//------------------------------// // Unbroken // Story: The Natural Instinct // by D-Cal Tailor //------------------------------// "Mahogany!" I woke up with a jolt when I heard my mother's voice calling my name. I knew what today was so purposely sleeping in was, in theory, a tremendous idea. Knowing my mother, however, it's an impossible task. The whole "winter wrap up" thing is just silly, scraping up snow, cleaning out the cold powder in places, planting flowers in the snow. I never understood it and I still don't get it. Even if I lived in Ponyville for all my childhood, which I have and still do, it's never going to click. Why not just let the snowmelt? It isn't going anywhere and no pony is using it so there's no purpose. "Mmmm...mom I don't want to get up though...it's cold out there and warm in bed. Can't I just skip winter wrap up this time?" I plead, still under the covers, encapsulating myself in a warm embrace. "No Mahogany! Now come downstairs and eat something, it's well past noon and many ponies are needing help. Plus I'm helping the hospital again so I'm taking you to Twilight's library." "Twilight's library!?" I sat up instantly hearing that I get to go to the library in the center of Ponyville. It's always busy there because it was previously Princess Twilight's home until she moved into the castle in Canterlot. It's more so a gallery now with a library included. Several rooms were sealed up so the visitors wouldn't mess with items and such when browsing, a shame but understandable. Some would've been happy to see things like Twilight's old bed or her magic experiments table. None of these reasons are why I like going though, there's a small room behind the history books that were never sealed away. Soundproof, cool from the draft, the walls are smooth to lean against, and the cracks above the room are just big enough to allow light to shine in but still have a dim aesthetic to let you just relax. I hop out of bed within a flash and put a scarf on, trotting downstairs to meet my mom. Then the smell of coffee, warm and inviting, the best coffee in Ponyville. That's when the thought crossed my mind. "Mom only makes coffee when something happens because it calms her...and me." "Mom?...Is something wrong? You only-" "Sit down sweetie, there's something you and I need to talk about." ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Twilight walked through Canterlot in hopes of finding her brother, Shining Armor, having been told he was gone from his post. Furious, but puzzled with something that a guard had told her some few hours ago. She could feel the eyes of ponies all falling on her; she knew how "unofficial" she looked as she walked through the crowds of Canterlot. Usually, a guard or one of her personal advisors would go out and seek whoever she was looking for, but this circumstance was far different from any others that she had to meet up with Shining. It was fairly easy to find Shining because she knew where he would be, just getting to him was the problem given the traffic on the ground and the traffic on the air. A large pride fest, the biggest in Equestrian history, made the center of Canterlot near impossible to navigate through. That was when she accidentally bumped into a white pony, nearly knocking both her and them to the ground. "Oh, my apologies I...Shining?" Asked a surprised and confused Twilight. Looking at her brother with his legs out to support himself from the sudden bump. His eyes meeting hers, the rainbow flag paint on his cheek and rainbow ribbons tied in his mane and tail. Twilight simply just shook her head and snickered to herself seeing him as so. "T-Twilight I-um, I can explain?" "No time Shining", cutting him off from his sentence, "I need you for something we have to discuss privately. Sorry to pull you from the fun and celebration but it's urgent and serious enough for me to come out and get you. Now come on!" She turned and started to make her way back to the castle with Shining following close behind. Wiping off the paint and pulling out the ribbons from his mane and tail, Twilight couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of her stumbling brother. He just looked back and snickered with her, finally getting himself situated and more professional-looking. "You could have kept your look Shining, no one in the castle would judge. You know that right?" "Well yeah, but if there's a serious situation to take care of then it's better to look presentable in front of the Harmony Table." "Ah...yeah, about that. We aren't going to the Harmony Table. This is a one on one discussion." "So I did all that for nothing?" Shining asked a nodding Twilight. "Well, that happened I suppose." Twilight sighed and they both eventually made it to the castle steps. Walking up them, she was able to get a good view of Canterlot and the festival below. Her face, smile, eyes, all changing expression within the clap of a hoof. Her face turned slightly pale at the sight of all the ponies present. "Twilight?", Asking Shining as he stopped and put a hoof to her shoulder, "What's wrong Twilight? Your face has gone slightly pale. We can discuss this matter here if it's that serious, there are no ponies around eavesdropping on us." "Right...right, we can discuss it here. Um, I think there's a power here in Equestria that has an undivine potential. One of Ponyville's undercover guards sent back a message regarding a deer and unicorn. He didn't specify the deers' name but the unicorn's name he was able to catch, somepony named "Angel Mist". I understand you may just point out that I'm probably paranoid but this isn't a pony being recalled back to. Neither I nor you, know what deer are truly capable of. This unnamed deer may be a force we won't be able to handle, anything is possible given that Discord and Cozy Glow exist after all." "Twilight, it's going to be alright. I understand your worry but you can't let every single letter you receive back just run you into the ground. Being prepared is good, yes, however...over preparing is a thing. If this "threat" was anything substantial then we wouldn't be getting letters, it would call a meeting and more." "Right..you're right. I'm worrying too much. I'll try to relax and sit through it. Can you at least send a second undercover to Ponyville? Two sets of eyes on this deer would be better than just the one." "Of course, if it'll get you to calm your nerves, I'll send a second to Ponyville. You must promise me that this won't get to your head, okay?" Twilight just nodded and hugged her brother, she understood his words and frankly he was right. She smiled and started back up the stairs as Shining went in the opposite direction, going back to the Pride Month Festival. She made her way into the castle heading straight to the throne room to resume looking over the letters that were sent to her. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ It was strange seeing my mom cry, never once has she cried about anything. Even in her stories of being a nurse in Canterlot, no tears were ever shed. Watching her break down during the conversion was heartbreaking. Holding the mug of coffee with her magic, keeping her eyes to the table while occasionally glancing at me, dried tear marks below her eyes, a sight I never wish to see again. "Mom. I know I'm not your biological son. You're a unicorn and I'm a deer, but that doesn't matter. To me, you're my mother. You've cared for me and gave me a place to live. Providing food, water, shelter, frankly, you're my real mother. No mom leaves their kid in the woods under a mahogany tree, that's not a mom." Her eyes glanced up, catching my eyes while she let go of the mug. Drying her eyes from the tears that were once there. There was a pause between us both, no moving or speaking, just looking at each other. It's like time stood still but just for us, sitting there across from each other just gazing. Both of our eyes filled with love. "I just needed to get that off my chest. Hearing you call me mom for so long; guardian even, I just felt guilty that it wasn't a real connection. I just-" "No", cutting her off mid sentence, "It is a real connection. I never knew my "real" mom, honestly I could care less at this point. You've done everything for me, you are my real mother. I don't care if I'm a deer and you're a unicorn, that motherly love doesn't change." "Well, you are right about that sweetie. I do feel better after saying all this now. Though I am sorry for making you watch." "It's alright mom, you needed it to be heard." I got up and gave her a hug, a big warm hug, she deserved it after everything she's been through and has done for me.