A Herd in Maretime Bay

After Hitch and Sparky showered, the seven of them gathered in the kitchen for breakfast. The baby dragon was currently sitting in the stallion’s lap, reaching out for a slice of orange Sunny was offering him. Sparky eagerly took the snack and happily began chewing down on it. Izzy, Misty and the Pegasi sisters cooed at the sight.

“Okay ponies,” Pipp said, pulling out her phone. “We need to plan our schedules for the week. Anyone have any plans?”

“I was thinking we could go for another beach day.” Sunny suggested.

Misty raised her hand. “Actually, I have news.” She pulled out the invitations from her pocket and dropped them onto the table. Zipp picked them up and examined them.

“Your dad is opening a Crystal Tearoom in Zephyr Heights?” She asked as she handed out the invitations to the others.

Misty nodded in confirmation. “He gave the invitations to me yesterday at the cafe, but after what happened when I got back home I kinda forgot about them.”

Pipp gasped as she took the invitations for herself, Jazz and Rocky. “Right, we need to add dress shopping to the to do list.”

Misty raised an eyebrow. “Why? What’s wrong with the outfits we wore to the Manesquerade Ball?”

“Misty, that was a literal red carpet event,” Pipp explained. “This is a grand opening. It’s a different kind of event that requires a different kind of formal wear. And we’re only going shopping for you anyway. You have no formal clothing. The dress you wore to the ball was lent to you by Izzy, remember?”

Izzy tapped her fingers together nervously. “About that…”

“She made me keep the dress.”

Sunny looked from one Unicorn to the other, confused. “But I distinctly remember you giving the dress back at the end of the night.”

“I did,” Misty confirmed. “And then I found it in my closet after I moved into the Brighthouse. When I asked Izzy about it, she refused to take it back.”

“Anyway, we still need to get you some formal clothes,” Pipp said, getting back on topic. “For the sake of variety if nothing else.”

“Well if we’re going clothes shopping, can we look at swimsuits?” Misty asked. “I recall someone wanting to get me a new one.”

There was silence for a moment before Izzy squealed with happiness and dashed out of her seat to hug Misty.

Later that morning the group were in the marestream, flying towards Zephyr Heights to go shopping.

“Misty,” Hitch said suddenly. “Can you tell us what happened at the cafe yesterday? I highly doubt that finding out that your dad is opening another Crystal Tearoom is what made you so upset.”

Misty sighed. “You’re right. It wasn’t that. It was what happened afterwards. Haven had barely said a word the whole time, and when dad pointed this out she asked how things were going at the Brighthouse. I told her everything was going fine and then… she asked if there was something going on between the six of us.”

Zipp jerked the steering wheel so hard that the others were thrown around the cockpit. Misty was flung sideways into Sunny, with Izzy falling on top of them a second later. Hitch collided with the wall and Pipp nearly fell out of the passenger seat. Fortunately they were just arriving at Zephyr Heights so they were able to land without any further mishaps.

“I’m sorry, she what?” Zipp asked as she spun around in her seat.

“Seriously?” Pipp complained. “It wasn’t enough asking us about our own love lives at the jinxie games. She had to go and ask one of our friends too.”

Izzy rolled off Misty, allowing her to get off Sunny. “Technically, it wasn’t the same question she asked you two. Before she only asked if you two were dating Hitch, but now she’s asking if all six of us are dating.”

“But how did she guess?” Hitch wondered.

Misty shrugged. “Honestly, you five weren’t exactly subtle. I worked it out, remember? So did Jazz and Rocky.”

“”WHAT?” The other five shouted at the same time, making Misty’s ears ring.

“Right, I forgot to mention that didn’t I?”

“So that’s what you were talking to those two about.” Zipp realised.

Misty nodded. “I had to explain to them what the term ‘herd’ meant, but they had already worked out that you five were dating all on their own.”

Sunny hesitated for a second before asking “And they seemed okay with it?”

Misty raised her eyebrow. “Jazz got a little mad when she found out you guys didn’t tell me about it, but other than that they were completely fine with it. But you’re asking that for a reason, aren’t you?”

“So that’s why Jazz was glaring at me the other day when she thought I wasn’t looking.” Pipp muttered.

“Well you see, the reason why we’ve kept the existence of our herd a secret this whole time is because we weren’t sure how ponies would react.” Sunny explained. “Remember, herds used to be somewhat common, but these days barely anyone seems to know that herds are a thing. In fact, I’m pretty sure ours is the only herd in modern day Equestria.”

“We don’t know that for sure,” Misty pointed out. “There might be other herds and they’re just hiding the fact like us. Besides, how are ponies supposed to learn about herds and get used to them if we hide?”

The others considered her words. “She has a point.” Izzy admitted.

Zipp sighed. “She does. It’s just… gonna be hard to be open about it after keeping it secret for so long.”

“Never mind that,” Pipp said. “How is mom going to react? I mean, we lied to her face about it.”

“So did I,” Misty informed them. “I felt like shit for doing it, but I knew you guys wanted to keep it secret.” The bitterness in her voice was barely hidden.

The rest of the group collectively winced. “That must have been hard for you,” Hitch commented. “Having to lie to people you care about again.”

“It’s wasn’t just that. It was also the fact that I was lying to protect a secret that I was technically never told. And then Haven saying that she thought that even if I wasn’t a part of what was going on you guys would have at least told me about it sent me over the edge.”

Izzy sucked in a sharp breath. “Yeah, I can see why you were so angry, now.”

“Anyway, should we get on with what we came here to do? Zipp asked.

The others nodded in agreement.

Once they arrived at the clothing store Izzy grabbed one of Misty’s hands while Pipp grabbed the other and the two of them practically dragged her over to where the swimsuits were.

“Geez, you two.” Misty said when they stopped and let her go. “Are you trying to pull my arms off?”

“Sorry.” Pipp apologised before gesturing to the swimsuits. “So, see anything that catches your eye?”

Misty took a minute to look at what was available before shaking her head. “Not really, no. Then again, after all the time I spent with Opaline I’m really not the best at shopping for myself.”

Izzy snorted. “The big meanie never let you pick things for yourself, huh?”

“Nope.”

“Alright,” Pipp said. “How about we pick something out for you and then you try it on and see if you like it.”

“Okay.” Misty agreed.

Izzy and Pipp nodded before they both started looking through the swimsuits, just as the others finally caught up.

“You two… seem.. even more excited… than usual.” Sunny panted.

“Yeah,” Zipp added teasingly. “You must be really eager to see Misty in a new swimsuit now that she’s our herdmate.”

Pipp gave her sister a quick glare before she resumed searching.

“I not sure what you guys are talking about. Those two always seem this energetic when shopping.” Misty said.

“Trust me, Misty.” Hitch replied. “Once you’ve been on enough shopping trips with those two, you’ll be able to spot the difference.”

“Find anything yet?” Pipp asked Izzy.

“Yeah, but it’s a bit unoriginal.”

Pipp looked up. “Unoriginal?”

“It’s the same kind of swimsuit as Sunny’s new one, but in a different colour.” Izzy explained.

Pipp thought about it for a second. “That kind of swimsuit could work for Misty, actually.” She looked over to Sunny and Misty. “Provided you two don’t mind having the same type of swimsuit.”

“I don’t mind.” Sunny said.

“Me neither.” Misty added.

“Then let’s give it a whirl.” Pipp decided.

Izzy nodded before handing the swimsuit over to Misty. It turned out to be a light blue bikini top with a matching mini skirt. Pipp then ushered Misty into the changing rooms so she could try it on.

“So this is the same kind of swimsuit that you got, Sunny?” Misty asked as she began changing.

“Yep, except mine’s pink.” Sunny replied from outside the changing rooms.

Izzy gasped suddenly. “I just realised, we never showed Misty our new swimsuits. We need to do that when we get home.”

Misty giggled at Izzy’s signature enthusiasm as she finished putting the swimsuit on.

“Well, how’s it feel?” Zipp asked.

Misty looked at herself in the mirror as she gave a twirl. “It fits, it’s comfortable and it’s not too revealing. You girls come in here and tell me what you think.”

The other four mares entered the changing room while Hitch remained outside. They all gasped at the sight of Misty in her swimsuit.

“What do you think? Do I look good?” Misty said, striking a pose.

None of the girls responded, but the tinge of pink across all of their cheeks was enough of an answer for Misty. She giggled again.

“I’ll take that as a yes. Come on, we still have dresses to look at.”

In the end Misty got two dresses, a light blue dress for semi formal occasions and a purple dress for fancier events. Pipp and Izzy had wanted to keep shopping, but after trying on a dark blue dress that was so tight she couldn’t breathe in it Misty put her foot down. To the surprise of the other three, Pipp and Izzy listened. Once they arrived back at the Brighthouse Misty ran upstairs to put her purchases away while Hitch collapsed onto the couch.

“I’ll prepare lunch.” Sunny called as she walked towards the kitchen. Izzy and Pipp followed her. Zipp leaned over the back of the couch as Sparky climbed up Hitch’s leg and onto his lap.

“Everything alright, sheriff?” Zipp asked teasingly.

“Yeah, just recovering from having to go shopping with Izzy and your sister.” Hitch muttered in response.

Zipp laughed. “Hey, if you think they’re bad, you should try shopping with my mom.”

“Papa Hitch?” Sparky looked at the stallion with concern.

Hitch looked down at the baby dragon and smiled, rubbing his head. “I’m alright, buddy. Just a bit tired.”

“I still can’t believe that he was able to grasp that you’re his dad despite the species difference at such a young age,” Zipp said, leaning closer. “Sparky’s a smart kid.”

Sparky started reaching towards Zipp, indicating that he wanted the Pegasus to hold him. Seeing this, Hitch lifted him up and handed him to Zipp.

“Mama Zipp.” The little dragon said as he snuggled into her chest.

Hitch and Zipp both froze. Zipp’s wings flared.

“What…” Hitch began.

“…did he just say?” Zipp finished, looking down at Sparky in her arms.

At that moment Pipp wandered over. “Is everything okay?” She asked, seeing the two’s shocked faces.

Upon hearing her voice Sparky started reaching out towards her. Pipp took him from the arms of the still frozen Zipp.

“Mama Pipp.” Sparky said, grabbing at the end of her mane.

Pipp’s wings flared too. “Huh?” Was all she could say.

“What’s going on here, ponies?” Izzy asked as she bounced over.

Sparky shifted in Pipp’s arms so that he was looking at Izzy upside down. Izzy giggled at the action before taking him from Pipp and starting to gently rock him in her arms.

“Mama Izzy.” He cried out happily.

Izzy stopped rocking instantly. A few sparks flew off her horn. “Okay, that’s new.” She said weakly.

Sunny looked up from what she was doing and saw that her friends had all frozen. Confused, she walked over. “Did I miss something?”

Sparky clambered up from Izzy’s arms to her shoulder to get a better look at Sunny, who decided to take him into her own arms before he fell.

“Mama Sunny.” He said, hugging her.

Sunny’s Alicorn form flickered into existence for a second before disappearing. “Um, I’m sorry. Did he just call me mom?” She asked no one in particular.

At that moment Misty came back downstairs, stopping at the foot of the ramp when she saw the shocked looks on the others’ faces. “Okay, what happened? I was only upstairs for a minute or two.”

Sparky’s eyes lit up when he saw Misty. Noticing this, Sunny put him down on the ground and let him run over to the Unicorn, hugging her leg.

“Mama Misty.” He declared.

Misty’s eyes widened, a few sparks flying off her horn. Then to everyone’s surprise, she smiled. “Huh. Clever little dragon, aren’t you Sparky?” She said as she picked him up and tickled his tummy.

Reality finally seemed to sink in for the others. A huge grin broke out across Sunny’s muzzle. “We’re his moms now.” She yelled happily as her Alicorn form appeared and she pulled Izzy and Pipp into a hug.

“I mean, technically we already were.” Pipp pointed out.

“Yeah, but it feels different now.” Izzy said.

“Yeah. It feels more… real, if that makes sense.” Zipp added.

“I know the feeling,” Hitch replied, smiling. “I was always Sparky’s dad, but after he started referring to me as such, it made it feel more official.”

“Oh, I just remembered.” Izzy spoke up suddenly. “We still need to show Misty our new swimsuits, girls.”

“Oh, yeah. Lunch can wait a few minutes.” The girls started running upstairs. “You coming, Hitch?” Sunny called.

“Nah, I’ve already seen them.” He called back as Sparky returned to his side. “I’ll get lunch ready.”