Another busy day in the little town of Ponyville was slowly starting itself off before the sunrise. Random ponies made their way through the streets and started to open their shops. The air was rich with the scent of bouquets of seasonal flowers that mixed with the sweet aromas of baked goods from Sugarcube Corner and Horte's Cafe. Overhead streaks of rainbow colored lights could faintly be seen being painted from cloud to cloud before vanishing in the path of Ponyville's local weather manager.

"Hee-yah!" Rainbow Dash hollered out as she kicked her way through another cloud and dispersed it out of sight.

The sun was finally breaking over the horizon, and its warm amber glow cast itself on Rainbow Dash who hovered in the now empty air. She searched the sky for any cloud that may have eluded her duties. Fortunately, a good nights rest and the motivation to meet up with Becky and the others had been more than enough for her to get the job done quickly and efficiently.

"Alright," She boasted with an approving nod. "That's gotta be some kinda new record for me." - She hovered gently in the air and gave a stretch - "Still not a hundred percent back to normal, though... I might need some coffee to get through the rest of the day."

Down below, Sugarcube Corner was opening its doors for the day with a puff of cotton candy-colored hair poking through to greet the patrons. "But then he bit into it but said he didn't like it. So, of course, I went after him to get it back. But he wouldn't give it to me and was being super mean about it. So I was all like 'hey!' And then he was all 'no!' But then I was like 'gimme!' And I had to climb up on his back; he's pretty tall ya know, but he kept holding my pancake juuuuuuuuuuuuust out of reach."

"He did you a favor Pinkie," Rainbow Dash's voice greeted her from above.

"Morning, Dashie. You're up early," She replied in her all too chipper voice. "And what do ya mean, did me a favor?"

Rainbow Dash stuck her landing at the doorstep and trotted her way inside. "Really Pinkie? It looked like something somepony would scrape off their hoof if they stepped in a toilet, it smelt hair, and neither one of you liked how it tasted. I mean, for crying out loud. Thank Celestia that poor guard was wearing her helmet. Dr. Horse already had enough to deal with without having to take care of another ponies concussion."

Pinkie shrugged while setting up the countertops. "Well, I guess you're right. I'm just sad it got all burnt up. I really think I had a good recipe."

"Oh, I'm sure you'll get it right next time, Pinkie dear," Mrs. Cake confirmed from behind Pinkie, while at the same time frowning with doubt and shaking her head no while looking over the counter to Rainbow Dash. "But what brings you in so early this morning? I don't remember the last time you stopped by any time earlier than to come in for lunch."

Rainbow Dash looked through the display case. "Well, I wanted to get the weather taken care of right away. Make sure we'd have a nice sunny day before heading over to see Becky."

"Don't you mean you're going to head over to see all of them, Dashie?" Pinkie asked while sliding a tray of danishes out in the display.

"Yeah, sure. See all of them or whatever," She carelessly answered back. "I'm pretty sure just about all of them got plans for the day. So it's probably gonna be just me and Becky. Maybe that Chris guy if he wants to tag along."

"Not likely there, partner," Called out a southern Apple voice.

Pinkie perked up, even more, seeing yet another friend drop in so early. "Hi-ya, Applejack. Did you get your work for the day done early like Rainbow did and that's why you're here, too? And what do you mean, not likely?"

Applejack walked up with a smile and a nod to others. "Morning, Pinkie. Rainbow. Mrs. Cake, how you doing this morning?"

"Good morning there, Applejack. Doing just wonderful when it's a busy day like this," She cheerfully greeted back.

"Hehe, yeah. I know the feeling," Applejack laughed back before carrying on with her friends. "But anywho. I'm not done with work for the day. Haven't even started, actually. I just thought I'd stop by and grab something for Granny and everyone that's gonna be on the farm today. Lumberman and Kelly will be there, obviously. But I told'em to invite Chris over, too. Poor guy hasn't had much of a chance to get out and see much of anything past their front yard. Well, that and uh... Well, I guess you could say he could use some good company."

"Oh, no. I hope you're not saying that because of me?" Starlight's voice groaned from just outside the open door. "I wish you would have told me that was your plan last night. I was going to try to fix things with him today."

"Wowie zowie!" Pinkie chirped loudly. "Did you all plan to meet up here this morning and not tell me?"

Starlight approached the group with a little less pep in her step then she did on her way there. "No Pinkie. Unless they planned to meet up here and didn't tell me either."

Rainbow Dash took the initiative to answer for the others. "Nah. Just dumb luck, I guess," - she turned to Starlight - "But what broke that Chris needs your help fixing?"

She gave a deep sigh, remembering her poor choice of words from last night. "His trust in me... maybe his heart?"

"What? Why would you do that?" Pinkie asked as if it was something Starlight did on purpose before gasping dramatically. "Are you trying to be a villain again?"

"No!" She was quick to shout back. "I was getting ready to leave, and the Sniff guy asked me if I wanted to hang out with Chris because all of you seemed to already be spending time with one human or another, except for me. And well... I said no and told them that I thought he was creepy, and I guess he and everyone else overheard it."

Rainbow Dash stared at the defeated mare. "Wow..."

Starlight gave one more note to clarify her fault. "Including Chris."

"Double wow," Pinkie chimed in, sounding just as unimpressed as Rainbow Dash. "Are you sure you're not trying to be a villain again? Because that sounds like something a villain would say to-"

"No!" She shouted out again. "I mean, come on girls. I know it was a terrible thing to say to them, but I can't be the only one who thought it?"

Pinkie didn't seem to find any room to agree with her on that. "Not really. I think he's really nice. A bit quieter than the rest unless he wants to talk about us or nerdy stuff. Kinda like Twilight. And we all like her."

Rainbow Dash scuffed her hoof on the hardwood floor and thought about her own response. "Egh... I could agree with you if you said he was kind of a dweeb or a dork. You know... like Twilight."

A low growl of frustration from the lack of support rustled its way from the depths of Starlight's throat.

"He did sound really awkward and maybe a little creepy rating how attractive he thought Twilight was, but I still wouldn't say he was creepy just because of that."

This conversation got Pinkie excited again. "Oh my gosh! That was so cute. No pony ever gave a compliment to Twilight like that before. I'm not sure why she was hesitant to see if he wanted to go out on a date or something like that." -She looked to her friends who all gave her the same look of not knowing how she came to that conclusion - "What? Twilight needs to get out more. Maybe we all do?"

Thinking on that note, Pinkie thought up what she considered to be a great idea. "Hey! since Twilight got cold hooves, maybe you could see if he'd want to go out with you, Starlight?"

That same creepy feeling started to make Starlight's hair stand on end again. "Uh..."

"Pinkie," Applejack jumped in to shed some light on the topic. "-that's not really the kind'a thing they all might be interested in. Believe it or not, that talk has already come up once or twice. And even if they did, it's not really the kind'a thing the rest of them would want to get behind."

"Really? Why not?" The pink pony asked, thinking nothing of it.

Applejack might have said too much and opened up a can of worms by trying to stop the conversation. "Well, ya see- " She wasn't ready to discuss this, and it showed. "-it's complicated. I think it'd be a lot like some of them dragons trying to get all flirty with a pony. They seem to be really against it."

"What about Spike?" Rainbow Dash asked, even though it was a topic none of them ever really brought up or talked about with each other.

Now for Applejack, while that was a good question, it was also a good example. "Okay, good point. Who here ever thought that'd be a matchup that would work?"

Neither of the three responded.

"Exactly," She confirmed her point before continuing. "And remember how hearing about how much grief all the others back in the dragon lands gave Spike about even having ponies as friends?"

Another round of silence from the mares showed the validity of her point.

A low voice from Rainbow Dash rose up. "Actually, kinda on topic with this, Becky brought up a good point about me. Seems to fit all of us but Rarity, actually. Have any of us even considered having a special somepony before?"

Her question got the same set of responses as Applejack's did.

Rainbow Dash continued. "So, yeah. Looking back, I don't really blame Twilight for the way she reacted. I probably would have reacted the same way. What about any of you?"

Applejack felt the same feelings from the night before wash over her. A lot of the same feelings of shame weighed down on her. "I don't know how I'd react if I was asked, but being asked if I felt that way about any of them... that's something I'd get upset about."

"Sooooo, we shouldn't bring up how close you and Lumberman have been since the other night?" Rainbow Dash asked, sounding half sarcastic and half genuinely interested.

With a heavy sigh of guilt and regret, she offered up an honest answer. "Don't bother. Big Mac brought it up last night to me. Long story short, I swatted him good for even asking me, and well... after everything that went down from my house to Kelly waking up, Lumberman was there to give me the support I needed from falling back down in the dumps. And I still feel like I'm not over it."

That last part was something they all still felt. It also seemed to be enough were none of them wanted to push for anything more from her.

"Well, it's a bit different for me," Starlight broke the silence, hoping to move the topic away from Applejack. "I'm still trying to get used to the whole friendship thing. So hearing him bring up something that even came close to... whatever that would lead to. I wasn't ready for that."

Pinkie came in with a completely different mindset. "I dunno what the big deal is. They all seem nice enough. I kinda like the idea of having a special somepony for once, even if they're not a pony. Dating sounds like a lot of fun. And Rarity and Fluttershy seem to have a thing for the golem."

Rainbow Dash facehoofed. "Pinkie, for the love uh... He's not really a golem. You know that, right?"

"You don't know that he's not a golem," Pinkie countered with a smirk.

Starlight was on board with Rainbow Dash for this one. "I'm pretty sure Cerberus isn't a golem, Pinkie. But what's up with you and finding his lever? I think they're joking about him having one."

A sudden flashback to Applejack time in the tub with Lumberman gave her something to think about. "Well, I don't know about that Cerb guy, but Lumberman seemed to be hiding something in his undergarments that could'a been a lever."

"Of course!" Pinkie exclaimed. "The one place they all keep hidden! Why didn't I think of that before?"

"Pinkie, humans have their reasons for wearing clothes," Rainbow Dash spoke up as the voice of reason. "Whatever they got under there is their business. So don't be rude."

"You know something we don't there, Rainbow?" Asked a curious Applejack.

It was becoming clear to Rainbow Dash that these humans all liked to have private conversations with only certain people, or certain ponies, about things that would otherwise be kept as secrets. She wasn't about to break that level of trust that Becky had given her by blabbing about what all she was told in confidence. Her sense of loyalty to her new friend demanded it. "Look... It's complicated. Like, super complicated. Just know that if it's something they want to show you or tell you about, they have to really trust you. So don't go trying to sneak a peak or ask about it."

"Why not? Everypony has a body. If you've seen one, you've seen 'em-"

"Yes, yes. You've seen'em all," Rainbow Dash snapped. "Humans are different. Okay?"

None of the mares would have expected such a reaction like that from Rainbow Dash. Then again, they were all in the dark about whatever it was she was shown or told, but it must have been something important for her to get so fired up.

Whatever it was that was making her act out the way she was, she appeared to of had enough of it and was ready to leave. "Look. Just give me a box of the danishes and a dozen of whatever muffins you got."

A simple order Pinkie could fulfill with a little more information. "Okay. Geez. Well, today we got raspberry, blueberry, chocolate chip-"

"Surprise me," Rainbow Dash snapped again.

Not wanting to dignify her friend with a response, Pinkie gathered up a variety of different muffins she thought the humans would like the best into a box. Then another smaller box with a dozen of the danishes.

A customary flagrant bow attached the two boxes, and another set of strings were bound to them so she could carry her order out. "With today's special human guest discount, your purchase comes to a total of 20 bits."

Still too upset over Pinkie's insistence not to drop the topic, Rainbow Dash reached into a little pouch and dropped a small pile of coins on the counter without even counting them out. "Keep the change," She huffed before biting into the carry string and turning to exit the shop. "I got a job to do and need some coffee before I get there."

A small draft of wind wafted in as Rainbow Dash took off, leaving the three others to question what must have set her off.

"What's her problem all of a sudden?" Pinkie asked her two remaining friends.

"Pinkie," Applejack quietly spoke up. "These humans are a complicated bunch. Sometimes they walk around like they're as tough as stone-"

"Golems."

"Pinkie!"

"Sorry."

Applejack tried to restrain herself. "They walk around like they're stronger than you think. But I think all of 'em are hurting on the inside. But just like us, they don't like to be all open and touchy-feely about it. And just like ol' Starlight found out last night, doing or saying the wrong thing can really upset the lot of 'em."

"Oh..." Pinkie was starting to get it. "I thought it was just the Golem and Benny. I said something last night that really made him mad, but then sad. Did you know that instead of singing songs for each other to cheer themselves up, they just play music?"

Starlight darted looks between the two. "They don't? Wait? How often do we break out into song? We all did a song together after you all allowed me to stay here and learn about friendship. Has any of us done another song since then?"

Applejack recalled an event with her sister that she was told her about recently. "Well, it wasn't really a song about cheering other ponies up. But Apple Bloom had a song about going off and doing things on her own. I can't even really say how we do it. It just kinda happens."

Pinkie scratched her chin. "Hmm. I dunno. It all depends on who's in the episode. We tend to rotate a lot."

"Episode?" Starlight still had Chris on her mind and all his knowledge he had on them from watching the show. "You mean like the show Chris and Becky talked about? Have you know there was a show about us this whole time?" She asked in utter amazement.

Pinkie gasped. "Oh, wow! That's right! There is a show about us!"

"Well, yes..." She replied, feeling suddenly confused having to remind Pinkie about the show that reflected their lives. "How much do you know about the episodes?"

Pinkie stared back at the perplexed unicorn. "What episodes?"

"About us?"

"What about us?"

"In the episodes!"

"Well, of course, we're in the episodes, you silly filly," Pinkie jested. "The whole show is about us. Why wouldn't we be in the episodes?"

Somehow Pinkie had managed to hint at having advanced knowledge about the show the humans had been able to watch, and then immediately turn the topic to act as if she knew nothing more than the others. Like a light switch in her mind had been flipped but the bulb busted and only the one flash of light granted a brief hint at something she shouldn't have known before being cast into darkness again.

Starlight was at a loss for words, having been excited with the prospects of new information and then being instantly denied it. And it was Pinkie Pie who was the gatekeeper of this information. She struggled to find the words to express her frustration and confusion but was stopped from continuing on at the slightest touch from Applejack resting a hoof on her side.

Applejack looked on with a face that shared her pain, having dealt with it for years. "Just let it go, Sugar Cube. We've all been there. You're not gonna get what you're looking for."

"Ou! Is this like a scavenger game? What are we looking for?" Pinkie happily enquired from behind the counter.

Another defeat that defied all forms of logic and spat in the face of all decency standards towards the treatment of common sense at the hooves of Pinkie Pie. Starlight would fight this war no longer. "Nothing... Nothing at all, Pinkie. I just came to get some breakfast for our new friends... like practically everypony else. And since I'm last in line to do so, I think I'll just leave a lunch order for later today."

Pinkie dipped down below the counter and popped back up with a notepad in hoof and a pen she held in her bangs. "That sounds like a great idea, Glimmy. If you like, you can join me and BenBen and everyone else for lunch. I already started putting together a super awesome ultra delicious-"

"Uh, Pinkie?" Applejack tried to get her attention.

"-scrumptious eeeeeeeeeitty bitty sandwhiches-"

"Pinkie?"

"-and maybe a salad," Pinkie finally finished. "Hey? Where'd Starlight go?"

Applejack rolled her eyes. "Pretty sure she was going to make a lunch order for her and all our new human friends there, Pinkie. And I got a feeling she just plum teleported herself outa here after realizing you already had that covered."

"Oops."

Applejack had a cute little smirk growing. "Not your fault, Pinkie."

The conversation continued with Applejack doing her best to explain what happened and how Starlight was trying to find a way to make up for it. There seemed to be a bit lacking in the explanation since there were things about Chris she couldn't mention, but eventually, Pinkie seemed to have a pretty good grasp of the situation. After that, it was a small to go box and Applejack was off to pick up Granny for the day.

It was only a short walk from Sugar Cube Corner to the Inn the guards had set her up in. Thankfully, the pony working the front counter was aware of the arrangements that were made and knew what Applejack was going to ask for as soon as she walked in.

"Suite Ten A, miss Applejack," He alerted her before even a simple 'Good Morning,' could be uttered. "It's our finest room. Just down to the right at the end of the hall."

"Thank ya kindly, mister," She answered back with a smile and tip of her hat.

She traveled down the hall, counting off as she made her way to the end. "-eight, nine, ten." - She gave few knocks on the door - "Rise and shine, Granny. I brought some breakfast."

The door slowly crept open, and Granny glared a look of 'Why did you come home so late' mixed with 'Why are you here so early' that only a parent could give. "I hope this breakfast comes with a good excuse as to why I haven't heard from ya since I let you all sneak off while I got arrested, and why Starlight, of all ponies, was the one to tell me that Apple Bloom was going home without letting me know, or you so much as dropping by to say 'Oh, Granny. Thank you so much sticking yer apple luving neck for us.' or heaven forbid check up on your old granny?"

Apparently, Granny had not been too well informed of the events that had taken place, so she was rightfully upset. Applejack was going to have to fill her in. Hopefully, it wouldn't take so long that they would miss Lumberman and the others arriving.

Applejack dropped what little smile she had been able to muster and changed it to something reflecting the low she was really feeling. "Yer absolutely right, Granny Smith. But before you go and blow yer stack, I certainly got a story to tell."

The conversation was surprisingly one-sided. Mostly it was just Granny in awe of how close Kelly had come to dying and the repercussions of using the Elements in the excess that they did. Applejack did, however, skimp out on much of the inappropriate aspects of the banter her and Lumberman shared. Mainly she focused on their views of each other, only slipping just slightly by mentioning that 'one of them' might already have an interest in ponies. But that immediately led to Granny spilling the beans that she also knew right away about Big Mac's interest in Kelly.

"So let me get this straight," Applejack struggled to grasp how quickly Granny had started to accept her grandson's romantic interest. "You knew right away, and didn't even question it?"

The withered old mare leaned back in her rooms finest chair. "Well, not right away. Really it was Kelly offering to help that gave it away. She may not be a pony, but them eyes of hers didn't lie."

It was impressive how quickly her grandmother was able to pick up on the two. Applejack had to wonder what Granny would think if she saw her and Lumberman together. Actually, now it was 'when' she was going to see them together.

"And don't be thinking I was just gonna sign off and give the go-ahead so easily. You think I'd let just anypony inta muh kitchen like that?" She posed her rhetorical question.

Applejack blinked in amazement. "You were testing her?"

"Testing her?" Granny had to think on that one. "I'd say more like I just wanted to get to know poor young mare."

Proper pronouns aside, this young apple horse was more than just a bit taken back. "So that's it then? You're absolutely okay with this?"

"It's not my place to tell Macintosh who he can or can't see just because I may think something different," She answered back, though the remorse in her voice seemed to hint towards something else she was referring to instead. "I'd never forgive myself if I had to make Big Mac choose between staying an Apple..." Her thought seemed to end with a memory she wasn't willing to share.

"Between staying an Apple... or what?" Applejack asked quietly.

"Er, wuh?" The question came to her in a haze that took her a moment to put together what she was asked. "Oh... Sweety, let's leave that for another day. Hmm? Let's head home for a bit. What'd ya say?"

This wasn't the direction, or response, Applejack had been expecting or even wanted at this point. It was as if they were on the verge of some deep and long lost piece of history, or moral lesson, or some side of Granny that she had left hidden. But unfortunately, before Applejack could raise any such protest, Granny had already made it over to the door and stood there waiting.

"Come along, now," Granny beckoned. "Let's not let our guest beat us home. After all. Who's gonna tell that Lumber fella which wall to fix if we don't point it out to 'em." She cackled out in her reserved laughter as she exited the room.

There was no use fighting it, Applejack followed Granny out, never raising a fuss about the conversation ending the way that it did. Although, she did wait until they had made their way past the last building in town before she would start a new conversation.

"Granny?" Applejack got her attention, trying not to sound too nervous or conspicuous. "I was thinking," - her words caught Granny's attention - "Apple Bloom is growing up faster than I'd ever imagined. From finding her special talent, forming her club that's been able to reach out past our quiet little town here, and all the more independent she's become. Well, I figured it won't be long until she's going out on her own more often. Taken on new responsibilities-"

This conversation droned on and on far longer than it needed to, and Granny was ready for Applejack to get to the point. "Uh huh. Ya don't say-" She chimed in, cutting her granddaughter off "- ya got a point yer fixen on getting to, or try'n to see if you can put me to sleep on the walk home?"

Applejack knew she was taking too long to get to her question, but she was so nervous that it just kept her rambling. "Yes. Right. Well, what I'm getting at is that I thought it'd be best to sit her down and tell 'er about the way things are between mares and stallions. Ya know?"

The idea didn't seem too unreasonable. Granny scratched her chin on the idea as they walked. "Hmm. Well, I suppose if she's gonna start looking at colts and try out date'n and all the little flirty troubles a filly her age can get into, we should tell her about how to mind her manners and how a colt should be treat'n her."

"That's a swell idea there, Granny," She kissed up to the elderly mare. "But I was thinking about telling her about the other things with mares and colts," She explained a bit more slowly and direct, hinting at the sensitive nature of the subject she didn't want to say aloud.

"Oh..." Granny just might have been getting a hint at what was really being asked, or not explicitly asked in this case. "You make a good point there, Applejack. I hadn't thought about that."

"Oh, good," She was glad to hear that Granny would be willing to give Apple Bloom the talk she never got. "You don't mind if me or Big Mac sat in for the talk, do ya?"

Granny turned a questionable eye. "You really want ta sit in for that?"

"Well... yeah... actually." Applejack was slow to admit, turning away and rubbing the back of or neck again. "Since, well. You know, I never got the talk."

"What?!" Granny shrieked. "What'd ya mean you never got the talk? You know gosh dern well not to give away the family secret recipes."

"Well, yeah. Of course I know not to give away the family secret recipes! What kinda fool you take me-ffffffffffffffffuck..." It was amazing how well those human words were finding their way into her vocabulary to really fit just what she was feeling at the moment.

"Granny! I'm not talking about giving her the talk to not to give away the Apple Cider recipe or nothing like that," She spat with a fire in her belly to belt it out as she did. "I'm talking about the talk about rutten! Sex! How foals are made! What two ponies do when they love each other very much, and all the birds and the bees nonsense."

"What?!" Granny screamed in shock. "Why in tarnation would you wanna go off and tell such things to a sweet and innocent little filly like-"

"Because I wanted to hear it for once!" She shouted over Granny. "For Pete's sake, Granny. I'm 28 years old, old enough to have gone off ‘en started a family of my own. And ain't never have I been told what it is. How to do it?"

Granny continued to march down the road, but she was at a loss for words at the moment. Really, lost for anything that could come to mind. Though the sound of a heavy sigh next to her reverted her attention back to Applejack.

"I mean... What... what is it? I swear I've never heard a peep about it," Applejack started thinking back to her last 28 years and all the places she's been to or others she's talked with. "How do I do it? What does it feel like? What's the wrong way to do it? Is it dangerous? Is there anything else to know besides how foals are made?"

All these questions were hammering their way through Granny's aging mind and testing her resolution. But the flow of frustrated thoughts and unanswered questions continued.

"What if I already did it and didn't know about it because I didn't know what it is? What if I did it and didn't get pregnant like a mare is supposed to? I might be sick, or have something broken inside of me. But I'd never know because I don't know if sex is done to me? Gah!" Applejack groaned in frustration. "If I didn't know any better, I'd swear... I don't even know how I know what the words for it are. I can't remember a single time any pony has ever said any of those words. Shit! I've seen and spoke with all sorts of other critters and non-pony races. They've never... uh... Granny?"

"Applejack..." Granny's tone came with a warning of bad news. "I have mothered yer father, yer aunts, yer uncles, and been the grandmother to a number so many grandponies that I'm losing track of..." She suddenly stopped dead in her tracks. "... and I can't recall" - she started to blush brightly - "more than just a few things from me and yer grandpa."

For Applejack, this felt like having a blindfold removed only to reveal that she was in a dark room the whole time. "Should I be afraid to ask?"

"I don't think so, hun," She put Applejack's new concerns at ease. "I remember that I looked at him. He looked at me. I knew I wanted to be close to him and hold him... to feel him... and then we shared something special together. Something that made me feel wonderful inside."

That was it. Or was it? The description covered everything she shared with Lumberman. Though it may be too vague and maybe they didn't rut? How could she find out if she was pregnant? Could Lumberman have made her pregnant? Was there something wrong with her?

With the limited expansion on context or details, she needed more answers. "So uh, what was, um... the uh... what did you... share?"

The moment was here. The answer that was so long overdue.

"I dunno?"

"Wut?"

"I said I don't know!" Granny hollored off with a huff as she started marching off back to the house. "Believe me, kiddo. I'm as lost as you are. Criminy... Can you imagine waking up in bed the morning after feeling something wonderful with the pony you love and not remembering what it was ya both just gosh darn did but yer too dern happy that you just smile and shrug like it's some kinda special secret? Heck! Maybe he knew and I just didn't know."

Applejack trotted up and matched pace. "Well, that don't help me none. How'm I supposed to know?"

"Beats me," Granny answered back sounding abnormally dismissive. "No pony told me what's what with the rut. Ya just know it, or ya don't."

This was a disaster of monumental proportions, and the one pony she thought she could turn to for absolutely anything was trotting off ahead through their front yard. Applejack stood in the dirt road with all the weight and confusion of her dilemma piling higher and higher on her shoulders. "Well fuck me," She groaned in a fit of frustration. "Fuck me literally if it meant I could make sense of any of this."

Rarity was taking her sweet time walking over the rolling hills towards the human's place or residency. On one hoof she didn't need to rush because she was showing up rather early. On the other, she was still expecting Fluttershy to join her. Some fluttering of wings overhead prepped her to greet her wingmare in kind.

She spoke up in her regal voice. "Good morning dear, I trust the day is finding you much better this morning."

"Egh, could be better," Answered back the voice that was very much not Fluttershy.

"Rainbow Dash?" Rarity exclaimed, turning her head to look up behind her.

"Morning Rarity," Rainbow Dash lowered her flight and circled in to finish her travel on hoof. "I hope your day is going better than mine."

This wasn't the greeting she was expecting. "Better than mine? What could be so bad for you this early in the morning? Or is just that you're actually up this early in the morning."

"Pft," Rainbow Dash blew raspberries, despite the carry string still in her mouth. "Oh please-"

Rarity's aura took hold of the boxes and lifted the carry string from Rainbow Dash's mouth. "It's best not to speak with one's mouth full, dearie."

"Ha! Okay, thanks," She was able to say without the struggles of her tongue being suppressed. "This isn't the first time I've been up this early. And besides, I had to take care of the weather and be back to help out and be the guide the humans need to learn all about Equestria and stuff."

"My, my. Aren't we ever the more attentive to our responsibilities, hmm?" Rarity asked the question trying to sound a bit cute, but the message wasn't getting the positive response she intended. "I'm actually quite serious, Rainbow. Not only did you take the initiative to execute your job ahead of schedule, but you also came prepared to guide our new friends promptly so. You must have really hit it off with Becky and them to be this excited and motivated. It's very becoming of you."

Well, if 'surprise' had a color, Rainbow Dash was painted in it. "You really think so?"

Rarity returned with a warm smile. "Of course I am. If you take this level of dedication that you have right now and can apply that to your other training, why, who knows. You might just end up making the Wonderbolts faster than you think."

Even if Rainbow Dash didn't know where this theory came from, it sounded pretty good to her. She jumped in the air and let her wings take over to keep her fluttering in pace with Rarity. "Awe right! Yeah! I've just unlocked my new secret weapon to make me the greatest Wonder Bolt of all time!"

"Would your secret weapon be due diligence to your duties, or just waking up in a timely fashion?" Rarity asked, using her cute tone yet again.

This time, Rainbow Dash was willing to play along. "Pft. It sounds lame when you say it like that. Well, that and, I don't think either of those two things are my secret weapon." - she hovered in close to whisper into Rarity's ear - "Those were to unlock my secret weapon."

Rarity held tight some form of lady-like laughter. "Okay, then. Do pray tell, just what is your secret weapon?"

It wasn't something so easily defined, but Rainbow Dash rejoined her wingless friend on the ground to do her best to enlighten Rarity. "That's kind of... hard to explain. Because I don't really know what it is yet."

"So secret you don't even know?" She shot back, the coyness in her voice was ripe and thick.

"Shut up," Rainbow Dash joked with a nudge to her friends' side. "But seriously, whatever it is. I have Becky to thank for it."

"Becky?"

"Yep, Becky. The one and only."

"Okay, now you really must tell me."

A smile and subtle hum as Rainbow Dash exhaled was the best she could offer as an explanation. "I don't know, honestly. But part of it is seeing things from Becky's prescipt... prospoc... ugh! What's the word for seeing things from another pony's point of view?"

"Perspective is the word you're looking for, darling."

"Yeah!" That's the word she was looking for. "Perspective. Exactly. Apparently, I inspired her when she thought I was just a cartoon pony from that crazy show about us. So, I was inspired to be her inspiration. I want to be the better pony she wants me to be!" - She took a heroic stance jumping up into the air again, before shortly returning down to the grass with a sobering smile - "The kind of pony she wished she could be."

There were a few ways to take that statement, and Rarity couldn't figure out which way she should interpret it. "Do you mean she wishes to be like you and how you act, or do you mean she actually wants to be a pony herself?"

"Kinda both, really," That wasn't really an answer, but that's what she was going with for the moment. "What I mean is, well, you know she's sick, right?"

"Yes, she's made that very clear."

"Right. So, she told me that when she wasn't feeling well, she would watch me and get excited to see the kind of life I got to live. I went on adventures. I can fly. I was trying to be a Wonderbolt, and I was cute enough to get any stud I wanted. Or so she seems to think." She finished with a slight blush.

Her friends' good fortune and luck hadn't escaped Rarity, so she wasn't going to deny her claim. "Well, yes. You do live a pretty exciting life with a lot of promise to it."

This wasn't news to Rainbow Dash either. "Well, yeah. I knew that, too. But for her, it's different. Think about it. I see little fillies all the time that look up to me like Scootaloo does. They want to be like me. So I tell them to practice and just be awesome being themselves. But for Becky... she'll never get that chance. She'll never come close to doing what I can do in the condition she's in."

Her speech was a bit on the downer side, but she turned it around with another thought. "So, if being the Wonderbolt she knows I can be will help to inspire her to do more, and if we can find a cure for her, think how amazing her life will be when I show her that if I can do it, she can do it too!"

"Find a cure?" Fluttershy's voice snuck up from behind the two, and the yellow coated mare made her landing. "I'm guessing we're talking about Becky?"

"Why yes, we are, dear. And so good of you to join us," Rarity greeted her warmly. "Are you feeling any better tonight? I gave Sweetie Belle a stern talking to for teasing you, well, both of us really, the way she did. I hope that isn't the reason you were running late this morning."

A cute chuckle and a heartwarming smile radiated from Fluttershy. "I'm feeling much better today, and thank you for asking. But you shouldn't hold too much against Sweetie Belle. Yes, it took me by surprise, but I'm running a bit later than usual this morning because of some last minute laundry I had to take care of."

"You're late... because of laundry?" Rainbow Dash asked with a bit of doubt. "Well, that's a new one. I'll have to remember that for the next time I show up late for the Wonderbolt reservist training. I needed a new excuse, come to think of it."

"I have to disagree with Rainbow on this one, I'm afraid," Rarity interjected. "What kind of laundry was so important that it couldn't wait past the morning to do?"

"Oh, umm..." Fluttershy drew into herself slightly, a smile she didn't wish to share with the others hid behind her bangs. "I ran out of pillows. I had to wash them for tonight if I'm going to get any sleep."

Rainbow Dash probably would have pressed further questions, but something down the bottom of the hill stole her attention. "Hey, is that guy running around in his underwear that Cerberus guy, or am I seeing things?"

"What?" The two Cerb hungry mares asked together before peering down the hillside themselves.

What they saw was not far off from what they were asked. It was most certainly Cerb running outside. Now being that he was as far away as he was, much of the details were beyond their scope of vision, but what they saw was enticing, to say the least.

Rainbow Dash watched him run, impressed how he carried himself with his massive frame so effortlessly. "I'm gonna have to ask if he needs a training partner."

Rarity said looking down and thinking what she could dress him up in. "I'm going to need more polyester for my sportswear collection this year."

Fluttershy thought... "I'm going to need more pillows." Those thoughts being out loud of course.

"Yes, yes. Dirty laundry and such," Rarity tried to usher the conversation away from such trivial things. "Let's head down. I'm sure the others are up and would love to have what you brought for them, Rainbow my dear."

"Mr. Cerberus is sure to be famished after a workout like what he's doing." Considerate words from Fluttershy shared with the group.

Rarity agreed but was looking to the future. "Yes, but let's not feed him too much now. I'd hate for him to lose his appetite for our dinner plans."

The three quickly made their way down to the house and were surprised to see the garage door had been opened again.

As they neared, they could see Sniff sitting half asleep on a lawn chair with the black metal thing that Lumberman had held up against Celestia's guards the other night laying in his laps. Something didn't seem right about all this, and where had Cerb run off to since they saw him last?

"Um, good morning Mr. Sniff," Came the welcoming voice of Fluttershy.

Slowly, the poon hound of Earth started to come out of his partially woken state. "Hmm? Oh.. Morning, ladies." - He looked around his surroundings for something - "What time is it?"

None of the mares had bothered to carry a watch, though Rarity seemed to have a good sense of the time. "It should be getting close to about eight in the morning. Is everything alright?"

"Oh, just another day in paradise," Sniff spoke with no clear emotion in his tired state, but it was clear he was being sarcastic. "We had a bit of an incident last night. Nothing out of the ordinary for us, though."

"Uhhhh, could you be a bit more specific on what you mean by 'incident' for us?" Rainbow Dash inquired, skeptical of his vague terms.

A yawn from the poorly shaven face of Sniff preceded the running of his fingers through his hair before he could answer. "Well, it's not much of a secret that our good buddy Cerb had a bad time going to war. Most nights he has dreams that take him back there. Sometimes he has really bad dreams where he still thinks he's there even after he wakes up... and that happened last night."

Rarity was the first to respond. "That's just awful."

"Oh dear. Is there anything we can do to help?" Fluttershy asked.

"Should you be telling us this?" Rainbow Dash asked, perhaps being a bit too protective. "It sounds like something kinda personal for him, don't ya think?"

Sniff was just awake enough to respond to each mare but too tired to be creative with his sarcasm. "Yeah, it sucks. And, no. Nothing you can really do. He's gotta deal with this on his own and work his way through it. Also, no. It's better that you know he's got these issues." - He sat up in his chair - "It's better to know that if he's having a nightmare that you don't wake him up, and you stay out of his way if he wakes up and is acting like he's lost or thinks he's in danger. He gets confused and might end up hitting ya if you try to hold him down... I'd know."

Something about that statement almost excited the rainbow horse. "Are you serious? Did Cerb really hit you? I thought you two were friends?"

Things weren't that clear cut and dry, so Sniff would have to provide a bit more context after another yawn and a stretch. "Egh... He's hit me a few times, but when he was freaking out, and I thought I'd try to help him by holding him down on the bed so he would freak out some bi-... guest of mine, he freaked out even worse. I guess he thought I was a terrorist because he picked me up and threw me across the room and into a wall. Not sure if hitting me would have been better or worse."

"You weren't hurt too bad, were you?" The concerned voice of Fluttershy spoke up.

"Me?" Sniff acted like it was no big deal. "Nah. It all worked out in the end. My, uh... guest... came into the room after they heard me hit the wall. Which also made Cerb snap out of it. But the important thing is all the sympathy... uh... services that I got from my guest, for trying to help out and take care of my handsome young friend who was going through such a hard time."

Such a display of fellowship brought a smile to Fluttershy's lips. "Well, that certainly was very kind of you, Mr. Sniff."

"Mister?" Sniff replied with a reluctant grin. "You can drop the whole mister thing. I mean, Mr. James would work, but you can just keep the nickname as it is."

"Why is that your nickname anyway?" Rainbow Dash asked as she walked up closer to his side. "Isn't that nickname kinda... lame?"

"Lame?" He couldn't really think around the obvious answer and decided to change the interpretation on it. "I'd say more goofy than lame. All of our nicknames are goofy. That's the point."

Two names came up short in Rarity's recollection. "Well, what about Chris and Becky, or Benny for that matter"

A low chuckle rolled out from Sniff as he adjusted himself again in his seat. "Well, Benny already is a nickname for Ben. He got his when he was just a kid, and we never had a reason to change it. Except Cerb. He calls him 'squid' when they're messing around."

"Squid?" Fluttershy asked, cocking her head to the side a bit.

"Yeah, not much of a funny story behind that. Cerb was a Marine, which is why we call him Cerb, being a devil dog from hell. But the Marines and Navy poke fun at each other a lot. Mostly he just calls him a squid because he thinks the title is dumb."

"What about the others?" Rainbow Dash asked a bit defensive. "Why don't they have nicknames?"

"Well, they do," He answered calmly. "Becky gets called 'Party Girl' a lot since it's about the only thing she ever seems to do to be active anymore. And we used to call Chris 'Chubs", but he really hates being called that. But since you girls showed up, we've thrown Brony Boy at him a few times. That might stick."

Heavy footsteps grew in the distance and Cerb was making another round. His muscular figure glistened with sweat in the morning sunlight as he came closer.

Two very attentive eyes found themselves glued to Cerb's approach, and Fluttershy couldn't help but look for a reason to join him. "Does he get lonely running all by himself?"

"Probably," Sniff shrugged. "He's always bugging one of us to join 'em."

A proposition was brewing in Rarity's mind. "We could use some exercise, don't you think so, Fluttershy?"

"And he could use the company. Let's go," Was Fluttershy's response before she sprang into the air to join his side.

Rarity turned to take after her friend, but remembered what she was still holding. "Oh, yes. These are from Rainbow. Breakfast of some sort. We'll be back to join you all. Soon, I hope."

The box lowered from just out of the corner of Sniff's line of sight. Oddly enough, he wasn't even shocked or surprised by the magic anymore. That, and simply too tired.

It was then that he noticed a literal rainbow of colors still sitting close to his side. "You not gonna join 'em out there?"

"Meh, maybe another time," Rainbow Dash replied with little enthusiasm. "I'm still a bit tired from the whole saving Kelly thing. Plus I took care of all the weather this morning. Carrying all those muffins didn't wake me up very much either."

"Hey," Sniff laid a hand over Rainbow Dash's shoulder. It startled her at first but didn't raise any alarms on her either. "I know I was kind of a jerk to you at first, but I really appreciate everything you've been doing for us. Especially what you did for Kelly, but also so much more than that. You're a pretty cool chick."

"Chick?"

"Lady. Girl. Mare. Pony. Whatever," He lamented as he withdrew his hand.

There was an awkward silence that Rainbow Dash had to break. "So... why is he running again?"

He led his answer with a heavy sigh. "Cerb spent years training to fight. Then he went to war. Every day and every night was a gamble on whether he would live or die. So he had this life of... looking for danger around every corner. He'd go out, fight, take cover, train, fight, take cover... that's all he knew after a while. Then he got ripped apart and stitched back together. He didn’t get to leave on mutual terms, so part of him is still over there fighting that war. He can't get rid of it. So even when he came home where it was safe, his mind was stuck waiting for another fight that wouldn't come. So he trains. Running and training to stay in shape for the next fight."

"What next fight?" She asked, assuming there'd be one.

All Sniff could do was shake his head before trying to wipe the sleep away from his face. "There is no next fight. He knows it, but his mind won't let go of it. He can't help it."

"Oh..." She didn't have much of a response to that so she decided to change the subject to him instead. "What about you? How are you dealing with living here now?"

He was tired and not up to playing any games, so he decided that honesty was the preferable response. "I don't want to be here. I don't like being here. I... I'm having a hard time not having the life I used to live. I had a social life with a lot of different people that kept me active. I don't have that hear. And before you tell me that I can make friends here and be active, I can honestly say that the kind of people I'm looking for and the activities I want are exactly what I can't get here. What I'm missing is something I can only get back home with other people."

There was a certain something about his choice of words and tone, or maybe in his expression that was very familiar to what Rainbow Dash had seen with Becky. Something that let her know not to push, but also something that needed support.

"I'm sorry."

Sniff shifted a curious eye to the pegasus. He didn't expect such an understanding tone that was so sincere and poignant with its presentation.

"You're all new here, and do a lot of things different than us," Her words were oddly comforting. "We probably can't give you everything you want. So you're going to have to go without... and that... sucks... Just like with Becky, there's a lot I wish I could do for all of you. But I can't... I can't do magic, make medicine, and I can't make you new clothes. or grow you a garden."

"You're doing more than enough as it is," was the only appropriate response he could find. "You're here at the ass crack of dawn with breakfast when we ain't got much of nothing. You were one of the first ones to put your life on the line to save Kelly, and you didn’t blow a gasket with the whole Nerf gun thing."

This wasn't the same abrasive guy that was rude and short on the pleasantries from the last time he greeted her at the door. He wasn't just sharing his gratitude, and if even subtly, he was opening up to her. Some part of him was willing to be unguarded about how he was really feeling..

"Hey, uh..." Weary words barely escaped her cautious lips. "Are we... cool?"

Such a question bore an almost insulted look from Sniff. "Yeah. Of course, we are. I mean, yeah, I can see why you might think that from the other day, but like I said. I'm just having a hard time with all this. But we're good."

"Okay. Glad to hear that." Rainbow Dash was relieved to reply back. "Um, not that I want to leave you all alone by yourself, but is Becky awake by any chance? Or maybe Kelly? I wanted to know how they were doing."

"Nah, they're still down for the count. Give 'em another hour or two. Cerb freaking out last night kept us all up longer than we would have liked. Well, kept them up for a while. I stayed up with Cerb so they could go back to sleep."

"How long have you been up?"

Sniff pulled out his phone and clicked the screen on. "Hmm. It's just after seven right now, so a little over four hours?"

"Yikes," Rainbow Dash's eyes flashed open. "And I thought I was pushing it by waking up at five. I bought a bag of coffee grounds because I thought I was gonna need it. But you guys... wow."

Pocketing his phone, a sense of gratuity reminded Sniff of his manners. "Oh, how much do we owe ya for the breakfast stuff?"

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes to the man with the kind gesture and smiled. "Uh, nothing, genius. It's a gift, not a delivery service."

A cute little grin on Sniff's face warmed up. "Alright, alright. Little Miss Captain Sass and Hospitality. Just trying to be a gentleman over here and hit ya back, but whatever." His playful banter was cheering up his new pegasus friend. "But if you really want to help out, just keep on doing what you're doing with Becky. She's the one who's really going to need the most help while the rest of us figure out what we're going to do. And by all means, if you want to just drop in and hang for a bit, I'm cool with that. It'd be nice to have at least one lady friend out here."

"Lady friend?" Rainbow Dash asked out of confusion. "I figured you were all joking about having a special somepony."

There was a verbal oopsie if Sniff ever made one. "What? No, no, no... Well, sorta," He wasn't doing himself any favors. "Let's just say that I like meeting new women and, um... How should I-"

Rainbow Dash put a hoof to his thigh in hopes of stopping him from concocting some goofy explanation to mask his true intentions. "Let me stop ya right there, Tiger. You're trying to say that you're not in it for the long term relationship. You're more of a leisure relationship kinda guy, right?"

Her not so blunt explanation of his personal habits actually struck him for a moment with no means to reply. "... uh... I didn't think you ponies-"

She accomplished her goal and withdrew her hoof before cutting him off again. "You're right. I don't think any of us do. Not in knowledge or in practice. So if you're okay with just making friends, you have plenty of options. Ya might wanna be careful, though. You're not too bad looking for a human stallion. Some mares may end up like Spike and overlook the whole non-pony thing."

Leaning way back in his chair, Sniff eased out a timid question. "Yer not hitting on me right now, are you?"

It was a struggle for Rainbow Dash not to let her immediate laughter travel any farther than her hooves she was using them to barely cover her mouth. After a good thirty seconds of only slightly contained laughter, and some damage to Sniff's self-esteem, she gave him a proper response. "Wow. And they say my ego is the size of a whale. But, no. I don't think you're my type."

"Oh, so what's your type?" Sniff spoke too soon, realizing he was asking the wrong question. "No. Wait. Why are you, like, the only one that has a clue about this kind of stuff?"

It then dawned on Rainbow Dash that she might have said too much. Her smile melted to a frown and her ears pinned themselves back. "You promise you won't tell any other of your friends or anypony else?"

Sniff just stepped in it but wasn't about to risk hurting his new buddy. "Uh, sure. I promise."

She drew a deep breath before offering him a piece of herself, not knowing why she wanted his take on her situation. "I don't know what my type is. I'm only just starting to learn about this kinda stuff from talking with Becky. About dating and finding another pony you can trust and open up too. But don't tell her I told you that. I kinda... slipped on the whole not mentioning anything we talked about with this kinda stuff."

"Stuff like what?" He asked, not knowing if he would get an answer or if he was just opening a whole new can of worms.

"I dunno," Her response ended up being far more apathetic than one might have thought. "Stuff like, why you all wear clothes all the time. That dating for humans is... complicated and in some ways very different from what we ponies do. Or, don't do."

This was certainly a morning Sniff wasn't going to soon forget. "Well, uh. I could probably give you some," - He stopped short of offering his help, as he remembered that he knew nothing of this world or how it worked - "Actually, I doubt I got much of anything to help you out with. Pretty sure we want different things. You're better off talking with Becky for this."

This whole conversation could have gone down in many different ways, but Rainbow Dash didn't want to leave it on such an empty note. "Hey. I'm sorry you, ya know, are gonna be single while you're all here. I'm just figuring out how alone that can make you feel. So, even though we all like having you around, I hope we can get you back home sooner rather than later."

"I appreciate that, Dash. But I'll survive," He answered back. "Any news on the whole getting home, thing? I was thinking about taking a trip to Twiggle's pony castle or whatever it is. See what she knows."

Rainbow Dash had a less than excited response. "Nothing that I've heard. And even if I did overhear anything, I can't understand all the egghead mumbo jumbo."

Rarity's voice was sounding off just around the far side of the house as they joined Cerb in another lap around the property. "Okay! Maybe I'm " - Clear signs of panting to catch her breath - "not as in shape as I thought!"

Fluttershy sound almost just as winded. "It's not the distance. It's just the pace, you know?"

Cerb, on the other hand, had more than enough conditioning built up to crack jokes. "Awe come on girls. You both got twice as many legs as me. You should be either running twice as fast or twice as long. What's the deal here?"

Poor Rarity was struggling to keep pace. "The irony" more panting followed by a gulp of air - "is not lost on me."

"You about done showing of your new 'catch me fuck me's,' yet?" Sniff's voice spoke up loud enough to signal Cerb back from his run. "And does Ben even know you snagged those?"

Cerb slowed down to a job as she entered the garage with the two mares in tow. "Wha? These?" He looked down to examine the running shorts that were far too short and tight to be either comfortable or appropriate. "I doubt he'll miss 'em."

"Or want them back," Sniff scoffed with a joke.

"He'll get over it," Cerb jested.

Sniff motioned to a set of small boxes bound together. "Alright, man. Rainbow Fast over here was kind enough to bring us some eats-"

"Rainbow fast?" Came a voice just as confused as put off from the misnamed pony.

"- so if you've got yourself sorted out, be sure to show your thanks and don't hork 'em all down yourself." Sniff finished updating his friend while intentionally ignoring Rainbow Dash's offense she had taken.

Whatever the unknown contents of the boxes were, the scent was more than inviting to Cerb. He eyed the multicolored pony with a hungry smile. "Uh, thanks. How much do we owe you?"

"She ain't taken cash, bro. Been down that road." Was the quick correction from Sniff.

If monetary compensation was out of the cards, Cerb had to take a new route. "Okay... So, you wanting a hug?"

One quick look up and down of the tall sapiens body dripping with sweat was a quick turn off to such an offer. "Uh, how about just a brohoof?" She offered with an extended hoof.

Behind the towering figure that was Cerb, stood Rarity, tired and fuming at the idea that yet again those strong arms were offered out to some mare other than her. What was she going to have to do, just shy of begging, to do to get her own?

"Yeah, cool beans," He said with a smile before softly pounding knuckles to hoof. "Uh... yeah... Probably need to wash off first. I probably stink to high heaven."

Not even thinking, Rainbow Dash instinctively leaned forward to examine his stench herself so she could give her opinion on the matter. Running through what reaction or words would be the best joke, she took in a few good whiffs of the air surrounding Cerb. "Hmm... Nah. You're good. You don't stink. Are you wearing cologne or something?"

"What?" Sniff shot off, twisting his neck to question the mare. "Even I can smell him from here. Dude smells like a footlocker."

Another batch of sniffs sounded off from behind.

"Are you supposed to smell bad, Mr. Cerberus?" Inquired Fluttershy's voice about waist high. "Because you actually small rather nice."

Even Rarity had taken an interest. "It's kind of like a mix of spices and citrus."

"A bit of sea salt, too," Fluttershy added.

Sniff snorted. "Y'all are messed up. Cerb smells like a gym sock farted out a jock strap."

"He, he," Cerb chuckled at that. "You just can't handle my manly musk," He joked while alternating flexing each pec independently.

That was good enough to get Sniff to laugh and roll back in his chair. "You stupid, man. Go wash your ass, and put some clothes on."

"Fine, fine. But don't act like you don't like what you see," He jokingly suggested as he walked past him back into the house.

Sniff leaned over as Cerb was walking by and gave his friend a firm smack on the ass. "Don't ask don't tell."

The swat came unexpected and made him flinch, but he continued on otherwise unphased. "Oh, I'm telling."

With Cerb gone, Sniff turned back to the awaiting mares. His grin and silent chuckles faded at the empty stairs from the three ladies he was left to entertain. Their blank expressions were all the same, save a few twitches from Fluttershy's ear. He didn't know how to respond or pick up from that odd display he had just put on.

It was Rainbow Dash that broke the silence. "You humans are so weird."

"Yeah..." Sniff didn't have much to reply at that remark since such a sentiment would have been true back home among other people as well. Though, he wondered now if the same held true for his own unwashed state. He raised an arm and took in a few short sniffs. "Crap... I need to take a bath myself." - He looked over to the mares with a curious thought - "Do I smell like cologne or spices or whatever?"

"Sniffie, my dear," Rarity shyly spoke out. "No offense, but it sounds strange to so bluntly ask a pony to smell you like that."

Rainbow Dash leaned over and weakly sniffed the area around him. "Meh. Maybe if you ran for a bit it wouldn't be so... flat."

"Flat?" He was practically insulted, though he had no reason to be.

Sensing the shift in tone, Rainbow Dash started to lean away. "You have the sea salt thing going, but the rest kinda smells like old lemon rinds. You should probably go wash that off."

"Awe, that's some bull shit," He protested while rising from his seat. "Tomorrow I'll run a marathon and come out smelling like a champ. Yer all just a bunch of haters."

The three mares watched him storm off back into the house, only to pop his head out to address them one last time before he would join Cerb in the bath tent. "Sorry to leave you all for the moment. I'm sure everyone else will be up soon... haters."

Fluttershy's ears twitched a few more times before she felt some tension in her tail starting to hint at its desire to start pressing against her. "I want to put that smell in a bottle and spray it around my house."

Rarity frumped. "That sounds so gross when you think about it, but even I wouldn't mind coming home to an aroma like that."

"I'd agree if not for the fact that you were talking about his sweat being used as an air freshener." Rainbow Dash reluctantly admitted.

"So..." Fluttershy turned to Rainbow Dash. "Did he really smell like old lemon rinds?"

"Nah," She turned back to the doorway where he was last seen. "More like a little bit of lemon and clovers. I just like messing with 'em."

"You're terrible, Rainbow," Rarity chuckled.

"Egh, they like being teased like that for some reason," She replied with a playful smile.

"Now that I think about it, that's all I could smell on him when we all slept here the other night with them," Fluttershy announced to the others. "I thought it was something on his clothes. I wonder if they all smell nice like that?"

"Hmm..." Rainbow Dash thought back to that same night with Becky. "I don't think so. Becky smelt a lot sweeter. She smelt like sunflowers dipped in honey. I wish all my pillows smelt like that. Really makes it easier to fall asleep."

These revelations were starting to weigh on Rarity's mind. "I can't tell if our new friends are so exotic and interesting that we've become too enamored with their peculiarities to notice how strangely it's making us act... or if we're all slowly going mad."

A sudden spat of coughing erupted from inside the house, causing Rainbow Dash's ears to perk up. "Hey! Becky's awake!"

Without a second thought or even a comment to address the other two, the rainbow colored pony trotted gleefully into the house. Her cheerful greetings faintly heard through the doorway. "Rise and shine, sleepyhead. Sounds like you need some more of that tea Fluttershy brought for ya. I'll get a fire started so we can heat up the water. Then I got muffins and pastries for all of you!"

Not even reacting to the possibility of losing her mind, Fluttershy made Rarity an offer. "I'll let you keep your sanity if you let me have Cerberus."

Rarity, in turn, shot a glare back to her wingmare. "If you think for a second I'm just going to give up the chance of waking up to that musk every morning, then you've already lost your mind, Darling."

I could only find it in me to get one picture done for this chapter.

Ever notice in most shows, there is never an explanation in how babies are made or where they come from? Well, when that rule appears to be canon... guess what they don't know, now.