Title:           Goldilocks: A Tatzlpony Tale (Part 11)
Author:          AngryWino
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/4VR8MYjY
First Edit:      Monday 15th of February 2016 03:36:26 PM CDT
Last Edit:       Last edit on: Saturday 20th of February 2016 11:16:06 AM CDT

>After heading up to your room to change into your comfy suit…
>You were tired of wearing just a bathrobe around curious ponies.
>And you figured Rarity might be able to get an idea of the kind of clothes you like from your suit.
>You and Goldilocks make your way over to Rarity’s home and shop, The Carousel Boutique.
>Rarity sing-songs a cheery greeting when she hears the bell over her door, but doesn’t look up from her work.
>”Welcome to Carousel Boutique, where every garment is chic, unique, and magnifique!”
>Her work at the moment is using Rainbow Dash as a model to try out a new dress she’s designing.
>The cyan pegasus does not look happy about it.
>”Great. Now Anon and Goldie have seen me in this ridiculous get-up as well,” she complains.
>”Nonsense, dear, it’s not ridiculous. It’s a real challenge to design fabulous fashions for pegasus ponies that give them full freedom to use their wings to advantage.”
>”So why me? Why not Fluttershy?”
>You see that Fluttershy is also present, apparently for moral support.
>”Because they have to move well on athletic figures like yours.”
>This seems to temporarily mollify Rainbow, though she still makes a pretense of looking annoyed.
>Fluttershy flaps over to Goldilocks and gives her a hug, much to her surprise.
>”Congratulations! Rarity told me you two are officially an item, though I suppose anypony could have seen it coming.”
>You blush and facepalm, while Goldie returns the hug, pressing a tentacle to Fluttershy’s head.
/Small-town news, I guess. Should have expected it./
>”Yeah, way to go, Anon, you sly fox, you!” Rainbow calls fro her perch on the dressing platform.
>”I’m sure you’ll be very happy together,” Fluttershy says to Goldie, who retracts her tentacle.
 
>Rarity finishes with a couple of pins, adjusts her glasses, and steps back to admire her handiwork.
>”I think that’s got it! Give it a little try, Rainbow.”
>Dash spreads her wings and lifts off, doing a slow turn around the room.
>”Oh, not too vigorous now, and mind the pins! It’s not pinching anywhere, is it?”
>”Actually it feels pretty good Rares,” Dash replies, somewhat impressed.
>The fabric flutters outward from the downdraft of Rainbow Dash’s wings, lending an ethereal quality to her appearance.
>Goldie watches her a moment, and passes a tentacle over to you.
**I almost wish I had wings…
“You don’t need them, you look just great to me.”
>Rainbow Dash seems to think you were talking to her.
>”Heh, if you think I look good now, Anon, you should see one of my aerobatic displays!”
>”Oh, I knew it!” Rarity enthuses, watching her handiwork, “A perfect blend of form and function!”
>”I think it could cause some drag at higher speeds though.”
>”Rainbow Dash, it’s not for speed, it’s for show.”
>Rainbow alights on the platform with a smug smile.
>You lean over to Fluttershy.
“So, Rainbow Dash always dresses in style?”
>Rainbow blushes and makes the sourest of sour faces.
>”That’s it, I’m outta here.”
>And with a rainbow blur, she’s out the door, loose scraps of fabric and paper flying up in her wake.
>The dress she had been wearing actually holds its shape where she had been standing for a second, before collapsing in a heap on the platform.
“Wow, touchy.”
>”Oooh, that mare!” Rarity huffs.
>Her horn glows and the dress floats up off the floor and settles onto one of the pony-shaped dressmaker’s dummies against the wall.
>”She can be such a brat sometimes.” She takes a cleansing breath and turns to you.
>”Well now, what can I do for you?”
 
“Well, if you’re not too busy, I’d like to take you up on your offer of a couple of outfits. I really ought to return that robe to the spa, one day.”
>Rarity’s eyes light up.
>“Oh, I thought you might never ask! What sort of outfit do you have in mind?”
“Well, I prefer simple, utilitarian clothes, kind like what I have on now.”
>Rarity walks around you, studying your outfit with a critical eye.
“Also, maybe something that’s a bit more rugged, for outdoor work.”
>”Hmmm. Well, your current choice of clothing is a bit drab for my tastes, to be perfectly honest, but I’m sure I can come up with something fantastic to fit the bill.”
>She approaches you and tugs experimentally on your trousers, noting the way they fit to you.
>”Fluttershy, be a dear and get my camera from my inspiration room, would you?”
>”Sure,” the yellow pegasus replies, heading into an adjoining room.
>A tape measure levitates from a nearby table and unfurls as it floats over, settling over Rarity’s withers.
>She gives your belt a couple of tugs.
>”Anon, would I be right in thinking that you’ve lost weight since you were fitted for these clothes?”
>Go ahead. Try not to blush.
“Uh, yeah, probably. And this suit is off-the-rack, actually.”
>Rarity looks positively horrified.
>”Off the rack? Oh, no-no-no-no-no, that will never do at all!”
>Fluttershy returns carrying a camera on one wing, which Rarity levitates over to her with her horn.
>”Thank you, dear. Now, up on the platform , Anonymous, and let me take a few shots for reference.”
>Goldie sits and watches as you shrug and step up onto the same platform recently occupied by Rainbow Dash.
>”That’s good,” Rarity says, raising her camera and focusing.
“Should I do anything?”
>”Oh, just turn around slowly, so I can get different angles.”
>Feeling slightly self-conscious, you comply with her directions as she takes several shots.
 
>”Now strike some different poses, I want to see how the clothes move with you.”
>Feeling even more self-conscious, you try to look dynamic, but really you end up imitating pro wrestling poses.
>The fact that Goldilocks is audibly giggling does nothing to help.
>Fluttershy even throws in a quiet cheer, as in you can barely hear it.
>”Woo-hoo, way to go, Anon…”
>”Marvelous!” Rarity exclaims, and the camera floats over to her work table.
>”Now, off with the clothes so I can get some measurements.”
>Whatever soundtrack you were playing in your head to get through this moment ends with an abrupt needle scratch.
“Say what now?”
>The tape measure levitates off of her withers.
>”Well surely you don’t expect me to try to get accurate measurements through your clothes, now do you?”
“Oh, uh, of course not. Where’s the dressing room?”
>”You’re standing in it, Anonymous. Come on now, off.”
>A stand with some hangers on it levitates up onto the platform next to you.
“B-but this is your sales floor! I mean, anyone could just walk right in here while I’m… disrobed…”
>You trail off as you look around the room, noting that you are, in fact, the only one here wearing any clothes at all, actually.
>Rarity sighs.
>”Fluttershy, I hate to ask, but it seems for the sake of Anon’s modesty…”
>”It’s okay, I understand,” she floats over to you and gives you a sympathetic pat.
>”Some people are just shy.” She winks an eye at you and heads towards the door.
>You manage to feel somewhat foolish.
>That just leaves Rarity and Goldilocks looking at you expectantly.
>”Would you like Goldilocks to wait outside as well?”
>You know what?
>This is another one of those ‘screw modesty’ moments.
“Naw. She’s seen everything.”
>You begin to disrobe as both the fashionista and your companion blush.
>”Yes. Quite.”
 
?>Rarity takes measurements, writing them down in a notepad, as you stand there in your skivvies hoping nobody walks in.
>Goldilocks, having already seen everything, is looking through one of Rarity’s catalogs, as Rarity has offered to make her something nice as well.
>Rarity does a thorough job, even to the point of asking you to extend and flex you limbs, so she can measure where your clothes should be able to bend with your joints.
>Then she has a look at your shirt and trousers, to see how they’re constructed.
>She doesn’t think much of them, but makes some notes anyhow.
>”Finished!” she sing-songs, “You can get dressed now, Anonymous.”
>With a sigh of relief, you start putting your clothes back on as Rarity trots over to her work table to see how Goldilocks is getting on.
>”Anything catch your eye, darling?”
>Goldilocks looks up and nods, passing a tentacle over to the alabaster unicorn as she moves around to look at the page Goldie is holding open.
>Rarity breaks into a broad grin. “Ooo, excellent choice! You’ll look simply smashing in those colors!”
>This piques your curiosity, so you amble over to have a look.
“What have you got, Goldie?”
>Rarity’s horn glows and the catalog closes before you can see the page.
>”Tut-tut, Anonymous, let the lady keep her secrets! I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised.”
>Goldilocks grins at you coyly.
/Oh, a conspiracy, eh? Sure, fine./
>”Up on the platform Goldilocks! Let’s get you measured!”
>Goldilocks’ anatomy is much more familiar to Rarity than yours, so she gets the figures she wants quickly, being only temporarily flummoxed by her thick, muscular tail.
>”Hmm, I may have to modify the pattern a bit. How flexible is your tail, dear?”
>By way of reply, Goldilocks wraps her tail snugly around one of Rarity’s hooves.
>”Oh, my. Yes, probably best to leave it free, then.”
>She measures the circumference of Goldie’s tail and writes some notes.
 
>”Alright then! I’ll get that started right away! Anonymous, I’ll need to work up a couple of sketches for you to look at.”
“Okay, thanks! What do I owe you?”
>”Oh please, this is my treat!”
“What? Oh but I…”
>”No buts, darling, I quite enjoy the challenge your physiology provides!”
“I… don’t know what else to say! Thank you so much!”
>”You’re perfectly welcome, Anonymous! Now, what are your dinner plans tonight?”
“Oh, well we were just going to eat at the castle, if the Princess has finished her study session…”
>Rarity clicks her tongue, looking at you with concern.
>”Oh dear, Twilight isn’t throwing one of her moods, is she?”
“Er, I guess? At least that’s what Spike says.”
>”Honestly, I love her like a sister, but she can get so wrapped up in worrying about things, sometimes.”
>She sighs a bit. ”Well, she’ll definitely need the help of her friends to snap her out of it.”
 
======
 
>Rarity makes pretty short work of rounding up Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack, all of whom agree that an intervention is necessary.
>This is nothing new to them, apparently.
>Applejack heads straight to the castle and effectively takes over the kitchen.
>Likewise, Pinkie Pie gathers a few of her own supplies and takes them to the castle.
>Spike is happy to have Twilight’s friends helping him out, and everyone is soon gathered around for dinner.
>Pinkie Pie has decorated, surprisingly tastefully.
>As guests of the castle, you and Goldilocks are invited as well.
>Now all that’s missing is your hostess.
>”She’s in the library,” Spike informs you. “She’s been in there since you left.”
>Her friends all look at one another and nod.
>”Very well,” Rarity says, “I know how to handle this. Pinkie, would you be so kind as to assist?”
>”Okie-dokie-lokie!” Pinkie Pie says, and bounces out the door with Rarity.
“What’s happening?”
>”Friendship intervention,” Fluttershy informs you.
>Some kind of commotion breaks out down the hall.
>”Pinkie Pie, leave that alone! What are you doing Rarity? Put me down this instant! I have to find a solution!”
>You and Goldilocks are both bemused, watching the procession that enters the room with interest.
>Rarity re-enters the room first with a quiet smile, her horn glowing.
>Behind her, borne aloft by magical aura, is Princess Twilight Sparkle, looking slightly frazzled.
>Bringing up the rear, humming a merry tune of her own invention, is Pinkie Pie.
>”La-la-la, la-la-la-la-la…”
 
>”Twilight, ya oughtta know by now that working yourself into a frenzy ain’t no solution,” Applejack leads off.
>Rarity nods before speaking. ”The best thing you can do right now is to take a break with your friends, and approach the problem with a fresh perspective.”
>Pinkie Pie giggles. “Everything’s more fun with friends!”
>”Besides,” Rainbow Dash chimes in, “when have we ever failed to solve a problem when we tackled it together?”
>”Even your guests are concerned for you,” Fluttershy adds, indicating you and Goldilocks.
>Twilight looks at each of her friends in turn, then sighs resignedly.
>”Of course, you’re right. Thanks, you guys.”
>”What are friends for?” Pinkie Pie interjects, as the others nod in agreement.
>Rarity’s aura around the princess subsides, and she settles into her seat.
>Twilight looks at her plate, frowning slightly.
>”Spike, this isn’t what I asked for.”
>”Nope,” Applejack answers, “That there’s some genuine Apple Family home cooking. It’s good for what ails ya.”
>”She insisted,” Spike adds in his own defense.
>Twilight sighs again, then a smile begins to form on her features.
>”Thanks again. You guys are the best!”
>”Enough talkin’, let’s eat!” Applejack proclaims.
 
======
 
>Apple family recipes are definitely hearty affairs; it doesn’t take long to reach your fill, the meal accompanied by pleasant, if trivial conversation.
>Everyone relaxes and speaks frankly, not what you expected of a state dinner at a castle at all.
>Even Princess Twilight relaxes, unwinding from the state she’d worked herself into and laughing at the Pinkie Pie’s silly jokes.
>This is very much a meal shared with good friends, and even you can’t help but feel a warm sense of hearth and home from these strange colorful creatures who have accepted you into their midst.
>To your amusement, you notice Goldie watching the ponies eat, and trying to imitate their table manners.
 
>You’re even motivated to share some of the jokes you remember from home.
>The clean ones, naturally.
>This is a dinner table, after all.
>During dessert, you decide you may as well go for it.
“So he says, ‘Well, of course hot water runs faster! Anyone can catch cold!’”
>You timed the delivery of the punchline perfectly.
>Just as Twilight was in the middle of taking a drink.
>Her reaction as she tries to keep from spitting all over the place is priceless.
>It even gets Goldilocks laughing.
>Really laughing. Out loud.
>”That’s a good one, Nonny!” Pinkie Pie is writing in a notepad. “Gonna save that one for later!”
>Twilight has finally managed to clear her mouth, and looks at you with an embarrassed smile.
>”You did that on purpose!”
>You put on an air of injured innocence.
“Who, me? Well of course I did! The girl that told me that joke did the same thing to me, and I nearly choked!”
>Twilight stands and magically taps her spoon against her ice cream dish.
>”I just want to thank you all. Spending time with you has helped to remind me what’s really important, and cleared my head. I think I’m ready to take a fresh look at our problem now.”
>The others moan slightly as she starts to leave the room.
>”Our pleasure,” Pinkie Pie says, “Anyone feels better when they have friends!”
>Twilight Sparkle pauses at the door, her eyes widening.
>Suddenly she dashes over to Pinkie, crowding her almost out of her seat.
>”Say that again..”
>Pinkie Pie appears momentarily flustered.
>”Um… that again?”
>Twilight groans.
>”What you said earlier!”
>”Oh, I was just pointing out that friends make everyone feel better…”>Twilight Sparkle slaps a hoof to her own head.
>”That’s it! Pinkie, you’re a genius!”
>”Darling, you appear to have had an epiphany, would you mind sharing it with the rest of us?” Rarity asks.
 
>”It’s why the map called US! I’ve been thinking like A princess, instead of like THE Princess of Friendship!”
>She gets excited as she starts to lay out her thoughts.
>”Ive been thinking about the defense of Equestria from an invading army! But the map would never have called us if the problem couldn’t be solved by friendship!”
>”Oh, my…” Fluttershy looks around nervously, “Are you suggesting that the six of us… can stop an invasion?”
>A look of determination sets in on Twilight’s features.
>”We have to try. Whether successful or not, a fight would lead to suffering for every pony. If there’s even a chance that we can use peaceful means to achieve peace, then we have to make the effort!”
>Rainbow Dash seems doubtful.
>”How do you stop an army with friendship?”
>Twilight turns, pointing at your companion.
>”Goldilocks gave me a glimpse of the conditions under which that army was raised. I think the Orcs are using fear and coercion to control them. If we show them that there is a better way…”
>Applejack rises from her seat as well.
>”I’m in!”
>”Me too!” Rarity agrees.
>Noises of assent flow around the table, and to your surprise, Goldilocks stands as well, extending a tentacle to your head.
**If I can help, I will.
/Are you sure?/
**Yes. These are our friends, and Twilight Sparkle is correct. I had never known friendship, until I met you.
>Her words have a galvanizing effect on you, and partly to your surprise, you find yourself standing as well.
“Goldilocks and I will help however we can.”
>Twilight looks surprised.
>”This isn’t even your world, Anonymous. I hope you don’t feel that I’ve obligated you…”
“Not at all. I’m offering my help because I want to, and because I think I can make a difference. Goldie feels the same.”
 
>Twilight breaks into a broad grin.
>”Then we will be pleased to have you both stand with us!”
>”Woo-hoo!” adds Pinkie Pie, springing up to embrace you both.
 
======
 
>It goes from dinner to a planning session, though Twilight estimates she will need a day to fully plan the details.
>The most important thing now is to find out where that army is.
>Rainbow Dash will have the weather patrol keep a lookout.
>It starts to turn into a late night, so having contributed what you can, you and Goldilocks excuse yourselves and head off to get some sleep.
>You need to be up early tomorrow.
>Letting Goldie use the shower first, you carefully hang up your suit and go into the bath to wash up as well.
>When you come out, toweling off your head, you find Goldie already in bed.
“Ready to get some sleep?”
>With a smile, she holds the covers open for you, patting the mattress invitingly.
/I might have guessed, actually./
>Putting the light out, you climb in next to her, getting settled as she lays the covers over you and snuggles up to your side and passes one of her tentacles to you.
**I guess we’re making a stand in our new home, aren’t we?
>You draw her closer with one arm, looking her in the face.
“It’s not going to be easy, and it could even be dangerous.”
>She leans in and kisses your face.
**I’ll have you there to protect me.
“Yeah. Listen, I need to make a short trip tomorrow, you don’t mind hanging out with some of our friends while I’m gone, do you?”
**What? Yes, I mind, I’m coming with you.
>Yeah, you were afraid of this.
“It’s a surprise for you, so I had hoped you would stay here.”
>She seems confused.
**What do you mean by a surprise for me?
>How to explain this?
“I wanted to get you a present, a gift. I want to show you what you mean to me, but I want to give it to you at the right time. If you come with me, it would ruin the surprise.”
>She is silent for a moment, and you sense a sadness.
 
**So you mean that you will come back quickly to bring me a gift?
“Of course I will. I also think it would be good for you to get to know this town, if we’re going to live here.”
>The sadness in her link is gone, replaced by joy in an instant.
**You mean it? Do you really want to… live together with me?
“Why wouldn’t I?”
>A nervous embarrassment this time.
“I thought you might prefer someone more like yourself.”
>You stroke her mane, getting a purr for your trouble.
“That might have been true, before I met you.”
>She embraces and kisses you at this.
**I promise, I will always make you happy.
>You catch yourself wondering if there is marriage here. This is certainly as close as you’ve ever been to the concept in fact.
“So I guess tatzlponies mate for life, then?”
>Goldie kisses you again.
**This one does.
>You chuckle to yourself.
/So this is what I’ve gotten myself into./
>You stroke her mane again, listening to her purr contentedly.
“Ah Goldie, what would you do without me?”
>Her purring abruptly stops, and she looks at you with an unreadable expression.
>Even her link has gone silent.
>But she soon breaks into a happy grin.
**I’d look for you.
>Well, you weren’t expecting that for an answer.
“But what if you couldn’t find me?”
**Then I would keep looking.
>Now she’s just being silly, right?
“But what if you still couldn’t…”
**Then I would keep looking and looking, until I found you.
>Final answer, game, set and match.
>You hold her close and kiss her on the forehead.
“Thank you, Goldilocks.”
>You hold one another tightly, sharing your warmth in silence for a bit.
**You know, I meant what I said earlier.
>She kisses your ear.
“About what?”
**About you making a great dad.
>You feel her tail coiling about your waist, drawing you closer to herself.
>You startle yourself with your own quiet laughter.
“I don’t know if that’s even possible for us.”
>She licks your ear this time, her hind leg sliding across your midsection.
**We’ll have fun finding out, won’t we?
>Yep, it’s definitely her season.
>You don’t get as much sleep as you’d hoped.
>But somehow, you don’t mind.
 
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