Chapter 36: Family Bonding
The train to Ponyville barreled down the track. In one particular car five ponies, a dragon, and a chaos lord in the guise of a pony sat. Applejack continued to glare at her hyper pink friend for several minutes before finally speaking her mind.
“So Pinkie... when were ya fixin' on tellin' us your pa was an all powerful demigod?”
Pinkie gave a snorting laugh, “He's not 'all powerful', and I did. Dad just made a spell that made it so if I ever said anything, you'd hear something else. Like this one time I told the Crusaders how Equestria was made, but all they heard was how I got my cutie mark. It was funny.”
“So you made Pinkie dishonest?” the farm pony asked James, “Ah don't even know what to call ya.”
“Yes, it's my fault she couldn't tell you, so don't blame her for it. And you've always called me Clyde, so why stop?” replied the chaos lord.
“Cause you're James and Mayhem, too. Do you even know know who ya are anymore?”
“I'm a father who will do anything to protect his family. I didn't want you to know about Pinkie because I didn't want you to shun her, being related to Discord and all.”
“You guys are related to that creep?” Rainbow Dash jumped in.
“Rainbow!” Fluttershy scolded softly in the way only she could, “He's not a creep. He's just a little... different.”
“Says his best buddy,” grumbled the multicolored pegasus.
“Yes, we're related,” Clyde interrupted before they could continue, “He's my brother, just like Turmoil is my sister.”
“Is that why this Turmoil was helping you?” Rarity asked.
“Doubtful,” explained Mayhem, “I think she was acting on orders from The Boss. She'd never leave out something as important as the Lux Abyssi being involved otherwise.”
“Is that book really so bad?” Spike asked.
“Yes and no. It has the potential to do great things, both good and bad.” The chaotic stallion snapped his hoof and a pair of hammocks appeared. He jumped in one and Pinkie jumped in the other, both sipping on pink lemonade. “Get some rest, we’ll arrive in an hour.”
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Rarity walked in to her beloved boutique. When the bell rang a voice called out.
“Sorry, but Rarity's not here right... oh, welcome home.”
The young mare that entered the showroom had a solid white coat. Her short mane was jet black and hung over her left eye. The black lipstick, eyeliner, and studded collar complimented her mane well.
“Hello Sweetie Belle, how were things?”
“Meh.”
“Any orders?”
“On your desk.”
“How was Opal?”
“Old.”
“I love our little talks.”
“Yep.”
Rarity let out a sigh, “Something's happening...”
“I heard Celestia's announcement...” Sweetie replied, “Is it really true? Aliens are coming to invade us?”
“Yes, and by what Twilight said about them, they are quite dangerous.”
“I want to fight,” said the younger pony.
Rarity spun around and stomped her hoof down, “Absolutely not! I will not have you fighting. You could get yourself killed. What would mom and dad say if I let that happen?”
“Hopefully, that I died fighting to protect the whole world,” Sweetie answered, “Just because you're too afraid to volunteer-”
“How dare you accuse me of cowardice!” Rarity snapped, “I don't want you to volunteer because, as a knight of Equestria, it is my duty to fight.” The fashionista sighed and spoke with a softer tone, “There is a very good chance that anypony that fights will not return. What I'm saying is... if I die, mom and dad will need you more than ever. Please, don't volunteer.”
Sweetie looked into her sister's pleading eyes and sighed, “Fine, on one condition. Don't die. I don't think I could handle losing my big sister.”
“I...” Rarity wanted to make that promise, but knew it was likely a lie, “I promise.” She wasn't the Element of Honesty after all, “Now come. I have a brilliant idea for a dress for you. It has plenty of black, just how you like it.”
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Big Mac and Applejack set the table while Applebloom put the finishing touches on supper and Cheerlie waited patiently with little Autumn Gold. Soon enough, the family table was full of all kinds of good, old fashion home cooking. The young cook served up the deliciously aromatic sustenance.
“Can Ah feed Autumn?” Applebloom asked her former teacher.
“Of course, thank you Applebloom,” replied the educator.
“Come to auntie Applebloom,” the yellow pony cooed as she took her niece.
As they ate, AJ told them a shortened version of what happened to Twilight in the past year. Of course, she left out a lot of the violence, and... intimate moments, but the three others were still riveted. After answering a few questions, they retired to the living room where Big Macintosh lit a fire.
After they were all settled in, Applejack struck up the conversation, “Anything interestin' happen while Ah was gone?”
“Eeyup,” big red stallion gave a look to his wife.
Cheerlie replied by standing and saying, “I'm going to take Autumn for a walk,” She strapped on the baby harness, kissed her husband, and walked out the door.
Big Mag looked at Applebloom accusingly, “Applebloom, tell your sister what happened.”
Applebloom looked down in shame, scuffing the floor with a hoof. Applejack knew that look quite well. It meant her little sister did something wrong.
“What did you do?” the orange mare inquired.
“Um... well ya see...” Applebloom stammered a bit as she tried to find a way to say what she had to, “Ah'm... pregnant.”
Applejack's breath hitched. She stared into the fire for several minutes trying to convince herself she didn't hear what she knew she heard.
“It was Parry Riposte wasn't it?”
Applebloom just nodded.
Applejack stood and went into the kitchen, only to come back out holding a large knife in her mouth, heading toward the door. Big Mac acted quickly, jumping to block the homicidal mare from doing something that she likely wouldn't regret, but would get her arrested.
“Geh ow a da way,” she said through the handle, “He has da die.”
“No AJ,” the stoic stallion stated, “He's takin' responsibility for it. He's been out for the past two days look for work to buy an engagement bracelet.”
The livid farmer spit out the knife, which embedded itself into the floor, and glared at her younger sister, “How in Tartarus did this happen!”
“Ah didn't know mah heat came early. It wasn't due for another month, and we hadn't done it for a week-”
“What!” Applejack interrupted, “What d'ya mean a week? You mean y'all were already sleepin' together? For how long?"
It was Applebloom's turn to be angry, “Ah'm sixteen, Applejack. Ah'm an adult and can sleep with anypony Ah want. Ah understand that Ah messed up, and Ah'm sorry. We shoulda used protection, but you ain't got the right to tell me Ah can't have sex with mah coltfriend.”
Applejack was caught completely off guard. Never before had Applebloom snapped at her like that. She wanted to deny it all, but her sister was right. She was a grown mare, and could have relations if she wanted.
Applejack sighed as her expression softened, “Ah know you're grown. It's just... hard. You're still mah baby sister, and this is a big thing, getting' married and havin' a foal. Ah'm worried about you.”
Applebloom gave a warm smile, “Scared about what? Ah have you, Big Mac, Cheerlie, Sweetie, Scootaloo, and a dozen other ponies that can help. Are you worried Parry won't be good to me? You know he'll do anything for me.”
“You're right, he's a good colt... Ah'm still gonna have a little chat with him, but Ah guess Ah won't kill him.”
“Thanks sis.”
“Can't promise Ah won't smack'em around a bit...”
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Rainbow Dash opened the lid of her father's chest. It was the all she had left of him, and was her most valuable possession. The last time she looked through this was just before the Equestria Games in the Crystal Empire. A tear formed in her eye as she looked at the picture of an extremely excited filly with a larger, similarly maned, stallion. It was taken a half hour before they were told that Cloudsdale wasn't going to be hosting the games... and three days before the last time she saw him alive.
“A pegasus that turns away when others are in need aren't worthy of their wings.”
That was the reason he gave her for leaving. He was one of Celestia's elite operatives, and was sent to Stalliongrad to rescue some hostages. She didn't know anything else about the mission except that it took her father from her. A diamond dog tore his throat out.
For so long, she hated him. She hated him for leaving her. She remembered his last piece of advice, and made it a point to never help anyone else unless there was something in it for her. The only pony that mattered to her was herself... until she met Fluttershy. After she got into a fight with Gilda and a few of her griffin friends beat her to a pulp, the shy yellow pony carried her to the hospital. Fluttershy stayed by her side the whole time.
For weeks after, Rainbow was conflicted. She didn't know what to believe, what to feel. And then, when she saw those bullies picking on the shy filly, it clicked. She realized why her father did what he did. Some ponies were genuinely good and would never hurt another even in self defense. It was then that Rainbow Dash swore that she would never again abandon a pony in need.
She came to the cloth wrapped object she was searching for. She pulled it out and set it on her bed. Slowly, reverently, she untied the bindings and unwrapped it. Beneath the aged cloth, a pair of wicked blades shimmered in the light. They were her father's wingblades, lightweight steel swords that strap to the leading edge of the wing. This was what he used to protect Equestria from those that would harm its ponies, and what she would use to do the same.
A bell announced the arrival of a visitor. Rainbow already had an idea of who it was, but covered the weapons just in case. She flitted down stairs and opened the door to reveal an young purple and green dragon. Dash grinned and stepped aside for the drake to enter.
“Took ya long enough, Spike,” She teased.
“I had to get something ready,” he replied.
“Are you gonna fight?”
“Yes, but don't tell Twilight. She's going to have enough to worry about.”
Spike took a seat on the cloud couch, a look of worry on his face. Rainbow Dash frowned, “What's wrong?”
He snorted a puff of smoke, “A lot. Everything that's happened to Twilight, these guys coming here to kill everypony just because we exist... I'm messed up in the head enough already.”
Rainbow Dash sat down beside him and smiled comfortingly, “You know I’ll always be here for you.”
“But that's just it! What if you're not? What if you get killed? I don't think I can handle that,” Spike took her hooves in his claws, “I love you too much.”
“Oh, come here you big, mushy lug,” The cyan pegasus pulled him into a loving kiss that lasted only a few seconds but was full of emotion. She broke the contact a circled his chest with a hoof, “So, since we might not make it, you wanna finally do it?”
Spike rolled his eyes, “And dragons are the ones with the reputation for being horny.”
“What, we've been together for more than a year! That's a long time to be waiting, dude!”
“And like I said a year ago, I'm not going to take that step until we tell Twilight about us. She's my big sister and your friend. She deserves to know first.”
“Then why don't we tell her now?” asked the athletic mare, “I gotta head back to Canterlot anyway. I need to get my father's wingblades fit to me, and Ponyville doesn't have a smith that knows how.”
“Right now?” Spike asked, “Alright, but I gotta grab a few things from the library first.”
“That's cool,” She gave him another peck before she opened the door and the two of them glided down to the great tree.
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It appears not only Twilight have been going through some changes during her time away.
Please, do continue. I want to see where all this ends.
Like the Meanie Belle part. Hate the Big Mac and Cheerilee shipping. Hate Applewood being pregnant. Hate Rainbow Dash in general. Other than those, it's good. Excluding the part about Meanie Belle. It's pretty boss.
Well the RainbowSpike? SpikeDash? is uncommon I suppose. Not sure if it's necessary to have it in there in the first place, but it's not that big of a deal at the moment. Just seems to come a bit out of nowhere really.
That was a great chapter. I love it.
gothic sweetie - so far out of left feild i have no real feelings on it
pregnent applebloom - mindscreweing plot twist that now give AJ and Big mac another reason to fight
rarity and spike as a couple - never saw it coming yet possibly an opertunity for alot of interesting stuff.
wingblades - priceless
*insert corny mastercard joke*
we gonna see scootaloo next chapter?
Eh some of those situations feel too weird to fit well in the story.
2396093 There are some things money can't buy. For everything else, there's Ponycard. Accepted at the Equestria games.
I wonder how many people remembered what Twilight told the others Scoot's special talent was?
okay that was interesting sweetie belle in goth atire Apple bloom pregnant spike dating dash now what about scootaloo?
2396093 WRONG it was spike and rainbow dash >=P
Uh, wait what.
First Spike is an emotional wreck who's been hallucinating about his big sister, and now he's been dating Rainbow Dash for a year?
No offence, but that doesn't make a lick of sense and feels incredibly forced. Like you just threw it in on a whim. I get the need to show that everypony has been living their own lives, but you made it pretty clear early on that Spikes life pretty much stopped when Twilight 'died'.
You don't just drop to the emotional depths Spike found himself in and find time for a relationship.
2396122 OVER a year. In other words, they started dating just before Twilight disappeared.
Well, I can't really get behind the new Sweetie. The other things are kinda ok. Still, this chapter feels like you just wanted to say "Oh and this happened and this and this and this too." A little too much for my tastes.
2396122
Well it could be that Rainbow Dash wanted to help him as she saw Spike's life crashing and their relationship increased.
So many plot twists!! I'm loving it! And with the gothic Sweetie Bell, yes, just yes! Oh, btw, Stalliongrad huh? Sounds familiar
Well, those are some interesting twists. Then again, having one of the ponies you know best "dying" would have serious effects. Also, found a minor error,
extra the
2396129
Hmm. That makes it a bit better. But it's still too out of the left field for my tastes, and you dropped it too casualy as well.
Personally speaking, if I wanted to drop that bomb, I would have RD and Spike approach Twilight and have one of them say "we're in a relationship" before ending the chapter. Gives it a bit more impact. Here it's more like "yeah, this happened, that happened and oh, before I forget, these two are together."
I'm just not feeling any emotional attachment to what should be a drama bomb. It's certainly going to affect Twilight like that, so it should also affect me like that.
That's just my opinion, anyway.
I'm assuming ponies age faster and that's why Apple Bloom's considered a 'fully grown mare' at the age of 16.
Though I am glad that the young father is taking responsibility and is marrying her. After hearing that, I did kinda take the Big Mac approach.
But if he didn't, then yeah, he gonna' die.
But in RL, that shit ain't gonna fly under my roof!
Everything else that's been revealed like:
or Goth Belle, I'm just kinda passive about. I would prefer without it, but I can live with it.
Time has treated Sweetie Belle like a fat truck driver treats squirrels sleeping on the road.
2396210
Depends in where you live and how your society acts, but yeah, 16 year olds can be considered adults. Heck, here in the uk I can legally move out of my parents house and get a place of my own at 16 (I didn't, but that's not the point). Heck, I could have joined the military (as a volunteer) at 16.
So yeah, she's a little young, but Applebloom is fully capable of being a mother, especially with the support of her family behind her.
2396260 That's kind of what I was going for.
2396265
I see. Well, different authors, different writing styles. Not what I would have done, but it is inspiring discussion, so you can't have go too wrong, right?
2396260 It just seemed like Bloom came off a little immature IMO. She yells at AJ saying she's a "fully grown mare", any child living with there parents says things like that all the time. "Stop treating me like a kid!" "I'm not a baby anymore!"
My point being that, yes, her body maybe be capable of having a child, but mentally she is not prepared.
So much speculation. Quite fun to read though.
By gods I really hope there is a sequel to this, much more is to be done in the short time left
OH, MY GOTH!!!
Sweetie Belle has just become a teenage goth, Applebloom got accidentally knocked up (and for what it looks like her soon to be husband is actually responisble enough to going to find a job to rise his own family now... I BET HE HAD JUST ENLISTED INTO THE ROYAL ARMY NOW UNAWARE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE AN INMINENT WAR IN LESS THAN THREE DAYS!!!
), and Rainbow Dash is now in a relationship with Spike!!! (I actually hadn't seen that coming if we ignore Malajong1's fanfic Spike's Rainbow Dash/Spike's Rainbow Dash: The final chapters
, In fact I must guess their relationship started due to THAT incident), and now that the time is running out for the imninent invassion, Rainbow urgently wants to go to "The High Mile Club" (wow, talking about cradle robbing, I do wonder how painfully will get maimed Rainbow by Twilight though) with him, it looks like everypony will have a very strong Reason to survive the incoming battle, however I do wonder what had happened to Scootaloo... My bet is that she's now in a relationship with Sweetie Belle!
2396343 You're right about that. She's not really ready mentally, but like 2396260 said, she has her family. The girl made a mistake, and whether or not she's ready, she has to face the consequences.
Wait! What about scootaloo?
Fun fact: my auto correct on my kindle thinks scootaloo means capitalism...
2396355 Cradle robbing? He's 19, and Rainbow is about 28. That's only a 9 year difference.
2396343
But any adult being treated as a child says that. How else is she supposed to stand up for herself if she just lets AJ treat her like a child? It is really quite frustrating for every adult you respect not respect you in return, and sometimes you have to make a stand. She was clearly mature about it, stating that she was trying to avoid her estrous cycle, but it snook up on her a whole month early. That's not being childish and irresponsible, that's purely bad fortune. Could of happened to anyone of any age.
If anyone's being childish, it's Applejack for resorting to violence almost immediately. She didn't hang around to hear the story, she just jumped to assumptions and went off to threaten to kill a young colt for making a mistake. That's not something that puts you in the mature category in my books.
damn. my mind got fuck hard in this chapter
2396414 AJ is really just overprotective, not immature. Yeah, it's not right, but some people are like that. As for Applebloom, she should have known to take precautions so close to her cycle. It was irresponsible of her.
...Dat ship. I... huh. I just don't know how to cope with Spike x Dash. I'll be back when my head stops spinning.
2396427
Can't believe this just occurred to me, but what sort of 'protection' is a valuable in a pre industrial/pre gunpowder society? I know that in the past, humans used leather sheaths, but that was highly unreliable and I doubt Equestria has the capability to produce leather-like textures and materials (and everything else would be to thin and permeable to make a difference.)
There's probably herbs and potions Applebloom could have used, but that's an after sex thing where you get a chance to think about your options, and I don't see how magic could work unless Equestria found a cheap and efficient way of mass producing... something.
Well..... definitely didn't see that one coming.
And that's how headcanon was made!
2396472 There's spells and potions for that kind of thing. Basically, they make the sperm unable to locate the egg. I know that wasn't mentioned, but like I said a while ago; I have an entire world planned out in my head, and not everything will be mentioned.
2396491 Which part?
Tell me, how long before my brain keeps yelling at me, "MOAR." I keep telling it there are no more chapters out. My brain doesn't believe me.
2396522 Funny thing is, you posted that just as I posted the next chapter
2396414 I like people like you. You respond to my messages in a very intellectual and level headed way!
(Albeit a little more adamant than the usual)
I should probably get to the heart of the matter as to why I was so belligerent in the first place. My family has gone through this same situation time and time again to the point where it drives me crazy.
Here's a list (off the top of my head) of blood relatives and there ages when they had there first child.
2nd eldest Brother: age 20
3rd eldest Bro: age 19
5th eldest: age 18
Cousin: age 16
Each one to this days still struggles in many ways.
Don't think I'm closed minded and don't know both side though. My mother was 17 when she had her first kid, and I believe she raised her nine children beautifully. (Me being one of them.
)
2396379
true, however in the mind of Twilight Sparkle, she would probably still see Spike as her adoptive baby brother, just like Applejack to Applebloom, and Rarity to Sweetie Belle, besides, it was canon proven that Twilight can get a little bit possesive in regards to her siblings, if the news of Shining Weding was something to tell about it
2396440
Agreed. That is definitely one that I've never even thought or heard of before
that took me by suprise.. the
x
that is.
totally saw the other ones coming! *dons stetson and looks around shiftilly*
Aside from the bit about RD's dad and his old wingblades, I'm getting the feeling that I could have completely skipped this chapter and not missed anything important. There were so many things out of left field, like goth Belle, Apple Bloom getting knocked up by what I assume is an OC I've never heard about, and SpikeDash shipping, and I couldn't be asked to care about them.
Meanie Belle: Okay?
CheeriMac: Kinda to be expected, after all when he isn't gay Big Mac ends up with her or Fluttershy anyways.
CherriMac baby: Cute, but irrelevant.
Pregnant Applebloom: No idea who the father is supposed to be, but odd none the less.
RainbowSpike: Er, no. Much like PinkieDash, I never liked SpikeDash so I'm just gonna ignore that bit.
All in all I agree with the guy above me when it comes to this chapter.
Rainbow is going to get f-ing murdered
I think you've tried to throw a little too much at once with this chapter. I mean where did all these things come from. I think a better strategy would have been to slowly release hints about these events over the course of several previous chapters.
You realize now that someone has to die.
Not an OC either. You've introduced the fact that all these ponies are going to war, and covered it in foreshadowing of death.
My money's on Spike.
2396343 It's quite clear that she's going to go to some shady doctor in Fillydelphia for a late-term abortion in his disgusting clinic where jars with pieces of pickled foals line the walls, an then she'll end up bleeding out or die from a massive infection (based on a very real trial going on right now...)
>>>She didn't know anything else about the mission except that it took her father from her. A diamond dog tore his throat out.
For so long, she hated him. She hated him for leaving her. She remembered his last piece of advice, and made it a point to never help anyone else unless there was something in it for her. The only pony that mattered to her was herself... until she met Fluttershy. After she got into a fight with Gilda and a few of her griffin friends beat her to a pulp, the shy yellow pony carried her to the hospital.
>>>
Wait... wut? WHAT?! This... but none of that... in the show... *reads on and MORE stuff is different!* GAH!!!
You're throwing out TOO MANY CHANGES in this chapter! It's not a good idea to overload the reader with too many pieces of sudden backstory from every character on screen all at once! This felt like the exposition dump truck overturned after trying to take an exit ramp off the freeway at 200 mph and flung details all over the place!