Five rapid knocks softly pattered at the base of the doorway getting everypony’s attention. Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, Silver Spoon, and Diamond Tiara had returned in the interim and were playing with Snickers, running and laughing until the knocks were heard. Rarity hopped to her hooves and pranced to the door, opening it quickly to allow the unicorn colt to enter swiftly and stand over the interior welcome mat as she closed and locked the door.

“Oh, darling… you’re covered with sut and mud everywhere. May I clean you up in the bath since the water simply won’t be enough?”

Azi nodded weakly. “Thank you for you kindness in helping me in my time of need. You are most generous indeed.”

Rarity hesitated and chose not to hug him, even though she dearly wished to do so. “Oh, you’re just precious, aren’t you? I’m going to pick you up in my magic, okay? Then upstairs to a bath.”

Azi nodded and was lifted with ease. His eyes widened and he kicked his legs sending sut around the bottom of Rarity’s magical field. The foals ran around Rarity and Azi. “What’s with his legs?” Diamond Tiara asked.

“Why’s he so dirty?” “Oh no, is that a cut?” “His eye is swolled.” “His hair is super gross, can you wash it out?” “Where’s he from?” “Why was he with that meanie?”

The group looked at Pinkie wearing a fireman’s cap and holding a waterhose. Rarity gasped. “Pinkie! Don--” She screamed just before a wide spray of water slammed her and everypony else into the wall and into the door that stayed closed only because of the lock and enchantments related to it. The water washed them all and when it ended they all landed in a sopping mess.

Before Rarity could scream her disapproval, she realized Pinkie now had a styled mane that seemed to shape an ocean’s wave and was holding a hair dryer larger than a sofa. Hot air blew over the entire group, drying them and the floor in only seconds leaving them all clean, groomed, styled like they were, and with a minty taste in their mouths.

“There ya go, all cleaned and ready for introductions!” Pinkie shouted throwing the dryer into a changing room with a loud crash of what sounded like dishes and the angry noise of a cat rawring.

Rarity, while stunned and stumbling, walked towards Pinkie and tried to poke the mare in the chest. “You…” she seethed.

“Me! And everypony else, and my new friend!” Pinkie shouted and reared up throwing her hooves wide sending confetti and streamers around. “Hi, I’m Pinkie Pie; you’re new friend! I’d say bestest, but I think that’s gonna be covered soon by a certain main character in a certain story that we all know. I’m gonna have a party in your honor and you have to be there because it’s your welcome to Ponyville party and there’ll be games and cake, and punch, and balloons, and streamers, and friends, and fun, and even Zecora!”

Azi, while looking at his, oddly literally, sparkling clean -brown- forelegs and side, snapped his attention to Pinkie. “Auntie Zecora? I have only heard of her, she lives in this town?”

Everypony else stopped looking at themselves and each other now looked at the colt with wide eyes. “Wow,” Sweetie Belle said breathily, “what is he?”

“Gorgeous.” Apple Bloom said breathily.

Snickers, feeling a little jealous at the reactions of the fillies, still looked over the new colt. Rarity walked beside Pinkie and looked Azi over. “Oh, my. He’s a zony! Half pony, half zebra… I never thought I’d meet one. Oh, listen to me; speaking as though you’re some kind of ‘it’ and not a living creature.” Rarity facehoofed. “That’s just as bad, I’m so sorry.”

“It is not trouble, mare of white. My name is Kiwe and we are all quite a sight. The pink one seems to be a witch with powers most bold… uh…” Kiwe glanced around in thought. “How’d you do that?”

Sweetie swooned and had to sit down, Apple Bloom swished her tail, and Silver Spoon moved to stand with her side against Snickers, nuzzling him. “You’re still mine, I hope,” Silver whispered to the blushing colt. Snickers was about to step away, but enjoyed the contact too much.

“Kiwe sound so romantic of a name,” Sweetie said blushing. Apple Bloom just smiled at the new colt.

“Girls, don’t act so crazy,” Scootaloo finally chimed in, “he’s just a colt. So what if he’s different, that’s what Ponyville is all about, right? He’s no different than… he doesn’t have a cutie mark!”

The other CmC fillies ran with Scootaloo to Kiwe’s rear and looked at both sides of his flank. “Do you get cutie marks?” “Do zebra get marks, or only those lines?” “What kinda mark can you get?” “Can ya go crusadin’ with us?” “How many stripes do you have?” “Are you brown with black stripes?” “Are you black with brown stripes?” “Why do you have a zebra color mane?” “Is your mom a zebra, or your dad?” “How many moms do you have?” “How many dads do you have?” “Where are you from?” “Why are you here?” “And I said, ‘Extra Cheese?! Are you loco in the coco?’”

The fillies looked behind them at Pinkie and then rolled their eyes. They looked back to Kiwe and all grinned. “So?” Scootaloo asked.

Kiwe gulped and backed away from them until he was beside Snickers and slightly back in a safe area. Snickers looked at the fillies. “Girls, chill out. Kiwe’s new and you’re scaring him. Think of what he’s probably been through, and the first thing he gets is sprayed like a prisoner,” he glared at Pinkie, “has his butt looked at by ponies he doesn’t know, and bombarded with questions in what’s supposed to be a safe place. Chill out or go home.”

The fillies looked sad and Pinkie pulled a cupcake from her mane. “Friends know when to stop, and we’ve been bad friends already. Here’s an apology cupcake, if you want it.”

Kiwe took a step forward and stood beside Snickers getting Sweetie Belle to swoon again before she had to lean against Apple Bloom, who was grinning at the colts. She turned to Scootaloo. “If ya don’t want’m, can I have him?”

Scootaloo stepped away and walked to Kiwe holding out a foreleg. “Hi, I’m Scootaloo. That’s Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle’s the one that’s going crazy over you. Snickers is the colt, Silver Spoon’s the filly that’s all over him. Diamond Tiara’s the filly standing besides Rarity and isn’t really into colts at all.

“Rarity’s the white mare and Pinkie’s the one that’s really random, but she’s cool. Welcome to Ponyville,” she concluded and grinned when his forehoof met hers.

“I am Azikiwe, I am from Manehattan and everywhere else as I have had quite the journey so far. One that is best told besides a fire and time to relax under an open sky.”

“Whew, so warm in here.” Sweetie sat down and fanned herself with her hoof while Apple Bloom grinned at the new colt, watching and listening to every word he spoke with rapt attention. “His accent is so dreamy, too.”

Kiwe took a step back and touched his side to Snickers’s. “Snickers, was it?” Snickers nodded to the colt beside him. “Perhaps you are the sane one of the group, besides Scooterloo?”

“My name’s Scootaloo, not Scooterloo. That sounds like I’d take my scooter into the bathroom, or something… and I only know ‘loo’ because Pipsqueak’s from Trottingham, so ask him about weird stuff like that, I’m not a dictionary, she is.” Scotoaloo pointed to Apple Bloom who pointed at Sweetie, who protested and started a moment of friendly bickering.

Rarity tittered. “Oh, Pinkie, isn’t this just grand to watch?”

Pinkie, holding a striped bucket of popcorn, nodded. “Yeah, too bad he didn’t take the cupcake. I have more, though.”

Kiwe looked around Snickers to the pink mare. “I would like one still, if it is within your will.”

Sweetie Belle fell to her side with a sigh. “Dreamiest colt ever.”

“Ugh, this is so lame and gross,” Diamond Tiara said walked between the others and standing beside Scootaloo. “I’m Diamond Tiara, you should get something to drink while these two,” she gestured to Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, “splash cold water under their tails. You’re cute, so get used to this happening around town.”

Snickers nodded. “Yeah, there’s only about twelve colts in town and seven stallions to about three hundred and fifty mares. And you’re exotic and have a horn, and can cast magic. That’s actually really cool, to be honest.”

Kiwe nodded. “Yes, back home I was teased for being different; across the nation, not so much. Thank you for the unforgettable welcome and I will do my best to be the guest I should be until I find my path.”

The fillies of the CmC grinned. “So, when you get your mark, you mean? Well, we happen to be a part of a very inclusive group of fillies and colts that are searching for our own marks,” Scootaloo waved Snickers over to stand between herself and Sweetie Belle. “We’re the… Cutiemark Crusaders, yeah!” Four hooves clacked when they met and Sweetie excused herself.

“I think I know what she’s getting,” Diamond Tiara said.

Silver Spoon bumped Diamond’s side. “Don’t be that way; you finally have friends and you should be nice to them, right?”

Kiwe walked to Rarity and bowed his head to her. “Again, I cannot thank you enough for taking me in. Anvil will surely not miss me and thanks to the pink one,” he looked at Pinkie and nodded when she waved at him, “I have not been cleaner in weeks. I appreciate everything you’ve done already and what you may do in the future to assist me. I am not intending to stay for free, however.”

Rarity tutted Kiwe. “Now, now. I’ll have no guest paying to stay, especially one in your circumstances. They are so similar to my little prince’s that I would just feel awful doing that to you.”

Kiwe smiled. “While I appreciate the idea, I will instead cook and maintain the kitchen while I stay. On my travels across the nations in search for my father, I have learned to cook, as is my dream. I have mastered many methods and cuisines, and regardless of what my mark may be, I’ll work to be the best chef in any and every way I can.”

Pinkie hopped into the air. “Yes! A new baker in town, we can have an Iron Chef contest during the Iron Pony contest and serve our meals at the end of the Running of the Leaves, I’ll call it Iron Chef Leaves.”

Kiwe looked at the Pink mare pronking in place. “I do not think the title works well, maybe we can both think on it for a spell?”

“Ohh, I like that idea! You and me, Kiwe,” Pinkie was beside him before he could understand how and was wearing a pair of Groucho glasses, a second pair she put on Kiwe’s muzzle and then she turned him to face her, their muzzles almost touching. “You and me are gonna go far kid, ya see?”

Kiwe nervously nodded as he looked in the intense and jovial eyes of Pinkie Pie.

“Great!” Pinkie quickly set Kiwe down and, in a single hop, reached a dressing room and backed in. “I’ll get a little party together for your Welcome to Ponyville party, the invitations are in the kitchen and you’re all invited! See you later, Rarity.”

Pinkie backed into the dressing room and Kiwe watched for a second before Scootaloo got his attention. “Don’t bother, she’s already on the other side of town, I bet.”

Kiwe looked at the filly, then started to point to the dressing room, stopping when every filly shook their head in unison and Snickers spoke up, “Don’t go, don’t look, don’t ask. Pinkie is Pinkie, just accept it and move on.”

Kiwe hesitantly nodded, glancing at the dressing room again. “Well, I would not mind cooking for the season, however, isn’t the change of seasons a little ways away?”

Silver nodded. “Yeah, but the Running of the Leaves happens in the Month of Earth, and that’s still almost a full month away.”

Snickers sighed. “That’s, like, 70 days… why do months take so long here?” He groaned. Snickers looked at Rarity who was in thought over something, so he let the thought slide away.

“Well, from my travels across the lands I have learned many skills from sands to sands. I desire to be all that I can, so I will do what I must to… do what I must…” Kiwe trailed off as he lost the rhyme.

Rarity sat and clapped her hooves. “That’s a fantastic goal, Kiwe. Just focus on what you love and you’ll always have a place. And, perhaps,” Rarity leaned closed but spoke loud enough for those in the room to hear, “you can teach my little sister to cook something without burning it.”

Scootaloo, Snickers, and Apple Bloom clapped their hooves together and looked at Kiwe with pleading eyes. Kiwe nervously chuckled. “Ah, well… I suppose it would be remiss of me to not help a filly in need.” Kiwe let out a choking sound when Rarity picked him up and hugged him tightly.

“Oh, if you can do that it would be the greatest gift you can give me,” Rarity gushed and set Kiwe down. “Why, a morning without charred cereal would be divine.”

Snickers cleared his throat. “Yeah, you do remember that she only cooks once a week, right?”

Rarity nodded. “Yes, and after all the pans I’ve lost, I’ve given her the task of cereal. Thanks to our mother’s influence, the poor dear cooks everything on the stove and in the oven. Something about undercooked meat in my mother’s teens, I believe,” Rarity tapped her chin in thought.

Kiwe turned back to his new group of friends and bowed low to them. “I hope you accept me into your friendship and can work with me in the times to come for the benefit of us all.”

Apple Bloom leaned close to Diamond Tiara, the nearest filly. “He sure is somethin’, ain’t he?”

Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes. “Sure, he’s okay. I really like his stripes and mane, though,” Diamond Tiara actually took a moment to look the new colt over and random thoughts skipped through her mind ending on what he’d look like in a skirt and leggings.

Silver Spoon, standing opposite Diamond Tiara from Apple Bloom noticed her friend’s expression. She took a second to glance around and when she notices she had a second, Silver Spoon lifted her right rear hoof and gently nudged Diamond’s leg so the filly lost her balance and train of thought.

“Silvie? What’d you do that for?” Diamond asked with a scowl and in a hushed whisper.

Silver leaned close and nudged her glasses up her muzzle. “You were looking at him like you used to me, and colts won’t do the same stuff with you, I bet.”

Diamond smiled maliciously. “Is that a bet? Because I’m willing to try to have a certain colt be the new you, since you left me.”

Silver Spoon gasped and gave Diamond a shove back and into Apple Bloom, who fell onto Snickers, who fell onto Scootaloo. Kiwe watched with shock and backed away from the pile of ponies and into Rarity, who let him hide behind one of her forelegs as the pile separated.

“Diamond, why’d ya go an’ tackle me?”

“I didn’t, Silver pushed me!”

“Why in tarnation would she do that?”

“Would you get off me? You’re heavier than I look.”

“Sorry, Snickers. Ah’ll help ya up.”

“I’m sorry, Diamond. I didn’t think before I pushed you, it was, like, totally random, honest.”

The group, having gotten back up, turned their attention to the beaming filly bounding down the stairs wearing a cape. “I’m back! Kiwe, look what I’m wearing! It’s the official Cutiemark Crusaders cape and when we swear you in then you can get one too,” Sweetie said stopping and grinning at Kiwe.

Looking her over, Kiwe checked the cape over. “It seems to be more of a cloak, unless I have misspoke.”

Sweetie blushed and giggled, and giggled, and giggled. Snickers stepped up and waved Rarity back. Stepping between the giggling filly, Snickers took a moment to point out the areas of the house and give the general rules. Sweetie finally stopped giggling and rushed to her friends before hiding her head under the cape to share their thoughts on the new colt.

Scootaloo ducked out quickly and moved by Snickers. “Hey, you’re new here and I guess you’ll be here for a few days before you can go out, or something, but I’ve gotta introduce you to Rainbow Dash, she’s the most awesome pony ever! She’s gonna be a wonderbolt and she’s pretty much my big sister, and she’s totally gonna teach me how to fly and I’ll probably start teaching lessons on flying when I get my mark, so don’t be upset if I get too busy to hang out in a couple weeks after I get mine.”

Snickers shook his head with a smile. “Yeah, so that’s the house and rules. That’s Scootaloo and she’s cool. I’ll give you the lowdown on everypony when we get more time, but for right now; I’m a bit antsy. Wanna go play?”

Kiwe grinned. “I would be most pleased to do so! What shall we play first? I hold an unfair advantage at most physical games, so I have rules of my own to follow when we begin, if they are needed.”

Sweetie stood behind Apple Bloom and nudged the farm filly forward. “Ah’m goin’! Quit rushin’ me. Kiwe, wanna play hide ‘n seek? Sweetie wants to hide ’n seek so ya can sniff us out,” she rolled her eyes and inhaled sharply when Sweetie tugged her tail. “Hey, Ah don’t care what we play, yer the one buggin’ me about it.” Sweetie whispered to her friend and Apple Bloom grumbled. “Snickers, can you-- ouch! Darn it, Sweetie Belle, you go tell ‘em, Ah’m not playin’ messenger fer ya.”

Silver and Diamond giggled while Scootaloo and Snickers smirked at the now exposed unicorn filly that was standing still with her eyes wide and watching Kiwe.

“Worry not, filly of white. You may speak with me, it will be alright,” Kiwe rhymed. Rarity giggled quietly behind her hoof as Sweetie toppled over to her side.

“Kiwe, you did that on purpose, didn’t you?” Snickers asked. Kiwe shrugged and did resist when he was pulled into side hug by the other colt. “I think we’re gonna get along great, buddy. So, what can ya do with that thing?” He asked pointing to the horn on Kiwe’s head.

“Uh, magic?”

“No duh, Kiwi,” Silver said snarkily and rolled her eyes, “like, what kind of--” Silver’s mouth was closed with a yellow aura of magic. Her eyes widened at the sensation and the others noticed Kiwe’s horn aglow.

“Do not call me ‘Kiwi’,” Kiwe said slowly with a deeper voice. “My name is Azikiwe and if you will disrespect my name then you shall not speak it.”

Rarity’s magic overtook Kiwe’s and his magic sparked out with a tiny flash of light at the end of his horn. “Now, now. None of that, young stallion. I can see that I’ll have to add a new rule to the already established rules; no foals may cast spells on others that don’t agree to it. Am I understood?”

Kiwe looked up at the mare standing over him and he nodded sheepishly looking at Silver Spoon. “I do, and I apologize to the grey filly. I was out of line and should not let my emotions allow me to do such things. I like your mane and glasses, though.”

Silver Spoon smiled a little. “It’s… like, whatever. It was my fault, too; for saying your name wrong on purpose. We’re cool, I guess,” Silver said flipping her braid.

“Great! Now that we’re all friends, let’s go play hide and seek with Kiwe and Sweetie as the seekers, since Kiwe doesn’t know the place yet.”

Sweetie rolled to her hooves and shook her head. “N-no, I… I can’t, couldn’t, shouldn’t… with him? I mean,” she squeaked and sighed when she noticed Kiwe smile. “Okay, I can do it with him.”

Apple Bloom poked Sweetie. “What was that?” She asked slyly.

“I mean with him! I can do that with him, totally. Hide ‘n seek, totally play and find you and all that!”

Rarity snorted. “Indeed. I think I’ll have to watch over you, Kiwe. My sister seems a bit smitten with you.”

Snickers raised is foreleg. “No prob, I’ll keep an eye on them, ma.”

Rarity nodded. “Then I entrust them to you, but let me know if anything happens that you can’t control or that may be out of your ability to manage, okay?”

“Sure thing!”

Scootaloo leaned close to Snickers. “Was I that bad?” She asked quietly.

Snickers snickered. “You were way worse,” he said jovially and giggled when she swatted him. He spoke in a whisper to her,““It’s true. You would have sucked my cock to the hilt just to hear me whisper your name.”

Scootaloo blushed brightly and stepped back with a swish of her tail. “H-hey gals, l-let’s go hide and…” she trailed off and shook her head. She walked by Snickers and whispered, “Who says I still won’t?”

Snickers stood still and gulped loudly, his eyes widening at the mere implications of what a more mature Scootaloo and he would do, and his body began to react. Rarity pressed her forehoof to the bridge of her muzzle with a sigh and pulled the cape from Sweetie Belle, attaching it to Snickers to cover some of his girth from showing; all while the other fillies scattered around the main floor. Kiwe chuckled and looked at Snickers. “Is this how it always is here?”

Turning to face Kiwe, Snickers nodded. “Yeah, every day is an adventure, and you’re a part of it for as long as you wanna be.”

Looking around at the fillies running, the mare mumbling something to herself, the filly that was clearly into him, and the colt across from him, Kiwe raised his forehoof to Snickers. “I would be honored to stay until I’m no longer needed, wanted, or unwelcome.”

Snickers clacked his hoof to Kiwe’s. “So, you’re here for life. I can dig that. Now go count, I’ve got a good place to hide.” Snickers ran out of the room and the game began. Rarity moved a mannequin into place as a safe zone and then she left the room to her sewing area to work on another cape.

…

Sweetie Belle took the lead, finally able to focus on something else and quickly found Scootaloo hiding in place of a stuffed doll, Apple Bloom was hiding in the cupboard she liked so much. Silver Spoon was in the bathroom under the sink, and Diamond Tiara played a great distraction by leaving her tiara leaning slightly out from behind a couch and when the seekers went to check, Diamond Tiara was sitting under the mannequin looking smug.

“That leaves Snickers,” Sweetie Belle said running with Kiwe right behind her. She stopped and sniffed the air, growling cutely when all she could smell was the layers of various flowers and oils her sister used regularly to make her business more enticing. “Shoot, Kiwe,” she turned back to him all business, “if you were a colt, where would you hide?”

Kiwe smirked. “Well, since last I check I am a colt, I would hide somewhere not to be seen.”

“Hmm, he has to be in the boutique and on this floor. He’s not in the other rooms, Rarity won’t let us play in the room she’s working in. The changing rooms are checked, the bathroom, kitchen, showroom, and stairs! Where else is there?” Kiwe chuckled. “What? Where is he?” Sweetie asked.

Kiwe trotted to a nearby decorative and storage wall, then easily stood up on his hind legs, taking steps almost as though he were bipedal naturally. Every filly watched him with wide eyes and, in a couple cases, slack jaws with forming drool. Kiwe reached the handle of one of the doors higher than any of them could reach and nudged it open showing a little light brown colt with silver mane grinning out at them.

“I thought I had a great spot, I can’t believe you…” Snickers noticed Kiwe standing and leaned out to make sure he was seeing what he thought he was seeing; unfortunately Snickers leaned out too far and slipped from his perch, falling into the bolts of fabric and ending up in a pile of yarn, fabric, measuring tape, and several stencil and marking items.

Kiwe walked to Snickers’s pile and landed on all fours. “Snickers, my friend, are you okay under there?”

The pile shifted and moved, then Snickers poked his muzzle out from the side. “I’m in so much trouble for this, aren’t I?”

Silver Spoon was almost to the pile and leaned down, kissing Snickers on his snout before giggling and running back. Snickers stood up and looked at the group of now giggling fillies and sighed. “Great, now I’m getting sneak kissed,” he smiled. “Well, Kiwe, what do you think so far?”

“I have not had so much fun since my younger days traveling under the sun. I wish to play more, if you do not mind.”

Snickers climbed from the pile of fabric and whatnot to join the fillies. “So, what’s the next game? Let’s change it up and come back to hide ‘n seek every couple.” That was when Rarity entered the room with a surprised, and loud, gasp.

“Snickers! My supplies are everywhere, why?!”

“Uh, mom, how do you even know it was me?” Snickers asked and then looked down to see the red yarn still tangled in his tail. “Okay, in my defense,” he said. “Run!” He shouted and the room was filled with screams of fillies and a colt as they all ran towards and up the stairs leaving Kiwe very amused, slightly confused, and very happy to be somewhere safe and happy.

Rarity stomped to the table and quickly picked everything up and began sorting it. “Ugh, that colt, I swear he’s testing my patience sometimes. Oh, Kiwe! Why don’t you run along and play with your friends while I finish a quick little task of mine and then start some snacks.”

“If you do not need my help, then I will take my leave.”

Rarity smiled and nodded. There was a soft knock on the door and Rarity sighed again and set her fabric on the table to at least keep it off the floor before she waved Kiwe on.

…

“Ha, totally made it away just in time. I could feel her magic grabbing at my tail, but I’m too quick and sneaky, like a ninja,” Snickers pranced in place and lowered to the floor, crawling a couple steps.

“Oh no! We forgot Kiwe,” Sweetie shouted and almost ran into the colt she was going to find, dodging to the right and stopping past him.

“Oh, hello, Sweetie Belle. Why are you running away, I thought we were going to play.”

Sweetie stood as tall as she could and pointed at the door. “This is my room, you may enter, but if the door is closed you may not,” she looked at Snickers with a slight frown. “Don’t ask Snickers why, but he knows about knocking before barging into a mare’s room, right?”

Snickers whimpered and closed his eyes tightly as the memory of images flashed through his mind. “I’m sorry!” Snickers shouted exasperatedly. “I can’t say it enough, okay! I didn’t mean to and,” he rested his face in his hooves. “I learned my lesson, can we just drop it forever, please?”

Silver Spoon gave him a hug and looked at Sweetie. “What did you do to my stallion, Sweetie Belle?”

“What?! I didn’t… he…” Sweetie stomped her hoof and pointed at Snickers’s room. “Boys out, girls meeting.”

Snickers stood up and quickly left the room, Sweetie closing the door behind him. “When the girls say they’re having a meeting, listen, Kiwe. It usually isn’t good for me to listen in. Let me show you my room and you can see where you’re staying.” Snickers walked Kiwe into his room and went to his bed. “This is the room, awesome, right?”

Kiwe looked around and took it in. “Well, there seems to be enough space to have some fun. Will the girls be playing in here too, or will it only be us allowed under the cooties rules?”

Snickers chuckled. “I forgot about that stuff… nah, it’s a pretty open house. Oh, hey, can you give me my shirt from the second drawer there?” Snickers caught the shirt and put it on quickly. “Better, and check out my hooves, bud! Shiny as polished marble.”

“Oh, that is quite nice. Mine are a bit rougher,” Kiwe said showing Snickers his hooves and nodded at the grimace Snickers made. “Indeed, they have seen much better times. This line here is where I cracked my hoof working with Anvil and he used glue to seal it. Not the best option, but between that or him nailing my hoof so it would stay still, I chose the better of two options.”

Kiwe chuckled and shook his head to Snickers’s surprise. “Dude, why not get it fixed at the hospital or a clinic? They’re free, after all.”

“Nay, Anvil was… not a nice stallion. That is all I will say about that,” Kiwe said with an unhappy look.

“Okay, I’m cool with that. So… what do you think of Sweetie Belle? Hot, huh?”

Kiwe cocked his head. “I do not think so, perhaps she needs some water to cool down?” Snickers groaned and fell to his side. “Oh! You mean if I find her attractive? In that case, yes. I do find her attractive.”

There was a squeak and hooves running back down the hall, a door slamming, and after three seconds the unique sound of girls screaming. Snickers smirked at Kiwe. “You, my friend, are going to be the most talked about colt in town, right next to me, that is.”

“I am next to you… well, across, but… Snickers, are you okay? You keep falling over.”

“I’m fine, I just can’t believe you’re so literal. Can you understand sarcasm, do you have any jokes?”

Kiwe shrugged. “Life is full of jokes, just don’t become one. Especially to a carnivore.”

Snickers snorted and laughed. “Okay, that was pretty funny,” he said grinning.

“I… yes, I was being funny,” Kiwe said awkwardly.

“Oh, accidental humor. I get it, and if there’s one thing I know it’s accidents… I am one, after all,” Snickers giggled behind closed lips restraining his mirth as Kiwe stared.

Kiwe blinked. “Oh… that is sad.” Snickers exhaled ready to apologize. “Much like everything else about your jokes.”

“Ohh! Burn, nice one!” They bumped hooves and Snickers quickly walked past Kiwe. “Hey, these are my books and this is my deck of cards, wanna play a game? You can tell me about yourself.” Snickers set the deck on the floor and spread the cards out in a mess. “Pick five, it’s how I start ‘go fish’. Got any two’s?”

Kiwe shook his head. “No, go fish. What would you like to know? Do you have a Princess?”

Snickers passed Kiwe a card. “Well, where are you from?”

“My mother’s vagina. Do you have a five?”

Snickers stuck his tongue out. “Gross. I mean where did you live before here? Go fish.”

Kiwe smirked. “I know what you meant.”

”Got a Prince?”

“No. Go fish. I’m from Manehattan. I traveled to Vanhoover with my friends to find my father and learned to cook along the way. Do you have a three?”

“No, go fish. Why were you looking for your father? And don’t say because he was missing, that’s obvious.”

“No fun, I see. So, do you have a three?” Snickers passed Kiwe a card and the set was set aside. “My father did indeed go missing, and I took it upon myself to find him. My mother supplied me and we had quite the grand adventure after I left her and my home behind. Once the adventure ended I attempted to return home, but came down with a bad cold.

“I was waylaid in a town for some days before I was taken and woke up under Anvil’s tarp and was indebted to him, until I learned I wasn’t. Ah, yes… have you a nine? No, then it’s fishing time.”

“Yeah,” Snickers said looking at his own cards. “So, how old are you, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“I’m seven, actually. Why do you ask?”

Snickers looked over his cards. “Oh… so, um, you’re…” Snickers looked down Kiwe’s body for a glance.

“Oh, yes. I’m quite verile and it’s most annoying. I wish I didn’t have the desires I do at times, but for the most part it is of no consequence. I have self control and once I have access to an alchemy set, I will brew potions to aid in any troubles that may arise.”

Snickers nodded and then lowered his cards. “Speaking of arise… how did you stand up so easily? I’ve been trying to do that since I got to this dumb place and I still fall over.”

Kiwe hummed and then, from a sitting position, stood up in a single fluid motion. “My mother was a zebra who was wise and true, she passed onto me many things she knew.” Kiwe lifted one leg and extended it outwards from his body. “With practice and stretching each and every day, I can balance like a caterpillar atop a rope of hay.

“From my mother’s teachings I can brew from magic to stew, I bend over backwards, flip, and cartwheel too.” Putting actions to words, Kiwe swung his free legs and did a cartwheel in the air, landing on his forehooves only while bicycling his hind legs in the air. “Impressed?” Kiwe asked Snickers.

Snickers inhaled for the first time in several seconds and nodded. “C-can you teach me to do that? I was used to walking on two legs, but I can’t now and… fuck, that was awesome,” Snickers said softly.

Kiwe’s forelegs wobbled and he tumbled over himself to his hooves and ended inches from Snickers’s muzzle. “Only fools and those with bad intentions use such language, I certainly hope you are neither.”

Snickers leaned back. “Well, I’m one great fool, and my bad guy rep’s goin’ down, so yeah, I think I just say that stuff because I do, not because I can. It’s a long story… and it’s my turn. Got a Discord?” A tingle prickled the back of Snickers’ neck.

“Yes, here,” Kiwe gave his card over and looked at his own again. “What of you, where are you from? What is your past?”

Snickers lowered his cards and debated what to say. “Well, I’m an orphan and was adopted by Rarity recently. I was a total asshole until the past week or so, ever since I became friends with all the fillies in the next room.” Both their ears twitched at the sound of loud giggling and shouting.

Kiwe’s eyes met Snickers’. “Please do not swear, it is not welcome to my ears. However, I am saddened to hear of your plight. Would you care to talk about your family and life before now?”

Snickers chuckled and shook his head. “No, and please don’t ask anyone about it. It’s my story to tell, okay? Got a four?”

Kiwe tossed another card over. “You said anyone… that is uncommon for a typical pony to say.”

“I’m not a typical pony then.”

Rarity knocked on the doorframe. “Snickers, I have some ponies downstairs wondering about your impromptu flight over town if you have a moment to spare.”

Dropping his cards, Snickers got up. “C’mon, Kiwe, let’s meet the neighborhood. This outta be good, too,” he said blandly.

“Now, now. Chin up, my little prince; first impressions and all that.”

“Mom, I’ve met them all before. Heck, I’ve probably insulted them at one point or another being different.”

Rarity stepped aside and let the colts pass her into the hallway. “I’ll get the others, you wait here.”

Snickers nodded. “Sure thing… Kiwe, the bathroom’s over there. I’ve gotta go, I’ll be right back, okay?”

“May I come as well? I have been holding it for a while, now.” Kiwe asked.

“Sure, why didn’t you say anything? Let me guess, you didn’t wanna be a bother?”

Kiwe nodded. “Yes, I believe it is not out of character for a guest to be shy; especially under these circumstances.”

“Too true, you can go first,” Snickers stood by the door and exhanged looks with Kiwe.

“So, will you close the door?”

“Huh? Why? We almost always keep it open because it’s just natural that ponies use the toilet… right?”

Kiwe glanced at the hallway and shook his head. “I am not comfortable sharing my moment with fillies present, I hope you understand.”

“Ah, got it. I was the same way, actually. Let me get the door then.” Snickers closed the door and watched passively as Kiwe peed. “Huh, so that’s what it looks like when I go. I’ve never seen another colt pee, it’s different.”

Kiwe stepped on the flush pedal and moved aside. “Y-yes, well, I can understand that to a point,” he said rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

“Don’t sweat it, dude. Everypony has different lives and experiences, right? Have you ever seen a filly use the toilet? Totally different experience, right?”

Kiwe nodded. “Yeah, it is awkward how open they are about it, to be honest. As though nothing matters at that moment and everypony can watch freely. Perhaps it is my upbringing, but I feel there should be a bit of distance between males and females in certain areas.”

Snickers flushed and shouldered Kiwe. “I get it, but that’s just not the pony way, I guess.”

The door opened quickly and five fillies rushed into the room and surrounded the colts and began asking questions, blocking them from leaving. Sweetie Belle stepped over the squat toilet and wrapped her tail around her underbelly in preparation to go while asking questions still.

Kiwe’s eyes affixed to her flank and when she began to relieve herself he averted his eyes and pushed through the group of gigglies fillies and their questions. He quickly moved to Snickers’ room and closed the door.

“Great, now he’s embarassed,” Snickers mumbled as he reached the room. “You girls go do your business, I’ll be right back, okay? Guy time.”

“Aww,” the girls chorused. “Fine, but don’t be too long, we’re gonna go downstairs to see what the ponies want.”

“Okay,” Snickers said and opened his door, closing it once he was inside. “So, what’s up? Did the fillies bother you so much you had to run away?” He chuckled and saw Kiwe sitting with his back to him. “Oh… crap, I know that look. Hey, it’s cool, it’ll go down in a minute and I’ll keep it between us, okay?”

Kiwe nodded. “I am a fool, no better than a foal losing myself like this. I should not have looked, but I did and now,” he sighed and lowered his head.

“Don’t be ashamed, Kiwe. Sweetie has nice flanks, it’s no secret. I’ve even looked a few times, okay?” Snickers walked to Kiwe’s back.

“Yes, but I am not you. I am a guest to this house and within my first two hours I have practically defiled the sanctity of the sister of my savior,” Kiwe lamented and turned his head to see Snickers. “I will need an alchemy set soon to make my medicines so this does not occur too often, if ever again.”

“Woah, that’s an extreme, okay? You can’t stop yourself from nature happening, just try to avoid…” Snickers fell silent when he walked around Kiwe and saw the unicorn zony’s erect member. “Wow.”

Kiwe sat still and let Snickers look at his body and take the size, shape, and color of his penis into his mind. Snickers swallowed loudly and finally blinked. “Snickers, have you never seen another stallion before?”

“No… it’s so… different than… I…”

Kiwe leaned back slightly and Snickers stepped closer to keep the distance between them short. “Oh… are you, by chance…?”

Author's Note

Done! Next book will be titled Rarity's Colt: A New Life and should be quite entertaining. I don't know about much, since I don't really plan past hitting a point and then the next, but there will be more of the same and a few new twists as well. Maybe more comedy and adventures this time since Harmony will be playing a much smaller role.

I'd like to thank you all for reading so far, for the commenters that hated on Harmony in the first book and inspired it to grow to what it is now, and the commenter(s) that gave a few words here and there to keep me motivated and writing on to the next chapter and book.

I hope, someday, to go over the series so far and edit each chapter as well as rewrite certain parts to make them flow better... but that's for Future Mocha.