Jubilee was not one to sit on an idea. "Did you hear?" From atop her wagon, she began to spread the good word, to the amazement of ponies through the town. "A herd, for the common people." She fanned herself lightly. "Isn't it charming?"

Few were the ponies willing to directly counter her claims. She was the most singularly powerful pony in town. "Why, they even asked me to be their matriarch, not directly, of course." She fluttered her lashes. "I'm not joining, but if they need help, they can come running to me for help. It's so nice to see younger ponies willing to respect their elders." She was laying clear lines in the sand. To cross the herd was to cross her, if one dared.

"It's lovely, a new family." She clasped her hooves under her chin. "I hear they're getting married official-like soon. I'll be giving them away." If the town hadn't been aware of their family, Cherry was busy making sure it'd be impossible to remain ignorant. "Will you be there? They'd love to have their community with them." That it also meant she would want them there didn't need to be said out loud. What wasn't said could be heard just as clearly as what was. "I'll be catering the event."

"Hm? No." She shook her head. "I'm not cooking for it. What do I look like?" She laughed at the very idea. "I mean I'll be paying to make sure it's catered with all kinds of tastiness. You don't want to miss that, now do you?"

The effect was felt by all of them quickly. Maple was confused when she brought her barrels of sweet stuff to market. "Congratulations!" one pony told her with a big smile.

"Didn't know us little ponies could even do that," noted another, scratching at her cheek. "What's it like?"

"Don't you get any ideas." The stallion with her nudged that mare away, lest she get any herding notions.

Maple was just trying to sell her sweet syrup... "Got fresh supplies. Get 'em while they're at their best!" Not that maple syrup went bad that quickly, sealed up, but that was not the point of marketing!

"Hey, Maple." A lanky stallion was smiling at her. "I didn't even know you were available, let alone like that. Wish you'da told me."

Maple perked one ear up, the other going to the side. "Told you... what exactly?"

He shrugged like it was no big deal. "That you woulda been happy as a second mare. I woulda invited ya."

Maple knew him. Nice enough pony, but she had no interest in him beyond that. "Uh... thanks? You talk to your lady before makin' that kind of offer? Reckon she'd be somethin' irate if she heard." She nudged one of her smaller jars of maple forward. "Ya could smooth it over with some maple syrup!"

He paled, called out. "O-oh, um, you wouldn't!" But Maple was smiling at him, and not answering. "Uhm..." Well, one way to get her to be quiet... He snatched a jar. "I'll take this." Bits were exchanged. "Ya have a good day now."

"Thanks fer stoppin' by!" She waved as he made himself scarce. "Daft pony..."

She was far from the only one to notice the attention. Winter was strolling through town, a new experience, being allowed to just... wander. He wasn't a secret anymore, so there was no harm in it, in theory. He played with the children that were curious about him, smiled (mutedly) at the adults, and just enjoyed existing as-- "That's something else." He turned to the voice to see two stallions chatting, watching him. "Two mares, at once. I don't think I could even handle it."

The smaller of the two nodded at Winter. "How do you do it? One mare's already more than enough."

The larger nudged the smaller. "Well, he's already half a mare!" At least in appearance. Kirin males were feminine by pony standards, and Winter had this turned up to 11. "Maybe it's just like hangin' with friends?"

The smaller blinked with wide eyes. "Is that it?! That kinda makes sense. I'm a bit jealous now!"

Winter wandered over towards the two curiously, ornate ears directed at them silently, save for the sound of his steps on the dirt.

The smaller male waved at Winter. "Hey. No offense or nothin'. Just curious, ya know?"

"Goes fer me too." The larger shrugged softly. "That ain't fer me. Got one girl, pleased as punch with 'er, wouldn't trade her in fer anythin', even two mares. But it still makes ya think."

"A lot," gushed the smaller with a silly smile. "Is this a kirin thin'?"

Winter paused, considering that. Was it a kirin thing? He... didn't think so, but he also didn't know. Hm. He shrugged gently, as much an answer as he could give. He offered a cloven hoof towards them. It was met with a clop and a clop, either of them thrusting a hoof to join. There was no animosity there at that moment.

The smaller laughed. "He's a friendly thing. Um..." He leaned off to the left a bit. "Sorry fer askin'." His voice dropped to a rough whisper. "But ah gotta know... Ya... like a girl, ya know, where it counts?"

The larger swatted at him. "Now that's not a polite question." But he still looked to Winter. "But he did already ask..." He clearly wasn't opposed to hearing the answer.

Winter blushed, just faintly. It was obvious to him what they were asking, but how would one even answer that, without words? He could... show them? That seemed incredibly inappropriate. That he was actually... He was coloring more and more as he thought about it.

The smaller waved his hoofs wildly. "Sorry! Wasn't tryin' to poke fun, jus' curious, ya know?"

Winter raised a hoof, then the other, tracing a heart as his horn glowed, painting the air with it. He wasn't mad at the two stallions, even as he struggled to think of how to reply. Ah! He made a line in the ground. He made another line in the ground a small distance away, about the right length for... that. He pointed at it.

The larger whistled, taking his turn to color. "Yer kiddin'!"

"What?!" The smaller bounced in place, clearly amazed. "Ya saved all yer stallion fer that one place!" He clapped his hooves against his cheek. "That's a right clever idea."

Winter smiled gently. He had communicated, and the two hadn't reacted with jealousy. In fact, it seemed, to him, they were quite friendly, if a little nosey. He didn't mind that. He pointed at the little one and inclined his head curiously.

"Hm? Oh. Are ya askin' mah name?" Winter nodded softly. "Ten Gallon." He tipped his hat, all ten gallons of it, at Winter.

"Sure Shot." The larger nodded. "Nice to meet ya. Winter was it?" Winter nodded quickly. "So, ya want to hang out with the guys, or you more a lady's stallion?"

Winter sat on his haunches in front of them.

Ten Gallon laughed, moving around to throw a hoof at Winter in a playful punch. "That sure sounds like he wants to hang out to me!"

"Then ya should meet the others." Sure Shot was turning away. "We got a card game later. Bet you got a real mean poker face."

Winter had made new friends, outside of his direct family.

Summer arrived at her place on the line to find something new there. A pillow. A big soft pony-sized pillow. "What's this doin' here?" She pointed at it accusingly. "Gonna get in the way ah things."

Another mare shook her head. "It's fer you, silly." She burst into giggles. "Expecting mares need to take the weight off their hooves."

Summer began to glow. All eyes were on her. They knew. They all knew! "I'm not delicate!" She threw the pillow free with a toss of her neck. "Ah'll stand jus' like everypony else and ah'll still beat y'all in accuracy."

"Except Winter," noted a stallion one row up.

"Except him." She glared at her partner, but that expression lightened quickly. It was hard to be angry at him for too long. He didn't put the pillow there... "Either which way! We got work tah do and ah plan to get it done!" She would stand for no special treatment on account of her condition. It wasn't like Equestrian mares really had to slow down until the time was upon them anyway.

Not that this did much to stop the ribbing, and the questions. Did she have a naming dream yet? How many foals was it?! Was Winter the father? Summer dutifully failed to answer any of those. Perhaps in spite, she had her best day, sorting as never she had before. The cherries for those past her on the line were slim pickings, as she didn't allow many to get past her.

"Good job, everypony." Jubilee was walking along as things winded down. "A right fine day." She stopped though, in front of Summer. "Ya got a minute?"

That was a false question. For Cherry, there was always a minute. "Of course, ma--" A hoof was pressed to Summer's mouth. She shied back away from it. "Mom?"

"There's more like it." Jubilee looked all too pleased at the title. "We have a wedding to plan." Whistles and cheers echoed from those still close enough to hear it. "Now, I have your size, and Winter's, but not Maple's. Could you fetch her sizes for me?"

Summer blinked at that. "What do ya need her sizes fer? Or ours?!"

Jubilee twirled a hoof slowly. "Fer yer dresses an' things? 'Course." She snorted as if that had been quite obvious. "No children of mine are tying the knot in less than the best. Get me her sizes, kindly, so I can make that happen. Ah, and a list of any family members you need contacted that don't live in town." She leaned in. "I assume ya can tell the ones livin' right here 'bout it on yer own."

"That... goes for Maple too, I assume?" Summer felt confident it wouldn't apply to Winter, who had no family that he wasn't about to marry in the very ceremony he would be inviting them to. That would not work... "Wait, hold, back up... Why are you talking like you're--"

"--Because I am," answered Jubilee before the question could be asked. "Now sit back and let me handle all the fuss. You just have to show up, smile, and enjoy that special day." Jubilee's voice dropped for a whisper, "An' if you could aim the flowers in my direction, ah'll owe ya one." She winked with proper flair at the idea. "Wouldn't mind a little luck finding my special pony. Not that ah'm hurtin' fer family." She threw her hooves wide. "Got a whole building of special dears right here, an' one of 'ems gettin' married!"

A new round of cheers, though much quieter. Most of the others had left. The day's shift was over. Winter had joined Summer, standing at her side in the quiet way he was in the habit of. Jubilee poked him with a smirk. "Now, ah'm expectin' ya want a right smart tux, but, jus' to check..." Her eyes wandered over his female curves. "Ya don't want a dress, do ya? 'Cause if ya do, ah'm gonna make that happen, so jus' be honest with me."

Summer scooted between Winter and Cherry. "A tuxedo will do jus' fine!" she got out hastily. "He's a stallion, not a mare."

Cherry shrugged at that. "Wouldn't even be the first stallion ah met that don't like a tux, jus' checkin'. Now, you two go on home. Ya did good today." She casually smooched either on the forehead, even if one of them was looking a bit prickly. "See you bright an early in the 'morrow!"

Winter nudged against Summer, guiding her towards the door. They had a home to return to.

Author's Note

Winter made friends, yay! Cherry had way too much fun.

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