//------------------------------// // 04 - The Future // Story: The Conversion Bureau: Never Forget // by Cloudhammer //------------------------------// Year 6, Week 5, Friday Nimbus nosed open the door, her eyes worried as she entered the hospital room "Fireball? Aegis?" Flare followed in after her, Breaker nervously trotting after him. Fireball looked up from her bed, smiling weakly as Aegis sat in a visitor's chair, gently rocking a so-very-tiny bundle that clutched a bottle. “Hey,” Fireball said wearily. “You missed all the fun...” Aegis looked utterly exhausted, but still managed a grin at Breaker, Flare, and Nimbus. Nimbus rushed to Fireball's bedside, giving her a gentle nuzzle. “Are you okay? You look awful.” Fireball nodded. “I just need some rest... but I think poor Aegis is in worse shape.” Fireball laughed, giving her dear husband a smile. “Hey... I was terrified, Fireball.” Flare trotted over to Aegis, giving him a nudge with his shoulder. "So, how's the little guy?" Breaker hurried to stand next to Nimbus Aegis smiled, then turned Peony towards Flare. “Little gal, actually, and she's a pegasus, too.” Flare blinked, then glanced over at Nimbus sheepishly. “You look like you might have lost a bet, Flarey dear,” noted Fireball. Flare winced. “Yeah... laundry for a week” Nimbus smiled. "It's okay, you can pay me back later." Nimbus nuzzled Fireball again Fireball laughed weakly once more “Ouch, hah... Sorry, Flare, but that’s funny,” Aegis added, grinning. Aegis looked down to Breaker. “Breaker, would you like meet Peony Sky?” Breaker nervously trotted forward, encouraged by Flare's nod. Flare gently levitated the little colt so he could get a better look at Peony. “Oooooh, she's so small Dad. Why's she small? Was I that small when I was born?” Aegis removed the now-empty bottle from Peony's tiny grasp, allowing her and Breaker to see each other clearly. Peony smiled at Breaker. Breaker stared at Peony, leaning forward to get a better look. “Well, Breaker, Peony was just a little impatient to get to meet us all, you see...” Fireball began, “So she decided she didn't need to be as big, and arrived a little faster than she should have” “A trend I really hope she shakes off as she grows...” Aegis fervently wished. Flare nodded in agreement. “Well, at least you two are okay...” He folded his ears. “Figures I'd not be around to help.” Nimbus gave Flare a look. "Now don't start with that. You had no way of knowing this would happen." “Don't sweat it, Flare, seriously,” added Aegis. “Everything is fine now, Flare,” Fireball said, getting her own word in on the matter. “Though... thank... thank goodness we were here, and not in Snaffleton...” Aegis offered Peony to Nimbus, as he could tell she she was itching to hold the new foal. Nimbus accepted the little bundle carefully, practically melting on the spot. “Snaffleton has a much more traditional birthing center, with just a midwife... If... if we hadn't moved out here to Hawaii...” Aegis shook his head, trying to free it of the dark thoughts. “Fireball, Aegis, she's beautiful,” Nimbus gushed as she nuzzled Peony gently. Fireball smiled at Nimbus. “She's my little miracle.” Aegis turned to Flare, unable to rid himself of the what-ifs. “We don't even have a unicorn medic out there.” Flare winced in sympathy. “Aegis, please, stop worrying so. We're here, it was... close... but I'm still here, too.” Fireball sat up in her bed slowly, motioning for Aegis to come close. The two shared a hug before Fireball was forced to lower herself back down. Nimbus gently passed Peony to Fireball, who accepted her daughter, smiling fondly, and held her up over her shoulder to begin the burping process Aegis perked up suddenly, his mood finally brightening. “By the way, Flare, Nimbus... we've decided. We're getting married, as soon as possible.” Flare grinned. “Sounds like a plan, it's about time for you two.” Nimbus squeaked joyously and nuzzled Fireball again. Fireball laughed, nuzzling back. “We had hoped to be married before our first foal, you know, but, weeeeell... he he...” Fireball bobbed Peony up and down a couple more times. Aegis chuckled. “Heh, yeah. I guess the order doesn't matter. We've certainly waited long enough.” Breaker stuck his tongue out. "Dad, can you put me down now?" Flare realized Breaker was still in the air, wrapped in his telekinetic grip, and set him down. “Say, Breaker, speaking of it... I have something very very important to ask you,” said Aegis, lowering himself down to look Breaker face-to-face. “Whassat, Uncle Aegis?” “Well, When your Aunt Fireball and I get married, do you think you can be our clasp-bearer?” Breaker tilted his head. ”I dunno... what's a clasp-bearer?” “Well, you know how unicorns use horn-rings when they get married?” Breaker nodded.”Uh-huh, I've seen Dad's.” “Well, earth ponies and pegasi don't have horns, so we use little cuffs that attach to our forelegs.” Aegis made a small motion of attaching something to his leg. Nimbus nodded. “I've got one that Flare gave me, remember?” “Sometimes we use necklaces, too, but Fireball and I are gonna use clasps. And you, Breaker, would have the Very Important Job of carrying them to us when the time comes. Can you do it for us?” Breaker thought hard, then nodded. “I won't let you down!” he replied with a grin. “Thanks, buddy!” Aegis held out his hoof to Breaker, waiting for their traditional hoof-bump, which Breaker enthusiastically returned. “They're still a little young, but we did want Jennifer and Summer to be our flower-fillies,” Fireball said with a tired smile. “They'll do fine.” Nimbus replied with a firm nod. Interrupting the moment, Fireball finally got Peony to burp loudly, the sound echoing about the mostly-silent room. “Oh my...” “Hah, good one, my little blossom,” Aegis praised. Nimbus snorted at Aegis, then continued. “And I don't want you worrying about anything. I'll help get things organized. You just focus on getting better.” Fireball looked relieved. “Thank you, Nimbus. Are you sure you can handle it?” Nimbus smiled. “Celestia knows Flare wasn't any help with our wedding, so I've got experience.” “Leapfrog is going to be my mare-of-honor, and Aegis' friend Gregor, a griffon, will be the best, um, 'stallion'.” Fireball giggled. Flare scowled a little at both Nimbus' remark and at the mention of the griffon, but relented when his wife shot him a warning glance. “I hope you two wouldn't mind being in the wedding party, too? Also got Skipper and Dusty signed on,” Aegis continued, giving the two a hopeful glance. “Of course, that's not a problem,” Flare responded. “Great!” Aegis clapped Flare on the back a little too hard in enthusiasm. Flare was nearly pitched to the floor, Breaker skittering out of the way. “Err, sorry,” Aegis apologized with a nervous chuckle. Flare grumbled something about "earth ponies" and "too strong for their own good", but got back up. “Do be careful with Flare, Aegis, we still need him for a bit, you know,” Fireball chided jokingly, then she wiped at Peony's face with a cloth, cleaning her up a little. Finally, Fireball kissed Peony on the forehead. Peony burbled happily, trying to nip the longer ends of her mother’s mane. She may have came into the world early, but all welcomed her nonetheless. Cloudhammer settled back onto the cushion behind his desk with a sigh. Much as he’d wanted to spend more time with his newfound son and new grandfoal, the paperwork continued to pile up in his absence. He was getting ready to start in on the small mountain that was occupying his desk when there was a knock at the door. “Yes, come in.” “So, perhaps you might explain why the watch officer in charge of the Beacon Stone reported you ‘rushing in and demanding’ an emergency teleport to Hawaii? Or why you were not present for two Council meetings, or the update on Project Thesan?” Celestia asked calmly as she walked in. Cloudhammer rushed to his hooves, knocking over some of the stack of paperwork. “Your Highness!” He’d started into the bow before Celestia’s laugh stopped him. “Relax, Cloudhammer. So, how is Captain Exemplar’s foal?” “She... she’s fine... a little pegasus filly. Aegis and Fireball named her Peony Sky,” Cloudhammer said as he got to his hooves. “But, how did you know?” Celestia tilted her head. “You left the message on your desk. It wasn’t too hard to figure out why Captain Exemplar would send you a message like that. He does remind me of you, especially when you were still seeing Chrysanthemum.” Cloudhammer started to ask how she knew about Chrysanthemum, but chose to nod instead. “Now, come. Luna agreed to postpone the update meeting for Project Thesan. I admit to be very curious as to what Dr Lewis has to say this time.” Celestia gestured with a wing as a gentle glow surrounded her horn. “Shall we?” Cloudhammer grimaced. “You know I hate long range tele-” The rest was cut off as they disappeared, the wind scattering the papers around the office. Once she was sure it was safe, Cloudhammer’s secretary poked her head in, eyes widening as she saw the mess. “Discord’s left toe! How come he always makes such a mess when he leaves?”