//------------------------------// // The Invitation Was Lost Before It Got To Derpy, Oddly Enough... // Story: Equestrian Eeveelution. // by Symphonicdysonince //------------------------------// [Leo] After my romp, I had dragged myself into the kennel to rest. By the time that I had, ah, "recovered", my heat had passed. I finally left the kennel and threw myself into my workouts to make up for lost time. Sure, I had a little bit of left over soreness, but I could easily ignore it. I had just finished another set of death sprints over a patch of grass near the Daycare, and was about to start my cool down routine when Angel came thumping up to me. I started walking around the rabbit as he began his pantomime routine. I got almost none of what he was trying to say, but I managed to get Fluttershy and walking. Or was that eating? Playing the harmonica? I shook my head as I slowed to a stop. "Sorry Angel, I got none of that." I apologized as I started stretching out my back legs. "I only got Fluttershy outta that. Maybe you could draw it out?" The ironically named rabbit glared at me. "... I need you to go get Conner. He's at the picnic Fluttershy's havin' with her friends. His package is here."  I blinked, my cool down completely forgotten as I tried to process his smooth tenor. "... You can talk?" "Yes, let's focus on that, shall we." Angel sighed. "Why don't you talk more?" I asked. "You've got a lovely voice." Angel's glare intensified. "Because I just don't!" He jabbed a paw at me. "And, if you tell anyone other than Conner, they'll never find your body..." "Tell them what?" I asked, keeping a straight face by overdoing the confusion. Did... Did Angel just blush? "Have you not been-?!" Angel's glare reached new levels before my smirk broke through my mask. He slowly gave me a matching grin. "Okay, that was good. But, anyway, that package?" "You want me to take it to him, or just tell him it's here?" I asked. Angel shrugged. "Just tell him. He wants to hide it from Fluttershy, for some reason." I nodded. "'Kay. Any idea what it is?" Angel shrugged and turned to hop away. I did another set of stretches to limber up and then rocketed away from the cottage. I made great time, even passing Spike out for his own run, and without even dropping into an Extreme Speed. I slowed to a stop by the picnic while smiling to myself. <> Conner asked me from his place beside Fluttershy. <> My smile grew wider. Rainbow gave me a grin of her own. "Oh? And what might those be?" <> I waved a paw at her. <> <> Conner tilted his head at me but followed me back towards the Daycare. I kept having to slow down for him, and he kept having to power walk to keep up with me, but we managed to stay together. "Okay, so what's this about?" He finally asked as we passed Spike huffing the other way. "Angel asked me to come get you, something about a package for you." I looked at him from the corner of my eye. "Speaking of, when were you going to tell us he could talk?" "I wasn't." Conner sighed. "He's made it clear that he doesn't like talking, so I've respected his wishes. When did he talk to you?" "Just today." I shrugged. "I couldn't understand his charades, so he spoke up to speed things up. I wonder why he doesn't like to talk, he's got a nice voice." Conner gave me a sly look. "Does some'vee have a crush?" I snorted. "Okay, one: 'some'vee'? Really? Why not stick with 'someone'? And I don't have a crush on Angel." I paused in thought. "At least, not yet. Who knows what the future will bring?" I shrugged. "I was just surprised at how nice his voice is." Conner eyed me with a grin. "Sure you were. And what's the second thing?" "That was the second thing." I stated as the Daycare finally came back into view. I could see Angel entering the hutch with some rags and a bottle. "So, what's in the package?" I asked at the bottom of the ramp. Conner blushed crimson. "So! You and Rainbow are doing a good job with the weather today!" "They have it off." Angel snarked from inside the Daycare. "Yeah," I agreed, "you wanna thank Thunderlane and Bulk today." "Oh, Arceus, they're ganging up on me." Conner sighed. Angel leaned out of the hutch. "Don't try dodgin' the question so blatantly next time." I trotted up the ramp into the room. "What'cha up to, Angel?" "Waxin'." He pointed to a shiny spot on the floor. He glanced out the doorway at Conner's retreating form. "Coward!" "Eh, let him be." I waved my tail at the rabbit. "I can always use it for teasing fuel later. Need a paw with this?" Angel sighed and nodded. "Once we're done, you're going to want to avoid coming in here for about six hours." I grabbed a rag and some wax and started polishing the other corner. "... So, I'm just curious." I spoke up after some time. "But, is there any reason you're continuing to talk around me?" Angel shrugged. "I'm not mute. And everyone wants to talk to someone else at some point. And all Conner talks about is Fluttershy. It's like he's got a crush on her." We both snorted. We spent the rest of the time in silence, working on the floors until they shined. Once we were done, I lay across the bottom of the ramp. I yawned and waved a paw at Angel when he turned to look at me with a raised eyebrow. "Just gonna make sure no one goes in and ruins our hard work." I explained, to which Angel just nodded and hopped away. Only a couple of minutes had passed when Rainbow landed on the grass. She leaned over me to poke her head into the Daycare. "Leo! Guess wha-? Leo?" <> I poked at her leg. "What are you doing out here?" <> I stretched before getting comfortable on my back. <> "I've been asked to perform a sonic rainboom for a royal wedding!" Rainbow squeed. "This is going to be so AWESOME!!" <> I wriggled my way upright. Alright, time to play it stupid. I tilted my head. <> "Twilight's brother that she never talks about!" Rainbow frowned. "Seeing as how he's the captain of the royal guard and all." <> I frowned as well. I was trying very hard not to let my inner snickering out. <> "Yeah, that is weird." Rainbow's brain finally caught up with the conversation. "Wait, no, hold up! Princess Celestia's not getting married, Princess Cadenza is!" Rainbow waved a hoof back and forth. "There's more to her name, but it sounds weird." <> I nodded. Time to sow some chaos... I stifled my grin. <> I could see the gears grind to a halt in Rainbow's brain. <<... Rainbow?>> "... You guys are coming with us." Rainbow stated, staring off at nothing. "So you should go pack. I gotta go talk to Twilight..." <<'Kay!>> I chirped. I meandered away from the Daycare. I got to the bridge in front of the cottage before I looked back at the Daycare. With a sigh and a roll of my eyes, I trotted back and jabbed Rainbow in her side. The jolt was enough to get Rainbow airborne and on her way to the library. Smiling to myself, I turned to leave again. Angel stood there, with an eyebrow raised and thumping one foot. "Oh! Right..." I rubbed the back of my head. "Probably should’a tried to find ya before I left..." Angel nodded. "... I'm taking off now! Gotta go pack for a wedding. The whole Pack will be going, so we don't need to worry about the floor in there." Angel rolled his eyes and hopped towards the cottage door. I bolted for my home and started throwing Rainbow's finest into a suitcase. I gave Tank the news, then thunked the suitcase down the cloud steps to the ground, then dragged it to the library. I met up with the rest of the Pack there, even waking up Abes, and then we migrated to the train station. We hid it well, but we were all mentally preparing for the coming fight.