Everypony had expected a celebration, but the evening passed for most in relative calm. Twilight cracked her eye open the next morning, feeling two bodies in the bed with her. She always knew the feel of Gel, of the stallion who had touched so very much of her—inside and out—but the other felt different. As minds do in the early dawn hours, Twilight's struggled with the idea at first but then memories came back, of Rarity looking sad and alone.

Rarity woke up, but her sharp mind remembered where she was right away. She hadn't been Twilight's mistress for long, but it had been a fun time for her. "You're awake." She spoke softly into the mare's ear, lifting one of her arms up to wrap it around and between the Twilight's forelegs, gently stroking her belly. "Thank you, darling, for letting me share."

Twilight's eyes hadn't opened yet, relaxation and comfort seemed to be the order of the day. "We are friends, Rarity. Friends don't let friends suffer alone… where is Sweetie Belle?"

"Staying with Apple Bloom, for the last few days. They are working on their costumes." Rarity's belly wasn't showing, not through her fur, but Twilight could feel a slight bulge against her back. "What are you going as?"

The question got a snort from the alicorn. "I am going as Gel, he as AJ, and Applejack is going as me." Twilight reached a wing forward and rubbed the feathered limb up and down the changeling's side. "So I am going to be a changeling queen, he is going as an earth pony mare, and Applejack will be an alicorn princess." It was oddly poetic to the white unicorn. "What about you, Rarity?"

"I was thinking a timber-wolf. I can get around on all fours still, and it wouldn't take too much to get the look down… I already have the teeth and the howl for it." Rarity had a sudden thought of the two mares she knew would need reassurance, as well. Then an idea hit her. "Darling, we could go to the spa, all of us, the whole gang. We could then get together and work on our costumes, together."

The idea tickled Twilight's sense of wonder. "So many of us have things outside our little clique, I guess it isn't as bad as what Sunset and her friends have to go through… should I bring Gel?"

"No." Gel stretched, pushing back and feeling the paw between him and his wife. He smiled. "Morning Rarity. Sleep well?"

Rarity had a moment, a minute fraction of a heartbeat, when she entertained the daydream fantasy of being ravished by the Prince. "Of course I did, sometimes a mare just needs to curl up with good friends and cuddle for a time."

Reaching under Twilight, Gel used his body as a conveyor, lifting and turning the alicorn over so she was facing Rarity. "You two have some fun. Twilight, don't do anything I wouldn't. Rarity, don't leave any visible marks."

"GEL!" both mares yelled at the same time, but giggled as the stallion departed and went to the next room. A combination of the yell and the sight of their parent had both foals waking and squirming about, waving their forehooves up at Gel.

"How are my angels today? Oh, my Queen?" Gel leaned down and blew air out into Winged's belly, getting high-pitched giggles from the filly. Her brother reached over, his horn flaring a moment before the 'parenting' spell kicked in, dampening his magic to a poke in Gel's side. "My King, I am so sorry." He began to tickle Apple Seed's chin, soon having both foals giggling happily.

Rarity was distracted from doing anything really naughty with Twilight apart from a few friendly kisses. Seeing Gel march directly to their foals was a stark reminder that her own… pups, would likely not see their father. Fresh tears came from her eyes, for no apparent reason to Twilight.

Quickly grabbing her friend into a tighter hug, Twilight curled a wing protectively around her. "What's wrong?" She wished then, that her upcoming disguise was real and she had it now, instant and infallible empathy would surely have advantages.

"Who is going to be there with me, when I have my foals… pups." Rarity bawled and pressed her face into her friend's neck, letting Twilight's mane hide her snout. "I am all alone and-"

"You have Aloe, and Lotus." Twilight spoke the words so softly that Rarity almost missed them over her crying, the fact her friend knew about her special time with the two earth ponies halted her outburst in its tracks. "Have you talked with them about it? I know if you were still my mistress, I would beg to be allowed to care for your foals."

"I…" Rarity's tears slowed, but didn't stop. This was a confusing situation. "I should tell them, they are part of my life and this will affect them, too." It was hard being the most responsible, sometimes. Rarity breathed out a choked sob and shook her head. "I am normally not this stupid…"

"You are not normally at risk of being stolen away by a letch after being turned into another species against your will and become pregnant in the process." Twilight squeezed her friend a little tighter, offering up the truth wasn't going to help Rarity calm in the short term, but Twilight hoped that it would help her look deeper, at her problems. "Gel?" The alicorn raised her voice. "You have the foals and the castle and… everything, for the day."

"Got it." Gel had heard everything, even as he changed his foals. "Go, relax, have fun." There was a little hint of jealousy in his voice, he couldn't help it. He had been too used to being with Twilight all day and every day, this trial had been a little shock to him. "I mean it. Princess Celestia can deal with the diplomats, I'll handle the foals… maybe get Muffins to help." He was thinking of the day ahead and felt his jealousy ease a little, he got a day with his foals and got to shirk any state duties still.

Twilight pulled her head back a little, until she and Rarity were snout-to-snout. She kissed the other mare, without passion, but with plenty of warmth. "Let's go before he changes his mind. First task, gather the girls together."

Rarity blinked at the kiss, finding a smile to follow the warm sensation on her lips. "Then we go to the spa and I tell my girls to prim and pamper us until we melt into the water." A deep breath cleared some cobwebs out of her head and she and Twilight were up and in motion.

"Come in?" Gel heard the knock at the door, shortly after he had heard the shower start. "Oh, Starry!" He had two foals riding his back as he stepped out to meet the mare his senses had identified.

"Prince Gel." Starry beamed in delight. Twinkle pushed gently and greeted him too. "My Prince!"

"Twinkle, it is great to see you both, what has you in such a happy mood?" Gel was walking toward them, ready to make his way downstairs with his little passengers.

"We have a new maid working here. I talked to Sunny Days yesterday, she seemed like she was lost, and with her partner working here too it was the perfect deal!" Twinkle practically pranced along, her horn lit as she remade the bed in a hurry. Starry added, "And she was already settled here… although I heard what happened in court yesterday, I don't think that nice changeling will be in the vampony's good graces."

"Please did what she had to, that might be part of the problem for Mademoiselle, too. She knows that Please did that to save Sunset, but she still made Maddie face some uncomfortable questions, in public." Gel got nearly to the bottom of the stairs and then paused. "There are ten more stairs than when I went to bed."

"The castle is alive!" Starry giggled. "Can't you feel it, Castle of Friendship, I think, is more than just an empty title." She lifted a hoof and gently stroked the crystal wall at her side. Twinkle leaned them in a little more and kissed the stone. "It's amazing…"

Gel looked at the odd dichotomic mare. "You are a lot more active, today." He reached out a hoof to Starry and gently drew her into a hug. He felt that she was mildly uncomfortable with it. "Twinkle I mean. I was afraid you might be… fading."

Twinkle took full control and leaned into the hug, she pressed teary eyes against Gel's slick side. "I didn't think anypony noticed. I was… I felt useless, weak, a burden." Starry was in shock at the strong reactions from her best friend. You aren't useless, Twinkle. Every day you help me with little tasks, I would be sad and alone if you were gone.

The tears grew and soon both foals on Gel's back started to sob too. The moment the first little whimper came from Apple Seed, Twinkle jerked back and blinked, fighting to stop her tears. "Twinkle, let's go and get breakfast and we can talk more. These two will be all smiles again with some more ponies around."

Twinkle ceded control to Starry, leaving the unicorn to try to deal with tear cleanup. "Sorry, Prince Gel-"

"Stop that, Gel is fine, Starry, particularly when I am giving hugs. If you want to be formal most of the time, that is fine, but I care about you two." The two started to walk towards the kitchen, Starry hastily trying to dry her eyes. Neither foal had broken into full tears and, together, they had managed to regain a happier disposition.

Sunny was waiting for them as they entered. "The breakfast menu." She levitated a neat little scroll with three items on it. "Of course, if you want something specially made, Sunset would be happy to try."

A voice shouted from the kitchen, "Sunset would do more than just try!" It was, of course, Sunset Shimmer.

"Waffles sound good, and two bottles for the little ones. Twi is going to be busy today… do we have enough milk for them?" Gel reached around with a hoof, retrieving first Apple, then Winged.

"Of course." Sunny beamed, her disposition practically lighting up the room. "I will get it all. Are you eating now?" She looked to Starry, seeing the tear-streaks. "I'll get you one of everything."

Rainbow was up and rolled from her bed at the sound of knocking. Stumbling along, stretching one wing with each step she took, she froze as Cuddles was opening the door before she got there. "Hey, Squirt, who is it?"

"Dash, darling, you absolutely must come with us." Rarity's wings were fluttering, the butterfly-like creations were keeping the diamond dog from crashing through the cloud. "A full day at the spa, we are going to work on our Nightmare Night costumes."

"Oh! Nightmare Night!" Cuddles started bouncing, proving that foalish excitement was still adorable, even in a changeling. "My mommy used to take me out for that!"

"That astronaut one was cool, but I had the best idea for this year!" Rainbow couldn't help but be shaken from morning doldrums, not with her friend and her filly this excited. Then a tingle of happiness hit her. Her filly.

"Can I come?" Cuddles bounced over to Rainbow, giving her new parent the biggest, most adorable and irresistible puppy eyes ever.

"No need." Twilight pranced in, giving Rarity a wink. "Gel is going to be working on his own, and some costumes for our little ones. I am sure if you asked Muffins she could take you down and you could all work on them together."

Staggering from the master bedroom, Muffins quickly pulled a halter off her head and tossed it out of sight. Twilight and Rarity had both seen it, however. "Better get cleaned up then!" She managed a little perky attitude before a yawn betrayed her. "Mmm, maybe we both have a shower." Without another word she bumped the bathroom door open with her head and disappeared from sight.

"Yay!" Cuddles pronked down the hall and followed Muffins into the bathroom.

"Who's next?" Rainbow Dash looked at her friends. There was a tingle, a feeling. It was going to be the whole gang back together. Hijinks will surely ensue… and maybe a chance for a fun little prank.

"Pinkie? Fluttershy? Applejack?" Rarity counted their remaining friends off on her fingers, marveling at how quickly she had grown used to doing such things.

"Aren't I supposed to change back?" Shining Armor sat at breakfast, Cadance at his side. Between them were two foals. She was currently watching as Flurry Heart was 'helping' feed Night Amore, it basically meant that instead of half of her own food ending up on her, it ended up on both of them.

"Do you want to change back?" Cadance held Night's bottle steady, despite her filly's attempts to replace it with the food meant for the older girl. "If you do, I think you would."

It was an accusation, Shining felt, but the problem was it also felt true. "I don't think I know. That was… an intense experience… having a foal." She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, forcing herself to think back. "Becoming an alicorn… would I even be one if I became a stallion again? Do you miss me being a stallion?" It would be easy to dump the decision on Cadance, Shining didn't want to, but part of her rebelled against the lack of a decision not to be a mare. It felt strange, but that was how it worked. She didn't not want to be a mare, but she thought she should.

"We have the spell still. I can cast it on another, I could cast it on you for a night." Cadance grinned as she lifted some warm porridge up to her own mouth daintily. "Or me. But next time we keep an eye on our times, okay?"

"Do you want more foals?" Shining felt what she hoped would be a chill go down her spine, instead it was a warm tingle. She muttered her thoughts just a bit too softly for Cadance to hear.

"What was that?" Cadance's eyes narrowed on her wife, she felt the truth of the matter was in those words.

Shining Armor took her time. She felt out the words, twice, before she took the breath to say them. "I want another foal, Cadie. Not just with you, but by you." The moment she said the words she felt her heart lift, it was the answer she had been searching for, given in a way that made sense to both of them.

Cadance smiled over their foals at Shining Armor, they both instinctively leaned in and their lips met. A flood of love poured between them as the two famous lovers renewed their bond.

Author's Note

Rarity strode out, her fluffy white fur catching the lights of the stage to amazing effect, leaving her with a golden halo around her form. She looked angry. "If that dog, or any other, did that to another mare I am sure we would have heard about it before now. I will be looking into it, I am not completely without my connections." There was a glint in the the diamond dog's eyes that she never had before as a pony, that spoke of a potential for less lady-like behavior, in the right circumstances.

So I do this "Ask x" thing, x can be any pony within the story. You can ask them anything and ~~I~~ they will definitely hopefully reply. Keep the questions appropriate to the age-rating of the stories and of course, ~~I~~ They will answer the best question(s) in the author notes of the next chapter. The more votes a comment has the more likely I will get it to the right pony to answer, try and keep it to one answer per post! ~~I~~ They will pick one question per chapter.

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