Chapter 18: Tea and Understanding

Hope: Day 4
Nightfall: Day 18

Hope’s POV

After me and Fluttershy had left the hospital with Tank about fifteen minutes ago, we headed to Ponyville to do some shopping.

It was so boring that I just wanted to go home. She took me here, there and everywhere, but I tried my best not to complain.

After a little while, she noticed that I was not happy. So she asked in concern, “Are you alright Hope? If you don’t mind me asking. You’re not planning to run away again, are you?”

I replied, “No, I’m just so bored with shopping. Besides, if I try to run off again, you could always use the stare on me.” I didn’t know how powerful it was, to be in front of her for real with it, but I take my chances.

She smiled after hearing my words, so I brought her into a hug and said, “I am never going to leave your side again.”

She asked, “Honest?”

I could sense some doubt in her, so I replied, “I Pinkie Promise.”

Suddenly, we broke the hug as we noticed that Pinkie Pie was slowly moving her head upwards out of a plant jar, near one of the shops. The plant itself was on her head and her eyes were giving us a creepy serious-like spying look.

After a moment, she slowly lowered her head back into the jar that left me and Shy creeped out. Well, it almost made me laugh to be honest.

Tank was about to fly off by accident, but I just managed catch him before he did. Shy though was a bit confused, about what the pink party pony was doing, so she asked, “Um, Pinkie?”

The pink party pony quickly jumped out of the jar, with the plant landing back inside. Then she shouted out, while bouncing excitedly, “Fluttershy! Fluttershy! Are you two on a date!?”

The question took us both by surprise. Me and Shy looked towards each other and blushed at Pinkie’s question. It looked like Shy wasn’t sure how to handle the situation, so I replied, “No, we’re just shopping. Were you following us?”

Pinkie replied, while waving a hoof, “What!? No. I was just going for a cup of tea at the Cakes. You both want to come?”

I thought to myself, ‘Sure you were.’

I then replied, “Sounds good-”

Fluttershy then interrupted, “No! I mean- we must get the goods, I only managed to get half of them yesterday.”

I moaned, while getting desperate, “Awww, come on, just for ten minutes? I’m thirsty.”

Reconsidering, Shy replied, “Well I’m feeling a little thirsty too, after all this shopping. I guess it will okay, but only for ten minutes.”

I replied, quite happily, “Yay.”

Pinkie then shouted out, “Oh goody, this will be a blast!”

Getting worried, I thought, ‘She’s got a party planned- She’s got a party planned- She’s got a party planned…’

Knowing that I will have to face the music at some point, I turned off Tank’s propeller and carried him while walking with the mares.

Later on, as we arrived at the Cakes. Me and Shy sat at a table, facing towards each other near a window. Pinkie sat at the side of Shy, while Tank rested in his shell at the side of me. Pinkie kindly paid for the tea for us, which she didn’t mind doing.

My sweet pegasus show her gratitude, “Thank you Pinkie.”

I also showed mine, “Thanks Pinkie.”

She replied, while explaining her reason for coming with us, “No problem. I knew you were not carried away with parties, so I thought this will make up for it.”

At least I no longer have to worry about getting a ‘Welcome to Ponyville Party’ now, thank Celestia.

We sat silently for a while, holding our tea and taking a little sips as time went on. I was surprised that Pinkie was quiet. She isn’t one to be this quiet.

Before I attempted to break the silence, Shy asked, “So Hope. Um- what did you used to do back in your world?”

Not expecting her to ask this kind of question, I replied, while being careful not mention she’s from a show, “Well, I helped look after the critters just like you. Sometimes, I do some art. My sketch book is back on my world though.” Of course, I didn’t tell her that I had a adorable sketch of her.

Pinkie then said, while leaning over the table, “Looks like you both have a lot in common.”

I quickly asked, “Wait, Fluttershy does art too!?”

Shy answered, “No, only skilful unicorns can create great art.”

I replied, not realising that it would be harder to draw with her mouth, “I see…”

Wondering if there are any events coming up, I asked, “Are there any special days coming up, like holidays or trips?”

Shy brought a hoof to her chin and thought for a moment, then replied, “Well actually-”

Pinkie interrupted, bouncing excitedly, “We got a trip to the beach tomorrow! Can you believe it!?”

My pegasus replied, seriously, “But Pinkie, Rainbow Dash is still in the hospital. It won’t be the same without her.”

Pinkie replied, sadly and understandingly, “Awww… but I’m sure we can wait, until she’s all better.”

I thought for a moment, ‘I didn’t know anypony goes to the beach in Equestria. This is going to be interesting and worrying at the same time. I guess this trip could help me relax and get used to living here though.’

Nightfall’s POV (Alicorn Form)

After spending about ten minutes with Rainbow, I left the hospital and walked to the Ponyville Library, where Twilight would be.

Thinking about the conversation that we recently had, I thought to myself, ‘Did Rainbow call me… ‘Night’…? That nickname actually sounds great in my opinion…’

Once I had arrived at the library, I could see that Rarity was just getting ready to leave. Not knowing I was nearby, she spoke out loud just after she had magically closed the door, “*deep sigh* That thing is just plain rude.”

Before she noticed me, I asked, “Is everything alright?”

Looking happy to get away from him, she turned towards me and answered, “I’m fine thanks, darling. I’m just going to head back to my boutique. I got a lot of orders to catch up on, since I didn’t have time for them after yesterday.”

Understanding her situation, I replied, “No problem. I’m just going to help Twilight out for a while. I see ya soon.” She smiled in return and then left.

Meanwhile, I took a deep breath and prepared myself for the possible worse case scenarios. Then, I knocked on the door and waited…

After a moment, the door had opened. Standing there, in front of me, was the changeling himself. I was quite surprised that his wounds had already healed, but he did have quite a number of bruises on him. Looks like him and Hope had quite a good scrap earlier.

He spoke first, rudely, “Yes?”

I wasn’t bothered the way he spoke, I replied, “Your Cocoon right? I helped by carrying you to the hospital last night.”

Not surprised at all, he answered, “Looks like the rainbow one has told you about me.”

Before I asked if I could come in, Twilight called, “Who is it?”

I could see her behind Cocoon, walking to the door, while holding four drinks of orange with her magic. When she saw it was me, she asked, “Hey Nightfall. Have you come to join our conversation?”

I answered, “That’s what I’m here for.”

The lavender unicorn motioned me in and replied, “Come in.”

I then walked past the changeling and through the door. Then I asked, “How are things going?”

Just as Cocoon closed the door behind us, she answered, “Great. I don’t have any books on changelings. So Cocoon has offered some assistance in helping me writing one, about his species.”

Wondering how the other unicorn is, I asked, “How’s Trixie?”

As I heard foothoofs coming down stairs, Spike called out, “I think she’s going to be sick for another day or two Twi-”

Noticing I was here, he greeted me, “Oh, hi Nightfall.”

I greeted the dragon in return, “Hi Spike.”

The lavender unicorn then asked me, “Do you want a drink by the way?”

After a long flight and conversation with Rainbow, I answered, “Orange would be nice, please.”

She give Spike two of the drinks and asked, “Could you give one to Trixie please?”

Spike replied, while walking back up stairs, “Sure thing.”

Twilight give one of the glasses to Cocoon, who caught it with his magic, not bothering to thank her in the process.

While the lavender unicorn entered the kitchen, he took a quick drink and lowered his glass. Then, I asked the changeling, attempting to try and start a conversation, “What were you doing in the Everfree Forest by the way?”

He shivered for a moment, like something had frightened him recently. Probably the Hydra, from yesterday.

Trying to hide his sudden shiver like nothing had happened, he answered, “You know… you’re the first one who had asked me that question so far. And for my answer, ‘I’m not telling you.’”

Knowing it’s better not force somepony to say something that they don’t want to, I replied, “No problem…”

Confused at my response, he asked, “Eh?”

I explained, “If you do not want to tell me, you don’t have to.”

Surprised about my explanation, he replied with a grin of satisfaction, “Looks like you and I, are going to get on just well.”

After a moment, Twilight’s number one assistant had came back down stairs with his drink. Shortly after, Twilight came back in from the kitchen with my drink, while magically holding her own as well.

She levitated the glass towards me, as I took control of it with my own magic and showed my appreciation, “Thanks Twilight.”

As the lavender unicorn placed her drink to one side, she magically grabbed a paper and a quill. Then spoke, “Okay, let’s start.”

I drunk half a glass and put mine to one side. Then I asked, “Where is everypony else? I know Rarity had just left to catch up on some work. And Fluttershy is with Hope, shopping.”

Then, the one thing that wasn’t expected to be heard in a kids show was said out loud. Cocoon snickered, while licking his lips rudely, “He probably would be banging her, right now.”

This had totally caught me of guard, as I raised a hoof to my mouth, while trying not to laugh.

Twilight, however, dropped her quill and attempted to hide behind her paper due to embarrassment. Just being able to see behind her paper, I noticed that she’s blushing bright red.

Getting worried and angry, Spike shouted out, “Hope is going to hurt Fluttershy!?”

Knowing far too well that it was wrong for him to had heard that. I had just lost it, after hearing Spike’s last sentence, as I couldn’t hold back from chuckling.

The changeling could only snicker and reply, “Something like that.”

The lavender unicorn, getting frustrated, shouted angrily towards the changeling, “Enough! Spike is still a baby dragon! And if you don’t mind, can you please keep your comments to yourself, Cocoon!”

Attempting to hold back his snicker-like laughter, he replied, “Sure… love.”

Partly not happy about the statement in return, the lavender unicorn growled in frustration. I meanwhile, managed to hold back from laughing any further.

Not understanding the conversation, Spike asked, “What is he talking about, Twilight?”

Knowing Twilight is still a but frustrated, I answered for her, “Don’t worry Spike. She will be fine.”

Still confused, he replied, “Eh?”

Just as Twilight was calming down, she ensured him, “Don’t worry about it, Spike. Just forget about it.”

As the unicorn relaxed and sat down, she replied to my question from earlier, “Anyway, Pinkie said that this isn’t her thing. And Applejack, she had to go and fill an order for some Apple Family Cider.”

I replied understandingly, “I see…”

After Twilight took a calming sigh, she picked up the paper and feather quill from earlier. Getting back to what we were doing before, she spoke as she wrote down, “Okay… Changelings are able to heal rapidly, when they are in the presence of love. What else is there?”

A thought had just came to me. I cannot believe I hadn’t notice this sooner. His eyes are completely formed, like their queen. I was quite curious, so I asked, “If you don’t mind me asking. Your eyes are quite different than the changelings that I had seen?”

He replied, disbelievingly, “That’s because I’m a fully grown changeling, you fool.”

As we Ignored his insult, Twilight wrote as she spoke, “Changelings eyes are formed… then they had fully grown.”

The little dragon then came up with a question of his own, “Um, can you change into almost anything you want?”

Understanding that it isn’t a silly question like before, he answered, “Only ponies that are near equal size. Of course, we can morph into their appearance, even if there’s a little difference in size.”

As Twilight wrote down her notes, she answered, “Okay, got that.”

The changeling then asked, “Let me ask you ponies a question?”

Twilight, not expecting a question, lowered her paper and quill and replied, “Sure.”

Looking serious as possible, he asked, “What do you ponies want?”

The three of us looked towards each other confused, until Twilight responded happily, “Well um… I just want to be Celestia’s best student and live happily with my friends.”

Not happy about the answer he was given, he replied, “No! I mean, what do ‘all’ you ponies want?”

Twilight, not sure what he was getting at. Spike, looking so confused. After thinking, I spoke, “Don’t we all just want to be happy?”

Neither satisfied or unsatisfied, he replied, “I guess… that answers my question.”