//------------------------------// // 312. Herd and Bothered - Part 4 // Story: Blaze the Pony Tale // by Wolven5 //------------------------------// The coach arrived in front of Coltson General Hospital fairly quickly. Midnight paid the cabbie a generous tip and looked to Ledger, who appeared rather uncomfortable. "I... I don't think I..." Ledger stammered, hesitantly looking at the hospital doors. "I understand this is difficult," Midnight said patiently, "but at the very least you owe Marshal and his family an apology. Even if an 'I'm sorry' doesn't seem like much, it does. Now come on." Ledger sighed and followed Midnight in and waited as he had a quick word with the pony at the front desk. He came back and said, "Follow me." She did, taking in the fluorescent lightning, the sterile smell, nurses and doctors going this way and that, until finally Midnight led her to a waiting room where Ara was sitting and Redsteak and Cozy were napping together in the seat next to her. She noticed Midnight and her face lit up, only to sour when she saw who was behind him. "What's she doing here?" she spoke softly, not wanting to wake her foals. "She's not going to cause any problems or do anything to upset you, Ara," Midnight raised a calming hoof, "You have my word. Where's Marshal, with Silk?" "Yes, I'm out here to keep the kids company," Ara sounded so worried even as she so gently stroked the manes of her children. "Silk has always been strong, but she's also so delicate... "When the contractions started, she did her best not to let them see how much she was hurting. The nurses gave them something to help them sleep, I didn't want them to spend the whole time worrying." Ledger said nothing and simply sat down on the furthest chair from Ara as possible. But she couldn't help but notice the warmth in the pegasus mare's voice and eyes as she looked at those two little foals. The waiting room was silent for a while. Midnight sat across from Ara, who kept her eyes on her foals. But every now and then, she looked up at Ledger, who looked back with uncertainty. Finally, Ara stood up, whispered something to Midnight, who nodded. He took her seat and extended his wing over the foals to keep them warm while Ara stepped over to sit next to Ledger, who shifted uncomfortably, too afraid to look her in the eye. "What made you hate herds so much?" whispered Ara. "It's... a long story," Ledger whispered back. "We have time," Ara finally looked at Ledger. She looked at her back, and saw no animosity, no judgment, but rather a pony who wanted to listen. She looked over to Midnight, who gave her an encouraging nod. Finally, she took a deep breath and told her story one more time. Seconds turned into minutes. Minutes stretched into hours. Finally, after waiting so long, a doctor came in and Ara stood up, looking anxious, Midnight getting up as well while Ledger hesitated to stand too. "The delivery was a success, Mrs. Armoire," the doctor reported with a smile, "your family now has two more little bundles of joy." "Twins?" Ara whispered, holding her hooves over her heart as she began to beam, "And-and Silk, is she okay?" "Exhausted, but she and the foals are perfectly healthy," the doctor assured, "Your wife and husband are both asking for you and the kids." Ara finally exhaled with deepest relief but then she looked to Midnight and Ledger, "Can I bring them along too?" "Well..." the Doctor hesitated a little but seeing as Ara was gesturing to the deputy-mayor and an alicorn prince he caved, "Very well, but try to keep it short." Ara nodded before she went over to gently wake Redstreak and Comfy. They were a little cranky but became excited to hear the news. Midnight gently lifted them both onto his back while Ledger brought up the rear as they followed the doctor. They came to a hospital room, and inside, Marshal sat on a chair by Silk's bedside, and held a little bundle in his forelegs. Silk looked tired but the smile on her face was of deepest joy as she too held a little bundle, looking at what it contained. "Remember, kids, be very quiet," Ara whispered to Red and Comfy and they both nodded from Midnight's back. Ara tippy-hooved over to Marshal and whispered to him and he nodded in understanding as he glanced Ledger. Then Ara went to Silk's other bedside and Silk gazed up at her wife, glad she was there, and smiled at their older foals, "Kids? Wanna meet your new baby brother and sister?" Red and Comfy both nodded and Midnight very carefully levitated them onto Silk's bed and Marshal got up to bring the other bundle close. He and Silk very gently lifted opened the bundles to show two newborn foals, the filly in Marshal's hold was pale gold with white markings on her face and a wine red wisp of a mane around her teeny horn. The colt Silk held was orange like orange sherbet ice cream and his mane was black. They were snoozing soundly, completely oblivious to the smiles and love around them. Ledger looked on at them, seeing this herd, this family, and guilt weighed down in her stomach as she now realized how much she'd been trying to tear it apart. She felt a gentle tap and looked to see Midnight, who whispered, "Let's give them some time to themselves." Midnight took Ledger to a nearby bistro where they ordered a nice lunch and just sat there at their cafe table, watching the passerby of the town. It was a good day, and for a moment, Ledger felt a sense of inner peace. "You're different." Ledger looked to Midnight, who was looking upon her with understanding, "You look... lighter." "...I feel lighter," Ledger nodded, "still a little... mixed up, but now? I understand that herds are no different from any other family. Some families hold it together, and some just... don't. I spent so many years blaming herds in general for how my birth family fell apart. I saw only the bad that I forgot to step back so I could notice the good. "I haven't changed my mind about resigning my position in town hall, however. I think I need... a fresh start." "Sounds like a good idea, got anything in mind?" asked Midnight as he took a bite of his hoagie. "Nothing yet, but... I think I'm overdue for a little vacay," Ledger shrugged, "I have enough in my savings to take a break and then find work elsewhere." Wiping the crumbs from his mouth, Midnight sat up straight and said, "I apologize for my behavior towards you. Well, you kinda had this coming, but I got so used to, um... punishing that I almost forgot that sometimes ponies make bad decisions because bad things happened to them. In any case, I wish you the best, Ledger Seals." Midnight offered his hoof, and though she hesitated for a moment Ledger gave Midnight a small smile and accepted his hoofshake, when they heard somepony coming their way. They looked up to see it was Marshal. Standing up, Marshal went over with a smile and offered his hoof, which Marshal happily shook. "Congratulations, my friend. Your new foals are as cute as can be." "And they're both healthy, Silk's okay," Marshal added, sighing in relief but also phew'ing as he said, "House is gonna be a little more busy but it's worth it. Red and Comfy are so happy, they're asking their moms to teach them all they can so they can help take care of the twins." "Marshal." Marshal looked to Ledger, who hesitantly approached before saying, "To say that I'm sorry doesn't begin to make up for all the wrongs I've done to you, and your family. I was wrong, about so many things, and I-" She paused a moment, appearing to take a breath, before continuing, "My personal history is no excuse for my actions. I've resigned my position at town hall, and I'm going to be taking some time off. I have... a great many things to reconsider. I hope your foals all grow up happy and healthy." Ledger turned to leave when Marshal said, "Ms. Seals." She paused and looked to the firefighting pony who gave her an unreadable look as he walked up to her... and then gave her a gentle smile. "My wives and I discussed it... and we would like to name you our newborn foals' godmother." Ledger Seals gasped softly, a mixture of emotions swirling in her heart, which swelled almost painfully in her chest. A tear ran down her cheek as she suddenly felt overwhelmed with a whirlpool of emotions. Surprise. Shame. Astonishment. Elation. Remorse. She couldn't stop the tears and began to cry, falling back onto her haunches as she buried her face in her hooves as she sobbed even more as Marshal came over and gently held her, not saying anything, just allowing her to let it all out. As he watched this moment, Midnight smiled and felt his flanks shiver and looked to see his cutie-mark glowing, and he knew, My work here is done. Conjuring his cloak, Midnight started making his way back to his borrowed airship.