The Crusaders woke up snuggled together on a bed of green moss. A blanket had been laid over them and a note that said "When you get over your panic attack, come around back. I promise not to harm, I think you'll find I have some charm." It was signed simply Fenrir. Further down the page they saw a P.S. "Please Zecora do not awake, I fear even your lives would be at stake."
"Well girls, What do ya'll think?"
"I think the only mare he intends to eat is Zecora." Deadpanned Scootaloo, sounding a little disappointed.
Sweetie blushed. "He does seem focused on her, huh? Although, with that tongue and what his pants where straining against, I don't think Zecora's heats are gonna be a problem anymore."
Applebloom Face hoofed. "I mean do ya think we should go around back or try and hoof it for home?"
"Let's go around back, he would have eaten us already if he intends too," Scootaloo said still sounding disappionted at Fenrir's preference for Zebra meat.
"What are y'all complaining about? We have a Dragon! Now stop y're mopin or no Drake for either of you!" Scootaloo and Sweetie both blushed but followed Applebloom around to where Zecora kept a majority of her hebalist supplies.
Sure enough Fenrir was there, tending to Zecora's herbs, experiments, and generally tidying up. He turned as he saw the girls and waved them over.
"How are you all, your three's alarm at my wolfish charm caused you girls quite a fall"
The three teens blushed and glanced at each other before yet again Applebloom was made Speaker to be mauled while the other two ran away or watched depending on the type of 'Mauling'. "We're fine, just was quite a shock seeing all those teeth. You got any idea when Zecora will wake up, we gotta get beck 'fore dark or our big sisters ill worry. ah've been looking forward to this lesson all week!" Applebloom sat herself down. To her surprise she heard that familiar huffling laugh of Fenrir's
"My Teeth did Scare? I can smell a Drake has mated on you three Mares. But, Young one lose not hope, tell me what Zecora was teaching you in scope."
Applebloom grimaced at the double standered but answered. "She's taught me Alchemy and Herbalism, as well as some Botany."
"Then I have cause for glee, all of that you can learn from me. Where I come from, as I am no mean Dumb, The Wyld god I was, so to teach such things will not give me any pause."
Fenrir Looked at the other two children before him, "And the two of you must not fret, for worry to your sisters I will not let. This will a be a field trip, so back to your homes you all can skip. If we start now on our lark, you should all be home before dark. As the Wyld God I be, none shall bother me, even in the depths of the Everfree. So walk together we will, so your sisters can chill.'
Together the four started back towards Ponyville, while unobserved, a curtain was lowered as one severely hung over Zebra smirked, then curled up in her bed, knowing that the children where safe.
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Hel awoke, her head still upon the chest of Sapphire, but covered in blankets of overbearing softness. She raised her head to see the sun streaming through open windows. Upon glancing around she saw that she had evidently been brought to a bedroom. Shrugging she sighed and snuggled tighter into her stallion, he would let no harm come to her.
It was an odd sensation to be able to trust and feel safe, but Hel knew this was a long time coming. Unlike her older brothers Hel had worked with the Aesir, even though she had been her own entity. Her kingdom still had been a part of the greater system, she had had a place in the greater order, no matter how unpleasant.
Once Ragnarok occurred however, it had settled all accounts on all sides. Both parties had been appeased. The debts owed and incurred by all of the gods and monsters of her world had all been called in, and all were required to pay. Hel had no longer been needed, what need a Warden when all the bonds, even of death, where broken, so that the final accounting could begin. This then was her accounting, what she was owed for having to take the hateful path of working with the ones that had treated her family so badly, to finally have somepony to snuggle, that was not looking to improve there lot or hurt her.
Hel heard a small gasp towards the foot of the bed and opened her eyes and saw a little filly, 12 years of age. The little one wore a bandage across her eyes upon which the unlidded eye of the old gods looked back. A small horn was on her head and the filly had a mane and coat the same color as Sapphire. Hel smirked, he had a niece, a ward and a blind one at that. The Queen of the Underworld smiled, Sapphire was hers, that meant that this young one was her ward as well. Being blind meant that the young one would not be immediately scared. Despite Sapphire's besotted words, Hel knew the effect she had on others, had often depended on it. This filly though would let her play the motherly aunt, she smiled, a warm feeling, unfamiliar but pleasant spread through her
Hel sent a short sending of thought to the child and inviting her into the bed. She did not want to disturb her prince, and the gasp of the little one was at suprise at finding another in a place she knew to be hers. But Sapphire had two sides abd a bed big enough for three. Even so Hel would have removed herself, no child of any sort deserved to denied snuggle time.
She lifted the covers on the other side and soon the young one was snuggled in on the other side of her uncle. She watched as the little one settled down and waited till the little filly was nestled in and asleep. Checking, to make sure the sheets and blanket covered this precious one, she smiled again in contentment.
"Mine," She muttered, regaining her position, this time making sure that her arms were wrapped around the filly for extra protection and comfort, let none disturb this one, for as Hel had told Sapphire, she was not a forgiving Queen.
"Such is my reward." Hel muttered to herself before she too drifted back to the comforting grip of sleep.
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Upon knocking, Jormungdr heard rustling from inside the cottage. Whispered words where heard and then silence. He looked up at his wife, as she looked down at him.
"You know you're going to have to put me down to both go in and stand in there." She said
"After not holding you for millennia, to coin a phrase, dearest, Don't wanna."
A small giggle interrupted their banter and when they both looked down a beautiful pale yellow Pegasus with a pink mane was look up at them with what could only be described as the kindest eyes ever. With a "Dawwwww," Penelope dove off of Jormungdr's shoulder and engaged the Pretty Pink Maned Pegasus in a full tackle Hug.
Jormungdr's eyes widened as he stepped forward to help the young mare and extract his wife, but heard another giggle as his wife had evidently sat on the mare's floor and somehow, procuring a brush, was now running it through the pink locks of the young mare. Seeing no harm done, Jormungdr chuckled to himself, then shook his head, one of them had to uphold the rules.
"Forgive my wife, young Ms, as well as my delay in arrival. This 'coward' had to make sure that the proper civilities concerning doors where observed, as well as make sure that not just his father came before him to atone, but his mother as well." Seeing the Mare's eyes widen and a flush come over her face he went to say more but his wife beat him to the punch.
"Ignore Mr. Serious Grumpy pants there. That's his joking voice. Damn old Wyrm never did know how to tell a joke without scaring or creeping everyone out." Again the Yellow Mare held in her arms chuckled at his consternation.
"Well, I can definitely see where Discord gets his humor from. Why don't you both come inside. My name's Fluttershy."
"I am Jormungdr, the mare that is currently snuggling you is my wife, Penelope." He paused. "You know dear, if you want to go meet Discord you are going to have to let her up."
"To coin a phrase, Don't wanna" Came the reply, "Teleport us in."
"Please Don't" Fluttershy said, "I take care of animals and you might startle them."
"See dear, let the poor mare up. We must do things right and correct, after all we are guests and Fluttershy has been kind enough as to use her house as a safe place to reconnect with our son. Please excuse, Penelope, she suffers from a fascination with cute and adorable."
Penelope looked at Fluttershy again, still holding her close. She gave her a quick motherly nuzzle, bringing a squeak from the mare and then letting her rise. "I'm sorry dear you are just so incredibly adorable, and you have taken such good care of my boy." This caused another squeak, as Fluttershy turned the same color as her own hair.
Once Penelope had released Fluttershy, all three moved into the living room. There stood a tall man. He wore brown pants, a checkered sweater vest of yellow and black, with a white shirt and tie underneath. A small stag horn rose from one side of his head and a unicorn horn upon the other. He was thin, unlike his father's bulk and only stood 7'1.5' inches and weighed none of your business, how dare you ask a lady that. His one eye was black and the other glowed a brilliant yellow.
Penelope streaked forward and buried herself into the stomach of her son and proceeded to sob into him.
"I am so sorry I left you all alone. I failed you when you needed me the most, then when they where using me to bait you I made sure that they lost me to time, unfortunately you had to too. I am so proud of you, and I wish I had the ability to say that I had anything to do with it. You raised yourself into a fine young man."
Discord pulled his mother close and found for the first time having a being bigger then himself pull him into a hug.
"My boy, I too am sorry. I was indeed locked away. My siblings as well, but had I petitioned the gods of my realm mayhap I could have had us all sent here. They would have done anything to forestall their demise and the end of all things. I would have had to just forgiven their debts on to me and my siblings. All it would have taken would have just been to give up on my vengeance. But no, I had to bring them down for what they had done to my family. I had to be the ruin of them and all their works. My vengeance meant I couldn't do more then observe all of your hardships, I could offer no comfort or help. But never doubt that both your mother and I love you very much. And we are both proud of the fine man that you have become.
Fluttershy smiled at the site before her and moved to give the reunited family some privacy when she heard twin snaps from behind her.
"And where do you think you are going dearest Fluttershy." Came Discord's deep baritone. A multicolored glow surrounded her and she found herself facing the happy tableau, her feet encased in tapioca. Discord's mother left the hug, took her gently by the arm and despite Fluttershy's protestations pulled her into their family moment.
"You have been more family to Discord then we have been. You gave him the better option that we never could.
This would not be happening without you. Never doubt your own strength, and when you and he actual decide to acknowledge your feelings for each other, know that you have his mother's and father's blessings."
Jormungdr for his part just was content to stay as he was, silently enjoying this moment. All the ones he cared for where in this one spot, all the words that he and Penelope needed to say where spoken. Discord would speak his in a place of his own time and place and they would listen, but that was for another time. Right know he saw no reason to move, nor did he care to. Sometimes it was good to be that which even the god's feared. It meant that he could have moments like this and nothing short of the end of the world would interrupt this until all participating where done. Some times, It was good to be the King.