//------------------------------// // Progeny // Story: Of Providence and Plain // by GrangeDisplay //------------------------------// They were married within two weeks, just as Cloudy had predicted. It was a modest affair held in Corner Stone’s parlor with only two guests. Corner Stone seemed skeptical of the entire situation, and asked the odd couple if they were certain about their union. They both insisted, but they knew that Corner was mainly asking Cloudy. She affirmed that Igneous was her chosen pair and that she was happy with her decision. Cloudy and her mother had spent the two weeks preparing a dress for the occasion: it was simple blue attire that complimented her eyes. Igneous grew out his sideburns to indicate his new status, and donned his nicest tie and hat. Cloudy was happy despite not getting everything that she wanted. She could work on a rock farm, but her father did not beg for forgiveness as she hoped. He accepted the Pairing Stone's decree, but he refused to attend the wedding, opting to leave Rockville instead. He was surprised when Rose informed him that she would join him at a later date as she had somepony more important to support. He refused to pay the monetary offering to his soon-to-be in-laws. Cloudy was initially upset on Igneous' behalf, but Igneous insisted they would manage. They had another week to meet Alluvial’s deadline, it would be a close call, but they would make it work. After all, that was the least important thing on their minds. They both realized the unforeseen benefit to their union that surpassed every other factor. They loved one another, or at least, they were beginning to. It did not matter what they did or did not have as long as they had each other. A mere four weeks ago, they were entirely different ponies. Now, they could begin anew together. They had fought back tears as they exchanged their vows as the sincerity in their proclamations felt refreshing to hear. Their bond was sealed with a kiss, which overwhelmed them with the feeling that their lives had changed for the better. At the end of the ceremony, the party of four sat out on Corner’s porch and enjoyed the nice weather. Rose presented her daughter with a gift. “Now that thou art married, thee can weareth this collar to signify thy status,” Rose explained while a black dress collar with white cross stitching. Cloudy smiled as she felt the smooth fabric with her hooves. Igneous’ chest warmed as he watched the mother help her daughter put it on. He was content to observe them until his father nudged him. Igneous cleared his throat and reached into his hat. “Cloudy? I hast a gift for thee that mine own father helped me maketh. I wisheth that I couldst hast given thee a grand celebration and gift, b-” “Husband, it is fine. Thy presence is what is most important to me. I cherish anything thou giveth me.” “Right, I apologize Cloudy. I wanted to giveth thee something as breathtaking as thee, but this gift pales in comparison to thy excellence.” Out of his hat, he pulled an ovate pendant made of blue glass. Igneous grew nervous as neither Cloudy nor her mother said anything. He might have collapsed had Rose not cheered and swiped it from his hooves. “Oh, it is gorgeous! Cloudy?” Rose questioned as she held the pendant at the center of Cloudy’s chest, “Wouldst it not look positively dashing at the center of thy garment?” “Aye, it wouldst mother.” Cloudy agreed, “Igneous, this a wonderful gift. I thank thee.” Cloudy took the opportunity to hug her husband, squeezing him tightly without shame. Igneous held her back despite his nervousness, relishing in the experience of having her close. Feldspar wiped some of the sweat off his forehead. “I am happy that thou liketh it Cloudy. It was the best we couldst muster in the time allotted. I madeth many of those items in mine own day, back when these hooves were still good.” “Thou art not dead yet Feldspar and thy expertise survives in thy son. I doth recall a few of thy creations. Some of them must still be laying around in thy home?” Rose questioned. “Aye. but they art not mine anymore. I stored them in the attic so that Igneous might sell them in the future.” “But those art mothers,” Igneous mumbled in confusion. “Exactly boy. They belonged to her, and she passed them down to thee. I stored them away to keep thee from breaking them. They art a gift to celebrate thy, ‘big moments,’ as she said. They sell for a good price, especially among the Equish.” Cloudy pushed up her glasses as she thought of a new plan. “So thee think we might maketh a profit off thy crafts? How many doth thee think we can sell in one week?” ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// “And so you sold them, for a nice bag of bits, right?” “Aye mother. I thank thee for thinking ahead on mine own behalf,” Igneous bowed his head politely. He did not know why his mother was here, but he chose not to ignore her for the first time in many years. He usually sensed her lurking in the shadows, usually when something monumental was happening in his life. He had mixed feelings about it since he told her he never wanted to see her again when they last spoke. He found it somewhat endearing, if not a little creepy, that she continued to hover over him from afar. He had found her camping out behind a rock on the west field and decided to end decades of precedent. “No need to thank me, Iggy. It was the least I could do for you. I hope you both enjoyed the wedding.” Igneous raised an eyebrow. “I am certain that thee already knoweth the answer to that question since thee were there.” She shrugged. “Maybe, perhaps, maybe.” She looked around the vast fields for something to talk about, when she spotted a little blob of gray that moved among the stones. She rubbed the back of her neck. “I thought I wouldst stop by to check on you since it’s been a few years. I must say, your little one is getting quite big! I remember when Cloudy was pregnant with her at that celebration you had.” Igneous nodded. “Aye, at Holder’s Boulder’s quadricentennial. But that was not Maud. The little one thy speaketh of is Limestone, her elder sister,” Igneous corrected, pointing at the toddler currently scowling at his mother from afar. “Two? My son has two babies?” she asked in surprise, suddenly feeling very old. Igneous’ eye twitched. “Aye. Maud was born a year or so after her sister.” “Ah, siblings so close in age, they may as well be twins!” she cried. Igneous’ body jerked as she shouted. She stared at him with narrowing eyes as she put the pieces together. She knew Pies, and Pies did not twitch or squirm unless something was truly getting to them. Reading her son like an open book. “You're having twins! How wonderful! Do you have names? How far along is she? What room will you put them in?” Igneous’ mind began to melt as his mother bombarded him with questions. They were reasonable since he was also thinking much of the same after the news of Cloudy’s third pregnancy broke. The couple had hoped that they might have time to recover financially, emotionally, and physically from the two children they already had, but things happen. They acknowledged that things might be a little strained and more complicated with a third, but they had a plan. Then, their third turned out to also be their fourth, and they no longer had a plan. All of the stress was rapidly turning Igneous’ purple mane grayer with each day. Cloudy would need to be put on bedrest soon, leaving him as the primary caretaker for two toddlers and an entire farm. They would need to find the funds for a midwife since this pregnancy would be more complicated than the other two. Rose could only do so much, and Burdock had resolved to follow Feldspar’s banishment and stay away from the Pie family homestead. Feldspar was gone, and Igneous missed him every day. He took solace in knowing that his father could meet at least two of his grandchildren before passing. Igneous' mother tentatively placed a hoof on her son once she noticed the sadness in his eyes. “Iggy, he would be so proud of you. He loved you so much.” Igneous allowed her to squeeze his shoulder. “Not as much as he loved thee.” He looked at his hooves.,“I thank thee for leaving flowers on his grave.” “How did you know that was me?” Igneous stared into the distance. “There art no ponies in this town who wouldst leaveth him flowers other than Cloudy and I.” “It…is a small gesture. It will never amount to what he did for me.” For years, when it was only Cloudy and him, he thought he was at peace with his mother’s abandonment. But then, he had his own children and felt his heart breaking all over again. He loved his girls so completely, more than life itself, that he would give everything away to keep them safe. The idea of leaving them was unfathomable to him, and it was unbearable to think of hurting them in any way. To think that his mother might have felt the same love, yet still chose to disappear devastated him. He did not look at her as they watched his children play. “He didst his best, and I shall do the same. Not a day shall go by where mine own children shall feeleth unloved by me. I shall protecteth them and careth for them until the day I die,” he professed with more emotion than he intended. “Good.” She said while shaking, but she still smiled. “I doth not think I couldst ever forgive thee for what thee didst,” he admitted with tears in his eyes. She nodded. “Then don’t. But know, that I am sorry Igneous, and that none of this was your fault. Everything that you have accomplished is through your own strength. You fought for the life that you deserved.” Igneous shook his head. “Nay. I couldst not hast done this alone. I wast empty for such a long time. But by the most wondrous chance, Cloudy came along and saved me.” “That's wonderful, son. She seems like a good pick. I won’t bother you anymore, but I appreciate you for taking the time to talk. And know that if you ever need anything, I’ll be around.” She rose to leave, but he grabbed her without thinking. He did not know what had come over him, perhaps it was the stress or the exhaustion, but he held her hoof in his own. He thought about how the standards for being a grandmother were much more relaxed than they were for mothers. His mother could not be around all the time, but sometimes was better than never. Especially, when he had this many responsibilities to handle. Maybe it was a poor idea, but if his life had taught him anything, Igneous had learned that sometimes the wildest ideas could produce the most exceptional results.