Author's Note

This chapter was extremely fun to write and I learned a great deal from it. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.

9 - Cuddling, Greetings, and Meetings

Joshua’s Perspective

I awoke at 8:30 my usual time. As a man of faith the first thing I did after getting dressed in my Cassock was say a prayer to the All-Father, the Ancient One. I place four candles around me none of them lit for that was the Ancient One’s will. I then sit down with my legs crossed and begin my morning ritual.

“Ol’ Ancient One in the Architect’s absence, please watch over us as you have done for eons. I shall meet this day blessed with life, life you have given us. I ask that all may be free from sorrow and the cause of sorrow; may all never be separated from the sacred happiness which is sorrowless; and may all live in equanimity, without too much attachment and too much aversion, and live believing in the equality of all that lives. I ask that you guide us to the liberating path as you always have done. That is all I ask of you today Father.” I feel a warmth as the ritual is completed and the candles ignite symbolizing the Ancient One receiving my prayer.

I stand from the floor and give myself a once-over before leaving my room. I exit my room and glance around the hallway. For once it seems like I am the first person awake. Not surprising I am typically the first one awake. Not counting Janon, that man is a machine I swear. He wakes up at 5:10 every morning and goes to sleep at 11:00 at night. As I continue down the hall I hear Janon’s voice alongside a voice I’ve never heard before. Curious typically Janon is alone at this time in the morning. Wait, a second who in the world is he talking to? I quicken my pace my curiosity peaked. I round the corner and speed past his room. Heading down the stairs I enter the main chamber. It’s a large open room easily ten thousand square feet. I approach the recreational area, which is an area with couches and other seating places, and walk up to the couch where I hear Janon speaking.

“Uh…who is this?” I say glancing down at a Changeling I think it is. Whatever the creature is it’s sitting in Janon’s lap with a very happy expression. An expression that is quickly replaced by a bright full-face blush. Janon looks up with a deadpan, it’s hard to read his emotions so I’m not going to try and guess them. What I don’t need to guess is that he was petting this creature, I can safely say this due to the hand that rests on its barrel.

Janon’s Perspective

“Good morning, Joshua,” I say removing my hand from Sable’s barrel. She slides off my lap and sits beside me. “This is Sable, she’s a changeling,” Sable gives an awkward wave with her hoof the blush leaving her face.

“So are we just going to ignore what I walked in on you doing?” Joshua asks with a raised brow.

I nod wiping off my pants, “Yes, we are.”

“Okay…so I won’t mention it to anyone else but do clarify one thing,” Joshua says putting his hands together. “You were petting Sable correct.”

“Yes, that I was,” I say with way too much confidence enough to make Sable look at me with a bewildered expression

“You just admit to that, zero hesitation?” She asks the expression not leaving her face.

“Uh, yeah not like we were doing anything inappropriate,” I say with a shrug.

“Now for my next question, how did Sable get into the Ark?” Joshua asks which would have been a very good question if I didn’t know the answer.

“She was teleported by Luna to serve as an observer of sorts, what Luna didn’t know was that Sable was a changeling. You see she’s been undercover as a Thestral for like 5 years,” I explain to Joshua not bothered by the weird circumstances.

“How’d you find out she was a changeling?”

“Oh, that was pretty obvious when I woke up to find her in my bed,” I answer plainly which earns me a hoof to the head from Sable.

“He grabbed me in his sleep.” Sable clarifies a blush creeping its way up her face.

“And she made no effort to leave once I did.”

“I don’t even know what to say,” Joshua says at a loss for words.

“Hey, who’s the changeling?” Says a deeper voice. One I know as Grant.

“This is Sable, Sable Grayspear,” I answer turning to face the voice. So turns out most of EF and a solid dozen residents were standing beside him.

“That’s a lot of humans,” Sable whispers. Clearly, a bit overwhelmed by the sudden increase of attention.

“Yeah, as I said 48 humans.”

“I thought that was an exaggeration.”

“Why would I lie about the number of occupants?” I counter turning to face her ignoring the people now whispering amongst themselves.

“Uh, I don’t know, to keep me on my toes.”

“You don’t have toes.”

“Fair point.”

“Uh, we’re still here you know?” Says Jack who emerges from the crowd with a perplexed expression. “Now I know we sealed the door last night so how’d she get in her?”

Joshua explains the situation leaving a group of humans with a variety of expressions. Namely, confusion, amusement, curiosity, and a few just looked done.

“Okay, so you mean to tell me, Sable and you’ve been up for 3 hours now doing what?” Questions Jack who’s trying to piece together a timeline.

“Well, first we had breakfast:” I begin before getting interrupted by Sable who finally has the gull to speak for herself.

“Which was delicious, then Janon gave me a tour of the facility, this place is amazing, nothing I’ve ever seen could compare to this place. I mean you’ve got dozens of mechanical helpers doing such diverse jobs. Not only that but some of them fly. It’s out of this world.” Sable says in a single breath her excitement making itself extremely apparent.

“And where is she going to sleep?” Jack asks with a raised brow.

Me and Sable exchange a look before I answer, “She asked to sleep where she did last night.”

Laguna looks at me with a thoughtful expression, “Wait, but you said she slept in your bed.” Her face lights up as a grin forms on her lips, “Oh, smooth Sable, smooth.”

Sable chuckles at the comment, “It’s not like that.” she says placing a hoof on her face in an attempt to hit her blush, “Changelings feed off of love, and you humans appear to just sep out love. Plus I know Janon likes it.”

I give her a quick glare, “Oh does the big tough giant of a man like cuddles?” Laguna asks with a smirk.

“No, shut up,” I say as Sable begins to lean over into me, “Okay maybe a little,” I say placing my hand on the increasingly confident changeling’s barrel.

“I called it,” Laguna says with a fist pump, “So are you two going to keep cuddling on the chair or can the rest of the Ark start with their days?”

“You can start your days whenever I’m going to show Sable some books in the library.” It’d be an interesting cultural exchange that’s for sure. Granted the library isn’t nearly the size of the Golden Oak Library but it still had a few interesting books. Most of them are books Discord told me to get the last time he visited.

“Oh sure, we’ll leave you with the love bug.” Laguna teases. It is then I realize most of the crowd had already left.

“What, it’s not like we’re going to be cuddling in the library. I have some decency.” I glance down at the Changeling that had somehow ended up in my lap again, “Right?”

Sable quickly shuffles out of my lap again, “Yep, no cuddling just reading,”

“Good, I don’t need rumors to start spreading.”

Joshua coughs into his hand getting my attention “They’re already spreading”

I let out a sigh, “Well, better just roll with it.”

“That is a wise move,” Joshua says heading to the kitchen.

I stand up and gesture for Sable to follow me, “We’ll see you later,” Laguna says as she takes her leave also heading to the kitchen.

“Okay, so that was awkward,” Sable says as she glances behind her

“You’re weren’t helping at all,” I reply looking down at the mare to my side. “Did you have to get back in my lap?”

“Yes, your hands feel amazing,” Sable giggles

“This is going to be a long day.” I laugh, not complaining.

After a short walk, we arrive at the library as I said it’s not a big library but it works for 48 people. I and Sable part ways each looking for a book that piques our interest, I arrive with a book about Changeling and she arrives with a book about an ancient legend, Diabious. “I’ve never seen that book before,” I comment upon seeing the book.

“That just means it’s something new,” Sable says with a smirk. We sit down at a round table is discuss the book, apparently, this Diabious was a massive, truly mountainous creature of stone. It stood nearly a mile and a half tall and weighed over 8 billion metric tons. This golem of stone was never confirmed to exist but knowing legends on Equus I hope it doesn’t. A creature of this size and construction would be impervious to most conventional weapons say for the largest bombs, missiles, and artillery.

“Okay, that is terrifying,” I breathe out in a low voice, “Now on to a happier note,” The reason I grabbed this book was to get some questions answered about changelings. What follows is a short discussion about changelings, by short I mean three hour. It started with normal questions about the hive, and daily activities and ended with Sable once again in my lap, this really is becoming an unavoidable outcome, after I asked her why her barrel was fuzzy but nothing else was.

“I never really thought about why it was fuzzy,” Sable says with a sigh as I rest my hand on her barrel.

“Maybe it’s better that way,” I say running my hand through the fluffy on her barrel. Now since I think about it couldn’t it be called chest fluff? “I hate to say this but I have a meeting with the EF at lunch. Not that you can’t attend you just have to get up.” I say nudging her to get up so we can start heading that way.

“Fine, you owe me,” Sable says begrudgingly hopping down.

I stand up and lead the way, the meeting area is a square room inside the security office on the other side of the Ark. It wasn’t a long walk but did give us some time to talk

“So what’s this meeting about?” Sable asks looking up at me

“Mostly about what to prepare for, due to my arrival, I have a good idea of what’s going to happen and when unless I’ve altered the timeline. I haven’t done anything major yet so it’s likely to follow the timeline I know.”

“Huh, mister foresight, I like it,” Sable says with a smirk

“It helps to be prepared, don’t want things sneaking up on you.”

We arrive at the security office and enter the meeting room. Inside waits the EF team, Albert and Hammond. Hammond speaks up as we enter, “Good afternoon, Janon and miss? I don’t think we’ve met?”

“My name is Sable.”

“Who is she?” Hammond asks me glancing at the changeling.

“She’s the one sleeping with Janon,” Laguna says with a smirk.

“Oh,” Hammond says with wide eyes.

“Was that necessary Laguna?” I ask glaring at the woman.

“No, but it was funny.” She was with a laugh clapping her hands.

I let out another sigh, “I swear these people are going to be the death of me.”

Sable glances around the room before realizing a lack of a chair for her. She looks up at me before putting her front hooves in my lap, “No now is not the time.” she grins before jumping onto my lap and curling into a ball. “This is my life now, okay.”

“Cute,” says Hammond stifling a laugh

“On to today’s topic. Preparation for Tirek’s return.”

“Right,” Albert says walking to a large screen. “We currently have two SPGs, four MRAPs, 2 IMVs, ten titans, one MBT, and four SPAAs. In the works, we have one RTPD-Class Airship and are currently developing 25mm AMPRs and AGLs, in addition to 40mm AGLs.”

Sable looks up from my lap and chuckles, “I don’t know what any of that means but I like your funny words, magic man”

After a short fit of laughter I answer, “Those are all weapons for the upcoming battle. By the time Tirek arrives in Ponyville, he’ll have most of Equestria’s magic. That means he’s going to be extremely hard to take out. It’d likely take most of our weapons to take him out once he gets the magic of princesses.” The rest of the table nods

“Yes, I pray this will be enough.” Joshua says

“I do too in the end the only reason Twilight won was because of magic bullshit. Damn, friendship lasers.” That sparks a chuckle out of Sable.

“Yeah, you should have heard Chrysalis after the failed invasion of Canterlot, I wasn’t even there but I could tell from the fear in other changeling’s eyes it was bad.”

“I can imagine,” I say placing a hand on her back. I don’t like having my hands at my side and I typically rest them on the table but due to my current lap occupant, I can’t. So she gets the hand tax. Not that she minds actually I think she likes it based on the fact she looked up at me when I did it with a smile.

“Get a room you two,” Laguna says glancing at us.

“Oh, you can shut up we’re not even doing anything. I just want a place to put my hands. Seeing how I can’t reach the table I’m left with putting them in my lap. But wait, Sable’s in my lap so I place them on Sable instead. Not my fault Sable likes it.”

“I’m starting to think she just likes you.” Comments Jack.

“Very funny, I’ve known her for like,” I check my watch real quick, “Six hours. I’ve known her for six hours. That’s way too soon for her to develop a crush on me.”

“If you say so,” Jack says not pushing the topic.

“Okay to the topic at hand,” Albert says bringing on attention back to the screen. “Can you think of anything we should add to this list?”

“Not anything here, but we should keep an eye out for Bayhillian intervention. If we plan to intervene what’s to stop them?” Says William

“Unless something goes horribly wrong the Commonwealth won’t intervene,” I say knowing the Commonwealth won’t reveal itself until later, about three years time.

“How are you so sure?” Ask Jack with a raised brow.

“Because I wrote their backstory? I was the one who gave them their set of morals and laws. They won’t intervene until the Storm King attacks Canterlot in three years' time.” I respond

Jack nods, “Oh, forgot about the whole foresight shit.”

“Yeah, it comes in handy. But Albert I think that should be more than enough, which is exactly what we need. With that said at some point we are going to need to expand outside and form an Airbase so we can establish air superiority.” I answer an airbase would be extremely helpful in our expedition a few planes with thermal imaging and no more creatures sneaking up on us. Plus aerial bombs would be able to take out even the largest of creatures with relative ease, “That is going to be our priority following Tirek’s defeat.”

“I sense this meeting is coming to an end?” Joshua says

“That it is, I have but a few closing remarks. Keep training and preparing for the upcoming fight. Just don’t forget you can explore the outside. I have a meeting in Canterlot next month to discuss something that’ll safeguard our place in this realm. After that meeting, you can go wherever. Just tell me beforehand so I can make you a care package and depending on where you’re heading transportation.”

“Roger that, sir.” The room replies including Sable.

“That wasn’t regarding you,” I say looking down at the ponyloaf in my lap.

“Are you saying I can’t leave whenever I want?”

“Nope, you’re stuck with me for at least another month till I can get this meeting with Celestia, Luna, Twilight, and maybe Cadence.”

Her eyes widen at this, “all four princesses? Why all four?”

“Why, because a royal decree by Celestia has a lot of weight don’t get me wrong but a royal decree by all four princesses is going to be objected to by only the densest of nobles.”

“What is this meeting about?” Sable asks rolling in my lap to face me her barrel up and eyes staring up at me. Gods, she’s cute.

“One, It’s about the safeguard of humanity's rights, two it’s about my intentions in Equus, and as of this morning, you being a changeling. I’m hoping due to me bringing it up. You won’t get in much trouble plus, if you do we can always just teleport out.”

Sable nods, “Wait me being a changeling? Oh, right. They don’t know. I think your plan will work. I hope your plan will work.”

The meeting concluded an hour ago and now Sable and I were in the gardens. She had been here early in my tour but this is the first time she’s fully able to bask in the glory of the Ark’s hydroponic gardens.

“Wow, this place is beautiful,” Sable shouts up at me a smile on her face.

“That is it,” This room was on the larger side at fifty-seven hundred square feet, ninety-five feet long and sixty feet wide. Lining it was thirty-two rows and six columns of plant racks each stack six wide for a total of one thousand one hundred and fifty-two racks. Over ninety-two thousand plants called this place home. This was one of the prettiest rooms in the Ark. It truly made this place seem like an Ark. All of these plants were from Earth with a few alien plants as well. It felt nice in here if not a bit overwhelming. There were lifts near the aisles so we could reach the top of them which were twenty-five feet high. Not for the faint of heart. Currently, I was on one of these lifts a solid twenty feet in the air. Lowering the lift I step off and walk to Sable “Everything looks good, what do you think?”

“I don’t know much about plants but they certainly look better than the ones at the hive. Come to think of it these plants look better than the ones at the Royal Gardens.” Sable says

“Good, now to the maintenance hall, you’re going to learn some mechanics,” I say leading the way, Sable trotting to my side.

“That sounds interesting, what are we doing maintenance on?”

“Mulitple things mainly whatever Roger says needs maintenance could be a MRVN could be a SPG,” I say heading to the maintenance hall.

It’s quite the walk to the maintenance hall mainly due to it being on a separate level from everything else. The Maintenance hall, garage, robotic bay, and Titanhall were all on Sublevel one. Once we arrive we’re greeted by Roger. Roger gives me a wave as I approach stopping midway as he sees Sable, “Afternoon Janon, who’s this fellor?”

Sable raises a hoof, “Name’s Sable. I’m a changeling.”

“Oh, huh, a changelin'. Aah ain’t goin’ question it. If ya a friend of Janon ya a friend of mah.” Roger says grabbing Sable’s hoof and shaking it. “If'n aah had to guess y’all he-yah to help with maintenance. Well lucky fo-wah ya aah got just the thin'. Ya see one of the maintenance drones needs a recharge, problem is it’s stuck en the truss up en the corner of he-yah.” He says pointing up toward the tall ceiling and just like he said up in the corner is a maintenance drone resting on the truss about fifty feet in the air. “Aah reckon with ya with your wings fellor could just fly up tere 'n git it down.”

Sable nods, “Seems easy enough,”

“Wait couldn’t she just put in the new battery?” I ask looking at Roger.

“No, these fellors don’t use batteries but she could use an Arc Tool to recharge it, if'n she could hold it with her lack of thumbs.”

“You think you could do it?” I ask Sable

“I don’t see why not,” Sable says hovering in the air her wings buzzing.

Roger grabs an Arc Tool and tosses it to the mare who catches it in her magic, “So how do I use this?”

“Simply aim it toward the drone and pull the trigger,” I tell the mare who flies up to the drone.

“Like this?” She shouts pulling the trigger with her magic and recharging the drone. The drone sparks for a moment before beeping and flying down to its charging station.

“Does that answer you’re question?” I shout to the mare who’s flying down.

“Yes, it does.” Sable answers as she glides down giving the Arc Tool to Roger.

“Good job, that saved meh bout an hour of work, gettin’ a ladder 'n all that,” Roger says grateful for her assistance.

“Not a problem, it was my pleasure. Truly.” Sable says not used to his kind words, or well anyone’s this place was so different to Canterlot and the Hive a good different but different nevertheless. “What now?” She asks looking at me

I glance at Roger who shrugs, “I don’t have any idea. We’ve done all my daily happenings. Tend to the gardens, maintenance, and check around the Ark for issues” Suddenly I remember something, “Oh right, I need to ask about the room.” I say turning to Roger, “Okay, I need my room expanded with four modules. One on the right side of my office and three behind those. I’ll give you the blueprints.”

“Okay, aah'll look 'em ovah 'n see what aah can do.” Roger says with a nod, “Brin' 'em to meh sometime today 'n aah'll have a whack at 'em”

“Alright, well Sable. That gives us something to do.” I say walking toward the exit Sable following behind.

“See you later, Roger,” Sable says giving the man a wave

“See ya later, Sable.” Roger smiles returning the Changeling’s wave

“He was nice.” Sable comments taking a liking to Roger.

“That he is. Kind of feel bad for the man. He’s the head of maintenance for the entire Ark. He manages the mechanics, welders, construction workers, electricians, and IT personnel. That’s no easy task.”

“I don’t know what half of those are but it sounds like a lot,” Sable says with a sympathetic smile.

“It is,” Roger is one hell of a man to keep this boat afloat. That’s why I try my best to help him when I can.

It’s quite the walk to my room but after a while, we arrive. I open the door and quickly grab the blueprints for the new extensions to my room. It’s nothing too fancy, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, with an office and lounge area.

“I like it,” Sable says, I can hear her wings buzzing as she looks over my shoulder at the blueprint.

“I’m glad you like it,” I say with a smile.

“Yes, it’s perfect. Although I don’t think the single bed is going to be big enough.”

“Why, not? Well your bed bug and still going to stick by your side.”

“Oh, well then. If that’s the case I think a single bed would be just enough. Make it so I have to keep my bed bugs close.” I tease with a smile.

“Good point I like that idea better.”

“Well, we still have to get these plans to Roger.”

“That we do,” Sable says landing with grace and trotting ahead of me. For once I have to run after her.

“Someone’s confident now.”

“Well, unlike the Hive this place’s layout isn’t constantly changing.” She says I as reach her side.

“You really like it here don’t you.”

“Like it? I love it.” She says jumping into the air her wings buzzing and a bright smile on her face.

“Okay, okay. Still don’t forget the mission.”

“Oh, right.”

The walk back to roger is full of idle chatter and pleasantries. As we arrive Roger greets us with another wave, “That was fast, ya got the blueprints?”

“That we do.” I say giving him the blueprint. He glances over them with a nod

“These look great. Didja make 'em yourself? if so good work. We'll git started tomorrow. Shouldn't take more than a week. Where's the missy 'unna sleep en the mean time?” Roger says impressed at my attention to detail. I wanted to make his life easier by being as precise as humanly possible.

“Same place I’m going to when it’s finished.” Sable says flying up beside me and pointing at me with her hoof, “His bed.”

“Why don't that surprise meh,” He says with a shrug not thinking much of it. “Aah'll send this to the Spruce 'n 'em as soon as aah git the chance.”

“Thank you, Roger, Have a nice day.” And with that me and Sable head back to my room to ask some would say chillax.