****

Ari

As Taymare came into focus the amount of plant life increased as well, tall deciduous trees popping up in every dune we passed over. Small scraggly bushes reminiscent of sage bushes were popping along with a wispy bush with small white flowers. The presence of vegetation filled me such a joyful exuberance that was humming. You would be too if you had to deal with them for as long as I have.

“Must you hum?” Barium grumbled from behind me, the newest ‘flaw’ he had found in the last hour. Previously he had found fault in the way my walking flung up sand, the way my thobe shuffled too loudly, and most importantly how I was too tall. Someone is cranky this morning, it’s almost like he didn’t eat breakfast.

No regrets there.

“No, I could sing. Come on Lyric, I’m sure you know a good song!”

“NOOO!” My ears folded back at his volume.

“Then humming it is!” I began humming again, this time to the tune “we’re off to see the wizard”, a classic.

I know it wasn’t nice of me to eat their breakfast but I was really hungry and sick of them, sure this is the last twenty four hours I have to deal with them, but due to rescuing him and now leading them to the border I am four to five days off schedule. Not mention Murphy’s Law states that my planned route will end up being longer, especially with Lyric around. That mare hasn’t given up on me being ‘the one’, I was willing to bet on it.

Before long the afternoon had passed and Taymare stood in front of us. There were guards on duty but here it was more streamlined, with orderly lines with guards that merely glanced at the eyes before checking off something on a paper in front of them. That didn’t seem very effective at catching changelings, I mean I could only see the green reflection in Chrissy’s disguised eyes in just the right light, and they were looking at them for just a second. Their captain is going to have their heads probably, but I wasn’t going to tell them how ineffective this method is, it is going to help us after all.

A quick glance and check off later we are through the gates, they actually had giant wrought iron gates to this city. It almost felt fancy compared to the other cities.

After the organized chaos of Ras Taneighra, the maze of shops and inns that was Jozan, Taymare seemed almost tame in comparison. I was expecting a massive city with a bustling market like Ras taneighra and plenty of inns like Jozan but Taymare was not like that, it was quiet. Not like ghost town quiet, more like posh quiet, not only quiet but it was more civilized as well. There was a large mix of creatures but all of them wore some form of clothing. Other cities had plenty of unclothed ponies and Gryphons, not Minotaurs or Komondors thankfully, but here everyone wore something even if it was just a hat.

Not only was there no calling out or loud conversations but in the conversations I could here there was Equus being spoken. Did that mean I could speak it again?

Leaning down to Chrissy’s ear I whispered, “Tahduth Equus?” Speak Equus?

My Arabian was still a little basic, but the message was clear.

“Yes Ari, they speak Equus here. With the border so close it is considered a skill to have in this city.”

I could feel a smile come onto my face and I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, I could talk normally again, no more three word sentences!

Although I didn’t have much to say now, we were almost to the border, and I was content with this moment. Well I was until I started feeling a tail flick my back legs, it was Lyric’s of course. Trying to ignore it I looked at the stores we passed.

A Fashion boutique with poniquins modelling dresses in the bay window, I guess ponies wear dresses. But to what? Do they have balls and parties? I mean exactly how much of earth culture is mirrored on Equis?

The next store was a bakery….Nope can’t afford it, won’t even go there. We will never leave it and I would probably end up eating everything in the store, I felt like I was starving again. Chrissy probably saw my lingering eyes on it because she gave me a light head butt.

Thank you Chrissy, you have saved me from doing something I’m not entirely sure I would regret.

Right, the next store is a post office. So they have a postal system…How does that work in the desert? Can things teleport?

Ever that moment when you are like ‘of course why didn’t I think of that sooner’ well I had that as I looked at the post office.

“Azure, what’s the chance that you are going to tell the princesses all about this?”

Tension hung in the air as I said that, Lyric walked into my side more with her ears splayed, most likely not understanding why the princesses would be involved. Her muscles tense and rock hard under her scales and fur. Chrissy was not much better, her feathers ruffling and ears pinned back as she gave my shoulder nuzzles, I think they were for her benefit more than mine. Azure looked liked she would like to disappear as we all looked at her, her coltfriend giving her a scowl.

“Y-yes, but don’t you think the princesses should know? I mean-“

“I do think they should know, we will have to meet sometime after all. But in the meantime I would prefer they don’t know somethings-.”

We all moved to the right as a carriage came around the corner.

“-Someponies to be exact.” I glanced at ‘Silver Stream’ and knew that she would make the plan a little more complicated than it already was, I mean I can only imagine how much the princesses hate her after the failed invasion…during a wedding…a royal wedding.

I’m not sure I can dig Chrissy out of that hole.

“Wait really?! You’re really going to see them one day! That’s great, and then you can-.” Her excited smile fell as I narrowed my eyes at her.

“I am, but you won’t like the result.” I paused before putting a grin on my muzzle, “For now I was thinking of writing them a letter. Perhaps you could deliver it if you are going that way.” It wasn’t necessary to look at Azure to know she was ecstatic, I could hear her hooves hitting the bricked road as she jumped up and down.

“Soo let’s get some paper and a pen, anybody know the best store?”

“A ‘pen’?" Chrissy gave me a raised eyebrow.

“A writing utensil.”

Sounds like pens aren’t a thing here, figures, with my luck they still use those feathers that you had to dip in ink.

I looked back at the group, hoping anyone knew of a store, not surprisingly Chrissy and the Equestrian’s didn’t know of one but thankfully Lyric did, having recovered from her anxious moment she was nodding her head up and down a wide smile on her face.

“Okay then, lead the way Lyric.”

Taking us a couple streets over she took us a store with a quill and inkpot painted on the storefront window.
Of course they still use medieval writing tools. They have magic gem plumbing systems, airships, and MAGIC but still haven’t perfected a pencil or a pen?! Where is the logic here?

Well anyway, I purchased a literal roll of parchment, feather, and ink pot for the cheap price of fifteen bits…

That left five bits to my name, a marefriend, former stalker as a traveling companion, and no job. How am I going to rent or buy an airship at this rate?

Writing essentials tucked into my saddle bags we continued back to Main Street, which thanks to some smart city planning, leads to like an arrow straight to Equestria. If it wasn’t for the giant sign with a sun and moon on it I could have known by the pep in Azure and Barium’s step, no place like home I guess, even if home has law enforced polygamous relationships now. But I was trying not to judge, the herds we passed in the Saddle Arabian cities seemed really happy. It was actually cute to see the multiple mares looking after a mini herd of foals, not to mention foals are every bit as adorable as you would imagine a earth foal except with bigger eyes. I had to hold in my ‘squees’ a couple of times, Chrissy understood my spikes in joy after what was I’m sure the fifth herd with foals passing us by.

Before us was a dirt road leading into a sparse forest, the grand city street of sand bricks ending abruptly where the sign was placed. An empty guard stall with a note on it was stationed right where the brick ended.

I guess they are on lunch?

Not one to squander my good fortune i kept moving, Azure and Barium walking rushing ahead down the road. The road being actually nice, not too dusty, well shaded by the leafy trees resting on the sides, and free of pot holes. Equestria does have some nice dirt roads, at least this one anyway. After driving down one to many country roads littered with pot holes I appreciated the smoothness.

“Write your letter already! I have let my family know we’re back, let barium’s family know we’re back, and get us registered so he doesn’t get paired off to someone else!”

I didn't have the heart to mention he probably would get at least on other mare if the definition of herd was anything to go by.

Azure was literally trotting in place with excitement, a big smile on her face. I couldn’t help but feel happy for her, being home is a feeling I won't get for a while, I didn’t really have any place of my own on Equis.

Smiling back at her i couldn’t help but chuckle at Barium’s expression. He was looking at Azure with a look I had only seen a few times before. The grumpy stallion did truly love her, despite her quirks.

“Give me couple minutes. Why don’t you guys rest in the shade or something?”

With a nod to Barium, I left him to corral her to the right side of the road as I went into the bushes on the left side. Pausing mid-step I looked back, Lyric was standing in the middle of the road still, with her ears splayed, biting her lip.

“Come on, don’t just stand there, you are part of the team now Lyric!” I motioned to the bushes but it want necessary as she all but galloped to my side, pressing into my barrel like a furry, scaly missile of cuddles.

She REALLY has attachment issues, mind you if I had had Jabbar as my previous experience I probably would act similarly, but the stalking still was a little creepy.

Now we were away from them we could begin, well first I had to take care of some business.

Concentrating I levitated the saddle bags off my back and then my thobe over my head. While I’m sure it would be smart to continue to wear it to cover my wings I couldn’t stand the cotton bed sheet any longer. Just because I didn’t voice my complaints to the group doesn’t mean I didn’t have any. It was making my fur itch, my feathers were ruffled to a degree that I was actually starting to feel self conscious about them, and it was starting to stink from my sweat.

Suffice to say I folded it up in my magic and stuffed it in a saddle bag.

Chrissy got the hint and dropped her disguise and saddle bags as well.

“There will be lots of preening as soon as I finish writing the letter for you.” She said in a ‘I won’t take no for a answer’ voice, which was actually kind of hot so I just gave her a nod, no need to say something silly after all. I love that she is smart enough to remember I can’t read anything here, despite speaking Equus which is apparently the same as English to speak, and a little Saddle Arabian now.

Lyric, however, didn’t get it.

“What?! I thought Ari was writing the letter to the princesses?” Seeing her confusion I decided to go with the simplest route.

I laid down on the short grass, wings spread out to air, and levitated the parchment and quill set over. Soon Chrissy slipped under my right wing, but Lyric still looked uneasy. We really had to move past this nervousness to do anything thing around me she has, I mean it was just a wing, touching was normal to the ponies or pony like species so we would end up doing this eventually. If at the very least cuddling to keep warm when the nights got chilly, especially when winter hit; I really hoped we were cozy somewhere before winter though.

“Come on, you will learn a lot by listening to the letter.” Motioning to my left wing, I began to unfurl the roll for Chrissy.

****

Lyrical Dazzle

When he invited me under his wing I was cheering inside, I had done it in less than a day! He was very accepting of my touch which was a great sign considering how sensitive I read pegasi and therefore Alicorns are about their personal space and who touches them, especially their wings.

As a bonus his wings will need preening today too! Something I was excited to learn to do, I mean I have read about preening before but mother and father didn’t have wings for me to practice on.

Realizing I was still standing there with a crazy mare smile on my face I dived under Ari’s wing, a little dramatic I know, but I couldn’t help my excitement. Feeling a snort on my flank I shuffled around to face the parchment. This was going to be good, there had to be a important reason why he was having Chrissy write it.

Maybe he was afraid they would recognize his scent?

Maybe the princesses could track him through it?

Maybe-

Ari’s talking! I couldn’t help but open my jaw as I listened to him, this explained soo much and at the same time raised even more questions. I mean I knew there was other worlds, my mother , father and aunts were trapped in one somewhere. The thought that someone took him from his world was heartbreaking to me.

Feeling tears fill my eyes I nuzzled Ari, he must feel horrible, no wonder he sticks to his mare like glue. Chrissy is all he has here.

Not for much longer though.

I will be his mare one day, even if I’m not the only mare or the head mare, I will have him at least. He is actually pretty decent as far as stallion’s go. He’s certainly better than Jabbar.

He may be giving me a concerned look but its all right, I shake my head at his look, i'm fine. Ari is the one that needs the love.

Ari is almost done the letter now and i'm more than shocked, i'm outraged, horrified, and a little overwhelmed. I mean, the princesses have been behind the climate changes, the drought I have suffered through these last couple of years. Do you know what that drought has done to my scales? Let's just say my aunts would faint at seeing how dull they are now, I am half siren, a sea pony. Water was kind of important.

Eventually though, Chrissy finished writing the letter and we had to get up, I decided to be helpful and packed up the left over parchment, quill, and inkwell. They both seemed a little surprised when my magic grabbed it and put it away but it quickly faded, Chrissy giving me a nod , and Ari me a ‘thank you’ with his most amazing smile.

I couldn’t help my grin, a little less toothy than before, I think he might like me.

Levitating his saddle bag onto my back I kept my grin as he blinked and shrugged, I was pulling my weight, I mean Ari’s mission was one I could actually get behind. Those princesses certainly weren't my idols before and from what I learned only it made me hate them, their ignorance, the destruction they were causing was horrible.

I wanted my family back.

Following Ari back to the road, I couldn’t help but hope they would be my new family. I know my mother would love them, she always did like a pony with a spine, which both Ari and Chrissy certainly had. Chrissy had lost her entire family as well, although hers was in a more permanent nature than mine.

The Equestrian couple got up as soon as we exited the bush, trotting over with blushes and smiles.

“There you are Azure, one letter for the royal highnesses themselves. I trust you wouldn’t dare peak at royal mail. But just in case I added a seal.” Chrissy said with a smirk and flash of green around the rolled up letter.

I couldn’t help but snort at that, Azure was a nosy mare, she seemed to need to know everything. If she had her way Ari would probably go straight to Canterlot so she could she him meet the princesses.

Azure looked a bit sheepish at Chrissy before rushing forward and wrapping her forelegs around Ari’s neck in a hug. He looked shocked then ‘happy’ as he plastered another fake smile on his face for Azure’s benefit, his body was twitching though. He doesn’t like her at least, thank goodness. I agreed with his sentiment and couldn’t help the growl that rose from my throat, no pony heard mine though as Chrissy gave a very aggressive growl. If I wasn’t safe on the other side of Ari I would have backed away, she was vicious, my rump still felt bruised from her bite. Luckily her canines didn’t puncture me, but still, I don’t think she would have cared if she had.

The hug had now turned into a awkward minute of fake smiles and growling, Barium bless his patience for her stepped up and grasped her tail in his mouth and began dragging her away. Both Chrissy and I snorted as she was finally removed, Chrissy giving me a narrowed eye look as she realized I had snorted as well.

Watching Azure, Barium, and the letter walk off into the sunset was a amazing feeling that was echoed among the group.

****

Chrissy

With those parasprites of ponies finally gone I could talk freely again, act freely. I really hoped for some more rutting, not that I was in heat anymore, thankfully it had stopped. Although Lyric was still around she was decent, she actually had a sense of humor for one thing, and despite what I had heard about sirens being horrifying, stallion stealing enchantresses she had proven to be different. Yes she had tried to enchant him with her mind magic, stalk him, and tried to put a claim on him in his sleep. But despite all that she accepted her place below me and is trying to follow the conditions we gave her, although i'm starting to think she won’t be able to.

But now I had something very important to do, I can analyze Lyric later.

“Preening. Now.”

It was hard to keep my voice stern when his arousal spiked at my voice, at least I knew what he likes. I wasn’t in the right head to make rutting enjoyable for him last time unfortunately, or as much as I could have anyway.

Ari had gotten the hint and lead us into the woods, after ten minutes he stopped and looked around at the clearing we had entered. He sniffed the air, then the ground, before folding his legs under to lay down. Removing my saddle bags I joined him, shuffling my legs till they aligned just right.

Lyric dropped her saddle bags laid down on his other side, leaning on his barrel.

Narrowing my eyes at her I waited as Ari spread his wings, both of his wings.

“You know she probably doesn’t even know how to preen Ari, I can get both of them.”

He looked at me curiously, “But there is two wings and there is two of you, preening isn’t that hard. I'm sure Lyric can handle it.”

“Yes but-“

“She is also part of the group now, so that makes her a new friend. You said friends preen each other right?”

“y-yes, but only-“

“Soo?” He just didn’t understand and I was tired, I had been maintain my disguise for far too long, even after the rush of love I should have gotten from rutting I still felt drained.

As a answer I started on his secondary flight feathers near the base, the feathers practically dropping out from the rough treatment the thobe had put them through. Moving up the base of his wing bone, I twisted my tongue around the bases, removing the dirt from the spaces between. The shower hadn’t truly touched the base of the feathers, the wings being made to roll water off them made cleaning them impossible unless they were submerged.

“OWW”

I opened my eyes from my work, had I pulled the wrong one? I was sure-

“OW, Lyric!”

What did I tell him, she doesn’t know how to preen? With a sigh I locked eyes with Lyric, “Listen up, don’t copy me and don’t pull willy-nilly. If the feather is ready to come out it will be easy to remove, any resistance and the feather isn’t ready. Also make sure to use your tongue on the base of the feathers, the dirt likes to stick there.”

Watching her, she put her muzzle back to his wing, eyes going crossed eyed as she tried to look at the feathers in front of her tongue. She really had no experience.

“Close your eyes, preening is all about feel. None of this cross eyed business, if you stick to a pattern you won’t need to look where you are going.”

That seemed to fix her, with her eyes closed the preening went smother, Ari relaxed again and I continued with my wing. Before I knew it my wing was finished, the last primary at his wing tip glistening from my work bringing up the natural oils. Looking over at Lyric she was just starting his wing tip, the rest of the wing looked wonderful, shiny black feathers all in order, and a small pile of dead feathers at her hooves.

My eyes fought to watch her finish though, the sun was setting, and Ari was wrapping me in his wing. Giving in to the warmth I figured she could handle the wing tip without me watching her.