Memory Clash can't deny Smooth Talker's strange behavior anymore. He has just had the most uncomfortable time with his family. His mother said everything he thought she would. "Oh sweetie, I have missed you so much!" even though she saw him when he returned two days ago. "Who's this? Don't tell me you're still growing up so fast!" followed by, "I'll be all alone soon. Your father is away in those mines, your brother is going to move out in a few days, and your sister is going to have her second grub. What will I ever do!" He may as well wort a script. His brother is his usual depressed self. Yes, Memory was serious when he said that his brother loathes himself. That changeling can really make a beautifully decorated room, but seems to make everything near him turn grey. But the straw that broke the camel's back was Smooth seemly trying to make his mother think they're in some sort of relationship. She kept putting that sort of mindset in his mother's head. Memory has had it. He will get to the bottom of this. If she won't tell him, then maybe her book will.

He leaves her at his place under the claim of restocking his love and heads to the library. At this time, the library only has a few changelings. At first, he couldn't find it, but he then saw it in a pile of books next to a changeling trying to fit what Memory can only assume to be a monocle. He approached the changeling.

"Excuse me." he started.

"What?" the changeling said while still working on his craft.

"I see you have a novel I been reading, if you don't mind, may I have it back?"

"I don't have any novels."

"You're sure?"

"I'm only reading textbooks."

"Then what is this?" Memory pointed at 'The Fiery Passion.'

The changeling looked up at it, "That is very well a textbook. I'm done with it so if you want it, go ahead."

Memory used his magic to gently pull it out without toppling the pile. "Thank you..."

"Figure Out."

"Ah, I'm Memory Clash."

"You're Memory Clash?" Figure Out said looking up at him.

"Yes."

"The queen wants me to make your team a set of spyglasses. You'll need to see me..." He wrote on a piece of paper, "here in a week or so."

The paper showed a address. Memory took the paper, "Thanks, I'll see you then."

"Take care." Figure Out said back.

Memory took a seat and opened the book. It quickly became obvious why a changeling kept this. The first chapter was titled, "Finding That Special Somepony." It detailed precise instructions on how to find the perfect mate. This wasn't a romance novel, it's some sort of self-help book. In the next chapter, "Impressing Them," subchapter, "Wooing Stallions," it read a exact copy of what Smooth had been doing to him. She's trying to gain his attention, but why? She didn't seem to be like that on their journeys. He must get to the bottom of this. He puts the book up and heads home.

On the way, he thinks of possible answers. She was looking at changeling families with a sort of interest, does she want to start one herself? If so, why him? Does she have some sort of interest in him? She did show more interest in him after Ranedh's ruins, but it was never serious, right? He'll just have to ask her when he gets home.

He trots up to the door and enters. Smooth was lying on the couch.

"Hey there handsome." she said.

"Smooth. Hey, can you tell me something?"

"What's that?"

"That romance novel you read yesterday at the library, can you tell me a little bit about it?"

"Oh, you know, you read one, you've read them all."

"Hmm, that's interesting. You see, I went down to the library and read the book and I can say that it's not like any romance novel I've ever read in my life."

Smooth's eyes go wide and her ears fall down. "You know, the book said that playing games are a good thing. So let's play a game."

"What kind of game?" Smooth asked nervously.

"Your choice, tell me why you are trying to woo me or get out of my house." Smooth bit her bottom lip. "Smooth, I don't care what it is. Why won't you tell me what's going on? You can tell me anything."

"I... just had to."

"Why? Smooth, I do like you, but if you want to make it something more, you need to go slower. Why did you feel you needed to go so fast?"

She bowed her head in shame "My parents."

"Parden?"

"When we got back to the colony, my parents didn't want me in house. My sisters have moved out with their husbands and my brother stays at the barracks. My parents cast me out to 'keep from spoiling me.' The only way to get a home in the colony is for either your parents to pay or your job supplies it for free. Because our assignment doesn't provide housing, I was out on the streets. For me to take a job, I would need to leave the team." Memory pondered on this. Currency is starting to be implemented into society. Because his father works right where the money comes from, his family is wealthy compared to most others. He was lucky his mother paid for his house. Her brother and father works in the royal guard, that gives housing to the entire immediate family. That means her family completely disowned her. "So I thought I would hang out with a team member and you seemed like the perfect choice." she continued, "I also thought if we came closer, you would let me stay longer. Maybe even move in. When we talked the first day, I felt comfortable with you. Seemed like somepony I can truly love."

"Why didn't you tell me before? I would have let you stay regardless."

"I didn't want it to feel like I was taking advantage of your charity. If you loved me back, it would feel like we decided on it."

"Well, I don't see why you can't still stay, but if you want things to grow from there, we have to take it slower."

Smooth takes in a deep breath, "Fair enough. But Memory, can you just do one more thing for me?"

"What?"

Smooth pulled something out from under the couch with her mouth and sets it in her lap. "Well you see, the one thing I got from my parents are these." The box was labeled, Super Hard Cider. "It would be a shame to let them go to waste." She open the box and pulled out a glass bottle. Inside was a clear liquid that looked more like vodka rather than cider.

"What is it?" Memory asked.

"Well, you know that hard cider is apple cider with alcohol right? Well this is more like pure alcohol mixed with apple cider."

She pulled out a second one with her magic and pushed it toward him. He hesitated, but took the bottle and opened it with one of the holes in his hooves, Smooth does likewise. He got next to her on the couch, then he gulped down a swallow. It was very strong; the taste of alcohol hit before the cider. It went straight to his head. The world gave out all around him. Things just seemed to haze and fizzle out. He almost blacked out right then and there. He looked at Smooth. She was in a similar state. For some reason, he laughed at the site of her swaying around. She began to laugh in return and he laughed harder because of it. It just was the most hilarious thing to him. After a few minutes, they gained better control. Now looking at Smooth, he thought she was the most beautiful living thing in the world. A thought popped into his mind, how much of her that he is seeing is really just the alcohol? He passed the thought when he saw her looking at him in the same way. He found himself leaning forwards, he thought of stopping, but she leaned towards him as well. They made contact, the kiss buzzed in both of their heads. Memory wanted nothing to stop this magical moment. Smooth however, broke the kiss and said, "Want to go up stairs?" His answer was him getting up to rush to the bedroom.

On the bed, they laid on their sides making out. Again, Memory wanted to keep on going, but Smooth had a better idea. "I want to try something." She stood up on the bed on all fours and turned around to face away from him. At first, Memory was confused, but then she bent down her forelegs and all became clear when her tail moved to the side, exposing a certain feature. Memory looked right at it. He thought of saying 'no thanks, we should take this slowly," but another side of him said otherwise. His brain was officially in a state of civil war. "Well?" Smooth asked. Being offered to do with what he pleases to the chunk of heaven before him, it did it in for him. Under the alcohol, all his inhibitions melted away. He got up and leaped on top of her. The rest was utter bliss bliss.

***

Memory's eyes slowly crept open. His head was throbbing and the light assaulted his eyes, but otherwise, it wasn't a terrible hangover. He waited for his eyes to adjust before looking around. Last night was a bit of hase. The only thing his mind will tell him was that whatever it was, it was a night to remember. He remembers Smooth pulling out the cider and him taking a gulp and, oh that's where he's out of luck. He tries to pick up the fragments and piece together a image of the series of events. First thing that came to mind, the kiss. At first, Memory was taken back by that he kissed his friend, but then the magic of the moment seeped in. Her stunning beauty filled his mind. His whole perception of her quickly started to change, perhaps they can be more than friends. He then recalls being in bed, making out. He wanted to rush to find Smooth, just to do it some more. Something else brushed up against his mind though. Something much more wonderful. He stained to find out what it was. Whatever it was, he must know. Slowly, but surely, it hit him. He was frozen in place. He mated with Smooth last night. Every wonderful detail started to trickle in. He began to remember every feeling of it. Forget making out, that's where the real magic is at. He laid a little longer, basking in the memory's experience.

He finally started to take in his surroundings. He found Smooth, still asleep, cuddling up next to him. Her head rested upon his neck and her forelegs are warped around him like he is a large teddy bear. She also bares a happy grin on her face. He has one of his forelegs hooked around her as well. He kept looking at her. To him, the alcohol did nothing to improve her appearance. She's already perfect. He thought it would be a crime on the queen to disturb her slumber. So he waited for her to wake on her own. When she did, she seemed to be as confused as he was. Soon, she also began to remember the close connection they had last night. She looked up at him. She gave a shy simile. "I hope you didn't mind all tha-" Memory's kiss cut her off. She didn't expect that, but she quickly returned it.The absence of alcohol made it no less magical. After a bit, they broke the kiss.

"So do you still want to take things slowly?" Smooth asked.

"Do we have anywhere else to go from here?" Memory responded.

"I suppose not."

"I think so too."

"Do you want to give it a break?"

"What, the mating or the whole relationship?"

"The former."

"Well, I suppose that I can stick to the making out for awhile."

"I agree."

"Well then, what would you like to do today?"

"I'm not sure. Do you want to finish the rest of the cider?"

"Sure, lets just freshen up first and head down stairs."

Author's Notes:

If you really want to know what happened in detail that night, the 'M' version is here: MemoryxSmooth