//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2. Just a little nervous to go back there. 
// Story: The Last of the Dark Ponies 
// by Askre 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 2

Twilight opened the doors to her castle and was greeted by Rainbow Dash who had knocked just few moments earlier. The princess quickly stepped out as she cheerfully greeted her friend, who did likewise.

“So what’s the haps?” The rainbow pegasus inquired curiously.

“Well, if you recall the meeting yesterday, Dinky and her sisters are throwing a birthday party here in the castle for their dad and uncle. Like I you told yesterday, this family may or may not be under the scrutiny of an old foe,” Twilight explained, occasionally glancing around.

Rainbow Dash nodded. Yesterday Twilight had summoned all her friends that consisted of the Elements of Harmony and told them about Dinky’s extended family, the party and who was definitely not on the guest list.

“Pinkie and I will be present at the party, Applejack and Rarity will be in Ponyville keeping an eye on things there, Fluttershy is going to be monitoring the edge of Everfree Forest since she lives so close to it. I need you to be on patrol in the sky around the castle,” the alicorn then told her friend.

“Can do that easily enough, but I have to say, you are really nervous about this,” Rainbow noted the uneasiness in her friend.

“I can’t help it. King Sombra has been utterly silent since he was brought back to life. Aside from unconfirmed sightings here and there...nothing. I was really nervous when Barricade suddenly showed up in Ponyville to see Dinky and Tootsie’s summer play because his brother was there as well. Thankfully nothing happened, but it was just the kind of opportunity Sombra would need,” Twilight said with a small sigh.

“Now the entire family will be here. I’m pretty sure King Sombra knows about them considering how long he occupied Private Iceland’s head. I just have this nagging feeling that Sombra will show up. This is an opportunity he just can’t miss.”

“Don’t sweat it, Twilight. I’ll keep an eye on things up there. You and Pinkie just keep the party going,” Rainbow Dash assured the alicorn, patted her on the back before shooting skywards. Twilight soon saw her standing watch on a cloud high up in the air.

“Just remember, if he shows up, don’t engage him alone. Go get me!” Twilight called and rolled her eyes when seeing the dismissive wave from her friend.

When Twilight looked down, she saw Dinky, Tootsie and Derpy approaching the castle. The princess smiled and shoved her nervousness to the side. She stepped down from the front porch and walked over to meet them.

“Hey, Derpy, girls. Are you here to help Pinkie and Spike prepare?” she asked.

“Yes, I’m not sure who will arrive first. Dew and Foxy said they would probably struggle a little to get Private out here - I have no idea about Barricade. Mirage Rock and Hard Shovel did forewarn that they might be delayed,” the gray pegasus explained to her.

“Uncle Private, doesn’t like birthday parties,” Dinky explained when Twilight looked confused that Dew and Foxy would struggle to get Private here. “At least that’s what Coal told us.”

“I see. Well go right in. I’m just going to go into town for a little bit. I’ll be right back. Pinkie and Spike are in the map room. I did ask Starlight to attend the party...you think that’s okay?” Twilight asked, realizing she probably should have asked about that much sooner.

“Sure, it’s only one additional pony,” Derpy nodded then herded her daughters into the castle.





Barricade stared out of the window lost in thought. The dark gray unicorn was feeling strange and empty. Outside the window were the other apartment buildings on the street. Hoofington was already starting to look better since actual efforts were being made to cleanup and repair.

The stallion didn’t really see it at the moment. His thoughts were in the past, his mind kept going back to when he went to Ponyville with Cara and Barbell at the prodding of Applejack and apologized to everyone; his daughters, their mothers, Private and a whole lot of others. Yet despite the apologies, he wasn’t really sure much had changed.

He could see the reservation in Foxy and Derpy, the indifference in Dew. Dinky and Coal though, they had looked stunned, stunned that their father had actually showed up for something they were doing. He remembered hugging them and they saying, “Alright, one more time.”

Now they were throwing him and his brother Private a birthday party. In Ponyville of all places. He had some reservation about that idea, but didn’t have the heart to disappoint the girls. He didn’t want to disappoint them anymore. Barricade just wished there was some sign that this trip would be worth it.

“Barri?” someone addressed him. This shook him out of his thoughts and he looked over to the entrance of his living room. His mother, Mirage Rock stood there. The bluish gray unicorn mare was smiling at him. Barricade had to admit he felt it was weird. She hadn’t smiled like that towards him for years.

“Yeah, what is it, mom?” he asked and turned around.

“It’s time to go or we’ll miss the train. Your father has already gone downstairs. Cara is getting ready,” she told him.

Oh boy, Barricade swallowed something, then gave a half-hearted smirk before nodding. “Coming.”

Barricade wasn’t sure what to think of the fact that his parents had come here to accompany him and Cara to Ponyville. The stallion wondered if they had been sent to ensure he did in fact come. As he left the living room with his mother, he spotted his oldest daughter Cara from the bedrooms.

“Did you remember the packages?” he asked the young pegasus.

“Yeah. They’re in my bag,” the dark grayish brown filly nodded and patted the saddlebag hanging on her side.

“Barbell, we’re leaving,” Barricade then called. From the kitchen came a grayish opal earth mare.

“Alright then. Have fun. Don’t cause any trouble,” Barbell teased with a smirk.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Barricade snorted, but did grin at her.

“Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?” Mirage asked.

“I would, but dad is sick and with Barricade going, I need to watch over the gym, so Blue can stay with him. Don’t worry about me, Mirage.” Barbell waved a hoof dismissively.

“Oh, that’s too bad. Well, I do hope he gets better,” the older mare said sympathetically. Barbell nodded her thanks. The two unicorns and one pegasus filly then left the apartment after saying goodbye.

Mirage and Barricade had to walk down to the ground floor, but Cara zipped down using her wings. She met her grandfather, Hard Shovel standing outside. The older unicorn glanced over when the filly arrived.

“They are coming, grandpa,” Cara announced and adjusted the bag.

“That’s good. We aren’t late, but better to arrive too early than too late,” the dark tangeloish gray stallion said with a chuckle. He reached to pat his granddaughter on the head. “You’ve grown so much since we last saw you.”

“Wish it were more. Ponies still think I’m twelve,” the filly grumbled. She was in her teens now and even with a cutie mark - a screwdriver and a wrench forming an X on her flank, she could still pass as a pre-teen filly.

“Don’t be in too much of a hurry to grow up.” Her grandfather smiled, then looked over to the doorway as Barricade and Mirage came through it. He noted that his son looked absent-minded. “Are you alright, Barricade?”

“What? Oh sure, just uh… lost in thought,” Barricade responded to his father, not really wanting to elaborate further.

“Hope you don’t mind that we came to accompany you to the party,” Hard Shovel said as the four ponies started walking down the street. “Your mother and I just were so curious to see how much had changed since we heard you came unexpectedly to Ponyville to see your daughters’ summer play they were performing.”

“Yeah, sure it’s okay,” his son simply responded with a nod. He glanced at his parents - they three were the only ones walking right now. Cara had taken to the air and was flying above them. “You heard what happened?”

“Admittingly only the abridged version, don’t worry about the details, son, you’ll tell us when you’re ready,” his father said. Mirage nodded in agreement with her husband. “We’re just glad you are doing the right thing now.”

Yeah, Barricade thought, only nodding in response.

“Private is recovering well from the possession ordeal. Dew Doe told us he’s even stopped having nightmares and eyeing the shadows fearfully,” Mirage informed him.

“Good.” Barricade recalled his brother looking more like his normal self when they met in Ponyville. Hopefully it will stay that way.

“Barricade, are you sure you’re all right?” His mother looked at him more critically.

“Just a little nervous to go back there,” her son responded with a shrug.

Mirage looked at Hard Shovel, who shared her concerned expression. It hadn’t really gone past them that their more talkative son was being unusually silent and short-answered, however, they both let it be for now.

Well, at least we are all meeting together as a family, the old mare thought, smiling a little. It’s been so long since that’s happened.





“We’re heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere!” Foxy Stripes announced loudly as she, Dew, Coal and Private entered Twilight’s castle. They were greeted by Spike.

“Hey guys. Twilight is still out, but Pinkie is preparing the party in the map room. Derpy and her daughters are there, too,” the dragon told them. His arms were full of dishes. “Just follow me.”

“Ooh we’re the first.” Coal jumped up and down and then trotted after Spike, followed by her mother, aunt and uncle.

“Yeah, despite certain stubborn parties,” Foxy chuckled and just grinned when Private gave her a glare. His mane and tail were neatly brushed for once - Dew had caught up with him before they had gotten to the train station.

“Here, Spike, let me help you with that,” a light purple unicorn appeared from a side entrance. Using her magic, she picked up some of the dishes that the dragon was holding.

“Thanks, oh right. Starlight Glimmer, those are Dew Doe, Foxy Stripes, her daughter Coal and one half of the twins we are holding the party for, Private uuh Icefrost?” The dragon gestured to the newly arrived.

“Private Iceland. Just call me Private,” the unicorn stallion grunted.

“Nice to meet you and happy birthday,” Starlight greeted. She arched her brow a little when just receiving a grunt in response.

“Private doesn’t talk much. That’s his version of ‘thanks’,” Dew Doe quickly explained. Foxy grinned and Coal giggled.

“Starlight is going to help Twilight to keep an eye on things during the party,” Spike explained as the group continued to walk towards the entrance of the map room.

“Right, say no more.” Dew Doe quickly nodded. She glanced at Private and could notice faint signs on his body language that he had been a little uncomfortable about the unfortunate reminder for the need of security.

They entered the map room and could see the preparations were in full swing. Derpy was up in the air, fastening balloons. There was big banner that said, “Happy Birthday Private and Barricade.” Dinky and Tootsie were running around putting up streamers, but the fillies stopped when seeing the newly arrived. They immediately charged for them.

“Coal!” Dinky shouted as she barreled towards her half-sister and the two clamped in a hug, Tootsie joined the hugging as well.

“Sisters!” Coal laughed, even if Tootsie was only Dinky’s foster sister, the three girls regarded each other as siblings.

“Hi!” Pinkie Pie suddenly appeared in front of everyone and before Dew, Foxy or Coal could even register it, the pink pony had crowned each of them with party hats. She stopped short, however, when faced with Private, who was already taking two steps backwards.

“Wanna hat, Private?” Pinkie smiled wide and slowly offered a hat to him. Private eyed it for a moment as if it was a ticking bomb, but then he spotted his nieces who were all watching and waiting with eager smiles. Sighing in surrender, the unicorn accepted the hat.

“Happy Birthday!” Pinkie Pie then congratulated him and had to restrain herself from hugging the stallion, remembering that he was not one for hugs. She then rushed off to continue preparing everything.

“Happy Birthday, Uncle Private,” Dinky moved over to hug him - that one he readily accepted without any complaints...family and close friends were the only exception to the no-hugging rule.

Private did find himself alone though with the fillies. Dew and Foxy had flown off to greet Derpy, who had waved to them earlier. Starlight and Spike had already continued to assist Pinkie, though by the looks of things, there wasn’t much left to do.

“Uncle Private, do you know if dad will come?” Dinky asked. There was a mild hint of worry in her face.

“Yes, he will.” Private didn’t even hesitate to answer this. He remembered when Barricade so unexpectedly showed up in Ponyville and started to apologize once confronted. He knew his brother well and knew when he meant it. Barricade had meant each and every word, even if the mares had been somewhat skeptical.

Private, however, for the first time in a long while, was certain about his twin. That had been the Barricade he had once known so long ago, the one the others had never really truly met. That was the Barricade who had stuck by him during his ordeal when possessed by King Sombra.

“Dinky,” he then said and lowered his head a little to look the filly straight in the eyes. “He’s changed. He is going to be a real dad now.”

“Real dad? You can’t be talking about me, Private,” a voice addressed them from behind. Looking over revealed Barricade, Cara, Mirage Rock, Hard Shovel and Twilight. His twin brother was smirking.

“Dad!” Coal and Dinky actually cried out in excitement - they just couldn’t help it. For the first time ever, Barricade had come when invited. They rushed over to hug him.

“Hey, my little princesses.” Their dad returned the hugs.

“Time Turner told me that the Manehattan train was coming, so I went there to wait to see if he came on that one since I knew Barricade didn’t know his way to the castle, then again it towers over rest of Ponyville, so it is kind of obvious where it is,” Twilight said as she watched the reunion. Mirage and Hard Shovel were also greeting their youngest granddaughters, even Tootsie, who was feeling a little left out since Barricade wasn’t her father.

Private just nodded as he turned around. He hugged his mother and father before he was suddenly glomped by Cara. For the first time this day, he smiled when greeted by his oldest niece.

“You’re getting too big. Stop growing,” he teased when they let go of each other.

“Never!” the teen shouted, giving her uncle a glare. Private chuckled at the response.

The usually grumpy unicorn glanced back when hearing soft thuds. Derpy, Foxy and Dew Doe had landed behind him. All three of them were watching Barricade with some reservation. Pinkie Pie appeared as well, looking oddly serious as she observed the newly arrived twin brother.

“Hello Barricade,” she greeted. Slowly she produced a party hat and offered it. “Want a hat?”

“Uh, thanks, Pinkie Pie wasn’t it?” Barricade looked a little more nervous now as he noticed the three pegasi mares and the earth pony. He accepted the hat.

“Yes,” the party planner nodded. She looked like she was waiting.

“Uh dad, we told Pinkie that you would maybe apologize to her at the party,” Dinky informed him with an innocent grin.

“Apologize?” Barricade looked at his daughter then at Pinkie, it took a moment for his dusty memory to kick in. “Oh right… when I came here the first time. I was uh, less than receptive to your welcome, wasn’t I?”

“You told me to get lost and called me mean names,” Pinkie reminded him. “And you ruined a perfectly good welcome cake.”

“Then I’m sorry. I was a jerk - a huge one. I was… not in a really… no, I had no excuse. I was angry and took it out on ponies who didn’t deserve it,” the stallion apologized, shaking his head.

“All’s forgiven!” Pinkie Pie brightened up in an instant. She almost went to hug Barricade when remembering the no-hugging rule for his brother. Staying on the safe side, she just held out her legs. “Hugs?”

“Uh sure?” Barricade blinked at the sudden change in attitude and was promptly grabbed in a hug. He thanked his gym training for not being crushed by the earth mare.

Twilight chuckled while watching this scene unfold. She had been mildly worried when Pinkie had acted so serious suddenly and wondered if the party was going south, simply because Barricade had clearly angered many ponies in the past. However, all was good and soon her pink friend was bouncing off to finish the decorations.

The princess then glanced over where the pegasi mares stood and noted that all three of them looked surprised that Barricade had apologized. She couldn’t help but notice that Derpy didn’t look all too happy that her daughter’s father had actually shown up. Foxy looked skeptical and Dew had gone to greet Mirage and Hard Shovel and seemed to be doing her best now to just forget that Barricade was there.

Can’t blame them I suppose, hopefully though we can all remain civil. Barricade is clearly trying by the looks of it. Let’s hope it continues, she thought and looked over to the stallion who was motioning for Cara to come over.

“I want to start it here, but from now on any presents I have for you. I will be delivering in person,” Barricade addressed Dinky and Coal. He opened the saddlebag that Cara still had on and fished three packages out. “And I didn’t forget Tootsie. She’s maybe not my daughter, but she is your sister, Dinky.”

The young fillies blinked when all three of them were each given a present. They quickly tore through the wrapping to find identical boxes, opening them revealed small tiaras. Coal, Dinky and Tootsie gasped before grabbing them up and placing them on their heads.

“Hey wait a minute,” Tootsie blinked as the awe over the present was over. She eyed Barricade. “It’s your birthday, you’re the one who is supposed to get the presents.”

“Well okay then, I’ll just take these back then and return them.” Barricade smirked and seemed ready to grab all three tiaras away with his magic.

“NOOOO!” both Dinky and Coal shouted and covered their new headwear with their hooves.

“Thanks dad,” they then said when nothing happened, as did Tootsie.

“Excuse me a moment,” Twilight could hear a knock at the front door and departed the map room.

Barricade was soon dragged off by his youngest daughters plus Tootsie. Cara followed, wanting to see what they were up to now. Private in the meantime turned to the pegasi mares.

“I know it is difficult to believe,” he said. “and we are not asking you to just suddenly like him.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t,” Derpy said before flying back up to finish her part in the decoration. Foxy followed the gray pegasus to help.

Private sighed and looked at his parents, who were smiling now more solemnly. This had gone better than they had hoped - it could have been a lot worse. Then the unicorn noticed Dew Doe who was standing by him.

“He really hurt Derpy with that false claim and then scaring her and the rest of us a while back. I don’t think she is ready to forgive him,” she told them.

“We understand, Dew. We are not asking them to just forgive and forget,” Mirage said and walked closer, followed by her husband.

“Let’s just go and enjoy the party. It should be starting soon,” Hard Shovel suggested. The four of them nodded and walked closer to the table.

End Chapter 2