Chapter Twenty Two: Ember's Curiosity

Ever since he bathed me, my mind has been swirling with both how he made me feel and the differences between back home and here. I simply wasn't expecting my reaction to an action so simple as him bathing me. It was one of the most powerful reactions I've ever experienced and we didn't have sex. Still haven't had sex. The way he takes care of his young is vastly different than in the dragon lands. He wants to take an active part in their upbringing. Male dragons typically do not and leave it up to the caretakers. Is that why I'm having such a strong reaction to him? Why my body reacts to him so powerfully? I had so many questions burning in my head that I wanted to stay and see if the answers were here. If the rest of the ponies in his herd could help me answer some of those questions. After he bathed me, I was able to speak with the three fillies away from Emmit so I could ask some questions.

I was able to speak with the filly called Sweetie Belle after she said she would go feed the animals around the cottage. Apparently, the animals here eat at the same time as ponies do. So, when it was lunchtime, she went out to feed the animals and I went with her to speak with her about my questions under the guise of helping her.

"Can I ask you some questions about Emmit?" I began to ask as she began to spread some corn around for the chickens with her mouth.

"Sure," she said, looking up at me with a smile before dipping her head into the feed bag and spreading more corn, "what do want to know?"

I watched the chickens come running up and start pecking at the corn on the ground. All while my stomach was wondering just how would they taste like cooked. Which brought up more questions about what Emmit likes to eat. But that could wait. "I am unaccustomed to how my body responded to how he bathed me," I began slowly while my mind couldn't help but return to how that felt just a few hours before. She was silent while I tried thinking of just how to put my feelings into words as the chickens started surrounding us, pecking at the corn on the ground. "We view sex differently in the dragon lands. I've had sex with dragons many times... And yet, I've never had such a powerful reaction as I had when Emmit was bathing me. Only now am I beginning to understand what he meant by intimate without sex. With just a simple act as giving me a bath, my body responded in a way that was...almost...frightening. I've only just met him and yet within the span of the time it took to give me a bath, not only did I let my guard down completely but completely enough where my body seemed eager for his touch." I reached up to grab my small breasts and looked down at them. "A dragon female's nipples are hidden under her scales in order to protect them. I've never had them expose themselves at all during sex with other dragons much less with such eagerness to be touched by a creature as Emmit for so long. It's as if my body wants to be touched and explored by him...as if..."

"I think I know what you're trying to say," she said, plopping her butt down on the ground and looked up at me.

"How did it feel for you when he bathes you? Why are you in a herd with him?" I asked, a little eager for the answers.

She looked off into the distance as if thought and still looked off into the distance while she spoke. And when she did it was with a smile. A smile as if a dragon found their most precious possession. "After he gave me a bath for the first time, I was like, 'Wow! That was an awesome experience!' He's different than any other stallion in Equestria. I felt...safe...cared for...loved as he bathed me. I was finally beginning to understand what my sister sees in him. I think it's like...when you know just how much he cares about you...it's ok for him to touch you." She paused sometimes in order to find the right words. "For your body to say, 'I know how much you care about me, so I want you to touch me in places that no other pony does.'" While I was thinking about that, she looked up at me with a wide smile. "You said that your nipples are protected under your scales. I think your body felt safe enough with him to let him touch you...in a place where you're the most protected. And I think that's what it really means to be in a relationship with him. We care about each other enough to expose the most protected part of ourselves to each other. Knowing that it's safe enough because we care so much for each other."

That gave me something to think about. From then on what help I tried to do felt awkward and clumsy while my mind mulled over what she told me. Safe. Cared for. Loved. Was the way she described it. Treasured as I felt. Is this what it's like to feel treasured? Is this what it's like to feel safe enough with another creature enough to be completely unguarded against? As the day went on, and the more I thought about it, I never let my guard down at all with other dragons, sex or not. And yet... So, what was it about this male...human I believed he calls himself...that has me so easily lowering my guard? Throughout the rest of the day, I made a conscious effort to ask more about him. More about this other world. More about what has happened to him while in this world. It was only after the sun went down that I was able to speak with the filly called Apple Bloom.

When it was time for bed, Emmit and the fillies invited me to bed. However, I declined and told them that I wanted to sit outside to think. It was about a few hours later when Apple Bloom came outside and sat next to me in the yard.

"You look lost in thought," she said in a soft voice that was almost a whisper in order not to wake the others. "Bit for your thoughts? Sweetie Belle mentioned what you talked with her about."

More questions were running through my head as I turned and looked down at her. "What's it like for you when he bathes you?"

"The first time he bathed me felt incredible," she closed her eyes and lifted her head as she remembered how it felt. And a smile spread over her face as she continued. "I was already attracted to him even before that so after he relaxed me I was so ready to have his hands on me. And oh, let me tell you that my body was humming with his every touch. And then he started kissing me."

"Did you ever feel...vulnerable while he..."

"No," she shook her head then looked up at me in thought. "Well...perhaps a little but I didn't have anything to worry about with Emmit. Not with him. I mean, I knew that he cared about me but after feeling his hands touch me and rub me. And after he kissed me all over my body, I had such powerful fantasies about him." Her eyes went wide in such excitement at what she said next. "Then I finally had sex with him the first time. I had no idea that I could ever experience such a powerful feeling before. He was so big that I couldn't take all of him inside of me. And that orgasm...sweet Celestia it was powerful. I was literally shaking the whole time."

"Why did you join his herd?" I asked her and watched her tilt her head in thought with a smile.

"One was simply because my sister is with him. But I think I see why. He's a good guy and not like most other stallions today. Some are just plain jerks." She looked up at me with a roll of her eyes. "Rarity ran into one of those types of ponies at the Gala by the name of Prince Blueblood. Ask her to tell you about that story. He wanted to kill her but Emmit stopped him. Emmit got hurt really bad in order to protect her." She smiled up at me when she said, "And I know that he would do the same for me or any one of us."

"But I have yet to know him, so why would my body respond so powerfully to him when he bathed me?" I wondered as I looked up to the night sky as the stars twinkled up above.

"Perhaps it's because you feel safe with him?" she shrugged then looked up to the night sky with me. After that, we fell into companionable silence. After a little bit, she asked me back inside to sleep with him after she yawned and looked a little droopy. So, I said yes to that and followed her in. However, after following her inside, I stood by the bed and watched her climb onto it and lay down against his side. He was laying on his back in the bed in his human form. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle lay on either side of him with Scootaloo on top of him. And his two foals were peacefully asleep behind me in their crib.

Many questions were still running through my mind when I spotted that there was just enough room on the bed next to Apple Bloom for me to lay down on. Emmit's arm was curled around Apple Bloom and my body immediately started remembering what his touch was like. I started feeling hot again as I lay down on the bed next to Apple Bloom. After laying down, I scooted up the bed, so my head would be laying next to his. After laying an arm on the pillow over his head, I ran my other hand down his arm until I reached his hand. His head was turned toward me as I gently took his hand and slowly moved it away from Apple Bloom's sleeping body and toward my own. He didn't seem to wake as I spread my legs, rested the back of his hand between them, and then interlinked his fingers with mine.

My body started responding to his touch like it did when he bathed me. His soft caring words came to my mind as well and felt my body grow hot with my nipples gladly poking out between the scales of my breasts. As my body responded, so did he. Even though he still looked half-asleep, he opened up his eyes, closed his fingers around mine, and pressed the back of his hand against my lower lips. As he did so, I felt them grow hot, wet, and swollen with want and need. It was happening again. My body responded so powerfully with just a simple touch as his words echoed in my mind again. But why? Why such a powerful reaction when I don't know him that well. Do I really believe in his words so well as to react to him such? I had to find out and maybe I'll find out some answers when the rest of his herd shows up tomorrow.

^_^

Scootaloo didn't have anything useful to say but I did have my questions answered the next day. The next morning, Emmit took his two foals in his arms and walked like that through town to the purple crystal castle. There we waited for the rest of his herd to show up. While waiting for them he got a message about returning to Canterlot. When he asked me if I wanted to come, I declined, telling him that I wanted to ask his other females some questions. He actually smiled at that and didn't mind at all.

Then the rest of his herd showed up in the room with the thrones around the table a little bit later. Then after some time talking with them, he informed them that he needed to return to Canterlot. The three smaller fillies asked to go and after getting the ok from their sisters he agreed and so they left with him. And that's when I had my chance to talk with the rest of them.

"You wanted to ask something, Princess Ember?" the mare called Rarity asked.

"Yes and just call me Ember," I told them while feeling a little nervous. Maybe because of what I was going to ask. "Before I ask my questions, I need to tell you what happened." They each gave me a nod and stayed quiet to let me speak. Emmit's foals were now awake and cooing at their mother as they played on the table with her. "The three fillies wanted me to experience what it's like for Emmit to give me a bath." Each of them began to smile at that as I continued. "I wasn't expecting to have such a powerful reaction to his touch. I've had sex with many dragons and I've never experienced such a powerful reaction before. Sex is very open in the dragon lands and never have my nipples exposed themselves before for so long and so readily."

"Tell us how it made you feel," Pinkie Pie told me with a smile that was a knowing smile.

"As he bathed me, he talked to me, and asked me to count down while telling me that he cared for me," I began to say while thinking back to that. "He told me that there was nothing to worry about, that I was safe, and cared for, so it was alright to relax. I found myself relaxing but what surprised me was how, for the first time, I let my guard down. Really let my guard down completely around him. So much so that I became aroused at just his touch." They began to smile wide and even knowingly smirk at me as I reached up and grabbed my small breasts. "My nipples poked through my scales, I became hot to his touch, and even wanted him to touch me more. I now understand what he meant by intimate but not sexual. And yet, he had me responding to his touch so powerfully?"

"I get what you're saying, Ember," Applejack looked over with a small understanding smile. "After my parents died a few years ago, I found myself practically running the farm. Granny was experienced and helped immensely but I felt like the whole world was on my shoulders. During all that time up until Emmit bathed me for the first time, I didn't realize how much I was protecting myself from others. I had to be the strong one for the family for so long that even though I was friendly with others, I didn't let others get close enough to ever be hurt with that loss again. Until he gave me a bath, told me that it was alright to relax, that he cared for me, and let him tell me through his touch. After he got done, I cried as he held me." I saw a single tear fall from her eye as she looked at me with a wide smile while giggling a little. "Actually cried for the first time since their death. I let it all out. And I realized that if we cut ourselves off from being vulnerable to others we also cut off means of really being intimate with others. To deeply care for others and have them deeply care and love you. I was just afraid of feeling that loss ever again."

I watched Rarity reach over and lay her hoof over Applejack's. "Ember. I'm guessing that dragons aren't really intimate with others?"

I shrugged, "I've had sex with lots of dragons."

She looked over at me with a knowing smile. "Ember, you can still have sex without being intimate and you can be intimate without having sex. Intimacy, Ember, is opening yourself up completely and fully to somepony else in such a way that you feel completely safe and secure with him. I think that you've been protecting yourself emotionally and intimately, like Applejack had been, for so long that it could feel a little frightening to open yourself so fully and completely as you did with Emmit. To let down your guard enough that feeling so vulnerable felt frightening to you. Am I right?"

That got me thinking. Sex without being intimate. Was I doing that the whole time?

"Ember?" Rainbow drew my attention and when I looked over at her, she looked a little embarrassed and even a little downhearted. "I'm a mare that always wants to look cool to others. I've had sex with Emmit lots of times in multiple ways. Each one was great and felt way awesome. And yet, after all this time with him, I feel that I've been intimate with him so few times. I'm also learning what it truly means to be intimate. What it means to truly love somepony." She looked up at me with a look that showed so much insecurity. "It's like I want to show everypony how cool I am to hide how insecure I feel sometimes. To hide my flaws. I'm beginning to understand that being intimate with somepony is allowing them to see you when you feel and are that insecure. That they can see all your flaws and everything you don't like about yourself and he won't turn away but keep loving you anyway. That loving somepony enough to let them see, feel, and love both the bad parts as well as the good parts. Then to have him look you in your eyes and tell you that he loves all of those parts of you too. So, when he's touching me and telling me that he loves me, he's also doing that for all my flaws. He's doing that to all of me and not just the good parts that I show others. So...I love him."

"That's surprisingly well put, Rainbow," Twilight said with a wide smile for her.

Rainbow blushed with a slight shrug, "I have my moments."

"Yeah," Pinkie cheered while clapping her hooves together. "Being intimate and feeling loved is when he makes you happy even after knowing all your flaws, failures, and mistakes. Emmit makes me feel so happy because of how he feels about me and treats me."

"He knows my deepest darkest secrets," Fluttershy said softly while gently nuzzling her soft cooing foals. "I tell him things that I've never told anypony else."

"I've never really done any of that," I told them while everything they said rattled around in my head. "To dragons, seeing such things is seen as a sign of weakness."

Twilight nodded at that, "That explains why you never let down your guard even during sex."

"Yes, a dragon with weaknesses will be ridiculed by other dragons," I told them. Then continued with, "But I'll think about everything you said and work on being...intimate...with him. If that is alright?"

"Yes, Ember, I think that will be alright," Rarity said with a wide smile. "I think it will be good for you."

"Thank you. After he returns from Canterlot, I think it's time to return to my father and find out why he wants me to marry him."

^_^

(Emmit's POV, Canterlot)

While on the train back to Canterlot, I told them about the human world. I told them about my father and how I got here. They knew some of the background but not everything. After boarding the train, they asked why we were headed back to Canterlot. That's when I told them that my father decided to walk out of his cell and ask for Tia to see him. So, that's when I told them everything about my father before he showed up in Equestria and everything he did after he showed up. And why he was in the cell, to begin with. They had a lot of questions, naturally, so it took the whole trip to explain everything. Explaining something like that to them, a heavy subject as that, kept them in quiet contemplation. Understandable considering their age. They might be adults by Equestrian standards but they were still a little young for such a heavy subject. Still, they encouraged me to tell them anyway. And they were quiet all the way to Tia's room where I found him, Tia, Luna, Mother, and our daughter Solar.

When we all walked in, I saw Mother holding our gigging cooing daughter in her arms as she sat at a small table by the balcony doors. Sitting in the other chair across from her sat my father, still in his changeling form and still with the magical suppressor ring over his horn. Thankfully. I may have let him out of his cell but that doesn't mean that I wanted him to have his magic back either. One step at a time.

"Finally decided to walk out of the cell, Dad?" It was more of a rhetorical question to get their attention. Which it did. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle stood around me after we walked in and watched as Solar looked my way and immediately brightened.

"Daddy," Solar squealed, wiggled out of Mother's grasp, and practically launched herself at me. Squealing excitedly the whole way, she waved her limbs at me as she prepared to latch onto my face. All while her wings were buzzing behind her like a bee and were so fast her wings were nothing but a blur. I just smiled, sat my butt down, and felt my heart overflow with joy as my daughter glomped herself onto my muzzle. At these moments, I didn't care if they were all giggling and or chuckling at the sight. I knew that these moments wouldn't last forever, which is why I was just going to enjoy them all as long as possible. So, I brought up a paw, gently putting it against her back while she peppered my face with tiny excited kisses.

I was finally able to get out, "Daddy loves you," after she let go and I was able to hold her away from my face long enough. Of course, that didn't last long before she jumped out of my paws and to my back where she wanted to play in my tails. I accommodated her and lowered three of my tails town while we walked across the room toward my mom and dad. Tia and Luna were kind enough to wait on the bed as they were laying down on it facing us.

"Yes...son...I finally decided to walk out of the cell," my dad said to me with somber eyes filled with regret as the girls and I walked up to him. Mom reached over and gently took his hoof as he took a steadying breath. And his voice shook slightly when he looked back over at me. "I finally decided that if you are really giving me another chance, then I want to make the best of it. Even if I deserve to stay in that cell for the rest of my life. However, long that is."

"I'm told that will be a normal lifespan," mom told him with a small smile while gently squeezing his hoof. "Just as if you were back home."

"So about another fifty years left?" dad asked with a hopeful expression.

"Something like that," mom confirmed for him while I put a tail around Scootaloo that was standing on my right and another tail around Sweetie Belle that was standing on my left. And it was Apple Bloom that took the first steps toward him.

"Hi there, I'm Apple Bloom," she said in her usual happy greeting as she stood up on her hind legs, put one front hoof against the table for support, and then offered the other to him to shake. "Are you really Emmit's dad?"

My dad offered a small smile as he reached out and shook her hoof, "I am, although I don't deserve to be. Not after what I've done, or tried to do rather."

I was still about a few feet away from the table as my daughter curled herself up under my tails, giggling happily. It was pleasing to feel both Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle lean against me and because I sat down on my rump, theirs were against mine.

"Yeah, he said you tried to do some pretty awful things," Apple Bloom said with a saddened face but then gave him a small smile. "But if you are truly sorry for what you've done then I'm glad he gave you a second chance. That way we can finally meet you."

He smiled back at her, saying, "I'm happy to meet you too Apple Bloom."

Apple Bloom stepped down and looked back at us, "And over there is Sweetie Belle, she's the white one, and Scootaloo. We're in his herd as well."

Dad chuckled with a look of disbelief then looked past her and over at me. "Just how many do you have in your herd, son?"

"Um...that depends," I said then looked over at Luna with a smirk. "Luna? Do you and Nightmare Moon count as two ponies or one?"

Her form changed from that of Luna to Nightmare Moon and gave me a mischievous toothy grin and a wink. "What do you think?"

With that, I looked back at my dad and said, "In that case, thirteen."

Dad chuckled with a shake of his head, "I don't know how you do it. To think I had trouble with just one."

The girls, Tia, and Luna giggled and laughed when my mother playfully slapped his hoof with her hand looking offended, though she had a playful smile on her face. "Now stop it," Mom teased with a fake offended look on her face before grinning at him and finishing with, "you know very good and well that I was the best thing you ever got." There were giggles all around when she said that. I even took a glance over at Tia and Luna where both gave me a knowing wink that plainly said they agreed with her. Sweetie Belle even lightly bumped me with her hip giving me a wink and a giggle.

"You're right, you are," Dad said with a small smile and an apologetic look on his face. Then after a short sigh, he continued. "When I got pulled here and saw you, I thought that I had died because there you were telling me that our son was here, being brainwashed, and not to believe anyone else that looked like you... I'm sorry of such a fool I was." Then he turned and looked over at me. "Thank you, son, for coming after me and putting me in that cell. It gave your mother, your real mother, a chance to reach me through your wife, Luna."

"I know what it's like to make such a grave error as attacking your own family," Luna told him with a sober look. Then lifted a wing and put it over Tia, looking over at her with a smile and a sparkle in her eyes. "And I know what it's like to be forgiven." Then looked at me with a lustful possessive look that sent pleasurable chills through me. "And I know what it's like to be made whole again." She looked over at my father again, finishing with, "Whether or not you let those that love you make you whole again, is up to you. Like it was up to me."

Dad nodded slowly at Luna after she said that. "You're right. And because my son is giving me another chance, I want to make the best of it. I don't want to mess up again." He looked over at Mom and gently put his hoof over her hand, which she turned around a took. "I lost her once and almost lost myself. After Emmit disappeared, I did lose myself for a while. And now I have both back again. We have a chance to be a family again and I don't want to lose that."

"Good, then we can talk about what we're going to do for some fun today." Mom looked a little too gleeful.

^_^

(Twilight's POV, Ponyville)

"So, why did you send Rainbow flying to Canterlot?" Fluttershy asked while she, the girls, and Ember stood around me in a circle.

"As you all know," I began while looking around at them with a gleeful smile, "I've been working on a way to instant travel from Canterlot to here. Emmit wants his herd all in one place, so he can raise his foals all in one place. Celestia and Luna agreed that it would be great, but the only way they could do that and not neglect their duties was to instant travel from here to Canterlot and back. Emmit calls it a commute. He says that humans do it all the time to go from their home to their place of work all the time. We ponies commute by either walking, hot air balloon, or carriage for the ones that are able to afford it. So, Celestia and Luna asked me to see if there was a way to instant travel, so they could commute back and forth."

I was practically skipping in place while waiting for the rune on the ground to glow. "I realized that I've been overthinking it the whole time. So, with my idea in mind and with the idea that we all would live either in and or around Fluttershy's animal sanctuary, I thought about putting the first of two instant travel rune portals right here on this large flat stone outside of her cottage."

"I do plan on making the sanctuary just over there," Fluttershy pointed off into the distance. Then put her hoof against the flat stone, "And this could be the edge of the sanctuary."

I sat down and clapped my front hooves together, "Exactly. Easy travel from Canterlot right to our future home."

"That sounds all well and good, darling. But could you tell us how this portal here works?" Rarity asked as she pointed toward the stone in front of her.

"As I said, I realized that I've been overthinking it the whole time. We've already got a one-to-one portal. The one that teleports us to and from Canterlot dungeons. So, I took that idea and supercharged it, so to speak."

"That's great, sugarcube." AJ lifted her front hoof and rubbed it against the side of her head while staring down at the portal I etched out in the stone. "But, why did you send Rainbow to Canterlot?"

I smiled over at her. "That's because this portal needs another one like it in order to work. Which also needs to be carved in stone. I'm planning on doing that in a room in Canterlot. But I also needed a temporary one to see if it will work first before carving out the final rune. So, I made a temporary one on paper that she's carrying. Which should be activated shortly after she arrives in the throne room at Canterlot. The temporary one only works once for only one pony, so I need to test it myself. If it works, then I can etch in the final rune in Canterlot in a room next door to theirs."

"Is there a limit to how far it will work?"

I was a little surprised that Ember was the one that asked. I shook my head at her with a wide smile. "Not really. I realized that the distance between them only relies on the amount of magic it needs in order to accomplish that distance. These two runes are made specifically for the distance between here and Canterlot. But that also means that I can create others for greater distances."

Ember stepped up and knelt down in front of the stone. "So, this could work between here and the dragon lands?"

I think I knew what she was getting at and smiled at her. "Yeah, it will. This should work, so I'll only need to figure out the power requirements for the distance for another set." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the rune on the stone instantly glow and brighten. "Yes!" I clapped my hooves together in glee, then stood up, and motioned the others back. "Alright, ladies. Stand back. I'll telepathically tell you all if it worked."

"I'd cross my fingers if I had them," Pinkie cheered while the others giggled at her antics. Ember didn't get the reference but luckily Pinkie looked up at her and said, "I'll explain later."

I took a steadying breath and stepped onto the stone. It felt exactly like the ones that led down to the dungeons, just more intense. Magical power enveloped me as the rune took over. It took a little longer and felt like I was being squeezed through a cat door but a few seconds later I found myself standing in the Canterlot throne room.

"Heck yeah, it worked," Rainbow cheered as she reared up on her hind legs and threw up her front hooves.

I couldn't help but squeal excitedly while the temporary paper rune blew itself away in a cloud of paper ash. "Yes, it did!" I trotted in place out of pure joy that it succeeded. However, I needed to do something, so I calmed down enough to stand there, close my eyes, and telepathically told the others. I made it safely to Canterlot.

Yipee! Pinkie cheered in my mind as I opened my eyes and motioned for Rainbow to follow me.

Twilight? Are you in Canterlot?

Rainbow followed along beside me as I started making my way out of the throne room. I figured that Celestia was in her room, so that's where I was headed. I am Celestia. And I'm ready to start etching the final rune for instant travel between Canterlot and Fluttershy's cottage in Ponyville.

That's great, Twilight. We're all in my room and I just got a great idea for what we all could do together.

We all? Rainbow questioned as she gave me a curious look my way, which I felt the same way. Who else is with you other than Luna?

We turned down the hallway toward Celestia's room when she replied and it was something that I had mixed feelings on.

Emmit's Mother is here and his father decided to walk out of his cell and is with us now.

Rainbow especially didn't like that and with one curse of, "That son of a," she launched herself down the hallway leaving her rainbow trail behind her. Even though a part of me felt the same, this wasn't the time for a fight either. Rainbow! Stop! This isn't the time for a fight! I knew that there would be no way for me to intercept her in time. However, I still took off down the hallway as fast as my wings could carry me. I might feel the same way but he was let out of his cell for a reason. Let's hear him out. Then came the sound of doors being kicked in. The outcome was predictable. As soon as I got there, Rainbow was hanging in the middle of the room in Celestia's magical grasp. All four legs were wiggling wildly as if she was already fighting the guy.

"Come on, don't stop me," Rainbow was almost screaming at him while throwing punches and kicks at him. "He deserves a good beating for what he tried to do. Let me at him, come on, let me at him."

Even while I sighed in relief that Celestia intercepted her, it was also kind of comedic seeing her wiggle in Celestia's grasp. All our eyes turned toward the changeling sitting at the table with Emmit's mother. Especially when he stepped down from her chair and walked up to the still struggling Rainbow and looked up at her. "You're right. I do deserve a beating for what I tried to do. I deserve every single punishment." That got Rainbow to stop wiggling at least and stare down at him. "You're absolutely right. But if my son is giving me another chance then I'm going to take it."

"It's my choice, Rainbow," Emmit said as Tia lowered Rainbow toward the floor. I also noticed that little Solar was in a quiet bubble on Luna's back and fast asleep curled up looking cute. As Emmit stood in front of Rainbow, which was still in Celestia's grasp, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo stood on either side of him.

"Even after everything he's done?" Rainbow asked while pointing a hoof toward Emmit's father, now standing beside Scootaloo.

That's when I saw Luna change to Nightmare Moon and addressed her. "Rainbow Dash? Do you not recognize Nightmare Moon? Do you not remember everything I've tried doing? I tried killing my own sister to bring eternal night and force my subjects to pay attention to my glorious night." Nightmare's eyes were narrowed at Rainbow with a soft somber tone of voice, judgmental and yet trying to invoke thoughtfulness on Rainbow's part. "Yet you do not attack me with the same ferocity?"

Rainbow, like the others, looked over at Nightmare and blinked a few times as if in thought. Then crosses her front legs over her chest and begins pouting like she always does whenever she's faced with a logical argument that she can't win. "Fine. But that doesn't mean I trust him."

"Rainbow?" Emmit sighed with a patient narrowed eyes look of his own. "I may have let him out of his cell but there's still a suppressor ring on his horn." Indeed, the suppressor ring was still on his horn which meant that even though he was free there wasn't any way he could use any of his changeling magic. "It's a condition of his release."

There was a pause while everypony just looked on as Rainbow hung in the air and continued to pout. So, I decided to intervene, take Rainbow in my own grasp, and began to leave the room with her. "Well, I'm glad that's over with. Come with me Rainbow. You can...keep me company while I etch out the final rune in the room next door. It can be the teleportation room."

However, I stopped at the door and looked back when Celestia asked, "How long will it take to carve out the rune on the floor?"

"About an hour, give or take," I responded curiously as to what she had in mind.

That was answered when she replied with a wide smile, "Wonderful, then we all can spend the day in Ponyville. And I can finally start my commute back and forth to and from my new home in Ponyville."

"Indeed, I would like to spend some time looking around our future home," Nightmare Moon encouraged with a toothy wicked looking grin. "Though we might fall asleep."

"Oh that's alright," I dismissed her concern with a wave of my hoof while using my magic to open the door. "If you do, there's always a place for you to lay down. I'll let you all know when it's complete." And then left the room with Rainbow still pouting within my magical grasp.

^_^

(Ember's POV)

It was an hour ago they got word that Twilight arrived in Canterlot safely. They seemed to just stand there in worry until a few seconds later when they all relaxed and said how happy they were that it worked. Of course, that got me asking how they could know. For the next hour, they explained not only how the telepathic link between them worked but also how it came to be. It wasn't clear how the ponynapping of his mother's dead soul played into it but it became clear later. They decided to keep it going when they forgot about it later on. They all agreed on what a benefit it is from time to time. Also an annoyance from time to time.

"Here they come, y'all," the one called AJ suddenly announced, though I think it was more for my benefit. All of them suddenly got excited and started moving away from the stone soon after the rune started glowing. Immediately after stepping back, Twilight appeared first on the stone and then after she stepped away Princess Celestia and Luna were next.

"Congratulations, Twilight," Celestia was saying while stepping off the stone. "I knew you could but I'm happy that you've done it so quickly."

"Indeed," Luna agreed with a nod and a smile that looked like it was fixing to break her face.

"We can now make our herd home if Fluttershy agrees." Celestia's face looked hopefully over at Fluttershy beside me. The two young foals stayed sleeping even while she replied her agreement, the arrival of the three young fillies, Emmit, and then a changeling with a ring around his horn. While Fluttershy, Celestia, Luna, and the rest of them started walking away from the cottage, Emmit came walking up to me with the changeling with him.

"Dad? This is Princess Ember of the dragon lands," he announced as he motioned toward me with a paw. Dad? This changeling is his dad? "Confused?" After I gave him a nod, he started to explain. "Have you been told what happened with my mother?"

"Yes, I was told that her soul was brought here by mistake," I said in response.

"Correct," said the changeling with a sad tone to his voice. His face was drooping with a loss that I couldn't understand. "His mother, my wife, was taken from us when he was young. Then he disappeared on me while we prepared to go on a camping trip. Then about a year and a half later, I got pulled into this body and brainwashed by Chrysalis into trying to hurt my own family."

Smoke came from my nostrils at that while glaring down at him with my arms crossed over my chest. "My father should have squished her when he had the chance."

He looked up at me with a wry smile of his own. "I'd have to agree with you. Then again, if he did, then I wouldn't have the opportunity that I have now. My son's given me a second chance and I get to see him and his mother again even after everything I've tried to do. So, I'm not going to complain." He paused just long enough to look me over before commenting, "I know that there are mythological creatures here, son. It's going to take me some time to get used to seeing them around."

Emmit explained when I gave him a curious look. "In our world, dragons don't exist."

"Are you going to be a regular here, Princess Ember?" he asked as Emmit motioned us to follow the rest of his herd.

"I don't know yet. My father wants us to be married but we also want to speak with my father first and find out why that is." While we walked away from the cottage, I noticed how his herd was walking together and pointing at things unseen. It was clear that they were already deep in discussing their plans for his herd sanctuary. All I saw was a grassy terrain sparsely covered in flowers with a waterfall in the distance. Hardly what a dragon would call home. While my mind mulled that over, I felt one of his tails lightly wrap itself around my waist. "I'd like to go tomorrow morning." Even though he was in his fox form, as he calls it, my body started responding to his touch. This time, I explored this feeling as we slowly walked toward the others. My body grew warm with my nipples poking through my breast scales once more. I even reached down and encouraged him to wrap his tail around my waist tighter. Doing so, meant that he was claiming me as his mate. As that is the way it is done in the dragon lands. I wasn't sure if the gesture meant the same to him. However, the way his tail wrapped tighter around my waist, it probably was. Doing so both excited me and terrified me. After a breath to calm my nerves, I tried fully relaxing and let my body respond to him. The words from the others on how terrifying it could be to do so came back to me and confirmed just that. Fully opening myself up to him and let my guard down completely was scary to me. But I wanted to explore this feeling. So, I let my nipples poke through my scales and the heat build between my legs.

"Sure, I think we could do that," he said back. Our eyes met with him smiling up at me with his tail now firmly wrapped around my waist, I moved close enough to him that we rubbed up against each other as we walked closer to the group. "Although, we'll have to find a balloon to take us unless you plan on carrying me."

"We would drown in the sea if I did." I may have said it with a straight serious face but Emmit turned it around on me.

"Oh, I see," his voice took on a mischievous tone to it. "Certainly you aren't calling me fat or heavy are you?"

When I looked down at him, there was a humorous glint in his eyes and I had to put my hand to my face with a sigh and a patient groan. "They warned me against your humor." As we got closer, we heard them deep into the planning stage.

"I think that would be wonderful, Celestia." By Fluttershy's tone of voice, I think she was liking whatever idea that they thought up for the area.

"Yeah, one big area where everypony can mingle, eat and have fun together. Right here would be great." I watched Pinkie nearly jump in place she looked soo happy. Even put a hoof around Fluttershy as a sideways hug.

"It is picturesque," Rarity was saying as she stood beside Pinkie while they looked toward the waterfall. Emmit, his father, and I walked up behind them while staying quiet so we could just listen in. "I think a center area with the creek running through it would be simply wonderful. Planned right, everypony would come from far away just for the perfect romantic scene. Especially under the soft light of a full moon. A gazebo perhaps for an outdoor romantic dinner under the moonlight?"

"You could keep a simple open area for an old-fashioned picnic," AJ offered.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that Emmit was looking up at something. It turned out to be the one called Rainbow Dash. She was sitting on a cloud above the others and staring down at Emmit's father rather intently. Narrowed eyes and a cold stare intently. I think they were speaking telepathically because she shook her head after he tapped the ground with a hoof.

"We could tease Emmit with sensual baths under the waterfalls," Nightmare Moon suggested then turned her head back toward us giving Emmit a teasing wink.

"Now there's an idea." Celestia chose to tease Emmit as well as she too turned to look back at him. What both of them said, drew his eyes to them. When they got his attention, they linked their tails together, lifted them giving him a "come here" gesture with the tips. All while giggling and swaying their hips at him which gave him a good show. I also watched while wondering if I could draw his eye the same way? "After one foal and I can still turn his head," Celestia, and the others in his herd giggled at that.

Emmit simply smiled at her saying, "Tia, you will always turn my head."

"Will we turn your head, Emmit?" I heard from Apple Bloom and nearly laughed at the sight. The three fillies did the same as Celestia and Luna by raising their tails and shaking their butts at him. The way they did it, however, had it looking more silly than the erotic nature it was supposed to be. Apple Bloom was front and center being closest to him. So, in response, Emmit lowered his head and, with a mischievous smirk on his face, said a quick, "Yep," just before practically launching himself toward her. He didn't tackle her but latched onto the lips between her legs. Apple Bloom yelped in surprise before laughing and taking off which had the other two doing the same. And so, the chase was on.

I stood where I was and watched Emmit chase after them. Then kissed and fondled them after he caught them while the rest of his herd looked on, laughed, and cheered for the fillies to try and get away. There was a wide happy smile on the face of Emmit's father as he looked on and watched the fun. "Family is everything, Ember," he said with a wistful voice while watching the fillies tease him by shaking their butts then him rushing in kissing them between their legs. "Trust me, I know. I lost my family, then tried to destroy it, and now have an opportunity to have it again."

Even though I heard his words, my thoughts whirled around feeling his human lips against me again. And heat grew between my legs again at that very thought.

"Rainbow Dash! Will you please stop glaring at Emmit's father already?" Twilight Sparkle berated him with a glare up at her. "So, help me don't make me come up there."

"No, somepony needs to keep an eye on him," Rainbow said without taking her eyes off of the changeling while she lays on a cloud just above.

Emmit had his head between Scootaloo's legs and whatever he was doing was making her want more, moaning out her approval. She whined when he stopped, raised his head, and looked back toward Rainbow. "Rainbow-" Emmit didn't get to finish his beratement as the changeling spoke up.

He looked over at Emmit with a small sad smile. "No, Emmit. It's alright. Small steps, son. Can't win everyone in a day." Emmit turned around and started walking back over to where his father and I were standing. The look on his face was one of practiced patience with Rainbow as he stole a glance up at her as he walked by. "You may have let me out the cell but it will take time to get me into their hearts. She's right to feel the way she does. Now that my head is on straight again, there will be plenty of time." I watched him take a minute to take a look around before smiling back at him. "This is a beautiful place and from what I've heard so far, it sounds like it will be a wonderful place to raise kids. A nice small community. Maybe in time, I'll be welcome here. But not right now. Don't worry, son. There's time now."

Emmit let out a frustrated sigh before giving him a small smile with a short nod of his head. "Alright."

"I'll see you later, son," he said then turned around and headed back toward the teleportation stone. Emmit changed to his human form only when his father stepped onto the stone and teleported away. Then after he threw up his hands, he turned back around and looked up at Rainbow while the rest of his herd started gathering around.

"Was that really necessary, Rainbow?"

Rainbow kicked the cloud away then hovered down where she could get face to face with him to answer his question. "Yeah, it was. I don't trust him and I know you don't either. That's why you kept that ring over his horn, so he couldn't try anything. And while I can't speak for the herd, I can speak for myself. And I don't want him around here. Not after what he tried to do."

"You have not seen his subconscious mind as we have, Rainbow Dash," Luna started to explain as she stepped up next to Emmit and looked up at Rainbow. "The reason he is free from his cell is that he is truly remorseful for his actions and free from Chrysalis' control."

"That very well may be, Princess Luna. And while I truly believe in second chances, I do agree with Rainbow that my trust with him being around this place will have to be earned."

Emmit rolled his eyes then nearly put his nose to Rainbow's nose, "Why do you think the ring is still on his horn? Even though he's my father, I haven't forgotten everything he tried to do which is why the suppressor ring is still on his horn. But come on now, it's his first day out." Then his face turned more serious and narrowed his eyes at her while lowering his voice, "Surely you don't think that I would willingly endanger my own foals, now do you?"

"No!" Rainbow retorted though looking a little bit sheepish herself, even floated back a little. "Of course not, but you're in a herd now, so you have to consider our feelings as well. Especially in this unique situation."

"Is anypony keeping score?" Pinkie wondered aloud before giggling.

"Then why don't leave it up to the head mare?" Was Celestia's suggestion with a knowing smirk on her face.

Rarity stepped forward to stand by Emmit as he crossed his arms over his chest, saying, "Alright, fine. Whatever you girls decide, I'll go with. However, just remember one thing. I kept the suppressor ring over his horn for a reason. I let him out for a reason. And I invited him here for a reason. That didn't mean he was going to stay here. I haven't seen my father since coming here, had to fight to get his mind back, and so on his first day out, I wanted it to be something special. To really introduce him to you properly to you all." He finished with a glare over at Rainbow, "Now that is ruined."

Rainbow's ears drooped as did the look on her face after he said that. She even landed and started lightly hoofing the ground as she played with a few blades of grass.

"I think it's clear that Emmit has put in place precautions and I also believe Luna and Nightmare Moon that Emmit's father is genuinely remorseful of his previous actions," Rarity began while looking around at the others as if she was the referee. "I think we can all agree that we would rather get to know his father on friendly terms. And while I agree that requires a level of trust that he has to earn, due to his previous actions, Emmit's father needs to be able to earn it somehow. So, I'm sorry darling for ruining your plans. Perhaps we can try again when you get back from your trip with Ember to the dragon lands?"

"Alright, alright, I'm sorry for ruining everything," Rainbow looked up at Emmit, still looking sheepish with her ears laid back against her head but with a firm look in her eyes. "However, I just can't trust him."

"He does require supervision, I whole heartily agree Rainbow," Rarity spoke up with a slightly condescending look toward Rainbow. "While he is earning our trust, I know Emmit would agree that the suppressor ring stays on of course. And I think brief visits here would be acceptable as long as he's monitored at all times. Can we all agree?"

Every one of them agreed and even though the matter was settled, the sour mood left behind put a little bit of a damper on things for the rest of the day. Which was spent eating and planning the area where who would be where and how things would look. Luna decided to take her rest outside for once on a thick blanket that Twilight provided. However, my mind kept going back to what his father said about family. And it was family that we would be seeing tomorrow. Now, with more questions to ask.