The morning sun started to shine through our window, casting light on the aftermath of the horrid battle that had taken place...okay, maybe it wasn't that serious, but I still felt tired. Both Cloudchaser and I had been up and down last night, while Scootaloo had somehow slept through it all.
Cloudchaser's eyes were a bit red when she opened them, clearly exhausted. I had seen her at her worst though, this was a close second, but by far not the worst that I had woken up to.
"....you look like shit...." I mumbled, receiving a face full of pillow after I chuckled lightly.
"Shut up....and you promised to cut back on the cursing." Cloudchaser huffed.
I knew I looked like I had spent a few hours in hell and decided to take a leisurely stroll through purgatory before coming to bed. I simply wanted to get a little laugh in to try and lighten the mood. I had hoped by now Cloudchaser knew me well enough to not take me seriously.
"Tired..." I whined.
"I know, but we've got to get up..." Cloudchaser yawned, tickling my nose with her wing to stir me out of my half dazed state.
Her trick worked, it was a dirty one at that. The tickling sensation always gave me an unwilling jump start, and she had figured this out early on in our marriage. If she wanted me up, then by Celestia she was getting me up.
"Fine," I snorted, rubbing my nose. "I'll start breakfast."
"Love you." Cloudchaser lazily said.
"Love you too." I replied, stretching a bit before starting my morning task.
It had been a while since I had fallen asleep as a human, only to wake up as one as well. I had forgotten to take off the necklace last night and knew that it was going to suck when I eventually did take it off. I knew from experience since I had done this once before.
For now though, breakfast was a top priority. Yesterday had been pretty crazy; a good crazy, but crazy all the same, and I was running on fumes as I turned the stove on. Caffeine would be needed if I was to continue, and unfortunately tea just wasn't going to cut it this time.
I noticed Cloudchaser's coffee, warm and fresh in a pot not three feet from me. I despised the stuff, and hers had enough kick in it to make a normal man run for eighteen hours straight. How she could stand the stuff was beyond me, but it tasted like clay. As tired as I was though, said clay flavored beverage was starting to look pretty tempting.
I looked back down the hallway, picking up quiet cooing sounds from Cloudchaser and Stormwalker. I didn't want to give her the satisfaction of knowing I had resorted to stooping to coffee in order to wake up. I still had some of my pride intact after all.
"Morning..." I heard Scootaloo yawn as she entered the kitchen with sleepy eyes.
"Hey Scoots, did you wake up any last night?" I asked.
"Nuh uh...why?" Scootaloo replied with a little tilt of her head.
"Oh, uh, no reason." I lied. It wouldn't surprise me if she could sleep through a tornado.
I quickly poured a glass of Cloudchaser's coffee, ignoring my pride's protest at the moment. I needed to think clearly to move about today, and I was having trouble putting together a simple mental to-do list. I had never been that bad off in the morning, so desperate times desperate measures.
I put the mug to my mouth and had to stop myself from spewing it out. I knew this stuff was strong, I had just forgotten HOW strong it really was, in both taste, and efficiency. The effects were almost immediate, and I noticed my face turning a bit red, as well as my arms. As alarming as this was, the first time I had taken a small sip, I had experienced similar effects and lived.
"Is that my coffee?" Cloudchaser asked, Stormwalker in her forelegs as she hovered in place.
"....let's face it, this morning called for it." I replied.
"Pour me a cup while you're there, Big Mac." Cloudchaser laughed.
"Hey, I do not turn candy apple red! I'm more of a...lightish red!" I huffed.
"So pink?" Scootaloo offered with a giggle.
I sighed as the two of them broke out into laughter. Stormwalker was still on my side at least, if only because he hadn't laughed. His eyes were now wide open, taking everything in. Their color had settled during the night on the light copper I had seen while I was up and down with him alongside Cloudchaser. I could just barely make out a few aqua streaks peeking in through the white mane and tale he had obviously inherited from his mother.
Yep, I'm going to have fun explaining things to the guys...and winning back that title.
---
I played with the necklace in between my fingers while preparing myself for what would happen next. I had yet to figure out why I experienced pain when I did this, but I had to get better at taking it off before nightfall.
"Okay, count of three..." I mumbled.
"One..." I gripped the necklace firmly in one hand, balancing myself against the sink with the other.
"Two..." I pulled the magnetic string taunt, until the fear of pain prevented me from pulling further.
"Thre-augh!" Like pulling a band aid off that you knew would take hair with it, I knew this would be painful, but I could never really prepare myself for the overwhelming flow of pain.
Slowly, but surely, my view started to change as I shrank down to what qualified as regular proportions for me now. I eventually fell on all fours, as fingers and toes were absorbed into the hardening hooves I now had, much like a child slurping up spaghetti . Thankfully the worst of it was over.
I had grown used to my wings by now, and felt a small sense of relief as they folded against my sides. I felt the need for speed rise up inside me, a craving the clumsy human part of me could never fulfil. Something wet brought an end to any thoughts of flying at top speed today though; something very unsettling indeed.
As I looked in the mirror, I noticed a little blood trickle down from my left nostril. This was the first time I had experienced anything like this before. I had swapped before with no problems, with the occasional slip up every now and then when I accidentally left it on, and there had never been any nose bleeds once everything was finished and adjusted.
"Okay, not putting you on for at least a week now." I said to the unresponsive necklace as I cleaned off the blood.
"Everything okay in there?" I heard Cloudchaser call through the door.
"Uh, um...yeah, just peachy. I'll be out in a second." I replied, taking one more look in the mirror before exiting the bathroom.
"About time, I thought you fell in for a few seconds there." Cloudchaser said as I opened the door.
"Well, you know me. I'd find a way to get stuck inside of a wet paper bag." I chuckled nervously.
"Are you sure everything's okay?" the mare pressed, one of her hidden talents being able to detect when I was feeding her a fib.
"Yep, just in a bit of a hurry to see Filthy Rich I guess." I lied anyways, not wanting to worry her with the odd occurrence in the bathroom.
"If you say so..." Cloudchaser said skeptically. "Just make sure you don't stay out too long with him."
"I won't, I promise." I said, planting a kiss on her cheek before taking off.
I was out the door in a flash, my mind idly pondering on what had happened earlier. It was something you would expect to see in some horror game, or movie. While anypony could have a nose bleed, it just seemed like too big a coincidence to have one right after I took the necklace off to just ignore it, but for now I was going to have to put it on the back burner.
Filthy Rich was a nice stallion, he had seen what Sky Mark missed. He was also one of the few business ponies I trusted. His daughter had been a bit of a pain at first...okay, a major pain, but she had come a ways from the brat she had been. The tendencies were still there, some habits die hard, but slow and steady change was better than no change; so long as it's beneficial.
I soon reached my destination, my body having shifted to auto pilot while I dwelt on my thoughts. I could only imagine how I'd be greeted, since there was the odd chance that Filthy Rich might be upset with me, despite Cloudchaser's encouragement. Bits were still bits, after all.
I hesitantly knocked on the door. I was met with a butler, a rather aged looking stallion that had an impressive poker face. It was an impressive art, one that had been refined after many forced parties, and doing lord knows what else.
"Hi Jeeves." I said casually.
"Sir, I've kindly requested you cease the use of that nickname." the stallion sighed.
"Okay, Penny Worth, suit yourself." I rolled my eyes.
"Thank you, now if you would be so kind as to follow me," Penny Worth motioned with a hoof. "Master Rich has been expecting you."
"Expecting me...sounds ominous." I mumbled.
"One can hope, sir." the butler replied, that being the closest thing to a smart bum remark from the stallion one would get. It was no secret he didn't like me, probably because of the nickname.
I was led into Filthy Rich's study, all but abandoned at the door to whatever fate my boss might have in store for me. I pushed the door open with a sigh, ready to receive a lecture.
"Ah, there you are. I had a feeling you'd be coming by soon." Filthy Rich said, motioning for me to approach.
"So what made you expect me? I don't remember you sending for me." I said as I sat down in a chair in front of his desk.
"Your personality, that's why I don't lose sleep at night about where your loyalty is," Filthy Rich laughed. "Heck, you'd punish yourself if you thought you'd done wrong by worrying about it until you developed ulcers."
"Heh...um, thanks?" I grinned sheepishly.
"I'll take a wild guess that you're here about losing your last race, right?" Filthy Rich asked.
"Yeah, I'm sorry I didn't finish...I panicked when Discord told me what was happening, and-" Filthy Rich held up his hoof to stop me from rambling.
"I know what it's like to be there when your child enters the world. No race was worth missing that," Filthy Rich said. "Still, that was your biggest race of the year, it seems your son takes after you in terms of timing."
"Let's hope that habit fades." I chuckled nervously.
"As much as I hate to, I'm going to have to dock your pay a bit. Thankfully, Mike put down Whitefire so it wasn't a total loss." Filthy Rich shrugged.
"Traitor..." I mumbled.
"All the same, you're not finished just yet. There's going to be a charity race in a few weeks, and your presence is being requested by the princesses." Filthy Rich said.
"Shouldn't Whitefire be the one to sit at the charity?" I asked.
"They want you both apparently, you two are crowd favorites. Besides, it's the old and new champion together in one place, how could that not draw attention?" Filthy Rich asked in return.
"Fair point." I said.
"Now that business is out of the way, have you read the papers yet?" the business pony asked, sliding a copy of this morning’s paper to me.
Hello Stormwalker….while Blue Bullet may have lost the title of champion, he won when it comes to being a father as he and his wife welcomed their son into the world yesterday. The race was fairly close, as Whitefire, the new champion had put it, and respected his actions after learning of the news. The article went on to say.
“Well, at least Whitefire won it. I’d rather it be him than somepony else.” I said.
“I’ll let you know when more details come out about this little charity race, I don’t think you’ll specifically be taking part in it.” Filthy Rich commented.
“I won’t?” I asked in disbelief.
“That’s what I understood, neither is Whitefire, so don’t get too upset.” the business pony said with a raised hoof.
“Since we’re off business…how is the “other” coming along?” I asked.
“Not a word back from him, and he refuses to talk when I do see him out and about,” Filthy Rich replied. “He’ll come around eventually, you just have to give things time.”
“I just don’t want bad blood between me and him,” I sighed. “I had enough of that back home.”
“If you’ve let go of the past, then there’s nothing left for you to do. It’s all him now, so stop making yourself feel bad.” Filthy Rich said in a fatherly tone.
“Yes sir.” I responded like a scolded child, which made him laugh.
“You know with what we’ve been making, I’m surprised you haven’t moved out, and found yourself a bigger home,” Filth Rich said once his laughter had settled. “I know you added a room, but surely you could have just moved into a better home, one that would have given you plenty of space?”
“Could have, yes, but our old home has kind of grown on me. I mean, it’s been there since the beginning of my new life here. Too many memories to pass up.” I replied.
“I suppose so,” Filthy Rich shrugged. “I just found it odd is all with a growing family.”
“Well, maybe if we have a third, but I don’t see that happening in the foreseeable future.” I laughed nervously.
The thought of another foal already was borderline insanity on my part. Stormwalker had given us quite a bit of trouble and we were only a day into taking care of him, how it the world would we ever manage another back to back?
“It was just a question, more of a time passer really,” Filthy Rich confessed. “It’s good and well to stick back bits for a rainy day, but don’t be afraid to enjoy yourself every once in a while.”
---
Thunderlane could hardly believe he had agreed to this secretive invitation to meet with this business pony. The company was a reputable one at least, but he had every intention of turning them down. He was done with the lime light, and wanted to rebuild what he had torn down through his own actions.
He looked around the restaurant and spotted a familiar unicorn. It caused his feathers to ruffle slightly, but he kept his attitude in check. This was Skymark's son, though the business pony treated him more like a bastard foal than an actual son. Some pegasi stallions were like that, and not too long ago, Thunderlane would have agreed with him.
He felt agitated as he realized he had been lied to, and had a good mind to leave. It quickly ruined his assumption that this would be a typical meeting with no tricks involved. It was unfortunate that some ponies never seemed to learn from other’s mistakes.
Still, he needed to put this entire thing behind him for good. This was perhaps the best way of doing so, even if he would be dealing with Skymark in proxy, Thunderlane had no objections about being upfront with the business pony's son.
“You wasted your time coming here, colt.” Thunderlane huffed as remained standing beside the outdoors table.
“Please, just hear me out?” the stallion pleaded.
“I’m not in the mood, why don’t you go crawl back to your father?” Thunderlane asked. “Or is he still too ashamed of you? Just because you were born with a horn instead of wings.”
“Skymark is dead…” the unicorn replied. “Please, we need you.”
“Your father left me all alone on a track about a year ago, when I needed him most. I guess this is life’s way of repaying the favor…go home kid, make something of yourself. Don’t be like your loser dad who just used other ponies.” Thunderlane sighed.
Impulse Drive fell silent at this, averting his gaze from Thunderlane. The former athlete felt he had made his point, and the weight that had been on his chest for a good while now lifted after speaking a bit more harshly than he had intended to be. He decided to leave with that before he made the metaphorical cut any deeper.
“Is that all you have to say!?” the stallion fumed.
“Unless you grow a pair of wings, yes.” Thunderlane said calmly.
Impulse Spark could hardly believe his poor luck. He had hoped that Thunderlane would be willing to look past the faults of his father, and possibly come back, but that was clearly out of the question now. He didn’t know who else to turn to either, after most of his father’s fortune was sunk into nursing what little health he had left, until finally years of bad habits caught up to him.
Skymark had always been ashamed of him, having placed so much hope that he would have a pegasus colt, the racer he always dreamed of. Instead, he was disappointed, from the day he was born. No achievement could earn his praise, no venture his blessing. Why he still wanted to save his father’s company was purely out of financial gain, but that clearly wasn’t going to happen at the rate things were going.
The unicorn was unable to move from his table, chained in place by disappointment. Impulse felt utterly defeated after being rejected by Thunderlane. He reluctantly left the little outdoor café, his head hung low in reflection of his mood.
Impulse Spark looked up and saw an article in the paper, a photo of a foal above it. His eyes skimmed across the name Blue Bullet, causing him to snarl. That was the track name of the stallion that had turned his father down, and set this downward spiral in motion.
As if fate was mocking him, this racer had been given everything! A new job, a wife, a son, and a title; all of these were things some fake didn’t deserve. He was nothing more than some stupid ape, masquerading as a pegasus. Still, ponies seemed to like him, and ignored this little detail.
“It makes me sick...how can anypony beat you?” Impulse mumble, kicking the paper dispenser out of anger.
A cog flew free from the machine, comically hitting the stallion on the nose before falling to the ground. Mildly curious as to what had caused him the minor discomfort, his magic surrounded the cog, bringing it up out of the mud. He had always had a fascination with machines, and how they worked; each part with its own task for the whole device to be at one hundred percent, much like a living organism.
His eyes widened as an idea struck him. Perhaps what Thunderlane said wasn’t entirely out of the question after all. Even if it had been a smart-alecky remark, it had quite the opposite effect now. While he might not be able to sprout wings...how hard could making a pair be?
“Why stop there though?” Impulse asked himself with a mischievous grin as idea after idea began to push its way into his mind.
“I’ll make something of myself all right, and I just found an answer to my own question, though it’s more along the lines of ‘what’ can beat you, Daniel, rather than who.” The stallion snickered.
“You shouldn’t talk to yourself,” a passing stallion said. “That’s just fucking weird.”
“Mind your own business!” snapped Impulse.
“Kind of hard when you speak your mind publicly,” said the mare that was accompanying him. "Come on Hermit, let’s get out of here.”
---
“Hey there little guy,” Isabella said with a smile as she held Stormwalker. “I knew you two would make a cute kid.”
“Don’t let that sweet muzzle fool you. He was a little fussy last night.” Cloudchaser laughed quietly.
“Most babies are, but it gets better. It’s still had to believe that it actually happened between you too. I never thought it would happen, except for in dreams and what ifs.” Isabella commented.
“I didn't either," Cloudchaser smiled, quite proud of herself. "Truth be told, I never thought I would be a mom."
"I've had a few of those days, and nights," Isabella said as she gently rubbed behind Stormwalker's ear with her thumb. "But age kind of changes your ideas sometimes. I'd like a family of my own someday too, which is something I'll never admit to anypony in public...my brother especially."
"Speaking of which...how are things with...Blueblood?" Cloudchcaser had to force the name from her mouth, still finding the pairing a bit odd, with little doubt as to who whore the saddle in the relationship.
"Meh, he's okay, a little better than when we first met, that’s for sure. Rarity is still a sour topic though." Isabella replied, she was either ignoring Cloudchaser's issue with him, or genuinely too dense to pick up on it.
"So, I have a question-" Cloudchaser started.
"Yes, he used to scream, until I slapped him a few times. Knocked the bitch right out of him." Isabella said proudly.
"..........that wasn't what I was going to ask." Cloudchaser said quietly, never imagining that somepony else would make her blush when talking about stuff like this.
"O-oh, well, the more you know I guess?" Isabella laughed nervously.
"Anyways, why do you think Daniel would want Discord to be Stormwalker's godfather?" Cloudchaser asked, trying to forget what she had just heard.
"You're joking right?" Isabella narrowed her eyes.
"I'm afraid not." Cloudchaser replied.
"As fun as that sounds, Y\you may want to pick somepony a little closer to the normal spectrum." Isabella said.
Before Cloudchaser could get another word in, Stormwalker began to writhe in Isabella's arms and whimper in pain. The human quickly returned the foal to his mother, just as the whimpers were beginning to develop into full-fledged sobs. Something pink was on Isabella's palms now, with the consistency of a very fine liquid.
"Poor little guy, I know that doesn't feel good." Cloudchaser cooed, ensuring that Stormwalker was resting in her forelegs on his stomach.
"I didn't mean to hurt him, I swear!" Isabella exclaimed.
"You didn't, that's just fluid from the coverings of his little wings. They're supposed to do that." Cloudchaser assured her.
"Oh, so when do his wings, uh, sprout?" Isabella asked.
"In a few days," Cloudchaser replied nuzzling her colt, which seemed to calm him down, though he still let out the occasional whimper. "Pegasi foals tend to be pretty fussy until then, thankfully he hasn't been too bad so far."
"Scootaloo hasn't gotten jealous now that all the attention isn't on her now, has she?" Isabella asked.
"No, I'm glad too," Cloudchaser sighed. "I'm sure that will come with time, she's obviously old enough to understand why Stormwalker needs so much attention, but she's still a foal. I'm afraid it's only a matter of time before that happens."
"You know, if things get too hectic, I can look after her. I'm amazed she slept through Stormwalker's first night home." Isabella said.
"She's like her father in that regard, but if things get too bad I might take you up on that offer for her own peace and sanity." Cloudchaser replied.
The foal gave one last fussy murmur before settling in for a nap. Cloudchaser couldn't help but smile at him, especially after just touching on the topic of sleep. The sight of the small lumps on his back returned her thoughts to his wings, which she could hardly wait to see unfurled against the sky.