“…And once I realized I had feelings for Sparkler, I panicked…and teleported here…where I heard what I presume was the second half of her song…about me.” Twilight finished and drank another sip of her tea. She and Rarity were sitting at Rarity’s Kitchen table, talking about Twilight’s day so far over tea. And just as Rarity had thought, not only did the morning story line up with what Sparkler had said, but she had guessed right in saying Twilight had an epiphany.
“Aww! She was singing a song about you? Oh that is SO romantic!” Rarity declared.
“Yeah…” Twilight agreed. “I…kinda wish I heard the first half of it. The second was about how I opened her eyes to the truth about herself.”
“I shall second how true that is. You, Twilight Sparkle, managed to take a broken soul with 13 years of emotional rubbish, and mend it to the point where she is nearly unrecognizable from when we first met.” Rarity said. “I can tell she’s a lot happier now than she’s ever been in her life.”
“Me too.” Twilight said. “I’m glad she was able to come out. Hiding her wings was eating her up inside. To the point where she nearly…” Twilight trailed off, not sure if she should go on.
Rarity raised an eyebrow at Twilight as she took another sip of her tea. “She nearly what darling?” She asked.
Twilight bit her lip, before finally answering. “It was to the point where she nearly perished in a magical breakdown. Trying to hold it in instead of letting the magic go. All in the name of keeping her wings hidden.” She replied.
Rarity gasped. “Good heavens!” She exclaimed. “Well…I suppose we should be thankful that you convinced her to let go…I’m assuming that’s what happened.” Rarity asked.
“Yeah, that’s what happened.” Twilight replied. “You shoulda seen her Rarity. The morning after. She was so terrified. That I’d do something to her, that her history would repeat itself and she’d lose all the friends she had made since coming here…just because she’s a little different from everypony else.”
“It’s truly heartbreaking what she went through. Nopony deserves that kind of treatment.” Rarity said.
“You tell me.” Twilight said. “After I heard what she went through. I knew, I just knew I had to help her. I could tell she wanted to give being herself another shot, but she needed help to take that step. To get rid of the sweater hiding her wings.”
“And I would say you gave her that help.” Rarity said. “You showed her that being an Alicorn was nothing to be ashamed of. And you accepted her without hesitation. You, Twilight, have been the knight in shining armor that she was in desperate need of.”
“You girls helped too, you know.” Twilight responded. “It wasn’t ALL me.”
“Oh yeah. We all helped her. But we’re not rearranging our schedules to hang out with her now are we?” Rarity asked with a sly smirk.
“Ok. At first it was only because she wanted to learn about Alicorns…Then it expanded to other topics…” Twilight admitted. Blushing a little.
“So. What are you going to do about it?” Rarity asked.
“What SHOULD I do about it?” Twilight asked. “I never felt this way about anypony before. The closest would be my passing crush on Flash Sentry. The one from the other side of the Mirror Portal.”
“Well that should be obvious darling.” Rarity replied. “She’s probably at Fluttershy’s right now. I think you should go there, ask to talk to her, alone, and then tell her how you feel.”
“Rarity, do you not remember what just happened?” Twilight asked, giving her friend a perplexed look. “My fear of Ladybugs scared Sparkler, and worse, it scared Kicker. Speaking of Kicker, Sparkler would probably be happy I return her feelings, but what about him? Would he be happy with us being together?”
“Oh. You needn’t worry about Kicker.” Rarity said with a giggle. “You know what he remarked when I was measuring him for that coat? He said he wouldn’t mind having you as his second mother.”
Twilight’s eyes widened and she felt her heart flutter. “He really said that?” She asked.
“I heard it with my own two ears darling.” Rarity replied. “I can tell he’s grown to consider you the second most trustworthy pony he knows, and third creature when you factor in Flappy.”
“Well…he DID ask if I could read to him and cuddle with him as well as Sparkler…” Twilight said.
“Flappy showed me that picture. You three were simply ADORABLE!” Rarity squealed.
“Yeah…I’ll admit it was cute.” Twilight said, blushing again.
“But back to the point darling. Kicker won’t mind you and Sparkler getting together. Of that I am certain.” Rarity said, getting back on track. “So I say you should walk over to Fluttershy’s and tell her.”
“I don’t know…” Twilight replied. “I just feel like I messed up today.”
“I shall take partial blame for that darling. I DID offer to make Kicker a new winter coat so that he would stay warm in the cold. Otherwise Sparkler would not have been here.” Rarity remarked.
“That was nice of you to do that Rarity.” Twilight commented.
“I am the Element of Generosity after all. And no foal his age should be walking around without a coat at this time of year.” Rarity said. “Ok so today may be out. You have another opportunity coming up.”
“What do you mean?”
“Sparkler’s birthday.” Rarity answered. “I am certain that we will make her very happy with the day we have planned for her. But if you were to pronounce your love for her on that same day. Her joy would know no bounds.”
“You really think I should tell her by the time her birthday rolls around?” Twilight asked.
“What I think.” Rarity responded. “Is that you should make sure a relationship with Sparkler is what you want. Because in this case, that also means being a second parent to Kicker.”
“Well, I have always low key wanted to be a mother. But Flash was the only one I ever felt anything towards…until now.” Twilight said.
“If that’s what you want then you are free to express your love for her at any time.” Rarity responded.
“Yeah…but I just have a bad feeling about this. Like a nagging feeling that I’m not the first to have asked her out before. And that the last time went horribly wrong.”
“Well clearly she’s willing to give it another shot so it couldn’t have been that bad.” Rarity remarked.
Twilight nodded. “Yeah. It couldn’t have been that bad.”
Fluttershy dabbed Flappy’s cuts with a cloth, Flappy hissed in agony. “Squawk! Hey. Easy. Squawk!” He said.
“I did tell you it was gonna sting a bit.” Fluttershy replied. “So, what happened?” She asked.
“Rarity’s cat attacked him.” Kicker replied.
“Just scratched his wing and pounced on him.” Sparkler added.
“Ouch. That’s rough.” Rainbow commented. Sparkler, Kicker, and Flappy had headed straight for Fluttershy’s so she could fix him. When they got there, they found Rainbow Dash there having tea with Fluttershy. Rainbow claimed it was only because she was thirsty. To which they just went along with.
“Opal is usually a sweetheart.” Fluttershy said. “I wonder why she doesn’t like you Flappy.” She commented as she wrapped a bandage around Flappy’s injury.
“Squawk! It’s because that cat is an evil menace! Squawk!” Flappy replied, his anger clear as day. “Squawk! That cat has attacked me at every opportunity and I’m sick of it! Squawk!”
“Calm down little dude. Just stay in the air and Opal shouldn’t be able to get to you.” Rainbow told Flappy. “It’s not like she can grow wings on the fly. Or shed her fur and reveal wings hiding under there.” Rainbow added glancing at Sparkler.
Rainbow’s obvious reference got a chuckle out of everypony. Sparkler shook her head. “I just can’t believe the sweater actually worked. I was afraid my wings would bulge out and render the sweater useless in that way.” She remarked.
“Well you sure had most of us fooled. Except Pinkie, because Pinkie Sense.” Fluttershy remarked. “She seems to know everything.”
“Squawk! Ain’t that the truth. Squawk!” Flappy responded. Everypony continued to laugh.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door. Fluttershy smiled and started for the door. “I wonder what that could be.” She trotted to the door and opened it. Revealing some creature who she wasn’t expecting…at least some creature she wasn’t expecting to use the front door. “Discord?”
“Why hello my ever loving Fluttershy!” Discord scooped Fluttershy up and planted a big fat kiss on her lips. He pulled away and set her down. “I have arrived for our regular tea party! Now with extra guests I see!” He added, slivering into the kitchen to find Fluttershy’s other guests. “Rainbow, Flappy, Sparkler, Kicker. How deliciously delightful to see you all again!” Using three hands, he ruffled everycreature’s heads.
Kicker got one look at Discord and his nerves started acting up. The weird creature was back. “Uh…mom…he’s baaaack…” Kicker told Sparkler.
Sparkler and Flappy noticed his behavioral change, and Sparkler took action. “Well it’s nice to see you again too Discord. Fluttershy thanks for fixing up Flappy, and for the tea, but we should be—“
“Sparkler, you three can still join us.” Fluttershy interrupted Sparkler. “Discord will behave himself this time. Right Discord?” Fluttershy asked Discord while also giving him a look that screamed ‘be a good boy or else.’
Discord recognized the look and nodded. “Yes. I’m sorry for what happened in the Hospital. I had not realized how traumatized Kicker actually was.” He canceled all his magic and sat himself at the table. “I promise I will not do anything chaotic around Kicker again, heck, I even used the front door this time to not scare him.”
All eyes turned to Sparkler, who’s eyes in turn turned to Kicker. “It’s your choice Kicker. Would you like to stay or go home?” She asked.
Kicker looked between everypony looking at him, til his eyes fell onto Discord. His little colt mind was telling him they should leave, but another part of him was intrigued by the creature. Ultimately he made up his mind. “Uhm…we can stay…” He said.
“Squawk! If that’s what you want kid. Squawk!” Flappy replied.
“Splendid!” Discord exclaimed as he got himself a cup of tea and took a sip of it. “So Sparkler. I hear something interesting happened today.” He gave her a sly smirk.
Sparkler blushed a little and smiled sheepishly. “Ahem…what makes you say that?” She asked.
Rainbow could tell Sparkler was just playing dumb. She smirked. “Alright Sparkler. Spill it, what happened today?” She asked.
Sparkler remained quiet for a few seconds before sighing in defeat. “Fine.” She said. “I…may have told Twilight I loved her…in my sleep.” She admitted.
Rainbow just burst out laughing. “No way!” She said. “You actually did that?” She asked.
“She did.” Kicked said. “I was awake to hear it.”
“In my defense, she was stroking me with her wing.” Sparkler countered. “It felt nice, how was I supposed to know, when sleeping, that it would actually be Twilight?”
“Squawk! But now she knows. Squawk!” Flappy commented.
“Yes. She does!” Discord proclaimed. “And it gets better. Sparkler and Kicker were at Rarity’s to get Kicker that new coat.” He morphed into a Ladybug and landed on the table. “And Twilight teleported in AS Sparkler was singing a song about Twilight. Gosh it was awkward.” He explained.
While Sparkler blushed like mad, Fluttershy gave her a warm smile. “Aww! That’s beautiful Sparkler.” She said.
“Of course you sing a song about her.” Rainbow chuckled.
Sparkler shook her head to try and clear her blush when she realized something. How the hay did DISCORD know that? “How do you know what happened? We were all alone in that room.” She asked.
Discord responded with a chuckle. “I was the Ladybug that scared Twilight.” He admitted.
That silenced the entire room. Sparkler’s mind raced when she realized Discord had made Twilight scream, which made her scream, which scared Kicker. “That Ladybug was YOU?!” She asked, her anger rising.
“What can I say? I saw a chance for Chaos and I took it.” Discord responded.
“Were you spying on them?” Rainbow asked, a hint of growling in her voice.
“Well obviously I want to check up on Ponyville’s future Alicorn power couple.” Discord replied.
“Discord, upstairs. Now!” Fluttershy told him.
Discord saw the serious look on her face, and it clicked with him that he shouldn’t have done what he just admitted to. Sighing. He turned back into himself and slivered upstairs. Fluttershy following him. “I’m so sorry about that Sparkler.” She said. “I’ll give him a good talking to. Don’t worry.”
“What he needs is a good spanking.” Rainbow suggested. “Words alone just don’t work Flutters.”
Fluttershy nodded and the two left the room. Rainbow turned to Kicker. “So how’ve you been little dude? Legs and hooves healing fine?” She asked.
“Yeah.” Kicker replied. “I just want to be able to walk again.”
“Don’t worry, Kick.” Sparkler said, hugging him with her wing. “You’ll be out of those casts next week.”
“Squawk! And then this will all be over and we can live happily ever after. You, me, and Sparkler. Squawk!”
“And Twilight?” Kicker asked.
That caused Rainbow to chuckle. “Sounds like some pony’s taken a liking to Twilight.” She commented.
“Squawk! Oh he like Twilight a lot. Guess what he said at the boutique. Squawk!”
While Sparkler, Flappy, and Rainbow talked, Kicker suddenly got the feeling that he was being watched. He turned his head and looked down to see a small animal that he recognized, from that time he played with a simulator animal belonging to Applejack, was a small dog.
The dog stared at him, it had mainly a dark gray fur coat, but it’s legs and muzzle were a tannish color that blended with the darn gray. It’s eyes were brown and it couldn’t have been any bigger than him. Kicker and the dog looked at each other for a moment before the dog made a move. It walked up, reared up on its hind legs and rested its forelegs on his seat, it leaned in, and started sniffing him.
Kicker recoiled a bit from the dog’s actions, not entirely sure what was gonna happen next. After a second, the dog finished sniffing him and wagged its tail, smiling. It barked once and got back down on it’s legs. It raced away, and soon came back with a bone in it’s mouth. It reared back up and dropped the bone on Kicker’s chair next to him.
Kicker stared at the bone, not entirely sure what he was supposed to do with it. “Uh…” His mind was going blank.
“Aww! Looks like Maddy wants to play with you Kicker!” Kicker looked up and saw that Rainbow, Sparkler, and Flappy had directed their attention to him.
“Maddy?” Kicker asked.
“Yeah. That’s her name.” Rainbow explained. “She’s one of Fluttershy’s newer animal tenants. Fluttershy found her wandering the streets around the time of the Music Festival.”
“Oh. Ok.” Kicker said. “So, what am I supposed to do with this bone?” He asked.
“Throw it. She’ll get it and bring it back.” Rainbow replied.
“Oh…uh…ok.” Kicker replied. He looked at the bone for a second before leaning down to pick it up with his mouth. Remembering what he did with the frisbee some time Ago, he swung his head and threw the bone gently.
As Rainbow said, Maddy charged after it. A moment later, she brought it back. Her tail never stopped wagging back and forth.
Kicker grinned as Maddy stared happily up at him. He enjoyed that just now. Sparkler saw his grin and had an idea. “Hey Kick, wanna play with Maddy in the living room?” She asked.
“Yeah.” Kicker said. “Please?”
Sparkler smiled as she lit her horn and encased Kicker in her magic. With care, she levitated him from the chair, and gently placed him on the floor in the living room. Maddy followed the colt to where he was placed sitting and dropped the bone next to him. Sparkler noticed that Maddy wasn’t any bigger than Kicker.
Kicker, repeating what he had done before, picked up the bone in his mouth and threw it. And just like last time, Maddy retrieved it and brought it back. She dropped the bone in front of him and barked happily. She leaned in and nuzzled Kicker on the cheek. Making Kicker giggle.
Sparkler watched as Kicker picked up the bone again and threw it. To which Maddy responded the same as the first two times. This time when she brought it back, she barked once and started licking Kicker, which made him laugh.
“Squawk! This brings me back. Squawk!” Flappy commented as they watched Kicker play with Maddy.
“Yeah? How so?” Rainbow asked.
“Flappy and I used to play all the time when we were kids. Catch, tag, you name it, we probably played it.” Sparkler explained.
They heard barking and turned back to see Maddy running circles around Kicker, making him laugh. They giggled at the adorable sight.
At that moment, Discord slivered back in. “Sparkler I’m sorry for what happened earlier. I won’t meddle in your life again—Wait, where's Kicker?” He asked.
Fluttershy came in after him and looked where Rainbow Sparkler and Flappy were looking. She saw Maddy, one of her newer Animal tenants, playing with Kicker. The sight made her grin wildly. “Aww! Look at them! They’re playing together! Oh that is so cute!”
“Yeah.” Sparkler said. “Yeah it is.”
Fluttershy nodded, before an idea came to her. “You know Sparkler, Maddy is available to go to a new forever home.” She said.
“She isn’t a wild dog?” Sparkler asked.
“She told me her original owners disappeared long ago and she wants a new family. And the thing about dogs, or any pet for that matter, they can help traumatized ponies. In a therapeutic way.” Fluttershy explained.
“Squawk! Well. So long as it’s not a cat I don’t mind having another pet around the house. Squawk!” Flappy remarked.
Sparkler looked back at Kicker and Maddy. Kicker was laying on his back and Maddy was laying on his belly, licking his face and making the colt laugh. She Maddy took a liking to Kicker. After a moment’s thought, she nodded. “Let’s see what Kicker thinks.” She said.
She approached Kicker and lit her horn, moving Maddy off Kicker and helping him sit back up. “Hey Kicker.” She said. “Fluttershy just told me something about Maddy.”
“What?” Kicker asked.
“She told me that Maddy here was looking for a new forever home.” Sparkler said. “What do you say we take her home with us?”
“Really?” Kicker asked. “We can take her home?”
“If ya want.” Sparkler said.
“Yeah!” Kicker said. He turned to Maddy. “Hey Maddy, we’re gonna be your new forever home!” He said excitedly.
Maddy barked happily in response and ran up to Sparkler, licking her in joy. She turned back to licking Kicker a moment later.
Rainbow chuckled. “Looks like we have another pet joining us for our regular pet play dates.” She said.
Fluttershy nodded as she watched Maddy show her excitement to her new family. “Yeah.”
Discord smiled. “I wonder what Angel’s gonna say when he finds out his friend found a new home.” He mused.
“Where is that rabbit anyway?” Rainbow asked.
“Probably sleeping in his bed.” Fluttershy replied.
Flappy nodded as he looked on to Maddy licking Sparkler and Kicker. He giggled to himself. Our family grows one more. So long as she doesn’t come after me. He added as he studied Maddy carefully. You make one wrong move towards me and you are out. I’m the alpha pet in this family.
To be continued...