Fluttershy decided to stay with Rainbow Dash at the home of Darryl Hord. Artex had told them a few things about his Marine buddy, but they had never met him. Wanting to get acquainted and hoping for perhaps a tour behind the scenes, Rainbow Dash led the way through the streets, flying low to the ground and holding a piece of paper with directions to his home in front of her. The directions said that Darryl's house was on the corner of Fifth Street and Fortune Lane. She had found Fifth Street easily enough, and it did not take her long to reach where it intersected Fortune Lane.

The house was plain, painted in white with light blue shutters and a matching door. Dash landed and waited for Fluttershy to catch up to her, which fortunately did not take long. Dash trotted forward and knocked loudly on the door. Fluttershy trotted up behind her and sat down, waiting for somebody to answer. After a few seconds Dash was getting impatient, "Grr, come on! Open up!" She yelled.

From behind them came a teasing masculine voice, "Patience is a virtue, but its fruits are bittersweet."

Dash spun around like a top. Her wings flared out and she lowered her front half in an aggressive stance. Fluttershy merely squeaked and backed up behind her friend. Standing on the street was a Human figure dressed in polished, silvery armor. Try as she might, the only weapon Dash could identify was a club hanging from the Human's waist. The Human had other things on its belt, but Dash was lost as to their possible use, "Didn't your mother ever tell you not to sneak up on Ponies like that!?" Dash addressed hotly.

The Human crossed his arms and tilted his head back as if in thought for a moment before he responded, "No," he paused as if making sure of his statement, "No I don't think she ever did." He uncrossed his arms, "You seem to forget that on Earth, we didn't have any talking Ponies."

Dash snorted in frustration, "Alright wise-guy, what do you want with us? We were given directions to come to this house and meet Artex' friend because he offered us a place to stay. We haven't done anything wrong."

The Human shrugged, "I never stated that you had. I was just giving out a free life lesson. And for your information, you are standing in front of my house."

Dash shook her head, "Nuh-uh, this is the house of Artex' friend! You can't fool me."

A quiet voice from behind Dash reminded her that Fluttershy was still with her, "Um, I hate to correct you Rainbow Dash, but he never stated that this house didn't belong to Artex' friend. For all we know, this Human might be a roommate or even the friend himself."

The Human chuckled, "Wow, Dan wasn't kidding when he said you were aggressive, Dash." The Human reached up and removed his helmet allowing his sandy blond hair to breathe, "And Fluttershy is right," he performed a small bow, "I'm Darryl."

Dash relaxed her stance, "Really? Why didn't you say so?"

Darryl shrugged, "Because messing with you seemed like fun." He cleared his throat, "You will have to excuse me, I'm still on duty and I need to get back to work. I can give you a tour if you want, though. I get off duty at four this afternoon, but I'm on-call all the time. What do you say we meet back here around four-thirty and I'll treat you two ladies to dinner around five? You can meet my girlfriends then, too. Is that acceptable?"

Rainbow Dash did not need to think it over, "Sounds good to me. Since you live here, I'll bet you know all the best events!" Fluttershy nodded silently behind her friend as Darryl replaced his helmet.

He motioned for the two mares to follow him, "Come on then. This place isn't exactly tiny." He turned and began walking down the street. Rainbow Dash fluttered to Darryl's right side and Fluttershy trotted on Dash's right. Dash looked Darryl's armor up and down curiously, "Soooo, are you one of the Civil Guard in New Humansville?"

Darryl snapped the gloved fingers of his left hand in a jaunty manner, "We're called the Community Welfare Guardians or C.W.G. but in essence, it's the same thing. We respond to any and all emergencies. Our single biggest goal is keeping everybody in town safe."

"Don't you mean, 'everypony'?" Dash asked.

"It wouldn't make sense if he did," Fluttershy spoke from beside Dash, "There are more than Ponies living here, so they say, 'everybody' instead. It isn't specific to a species and it works for all the citizens. I heard other Humans and Ponies say it too."

As they walked, Darryl gave many friendly waves to the Humans and Ponies they passed. Dash was trying to see everything around them at the same time, while Fluttershy subtly glanced around to see if anything caught her interest. Darryl stopped and spoke to a Human woman with fiery red hair, "Hey there Alana," he greeted her warmly gesturing to her swollen belly, "Are the little ones feeling active today?"

Alana smiled back and placed her right hand on her belly, "Not too much..." she trailed off as soon as she spotted Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, "Oh, I recognize you two! Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy right? Welcome to New Humansville. I hope you enjoy your visit." She finished her greeting by extending her right hand toward the two mares.

Dash shook her hand with a grin, "It's not bad so far." Fluttershy was gazing at Alana's belly, "Are you with foal?" She asked quietly.

Alana patted her stomach, "Oh yeah. I'm due next week, and let me tell you, it will not come soon enough."

Fluttershy cautiously approached Alana, staring at her bulge, "How long is the gestational period for Humans? Do you know if it's a colt or a filly?"

Alana giggled behind her hand, "Two boys. Young Human males are called boys. Infant Humans are called babies. The gestational period for Humans is about 280 days, though it is often slightly different by a week or so. And before you ask, 'yes' you can touch the belly, just don't press too hard. Humans are much more frail than Ponies."

While Fluttershy examined Alana's stomach, Dash had a question, "So you feel safe having... babies in a town with Changelings and Bloodmages?"

Alana nodded, "I do. It was a strain for a while though. The Bloodmages took some time to adjust to us, and for us to adjust to them. It turns out that they had been raised to believe that all Unicorns could freely mind-control or even kill almost anybody they wanted to and there were no laws to stop them..."

"But that's not true! Rarity and Twilight would NEVER do that!" Dash interjected.

Alana smiled down at her, "We know that, but they didn't. It is very difficult to unlearn something you had been taught your whole life. For example: would you be surprised to learn that some of the C.W.G. Officers here in New Humansville are women and mares? How about a Changeling as big as a house who has a filly for a best friend? Just because we believe something, doesn't make it true."

Rainbow Dash shot Alana a skeptical look. Darryl, seeing an opportunity, goaded Dash, "We can prove it too. Go ahead, ask us anything you want about Humans or Changelings."

Dash rose into the air, and crossed her forehooves, hovering at eye level with Darryl, "O.K. is it really true that Humans eat meat besides fish? When Artex lived in Ponyville, he and Fluttershy would go out fishing every so often, but once I heard him say that he missed bacon."

Darryl nodded, "Oh yeah. Bacon is 'awesome' wrapped in 'delicious' with a side of 'yum'. We have some here in New Humansville. We get it shipped from Gryphonvale."

"Changelings CAN eat meats, and it is nutritious, but most just like fruits and vegetables... and lots of fungi like mushrooms." Alana explained.

Dash looked up at Alana, "You sure seem to know a lot about Changelings. Did you dissect one or something?"

Alana's expression tightened, "No." she said briskly, "Some Changelings have volunteered to be examined, but I can promise you that none have been harmed." She took a deep breath to calm down, "You seem to have some animosity toward Changelings. Can you tell me why that is?"

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and huffed loudly, "Oh I don't know, maybe because they tried to take over Equestria. Maybe because they would have wrapped us all up in cocoons and fed off us until we died. Or maybe because they attacked us for no reason."

Alana nodded her head in understanding, "Alright, I think I can see why you would think that. Would it make you feel better to know that Queen Chrysalis is... no longer a problem? Or how about the fact that despite the fact that they were starving to death, some of the Changelings refused to attack Canterlot?"

"How is Chrysalis NOT a problem? It's just a matter of time until she tries to take over again!" Dash exclaimed.

Alana shook her head with a grim smile, "I can guarantee you she will never threaten anybody else ever again."

Dash looked very doubtful, "How do YOU know!?"

Darryl cleared his throat loudly, "Excuse me ladies, but I believe I was giving you two a tour?"

Dash shook her head, "Oh right." She shot Alana an apologetic look, "Sorry about, you know, getting angry and all that. I'm not calling you a liar or anything, but I just get really amped up when I talk about Changelings."

Alana smiled warmly at Dash, "You should try talking to one. I promise, they aren't the monsters you think they are."

Dash rolled her eyes, "Yeah... we'll see. I don't plan on going out of my way to chat it up with a love-bug."

Fluttershy patted Alana on the leg to get her attention, "Um... it was nice meeting you." She looked at Alana's belly, "I hope they both come out big and healthy." Fluttershy then turned and trotted after Dash and Darryl.

As they approached the Town Square where many of the events were being set up, Dash kept asking Darryl questions, "I just can't believe you guys actually LIVE with Changelings. How do they suck up enough love to survive? Do you guys tie somebody down for lunch every day or something?"

Darryl chuckled, "Not even close. You weren't listening very well you know, Alana already explained that. Changelings can eat normal food just like everybody else. They use the love energy for their spells and shape-shifting abilities. They don't need to take any love if it is given freely. They can just siphon it out of the world around them."

"Alana seemed nice." Fluttershy offered.

Darryl nodded, "She better be. She's the new Changeling Queen."

"WHAT!?" Dash bellowed leaping into the air, "But she... she seemed so... normal! Did she hypnotize me!?" She landed and thrust her face toward Fluttershy, "Twilight said that her brother's eyes flashed green when Chrysalis hypnotized him. Quick, what color are my eyes!?"

Fluttershy backed away from her fillyhood friend, "You eyes, um look... normal?"

"She can't use hardly any of her powers while she's pregnant, it would hurt her babies." Darryl stated bluntly, "She couldn't have hypnotized you if she wanted to." He then mumbled to himself, "It's like trying to talk down a Bloodmage who just saw a Unicorn for the first time."

Dash heard his remark and stopped cold, "What do you mean?"

Darryl sighed and shook his head, "Remember we said that Bloodmages used to think Unicorns mind-controlled everybody?" Dash nodded and Darryl continued, "Well here you are doing the exact same thing except with Changelings instead of Unicorns, and you're just as wrong as they were."

Dash lapsed into silence, digesting the new information.

* * *

In a different part of town, Rarity was standing in front of a brightly painted house. She raised her right forehoof, knocked on the door, then stepped back and fluffed her mane. She wanted to look perfect for whichever of Artex' friends had offered to let her stay free of charge, 'I was not expecting any special treatment, but I shan't refuse such generosity.'

The door clicked and swung open, revealing a blue Earth Pony mare who had a rust colored mane and tail. Rarity put on her best smile, "Good morning! My name is Rarity. I do believe that there is a Human here by the name of Kolo Calvin? He offered to let me stay here during the festival and I wanted a chance to get to know with whom I am going to be staying."

The blue mare bit her lower lip and let out a shrill whistle so loud it left Rarity's ears ringing, "KOLO! RARITY IS HERE!" She turned back to the slightly deafened alabaster Unicorn and bobbed her head daintily, "Come on in Rarity. I'm Buzz Butter. Kolo is in the basement working with Tina to see if they can make a better model of toilet."

Rarity had to bite her tongue, 'Toilet? He works with... sewage? How grotesque! Still, it IS a part of life... albeit a gross one. Still, I'm certain he is very nice.' Rarity stepped into the foyer of the home and looked around. It was very nicely appointed with varnished wooden furniture on display and a vase of bright, colorful flowers set against the left wall.

Rarity took in a deep breath and let it out. The sound of a door banging open drew her attention to the hulking figure squeezing his way out of a small doorway which she assumed led to the basement. Rarity took an involuntary step back at the size of the Human man, 'Good gracious! Artex was tall enough as it was but this man... he's as tall as Iron Will!'

Kolo stood up straight and cracked his back then turned to Rarity, "You must be Rarity, right?" He asked with a grin.

Rarity shook the daze out of her head and answered him, "I am indeed sir, and you must be Kolo." Rarity flung her mane over her shoulder and straightened her posture, "Artex has spoken of you with glowing praise. According to him, you are one of the nicest people he ever had the pleasure of knowing."

Kolo chuckled and blushed at the compliment, "Thanks Rares, I don't know about all that, but Dan is a good friend and any friend of his is a friend of mine."

Rarity blinked at Kolo's shortening of her name and laughed uncomfortably, "Rares... how... unusual... it's a very avant garde figure of speech."

A tiny framed Human woman emerged from behind Kolo and Rarity's eyes widened, "Oh my, I'm so sorry ma'am, I did not see you there. If I may say, you have some of the most refined and delicate features of any Human I have ever seen."

Tina Pho smiled at the alabaster Unicorn mare and crossed her arms, "I take it you're the one who's staying with us for the week, huh?"

Rarity bobbed her head, "Indeed I am..."

Rarity suddenly stopped talking when she felt two tiny arms encircle her right foreleg. She looked down and saw a tiny Human dressed in a bright blue shirt and wearing a diaper. He stared up at her with huge, dark brown eyes peeking out from under a tousled head of thick jet black hair. Rarity blinked three times in quick succession and nearly shattered all the glass in the house with her squeal, "Ooh! Aren't you the cutest little thing!?" She lit up her horn and levitated him up to eye level, "Just look at that adorable little shirt!" She looked to Kolo and Tina, "He is so precious! Is he yours?"

Tina held up her left hand, "Mine, not Kolo's. His name is Merlin. Oh and be careful not to take the limiter ring off his arm. It keeps his magic at bay and he can't remove it himself so he tries to get other people to do it for him. His magic is too wild for him to control right now. One time he phased through his crib and the floor. If Buzz Butter hadn't been walking directly underneath where his crib was, he would have fallen into the dirt. Thankfully the shock of hitting her back jarred him enough to let go of his magic." Tina shook her head, "It could have been a LOT worse. After that, we decided that we had no choice other than a limiter ring."

Rarity cocked her head to the left, "Has anypony checked his Nouns and Verbs?"

Tina blew out an exasperated breath, "Yeah, he has a three... in everything."

Rarity's jaw dropped open in astonishment, "Oh my!" She turned her head and nuzzled little Merlin warmly, "I think somebody is going to have a full scholarship for Celestia's School For Gifted Unicorns..." she raised her head and cleared her throat, "Correction, Celestia's School for Magical Studies." She rolled her eyes, "I keep forgetting that the school is now open to more than just Unicorns."

Kolo clapped his hands together loudly, "I don't know about you, but I think it's about time for lunch. Since you're the guest it's your choice, home cooked or restaurant?"

Rarity set Merlin down very gently, "I think home cooked sounds lovely."

Buzz Butter smiled hugely as she turned and pranced toward the kitchen, "Great! I'll make my specialty."

Rarity smiled after the blue mare's retreating form, "If I may ask," she queried to Kolo, "What is her specialty?"

The huge Human man grinned, flashing his teeth, "Spaghetti with lamb meatballs and bacon sauce."

Author's Notes:

The next round of Spot The Typo is about to begin. Who will be the winner of this round?