Coco jumped up onto the couch and sat, smiling at Tabitha. "Go on."

Tabitha hadn't expected to make a sudden picture, but she powered up the phone and quickly snapped a shot once it was ready with a little electronic click.

Coco was still sitting there. "Are you going to do it?"

"I already did." Tabitha smiled. Without the bright flash and the louder noises, she supposed it seemed nothing had happened. "Come here."

Coco quickly joined her friend and peered at the little image of the pony smiling. "Remarkable..." She was a little breathless. "How do you get it out of there?" She pointed at the phone. "You still had pictures. I can tell, you have some laying around." That hoof swung to point at a picture of Tabitha's whole family together on vacation.

That was a bit more challenging... "In my world, there were more computers, attached to... big machines that took this picture and painted it out on paper for you. Heck, I have a little printer here, but just normal non-glossy paper." She led the way back to her computer and soon had her phone hooked up to it, charging and photos available.

She quickly pulled up the picture on the larger monitor.

Coco drew in a sudden breath. "Just like that?! They can just talk to one another, that easily? I'm telling you... You could never work another day."

Tabitha raised a brow. "And if someone told you that you'd never have to sew or design ever again, how happy would you be?"

Coco considered that a moment before she shook her head. "I suppose that does sound a little scary, and boring. Still! Just because you're rich doesn't mean you can't do what you like anyway, you just wouldn't have to do it." She nudged Tabitha. "You could still be a manager here if you like that, but you'd also be rich."

Tabitha sent the picture along to her basic printer. "It's not really made for pictures, but--"

She needn't have spoken. Coco's eyes were fixed on the machine as it made its odd noises and paper began to come out with her picture on it. Glossy or matte mattered little. Coco reached out with a hoof and pulled the paper free when it was done and looked it over. "It's amazing... Were you a photographer before?"

"No! I mean, not really." She did take a few pictures, but she doubted that counted.

"But it's so clear!" She placed the paper down carefully. "Can you do another? For real this time."

"Sure." She wasn't sure what 'for real' meant. "Did you have a pose you wanted to do?" Coco was already bounding back to the sofa.

Coco hopped up and sprawled over it. She gave a come hither look at Tabitha that really seemed at odds with her usual personality and a little quirk of a smile. "Go ahead, paint me like one of your Prench mares."

Tabitha felt a few giggles fighting free even as she heated. Part of her couldn't deny that what she saw was sexy, too sexy. She wanted to hug the stuffing out of Coco and do other things at once and the mixture just left her in a muddled middle ground. She raised her tethered phone and lined up the shot before a little click announced the picture had been taken. To be safe, she took a few more.

"How'd it come out?" Coco was back at her side with uncharacteristic speed. "It's still amazing to me how quickly you can do this. It is done, right? Paint it!"

Tabitha held the phone out so both she and her excited friend could see it. "Which do you like best?" She scrolled back and forth between the collection she had.

Coco put a hoof to her snout. "You took more than one? Um... the third one. I like that one. Paint it, please."

Tabitha glanced at her shaking friend before she took the paper out of her printer, to Coco's confusion.

She had one lonely stack of photo paper, and she inserted one sheet into the printer. "The picture will look nicer on this. Watch." She commanded the computer to produce the image and slowly, to her, and with practically divine speed, to Coco, it emerged.

Coco grabbed the paper the instant the printer let go of it. "It is better! Look at it! Look at me..." She tilted the photo paper this way and that, gazing at it with clear wonder. "Did... I really look that way?" She was starting to blush more and more. "I didn't mean it!"

Tabitha shook her head. "You did, and it came out very well. Stop sweating it, you looked great."

"I did?" Coco glanced around before she put the paper back down carefully. "Thank you."

"Not going to keep it?" Tabitha raised a brow.

"N-no! I mean... No, it's... for you!" She was lying, or at least making it up at the last second. "You keep that."

Tabitha carefully picked up the paper. "You really want me to keep a picture of you looking this way?"

Coco turned all the more red. "If you like it!"

Her first real gift from what could be her girlfriend, a photo of her giving her best smoldering gaze. Tabitha had to laugh, so she did even as she hunted for a frame for it. "I'll treasure it."

Coco tilted her head as it went into the frame and was set out right alongside Tabitha's family pictures. With quiet words, she questioned it, "Am I that important?"

"Hmm?"

She pointed at the collection of pictures. "Am... Are you saying I'm family too? They are your family, aren't they?"

"They... are." The meaning of it had eluded Tabitha at first, but when pointed out, it was hard to avoid. "You're practically... Coco Pomell, you're a dear friend, and I hope I don't have to explain that."

Coco smiled at being told outright. "Sometimes we like to hear it said out loud... You're my friend too. Will you give me a painting of you to keep?"

Tabitha went warm with self-awareness. "I don't have a good one. I'll get something better, later." Hopefully much later!

"That's alright." She put a hoof to her chest. "For today, if you're feeling a little better, I'd like... to sleep here, with you."

Tabitha took half a step back. Part of her agreed with the idea. It agreed very much. She tried to break it down logically. Her friend, potentially romantic partner wanted to sleep with her. Was that a good or bad idea? Well... "I should get used to the idea. Tonight? No funny business. We sleep, we just happen to be together."

"No funny business," agreed Coco, nodding.

Soon they were both sharing the bed. Tabitha tried to sprawl out alone, but there was some rustling and then warmth. Coco snuggled up with her, but didn't press further than that. Eventually they both drifted off.

The next day, a firm clopping came from the door.

Tabitha roused and half-fell from her bed. "Coming!" She rushed across the apartment and pulled it open to reveal Dark standing there.

Dark's vision darted towards the still slumbering form of Coco before it focused on Tabitha. "I have begun reinforcing the network to keep minor threats at bay. I am still gathering information."

Tabitha stepped to the side to help block the view of her sleeping partner. "Will that keep out trolls?"

She raised a brow. "I can't be certain what you call a troll is what I would label as a troll, but on a rating from one to ten, I've raised the durability of the doors from a two to a three. Anything more powerful can still batter its way through and cause trouble requiring our direct intervention." She raised a hoof to point at Tabitha. "I would ask that any activity taken by you or your guard against such a threat should be a delaying action until I arrive. You can be loud, that will help draw my attention."

Tabitha gave a little nod. "I'm not sure I like the sound of that.--"

"There's not much more we can do." Dark shrugged. "I'm investigating your trouble with the tenant that has caused your current... situation." She waved a hoof at Tabitha's hybrid form. "Relatedly, what is my goal?"

"Goal?"

"Am I seeking her cessation of dialogue, her reversal of her magic?" Dark tilted her head. "Do you wish to be returned to your natural form? I can't assume that's a yes. You seem comfortable."

Did she? She certainly wanted the option! But... did she? Would she be put back into hiding, or would she just be a human walking the streets of Manehattan. If she wasn't part pony, then being attached to Coco would also be... odd. She still hadn't even tried her wings!

"You look uncertain. I won't pursue that. What is my goal?" Dark was very insistent, but didn't come off as rude.

"Find out more about her," decided Tabitha out loud. "Her weaknesses and strengths. I need to be on more even terms with her instead of always running around blindly. She has a boss. Actually--" She went back inside and came out with the note. "--here, take this. This is her direct report's name and information. Find out more about her and where she's from, but don't attack her." Yet. "Maybe we can turn this to our advantage."

Dark smiled, a bright splash. "You've lifted my spirits. Even attacked, abused, and corrupted, you'd rather see it turned to our benefit rather than lashing out. I'm glad Luna sent me here to see such a resilient and friendly alien among us. It will be a pleasure to see this done." She ducked her head. "Unless you have questions, I'll start on that."

It was more complicated than that! But she couldn't put words to it exactly before Dark was gone, off to do whatever she did. Tabitha sighed and closed the door, turning to find Coco looking right at her. She squeaked in surprise and hopped back on pony legs, stumbling and flopping onto her haunches for the effort.

"Sorry!" squeaked Coco in reply. "I didn't mean to scare you. Who was that?"

"Luna sent--"

"Princess Luna?!" Coco's eyes were wide and her stance went rigid.

"That's the one." Tabitha nodded. "She sent someone to help watch this place, and that's her, Dark Vision. She seems nice enough. Just treat her like any other tenant."

"H-how! She's... I should get to work." She dipped her head low. "Thank you for the wonderful evening."

Before Tabitha could complain much, Coco was gone.

It was just as well, Tabitha had a day to prepare for and tackle. There was an ad to put in a paper, for one. She had pictures to print out as well, related to that.

She sighed softly at the thought. When her printer ran out of ink, she was basically out of luck on that front. There was nowhere she could go to get a refill.

Author's Notes:

What, two chapters without outright violence or mad breeding? The typos are growing stronger..