//------------------------------// // The Summons // Story: Fractured Crystals // by Quick Fix //------------------------------// Angels Wildlife Sanctuary, Ponyville January 5th, Year 22 under the Four Princesses Evening was falling over Ponyville, the gentle glow of the setting sun bathing the snow-coated town in a vibrant light. Despite the steadily dropping temperature, many ponies were still out and trying to make the most of what little daylight remained. From the town center where the pathways had frozen into a makeshift ice rink to the farms on the outskirts of town, ponies from all walks of life were finishing their daily tasks before retiring inside for a night inside. In a cottage on the outskirts of town, just outside the boundary of the Everfree Forest, one such pony was sitting. Wishing she could do just that right now. Fluttershy sat with her head on her hooves, silently staring at the silhouettes outside her window. Many of them were habitats and enclosures, the culmination of her life's work to help animals of all kinds and one of Ponyville's most popular attractions, the Angels Wildlife Sanctuary. Her teal eyes stayed locked on a pair of pony shaped figures as they made their way around the sanctuary, one a pegasus stallion, the other a pegasus colt. Even in the encroaching darkness, she'd recognise them anywhere. Silent Breeze and Mist Chaser, as most ponies knew them. She knew them better as her husband and son. It had been a little over fifteen years since she'd met Silent Breeze on a bird watching trip to Rainbow Falls and bonded with him over his knowledge of avian care methods. The quiet, somewhat ditzy stallion had been something of a welcome new presence in her life and they had started dating a year or two later. Despite the general excitement it had stirred up among their friends, the two promised each other they wouldn't rush anything. While that had proven true in their developing feelings, the step after that was anything but. They had finally married eight years ago, their son was born just eleven months later. The pair had adapted to unexpectedly becoming parents well, to the point that they both agreed that one day, their family would have another member. A gentle stirring in Fluttershy's stomach reminded her that that day was only two short months away. She pulled her eyes away from the snowy scene outside and back over herself, settling on her gravid middle where she had carried her second foal for the past nine months. Motherhood had come almost completely naturally to her and without even needing to think about it she shifted down the sofa she rested on to lie on her back, gently massaging her belly with her front hooves. The movements within her seemed to gravitate toward her hooves briefly before settling down again. "I know, we have to wait so long to meet you too," She said softly, stretching out slightly and enjoying the sensation of feeling rushing back into her legs. "Your dad, your brother and me can't wait though. We all love you, little one. Even those who...Who you won't have a chance to meet." Even as she said it, her head rolled to the side and her eyes went over to the fireplace, looking over the various photos placed on the hearth. Given the family-centric nature their marriage had taken on, all of them were pictures of parents, siblings and those as close as family. Her eyes settled on a framed piece of her own family, taken just before she had moved to Ponyville. Her parents, her younger brother and herself. She had told herself every time she looked at the picture that she wouldn't get emotional but she could already feel sadness gripping her heart and her vision becoming blurry and damp. Her father, Altostratus, had passed on from old age two years ago and her mother, Posey, was near the end of her own life. Considering how close she was to both of them, it still stung to know that she could never experience such times again, that her mother might not be here when her second grandfoal was born. The worst part though, was that Zephyr Breeze wasn't here to see it either. As obnoxious and vain as her little brother had been, she still had a certain closeness to him that even the other elements couldn't match. Though he never truly lost his carefree workshy attitude, he had his life in order and was making it on his own. He almost seemed like the kind of pony you'd want to hang out with for a night. Then six years ago he had come to his family and revealed that he was suffering from cancer. He ultimately managed to shift his attitude in the face of his mortality, spending months providing valuable insights and data to the Canterlot Institute of Development in how such illnesses might be treated. Though his decision had resulted in a breakthrough with cancer testing and treatment, any developments that had resulted from it had come too late for him. Fluttershy gently wiped her eyes and dropped her head back, trying not to let herself be overwhelmed by her turbulent emotions. She didn't know how long she sat there before the sound of the front door broke her focus. She carefully moved herself back to her hooves and smiled gently as the two ponies of her life came in. Silent Breeze, a bronze coated stallion with a flowing silver mane, amber eyes and a cutie mark of a thrush in flight. Mist Chaser, a silver-gray colt with a short black mane, deep blue eyes and a shrouded moon cutie mark. Her husband and son. Despite her best efforts, she hadn't been able to get her emotions under control by the time they saw her. "Mom? Are you ok?" Mist Chaser asked quickly, running up to the sofa and jumping into a hover beside her. "I'm..." Fluttershy shifted to give him space and hugged the colt as soon as he landed in front of her. "Yes. I'm just being emotional again. I'm sorry I worried you." "What happened, angelwings?" Silent Breeze asked as he came over, the use of his pet name for his wife enough to make Fluttershy smile slightly more. "It was just some sad memories I have, along with everything else." She looked down slightly and nuzzled Mist's head gently, the colt hugging her gently in return. "Darling..." Breeze gently placed a hoof on her swell and leaned in close to kiss behind her right ear before whispering to her. "I told you when you were carrying Mist Chaser and I'll tell you again until we both remember it. You are not a burden in this condition. You're still as beautiful as the day I met you, if anything you're even more so. Motherhood suits you perfectly and I almost wish you could stay this way, just so I could give you and our foal the love you deserve like this." Fluttershy sniffed slightly and looked back up at her husband, breaking into a proper smile. He may not have the best way with words, but he still knew just how to make her feel better when she needed it most. She lifted herself up into a sitting position and wrapped a leg around him, pulling both Breeze and Mist into a three way hug that she held onto for several seconds. "Thank you, both of you" She said softly, kissing them both. "I don't know what I would do without either of you helping me so much. I promise that I'll find a way to thank you properly." "The fact you're having a healthy, happy foal and making our family even more loving, that's thanks enough for me." Silent Breeze replied, nuzzling her lovingly. "Yeah, you hear that, little sis?" Mist Chaser added as he moved down and nuzzled his mother's belly. "You're gonna love it out here, so be ready to enjoy it." "Now, we don't know if it's a filly or a colt yet." Fluttershy told him with a slight giggle in her voice. Her son's enthusiasm and help in preparation for gaining a sibling never failed to cheer her up, now that the concerns that he may not have approved were unfounded. "Dad says he feels it's a filly," He replied before pausing in his attention. "Mom, your butt is glowing again." Fluttershy's initial reaction to tell her son off for his language was overtaken by realising just what he'd said. She looked back over her herself and sure enough, her three butterfly cutie mark was glowing with a faint light and the occasional pulsing sound. All of them knew exactly what it meant. Somepony, somewhere, needed her help. "Oh my, now?" She asked quietly, sitting up. "The map wants you now?" Mist asked in response, taking off and hovering behind her for several seconds to get a closer look. "Are, you sure that it's a good idea to go?" Breeze finished, glancing back outside, where darkness was falling further and a slight snow had started to come down as well. Fluttershy looked out the window as well and gave a quick exhale as she stood up. "I know it feels inconvenient, but we both know it's something I have to do," She said, going to get herself some clothes to head out in. "It's late though, so I'll just head over to Twilight's castle and see where I need to go for now. Then I'll come home and save the mission for tomorrow, okay?" "Alright love, we'll have dinner ready by the time you get back. Don't be afraid to stop somewhere warm and rest if you need to." Fluttershy nodded as she finished wrapping a scarf round her neck and nuzzling her husband as he helped her into a flight coat. Truth be told, she didn't want to go and find out just what she had to do tonight either. From experience though, it wasn't a good idea to leave the map waiting too long. Hopefully she could wait until morning before setting out for, wherever she needed to go. Not for the first time, Fluttershy wished that her cottage wasn't on the opposite side of Ponyville from Twilight's castle. Flying across town normally wasn't a problem but in the cold, bundled up in clothing, with her precious cargo, it was more than slightly tiring. Most other pegasi had elected to stay on the ground in this weather but she wanted to hurry and get it done. Unlike every other time she had been on a mission of friendship, Twilight Sparkle wouldn't be present to give her details and advice. The princess of friendship, along with Spike, had been in the Crystal Empire for the past week on a research expedition. Hopefully it wouldn't be something too hard to figure out. By the time she reached the crystalline beacon of peace that stood in northwest Ponyville, Fluttershy was starting to flag. She landed carefully on the snowy pathway leading to the main doors and looked back at herself, making sure she hadn't done anything undue to herself during the flight. Quickly satisfied, she trotted to the doors and let herself in. They were never locked, since Twilight believed in allowing everypony access to the castle whenever they required help or knowledge. Fluttershy took a moment to catch her breath once the doors were closed behind her and the soothing warmth of indoors washed over her again. The sound of hoofsteps was faintly audible from across the foyer and down the central hall, within the map room. It sounded like only one other pony was there, the norm for something like this. Once she was recovered she made her way to the map room and entered. There was something oddly reassuring about seeing the seven chairs that belonged to her and her friends surrounding the cutie map, the scene of so many moments where they had shared experiences, improved the lives of so many ponies. Equally welcoming was the sole pony standing by the map. Orange coated, blonde maned and packing some bulk from muscle beneath her coat. She might have thought it was a short stallion from the size alone if she hadn't been around the mare for years, as well as the ever present, if slightly worn, stetson hat she wore and three apple cutie mark that was also glowing. "Oh, Applejack. I'm glad I'm not the only one the map called." Fluttershy said, some cheer coming into her voice as her friend turned and smiled warmly. "Howdy Fluttershy, you too," Applejack replied, trotting over sharing a quick hug with the pegasus. "How're you and the little one doing?" "We're both healthy, though it is a little exhausting getting around in a rush." "Well, things aren't too busy at the farm right now, so y'all can ask me for help anytime." "Thanks, I think I might need that now. Things never seem to be simple when the map calls," Fluttershy looked over herself as she felt some movement from her foal, an extra reminder of how she couldn't afford to push herself too much. "Speaking of which, where are we going?" "Ah waited for you to arrive before finding out, so let's go take a look." Applejack said before she and Fluttershy headed over to the map. While they had been talking, the glows of their cutie marks had shifted into the projections of their marks that moved onto the map that displayed where any of the Elements of Harmony needed to go. The two of them moved round the table to the space between Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle's chairs, where the map showed northern Equestria, the Crystal Empire and Yakyakistan. The projections of their marks had flown there as well and were now circling the capital of the empire, to the surprise of both. "The Crystal City?" Fluttershy commented, resting her front hooves on the edge of the map to get a closer look. "Shoot, and here I was hoping for something quick an' close to home," Applejack added. "It'd be a mite tricky to get up there tonight without being frozen faster than a frog in a windigo's icebox." "You're not the only one. I mean, I don't want to be a bother, but..." "I understand Flutters. We've gotta make sure not to stress ya out. For now, have a good night resting up and I'll swing by in the morning to help with anything you need before we go." "Oh, okay. Thank you Applejack." Fluttershy smiled and took her seat at the map, aiming to spend a few minutes resting before making the return trip. "You sure you're ok, sugarcube?" Applejack asked, unable to mask the concern in her voice. "Yes, I just forgot how much effort everything took right now." Applejack nodded and sat down in her own chair, electing to keep her friend company. Neither of them needed words right now, they simply enjoyed the support that the presence of the other brought. That was likely all they would have for the next few days.