Inter-species Integration (Or: How to save lives and regret doing it)

Dig needed to head to Canterlot today. There was a bit of a breakthrough and he really wanted to be there to figure out what it was. There was one small problem.

“Mom. I’ll be fine. I’m just going to Canterlot.” Dig groaned while facehoofing.

“You sure? Is anyone going with you?” Black asked, looking concerned.

“No one needs to, I’ll be fine.” Dig sighed. “And stop being concerned, it’s weird.”

“Just call it, me finally paying attention.” Black replied with a frown. “And you should probably have at least one go with you.”

“She’s right Dig.” Chrys spoke up from her chair. Dig almost hadn’t noticed her. “Perhaps you should try seeing who’s actually interested in going with you.”

“Who, like you?” Dig asked with a sigh.

Chrys got up. “Oh, I’d love to, I never thought you’d ask.”

Dig paused. “As yourself?” he posed delicately. The last time Chrysalis had been in her normal form in Canterlot had involved lots of fire and screaming. According to his mother, anyways.

“Of course not.” ~Fwumph~ “What do you take me for?” Honey Glow asked.

“Probably the sensible one,” the stallion admitted. “Which is why I was concerned you wanted to go with me to Canterlot of all places.”

“Can’t I be interested in your work?” The mare asked.

“...You would be one of the few,” the stallion admitted. “There’s this mare who writes books that keeps showing up to my meetings with Twilight and keeps degrading my work, like what I did wasn’t real archeology.” He snorted. “Like learning a dozen different languages, travelling to every major civilization, past and current, and putting only half the puzzle pieces that even still exist together wasn’t work enough. Apparently if I let a silly little wall of solid ice stop me from getting to Dream Valley, ‘I’m not a real archeologist.’”

“Oh, all the more reason I’m going.” Honey grinned. “I’d like to put that mare in her place. Now what of Ember? She’s been keeping track of everything. Well, sans the ring, which she melted.”

“...fair point, and good on her,” the stallion admitted. “Well if she wants to come with I won’t stop he-”

Suddenly he was lifted up. “Nope, you’re still tired from our probably overdone teasing. I’m carrying you.” Ember huffed as she held the stallion.

“...This is humiliating,” the stallion pointed out as she carried him bridal-style.

“Is it that bad though?” Honey asked with a giggle. “Now, is there anywhere we need to go before we take the train to Canterlot?”

“You mean besides the train station?” the stallion asked. “No...I think I’ve got everything in my bags.”

“Oh wonderful.” Honey nodded.

“Have fun, you three!” Black waved as Dig was carried out of the house.

“...This isn’t so bad,” Dig Site noted as Ember laid him across her lap. Apparently she was enjoying the therapeutic effects of petting a pony, and Dig thought it was pretty good too.

“Isn’t it?” Honey smiled, scribbling away as she read a Daring Doo novel.

“Why haven’t I done this before?” Ember asked, running her claws through his mane.

“Eh, probably because we weren’t taking things slow before,” Dig pointed out. “I could probably nap right here.”

“You’re free to.” Honey replied then frowned. “Ugh… another temple, another artifact, another encounter with Ahuizotl. I wouldn’t be surprised if Daring was just stealing from the few gods that still live in those jungles. Mmmm what if Ahuizotl was a guardian, it would explain why he never left the valley.” She murmured as she scribbled.

“Hmm?” Dig flicked an ear towards Honey as his eyes started to droop closed. “You say something?”

“Just complaining about this hack of a writer. I mean, I don’t doubt that this stuff may be embellished, but if you shift your perspective, she’s the bad guy.” Honey glanced at, then smiled at the sleepy bat pone.

“Diffence...b’ween arcology an’ grave robbin’...research all da thins and leave it where ya fin’ it...u’less is active weapon er magic, er both…” Dig yawned.

“Well Daring just steals stuff, doesn’t even make sure it’s secure.” Honey frowned. “Then she proudly displays it in a museum… where half of her books are based after the item is stolen. Ugh.” She snorted in disgust. “I dare her to try that in my homeland.”

“Silly...theif pone…” the stallion murmured as he nuzzled the scales. “Diggin’s fer adults…”

Ember blushed, scratching at the base of his ears, avoiding the sensitive parts.

“Exactly.” Honey nodded. “And you silly pony, are falling asleep. And it’s adorable.”

“Wake meh when we ge’ there…” the stallion muttered, before falling still.

“Dig…” A voice spoke into his ear.

“Mmmph,” the stallion muttered, snuggling into the warmth around him.

“Diggy…” Came the voice again, accompanied by a tickle around his ear. “Why am I saying this, it’s stupid.”

“Because it’s actually cute, you heathen.”

“Fiv’ more minues…” the stallion mumbled sleepily. Warm was good. He liked being where he was.

“What? No.”

“Come on…”

“Ugh. fine.”

There was a hot breath on his ear.

Then there was something wet and wiggly in his ear.

“Scree-hee-hee!” the stallion bolted right into the air, his wings extended, screeching his head off as he tried to get the feeling out with a hoof.

“You made him Eeee!” Honey happily clapped her hooves.

“Bleh.” Ember stuck her tongue out and made a disgusted face. “Not doing that again.”

“Thanks for that,” the batstallion grumbled. “Bleh...worst way to wake up.” His ear flicked irritably, like it was constantly being played with.

“What would you prefer?” Honey asked. “BJ on a train?”

That got the stallion to squeak and fold his wings up, dropping to the floor with a furious blush.

“Honey.” Ember shot Honey a glare. “We’re on a train, in public.”

“I’m kidding.” The mare waved her hoof as she got up.

“Let’s...let’s just go to this meeting,” the stallion managed to say, with only a bare minimum of a high-pitched voice infecting his normal tone.

“Lead on pack leader.” Honey teased as Ember still tried to get the taste of pony ear out of her mouth.

“Yeah…” Dig murmured, keeping a careful eye on them in shifts as he started to lead them to the location for the meeting.

“Dig, Honey, what do you expect us to do?” Honey asked. “You’re so nervous.”

“I…” the stallion sighed, putting a hoof to his chest and breathing in, then out. “You’re right,” he admitted. “Let’s just do this and get it over with. It’s likely just another hack claiming that I couldn’t possibly be as well-read as I am.”

They arrived at the museum and the director met them at the doors. “Thank you for coming.”

“Hello sir,” Dig nodded respectfully. “I understand you have some things you wish to discuss with me.”

“Less me, and more, others who are concerned.” The director sighed as he lead them inside. “I assume you know who I’m referring to. I do apologise, but she was very insistent.”

“Is it who I think it is?” Honey asked with a grumble.

“Honestly, if I could refuse to meet with miss Yearling, I would,” Dig agreed. “She seems to think that writing about tomb-robbing is a replacement for archeology. Or that generous donations are a replacement for the process of getting trained in how to properly contribute to a museum.”

“You!” was shouted across the main hall.

“Here we go.” Ember grumbled.

“Please, Miss Yearling, there is no need for this level of aggression.” The director sighed tiredly.

“Oh go back to your trashy romantic-subtext tomb-robbing novels,” the thestral stallion snapped at the named mare. “I have had it up to here-” he raised a wing way over his own head, “-with your horseapples complaints that have no basis in facts, logic, or reason!”

“Excuse me?!” The glasses-wearing mare snapped. “Daring Doo-”

“Is a hack.” Honey cut her off as she stepped in front of Dig.

“And who are you?” The uppity mare asked.

“Hi. Honey Glow. Journalist for the Canterlot Times.” Honey replied.

“You’re the one who’s been trashing my novels!” A.K. Yearling gasped.

“Yes, I’m the one tearing down your books, because some pony believes that her foals novels are the next coming of J.R.R. Tauruskien.” Honey replied.

“Where do you get off attacking my books?!” Yearling snapped.

“His place.” Honey jerked her head at Dig. “Where do you get off turning a grave-robbing, narcissistic, adrenaline junkie into a hero?”

“How dare you, those traps-” Yearling started.

“Were there to keep ponies like you out. So you didn’t steal artifacts that aren’t yours to begin with.” Honey replied with a smirk. “Think about it. All the artifacts you stole were going to be used to keep ponies like you out. Ever not how Ahuizotl never left the jungle?”

“But he attacked me.” “Yearling” thrust a hoof at Honey.

Honey gasped. “Oh no someone is attacking me because I waltzed right into their temple and stole their shit.”

“They belong in a museum!” The mare snapped back.

“That’s bullshit and you know it.” Honey rolled her eyes.

“He stole the Sunstone!” “Yearling” pointed a hoof at Dig.

Honey looked at him. “Dig Sweetie, care to explain to the ticked off grave robber?”

“The Sunstone was not secure,” the stallion explained. “It was also drained of magic, sitting in the middle of a dead valley, on a pedestal. I calculated a 95% chance that when it was brought to a place of high ambient magic, I.E. Equestria, it would start to recharge itself. At which point it would be a solar-powered battery, absorbing light and amplifying it over a large region to help things grow like it used to.” His expression turned grave. “Someone with a villainous mindset could easily abuse that. So I did the only thing I could to foalproof the future: I secured it in saddlebags of holding and brought it back to Princess Twilight for analysis and lockdown, before somepony less virtuous took it for themselves to make some sort of solar death ray.” He hummed as he considered the idea. “I think she’s got it under five layers of magical shielding, and uses it’s magical runoff it to make popcorn during movie nights when she’s feeling peckish.”

Yearling’s glasses fell off as she blinked. “She- You- What?”

“Sweetie, Dig did his research. He doesn’t fly in half-cocked and do research after the fact.” Honey replied smugly.

“Oh no, most of the research about the Sunstone I had to do on site,” Dig countered. “Flutterponies were very insular, rarely travelling outside their valley. I had to dig up old homes just to have a chance to have a fragment of a book to translate so I could learn their alphabet. It’s mostly based on Old Ponish, but they were more...artistic in writing it. Once I had that to work on, I was able to translate the runes on the pedestal, knew what I was working with, and knew why I couldn’t bucking fly while I was in the valley.” He took a breath. “The valley died because the Sunstone kept absorbing the magic from it to try and grow things that had long frozen over. It’s a magical dead zone now.”

“Ooooooh…..” “Yearling” said after a moment.

“Sorry, might have answered too quickly.” Honey apologised to Dig.

“No, you were right,” Dig nodded. “Everything else? I was able to research, carefully go to this place or that based on some clue I found elsewhere, find another thread to pull to maybe lead me to Dream Valley. But once I got the basic directions from the wall rubbings in the First Dragon’s cave, I...might’ve only double checked them before flying off on the adventure I’d been waiting for.” His wings shuddered a bit. “Wasn’t expecting it to still be frozen. Or a dead zone,” he admitted.

“Daring, do you do any research?” Ember spoke up.

“Well… Yes…” Daring Doo/A.K. Yearling looked away with a visible blush of embarrassment.

“To the extent of Dig?” Ember asked again.

“No.” The mare shook her head.

“Then how can you call yourself an archeologist?” The dragoness asked. “Most of my day is now spent helping catalogue and identify things that Dig found and couldn’t immediately identify. And you know what, it’s actually interesting!”

“The only reason I took them,” Dig cut off the argument as he saw the mare take a breath, “Was because they were too fragile, or in too bad of an environment, that they might degrade and their historical value would be lost to the ages. So I took a picture of the site, where I found it, how I found it, in triplicate, before excavating it over the process of days. Then I packed them into bags of holding, which are universally agreed to be the safest way to excavate things delicately and safely if you can afford them, because you can fit a dozen of those in a standard saddlebag.” He snorted. “Tartarus, with a full load of those, one pony could excavate an entire site over the course of a year.”

“But that’s all so much woooork…” Daring whined loudly. “And it’s boring.”

“You don’t have the temperment for this line of work.” Honey pointed out. “You… You’re- It’s like you read these foals adventure books and decided, I want to do that when I grow up, and you actually did, but you don’t understand any connotation of what the work actually means.”

“Aaaaactually, there might be a line of work she is suited for,” Dig mused. “Remember Mom? She used to work with secret stuff. I’m pretty sure Daring would be well suited to the Retrieval branch…”

“Wait… Who’s your mom again?” Daring asked.

“We’re going to make her write spy novels now aren’t we?” Honey groaned.

“Could be worse.” Ember shrugged.

“I think she’d make a good Retrieval agent,” the stallion answered. “Just as long as she doesn’t flunk the training.” He gave the mare a look over. “How’s your ability to dodge traps?” he posed. “Because the answer is not good enough for my mom. I should know, I grew up in her house.”

“If your argument is quite finished?” The director looked like he needed a drink.

“Of course, sorry for the drama in your museum.” Honey apologised.

“I’m simply happy that we were closed for the day.” He sighed. “Now if you don’t mind seeing yourself out, I have a bottle of scotch that’s been calling my name.” With that, the director turned on a hoof and trotted away.

“C’mon, I have somepony back home that would be very interested in meeting you,” Dig suggested to the ‘renowned’ archeologist.

“Who’s that?” Daring asked, somewhat confused as she re-donned her glasses to return to her disguise.

“Sweetie, you could do better than a dress and some glasses.” Honey commented as the four of them left the museum.

“You don’t want to know the sorts of disguises my mom used to use,” the stallion groaned. “I swear when I was growing up I thought I had a dozen aunts.”

“Please, I could turn into a dozen of your aunts.” Honey rolled her eyes. “Or grandparents for that matter. Thestrals have some very nice, subtle differences that make them quite interesting to turn in to.”

“Honey, Daring’s right here, and we’re in Canterlot.” Ember groaned.

“So?” Honey raised a brow.

“What’s she talking about?” Daring furrowed her brow.

“I drop the disguise, what do you think will happen?” Honey asked.

“Do you know something we don’t?” Ember glared at her.

“Girls!” Dig said, putting himself in the conversation. “Let’s get home before we break anyone’s mind, yeah?”

“Fine, fine.” Honey chuckled.

“Mom, this is Daring Doo,” the stallion said, stepping to one side and revealing the mare that had been antagonizing him for these past few months. “Daring, this is my mom, Black Site.”

“Oh so you’re the one who wrote all those grave robbing books.” Black Site smiled at the tan, and gray-gradient maned pegasus.

Said pegasus’s eyes slowly widened, as did her mouth.

“Sweetie, if you’re not careful someone’s going to fill that open mouth of yours.” Black smiled with a small titter.

“C’mon in, we’re about to have dinner,” the stallion offered. “You can talk with mom about becoming a Retrieval agent over some fish.”

“Fish?!” Daring gasped. “I haven’t had fish in forever!”

“Gilda and Stud are cooking.” Smolder commented from her spot on the couch. She was reading comics with Spike and the pair had a massive stack between them.

“Oh hey, it’s the dragon club,” Dig noticed. “Cool. Where’s Momo?”

“In her room.” Smolder commented. There was the sound of a door opening, the sound of paws, and a Diamond Dog plodded down the stairs. Most of her body was hidden within a massive gray hoodie. Her nose poked out of the hood and her eyes peeked out from within the darkness. The arms even almost hid her massive paws.

“Correction, she was in her room.” Smolder corrected herself.

“Hi…” The big dog said quietly. “Did I hear dinner?”

“Not yet, but eventually,” the stallion pointed out. “Just introducing mom to a mare that I think she can help.” He looked up and down the dog before cocking his head to one side. “Interesting fashion choice,” he noted. “Any...reasoning behind a large, obscuring piece of clothing?”

“It makes me feel warm, and safe, and I like it…” The dog replied. “Rarity made if for me.”

“Huh.” Dig commented. “Well if you like it, then that’s what matters.” He walked over to the dragons and sat nearby. “So, what’re we up to?”

“Comics.” Spike commented.

“Super Heroes.” Smolder added.

“I’ve always wanted some darker or edgier stuff but Twilight would go nuts.” Spike sighed. The small dragon looked up at Dig. “Would you believe that I’m nineteen?”

“...Well that makes your um...exploration a little less horrific in my eyes,” the stallion blushed at the memories, looking away as he scuffed a hoof.

“Small dragons club.” Smolder held out a fist and Spike bumped it.

“Tartarus yeah.” Spike nodded. “Say, if I buy some graphics novels can I stash ‘em here?”

“Gonna have to find a room, but sure,” the stallion shrugged. “I think we have a small reading room lying around?”

“Second floor, second door on the right. The second door on the left is the shower.” Momo commented as she flopped down on the floor in front of the couch and rolled onto her back.

“Sweet, I have a secret collection of The Darkness that I haven’t been able to get to.” Spike smiled. It was honestly the first time he’d seen the dragon smile honestly enough.

“That works,” Dig nodded. “Heck, if you want to stick around I’m sure we have some guest rooms.”

“You serious dude?” Spike his eyes widening a little.

“Just don’t sleep with anyone without permission,” Dig joked.

Spike paused and slowly looked over at Smolder. The dragoness waggled her brows at him and Spike quickly disappeared behind his comic book.

“Dig?” Momo called out from the floor.

“Hmm?” the stallion turned to the fuzzy rug he seemed to have acquired. “Yes?”

“Can you rub my belly?” She asked with puppy dog eyes.

“Oh fer...you don’t need to make that face,” the stallion sighed, walking over and sitting next to her. He raised a hoof and rubbed the dog’s belly in circles, letting it run through her fur, or what was exposed anyways. He had to stick it under the hoodie to give her a proper belly-rub.

“Ah….” Momo relaxed, her stubby tail wagging as she did.

“Oi, fam’ly. Dinnah.” Came Stud’s yell from the kitchen.

“Hey, Honey, why don’t you drop your disguise when Daring takes her first bite of fish?” the stallion posed. The spit-take would be epic.

“Why Dig, are you actually being playful?” Honey asked with a malicious grin.

“Think of it as payback for her constantly dragging me to the castle and Canterlot for meetings that had no factual basis,” the stallion riposted.

“Ah ha!” Honey laughed then grinned. “I love you.”

That got a more familiar reaction: that of the stallion blushing and looking away.

“Come now.” Honey brushed her tail against him as she passed, heading to the kitchen. “Dinner awaits.”

Dig had been right in his thinking, seeing Daring spit out her food at the green flash of flame had been hilarious. It was only when even Black Site hadn’t reacted that the mare realized that this was normal in this house.

Though, with his sensitive ears, the stallion had his pick of conversations to listen in on. There was Smolder and Spike, Black and Daring and Stone, or the girls.

Dig’s ears twitched and one pointed towards the two small dragons.

“No, no way that Spider-Mare would fight Supermare.” Smolder said through a mouthful.

“It happened.” Spike pointed out. “I have the issues. It was one of the few Detecting Comics and Marevel crossovers to happen in the past decade.”

“I still don’t believe you.” Smolder frowned after swallowing.

“The fight is very one-sided.” Spike pointed out. “It’s mainly the mind controlled Supermare trying to get at Spider-Mare, while Spider-Mare tries to snap her out of it.”

“Mmmph. Dumb.” Smolder grumbled.

“What would you prefer Wonder Mare picking up Thundering Sky’s hammer, Mjolnir?” Spike asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

Smolder coughed into her drink. “Ec-fucking-scuse you?!”

Okay, that sounded fairly innocent. His ears twitched and focused on Black, Stone, and Daring.

“So… Lemme get this straight…” Daring started. “Your ex wife left you… because you were too big?”

“Aye tha’s abou’ th’ short o’ i’’ The small stallion nodded.

“And you just got knocked up while on the job.” Daring pointed at Black.

“Yep. I probably could’ve… No I should’ve been a better mother to Dig, but… all I can do is the best I can do now. Plus he has all these wonderful females.” Black smiled happily.

“And it was through Dig that you two met.” Daring continued.

“Yep.” They said simultaneously.

“That’s actually kinda sweet.” Daring smiled.

“Though, we did kinda go in reverse.” Stud chuckled.

Daring shrugged. “Eh, haven’t found a pony to keep up with me yet.”

Okay...nice enough, Dig supposed. How about the girls? One of his ears twitched and focused on the other four females at the table.

“Dig do okay?” Gilda asked, taking a bite out of her fish.

“Oh absolutely.” Chrys nodded. “Ember was just petting him the whole way up on the train.”

“Sh-shut up! H-he was soft!” The dragoness pouted.

“I wanna pet him.” Momo said softly.

“It’s worth it.” Ember said mid-pout.

“And… Daring?” Gilda asked while nudging the dog playfully.

“Well we argued, Dig exposited all over the mare, Ember threw in a few finishers, and Dig suggested a new line of work.” Chrys listed. “Though… I expect spy novels in the future.”

“If she survives Black’s training.” Momo spoke up.

“Ha! Un-fucking-likely.” Gilda barked out a laugh.

Huh. Everyone seemed to be getting along. Out of curiosity, his ear twitched back to Smolder and Spike.

“No no no, Twilight’s not that bad…” Spike appeared to be in mid-defense.

“Really? Cause, entire castle, and you get a closet? You sound like Hairy Potter.” Smolder deadpanned.

“It’s not that bad. Really.” Spike laughed a little nervously.

“That’s literally the only thing you’ve been saying.” Smolder countered.

...That was going to degrade fast, and made him glad he offered the little guy a room. His ear twitched again, hearing something coming from his mom this time.

“Wait… I was joking about the grave robbing thing.” Black said slowly.

“So, ye actually, on a regular basis, broke inte temples and took relics.” Stud deadpanned. “Lass are ye fuckin daft?”

“Yeah… In hindsight….” Dig could feel Daring wince.

Thaaaat wasn’t going to end well for her. Maybe his girls had something more wholesome to talk about?

“Momo.” Ember spoke up.

“Hmmm?” Came the soft dog’s voice.

“You’re adorable, you know that?” Ember asked.

“Awww…” The dog shifted to hide in her hoodie.

“Look at you expressing your emotions.” Chrys said proudly. “There’s hope for you yet.”

“I’m sorry, what was that? I kinda got distracted by Momo’s tits.” Gilda said as if coming out of a daze.

“Eeep!”

“And you ruined it.” Chrys groaned.

Dinner was degrading. His ear flicked and picked up something from Smolder.

“It’s okay Spike. You just need to have a serious talk with Twilight.” Smolder sighed.

“I-I know… It’s… been a long time coming actually.”

Huh. More wholesome than he expect-

“If it makes you feel better, I could get you off later or something, barring we talk to Dig first.” Smolder replied.

“Well… We… kinda never properly started or finished anything… And this time you’re not cursed so…..” Spike trailed off.

There it was. His ear flicked again to check in on his mom and Daring.

“I’m gonna die.” Daring deadpanned.

“Yer not gonna die.” Stud chuckled.

“I’m not gonna die and I’m never gonna find out who my sister is.” Daring stated in the same flat tone.

“New topic!” Black spoke up. “So! Daring! You found out you have a sister?”

The pegasus seemed to snap out of it. “Yeah… the records were damaged though…. I haven’t given up hope though!”

Huh. Well that was a nice, safe conversa-

“Though she’s probably dead… There was a storm and the hospital was wrecked…” Daring slumped again.

“No no, none o’ tha’.” Stud spoke up. “Ye’ gotta believe lass. Believe tha’ she’s ou’ there. Say ye believe.”

“I believe.”

“Louder.”

“I Believe!”

“Louder!”

“I BELIEVE!”

“Atta girl!”

Huh...still surprisingly wholesome. Which is more than he was expecting with his mother and Stone Stud at the same end of the tabl-

“I love it when you’re motivational.” Black virtually purred.

Whelp. Dinner was now not safe to listen to. Everywhere had lewdness going on. The stallion just blushed more and more as the talks filtered into his ears.

A hoof touched his hoof. “Dig?” Chrys asked softly.

“Sensitive…” he muttered, ears flicking wildly as they tried to find something sane to listen to.

“What kind?” She asked. “Would you prefer somewhere more quiet?”

The blushing stallion nodded once, unable to say anything more than a soft squeak.

“Sorry, everyone. Dig needs some time.” Chys announced while getting up. She actually went into ponyloaf position temporarily to allow Dig to climb on, which the stallion slowly did as he managed to not look anyone in the eyes. His ears still were flicking around, which might have been a clue to others as to why he was blushing so hard.

There was a chorus of byes as the pair left the kitchen. Chrys trotted up the stairs in silence, then her wings buzzed and she rose up to land in the Aerie. There the eggs were sitting in soft piles of hay, each with their own small nest. Only the occasional sounds of evening, turning night, echoed in from outside.

“Better?” Chrys asked as she laid down on the single large carpet. She shifted a bit, then tugged Dig into a hug.

“Much,” Dig sighed. “I, um...understand how these,” he waved a hoof at the room. “Happened. But, uh...the talk just sort of…” he blushed. “Yeaaaah…”

“I understand.” Chrys nuzzled him softly, much in the way a grandmother would. “You got overwhelmed. It’s alright my little pony.”

“I just…” Dig blushed again. “All that talk going on around me, some of it related to me. It’s...a bit much to expect me to keep up with the menagerie I’ve somehow made into a herd.”

“Then maybe try to break it into more manageable pieces?” The bug mare asked. “Was today that bad with Ember and I?”

“No, you were both well behaved,” the stallion admitted. “The day was...nice, for all that it was ultimately a pointless trip.”

“Was it though?” Chrys smiled. “I mean, you got pet to sleep by Ember, we got to put a… mmm… mare in her place, and you even turned an enemy into a friend.”

“Depends on if she survives Mom’s training,” the stallion pointed out. “Heck, level one is bad enough, and I had to get past that as a foal before I could go to school.”

“Well, if I was reading her right, she’s got the spunk to keep going.” Chrys giggled.

“Mom’s training never really ends,” Dig noted. “She just gets more inventive.”

“Hey, you two up here?” Smolder called out as her head poked up into the Aerie.

“Yes,” Dig called back.

“Dig, can Spike and I bang? Is that okay?” It was strange that Smolder actually sounded more innocent than normal.

“I don’t own you, Smolder, you’re not a slave,” Dig called back, blushing a little. “Just make sure Spike’s okay with it before you pin him to the bed.”

“Actually, we agreed that I’d be on top.” Spike poked his head up too.

“...Well as long as you both agree,” Dig was nearly crimson now. “Oh, and Spike, just pick an empty guest room, it can be yours. I think we still have some left.”

“Thanks Dig.” Spike smiled as the pair of dragons disappeared from view.

Chrys looked at her furiously blushing stallion. “Want to cool down, or want some relief?” She asked softly into his ear.

“I need to not think about the pair of dragons making more dragons right now,” the stallion managed to squeak out.

“Then want to make more changelings instead?” She asked.

Dig squeaked harder, she could swear there was almost steam shooting out of his ears.

“That wasn’t a no…” She whispered.

“This is teasing, right? You’re just tormenting me?” Dig asked.

“No, I’m serious.” She replied, nuzzling his cheek. “Teasing’s done. We’ve all agreed.”

“Screep!” the stallion squeaked out, his wings flaring.

“You are adorable.” Chrys giggled. Dig Site kept blushing as he fought to fold his wings against his side. The mare giggled again as a hoof started to trace a stiffened wing. “Thestrals have the most wonderful wings.”

...Did he just eep again? And now his wings seemed to be incapable of retracting. Did she discover a new soft spot?

She slowly smirked as her horn lit. Lines of green light began to trace his wings. The stallion let out a moan as he tried his hardest to, well, not be hard, blushing immensely at her tormenting him.

“Like that Dig?” She whispered into his ear, focusing on the joints.

“A-a...little, too much,” the stallion whined.

“Too much?” She lightly nipped an ear. “Want to roll onto your back?”

“Nuuuu...dun wanna be lewd…” the stallion moaned, squirming as he lay on his belly.

“Why not?” She asked, nipping his ear again.

“You all...deserve better,” the stallion huffed. “I dun wanna be the stallion that I was when you found me…”

“Dig Sweetie, are you associating any lewd behavior with being under the effects of the curse?” Chrys asked, pulling her head away a little.

“I mean...maybe?” Dig winced. “It certainly was all the curse was interested in...I just don’t want to be that bad anymore…”

“Something softer? Sweeter?” She asked. “Want me to be Honey for you?”

The bat...shook his head? “I don’t want you to change who you are for me,” he told the mare. “You should be proud to be yourself.”

“Oh, Sweetie.” She chuckled. “I am. Actually being me in the chitin is a bit new-ish, but I am quite happy with who I am.”

“Oh. Good,” Dig sighed, managing to half-fold his wings.

“I just realised.” The bug mare chuckled again. “You don’t know how old I am do you?”

“You can’t be that old,” Dig shook his head.

“Oh?” The mare smirked and cocked her head to the right. “Care to guess?”

“You can’t be older than thirty,” the stallion scoffed. “You look too good to be any older.”

“Love keeps you young.” She chuckled. “Trust me, I was a holey mess before you came along.”

“Well I’m not going to insult you by guessing your age all night,” the stallion said. “Because honestly, that sounds like a quick way to be teased for ‘flattery’ all night.”

“You prefer I just tell you?” She grinned toothily.

“It’d be faster,” the thestral pointed out, having managed to get his wings under control while they were both distracted.

“Alright.” Chyrs rolled her eyes. “Fifteen-hundred, eighty-six.”

“...You don’t look a day over a thousand?” Dig offered.

“Ahem.” She put a hoof to her chest. Then smirked at the stallion. “Flatterer.”

“Well it is kind of unnerving to know that you’ll probably outlive me...and our kids,” the stallion pointed out. Ah, mood successfully killed.

“And?” Chrys asked. “It’s the memories that are going to be the best part. However, I prefer to live in the now as it were.”

“...Fair,” Dig nodded sagely. “Wise advice, I should listen to that more often.”

“I’m just full of advice.” The mare nuzzled his cheek. “You just have to get it out of me.”

“By surviving your teasing night after night,” the stallion joked with her.

“True.” She giggled. “How’re you feeling?”

“A little more calm after that nice conversation,” the stallion admitted.

“Good.” She nodded. “And feeling better after dinner?”

“That too,” Dig Site agreed. “It’s...nice, getting away from all the talk.” He flicked his ears. “I think everyone else forgets these things are sensitive.”

“They probably do and I believe your mother’s just used to it.” She smiled.

“Stud knows about it and he still made that comment,” Dig huffed.

“True, even then, are you happy that they get to be happy again?” Chrys rested her head on his back.

“Yes, I just wish I didn’t have to hear about it,” Dig huffed. “I mean, my ears aren’t for show, mom.”

“Also true, though your ears are also cute.” She used a hoof to poke an ear. It flicked away from her at the touch.

“So,” Dig sighed, resting his head on the floor. “Think they’ve calmed down now?”

“Eh, probably.” She shrugged. “Wanna go down and check, or stay here and cuddle?”

“Cuddle sounds nice,” Dig nodded, using one wing to drape it over the mare’s back.

Her wings buzzed softly. “Mmmm… Yeah it does.”