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There is a certain amusement to be had in finishing my previous journal entry only for another eventful day to follow as soon as I left my typewriter. Almost immediately after I finished my prior entry, I was greeted by an entertaining sight in the living room. I found Smolder pacing around Ocellus as the disguised Changeling stood in the middle of the room in sheer confusion. The way Smolder was looking at her friend from every angle... She looked inquisitive, yet stumped. What had she seen?

Once she was standing in front of Ocellus again, Smolder crossed her arms in thought before taking a step forward with one foot and looking up at her taller friend from a lower position. The way she had one eye squinted... Yes, she was being very investigative. And Ocellus clearly had no idea what her friend was up to. She just nervously twirled a finger through her longest lock of hair and asked, "Smolder, why are you looking at me like that?"

"Hmmm... I dunno, I just... There's something different about you today. And I just can't put my finger on it." Smolder replied while I noticed her tapping one finger on her elbow. She looked up and down at her friend while I started to get why Smolder had noticed that Ocellus did not look quite the same way she did yesterday morning. And I started to smirk with a certain giddiness beginning to fill me. Now it was all a game to see if Smolder could figure out what subtle changes Ocellus had made to her favorite disguise.

Ocellus looked like she was not sure if she should be worried. Smolder did sound like she was making a big deal out of a very small detail, but I think she was just too curious to dismiss it. Smolder then glanced up and down at her friend and asked, "Did you grow your hair out some more?"

"No...? I just finished fixing it in the bathroom and I swear I didn't adjust its length." Ocellus replied with a hint of confused nervousness. I minded my distance to not distract the two of them from this little game they were playing.

"Um... Then maybe... Did your horns get longer?" Smolder asked to while leaning to one side to get a better look at the top of the false dragon's head.

Ocellus ran her hands over the two horns attached to her scalp and said, "I don't think so. They'd be too big if they got any longer."

Smolder then started dropping several guesses in succession. "Did your wingspan get bigger? Your tail get longer? New eye color? Did you gain a few inches?"

"Noooo?" Ocellus sounded like she was trying to not giggle. Smolder had gone into full detective mode to figure out what subtle physical changes had occurred since she last saw her friend.

It was when Smolder started scratching the top of her head in confusion that I decided to step in. I walked up to the two of them and said, "I can tell you what's different. She bloomed a little last night."

"Bloomed? What, are Changelings part flower now?" Smolder asked in bewilderment while giving me a cockeyed stare. Ocellus, surprisingly enough, looked startled by this admission and did something I would not expect a dragoness to do. She crossed her arms over her chest in an almost protective manner. Her tail curled inward to almost spiral around her legs. Not at all behavior a Changeling would engage in, I am sure.

The way she had her arms placed over her chest... Instead of hiding something, all it did was draw attention to her pectoral muscles directly above them. And that was when Smolder took another long look at her friend before her eyes opened wide in sudden realization. "Oh, now I see it! You've been working out, haven't you? Nice pecs!"

This compliment was so unexpected that Ocellus' ears even rose up on a higher angle than usual. Eyes wide and with a bemused frown on her lips, she then smiled crookedly and said, "Oh, uh... Thanks?"

The mystery solved, Smolder went into the kitchen to start packing up some snacks for the morning walk through Fluttershy's forest reserve nearby. Now alone with the disguised Changeling, I looked down at her and saw that the adjustments Ocellus made to her body the night before were still present. The pectoral muscles under her ventral scales were more pronounced than they had been before and now brought to mind a pair of very petite breasts on a more mammalian bipedal creature. I then said softly to her, "You don't have to keep those, you know."

Ocellus looked down at her chest and rested her fingers over her feminine bosom. She then glanced up at me and spoke while displaying a very uneasy smile. "I know. I could, but...I kind of don't want to. When I went to the bathroom to fix my hair this morning, I saw myself in the mirror and... Is it wrong that I like how it looks on me? They just...look like they belong there. Like this is a natural look for me. Or at least...a natural look for a dragoness who looks like this?"

Instead of being confused over sporting a feature that looked vaguely like something one would see on a human woman, Ocellus sounded like having a more traditionally feminine bipedal form was very appealing to her. And it was to me. She had always looked lovely, but this subtle change in her body almost looked like a natural evolution for her. I just smiled at her and stroked my hand between the horns on her head. "There's nothing wrong with that. It does look good on you. All it does is make you look even more feminine."

"And the funny thing is it's all muscle." Ocellus giggled as she leaned into my touch. She was very comfortable in that beautiful dragon body. Even if it was not her natural form, I just wanted Ocellus to be happy however she looked. But just as she started to reach for my other hand, there was a knock at the door. And Ocellus was quick to head on over to check on our guest. "Ooh! I think I know who that is!"

I watched from where I was and was not at all surprised to see who was on the other side of the door. A blue griffon boy was standing outside and was holding a basket filled with what looked like an assorted bunch of freshly picked apples. "Gallus, hi! You ready for our forest stroll?"

"Yep! And I brought snacks. Applejack won't notice a single apple missing from a dozen trees, right?" Gallus replied while I cracked a smirk. It was harvest time and Sweet Apple Acres were probably on the verge of finishing up Applebuck Season right then. Gallus must have gathered up some crops from the last handful of trees that had yet to be harvested. Not that Applejack would mind him doing so. At least I sincerely hope she will not.

I stepped over to the door and reached for the basket so Gallus could walk with all his limbs free. "Hey there, blue bird. Thanks for feeding us. Lemme carry that for you. I've got the hands for it."

"Sure thing, man. There's some red delicious, golden delicious, galas, and even some pink ladies in there. I'm amazed they have so many kinds out there in the orchard." Gallus replied while pointing into the basket. The mention of pink lady apples caught my attention. Those have easily become my favorite apples since I started broadening my horizons with that type of fruit after arriving in Ponyville.

"Hey, its our bluebird of happiness! Just in time, Gallus." I heard Smolder call out from the kitchen. I think she was filling up bottles of fruit punch for us to bring along. She then said, "I'm just about done in here. Hey, Scoot! You... Oh wait, she's out back fixing a loose wheel on her scooter."

Right around then did Fluttershy emerge from the nursery with Gladesong wrapped up in swaddling and slung from her shoulder. She looked left and right before saying, "Oh my, I didn't realize we'd have such a crowd with us today. Good to see you, Gallus."

"Hey there, Fluttershy. And how's the kid today?" Gallus replied while Fluttershy came over to him after he stepped inside. Gladesong's eyes lit up upon seeing the blue griffon boy for what I think was the first time. She tried to reach for him despite her limbs being tightly bound up in the swaddling. She babbled and I think she was trying to say 'blue bird', but nothing coherent came out. Gallus pulled his head back, clearly out of discomfort over having no idea of how to deal with an infant. "Oh hey... Gladesong, right? Uh... Yeah, hi. I'm a big blue boy."

I gently patted my friend on his fluffy head and said, "She tries to be friends with everyone she meets, I think. And I think she thinks you're really pretty."

"Oh yes, a pretty bluebird. Go ahead, Gallus. Say hello. Gladesong is happy to meet you." Fluttershy giggled while leaning more to one side to let Gladesong get closer.

"Guys, I really have no idea what to do here... I'm not great with kids. Especially the really little ones." Gallus stammered while even taking a step back. I was tempted to loosen Gladesong's swaddling so she could reach out and maybe pet him. A hug from her might be nice for the guy.

"Oh, don't be such a grumpy griff. Here, let the mama dragon show you how it's done." Smolder chuckled before coming into the living room with a backpack strapped to her. She would probably be grounded with it restricting her wings, but it was not like she would be needing to fly today. She then came over to Gladesong and was allowed to remove her from Fluttershy's side. The little dragon lady then expertly cradled the swaddled filly in her arms and whispered sweetly to my daughter in spite of the faint growl in her voice. "There you are, princess. Dra dra's here. We're gonna get you out there with lots of fresh air today. Ready for an adventure?"

Gallus stared with wide eyes as Smolder rocked and cradled the little filly in her arms as if Gladesong was her own child. He then pointed at her and asked, "Whoa, since when did you have a mom mode, Smolder? I thought you were too cool for school with babies."

Rather than be offended, Smolder just smirked at her friend. "Hey, you dissing my kid here? I'm her mama dragon if she's got anything to say about it. You mess with my kids, you mess with me."

"Whoa, whoa, I didn't mean it like that!" Gallus took several steps back while Fluttershy and I could only laugh at Smolder taking her maternal side in stride. She would not hurt Gallus. Certainly not while having fun with the situation. Ocellus even got a giggle out of it too. Gallus then looked at Gladesong while Smolder even kissed the giggling filly on the nose. "Well, at least the kid's happy with you. It's just... I'm pretty sure you're the last girl I'd ever expect to know how to be a mom."

"Hey, I guess I'm just a natural at it. And if I'm a better mom than my mom even before I really become a mom, then that's a point against those deadbeats back home." Smolder said with such pride in her voice. Although my smile did falter for a bit. It was sad to imagine that Smolder's maternal side may have been partially a means to spite her own parents. But at least she had found the friends and family she had always needed. She was in a good place and I could not be happier for her. Smolder then started talking cute with Gladesong as she scratched under my daughter's jaw. Even her voice started to lose its usual growling filter and became that beautiful angelic tone I only hear from her during very rare moments. "Yeah, you know your dra dra loves you. Who's Mama Smolder's favorite girl, right? You. Always you. Do you love your dra dra too? Yes you do! You like mama dragons, right?"

This was getting to be a bit much. Smolder was making Gladesong giggle and squeal joyously in the face of all the affection the little dragoness was showering her with. I glanced down at Ocellus as I pondered if she could sense exactly how much love was between those two. And judging by the way she had her hands clasped together in front of her snout to hide that giddy smile, she was feeling a lot of it. And Gallus was starting to visibly cringe as he watched one of his best friends showing a side of herself he was really not ready for. "Yeah, I'm gonna...wait outside."

Gallus saw himself out right away. And we all soon followed. Gladesong was placed back in her swaddling at her mother's side before we headed out the door. Scootaloo was right on her way back around to the front of the house by then and caught us before we could even cross the bridge spanning the brook ahead of us. The rowdy pegasus filly called out, "I'm here! Hey there, guys!"

"Hey there, squirt. You're hanging with the big kids today." Gallus replied before tussling my daughter's mane when she got close to us. Fluttershy then led us along with a bit of an excited spring in her step. I think she was thrilled to finally take us on a tour of her own forest reserve. Not that I could see her serving as a guide. It had always been a quiet path through the woods with not much in the way of landmarks or unusual fauna.

It was a long walk through town just to get to Fluttershy's private forest. With it being a Sunday, there were not that many out and about. Ocellus looked especially comfortable with the minimal presence of people around who would most likely not be happy to see her had her disguise come off. My arm was starting to get tired from carrying that basket full of apples and Ocellus was happy to carry it for the moment.

The park was more active than Ponyville itself. While Saturday is the day most folks like to head over to the local park for relaxation, Sunday would have to be the second most active day for outdoor activities. I even saw a few familiar faces. Lyra and Bon Bon were resting on a bench while Lyra was even strumming away on her own little harp. I even saw Mitta and Ruby having a small picnic together under a tree. It was so easy to forget the dark history those two shared with where they had originally come from. Even in broad daylight, Ruby's eyes were filled with a golden glow. The only clue that betrayed her ghostly presence. I was happy for those two. They escaped the shackles of their home in the Everfree Forest and were finally able to be happy somewhere better.

We eventually came to the forest at the edge of the park and made our way down the path. And the immediate shift in tone was noticeable. The kind that comes from being surrounded by nature and not manmade environments. The trees towered over us while showing the telltale encroachment of autumn. It was one of the few places in Ponyville where nature was allowed to come and go on its own terms. There was some green left, but so much of it was in the process of turning yellow. It felt like I had been transported somewhere far away in a matter of minutes and autumn had properly fallen over us. It was...depressing to me in such a way, but I also could appreciate the more melancholy atmosphere of the changing seasons around me.

The wildlife was trusting as ever. Squirrels scampered across the path with some even climbing up Fluttershy to get a look at her baby girl. When they were not saying hello to us, they were busy gathering up acorns for the coming winter. There was only so much Fluttershy could do for them once winter came. And waking them up with the onset of spring has always been Fluttershy's big responsibility during the Winter Wrap Up event. Speaking of which, I could only wonder how Ponyville's newest residents would respond to it when that day came around. Did they even know the Winter Wrap Up event exists across Equestria?

While everyone was enjoying the sights and sounds of an autumn forest in their own ways as we were also compelled to not speak much over the rusting of the leaves above, none looked more taken with their surroundings than Gallus. His eyes wandered constantly and his observant silence did not go unnoticed. Smolder soon hung back to be near him and asked, "Come to think of it, didn't you hang out in forests like this when you were on the run?"

"Nah, forests didn't do me any good. You can't fly through a place with the trees so close together with a wingspan like mine. I always suck to the meadows. The open air just agreed with me better." Gallus replied while a confused Smolder then spread her own wingspan to check. I had heard how she frequently took to the air in forests while out on her own, so perhaps her somewhat smaller body and wingspan allowed for it. Griffons have a much more impressive wingspan than most, although I did recall trekking through the woods out on the Empty Plains where the trees were not quite as tightly condensed around each other. That allowed for the likes of Gilda and some of our hippogriff allies to move through them with more ease than elsewhere. I suppose the dispersal of the seeds for the trees differed compared to the areas around Ponyville.

Smolder shrugged her shoulders and said, "Funny. I never had a problem flying through forests like these. But I guess I'm just a bit more compact than you, blue bird."

"Yeah, you look like you're built for quick response times and tight maneuvers. But you'll never beat me in speed." Gallus replied with a smirk while even spreading his majestic blue wings to flex his point. Smolder did not even try to refute that claim and just smirked at him in agreement. The two of them then shared a fist bump and continued on while Gallus went back to enjoying the sights and sounds of the forest before Smolder hastened her pace to catch up with Ocellus. Although he did notice how I kept an eye on him after a while and asked, "What?"

All I did was snicker at how observant those raptor eyes of his were. I then reached down and stroked his head as I replied, "I'm just glad you're having a good time."

"Yep, I sure am. It's a good day. What about you?" He asked in return while showing a smug smile on his beak.

"I almost never have bad days in Ponyville. Just another day in paradise." I retorted before looking ahead at my family. Fluttershy was talking with Scootaloo while Ocellus and Smolder were pointing out various sights to each other. And I knew they were not the only ones of my growing Equestrian family tree. "I almost forgot what it's like living in Ponyville like this. I spent way too long out there on the Empty Plains. It's great to be reintroducing myself to this lifestyle."

"I was out there longer than you, man. It felt so good to be back in civilization. And in such a great place too. Now I know why you like this place so much." Gallus replied while he continued to observe his surroundings with...what I started to suspect was a combination of intrigue and also caution. Although he distracted me from my thoughts before looking up at me and saying, "Hey, I know I've probably said this before, but...thanks for bringing me home. Ponyville's a good place to be."

"Don't forget to thank Gabby. She's the one who brought you to me when there was no way I would've been able to come back for you... Truth be told, I almost forgot about you most of the time out there. Just too much to deal with..." I replied while recalling the very small number of epiphanies I had out there on the battlefield where I remembered Gallus and my promise to come back for him. If only I could have known how dire the situation out there would have really gotten towards the end...

I almost expected Gallus to be disappointed with me. We really did bond in our short time together out there at that dilapidated lowland village. And even then, I got caught up in so much during the war that he had all but slipped my mind. And yet, that unfortunate blue boy just waved his wing at me in a dismissive manner, "Hey, really, I get it. I'm completely caught up on how crazy things got out there. You were just doing hero work, you know? I'm not stupid. I'm just one bird in a world you were fighting for. And Gabby saved you the trouble anyway."

I dearly appreciated his understanding of the situation. I could only pray that even if Gabby never found him I would have remembered him not long after and quickly headed back east just to find Gallus before the winter cold got to him. Although as my thoughts went to Gabby, I recalled a recent conversation she and I had with each other. "Speaking of Gabby... You'll be able to see her a lot more often soon. She told me she's making plans on moving to Ponyville before long."

That caught his attention. Gallus suddenly turned his gaze up at me and asked, "Whoa, you serious? She's moving to Ponyville?"

"Yep. She explained how it would even be good for her career. Turns out that Ponyville is a big postal hub that's a good place to base a courier. That, and she really likes the place." I explained while thinking back to that conversation she and I had in my own home. Such a sweet girl. And how is she only nineteen years old? I suppose birds really do grow up fast compared to my kind.

Gallus looked pleased enough by this revelation. They only had a four year age gap between them, so it was no wonder they connected on some level. Although he then said, "Sweet. That girl's nice to have arou... Wait, what about that other griffon girl? The one who's got a real tough vibe?"

"You talking about Gilda? I dunno... I mean she's not living in the best place right now and does want to get out, but...who knows? Maybe we'll be seeing her in Ponyville for life eventually." I replied while remembering that tough griffon hen fondly. She was easily one of the most important friends I made out there on the Empty Plains.

My friend's response was a chuckle while he started to smirk in anticipation. "We would be the 3Gs of Ponyville if we all lived in the same town."

"Ha! Just maybe!" I replied in amusement. I could already see the three of them forming their own griffon posse while living in the same town. But it was then that I noticed Gallus giving his surroundings that very uncertain gaze again. I then asked, "Are you even comfortable here? Do forests freak you out?"

"Here? Uh... You know what? That's what I'm trying to figure out." Gallus replied while looking around again. I observed him closely while he appeared to be all too aware of my gaze. He then explained, "I gotta admit I stayed away from places like this at first because I was afraid the trees would make me feel boxed in too much... But now that I'm actually in one, it's not so bad? Especially with this path I can follow outta here."

I titled my head to one side. It sounded like more confined spaces just did not feel comfortable to him in general. I then asked cautiously, "You're...claustrophobic to some degree?"

Gallus looked rather bitter as I brought that up. And what he said next was a very unwelcome surprise. "Getting locked in a closet now and then will do that to a griffon."

There was only one thing that could spawn such an ugly thought. No doubt another product of Gallus' wretched home life before he ran away. I dared not press him for details. That was a time of his life he would be better off leaving behind. I then asked, "I guess the Empty Plains were a breath of fresh air when you got there."

"Oh yeah, totally. I actually really liked it out there. At first. Those first couple of months were just soooo good. Lots of open space to stretch my wings. Even had plenty to eat if you knew where to look. But...well, I told you when you found me. I didn't know at first how much it sucks being alone for too long." Gallus explained while sounding rather jovial at first before becoming more solemn. We were so focused on each other that we had not noticed how far behind we had fallen from the group.

I did not want to ask too much about the trauma that resulted in Gallus developing a case of claustrophobia, but I did suddenly remember a certain detail about where he had lived prior to coming to Ponyville. "Wait... What about those treetop shacks you were using? Those looked pretty compact. Didn't that suck to live in?"

Gallus rolled his eyes at my confusion. "Not really. Maybe because I was locking myself in them and no one had any say of when I could leave."

"A situational phobia? I can see that." I replied while once again stroking my hand over his head. I then spoke softly to my friend, "Conquer your fear on your own time. I had to get over my fear of deep water by teaching myself how to swim."

"There ya go. Guess I'll be taking a lotta strolls here too." Gallus said with a proud smirk on his beak. We continued on while I noticed Smolder looking back at us. I waved at her to let her know the two of us were fine. But after a moment longer, I noticed Gallus looking at me with a much more vulnerable glance out of the corner of his eye. I came to a stop to show that he had my attention with him doing the same too. He then sighed harshly before looking up at me directly and asking, "Got time for a bro hug?"

"Sure thing. Come here, blue bird." I replied while dropping to one knee. Gallus reached up and wrapped his arms and wings around me. For all of his attempts to be aloof and cool, he can never hide his softer side from me whenever he is in a very somber mood. I suppose the blue in his coat is very representative of the old sorrows in his heart that have yet to leave him. I stroked my hand over his fluffy head and over his soft feline coat while I whispered to him. "You'd a good guy, Gallus. Everything's gonna be OK."

"I know, man... I know. And thanks for being a great guy yourself." He muttered softly to me. Although we soon realized that we were not as alone as we had assumed. Smolder and Ocellus had backtracked to us and were watching in silence. Ocellus was holding her hand over a very endearing smile while Smolder stood there with her arms cross as she displayed a very smug smile on her lips. Gallus flinched with his eyes opening wide before he growled at the two little ladies, "Hey, there's nothing wrong with two cool dudes having a bro hug! Quit gawking!"

Ocellus then asked sweetly, "Are we cool enough to hug you too?"

Gallus froze while I almost chuckled right into his ear. He was not sure how to respond to that question without rejecting his friends. Smolder capitalized on his hesitation by speaking up. "Of course we are. Come on, more hugs for the blue bird!"

The griffon boy in my arms squawked in protest as both dragonesses true and false jogged over and held us both in an embrace. He quickly calmed down as he groaned in ruined pride. Although Gallus then sneakily said, "You know what? It is pretty cool getting a hug from dragons."

I decided to not ruin his immersion by reminding Gallus that one of those two dragons was a Changeling in disguise. Although I did not have to since he then did so himself. Gallus looked at Ocellus and asked, "Hey, come to think of it... Ocellus? Why're you always wearing that look? When was the last time you took it off?"

Ocellus glanced at him with wide eyes before backing away for a few steps. "This? Oh, uh... I think at least a few weeks ago."

Rather than question her further, Gallus just rolled with it. He let go of me while Smolder and I released our fluffy friend from our embrace. He then held out a hand for a shake and said, "I guess you can't beat a body that has hands, right?"

"I mean...this body does have its advantages. And I just like the way I look." Ocellus replied before giving Gallus a sincere handshake.

Smolder was not so willing to share the sentiment. I noticed the one true dragoness among us cross her arms with a less than approving look on her face. But more out of concern than disapproval. "Ocellus... You know you can't wear that look forever, right?"

Ocellus faced her friend and asked, "Why not? I like this form. I like having this body. And everyone in Ponyville likes me for who I am."

"But it's still not really you. And besides, it's not like dragons don't have a bad enough rep in Equestria. I was chased off from almost every other place I tried to find shelter in before I ended up in Ponyville. And they liked me just fine on my first day." Smolder explained while starting to look more than just worried about her friend. I was tempted to object, but could not find the will to do so. Even if there was nothing inherently wrong with a Changeling choosing to assume a form out of preference, there was something...unfortunate about Ocellus' motivation for doing so.

Backed into a corner, Ocellus began to twirl a finger around her longest lock of hair. A habit she seemed to be embracing. "But...dragons aren't Changelings... They'll hate me if they see me for what I am."

Gallus was then quick to speak up. "They'll have to get through us first, right? Come on, we're not busy today. How about we all go hang out in town when we're done here? But without wearing any disguises. No one will mess with you if you've got a griffon and dragon being your bodyguards."

Ocellus stared with eyes wide in surprise at the griffon and dragoness before her. They glanced at each other and nodded with confident smirks and even shared a fist bump. While not really knowing much about fighting to begin with, Gallus and Smolder were no strangers in being self-reliant and knowing how to defend themselves in difficult times. Reluctant as always, Ocellus asked, "Could we...discuss this when we get back home? I need to think on this for a while."

"Yeah, sure. We're not gonna force you. But it would probably be good for you to...not have to lie to everyone in town about what you are." Smolder replied while patting Ocellus on the shoulder.

After letting out a sigh of apprehension, Ocellus then looked at me. An almost pleading gaze was filling her eyes. I reached out and rested my hand on her head and said, "It'll be good for you if you did this. I promised you that Ponyville would learn to love you. But they don't know the real you yet. Please, love bug?"

Ocellus sighed again and rested a hand on her opposite arm. "I guess they'll find out one way or another... Maybe it's best if I show them on my own terms."

"Atta girl. We'll make this work. And it's not like you don't have friends in town already. We'll swing by Sugarcube Corner and then we'll hit the library. You're a bookworm, right?" Smolder replied while managing to get a smile out of her friend. It was then we noticed that we had fallen pretty far behind Fluttershy and Scootaloo. How they did not notice is a mystery. The four of us then hastened our pace to catch up.

The more we walked along the forest path, the more I remembered the last time I came through the place with only Smolder in my company. That was a magical time. And now she was no longer the only one among us in that age group. Seeing her mingling with Gallus and Ocellus just felt...right. They were good for each other. I held back a bit to allow them to focus on each other and not be a distraction. In some ways, I felt like a bodyguard keeping watch over my wards.

Of course. I was no longer a mere commoner. I was a knight. A title bestowed upon me by the glorious king and queen of Equestria themselves. I felt a twinge of pride and decided to uphold that title then and there. I noticed a fallen tree branch bare of leaves and with few protrusions. It was roughly the length of a longsword. I quickly snatched up the branch and hoisted it over my shoulder before following along.

Gallus was the first to notice me following along with that branch in my hand. He glanced at me with a cockeyed stare and asked, "What's with the stick?"

I rolled my eyes and said, "I left my sword behind, so I'm making due with this. A knight needs to keep watch over his companions."

Ocellus giggled shrilly while covering her blushing smile. She looked up at me with the her false dragon wings spreading wide and said, "Oh my, I feel so much safer now! Thank you, Sir James!"

"Anytime, lass. Carry on and I will keep watch." I said with a bit of a false accent before they continued on while a creek started to come up ahead. One that was one of my favorite spots along the trail. Although Smolder hung back a bit while looking up at me with her arms crossed. I glanced down at her and asked, "Yes?"

Smolder snorted with some amusement before she said softly, "I'm just so proud of our knight in shining armor. I'll always be your princess, right?"

I was a bit too into character at that moment. I kneeled before Smolder and took her hand into my left before lifting it to my lips and placing a kiss upon it. "You are mine to serve, m'lady. What is thine bidding, your highness?"

She... I must have struck a nerve in just the best way possible. Smolder blushed furiously and began to fluster and squeal as she brought both hands to her face. She stammered and scuttled before scampering away from me like she was just delirious with joy. I heard her laugh and giggle uncontrollably in a way that made me feel very proud of myself. Now out of earshot, I rose to my feet and whispered to myself. "What a fine queen you will become someday, m'lady. I hope I can be crowned as yours when the time is right."

Scootaloo was watching over Gladesong as the little filly was allowed out of her swaddling to poke about the brook flowing beside the path. She did not like the chill of the flowing autumn water and backed away after poking the stream with her hoof. And Smolder was failing in hiding her giddiness from her friends. Gallus looked puzzled by Smolder's lingering glee, but Ocellus was casting her dragon friend such a knowing smirk. She could sense the overflowing love in her friend's heart.

We were not alone at the creek. A handful of toads were sitting in the shallows and on the ground nearby. Relaxed and docile, they did not mind us much at all. Gladesong even began to playfully toddle after one as it hopped away from her ever few seconds. Fluttershy adored the denizens of her own personal forest and spoke sweetly to them while one even sat upon her head. It would not be much longer before they would have to hibernate, but they were still out and about for now.

The adolescents among us started to catch the toads and hold them to examine the little amphibians up close. I think they were a little warier of Gallus than the others. Probably because of his predatory bird visage. At least he did not want to make a meal out of them. I even took a seat by the creek and held one toad in my hands. My finger slid along its back and gently pressed down on it at one point. In response, the toad let out a series of chirps that caused anyone nearby to just stare. I glanced at them and asked, "Never heard what a toad sounds like? They don't croak like frogs do."

"Heh, you learn something new every day." Gallus retorted while letting his toad ride around between his shoulders. He then asked, "But how'd you figure out how to make them chirp like that?"

"I used to have toads for pets. They're pretty chill and easy to please. And they loved to lounge around in bowls of water." I replied while letting the toad in my grasp rest on the back of my hand. Catching toads is always a fun little game and their round bodies are easy to hold. I looked at the toad I was holding and said, "Just before my grandmother moved away from her old address, I caught a few more toads at the pond behind her house to bring them home and keep them to replace the ones I used to have. But...I decided to let them go at the last minute. I guess I decided I'd rather be friends with them than keep them as pets."

"Now I know where to go if I wanna catch something to be my pet." Smolder said smugly before holding one toad between two fingers just behind the head. And the little guy did start chirping. Except it did not stop. "Ha! So that's how you make them squeak!"

Amusing as it was to watch an unassuming toad chirping in an adorable fashion, I knew why this one was doing so. "Actually, that one's chirping because he doesn't like the way you're holding him. Or her. I dunno which."

"Oops. Sorry about that." Smolder replied before setting the toad down and letting it hop away. She then looked at Ocellus, who was giving the toad in her hands a much more satisfying experience. The false dragoness was cradling one on her upturned palm and gently rubbing her fingers all over its backside in a dainty fashion. Smolder spoke with a smirk, "At least they like you."

Ocellus only smiled in silence, but then turned to Gallus while he pointed at her. "Hey... Toads eat bugs, right? You think they'd want a piece of you if they saw how you really look, love bug?"

"I'd...rather not find out." Ocellus stammered while looking more than just a bit uncomfortable. Perhaps it was a primal fear of hers as a Changeling. I know they are not insects, but they probably have some insect instincts hardwired into their senses. Fear of being devoured by natural enemies must be one of them.

After a while longer, we all started to prepare to continue on. But while I picked up the stick I had been carrying, Fluttershy came over to me with Gladesong wrapped up in her swaddling again. "Would you like to carry her for a while, dear? She misses her daddy."

"Come to think of it, I really should. Come here, sweetheart." I replied and took Gladesong's tightly wrapped body into my hands and worked to get her swaddling slung around me to let her rest in one arm. She silently looked up at me with those round chocolate eyes and never stopped smiling. I smiled right back and gently booped her nose with my other hand to prompt a giggle from her.

Now that I was in no position to carry something even remotely resembling a weapon, Smolder took the initiative and took my stick in her hands. "Lemme hold this for you. I'll handle anything that gives us trouble."

We continued on down the path while Smolder constantly messed around with that stick on the move. It was too big for her to use like a sword, so she instead settled for a polearm grip and began to wave it about like a spear or a staff. I knew spears are exceptionally easy weapons to get the hang of despite their simplicity. She stopped bothering with the spear style of use and started moving the stick about like a quarterstaff before continuing to walk along while using the stick for support in one hand.

Not much time passed before we came to another landmark along the trail. A large rock at a curve in the path that could easily be used as a table or a bench. This was the point where we decided to take a break and get out the snacks we had bought along. I continued to hold Gladesong and slipped her little bits of dry baby snacks one by one. I quietly asked, "Having a good time, sweetheart?"

Gladesong still did not have much of a grasp of speaking, but she babbled a little bit for just a second. I was grinning from ear to ear. Seeing my baby girl happy only made me happy too. Although while I sat there on the rock, I soon noticed Ocellus was seated beside me too. And then I felt it. That subtle sensation of something being siphoned out of me. I glanced at her and asked, "You getting your favorite kind of snack, love bug?"

Ocellus squinted her eyes shut and giggled now that I had caught her. "Mmhm. Besides, this gives the others more to pass around. And your love is much yummier than the snacks here."

I helped myself to some of the goods as well. It was all light fare. Chips and assorted veggies with a dill dip to go with it. I said little and just quietly made sure Gladesong was well fed and comfortable. She soon nodded off for a nap with the rustle of the leaves above being disturbed by a gust of wind blowing through the canopy serving as a lullaby. Just such a sense of serenity all around us. Ocellus soon leaned over and whispered into my ear while I gazed up at the canopy of greens and yellows. "You're happy."

"I am. It's a good day." I replied without even looking at her. Although I then felt Ocellus resting her hand atop mine. When she placed her fingers over mine, I spread mine to let her rest her fingers between them in a sort of embrace. My eyes closed as I sighed. "Thank you for being here."

Ocellus leaned closer to me and whispered something precious into my ear. Words she did not want too many to hear. "I love you."

There was something about the time and place where she said those words... I just felt so warm and relaxed. I leaned in her direction while she did the same. Ocellus and I cuddled up together with little slumbering Gladesong between us. And I whispered back to her. "Take your time. No rush."

A part of me was glad that everyone else were so taken with each other for conversation, even if it was still very quiet. I was not sure how to explain the budding romance between Smolder and I to Scootaloo. Or even the potential romance that was simmering between Ocellus and I. Nor did I know how to tell Gallus. Would he be comfortable with two of his best friends being in a relationship with me? Or...how would I tell him about my family life at all? My gut was telling me to keep that information from him for the moment.

We were soon on our way again. And I was already starting to feel like I was in the mood for a nap. Sundays are ideal for it. The path eventually led to a space ahead where the trees opened out into grassier spaces. Scootaloo pointed ahead and said, "I see the end!"

Fluttershy looked around at us and spoke with a hint of pride in her voice. "I hope you enjoyed your stroll through Fluttershy's forest. Come back soon, OK?"

"Yeah, totally. It was a good run." Gallus replied before turning to Ocellus. As did Smolder. The disguised Changeling glanced back and forth at them in confusion before Gallus asked, "So then... We doing this?"

"Oh... Right..." Ocellus sighed harshly before she was engulfed in a flash of green fire for an instant. For the first time in much too long, she stood before us in her true form. And I had forgotten just how sorry the natural form of a Changeling looks, especially with the bits of circular chunks taken out of her limbs. Scootaloo even recoiled in surprise after having probably even forgotten that Ocellus has never been a dragon. Her blank pale blue eyes displaying unease, she then asked, "Just...please don't let anyone hurt me. I don't know what'll happen..."

Smolder tapped her big walking stick over her shoulder while displaying a bold smirk. "If anyone gives you a kick, they get the stick. We got your back, love bug."

Gallus then looked up at me while I started to reconsider letting Ocellus out of my sight in Ponyville without a disguise. Canterlot may have been the last place in Equestrian society to experience hostile Changeling activity, but word probably got around. The blue griffon boy smiled at me and said, "We'll keep her safe. And we'll have her home by sundown."

"I'm counting on you two to make sure she has a good time out there. I'll see you guys later." I replied before the three of them went on ahead to leave the forest first. No one saw Ocellus shed her disguise, so the new little dragoness in town was still in the clear. I could only hope for the best. Ocellus was taking on a very bold challenge.

"I forgot Ocellus was even a Changeling. She's been wearing that dragon look for so long that it slipped my mind." Scootaloo chuckled nervously while we made our way out of the forest. I could still see the three of them in the distance as they headed through the park and even passed a couple who were out for a stroll. While it did not look like any acts of hostility were carried out, the two of them did look very wary of Ocellus while Gallus and Smolder wisely put themselves between them.

With the rest of the Sunday ahead of us, Scootaloo trotted off to check out the clubhouse deep in Sweet Apple Acres. Maybe Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were there as well. For me, I just wanted to take a nap as soon as we got back home. I was too sleepy even for lunch. With Gladesong tucked up against me, she and I both settled down on the sofa in the living room to get a couple of hours of sleep in.

That only worked for so long. While I did get in a couple of hours of sleep, a certain sound reached my ears. One that I could not sleep through. It was a certain...motorized buzzing sound and not the kind Scootaloo makes when riding her scooter. I cracked an eye open to gaze at the ceiling as I found myself unable to go back to sleep with that noise coming into the house. Fluttershy even stepped out of the kitchen with her head raised and ears swiveling to try and figure out where the sound was coming from. "Sounds like there's an airship flying really low over us."

"Must be coming in to stop at Ponyville for some reason." I grumbled before trying to go back to sleep. That ended up being impossible with that propeller buzz becoming louder as the seconds ticked by. Even Gladesong was not able to sleep through it and soon awoke while voicing her disapproval with frustrated crying. But as I sat up to gently calm my annoyed child, I suddenly had an epiphany. "Wait!"

I hurried over to the front door with Gladesong in my arms and stepped outside. And sure enough, an airship was coming down to make a landing out in the meadow not far from our house. And it was not just any airship. I recognized that vibrantly decorated gas sack above the hull anywhere. "Wait, which Sunday is it?! Wasn't it supposed to be next week?!"

Fluttershy stepped out after me and also recognized the airship as the propellers started to slow down and go quiet. It was none other than the Zephyrus herself. "Are we expecting someone? And...isn't that one of the airships you came home on?"

"Yeah, that's the Zephyrus. It's Celaeno's airship. But...I'm pretty sure she's a week early? Maybe?" I replied as I remembered that we made arrangements for a Sunday. But I was so certain that we agreed on the following Sunday and not the one immediately after the last time we saw each other. Gladesong quickly stopped crying when she saw the Zephyrus and was very taken with seeing the rare sight of an airship coming down for a landing. I looked down at my daughter and was glad that Celaeno's arrival was enough to intrigue her enough to calm down. "Never seen an airship before, sweetheart? They sail the skies instead of the seas. You'll be able to fly just like them eventually."

While convinced that Celaeno had arrived ahead of schedule, I was not displeased. Fluttershy and I headed on down the path while the crew started dropping heavy sandbags bound to thick ropes over the side to anchor the Zephyrus in place. The gangplank was soon lowered over the starboard side before a harpy woman wearing a wide hat stepped up to the edge of the deck. She promptly waved down at us and called out. "Ahoy!”

"Good afternoon, Celaeno!" Fluttershy called back while we both waved. Celaeno began to carefully descend the gangplank with an uneven gait that emphasized the prosthetic leg she was standing on. Fluttershy then asked, "What brings you to Ponyville? Airships don't usually land over here."

"We're not here on official business or anything like that. Your husband and I had plans for... Oh?" Celaeno started to explain before her eyes lit up in intrigue as she came to a stop halfway down the gangplank. And I suddenly started to feel a little giddy when I noticed where her eyes were looking. She had finally drawn near enough to see who I was cradling in my arms. Celaeno brought her hands to her beak as she gasped softly, "Oh my goodness, I forgot you have a kid..."

"One of two, but Fluttershy and I made this one together." I retorted while Fluttershy and I smirked at each other knowingly. I then looked at our guest and said, "Celaeno. This is Gladesong."

The harpy captain hurried down the gangplank as quickly as she could with renewed excitement as she beheld my daughter for the first time. And Gladesong was equally taken with the sight of the festive bird woman approaching us. She reached out with one hoof and spoke up. "Birb! Birb!"

"Ohohoho she knows what I am! Yes, I'm a bird. A big bird from the tropics." Celaeno giggled at Gladesong's butchered words. And yet, she looked like she was desiring something. Celaeno glanced back and forth between Gladesong and her parents before she held out her hands. "May I...?"

It was obvious that she wanted to hold the baby and Fluttershy offered no objection. I then held out my daughter to my friend and spoke with little more than a whisper, "Be gentle with her."

Celaeno was awestruck as she took the tiny filly in her arms and expertly cradled Gladesong against her gilded bosom. The curious filly reached up and just managed to touch the feathers coating the base of Celaeno's neck. The harpy woman, tickled like I had never seen before, then spoke sweetly to my child in a manner I did not expect. "Hola... Hola preciosa niña."

Spanish? Celaeno had reverted to using the dialect most likely used by her people back home? And she spoke it so fluently and with an elegant accent that was nothing short of authentic. And Gladesong was just so taken with these new words and the inflections in Celaeno's voice. She did not understand spoken speech much to begin with, so all that mattered was that Celaeno's voice sounded nice. The tiny filly giggled and reached up to her new friend in excitement while Celaeno took note at how her words affected Gladesong. "Hm? What's up? You like the way I sound? Te gusta la forma en que hablo? Te parece bonito?"

It did not stop there. Celaeno stopped speaking English entirely and began to have a full conversation with Gladesong in fluent and beautiful Spanish to the point where I could not cognitively keep up. It was all white noise to me, but it was very pleasant white noise. Almost like a lullaby. And with how good Celaeno was being towards the very happy filly in her arms, it made me suspect that most avian species in general are very family-minded by nature.

Fluttershy and I were really enjoying the show as Celaeno kept tickling Gladesong just under her chin. Although I then happened to look up and notice Boyle and Mullet standing at the top of the gangplank. Just silently keeping watch. Not wanting Celaeno to lose track of time, I decided to speak up. "So then, you here to see a doctor? Because I'm pretty sure you're a week early."

Celaeno looked up at me from Gladesong as her eyes widened in surprise. "We are? I distinctly remember us agreeing on Sunday. That's today, right?"

"Actually, I'm pretty sure we agreed on next Sunday... I mean we can check if you got a moment." I replied before we all headed back up to the cottage together. Fluttershy went first when we reached the door, but I stopped Celaeno at the door before demonstrating how to duck through the doorway. "Mind your head."

"Heh, I forgot that ponies like to live small." Celaeno chuckled as she pulled the brim of her hat down while ducking through the door to get inside. Gladesong still remained tucked up against her in one arm before Celaeno looked from left to right at the living room around her. "Nice place you got."

"Make yourself at home, Celaeno. I'll get started on some lemonade." Fluttershy replied while Celaeno got comfortable on the sofa at the back of the room before resuming her sweet Spanish conversation with a very happy Gladesong. I noticed that none of Celaeno's crew had followed and were probably just expecting her to be right back. While everyone else was busy, I went into the laundry room to check on one of my earlier journal entries to see exactly what day we had agreed on for this visit.

I keep most of my entries in a file cabinet in the corner by my typewriter. Any entries that contain more sensitive information are kept in a safe that few know the combination to. After quickly rummaging through the stacks of pages, I found the entry I wrote to document the last day Celaeno and I saw each other. And a quick skimming of the latter pages gave me the information I was looking for. I went back to the living room and walked up to a very distracted Celaeno. "Yeah, I found it. We agreed on next Sunday, not this one."

Celaeno promptly looked up at me with wide eyes of embarrassment as she processed this information. Her gaze wandered a bit before she muttered, "Oops?"

I could have sent her away. Just give her a pat on the back and sent her back to her airship. But I then contemplated the reality of the situation. "But...seeing as how it's still a Sunday and I've got nothing better to do... Wanna just get it outta the way regardless?"

"Sure! My schedule's free for the rest of the day." Celaeno chirped in relieved delight. She then looked back down at the giggling filly in her arms before looking up at me right as Fluttershy entered the living room with a serving tray delicately balanced on her back with glasses of fresh lemonade on it. She then smiled at the two of us and said, "This is one happy kid. She's in a good place. I can tell you two have been doing a great job with her."

For some reason, hearing that from a harpy felt like those words carried more weight than most. Fluttershy and I were equally taken aback by that sincere praise. My wife replied, "Oh my... And she's only our first. I mean we did adopt Scootaloo, but Gladesong was our first real baby. I'm amazed with how smoothly it's gone for us..."

"To be fair, we also have a lot of help from Fluttershy's little friends. And a lot of them are birds." I added before taking note of how Gladesong looked especially happy to be held in the arms of this bird woman. Fluttershy has always had a certain affinity for birds, what with her even orchestrating an avian chorus for special occasions. I then leaned towards Celaeno and said, "Maybe that's why Gladesong likes you so much."

Celaeno chuckled very heartily before stroking a finger through my daughter's mane. "Yeah, we birds always look after our hatchlings. Runs in the blood, I guess."

With how doting Celaeno was being to our daughter, despite her line of work generally not allowing her to interact with children very often at all, I suddenly felt the urge to ask. "Have you ever had kids before?"

"Nope! I've been sailing the skies for at least ten years now. That doesn't exactly leave the time to raise a family. Or to even really settle down with a handsome rooster of a man. Besides, my crew's the only family I've really needed after leaving home." Celaeno replied matter-of-factly. I took her word for it and passed her a glass of lemonade. We all decided to share a drink before we would get down to business.

Once our drinks were done, Celaeno was given the honor of putting Gladesong down for another nap. Being woken up by the arrival of the Zephyrus was too soon for the little thing. And the way she did it... Celaeno cradled the little filly in her arms and sung a soft and beautiful lullaby in her native tongue.

Fluttershy and I watched from the doorway as our guest masterfully soothed our daughter back to sleep. Gladesong was not the only one enjoying the experience. Celaeno herself looked so serene as she gazed down at the precious filly who had befriended her. I could only see part of her face from the angle we could see from the doorway, but she was smiling. Perhaps...even showing a certain vulnerability and look of longing. And when she did finally fall silent before setting the sleeping filly down and gently tucking her in, I noticed Celaeno wipe a tear from her eye. Fluttershy noticed too and whispered up to me. "She would make an amazing mother."

"I think so too. She's a natural. Just a shame her line of work just won't allow it. Celaeno belongs in the sky and she loves her line of work." I replied quietly as we stepped away from the nursery's entrance. And when Celaeno emerged before closing the door behind her, she sighed harshly and quickly stumbled over to me and grabbed me in a very firm embrace. I gently patted my friend on the back and said, "Gladesong really appreciates what you did there. Thanks for being good to our little girl."

"She's...just such a sweet little thing... Please keep being good to her, all right?" Celaeno muttered to us while...looking very shaken up for some reason. Although this quickly passed as she regained her composure. The harpy woman then released me from her embrace and smiled at me. "Anyway... Shall we get down to business?"

Fluttershy knew nothing about the arrangement Celaeno had made with me at the big party in Canterlot days ago. She looked up at our guest and asked, "Come to think of it, what brought you all the way out here at the edge of Ponyville?"

Celaeno confidently crossed her arms and tapped her peg leg of solid emerald against the floor to draw attention to it. "Your husband found a way to get my left foot's mate back. And we promised to set up a Sunday where he could introduce me to a certain miracle worker who lives around here. Sound like anyone you know?"

While she was a bit confused at first, Fluttershy quickly caught on to exactly who Celaeno was alluding to. "Oh, you mean Zecora! Yes, she lives very close by in the Everfree Forest. I've never heard of a potion that could restore a lost limb, but...if anypony in the world knows a recipe that does, it's her!"

"Yep. Although... Well, we'll talk it over once we get there. Ready to head out?" I replied before Celaeno and I made our way to the front door. Fluttershy stayed behind while I started to lead our guest towards the backyard and the path that led into the forest and towards Zecora's dwelling. Although the first thing we noticed was our flock of chickens milling about outside their coop. I glanced at them before glancing back to Celaeno, who was smirking in amusement as I noticed the awkward irony of her presence. "It's so weird how some birds in Equestria evolved into people while others...didn't."

"Who knows why that is? Anyway, the Everfree Forest, right?" Celaeno asked as we came to a stop. Celaeno's eyes squinted as she crossed her arms in thought. She scanned the perimeter of the vast untamed forest ahead of us before asking, "Looks...wild by forest standards. You think we'll find trouble on our way there and back?"

"That's certainly a possibility. The Everfree Forest is a particularly ancient forest that Equestria's people never really got around to taming. It's got an interesting history too that even reaches the Equestrian royal family. I've had to run from timberwolves several times. I don't recommend going in unarmed." I replied while having come and gone from Zecora's home often enough to get a feel for how things generally work so close to the forest's edge.

Celaeno glanced down at her side to remind herself that she was not carrying a sword on her person. She then glanced at me and said, "In that case, hang tight for a minute. I'll be right back."

"Sure thing, captain." I replied while Celaeno walked away as briskly as her peg leg would allow. I could see the Zephyrus from there and even saw the old girl's captain ascend the gangplank before disappearing out of sight. I preoccupied myself by hanging out close to the chickens as they pecked at the dirt and scraped at it with their feet. It was around five minutes later that I looked over my shoulder and saw that Celaeno was approaching. And she was not alone. "Sorry to keep you waiting, James! Ready to head out?"

Celaeno had returned with a saber at her side. And she had brought some company with her. Mullet and Boyle were following along and were equally armed. I noticed that the scabbard at Mullet's side was a bit shorter and broader than that of an average saber. It seemed to be a cutlass. Shorter reach, but with a heavier bite. As for Boyle... He was not carrying a sword. He instead had an axe attachment bound to that prosthetic where his right hand was missing. I let out a quiet failed whistle as I understood exactly what kind of entourage would be with me that afternoon. "Whoa... You guys are really packing, huh?"

"And we didn't forget about you, matey. Here ya go!" Mullet retorted before I noticed what was in his left hand. He lobbed a sheathed saber at me that I managed to catch. I partially drew it from the scabbard and saw that the blade was indeed sharp. He then asked, "So then... We're setting sail to find the captain's long lost twinkle toes?"

"That's what I'm banking on, Mullet. And our mate here knows where to find someone who can do it." Celaeno retorted while I held my borrowed saber at my left side. There was no strap to secure it, so I would have to carry it by hand. Celaeno then asked, "How about you fill the boys in as we go?"

I did just that. I began to guide my companions down the path I had wandered many times as I explained the situation to them. "Basically, I confirmed with Zecora that there is a potion recipe that can restore lost body parts. Even a missing leg isn't impossible. Zecora's a zebra herbalist who resides in this forest."

Boyle then provided some unexpected commentary. "Zebra, huh? Brings back memories of the times we docked in Casabronco. We haven't been back in ages."

This contradicted what little I knew of the zebra's homeland after what had been said to me by Celestia herself. I looked back at the three harpies and asked, "Huh? Casabronco? I thought most zebra call the...um...Sereneighti home down there."

"Oh, a lot do! But that's where the zebra who follow the old traditions like to be." Celaeno replied while I continued to look back at her. She then explained, "The Farasi region is where the more modernized zebra call home. Casabronco is where most trade happens, being a coastal town where ships come by air and sea and it's where we always dock. Haven't gone by there in years, come to think of it. Poor old Zephyrus hasn't been in good enough shape for that kind of trip until she got overhauled a little while ago."

"You learn something new every...wait." I started to say before something caught my ear. The snapping of twigs. I came to an abrupt halt and held up my right hand to signal my companions to stop. They all froze and did not make a sound. I carefully scanned our surroundings, listening with my breath caught in my lungs. "Guys... Get ready to run."

Mullet reached for his sword and asked, "Trouble came knocking, huh?"

"We don't have to fight. If we make it to Zecora's place, we'll be fine. Timberwolves won't go near her place for some reason." I replied while really not in the mood to face off against those wooden beasts. And it sounded like there was more than one.

"Just one problem with that idea, James. I can't run." Celaeno replied before taking a step forward with her right leg. My eyes fell upon that debilitating prosthetic leg. She would never be able to keep up with us. But she still smirked with confidence as she drew her saber from its scabbard. "You know what that means. Let's get ready to rumble, boys."

Boyle and Mullet glanced at each other with bold smirks before the latter drew his cutlass. I was about to draw my saber as well, but the three of them quickly surrounded me in a triangle formation. Boyle then spoke up, "Leave these landlubbers to us, matey. You've done more than enough fighting for a year."

I said nothing, but was dearly grateful for them taking the fight out of my hands. And sure enough, there they were. Three sets of unblinking eyes glowing with an almost sickly green hue peeked out from behind the trees. Creatures of interlocking scraps of wood bearing an unmistakable lupine visage. Although the three harpies beside me appeared somewhat surprised by what they were seeing. Mullet chuckled nervously as he spoke, "Now I see why they call these things timberwolves. Too bad we didn't bring the tools for holding firewood together."

It sounded like they had never seen these creatures before. Perhaps they were expecting flesh and blood wolves instead of these verdant constructs. Celaeno then said cautiously, "Pick your target and wrap this up quick. We didn't come here for trouble."

"Aye, captain!" The two harpies beside her chirped before they made their move. Once the three timberwolves came close enough to single out their prey, the three harpies made their move. Celaeno struck first, her saber not having enough heft to really do much to a creature made of solid bits of wood. But the saber's reach still kept her at a safe distance. And when the wooden wolf came rushing in for a quick bite, Celaeno lashed out with a piercing kick that sent her peg leg of solid emerald right through the roof of the wolf's upper jaw. The lights filling its eyes promptly faded from this seeming fatal blow as splinters flew through the air, its entire body falling apart into a pile of assorted bits of timber. Celaeno, very proud of her handiwork, rested her left hand on her hip. "I guess that's one way this stump comes in handy!"

Mullet was much bolder in his approach than Celaeno. While having a shorter reach than her saber, Mullet's cutlass was clearly much heavier in its strikes. He even charged the timberwolf with unexpected ferocity as he called out, "Com'ere, mutt!"

The wooden wolf was not able to retreat or weave around him in time. That short yet broad blade smashed hard into its head with every swing. Rather than let itself be hacked to pieces, the lone wolf fled into the underbrush. Mullet even sounded disappointed at his opponent retreating. "Dang, I was just getting started. How ya holding up over there, Boyle?"

"Gotcha!" The only other harpy shouted as I watched in awe. Boyle truly was the burliest of the crew and managed to get his left hand on the one remaining timberwolf's head. He hoisted that thing effortlessly into the air before slamming it hard into the ground. Now pinned under his mighty grip, the one remaining wooden wolf could not pull free as Boyle started smashing his axe into its body over and over until it became still and the light left its eyes. The forest now quiet again, my three companions turned to face me while looking quite proud of themselves. "Looks like tagging along was a good idea after all."

"Yeesh, you guys really do know how you handle yourselves. I didn't need to do anything." I muttered while genuinely impressed with how handily the three of them handled three timberwolves on short notice. I then went to the crumbled remains of the two that did not flee and nudged their scattered remains with my foot. "These things will pull themselves back together eventually, but they have enough sense to not mess with the same enemy twice. They won't be bothering us again."

"Good enough for me." Celaeno replied while they sheathed their swords. I continued to lead them along before a very distinct tree came into view at the end of the path. One that stood out even against the more wild foliage of the Everfree Forest. I noticed my companions pause momentarily. When I looked back, all three of them collectively looked...uncomfortable with proceeding. "Now I see why those timberwolves don't go near this place. Those old fashioned zebras always had weird taste in home decor."

"It's the masks, isn't it?" I retorted while even letting out a laugh. I had long since gotten used to Zecora's taste in decorating the outside of her home. Just a little something she brought along from her homeland. "The funny thing is these big masks aren't supposed to ward off danger. They're supposed to greet visitors with good will."

"Could've fooled me." Boyle grumbled before we all approached Zecora's sophisticated tree house. But after a knock on the door, no answer came. I knocked again while Boyle asked, "Think we showed up at a bad time?"

"Zecora has no real set schedule out here... If she's not home, she's probably out rounding up more ingredients... She's very dedicated to her craft." I replied as I knocked harder on the door. I desperately did not want their visit to be all for nothing just by having Zecora not be home at just the wrong time.

Just when I began to fear that Celaeno's visit was about to be all for naught, a voice spoke from behind us. One of feminine tone, but deep in pitch while carrying a thick ethnic accent. "Can I help you?"

This unexpected voice startled my companions much more than it spooked me. They squawked together and turned to face the owner of the voice while drawing their swords. Sure enough, Zecora stood before us in her cloak with saddlebags at her sides. Her head was mostly concealed in her cowl while I spoke up to quell any fears. "Whoa, hey! It's just her! Zecora, we were hoping to talk to you!"

"Visitors are always... Wait... You all..." Zecora began to reply before her eyes scanned the three harpies before her. They began to sheath and lower their weapons while sounding relieved that it was a false alarm. Although Zecora then spoke with a darker tone as she quickly realized why we were there. "A missing right arm, leg, and eye... I know what has brought you here and I will not ask why. You seek to reclaim limbs long parted. How fortunate of you to have a friend most kindhearted."

Mullet was the first to notice Zecora's odd manner of speaking. As someone who was familiar with zebra culture, I was surprised to see that it looked like he had never heard a zebra speak in rhyme all the time. He then asked, "Uh... Maybe it's because we never went as far as the Sereneighti, but...what's with all the rhyming? Your folks don't talk like that on the savannahs, do they?"

Zecora amusingly rolled her eyes. For as long as I have known her, I never had the presence of mind to inquire about her manner of speech. I always assumed that is how the zebra do it back home. Instead, she provided an answer I never saw coming. "It is my own little quirk! A habit I did choose! There are no hidden depths here. I simply do it to amuse."

That...came off as much funnier to me than I expected. I laughed heartily for a good moment before I caught myself. I then approached my friend and said, "Anyway now... I think you know why we're here."

"I do. The reason is clear." Zecora replied as she gazed upon the three harpies and their prosthetic attachments. And while probably speaking a line to rhyme with my own words. "But so much to reclaim... I fear... I may not have enough ingredients here."

Boyle was the first to speak and he lightly patted his left hand on that brass attachment below his right elbow. "Wait, is this about that talk I heard about the captain getting her old leg back? Nah, I'm not here to get my right hand. I've gotten pretty attached to this little device here. Way too versatile to let go of."

Mullet then crossed his arms and explained, "I don't mind going the rest of my days without my right eye myself. Besides, I like having an excuse to wear this patch. Makes me look dashing, right?"

Celaeno then took a step forward after smiling at her crew. She dropped to her left knee and spoke softly to the zebra herbalist. "I'm your patient, doc. And it sounds like your friend here told you in advance. We got time to go over this?"

"Yes, for just one of you? That can be done. Do come in, away from the sun." Zecora replied with a more optimistic tone in her voice. Celaeno went first while I followed, but Mullet and Boyle remained outside to mind the door. I think I even noticed Boyle reaching for something in a satchel on his backside.

"Wow, so this is how they do things on the Sereneighti? Rustic." Celaeno muttered while she looked around at the interior of the tree that now served as Zecora's home. She was especially taken with the rows of colorful bottles lining several shelves. Now looking very hopeful over the prospects of regaining feeling below her right knee, she stepped over to the shelves and began to browse while Zecora went to a large chest in the corner. "It's one of these, right? These will get me back on both feet with one dose?"

"Please, my friend. Reel in your haste. For the recipe we seek carries a most bitter taste." Zecora replied as she lifted a thick tome from the chest I had only seen once. Old and barely holding itself together, it was a very rare copy of Super Naturals in its first edition. And I remembered Zecora's grim choice of words the last time I saw it.

With Celaeno turning to face Zecora, I rested a hand upon her armored shoulder. I spoke firmly to my companion, "We didn't speak in depth about it last time, but it sounds like this recipe carries some risk to it. Zecora? Now that we're here... What's the full story behind this potion recipe that can make the body regrow lost limbs?"

The zebra herbalist did not respond at first. The way she scanned the pages before her... Her eyes narrowed in concern before looking at us. "I do have the ingredients needed to concoct this lost art. But if one is to survive its use, you must do you part."

"I gotta do something too? Fine. Name it. I'm ready to set sail for this forbidden fruit if I can reach it." Celaeno replied confidently before crossing her arms. There was no unease in her eyes. She was ready to run again.

Zecora looked down at the pages the crumbling book was open to, but she then groaned in some exasperation. She turned to us and said, "As much as I enjoy partaking in my quirks, I don't think being whimsical will fit the tone of what I must say. I will explain the nature of this potion recipe and why you may be better off not pursuing it."

Hearing Zecora drop her rhyming habit like that was a bit jarring. It was something she only did when she really needed to make a point without dancing around the art of linguistics. We both listened closely as the wise zebra mare began to explain. "I can make this potion for you. But you will need to prepare yourself for it. For the way this potion works... It regrows missing mass by repurposing excess body mass. Whatever your body contains that it can afford to lose, that extra mass will serve as fuel to regrow your lost limb."

Excess body mass... There was only one thing that came to mind. "You mean...the potion uses the body's fat reserves to fuel the growth of a lost limb?"

Needless to say, Celaeno cringed as Zecora nodded in confirmation. The lean harpy captain looked down at herself and asked, "You're kidding... I have to pack on the pounds for this?!"

The thought of Celaeno becoming significantly fatter just to lose all that extra weight in one procedure was too bizarre and amusing to not laugh at. I laughed only for Celaeno to scold me in an instant. "Knock it off! Besides, if I gotta do that to get my leg back, sure! Fine! I'll double my calorie intake! Triple it, even!"

"That may not be enough." Zecora spoke firmly in a manner that immediately caught our attention. The levity gone, Celaeno and I turned to the zebra herbalist as she then explained, "An entire leg below the knee... That may be too much. It may not be reasonable to acquire enough extra mass to regenerate that much."

This did raise a good question. And judging by how ominous Zecora's vague warnings had been the last time I approached her about it... I had to ask. "Then...what will happen if the patient's body fat reserves run dry before the limb can be regrown?"

Zecora sighed with a look of unease in her eyes. The words that followed... They were not what I expected. "Should the excess mass in the body be consumed, the potion's effects will instead devour whatever comes next. First the fluids and blood. Then the organs one by one. The potion will see to it what was lost is regained. Even if the rest of the body is reduced to a withered husk in the process."

"That potion...will mummify a subject if they don't have enough mass in them to regrow what's missing?" I replied as I scanned Celaeno unintentionally. Even though I knew there was risk involved, I was still floored by the exact prospects being so grim. I could almost imagine her being reduced to a thoroughly hollow and dry corpse...

"It'll...kill me if I'm not prepared...?" Celaeno muttered with eyes wide in horror. I knew that there must have been some sort of risk over such a prospect as extreme as regaining a lost body part. Just not something that would mean Celaeno dying in an utterly ghastly way. Celaeno aimlessly turned her gaze downward as she muttered weakly, "The best medicines really are always bitter..."

Celaeno appeared indecisive. She did not immediately back down from her pursuit for her lost limb, but she did not disregard the risk. I decided to ask for a second opinion. "Zecora... You know your potions best. Do you think it's plausible to regrow the rest of her leg with sufficient preparation?"

Zecora took a closer look as her eyes narrowed inquisitively. She first examined Celaeno's right leg where it joined with that emerald peg. She then examined the harpy's intact left leg from the knee and down to her three toes and the hallux digit at the rear. Zecora rubbed her wrist against her chin as she muttered, "I have never once created this potion, so I don't have any personal experience. But...given the lean nature of these limbs... With sufficient preparation, we can make this work."

I noticed Celaeno's eyes light up. She was very fortunate to have never lost another part of her body over the years. She let out a long sigh of relief. I then set a hand on her left spaulder while she asked, "In that case... How does three months sound? You think three months is enough time to...pack on enough extra weight to see me through this?"

"Perhaps...? I wish I could provide more insightful commentary, but this will be a first for me as well. Return when you think you are ready and I will have the potion ready for you." Zecora replied before she went back to the old crumbling tome to examine the ingredients. Celaeno and I watched her go about her home while gathering up a number of exotic ingredients that I was completely lacking in knowledge of.

"Three months? You think that'll be enough time for you to...accumulate enough extra mass to fuel the growth of your leg?" I asked while trying to word myself properly. I know how women tend to be about their weight.

"You mean if that'll be enough time for me to turn myself into a fat bird? I don't know, but I'm sure Lix Spittle can whip up some high calorie dishes for me. Besides, it sounds like the procedure will burn off all that extra weight in no time, so I'll be slimming down fast." Celaeno laughed at my more reserved use of words. But she then looked down at the shiny emerald peg affixed to her right knee. And she sighed...almost wistfully. "I just can't believe it's actually in reach now. I thought I'd never run again, but...then I found you. And you set me up with a miracle worker. James, I'm gonna owe you big when this is all over and I have no idea how I'll repay you."

"You don't owe me anything, Celaeno. It'll just make me happy to see you sprinting again." I replied while Celaeno reached over and rested her right hand atop mine. She looked at me with a pained expression. Fearing I said something wrong, I tried to dissuade her. "Really, you owe me nothing. It's not like that potion's coming outta my bank account. If you're gonna owe anyone anything, ask Zecora."

"You're way too generous for your own good, you know that?" Celaeno said softly while Zecora went out of her way to not pay us any mind. She kept looking over the text in that old book. It appeared to require quite a number of ingredients for a potion so potent. My harpy companion turned to me and rested both hands upon my shoulders as we stood eye to eye. "You always want so little and that makes me feel like I'm taking advantage of you. You shouldn't neglect yourself. Come on, name it. Is there anything I can give you? Even just something little to get things started?"

I decided to be as honest with her and with myself as I could. A long sigh of disappointment hissed in my lungs. I wish I had a better answer for her. "The only thing I want is to be happy and to see the people I care about being happy. My desires aren't complicated. I'm someone who prefers to live in the moment. It's a good day for me when I can go to sleep at the end of the day without having to worry about the future."

Celaeno did not have an answer for that. Not a spoken one. She closed her eyes and even shuddered while letting out a haggard wheeze like she was on the verge of tears. I did not mean to upset her. And I suspected all I did was frustrate her. All she wanted to do was make sure that I would be compensated for my troubles. Celaeno then did something I almost expected. She placed one hand on the back of my head and brought her face closer to mine. And I did not resist.

We held each other. Her beak locking over my lips before our tongues began to dance. Our eyes closed as I stroked the beautiful bird woman's long locks of bright green feathers hanging down her back. I know she referred to these tender acts of intimacy as 'down payment', but I suspect there was something more to it. I was certain of it by then. All avian species of Equestria are dearly devoted to their beloveds. Hippogriffs, griffons, and most definitely harpies. What was Celaeno really telling me through such wonderful kisses like that?

I decided it was finally time to ask. Once that kiss ended and we were allowed to catch our breath, a noticeable blush glowing through her feathered cheeks, I whispered to the harpy woman before me. "Celaeno... Seriously now. Why do you keep doing this to me? The real reason?"

"I guess giving some down payment to a good man isn't enough of an answer?" Celaeno replied with a chuckle as she kept me firmly locked in her embrace. That smile on her beak... The lidded gaze of her eyes... Was she just playing with me? Or was there something more? She gingerly traced a finger through the thin layer of hair on my head like a claw dragging trails in tropical sand. "If only I found you ten years ago... I'd snatch you up and never leave your side."

"Ten years ago, I'd still be in high school." I replied with a slight chuckle as I wondered if that was the right answer. It must have been since Celaeno bowed her head and let out a snorting laugh of her own.

"What? You not into older women?" Celaeno asked facetiously while continuing to slide her fingers along my scalp. I do seem to recall hearing that she would be turning 40 before long during our first encounter... I really should take the time to figure out her birthday at some point.

I cast Celaeno a smirk of my own as I found the perfect response to that question. "I'm in a relationship with women who are at least several times my age. Compared to that, a twelve year age gap doesn't look so extreme."

Celaeno firmly embraced me as she forced her beak to stay shut while laughing very heartily. I can only wonder what Zecora was thinking whenever she glanced over at us. I am not certain how much she knows about my family life, but I am convinced she can keep a secret. Celaeno then patted me on the back before finding the will to speak clearly. And I have no idea what she actually said. "Dios mío... Nunca cambies, hombre maravilloso."

I then whispered towards her nearest ear tufts. At least I think those two long strips of feathers on the sides of her head pinpoint where her ears are located. "Uh... Translation please?"

Celaeno pulled her head back before giggling right at my face. She then whispered sweetly, "All you need to know is that those were very kind words. Kind words for a good man."

"If you say so." I replied uneasily. Never before had I heard Celaeno speak so much foreign dialect in one afternoon before. I was probably going to be hearing a lot of that when we finally went down to... Wait, that?! "Hang on... Three months, right? Will we still have time for... What did we plan on again?"

"Yeah, that! I was thinking three months would be enough time to bulk up for this and then have enough time to rest up and recover for the tournament. I want to be back on my own two feet by the time we head south for Aquila." Celaeno replied happily now that we had been distracted from that simmering romantic tension in the air. She then looked over at Zecora as she looked over that old book with maybe ten separate ingredients sorted beside it. We both approached with Celaeno speaking first. "So then... I guess I'll be seeing you three months from now?"

Zecora looked back at us and showed a smile. "It is what we agreed upon, yes? Then leave me to my arts. I shall prepare what you need, I will do my part. Until then, I wish you safe travels. Come again when you have troubles to unravel."

"Charming... In that case, it's appreciated. See you in winter, Zecora." Celaeno retorted as we bid farewell. Although I did take the time to pick up a sack of some of my favorite tea before heading out. Although the two of us found Boyle and Mullet looking over a layer of parchment once outside. Boyle had even swapped out his axe attachment for a device resembling a sextant. Celaeno looked over their shoulders and asked, "What you two up to, boys?"

Mullet looked up at his captain and said, "Boyle's just doing what he does best. Charting new territory, captain."

I took a closer look at what Boyle was mapping out. It did appear to show the general edge of the Everfree Forest we had entered through and a path to a specific point marked by a circular clearing. I then asked, "You know exactly where we are?"

"I'm a cartographer by trade, mate. If I'm not keeping old Zephyrus running smoothly, I'm charting out new territories. It'd be less trouble for all of us if we could just drop anchor right over this spot instead of having to deal with timberwolves every time we come by." Boyle replied with some pride in his voice. He really is the kind of guy who takes his work seriously. After a moment longer, he rolled up the new map and placed his tools back in his satchel. He and Mullet then stood up while the former reattached his axe weapon to the prosthetic base on his right arm. "Right then! We done here, ca... Wait, you still got your old peg leg? I thought we were visiting a miracle worker today?"

"Easy, Boyle. Regaining a lost limb isn't that easy." Celaeno retorted with her arms crossed. While she did look disappointed, there was still an air of hope in those eyes. "It turns out we need to prepare for this one. I'm thinking three months will be enough time. Until then, we carry on like nothing happened. And hopefully by next spring, I'll be running alongside you boys again."

Mullet applauded those words before handing me that spare saber again. He smiled unusually brightly at me and said, "Mate, you're doing a good deed for our captain here. She lost more than the rest of us did. We rolled with our mistakes, but she's still limping. If you can fix this, we owe you big."

"You birds and your debts... Really, I'm just doing this to help a friend." I replied while finding their constant insistence of returning the favor to be humbling. We then began to head back down the path to get out of the Everfree Forest. No timberwolves harassed us that time. Even the shattered remains of those that Celaeno and Boyle got their hands on were gone by the time we passed that spot. Maybe word spread among the pack to leave any tall birds alone.

The meadow bordering my house spread out before us shortly after. And my companions were very happy to be out of the wilds of the Everfree Forest. Mullet even yawned ungracefully as he looked up at the sky. "Just not enough sun in those forests... I miss those tropical sunsets back home."

"Patience, Mullet. We'll be seeing home again in a matter of months." Celaeno replied while I handed my saber back to Mullet. The captain of the Zephyrus then looked at the docked airship to the east and the cottage not far from it. She turned to her crewmates and said, "How about you boys head on up? I'll be back in a while. Got some business to tend to first. And let Lix Spittle know to start upping my calorie intake for the next few months."

"Sure thing, captain..." Boyle replied with such a crooked smirk on his beak. Both he and Mullet probably did not know the full story, but there was something about such an odd request that they found amusing. Or maybe they heard just enough from outside Zecora's home when Celaeno raised her voice.

As the two airmen walked away while muttering to each other under their breaths, I turned to Celaeno and asked, "You think they know why you need that much?"

"Doubt it, but they know I wouldn't ask for a way to pack on the pounds unless I have a good reason. I've always been pretty lean. And before long... I can't imagine how I'll look. I'm guessing I'll puff up like a snow owl." Celaeno grumbled before scowling down at her peg leg. Now that there was an end in sight for that limitation, she looked all the more ready to remove it for good. She then rolled her eyes and said, "But it's all gonna be worth it. I'll slim down again eventually anyway."

"Sure sounds like it. Although heaven forbid the morbidly obese start amputating their own limbs just so they can use that recipe to slim down fast." I retorted as Celaeno and I burst into a good laughing bout. Perhaps that is a factor in why that potion recipe fell out of favor. Maybe some poor fools saw it as an easy solution for obesity that they went to extreme lengths to use it. Probably with fatal results.

Celaeno crossed her arms with her head shaking a bit in bemusement. What a wild concept. She then looked my way and asked, "Before I forget... You think your princess is awake by now?"

"Maybe? It is getting a bit close to dinner time. You wanna say hello to her before you head out?" I asked while Celaeno looked a little too eager to see Gladesong again. Her avian maternal instincts must have been tingling. I happily led her back up to my home and back inside. And sure enough, Gladesong was tucked up against her mother while Fluttershy was reading a little storybook to her. I spoke up softly, "Dear? We have a guest again."

"Oh? Celaeno, hello again! How did things go at Zecora's?" Fluttershy asked softly while little Gladesong responded with some excitement at Celaeno's presence. I think Gladesong has as much a love for birds as her mother does by this point.

Celaeno waved in greeting as she said, "It went well, although I'll have to check back in a few months. This procedure requires a lot of preparation."

Gladesong started to get restless and called out to the big bird woman in the room. Fluttershy quickly got the hint and asked, "Celaeno, would you mind looking after Gladesong for a bit while I start on dinner?"

This request got Celaeno a little too stimulated. She clasped her hands together and chirped out a reply with words neither of us understood right away, "Sí, sí! I mean... I'd love to!"

Fluttershy and I smiled crookedly at Celaeno's enthusiasm. She really did have an adoration for younger children. Celaeno then stepped forward and gently scooped up the little pegasus filly in her arms while Fluttershy made her way to the kitchen. The harpy captain began to take a seat on the sofa at the back of the room. "Hola de nuevo, niña. Te echaba de menos."

She just could not resist slipping back into her native tongue. And Gladesong adored it. Celaeno gently tussled Gladesong's mane and sometimes lightly booped her on the nose. I sat beside her and just enjoyed the sights and sounds of my friend having a good time with my daughter. Just so motherly like it was second nature for her. With how good she was being with Gladesong... I asked again. "Celaeno... Are you sure you've never had kids before? You're really good at what you're doing."

Celaeno sighed almost wistfully as she began to rock Gladesong in her arms. "I'm sure, James. The circumstances never gave me the opportunity to...find a man. It's not like the treasure hunting gig we had going on would've been the best situation for a kid to grow up in."

She almost sounded bitter over having never found the time to have a family of her own. And she was on the verge of turning forty unless that had already happened. But when considering the company she keeps... "But...what about Boyle? Or Mullet?"

All that did was get a laugh out of Celaeno. "Really?! Come on, James. Sure, those boys are good friends, but they've never...you know...shared a bed with me. I know that's an easy assumption to make, but they're my crew and my friends. There's nothing spicy happening between us. I just never clicked with them like that."

"Yeah, that was too obvious a conclusion to assume. Sorry." I muttered in some embarrasment. Although I then heard her mutter something tender to Gladesong in her native tongue again. I then asked more cautiously, "But...what about now? Do you think your living situaion has stabilized enough to consider starting a family?"

"Yeah... Yeah, it has. The Zephyrus is perfectly skyworthy again. And with us being in steady employment... Yeah. I can totally see us sailing the skies with little hatchlings along for the ride. The Zephyrus is basically our home. We could...make it work if it ever happened." Celaeno muttered rather optimistically. She even seemed...lost in thought at the time.

I asked more carefully as I considered her age at the time. "Do you...think it might be too late for that though?"

Celaeno smirked at me as she spoke with confidence. "James, I'm not over the hill yet. We harpies tend to age very well. I did tell you that it's not uncommon for us to live into the triple digits, right?"

"Yeah, I think I recall that. It seems to be a trait all avian races share. Birds just age well, I guess." I retorted with a bit of an amused snort. I watched as she continued to amuse and whisper to Gladesong. I then whispered into Celaeno's ear, "I hope you find a good man someday. You deserve to be happy."

She did not respond at first. Celaeno just stared down at Gladesong while gently scratching the tiny filly under her jaw. Her eyes then fell upon her peg leg before she muttered, "We'll see... Right now, this old scar is my top priority. Once that's taken care of in a few months, I'll set sail for my next treasure. I'll deal with that one step at a time."

When considering the distinct possibility that the procedure of reclaiming her lost leg could potentially kill her, I could understand Celaeno not making any future plans until after that bridge was crossed. Although with all that talk about having a family... I did not have the presence of mind to ask. "Do you want a family someday?"

"Of course I do." Celaeno whispered with no hesitation. She then looked at me with a smile of longing. "We harpies... We're just like that. Family is...a big deal to us. And I kind of feel bad that I never gave my parents grandkids. But maybe... Just maybe I'll find that wonderful guy someday soon now that me and my crew aren't a bunch of vagabonds staying off the grid."

I... I wanted to hold her. To put my arms around her and whisper sweet words of support. But as I reached out with an arm to drape it across her shoulders as the start of an embrace... I hesitated. The captain of the Zephyrus was seated beside me and...I could not. But...the times we shared together. A few candlelight meals. Even sharing a bed one night out of sheer trust. And...those very bold kisses. There was an unmistakable cluster of embers smoldering between us. Did I have the courage to stir the flames?

In spite of everything that I had gone through recently, I... I felt insufficient. She was still the captain. And I was a mere deckhand by comparison. But as I began to pull my arm away from her, she noticed. Celaeno glanced my way and asked softly, "I wonder if you will be that man one day."

"I..." I stammered before looking away. So bold, that woman of the sky. With what little courage I could muster, I asked with barely more than a whisper. "Am I good enough...?"

Celaeno replied almost in shame. She bowed her head as she spoke. "James... I won't ask that of you. You've already given me too much. I can't even imagine what I'll give you for getting me and my crew out of a tough spot. Let alone giving my left foot her mate back. I won't ask you to give me your heart... I won't be that selfish. That's a beautiful treasure I can't claim. I could give you the world and it wouldn't be enough for all you've done."

She sounded...resigned. Almost defeated. I looked at her while Celaeno struggled to look at me. She then whispered while continuing to stroke Gladesong's pretty face, "Keep that treasure safe. Don't let the unworthy take it from you. I've heard you've been hurt before. Don't let it happen twice."

"Celaeno..." I muttered softly while feeling like she was actively trying to put some distance between her and I. And I made my move. I placed my hand over hers the instant she placed it atop Gladesong's brow for another stroke. She froze as our eyes met. "I never said you couldn't have it."

"James... I..." She muttered while looking nothing short of stunned. And we said nothing for a good while. The house was all but silent outside of the noise coming from the kitchen. Celaeno was the first to blink as she looked away with a crooked smile upon her beak. "I... Let's... We'll see. I've got one priority to worry about right now. Three months. We'll see what happens then, all right?"

"Yeah, sure. Fair enough. That's a big goal to focus on. Sorry...to give you too much to think about." I retorted while pulling my hand away from hers. I felt really dumb at that point. Like I had asked things from a good friend that I should not have. But I remained by her side. And I watched and listened as Celaeno continued to dote on my daughter in such a lovely manner.

As delectable aromas began to fill the house, I was startled by the sound of the door opening. The lighting beyond the door was starting to dim with the sun now low over the western horizon. And standing in the doorway was a familiar orange dragoness and a blue griffon boy. I waved at the two of them and asked, "Hey, welcome back. How'd things go out there?"

"Uh... Could've been better, I guess?" Gallus replied while he and Smolder stepped aside. And in wandered none other than little Ocellus in her true form. The poor little Changeling... Her gait was slow and she looked truly miserable. Gallus was quick to add, "The good news is no one tried to hurt her. The bad news... Well... No one was happy to see her."

Celaeno watched without a word. I doubt she had any idea that the little Changeling mare approaching us was the same demure dragoness she had helped ferry home from the Empty Plains. I left Celaeno's side and kneeled before Ocellus. I asked softly, "How was it, love bug?"

Almost on the verge of tears, Ocellus squinted her eyes shut before being briefly cloaked in a flash of green fire. The same beautiful dragoness body she had come to adore soon stood before me as she fell into my embrace with her arms wrapping around me. "Hold me...!"

Not a word was spoken as Ocellus and I held each other. I could tell she had a bad day out there. It was necessary to try and endear herself to Ponyville, but I could see that her species' reputation preceded her. I stroked my fingers through her hair and whispered, "It'll get better, love bug. I promise. Just know that you're safe here."

"I don't think anyone followed us back either. No one knows that the new dragon in town is really a love bug." Smolder said softly while reaching out and patting her friend on the back. I was relieved that they had managed to keep Ocellus' second identity under wraps for the moment. Although Smolder then looked past me and said, "Oh, hey! You're that bird captain from the Empty Plains! What's new?"

"New? Well, I'd say seeing a weird bug pony for the first time is something new. Are they supposed to do that? Or do they naturally pull double duty as dragons half the time?" Celaeno asked after patiently watching Ocellus without objection.

I looked back at Celaeno with Ocellus still wrapped in my arms. "Not exactly? Ocellus is what you call a Changeling. They've got a really bad reputation in Equestria, but she's the best love bug you'll ever meet. Really, she's a wonderful young lady."

Ocellus looked at Celaeno as I noticed her somber demeanor starting to clear up. Being surrounded by sources of love without an ounce of hostility in the air must have been comforting to her. She waved meekly at Celaeno and said, "Hello again... Sorry if I had to hide the real me from you last time."

"Gotta stay undercover? I get it. My crew and I know what it's like to stay off the radar for a long time. I won't ask you for an excuse, I get you have your reasons. And to be honest, I've seen weirder in my travels." Celaeno replied with nothing but a smile on her beak. And I did believe her when she said that. I wonder what wild and weird sights she must have seen while wandering the uncharted wilds of Equestria.

Smolder sniffed the air to notice that dinner was being prepared and started to head towards the kitchen to help set things up. I was also quick to turn to Gallus and said, "Thanks for watching out for Ocellus today. Wanna stay for dinner?"

"Sweet, yeah! I'm always up for some good eats." Gallus replied before we started to notice a certain buzz on the wind. Like that of a small motor. The blue griffon boy looked back out the door and spoke with a smirk. "Looks like the speed demon's making it back in time for dinner too."

Scootaloo had worked up an appetite by the time she got back and joined the girls and our guest in the kitchen to get things set up. Once Gladesong was left in the care of Ocellus, I stepped outside with Celaeno now that dusk was setting upon the land. The bite of the low 50s filled the air as I found myself only barely able to tolerate it. "Sorry for the noise. There's a lot happening under my roof right now. We're hoping to fix that before long."

"Hey, it's fine. It gets busy back home too. You know what they say about tropical birds. We get noisy down there." Celaeno retorted before going out of her way to mimic a laughing parrot. She really sounded the part too. Although she then asked with arms crossed, "But your oldest girl... She gets around on a scooter? By flapping her wings really fast? Doesn't she know how to fly yet?"

I was careful to keep my voice down while beckoning Celaeno to lean closer to me. "I strongly suspect that she can't. There's a very uncommon disorder in pegasi called Stunted Wing Syndrome and I fear Scootaloo might have it. We haven't officially gotten her tested for it, but I'm convinced she'll never fly at this rate. At least not on her own."

Being a bird who happened to be flightless herself, Celaeno's eyes widened in some minor distress upon hearing this. "But...you'll have to tell her someday, right? How will you break it to her?"

I smiled confidently as I explained, "Don't worry, I didn't say she would never fly. I've made plans with one of her friends for her upcoming birthday. While I'm convinced she'll never fly on her own power, I'm expecting to see her fly for the first time in her own unique way at her next birthday. Trust me on this."

"Oooooh, got the mother of all surprises ready for her, huh? Nice. A shame I probably won't be there to see it, but I bet she'll dazzle the whole town." Celaeno replied while chuckling at a number of possibilities going through her head. I could elaborate on it further here, but I would much rather wait until the day comes just in case someone has been peeping through my documents here.

Celaeno and I fell silent for a moment. The door was closed and no one was around out there in the darkening meadow. The Zephyrus was still docked nearby while Lix Spittle was probably busy preparing the crew's own meals for the evening. I asked quietly, "I'll...see you in three months, right?"

"Yeah, that's what we agreed on. I'm ready to try. It's been too long since I last ran." She replied while having difficulty looking at me. Celaeno noticed me starting to reach out to her and said, "I'll...miss you. Three months is a long time. I want to make sure I'm ready when we come knocking next time."

"I know... You've got your own schedule to stick to. It's just... Be careful out there, all right?" I replied while unsure of what to do. I wanted to hold her, but something...was holding me back. As I hesitated, Celaeno made the decision for me. She reached out and took hold of my hand, fingers wrapping around it while mine did the same to hers.

Words failed us. Our eyes met, then wandered, and then met again. Our grasps tightened before we could resist no longer. The two of us held each other in a firm and warm embrace there in the cool autumn air. And when our eyes met again... My lips met her beak. And hers parted before clamping over my mouth. Our eyes closed. Our tongues touched and danced. And...that beautiful hum in her throat.

I felt honored to know I was making this wonder woman of the tropical skies feel so cherished. She sounded happy. She felt happy. I just wanted to see her healed and whole. And when my lips and her beak pulled away with her face flushed in the dark, Celaeno whispered sweet succulent words to me. Words that I heard, but did not understand. All I knew was that whatever she said carried some sort of very special meaning in it. "Siempre te apreciaré, querida."

"Yeah... Likewise." I muttered while hoping that I understood what she said enough. And I think that smile said that she knew I understood the gist of what she said. With some reluctance, Celaeno began to make her way down the path away from the cottage and back over to the Zephyrus. I did not turn away until she had climbed the gangplank and disappeared from sight up on deck.

Dinner was lovely as always and it was festive having an extra guest over. And now that I sit here writing this out, Ocellus remains by my side in silence. She really does not want to be away from me. The poor thing... I know it was hard on her going without a disguise today, but it is for her own good. I just hope Ponyville will not take too long to grow to love her.

Celaeno though... Will three months be long enough? There is a nameless fear in my gut... The act of regaining her right leg could kill her. And I would be complicit if... No, I need to have faith in her and Zecora. If the correct procedures are taken, there should be minimal risk even if the experience will be a harrowing one.

There is a lot riding on this venture. Three months... Ninety days. Time to start counting. Celaeno, I do not want this to be the end of you. I did not give you this information just to lose you... Please do not die on me now.

Until then... Until then, I can only hope.