Chapters Princess Twilight checked the magical formation one last time, fussing over the arcane lines to make sure they were absolutely perfect.
“The spell matrix is as good as it will ever be. Are you two ready to do the heavy lifting?” she asked the two alicorns standing just outside the ancient ruin.
Luna and Celestia nodded. They waded through the field of spring wildflowers and stepped up onto the marble floor. This had been an estate once, but the walls and ceiling had been carried away long before their birth.
Twilight returned to the field as Luna and Celestai took up their places either side of the arcane circle. The focal point of which was the stone figure they had put so much hope in. It was a strange creature, sculpture to appeal to the feminine eye, in spite of its whimsical appearance. Something like a short, though he would still look Celestia in the eye, flat-muzzled minotaur. He was pony below the navel—a glaringly stallion one too. Above the navel however, he was gracefully lean and furless, save for the short woolly mane that failed to completely hide a pair of short spike antlers, or the pointed ears on the side of his head.
They knew very little about the sons of Silenus. Fragments of mythology from an age of gods already forgotten two thousand years ago. That they had found a single survivor, in the form of a cockatrice victim, was the hand of Harmony herself. Reversing a cockatrice’s curse got harder with time, but that could be solved with mere overwhelming force. The flesh would be revived, Twilight had personally solved that. But had his soul survived this long without corruption or survived at all?
They would find that out shortly.
The elder alicorns lit their horns. Gold and silver magic swirled and pooled on the marble. Above an eclipse threw the field into shadow. Creation went thin as unimaginable bouts of magic focused on the statue.
Faster than it began the eclipse passed and the raging magic was absorbed by the statue with a pop and a flash. The unnatural silence that followed was soon broken by the clack of the creature's hooves finding their balance.
The three alicorns watched him turn and study the distant forest and mountains; silent, seemingly oblivious of their presence. He glanced down at his legs, then raised a hoof experimentally. The pose made it difficult not to stare at his sheath.
“Huh.” He put his hoof back down and scanned the field around him. “Elysium. I guess the Greeks win,” he said to the air around him before finally looking at the three alicorns. “And wow aren’t you three beautiful.”
Twilight’s ears burned, Luna coughed. Celestia suppressed a laugh before speaking. “We’re flattered.”
The look on his face fluttered between embracement and fascination. “Sorry.”
“Do not apologize. In fact your comment alleviates some fears ” Luna interrupted him. “I imagine that was an abrupt awakening. Are you well?” With a wing she invited him to follow her down from the ruin.. “What is the last thing you remember?”
“Getting splattered by a bus.”
Twilight and her mentors shared in confused silence.
“It was a really wild party.” He looked her in the eyes, then to Luna. “This isn’t the afterlife, is it?”
“No.” Luna answered.
This answer somehow put a near Pinkie-like aura of glee around him. “I got isekaied !”
All three of them tilted their heads as he chanted, “Menu, status, display,” while poking at the air with strange gestures for a moment before stopping with a shrug. “Guess you can only be so lucky.”
“Is this your kind’s magic?” Celestia asked
“Oh!?” He grinned. “There is magic here? What’s it based on?”
Twilight resisted the urge to slip into lecture mode. “Emotion in general, but Friendship best aligns with Harmony: which is the foundation of stable magic.”
That Pinkie-like glee again flashed across his face.
Celestia placed a hoof on his shoulder with deft speed. “Please don’t attempt to wild cast.”
Luna gave a solemn nod of agreement while Twilight and kept an imitation of her brother’s barrier ready to cast.
“Fair point.” he nodded, deflating slightly. The other’s relaxed as Celestia withdrew her hoof.
“So, I take it you didn’t summon me here on purpose?” he asked, then jolted as if remembering something. “I’m Briar Green, by the way.”
“Princess Celestia, but I intend for you to be a peer. Please do not use formalities.”
“Her younger sister, Luna.”
Twilight froze when Briar’s attention expectantly turned to her. His focused gaze and exposed belly within reach made it difficult to silence an inner adolescent filly who wanted to derail this moment with lewd observations.
She regained herself with a sharp breath. “I’m Princess Twilight Sparkle. But just call me Twilight.” She paused to gather an explanation on how they’d managed to abduct his soul, but came up short. “Do you know the name of what plane you came from?”
Briar scratched at his chin in thought. “Does Midgard mean anything here?”
Understanding washed over Celestia and Luna, but Twilight remained confused.
“He is far from the first thing from Midgard to fall into Equestria,” Luna explained to Twilight and Briar alike. “Things from there seem to naturally find their way here if they get lost between worlds.”
“Oh!” Twilight perked up at the information. He was from a neighboring branch. That didn’t answer the exact whys and hows, but it gave an outline that explained enough. “You must have been near a thin spot between realms. When your soul left your body, it somehow got a little bump from the reanimation ritual and it managed to reattach to an empty vessel.”
Briar nodded at the explanation. “Well.” He practically danced off the ruin and into the wildflowers. “That works for me. Better than dead. And I feel, and look, twenty years younger. How can I help?”
Luna and Celestia flashed impish expressions between them that Twilight couldn’t read. “Twilight,” Celestia said in her teacher's voice. “Would you be willing to host our dear guest for now and catch him up on our little problem? He needs some magic lessons and time to learn about Equestria. Having the three of all explaining would only be more confusing.”
“You have a knack for teaching other species.” Luna continued. “We will visit you as we discussed next week.”
A wink of light later, and they were gone.
Twilight looked to the stallion she was now alone with, maintaining the conscious effort to look him in the eyes and not his Sheath or what was hanging below it. He gave her a patient smile, eagerly waiting for her to do or say something. A faint masculine musk wasn’t helping.
“Do you...” Twilight stopped and rephrased what she was saying. “Let’s head to the castle. Ponyville is just on the other side of Whitetail Woods.” She motioned to the treeline in the distance.
“Lead the way,” he half cheered. “So you all need me to fight something eventually?”
The question derailed Twilight a moment, but then she pieced together his logic. “Thankfully, no.”
Twilight purposefully turned to lead the way. She couldn’t look at him and explain this at the same time. “We need you to sire as many foals as possible.”
Beside her Briar stiffened a moment before continuing his pace. “Why? And I’m super not doing anything with someone who isn’t one-hundred percent eager to be there.”
Twilight looked back to see serious concern on his face. She was relieved that the proposition had inspired cautious intrigue instead of revulsion or indignation. “Oh trust me, you’re going to get eager. Available stallions are rare around here and your new body is the son of the god of wine and love making; and you have the appearance to fit the role.”
Seeing Briar’s look of concern fade, she looked ahead again and kept walking. “But as for why. Legends say your kind has a fifty percent chance of siring either a filly or colt.” Briar nodded to her words as if they were common sense to him. “Our stallions historically sire fillies to colts five to one. In the last two-hundred years the ratio has slipped to twenty to one. Another generation and we’ll start having real problems. We’re hoping you’ll give us enough colts to refresh the gene pool.”
“But won’t they all be satyrs like me?”
She filed the word satyr away for later before answering his question. “You’re a chimera, so your children will be a hundred percent pony.”
“Huh.” He examined himself as they walked. “Always wondered what it felt like to have a tail.” he muttered watching it move with his step. With a little concentration he teased its range of motion.
“You didn’t have a tail?” She asked.
Briar nodded and began talking about his previous world.
Twilight had finally begun to relax around Briar by the time they reached the outskirts of Ponyville. He was the thoughtful type that laughed easily. She’d given him the basics of Equestrian society, and he’d shared a few details of his personal life and old world. He had been a speech teacher for foals, though he’d never had any of his own, and his world was very different from hers.
“I’ve been putting this off, but I should warn you.” she confessed to her burgeoning new friend. “Heat session has just started. Not many mares start this early, but some do.”
Briar mulled in silence following beside her.”When do you start, if that’s not rude to ask?”
“This morning.”
Briar apologetically put a little more distance between them. “You okay with me being this close?”
Twilight gave a sharp nod. “Yeah. I’m not a heat-drunk filly. And beside.” She paused, her stomach going butterflies at what she was about to say. “I was hoping you would cover me later.”
Briar’s hands darted to cover his groin. She couldn’t help but notice the blush of his face as he looked for any witnesses, or the growing male anatomy he was doing a poor job of concealing. Thankfully they weren’t yet near anypony.
“Deal lord, how was I hiding a horse dick?” Briar ranted as he hid behind a tree. “Have some mercy on a guy, don’t broadside me with lines like that in public. This thing is twice what I had before.”
Twilight gathered her courage. “Do you need... help?”
“I’m fine.” Briar sighed. “I’m not a teen with lust for brains either. Give me just a second to relax. I need to relearn how to control this anyway.”
Oddly, Twilight felt a little disappointed. He was right though. That was her heat thinking.
“You really want to just have my kid like that?” he asked. She heard honest concern in his question.
Staring at more or less nothing, Twilight mustard her best answer. “I’ve always intended to have a few foals, like my mother. You’re bizarrely attractive thanks to that god blood of yours, and Celestaia and Luna are going to ask you when their heat starts. I may as well join them in solidarity.”
Briar was silent behind the tree save for long breaths that Twilight recognized as a breathing exercise. “Is the chance of having a colt that big of a deal?”
“Yes, and ponies seeing a princess trust you will mean any mare will trust you.”
A moment later, Briar returned. Recomposed save for a remaining blush and glint of pink flesh that refused to completely retreat.
Twilight pointedly ignored both. She decided to skip the town tour and head straight to the castle. She’d forgotten how new that body was to Briar. He probably didn’t want to be in a crowd just yet. Let alone a crowd that would invariably have a few mares hit on him. “We’re close enough now, you want me to just teleport us to the castle? I’m sure we could both use a little cool air and tea.”
A foalish energy replaced his awkwardness. “You can do that? Sure!” His excitement for magic made him unbelievably cute.
She stretched out her will and cast the spell. A flash and they were standing in her grand room. The castle’s chilled air was a blessing on her hide.
“Make yourself at home. There’s a bathroom down that hall, and the kitchen is through that door.”
The moment she pointed to the latter, two mares pushed into the room. Each spooning ice cream into their mouths from a shared carton.
Trixie looked to Brier then to Twilight. “Trixie is impressed.”
Beside her Starlight simply stood transfixed on the male in the room. “So Twilight. Who’s your friend?”
Twilight suppressed a sigh. “Briar Green, these are my friends Trixie Lunamoon and Starlight Glimmer. Briar here is the son of Silenus I told you about.”
Briar waved at the two. “Hello.”
The two glanced between them again with devious grins ‘We’re going to be in the East Tower,” Starlight said. "You two have fun. Spike and Gabby are in Canterlot till tomorrow morning.”
She let out the held sigh when they left. “Sorry about that. They’re not exactly the most tactful.”
“It’s fine. I’m starting to like the ego boost,” he said, exaggerating his posture.
Twilight snickered. “You want tea and something to eat?”
Briar nodded. “I think I could put down an entire pitcher of water.”
She led him into the kitchen to nab some salad and sandwiches Spike had left prepared for her, and a pitcher of chilled tea she’d made the night before. Levitating a couple plates over she made two light meals out of the leftovers. The two enjoyed the cool as they ate in comfortable silence. Briar studied his surroundings with a peaceful smile.
Eventually his gaze fell on her. She returned the attention with a soft smile. Looking over the stallion sitting in her kitchen, she thought he was much less imposing here than in the field. His features seemed like quirks of his personality now, not features sculpted in stone. She still struggled not to stare at certain places. She just wasn’t used to seeing those quite up so close.
Briar finished off his second glass of tea then sat up a bit straighter as he met her eyes with a playful grin. “Would you like to go find a cozy place and be intimate before we shower?”
Twilight’s nose burned from the blush but she didn’t blink. “You sure? We don’t have to rush.”
He kept the grin as he stood. “Yeah. I think we’re both a bit pent up. Let’s put on some music in the bedroom.”
Twilight’s stomach danced. A nervous giggle escaped her. This was it. The urge every pubescent filly so desperately kept on a leash was about to get scratched, and by an attractive stallion that seemed equally eager to oblige her.
Leaving the dishes where they were she led the way to her room. Briar rested a hand on her neck as they walked, his fingers caressing lazily down her mane. This is nice . She let herself admit she was very much eager for more of Briar’s touch. She was letting her hindbrain take over, but that was okay. She had thought this through already, this wasn’t poor frontal lobe function. Her foal would be herd siblings with Luna and Celestia’s. Flurry Heart will get a little niece too. Twilight hummed a happy tune at the thought of doting on her foal.
The thought of what she and Briar were about to do was still a little intimidating, but her body ached in anticipation. Again she forced down a little nervous voice. This was the point of no return.
“After you,” she said, opening her bedroom door with a wing.
Briar strolled into her room. He glanced around, then walked over to her record player. “Any recommendations?” he asked, flipping through her collection.
“Silent Whey?” Twilight answered as she locked the door.
A song from the middle of the album began to play. Thinking back to Trixie and Starlight, she added a barrier and soundproofing spell to the entire room.
“I like it, but not for this.” Briar said, taking the album off.
She walked over to join him. “How about, Wine Light?”
He started this one on the first track. After listening for a moment he gave her a soft smile. “Yeah, that’s perfect,” he said, nodding in time to the music.
“So.” he turned and looked down into her eyes. His hand cupped her cheek. Fingers brushed against her in time to the music, inviting her to sway to the rhythm with him “How’s the normally go for you?” he asked as she let herself be led in something like a dance.
Twilight’s ears splayed at the question. “I- I’ve actually only ever used toys.” She made a vague gesture toward their hiding place.
Surprise only replaced his easy smile for a split second. “Then let’s do this.” He nudged her to buck up with her forelegs against his chest for balance. She was only a bit shorter than him like this. His other hand rested on her barrel, and led them onto a slow, swaying dance with little steps. Their eyes met. A hand beneath her chin guided her lips to his.
The kiss was soft and caring. She let him pull her tighter as they slowly danced away from the music. She rested her head against him and savored the masculine body pressed against her as they drifted around the room. Reaching up she met his lips again. She folded her wings around Brier to better return the embrace. “Good start.” she mumbled when their lips parted.
Their eyes met again. The hand not on her barrel traced a line up her neck as they swayed. Curious fingers soon found her horn. He seemed to take pleasure in every little reaction she made to the intimate attention. She bleated an animal sound when he toyed with the tender hide around its base. Then just let herself moan as he caressed it with kisses.
When he pulled back Twilight mirrored his mischievous grin before dropping back to her hooves. She indulged that adolescent filly from so long ago. Leaning forward she nuzzled the stallion’s sheath. The fur was indeed fantastically soft. Though only a bit of pink was exposed, she could feel tense hard flesh beneath. Breathing in the musk her body shivered. She pressed in to feel everything against her muzzle. When she reached the escaped flesh she lapped her tongue around it.
She was rewarded with whimper and the sight of him growing to full mast in just a few pulsing heart beats. He was big, but far from his “horse” comment earlier: which was some relief. She made a little trail of kisses from his thigh to his tip. Partly to hear the little noises he made, parity to get a better look at him.
Her exploration was derailed when curious hands found the spot between her wings. Her back arched before she could stop it and she simply didn’t even try to keep her tail from flagging.
“Lets Um..” Briar took a breath. “Go to the bed.”
Twilight nodded. She wasn’t sure how this was going to work, but she let him usher her across the room. Soon she found herself in the middle of the bed, belly up, with a stallion above her. His eyes scoured her with lust and tender care. He made a happy hum as a hand dragged across her coat from her barrel to the top of her neck. Cradling her head, their lips met again.
His other hand found the wet fur between her legs. Nimble fingers explored places that sent her gasping for breath. She shook in orgasm, curling into Briar as he held her tighter. Their kiss grew desperate as she shook again, but the delicious torment only stoked the ache inside her. It demanded more pressure than fingers could give.
Thankfully, his needs were equally demanding. Her back arched, and he moved the hand between her thighs to under her dock, lifting her hips up to meet the blunt flesh pressing into her. It met little resistance.
She managed to watch Briar wince and hiss in pleasure as he sank into her. The ach within her stretched with delicious pressure. Her legs writhed of their own accord when he completely hilted. The feel of him pressed against her inside and out pushed her over the edge. She went stiff then the world went white as her body shuttered. When her vision cleared Briar met her eyes. “God that feels good,” he whispered before pressing into a kiss.
Twilight twisted, clenching around the stallion inside her as she came. Rocking her hips she pulled him tighter with her legs. Briar shivered and groaned, giving her a little ego boost. Their kiss pressed hard again as breath mingles and bodies writhed. Pulling back to gasp for breath Briar planted a hand on either side of her and rose. She could see from his face to where he vanished into her.
She traced his neck and chest with a hoof while watching his face. The little ripples of ecstasy and care sharpened by carnal want. She watched in hedonistic fascination as Briar pleasured himself with her. Seeing herself take in the stallion gave the rhythmic pressure inside her even more satisfying.
They caught each other watching their own show, grinning when their eyes met. Briar took each of her forehooves in a hand and motioned for her to pull herself up. Twilight took the cue and let herself be lifted. He shifted, and when he relaxed again, she was sitting in his lap. The position pressed deep into her, stretching something deep that made her mind spin. With her legs around his waist, and pulled herself even tighter. Briar hissing and bucking his hips in time.
Lips found each other in playful touches. Breath mingled and flowed with the writhing of their bodies. She flung her wings around him to hold him tight while still allowing her fore hooves to explore. The world faded to nothing but their shared passion. The only thing in her mind’s eye was the loop of their rhythmic breath that burned bright as their lust.
Briar huffed and thrust a little harder. Bit by bit his tempo had changed. Still held in his kiss Twilight rocked her hips to press his flair hard into her. He gasped and all but wrapped his hands completely around her waist. Pouring more passion into the kiss, she held the pressure against him.
His breath hitched when he twitch in her. His hands clutched at her, greedily holding her to him. He went ridged, then spasmed in her embrace. The throbbing within her and the whimper in her ear sent a shiver through her and she came again.
“Hi” Briar whispered with that grin of his in the silence that followed.
Twilight let herself flop back onto the bed, her wings splayed out and Briar still inside her. “Hi,” she giggled. It occurred to her that the record had long ago ended. Briar looked at her with still hungry eyes. One hand caressed her belly while the other teased with a teat. The attention pulled a little whine from her.
He flared inside her again. “Damn you’re gorgeous.” He leaned forward and was again over her. His length pulled back, then pushed into her with a slap that forced a groan from her. He pulled back then drove his full length into her again, drawing out carnal sounds from them both.
This time he watched her every little move with greedy eyes, his rhythm was rough and desperate. She savored his lustful exploration of her wings and body with hands and eyes alike as he rutted her. He grinned each time she clamped around him and groaned in release. Her every twitch seemed to fuel his enjoyment of her.
It only took a few moments at this pace before his breathing got quick and the feeling inside her grew familiar. He took a hoof in each hand and looked into her eyes. Her back arched when she felt him pulse into her again. She embraced him with wings and legs when his weight tremble onto her. They laid heaped in blissful exhaustion until both had caught their breath. The idea of the shower bubbled up. She definitely needed one now. The idea didn’t go far though. Briar’s arms wrapped her in a calm and cozy embrace. Instead she napped the warm spring afternoon away.
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!”
