//------------------------------// // Chapter 31: Thomas’s Place in Equestria // Story: A Place in Equestria // by GoebelTron //------------------------------// The next early morning, while the night sky was starting to fade with the moon still up in the sky, Twilight woke up and stood up straight, and then tucked Spike underneath a blanket and kissed him on the cheek. She went to the kitchen for a cup of water. After she had her drink and walked over to the living room, she saw her friends sleeping, and three of them keeping their sisters warm and cozy, and finally saw the small child sleeping peacefully under the warm comfort of Fluttershy’s wing. She smiled warmly and then quietly trotted over to her and gently poked her shoulder, “Fluttershy? Fluttershy?” The pegasus mare was starting to stir in her sleep and then she blinked her eyes open until she saw Twilight standing there, “Hello, Twilight? Is something wrong or do you need something?” “Nothing’s wrong, Fluttershy. Look, I know it’s early, but is it okay if I could borrow Thomas for a little while?” Twilight asked. “Um... of course, but could you maybe keep him warm? It’s cold this morning,” Fluttershy said. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure he has a good time,” Twilight said, then Fluttershy nodded and turned her head and looked down at her sleeping colt who pressed his cheek against her belly, and then she leaned her head down towards his to gently nuzzle his cheek and then softly whispered into his ear. “Thomas, it’s time to wake up, sweetheart.” Thomas stirred a little as he let out a soft yawn and then rubbed his eyes. He then blinked them open and turned his sleeping form around to look up into Fluttershy’s eyes and warm smile, as he smiled back and hugged her neck gently. “Good morning, sweetheart. Would you like to go with your Auntie Twilight?” Fluttershy asked, hugging him back. “Okay, Momma. Can I stay in my pajamas, but wear my jacket?” Thomas asked. “Of course, sweetie. Just remember to stay by her side,” Fluttershy said, then she leaned her head over and gently gave him a kiss on the forehead. Thomas then went to go put his jacket on, and then put his shoes on. When he was ready, Twilight levitated Thomas onto her back and then quietly trotted outside to the balcony. Twilight then raised her wings and spread them out a little, “Thomas, how about if I take you for a little ride?” Thomas nodded and then wrapped his arms around her neck, “Okay, Auntie Twilight.” Twilight nodded and kissed him on the forehead and then she carefully flapped her wings and started to hover up into the air, and then started to flap her wings more as she began to fly gently with the little colt on her back, and as she looked back, she smiled warmly at him, and then they flew above the Crystal Empire and then looked back at her nephew and saw him gazing at the pretty lights from above. After a few minutes of a nice calm flight, Twilight flew back to the castle and then quietly trotted back inside, and laid back on her pillow after she made one more soft yawn. “How about if you sleep with me for a few minutes, and then we can watch Princess Celestia’s sun rise?” she sweetly asked the boy. “Okay, Auntie Twilight,” Thomas said as he then laid down in her embrace and snuggled himself towards her chest. Twilight then brought a book over to her and then read a few chapters. Later on, Luna’s moon and starry sky started to slowly descend into the horizon, and then Twilight felt something warm touch her hooves, then she looked down at the child sleeping in her hooves. “Thomas, wake up. The sun’s starting to rise,” she whispered. Thomas woke up again and looked up to see the golden sun slowly ascend upwards against the dark bluish purple sky, as its golden glow showered over the empire and then spread huge ray of light everywhere. “The sun does feel warm,” Thomas said with a soft warm smile as the sun warmed him in comfort, and then warmed Twilight’s purple fur. “That’s right, sweetie. It’s normally Princess Celestia’s job to raise the sun while Princess Luna raises the moon,” she said. As dawn finally broke, the others started to wake up and refreshed themselves from their sleep. When they were wide awake, they went to the dining hall for breakfast, and saw some fried eggs, hay bacon, buttered toast and pancakes and started to enjoy their platters. Thomas came over and had some pancakes for himself, and then he saw Fluttershy, “Good morning, Momma.” “Good morning, my precious little one. How was your time with Auntie Twilight?” Fluttershy asked. “It was good. We went flying over the Empire, and when we came back, we watched the sun rise,” Thomas said. “I’m glad you had fun, sweetheart,” Fluttershy said, as she gave him a kiss on the forehead and then continued to eat her breakfast, and then Thomas ate his. After they finished breakfast later on, they packed up their bags and got ready to go back to Ponyville. When they walked over to the train station, they met up with Cadance and Shining Armor, and then saw Princess Celestia, Princess Amore and Princess Luna there as well. “It was really nice having you all here for our daughter’s ceremony,” Shining Armor said. “I’m glad you think that, big brother,” Twilight said. “Um... Not to intrude, but somepony wants to have his goodbye hugs,” Fluttershy said, and then Cadance walked over to him and held him against her chest in one of her forelegs, and then Shining Armor joined in. “It was good to see you, little buddy,” Shining Armor said. “We’re going to miss you, but I promise we’ll come visit, and possibly wait for you if you come visit us,” Cadance said. “Okay, Princess Cadance. I’ll miss you too,” Thomas said, as he suddenly had tears of sadness in his eyes and a warm smile on his face. “Aww... I know, and we love you too, sweetheart,” Cadance said in a cute tone as she rested her head on top of his after giving him a kiss on the forehead, and then Shining Armor handed Flurry over to him and gave him a hug goodbye, “I’ll miss you too, Flurry. *sniff* I will always remember you.” Flurry Heart comforted him with her wings as an embrace while he held her, and then he gave her a kiss on her cheek. Cadance and Shining Armor smiled warmly at each other about Thomas’s love for Flurry Heart. After Thomas was put on the ground and gave the baby back to her mother, he saw Princess Celestia and Luna smiling at him and his family. “Thomas, me and my sister came to inform you that not only did you help save the Empire, but you helped defeat a greater evil in all of Equestria. We are forever in your debt, little one,” Princess Celestia said. Thomas nodded and then hugged her foreleg as she and Princess Luna hugged him back. “My dear Thomas, Celestia and myself would like for you to know that no matter what happens to you or your family, we will be watching from above,” Princess Luna said. “And we will love you will all of our hearts,” Princess Celestia said. “I love you too, all of you,” Thomas said, as the two alicorns leaned their heads down and nuzzled his cheeks by taking turns. After he finished hugging the royal sisters who were his aunts, he then saw Princess Amore standing there. “Princess Amore? Will I see you again?” Thomas asked. “Of course you will, because I’ve decided to help Princess Mi Amore Cadanza and her husband, Captain Shining Armor of the Royal Guard, with ruling the Crystal Empire in peace and harmony,” she said. “Okay... Um... I like your necklace and bracelets, by the way. They look pretty,” Thomas said. “Thank you, dear. You are very kind,” Princess Amore said, then she gave him a kiss on the forehead and then hugged him one more time. After he gave Amore his goodbye hug, he ran up onto the train to catch up with the others and then he walked through the train cart with both sadness and happiness. Rarity suddenly saw how sad he looked, “Darling, could you come sit with me?” Thomas then climbed onto the seat and then felt Rarity lift him up with her hooves and held him against her chest as she rubbed one hoof on his back comfortably. “Is something wrong, darling? You know you’re welcome to tell us and we’ll listen,” she said softly. Thomas looked down as he both curled his arms and pressed his cheek against her soft chest fur, and then she placed her hoof under his chin and gently lifted his head up to look at her beautiful eyes. “It’s alright, darling. Now tell Auntie Rarity whatever is troubling you,” she said. “I’m just... just so glad that I have all of you to care for,” Thomas said as his voice cracked. They all adored how he felt, and then Fluttershy sat with Rarity and comforted her son. “It’s okay, sweetheart. We’re glad you have us too,” she said softly. “Remember what I said, sugarcube. It ain’t good to keep all that emotion inside ya forever. If ya do keep it, otherwise you’ll feel hurt, scared or all alone, but we’re proud of ya for sticking up to Sombra from inside your noggin. Ya understand?” Applejack explained. Thomas nodded and gave a soft smile, “Thank you, Auntie Applejack. *sniff* I’ll try to remember.” “Aww... I know ya will, little feller. Just be true to your heart,” Applejack said. Thomas nodded and then continued to cuddle with Rarity as she held him during the train ride. After they arrived back in Ponyville, they went to Twilight’s castle so they can comfort Thomas together. When they sat down, Fluttershy hugged him and then they all sat in a circle and looked at him. “How are you holding up, little buddy?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Pretty much,” Thomas said, but he suddenly got more sappy, until they all came over for a group hug around Fluttershy and placed their hooves and wings around Thomas. “I love you all,” Thomas said. “Aww... we love you, too,” Twilight said, as they all smiled warmly at him and continued the hug. When Fluttershy and Thomas arrived back at the cottage while Celestia’s sun was setting, she saw all of her animals sleeping in their beds, and then she took Thomas upstairs to bed. When she placed him on the bed and tucked him underneath the bedsheets and blankets, he laid down on the mattress with his head on the pillow, and then he thought of an idea, “Momma?” “Yes, sweetheart? What is it?” Fluttershy asked. “Can you please... sing me a lullaby?” Thomas nervously asked. Fluttershy smiled warmly and then hugged her little colt closer to her chest and then felt him hug her back. “Of course, sweetie. I even came up with a new one just for you. Come here,” she said sweetly. Thomas got out from under the covers and then got closer to his mother’s hooves as she used them to lift him up and then she brought him towards her chest and cradled him in her forelegs. After he was cozy, she started singing softly into his ears. "Sleep my angel, Sleep all the night." "Dream my baby, dream again." "Sleep my angel, Sleep all the night." "Dream my baby, dream again." "Dreams are free like clouds in the sky." "Dreams are bright like stars and the sun." "Dreams are real like a castle in the sand." "Dreams are real like a castle in the sand." When she finished singing, Thomas snuggled himself into her chest fur and then heard the sound of her heartbeat that soothed him calmly, “Goodnight, Momma.” He softly yawned and then went to sleep. She smiled warmly at him, and then carefully placed him back onto the bed and tucked him underneath the blankets again. When he was fast asleep, she leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek, “Goodnight, my sweet little baby boy. Momma loves you.” She left the room and walked downstairs. Later on, the full light of Princess Luna’s moon shined through the sky and glistened through the window as he slept peacefully. When he started to drift off into his dreams, Thomas suddenly felt the loves and comfort he wished for that night at the orphanage. When he smiled warmly in his sleep, he was finally proud that he found a family that loves him, and that he finally had a home, which was a place in Equestria.