“Thanks fer pitchin’ in, Chrome,” said Applebloom. “We really appreciate the help.”

“It was the least I could do,” said Chrome, shifting the duffel bag on his shoulder. “Anything to help out one of my favorite filly’s friends.”

Sweetie Belle blushed slightly as she, Chrome, and her girl friends reached the centralized sprawl of Ponyville. She also noticed a few ponies’ wandering eyes, leading down to Chrome’s distended crotch.

“Yeah, um, thanks,” she replied, sheepishly.

“Is something wrong, Sweetie Belle?” asked Scootaloo. “You’ve been kinda quiet since Chrome showed up.”

“Sorry. I’ve just…got a lot on my mind right now.”

“Well maybe we can go to Sugarcube Corner and take Pinkie up on her cupcake offer,” smiled Chrome. “Wonder if they’ll be better than the cupcake you brought me-“

“Now whut’s this about cupcakes?” asked Applebloom.

“Oh, before she left Canterlot, Sweetie Belle got me a cupcake with a little message in it.”

“I KNEW she went to see you!” giggled Scootaloo.

“I was just being nice,” said Sweetie Belle, trying to change the subject.

“So Chrome, what was on the note, if you’d care to indulge us?”

“And we do want ya to indulge us,” said Applebloom, leaning in towards his face.

“It was just an address-“

And before he could say anymore, Applebloom and Scootaloo squealed while Sweetie Belle tried to keep her composure.

“I just thought, m-maybe if he was passing through, Chrome might want to stop by and say hi,” said Sweetie.

“Well he got the ‘hi’ out of the way back at Sweet Apple Acres,” said Scootaloo. “Anything else you expected him to…’do’ while he’s here?”

“Right now, I could use a good shower and some food,” noted Chrome.

“I’m sure we kin scrounge up plenty at Sweetie’s house,” said Applebloom. “Her folks have a habit sometimes of overstockin’ due to the savings at Barnyard Bargains.”

“Ever since he got that membership card, Dad keeps insisting on getting his money’s worth out of it,” sighed Sweetie.

“Well, I’m more than happy to help work through some of it,” smiled Chrome.

“Sounds like a plan to us,” said Scootaloo. “You can give yourself a good cleaning, and we’ll get to work in the kitchen. Maybe we can do cupcakes tomorrow.”

It didn’t take long before the group had made it’s way down a path leading to a small cluster of houses near an elaborate windmill, and a small pond with a trickling runoff, bordered by trees off in the distance.

“Nice area,” noted Chrome. “Rather cozy.”

The house they headed towards was situated near a small pier. As Sweetie Belle opened the front door, she heard a familiar female voice coming from the upstairs.

“We didn’t overpack, dear,” it said. “We underbought.”

“Mom?” called out Sweetie Belle, as her friends entered into the living room, and Chrome shut the door behind them. “Dad?”

“Sweetie Belle?” came a response.

Moments later, there was a clattering of hooves as down the stairs came a rather voluptuous, older pink pony in a form-fitting sundress. Her purple hair had lightened with age, but she still exuded “mom-energy” upon seeing her daughter with friends.

Sweetie bounced across the room and gave her Mom a hug, though there was a sudden gasp as her Mom almost lost her balance!

“Oops, sorry,” said Sweetie, pulling back to give her Mom some space. “Still not used to toning down the hugging.”

“Aw, don’t be so hard on yourself, Sweetie,” replied her Mom. “I’m always up fer a hug from my girls.”

“What are you doing home? I thought you had a seven-day trip, and then you and Dad were off on another one.”

“Oh, I’d had my fill and asked yer Dad to come back early. I see you brought your friends over and-ooh, hello there!”

“Hello,” waved Applebloom and Scootaloo.

“Hi,” said Chrome, as Applebloom and Scootaloo parted to let him pass…revealing the sizable bulge between his legs.

“Oh-hoh my,” said Sweetie’s Mom, trying not to stare and focusing on his golden eyes and musky scent from the farm work. “Well, aren’t you just a…a real big boy.”

“Chrome,” said Sweetie making introductions, “this is my mom, Cookie Crumbles. Mom, this is Chrome Shield. I met him in Canterlot this year. He’s a member of the Royal Cadets.”

“Pleasure to meet you,” smiled Chrome, taking Cookie’s hand, but instead of shaking it, he leaned down and kissed it.

“Oh my stars and saddles,” giggled Cookie. “Such a gentlecolt!”

“Seems like a real family stallion if you ask me,” smiled Applebloom. “He helped mah bruther with sum chores, which explains the sweatiness.”

“Mom, could Chrome use one of our showers?” asked Sweetie Belle.

“Oh I don’t see why not, dear. Any friend of yours is welcome in our home any ol’ time!”

“Thank you for your hospitality,” said Chrome.

“Ey Cookie!” came a voice from upstairs. “Where’re my pants?”

“I threw em’ in the washer, dear,” called out Cookie. “I toldja I was doin’ laundry once we got through the door. By the way, your daughter and her friends are here!”

“Sweetie Belle?”

The last thing Sweetie Belle expected was to see her father clomping down the stairs, still wet and clad only in a towel. Like his wife, Hondo Flanks was greying in parts of his hair, and a pair of love handles had started to form on him in the last decade of being a father. Sweetie gulped a bit seeing him slightly bulging out the front of the towel he was wearing (though well-sized, he wasn’t in the same league as Chrome).

“Where ya been, kiddo?” he asked. “Got a hug fer me?”

“S-sure do,” she blushed, bouncing over to fulfill his request (and trying not to think how the only thing between her father and her was a towel). Much like with her Mom, Sweetie felt like she was going to smother her Dad.

“So,” said Cookie, sizing up Chrome. “What are you doing fer dinner tonight?”

“Funny you mention that,” said Applebloom. “We were gonna raid yer fridge n’ all have dinner here.”

“Now dat’s a splendid idea!” said Cookie, “Hondo, I need you to get dressed and head over to Barnyard Bargains. If we’re gonna have us a fancy dinner, I need a few extra odds-and-ends.”

“Shore ting, honey,” said Hondo, turning towards the stairs.

“Oh, and why don’t you take Sweetie’s boyfriend along with you?”

“Boyfriend?” said Hondo, looking wild-eyed. “When did Sweetie Belle get a boyfriend?”

Applebloom and Scootaloo once again tried to keep from bursting into laughter, as an awkward smile appeared on Chrome’s face, and Sweetie Belle wasn’t sure what to do…so stayed nervously silent.

“Mom, Chrome is not my boyfriend.”

Sweetie Belle and her friends were busy assisting Cookie in the kitchen and dining room, prepping dinner, and setting the table.

“Really, honey?” asked Cookie. “A big, strong stud like that?”

“I think your Mom approves,” Scootaloo whispered to Sweetie, as she set some glasses out.

“He’s, handsome and very nice, but we’re just friends.”

“So, where did you two meet?” asked Cookie, sounding as if she hadn’t heard her daughter’s last statement.

“He ran into Sweetie Belle the very first day we arrived fer the year!” said Applebloom.

“And when she says ‘he ran into Sweetie Belle,’ she means ‘he ran into Sweetie Belle,’” backed up Scootaloo.

“It was an accident, girls,” said Sweetie. “He was training with the cadets, Mom. It was an accident.”

“Oh those cadets. You know yer father almost became a cadet, but he didn’t want to leave Ponyville. Kinda funny, isn’t it? He didn’t want tah travel off to become a cadet, and ever since you came along, we’ve jus’ been traveling any chance we get!”

Suddenly, there was the sound of the front door opening, and Hondo’s voice came through, in mid-sentence.

“-had the cutest little voice when she was a filly,” he was saying. “Cookie called her ‘Squeaky Belle’ cuz of it.”

“Daaad!” called out Sweetie, putting down what she was working on and going to meet the two. “Why’d you tell him that?”

“What?” asked Chrome. “It’s cute! Can you still squeak?”

“Chrome, I’m not a-ACK!!”

Scootaloo had snuck up next to her friend and squeezed a handful of her left breast.

“Afraid she’s busted,” said Scootaloo, making a pouty face. “Squeaky Belle, is no more…but, what she lacks in squeaking, she makes up for in size.”

“Scootaloo!” cried out Sweetie as her friend ducked back into the kitchen. It was then that she noticed at least four shopping bags apiece in each of the stallions’ hands.

“Dad, Mom sent you to just pick up a few things. What’s all that?”

“Oh they had a buncha sales since I was there last. Plus, I got an extra 8 percent discount after a certain minimum purchase!”

“Chrome, why didn’t you stop him?”

“I-I-I was just trying to be helpful,” he shrugged.

“Moooom,” called out Sweetie as she headed back to the kitchen. “He did it again!”

Cookie and the girls had cleaned out most of the fridge for dinner, but everything Hondo had purchased filled it right back up (Sweetie Belle swore under her breath that she was going to hide her Dad’s discount card before he and Mom left on another trip).

While Hondo helped in the kitchen, Chrome took the opportunity to go upstairs and clean up. Sweetie continued to help get dinner ready (while hoping Chrome didn’t come downstairs like her Dad had).

Fortunately, that wasn’t the case as he came into the kitchen, wearing a clean shirt and shorts, and had also added some gel to his hair.

“Look who’s all spiffied up,” smiled Cookie.

“Thanks, Mrs Crumbles,” said Chrome. “Sorry I’m not dressed in anything fancier.”

“Oh please, call me Cookie. We’re all about being comfortable round here.”

“Sure thing, Cookie,” he said, picking up a large salad and carrying it to the table. “I’m starting to see where Sweetie Belle gets her playfulness from.”

At this comment, a giggle “flittered” out of Cookie, as the girls and her followed Chrome into the dining room with the rest of the meal.

“I think Mom approves,” whispered Applebloom.

“Knock it off,” Sweetie whispered back.

Cookie then called Hondo to the table. He had been reading the newspaper in the living room, and after a quick handwash, joined everypony else at the table.

Though there were only six of them, it looked like there was enough food to feed twice as many guests.

“Hope everypony’s hungry,” said Cookie.

And before long, the clattering of utensils and plates had begun.

“So Chrome,” asked Cookie. “What brings a nice stallion like you to Ponyville?”

“Oh he wuz tellin’ me that at the store,” said Hondo. “Turns out Sweetie Belle invited him.”

“Well how nice.”

“So that’s why he showed up,” said Scootaloo, feigning ignorance. “Thought it was kinda strange that he showed up all of a sudden this afternoon-“

“For everypony’s information,” said Sweetie, trying to keep calm, “I thought after his time in Canterlot, Chrome might want to come to Ponyville, to relax. Plus, since we were both in Twilight Sparkle’s advanced magic class this year, he might want to see where she learned The Magic of Friendship.”

“That’s our lil’ Sweetie Belle,” said Cookie, leaning over to Chrome, “always thinkin’ of others. Just like her sister.”

“Oh yeah,” said Chrome. “Rarity is real fun too.”

“Oh, you’ve met her?”

“She was in Canterlot earlier this year. I had dinner with her and Sweetie Belle.”

Sweetie quietly held her breath, waiting for him to spill his guts about everything that happened that night.

“Rarity’s just so talented, isn’t she?” smiled Cookie. “And ever since Sweetie Belle had her growth spurt, she’s helped make her sister all kinds of nice things to wear.”

“Oh yes, she certainly fills them out nicely,” remarked Chrome (eliciting some mischievous smiles from Sweetie’s friends).

“Yeah, she shore gets a lotta compliments about her figure,” pointed out Hondo.

“Daad,” whined Sweetie, blushing.

“Say, did Sweetie show you that red dress Rarity made for her? Rarity said it was fer some kinda dance.”

“It looked gorgeous!” commented Cookie.

“Yeah,” said Chrome, beaming a bit. “She wore it as my date to the dance at Canterlot Castle a few months ago.”

“A fancy dance at the castle!? Sweetie Belle, you never told us how it went!”

“Well,” said Sweetie, trying to choose her words carefully. “It was-“

“Wonderful,” interrupted Chrome. “Oh your daughter was, I know this is gonna sound lame but…I’d say she was the belle of the ball.”

At this, Hondo suddenly let out a loud laugh and pounded the table.

“I didn’t know you were a comedian too!” he exclaimed. “Sweetie Belle, yer boyfriend’s a riot!”

“Dad, Chrome’s just a friend,” she said calmly, before making eye contact with Chrome himself. “Just a good, honest, dependable friend…right, Chrome?”

Chrome felt a little uneasy being put on the spot, but there was something in Sweetie’s big green eyes that seemed to be quietly pleading for him to back her up.

“Yeah,” he said (trying to hide a hint of dejection), “a friend.”

“With benefits,” interjected Applebloom, before she suddenly cried out: “OW!!”

“Sorry,” grinned Sweetie, “my hoof slipped.”

“So where are you staying while in town, Mr Funny?” asked Hondo.

“I…haven’t decided yet, sir.”

“You should check into that fancy place over by the station. I hear they just renovated it. Sounds real nice.”

“Say Applebloom,” said Scootaloo. “Hasn’t it been real hot round here lately?”

“Sure has,” replied her friend.

“And weren’t we kinda thinking of doing that thing we’ve done together, since we were little?”

“Oh yeah, Saddle Lake!” exclaimed Applebloom.

“What’s that?” asked Chrome.

“Oh it’s a real great lil’ place we go to to swim and play and-Chrome, you should come with us! We could go over there tomorrow mornin, and Sweetie Belle’s got a new swimsuit she’s just been dying to show off, haven’t ya Sweetie?”

“Yeah,” smirked Sweetie. “Just dyin’ to show it off.”

“Sure!” replied Chrome, before realizing how horny he sounded. “Um, sure. I don’t have anything planned. I’d love to spend time with Sweetie Belle and you girls!”

“Now that sounds like a lotta fun,” noted Cookie. “Bet you kids’ll have a great time, splashin’ around out there n’ all!”

“I bet we will,” said Chrome, all worked up at what the next day would bring. “By the way Cookie, where are you and Hondo off to tomorrow?”

“Oh, we’re taking a cruise down in the South Luna Ocean. Me n’ Hondo were down there a long time ago, but a few of my girl friends went a few years ago and told me some of the places along the coast really have gotten spiffier.”

As Chrome continued to chat with her parents, Sweetie Belle took another forkful of salad, and slowly chewed it. As she did, she could see her friends on either side of her, grinning like idiots.

Author's Note

Nice to have a chapter that flows som effortlessly.

Much like how Daisy May spiffied up some previous chapters, getting the chance to write in Sweetie Belle’s parents was fun. I kept having their first appearance in Sisterhooves Social going through my head, let alone trying to figure out how much Sweetie Belle had told them about her sophomore year.

Plus, was fun to sneakily have Chrome spend some time with Sweetie Belle’s Dad. I did like making Sweetie Belle seem a bit annoyed and ticked off at times, let alone she has to keep reminding others where she stands regarding Chrome.