Penelope and Fluttershy reentered the room. Noticing Discord, Fluttershy blushed averting her eyes, but, after setting the tray of refreshments down, she leaned against the arm of the couch, beside him. Discord, very carefully, placed his arm around her waist. Glancing at the Yellow Pegasai, he blushed as well, before turning back to his father.
"Ahk, Mom! Dad!"
His mother had secured a space on his father's lap, Jormungdr having wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in tight. Discord had happened to look over as his mother was nuzzling under his father's chin, followed by his father's answering kiss. Discord could feel the heat rise in Fluttershy as she too saw the display of affection.
"What? I thought you were the Lord of Chaos, surely a public display of affection between your parents can't embarrass you to much." Penelope snarked.
"Dear, I believe it was the subject matter I discussed with him while you and Ms. Shy were in the other room."
Fluttershy's fur beginning to match her mane.
"And I see by Ms. Shy's reaction you had the same conversation. Still, one would think we were making out in front of you, surely my son wouldn't be such a puritan."
Discord's eyes narrowed, glancing back to Fluttershy, he winked and gave her a sinister smile. Fluttershy's eyes sparkled in reply, turning back to his parent's, he reminded them. "I do believe father, you promised Flutters a reply to all her questions, under the same allowances as were given unto me. So, why don't we get started, hmmmm?"
Jormungdr nodded, "Indeed I did, very well Ms. Shy, you may start when ready."
Fluttershy shrugged, her entire body relaxing, as she asked her first question. Penelope and Jormungdr really should've realized what was about to occur.
"In her explanation of the reproductive cycle of the Serpent, Penelope mentioned, both a tendency towards Polyamory, as well as the aforementioned reproductive limiter. But it also strikes me that such twin measures had to evolve for another reason as well. Namely, that Serpent's must've evolved within some amazingly hostile environments. Making sure that a child will only be the result of a willing partner, as well as a tendency towards multiple partners is an intriguing solution. So, for my first question, What could threaten a Serpent in such a way as to ensure that such a twin reproductive solution was evolved?"
Jormungdr stammered, then recovered. "The answer Ms. Shy is that since we are born very powerful, our enemies tend to be the gods themselves, as we tend not to play well with others, although there are some exceptions. So at any given time any of the Gods of a realm might fear us for our power, rightly or wrongly."
Fluttershy cocked her head. "Follow up question, does this reproductive situation always produce a Serpent and how often are said Serpent genes expressed, for instance are they dominant, recessive, or some combination of both?"
Jormungdr shook himself, glancing at Penelope he noted her look as well. Neither had expected this level of questioning from the timid Pegasai.
"No, the reproductive cycle will only produce a serpent when the environment is safe to do so. Otherwise the child will be closer to the other parent with some level of strangeness inherited from the Serpent. As for Serpent genes, they're recessive until circumstances permit, in which point they switch to dominant."
"So a family could, conceivably, carry these Serpent genes for generations and not have them express, only to have them do so when circumstance permit? Is there a limit to how many generations that these genes can express or is there another mechanism that is at play?" Fluttershy returned, smirking she continued. "You must understand, I wish to know all I can so that I'm able to make the appropriate decision when it comes to Discord and me. After all, a Mare has needs and snuggles are all I've had in a while."
The tea Discord was drinking soon drenched his parents. "Whhaaaa?" was all he could manage in response.
"Shush, Discord. Not your turn to ask questions." came Fluttershy's answer.
Snapping his fingers Jormungdr dried himself and Penelope, then began once again to answer Fluttershy's questions.
"Yes, an expression of full Serpent Genes can be carried, with little to no knowledge, till a child is born with them dominant. As far as I've ever known Serpent Genes can exist in a bloodline indefinitely."
"Another line of thought, You mentioned that Serpent Genes often express in the children of Serpents, that are non-serpent themselves, as strangeness, how did you mean strange? What of those that are merely carriers, can their children be born with the same level of strangeness or do such markers become reduced?"
Fluttershy took a sip of her tea, then leaned against Discord's shoulder, placing her head on his. Discord obliged by keeping his hand on her waist, allowing her to use him as a pillow. This time it was Penelope and Jormugngdr that blushed.
Shaking the flush from his face Jormungdr began. "Uhh, Serpent Genes tend to express in a number of ways, a talent for magic, especially illusion and transmutation. Although many types of movement magics have manifested as well. Unusual coloring, as well as scales, and feathers. In extreme cases a child can be born the entirely wrong species or deformed in a way that indicates destiny or talent. Those last two only happen when fate has a direct hand in things, as such children are often foretold and are omens of things to come." Jormungdr looked away for a moment, his eyes distant, and when he answered Fluttershy's last question it was with a sadness.
"As for that last question, Yes, any carrier can birth children that show those alternate expressions." All was quiet, then Fluttershy spoke again.
"Thank you, I have one final question, How was your Father, your older brother's Mother."
Jormungdr began to laugh, "That My dear is a tale, it began like this........"