Title:           Goldilocks: A Tatzlpony Tale (Part 7)
Author:          AngryWino
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/P5gNAzTe
First Edit:      Tuesday 19th of January 2016 09:59:32 PM CDT
Last Edit:       Last edit on: Monday 15th of February 2016 04:00:37 PM CDT

**This castle has a lot of rooms.
/Well, it IS a castle.../
>You are standing down the hall from the ballroom, where you can already hear music and the friendly babble of a party in progress.
>Parties, in your experience, are joyless affairs organized by some manager trying to encourage team spirit.
>This one feels different, even at a distance.
/You ready to meet the neighbors?/
**Yeah.
>She sounds nervous.
**You?
>You chuckle.
/Ready as I'll ever be. Come one, let's do this./
>Goldilocks nods and recovers her tentacle, and you walk into the ballroom together.
>A chorus of cheery greetings accompanies your entrance, and Pinkie Pie zips up to you.
>"Yay! Welcome to your 'Welcome To Ponyville' Party! Come on in and meet everypony!"
>First up is an orange pony with a battered hat and the same color mane as Goldie.
>"Well land sakes! They sure do grow 'em big where you two are from! Name's Applejack!"
"Anonymous."
>Force of habit, you offer her a hand, and she shakes it so hard you worry that your fillings might come loose.
>"An' somewhere around here is - or here she is! This is my little sister, Applebloom!"
>"Howdy!" says the little yellow filly.
>You freeze up, but Goldilocks smiles and offers here a hoof, which she shakes in a friendly fashion.
>You barely manage not to hatch a brick in your trousers.
"Hello yourself, Applebloom, how do you do?"
>"Aw, thanks for asking! I woke up feeling great today!"
>Applejack ruffles her red mane.
>"She's had all sorts of energy today, been a real help on the farm! So I said she could come to the party as a reward!"
"Great!"
>She doesn’t seem to remember your previous encounter at all.
>Thankfully.
>The farm pony presses a wooden mug into your hand.
>"Have some of the best cider in all of Equestria! We make it ourselves right here at Sweet Apple Acres!"
/Cider? Really? Okay, all in one go./
"Thanks"
>You start to chug it.
>"Careful, it's kinda strong..."
>WHAM!
>Yeah, you decide to go easy on the cider. It definitely has a kick to it.
 
>That music has been drawing your attention since you walked in.
>Looking around, you finally locate the source - a table along one of the long walls, flanked by two stacks of speakers.
>There's a white pony there with a single horn and an electric blue mane, wearing headphones and sunglasses, spinning tunes on vinyl records.
/They still use steam locomotives while they have electronics like this?/
>You go to have a closer look, visually tracing the signal chain.
>Turntables, mixer, effects processor, power amplifier, and is that a drum synthesizer?
>You notice the pony staring at you, having noticed your scrutiny of her setup.
>You flash her a smile and a thumbs up.
"Nice rig!"
>You yell to make yourself heard over the music.
>The DJ gives you a wicked grin and hoof-bumps your fist, then goes back to spinning tunes.
>The technological picture here is more complex than you had first thought.
 
======
 
>"Whee! It's like a stethoscope, only I'm listening to your brain!"
>Goldilocks seems to be getting along fine.
>She's got a tentacle over to Pinkie Pie, who is holding it to the side of her head like a telephone.
>"Ooh, ooh! See if you can tell what I'm thinking now!" The pink pony turns to you and bats her eyes, grinning.
>Goldilocks cheeks turn a deep scarlet.
>"You're right, he is! Although I think he could smile more! Hey, Idea!!! Let's get Nonny in on this too!"
/Nonny?/
>Goldilocks extends another tentacle over to you.
>A soon as she makes contact, it's as if your mind has become full of streamers and balloons and party noisemakers.
**Hey Nonny! I'm inside your head! Wheee!
>The overwhelming emotion is one of excitement - so much so that you're compelled to break the link in shock.
>But you learned something interesting.
>That link works for more than one-on-one.
>Goldilocks and Pinkie Pie are both laughing at the look on your face.
/It's nice to actually hear her laugh./
 
>"I'm so glad you enjoyed your spa day, darling!"
>Goldilocks is talking to Rarity now.
>Rarity showed the most trepidation of anyone at the contact, but now they were chatting away like old friends.
>Everyone she's talked to so far has been remarkably at ease about her method of communication.
>Twilight told you that while ponies are the main inhabitants here, there are plenty of other civilized creatures around.
>Griffons, Minotaurs, Dragons (although except for Spike, they generally keep to themselves) Mules, and Diamond Dogs, for example.
>So, odd though your appearance is, it's not that much of a stretch for ponies to accept you, apparently.
>Although, she admits, she's not sure what a human is, though she claims to have seen others like you before.
>"Just not in this world."
"Hang on, what?"
>The princess blushes a bit.
>"Well, I did travel to another world through a magical portal, where I saw a lot of people like you. I wonder if you're from that world?"
"I don't know."
>But it raises a glimmer of hope.
>You might be able to get home.
>Your musings are interrupted by an airborne arrival.
>"So you're the guy everyone's talking about? I'm--"
"Rainbow Dash!"
>You recognize her from that poster in the treehouse.
>She's momentarily thrown off of her stride by your exclamation, but recovers quickly, a cocky smile spreading across her face.
>"You hear that? I'm so awesome that even freaky-deaky aliens know who I am!"
>"Rainbow Dash, you mind your manners with our guest!" Rarity upbraids her friend for her lack of tact.
>"Hey, can I help it that I'm just that awesome? Nice to meet you though, we should hang out sometime!"
"Er, sure, why not?"
>And just like that, she's off, revealing a yellow pegasus with a long pink mane hovering in her shadow.
 
 
>Seeing that she's now exposed, the yellow pegasus backs up a couple of steps, nervously.
>"Um... h-hello."
>A shy one. Maybe the best bet is to get down on her level, so you take a knee.
"Hi, I'm Anonymous."
>She flinches a bit, her mane falling half-way across her face.
>"Oh... I'm... Fl(mumble)"
"Sorry?"
>"That's Fluttershy, darling. She's a bit shy, but if you give her time she'll warm up to you soon enough."
"Thanks"
>You smile what you hope is a warm and inviting smile.
"Nice to meet you, Fluttershy."
>She retreats another step, squeaking incoherently, then stops, her eyes wide with wonder.
>Goldilocks has surreptitiously snuck up on her with a tentacle.
>Considering that she's bigger than every other pony here, she can move awfully darn quietly when she wants to.
>"Oh, sorry, yes! It's nice to meet you too, Goldilocks!"
/Ah, one-sided conversation time again./
>"W-well, okay, if he's as nice as you say he is..."
>She takes a step towards you and looks you in the eyes.
>Her smile lights up the room.
>"Nice to meet you Anonymous, I'm Fluttershy."
>Now THERE'S a sudden boost in confidence.
"Likewise."
>"Um, pardon me for asking; I couldn't help but notice your teeth. Y-you're an omnivore, aren't you?"
>Ah, vegetarians. You were wondering if that was going to come up.
>You decide to be humorous about it.
"I am, but I make it a rule never to eat anyone I've been introduced to."
>You smile, as does she.
>"Oh, that's nice! In that case, I hope you'll come down to my cottage, I have a lot of friends I'd like for you to meet socially."
>You can see where this is going.
>Ah well, the doctor had been telling you to cut back on your cholesterol anyhow.
"Sure, sounds great!"
>The music changes.
>And suddenly, Pinkie Pie.
>"Ooo! This is my jam!"
>She grabs a hold of Fluttershy and Rarity and pulls them out onto the dance floor.
>Goldilocks follows, watching curiously.
>"Here you go!"
>Spike is at your elbow, having brought you another cider.
 
"Dude, you're on point! Do you read minds or something?"
>"Naw, nothing like that. You just looked thirsty."
>Who knew ponies could dance?
>Well, all except the princess.
>She's enthusiastic, but you'd hardly call that dancing.
>Goldilocks watches the ponies dancing, but you can see from the way she's shuffling from side to side that she's itching to join in.
>Tentatively, she tries out a few steps.
>You see a delighted smile spread across her face as she gets into it.
>As she joins in, you can't help but notice how graceful she is.
>It's clear to you that she's never danced before in her life, but she certainly seems to be a fast learner.
>"Woo! You go, girl!" Pinkie Pie shouts encouragingly to her.
>You notice Spike watching Rarity.
"Why don't you ask her to dance?"
>Bulls-eye. Spike blushes.
>"Aw, it's not as if I've got a lot of moves with these short legs."
>You shrug.
"You only live once, dude."
>Spike looks at you, then nods with determination.
>Handing you a tray of cider, he heads out onto the dance floor.
>You watch him tap Rarity on the shoulder.
>You can't hear what they're saying over the music, but she smiles and nods.
>Yeah, not much of a mover on those legs, but he does well enough.
>You sip a cider.
>You, on the other hand, would make the Princess look like a broadway star, and you know it, so you decide to stick to watching.
>Goldilocks is having none of that, however.
>You feel a tentacle wrap around your wrist, and Goldie begins to return to the dance floor, tugging you after her.
>You set down the tray, for fear of spilling.
"I'm not a dancer, I'm really not a dancer..."
>Goldilocks continues to tug, now beginning to sway to the beat.
/Dem eyes.../
>As she reaches the dance floor, the other ponies move back to make room for you both.
/Alright, you asked for it.../
>You would never agree to this if you hadn't had a few of those ciders already.
>Yeah, well, you're no dancer (pic related).
>But everyone else, including the princess, is egging you on.
>And Goldilocks seems happy with it, so what the hell.
 
>Applebloom and a few other ponies leave early, but the party continues pretty late.
>Goldilocks enjoys dancing with you so much, you kind of regret that the DJ didn't play any slow numbers.
>Finally though, things start to wind down, and the ponies all bid you a friendly good night as you head up to your rooms.
>Goldilocks is still keyed up though.
>But you're looking forward to your first proper night's sleep in over a month.
>Goldilocks is disappointed, but agrees to give you some privacy.
>You hang up your suit, and wash up in the connecting bath.
>Then slide yourself under the covers.
/Ah, heaven./
>Better than any hotel you ever stayed at in your travels.
>You fall asleep quickly.
>And you're awakened by the bed shaking lightly as Goldilocks crawls in next to you.
>You feel her warm, furry barrel pressed against your bare back, followed by a tentacle at your temple.
**I hate sleeping alone.
"Whuh... Goldie?"
>You start to rise, but her tail wraps around your waist.
**Please, just sleep, that's all. I promise.
>You kinda wish you'd put the robe on before bed, but honestly, you're too sleepy to argue the point.
"Just sleep?"
**Just sleep.
>She snuggles into your back with a contented sigh.
**And maybe some light cuddling. That's all.
>Well, you did say that you trust her. You figure you can trust her with that as well.
"Okay. Good night."
**Thank you, Anon.
>She sounds sleepy, too.
>She withdraws her tentacle and kisses your ear, nuzzling into your neck and giving your waist a squeeze with her tail.
>In a short time, you are both asleep.
 
>You wake up slowly, feeling warm, comfortable, and relaxed.
>A good night's sleep in a real bed was definitely the ticket.
>But it feels as though something has changed.
>There is no longer a warm, furry presence cuddling your back.
>She's in front of you, her muzzle happily buried in the hollow of your throat.
>One of your arms is lazily draped across her barrel, while one of her forehooves is curled under your shoulder.
>Her long, fluffy ears are partly obscuring your vision.
>You feel the familiar weight of one of her hind legs draped over your thigh, and the warmth of her tail wrapped around your leg.
/So this is what she meant by 'light cuddling'?/
>And you're not wearing any clothing under the blanket.
>And you have morning wood.
/Gre-e-e-e-a-a-a-at.../
>The best thing according to you (but not to Anon Jr.) would be to get up and get in the shower.
>So you try to gently disengage yourself so you can get up.
>Hoping all the while that Goldilocks is sleeping deeply.
>As you start to work yourself free, she murmurs in her sleep and tightens her grip on you, pulling you closer.
>You feel her nuzzle your chest.
>And you feel Anon Jr. bump up against her belly.
/We need an escape plan now./
/No we don't./
/Yes, we do, Anon Jr./
>And at this point you feel something very warm and moist start to wrap around your member.
/What the WHAT? RED ALERT! REVERSE COURSE!/
>You summon your strength and push off, but you quickly run out of bed space and crash to the floor, taking the blankets and two pillows with you.
"Ow!"
>You extricate your head from bed linens to see Goldilocks peering worriedly over the edge of the bed at you.
>A tentacle emerges and caresses your face.
**Anon, are you okay?
"Uh, yeah, I think so. I just had a weird dream, is all."
**Oh. Well, good morning!
>She leans down to you from the bed and kisses you on the nose.
 
>There is a knock at the door, and Spike's voice comes through.
>"Morning, you guys! Breakfast is in half an hour, you won't want to miss it!"
"Okay!"
**I guess it's time to get up anyhow.
"I need to use the bath..."
 
>You and Goldilocks go through your morning routines.
>There is a straight razor, soap, and a brush, and you manage to shave without opening up any major arteries.
>Goldilocks freshens up, and on impulse, you decide to give her mane a brush.
>She likes it a lot, leaning against you and purring the whole time.
>Then you head down to breakfast.
>Breakfast is in the map room, and the first thing you notice is that five of the Princess's friends you recognize from the party are there.
>"Good morning, Anon, Goldilocks! Help yourselves!
>The second thing you notice is there is plenty to eat.
>There is a selection of fresh fruit, including a couple of those purple fruits Goldilocks likes.
>There are nuts and granola. Pass.
>There are cinnamon rolls and apple fritters, apple dumplings, apple cobblers, and pancakes with apple butter.
>Yeah, you're picking up on a theme here.
>You sniff.
/Is that coffee?/
>A quick investigation reveals that it is, indeed, coffee. You pour yourself a cup and take a taste.
>It's good coffee.
>You get a cinnamon bun and some fruit to go with it.
>Goldie grabs a selection of fruit and some nuts.
>"We're glad you're here, because since you arrived yesterday, this has happened."
>Twilight Sparkle gestures to the center of the table, where six glowing symbols hover and spin above the image of the castle.
>The star from yesterday, three butterflies, three diamonds, three balloons, three apples, and a colorful lightning bolt issuing from a cloud.
>"This table is a magical map, that calls to us when there is a problem somewhere in Equestria we need to solve."
>"Yesterday, it called me, but this morning, it calls us all. You see, this isn't just my castle, it's ours."
>She gestures to her friends.
 
>"The only thing that's changed, I think, is you."
>"But you both seem so friendly," Applejack chimes in.
>You and Goldilocks exchange a look.
>"So, we need to ask you some questions," Rainbow Dash asserts.
>"If that's okay..." Fluttershy adds.
"Sure."
 
>If this is an interrogation, it's a very friendly one, more like a chat over breakfast.
>You wind up telling the story of your journey here, from the moment you and Goldilocks met.
>You leave out the bits where she swallowed you, and Applebloom, explaining only that Goldilocks appears to be an empath and telepath.
"But other than that, I admit I don't know much about her, but then, I'm not from this world."
>Breakfast has finished, and Spike begins clearing away, but is happy to leave the coffee, since you asked.
"I had hoped maybe one of you would recognize her."
>"Fluttershy knows the most about different animals in Equestria," Pinkie Pie points out helpfully.
>Fluttershy hovers over and examines Goldilocks.
>"Well, she looks like a pony, except for her size, and her tail, and her ears. No ponies I know can communicate the way she does."
>"Even her size isn't out of line for a pony, she's just larger than average."
>Fluttershy scratches Goldilocks' ears, and Goldie smiles and wags her tail.
>"Well, it might help if you knew what she was," a new voice echoes out of thin air.
>Rather than being creeped out, you notice that most of the ponies roll their eyes in evident annoynace.
>There is a flash, and you suddenly find yourself standing next to a long, serpentine creature.
>But you have no idea what kind of creature it is.
>It stands on a goat's hoof and a lizard's claw, balancing on a scaly red tail.
>A bat's wing and a bird's wing sprout from it's back.
>"Ta-da-a-a-a!"
>It holds out a lion's paw and an eagle's claw.
>And its head has one horn and one antler.
>Yellow and red eyes preside over a manic grin set in a face that looks like a cross between horse and dragon.
>"Discord, what are you doing here?"
 
>"Well, when Fluttershy told me about your guests, I just knew I had to come and see them for myself!"
>Another flash, and this strange creature is suddenly wearing a deerstalker cap and tweed cape, and scrutinizing you with a magnifying glass.
>"Especially when she told me about you. I could hardly believe my ears! And such a stylish outfit, too..."
>Another flash, and he is now attired similarly to you.
>"Ugh, we really don't have time for this," Twilight grumbles. "Let's go to the library and see if we can find some answers there."
>"Ugh, you and your library," Discord floats after her as she leaves the map room.
>"I know you've learned by now that there's more to the world than books, or is this just your way of not dealing with me?"
>The ponies all get up and follow them, with Fluttershy lingering to speak to you.
>"That's Discord.  He can be really nice if you give him a chance."
>You and Goldilocks join the procession.
"I take it that the Princess and this Discord fellow don't get along too well."
>"They're learning to trust each other, but it hasn't always been easy."
>There is a flash, and Discord appears alongside you.
>"I do apologize for these little spats."
>He presses the eagle claw to his brow in a theatrically tragic gesture.
>"Oh, I sometimes wonder if I will ever learn what friendship is all about."
>Fluttershy pats his head comfortingly.
>"There, there, Discord. You're making good progress."
>"Oh, thank you, Fluttershy, you're always so considerate of my feelings, unlike some ponies..."
>He disappears again as you enter the library.
>This space is three stories tall, filled with shelves, the shelves filled with books.
>There are tables, and comfy chairs with lamps for reading.
>By the door is a stack of extremely old books, their ancient leather bindings coated in dust.
>Twilight and Discord are still arguing, making you wonder if he's in two places at once.
>"But it's true, Twilight, I really am just trying to help this time! Well, that, and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to meet your guests!"
 
>"Fine, if you're going to help, then help. Otherwise, the most helpful thing you could do is to go away."
>"Of all the... Well, fine. I was going to make it easy on you. After all, who would know more about a magical chimera than a magical chimera? But if you insist on doing things your own way, then fi-i-i-i-ine."
>He draws the last word out like an exasperated groan, rolling his eyes.
>He snaps the fingers of his paw, and the stack of ancient books by the door glows with a plaid aura, levitating slightly.
>"Be careful with those books! They're from the ancient castle and I haven't catalogued them yet!"
>"Ah, but I've read those books long ago. Or did you think you were the only bookworm in Equestria?"
>A book near the bottom of the stack slides out, and the rest of the stack drops back into place with a solid thump and a cloud of dust.
>The ancient book, supported only by a plaid aura, drifts lazily over to the table and settles there, again with a thump and a cloud of dust.
>The title doesn't inspire confidence - 'Monstrous Compendium'.
>"I think you'll find what you're looking for in here," Discord says.
>Twilight regards Discord with suspicion, but her horn glows and the book opens.
>You can smell the ages, or at least the old leather binding and the paper yellowed with age, as Twilight looks carefully through the old book.
>You sit in one of the chairs and wave Goldie over.
>She trots over to you and extends a tentacle.
>You feel a thrill of nervous excitement as she makes contact.
**Stay close, please.
“I was just about to tell you the same.”
>Twilight stops, and looks at Goldie, then back at the book.
>"Find something interesting?" Discord asks innocently.
>"Well don't keep us in suspense, darling," Rarity adds.
>"Yeah, what's it say, Twilight?" Applejack asks.
>You get up and look over Twilight's shoulder at the book.
>There on one page is an illustrated plate showing a creature that does, indeed, look very much like Goldilocks.
>Except it wears a vicious, snarling expression that you've never seen on Goldie.
 
>You feel an icy dread from the link, and wonder if Goldie can see through your eyes.
>You look quickly away from the fierce picture in the book and return to her.
/That picture isn't you./
**But what is it?
>Twilight clears her throat.
>"According to this, Goldilocks is a Tatzlpony, a chimera created through a fusion of a Pony and a Tatzlwurm by the wizard, Kraus Snagglehorn, during the Black Sands Wars."
>She turns the page and gasps in recognition at an illustration of the creature from the Equestrian borderlands that tried to eat her.
>You lay a comforting hand on Goldie's head, and you can feel her trembling.
>Her link has gone silent, even emotionally.
>"Snagglehorn created Tatzlponies as shock troops for the desert armies."
>"The stallions were prized as fierce warriors, which easily adapted to the arid conditions and fought ferociously.”
>"The mares, however, had much gentler dispositions, and were therefore regarded as having no military value."
>Goldilocks tentacle goes slack, dropping away from you. You turn to look at her, and see that she is barely breathing, her eyes wide, trembling fearfully.
>"Mares were only kept for the purpose of breeding more stallions,"
"Twilight..."
>Twilight continues reading. "and mares in excess of a breeder's needs would be ruthlessly culled..."
"TWILIGHT!!"
>She looks up. "What?"
>She catches sight of Goldilocks who, still trembling, wears an expression of shock.
>"Oh... Oh, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..."
>You grasp her tentacle and press it to your temple.
>Your mind is assaulted by a wave of despair, overlaid by one recurring thought...
**I'm a monster... I'm a monster...
"Goldie?"
>She suddenly retracts her tentacle, breaking the link.
>You put your hands on either side of her head.
"Goldie, look at me! I'm right here! You're safe, and you're right here with me."
>Goldie slowly focuses on your face.
>You look in her eyes.
"And you're no monster."
>Goldie returns your gaze and her trembling stops.
>Then she flings her forelegs around you and bursts into tears.
 
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