Extra A/N: There are several POV changes in this chapter. They are marked. You are forewarned.
*Stormy Flare or Flo = Shtoash-Ifl or "Iful"

"...We shalt impart unto thee, mine Champion, this grace: a piece of Ours'lf; and with it also, this precept of tidings..."

**The Colt**
**Evening, 094 Spring CC**
**Cup's Apartment, Baltimare, Equestria**

I learned and had fun at the park with Spitfire and her mom. First, she taught us some ways to stretch our wings. Spit got things quickly from the visual, but Iful gave me some extra verbal practice.

I am not entirely sure on the words' translations; but we covered the front leading edge which is the part that faces forward, feathers that stick out the back of the wing -which include the commonly known type called 'primaries'- opposite the leading edge, the bendy parts of the wing, the top -which I'm going to call 'dorsal'- and the underside, and the greasy parts.

Apparently, there are some greasy parts -most especially where things bend like where fur transitions to feathers and joints; most of those are ticklish. Spitfire had lots of fun when I tickled hers. Iful started out fun but got grumpy really quick when I tickled her. Shows what she knows; I’m a master tickler. Just ask Spitfire. She'll tell you.

***Flash Forward***

"I am not talking about that. Who -and what- are you? And how did you get into the Wonderbolt's facility without wings? And how do you even know about him? Hey. Get back here! I did not give you permission to run away! Fine. I like to play it the hard way, anyway." -Cpt. Spitfire, Wonderbolts Command

***End Flash Forward***

The motions felt pretty good, and our feathers opened up at various stretching positions which brought us to another lesson: basic preening. Iful held a stretch, and she'd show us what to check on her wing. She had me and Spit do one of our wings that way, and then we would take turns on each other. Spit really liked the tickling parts. I tried to get Iful again, but she can dodge better than we can: benefits of experience. Me and Spitfire will catch up to her level eventually.

After stretches, she taught us some basic exercises. These consisted of some slow non-flying flaps in various directions; some slight twisting motions for our wings that I assume will be important later for more finely-tuned maneuvers like turning, ascending, or diving; and wing-ups and wing-downs.

Wing-ups are pretty easy to visualize and do. Belly on the ground and push the ground with your wings until your belly and chest don’t touch the ground anymore. It works the downward flapping muscles, and you can really feel the burn in some strange ways all around the ribs -even in front of the shoulders. Spits and I couldn't lift ourselves with our wings alone, so we used our hooves to help

Wing-downs are the opposite. Lay on your back and lift yourself up just a bit off the ground. This works the upward flap, and I can feel it more along my back muscles and even up the wings themselves. We couldn't do these at all. Our legs don't aim that way, so they can't help the way they did with wing-ups.

I’m pretty sure me and Spitfire look really stupid -like fish out of water- doing our first wing-downs, because Iful laughed. A lot. I’ll get her back with tickles later. Spits can help.

The first day of this practice we did not do any actual flying. Instead, we finished the time at the park by bouncing on clouds and playing 'tag' until we both fell asleep.

Mom Kek was still away when Spits and I woke in her apartment. We worked up an appetite, apparently; and Iful very kindly let the both of us have access to her. I don't really know if it's normal for a mare to let somefoal who's not theirs to latch for a feeding, but she did. Or are Iful and mom in a herd? Are herds a thing? I have no idea.

I can't quite put a hoof on it, but I am positive the Iful's flavor is different. Maybe it's because she's a pegasus and mom is not? Or maybe it's contingent upon her diet? I wonder if I can get her to eat a bunch of onions to test this theory.

Anyway, I took this opportunity to teach Spitfire proper etiquette for to show our hostess proper gratuity for her generosity. Spitfire displayed true vigor when demonstrating her studious achievement. Her dam briefly teared up with pride for her daughter's newfound maturity and rewarded us by teaching us a new word: rhek'm-eh.

She did not provide much explanation for it but seemed to get real laughy-giddy when I repeated it.

"Rhek'm-eh!" It is extremely important to repeat new vocabulary many, many times when learning a language.

Iful said something I heard mom say a few times, "Chzk-k."

Even Spitfire was able to pick up on it. Iful was stunned with the linguistic prowess of her filly. She and I laughed together and practiced speaking for a little bit while we played.

Mom still wasn't back yet, so Spits and I ran around and played more in the apartment while we squealed words and not-words. Wing-tickles were added to our lick-battle version of 'tag.'

There was not quite enough space for any flight-based races, but we gave it our best. I would very much like to try that with an actual course -maybe with some obstacles... I can definitely see the appeal of flying.

At some point during our roughhousing, we needed to make a pitstop; so, Spits and I went to the restroom.

This was another wonderful moment of bonding where I was able to teach Spitfire what I learned about pony toilets. I tried back at the park, but I didn't have anywhere to lean my hooves against the wall out there.

She thought me getting both my hind-hooves on the wall was cool but was super fascinated when I demonstrated the front-two-hoof-standing technique mom taught me. It needs a better name. I'll work on that. I think this technique may be colts-only, because it didn't quite work as intended for the filly when she tried it.

I do think she was on the verge of a breakthrough, though, but Iful came in right then and started saying a bunch of other new words. But she said those too quickly for me to really catch them.

Iful sped around the bathroom which included the drawing of a bath. In my opinion, it was a slight overreaction but not unwelcome.

To play devil's advocate, however, I do not know how many strides Spitfire has yet made to enter the post-potty trained stage of foalhood, and I may have accidentally started her on the more advanced side of the spectrum. I am a champion of this, after all. Mom and Iful become all kinds of excited when I demonstrate my prowess.

A damp washcloth may have sufficed in lieu of a full bath, I think, but I also did not get an accurate assessment of the damages Spits and I incurred throughout the day. Also, I'm a foal who wasn’t a pony not long ago. So, what do I really know about anything?

And baths are fun, too.

I showed Spits how to roll in the water to get water on the hard to reach places and then how to shake so the water wouldn't tickle down our coats. Water tickles when it trickles; this is an important thing to remember.

Spitfire showed me how to splash with hooves and wings. She also showed me how get some soap between our first two primary feathers to blow some bubbles! That was really cool.

I showed her how to blow bubbles without using soap, wings, hooves, tails, or one's muzzle. You just have to sit in the water. She thought it was amazing.

Both Spitfire and her dam laughed hard at that one, in fact!

It's good to know 'potty humor' crosses all kinds of barriers -even dimensions. At least, Iful laughed until one of our special bubbles popped. Spitfire and I laughed harder after seeing the expression she made. If you ever get your face stuck in one position, that is not the kind you want.

Being a foal is the best.

Then -after coughing a bit and sputtering a few new words- the mare did something really, really cool! She started making my super-advanced bath bubbles float up and out the bathroom window. I think she used some pegasus magic to gently control the air in the room.

She must have saw me staring, because she said a few things that I definitely am not sure how to translate right now, “Mhrtens-ins jei-poeli-dedt,” and, “bi-s tush-un shtnk-edt,” but her expression and tone made it seem like she was pleased that I was so impressed by her display of localized atmospheric control.

Several audible pops in the distance and a brief shriek from somewhere outside made Stormy jump over and close the window. Woof. Must be a rough neighborhood. I wonder what city we're in. Since Spitfire is here, I assume we're in Equestria. But isn't she supposed to live in Cloudsdale? And we're on the ground right now. Is there a city on the ground near that?

It's probably getting close to bedtime, because Iful is starting to look tired.

Once again, I also had to be very careful to be the only one to touch or wash my head. Spitfire didn't seem interested in that anyway, but I had to be firm with Iful about it.

After rinsing, Iful started to dry us off, but Spits and I took over and made a new game of it called, 'who can dry the other off more.' Plenty of nuzzles, tickles, and towel rubs were rained down upon each other. We definitely started getting sleepy by the time we finished that, but Iful had us do some more preening practice with each other. I don't remember finishing.

**Stormy Flare, Shtoash-Ifl**

Asleep. Finally. Sweet bucking Celestia. Cup was right about him being protective of his head. That freak-out was a thing to behold. I don't even know where to begin to think about any of today, but -d@mn- if they don't look cute together. I wonder if I really should talk to Cup about arranging them for herding after they grow up a little more?

I need a drink. Maybe Cup has some cider around here?

...

Oh, thank Harmony! That hits the spot. "Hah!" That's some strong stuff, Cup. 'Hard Morning Rooster' is right! You definitely learned how to do this stuff right from that sire of yours.

It will be good to know you're back with that stallion of yours and around your hometown friends again.

Well, the foal flight basics seemed fine apart from Cup leaving. I did think she'd be back before now. Both foals did well with the exercises, but he definitely took more to learning the words I was using. He seems really focused on words now that I think about it. That makes me think he might actually have some idea in that infantile noggin of his about how different he is in that regard. In that light, protecting his head so fervently is understandable -if superfluous.

But there's no way, no way a foal that size would understand something like that.

Maybe Cup or I should sneak a peak through his mane while he's sleeping... just in case.

One thing that is clear to me is that the colt has experienced some levels of Tartarus that no pony ever should regardless of how old or young he is. I know my Spitfire is entering the foalhood Mimicking Stage where she starts copying things more than merely observing.

I can rationalize his inexperience with toilets; never learning the proper ways to use the restroom sure seems to have given him some… creative outlets. I don't know if I've ever been so embarrassed. At one point when they were bouncing on those low-clouds, he got off. Landing was decent, but then he started to do something I have never seen a pony do before. He stood straight up on his hind legs, performed a low squat, and then with a face contorted in absolute concentration proceeded to yell in his foal-voice so that the entire population of the park stopped to look at the colt.

That's when he made horseapples for the park's congregation.

I tried to communicate some apologies to those nearest, but then Spitfire in her Mimicking Stage had to give it a try. And if that wasn't bad enough, some of the other young foals witness to these events gave it a try themselves.

"Sweet Celestia, the way she copies that colt. I hope we can break these habits before they form."

***Flash Forward***

**Fluttershy**
I greet my friend joining me on a happy little low-hanging cloud. I've been relaxing here for a little while watching the birds fly by.

"Hello, Rainbow."

Right away, she starts in her raspy voice, "I saw her. I'm telling you, I saw her! I was flying around practicing, and that's when she flew by. I noticed her while I was working on a new trick. Anyway, she flew down to a lower cloud, and I had to see what she was doing." The adolescent rainbow-maned pegasus filly continues to regale her friend the story, "I thought she just wanted to relax on a cloud after a workout like how we are right now."

"Just like how we are?" I ask. Rainbow was working out, but I don't remember doing that.

"Yeah!" Rainbow says, "Just like us. I was going to go over and show her how cool I am, immediately when I saw Spitfire, the Spitfire, captain of the Wonderbolts... but I wanted to watch just a little longer first -uh- to see if I could learn any tricks from a little ways away."

I ask, "What happened next?"

"Well... I did: I learned a super secret technique!" Rainbow Dash is really excited about this, "She set down on the low cloud, looked around, stood up straight on her hind legs, and did a two-legged squat plop! I'm not joking. She's so cool. Everypony does it the normal way -the natural way- but Spitfire said to everypony in the history of ponies who has ever horseappled, 'Buck that. Imma do what I want.' And I'm totally going to be cool like her!"

"W- what are you doing, Rainbow Dash?"

"Well, I don't have to make any horseapples right now, but I can do the other one. The position is basically the same for mares, anyway. Not like I'm a stallion. Like, how would that even work?" Standing for her debut demonstration, Rainbow Dash stands up and balances on her hinds legs on the cloud. "Alright. Check this out."

From somewhere below, the two friends hear from below somepony yell, "What the- why~?*gurgle, gargle*!"

We looked over the edge of the cloud to see a young minty-green stallion with a blonde mane, Zephyr Breeze, brother of Fluttershy, sputtering and coughing and on the verge of vomiting.

"Oh, horseapples, this is bad," Rainbow says. Turning to me she pleads, "Okay, I need a favor. Right now. C- can you take the blame for this? I promise that I'll do anything. Literally anything. I mean it: anything. Please. Please? Plea~se?"

How can I not concede. I know she doesn't like Zephyr, and this could get bad if he sees her. "Sure." And before I can blink she's gone.

Zephyr comes up to me still on the cloud and says, "Why hello, there, sweet- oh! Hey, uh... sis? Um, mom asked me to tell you that dinner's ready. I'm... I'm gonna go and -uh- c- can you tell her that I'll be in the shower...? A- a cold, cold, cold shower."

"Okay." I don't know if he heard me or not.

***End of Flash Forward***

**Stormy Flare, Shtoash-Ifl**

I don't know why, but I think I should pay attention to the habits she's learning from that colt.

And if what Cup said is true about him and bathing, I guess the... backdoor bubble blowing? I want to be upset, but that was too bucking funny. Who else but a foal would think of something like that? A party pony, maybe? No, that would have to be a Party Pony Master.

Well... it was funny until I got one to the bucking face.

The colt was genuinely intrigued by pegasus aerokinesis. I wonder if that was the first time he's seen a pegasus mold winds before. Keeping those from popping was quite the display of delicacy -if I do say so myself. Unfortunately, I did get distracted by his awe and may have to apologize to the neighbor for letting those escaped pockets of concentrated methane drift into her house.

The dragonboating worries me, too... ugh~ and now Spitfire knows how to-

Cup's front door opens and she hurriedly enters. The look on her face. "Cup?"

After securing the door, she looks at me; her mane is frazzled, coat foamy with sweat, and on the verge of tears, but she's smiling -ear to ear. "Ah got it," she breathes. "He's got a name."

"Well that's amazing, Cup!" I say, and we hold each other for a while, and I start feeling thirsty again. Something smells good, too. I break our embrace just slightly to take a swig of that cider and offer some to Cup. "Sorry. I took some of your stash. Want some?"

She gives a small laugh and shakes her head, "Buck yes, Ah do. And that's alright. This is a good time to celebrate." She chugs it.

"Oh- okay, easy, Cup." I help her lower the bottle.

She huffs, "That. Ah really needed that." Wow, Cup. You sure do have a farmpony's constitution.

Chuckling, I ask, "Okay. So? What is it?"

She answers, "Ah want to see him first."

"He's in the room sleeping with Spitfire," and I nod towards the foals.

She gets up, and I follow. I'm a little wobbly getting up, but she looks just fine. How? This stuff is 'Hard Morning Rooster.' She drank half the bottle just then.

But I catch up to her. She's just standing there looking at them with the biggest smile I've seen her have since I arrived for this visit: two foals sleeping in each others' hooves, wrapped in one blanket. Standing next to Cup, we both look at our foals. It's a wonderful sight. I know I will cherish this sight forever.

*click* Best investment I've made in a long time was this camera. The rest of the herd is going to love these, and hopefully never learn about her learning bad words, how she can stand up on two legs to potty... or her dragonboating...

I can't wait till she starts talking. I already rue that he is talking. But it sure is interesting.

In a quiet voice, Cup says, "Harmony gave me two names. One old name: <Tzee-dur>; and a new one: <Non-ynus>."

"He had a name before?" She nods at this. "I don't know the first word at all. The second, Silvanus?" I ask. "I am not familiar with that word, either, though it sounds like one I've heard before. What do they mean?"

"Ah don't rightly know." She chuckles to herself, "Ah think we should go to the library tomorrow to find out."

"I like that plan. Me and Spits should go over to my cousins' after that," I say and ask, "Will he have your family name?"

"Ah think he should have a mix of both: mine and mah stallion's. Neither are small clans, and he'll be the first to carry the union of the two s'far as Ah know. H'arnon-ynus. Mah little <Non-y> of Clan <Haw-pum> and Clan <Ar-pum>."

"<Non-y>? Yeah, Silly. That fits. Doesn't it?" Both wrapped up in each others legs, sleeping in the rhythm foals find, and their heads nuzzled into each others necks. "Little Silly and Big Spits. Heh." Okay, I can't ignore this anymore. "Hey, Cup, why do you smell like you're going to be in heat soon?

**Full Package**
**Evening, 094 Spring, CC**
**The Full Sisters' Split-Level Attached Bungalow Apartment, Baltimare**

I work in the Equestrian Royal Mail Service, because I like to work with parcels and help ponies safely and securely send cherished presents to their loved ones. Interacting with customers is one of the best parts of the job. I've done it for a while now. A lot of ponies have come and utilized our services under my watch.

But none of them can be compared to her.

Blue-green ties that match her eyes in her partly-wavy partly-curly mane and tail. She was shorter than most nature-pony mares I've ever seen, but short makes for better cuddling, I think. And she was fit, too! The muscles on that little mare could rival any farmpony.

Her smile -and that voice!- she's been on my mind all day. I have to talk with her. I've never wanted to be anypony's friend so bad as this. Every mare has heard of love at first sight, but I never thought it would happen to me. She just walked right into my lobby.

She's the cutest pony; the mare of my dreams. No doubt about it.

She sent two letters to two stallions, and she was totally bagged-up. That means one of those stallions must be hers!

It's perfect. I just has to visit that town both letters are going to on my next holiday to see if that's where she lives; and if she does, then it will be pretty simple to get a transfer-

*knock, knock* Somepony is at the bathroom door. Really? Now of all times!?

The pony on the other side of the door asks, "Package? are you still in there?"

"Buck. What? Y-yes. I'm... a little busy," I answer.

"Why is the door locked? Are you clopping in there?" Asks the voice from the other side.

"Buckin', no, sis. Geepers." What kind of a question is that, anyway? Of course, it's the type of question my herdsister, Full Circle, would ask. She likes asking questions. It's what makes her a good solicitor -legal counsel for defendants in judicial matters. And somehow she always seems to lead witnesses wherever she wants when she questions them.

"Then why does it sound like-" And Circle proceeds to make noises with her cheeks and tongue loud enough to hear through the door. Ugh, everypony else in the house can probably hear her right now.

"Just! Give me five... ten minutes, okay?" I can only hope she will be merciful and cease her line of questions.

After a short pause, I am hopeful, but then she asks, "... You're gonna wash your hooves when you're done. right?"

Why are sisters so embarrassing? "Okay. fine," I answer, "Whatever. Just let me finish up in here!"

With a less teasing and more consoling tone, she starts, "It's okay if you are clopping. You know? But you know you don't have to resort to that. Right? You're an amazing mare. You've got everything any pony could want-"

"Look, Full Circle, this isn't exactly a good time for that kind of discussion." Please just leave me alone right now.

After another pause, I know better than to hope. She asks, "... Do you need any help?"

"C- criminey!" I know this is normal between herdsisters post-puberty, but this is the first time she has offered to me so outright and not during estrus season. Everypony knows estrus just has its own set of rules. Granted, I have not been hit with feelings like this before, "I think I can handle this."

"You know I'm here for you. Right? Sisters don't leave sisters 'urging.' Also, hooves can be rough back there-"

Every time. It's like this every time. How is it this hard for a mare to have a little 'firemare' time?

Full Circle knocks again.

"What now?" I am starting to think I'm going to have to go to bed with this frustration unresolved.

She asks, "Are you done yet? Because I still need to use the restroom."

"Why can't you use the full bath downstairs?"

"Thot, Stretchy, and Moony are using it. It is bath-time. You and I should be in there, too. Saves water." My other herdsisters: Full Throttle, Full Stretch, and Full Moon. Our Dam, Full Flanks, was an auxiliary favored by her sister's herdstallion. Most auxiliaries are not blessed with so many foals, but Sire has always been a flank-stallion, and our Dam has that aplenty.

"Alright, fine," I sigh. Most likely, Circle didn't go to the other restroom is because Moon can get shy with commode usage. I reach over and unlock the door to the restroom.

The door opens, and a smug Full Circle just looks at me with that smug smirk of hers. There's no point in hiding it. She knew all along. "Ah, I knew you were clopping. So who were you thinking about?"

Finding that mare-of-my-dreams and her stallion and moving out of this cramped house sounds like a really good idea right now...

I got distracted.

"Sweet Celestia, Package," Circle says to me, "You must have quite the crush. You have little hearts in your eyes."

My whole body was already quite flushed from thinking about that mare, but I can feel my face doubly radiate heat. "Sh- shut up." Yeah, that's a pretty good comeback given the circumstances, I think, "I'm going to find someplace private."

"If you go to the bedroom," Circle says while we swap operative possession of the commode, "Don't get any of that stuff on the bedding. We're all sisters, but that doesn't mean we like getting our fur sticky with-"

As I exit the restroom, "-I get it! This isn't my first rodeo."

"'Rodeo?' Is that what they're calling it on the streets these days?" She asks. I leave the door open for Circle, so she utilizes the opportunity to remind me while I walk away, "And clean up before you get in the bath with the rest of us. We don't all want to be stewing in-"

"-Yes, Circle. I'll take care of it!" Yup. Definitely feeling like it's time to branch out and find a herd -preferably one with a cream-coated, muscular, wavy-curly-maned, knock-out shorty of a mare and the stallion that caught her eye.

**Detective Truth Seeker**
**Nighttime, 094 Spring CC**
**Royal Highway, West Gate, Entrance into Baltimare, Equestria**

Dazed, I awoke on the ground several hours later facing the starry sky from a well-lit gutter I do not immediately recognize. If anypony would know a gutter in this city, it would be me; I've waded through most of them looking for all of Baltimare's scum. My head rests on what I hope is a living pony. I can hear some digestive noises from that source, but those can still happen post mortem. I am pretty sure it is the belly of somepony laying on the side as the side of my head feels like it's up against a thigh and stifle.

Most of the sounds of living are coming from another pony snoring across my hind legs. That one is definitely alive, but I am a little too comfortable to move my head to see below my muzzel.

To the side, at the lip of the gutter we are all in, and leaning up against a large gate-like structure -oh, that looks like one of Baltimare's city gates- sits a little stuffed animal. Its fur is brown while its forehooves, muzzle, and chest are stained with a 'pale white-yellow fruit mash.' It looks like a teddy bear after winning a fight with some soft, squishy produce.

There is no sign of that 'running banana' or the 'monkey who plays a harmonica with her flank hole' from my current vantage point.

Why's a teddy bear at the city gate? Probably tryin' to flee the scene. Eh? I've seen a lot of suspicious things in my day, but that one is also one of them. Well, I- I dont... Where's, "Light," and, "Puh- P... Pardon?"

Pardon replies from behind my head, "You don't need my permission, detective." So, Pardon is my pillow. She makes a pretty good pillow, but it's about time to get the only suspect into custody.

... I don't want to feel disappointed about the prospect of losing my pillow, but I do. "Uh... Arrest that wit- witness."

I can feel her slowly move, but she doesn't move out from under me. Orientation, hesitation. She really is a green officer -green as they come. Once we get that bear in for questioning, I'll show her how it's really done... Once I feel like getting up, that is.

It's so warm and fuzzy right here. Wait. Wait... Am I monologuing to myself again? Festering horseapples. I thought I left that habit back with Apple Sauce. Now that was a mare that really got me -really understood me on the inside and what kind of horrors I have to live with from this job- but she still had a hard time dealing with it. Said she had to compete with all the crime and lowlifes in Baltimare just for my attention; and maybe she was true, but I'm a mare damnit. I know it's a hard job, but I still feel.

And -sweet Celestia- she had a tail that you could play with for days. Never sat still that tail. Just when you'd think you could predict which way it would swish, it would surprise me. I could never get enough of it; it was hypnotizing, and I was alive back then. Even now, I can't help my heart race for that saucy, saucy Apple Sauce.

...Guess I picked a bad week to quit monologuing... "Wha- wake me up in f- Zz~"

Author's Note

I sent the lengthy author's notes to a Blog Post, again. There are some Equish language and cultural term translations.

Thank you all for enjoing my Silly story so far!