****

Ari

I getting used to being the first one awake in the herd, it was actually my favorite part of the day, the one thing that never changed as we traveled. Just my mares snuggled up to my side, the post sleep feeling of warmth and comfort, that if I let it would lull me back to sleep.

Although I wasn’t the only up, the empty bed and noise in the back room told me that Dinari was an even earlier riser than I was. She must have some dedication to still get up early after being up soo late with us. I can only hope that means her work is top notch, the shop certainly suggests so, I was amazed at some of the swords in the case. Although I had never been into weapons before I could definitely see myself becoming a collector just by looking at those masterpieces.

My possible obsession with pointy things aside, I did need to get up.

Today was going to be a busy day, although not my usual ‘busy’, I wasn’t trotting across a desert of field, for once I was actually in a city. With that came its own type of legwork. I had to do some investigating on those slave traders we encountered at the docks, while it wasn’t directly part of the whole 'saving the world' bit. It might help to know about them and If Arch was at the docks he might have a ship docked there or he might be part of a crew of pirates.Either way I looked at it it still equalled a ship. I didn’t exactly see any pirate skull and crossbones flying in the sky, but then again I would like to think they wouldn’t just announce their presence to the world. So I would have to scope out the boats and maybe find a nice secluded spot on the beach, oh maybe even a private beach that some rich pony only visits one week out of the year. Even though Chrissy had said 'later' to the date suggestion I knew it would be nice to have a date. Not to mention I don’t think Dinari would appreciate me feeding Chrissy the way she preferred to eat.

But Chrissy was off still. I know I have said that before but she was obviously getting worse, I mean yesterday she was literally shaking from just charging her horn and cocooning Dinari! She is the one who said we were ponies with a immense amount of magic and when such a little amount of magic usage causes that sort of reaction it tells me she needs to rest, that or she is sick. But I won’t make her starve all day, I’m going to ask Lyric to stay with her, which I’m sure she will agree to. I figure if she spends a day or even two resting here, not expending any energy while I investigate and help Dinari figure out the magic inhibitors, then she will recover enough to travel again.

I can only hope Chrissy will understand though, we haven’t been separated since the Diamond dog incident, and that was plenty frightening. This was going to be hard for me, my instincts were very much into twenty four seven touching, and I'm sure her instincts were similar.

One thing I understood now is this physical reaction my body has to the presence of other ponies, or more specifically the ponies that feel right. If they were a pony I liked or was comfortable with the touch brought me comfort, relaxing me, like my body knew the culture already it craved the closeness. But if they, say, were Azure Heights, a mare that both offended me with her racist views and creeped me out with her sexual advances, then my skin literally crawled with the compulsion to get away from her. Touch was a key part of the culture here, that I knew. I only hoped that Lyric would be enough for Chrissy for the day.

It was due to this extreme comfort I received from them that when I got up I had to fight down the urge to return to them under the blanket.

Leaving them curled up in the warmth and made my way to the door, placing my ear to wooden structure I listened. I couldn’t just step into the shop if Dinari’s master was up and about and I wasn’t wearing that cloak till I left the shop.

“Come on out Ari, we have to talk.”

Whether I wasn’t as quiet as I thought I was or Minotaurs simply hear better, Dinari knew I was up.

Entering the back of the store I saw Dinari was at work on a long strip of metal, using an almost comically small chisel and mallet to inscribe symbols into the white hot metal. I didn’t quite know what to say as I closed the door behind me. It was beautiful: the metal, the symbols, and most of all the dedication and focus she kept to her work as she shuffled over on her work bench.

Taking a quick glance around room, I listened, it was quiet upstairs and in the front room, so I took a seat beside her. She snorted at me, probably seeing my awkward looking way of sitting, I hadn’t sat on a chair since I was a human, and it showed as I tried to coordinate my longer limbs. It felt even more awkward than I knew it looked.

“Your master isn’t up?”

“No, she left already. She wants to talk to you when she returns. I told her you wouldn’t be going anywhere till you got your magical inhibitors.”

On the outside I was trying remain calm, but my feathers started ruffling as it hit me, they was no way we hadn’t woken her master last night. Chrissy’s battle cry was nearly deafening! But why hadn’t the master smith come downstairs to investigate?

“I guess we woke her up?”

“Yes.”

That either meant she heard everything or just bits and pieces, I didn’t know how sound proof the floors were. But it all came down to what she would do about the information, how she would react to having a changeling and siren hybrid in her home. I hoped she was the merciful type of pony.

“How did she seem to be taking it?”

“…She will decide on whether or not to call the city guard after she speaks with you.” Dinari paused and turned to me, “Don’t lie to her.”

Well that didn’t help me get a understanding of her headspace at all.

Shuffling my wings I looked at her work, “Are those the runes you mentioned last night?”

“Yes. This will be the prototype for your magical inhibitors. I believe five gates will be a good starting point, although Kapera believes seven would be a more magical conducive number.”

“Kapera?”

“My mentor.” The way her tone didn’t shift was interesting and matched her room to a ‘T’, it made me wonder about her. Was she ok? This was exactly my mother had been when they first tried her on medications: dead to her emotions. Sure Dinari had gotten angry, fearful, and eventually happy last night but now that was gone. Kapera must have been pretty serious for her to lock up like this, I really thought we had won her over last night, you know after the fight.

“Ok…well I was wondering if I can ask a favor of you? Again, I know.”

****

Chrissy

Warmth was surrounding me, love trickled through my chitin slowly, filling my stomach as I purred lightly. But like all good things it didn’t last, I was growing hungrier and the warmth was become overbearing under the blanket. Not so much for me to open my eyes and face the day but enough that I was aware of reality that soon I would be forced to wake up.

I really didn’t want to face today; Lyric would surely be trying to corner me for another ‘talk’.

Beside me my food source shifted, rubbing scales against my chitin. Wait, scales? Opening the minimum eyes required I looked beside me, it was Lyric, curled into cute little ball and pressed against my side.

Opening my other eye I huffed as I realized my stallion had woken before me and was most likely stuffing his muzzle. The paltry snack he had received last night wouldn’t have lasted more than a second in his stomach I’m sure. But there was nothing to worry about, Dinari actually wanted to help us.

My stomach growled causing Lyric to shift beside me again, well I better get up and find Ari, I could use a full meal.

Then we had to plan the inhibitors with Dinari, and look into getting a ship to Zebrica. Although we wouldn’t be doing it Lyric’s way, no way were we stealing a Pirate’s ship. We would have to fight them for it, it would be noisy, and attract the guard…And I may feel a tad unconfident in my strength after last night. I knew I wasn’t consuming enough love but I didn’t know how to ask for more without actually telling him why I needed more.

Ari did not need that worry on his mind and really…I wasn’t sure how he would feel about having foals with me so soon after becoming my stallion, and now he had a herd with Lyric here…It was a lot for him to adjust to on top of learning about this world and saving it as well.

As a changeling that had responsibilities thrust upon myself suddenly I knew I couldn’t do that to him, even if he had a hand in our foal’s creation, it wasn't fair to throw more at him now. I was actually still waiting for him to ask if I was pregnant since he didn't pull out, at thirty two years old he should know about the birds and the bees…

“Mmm, where’s Ari?” Lyric was rubbing the sleep out of her eyes and looking around.

“Probably clearing out Dinari’s pantry.”

I brushed the blanket off me and got up. Lyric wasn’t far behind me, “Are you feeling better? You can feed off me if you still don’t want to tell Ari-“

Lyric paused as Dinari entered the room, a tray piled high with sandwiches in her hand. “Good you are awake now-.” She continued talking but I wasn’t listening, looking behind her for Ari. He didn’t walk in.

“Where’s Ari?”

Dinari sighed and sat down on her bed, offering Lyric a sandwich before placing the rest on the bed and facing us with a slightly nervous look.

“He went out to investigate the docks. I think he said that, he was talking really fast. But, he did ask me to make sure you two stayed put and relaxed.” Dinari locked eyes with my panicking ones, “I suggest you rest, he was really worried about you.”

I didn’t know what to say to her, it wasn’t her fault he went off by himself nor was it her job to watch me. I wasn’t some delicate flower to be foalsat. I had killed sandworms bigger than dragons, I had ruled my people at the drop of the hat. If I could keep my head on straight while ruling my people, my panicked family, while I planned my mother’s funeral and repelling the worm’s invasion then I could handle a pregnancy.

Don’t think my mother to be weak, on the contrary, she was stronger than I have ever been. Mother had faced the invading sand worms, beasts hundreds of feet long, even as her magical core was giving out. Nothing could prevent it, it would eventually happen to me as well, one day it will just fail…My body will rapidly age till I am little more than a husk…At least it was a quicker death than my father got.

But enough of the past, as it stands I still didn’t need a watcher, despite what Ari must believe from my performance last night.As soon as I ate enough he would see that his worries were unfounded.

Lyric nudged me, looking into my eyes, “You okay Chrissy? I think he just wanted you to feel bet-“

“I KNOW what he meant by it!” I snapped at her, angry at myself, angry at this situation.

“If you just told-“

I placed a hoof over her mouth looking at her then Dinari, “As you said ‘later’.” Sighing I removed my hoof and turned to Dinari who was looking very amused at our display. “Thank you for your hospitality Dinari, we shall be sure to remember it…And we will spread your name far and wide after you create those magic inhibitors.”

That got me a smile, “You will have them,” she finished her sandwich and stood, “And my mentor knows you are here, don’t leave this room till she talks to your stallion. She is still…Thinking about you and your story so I wouldn’t approach her when she returns. Have a good rest.”

With that she left us alone with the reminder of the sandwiches and a whole new worry in my head. What if her mentor decides I wasn’t telling the truth? She would call the guard and then-

Lyric poked me on the nose.

“You okay there Chrissy? You are spacing out a lot for someone that is ‘alright’.”

“I was just thinking-“

“About how you are going to tell Ari about-“ I placed my hoof over her muzzle and rotated my ears, the faint ting of metal on metal reached them. Removing my hoof, I put it in front of my lips and shushed her.

“Really Chrissy? I don’t think the big, fat COW can hear us,” We paused and listened as the clinking of the metal continued at the same pace, I guess she really can’t hear us. “See, now as I saying you have to tell him, at the very least so he can get more food into you! He would probably let you travel in the middle, and then you could feed from both of us at once.”

Lyric really didn’t understand, to her this foal was a blessing. But despite her age Lyric didn’t know the feeling of responsibility that comes from being the protector and provider for someling else. She was the baby of her family and even if the siren had been away from them for awhile the immaturity of being doted on still showed. Perhaps that was why she wasn’t telling him yet.

“You don’t seem to be jumping up and telling him.”

“It’s not my foal to tell about, I’m trying to be respectful here. I don’t need another nip in the rump thank you very much.” I cocked my head at her, she definitely misunderstood what I meant.

“That’s not what I meant Lyric, I didn’t see you telling your wonderful news to Ari.” I pointed a hoof to her slim belly as she reached for a sandwich.

“What?”

She sounded confused as she froze looking at my hoof and her belly, “You are mistaken, it is just a temporary relieve. Happened to my mother all the time, they would rut, she would end her heat early, and then go into heat the next time like clockwork. That is till she had me.”

I felt confused now as Lyric continued on smiling and munching away. What she said sounded more like miscarriages to me, that the magic didn’t have enough power to form a foal completely.

“That sounds like miscarriages to me, when the heat ends early it means you are pregnant. There is no such thing as early relieve, sure some spells can aid the symptoms, but it never takes away all of them. Surely your mother told you that?”

As I sat there my herd mate went from a smiling to frowning.

“Really?!”

“Yes, so when are you going to tell him about your foal, hmm-urk?

I began to smirk only to have my throat crushed in her forelegs as she hugged me, rubbing her scales on my chitin as she used her hind legs to lift us up. With her joy finally expensed and to my relief she finally stopped rubbing and let me collapse in a gasping heap on the floor. She was stronger than she looks; those slim legs were really earth pony like in strength.

As I sat up she looked a little sorry at my state before saying the stupidest thing I could have thought to do in this situation, “As soon as he gets home we are telling him! He is going to be soo surprised and happy!”

“NO! We are not doing that, there is no way that that we are telling him, think of how he will feel-“

“He feels really worried for you, I had to assure him that I wouldn’t let you leave…many, many times before he left.”

We both froze and looked at Dinari standing in the doorway.

“How much did you hear?”

“Well I heard more than I’m sure you wanted this big, fat cow to have heard.” Lyric had the modesty to blush at that while my mind scrambled as I took in Dinari words. Ari was really worried about me and before long it would be both of us, the Alicorn part of this pregnancy demanding more food…

“Err, sorry Dinari…But see Chrissy, even Dinari thinks we should tell him.”

“And what does she know? The responsibilities he already has are-“

“I know enough about foals to know that if you don’t feed them enough you will be having a miscarriage or hurting yourself and the foal.”

They gazed at me as I scrunched my eyes closed, I hated that word…I hated that they were right. I hadn’t even considered how waiting would affect the foal, yes, I was thinking about it, how to keep us safe. But they were correct, I was getting weaker.

I felt Lyric move to my side, love trickling in. “I will be there for you too…Besides he loves foals! Think how happy he will to have two of his own.”

“I think he should know…Nothing is worse than finding out news of that importance from somepony else.”

I looked up at that just in time to see the door close, leaving us alone again.

Lyric started talking a mile a minute with her speculation on the foals, how they would look, act, and of course their genders. Eventually I joined in, my mind still reeling a little as I realized I was going to have a foal, not that I didn’t know that before, but telling Ari seemed to make it official somehow.

****

Ari

Moving around a cart, I caught myself humming again.

A herd passed by and waved to me, I waved back, “Sabah alkhyr!” Good morning. I actually called out to them. I was in a very good mood now. After my worry over leaving my mares in Dinari’s hands was abated the giddiness of exploring a new city took over. The docks were still my goal but I was okay taking a scenic route, I wasn’t even getting that many looks anymore.

Dinari was right to keep my hood down.

I could see the city better and just like in Saddle Arabia most ponies assumed I was just a really tall Saddle Arabian stallion.

This city was amazing though, I had been walking around for hours now and during that time I had seen more varieties of food than I thought possible or appetizing really. There were fried radishes, toasted golden at one stall. Another had what I think was variation on donuts, they were fried,circular rings of bread, but they had toasted carrot as a topping and came with a sugar glaze to dip them in. To my disappointment I didn’t find any cinnamon buns nor could I afford anything, everything was at least eight bits.

What I needed right now was some money-

Something glittered by the alleyway, moving closer I saw it was a bit. Every bit helps after all, I thought with a chuckle as I folded down my legs to pick it up, magic forgotten as habits welled up. As I knelt down I heard the street grow louder before something brushed over my rump and a crash rang out in the street. Looking up with the bit in my mouth I saw why, there was a hay wagon lodged in a fritter stall.

Dropping the bit I rushed over to help, a crowd already forming around the unfortunate hay wagon and market stall. A couple of fish men were trying to pull the the hay wagon from the stall while the panicked and rightly upset merchant was crying their eyes out.

I hate tears, really they should be outlawed…and the fish men weren’t having any luck removing the cart.

With a sigh I encased the cart and hay in my magic, levitating them with ease away from the fritter stall. Almost immediately the crowd’s eyes were on me, staring. Thankfully the fish men were thinking and cleared a spot in the crowd. “Set it down here sir.”

With my load set down I received a round of applause from the crowd for some reason, blushing through my fur I turned back to the merchant, a gryphon, who was gazing at me in awe.

“Did you need help cleaning up?”

The wide eyed look didn’t change so I took it as a obvious ‘yes’, there was fritters scattered everywhere among smashed open bales of hay. The binder twine having busted open, leaving flakes of hay and seed heads all over the street.

As I gathered the fallen fritters in my magic I couldn’t help but lick my lips. If I found that bit I dropped maybe he would let me have one for six bits, I had brought the saddle bags with the money in it after all.

The crowd dispersed as I worked, a sigh sounding from the Griffin as he gazed what was nearly his whole stock of food in my magic, “All that wasted…” He looked at me after what I guess wasn’t a subtle lick of my lips before chuckling sadly, “Did you want it? I can't sell it now and I would hate for Freda to find out all her work went to waste.”

I nodded soo fast the world blurred.

“Okay then, let me get a bag for you and…”

There was no need as I inhaled the fritters one after another, my stomach and taste buds in heaven as a crowd started to gather again.

“Where is it all going?”

“Oh dear and I thought your father was bad…”

“Now that is sweet! Look at that stallion go!”

With that ‘problem’ taken care of I noticed the crowd around the damaged fritter stall, again they looked like I had just pulled a rabbit out of a hat.

“W-well I guess you were p-pretty hungry huh?”

I didn’t bother telling him that I was still hungry, although the fritters made me feel fuller than fruit it still left me wanting more.

“Yes, I'm afraid I have been down on my luck, do you know of anyone looking for some help today? The pay doesn’t matter and I'm a hard worker.”

“Maybe, what experience do you have?”

“I worked in a bookstore last so I'm very good with books...But I'm afraid my reading level in equis is quite…poor at the moment. Before that I helped my uncles around with their construction business, they built decks mostly. Lets see I was a clerk once in a store, I am good at math-“

“I think I can find some work for you right now actually. Do you think you could help me fix my stall? I can’t pay above minimum wage but I figure it would help.”

For the next two hours I helped Mr. Berg repair his stall, carrying lumber and hammering in nails. The stall looked brand new at the end of it, white wood standing out against what remained of the old darkened siding, most of which we had to bring to the trades district to trade for new lumber. Apparently they recycled the lumber here since it wasn’t treated in chemicals. I was liking this world even more when I learned that, it was still so innocent to much of science.

Eventually he waved goodbye to me and I left thirty bits richer and a little sore, a beam of wood had come of nowhere and thumped me good in the neck. It wasn’t enough to knock me over but it still ached fiercely.

Making my way down a new street that was mostly populated by cafes and restaurants I began to get a bad feeling but brushed it off, I would see my mares soon enough, and I had to master my instincts not the other way around. They were small and quaint, each one a different theme. For some reason one was pony themed…It was creepy actually with cat women and fish women wearing pony ears and tails, definitely never going there.

My fur rose as I felt the presence of eyes on me, not the usual glance I was receiving on each new street but a ‘stared at’ feeling.

Looking around I saw no pony looking at me, listening I didn’t hear anything behind me, and I just about chalked it up to my imagination when I caught sight of my admirer.

A little kitten was gazing at me from a cafe as his mother ordered something at the counter. I gave him a smile before deciding to go to the café, the colorful drinks on the tables out front looked delicious and I had some money now.

As I entered the shop he hid between his mother’s legs and I chuckled before turning to the menu, judging what to get by the pictograpghs featured beside the letters. I was almost certain I wanted the greeny yellow smoothie with the umbrella in it when I heard a clunk.

Before me sat the exact drink I had been looking at again, looking at the waitress who had placed it in front of me I lifted a hoof and pointed at myself.

“Yup, from the…gentlecolt at the table over-“

She trailed off as I followed her paw: the table was empty.

Shrugging I thanked her and grabbed a straw, now I could finally taste this interesting looking concoction. Taking a quick sniff I was puzzled by the scent of almonds, I was expecting apple or kale but they had probably added almond milk. Waving off the unexpected smell, I was about to take a sip when a hand pounded itself on my back.

Startled my magic faltered and the glass shattered, spilling my free drink all over the floor to my dismay. Somewhere in the street someone screamed in rage, my thoughts exactly, all that juice was wasted!

Turning around I saw a familiar grey heifer, I quickly smiled before it hit me.

“Aren’t you supposed to be watching my mares for me?”

“Yes, but my mentor returned and said she would watch them…She wanted me to grab some stuff from the market place since you are staying with us till it’s done.”

The waitress came over then and looked at the mess I had made, with an apology and Dinari paying for the glass we quickly left the café.

“So does that mean she still wants to talk to me?”

“Yes…But not about what you think, she trusts you, your mares won her over you could say.”

I didn’t know what to say but I nodded as we made our way down to the market before the docks. The stalls there were bustling with cats and fish men. Up ahead it seems the crowd’s wishes were being answered and a new shop was in the final stages of construction, the scaffolding in front of it loaded with paint, tar, and other supplies. Beside it a crew of fish men crunched on some fish sandwiches…Again, I'm trying to avoid thinking about that.

Was it cannibalism since they were fish too?

As we passed in front of it I turned and looked at Dinari again, “So what does Kapera think-“

Dinari pushed me out of the way as the scaffolding came crashing down behind me. Paint cans exploded blues and whites all over down the street as the crew rushed over to the fallen scaffolding, helping other passerbys up and gathering the smashed cans and tools.

I stood on shaky legs as I looked at the scene until a heard a groan, Dinari had paint can dumped on her head. With a grunt she sat up and removed it, her fur looking like a brighter version of her brother’s blue fur.

“You okay Dinari?”

Her response was to grunt and stand up, rather wobbly I noticed.

“Are you two okay?” A fishman was walking over with a worried look on his face, his eyes on Dinari’s new complextion.

“Yes, just a bit of paint nothing that won't come out.” I soothed him, “But what happened there? It looked as sturdy as any scaffodiling I have ever seen…” It had, shiny metal that was free of rust and no wobbles even under the strong sea breeze passing through here.

“Don’t know, it had been carrying everyfish just fine earlier.”

“Hey look at this Grundle!” Another crew member shouted from the base of the scaffolding.

“COMING! Sorry I gotta go, but I’m glad you guys aren’t hurt.”

With that he left and we continued on our way, Dinari eventually walking straight again.

Parting ways at the end of the market I promised to meet Dinari back at the shop and turned onto the docks.

This time I made it to the water’s edge, no robbers, swindlers, or slave traders in sight. Just the sea’s choppy waves rushing at the docks with a ferocity that wasn’t there yesterday and the impressive ships that were moored here lay before my eyes.

Ships came in every size here. There was a handful of tiny dinghies, plenty of large fishing boats, and three enormous colonial ships. The last type looking fit to cross any storm the sea could throw at it, and perfect to hide any pirates.

As I approached the large ships I noticed that the airship was gone from the raised platform and that the sun was setting, just my luck.

I guess I can always come back tomorrow and the horn shackles aren’t done yet anyway, I still had time. With that in mind I began my walk to this city’s home for me, resolved to not waste so much time tomorrow.

When I got home I walked in on something very strange, in the back room my mares were curled up together facing a…Well I want to say weasel or packrat but that seemed like the wrong species. It had pale golden fur that was covered by a smock, small rounded ears, and tiny black eyes. What I noticed when she smiled was the slightly protruding muzzle with lots of tiny sharp teeth.

“H-hello you must be Kapera, right?”As I looked at the master smith I noticed Lyric nudging Chrissy, using her muzzle to point in my direction.

The voice that responded to me surprised me. It was like velvet to my ears, smooth, but with a edge to it. “I am and ye are Ari, correct?”

With a nod from me she looked at my mares, giving them both a pointed look, especially Chrissy. Something tells me she knows what is going on with-

“We will discuss the inhibitors after dinner, in the mean time I think your mares have something they want to say. Pop upstairs when you are ready. Oh, and no rutting on the premises stud, it will take forever to get the smell out of here. Don’t need my customers thinking I run some brothel here.”

Kapera left us then, shambling up the stairs as her poofy tail waved behind her.

I blinked at her retreating form before trotting over to my mares, removing my cloak and bags as I kissed them. “I missed you two, it was really weird being alone out there. You aren’t mad are you?”

“No…I think I needed this break. But I'm not a… I mean I don’t need a watcher-“

“Yesterday?” I raised a eyebrow at another clear lie, sure she may be a adult but something was obviously wrong and I didn’t want her getting hurt or collapsing on me.

“I-I just didn’t eat enough.”

“I fed you a whole meal that morning and you snacked all day while we sat on the train, and after that as well. That sure sounds like a lot of love to me…you used to be ok with that much food, I don’t think you suddenly need more food. What’s really going on?”

As I was talking Lyric was mouthing ‘tell him’ to Chrissy as she looked even more scared, her ears folding back, and her wing buzzing irratically as she looked away. With a sigh she looked back at me.

“Do you love me?...Do you see yourself with me for your life?” She saw my confused look, “I need to know that before I tell you, ok?”

Looking away from me now, a scared look in her eyes, it hurt my heart to see her soo scared, unsure. So I moved to her free side and draped my wing over them, getting me a sigh of relief as she leaned against me slightly. “I think we have gone a little faster than I am used to in my relationships but it feels right, I think I really could see us together for the long haul…If you want to that is, I certainly love you and Lyric." She was tearing up again, "Don’t be scared please, whatever is wrong we can fix it.”

A silence stretched as she shuffled against me and I let it happen, she was soo close to telling me that I wasn’t going to push her.

“I’m pregnant…L-Lyric is as well.”

………..

Time seemed to slow down as talk and talk with Dr. Krause, my gynecologist came back to me, reminding exactly how infertile I was. Explaining how my tubes were still trying to heal, they were never going to be perfect, and there was no guarantee that the treatment. The words of my ex-fiancé as he couldn’t stand the thought of not having his own child to hold, adoption wasn’t a option for him…And here I was in a world with a new body.

Of course this god would fix my part when he remade my body. How else would his toy pony repopulate the Alicorns?

They were still waiting for a response, eyes growing wider and ears flattening as they took my silence as me being upset with their news. I was quite the opposite actually, I had always wanted kids, and, well, I guess it was foals now.

“A-Ari?” Lyric looked ready to cry and Chrissy already had tears going down her muzzle.

Crap, I took too long, “That’s wonderful! I really didn’t expect that but I sort of was already planning on bringing up adoption later in the relationship.” I squeed a little as it hit me. “I’m going to be a father!” Reaching under my wing I nuzzled the spot where their stomachs were, still nonexistent this early. “When are they due?” Popping my head back up, another thing hit me, “I know nothing on pregnancies here? How-“

Chrissy kissed me, breaking it to nuzzle my face. “We don’t know either, I do know that I’m around a week ahead of Lyric but other than that there is no literature in hybridism…Alicorn’s have never had nymphs or foals with Royal Changelings before-“

“Same with Sirens!” Lyric was smiling now as she reached over and stole a kiss from me, purposely ignoring Chrissy’s eye roll.

“Well that is okay, as long as it’s long enough that you two won’t be in danger when we are doing the whole saving the world gig.” They nodded with happy smiles, ears forward, and a quiet purr coming from Chrissy.

“They will be fine, we will be fine...But we shouldn’t waste anytime, the sooner we can get settled somewhere the sooner we can let the instincts run their course.”

There was the other shoe. There was always an instinct in this slightly more primal parallel of Earth, the draw of touch, the sex obssesion of the heat, and now the pregnancy hormones that would need to ‘run their course’.

“What does that mean exactly?”

“It means another long explanation yah clueless stallion now get up here and eat! We don’t have all night to talk. Some of us have a job that isn’t as whimsical as ‘saving the world’.” Kapera stood at the top of the stairs a fork in her hand that she was pointing at me with.

I couldn't argue with that, it was dinnertime.