New Moon

by AzuraKeres


32: Gathering Winds

Bud and Lazuli did not anticipate their group to be so large as they traveled through the streets of Manehattan. To have not only a daughter of an exotic species but also a renown wonderbolt amongst their group, it was inevitable that they would be privy to the eyes of passing ponies.

Bud was afraid that they were going to be bound by a throng of curious fans if not for Wind’s sudden split from the group. Wind had let out a sigh before flying off to a different street with bunches of ponies to pursue after him like a pack of timberwolves.

And as soon as they reached their destination, they were surprised to see Wind Rider waiting patiently at the entrance. A wide entrance of a large building dome extended across the center of the city. The sheer size of the place left Windy and Bow in utter awe.

For Bud, it felt strange for the place to be absent of uproars of cheers and cries from a massive throng of fans. She rarely had a reason to come here, and when she did, it would be for the amusement of a friend.

“You,” Windy started while keeping wide eyes upon the building. “You booked an entire stadium for this?”

“Pretty cool, huh?” Lazuli grinned. “The Hoofball season had ended a few weeks back, leaving us to do what we want with the place.”

“Please do not misinform them,” Grace voiced. “The truth of the matter is, the principal happened to have a friendly relationship with the owner of this stadium and convinced that pony to reserve the area for the school for today.”

“I didn’t lie,” Lazuli argued as she began her walk inside the building, followed by the rest. “Daffy wouldn’t even bother to talk with the owner if I hadn't asked.”

“As Bud had described, it was rather persistent.”

“Dear Celestia, are we really going to have this conversation again?” Lazuli rolled her eyes. “You need to learn not to take things so seriously and just have fun. Today is going to be a blast.”

“Let’s hope that it doesn’t become literal,” Grace said.

“Well I’m looking forward to this,” Bud voiced after grabbing onto Artemis’s hooves that were currently wrapped around her neck. The little colt had strapped himself upon his mother’s back throughout their walk, gingerly tried to gnaw her flowing mane against the air. “My students have been eager for this throughout the week.”

“Yeah,” Lazuli smiled and then glanced upon Artemis. “But are we really going to have Artemis in that getup all day?”

Bud slid her hoof underneath Artemis’s hoof to find his stomach and then hoisted him from her back to cradle in her hoof. The colt held a few stands of Bud’s mane that she tugged off from Artemis with her mouth. “I think we’re passed the point of no return. Besides, I wouldn’t want Nebula to feel alone in this.”

Bud nodded towards her daughter, who had her wings stretched wide above Loving Hope. Bud’s mother held a small mirror in her hoof that she frequently looked upon to watch the filly’s movements.

Nebula had shared the same idea as her brother to find a pony to carry on their back, however, she was determined to use that as an opportunity to continue an extensive exercise she had begun months ago.

Her daughter had constantly voiced her frustration of being weak and to remedy this, she decided she would train her body to at least recover a fraction of her prime. For a normal foal, that would sound absolutely ridiculous, but Bud knew full well that her daughter is the average foal.

However, she’s still a frail baby and will be treated as such. Bud can’t have her filly constantly trying to jump out windows and disappearing into the shadows as the filly, please. There’s only so much shock that Bud can take before she gets a heart attack.

Bud sighed in relief when her daughter finally perched onto Hope’s back, earning a sippy cup from Hope to drink out of. Bud trusted her mother to keep close attention to her daughter, but to see her daughter floating in the air when she could potentially mess up one of her wingspans and fall to the ground quaked her insides with anxiety.

“You think Nebula has been pushing herself too far?” Lazuli asked Bud. “I mean, she’s just a baby foal after all.”

“If I tried to stop her, she would just find a way to do it without me noticing,” Bud answered. “There’s only so much restriction I can put on her before she starts revolting...again.”

“Are all baby thestrals like her,” Lazuli wondered. “You’d never see so much ambition from a baby pony.”

“I don’t think there’s any baby like Nebula,” Bud said.

“In a good way though, right?”

“Does the good overweigh the bad?” Bud asked.

“I don’t know? You’re her mom, shouldn’t you know?”

“Nuh-uh,” Bud said. “If you’re Arty’s mommy, then the same goes for Nebula.”

“C’mon,” Lazuli chuckled. “Can’t I be called something cooler than that?”

“But then it wouldn’t be cute.”

“You calling me cute?” Lazuli grinned.

“Well,” Bud started as she bounced Artemis to stop him from gnawing on his cheerleading top. “You do have your moments. Like, say when you tried to mimic the oh so mysterious phantom thief from Arty’s favorite comic.”

“Wait, you saw that!?” a deep blush came upon Lazuli.

“You were so drawn into the persona that didn’t even hear me open the door,” Bud chuckled.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Lazuli hissed discreetly into Bud’s ears.

“It was such a rare sight,” Bud said. “Besides, I wouldn’t dare ruin your performance for Artemis. His eyes were so filled with stars that he probably now believes you’re the genuine article.”

“Ugh,” Lazuli groaned. “That’s so embarrassing.”

“Hmm,” Windy tapped her chin as she observed the interaction between Bud and Lazuli.

“What’s up?” Bow asked his wife from her side.

“I think I’m starting to realize something,” Windy said as she strode next to Lazuli. There, she whispered in her ears. “Hey, Laz.”

“Uh, yeah?” Lazuli responded, puzzled by Windy’s tactful voice.

“You two wouldn’t happen to be dating, right?” Her question earned an immediate halt from Lazuli as her wings involuntarily ruffled out.

“Why would you ask something stupid like that!?” A deep blush returned on Lazuli’s face.

“You two have such good chemistry,” Windy said. “It kind of reminds me of my relationship with Bow.”

“Um, what was the quest—” Bud was about to ask before she was interrupted by a loud and eager voice.

“Ah, Lazuli,” the voice came from down the large hall of the stadium that they traveled within where a stocky yellow stallion with a bowtie appeared before the group.

“Principal Daffy,” Lazuli voiced. “I didn’t think I would see you here so early.”

“Oh,” Hope started as she strode past the group to meet the stallion. “So, you’re the kind stallion that my lovely daughters work for. Bud has told me that you’re quite the easy-goer.”

“Easy-goer, eh?” Daffy chuckled. “She might be right. I certainly don’t act with authority as many would expect from me.”

“Oh, hush,” Hope said. “That’s nothing to frown about. I’m sure that your manner makes it so easy for students to approach you. If only the principal back at Baltimare was more that way.”

“I wouldn’t say that all foals would approve of me,” Daffy glanced at Nebula, who gave him a brief glare before partaking again upon her sippy cup. “Still opposing as ever I see. If only I could get a single smile out of you.”

“Well, you’ll be seeing a hoof-full of smiles from my little rebel when she cheers for her favorite ponies out on the field.”

“And who are these favorites that you presume I have?” Nebula demanded to know, but of course, no pony but Bud understood her words.

“The only thing that puts a smile on that filly’s face is the failure of others,” Lazuli claimed.

“Well, that’s not completely true,” Bud voiced. “She does like to see her brother smile. Isn’t that right, Arty?” Her son simply blinked, dazing at his mother. “Come on Arty, how about you do your special motto.”

“Special motto?” Hope perked Bud’s words. “You mean little Arty has a catchphrase? How come this is the first I’m hearing about this!?”

“You want to see?” Bud sat on her haunch and held both of Artemis’s side with her hooves. “♪Huuu—♪” Bud let out a calming reverberation that caught the attention of all ponies. Even Nebula, who dropped her sippy cup in anticipation.

And then suddenly, Artemis sprouted his hooves to the air and cheered in a high pitch voice, “Huzzah!”

The eyes of every pony widened and left them in utter silence at the prideful looking colt. The small action of the little colt caused a major anomaly in the air that circulated into the heart of his grandmother.

“Hngh,” Hope heaved as she clutched her chest with her free hoof. “Too...much...cuteness...can’t...handle…”

“Ms. Hope!” Grace voiced as she rushed to the mare’s side. “Please, calm yourself.”

“When did you teach him that?” Lazuli asked.

“I didn’t,” Bud admitted. “I was singing one morning and when I carried that note for a while, he just did it. I bent over backward finding out how to get him to do it again.”

“That’s...so selfish,” Hope huffed as she had Grace supporting her balance. “How could you hide a treasure like this from your own mother? Have you no shame?”

“Don’t forget you’re holding my daughter,” Bud reminded.

“Grace,” Hope sighed. “Be a dear and hold Nebula for me, my head is getting a tad dizzy.”

“You want me to hold her?” Grace stuttered. “But she doesn’t like me.”

“Grace, please,” Hope overdramatically urged. “I don’t know how long I can—”

“Huzzah,” Artemis cheered again, knocking Hope to her back. Nebula floated out of Hope’s reach, prompting Grace to hurry and grab the filly from the air.

“Ms. Hope!” Grace voiced loudly.

“Never thought I would see that today,” Lazuli said.

“Guess the cuteness overdosed her,” Bud said.

“Why are none of you taking this seriously?” Grace demanded. “Can’t you see that she’s unconscious?”

“Who in here is making a racket?” The group perked to a new voice that appeared beside principal Daffy. It was a tall blue mare with sharp glasses and a blazer.

“Vice Cinch,” Lazuli started. “Wait, does this mean you’re competing as well?”

“It is vice-principal Cinch,” Cinch corrected. “And no, I will not be competing in your event. I am here to simply ensure that no inconveniences to the academy take place…And I see that I’ve come too late.” Cinch noticed the unconscious mare twitching her hind leg. “Who is this mare?”

“That’s, um,” Bud started as she bounded her son back into her hooves. “That’s my mother.”

“I see,” Cinch adjusted her glasses. "And why is she unconscious on the ground?"

"Please just give her a moment,'' Bud said. "It'll pass."

"Bud, we will not leave this mare on the floor when we have..." and at that moment, Loving Hope suddenly sprouted up from the floor with a drool hanging from her side.

"Mom," Bud signaled her mother by tapping the side of her own mouth. Hope grabbed a napkin she had in her saddlebag and wiped the drool from her face.

"Ms. Hope," Grace voiced. "How do you feel?"

"It's fine," Hope waved a hoof. "Just took in more than I could take. My, these foals might be the death of me."

"That's not funny," Bud argued.

"My sweet daughter, could you be a dear and show it to me again."

"And just like that, she's an addict," Lazuli said.

"With this sort of energy," Daffy guffawed. "Today will be a day for all ponies to remember."

"Let's hope that ponies remember it fondly," Cinch grumbled.

"Wow, thanks for the words of encouragement," Lazuli sarcastically said.

"And who are the others," Cinch nodded to the other ponies.

"Family members," Bud answered. "They're here to support us."

"So you've recruited more volunteers," Cinch concluded.

"Not necessarily."

"No matter. As long as nothing unnecessary occurs, I have no qualms with their attendance."

"Thank you, vice-principal Cinch," Bud smiled.

"Respectful as always," Cinch said. "A shame it has yet to spread to our school's coach."

"I already get enough of this from Grace," Lazuli complained. "Don't you start."

"Now, now, " Daffy intervened. "I think we can all take appreciation from all ponies on their efforts for today. Setting all this up for the foals is the greatest kindness we give them. Wouldn't you agree, vice-principal Cinch?"

"Yes," Cinch concurred. "I guess I must commend the work of all ponies. However, I will be keeping a close eye on things so I may retain that sentiment. I expect your opening speech to go well, Lazuli."

"Don't you mean, coach Lazuli," Lazuli corrected.

Cinch—I mean, vice-principal Cinch did not respond to Lazuli's quip as she had back to the end of the hall, no doubt leading out to the field.

"Why don't I show the rest of you where you may sit on the field?" Daffy offered. "I'm sure you all would like a moment to unwind before the event starts off."

"We could go for that," Windy voiced. "Hey Laz, would you like to sit with us?"

"What's this?" Hope raised a brow. "We're all obviously sharing a blanket together."

"In one?" Windy was confused. "But there's so many of us."

"All we have to do is put all we have together like blocks," Hope motioned her frontal hooves together. "That way, we can spare some spots for the rest of the family."

"A wonderful idea," Daffy concurred. "Well then, let us make haste."

"C'mon," Lazuli sighed. "Don't go into that epic spiel."

Hope picked up the sippy cup on the ground and the group began to follow behind the principal. As the group made their way to the friend, Nebula suddenly leaped out of Grace's clutches and soared and perched onto her mother's back.

"Nebby," Bud voiced. "What're you doing?"

"Don't pester me," Nebula grumbled as she poked her head near Artemis.

"Aww," Hope cooed. "Arty's cute show caught my little rebel's attention."

"You stop pestering me too," Nebula growled. The filly shifted her attention back to her brother when Artemis voiced and stretched a good out for her.

"Hey Bud," Lazuli voiced. "You need some help there?"

"Oh no," Bud shook her head. "I'll be fine. Go on ahead, I'll catch up."

"Oh, okay then…"

"Come on," Hope tapped on Lazuli's shoulder. "Let's give her a moment to simmer them down. She can handle it."

Relenting, Lazuli gave one last glance towards Bud and her foals before following the group down the hall. As they blurred into the field, Bud settled both of her foals to the floor.

Artemis immediately wrapped his hooves around Nebula as the filly made no resistance to push him away. His face rubbed against the side of Nebula's as the filly voiced, "Luna...Do you think she's remembering?"

Bud sat before her foals and then rubbed her face against Nebula's other side of her face. "I don't know. But what I do know is that I want to make both of you happy."

"Nothing would make me happier than to see her again," Nebula confessed.

"And what about him," Bud nodded towards Artemis. “Your brother?"

"Call her whatever you like," Nebula retorted. "But I know her for what she truly is. I just have to give more patience. And then… And then she'll surely come back to me, right?"

"..."

"Right?" Nebula's eyes look as though it was pleading to Bud. She wanted the validation. The assurance to give her a sense of calm.

But Bud couldn't do that for her. Not if it meant ignoring the existence of the little colt that loves them dearly. The little colt that is attentive to their pain and goes through every bound in his small body to quell them.

Bud only hugged both of them, sharing a moment of silence that was broken by the voice of the little colt.


Bud had joined her friends and family at the field, where sun rays beamed through the glass canopy, glistening the pristine grass that they set an array of blankets atop of. Principal Daffy had permitted the group to set their blankets on the side field, where it would be unlikely to intervene with the upcoming events.

Just as Hope had declared, they gathered their blankets together to cover a large space on the field, but enough to fit everypony. A sigh relief came over Bud as she dropped her stocky saddlebag onto the blanket, detaching the basket she had hooked alongside it.

"Oh Arty," Hope sang as she hoisted the cheerleading colt into the air. The colt giggled loudly at his grandmother's goofy smile. "♪Huuu—♪," Hope sang, holding her note for that wondrous cheer that overwhelmed her with pleasure. However, that grand moment never came as Artemis only gaped his mouth wide.

Hope then stopped and pursed her lips. "What's wrong, Arty? You don't want to show Nana your adoring cheer?"

"He only does that with Bud," Lazuli voiced as she joined with the group on the blankets after meditating with the workers propping the main field.

"I presume this comes from experience," Grace grinned.

"You have it out for me today, don't you?" Lazuli complained. "I'd like to see you try."

"Enough you two," Hope scolded them. "I want my daughters to get along, so no fighting."

"Daughters?" Windy raised brow.

"Just go with it," Bud voiced. Seeing them in constant antics brought a smile to Bud's face. And her joy would surely broaden when the others arrive as well. But Nebula...

Bud's daughter had been uncomfortably silent ever since they took their place on the blanket. The filly quietly sat beside her mother, eyes brooding towards the ground as if she was deep in thought. Bud had an idea of what it was.

"Lazuli," Bud voiced out, earning her friend's attention.

"Yeah," Lazuli responded, bumping her forehead to Grace's.

"We only have an hour left before the others are to arrive, right? Would you mind giving Nebula more of your flying lessons?"

"Well, I do have some time to spare. It might be a good idea to get it out of her system too before she does something stupid." Lazuli raised from the blanket and strode to Bud's side to pick up the distracted filly.

Nebula blinked wildly when she ascended from the ground, "What the—" Nebula then finally noted Lazuli's presence. "—who gave your permission to touch me!?"

Nebula then snapped her head to the side when she felt a pat on her back. It was her mother, smiling and whispering to her ear, "Try to enjoy yourself today. We can think of everything else later."

"Is this your sorry attempt to raise my morale?" Nebula questioned with a scorn. Bud only responded with a smile and rub on the filly's cheek. "Ugh, will you stop that! Fine, I'll go if it saves me from your fanatic need to coddle others."

"You're going to help her with flying?" Windy joined the conversation. "I don't mind giving a hoof, if you don't mind?"

"I don't know if that's necess—" Lazuli spoke before being interrupted.

"I think that's a wonderful idea," Bud clapped her hooves. "I'm sure Nebby will gain a lot of experience if she's taught by two aces."

"Oh, sure..." Lazuli said. "How about it, Neb? You're interested?"

"Hmph," Nebula turned her face from Lazuli and then flapped her wings to escape her grasp. She began to draw some distance as she entered into the main field.

"That's not cute!" Lazuli voiced as she gave chase to the filly.

"I thought that was," Windy said as she followed behind Lazuli.

"I just remember that I didn't get to see a smile from my little rebel," Hope voiced as she finally descended Artemis between her hindlegs. "She really likes to give me a chase."

"I don't know about that," Grace mumbled. "Her smiles are always so ominous. Lauding off the misery of others."

"I presume you speak from experience," Hope quipped.

"...I should've seen that coming," Grace sighed. Bud tried to stifle her giggle with a hoof, but Grace's vexation was evident towards her.

"I never imagined Lazuli's family to be so lively," Bow voiced. If not for his large figure, he would have been invisible to mares from his long silence. "It's actually a big relief."

"Oh no," Grace waved a hoof. "Please don't let our behavior confuse you. We're not actually related to her by blood."

"You don't need blood to be a family. Besides, I would like to think of it that way instead of Lazuli having a certain pony as her only one." Bow nodded towards Wind Rider, who was seated at the bleacher seats idly watching the field.

"Wind Rider," Hope started. "Is very picky about where he has his conversations. It's something I've tried to urge him to change that attitude of his, but the only one that can make that change is himself."

"I don't know how Windy plans to break through his mind, but I'll do everything I can to make that happen for her."

"You sound like a dashing prince," Hope chuckled. "Windy is so fortunate to have a stallion like yourself by her side."

"Thank you," Bow rubbed the back of his neck. "But Windy has mentioned that there are moments where I'm kind of overbearing. I am a bit too passionate with my encouragement after all."

"Well I think it's nice how much you would go so far for her," Bud said. "It's what helped her come here after all, right?"

"I kind of get the same vibe from you as well," Bow said.

"You do?"

"Oh yes," Hope voiced. "Do tell."

"Well, I don't think it would be an exaggeration to say that those two are the most ambitious mares I have ever met. And those ambitions of theirs come with a tendency to push themselves too far. I'm guessing Lazuli has done something in the light, right?"

"Mmhm," Hope confirmed with a nod.

"When ponies like them are too focused on what's ahead instead of what they have now, they don't ever think of what happens when they fall. When something like that happens, their whole world changes and they don't know how to react. They must've been so lost and hurt when it happened to them."

"I know that quite well," Bud admitted. "Back when Lazuli was still an ace, every achievement she had made was for the sake of one pony rather than herself." Bud briefly glanced at Wind before returning eyes to Bow. "But now she's put a lot more consideration into herself. And I think that makes it more meaningful."

"You're quite insightful," Bow commented. "It's good to know that my niece-in-law has a pony like you to lean on."

"Thank you," Bud stammered from the stallion's sudden compliment. "But I'm not all that special. I just try the best I can for a friend."

"Are you sure that's all there is to it?" Bow wondered.

"What do you mean?"

"It's okay Bud," Hope voiced as she played with Artemis's hooves by patty caking with them. "It'll come to you naturally. No need to rush things."

"And what does that mean?" Bud scratched her cheek, now at loss where their conversation has gone.

"Never mind," Bow anxiously smiled while waving a hoof. "It's not that important right now. For now, we should be wishing the two good luck."

"Of course," Hope concurred. "But while we're waiting, how about we have my other daughter a chance to get those magic words out of little Arty?"

Grace blinked when all eyes were set on her. Her confusion then turned to anxiety as she spoke, "Wait, you don't mean me, do you?"


"You know," Windy voiced as she glided a few yards above the ground. "When I was told that your friend's daughter was of another species, I honestly didn't know what to expect," Windy observed the filly, who was flying beside her.

The filly attempted maneuvers such as rolls and loops. Though the filly showed signs of difficulty, it was still astonishing to Windy to see such a young foal to perform these feats. Any pegasi her age would have already relented to the friction of the winds and diverged from their path a long time ago.

"Yeah..." Lazuli mumbled as she flew from Nebula's other side. While remaining vigilant of the ponies working below her, Lazuli attuned her eyes to Nebula’s movements.

"Hmph," Nebula gruffed as she attempted to spiral through the air. This maneuver she has watched Lazuli do countless times in their past sessions over the months. The mare had taken upon herself to teach Nebula the basics of flying since she took notice of how well of a visual learner the filly was. However, if Nebula had regular pegasi wings rather than these webbed ones that she is still adapting to, she would see no point in a tutor.

Retaining the cycle proved to be a challenge for the filly and her limit would constantly exhaust after the seventh before her wings finally gave in. Noting this, Lazuli caught Nebula when the filly’s body locked upside down and began to descend. Catching the filly on her backside, Nebula hissed as she turned over and perched on Lazuli's back.

"That was so fast," Windy clapped her hooves. "You certainly have the motherly instincts down."

"I think you're reading in too much," Lazuli voiced as she spaced away from Windy for Nebula to leap into. Again the filly would enter the space and Lazuli would come swoop in to rescue the filly when necessary.

"How could I not?” Windy voiced loudly. “The way you let her go as far she can handle before rushing in to save her. It’s pretty clear you know full well where her limits are.”

"That's part of being a coach," Lazuli said. "I've pretty much done things this way for foals ever since I worked at Hope's daycare center."

"Hope runs a daycare center?" Windy wondered.

"Yeah,” Lazuli anxiously stated. “I worked as a volunteer. Hope taught me the basics and then I figured the rest out on my own.”

"I guess it worked out conveniently for you then,” Windy smiled. “Especially now that you have two foals to take care of.”

"When will you silence about this nonsense about her being my mother figure?" Nebula growled. "I'll have you know that I'm old enough to be her ancestor."

"I think Nebby is getting cranky," Windy voiced.

"Naw," Lazuli said. "She's always like that."

“Humph,” Nebula gruffed before leaping off from Lazuli's back and stretched her wings again to soar between the two mares.

As the two observed the filly, an unnerving silence surrounding the two. Windy made brief glances at Lazuli, noting the discomfort from the mare. “...Hey,” Windy voiced.

"Yeah?" Lazuli kept her sights onto Nebula.

"It’s okay to be nervous,” Windy said. “I’m still am a bit myself"

"Nervous?” Lazuli anxiously chuckled. “Who said I was nervous?”

"Well, you haven't made single eye contact at me since we've started our little flying session with Nebula," Windy reasoned. "Plus, you haven’t really said much.”

"What do you expect from me?" Lazuli argued. "I mean, I'm happy that I have this chance to see you, but..."

"Don't exactly know what to do now, right?" Windy finished. "I know exactly what you mean. I’ve been thinking about this moment ever since I was a filly. I thought of so many things we could talk about, though most were just random things that’d probably wouldn’t help much."

"I”m sorry,” Lazuli apologized. “This was so much easier with the others around. I thought of so many things too, but, I just keep wanting to ask this one thing. But, I don’t think I should. It’s too personal.”

Windy paused and then took a breath before speaking, "I told you before that was born and raised in Cloudsdale, right? Back when I was a filly, I was a super optimistic mare with the energy to drive any parent crazy. Everyday I caused all sorts of hectics from my need to involve myself with everything every pony did."

"Oh, okay..."

"I think that behavior of mine came back to my need to be with my brother,” Windy confessed. “There were only two times we’ve ever met, and one of them I won’t ever be able to remember.”

"You can’t?” Lazuli raised a brow. “Why is that?”

“I don’t think any of us would remember the first few months of us ever being born,” Windy said.

“Aren’t we around the same age? Doesn’t that mean we’ve met too?”

"I don’t think he ever brought you," Windy said. "I don’t think even my parents have even seen you before. But the other time I remember meeting him is when he came by to tell our parents to stop sending letters to his house. They wanted some way to keep contact with the two of you and the only way that seemed possible was through your mother.."

"You guys know about my mom?" Lazuli widened her eyes. “She never mentioned that to me before.”

"I think she kept it a secret. Could explain why Wind was so upset."

"Seriously, what's his problem?" Lazuli growled. “Is he really that ashamed of his own family that he wouldn’t even let them see me?”

"I wanted to believe that there was a good reason that he did that,” Windy said before catching a glance of Wind sitting on the bleacher. “He’s my big brother who became one of the biggest known wonderbolt in Equestria. It felt so awesome to have a cool brother like that. But it always bothered me that I knew so little about him he is now. So I asked my parents countless times, always begging and shouting for a smidgen or anything I could get on him. And all I managed to piece is that he has an obsession with success.."

"Yeah," Lazuli nodded. "That makes total sense. Those records of his are the one thing he never shuts up about."

"Because he held those records so dear to him,” Windy continued. “I figured if I could somehow match or maybe even beat them, then maybe he would finally look at me again. I wanted that more than anything. It became my whole reason for flying when I joined the flight team."

"You did all that just so my dad could get off his high horse,” Lazuli mumbled. “Can’t say I didn’t do something close to that.”

"There were many moments down the line where I had doubts in myself,” Windy went on. “Before I figured out my special move, I ran myself ragged trying to get ahead of every pony. But I probably wouldn't have gone so far if not for the encouragement of my friends and family. Especially from a certain stallion that gave the loudest cheer any pony would ever hear on the field.”

"You mean your husband, right?" Lazuli raised a brow. "Can’t really see him doing something like that. He looks a bit too...you know, mellow."

"Have you ever heard the phrase that looks can be deceiving?" Windy grinned. "Behind that hunk exterior is the heart of a soccer mom."

"That's a little hard to believe, but I guess I'll take your word for it."

"Bow is my number one fan," Windy continued. "From the day I started on the flight team, there was never a match he had ever missed. Many ponies found his cheers to be overbearing with his voice to ring the very world around us, but I happened to find the nicest thing a pony could do for me. Especially when I would always get scared before the start of the race. Knowing that he was there gave the assurance to keep going." The smile on Windy’s face then dissipated. “But then, I had a race at Baltimare, I didn’t want him to be around for something so personal and important.”

"From what you’re telling me, it would have been impossible for me not to notice him,” Lazuli said.

"What happened that night was the hardest thing for me to bear,” Windy said. "I got so scared when I saw you fly off the way you did. I got worried that I have hurt you and possibly ruined our potential relationship. Celestia knows I wanted to chase after you and console you. It’s what I should have done, but, I couldn’t stop thinking how Wind would have felt about that. For me to insert myself into his life without proving myself as his equal. And because of that, I began to get desperate. I wanted to hurry up and get the wonderbolts to notice me. So, I pushed my body, further than any pony should have, just to perfect my technique where no pony could ever compare to me again."

"And doing that took a toll on your body," Lazuli concluded.

"It all conveniently happened on the day when Wind Rider was watching my last race with other wonderbolts,” Windy said. “It was finally the chance I needed to get my plans in motion, so I wanted to give it everything I had. But doing that finally pushed my wings to its limits.” Windy looked back at her wings, thin and soft like a young foal’s. From what Lazuli could remember, her Windy’s wings were twice as thick when the two had their race.

“I came crashing past the cloud field of Cloudsdale and passed out from the wind pressure,” Windy continued. “Next thing I know, I found myself at the hospital and was told that my whole career was over."

"I'm sorry..." was all Lazuli could say.

"It took me a week to finally accept the news. The doctors had to hold me down to stop me from flying out of the hospital until one day I snuck out and couldn't even rise to the top of the hospital. I couldn't even push in the gust to do my special technique anymore. That realization broke me. I understood that this was it for me. I was never going to become a wonderbolt now, which meant that I would never get my brother and the chance to make up with you."

"So you had one of those too," Lazuli said. "When I lost to you, I did something that really shouldn't have that ruined my whole reputation. I thought I had failed my dad when he started avoiding me for weeks."

"I guess we're a bunch of sore losers, aren't we," Windy chuckled.

"I'm not a sore loser," Lazuli defensively said. "I just...you know..."

"Well, that loss put me in a deep depression I never thought I would get out of," Windy confessed. "My friends and family would try to cheer me up, but I would just ignore them and brood in my thoughts. The only one who was able to get a reaction out of me though was Bow. No matter how gloomy I got, no matter how much I tried to push him away so I could drown myself in my sadness, he kept on the same optimism and gave me all the kindness in the world."

"Sounds like you snagged yourself a good one then,” Lazuli smiled. “Right?”

"It infuriated me," Windy said with a smile. "It was like he couldn't read my mood. Like he didn't know that I didn't want nopony around. And finally, he pushed me to the point where I lashed at him. I told him off of all my frustrations and despair. And then I demanded why he cared about me so much. Why would he burden himself for weeks coming into my gloomy nurse room."

"Was that when he made his confession?"

"No, I bawled out in tears before he could even answer. But I pretty much figured it out when he consoled me."

"How so?"

"He kissed me." Windy answered.

"And you didn’t slug him?” Lazuli chuckled.

“He caught me off guard,” Windy argued. “And I have to admit that I caught into the whims of that moment. It just felt so nice that I didn't want to let go.”

“I don’t think I want to know what came after,” Lazuli said.

“We didn’t go that far,” Windy blushed. “But it was so reassuring to know that I had that kind of connection. I don’t know where’d I be now if I had managed to break it weeks ago.”

"Connections, huh?” Lazuli frowned. “I don’t think I had any good ones left before I became friends Bud."

"My whole ambition to bring you and my brother back to my family became my whole reason for living," Windy said. "But the thing about ambition is that when you go too far to reach it you tend to toss things away that you would’ve cherished. Looking back now, I threw away so much time with my friends and family for that one goal. I could have lost them if I had kept going the way I did, so maybe that injury was for the best."

"There had better be a silver lining,” Lazuli said. “You’re way too nice of a pony to be stuck in depression."

“That goes for the both of us,” Windy declared. “I don’t think our pain is all that different. So, neither of us should try so hard to impress each other. We don’t need to overthink things. We can take all the time in the world to be a family, because I don’t intend only leaving you.”

“Good,” Lazuli sighed. “I already have enough on my plate to deal with. Helping to raise two geniuses and putting up with my dad’s antics can really stress a mare out.”

“But it’s all worth it for Bud’s sake, isn’t it?” Windy wondered.

"This better not be another tease about her being my fillyfriend,” Lazuli eyed at Windy.
"Don't you worry, I won’t curb the pot when it hasn't finished. I'll hear all about it once it's nice and cooked."

"The heck does that even mean?" Lazuli raised a brow.

"Ambition..." Nebula wondered as she continued to glide between the two mares. Her maneuvers had come to a stop as the words of Windy infested her mind.

It was her destiny to bring upon a world where Luna would be happy and to do so she expounded her ideas to Luna and the thestrals to make it a reality. But things were not playing in their favor, and so Nebula pushed them into a far grander plan that she truly believed would be the answer to all of their problems.

But where has her influence brought them? Defeated and chalked into history as a fairy tale. Reincarnated as the foals of a commoner. Trapped in a body so vulnerable that she can't even best an elderly mare. Was all this the result of pushing her ambitions too far?

"Nebula!" Lazuli voiced as she caught the filly before crashing on a wall on the side field. "Keep your eyes focused ahead when flying."

"Maybe we should give her time to rest," Windy said. "She has been flying for a while now."

"Yeah, maybe you're right."

Trapped in a fragile body, Nebula relented to the mares' whims and settled on Lazuli's back again. The result of her predicament was all of her doing. She caused this the moment she aimed to strive for the eternal night. One that would have been short and fleeting as she has heard. Perhaps this body truly fits her for the foolish foal she is.


"Bud!" Loving Bud's ears perked to the sound of the lovable voices of her sisters. Both Pear Butter and Chiffon Swirl strode the gathering ponies to reach her blanket and bound Bud into a group hug.

After the first hour at the stadium, it didn't take too long for ponies to gather in the side fields and find their place to sit. Daffy and Lazuli guided to their place with the aid of the stadium workers as the sound of ponies became resounding and obscure like a tempest.

None of that matters much at the moment as Bud took in the warmth of her sisters. She still couldn't believe it had been months since she had last seen them. "This is so much better than letters," Bud voiced.

"We've missed you too," Pear said. "Bucking all those trees in one day was definitely worth it."

"Oh no," Bud pushed her head back and frowned. "I didn't want you to overwork yourself. I'm so sorry."

"Bud," Chiffon placed a hoof on Bud's snout. "We're not going to have any of your constant apologies today. The only thing we're getting from you are filly talks and your cute antics."

"Don't you mean putting up with your antics?" Bud challenged with a smile after moving Chiffon's hoof aside. "Hm?" Chiffon finally noted Artemis, who was crawling up Pear Butter. "You dressed him up as a cheerleader? My, I see you're becoming more and more like your mother."

"It wasn't me," Bud said defensively.

"Hi little Arty," Pear cooed as she pulled away from her sisters to stroke Artemis's cheek. "Did you miss me?" Her question was answered by a whine from the little colt. "Oh, I see. You want to see your big brother, don't ya?"

"Howdy there," Bud turned to see Bright Mac, walking into the blanket her group had set. "Looks like you guys spruced up a mighty big event here."

"Hi Bright," Bud stammered with a blush. "I hope you didn't mind the long trip. I'm really sorry that my mom dragged you and the family into this. I'm sure you had other things planned out."

"What's this hooey you're going on about?" Bright smiled. "Bent over backwards at the farm because I wanted to be here. I don't like to keep away from family for too long. Ain't that right Little Mac?"

The little red colt that was Bright and Pear's son rushed past his father hooves and glanced upon Bud. His ears then perked from the voice of Artemis who immediately rushed after him and tackled him with his entire body. "Hey now," Bright voiced. "I know we miss each other, but no rough housing while we're in...is he wearing a cheerleading outfit?"

"It wasn't me!" Bud immediately pointed out.

"Now Bud," she heard her mother's voice, who was in the middle of knotting Nebula's mane into a ponytail. "If you're not going to make an effort to stop my actions, then might as well count yourself guilty."

"Don't give me that," Bud argued. "You would've found some way to make it happen just like you always do."

"Bud," Hope dramatically voiced as she placed a hoof on her pectoral. "I am shocked and appalled that you would think of me that way."

"No, no," Pear voiced. "I can definitely see that."

"Yeah," Chiffon agreed. "You do have a scary manipulative side to you. Like that one time you tricked me into pranking my mom by using a recipe I wasn't all that familiar with."

"I can't believe you had my daughter spike a cake with ghost pepper," Blueberry appeared with Granny Smith, Gossamer, Carrot. "I went through two gallons of milk just to get that pungent taste out of my mouth."

"Relax Blue," Hope waved a hoof. "I only had her put in 2 grams at best."

"Yall talking about our famous prank wars back in the day?" Smith grinned. "Yes siree, our fight to be the number one prankster of Ponyville is something our children's children would be talking about for ages."

"It was like half a decade ago," Chiffon deadpanned.

"There truly is never a dull moment in your family," Grace voiced, earning the glance from Pear Butter.

"Oh," Pear let go of her sisters and strode before Grace. "You must be the nanny that Bud told me about. The name is Pear Butter," Pear lifted a hoof before Grace.

"Tenure Grace," Grace responded and bumped Pear's hoof. "And you must be Bud's other acclaimed sister that she cares for dearly."

"I heard how the two go off on the wrong hoof, but I'm really glad that the two of you have gotten along. It makes me so relieved to know that she has so many friends around her to help."

"Thank you," Grace nodded. "I'm glad there are some ponies that recognize the importance of a nanny." Her eyes trailed at Lazuli.

"Hm?" Pear followed Grace's eye and noticed the two ponies that sat with Lazuli. "Lazuli, are they your relatives?"

"Uh," Lazuli flinched. "Yeah. They're my aunt and uncle-in-law."

"A bit young to be that," Bright voiced. "Don't ya think?"

"It's only one year of a difference," Windy said. "I don't think being called Auntie Windy is all that...um...actually, I think I'll just go with Windy. It just sounds so wordy, you know?"

"I think we shouldn't worry too much about that," Bow voiced. "The name is Bow Hothoof by the way. And this is my, Windy Whistles."

"I'm Bright Macintosh," Bright introduced himself. "Best apple buckler you'll ever see in Ponyville."

"I wouldn't say that so soon," Pear teased. "You might be shocked if little Mac grows up to take that title away from you."

"I wouldn't be surprised," Bright laughed. "That colt of mine is as tenacious as his grandmother."

"I guess you're participating in the events too, right?" Bow asked.

"Darn tootin," Bright confirmed. "I think it's about that time I got to show my son what I'm made of. That is if there are pony events. There are pony events, right?" Bright asked Lazuli.

"I'll give you the deets when we start," Lazuli said.

"Well that didn't sound like a no," Bow said. "You wouldn't happen to be afraid of a little friendly competition, would ya?"

"Oh ho," Bright grinned. "You really want to test your mettle? Okay, but don't be shocked when I leave ya in the dust."

"Oh no," Pear sighed. "That competitive side of his is coming out."

"Why not let the colts bond," Windy suggested. "None like a good rivalry to bring two stallions together."

"Well," Chiffon voiced. "I'm confident that my Carrot will surprise both of them."

"I will?" Carrot questioned.

"Hey now," Pear voiced. "There's no need for all of that. We're all here to have fun, right?"

"Good luck, Bright," Bud said.

"Not helping, sis," Pear argued.

"Oh Bud!" The group perked to the sound of a rather classy voice. Striding through the blankets sat by ponies came the aristocratic mare that Bud had been caught under whims during her days at Canterlot.

"Beryl," Bud widened her eyes. "I didn't think you would actually—" Before Bud could finish, the aristocrat mare had already caught her in her hooves and squeezed into gasp in one fell clutch.

"I've missed you oh so much," Beryl dramatically voiced. "To have to wait for us to meet again should be a federal offense of the highest order."

"I missed you too, Beryl," Bud breathed as she pushed Beryl off of her.

"No need to console me," Beryl said. "I am not the only one that yearned for our reunion." At that, Bud saw Beryl's son, Blueblood rush in and pounced Bud's son, who was currently trying pushing against the bottom of Little Mac's hooves. The colt's voice was cheery as Artemis tightly in his hooves.

"Easy on the outfit," Hope voiced. "I had that specially made for my little Arty."

A blue glow surrounded Blueblood, pulling him off from Artemis and laying a few inches away from him. "My apologies," Beryl said. "You have to excuse my son. He has been very eager to see your grandson again."

"No," Hope sighed. "It's alright. I can't blame him. My little Arty looks rather dashing in his costume. It was inevitable that he would enchant the eyes of ponies."

"Speaking of which," Bud voiced. "I like to know how you two know each other."

"Why, we're pen pals," Beryl bluntly answered. "The two of us had shared letters discussing going of our lives and the fruits of your growth from a filly."

"And who was it that started this exchange?"

"Your mother," Beryl answered. "I would never dare to overstep my bounds if not given the permission."

"I figured as much," Bud stated matter-of-factly and then eyed at her mother. Hope had already finished tying her granddaughter's mane to a ponytail as she faintly hid her anxiety with a smile. "Me and you are going to have long talk about respecting my personal space."

"Beryl!" another familiar voice rang in Bud's ear as she took notice of the other mothers she became acquainted with at Canterlot. The three mares had joined them as Velvet voiced, "You really need to hold in that sporadic energy of yours. You can't just run off like that."

"Especially after dragging me here," Cloudy voiced. "Your incessant beseech for my presence at this event nearly drove me to insanity."

"Let us all relax," Sabah suggested with a smile. "We have already arrived where we need to be. I think we should look at the bright side and enjoy the moment."

"Sabah," Bud gawked at the mare. It would appear that her body has gone through some dramatic changes since the last time they had met.

"Hello again Bud," Sabah greeted. "It is a pleasure to see you once again. My appearance must come as a surprise but also unexpected." Her belly held a large bulge, revealing the baby bump where her foal rested within. Seeing it for herself made Bud wonder how she would've if her twins were still inside of her.

"I must say," Sabah continued. "This has taken a heavy toll on my back. I've heard many mares sharing complaints about something like this but I never thought it would be so irksome. I was scared to imagine how it would feel to have twins."

"Just wait until you feel the kicks," Beryl said. "My dear Blueblood was rather sadistic to my poor organs."

"I never seen a mare with twins inside," Windy voiced. "Bud, how did you manage through it all?"

"I would say easily since she didn't look much different from now," Hope said. That answer earned a flinch from her daughter.

"You managed to keep yourself slim!" Sabah voiced incredulously. "How? You must tell me your secrets."

"I don't know," Bud stammered. "Maybe my body just works in strange ways..."

"Was that why that happened when they came out?" Lazuli darkly wondered.

"Just remember not to overdo yourself , Sabah," Velvet reminded her as she lowered her son to commune with the other baby colts. "Spice practically gave us an entire seminar of precautions to take today. He must be driving himself insane at Celestia's side worried about you."

"I will be fine," Sabah assured. "I shall sit right here watching every pony giving it their all today for the students."

"And I shall keep you company throughout the event," Cloudy stated as she rubbed the head of her waking daughter.

"You're not participating," Beryl frowned. "No, you simply must join us."

"Somepony has to keep Sabah company while everypony is out there," Cloudy argued. "Besides, I believe me being here should be more than enough to quell your erratic whims."

As the group argued, talked, and laughed, Bud couldn't help but smile at the wholesome view she witnessed too. So many ponies she held dear all gathered in one place. Through personal strife and confusion, they found a place in her heart and threaded a bond with her that she would never want torn away.

"You seem to be in a happy mood," Nebula perched onto her mother's back.

"I just think it's nice to have them all here," Bud said. "Even if my mother was being sneaky behind my back, I can't help but feel so relieved to have so many ponies I love here with me. It's one of those things you can't live without, you know?"

From her mother's question, Nebula looked at her brother, playing around with the colts as if they were his equal. A mix of ire and anguish rushed through the filly's veins. She wanted to ward those colts away from him, but she knew full well that it would only upset him.

It was never that way back then. It was always the two of them together, through the night and day. There was nothing that the two did not do together, for they were threaded with a bond unlike any other. A bond that she is scared of has long disappeared. "Yeah," Nebula's voice cracked. "I think I know what you mean."