided us with more of that medicine. She glances at Rhino, then a little further down. Also, Ruby is still clinging to your foreleg.

Rhino looks down and sure enough, their little filly is attached to his foreleg with all four of her limbs. She looks curiously at the newcomer, but mostly just nuzzles her father's leg as she sits there. Rhino chuckles and picks her up, holding her against his chest with one foreleg just the way she likes it so she can snuggle against him.

Hydro finishes drying himself off and offers the damp towel back to Gel. "Thanks very much for that. Wasn't looking forward to being a soggy pony for any length of time."

"Kind of strange, considering your name." She giggles as she takes the towel, holding the container of salve up for him to see. "Would you like to apply this, yourself, or would you prefer someone else to?"

"I'll just slap it on myself, thanks." Hydro takes the container in his mouth gratefully.

The unicorn stallion gestures to the living room. "Have a seat. You can tell us what happened there."

All of them retire to the living room, Rhino, Gel, and Ruby taking the couch as Hydro takes the chair. The earth pony starts rubbing the salve onto his side.

Mercury leaps up onto the arm of the chair, sniffing at the stallion curiously.

Hydro looks at the kit. "Right... this is...Mercury! That's the name. I bet you enjoy having free roam of a big house like this." He reaches a hoof up to scratch the fox's ears.

He twitches his ears, licking the hoof. He immediately gags, trying to wipe a green gel off his tongue.

Gel speaks up. "You probably should have used your clean one, Hydro."

The red stallion laughs as he uses his other hoof to pet Mercury. "Right, sorry about that. Right-hoofed, tend to use it for everything." He finishes applying the salve, looking at it with a small frown before looking over at Rhino with a smirk. "At least this stuff would partially blend into your coat. Stands out pretty well on mine."

The father waves a hoof, which causes Ruby to pounce on it when it comes down. "You can't be going green, Hydro. How would ponies ever tell us apart at a glance then?" The two friends laugh at the old joke that builds on their similar faces and manestyles.

Gel looks at the two of them, tilting her head to one side. "...wow...I'm surprised I didn't see that sooner..." She giggles, shaking her head playfully. "I'm glad I'm not colorblind...of course, that's pretty rare for us, but I digress."

Rhino chuckles. "Yeah, let's get back to the important thing. What happened to you, dude?" He gestures to the stallion's side.

Hydro looks up as he recalls. "Well, like I said, it was weird..."

***

Hydro grumbles a bit to himself as he looks overhead into the pouring clouds. It's easy enough to get the forecast for a local area, but getting the schedule for other towns is almost impossible due to the various factors that affect the planning. he just happened to be unlucky enough to arrive during a storm. At least his bags are waterproof.

He walks down the path towards his friend's house, looking forward to seeing him again after all this time.

Suddenly, he finds himself flying to the side from a large impact to his left side. He slams into a nearby tree and falls down to the ground.

"Ow... what the hay?" Hydro shakes his head and picks himself up, mud plastering one side of him, but quickly washing off from the rain. He looks to see what could have possibly hit him.

A small form stands in the middle of the dirt road, growling at him. Bright, glowing silver eyes glare at him, and a buzzing sound can be heard.

The earth pony frowns as he glares at the form. "I don't know what you are, but back off. You won't be making a meal out of me."

"Who says I want anything from you?"

As the sentence ends, lightning flashes. The sky becomes as bright as the day, if only for a brief second. Even so, that's long enough for the stallion to get a good view of his assailant.

An almost-white changeling, skinny to the point of looking starved. Her wings flap behind her, faltering every few seconds. Her face, while filled with anger, also holds a shade of exhaustion, of desperation.

She takes a step forward, stumbling slightly before catching herself, her teeth bared as menacingly as possible in her current state. "I will keep you...from hurting her. You hear me?"

"What the..." The eerie appearance of the changeling throwing him for a loop. If he were a more superstitious pony, he would say it almost looked like a ghost, but last he checked, ghosts can't tackle. "What are you talking about? Hurt who?"

"You know who!" She stomps the ground and cries out, her leg buckling beneath her. "Don't act so naive...you're not that innocent..." She looks up at him, her eyes glowing in the darkness. "...though I will say, your acting's gotten better..."

"Look kid... lady... whatever the heck you are, I have no idea what you're on about, but you already got your free shot in. Crazy or not, I will hit back if you do it again." He paws the ground to show he means business.

"...I guess that's fair...but the question is..." She tilts her head to one side eyes narrowing dangerously. "...can you?"

A pillar shoots out of the ground under his hoof. The rapid movement flips him onto his back, where she puts a heavy hoof on his forehead. "No cheap tricks from you, this time."

He swings one of his own hooves, hitting her in the head as he flips back onto his hooves. "I warned you. No matter how crazy you are, I'll hit back."

She staggers forward, groaning quietly. "I'm not crazy, asshole!" She quickly shakes her head, trying to focus on him. "And when did you learn cloning techniques? I swore earth ponies couldn't use magic..." She falls to the ground, holding her head. "Damn splitting headaches...hate them..." Her voices trails off into unintelligible mumbling.

Hydro looks at the changeling with a mixture of pity and annoyance. As she doesn't make another move to attack him, he shakes his head and get back on the path, starting to walk again.

His hoof sinks into the mud, stuck. "I'm not done." She stands up and wobbles over, grimacing in pain, one eye focused on him. "You should know that you always respect your elders." She stands next to him, sluggishly raising a hoof. "I'm not...going to lose again..." She lashes out, but ends up just patting his side. She falls down, groaning weakly. "...damn this...body..."

She looks up at him, breathing heavily. "...go ahead...do it...I know you want to..."

He looks down at her, his face unreadable. "No, I don't. I'm not going to care for someone that attacked me, but you aren't just going to lay down and die either. I don't know who you want, but it isn't me. Go back to where you came from." He frees his hoof with a yank and continues walking."

She stares after him, her horn lighting up once more. As soon as her aura grabs his tail, it disperses. She closes her eyes, groaning quietly. "...not him..."

***

"...so then I kept going and got here. Huge house by the way." Hydro remarks as he finishes the story.

Gel blinks, scratching the side of her head. "How strange...I'd almost say she sounds like..." She trails off and looks to her stallion, concerned. "...maybe she is...you know...color blind..."

"Maybe... I have to say though, I'm not happy to hear she's still around after the last time she came here..." He looks down at Ruby, who had switched her attention to her mother during the story and was now playing with the changeling's tail.

Her tail moves around to keep the filly entertained. The nymph attached to it solemnly nods, tapping her chin. "...but she sounds like she's in worse condition...didn't you say she looked like an ordinary young changeling?" She gestures to the red pony. "He described what would best be called a ghost..."

Rhino thinks. "Well actually, the one I saw was silver too, guess I just forgot to mention that part... sorry, wasn't in the best state of mind that day..."

Hydro tilts his head. "Wait, you've seen that thing before?"

The green stallion nods. "Unfortunately..."

Gel pales, her eye twitching slightly. "...s-silver?"

He looks at her. "Yeah... is that important? Did you know a silver foal before or something?"

She jolts, quickly shaking her head. "N-no, I don't know any silver foal..." She closes her eyes, as if trying to focus on something.

Ruby looks up at her mom, sensing something wrong. She rears up and whines to get her to look at her.

She smiles at the filly, tenderly nuzzling her. "Don't worry, sweetie. Mommy's just being silly." She turns her attention to Rhino. "It brought to mind another silver changeling...but it couldn't be her."

"If you say so..." Rhino turns to Hydro. "Still you got off better than I did."

The earth pony waves off his words. "I got her when she was weak, plus you know I was always the more durable between the two of us. Enough on that though, it's been five years since I've seen you! I only get your letters when we come back to Canterlot, so you can imagine how surprised I was when I came back about a year ago to get one saying you married a changeling and in the process, helped her start a social reform that hasn't been seen in decades! What happened to you wanting a quiet life?"

"We still do." She shrugs nonchalantly. "The social reform was a side-effect. A happy one, but still simply a side-effect."

Hydro chuckles. "Of course it was... I see you finally got started on that family too." He nods in Ruby's direction. "Did not see pink coming."

Rhino laughs too. "True, but I think it fits her perfectly." He looks to Gel. "Mind if I take her a moment?"^

She shakes her head, gently nudging the filly towards him. "It would be selfish of me if I did."

"Thanks, love." The father picks up the foal and takes her over to the other pony. He sits down in front of Hydro and points Ruby to him. "Ruby, this is you Uncle Hydro."

The filly looks at the stallion in front of her. "Bubul Babo."

Gel laughs brightly, getting up and walking over to them. "So close, sweetie." She turns to Rhino, wagging a hoof at him in mock-chastisement. "Silly daddy,
trying to teach her difficult words."

The silver fox drops down onto the floor, padding up and sniffing at the filly. He nuzzles her cheek, smiling warmly in his own way.

"Meh, I can't blame him for trying to get her to say my name..." the red stallion smirks at Rhino, "Although I'm fairly certain he knows I would never let him live it down if it worked."

The unicorn averts his eyes as he brings Ruby back to him, not saying a word.

"No offense, but, considering your name," she gestures to the kit as he touches noses with Ruby, "I think she'd have better luck saying 'Mercury'. I know he'd like that to bethe what happens." She smirks, stroking his head with a hoof.

"...five years..." She looks at him, confused. "...wait, why didn't you receive those letters sooner? What was going on that you couldn't go back to Canterlot? For that matter..." She leans forward, eyebrow quirked. "...why couldn't you come sooner, if you got his letters a year ago? I'm honestly confused."

The stallion smiles. "Well, Rhino knows, but in short: my job."

Rhino explains. "You see, Hydro here has actually been working as an engineer for hire for airships."

Hydro elaborates. "You can't just bring in an airship for repair, because as soon as it's not working right, you're heading towards whatever you were flying over. So, they hire ponies like me to stay on the airships during their trips to perform any and all maintenance. It pays well, but I have to go where the ship goes, and we can never stay in a town long enough for me to forward my mail there, so it all just waits for me in a pile in Canterlot."

"...that...sounds like an interesting job..." Gel taps her chin thoughtfully. "I feel like Luster would be able to help with that...of course, she'd prefer to do her music." She shrugs. "Still, I have to wonder...are you here on vacation, Hydro?"

He lets out a yawn as he curls up a bit in the chair. "Hmm... technically yes, I am on paid vacation right now. Luckily I don't take many days off so I've got plenty to use while I sort out some things."

"Some things?" She glances at Rhino, confused. "What does he mean by that?"

Her husband shrugs as he looks to his friend. "I have no idea... this is the first I've heard of this."

As Hydro yawns again, he smiles and gets up out of the chair. "And as much as I'd love to tell you, apparently this goop of yours makes me tired so I'm going to taunt both of you by not telling you. Don't worry though, I'll be around town for a bit. Just need to find a good inn..." He looks at the window where the rain can still be heard pelting it. "Hopefully close by."

"You don't have to do that." She elbows her husband's side, nodding toward the red pony. "We could lend him the guest room, right?"

Rhino nods. "Sure, as many times as I stayed over at his house during high school, he practically has to."

Hydro yawns again. "Well... alright then. I guess that's that." He smirks. "Mind pointing me to it before I decide to just take the chair?"

"It's right down the hall, past the staircase." She stands and stretches, yawning softly. "If you want, I could take you there, instead. Wouldn't want you wandering into a bathroom by mistake, would we?"

The green stallion looks off to the side. "Yeah... but what pony would ever do something silly like that?"

She smacks his side with her tail, quirking an eyebrow at him. "What was that, love?"

"I didn't say anything, I was playing with Ruby." He looks down at the foal. "Isn't that right?" Her retort is simply to blow a raspberry at him.

"I don't think she believes you." She shakes her head, turning back to the other stallion. "Anyways, would you like me to?"

Hydro nods. "Yes please."

Chapter 14: Limit

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The late night storm eventually subsides, as they always do. Celestia's orb peaks down onto a thoroughly drenched, but otherwise unharmed hamlet of Ponyville. Residents all start spilling from their homes, beginning the ritualistic tasks of cleaning up after the storm, an activity the town completely understands and encourages by allowing all the citizens to take the morning off. Over in the home of the Nexus family, things are relaxed as everypony finishes up a simple breakfast of eggs. As Hydro and Gel chat, Rhino is occupied by feeding Ruby some soft food in her little high chair. Today's menu includes some sweet applesauce from the family of the same name.

The unicorn floats a tiny spoon in his magic, hovering it in front of the foal. "Alright Ruby, open up for the next bite..." He opens up his own mouth to demonstrate.

She watches him with her mouth open, giggling with every expression he makes. It does help him to feed her, though, and she doesn't protest in the slightest.

Gel sees this and rolls her eyes, playfully bumping her stallion's side. "You're making faces again, love." She glances at the filly, wistfully sighing. "I wish I could get her to do that..." She turns to the other stallion, a half-smile on her lips. "Every time I try, she just reaches for me."

He responds as he dips the spoon back in the jar. "Well, admittedly you do have the disadvantage of being her other source of food. She only has one thing to focus on when I do this."

Hydro comments from the table. "You know, this is exactly what I pictured when I thought about you having foals, Rhino."

"Exactly?" The nymph gestures to the filly, who has exchanged her horn for wings. "So you expected that?" She covers her mouth, trying hard not to laugh as Ruby attempts to fly after the retreating spoon.

"Ok, maybe not quite that..." Hydro admits.

"Thought so." She stands, gathering her plate and fork before glancing at the red pony. "Would you like a second helping?"

He shakes his head. "No thank you, I eat often, just not too much at a time." The stallion cracks his neck as he stands up. "So what are you guys planning on doing this morning?"

"Well," she gestures to her stallion, "Rhino normally cleans up after storms, and I take care of Ruby." She shrugs a bit. "Last time we left her alone, we found Mercury colored bright green."

Rhino mutters as he gives Ruby another spoon of food. "Still not quite sure how she managed that..."

She giggles, shaking her head. "Neither am I. Frankly, I'm more surprised he let her do that."

The fox in question pads up, sitting next to Hydro's chair. His eyes focus on his plate, his tail swishing hopefully behind him.

Hydro chuckles as he looks down at the fox. "Hey little guy, sorry, no more eggs, will toast work?"

He yips, leaping up and putting his forepaws on his leg.

Gel laughs at this. "That would be a yes, Hydro."

The earth pony hands the toast down to the kit.

He eagerly scarfs it down, licking and nuzzling the pony's hoof to show his gratitude.

Hydro chuckles, looking over to Gel. "He seems to be the more social of all of them. Where are the other two anyway?"

She waves a hoof dismissively. "I honestly couldn't tell you. They eat and hurry off somewhere on our days off, and we rarely ever find them."

"Well, at least they keep themselves entertained..." He looks out the window at all the branches that fill the yard. "Hey rhino, want some help out there?"

As he scoops a bit of sauce off Ruby's lips, the unicorn responds. "I'd appreciate that. Normally it takes me a good two hours or more to get it all stacked up and sorted into firewood and just sticks to burn."

"I don't know why you burn the wet sticks." Gel gathers the rest of the dishes, taking them to the sink. "They create smoke. Smoke ruins fires..." She mutters the last part to herself as she begins washing the plates.

Rhino looks back to her. "I've only done that a few times... I've learned to wait like a week before I burn them now." As Ruby makes her want of more food known, he turns back to feeding her.

"Well, at least you can learn." She playfully sticks her tongue out at him.

He sticks his own out at her, prompting Ruby to stick hers out as well.

Hydro just laughs at the whole thing. "You three are really something, you know that?"

Gel giggles, shaking her head. "Thank you." She turns to him, drying a plate off with a clean towel. "Before you start cleaning the yard, I wanted to ask...were you always working in airships? Or was that a recent job choice?"

He responds honestly. "Well, It's the job I got once I got out of school. I was actually really lucky that the first one I did was desperate enough to hire me, but after that I had work experience so it was easier and easier to get the jobs."

"I see." She taps her chin, thinking a bit. "Thanks for telling me." She jumps at a loud thump, glancing outside to see a large branch just below. "...how strange...a tree limb fell off our roof..."

Rhino pipes up again. "Well, at least it saves me from going up there to get it." He shivers. "Do not like going up there..."

Hydro looks to his friend. "Still doesn't have a taste for heights..."

"That's very true, but...since when did we have oak trees outside?" She scratches her head, turning to put the dishes up. "I could swear we only have maple and aspen..."

The unicorn shrugs. "I don't know, maybe it blew over from the woods, maybe a passing pegasus dropped it from a bunch they were carrying... who knows?"

"...if you say so..." She sighs and starts towards the kitchen door. "I'll be right back with some tools, love."

As Gel leaves the room, the red stallion turns to his friend. "She really is just like everypony else isn't she?"

Rhino replies simply as Ruby refuses to eat more. "Nope. She's something special."

Hydro just chuckles and shakes his head.

The navy nymph soon returns, two rakes and a couple shears floating behind her. She gives one of each to her stallion, smiling playfully. "Remember, dry wood in the wood shed..."

"... and the small stuff in the firepit by the river." He finishes before lifting Ruby out of her seat, walking over and giving Gel a quick kiss. "I remember."

"Good." She smiles, pulling him close and giving him a deeper kiss. "I hope your friend caught it, though." She gives the red pony a meaningful glance.

He holds up a placating hoof. "Don't worry, I'm sure I'll see where Rhino puts it. This ain't my first time doing yardwork."

She begins to respond but pauses, tilting her head to one side. "...'ain't'?"

Her husband explains briefly. "Another way of saying 'isn't'. Surely you've heard Applejack say that before?"

"...well, yes, but I didn't expect that from him." She sheepishly smiles at Hydro. "N-no offense."

The earth pony laughs. "None taken. Coming from anywhere around Canterlot, ponies tend to think you'll talk a certain way. It's actually pretty fun to prove them wrong."

"Actually, I didn't realize you were raised in Canterlot." She blinks, turning to Ruby and picking her up. "I thought you were from Manehattan."

He tilts his head. "What made you think that?"

"How you, um, carry yourself..." She hurries out the room, the fox rushing after the two of them.

Rhino laughs. "Looks like you caught her being silly and she couldn't take it."

Hydro chuckles as well. "Eh, I think I'll stick to picking on you. You actually stand there and take it so I can keep going."

The unicorn smirks. "And then I eventually ruin your fun by ceasing to react at all."

His red friend holds up a hoof. "Which I still say is cheating."

The two stallions laugh together as they head out the front and begin their work. They don't particularly work in any order, just picking up and stick or limbs they find and hauling them where they need to go, criss-crossing over each other's path so they don't miss anything.

Gel watches them from the doorway, Mercury curled at her hooves. She waves at Rhino as he passes by, smiling warmly.

He grins back, his horn lighting up as sticks rise from the ground around him and all float together as he brings them into a pile.

She rolls her eyes, stepping out onto the porch. She rocks their daughter, looking at Rhino coyly. "Acting cocky in front of Ruby? For shame."

"Who says I'm showing off? I'm just cleaning the yard." He walks over to the firepit by the river, setting the sticks down before coming back closer to Gel so he could still hear here. "How's she doing?"

"She's asleep." She looks down at the little filly, gently kissing her forehead. "I suppose she's still tired from the storm, last night..."

Hydro pipes up. "She didn't sleep well?"

She sighs, shaking her head. "Poor Ruby was kept up by the thunder...it was past midnight before we could fall asleep..."

Rhino continues from there. "Honestly, she's probably gonna be out for most of the day. It's a shame too, she's gotten better about actually letting us sleep all the way through the night lately."

The earth pony heaves a large limb onto his back. "Yeah, foals were never known for helping ponies get more sleep."

"Hey, here's to hoping she doesn't become a night pony." She shrugs, gently nudging Mercury to wake him up. She turns to the two of them, smiling kindly. "Do you two want me to make you some snacks for later?"

The green stallion looks to her. "Only if you want to, love. What are you going to do with Ruby while you fix them though?"

"Let Mercury cuddle with her." Gel giggles, winking at him. "You know how much our family enjoys that."

He smiles as nods. "Fair enough, love, fair enough."

With one last wave, she walks back into the house, the fox happily following behind her.

Hydro and Rhino get back to work, chatting a little as they pass each other. Topics flow easily from their lips, whether it be catching up, shooting the breeze, or just ribbing each other and trying not to be the first one to run out of comebacks.

Eventually, the yard work brings them to opposite sides of the house. Hydro works his way over to where the woods border the yard, an obvious trouble spot when it comes to fallen branches. Using his mouth, he picks up the larger branches and piles them on his back, working around the perimeter.

After a few branches, he picks up one that weighs more than the others. Its excess weight is immediately dropped and a small thud comes from the ground before him. "Fuck!"

He looks down to see the same filly changeling from before, rubbing at her fangs with a hoof. She appears to be in pain, but her silver eyes are focused solely on the stallion. She makes no move at first, every bit of her body tense in anticipation of something.

Hydro's eyes rest on the young nymph, waiting to see if she does something. When she doesn't immediately act, he slowly leans down a grabs the branch again, bringing it back up and setting it on his back, never breaking eye contact.

Her body slowly relaxes as she watches him. She shakes her head, moving to walk around him, stumbling slightly from exhaustion. "...not him..."

As the strange changeling wanders down the treeline, Hydro looks at her curiously. He grunts as he quickly heads toward the shed and dump his branches there, making a beeline for the house afterward.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the house, Rhino is busy dealing with the large oak branch that Gel had mentioned earlier. Almost a tree in and of itself, the branch forces the unicorn to take the shears and snip off as many of the connected branches as possible to lighten the load. Meticulously, he works down the monstrous limb, snipping away.

As he does this, the young changeling peeks around the corner of the house. As soon as she spots him, her wings flare indignantly. "Hey, you!" She runs forward, heading right for him.

Then her leg gives out and she falls flat on her face a couple yards from where she started. She slowly stands, groaning in pain all the while. "...damn it..."

Rhino looks up sharply at the shout, turning his head towards where it came from. Seeing the filly struggling to stand is not quite what he expected. He sighs. "Not you again... have you still not figured out I'm not the one you're looking for?"

"...you can lie all you want..." She finally gets onto all her hooves, her eyes, once near-lifeless, now filled with fury. "...but that won't change your true self! And what was with that stallion?!" She growls, taking another step closer to him. "Is she not good enough for you, anymore? You're just going to toss her aside for some...some pony eye candy?!"

His own blood getting riled, Rhino responds. "What are you talking about? There is no one else!"

"That fucking green earth pony!" She stomps a hoof, wings flared. "The one who's cleaning up this stupid, sprawling yard with the stupid equipment that I tripped over!"

Waiting to see when she would charge at him, because he's sure she will eventually, he keeps her talking. "First of all, there is no green earth pony, just a friend of mine that's over. Secondly, I do not swing that way."

"What are you talking about?! I saw him clear as day!" She snorts, lowering her gaze to the ground. "And every changeling I know can 'swing that way'. You know that. We'd be terrible infiltrators, otherwise..."

"Well, I guess that makes sense, but it doesn't really matter since I'm not a changeling!" He stomps a hoof. "Get it through your head!"

"LIES!" She leaps forward, slamming her head against his. "I'll make you tell the truth if I have to! I'm not losing her to someone like you!"

Rhino reels back from the unexpected blow to his head. One hoof goes to the spot as he catches himself, trying to find his bearings again.

"So help me," she stands on her hindlegs, her horn glowing, "I'll let myself die before then!" She extends a hoof to her side, the shape of it morphing before his eyes. It lengthens and flattens, one edge becoming razor sharp. She grins maniacally, her eye twitching slightly. "Though I'm not going to be the only one falling, today, General."

As he shakes his head and clears the last few stars from his eyes, Rhino locks onto the makeshift blade. He immediately tries a tactic to neutralize her. His horn lights up and his green aura envelops her body, lifting her from the ground and trying to hold her limbs in place.

"Wha-" She blinks before her eyes narrow at him. "Not this again." A pillar of earth erupts from the ground, hitting him square in the jaw. With his magic disrupted, the young nymph falls to the ground, shaking herself. "You'll have to do better than that."

Suddenly, he directs a wave a magic to crash into her side. It has a bit more power behind it than usual, simply because he reflexive sent it when she hit him. Her small body goes flying.

She collides harshly against the ground, bouncing and rolling for a few meters before slowing to a stop. She struggles to stand, breathing heavily and coughing. "...I'm not...through, just yet..." She blinks, blankly staring down at a short, silver cylinder in front of her. She lifts her left foreleg up to eye level, finally noticing that part of it had broken off. "...you broke my hoof off...I didn't think that was possible..."

"I what!?" He looks in horror at the shortened limb a moment before blinking and staring at where it came from, noticing a pack of something very important. "No blood... Why... What..."

"My legs are stone. Of course, you wouldn't know that." She touches the separated section with her broken leg, the material fusing together on contact. "A little gift I gained from you." She turns to him, glaring fiercely. "I waited eleven years to get my revenge...to find that you actually went through with your threat..." She walks towards him, her very aura causing immense pressure. "...how dare you soil her...how? How did you get her to agree?" Her horn lights up, a branch rising up next to her. "Hypnotism? That has to be it. She would never love someone with such darkness in his heart."

Rhino's horn lights up as well, a green crystalline dagger arising from an arcane circle that appears in the air next to him. "I am not who you think I am. You're obviously unhinged, why don't you just leave? Leave us alone!"

"Shut up!" She takes another step but her leg buckles beneath her. She collapses into the mud, gasping in shock. "...n-no...I can't go...not when Gel needs me..." She looks up at him, her eyes betraying how exhausted she is, how weak she's become. "...I promised her...I'd be there...you...you won't make me break my...word..." She falls forward, one last nearly-imperceptible sound escaping her lips.

"...Mi..."

She lands in the mud, still as a statue.

The stallion's weapon dissipates back into the magic it was made from. He stands in place, looking at the prone creature, unsure of what to do. Finally, he slowly begins to step toward her, pity for her arising in him as naturally as it would if she were anypony else, despite all she had done to him. He stands over her, but still she does not move.

"Rhino!"

He turns to see his nymph running toward him, concern clear on her face and Hydro not far behind. "I heard yelling. What happened?" She glances at the small, mud-covered form in front of him, brow furrowing in confusion. "...and...what is that?"

He looks back down at the form. "I... Well, it's that small changeling, but I'm not even sure if that's what it really is..."

She blinks, tilting her head to one side. "...w-what do you mean by that?"

He tries to explain himself. "Well, first of all... its leg came off... and it put it back on..."

Gel gapes in shock. "...h-how is that possible? No species I know of has that kind of...of magic!"

"I have no idea..." He nudges the limp form, but it remains still. "That's why I said I'm not sure what it is..."

She looks at her, her concern and curiosity quickly overtaking any fear she had. "...w-we should bring it inside...m-maybe clean her off..." She glances at him, noticing a dark spot in the fur of his chin. "...a-and then restrain her..."

Hydro speaks up. "Yeah, but then you get to a problem I always had when Rhino and I would spar: how do you restrain something that has magic?"

"...well...I think I have an idea..." The nymph clears her throat, gesturing to Rhino. "...c-could you clean off her face, please?"

"Umm... sure..." He looks around a moment before his horn lights up and brings over the water hose from where it is attached to the house. Turning on the water slightly, he lifts up the creature's face from where it was in the mud and directs the stream so it washes away the muck.

Gel leans in, her wings buzzing to keep her in the air. When the first bit of the changeling's carapace is cleared, the navy nymph adopts a thoughtful expression. "...that shade seems...very familiar..."

As the last of the mud is washed away, her eyes widen in shock. Her wings actually stop moving, causing her to drop ungracefully into the mud. She doesn't seem to notice this, shaking her head fearfully. "...there's no way...but there's no denying it...but it..." Her voice trails off into a whimper.

Turning off and dropping the hose, Rhino darts over to Gel as Hydro does the same. The unicorn ignores the mud as he lifts the blue nymph out of it. "Gel? Love, what's wrong?"

She doesn't answer him, holding a hoof out toward the gaunt young changeling. Hope shines in her misty eyes as a single word escapes her lips.

"M-mom?"

Chapter 15: Mom

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Rhino looks back and forth between Gel and the silver creature. "Mom? What do you mean, 'Mom'?"

The nymph appears to ignore his question, rushing forward and embracing the smaller changeling. "...mom...I missed you...w-why did you leave?" She sniffles, burying her snout in her silver mane. "...what happened to you?"

Hydro looks to his friend. "Umm... what the hay is going on?"

"My thoughts exactly..." the unicorn responds. He takes a step forward. "Gel?"

"We have to help her." She looks up at him, tears streaming down her face. "Please, love, we have to help her."

Rhino looks at the small gaunt form, remembering the pity he had felt for it. Combining that with his wife's tears... he really doesn't have a choice. "Fine..." his tone is not one of discussion, "but she's restrained, and she is never anywhere near Ruby."

"T-thank you, love." She laughs breathily, holding the smaller changeling to her body. "O-okay...I know how to restrain her..." She looks to the red stallion. "There's a rope in the hall closet. C-can you go get it?"

He nods. "Where do you want me to bring it?"

"T-the basement." She gulps softly, turning her attention back to the gaunt form. "W-we'll bring her down there, soon."

Hydro nods as runs back to the house.

Rhino, meanwhile, looks back down at his wife as she holds the smaller form. Sighing as he realizes he probably isn't going to get straight answers from her until they've dealt with this... situation, he decides to see if he can move things along. He picks up the water hose, as it still runs, and moves it towards Gel. "Want me to get the mud off the two of you?"

The nymph absently nods, gently stroking her silver mane. "...how did this happen...s-she's on the brink of starvation..."

Rhino starts spraying down the two, getting the mud off both of them where they had fallen for vastly different reasons. "She's been around a month at least... does that help?"

"...t-this stage of hunger...s-she must've been barely surviving..." She glances down, tracing a hoof over a barely-visible bump. "...found a weaker source of affection...puppy love, I think...milked it for all she could, but it wasn't enough..." She sniffles, rubbing her eyes with a hoof. "...if she doesn't get a stronger form, soon...she might...m-might..."

"You don't need to say it..." The thought of a creature dying, especially from something as horrendously torturous as hunger, is more than he wants to think about at the moment. For the moment, he decides to adopt his medical professional mindset, if only to keep his thoughts focused. As he finishes rinsing off all the mud, he stows the hose while he speaks. "What else can you tell me about her condition?"

Gel taps the distended stomach, recoiling slightly in shock. "...she...she's made of stone...h-how...how can she move? How is she even alive?"

"So she was telling the truth when she said that... a very strange case all around." He walks closer to the two of them. "Is she ready to be moved?"

"Not yet..." She closes her eyes, taking a deep breath before spitting a blob of slime onto the changeling's horn. "...now she is. Try to avoid touching the...gel. Even with your magic."

He regards the blue goop globbed onto the changeling's horn with an inscrutable expression. "That's... new..." His horn lights up as he lifts up the small nymph, though instead of enveloping her, he instead just slides a bit of magic under her a lifts her up that way. As he turns toward the house, he remarks to Gel. "Why don't you check and make sure Ruby's okay? We're still not sure what her emotion sensing range is, so she might be upset by all this if she feels it."

"That's a good idea." She gets up and runs into the house, leaving the two of them outside in her haste.

Rhino looks to the small form is his grasp. "Well... I guess we'll finally learn all we want to about you... one way or another." He walks back to the house, his pace smooth and his magic stable so as not to jostle her. After no time at all, Rhino closes the back door behind him as he enters the kitchen.

He finds Gel smiling down at a sleeping Ruby, and the fox curled protectively around her. She turns to him, smiling warmly in relief. "...it wasn't close enough to affect her...she didn't even wake up..."

He lets out a breath. "Good... one less thing to worry about. Only this one left to sort out." He motions toward the levitated changeling with his head.

As he crosses the kitchen, Specter and Selena walk in, looking very much like they want to know what all the commotion is about.

Rhino motions back towards Ruby. "Keep an eye on her for a little, okay guys?"

They nod, moving to join Mercury in foal-guarding duty.

The nymph watches them for a moment before turning to her stallion, nervously smiling. "...I know this is a strange request, but...could you provide some love for mom?" She starts moving towards the basement door, though she keeps her attention on the unicorn.

"...What?" He follows her towards the basement.

"The fact is, she needs something substantial." They start their descent of the stairs. "I could feel your pity for her, but that's below puppy love. Mom seems to require more energy than normal...and changelings can't exactly feed off each other."

"Yes, you've said that before, but you also said changelings literally gather love and bring it back to the hive, right? How do they do that, and can it apply here?" He ducks the small creature so it doesn't hit a door frame.

"Yes, but that requires stealing love, liquefying it, and putting it in a special container." They reach the bottom of the flight. "It also isn't as potent as fresh love, especially that which is freely given." She grabs the blanket off his couch and lays it on the floor, motioning to it. "Place her there."

He does so as Hydro comes down the stairs, calling to Gel. "Next time, remind me to ask which hall the closet is in. It took me three tries to find the right one." He slides the rope down next to the blanket."

"Thank you." She turns to Rhino, gesturing to the red stallion. "Of course, if you really don't want to, maybe Hydro would be willing to give her some?"

The unicorn looks to his friend. "Somehow... I don't think Hydro would be willing to love something that attacked him..."

The earth pony blinks. "Umm... ok, I apparently missed something because this just took a really weird turn."

Rhino waves a hoof, "Don't worry about it, we'll deal with this. Just... go keep an eye on Ruby for now, okay?"

Hydro nods, quickly retreating up the stairs with only one confused backwards glance.

Gel shrugs, sighing quietly. "Then you'll have to do it. I know it might be awkward, but...you'll be saving her life." She picks up the rope, nodding to him. "I'll let you think on it for a bit." With that, she begins to securely tie the small changeling's limbs to her body, putting the knot at the back of her neck.

The stallion sighs. "I'm guessing because she's out, she can't just skim some off the top of what I normally direct towards you... Does it have to be... intended for her?"

"At first, yes." She gently strokes her silver mane, frowning softly. "At least until she regains consciousness. Then she should be able to skim, though...I did mention the drawbacks of that, didn't I?" She turns to him, clearly concerned. "She'd be stealing the love, after all..."

"Right, right, energy drain and all that... We'll deal with the future techniques once we figure this one out." He looks over the bound form again. "Erm... exactly what kind of love is needed here?"

"Familial love." She sniffs softly. "It's a few hundred joules short of romantic love, but it's the next best thing." She rubs the back of her neck, nervous. "Just...imagine that she's part of your family...someone you care for dearly..."

He lets out a breath. "Ok, that's a small relief... I thought I'd have to go full romantic for a bit there..."

She narrows her eyes, pointing a hoof at him. "I would rather eat glass than force you to love another romantically. I'm surprised you even considered that."

"Hey, in my defense, this isn't exactly a normal situation, and you said she needed strong love." He sighs and looks back to the small form. "So... familial love huh?"

"That's right." She smiles, nodding to him. "It's not that far a stretch, is it? She is family, after all..."

“Maybe... I'm just not exactly sure how one goes about shifting their feelings for someone so quickly..." He looks to her. "You'll be able to tell when I start giving that off,right?"

"I can, yes." She puts a hoof on his shoulder. "Please, love...she's my mom..."

"I still don't understand how that's even possible... But... I'll try something..." He sits down and looks down at the silver nymph as he slowly relaxes. "I'm going to go very quiet for a bit. Try not to shock me out of it, ok?"

She silently nods, looking at the younger changeling. Her concern is clear, but she doesn't want to disturb him, even before it is necessary.

Rhino breathes slowly, working to calm and quiet his active mind. As he gazes on his target, he sorts through his feelings on her: the anger at her attacking him, the curiosity of what and who she is, the pity of knowing she mistakes him for somepony else, the interest of why she always spoke of Gel, and finally, the solution his wife had offered, that she was family. Slowly, Rhino lets his mind dull, only having the focus to see the last of these feelings prominently. His eyes mist over as he loses himself in a more idealistic imagined version of this situation. Images created by his mind show a you her Gel, and a shadowy figure taking care of her. He convinces himself that this figure is the same as the one tied up on the blanket. Gradually, his emotions start adjusting to the illusion his mind is enveloped in.

The filly nymph's face slowly relaxes as the feelings wash over her. Her breathing calms down from the previous ragged ones.

Only vaguely aware of this, Rhino continues his self-induced trance. His warm thoughts project outward as he focuses on them, a feeling of content resting easily in his mind as he sits there.

Gel watches in silence, gauging how healthy the small nymph's body is. After a minute, she taps Rhino's shoulder. "That's enough for now, love. Too much after starving is a bad thing."

The stallion jumps, looking around with unfocused eyes. He blinks blankly at Gel for short time before he shakes his head and is finally able to focus on her. He groans slightly as he speaks. "Did it work?"

"I think so..." She gently pokes the changeling, eliciting a groan from her. "...I think she'll be better in the morning...maybe even be awake, too..."

Rhino's response is less than thrilled. "Yay..." He looks around. "Is there a way to strap her to the floor or something so she doesn't roll or hop around getting into anything?"

Maybe." She brings the cushions from the couch, forming a makeshift brace around the silver changeling's body. She glances at the stallion, sheepishly smiling. "You don't mind, do you? I-it's only temporary..."

He raises an eyebrow. "What, precisely, is temporary?"

"Until I find more secure bonds. Or maybe bring Ruby's crib down here." She taps her chin, considering this a moment. "...actually, that might work. I'll go get it." She turns and starts up the stairs, talking over her shoulder. "You stay here and keep an eye on her, okay?"

The stallion raises a hoof and rubs the bridge of his nose as his wife exits the basement. "Feel like I'm being strung along... really gonna need to talk with her about this..." His eyes glance over at the still silver nymph. "Definitely going to have to have talks with you... but at least I won't get bruises out of them." He rubs a hoof across the dark blotch on the underside of his jaw as he sighs.

"Talks?" The small changeling opens her eyes, glaring fiercely at him. "Like I'd tell you anything. Now let me go."

His hoof goes back on his bridge. "Oh joy... you're awake." He gives her a flat look. "I'm really not in the mood to deal with you right now."

She continues to give him a pointed stare for a few seconds, silently considering him. "...tell me..." Her expression softens slightly. "...I should be dead by now...who gave me love?"

He looks her straight in the eyes calmly as he answers. "I did. Gel informed me of how close you were to death... and I am not a pony to let something embrace death if I can do something about it. Though, you did recover far faster than she thought you would... or than I thought you would, given your state."

"I was frozen." She rolls her eyes. "It's what happens when I don't have the strength to manipulate my body...wait." She tilts her head to one side, brow furrowed in confusion. "...you gave me the love? But...changelings can't do that...not without liquefying it, and then I'd have to drink it..."

"Yes, so she explained. She also said it wouldn't be as strong. Thus... you got it from the source." He lets his statements hang in the air, knowing she'll draw the evident conclusion.

"...then...then you really aren't him..." She groans, letting her head fall to the floor. "...all that time...wasted..."

"Careful now, don't want a head wound on top of everything else." Rhino walks over, looking down at her. "Finally believe I'm not you thought I was?"

"...yes...but..." She looks up at him, confused. "...if you aren't Mimic...then who are you?"

"Rhino, I'd hold out a hoof to shake yours, but that would be a bit insensitive at the moment." He looks seriously at her. "And it appears you and I had problems with the same red drone."

She recoils slightly, eyes wide in shock. "You mean...you're the one who infiltrated the outpost? And...you beat all of the generals?"

He sighs as he's reminded of one of the darkest times in his life that occurred a little over a year ago. "And here I thought they hushed all that... yeah, that was me. Wasn't easy, I'll tell you that."

"...then..." She groans, banging her head against the floor again. "...I assaulted my daughter's love. Bloody brilliant."

"Hey, I said no head trauma." His horn lights up and the blanket she's laying on rolls up the excess fabric above her into a cylindrical pillow. "Though, I guess Gel's claim that you're her mother is more valid now..." He rubs his bridge again. "I'm gonna need some nice time with the family after this..."

She quirks an eyebrow at him. "Hate to break it to you, but I am part of your family. At least, if those earrings Gel is wearing have anything to say about it."

Rhino chuckles. "Good to know I got to experience the stereotypical mother-in-law troubles then, if in a more violent fashion than normal."

"Hey," she narrows her eyes at him, "you're lucky I'm not in my original body. I would've beaten you without breaking a sweat the first time I met you."

"And thus we come to the confusing part which I'm sure Gel would love to hear too, so might as well start deciding how you plan on explaining..." he waves a hoof over her, "this."

"Frankly, I don't know how." She frowns, focusing on the floor. "I just know that I died and then...I'm a living statue."

Rhino raises a hoof, opens his mouth, but only comes out with a series of disjointed noises before sighing and placing a hoof over his eyes. "Just... try to expand your story a bit. I heard one sentence and I'm already seeing what should be impossible. Let's just... wait for Gel..."

"...can you untie me in the meantime?" She gives him a winning grin, hopeful.

He shakes his head. "Pleasant as you've been now, I'm not going to take that chance. I'm sure Gel would like me to, but I'm going to stay on the side of safety conscious slight paranoia right now until I make sure this isn't just an act to get me to lower my guard."

She nods, laughing brightly. "You would've made a fine soldier. Now to see how she thinks of you."

He smirks. "You were asleep for most of our conversation it seems. Well, if you really are her mother, I think seeing how we act towards each other should win me some points with you."

"Maybe. I would like to see how you take care of that pupa of yours, as well." She smirks at him. "Family comes first, right?"

He nods. "It does. Though, Gel has mentioned, when asked, that she be called a foal."

"Really?" She frowns, confused. "Why does she do that?"

"Because I don't want her to be tormented by close-minded ponies." Gel returns, the crib floating along behind her. "Glad to see you're awake, mom."

The smaller nymph gapes at the furniture. "Surely that's not for me, sweetie...right?" She gives a hard look to Rhino, unamused.

"Wasn't my idea, though, I have to admit it serves its purpose." He can't help but let a small amused smile slip as Gel puts the crib down. "Oh, and don't wreck it, Ruby still needs to use it once you're done."

"Ha ha." She scowls slightly at him. "If this stuff wasn't on my horn, I'd smack your head with the pillow."

"Better than other things you've hit me with," he remarks dryly.

She opens her mouth but finds she lacks a retort. She grumbles, turning to the side. "...you win this round, Rhino..."

He smiles as he turns to Gel. "Would you like to tuck her in? It's just as much for her safety as ours as this point, right? She shouldn't be doing too much in her state."

Gel grimaces, shuffling her hooves awkwardly. "C-could you do it, please? I-It'd be a little strange for me to do that..."

He shrugs, his horn lighting and scooping up the small changeling. He walks over to the crib, setting her in it and even fluffing her pillow. He can't help but crack at least one joke. "Need a blanket?"

She gives him a flat look. "I'd rather not get cold, yes. And stop acting so smug."

"Sorry, sorry, getting parenting flashbacks I guess." He pulls the blanket up and even goes so far as to tuck her in, with minimum chuckling. He pats the silver changelings head. "Comfy?"

She scowls at him, her hair bristling slightly. "Touch my head without my permission, one more time...and these ropes won't keep me back." She huffs, turning her head to the side. "...I can't believe I'm being treated like this at thirty nine..."

"Hey, I'd tuck my own mother in if she asked, and she's almost 15 years older than you." He turns to Gel. "So... what now then? I mean obviously some chats or in order, and I want to relieve Hydro of Ruby, but before all that, is there anything I'm forgetting?"

"That bruise on your chin, maybe?" His nymph gingerly reaches out, running a hoof over the sore spot. "You might want some medicine for that...or maybe some ice..."

He tries opening his mouth wide, only to wince. "Yeah... a little something for that." He turns to the silver changeling. "Anything you need then?"

"Something to entertain me?" She looks to him, hopeful. "Maybe out of these ropes? They're starting to chafe...and part of it is pulling rather distractingly on my tail..."

Rhino looks to Gel, who tied the ropes. "You made it pull her tail?"

She nods, swinging her own tail for emphasis. "You know our tails can be like a fifth hoof. I wanted to be sure she wouldn't try to escape."

"Ah, right." He nods. "Do you agree with keeping her secure for now?"

"...I don't know." She looks at the silver changeling, regretful. "I don't want to, but...I know it's the best option, for now..." She sheepishly smiles, shrugging a bit. "S-sorry, mom."

The smaller nymph sighs, closing her eyes. "...fine. I suppose we have to work towards a mutual sense of respect before I can go anywhere."

Rhino nods again. "Look at it this way: you already scored some points by taking the crib. Now Ruby can sleep with us."

She quirks an eyebrow. "...her name is Ruby?" She chuckles, shaking her head. "I guess that's indicative of her talent, then? You ponies do have a knack for that, after all."

He shrugs. "Eh, hit and miss. Mom ended up giving me a name more akin to my job than my talent."

"Oh..." She goes silent, staring at his cutie mark. "...then...what is your talent?"

"Rune magic. You're actually in my lab right now." He gestures around.

"Runes?" She tilts her head to one side, thinking for a moment. "...that sounds familiar, for some reason...but I can't remember why..."

"Well... maybe some rest will help. I'm still honestly surprised you're awake enough to speak." He turns to gel. "You said she'd need to recover right? About how long you think it'll take with the love I gave her for her to get to a decent state to be up and around?"

"About a day. She'll need more love in the morning." She turns to the couch cushions, lifting them up to put them back. She pauses, staring at a small hole in the ground. "...love? Was that always there?"

"Not until our guest over there started to bang her head against
the ground. Had to stop her by forcibly placing a pillow under her." He looks down at the dent in the floor. "i'll have to get something to patch that up..."

Gel waves a hoof dismissively. "We can do that later. For now, let's let
mom sleep."

The smaller changeling sighs, shaking her head. "Can I say something before you two leave? You know, actually introduce myself?"

Rhino turns around. "Go ahead."

"My name is Diorite, but you can call me Dior." She struggles against the rope for a second. "And if I could, I'd offer a hoof for you to shake."

He tilts his head towards her. "Nice to meet you properly, Dior. Get well soon, okay?"

"Thank you...for everything..." She frowns, looking off into the distance. "...I have to wonder what happened to him, though..."

"Considering I all but snapped off his horn last we met, I can't imagine he's getting into too much trouble." He walks over to the light switch, hovering his hoof over it. "Have a nice sleep."

She nods and closes her eyes, quickly falling into blissful unconsciousness.

The navy nymph starts her ascension of the staircase, a little unnerved. ...you were...talking about him...d-did something happen between him and mom?

"I don't know..." He follows her up. "But it seems she thought i was him this whole time. She didn't reveal how exactly she knew him previously though."

"She thought you were..." She stares at him incredulously. "Why? You aren't anything like him!"

Rhino replies in a sobering voice. "We both wanted to be with you..."

She grimaces, averting her gaze. "...but you're sweet. Loving. He was just...unsettling. Psychotic."

"Yes..." A small smile appears on his face. "But, luckily all it took for your mom to realize I wasn't him, was to prove how much of a love machine I am."

She giggles, tenderly nuzzling his cheek. "Was there ever any doubt?" She winks at him. "You're my love machine, though. I want to be clear on that."

He slowly nuzzles up her neck, ending it with a kiss on the lips. "Understood."

Now in the hall, the parents look forward and see their other houseguest standing exactly in the middle of the doorway to the kitchen. He appears to have been using this spot as a way to keep an eye on both their location and the foal's. He looks at them curiously. "So... how did it go?"

"Well, mom is asleep, now. She's also a bit less confrontational, now..." She sheepishly smiles, rubbing the back of her neck. "That's definitely a good thing..."

He raises an eyebrow. "So she really is your mom then?"

"She is, just...younger." She frowns, tapping her chin. "I don't know how that happened...but I'm going to find out..."

"Never gets dull around here, does it?" He stretches in place a bit. "Well, if you guys have things handled here, there's a few things I need to see to in town. That okay?"

Gel shrugs, shaking her head as she walks into the kitchen. "I don't see why it wouldn't be. May I ask what you're going to do?"

As he opens the front door, Hydro calls back. "I'll tell you later. It's a surprise!"

She blinks, staring at him in confusion. "...well, then...I guess we'll find out what that is, later..." She picks up a ceramic jar, shaking her head. "I'll just sit here eating a few cookies, in the meantime." She chomps down on a sugar cookie, smiling contentedly.

"You do that... I need to clear my head a bit, and i know just the way to do it." He walks over to the pets as they all curl around or near Ruby. He pets each of them before reaching down and picking up the dozing foal. Holding her to him, he sighs contently.

She yawns softly, opening her eyes slowly. She sees her daddy and laughs happily, reaching out to him with a hoof.

He touches his hoof to hers, leaning down and nuzzling her lovingly. "Hey sleepy... you missed all the excitement." He kisses the top of her head.

She coos softly, nuzzling his chest. She babbles at him, as if she was responding to his words.

Gel giggles, shaking her head. "I see she still isn't affected by those emotions. That's good." She notices the filly start to squirm, a soft whine escaping her. She sighs, holding a hoof out to them. "She needs to be changed, love. Do you want me to take care of it?"

Rhino shakes his head. "I'll get it. I know you still aren't fond of having to deal with... more solid presents." He walks over to the counter, pulling out a towel they use for this exact occasion and laying it under the foal as he sets her down on her back.

"Changelings don't exactly leave those 'presents'. So yea, I'm not fond of them." She walks over as some smoke comes from her nostrils, leaving her snout without said holes. "I can deal with it, though, for Ruby's sake."

"Yeah, of course you get to remove your sense of smell and I just have to ignore mine." He unfolds the soiled diaper, the couple having moved onto disposable ones now that Ruby was bigger. Trying not to focus as he works on her, Rhino continues talking to Gel. "You think maybe the emotions from downstairs were just outside her range, or were they muffled by other emotions that were closer?"

"I think that the love of the pets was a buffer. That's what you were asking, right?" She frowns, touching her lips. "I hate how nasally this makes me sound..."

"Seems like a fair tradeoff to me." He wipes Ruby clean, her giggling the whole time before he powders and sets her up with a new diaper. He lifts her up and smiles at her. "There we go, all better."

She squeals happily, her little forelegs spread out to the sides.

The navy nymph laughs, shaking her head. "I think she wants to play with you."

"Good, because a nice bit of relaxing playtime is just what I need." He cradles the foal to his chest. "What do you think, Ruby, should we play up in the bedroom or in the living room?"

She babbles excitedly at him, making broad, unreadable gestures with her forelegs.

Gel blinks, confused by this. "...Rhino, where did she learn that? I don't remember ever using those..."

"Maybe she's making them up on her own." He looks at the smiling filly. "You're such a smart filly aren't you?"

She giggles happily, nodding. Whether this is in response to his question is unknown, however.

Rhino turns to Gel. "Come on, I feel like relaxing on the bed for a bit."

"If you're tired, then you should rest...but I agree, you don't have to sleep alone." She nods and steps next to him, entwining her tail in his and smiling warmly. "Lead the way, love."

They head up to the room, settling on the bed with Ruby in the space between them. Rhino decides to play with the filly a moment before addressing what's on his mind. He sets his head down on the bed, looking at the filly and wondering what she'll do.

She walks over to him with only a second of delay. She happily nuzzles him before rising up and putting her forehooves on his cheek, giggling brightly.

Right at that moment, Mercury leaps up onto the mattress. He makes a beeline for the pink pony, sitting down nearby and nuzzling her.

Rhino chuckles and pets the fox. "Just as attached to us as her, aren't you?" He smiles as he gets his hoof licked as an answer before he turns his eyes back to Ruby. "I take it this is another session of the 'climb on Daddy' game? Seems like that's one of your favorites."

She nuzzles him some more before she climbs up his head. She continues until she reaches the top of his mane, sitting down and waving her hooves excitedly. She turns her attention to his horn, poking it with a hoof.

Gel laughs, shaking her head. "She loves her daddy. What can you do?"

"Love her back, of course." He runs magic on and off through his horn, making it flicker in front of the foal. "Though her being up there reminds me... I wonder when she's going to start surging?"

Gel blinks, looking at him in confusion. "...surging? What do you mean by that?" She flinches slightly, nervous. "S-she's not going to shoot electricity, is she?"

He continues flicking his horn glow on and off. "Well... some might, but that particular direct effect is probably low chance. I mean magical surging, when a foal's magic first appears in sudden bursts with varied effects. Pretty much the first thing they warn you about when you're a parent to a unicorn."

She frowns, directing her gaze to her hooves. "...I knew I shouldn't have skipped those chapters..." She looks at the filly as she takes a lock of Rhino's mane in her mouth. "...what do you think it'll be like? L-like yours was, maybe?"

"Well... heritage does give you something to work off, but no two foals' surges are the same." Rhino reaches up and starts lightly tickling the filly's side with a hoof. "From what Mom told me... my surges most often involved levitating myself in my sleep so that I woke myself up when I fell, turning things green, and magically growing my fur until I was literally barely more than a ball of fluff."

Gel bites her lip, her chitin tinting a lighter blue. "...I see...wait..." She tilts her head, an eyebrow quirked. "...turning things green? Y-you're sure about that?"

He shrugs. "Apparently I had a very stubborn streak back then that since I was green, it was the best color, and everything else should be green."

The navy nymph glances at the filly. "...so if her magic bursts could turn things green..." She slowly shifts her gaze over to the fox, slightly nervous. "...then...could she already be going through them?"

His eyes widen. "Oh... that... would make sense... and would also make me worried..."

“...same...but I suppose we shouldn't..." She shrugs slightly. "...it's not like they'll be dangerous...w-well, aside from that falling one..." She taps her chin, thinking a bit. "...do you think that was because of your fear of heights, or the cause of it?"

"Honestly? No idea. But you're right, they likely won't be dangerous on their own... but we have to make sure she stays safe." He takes Ruby off his head and places her in front of him, tickling her stomach. "Just what kind of magic will come out of you?"

She laughs, flailing her forelegs but making no move to escape, obviously enjoying the attention.

Gel giggles, shaking her head. "I guess only time will tell..."

"Yes... speaking of telling though... mind if I ask you some things?" He lays his head down next to the flailing foal. "Just so I can answer some of the questions that have come from today."

She blinks in surprise but nods, placing her hoof on his. "I'll answer what I can, love."

"Ok..." As Ruby rolls over and clamps all her hooves on his muzzle, he speaks. "First... what made you think Dior was your mom?"

"...well...it was her face..." She smiles softly, her gaze focused on her forehooves. "...I only knew one nymph with those features...even if she looked starved, I couldn't mistake the one who helped me through school...who always had her door open to me..." Her smile falters slightly. "...though...she disappeared eleven years ago...I-I don't know why..."

He closes one eye as Ruby starts climbing his face again. "I thought nannies raised you..."

"They did." She chuckles, leaning over and gently nuzzling the pink filly. "She took time out of her job to tutor me. She said that she didn't trust anyone else to teach me the essentials..."

He gives her a quick peck on the lips as she nuzzles their daughter. "So she was still present? You make it sound like she wasn't around much."

“Yes, she was." She shrugs slightly. "I shared her lessons with Luster and Flick. Though, personally, I think they grasped them a little better than I did." She blinks as his last sentence sinks in and squirms slightly, embarrassed. "I do? I didn't know that..."

He tries to explain himself. "Well, it's just that you talk about her taking off work to teach you, but still being raised by nannies... is that normal for changelings?"

"...n-not really, no..." She rubs the back of her neck, unsure. "...w-we normally have to...fend for ourselves, once we get into school..."

"Right... right... remembering it now. It's just different from what I grew up like so I sometimes forget." He tries to get to his main point as a certain pink filly starts chewing on one of his ears. "But... you are happy to see her again?"

"Yes, I am." She smiles warmly, nodding. "I missed her so much...you have no idea..."

He rolls over slightly to lay on his side, the little filly hanging on his ear now finding that the rest of him is no longer quite as high and proceeding to walk down his ribs, aiming for his tail. "Aside from physically... is she as you remember?"

She nods, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "...I believe so...aside from her...paranoia..."

He nods, quiet with his thoughts as Ruby bits the tip of his tail and starts trying to drag it back toward his head, pouncing on it when it tries to flop back down when she loses her grip. "Well..." He picks the filly up off his back and sets her against her mother's chest between her forelegs, smiling at the picture. "I don't think her dose of love tomorrow will be nearly as difficult to give."

Gel laughs, shaking her head. "That's definitely good to know, love." She leans down and nuzzles their little filly, smiling softly at her. "Maybe she can meet...um..." She pauses, the gears visibly turning in her head. "...Didi? Does that sound like a good nickname?"

He twitches slightly trying to make his words as diplomatic as possible. "Umm... the name's fine... but if we want them to meet, I think it would be best at a distance... for now."

She blinks, unsure what to make of that. "...Rhino...are you afraid of mom...possibly hurting Ruby?"

"...Misunderstanding or not, your mother was attacking me up until a few hours ago. While things have come a long way since then, the fact that I'm even agreeing to having them meet at this time is a huge step. Even more so when you consider how protective I am." He looks at Ruby. "I'm not saying I believe she's going to hurt her, but there's always those thoughts of things that could happen... and right now I'm just not ready to trust her with what is most precious to me."

Gel pouts playfully. "I thought I was precious to you, too..."

He raises an eyebrow. "Notice how I haven't left her and you alone in a room? I meant both of you."

"...oh. Now I feel foolish." She laughs shyly before quickly becoming more serious. "But really, she could've hurt you once before, but stopped at the sight of Ruby." She gestures with a hoof. "Not to mention, I was taught personally by her...when she was the General of Chrysalis's army. I think she has a soft spot for family."

He sighs. "Maybe... maybe if things go well, I'll let her get close to Ruby. No holding though, not yet."

"I don't think mom can do that yet, anyways." She rolls her eyes, turning on the mattress and draping a wing over his side. "She's still tied up, after all."

"A fair point, her size might make it an issue too." He chuckles as Ruby snuggles her way in between Gel's right foreleg and his left, cuddling both of them now that they are close enough for her to do so. "Crazy morning..."

"I'll say." She glances at the clock on her bed stand, absently stroking the filly's soft mane. "Oh, look. It just became noon...I wonder what the rest of the day holds..."

"I'll gladly take a normal day. Just some time to relax with my two favorite girls." He nuzzles Ruby before leaning over and giving Gel a long kiss.

The navy nymph laughs, playfully pushing his side. "Flatterer." She smirks and kisses him tenderly. "...I'd like that, as well..."

Chapter 16: Learning

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Saturday morning comes and as usual, the home of Rhino, Gel, and Ruby is slow to start. Both parents snooze away content in their usual positions of Rhino on his back and Gel on her side against him, both with their arms around the other. The slight difference today though, is the small space between their midsections, where a certain Pink filly slept cuddled nice and snug.

She slowly stirs, her eyes blinking open. She yawns and stretches, looking around curiously. Seeing her daddy, she giggles brightly, climbing on top of him and toddling up his body. She slides off him and stops next to his head. She pokes his cheek, babbling in what might have been a question.

The large green stallion's mouth twitches, but other than that he doesn't respond.

Ruby, confused by his reaction, pushes on his chin, whining softly.

He grunts, his eyes slowly opening. He blearily looks around, trying to figure out what woke him up.

She cheers, happily hugging his face as her tail swishes behind her.

He jumps slightly as he feels the mass suddenly grab onto his face, but relaxes a moment after as he realizes what it is. Using the hoof not around his wife, Rhino hugs the filly as best he can. He moves the hoof to stroking her mane while he kisses her cheek before speaking quietly. "Well, good morning to you too, Ruby."

She nuzzles him before pulling away, giggling some more. Her expression becomes hopeful as she holds up a hoof. "Ba?"

He tilts his head, trying to understand what she's trying to ask him. "Umm..." He holds up his hoof and touches it to hers, looking at her hopefully.

She pouts, turning her attention to the bookcase. She closes her eyes and screws her face up, her horn flickering to life. One of the small books on the bottom shelf gets covered in the same green aura, slowly, if shakily, floating over to them. She opens an eye and it falls to the bed next to her, much to her delight. She pounces on it, her forelegs resting on the soft cover of the new book, and beams at her dad. "Ba!"

He stares at her, astonished. "Ruby... since when could you do that?" He looks to the bookshelf then to the filly happily looking at him on her book. He shakes his head after a moment. "At least it wasn't a surge..." Smiling at his daughter, his own horn lights up as he floats the book out from under her, setting it upright. "Ok... early morning story it is."

She grins, giving off a small 'squee', and quickly snuggles up against him, resting her head on his foreleg and eagerly looking at the book. She notices a cute kit on the cover, reaching out for it curiously.

Rhino follows her eyes, seeing what she's looking at. "Looks familiar doesn't it? Do you know who that looks like, Ruby?" He chuckles, just seeing the silver fox in question sleeping on the end of the bed.

She looks up at him, still smiling as brightly as before and looking in the same direction. She points to the fox excitedly, something surprising escaping her mouth. "Me'cwy!"

Her father freezes, not quite believing his ears. He leans down to the filly with wide eyes. "What did you say? Say it again, Ruby."

"Me'cwy!" She giggles as the pet in question wakes up, shaking himself a bit before looking at them.

He tilts his head at the stallion, as if asking whether he woke him up.

Rhino however, is a bit too preoccupied as he scoops up the filly, hugging, nuzzling, and kissing her in his excitement. "That's my girl! That's my smart filly!"

She doesn't understand what he's happy about, but she is enjoying the affection he's giving her. She readily hugs him back, cooing softly and giggling even more.

All of the noise wakes up the navy nymph nearby, if the stallion suddenly sitting up and throwing her off him hadn't already. She groans, rubbing her eyes sleepily. "...love? W-what are you doing?"

He turns to her excitedly. "Gel! Listen to this!" He turns back to the foal, keeping his voice soft as he points her to the fox. "Ruby, who is that?"

She laughs brightly, pointing at the silver form once more. "Me'cwy!"

The nymph's eyes bug out from shock. "...h-her first word?" She smiles softly, tears forming in her eyes. "...oh...I'm so proud..." She watches the fox walk over and nuzzle the pink filly, eliciting a cute giggle from her, as well as her mother. "...and so is Mercury, apparently." She turns to Rhino, smirking coyly. "And you thought it would be 'daddy'."

"Well... Maybe she'll learn that one in time..." He leans forward and kisses his wife. "Besides, you can't tell me you don't look forward to those times in the future where she walks up to you, holds out her hooves, and says 'Mommy!'."

"...I suppose I can't..." She pouts playfully at this. "Still...I'm glad she's said her first word...and a little more that it wasn't 'Hydro'." She sticks her tongue out at him.

Ruby pokes his foreleg with a hoof, whining softly. "Ba?" She stares up at him from where she cuddles with Mercury, her eyes pleading.

He boops her nose lightly. "Hey, I was just introducing them, I wasn't trying for it to be her first word. Same as you're trying to do with 'Didi', right?"

"...fair enough." She glances at Ruby, who is currently trying to hold up the book that's as big as she is for them. She giggles at the sight of the filly using both hooves to keep it on her head. "I think she wants your attention, love."

"Yeah, it makes me proud that the first thing she wants in the morning isn't food, milk, or even changing. She wants a book." As he settles down next to the filly, taking the book and placing it in front of them, he looks to Gel. "Want to make a small bet on when she says her second word?"

"I don't bet, love." She smirks, playfully bumping his side. "I will hazard a guess, though."

"You don't bet?" He flicks her side with his tail. "I seem to recall a wager placed on a certain fiery race."

She blushes brightly, shyly averting her gaze. "...I was hoping you'd forgotten that..." She clears her throat, nervously smiling. "I-I think she might say it in the next few days. W-what about you?"

"Hmm... Sounds about right. I think she'll have a new one by... Monday night." He kisses the foal's head. "Think you can do that, Ruby?"

She giggles, holding his hoof closer to her form. "Ba." She taps the cover of the book, apparently more interested in the story. Mercury curls up next to her, draping his tail over the filly's back.

"Ok ok, I get it. Story first." He cracks open the book and clears his throat, looking at Gel. "Ready to help with voices?"

She nods, smiling warmly as she settles down next to him. "Of course, love."

***

Later, after a breakfast without Hydro, who seems to have left to take care of something early this morning, the family can be found in the living room.

Rhino stands next to the door, mentally going over his list of questions to ask Diorite. The small changeling had been asleep since they left her yesterday, her body probably needed it. However the time for answers has come, and Rhino plans on getting them.

Gel sighs softly, resting her head on her hoof. "Please go easy on her. I don't think she's fully recovered, yet...and don't forget to give her some love, as well." She looks down, blinking at the sight of their daughter mimicking her pose. ...I don't know what to think of that...

He chuckles. Personally, I think it's adorable that she wants to be like you right now. "Somehow, I think she's sturdier than you think, but I'll go easy on her. You know I'm not really the confrontational type."

She quirks an eyebrow at him. "I know that, love. I'm just worried that she'll...well, get on your nerves." She shrugs slightly. "She's not exactly a tactful changeling."

"I'll try to keep a cool head." He walks over a nuzzles her. "You going to be alright up here?"

"I think so." She pats a stack of books next to her, smiling as Ruby reaches for them. "Plenty of stories here for the both of us."

"Alright, I'll try not to be too long." He gives both his wife and daughter a kiss before exiting the room, heading down the hall and into the basement. He flicks the lights on as he enters the stone-walled room.

The small nymph in the middle of the room jerks in response to the sudden brightness. She falls to one side and groans, trying to focus on the big form in front of her. "Oh. It's you." She squirms a bit, muttering curse words under her breath. She glares at him as she does so, annoyed. "Care to lend a hoof, Red?"

"Red? I'm green." His horn lights up as he unwraps her from the blanket, setting her into a seat position in the crib. "Better?"

"Better. Thanks." She averts her gaze, huffing softly. "Just you? That's odd. I'd have sworn you kept Gel closer for personal reasons."

"I do, and I enjoy it. She's upstairs reading to our daughter. I figured I could go ahead and do this and then just tell her what I learn." He sits down on the couch, easing into the familiar fabric. "Is this arrangement alright with you or would you prefer something else? I think the crib is supposed to be comfortable."

"For lightweight newborns, yes. This body isn't that light." She pauses, a frown growing on her lips, and points a hoof at him. "Don't even make a quip about me being fat. Stone doesn't allow for that."

He shrugs. "To be honest, I'm not even sure changelings can get fat. all the ones I've seen have been very trim."

"Then you must've only seen soldiers." She scoffs, rolling her eyes. "Workers have a bit of flab, and don't get me started on Breeders."

He raises an eyebrow. "That bad?"

"I said don't get me started on it." She scowls at him. "I don't want to waste time talking about nymphs that take pride in weight gain."

"Well their role is to be pregnant so... I can see that sort of correlating with that..." He clears his throat. "But back to the original question, are you comfortable with this arrangement for our talk?"

She gives him an even look, her eyes gleaming in restrained annoyance. "I want to be untied. And on that couch."

His horn lights up, floating her over to the couch and setting her on the other cushion. "I don't suppose you have the same tendency to keep your word that Gel does?"

"Last time I was asked to keep my word, I was literally stabbed in the back." She snorts derisively. "Even so, I take pride in my word. It's what separates me from...him."

He nods. "Ok... I'll take the ropes off if you promise to be civil and not harm me, Gel, or Ruby. Unfortunately, the gel on your horn stays on because I don't know how to remove it and I would rather do this without having to worry about magic for now. Do we have a deal?"

She struggles with this for a moment but nods, groaning softly. "We do, if you promise - on your love to Gel - that you won't try to harm me."

"Unless I need to defend myself or them... you have my word." His horn lights up once more, wrapping around the rope. After about 30 seconds, the bindings fall slack and takes moves them off to the side where they are out of the way.

She shifts around a bit on her cushion, sighing softly. "That's much better. As for the gel..." She glances up at her horn, frowning slightly. "It wears off after about...eighteen hours, I think." She holds up a hoof. "She spat at me once when she was a pupa. That's all I'll say about that."

He looks at a clock. "Well, I think the one or two hours left should be fine, unless of course she managed to refine that over the course of her life."

"I highly doubt it." She rolls her eyes once more. "I don't think she even knows she has that ability."

He blinks, confused. "She used it on you..."

"When she was a month old." Diorite stares at him blankly. "Surely you realize even her memory isn't that good?"

Sighing, he clarifies, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "She used it on you yesterday, on purpose, as shown by it sitting there on your horn. So obviously she knows she can do it."

"...oh." She taps her chin, thinking a bit. "I suppose a recent event must've clued her in on it, then."

"I suppose so... moving on." He leans back, getting comfortable. "Is there anything you'd like to lead with before I start asking questions?"

She looks at him, eyebrow quirked. "I heard what you said the other day. I'm not crazy."

He gives her a flat look. "Just determined, worn out, and incorrectly assuming?"

"Yes." She bows her head, ashamed. "And I'm sorry I attacked you...I hope, someday, you'll be able to forgive me."

"Well, that's certainly a step in the right direction, and I do appreciate it." He looks over her. "I suppose I'll just start. You said you've been looking for Gel for 11 years?"

"Not exactly..." She rubs the back of her neck. "I was looking for her, yes, but I was mainly looking for Mimic. I wanted to pay him back for what he did...and make sure that my little nymph was safe."

He folds his hooves. "Was it really that hard to track them down? They were both very prominent officers in the military."

She scowls at him. "Mimic was, yes. I was mainly trying to gather my strength to beat him." She glances to the stairs, ears twitching slightly. "...Gel only became Colonel a couple months before she left for Ponyville."

"Gathering your strength?" He tilts his head. "Weren't you just saying yesterday how you could have taken me if you were at full strength?"

"And that's the truth." She groans, staring at a smooth, stone hoof. "This body can't handle it, though. I nearly tore myself apart, the last time I tried...truly a double-edged sword."

"I suppose that brings up one of my biggest questions." He raises a hoof, motioning up and down her. "What is this... body?"

"It's a statue." She narrows her eyes at him. "Seriously, I thought that was rather obvious."

"Not particularly, considering you still eat love, and your eyes and tongue are quite obviously not stone." He holds his forelegs. "Animated golems i can understand, rare but known. You're... something different."

"No, I mean..." She sighs, rubbing the side of her head. "This body used to be a statue. When I died, I...well, inhabited it." She twists and turns her hoof, examining it. "To be more precise...this was a statue I made of Gel. It was going to be her birthday present..."

He raises an eyebrow. "I take it some... alterations occurred when you inhabited it?"

"You could say that." She looks at him, smirking slightly. "Everything that wasn't visible on the original statue became living tissue...but only to a certain extent." She holds up a hoof, showing it off. "For example, my legs require my innate magic to move. No muscles at all in these."

He reflexively reaches a hoof out, but stops himself. "May I?"

"Of course." She laughs jovially. "I wouldn't be offering if you weren't allowed."

He takes the smaller hoof in his own, turning it slightly in a few different directions. Honestly, at first glance he would just say it's a off-white changeling leg. However, as he holds it, one thing immediately noticeable is the difference in weight from a chitin-covered biological leg and this solid stone version. He taps the hoof as he continues examining. "So... I take it you can't feeling anything with these?"

She shakes her head. "Not at all. I think it's better that way, since my magic makes the stone shift constantly."

"Still though," he continues as he starts tapping further and further up the leg, "I would think it would freak most beings out suddenly no longer able to feel their limbs, almost like a floating head and torso..."

"It almost feels like that, yes." She averts her eyes. "I've...gotten used to it."

He continues tapping. "Could you let me know when I get to a point you can feel this?"

"You've already done that." She glances down at his hoof, which is in contact with her shoulder.

"Hmm... fascinating..." He lets go of her hoof and takes his other one off her. "But you seem to have all your biological functions?"

"Yes, it seems that way." She glances at her flanks, her voice quivering slightly. "Though some of them are...inconvenient..."

He blinks. "Hmm? What do you mean?"

She glares pointedly at him, tapping her hoof impatiently. "I'm a grown nymph in a younger one's body. What do you think I mean?"

"...oh." He coughs awkardly. "Yeah... I could see how that would be irritating... So, this body isn't just small, it's literally young?"

"That would be correct." She claps her hooves together. "Congratulations. Would you like a cookie?"

He notes her cheek and responds flippantly. "Nah, just had breakfast, plus Gel hasn't made any lately."

She raises an eyebrow at his response. She stays silent for a few moments before smirking slightly, resting her head on a hoof. "I think we'll get along just fine."

He smiles. "Glad to hear that. I take it you seem to have no impact on your mind from this... change?"

"...well, nothing major, anyways." She clears her throat, shifting awkwardly on the cushion. "...I did have an issue at...the start of it..."

He tilts his head. "How so?"

"I had felt myself die, had come back in a place different than where I was before, and had a new body...that didn't have any sensations in the legs." She takes a deep breath, closing her eyes as she steadies herself. "...needless to say, I was overwhelmed."

"Ah..." He sets a hoof on her back. "Can you tell me how this happened? Or why you think you got this body?"

"Honestly...I haven't the..." She trails off, brow furrowing in confusion. She turns to his hoof, curious. "...that's odd. Do you have any kind of...raised mark on your hoof?"

He flips over his hoof, looking at it. "No... I'm not the kind to wear horseshoes either so it isn't a mark from those..." He looks to her. "Maybe it's something on you. Want me to look?"

She nods, lowering her head. "Please, do. It'll bug me to no end, if you don't."

He motions for her to turn around, something occurring to him. "Also, you probably need this, one second..." He lets himself relax a bit more from the slightly distant mindset he had been in, letting the concern, rising familiarity, and growing acceptance of the changeling flow out.

She jolts, eyes wide in shock. "Where the fuck were you hiding all of that? It feels like a dam bursting!" She shudders, slowly turning herself around and sitting down in front of him.

"First off, language. There's a filly in the house and I don't want one of her first words to be that." He starts looking over her. "Secondly, I'm not sure. Gel said much the same thing when I first started producing it for her... I think I actually gave her stomach pains."

"She did?" She taps her chin, thinking out loud. "First time I've ever heard of that happening...and what do you mean, 'one of' her first words? Did she already say her first one?"

He nods. "Yes to both things. Ruby actually said her first word this morning, though I never expected it to be our fox's name." He chuckles as he continues his search on her, not seeing anything.

She quirks an eyebrow at him, bemused. "You have a pet fox? Really?"

"And a squirrel and a cat. Blame your daughter and natural baby animal cuteness influence for that." He switches to running the flat of his hoof over her.

She tenses slightly, her wings fluttering a bit. "I see. I never gave into her cuteness, though. I wanted her to earn her rewards, not beg for them."

"An... understandable approach." His hoof runs over a particular spot and he frowns, moving his hoof back and forth over it. "What do we have here?" He looks under his hoof, not seeing much. Tilting his head, he looks at a different angle and sees a small ridge arrangement just under the nymph's neck. "Well... this is odd. You've got a symbol on your neck."

"I do?" She starts to turn her head but stops, grimacing slightly. "What is it a symbol of?"

"I'm not sure yet... one second." He floats over a sheet of paper and pencil, setting the paper over the glyph. "Hold still..." He takes the pencil and rubs it rapidly back and forth along the paper, creating a picture of the symbol on it. "There we are. Hmm... Now I'm fairly proud of my knowledge of runes, but this one isn't one I recognize..." He hoofs the sheet to her.

She stares at it, her expression slowly shifting to one of shock. "...I-I've seen this before...in the middle of a circle of similar shapes..." She frowns, tapping the side of her head in confusion. "...at least, I think they were similar..."

He looks at her curiously. "Really? Where?"

"In the previous General's office." She grimaces, holding up a hoof. "I mean, the General before me."

He pushes a bit. "Did something happen? There must be a reason this is on here..."

"Well, I cast it on the spot." She sighs, shaking her head miserably. "I fear I can't remember what it looked like. I doubt I even got it right when I was casting it."

He frowns. "Wait... so you just saw an arcane circle blueprint for a spell and decided to cast it? Why would you do something like that?"

"I was curious." She huffs, blushing brightly. "I was barely out of my teenage years at the time. Give me a break."

Rhino facehoofs, a basic fundamental of his life being the inherent dangers of spells not being cast correctly. "Did you even have any idea what it did? What it was for?"

"I...honestly couldn't tell you. There were hundreds of them in his desk, but the one I used had the latest date on it." She taps her chin thoughtfully. "Even that had about six or seven circles on it, though. The only symbol I can remember," she pokes the paper, "is that one. It was dead center." She blinks, her face screwing up slightly. "...come to think of it, there was a page with it, and a single word..."

The stallion leans forward, curiosity showing clear on his face. He usually uses a single circle at most, with maybe a shape or two attached. Over half a dozen was practically unheard of complexity. "What word?"

She looks him in the eye, speaking as carefully as possible. "Life."

"That... sounds ominous..." He looks over the nymph again. "But... maybe that's why you are what you are? Can't be a coincidence that the symbols match..."

"...maybe..." She sighs, shaking her head. "...it's not a complete answer...but I guess it'll have to do, for now..." She shrugs, sighing dejectedly. "After all, I can't exactly waltz in and ask to see those papers, again..."

"Fair enough... though, if you don't mind me saying this, you may be the next big project of mine." His eyes have that typical researcher twinkle to them as he looks at her back.

She narrows her eyes at him, her tail tucking up around her body. "That sounds unbelievably creepy. You aren't going to do invasive experiments on me, are you?"

"Umm.... probably not..." He smiles sheepishly. "Doctor's do tend to know their patients inside and out so there may be something that comes up... but I assure you I am well qualified, Gel is there for if I come across something unusual, and I never do anything without consent."

Diorite quirks an eyebrow at him. "You know you're digging yourself deeper into that hole of yours, right?"

He shrugs. "Just being honest... what are you worried about me doing anyway?"

She simply shrugs. "I don't know. I figured you were trying to form a harem, or something."

"There are a number of things wrong with that... in a variety of ways..." He points to her. "First off, biologically, you are a filly. Secondly, you are my wife's mother. Thirdly, I was already propositioned to form a herd by another changeling and I turned her down. One is plenty for me."

"Good." She smirks, chuckling softly. "I don't want my daughter with someone who'd break her heart. Truth be told, she always told me about how she'd find true love..." She taps her chin, tilting her head to one side. "...but I never thought she'd find it, much less at such a young age."

"We both just got lucky, I guess." He hesitantly asks again. "So... about that proposition of mine to have you as my next project... May I?"

She holds up a hoof, frowning sternly at him. "As long as you don't break me, I'm fine with it."

He tilts his head. "Break you? What, you mean like crack your stone?"

"Yes." She absently rubs a hoof along her neck. "It hurts like you wouldn't believe..."

"Well, I would assume so, you still have all your non-limb muscles attached to it after all." He nods, thinking. "I know that cracked chitin is painful to have pressure anywhere near it."

"Exactly." She sighs, shaking her head. "Thankfully, I can seal it up quickly, but it still hurts..."

He nods ruefully. "Fair enough. Oh, by the way, if you have any wounds you want me to look at, let me know. I am the official changeling doctor in town. Gel only mentioned severe exhaustion and malnutrition, but she was a little hysterical at the time, so she may have missed something. Anything I need to look at?"

She gives him a blank look. "You broke my hoof off and I was able to reattach it without issue." She rolls her eyes. "I think the hunger is all I'm having trouble with, now."

He holds up his hooves. "Alright, point taken... I think that should be everything I wanted to know then. How's the goop?"

"Still not going to wear off for another hour or so, remember?" She slowly stands up, wincing slightly as some of the stone grinds against itself. "Sadly, I lack fine motor control in my legs without my magic..."

The stallion smiles, standing up off the couch and leaning down, grabbing the false-filly by her scruff and plopping her down on his back. "Well, this should save you some walking."

"Such a gentlestallion." She chuckles, patting his shoulder in slightly jerking motions. "Gel is a lucky nymph."

As he heads towards the stairs, he looks back at her. "Does this mean I get the coveted parental seal of approval?"

"Don't jump the gulch just yet, Re-" She coughs awkwardly, averting her gaze. "I mean, Rhino. I'm seeing why she likes you. I want to find out more before making my final decision."

"Well then, I think a nice family reunion should be informative for everypony." He stops about halfway down the hall to the living room, looking back at her and speaking quietly. "Erm, you do want to do this, right?"

"I do." She jumps as a crash comes from the room, staring in shock down the hall. "...it might not be a good time, though."

His own head having snapped towards the room, Rhino proceeds at a quick pace. "on the contrary, since I want to know what happened, this is the perfect time."

"Point taken." She goes quiet, not sure what to expect.

As they enter the living room, the two are greeted by a sight they probably would never have expected. A smashed vase on one side of the room explains the noise, but what draws the eye is what's happening in the center of the room. The little pink filly sits there, clapping her hooves and laughing as her horns glows constantly. Small balls of light orbit her at various distances, half of her toys floating along side them. Every few seconds she throws up her hooves and a toy flies into the air, hitting the ground a second later. Around the room, there are things that have even been turned green, including the coffee table, rug, and even one of the curtains.

Gel stands on the ceiling, her wings buzzing to keep her in place. Seeing the two of them, she sheepishly smiles. "...um...things got a little out of control..."

Dior quirks an eyebrow. "This is the most 'little' I've seen."

Rhino looks at his wife. "Did you try calming her down?"

Ruby, still focused on throwing her toys up at Gel, doesn't notice the two new beings who entered the room.

"I did." She squeaks as a plush mouse hits her on the nose. "S-she...w-well, she thought I was playing with her."

"Right..." The stallion turns around, grabbing the silver changeling and setting her on the ground. "Would you mind staying here a moment, Dior?"

"Sure, why not." She laughs dryly. "I can be a statue for a little while."

He rolls his eyes before turning back to the foal. With her back to him, ruby doesn't see as he approaches, his hoofsteps muffled by the carpet while he ducks the light spheres. Reaching her, he crouches down, smiling and calling. "Ruby~."

She turns to him, smiling brightly and holding out her hooves to him. "Da!" As she does this, one of the balls of light vanishes with a small 'pop'.

He chuckles. "Yeah, halfway there already..." He scoops the filly up and brings her over to him with a hoof, tucking her against his chest like they both enjoy. He nuzzles her and kisses her head. "Get a little excited?"

One of her toys floats over, and she grabs it. She looks up at him with her wide eyes, cuddling the now-green teddy bear.

Gel slowly lowers herself to the ground, giggling softly. "I don't think she understands the question, love."

"Probably, but whether it's my words or my voice, doing this should get her a bit more calm, or at least keep her occupied. Surges usually don't last too long..." He sits and uses his other forehoof to wave on of the bear's arms at the filly, tickling her nose.

She laughs brightly, nuzzling the paw with a happy little smile. She soon turns from the bear to her daddy's chest, snuggling up against him.

"That's my girl..." He looks expectantly. "That should get rid of her will to have the surge prolonged... just need to wait for the magic to go out now." He rubs his nose against the filly's.

At the contact, the bright lights vanish and a black toy squirrel lands on his head. The filly hugs his snout, cooing softly.

The stallion chuckles, his breath making Ruby giggle. "There we go." His eyes roam around the room. "A bit of a mess, but since only one thing broke, I'd say things went pretty well." His gaze wanders over the still green items. "Those should be back to normal in about an hour."

The nymph by his side tilts her head, confused. "Did it take that long when you were young, love?"

He nods. "Yeah, that's what they told me it took. Give or take. Only really was an issue when I managed to zap ponies because they usually had to go somewhere even if it hadn't worn off."

She giggles, covering her mouth with a hoof. "You turned ponies green? R-really?"

He laughs. "Only a few times, luckily. They got better at dodging over time." After glancing over at the vase shards, he levitates them over to a nearby shelf. "Well, aside from the obvious, everything go okay?"

"I-I think so..." She glances at the bathroom door, frowning slightly. "Specter and Selena hid in the bathroom...and Mercury hid on the couch."

At the mention of his name, the silver fox pokes his head out from behind a pillow. He glances around, curious but wary.

Meanwhile, the bathroom door cracks open and two sets of eyes peer cautiously out. As one of them spots the toy squirrel on Rhino's head, the black form darts out, zipping across the room, climbing up the pony's leg, and kicking off the toy before snuggling into the mane himself, a satisfied look on his face.

Rhino just chuckles and shakes his head.

The gray feline mews at this, walking over and sitting down. She gives the squirrel a slightly amused look, her tail twitching slightly behind her.

Specter looks down at her, easing up a bit, but not making a move to leave what he considers 'his spot'.

Rhino just chuckles at the whole thing. "Well, glad to see all of you had an exciting time up here."

"You could say that." Gel yawns softly, lowering herself to the floor. "I think I'll just...take a quick..." She falls to the floor, asleep before she hits the blanket.

Rhino blinks for a moment as he looks down to Ruby. "Aren't you supposed to be the one that sleeps all the time? How'd you manage to tire her out that much?"

She babbles a bit before touching his nose with a hoof.

"...that's your daughter...right?" Dior walks forward, looking at the filly with an unreadable expression.

Seeing her move, and the accompanying winces, the unicorn lights up his horn and floats her over, setting her next to and slightly in front of him. Once he does that, the sleeping form of Gel is levitated over to the couch, the blanket hanging on the back flipping over and covering her nicely. He answers once he's done all that. "She is..."

She leans close, smiling softly at the cute pink filly. "Hello, Ruby." She recoils slightly as the pony taps her nose, but soon smiles once more, gently stroking her mane. "You really are a cute one, aren't you?"

Rhino tenses at first when Dior recoils, some part of him still paranoid about her meeting Ruby. However, as the filly leans into his chest and looks up at him, he forces himself to relax, knowing that she can probably feel his anxiousness. The foal still snuggles against him, but she also starts to lean into the hoof stroking her mane.

She removes her hoof, staring at the filly in confusion. "Her horn just..." She trails off as realization sets in. "...oh. I guess she does have some changeling traits, after all."

As the filly looks at Dior with curious eyes, Rhino explains. "Yes, basic species changing, tends to react to the emotions around her... little things like that."

Her gaze turns toward the room, eyeing the objects that were turned green. "You know, changeling elite tend to reveal their element during their magic surges. If little Ruby is like that..." She glances at the stallion, eyebrow quirked. "...does that mean her element is related to one of those events?"

"Hmm..." He looks thoughtful as Ruby starts sucking on a hoof. "Maybe... though, this is fairly early on in her surges, so I'd prefer to see if she comes up with any other symptoms." He looks to Dior. "How do changeling surges compare to..." he motions a hoof around, "this, anyway? Any different?"

"Generally, they spit slime a bit and start buzzing everywhere." She rolls her eyes. "I think that it's fair the breeding studs have to take care of the pupae after they're born. They'd get off scott-free, otherwise." She walks around the room, examining everything closely and tapping a few times on a few things. She taps on a window and pauses, surprised. "...that's odd. This is safety glass."

He nods. "It is. It doesn't break nearly as easy as regular."

"May I ask why you got it?" She turns to him, curiosity clear in her gaze.

He shifts his hooves a bit, watching his words carefully. "There were some... issues. I suppose technically there still are, but that particular incident has thankfully not been repeated."

She stares at him blankly before frowning deeply, quirking an eyebrow. "You just lost a point with me." She sighs, walking towards the door. "I prefer honesty. You should've just said it was because I threw a rock through one of them."

He blinks. "Wait... that was you?"

"Yes." She glances at him over her shoulder. "It was meant for Mimic, who I thought you were..." She stops in her tracks, turning to him with a skeptical look. "...wait, you didn't know?"

He shakes his head. "No, I had no idea. I thought that incident was just because of the PALS ponies got particularly bold." Despite his words, a smile forms on his face. "Though... it's good to know the one thing that happened closest to home wasn't actually them."

"...PALS ponies?" She tilts her head to one side, the gears visibly turning in her head. "Who are they?"

Not saying anything, he instead levitates a small card from his saddlebags by the door. The small slip hovers in front of the nymph.

Dior stares at this for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, with a small growl, she stabs it straight through the symbol with a hoof. She looks at the foreleg, now a stone sword, blinking in surprise. "...huh. I guess my magic's back."

Rhino watches as the blue gel on her head slides off. "It appears so..." He focuses. "But.. yes, that's the group we tend to have trouble with. By we, I mean any changeling in town or their spouses."

"Good thing we're out of town, then." She huffs, her gaze sharpening. "If any of them were to try and do something to my family...well, they would be in a cast, soon enough."

His expression grim, Rhino nods. "Oh, rest assured, they haven't made any direct assaults on us yet. Politically and legally messy or not, I believe I have already shown what I would do to protect my family." As dark thoughts cloud his mind, a small whine causes him to look down.

Ruby looks up at him sadly, nuzzling against him as she feels his emotions.

He sighs, calming himself. "But... luckily things have not come to that."

"Agreed." Dior sits down, sighing softly. "...but what if it does? I don't want you to be hurt by ponies' ignorance..." She holds up a hoof, frowning slightly. "Make a snide comment and you'll regret it."

He raises an eyebrow as he smirks. "Didn't you promise not to hurt me?"

"Hurt you? Yes. Make sure Ruby learns to say my name first?" She smirks, waving a hoof at him. "I never said a thing about that."

He holds his foal as close as possible. "You wouldn't dare!"

"I would." She laughs playfully, shaking her head. "But only if you get on my bad side. Besides, she already said your fox's name." She points to his head, where the black squirrel is sleeping. "What's not to say his is next?"

The stallion narrows his eyes. "We'll see..."

She nods and goes silent, tapping her hoof against the floor quietly. "...so...do you have any more questions? Maybe something you'd like me to do?"

Ruby is the one to answer that question as her father looks down to the sound of her dropping her bear. Now that she has his attention, she opens her mouth wide, one hoof on her stomach and the other near her mouth. "Da!" She opens and closes her mouth several times.

He laughs. "Well, looks like need to take care of this little one's hunger first." He walks over to Gel, flipping the blanket off her bottom half as he sits next to it.

As soon as he sets the foal down, she immediately toddles over to the waiting teats and starts nursing. Rhino strokes her mane fondly as she does so.

He looks over to the small nymph. "This remind you of when Gel was this age?"

She snaps her gaze from the scene to him, blushing slightly. "Yes, she does. She doesn't have Gel's fangs, though." She points a hoof to him. "I don't care what anyone says, even small ones hurt."

He holds up his hooves. "Hey, I'm male, I'll take all you nymph's word for it."

"Good." She glances at the window, her gaze growing distant. "...Rhino, if that other stallion wasn't your lover, then who was he?"

"Hydro?" He smiles. "He's my best friend. Haven't seen him in years before now, and he was in town, so we put him up in a spare room. I told you, I'm not really interested in herding... especially with another stallion."

"Hey, I didn't know that." She huffs, her cheeks puffing out indignantly. "Like I said, changelings naturally 'swing both ways', as you ponies put it."

"I remember, and I understand, it's just not the way I am." He chuckles as he looks down at his sleeping wife. "You know... I really hoped all of us would get a chance to talk... but I guess it can wait until later."

"I don't have a problem with that." She stretches her body, moving into the hallway. "While we wait, could I possibly have a tour of the house?"

"Hmm..." He looks back down to the nursing foal with indecision, but Mercury curling around her relaxes his thoughts. "Sure, I think we could do that." A sudden feeling of weight on his back when he stands up, causes him to look back and see a certain grey cat looking at him as her tail swishes behind her. Rhino laughs while he rolls his eyes at his second passenger. "Alright Selena, you can come too."

She mews happily, purring as she rubs against his cheek.

Dior nods, smiling softly. "Let's go, then."

The parent, grandparent, sleeping squirrel, and attentive cat all head upstairs to begin the tour, starting from the top.

Chapter 17: Confrontations

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'Spec?' A paw pushes on the squirrel's back. 'Spec, wake up.'

The black-furred tree-climber stirs, his yellow eyes opening and peering down at the feline through the mass of mane he had decided to snooze in. His eyes focus on the feline rearing up, her front paws on the back of the unicorn’s head. 'Hmm? What is it Selena?'

The Russian blue pouts at him, batting at his nose. 'I can't believe you just fell asleep without answering my question.'

He blinks, looking around a moment and noting that Rhino and the small changeling had finished their tour and were chatting in the kitchen. He turns back to Selena. 'And what question was that?'

‘The one I asked you earlier in the bathroom.' Her tone is wary, her tail flicking rapidly behind her. 'Don't tell me you've forgotten, already!'

Specter crouches a bit into the mane. 'Well... things were very hectic...'

She sighs, closing her eyes and leaning into the stallion's crest. 'It was about us, and the possibility of having kittens.' She gestures to him with a paw. 'Do you remember now?'

As their ride turns and heads toward the living room, the squirrel responds. 'Yeah... I remember.'

A bit of color comes to his cheeks. 'Well... it's a bit sudden... but I knew something was on your mind since that time you hid five months ago...'

'Yes, that's what was on my mind.' Her gaze darts away momentarily. '...you still didn't answer my question, Spec.'

The squirrel goes silent a moment, hanging on as Rhino leans down and picks up Ruby, who had finished her meal that her mother had slept through in its entirety. As the stallion brings his head back up, Specter uses the momentum to perform a small hop next to the cat. He looks at her seriously. 'Yes.'

She smiles softly, leaning close and gently touching noses with him. 'Thank you.' She glances at the filly as she laughs brightly, holding her hooves up for her daddy. '...I hope our kittens will be as cute as her...'

'Me too...' As their ride starts back to the kitchen with his new pink passenger in her distinguished front seat, the squirrel continues. 'So... umm... how do we... go about this?'

Selena holds up a paw to respond but stops. She puts the paw to her chin, frowning. '...I actually don't know. I was hoping you would.'

'Not really... I mean, I think the topic came up once when Winona came to the clinic, but all she did was smile and say to do what felt natural...' He looks around, seeing Rhino and the new changeling chatting again as they get things out to cook. 'I feel like maybe we shouldn't be discussing this around others... should we go to the room?'

She gestures to the door, a small smile on her lips. 'After you.'

He bounds down to the floor, looking back up at her.

She quickly joins him and nuzzles his cheek, purring softly.

His tail flicks happily as he returns the gesture, the two of them making their way upstairs after. As they enter the room, Specter wanders over to the row of pet beds, curling up in his large, soft, but simple looking one, and beckoning her to join him.

Selena glances at her equally large but lavish bed, shaded by the silk canopy above. Without any further hesitation, she hurries over to the squirrel's bed, climbing up and curling up right next to him. 'Anyways, you were saying something about what felt natural?' She smiles at him and licks his nose with her slightly rough tongue, waiting for him to continue the subject.

He shivers at the affection, returning it ten fold with licks of his own before continuing. 'Yes... I tried to press her for what she meant, we were talking about the puppies by the way, and she said... that the females would let the males know when they were ready, and things would go from there. I suppose... this is you telling me you're ready?'

'It is.' She purrs, tickling his nose with her fluffy tail. 'What are you going to do now?'

'I'm... not sure...' He curls up tight against her, their fur mingling. 'I mean, this is natural, we like it... but we do this all the time. Is there a place we should start?'

'I think so...' She nuzzles him, her tail now wrapped around them both. '...you're right, though. This doesn't seem like it'd be enough.' She sighs, closing her eyes. '...but what else can we do?'

'Well...' He runs his tiny claws through her fur on her chest like she likes it. 'What sparked all this? Maybe there's a clue in that?'

'Well, it was when I hid...' She purrs softly, pushing her chest against his motions. '...I was in the closet. I couldn't help but think about wanting a litter of kittens...' She peeks open an eye, smiling at him. '...I wanted to be the mother of your kittens... and I still do...'

He smiles back at the pointed teeth he had never been afraid of. 'And I'm honored you think that... but, what made you suddenly think of kittens? I don't think anything like that had crossed our minds before you hid...'

She blinks, tilting her head to one side. '...well, I had a bit of a tingling sensation, before then. I asked mom, and she said that it meant I was ready to have kittens.' She fidgets a little. 'It took me a few days to think about it, but I decided I was okay with that. That I wanted that.'

‘And I'm glad you do, but that doesn't really help us since we're figuring this out from scratch...' He dips his head and worms his way under one of her front legs so that it's around him as he continues scratching her. 'What do you mean, tingling sensation, though?'

'It was strange.' She glances down between them before looking at him once again. 'There was a place between my hindlegs... I felt like it was empty...' She shakes her head. 'It's really hard to explain.'

He licks her nose. 'Well... maybe we start there?'

'...I guess that sounds alright...' She slowly nods, smiling shyly at him.

They rub noses before the squirrel moves around her to see if they can figure out what they need to do.

The navy nymph on the couch slowly stirs, her eyes blinking open blearily. She sits up, the blanket sliding down off her shoulders, confused. "...what just happened?" She carefully gets up, wandering out of the room. She stumbles slightly in the doorway as a hoof moves out awkwardly. She shakes it for a moment before continuing, hearing a slight clanking from the kitchen.

Inside, she comes across a lovely scene. Her husband stand in front of the stove, slowly stirring a pot while the white apron he wears swishes. On the counter to his right, under his watchful eye, is her daughter, watching him curiously as she plays with a few of her blocks. To his left is her own mother, comically having to rear up to see the counter, even with the chair she's standing on as she slides over ingredients to the chef.

"Well, I'm glad to see you're both working together." She walks up behind them, smiling warmly.

Dior looks behind her. "Oh, hello, sleepy-head." She pushes a chopped carrot over to the stallion before continuing. "He wanted to make something for lunch. I figured I'd lend a helping hoof."

Rhino snarks as he taps the wooden spoon to stop it from dripping. "And I'm sure the fact that you're getting a steady supply of lunch love from me didn't persuade you at all. Hope you're saving room."

"Hey, I'm hungry." She pokes his chest with a hoof. "I went three weeks without a good source of love. I had to resort to a colt's puppy love, for crying out loud. So don't judge me!"

The stallion pats her head with a chuckle. "Now now, no need to get fussy. I'm just saying you don't want to eat all of it at once and end up a little changeling ball."

She smacks his hoof off her head, growling at him. "What did I say about touching my head?"

His smile doesn't fade. "Well, it is the easiest part of you to reach, so..."

"Even so, I don't like being touched there!" She rolls her eyes and puts a tomato on the counter, cutting it with her blade-shaped foreleg. "It doesn't feel right."

"Hmm, touchy... or not, as the case may be." He turns around and walks over to Gel, giving her a deep kiss to express his love for her.

She smiles and returns the gesture, giggling softly. "That was wonderful." She looks at her mother, hesitating a second.

Before she can say anything, the smaller nymph speaks up, a bittersweet smile on her lips. "I want to apologize." At her daughter's confused look, she lowers her head. "I had any number of opportunities to find you, to let you know I was alive. I always kept myself from doing so out of fear of Mimic finding out."

Gel steps forward, reaching out to the silver changeling. "...mom..."

Suddenly, Rhino's horn lights up and Dior finds herself floating into a startled Gel's forelegs. "Sorry, I thought this might help. Plus... it's very cute."

Dior looks at him a moment before closing her eyes and nuzzling her daughter's chest. "I really am sorry, sweetie..."

Gel smiles, gently rubbing her back. "I'm just glad you're alright. I missed you... but everything's better, now."

The stallion just stands next to the foal, smiling at the scene as she does the same.

The navy nymph eventually breaks the embrace, curious and confused. "...what happened? Why did you disappear?"

She grimaces, averting her gaze. "Mimic happened."

Rhino's ears lay back as he listens, though he keeps Ruby occupied so she doesn't pay attention.

Dior straightens up, sighing softly. "He came up to me that day - your birthday - and challenged me. He stated a rule that we could only use our elemental magic." She laughs dryly, shaking her head. "I accepted without a thought, certain my earth could cancel his lightning. I didn't even mind that my rank was on the line."

"I take it things did not go as planned?" Rhino asks as he is nuzzled by Ruby.

"He cheated." She growls, her body tensing as she continues. "I don't know how, but he stole my strength, made me weak..." She takes a few deep breaths, her body visibly shuddering. "...I didn't stand a chance."

Rhino walks forward, bringing Ruby with him. The two of them hug both of the changelings in one big warm embrace.

Dior sniffs, hugging the stallion tightly. "...what made it worse was what he said..." She groans, turning to Gel with an apologetic look. "...he said 'I'm going to take your daughter as my own. Just thought you should know before you left.' And then he..." Her voice trails off and her body trembles violently as she is no longer able to hide her sorrow.

Ruby's face scrunches as she sorts through the strong emotions around her. On hoof, the small changeling is giving of particularly potent waves of terror and depression. On the other, her parents are giving off supporting love to Dior, each other, and herself. Luckily, the love is stronger than the depression, and she finds herself patting the small changeling's back as she rides her emotions out.

She looks up at the filly, smiling softly at her. "...thank you, little one..." She gently nuzzles her cheek, turning to Rhino in trepidation. "I'm sorry. I forgot about your daughter's empathy for a minute, there."

"It's fine... she lets us know when it becomes too much. If anything, I think it helps her connect with others easier, even if she doesn't quite understand why she responds to it." He looks at Dior worriedly. ""Do you want us to stay like this for a bit?"

She stays silent for a moment, considering his offer before nodding. "...yes, please."

They do so, just standing there supporting each other for a few minutes until Rhino has to break off to stir the soup. He does leave Ruby with the nymphs though, thinking they'd like to spend time with her too.

Dior sniffles, rubbing her moistening eyes with a fetlock. "Thank you." She looks down at the filly, smiling and kissing her forehead. "All of you."

Gel giggles, patting her mother's back. "It's our pleasure. We wouldn't want our family to be upset, now would we?"

Ruby seems to share this sentiment as she reaches out from her mothers forelegs and boops Dior on the nose while giggling.

The silver changeling laughs, pointing at the filly in mock-accusation. "You are the only one allowed to get away with that."

The larger nymph playfully rolls her eyes. "Is it because you're her grandma?"

Dior freezes, her whole body tense. "...I'm a... grandma..." She twitches, starting to back up before collapsing to the ground.

Gel squeaks and rushes over, gently placing a hoof on her mother's forehead. When it's promptly knocked away, she sighs softly, relaxing. "...thank goodness... she just passed out..."

Rhino raises an eyebrow from where he had been watching by the stove. "And yet she can still swat you? That's dedication. Though I do wish the two of you could chat for longer than five minutes without one of you being rendered unconscious in some way."

"That tends to happen when we touch on certain subjects." She giggles, blushing slightly. "Believe it or not, she assumed I was dating Luster and Flick. At the same time." She waves a hoof dismissively. "She only approved of Luster, though. She thought Flick was too... well, serious."

"Amazing how that description is backwards now... Still though, she doesn't seem too bothered by your choice." He flashes her a grin.

"Don't let your guard down." She glances at the unconscious nymph. "She's always judging others while watching them. She was unbelievably strict with my lessons, to boot." She rolls a hoof. "She would make me go over how to act like a proper soldier every. Single. Time. She knew it wasn't like me, but she said 'I know you can do better! Don't just settle for being a worker!'"

"Well... some parents do have different styles... It sounds like she was just trying to motivate you to be your best. I know mine did the same." He looks down at Dior. "Not saying she was perfect... but you turned out alright, huh?"

"I'd like to think so." She sheepishly smiles, kicking at the ground with her free hoof. "Some might say I was too kind. That's what Port told me once, anyways... strangely enough, I've never let my facade drop around any of the soldiers."

"Well, as a pony who's seen both sides of you..." He walks over, smiling at how Ruby is snuggled against Gel's chest. "I think I've made my preference known." He nuzzles the changeling lovingly.

She giggles, pulling her husband close and tenderly kissing him. "And I'm more than happy with your choice. You might want to get back to the soup, though." She points at the pot, which is currently boiling over.

"Uh oh." He zips back over to the soup to calm down its little fit at being left alone so much. As he stirs it, he remarks to Gel. "Is it odd for you, seeing her like this? Small, I mean. It seems like it would feel like a sort of role reversal."

"Even if she's no longer the same size..." She smiles, looking down at her mother. "...she's still got the determination I remember. A fire that will never die."

"So it seems..." Rhino turns back to the stew for the moment.

Ruby, meanwhile, decides that she wants to have her mother's attention for a bit and taps her chitin. "Ma!"

Her attention snaps to the filly, her eyes wide in surprise before she calms herself down. "Y-you're almost there, sweetie." She giggles and nuzzles her cheek. "Can you say 'mama'?"

"Ma! Ma!" She claps her small hooves together as she plays what she sees as a new game. Her tail swishes back and forth as she nuzzles Gel back, even giving her a lick on the cheek.

She happily nuzzles her back, gently tickling her belly. "Close. I'll take it." She sticks her tongue out at Rhino. "Hear that? She said my name first."

He narrows his eyes at her. "Hmm... not sure if that's cheating or not... I thought we were going for 'Mommy' and 'Daddy' not Mama and Dada... Plus she did say it separated..."

"Hey, she said 'mama'. Whether there was a pause doesn't matter." She smirks playfully at him. "If it'll make you feel better, though..." She looks back down at Ruby, smiling softly at her. "...can you say 'mommy' for me?"

The foal looks at her happily, clapping her hooves together. "Mama!"

Gel laughs, kissing her cheek. "Good try, sweetie!" She glances at Rhino before continuing. "How about 'daddy'? Can you say 'daddy'?"

"Mama!" She chirps again, laughing away.

She blinks, stunned by her daughter's word. "...well. I guess you don't understand what it means, yet." She looks up as the door opens, smirking as a silver fox pokes his head in. "Hey there, sleepy head. You feeling better?"

He looks up blearily, looking around to see where everypony is. Not seeing his friends and seeing that Ruby is in good hooves, he sets his sights on another destination. Using the chair Dior did, he jumps from the floor to it, then to the counter, curling up on the windowsill to nap in the light.

Rhino chuckles. Looks like he wasn't quite ready to wake up yet, just wanted to see where we were." Checking the soup, he nods, turning off the flame and letting it sit while he heads back over to Gel, his apron shaking with every step. "Maybe Ruby thought it was a game? There's no telling how she associates words now, only that she knows how to say them." He bends down to the filly, who squeals as he lightly blows air on her ears to tickle her. "Maybe if I ask her..."

“Go right ahead." She carefully holds their daughter out to him, slightly nervous. "I was going to ask if she could say Mercury's name. You know, see if she can associate his name with him."

"Hmm... a good idea... she might have just said you because she was looking at you." He takes the filly and walks over to the sill with the fox on it. Pointing at him, the father asks. "Who's that, Ruby?"

Seeing where his hoof is directed, she smiles. "Me'cwy!"

"That's very good!" He leans down and nuzzles her before bringing her back to where Gel is. Pointing to the nymph, Rhino asks again. "Who's that?"

Again, she follows his hoof. "Mama!"

He kisses her head. "Good girl. Now..." He adjusts her so she is in her usual position on her back in his foreleg, tucked up against him and looking up at his face. "Can you say Mama?"

"Da!" She squeals, nuzzling up against him.

He chuckles as he turns to Gel. "Yeah... I don't think she understands us yet, she's just at that point where she's trying to say what we say, but mostly she's just saying what she sees."

"I'm glad she can associate words to us, at least." She giggles, walking up and kissing him once more. "I wonder what she'd say when looking at your friend."

He kisses her again before he responds. "Probably that same babble as she tried to say what I did. One thing though..." He looks down to the filly. "Ruby? Can you call me dada?"

Her hooves flail as she embraces the attention. "Dada!" She squeals victoriously.

Gel laughs, shaking her head. "Congrats, love. Just remember, she said mine first!" She playfully sticks her tongue out at him.

"Fine fine... you win this time..." He gives her a celebratory kiss as he scoops up her tongue before she can withdraw it. "Congratulations, love. Do you want a prize?" His tone is playful, not sarcastic.

"I would, actually." She glances down at Ruby, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "...do you think your friend would mind foalsitting for us?"

"Would Hydro mind? No, I wouldn't think so..." He looks at her thoughtfully. "Why? Got something planned?"

"Well, it's been a while since we've been on a date." She blushes softly, pawing at the floor. "I'd like to go on one sometime this week..."

"Oh... yeah... I suppose we haven't had a night to ourselves since Ruby came into our lives." He stroke's the foals mane fondly. "Not that I regret it of course, but we couldn't really go out when you were almost due either."

"I know." She smiles at him, a hopeful glimmer in her eye. "Could we, please? It'd be a nice change of pace..."

He looks down at the foal in his foreleg before looking back up to Gel and back again. "Alright... I suppose one night away won't be too bad... She's never been away from us though... I'm not sure how she'll react."

"She'll have two adults watching her, right?" She gently nuzzles him. "She'll be fine."

He relaxes at her touch. "I guess... maybe we can keep her up that day though, so she'll sleep through most of it. I don't want her upset because we're gone..."

"I guess that's a good idea." She looks down at Ruby, gently tickling her belly. "You won't be too much trouble for mom and Hydro, will you?"

The filly only giggles and extends her hooves towards the changeling. "Mama!"

"I'll take that as a yes." She sighs and gently kisses her forehead.

Rhino looks down to Dior, nudging her with a hoof. "So... when do you think this other little one will be up?"

"Maybe later this afternoon?" Gel shrugs slightly. "I think she did this when I was younger, too... mostly when Flick hit on her."

He raises an eyebrow. "Why would that make her pass out?"

"Because he got..." She blushes, clearing her throat awkwardly. "...r-rather descriptive with his words..."

"A mouth on him even at that age..." Rhino chuckles as he lifts the small nymph off the floor. "Well, how about I get her a more comfortable place to sleep and we'll start lunch?"

She nods quickly, moving to sitting down at the table. "T-that sounds good to me."

***

The house is quiet as Hydro walks up to in at about mid-afternoon. He has a content smile after a day out taking care of things. His hooves click on the wooden porch a he steps onto it and up to the door, opening it quickly with his key he had gotten from Rhino and Gel the previous day. The front hall is dim as he enters, shutting the door behind him. Not seeing any lights on to indicate which room the couple is in, he shrugs and starts to head down the hall toward the guest room he is staying in.

As he passes by the open living room door, a voice calls out to him from the darkness. Its tone is icy, and a pair of pure sapphire eyes gleam from what little light there is.

"And just where have you been?"

There is a click and the room is bathed in light, revealing the couple. Gel sits in an armchair, her fetlock still wrapped around the chain of a table lamp. She quirks an eyebrow at him, frowning deeply. "Well?"

The red stallion freezes like a deer in headlights, his mind blank and his eyes wide. "Umm..."

"Hmph..." She squirms, her serious expression wavering for a second before it completely cracks. She openly laughs, falling from her seat in the throes of humor. "That was great! Oh, your expression was perfect!"

Rhino rumbles with chuckles from his own seat, and high pitched giggles reveal the pink body of Ruby laughing from where he's holding her.

After a moment, Hydro exhales, laughing as well. "Wow... okay, you got me. Good one. You had me going there with the sheer seriousness you had."

She stands up a bows, struggling to hold in her laughter. "Thank you. I pride myself on my acting abilities." She gestures to him, smiling softly. "In all seriousness, I would like to know where you've been. Could you please tell us?"

He raises an eyebrow. "That curious huh? Well... I did promise." He walks into the living room and sits on the couch, leaning back and adopting the air of one about to tell a tale of epic proportions. "So... you want to know what I've been up to?"

"Yes, I do." She turns the chair enough to face him. She leans forward, giving him her full attention.

He smiles as he gazes towards the ceiling. "Well..." Suddenly he looks down and says matter-of-factly. "I was finishing up some paperwork and checking up on the house I'm buying here in town."

Rhino would have stumbled had he not been sitting down as this particular bombshell is dropped. "Yeah... same blunt Hydro as always..."

Gel blinks, completely blindsided by this news. "...that's wonderful, but..." She turns to her stallion, worried. "...does this mean mom would be the only one who can foalsit?"

Rhino wordlessly looks to his friend.

Hydro holds up a hoof. "Hey, don't worry, you haven't gotten rid of me yet. Like i said, I was checking up on it. They're still doing a bit of fixing and cleaning before I move in. It's part of the reason I came down here so long, no point in hauling all my stuff down here before the house is ready, right?"

The nymph considers this for a moment, tapping her chin. "...I suppose that makes sense." She sighs, nervously laughing. "Sorry for assuming like that."

"No problem, it was the plan to suddenly spring this on you two as a surprise after all." He chuckles. "Of course, the first plan was to wait until my last day here, then spring it on you then sort of like 'hey I'll see you around some time because I'm moving into town'. This works too though."

"That sounds like it would've been a wonderful surprise." She shrugs before getting up off the chair, walking closer. "So, would you be able to watch Ruby sometime this week?"

“Umm... sure, I could do that." He tilts his head at her. "You must really want to do something since you're just sort of skimming over my announcement."

"Yes, sorry about that." She blushes brightly, her hoof pawing at the ground. "It's just that Rhino said we could go on a date soon and I wanted to be sure Ruby was in safe hooves." She gently hugs him. "I didn't mean to belittle your news. I'm glad you're moving here. Rhino really needs a friend who's a guy."

The earth pony grins at his friend over the changeling's shoulder. "Really? Do you have any guy friends you hang out with here?"

"Ah... erm... well..." Rhino averts his eyes in embarrassment. "I mean... I know other guys but we never really... no..."

"Well, there's Flick." Gel shrugs half-heartedly. "They don't really do much together, though."

A small groan comes from under a blanket next to Hydro, cutting off any retorts that might've been said. The mass moves around a moment before part of it rises, tenting the fabric. "Why am I under this fabric?" Something shifts underneath the red stallion's frame. "And what the fuck is on my legs?"

"Dior, language." Rhino corrects. "And calm down, Hydro just sat on the edge of the blanket I tucked you in with."

"Tell him to move. The fabric caught my legs and won't let go." She sits up and glares at the earth pony, her expression quickly becoming one of surprise. "Oh, it's you... uh... green pony? Red?" She waves a hoof dismissively. "The pony who yanked the branch out of my mouth."

"Red pony. If we go by actions, that makes you the little ghost changeling that was muttering gibberish and attacking me in the middle of a storm." He turns to Rhino and motions with his head towards her.

Rhino nods.

Hydro grunts as he turns back to the small nymph. "Well, looks like Rhino trusts you, so you're okay."

"That's sweet of him and you." She points a hoof at him, frowning deeply. "But you have to earn my trust, just like everyone else." She huffs and turns her attention to the unicorn, quirking an eyebrow. "Your best friend, right? Not what I assumed he was earlier?"

The green stallion clears his throat awkwardly as he nods and looks away.

This of course raises an eyebrow from his red friend. "Do I even want to know?"

Rhino shakes his head. "No... no you don't."

She looks at him closely, eyes narrowed as she considers him. She holds a hoof out to him, smiling coyly. "Are you single, Red?"

He blinks at this, looking at her hoof, unsure how to react. "Umm... yes..."

"Maybe you could join me in town. Find an activity we could learn more about each other over." She winks at him, her hooves clutching the blanket balled up around her waist. "Does that sound alright?"

His face still betrays his surprise. "You know... if you wouldn't have lead with that first question, I would have said yes, but with those motives... you're a bit too young."

She scowls at him, jabbing his chest with a hoof. "I'll have you know I'm thirty-nine, Red. How else could I be Gel's mom?" She scoffs, resting her head on a hoof, muttering to herself. "Figures he'd be one of those superficial stallions..."

As Hydro remains stunned, Rhino interjects on his behalf. "Actually, he really isn't. You have to admit though, in this case it's not really your age that's the issue, but the fact that you literally have the body of a little filly."

She flares her wings, fiercely glaring at Rhino. "I still have needs, da-" She cuts herself off, her gaze falling to the filly cradled in his foreleg. "...darn it..."

"Surely you've found some way to deal with that after 11 years of being like this?" He looks at her curiously. "Plus, at this point, wouldn't the size difference make that activity impossible without serious damage to you?"

She narrows her eyes at him, speaking through clenched teeth. "I wouldn't know. It's been eleven years since I've last been laid."

"Nope." The nymph hurries out of the room, her ears flat against her head. "I'm not listening!"

As Rhino and Ruby watching the retreating nymph, Hydro winces and replies to Dior. "Ouch, that has to suck..."

"It does." She huffs, laying back down on the couch. "I know my body doesn't naturally want it, but... I still miss that feeling of intimacy..."

The green stallion scratches the back of his head. "Well... I admit I do sympathize with you on that, and I really do wish there was some way to help you, but I really don't see how it would be possible."

She groans, covering her head with her hooves. "I know, but that only makes the desire stronger!"

Hydro scoots away from the freaking, mentally mature nymph, unsure how to react to all this.

"And that's the worst part." She points at the red stallion. "Ponies assume I'm crazy or are just plain scared. I'm not that scary, am I?"

"To be fair, I would do this is it was any mare acting this way, so it's not just you, it's a survival instinct. 'Tartarus hath no fury' and all that." He looks to Rhino for help.

The stallion obliges as best he can. "Plus, you look like you're about to explode from frustration or do something drastic or desperate." He looks down and thanks that his daughter is blissfully ignorant of the situation as she sucks on a hoof and dozes lightly.

"I just want some closeness." She looks at Hydro, eyebrow quirked in annoyance. "I'm not trying to force anything on anyone."

"Look, lady, I feel for you, I really do, but... I can't help you on this. It's a bit too much for me, and the whole 'perpetually a filly' thing is a bit of a hurdle." He stands up. "I'm just... gonna drop off my stuff in my room and come back when I think the subject has changed." He quickly leaves.

Rhino sighs, getting up as well, but coming over a sitting down next to Dior, putting the foreleg not hold ing ruby around her. "Look, you can't be too hard on him for that, it is... not really a normal situation. I can understand your side of it though."

"Thanks." She groans, hanging her head in shame. "...what should I do, Rhino? I can't see any way to make this situation... manageable."

"Umm... well..." He thinks a moment. "Is it really the 'physical' aspect of it you want? Or is it something else?"

"Like I said before," she sighs, rolling a hoof at him, "I want the intimacy. The closeness with someone else. It doesn't have to be physical."

He nods. "I assume you mean the sort of one-on-one intimacy of a relationship of a couple, instead of just a familial relationship, right?"

"That's right." She leans into his embrace, closing her eyes. "But what can I do? No one would like a changeling that looks like me..."

"Now come on, that's not true... I'm sure there's someone that can see past everything... None immediately come to mind, but I'm sure there's someone.." He sighs and mutters as he hugs the changeling to him. "It'd be easier if we could somehow make your body more reflective of your mind..."

"...the only way for that to happen... would be for me to change bodies..." She shakes her head dejectedly. "...but that's something that can't happen...can it?"

"Well..." he begins thoughtfully, "you did already do it once... so it can happen, but considering what it took last time..."

She recoils, staring up at him in horror. "What the hay? Why would I want to die again?" She shivers, shaking her head. "It was painful enough the one time..."

His eyes soften as he brings her back into a hug. "No no no, no one is putting you through that. I didn't mean to insinuate that. I just meant that it has happened once, so it is possible for you to change bodies again... obviously just with a better way to do it."

She relaxes into the embrace, sniffling softly. "What other way is there? The only one I can think of involves that circle I found years ago... and I don't think that's possible... right?"

He rubs her back to try and sooth her. "Well, in a way it does. Those circles are my talent after all... this is just a theory, but I could maybe adapt the one you saw into one more suited for our purposes."

"But we'd need the circle, first." She shakes her head, looking up at him in confusion. "How would we obtain it? It's not like we can just waltz into the General's office to get it."

"Well... do you think it would still be in there after all these years?" He looks at her questioningly.

"It should be." She huffs, waving her hoof dismissively. "I hid it well enough."

"Well then... I think it may actually be possible to get it back." He smiles knowingly at her. "Does the name Port ring a bell?"

She blinks, considering the name for a few seconds. "...it does, actually. He was lieutenant general when I was in charge." She taps his forehead, frowning slightly. "How do you know him, though?"

Rhino chuckles. "Suffice to say we met.. fought... and met again later when Gel recommended him for a job. He now serves as the changeling ambassador."

She stares at him blankly. "...you're serious." She smirks softly, chuckling a bit. "I don't know if he'll let you into the hive. He's a stickler for rules, as I'm sure you know."

"Who says I need to go?" He looks at her with a raised eyebrow. "I have a family to see to. If you trust him enough, maybe Port will get it himself as a favor, if not maybe you could go, another changeling, there are many options."

"...I suppose that's true." She sighs, leaning up against him once more. "...maybe I should see him sometime soon, to make the request. Maybe you could come with me then?"

"Sure..." He looks down to his other foreleg a moment as Ruby rolls over to her side in her sleep. "We could send him a letter if you want, requesting to meet with him. He tends to split his time between the hive and Canterlot from what I hear, so it's better to do that than to just show up."

"Great idea." She taps her chin, thinking out loud. "Maybe we should ask him to come here. It might be easier for him, that way..."

"I'll leave that up to you, it's your request after all." He looks towards the door. "Want me to tell Gel that we're done talking about your sex life?"

"Yes, that must've been terribly awkward for her." She laughs, shaking her head. "If I know her, she likely dove into some form of work to distract herself."

"I guess we'll see." He reaches out with his thoughts. Gel? Love? You can come back now.

But... Her thoughts sound distracted. ...I'm almost done with this teeter-totter... can you wait a few minutes, please?

Sure, love. He looks back down to Dior. "So apparently she's putting together playground equipment."

"So I was right." The silver changeling laughs brightly, shaking her head. "Well, then, I guess that just leaves us three, unless Red returns early." She gently strokes the pink filly's mane, smiling warmly. "Of course, the little one here seems content to sleep for now."

"She does like her midday nap..." He leans down and kisses Ruby on her head, the foal letting out small content sounds as he does so. "Anything you want to do until Gel comes in then?"

"I don't know." She jumps off the couch and stretches, turning to him right after. "Maybe you'd like to tell me more about what you plan to do with the rune circle? Maybe why you looked so odd when I mentioned the number of layers in it?"

"Well..." His horn lights up and the arcane circle for his Res spells appears in the air. "This is what I would loosely describe as one of the more complex spells that I've done. Three layers and a separated section here for frequent and easy reversal." He points to a long shard-like shape. "But even with all this, I've never actually created a spell that uses multiple separate circles. Although, just now you said layers, but earlier you said circles. So... which is it?"

"Well...it was both, actually." She taps her chin, narrowing her eyes as she considers the light-based shape. "Seven circles, one big with six within it... three layers each, and the symbol for life in the center." She looks at him, slowly nodding. "They were written separately and then as one large circle on the last page."

"Hmm..." The circle fades away and one like Dior described appears in Rhino's green writing, all the circles and layers blank except for the symbol from her neck he stuck in the center. Finally seeing what he's going to be working with, the stallion exhales and scratches his chin. "Wow that's complicated... definitely going to be a challenge..."

"I figured as such." She sighs, slumping down to the floor in sadness. "...but you'll try, right? I mean... it won't be too hard, will it?"

"Well, it depends on what runes are in these." He gestures to the blank circles. "If I know all of them, theoretically I could have a new form of the spell in a week. If I don't though, I'll have to go through each new one individually and conduct dozens of simple spell variants to determine exactly what they do. Don't worry... I can figure it out."

She slowly nods, tilting her head to one side. "...I think most of the runes were outlined in the notebook... but I may be wrong about that..." She nervously laughs, rubbing the back of her neck. "My memory's not the best, after all..."

He smiles. "And here I thought Gel got her perfect memory from you."

"No, it seems to be an anomaly." She shrugs. "I have no explanation for where she got it."

He erases the circle as he continues. "Guessing it wasn't from her dad then?"

She quirks an eyebrow at him. "You're kidding, right? From that dreamer?" She shakes her head, sighing softly. "I'm amazed he made it to the rank he did..." She blushes, her gaze growing distant. "...still, he was bright when he applied himself... and had an outstanding-" She cuts herself off, jolting slightly. "...er... personality. He wanted to bring unity between ponies and changelings. I never thought it would become a reality, though."

"Many still can't believe it. As one of the ones who benefits most from it though, I tend to be thankful and not worry about how unlikely it was." He sits back down on the couch. Out of curiosity and a way to kill time, how did he draw your eye anyway?"

"He came up to the Queen and I for an assignment." She looks at the ceiling, trying to avoid his gaze. "He was so nervous, she figured he'd be better off working as an MP for a while... and he was assigned to my office. The next day, there weren't any documents for me to work on, so I struck up a conversation with him." She smiles softly. "I had to order him to chat with me, poor thing... but it was just so endearing, at the same time..."

He chuckles. "Ah, I think I see where this is going."

"Then there's no need for me to continue." She sticks her tongue out at him.

"Well, if it's not too personal, there is one question I had about it." He looks at her seriously. "What made you and he decide to have Gel outside of normal breeding patterns, and against the usual orders?"

"A long night together at the office, one too many drinks..." She waves a hoof dismissively, despite the luminescent blush on her cheeks. "I soon found out I was pregnant and gave myself and my lover a top-secret assignment for the next few months. I couldn't let Port find out about it, after all... I didn't want 226 to get in trouble for my own lack of foresight."

"Ah..." He looks at her with a smile. "Worth it, though?"

"Oh, so worth it." She smiles coyly. "And having Gel was great, as well." She gestures broadly in his direction. "She didn't exactly need too many diapers, though. Most pupae only need them the first month, after all."

He blinks. "I thought they didn't need them at all since they don't produce waste."

"They drink milk, Rhino." She rolls a hoof at him. "They haven't created the stomach acid to completely digest food yet because their bodies can't handle it. That's why they need the diapers."

"Ah... that makes sense. Good to know." He looks towards the direction of the back yard. How's it coming, love?

I think I need help. It doesn't look a thing like the picture!

Rhino chuckles as he shakes his head and turns back to Diorite. "It looks like she needs some help back there. Want to come?"

"Sounds like it'll be fun." She smiles softly, gesturing to the door. "Lead the way."

Chapter 18: Foalsitting

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Sunday arrives and as per usual, the household finds itself in need of a grocery trip for something or other. This week, it happens to be the favored drinks of the parents, including a certain stallion's white drink he is definitely not addicted to. Of course, the situation is not as straightforward as it might be, seeing as Rhino now has to deal with another situation.

The father looks down at the lightly snoozing filly in his foreleg as she takes one of her rare morning naps once she had finished eating. "Are you sure you want to? I mean, I could probably just take her with me..."

The small, silver nymph in front of him nods, smiling softly. "It'd be a great way to bond with her. Besides, your friend and I are going to be foalsitting later this week." She places a hoof reassuringly on his shoulder. "Think of this as a form of practice, both for you and for us."

"I suppose you're right..." Despite his words, Rhino still hasn't moved to pass her over. Natural protective instincts, love for her, and never actually having been far away from her all compound into making the simple act very difficult.

"I know this is hard." She frowns slightly, her gaze darting over to the navy changeling washing dishes. "I didn't want my own daughter to leave, but..." She sighs, returning her attention to Rhino. "...I knew I could always see her, be with her when she wasn't in class. Watching her grow was the best thing I've ever witnessed... and besides," she smiles coyly, "absence makes the heart grow fonder, correct?"

He grumbles a bit. "Makes the heart ache too..." He looks up. "Plus, I'd rather not think about her going to school yet either. This isn't as bad as that, it's only for a little bit as I go get groceries." He blinks. "Oh... you are sneaky."

"So I've been told." She winks at him, softly chuckling. "Yet you hesitate, still... may I ask why, Rhino?"

“I just... haven't actually been away from her since she was born... I care for her so much and I worry... I mean, I feel the same protectiveness for Gel, but I know she can take care of herself. Ruby can't. I'm a big softie..." He nuzzles the filly and his heart melts as she reaches out and hugs his muzzle in her sleep to illustrate his point.

"I can see how attached you both are to each other. However, she'll be in good hooves. After all, she has two responsible adults watching her." She glances at the red stallion, who is currently fiddling with something on the table. Dior clears her throat, sheepishly smiling. "Well, at least one responsible adult."

"I guess..." He takes a breath, enveloping Ruby in his magic and gently levitating her towards the small changeling, longing clear in his eyes. He stops as Ruby floats in front of the grandmother. "Umm... you can hold her at your size... right?"

She quirks an eyebrow at him, bemused. "You apparently forgot how strong I am." She gestures to his chin, and the fading dark spot there. "You think that'd be enough proof. If you're worried about size comparison, I can carry her on my back, if necessary."

He sighs. "Ok... where do you want her right now, then?"

She nods towards the doorway. "Is the living room couch an option?"

"Umm, sure." He brings the filly back into his forelegs, a smile coming to his face as he does so. He walks towards the living room.

"Besides," she says as she trots next to him, working just a bit harder to keep pace, "this way you can hold her for a little while longer. I'm sure you're happy about that." She tries to playfully bump his shoulder but misses, landing flat on her face in the entrance to their destination. She doesn't make a move to stand, or even turn her head to one side, grumbling to herself.

Rhino levitates the faux filly onto his back as he walks, arriving at the couch. He carefully sets Ruby down on a pillow, covering all but her head with a blanket nearby. Kneeling down, he looks back to Dior to see if she would like to dismount.

She touches a hoof to his mouth as soon as it's in reach, frowning deeply at him. "We do not speak of what just happened. Am I clear?"

He replies with a smile. "I shall endeavour to keep the cuteness of what I saw to myself."

She huffs slightly and drops off his back, brushing a foreleg nonchalantly. "For your sake, I hope so." She clears her throat and gestures to the sleeping pink pony. "Would you like to kiss her on the forehead or cheek before leaving, or are you good for now?"

The stallion leans over, nuzzling the foal lightly before kissing her forehead, resulting in a sleepy coo from her in response. "I think that will do..."

"Great. Now, shoo." She pushes on his side, grunting quietly. "We don't want to wake her early, do we?"

He allows himself to be pushed towards the door. "I guess... I'm not sure how long she'll sleep anyway. These naps tend to vary quite a bit..." He looks towards the kitchen. Ready, love?

I think so. She steps out into the entrance hall, smiling warmly at him. She shifts her saddlebag slightly, her wings flitting anxiously. You have your grocery list, right?

He nods, nodding his head towards one side of his bags. Side pocket. He looks back in the living room. Did you want to say goodbye too?

"I do, yes." She walks up and kisses his cheek. "I'll be right back." She moves past him, subtly trailing her tail along his stomach as she does so.

The fur along his spine stands up at her touch, causing him to look after her with a smile and slight shiver.

"Well," Dior shifts on her hooves next to him, her eyes darting around the room, "that certainly explains the shouts I overheard your wedding night." She quickly rushes to the kitchen door, trying to avoid the subject.

Rhino blinks as what she said sinks in. "Wait, what? You... heard that?" His face is beet red as he says those last few words.

She pauses in the doorway, glancing back at him. "Yes, I did. Would've preferred to live without knowing my daughter is a screamer." Her gaze lowers briefly before being swiftly pulled away, a soft blush on her cheeks. "You might want to cover up, by the way. Your soldier's standing at attention." She stiffly walks into the kitchen, leaving him alone in the foyer.

The stallion curses his anatomy without even looking down to acknowledge it. "This is the price I pay for a wife that knows exactly how to get to me..."

"I'm not complaining." Gel walks into the hallway, tenderly nuzzling his cheek. "It means you still find me attractive. Though I do agree," she covers her mouth with a hoof, trying to stifle a giggle, "stallions have it worse than mares... most of the time, anyways."

"Fair enough." He nuzzles her back. "So, finish saying goodbye?"

She sighs, shaking her head playfully. "Our little angel slept through it." She turns her attention south, an eyebrow quirked questioningly. "You'll be fine to leave for groceries soon, right?"

He nods. "Still partially asleep, so as long as a certain nymph," he gives her a pointed look, "behaves herself, I should be fine in a few minutes."

"Fine." She smirks and sits down, gently kissing his cheek. She looks around the room, trying to think of something to pass the time. At the moment, though, there's one thought that prevails in her mind. "We should see about a spell to hide him, or something similar. We wouldn't want an incident in public, would we?"

He scratches the floor with a hoof. "I have more than enough self control to not let him out in public... serious circumstances aside, it's times like these where I'm relaxed, it happens, then I need to go outside that are the problem."

She puts a hoof on his shoulder, smiling coyly at him. "Kind of like last year's music festival?"

He smiles sheepishly. "I'm luckily managing to not think too much into that incident... but yes. Though I recall you helped me out of that one, in your own way, I don't think that will be an option everywhere."

"Probably not." She shrugs, keeping her expression neutral.

After a couple minutes, she stands and heads towards the front door. "We should head out soon. I don't know whether or not Daisy Jo and her friends run out of milk, but better safe than sorry, right?"

He nods, jumping to his hooves. "Right."

***

The couple leave without any further incident, a certain red earth pony walking into the front hall on his way to the living room as he hears the front door shut. He laughs a bit to himself as he shakes his head. "Took them long enough to get going." He sits down in one of the chairs in the living room, setting his saddlebags next to him so he can reach them easily.

He is soon joined by the silver nymph, who approaches with confusion clear on her face. "What do you have there, Red?" She climbs up onto the chair, sitting on one of the foreleg rests.

He pulls out a few sheets of paper. "Just some schematics I thought I'd glance over to kill some time, since I'll probably need to do this in the future anyway."

She scrunches her nose at him, backing away slightly. "That's not some kind of boring design, is it? I could never bring myself to look at those..." She holds up a hoof. "No offense."

He waves his hoof. "None taken. Most anypony who gives these a passing glance would just see scribbles and gibberish. To me though, this is going to be a key aspect of my job once I move here."

She narrows her eyes at him, unsure for a moment whether she should believe him. She slowly nods, resting her head on a hoof. "Please, do go on."

He leans forward, spreading them out on the table. "They're the designs for the inner workings of the dam here in town. It's a little different from working on airships, but it's a job where I can actually have a home to come home to everyday, so well worth it."

She looks over the papers, slowly nodding. "I heard about that dam. The stone isn't quite structurally sound, so cracks form frequently." She taps her chin thoughtfully. "Maybe you could help with that?"

Hydro tilts his head side to side. "Well, in a way I could. I actually don't know a thing about working with stone, but optimizing the actual systems inside the dam should work to make it to where there is less pressure on the walls."

"That would definitely help." Dior leans down, reaching in front of the stallion and putting a hoof on the blueprints. "I could help with the stone. They could very well be using an inferior material."

He nods slowly. "Quite possible... I'll have to talk with my boss, but I'll see if he'll let me bring you on as an expert."

"Brilliant!" She beams, sitting back up. "It's been a while since I've worked on my art. Maybe I should take it back up, to prepare..." Her voice trails off into as her gaze grows distant.

"You do art?" Hydro asks, "What type of art do you do?"

"Sculpture." She blinks, turning back to him. "Would you like to see a piece I made?"

He nods. "Sure... wait, I thought you didn't have anything. Did you bring in some luggage when I wasn't looking?"

"Nope." She leaps off the chair, winking at him. She turns and closes her eyes, a hoof raised and her tail curled down around her left hindleg. After a second she peeks open an eye, smirking coyly. "What do you think?"

He blinks a moment. "Wait... you made your body? Rhino didn't mention that... Still, I think I know what to say." He smirks. "It's probably the most life-like statue I've ever seen."

"Thank you." She stretches and sits down on the floor. "It did change when I first inhabited it, but those were minor." She tilts her head at him, curious. "How do you know Rhino, anyways?"

Hydro sits back, a wistful smile on his face. "Oh he and I have been best friends for almost ten years now, ever since the first year of high school."

"High school?" She frowns, unsure. "You'll have to forgive my ignorance, but I don't know what that is." She shrugs nonchalantly, climbing back up to her spot on the chair. "I never took the place of anyone under twenty, you see. The only school they're in by that point is college or that magic academy in Canterlot."

"Makes sense." He explains. "High school is pretty much just the last four years of schooling before a pony can either choose to start pursuing a job or go onto college. Generally it's the most memorable because its during the majority of their teenage years so ponies are becoming adults and turning into their more mature selves."

She blinks, staring blankly at him. "...I have no idea how to respond to that." She shakes her head. "Anyways, how did you two meet? That should be interesting, right?"

"Maybe..." He looks upward. "Let's see... I think we met in that usual 'friend of a friend' way, but then we noticed we had band together. Things just sort of hit it off from there. We started talking, hanging out, all that good stuff." He chuckles. "I think we ended up being very good for each other in both the long and short run..."

"Two questions." She holds up a hoof. "First, you two took band together? And second, what do you mean, 'long and short run'?"

"Yeah, we took band together. I played the trumpet, he had the trombone." Hydro lets out a small snort. "Of course, it was years later that Rhino finally came to terms with the fact that the only reason he got through it is because he was good at mimicking things he heard, whenever he would try to make a piece or do something on the spot without seeing it or sheet music, he could barely play."

"So Rhino can only play by ear. I'll keep that in mind." She gestures to him with a hoof. "And my second question?"

"Well... Rhino and I have always gotten along well, supported each other, especially when it counted. When one of us was depressed, angry, just needed to rant, the other was always there. In the long run, we helped to balance each other. Heck, with him, you could see the difference just in the four short years of school we were together." His hoof finds its way to his chin and strokes thoughtfully. "When I first met him, he was one of those ponies that would keep their head down and just try not to be noticed by anypony else. He preferred working on his own, he wouldn't say anything, always had his mind on what to do next. Now, he's not all that different now, but after we met, he became more confidant. He would actually start or hold conversations if the mood took him, you could definitely see a smile on his face more often. As for me... well, I like to think Rhino helped balance me out too. For example, I'm one of those ponies that can get frustrated and angry very easily and often. Rhino though, hardly ever gets angry at all, when he does though, it's usually bad and you don't want to be on the receiving end. Back to the point though, he's just the kind of pony who will take things in stride, he doesn't see a point in getting angry. Over that years, that sort fo rubbed off on me. I'm still me, but I won't lash out, I'll take the time to think, like I saw him do so many times."

She nods, smiling softly at him. "It's nice how you both influenced each other for the better, but..." She frowns, tilting her head to one side. "...how bad does his temper get? I really don't see it being that bad... even the one time he was mad at me, he wasn't that scary. At least, I think he was mad at me."

"Well, he didn't go into too much detail in his letter to me about it... but from how it sounded, his little romp into the changeling's tower when they nabbed Gel was about right for some of the top tier rages of his. It pretty much takes only specific things to get him going... family and friends being pretty much the rule." He shivers a bit. "Like I said, don't want to be on the end of that... ponies usually end up hurt."

"Changelings, too." Dior flinches, turning to one side. "I saw a drone who had returned from that outpost... his neck was cracked quite thoroughly. Not broken, but enough to ruin his vocal cords..."

"Sounds about right." Hydro nods. "Like I said though, he rarely gets mad. Usually he said he describes it as... annoyed or irritated, which he gets over fairly quickly once the source is removed from immediate attention."

"Annoyed?" The nymph scoffs, shaking her head. "Tartarus of a way to describe it."

The red pony shakes his head. "No, I meant the everyday sort of mad that other ponies would describe as 'angry' he describes as annoyed or irritated."

She blinks, blushing slightly in embarrassment. "Oh." She clears her throat, turning away. "Sorry, I misunderstood."

"It's fine. Got any more questions about him?" He asks.

"Just one." She glances at him, frowning slightly. "Has he ever dated a pony before Gel? I don't want some jealous mare gunning for her."

"Hmm... just one actually. Back in high school he dated a mare named Golden Bell, heck of a voice and easily a very hot mare. Of course Rhino only ever thought she was cute, so there's an example of him being so little of a stallion that relies on appearances that it all just goes over his head." One red hoof waves off any concerns. "No need to worry about her though. She broke up with him, there wasn't any drama. Plus... there's actually a very good chance she went with mares after being with him... Of course, when I told Rhino this he just shrugged and said that she told him all her cousins swung that way, so he really wasn't that surprised."

She shrugs, laying along the cushion. "As long as she won't go after Gel. And, just so you know," she pats his shoulder with her tail, smirking slightly, "it wouldn't surprise me, either, considering how many more mares than stallions there are." She winks at him, sticking her tongue out playfully. "Of course, changelings are naturally bi. Just so you know."

"Interesting fact." He looks at her curiously. "Well, I've answered your questions about Rhino, mind if I ask some about Gel?"

"Not at all. Hope you don't mind an eleven-year gap, though." She closes her eyes, waiting for his question.

"Hmm..." Hydro thinks a moment. "Well, why not just start with the usual one... What was she like?"

"Outgoing." She frowns, shaking her head. "So much so that drones and nymphs avoided her. She wasn't exactly what they were used to seeing..."

He tilts his head. "What do you mean? What kind of outgoing would be bad?"

"The cheery, friendly kind." She peeks an eye open at him. "The hive tends to carry a business atmosphere, so fraternization is discouraged. She didn't understand that."

"Oh..." Hydro frowns. "Did anything happen because of that?"

She quirks an eyebrow at him. "Aside from her being shunned so badly she became an introvert out of desolation?"

He flinches. "Ok... do all the stories about her foalhood end up depressing?"

"Actually, this one doesn't." Dior smiles softly. "I taught her how to restrain herself, put up a front with those she doesn't know. For changelings below her, that was unwavering courage as a commander. For the queen, it was a calm but loyal soldier. For her superiors, and apparently ponies, recently, it was a meek and easily-embarrassed nymph, desperate to prove herself worthy." She pauses, blushing brightly. "...next time I start rambling, please stop me, alright?"

"Doesn't bother me. I'm just glad that wasn't a depressing story." He gaze falls on the snoozing pink filly. "Did you expect to come back to this particular bundle after so many years? Especially given that both of them are fairly young?"

"Frankly, I was shocked." She chuckles nervously, rubbing the back of her neck. "But she's family, and I am not one to simply deny that due to petty suppositions on her lineage." She blinks, frowning in confusion. "I didn't even want to cause her harm when I thought Rhino was Mimic... good thing, I suppose."

"Yes... for both her and you, considering what we were discussing about Rhino earlier..." He switches off that topic fairly quickly. "Still though, no concerns that Gel is twenty and already has a foal? I know my parents would have been freaking..."

She quirks an eyebrow at him. "Your parents obviously never heard of breeder changelings." She shakes her head and smirks playfully at him. "I see no problems with my daughter having one of her own. She's clearly good at taking care of her, as well, since she doesn't seem to be too spoiled." She laughs brightly. "Of course, I knew they'd spoil her at least a little. You've seen them around her, haven't you?"

"Oh yeah. I knew full well that Rhino was going to be a doting parent, and so did he." He smiles. "I'm fairly sure he'll know when to draw the line though, if things call for it."

"I sure hope so." She nods, watching the filly sleep for a few seconds. "They will have quite the adventure with their gray ball of sunshine, either way."

Hydro holds up a hoof. "She's pink."

She flinches, her eyes darting around the room. "I-I knew that. Just wanted to make sure you knew." She nervously laughs, patting him on the shoulder. "Congrats."

He looks at her with a small mile. "You know it's okay that you're colorblind, right?"

She groans, letting her head fall to the cushion beneath her. "No, it isn't... I've been trying to hide that fact my whole life..." She looks up at him, her eyes moist with the beginnings of tears. "...please, Hydro. Don't tell anyone else."

"I won't, but I'm pretty sure Rhino knows, he's just one to keep correcting you and not point it out. You did call us the other's color after all." He looks at her curiously. "What's the big deal anyway?"

She sniffles, wiping a tear away with her fetlock. "Any form of weakness in the hive is... generally abused. One drone found out, and... well, I had to struggle to get my spot as general. Even then, half of the soldiers talked behind my back... and Port would discipline them and tell me every. Single. Time."

"Wow... that sucks." He frowns. "All that for being colorblind?"

She closes her eyes and nods, leaning away from him.

"Well, that won't happen here." He nudges her lightly with a hoof. "Like I said, Rhino probably knows, and he’s already shown he doesn't care." He points to the filly. "And I can tell you for a fact that she doesn't mind. If your family doesn't care, then what's there to worry about?"

"...I guess you're right..." She sighs, shifting slightly to rest her head on her forelegs. "...but it'll be hard for me to adjust my mindset to fit that..."

He smiles. "I think there are worse things to have to get adjusted to."

The two sit in comfortable silence for a few minutes, Hydro with his papers and Dior with her thoughts, until the sound of shifting fabric draws their attention. The little form of Ruby stirs, her hooves moving and stretching under the blanket.

The nymph watches with rapt attention, wanting to be ready for whatever the filly might want.

After squirming a bit more, Ruby's eyes open and she peers around. Her head cranes as she looks all throughout the room before a soft utter comes from her. "Ma?"

Dior slowly leans closer to the stallion next to her and whispers to him, anxiety clear in her voice. "...pray tell... what do foals normally do if their parents aren't around?"

Hydro answers just as quietly. "Well, foalsitting isn't exactly uncommon. I think usually they are just played with and entertained by whoever is watching them. Feeding, changing, and all that. As for what the foals actually do though... that tends to vary. Some can get... fussy."

Ruby sits up, her blanket sliding off her as she looks around again, a small frown appearing on her face. "Da?"

The silver changeling nudges him with her tail. "Can you check on her, first? I don't know if she really knows who I am, yet... and you've seen her more often than I have."

Hydro nods, going over to the little filly and leaning down to her level. "Hey Ruby, remember me?"

The light green eyes latch onto the red form as the filly responds. "Babo? Da?" She waits a moment before insisting. "Ma! Da!"

Dior bites her lip, trying to keep an optimistic attitude for the filly. She jumps down and walks over, smiling softly but not saying anything. She glances at the earth pony, waiting to see what he'll do.

Hydro reaches over and picks up the foal, bringing her over to the blanket where her toys are. "Here Ruby, why don't we play a bit?" He begins over a few soft blocks and places them in front of her, stacking them in hopes of getting her interested.

Ruby picks up a green block, rubbing a hoof over its soft surface before placing it next to her. She picks up some other blocks, joining Hydro in building, though the smile on her face is smaller than usual.

The nymph watches in silence, relaxing slightly. She glances at the stallion before laying down off to the side, still a little wary but not wanting to upset the small unicorn.

Eventually as they play, Ruby becomes more and more disinterested in the game until she just knocks the pile over with a hoof. She looks to the green block at her side. "Da..." As her gaze travels upwards and she spies the white changeling. The filly picks up the green block with her mouth, bringing it with her as she toddles over to the small nymph. She stops at the holes in the leg in front of her, poking at them the same way she is fascinated with the same facet of her mother.

Dior blinks, tilting her head in confusion. "...may I... help you, little one?" She slowly reaches out her other hoof, gently stroking her mane.

Ruby leans into the hoof, but her face has an odd expression. She holds the green block to her as she is stroked.

Hydro speaks warningly. "Careful, she is definitely missing them, and we do not want to set her off crying..."

"I can see that, Red." She sighs softly, leaning down and gently kissing the filly's forehead. "I may be old, but I'm far from senile." She gives him a sideways glance, smirking slightly.

He chuckles. "Thirty nine isn't old. Only when you get over fifty do you get to say you're old."

Her smile falls slightly as she turns her attention back to Ruby. "From the way you acted yesterday, I might as well have been."

"Look, I'm sorry about that." He walks over, laying down in front of the changeling. "It's just that you are 16 years my senior, and you looks that same number of years my junior. It's not exactly something I knew how to respond to."

"This body is supposed to be nine years old. I doubt you're twenty-five." She looks up at him, an eyebrow quirked. "And I'm a number of years older than you. So what?" She grabs a blue block from the fallen pile in her magic, bringing it closer to herself as she mutters quietly. "I thought stallions liked the idea of MILFs..."

Hydro coughs awkwardly, having heard that. "Some stallions maybe, but I've always dated within my age range. I do want to have foals with the one I choose to live my life with after all."

As the two converse, Ruby grabs her blocks and walks between Dior's front legs, pawing at her chest with a hoof. After a moment, she curls up against it, her green block held in all four hooves as she lets out a small whine.

The nymph is about to retort when she hears the filly. She glances down and flinches, not expecting the amount of sadness in her eyes. She gently picks her up and cradles her to her chest, smiling softly and speaking in a soothing tone. "Don't worry, little one, I'm here. I won't let anything harm you."

The foal curls up and hides her head against the white stone. A tiny coo comes from her to express her liking of the emotions coming from the nymph.

The stallion smiles at the scene. "There's that mom experience coming through."

She nods, smiling coyly at him. "Thank you. I try my best." She becomes quiet for a few seconds, simply stroking the filly's mane, before speaking up once more. "I hope you realize that my kind tend to live for a good length of time... unless some outside force interferes, of course, but that's true of any race."

He raises an eyebrow. "How long is a 'good length of time'? Just so I can get an idea of what point in your life span you are."

"We tend to live up to one hundred years... if just a standard drone or nymph." She holds up the hoof she was stroking Ruby's hair with. "For the elite... well, it's difficult to say, since we kill each other to prove ourselves. The General before me was eighty, I think, but still looked to be in her teens."

He nods slowly. "Well, I guess that makes sense. Hard for the usual pony signs of age like creaky bones or wrinkly skin to apply to changeling since they have neither."

"True." She shrugs slightly, looking over at the bag by the couch. "I will admit, though, that I looked... a little older than she did. Definitely taller than her, but not as tall as the Queen."

"It was probably just your mane color that made it seem you were older." He blinks. "Wait, does that mean changelings sort of stay in the prime of their life for most of it? Or is that just how it looks?"

"I like to think it's the former." She laughs brightly, playfully pushing on his shoulder. "Don't you agree?"

He grins back. "That would be the better choice. It's still just sinking in though that changelings sort of... defy age in some senses."

"Yes, we do." She pokes him in the chest, suddenly becoming serious. "So don't you dare say I can't have foals."

He holds his hooves up defensively. "Ok ok, I stand corrected. Though, technically you can't right now..."

"Only because others find this body off-putting." She frowns at him, her gaze falling. "I wish I could change out of this body..."

"Wait." He looks at her, confused. "Are you saying you could actually have foals in that body? Like... you're physically capable of it?"

"Well, yea." She returns his confused look with one of her own. "I have the right equipment... and breeding nymphs in our society start giving birth at about nine or ten." She scratches the side of her head, her brow furrowing slightly. "...I suppose it is a bit hard to imagine, considering..."

"Yeah... just a bit..." The two go into a small awkward silence, which is broken again by Ruby.

The little foal shifts from against the nymph, moving herself and her green block towards the blue one. She sets the two blocks next to each other before laying against them, curling up, but not looking tired.

Dior blinks, looking at her for a moment. She sighs softly and turns to Hydro, unsure. "...what should we do?"

"I don't know... upset foals are normal... but she just seems depressed right now." He scratches his head. "I don't know how to deal with that..."

The nymph leans over, nervously smiling. "Ruby? Sweetie, are you alright?" She holds a hoof out to her. "Do you... want me to read you a story?"

Ruby curls tighter against the blocks. "Ma! Da!" Her voice is stronger than it was before.

She grimaces, turning back to the stallion and whispering to him. "...she wants her parents... I don't know how to fix that..."

He reaches out his hoof. "Ruby?" He movs one of the blocks slightly so he can see her face.

She does not react well to this.

The pink foal slaps his hoof with her tiny hoof, looking up at him with an upset face before suddenly running out of the room, her upset cries echoing. "MAMA! DADA!"

Dior bites her lip, cutting off a swear before she could say it. She rushes after her, grabbing Hydro's foreleg and dragging him behind her with surprising strength. She pauses in the foyer, calling out to her granddaughter. "Ruby? Ruby, where are you?"

The clip clop of tiny hooves can be heard from the kitchen, exacerbated a moment later by a long cry. "Daaaaadaaaaa!"

Hydro gulps as he looks to the nymph.. "She's panicking..."

"Oh no..." The nymph whimpers softly, slowly walking into the kitchen. "Ruby?"

A wide-eyed pink blur rushes past them and into the dining room. "Maaamaaa!" A moment later the filly runs back out, her horn traded for wings as she rapidly begins a combination of climbing while rapidly fluttering her wings to ascend the stairs. Sniffs punctuate every few breaths she takes.

"Ruby! Wait!" She chases after her, gently pulling her into an embrace. "Please, calm down. I know it's a little scary, at the moment, but they'll be back soon! You understand, right?" She gives her a sheepish smile, nervously rocking her.

Ruby cries and struggles in the embrace for a moment before slumping over, tears running down her face as a pink hoof sadly waving towards the stairs. "Ma... Da..."

Hydro offers a suggestion. "Maybe taking her upstairs would help?"

Dior hesitates, looking up the staircase. Then, with a small sigh, she wipes the filly’s face and levitates her onto her back, carefully making her way up the stairs. "Let's go see their bedroom, little one." She glances over her shoulder as she climbs, gesturing for the stallion to follow them.

The three make their way upstairs, the filly perking up as they close in on the bedroom. As they open the door, she stands up eagerly... only to slump down low again as they are greeted by a room void of her parents. "Ma... Da..."

The nymph sighs quietly, closing her eyes. "...I'm sorry, sweetie..."

There is a rustle from one side of the room, and a silver head pokes out of a small dome-shaped bed. He slowly walks up to them, gently nudging her side with his snout.

Ruby spies the fox, her expression brightening a little as she pets his head. "M'cwy..."

He happily yips, propping himself up and licking the side of her face. His tail sways rapidly behind him as he leans in close to nuzzle her, murring softly.

She lets out a sniff then a giggle as she wraps her hooves around the fox's face. She nuzzles him back as her wings disappear into her back and her horn returns.

Hydro sighs in relief. "Well... that's better."

"Much." Dior places the filly on the bed and leaping back, barely avoiding the fox as he leaps up next to her and curls around her. "It's nice to know that they're so close, don't you agree?" She looks at the stallion, smiling softly.

He nods. "Yeah... though obviously Rhino isn't the only one who had a bit of separation anxiety. I think we might need Mercury's help the next time those two are gone."

"Agreed." She sighs, letting herself sit down on the floor. "...what do you want to do, now?"

"Well... the other day when I was looking for the closet with the rope in it, I found Rhino's collection of board games..."

"Board games sound good right about now. As for the ropes?" She smirks, wagging a hoof at him in a mock-chiding gesture. "Even I shy away from that kind of game."

Hydro chuckles as he walks to the door. "True, you do seem like one who prefers to be in control."

"No, I just prefer things to be fair." She sticks her tongue out at him. "How is letting one pony do everything without the chance to return the affection fair?"

"Fair point Di, fair point." He laughs again as he exits the room.

***

Out in town, on the familiar path from Sweet Apple Acres, the green form of Rhino leisurely skates his way back to town from stocking up on milk. This path has become so routine to him over the years that he travels it entirely by instinct now, leaving his mind free to wander. Of course, certain things have a way of making one snap out of states like this. A pale yellow mare waving him down just outside of town in one of them.

Rhino smoothly skids to a halt at her wave, smiling at the blue treble clef- marked pony. "Hey Fiddles, funny seeing you out here."

The musician sometimes known as Octavia plays with a strand of her mane. "Well, living nearby it's fairly easy to see you when you go out to the farm, so it's even easier to come out and catch you coming back."

He chuckles. "True enough. What did you want to see me about?"

"Well, actually..." She stops a moment before gathering herself. "It's something we wanted to see both you and Gel about. It's quite important."

He stops, looking at her seriously. "Well... I do have cold groceries. I could drop them off then come over with-"

She interrupts. "No no, you can just store them in our fridge while we talk." A small blush comes over her before she composes herself again. "It's best if we chat sooner, and we wouldn't want to trouble you by having you go all the way home then back across town to talk to us."

"Wow... must be very important." He nods nonetheless. "Ok then. I'll just go get Gel and we'll meet you at your house as soon as possible."

She nods rapidly. "Yes, that would be perfect." She darts forward giving him a small hug before running off, shouting over her shoulder. "Thanks again!"

Rhino tilts his head after the retreating mare. "I wonder what this will be all about..."

Chapter 19: The Favor

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After having collected his wife from the market, where she said she would be around if he needed her, the two start making their ways over to their friends house, both curious about what will await them there. Tails entwined, they turn off from the main street onto a less populated one as they approach their destination.

"You know," the nymph speaks up, playfully bumping his side, "this would be our first time at their house." She faces forward, eyes shining with excitement. "I wonder if they have a music room. Or maybe even a ballroom!" She giggles and pulls closer to him. "Would you share a dance with me if they do?"

He smiles and kisses her cheek. "Only since it's you asking. You know how self-conscious I am about my dancing."

"Thank you, love." She taps her chin, a small smirk on her lips. "Maybe we can use some of the music you like to play in your head."

He nudges her lightly. "Well, I do always make sure it has a beat.... I wonder what music you would bring though..."

"I don't know." She frowns slightly, her gaze turning upwards as she gets lost in thought. "I'm not that good when it comes to making music..."

"Well, if nothing else," he leans over and whispers into her ear, "I hear we make beautiful music together." He punctuates his statement with a wink.

Gel doesn't respond at first, but the growing blush on her cheeks shows just how she feels. She shyly smiles at him, leaning up and tenderly kissing him. "You are such a sweet talker... and I love that." She notices a flash of color out of the corner of her eye and looks forward, craning her neck in an attempt to see through the trees. "Is that their house?"

Rhino regards the bits of the house on the hill he can see through the foliage. "It should be... I know they live in this neighborhood, but they said their house was a little bit away from the others."

"I just know they live on a hill..." She wraps a wing around his foreleg and uses both wing and tail to pull him along. "Let's go check it out, love. If we're wrong, I'll just take to the skies to look for it."

He follows her, but can't resist getting in one last quip. "Not if I keep you down here with me~."

"You know I'm strong enough to lift you." She sticks her tongue out at him as they cross the treeline.

He sticks his right back out at her. "And you know I could hold you down with my magic if I wanted to."

"Probably true." She turns to look at the building in front of them, regarding it for a few moments.

"Thinking of ways to improve how our house looks, or just admiring what they've done with the place?" Rhino asks.

"...is it me, or is theirs bigger than ours?" She frowns at him, unsure what to think.

"I'm pretty sure it's just you." He chuckles. "We custom made one of the biggest houses in town whereas they just got a nice one from the housing market."

"Oh." She blushes softly, scuffing the dirt road beneath them with a hoof. "It's big enough to fool me..."

"I'm not saying it's not a good sized house," he comments as they start walking again, "but it might also be the fact that it's on it's own on this hill, making it seem bigger."

She nods slowly, examining each facet of the house as they approach. "I guess that's true... still, it's definitely beautiful." She points to the eaves of the roof. "Especially with those. They give a French Renaissance-era air about it."

"Umm... I guess so. It does look nice either way." He looks over the front door as they arrive at it. "Seems like they just went with the... more architecturally elaborate homestead than we did."

"Well, it's definitely nice." Gel sighs, knocking on the intricately carved door. "I prefer practically, personally, but mom always loved design..."

He nods. "She does strike me as more of the 'artist' type."

"I wouldn't expect otherwise." She stops as the door opens, revealing the indigo nymph.

She smiles and politely nods, stepping to the side to let them in.

They enter, Rhino nodding to the other changeling. "Good to see you again, Luster."

She bows to him as a familiar pressure forms in his mind.

He pushes back, the link between their minds forming. Been a while since we did this. Still feels familiar.

I know. We should visit you more often, but that's beside the point. She gestures to the doorway on their right. Fiddlesticks is waiting in the living room. I’ll go put your cold groceris into the fridge while you’re here. She takes his bags and walks into the kitchen with them, coming back out a moment later.

All three enter the living room to find the yellow mare in question fiddling with a lock of her blue mane, twirling it around her hoof as she sits on the couch. She looks up at them, a small smile coming to her face. "Hello you two, thank you for coming on such short notice."

"It's no problem at all." Gel giggles, sitting down on the couch facing the mare's. "Love the design of your house, by the way."

"Thank you." Fiddlesticks smiles. "We were lucky to be able to grab one of the non-thatch roof houses, then it turns out they went all out on the decor."

"I see." She smiles back, then turns to the other changeling as she sits down, curious. "I still don't know why you asked us over."

Oh. The indigo nymph turns to her wife, her chitin turning a shade brighter. Well, it's simple enough of an answer. We wanted to ask you two for a favor.

Rhino smiles. "Well that's easy enough. We're your friends, so we'll do everything we can to help."

The mare rubs her head sheepishly. "It might be better to wait until you hear the request before you say that..."

You see... She frowns softly, tenderly nuzzling her love. ...we found out a few weeks ago that... that... She bites her lip, tightly closing her eyes.

Gel, sensing the hesitance in the former general's tone, looks to the earth pony, concerned. "...that what? What's the matter? "

Fiddlestick's eyes betray hurt a moment before she straightens up. "Well... maybe it would be best if we explain a little first." She looks to her wife, bringing her closer as she turns back to the other couple. "as you may or may not be aware, Luster and I want to have a foal."

The navy nymph's eyes widen in surprise. "Oh, wow. I-I had an idea, but... w-well, I guess... something went wrong?" She scoots up to the edge of her cushion, her gaze flitting from her friend to the mare and back.

Luster nods, looking up at the stallion. F-Fiddle's... unable to bear foals...

Rhino's ears fold back. "Oh dear... I am so sorry... Did they tell you when you were looking into artificial insemination?"

The mare nods quietly. "Yes... something wrong with my uterus..."

He winces. "What about Luster then? Can she go through the procedure?"

Not exactly... She grimaces, her eyes darting away briefly as her thoughts waver. ...you see, they use needles to inject the donor's gametes into the womb. She taps her chest with a hoof. You've found out first-hoof how hard my chitin is. Remember?

Gel looks to him in confusion. "You did? When?"

"When we first met and... fought." He looks back to Luster. "Couldn't you just change to that pony form you use for concerts when doing the procedure?"

"That wouldn't be possible, love." Gel frowns, shaking her head. "It wouldn't take if she changed back. During the transformation-"

Everything inside our bodies is instantly assimilated into our body. She sighs silently, gesturing to the other nymph. Didn't you wonder why Gel didn't transform at all while carrying Ruby?

The stallion turns to the blue nymph. "That makes sense... honestly I thought you were just not changing because you didn't need to anymore."

She sniffs, leaning up against him. "I wanted to every time those... certain ponies appeared... I didn't want you to be harassed because of me..." She shakes her head, looking at the yellow mare. "...why are you coming to us, though?"

She taps her hooves together. "Well... since Luster will have to be the one to bear the foal, and due to the limitations because her body, there aren't really that many ways for it to happen. We decided on one, and that's why we came to you... to ask if you'd help us with it."

Gel blinks, staring blankly at the mare. "...what do you mean by that?"

If it's alright with the two of you... Luster looks at the stallion, sheepishly smiling. ...we'd like Rhino to 'cover' me.

His eyes widen. "Wait... you want me to... father your foal?"

Fiddlesticks nods, blushing but giving a hopeful smile. "Well... yes. You're our friends, we trust you. We both decided that if anypony was going to be the one to do this, it would be a stallion who we both agreed on." She smiles a little wider. "Plus... we both said we would have no problem with the foal having any of your traits. Both mentally and physically."

Gel's foreleg wraps around one of Rhino's own, and she bites her lower lip nervously. "...you really want him to do that? B-but... what about the love? You can't conceive without it... not without consequences."

I realize that. The indigo nymph closes her eyes, bowing her head reverently. I... haven't thought of a solution, yet...

Rhino looks between the two of them. "What do you mean?"

"Well..." His wife sheepishly smiles, rubbing the back of her neck. "...do you remember that morning when I... forgot to take my heat suppressant?"

He nods. "Yeah... you said something about it not mattering without love, but I thought you just meant the act."

"I did... but if a changeling conceives without love..." Her voice trails off, nervous.

Then the pupa - or, in this case, foal - would lack the love to jump-start their empathy. She looks to Rhino, frowning solemnly. They would be almost incapable of feeling emotions, and it can be severe enough for them to starve. She shakes her head, turning to her wife and nuzzling her tenderly. I couldn't stand for that to happen... Fiddlesticks would be heartbroken...

Gel glances from the stallion to the nymph and back, confused. "...love? Why did she suddenly stop like that?"

Rhino realizes that Luster had only directed the parts after the word 'empathy' to him and him alone. He nods knowingly at the purple nymph. "I see... and I'm flattered that you would choose me, really I am. It's just..." He hangs his head. "I'm... really having trouble wrapping my head around doing... those things with anyone but Gel."

We understand... She nods, smiling softly. ...take your time to consider it. We have a few days before my... well, you know.

Gel returns the smile, albeit nervously. "T-thank you." She glances at her love, then the mare beside Luster, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "W-we'll let you know on... is Wednesday a good day for you?"

Rhino holds up a hoof before anypony can say anything else. He takes a deep breath before looking at Gel seriously. Answer me simply please. Are you okay with me doing this? To... 'cover' her?

I... I don't know... She bites her lip, glancing at the couple sitting across from them. Her eyes fall on their hooves, seeing how they're holding on to the other anxiously. After a second she gives a small, almost imperceptible nod, turning to her husband. ...they're our friends. I did say we would help them in any way... and they're clearly devastated about Fiddlestick's infertility... so I think you should...

He sighs, turning back to the other females. "I'll do it... but if we could, I'd like to discuss some details of the arrangement so I can... get my head around it easier. I'll still need to convince myself of the actual deed in the coming days, but I'll work through that, since it means so much to you two."

That's fine with me. Luster leans forward, the tension leaving her form. What did you want to discuss, specifically?

"Well, let's start with this: would the foal know? Would she know that I was her sire and that she has a sibling?" His face is neutral as he asks this.

She blinks, tilting her head to one side. Honestly, I think that'd be up to you. She gestures to him, smiling warmly. If you want our foal to know, then you should tell him or her. I'm not going to force you to tell, nor force you to be silent.

He nods. "Ok... if that's what you want." He thinks a moment before coming up with another question. "When the time for this comes... do you think it'll need to happen all three days or just one?"

I... I honestly don't know. Her smile melts into a frown, and her gaze falls to her hooves. I guess... one day, two at the most?

He nods again, turning to Gel. "Do you have any questions for them, while I see if I can think of any more?"

The navy nymph nods, turning to the mare. "...do you... think we should be there? Love is needed, so... m-maybe we could be there to help create it?"

Fiddlesticks blushes. "I... don't know. I admit, I'm not sure exactly how it would work." She looks at Rhino, who paled a bit at the mention of this suggestion. "It looks like he wasn't expecting an audience, but maybe it would help... what do you two think?" She looks between the two changelings.

"Well, maybe not an audience... more like..." Gel blushes brightly, fidgeting with her tail. "...p-participants?"

Luster blinks, tilting her head to one side. So... you're talking about a foursome? She covers her lips, shaking slightly. While I'm sure that's a dream come true for most stallions, I don't think your husband will cotton to that idea.

Rhino reflects this assumption as he covers his face with both hooves, the females barely able to see how beet red he is behind them. "Oh Celestia... I did not start this day thinking it would turn to this..."

Gel nudges him, her face full of concern. "Love? Love, please look at me..." She gently pries a hoof away from his face. "It was only a suggestion. I realize how odd it must seem, but... we both remember how you acted the other time... how mechanical you were..."

"I know... I know... it's just a lot to adjust to after, you know, being used to one on one with the one I care about most." He takes a few deep breaths. "...I hope I don't get performance anxiety..."

"I understand." She tenderly hugs him, nuzzling his cheek. "We still have time to decide, though...that's good, right?"

He shakes his head. "There's no decision... I'm going to do this like I said. I just... need to resign myself to that fact and focus on making this effective."

"For what it's worth, Rhino..." the yellow mare begins, "We're both eternally grateful to you for helping us with this. Especially with how hard it is for you."

And we want you to know, the indigo nymph bows respectfully, we hope to someday return the favor.

Gel smiles, gently kissing him before whispering into his ear. "You're incredibly brave for doing this. Thank you for doing this for our friends." She pulls back, giving him a serious frown. "This will be the only time you're allowed to bed someone else, though. I hope you realize that."

He nods, smiling softly. "I hope you know this is the only time I'm going to, and only because it helps our friends."

Fiddlesticks stands. "Well, I guess there's only one thing left to do then." She walks over and hugs the stallion, emotion clear in her voice. "Thank you... so very very much." She lets go quickly, looking to Gel and nodding. "You've got a good stallion here."

"I'm glad to hear that." She giggles, wagging a hoof at her. "I already knew, though!"

Luster smiles, walking up and hugging Rhino as well. Thank you. She pulls away, blushing slightly as she turns to the doorway. I'm going to get started on dinner, sugar. Anything specific you wanted?

“Whatever you feel like, dear." The yellow mare responds. She turns back to the couple. "Did you want to stay for dinner?"

Rhino shakes his head. "Sorry, we've got to get back to the house and Ruby. I want to see how she fared during her first time away from us."

"Thank you for the offer, though." Gel gets up off the couch, smiling warmly at the earth pony.

"It's the least we can do considering what we asked you to do for us." She walks them to the door, Rhino’s bags floating out of the kitchen, covered in Luster’s magic. "Be sure to talk to us if you have more questions or something. It should be Wednesday or Thursday when the time comes."

"I'll keep that in mind." She bows and then exits, waving over her shoulder. "Have a nice day, okay?"

"You too!" The mare waves them off for a bit before shutting the door.

Gel looks to her stallion as they walk, nervously laughing. "W-well... that was unexpected, wasn't it?"

He nods shakily. "Yeah... just a bit..."

***

After an uneventful walk through town, the couple soon find themselves in the clearing where their house rests. The sun is at its peak in the sky, bearing down on them with its rays on this rather warm fall day.

Gel pulls a small paper fan out of her bag, huffing softly as she starts using it on herself. "I thought the weather was supposed to get cooler."

Rhino responds, a small bits of sweat threatening to appear on his brow now that there is no more shade. "Well, it is the season between the two extremes, I guess we can expect pretty much anything... I'll be glad when it gets cooler though." He looks over at Gel. "Do you think I should grow my beard this winter? Just something random that occurred to me."

She blinks, turning to stare at his chin for a moment. "...I think it'll be fine. Besides," she smiles, leaning up to kiss him, "I want to see what it'd look like. Maybe make you look more masculine?" She sticks her tongue out at him as they travel down the dirt path, holding him back with a hoof to make the trip last a little longer.

"Heh, I guess." He nudges her lightly. "Though if my reaction to my dad's mustache when i was little is any indication, Ruby is going to pull all sorts of faces when she feels it."

"Really?" She giggles, bumping his side. "I guess it'll be a cute thing to see. Maybe I can even get a picture of it..." She trails off, her gaze growing distant.

As they get closer to the house, Rhino looks over to Gel. "How do you think she did?"

She quickly pulls herself from her thoughts, turning to him in confusion. "...I'm sorry, what was that?"

He repeats himself. "How do you think Ruby did without us?"

"Honestly?" The nymph sheepishly smiles at him as they stop in front of the door. "I worry that she might have been a bit much for mom and Hydro to handle..."

"I just hope she wasn't too upset..." He digs in his saddlebags as they bulge with groceries, coming up with the key and unlocking the door. He holds it open for her. "After you, love."

She playfully rolls her eyes, stepping forward with a sway in her step. "Always the gentlestallion." She enters and stands in the foyer, looking around carefully and visibly relaxing.

Rhino steps in, closing the door behind him. His ears perk as he checks the living room but finds it empty of life. "Hmm... where are they..."

Gel pokes her head into the kitchen before turning to him, shaking her head. "Not in there, and I doubt they'd take her into the basement, so that leaves..." She glances at the stairs, tilting her head to one side. "...our room?"

He looks up towards the second floor. "I guess so." He heads up the stairs, curious as to the scene he'll find.

His wife follows closely behind him, watching the floor below just in case.

The stallion opens the door to find a quiet sight. His daughter lies sleeping on the bed, her faithful silver fox curled around her. Both of her foalsitters lay prone on the foot of the bed. They are on opposite sides of the checkerboard, the numbers about even for both colors.

Hydro and Dior look up as they enter, the red stallion jokingly commenting first. "Well, took your sweet time didn't you?"

"We ran into a couple friends of ours..." She furrows her brow, pointing at the two of them with a hoof. "...have you two been playing checkers this whole time?"

"No." The silver nymph jumps two of his pieces in succession, removing them before continuing. "We were playing chess earlier."

Hydro rolls his eyes. "She keeps saying I cheated..."

"Hey, I stepped away to get baby powder. When I returned, you beat me in seven moves." She pokes his chest, eyes narrowing at him. "Either you did something, or... I don't know. Something!" She throws her hooves up in the air melodramatically.

Rhino holds back a chuckle as he looks toward Gel. I'm glad you're a better loser than she is. He turns his head towards the filly on the bed as he asks the question that was bothering him. "So... how was she?"

“Great, for the most part." Dior props herself up on one foreleg, gesturing to the pink filly and her furry friend. "Started panicking when you weren't around, but your fox calmed her back down."

"Panicking?" He repeats, his ears folded back as he looks at the foal with concern.

Hydro waves a hoof to get his attention again. "Hey, we said she calmed down. She was depressed at first, then she had her episode, then Merc came into the picture and she calmed down. She didn't really want to do much and she wasn't laughing, but it wasn't too bad." He looks to the filly. "Apparently she tired herself out enough to fall asleep again, but she's been shifting a lot so she's probably only dozing."

"Poor baby..." Gel steps forward and nuzzles the smaller unicorn. "...I didn't mean to make you upset..."

The other nymph sighs, shaking her head. "I guess we shouldn't be watching her, if she gets this disturbed without you." She shrugs, resting her head on her folded forelegs. "Sorry we couldn't do better."

Rhino walks over, heading for his daughter. "She got better by the end, so it's not that bad. We just didn't take into account for her to have someone else very familiar around." He pets the fox. "I think between the three of you, she should get better at dealing with periods of us not being around." He leans down, nuzzling the filly just as Gel did. "Doesn't mean it's going to happen often, but still, you know what I'm getting at."

As he nuzzles Ruby, she shifts, a few noises coming from her before she yawns and opens her eyes. She locks onto him immediately. "Dada!" She latches onto his muzzle tightly, nuzzling him back as she hums, pleased.

The father smiles, motioning for Gel to join him down with the foal. "Did you miss us, Ruby?"

Dior gives him a confused stare, frowning slightly. "I think that the answer is obvious. I mean," she points to his muzzle, "she's clinging onto you rather possessively." She ignores her daughter as she tries to gently pull the filly off her husband's face.

Ruby giggles as her mother dislodges her, only to turn around and latch herself onto Gel's face. She gives her the exact same loving treatment she gave Rhino, nuzzling her intensely and not letting go.

She turns to her husband, mildly amused. So this is how that feels. Definitely better than a starfish that clung to my face a while back. She sits down and brings her forelegs up. She quickly tickles the filly's sides, careful to not use too much force.

The pink foal squeals, releasing her mother and flailing her hooves.

Gel smiles, kissing her forehead and cradling her in her forelegs. She taps her nose, giggling softly. "I missed you too, sweetie."

Ruby wriggles a bit closer to her mother, snuggling down into the crevice created between her forelegs and chest. "Mama..."

Rhino looks on and quietly summarizes the situation quite nicely. "Aww..."

Dior watches the happy family, wistfully sighing as her daughter moved next to her husband, both facing away from them. "Oh, I miss those days... and sharing them with someone special, too..." She turns to the board, staring at it for a moment in silence. "...you know, I was only kidding." Her voice is low, quiet enough for only the red stallion across from her to hear. "You don't seem like the kind of pony who'd cheat, anyways."

Hydro reaches over and nudges her lightly with a hoof. "I know. Why do you think I only smiled and laughed when you said that." He jumps one of her pieces. "And you're right, I don't cheat."

"Good." Her voice is slightly strained as she slides one of her own to the far edge of the board. "I hate cheaters. Queen me."

He places one of the pieces he had jumped earlier on top of the specified one to show its higher status. "I understand." He looks back at the couple, both still occupied with their foal. "Want to continue this downstairs?"

"Gladly." She grabs the board in her magic, pieces and all, and hurries out the room. "I'll wait for you in the basement."

Hydro blinks at her rapid exit. "I didn't meant that downstairs..." He shakes his head and turns to the couple. "I guess you know where to find us if you need us." A green hoof waves to acknowledge his words before the stallion heads after the nymph.

As she said, she is in the basement, laying on a cushion pulled from the nearby couch. She smiles softly at him before turning back to the board. "It's your turn. Though, admittedly, I think you're going to win this game, too."

He looks over the game, thinking. "Maybe... personally I'm thinking you're going to pull something crafty." He moves a Queen to take one of her pieces that hadn't moved.

"That's wishful thinking." She jumps over a piece, ending so he couldn't take it. "Frankly, I've always been terrible at board games."

He scoots a piece forward. "Even so, Rhino has one board game whose motto I think summarizes board games fairly well: a minute to learn, a lifetime to master. I guess you just don't have time for stuff like this in the military."

"No, we did." She slides one of her own to one side of the board. "I just made short-sighted decisions during them..." She pauses, scowling down at the game between them. "...I guess you could say that's... how I am every day..."

"Nothing wrong with being a little impulsive." He performs a quick double jump, leaving her with barely any pieces left. "I know I do that or overreact sometimes."

"Impulsiveness is one thing." She glances at the three black disks she has left. "I just never thought. I fought and defeated the previous general because I hoped it would let me avoid battle. You know," she rolls a hoof as she tries to think of her next move, "due to the administrative work. Boy, was I wrong."

He looks at her, thinking he knows the answer. "More combat than ever?"

"That and paperwork." She sighs, pushing one of her lesser pieces out of its safe spot. "Not to mention carrying Gel, a few years in.Your move."

"Sounds rough..." He takes he vunerable piece. "Well, it's been eleven years without things like that. Are things better for you now?"

"I suppose." She rolls her eyes, a small smirk on her lips. "Of course, one could say I'm luckier, now." She grabs up her queened piece and hops over five of his nine pieces, ending on the edge of the board. "Thank you for moving that, by the way. I needed that space free to go." She stretches with a small groan, turning to her side. "Anyways, I don't think I'm that lucky. If I was, I wouldn't have almost starved to death."

Hydro chuckles after the initial shock of half of his pieces being taken out. "Well, I consider myself a good judge of luck, or making your own luck as some may say." He moves a piece, trapping her queen so that it can't move without being taken. "And I say this: if you weren't lucky, you wouldn't have been given a second chance for all the important things in your life." He gestures to her form then towards upstairs, where her daughter and granddaughter are.

Dior blinks, staring at him for a moment before haltingly nodding. "I suppose." She glances down, frowning as she thinks out loud. "I can't help but feel guilty, though..." She picks up her one regular piece, sliding it closer to his side of the board. "...if I'd just beaten Mimic..."

"Then what?" He scoots a piece closer to hers. "Rhino is usually better at these 'alternate universe' theories, but I'll give it a shot. What do you think would have changed? Yes, you would still be you, but what about the invasion of Canterlot? What of Gel's mission here, meeting Rhino, the events that led to changeling's being accepted into society?"

"Didn't you know?" She pushes it further, one space away from the edge. "Mimic lead the Queen to believe that the invasion would be a good idea. I still have no idea how, though." She looks up at him, brow furrowed in confusion. "Wouldn't she have requested the same mission, regardless of whether or not Mimic was the General?"

The stallion shakes his head, scooting a different piece. "Not from what Rhino told me in a letter. He said the only reason Gel took this mission was as a front to find him, somepony she only met by chance just before then during the invasion."

"What?!" She leaps up, nearly knocking the board over. She grabs the fur of his chest, pulling him close and glaring at him, breathing heavily in an attempt to stay calm. "You mean she broke her word? Something I specifically taught her not to do?"

He frowns, prying her smaller hoof off him as his voice gains a small edge from her sudden aggressiveness. "Sorry, that was a misquote on my part." He still holds her hoof in his own so she can't grab him. "He said the 'main' reason she chose this assignment was to find him. She still did her actual mission though."

She blinks, his words sinking into her mind. "Oh. Sorry for the outburst." She nervously coughs and glances down briefly before turning back to him. "...I thought you didn't like me like that." She brings their hooked forelegs up into his line of sight. "Isn't this a sign of affection?"

His face is completely neutral as his eyes look to their hooves, any blush he may or may not have is all but invisible under his dark red coat. Slowly, he uncurls his hoof from hers and lays back down on his cushion, focusing on the game board. "It's your move."

"Teach me to try teasing you." Dior sticks her tongue out at him and puts it at the end of the board. "Queen me."

He blinks, stunned at how she managed to sneak one past him. He grins before moving his own queen towards hers, limiting its options. "Queen or not, you're running out of pieces, wonder how long you can hold out..."

"I don't know." She shrugs and jumps one of his regular pieces, ending on the same side as her other queen. "Frankly, I'm surprised I lasted this long." She rests her head on a hoof, looking at him in silence for a few seconds. "...Hydro..." She sighs, opening her mouth just as her stomach growls, causing her to blush fiercely. "...n-never mind."

The silver stone nymph quickly stands, a small bead of sweat trailing down the side of her face. "I should probably go find Rhino... hopefully he isn't too busy." She sheepishly smiles and gets off the cushion, starting towards the door.

He tilts his head. "I guess you need your daily dose of love, huh? Good friendship really isn't enough to keep you going..."

“It's nice, yes," Dior giggles, winking at him over her shoulder, "but I prefer something a little more substantial." She pauses with a hoof on the first step, her ears twitching slightly. "...of course, you... you probably wouldn't want that."

He says nothing, simply looking at her with a curious gaze. After a minute he slowly turns back towards the board, but his voice still comes out clearly. "We'll see."

Her head snaps over to him, her silver eyes wide in surprise. After a couple seconds, she simply smiles and nods, starting up the stairs and leaving him down in the basement.

Chapter 20: Worries

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Monday morning comes, showing the end of an interesting weekend, and for some, promising the beginning of an even more interesting week. Gel and Rhino part ways with the other members of their household as they go to work. Hydro heads the opposite direction, going to check out his new workplace today, Diorite going with him despite still recovering a bit from her state they had found her in. She had insisted on not staying alone in that big house with nothing to do. Meanwhile, the pets and Ruby are in their usual places as they are brought to work with the parents. The little foal had not let her parents out of her sight the previous evening and had insisted on sleeping in their bed with them that night. She seems to be back to her normal self today, curled up against her father's chest in her sling.

Rhino unlocks the doors to the clinic and the family walks in, heading to their usual positions. The stallion had gotten quiet with his thoughts on the journey here, and judging by the glassy eyes, his mind is clearly elsewhere as he heads back to his office to grab his things. He comes back momentarily, dressed and ready for the day, at least at first glance.

The navy nymph steps forward, frowning softly. Love? I-is everything alright? She places a hoof on his shoulder, hoping it can get his attention.

He flinches slightly before his eyes focus on her. What? Sorry, love, what was that?

She nuzzles him, their daughter toddling over to hug his foreleg at the same time. "You... clearly have something on your mind." She smiles, nodding reassuringly. "You know you can always share your thoughts with me."

He sighs. "I'm just... thinking about what's going to happen later this week... with Luster and Fiddlesticks..."

"Oh." She grimaces, turning to the front door as her horn lights up. There's an audible click before she responds. "I know how... strange the idea must be. It'll take a bit before you're alright with it, but..." She looks back to him, sheepishly smiling. "...it's to help our friends start a family. Isn't that a good thing?"

He slumps, looking down and scooping up Ruby before letting his hooves fall out from under him so he lays prone on the floor. He nuzzles his filly as he responds. "It's not the cause I'm worried about. I'm perfectly fine and happy to help our friends start a family, which is the only reason I'm doing this. It's the... way we have to go about it that is... uncomfortable for me."

She tilts her head to one side, gesturing to him with a hoof. "What do you mean, love?"

As Ruby sits herself and his hoof and starts to playfully beat on it with her hooves to see what sounds it makes, he looks to Gel. "It's... how do I explain this? Ok, how do you think the average stallion would respond in a situation like this? Where he is asked to sleep with not one, but three mares all fine and willing to do this with him, and with absolutely no negative repercussions afterward?"

She taps her chin, frowning in concentration. "Well, if it was me... I'll be honest," she shrugs, lowering her head shamefully, "I have no idea what I'd do. I've only been two stallions, and they never dealt with this."

"Ok, fair enough," he thinks a moment, "Well, suffice to say, most stallions would consider this opportunity a fantastic present and a dream come true."

She quirks an eyebrow, rolling her hoof. "...and you aren't most stallions, of course... so what do you consider it?"

"Honestly? I'm not a fan of it..." He smiles, amused as Ruby starts tugging on his ear with her mouth. "Let's start with the first reason: the way my mind works, because of personal morals I've taken over my life as well as how I was raised, I think that you should only sleep with the one you want to spend the rest of your life with. No one else, never even tempted to do so. My mind literally decided on you, and now the mere concept of sleeping with anyone else is so far from my mind that I distance myself at the very mention of it..."

“...which is why this agreement is causing you torment." She sighs, shaking her head. "I'm so sorry love... but, then... why didn't you decline the offer?"

He rests his forehead against the floor. "Because this is worth forcing myself to break my morals for... it's about the best cause there can ever be, and I'm honored they chose me. You agreed to allow it, so I will do my best to do it. I just... the next reason, sort of like the first I guess, is that... it won't be you..."

She smiles softly, tilting his chin up and tenderly kissing him. "That's sweet, love, but I'm still going to be there..." She falters, rubbing the back of her neck. "...I wish I had the right words to say..."

He smiles weakly up at her. "Well... those are really for me to work through on my own, but this next one is one you might be able to help with..." He looks down again, his head tilted to one side as Ruby tries to scrabble on the tiles for purchase as she continues tugging his ear. "Well... you remember how, erm, controlled and careful about my performances when we were first getting intimate? I don't do that anymore because I'm as comfortable with you as possible, but... an audience? Performing the act with another mare while my own wife and another are watching?" He shivers. "I wonder that even if you were to flash me I might have trouble getting it up, the thought worries me so much..."

"...I see..." She taps her chin, thinking a bit. "...well... what if Fiddlesticks and I found a solution to that?" She taps her chin, muttering to herself. "Maybe Zecora could have something to help with that..."

He holds up a hoof. "I would rather not use something... medicinal, to fix that. It's a pride thing. I was thinking more like... helping me with the mental part of that."

She blinks, caught by surprise. "...oh. Well, I guess... we could always start off the, uh, session." She coughs lightly, her face now a vibrant blue. "I-it's only a suggestion, of course."

"That... might work." He thinks, blinking slowly. "Yeah... actually that would probably work... just sort of putting them out of my mind at first..."

She recoils, eyes wide in shock. "It would? I-I mean, of course it would!" She laughs shyly, ducking her head as she does. "It wasn't a thought I just spat out without thinking..."

He chuckles, grabbing her lowered head with a hoof and bringing her in for another long soft kiss. As he breaks it, he nuzzles her. "And that's another reason I married you: that beautiful mind you don't even realize you're using sometimes."

She smiles, gently pulling him into a hug, mindful of the small filly between them. She closes her eyes, resting her head against his chest with a small smile. "Flatterer..."

He holds both his girls close. "Yes... I'll need more than flattery to get me through this... but at least you'll be with me."

"Definitely a good thing." She giggles, gently tickling the filly's belly. "I'm a little more worried about mom and Ruby, though..." What if Mercury isn't enough, this time?

"I... think she'll do better this time." He tries not to imagine what happened last time. "We'll just... play with her a bunch to tire her out, make sure there's plenty of milk, tell Dior to make sure to wrap Ruby well in a soft blanket, and maybe have the two of them playing as we leave. We just... have to not make a big deal out of it, right?"

"...I suppose you're right." She sighs softly, shaking her head. "Sorry, I know how si-"

There's a loud series of knocks from the locked door, causing Gel to squeak and jump in surprise. "...um... m-maybe I should let them in." She sheepishly laughs, backing away towards the door.

"Right, right..." Rhino stands up straight, dusting a bit of his coat off and getting ready to do his job. "Just gotta get through the other bits of this on my own..." He shivers. "I can do this..."

***

On the other side of town, Hydro and Dior head towards the major outskirts of town, the large structure in the hills is their destination. The earth pony looks upward at the uphill path they'll have to walk up to get there. "Well, at least I'll only have to go up that in the mornings. Would suck to do that in the afternoon after work."

"I suppose that's true." She starts up the path, smiling over her shoulder at him. "Still, it's not like a strong stallion like yourself couldn't handle it, right?"

He smiles back as he quickly catches up with his longer legs. "Darn right I can. Besides, it's a nice scenic walk to enjoy before stuffing myself in a building with no windows."

"It's not like you're going to be alone in there, right?" The nymph smirks at him, playfully bumping his foreleg with a hoof. "I'm sure there's going to be at least a few other ponies working around you, not to mention myself."

"Well, it's a big place, so even if there are a few more, honestly I probably won't see them that often unless we just happen to cross paths." He looks down to her in surprise. "And what do you mean, you'll be there? Are you going to come to work with me every day?"

"I'm planning on helping with the exterior of the dam." She quirks an eyebrow at him. "I mentioned that, didn't I?"

He nods after a moment. "Right... slipped my mind. Decided to pitch your own case instead of letting me recommend you?"

"Actually, I was hoping to be there while you recommend me." She rolls her eyes, sighing melodramatically. "They'd likely dismiss me as soon as they see me, otherwise."

He raises a dubious eyebrow. "Fair enough. You are going to be professional and not... impulsive, right?"

She turns to him, scowling softly. "I am. I'm not an idiot, Hydro."

He raises a placating hoof. "I don't think you're one. Just making sure since how you got your last job was... a bit different."

"...I know." She closes her eyes, letting her head bow. "I guess I'm a little nervous, too... please forgive my testiness."

"It's fine." He smiles and nudges her with a hoof. "You'll do fine, just make them focus on your qualifications, not your looks. It's what's inside that counts, right?"

She turns to him and smiles back, nodding. "Correct. Though, honestly," she looks down at herself, "I'm more concerned about how old they might think I am."

"Hmm... well... not sure exactly how to get around that..." He rubs his chin. "How do you want to play it? Act like how you look and just say you're a young nymph looking for a job? Or say something like... you're a pygmy changeling and are your actual age?"

"Either of those would be more believable than the truth..." She sighs, shaking her head. "Maybe I can go with the first one. It's not like they're that discriminatory, right?"

He shakes his head. "No, the boss seems like an okay stallion. Fillies and colts get jobs like this all the time as they learn what their cutie marks are. Though, usually it would only be part time since at your physical age they're still in school..."

"Well, I guess that - he, was it? - will be getting a lesson about my kind, today." She chuckles, looking up as they near the top of the hill. "Wow, that really wasn't much of a climb."

"No it wasn't..." He turns to head along the outside of the dam towards the door and stops, looking back down the path. "Hmm..."

Down the hill a little bit and still approaching is another pony, not an odd sight in and of itself, but the fact that his eyes are locked onto Dior and his stride with such purpose does make the mind think that something is off.

The nymph takes notice of this as well, an eyebrow quirked. She walks forward, moving with just as much purpose as the stallion.

He stops a few body lengths away from her, watching to see if she'll continue approaching. Hydro, being largely ignored by the newcomer, moves himself a little bit to be out of the way, but ready to act should the need arise.

She stops at normal speaking distance in front of him, tilting her head to one side. Her eyes narrow slightly and her voice gains the faintest hint of an edge to it. "May I help you?"

Blinking a bit at the older sounding voice from the filly-sized body, the stallion nonetheless straightens up and looks at her neutrally. "Actually, I'm here to help you."

"I don't think I need help. Not from a stranger, at least. Listen, next time you should start off with your name." She rolls her eyes, moving to walk around him. "It'd make more ponies open up to you."

He turns with her, always keeping his front to her. "My name isn't important, what is important is my message." He continues looking at her neutrally. "You should leave town, immediately."

She pauses, putting a hoof to her chin. "Gee, let me think about that." She turns to him, smirking derisively. "How about 'no'?"

He doesn't react to this statement other than to reply. "It would be best if you headed my words. Your kind have been known to not have the best luck in this town. Accidents happen all the time."

Her smile falls off her face, the meaning behind his words now reaching her. She scowls, stepping forward until she's mere inches away from him. "Listen here, bub. I don't like the tone you're using, and you sure as Tartarus don't know a thing about me. I say I won't leave, I mean it." She scoffs, waving a hoof dismissively at him. "I have honor. I don't try to scare others away from my town out of ignorance."

The stallion, though remaining surprisingly stoic despite the visible tensing her did when she got close, keeps his voice level. "I am simply a concerned citizen looking out for the well-being of others. If you choose to ignore my sincere warning, that is up to you." He pauses. "Though of course, there's no telling what would happen then."

"I'll tell you what'll happen." Dior swings her foreleg out to the side, the stone of the limb morphing into a razor-sharp blade. She smirks, bringing it up into the pony's line of sight. "I'll make sure my well-being is properly guarded. Thanks for the advice, though." She changes it back to normal and moves to walk away. "I'll take it under careful consideration."

Seemingly ignoring the drop of sweat on his brow, the pony grunts. "Very well." He turns around. "Stay safe." He trots off back towards town.

She smirks, shaking her head. "That pony was simply reeking of hatred and fear." She laughs to herself before turning to Hydro, her smile faltering slightly. "I... didn't take that too far, did I?"

Hydro just smiles proudly. "I think you handled that perfectly. I was hoping he'd piss himself on the way down, but it looks like I'll have to be disappointed on that front."

"I'm glad to hear that." She sighs softly, turning back towards the dam. "So, shall we head off, then?"

"Sure." He opens the door for her. "Need me to carry you so you don't get squished under anything?"

Dior stares at him for a moment, considering his offer before nodding. "Though I don't need you to do so... I think I'd like you to do that."

He chuckles, picking her up with his mouth and setting her on his back. "Think of it as a victory ride."

"That'll work." She smiles, resting her head against the back of his neck.

The two enter the dam, shutting the door and instantly noticing the transition form natural sunlight outside to sudden artificial light inside. They have entered onto a sort of observation platform on one end of the dam at about the middle level. On one side of them one cane see all the way to the other end of the dam, between them and it being all sort of pipes, turbines, and water spilling form various ports. The constant rushing fluid and whirring machines creating a constant background noise, though not as loud as one might think. A pony or two can briefly be seen as they walk along the walkways positioned throughout the place.

On their other side, and where Hydro heads toward, is what appears to be a section devoted to rooms of various usage. A table with a mare eating lunch is the first they pass, and the other few with doors open only ever show consoles or filing rooms. Hydro heads to the end of the hall and starts up the stairs.

The nymph looks around in confusion, gripping Hydro's sides a little tighter. "This is... not quite how I imagined..."

He looks back at her. "Exactly what were you imagining? A beaver dam?"

"Of course not." She scoffs, pressing a little closer to his neck. "I just didn't expect... well, an enclosed space."

He turns around to go up another flight of stairs. "This is really the only closed part since it's a stairwell, but all the rooms have nice balconies so they don't feel small. The only real places ponies would have problems with claustrophobia would be if they have to get into the machines, but that's a bit outside your job description."

She smacks his side with her hindleg, frowning deeply. "I'm not claustrophobic. I'm agoraphillic." She rolls her eyes playfully. "I just prefer open spaces."

He turns his head enough to be able to look at her with one amused eye. "Hey now, no need to be abusive with the pony helping you get something to do so you don't go crazy."

I doubt I'd go crazy. I'd be bored, definitely." Dior chuckles, shaking her head. "But that's about it. I'd be coming over here to spend time with you, either way." She sticks her tongue out at him.

This only makes him chuckle. "You wouldn't rather be spending time with your family?"

"They're at work, right now." She bops the back of his head. "I can't spend much time with them, anyways."

He raises an eyebrow. "I'm at work too..."

She opens her mouth to respond but stops, unsure what to say. "...you won, yet again. Congrats."

He smiles back at her. "I'm sure you'll win too, sometime. Probably something important." He exits onto the floor he was seeking.

"I doubt that." She sighs, letting herself lay against his back once more. "You're just too good..."

"Says the former general to the engineer," he comments wryly.

"I'm better at combat, yes," she smirks softly, "but you're still better at other things."

He narrows his eyes at her. "Like what? Board games?"

"That would be evident, yes." She taps his forehead. "You also tend to have the last word between us."

He just laughs again. "Is that a bad thing?"

"Not necessarily..." She suddenly brightens up, a coy smile on her lips. "...but I hear it's something colts like to have with their marefriends."

Used to this little tactic of hers, her responds with a smirk of his own. "Some I suppose, but I would like to make one thing clear to you, Dior. I'm not a colt, I'm a stallion."

"Isn't that the same thing?" She frowns softly, scratching the side of her head.

The red pony sheepishly smiles at his apparently missed joke. "Thinks of colts as males still in school and inexperienced with many things in life. Stallions are the opposite: mature, working, living their lives."

"Oh?" She chuckles, cupping his chin with a hoof. "And you think you're mature, do you?" She laughs, pecking his nose. "You're not as mature as I am, Hydro."

He smile softens a bit as he lightly taps her nose. "You aren't that much more mature than me. Mentally anyway, considering you still seem to be pretty young at heart."

"Thanks for the compliment." She winks at him before scooting up a bit on his back. "So, where is this pony we're looking for?"

He motions his head towards the door at the end of the hall they aren't far from. "Should be in his office, right there. He seems like a good stallion, a bit short worded and straightforward, but that can be a good thing. Don't think that makes him dumb though, he's like Rhino, always weighing things in his mind."

"I'll take your word for it." She nods, gently hugging his neck. "Thanks for the affection, by the way. It's helping quite a bit."

He leans his head against hers. "Glad you're enjoying it." He stops as they reach the door. "Ready?"

"I think so." She twirls a bit of hair around a hoof, slightly nervous.

"You'll do fine, you've got the right stuff for this, and you've got me helping." He faces forwards again, saying one final thing before they enter. "Just try to relax."

She pouts, nuzzling his neck for comfort. "Easy for you to say."

A talk, a tour, a test, and another talk later, the two exit the dam, Dior and Hydro's back once more and the red pony not bothered one bit by it. He looks back at the small nymph. "Told you it would be fine."

“And you got another one on me." She rolls her eyes playfully. "Still, I'm glad I came. Their stone is too porous."

"Is it really that bad?" He starts walking down the hill. "I mean, I know you mentioned it wasn't the best idea to the boss, even if it was what they had to work with, but how bad are we talking?"

"Too porous, and it absorbs water." She holds up a hoof, frowning sternly. "If it absorbs too much water, it becomes a lot more fragile. In other words, it can break."

He grimaces. "Yeesh, no wonder they had that break a while back. Wonder what pony had the bright idea to use that stone... Doesn't matter I guess, what was that one you suggested to replace it?"

"I suggested granite-based concrete with a gradient aggregate." She giggles, shaking her head. "Granite's not that hard to find, not as porous as the current substance, and, if there are cracks that form, they can be easily sealed with grout."

"Or with that little ability or yours that you showed with those spare pieces?" He asks.

"Yes, but I won't be here every second of the day." She shrugs, closing her eyes and snuggling up a bit more against his back. "They need something in case I'm not here, you know?"

"Fair enough..." he casts another look back at her. "Comfortable?"

"Yes, thank you." She peeks open an eye at him. "Why do you ask?"

He smirks. "Just asking because usually I would expect somepony to curl up and fall asleep on Rhino, not me."

"I'm not sleeping." She smiles back, leaning up and kissing his cheek. "I'm appreciating your strength as I relax."

He straightens up a bit at the last compliment, but still counters with another observation. "And getting awfully affectionate as you do so... is that a changeling thing?"

"Hey, you're giving me just as much affection." She giggles, resting her head against his neck once more. "I'm just giving the same as I'm given."

A chuckle rumbles in his chest. "You just decided not to radiate it like me and instead decide to apply it to my head and neck."

She pauses, pulling back slightly and quirking an eyebrow at him. "Would you prefer me to apply it to your lips?" She smirks, winking playfully at him. "Not that I'm against that idea, of course."

He blinks. "I'm starting to think you're either tired or going through some kind of withdrawal from something... Do I need to get Rhino to stuff you full of love again or something?"

Dior stares at him blankly, unsure of what to think. "...are you immune to teasing, or something?"

"No," he says bluntly, "it just escalated quick enough for me to have to make sure you were still you." He thinks a moment. "Though, considering you asked me if I was single in the first good conversation we had, maybe it's not as big of a jump as I thought."

She shrugs, turning away slightly. "It's not my fault that you're handsome."

For once, the red stallion finds himself unable to come up with a retort, and resolves to simply turn and continue walking, the slightest bit of reddened skin able to be seen through his fur as it shifts while he walks.

The nymph rubs his fur with cheek before blinking, jerking away in surprise. "...am I imagining things, or did you just get warmer?"

Hydro grumbles to her, still facing forward. "I admit nothing."

She smirks, leaning forward and playfully nuzzling his neck. "Sooner or later, the truth will come out. I can be patient."

He actually has a counter for that. "I'm an earth pony, I can be stubborn."

"I'm a literal earth changeling." She laughs boldly. "I can beat you in a challenge of wills."

A corner of his mouth raises up. "We'll see. I don't think you've encountered a rock like me before."

Dior smiles, moving up and standing on his back. "Maybe." She leans forward and gently nibbles the tip of his ear. "You've never encountered one like me, either."

His other ear flicks a few times as he answers. "No... no I haven't..."

Chapter 21: On the Farm

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The sun rises the next day on another larger than average household, this one just as filled with loving family as the last. A mass of light blue mane rouses itself from the comfortable bed, matching eyes rubbed by a pale yellow hoof as the mare fully wakes. She gets out of the bed and onto her hooves, the soft smell of the apple orchards floating in through the open window, something she still appreciates every morning as it reminds her of her husband. As she thinks of the red stallion, she looks to his half of the bed. As always, it's made nice and neat when he gets up before her.

She smiles and does the same before yawning and heading downstairs. Another apple scent, though this one a little more savory, caresses her sense of smell as she wanders into the kitchen, currently occupied by both the oldest and youngest Apples.

The wrinkled visage of Granny Smith turns to Manila. "Mornin' sunshine! Ye're just in time to eat breakfast with Apple Bloom before she heads off to school!"

The mare looks around. "Are Applejack and Big Mac already out in the fields?"

"Yep! Those two are out there workin'." She points a spoon at the blue-maned pony who had opened her mouth to say something. "Now don't you be startin' up again with yer apologizin about sleepin' in. Ya've only been here a week since ya married meh grandson, we ain't expectin ya to rise with the rest of us yet."

"I... thank you." Manila takes a seat at the table next to the yellow filly, taking a few pancakes from the stack in the center of the table.

Said filly looks up at her, swallowing the bite in her mouth before speaking. "Miss Manila? May Ah ask you somethin'?"

She looks kindly back at the bow-wearing filly. "Of course, Apple Bloom."

She tilts her head, her gaze moving to the ceiling. "How come Ah get in trouble for bouncin' on the bed, but you don't?"

Manila quickly takes the bit of pancake she was about to eat away from her mouth as she coughs, her face burning with embarrassment. Granny cackles in the background as the mare turns to Apple Bloom. "Well... umm... it's just... Ah! It's just another one of those things we tell you that you can't do until you're older." She mentally pats herself on the back for avoiding that particular landmine.

She pouts, turning back to her plate. "Why do adults have ta be so secretive?" She shoves a forkful of the fluffy pastry into her mouth, sulking.

Manila takes a bite of her pancakes, humming happily before responding. "Well, last I checked, fillies and colts don't tell their families absolutely everything they've been up to, do they?"

"...maybe not everything." The yellow filly quickly grabs her cup, bringing it up for a long sip.

"I thought so." She ruffles the filly's bow a bit before going back to her own breakfast.

After a minute more of eating, Granny Smith finishes the dishes for now, turning back to her granddaughter. "Alright Bloom, ya got everything ya need for school?"

"Sure do!" She bounds from her chair and snatches up her saddlebag. "Miss Manila, thank ya again fer helpin' me with my report!" She stops next to her, grinning brightly.

"It was my pleasure, Apple Bloom. Please though, call me Manila." She stands up from the table and leans down to nuzzle the filly. "Be sure to let me know if you need any more help, okay?"

"Will do!" She quickly hugs her and rushes out the door, waving as she does. "Have a nice day, Manila!"

Both mares wave to the filly as she darts off, the older one commenting after a moment. "Gettin' to that perceptive age, ain't she? Still, can't say Ah ain't pleased you and mah grandson are gettin' to work on mah great grandfoals."

Manila's face practically glows as she buries it in her forehooves, groaning.

This only makes Granny cackle more, walking over and patting her on the back. "Ah, don't you worry dear, only teasin'. Far as Ah'm concerned, it's just you and Mac bein' a newly married couple. Here, finish up and ya can go help him out in the eastern field this mornin' while Ah get yer lunch ready."

The mare nods gratefully, a small blush still present on her cheeks as she finishes eating and is soon out the door, ears pricked and eyes peeled for her big red lump of a husband.

As she heads further out in the fields, there is the rhythmic clopping of hooves against the earth, punctuated by a pause and a cascade of falling fruit. She turns past a row of trees to see the stallion for which she's been searching, hard at work.

She soon spots him, his tell-tale form backed up to a tree before one of his hindlegs raises and give it a satisfying kick, causing the apples to all fall right into the baskets, an aim that only Apple family or close friends ever seem to come close to. She stops for a moment, half-hidden behind a tree as she watches him duck down and move the baskets to one side of the tree for easy pick up later. The bit of wheat in his mouth shifts to the other side as he lays eyes on his next tree, a light breeze keeping him cool. The mare approaches him as he walks slightly away from her, her eyes slightly glazed as she sees the large taut muscles working beneath his red coat.

Suddenly he stops, bodily turning sideways. "Like what ya see?" There's a tone of amusement to the deep, rumbling voice, and a smile pulling on the corner of his mouth.

She gives an embarrassed giggle as she closes the distance, rubbing her body all along his as she passes, ending with a kiss on his cheek. "I always do. Working hard, Mac?"

"Hardly workin'." He chuckles, pulling her into a short, sweet kiss. "Ya realize you were droolin' a bit, right?"

She nuzzles him. "Are you saying you wouldn't do the same if you caught me wiping the sweat off my head with a cold towel after a long walk of hauling the apple cart?" She rubs her cutie mark against him.

"Nope." He smirks and nuzzles her back, wrapping a foreleg around her, holding her hips still. "Ya know what that does ta me. Ya really wanna risk bein' caught out here?"

She leans against his chest, her head just under his chin. "You know how much I think you're worth it, but still, I suppose I don't want any more awkward questions from Apple Bloom if she starts hearing noises from the fields as well as the room..."

He tenses, eyes darting about a split second before he regains his stoic expression. "She, ah, heard, did she? How much?"

She regains her slight blush. "Nothing bad... she just thinks we were jumping on the bed."

"Ah see." He sighs, turning to the next tree. "As long as that's the most she thinks of it." He glances at the barn as he squares himself up. "Would ya like to try the apple cellar, sometime?" He kicks the tree, liberating its branches of their fruit. "Ah think it might be more secluded."

"I'll leave that up to you... if you ask, I'll always have a hard time resisting." She giggles again, kissing his neck. "Oh, I can't believe how frisky I've gotten since the wedding... I wonder if everypony feels this way..."

"Ah don't know. Ah can say this, though." He smiles, sitting down to pull her into an embrace. "Ah feel the same way."

"Glad to hear it." Their lips meet in a long kiss before she looks around. "I guess you should get back to work before Applejack catches me distracting you again, huh?"

"Too late."

The couple turn to see the mare in question, leaning up against a tree. She smirks, pushing the tip of her hat back. "Can't you two wait 'til noon, at least?"

Big Mac smiles softly. "Nope."

Manila blushes as she scuffs a hoof against the ground. "Sorry Applejack, just saying good morning..."

"Yes, Ah can see that." She turns to her, her smile falling into a flat line. "Ah just don't want an incident like Friday afternoon." She shudders softly. "Ah'll never get that picture outta mah head."

The mare only blushes more and hides herself against her husband. "Well, we have found better ways to fasten the rose to the door handle so that doesn't happen again..." She coughs awkwardly.

"If ya say so." She shakes her head and turns to leave. "Since you're here, mind helpin' Mac out with the harvestin'? We need to start workin' on the stock for cider season, after all."

"Sure thing!" A quick salute is given to the orange mare as she walks off. After waiting a moment longer to see if she comes back, Manila does a quick turn and give Mac one more kiss on the lips. "So, I'm on basket duty again?"

"Eeyup." He chuckles, leaning down and nuzzling her. "Ah think this section's almost done, so it won't take long." He starts to move on to the next tree. "'Sides, Ah think AJ's still a bit upset at you for last year."

She pushes him, or more accurately, attempts to push him but his mass doesn't do more that shift slightly under her effort. "Hey! That wasn't my fault! I didn't know the difference between the hard and regular cider! You still won't tell me what all I did when I was drunk..."

"Well, one thing ya did was cling to AJ for a while. Then..." He coughs lightly, nervous for the first time that day. "Then ya tried ta kiss her."

Manila lets out a groan, burying her face is his coat. "Oh dear..."

He wraps a foreleg around her, smiling softly. "It wasn't that bad. Ya just gave her a peck on the cheek 'fore Ah pulled ya away."

He gets an appreciative nuzzle. "Thank you. Well, let me go ahead and start getting these baskets set up for you so I don't delay you and longer." She starts walking back toward the waiting cart, swinging her hips a bit to give him a treat.

Big Mac chuckles, shaking his head. "Ah don't mind. Ah'm happy with what Ah see." He turns to the tree next to him, running a hoof along its surface. His face returns to its usual stoic state as he does, his mind going back to the job at hoof.

The two work is silence for a few hours, Big Mac doing the bucking while Manila supports him with ways to make his job easier. This includes setting up the baskets, making sure he stays hydrated, and helping him haul the apples to the barn when they get done with a row.

As they collect the last of the apples from that section, the stallion sighs in relief. "That should do it for now." He smiles warmly at Manila, nodding a bit. "Thank ya kindly for the help."

She smiles back, looking down the row and nodding at the fruitless trees and filled baskets. "Not a problem. I'm always here for my stallion."

Big Mac chuckles, draping a foreleg across her back. "Ah'm glad to hear that." He leans down and tenderly kisses her.

She eagerly accepts, the two enjoying their reward of a moment just for the two of them.

Of course, the moment doesn't go for very long before another voice hails them. "There you are!"

They reluctantly break their lips lock to look up and see a pony almost exactly the same as Manila. the only difference between the Goodall sisters is that Mane has two tones of blue in her mane, one slightly lighter, and her coat is the smallest bit darker than Manila's. She descends the hill towards the two, wearing both her saddlebags and presumably her sister's.

Big Mac nods respectfully, a small smile on his face. "Mornin', Mane."

"Hi sis!" Manila waves enthusiastically. "Looks like you found us pretty easily today!"

Mane nods. "Yes, I went to the farmhouse and Granny Smith pointed me in your direction, she sent your bag and lunch too." She motions to the extra saddlebag she's carrying before looking at Mac. "Am I going to have to fight to get her away from you?"

He shakes his head, chuckling warmly. "Nope." He leans closer to the lighter-toned mare, whispering into her ear. "Ah'll be looking forward to when ya return."

His wife giggles as she flutters her half-lidded eyes at him. "Me too." She kisses him lovingly before whispering back. "See you after work."

"See you." He smiles as he starts towards the nearby cart, getting ready to load it with the baskets.

Manila trots over to her sister, accepting her saddlebags and putting them on before nodding as they start on their way off the farm. "So how'd that date you had last night go?"

Mane sighs, shaking her head. "Ah, you know, the usual... he was nice, but overall it was just awkward, there was no spark. It was more like we were just trading statements back and forth."

"Well... better than those ones who left because they didn't like it when you talked about your job, right?" The younger sister smiles winningly, trying to see the bright side.

"I suppose... is it wrong to hope for a date that qualifies as more than 'better than the worst'?" She shakes her head again. "I swear I've tried half the single stallions in town by now..."

"Hey, it'll be okay." Manila affectionately bumps her side. "You'll find your pony, you'll see."

"I don't know sis... I'm thinking of maybe taking a break from the dating scene." Her eyes wander over the fields as they trot along the path. "I'm just... I don't know, maybe I should take more of a patient role. Sit back, watch, be a little more choosy when I eventually try again?"

"Well, I mean, if that's what you want..." Manila tries to clarify what her sister means. "So, like what, are you going to just sort of sit back and reevaluate what you want?"

"Sort of, I suppose." The sound of barking reaches both of their ears, bringing smiles to their faces. "Watch out, looks like we might have company soon."

From down the road comes a group of puppies, all of them wagging and yipping excitedly at the sight of the mares. They almost tumble over themselves as they get close, skidding to a halt less than a yard away. All but one, who charges straight up to the sisters and pants happily, body almost vibrating from how rapidly he's wagging his tail.

Mane crouches down affectionately petting the canine's head. "Hey there, Bandit, how's the pack doing?"

The dog, given his name due to the black fur covering his head above his muzzle, giving a roguish appearance, barks once before licking her face happily.

The vet giggles, nuzzling the pup. "Oh, who's a good boy?" She looks over the pup whose head is at her chest height. "Good thing you don't have much more growing to do, otherwise you and your siblings would almost be as big as ponies." She looks up at the rest. "Speaking of which, how come he's the only one who gives us love? I thought the rest of you liked us too."

At her words, the other canines immediately swarm the sisters. They nuzzle and lick at them, vying for their attention. One puppy, however, takes a bit longer to reach them, holding a forepaw up off the ground when she finally does.

Mane immediately notices this, directing the other pups to all love on Manila, who squeaks as she is surrounded on all sides and trying to give equal love back to all of them. The vet speaks in a gentle voice to the one pup left. "What's the matter, Ginger? Did you hurt your paw?" She reaches down and takes the limb, the mixed red and brown furred pup looking at her with big eyes.

Examining the pad, it's clear the pup stepped onto something, and that something is still in there. With a quick nip of her teeth, the doctor pulls out the offending implement, showing it to be a long, narrow thorn.

Spitting out the thorn, Mane rubs the pad to see if there's anything else wrong. "There we go... That should seal up quickly." She lets the paw fall back down to the ground as she pats the pup's head. "Better?"

She yips brightly, leaping up and licking the mare's face, her paws braced against the pony's chest.

Mane laughs, petting the pup and turning her head so she can speak. "Good girl, good girl, now you try and stay away from those nasty thorns, okay?" A look over at her sister shows the other mare completely buried under the other dogs and squealing the whole time. "Now I've got to rescue Manila..." A quick shooing later and the dogs all happily run off, enjoying the farm as the older sibling helps the younger one up. "You alright?"

Manila, now with her coat going every direction from the constant licking, just laughs and waves her sister off. "Oh I'm fine, that was how Mac and I got woke up this past Saturday. They really are sweethearts."

"Yes they are. Here," she passes the lighter mare a small towel, "Go ahead and get your coat back in order so you don't look like you and Mac had an early morning rolling in the hay."

The other mare blushes brightly as they walk. "Mane~!"

Chapter 22: The Day

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The day had arrived. Before they had even had breakfast today, Rhino and Gel were treated to a rush-delivery letter from their friends. It was short, sweet, and to-the-point: 'She's in heat, come after work, bring an overnight bag.' The ink is barely present on some letters, reflecting the hurried nature of its writing in order to get it to them post haste. A quick word to Hydro and Dior assured them that Ruby would be taken care of when the time came.

The two parents go through the day with nothing different at first glance beyond overstuffed saddlebags. Still though, as the clock draws closer to the time where they will have to head out, each of them has their own thoughts about what is to come.

The navy nymph glances over at her husband, concerned. She slowly approaches him, placing a hoof on his shoulder. "Rhino?"

The stallion, who hasn't said quite as much today, but still seemed to be in an alright mood, turns to her as he looks up from the bags. "Hmm? What is it, love?"

"Is something wrong?" She nuzzles his cheek, concerned. "You've been quiet all morning... more so than usual..."

"I... guess just the impending feeling of this situation is making me nervous again..." He rubs the back of his neck with a hoof. "I'm just trying to distract myself by seeing if we forgot anything in the bags."

She quirks an eyebrow at him. "We double checked everything before we left the house. We even made sure to bring a second endurance draft, just in case." She giggles, tapping his nose playfully. "You know you don't have to worry about anything, silly."

He chuckles quietly. "Yeah... I suppose you're right." Nuzzling her affectionately, he continues. "I think I've figured out a good mindset for getting me through this, so I think I should be fine."

"That's good to hear." She smiles, nipping his nose before looking down at Ruby, watching her sleep next to the silver fox. "Those two deserve to have their own little bundle of joy... don't you agree, love?"

"Yeah...." He gently strokes the filly's mane affectionately before letting out a single quiet laugh. "I wonder what the chances are that they'll ask us again because they want another."

"I don't know..." She turns to him, tilting her head to one side. "What 'mindset' did you decide on, exactly?"

"Well... how to explain this...." His thinking hoof, which at this point is whichever one he chooses it to be, moves to his chin. "It's sort of a small combination of focusing less on my feelings for the act and more on the act itself, a slight mental distancing, and I plan on letting a bit more of my instincts take over. At least that's the plan anyway... the initial hurdle of it will be the hard part... but I think once I get past that everything else should just be me acting in the moment. After we're done... is a different story."

Gel blinks, staring blankly at him. "You... you're not serious, are you?"

Not being quite the reaction he was expecting, Rhino tilts his head. "What's wrong with that? I thought of a way to get myself past the mental block, isn't that a good thing?"

"The last time you did that, you didn't give off any emotions. Any emotions." She pokes his chest, frowning softly. "I think it was made clear that both participants need to have love during the act. Otherwise, there's... complications..."

He sighs. "I was afraid that might be a problem... It's not like I'm going full emotionless though, you're there. Does my love being directed at you in the vicinity not satisfy that particular requirement?"

"I... um..." She scratches the side of her head, unsure. "I guess it might work..."

"Well... if it endangers the foal, I want a little more than a 'might'." He thinks. "Umm... lust is obviously out the window... intense friendship perhaps? Combined with what I said before."

She nods to herself, shrugging sheepishly. "It should be enough to work... you're a near-endless fountain of love, anyways." She laughs brightly, nuzzling his cheek. "I just hope Luster's silence won't be a turn-off for you, Mister Aural." She winks and turns back to her desk, organizing a few papers on it.

"Huh, hadn't even thought of that." He muses. "Although it might prove interesting to do things without words, having to rely on on body language to tell everything..." A sly smile forms on his face as he playfully tugs Gel's tail once with a bit of magic.

She squeaks, her wings flaring out in surprise. She turns to him, blushing brightly. "D-did you... already drink the draft?" She gulps, forcing her flagging tail back down. "Or... are you just teasing me?"

"Just teasing, love." He walks up to her, nuzzling her lovingly. "Besides, why would me drinking that stuff do anything right now? It's just a stamina and health tonic, right?"

"That... and a dash of aphrodisiac..." She nervously smiles at him, rubbing the back of her neck. "I sort of... added it to each one before packing them..." She averts her gaze, feeling a mix of embarrassment and relief from her confession. "I... I thought it'd help get started... you know?"

"Well... thank you for telling me." He pecks her lightly on the cheek. "I think you're right, that will take the edge off. As long as it's not too strong though, I'm not usually one for mind-altering stuff."

She giggles at the kiss, turning back to him. "It's not that strong... at least, I don't think it is..." She tilts her head to one side, confused. "I've... yet to try it... but Zecora said it will do the trick..."

"Good to know." He looks back to check on Ruby before turning back to his wife. "Actually, I've been meaning to ask... how are you taking all this, what we're going to be doing?"

"I'm taking it well, I think." She smiles warmly at him. "We're helping our friends start a family. Nothing wrong with that."

"Well, yes I know the reasoning behind it is easy to get onboard with," he puts a foreleg around her, "but I'm just making sure you aren't like me in that you have any problems or thoughts on how we actually make that goal happen."

"I-I don't have any problems." She leans into his embrace, gently nuzzling his chest. "It's just the one time, after all..."

"If you're sure..." The stallion rests his head on top of hers. "You think we can still do that date night you were planning for this friday? I think I could use some nice quality time with you and Ruby tomorrow, and that the day after."

She smiles warmly, letting her eyes close, enjoying simply being next to him. "I'd love that, Rhino..."

The sound of the doors opening is heard, accompanied quickly by the voice of the younger Goodall sister. "Aww... now that sure is a sight worth coming to work for. Two adorable parents and an even more adorable foal sleeping." The excitable newly wed grins as she gives the pink filly a quick nuzzle.

Mane just laughs quietly at her sister's antics. "Oh I'm sure given a year you and Mac will be the same picture as them. Yours might even be pink too." Ignoring the first mare's now wide-eyed glance, the vet looks to the couple with a smile. "Good morning to both of you. How have things been today?"

"They've been... interesting, I think. Definitely going to be interesting later..." She looks down, seeing the sleepy filly slowly wake up.

The tiny pink pony blinks her eyes, looking up at the mare leaning over her. She babbles happily, reaching up and poking her nose.

Manila giggles as the hoof tickles her muzzle "Hey Ruby!" She coos as she brings a hoof forward and touches it to the foal's. "Did you have a nice nap, my favorite little pink filly?"

Meanwhile, the other mare continues conversing with the parents. "Ah yes, the reason why you're going to both need tomorrow off." Mane nods, facing Rhino directly. "I just wanted to let both of you know that I think you're doing a really good things for your friends."

The stallion nods. "Thanks Mane, that means a lot." He rubs the back of his head. "I'll admit, I didn't think I'd be fathering another foal quite so soon after the first one came..."

"If I had my way..." She brushes her tail over his withers, smirking playfully. "I would be carrying our second, already." She nips his cheek and sticks her tongue out before turning to Mane, slightly nervous. "You'll... keep it between us, right?"

Ruby brightly laughs, grabbing her hoof and nibbling on it. She looks up at her, her eyes shining with happiness.

"Oh~!" Manila squees scoops the filly up, holding her in her forelegs and blowing a few raspberries on her little tummy.

Trying to ignore the increasingly cute sounds behind her, Mane continues with a caring face. "Of course, Gel. This isn't the kind of thing you just go spreading around. It's private. Only our friends will know about it." Her head tilts to one side. "Though, if you want one, why aren't you carrying again yet?"

Rhino coughs awkwardly. "Well, erm, first off all she hasn't gone into heat again yet. Secondly, I managed to convince her to wait until we had a year with Ruby under our belts before going for more. It's just so we can focus on all the early hurdles. It wasn't easy to stand my ground with her pulling pleading faces the whole time, I'll tell you that much."

Gel pouts, turning her head away. "I think he's getting used to them..."

The little unicorn squeals happily, latching onto her muzzle with her small legs. She nuzzles her, purring contentedly in her current comfortable spot.

Mane turns around at the squeal, giving Rhino a moment to lick his wife's neck to prove her wrong. The older sibling goes on unaware. "Manila, what are you doing over there?"

The younger mare just turns around, showing the filly now attached to her like a starfish. She speaks in a distinctly nasally voice, declaring happily. "She's on my nose!"

"Yes, I can see that." Mane fails to hold in her giggles as she turns back to the couple. "Is she going to be alright without you?" She motions to the filly with her head.

Rhino winces slightly. "We think so... she didn't do great last time, but we think she should do better this time..."

"If not, Mercury should be able to calm her down." She points to the fox waiting patiently next to Mane, his tail swishing behind him as he watches the mare.

Ruby climbs up the younger sister's face, standing in her mane. She laughs brightly, lifting a hoof up. "Dada!"

The stallion laughs. "Not quite, Ruby. I'm over here." He looks over at his wife. "What do you think she's going to be like when she can talk to us fully?"

"An unstoppable force of cuteness." The nymph giggles, covering her mouth.

The pink filly looks down, poking the sherbet mare's forehead with a hoof, her bright green eyes inquisitive. "Niwa?"

The smile that appears on the mare's face is the brightest they've seen since her wedding day. "She said my name! She said my name! Mane Mane Mane, she said my name!" Manila practically dances in place as she squeals.

Her older sister can only stand there and smile at the happiness on her sibling's face.

The stallion shakes his head in wonder. "there's another name she learned out of the blue... she's definitely a smart filly."

"She got it from her daddy." Gel winks at him, leaning up and pecking his cheek.

Ruby babbles happily and nips the pony's ear. She sees her father and waves, excitedly squealing.

He waves right back at her, a proud smile on his face. "Now it's when she does things like that I have trouble not keeping her all for Gel and I. You just want to hold her and love her all day long..."

"I know right?" The receptionist agrees. "She just makes you want to spoil her with the world!"

Gel's attention snaps to Manila, and she frowns slightly. "I agree, but... I wouldn't go as far as spoiling her... I mean..." She trails off and brings a hoof to her chin, trying to figure out how to better word it.

Meanwhile, the filly sees a butterfly flitting around behind the mare's head. She coos in delight and reaches out to touch it, stretching out over her perch's back.

Manila notices the shift in weight on her head, rolling her eyes back in an attempt to see where she physically can't. "Hey, careful up there..."

Rhino's attention now snaps to the filly, watching and readying his magic in case a quick catch is needed.

As he watches, her horn disappears, wings taking their place. She starts to flap them, as if trying to join the colorful creature's dance, not noticing her mother's terrified expression.

Her living perch stays completely still, not knowing what's happening on her head but the looks on everypony else's faces convince her to not move and risk causing the foal to fall.

Ruby holds out her hoof, whining softly. Inexplicably, the butterfly moves closer, landing on her nose. She giggles, the small creature's legs tickling her. She settles back in Manila's mane, enjoying the colors of the beautiful wings before her.

Gel lets out the breath she didn't realize she was holding, collapsing against Rhino's side. That was... a little too close...

Letting out a relieved sigh of his own, her husband agrees. Yeah... just a bit... He muses as he feels the tension drain out of the room. "You think she's starting to get into that exploratory stage? I heard that's when you really have to watch them or keep them busy."

"I don't know... what do you think, Mane?" She turns to the doctor not next to her, curious.

The filly turns to look at them, the butterfly's wings making it look like she's wearing a mask. It also stops her from seeing her parents. "Dada? Mama?"

"Right over here, Ruby. Don't worry." Rhino calls to her reassuringly, smiling at her mask.

Mane answers Gel's question with a small shrug. "It's possible, though that phase seems to come and go throughout a foal's life. It's like they just have times when they get really curious."

"I see..." The nymph watches their daughter reach out to the source of the stallion's voice, smiling softly at the cute sight.

Hoping to prevent a repeat of the earlier incident, Rhino lights up his horn and puts a light pressure on the tiny pink hoof, hoping this will keep her from trying to walk towards him from her position.

She squeals happily, pressing against the aura. "Dada!" She pulls her hoof away, holding both forelegs out to him. "Hug?"

"Another new word? I'm starting to think you've been listening way closer than we thought to the words we say often..." He smiles at the filly sitting there with her arms wide, but frowns when he realizes that doing that would either crush or disturb the butterfly. He lights up his horn again and wraps the aura around her torso, hoping it will suffice. "Feels better doing it without magic..." He laments.

The butterfly takes that moment to fly away, revealing the filly's emerald eyes. She looks at him pleadingly, whining softly as she continues to reach for him. "Dada?"

His heart melting the stallion quickly walks over. “Sorry Manila, I think it's my turn again." Using a little magic, he brings the filly into his forelegs, nuzzling her softly.

She squeals happily, eagerly nuzzling her father back, her tiny hooves trying to hug his muzzle.

Walking back to the other group as Manila starts playing with Mercury, Rhino stops in front of Gel. "I figured we should get in as much love time with her as possible before we have to leave. You want in?"

She smiles softly, playfully raising an eyebrow. "Do you have to ask?" She tenderly nuzzles the filly's cheek, giggling at the soft coo she gets in response.

The two earth pony sisters smile at the scene, then each other as they excuse themselves to the back, both to get ready for their shift and to let the family have their privacy. The two parents simply sit there, entertaining their happy filly. One could feel the love from the scene even if one weren't a changeling.

Mercury, deeming that his friend is safe, decides to head towards the back. He quietly pads down the hall, looking for the mares who went before him.

Manila is found easily enough, the peppy mare shimmying into the shirt of her scrubs just inside the supply room and fixing her mane afterward. However, it's the sigh that comes from the partially open office door that grabs his attention.

Curious, he walks over, quietly pushing the door open a bit. He pokes his head inside, peering around the office.

Inside, Doctor Goodall is getting dressed as well. She slips on her usual white coat, but something seems a bit off. Her movements are sluggish, as her eyes are distant. She casts a glance back toward the lobby, giving another small sigh.

The fox quietly moves up to her hoof, watching her silently for a few seconds. When she doesn't notice him right away, he places a paw on her foreleg, whining softly at her.

With a small start, Mane's eyes widen and glance down. "Oh... it's you Mercury. What are you doing back here?" She gives him a weak smile.

He doesn't buy her fake expression and raises himself so he's on his hindlegs, forepaws braced against her chest. He gently nuzzles her cheek, trying to help her feel better.

"Aww... aren't you a sweet one?" She nuzzles the top of his head. "Thank you for caring... I don't suppose you're actually a strapping silver stallion under a fox disguise, are you?"

He tilts his head to one side, unsure what she means. He yips, his tail swishing behind him.

"I thought not, still was worth a try though." She crouches down to his level, smiling at him. "Doesn't mean I don't still like you though. You are one of the sweetest guys I've ever met." Her hoof pets him fondly as she continues in a teasing voice. "Who's a sweet guy? Yes you are, yes you are..."

He leans into her hoof, murring quietly. His foreleg lifts up, and he paws at her coat as he licks her hoof.

She laughs again, sitting up and picking the kit up in her hooves to hug him. "You're a good friend Mercury... thanks for cheering me up."

He smiles at her, letting her cradle him in her forelegs. He clearly enjoys the attention, nuzzling and licking her cheek.

This only makes the mare happier. "Oh, if only you weren't already with another family, you'd be coming everywhere to be my little friend. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to live with only being able to play with you when I see you, huh?" She looks up at the clock. "Well... I guess I should start heading up front. Again though, thanks for cheering me up. You seem to be doing that with everypony." Standing up, she moves the foreleg holding him to her shoulder. "Why don't you let me give you a lift up front, huh? It's the least I can do."

He jumps onto her back, nuzzling her neck before sniffing her mane, curious. He looks over to her, glancing to her two-toned blue hair almost questioningly.

Feeling his gaze on her, she turns to him. "What? Something wrong with my mane?"

He shakes his head, pawing at it and whining softly. He licks his muzzle, hoping she'd understand what he means.

"Umm..." She wracks her brain, having a fair understanding of animal behavior from over the years. "You... don't like how I keep it in a bun?"

He huffs, shaking his head. He looks around, slightly upset. 'Where's Selena and her typewriter when I need her?' Not seeing the Russian blue anywhere, he sighs, leaning forward and contenting himself with sniffing her berry-scented mane.

Watching him a moment longer, she tries one more time. "You like how it smells?"

He yips happily, his soft, bushy tail swishing behind him.

She laughs as his tail tickles her while it sweeps back and forth across her back. "Well thank you, I quite like it myself." She gives him another little nuzzle. "Come on then, let's go see what the rest of your family is doing, huh?"

He nods, nuzzling her in return before curling up on her back.

They reenter the front to find Manila already there playing with a very energetic Specter as Selena and the family watch on. "Looks like everypony is having a good time. Gel, remind me, did you say you were going to go to your friends house straight from here, or did you want to drop off the rest of your group at your house first?"

The nymph looks up from where she's playing with Ruby, smiling softly. "We're heading straight there. A friend of ours is coming to pick everyone else up..." She glances at the lightly-dozing fox, quirking an eyebrow. "He... certainly seems happy..." She giggles, waving a hoof playfully. "At least that shows how well you get along with animals, right?"

"Wouldn't be very good at my job if I didn't would I?" Mane giggles teasingly. "It's fine, I just don't get to spend too much time with these guys, so Mercury and I were just playing around. Manila's not the only one who gets to do that after all."

"I never said a word." She smiles, turning her attention to their daughter, watching her toddle over to Rhino, babbling happily. When she reaches him, she hugs his foreleg, cooing softly as she nuzzles him.

The stallion actually puts on a face like he is in pain. "Oh come on... don't do this to me. I feel guilty enough as if when I have to leave you and then you do this?" He has no choice but to nuzle her back and kiss her.

She laughs brightly, tapping his nose with a tiny hoof. "Da."

He chuckles. "Yep, that's me. Who's that?" He points to his wife.

"Mama!" She claps her hooves together, squealing in excitement.

"That's my smart filly..." Rhino nuzzles her again. "You'll be talking our ears off in no time."

"Hug!" She latches onto his muzzle, playfully nipping his nose.

He just laughs again, looking up to his wife. "I guess we know what her three most used words will be. I blame the nipping habit completely on you by the way."

"I take full credit." She giggles, sticking her tongue out at him. "It's not like you don't like it, though."

"True," he admits, "you're both adorable when you do it." He looks back down at the filly on his muzzle. How are we going to convince her to go with Hydro when we're going somewhere else? She seems very attached at the moment.

I... I didn't think of that... Gel's smile falters, and she glances to the fox on Mane's back. Maybe... put her with her 'brother'?

That could work... right now she seems a bit fixated though. He continues nuzzling the filly's belly. Maybe once he gets here there will be enough going on for her to attach to Merc. Do you think we should just... sneak out? Or should we say goodbye?

I think she'd feel worse if we just sneak out... She sighs, looking at the wings on their daughter's back. Shouldn't she be back to unicorn, by now?

He shrugs. You know she always does these things when she wants to. I guess she'll just turn back when she's ready.

A few minutes later, the clinic doors open and in strolls the red form of Hydro. The stallion comes bearing saddlebags, and surprisingly, a passenger.

Manila takes note of the small white changeling on his back, tilting her head. "Huh? Who's that?"

Rhino blinks as he realizes that neither Manila nor Mane would know about Dior. Umm... love? How do we explain this?

Um... as casually as possible? She clears her throat, sheepishly smiling. "Mane, Manila, meet Diorite... she's, um, my family, from the hive..."

The older sibling walks over, peering closely at the small nymph. "Oh... well, I'll have to meet her sometime when she isn't asleep on your friend." He takes a few steps back to address the stallion himself. "I take it you two will be the ones watching all the little ones?"

Hydro nods. "Yep, that's us. I'm Hydro, nice to meet you." He holds out a hoof.

Mane takes it and gives it a shake. "Very nice to meet you. I'm Mane."

Manila zips over, Specter in her mane and just enjoying the ride. "Hello! I'm Manila!"

The red stallion nods to both of them as the introductions finish. "Nice to meet both of you." He looks to the two parents. "Are you two ready, or did you need a few?"

"Just a bit to give Ruby some last-second affection." She giggles and turns to Rhino, blinking in surprise. "Rhino? When did she get on your head?"

The stallion shrugs as he sits there with the filly on his head, two pink hooves covering his eyes. "I have no idea... I looked away for a moment and the next thing I know, all I could see is pink."

Gel smirks, looking up at the playful unicorn. "You remember Hydro, right? He and Dior are here to play with you, again."

Ruby decides her happiness a good enough reason to take her hooves off her father's eyes. She instead uses them to clap happily as she laughs.

The nymph giggles, picking her up and nuzzling her gently. "Such a smart girl..." She cradles her in one arm as she walks over to the red stallion. "Say hi to Hydro, sweetie."

She holds out her hooves to him, bubbling brightly. "Hug!"

The earth pony's face is soft as he looks down at her. "Aww... learned a new word already?" His brow furrows a moment as he looks up at Gel. "Umm... how do I...?" He motions down towards the filly, unsure of how exactly he is supposed to hug her.

She smiles warmly, nodding to the expectant pink pony. "One way would be to try kissing her belly..." She trails off, sitting down and carefully holding her out to him.

"Alright..." He leans down, nuzzles the little foal's tummy lightly.

Ruby happily squeals, hugging his muzzle with her little legs. She nuzzles him back, babbling in her foal-speak to him.

The red stallion can't help but chuckle as he speaks to both the foal and her mother. "Becoming quite the little face-hugger, isn't she? I'm glad to see she's in a good mood."

"So am I." She giggles, watching the pink then-pegasus slowly climb up his head, nestling herself in his mane. "She seems to be getting closer to you, too..."

"Well, I wouldn't be a very good uncle if she didn't like me." He eyes focus back on the changeling. "Gotta say, it was easier to get her than I thought. Think the other three will be this cooperative?"

Just as he says that, she grabs some of his hair in her teeth, tugging playfully.

Hydro winces, rolling his eyes up to look at her. "Careful up there... I don't think you can tug it out at your size, but don't go crazy."

Rhino walks over to join the group, Mane just behind with Mercury on her back. The unicorn comments. "Yeah... I've definitely noticed her biting everything since she got her teeth..."

Gel shrugs, turning to her stallion. "It's a changeling thing love... how our young show affection..." She watches as their squirrel joins Ruby on his head, giggling as she boops his nose with a hoof. "Doesn't help when nursing her, though... I hope we wean her, soon... besides, having two ponies wanting my milk's a bit much..." She glances meaningfully at her husband.

Ignoring that last part, Rhino responds to the rest. "Here I thought you loved the bonding when she nurses. You two certainly look cute together when she is." He pauses for a moment to watch Selena jump from the floor onto one of Hydro's bags, his back mostly occupied already. "And from what I've heard, they usually don't wean until about six months, so you've got five left to enjoy."

"Joy." She groans, pressing her hindlegs together. "I'm going to be so sore by then..." She glances at the fox, tilting her head to one side when he doesn't move. "Is... is Mercury asleep?"

"Hmm?" Mane turns her head around to see the silver ball still on her back. She pokes it lightly with her nose. "Wakey wakey little friend. Time for you to go home."

He whines quietly, curling up a little tighter. 'Five more minutes...'

"Aww..." She turns to the two horned ponies in the room. "Do you think one of you could lift him without waking him up?"

"I would, but I just have such a hard time bothering him when he's like this..." She looks to Rhino, smiling softly. "Could you do it, love?"

"Sure." He nods, lighting up his horn as the same light works its way under the sleeping kit. Slowly and smoothly, the small fox is lifted into the air and over to Hydro's unoccupied saddlebag top. Rhino smiles as he lets go of the magic. "There we go. I think that's everyone."

"Sure looks like it..." Gel tilts her head, staring at the silver nymph's face and closed eyes. "Hydro... why is she asleep, anyways?"

"Not sleeping." She peeks an eye open, smirking slightly. "I'm just enjoying how comfortable Mister Pump is."

Hydro rolls his eyes, at her words. "And here I thought I'd finally figured out whether you snored or not. Guess that question is still a mystery."

She smirks, poking his cheek with a hoof. "And it won't be solved for a while yet. Not until you take me out to dinner, at least."

The earth pony sisters look quizzically at the small nymph, shocked at the words coming out of her mouth.

Rhino spots this, speaking quickly to avoid confusion. "Dior is... small for her age. She's older than she looks."

Manila still looks confused, but not quite as shocked now. "Okay... it was just weird for a moment when it looked like a filly was hitting on a stallion."

Dior turns to the receptionist, frowning deeply. "For all you know, I could've been innocently teasing him." She points accusingly at her. "You need to consider things before jumping to conclusions, young filly."

Manila's ears fold back. "Yes ma'am..." She blinks after a moment, wondering why she just said that. "I swear I thought I was talking to my mother for a moment..."

"I'm not that old." She huffs, turning to the navy nymph, some concern in her voice. "Thirty-nine's not that old, is it?"

Gel sighs, shaking her head as she dryly answers. "No, mom, you're not old. Just experienced."

She scowls, testily tapping her red ride's side with a hoof. "I don't like that sass in your tone, Gelatin." She turns to Rhino, pointedly ignoring her daughter's mortified grimace. "And aren't you two supposed to be heading, somewhere?"

"Oh, right!" The emerald stallion clears his throat. "Anyway, thanks for taking care of them while we're out, you two." He turns to the sisters. "And we'll see both of you on Friday." His head cranes back to focus on the foal in the room. "You be good for your uncle and grandma, okay Ruby? We'll be back before you know it." He nuzzles her affectionately and kisses her forehead.

She squeals happily, nuzzling him back as she hugs Specter. "Dada..."

"Aww..." He gives her one more nuzzle before backing up and looking at Gel.

Said nymph is currently trying to avoid attention, on the ground and covering her head with her hooves.

Rhino sighs, walking over and nudging her with his head. "Come on love, we need to get going. Don't you want to say goodbye to Ruby?"

She peeks up at him, nervously getting to her hooves. She walks up to their little filly, tenderly nuzzling her. "Be a good little pony..." Ruby nips her nose, giggling brightly and bringing a small smile to her mother's face. The nymph sighs and turns to Rhino, nodding slightly. "I... I think I'm ready, love..."

He wraps his tail around hers. "Good." With a wave to the others, they start heading out the doors, the stallion looking her as they exit. "So... Gelatin, huh?"

She blushes brightly, pushing on his side playfully. "Hush, you."

He laughs. "What? I think it sounds cute..."

"I think it's embarrassing..." She closes her eyes, leaning up against his side. "I guess... I don't want to be compared to a strange dessert..."

"Fine..." He nips the tip of her ear. "I'm probably still gonna call you it every now and again though, just to see you blush."

She shivers, letting her gaze fall to the path beneath their hooves. "I'm going to regret all of that teasing I did, aren't I?"

"Of course not, I like it when you tease." He nuzzles her as they walk. "Doesn't mean I don't like to return the favor every once in a while."

"Right..." She sighs, smiling softly at him. "I like it when you do more than tease, though." She winks teasingly and turns her attention back to their path. "Of course, I know we'll be having plenty of that, soon..."

"Yeah..." The stallion lets out a slow breath. "Yeah we will..."

Soon enough, the couple reaches the familiar house of their friends. Their overstuffed bags shifting slightly as they stop, Rhino raises a hoof and knocks on the door. After a few moments of silence, the sounds of hoofsteps approach and the door opens to reveal their musical pony friend.

Fiddlesticks smiles at them. "I'm glad you're both here. Come in, come in." She steps to the side, waving her hoof.

"Sorry we're a bit late..." Gel follows her husband inside, her wings buzzing fitfully. "We got caught up with friends and family... and Mercury was being stubborn about moving off Mane's back..."

"I understand, things happen." She shuts the door behind them. "What matters is that you are both here now. Gel, I figured you and I could talk for a moment, while Rhino takes your bags up to the room and keeps Luster company."

The stallion's ears fold back. "Umm... are you sure that's the best idea? Especially with her how she is right now?"

The earth mare waves a hoof. "Don't worry, she won't be able to get to you. I still wouldn't get too close though, just... you know, have a seat up there and talk with her to keep her calm."

Rhino just gulps. "If you say so..."

The navy nymph tenderly nuzzles his cheek, smiling softly. "It'll be fine, love... we'll be up there with you soon..."

He nods, nuzzling her back before slowly heading up the stairs.

Fiddlesticks watches him go, turning to Gel once he is out of sight. "Why don't we sit in the living room to talk so we can be comfortable?" Leading the way, she continues. "He seems to be taking this all much better than he did on Sunday."

"He, um... adopted a mindset to help him through it..." She nervously laughs, settling down on one side of the couch. "So... he might seem a bit detached... or focused on me... just so you're prepared..." She trails off, tilting her head curiously. "Forgive me, but have you... you know, with a stallion, before?"

"To be honest? No. I came close once but... the feeling just wasn't there." She shrugs. "I was just never that interested in stallions. Doesn't mean I don't simulate certain parts of the experience at times though."

She sighs softly, bowing her head. "Then you won't want to let Rhino do that with you... not a problem..."

"Hmm?" She tilts her head. "What do you mean? Is something wrong with that?"

"No, not at all." She smiles softly, placing a hoof on the mare's shoulder. "You'll be focusing on Luster, right? Supplying her with a lot of love?"

The yellow mare nods. "Yes, of course. Though... the exact way I'm going to do that, I'm not sure of yet... The only thing I really know that's going to happen is well, the main point we're here."

"True... I, um, brought this, for you..." Gel pulls a vial out from where her mane coiled around it. She holds the container and its swirling pink contents out to her, smiling sheepishly. "To help you... get into the mood... and, um, give you greater stamina..."

"Oh?" She takes the vile carefully, looking at it curiously. "Well... this should help quite a bit. Did you... bring enough for everypony? Though... I'm hesitant to give some to Luster..."

"I don't think she needs any." She giggles, shaking her head playfully before a thought occurs to her. "You... you didn't restrain her with metal, did you?"

The mare shakes her head quickly "No no no, I know better than that. I used rope, the kind Applejack herself would approve of." She turns back to the bottle. "So... this stuff works well enough to keep up with an in-heat mare?"

"That's what Zecora said... but she didn't say how much to take..." Gel scratches her head, frowning slightly. "Or...maybe she did? It's hard to understand her, sometimes..."

"Did she not give written instructions or have some on the bottles? I'm a bit hesitant to drink something without instructions... who knows what could happen?" She fiddles with the bottle, trying to see if there is anything on it.

"She did give written instructions..." She holds out a piece of parchment, bemused. "Also in rhyme."

Fiddles takes the page and analyzes it for a few minutes before nodding. "Well... seems simple enough... just a teaspoon per half hour we want... then sleep equal to that amount of time after..." She looks up. "Umm... how long are we shooting for anyway? I guess at least until Luster is spent..."

"I'm not sure..." She taps her chin thoughtfully. "I wasn't satisfied for at least five hours, when we tried for a foal... though we didn't check to see the time we started..."

"About what I expected to be honest..." The bottle i swished around again. "So like... eight or nine hours you figure? To be sure? And so we can all get a good night's sleep and wake up at a decent time."

She slowly nods. "That... sounds about right... so..." She glances at the vial, curious. "Almost half of the liquid in there?"

"I... guess? We should probably measure it out beforehoof." She gets up. "Come on, we'll get some glasses too. We can discuss tactics while we do that."

"Good idea." She giggles, carefully getting to her hooves. "Lead the way?"

***Meanwhile, a few minutes ago.***

Rhino walks down the hall until he spies an open door. Heading inside, he finds the this is the bedroom, as he expected. What he didn't expect though, was the purple nymph with one limb tied to each bedpost and a ring over her horn. He blinks upon seeing this. "Well... I guess Fiddles knew what she was doing..."

The changeling groans softly, wearily turning to look at him. She blinks a second before her brow furrows. The ring reacts immediately, lighting up and making her whimper softly. She shifts and squirms as much as the ropes will allow, looking at him pleadingly.

"Hey Luster," the stallion moves slowly, a reassuring smile on his face as he fully enters the room and sets down the bags, "heat hitting you hard?"

She nods, closing her eyes and turning her head away. She tries to ignore the frantic thrashing of her tail and the smell of the stallion, which is combating with the already pheromone-laden air of the room.

Likewise, Rhino also smells her, but ignores it, his mind knows not to act on it. "It's alright you know, nothing to be embarrassed about. I'm just here to talk with you for a bit while our wives are chatting. Well, talk as best we can I mean."

She huffs, scowling at the ring on her horn. She moves her forehoof in a limited 'go ahead' rolling gesture.

"Well," he sits down, wondering what to say, "I guess I'll start with... How are you feeling... about all this?" He gestures around to summarize their situation.

She bites her lip, pressing her hindlegs together. She looks up at him, her eyes moist with tears, despite the small smile on her lips.

"Yeah, I can understand you hating the current situation but loving the reason for it all." He smiles at her. "Still though, the thought of what you have to look forward to in eight months is something, right?"

She nods, her cheeks tinting a shade brighter.

"Do you need anything right now?" He offers. "Other than untying you or taking the ring off of course, it's no offense to you, but it's hard to predict mares in your condition."

She glances at his lips before quickly closing her eyes, turning to hide her blush. She shakes her head, her tail curling up against her belly.

"I understand. Well... just try and relax until they get here, okay? I know it's hard, but try."

She whimpers softly, halfway turning to face him. She bites her lip, squirming slightly as her gaze focuses on his mouth, a glimmer of hope in her bright violet eyes.

Tilting his head, the stallion gets up and steps closer, but still not within leg range if she were free. "Thought of something?"

She shyly nods and jerks her head to the side, trying to motion him closer.

He does so, moving next to the bed, but still staying a cautious distance away.

She whines, looking up at him. Hoping to make her needs clear, she closes her eyes and focuses, the ring glowing brightly. One thin lock of purple hair slowly moves up to her mouth, touching her soft lips briefly. She finally breaks her concentration, gasping softly as her hair falls back onto her pillow. An eye peeks up at him, full of hope.

Rhino's ears fold back, what she wanted clear to him. "Oh... Luster... I'm not sure I can do that..." He looks down. "I mean... I agreed to do this, but that's... I don't know. That's just a different thing for me. Plus, what would Gel think?"

She whimpers and turns away, ashamed. Her ear lie flat against her head as she visibly deflates.

"Oh come on, don't be sad please." He reaches out a hoof and touches her shoulder. "I don't blame you, there's nothing to be ashamed about. I'm just not sure if that was included in the deal... I'm trying to not upset anypony."

She doesn't seem to respond aside from a quiet sniff. She doesn't even look at him, as mollified as she is.

"Hey... come on now... I can't stand crying..." He taps her shoulder leaning forward.

She turns over, leaning up to kiss his forehead. She nervously squirms before him, her cheeks a vivid violet.

Smiling warmly at her, he returns the action. "Well, that's alright I think."

She sighs softly, letting herself rest on the enchanted cloud-bed. She tries her hardest to ignore the damp spot slowly growing under her tail, but being this close to his scent is starting to take its toll on her control, if her quiet pants and groans are anything to go by.

Sitting next to the bed, Rhino tries to keep his mind occupied. He absolutely does his best despite his ears flicking at the sounds form the nymph next to him and the smell of her pheromones permeating the air. He is... not entirely successful.

Luckily, their significant others arrive from downstairs after not too much longer. Fiddles walks in first, a tray of three glasses on her back. "Alright, how are you two doing up here?"

Luster looks to her, whining softly in her need.

The mare winces. "That bad, huh? Well, at least we kept you from jumping him, and you didn't manage to guilt him into releasing you prematurely, so things are going well so far."

Gel tilts her head, curiously staring at the rather limp-limbed changeling. "Why isn't she trying to link with us?"

Fiddlesticks walks over to the bound-nymph. "Probably because of the ring I put on her horn to stop her from undoing her bonds with magic. I didn't want to have her be silent towards you two, but this was the better option until we are all here to keep her under control... or out of it, depending on what we want." To the purple changeling he adds with a nuzzle. "Do you think you can control yourself so you can speak with our friends?"

She looks up at her, then away, almost appearing upset.

The mare's hoof gently caresses her wife's cheek. "Come now... what's all this? This is a good day, you shouldn't be down." She punctuates her soothing words with nuzzling and a loving kiss.

Rhino looks to Gel and Fiddles apologetically. "Sorry... I've been trying to cheer her up, but it's not easy.."

The navy nymph turns to him, quirking an eyebrow. "Did you try... I don't, know, stroking her mane? Kissing her, maybe, like a light peck on the cheek?"

He rubs the back of his head. "Well, I didn't think of the mane stroking, but she asked me to kiss her lips. I wasn't sure about that though... so I settled for giving one on the forehead..."

She gives him a flat look. "Rhino... you know I'm fine with you kissing her..." She pauses, the corner of her mouth twitching slightly before she continues. "F-for tonight and tomorrow morning, I mean..."

"Of course..." He looks down then to the other nymph. "Sorry Luster... I wasn't sure if I should or not..."

She simply looks up at him, hopeful.

He looks at the yellow mare leaning next to her wife. "May I?"

She takes a step back. "Go ahead, though... I'm not sure if this will calm her... or rile her up... better keep the tongue in your own mouth for now."

"Right..." With a deep breath, the emerald stallion leans down and gives the nymph a slow kiss on the lips.

Her eyes flutter closed and she kisses him back. She doesn't do much of anything other than that, rather docile compared to her normal self.

Gel blinks, watching this in confusion. "Odd... shouldn't she at least be wiggling a bit?" She turns to the mare, an eyebrow raised. "How tightly did you bind her?"

"Fairly tight..." Fiddles answers with a hoof to her chin. "I mean, I left enough slack so her joints wouldn't stay locked, but that was about it... I didn't want to take any chances you see. Plus.. you know, I thought either she or Rhino could like it."

"Does she l-" A small moan from the nymph in question cuts her off and answers her at the same time. She glances down, seeing her thighs rub together and finally noticing how wet the bedsheets had gotten. She blinks dumbly, staring for a few more seconds before voicing her thoughts. "Oh."

Seeing Rhino break the kiss, The mare nods. "Tell you what Gel, why don't you start divvying out the drink, and I'll take her ring off so she can talk to us before we get going." She walks over to the side of the bed, looking down at the nymph curiously. "How are you feeling?"

She looks up at her with unfocused eyes, a silly little smile on her lips. She glances over at the other changeling, noticing her giving the stallion a blue-purple liquid. She turns back to her wife, clearly confused.

Fiddles explains as she smiles down at her spouse. "Let's just say... Gel brought something so we could all go just as long as you, if not longer." She slips the ring off her horn.

She glances at the other couple, quickly reaching out to them with her thoughts.

Rhino's ears flick as he pushes back, accepting the link. Good to hear from you again.

I'm happy to speak with you again... in a sense... She looks to the yellow mare, sheepishly smiling. Could you... put the ring back on, please? The connection should be stable...

Gel raises an eyebrow, holding two glasses with bright pink liquid inside them. "You... really enjoy this, don't you?"

Luster averts her gaze, blushing brightly. Not usually...

The stallion tilts his head. "I don't think I've ever seen you blush that brightly... or get embarrassed that often..."

Because I don't get embarrassed that easily... She glances at her wife, smiling softly. I'm usually the one who's in control when we're in bed...

And yet, Fiddles continues, the first time she went into heat when I was with her, she goes to this. She waves a hoof, gesturing to the subdued nymph.

Luster giggles, shyly waving a hoof. Guilty...

The other nymph pours a dash of the blue draft into the two glasses of pink fluid, carefully stirring them. "Her... submissiveness won't be an issue... right, love?" She glances at him as she offers one of the cups to the mare.

Rhino shakes his head, swirling his own cup in the air as Fiddles takes hers. "I don't think so... I mean I'm not a bondage fan but it's not a deal breaker." He leans closer to his wife and whispers. "Besides, you like to be kind of submissive all the time, so unless she goes far with it, it's familiar territory."

She blushes softly, playfully bumping his shoulder. "You know you'll like it."

"Alright, so..." Fiddles gathers everypony's attention to her, raising her glass in the air. "Before we begin, just to make everypony comfortable, I say we all agree to be free with both our requests, suggestions, and objections to all that will occur in these next hours. We don't want this just to be an awkward session of 'guessing if that grunt is a good thing or a bad thing'."

"Fair enough." Gel brings her own glass close, swishing the contents as she thinks. "I... don't know what to say, for myself... I will say that Rhino has an aural fetish, if that helps."

Luster blinks, confused. A what, now?

"I like sounds..." The stallion says simply, looking into his own glass.

"Hmm... never heard of that being a fetish itself... but I suppose I can understand where he's coming from." The mare giggles. "Ironic that he has that when he's about to do a session with a mute nymph, but she tends to make plenty of noises." She tosses a wink at Luster.

She blushes even more, turning to look at the unicorn, seeing him just staring into his drink. Something wrong with your... whatever that is?

Gel, meanwhile, gestures to Fiddlesticks, curious. "Do you have anything you'd like to mention, about yourself or Luster?"

"Well... I'm fairly certain you'll know I'll be watching, so I'll likely get worked up." She shrugs. "Other than that, just letting you know there are plenty of toys to use on yourself or others if you feel so inclined." She looks to her wife. "Anything to add? It's difficult for me to remember how you wants change during this time."

I'm fine with... most things... She looks to Rhino, frowning in concern. You don't like... violence, do you? She notices the horror on Gel's face and sighs in relief, laying her head back on the mattress. Thank goodness... I don't like that at all... not since... She trails off, leaving the other changeling the only one left in the dark. Just... don't hold back, okay? I can handle it.

"Ok..." Rhino nods, swishing his drink one more time before looking around to the others. "I guess we should get started then. Cheers." He downs it.

Author's Notes:

For those of you who might be interested, enigmaMystere and I actually popped out a few more stories containing Rhino and Gel, and perhaps some friends. Fair warning though, they are not canon to this universe and while there will be similarities there will also be differences. Of course, that's half the reason we wrote these new ones, differences are fun to explore. The main two you need to know about are that these new stories are anthro, partially because I'd never done it before and it's interesting after writing for ponies for so long to be able to see the same characters with a few more human characteristics. Secondly, they start a bit younger. You'll see what I mean.

So, I sincerely hope you will give this a try: Crossroads of Possibility

If you enjoy that, consider checking out its sequels, which shall be explained and named in the author's note of the story. Hope to see you all there.

Chapter 23: Relaxing Day

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If the sun were sentient and keeping track of the usual situations it finds itself shining down on, it would be slightly confused at the scene it would find in the home of Fiddlesticks and Luster. As the orb is nither though, it is indifferent to the presence of two different pony and changeling couples sleeping away on the enchanted cloud bed. As it's rays pass through the tiny crack in the curtains, they manage to land right on their target of the yellow mare's eyelids.

Fiddles' face scrunches as she finds herself waking, rolling her head slightly before she opens her eyes. A soft brilliant smile comes to her face as she spies her purple nymph, before another of her senses wakes up fully and prompts her to act. Shaking her head, the mare slips off the bed and quickly trotts over to the window, sliding it open and sticking out her head to get a gulp of fresh air as opposed to the pungent smell of the hours of activity from the previous day.

The swift, rather noisy action rouses another of the ones on the bed. The navy changeling slowly sits up, looking at the mare in confusion. "Fiddlesticks? What are you..." Her voice trails off as the scents around her finally register in her mind. She covers her nose, gagging softly. "Dear Luna!" She quietly stumbles out of bed, joining the mare at the window and taking a few deep breaths.

"Exactly." The mare casually remarks to her friend. "Don't get me wrong, there's nothing quite like sweat, musk, and pheromones when you're in the mood, but afterward... you need to let air circulate, especially after marathons like that."

Gel lowers her head onto the windowsill, still struggling to get over her light-headedness. "I just smell sweat... and some leftover lust..." She rubs her eyes, looking out and smiling softly. "Lovely sunrise, isn't it?"

"That it is..." she replies as they see the light wash over Sweet Apple Acres, "that it is..." She looks back to the two sleeping forms on the bed. "You think they'll be okay today? I know mares in heat have remarkable powers of recovery, but I'm not sure what toll that potion you used will leave on Rhino."

"It's a health tonic mixed with a hydrator." She shrugs, letting her wings slowly emerge. "He'll be ready to get up in... about a half hour, I think. Maybe sooner. Probably wanting some more milk." She giggles brightly as she starts fanning the musky air out the window. "That's how he was, last time."

"I really never understood how he drinks so much of that." The mare remarks. "But I guess it's good for him, so no harm done."

"It helps quite a bit." Gel smirks, wagging a hoof at her. "It also made him open to a... certain thing I'd wanted to try for a while."

"Hmm?" Fiddles raises her eyebrow. "Do I want to know?"

She shrugs, blushing softly. "Just something he promised to try when we're alone... which hasn't happened, yet..." She sighs wistfully, looking down at a couple bunnies, watching them stare back before hopping into their den near the house. "Forgive me for asking, but... why do you like being in public?"

"Well... I suppose everything is pretty much out in the open now." Fiddles shifts her posture a bit to get comfortable. "Well, first off it's not being in public I like, it's more... the possibility of being discovered. I'm not just going to get rutted out in the street after all. Honestly, it probably has something to do with being on a stage most of my life, so having a part of it that isn't supposed to yet knowing there is a potential for an unexpected audience... just gives a sort of adrenaline rush at the difference I guess."

"And when you do get discovered?" She turns to the bed, blushing a bit more. "Like, say... last year, at the Music Festival?"

She giggles nervously. "Well... I'll admit that was the first time we were caught. Thankfully it was just you two so we didn't get in trouble. I'll admit some part of me wanted to continue, but that was more of my lust-filled side than my logical one. Actually getting discovered isn't the fun part anyway, it's the 'almost getting discovered' part."

"I'll take your word for it." She stretches with a small groan, nodding toward the bed where the other nymph starts shifting around, she eventually scoots over enough that the sleeping stallion's snuggling foreleg finds her in roughly the same spot Gel was. Acting on unconscious instinct, the foreleg draws her in and soon both are snuggling contently once more. "Think we should get breakfast ready for them? They do seem comfortable, after all..."

"That sounds like an excellent idea." Taking a few last breaths of air, though the room is much better smelling than it was a few minutes prior by now, she turns around, heading toward the door and opening it. "We'll all get a nice breakfast then you two can be on your way home to your filly. I'm sure she misses you very much."

Gel flinches slightly, pausing for a second before nodding slowly. "You're probably right... I hope Ruby isn't too upset..."

Fiddles senses the pause, coming back and giving the nymph a friendly nudge towards the door. "It'll only make you worry more to think of it like that. Instead, think of how you want to spend your day with her and your husband."

She giggles, letting herself be led out the room. "You have a point... besides, you've got a bit more to worry about than me." She sticks her tongue out at her. "You're the one with the pregnant wife, after all."

"Very true..." The mare laughs good-naturedly. "I guess I'll have to brush up on where to get every kind of food, some nice hoof-rubbing techniques, and various ways to convince her she isn't fat."

"Hoof-rubbing?" She taps her chin, thoughtful. "I think you should look into full-body massage, as well. Just in case."

"Hmm... good point." Fiddles nods approvingly as they head down the stairs.

A couple minutes after the two leave, the indigo nymph stirs, groaning softly. She brings a hoof up, running it through the fluffy fur of his stomach, thoroughly confused. Sugar... when did you get ripped?

Hearing the voice in his head, the stallion groan as he starts to wake up, bringing the nymph closer to him. "Mmm... what was that, Gel?"

Luster squeaks, her forelegs pinned to her chest. She tries to squirm free, groaning and gasping quietly. Not so tight! I can't breathe!

He shifts again, his group loosening as his eyes crack open. "Sorry lo-Luster?" He blinks, trying to puzzle out why there's a purple nymph is his grip instead of a blue one.

She pants softly, resting her head against his chest. I didn't realize... how much of a hugger you are...

His foreleg still idly around her, he speaks. "Umm... yes... Why are you... Where is Gel?"

She sniffs the air, smiling softly. If I'm not mistaken... making breakfast with Fiddles... She pecks his cheek, giggling brightly. Thank you, by the way... for what you did...

"You're welcome..." He looks at her a moment, his mind almost fully to him now. "I guess things took, considering you seem to be yourself this morning."

I guess they did... She yawns, reluctantly pulling away and rubbing her belly. What do you think the foal will be? A colt or a filly?

"I think either would suit you just fine." He lets out a chuckle. "It's the details that are the wildcard. Oh, this is just a theory, but try to decide on what you want it to look like. Twilight thinks you can affect this so it might be interesting to see if it works for you too."

The nymph blinks, looking at him in mild confusion. I'll keep that in mind... She gestures to him, curious. Is that what happened with you and Ruby?

He nods. "We couldn't have anticipated her tribe changing ability, but her appearance is everything we envisioned." He smiles fondly as he thinks of his daughter.

I see... She coyly smiles, tapping his forehead. I bet you want to get home to your little bundle of joy, hmm?

He smirks knowingly at her. "You've known me to be a big softy since we met. Surely that doesn't surprise you? Besides, just wait until you have your own and see if you don't feel the same way."

I don't doubt I will. She sticks her tongue out at him and sits up. Should we head downstairs before our wives worry? Or would you prefer to cuddle some more?

Sitting up and yawning, he answers. "Normally I'd pick cuddling, but... it's still a little odd feeling for me to do that to anypony but my wife."

I know. The nymph smirks, playfully elbowing his side. Why else do you think I asked?

"Fair enough." He chuckles a moment before looking at her curiously. "Which one you pick, for curiosity's sake."

She gets off the bed, chuckling quietly. Isn't it obvious?

"With you I can hardly ever tell." He slips off the bed as well. "You do have quite the poker face."

That I do. She winks at him. You have a good one, too. Not every pony can hide their emotions like you can.

"I guess..." Letting out a short laugh, he continues. "Doesn't do a thing when your wife and a few of your friends are changelings."

You'd be surprised... She shakes herself, glancing over at him and smirking coyly. You may want to tidy yourself up, Rhino. Don't want the town wondering about your... beard... when did you start growing that?

"Is it that bad?" He rubs the dark stubble on his chin, feeling the roughness of the more coarse hairs working their way through his coat. "I know I forgot for a few days and I've been debating growing it out for the winter, but still..."

No, you just... caught me by surprise... She clears her throat, gesturing to his chin. You just got some... flaking, there... probably from last night...

"Oh... bleh!" He wipes a hoof quickly across his chin, not wanting to know what was dried there. "I'll have to be sure to take a shower once we get home..."

Probably before then. The nymph gestures to the bathroom door. So the townsfolk don't stare, right?

"I... well, thank you." Rhino clears his throat, looking at the door a moment before looking back to Luster. "Umm... the scents aren't too flowery, right? And don't you need to clean up too?"

What, don't you like the smell of blueberries or roses? She giggles, shaking her head. I'll take care of myself later. You're the one who's leaving after breakfast.

"Fair point, I bow to your logic." With a cheeky smile he does just that, bringing his head low for a moment. "With that, I think it's time I get myself clean and even fluffier. Tell Gel I'll be down in a moment, please."

I'll do that right now. She heads to the door, a wing waving at him. See you at breakfast!

He smiles and waves back with a hoof, heading into the bathroom and beginning the arduous task of locating plain shampoo in the excessive collection of bottles most mares have. It's times like these he's happy he and Gel tend to use the same few at their house. He picks up one bottle, raising an eyebrow at it. "What kind of scent combination is honey and lavender?"

***

Breakfast is the usual affair, with only a slight increase in foal-related topics as they chat. Still not wanting to linger too long, thanks are given by Luster and Fiddlesticks while congratulations are given by Rhino and Gel before they head back to their own little pink joy. The trip back to their home is uneventful, curiously uneventful in some ways.

As they exit the tree line in front of their house, Gel decides to voice her confusion. "I'll be honest... I was half-expecting to have someone interrupt our walk home..."

Rhino shrugs casually. "I guess not ponies are out and about just yet. I'm thankful personally, I'm not really in the mood for idle chatting and just standing in the street while Ruby waits for us at home."

She pauses, frowning softly in response. "That's not what I meant, and you know it."

He stops as well, sighing a little. "I know... can't blame me for being optimistic and trying not to let thoughts of PALS ruin my mood."

"It's understandable, love, but..." She leans up, tenderly nuzzling his cheek. "We shouldn't talk about them in front of Ruby... so we need to take care of the subject, now... right?"

"Right..." He sighs again, leaning against her. "You know... I never did get around to asking you what ended up happening after you talked to Twilight about PALS."

"That's the thing..." She rubs the back of her neck, sheepish. "She said... the Princesses couldn't do anything without proof of illegal activity... aside from monitoring them..."

The stallion nods, frowning. "I expected something like that... hoped for more, but expected that. Such is the way of a system that tries to ensure nopony goes to jail that doesn't deserve it while still maintaining personal rights."

"Still better than the hive," Gel sighs, sitting on the ground, "where the law's so muddled even I have trouble following it..."

"Well... I don't really have a followup for that, so how about this?" He puts a foreleg around her and plants a loving kiss on her lips.

She melts into the embrace, humming happily. As they pull apart, she giggles, smiling warmly. "I'm more than alright with that..."

He smiles. "Alright then. Do we need to talk more on this? Or are we just at the point where we are careful but otherwise live our lives?"

"Nothing comes to mind..." She shrugs, smiling softly at him. "Let's go see how mom and Hydro are handling Ruby..."

"Agreed, and see how she did on her first night without us..." His expression drops noticeably for a moment before he catches it and pulls it back to neutral.

She appears to roll her eyes, tapping his forehead with a hoof. "I'm sure she's doing fine. For one thing," she gestures to the house, "there don't seem to be any bright lights coming from the windows... and there's a distinct lack of fear."

He scuffs a hood on the ground, mumbling. "I'm still gonna totally hog both of you all day today..."

"I'm sure your friend will be plenty busy with mom." She winks at him and trots ahead, emphasizing the sway in her steps. "I think they'll want help with a new body, soon..."

He catches up with a few long strides, nipping her flank with his teeth as he passes it. "Well, we haven't heard back from Port about that request Dior sent in for him to discreetly look into the research papers that made her this way, so maybe we'll get a surprise letter or package one of these days."

She nods, flicking his side playfully. "Maybe..." She slows, seeing the red flag up on their mailbox. "Or maybe it's here... we really need to help Ditzy remember that the flag's for outgoing mail..."

He nods, both of them adjusting their angels to head towards the box. "Remind me, does she think it's for both or does she just have it reversed?"

"She thinks it's for both... still don't know how she tells the difference..." She pauses in front of the mailbox, pushing the flag down with a hoof. "She's been a lot busier, lately... have you noticed that?"

"I haven't actually, I would think she would only be busy during the holiday season." He looks at her. "Is it bad? I hope it's not keeping her away from Dinky."

"I don't know..." She pulls the mailbox open. "She still seems happy, at least. And I see a bill..." She frowns, pulling it out and staring down at it. "Why does it... seem to be a receipt?"

He looks at himself, noting what it's for. "Marble? I don't think we ordered marble... Dior maybe? It says here there wasn't quite enough money to pay for the order, there's a small bit left that needs to be paid before they will deliver it."

"I... I see..." She sighs, shaking her head. "I guess we should help her pay it... how much is left, love?"

Looking down at the paper, he reads for a moment before responding. "Hmm... not much. Looks like what she gave them was just 50 bits short. She is getting a job so she could technically pay for it, but I think it'd be nice of us to pay the difference for her."

"That's true..." She shrugs, smiling softly. "I'll make sure to pay that, tomorrow. Anything else in the mail?"

"Hmm..." He levitates the rest over, flipping through them quickly. "Junk, junk, sale notice, junk, and.... fashion magazine? Must be a free copy to tempt us into a subscription."

"Um... not a fashion magazine..." Gel gingerly pulls it away, shyly blushing. "It's a... lingerie catalog... see?" She flips it open, showing him the middle two pages, which promptly unfold into a four-page spread.

He doesn't appear to react much at first. "Huh, so it is..." Looking back up at his wife, the stallion blinks a moment, his eyes flicking back down to the magazine, then back to her a few times as the gears turn in his head.

She patiently waits for him to understand, avoiding his gaze nervously.

"Gel... did you order this?" He asks curiously.

She nods, squeaking slightly. "I... wanted to get something special... y-you know, for our anniversary..."

"Oh..." He looks down again, unable to prevent a small blush as he mentally transfers some of the outfits onto her. "Should I not look then, so it's a surprise?"

"N-no... I actually thought it'd be best for you to choose..." She giggles, gently kissing his cheek. "I felt it'd be more special, that way."

"Oh you..." He nuzzles her affectionately, closing the mailbox with a bit of magic. "I actually do have a little something planned for our anniversary as well. But mine is a secret."

Gel smiles, entwining her tail with his. "I look forward to it, love." She gestures to the door. "Shall we head inside?"

"We shall." Getting out his keys from his bags, Rhino quietly unlocks the door and they head inside, shutting it behind them.

She quietly walks into the foyer, ears twitching curiously. "Do you hear them? Because... it seems almost too quiet..."

"Well it is early... but they wouldn't have gone to work yet and Ruby is up half the time now..." His ears flick as he hears a stifled laugh from the living room. "In there."

She gestures to it, clearly nervous. "After you?"

They enter to quite the adorable scene. Apparently, not everypony is awake like they are this morning. All three pets are curled up and on top of each other and the rug near the unlit fireplace, as if they were awake long enough to come down then went back to sleep. The other snoozing party is Dior, the small nymph curled cutely against Hydro's side as he lays on the couch. The stallion however, is wake as the pink form of Ruby perches on his head, batting at one ear and pulling on the other with her mouth.

Gel smiles softly, holding a hoof to her chest. "Aww... I wish I had a camera..."

"Having fun?" Rhino quips as they walk in.

Hydro peeks one eye up at them. "Was wondering when you'd get back."

The filly's ears perk up and she turns to the older unicorn, squealing happily. "Dada!"

As he continues walking forward, his smile is wide and he laughs. "Well, you know, Mom's here too."

Ruby cranes her neck, waving happily. "Mama!" She turns to her dad, holding her hooves out to him. "Hug?"

"At least she finally let go of my ears..." The earth pony mutters as the father scoops the filly off his head.

"Quiet you," Rhino responds, "I'm bonding." He nuzzles the filly as he bring her to his chest. "Did you miss us, my little princess?"

She burrows a bit into the fur of his chest, cooing softly and batting at his stubble with a hoof. "Dada..."

Gel giggles, stepping forward and pecking her husband's cheek. "Shall we take that as a yes?"

"I hope so." His heart swells as he kisses the filly on the forehead and just enjoy the feeling of her against him. After a moment, he looks to the small ball of white on the couch. "You think she'll be awake in time for work?"

"Don't hold your breath." The nymph in question opens an eye, smirking coyly. "I'm already awake. I just thought I'd enjoy Red's warmth for a bit." She nips the earth pony's shoulder, chuckling a bit. "He certainly didn't seem to mind."

He rolls his eyes. "Again with faking sleep so you can have contact with me. What am I going to do with you?" Despite his words, when he moves her head away from his shoulder, the action is suspiciously similar to a nuzzle.

She smiles playfully, batting her eyelashes at him. "Maybe you can take me somewhere for lunch? I keep wondering what Gel sees in Caesar salads..."

"Sounds like a good idea to me." He smiles back, though his has a bit of roguishness in it along with the playfulness.

Rhino whispers to Gel as they watch the scene. "You know... I have to wonder if her feeling what these two give off helps keep her calm."

"It just might..." She giggles, moving up against him. "Certainly a lot of affection between them... not quite love... not yet..."

Dior beams and quickly climbs onto the red stallion's back. "Let's go, Red! Lunch starts in an hour, and I'd like a good seat!" She waves to the family, smiling warmly. "I'm sure these three want to spend some time together."

"Probably." He agrees. "Rhino there is probably gonna go full family stallion mode as soon as we step out the door. You guys enjoy yourselves, okay?" He heads towards the door.

The navy nymph waves at them, smiling warmly. "You two have a nice time on your date!"

A single red hoof waving goodbye is her only answer as the two head out the door.

Rhino blinks. "Well... they seem to be getting along well. But now onto more important things." With the hoof not holding the foal, he suddenly embraces Gel and brings her close to him in a family group hug. "Come here... I want to spend some time with my two favorite girls."

The changeling blushes brightly, happily letting herself lean into the hug. "Flatterer... but still, thank you..." She glances down at the lightly-dozing filly against his chest, giggling quietly at the sight. "Ruby certainly seems happy with your words..."

He looks down, gazing softly at her. "Aww... asleep already? And here I was hoping I'd be able to convince you to rock her when she got tired. I know you both enjoy it."

"I do... but I think she also enjoys her fluffy pillow of a father, too." She teasingly sticks her tongue out at him.

"True." He leans down and rubs his head on her chest. "But for now... unless she wakes up, I guess the question is: What do we want to do with this nice day for all of us?"

Before Gel can answer, another small furry being in the room wakes up. From his position at the top of the pet pile, Specter opens his golden eyes and yawns, looking around. As he spots the family having gotten back, he excitedly hops over, stopping at the base of Rhino's hooves and chittering to him happily.

Ruby's eyes blink open at the noise. She looks down, laughing brightly and holding a hoof out to the black squirrel.

Gel smiles, shaking her head. "It seems as though he missed us, too..."

"Very true, can't forget the other members of the family after all." Rhino lans down so the foal can reach the pet.

She giggles, playfully tapping the squirrel's nose. She opened her mouth and a word came out - one that neither parent was expecting.

"S'ecs!"

The stallion's face pales as he slowly looks from the filly to his wife. "Did... you hear what I just heard? Please say no..."

"I... I would be lying if I did..." She trembles, lowering herself to their daughter's level. "Sweetie? What was that word you said?"

At that moment, she leaps onto the floor next to the pet, happily nuzzling him. "S'ecs!"

A few things click in Rhino's head. "Ok... I'm a bit relieved now. She sounds like she's saying something bad, but the word we think she's saying, I'm pretty sure we've never actually said around her. She's trying to say his name I think, and she can't make a 'p' sound yet."

"Oh, thank Luna." Gel collapses against the stallion's side. "I was about to have a word with mom and Hydro..."

"You and me both..." He watches the filly now hugging the squirrel to her. "I can't help but feel she's going to give me a mini heart attack every time she mispronounces his name though..."

Right as he says that, she turns to him, eyes wide in innocent curiosity. She tries to hold the same-sized squirrel out to him, smiling sweetly. "Dada, S'ecs?"

His eye twitches for a moment as his brain sorts out actual meaning from the input it was given. He mouth opens and closes a few time before he just decides to scoop both of the little ones up in his foreleg. He looks to his wife. "There are no words for this..."

"I can think of one." She giggles, playfully bumping his shoulder. "Funny. She's still learning, I'm sure she'll get over that... though it does pose the question of how you'll handle telling her the birds and the bees..."

His ears instantly press to his head. "Nope, not talking about this. No. No. No." He holds out the foal to her. "Here, be distracted by how cute she is."

Gel blinks, taking their daughter from him in confusion. "Are you really that dead-set on not talking about it?"

Ruby pokes one of the holes in her mother's legs, eliciting a shiver. She leans down and presses her muzzle against one, squirming as she tries to go into the hole.

"Gel, I'm not sure I'll be ready to talk about it when she's ten years old, let alone one month." He shakes his head rapidly. "I am not ready to think about my little girl learning about that type of thing."

"I... if you say so, love..." She glances down at Ruby, tilting her head to one side. "What, uh... what is she doing, love?"

Looking down and glad for the distraction, he sees Ruby squirming against the chitin. "I think she's trying to play with you like she does with my fur.. only you have holes instead of fur, so she's using what she has to work with."

The filly, unable to fit her body through them like she used to, instead works a hoof through, poking out the other end, nearby. She wiggles it, laughing with glee at the little display before her.

"Aww..." Rhino coos. "That's adorable..."

She looks up at her daddy, smiling brightly and holding a hoof out to him. "Da!"

He chuckles, putting his hoof to hers. "Look at that, love. Now we're all holding hooves. Yours is just held by the inside."

"Not all." She takes his free hoof with her own, quietly giggling. "Now we are."

All three of them laugh at the display, Specter tilting his head, not quite sure what the joke is. After a moment, Rhino looks to one corner of the room. "Here, I have an idea." His horn lights up, bringing over Ruby's play blanket and laying it out with her toys on it. The stallion lays down on it a moment later, patting the floor next to him as if inviting Gel and Ruby to join him.

The latter frees herself and almost leaps to join him, happily hugging his neck. The former soon joins them, albeit with a greater degree of control.

The stallion laughs as he nuzzles the tiny foal while speaking to his wife. "What? Didn't you want to tackle hug me too?"

"And knock you over?" She smirks, waggling a hoof at him. "If I'd known you'd wanted that, I would've done so. I just thought you might still be a bit sore."

"Fair enough." He looks down at the filly on his neck before shifting until he's laying on his side with his back against Gel, Ruby on top of his neck. Playfully, he grabs a bit of Gel's mane in his mouth.

The nymph giggles, tapping his nose. "What's gotten you so frisky, love?"

She notices their daughter climb along the stallion's body, mimicking her gesture. "Dada ba?"

He looks to the two of them, taking his wife's mane out of his mouth a moment. "What? Can't I want to play sometimes too? I like innocent fun too..." The exact words his daughter said register is his head. "Wait, book time already?"

"Ba!" She nips his nose, giggling brightly. "Dada ba!" She taps his arm.

Gel tilts her head, curious. "Maybe... she wants you to bounce her?"

"Hmm..." Levitating the filly in his magic, the stallion rolls fully over onto his back and sets her on his front hooves. "Ready Ruby?" He lightly extends his forelegs their full length before bending them back down and repeating the motion.

She happily squeals, holding her hooves out to him.

The navy nymph watches from the side, smiling softly. I guess I was right... she wanted to play.

Sticking out his tongue playfully at his daughter, the stallion thinks to his wife. You know, you can play with us too if you want. I'm sure we would have even more fun if you did.

She blinks, her brow furrowing slightly. But... I don't know how that'd work.

On her trip down, Ruby taps her dad's tongue, giggling brightly. "Da!" After a second, she switches her horn for wings. She flaps them excitedly as he lifts her up, noticeably reducing the weight on his hooves at the peak of the motion.

He speaks to her a he puts a little more force into the up part of his playing with Ruby, her actually going about an inch airborne now, but never hovering and always plopping back onto his hooves. "Well..." he starts cheekily, "I could do this to both you and her. I carry you all the time so it should be possible. Probably tiring after a bit though... We could break out some of her toys, you could have a shot doing this, maybe hover around a bit with her on your back... there's any number of things we could do.

Gel smiles, leaning down and gently pecking his cheek. "I'll just let you two have fun, for a bit. I'm gonna go make us lunch, real quick." She stands up, brushing her hair back out of her face. "Anything specific you'd like?"

"Hmm..." Rhino looks up at the filly as if silently trying to communicate with her. Suddenly, he sets her down and brings Gel to him with a bit of magic. Setting her back against his chest, he locks all of his limbs around her as they now lay there in front of Ruby. "We want you to play."

The navy changeling blushes brightly, looking at Ruby. "I... is that right, sweetie?"

The filly walks up and taps her nose, giggling brightly. "Mama ba?"

With a small sigh, she turns to the stallion, smiling softly. "I guess I can play a bit... however." She kisses him, humming a bit. "You're figuring out what we're doing, love."

He simply looks at her curiously. "Didn't you hear the little one? That game is 'ba', she already decided that."

She blinks, blushing a bit more. "Oh... right..." She carefully picks the little pink pony up, nuzzling her gently and getting affection in kind. "Here we go..." She carefully stretches her forelegs out, watching her daughter squeal in delight as she rides her hooves all the way up.

Watching this, Rhino smiles before speaking. "Of course, she pretty much uses 'ba' to say a lot of things. So for all we know, she's just enjoying this and she actually meant something like... I don't know..." He levitates a ball from the pile of toys. "Ball, maybe."

Seeing the green toy, she babbles brightly and eagerly reaches for it, wings flapping. "Ba! Ba!"

Gel blinks, looking from the filly to the toy and back. "I... I guess she actually did want the ball."

"That... or she's just a happy filly who like to play and doesn't know that many words." As Gel brings the filly down to her chest, Rhino gives Ruby the ball, which is about the size of her whole body.

The happy filly hugs the ball to herself, content to sit on her mother with the sphere. She looks down at her dad and smiles, waving while holding the toy. "Dada." She tries to hold the ball out to him, shaking it a bit. "Ba, dada?"

"I think I know this game." He kisses both the changeling and filly before moving to the other side of the blanket, bringing the ball with him. Once there, he lays down on his stomach and rolls the ball to them.

Ruby beams, leaping forward and bumping it back to him. She quickly gets back to her hooves, waiting for him to send it back.

He does so, but he bounces it so that it would go over the filly and get her mom instead, curious what she would do.

The nymph simply raises a hoof, bouncing it back to him. She giggles, watching the filly try to follow the ball, stumbling slightly before watching the stallion again, excitedly jumping in place.

Spreading his forelegs wide, Rhino begins rolling the ball back and forth between his hooves. "If nothing else, this is good for teaching her coordination and predicting how things are going to act."

"I agree..." She watches Ruby chase the ball from one hoof to the other, babbling all the while. "Though some things she might not know how to react to..."

"She's still young, there's no rush." He suddenly stops the ball with a hoof. Keeping his hoof on it, he slowly rolls it toward the filly.

She swiftly pounces on it, latching on with all four hooves. She rolls back, holding the ball up above her, but doesn't complain. Instead, she does what Rhino did earlier, lifting it up into the air with all her hooves.

"Aww..." He cooes over the action. "She's just gotten into her learning state hasn't she? Trying to spout new words, doing what we do, what's next?"

Ruby rolls over, pushing the ball in a random pattern around the blanket. She pauses and turns to Specter, smiling brightly and nudging the toy closer to him. "Ba?"

The squirrel, who had almost fallen asleep again, straightens up and looks at the ball-carrying filly curiously. After a moment, he jumps onto the ball and starts walking on it to guide it around the foal.

She squeals excitedly, clapping her hooves together. After a few circles, she decides to jump up and follow him, babbling happily all the while.

Gel giggles, winking at Rhino. Cute scene, hmm?

He nods as the two start weaving a path around the blanket. We really need to keep a camera in here.

That we do... actually, do we even have one? She glances at him, an eyebrow raised, before returning her attention to the filly before them. She smiles, watching them move their path to around the stallion.

Of course we do. Didn't we find that one in a drawer somewhere when Mom and Dad came down for her birthday and they met Ruby? The question is... where did we put it? He cranes his head to keep track of the two as they start weaving through the toys.

Gel taps her chin, frowning softly. I could've sworn we loned that to Ditzy... She glances at the two as they head towards the door to the foyer. You closed the basement door... right?

He nods. Yes, I keep that door closed even when I'm down there... Though, they could end up in anywhere from the kitchen, dining room, or downstairs bathroom...

Ruby follows behind Specter, babbling at him happily. She flaps her wings, trying to reach him.

Rhino stands up as the two leave the room. "We'd better keep up with them, just to make sure they stay out of trouble." He walks over to Gel, nudging her affectionately with his head. "Come along, love."

In the kitchen, Specter continues running on the ball to steer it. Unfortunately, in his efforts to keep ahead of the filly chasing him down a straight hallway, he enters the kitchen going at quite a high speed. Skidding across the floor despite his braking, he still bounces off the base of the counter. Ruby isn't too far behind, but manages to slow down enough to skid to a halt just in front of the counter so she can keep chasing the squirrel now rolling away again. Unfortunately, this puts her in prime position for the result of Specter's crash, namely a glass of orange juice sitting on the counter that now tips over, dumping it's contents all over the filly and floor directly below it.

Ruby yelps, stopping in her tracks as she gets drenched in the sticky liquid. She stands there, shivering slightly, unsure of how to take this.

Specter dismounts his ball, carefully padding over to the filly and looking at her, sniffing her now orangey scent. His ears prick up and his head swivels as he hears hooves rapidly approaching, presumably from the noise.

The door opens, revealing the navy nymph. "I think it came from-" She stops, staring at the scene in shock. "Ruby?" She rushes forward, carefully picking the pink filly up with her forelegs, not caring that her carapace might get sticky. "Oh, sweetie, you're all wet!" She glances down at the squirrel, concerned. "W-what happened, little one?"

The filly in question licks her sticky hoof, humming softly at the sweet yet tangy taste. She sees her father step in behind her and beams, holding her hooves out to him. "Dada!"

He looks between the foal, the glass, and the puddle of orange on the floor. Before shaking his head and walking over rubbing the foal's slightly sticky mane affectionately. "We let you out of our sight for literally about 30 seconds, and you get covered in sticky stuff. I wonder if this is a problem all fillies have..." He shakes his head again, horn lighting up as he begins to deal with the mess. "This is why I never leave glasses of stuff out, it just begs to be knocked over. I guess Hydro or Dior got distracted and forgot about it or something..." He sets the glass in the sink, pulling out some paper towels and using them to soak up the liquid as he looks over Specter, nodding as he sees the squirrel is fine.

Ruby squirms in her mother's embrace, whimpering softly. She looks up at her, her eyes tearing up in her discomfort.

Gel blinks gently kissing her forehead. "Don't worry, sweetie. Daddy will clean you up as soon as the puddle's gone..." She looks at him, smiling hopefully. "Right, love?"

"Well, I half thought you'd consider licking her clean, but I see we're going at this the old fashioned way." He goes over the floor with a quick bit of cleaner to deter any future stickiness and nods in approval, washing the glass quickly and setting it to the side as he keeps the water running. "Alright, the foal bathtub, also known as the sink, is ready for use." He casts a quick eye to Specter. "Did you want a bath too, even though you're not dirty?" He smirks a moment later as the squirrel zips out of the room.

Ruby's eyes land on the sink and her pupils promptly shrink. She immediately clambers up onto her mother's back, trying to crawl away on the smooth carapace in panic.

Gel cranes her neck, frowning softly. "Do you really have to act like that every time, sweetie?"

Rhino quips as he watches the sink fill a bit. "I seem to recall a certain someone else who freaked out at the thought of baths for a while, and still requires some convincing sometimes."

She smacks his side with her tail, blushing bright blue in embarrassment. "Oh, hush, you." She turns so the foal is crawling towards him, moving a bit closer. "You wanna console her, this time, or distract her?"

"Sure," he picks up the foal in his magic, slipping her diaper off her and levitating it into the adjacent washing room, "probably a good idea for you to wash her this time since you need to wash yourself too." He brings the filly close to himself, looking down at her. "I thought you figured out last time that you liked to be mischievous and splash us. Why so fussy?"

She responds by tightly hugging him, whining softly. "Dada..."

Gel holds up a hoof. "Maybe... she's worried about the downside to her hybrid empathy?"

He slowly nods. "Maybe... I didn't consider that she had that same 'cut off' feeling you have. I honestly thought it was just the reaction half of all foals have to water just because it's new. Perhaps if one of us always has a hoof on or around her to show her she's not alone?"

Gel considers this for a moment. "That might work... physical contact helps emotion conductivity, after all..."

"Alright then." He turns off the water. "Don't forget we have the spray nozzle on the side there for easy rinsing, and we'll have to remember to wash our own fronts after she's clean... unless you're up for our own bath after this?"

"Shower." She sheepishly smiles, holding up a slightly-sticky hoof. "I-I'd like a shower, not a bath..." She clears her throat, gently reaching out to Ruby. "I'll try to comfort her... we both know you're better at cleaning fur, anyways."

As she touches the foal, he looks at her curiously, but with a hint of amusement. "I don't know... I feel you've gotten quite adept at it yourself since we met."

She quirks an eyebrow at him, trying to act bemused but given away by her small smile. "I'm better with manes, yes... but you're well aware of how easily I'm... distracted..." Her eyes start to trail down his side but she catches herself, turning back to Ruby with a bright blue blush. "A-anyways, think of it as more bonding time... and she likes it more when you clean her, too. See?"

The filly in question shivers from the cold beverage all over her. She cuddles closer to Rhino's chest, whining and tapping him to get his attention.

He looks down, his gaze softening. "Alright, alright, I understand little one. You're cold and naked and it's no fun. That's why I made the water warm." He turns to the sink as he cuddles her against his chest, but still looks back to his wife. "As much as I love bonding with her, I'm starting to wonder if I'm hogging her and she doesn't bond with you enough..."

“We bond plenty." She giggles brightly, tapping his nose. "What do you think we're doing when you're busy with a puppy patient?"

"I guess so..." He responds, a hint of doubt in his voice. Turning back to the sink, he begins prying the sticky foal from his chest. "Alright you, time to get clean."

The pink filly latches onto his left foreleg, just above the hoof. She lets out a small whimper, staring at the water below with wide eyes.

The stallion looks to his wife as a signal to comfort when ready. He leans over to Ruby and nuzzles her as he slowly moves his hoof towards the water.

She coos at her father's touch, trying to nuzzle him back without letting go. As the water touches her tail, she stiffens up, her wings flaring out in alarm.

Seeing this, Gel gingerly puts a hoof on her daughter's foreleg, trying to send happiness and calmness to the filly. She sits for a few tense seconds, watching her, before the little pony slowly starts to relax. Sighing in relief, the navy nymph turns to her stallion, nodding.

He slowly inches the foal into the water, his hoof resting on the bottom of the sink soon, having only filled the sink up enough to where the water comes up less than halfway up her body. He looks down at the foal with a reassuring smile, moving his hoof slightly. "Do I get this back or would you rather hold onto it?"

She hugs his leg tighter, pouting up at him. "Dada."

He immediately gives in to the adorable face she giving him. "Okay, okay, you can hold onto it. Just gotta use magic and plant my hind legs..." He lifts up his other foreleg and sets it on the rim of the sink, fully rearing up now. He looks to Gel. "Know where you want to stand?"

She tilts her head, thinking a bit. "I think I'll... stay where I am. I'm certainly not in the way... am I?"

"Just making sure you were comfortable, love." He turns back to the foal and lights up his horn, bringing some foal soap, a soft brush, a washcloth, some shampoo, and a fluffy towel out from under the sink, setting them on the counter. Putting the cloth on his hoof, he picks up the spray head and uses it on it while speaking in a soft voice to the foal. "Alright... let's start by getting the excess off you with a wipedown."

She doesn't seem to be paying attention, instead licking some of the orange juice from his leg. She immediately scrunches her nose, sticking her tongue out.

Gel giggles, shaking her head. "I guess she doesn't care for the taste..."

Rhino chuckles. "I was like that at her age. Didn't actually care for anything to do with oranges for the longest time. Still really don't except for the juice." He gives the filly a rundown with the cloth, affectionately scratching behind her ears when he is at that point.

Ruby coos happily, leaning into his hoof. Her eyes close as she nuzzles the cloth, causing her mother to giggle at the sight.

"I hope she always stays this cute." The stallion comments as he takes the cloth away, putting soap on it before returning it and starting to cause a layer of foam to form all over the filly.

She sits there, hugging his foreleg, and watches the bubbles swirl around her swishing tail. Tilting her head to one side, she moves her tail in circles, beaming as even more bubbles form.

Rhino sees this and chuckles as he cleans the baby's bottom. "And to think you were pouting just a minute ago."

She squirms as he scrubs her hindquarters, giggling brightly. She seems torn between hugging one hoof and getting away from the other.

The nymph next to him blinks, confused. "Is... is she ticklish, there?"

He shrugs. "Maybe. The cutie mark area is sensitive on some ponies, well, and changelings." He gives her a sly wink.

She blushes profusely, letting her head dip in embarrassment. "You have magical hooves... I can't help it..."

He leans over, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "I'm just teasing you... Gelatin."

She snaps her gaze to him, eyes wide in shock. She whimpers, pulling her hoof away from Ruby to keep her mortification from influencing the filly's mood. "P-please don't call me that... it just seems... odd coming from you..."

"Sorry love, thought I'd try it at least once." He uses a bit of magic to bring her over to him and he nuzzles her and gives a sad-eyed look. "Forgive me?"

Gel smirks, kissing him tenderly. "Only because I love you." She turns to the sink, recoiling in surprise at the sheer number of bubbles.

Out of the proverbial mountain comes a sneeze, blowing a third away and onto the parents. The cause sits in the small crater, rubbing her nose with a foreleg and looking up at them, giggling at how they look.

"I may have used a little too much soap... at least she didn't come out of it with a beard though." He dabs a little bit of suds onto the pink nose as he puts the washcloth away and brings over the shampoo.

"True..." The nymph giggles as Ruby sneezes again, scattering the bubbles into the air. "Of course, she did give you your own soap-beard."

"Hmm?" Rhino barely manages to be able to see himself in the reflection if the window, a full bushy beard now adorning his face. "Well, would you look at that..." His head slowly turns to the nymph and narrows his eyes.

She blinks, warily taking a step back. "What are you planning, love?"

"Nothing..." He yanks her forward with a bit of magic and gives her a deep kiss, revealing that he transferred about half the beard to her when he breaks said kiss. "Just sharing the suds."

Gel sputters, wiping the froth off her face as fast as possible. "Rhino!" She pouts at him, crossing her forelegs in mild annoyance. "What are you teaching little Ruby?" A coy smile slowly tugs at the corner of her mouth. Or do you want her kissing ponies as a joke?

He can't help but flinch as that comment, a small growl coming from him. "Point taken..." He turns back to the filly still latched onto one of his legs. "Alright little one, let's see about getting that mane and tail clean, then we're done." He lifts her up out of the water so he can get her tail.

She happily snuggles against his leg, her tail wrapping against the flat of his hoof. She quietly sighs and grips him a little tighter. "Dada..."

"Oh Ruby..." Rhino brings his leg up and gives her a kiss on the head before setting her back down over the sink and washing her again. Small as she is, her mane and tail don't really take any time at all. "Just one step left." He brings the spray nozzle out again.

Seeing the nozzle, her ears flatten against her head. She looks up at him, her eyes wide and pleading.

In response to this, he gives his wife the same look.

Gel quirks an eyebrow at him. "Your turn to clean her, love..." She sighs wistfully, taking it from him and carefully rinsing off the squirming filly. "You'd better clean me well, later..."

"I think that's a fair trade." He lifts up the sopping wet filly and sets his hoof on the towel. "Are you going to let go now, or are you going to stay attached while you're dried too?"

She looks around before slowly letting go of him. She sniffles, shivering, her soaked mane drooping down over her face and partially covering her eyes.

"Don't worry, you won't be wet and cold for long." Rhino scoops up the edges of the towel and folds it over the filly, rubbing it all over her to quickly dry her.

Gel giggles, playfully bumping his shoulder. "See? I knew you could do it. And without making her upset, too."

"Yes, but there were plenty of 'pity me' looks I had to steel myself against." He continues fluffing the filly. "She's lucky I had thoughts of just seeing her all happy afterward to look forward to."

"That is a good thing to focus on." A sneeze comes from under the towel, making the nymph flinch slightly. "Though... we might want to be a bit concerned by that..."

"I'm hoping it's just water or soap in her nose..." A hint of worry makes it's way into his voice. "I'll admit... I have no idea what to do with a sick foal. I think it's just medicine, excessive rest, and dealing with the mopey grumpiness she has from not feeling well and thus not being happy about it. Oh, and keeping her away from other foals so they don't catch it." He blinks. "Ok, maybe I know more than I thought."

"Let's hope she doesn't get ill." She watches as a small shape pushes against the cloth, as if searching for something. "I mean... I don't know if I could handle that, myself... even with your medicinal knowledge..."

As Rhino shifts the towel a bit so Ruby can find her way out, he comments dryly. "New parent syndrome strikes again."

"With the force of a train." Gel smiles as the small hoof finds its way out and touches the larger green one. "I don't mind, though... not if we get to see such cuteness every day..."

"I couldn't agree more." He leans down next to the small hole in the towel.

As soon as he does, the filly pops out, playfully nipping his nose. She babbles brightly, moving the hoof to rub where she nibbled. "Dada."

The stallion laughs and pulls the filly out, snuggling her to a clean part of his chest. "There's my little filly. You know, Mama wanted to see you nice and clean too." He offers the filly to her mother, tilting his head as he notices something. "Is it just me, or does she actually look a little odd without her diaper on since she has it on most of the time?"

"I don't know..." She carefully takes their daughter, nuzzling her gently as she cradles her to her chest. "Either way, she's still adorable..." She squeaks as the filly takes a lock of her mane in her mouth, her cheeks soon nearly matching the shade of blue.

"About time she decided to see how you tasted considering how much she gnaws on me." He picks up the small brush in his magic as well as a new diaper.

"You know you enjoy her love nips." She smirks playfully at him as the rest of her mane curls up around the pink pony, cradling her so she could put her hooves back on the ground. "Besides, you like to tug on my mane, too..."

He nods. "True, being the spawn of both you and me she was bound to get the playful mane tugging gene."

"Exactly." She giggles, leaning up and pecking his cheek. She brings a hoof up to her hair. "You never told me what you thought about my manestyle, by the way." She winks, moving her hoof to caress his cheek. "Do you like it long, like this? Or do you prefer it short, like before?"

"Have I not commented?" He thinks. "I guess since I saw it growing longer and longer it just didn't occur to me. Well, to be honest, I liked it both ways, but I think I prefer this one for now. "It just... I think it gives you a more caring, sheltering, serene, maternal look, you know?"

She playfully pushes on his shoulder, absently rocking the filly in her mane. "Flatterer." She smirks, gesturing to the items in his magic. "Forgetting something, love?"

He shakes his head. "I haven't forgotten, I just didn't want to interrupt the moment." He lays the cloth open on the counter and looks to her.

Gel gingerly places the surprisingly drowsy filly down on the counter, taking a step back to let him work.

The stallion manages to strap the diaper on with nary a fuss or kick. "Wow... guess all the activity and excitement this morning is getting to her." He sets the filly back in her mother's mane. "I bet she drops right to sleep if you brush her while you rock her.

She giggles softly, playfully rubbing a hoof along his back. "I see what you're getting at..." She takes the soft hairbrush and starts to run it through the filly's two-tone mane. She kisses her forehead as she quietly hums, gently rocking her in the sea of blue.

Rhino simply smiles quietly at the sight. The sleepy filly yawns cutely before looking up lovingly at her mother. She blinks often as she paws at the chitinous chest, quietly speaking. "Mama..." Another yawn comes out and she starts wriggling deeper into the comforting blue mass of the nymph's prehensile mane. Soon enough the repeating motions of both brush and mane close her eyes as the filly nods off as if she were in a soft motherly hammock.

Gel sees this and calmly puts the brush down, continuing the motions of her mane. She even sleeps adorably... She blinks, tapping her chin thoughtfully. You don't think she stayed up all night to wait for us, do you?

He shakes his head. I doubt all night, maybe a little later than normal though. We'll have to make sure she sleeps for as long as she wants. Quietly walking over, he nuzzle his wife as he looks down at their foal. Shall we put her in her crib so we can go get cleaned up? Afterwards, we can probably put her between us and just read or something else quiet and relaxing.

That sounds lovely. She leans up against him, gradually slowing the rocking motions. Maybe we could let her sleep next to the pets, instead? I think Specter's the only one awake, right now...

If you want to, sure. He wraps his tail around hers as they head to the living room.

Chapter 24: Date Night

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After a nice day off and spending the entirety of it simply relaxing with the family, things go back to normal for them on Friday. Work goes by as usual, with the only allusion to their exploits the other day being a single acknowledging comment from Manila, the rest went unsaid. There was one thing different about today though, because in all the excitement Rhino had almost forgotten that he and Gel had a date night planned today.

While there was a small hiccup in these plans, seeing as both Dior and Hydro were busy today, this was solved fairly easily as Mane had volunteered to drop by after her shift was over to foalsit. As she put it, she had nothing else to do tonight, why not enjoy it with a foal and pets she already liked spending time with?

Thus we find both parents leisurely getting ready for the night ahead as the afternoon rolls closer to evening.

Gel stands in front of their bathroom mirror, straightening her shimmery blue dress. She cranes her neck, calling into the adjoining room. "Be sure to dress well, love. The pony I talked to said that at least semi-formal attire is required."

"Understood!" Rhino calls back as he takes out his nice dinner jacket before browsing through his shirts. "Do I still not get to know where we're going?"

"Nope!" She giggles, carefully slipping on her earrings. "I want it to be a surprise - I know you'll like it, though!"

"Fair enough." He replies. "We seem to be quite good at getting each other surprises." He turns to the filly on the bed, laying on her back and waving her hooves in the air. "What do you think, Ruby? Blue shirt?"

She babbles brightly, reaching out towards him and the clothes. "Da!"

The stallion chuckles. "Now how did I know that's what you were going to say? Let's see... button up shirt, jacket... hat?" He levitates a standard black fedora out of the closet. "Hmm... yes, I like this hat." He sets it all on the bed next to ruby, giving the foal's exposed belly a nuzzle as he does so.

She happily squeals, hugging and nipping his nose.

He laughs, pursing his lips and giving her belly a raspberry.

She laughs, kicking her little legs at this.

Enjoying her laughter, he continues for a moment before stopping and panting a light kiss on her forehead. "That's my girl..."

She coos softly, a small smile on her lips. "Dada..."

"Aww..." He can't resist the urge to nuzzle her again. "Why is it you always seem to act cuter just before we have to go somewhere?"

She tilts head to one side, blinking up at him curiously. "Dada?"

He shakes his head, knowing she can sense his feelings to some degree and switching back to just loving her instead of slight worry. "Nothing, sweetie. Daddy is just thinking of how much he loves you."

She flips over, stumbling over to him and nuzzling his chest. "Dada..."

"I guess I can wait a few minutes to get dressed..." He scoops her up, holding her close and closing his eyes as he nuzzles her back.

"Aww..." Gel emerges from the bathroom, smirking coyly. "Going to miss her while we're on our date, love?"

He nods, motioning to himself holding her. "Did you want a turn?"

"Of course." She giggles, stepping forward and gently nuzzling their daughter as she takes her. "Besides, you need to get dressed, love. We're leaving as soon as Mane arrives, remember?"

"Right..." He nods in acknowledgement as he starts donning his clothing. "Do I get to know if you have anything else planned after dinner? Or is that a secret too?" He winks.

"Oh, love." She smirks at him, a playful twinkle in her eye. "I can't say what I have planned for later. Especially not in front of little Ruby!" She glances at the foal, sighing as she sees her quietly napping against her chest.

"Fair enough, love." He buttons up his shirt with a bit of magic. "Off to sleep again, huh? I guess whether she's awake or not will determine if we say goodbye."

"I guess that makes sense..." She smiles at him, eyeing his clothes approvingly. "Those should do quite nicely."

"Good, because the only thing I have that looks better than this is my full suit." He slips on his jacket and flips his hat onto his head. "Speaking of looks, you are looking particularly radiant tonight, my dear."

"I'm glad to hear that!" She glances back at her body, smiling softly. "I asked Rarity to make it for me, just for this occasion."

Surprisingly, the stallion lets out a sigh of relief. "Oh good, it's new. I was worried I'd forgotten it since I didn't recognize it from a previous date."

"If that was the case," she sticks her tongue at him, "I'd be asking for a little something extra tonight." She pauses, a hoof tracing circles on the floor as she thinks. "Maybe I should've used an older dress, then..."

He goes over to the door, holding it open for her as he responds with a smile. "You know you can always ask for it anyway, right?"

"I know." She smiles, pecking his cheek as she walks by. "I just like to see you flustered and excited."

His tail flicks her flank as he cheekily retorts. "The same to you."

The navy nymph bites her lip to keep her squeal in before she starts down the steps. "I think everything will be just fine, love. Are you sure you can handle being apart from her, though?"

He follows her, his voice matter-of-fact as he speaks, as if he has resigned himself to what he says. "I'm sure I'll experience the usual small heartache, but at least we won't be gone overnight this time."

"True enough." She brushes her tail along his chin, giggling quietly. "She'll probably be asleep when we return, though..."

"True," he concedes, "but asleep or not, a good nuzzle does both parties a world of good. I think you and I know that first hoof from the mornings one of us wakes up before the other."

"Of course." She reaches the bottom of the stairs, walking forward and pausing next to the door. "Are the little ones in the living room?"

A squeak from the room in question partially answers her while Rhino peeks in. "Yep. Merc is playing with his squeaky fish, Specs is chewing his block next to Selena who appears to be trying to unravel the secrets of the universe contained within her yarn ball."

Gel smiles, walking over and carefully holding their sleeping daughter out to him. "Would you like to hold her a bit longer, love? Before we leave?"

"I'd never deny a chance to hold her, unless you wanted to instead." He takes the foal softly and she instantly snuggles against his fluffy coat. Almost inaudibly, the stallion comments. "Definitely having more of you..."

The nymph's ear twitches at this, and a small smile grows on her lips. She glances up at the grandfather clock, curious. "When is she supposed to show up, again?"

"Should be any minute now I think..." Rhino takes a few steps to the window and peers out, a shape approaching the house down the path catching his eye. "Ah, that should be her."

She joins him at the window, peeking out as well. "I see she had time to change. Probably good, since we don't want anyone getting territorial..."

"Probably exactly why she did so, though I admit it's a little odd to see her with her mane half-down like that. I don't think I've seen it not in a bun since I've known her..." He tilts his head, looking at the mare almost to their house now, bare of her usual white coat and now only wearing her saddlebags.

"I'll admit, it's a bit different." Gel giggles, bumping his side. "Though you've gotta admit, she pulls the look off really well."

"I'll side with you on that, of course I have my own eye candy to compare her to, so I'm probably not the best one to ask." He gives his wife a peck on the cheek.

She sticks her tongue out at him, smirking coyly. "Flatterer." She moves to the door and opens it, waving to the mare. "Hello, there!"

"Hey you two!" Mane calls as she waves back, stepping onto the porch. "I'm not late am I?"

"No, you're right on time." She opens the door wider, nodding. "Please, come in!"

The mare does so, wiping her hooves on the mat outside the door as she looks around with a smile. "Your home is still as lovely as ever."

"Thank you, Mane." A yip reaches her ears and she turns, watching the silver fox barrel into the foyer. He slides a bit as he tries to change direction, eventually getting his footing and rushing up to her, sitting down and smiling up at her. Gel laughs softly, shaking her head. "I think someone is happy to see you..."

Mane giggles as she leans down, taking a hoof and petting the fox fondly. "There's my little buddy. Are you going to keep me company while I'm here this evening?"

He yips, leaning into her hoof and murring softly.

As the mare giggles again, Rhino chuckles along with her. "Her really seems to be bonding with you lately. I guess he decided he liked you."

"I prefer to think of it as he always liked me, we just didn't get to hang out much before." She responds as she stands back up, spotting the little one in his foreleg. "Aww... she's asleep already?"

The filly squirms as she says those words, her green eyes slowly blinking open. She turns to the mare, her gaze unfocused, and reaches out to her. "Niwa?"

Mercury promptly jumps up, licking the foal's cheek and eliciting a happy squeal from her.

Mane just smiles at the filly. "Not quite, Ruby. I'm Mane. You don't have to say my name just yet though," she looks to the parents, "I'm more impressed she can say as much as she can right now."

"She's definitely a bright filly." Gel giggles, bumping Rhino's side. "Got it from her dad."

He bumps her back. "And she got some from you I think. If nothing else, she at least got being adorable from you."

Mane just giggles at the two of them. "I have a feeling I need to stop both of you so you don't stand there complimenting each other until you miss your date."

"Oh!" She turns to the clock again, her hooves shuffling fearlessly. "Right, the reservation's in ten minutes!"

"Alright, alright." Rhino slowly and softly transfers Ruby over to Mane. "I trust you with her, just be careful, okay?"

"I'm honored you trust me with what is most precious to you. I'll keep her safe, I promise." The fellow veterinarian gives her co-workers a smile that displays her confidence.

"Thank you. See you later!" She grabs her stallion's foreleg and rushes off. On their way out, she pouts cutely at him. "I'm precious to you, too, right?"

"Of course," he responds, catching up and nuzzling her affectionately, "and tonight, I'll show you exactly how much."

She smirks, her tail entwining in his. "I'm gonna hold you to that, love."

As the door closes and the couple go on their way, Mane looks down to the foal in her foreleg. "Well, you certainly seem to take it better when they leave now. At least according to the tales I heard of your first time away from them."

She looks up at the mare with wide eyes, holding her tiny hooves out to her. "Niwa hug?"

Mane giggles, hugging the foal gently and warmly regardless of the identity confusion. "I'm not Manila, I'm Mane. I know we look alike though, so that may be why you're confused..."

The young filly babbles happily, batting at a lock of blue mane that fell into her reach.

Laughing, the mare looks down to the silver fox at her hooves. "Come on, why don't we all go into the living room so we don't just spend all evening here in the entrance hall?"

He yips happily, leaping up onto her back. He eagerly rubs his muzzle against the soft mane before him, murring contentedly.

"Everypony loves my mane today..." She muses as she walks into the living room. "Now let's see... milk in the fridge, diapers in the closet, toys in here, crib upstairs but it's usually fine as long as she sleeps on something soft. Somehow I think as much as Rhino checked I knew that, it'll still be in my head by the time Ruby's out of diapers..."

The filly in question has shifted in her foreleg, looking over the mare's shoulder and giggling brightly. "Me'cwy!"

Right as she says this, the fox taps one of the marks on the mare's hips. He paws and presses against it curiously, never leaving his new perch right above her tail.

The mare's blue tail flicks as her head cranes around sharply in surprise. "Hey, what are you up to back there? There's no foxes on my cutie marks you know, or... well, there weren't, I suppose there is now..."

He looks up at her, tilting his head to the side. He starts to pull his paws away but instead rubs the dog in her mark with one, the other being brought to his underside.

Giggling at the sensation, she waggles a hoof at him, more teasing than stern. "Careful mister, I know the pictures are pretty, but pads only, no claws. At least you're more nice about it than some of the cats I have to deal with."

He huffs, holding his free paw out to her. The other continues to stroke through her fur, accidentally applying pressure there due to his current pose.

Her tail flicks a few more times, but she doesn't comment on it again. Instead she moves her muzzle to meet his paw, needing three of her legs to stand and the other to hold the foal.

He pats her muzzle before holding it up a little higher, showing the blunt tips of his claws. This happens to be the moment his matching set on the other forepaw starts to press against her.

She tilts her head at him, trying to figure out what he's doing and why. "You are a very odd little one... at least you're nice though."

He happily yips, jumping up and licking her cheek. His attention is soon caught, however, by the filly climbing over the mare's shoulder and onto her back with him.

"Oh?" Mane looks at the foal as she parks herself on her back. "Is it time for everypony to ride on my back then?"

She nods and claps her hooves, laughing brightly. She glances down at the mare's mane, leaning down and nuzzling it.

Seeing this and not wanting to be outdone, Mercury turns around and leaps onto the floor. He buries his muzzle in the tip of her tail, sniffing and nuzzling it eagerly.

Blinking, the mare watches the two of them go at it. "What is with all of your fascinations with my mane and tail tonight? I'm certainly glad it's keeping you entertained, but I have no idea why. I'm starting to think all of you would mob me if I actually got comfortable and laid down."

The silver fox stops, walking around and sitting in front of her, his tail swishing idly behind him.

Seeing this, she laughs lightly and rolls her eyes. "Alright, I suppose i didn't want to just stand around in my saddlebags all night." She cranes her head around and picks the foal up by her scuff, setting her on the ground next to the fox before slipping off her bags and laying down next to them. "Ah, that's better."

The two leap as soon as she's on the floor, cuddling up against either side of her chest. Mercury softly licks her fur, as though grooming her coat. Ruby, seeing him do that, decides to give it a try and licks the other side of her, doing this twice before switching to nipping the mare.

This leaves the mare in a state of giggles. As she is forced onto her side from the onslaught, she tosses one look at the other two pets in thee room. "Enjoying the show you two?"

The gray feline looks up at her from her place on top of the squirrel, his ear in her mouth. She releases it to mewl once and then nuzzles the darker pet, purring contentedly.

Mane shakes her head. "If you were any other cat and squirrel I'd be worried you were going to eat him, but with you two it's just adorable." Her gaze goes back to the fox and foal. "Your whole family has always been very touchy and affectionate to those you like."

Mercury nods and yips, stepping forward and nuzzling her cheek.

Meanwhile, Ruby toddles in the other direction. The tiny unicorn noses at her belly, whining quietly after a few moments.

Mane yelps quietly and closes her, legs, looking down at the foal. "Whoa there you. I may have the weapons, but I don't have the ammo."

She turns to the mare, whining a bit more and poking her legs. A soft grumble comes from the filly's belly, startling her into looking around nervously.

"Well, if what you did before wasn't a good sign, that just now was a billboard." She rolls over and stands, picking up the foal in her foreleg. "Come on, let's get you something to soothe that tummy of yours. Come along, Mercury." She starts walking to the kitchen.

The fox eagerly follows her, leaping up onto her back after a few feet. He promptly curls up there, his bushy tail draping over his nose.

The mare enters the kitchen and heads straight for the fridge. The bottles inside are at the forefront and quite obvious. After a short bit of hoof and mouth work with assistance from the microwave, Ruby's bottle is warmed up and fully prepared. Seeing that her only spare hoof is occupied and she can't sit down due to the fox on her back, Mane picks up the bottle around it's side with her mouth and angles it so Ruby can drink from it.

Ruby giggles brightly and taps the mare's cheek, watching her use what she sees as an silly method. She doesn't laugh long, though, as her hunger convinces her to take the nib and drink.

Mercury, seeing the issue he's causing, leaps off and circles around in front of her. He sits down there, his whiskers twitching slightly as he watches them.

Mane sits down gratefully, bringing her other now free hoof into play now to take the bottle from her mouth and hold the bottle. He eyes are soft as she watches the foal drink. "Well, you certainly don't have any problems getting your nutrition."

She looks up at the mare, her own emerald eyes starting to close. Her forehooves reach up and grip the bottle, helping to keep it steady.

Mane muses as she watches the foal. "You know... now that I think about it, it's probably a good thing your mom makes enough milk to keep on hoof when she's not around. I imagine with what her being a changeling and you being a hybrid, normal pony formula might not have everything you need. I know hippogriffs usually have that concern..."

Mercury watches in silence as the filly quietly drinks more of the white liquid, tilting his head to one side. After a moment, he stands and walks out of the room, his tail swishing happily behind him.

The mare watches the fox go as she continues talking to the filly, remembering Rhino said she enjoyed it, even if she didn't understand most if what was being said. "At least pets his age usually don't require constant supervision like you do. It's fine just tending to you, but things could get tricky fast if I had to watch more." She smiles down at the foal. "I wonder how you would be with a sibling your age... Probably double teaming your parents to cute your way into getting whatever you want. Isn't that right?"

She swallows the last ounce and pulls away from the bottle, blinking sleepily up at the mare. She reaches up and touches a lock of blue swaying above her, cooing quietly. "Mae..."

The mare smiles and nuzzles the foal. "Yes Ruby, that's me... And you are just the sweetest thing..."

As she says this, a certain silver creature dashes by the open doorway, dull claws clacking against the floor. The filly giggles, nuzzling her sitter before reaching out to the foyer, brightly babbling.

"Oh?" She looks where the filly is pointing. "Do you think Mercury is up to something? Let's go see..." She trots out of the kitchen, her head swiveling as she looks for the source of the tapping.

As it turns out, the sound comes from her saddlebags - or, more accurately, the fox halfway inside one of them. His hindlegs scrabble against the floor as he tries to find purchase on the smooth surface.

Mane giggles as she and Ruby go over. "You know since it's not work time, I don't have treats. Or are you just trying to go home with me?" She leans down and nudges the fox just enough so he falls into the bag.

He promptly pops back out just enough to lick her nose and upper lip. He rests his paws on the edge, appearing to hopefully smile at her before he notices the sleepy unicorn. His smile slowly becomes subdued and he leans forward, tenderly nuzzling her cheek.

Mane giggles. "What are you going to do now little one? Both of your favorite girls are here."

Mercury glances from one pony to the other, whining softly. He squirms, retreating into the bag, unable to decide.

"Aww..." Mane sticks her head in after him. "You know you can have both of us, right?"

He yips happily, eagerly nuzzling and licking her muzzle in appreciation.

"Come on you sweet talker." She grabs him by his scruff and brings him out, setting him in her foreleg next to Ruby."

The filly, feeling the fox's soft fur against her pelt, rolls over and curls up against his side, humming quietly. He smiles and curls around her, resting his paws on her back. He looks up at Mane, his ears twitching slightly as he gives her a hopeful expression.

She giggles. "Alright alright, a group nap it is." She walks back into the living room and tosses a glance at the other two pets. "We're taking a little snooze on the couch, care to join us?"

Ruby glances at the two of them, yawning softly and cuddling even more into the fox's coat, muttering one word. "S'ecs..."

Mane's ears stand straight up as she looks down at the filly before slowly looking back up and getting onto the couch. "It's just in your mind, a filly would not know that word..."

Selena, watching this exchange, pulls away from the squirrel. 'That's the second time they've reacted to that...' She moves to the side of him, sitting down beside his reclined form. 'That's curious, isn't it?'

'A bit..." The squirrel comments. 'It's just her saying my name...'

'Maybe it's the way she's saying it?' She playfully paws at his nose. 'Whatever it is, it's sure getting them flustered...'

As they watch the three settle onto the couch, the two smaller forms nuzzled up against the larger, Specter nods. 'Maybe... ponies are strange sometimes.'

'Maybe we should ask Miss Fluttershy?' She nudges at his side, mewling softly. 'She could explain it to us, right?' ^

'Maybe...' He scratches her with his tiny claws. 'Do you think we should also ask her about... you know, why we can't seem to get those little things we wanted?'

Selena rolls onto her back, stretching for a moment before responding. 'I think that's a brilliant idea.'

'Glad you think so.' He climbs onto her warm belly, curling up a bit there as he still faces her. Casting a glance at the others on the couch with their eyes closed, he asks, 'Are we going to join them?'

'That depends.' She smirks playfully, licking the tip of his nose. 'Do you want to give up your spot on me?'

His tail waves as he laughs. 'I guess not... do you think we don't sleep with the others enough anymore? I mean I know we both enjoy spending time together, but do you think we aren't doing enough like cuddling with them?'

She looks up at him, her smile slowly fading. 'Maybe... do you think we need to limit our time alone together, then?'

Seeing her smile fade, he gives her cheek a quick lick. 'No, I just think maybe we accept their offers to play or join more often if we're going to be in the same room anyway. Alone together time is still good.'

She purrs softly, giving him a quick nuzzle. 'Alright...' She rolls them over and gets off him, padding towards the couch. 'Let's go spend time with them, then.'

Not saying a word, Specter simply bounds after her, following her lead as she jump up onto the furniture. The two snuggle up next to their other family members, forming one big group of warm bodies as they all relax and let sleep overtake them.

***

The front door quiets clicks, unlocked as Rhino and Gel arrive home, both with small smiles on their faces. The stallion sneaks a quick kiss to his love's cheek as he closes the door. "Well, you certainly know how to plan an evening."

"Thank you, though I wish it'd gone more smoothly." She sighs, leaning against his side. "I'm glad we had some time together, either way..."

He nuzzles her affectionately, a smile still on his face. "Aside from a few one bad apple, I think everything went perfectly. We've been dealing with ponies like that since you were revealed though, nothing new, and nothing we can't handle." His lips give her another reassuring kiss.

"That, and accidentally getting splashed by lemonade when she tripped the waiter." She happily returns it before pulling away and looking up at him. "By the way, I noticed that she didn't say anything else after I returned from the washroom." She quirks an eyebrow, playfully tapping a hoof against the floor. "Did you have anything to do with that, love?"

"Maybe..." He looks away coyly. "I may have had a few words with her, gave her a meaningful look or two... you know, husband things."

Gel giggles, pecking his cheek. "Thank you for that." She gestures to the staircase. "Shall we check on the little ones?"

"Of course." He starts heading up the stairs, Mane waiting just outside the open door of their room as they come up.

She smiles at them, speaking quietly. "Welcome home, you two. I just put all the little ones in bed, they're out like lights."

The navy nymph smiles back, tension she didn't know she had visibly draining from her. "Oh, thank goodness... I take it they didn't give you too big a challenge?"

The mare waves a hoof casually. "No trouble at all. The only thing close to trouble was when I changed Ruby after a small nap and she decided she didn't feel like waiting for a new diaper and instead wanted to run around the house as bare as the rest of us. It was all like one big game, so it was fine."

She blinks, staring blankly at her for a few minutes. "Care to run that one by me again, Doctor Goodall?"

The mare tilts her head before repeating herself. "Your daughter had a nap, afterwards I changed her, but before I could get the new one on, she decided she'd rather run around without one."

She scratches her head, brow furrowing slightly. "You eventually got one on her, though... right?"

"Of course." She steps to the side, motioning the couple inside their room. "She just had a little fun running around as I chased her with it. Made for a good way to start tiring her out too."

"I suppose that's good..." She steps forward, looking towards the bed, curious. "And the others?" She jumps at a small huff, swiftly turning to the mare. "Did... did you just scoff at me?"

Mane just giggles as Rhino spies the real culprit on her back. "That wasn't it, love. I think a certain fox just decided he wanted to be noticed. Isn't that right, Mercury?"

He murrs softly, sleepily nuzzling the nape of the mare's neck. Gel smiles softly, carefully sitting on the edge of the bed. "He really does like you, doesn't he?"

The veterinary mare laughs as she feels him nuzzling her. "It sure seems that way, he and I have just been becoming good friends. Manila isn't the only one who likes her little furry friends you know."

The nymph blinks, tilting her head to one side. "Wait, so... Manila has a pet? Or did you mean something else?"

"Well, you know how at work Manila is always the one playing with them while I act professional, maybe give them a bit of affection but not overly so? I'm just saying I like to play too."

"Well, then," she beams, gesturing to the mare and her passenger, "I think that explains why you and Merc get along so well... though he should probably be heading off to sleep, now." She glances at the snoozing fox, shaking her head. "I think Rhino should move him, personally."

The stallion throws a dramatic foreleg over his brow, whispering with an appropriate tone as his horn lights up and he lifts the pet over to his bed. "Oh such a brutal life I live, being constantly forced to lift all things small, furry, and adorable."

"Don't act like you dislike it, love." Gel giggles brightly, shaking her head and turning to the mare. "Thank you, again, for looking after them, Doctor Goodall."

"You don't have to call me that you know, Gel." The earth pony smiles. "Just 'Mane' is fine."

She blushes, lowering her head slightly. "I... I guess if you're alright with it, Do-" She covers her mouth, squeaking slightly. "I-I mean Mane."

"Good girl." The vet pats her head. "Now, it's getting late, and I should be heading home."

Rhino looks to her. "Again, thank you very much for this."

She pats him too. "Oh, it was a fun evening for me. Be sure to let me know if you need me to do it again, and I'll gladly accept."

He laughs. "Will do, will do."

"I hope you have a nice trip back home, Mane." She waves kindly, leaning over and leaning up against her stallion's side.

Their friend waves back as she dons her bags and heads downstairs, soon out the door and back towards town.

Rhino lights up his horn, locking the front door and turning off the entrance light before giving Gel a kiss on the cheek. "Come on, let's see how she's doing."

She smiles and nods, entwining their tails together as they approach the crib. She watches the filly cuddles a green plush toy in her sleep, giving a quiet 'aww'. "She looks so happy..." She quietly sighs, sitting down next to the crib. "From what Mane said, Ruby's starting to handle our absence rather well... but I worry that there might be a bit more to it..." She looks to him, smiling weakly. "What do you think, love?"

"Well..." Rhino thinks a moment before answering. "I'm glad she's okay when we are away, as there are times when we need to be, but what part are you worried about?"

She quietly scuffs a hoof against the carpet, embarrassed. "That she'll want to play more with others?"

He tilts his head. "Isn't that a good thing for when she's older? Or are you worried more about right now and missing out on bonding?"

"T-the second one..." She sighs, her ears folding flat to her head. "Am I being too... selfish?"

"Not at all, love." Her husband nuzzles her, putting much love into the action. "You simply want to be close to your daughter, something you know I approve of and practice myself. You know how much I want to spend every moment with her, this is just your version of that."

She leans into the gesture, quietly humming. "Thank you, love... now," she rubs against his shirt with a hoof, smiling coyly, "shall we get you out of these clothes?"

Chapter 25: Hopes

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Saturday morning comes peacefully to the Nexus household. Alarm clocks are off, the pets are snoozing, and the foal is sleeping peacefully in her crib with her plush toy and the aura of love coming from her parents as they too sleep in their bed after a late romantic night downstairs where they wouldn't disturb the little ones. Even the sun finds itself unable to disturb the moment easily, as the shades have been drawn in the exact way where it can't shine on any unsuspecting faces. This allows everyone to wake up at their own pace.

Sapphire eyes slowly flutter open, their owner taking a minute for them to focus. She carefully sits up, making sure not to wake anyone up. She runs a hoof through her mane, yawning, waiting for her mind to get in gear.

After a few moments she rubs her belly, feeling the warmth still there and smiling softly as she recalls the previous night. She turns to her nightstand, bringing up a pen and marking off the previous day on the calendar. Her gaze moves to today and she stops, staring at the pink heart, her nose scrunching slightly in thought.

Finally her mind retrieves the memory connected to the symbol, her cheeks flushing with color. She fidgets a moment, nervous, before something occurs to her. Her eyes widen, a hoof reaching down to rub her belly as she turns to her stallion.

She slowly reaches over and gently strokes his mane, her eyes slowly getting dewy. She leans down and briefly kisses him, laughing a little before nuzzling him, whispering softly. "I love you..."

The stallion sleepily responds with something incoherent, his forelegs wrapping around her and pulling her close. His tail wraps around hers as he plants a kiss on her forehead.

She giggles softly, gently nipping his neck before leaning into the embrace. She happily nuzzles him, waiting for him to wake up.

After about twenty more minutes, he stirs again, this time starting with the hooves gripping her starting to stroke her back while his lips gently touch to hers. He lets them linger before he breaks the kiss, whispering to her, "Good morning, beautiful."

She sighs softly, kissing him back before pulling away slightly. She smirks playfully at him, a hoof rubbing the top of his head. "Morning. Sleep well?"

He nods, nuzzling her. "Like an emerald dragon with my priceless sapphire hoard..."

She pouts and sticks her tongue out at him. "You couldn't have used the word 'treasure'?"

He simply smiles at her knowingly. "Dragons have many treasures, but a hoard is even more precious and one-of-a-kind."

She closes her eyes, idly stroking his chest with a hoof. "And... if your 'hoard' was to grow... bigger?"

Not quite sure what she is getting at, but still waking up, he responds simply. "Just more to love."

The nymph giggles, playfully tapping his nose. "Maybe I need a more direct approach for you, sweetie?"

"I'll leave that up to you, love..." he replies, stretching as he wakes almost fully up, "you seem to know how to handle most things, including me."

"Well then..." She places her calendar on his chest, sitting up. "Maybe this can help get my point across?"

"Hmm?" He idly lifts up the calendar to an angle so he can see it clearly. His eyes trail across the month. "Something more to do with our anniversary coming up in about a week?"

"No, I know you'd remember that." She points to a group of letters on the day just below the heart. "Besides, I wouldn't be reminding you of it today, if you didn't. I'd remind you the same day."

"Probably with breakfast in bed, though it seems like I usually beat you to that on special days." He winks at her before focusing on the heart itself, and the two days after it with similar marks. The few facts click into his mind and he nods in understanding. "Oh, I see... it's time for your fall heat again..." Casting a glance over at her, he raises an eyebrow. "Though you do seem much more calm and content than usual when this starts."

"Yes..." She smiles softly, rolling her hoof to encourage him along that train of thought.

He thinks out loud. "Well... usually only satisfaction or getting pregnant would do that... Was last night really enough to take that much edge off?"

She quirks an eyebrow at him, her smile falling to a flat line. "Is that right..." She unknowingly places a hoof on her belly, her head dropping slightly. "I guess that could be the case... though I think it's more the second choice..."

"That would be more logical..." he muses before his brain catches up to what his mouth is spewing out. His eyes widen as his head snaps to look at her, his eyes falling onto her stomach. "Gel... when we... and I... would it have lasted long enough to..."

"I, um... I hear it can last up to three days..." She shrugs a bit, sheepishly smiling. "I never looked it up, myself, though..."

"It's never really come up before now..." Sighing, the stallion lays his head back, rubbing his forehead with a hoof. "Okay... let me think... I suppose we'll know for sure if your heat never comes up... in the mean time... I guess we just play the odds." He lets out a slow breath. "Did not think I would ever impregnate two nymphs in the same week... or at all, really."

Gel rolls her eyes, leaning up against his side. "It's not all that bad, is it? We'd be having another foal... a new member of our family." She smirks coyly, teasingly nipping his neck. "Not to mention the... other benefits..."

Shivering a bit, he nuzzles her. "I never said it was ever bad, and I guess you're right... it will give me plenty of chances to improve my massaging technique, and my cooking skills for unusual dishes."

"And maybe I can provide milk in exchange." She sticks her tongue out at him before rolling over, carefully getting off the bed.

"Heh, I suppose." He watches her getting up, tilting his head slightly. "Going somewhere?"

"Just one place." She walks over to the bathroom door, blushing softly. "I don't feel quite well..."

He immediately is at her side, bracing himself against her. "Need me to hold your mane?"

She nods immediately, her face gaining a greenish tint. "Y-yes, please..."

***

The day goes by as any Saturday might, although now one can easily see the extra spring in Gel's steps or the peppy swish in her tail when she walks. She seems to have gained the glow one sees of pregnant mares already, despite it being this early. Still, Rhino has never complained about his wife being happy and he isn't starting now.

As the afternoon roll by, the family can be found in the living room, as is common place. At the moment, all the pets are perching on various parts of the changeling while they watch the little pink filly laughs as she 'wrestles' her father. Of course, it's more like he's laying on his back and she's bounding and an down pouncing on him, but the result is the same.

As she pounces onto his muzzle, the stallion crosses his eyes trying to look at her, to which she simply laughs more and nuzzles him.

Gel watches them from the couch with a small, content smile, her head resting on her forehooves. She giggles at their play before biting her lip, keeping a tiny groan from escaping. She sighs in mild annoyance, ignoring the steadily-growing ache in her belly, but bringing a nearby bucket closer, just in case.

Rhino's ear flicks from the sound of the bucket moving, but hearing nothing more he doesn't react. He lets out a small playful growl at the foal he loves, though the fact that her body half-muffles it dilutes the effect so that he only seems sillier.

The nymph laughs brightly, seeing their daughter leap to his chest and bounce around even more in response. Hearing a quiet 'ding' from the other room, she reluctantly moves the pets off her body to check on it. She heads to the kitchen, opening the oven door.

She regards the golden, fluffy tops of the cupcakes in the tray, smiling softly. "Perfect." She swiftly moves them to the cooling rack, nodding satisfactorily to herself.

She turns to exit the room when a harsh twinge in her lower abdomen forces her to the floor. She quietly gasps for air, suddenly aware of how wet her tail feels, overwhelmed by confusion. "Wh... why did that happen?" She grimaces and stands up carefully, a single tear rolling down her cheek. "D... did it not take? Did... did I get excited over nothing?"

In the other room, the stallion and foal continue playing, unaware of the emotional distress in the other room. Rhino lightly touches the tip of his hoof to Ruby's nose. "Boop."

She taps his hoof back with her own, laughing happily. "Da!" She pauses, glancing at the door when the sound of hooves filter into the living room. She tilts her head to one side before turning back to Rhino, grabbing his hoof and nuzzling it, humming brightly.

He just chuckles at the foal, ruffling her mane fondly with his other hoof. "Who's my smart filly? Who's my little princess?"

She babbles, leaning into his hoof with a silly smile on her lips. "Da..."

"Me?" He points his other hoof to himself incredulously. "Since when am I a princess? You would think somepony would have told me by now..."

Ruby laughs at this, leaping forward and nuzzling his chin. "Dada..."

"Heh, that's my girl..." The stallion gently wraps his daughter in an embrace, kissing her. "You have no idea how much it warms my heart everytime you say that... and I doubt you'll have an idea even when you can fully understand me..."

She giggles softly before yawning softly, cuddling up against his chest. In seconds the sound of her quiet, even breathing reaches his ears.

He laughs quietly, stroking her mane. "And the afternoon nap begins..." He looks up, noticing the lack of his wife's presence and wondering what's taking her so long.

Bringing Ruby with him tucked up against his chest, he heads into the kitchen, only to be greeted with what look like perfect, though not yet iced, cupcakes. No sign of Gel though. Trotting back out, he heads upstairs to the next likely place, their bedroom. Perhaps Gel wanted to put something on or she got sick again. He strolls in through the open door.

The navy nymph looks up from where she's sitting on the foot of the bed, surprised by his entrance. "R-Rhino?" She hastily puts the bottle in her hooves off to the side, frantically rubbing at her cheeks. "W-why are you up here? Did Ruby need her diaper changed?"

"She fell asleep..." he starts, slowly walking toward her, tilting his head. "Is... something wrong, love?"

"I..." She falters, glancing at the bottle next to her, the pink fluid inside swirling from its sudden motion. "I w-wouldn't get closer... i-if I were you..." She audibly gulps, tears brimming in her eyes once more. "I-I might not be able to control myself..."

"Gel..." The stallion's eyes are soft as he sets Ruby down in her crib and puts her blanket around her so she wouldn't have direct contact with the emotions about to take place. "I take it... you're in heat and feeling it?"

She turns away and nods tersely, a small whimper escaping her lips. "I-I was so happy... t-thinking we were having another foal..."

Rhino sighs, walking over and placing a hoof on her shoulder. "Gel... just because we aren't having one now, doesn't mean we won't ever..."

She pulls away from him, her entire body tense. "I know... but I just... I feel like now would've been a perfect time..." She glances at him, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Wait... you aren't relieved, are you?"

His head pulls back as he tries to think of a good but still honest answer to that question. "I... erm... well... it's not like I'm glad you're crying or anything..."

"You are!" She rounds on him, pouting angrily. "Why? You didn't want two nymphs carrying your foals at the same time?" She turns away, gritting her teeth and holding her head in her hooves, her words muffled so he can barely make them out. "Fuck, this heat is really getting to me..."

"Gel..." He draws closer to her again. "It has nothing to do with Luster... I had decided this before they made their request of me... and please watch your language around Ruby."

"It's not like she can hear me..." The nymph groans, letting her head bow once more. "I just... I was looking forward to fulfilling the Plan, sooner... you know?"

"Love, why are you so set on doing this right away?" He sits next to her. "You just got out of pregnancy a month ago... you don't have to go right back into it... we have a little one to enjoy."

"But... I..." She bites her lip, sighing heavily. "You're right... I guess I was just... being too hasty..."

"You're just excited, love..." He brings her into a warm embrace. "You already know my reasons for waiting... but you never really told me your reasons for not... you know I'm always one to listen to your side."

"I..." She closes her eyes, leaning against his chest with a small sigh. "I felt... content... when I thought I was pregnant... no, more than that, I was excited..." She chuckles sorrowfully, shaking her head. "I was looking forward to another cute bundle of joy... possibly a colt, this time, who'd grow big and strong like his father..." She taps his nose. "Someone he'd see as a role model, and help keep Ruby happy and safe, when we can't..."

Rhino squirms in place, the two halves of his brain that fight the most, logic and emotion, going at it in full again as Gel's arguments come into play. "I know love... I know, because... to be honest... I felt the exact same. I envisioned that myself, even before today. When I thought you were pregnant, I admit, some parts of me were a little worried... but most parts of me were happy... happy that our lives would be even better with all that we saw."

"I understand what you mean..." She sighs, sheepishly rubbing the back of her neck. "I guess I can wait, though... it should be done in agreement between us, after all..."

"I'm sorry, love..." He nuzzles her gently, trying to cheer her up. "I didn't mean to put you through all this stress just because I thought it would be best to wait... even if I didn't really want to myself."

She blinks, looking up at him in confusion. "Why are you apologizing?" She chuckles, tenderly kissing him. "You were helping me cheer up. No problem with that, is there?"

"No... but I know my decision wasn't really one you fully agreed with, and that caused you stress even before today. For that, I'm sorry." He rests his forehead on hers, looking into her eyes.

"Sweetie," she sighs, closing her eyes, "I've caused myself more stress..." She pulls away, picking up the vial of pink liquid. "Do you know what my biggest fear was?" She pops the cork out, continuing without letting him even attempt to answer. "Losing you to some random mare - or, heaven forbid, a nymph who'd try to brainwash you."

"Gel..." He begins. "You know I'd never leave you for some random mare or nymph. Although... I admit I thought only your queen could brainwash. Still though, optimistic as it may sound, I think even then, if I had only one second of clear thought, it would be of you, and how to get back to you, no matter what."

She smiles softly, lifting the potion up to her lips. "That means the world to me. Thank you, Rhino." She tilts her head back and gulps it down, shuddering softly as the effects start to take hold.

He rubs her back as she sits there, shivering. "Feel a bit better?"

"Much." She sighs, visibly relaxing. "The aching emptiness is definitely gone..."

"Good." He smiles, still rubbing. "If you still don't feel one hundred percent, I'm sure myself, Ruby, and maybe some of those unfinished cupcakes downstairs can help."

The navy nymph giggles, nodding quietly. "I'd like that, love..."

"Come on then." He gets up, retrieving the foal from her crib and setting her in her mothers lap, which she immediately curls into. "Time to make this one of those days where we practically smother you in love."

She sticks her tongue out at him, giggling brightly. "I can't wait."

Author's Notes:

So this chapter was actually very interesting to write for a number of reasons. The main one though, is that this was planned to be this couple's first 'big' fight. You can see about how well that went... It's just that when staying in character and writing these two, they're both so empathetic, apologetic, comforting, normally level-headed, with the balance of emotion and logic in their arguments that they really can't fight easily, even when the stress was turned up so much in this chapter! This was a legitimate attempt to get them to argue over something, and in the end, there were a handful of angry words, followed by calm talking and and even more loving scene because of it...

You know what? I'm fine with that. Never liked arguing anyway, so this suits me well.

Chapter 26: Sunday out

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A ding echoes through the kitchen of a house meant for two but now only used by one. Mane Goodall lets out a yawn as she takes the coffee pot and pours herself a cup, stirring in just the right amount of milk and sugar. Taking a sip of what many would call 'liquid waking' she lets out a slow breath of contentment. One hoof lazily turns on the radio, the volume low enough to where you can hear things are being said, just not what was said. The details weren't important, it's just after living with her perkier sister for years, having the house to herself got far too quiet at times.

With another sip, she heads towards the front door to retrieve her usual paper, her tail swinging back and forth. On one particular swing though, the mass of strands catches just enough on the side of her saddlebag to make it fall to the floor from it's usual propped position.

*Squeak*

The mare's ears perk up at the unexpected sound. "'Squeak'? Now why would there be a squeak coming from my bag..." Forgoing her usual routine, the blue-maned mare leans down, having to tuck away her long mane behind and ear, it's usual bun that keeps it from getting in her way forgone on the lazy morning. With a flick of her nose the flap to her bags opens, revealing what appears to be the usual assortment of papers and veterinary tools inside.

"Hmm..." Sticking her head in very much like some of her patients would do when curious, the mare sifts around before another squeak sounds from the bag and she withdraws her head, now clutching a rubber fish in her mouth. Taking it with a hoof, she looks at it curiously. This particular fish sparks a familiarity she did not expect.

"Mr. Bubbles? Now why would you be in there and not with Mercury, being squeaked proudly?" The toy of course doesn't respond, but she didn't exactly expect it to. A memory of the night two days ago springs to mind, more vividly the image of a particular silver-furred friend scurrying around in her bag.

A smile grows on the mare's face, bigger than the one she had with her first sip of coffee. "Oh ho, is that it then? My little friend left me a little surprise? Such an important one too..." She squeaks the toy once, an amused giggle coming of her along with it. "Silly fox... I'll have to give him his toy back at work, and give him a little kiss for being sweet."

With her morning cheered up considerately from it's usual dull feeling, she sets the fish down next to her coffee and trotts merrily out to get the paper.

***

Over at a more familiar household, the lazy Sunday morning tradition holds water here as well. The little pink foal giggles as she plays her current game: trying to catch Mercury's elusive tail. Both the fox and foal bound over, around, and sometimes simply sit on the stomach of the navy nymph of the house. Off to the side, her husband watches with a wide grin on his face even while he plays with Selena, Specter, and a yarn ball.

As the pink and silver duo once again perch themselves on his wife's stomach, the stallion chuckles while the foal swipes at the tail. "So love, how does it feel to be the designated playmat for once instead of it being me?"

"Well..." She taps her chin, looking over at him coyly. "I think it's cute. Though I wish I could shrink down to join them..." She shrugs slightly, making sure not to disrupt the game of the ones on top of her. "But who knows how Ruby might react to that..."

He simply laughs more. "I think she'd probably squeal cutely, hug you, then play with you. I think the only time she'll be sore about it is when she gets hungry again." He pauses as Specter leaps and clings onto the ball, only to have the unicorn roll it away right towards the cat.

Selena immediately pounces on both, somehow knocking the ball away. She pins the squirrel to the ground, licking him twice before chasing after the yarn, rolling onto her back and tossing it up into the air.

Gel giggles at this, a small smirk on her lips. "It's nice to see them so friendly, like that..." She turns to Rhino and tilts her head, quirking an eyebrow curiously. "So you're saying you'd be alright staying on the sidelines while I played with our daughter?"

"Hmm..." Rhino smiles knowingly as he watches Specter bound back over to Selena. "Well, either that, or... I become so overwhelmed by the cuteness of the situation that I end up cuddling both my little girls. I hope for your sake Ruby likes to share me." He winks.

"Fair enough. For me to join them, though..." She sighs, shaking her head just as their filly leaps onto Mercury, happily nuzzling him and nipping his nose. "I don't think they'll be moving anytime, soon..."

"You may be right." He walks over, leaning down and nuzzling the nymph. "Still, not much of a loss considering we get that cute view." He motions downward as the fox's tail thrashes around as he lets out a snickering-type sound that they interpreted over time as the fox equivalent of full-out laughter.

As the filly continues pinning and nuzzling the silver pet, his bushy tail flicks all around, even brushing over her nose. As it does this, Ruby scrunches up her face, whining quietly for a moment before she lets out a sudden high-pitched sneeze. Looking stunned afterward, she suddenly sneezes again before she can even recover, the force of which causes her to fall off her mother, sneezing again from the floor.

Gel quickly flips over, catching Mercury with her magic before picking the filly up, holding her to her chest. "Don't worry, sweetie, I'm here."

The tiny foal sneezes a few more times, the force wracking her body before they subside. She whines her unhappiness tiredly as she snuggles up to her mother, trying to get closer to her as she sniffs.

Rhino quietly walks up, looking down at the filly, concerned. "That was quite the fit..."

"Yes, it was..." She tenderly nuzzles her, trying to cheer their daughter back up. "I wonder what that was about..."

Ruby nuzzles against her mother as the stallion responds. "Not sure... I know I sneeze pretty much everytime I use pepper if I'm not careful... She's not allergic to the pets, otherwise we would have seen it by now. I think her nose just probably got a bit agitated from his tail."

"But..." She bites her lip, trying to keep her concern internalized, for the filly's sake. What if she's ill? S-she's yet to get an immunization, after all...

He blinks. Oh, right... we probably should get her those so she doesn't get sick... at least her starting ones anyway. But... do changelings normally get immunizations as well? I mean you explained that the older they get the more their cells starts adapting to fight diseases anyway, but what about when they're young?

We generally never do... She taps her chin, thoughtful. Well... unless they're somehow snuck into Equestrian hospitals... but that's rather hard to pull off...

He raises an eyebrow at her while Ruby paws at the nymph's chest, wanting to nuzzle more. Do our pony immunizations work on changelings as they do us? No adverse side effects or lessoned results?

I don't think there's ever been a case of that... She nuzzles the filly once more, smiling sweetly at her. Besides... I think our little treasure is more pony than changeling...

As the filly hugs her mother's muzzle, a small content sound coming from her, Rhino hums thoughtfully. Well... we actually have no idea the percentages, but regardless... I'm unsure as to how a normal immunization would affect her. Probably won't do anything out of the ordinary, but... I'd rather get a second opinion to help decide. Well, besides yours of course, love, yours counts as well.

She smirks at him, eyes lidded slightly. Being an ex-medic for the hive does have its perks. She shakes her head, nodding towards the door. Maybe we should ask Twilight for help. She would be the best to ask for a second opinion, right?

Exactly what I was thinking. He nods, leaning down and nuzzling the filly himself. She is the only one in town besides us with experience with Ruby's type of hybrid.

Then it's agreed! Gel smiles, pecking their daughter's forehead. "Ruby, we're going to go see Twilight. You remember her, right?"

She looks at the nymph blankly before reaching up and grabbing onto her muzzle again. "Mama!"

"Mmph!" She blinks, turning to Rhino with a sheepish expression. I guess I'll be carrying her over, then...

You know you love it. He looks over to the pets, Mercury partially curled around one of Gel's hooves while Selena lays a distance away. One of her paws lies protectively on her yarn ball while the other lays even more protectively on Specter's back. "You three feel like a trip into town, then Twilight's? We'll probably head to the hospital afterwards."

The Russian blue yawns before rolling onto her side, hugging the squirrel to her chest. Purring softly, she closes her eyes and falls asleep with him in an embrace.

The nymph shrugs, lifting Mercury up onto her back. I think they'd rather spend the time alone with each other, love.

That or she decided for him The stallions remark wryly as the squirrel struggles a moment before resigning himself to the cuddle session and snuggling closer. Cute.

She nods, placing the bags and their filly on his back, in that order. "I'll say." She watches as Ruby nuzzles the back of Rhino's neck, her little hooves trying to hug him tight, and smiles warmly. "Almost as cute as that..."

He chuckles, floating her bags over and gently setting them on her back as she did for him. "What? Given up on carrying her already?"

She quirks an eyebrow at him. "I do need to breathe, Rhino. And you know you love how she enjoys being on your back." She winks as she heads towards the door. "Just like in the Plan, remember?"

"True." He cranes his neck around, giving the filly a good nuzzle and kiss. "I'm surprised your mother is the only one who has ever accused me of being a changeling given my own insatiable needs for love."

"I..." Gel pauses in the foyer, unsure. "I don't know how to respond... oh, we should tell her that her order of marble is on its way... I wonder if Hydro would be willing to relay that message for us, if we run into him first..."

"Agreed, we'll keep an eye out for them." He walks out of the room, curling his tail around Gel's as he comes up to her. "And if we don't see them, we'll just tempt her over with time with her granddaughter."

"Sounds good to me." She giggles, leaning against him as the two head out the front door. "Maybe we could even watch her as she works with the stone..."

There is a click, and the house is silent, save for the soft breathing of the two remaining pets. One of them peeks open an eye, the other following as she sees that the ponies have left. She nudges the black squirrel with her nose, purring softly. 'They're gone.'

'That's nice...' Specter snuggles closer to Selena, nuzzling her chest and neck.

She gives him a lick up the cheek before standing up, stretching luxuriously. 'Don't you see? This is the perfect time to go ask Miss Fluttershy!'

Looking up at her, the squirrel nods, knowing what she is getting at. He stretches out on the ground himself. 'Right... shall I go fetch our note then?'

'Please do.' She smiles, happily nuzzling him. 'Thanks, Spec.'

His tail twitches happily as he gives her a kiss on the cheek. 'No problem, Selly.'

The cat purrs happily, sauntering out of the room. 'I'll be by the back door. Try to be quick, hmm?' She winks and steps out into the hall, leaving him alone in the room.

With one last smile, the squirrel suddenly zips over to the bookshelf and begins to climb with the zippy speed his kind is known for. At the very top of the shelf, behind a few books, he pulls out a simple folded note. Holding it in his mouth, he leaps, spreading the skin the stretches between his arms and legs to glide out of the room and towards the kitchen. His tiny black claws hit tile and, note in mouth, he bounds over towards the grey cat.

'Perfect.' She giggles, stepping outside and holding the flap of the cat door open for him. 'Let's go see Miss Fluttershy... I'm sure she'll be happy to see us, again.'

He easily slips through the door, sitting down and taking the note from his mouth once outside. 'Do I get a lift for the journey?'

She rolls her eyes and lowers herself down, smiling wryly. 'I'd have liked a "please", but I don't mind doing it for you, either way.'

He alights onto her back, nuzzling her affectionately. 'I was just checking. Thank you, Selly. I can make it up to you later if you want.'

'I'll hold you to that.' She purrs softly as they make their way down the road, heading to the cottage where their friend resides.

The pets work their way into town, taking the alleys and outskirts to avoid being under any pony hooves on their journey. Soon enough though, the bustle of town is once again fading as they pad down a familiar dirt path. The entire world seems to get a little brighter as they approach. Bird houses start appearing, meaning more birdsong, various dens equal more wildlife scurrying around enjoying itself. Finally, as they crest a hill, they seem the humble cottage of the local animal caretaker.

Selena stops on the bridge before the house, smirking at her passenger playfully. 'This is it. Do you think Angel is nearby?' She glances around, suddenly concerned.

He looks around as well, the boss bunny's attitude well known from residents of the cottage both current and former. 'I certainly hope not... but you're much bigger now than you were when you were a kitten, maybe you can get him to keep his tongue civil now?'

'Maybe.' She licks her paw before continuing to stride along the path. 'I hope he's learned some good manners, by now.'

Specter scoffs. 'Not likely, learned how to pretend to have good manners so he doesn't get in trouble maybe.' He sees a few female bunnies hop past them, heading the direction they just came from. 'But, who knows? Maybe he found a nice girl that knocked some sense into him.'

'We can only hope.' They arrive at the front door, the feline looking up at it before turning to him. 'How, exactly, do we get her attention?'

Thinking over how the animal lover usually responds to things, the squirrel comes up with an idea. 'You could meow loudly so she wonders what's wrong and hurries to us.'

She nods, taking a deep breath as she steels herself to-

'Oy!'

She screeches, jumping back off the stoop. She stares with wide eyes at the white rabbit standing in front of the door. 'A-Angel Bunny...'

'What are you tossers doing back here?' He narrows his eyes, pointing at the two of them. 'You have your family. You don't need another, do you?'

Specter stands up straight atop Selena's back, one paw stroking her head to calm her as he faces the other rodent. 'We're just here to see Miss Fluttershy.'

He opens his mouth to respond but stops, his ear twitching right before the door is thrown open. The bunny is sent flying off into the river nearby, his little legs flailing in panic.

The pony of the house swings her head back and forth frantically, trying to find the source of the yowl she had heard. Her aqua eyes eventually lock onto the two pets just below her stoop, and she immediately crouches down to their level "Oh my goodness, is everything okay little ones? I heard a cry for help."

Selena looks up at her, mewling softly before turning to Specter. 'Do you still have the note?'

He nods, pulling out the note from where he had it pinned under one foot. As he offers it, the pegasus takes it with a wing. "Oh? What's this?" She reads the small paragraph typed onto the page, her eyes going wide and her face turning a bit red as she gets to the end. "Oh... my... you two want to start a family?"

The feline smiles before she tilts her head, confused. 'Why is she doing that with her cheeks, Spec?'

He shrugs. 'I have no idea. Mom and Dad do that too, though Mom turns blue instead of red.'

Fluttershy's wings shuffle as she looks around before turning back to the two. "Well, I guess you are of age... and if you really don't know..." She takes a breath before opening the door to her cottage. "Here, come inside and I'll explain how things usually work. I really wish there were some birds and bees around to help me with this, but most of them are busy today."

Selena moves forward, nuzzling and rubbing her side along her leg as she passes, purring softly. 'Thank you, Miss Fluttershy.'

The caretaker giggles as they pass. "You're very welcome, and I am glad you came to me of course, this is just usually something animals tend to discover on their own, not ask about." Fluttering over them, she lands on a cushion on one side of her table, gesturing for them to sit opposite her.

Certain that he wouldn't slip off her back, she jumps onto the table in front of her. She sits down, her tail flicking idly as she looks up at the butter yellow pegasus.

She nods as Specter slides of the cat and snuggles next to her. "Ok, where to start... ah! Ok, Selena, now you know those times of the year where you find yourself always being warm and uncomfortable?"

***

*Knock knock knock*

The sound of hoof on wood announces the family's arrival at Golden Oaks. The streets around them were starting to fill as ponies began their days, yet the quietness and repetitive movement of the walk had lulled Ruby into an early nap curled against and partially into her father's mane.

Her mother smiles softly at this endearing sight, giggling quietly. She really does look like she'd always be on your back. She sighs and shakes her head, her thoughts gaining a teasing tone. Darn your enchanting fluffiness.

He takes a small step closer, pressing his side to hers and rubbing playfully. There you go, a bit more fluffy for you. Just let me know if you want to use me as a pillow.

I'll hold you to that tonight, love. She tugs on his tail slightly, giggling brightly, just before they hear the sound of hoofsteps from inside.

The knob is enveloped in a sparkling rose aura before it twists, opening the portal to reveal the local librarian. Twilight smiles as she sees her visitors. "Oh, it's you two, or four should I say! Good morning!"

"Good morning, Twilight." She blinks, scratching her head a bit. "Honestly, I thought you'd be invested in a book, this morning... n-no offense."

The lavender unicorn giggles. "None taken. I actually was, but Spike is eating breakfast and the sounds of gems crunching tends to leave one unable to completely immerse themselves."

At that moment, the voice voice of her assistant calls out. "Who was it, Twi?"

She opens her mouth to yell back, but pauses as she sees the dozing foal. Straightening a moment, she calls out in a barely louder than normal voice. "It's Gel, Rhino, and Ruby!" Turning back to them, she gestures inside. "Would you like to come in?"

The nymph nods, smiling warmly. "Yes, please." She glances at Rhino, gesturing for him to go first.

He does so, giving Twilight a smile and nod as he passes, which she returns. Trotting to the rough center of the room near her wooden horse head statue, the stallion looks around as Gel walks in and the librarian shuts the door behind her. As Mercury braces two paws on Gel's head while he stands up to look around as well, Twilight speaks once more.

"So, what brings you to the library today?" She asks simply.

"Actually, this one does." Rhino motons his head backwards towards the foal.

"Oh?" Twilight instantly looks intrigued. "Has she been showing any other strange powers? Acting odd? It's been a while since I've seen her so I'm afraid I'm a little out of date."

"No, she seems to be having less magical surges, recently..." She sighs, rubbing the back of her neck. "We're here today to... ask about vaccines..."

"Oh, right... she is about the age where she should get her first immunizations." She nods to herself.

Rhino explains. "The plan is pretty much just to head to the hospital and get her them like normal, but I had a slight concern that her being a hybrid might have risks. After Gel and I spoke, we decided we'll likely go through with it, but we wanted your opinion as well."

She smiles. "Well, I'm honored that you would let my opinion weigh in something that affects your only foal. I'll definitely give you my thoughts if you wish, though, might I ask to be able to examine Ruby before giving them? I just want to be sure of some things." Her horn lights up and a few books float over, one of anatomy and one of foal growth.

"I don't mind, as long as we can stay nearby." The navy changeling smiles, bumping Rhino's side. You know, to make sure she doesn't get upset.

As the stallion nods, Twilight smiles brightly. "Excellent! Don't worry though, I won't be doing much. Let me just go get a few things and we can do everything right here on the table." With a swish of her purple tail, she heads down into the basement.

Gel sighs softly, turning to her stallion with a small frown of concern. Rhino, there's... another thing I'm concerned with... She gestures to herself. What if the ponies at the hospital... you know, overreact?

He raises an eyebrow at her. How so? Ruby looks like any other foal...

She rubs the bridge of her nose, trying to keep calm for Ruby. To me, love. My kind still isn't completely welcomed, around here...

He closes his eyes, breathing steadily as he answers, his words solid and itemized. You are not seeking treatment. You are the mother of a foal making sure to do what you can to make her healthy. I will be with you the whole time. They cannot legally separate you from her in any way. If somepony makes a comment, we will ignore them or I will silence them. If somepony denies her treatment, I will see to it that it is the last treatment they will have the ability to even perform legally. I frankly don't care what they may think, both you and Ruby shall be treated cordially. End of story. His nostrils flare with every breath by the end of his list, a small fire behind his barely opened eyes.

Gel blinks, feeling the stallion's ire leaking into the air. What confuses her is the fact that, despite the fire in his eyes, it's about the same level of anger as one who lost a bet. She walks over, tenderly nuzzling his cheek. "It won't have to come to that, love. I'm sure that we could get the Princesses to help, if it gets that bad... maybe even mentioning their name could nip the problem in the bud."

"Perhaps..." He breathes easier as he levitates Ruby off his back, but changes course from the table and puts her in one foreleg against his chest instead. "I prefer to just go in not expecting problems at all." He kisses Gel on the cheek.

"Sounds like a good philosophy, to me..." She sighs, leaning up against him and closing her eyes. "I guess I'm just a little silly for not seeing the silver linings easily..."

"Nothing wrong with being security conscious, you know I'm just as paranoid about that as you are." He holds Ruby close between them. "I just stay hopeful the other part of the time because it's better for my psyche."

She chuckles, shaking her head. "I see..." Her ear twitches, and she turns to the basement door.

Twilight emerges from below, measuring equipment, scales, and a magnifying glass floating ahead of her. "Sorry about that, turns out my magnifying glass wasn't put back where it needed to go."

"Not a problem." The nymph smiles warmly, glancing at the scales curiously. "Um... are you... taking her measurements, again?"

The mare nods. "Yes. It's important to chart her growth given how small she started out. This could prove invaluable data for any future parents of hybrids."

Gel just shrugs. "I suppose that'd be very helpful." Especially to Luster and Octavia...

True, I wonder how long it will take Twilight to get word of them. A chuckle sounds inside his head as the mare speaks once more.

"Right, now, if you could just levitate her onto the table..." She lets the sentence hang in order for the stallion to do so.

Showing his usual resistance to anything in the realm of letting someone besides him or Gel holding his daughter, the stallion slowly levitates the snoozing foal onto the surface.

Gel nuzzles his cheek, smiling softly. It'll be fine, love. It's just going to be like every time before...

I know... I know... He watches as Twilight gently lifts the filly onto the scale with her own levitation, setting her down and sliding the weights around to determine her exact weight.

She looks up at the two of them. "I take it she's still drinking plenty of milk in order to maintain this growth?"

The navy changeling chuckles, nodding her head slowly. "Oh, definitely. Takes after her father, that way."

Twilight giggles, "Oh yes, I definitely remember him casually drinking over a quart of milk during some of our one our interviews." She nods to the scale and scribbles down the numbers just as a certain pink filly starts to stir from the cold pan she was set in.

Ruby slowly blinks open her eyes, her gaze falling on the lavender unicorn. She stares at her for a moment before she holds her hooves out, hopeful. "Ba?"

"Umm..." Twilight looks over to the parents. "Translation?"

Rhino shrugs. "Honestly I don't know. It's sort of her fallback word for when she doesn't know a specific word for something." Nevertheless, he steps a bit closer to the table, just in case.

"Oh, okay then." She looks back down at the foal, levitating her off the plate and onto the table with a bit of magic. "I'm just doing your measurements again, sweetie. Nothing bad." She brings over the ruler, measuring the foal's shoulder height.

The filly slowly stands, toddling over to the edge of the table. She reaches out to Twilight, whining softly at the inability to reach her before sitting and giving the mare a doe-eyed stare, forelegs held open to her. "Hug?"

You can practically hear the mare's heart melt at the sight as she coos. "Aww~!" She gives Gel a look. "May I?"

The nymph giggles and smiles warmly, nodding. "You may. Please be careful, though..."

"I will." She walks forward and sits down next to the table, spreading her forelegs out on it and smiling warmly to the filly.

Ruby squeals in excitement, leaping up and hugging her chest as much as possible. She nuzzles the soft lavender fur, cooing happily.

Twilight gently wraps her hooves around the filly, nuzzling her back. "Always the affectionate one aren't you, Ruby? You never seem to mind standing still while I measure as long as you get that love afterwards."

Gel giggles at the purr from their daughter. "Oh, my... I think she's starting to take after Selena..."

Rhino chuckles as well. "She is in that impressionable stage. I just didn't expect her to mimic the pets..." He turns his head towards the silver fox on Gel's back. "Anything you're teaching her I need to know about?"

Almost at the same time, Ruby and Mercury look at him and stick their tongues out at him. The nymph can only laugh at the cute, if silly, action.

Rhino covers his eyes with a hoof, shaking his head. "Oh dear..."

Twilight joins in the light laughing as she sets Ruby back down on the table. "Well, from all that I have to say her mental abilities are coming nicely, maybe a little above average." She grabs the ruler again in her magic, but keep one hoof on the filly's side to distract her and/or keep her still, depending on how she reacts to it.

She nuzzles the mare's hoof, a surprisingly feline mew of happiness escaping her lips. She opens her eyes and spies her father, beaming and reaching out for him. "Dada!"

He chuckles at his daughter as he too walks up next to the table, reaching out a hoof and stroking the little filly. "Well, at least I still get words and not meows."

Twilight smiles at him, resuming her measurement of the filly's various lengths. "Thanks, I always know this is the hardest part. Somehow the smaller the pony, the harder it is to keep them still."

Ruby grabs his hoof with her own, happily starting to nibble it affectionately. Her ear twitches as the mare measures it, but her attention is completely on the stallion.

The unicorn giggles more as she measures leg length, remarking to Gel. "Who needs a pacifier when you have him around, right?"

She laughs, shaking her head. "So true. I think it's his fur, personally..."

"I could see that." Twilight nods as she takes the ruler away. "Ok, now this last one is actually for today since you're taking her to get injections," she raises up her magnifying glass, "I'm just going to check that the common veins the doctors use are all there."

Gel blinks, tilting her head in confusion. "How... how does a magnifying glass help with that, exactly?"

"Because a foal's veins are smaller and more subtle than an adult pony's." She explains simply as she takes one of Ruby's legs in a hoof, part the fur with magic and peering through the magnifying glass as she scans them.

"Oh..." She slowly nods. "I suppose that makes sense... especially since she's still smaller than an average filly..."

Twilight nods. "Yes, though definitely much less so now than a month ago. At this rate, I think she'll be normal size in another month or two." She pulls away. "Alright, everything seems to be in it's normal place. We're done."

Rhino chuckles. "Just because you say we're done, doesn't mean I suddenly lose the title of 'chewable'." He motions his head towards the filly who is still biting his hoof before he does a bit of careful twisting. She ends up in her usual position of being held in a foreleg against his chest, only now she has the added bonus of still being able to chew the hoof attached to the leg.

The pink pony coos softly, nuzzling her father's chest. She continues to nibble the edge of his hoof, happily purring like a kitten.

The stallion remarks to his wife. "You know, she might also get the purring from you. I do recall you making that sound occasionally... just this morning in fact."

She blushes brightly, poking the floor shyly with a hoof. "M-maybe... I've never made a 'mew', though. That's from Selena..."

Spike walks in at that moment, licking a bit of glittering jewel dust from his lips. "What's all this meowing and talking about cats I keep hearing?"

Twilight smiles at him. "Just admiring Ruby, Spike. Did you wash your dishes?"

"Of course I did." A smirk grows on his face. "I washed yours too."

"Oh..." the unicorn clears her throat awkwardly, "well, thank you for that."

Gel giggles, shaking her head as she walks over to Spike. She hugs him, gently nuzzling him before backing away, not wanting to make him uncomfortable. "How's my favorite dragon doing?"

He smiles, puffing out his chest. "Great! Twilight's been giving me more responsibilities around here! How's being a mom going?"

"Wonderful!" The nymph titters, looking back at the sleeping filly who continues to nibble Rhino's hoof. "She is our little treasure... and she loves us just as much as we love her..."

"That's always good. Oh! Hey, I just remembered..." he walks back into the kitchen and comes back out with a card, "you said you wanted my recipe for dumplings, right? Well, I finally had the thought to write it down as I was making them." He offers the card to her.

Gel smiles warmly, taking the card in her magic. "Thank you, Spike." She leans down and pecks his cheek, tucking the card into her saddlebag. "I'll try it out, tonight! I hope they're as good as yours..."

The drake laughs as a wide smile and light blush grace his cheeks. "I'm sure you'll do great. You'll have to work hard to measure up to my magic fingers though." He wiggles his claws for emphasis.

"I don't doubt it." She holds up a forehoof, letting it change into an exact copy of his claws. She winks, letting each one wave in series. "You do have quite the advantage, though... and a good reputation with cooking, to boot."

Not caring that his caretaker is in range, the drake continues. "Hey, it was either get better at cooking through experience, or teach Twilight how to cook at all. I chose the less impossible option."

"Hey! I'm not that bad!" The unicorn interjects with red face.

"Twi, you burnt salad." Spike deadpans.

Her flush brightens. "T-that was a fluke! Rainbow Dash scared me when I was assembling it and I put a bit too much magic through my horn."

"Still ended up in burnt salad." He snarks back, a cheeky grin on his face.

The librarian seems to be chewing on her words a moment before she huffs and straightens up, marching to the kitchen. "I'll show you, I'll make a salad that impress even you!"

He calls after her. "Good, the fire detector needs testing!" He laughs to himself as he turns back to Gel, speaking to himself. "Heh, good one, Spike."

The nymph quirks an eyebrow at this. "Surely she isn't that bad... right?"

"Well..." The drake relents. "She can actually make a mean bowl of cereal."

The stallion listening in can't help but let out a snicker.

"It's a start, I guess..." She shrugs, turning to Rhino. "And I'm sure she can learn... I did, after all... and if not," she gestures out a nearby window, "she could always go to that restaurant down the way. The one with the horseshoe-shaped fries?"

He nods. "Oh yeah, she loves that place! Something about the sauce they put on the burgers..."

"That... might explain some things..." She taps her chin, thoughtful. "I wonder if we should go there, sometime..."

Rhino speaks up. "We could always go after work sometime, maybe check and see if Spike could come with us."

The dragon nods quickly. "Yeah, that'd be sweet!"

"Perfect!" Gel giggles, rushing forward and pecking her stallion on the cheek. "How about tomorrow?"

"Sounds good to me. We'll just pack Ruby's milk and we're good to go." He smiles at her while the drake behind her does a small victory dance.

She glances at the dragon, smiling shyly. "Still better than me..."

"Maybe, but you're more flexible." Rhino nips her ear teasingly.

She squeaks, her cheeks swiftly flushing vibrant blue. "T-true..."

"Anyway," the green stallion turns to Spike, "we should actually probably get going. We've still got to head to the hospital and get Ruby her shots."

Spike nods a slight grimace on his face. "Good luck, at least she not like me where they need to use special scale-piercing needles."

Gel blinks, staring at him blankly. "Scale piercing... needles?"

He tilts his head at her. "Well, yeah. Dragon scales are tough, you know. It's not like there's a part of me that isn't covered by them either."

"And these needles..." One of her eyes twitches as she raises a hoof. "Could they... pierce chitin?"

He thinks a moment. "No... I don't think so. They're specially enchanted to pass through exactly what dragon scales are made of. Apparently some big researcher in Canterlot made them after a trip to the dragon lands to be used on the dragon ambassadors when they came with him." He shrugs. "It's not like there are many dragon looking for injections anyway, so there aren't that many around. At least that's what Twilight told me when I asked why we had to wait months for them to order it."

The nymph breathes a sigh of relief, smiling sheepishly. "Sorry about the questions, I just... was worried that we wasted a Wednesday afternoon..."

He looks at her curiously. "What? You had a changeling that needed to go get shots or something?"

"Well... not exactly..." She backs up slightly, quite unsure how to elaborate.

He shrugs, waving a hand. "Eh, it's cool if you guys don't have time to talk about it. I understand."

"Thank you, Spike." She smiles, opening her saddlebag and pulling a small sapphire out. "Maybe this could help as an apology, just in case?"

"There's nothing really to apologize for..." he locks his eyes onto the small treat, "but well, I'm never really going to turn down a gem."

"Well, then..." She giggles and floats it over to him. "Think of it as a thank you for the recipe."

He grabs the jewel, giving it a lick. "Well, you're quite welcome." He tosses a look back towards the kitchen. "I'd better go check on Twi, it's a bit too quiet in there for me. I'll see you guys tomorrow though, right?"

"See you then, Spike." She waves at him before turning to Rhino, noting the filly still nibbling his hoof in her sleep. "So... how long do you think she'll do that, for?"

He shrugs as he turns towards the door. "I'd imagine until she either wakes up and sees something that distracts her, or until that biting turns to sucking and she realizes my hoof doesn't give milk."

"Maybe..." She scratches her head, confused. "How are you going to walk, until then?"

"Well, admittedly I usually don't go three legged when I'm walking through town, but I don't see any harm in it right now." He stands up, his one leg still curled under and around the foal to be both bed and toy.

Gel moves up against his side, smiling softly. "Don't worry, love. I can be your support, if you need me to."

As they move toward the door, he nuzzles her before giving her a quick kiss on the lips. "I know you will."

***

"...and that should be everything you need to know. It's just all about knowing the signs and your partner." Fluttershy nods, having found the conversation much easier once the momentum got going.

On the other hoof, Selena found herself becoming more embarrassed as the conversation continued. Her tail twitches around Specter as she attempts to digest just what was said. 'So... that's how that works...'

The pegasus covers her mouth with a hoof. "Oh my, I didn't mean to embarrass you... I thought you came here to learn all that."

'Well... we didn't quite expect... that...' She looks to the pet next to her, concerned. 'You alright, Spec? You haven't... reacted, yet...'

The squirrel, whose face had remained blank after they had gotten into the details, suddenly shivers and shakes his head. He looks to the pony with ears folded back. 'Does... does it hurt the female?'

Fluttershy shakes her head quickly. "Oh no, well, a little at first, but after that it feels very good."

The feline blinks, considering this for a moment before pulling him close, looking up at the mare resolutely. 'If that's what it takes for us to have a family... then I'll be alright with any amount of ache.'

Even as the squirrel nuzzles his girl, the mare's ears fold downward. "Well, umm, about that... There is actually a slight problem."

Selena tilts her head, frowning slightly at her hesitance. 'What's the matter, Miss Fluttershy?'

Fluttershy's mane comes forward to cover part of her face as she speaks quietly. "I'm truly sorry, but... normally critters of the same species have babies. I don't think squirrels and cats can normally have families..."

Specter's ears stand straight up. 'What?'

'But... we...' The grey feline mewls plaintively, her entire body seeming to deflate at the words. 'I was... looking forward to having kittens...'

The squirrel wraps his arms around Selena. 'Hold on now, it'll be fine...' He looks to Fluttershy. 'You said we normally different species don't have babies. So... it has happened?'

"Yes, it has!" She leans forward, her own eyes full of sorrow as she sees the sad pets. "Things like this have happened before, it's how griffons and hippogriffs came around. It's just... we need to think of somepony who could help." She wracks her brain, desperately thinking of how to make the situation better. "Or maybe... some zebra."

Selena taps the mare's nose, curiosity overtaking her sadness. 'Miss Fluttershy? What do you mean, "some zebra"?'

Seeing how it didn't make the cat sadder, she explains. "Well, there's a friend of mine, who is a zebra, named Zecora. She is an expert when it comes to all kinds of potions. Maybe she has something that could help you..."

'So... we might be able to have kittens...' Her eyes widen slightly. 'If she has the right potion?'

The mare nods. "Yes, she's had potions for almost everything. Her walls are always covered in different ones."

The cat looks at her quietly for a moment before turning to the squirrel, hopeful. 'Then... she might have the one we need?'

'Sure seems that way.' He licks her face affectionately. 'We should try her and see.'

She nuzzles his cheek and turns to the mare, smiling softly. 'Could you take us to see her, Miss Fluttershy?'

The pegasus is nodding almost immediately. "Oh yes, but umm..." her whole countenance seems to deflate, "I can't actually do that today. Sundays are my busy days when I restock and make sure everything is ready so I can get it done quickly during the week. Is tomorrow ok?"

'That'd be great!' Selena purrs, moving forward to gently touch noses with the caretaker. 'Thank you so much for everything.'

"I'm happy to help." She rubs her nose lightly on the cat's, a common sign among animals. "Now, did you want to just drop by again, or if it would be better, would you prefer me to come pick you up?"

'I think it'd be best to be picked up...' She turns to Specter, mewing softly. 'We wouldn't want them to be concerned, would we?'

He puts a paw to his chin as he looks down. 'Would she even gt there early enough for that excuse to work though? I mean... I guess we could check, but I think Mom and Dad will start to wonder if we say we just want to stay home again.'

'I don't know...' Selena turns to her, tilting her head to one side. 'Would you be able to, Miss Fluttershy?'

"Well, um, that depends. How early do I need to be there?" She asks.

Specs answers. 'We usually leave for work at like... 7 in the morning. So, a bit before then.'

"Hmm... well, I'm usually up fairly early, so... yes I can do that." She points out the window with a hoof. "You two live in that big house on the other side of town, just outside of town itself, correct?"

Selena nods, smiling warmly. 'That's right.'

Fluttershy smiles back. "Ok, I can be there."

'Great!' She scoops the squirrel onto her back and leaps off the table, brushing against the mare's leg gently. 'Thank you, again, Miss Fluttershy.'

"Oh, you're very welcome. I do wish you both luck." She reaches down and pets the two of them before fluttering over to the door and opening the bottom half for them.

The two of them leave the cottage, heading back down the dirt path and past a dripping white rabbit. Selena smiles at this, but makes sure to stay out of the bunny's sight.

He stalks past them, grumbling to himself as he shakes himself before reentering the house. As they walk away, Specter remarks wryly, sounding as though he's suppressing a laugh. 'He looked like a rat when his fur was slicked down...'

'Please. That's an insult to rats everywhere.' She winks at him as they cross the bridge, slowly making their way back into town.

'Yeah, you're probably right. That was mean of me.' He snuggles down a bit more on her back, rubbing his head on the back of hers. 'So... we learned a bit today.'

'Yes, we did.' She goes silent for a moment. 'I... don't know what think of it...'

'Well,' he begins, 'when you think about it, I guess we weren't that far off. We knew the general area we were working in for you... we just didn't know exactly where or what to do. Of course... we had no idea of my part in it.'

'That's... true...' She sighs, glancing over her shoulder at him. 'Still kind of hard to believe, to be honest.'

He tilts his head at her. 'Which part?'

'The fact that it's how kittens are made.' Selena shakes her head. 'I have to wonder if Ruby was made the same way...'

Shrugging, the squirrel sets his head down on her to look ahead of them. 'It seemed to be a thing across all species, so I guess so.' His face wrinkles. 'I... don't like to think about Mom and Dad doing that though.'

'Fair enough...' She shudders softly. 'Still... I guess the... pain aspect is a little daunting...'

'I don't want to hurt you...' He licks her ears soothingly. 'But she did say it didn't last long, so that's something.'

She stops on the edge of town, purring at his actions. 'I guess...'

He continues licking. 'Is there anything I can do to make you feel better when we get home? I could get your yarn ball or something.'

'I don't know...' An ear twitches away as a thought occurs to her. 'Actually... didn't Miss Fluttershy also say it feels "very good"?'

Nodding, the squirrel pauses. 'She did, why?'

'Well... maybe that could help me feel better?' She looks at him, curious. 'It's worth a shot, right?'

'I... suppose so.' He strokes her head gently with his claws. 'You really want to though?'

She closes her eyes, purring softly as his paws rub over her head. 'I do...'

'Ok then.' He scratches behind her ears. 'If we like it... I guess we'll see about doing it more. If we don't, well, we got the painful part out of the way.'

'True...' She continues their walk, but suddenly stops and ducks behind a salespony's tent.

'Hey, why'd you-' The black squirrel cuts himself off as he spots Rhino and Gel ahead of them with Ruby and Mercury, all of them walking towards the hospital.

She waits for them to pass before rushing along the alleyways, making sure to be as quiet as possible. 'We can't have them seeing us outside the house, can we?'

He nods against her, all four limbs holding on with practised ease. 'They trust us to not go wandering off when it could be dangerous. For all they know, we're still home... wait... exactly why are they going to let us go with Fluttershy tomorrow? Do we just tell them the truth?'

She slows down as they reach the other side of town, tilting her head to one side. 'I don't know... they trust Miss Fluttershy... and I guess we could tell them...'

'Maybe... wouldn't they be worried or want to come with us? I don't really want to make a huge deal out of going, I just want to go, get the potion, get back.' He huffs. 'I mean, I guess they'll find out anyway, but... I don't know... maybe we just come up with an excuse?'

'Fair enough...' She starts down the path to the house, her ears twitching. 'I hope you'll be coming up with that, though...'

'I'll... see if I can come up with something...' He nestles himself against her once more and sighs contently.

***

The family enters the Ponyville hospital, heading straight for the check-in desk. The lobby is as much as one might expect, white walls, chairs just uncomfortable enough so you can't fall asleep in them, and a few ponies scattered about biding their time until their turns come up. Rhino still holds Ruby in his foreleg, the foal still chewing on his hoof, using it as her teething ring for now.

Gel stays close to his side, nervously glancing at each pony as they pass by. Her tail grips his tighter, tugging slightly as her anxiety grows.

Feeling this, he stops, pausing for a moment before they reach the desk. He nuzzles her soothingly as he whispers. "Relax, love. It'll all be fine. I promise."

She smiles sheepishly, her ears dipping slightly. "Am I nervous? I'm not nervous. What are you talking about?" She titters, waving her hoof at him. "Stop being so silly, Rhino."

He raises one eyebrow before stepping closer to her so that their sides are pressed together. "Well then, shall we check in? That way we aren't standing out here in the middle of the lobby while you... aren't nervous."

She blushes softly, nodding quickly in response. "Y-yes, please."

He smiles, nuzzling her once more before they walk up to the desk attended by a slightly bored looking blue mare in a nurse's cap. Her expression as she looks over the newspaper is not uncaring, but more the look of one whose job gets very repetitive. Such assumptions are seemingly confirmed when she asks in a sincere but nonetheless rehearsed tone while not looking up yet, "May I help you?"

"Um, yes, please." Gel puts a hoof on the counter, smiling warmly. "We're here to get our daughter her immunizations... we, um, didn't need an appointment, did we?"

"Walk-ins are fine," she brings out a clipboard with a hoof and sets it on the counter looking up as she does so. Her eyes widen upon seeing Gel, she doesn't comment on it, but her voice becomes a little quieter as she continues. "S-simply fill this form out and bring it back when you're done." She withdraws her hoof quickly and smiles nervously.

The nymph blinks, tilting her head to one side. "Thank you, Miss..." She trails off, looking down at the desk, her brow furrowing slightly in confusion.

The earth pony mare speaks quietly again. "Tenderheart..." She keeps up her smile.

She smiles softly, nodding to her. "Miss Tenderheart. Lovely name..." She picks up the clipboard and walks off to the side, sitting down in one of the hard chairs. She glances at a couple ponies nearby as they whisper to each other, making sure not to draw attention to herself as she does so.

Rhino sits down next to her, looking down at the paper. "Ah, good old hospital paperwork. I suppose I should have expected it given the only thing they've ever had to do with Ruby was when I sent them a copy of her birth certificate."

"True..." She fills out the first page, her ear twitching as she recalls each fact about their child. At one point, however, she has to stop and stare, perplexed. "Rhino?"

"Hmm?" He looks up at her from where he had been nuzzling a lightly cooing Ruby.

The navy nymph turns to him, concerned. "Did we ever find out... what her blood type is?"

He blinks. "Oh dear... no we didn't... We could probably get that done while we're here."

"Probably a good idea..." She skips the section and continues to write, ignoring the odd chuckles coming from the duo in the corner.

He looks down at their slumbering foal. "I hope she doesn't get too upset by all these needles she'll see today. It's not going to be fun."

"I don't think that should be an issue." She smiles softly and quietly purrs, gently nuzzling his cheek and quietly whispering. "We just need to be positive, and it'll rub off on her..."

"I hope it's as simple as that." He whispers back, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "I just know I hated shots when I was little, let alone blood draws."

"Like I said, we just keep her attention on us, and everything should go fine." She giggles, pecking his lips lovingly. "Trust me."

"I can do that." He smiles and glances down at the almost complete paperwork before looking back to his daughter. "I wonder if she'll be awake for it..."

The nymph shrugs, shaking her head. "I don't know. I imagine losing contact with you might influence that, though." She turns back to the form, quickly filling out the rest of what she knows.

"Hmm..." He unconsciously tucks the foal in closer to himself, but says nothing more.

She sighs with relief as she finishes the paperwork. "There we go... shall I take this to the front so you can spend a bit more time cuddling Ruby?" She giggles, nodding to the sleeping filly nuzzling the fur of his chest.

He chuckles at the sight as well. "I don't see why I can't do both." He stands up, wrapping the clipboard in his aura. "Why don't you rest your hooves and I'll take care of this and ask about a blood test while we're here?"

"Sounds nice..." She pokes at the seat beneath her with a hoof. "Though I think I'd prefer to stand, considering..."

"Don't worry, love." He nuzzles her affectionately. "We'll be back home with all our soft comfortable furniture soon enough."

She giggles, playfully nipping his nose. "I can't wait, Rhino..."

Laughing, he says a simple word. "Good." Giving her a smile, he turns around and heads to the desk, beginning to converse with the mare there.

"You know," the taller of the corner duo says, his voice just loud enough to carry over to the nymph's ears, "I could never stand bug bites. Why in the world do such annoying parasites even exist?"

The second form, in a voice that is obviously female, remarks back. "Oh, come now, even ants have their places as they clean up the corpses of other animals. Of course that doesn't mean the mosquito that bites you doesn't deserve a good smack for it."

"Too true. And the ones that use poison are even more bothersome." He chuckles as the sole changeling nearby stiffens at his words. "They can seem so innocuous, but then they strike when your guard is down."

Gel bows her head, jaw clenched and body trembling. It takes a great deal of will, but she keeps herself from reacting to their veiled taunts and threats.

The mare shivers. "You know, I have to wonder if any insects use a mind-altering toxin..." She taps her chin with a hoof. "After all, it's probably better to turn another being into something useful that outright kill them..."

The nymph bites her tongue, turning away from these ponies to hide her misty eyes. Their distaste - their unvoiced anger - hurts her very core like a lance of lightning.

As if in direct opposition to that feeling, a sudden sensation of softness graces her head and neck as a familiar green coat rubs against it.

She squeaks, looking up into the warm brown eyes of her stallion. She doesn't hesitate to embrace him, burying her muzzle in his shoulder as her body begins to shake.

The blue pony can only stare, the corners of his mouth pulled firmly down in disapproval. He turns to the mare, shaking his head and muttering to her. "I'll give them one thing. They can sure fake emotions when the situation calls for it."

A single pricked green ear can only make out the words 'fake emotions', but that's plenty for it to understand. Rhino leans down, simply holding his wife as he expresses his love for her to calm her down. "The pediatric wing isn't seeing anyone else at the moment, so we should be in there soon."

She nods, her voice slightly strained. "T-that's good..."

As predicted, a few moments later a white mare with pink mane and nurse's cap comes out of the back. "Mr. and Mrs. Nexus?"

The stallion nudges his wife gently. "See? In already. Do you want to go ahead or would you rather me walk with you?"

"W-with me, please..." She shyly smiles, brushing a lock of mane behind an ear, the jewelry there catching the light and turning it into a twinkle.

He smiles at this, his necklace glinting in the same way. "There's those beautiful eyes. Come on then." With her staying pressed against him, the stallion walks toward the nurse, keeping himself between his wife and the other waiting ponies.

As they get closer, the couple can feel the stares of the two ponies until they get right in front of them and the stallion's bag is lightly kicked by it's owner in front of Rhino’s front hoof.

The unicorn stops immediately before he trips and hurts the foal in his grip. His horn quietly lights up as he scoots the bag back under the chair, a single card falling out. Without even looking at the other couple, he remarks casually and quietly. "Wolf fathers get rid of those who threaten their mate or pups." He continues walking with Gel, not even giving the other two a chance to respond.

A quiet remark is heard after a few moments of stunned silence behind them. "Dear... what is that card that fell out of your bag? It says: PALS..."

Gel's gait swiftly turns stilted, her heart skipping a beat as the words reach her. Rhino... d-did you hear that?

One was a member, one wasn't. We've dealt with their words before, nothing we didn't handle. He smiles at the nurse, who smiles just as bright back, even letting out a small 'aww' as she looks down to the sleeping foal.

She smiles softly as she genially nods to the white mare, even while her thoughts are filled with concern. But from the way they acted... what if he's trying to recruit her, or something?

I'm not sure there's anything we can do, love. They seemed set on their path, so I'm not sure what would convince them otherwise.

The nurse smiles equally as bright to Gel. "Good morning to both of you, my name is Nurse Redheart and I'll be helping you with your little filly today. Follow me and we'll get you a nice room." She turns around, her pink tail guiding them as she walks down the hall.

The nymph sighs in relief, her tail entwining with her stallion's own. "Thank you, Miss Redheart. Today has been... eventful, to say the least."

A giggle is heard from the mare. "Really? I always found Sundays were relaxed and Tuesdays were the eventful days."

"I meant for a Sunday..." She sheepishly laughs, rubbing the back of her neck. "Sorry that wasn't clear..."

"Oh it's fine, just chatting away to make the walk less boring." She stops in front of an open door and motions them in. "Here we are. Now, you came in for her first round of immunizations, and it said you also wanted a blood test to determine type?"

Gel nods, going inside and sitting down in one of the seats there. "That sounds about right... you, um, don't need to take measurements, do you?"

As Rhino comes in, the nurse responds. "Well, at her age we usually leave it up to the parents. Usually they only get those if they're concerned or curious about growth rates."

"Oh." She nervously chuckles, squirming in her seat. "I just asked because Twilight already took them..."

"Twilight Sparkle?" Redheart closes the door so they are all privately in the room. "Why would she... oh, I see." She lets out a few laughs. "I guess she's either helping you out while also getting a bit of raw data for her next book."

The nymph blinks, tilting her head to one side. "You know about her book? May I ask how?"

"Well, quite a few of us in the medical community were intrigued by the first published work detailing new facts on a barely known species." She smiles softly at the pink bundle of adorableness carried by her father. "Judging by one section of the reproduction section, I'd say this little one may start off another work by herself."

"That certainly seems to be the case. I'd say she visits us or we visit her every week or so." She laughs quietly, playfully bumping her stallion's side. "Isn't that right?"

He nods. "It does definitely help having someone else to go to for opinions when surprises pop up involving Ruby. Still, surprises or no, she's still our little angel."

"Aren't they all?" Redheart smiles brightly at them before turning to the counter where a kit had been left with everything they would need. "Let's see... how about we start with a small blood draw so that can be getting identified by one of our unicorns while we do the immunizations?"

"That... sounds fine to me." Gel slowly nods, tapping her chin as she watches the sleeping filly slowly begin to stir. "Is it... alright if someone holds her hoof while you do that?"

"You both can hold her as much as you like." She pulls out a small needle and an empty syringe. "As long as she stays still, it's fine, I know this isn't fun for anypony."

Ears standing up to show he's listening, Rhino is focused instead on the small pink form as she lets out a yawn.

Her emerald eyes blink open, landing on his face as they focus. She coos happily, reaching up and booping his nose. "Dada."

He chuckles as his heart seems to swell. Leaning down, he nuzzles her as he speaks. "Enjoy your little nap, Ruby?"

She squeals, hugging his muzzle as well as she can. She nods once before nipping his nose, giggling brightly.

As the stallion smiles, Redheart turns to Gel. "Just can't stop being adorable even if they wanted to, right?"

"I don't mind." The nymph smiles as the filly starts climbing up his body. "It's something special about her..." She jumps as a certain silver muzzle pokes out of her husband's saddlebag, tentatively sniffing the air before retreating back inside. Her gaze snaps to the mare, and she hopes she didn't notice.

The nurse continues speaking as if nothing happened. "Well, as much as I'm sure she likes it in his mane, I'm afraid I have to be the bad pony here and tell you it's probably better if we do this while she positioned somewhere a bit more stable in case she squirms or tries to run. Wouldn't want her to fall or hurt herself."

"True..." She glances at Rhino, gently tapping his shoulder. "That's not a problem for you, is it?"

"Hmm?" He looks to her as their filly drapes herself over his head. "Oh yes, no problem. Umm... here," he lifts the filly off himself with a bit of magic and walks over to the padded table in the room, setting her down on it, "Gel, why don't we both stand over here with her and we'll see if we can get her still."

The navy changeling watches the pink pony start to chew on his hoof once more. "If you think it'd help..." She walks over and tenderly strokes Ruby's mane, giggling at the quiet purr this elicits from her.

Redheart hums thoughtfully to herself as she walks over with her supplies. "And here I thought she'd be active after a nap." She readies the antiseptic and numbing wipes.

The filly quickly turns to the mare, her eyes flashing brightly before a brilliant ball of light appears above them. She lets go of his foreleg, her magic grabbing the nurse's hat and putting it on her own head, babbling happily even as it falls down over her eyes.

"Ruby," her father glances at the light ball above them before lifting up the edge of the cap to see the filly's face, "it's not nice to take other pony's things you know..."

The nurse simply laughs. "Oh I don't mind too much. It's definitely not the worst thing to happen to me or that hat. Besides, she's young, at that age I'm not sure they understand things like right and wrong. Their surges just seem to respond to whatever whim they want."

She sticks her tongue out and pokes his nose, giving him a raspberry.

Gel shakes her head, turning to Redheart. "I think she's as ready as possible, at the moment."

"Works for me." Leaning forward, the earth mare presses the wipe against Ruby's upper foreleg, letting the cold liquid in it seem through her coat to her skin.

The nymph watches the filly, uncertainty clear in her eyes. However, seeing that she is more focused on her oversized headwear, the young mother sighs quietly, a soft smile on her lips.

Redheart holds the wipe there a little longer before nodding and taking it away. Picking up the syringe in her mouth, she narrows her eyes and moves it toward the filly. Distracted and unable to see due to the hat, Ruby doesn't react. The nurse pokes the needle into the numbed area of the foal's foreleg, immediately pulling on the syringe's plunger to begin taking a bit of blood.

Gel sighs in relief, knowing that the filly is going to be fine. She blinks and looks up, squinting at the ball of light as it slowly descends behind Rhino.

With the light behind him, his silhouette can be seen through the fabric of her headwear. Ruby reaches out to him with her left foreleg, the one that didn't currently have a needle in it. She swipes the air a couple times, trying to find his hoof. "Dada..."

Smiling as the nurse withdraws the needle, now filled with the red fluid, Rhino leans down so her hoof touches his nose. "Right here, sweetie. You did very well."

She babbles, bringing her other hoof up and hugging him. She happily nuzzles him, despite the cloth covering her eyes.

Chuckling, he brings up a foreleg and wraps it around her, bringing her against his muzzle. "Who's my silly filly?"

Redheart simply smiles as the scene, capping her needle. "I'll be right back as soon as I go drop this off."

The nymph nods, smiling in return. "Okay, Miss Redheart." She watches the mare exit the room and then turns to her stallion. She blinks, seeing what appears to be her husband wearing a nurse's cap in confusion before it stirs. Ruby peeks out from underneath it, her emerald eyes all that are visible with Rhino's mane and the headwear covering her, causing her mother to laugh softly. "She sure can move fast, can't she?"

Smiling, Rhino remarks. "Yep, our own little spiderfilly." With a small twinkle in his eye, the smile turns to a grin as he looks to his wife. "Does it look odd with me having the nurse's cap on for once instead of you?"

Her cheeks flush bright blue before she turns away, her mane falling in front of her face. "N-not really... I think it makes you look cute... more so with Ruby peering out like that..." She bites her lip, squirming slightly. I still prefer when you... wear your doctor's coat...

"She does make everything more adorable by being there." He agrees, even as he thinks back to her. I take it this morning's round of 'curing your heat' is wearing off?

It is... She sits down quickly, pinning her tail underneath her to keep it under control. She glances at their filly again, eyes wide as she sees her trying to grab her father's horn with her hooves.

He rolls his eyes upward to see her. "I'm just the full package aren't I? I get to be bed, cuddle blanket, and jungle gym. Of course, Mommy's got all that too plus being a food source." Looking over to his wife, he continues. "Why is she always more fascinated with my horn than yours anyway? Think it's because yours is smooth and mine has a spiral?" Don't worry, love. This is our last stop while we're out, I'll take care of you again when we get home.

"I think it's because yours is familiar while being different." She shakes her head, her wings fluttering momentarily. I hope you're prepared to fill that promise...

As his filly taps on his horn, the stallion maintains an admirable poker face as he answers his wife with a slight sensual growl to his mental voice. Repeatedly.

She shivers, biting her lip to hold back a soft mewl of desire. Even if... I want you to take control?

You seem to vary in what you want while you're like this, so I'll leave that up to you when we do it. Before he can say more, the door opens and the nurse strolls back in.

"Alright, they said your results should be done by the time I'm finished giving these last two injections." Pausing a moment, she tilts her head at the nymph. "Are you alright? You seem a bit stressed and tense..."

Gel sheepishly smiles, shrinking in on herself a bit. "J-just a little... preoccupied with a certain cycle..."

The mare nods understandingly. "Oh don't worry then, I'll have you out of here as soon as possible." She bring over the other two needles and another numbing wipe. "I just got over mine last week so I'm not surprised others are getting hit around this time."

The nymph chuckles, shaking her head. "At least you only have two a year..."

Redheart counters as Rhino pries the filly off his horn and sets her back down on the table. "At least yours are half as long."

"And more intense." She sticks her tongue out at her. "I swear, the potions can only do so much... without them, I think I'd be riding him all day long." She nods towards her stallion, blushing as soon as she realizes what she just said. "Um... p-please keep that between us, Miss Redheart..."

The white mare merely waves a hoof. "Nothing any other mare hasn't thought before, especially those with husbands." She applies the wipe to the filly's other foreleg this time. "Plus, I think this falls under confidentiality anyway."

"G-good." She squirms where she sits on the ground, unsure what else to say. Her gaze falls on the filly, who, in turn, stares at the needles with wide eyes.

Rhino sees this as well. "Oh dear..." He places one hoof next to the foal, rubbing her side.

Almost knowingly, Redheart nods at the situation. "Well, I honestly didn't think I'd be lucky enough for her not to notice the second time."

"Especially with the hat still on Rhino's head." She glances at it and chuckles, finding the sight unbelievably silly. It appears that Ruby thinks the same, laughing brightly before eagerly nuzzling his foreleg.

He nuzzles the filly back, but his eyes are on the nurse. "You've got your distraction."

She nods, moving in with the first shot, muttering quietly. "Just hold that pose..." The needle goes in and she pushes down on the plunger.

The filly squeaks, biting the stallion's limb to distract herself from the sudden pierce of the metal tip. Her eyes squeeze shut, her little hoof gripping his tightly for emotional support.

His eyes showing the pang of his heart, the stallion touches his head lightly to hers as the nurse pulls the needle out.

She nods. "Ok... just one more. Be brave little one." She quickly gets out the next needle and brings it into play as well.

Ruby looks up at him, her emerald eyes wide and pleading. "D-dada..."

Grimacing as another pang hits him, he nuzzles her soothingly. "Almost done... just another moment..."

Gel leans down, tenderly pecking her forehead. "It's going to be fine, sweetie... we're right here..."

The nurse pulls the now empty needle out of the foal. "And done." Pulling out three small smiley face bandages, she puts them on all three needle marks. "There you go, three happy faces to help you not be mad at the mean nurse."

Ruby blinks, turning to look at the white mare. She touches a hoof to hers, smiling softly.

Gel chuckles, shaking her head. "I think all is forgiven, Miss Redheart."

The mare smiles softly. "Good, I try to make things as quick as possible for the little ones, but things still usually end up being uncomfortable."

"Injections in a nutshell." Rhino comments as he turns to Gel, motioning to their daughter. "Did you want to carry her on the way home? She's had plenty of snuggle time with me already."

The navy changeling giggles, nodding in response. "I think I'd like that." She reaches out and carefully picks the happily cooing filly up, holding her close and gently nuzzling her before standing. She stops at that point, looking to him in mild concern. "You'll help make sure I won't fall... right?"

In response, he simply stands up, walking over to her and pressing his side to hers, giving her a nuzzle.

Redheart smiles at this. "A lot of love in this family. Oh!" She focuses on Gel specifically. "Just a small reminder: any injections tend to make foals a bit drowsy afterward, so don't be surprised if she nods off. Just something to think about." She winks as she opens the door.

"Thank you for the heads up, Miss Redheart." She giggles, leaning up against her stallion as they exit the exam room.

"Not a problem. My sister, Tenderheart, will check you out at the front desk. Everything should be covered so all we'll need is a signature." In a quieter voice she adds, "If possible, could you be the one to speak to her, Mrs. Nexus?"

Gel blinks, brow furrowing in confusion. "Me?" She glances at the desk as they near it and slowly nods. "I... I guess I could..." She approaches the blue mare, making sure to stand opposite her. "Um... Miss Redheart told me you only need my signature?"

The mare swallows but still maintains her professional smile as she nods. "Yes, everything is covered, we just need you to sign... h-here." She quickly slides forward another clipboard before withdrawing her hoof.

The nymph tilts her head to one side, concerned, but does as instructed. With a quick flourish of the quill, her full name is added to the page - a fact she realizes almost immediately. Fuck. I just... She bites her lip, turning away with a slight blush.

The mare takes the clipboard back, a quick glance at the name causing her to have to clear her throat. "Umm... yes... that's everything. Have a nice day... and umm... you have a very cute little filly."

"Thank you." She smiles warmly, inclining her head respectfully to her. "I hope you have a nice day, too... and a nice week, if possible."

As the mare smiles back, Redheart waves the nymph back over, having stood over to the side with Rhino.

Gel walks back over, a small frown on her lips. "Is, uh... is there a reason you wanted me to do that... instead of Rhino?"

The nurse nods. "Yes, sorry for not telling you, but... my sister is still always nervous around changelings. I'm sort of gradually showing her that you're nice in order to get her more comfortable and not see them as any different from anypony else. It's a gradual process, but it's been working. Thank you for helping."

"You're welcome..." She chuckles, shaking her head. "You could've told me, though... I probably looked silly, just then..."

"You looked natural, that was the point." The mare smiles. "Now, I believe you and your husband had some things you needed to... take care of at home?"

Her tail flicks, and a blush spreads quickly across her cheeks. "I was... trying to repress those thoughts, for now..."

"Good luck with that." Redheart smiles cheekily as she adjusts her hat and turns around while Rhino stands next to his wife. "Have a wonderful day."

"I certainly plan to..." She looks to her stallion, feeling her body start to grow warmer. "I just hope that Ruby won't mind us being occupied for an hour... maybe two..."

As they turn around and head out the clinic, he leans toward her ear, whispering quietly as he looks down to their foal. "We'll just have to keep an ear out in case she needs us. That or we'll have to do some sneaky things while cuddling under a blanket. Either way, you may have to keep quiet." He ends his statement with a light nip to her ear.

"I don't mind." She smiles coyly at him as they walk down a nearly empty street, glancing at the sleeping foal in question. "Something tells me she'll be out for a while, yet..." She sticks her tongue out at him. "Too bad I'll still need to stay quiet, hmm?"

"Muffled works for me, I can still hear the intent behind it." He grins cheekily. "I'm more curious how you're going to stay quiet, after all, my lips aren't always an option, and your hoof doesn't work too well."

She turns away, her cheeks a vibrant blue. "Let's just say... we might need a new pillow or two, in that case..."

"A worthwhile sacrifice." He chuckles as the little family heads home.

Chapter 27: Today and Tomorrow

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Mane hums happily as she trots toward the vet clinic, tail swishing in time with an unseen tune. Everytime the thought comes to her of the surprise she got this weekend, she lets out a giggle. Such a small gesture, but it is amazing how such small things can affect a pony.

The doors open before her and she walks in, calling out. "Hello, everypony!"

Gel looks up from where she's playing with Ruby on the desk, smiling warmly and raising a hoof to wave. Much to her amusement, the pink filly does the same, babbling out a jumbled word that was likely meant to be 'hello'.

However, the response from a certain silver fox doesn't lack any cuteness of its own. Upon seeing the mare, he jumps up from where he lay watching his family play and rushes over, pressing his paws to her chest and happily barking, his tail wagging eagerly behind him.

Smiling at the mother and foal, the earth pony looks down at the kit. She giggles, leaning her head down and nuzzling him. "Well, hello to you too." Picking him up in a foreleg, she gives him a kiss on the top of his furry head. "That was for your little present that made me happy this weekend. I have him with me, you know, if you want him back." Craning her neck around, she reaches int her bags and comes up with the squeaky fish in her mouth, biting down on it so it squeaks.

He grins, grabbing it and tugging, nowhere near hard enough to take it. His eyes seem to smile in his mirth and he pulls once more, his fluffy tail wagging all the while.

Giggling, the life-long animal lover plays along, tugging the toy back towards her. Like him, she doesn't pull hard enough to take it. As an afterthought, she walks over to the desk while doing this, her eyes still on her little friend.

He bats her nose, pulling a little more firmly to see if she'd do the same.

The nymph at the desk giggles, gesturing to the two of them. "Having fun, are we?"

Mane smiles at Gel as well as she is able around the toy, nodding. Her tail flicks as she pulls her head back, seeing how far she can pull the toy without taking it from him.

Seeing this, Ruby tilts her head a moment before looking down at her mother's hoof. Trying to hold it in place with her tiny pink ones, she starts to nibble on it with the few teeth she has.

The navy changeling blinks, looking down and smiling softly. She raises a hoof, gently stroking her mane.

Mercury, meanwhile, doesn't notice, his grip on the toy having slipped slightly. He quickly lunges forward to grab onto it, his nose bumping hers as he does so.

The shift in weight causes Mane's rump to slip onto the floor, in surprise, the rest of her follows. She and the kit end up muzzle to muzzle, the fish still held. Giggling around the toy, she rubs her nose against his.

The filly, meanwhile, has lost interest in the little play session for the moment. She simply blissfully nibbles on the navy hoof while leaning her head against the one stroking her, a few indistinct happy noises coming from her.

He lets go to lick her nose, murring contentedly. The nymph notices, giggling brightly as she lets her daughter use her hoof as a teething toy. "I guess he likes you more than I thought."

Taking the squeaky fish from her mouth, the vet nods. "Yes, he's my little buddy, aren't you?" Her hoof comes up and rubs his head fondly. "Though, I am curious why he would sneak his toy into my bag when I was sitting for you the other night..."

He leans against her and nuzzles her soft fur, almost smiling from the affection she's giving him when Gel replies. "Maybe he meant it as a reason for you to come back?" She giggles as his tail curls around the mare's other hoof, swishing languidly. "Maybe he felt he'd miss you?"

"Aww..." Mane smiles as she nuzzles the kit. "Aren't you just an adorable little smart one... careful, you may make your mom and dad jealous"

"Jealous? Never." She smirks, watching him lick the vet once more, this time from her chin to the tip of her nose. She playfully taps her chin, a pretend-thoughtful expression on her face. "You know, some ponies consider that a little kiss of sorts."

"So would another fox, I would think." The vet responds, still smiling. "An action like that is fairly universal among mammals, I believe. Which means..." She gasps dramatically. "You were sneaking kisses! You little flirt!" She giggles, lightly pushing him enough to scoot him away from her face, but his tail still around her hoof.

He looks up at her, his tongue still out from a lick he was about to give. He tilts his head, then gives a few short barks, which sound remarkably similar to laughter, before getting another lick in across her muzzle. He then leaps back, practically grinning at her as he turns and dashes for the hallway.

Laughing, shaking her head, and standing, Mane looks to Gel. "Being a little playful scamp today, isn't he? Though I can't help but notice the absence of your two other little ones."

"We left them at home. They were sleeping, and we couldn't bring ourselves to wake them up." She shyly shrugs. "I guess we're a couple pushovers, that way..."

"Your family all just have big hearts, not a thing wrong with that." The earth mare walks over, looking down at the pink filly who looks back up at her when she feels she is being watched. "Still absolutely adorable..."

"Isn't she?" Gel giggles, leaning down and tenderly nuzzling her head. "I swear she might use that to her advantage, some day..."

Rhino walks in from the back, adding his own thoughts. "And there will be barely anything we can do about it." He looks to his fellow doctor. "Good morning, Mane. I heard scurrying in the hall and voices up here so I came to see what the ruckus was."

"Oh, just playing and chatting, nothing to-" She stops as she feels a set of paws on her leg, looking down.

The silver fox looks up at her with his big, soulful eyes. His ears twitch and he lets out a soft whine, nuzzling what parts of her fur he can reach.

She blinks at this. "My... you really are getting attached." Picking him up, she nuzzles his stomach. "There, there.... better?"

He closes his eyes at this, a leg kicking as he gets a bit more relaxed. When his tongue lolls out, the nymph starts muttering to herself. "I've rubbed his belly plenty of times. He's never done that thing with his tongue for me..." She tilts her head, watching them with curious eyes.

"She certainly seems to have a way with him." Rhino agrees.

"Would you two mind terribly if I held him for a bit?" The mare asks.

"Not at all." Gel smiles warmly, watching the silver fox lick Mane's cheek. "I think he'd be upset if you didn't Doctor Goodall."

"Well," she looks down at him, smiling, "looks like I have an assistant, at least until you all clock out."

He smiles right back, happily licking her once more. His fluffy tail curls around and tickles her nose, a foxish grin on his muzzle all the while.

"Assistant... or distraction." Mane muses, giggling.

Just after she says this, the doors to the clinic open once more and Manila walks in, a smile on her face. "Sorry I'm late..." She blinks as she takes everything in; the foal chewing on her mother, the fox and the vet smiling. The receptionist blinks. "I missed something cute, didn't I?"

"You pretty much caught the tail end of it, yes." Gel looks to her husband, waving him closer with her unoccupied hoof.

Mercury, meanwhile, gets a bit of Mane's mane in his face when she looks to her sister. The hairs tickle his nose, causing him to give a cute little sneeze, rubbing his nose with a paw right after.

While Rhino walks over, Mane coos to the little kit, motioning for Manila to come see. "Aww..." Both sisters immediately dote on the fox, petting and nuzzling him as their tails wag.

The nymph looks up, giggling at how the fox is basking in all the attention. He's certainly enjoying himself, isn't he? She carefully picks up their daughter, cradling her as she looks to her stallion. Then again, maybe he just likes their aromas? He's sniffing their hair enough... and nipping at their noses, but he always plays with others that way.

He nods, nuzzling their filly, then the nymph. He certainly seems to think more highly of them now, that's for certain. I'm not sure about the sniffing thing, though... apparently he and Mane had a good time the other night when she was looking after them as well. He chuckles as both mares begin rubbing his stomach. Perhaps he's just embracing an expanded circle of favorite ponies?

Maybe. She smirks coyly, playfully flicking his side with her tail. Or maybe he's infatuated with her. She laughs brightly at this, shaking her head. "As if..."

He laughs along, their daughter looking up at them with confusion. The sisters do much the same, but the kit once again demands their attention and soon they go back to his particular brand of cute.

***

A little later in the morning, the two pets still at home gaze between them at the bottle of pink liquid; an odd solution to unusual circumstances.

Specter touches the bottle lightly with a claw. 'So... Miss Fluttershy was right, the zebra did know how to help.'

'And I thought it would all be in vain..." Selena stretches out on the carpet, letting out a soft little mewl. 'I wish there was a better way to thank her.'

'Seems like Fluttershy may help on that,' the squirrel stands up, shaking himself to fluff out a little, 'at least that what it sounded like to me when she mentioned a skunk looking for a home. It was when she was getting our fur samples for this.' He points to the vial which simply bubbles once.

'A skunk?' She looks up at him, curious. 'Was she talking about Pep? That cute little kit from when we were still with Miss Fluttershy?'

'Maybe...' He shrugs. 'It'd certainly be a sight to see; a black and white pet with his matching owner.' A small laughs rumbles in his chest as he thinks about it.

'It definitely would be...' She rolls over onto her back, pawing at the air complacently. '...do you think our kits would look more like you... or like me?'

'I... have no idea.' Padding over to her, he rests his head on her sides. 'You heard Zecora, it just... makes us compatible for kittens. Heh... I bet they end up bigger than me, though.'

'Probably.' She giggles, curling up and tenderly grooming his fur. 'I bet they'll still be adorable, though.'

'They will be yours after all.' Smiling, he relaxes as she works. 'How many do you think we'll have in the litter?'

'If we're lucky? Three.' Selena tickles his nose with her tail.

'Good to know.' Playfully, he nips at her tail, just getting the tip. 'You know... I wasn't completely sure when you first brought it up, but I'm really excited about this now.'

'I'm glad you are.' The gray feline purrs quietly, batting his nose before continuing her grooming. 'Because I'm starting to get a bit nervous...'

'Will talking about it help?' He fully stretches out as he lets out a groan.

'No... just a silly notion...' She shakes her head, nuzzling the top of his head as she wraps around him. 'Nothing to worry about.'

Seeing grooming time is over, he nuzzles just behind her ear. 'I don't mind silly. You sure I can't tempt you to spill?'

'Not even a little.'

'We shall see.' He grins as he starts to work his claws under her fur. 'I have until the kittens get here to get it out of you.'

She turns to him, a coy smirk on her lips. 'Try me.'

'Challenge accepted.' The squirrel pounces his lady.

***

Silk hums to herself as she wings toward her destination, giving a happy little loop at being able to be out of the house again. Well, that and other reasons. Her eyes glint just as the metallic sheen of her target does as well, the pegasus aiming downward and coming to a landing just inside the backyard of her musically inclined friends.

It isn't long before a white form emerges from the silver building, waving as she calls over to the canary-yellow pony. "You look positively radiant today! Did something good happen?" The sly grin she gives betrays the teasing nature of her question.

Silk nods, smiling as she walks over. "Hello, Dior! Yes, something good did happen, preceded by the same good thing happening many times. I've been this happy for the past two days!"

The small nymph blinks, looking up at her in shock. "...you two did it for two days straight?" She laughs brightly, shaking her head. "What, did you have to stop because you passed out?"

Smirking to herself and the nymph, Silk flicks her tail as she walks past. "Silly Dior, we paced ourselves. We stopped yesterday so I could recover enough to be out and about today." She winks. "We started much earlier last week."

The marble changeling's smile slowly falls as the mare walks away. When she's alone, she looks at her hooves, downcast. "...lucky girl..."

Inside, the others already gathered and keeping themselves busy. Ditzy freely arranges the cushions, it having been decided that they are far preferable to chairs for casual evenings. Fiddlesticks sets out a large plate of inexplicably tiny sandwiches popular with the nobility, talking kitchen with Gel. Luster observes all, having a glow about her from recent events.

Silk smiles as she sees all of them, looking around. "Hey girls!"

Gel turns to look, brightening up immediately at the sight of her friend. "Silk!" She rushes over and embraces the mare, her sandwich dropping on the table, forgotten. "I'm so glad you could make it!"

As the yellow earth mare puts the discarded sandwich on a plate for later, the pegasus of similar coat color hugs her blue friend back tightly with wings and legs. "Wouldn't miss it, hun. We don't often get a girls' night."

"I know, right? This is..." She trails off, brow furrowing slightly. "...actually, I think this might be our first girls' night." Gel looks over her shoulder. "Did you have one without me, Fiddlesticks?" She pauses briefly. "It's alright if I call you that, right?"

Waving her hoof, the dual-named earth mare answers. "Whichever you want to, Gel. I've lived half my life as either one, so I answer to both. And no, this is the first one."

"Here's hoping it isn't the last!" Ditzy interjects.

"Agreed!" She looks to the second platter of food by the gray mare, missing her mother walking in the room. "...what flavor are those, by the way?"

"Strawberry and banana," she answers, gesturing to the plate of muffins. "I've been practicing combos lately. Dinky loves to help."

"Heh." Dior smirks, shaking her head as she mutters to herself. "Everyone here loves bananas, right?"

The indigo nymph, the only one there close enough to hear that, looks to her wife, a seductive smile on her lips. I think I prefer a nice peach, myself.

Smiling from the cheeky comment, Octavia answers back along their little private mental channel. Peaches and cream are definitely my favorite thing for after dinner... or any other time of the day.

Careful, now. Luster narrows her eyes, tail flicking behind her. I hear my libido should be getting bigger soon... wouldn't want me to keep you from a performance, would you?

The second host of the evening smiles serenely back. You perform beautifully no matter the distraction, love.

"You know, these are actually quite delicious." Gel giggles, booping Ditzy on the nose. "Almost as good as cream puffs."

"Thank you!" Ditzy's cheeks go a little rosy as her tail swishes happily. "I know how much you love those, so that means a lot!" Silk just giggles from the side, knowing exactly what she means.

"Yeah, she's loved them ever since she was little." Dior giggles, walking up and patting her taller daughter on the leg. "She'd ask me to bring some back every time I left the hive."

The yellow pegasus smirks. "Seems someone already had a predisposition for things sweet and poofy. I wonder if that explains Rhino..."

Gel blushes, looking down at her mother with a small pout. "Maybe... I wish she'd keep embarrassing stories to herself, though..."

"Now what's the fun in that?" The small nymph laughs, bumping Gel's side with her head. "I have the right to tell stories of your youth."

"Oh?" The navy changeling's eyes narrow dangerously. "Then I expect I can tell the story of how flustered you got when you learned of Flick's crush?" When she stiffens to the point of looking like a statue, Gel smirks triumphantly. "Then we're in agreement."

As Octavia raises an eyebrow at her wife due to this new information on her brother, Silk, ever the one to provoke reactions from others, jumps in. "Oh? The mysterious silver changeling attracting all the eyes hmm?"

Dior groans, rubbing her forehead. "...Flicker just lusted after me... he thought he was in love, but I had to sit him down and explain what was going on..."

Gel covers her mouth, snickering. "She gave him the birds and the bees talk. He was too embarrassed to be near her after that!"

"Oh, I bet that was awkw- wait... Flicker?" Silk tilts her head, confused. "Flicker? His name is Flicker?"

"Yes, his name is Flicker, given for his talent for going intangible." She nods over her shoulder at the indigo changeling. "Her name is Lustrous. She had a somewhat metallic sheen to her chitin when she was young. My daughter is Gelatin," she averts her eyes, blushing softly, "because... it was my favorite dessert... I'm not good at making names..."

Ditzy puts a hoof to her chin. "Huh... I guess they all use shortened names... I always thought Gel was named for that slime spit thing she does occasionally."

"Oh, that was just a coincidence." Dior waves a hoof dismissively, then turns to Octavia, a small, hopeful smile on her lips. "Speaking of gelatin..."

The mare smiles, taking the cover off the last bowl to reveal translucent jiggling cubes. "I remembered. I haven't had a dessert this fun in a while..." She nudges the bowl, giggling to herself as it jiggles again.

You know, Luster walks over, smiling warmly, you look adorable when you laugh. She tenderly nuzzles her cheek, pulling her into a gentle embrace.

"You two have the rest of the night to have fun together." Dior rolls her eyes, trying to climb onto the table with the wobbly treats. "Maybe your fun time can wait?"

As Octavia kisses her wife on the cheek as she hugs her back, she doesn't verbally answer Dior, instead taking in her struggles to get on the table with a casual air.

Ditzy does the same, but with confusion. "Umm... couldn't you just fly up there?"

"They're too small." She grunts, straining to reach the bowl. "Not enough lift..."

Nudging Gel in the side meaningfully, Silk nods her head toward the tiny changing, motioning for her to go over there.

Sighing softly, the navy nymph steps forward, wrapping a leg underneath her mother's body. "Here." She puts her down on the table, stumbling backwards when the other literally dives face first into the gelatin. She slowly turns to the others, blushing in embarrassment at her mom's actions. "...she's not like this normally, I swear."

The rest of them nod as Silk smiles. "I do see where you get the look in your eye you have when you spy cream puffs now."

Unable to come up with a retort, Gel looks to the floor, tapping it with a hoof. "I can't help that they're so delicious..."

"We know, dear... I'm just sorry I don't know how to make them." Fiddles shrugs apologetically, waving around. "At least we have variety and each other, right? Plenty of time for us girls to do what we want."

"Yes, that's true..." Her ear twitches, cerulean eyes darting towards a window. "...Luster, did-"

This is private property, and properly marked as such. She huffs, shaking her head. Stop worrying, already.

Ditzy walks to a window and takes a quick peek before looking back at Gel. "Did you hear a sound or something? I don't see anything..."

"...it must've been an animal." The nymph sighs, resting her head on the table. "Sorry, girls, I just... I worry that you-know-who might be up to something... I've barely gotten three hours of sleep the past few days..."

"Ah yes... PALS." Silk practically growls the word as everypony in the room frowns with the same expression. "I would tell you not to lose sleep over them, but it seems to be too late for that. I am thankful that they are the minority in town as far as opinions go."

"So am I... but they're quite outspoken... I just..." She trails off for a few moments before quiet snoring can be heard.

Dior, standing on the table upon which her daughter rest her head, cranes her neck to look at her face. "Huh. Out like a candle."

The yellow pegasus folds her ears back. "Aww... I had an announcement to make..."

"One sec..." The stone changeling brings up a hoof, tapping on the sleeping girl's head. "Wake up, now. Rhino has a surprise for you."

She bolts upright, knocking her mother onto her back as she frantically glances around. "Huh, what?"

Octavia smiles at this. "That's all it takes, hmm? Though I do wonder what our fluffy friend would have to say if he knew you weren't getting enough sleep..."

Silk hums. "I'm torn between saying he'd be sure to tire her out so much she can't do anything but sleep, or he'd end up the same way from worry."

Probably both.

Gel groans, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "Not helping..."

"Well, I may have something that could perk you up." Silk starts to get the same smile she had when she arrived.

Dior sits up, rubbing the back of her sore head. "Is it that your husband screwed your brains out over the past week?"

The navy nymph recoils, eyes wide in shock. "Mom!"

Blushing heavily so as to be compared to a tomato, Silk scuffs her hoof against the ground. "I wasn't going to focus much on that part..."

"Wait... with the time of year it is..." Ditzy's eyes widen.

"Mmmhmm..." Silk can't help but smile. "I'm pregnant."

Gel crosses the room in a blur, hugging her friend excitedly. "Congratulations! Oh, I bet your child will be the best of friends with ours!"

As Ditzy runs over and does the same, Silk smiles, hugging them both tightly. "Darn right they will! Our little ones will be just as good of friends as us!"

Luster watches from her spot by her wife, turning to her with a soft smile.

Tavi looks to her curiously. "Think we should add in our information?"

The nymph nods to the other, silently giggling.

Stepping forward, the mare waits until the others are done congratulating their friend. "On a coincidental note... Luster and I have the same news. She's pregnant." The beaming smile on her face leaves no doubt.

Silk and Ditzy both rush forward to the purple changeling, looking at her stomach as they smile. "How?" Ditzy asks.

A... generous donation. She turns to the side, her face flushed with color.

Silk tilts her head. "That makes sense... do we know the father? Do you even want to share who it is?"

"I'm sure she would've said so, if she wanted to share." They turn to Dior, who is poking at the dessert before her dejectedly. "Congrats, by the way."

Seeing the littlest yet oldest of them acting like this, Fiddles walks over. "Dior... you seem saddened by all the news..."

"I'm fine." She grabs the bowl in both hooves and lifts it over her head, downing half of it in one gulp. "Just hungry..." She trails off, almost as if worried about continuing.

"Hmm..." She looks seriously at the white changeling with now blue-stained lips. "You know you can talk with all of us about anything, right? We support each other, through anything."

Dior looks up at her, then back to the bowl, ears twitching. "...it's embarrassing..."

Gel sighs, shaking her head. "In that case, you-"

"I need a stallion's touch."

With a small thump, all occupants look to the now unconscious navy nymph. Silk is the one to voice things. "Oh dear... well, maybe not all of us are ready to hear everything..."

Ditzy instead looks to the silver changeling. "It is a perfectly reasonable feeling though, especially from what we all heard of your situation."

"It's been ten years, now." She groans, resting her head in her hooves. "I still go through heats, but my body made a new cycle that screwed everything up... I don't even know when my next one's going to be, and I'll probably look like a moron petitioning some random stallion off the street for sex." She collapses on the table, her face landing in the bowl to hide her burning cheeks.

"Umm... try not to take this the wrong way, hun, but..." Silk hesitates, "I really don't think any stallion would take you up on that offer... except ones you really don't want to."

"I know!" She shudders, curling up on herself a little. "I feel terrible just thinking about it..."

The two pegasi in the room make her their next hug victim as they nuzzle her. "There there... I'm sure there's a much better way than that worst case scenario." Silk continues to be the speaker.

"I... I can only hope so..." She sniffles, eating her dessert in the attempt to drown her sorrows. She coughs, giving them a weak smile. "Sorry to be such a downer... maybe we should get back to what our hosts had planned?"

Fiddles looks around. "Well... honestly the only planned things were to eat and talk, so..." She brightens up. "Ah, here's an idea that might get your mind off things." She walks over to the cushions, the other following. Ditzy sets Gel on a cushion while Silk brings Dior and her gelatin bowl. "Any advice for those of us now expecting? Since you have experience and all."

Silk perks up and nods quickly. "Yes, I was planning on asking Gel and Ditzy the same, but you have experience of more than a few months."

She huffs, looking to the golden pegasus. "I've still only had one child." Rolling her eyes, she gestures to the mare. "Look, given the size of changeling foals, you won't have any unforeseen issues, unless your child has a horn. Basic lamaze and maybe a bit of... intimacy... and you should be fine."

Silk blinks. "La-what and intimacy? What do those have to do with anything?"

"One helps with your breathing, which helps with the pain, and the other helps you stretch a little easier, in case your foal's on the pony side of size." She quirks an eyebrow. "Was that clear enough, Miss Tease?"

Coughing into her hoof, Silk nods. "Umm, yes, quite..."

Ditzy raises a hoof. "Well, aside from how lucky you guys are for getting to push out small foals, do you have any general advice for rearing them?"

"Where to begin..." She raises a hoof, eyes twinkling with mirth. "First off, if they nip you, don't get mad. That's how changelings show affection..."

Chapter 28: After Time

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It's bright.

I can't help the sound that I make, rolling over and pressing more into daddy's chest. He'll save me from the bright. He's big. And nice.

Mommy moves behind me, hugging daddy and doing that thing with her mouth on his ear. I like doing that too, and he never has that bad air coming off when I do.

I lean in, but daddy stops me before I can do it, too. Oh, they're touching noses, now. Not as fun as mouth, but still nice. I can't move, so I just nibble on the hoof holding me.

The bright is getting more bright. The fuzzy lump that is on daddy's side is moving, looking at me. I smile and wave at fluffy tail. His ears turn and he makes his funny noises as he smiles back. I wonder if he notices kitty behind him?

Kitty jumps fluffy tail and they roll over onto daddy's face. I guess he didn't. Daddy's making even more funny noises now, maybe trying to get them off, but kitty doesn't want to move.

Oh, he's rubbing my head now! It feels good…

"Daddy…" I hug him tight, glad I'm bigger now. I'm sure I'll be able to hug him like mommy soon! Oh, but nuzzles are good too, so I nuzzle him in return, hugging his nose. Kitty and fluffy tail left to go somewhere else. They have a warm feeling about them. I like it.

"Good morning, Ruby."

Oh, he's talking to me! I smile and nip his horn, happy he's finally awake. It makes the bright less upsetting.

His horn goes bright, and he says more. "Did you sleep well?" I nod, staring at the bright a little before touching it with a hoof. I take the bright, giggling as I bounce the little ball between my hooves.

Daddy gets a silly look on his face. "I'm still not sure how you do that, but I'm glad you have fun with it, my little talented filly." What does that mean? I have no idea, so I hold the ball out to him.

"Ba?" I wish I could say that right.

Daddy picks it up, and I beam at him, clapping my hooves together happily. Maybe we can play with it together!

He does some fun stuff with it, rolling it around on the bed and his body. Wait, is it coming towards me?

It is! I squeak, letting the ball burst and knocking myself off his body and down the bed steps they made for fluffy tail.

I suddenly stop in the air, daddy pulling me close and hugging me once more. I just smile and hug him back, enjoying his fluffiness.

"Love? What's with the noise?"

Oh, mommy's up! I turn and reach for her, telling her how much I love her.

"Aww…" She giggles, touching noses with daddy. "Isn't she cute when she babbles like that?"

He nods his head and presses his lips to her nose, though more importantly, he gets me close enough to rub mommy's chest. "She said daddy again, earlier."

"That must be wonderful to hear." My belly does the rumbly noise. "Oh… want to feed her this time?"

"Sure, if you don't mind me getting bit of bonding in while you're free."

"I don't see why not." She shrugs slightly. "Just be sure she doesn't try to eat the spoon again."

At this point, I tune mommy and daddy out, watching as Mercury walks out of the room with a smile on his muzzle. He's been going out a lot, lately.

I squeak as my father suddenly picks me up, holding me close to his chest. "Time to get you some milk."

I can only smile at some of the best words I've ever heard.

A short time later, the basement of the house sees another pairing of a stallion and a small filly, but not the same ones as before.

"And now we come to what was once my temporary jail cell." She steps forward, brushing off a bit of dust that had gotten on a sheet draped over something. "They call it a lab or something now, though.

Hydro nods. "Yeah, Rhino's height thing always meant he wouldn't go for a tower lab, so the basement makes sense."

"I wonder what he'd do if he had claustrophobia." Dior simply shrugs, then turns to face him. "Alright, so you probably have been wondering what I've been doing down here these past few months…"

The red stallion nods, looking mildly curious. "I thought you had a bedroom down here for a while."

"Nope, no bedroom." She giggles, nodding towards a nearby desk. "Don't think Rhino would let me sleep in his lab. Even with the couch." She turns to look at the sheet, blinking once and looking at it closer, eyes narrowed. "...something doesn't seem right, here…"

"Huh? What do you mean?" He tilts his head, taking a few steps towards her.

"Its… its height is wrong…" Quietly scowling, she takes the edge of the cloth in tugs it off.

There is what was once a beautiful statue, half a foot taller than Hydro and apparently modeled after a mix of Celestia and Dior's current form. Now, however, the horn has been broken off, several sections had large gouges taken out and a limb snapped off. In addition, paint was sprayed all over it, as well as a message on the chest that said "False Friend".

The small nymph falls on her rump, tears brimming in her eyes. "N-no… I… it was so close… so close to being done…"

The red stallion gently scoops her up into a hug, his own ears folding. "Who would even know this was here to do this?"

"I… I don't know…" She sniffles, hugging him tight. "...I can't afford any more marble… what am I going to do?"

"Couldn't you mold it back together?" He asks, looking to see if all the pieces are around.

"...the only piece they didn't take was the horn…" She despondently points at where it was apparently stabbed into the statue's chest.

He winces. "It might take a bit to try and track all these pieces down…"

"...track them down?" She pulls away, looking up at him in confusion. "You… you think it's possible?"

He nods. "Maybe… think you could sense the pieces?"

"Well… they're of a specific type of rock, not native to the area, not to mention a specific mineral flaw in it, so…" Dior taps his shoulder, quiet for a moment. "...if I was close enough, I think I could."

He smiles at this. “Well, that could be what we do after we deliver the bad news to Rhino and Gel. Maybe she’ll be able to keep him from going… too paranoid.” His face morphs into a grimace for a moment.

"Like how they apparently broke into the house to destroy property?" Her eyes suddenly widen. "Oh, shit, they came in here… what else could they have done?"

"Exactly." He says, nodding once more. "Should we figure out if they got anywhere else?"

"Probably a good idea." She holds up a hoof. "But we need to be subtle. No need to get them upset before we make sure we're safe."

"Right, subtle… not one of my strong suits." He frowns.

"Let's just…" The nymph turns and rears up, placing her forehooves on his chest. "...just find whatever looks out of place. Say you're looking for something." She smiles wryly. "It's not a lie, right?"

Hydro meets her eyes. "I can do that. Think they'd do anything else down here?"

"I don't know." Her mouth straightens into a flat line. "If this were a military, I wouldn't have prioritized sabotage, I'd have tried to…" Her voice trails off as she notices a glowing gem in the stack of Rhino's enchantment jewels. "...gather intel."

"Hmm?" He follows her gaze. "What, were they trying to figure out his secrets?"

"It might be more the family's secrets." She hops off his lap and walks over, scowling at the light. "...we need to make sure there's no more of these."

"Isn't that just one of his gems?" His eyebrow raises.

"These are his unused gems." Dior looks over her shoulder at him. "Why would he put an enchanted gem in there?"

"Oh, good eye." Coming forward, he looks closely at it. "Think they'll all be gems?"

"Not sure." She looks up at the door, smirking a bit. "But I know someone who might be able to help."

He turns just in time to see the other stallion open the door and come down, looking surprised to see them. "Oh, hey you two."

"Hey." The stone changeling points at the glowing red gem. "Can you look at this real quick?"

"Hmm?" Rhino quickly trots over, picking up the gen in his magic and immediately frowning. "This doesn't feel like one of mine."

Dior stares at him in blank confusion. "What exactly do you mean by that? How can you tell?"

"Each magical field feels different, and I know mine." He looks at the gem closely.

"Like a changeling?" Dior looks up at the ceiling as she thinks. "Different signatures, different numbers…" Her eyes widen and she glances at the statue. "...we can use it to track down who made them… possibly unravel their entire corporation…"

"... unless this was bought and just used by someone." Rhino says. "But how did it get here, what does it do?"

"I don't know. I don't handle enchantments." She shrugs, then gestures to him. "You're the expert. What's it do?"

"Hmm…" His horn flares a bit as he probes the gem. "Sound and visual projection at range." His jaw sets as he looks at it. "Someone is spying on us…"

The nymph bites her lip, directing him towards her statue. "It's not the only thing they're doing."

Spotting it, his eyes go wide and he looks to her sadly. "Dior… I'm so sorry. It looked lovely."

"I know. I put the finishing touches on it this morning." She gives Hydro a knowing look. "I was certain that you'd love it…"

He smiles softly at her. "I'm sure I would have, but I know you wanted it, too." She just walks over and embraces him, pressing her muzzle into his chest.

Rhino just keeps staring at the jewel, lost in thought.

"Told you he'd get like that." Hydro reminds the small changeling as they hug.

"Yea, you did…" She sighs, looking up and smiling at him. "But now we have stuff on them. Stuff we can get them arrested for."

"If we can figure out who did it, how, and when." He says, nodding.

"...I think we can guess the when, at the very least." She slowly nods, glancing at Rhino. "When were you all gone, today?"

The green stallion thinks. "Well, the usual morning shift at work, with a little extra time after to pick up groceries."

"And I left at nine to go meet Red, here…" She glances at Hydro, then back to Rhino. "So… about three to four hours of a window of time…"

"We don't really have neighbors we can go ask if they saw anyone." Rhino comments.

"No…" She frowns, crossing her forelegs. "...we have a thick treeline, a path that they can go down, and houses on the other side of that path. Oh, and a monitoring system by a certain student of friendship, which can apparently match things to magic signatures, if I'm not mistaken?"

He blinks. "Well, yes, but it's… wait… huh. Could it really be that simple?"

She shakes her head. "Depends on if this gem is homemade or not."

"True…" he sighs. "Not sure how Gel will react to this… security breach."

Dior grimaces, nodding towards the stairs. "Well, there's only one way to find out…"

Hydro pats his friend's back. "All on you."

Rhino snorts and smiles at him. "Thanks for the support." With that, he places the gem back down and moves to head up the stairs.

As he goes, Hydro whispers to Dior. "Are we still going to be scouting the house to discreetly get rid of the rest?"

"What kind of question is that?" She smiles wryly at him. "Of course are."

Chapter 29: What to do

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Rhino's thoughts are a mental storm as he walks up the stairs and into the main part of their house. It's not so much the gem as the implications that bother him, and it's to no small amount. The stallion actually stops to take a breath before remember where he last saw his wife and foal.

He soon hears cooing, followed by his wife's concerned voice. "Ruby. Ruby, no. You don't put stuff like that in your mouth." He hears happy babbling, which he now narrows down to the kitchen. "Don't do that look. I'm standing firm on this."

Despite his disconcerting thoughts, he can't help but smile at the mental image of the scene. He quickly makes his way to the sound's source, curious what the little foal could be into.

The two of them turn to see him, and the now foal-sized pink pony takes the opportunity to suck on what she found.

Something that's glowing.

"Hey, love." Gel gives him a small smile. "Did you want a cookie?"

"As long as it comes with milk." He responds reflexively, walking over and giving her a quick kiss while he looks at the foal curiously.

As Gel goes to get the drink, Ruby smiles at her father, offering him the gem that she found. "Daddy ba?"

He can't help but smile at her, gently taking the jewel and giving it a quick scan. "Thank you, Ruby. I'm glad you found this." Leaning down, he nuzzles her lovingly.

She giggles and hugs his muzzle, covering much more space than she used to.

"You are?" Gel returns with a tall glass and a couple chocolate chip cookies. "Why? Is it one you lost?"

His voice is muffled by the foal on ti as he speaks. "It's not one of mine, but there may be more around the house and we need to find them."

She blinks, tilting her head to one side. "...you mean like a scavenger hunt?" The nymph brightens up. "Oh! Did Hydro or mom set this up for us?" She squeals in delight and rushes off. "I'm gonna get more than you!"

As she exits the room, he hears a familiar voice behind him. "I swear, she acts so silly, sometimes."

"Well... I guess if I don't tell her for a bit, she won't be worried." He sighs quietly, picking Ruby up.

She smiles softly, crawling around his body so she can lay on his back. The young unicorn hugs her father, nuzzling at his neck with the utmost faith and love in her emerald eyes.

"Aww..." Dior giggles, taking him by the hoof and walking around the kitchen. "So... how are you going to locate these? Just search for them?"

"Admittedly, I was going to do that, but now that you say it, it seems silly. I could... hmm..." He looks down at the jewel while magic gently strokes his daughter's mane. "I could whip up a crude gem using the leftover signatures from these to let me know when I'm close to one."

"Well... that sounds neat." She rubs her chin thoughtfully, smiling a little at the filly's coos. "Would that find all the gems, or just the ones with that signature?"

"Just the ones with this signature... do you think they'd use other ones?" He asks, wondering where she's leading him.

"They might've." She turns and points at the gem, stopping in the foyer. "It's just like me and my earth magic. I could locate my missing pieces, but there are still limits." The white changeling shrugs. "Just a thought."

He pauses thoughtfully. "Well... maybe we can just try and locate what we can and just keep our eyes out for more?"

"I suppose we can. How hard could it be to find another gray... jewel..." Dior trails off, looking around in confusion. "...where's Red?"

The stallion looks up, noting the lack of his friend's presence. "Wasn't he with you?"

"I thought he was..." She frowns, turning around as she tries to find him.

It is at this moment that Rhino feels a tug on his mane and the sound of chewing from behind him.

His neck crawls a bit before he chuckles and tries to turn his head to see behind it. "What, you suddenly got an appetite for me?"

Ruby says nothing, reaching out with a hoof to try and touch his nose.

He blows lightly on the underside of her hoof as Hydro walks in from the dining room

The filly brightens up, letting go of her father's mane and climbing up his head. Once there, she reaches a hoof out to the other stallion while hugging the former's horn. "Unca Haidwo!"

"Daww..." Rhino coos fondly as his friend chuckles and comes over, touching his hoof to the filly's.

She babbles happily, tapping his hoof a couple times before glancing over at the distracted nymph. Pointing a hoof at her, the filly looks at the red stallion curiously. "Hug?"

He chuckles once more, scooping up Dior. "The girl's got good instincts."

"And a little way of cheating." Rhino comments.

She looks down at her dad, confused, and misses the moment that Dior pecks Hydro's cheek.

"There wasn't a gem in the dining room." The red stallion whispers to the nymph, breath tickling her ear.

"Good." She sighs in relief, nuzzling his cheek before turning to look at Rhino. "I don't think it's healthy for her to be chewing on your horn like that."

"For her or me?" He asks, curious. "I'm not running magic through it."

"Yes, but what if you have to?" She gestures to the gem on the kitchen counter closest to the doorway. "Don't you need magic to find those?"

"Mmm... true... but she is enjoying herself." He looks up at the foal.

She squeaks, gripping his horn tighter in her teeth as the sudden motion makes her lose her balance.

"Careful!" Dior rushes over, taking Ruby and hugging her tight, slowly moving back over to Hydro on her hindlegs. "That could've been bad..."

The father folds his ears, looking a bit ashamed. "I didn't mean to..."

Ruby hears this and looks to him over the changeling's shoulder, holding a hoof out to him and smiling warmly. "Daddy?"

"I think she forgives you." Hydro remarks.

Sighing in relief, Rhino quickly catches up the the nymph, nuzzling the filly and trying not to knock his mother-in-law over.

"Hey, watch it," Dior says, wobbling a bit, "she's heavier than she looks."

He grins. "I could take her back."

"If you want to, be my guest." She holds her out to him. "But keep her away from your horn so we can search."

He gingerly takes the filly, cradling her against his chest as he nuzzles her belly.

Hydro just smiles. "With her being almost half a year old, I'm starting to have a hard time remembering any times you haven't been with her."

"There was that one time where Mercury helped us watch her," Dior points out.

"True, but you know what I meant." He smiles down at her.

Rhino speaks up as he talks to Ruby. "So, did you two want a scanning gem, too? I can whip up multiple."

"That'd be a good idea." Dior taps her chin, frowning a bit. "Think you could tune it to search for a certain enchantment, as well as a magic signature? Or just one of those things?"

He taps his chin. "Search for an enchantment... honestly I've never had to do that before. I'd have to do a lot of experiments to figure it out, but for now, all I have is the signature."

"Then I guess it'll do for now." She pokes his muzzle and frowns deeply. "But so help me if I find another one after this..."

"Hey, come on." Rhino's smile fades. "I'm worried about this, too. That's why we're trying to cut them off before something happens."

"...yea, I know..." She sighs, resting her head on Hydro's shoulder. "...sorry for being a downer..."

He nods solemnly. "It's fine, it's good one of us thinks about it instead of distracting themselves with their adorable daughter."

Hydro snorts lightly. "Oddly specific."

Ruby just rubs her hoof over the beginnings of her father's beard, not really paying attention to much of anything.

Dior curls up in Hydro's lap, nuzzling at his cheek. "So... how long will the scanners take?"

"Hmm... ten minutes?" He wiggles his muzzle.

"You should go do that." She smiles at him.

Gel rushes in, grinning brightly. "Found one!" She puts the yellow jewel on Rhino's nose and rushes off once more.

Now forced to balance it, Rhino's voice goes a bit nasally. "Well, there goes my theory that they were all gonna be red."

"Shouldn't you check to make sure it has the same enchantment, first?" Dior helpfully points out.

"I was going to." He responds before his horn lights up and he gives it a look.

"It's the same spell, but it looks like somepony else did the enchantment... not good."

"...sh-" She yelps around the red hoof shoved into her mouth, giving the stallion a questioning stare.

"As Rhino has reminded me before: language." He looks firmly at her.

She quietly pouts, but does nothing to move his hoof.

He moves it after a moment. "You do need to be a good grandma after all."

"Right..." She takes the moment to kiss him before heading back towards Rhino. "So, think we can make a better scanner with that one, too?"

"Well... I can make them track both signatures, so that's a little better." His ears fold a bit. "I'm trying to think of more I could do, but all I can think of is just that idea and finding ways to make the house safe from intruders."

"...hmm..." She frowns, crossing her forelegs as she ponders this. "...what would you suggest? An alarm system like Booksmart's?"

"Maybe... I could do something like that where I register the signatures of allowed parties so that an alarm would go off if an unknown came into the radius... I was thinking something more like a shield, maybe it could be tied into the alarm... or..." The enchanter's voice trails off into mumbling as he pursues these thoughts.

Dior blinks, turning to look at Hydro incredulously. "...he knows I was being sarcastic, right?"

"I don't think he does..." He blinks as his friend keeps muttering even as he nuzzles his daughter. "I'm a bit worried about what you started."

She grimaces, shuffling her hooves nervously. "...is it too late now to say sorry?"

"It probably won't be too bad." He smiles at her. "Just as long as he has someone around to bounce the crazier ideas off to tell him they're not great."

She glances at the stallion as numbers and symbols appear in the air that the filly tries to reach. "...think we can do that?"

"While we're around, sure, if he decides to actually pitch them." He motions with his head. "Maybe have him focus on the immediate goal?"

She just stares at the unicorn for a while longer. "...dibs on not interrupting him."

"You sure? I bet you could do it." He grins mischievously.

A ball of light smacks him in the forehead, the foal's laughter coming soon afterwards.

"...let's just say I'm not going near that."

The ball serves to be the distraction however, the stallion blinking and laughing before he summons a bit of magic himself, waving it in the air before her.

She squeals happily, reaching for it as well, emerald eyes sparkling with delight.

He chuckles, touching her hoof with it. "I bet you grow up to like magic."

Ruby pulls it close, staring at it in wonder. Then she opens her mouth and brings it closer.

"Now now," he gently pulls it up so it rests on her nose. "You don't need to eat it."

Her eyes cross to keep it in her sights, her tongue sticking out to try and lick it.

Rhino laughs, his aura enveloping the filly. "Come on, let's go make a few enchantments and see how long Mommy can go before she realizes we're cheating in the scavenger hunt."

"You do that. Red and I have something we need to do before joining you." Dior gives her son-in-law a small smile.

As Rhino leaves to go down to his lab, Hydro looks at the small nymph curiously. "We do?"

"Yep." As soon as the door closes, the stone changeling grabs him by the cheeks and pulls him into a long kiss.

He leans into it, smiling and closing his eyes.

When she finally pulls away, she quietly pants, a satisfied grin planted firmly on her face. "Finally got a good one in..."

"Worth the wait?" He asks cheekily.

"Absolutely." She sticks out her tongue, then gently embraces him.

He nuzzles her softly. "Are we giving up on the hunt and instead doing this?"

"Of course not." She nips his nose and hops off his lap. "I just wanted to lighten the mood a bit."

Snorting, he nuzzles the nap of her neck form above her. "Well, want to search together?"

"Sure." She opens the basement door and sneaks inside. "Let me grab the search thingy first."

"I'll be waiting." He takes a seat, looking around on his own.

"...I can't come up with a retort." He hears her huff quietly. "...you win this round..."

In another part of town, a tense battle takes place. "Two opposing forces converge on the field of battle, their commanders' faces grim as they size the other up. One opens their mouth, barking out the next order.

"B6."

"Miss."

"Darn..."

A soft scratching at the door causes the two of them to look up from their game.

Mane looks to her sister across the Battleclouds board. "Wow... twelve on the dot." She rises from the couch, stretching. "I'll be right back." With that said, she heads for the front door, leaving Manila to ponder her next move.

As soon as the door opens, a familiar silver blur rushes in and weaves around the doctor's legs, barking and yipping excitedly. Upon spotting her sister, it rushes over and bowls her over onto her back, licking her face happily before rushing back to the former and leaping onto her back.

Both sisters laugh, one left on her back and the other smiling at the silver fox on hers. "Well, hello to you, too, Mercury!" She gently nuzzles his head.

He murmurs, nuzzling her right back and curling up against her nape.

"Daww..." She plants a kiss on his head.

"So is this your mystery visitor that's been keeping you in a good mood lately?" The other mare asks, getting a nod.

He looks at her, sticking his tongue out briefly. When he turns to lick Mane, his gaze falls on the game, and his expression turns curious.

The doctor chats to him as they walk back over. "We were in the middle of a game, would you mind if we finished?"

He seems to shrug, laying down on the mare.

"Well, thank you." She smiles, settling back down. "Now... where were we?"

"D7." Manila says simply.

"Ugh... hit."

Seeing this, the fox thinks a bit before tapping Mane's back three times with one paw, then twice with the other.

She looks back, confused at him before she looks forward once more. "C... 2?"

Manila sighs. "Hit. You and your random guesses."

Mercury grins at this, hiding it by nuzzling the mare's neck.

She glances back at him, looking unsure. Still, she proves to take his advice as the game continues.

In the middle of one turn, he falls off her back in the middle of tapping it, landing on his own. He writhes and struggles, paws swiping at the air as he tries to get back on them.

She can't help but giggle, rubbing his stomach with a hoof. "Got you now."

He stops squirming, his eyes closing and his muzzle forming a small smile.

Manila snorts a bit. "He's been hopping on your back a lot, is he giving you a massage or telling you secrets or something?"

Mercury immediately pops up and rushes over to the younger sister, kneading at her back with his paws.
She rolls her shoulders as they continue to play. "Now how would a pet even learn to do this? Such a smart boy."
He chuckles, tail wagging at her words before rushing back over to Manila and doing the same, taking the time to lick her cheek as he passes.

Manila speaks up as he does this. "So... does he spend more time here than his actual home now?"

This actually causes Mane to pause, looking at the kit curiously.

He blinks, tilting his head to one side and twitching his ears. He gives her his best inquisitive look as his paws continue to work her back.

"Well, I don't actually know, and he's not giving it away either." Mane calls her next shot. "They don't seem to worry as much when he wanders over, though."

He rests his head on her haunches, ears perked to better hear their conversation.

"Hmm... well, I guess as long as he stays safe." Manila makes her move. "Oh, did I tell you the news about the literal Apple household?"

"Last I heard, you were just a big happy quintet over there." Mane smiles, but tilts her head curiously.

"Well, it seems like it's going to be two households soon. As Big as the place is, Mac and Applejack decided it might be best to build another house for myself and him. They're thinking of putting it on one of the edges of the property close to town, that way it's good for privacy and to help deal with the slowly growing fields."

"So you two get your own little lovenest?" Her sister asks, grinning.

Manila just blushes. "There's that, too."

Mercury sneezes and huffs at the transparency of her statement.

"Oh shush, you." The younger sister says quickly.

He sticks his tongue out at her.

"So, any luck on your end, Mane?"

The older sister sighs. "No, but I've taken a break from all that anyway, remember? Just enjoying being myself without all that." Her smile is there, small, but there.

She swiftly finds the fox nuzzling her cheek, giving her a small whine.

"Aww... you're sweet." She nuzzles him in return.

He smiles and licks her face.

"Oh, look out, he's sneaking kisses." Manila titters.

He narrows his eyes and slowly licks Mane's cheek once more.

The mare blows a small raspberry. "Sneaking nothing, he's obvious about it."

His ears fold back and he nudges her cheek with his nose, his eyes wide and apologetic.

"Aww, it's okay, I don't mind you licking my face when you're being sweet." She gives him an affectionate pat on the head.

He smiles, gently nuzzling her once more, tail wagging behind him.

At that, Manila blinks and speaks up. "Umm... Mane? Mercury only ever had one tail, right?"

The veterinarian tilts her head, looking at her sister. "Well, of course, he wasn't born with more than one." Out of curiosity, she turns back to the fox, wondering why she would pose such a question.

Looking at the base of the tail, she can't see what she means. Even going up, it just gets thicker, much like a normal fox tail. However, when they get to the tip, they are surprised to find two, growing more defined by the second.

Mercury himself looks over his shoulder at his new second tail, mouth falling open in shock.

"...what?"

Mane jumps, looking around. "Who said that?"

"What do you mean? Who said what?"

Now Manila is looking around as well, equine ears flicking as they try to find the source. After a moment, they both look to the fox, who is also searching.

The fox huffs, setting his paws in the carpet as he furtively scans the area.

"Whatever it is, I'll protect you!"

"Mercury... is that you?" Mane asks, gently touching his head.

He leans into the touch, even as he gains a confused look. "Is what me?"

"The... voice." She looks closely at his mouth.

"...you mean you can understand me?"

As the voice comes, she can see his mouth barely moving, looking more like he's giving a canine whine instead of talking.

She nods slowly, Manila doing the same. "I've never heard of an animal spontaneously gaining a voice..."

"We always have voices." He huffs, laying down right next to Mane. "You just can't understand our language."

"Well, Fluttershy can." She protests, but still looks curiously at him. "But why can we now? Is it you that changed or us?"

"Bring in another pony." He shrugs, turning to lick the older sister's cheek. "That should solve things."

"I don't think we can really do that off the street, hmm... When's the next time we work?" She looks to her calendar.

"You know..." He rolls on his side, looking at the game. "...I have to watch out what I say around you two, now... I can't just say my secrets willy-nilly, if you can understand me." His eyes dart to the younger mare. "...I can't read past your rear. What does it say?"

"We work tomorrow." She answers, looking back at him. "And what secrets would we have to worry about?"

"Oh you know, stresses of the day, family trying for kits, my cru-" He suddenly cuts himself off, starting to sweat a bit. "...crystal collection?"

Manila looks like she's ready to pounce. "Foxy secrets... hmm... what could they be?"

Mercury rolls over and buries himself beneath Mane, peeking out at her sister and shivering a bit.

"Come on, Manila, you're spooking him." The vets coos, rubbing his head.

The younger sibling sticks her tongue out.

Mercury does the same right back, then closes his eyes and hums happily at the attention he's getting from the doctor.

"Well... in any case, at least we can talk now. I think there's an obvious first subject." Mane gently reaches down and strokes his tail, well, tails now.

"...what do you expect me to say?" He huffs once more. "I'm just as surprised as you."

"Well..." She begins inspecting them. "Are they both usable? Do you have individual control over them? Does one feel any different? Are they tender after splitting?"

"...I... that's too many questions..." He closes his eyes as he tries to recall them all. "So... yes to the first one... I don't know to the others?"

Manila speaks up. "Can I play with one?"

"...please don't tug on it." He stays hidden under Mane but offers up a single tail.

"I'm not a foal, you know." She comes over, looking at it curiously before gently batting it with a hoof and giggling. "Still bushy."

He chuckles, turning his head and nuzzling at Mane's chest. "You sure you're not a foal? Because Ruby does the same thing." The tail moves to tickle her nose.

"I just wanted to make sure it felt like the first one." She says with a smile, stroking it.

"Does it?" He looks back at her, legs stretching as he tries to get ready for more playing.

She nods. "It's a bit thinner, but it's poofing out to how the first one was."

Mane looks down at them both. "I still wonder what caused all this."

"Maybe Miss Fluttershy would know?" He shrugs and stands up, promptly pouncing on Manila and assailing her sides with his tails. "Tickle attack!"

"Maybe... we should ask her in the morning." Mane casually answers while her sister bursts out laughing as she tries to return fire.

The fox lets loose a few barking laughs before jumping onto the doctor's back to escape. "Does that mean you're sleeping over there, or I'm sleeping over here?"

"Will they worry if you're gone overnight?" She counters, nuzzling him.

"...you're sleeping over, then." He nods decisively, then leans in to muzzle into the crest of her mane. "...aww... you changed your shampoo... I liked the blueberry scent..."

She blushes as her sister looks curiously at them. "I just wanted to try something different."

"Well... I guess roses are alright, too..." He nuzzles her cheek. "You make it work."

A certain sister's eyebrow raises as she watches the two.

"Oh you.." Mane laughs. "You sure your family has room for me to stay?"

"We should have a spare bedroom, now that mom's mom is living with Hydro." He smiles at her, licking her cheek playfully.

"That's still adorable to think about." Manila chirps.

"Yep!" Mercury chuckles, laying himself along Mane's back, clearly enjoying himself.

"Well, we'll need to clear it with them first..." Mane puts a hoof to her chin.

"Does that mean I'm kicked out?" Manila asks.

"Depends." He shrugs. "Can you share a bed, or sleep on a couch? I hear ours is magical."

She nods. "I can do couch. I sleep over at Mane's all the time. Wait... Did Rhino actually enchant the couch?"

He opens his mouth, pauses, then frowns as he is forced to think about this. "...not that I know of?"

She looks a bit hesitant, but nods once more. "That works. Now we just need to clear it with them."

"Alright, then." He looks to Mane and gently licks her cheek. "Carry me?"

"Like you were going to get down." She grins at him. "Let me just grab a bag."

"No problem." He smiles, then notices the look her sister is giving them. "...what?"

She taps her lip a bit before offering her thought. "I'm just curious if you talking will change things."

"What do you mean?" The fox tilts his head at this, and he folds his ears against his head.

"I dunno... just a thought." She shrugs. "At least you can both talk and totally understand each other now."

"Hey, I understood her just fine before." He pats her croup with a smile.

"And I mostly understood him." Mane smiles.

"See? She gets me." He chuckles, nuzzling her cheek in the affectionate way he always does.

Rolling her eyes, Manila walks past. "Alright, well, let's go on so you two can get to snuggling on the couch or something."

"...I think I'd like that."

Chapter 30: Who you know

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Emotions are a natural thing, and it is equally as natural to want to convey them. When one's main method is to pout and you don't want your child to learn about it, all you can do is bottle your emotions.

This is what a certain navy nymph is doing, resting her chin on the table as she pokes at the pile of glowing gems before her.

"It's not like I exactly hid it, you know." Rhino says, gently rubbing her back.

"You still cheated..." She sighs, then lifts one up in her magic. Another sigh and it's set on fire, much to her chagrin. "...I'm not the best at hiding my emotions..."

"You don't have to be." He pulls her into a hug, nuzzling her. "Of course, it wasn't really meant to be a game, but I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. You still won by default since everypony else cheated. I could get you a prize."

"You still lied to me..."

Dior grins cheekily, stopping her nuzzling of the red stallion to speak to his friend. "You'll need to make her sore another way to forgive you."

Rhino blushes, kissing his wife's cheek and whispering. "Is that what you want?"

She blushes and nods, putting the ashes of the gem into the sink. "...maybe..."

"Well, once Ruby is asleep, I can start... 'making up' to you." He sneaks a kiss onto her lips after his smoldering words.

She smiles, pulling him into a deeper kiss and holding him there.

At the same time, Ruby is messing with a pink diamond, tapping it with a hoof and trying to roll it around the table. Failing to do so, she sticks out her tongue and smacks it, hitting Hydro briefly before it lands on Dior's head.

The red stallion rubs the spot where it hit him. "She's got a good hit there."

"Looks like it." She looks at the gems in the pile. "Hope she doesn't do anything dangerous with all of those..."

Satisfied that Gel will forgive him, Rhino breaks the kiss and holds her as he speaks. "I'll be getting rid of them after this. It seems like we found them in time."

Dior blinks, looking at him in confusion over the filly who's chewing on her namesake. "What do you mean?"

He flips one over in his magic. "Well, you know I told you the spells were for audio and visual transmitting? Well, they weren't actually on. It seems like they had activating enchantments from another location and the triggers had not been flipped when we found them."

"...that's... odd?" The nymph scrunches her muzzle, nudging the pile in confusion. "Why did they put them there and not activate any?"

"I'm not really sure, it doesn't make sense." He scratches his chin thoughtfully. "Not that I'm complaining about them not watching us."

"I think we should at least be prepared." Gel frowns quietly, tapping the table get rid of some nervous energy. "How would we disarm this enchantment, if they have more hidden?"

As soon as she says this, the chandelier above them starts flashing. Ruby, eyes glittering in excitement, pulls the source of the light down and starts sucking on the blue crystal. It flashes twice as everyone watches before losing its glow.

"...what was that?" Dior looks at Hydro incredulously, pointing at the scene.

The earth pony tries to translate the whole thing. "I think she found another one when it was activated or something."

Another gem on the table blinks twice before going out.

Gel's eyes widen and she turns to the stove, taking out an old pot and stuffing as many still-glowing gems as she can inside.

Rhino narrows his eyes, helping her do so. "I think they know we know."

"Yea, we need to hurry!" She tosses one away that was blinking twice before slamming a clear lid over the metal container. Taking a deep breath, she spits, over and over, completely covering the battered, old dish and cover with that clear blue slime of hers.

With that done, she falls on her back, panting heavily.

"Was she trying to preserve them?" Hydro asks, hoof raised above another one, ready to break it.

Dior looks through the lid, eyes narrowed. "...it would appear so... her gel blocks magic, so maybe..."

"Maybe...?" He urges her to continue.

"...maybe it's working." She looks at him, grinning in excitement. "They're all still glowing."

"Gel, love, you alright?" Rhino gently pats her cheek.

She smiles weakly up at him, placing her hoof on his. "...I'm glad it worked..."

Her husband leans down and nuzzles her. "You scared me. It was a good idea, though."

"Sorry..." She gives a sheepish smile, then hugs him gently.

Dior intervenes, pointing to the piles of unlit jewels. "...so... any chance those other ones might still have a signature on them?"

He nods. "Yeah, they all do. There were a few different ones, but it's all the same spell."

"But it's not the spying spell." Gel taps the pot's handle with a smile. "These do. So we're taking them to Twilight."

It takes a Hydro a moment to get it. "Oh, they purged the ones she didn't safeguard? I didn't get that at first."

"It took me a bit, too, to be honest." Dior looks to her daughter with a smile. "I'm glad she caught on quickly, at least."

Rhino grins proudly, pulling the nymph up. "My genius wife."

"To be fair, I saw it before." She giggles, nipping his nose. "Thank you for letting me watch your hobby, love."

"You're very welcome." He gives her a smooch before checking on Ruby, as is habit nowadays.

He finds her poking at the pile and whining. Seeing him looking at her, she holds up a darkened gem and sniffles. "Daddy ba?"

"Daww..." He leans down and nuzzles her, taking the gem. Working a bit of magic, he clears it of enchantments and puts in a soft glow one, offering it to her afterward.

She squeals in happiness, taking it from him and hugging it to her chest. "T'anks, daddy!"

"You're very welcome, Ruby." He plants a kiss on her head.

Hydro chuckles, looking to Dior. "Wrapped around her hoof and never getting let go."

"Like you wouldn't be if we had a foal." She sticks her tongue out at him.

"Maybe... I'd probably have to see them first." He chuckles, trying to imagine it.

Gel blinks, looking at them curiously. "...beg pardon, but I think I just heard you not be against bedding my mother."

"That does sound odd when you say it that way." Hydro admits.

The stone changeling hugs his foreleg, quietly huffing. "I just see it as our relationship going somewhere."

Rhino looks at them both curiously. "Do you plan on waiting until after you get your new body?"

Her only response is to blush brightly.

Gel swallows, slowly approaching her. "...mom?"

The smaller changeling coughs, averting her gaze. "...I'm fine with whatever he prefers..."

Hydro coughs awkwardly, looking away, while Rhino seems absorbed in the implication.

"...I'm just... going to take this to Twilight, now..." Gel stiffly walks away, carrying the pot away by one of its handles.

"Are you good to go on your own?" Rhino checks reflexively.

"...I might want you to come with me," she admits, stopping in the kitchen doorway.

"And Ruby?" He nuzzles said foal.

She chuckles, looking back at him with a smile. "Naturally. Did you want to bring the pets, too?"

Scooping up the foal, he walks over to her side. "As much as I want to keep an eye on them, it wouldn't be good to move them when Selena is ready to give birth anytime now."

She blinks, looking rather ashamed. "It wouldn't? But... we can, can't we? You and I swam when I was pregnant with Ruby..."

He holds up a hoof. "When you were early on, yes, plus swimming is usually fine for pregnancy because it takes weight off you."

When the nymph is left speechless, her mother chuckles, elbowing the stallion next to her. "I think he's starting to learn from the best how to win an argument."

Hydro chuckles, nudging her with his muzzle. "I told him: focus on what you know you're right about and cling to it."

"Maybe he just learned from watching me win so often." She sticks her tongue out at him.

"Or you think you do." He counters with a playful smirk.

"Oh, have you only been keeping track of your wins?" She shakes her head, turning and nipping his nose in response.

As the two go back and forth, Rhino comments quietly to Gel, having been watching. "I think they're made for each other."

His wife frowns, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "...you sure they aren't just cut from the same cloth?"

"Well, maybe..." he opens the door for them as they head out, Ruby still having the glowing green gem. "You're okay with them being together right?"

"As long as they don't start getting frisky in front of me, I'm fine." She shivers at the very thought.

"Yeah..." he quickly shakes his head. "Let them do that at their own place."

Meanwhile, another large household across town is having its own discussing around the table. This one, however, is that of a lighter topic had over a traditional large dinner.

Unlike normal, however, the household is hosting a couple more ponies than normal.

Luster takes another bite of the salad they'd brought over, smiling warmly. Thank you again for letting us come over so late.

A yellow filly swallows her current mouthful, pouting at her granny. "Why is she allowed to talk with her mouth full?"

"Cause she ain't talkin' with her mouth, she's talkin' with her head." The eldest Apple laughs, patting the littlest one's head. "You learn to do that and you won't get fussed at for that any more."

Apple Bloom promptly turns to the other yellow pony at the table, eyes wide and pleading. "Can you two teach me?"

The yellow mare across from her, Fiddlesticks to some, Octavia to others, laughs demurely. "Well, that would have to be on Luster, seeing as I just think and she reads them."

The nymph in question gives her a lidded look, causing everyone except the filly to gain a pink tint to their cheeks. "...what'd she say? An' why wasn't Ah allowed t' hear it?"

"Just an adult thing you don't need to worry about." The mare clears her throat lightly.

"Then why're ya actin' like Sweetie around a cute colt?" She points at her burning cheeks accusingly.

"Aaaanyway," Applejack says loudly, drawing the attention to her. "How's the musical road been lately, you two?"

As the filly pouts, the nymph grimaces a bit. It... could be better?

While Tavi strokes the filly's mane soothingly, the orange mare inquires. "What, not the season for it?"

She grimaces and looks away. Not exactly...

Deciding to jump in the awkward silence that follows, Apple Bloom holds up a fork with some spaghetti on it. "Miss Fiddlesticks, granny can't explain yer relationship. Can you?"

"Hmph, I didn't say that, I said the details didn't matter much..." the elder mare grumbles.

"Well, if I remember the family tree correctly..." Fiddlesticks taps her chin. "I believe I'm a third cousin of Granny Smith. So a fourth cousin of you, Applebloom."

"Not that!" She points a hoof at her, then at Luster. "Yer relationship! Is she secretly a stallion?"

Drone.

"So ya admit it!" She beams, proud to have figured it out, if erroneously.

Fiddlesticks laughs, holding a good over her mouth. "No, dear. She was simply correcting you terminology. I assure you she is one hundred percent female."

"Then how are you two having a foal?"

There's silence for the briefest of moments before a single thought breaks it.

What?

Applejack rubs the back of her head, voice sheepish. "Yeah, she picked up on that pretty quick, not that we tend to keep new family members secret."

"Yep! Still doesn't answer mah question, since the book Diamond Tiara left behind at school said only mares and stallions could do it." She looks up at the ceiling, frowning. "Still don't get how hugging makes foals..."

"...nope." Big Mac gets up, rushing out the room past the couple with his ears folded against his head. "Nope nope nope nope nope..." His voice fades away as he goes upstairs and gets further away from them.

As Granny Smith cackles, Applejack, taps her hat. "Mac doesn't like the thought of Apple Bloom growing up, or at least he doesn't like thinking about this step."

Isn't that true for most siblings, though? Luster smirks, pointing a hoof at Applejack. How do you feel about Big Mac and Manila sleeping together? And apparently bouncing on the bed well into the night? She glances over at Apple Bloom, who is back to slurping her pasta.

The Element of Honesty adopts a neutral face as she responds flatly. "I'm glad he's happy and I don't let thoughts go any further than that."

"Mac has plenty of stamina for her." Granny comments mischievously, watching Applejack's face go red.

There's silence for a moment as Luster stares at the farmpony, the mare's face slowly getting darker than even Big Mac's coat.

Ignorant of the nymph's coy look, Apple Bloom looks at Octavia. "Ya still didn't answer mah question, y'know."

"Well, while we had quite a few options, we ended up getting help from a friend in order to have a foal." She gently rubs the bump on her wife's stomach, smiling happily.

The filly's brow furrows. "Why are ya rubbing her belly? Did I not help with cookin' right?" She looks to her sister apologetically.

Applejack's redness seems to drain a bit as she pats the bow on the filly's head. "Nah, Bloom, she's patting her belly because that's where the foal is right now."

She scrunches up her muzzle. "...I don't get it."

"And I'm fine with that." AJ finishes with a nod.

"No fair!"

Luster quietly smiles, nudging her wife. This family is fun.

"Agreed." Octavia smiles at her. "I'm glad you suggested I reacquaint myself with them."

This is just the first step, you know. She winks, then finishes off her plate.

Octavia does the same, looking over at her and thinking to keep the conversation quiet. What would be the next step?

Your own family, for one thing. She rubs her throat, grimacing a bit. As painful as it might seem for you, it was worse for me.

Her ears fold. Yes... I wonder what they will say when they find out you were their daughter, too...

Oh, they found out... in the wrong way. She leans against her, tuning back into the conversation.

"A tomato is a fruit, not a vegetable!" Apple Bloom huffs. "Ya can't just say apples're the only fruit we eat! So why can't we grow 'em, too?"

"It's not that we can't, it's just that we can't do big fields of 'em because we don't have the time or money to invest in something brand new!" Applejack counters.

Octavia simply puts a foreleg around Luster, nuzzling her.

Granny Smith watches this all, sipping from her glass of orange juice with a look that dares anyone to question her.

...this took an odd turn... Luster picks up a glass and a fork and taps them together to get attention. If I may intervene, why don't you just start with a small patch and work from there?

"I know she has one for carrots!" Apple Bloom frowns at her sister. "I see her sneaking a big one up to her room every night for a midnight snack!"

As both Fiddlesticks and Applejack blush, Granny guffaws and hoofbumps the filly. "Atta girl, keep her honest."

So, if I may ask... Luster uses her glass to nudge the flustered farmer. ...who are you imagining?

"Umm, I, er..." Her lips scrunch up as she looks anywhere but the nymph. "No one?"

You know I'll just guess names until I get it right. Her eyes narrow at the orange mare. And you aren't anywhere near as good as Rhino at hiding your emotions.

The filly glances back and forth between the two of them. "...what is she saying, Miss Fiddlesticks?"

As Applejack sullenly offers a name, Octavia smiles at Applebloom. "Luster just had a question for her related to what I may think is the favorite changeling pastime."

She tilts her head, confused. "Pastime?" She yelps as the nymph jumps up and takes Applejack by the foreleg, dragging her out of the house with ease.

"... I wonder what she told her..." The remaining mare asks, blinking before looking back at the filly. "I mean the changeling pastime of making more love by matchmaking. All of them seem to do it to some degree."

A blank expression makes itself at home on the filly's face. "...even Chrysalis?"

"...okay maybe not all." She admits.

Apple Bloom slowly nods, looking in the direction of where they left. "...what do ya think they're doin'?"

"I'm not really sure..." She looks at where they had left.

"I'm sure it's nothin bad." Granny Smith waves a hoof. "Just a private conversation."

They hear the front door close loudly.

Looking worried, Octavia rises from her seat. "Perhaps I should check on them."

"They're probably headed where her crush is." The filly sighs, poking at the pie. "Who knows where that is?"

"Oh dear... I hope she comes home at a decent time." She bites her lip.

Then, as if in response to her words, a single thought comes across the mind link.

Checking out books!

"Oh... well at least that's not too far." Turning back to the others, she smiles. "Thank you once again for having us over for dinner."

Apple Bloom beams, hurrying over to hug the other yellow pony. "It was fun! Can ya come over again, soon?"

"Oh, I'm sure I will." Fondly stroking the filly's head, she continues. "If you'll have me, that is."

"Course we will, wouldn't be much of a family if we turned down good kin." The matron retorts.

"What she said!" The filly grins. "Can ya make the food, next time? I hear it's good!"

"What sorts of things did you want me to make?" She asks, curious.

"Can we get some other fruits, like we had tonight?" She beams brightly. "Like bananas, or peaches... maybe we can have cream puffs, like Mrs. Gel likes?"

The mare immediately nods with a grin. "I'm sure we can do all of that."

"Yay!" She hugs the mare tight once more before rushing off. "Be right back! Invitin' the Crusaders!"

Granny looks to Fiddlesticks with a soft smile. "Hope that's alright, I know you two usually don't cook for so many ponies."

She nods. "It's fine, it could be interesting, and a chance to practice large scale cooking doesn't seem like a bad thing."

A certain red head pokes back into the dining room, peering around a bit before the stallion steps back over to his plate. He continues to eat, avoiding eye contact.

The elder mare huffs. "And here I thought you might end up going to bed without supper."

He swallows before shaking his head. "Nope." Glancing over at the yellow pony, he gently pokes her shoulder. "So... where'd yer wife take mah sister?"

"To the library, apparently." She shrugs. "I'm not quite certain why."

He thinks for a bit, tapping his chin as he chews. He gives a shrug as he offers up a suggestion. "Datin' books?"

"Hmm... she did say she was getting books, so maybe." She starts clearing her dishes.

Big Mac chuckles and finishes up his dinner. "Ah'll go ahead and take those. We're hostin', after all."

"Aren't you still eating?" She asks, confused.

"Ah'll finish while cleanin' up." He takes the used dishes from the table and puts them on his back, walking into the kitchen soon after.

Granny Smith cackles lightly as she sees Fiddlesticks still standing there with her dishes. "Looks like he missed one, why don't you go lend him a hoof? Big Mac chats better one on one."

She nods, smiling at the elder mare and following where the stallion had gone.

She sees him setting the dishes down in the sink and a plate of spaghetti right next to it. His ear twitches and he turns to look at her, giving her a small smile before turning and taking a bite out of his meal.

"I could help, if you don't mind." She offers, walking over with her dishes.

"Ah think Ah'd appreciate that." He smiles, moving closer to his plate to make room.

She moves to stand next to him, getting the sink ready. "Have you done this eating and cleaning combination before?"

"Once 'r twice." He takes another bite, glancing over at her as he takes hold of the first dish.

"Do you want to wash or dry?" She holds up a towel for one and the soap for the other.

He takes the latter as he swallows. "Better do this, or the soap'll get ev'rywhere."

She snorts playfully. "You think I'd be messy with soap?"

"...I'm tryin' not to imagine it." He faces forward and starts to clean, ignoring the bit of warmth he can feel in his cheeks. Too bad it's visible to the mare beside him.

She giggles, putting the towel on her hoof and waiting for the first dish. "So... are you better after having time to cool off during dinner?"

"Eeyup." He smiles and offers her a newly-clean plate.

As she dries it,s he continues. "It's amazing what little ones pick up from what they hear and see."

"Eeyup." He takes another bite of his food, glancing at her once more.

"I'm not delaying your bites too much, am I?" She sets the dish to the side.

"Nope." He smiles and puts a hoof on her shoulder. "Yer doin' great, Fiddlesticks."

She relaxes at his words, smiling softly as she looks back towards the dishes. "Thank you, Big Macintosh."

"No need for that." He chuckles, turning back to his food. "Jus' call me Big Mac. Or Mac, if ya prefer."

She smiles. "Well, I'd say the same for me, but you already know the multiple names I go by."

"Eeyup." He chuckles, smiling at her a moment before offering another dish. "Only found out 'bout Octavia recently, though."

"Well, it's still somewhat a secret." She takes it to dry. "I'd say it's a family and friends thing, but I'm pretty sure plenty of Ponyville has it figured out."

"Fair enough." He takes another bite, finishing his meal off before putting it into the sink to soak a bit. "You've really grown, ya know."

The mare turns her head to him, confused. "Excuse me?"

He raises an eyebrow at her. "Ya don't remember?"

"Umm, no I'm afraid I don't. I assume I was very young." Her eyes are wide as she looks at him.

He rolls his eyes playfully. "Or 'twas your wife." He chuckles heartily. "It was the cutest thing. Ya asked t' be mah special somepony, even though you had no idea what it was."

Her mouth scrunches up as two emotions war within her. One shows itself in red embarrassment on her cheeks, while the other escapes as a soft coo of delight at the cute thought.

"Now, seein' the mare you grew up t' be..." He pauses for a moment, chewing the inside of his cheek. "...Ah guess Ah'm glad Ah didn't take ya up on it, 'cause there's no tellin' what it'd change."

She blinks, offended for a slight moment before she smiles and gives him a small hug. "Spoken like somepony who really cares."

"Eeyup." He chuckles, hugging her in return. "Could ya imagine what'd happen if Ah did? Our special someones might've found each other, instead!"

She pauses, thinking of that. "..It'd still be cute."

Or we could've ended up in one big herd. A certain indigo changeling slides between the two of them, startling the stallion who apparently hadn't heard her.

He glances around the kitchen, frowning in confusion. "Where's mah sis?"

Still studying. She smirks, a twinkle in her eye as she hugs Fiddlesticks happily. Miss me?

"Very much." She gently rubs noses with the expecting ling before giving her a quick smooch. "But the family was kind enough to let me hang around and chat while you were gone."

I heard the tail end of that conversation. She grins at her. And I'll let you know that I made no such promise.

She blinks, blush coming back. "Oh... so it was me." She smiles sheepishly at the stallion.

"Hey, at least ya didn't ask fer a kiss." He chuckles and pats her head, passing her the last dish as he gets started on the glasses.

"Yes, though I wonder if I would have even known what that was." She smiles at the innocent though as she dries.

I think you might've. She giggles, pulling the two of them closer together. Just to be sure, can you two kiss?

"L-Luster! We're both happily married!" She smiles apologetically to Mac.

Correction: he's about to be married. She glances over her shoulder at the calendar on the wall. ...tomorrow.

The stallion shakes his head. "Regardless, it would be cheatin' on Manila, an' Ah can't do that t' her."

"Thank you." She smiles sweetly at him before giving a raised eyebrow to her wife. Did our stud session give you a taste for something?

She stares blankly at her for a moment. You forgot all changelings are bi again, didn't you?

Not what I meant, since I am well aware of that. She gives her a look.

I have no idea what you mean. She smiles warmly, then pulls her into a deep kiss.

Fiddlesticks makes a small noise of surprise before she leans into the kiss, tail wagging.

Big Mac gently nudges the mare's shoulder with a wet glass. "If you two're gonna get distracted with a kiss, can Ah at least get t' the towels?"

Octavia breaks the kiss, blushing. "Oh, my apologies, Big Mac. I'll get back to drying." She goes to pick up the towel once more.

As he hands her the glass, Luster sneaks over to the yellow pony's other side and gives her a nudge, pressing the two of them against each other.

She smiles apologetically at the stallion.

He chuckles softly, hugging her with a foreleg once more. "If ya wanted another, all ya had t' do was ask."

Luster silently snickers at this, waggling her eyebrows teasingly at her wife.

She snorts, flicking her lightly with her tail. "I'm onto you."

Like you wouldn't want a night with him before he's off the market. She sticks her tongue out and leaves the room.

"...what all was she saying to you, by the way?" The stallion in question places another glass on the counter in front of her.

"... mischievous things based off what I said when I was tiny." She answers vaguely with a blush.

He thinks for a moment before it clicks. "...oh." His brow furrows a bit. "Are all changelings like that? Overly libidinous?"

"Libi... oh. I've never heard that word, but I get it." She looks thoughtful. "I'm not sure about all of them, it might be hormones, or she might just be in a good mood. Strangely enough, they never seem to group up and matchmake, they seem to prefer doing it on their own."

"Maybe so they can claim they made love happen by themselves." He chuckles softly, shaking his head as he offers her two glasses.

She dries them. "Maybe... at least it's for a good cause."

"Eeyup." He hands her two more glasses before turning and walking to a nearby cabinet.

She looks after him, curious what he's getting.

He pulls out some apple juice, smiling warmly. "Ah figured we could use a li'l drink after that. Nothing alcoholic, of course."

"Well, it's not like I'm against the occasional spirit, but thank you." She smiles, holding up the two glasses she just dried.

"Ah figured that, if yer wife wanted t' join, we wouldn't have to exclude her." He chuckles, pouring them both a good amount before setting the bottle on the counter.

"Let me see..." Luster, would you like some juice?

...what kind of juice are we talking?

Apple. Big Mac has graciously provided some.

...it's just normal apple juice, isn't it? There's an audible sigh through the link. I was hoping for something juicier...

Octavia finds herself blushing even more. Wow... you are really in the mood today.

I'm just gonna be honest, it's incredibly hot to see you be bent over by a stallion and rutted.

Having made the mistake of taking a sip of her drink, the mare on the receiving end of that statement finds herself sputtering as she hears it. I... you... that... umm... noted? Wait, how would even know? You've never seen that before!

As Big Mac gently pats her on the back, Luster responds, Rhino had you like that a couple times, that night.

Oh, right... She feels her thoughts get warm. Umm... maybe this is a conversation to have at our own home? I feel like it's going to be a long one.

...only if I'm allowed to fantasize about you and Mac, and maybe try to convince them to give you a good time.

"Fiddlesticks? You alright?" He gently brushes a lock of Mane behind her ear. "Ya look like a red delicious. What's yer wife sayin'?"

That is not the kind of family bonding I came here for! "She is..." She takes a deep breath and lets it out. "She's being quite lewd. We might need to head home soon if she continues."

"Ah see..." He awkwardly rubs the back of his neck.

You don't want to have fun with your foalhood crush? Too bad. There's a small pause. Wanna watch while we do it, then?

Her eye twitches and she adopts a sweet smile. "Big Mac, thank you very much for the juice and the chat. I look forward to the next dinner. For now though, I'm afraid I need to drag my wife home for a number of reasons."

His response is cut off by a loud clap of thunder, which makes the both of them jump. They turn to the window, which now has raindrops hammering against it.

Did I forget to mention that there was a large thunderstorm scheduled for this evening, over the whole farm?

As she glances out the window, she adopts a neutral expression. I've walked through rain before.

Ever walked through a lightning storm with a living lightning rod?

... fine, but I'm keeping you to myself and we are discussing these thoughts of yours. Turning back to the stallion, she looks at him sheepishly. "Would it be alright if we asked for a room? It appears we waited too long."

"Not at all. You can take mine." He nods to the doorway. "Ah'll take the couch."

She nods. "Normally I would be polite and say no, but seeing how Luster is acting, a door is probably necessary."

"Ah figured." He winks and finishes his drink, placing the cup in the sink. "Come on, let's get ya to yer room."

"Thank you once more." She smiles at him as they head into the next room, one part of her wondering if Luster has done anything while she wasn't keeping an eye on her.

She finds her having an intense staring match with the matriarch of the Apple family.

"What did I miss?" She walks over, curious.

Intense debate with Granny. She smirks a bit. I think I'm winning, and then we can get you that herd.

"Excuse me?!" She latches onto the nymph, physically pulling her away. "Come on, you. We're going to our room."

Noooo! I was so close!

I told you we would talk first. You are just... I don't even know, today. We are going upstairs, we are going to cuddle, and we are going to talk.

Unless screaming in bliss is talking, I don't think we'll be talking much, tonight. She flutters her eyelashes at her.

Octavia shivers a bit. "If it'll get you calmer..." I'm in.

Chapter 31: What the Rain Brings

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While rain can be inhibiting to some, others find it peaceful. Such is often the case with winged ponies, who know much about how it works. Then again, knowledge isn't that needed if you simply enjoy the light patter of raindrops on a window.

Silk is one such pony, one ear primed towards the calm sound as she works.

With her being so aware of sounds, it's no surprise when she hears the front door close.

Looking up, she smiles as she spots the visitor. "You're lucky you have special permission to come in after hours."

"Doesn't matter if the store isn't open, yet." He chuckles, walking over and pecking her cheek. "Though I still don't know how you plan on managing a store and a restaurant."

She nuzzles her yellow drone affectionately. "I'm not. I'm training a manager for the restaurant. This will be my new job, well, along with this." She rubs her belly.

He raises an eyebrow, effortlessly moving her around so he has her back to his chest. A hoof rubs her belly gently. "I'm glad you're sure about all this... because I'm not... even if I get to see you in sexy outfits..."

She puts her hoof over his. "What part bothers you, hun? Is it the store?" She gestures around the interior. While not quite complete, it clearly is a sort of clothing store, with the focus being on more sensual clothing like lingerie.

"The fact that we're opening a store here in Ponyville." He raises a hoof, frowning quietly. "Not only the place where Rarity works, but also the apparent headquarters of PALS. Who aren't afraid to insult us to our faces."

"Rarity and I had a business chat the other day over tea." The Pegasus leans back, nuzzling under his chin. "While she tried to get me to come work for her, when I explained the kind of things I wanted to do, and that I would be my own boss, she understood. We settled on a mutually beneficial relationship. We have different specialties, so when a customer comes to us with a request the other could do better, we recommend them. She gets all the high society and formal wear, and I get all the sexy and bedroom wear."

He looks down at her, baffled. "...then who gets casual wear?"

"Mmm..." She pauses, thinking. "Depends on what it is, I suppose."

"Maternity dress?" He sticks his tongue out playfully.

She laughs lightly. "I think she would get day wear, I would get nightwear. You seem to like when I wear my work for the latter."

"That I do." He chuckles, tenderly nipping her ear. "And to think you started it off as a hobby."

She coos softly at his touch. "Yes... it's amazing what years of dabbling on the side and little repairs to the maid outfits can do."

"Funny, I thought you made them all." He smirks briefly before glancing around the store once more. "Why did we have to move here, though? Couldn't we just have had our house positioned above it?"

She smiles, explaining her logic to him. "We could have... but I feel like we can keep a few elements of a cloud house while moving the rest to the ground for practical reasons like our friends coming over."

"...okay?" His eyes drift over to the window, and he promptly tenses up. "...it's not a normal thing for ponies to peek into windows, is it?"

"For a store, it actually is." She opens her eyes to see what he sees. "They're probably curious about what kind of place it will be."

She finds a blushing mare with a prismatic mane staring right at them.

"...Silk, your legs are spread." He pushes on one to try and hide her from those rose-colored eyes.

She snorts, doing so even though grumbling. "Trying to get comfy..."

"While giving my boss a free show, it seems." He sticks his tongue out at her.

"Are you two comfy?" Her voice sounds muted through the glass. "Because I wanted to ask a few questions."

"Sure, come in!" Silk calls out, shifting so she's laying on her side.

Rainbow glances to the side, grimacing a bit. "...it might be better to come out here, actually."

Blowing a small raspberry, Silk gets to her hooves. "I wonder what this could be about... any ideas?"

"I don't know... I hope it's not more weather duty." He gently nuzzles her cheek, pressing against her to give some support.

Giggling at his touchiness, she smooches his cheek before they both head outside. Silk looks to the other mare expectantly.

She points to the front of the store, where a storm cloud is sitting, not yet activated. "That's not supposed to be there. Did you need it for some reason?"

The yellow mare frowns, shaking her head. "No, all the work left is on the interior."

Flick tilts his head to the side, frowning quietly. "...you didn't do anything with the outside today, did you?"

She shakes her head. "No, I'm planning on putting the sign up when everything is finished."

"...wait, so that's not our sign?"

The three of them look up at it, finally noticing what it says.

Changeling-Friendly Clothes Store

"...well, it's not exactly a lie..." He looks further down.

PALS Not Allowed

Silk coughs awkwardly. "I did briefly consider one saying that, but I decided to go with the honey instead of vinegar approach."

Rainbow nods, moving her head from side to side as if trying to pop her neck. "Alright, so... did you want me to remove it?"

She nods. "I don't really see why we would need a storm cloud, and I'm sure you can put it to good use." Silk also goes ahead and takes down the second sign.

The other pegasus nods and, gesturing to Flick for help, starts taking apart the cloud with him.

While they do so, Silk considers the primary sign. "Maybe a subtitle? Hmm... it may antagonize some ponies though..."

Flick tilts his head to one side, stopping beside her with a bit of dark cloud. "...how about 'caters to all species'?"

"That's much better, thank you." She beams at him as she takes the other sign down too.

"You realize you'll need to cater to everyone, right?" Rainbow elbows the drone, who grunts and gets back to getting rid of the cloud. "Not just changelings?"

"That's what he just said!" She calls to the other mare.

"Yeah, just get ready for diamond dogs and minotaurs!"

"Huh... that'd be quite interesting..." Silk taps her chin. "I might have to look up what other species find attractive so I can know where to focus my efforts."

Someone's breath tickles her ear. "And I could be your model."

She shivers, blushing and nodding. "Are you willing to be females?"

"If it'll help you?" He chuckles, nuzzling her cheek gently. "Of course I will. Then again, maybe Rainbow can help out, too?" He gives the blushing pony a meaningful look, and she promptly jolts and takes the rest of the large cloud as she leaves.

Silk laughs as she watches her go, her smile remaining afterwards. "I don't feel like Rainbow is one for my type of item, but maybe one day she'll surprise me."

"If you say so." He shrugs, then gently picks her up. "Time for us to go back inside and get you your massage."

"Oh? I'm getting a massage?" She hugs and kisses him for that, making sure the door shuts behind them.

"Of course; it helps prevent cramps." He kisses her cheek and makes his way to the main display. He carefully sets her down, looking at her carefully. "Which one do you want, this time?"

"Back, please." She sets the signs down in front fo her, looking at them thoughtfully.

He nips her ear teasingly. "You know that's not what I meant."

"Oh, umm..." She blushes, tail wagging. "Griffon, please."

He chuckles, leaning over and placing his hooves on her shoulders. "As you wish." She feels his forehooves slowly gain claws, each one sharp and pricking her softly through her fur. He nuzzles her with his new beak, humming as he starts pressing into her muscles.

Shivering, she rolls her shoulders and sighs. "Best coltfriend ever..."

"You know it." He chuckles, gently pecking her cheek as he works. "So, what was on your mind?"

"Well... is it wrong to prefer one kind of vandalism over another?" She gestures to the signs.

He pauses for a moment, then sighs, shaking his head. "I take it you mean what they did to our old house?"

"Yes..." She sighs, rolling her shoulders once more and arching her back.

He looks at the signs, frowning in thought. "...do you think we have another group on our hooves?"

"I can't imagine PALS would do this for irony's sake." She nods, looking at it.

"They might do it to discredit us, or something." He suggests, shrugging a bit as he moves down her back.

"Discredit us for what, support changelings?" She spreads her wings.

"Maybe..." He sighs, rubbing the base of her wings. "I don't really know, PALS can be crazy."

She lets out a soft coo. "Yes, I hope this other group doesn't end up the same way."

"Eh, I guess." He scratches under her wings. "I think I'd prefer there to be no groups."

"Agreed." They flap lightly. "Do you think the others might know about this one?"

"...think we should ask Twilight?" He gives her a curious look, his claws stopping at her waist to rub circles in her fur.

She shifts her hips. "Hmm... let's see if anything else happens. So far all they've done is put up signs that say we're against PALS, which isn't inaccurate."

"Technically, it'd come across as a passive aggressive group-ism against them." He shrugs a bit, clearly uncertain.

"Still... I feel like we should give them a chance so we know what their intentions are."

"I guess..." He frowns a bit. "But how do we do that if we don't know where to start?"

She blinks, silent for a moment. "...okay, hun, you're massage is making it hard to think. Explain?"

"All we know is that they don't like PALS." He shrugs a bit. "As far as I know, every changeling dislikes PALS. Doesn't mean all of us are part of this other group."

"True... maybe there isn't even a group at all and it was just some impulsive pony." She nods hopefully.

"That's also a possibility." He eventually removes his claws from her body. "There, done. I'll do your front if you promise to behave."

"Aww..." She flips over onto her back. "What if we lock up and head upstairs? Then can we have fun?"

"Depends." He raises an eyebrow. "Can you handle it, right now, without hurting our foal?"

She snorts. "I'm not going eleven months celibate. It's fine, they're all sealed up and safe."

"Well, as long as she's safe." He holds up a claw. "And before you ask, I'm hoping our foal's a filly. I don't want to be jealous of cute moments from the Nexus clan."

She laughs, rubbing her stomach. "I bet a colt would be cute, too, but I'll toss my hat in with a filly hope."

He smirks, picking her up and changing into a Diamond dog as they head up the stairs. "Think she'll grow up to be almost as beautiful as you?"

"I'm sure your genes will help, too." She nuzzles her shapeshifting love.

"And that's why she won't have your brand of perfection." He gently kisses her cheek, then playfully licks her nose.

She gently bats his muzzle away. "Come on, you need a massage now, too. You should be proud of your parts of her."

His smile falls away, his happy-go-lucky demeanor replaced by a far more vulnerable one. "I'm... not really sure if being her father would bring entirely positive things..."

She plants her hoof on his chest, voice firm. "Flick, you helped make our daughter, now you're going to help raise her. She will love beautiful things, be a little mischievous, and have a good heart. Her father will love her and she will love him, even if you do something foolish and I have to hunt you down and bring you back myself." She blinks. "Sorry, a little bit or hormones at the end there."

"...even so, I can only hope it's true..." He sighs, setting her down on the bed so he can kneel down to hug her. "I love you. I want to make sure you know that."

Her hooves curl around him as she kisses his cheek. "I love you, too. I'll make sure you never forget it."

As dark clouds are slowly around in the distance, Rhino remarks to the rest of his little traveling group. "I hope we don't run into that on the way back from Twilight's."

"We shouldn't." Gel smiles warmly. "It's supposed to be for the farm." She knees the bag at his side. "Then again, we wouldn't have to worry about that if you didn't go back for whatever this is."

"I just had to do a quick teleport back to save us a little time." He nuzzles her, giving Ruby one afterwards. "It's been awhile since we've seen Twilight so I figured these might help."

She raises an eyebrow, frowning slightly at him. "Rhino, the way you say that sounds like you got her a present. Or a dowry."

He blinks, "Does it? Sorry, I didn't mean for that. I don't even think she has a special somepony to warrant a dowry for... anyway, still, no." He opens the bag to let her peek inside. "It's Ruby's measurements."

Gel just shrugs. "It has been a while. Wait..." She turns to looks at him, confused. "...when did you take the time to measure her? And where did you get a scale?"

"I measured her periodically when she and I were hanging out, usually when you were napping." He smiles. "I also grabbed a scale from the Barnyard Bargains, it's big enough for an adult, so I showed Ruby how to use it."

"...why didn't you tell me?" She pouts cutely. "What, did you hide the scale when you weren't using it?"

"It's down in the lab." He says simply, pecking her cheek. "So, admittedly, there's plenty of other distracting things down there. I didn't think it was a big deal."

She's silent a moment, then lets out a sigh, leaning up against him. "It really isn't... but I'm a little sore I missed that part of her life..."

Tucking her head under his a bit, he speaks quietly into her ear. "I understand, love, but all you really missed was Ruby on a scale and the same thing but with a ruler. I could invite you next time."

"...I'd like that." She nuzzles into his fur, just out of reach of the filly's tiny hooves. "Bet she was acting cute while you were doing it..."

"She may have kept poking my muzzle every time I got close to her while I was measuring." He says vaguely as Golden Oaks comes into view.

"...I carry her back." She quietly huffs, turning and nipping his neck.

He just chuckles as they get to the door. "Fine by me. What about you, Ruby?"

She taps his nose as he looks at her, blowing a raspberry.

"I think she's neutral." He blows one back at her.

"I guess so." The nymph shrugs and knocks on the door.

"Coming, coming!" Calls the voice of the local librarian, followed by hoofsteps on a wooden floor.

Gel blinks, looking at her husband as the sound gets closer. "I thought Spike normally answers the door..."

"Maybe he's busy?" Rhino offers, shrugging just before the door opens.

The familiar lavender mare smiles as she spots who it is. "Rhino, Gel, Ruby! It's great to see you!"

The filly squees, holding her hooves out to the mare. "Waiwai!"

The nymphs smiles at this, but it turns into a frown as she looks at the mare. "...you look different... did you do something with your mane?"

Straightening up from having playfully touched a hoof to the filly's, Twilight clears her throat. "Not really, I'm surprised you hadn't heard yet." She shuffles her hooves uncomfortably before a couple of feathery appendages slowly extend from her sides.

Gel blinks, stunned and trying to take this brand new development in.

Ruby, however, stares at her in confusion. "...Sil'y?"

Rhino nuzzles his daughter. "No, that's not Silk, that's still Twilight."

"Thank you, that second part is apparently hard for some ponies." She sighs, her wings drooping.

The changeling finally remembers to breathe, explosively exhaling before taking deep breaths. "W-what... how did you... are you...?"

"Here, why don't you come inside?" Twilight steps back and out of the doorway. "We can catch up."

"Sure." Gel walks inside, glancing around uncertainly. "So... where's the little guy?"

"He's in the side room, helping Applejack." She explains, shutting the door behind them as they come in. "Luster brought her over earlier because she apparently needed some convincing to find some books."

She blinks, tilting her head to one side. "...do you mind if we check on them, real quick?" She points to the filly now clinging to Rhino's muzzle. "You can spend some time with your godchild while you wait."

"Wait... godchild?" Twilight blinks rapidly as the filly is deposited into her forelegs.

Rhino looks to Gel, asking if she's sure with his eyes.

She nods and tugs him along as Ruby nips Twilight's nose.

The mare giggles as the foal's parent walk off. "I see you still haven't grown out of that."

The nymph glances back, smiling softly. "So adorable..."

"Ruby tends to make everything that." He retorts with a chuckle.

"True. Very true." She chuckles, pushing open the door and walking in. After a few steps she stops, gaping at the sight before her.

There, on a large cushion, lay Applejack and Spike. The latter holds a book, both fo them reading with small smiles on their faces.

The dragon looks up from where he's laying back against her side, eyes brightening in recognition. "Hey, guys! It's been a while since you came to see us!"

Gel isn't exactly paying attention, taking notice of a few books by the farm mare's side. ...why does she have a book about snagging one's special somepony?

Rhino waves to the little dragon and the mare hiding her face under her hat. I don't know, maybe she's into romance?

She also has a guide to snuggling. She smiles softly as the dragon gently scratches Applejack behind the ear. Heh, I guess he found out we like that.

The farm mare peeks out at them a moment before composing herself. "So umm... did you folks come here for books too?"

"Just wondering where all the love is coming from." She smiles at the baffled look on the dragon's face. "Oh, and Ruby's in the other room, as well as some enchanted gems, if you want to see them."

"Well... she is cute... but Ah think Ah'm good here." She settles on the cushion a bit more.

"I'm comfortable here." Spike grins at them. "But if you're willing to bring a few of those gems when you're done with them..."

"That depends, how do magic ones sit in your stomach?" Rhino asks, curious.

"Never tried them." He shrugs a bit, then looks at the mare behind him. "Have any more of those apple jewels?"

"Apple what?"

"Apple jewels!" He grins at them, holding up what seems to be the last one. "Apple slices cut into gem shapes and seasoned with gem dust! They're delicious!" He pops it into his mouth, humming happily. "Wonder what one without the dust tastes like..."

"It tastes like apples, of course." Applejack says with a small laugh.

"Just as delicious, then." He smiles at her, chuckling before looking over at the others. "Not to be rude, but could we get back to reading?" He holds up his book. "I think we could both learn from this."

The book is titled How to Admit Your Crush.

"...you'd think it'd be shorter," Gel mutters quietly.

"Maybe it's a fluff piece." Rhino offers.

She squints at the back of the book. "...it's a romance novel."

"So it's a story, not a guide." He concludes.

"They seem to be enjoying it, at least." She taps her chin thoughtfully. "...I wonder who set this up... so much love in the air..." Those pure blue eyes narrow at them. "...is that from one of them, or both of them?"

"It could be from your husband," Spike points out.

"It could be from the other room where Twilight is with Ruby." Rhino offers. "And didn't she say Luster brought Applejack? Maybe she's around."

"Nah, she already left." Spike shakes his head. "Something about aching for a helping of red apples."

The nymph blinks, turns around, and heads out of the room.

The dragon looks from one pony to the other, confused. "...was it something I said?"

Applejack looks slightly concerned while Rhino answers. "I'm not really sure, maybe she's having cravings." Still he looks back at his wife, giving the other two a quick smile before heading after her.

There's silence for a moment before Spike looks back at the mare, smiling warmly. "Can we cuddle some more, now?"

"Sure, you're nice and warm for that." The farm mare curls around him a bit more, looking back in the book.

As they get back to the book, the other couple re-enter the main room of the library just in time to see a small changeling approach the princess and the filly.

"Oh, the library is popular today." Putting on a soft smile, Twilight looks down at the changeling. "Hello, there. How can I help you?"

The red changeling looks up at her with wide eyes. "...are you the patron princess of changelings my friends spoke about?"

"Patron Princess of Changelings? D'aww..." She giggles, her wings flapping a little. "Well, I don't know about that title, but I am a princess. I guess that makes you one of my subjects. Therefore, I am, in some way, a princess of changelings."

He beams brightly, holding out a bouquet of various flowers. "These are for you, princess!"

"Oh my..." She blushes, her smile getting shy as she takes them in a hoof, the other holding Ruby. "Thank you very much, these are lovely!" She sniffs them, nibbling a petal.

He smiles, then jumps up and hugs her. "You're my favorite princess."

"Oh..." She sniffs and gently hugs the little changeling. "Even with the other three having so much more experience?"

"Don't care." He smiles up at her. "You're nice. And cute." His ear twitches and he looks to the front door, pouting quietly. "...I have to go..."

Twilight pats his head. "Yes, it is getting a little late, but you can feel free to come visit at any time the library is open."

He nods, giving her one more hug before running off.

"...huh. Didn't think you'd have a young admirer like that." Gel giggles, patting Twilight on the back.

"Yes... I didn't expect that." She looks down, smiling at Ruby. "I wonder if this is what Princess Celestia feels."

"Maybe." The nymph scoots closer. "Soooo..." She trails off, eyeing the mare with purpose.

"Hmm? Oh, right!" She laughs sheepishly. "Why don't we have a seat so we can talk?"

"Anywhere work, or do you have a specific couch set up for us?" She smiles warmly.

"Well, I only have the one couch, but you could sit wherever. Do you... want Ruby back, too?" She offers the foal.

The nymph carefully takes her daughter and sets her on the couch, then sets the old pot of jewels down on a table.

"I guess that's going to be something you want to talk about, too?" She gestures to the goo-covered pot.

"Yep." She offers the glowing gem to Ruby, who beams brightly and starts chewing on it. "Let's say they're enchanted. And not by Rhino."

"Oh? Is that a problem?"

"It's more about what they were being used for." The stallion answers.

"What he said."

"Ba!"

They turn to see Ruby holding up her gem, which seems to have its glow extending a bit.

"Huh?" Rhino leans towards the foal, tilting his head. "Now why's it doing that?"

She pulls her hooves apart, the gem staying attached to one while the glow sticks to the other. Ruby happily offers him both.

As Rhino gingerly tries to touch the light with a hoof, Twilight looks on, a fascinated glimmer in her eyes. "Interesting... I wonder if this is related to her talent or part of her hybrid bloodline..."

"Your guess is as good as mine." Gel shrugs, leaning over to take the folder from Rhino and present it to Twilight. "Here, have a late coronation present."

"Oh, I thought you didn't know about that." She smiles shyly at the changeling before opening the folder. "Oh! I thought I was going to have a hole in my notes, but you kept track! Thank you!"

Gel blinks, motioning towards the stallion. "He was keeping them... but what do you mean? I was making a joke because you look like an alicorn..."

"Well umm..." Twilight looks uncomfortable while Rhino taps the light, looking surprised such as action is possible. "I... I am a princess now... apparently."

She tilts her head to the side, a baffled smile on her lips. "...princess of books?"

The filly giggles, tapping the light as well and making it slowly change colors.

Rhino looks fascinated, kissing his talented daughter's head.

Meanwhile, Twilight idly flips through the folder as she chats. "Well, I... don't actually know if I'm the princess of anything."

"You could always ask Celestia, right?" She moves to look over Twilight's shoulder. "She stopped growing quickly after a few months or so... she's also still showing unusual magic powers."

The pink pony in question drops the gem and reaches for the light. Then she spreads her forelegs with a happy coo, making the ball grow the size of a book.

Seeing as they're tugged between two topics, Twilight decides to pick the latter one for now. "In surge form or in more controlled ones like this?" She gestures to the scene, the stallion looking at the ball in awe.

"Like this, I think?" She stares at the ball with a small frown as it starts bouncing off heads like a beach ball. "Mom and Hydro usually have to deal with it..."

"And do you know if you experienced such magical occurrences when you were young or if other members of your family have?" A quill floats over as if summoned, ready to take notes.

She blinks, baffled. "I... think you'd have to ask my mom about that?" She awkwardly scratches her cheek. "I don't exactly remember my infancy..."

"Do you think you could help me set up an appointment with her?" She asks excitedly.

"You could... always go to the dam to ask her, you know." She takes a step back, heading towards the pot. "Think we could get back to these, since we... uh..." Thunder sounds outside, causing both Gel to jump and Ruby to cling to her father, the light popping like a bubble.

"Oh dear..." twilight looks around as Rhino soothes the filly. "I guess they're getting an early start."

"Y-yea..." She shivers, sheepishly letting go of the librarian. "...sorry about that..."

"It's alright, I get spooked too. I'm just distracted." She motions to the folder. "But you said you wanted to tell me something about the pot before we catch up?"

"More of a question." She holds the pot up for her. "Can you trace magic signatures with that radar system of yours?"

"Well, if I had a sample and a reason, yes." She nods, setting down the folder and looking curious.

Gel looks to her husband, nodding towards Twilight meaningfully.

He looks at her seriously, still holding the foal. "Well, these gems were planted in our house unbeknownst to us. Someone broke in and did it."

She gasps. "Oh no! Did you go to the guard?"

Gel blinks, considering her words a moment. "...honestly, I'd rather not let whoever did this get the chance to know we were looking into it..."

Twilight nods, looking thoughtful "I see... Well, just because a pony's signature is on it, doesn't mean they're the ones that broke into your house, but maybe we can follow the trail from there."

"Maybe." She sighs, shrugging a bit and moving to lean against her husband. "I just really want a lead..."

"Are you planning on going after them yourself?" Twilight asks, looking worried now.

"...I will neither confirm nor deny what you're asking." She gives her a toothy smile.

"I don't want you guys getting in trouble. You're my friends." She gives the nymph a hug.

The navy changeling slumps a bit. "Sorry, I just... I worry that we were being spied on... especially after what happened to mom's new body..."

"What, what happened there?" The lavender mare asks, now looking worried.

She opens her mouth, frowns, and looks to her husband, baffled. "...what did happen? I only got bits and pieces after we got all those gems..."

He looks grim. "Destroyed and defaced. They even stole most of it."

She grimaces at his words. "...and it was almost done, too..."

Ears folding at this, Twilight bites her lip, looking deep in thought. "Well, hmm... maybe I can help."

The nymph blinks, looking at Twilight in confusion and missing how her daughter is trying to hide in her father's mane once more. "You can? I mean, sure, but... you seem to mean it in a different way?"

As soft whispers come from the stallion, Twilight thinks. "Maybe... I mean, maybe I have authority now, so if I use my system to narrow down suspects, and we have my word, which they can't just ignore, we can positively identify ponies who have broken the law and into your house!"

The nymph is stunned by this for a moment. Then she slowly raises a hoof. "We should make sure they aren't innocents, of course... but how do we tell them ap-"

She's cut off by a loud, if dull, clicking sound, and they turn to see Ruby biting Rhino's horn.

The stallion looks both confused and amused. "Hey now, what's all this? You were playing up there earlier, too." He reaches up a hoof to the filly.

She bats at his hoof, huffing quietly.

Baffled, Gel turns her attention to the area around her, and almost immediately tenses up. Love, I don't think we're alone, in here.

Huh? He looks around slowly so as to not dislodge the filly. Did Spike and Applejack come in?

Not unless they're really hostile, for some reason. She nuzzles his neck, carefully pinpointing where it's coming from. ...second bookshelf to your right, right behind it.

Twilight looks between the two, brow furrowed. "Is something going on?"

"Lets see." Rhino lights up his horn, removing books from the shelf in question so they can see through it.

A black blur dashes out of the store, knocking over a shelf on the way.

"...what would you classify that as, love?"

"Hey!" Twilight yells, her own magic lighting up to catch the shelf and right it. Once it's fixed, she sighs. "What even was that?"

"That... might've been PALS..." Gel scowls quietly. "...which means we'll have to move fast to make sure we catch whoever did this."

"Oh... I was hoping to be able to do this with time so I could make sure I did it right." Twilight bites her lip.

She grits her teeth and rushes out the door, herself. "Be right back!"

Both ponies hold out hooves to stop er, only to realize it's too late. Twilight curls inward, while Rhino stands, looking torn.

Another strike of lightning lights up the room, and the filly lets out a little whimper.

"...mommy?"

Rhino looks up to the filly, heart aching. He takes a deep breath before straightening his stance. His magic fishes out a necklace from his bag, one he tries to always bring with him. Slipping it onto his neck, he waits for the familiar mental pull.

To his surprise, she hasn't gone far, having stopped somewhere in the direction of town hall.

"Hang on Ruby!" He makes sure the goal is secure with a bit a bit of magic to put her in the shelter of his bags, her head still poking out. That done, he gallops off in the direction of his wife.

A few seconds after they left, Spike pokes his head out of the side room, confused. "...did I miss something?"

Twilight sighs and raises her hooves in the air. "You missed everything!"

"Oh." He's silent for a moment before glancing back into the room. "...can Applejack stay the night?"

"If she wants to, of course. You have the guest bed made, right?"

"I'll go get it ready!" He nods and rushes upstairs, leaving the door open to reveal the flushed face of Applejack.

Twilight smiles at her friend. "I'm glad you and Spike are hanging out. It's always good to have more friends."

The farmpony rubs her head. "Yeah, umm... yer not gonna break out that slumber party book, are ya?"

Spike hurries down the stairs and gently takes her hoof. "No need to worry!" He pulls her along, chuckling quietly. "A couple fillies checked it out earlier today. Despite it being her own personal copy, oddly enough."

"Was that yer doing?" She asks him, smiling slyly.

"No comment." He chuckles, then looks over at her. "...can I sleep with you? I wanna know how a real bed feels."

She blushes, pulling her hat down. "Wow, you gotta watch yer phrasing there, Spike. But, uh, yeah, sure."

He frowns, looking at her in confusion. "What's wrong with how I said that? I want to sleep with you in the spare bed."

She lets out a small laugh at that. "There you go again. Come on, you little varmint." She quickens her pace, walking ahead of him as she laughs more.

"Hey, wait, what's so funny? Applejack!" He hurries after her, leaving Twilight all by herself once more with the enchanted gems and a bouquet.

"Friends, project, snacks... yep, it's a good day for me." The princess giggles, munching on another flower as she pulls the gems over.

Chapter 32: New additions

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It's a common saying that when the parents are away, the foals will play, however, it's never said that the opposite can be equally true. Such is the case at times in the nexus household.

For example, the couple currently lounging on the sofa in the living room. White stone legs idly kick at the air as a red hoof slowly moves in the space between them, eliciting a sigh of bliss.

Hydro chuckles as he continues. "You really like your stomach rubbed, huh?"

Dior smiles at him softly, caressing his cheek with her tail. "Only by you."

"Well, it's not like I don't get something out of it too." He nuzzles her tail, his muzzle getting a good whiff of her.

"You mean the good look under my tail since you started?" She pulls his head against her belly with her tail, chuckling quietly.

"That's one perk." He replies, muffled against her belly as he slowly nuzzles it. "There's a couple more I can feel, and a few mental ones as well."

"Pervert." She chuckles, rubbing his head with a hoof. "My pervert, though."

They hear a loud cry come from upstairs, which causes the small nymph to cling to his muzzle briefly.

She huffs, nuzzling his head. "...wish Selena would stop that..."

He plants a few kisses on her pale stomach. "Why does she do that, anyway?

"I don't know..." She hums softly, her tail lazily swaying behind her. "...could be false starts... she is due any day now..." Her ear twitches at another yowl. "...we should go check on her."

"We should, but I'm surprised you want to move." He moves his head up to nuzzle hers.

"I don't. But we can't take the chance, you know?" She hugs his neck, hanging on like a pendant. "Let's go."

Chuckling, he stands, trusting her to hang on as he heads towards the noises. "You're probably the prettiest piece of jewelry I've worn."

"You say that to everyone who hugs you?" She sticks out her tongue teasingly.

"Only you." He echoes her earlier statement.

She smiles and pulls him into a gentle kiss as they stop outside the door.

He returns it, adding a small hug to it before ending it. "We should get in there."

"Yea." She nods and lets go of him, turning and opening the door.

Inside, they see the nest area the pets have made for themselves, having taken over a bit of the room over time. Piles of blankets, select pillows, and toys make up the structure. It appears to be a small den-like hollow with a nest in the center.

They see Selena laying on her side in said nest area, paws wrapped around a certain squirrel as her breathing grows rapid and shallow.

Specter chitters softly to the cat, nuzzling her while the pony and changeling come in.

Dior stares quietly for a moment, ears twitching quietly. "...should we call for Rhino?"

Hydro mulls this over. "He is a vet, so it would definitely help. Shouldn't they be coming back though? How would we contact them before that?"

She promptly deflates at this. "I was hoping you'd know..."

"Not really, the reason I can usually contact Rhino is because he doesn't go that many places." He looks at the pets. "We probably just have to wait for them to come back."

"...should we stay here until then?" She carefully reaches down and pets the two.

He nods. "I think it'd be better than leaving them alone."

Dior nods and moves onto the bed, watching the pets as Selena starts to weakly groom the black squirrel.

He curls against her in response, licking her cheek soothingly and making no moves to leave her.

"At least pet birth doesn't usually need help, just clean up." Hydro offers.

Somehow, Dior's marble manages to turn a slight green. "...good to know..."

He pats her head. "It's not that bad, we just need a towel if it happens, if I'm remembering what Rhino's said right."

"Still a little gross..." She shakes herself, hugging him tight and missing the indignant huff Selena gives.

Hydro chuckles, nuzzling her. "Is this the weakness of my changeling general? Gross things?"

"Only if it involves afterbirth." She gags and shakes her head, visibly trembling.

He shivers as well now, imagining it. "Okay yeah, that is gross."

Specter chitters at the two of them briefly before going back to attending Selena.

There's an awkward silence in the air as Selena lays there, continuing to embrace him, and Dior rocks on the bed.

"...how do we know she's about to give birth, anyways?"

Hydro blinks. "Do you not know? I've just been guessing."

She awkwardly scratches her cheek. "I'll be honest, I tend to not pay much attention to anything but what leads up to it, in regards to pregnancy."

"And... yet you had a daughter?" He asks, giving her a look.

"...I might've passed out when it came time..."

"Oh... well, hopefully you stay awake for the next one." He gives her a light squeeze.

She blushes softly, turning to him with a spark of hope in her eyes. "...the next one?"

"...you know what, yes. I meant both of those version of what I said." He smiles at her.

She grins, jumping on him and kissing him deeply.

As the two start to roll on the bed, Selena groans. 'I can't believe they're doing that on mom's bed... while we're in the room...'

'At least they stopped saying you're gross.' Specter replies, licking her cheek.

'I guess.' She peeks an eye open to look at them. '...how is that supposed to work, anyways? Isn't she too small?'

'I would think so...' He shrugs. 'I don't really know how they would do it considering Mom goes on about Dad being big and he's not that much larger than her.'

'True...' She trails off and they both look at the scene before them for a moment. '...yea, he's too big.'

'They'll figure it out eventually. It'll probably be funny.' He laughs in his chittering way.

'I guess.' She smiles and hugs him tight once more, nuzzling him as affectionately as her current condition allows.

As he snuggles her, he asks. 'Are you feeling any better?'

'Still cramping a bit.' She snickers as Dior falls off the bed. 'These two are a good distraction, though.'

'Yeah...' His tail rubs over her belly. 'I'm excited for when it's really time.'

'So am I.' She quietly huffs. 'I wish I knew when it would happen, though... the suspense is almost hurting me...'

He looks worried at that, checking all over her. 'Where? Can I help?'

'I don't know. I can't tell if it was just an expression or not...' She meows pitifully, hugging his tail and nuzzling it for comfort.

He plants licks all over her as noises increase from the other couple in the room. 'Do you need anything?'

'...can you get me my bowl?' She visibly blushes at her own words. 'I forgot to eat...'

He salutes, nuzzling her after. 'I'll be right back.' With that said, he bounces over to the corner of the room and comes back with her full bowl. 'See? Back already.'

She smiles gratefully, giving him one last lick before digging in.

Taking up the position he has had for about the last week, the squirrel sits by her side, scanning the rest of the room protectively.

A few minutes, and a few failed attempts by the other couple, later, he feels her grip tighten and a bite on his tail.

'Hmm?' He looks back at her questioningly.

He promptly notices a patch of dampness on the pillow that makes her nest.

As he notices her stomach clenching, the squirrel swallows. 'Uh oh.'

As things inside escalate, three forms arrive eventually arrive outside the Nexus household.

"So... you're not going to hide this from them, right?" Mane asks the fox on her back.

"Why would I?" He huffs quietly, moving to nuzzle behind her ear. "They'd find out as soon as I opened my mouth, wouldn't they?"

"Can you just talk to animals anymore? Manila sks from behind.

He thinks for a moment before opening his mouth. "Bark?"

The younger sister almost immediately has to hold back giggles. "Nope, that's not going to work!"

He promptly snickers, sticking out his tongue and licking her nose.

Mane laughs lightly at the two of them. "Well, let's just make sure we get inside before things go crazy from this." With that said, she knocks on the door.

A frazzled nymph opens it up soon after, and her eyes widen as she sees who it is. She immediately grabs both the earth ponies by the foreleg and rushes up the stairs with them in tow and her words flowing out like a faucet. "Thank goodness you're here I was scared I'd have to do this!"

"Do what?!" Manila asks as she tries not to trip.

"Help with the delivery!"

"Oh." Mane's single word is all else that is said until they get into the room.

Dior slams the door open and shoves them in, startling Selena into giving an upset yowl.

Specter immediately starts soothing her, giving the rest of them a glare.

Mane walks in calmly, looking over both. "And the protective dad is here, too. That will help her." Turning to the nymph, she bark out. "Get me a warm wet towel and some twine, please."

She swiftly salutes and rushes off, leaving everyone else alone for the moment.

"...is it too late to ask if I can be the godfather?" Mercury gives the two smaller animals a winning grin.

As Specter responds with exasperation, Hydro looks tot he vet. "Did that fox just talk?"

"We can deal with that after." She answers, waving him off. "You're on Dior duty. She seems panicky."

"She always gets like this during a birth." Manila whispers to Mercury.

"Yea, I figured." He shrugs, curling up on her back and smiling at Hydro. "Hi, grandpa."

Even though he raises a hoof and waves, Hydro mutters. "I have so many questions."

'Stop antagonizing our granddad.' Selena mews, clearly having difficulty breathing.

Hearing the cat, Mane walks over, smiling at her. "Easy there." She gently rubs her back with a hoof, but not for too long. "Just let it happen. Nature knows how to get them out."

'But it hurts...' She whimpers quietly, burying her face in the fluff of Specter's tail.

As he hugs her, the vet checks under her tail. "Looks like it should be pretty soon."

Dior, now in the doorway, starts turning green once more. "...please keep how you know that to yourself..."

Selena quietly huffs. 'Pussy.'

Mane gets the items from her while Manila guides the nymph to the bed. The younger sisters, whispers to her and Hydro. "You might not want to look, it gets kind of gross."

Dior promptly collapses against the red stallion. It's all Mercury can do not to make a comment.

It doesn't stop him from snickering, though.

Hydro picks up the nymph. "Well, so much for being awake."

"Maybe she'll stay awake next time." The fox smirks at him, then yelps as a strand of stone mane smacks his nose.

"Or maybe she's just closing her eyes." Hydro continues with a chuckle.

"...Hydro. I want you to be honest." She grips his barrel tight. "Who did I just smack?"

"Mercury, who, for some reason, can now talk." He answers bluntly.

"...I have so many questions."

"You and me both." He nods as Mane straightens up.

"Here we go. Squeeze, Selena!"

Dior groans, hugging Hydro hard enough to take his breath away. "Tell me when they're done..."

To her senses, the following minutes are a mess of yowling, grunting, squishing, and various other unpleasant sounds all while a squirrel and vet try to help.

Finally, mane makes the awaited announcement. "And... there, all done."

Dior whimpers, slowly relaxing her hold on the stallion. "...I'm still scared to look..."

"They're pretty cute, you might want to look." He replies, stroking her mane.

"I'll go put the towel in the laundry." Manila says, hopping off the bed and out of the room.

She bites her lip and peeks open one pure silver orb.

Attached to the cat's teats are two... creatures, one grey, one white. Each have a combination of features from their parents: the lithe body of a squirrel, cat paws, cat ears, and initially bushy tails that come to points so that it almost looks like their torsos are longer than they are.

The nymph blinks, looking at them in confusion. "...so... the first of a kind, I guess?" She turns to look at Hydro as Selena licks her kittens. "What are they called?"

He shrugs. "I have no idea. How do you name a species? Maybe they're Squits, or... Cirrels..."

"...Ferrels?" Mercury wilts under their stares. "What? Felines and squirrels. Makes sense to me..."

Manila pats his back. "Maybe... Squilines, or... Cirelts?"

"...you know what, kittens is fine." Dior shakes her head and looks to the two newborns. "So... they're healthy, right?"

Mane nods. "They're perfectly healthy, though the male one worried me for a second when I was checking his eyes. They're all good, though, so is momma."

"Wait, what?" She looks at her in confusion, missing the licks that the fox is giving the doctor's cheeks. "Why were you worried?"

"There's a certain combination of colors that usually is a sign of blindness in kitten, but he can see fine. His eyes are a different shade." She nuzzles the fox, giggling.

Her gaze drifts to the kittens as the one in question yawns, bumping his sister as he squirms around. "...I'll be honest, it's the first I've heard about that sort of thing."

"It's rare, so it's not something we advertise." She smiles as the female kitten rears up and slumps over her brother as she goes back to nursing. "Daww..."

Mercury immediately moves in front of her, whining softly as his ears fold back against his head.

She scoops him up, nuzzling him. "Now now, don't be jealous. They're new babies and everypony is going to fawn over them. It doesn't mean we love you less."

His ears perk up and his tails wag at this, his full attention on her. "You love me? Really?"

Dior snickers quietly before her eyes are drawn to the motion. "...what?"

As Mane hugs the fox, her sister pokes the nymph. "Yeah... that was the reason we came over here. Are Rhino and Gel around? They need to know, too."

"They... went off to visit Twilight..." Her eyes narrow slightly. "...I swear I almost..."

Hydro picks her up and gives her a squeeze. "Almost didn't pass out?"

She blushes softly, kicking her legs in the air. "...I'm never living that down, am I?"

Manilla titters as Hydro responds. "I won't tease too much, but you'll have another shot eventually."

"I sure hope so..." The little changeling sighs, leaning against him as she nuzzles his neck.

As the others calm down as well, Specter is busy snuggling his kittens between himself and Selena. 'How are you feeling?'

'Somewhat pained. But better.' She smiles softly at him. '...when do you think we can roll around and chase each other again? And can the kittens join us?'

'Well, they're out of your stomach, so as soon as you feel up to it, I think we can. I'd love for them to join. They seem to know some of the rules already.' He licks her cheek and looks towards the two babies in their pile.

He's just in time for the grey one to land on his muzzle. The other climbs on top of both of them, mewing softly.

Chittering softly, he nuzzles them. 'Hey, I think they like me.'

'Or they like to roughhouse.' Her paw rubs along his side. 'He pushed her onto you.'

'Oh, well, as long as it's not too rough.' He leans against the cat, his paw coming up to stroke the babies.

The white kitten promptly falls onto his back, pinned there between his parents.

Not quite about to help, Selena nuzzles his side as she speaks to Specter. 'Do you have names picked out? Or is that for mom to figure out?'

'Hmm... I really didn't think of names.' He admits, keeping an eye on the grey girl.

'Then I guess mom and dad are naming them.' The new mother shrugs and licks the top of his head, smiling at the squeaky mew this gets from their daughter.

She actually reaches out a tiny paw, touching the cat's muzzle and mewing once more.

Selena smiles softly, nuzzling the paw. 'Somehow I knew they'd be adorable...' She smirks at Specter. 'They must've gotten it from their father.'

"Get a room, you two." Mercury sticks out his tongue, then turns back to nuzzling Mane's mane.

'This is our room! Well, we share it.' He stick his tongue out a the fox. 'Besides, you're getting cozy, too.'

"...this is different."

Selena stares skeptically at him. 'How so?'

"Because be quiet." He huffs, resting his head on the good doctor's back.

"So, this is one side of an animal conversation..." Mane looks interested as she looks between all the pets.

She promptly gets a long lick up the face when she faces Mercury.

As Mane wipes her face and pets the fox, Manila pipes up. "Well... I guess Rhino and Gel will have plenty of surprises when they get home."

"Yep." The fox swiftly turns and licks Manila in exactly the same way, using his tails to make sure she can't get away.

"You know she's married right?"

He gives the stone changeling a confused glance. "What's that got to do with anything?"

"Umm..." Manila holds up a hoof. "Not quite married yet, close though."

"See? It's fine to do this!" Mercury licks her again before curling up against Mane's side, content.

"Well... I guess now we keep an eye on the newborns and wait." Mane says simply, shrugging.

There's silence for a few moments, everyone either sitting around awkwardly or cuddling up with others. Mostly the latter.

Then Dior speaks up. "Anyone wanna play some board games?"

Unaware of the excitement at home, the couple heading there instead reflects on the events of their own trip.

Rhino looks to his wife. "So, is Ruby's cheer up treatment working?"

The blue nymph is quiet, rubbing the filly's head soothingly as they walk. "...working for her, or for me?"

"Both." He answers honestly, leaning over and nuzzling her cheek.

She sighs a bit, shaking her head. "I don't know... what's worse is that I couldn't even get a good read on them, much less a good look."

He hums. "Was it because of how fast they were moving or was there something blocking you?"

"I really don't know." She huffs, leaning against him. "I can't think of anything short of water that would stop our empathetic sense... and I don't think their cloak could hold a body of water safely."

Ruby, within reach of both of them, places her hooves on their cheeks and tries to tug them closer.

Rhino smiles, leaning close and kissing the foal in her sling. "You have an idea, Ruby?"

She giggles brightly and tries to do the same, only barely reaching his chin.

Gel looks up at the sky, frowning a bit. "Maybe mom knows something about this..."

"Maybe. Did you see any sing of magic or a horn on them when they disappeared in front of you?" He peeks up at her.

The nymph simply shakes her head.

"Anything notable about the cloak?"

"It was black. Nothing else really noticeable from the back." She shrugs helplessly.

"It's alright, you did what you could, and only scared me a little." He kisses her cheek.

"...wish I'd thrown some fire at them..." Despite how she tries to be quiet, he clearly hears her muttering.

Lifting his head up a bit, he nuzzles her neck now, his voice soft. "I'm sure that would have felt nice and given us an identifier, but it might have come back to bite us."

"I fail to see how." She quietly huffs, looking down at their now-confused daughter.

"They could... press charges for assault or something. That could get messy." He smiles down at the pink foal despite the serious topic.

"...I guess I wouldn't be able to claim self-defense..." She snickers when Ruby latches onto a bit of Rhino's mane and starts chewing. "...and apparently, you taste delicious."

He chuckles. "She's been gnawing on me a lot today, mostly my horn."

The filly smiles around the lock between her teeth, reaching up and booping his nose with a small pink hoof.

He crosses his eyes and sticks out his tongue in response.

Ruby lets out a laugh at this, clear and bright, and taps his nose again to see if he'll do it again.

He does so, laughing with her as they get nearer to home.

Gel smiles and nuzzles his cheek, pausing at the front steps for just a moment so she can open the door.

As they head in, the stallion looks around. "Huh... it's quieter than usual. I guess not much happened."

The nymph glances up the stairs, tilting her head to one side. "There's a lot of excitement upstairs... should we check it out?"

"Excitement? Well, I think we have to." He smiles at her. "I wonder if Hydro and Dior are involved..."

"No, there isn't any lust in it." She sighs, muttering under her breath, "Thank goodness..."

"Well, shall we?" He offers her his tail.

She smiles and, instead of taking his tail, she climbs up onto his back, putting Ruby safely on his head so she can nibble on his horn some more. "Let's go, love."

He bursts out in a chuckle, heading up the stairs. "Right away, my queen and princess."

"Thank you." She gently pecks his cheek, hugging him tight as they ascend. "Do you think Selena is doing alright?"

He hums in thought. "Well, she's not going to be having fun until they come out, but I think it'll be worth it. I'll give her another look before bed. Maybe I can see how much longer she has."

"I hope it's soon." She shakes her head. "She looks so sad she can't chase Specter around..."

"She'll be back at it soon after she gives birth." He reminds her. "Give it a few days and she'll be back how she was, she'll just have a bit less energy before then."

Ruby takes this moment to tap his forehead. "Daddy?"

"Yes, Ruby?" He asks up to her.

"Me'cwy?" She points at some shed fur on the steps.

"Hmm..." He lights up his horn, picking up the fur. "Yeah, this does look like his. I guess he's back from his little wander."

"Something must've startled him for that much to have come off at once." Gel frowns, then pats his side with a hoof. "Let's hurry."

Nodding he steps quicker, ears flicking as he gets upstairs. "Which way?"

"Our room." She points in the direction, Ruby trying to do the same but instead hugging his head tighter.

He nods gently, mindful of what's on his head as he heads for the room and opens the door.

Every eye turns to them, though Specter is soon piled on by the kittens since he got distracted.

"Welcome home!" Manilla says with a cheery wave.

"I... see we missed a lot." Rhino says, stunned.

Mercury nods, turning to nuzzle Mane once more, his tails tickling her sister's face.

Dior chuckles, gently tugging on Hydro's mane. "You have no idea..."

The red stallion, looks to the nymph questioningly before looking at the newly arrived couple. "Where should we start?"

"How about why there's a wet spot underneath you two?" Gel points at said spot that is only partially hidden by the stallion's body.

As other eyes turn to them, Hydro clears his throat. "We may have lain down for a bit while we were watching the pets and drooled."

The navy nymph narrows her eyes suspiciously at them, then sighs. "...clean up your drool, please."

"Right umm... we should change the blanket." He directs that statement at Dior.

"Right." She nods, but makes no move to get off his back.

He grunts as he gets up, everyone else just watching as he takes the blanket off the bed and leaves the room, commenting quietly to the nymph on his back. "You know most of this is you?"

She stays quiet, but her ashamed blush says everything for her.

Rhino clears his throat. "Okay, next mystery?"

Manilla raises her hooves in the air. "Babies!"

Selena mews softly, drawing their attention and getting the filly to reach out towards them.

"Daww..." Rhino walks over and crouches down, leaning the filly towards the family. "Remember to be gentle, Ruby. They're babies."

She rolls off his head and onto the pillows, crawling across the soft surfaces so she can look at the cute creatures. Babbling happily, the pink pony hugs Specter, dislodging the kittens with tiny mews of protest.

The squirrel makes sure they land on his tail, sighing in relief.

"They're a perfectly healthy set of twins." Mane comments to them all.

"Good, I was a little worried." Rhino admits while the grey girl crawls over to Ruby and sniffs her.

She stops nuzzling the squirrel to look at the smaller creature, wings popping out so she can pet her without letting the former go.

The newborn squeaks, getting rolled onto her back and pawing at the feathered appendages.

Ruby giggles brightly, doing her best to tickle the newborn with her plumage.

Mercury smiles softly at the scene. "So cute..."

"Yea..." Gel grins, though it soon falters as she glances around, confused. "...who said that?"

"Another surprise!" Manilla says from her position on her back. "We're getting them all out!"

The blue changeling glances from the fox to the other nurse and back, baffled. "...did you learn ventriloquism?"

Manilla shakes her head, playing with Mercury's tails. "Nope."

Rhino seems not to have noticed, keeping an eye on the babies.

The fox frowns, looking at Mane with a sullen expression. "...dad's not paying attention to me..."

"I told you they would be distracting." She gives him a nuzzle before nudging him towards the stallion. "Go talk to him."

He gives her muzzle one last lick before he darts forward, landing on Gel's back and tickling both their noses with one of his tails.

Rhino tries to avoid the tail as he laughs, following it back to the source and blinking when he sees there's another. "What... is this because of a spell?"

Mercury blinks, thinking a bit before shrugging. "I honestly don't know."

The stallion tilts his head. "I don't really feel spell saturation on you... do you feel okay? It's a bit odd expecting a direct answer to questions now instead of actions."

He gets a tongue sticking out at him in response.

"I'm going to take that as a 'yes'," Gel mutters, snuggling a bit more against her husband's body. She glances down and immediately tenses. "...where did they go?"

Rhino instantly snaps his head back down to where the babies were, seeing only Selena and the white kitten now. "What the... did they?" He check the door, sighing in relief when he sees it's still closed.

The fox rolls his eyes and pokes his cheek. "Look underneath you, dad."

"Dad?" Looking a bit surprised at that address, he nonetheless checks under himself. He immediately notices a blanket with a moving lump. Chuckling, he leans down and touches the lump with his muzzle. It squeaks and scurries along faster, giggling all the while.

Smiling proudly, he looks around before spotting the edge of a blanket. Setting his head down before it, he lifts it up ever so slightly.

Now, normally this would've been timed perfectly to see what was under the lump, but this wasn't what happened. Not because of bad timing, but because he couldn't see the cause of the lump.

Blinking, he double checks where the lump is and confirms he should be able to see it. "... I really hope this isn't a sign of tiny ghosts."

He suddenly feels tiny legs wrap around one of his hooves. "Daddy hugs."

As a quiet mew also sounds out, Rhino hums. His horn lights up, feeling a little cocoon of foal magic. "Well now, you're just all over with magic today, huh Ruby?" Still, he leans down and kisses approximately where she is.

She giggles, giving invisible kisses in return.

"You two want in on this?" He asks up at Gel and Mercury.

"The hug or the kiss?" Mercury snickers at his own words as the nymph rolls her eyes.

"Kiss?"

Everyone tenses a little bit as the words come from Rhino's hidden passenger.

"Well…" He sighs. "She was going to learn that work eventually." He adds in a whisper to the foal. "Go for hugs more, kisses are special."

There's silence for a moment, then she responds, "Daddy kiss?"

The fox leaps on the bed with the others, wanting to see what appears to be a pantomime act.

"Of course." He pecks her head once more, narrowly avoid a horn up the nose.

She giggles, kissing him back once more. There's silence where Mercury licks Mane's face once more, and Ruby opts to comment on this. "Me'cwy kiss Mae?"

Mane blushes while her sister chimes in. "Yep! He gives those to her all the time!"

The filly and kitten finally reappear, looking up at her father for confirmation.

He shrugs. "It does seem like a form of kiss to me."

"...is it such a bad thing if it is?" The fox huffs, curling up against Mane's side. "She's nice. I like her."

"We all see that." Manilla teases with a smirk while her sister pets him. He quietly huffs, leaning into the mare's touch.

Mane speaks up. "It's actually because of Mercury we're here. With his new tail and voice, I thought it might be best for him to be observed overnight to make sure nothing else happens."

"What else could happen?" The fox smirks. "I get super strength? Breathe ice? Shoot lasers out of my eyes?"

She laughs lightly, rubbing his head. "I think you can do plenty with super powers."

"Only if I get the right one." He sticks his tongue out at her. "What if I had the power to eat anything? Not much I can do with that."

"Meh, you'd just be part dragon." She shrugs and blows a raspberry at him.

"Eh, I'd rather not take that from Spike." He smiles warmly, then curls up tightly against her side.

"So, anyway... can we crash on your couch?" Manilla asks.

"...won't your fiancé be concerned?" Gel frowns softly, hugging her own stallion a little tighter.

She shakes her head. "He expected me to sleep over at Mane's today, so this isn't much of a change of plans."

"If you're sure..." She nuzzles Rhino. "Shall we show her to the couch?"

"...I'm seriously tempted to say no." He answers with a straight face, gently petting the kittens. "I'm hypnotized by cute things."

Mercury gives him a skeptical stare. "...why can't you take them with you?"

"Because they need to bond with their parents and they'll probably want to nurse again." He answers with a soft smile. "They'll probably fall asleep after that. It's what babies do."

"...the ashy one is sucking on your leg's fur."

"Daww..." He gently picks the kitten up, getting a gentle nibble before he sets her down against her mother. "There you go." She mews at him, squirming on the blanket.

Ruby stumbles over, flopping down beside the light gray kitten with a smile. "Ash!" She giggles, nosing at her belly playfully.

Mercury can only look at the scene with a blank expression. "...did she just name her after a description?"

"Well, it is appropriate." Rhino says simply while the kitten latches onto her muzzle with her paw pads. "And they did need names."

"Then what are you going to name him?" He points at the little nest area. "Snow?"

"...snow idea where he is." Gel grimaces, looking around the room for the missing pet.

That's when something latches onto Manila's tail. She gives a squeak of surprise, turning to look at her tail to see what is it. She sees the white kitten, claws extended into the hairs and eyes wide in fear at suddenly being lifted.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" She quickly and softly sets his down on the bed. "You spooked me, little guy."

"Both of them seem to be little explorers." Mane observes.

The little guy looks between the two of them, quietly chittering and gripping the tail tighter.

Specter bounds up onto the bed, chittering back to his son to as he comes to the rescue.

The squirrel is promptly hugged, and the kitten gives Manila an unsure look.

"Aww... come on, don't be mad at me..." The younger sister rolls onto her belly and gives the kitten a pleading look. "I'm really nice!"

A white paw promptly bops her on the nose.

Mercury blinks. "...I'm sure that was an entirely friendly gesture."

Specter nuzzles his kitten as Manilla pouts.

"...kiss him on the head." Gel shrugs, looking to Ruby and Ash curled up together. "You might make a new friend."

"Well... I guess he is clean now." Crawling forward, she leans down and gently plants a kiss on his head.

He surprisingly doesn't do anything in return, just stare at her with wide eyes. Then he turns and dives beneath his father, peeking back out at her afterwards.

"Daww... he's shy." Mane says, smiling.

Specter leans down and nuzzles the kitten as Manila sighs. "Well, I guess that works for now. I hope that couch of yours is comfortable, because it's been an exciting evening."

"He says it's magical." Gel sticks her tongue out at Rhino before sliding off, picking up Manila, and walking out the door.

Mane smiles at this. "Well, I'd better join them. Thank you for giving us shelter for the night."

"Not a problem." Rhino smiles back at her. "Thank you for being here during the birth."

Mercury starts whispering into the mare's ear, moving onto her back.

Nodding, she looks to the stallion while Specter brings Snow back to the nest. "Could we use the couch in your basement?"

Rhino pauses to think about this. "Okay, but don't go touching any of my lab things just in case, okay?"

"Of course."

Mercury raises a paw. "Does that include the thermostat?"

"That's fine... though I never knew you knew how to use it." The stallion looks thoughtfully at the fox.

"I don't." He pats Mane on the head. "I was going to ask her to change it, if needed. How about the gems?"

"Those are what I'm worried about, so please don't," he quickly responds.

"...the squiggly line books?"

Rhino sighs a little, nuzzling Ruby and the kittens. "Just... limit yourself to the couch and couch accessories."

"I'll keep an eye on him." Mane winks. The fox just pouts quietly.

Spotting this, Rhino stands up and pets the fox. "Hey, I just don't want you hurting yourself, okay?"

"It's not like I can use magic..." He huffs, though he does smile a bit when Ruby copies her father.

"I think there's still a few of their toys down there if that helps." Rhino nuzzles him, Mane doing the same from the other side.

"...I guess." He shrugs, then flinches as a white paw bats both his and Mane's noses.

"Looks like he's meeting his uncle." Mane giggles.

He looks at her, an eyebrow raised and a smirk on his lips. "Would that make you his aunt?" He licks her muzzle before jumping off the bed and out the door.

She snorts with a smile. "Cheeky little..." With a nod to Rhino she heads after him, leaving the stallion with the other pets and Ruby.

Looking at the kittens, one with his father and the other with her mother, Rhino smiles. "Well, I guess that was a good way to show you some of the things that happen here. Welcome to the family."

There's silence for a moment. Then he gets bopped by a paw, too.

Chapter 33: Foalish Fun

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Watching over foals is easy - at least, that's what everyone says. When said foal can make solid light and run about like nopony's business, then it becomes quite a bit more trouble.

Dior can't help but ponder this as she rushes after the filly who hurried over to the door as it was knocked on. "Slow down, Ruby! I'm not as fast as Hydro!"

She stops at the door and scratches at it, blowing a raspberry in frustration.

Strangely enough, there's a light tapping from the other side, as if in response.

Picking up the filly around the barrel, the nymph sighs and opens up the door. "If you're selling something, I don't live here."

"I have an appointment." The grey mare at the door says with a kindly smile.

She blinks, looking over her shoulder for a clock. "Is it that time already?"

"Well, I think we're a couple minutes early. We can wait out here if you want." The purple-grey foal in the sling on her front babbles and waves a hoof.

Ruby beams and waves back, sparks coming off her as she tries to get free.

"...yea, I don't think that'd sit well with her." She steps off to the side and smiles wryly at them. "Come on in."

Ditzy smiles over her shoulder to her husband before walking in, looking around. "So, are you foalsitting today, or is this a day you set aside to hang out with her?"

"A little of both." She turns and stares at the stallion, then back to her. "Who's the guy with all the love?"

"Oh, right, you two haven't met." She points a hoof between them. "Dior, this is my husband and Dinky's father: Time Turner."

He smiles and holds a hoof out to the changeling. "Charmed."

She narrows her eyes at him. "...same. Forgive me if I don't shake hooves, though. I don't want to accidentally squish my granddaughter."

He blinks, surprised. "...how old is your daughter?" He scratches at his cheek. "How old are you?"

The mailmare leans close to him. "A magical accident made her look way younger than she is. They're working to fix it."

"Oh." He looks rightfully abashed. "Sorry about that." He gets bopped on the nose with a newspaper. "Ghh! What was that for?"

"It doesn't matter." She smiles slyly at him. "It's in the past."

He stares at her blankly as she walks back into the living room, then turns to look at his wife. "...somehow, I find it hard to believe she found someone."

"There's someone for everypony." She smiles. "She apparently found two." As Dinky looks up at her, she pecks the little unicorn's forehead." And I found mine."

He chuckles, kissing her head in return and leading them into the house. "So, it's been a while since you've seen her, huh?"

She nods. "I see her occasionally when Gel and I talk, but she has her own life."

"Well of course she does, it's not like you're living each other's-" He cuts himself off as he sees the other stallion on the couch. "...are we interrupting something?"

Dior gives him a flat stare. "Yea, we were gonna make love with Ruby in the room."

"There was snuggling, though." Hydro corrects.

Giggling, Ditzy unfastens her daughter's harness, setting her on the floor. "There you go."

The foal immediately goes over to Dior, smiling at her and Ruby.

Playfully rolling her eyes, the nymph sets the pink pony down. She barely suppresses a giggle when the filly tackles her friend in a hug, now actually the right size to do so properly.

Both fillies roll a few times, laughing as they play on the soft blanket the family has set out. A few toys are scattered about, but they manage to avoid them.

They land with Ruby on bottom, her eyes spinning for a moment.

Dinky touches the other filly's nose with a hoof. "Ruby," she says simply.

Dior blinks, looking at the gray mare beside her. "Was that her first word?"

The pink pony's muzzle scrunches up a little bit. "...D... Dee'ky?"

She shakes her head. "No, but it is one of the ones she's picked up. She gets excited when I ask her if she wants to see her friend."

Meanwhile, the filly is nodding excitedly at having her name said.

She smiles and points to a fox that has curled up around Ditzy's forelegs. "Me'cwy!"

Dior sighs quietly. "It looks like the little scamp is getting a bit too comfortable, there."

"He's just saying hi, nothing wrong with that." Giggling, the mailmare strokes his head.

Hydro snorts with a smile. "Just be careful if all of them say hi at once."

Mercury smiles, leaning into the hoof. "A little to your left, please?"

"Eep!" Ditzy jumps, her wings flaring out in surprise. "You can talk?!"

Watching her mom, Dinky sits up and spreads her forelegs like they're wings.

"For about... what, three days, now?" The fox looks at Hydro for confirmation, smirking as a certain white form makes its way towards the grey mare's tail.

He nods. "Yeah, sounds about right." Reaching out, the stallion tries to scoop up the nymph with a grin, curious where the matching grey form could be.

Mercury simply smiles and rolls onto his back, looking as adorable as possible for the visiting couple.

As he does this, the little kitten crouches, eyes narrowed and tongue sticking out in concentration.

Ditzy's wings fold as she relaxes, tail flicking. "Well... I think you're still the same adorable fox." Giggling, she reaches a hoof around and rubs his belly.

He hums contentedly, eyes drifting closed.

Turner just taps his chin, frowning a bit. "So he's a kitsune? How long have you known this?"

"There's a word for it?" Hydro barely manages to get that out before Ditzy squeaks once more.

The mare cranes her head around, spotting Snow latched onto her tail. Her eyes instantly go soft as she sees the hybrid kitten. "Daww... you're so tiny and adorable!"

He looks at her with wide green eyes, gripping the mass of hair firmly.

She giggles, waving a hoof at him. "Hello, little guy!"

He lets go and ducks underneath her body, much to the couple's surprise.

The chestnut-colored stallion scratches his head awkwardly. "Looks like he's a little shy." He pauses a moment before turning to the other couple. "This one's a boy, right?"

"Yep, there's a girl around here somewhere." Hydro peers around the room while Ditzy tries to get the little kitten to come out.

She gets a paw tapping her nose as a result.

As she laughs, her daughter turns her head, ears flicking towards the kitchen.

"Ash!" Ruby gets up and wanders out into the hallway, motioning for the other foal to follow.

When the parents turn to look, the white kitten jumps up and hides under one of Ditzy's wings.

"Ash?" Ditzy asks, hugging the kitten lightly with her wing.

"As?" Dinky echoes, tilting her head and getting up to follow.

Mercury is there in a flash, picking up both fillies and placing them on his back so he can carry them to the kitchen. "Follow if you'd like to see more adorableness."

"Fwuffy Foxy." Dinky says simply, hugging him from behind.

He looks back at her and smiles. "My name is Mercury." He gently nuzzles the top of her head. "Can you say Mercury?"

"Megwy." She smiles at him.

He pauses for a moment. "...good enough." He licks her cheek as they enter the kitchen, and he holds still as a gray cat darts underneath him. "Careful! I have passengers!"

A smaller grey form follows the in exact same path, though getting nowhere near knocking over the fox. It mews as it runs, making Dinky laugh. "Kitty!"

The fox gently lets them down, nuzzling both their heads comfortingly. "Go ahead, have fun."

Dinky looks at the other filly, confused.

She just smiles in return, pointing at the family having fun chasing each other. "Pway!"

As Specter darts by as well, the lilac foal laughs and tries to catch his tail, barely missing.

When Ruby joins them, Mercury lays down on the ground, smiling warmly at the cute sight.

He gets a little surprise when Ash dashes past, trying to jump over him but not quite making it. She ends up flopping onto his back, mewing in surprise.

He looks back at her, smiling wryly. "I guess Snow is better than you at jumping, right now."

She chitters at him, tail swishing behind her. Working, she gets up on her paws on his back, jumping a bit experimentally.

He regards her in confused silence, an ear twitching as the sound of paws skittering along the floor gets closer.

Walking a few steps forward, she headbutts him lightly before springing off his head towards the running cat.

He sighs and rolls to one side. "Well, it was nice while it lasted..."

The foals catch the squirrel, tumbling a bit with him between them. They eventually land as a group on the fox's muzzle, who doesn't move besides a small startled jolt.

'Sorry about that.' Specter says, patting his friends head as the foals giggle and squeeze him.

Meanwhile, as the adults watch through the doorway, Ash manages to hop onto her mother's back, squeaking in victory as she nuzzles her.

Selena skids to a halt by Ditzy's hooves, purring and gently licking her daughter's head. 'That's my girl.'

The fox sighs, his voice muffled by the ones on his face. "No, I probably should've expected this, somehow."

The grey mare tries to keep track of everything, eyes unfocusing before she wrangles them. "There's so much to keep an eye on, how do you do it?" Even as she talks, happy mewing from Ash tries to grab her attention.

"Very carefully." Dior glances to the side, noticing Snow trying to swat at the stallion's cutie mark from the mare's back. "I think your passenger wants the time."

"Oh? Hehe!" She giggles as she looks down at him. "Are you exploring the new ponies?"

He just looks at her and chitters quietly, paws kneading at the bubbles on her rump.

Time Turner actually looks a little put out by this. "Hey, those are mine, thank you very much."

"Oh, come on, Time, maybe he likes bubbles?" Leaning over, she nuzzles her stallion.

A paw promptly smacks one.

Feeling the soft touch, she giggles and looks down. "You aren't going to be able to pop those, little guy."

Another smack, noticeably harder and quite audible.

She yelps quietly, looking on her other side to see a silver paw. "Are you the one teaching him all this?"

"No, he learned it by himself." He rubs her flank with a paw, curious. "Why do females like that?"

"Getting smacked? Who said we like that?" She tilts her head at him.

"The way mom and Selena react when it happens to them." He points at her face with his free paw. "Yea, their face turn red, just like that, and they ask for more."

"... I suddenly see that pets know way more than we thought they did." Hydro says sagely.

Dior frowns for a moment before dawning horror shows on her face. "...we tried to do it in front of Selena and Specter..."

Hydro has a light blush as well as he pulls her close. "It's... probably not the first time they saw that, and they did have kittens so they've done it themselves."

Ditzy just looks away from them, her face beet red.

"That's not what I'm concerned about!" She flings her forelegs in the air, barely missing Turner's bright red face. "They saw me fall off you like that."

He pulls her against his chest. "And now you're revealing that to friends, so maybe just breathe for a second before you say more."

She blushes just as bright as the other couple, hugging him tight in return. "...sorry..."

"You know you're cute when you get flustered." He kisses her cheek, getting a giggle from one of the foals.

She pushes his muzzle away, clearly embarrassed. "L-later, okay?"

"S-so, umm..." Ditzy clears her throat. "Are Rhino and Gel at work?" A small thump makes her look down, seeing Ash had kept onto the couch and is now burrowing under her to get to her brother.

"Yea, they are." Dior taps her chin thoughtfully. "I think they have a griffin emergency, or something?"

A white paw bops Ash's nose as soon as it's visible again.

"Oh dear..." She ignores the commotion under her as a paw batting contest starts. "I hope it's not too serious."

"They didn't say much else." She shrugs a bit. "Patient confidentiality, I guess?"

Snow, starting to lose, yanks out a feather and starts tickling his sister with it.

The mare grunts, flapping her wings a bit. "I guess that's fair. Are you doing well, then?"

Ash sits up, trying to bat the feather away from her. However, she leans back too far, flailing as she falls off the couch, only to land on her attentive father's back.

"As well as I can be." She shrugs. "How about you?"

With his current target no longer in reach, the white kitten turns to the nearest body to him and starts tickling.

"Well, Dinky is sort of the main chaotic force is my life right now." She giggles, the sound going on longer than expected as she has to withstand her own feather. "Having a unicorn daughter when neither of us are one has been interesting."

Turner notices this and whispers something to Snow.

Dior looks more intrigued at what Ditzy is saying. "Interesting? How so?"

Neither of them notice the feather approach the spot behind the pegasus' ear.

"Well, mostly when she-" She cuts herself off as she begins laughing, arching her back and falling onto her side.

Dior blinks, turning just in time to see Turner join Snow in tickling the mare behind her ears with borrowed feathers. "...I would never have guessed you were sensitive, there."

"I-I don't... spread that around!" She says between laughs.

The kitten immediately stops and climbs on top of the mare, arms up in a victorious pose.

Hydro chuckles. "I guess he won."

"Looks like it." The nymph giggles, turning and gently nudging his side with an elbow. "Are you ticklish?"

"... I choose not to answer." He looks away.

"...well, uh..." Her hooves tap anxiously against the couch. "...anyone know where Dinky and Ruby are?"

Surprised she gave up so easily, Hydro rests his head on hers. "Weren't they just right there?"

"Well, I was distracted by the tickling couple right next to us." She looks at the ponies in question, the mare now held closely, tenderly to the stallion.

Snow suddenly jumps out of Dior's mane at Hydro, brandishing the feather like a weapon in his teeth.

"Whoa!" He ducks, catching the kitten on his head. "Are you trying to be the literal tickle monster?"

The kitten mews and starts tickling behind his ear.

His eye twitches, as does his ear. As a few snickers escapes and he rolls his shoulders, he speaks. "Sorry, that's not my weak spot."

He tilts his head, not understanding why he isn't laughing, and switches to his other ear.

This one flicks as well while Hydro reaches up to try and get the kitten. "Heh, come on, you."

He squeaks, lashing at the red appendage with his feathery weapon.

Hydro whips it away, laughing for just a moment. "Hey now, I'm just getting you down."

Snow, realizing nothing is working, darts off along his body and tries to bury himself beneath the stallion, much like he had for the mare before.

Hydro full on laughs at this, trying to stand up as the kitten wriggles along his ribs.

Dior's eyes narrow, extending her wing and slowly turning it to a stone facsimile of a pegasus wing.

Her stallion's eyes widen. "Dior... what are you doing?"

She just smiles sweetly, slowly dragging it along his side, incidentally shooing away the kitten in the same motion.

As the kitten finds his tail pounced by his sister, Hydro finds himself biting his lip as his sides heave.

She continues to do it, nuzzling his cheek affectionately. "Hydro~."

Snow turns and pounces on his sister, tumbling around with her and picking up their parents and the foals in the process.

As the red stallion slowly breaks down into laughter, the other couple keeps on eye on the rough housers.

They end up with Dinky and Ruby sitting upright, the pets all between them in one big hug.

Ditzy giggles. "Looks like they won... well, them and Dior." She glances over where the white nymph is now standing on the red stallion stomach as he laughs.

Turner chuckles, gently rubbing her belly. "Yea, I guess they did." He pecks her cheek and nuzzles her ear. "I think I won something too, though."

"Hmm?" She giggles, snuggling against him and nuzzling his chin.

"Hearing your lovely laughter." The stallion smiles, getting a collective aww from Dior and Mercury.

The latter tilts his head, thinking out loud. "I wonder if I could cuddle Mane like that..."

"I'm afraid you're too small." The nymph smirks coyly at him.

"I'm your size, you know."

"Never hurts to try." Hydro comments simply as he catches his breath.

Dior promptly goes back to tickling him.

As the foals watch him go back to laughing, Dinky touches her lip and tilts her head. With her other hoof, she touches Ruby's side, looking expectant.

She blinks, looking at her friend in curiosity.

Looking back to the couple, Dinky moves her hoof up and down Ruby's side.

She squirms a bit, but doesn't laugh. She tries the same thing in response, wondering if there's a point to it.

She ends up poking the other foal in the belly, getting a giggle from her.

Pouting a bit, she looks to the parents once more to find something to copy.

It just so happens she sees Turner and Ditzy kiss. So she turns and pulls the other filly close and kisses her on the nose, which is what she saw it as from that angle.

And Dior and Hydro stop just in time to see this.

As Dinky touches her nose and then Ruby's, Hydro whispers to Dior. "Okay, that was adorable, but do you think we should be worried?"

"...we should at least bring it up with Rhino and Gel." She taps her chin. "...and avoiding doing stuff we don't want her doing."

He nods. "Right, I'll watch myself." As he sees the foals petting the kittens, he smiles. "At least not everything is worrying."

"Yea, that's true." She smirks, tapping him on the nose. "Remember when Twilight's dragon caused havoc with those pets? That was pretty funny."

"Well yeah, but where did that come from?" He wiggles his nose.

"It wasn't something to worry about." She sticks out her tongue at him.

"Well... as long as he wasn't watching these pets it wasn't." He chuckles.

"True." She tucks her head under his. "...he did ask Rhino, though..."

He snorts. "Yeah, that wasn't going to work, remember how hard we all had to work to get him to leave Ruby with us the first few times? He holds onto things he loves."

"Yea, he did look pretty disappointed, afterwards." She shrugs, turning to look at the foals as they start to pet and love on the kittens.

Ruby ends up with Ash draped across her nuzzle, each looking into the other's eyes.

The unicorn giggles, hugging and nuzzling the cute critter. Snow, not wanting to to be left out, curls up against Dinky's barrel and actually nuzzles her side.

She laughs, gently hugging the white kitten and nuzzling him in return

The adults just chuckle, all settling in to keep an eye on the foals. Everyone either relaxes or plays, inevitable roping the others into whichever group they weren't in.

As a veterinarian, one might expect you to just be dealing with animals. However, with the various sapient species all over the world having different biologies, it's actually quite difficult for a doctor to know all of them. Thus, vets can sometimes be a sort of more general practitioner able to adapt to varying body types and even hybrids.

Rhino is one of those ones that doesn't mind when this happens, after all, it's interesting. He just wished it wasn't sometimes just for injuries.

For instance, the griffin sitting in front of him with a cracked beak and bruised ribs.

Gel waits nearby, flipping through a magazine with a visible blush on her cheeks.

The stallion looks over his patient. "Are any other spots bothering you, too?"

Emerald eyes dart this way and that, trying to avoid eye contact. "Oh, you know, just... normal griffin stuff."

"...Rhino?" The nymph looks to him, eyes wide in surprise. "I hope you aren't mad... but I may have forgotten to mention something from a while before I met you..."

"How would that make me mad?" He asks, having just decided to do a manual search since the patient is being evasive.

She promptly opens the magazine to its center and turns it towards him. She opens up a couple flaps to reveal a shy, nervous white unicorn, one that looks very familiar to him.

He blinks in surprise. "You were a model?"

"J-just this one picture..." She squirms a bit. "...I needed money, and the magazine sold well, so-"

"Wait, you're Angelic Grace?" The griffin beams, getting up to move closer. "Amazing! I never thought I'd ever get to meet you!" There's a brief pause. "Granted, I didn't think you were a changeling, but still!"

Rhino chuckles. "It looks like you've got a fan, love." Keeping an eye on them, Rhino uses his magic to angle the magazine, getting a better look at the picture now that he wasn't distracted by the face.

As he looks at the revealing picture, the griffin hugs the nymph, nuzzling her cheek as she squeaks in surprise. "So cute!"

The picture draws his full attention for a moment as he registers the schoolgirl outfit and pose. "Oh... I umm... I'm glad I'm the only one besides Silk who's seen you in this in your normal form..."

Their patient looks at him, then at the changeling returning the awkward hug. "...those uniform colors would clash with her chitin."

Rhino turns his attention to the griffon once more. "Yeah... she said that too, but maybe we should get back to you." He puts the magazine back where it was, next to the nymph.

"...can I still hug her?"

"...for comfort?" Rhino asks, an eyebrow raised.

The griffin is silent for a few seconds. "...yes."

The stallion looks to the nymph. "Are you alright with being the metaphorical teddy bear while I treat this patient, Gel?"

"...only if I can get a kiss from you afterwards." She flutters her eyelashes at him.

"All you can stand." He promises, smiling back at her, motioning back to the examination table.

The two of them somehow make their way back to the table, and Gel glances at the griffin. "...you won't read and fly anymore, right?"

The patient grimaces, but nods their head quickly enough.

Rhino nods at this. "Good. I'd say something about the pictures, but not looking and flying would be almost impossible. Now let's try this again: aside from your beak and ribs, is there anything else you'd like us to look at?"

They blush brightly. "...n-no. I can't think of anything."

He looks at them a bit curiously at this reaction, but nods. "Alright, let me know if you think of anything. Let's get to work, then. First we'll do the beak." Getting the usual supplies he uses for creatures with shells or other similar parts, he checks the cracks to see how bad it is.

At certain angles he can see red, but it isn't actively bleeding.

"Okay, it doesn't look like it broke all the way through. We'll just put some stuff on it to strengthen it so it won't break anymore. Can you feel anything on the inside?"

"I'm not sure what you mean." They give a confused look. "Nothing feels different, I think..."

"That works, as long as you weren't feel any cracks on the inside." He nods, mixing the sealant together. "It might feel a little odd once it hardens, but it should feel better once you get used to it and it gets to work."

Gel snickers quietly. "You might want to work on your wording a bit, love."

"Huh?" He goes over his words as he applies a layer of sealant before clearing his throat. "Oh, umm... right. Well, would you mind lifting your wings so I can get to your ribs next?"

The griffin stares at him in confusion. "...you're going to apply sealant to my side?"

He chuckles shaking his head. "No no, I'm going to put some pain relief, a bit of cushion, and a small wrap to your ribs."

"...as long as you don't go too far south." Their face promptly gets buried in Gel's nape, causing her to squirm a bit nervously.

As Rhino mentally thinks it would let him finally tell what gender the griffon is, he nods. "I promise. Lift please."

The wing goes up, and drapes over his head as the muscles of the barrel twinge. Claws scrape at the table in response to their owner's pain.

"Is your wing hurting too?" He asks, gently rubbing some numbing cream on the area.

"Just hurts to extend it." The griffin groans, rolling sideways slightly and taking Gel along for the ride.

Rhino keeps an eye on them. "Hey now, be gentle with her. She's very precious to me."

"...sorry..."

"Good." Placing some padding on the injured ribs, he starts wrapping bandages around the griffon's side. "You should start to feel the pain going away."

"I sure hope so." They huff, looking at him with a frown. "...so... you're the guy who works with changelings like her?" A claw pokes Gel's nose.

He nods, watching his wife for signs of discomfort. "I am. As you can see, I work on other species as well, but I guess I've become a bit of a changeling specialist."

"So..." The claw now scratches a feathery cheek as the griffin thinks. "...are you the reason for all those signs about changeling-friendly stores?"

"Huh? No, those just sort of started popping up." He shrugs as he ties off the bandage. "I'm not really sure what's up with it, but I prefer it to what other options there were."

"...other options?" Their patient looks back and forth between them, confused.

"The group of anti-changeling radicals." He snorts. "We've had run-ins before."

"...oh." Those emerald eyes dart about once more. "Sorry to hear that?"

"Don't worry about it." He smiles. "Well, unless you had more injuries or concerns, you should be good to go.

"No, I'm good." The griffin smiles and lets go of Gel, hugging the stallion tight before hurrying out the door.

The nymph blinks, then looks at Rhino with a small smirk. "Should I be jealous, love?"

He scratches his head. "I'm thinking that was just a very huggy griffon."

"Ah." She tilts her head to one side. "...was that a guy or a girl?"

He rubs his head. "Could you not tell? I had no idea."

"Not a clue." She shrugs helplessly. "They weren't poking me, so..."

He narrows his eyes. "Good, that's for me." His point said, he walks over and gives her a smooch.

She lays down completely on the table, hugging him close and deepening the kiss.

As they do so, the door sounds out, announcing ponies having arrived.

Gel blinks, looking at the doorway. "...is that Mane? Isn't she a bit early?"

"Maybe they decided to eat lunch here?" He asks, unsure as he holds her.

"Manila? Where are ya?"

At the deep voice, Gel relaxes slightly. "Oh, it's Big Mac."

"...should we get up?" He asks her in a whisper.

"I don't know." She pecks his cheek. "Do you think we should?"

"Umm... hmm..." Conflicted, he calls out towards the hall. "Her shift doesn't start until later, Mac!"

"But she said she'd meet me here fer lunch!" There's a quiet thud. "Ah brought her favorite food and everythin'!"

"Oh... she'll probably be here soon then!" Sighing, Rhino moves to get off the table, glancing to the nymph. "Which means we don't really have time."

She pouts, lifting him back onto the table with her magic. "I want to snuggle before we have to leave. They can eat out there, right?"

"Well...alright, you know I have trouble denying you love." He brings her against him. "Gotta keep my changeling nice and full."

"It's not about the love, love." She smiles softly at him. "I just want to spend more time with you. It's rare when we can, you know?"

"These days alone, yeah, I get what you mean." He kisses her head. "I'm sorry about that."

"Yea..." She sighs, snuggling up more firmly against his side. "...I miss being able to get lost in your fluffiness..."

"You can still do that when we're playing with Ruby." He strokes her mane soothingly.

"But I still have to stay aware to make sure she doesn't get hurt." She points out, pointing a hoof in his direction.

"I can do that. I can be the watchful parent while you... nap on me or something. We've done that." He kisses the hoof.

"...maybe..." She smiles, touching his cheek with a hoof as she leans in.

The door opens and the couple freezes in their tracks. "Manila wants t' know if ya wanna join us."

Rhino looks to Gel questioningly. "Do we?"

"Depends." She gives the farmer a questioning look. "Any strawberry applesauce?"

He blinks. "...eeyup?"

"Worth it for you?" Rhino asks, smiling at her.

"You know it's for you." She smirks and climbs onto his back. "Let's eat!"

Laughing, he nods and nuzzles her before heading out to join the other couple.

Although normally they head home fairly quickly after work, today the Nexus couple decide to swing by the library to check on how their local princess is doing.

As they near the library, the nymph frowns, tilting her head at the sign attached to the library's sign. "...her, too?"

"They really are popping up everywhere." He hums in thought. "Maybe they're just doing it obviously to ease worries about PALS?"

She looks at him curiously. "You think this would ease their worries?"

"Well, maybe they wouldn't worry as much if they knew they were in a safe place." He offers.

The changeling considers this for a moment before nodding. "Yea, I could see that."

"You think Twi knows?" He asks as they head for the door.

The door opens and the dragon walks out, holding a hammer and grumbling quietly.

Gel looks at him in concern. "...maybe?"

Noticing them, he brightens up. "Oh, hey guys!"

She smiles and picks him up, hugging him happily. "How's my favorite dragon?"

He hugs her back, careful of his tools. "I'm just fixing a sign real quick."

"Oh, maybe I can help you?" She glances at the extraneous sign, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Surely there's something I can do?"

"Well, Twilight just told me to change it so the wording's a bit better." He shrugs.

"Then I'll be your ladder." She giggles and flies off towards the sign, holding him securely to her chest. Halfway there, a thought occurs to her. "Is there anyone who would be jealous of me doing this?"

"Nah, I don't really get lifts that often." He smiles appreciatively.

"Hmm..." She taps his nose with her mane. "What about a certain apple farmer?"

"Applejack?" His tail wags a bit as he speaks, starting to work on the sign. "Nah, she can't exactly fly to give me a lift like this."

"Fair enough." The nymph giggles quietly, nuzzling the back of his ear.

He laughs, prying the sign off. "Twi says we just need to rewrite the sign and we can put it back up."

"Alright." She looks around curiously. "Any paint or anything?"

"...you know, I didn't ask how to change it." He admits, rubbing his head.

"Hmm..." She considers the signs for a moment and brushes her hoof over it, carefully burning a pattern into the wood. It eventually ends with a slightly darker shade of brown before she looks at him expectantly.

Spike touches it careful, fire coming out of his own mouth. "Huh... I've never seen fire burn wood with control like that."

She smiles with a bit of pride, tapping her temple with a hoof. "That's what happens when you have fire as your element."

He blows a small breath. "Do you think I'd be able to burn words into it with mine?"

"Mmm... only if I guide your flame, right now." She sticks out her tongue teasingly. "Who knows? Maybe you'll be able to do it by yourself, eventually."

"Hopefully Celestia doesn't get showered with bits of wood..." He mutters.

Gel blinks, considering this a moment before a snort of laughter escapes her. "That sounds hilarious."

Spike thinks it over for one more moment before he laughs and nods quickly, starting up his fire. "We need to write: safe for all species."

The nymph nods, smiling warmly. "You breathe, I'll direct. Deal?"

"Deal!" He breathes out his fire slowly, looking at her expectantly while Rhino watches from the ground.

She directs them to form the letters necessary, containing them within the shapes as they darken those spots in the wood even further.

After a few minutes, and a few breaths, Spike cuts off the flame once more. "There!"

The words are perfectly formed and easy to read, much to their delight. She turns it to Rhino with a grin. "What do you... think..." She trails off, staring at the back of the sign.

On the back of the sign is a strange symbol and the simple message: 'you're welcome'.

Unsure what to make of it, she slowly places it back where it was, then looks at her friend. "...any idea what that was about?"

"I have no idea... I didn't know that was on it." He scratches the back of his head. "I should probably tell Twilight."

"Think we should copy it down, or just bring it to her?" She stays hovering next to it, awaiting his response.

"I can draw it for her, we can put the sign back up."

"Gotcha." She holds him close and zooms through the door, barely missing the new princess.

Her head whips, trying to track them. "What the- Spike, did you get the sign done?"

"Yep! Sign's fixed!" He calls back to her.

"Getting him ready to go see Applejack, now! He needs to look his best!" Gel calls as well, much to the dragon's embarrassment.

"Wait, what?" He looks to her, having not expected that.

"I'm setting you two up on a date!" She grins at him. "I could feel the love between you, you know."

As Spike blushes, Twilight exclaims, "What?!"

She turns to the alicorn, a hoof held in a placating gesture. "Just a bit of teasing, I assure you."

"O...kay..." She blinks owlishly as Rhino walks in.

She quickly turns and whispers into Spike's ear. "I know you like each other, though."

He blushes more. "H-hey Twilight! There was a weird symbol ont he back of the sign!"

Gel pouts quietly. "Spoilsport."

Rhino just chuckles at all this as Twilight looks interested. Quick as a flash, Spike draws the symbol and shows her. "Hmm... I've never seen this before, but I'll look into it to see if it's been used in other things."

"The sign also said 'you're welcome'," the nymph points out.

"Was it spelled correctly?" The princess asks.

Gel blinks, then sighs, setting Spike down and heading towards the door. "I'll go get it so you can see for yourself."

"It's fine, it was." Spike stops her.

"Oh, good." Twilight smiles. "I can't stand when they used the wrong 'you're'."

"Oh." The changeling felt a little silly, now. "...so... how's the thingy coming along?"

"The signature tracking?" She asks. "Well honestly... it could be better. I'm having a small amount of trouble separating the signatures without breaking the seal of your... goo. And if I do that, we might lose them."

The nymph blinks blankly. "...oh, right, it would make things harder... and you probably couldn't teleport it out..." She thinks for a bit before sighing, heading over to the basement and taking Spike with her. "We'll be back. Magic-proofing a room."

"Wait..." Rhino starts. "Doesn't that mean you're going to produce a lot of that at once? Won't that wear you out?"

She stops in the doorway, awkwardly standing there in silence and hugging Spike for a bit of comfort.

"Maybe we can do it on a smaller scale?" Twilight suggests. "We could make a magic proof container or two and just transfer the gems between them so I can isolate the signatures."

"...you can do that?" The nymph looks at the alicorn princess, surprised. "Wouldn't it still be hard to get at?"

"Well, if we design the containers right, perhaps with one inside the other or attached in a way that we can ensure the jewels are never exposed..." The alicorn goes on, pulling over a small desk and starting to scribble on a scroll.

Rhino looks to his wife with a sheepish grin. "We might be here a while."

"Yea..." She carefully pulls Spike out the door with her. "We'll be right back. We're going to get some food!"

Rhino sighs, rubbing his head. "I hope Hydro and Dior don't mind hanging out with Ruby a bit longer."

Chapter 34: Parties and Hearties

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It takes a certain kind of pony to party with proficiency. Yet even those with the thirst for such times would falter at the frequency of those thrown by Pinkie Pie. Many find it much easier to pick and choose which to attend, and this attitude can lead to awkwardness when it finally comes time to go to one. Such is the mindset Rhino finds himself in as he and Gel head towards their destination.

His nymph glances over and playfully rolls her eyes, bumping his side with her shoulder. "Care to share your thoughts, love?"

He grins sheepishly. "Just trying to think of how I should act during this. I don't think my usual strategy of standing on the edges and not saying much will work."

She taps her chin as she contemplates this. "...if it helps, I think it's only a few ponies..."

"That does help a bit... in some ways." He admits.

A third pony jumps in between them. "Some ways is better than no ways, but not as good as always!" A pink hoof taps her chin. "Unless you're talking about micro-ways, which means we need to help you out some more!"

Holding his chest to try and quiet his heart, Rhino gives the pink party pony a strained smile. "Hello, Pinkie."

"Hello, Rhino!" She beams and hugs him around the neck, Gel watching the two of them with a raised eyebrow.

He grunts, gingerly patting her back and waiting for her to let go. When he meet his wife's eyes, he just shrugs.

Pinkie happily nuzzles his chest, humming all the while. "So soft..."

Blushing now, he tries to gently ease her off him.

She springs back, unbalancing him and beaming brightly at them both. "I'm glad you finally decided to come to another party! After you declined the last two hundred, I was starting to get worried!"

After recovering his balance, the stallion clears his throat and scuffs the ground awkwardly. "I mean, you know parties just aren't really my thing..."

"But the bouncing baby bunny bonanza was made specifically so you and Fluttershy could have fun, too!" She pouts softly at him.

He frowns, tilting his head. "Was that one? They kind of all blur together for me."

"It was the twelfth one."

This information does little to narrow it down for him. "Well, I'm sorry, Pinkie. I'll pay more attention I the future, and I do appreciate you taking the time to invite me to ones you think I'd like."

She raises an eyebrow at him. "Pinkie Promise you'll pay more attention?"

He nods, smiling. "Yes, I do."

She pokes his chest with a hoof. "You gotta do the motions!"

He sighs. "Every time?"

"It makes it binding!"

"... it feels like signing a contract..." Still, he does the required hoof motions.

"Great!" She grins, taking his hoof and tugging on it a bit. "Come on, the party is about to start!"

"Wha- okay." He quickly resigns himself with a chuckle, making sure Gel is coming with them.

She sticks close enough for him to feel the cover for her wings and her fang pressing against his neck.

With this reassurance, he lets himself be guided to a familiar tree.

They're almost tossed inside, nearly crashing into Rarity. Instead, they crash into Applejack.

The farm mare is like a rock as they collide and bounce off. However, as they go to apologize, what they immediately notice is her change of headwear, from a normal brown Stetson to a large red one with white apples on it.

Gel carefully stands up, eyeing her warily. "...wow, you... really went all out with your silly hat..."

"It's just somethin' Ah had lying around." She tips it to them.

She nods, then glances to Rhino. "You have ours, right?"

"Right here." He digs into the saddlebags, pulling out hers: a frilly headband with deely boppers topped with hearts.

She gives a flat stare as she puts it on, shoving his on his head before he can see it. She turns and looks at the mares beside her. "What do you think?"

For all intents and purposes, it looks as if an obese yet colorful bird has roosted on the stallion's head, its head bobbing back and forth and its tail fanned completely to show off a rainbow of colors.

Many of them have to hold off snickers, some of them in simple party has and other normal looking headwear, just not for a party occasion.

Twilight clears her throat softly. "I umm, I think you win."

Gel gives him a big grin while Rarity offers a mirror.

He blinks, eyes wide as he sees it. "Where... did you even get this?"

"Silk."

"I now feel my small worries of what you two can get up to when you're together are completely justified."

The nymph gives him a questioning look. "...what kind of worries could we possibly cause?"

"Mischief." He says simply.

She raises her hoof to object, then taps her chin with it. "...only if we feel it's necessary."

He just snorts and smiles.

"Sorry to interrupt," Rarity offers them both a glass, "but you must try this exquisite punch Pinkie made!"

"It's different to the normal punch?" He takes it, sniffing curiously.

"There's roses in it." She smiles warmly at him.

Gel brings it up to her lips, muttering quietly, "At least it's not daisies..."

I thinks he knows not to put those in. Rhino says simply, drinking his and licking his lips.

I sure hope so. She glances around the other guests, brow slowly furrowing. "...wait, is it just you five?"

"Pinkie said somethin' about this bein' a small party." AJ comments.

"Yea, but where's Rainbow?" She glances at the party planner. "I don't think you wouldn't invite her."

"I did!" She shrugs a bit. "She just never responded to the invite. I even tried to send Applejack to invite her!"

"She said she was waitin' fer somethin' in the mail." The farm mare shrugs.

Gel raises her hoof tentatively. "How did you get up to her home, exactly?"

"Ah didn't. Ah yelled."

"...huh." She scratches her head. "I guess that makes sense."

Twilight waves a hoof. "I'm sure she'll drop by."

"If you say so..." Gel shrugs, leaning against her stallion thoughtfully.

He nuzzles her and takes another drink of the punch. "You know... I think I'm liking this party."

Pinkie grins, squealing excitedly and clapping her hooves - all four, as she had jumped for joy. "I'm so glad to hear that!"

"What about you?" He looks to his wife.

She quietly thinks, staring at the cup resting on her hoof. "...needs more cream puffs."

He dramatically gasps. "A dessert shortage? No!"

"No worries! I got something for that!" The party pony grins and pulls a rope, making another table of food fall down in front of them. Gel immediately pounces on the cream puffs, and Pinkie stuffs a cupcake in Rhino's mouth.

The stallion finds himself desperately trying to do two things: not be overwhelmed by sweetness, and not think about where the table came from.

The sight of his wife's backside swaying and slightly bouncing to an unheard beat definitely helps.

Suddenly, another distraction pops up as the door opens.

"Heya, Twilight! Aren't you excited that-" The new mare is cut off as Pinkie blows a party favor in her face, making her jump sideways into Rhino. His hat falls and lands on her head, covering her eyes.

"Not everything rainbow is yours, RD." Aj snarks quietly.

She lifts up her hat and frowns at her friend, then glances around at the rest of the library. "What's everypony doing here?"

Pinkie Pie immediately pipes up, "We're having a holiday party!" She spins a rectangle on a stick before handing the noisy device to Rhino.

Rainbow Dash isn't fazed by the randomness of her party-loving friend. "So what holiday would today be?"

"National Random Holiday Party Day! Woo-hoo!"

The only stallion in the room spins his noisemaker.

She gives Rhino a questioning stare.

He slowly lowers it, looking away awkwardly.

Pinkie gives him a small smile and puts his hat back on his head.

"So how come nopony invited me?" Rainbow looks at her friends, missing the pink pony pull out a pamphlet of papers, perusing them in confusion.

"Ah did. You were stuck in a book." AJ deadpans.

"...which book? What day?" She's clearly unsure, shuffling on her hooves and avoiding eye contact.

The farm pony shakes her head. "It was one of your Daring Do books."

"Oh." She shrugs a bit. "Sorry, too hyped for the next book. I have to make sure I'm one hundred percent sure I know what has happened before then."

The technicolor mare smiles as she takes a cup to drink. "Three months and twenty-six days. I can do this."

Twilight sips some of the punch. "Oh, you haven't heard? They pushed back the release another two months."

Rainbow, in the middle of a large gulp, turns and spits her drink all over Gel's face, where it starts to boil away. "Two more months?! I've been waiting so long already! I don't think I can take another two months! I'll never make it!"

Rhino snorts as he offers his wife some napkins.

She gratefully takes them, dabbing at the still-wet spots on her face before they leave a stain. "Did A. K. Yearling give any specific reason for the delay?"

"Not really, it's probably something personal." The princess shrugs.

"Oh." Gel seems a little disappointed. "I guess that makes sense?"

"How would you know anything about this before I do?" Rainbow snorts in annoyance, pushing closer to Twilight and Gel backwards, her rear hitting her husband's chest. "I'm her biggest fan!"

Now Gel just looks and feels awkward.

Twilight narrows her eyes while Rhino hugs Gel to him, getting comfortable. The lavender mare snorts. "I'm the one who introduced you to the series, and A.K. Yearling is one of my favorite authors!"

To her credit, Rainbow has the decency to look mollified. "Oh yeah..."

The nymph turns and nuzzles him, smiling as she sees Pinkie sneak a party hat onto Rainbow's head. "Wonder how big of fans they are?"

"Big enough to have a fan off?" He offers.

"Maybe." She shrugs, then thinks to herself. That would be interesting to hear... how in-depth would it go?

i don't know... think you'd join in? he chuckles.

If they don't get too geeky on me. She shrugs slightly. I'm a fan, but I'm not a hardcore one.

They tune back in just in time to hear the end of Rainbow's spiel. "Now who wouldn't want that?"

"Someone who values privacy." Twilight responds simply.

Gel blinks in confusion. "...what did we just miss?"

"The pitching of some desperate and probably weird plan to get a book released early?" Rhino theorizes, shrugging and floating a cream puff over for himself.

"Pretty much," Rarity confirms, taking another sip of her drink.

"Maybe we can just leave her alone to finish the book?" Fluttershy offers quietly.

"If she doesn't want our help, she can always just say no." She grins at Twilight. "Besides, you know you want her to autograph a book for you."

"... well... I guess it would be nice to meet her..." Twilight looks thoughtful.

"Hold on!" Gel steps forward, a hoof raised. "If you're going to see her, can I come along?"

Twilight looks over at her in surprise. "Oh? You want to?"

"Yea, why not? It sounds like it'd be fun." She wraps her tail around Rhino's neck and tugs him forward. "How about you, love?"

He winces as he looks down thoughtfully. "How long of a trip is it?"

The alicorn shrugs. "I don't know yet, I have to find out where she lives first."

"Maybe you should do that, and then he can decide." She taps her chin thoughtfully. "Since I'm here, can we browse the basement, again? I'd like to get ideas for costumes to request of Silk."

Rainbow frowns as she lands, sitting down on the floor by Applejack. "What's so special about the basement?"

As Twilight nods, the farm mare scratches her head. "Ah thought that was her lab."

Rarity promptly titters, waving a hoof with a blush on her cheeks. "Oh, it's probably nothing of interest to you two."

AJ shrugs as Twilight goes over to the nymph. "Did you want to go now or later?" She giggles as she sees Rhino nuzzling the tail around his neck.

Gel is visibly trying not to react, tickling his nose as she responds. "Now would probably be good. Don't know how much longer we can hold back."

Twilight looks a bit alarmed at this, clearing her throat and quickly going over to the door and unlocking it. "Go ahead, then! Rainbow and I have to discuss some things anyway."

As they hurry down, Pinkie walks over and pokes the alicorn's shoulder. "Twilight, what was that about?"

"What was what?" She asks.

"Your panic, her weird breathing, his flushed face..." She counts off with cupcakes as she speaks.

"Don't worry about it." She flicks the party pony's hat with her magic. "We have a party to enjoy."

"Sure, but don't mess with the fez!" She straightens it, grinning at her afterwards. "Fezzes are cool!"

The princess just laughs.

The next day, a normal stroll into town is punctuated by occasional skips as a creamy yellow earth mare enjoys the new band on her foreleg.

Beside her, her stallion is smiling softly, taking the moments where she isn't bouncing to nuzzle her cheek. He has his band on his horse collar, though the reason why is made clear by his muddy hooves.

She pauses in her glee to nuzzle him back. "I'm glad you could take a break to walk with me, Mac."

He chuckles, bumping her side gently with his own. "'Twas my pleasure, Manila." He casts a quick glance around before pecking her on the cheek.

She giggles, returning it. "You're still going to take a rest break before you keep going, right?"

"Maybe." He shrugs as well as he can while walking. "Depends on if Applejack won't be upset."

"Even she knows to watch her limits. I don't want to think of you hurting yourself." She smiles. "Nothing big, just a short break to get a drink and cool off every once in a while."

"Who am I to object to that?" He smiles, pulling her into a soft kiss.

Right at that moment, Manila feels a tap of something hard against her leg. She glances down and sees a young changeling, about Apple Bloom's age, looking up at her hopefully.

She smiles down at them. "Oh, hello there little one."

She gives a shy smile, then awkwardly holds out her hoof. "C-can I please have some love?"

"Dawww..." She coos, shooting a glance at her husband. "Of course you can."

He gives her another kiss as the young changeling places her hoof on the mare's chest, wings buzzing happily as she gets some love from her.

Manila looks curiously at the changeling as she feeds. "Did you forget to eat breakfast?"

The small blush on her cheeks is answer enough.

Manila giggles. "It's alright. We all do that sometimes."

She gives a small smile as she pulls her hoof away. "T-thank you, ma'am."

"No problem. What's your name?" She tilts her head curiously.

"Number nine one four." She nods her head respectfully. "What's yours?"

"Manilla Apple." Her smile fades a little as she looks at the ling. "Your name is a number?"

"I'm not important enough for a name." She shrugs, as if this is indisputable fact.

Her ears fold. "Aww, come on, that's not true. I'm sure your parents think you're important."

"I... you think so?" She looks at her hopefully.

Big Mac leans over and whispers into Manila's ears. "Changelin's don't know their parents. Gel said they're raised by all the breeders."

She grits her teeth to keep smiling through her wince. "Right... I forgot. Wait..." She blinks. "I don't remember hearing about a house full of changeling foals in town."

"There isn't." She beams brightly. "We're on what that one pony called a 'field trip'!"

"Oh... phew. I was worried for a moment there." She laughs sheepishly.

"Why?"

The question is simple, given by the little changeling before them.

She blushes. "Well, it's just... you know, thinking there was a house full of adorable little changeling foals who thought they weren't important... it..."

Macintosh gently pulls her into an embrace, mindful of the drying dirt caked on his legs. He nuzzles her cheek, clearly hoping to help her calm down a bit.

She hears her heart pounding in her ears as she calms down, still embarrassed. "Sorry..."

"No need to apologize." She hugs the mare gently, then walks away, waving over her shoulder.

Manilla waves back, looking wistful. "What a sweet filly..."

"Eeyup." The farmer glances at her before starting towards her work once more. "How badly do ya want one?"

She covers her face as she walks. "Pretty bad right now... I may have thought of checking if they were adopting if my crazy 'house of changeling foals' idea wasn't... well, you know."

"Careful. They hear ya, they might come runnin'." He chuckles, looking ahead and pausing a moment.

"Yes... I'll just go on with my day and give Applebloom a hug when I get home." She meeps as she bumps into him, looking up to see why he stopped.

There appears to be a couple ponies placing a sign above the doorway to the clinic - "Changeling Safe House".

Unsure if this counts as graffiti or she missed something, Manila walks up, calling to them. "Excuse me? Did someone hire you to put this up on our building?"

They jump at her voice, turning as one to face her. Then, glancing at each other, the one on the left speaks up. "No, we just decided to put it up."

"It's the truth, is it not?" The one on the left suggests.

"Well, yes..." She looks thoughtful. "Wouldn't you need to put up an awful lot of signs if you did that for everyone?"

"We have enough signs." She smiles before giving a bow and hurrying off with the stallion.

Big Mac blinks, looking in the direction they left for a moment before taking a sturdy branch off the ground. He then proceeds to knock on the other side of the sign, trying to get it off.

Manila raises a hoof, looking unsure. "You don't think they'll think we stopped serving changelings if we take the sign down... right?"

"Ah'm just movin' it." He knocks it onto the ground in front of the mare. "'Sides, Ah wanted t' check somethin'."

She picks it up, looking at it curiously. "What did you want to check?"

"The back." He awkwardly cranes his neck so he can bite the sign, turning it around after for her to see.

She tilts her head at the symbol on the back. "Huh... I wonder what that means..."

"Ah think Spike said somethin' about that, once." He taps his chin thoughtfully. "Ah'll ask him tomorrow."

"...should I be worried?"

"Probably not." He shrugs, hugging her close. "You think of a good sign to replace that. Ah'll make sure everythin's alright."

"Okay." She nods and kisses his cheek. "Have a good day!"

He smiles and, giving her one more heated kiss, turns and walks away.

"Have fun on your honeymoon?" Gel stands behind the mare, grinning at her.

She tries to straighten herself up, nodding and blushing. "Yes, yes we did."

"That's good." She rocks on her hooves a bit. "So... when should we expect your foals?"

Manila's face goes even redder as she squeaks. "I mean, we haven't planned... I'm not... but she was cute..." Seeing as words are failing her, she gives the changeling a firm hug.

Gel awkwardly pats her back. "I was just joking, you know..."

"... I'm going to keep hugging you so I don't have to respond."

She turns partly to the door, nervous. "Rhino? Help?"

"I thought we agreed hugs were good?" He calls back with a voice that almost projects his cheeky smile.

"But she's embarrassed, and it's making me embarrassed!"

The mare speaks up, letting her go. "Sorry... it's just you weren't the first one to bring that up today."

"You saw the little lings on their field trip, too?" She smiles softly at her.

"...yes." She admits softly. "One of them asked me for love."

"...were they not feeding them right?" She frowns, waving Rhino over with a wing.

As the stallion comes over, Manila shakes her head. "I think she said she just didn't have breakfast; I was worried, too."

"We should probably keep an eye out for that, just in case." She pulls her close as he stops next to them. "For now, tell us all you can remember..."