Big Mac hopped up onto the bed, sinking on it. "Have a nice chat?"

Sugar sat next to him, pony-loafed comfortably. "A right nice one... He'll need some practice before he gets much good at baking though, not his talent."

Big Mac chuckled, imagining Fancy trying their best to cook. "That don't sound like his specialty none."

"No... But he tried." She sat up. "It isn't your specialty either... But you try, and that counts. What he made was tasty enough, just... kinda strange looking. Welcome to baking!" She thrust a hoof up. "He'll get better."

Big Mac's ears shot up. "Better? Yer plannin' to cook more then?"

Sugar tapped her hooves. "Well... I'm willing to try. We--" She pointed to Big Mac and herself. "We're steady. Him, we can... date. See how things go. How does that sound?"

Big Mac flipped his ears back. "Would it be bad if ah said it scared me a little?"

Sugar blinked, hooves settling on the bed. "Not the answer I was expecting..."

"Well, um..." He went quiet, shuffling in place. "Well... Alright. Ah'm two ponies. This made me sure of it..." He pointed at himself. "As Blossom, ah'm all excited. Ah wanna do mare stuff at him. As Big Mac, it's, uh... a little scary... Not like ah'm runnin' or nothin'... but it's... Change is scary."

"Ayup," she said, perhaps imitating his old stoic words. "That it is... I'm nervous too... but I think he likes us, so just say when you're scared, and double that if either of us manage to hurt you... and we'll all take it slow."

"Slow... Yeah." He leaned against Sugar. "Nice an' slow..."

With that promise made, they fell against one another, eyes closing. They fell asleep, comfortable in each other's presence.

Blossom awoke, scrambling out of her bed. "Gotta get ponies home." With a glowing horn, Blossom willed the window open and hopped free of it, vanishing before gravity could get much of a say in her arc. She appeared next to... himself? She willed Big Mac up carefully, avoiding bothering Sugar on the way.

There was time for a quick peck on Sugar's cheek. That she smiled at it was a bonus.

Blossom vanished, dropping Big Mac back in his proper bed. The next spot she appeared, there was a pony waiting for her, awake.

Cadance perked at Blossom's appearance. "There you are."

"Howdy." She reached a hoof back to close the door, but it was already closed. She had teleported past it. "Um, sorry fer just... appearin' in yer room."

Cadance waved that concern away. "I was waiting for you, and not doing anything untoward." She slipped to her hooves. "But I do want an update." She let her vision slide, looking at Blossom's strange connections. "Hmm... Something changed. Share!"

Blossom moved in next to Cadance. She was too large to heft up easily. "Sugar said we could 'date' him. We're a thin', ain't no question there, but we'll give him a try... nice an' slow."

"Aw, lovely." Cadance danced in place. "Alright, we can go. But do keep me up to date. I'm just a skip away for you, so stop by any time."

Blossom hummed. "Sure, but usually at night. Are ya up most nights?"

"No... But you can let me know, and I'll make it a date." Cadance spread a wing to fold over Blossom. "Ready."

"Ready." And they were in front of the palace. "And here we are." She pointed to Cadance's home.

Cadance drew her wing back. "So fast! I checked a map." Her horn glowed as she willed a map of Equestria into being, showing where they started and ended with a dotted line. "To each princess, a unique gift."

That got Blossom thinking. "Hey, um, what's Twilight's gift? She don't do much special, um, no offense to her or nothin'."

"That's my sister you speak of." Cadance booped Blossom on the nose. "She is the princess of friendship. She encourages and spreads friendship, even outside of ponies. It's quite a talent, if you were to ask me, which you just did. Not as immediately obvious as your own ability, but not one I would scoff at."

Blossom rubbed at her bopped nose. "Mighty subtle that..."

"Did you forget?" Cadance took a few steps towards her palace. "Friendship is magic, and she knows magic very well. When push comes to shove, she can friendship a problem into the ground. Fortunately for the rest of us, she prefers not to reach for that particular use of her tool. Probably for the best, really."

Blossom cringed. She's heard of the few times Twilight had blasted something, usually finishing the confrontation right then and there... There was only one creature that had stood up to that... "Tirek."

Cadance perked an ear, but didn't turn. "He was quite the enemy... Safely secured until such time as we can find a friendlier solution, whenever that is. Now, I should get back to ruling this city. Good luck in your patrols."

"Got one more pony to bring back." And she was gone, like an editing mistake in the universe.

"One more?" Cadance looked back, and there was nopony there. "Oh... Hm." She pressed onwards to resume her princess duties.

Blossom appeared before a door she knocked on gently with a sigh of breath. "Stay calm..."

"Hm?" came from inside. "Miss Blossom?"

"Yup. Um, here to get ya home."

Fancy opened the door inwards. "Jolly good." His eyes rolled slowly up and down Blossom's form. "Ever the sight, but I get the impression we've made you get up early."

Blossom squeaked, running her hooves through her mane to get it into shape a bit better. "Ain't tired. All the time Big Mac's awake, ah'm gettin' mah sleep. Um, oh! We made a decision. Ya really should hear it."

"By 'we'..." Fancy wobbled a hoof in the air. "Do you mean you and Big Mac?"

"Oh, no..." Oops... "Me an' Sugar Belle, um... all three of us..." Blossom pointed in Sugar's direction. "We're solid, goin' straight. Ya know that."

"I do." Fancy showed not a scrap of hesitation there. "Was that in question?"

"No. But you were." She put a hoof on his chest. "An' we decided to give datin' ya a try... See how it feels, ya know?"

"I am..." He sank to his haunches. "Forgive me, I'm a little overwhelmed, but in entirely positive ways, I assure. With great pleasure do I accept this." He forced his way back to all fours. "Am I permitted to speak of you as my girlfriend then? I would not wish to overstep propriety. I confess, I have not been part of a 'polycule.'" He made quotes with his hooves at that last word. "Please inform me when I go astray, it will not be intentionally, this I assure."

Blossom's horn began to glow as she hefted him up. He wasn't as heavy as Cadance, making it possible to place the stallion on her back. Fortunately for them both, Blossom was a strong mare. Ran in the family, if one were to ask her about it. "Ready to head on home?"

"Oh, yes, both our homes."

Blossom blinked at that. "We ain't moved in togetha."

"Quite improper." Fancy pointed up towards Canterlot. "But that is our shared city, to which we both slumber, and admire."

"Huh, can't argue that none." And they were in front of Fancy's manor. "Here ya are."

Fancy slid off her to the ground. "Forgive me, but you didn't answer my question."

Question? Oh! Blossom started, remembering it. "Yeah, um... sure... no reason to lie to nopony..." She rolled a hoof in the air. "Which means ya shouldn't go talkin' 'bout it 'less yer ready to go into the whole... lotta ponies involved."

"Excellent point." He grabbed Blossom's hoof in his magic, drawing it over for a gentle kiss. "It may be worth the price, that I can share this joyous event with others, even were I forced to explain this."

Blossom darkened at the smooch. "Um..." She should reciprocate, somehow. They were dating! But... how? She did what she did with Sugar, moving in for a kiss on the cheek. There, perfect, nailed it.

Fancy's monocle slid free, hanging in the air.

"Um..." Blossom inclined her head. "Did ah do somethin' wrong?"

Fancy raised a hoof to his cheek, rubbing gently over the spot the kiss had been placed. "No... Nothing wrong at all." He cleared his throat. "Look at me, acting like a foal... No, you did everything quite right, I assure you." He smiled gently. "I am just strongly affected by your presence, but gladly welcome a repeat, should that be in our future."

This was... confusing. She was supposed to be intimidated and bedazzled by him. But there he was, doing it to her. "Um, well, we're special somepones now... so expect little thin's like that. Ah... should get patrollin'." She turned away, wings spreading. "Can't make thin's safe from here."

"I imagine now..." He stepped in place. "Would it... Feel free to deny me summarily... but can I ask you... give me this evening? I would like to speak to you, as a special somepony, a little longer."

Blossom could feel the warmth growing. "Um..." She glanced left and right. "Well... ah don't have no regular schedule, just gotta check in afore ah get to patrollin'."

"And a proud duty you accept for yourself." Fancy jumped. "Oh! How dreadful of me. To make it clear, my patronage of you continues whether our relationship does or not. I believe in what you are doing, and royal patronage. Two fine reasons to continue as we are, even if, some day, the other... falls through."

Blossom's ears turned to him fully. "Hm? Royal patronage?"

"Did you not know?" He pointed off to Celestia's castle. "I support her, and Cadance. The royalty have the right to rule, but it is the noble and merchant classes that pays for it. Now, don't get me wrong, I rather enjoy that arrangement. I have no desire to be the pony to enact laws, and Celestia does a marvelous job of it."

"Yeah! Um, an' Luna too, right?" Blossom thought of the ruler of the night. "She's right nice, once ya get to know her."

"A tricky one... but she doesn't enact many laws, or really involve herself in governance." Fancy started for the house, Blossom trailing behind him in silent acceptance of his offer. "A fine pony, who works in her own way to safeguard Equestria."

"Yeah!" Blossom reached the top of the stairs, standing there. "Do ya support her too?"

"I support Celestia." He shook his head. "And she manages Luna's fund. There is no direct sponsorship between us. I could not say how much, or little, Celestia has informed Luna of our relationships, and I am hardly the only pony throwing my bits behind her. A prosperous Equestria is a boon to no small number of us."

"Too right." Blossom opened the door with a toss of her head.

"Sir." There was his butler, stepping up. "Good to have you back, sir, ma'am." He nodded to each pony. "Would you care for anything?"

Fancy hummed thoughtfully. "Prepare the drawing room, and bring fizzy drinks. I think a little soft beverage is appropriate for the conversation. Thank you."

"Of course, sir." The butler dipped his head low and scurried away to make that happen.

"Ah think ah know where that is." So Blossom led the way for a change, finding the sitting room where she's enjoyed a snack before. "Yup! Here it is."

"Here it is," echoed Fancy with a kind smile. "It is a strange pleasure to know you are learning my residence." He raised a hoof towards Blossom's darkening cheeks. "I mean nothing untowards about it! I hope to visit your residence at some point, hm? I would like to learn all of them."

"R-right.. Um..." Oh, right. "What kinda drink is he fetchin' fer us?"

"I didn't specify, other than fizzy, and soft. He knows me well, I expect at least one to be berry flavored." Fancy went to claim a seat. "But you have to tell him what you prefer. He has a mind like an iron trap. It won't escape him. Now... let's speak of the future."

Author's Note

They needed to have this talk, I say.

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