Chapter Sixty-Two: A Problem Rectified

"You really, honestly don't mind?" Fluttershy pressed the portly mare standing before her.

"Of course not, dear!" Mrs. Cake smiled, looking over her shoulder at her own two children sitting on the floor in the middle of the room. "Carrot and I would come, too, but we simply can't leave our own unattended. Besides, I think the twins are a little young for that kind of excitement. It is nearly their bedtime."

"We really appreciate it, Mrs. Cake," said the dragon in disguise as he watched Chenoa toddle over to the twins. Even though he was grateful someone trustworthy was going to watch his child, he still felt his protective side prodding him.

When they had first arrived, the chick's amber eyes lit up at the sight of other youngsters. She didn't waste any time and promptly began interacting with them, burbling. Pound and Pumpkin, in the same instance, were quite excited to meet another baby. Babbling themselves, the three of them proceeded to play.

"We do," said the pegasus, a gracious smile tipping her lips. "You have no idea how much this means to us."

"As a mother of two…" The older mare paused to chuckle. "Yes, I do."

"Still, thank you again. We'll be back in a few hours at the very latest to pick her up," Smokey informed as he stared anxiously at the baby, feeling rather clingy to the point where he had to be dragged out of Sugarcube Corner by Fluttershy.

The pegasus usually wasn't the one doing the dragging - she was normally the one getting dragged. She had her misgivings about leaving Chenoa behind herself, but she trusted Mr. and Mrs. Cake implicitly.

The party was set outdoors, located in the town square where the carriage-train had originally rolled up. The vehicle had been moved closer to the outskirts for however long they were going to be staying, primarily to give more space to the bash Pinkie Pie set up. In true Pinkie Pie fashion, the area immensely festooned with balloons and streamers, long tables were set up with cakes, pies, and other confectioneries, and one table devoted exclusively to a plethora of drinks.

It was an informal party, as was expected of entertainers, though Twilight Sparkle didn't neglect to wear her tiara for the occasion to express her regal air and give Pendulum an official, royal welcome to Ponyville.

"Welcoome, Princess Twilight!" Pendulum cracked a wide grin as he accosted Equestria's newest princess, holding out a hoof to shake. "It's an hoonoor to see you 'ere! Your friend, Pinkie Pie, did a fantastic joob with 'elping me throow this party."

A warm, welcoming smile pulling at the corners of her mouth, Twilight Sparkle accepted the stallion's hoof and gave it a firm shake.

"Thank you, Pendulum. Though, it is I who should be welcoming YOU to Ponyville! Pinkie throws the best parties anywhere!" The mare released his hoof, placing it down on the ground. "Your accent… I can't say I'm familiar with it. Would you mind me asking where you're from?"

"I'm froom Shetland. My family histoory dates back oover two-'undred years there. You're froom Canterloot, yes?" he questioned as he gestured one of the oxen balancing a tray of champagne to bring the young princess a drink.

"I thought your accent sounded familiar! And, yes, Canterlot is where I was born and raised. I moved and have been living in Ponyville for over a year now."

She beamed in appreciation as she enveloped a glass of the liquid from the tray.

"Well, I 'oope you 'ave a good life in Poonyville. It's a charming little toown." Taking a drink himself with his magic, he clinked his glass with the alicorn's. "Enjooy the party."

"Thank you. You the same, sir!"

Nodding to him, Twilight Sparkle turned away to mingle with other equines.

Not too far off were Fluttershy and Smokey, the former holding a small glass of cherry punch and holding a conversation with Pure Heart.

"Really?" Fluttershy said. "I guess I sort of knew there was one around town, but I never had any reason-"

"To use one?" Pure Heart giggled. "Yes, I know. Most parents usually take care of their little ones, mainly because they've got both parents, or at least a trusted family member, but if you want to head out and get some things done, there's really no better caretaker than Mama Jamma. Least, so the advertisements say."

"Yes, but professional caretakers are expensive," the pegasus stated. "I'd rather leave Chenoa with ponies I know and trust. The Cakes, Pinkie, Spike…"

"So would I. We don't know Mama Jamma or the ponies employed there." Though Smokey knew Chenoa was in reliable hooves, he couldn't help but feel a small urge to run back to Sugarcube Corner. "I miss my baby…"

Fluttershy smiled and planted her haunches onto the ground to reach up and touch his arm while keeping a hold onto her glass.

"Chenoa's fine." Leaning in, she nuzzled his shoulder. "Mr. and Mrs. Cake are good parents. Don't worry."

"I know, my dear… I cannot help but worry," he sighed, lowering his head to return the nuzzle to the top of the mare's head.

"I understand."

Fluttershy was slightly worried about Chenoa herself - recalling stories Pinkie Pie had told her about Pound and Pumpkin and how much trouble they nearly got into when she was alone taking care of them one night. Even thought they had only been a month old at the time, their special skills already began to manifest, with Pound being able to hover, fly, and climb across the ceiling and Pumpkin enabled to perform levitation and intangibility spells.

Even though Chenoa was a griffon, Fluttershy highly doubted the chick's wings were strong enough to lift her body.

Smokey was about to say something else when he felt a foreign hoof touch his opposite shoulder. Jolting back at the unexpected contact, the dragon turned to see Pendulum offering a friendly smile. He hadn't even heard the stallion approach him. Considering the multiple conversations going on around them, they had drowned out his hoof beats.

"Enjooying the party?"

Fluttershy, too, had nearly jumped also not having seen or heard Pendulum. Gazing over at him, she dispensed a slightly nervous smile.

"Oh, um, yes. Yes, we are. Thank you for inviting us, Pendulum."

"It's noo problem, lassie. It's a pleasure to 'ave you 'ere!" Giving the dragon a few pats on the shoulder before returning his hoof to the ground, he glanced over at the same ox. "Any oof you want a drink?"

Smokey followed his gaze to the bovine and the alcoholic drinks on his horned head.

"No thank you. I'm not really a drinker."

"Me neither," Fluttershy agreed, dropping her eyes to her cherry punch.

She had never touched alcohol, nor was she willing to start. She heard horror stories and was more than a little distrustful of the substance, especially now with a little one under her care.

"Alright then. We 'ave plenty oof punch. Which I see you 'ave." After eyeing the half full glass of cherry punch in Fluttershy's hoof, he turned to Pure Heart as he lifted a hoof to beckon over the Ayrshire. "'ow about you? Woould you like a drink?"

"Oh? Perhaps. What all do you have?" She seemed to be quite intrigued, sidling up to take a glass from the tray proffered to her and taking a sniff of the bubbly liquid. "Is this… champagne? I don't think I had some since I was married."

"Yes. The finest champagne available in Poonyville!" Pendulum replied as he took a swig of his own drink.

"Oooh!" Pure Heart swilled the drink around in her glass and took a sip. "It is good! Blanc de noirs, too! I wonder if Berry made this - she makes the best stuff…"

"I did get it froom soompoony named Berry Punch," the stallion relayed, taking another sip. "It's marvelous."

"I'm… sure it is."

Smokey scanned the fizzy drinks on the ox's head. While he was thirsty, he didn't want to open his mouth and reveal his sharp teeth and snakelike tongue. He would wait until they got back to the cottage.

Grinning and giving the dragon a couple more pats on the shoulder, Pendulum cut his attention to Fluttershy.

"I must thank you again, Fluttershy. My animals are eating as much as they want and they already look 'appier. My panda isn't coonstipated anymoore."

Fluttershy's features expressed relief.

"Good, I was worried. I love animals. I'm one of the primary caretakers of both wild and domesticated critters all across Ponyville. I own a cottage and sanctuary close to the Everfree Forest."

The unicorn's smile widened, intrigued.

"Would you and your friend like to see 'oow 'appy they are noow?"

Smokey seemed interested in how the animals were doing.

"I would, please."

The yellow-pelted pony beamed, her eyes widening and lighting up.

"Of course!"

"Coome with me then." Spinning around, Pendulum proceeded to lead his guests to the train where his creatures were sitting in their cages, happily eating off piles of their preferred food that exceeded more than they probably needed. "'ere they are! Froom noow oon, they'll live their lives live their eyes fat and 'appy."

"They certainly appear happier," Smokey noted.

Fluttershy was still a bit concerned as she surveyed the line of animals.

"I'm happy they're getting the proper food they need. But, you need to make sure they need to get exercise, too. You shouldn't allow them to get TOO far in their feeding. That's not healthy for them, either."

"Ah, doon't woorry. I took that into coonsideratioon. They all get exercise. Twice a day, every day." His attention suddenly went to the tiger cub, noticing that he was done eating and was getting rather playful with his mother, who was still consuming her ground meat. "Would either oof you like to play with the cub? The moother is used to 'aving 'er baby 'andled by poonies."

Fluttershy was rather surprised - though, more at the offer than the fact it was a tiger cub. Smiling, she nods.

"Oh, yes! That would be wonderful!"

She had handled bears before, and knew they could be fatally dangerous if not treated properly. She didn't see why the mother or baby would be much different. Displaying a bold fearlessness that belied her usual shyness, the pegasus was almost instantly at the door of the cage, climbing inside once Pendulum opened it.

"Be careful, Miss Fluttershy," said Smokey, planting himself protectively behind her, ready to leap into action in case the tiger attacked.

The black tigers were, as they were called, black. The mother was pure black with white stripes while the cub was all black save for the stockings of orange on his legs.

Pendulum's visage was calm and confident as he observed quietly, as the pegasus stole the cub's attention.

"Hello, sweetie," the mare crooned, plopping her rear down on the floor and spreading her forelegs wide open. "Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you."

She clicked her tongue to entice the cub over, grinning affectionately the entire time. The melanistic cub stalked forth a few steps and sprung forth to pounce on her foreleg, his clawless paws grappling onto it as his toothless mouth gummed up and down it playfully. The dragon behind the feathered pony laughed, finding the tiger's antics endearing.

"Awww… You're just a big kitten, aren't you?" she giggled, and raised her head to Pendulum. "Ummm… If you don't mind me asking… what happened to his teeth and claws…?"

The smile faded from Pendulum's face upon the inquiry's deliverance.

"I'm afraid all my cats 'ave been de-clawed and their teeth pulled oout. While I didn't want to do such a thing, it was necessary to prevent injuries to their 'andlers."

Fluttershy could understand the de-clawing process, to an extent - however, she did not like to hear he had been purposefully de-clawed. She was positively sickened when she heard he had been de-toothed as well.

"Poor baby…" she murmured, stroking the cub's head. "I… have a friend with an exotic pet with a similar situation. An alligator, and he has no teeth, too."

A pause elapsed.

"I've always worried about how he ate… What he ate since he's supposed to be a meat eater, but he's in good health. How DO you feed him… and his mother? ALL of them?"

"Their meat is groound up good soo they can prooperly eat it," he replied, pointing a hoof to the pile of ground meat the mother tiger was ingesting. She didn't appear to be having any trouble at all eating.

"… At least they can eat," Smokey muttered, a pang of sympathy for the toothless cats pulling at him.

Fluttershy did not look entirely happy, but witnessing that the tigress was able to eat without any issues and appeared to be content, but nodded slowly in acknowledgement.

"I see… So long as they're getting the proper nutrition they need…" she said with a smidgen of dejection thronging her intonation.

Picking up the note in the mare's tonality, Smokey placed a comforting hand on her back. While he tried to console her with his touch, he watched as the cub flopped onto his side then rolled over onto his back to repeatedly paw at her dangling mane, earning a laugh from the dragon.

The pegasus giggled and reached out with her hooves to tickle his belly. As he grasped onto the end of her forelock, she waited for him to open his mouth to flip her hair back.

"Now, now," she gently chided. "You shouldn't do that. It's not nice."

Hair removed from his mouth, the small tiger rolled back onto his feet and let out a hoarse, high-pitched roar. Releasing a second roar, he sprang at Fluttershy, body colliding with her chest.

Fluttershy laughed, catching the cub in her forelegs. Holding him close, she chuckled and nuzzled his head.

"You're so adorable," she gushed, running her hoof from his head to the base of his tail.

"He is a cute little fellow."

Stretching out his arm, Smokey reached around the mare to pet the cub's cranium.

"Yes, the wee oone is very sweet."

Pendulum nodded as he continued to watch the scene play out before him.

"Do any of them have any names?" she questioned, shifting her gaze to Pendulum.

"Oof coourse they do. That little oone's name is Bishen and the moother is Akanksha," he relayed.

"Those are nice names," said Smokey, smiling down at Bishen.

"Were both of them born in captivity?" Fluttershy wryly asked.

"All my animals were boorn in captivity. I 'ad purchased them froom all oover Equestria. Very few zoos 'ave these kind oof special cooloored creatures."

"They're all so beautiful," Smokey breathed as he slid out of the cage to eye the line of rare colored animals in awe.

Fluttershy bit her lip, uncertain of how to feel about this. Animals like these, she felt, should never have been BOUGHT, but if every single one here had been bred under captivity…

At least it was better than catching them in the wild and taking them from their homes. Attempting to release them from the lives they've come to know would be far more detrimental to their well-being rather than beneficial.

"They are beautiful…" she admitted.

"Thank you. I pride myself in my coollectioon."

Even though Smokey didn't like the stallion referring his animals as a collection, he smiled and nodded anyway, not wishing to antagonize him in any way.

"Well… I'm glad your animals are doing better."

Nuzzling the cub and setting him down, Fluttershy patted him back over towards his mother and turned to Pendulum.

"They're doing much better. If you keep this up, I'm sure they'll be far happier in the long run. The poor dears."

Not needing any further encouragement, the cub waddled over to his mother to play with her tail as she ate her meal.

"Yes. I gave their caretaker a stern talking to and a pay cut. That shoould teach 'im to take better care oof them."

"Looks like it is working so far." Turning to the stallion, Smokey offered a friendly nod. "Thank you for letting us see your animals."

Fluttershy nodded, feeling she could add nothing more to the conversation. Turning back to Smokey, a smile pulled at her lips.

"Well, then, should we get back to the party?"

"Oof coourse. Goo 'ave a good time. Goo see yoour friends."

After the pegasus hopped down from the cage, Pendulum closed and locked the door and escorted her and Smokey back to the party before eventually breaking off from them to tend to other partygoers.