Friday morning passes both fast and slow for Rhino. Today was the day he and Gel decided they would go see Twilight. They had already sent a letter to Silk and would pick her up after he got home from work. Soon enough, they were in front of the yellow pegasus' house, and were knocking.

She answers readily enough, shutting the door behind her. She turns to the couple, "Ready for this?"

Gel nods, her feathered wings rustling a moment. "Ready as we'll ever be...how can you pegasi handle these? It's like my sides are constantly being tickled..."

Silk tilts her head. "It's really weird seeing 'Angel' with wings instead of a horn. Anyway, if they're tickling you, they likely just aren't folded in perfectly.... That or they need to be preened. Either way, a good flight will take your mind off it until we land."

She nods, unfolding her wings. "I'll take your word for it." She turns to Rhino, gently pecking his cheek. "We'll see you at the library."

He nuzzles her in return. "Stay safe." He walks off towards the library.

She smiles and turns to Silk, flapping her wings once experimentally. "Shall we fly off, now?"

The mare nods and the two take off into the sky at a leisurely pace, knowing that getting there before Rhino would only result in them having to wait. Once they reach a nice cruising altitude above the range of the detectors, Silk looks over at Gel and her necklace. "So, I heard you got that lovely piece of jewelry there just after I left last week."

The white mare blushes, smiling softly. "Y-yes, I did. I guess Flick told you about it?"

She rolls her eyes. "Only that it happened. Stallions are terrible for details on these things."

Gel giggles, shaking her head. "Rhino proposed to me. We've yet to come up with a wedding date, though..." She goes silent a second. "...actually, I wanted to ask you something..."

"As long as I get to ask you exactly how he proposed, feel free." Silk winks.

Gel rolls her eyes before smiling kindly at the mare. "Would you be my maid of honor?"

The mare misses a wingbeat and dips down before quickly recovering. She gapes at Gel. "I... I would be honored! Are you sure?"

"Absolutely." The white mare grins at her. "You are my best friend, after all. It makes the most sense for you to be my maid of honor."

Silk giggles. "Well, how can I say no to that? I can't wait to see what the bridesmaid outfits look like. Now then, tell me how he asked."

"He sat down in front of me..." She smiles softly, her gaze becoming distant. "...said the sweetest things...how he didn't hesitate to rescue me...how he couldn't imagine not having me in his life...and then he-" She suddenly crashes into something, cutting her off mid-sentence. She flails her hindlegs, only the back half of her body visible and muffled words coming out.

Silk laughs. "I guess Flick forgot to clean up his cloud." She decides to tease the changeling a bit and flies closer. She rubs a hoof on Gel's cutie mark. "Mmm, I can see why Rhino wants to keep you all to himself..."

Even through the fluffy layer of cloud, her squeak could be heard. Her tail promptly covers her flank, pushing the other mare's hoof out of the way.

Silk laughs flies behind Gel and grabs both her hindlegs. "Come now dear, no time for fooling around." She pulls backwards.

With a bit of wriggling and the yellow pegasus' tugging, Gel pops free of the cloud, a bottle of apple juice in her mouth. She idly drinks it as she continues on her way, putting a hoof on the cloud so she doesn't bump into it again.

Silk raises an eyebrow. "Now where did you get that?"

Gel pops the bottle out of her mouth, holding it in a forehoof as she replies. "The basket inside this cloud. Dunno why it was in there, though."

The mare huffs. "He really didn't clean up. I'll have to speak with him about that." She looks down and realizes where they are. "Oh, we're here," she points down, "and there's your future hubby."

She blushes, pushing the mare with a hoof. "Oh, you." She blinks as the hoof on the cloud loses its support, causing her to stumble sideways momentarily. She glances around, confused, but shrugs before beginning her descent.

Rhino smiles as the two land, giving Gel a nuzzle as he speaks. "Alright, now we just need to get you in normal Angel form then... do this."

She nods, glancing around before ducking behind her stallion. With a quick burst of blue flames, her wings switch out for a horn. She sighs, glancing at her sides. "Thank goodness. No more tickling..."

He chuckles. "For a minute there, I thought I was going to have to learn how to preen wings so I could help you."

She gives him a lidded gaze, touching noses with him. "Maybe you still should. I'd like to see how it'd feel..."

Silk gives a polite cough. "Let's try to focus on why we're here. For the record though, trust me, you do want him to do that. You definitely do."

Gel giggles, nodding before pushing on the door. They did say not to knock... She blinks, seeing a certain dragon with a towel wrapped around his waist. ...maybe I should've knocked...

Spike looks at the three ponies in the doorway before bolting into the bathroom and coming out a moment later without the towel. "Sorry about that, you caught me in an awkward moment. Good to see you again Angel, it feels like it's been forever."

She smiles kindly at him. "Likewise. How have you been?" She moves closer and lays down, wanting to give him her full attention.

Rhino and Silk move into the tree, the former on the lookout for the currently unseen librarian.

The dragon happily continues his conversation. "Oh, you know, keeping the library in livable condition. I actually just got back from bringing a friend to his parents."

She tilts her head to one side, curious. "What friend would that be?" For the life of her, she couldn't think of anyone that would require something like that.

He responds casually. "Pee Wee, a baby phoenix I was taking care of."

Her eyes grow wide in wonder. "A baby phoenix? I've never seen a baby phoenix, before!" She leans close, an excited grin on her face. "What was Pee Wee like?"

He chuckles. "Exactly like you would expect a baby phoenix to be: smart, warm, glow in the dark, he was sweet too. Think of him like a candle to the campfires that were his parents."

"Sounds like somedragon has been reading about metaphors." The lavender librarian descends the stairs.

Gel squeaks, leaping to her hooves and nervously smiling to the librarian. "H-hi, Twilight. H-how are you doing?"

She smiles. "Fine, Angel, you?"

The white mare shrugs, sighing softly. "Glad to be back out of the house. I wasn't feeling well for a few days, there..."

"Oh, well, I'm sorry to hear that." She turns to the dragon. "Spike, now that you're done with your bath, before you take the rest of that day off, I want you to organize the second floor bookshelf."

"Sure thing, Twilight!" He salutes and waves to Gel as he darts upstairs.

With only the four ponies left in the room, one can see the stallion tense slightly as his hackles raise slightly at the sight of their goal.

Gel, meanwhile, nods kindly. "Thank you for the sentiment." She glances around for a moment, trying to figure out a way to approach the subject. "...s-so, the library seems quite orderly. Did you and Spike do this, yourselves?"

She nods. "It's just us living here so we're the ones that maintain it. Though, Spike does plenty of it so I can pursue other studies and experiments at the same time."

She blinks, tilting her head in curiosity. "What subjects are you focusing on, at the moment?"

"Non-pony species." She goes to her desk where she has a few books on things like griffons, minotaurs, and zebras. "I'm fascinated by the differences that there are between our species and others."

Gel follows, glancing at each of the books in turn. She frowns slightly, noticing that there's a species missing from them. "...do your books have nothing on changelings?"

Twilight shakes her head. "No... I've been trying to find out all I can on them since the invasion of Canterlot but efforts have been... less than successful."

"Really?" She looks at Rhino, her brow furrowed. ...what do you think?

I suppose I could ease into it here. He clears his throat. "You said that you were studying their natural magic so you could track them with your towers, right?"

"Among other things... Yes." She looks to be keeping her thoughts to herself right now.

Gel tilts her head to one side, confused. "...what 'other things', if I may ask?"

"I'm afraid I have to keep that to myself." She smiles apologetically. "I can't let that get out until I have a... well, until certain things happen."

"Like what?" She takes a step forward, growing more curious. "Until you successfully catch a changeling?"

Twilight's eyes widen but she keeps her mouth shut.

The white mare blinks, stunned. "...I hit it on the head, didn't I?"

Twilight's horn flares as she locks the doors and shuts the windows. She looks around quickly as she speaks. "Nopony was supposed to find out! How did you learn that?"

Gel gives her a flat stare. "...let's just say I have first-hoof experience."

"What?" She takes in Rhino's guarded stance as he steps next to Gel while Silk does the same but with a worried expression.

"Never mind that, for now." She gestures towards the librarian with a hoof. "Just answer me this - what would you do if you did manage to catch one?"

The unicorn quickly waves her hooves. "Don't misunderstand, I don't mean any harm to it! But I mean, the details of what I would do are still better not said right now."

Gel narrows her eyes slightly. "Then why did you say what you did in the Joke Shop the other day?"

Twilight stops and looks at Angel with slowly narrowing eyes. "But... I don't remember seeing you in the joke shop..."

Gel sighs, shaking her head. "You did...maybe this will help you remember." With that, she is enveloped in a cerulean flame, her white fur replaced with blue-tinted carapace, her small fangs growing, and her horn becoming curved. She smiles shyly. "Hello again."

Twilight's pupils shrink as she sets sight on the changeling. Her horn lights up and she crouches down, but she is clearly fighting two different reactions. She looks confused as Rhino steps partially in front of Gel. Her voice shakes slightly but is otherwise strong. "What do you want from me?"

The nymph holds up a hoof as if trying to calm her down. "I want to talk. That's all."

The mare relaxes about halfway before suddenly tensing again, muttering under her breath. "No... Too good to be true... Can't be taken in again..." She raises her voice. "Why should I believe you?"

"For one thing, I revealed myself to you. That's strictly against the rules of the hive. Two," she turns and nuzzles her stallion, "Rhino wouldn't be trying to protect me like this."

Twilight shakes her head. "The second one is irrelevant! Your queen had my brother under a spell to control him too!"

Rhino looks flat at the mare. "Do I really look like I am anything but in my right mind?"

She falters. "Your eyes look normal... No signs of control..."

Silk steps forward. "Please, she doesn't mean any harm, she just wants to talk."

As she sees Rhino lightly nuzzle Gel back before still staring at her with narrowed eyes, Twilight takes a few steps back. Her horn dims a bit, but doesn't go completely out. "What do you want?" Her voice is more normal volume now.

Gel smiles softly, holding a hoof out amicably. "The chance to prove that there are good changelings out there. Changelings like me."

Twilight stares at the hoof for a full minute before slowly reaching toward it. She immediately withdraws her hoof as she sees Rhino tense up when she gets close to it.

The nymph sighs, shaking her head. "Sorry. He's been a little overprotective since we returned Friday...though, honestly, I can't blame him, considering what happened."

Twilight tilts her head. "Did something happen?"

Gel winces, rubbing the back of her neck. "...well...I sort of got attacked...and that's all I'd like to say about that..."

"Oh..." As she sees Rhino still hasn't taken his eyes off her, Twilight slowly cuts off the magic to her horn. Once it is completely powered down, he steps back to Gel's side. Twilight approaches again and gives him one last look before reaching out and touching the outstretched hoof with her own, her eyes widen at the contact.

She giggles at the reaction. "First time touching chitin calmly?"

"Yes..." She puts her hoof back on the ground. "I have some questions before we go any further. Was there ever a pony named Angel that you replaced, and how have you avoided my detector network for so long?"

"Honestly, no. I made Angel, myself." She taps her forehooves together shyly. "...and our house is outside of your network..."

Twilight face hoofs. "I knew running out of towers was going to bite me in the flank..."

Gel blinks, honestly confused. "...is that the reason Sugarcube Corner isn't on your grid, either?"

Twilight shakes her head. "In a manner of speaking. I was running short and decided to get an extra one by skipping there, I figured none of them would want to go near Pinkie and even of they did, between her Pinkie sense and her knowledge on everypony, she'd figure them out quickly."

The nymph stares blankly at this. "...I suppose that's true...but I have one question..." She scratches her head, confused. "What do you mean by 'Pinkie Sense'?"

The unicorn deadpans. "Don't ask, I don't like to think about it too much."

She nods quietly. "If you say so..." She tenses and glances around, half-expecting the mare in question to show up. When she doesn't, the nymph breathes a sigh of relief.

"So..." Twilight begins. "Just to clarify: you are here of your own free will, and in no way wish to harm, invade, or replace anypony in this town?"

Gel looks horrified by this last accusation. "I just want to live here in peace." She glances at Rhino, entwining her tail in his. "With the pony I love."

The lavender unicorn looks confused for a moment as she looks between the couple. "That's all you want?"

Silk speaks up. "The entire time she's been here, she has done nothing but live her life. She works a job, she has a home, and she has friends."

Rhino takes the conversation ball. "We came here, because your towers and subsequent pursuing have made a normal life almost impossible for her."

Twilight looks at him. "And you and she are... together?"

He nods resolutely. "We are engaged."

She sighs. "Putting those towers up was so much work..." She suddenly gets a crafty smile, turning to the nymph. "I think I'd be willing to help you out, if you're willing to settle for a few conditions."

Gel quirks an eyebrow but nods, taking a step forward. "I'm listening."

Twilight rubs her hooves together. "Excellent! Now, I only have two conditions. The first is that you reveal yourself to the town. I'm not saying just go outside and do it, this needs to be done properly in order to avoid panic. I'll send a letter to the princesses and we can organize an official announcement or something to that effect. Sound good so far?"

Rhino leans over and comments to Gel. "Well, I did want to marry the real you, this would be a way to help make that happen."

The nymph nods, keeping an even look. "That's fine by me." Though I have to wonder whether that extends to Flick and Luster... "By your tone of voice, I assume there's more?"

She nods, her smile going almost Pinkie status. "The next condition is that you help me with my book!"

Gel blinks, confused. "...your...book?"

"Yes!" She exclaims. "I mentioned I've been doing studies of non-pony species, but what I've been trying to concentrate on is changelings." She looks as if books insulted her. "The problem is that no matter how many books I look through from any source, I can barely find a single sentence on changelings, and it's usually just rumors..." She peeks up again. "So, I thought, if there isn't information on changelings, then it is my duty as a student to gather it and publish it so that everypony can know about them! The truth, I mean, not just guesses."

Gel considers this for a moment before nodding. "I suppose that's a fair trade. Truth for peace. Just one question." She holds up a hoof, smiling slyly. "Would you like two more primary sources for your book?"

This pokes a small hole in Twilight rapidly inflating happiness. "W-what? There are three of you here?" She quickly patches the hole and doubles the inflation rate. "Great! More sources always equal better data! Oh, just to let you know in advance, I may get a bit personal with my questions, especially when I start delving into your relationship with Rhino. Purely for educational reasons of course."

Silk laughs nervously. "Oh boy... What have we let out..."

Gel smiles, shaking her head playfully. "I don't mind. Rhino, on the other hoof..." She leans over, gently nipping his neck. "...well, some things are best kept between us."

He shivers, but smiles. When he looks to Twilight with a businesslike expression. "As Gel's doctor I'll be happy to answer what questions I can if that will help you."

Twilight nods. "That's great! Oh! If you want, between the two of us, we could co-author the biology part of the book, then you could submit that separately to the veterinary higher-ups. I would ask Gel to do it, but they tend to want qualified licensed doctors to support these things. They always want to stay up to date on new sentient species for their education and training programs. Actually, if I'm correct, which I'm fairly certain I am, when that happens, you would be recognized as the first pony changeling doctor."

The nymph frowns slightly and turns away, muttering just loud enough for Rhino to hear. "...a field medic is still a doctor..." She pauses a second before raising a hoof to muffle a giggle. You definitely have more knowledge of a nymph's body than any other pony. She winks at him, teasingly sticking her tongue out.

He blushes lightly as he replies. yes, I suppose I do... Anyway, I'll make sure to put your qualifications on the document when the time comes, okay?

Thank you, love. She turns to the librarian, a small smile on her lips. "Anything you'd like to ask while I'm here?"

Twilight prances in place. "I don't know... and that's the thing, this is going to be about everything! Culture, history, biology, day to day life... Everything!" She coughs and collects herself. "But it's not like this is going to be a quick endeavor. This will likely take months of short question and answer interviews." She pulls out a scroll. "In the meantime, let's go ahead and see about getting you able to go about your life. I think I'll just stop responding to the towers, which should allow you to live normally and leaves them up in cases I have use for them later. I'll start drafting letters to the princesses and send them out tomorrow."

Silk tilts her head. "Well, this went fairly smoothly. Maybe Rhino worried for nothing."

Twilight laughs nervously. "Well, remember my other plan was to catch a changeling and question it while slowly trying to make it my friend, so he may not have been that far off."

Gel blinks, holding up a hoof. "Hey, is that a good idea? I mean, you said you identify a changeling's magic signature to alert you, right?" She rubs the back of her neck, nervous. "Is it possible to make some signatures be registered as exceptions, instead? Or am I misunderstanding this?"

Twilight taps a hoof to her chin. "Well... Technically it is just set to identify basic changeling magic that seems to be present in all of you... I suppose if I got a sample of magic from each changeling that was good, I could add them as exceptions." She looks at Gel. "Why?"

"Security measures." She glances at Rhino, trying to hide her worry. Don't want to have a repeat of last week, do we?

His only answer is a light growl just outside Twilight's hearing.

The librarian nods. "It should be fairly simple. When did you want it done?"

"I'd have to ask my friends, first...and hope one of them doesn't have a previous engagement..." She glances at the sole pegasus in the room. "But we could do my signature right now if it's simple, right?"

Silk smiles. "Hey, I came here for you, hon. You do what you need to do."

Twilight goes down into her lab and comes out with a small blue gem. "Just touch this with your magic and we're done."

She blinks, surprised. "...I'll take your word for it." She turns her attention to the gem, grabbing it in her magic. She lets go of it almost a second later. "And that wasn't what I meant, Silk." She gives her a coy smile, playfully winking.

The pegasus smiles. "I see. But his schedule's clear when it comes to me right now."

Twilight nods approvingly as she takes the gem and sets it on the desk. "It'll take me a few hours to go around to every tower and adjust them, but I'll just ignore the signals until we have the exceptions set up."

Gel smiles softly, nodding a bit. "I understand...hey, maybe you could just come by, sometime? All of us are pretty much under one roof." She brightens up as an idea comes to her. "Maybe you could come over for dinner." She turns to Silk. "Both of you. If it's alright with Rhino, I mean." She turns to him, sheepish.

He smiles and rolls his eyes while shaking his head. "We seem to be entertaining an awful lot of guests lately..."

She giggles, bumping his side with hers. "You know you enjoy it."

He thinks to her. As long as there's always alone time to balance it out.

She nods, her chitin turning a shade brighter. You have my word, love.

Silk nods. "I'd be happy to come over."

Twilight agrees as well. "I figured it would be best to do the interviews in the comfort of your own home anyway."

Gel beams, happy at this. "Great! Of course, we'll have to get back to both of you on the date for it." She nods respectfully. "Thank you. We should probably get back to the others to share the news." She quickly shifts back to Angel and heads towards the door. "You both have a nice day, okay?"

The two nod as Rhino follows her out the door.