Breaking Boundaries

Blazing guided Filia through the streets of Ponyville as she took in the love energy flooding the air. "So," he began, "where shall we go first?"

"How should I know?" Filia replied with a shrug. "This is your hometown. You know it better than I."

"I was mostly asking myself," Blazing chuckled as he scratched the back of his head. "Let's see; there's Sweet Apple Acres, Sugar-Cube Corner, the Golden Oak Library." Blasing blinked. "Oh! That's an excellent place to start!" He declared as he looked at the tree across the road from his house with a smile.

"A library?" Filia asked with a raised eyebrow. "What's so special about a library?" Blazing began guiding Filia toward the library with a smile on his face.

"That's where Twilight Sparkle lives," Blazing answered. "She came to town not long before I did. Actually, it was thanks to her and her friends my mother was able to start visiting Ponyville without scaring everyone off." Filia hummed as she immediately recognized the name.

"Twilight Sparkle was that unicorn leading the charge against the changelings," she thought to herself as she walked with Blazing. "Getting as much info on her could really help mother with another assault." Blazing guided Filia to the front door and opened it.

"Twilight?" Blazing called. "Are you home?"

"Blazing! Wassup?" a young voice called from upstairs. Blazing smiled up at a purple baby dragon with no wings walking down the stairs with a smile on his face.

"Hey, Spike!" Blazing replied as Filia stood next to him. "Spike, this is Fil- uh, Golden Chocolate," Blazing introduced Filia with a smile as Spike reached them. "She's an old friend of mine from years ago."

"Call me Chocolate," Filia said with a wave of her hand.

"Nice to meet you, Chocolate. I'm Spike." Spike said as he extended his hand out to Filia, who raised a brow in confusion before she took it.

"I wanted to introduce Chocolate to everyone," Blazing explained with a smile. "Is Twilight around?" Blazing asked as he looked around the library.

"Who is it, Spike?" Twilight's voice came from the basement doorway as the lavender unicorn walked in with a smile. "Oh! Hi, Blazing!" Twilight greeted warmly.

"Hi, Twilight!" Blazing replied before gesturing to Filia beside him. "This is my friend, Chocolate," Blazing introduced.

"Hi," Chocolate said as she waved her hand. Twilight smiled at the chocolate-colored pegasus standing next to Blazing.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Chocolate," Twilight greeted warmly. Filia looked at Twilight over casually.

"This is Twilight Sparkle?" she asked herself. "She doesn't look special."

"I see you've already met my number one assistant, Spike," Twilight observed with a smile. "Without whom, I would be lost." Filia sensed the relationship between Twilight and Spike was strong. The sense of loyalty and trust flowed between these two like the clear stream of a river.

"So, you actually live in this library?" Filia asked as she looked around.

"Yes, I do," Twilight answered proudly. "Princess Celestia sent me here to supervise the Summer Sun Celebration a couple of years ago."

"That wasn't the only reason," Spike observed, making Twilight blush.

"Yeah," Twilight chuckled. "The princess also sent me here to make friends."

"Really?" Filia asked with a raised eyebrow. "Supervise an event and make friends? In a library?"

"Isn't it wonderful?!" Twilight asked in excitement, making Blazing chuckle. Filia could sense Twilight's overwhelming love of the books that filled the shelves.

"Okay," Filia hummed. "Maybe I can come to Twilight to learn more about equine culture later," she thought to herself. "Probably not. I don't wanna arouse suspicion." Filia cleared her throat. "Well, at least I know who to turn to if I want to check out a book."

"Oh!" Twilight said in delight. "Do you like reading?! What's your favorite book or series?! Would you like to check out Daring Do?"

"Twilight," Blazing interjected. "We can talk about books later. Right now, I need to show Chocolate around town. Meet the others." Twilight blushed.

"Oh," she chuckled. "Sorry. I tend to get carried away."

"Now, that's an understatement," Spike joked as he walked off to do his chores. Twilight shot Spike a glare as he walked off while both Blazing and Filia chuckled.

"So, I noticed," Filia hummed. "So, about that tour?" she asked Blazing.

"Right," Blazing said before looking at Twilight. "We'll catch you later, Twilight."

"Come back any time," Twilight replied with a smile.

"See you later, Spike!" Blazing called.

"Later, Blazing!" Spike replied while dusting the books on the shelves while standing on a ladder.

Blazing guided Filia back to the door. "So, I think Sugar-Cube Corner should be our next stop. Maybe we'll bump into the Cutie Mark Crusaders."

"The what now?" Filia asked as they got out the door.

"Hi, Blazing!" three young voices called out, making Filia jump. She looked to find three young equines, one of each class, smiling up at Blazing.

"Oh, hey, girls!" Blazing replied with a smile as he crouched down to give them all a group hug.

"Where have you been?" the orange pegasus asked.

"Yeah, it's been ages," the yellow earth pony added.

"Did you get lost in the forest?" the white unicorn asked in concern. "We tried to form a pussy to try and find you." Filia raised an eyebrow at the word "pussy" before the orange pegasus rolled her eyes.

"A "Posy," Sweetie Belle," she groaned. "Not a "pussy," a "posy." Blazing chuckled.

"Girls, I'm fine," Blazing assured them. "I just spent a lot of time with Zecora, that's all."

"You were at Zecora's this whole time?" the pegasus asked. "Why were you gone for so long?"

"Zecora just needed a lot of help with some things," Filia piped up, getting the trio to look at her.

"Who's this?" the earth pony asked.

"Is she your girlfriend?" the pegasus asked excitedly.

"You found a special someone?!" the unicorn asked excitedly.

"She's just an old friend," Blazing explained with a blush. Filia found herself smirking at Blazing as she felt his embarrassment.

"I take it these are the Cutie Mark Crusaders you were just talking about?" Filia asked. Blazing blinked.

"Oh," Blazing chuckled. "Chocolate, this is Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom," he introduced while pointing at the pegasus, earth pony, and unicorn. "CMCs, this is Golden Chocolate," Blazing introduced as he stood upright while gesturing to Filia.

"Hi," Scootaloo said.

"Howdy," Apple Bloom added.

"Nice to meet you," Sweetie Belle offered. "So, are you Blazing's girlfriend?" Sweetie whispered as she leaned closer to Filia, who could not help but chuckle at the excitement of the young equine.

"I'm just his friend, Sweetie," Filia replied. "Stars! Equines have such weird names."

"Are you sure?" Scootaloo asked with a raised eyebrow. "Not even a secret girlfriend?" Blazing chuckled.

"Aren't you three supposed to be in school?" Filia asked. "Young equines go to school, right?"

"It's a Sunday," Blazing answered. "There's no school on weekends."

"You went to school, right?" Apple Bloom asked. Blazing blinked as he thought about an answer.

"I was homeschooled," Filia answered casually. "The family traveled a lot, so they taught me while on the road."

"Well, that makes sense," Apple Bloom accepted the answer.

"Damn, I need to work on that," Blazing thought to himself. "Well, we were about to go to Sugar-Cube Corner," Blazing said with a smile. "Why don't you three come with us? I'll buy you each a treat."

"We'd love to," Apple Bloom said.

"But we were going to go find our marks," Scootaloo added.

"Planning another adventure?" Blazing asked as they all began walking down the road.

"You know it!" Scootaloo answered excitedly.

"We were thinking about photography," Sweetie Belle answered as the trio walked with Blazing.

"I thought we agreed on skydiving," Scootaloo countered.

"Skydiving?" Filia asked.

"I know! It sounds awesome, right?!" Scootaloo asked while Blazing chuckled.

"You might want to think about that for a bit," Blazing suggested.

"What's there to think about?" Scootaloo asked. "We just jump out of the sky and open the parachute!"

"How are you going to get high enough to do that?" Filia asked.

"Oh, that'll be easy," Scootaloo shrugged it off with a smile. Filia opened her mouth to protest before Scootaloo turned to the others. "C'mon, Crusaders! Let's go get our marks!"

"Cutie Mark Crusader Skydivers! Yay!" the three cheered in unison before taking off in a flash, making Blazing chuckle while Filia stood there in confusion.

"Why the hell was I concerned for them?" Filia asked herself. At that moment with the Crusaders, she felt genuine concern for their safety, and she had no idea why. "It's just an act. You have to keep up an appearance here. That's all."

"You gotta love their enthusiasm," Blazing observed, pulling Filia out of her little trance.

"Are they always like that?" Filia asked.

"Every time they're together," Blazing answered happily. Filia hummed as she looked where the girls were running.

"Aren't you concerned they might get hurt?" Filia asked, making Blazing look at her with a smile.

"Why so concerned?" Blazing asked with a smirk, making Filia blink as she continued walking with him.

"I'm not," Filia answered. "I just know you are concerned for others' safety." She looked away. "Shit, this is going to be a pain in my ass!" Blazing chuckled.

"They've been trying a lot of crazy things for almost two years now," Blazing answered. "I know they can handle themselves." Filia hummed as she walked with Blazing through town until they reached a house decorated like a gingerbread house. "Here we are! Sugar-Cube Corner."

"Interesting design choice," Filia observed as she looked the house over.

"Just be ready for a surprise," Blazing warned as he opened the door for her.

"What do you mean?" Filia asked just as she passed Blazing through the door. Blazing and Filia were showered with confetti as a loud pop filled the air, making Filia jump in shock.

"Surprise, Blazing's friend from the Desolute Zone!" a pink earth pony called from the door before pulling them both in suddenly.

Inside, Filia found the room filled with equines of every age and color welcoming her with a loud "surprise", each of them wearing a proud smile on their faces. Filia looked around in both shock and confusion at the overwhelming flow of positive emotion flooding the room.

"Welcome to Ponyville!" the pink equine cried. "I'm Pinkie Pie, and I threw this party for you!" she excitedly explained as she gestured to everything inside. Filia looked around in shock to find the shop's whole interior decorated with balloons and streamers. Filia began to feel dizzy from all the excitement and emotion filling the room.

Blazing pulled Pinkie to the side and glared at her."How'd you know about her?" Blazing sharply asked in a hushed tone.

"My Pinkie-Sense told me you were coming," Pinkie answered with a smile.

"Not that," Blazing countered as he looked around while Filia slowly walked up while rubbing the back of her head. "How'd you know about where she's from?" Blazing asked while pointing at Filia.

"You mean the Desolute Zone?" Pinkie asked happily. "Silly; My Pinkie-Sense told me."

"Pinkie-Sense?" Filia asked through a soft groan.

"Uh-huh," Pinkie answered proudly. "My body randomly shivers, shutters, and twitches whenever something's about to happen. I call it my Pinkie-Sense!"

"So you know I'm a-?" Filia asked as she squinted her eyes a bit. Blazing started to panic as Filia spoke.

"Hey!" Blazing interjected.

"A changeling?" Pinkie asked quietly. "Oh, you don't have to worry your scally little head," Pinkie said as she patted Filia's head. "I won't tell anyone. Cross my heart and hope to fly; stick a cupcake in my eye!" Pinkie crossed her heart, extended her hand out, then poked her closed eye with a smile as she made her pledge. Blazing sighed in relief as he found a seat.

"Damn, Pinkie," Blazing sighed. "Don't scare me like that!"

"Care to explain to me what just happened?" Filia asked as she notably struggled to sit next to Blazing.

"Filia, this is Pinkie Pie," Blazing said as he hung his head while gesturing with his hand. "Pinkie Pie, Filia."

"Hi!" Pinkie greeted happily. Blazing lifted his head to look at Filia. Filia could sense Pinkie had no ill intentions against her, but she still kept her guard up as best she could while slowly regaining her composure.

"Are you okay?" Blazing asked Filia.

"I'm fine," Filia answered as she rubbed her forehead. "Just give me a minute."

"Would you like some water?" Pinkie asked. "Or maybe some orange juice? Do you even drink?"

"Pinkie!" Blazing softly growled.

"It's fine," Filia interjected. "I just need a minute."

Blazing wanted to reach up to rub Filia's back, but he hesitated before Filia lifted her head. Blazing watched her with concern in his eyes before Filia looked at Pinkie.

"So, about this "Pinkie-Sense"?" Filia asked. "What the hell is that about?"

"Pinkie Pie has this uncanny ability of breaking all the laws of physics somehow," Blazing explained. "She can somehow sense things before they happen, appear out of nowhere, suspend herself in midair, revert time around her; I can go on."

"And that weird pledge thing?" Filia asked.

"The Pinkie-Promise!" Pinkie answered happily. "No one ever breaks a Pinkie-Promise." Suddenly, Pinkie's expression went from joyful to serious in an instant as her eyes narrowed sharply. "No one!"

"How can you be sure?" Filia asked. Blazing pointed at Pinkie.

"I could've told everyone what you are last night when you first came into town," Pinkie explained happily. Filia thought about what she just heard. If Pinkie could sense things before they happen, as Blazing suggested, there could easily be a mob breaking down Blazing's door in the middle of the night, but no one seemed to know about Filia. If Twilight knew, she would have attacked Filia on the spot when they first met, but she seemed to have no idea.

"Trust me when I say, you don't ever want to break a Pinkie-Promise," Blazing answered. "It won't end well for those who do."

Filia looked at Pinkie, who just smiled happily at her. Filia sensed no threat coming from the pink equine whatsoever, though something about Pinkie told Filia she better be careful about her.

"Hey, Stripes!" a familiar female voice called as a cyan-blue arm wrapped around Blazing's neck suddenly, making him groan sharply. "What're ya doin' hiding in the corner? TIt is a party, after all!"

Filia watched Rainbow as she hummed in thought. "If Pinkie told anyone I'm a changeling, this one would surely have attacked first."

"Dash, will you please stop calling me that?!" Blazing groaned as he pushed Rainbow off.

"Not a chance, bro!" Rainbow countered before grabbing Filia's wrist. "Now, c'mon! This party's for you, and everyone wants to meet you!" Filia went wide-eyed as she looked at Blazing as if crying for help before Rainbow pulled Filia into the crowd. Blazing rolled his eyes as he got out of his seat to follow.

"Don't worry, Blazing," Pinkie called as she bounced beside him. "No one will find out."

"I trust you, Pinkie," Blazing said as he looked through the small crowd. "But, that doesn't mean I'm not worried something will happen."

"Oh, you don't have to worry about that," Pinkie countered. "Your dear friend, Pinkie Pie, has got you covered." With that, she disappeared into the shop.

"I don't know how she'll do it," Blazing sighed to himself, "but I know she can do it." Blazing walked into the crowd to find Filia before feeling a hand on his shoulder, making him look to find an orange earth pony with a hat on, greeting him with a smile.

"Howdy. Blazin'," Applejack said. "Why haven't ya mention yer friend, Golden Chocolate, before?"

"She likes her privacy," Blazing answered with a smile.

"Well, ah sure can respect that," Applejack accepted the lie with a smile. Blazing internally sighed with relief. "So, why the sudden change o' heart?"

"I convinced her to come and meet my Ponyville friends," Blazing answered with a smile.

"Well, darn tootin'," Applejack smiled. "That's some good news, but we better find her before Rainbow gets all carried away."

"Agreed," Blazing replied as he looked around. It did not take long for him to find Filia chatting with a white unicorn with stylized purple hair. Blazing and Applejack walked over to the pair with smiles on their faces.

"Chocolate," Blazing called, getting the two girls to look at him.

"Blazing," Rarity called joyfully. "Your friend is quite the charm, darling! Why in Equestria would you not tell us about her?"

"I see you've already met our fashionista," Blazing observed with a smile.

"Rarity's quite the smooth talker," Filia observed with a smile. "Quite energizing."

"Oh, darling," Rarity said with a chuckle. "I merely complimented on the magnificence of your beautiful coat. You must tell me what conditioner you use!"

"That, Rarity," Filia began with a smirk, "is my little secret."

"Oh, what I wouldn't give to know it," Rarity mused as she smiled at Filia. Blazing smiled at Filia as he realized she must have recovered from her dizzy spell a moment earlier.

"Chocolate," Blazing interjected, getting the girls to look at him. "This is Applejack." Blazing gestured at the orange equine, who took her hat off with a smile at Filia.

"Pleasure to make yer aquatints," Applejack said happily.

"Are you from the south?" Filia asked.

"Nope," Applejack replied as she put her hat back on. "Born and raised here in Ponyville. Well, most o' my life, anyhow. I lived in Manehattan with my cousins for a while, but that didn't last."

"Wait," Filia blinked as she realized something. "Apple Bloom wouldn't happen to be your little sister, would she?"

"She sure is," Applejack answered proudly.

"You know she and her friends are planning on skydiving?" Filia asked. Applejack sighed as she rolled her eyes.

"Is that what they're up to?" she asked as she looked at Blazing.

"What can you expect from three girls focused on getting their marks like them?" Blazing asked with a smile.

"Ya gotta point, there," Applejack admitted with a chuckle.

"Seriously?" Filia asked. "None of you are concerned about their safety?"

"You'd be surprised what those three have been through over the last couple o' years," Applejack explained. "Why, just a few months ago, Apple Bloom made herself a potion that gave her the Cutie Pocks." Filia blinked.

"Seriously?!" Filia asked in shock.

"Don't worry," Blazing interjected. "Zecora knew just what to do to cure her." Filia looked between the two equines in disbelief. "Like I said before," Blazing began as he rested a hand on Filia's shoulder, "those three have been through enough for me to know they can handle themselves. They just might need a nudge in the right direction every now and again." Blazing said that last bit while winking at Applejack, who smiled at him in return.

"These equines are crazy," Filia thought to herself as she watched all the party guests enjoying themselves. "Children getting themselves into trouble. Non-magical equines breaking the laws of physics. So much love and trust between one another."

"Hey, AJ?" Blazing called, pulling Filia out of her thoughts as she looked at Blazing. "Do you know where Zuro is? I haven't seen him around since before the whole Canterlot crisis?" Filia blinked as she heard the name while watching the equines talk.

"Zuro?!" she asked herself. "He didn't even hide his name?!"

"Me neither," Applejack answered with a look of worry.

"What about Zuro?" Rainbow asked as she walked up.

"I just asked AJ if she's seen him recently," Blazing asked as he looked at Rainbow, who blinked at the subject.

"Angel hasn't seen him either," a yellow pegasus girl with pink hair said as she walked up with a sorrowful look on her face. "She said he left for Canterlot the day of the wedding and hasn't been back since."

"Hey, Fluttershy," Blazing called as he looked at her before he blinked. "Wait! He went to Canterlot?" Fluttershy inclined her head.

"With any luck, the treasonous bug was squashed during the explosion," Filia hummed to herself as she listened to the conversation.

"Angel's quite concerned," Fluttershy explained. "She could give birth any day now, and Zuro's not here for it."

"Who's Zuro?" Filia piped up to keep up the illusion of being an equine.

"He's a pegasus like us," Blazing answered as he looked at Rainbow Dash. "Quite the guy, too."

"Yeah!" Rainbow added in excitement. "He's rich. He always puts others before himself. He and Angel are about to have a baby, getting ready for their wedding!"

"Long story short," Applejack interjected. "Zuro's a good friend o' ours. A real Colt Scout, to say the least. The fact that we ain't seen him in a while is unnervin'."

"What did that bug do to make all these equines think so highly of him," Filia observed. "That good, huh?"

"I think I speak for all of us when I say we'd trust Zuro with our lives," Blazing said. "Some of us know him as Guardian because of his selfless acts."

"Guardian?" Filia asked.

"He's put his own life on the line more times than we can count to help others," Rainbow answered cheerfully.

"He's good with animals," Fluttershy said softly with a blushing smile.

"He's a hard worker," Applejack added with a smile.

"Alright, guys, enough," Blazing interjected. "You keep going on like this, and you'll make him sound like some kinda Garry Stue."

"Whatcha talking about?!" Pinkie Pie asked as she suddenly appeared between them all, earning a few gasps.

"How'd you-?" Filia began to ask before she shook her head as she remembered this equine's ability to defy physics. "We were just talking about someone called Zuro," Filia answered.

"Oh, he should be getting home right about now," Pinkie replied with a smile. All the equines blinked at what Pinkie just said while Filia narrowed her eyes.

"What makes you say that, Pinks?" Blazing asked as he watched her.

"Duh!" Pinkie replied as she rolled her eyes. "My Pinkie-Sense, silly."

"Well, let's go find out!" Rainbow stated as she hovered into the air before taking off toward the door, only to be stopped by Applejack grabbing her tail.

"Whoa there, nelly," Applejack said as she held onto Rainbow. "If Zuro really is comin' home, we should give him the chance to be with Angel alone."

"I agree," Blazing added. "As much as I wanna see that son of a draconaquus, the one most deserving of seeing him after so long is Angel." Rainbow pouted as she folded her arms while landing on the ground. Filia got to her feet.

"Excuse me," Filia said. "Where's the little girl's room?"

"Up the stairs!" Pinkie answered as she pointed to the staircase lining the wall. "First door on the left."

"Isn't the public restroom over-" Applejack began to ask before a fluff of pink got stuffed in her mouth. Applejack looked down to find Pinkie's tail gagging her.

"That room's occupied right now," Pinkie explained with a smile. "Besides, Chocolate's our new best friend! Just don't take too long."

"Thanks, Pinkie," Filia offered with a smile before she began walking toward the stairs.

"If I get rid of that treasonous bug, Mother will surely reward me when I return," Filia thought to herself as she walked up the stairs. She reached the top floor, looked around before shifting into a ladybug, and flew out an open window. "Now, where is that snake?" she asked herself as she opened her senses. She scanned the town for anything outside of the overwhelming love the equines shared for each other. At first, she felt nothing until something caught her attention. "There!" She looked at a large house down the road toward the south of town. She flew towards the house at a relatively fast paste, especially for the form she took.

She landed on a window and looked inside to find the interior decoration resembling a changeling's color scheme. The walls were all black with green accents. Pictures of three pegasi, a blue male with black hair, a blue female with black hair, and a red male with black hair, lined the house's walls and shelves. They looked like the closest of friends as they did many things together. Filia tore her eyes from the house's design to find the female pegasus in a loving embrace with a changeling. The pegasus's belly was swollen, almost about to pop. "That must be Angel," Filia observed as she focused her senses on the changeling. "That's definitely Zuro," she said to herself as she narrowed her eyes at him. Using her magic, Filia carefully opened the window enough for her to slip inside.

"I missed you so much!" Angel's voice whimpered into Zuro's chest. "I thought something terrible happened to you!"

"I'm home now," Zuro softly offered as he rubbed her back. Filia found a perch on the couch in the middle of the room to watch them. Usually, she would have struck already, but the emotions filling the room stopped her. It was clear the equine felt nothing but love for the changeling holding onto her, but Filia could feel Zuro returning that love. Angel looked up at the changeling as her tears stained her cheeks.

"I heard they arrested a changeling at the castle," Angel whimpered. "After you didn't come home, I thought it was you."

"It was," Zuro explained as he caressed Angel's cheek. "But, Princess Celestia saw fit to return me home." Filia blinked at this.

"The equine monarch let a changeling go free?!" Filia asked herself as she watched. "Changelings and equines are enemies!"

"How?" Angel asked. "Why?"

"Princess Luna told Celestia about my dreams," Zuro answered. "If it weren't for the Princess of the Night, I'd probably be dead by now." Angel choked on a sob as she clung to her fiance. Zuro hugged Angel as he looked at Filia with narrow eyebrows. Filia blinked.

"Shit!" she proclaimed as she tried to hide her presence without moving.

"You can show yourself," Zuro said, earning a confused look from Angel. "I sensed your magic when you opened the window."

"Guardian?" Angel asked as she looked up before Filia flew up and reverted to her natural form in front of them. Angel gasped at the appearance of the second changeling in her house. "Who are you?"

"Princess Filia," Zuro said as he watched Filia step up with a glare on her face.

"Traitor!" Filia hissed.

"Guardian, what's going on?" Angel asked. Angel would get defensive as soon as she saw anyone threatening Zuro, but she was in no position to fight given her current state.

"This is Princess Filia," Zuro explained.

"And you're a traitor to our hive!" Filia hissed. "You managed to get away when that barrier appeared around Canterlot, but now that you're here, I can finish what we started." Angel stood between the two changelings.

"Don't you dare touch my Guardian!" Angel said shakily. Zuro rested a hand on Angel's shoulder. Angel looked at Zuro, who offered her a soft smile before he had her step to the side. Zuro looked at Filia blankly.

"Are you really going to kill me in front of my fiance?" Zuro asked.

"A changeling and an equine?" Filia asked. "I've never heard of anything so pathetic."

"My father had a relationship with an equine," Zuro countered.

"He, and everyone else in your family, are traitors!" Filia growled.

"What have we done against the hive?" Zuro asked calmly. "We never sold anyone out. We never gave information to the royals. We only wanted to live happy lives." Filia glared as Zuro made a valid point. The only thing Zuro did was leave the hive years ago, and by the sound of it, made a reputation for himself. "Look, princess," Zuro said as he took Angel's hand in his own. "All I want is to live a life with this woman." Filia looked between the two as she glared. "I know it's not normal, but I don't give a damn. I've always been fascinated by equine culture, and now I'm living with them. Peacefully. Happily." Filia stared at him for a minute.

"What about your hive?" Filia asked.

"I still love my family and the hive I was born to," Zuro answered. "But now I have a family here," Zuro said as he rubbed Angel's swollen belly. Filia stared at the pregnant equine's belly as she contemplated the situation.

"You really got this woman pregnant?" Filia asked.

"We didn't plan for this to happen, but since she's carrying my child, I'll give my life to protect her and our unborn baby," Zuro answered.

Filia hummed. She never thought she would hear of a changeling mating an equine, let alone see the results for herself. She reached out with her senses and could tell the life growing inside Angel was indeed an equine and changeling hybrid. "How the hell should I handle this?!" she asked herself. "This thing is an abomination! But, it's a changeling! Should I take it away? Should I destroy it? What the hell should I do?"

"Princess," Zuro called, getting Filia to look at him. "If there was ever a time I would request anything from the royal family, this is that time. Please, let me have my family." Filia watched Zuro with a glare. "You've spent some time with the equines, haven't you?" Zuro asked, catching Filia off guard. "You've seen Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and the others. I've only thought of them as friends ever since I first came here. They've done more for me over the last few years than the entire hive did for me in my youth. I'd do anything to keep them safe. Even if it means killing you." As Zuro said those last words, Filia suddenly felt something heavy in the air. Something that made her tremble on the inside. Zuro was serious.

"You dare threaten me?" Filia asked. "I could've killed you back at the castle."

"But, that barrier spell activated, I know," Zuro interjected. "Look, right now, the ball's in your court. You can attack and force me to defend everything I know and love, or you can stay with us in Ponyville." Filia blinked. "The equines are more understanding than you'd think, and I could use some help raising my child."

"You're offering me a home here?" Filia asked. "Even after I threaten to kill you?"

"I guess being an equine has rubbed off on me," Zuro answered. They stared into each other's eyes for a long, silent minute. "I'm sure at least one of them knows about you right now. Am I right?" Filia thought about Blazing and Zecora and all they have done to keep her alive over the last two weeks.

"Filia," Angel called, getting the female changeling to look at her. "Please don't take my Guardian away from me." Angel held Zuro's hand in her own tightly as she watched Filia. "I've spent the last two weeks unable to sleep because I thought I lost him. I don't know what I'll do if I lose him so soon after getting him back." Filia stared at the pegasus as Zuro embraced her from behind while keeping an eye on the changeling princess.

The love Filia felt Angel had for Zuro was so powerful; it was deafening. Even more so than the sudden rush of positive energy she felt at Sugar-Cube Corner. They stared at each other for what felt like an eternity before Filia turned to the window.

"I can't believe I'm doing this," Filia sighed before she looked at Zuro. "I'm sticking my neck out for you, Zuro. Don't make me regret this." Zuro smiled at the princess.

"Thank you, Filia," Zuro said as Angel clung to him through tears of joy. Filia turned to the window as she began to shift into a ladybug. "Filia, before you go," Zuro called, getting Filia to stop and look back at him. "Angel and I would love to have visitors more often. Don't be a stranger."

"We'll see," Filia replied before flying out the window. Filia flew with such speed it could cause a draft if not for her small size. "What the fuck am I thinking?!" she asked herself.

She made her way back to the open window at Sugar-Cube Corner, where she slipped back inside as she shifted to the brown pegasus form she had in front of Blazing and the others. Then she rushed downstairs to find everyone still mingling as if she never left, except for Blazing, who sat by the counter with a sad look on his face. She walked up and sat next to him.

"There you are!" Rainbow called out as she suddenly landed on the seat next to her. "What took you so long?" Rainbow asked, getting Blazing to look at Filia in surprise as tears stained his cheeks. "Stripes here thought you ran away!" Rainbow chuckled.

"Sorry it took so long," Filia offered with a smile. "Just took time to look round the town through one of the upstairs windows."

"See, Stripes?" Rainbow asked as she looked at Blazing. "You're too good for your friends to abandon you!" Blazing only stared at Filia with a grateful smile.

"Have you been crying?" Filia asked. "Your eyes are red." Blazing blinked as he wiped away the tears from his face.

"Sorry," Blazing said as he sniffed. "I'm a bit sensitive." Filia could sense the joy coming from Blazing.

"This equine's actually happy to see me?" she asked herself as she chuckled at him before patting his back. "This is going to take some getting used to if I'm going to stick around."

"Oh, buck up, Stripes," Rainbow said as she patted Blazing's back hard, earning a glare from him.

"Stop calling me that, Dash!" Blazing growled under his breath.

"Not a chance, big guy!" Rainbow replied with a chuckle.

"Maybe we should go home for the day," Filia interjected.

"Aww, already?" Pinkie asked as she poked her head from behind the counter. "But the party's not over!"

"I appreciate the gesture, Pinkie," Filia replied with a warm smile. "But I think all the excitement is getting to our friend here." Filia rubbed Blazing's back reassuringly. "Don't worry; we'll see each other again."

"Well, alright," Rainbow said. "But, you better be ready for another race, Stripes," she added. Blazing rolled his eyes at the name.

"Alright, Dash," Blazing said as he stood up with Filia. "Chocolate and I are going to head home for now. Just know that I'll kick your ass in the next race!" Blazing gave Rainbow a challenging smirk. Rainbow returned the grin as they both gripped each other's hands in a firm shake as if to seal the deal.

"Catch you later, bro," Rainbow offered as she fist-bumped Blazing's shoulder. Blazing chuckled at the technicolored pegasus.

"See you later, Dash," Blazing replied before walking off with Filia.

"Thanks for the good time!" Filia called as she walked out of the store with Blazing. After leaving the store, they walked side-by-side down the road toward Blazing's home by the Golden Oak Library.

"Where'd you go?" Blazing asked under his breath. "I thought you left for your hive."

"I just took a minute to rest," Filia lied. "Now I need to think about how I'm going to deal with that traitor and get more info for Mother."