**Cup**
**Milky Whey Bottling and Distribution Center, Baltimare**
**094 Spring CC**

"Mister Bristle?" I wait a moment before trying again with a slight increase in volume. "Mister Bristle?"

"Yeah? Who is it?" He yells from his office. Must have been sleeping again. He is getting up there in age, and that thing tends to happen with older ponies.

"It's me, Mister Bristle. Cup."

"Huh?"

"Ugh~" I sigh. He knows I don't want to broadcast any of my other names in case somepony who knows my sire hears. "Cup!" I had to tell him everything when I asked for the job otherwise he wouldn't have hired me... Well, he might have, because a bagged-up mare offering her milk isn't the most common thing, but he wouldn't have been happy about it if I were too obvious about having secrets. He's also kin.

And Mister Bristle has been quite Kind friend about the whole thing since I let him in on my situation.

He opens the office door. "Cup? Ah, you's back. Eh? Come in." He motions to the interior of his office as he turns to move deeper inside while leaving his door open for me to enter.

"So," he starts when he gets to his desk, "Y'brought the cart back yestuhday. You's ready t'start deliverin' again, yeah?"

I nod, "Yessir, Ah did, and Ah am-"

"-Good girl. And tanks fer dat-," He returns a nod.

"-But Ah wanted to talk to you about something regarding that."

He nods with a sad smirk, "I figur'd dis was comin', Cup. So. What's up?"

Why does one's mouth get dry when confronting your boss -even when it's a good boss? "Well, Ah... Ah think it's time to go home." I suddenly notice my hoof tracing an invisible line. What a time to start feeling shy. Come on, Cup. You're a mare. Just because they're heavy and soft right now doesn't mean your teats aren't made of solid brass.

He takes in my statement and follows up with, "Back to y'sire?" I nod. "And y'stallion?"

I can't help but start to smile thinking about going back to him. "Yes."

"Well, Cup, you worked real good. Watch yerself around dat nephew o'mine -yeah?- yer sire. Dat guy... he's always focused on little t'ings. Yeh know? Fergets important t'ings." Mister Bristle shakes his head. "Well, I'll see you's at de next fam'ly reunion. Yeah?"

He pulls me into a hug, and I nuzzle back, "Of course, Mister Bristle."

"Yeah, good. Now, youse get along. And say, 'hi,' to dat stallion of yers for me."

We let go and he starts to see me out. I say, "I will. And thank you."

"Hey, oh! What's fam'ly for, eh?"

Alright. I have my saddle bags. The cart is turned in. My uniform is in the cart... I am pretty sure I forgot to wash the hat and tarp that the colt stank up the other day. Whoops. I've been all kinds of scatterbrained recently. Come on, Cup. Get it together.

I'll have to make it up to Mister Bristle at some point somehow. Right now, it's time to get to the post office. Need to let my sire and stallion know I love them, and I'm coming home really soon.

Love. That's what he said, the colt. I must be the luckiest mare in the world. There's a stallion back home waiting for me. Despite losing one, we did gain a colt.

There is going to be Tartarus to pay when his dam and my sire find out. I really hope those two will put aside their contentions. Honestly, I don't think I'll ever meet two ponies so intent on competing with each other over every single thing.

One plants a tree; the other has to plant two.

One stubs a hoof; the other has to stub two.

Her stallion sets the new record for longest bucking; he has to try to break it somehow. But my stallion's sire was the stuff or legends or so I hear -worthy of measuring up to the Great Rockhoof. Ended up causing some damage and won't ever say what. I do still wonder if that's at least part of the reason why his herd doesn't spend all their time with us on the farm anymore, though.

With the way he is, that probably fed into his rivalry with her.

To be fair, most of her daughters -my stallion's older sisters- moved off of their family farm, too.

But I'm pretty sure his dam will be the easier of the two to win over. It's my sire that I think will be the trickier one. We have to be real careful and intentional about how we propose the union.

I can already see him objecting. "We can't associate with that mare's brood," and talking about legacy and posterity. What pony keeps track of those kinds of things, anyway? Has anypony ever achieved happiness with those things?

***For Official Use Only***

*Excerpt of 'Posterity Speech of Friendship by Friendship,' for the commemoration of a new document repository, No. 9, Historical Archives, Department of Records, Equestria*

"And so we gather for the sake of that posterity-"
"Shots!"
"-juicy posterity-"
"Shots!"
"-the kind you want to warm your muzzle on those cool autumn nights and slap around, the firm kind of posterity-"
"Shots!"
"-you can bounce a bit off-wait... What? I didn't write any this. How did? Rainbow! I... You know this speech is being recorded. Right? And how did you even get into my notecards? Again? Spike. Spi~ke!"
"Come on, Twilight, it's funny!"
"Pinkie, think about the posterity-"
*giggles*
"Shots!"
"-that's not even what 'posterity' means!"
"She said it again!"
"Ugh!"
"Shots!"
"Darlings, I think I'm well beyond my limit. Why I ever joined this bet with any of you, I'll never know. And why did it have to be Mare Diesel? Honestly."
"Had a bunch under the sink, and it sounded fun at th'time; though, if she says it anymore, Ah'm gonna have-"
"-Don't you girls get it? Ponies could be learning about this speech generations from now! And instead they'll be hearing crass jokes about 'posterity.'"
"Shots!"
"H- herr- how're menny izzat, derlings?"
"Yeah, and they'll be laughing generations from now, too!"
"And not snoring."
"How're 're you doin' there, Flerttershae?"
"Oh, um, well, I'm okay. But, um, maybe you all should stop. If that's okay with you? You all might be 'lightweights.' I'm sorry if that was offensive."
"..." *thud*
"Starlight's is~ is out."
"I have no idea what you jus' said, but its- it's- it wuz cute~"
"Your hooves are cute. How did you do that?"
"Hyoo~vz, hehe."
"Here's your backup notecards, Twilight. I'm getting outta here."
"Thank you, Spike, and that's probably a good idea. Okay. Now, where was I? Ah!" *clears throat* "-For the sake of posterity-"
"Shots!"
"Um, why did we get invited to this speech? If it's okay with me asking? I'm sorry..."
"Oh, buck me in the 'posterity.'"
"You girls heard Twilight!"
"Wha-? Not while it's recordi-ah~"
*End of Excerpt of 'Posterity Speech of Friendship by Friendship,' for the commemoration of
a new document repository, Historical Archives, Department of Records,
Equestria*

***For Official Use Only***

My stallion and I hope to weather those bad attitudes of theirs and have our family right there -even if we have to get some land in another part of the town. We both think that love is more important than the inheritances, and that makes me love him more.

We'd rather have all those little moments in life together. The pride of a hard days' work. Eating our meals together. Talking. Loving. Sweating... Mm~

Maker above! I can't wait to scent him up and down. And when we get back, I am going to wrap his big-muscled legs around my flank and propose his brains out.

No more panicking. No more dishonesty or miscommunication. We're going to have a right proper family this time.

Ah! The post office. Good.

*sniff* Ah, thinking about my stallion got me going back there. Didn't it? Well, it should be fine.

*ding*
The door has a little bell above that dings as the door opens.
*ding*

And as the door closes.

No line right now. That's good. The mailmare hears the bell. She stops doing whatever she was doing and gets herself situated behind the counter.

"Hello. Welcome to the Equestrian Royal Mail Service. My name is Full Package." Her nose is flaring a bit. "Whatever you need," she gives a wink, "I got it."

Really did not think I got that worked up on the way here. Barely dripped, but she sure is responding to me.

Clear my throat a bit, "Ah just have some letters to send. Ah really need them delivered today if possible," and I hoof the first envelope to her over the counter.

Sugarcube,
It's me. I got your last letter. Thank you for waiting.
Something really good happened that I want to share
with you as soon as possible. Something else happened
that is not so good, and I need to share that, too. I'm done
in Baltimare. I'll be back in a couple days for good.
If you can, would you get on the first train here? I miss you.
I love you.

And the second one.

Hi, Daddy,
I'm ready to come home. I got some good news.
I'll be there in a few days.
If you see Dam before I arrive, give her my love.
I love you, too.

After inspecting the addresses, she explains kindly while taking time to look let her eyes wander over me, "I don't have control over the rates. Are you sure you need these delivered today? These are halfway across the country."

It’s… it’s getting a little warm in here.

"Ah know it'll be expensive, but it's important. Do you have a carrier available?"

She nods, "That's what we do, miss," and takes a chart out from under her desk to check. She then writes out a bill of sale. Since it's not a small expenditure, paperwork is appropriate, and Package shows me the total cost.

It's a lot of bits but not beyond my means, and it is more than worth it.

After paying the price, she stamps several documents and calls over a carrier through a little window behind her, "Got one! Who's ready!?"

She adjusts her uniform a bit before turning back to me with a half-lidded look, "She'll be right along." Her chest fluff is quite noticeably protruding over the shirt she's required to wear for this position.

Wow. I did not think my scent would affect anypony like this so soon after... after Apple Butter. I'm not going to enter estrus soon. Or am I?

Isn't that great! I'll wager Flo will synch up with me, too. She'll lo~ve that.

And Full Package really is the full package. She looks soft in all the right places, and the stitching in her uniform are strained just enough to show that she takes care of herself and knows how to work… B- but I don't know this mare and don't plan laying any more problems on my stallion's lap this week. And we all live on the other side of the country... Although, a mare will move just about anywhere if a stallion is involved, and nopony would say, 'boo.'

Keep it together, Cup. This is just post-pregnancy hormones and a desire to buck your stallion. Nothing else… probably.

"So," she says, "you know my name," I'm trying to be nice right now. I really am. "But I don't know yours."

I mean, it's on the envelopes right there in front of her. Does she not realize? Mares sometimes- you never really know. You know?

"Oh, um~ well..."

The flight courier comes into the postal lobby from the back room -thank Harmony! “Box Stuffer, reporting, Post Master!" She looks rested and ready.

Full Package turns to Stuffer, "Two for immediate delivery," and hoofs my letters to the carrier.

She looks at them and with raised brows says, "Ah, that’s a nice enough town." Box Stuffer puts them in her official ERPS saddle bags and salutes to Package.

“You know it?” I ask.

She nods to me, “Yeah, sure do. Been there a few times,” and turns to begin her delivery, but I can see her nose flare a bit as she does so and slows a little on her egress.

Good thing I am in the process of leaving, because it is time to go.

While I am sure she is a wonderful mare and do not want to be rude to Full Package, I do not want to continue that conversation, and I also have things to do for my colt.

My colt.

"Thank you Miss Stuffer and you Miss -uh~"

*ding*
Full Package must have just noticed me no longer in front of her counter but recovered enough to holler, "Full Pack-" I did not hear the rest, because the front door closed.
*ding*

My heart's beating faster than I think it ought to be. That’s astonishing to me. Haven’t had a mare do that to me since before Chif set her eyes on that lithe cousin Carrot from back home.

Focus. Which way is the Shrine from here? ... Okay, this will work. Good. Shouldn't be too far, anyhow. A walk will do me some good… and a cold shower later, too.

Now: focus on the Shrine. I am going to get a name for the colt.

Normally, Harmony gives the parents some kind of inspiration or a vision when the foal is born. When Apple Butter... well, he came out, but he wasn't exactly born. But even then, Harmony told me what name would fit him.

A lot of things would be different if he lived. He'd be here... and the colt would still be out there. I know it ain't fair to call it a trade or compare, but I wish I could have met him -like really met him. Would he be more apple-y like his sire or buttery like his dam? Or a good mix of both?

'Suppose every mare likes her stallion at least a little buttery.

But the colt... none of us were there when he was birthed, and I don't want to think about what he's been through since. But he's survived, he's with me now, and I won't leave him like his first herd did.

In circumstances like this, a pony can go to a Harmony Shrine to ask Harmony. It doesn't always work but few ever fail to get something out of a visit, and I can't envision a denial for such a case as this. Something so extraordinary deserves a little intervention.

There are other reasons to go to a Shrine: weddings, friendly gatherings, announcements in small towns. A lot of those happen back home as our Shrine is the center of town and is also the primary purpose of the Town Hall building.

I think it was first piece of land dedicated to anything in particular before the ponies there started setting up their claims for agriculture and development. Although, it wasn’t built until after those ponies secured their own homes and began food production.

I don't think my stallion will want to have his wedding at the Shrine in the Town Hall, though. He's a little more sentimental and will probably want to have it back on his family farm. There's nothing wrong with that. Stallions do like those ceremonies and often will dream of them since foalhood.

I can see his dam walking him down the aisle to give away to me now.

I’ll vow to protect and provide for him and our foals, and he’ll vow to be true to us. And we’ll proclaim our love for all time.

‘Love,’ he said. That colt. I’ll love and help him for sure. Apart from those… eccentricities -the dragonboating, his inexperience with bathrooms, and zeal to protect his head- I think he’ll be fine. A pony should be able to unlearn those types of things -especially at his age.

He does seem to like playing, eating, and sleeping which are all healthy for a foal his age; and he’s quite curious to the point he started saying words already.

I forgot to remind Flo to watch what she says around him. Don’t want him picking up words he shouldn’t… Eh, I’m sure it’ll be fine.

Given his natural coloration, I wonder if he’ll have any talent for the farm? Or maybe he’ll be more inclined to something playful or flight oriented with how he and little Spitfire were getting along?

I know it’s been researched and studied, and nopony has a definitive explanation about these things; but Harmony tends to make names rather important. Many have noted some kind of connection with a pony’s name and one’s Cutie Mark.

But it’s no guarantee. I think one of the royals up Canterlot-way is named, ‘Blueblood,’ and I’m pretty sure his special talent and Cutie Mark has nothing to do with blood or anything blue.

Around this corner and- ah, there it is: set apart from all the buildings is a green space. Short, soft green grasses and some gentle little flowers spread out for nearly a whole block of the city. There are a few benches here and there, but there’s little need with the lawn as it is.

There’s a slightly elevated water source in one corner that happily trickles roundabout into what looks like a little fish pond.

Some animal critters mosey while birds flitter and ponies relax. Some small foals laugh and play with some fluttering friends -butterflies and such. There’s even a griffon -as content as I’ve ever seen one- napping off to the side on one of the clouds brought low for public use.

There are no walls. No hedge surrounds the space. But there are some wooden archways at the entrances that like those gateways of my family farm and my stallion’s function more symbolically than any other way as they are forever open and unobstructed; there is no gate or door that closes on these.

But by the nearest of these, a pony stands looking in. She is taller than most with a soft blue palette to her mane that gently waves as it flows down her blue -almost purple- coat. Her wings are large and magnificent -almost like my colt’s.

As I approach to enter the Shrine property, she silently points towards the center of the Harmony-hallowed location. That is where the Shrine itself sits. From here, the view is blocked by trellises covered with thick greenery.

My eyes quickly scan her as I walk up to her and follow her forehoof as it points. I thought Full Package was tempting, but this mare could compete with Princess Celestia herself! Why? From her tail up to her horn, she emits strength and grace to a degree that even the forehoof she’s using to point- wait. Horn?

I whip my head back, and she’s gone.

What? She didn’t take off, and I know I saw wings. I didn’t hear hooves; and I’m pretty sure teleportation makes a flash of light, but that didn’t happen. Did anypony else see this?

Nopony seems to have noticed. Nopony is looking this way or around as though somepony just disappeared.

…

I’m really glad I sent that letter. I’ve been without my stallion so long, I must be hallucinating. Oh~ this is going to be an estrus for the record books, I think.

Whatever. Time to do this for my colt.

Walking straight to the leafy center, there’s a mare dressed in an ornamental gown. It consists of two loose-fitting pieces: one is a pure white shirt, and the second is a colored dress skirt. I think the colors correspond with the poeli-ko’s status or harmonic resonance or maybe different shrines matron different ones. Something like that. This mare’s dress is red with very large belt-like stitching -in which her shirt is tucked- that is mostly white but also has some purple and yellow highlights.

She smiles and welcomes me as I near, “Welcome. I’m Winter Walnut. How may I help you today?”

“Hello. Ah'm Cup, and Ah’m here to ask Harmony for a name for mah colt.”

Her smile sets deeper than the customary greeting. “Oh, I love helping with these. And a colt? This is exciting! Come in.” She motions for me to follow her into the leaf-enclosed space.

Just inside, there is a small clerical structure with a shelf, a book on the shelf, a donation box, and a little roof over the top -possibly to redirect rain dripping off the leaves above from affecting the book.

“The book is a guest registry, if you don’t mind. It will only take a moment for me to get ready. Do you have your colt or something of his? And have you done anything like this before?” She says, and I start to fill it out.

“Er no -yes. Ah mean, Ah have something of his -some feathers- but he ain’t here right now. And Ah have not done one of these rituals before.” I take a few of the feathers out to show her.

This gets her vibrating with excitement. “Wonderful! I mean, it’s wonderful that you have those -that’s a beautiful green, by the way- but,” she vibrates a little less, “it’s a little sad I didn’t get to meet him.” In the span of a breath, her energy focuses, and she begins an explanation, “Okay. So, what will happen is that I will perform a ritual from the time you enter until the time you exit the Shrine. While you’re inside, there will be a little candle that represents the Fire of Friendship-“

“-like from Hearths’ Warming?”

“Mmhm!” She nods, “Yup! You may talk or think or pray to Harmony, and when you’re ready place his feather into the flame or near it or whatever Harmony may inspire you to do. And then you’re done! Any questions?”

Before I can ask, she raises her hoof up in the air and says, “Oh! I got a question.”

I- oh. Okay. I thought I was going to ask, but I guess we’re doing it like this. “Y-yes?” I ask.

“Did you not receive any inspiration when your colt was born?”

Ah. Walnut gets right to nut inside the shell. Doesn’t she? “He was kinda adopted and isn’t really old enough to tell anypony his name if he ever got one.”

Her whole body seems to slack, and her eyes start to water, “Wow~ that’s really sad,” but she starts to turn her own mood towards a positive outlook, “Ah, but that’s why we’re here. You’re here to get your colt a name, and I’m here to help!” With that she snags one of those feathers, turns around, and goes over to the Shrine itself.

Now that I notice it, it’s a little bigger than a tool shed which is put together somewhat like a pole barn but there are some carvings along the edges that look quite intricate. There are a few steps leading up to the Shrine with a wrap-around porch. The roof hangs well over the porch and walls which are clean and paper-like, and even from here I can see a small pedestal in the center with a little candle on it.

Walnut is sifting through a wooden storage box off to the side and under the Shrine's porch. Pulling out a few items, she happily moves over to the steps. One is a headdress with some tassels and the other is a stick with some bells hanging on the hoofgrip and a censor at the end. She mumbles something while placing some leaves and the feather she took into the censor. Striking a match, she moves the flame into contact with those leaves within, and sets the little fire-starter into a small bucket nearby.

With this complete, she turns to look at me and says with a warm smile, "Whenever you're ready, Cup, and think about the colt."

"Ah just," I motion to the Shrine, "walk in?"

"Yup," she answers shooting me a wink, "You do what feels right, and I'll take care of the rest." She keeps her eyes focused on me. "Oh," she adds, "wipe your hooves before stepping up and don't look back."

What? What does that mean? I mean, I get the hooves part, but... "Oh... Okay." Probably best not to argue. She's the expert here.

As I lift one of my hooves to begin, she raises her staff; and when I set it down to take my first step with the intention of going up and into the Harmony Shrine, she brings her staff down. The bells chime, and a small puff of smoke from the censor cascades down into the path I am about to use. She only does this for my first step.

When I get to her at the base of the steps, I look to her. She smiles wider and nods her encouragement. I wipe my hooves on the mat at the base of the steps; and as my first hoof touches the wood, her bells chime again.

Think about the colt.

The way he was so scared to nurse that first time and how he got so used to it.
The way he got to have his first bath last night and got all that grime off. He smelled so much better!
The way he slept in a bed and let me cuddle with part of him but hid his head under a pillow.
The way he played with little Spitfire.
The way he does that weird spring-loaded jump-run.
The way he hugged me for the first time and gave me his first kisses.

The bells chime, and I find I'm sitting before that little candle on its little table. I don't really remember making those paces from the steps of the Shrine. A small pink flame dances on the wick.

I take the feather and move it to the fire and say, "Please help me find a name for mah colt." When the flame takes the offering, the sound of a roaring wind comes up, and the echoes of timbers snapping and breaking fill the space; and the little flame becomes the only thing in the world.

The Shrine, the grounds, Walnut, Baltimare, Equestria, the stars beyond. They're all gone, yet it's not empty because of this pink-purple spark. It's calm, reassuring, and almost peaceful.

Somewhere beyond all things, bells chime, and a quiet voice comes from the little source of light before me, "A new one?"

What? "He- he has one already? Ah'm not trying to argue none; Ah'm just a little... confused." As it flickers, I perceive that it may be considering something -or me. And then it moved into me, and I became warm and felt joy like when I'm with my stallion.

And the bells chimed, the world and all that is in it resumed. I take a deep breath like I was holding it for a long time and notice vapors coming from the wood of the Shrine all around, and the flame went out.

As I stumble out, Walnut is there to help me balance. "You had a big one," she says. "So, what's the verdict?"

Swallowing, I reply, "Ah think Ah might need to visit the library." The sun looks like it's starting to set. "How long was Ah in there?"

She looks a little unsure about answering but decides to tell me, "A- about three hours."

"What? I got to get back to mah colt!"

...I shall take a part of you, and you will wander until the appointed time as folly-fallen…

Author's Note

Both Winter Walnut and Full Package got snubbed by Cup. I was not expecting that, but she had a lot going on today: quit her job, dropped some letters off at the post, and had a genuine revelation. That's pretty good!

Notes got on long again. Sorry. I should figure out how to make that not happen so often. Most of that comes from some Equish in this chapter, and I provided translations there.

It's still Friday, so I'm not technically late! Yay. A bunch of my favorite authors posted this week. I don't think they did it specifically to distract me, but I am compelled to wonder...