Simplified

It's been years since I last saw Gabby. I remember seeing her face as she walked out of the restaurant, the scowl and resentment, the fact that a year of waiting and hoping had been summed up in only twenty minutes or less did more than piss her off. She wouldn't take any of my letters, she moved away just so she couldn't see me, she didn't even show up to any of the local festivals in Griffonstone, at least the ones I went to. It was a cold and bitter end, a death of our relationship.

Seeing her again made me pretty happy, but I can't grasp why I'm still so elated. Maybe it's the fact that I can still mend a friendship out of this, at the very least thaw the ice between us. Maybe she does have a special someone else, that's fine. I just want to show her that her time is valuable to both her and me, and that I want to still be friends. Or maybe I just want to prove to myself that I can make things right. Either way, the opportunity stands.

As I sit in the bathtub, soaking my scales in a nice soapy brine, I think back to our fateful re-encounter on yesterday afternoon. She seems pretty happy, maybe her boyfriend's treating her right. I know something's gotta get in the way of her speaking with the girls, she was so close to those three. And the fact that she's barely seen out in public outside of her work should be a concern, but then again it's also her life to live. If she and her boyfriend are just enamored with each other's company, then yeah I can see her locking in with no one else but him.

Still, why do I feel like I want to reach out to her so damn bad?

Maybe I need to get out of this tub, the heat and water ain't doing me any favors. All I can think about is how steamy our letters would get at times. It was always every other letter, or maybe every other letter after the first two. Her way with words through pen, they used to do more for me than the multitude of books that sat on our shelves. They were fresh, personalized, enticing, and even more exciting as I would have to separate myself from the public eye when reading them, you know, for obvious reasons an adolescent teenager can't do that kind of stuff in public.

I remember the night before our relationship started to grow. It was a quiet night in October, she had me come over to her place for a game of Ogres and Oubliettes. We spent hours dreaming up a world unlike any other, a world unlike our own, a land where many dark creatures threatened to assault our lands and hold our kingdom hostage. I played the mage, she played the thief, and we had a number of rolls leading to hilarious bouts of successes and failures. Then our eyes got heavy, we laid out on the floor, and passed out.

She was a wild sleeper, snatching covers and kidnapping pillows, tossing herself about, coiling her tail around random things that were close by. I tried my best to deal with it, at least until she managed to toss the both of us into an awkward predicament.

I had no pillow, but she allowed me to sleep on her thigh, I had no sheets, but she offered me a leg. My pillow was firmly in her claws, hers was tossed to her wings. Before I knew, my nose was dangerously close to her underbelly. If she could open her legs just slightly, I would've had every motivation to dismiss myself for a moment. I even instinctively wanted to feel myself, just as an adolescent boy would at that moment. But then I found her tail coiling around my arm, keeping me in place.

"You're mine now." She mumbled in her sleep.

I didn't sleep for an hour, mainly because I had sprung a bit of a growth and I needed to calm down. But when we woke up, she discovered the rather suggestive pose we were in and tried to politely push me back to a pillow to lay on. Instead, she woke me up and I told her how wild of a sleeper she was. Then as she was about to make breakfast, I finally popped the question, the one she didn't immediately answer.

She finished cooking, bringing the plates to the table. We then ate in silence, but her tail stayed coiled around my leg under the table. She stayed looking at my every reaction to her food, I guess my positive praise for her meal was all the motivation she needed. She flew off to work, and I flew off to the castle to get some things done for Twilight. But along my flight, I felt something pull at my tail. I looked back, only to get a gentle beak to the cheek. She giggled and darted back off to her intended destination.

It was the first time I hadn't even thought about Rarity in a while, it was the first time I finally broke past my unbreakable crush. And it eventually led Rarity to be a bit jealous over it, which was unexpected to say the least. Gabby and I spent a lot of time together when I had it. But two months after our relationship grew, it was time to save the world, then time to rebuild Canterlot, then time to keep Twilight calm for the coronation, and then it was time to get to work being a royal dignitary. Time grew few and far in between, what used to be moments turned to memories, games nights turned to letters, and a date into disaster.

I won't lie and say that I haven't replayed that night in my head, the moment the gradually worn perfume of passion fruit started to mingle with her bodily musk, the heat of her legs grasping at me, the peaceful expression on her face as she murmured in her sleep, the way her tail coiled around my wrist, I could've stirred her awake and we could've had even more memories to look back on, only if I had been bold enough and she was willing. I've had a few nights and mornings in the bath, just like this, but instead of getting out of the tub like I am now, I'd be staring at my own claws covered in the seed I'd wish I had deposited elsewhere.

I look back at the figure staring back at me through the mirror, measuring up his appearance. I'm mostly pleased with what I see, but I'm also determined to make amends for the way I've tried to fit things around, for not giving myself the time I need to make my life work.

...I know the girls may mind it, but I have to make things right with her. It's the only way I can move forward right now.

It may be true that I watched how Twilight and Moondancer managed to reconnect after years of not seeing or talking to each other, but that doesn't mean that I myself might know how to go about this particular experience. My experience could go vastly different, for good or bad. I just need the advice on how to make that elusive first step. And the only ones I know I can talk to that are relatively localized are the ones who happen to live here in the castle. And if I'm Starlight Glimmer, I'd be making sure that everything is looking peachy over in the throne room. That is where the enchanted table's located, and it has the vantage point of being able to point out any issues hat might be a pretty serious issue worthy of some delegation. Actually, in hindsight, that's a damn good perk of staying here for my own self.

I enter into the room, looking to greet the unicorn. "Hey Starlight, I was just─oh boy." Instead of running into just her, I end up seeing her casually flipped upside down on the back of her head, her mane is a curly mess all around her, and her tail is peeled back as Sunburst is perched above her. He's blushes in embarrassment as he can't help but to be seen taking the plunge into his now lawfully-wedded wife from the top of the table.

Goddamn, I should be taking notes for that one.

Starlight sees me and greets me just as casually as she would. "Hey Spike! Sorry you caught us like this."

I tilt away, trying not to look but also enraptured by the unique position the pair is taking. "No, no... I should've knocked."

Sunburst at least shows some form of modesty, flipping his cape over the pair's union. "Oh dear. I didn't expect you to come in here. Sorry─"

Starlight chides her husband and yanks the cape away from her, as it was covering her face also. "Okay, we're all grown here. Let's not get too prim about it, we're doing what lovers do, it's fine." She points to her husband. "I didn't say you could stop, so continue where you left off." She redirects her attention to me. "And as for you, just go on and tell me what you want."

"Well, I was─" I lose track of thought seeing how Sunburst anchors himself against two different chairs before commencing his drilling operations. I can't help but compliment his work. "Damn, you sure you don't do porn professionally?"

"When I was in school, I used to be the porn." He admits shyly, trying to keep his glasses on his face. His wife politely removes them and places them on the other side of the table. "It was so bad in estrus season that I had to drop out because of all the bruising I suffered. For a long time I didn't want to have anything to do with mares. I guess you could say I became a self-imposed wizard for sexual reasons."

Starlight pants through her husband's work. "He's a damn good workout partner. He knows everything there is about pleasing a mare, even the things I didn't even think about. Needless to say that first weekend we got back together, there was no stopping us. To hell with the blizzard that could've killed us, nevermind the alicorn that was just born, we celebrated saving the Crystal Empire the one way we could. And that was the best fucking way I could've ever imagined."

"Yeah, I... uh, wanted to talk about that... not the sex part, but the reuniting after so many years."

"Oh yeah, yeah, it was pretty awkward at first." Starlight answers before she coos a word of praise to Sunburst. "Ooh, keep that pace."

I begin to cover myself, already knowing that any longer in this room, and I might need to revisit the bathroom for another round of shower and bathing. "Okay, other than the awkward things, how did the two of you eventually learn to break the ice with one another?"

"Do you have to ask?" Sunburst questions. "There was a literal ice storm threatening the Crystal Empire all because of Flurry Heart breaking the Crystal Heart, and that's the question you ask?"

"Okay, well it's nice to hear that you two basically had a literal ice breaker to start things up again." I grumble to myself. "I guess I should've called Twilight and asked if I had known you two would be in here like this."

"Well you should know, Spike. You were there." Starlight reminds me.

"I wasn't paying that much attention, I was trying to make sure we weren't snowed in back when that blizzard was getting bad." I turn around to hear that the pair are completely silent. Instead they're just deeply into one another at this point, their lips so rigorously locked into one another while Sunburst keeps with his pace. He doesn't even seem to remember that I'm still in the room. "Maybe I should... yeah."

The stallion's pace picks up, causing Starlight to yelp in surprise. "Oh shit! Yeah, just like I like it."

Sunburst doesn't miss a single stroke in his rhythm. "Hey, Spike, sorry we couldn't help you. But can you maybe leave the room? I think I need to focus a little more on what's on hoof right now."

"Way ahead of you."

As if my libido couldn't get anymore riled up with Ocellus being gone, I run into my ex, I walk in on Sunburst dominating Starlight, and now I roam the crowded streets alone with only thoughts of my ex girlfriend and my wanting to see her again growing all the stronger.

As time moves on, I'm finding myself wandering a little too far on my wings. Not that I'm tired, but by the fact that the scenery has changed. It's not so much of the hustle and bustle of creatures roaming the road and houses stacked up on either side. It's more open sky, trees of a common fruit, the smell of freshly moved dirt and beautifully fragrant flowers. A wrought iron signage appears overhead with three elegantly fonted words reading 'Sweet Apple Acres'.

A young sapling stands alone on the front porch of the farm, it gives a strong fragrant scent of the flowers that grow from it's branches. The young sapling is growing well, but it poses as a bittersweet landmark. An old rocking chair sits out by the burgeoning trunk, cracked and worn but still sturdy. A plaque sits on it's backrest, reading the words in bronze.

Ever the foundation of our beloved farm,
Firmly rooted to create life anew,
She now rejoins our long-lost kin,
From whence our humble farm once grew.
Forever loved,
Granny Anne Smith

I remember as Applejack sang her to rest, how she quietly stopped rocking to hear her sing. Big Mac couldn't sing a lick, he was so broken. Apple Bloom tried to harmonize until she just started weeping. Granny moaned along until she couldn't. I remember the words they sang as clear as the sun started to rise through the fog of the early spring morning.

♪We travel the road of generations
Joined by a common bond
We sing our song 'cross the pony nation
From Equestria and beyond♫

♫We're Apples forever, Apples together
We're family, but so much more
No matter what comes, we will face the weather
We're Apples to the core♪

Applejack tried to brave a new chorus, but broke before she could finish.

♪At our journey's end, we unite once again
Forever and ever more
And you'll lead us in song, as we go into the night,
We're Apples... ♪

I don't think anyone's seen Applejack full on break down, not like she did that day. She dropped her guitar, and screamed over it. Apple Bloom held the faded Granny Smith, Big Mac joined her. Sugar Belle held up Applejack as best as she could while the mare stumbled to her departed grandmother. Each of us lowered our heads in respect for the fallen matriarch, silently offering our prayers for the wounded family.

She got to see one more before going home.

I feel unprepared, not from the emotions the memory brings. If anything, I'm more upset that I didn't bring any flowers like we'd all do whenever we pay a visit. We'd sit them in the chair she used to rock her days away, and bid her good morning regardless of the time of day. It felt wrong to come here without something to greet her with. So I bowed my head in apology.

"Hey Spike."

The sudden voice coming from the top of the house grabs my attention, I shoot my eyes up to the second story window. "Hey, Apple Bloom, how's it been out here in the orchard?"

The yellow mare hops out of the window and parkours to the ground, she approaches me with a bright smile smelling just like the flowers that grow on the trees around here. "Well you know, busy is as busy does. Can't stay around without doin' nothin, Applejack might sprout a bad nerve if she catches me loungin' round here havin' no mind to help."

"Don't you work already?" I question the mare.

"Yeah. She says it's good to keep the mind busy so that no tomfoolery gets drawn up." She says as she prompts me to fly along with her. "Come on, Ah'll take ya around back."

"But what about having a day off?" I ask her.

"This is mah day off, Spike." She answers with a soft giggle.

"But you're working on the farm?" I quirk a brow towards the mare.

"Ah know it's a little physical, pushin' an pullin' an whatnot. But Ah leave Sugar Belle to collect all mah hard work. Ah just buck a few trees here an' there." She answers as she sees one tree worthy of a bucket. She knocks a bucket from one tree that doesn't seem to be producing much to that tree, giving the tree a swift kick from one of her hind legs. The firm red fruit falls to the bucket with a thud, and in numerous supply for the time of year. "And there we are."

"You don't go out much, do you?" I joke at the mare.

"Ah go out plenty! The girls an' Ah don't spare a cold one on no Saturday. But Sunday is mah time to come here in the quiet, buck a few trees, see a few other friends, give the ol' treehouse a good screamin', rest up, send a feller on his way, an' sit my night away here watchin' stars."

Her fairly simplistic lifestyle is a far-cry from what I expected of her while we were coming up. "I always thought you were gonna be the wild one compared to your sister. It's almost like you've turned into her."

The yellow mare scoffs back at me. "Applejack ain't do none of the shit Ah do, much less spare a fancy word or two. An honest livin' is how she stays likin' it. Ah ain't so honest, but Ah live a good livin' to remember."

It's funny to see that even throughout the years, Applejack still hasn't changed her way of living an honest living with no room for danger or harm to come her way. It's also ironic that she paired herself with the one girl who lives her life in the fast lane, going from city to city, doing stunt after stunt, show after show every weekend. Polar opposites made perfect for one another.

As we mosey along our way, the old clubhouse the girls used to use had been fully converted into a suspended home. It's a cozy little fit, but it seems to have everything one needs to keep clean, fed, and well-rested. It also looks like it didn't miss a single coat of paint.

Seeing the place prompts a question of curiosity. "Hey, does Gabby ever come by here on her route?"

The mare gives me a nudge and a wink. "Ehhh, so ya figure since the cat's away, ya might wanna go for some playin' around?"

The thought does seem enticing, but I know doing that would cross a boundary with both Ocellus and Smolder. Plus she's already spoken for, so I can't say that out loud. "Not like that. I just want to catch up to her."

"Well ain'cha always the sugarcube." She says sweetly, grabbing at my tail. "But nah, she ain't one to mosey on over these days. She done changed routes, more in the middle part of town now. Miss havin' her around, but she ain't really doin' much but deliverin' goods and mail."

"So you do keep tabs on her?" I question the yellow mare.

"Once a Crusader, always a Crusader, don't matter the age when y'all done shared the journey." She says as she gives her small humble home a nostalgic glance.

I inwardly smile at hearing the update. "I guess. I'm happy she's doing well. Seems her boyfriend might be doing right by her."

"Uh-huh..." She nods in agreement before slowly turning to me. "She has a boyfriend?"

"That's what she told me." I reply.

The mare sassily giggles and pats me on my leg. "Spike, don't you be listenin' to that girl. Gabby don't talk to nobody."

I snap my neck looking back to her. "Wait, what do you mean?"

"She ain't into nothin' with nobody. She just goes right on home after she finish up. Ah've helped her with her route a few times whenever she's got some heavy stuff to push through, she ain't about nothin' but work and home. Now y'all say Ah don't go out much, she ain't been out since she's gotten back from Griffonstone. She just heads on home and squat there like any other grumpy ol' griff." She slowly gives me a side-eye. "In fact, she's been like that ever since she's been around you."

A hollow sinking feeling starts to grow from the pit of my stomach as I hear the news. "Oh... I didn't know."

"How can ya know when ya do nothin' but travel the world all the time? Ya don't stay home long enough to find out nothin' ya need to know. Hell, ya might not even be here past today."

"I moved back here on Friday." I clarify to my own defense.

"And? Ya moved here but yer job ain't nothin' new. Yer just in town a little bit, that ain't no different unless ya make it different." She argues pretty strongly.

"My schedule's a lot more open. I set up my meetings from here on." I also explain.

"So y'all can spend more time with Ocellus?" She asks with a smug smirk.

"Well, yeah, along with all of my other friends." I confirm.

"Huh, and here Ah done thought yer scaly ass ain't ever gonna give us no time for daylight. Ah'm almost proud of ya."

I scratch at my chin, realizing that while I had visited town on occasion, I never had a chance to stay and find things out. So I guess there's more to my stay than trying to keep up with old friends, but also getting to reintroduce myself to the litany of others who's changed throughout the years. "I guess I've been neglecting a lot of you guys since the move to Canterlot. Well I've got time now, and I don't mind playing catch-up."

"Well ya better not play catch-up with Sweetie Belle fer too long, she's still a bit warm and touchy on you ever since she done made that video of ya."

I sigh in defeat over catching wind of that video again. "Okay, I wanna ask, how many others have seen that video?"

"Well there's me and Scoot's, Rarity's seen it, Applejack's seen it, Pinkie's seen it, Rainbow says you're a 'fair-weighted fella', and Ah wouldn't be surprised if she ain't sold that damn thing off by now to anyone else. She called it a favor repaid for askin' her to get a candid snap of her big sis."

Of course. "Well, it's out there now. Guess I'll just deal with the indignity with my PR team."

I start to fly forward a little more, but not before the mare takes another swipe at my tail to get my attention. "Hey Spike." She gallops over to the ladder leading up to her front porch. "Ya might be a bit thirsty flyin' all this way through the orchard. Wanna come in and knock back a few 'fore headin' back?"

Any offer of cider straight from the farm is like a dream come true, it's usually the freshest in the supply chain. But I'm not a fool by any means. "This doesn't have anything to do with you knocking off that 'seeing a few other friends' box on your Sunday checklist, does it?"

She slumps over her porch railing, snickering as she shakes her tail playfully. "Dunno. Want it to be? I ain't no pony to be holdin' strings."

"All due respect, I ain't no string holder myself. But I got other things to do. Sorry, maybe next time."

The mare shrugs off the loss. "Welp, worth a shot."

Apple Bloom, of all the crusaders that keep tabs on Gabby, she's apparently the one who best knows her entire weekly schedule. She even knows that Gabby usually goes out on Sunday to get groceries. She also explains that Gabby doesn't really like to buy much in terms of food stocks. Compared to the mail she delivers, her load during her food runs are drastically lighter.

Apple Bloom also highlights that anyone living with anyone else would double most of their food stocks, if not triple it. Not just because there's two creatures inhabiting a single space, but there also being another source of income to increase that budget. With Gabby buying so little, she's not showing any sign that she feeds anyone else. And plus she's a great cook, so it would only make sense that she'd go with the triple multiplier to please a guest staying over, much less a significant other.

The yellow mare calmly highlights a plan for my approach, one that I personally don't usually take on my own. She really pushes me to become more assertive, a lot more than usual, even a little past what is necessary. I ask her why I should act like this, she only says that it will work and to 'trust her' over it. I'm nervous over the fact that I might end up acting a little too pushy for my tastes, but that's apparently the going rate to get her to do much of anything.

I guess I'll give it a shot.

Apple Bloom is also quite the saboteur, thinking of the route that Gabby may take, the fact that she doesn't fly as much on Sunday because of her line of work requiring her to stay in the air as often as possible. She knows that Gabby likes to take a casual pace while making her rounds. So it makes it easy to assume that she'll trip over the carefully hidden rope in the middle of the street. I sometimes wonder how she grew to be this conniving, but then again she's always had a plan or two in her back pocket.

Sure enough, Gabby shows up just as predicted. Apple Bloom keeps her head low as she times the moment when she can trip her up without tripping up anyone else passing by. I look on with a bit of guilt, but the yellow mare insists that this will work out anyhow. The griffon gets close, the rope is snapped up, and everything plays out perfectly for Applebloom and I.

The griffon tumbles to the ground, seeing the brown paper bag of her food stuffs crashing against the ground. She jumps up with a bit of a panic. "Sassafras!" She darts over to the bag of goods and assess the damage of what is lost and salvageable. Immediately, she blames herself for being so clumsy, not even knowing the it was the rope that tripped her up. "How is it so easy to pick up huge packages and move them across town, but when it comes to the smallest things like produce, I can't seem not spill anything!?"

I feel even more guilty about this, but Apple Bloom pushes me forward to start with the plan. Just as we rehearsed, I'll offer some help in cleaning up. "Hey, you need some help?"

The griffon notices me and lowers her eyes back to her groceries. "It's fine. I'm just getting some fixtures for tonight's dinner with my boyfriend." As I watch her deal with the mess, I notice that there's hardly any food for two in her returns. She's buying for one, just as Apple Bloom predicted. She lifts up the bag, noticing that the bottom is soggy and wet. She groans out in frustration. "And of course, I break the eggs."

"Oh, tragedies." I murmur in some form of guilt.

Then the truth inadvertently comes out, not realizing she telling on herself. "This sucks. That was supposed to be this week's supply. Well, guess I can go without."

Next up, make an offer to replace the goods that were lost. That part I'm more than happy to do since this only happened because of me. "I can buy you some eggs if need be."

Gabby grimaces as she holds the bag by it's soggy bottom. "Don't you have a dignitary or some foreign national you need to be wining and dining?"

I shake my head. "Not today, I've got time."

"That's nice." She rolls her eyes, trying to move forward quickly.

Next up is to reiterate the offer, but also push the engagement further. "So, I buy everything you lost, I'll carry it to your block. Fair trade?"

"No thanks, I'll just deal with my broken eggs and crushed tomatoes." Gabby says grumpily.

Now here comes a part that I know I feel pretty dickish about, but Apple Bloom insists that this is what's going to work... somehow. "Are you on a budget?" I'm halfway expecting a set of talons to be left streaking across my face after this is all said and done.

"What does that have to do with you?"

Now I'm supposed to take the more passive aggressive approach to answering her. "I'm just looking to help is all. I don't mean no way of looking down on you."

"Usually when someone says that, they end up doing just what they say they don't do." Unsurprisingly, she seems upset over my comments and starts to fly off.

Flying wasn't in our game plan, but the red-maned mare motions me to keep pushing. "Gabby─"

"Don't call my name like you have some care about me. I'm glad you offered to help, but I'll just get my boyfriend to do it when he gets free."

Now I have to ignore the fact that she claims herself to be accounted for, and that's where I really feel like I'm just playing to the script. "I wanna make it up to you."

"Can't. Boyfriend." I can tell she's getting angry. Even though she used to be so patient, I know what it looks like when she's about to lash out. Short, abbreviated responses are one of those signs.

Still, I have to push ahead. Now is where I start to go by my own script a bit, all while adhering to Apple Bloom's game plan. "I know about that. I just want to keep things simple, make sure we're still good on being friends."

"That's nice and all, but I don't need you to make up anything for me." Now her anger is showing, the scowl on her face is growing more and more by the second.

And my only choice in this plan is to keep poking the proverbial bear. "Not even a little bit of time to hang out?"

"You're really pushing it, aren't you?" She lashes out.

Again, my script following the 'necessary' level of aggression, no matter how unnecessary it may be. "I just want to be your friend again, that's all. I'm just trying to reconnect to everyone."

"Maybe you should start with everyone but me." She speeds up her pace.

I keep up with her, but this time breaking the fourth wall a little. "Apple Bloom is worried about you."

"Well she's old enough to tell me that herself." She quickly swipes her flight pattern to swerve me off.

I still keep up. "I'm worried about you."

She stops dead in the air, her voice calm but her anger at the level towing the line between remaining patient and full-on responding with verbal violence. "Then stop worrying. You see me, I'm breathing, it's fine."

Back to the script. Close the distance, make the offer. "You. Me. Monster Minigolf. 5 p.m. on Thursday."

She's quiet now. I see she's still defensive, but even a moment's hesitation reveals that some part of the walls she's built around herself are showing cracks. So far, Apple Bloom's strategy is showing promise. But that still doesn't mean that I'm in the clear just yet. "I have plans. Plus I don't get off from work until then."

Reintroduce the offer, make it more tenable for her to accept terms. "Okay, 6 then. I'll even show up half an hour early to show how serious I am about this."

"No thanks. I know you'll probably have time to play one hole─"

Enhance the offer. "Full eighteen." Make it even more tantalizing. "Two rounds if you want." At this point, I'm ripping from my script from having to do those trade deals.

"I'm willing to bet that─"

Add a sweetener to the deal, a cherry on top. "Plus a little something to eat after, my treat."

"What is this, a date?"

Don't make the intent obvious, but make it be known vaguely. "Nothing like that, I'm just breaking the ice."

She's happy with the offer, I can see that much. Even if she doesn't visibly show that she's interested, I'm sure I can play on some of our old interactions. I know she used to love spending time with me, or with friends in general. From now on, it's only a matter of when she steps from behind that wall, not if. "I like that you're finally willing to forego on your obligations, but it's way too late to try that now."

Now with all the ideal conditions met, we hit the reset button. "Okay, then let's start over."

She looks away for a moment, but even I can see that there's starting to be a smile developing behind that mask she's trying to keep on her face. "I'll clear things up with my boyfriend and see if he's cool with it."

Now we go back to Apple Bloom's script, force the issue to be favorable to all parties, even for those parties that are unaccounted for. "If you need me to, I'll schedule a lunch with him so we can lay out some ground rules─"

"Spike!" Her shriek gives off the level of discomfort at me wanting to schedule a meeting with this supposed figure. But all throughout this encounter, as well as future others, I have to continue playing as though this figure exists. If there is a concern for actual infidelity, then approach it as though you're going to be as respectful as possible to remove all reasons of doubt. "You're doing way too much."

Let's put a schedule to it, dedicate some time for this encounter, show that I'm serious about devoting the valuable resource to keep our respective statuses harmonious. "Tuesday lunch?"

The endgame of Apple Bloom's plan is to make her feel the pressure, all while getting her to gradually agree to the desired meetup. While I do feel a bit slimy about the approach, this is what works for Apple Bloom. I could only take her word for it that this was going to work, and it shows dividends so far. "I'll talk to him. If he says yes or no, you'll find out on Thursday."

Last but not least, finalize the schedule. "I'll make a reservation."

"Whatever." She flies off, still holding her bag of soggy goods.

I slowly descend from the sky to reunite with the Ponyville streets below. Apple Bloom races over to me while I question her on my results. "How was that?"

"Ya were pretty aggressive there. Ah think she'll be openin' up to ya after a while." She answers proudly.

I draw a sigh of relief that I don't have to act like that for a while now, it was out of my character to do stuff like that these days. I remember having done it the last time, and it ended with me getting punched in the face a number of times by an angry human, plus Rarity ostracizing me for months on end. "I felt like a total douchebag doing that."

The yellow mare pats me on my side with affirmation. "Yer fine, Spike. Just be sure to follow through on that reservation, and y'all be right as rain."

I look back to the sky, wondering if I should tell the girls what's going on. "Yeah... right as rain."

Finishing up my rounds with Apple Bloom, we head back to the farm and bid our goodbyes. I at least show up with a nice bouquet of flowers for Granny Smith to properly pay my respects. And upon the conclusion of that matter, I happily rush through town to get over to Smolder's place.

We don't do much but sit on the couch, pretty much looking at videos of what's going on in the human world. It's pretty insane to think that we were just there last weekend and you see so much chaos taking place in various areas that could affect even the least of them. While I envy the world they live in, I don't envy the drama that they have. One place has an ongoing invasion, the other is dealing with a civil war, political unrest seems to be a constant in many forms of government, and corruption is beyond widespread. It would make for good television, but it's toying with very real human lives.

Just us sitting here doing this has me thinking about Ocellus, how she'd always seem up to date about many of the issues that plagues the other world. While we're seeing the surface, Ocellus would've probably done the research to go beyond the tip of the iceberg.

She grow quiet as I ponder over the absent changeling, and I notice her lingering silence. "You okay?"

"Just thinking." She sighs in response.

"About our favorite changeling sex deity?" I presumably call out.

"I wonder what's going on with her. I know the Changeling Kingdom doesn't have any human tech, so she won't be able to get anything through her phone. And it's not like she can dragon breath her way into sending letters."

You know, I never really checked on if changelings could do that while taking the form of a dragon, but I don't think that's likely. Either way, she's missed by the both of us. "Yeah, she's been gone all weekend. And I know you two gotta be at the school tomorrow."

"Yeah." She confirms softly, just a second before the door opens to the cozy loft we stayed in.

The one we spoke up walks through the door quietly, putting her bag by the door and walking past the couch we sat on. She walks straight towards the kitchen. "Well look who just came through." I cheer, breaking the silence.

Smolder leaps from her seat to hug the changeling from behind. "Olla! You're back!"

"So how'd it go?" I ask the quiet creature.

Ocellus doesn't share an iota of a smirk, no sarcastic remark, no hint of a snarky insult in pending. She's crestfallen and somber in her tone. "I don't wanna talk about it."

The changeling peels herself away from Smolder, leaving the dragoness to question her. "What happened?"

"Bad news?" I guess.

She vents a bit of quiet frustration as she plops onto the couch. "Can we just leave it at cultural differences and call it a day? I don't wanna get into it right now."

Since I'm already in her immediate vicinity, I motion for Smolder to move around to her right side, I station myself to her left. We lock our eyes on the prize, hoping to somehow trigger the changeling into a much better attitude. "On three?"

I know she's a little reluctant from the last time we pulled this stunt, but she's not backing down. "One, two, three."

Our lips chomp down on each of the changeling's ears, we give her a slight tug on either side. She changeling gives off a very thin smile, but it quickly subsides. "I get you two are trying to cheer me up with a dragon sandwich again. But I don't think it's gonna work this time."

We realize this situation is much more serious, especially since she has absolutely no drive to shove us around and pretzel us into various positions to show her dominance. Smolder hops over the back of the couch, sitting down next to the discouraged creature. "Need me to hold you?"

Ocellus turns away, refusing the offer. I immediately go into the fridge, picking out a brand new tub of ice cream. "How about some ice cream? Just bought a tub of peanut butter chocolate chip. I didn't know if this was your favorite, but I figured you would liked it."

Almost as quickly as she rejected Smolder's offer, she accepted mine instead. "I want a big spoon." She demands while levitating the frosty tub over to her.

I go through the drawer to find a table spoon, giving her one just to appease her request. She takes a scoop and shoves the frosty desert into her mouth, taking a moment to savor it. "Take your time, Olla." Smolder says as she encourages the changeling to feel better. She even goes as far as to snuggle the mare, causing her wings to flutter and vibrate.

Eventually, the combination of the frozen treat and the close embrace makes her a little more docile, and much less taciturn. She unhinges the spoon from her mouth and stakes the silverware into the tub for another scoop while disclosing the cause of her ire. "So... Thorax doesn't like the fact that I went into the human world too much."

While Smolder is surprised, I am not so much so. "Well that's to be expected. He and Nondis weren't exactly great at the negotiating table, especially with Pharynx and Alex present. Those two hate each other's guts."

She goes on with her explanation. "It's not that so much as him thinking that of us doing something offensive to the humans while we're there. He feels we might end up starting a conflict with them, one we'd be unlikely to win. He thinks it's far too dangerous for our worlds to become too intersected. That's the one reason why he doesn't like to allow human tech around the hive, to keep our world thoroughly separated."

"He doesn't want to stir up trouble." I conclude.

Smolder shrugs at the notion of there being conflict with the human world, especially after having visited there. "I know he's being cautious, but that's just stupid to think that we could start a war with the humans."

The changeling then brings up a reasonable point. "So can we be reasonable for a moment? When have we ever had the chance to be ourselves in that world, and I mean openly in the broad daylight?"

"That's only because they don't have mystical creatures in that world, much less magic." I argue.

"And to add to that, we don't have official trades with any representative of human government. We get our stuff through a billionaire sibling of the previous Captain of the Royal Guard, who then outsources it to a billionaire real estate mogul here. This isn't like it's some deal going through the government of a nation, or even a collection of nations representing that world. All of this seems way too volatile. Who's to say one human on that side doesn't find out what's going on over on this side, and report it to whatever social media outlet for their government to intervene? What happens next?"

Yeah, it's a point that's been brought up in the past, but only rarely. The other humans that we've interacted with here have similar concerns, but we've made it a practice to at least try to mitigate the circumstances should it ever come to that. It's a scenario that we've rehearsed only a few times, but it's a valid concern. "Twilight and I will step in and begin negotiations for a pact of non-aggression."

Ocellus continues to push the argument further while chomping down on another spoonful of ice cream. "But their world is politically unstable. What if something goes wrong and one party in the human world don't like the trades that's going on? What if they see all of Equestria as a collective threat?" She points the spoon back at me. "What do you think happens next?"

"Again, a non-aggression treaty will be drafted and presented to them with representatives from both parties present." I reiterate.

"But the ponies there don't talk. What if they don't see us as equals?" She inquires further.

"I'm sure Twilight will have something up her sleeve when it comes to that." I reply, not truly having much of an answer for her.

Thankfully she no longer pushes the visual of a worst-case scenario, instead opening dialog for a still unfavorable position we could still be in. "So say this non-aggression pact goes through, what do you think will be the terms of their peace? Resources, wealth, access to our magic?"

It's not that I don't mind the questions, it's just that being grilled like this only comes from a room full of reporters looking to find a negative in something. It's almost like I've never left work. "Look, there's a lot that I have to look at too. I see every last one of those questions being asked and I think of answers for all of them each and every day. I also think of the questions that are the main nightmare scenarios, like what if they found out what happened to Captain Nondis during his tenure, or the threat that was posed to their world by a pony from ours, and even the methods that were used. There's not a day I don't have that somewhere in the back of my mind."

"So that means you have the answers, right Spike?" She asks.

"No, I never said that." I sigh, seeing how she's probably the source of my toughest grilling in some years. It only shows me just how prepared we are for that kind of conversation outside of a set collection of individuals. Either way, I don't like having to deal with this issue right now, so I give her a simplified political answer. "My job is to find the answers to those questions."

Ocellus sees that I have no real answer and shows disappointment. "Spike, while I enjoy my time being in their world, much less the technology they bring. But I still have to face the truth about where we are right now with them. And I can't fault Thorax for seeing things the way that he does, especially with what happened seven years ago. Nothing is certain, and it never was. What do you think is going to happen when it's all said and done?"

I exhaustively give her the only answer I can honestly give her. "I don't know."

"Yeah, and neither do we." She concludes before shoving a spoonful of ice cream into my mouth. "You know, sometimes we have to challenge ourselves with reality before coming to an ideal solution. I know you and Twilight get some softballs thrown your way pretty often, but we changelings don't have that luxury with the humans, for pretty obvious reasons." She pulls the spoon from my mouth with a smirk. "Just like you didn't expect that, anything can happen."

While I want to debate a little more on the topic, the savory and sweet flavor of peanut butter intermingled with chocolate triggers my instinctive craving for more. I walk back into the kitchen, surprising Smolder with my sudden relocation. "Where are you going?"

"Getting me a spoon. Want one?" I offer the dragoness.

"Yeah, go on and grab me one too." She happily confirms.

The changeling appears taken aback that I'd show up with two spoons, all while guarding the tub of ice cream with her forelegs. "I thought this was my tub of ice cream."

Smolder reaches past her openings and jabs her spoon into the delectable frozen treat, pulling back a massive wad that almost threatens to fall off. "Sharing is caring."

I reach in for my scoop, the changeling rolls her eyes and surrenders her desert to the doom of being mutually consumed. "I swear you two probably bought this damn thing to eat for yourselves."

"You don't know that." I say with a grin, partaking in my own lopsided chunk. "Besides, you're the one who said that anything can happen."

As the three of us sit on the couch, watching as the tub of ice cream quickly grows lighter and lighter over the passing minute, Smolder cuts her eyes to me and points her tail at me. "So, you gonna link back up with Gabby?"

Ocellus whimpers in surprise as she looks at me to answer the question. "Just to be friends."

The changeling appears initially pleased with my answer. "Only friends?" Smolder questions again.

"Yeah."

The dragoness presses on the matter further. "You sure?"

I look to see Ocellus visibly concerned. I base my answer explicitly on her reaction. "I have the both of you. I don't have a choice in the matter."

The changeling finds comfort in my answer, but Smolder jumps ahead of her and speaks her mind on the matter. "You know, you could trial run her with the both of us one of these days."

Needless to say that Ocellus is left stunned. But she tries to put on a brave face and pretends to be open to the idea along with Smolder. "We don't mind. Just make sure you communicate with us so we don't feel left out."

"You two seem awfully accepting of this." I say, mainly directing my attention to the changeling that seems the most hesitant about it.

Smolder on the other end doesn't seem to care too much, especially with having been a witness to our previous relationship. She was even the one I came and talked to shortly after our breakup. She gave me advice on how to deal with it, but also seemed disappointed that our relationship had gone cold like that after months of cheering us on, and also urging Gabby to be patient with me behind the scenes. "I know you had feelings for her before you had us. It's only fair we take a step back for your 'number one'."

Ocellus looks directly into her almost empty tub of ice cream, playing with the remaining lump that sits at the bottom. It's beyond apparent that she has issue with this development. But seeing Smolder pressing me to bring Gabby along seems to really be a driving force in this conflict. "Why do I feel like this is not going to end well?"

"What gives you that idea?" Smolder asks.

"Just... intuition."