This is an original story that takes place in a anthro, Rule 63 (flipped gender) version of Equestria. It features original characters and, of course, MLP characters.

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Gleaming returned to the camp carrying the bag of shirts she bought for Gust, and a soft lamb fur pet bed for… Gust’s new companion. She spotted Gust sitting by the fire with the winged bun-bun on his lap. They were both looking quite happy as the catter pet her back.

“I see you two are getting along.” Gleaming said in a happy tone. “Did she tell you her name, yet?”

Gust looked at Gleaming and then back to the Wing bun-bun. He nodded and the looked at Gleaming again. “Her Name is Twig. She also wanted to let you know that she thanks you for helping me help her.”

“It was my honor, Twig.” Gleaming said as she dipped her head in respect. “Here…” She held out the bed she had bought and laid it on the ground next to the log. “I bought this for you to sleep in.”

Twig hopped/glided off of Gust’s lap and then hopped over to the bed. While she did so, Gust chuckled.

“Oh. One other thing… Bun-buns don’t have first, um, person, pronouns. They refer to themselves and others as he/she or him/her.” He explained as he watched Twig sniff the bed.

“Oh.” Gleaming said as Twig hopped into the bed and turned around counterclockwise. She then turned around clockwise, and laid down, purring softly.

“I think she likes the bed.” Gust said with a nod.

“I’m glad.” Gleaming said as she walked over to her tent to put the rest of her shopping away. She dropped the bags on the bed, and then walked out of it in slight shock. “Gust?”

“Hm?” Gust said as he turned on the log and looked back at her.

“Did… did you move your belongings into our tent?” Gleaming asked.

Gust stood up and walked over to her and the tent. He looked inside and spotted his clothing chest at the foot of the bed, his sword hanging on the wall, and his stuffed llama, Fuzzy, on one of the pillows.

“Uh, no. I mean, I was going to…” He admitted. “But…”

“Your Mother must have.” Gleaming said. She spotted the llama and giggled. “He’s cute. What’s his name?”

Gust blushed. “Fuzzy. I’ve had him since I was one.” He picked him up and held him at arm’s length. “Lily won him from a carnies booth for me. I’ve slept with him ever since.”

Gleaming sat on the edge of the bed and opened a chest. She pulled out a stuffed pig. “This is Mr. Oinks. I’ve had him since I was born.”

Gust smiled and placed Fuzzy back on the pillow. “So, uh, Gleaming. Which side of the bed do you prefer to sleep on? You know, since we’re going to be sleeping in the same one.”

The mare blushed. “Well, since this is the first time in my life that I will be sharing a bed… I guess the left side?” She shrugged. “I’m really not certain.”

Gust nodded. “Well…” He smiled. “You seemed fairly comfortable sleeping next to me in the Horsepital on the left side…”

Gleaming blushed more. “Err… yes. I have to admit, your heartbeat was very pleasant to listen to.” She smiled and used her left hand to stroke his left cheek. “It was very soothing.”

Gust leaned into her hand. “Well, since we’re on the subject of bed sharing, shall we talk about… us, potentially… sleeping together?”

Gleaming’s eyes went wide as she dropped her hand and bit her lower lip. “Oh. Um… well, as you know… I’m a virgin…”

He nodded. “You told me in the Horsepital.”

“And you swear that doesn’t bother you?” She asked as she brought her knees up and hugged them.

“Not at all.” Gust shook his head. “But, I can ask you the same thing. Do you also promise that me being, well, experienced doesn’t bother you?”

Gleaming shook her head no. “No.” She thought for a second. “I was wondering one thing… your mother mentioned that you were a hybrid…”

“Yeah. An otter and a cat. More specifically, a river otter and a Siamese cat. Otter on my father’s side, and cat on my mothers.” Gust explained. “Why?”

“Just a thought.” Gleamings said as she looked him over. “It's just... well, I'm a pony. If we were to marry, would we be able to have children? Or would we have to adopt?”

Gust nodded. “That's a good question.” He blushed. “I guess we'll have to be careful until we figure it out... right?”

Gleaming smiled. “I know some spells.” She cleared her throat. “So, Gust... may I ask about your first experience?”

“My first was a Zebra. A flutist.” He admitted honestly. “He was very kind and gentle. I didn’t mean to, well, sleep with him so soon. I only knew him for a day… But, well…” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I had just come into maturity, and I was in my first heat cycle.”

“Heat cycle?” Gleaming asked as her eyes went wide. “So, as a cat...?”

“Yeah. Every spring, usually around the first week, My hormones go into… well, out of control.” He admitted. “It lasts about four days to a week. One time, My Mama had to lock me in her caravan and medicate me.”

“Oh my...” Gleaming blushed at the thought of him being like that. Insatiable. Unable to control himself around her. Her knees quivered at the thought. She then thought some more. “Wait… Gust… it’s going to be spring in a week…”

It was his turn to blush. “Don’t worry. Lily is a trained herbalist. She made me medication to help. I won’t be out of control.” He chuckled “Mama won’t have to lock me up again.”

Gleaming nodded and giggled. “Fair enough.” She bit her lower lip. “Although... I have to admit the thought of you... becoming like that around me... wouldn't be so bad...”

Gust's jaw dropped in shock. “Uh...”

Twig suddenly came hopping into the tent, dragging her bed using telekinesis. She set it on the “floor” at the foot of the bed.

(His fluffle is outside.) She said to Gust and Gleaming in her mind. (They are being very noisy). She huffed, (The blue cat tried speaking to her in a weird language.)

Gleaming gasped (Oh. Hello, Twig. Her name is Gleaming. It is nice to speak with… her.)

Twig hopped into her bed. (She is pleased to meet Gleaming. But she is tired and wants to sleep some more.)

Gust waved for Gleaming to follow him outside.

The two young lovers walked out of their tent and were greeted by his family. They joined them by the fire, sitting next to each other on the log that they were previously sitting on.

Dusk, sitting across from them, smiled. “Hi Gleaming. Hey Gust. Who was your friend?”

“Kinda curious about that myself.” Shimmer said, sitting next to Dusk.

“She’s a winged Bun-bun named Twig.” Gust explained to his family. “Gleaming and I came across an illegal bird merchant when we were shopping. A pack of Deer were rather upset that, well, he was trying to sell her, since they are only native to the Everfree forest.”

“He poached on their lands?” De Poet asked. “Oh, my.”

“And caught other birds without a permit.” Gleaming said. “The Deer Princess was happy that we helped Twig and wanted to take her back home.”

“However, Twig wanted to come live with me and be my companion.” Gust said. “She said I helped her when she called for help using her magic.”

“She didn’t seem very sociable when I used my animal talk to speak to her.” Shimmer said. “She grabbed her bed and hopped off.”

“That’s because she isn’t an animal. In the traditional sense.” De Poet said as she rolled some stuffed buns. “Winged bun-buns are highly intelligent, magical, beings, Shimmer. They are sentient like you or me. They only talk to those whom they like using telepathy. Your Druid skills won’t work on her.”

“Oh.” Shimmer blushed.

“Also, if she does decide to talk to you, don’t use singular pronouns. Say she or her.” Gust added. He went to rub his covered right eye, but was stopped by Lily gently grabbing his hand.

“No rubbing.” She tsk’d. “Is it itching?”

He simply nodded yes.

She knelt in front of him and carefully removed the bandage covering his eye. She then, cautiously, lifted the pad covering the stitching. She used her magic to check his retina.

“Well, the scratch on your eye is healed, and your scar is healing nicely.” Lily said as she scanned his cut. “If you’re careful, you don’t need to wear a bandage anymore.”

Gust nodded. “I’ll be careful.” She sighed happily. “Thanks, Lily.” He turned and looked at Gleaming. “How does it look?”

“Well, it’s two inches above your eyebrow and two inches below you eye.” Gleaming said honestly. “It’s a very thin cut. The doctor did a good job with her stitching.”

“Here, Kitten.” De Poet said as she handed him a clay pot with a white cream in it. “Use this salve. It will help with the itching.”

Gust took the pot and handed it Gleaming. “Would you mind?”

Gleaming took the pot from him, and dipped her index finger into the cream, she then gently spread the salve onto Gust’s scar, being mindful of the stitches. “I could have sworn that the Doctor said you had to wear the patch on your eye for a week. Something about a scratched cornea?”

“She did say that.” De Poet said as she set her buns to cook. She smiled, “Gust heals really quickly due to his mixed blood. Twice as quickly, in fact.” She went to take some fish that she had bought from a griffon vendor out of her ice box, but paused as she looked at Gleaming.

“Gleaming? I’m going to cook some fish for Gust, Dusk, and Shimmer…” She said, “Do you mind?”

Gleaming looked at De Poet “Well, I guess I’ll be okay.” She looked at Dusk “You eat meat, Dusk?”

He nodded. “I’m not a traditional horse. See, I wasn’t really born. I was created. By magic. I won’t, or rather can’t, tell you how, but, well… yes. I eat meat just like Shimmer and Gust.”

“Huh.” Gleaming nodded in understanding. “Well, Lady Spines also eats meat, and I have attended dinners with foreign dignitaries. So, omnivores and… carnivores really don’t bother me all that much.” She smiled weakly. “I just can’t watch it be prepared…”

De Poet nodded. “That’s understandable, Dear. Lily and I are surgeons for the Rom, so, it really doesn’t bother us.” She looked at Dusk. “Dusk? Would you be a Dear and go prepare this fish for a stew on the other side of my Caravan?”

Dusk nodded and stood up. He picked up the ice box and carried it to the other side of the caravan, like he was told.

“I’m sorry.” Gleaming said apologetically. “First day of being… with you Rom and I’m already making demands.”

“Hardly.” Shimmer said, “We Rom, if anything, are understanding and accepting to others. For example, before Gust and I came to the Rom 20 years ago, there had never been carnivores.” She smiled brightly. “So, if anything, Gust, Dusk and I were the ones to make demands.”

Gust nudged Gleaming's shoulder with his. “Also, You're with us now, Gleaming you're Rom now.”

“I am?” She asked in an intrigued voice.

“Of course you are, Dear.” De Poet nodded as she chopped up veggies for a salad. “You're living with us, will have your own caravan soon, willing to learn our way of life, and you're dating Gust. That makes you Rom.”

She looked around at the others. “What about those head dressings? Will I get one?”

Gust smiled. “That's called a Freedom...” he rubbed his face. “Oh...”

Lily rolled her eyes and her horn lit up. Gust's Freedom popped in front of him, in a web of her magic. He blushed and grabbed it. He strapped it back onto his head.

“Anyway...” he chuckled, “A Freedom is what all Rom wear, as a symbol and a reminder. The Rom were slaves back in Saddle Arabia, and will never be again.”

“So, only certain Rom wear them?” Gleaming asked.

“All new Rom, that weren't part of the Rom from the desert, have to earn them.” Lily answered. “Shimmer earned hers when she was old enough to make the vow. As did Gust and Dusk.” She smiled. “Even I had to earn it, and I was born into the Rom.”

“So, how do I earn mine?” Gleaming asked, “Um, that is, potentially?”

“Prove that you're willing to be Rom. That you'll keep our secrets safe.” De Poet answered.

Gleaming blinked “S-secrets?”

“Yes. Secrets.” Gust said. He picked up a stick from the ground and snapped it in half. He then turned his back to Gleaming. After a few seconds, he turned back to her and held out the stick her, showing no sign of being broken.

Gleaming took the stick and examined it. “How... how did you do that?”

“That's one of our secrets.” Gust explained. “See Shimmer's staff? It's made from three equal pieces of wood. She used oak, spruce, and a species called Eldar wood. She twisted them together and forged it, kinda how Dusk would forge three pieces of metal to make a sword blade.”

Gleaming blinked and looked at Shimmer. “You didn't use glue?”

Shimmer shook her head. “Nope. As you travel with us, we'll reveal how we Rom make our wood crafts, how we make our flour, write our music, and how Dusk makes his steel.”

“The patterned steel that De Poet's knives are made from?” Gleaming asked as she looked at the blue horse. “That Gust's sword is made from?”

De Poet smiled and winked. “All in good time, Dear.”

Dinner was served and was quickly finished. As Gleaming and Dusk were washing the dishes, two horses that Gleaming recognized as the two bakers from the Munchies Booth, walked into the camp carrying several boxes.

Gleaming blinked as Gust handed her a plate to dry. “I didn't know those bakers were part of you band as well, Gust.”

Gust laughed. “They kinda are, but at the same time, kinda... not.” He dried his right hand and tucked a lose strand of her main behind her right ear.

She blushed at the gesture. “So, um... who are they, then? They have freedoms on, so they must be Rom...”

“Well, yes. They're Rom, but not full time Rom.” Gust said. “They're incognito, just like you.”

Gleaming squinted at the newcomers. “Wait a second... are those the the Princes?” She asked as something clicked in her head.
To answer her, Blaze and Night walked over to her and smiled.

“Uh-oh, Blaze.” Night said with a chuckle. “Looks like we've been found out.”

“Indeed we have, Night.” Blaze nodded as he held open a box of pastries to Gleaming. “I think Gleaming deserves a ward for figuring that out.”

Gleaming was taken aback slightly as things transpired in front of her. She recovered quickly and selected an Apple strudel from the box. “How long have you two been Rom?”

Blaze smiled. “Since the Rom crossed our borders and added them to Edict of Equality.”

“We fell in love with their simple way of life.” Night said as they all sat around the fire. “De Poet taught us things that we never knew, and became a consultant to us, soon thereafter, we earned our Freedoms.”

“So, for 500 years you've kept your Rom and Royal identities separate?” Gleaming asked. “That's amazing.”

“It's all in the cover story.” Night said. “By the way, Dear Gleaming, since you are no longer Knight Captain, and Captain of our Royal Armies, we promoted someone else to the position.”

“You did?” Gleaming said. “Oh, I forgot about that part...”

“We did.” Blaze nodded. “Do You recall the South Bay Invasion? Your first battle after being promoted to Knight captain?”

“Yes.” She nodded. “The Changeling King, Demonicus, the leader before Chrysalid, wanted to rule Equestria.” She shook her head. “I took a sword to my back, and spent six months in recovery.”

“Yes, well,” Blaze nodded. “We promoted Lt. Copper Hoof, of the Royal Marines. Since she saved your life after you were injured.” Night said. “She was very honored.”

Gust was silent. He had heard of that Invasion, but had no idea that Gleaming had been involved with it. Not wanting to press the matter further, he set it aside for now. He knew, just like the Rom, that she had her secrets, and would tell him when she was ready.

His ears perked up as the Rom band struck up some music. He stood up, and held out his hand as he looked at Gleaming. “May I have this dance, My Lady?”

She tentatively placed her hand in his. “You may, Kind Sir.”

As Gleaming took Gust's hand, she paused as she spotted Hanar walking towards her. He was carrying several packages, which, she assumed were her dresses.

“Actually, Gust,” She said as she nodded towards the clothing maker. “Hanar is here with my new dancing dress.”

Hanar smiled at the couple. “Yes. I have your dresses, Gleaming. And your new pants, Gust.”

Gleaming smiled kindly as she took the packages “Thank you, Hanar.”

“It was my pleasure.” He smiled and left the camp to go join the dancing.

Lily's ears perked up and she asked excitedly. “You bought a Rom Dancing dress?”

“Actually, Gust bought it for me.” She said as she looked at Lily.

“Do you want me to show how you to put it on?” The tall black mare asked. “There's a certain way you have to wrap it around yourself.”

Gleaming thought for a second. “Um... I didn't know there was a special way of putting it on.”

De Poet nodded. “Indeed. And there is no better horse than Lily to show you how to put it on.”

“Oh.” Gleaming said simply. “Then yes please, by all means, please so me.”

Lily smiled brightly. “Then bring your dress to my caravan, Gleaming.”

Gleaming handed the other parcels to Gust. “Be a Dear, and put those in our tent?”

The catter blinked as he took the packages. “Wha... huh? Oh, uh, sure.” He turned and walked towards their tent as Lily and Gleaming headed towards and entered Lily's caravan.