//------------------------------// // Explanations and Developments // Story: Family // by FleetlordAvatar //------------------------------// The group sat in the living room of Sweet Apple Acres as Reiver told every-creature his story, with Bedlam chipping in when relevant. The Cutie Mark Crusaders remained protectively close to them both throughout, giving the adult ponies pleading looks as he moved to talk about his fear of being taken away. When it was all over and done, the colt nervously fiddled with his hooves as the other ponies digested everything in silence. "So...that's uh…” finally stammered Applejack, rubbing the back of her neck in confusion. “I don't rightly know what to say,"  "It's a heck of a story is what it is." said Granny Smith. “Might even be considered a load of hooey.” “But it’s all true,” said Twilight, as they looked to her for confirmation. “I’ve seen Reivers' car with my own eyes, and examined the items inside. He knew how everything operated, how to read the strange language they were in.” “Now, hold on there, I ain’t saying I don’t believe him. I’m just trying to wrap my head around the story that he used to be a full grown ‘hyoo-mon’,” questioned the elder apple, struggling with the pronunciation. “Wormholes are fickle things my elderly dear,” explained Discord, lounging on his side, mid air. “Without proper protection just about anything could happen.” He then conjured a list  with a snap of his claw and, putting on some tiny spectacles, unrolled it. “Lets see,” he mused, studying the parchment. “He could have changed species, colour or gender, gotten much younger or older, gained phenomenal cosmic power, become a fan character, become an alicorn, become a mary sue, the list is literally endless!” He snapped his claw again and the list rolled up before evaporating into a cloud of soap bubbles. “I really should have been suspicious when my sister and her friends stopped causing a ruckus with their crusading.” observed Applejack, waving a few bubbles away with her hoof.  “Eeyup,” agreed Big Mac. “The quietest it's been for a while in this town, although, at least they were doing something helpful. Normally they are at the centre of something chaotic every other week.” The Crusaders grinned sheepishly, they had no real ground to disagree. “We, uh, never did find anything to help Reiver get home,” confessed Apple Bloom. “At least until Discord appeared,” finished Scootaloo. “You’re welcome,” replied the Spirit of Chaos, casually filing his claws. “So, now I guess you'll want me to go to Canterlot with Luna or something.” said Revier, sadly turning to Applejack. “Now we know a possible way I can get home, she’ll probably want to send me off as soon as possible.”  Apple Bloom and her friends closed around him protectively as the adults shared a few looks. "Partner, why, in all things cinnamon swirl, would you think we'd want you to leave?” questioned Applejack. “Indeed,” added Luna, kneeling to look him in the eye. “You think so little of me, that I would take you from a loving home is a preposterous idea. As Discord said, wormholes are tricky. I shall look into the matter, but ultimately, the choice to leave will be yours and yours alone. No pony here shall take that from you.” “I'll admit all this is weird...'' interjected Applejack, eyeing Bedlam as Discord floated around the juvenile spirit of chaos, gleefully giggling "...weirder than we usually deal with, but Apples don't just kick a pony, especially a foal, to the curb." “But...I’m not a foal?” questioned Reiver. “Not really.” “LIke I said, weirder than we usually deal with,” continued the farm pony. “Listen partner, Winona likes you, so does Big Mac, Granny and me, heck, you even managed to get Apple Bloom on your side after dumping porridge on her.” “Yeah!” piped up Apple Bloom. “And that was a really bad day for me as well.” “The point is,” continued Applejack, “we aren’t letting you go, you are part of this family.” Then, to his surprise, Applejack pulled him into a hug. The colt was stunned, they knew who he was, where he had come from, that he wasn’t even a foal, and they still wanted him. He wasn’t going to be sent away, or given to a doctor or anything, he was staying with the Apples. He wrapped his hooves around her middle as relief flooded through him, along with something else, a sense of warmth and contentment, something he hadn’t felt in years and he struggled not to tear up.  Bedlam sniffled at the sight as Discord handed him a polka dot handkerchief to blow his nose, the subsequent fog horn breaking the moment as everypony turned to glare at them. "Sorry,” Bedlam apologised. "But it was so beautiful." Reiver tittered as he wiped his misting eyes at the creature's antics. "Well, now that we've got that straightened out," stated Twilight, "I suppose our next question is where Bedlam can stay." "I'm sure we can make up some room for him," replied Granny Smith. “Plenty of room in the farmhouse for another foal.” "Uh, actually," interrupted the young draconequis. "I've been talking with Discord and he's agreed to put me up." Every pony present stared in surprise at the Lord of Chaos. "What?" he incredulously questioned, a halo appearing over his head. "Is it hard to believe that I can be nice once in a while?" "Yes." "Absolutely." "A hundred per cent." "Eeyup." "Urgh, you guys clearly don’t know me as well as you think," he huffed, the halo flickering out before popping like a lightbulb. "In any case, Bedlam and I do feel it's best that he stays with me. My realm is perfect for a young draconequis to learn how to control his powers safely, if he doesn't, we might get another Gallopfrey or even Marelantis." "THAT WAS YOU!" Luna's shocked exclamation boomed so loud the farmhouse shook, Discord immediately conjured a knight's helmet and shield to hide behind. "N..now Luna, I'm sure you did regretful things in your youth as well." "I DIDN'T DESTROY TWO CITIES AND SET BACK CIVILISATION A THOUSAND YEARS!" The Luna princess, wings flared and horn alight, gared daggers at Discord as he cowered before her. "Alright that's enough!" snapped Granny Smith, slamming a hoof on the wooden floor. “I don’t care what freaky powers y'all have, I don't want to have to rebuild the farm any more than we have to, so take it outside!" The matriarch of the Apple family glared at both of them in the way only an angry parent can muster. Surprisingly, it worked, as Luna stood down, rubbing her neck like a filly who had been caught fighting with a sibling, while Discord instead chose to stick out his tongue, only to get a slap to the back of his head from Bedlam for being cheeky. "Apologies, I...forgot myself for a moment," replied the princess, shooting a threatening look at Discord. "But I will have words with thee later, as will my sister." “Oh joy,” moaned the Spirit of Chaos. "Anyway, back on topic," interrupted Bedlam. "Discord was right about showing me the ropes, I'd rather not accidentally destroy reality while trying to conjure a milkshake. His realm is a good place for me to live until I'm confident enough that won't happen." "You sure?" questioned Reiver, trotting over to the creature. "I mean, you came from me, so I suppose I’m your father...brother...man this is weird.” Bedlam chuckled. “The point is,” continued Reiver. “I wouldn't...mind having you around." "Sorry mate, it's been fun but we've got to go our separate ways for now. I'll be sure to send you letters...once I figure out how to do that." He was suddenly pulled into a hug by the foal, freezing for a moment as he was caught off guard. "You've been a pain," said Reiver. "But you were my pain, I'm going to miss you." "Me to mate," replied Bedlam, wrapping his mismatched arms around his...friend...brother, this really was weird. "I won't be gone forever, so be ready for some real bedlam when I get back." The pair separated with a smile. "Alrighty then," said Discord, sliding up to the pair. "I think this is where we bow out for now, sorry it took so long, but rest assured we will return for the finale." With that, he snapped his claw, and the two creatures vanished in a pop of pink bubblegum. "Any idea what he was talking about?" questioned Twilight. "Eenope," stated Big Mac, flatly. “Should we be worried?” "If he wishes to be a further pain, then I’m afraid there is little we can do,” said Luna. “I believe it is time I take my leave as well, I must inform my sister of these developments.” She turned to Reiver.  “You are in capable hooves with the Apple family my friend, though Celestia may wish to meet with you when she learns her student has been keeping secrets." Luna smirked as the purple unicorn nervously grinned. "I made a promise...I'm sure she'll understand." argued Twilight. "I'm sure she will, what you did was in keeping with your studies on friendship after all. Now, I bid you farewell." Igniting her horn, the lunar princess disappeared in a burst of moonlight. "Well,” sighed Granny Smith. “Now every pony's caught up, I think we should look at the damage.” "Reiver, would you mind helping me fix a few things," asked Big Mac, smiling down at the colt, who grinned up at the stallion. "I'd love to," "Fantastic, let's get my tools." "The rest of you can get to work cleaning up all this rubbish," continued Applejack. "Let's have this farm back together faster than an Apple Family Barn raising!" "Cutie Mark Crusaders Farm Fixers yay!" The declaration was followed by three sets of hooves galloping out the door, then another as Applejack ran off to prevent the crusaders from 'helping'. Reiver and Big Mac chuckled as they followed, the colt feeling like a weight was off his shoulders. They knew his secret, and they didn't reject him, he wasn't going to be sent away, he was staying with the Apples. The thought made something swell in his chest, and he felt truly happy and at ease for the first time in years. Things were going to be great, he just knew. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Scott's head was pounding as he slowly returned to consciousness. The stallion was barely aware of muffled voices and blurred shapes as he opened his eyes, only to snap them shut as they were hit with a piercing light. Turning inwards he focused on breathing, slow inhales and exhales, in and out, in and out. Soon, the throbbing inside his skull subsided and he risked opening an eye, fighting through the sting of artificial light until the room swam into focus. Looking down, the stallion observed he was in a bed, and there were bandages over most of his body, though thankfully no casts, although his mouth tasted like ash and he felt like he had been run over by a truck, several times. Spotting the IV line in his left foreleg, his gaze followed the tube up to a bag hanging over a heart monitor, and a sleeping Nurse Redheart in the chair beside it. Scott regarded the pony, her fur was unkempt and she had a bandage wrapped around her right foreleg and chest. Her nurse's cap was bent and her normally pristine white coat was matted and grimy with dust. The stallion attempted to clear his burning throat loud enough to wake her, succeeding on the third attempt as she snorted back to life. Blinking and rubbing her eyes, the nurse pony looked toward him. "Awake at last," she yawned, the stallion picking out bags under her eyes. "I thought you would be out for a while longer." Taking a foil bag with a straw sticking from it out of a cool box down by her seat, she moved it up to his mouth. Scott immediately took the straw and greedily gulped down the cool, sweet liquid to quench his thirst. "Slow down," interrupted Redheart. "You'll make yourself sick if you take it too quickly." Forcing himself to take slow, even sips, Scott looked at the disheveled nurse with an unspoken question. "You passed out after saving me from the collapse," she explained. "The Guard had to dig you out, you're in part of the hospital which still has power. I volunteered to stay with you." He raised an eyebrow, as far as he could tell the nurse hadn't really been sympathetic towards him. "Don't get the wrong idea," she continued, removing the now empty bag of juice. "I would be a terrible nurse if I didn't look after everypony in my care, especially if they risked their own wellbeing to save me." "It's good to know my actions were appreciated," he replied, licking his lips. "Just don't do it again,” she remarked. “You're healing well, despite having part of a ceiling fall on you, but I don't want you in any more danger." "I don't plan on lifting any more buildings,” he replied. “I'm amazed I managed it at all." "So am I," she replied, sitting back down. "Earth ponies are strong, but you were starved and weak. Medically speaking, I doubt you could have lifted it at all." "Glad I proved you wrong." “As am I,” Redheart stated, settling back into her chair.  Scott soon heard her softly snoring, she must have really been exhausted if she dropped off so quickly. As he settled down on the bed, his thoughts drifted to the photograph in the file she had dropped during the cave in. It was like the image had been seared into his brain, he recalled the foals' coat and mane colour, recognising they matched his own, and the more he thought about the child's face, the more it felt familiar, until he realised that the colt could have been his son. But surely that was impossible, he had no idea if whatever brought him here had done the same to Reiver, yet the thought still intruded upon his peace of mind. His son in this candy coloured fairytale world made no sense, the colt in the image was clearly far too young to be Reiver. You changed, perhaps the ungrateful brat did as well "Maybe," spoke Scott. Might be a good opportunity to raise him properly, without that weakling's interference. "She never did understand what she was doing," he muttered. Of course not, the kid turned out to be a wimp and a waste of space, you worked hard for them and got nothing back. "Yeah, might be good to get a little payback, make him man up and stop being such a weak little shut in." Exactly, glad we see eye to eye. "No problem," he replied, it was then Scott realised something. Redheart was still sleeping. The stallion looked up and turned his head as best he could, there was no one at the door and the room definitely just had him and Redhearts snoozing form. "Great, now I'm talking to myself," he muttered, settling back down on the bed, resolving to ask Redheart about his suspicions after a decent rest. As he slipped into slumber, the shadows under the bed began to deepen, coalescing before slowly sliding up along the wall overlooking the sleeping stallion, thickening until a pair of mismatched eyes opened wide, followed by a row of razor sharp teeth in a malicious smile. Oh, you are far beyond that my friend, but we can talk about that when you wake up. With a dark chuckle, the entity faded back into nothing, leaving the room peaceful once more.