Bookends Part 3: Or Family Values

It was into the eleventh month of Twilight and Cheerilee’s pregnancy.

Trixie awoke and first noticed her marehood was tingling in a very pleasant way, also her nipples were tender from intimate stimulation.

Then she noticed the feeling of some warm pony pressing up against her from behind with a foreleg draped over her and their hind legs intertwined, they were in the classic ‘spooning’ position. She also felt the pony in bed with her was awake and was gently kissing her neck and ear. It was a very pleasant way to wake up.

But what she felt most was her heart, it was lighter that it’d ever been. There was a joy at such a deep level, it was almost unbelievable. An emotion she’d never felt before.

‘So this is love,’ thought Trixie.

She felt all this all in an instant. At the same time, the memories of intense lovemaking came pouring back to her.

In the past, Trixie had given herself to stallions and to mares from time to time. It had all been cases she was using them for a good time and vice a versa.

Now this was so much better than the old waking up alone after a night of gratuitous and meaningless sex. Or herself sneaking out in the early morning after getting her ‘jollies’ without any real attachment or commitment. She’d never realized just how alone she really felt, even when surrounded by other ponies.

But after last night she discovered there really was a difference between having sex and making love. She could tell from Pinkie’s reactions and technique she’d never done this before. Trixie marveled at how quick a learner Pinkie was, it must be the Changeling in her.

Trixie’s then considered something she’d never given any credence to in the past. She remembered talks from her mother about purity as a gift to that special somepony. Now Trixie regretted she wasn’t able to have given Pinkie her chastity like Pinkie had just given to Trixie. But with the absolute difference in what she’d done in the past and what she’d experienced last night, she was sure her mother would’ve been willing to concede, she may not have given Pinkie the virginity of her body, but she’d given Pinkie the virginity of her heart…

Which was perhaps better.

Trixie turned over and looked tenderly at Pinkie. They spontaneously kissed.

“Good morning, Sweet Trixie,” said Pinkie holding Trixie tightly, “I want you to know I’ve known love all my life. It’s been what’s nourished and sustained me in a real way.

Then I learned about love between family and friends, which we don’t feel in the Changeling Hive, not the same way you ponies do. And that’s something I now never want to loose.

But until last night, I didn’t know what love was truly all about.

Your love nourished me in a way I’d never known before. But there was more, so very much more. I’ve never felt in the act of absorbing love, the presence of the pony’s spirit, their very heart and soul. I only wish you could feel how I perceive love. That way you’d know I was doing something no member of The Hive, from the queen on down, could ever understand. I was returning the same love back to you.”

“I love you too,” said Trixie with a smile. “And I don’t have to be a Changeling to feel the love you’re giving me, then and now. I’m so lucky to have a marefriend that truly understands love.”

“You’d want me as your marefriend?” asked Pinkie, thrilled and mystified.

Trixie’s answer was another deep and passionate kiss. Then she snuggled closer to the pink pony.

“Pinkie Sweetie,” said Trixie stroking Pinkie’s mane, “I’ve never felt this way for anypony, ever. You may be the Changeling, but I’m the pony that’s been transformed. You’ve taught me what love really is as well. Yes, I’d love it if you’d allow me be your marefriend. I want to be with you and whatever becomes of you, it’ll be my fate as well.”

“You don’t know how touched I am,” said Pinkie, a tear in her eye, “I’ve had friends who’ve loved me as a friend, and that’s been so special. But I was resigned to the idea that I could never have a pony to really love because of who and what I am.”

“Pinkie,” said Trixie, “who and what you are is a very special pony. I only wish there were more ponies like you. Ones who, unlike how I’ve been in the past, think of others so far above themselves. A pony that’s willing to give all. I’ve only met maybe one other pony like that.”

“Twilight Sparkle,” said Pinkie smiling.

“Yes, My Love,” said Trixie sheepishly.

“What’s wrong?”

“I was so jealous of her and her power,” said Trixie, “I went overboard trying to ‘one up’ her. So much so I put my very soul in jeopardy.”

“The Alicorn Amulet,” said Pinkie with a chuckle.

“What’s so funny,” asked Trixie, not sure if she should be hurt.

“I was so surprised nopony noticed when you removed my muzzle, I didn’t suffocate. You didn’t leave me any way to breathe.”

“I never thought of that!” exclaimed Trixie, “how did you?”

“Changeling, remember,” laughed Pinkie, “our bodies work differently from yours. You only changed how I looked, not how I am. I had to play along.”

“Well, after last night,” said Trixie with a sly smile and reaching out to gently rub Pinkie’s marehood, “I’m glad some things are the same.”

“I am too,” said Pinkie trembling at the stimulation, then she gave Trixie another deep kiss, “and as much as I’d really like to continue, I’ve got something which needs to be done.”

“We’ve got something which needs to be done,” said Trixie, “I need to tell the Pies we’re going to take care of this.”

They got out of the bed then Trixie stopped, she had an odd look on her face;

“By the way, and I know it probably isn’t important, but if we’re to remain close, and I hope to Celestia and Luna we do, I want to know the real you.”

“What do you mean?”

“What’s your name?” asked Trixie, “your real name?”

Pinkie looked at Trixie slightly amused. Not at the question but she’d been ‘Pinkie’ for so long, she’d almost forgotten her name.

“You might think our names are funny,” said Pinkie blushing, “but my Changeling name is Phantasm.”

“I understand,” said Trixie, “like an apparition somepony isn’t sure of the shape or form.”

Pinkie smiled, touched her fore hoof to the tip of her muzzle to show that Trixie was correct. Then Pinkie kissed Trixie, and led her out of the silo to do what they needed to do.

Pinkie knew her friends liked to meet for breakfast on Thursday mornings before the library opened. She and Trixie headed straight to Ponyville after letting Igneous Rock and Cloudy Quartz know Trixie was going to be with her while she talked to her friends.

The Pies were thrilled to find out Pinkie and Trixie were starting to be romantically involved. They too had been unsure if their ‘daughter’ could ever find real love because of her situation.

As they got to the library, the closed sign was on the door, but they could hear voices inside. Pinkie froze; there was a look of deep concern and even fear on her otherwise pleasant face.

“I’m afraid,” said Pinkie, almost like the little foal was speaking from out of the past.

“I’m here with you no matter what,” said Trixie, giving Pinkie one more kiss. “My love will sustain you, it always will.”

Pinkie looked in Trixie’s eyes, she did find strength to go on. The two lovers shared a smile.

Pinkie opened the door, all eyes were on her and everypony smiled as she entered, it had been several months since they’d seen their friend.

“Pinkie!” they all called out.

But then most faces changed to curious or concern as Trixie followed her in.

However, they did notice there was something different about Trixie other than the obvious lack of cape and hat. The look on her face spoke volumes about a changed pony.

“What’s Trixie doing here?” asked Rainbow Apple.

“I was sure you wouldn’t mind if I brought my marefriend with me,” said Pinkie working up a smile as she thought of how much Trixie now meant to her.

Trixie smiled at the designation.

In the silence that followed, you could have knocked anypony of them over with a Pegasus feather.

But Twilight was the first to smile and approach. She hugged Pinkie, and then to her shock, she hugged Trixie and congratulated them and told them how happy she was for her friends. The rest of the ponies followed Twilights example and congratulated the two ponies.

“I’m here for more than sharing my good news,” said Pinkie, her looks becoming concerned, “can we sit?”

The ponies looked at each other and found places to sit. Trixie sat close to Pinkie and held her hoof, to the amusement of many.

“Over the last few months before I went away, many of you may’ve noticed I’d been acting strangely, well stranger than I normally do.”

Ponies chuckled, Pinkie smiled.

“It started when Applejack and Rarity became a couple over two years ago. I did know about it as it happened, but out of respect, I said nothing. It wasn’t my place to do so. And how I knew you’ll understand in a moment.

Then it started to get harder for me when Twilight and Cheerilee became in love, followed by Fluttershy and Loki, finally, Rainbow and Big Mac.”

Pinkie paused, took another deep breath.

“Ponies have always wondered how I could get places faster than the fastest flyer in Ponyville…”

“Equestria,” interrupted Rainbow.

“Equestria,” conceded Pinkie with a smile, “how I’m able to show up in odd and unexpected places. How I can hang upside-down in the air for several moments and for no apparent reason. Eat an entire cake in one bite. Or be gone as soon as I walk out a door.”

Many ponies had wondered this but had always attributed it to; ‘Pinkie Pie is just being Pinkie Pie’.

“I’m sure you’ve heard or read about the body of the pony found by Trixie on my parent’s rock farm.”

There were nods and comments of acknowledgment, Pinkie continued.

“Let me tell you a story;

None of us can forget the attempt by Queen Chrysalis and the Changelings to take over Canterlot at Twilight’s brother’s wedding. Well, it wasn’t a spur of the moment decision by Queen Chrysalis.

It started about seventeen years ago. At that time there were scouts sent to find the best place to start an invasion of Equestria.

There was one scout, a very young Changeling named Phantasm, she was on her first mission away from The Hive. She’d been sent beyond the outskirts of Ponyville because she was still very young and the leaders had reasons not to put her into too much danger.

While looking around, she was discovered by a little filly. Phantasm was concerned because she was told if discovered, she’d be captured, tortured and killed.

But the only thing the little filly wanted to do was to talk and play. Play is something unknown to the Changeling Hive. Needless to say, Phantasm was intrigued.

As they were interacting, they wandered by a formation of rocks. A large boulder at that moment came loose and started to fall. Phantasm saw it and froze in fear, but the filly, with no concern for her own safety, pushed Phantasm out of the way. Phantasm was saved; the filly was caught under the rock.”

Pinkie's eyes were welling up with tears, Trixie took Pinkie’s hoof in both her fore hooves, there were tears in her eyes as well.

“When the filly pushed Phantasm, it startled her. A defensive reaction by Changelings, when startled, they take the form of something or somepony in the area. You may not know this but when a Changeling changes form and is in contact with the pony, the Changeling absorbs the thoughts, memories and even the personality of the pony being copied. It’s how they’re able to fool a loved one and steal love.

Phantasm heard the filly’s mother approaching and was about to flee the area but she realized the little filly really did care about the safety of a total stranger...

No, not a stranger; an alien.

Then Phantasm felt the love of the family, the love of friends. She felt the filly’s joy for life, most strongly, the recent appearance of her cutie mark when she’d opened her family to joy. She knew right then how devastated the filly’s family would be when it would be discovered the filly perished being someplace she’d been repeatedly warned not to be.

Out of love for life and her fellow pony, the filly gave up everything including her life for the Changeling, so the Changeling decided right there she needed to do the same.”

All the ponies looked confused and concerned, Fluttershy looked scared.

Pinkie looked at Trixie, Trixie nodded her head. Pinkie let go of Trixie’s hooves, stood up and walked into the center of everypony. There were tears in her eyes, which were falling to the floor, and it wasn’t un-noticed.

“I’m sorry for deceiving you all these years, please know that everything...

Everything I’ve always done has been honest. And the love for my friends has been real.”

“What are you saying Pinkie?” asked Twilight.

“When in the Changing battle I told the Changeling who’d taken my form I’d seen better...

It wasn’t a joke,” said Pinkie.

There was the now familiar green flash around Pinkie. It cleared and there stood Phantasm.

“I saw it in the mirror every day.”

All the ponies gasped, they were only used to Changelings being aggressive and having evil motives. But here stood one who just confessed to being their friend for years.

“I told you Rainbow,” said Phantasm, “I always wished my wings were as pretty as yours.

Please, please don’t hate me everypony.”

Phantasm lowered her head, sat back on her haunches and started to weep hard. Trixie rushed to Phantasm who buried her face against Trixie’s neck as Trixie held her tight.

“Trixie!” said Rainbow, “don’t you see what she is!”

“Yes Rainbow, I see very clearly.” said Trixie annoyed at Rainbow’s narrow-mindedness. She also knew it was sadly the same thing she’d have thought before love for this pony opened her mind;

“I see a noble pony who gave up everything...

Everything, including her life for other ponies. Ponies she didn’t even know.

You can understand that Twilight, can’t you?” asked Trixie.

Twilight understood Trixie was referring to her sacrifice she made and was willing to make for Cheerilee and Rain Shadow.

“She came here knowing her friends, whom she loves, may turn her away and even hate her.

Hate has the opposite effect as love on Changelings. Your feelings could kill her.

Yet out of love and respect she came here to tell you why she’d been acting the way she had. Knowing she could lose the ones she loves, even at the cost of her life.

As each of you became involved with another pony, your love was channeled to that pony and less to your friends.

Pinkie was starting to starve for love, literally.

She could’ve tricked somepony and stole love. But she is Pinkie Pie. She’s your friend and she decided you deserved the truth with all that’s happened.”

Trixie nuzzled Phantasm to comfort her. Trixie’s tears flowed in sympathy of the pony she now loved. None of the ponies gathered ever thought they’d see Trixie show true emotion for anypony other than herself;

“And because of her heart, I love her of my own free will. I love Pinkie and I love Phantasm.”

“What of Pinkie’s parents?” asked Fluttershy.

“They’ve known from almost the very start. They love her now as if she was their real daughter. They know she isn’t their Pinkamena, but she’s their Pinkie. You have to understand, so much of Pinkamena was absorbed, it’s as if the filly lives on as part of her.

And it could be argued she does.”

There was a silence, then;

“I... I don’t know what to say,” said Rarity, “has it really been you all these years?”

Phantasm looked at the white Unicorn and tried to smile.

“Since before you put paste in my mane in first grade, thinking it would hold the mane style better,” said Phantasm.

Rarity gasped, there was no way anypony could have known such a minor detail unless actually there.

“Pinkie Darling,” said Rarity, “it is you!”

Phantasm changed back to Pinkie.

“Yes Rarity,” said Pinkie. “It’s always been me.”

“Wait!” said Rainbow, “I know nopony other than the real Pinkie could answer this! The first pony I ever kissed was in the third grade, what was the colt’s name?”

“I’m not a colt,” said Pinkie with an odd smile, the tears stopping.

“Pinkie?!” exclaimed Trixie, Twilight, Cheerilee, Applejack and Rarity together looking at Rainbow.

“I thought you said you don’t go in for mares,” said Cheerilee laughing.

“Oh Sweet Celestia!” exclaimed Rainbow blushing, “you really are Pinkie Pie! I’ve never told anypony.”

There was a rush to hug Pinkie and Trixie. The fact their hyper friend was a Changeling no longer mattered. This was the same pony they’d always loved. They were starting to feel guilty for not showing their ‘unattached’ friend more attention. Especially now they realized just how much Pinkie had depended on the love from her friends.

And with the genuine love and caring for Pinkie, Trixie was now showing, it was easy to look past Trixie’s old actions as well.

Pinkie could feel more love aimed at her, but with the intense romantic love from Trixie, she knew it wouldn’t be necessary, but it still felt good.

Trixie was ecstatic, love had freed her heart and now it had opened the door to acceptance from ponies she’d once been at odds with, it felt so nice. In one day Trixie now had a pony to love and friends.

“Quite a pony you’ve got there Trixie,” said Applejack with a smile of acceptance.

Suddenly Twilight and Cheerilee backed away from the group, looked at each other and cried out.

“OH!”

All the ponies looked at the two as they sank to the floor on their haunches, their forelegs across their abdomen. It was noticed they were sitting in an expanding puddle of fluid.

“Both?” Said Fluttershy. “At the same time?”

“Ohmygosh!Ohmygosh!Ohmygosh!Ohmygosh!” exclaimed Rainbow, “the foals are coming!”

“Get Spike to send the letter to Canterlot,” said Twilight.

“Somepony needs to get the ambulance,” said Cheerilee.

“I’ll go,” said Pinkie.

“No offence Pinkie,” said Rainbow, “but we need to be fast.”

Pinkie went to the door; changed back to Phantasm, spread her wings and smiled.

“Just try and keep up Dashie!” taunted Phantasm.

Phantasm took off like a shot.

“Oh yeah!” exclaimed Rainbow, she grinned and flew off after her.

“Trixie, I think you’ve started somethin’,” laughed Applejack.

“That’s my girl,” Trixie snickered, the ponies with her looked at her and smiled at the level of affection Trixie was showing.

“Let’s get Twilight and Cheerilee off the floor and make them comfortable,” said Trixie.

Twilight was amazed how gentle Trixie’s magic was in helping her to a sofa, Fluttershy had retrieved some towels to protect the furniture from the two leaking mares.

“I think this is what Tia meant by consequences of the linked minds,” said Cheerilee quietly to Twilight, “our pregnancies became somehow synchronized.”

Twilight just smiled and held Cheerilee’s hoof as the next contraction hit both mares at the same time.