"What'cha gonna do today, Sunny?" Zipp tossed her phone onto her dresser, pushing past a rack of clothing to draw forth her adventuring gear.

Sunny Starscout glanced up from the mirror where she'd been brushing at her hair, which she immediately realized was a pointless task, since she plunked down a helmet to cover it all. "Finally, I have a day all to myself. No smoothies, no quests, no friendship stuffs, just me and—" She broke off with a sigh. "What're we doing today?"

Zipp laughed lightly, teasing, "I asked you first."

"But—" Sunny huffed, drawing her jacket around herself and sealing the magnetic catches. "Fine. Do you wanna, um..." She fished for ideas, finally gesturing out towards the town at large. "Explore town? Be heroes?"

"I've got better things to do than running errands for strangers." Zipp poked Sunny gently. "I mean, if an emergency comes up, of course, but I'm not a superhero, looking for trouble, Sunny. I get the idea you're forgetting how to relax."

Sunny flexed her arm at Zipp. "Relaxing? Me? Pffft." She released a pent breath. "Yeah. Yeah, I need a break. I'm feeling..." She clapped her hooves suddenly. "The boardtrot, but I'll be there just to enjoy it, not run my stand!"

Zipp cocked an ear at her. "Just you?" She turned her focus to her phone, checking over messages received and firing off a few. "Could invite someponies else..."

Sunny paused midway through a step, catching herself on the edge of a chair. "Like a certain pegasus I know?" She flashed her best smile at Zipp, wiggling her brows.

Zipp put her phone away, but continued the conversation, tapping her chin lightly. "Pipp is definitely getting up to something." She pulled out her phone again, glancing at it. "Her socials are blowing up with hype." She stuffed the phone away, silent a moment. "Oh! You meant me!" She looked a bit embarrassed for being slow on the uptake. "Sure, yeah! Let's go have some fun!"

Sunny pressed close against Zipp's side, pulling her into a hug. "Awesome!" She twirled to disengage from that grip, grabbing Zipp's hoof. "Come on!" Tugging, Sunny pulled Zipp along. "Boardtrot time!"

Zipp let herself be dragged along a short ways before digging in her heels. "The trot's not going anywhere, let's mosey on down there, not gallop like we're trying to get away from a fire."

***

"I have a question." Comforting circled around the considerable tree. "You don't have to answer, if you really don't want to. I'm not good at forcing your branches, but why did you let all the creatures stray so far away from ponies? I thought you were taking them in too."

A soft chime sounded. She dug out her phone to find a message waiting for her.

🌲Together: I did take them in. They sing the song of harmony. You just meet the griffons. Weren't they different than the ones you left behind?

Comforting flopped down onto one of the benches around the tree. "True, they did seem to have some of their rough points sanded off. They were nice. Practically neighborly, really. But what about your agents, the Student Six?"

🌲Together: It is sad, but all agents only have so long. They served well, but they have returned to The Harmony. Their marks are still felt. Could you not feel Gallus among his descendants?

Comforting waved to the tree. "Fair enough, friend."

Together rustled its foliage.

Comforting sighed lightly, letting herself relax, limbs spreading wide. "You do have some comfortable spots here. I wish everyone could come by." She traced shapes into the bench with a clawtip.

🌲Together: They do! Since you had those benches placed there, ponies come and rest beneath me once in a while. It's quite nice. Thank you again for the idea.

"You are very welcome. I am glad you like it. You deserve to be used for more than one thing. Hey." Comforting leaned in to hug against Together's side. "Is it lonely?"

🌲Together: Never. I have a whole world to watch, and you are in it. I cannot be lonely while you are there, my Comforting Shade. Oh, since you brought it up, how goes your relationship? I would love to hear it from your lips how you feel about Toots. Is it well?

"Ahaha, it's good, thank you. He's..." She considered the tree and its curious questions. "You haven't ever known love. I'm sure you want to know." She brushed her mane back into shape from where it'd been ruffled. "I almost had you, before you went 100% tree on me. You were a delightful boy/girlfriend."

🌲Together: An awkward time of experimenting, I still look back on it with joy. Though, yes, it is the one aspect of life that I lack.

She tilted her head side to side to stretch herself. "Toots is somepony who cares about me. I have you, and new friends I've made in this city." She flopped back with a laugh. "Still getting used to that. I didn't think I'd end up living in such a modern city one day again, but here I am."

🌲Together: Does that mean you're settling down in Maretime Bay?

Comforting smiled softly. "Yeah. I have a home again, after so long." She rose back upright, looking over herself and giving her clothes a once-over, removing wrinkles. Not that she had been wearing clothes a moment before. "Not that I mind traveling, but having a reason to come back to a fixed location sounds nice." She counted on her finger. "Toots, the library, Amber, yeah, got plenty of reasons to keep coming back. Oh! Shouldn't forget Sunny and her friends, even if we don't hang out every day."

🌲Together: It's nice to have someone to chat with.

Comforting bowed to the tree. "Agreed." She considered the display of her phone, reading over the text. "But really, are you okay without love in your life?"

🌲Together: I have love. Do you not love me?

Comforting colored faintly. "Low blow! Of course I love the bark right off you." She hopped up to go in, hugging her arboreal friend. "Look at you, turning me into a real tree hugger."

🌲Together: ...Yes. Yes you are.

The chaotic spirit kissed Together's bark gently. "I'll never stop loving you, bestie."

🌲Together: You're my favorite. Now, as your friend, I will remind you that you spoke to Toots about time together on the water.

Comforting blinked rapidly, refocusing on her phone. "Oh shoot! I lost track of time. Guess you'll have to tell me more of what's going on, later. Bye bye!" She vanished without another word of warning.

She stepped out a paragraph and blocks away just behind Toots. Without delay, she grabbed his shoulders. "Hello!"

Toots jumped with surprise at the sudden contact, shuddering with shock before his brain caught up to whom it was that had accosted him. "Gosh! Don't scare me like that. I almost spilled the fish."

He laughed as he turned to face her and went in for gentle nuzzles. "Breakfasts were so lonely while you were gone."

She returned his affection readily enough, curling against him. "I'm back." She squeezed him close to herself.

He smiled at her antics and reciprocated fully. "So how was the trip? You three made it home safe. Where are Amber and Misty?"

"The library." She winked to him. "And why shouldn't we get some privacy to ourselves?" She pulled back so she could grab his hoof. "Toots, let's do that boat cruise we'd been talking about, before."

He followed after her with a little confusion. "Sounds fun, but do you mean right this second? I'm just on a lunch break."

"So's Sunny." She gave his hoof another squeeze, dragging him along at greater speed, tail lifting in a happy swish. "C'mon! There's a cute boat that's leaving soon!"

Toots went in, kissing her cheek. "You're excited, and it's wonderful to see. But let's get this moving, properly. I'll ask for time off. Didn't you want to invite some others? Go tell them, so they can get ready too."

She released him, jumping ahead a little so she could turn on him. "Alright! But hurry, or we'll be late. Cruise waits for nocreature."

Toots tipped his hat to her. "I'll hurry then." He went right on finishing his lunch.

Comforting slipped between here and there, popping out just beside Amber as they talked with a library patron. To Comfort's credit, she let that conversation finish before saying, "Hey there, pretty girl."

Amber blushed fiercely, staring at her, but eventually found her voice, managing a squeak. "Hi Comfy. How can I help you?" She rubbed a hoof behind her head. "Pretty? Comfs, you have a boy. You shouldn't run around calling ponies that."

"I call it as I see it." She tapped Amber on the nose. "And I see a delightful pony who could use a cruise!"

"Are you serious?" She edged in close. "Comfy! You're so nice to me, but I couldn't possibly." Amber paced around behind her desk. "Besides, I should work. We just got back."

Comforting followed along. "All the more reason to kick back. Relaxation. Sunlight. A meal to die for, plus wonderful friends to share it with. What else are weekends for?"

Amber's ears lifted. "Cruises are usually longer than a weekend, I thought? How long is this cruise exactly?"

"A few days, there and back, on the sea." She waved off in the general direction of said sea. "Do I have to pack your bags and shove you in the ship, personally?

"You wouldn't!" Amber swatted at Comforting with light buffets of her hoof. "If we're just doing it for a few days, that isn't so hard to plan around. It's just one little thing. I feel bad." She spread her arms wide. "The other librarians had to work all through our last trip. They deserve a break too!"

Comforting snickered at her. "Well, if you're taking the whole library staff, we might at least get a bulk discount. The boat will practically be ours, at least for a few days."

"I-I—uh." Amber covered her cheeks. "I didn't say that. Why'd you say that for!?" She kicked at Comfy. "Not everypony can come!"

Comforting rolled her hands. "Make the offer. The ones that can, will tell you. All I ask is that you do your asking today. I want to get moving, nowish."

"O-kay." Amber steadied her nerves and looked to a nearby librarian. "You have time to talk?"

After that first interruption, Amber turned from librarian to librarian, asking each about their interest. Many of the ponies showed excitement about the notion, until they remembered they had families or other obligations. Comforting sprang up to note they could come too, which turned some neighs into yays.

Comforting passed a brief exchange of smiles with Amber, then popped off to make arrangements with the ship.

Once she was satisfied, Comfy left, heading for the Crystal Brighthouse, materializing within the entryway. "Temporary library workers! Your help has not been forgotten!"

Sunny Starscout peered around a corner, then ran in to greet Comforting with open arms. "Heya Comforting!" She tugged the taller mare into a warm embrace, then stepped back. "I didn't help out at the library, but what's up?"

Comforting waved that away. "I'm offering to all the ponies that live at this address, which includes you. I'm taking Toots on a weekend cruise, and we're taking friends along if they want to be there! Wanna be on a ship with us?"

"I do!" Zipp called over Sunny's shoulder. "Hear that sis? We're gonna go sailing away." She twirled her hoof idly, then considered that a bit.

Pipp flew in. "Get out! That sounds totally fabulous!" She turned her phone on herself. "You hear that, Pippsqueaks?! I'll be streaming from a cruise!" A flood of fresh emoji scrolled on her screen.

"We're setting sail soon!" Comforting informed them. "Just let me know how quickly you can be ready." She reached to pet Izzy as the unicorn approached and started hugging her.

Izzy spoke up, "If everycreature else wants to go, then count me in!"

"That settles it, then." Comforting threw an arm wide. "We're going to go swimming. Leave work behind, except maybe a few work buddies, and let's have a great time." She dropped them a wink and slipped right back out of the house.

At her next destination, she waited to be let inside by Toots, then pushed on in to wrap around his arm, hugging it tight. "The wheels are turning, as you requested. This will be so much fun."

Author's Note

Comforting, you just got back! Dang chaos spirits.

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