Satyr

Spike found Trixie and Starlight in the kitchen eating breakfast in their usual weekend tradition. “Where’s Twilight?” he asked.

Trixie perked up and pointed her fork towards Twilight’s room. “Pickling herself in the issue of an ancient lust-god that she managed to bed.” Trixie explained. “You’ll get a little nephew for Hearths Warming.”

Spike desperately tried to unhear that as he looked to Starlight for a more reasonable answer. “A bit dramatic, but true” She paused to finish chewing. “His name’s Briar. He seemed nice. Twilight forgot to recharge the silence spell this morning. So among other things, I heard the shower going a little while ago. I bet they’ll be down soon.”

Trixie nodded towards the stove. “Trixie made her chicory coffee. You’re welcome to have some.”

Spike went to pour himself a cup, but his brow still wrinkled. “The son of Silenus? Did she actually... ?”

Starlight shrugged. “He’s a real walking, talking, pony-something chimera, and judging by the volume of their romps this morning, he’s enthusiastically agreed to her plan.”

“Huh...” Spike pondered the idea of Twilight having a foal—while being thankful he hadn’t heard the act. He knew it was something she always wanted, but somehow he’d just never really imagined it. But then again, he could say the same thing about himself.

Gabby fluttered into the room just as Spike finished topping his coffee off with milk. “He didn't tell you, did he?” she asked Trixie and Starlight behind him.

“Tell what?” Twilight asked, coming down from the stairs. A lean, short minotaur followed close behind her. He looked more like a pony and a goat, than a bull and whatever else Iron Will was.

Spike grinned when Gabby leaned into him with a snuggle and threw a wing across his back. He returned the embrace and kissed the top of her head before she could deliver the news.

“We’re having a baby!” Gabby answered with glee.

Starlight and Trixie both grinned and cheered.

With a leap and a flutter of her wings Twilight landed smack in front of them. “Congratulations!” Twilight cheered, enveloping them both in a wing hug.

“Your mom is over the moon,” Gabby said as Starlight and Trxie joined the hug.

“Oh!” Twilight giggled. “That’s why you were in Canterlot.”

Spike nodded. “They got the news first, this is our second stop. So when are you going to tell her?” Spike playfully poked her stifles, earning a ticklish squeal from his sister.

Recovering from the giggling fit, Twilight motioned to the rather nervous looking guy that had joined them in the kitchen. “Briar and I will need to be in Canterlot in a few weeks. I wanted enough time for the gender spell to tell us if it's a colt.”

“Briar Green,” he introduced himself with an outstretched hand.

“Spike,” he replied in kind, accepting the handshake. It occurred to him that they were about the same height and not that different of a build. Though, he was definitely broader in the shoulders than Briar. He wondered if he could get Briar to go to the gym with him. He’d always wanted a guy friend for that. Other than Bulk anyway. That dude was way more intense than Spike ever wanted to be. Still though, Bulk’s coaching had undoubtedly added inches to his arms and chest.

The herd of four mares began discussing finer points of pregnancy that Spike wasn’t keen on hearing from his lover, sister, and two lewd friends.

“I’ll go pick up some breakfast.” he said to the room. “Write down what you want.”

Beside him Briar looked terribly out of place as the others scribbled down their orders. “You can come with me if you want.” Spike nodded toward the girl’s who were in the beginning of a spontaneous song. “They’ll get it out of their system by the time we’re back.”

Briar nodded and followed Spike once the harmonizing mares handed over their list.

“Singing a big thing here?” Briar asked once the door closed behind them. Out in the morning sun he stretched and breathed deep.

Spike laughed. “Oh yeah.”

The stroll to Sugar Cube Corner was pleasant in the cool spring morning. Beside him Briar seemed equally intent to soak up the peaceful morning. A few mares stopped to either wave good morning or simply look in curiosity at Briar. A few students from the Friendship School even detoured to greet him and be introduced to the new face.

“Hey, umm...” Briar stared at Rarity’s boutique as a few students left them to go work on an assignment. “I hate to ask, but I’d really like a tunic, or toga, or something, but I don’t have money. I thought I could just roll with the naked-in-public thing, but my chest is cold, women stare at my junk, and walking through a school zone naked is going to give me a heart attack.”

Briar did in fact look both cold and embarrassed. He felt bad for having been lost in his own little bubble. “That’s Rarity’s store. She’s a friend. I doubt the girls will notice if we’re slow getting back. Just... Don’t mention Gabby being pregnant. She wants to tell Rarity’s little sister herself, and once Rarity knows something, Ponyville knows it.”

An honest laugh escaped Briar. “I’m glad some things are universal. You and Gabby childhood sweethearts?”

Spike nodded with a smile. “Since a little after I got my wings.”

The old familiar sound of the boutique’s bells rang when they opened the door. “One moment!” Rarity sang from the back room.

“It’s me,” Spike answered absently before a mischievous little thought bubbled into his mind and a grin colored his voice. “Twilight’s special somepony and I were heading to pick up breakfast for the crew, but Briar here really needs some clothes.”

Rarity emerged from her craft room with a curious expression. She surveyed Briar for a split second then smiled. “Now when did this happen?” she asked with excitement. Her magic lifted a seamstress tape and a notepad.

Briar laughed. “Honestly, we just met yesterday, but I’ll let her explain it, because I don’t understand a bit of it. Something about interdimensional travel and me having a fifty fifty chance at siring a colt. But that said, Twilight is wonderful. I’m glad I met her.”

“Remember her talking about that son of Silenus?” Spike reminded Rarity.

“Oh!” She lit up in remembrance. “Well.” Her smile turned a bit coy as her tape measure darted across Briar. “I can certainly help. What would you like?”

“Well, back home being clothed is the norm.” Briar scanned the racks of formal clothes. “But I don’t want anything fancy,” he said in preemptive protest. “I’d literally be thrilled with just a pin and enough fabric to make a toga. My legs and fe- hooves don’t seem to get cold, so I can skip pants and shoes. Just something thigh length will do.”

Briar looked around the shop and eyed the sewing machine Rarity kept in the main showroom. “I can sew a bit. I can swing by later and make a tunic myself with about as much fabric as I am tall.”

“No no. I couldn’t let a friend of Twilight’s do that.” Her magic lifted a bolt of white cloth and some dark trimming. “I think a pegasus toga would be rather flattering on you. I’ll have it done in fifteen minutes. The tunic will be ready for you tomorrow. Any design requests.”

Briar found a pencil and began sketching a creature that looked like Briar’s torso on Iron Will’s legs. “Just a simple celtic tunic. I used to wear something like this back in my reenactment days,” he said, sketching a long shirt with a belt.

“Reenactment?” Spike asked as Rarity vanished into her craft room to put the toga together.

“Umm.” Briar scratched at his neck. “Are there clubs here that dress up like it’s hundreds of years ago just for fun? It’s kind of a hobby for nerds that are also history buffs.”

Spike brightened up. “I don’t suppose you play pen and paper RPGs do you?”

Briar smirked. “I haven’t rolled dice in some years. You play?”

He grinned “I run a game every other weekend. You want to join in?”

Rarity interrupted their nerd-out about the time they had finished trading notes on the various systems they enjoyed and what Spike’s game looked like. He was pretty sure Briar was itching to play a front-line cleric of some sort. ”Here you go dear,” she said, floating the tyrian trimmed ivory toga. A pink tourmaline brooch laid atop the folded cloth.

“Wow,” he breathed, inspecting the trim and brooch before unfolding it all. He studied the whole creation for a little while like he had been given a priceless treasure. “Are you sure?” He hesitated like he expected Rarity to suddenly take it back. “This fabric can't be cheap, and is it okay for me to wear Twilight’s colors like this?”

Rarity nodded, smiling in satisfaction at Briar’s reaction. “Of course! It's nothing i can't order more of. Now let's see how it looks on you. And what mare isn’t flattered by a handsome colt wearing her colors.”

“Thank you.” Like a foal with a new toy he threw a corner over his shoulder then began wrapping it around him. “Is my tail supposed to go under or stick out?”

Spike grinned. Rarity was as tickled with Briar’s reaction as Briar was with the gift.

“I’m delighted you like it.” Rarity helped Briar get his tail through the slit and held the shoulder till he could get the broach how he liked.

Briar turned in front of a mirror. He touched the points of his ears and antlers in inspection then adjusted the folds of his toga. “I feel like a proper royal retainer in this thing.”

“As you should,” Rarity pronounced. She studied Briar’s sketch before pinning it to her board. “I’ll bring this over tomorrow.”

“Thank you again,” Briar said.

“Think nothing of it. Now don’t leave the girls hungry.” She playfully shooed them to the door.

Back outside Briar moved with much less reserve than he had before. “She’s something else.”

“I had the biggest crush on her when I was little,” Spike half laughed.

“I can see why.”

Sugar Cube Corner was its usual busy self. More or less this morning at any rate. A lull washed over the bakery when they entered and Spike got a taste of the attention Briar garnered from mares when a dozen glanced at the two of them. It was unnerving enough that even he felt exposed.

But in the same breath it was gone and the busy restaurant roared on like nothing had happened.

“Hey Spike!” Pinkie popped up in front of them. “Who’s your friend? I sensed Twilight got an extra-special special somepony. Is this him?”

“Pinkie, this is Briar. Briar, this is Pinkie Pie.”

Pinkie shivered and twitched. “Oh! You’re from where my great great great great uncle Sleipnir was born!” She shoved a few bags in their hands. Spike didn’t need to look to know it’d be their order. “Come back tonight, I’ll throw you a welcome party!” She looked left and right as if checking for eavesdroppers before whispering. “There'll be an after party too.”

With a poof Pinkie was back behind the counter slinging out coffee and pastries. And with that they turned to head home.

“I can see the family resemblance,” Briar said, still a bit overwhelmed.

“You actually know who she was talking about?”

Briar searched for words as they walked. “I vaguely know the legend of Sleipnir. I just never imagined a word of it was real.” He went on to recount a few stories of Sleipnir’s father as they walked. The conversation also revealed that Discord had a female counterpart in his world’s legends named Eris.

Back at the castle Spike could hear the girls discussing furniture and foal supplies.

“Food’s here!” Briar called just before they found the girls leaning over a catalog on the table. “And your friend made me my royal harem garb.” His fingers traced the tyrian purple trim while flashing Twilight a grin Discord would have been proud of.

Spike stifled a cackle. The look on his sister’s face was priceless.

An absolute leer of a smirk stretched across Trixie’s muzzle. “Trixie underestimated you once again Twilight.”

Starlight and Gabby just snickered.

“You, um. Look good in that,” Twilight managed once Trixie stopped poking her ribs.

Briar’s mischievous grin turned honest. “Thanks!”

Hooves, hands, and magic began unpacking their breakfast spread.

“Anything you want to do today?” Twilight asked when Briar sat next to her.

“Well, I have a welcome party tonight.” Briar chewed on his fried egg and greens sandwich for a moment, looking a bit mystified by its contents before meeting Twilight’ eyes. “But till then I was hoping I could get magic lesions?” There was a tone in his voice that said he’d be very disappointed if not.

Twilight nodded, in a hurry to answer before she finished chewing. “Of course!”