Title:           Goldilocks: A Tatzlpony Tale (Part 9)
Author:          AngryWino
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/2AZnqCZ2
First Edit:      Friday 12th of February 2016 09:59:05 PM CDT
Last Edit:       Last edit on: Wednesday 17th of February 2016 12:58:42 PM CDT

>You and Goldilocks nap together comfortably for a bit.
>Until Goldie wakes you up for some more lovin’.
>The second time around is less exploratory, more playful.
>You've both figured out how to push each other's buttons now.
>So it becomes something of a competition to see who can drive whom over the edge first.
>You win the first round handily.
>However, she's a fast learner, and she soon evens the score with evident glee.
>But soon after you discover just how sensitive that small tentacle between her hind legs is, Goldilocks is finally compelled to breathlessly declare you the overall victor.
>Even though she nearly overloaded you with that mind link trick of hers again.
>That doesn’t stop her from demanding cuddles as you both savor the afterglow.
**Are you hungry? I am...
“Yeah, I could eat.”
>Agreeing that it would be bad form not to clean up a bit, you both rise and have a shower together.
>After stripping the bed and remaking it with fresh linen from the wardrobe, you toss the dampened sheets into the laundry hamper.
>Your trousers are also in need of cleaning, so that's you stuck with the voluminous spa robe again.
>You take another of the music boxes out of the leather satchel and tuck it into the pocket of the robe.
>Coming down the stairs, you're cheerfully greeted by Spike.
>”Uh, you guys know you missed lunch, right?”
>Neither you nor Goldilocks are bothered, hungry or not.
"That’s okay. Where could we go to get a snack around here, then?"
>"There's Sugarcube Corner, just across the square. Pinkie Pie works there."
/Ah. Pinkie Pie./
>Something tells you that mare is best taken in small doses.
"Is there an antique shop, curio shop, or something like that nearby?"
>"Sure! Time Turner's Clock Shop, just a block past Sugarcube Corner!"
"Thanks."
>You give Goldie a pat on the neck, and she looks up at you happily.
>For the things you have in mind, you will almost certainly need some of the local currency.
 
>Time Turner can’t help but let out an impressed whistle as he looks over the music box on the shop’s counter.
>It’s a fancy one: a silver case studded with pearls.
>You wind the key and open the lid, demonstrating that the mechanism works perfectly.
>Goldie watches with interest, but has trouble focusing, as she also seems fascinated by the ticking clocks and swinging pendulums covering the shop wall.
“We’ve only just arrived, so as much as I hate to part with it, I need some bits to meet expenses.”
>Time Turner nods and continues to inspect the music box, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
>”Well, it is a very nice piece. It’s Griffon craftsmanship, and whoever made it knew their business. I think I can do 250 bits for it.”
>That’s more than you were hoping for, even with no real idea how far a bit goes, but you suspect it’s still low.
“I was hoping for 300.”
>”Oh, no way I could go that high. How about 275?”
“Make it 280, and it’s yours.”
>”Hmmm.” The brown pony grins at you. “Alright, 280, done.”
“Great, thanks!”
>”Anytime! If you come across any more pieces like this, be sure and bring them here!”
>It’s all coin-based, no paper currency, and Time Turner gives you a simple drawstring pouch to carry the coins in.
>Examining one of the larger coins, you note the interesting seal - two winged unicorns circling a sun and moon, inside a wreath of stars.
>Thanking the shopkeeper again, you and Goldie exit the shop and head for Sugarcube Corner, passing that big red pony with his hay cart.
>”Hey, NONNY!” Pinkie Pie greets you loudly as you enter the bakery, causing every head to swivel in your direction.
>You note Rarity and Applejack there, along with a lot of ponies you don’t know.
>Applebloom is also here, with two of her friends.
>Pinkie Pie hops over and ushers you to a centrally located table.
 
>”Everypony, these are my new friends Anonymous and Goldilocks! They just got here, so let’s all make them feel welcome!”
>A wave of friendly greetings crosses the room.
“Thanks Pinkie, could we get a bite to eat?”
>”Okie-dokie-lokie!” she replies, leaving you a menu and two cups of coffee.
>Just as you’re about to take your seat, you feel a force tugging you away.
>”Goldilocks, I hope you don’t mind terribly, but I need to borrow Anonymous for a bit,” Rarity says.
>Goldie smiles and nods as Rarity leads you to one of the benches along the wall.
“What’s up, Rarity?”
>”Oh, just a quick discussion about you and your companion,” the white unicorn begins.
>“I don’t know whether you’ve noticed, but Goldilocks has strong feelings for you.”
>You raise an eyebrow and sit down.
/Oh, I could have some fun with this./
“Oh? Do tell...”
>”Why, it’s as plain as the nose on your face!”
/You can talk.../
>”Now, I hope you’re not one of those dreadful bores with no sensitivity to the feelings of a lady, but it seems to me that you ought to reciprocate.”
>You decide to play dumb.
“Reciprocate what?”
>Rarity sighs.
>”Why, her affections, of course! I’m not normally one to intrude, but I just couldn’t stand the thought of the poor girl pining away in unrequited love.”
“Don’t worry, she won’t”
>”Oh? So how long do you plan to keep her waiting?”
“Not long, we’re well beyond that now. We’ve already done it.”
>Rarity stares at you blankly as you blush a bit.
>”Done what, dear?”
/Really? After trying so hard to be delicate, she can’t be that thick./
“I’ve reciprocated her affections, as you put it.”
>”What?”
/I guess she can./
/Or else that expression isn't used around here./
/Let's try some others./
“You know, the horizontal mambo, the hunka-chunka, bumpin’ uglies...”
>Rarity’s cheeks color and her horn glows, and an invisible force clamps over your mouth, cutting off your exhaustive list of colorful metaphors.
 
>”That’s quite sufficient, Anon. I assure you, I get the point.”
>She looks around furtively as the force disappears from your mouth, then turns back to you with a massive grin.
>”Really?”
>You settle for nodding, lest she shut you up again.
>”Oooh! I’m so happy for you both!” She rears up and gives you a little hug around the neck.
“Well, I was a little worried about it, of course. I thought she might prefer someone of her own kind, or at least, someone who doesn’t look so...”
>Rarity cuts you off again, this time with a kiss on the cheek.
>”I think Goldilocks made a fine choice, darling.”
>She drops back onto all fours.
>”Going casual today?”
“Well, I arrived here with only the one outfit and...”
>”Well, why didn’t you say so earlier! You must come by my shop, the Carousel Boutique! I’m sure I could whip up an outfit or two for you!”
“Wow, thanks again!”
>”My pleasure!” She returns to her table with Applejack.
>As you return to your table and sit down, a tentacle presses to your temple.
**Woo-hoo, Nonny! Goldilocks told me the good news! This calls for a celebration!
/GAH!/
>Pinkie Pie, in your head.
>Pinkie Pie is at the other end of another of Goldie’s tentacles, and Goldie just smiles at you with a little shrug.
>That pink mare is a stronger wake-up call than a pot of black coffee.
>In addition to your snack, she also brought you each a large, colorfully frosted cupcake, with sparklers.
>To your chagrin, Goldilocks seems to have picked up Pinkie’s relentless energy, and is using it to cuddle you.
>You’re slightly embarrassed, but the ponies seem to take the public display of affection in stride.
>”How come you don’t have a cutie mark?”
>Notwithstanding Goldie’s clinging onto you, one of Applebloom’s friends, Sweetie Belle, is having a conversation with her.
>She’s apparently not bothered by her telepathic link or tentacles at all.
 
>The term “cutie mark” wanders around inside your head until it collides with Applebloom’s memories, and your own memories of the different brands you’ve seen on the ponies.
>It clicks into place and makes sense now.
>One less mystery.
>”No way! They don’t even HAVE cutie marks where you’re from?”
“Yeah, me neither.”
>You take a bite of the cupcake, it’s really good.
>Sweetie Belle curiously pushes up the hem of your robe in an effort to see for herself, and you hastily grab the fabric.
“Hey!”
>”Aw come on, Anon, not having your cutie mark yet is nothing to be ashamed of.”
“That’s not why I... Look, clothing is kinda important where I come from, okay?”
>You may need some time to adjust to the local values.
>”Yeah, my sister, Rarity, feels the same way sometimes.”
/Rarity’s sister. Terrific./
>”What are you guys talking about?”
>The orange filly, Scootaloo, has joined in the coversation, apparently.
>”Anon doesn’t have a cutie mark!” Sweetie Belle tells her.
>”Really?”
>Scootaloo curiously pushes up the hem of your robe in an effort to see for herself, and you hastily grab the fabric again.
“Aw c’mon, cut it out!”
/These ponies, I swear.../
>”Hey! Maybe we can help you get your cutie mark!”
“I appreciate the offer, but I don’t really need one.”
>”You know, this may sound funny,” Applebloom chimes in, joining her friends at your table, “but I could swear I’ve seen the two of you in a dream or something.”
>You choke on your cupcake, and Applebloom helpfully swats your back a couple of times.
>”Whoa, take it easy there..”
>”Hey Applebloom, Anon doesn’t have his cutie mark yet.”
>”Maybe his kind don’t get cutie marks, Sweetie Belle. Like Griffons don’t get cutie marks.”
>You preemptively wrap the robe a little tighter about yourself.
>”It’s okay though, we can still be friends, right?”
 
“Sure, I don’t see why no-OOF!”
>All three little fillies hug you, with a chorus of “Yay!”
>They give Goldie the same treatment, and she returns the hug, smiling happily.
>”It sure is nice to see y’all are making friends already,” Applejack joins in, patting her sister on the head.
>”Goldie sure is something else, isn’t she?” Applebloom replies enthusiastically.
>”Why she’s as big as Big Mac!”
>That name wanders through your mind, and connects in Applebloom’s memories with an image of that big red pony you saw earlier.
“Hey Applejack, do you know that big red pony with the hay cart?”
>”I sure do, that’s my brother, Big Macintosh!”
“Great! I’d like to hire him for a little job, if he’s agreeable.”
>”Oh? What sort of job?”
“Hey Goldilocks, excuse me for a minute, I need to set some stuff up.”
>Goldilocks discretely presses one of her tentacles to your head.
**Sure, but don’t be too long, okay?
“Don’t worry.”
>She insists on kissing your cheek before releasing you.
>Applejack calls her brother in from the street, where he was engaged in tending the family cart, selling baked goods, and Applebloom takes his place.
>You explain what you have in mind, and Big Macintosh readily agrees.
>You settle on a payment of 60 bits.
>And you also had to arrange a distraction for Goldilocks.
>Fortunately Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle were all too happy to spend the day playing with her and showing her around Ponyville.
>You expect the job will probably take all day, so starting out this late was out of the question.
>You arrange with Big Mac to meet him early the following morning at the farm, then head back to Goldilocks, who is having a chat with Scootaloo.
“Are you ready? I’m thinking about stopping to see Rarity later, to get some more clothes.”
>Goldie nods and waves goodbye to Scootaloo as she heads out the door with her friends.
>Gathering up Goldie and heading back to the castle, you couldn’t help but notice the silver music box in the window of the clock shop.
>With a price of 550 bits.
/Capitalism is alive and well in Equestria./
>Worthy of a rueful chuckle, at any rate.
 
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