Why does this even have to happen? Discord carefully thought to himself, gritting his teeth. And all because of a 'single' insect. A single miserable bug is what lead to this day. How inconceivably absurd. He chuckled as the psychologically destroyed tomboy pegasus, with out of control tears flowing on her silent face, was still floating in the magical aura at his side.

We're gonna have to try and stay away from the havoc as we search for your remaining friends, dear Rainbow Dash. He looked over her, the same solid seriousness in his dimly glowing eyes. A quick bath could do you well before we do, although. The vile smell of chaos does not suit you at all.

After making sure they were far enough from the disastrous commotion going on in Ponyville, the draconequus headed down to hide amongst a heap of trees and gently put down the rainbow maned mare on the soft verdant grass. The still warm sun of late afternoon barely shined through the opaque cover of leaves above them.

The chimera popped a complete portable shower with a snap of his fingers. Maybe this will wake you up from your current torment; who knows. He started the water, adjusted the heat and carefully placed his friend into it–sitting her on the bottom of the tub—as he opened a bottle of lilac-scented shampoo.

"I'm sure you won't complain on my selection of fragrance, will you?" He squirted some of it on the cyan pony's mane and began rubbing softly; slowly making it foam.

"Hm... Yes. Already much better," he commented in a calm and reassuring tone. His dark crimson aura had dimmed down, but was still clearly flowing around his slender body. His eyes were now giving only but a faint glow yet keeping the same serious expression.

He continued making the shampoo bubble up. His hands' motions almost seemed like the ones of a caring and loving father washing his dear daughter's hair.

"Could you tilt your head a bit forward?" He silently asked when Rainbow Dash suddenly snatched the bottle from his claw and poured its content all over her head, fur and tail, vigorously rubbing everywhere while letting out repressed sobs and grunts.

She scrubbed and rubbed as hard as she could, as if almost trying to tear her fur and hair off, but the horrible scent wouldn't seem to leave her, so she scraped harder and harder before finally collapsing in a torrent of cries under the raining warm water.

Discord stood silently beside her, solely watching her release the quelled emotions she had been painfully trying to manage in order to carry her and Rarity's positivism. He patiently waited for a few moments—his face appearing unreached by the emotionally charged atmosphere—before delicately continuing cleaning his friend.

A few minutes later, the storm raging inside the cyan mare had subsided and she was now laying on her left side, completely still, at the bottom of the bathtub. She looked exhausted but relieved, with her eyes relaxed. The draconequus gently rinsed off the accumulated shampoo using the hand-held head of the shower.

"Perfect... I can now only smell of you the delectable aroma of the calming lilac," the master of chaos lightly jested on a neutral tone, not even showing a smirk.

"You know about them..."

A faint whisper was caught by the draconequus who pricked his ears.

"You know about what happened to Fluttershy and Rarity, right?"

He tilted his head; the very faint voice was coming from the gamine pegasus who slowly tried to lift herself and sit in the tub as the chimera carried on with the final rinse. Her head was low.

He took a few seconds to respond, waiting for the foam to have been completely washed away and turning off the water so she could clearly hear him.

"I indeed do," he answered in all seriousness while putting the shower head back on its bracket.

Her pony friend's eyes widen as she looked down her hooves, but she did not reply as she usually would have. Instead, she simply kept gazing down at the tub's bottom.

He lifted her with his magic and began drying her with a nearby towel, making the shower set disappear in a flash.

"And this is why we must quickly find Twilight and the others." He swiftly rubbed her thoroughly and made the towel disappear, leaving Rainbow Dash's mane, tail and fur completely disheveled.

"Charming," Discord pleasantly remarked, still not showing an ounce of a grin.

"Keep your jokes for when this is all over." the light blue female pony replied in an empty tone before quickly shaking her body and combing her mane in her iconic style.

"All set?" the draconequus asked, seeing his pegasus companion in good enough condition to fly.

She stretched her body. "There's one last thing."

"And what might this b—" The master of chaos spontaneously felt the tight embrace of the rainbow maned mare around his lithe upper torso. He looked down—light confusion showing on his still stern face—and slowly raised his lion paw before delicately setting it down on his companion's head.

"Thank you, Discord," the faint voice of the tomboy pegasus spoke. "Right now, I am beyond glad to have you with us." Her blank yet blurry eyes began to flow.

"And I am grateful for all of your help in my reform. However, try to dry those tears of yours for now dear; we got some fairly urgent issues to attend to," the chimera sincerely responded, an ounce of impatience in his voice.

Rainbow Dash let go of her tight grasp, backed a few steps and slowly nodded. "Lead the way."

They started soaring away from the group of shady trees in dire pursuit of the others. The distant early evening sun was dimly glowing, foreshadowing the cool November night that was about to set on the ongoing chaotic outbreak, currently spreading all over the respectful land of Equestria.

* * *

“Woah! Your new secret lab is so much 'cooler' than the one you had at the Golden Oak Library, Twilight!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed as they arrived, along with Hika, in the grand room filled with all sorts of equipment from the latest magical and scientific technology.

"Well, that seems to be 'one' of the advantages of being a princess, Pinkie. Although, to be fair, I do miss my old one," the alicorn replied, showing a bit of nostalgia in her voice. "I mean, this one is the best I could have ever asked for, but... it just still feels a bit 'too' big right now." She let out a light sigh. "It's alright, though. Just needs some getting used to."

The other two followed her in the central section of the vast circular chamber surrounded by tall smooth stone walls, baring shades of light blues, and touches of yellow, green and white on furniture and other decorative elements. The floor presented a simple bright blue-gray surface of large tiles, as the dome-like ceiling offered a vivid white color accommodated with blond encrusted lights procuring just the right amount of luminosity all around the room. The equipment, ranging from chemistry's to biology's and throughout, conveniently fitted amongst the overall design by wearing metallic and/or silky white tints and hue.

"Well, I got to say, it's very impressive, but the size is what really surprises me the most. I mean, how big 'is' this room?" the wide-eyed changeling inquired.

"Well, since there had to be space for everything that was willingly 'offered' to me... it's got a perfect one hundred feet in diameter, and that's not including the storage, cold rooms, freezers and others. I haven't even gotten around everything since I've moved in," Twilight chuckled as she started gathering the necessary materials for making the potion.

"Wow! One hundred?! That's like two and a half Sugarcube Corners next to another! That's hu-ouh, what's this!?" Pinkie Pie interrupted herself in spontaneous curiosity.

"Pinkie, stop!" the studious pony shouted as her friend was about to turn on an unidentified piece of machinery.

Pinkie Pie froze in mid-air, showing a huge grin, while looking back at the alicorn. "But it's all red and bumpy. It's like it's just 'asking' to be pushed!" She pummeled to the ground with a thud as Twilight heavily sighed.

"Hum... what 'is' that thing, Twilight? Looks like some kind of... giant metal carrot on a... crane-like structure," Hika asked, standing still and looking fairly confused from the situation that had just unfolded.

"A... hum... a heat ray... And if you"—the studious mare stared at Pinkie Pie who got back on her hoof and was now pretending to grill some imaginary marshmallows under the contraption—"push that button, 'right here'..." She stretched her right hoof, clearly identifying the round protruding switch, making sure her cotton candy colored friend had heard and seen her. "Um... It will... It will... uh..."—her eyes suddenly twitched before she finished her explanation—"Humm-melt... the floor! Yeah! I... I think."

"Ooh! So you don't actually 'know' what it does, hmm?! Then does that mean I can try it out? Pleeease?"

"No, Pinkie! You and Hika are here to help me make that potion to take care of Chrysalis' minions outside and we have to hurry! We're supposed to meet Discord and the other girls at Fluttershy's cottage later on, after we've took care of things around here! That, and the O.C.C.C or, Ominous Creature Capture of Canterlot, are going to be here soon with Applejack. I got to greet them to explain what they'll have to do. So no fooling around!! Okay?” Her words resonated, but there was no response. “You understand me, Pinkie?!"

Pinkie Pie blankly stared at her alicorn friend for a few seconds before responding with a smile and her eyes closed. "Okie Dokie Lokie! So what do you want me to do?"

"Just a sec, I'll write down the ingredients you'll both need to gather while I finish installing the equipment and gathering my own base ingredients. It should take about five minutes." She discretely winked at Hika before heading toward a nearby desk and getting out a quill and some parchments.

Pinkie Pie sat down with a huge grin, before turning her head almost 180 degrees toward the changeling whose face quickly became overwhelmed with astonishment.

"Hum... hey. So... I guess you're my new cousin, kind of, now. That's cool." he nervously chuckled as Pinkie Pie's body twisted back in place without her head moving a single centimeter.

What the heck was that?! He internally shouted in bewilderment.

Hika felt her sight locked on him, almost like a sniping predator waiting for just the right moment to pounce on its prey. "I... Would you like to chat or something while we wait for Twilight to be done with the lists. You, uh, just seem like you're 'dying' to talk about something... or..." he trailed off, having no clue how to handle the awkward situation.

"Do you remember what your pony self looked like? Cuz I wanted to see if you had any resemblance with Pat.
By the way, I'm super-duper happy to have a new friend and relative like you, it's not every day you get to discover you have a new cousin all of a sudden. It's really super cool, cuz it's like I should have known you, because Pat introduced me to all his family. He never mentioned you, I dunno why, and now you're with us to kick Chrysalis' butt, cuz of what happened to you and that's really horrible, and you're such a nice guy and now I wanna know more about you. That's only natural, cuz you are my new cousin and all and family members have got to know each other, at least that's what I think. Hey! I just thought you'd make such a good uncle for Cotton Candy Cirrus! That's my daughter, she's four months old, and she got the cutest little silly filly face I've ever seen, maybe I say that cuz she's my daughter, but the Cakes also have babies of their own. They're a unicorn and a pegasus, and Cotton is a pegasus too! They get along together super well, but Mrs. Cakes usually got her hooves full watching over the three of them. I mean I'm usually the one doing it, but when we gotta save Equestria, I gotta go, even though I'm leaving her behind, and that makes me sad, but I'm also happy and reassured cuz the Cakes are really great people and really caring and since they have babies of their own already, they know how to take care of it and..."

As Pinkie Pie continued with her seemingly endless rambling, Hika, starting to look much affected by the unique dynamism of her new relative to be, tried his best to remain concentrated on what she was saying, remembering the task he had been assigned by Twilight.

"Oh! Do you have a picture of her? Your daughter?" He finally managed to cut in, his face smiling in relief of having been able to find something to say.

"Oh! Sure I do! I... oh, wait... It's in my saddle bag. I left it home coming here in a hurry, this morning. But when we're done with the potion and I go get my stuff, I could show you for sure! Wait, what am I saying, you'll see her for yourself! Oooh! I can't wait!" Pinkie Pie jumped in excitement, giving a rest to her hyperactive chat for a few seconds.

"Hey, sure thing! I'd be glad to meet my, um, niece in law," Hika answered, nervously glancing over at Twilight still writing the ingredients on two pieces of parchment. A few opened references books were scattered on a workbench before her. Please tell me you're almost done, Twilight! It isn’t that I don't like your friend... but this... this... his mind trailed off, feeling uneasily charged. He looked back at Pinkie Pie still happily bouncing in place, the sight making his eyelids heavy. I'm going to have to get used to it, aren't I? So much energy and dynamism... I'm feeling 'my' entire energy drained just being near her!

"Hum... Hika?" Twilight suddenly called out, covering her eyes from one of the levitating reference books she was consulting to list the ingredients.

"Ah, yes, what is it, miss Twilight?" Hika replied, letting out a sigh of relief.

"There's... something I gotta tell you. Could you come over here?" She gestured him to get close.

"Hey, what's going on?" Pinkie Pie inquired, starting to get close as well.

"Pinkie, there's something I got to speak with Hika in private. Please wait. It won't be long."

"Awww... 'more' waiting?" She let her legs give in and her weight slowly lower her body down onto the floor, a light pout showing on her face.

"Come in closer," the alicorn whispered, looking over to Hika and back to book; inciting him to take a look at it.

"Something wrong? Why are you whispering?"

"There's one ingredient I'm needing that, well... if I want to actually be able to brew the potion within the hour..., actually, make that about forty-seven minutes from now, I'm not too sure how to acquire... not having really thought about it beforehand." She made the book float over to her changeling companion, the tip of her quill pointing at a specific line.

“Hum... ok. Let me see that.” Hika approached his head from the page. “This right here? ‘The DNA of a changeling; preferably active bodily fluids for more efficient brewing.'” He raised an eyebrow and looked over at Twilight having turned her head away.

"So what's the problem, I just got to give you some blood, no?" Hika asked, confused as to why Twilight seemed concerned about the line, when the quill tapped on the parchment, showing a mention underneath. "Hm?" The changeling switched back to the floating tome. "'As followed: about three hours for saliva, one hour and a half for blood and forty-five minutes for..."—his eyes expanded in shock—"forty-five minutes for what?! How does that even make sense?!" he exclaimed, his voice reverberating across the room; Pinkie Pie getting notice of it.

"Forty-five minutes for what?! For what?! Let me see, let me see!" She bumped into them, the book falling on the tiles before she quickly managed to pick it up, abnormally curious about Hika's reaction.

"Pinkie wait, don't read it!" Twilight shouted, promptly getting hold of the volume, but the party pony hold on tight to it; her curiosity too great for her to let go.

"Wait! I found it!" The book began to tear from Twilight's levitation spell's pull and her friend's firm grip.

"I said 'let go'!!" The alicorn extended her spell on Pinkie Pie and used it to tickle her belly.

This one burst out in laughter from the action and finally retracted her hooves from the tome, reaching down to her ribs; gasping for air. "It's too late! I-I already read it! Stop! Stop with the tickle!"

As she spoke those words out of hilarity, the spell finally ceased. When she got up, she looked over Twilight and Hika; both showing a completely startled expression.

"Forty-five minutes with semen!" Pinkie Pie casually exclaimed with a big grin and much enthusiasm.

"You— wh— You... actually 'ok' with that, Pinkie Pie?" Hika asked, wide-eyed and confused.

"What do you mean? You think I don’t know what 'semen' is? Please...”—Pinkie Pie giggled and swiped her front right hoof forward—"Pat and I had a baby! 'Of course' I know what it is! You guys worry for nothing." She got in close to Hika and gave him a hug. "You two 'still' feeling awkward about that whole sex thing? Really?" She let go of her embrace and stepped back.

"Well..." Twilight hesitated, her face obviously blushing.

"The one I'm the most surprised by is Hika, though. I mean, after what you've been through and all...” Pinkie Pie paused, thinking about her words. “Sorry, didn't meant to bring back bad stuff, but... you really still afraid of it?"

"Me? Uh... Well... To tell the truth... I am not necessarily 'myself' afraid of it. It's more that I pictured a person as seemingly free-spirited and uplifting as you to... maybe not be all that comfortable with it herself." He paused. "Thinking about it, though... It seems pretty unfounded to have this kind of vision; I apologize." He inclined before her.

"Silly Hika. You don't need to apologize." Pinkie Pie tenderly smiled at him. "Where do you think I stood before I met Pat? I was super shy about that subject as well. The only ones left that are feeling not so 'okay' with it are, well, we all know Twilight's still very shy about it..." She looked over at the concerned alicorn who hid her flushing face. "Rarity's somewhat 'alright' with it, but her 'standards'"—she emphasized with her hooves—"are getting in the way and make her super picky."

She switched back to Hika. "As for Fluttershy. Well... to our surprise, she's actually the last we would have thought would come out of her shell, giving her very quiet personality. I mean, she doesn't like 'talking' about it when there's more than three or so ponies around, but in a little private chat, she seems to know quite a lot for such a timid one."

Hika's face showed much focus regarding the words from the positive and–to his surprise–now very down to earth Pinkie Pie.

"And... what about Rainbow Dash and Applejack?" he inquired, stepping in closer.

"Oh, they're pretty... Hum... They like it, yeah. Barely or not at all shy on the subject, but they know not to bring it when others aren't." Pinkie Pie's head jumped a bit. "Oh! By the way! That book said you needed some changeling semen, right, Twilight?" She turned to her alicorn friend.

"Ah... well... yeah. You read it yourself, after all," Twilight responded, still looking much uneasy by the situation.

"Well... you heard the princess, Hika." Pinkie Pie approached him and put her right hoof around his neck, clinging her body and face against his. "You need any help? I can make Pat orgasm within seconds. They'll be plenty of time to brew the potion afterward," she casually offered.

"What?! I mean... Oh! Ah..." Is there still some of my semen up in the study, or did Discord... "Fudge..."
Pinkie Pie tilted her head. "Fudge? What do you need fudge for? Is it an aphrodisiac for you or something?"

"Oh! No no no! Just, hum..." He twitched his head toward his alicorn friend who had now completely turned around from their direction. Her face was low and she was heavily breathing. "Twilight?"

"Ah! Hum... Y-Yes?" she answered in whispers, her whole body shaking.

"Is it okay if I go up in the study to... ah... prepare that ingredient? It's the only place I really know so far and–"

"Hm-mm. You can go.” The completely bashful studious mare cut in, trying to avoid discussing the subject any longer. Her voice ringed high and suffocated. "Just knock when you come back so we can open the door for you, 'kay?"

"Ah, ok, thanks. Do I need a vial or some–" Before Hika could finish, Pinkie Pie handed him a graduated cylinder.

"I'm sure this will do, just don't spill any, okay?" She warmly grinned at him. "You sure you don't need any help. I'm pretty skilled, you know?"

"Oh, no no! I'll be alright. I'm..." Oh fudge... it's already peeking out. “I'll go right now! See you in... Ah... I don’t know. Not so long! Bye!" He hurried answering before rushing up the stairs.

"Ok! See you in a bit!" Pinkie Pie waved to him, before checking back on her alicorn friend. "Aw... come on, Twilight. Hey, can I do anything while he's up there? You done with my list?"

* * *

Hika rushed into the study and quickly closed the door behind him, although, making sure not to slam it.

"Fudge!" He sat down against the door, left the graduated cylinder next to him and covered his face with his front hooves. "Oh, sure... I don't have trouble talking about it... but I still have trouble keeping my cool when any subjective thoughts crosses my mind!"

He peeked down at his crotch and let out a long sigh before bumping his head with his right hoof. In between his legs, his gradient black and glowing green shaft had completely erected to its full seven inches of length and was giving out shorts spasms of excitement.

"That Pinkie Pie really shouldn't have talked like that. Now, after what she said, all I got in my head are fantasies of what she proposed to me. I mean, for Celestia's sake! I know she told me she all willing and stuff, but she's my freaking cousin in law, or... will be, when she'll marry Pat." He stood up and looked around the room, his equine cock still as stiff as a stick.

He chuckled a bit as he saw the huge jug of Discord's cum still standing on the wooden floor. "Must be very cold now. There's no way that'd make good frost—" His cock delivered a very heavy throb as the image of him orgasming all over Pinkie Pie crossed his perverted mind. "Stop it! Just... stop!" He hit himself on the head multiple times, trying to get rid of the thought.

He began roaming around the room. "Just what kind what kind of 'relation' has she established with Pat, anyway? I mean, you don't just go out and offer to help your relative jerk off! That's just... 'What?!' I get that they might be free spirited, but jeez! Never have I heard something like 'that' before.”

The right study's window was still opened from when Discord bailed about half an hour ago. Hika looked out from it, noticing the sun still high up in the clear sky. A nice breeze was flowing in and agitating the chestnut drapes.

He continued with his aloud thoughts. “You got a wife and... Well... you might agree to practice some new stuff with other couples or peoples, but within your own family!? When did that even become a thing!?" he shouted in whispers, roughly shaking his head, but unable to make the immoral images go away.

He noticed the basket of pastries that had now dried up a little. He grabbed one—an apple strudel—and started taking small bites out of it while walking around the room, trying to think of something else.

"Why do we have to be so constricted in time? And tell me this: how the fudge is my splooge better than my blood for the brewing time? What's so special about changelings' semen? I... ugh!" He threw away the sugary bun that unexpectedly landed into the jug of silky fluid, the impact creating a small radial wave that expelled some of its content onto the floor. "Are you fucking kidding me!?" he screamed and burst out laughing from the irony of his action.

A few seconds later, he deeply sighed. "Well... that took care of the thought for at least ten full seconds... but now it's obviously back. How the heck am I going to manage, here? There's no way I want to jerk off to... her..." He paused. "Maybe I do should have accepted her offer. Ah, what am I saying?! Really now, Hika?! Come on! Miss Twilight requires that you provide her with your... ugh... seeds, so she can make that potion that hopefully will help us get rid of these bastards, fortunately, without having to kill any of them. I hate the killing. I'm fortunate enough that I haven't had to do so, yet... but not enough to have escaped witnessing it."

He walked around the chair he was tied-up to, earlier. "Only a few hours... that's all it takes for me to go from cursed to almost saved..." he chuckled, and suddenly, the perverted images in his mind changed to memories from earlier; from where his fate changed. "I owe them a lot... a whole lo—" His personal thoughts were disturbed by a knock on the door.

"Hika, are you having trouble with the semen? It's been five minutes already! Twilight is waiting for you, she's gathering the rest of the ingredients on your list!" The voice of Pinkie Pie rang through the wooden door.

The changeling shouted in surprise. "What!? Five minutes already!? Really?! Uh... I... just a moment!"

"Hika..." Pinkie Pie sighed on a positive tone. "I'm coming in; you're taking too long."

"What!? No! Stay out! Stay—" He immediately sat down and tried to cover his pulsing member, his face in complete panic.

She entered the room with a calm smile, nonchalantly cantering toward him. "Oh! Well... at least you got it ready for action. That's good, but how come you not able to get it going? What's the matter?"

Hika sighed, looking up to her. "Well... I'll guess I'll put in bluntly, since we are hurried by the time.” He paused and took a deep breath. “Just minutes ago, when you suggested to help me out getting it off..."—Pinkie Pie slowed her steps, now inches away from the dark equine—"Some pretty uncontrollable thoughts sprung into my mind, right out of nowhere. And... Well... Wouldn't you know; those thoughts were about you, and they gave me what I'm currently trying to hide in-between my hooves." His nervous eyes looked away when he heard an unexpected response; a giggle from Pinkie Pie.

"Hika. I really don't mind. Of course you'd be getting all kinds of 'sexy' thoughts about me when I told you that earlier. I'm the one who put them in there." She giggled some more.

"But... I'm your relative. Your husband is my very own cousin! Does he even know!? Does he accept that you can just... willingly help me out with that?" the changeling responded, upset, confused and wishing to get some answers.

"Oh. Yeah. You're right. We're living on a somewhat free relationship, guess I should have thought about mentioning that to you. Teehee." She grinned in a silly manner as Hika's head heavily fell forward. "But hey, now you know, so it's all good, right?" She took a sit in front of him, reaching out to his hooves.

"I... Wait! No no no! Not yet." He pushed her back. "Let me just... Just give me a few seconds." He took a few deep breaths, trying to calm himself down. "So... Pat, is okay with you... just... having sex with other ponies?"

"Well..." She casually leaned back, spreading her back legs and thus showing off her hindquarters. "As long as we promise to keep our love strong and never forget each other, it's alright, but I don't believe we agreed on having other lovers. Sexual partners, tough, we are allowed to. And besides"—she reached down to her vagina and open its labia, lubricating fluid flowing out of it—"I'm sure he won't mind if it's you, and it's a required ingredient for the potion anyway." She gave her clitoris a little rub. "So... we best get to it. Twilight is waiting."

"How... What... Why do you..." was all Hika replied, filled with complete astonishment. His penis was almost painfully throbbing from the audacious tease Pinkie Pie was executing.

"To make you more sexually excited, you doofus. It's working, isn't it? And the more you're built-up, the quicker you'll orgasm." She vigorously massaged her labia and rosebud one last time, giving Hika one last arousing sight—heavy drops of vaginal fluid leaking out—before getting more intimate with the very stiff changeling.

"I... Pinkie Pie... What—" The feeling of soft lips pressing against his suddenly cut his words short. Pinkie Pie had took the liberty of engaging in a deep kiss with him, covering his own tiny mouth and caressing it with her agile yet gentle tongue.

Wha-what is she doing? How the heck can she be so b-b... bold... That's not... hmmm... It barely took a few seconds for him to succumb to the skilled sensual actions of the seducing pink mare, who had now moved to insert her fleshy muscle in his cavity and gracefully entwining his own tongue; her right hoof carefully placed around the back of his neck.

His consciousness' guard now breached, Hika closed his eyes and let his front legs fall to his sides, exposing his luminescent shaft that was now eagerly pulsing and beginning to produce pre-seminal fluid.

Pinkie Pie noticing her successful charms, slowly retracted her lips over Hika's. Strings of saliva stretching from the separation of their mouths.

"That tiny mouth of yours is very fun to kiss, you know? I feel much more in control of my tongue. I like it," she nonchalantly commented with a tender grin at the completely relaxed and mind-blanked changeling.

"I... ehuh... gehh..."

"Woah... Was I really 'that' good? I mean, Pat does say I'm a 'super kisser', but I didn't thought I could have so much impact," she softly giggled. "Well, if you thought 'that' was good, wait till I get on the next step; my honey really gets the hots for it." She gave Hika a little kiss on the snout before leaning down and gently getting a grab of his impatient horse member.

Hika let out a quick soft moan, the delicate touch of her to be cousin feeling quite skilled in procuring him sexual stimulation.

"You're so eager. That’s gonna be a snap," Pinkie Pie happily chuckled, massaging the throbbing penis with care using both her hooves. "I'm betting about... two minutes, oh, no, make that forty-five seconds, I can tell how turned on you are, Hika." She looked up seeing his completely entranced face, unable to speak. The sight made her grin with delight. "Alright, let's move on."

She moved her left hoof at the side of his fluorescent shaft's base—now drizzling with pre-cum—and her right one down to his testicles; starting to dearly fondle them. "Those are very adorable. I'd be happy to play with them some other time."

"Ehngeh... muuhh... mmm..."

A short laughter came out of Pinkie Pie in response to the sedated with lust gibberish Hika had just mumbled. "What's that you say, Hika? You want me to suck on your yummy looking candy stick? Why, I'd love to! Thanks for the offer!" she amused herself before giving the rock hard, equine cock a little nudge with her snout, making it swing about.

She then opened her mouth wide and gobbled the unflared shaft's tip. She then pulled out her tongue and started moving her lips all the way down to the base while performing a long and slow lick—making sure to feel every lumps and veins—then ascended back to the very summit. She suckled it, getting a taste of Hika's juice, and poked the tip of her tongue inside his urethra, drops after drops of pre-cum gushing out.

Hika convulsed in great pleasure. Continuous moans—gradually getting louder—escaped from his gaping mouth, flowing with a stream of drool dripping down his chin and onto the soft and sweet scenting mane of Pinkie Pie.

She retracted her tongue from his cock's canal and then proceeded to generously roll it around the gland while applying subtle suctions, continuously gathering the accelerating flow of the pre-seminal fluid.

After a few more seconds of gluttonous enjoyment of her fleshy snack, she realized it was beginning to try thrusting in and out of her mouth with much eagerness. Understanding the situation with amusement and acceptance, she let her muzzle slide onto it, her buccal muscle gently fondling its length lubed with saliva and pre-ejaculatory liquid.

Hika—now conscious of Pinkie Pie's approval—started his in and out of her mouth with much sexual impatience.

He put his hooves down on her head with caution—feeling the fuzzy and soft texture of her mane—and lightly held onto it in order to have better control on his thrusts.

Pinkie Pie let out a relieved moan. Phew, I'm glad one of my hooves is free. The heat and lust are starting to drive me coocoo as well. Couldn't wait to have my own little fun while he gets his way. Not that I mind, though; that changeling penis feels pretty great in my mouth! I'd like to try out some other time for su-ouh! Maybe I could have Pat and him have a threesome with me! Ohhh! That would awesome! As she fantasized, she reached down to her drizzling wet impatient vulva with her right hoof and started giving it a thrilling rub.

Hika's moans intensified. His penetrating motion grew faster and deeper down his cousin to be's mouth—hitting the back of her gagging throat—getting close to his orgasm.

The climax was also feeling close for Pinkie Pie who was ravaging her pussy with stimulating motions, a considerable puddle of vaginal fluid now visibly apparent on the wooden floor of the study, reverberating with laments of pleasure until Hika screamed in gladness and relief as his climax began.

A consecutive row of thick gushes of glowing green semen filled Pinkie Pie's cavity, and in an urgent reflex to regain air and swallow her delivered protein feast, she forced herself out of the erupting penis; all while achieving her very own orgasm as well.

A generous amount of secretions heavily leaked between her labia, covering her hoof.

She quickly tried to swallow the copious amount of fluorescent jizz occupying her mouth, after which she let out a huge mix of a gasps and moans; still feeling the heavy twitches of her vagina's muscles.

Hika's streams of cum continued for a few seconds, frosting Pinkie Pie's face and mane. His moans gradually lessened in energy as he let himself fall on his back—spent from the experience—his equine member still producing a few more pulses as it emptied the last of its dripping down juice.

"Aaahhh.... hmmm...," he sighed in much satisfaction.

Pinkie Pie crawled over his panting body and gave him a gentle slimy kiss on the snout before standing up with a bit of wooziness and beginning gathering his cum into the graduated cylinder.

"Do... do we have enough... for th... the potion?" Hika asked between short breaths; his body and mind still feeling somewhat under the effect of the sexual thrill.

"Yup! The bottle thingy is almost full. You gave out a 'big' load, you know? Didn't knew those little balls of yours could produce that much." Pinkie Pie commented, carefully putting the cap on top of the scientific flask and then helping Hika back on his hooves.

"Well... I don't really know how to explain it, but... even though they look small, for some reason they retain the efficiency from my pony self, which was... well... you've seen for yourself..." He managed to stand—a bit wobbly—his sticky cock slowly starting to retract back into its sheath.

"I think you might just have one as big as Pat! And I'm not complaining, I love my husband's load," she shortly giggled. "Oh! By the way, would you like me to lick you clean before we head back to Twilight? After a good oral, I usually do so to Pat, and he does so with my labia too. Well... that, or we go take a shower. Or... we can leave it like this, we do are in a hurry, kind of. That little fun lasted a bit longer than expected," she chuckled, acting a bit guilty.

"Ah... I... Well... I'm afraid of still getting an erection from your"—he frowned, showing Pinkie Pie a rather mixed expression—"very impressive tongue, and considering what you've told me about Twilight, I doubt coming back to her with a hard-on is going to make her comfortable and able to focus on her work. So... I'll just quickly go to the nearest bathroom and clean it up myself. You can go see her with the semen; I'll be right back. You know where the nearest bathroom is?"

"Oh, sure, there's one on the right end of the hall." She approached him and gave him a small kiss on the cheek. "Be back quick." She tenderly smiled at him, then started heading down on a canter.

A distinctive blush had appeared on Hika's face as he began trotting toward the restroom. How... the hay... is she able to do that? I mean, seriously! That's still blows my mind! It's like it's nothing to her! No shame at all, whatsoever! 'It's all cool and all.' I... I know she told me she's in a 'free' relationship with her husband, my cousin, but... holy freaking... Gahhh! He internally shouted and roughly ruffled and scratched his mane and scalp. And 'of course', now all I can think of is her! Jee! I wonder 'why'! Oh! And not only that! He reached the door of the bathroom and shut it behind him, sitting down at its step, exasperated. Now I got another freakin’ 'boner', because my perverted mind is going crazy about wishing to 'fuck her'! Freaking hay!

As his unwanted thoughts continued to trail off, he unconsciously grabbed his erected member and began penetrating one of the holes in his right leg with it. "Wh-what the hell am I doing!?" He instantly removed it. "Get a hold of yourself, man! Come on! Shove it away; stay focused!" He forced himself to stay concentrated on thinking of the situation at stake going on in Ponyville and proceeded to wash off the mixture of sperm and saliva that was covering his hard shaft—with the use of a small damp towel—trying not to succumb to the tempting urge of striking it.

"Keep focusing, keep focusing, keep focusing..." he continued mumbling to himself for the next few minutes he carefully wiped off every trace of remaining bodily fluids. His erection finally managed to settle down and was almost entirely back in its sheath.

He dried it off and let out a relieved sigh. "Alright... managed to do it... Now, just keep focusing and hurry back to the lab to help out with the potion, ok Hika? Ok... Alright. Keep focusing, keep focusing..." he kept whispering as he cantered down to the main hall and the entrance of the laboratory.

"Wait, what's that?" Before he knocked on the door leading to the basement, something caught his changeling sense's attention and he rushed to one of the cathedral windows. "Oh fuck!" He immediately got to the ground, hiding underneath the window's frame. "Ok. Yeah. That potion needs to be brewed as soon as possible. That was a sergeant. Fudge... I hope their attacks won't happen before we're done with it." He peeked out again, seeing the lightly armored changeling stealthily flying away. “I gotta warn them.”

He quickly knocked on the lab's door—that opened almost instantly— before rushing back to his two waiting friends, galloping down the stairs.

"Hey! There you are." Pinkie Pie waved to him as she was holding onto her list of the ingredients and looking them up on the shelves and cases. "Were you able to clean off everything?" She nonchalantly asked, Twilight only meters away from her.

"I... ah... yes," he whispered. "Shouldn't you keep it down? You're the one who told me Twilight was uneasy with that stuff. By the way, I..."

"Oh, don't worry about it. I forgot to mention, but even though she's like that, she actually has read a bunch of books on the subject. So... she knows, she just isn’t used to it, yet." Pinkie Pie turned around to her blushing studious friend. "Isn't that right, Twilight?!" she shouted.

"I... hum..." The alicorn hesitated for a few seconds. "Pinkie, please give the remaining list to Hika so he can start searching for the ingredients too and hurry up, we're already behind the time estimated for the potion to be made!"

Pinkie Pie giggled at her friend's reaction and approached Hika. "Here you go, cousin." She handed him the small parchment. "I'm almost done finding mines, so I'll help you get yours when I'm finished, okay?" She gave him a light kiss on the cheek, before turning around to continue with her own scavenge.

Hika's face instantly flushed. Oh no no! Don't you dare come back on me, okay?! He internally spoke, focusing on his crotch in an attempt to control his erection. No matter how 'big' of a tease she is, you are to keep focusing at the tasks you've been assigned. You hear me, Hika? Ok? His body stood still as he waited for his arousal to fade away, which only took a few seconds. He sighed in relief. "Alright... I believe I'm good, now. So...”—he began reading his list—“chamomile extract... Where is that?"

* * *

Twilight skimmed through the gathered ingredients and lists. "Alright. Good job you two. I've got all the ingredients I needed and all my installations are complete. Just got to get to the brewing. Not much else you can do now to help me out, but”—she turned to Hika and Pinkie Pie—“don't go too far in case I need something. Okay?" Her two assistants nodded.

"Understood. Is it okay if I go up to the library, or would that be too far?" Hika inquired.

"Ah... well... I would prefer if at least one of you could stay down here with me."

"Oh! I could, Twilight! I don't mind," Pinkie Pie hastily responded, bouncing in place.

Twilight's face twisted a bit. "Ah... actually, no. Never mind. I can just teleport in the library if I need anything." It's not that I don't trust Pinkie being able to stay calm or anything, but... actually... no, I 'do' do not trust her being able to do so, even if the situation is dire right now. You're just too... I'm sorry, Pinkie. "I'll be better off by myself for the brewing anyway. I'm just used to it. Sorry. You two can go upstairs and I'll signal if I need any help, okay?"

Pinkie Pie abruptly stopped her hopping motions and her entire face went emotionless.

Hika frowned and tilted his head. “Hum... Pinkie Pie?”

Twilight felt guilt build up inside, making her head drop. Oh no... Don't tell me she's thinking what I thought... I should be more frank with her, but... I just don't want to hurt her feelings. I know how... sensitive she can truly be under that face... I... She paused for a split second, reconsidering her thoughts. No. Okay. Got to make it clear, and right now would be the best since we're in a situation where she wouldn't be allowed her... extravagant ways and personality to get the best of her... The threat is... I think beyond anything we've faced so far. And it's going to distract me in my work anyway if I don't tell her.

She raised her head toward her pink friend. "Hum... Pinkie. I didn—"

"Okie dokie lokie, Twilight!" Pinkie Pie replied in her usual positivism, her smile and merry eyes having come back in less than a second. "You ready, Hika?" She turned to her to be cousin in law.

"I... hum, yes?" he hesitantly answered, having understood the possible unease between the two mares.

"Alright! Let's get going, then!" Pinkie Pie trotted behind Hika and began pushing his rear toward and up the stairs, her joy feeling a bit odd.

"Wo-oah! Ok ok! No need to push!" he chuckled.

Pinkie Pie removed her hooves from his flanks. "Oops. My bad." she giggled lightly before going around and facing him. "Well, I'll be waiting for you, then!" She looked over to her studious friend. "Say, Twilight. I've seen some apple fritters and pastries, earlier, up in the study along with some frosting in that jug. Would you mind if I had some?"

"Ah, eh, um... no! Please do! Oh! And you're going to 'love' that frosting! Hika and Discord made it themselves! They didn't told me what ingredients they used, but I have a feeling you might be able to figure out—oh, but it must be pretty cold right now—Well, if you manage to find out what's in it, I'd really like if you could maybe add it to the menu at Sugar Cube Corner; if I am given Discord and Hika's permission, of course. I have a feeling a lot of ponies are going to love it just as much as I have."

Hika's eyes enlarged when he heard Twilight comment on the creamy seasoning. His body shivered a little as he glanced over to Pinkie Pie.

"That sounds like a great idea! I'll try to figure out what's in that 'icing'"—she turned to meet Hika's eyes, her face looking delighted—"you and Discord made."

Hika gulped; goosebumps running through his body.

"Well, we better get going to not stop you in your work, Twilight! See you if you need us!" Pinkie Pie bellowed, grabbing her frozen with sweats to be cousin by his front hooves and dragging him up the stairs on his chest.

Twilight waved to them lightly. She knows... I know she does that I wasn't frank with her just now... She's trying to hide it. Poor Pinkie... I'll really have to tell her; at least before we head out later. Although... I'm really glad Hika has joined our side and already became friend with her—She chuckled with a smile—I think they're going to be really good siblings...

She turned around to her tree of tubes and other lab equipment she had prepared for the brewing. "Alright. I’ve got to start now if I want to be done in time." She carefully levitated the semen-filled graduated cylinder and approached from her workbench.

* * *

"Ow ow ow ow! Ok ok! Pinkie Pie, you can stop dragging me! Stop it!" Hika exclaimed as they arrived at the door leading to the east castle hall. It magically opened before them.

"Oh! I'm sorry." She let go of her grasp. A preoccupied expression covered her face.

They crossed onto the dark violet stone floor slightly heated by the mid-afternoon sun that shined through the pale cathedral windows.

On his far right, Hika could notice the cracks having been left by Rainbow Dash, earlier this morning. He frowned a bit before looking back at her cousin to be.

"Pinkie Pie?" He approached her. She was hiding her face and appeared to be wiping her eyes before she turned around, trying her best to smile.

"You're sad she isn't sincere with you, are you?" Hika asked her, having a strong feeling of what was going on.

Pinkie Pie sighed, rubbing the back of her head and looking down. "She's kinda right, though. I do have a hard time keeping still and serious. It's like I always got to have something to do or else I'm just gonna end up letting my boredom find something and that usually doesn't really please everypony." She chuckled. "You know, before I got my cutie mark, I really 'really' wasn't like that; complete opposite, actually." She stood on her front hooves and began walking on them. "I mean, I wasn't especially happy, and I'm glad I ended up being who I am, but what 'that' brought along... whew! ...I even gotta control my own self, sometimes, cuz it's going too far. That's... if I can.

“I ended up having a lot of trouble staying focused and not getting distracted by anything if I wasn't given a task or job or anything to be busy with." She landed back on her fours, now walking around with her head to the floor. "That's why I'm super glad Mr. and Mrs. Cakes allowed me to stay at Sugarcube Corner and taught me to become a baker, cuz that's definitely something I needed to keep my mind steady, and... now that I have a family, it's even better, and I'm very grateful for it as well, and I love it and couldn't ask for anything better... but, I still can't seem to relax and not feel so hyper all the type, you know?" She began sobbing with a mix of forced chuckles, feeling the weight of her own words as her eyes watered. Her voice gradually sounded more and more in distress. "I mean, Pat tries his best to help me out and figure out how to deal with it, but it just doesn't seem to go away, and it's keeping me from being what I wished I could be 'more', for my friends, other than a sugar rush coocoo head, when they're telling me to wait or be patient... Every emotion feels rushed; nerve-wracking!...," she trailed off and stopped in front of one of the stained glasses, before letting her turmoil push her down into a sitting position. She firmly closed her leaking eyelids. "And some of my friends just aren't able to tell it straight to me 'Pinkie, you're too hyper! I would like if you could go somewhere else, please.' I mean, I wouldn't really mind it, if it wasn't that it keeps reminding me of something I'm apparently unable to change and—"

She suddenly felt the very tight embrace of dented hooves around her, to which she gasped in surprise and opened her blurry eyes.

“Sorry... Couldn't really think of anything else...," Hika whispered.

She turned and hugged him back even tighter and they stayed silent for a few seconds. A small smile then gradually formed on her face. "Don't worry, it... it did helped. Thanks cousin. I was about to somber in blues, and maybe beyond that... That hug really managed to stop them from going any further. You did the right thing." She slowly stood up and gave him a light kiss on the cheek, after which she took a deep jerky breath—still sobbing a bit—and exhaled all the way; trying to calm herself down.

She looked up to him, staring in his eyes for a brief moment, then let her sight drift away as more thoughts crossed her mind. “I... 'have' been wondering about telling my friends to be frank with me and that I wouldn't mind...”—her head and body swayed to her words—“but I just can't seem to find the guts to do it, cuz at the same time... I can toughen it up. So, it can be alright. I can manage, but... it's just..."—she vigorously rubbed her mane and scalp—"Uuuhhgh! I wish all that confusion pudding would just go away!" she shouted in exasperation, covering her face once again as she let her rear hit the hard floor once more.

Hika calmly walked to her side and sat down. "Hey, Pinkie."

She peeked through her hooves.

"I'll back you up."

A sniffle could be heard from her hidden nose. "W-what?"

"Maybe I could try and help get rid of that pudding with you? You've been able to confess your troubles to me and that you wish you could find the guts to tell your friends, Twilight, in this case, how you feel. You just need some help getting it through." He reached for her hooves and slowly began moving them aside. "I say we go see her and try to solve this situation. I'll be right there to back you up in case you need it."

Pinkie Pie's watery eyes glanced around the hall as she began thinking about Hika's proposition, putting her front hooves back on the ground.

Hika kept his sight on her. "Keeping all the negative stuff in is really not something somepony should put itself through." He paused, the reminiscence of this morning's events coming back to him. "It's a prison that pains you from the inside and... can do a lot more damages overtime than finally letting it out and to deal with its present consequences."

Pinkie Pie gradually stood up. Her eyes, focusing on Hika, began frowning in a gradually building confidence that slowed her sobbing.

"Thing is... doing it alone isn't always something that 'can' be..." He got up as well and laid his right hoof on her left shoulder.

Pinkie Pie glanced down to it, then back to Hika. Her expression was very gradually turning from troubled to confident, hesitation of his offer slowly fading from her mind.

She rose her right hoof and positioned it in manner to mirror his—deeply looking in his glowing green eyes with growing determination—and proceeded with giving him a tight embrace.

He lightly blushed and smiled. "So, I'm guessing you might want to give it a shot?"

"Yup." she answered, keeping her hooves around him for a few more seconds before withdrawing them and putting them back on the floor. "Thanks again, cousin."

She took a deep breath and let it out. "Ok... I'm ready."

Hika nodded and let her pass in front. She started heading toward the door to the laboratory's stairs. A panel opened with a magic voice recognition unit.

“Pinkamena Diane Pie.”

The panel retracted and the door opened, but just before going down, she checked behind her to see that Hika was indeed following her. He smiled back and nodded in encouragement.

They could hear the sound of boiling and hissing from the chemistry tree—indicating the brewing was in progress—as they stepped onto the stairs.

Twilight was patiently standing right next to it wearing her white scientist coat and protective glasses.

"Oh... She looks really focused, maybe we should wait until she's done?" Pinkie Pie whispered to Hika, doubt gaining back on her.

"Did she ever mind having someone interrupt her during scientific experiences before?” he asked looking her in the eyes.

She glanced back at him then down and in front of her. Her eyes jittered a bit.

“Pinkie. She's your friend, and I'm sure she's concerned with what happened as well. I got a feeling she really won't mind." He paused, looking at the hesitation on Pinkie Pie's face. "Would you rather that 'I' be the one to make her known of our presence? I don't think she's hearing us coming down."

"I...” She took a moment before answering. “Yes. Please," she replied, letting him pass in front.

"Alright." He gently gave her a pat on the back.

They reached the lab's cold bluish-gray floor in silent. Twilight was keeping a close eye on her work as she scribbled some notes on a levitating parchment.

"You're ok?" Hika asked Pinkie Pie.

She partially nodded, staring carefully at her alicorn friend only a few meters away. She could feel tension building up inside her.

"Stay here if you like. I'll try to warn her we've come back." Hika began silently walking toward the workbench where the experience was ongoing while Pinkie Pie sat down, beginning to bite on her tail.

"Twilight?" Hika called out while being careful not to startle the studious mare at work. "Miss Twilight?" he tried again, but without success. That is some pretty steady concentration. He moved in closer, reaching about only a meter away from her. "TWILIGHT?"

She jumped a little and turned her head around. "Uh? What?"

"May we have some of your time?" Hika titled his head behind him toward Pinkie Pie who startled and let go of nibbling on her tail to hesitantly wave at them.

"Oh! Um... sure." Twilight's face gloomed a bit as she give one last glance at the vat heating the potion. "Well... actually, could it be possible for you two to wait about ten more minutes? I still got some more steps in the process. All that would be left after that is just letting the potion heat up so all the ingredients are properly brewed together. I'll be with you two then. Is that alright?" She looked over at Pinkie Pie with concern.

This one kept her eyes on Twilight for a few seconds before lowering her head to her left side.

"Don't worry Twilight. Take your time. Come get us when you're done." Hika responded in his cousin to be's stead, nodded in acknowledgment and began heading back toward the stairs.

"Oh, um..."—Twilight added—"You can stay down here, if you'd like. That's alright."

Hika slowly turned around and gestured with his head again. "Thank you." He then continued walking toward Pinkie Pie who seemed to have a rather stern look on her face.

Just a few steps further, Hika joined and sat before her. "So what do you say? Do you wish to head back upstairs or wait here?"

Pinkie Pie looked around the laboratory. "I can feel she's concerned about me, but I'm still feeling uneasy about having to wait, even though it's necessary. This is only making me feel even more nervous." She let a long sigh jolting roll through her lips. "I'm feeling all my emotions mixing together in a big dough... I really don't like it..."

"Do you know what you're going to tell her?"

"I... I think. Kind of... I'm not too sure. Do I wanna be sincere or be careful of not hurting her feelings? I know what I 'feel' like I want to say, but... 'how'... I, I don't know..." Pinkie Pie sighed again—her dilated eyes staring at the floor—reflecting her troubled state of mind.

Hika looked over to her. "Well, you wish for her to be frank with you about finding you too hyper to sometimes stay around to help her. You also have lots of trouble controlling it and it pains you. You wish it could calm down, but you are afraid to ask for help..."

Pinkie Pie remained silent.

"Sorry. Maybe I was a bit too direct just now... My bad." Hika turned his head away feeling a bit guilty.

Pinkie Pie's eyes remained locked on the cool gray tiles. "N... no. Thanks for reminding me and resuming it..." She rose her head and looked at Twilight who was delicately pouring additional prepared ingredients into the simmering concoction. A yellow tinted vapor rose from the chemical reaction. "I shouldn't... be afraid to be frank with her if I want her to be frank with me. I'll tell it like I feel it... and, I'd really like if I could do it alone. I really want to." She stood up to get closer to Hika and gently hugged him. "Thanks again cousin. Seems you just keep on coming in handy.” She chuckled. “I think I'll be alright to sort it out."

He embraced her back. "No problem. I can always not be too far in case anything happens."

Pinkie Pie withdrew her hooves and brought her sight to Twilight again. The stern look on her face had only barely softened. "I don't..." She turned around. "Actually, yes, cuz I dunno what might happen with my 'looniness'”—she emphasized with her hooves—"so standing by could be nice, please." She nodded before looking back toward the chemistry tree.

"Alright." Hika smirked. "Well, I'd say you still have about five minutes before she's done; would you like to keep your mind focused on mentally preparing yourself until then?"

Pinkie Pie did not responded, her vision glued to Twilight who was mixing together what seemed to be the last remaining ingredients for the potion.

Hika chuckled and headed toward the heat ray they saw upon arriving in the laboratory earlier. Can this really melt the floor? I mean, I'm not going to try it out, but I sure would like to see it in action at some point when all the... Wait a minute... If it can melt the floor, then why wouldn't we use it to defend ourselves against Chrysalis' army!? Duh! Why didn't I thought of that sooner! That would be so... eh... that would be a horrible sight... but nonetheless a very good defense! I'll just 'have' to ask Twilight after the potion is do- wait... what is that sound? He twisted around to see Pinkie Pie's hooves impatiently tapping on the ground.

Wowowowowow... He quickly walked back to her; trying to make as less sound as possible on the stone floor. "Pinkie Pie," he whispered, as he had almost reached her. Her eyes were twitching and intensely targeting Twilight who was almost finished with her work of having assembled all of the ingredients into the bubbling brew, now emanating grapefruits colored fumes and a rather spicy and sweet aroma.

"Pinkie!" Hika whispered louder right next to his to be cousin's ears.

"Uh? What?" Her head promptly twisted toward her name being called. "I... Hika? What was I doing just now?"

He contemplated her reaction for a brief moment. "You were grinding your teeth and tapping your hooves almost frantically."

"I... I was?" Her eyes darted and blurred up as she lowered her head.

"Are you 'sure' you're gonna be able to talk to Twilight?" Hika asked in concern. "I know there's only about four minutes left, but would you like if I helped you change your mind until she's ready? Maybe this could help in calming you down a bit? I could tell you about my family if you'd like."

Pinkie Pie's face quickly rose back to his. She wiped her eyes, her expression looking rather distressed. "Yes. Please. Thank you. I'm really not feeling right. I need to focus on something else. I'm sorry." She hasten to respond.

"Alright. Take it easy.” He approached her and gave her a hug, caressing her mane. “Take a few deep breaths with me.” He guided her with his own respiration for a few seconds. Her heart was beating abnormally fast.

“I'll begin. Are you alright?” he asked, feeling the rhythm of her chest gradually decreasing.

“Y-y-yes...” She followed Hika's calm and controlled breaths. “I'm... I'm fine.”

“Ok.” He gave her fuzzy mane a gentle stroke. “So... As you already heard from Discord, earlier, unless I don't remember correctly, I have a wife and two—" Hika's face instantly froze.

"Two...? Two foals?" Pinkie Pie inquired, confused by the sudden halt in her Hika's words.

His eyes started welling up with tears. He let go of Pinkie Pie, turning around. "Y... yes. We had one... but another was on the way when Chrysalis attacked the village..." He shook his head and wiped his blurry eyes. Come on, man! This isn't the time to go 'opened faucet' while Pinkie's already having her own overwhelming flow of troubled emotions... You're going to save them! Your family, and all your friends! Think positive!

"Hika?" Pinkie Pie paused in consideration, lifting her right hoof toward him. "You know, if it hurts to talk about it, don't worry; we can change the subject. I'm better now. I guess maybe...”—she frowned while briefly pondering—“I dunno, cupcake recipes could have been a better choice." She chuckled a bit. "Guess that's kind of another thing I got trouble letting go off: that big fascination with pastries and stuff."

"No no no. It's alright...” He slowly swung back to her, meeting her slightly hazy eyes. “Well... I 'do' am much worried about them, but... now's not the time to linger on what can't be changed at the present moment... At least I know they are kept safe... mostly... but anyway, hum... How would you like to talk about your daughter? Perhaps we could share about both our families? I'd be happy to also hear how you and Pat met."

A faint smile grew on Pinkie Pie's face when she heard Hika's proposition. “Ok.” Her eyes grew a bit nostalgic. "Pat moved into Ponyville from Cloudsdale during summer, last year. He was previously training to become a weather pony and tried to make it into the Wonderbolts, but that didn't work out." She paused. Her expression began changing into a more positive one. "He took it pretty hard because his parents were both in them, his dad even being the leader before Spitfire."

Hika sat down before his to be cousin and listened closely to her words.

"It took a little time for him to find motivation again, but one day he saw an opening for Ponyville's weather crew in the newspaper, and decided to apply." She looked over at Twilight who was still combining different substances together into the simmering cauldron.

"He got hired and needed a place to stay. I didn't met him right away, though. Fluttershy is the first that did, having a room for rent at the time; that's where Discord stays when he's there, now." She turned back to Hika who was lightly grinning at her story and looking pretty interested. "It didn't took long after that for him to visit Sugarcube Corner. Being a big fan of all sugary things, which actually was something he grew up with as well, because his parents, after retiring from the Wonderbolts, opened up a bakery in Cloudsdale, and that's also something he kinda got trained in."

"Oh? So maybe you were both kind of meant to meet each other?" Hika remarked.

Pinkie Pie let out a soft giggle. "Maybe." Her smile grew larger and her eyes much more hopeful. "I remember when I first saw him at the counter..."—a light blush appeared on her face—"He looked really impressed and pleased with our products, and we started chatting right away about cupcakes, fritters, buns, cakes, pies... before I could even take his order." Another louder giggle escaped from her. "Oh yes! By the time we were done, there was a line of five other ponies behind him!"

Hika softly giggled as well. "So what did you do?"

"We both felt a bit silly and so he hurried on with his order: a strawberry cream cheese cupcake—I'll always remember that—and then he quickly went to find a seat, feeling the annoyed looks of the other customers glaring at him." She snorted. "I took the rest of the orders and then brought him his..." Her eyes turned deep with serenity. "I always smile at my customers, no matter if they're grumpy or jolly... but for Pat, I dunno, I just had this huge overly happy one that I just couldn't wear off. That first encounter we had really had sparked that candle in what was going to be our relationship."
OOOO
Twilight had finished her tasks and slowly began walking toward her, taking part in listening to her words.

Pinkie Pie—having not noticed her—sat down on the blueish floor, looking lost in her memories while still facing Hika. "We quickly began hanging out and soon, he even started willingly helping us out in the bakery. Mr. and Mrs. Cake were very grateful and hired him as a part-time baker. I remember him reacting by jumping in joy and hugging me very tight, before blushing and quickly releasing me, feeling a bit sorry to have done so in front of them." She let out a good laughter and proceeded.

"A few days later, he asked me out, which I definitely agreed to. That was a day I don't think I'll ever forget... and being so madly into each other, that's also the day I lost my virginity. That was only about a month after we first met." As she finished her sentence, heat run up to her face and her heart rhythm increased.

"And so... about seven months later, he proposed to me, and four months after that, Cotton Candy Cirrus Thundersnow Pie was born, but shortened to just Cotton Candy Cirrus for everyday uses. We kinda wanted to share a part of each of us in her name. Our love for sweets and the fluffiness that can be found in clouds and cakes, and we both love her absolutely very much."

As she took a break in her words, she turned to her right and jumped a bit. "Oh! Twilight! Are you done already?"

"Since just about the part where you talked about when Pat first started helping you out at Sugarcube Corner," she tenderly answer with a smile.

Pinkie Pie's cheeks heat up even more when her head suddenly hopped a bit. "Oh! That's right! I..."—her face instantly lost its joyful smile—"There was... something I wanted to... talk to you about. Something very important... I think you already know, but I want you to hear me out and... be open to how it might come out." She glanced at Hika and stepped toward her alicorn friend.

"It's okay, Pinkie. I got time to think on my own while you two were upstairs. I'll listen to what you have to say," Twilight nodded.

Pinkie Pie took in a long breath and slowly exhaled. "I want you to understand that I don't necessarily 'like' being hyperactive like I am, all the time. Sometimes, I even fell like it's a burden and I have a hard time dealing with it and can't control it as I wish I could." Her eyes started to moisten, but she calmed herself down before continuing. "I know it's not your fault for not noticing and it's my own stubborn idea of trying to hide it because I do not want to make my friends worried..." Silent drops fell onto the cool tile underneath her. "I hate making my friends worried, and you—along with the other girls—are my best friend, Twilight, and I wish to ask for you to try to understand what I just said so we do not hide these feelings from each other anymore. I want you to be as honest as you can be with me, and I will try my best to do the same." Soft sobs escaped from her as she seemingly ended her words and sat on the ground; her energy drained from this weight she had just lifted herself from.

"Pinkie..." Twilight narrowed the distance between them and also installed herself onto the ground, inches away from her friend. "I understand what you said, and... truly, having reflected on my own thoughts... I don't care if you are hyperactive, quiet, loud, or anything else. You are my friend. If you ever feel like I'm doing you wrong, or am not being sincere with you, which I will also try my best to be, please tell me." She dabbed the tears off Pinkie Pie's cheeks.

"I'm the Princess of Friendship, yes, and although I sometimes think I understand most of what there is about it, I'm faced with situations where I truly don't seem to... That's something that is, for me, very hard to also deal with... And in those cases... I need help, and you all manage to help me, sometimes, without even realizing it, and you shouldn't be afraid to ask me for help either... especially with things that are deeply troubling you. I did not wanted to hide what I thought from you... I'm sorry." She leaned forward and hugged Pinkie Pie who promptly returned the gesture very tightly and began crying out in relief.

Hika admired the scene with a light smirk on his face, his own eyes a bit blurry. That's how it was in... No conflicts that couldn't be solved and nopony that would be left misunderstood... I really wish for Neighlor to one day get back to what it used to b— His head brusquely turned to the ceiling. “What was that!?”

Twilight felt something shaking her right ear, but did not bothered too much with it and continued letting her friend empty her remaining sobs.

Hika's eyes widen and a rush of shiver went down his body. He silently approached Twilight, noticing that Pinkie Pie's ears were trembling. "Hum... Twilight? Pinkie?" He whispered, but without any answers. "Pinkie P—"

"Aaaahh! My ears! Pinkie sense alert! Pinkie sense alert!" Pinkie Pie suddenly freed herself from her friend's hug and uncontrollably flipped backward, a few tears still flowing from her blue eyes.

"What the hay is Pinkie Sense!?" Hika asked, very startled.

"It's a special ability I got that predicts the immediate future, but I never felt 'that' one before. It's the first time my ears are shaking like thi—" A piercing sound of shattering glass interrupted her.

"What was that!? One of the windows in the main hall broke?" Twilight exclaimed.

"Not only that, Twilight. I think we got some unexpected visit and it's not the very welcoming kind." Hika's expression became stern.

"What do you mean!?”

"I'm sensing a pretty important presence coming from another changeling. Is there anyway the door to your lab can be broken?"

“I... It's never really been tested with brute force before! I don't know!”

Heavy and brutal thuds resonated from the upper level along with what sounded like shouting.

“...We have to make sure they can't break in. You fly up first, we'll be right behind you! Now!”

Author's Note

We're trying some new things this chapter to make our fanfic flow better. We hope you like these changes. As always, thanks for reading.

Hika and Pat Thundersnow Belong to Penguinbrony24.
MLP: FiM belongs to Hasbro.