Chapter 1: A Dream Come True
The early morning sun shone through the curtains of the peaceful cottage located just on the edge of Ponyville. The rays bounced off the golden colored walls of the pink haired pegasus’ bedroom in a tranquil manner importing the room with a peaceful sense back into it from a long dark night.
The pegasus slowly opened her eyes. It seemed bright at first, but as her eyes adjusted, she received a clearer view of the illuminated room. She wearily turned over and rubbed her hoof across the empty side of the bed. Just another day, she thought.
She rolled onto her back, now staring at the ceiling. It has been the same every morning for almost a year. Eleven and a half months ago she had to say good bye to her lover who is a Sergeant in the reserves in the Royal Equestrian Army whose unit was deployed to Afghaneighstan to provide security to fend off rebels plotting to overthrow the country’s recovering government. Even her lover didn’t want to leave but knew it was his duty as an Equestrian soldier to follow orders and protect Equestrian citizens and the rest of the world.
Fluttershy remembered that day as if it happened yesterday. They were at Ponyville train station as other soldiers were saying goodbye to their families. She held him tight as her tears flew from her cheeks and onto her husband’s camo uniform.
After several minutes she withdrew from the embrace, tears still flowing as she looked into his eyes.
“Don’t worry Shy, I’ll be back before you know it.” He said calmly.
Fluttershy only nodded. She wanted to speak but no words came out.
He kissed her cheek and wiped away her tears with his hoof. “Be strong. I know this is hard but I know you can do this. Just be strong, sweetheart.”
He then moved down to Fluttershy’s enlarged belly. Fluttershy at the time was five months pregnant with their first foal. He put his hooves around her belly.
“Hey buddy. You don’t know me yet but I’m your papa. I know I might not be able to see you take your first breath into this world, but I will be here to see you grow up. I will make sure of that. You take care of your momma until I get back, okay? And no matter what happens, your daddy loves you.” He kissed her belly and sat back up.
He looked straight into her eyes; tears began flooding in his own. “I can’t believe I’m gonna miss the birth of my own daughter.
Fluttershy pulled him close. She was finally able to speak. “You may not be here when she’s born but you’ll be here to raise her. I know you’ll be a great father. I know you will…”
“I will make it back. I promise.” He said, looking back into her eyes.
Fluttershy continued to stare at the ceiling. It’s been eleven and a half months since she was able to feel the warmth of her husband when they embraced. She missed the kisses she got every morning before he left for work. She missed the tickle fights they’d have when they fought over what movie to watch. She even missed the times when they made passionate love. It was never the first thing on her mind whenever she thought of him but the thought of her being with the only stallion she’s ever been with and sharing an experience like that was like no other. No matter what she thought of, almost everything made her heart flutter.
She remembered the day she discovered she was pregnant. After an entire morning of mysterious puking episodes, Fluttershy and her husband, Thunder, made an appointment with Nurse Redheart to see if she was coming down with any sort of illness. When Nurse Redheart returned with a smile on her face, she announced the good news that they were expecting. Fluttershy had never seen him so happy since their wedding night. He began jumping up and down shouting “yes!” repeatedly and dancing around the room. He was excited that he was going to finally have a complete family.
This made Fluttershy smile. It’s only for a little while longer. She thought. Just then, a cry emanated from the other room. Fluttershy got up from beneath the bed covers and made her way into the next room. In the room was their daughter, whom they named Violet. She looked just like her father with a light purple coat and mane with bright blue eyes. Although her father had light white coat with a bright blue mane, she looked just like hime. Fluttershy picked her up from her crib.
“Hi Violet, sweetie.” She said with a beautiful smile. “How did you sleep, honey? Are you hungry, you want some breakfast?”
Violet threw her hooves in the air and made a sound with her tongue and giggled. Fluttershy giggled too at the sight of her daughter being silly.
“I take that as a yes.” Fluttershy replied. Violet mumbled something that sounded like ‘mama’ and laid her head on Fluttershy’s shoulder. Fluttershy suddenly felt butterflies in her stomach. She smiled and kissed Violet and headed downstairs to make breakfast.
Fluttershy made banana pancakes for herself and cinnamon oatmeal for Violet. They ate with smiles and giggles all around. By the time they finished, Violet’s mane was covered in the oatmeal.
Fluttershy sighed with a smile and nuzzled her daughter. “You’re such a messy little filly aren’t you?”
Violet replied with a smile and a tiny laugh.
“Well I guess it’s time for you to have a bath.” She said as she tickled her with her muzzle and blew raspberries on her belly.
As she began carrying her up the stairs, there was a knock on the front door. When she opened it, her lavender coated unicorn friend appeared with an unusually large smile.
“Good morning Fluttershy!” She squealed.
“Oh good morning Twilight. What brings you here?”
“I just went out for a morning stroll. After having Lightning, I’ve been trying to get back into shape.”
“Oh I know what that’s like.” Fluttershy replied, looking down from underneath her where Violet appeared. Twilight turned her head slightly and smiled.
“Why’s Violet covered in what I hope is oatmeal?” She giggled.
“We had a… messy breakfast.”
“I can tell. Hey Violet!” Twilight waved at the filly.
She flew her front hooves in the air and rolled backwards giggling.
Both ponies laughed.
“Oh Fluttershy I almost forgot! Are busy this afternoon?” Twilight asked.
“I don’t believe I do. Why do you ask?”
“Well I was curious and was wondering if you wanted to meet up in Town Square at four for a little mare’s time.”
“Oh, that would be lovely. I just need to ask for a foalsitter to…”
“You can bring Violet with.”
“Are you sure, Twilight?”
“Yeah of course! It’ll be great for both of you to get out. You haven’t been out much since Thunder was deployed. And even when Violet was born.”
She thought for a moment. “Your right, Twilight.” Fluttershy said. “Okay I’ll meet you at four.”
“Okay, see you then!”
They waved and said their goodbyes. Fluttershy closed the door and headed upstairs to give Violet a bath.
***
“It’s almost four; are you ready?” A rainbow maned pegasus asked.
“Yes Rainbow, I sure am.” The voice said.
“Now remember, when I receive the signal from Twilight, I’ll fly over and tell you, that’s when you head over there, okay? But after that I got to get back to cloud duty otherwise my boss will fire me.” Rainbow said.
“Roger that.” The stallion smiled. He suddenly felt nervous and excited.
***
After Violet received her bath, she and Fluttershy spend the rest of the time outside playing in the garden. Around four o’clock, Fluttershy put her daughter in a foal carrier and headed out to Towns Square. Once there, she noticed Twilight sitting on a bench reading a book.
“Hey Twilight.” She said cheerfully.
“Hm? Oh hey Fluttershy.” She said with a smile.
Fluttershy took Violet out of her carrier. “So what are we going to do on this fine afternoon?” She asked while looking at the sky.
“I’m not sure. I thought we could just stay here for a while and talk. Come here, Violet.” Twilight called to her. She crawled over and Twilight picked her up.
“Talk about what, Twilight?” Fluttershy asked.
“About Thunder.”
Fluttershy froze. “Oh no… is he…?”
“Oh no no no no. Nothing like that.” Twilight replied quickly.
Fluttershy sighed in relief. “You scared me!”
“I’m sorry. What I meant to say was have you heard from him lately?”
“Yeah… A few days ago.” She stared at the ground with her ears drooped down. “It was from a video call but the picture never came through. The audio was clear, thank goodness. It was good to hear his voice again but he told me that me that his unit will need to stay for another month.”
“I’m sorry Fluttershy. I know this is hard on you.” Twilight said. She threw her hoof in the air and quickly withdrew it and laid it on Fluttershy’s shoulder.
“It’s not me that I think it will be hard on. I just worry that something will happen to him and Violet will grow up without her father.” Fluttershy explained. She looked up and noticed Twilight looking past her with a big smile on her face.
“I don’t think that will happen, Shy.” She said.
“What do you mean, Twilight? What are you looking at?”
Twilight looked straight into her eyes. “Look behind you.”
Fluttershy turned around and noticed a familiar being in the distance. As it became clearer, she brought her hooves over her mouth and fell back on her bottom as she saw the being wearing the same all too familiar camo uniform that she cried and held onto all those eleven and a half months ago.
With tears flowing down her cheeks, she raced ahead at full speed towards the being, her husband, Thunder Shy.
Thunder flinched slightly and drew back a step at the sight of his wife’s speed. Fluttershy paid no attention as she wrapped her arms around him. She squeezed him tightly; she drew back and looked into her lover’s eyes as if to be sure that this was reality and not just another one of her dreams. She began peppering his face with kisses, not once letting go.
Thunder chuckled as the kiss attack continued. Ponies around them cheered and clapped and a few ‘welcome home, soldier’ greetings were heard but he paid no attention to them. The only thing that’s been on his mind was seeing his wife again and soon his daughter.
He gently laid his hoof on her cheek, wiping her tears away with the other. A smile spread across his face. “I told you I’d be back.” He said and gently brought his lips to hers.
The embrace lasted for what seemed like forever. After a few moments, they back away from the kiss and held each other.
Fluttershy sniffed. “Welcome back, honey.”
“It’s good to be back here with my family.” He replied.
She withdrew the hug and looked into his eyes. “There’s somepony you have to meet.” She took his hoof in hers and led him back to wear Twilight was holding their foal.
Twilight handed her over to Fluttershy. She took her in her arms and moved to show Thunder. “Meet your daughter, Violet.”
Thunder put a hoof over his mouth. “Is she…my daughter? She looks just like me…” His eyes began to water.
“Yes she is.” Twilight smiled. “Go ahead. hold her.”
He lightly held her in his arms. Violet looked at him with a blank expression, examining this unfamiliar face. He looked up. “She’s beautiful.” He then looked back down at her and spoke softly, “Hey buddy. I’m your papa. You don’t remember but eleven and a half months ago, while you were still growing in your mommy’s tummy, I promised I would be back for you and here I am. I’m gonna watch you grow.” He said.
Violet suddenly smiled and brought her tiny hoof to his cheek. Tears began running down his cheeks. He held her close and brought Fluttershy over in his other arm and held them.
“I’m so happy to be back.”
The crowd had long dispersed and let the tiny family be. They continued to hold on to each other until Twilight spoke.
“Fluttershy, Thunder. I don’t mean to interrupt but I have an idea. You should go out tonight, just the two of you.”
“What about Violet?” Fluttershy asked.
“Don’t worry, I’ll watch her. Besides, Lightning will be happy to see his buddy again.”
Thunder smiled. “Sounds good to me. What about you, honey?”
“Are you sure it won’t be any trouble, Twilight?” Fluttershy asked.
“It’ll be fine. You two need some time together and catch up on things. I don’t mind looking after Violet.” Twilight replied.
Fluttershy then nodded.
“Thank you Twilight.” Thunder said.
“It’s no problem. Now you two get on out of here.”
“We’ll pick her up at eight. Does that sound good?” Fluttershy asked.
“Sounds alright to me. See you guys then!” Twilight waved.
Fluttershy and Thunder got up and began walking back to their cottage.
On the way, Fluttershy spoke, “I woke up this morning thinking you weren’t gonna be back for another month and here you are….. You lied to me you butthead!” She playfully tapped at his shoulder.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. There was no other way for you to believe it. I just wanted to surprise you and make it memorable.” He replied.
She smiled and sighed lightly. “I forgive you. I love you Thunder.” She said as she laid her head against his shoulder.
“I love you too Fluttershy.” He replied and kissed her forehead.
When they made it back to the cottage, Thunder tossed his bag on the floor and sighed with a smile, lying on top of his bag.
“So where should we go tonight?” He asked.
Fluttershy thought for a moment. “I’m not sure. Where do you want to go?”
“I’ll go anywhere you want to go. What’s one place you’ve wanted to go to?”
“Well, I’ve been dying to go to La Fleur De L’amour.”
He smiled. “La Fleur De L’amour it is. Now I just need to get ready.” He said and grabbed his bag. He went upstairs into the bathroom and turned on the shower. As he went in, Fluttershy came through the door.
“Mind if I join you?” She asked.
“The more the merrier.” He said and winked.
Under the warm water, they slowly brought their lips together. Fluttershy wrapped her held her hooves on his back. He was an Earth pony and after being in Afghaneighstan for all that time had made his muscles toned.
Thunder joined in on the game. He laid one hoof on her side and the other on her lower back. He slowly moved down until his hoof was on his wife’s round rump. Upon this feeling, Fluttershy let out a squeak. She gave him a look that he read as “nice try buddy” following a wink. The game was now over.
After their shower, they headed into their bedroom. Thunder laid his gear pack onto the bed and unloaded its contents. Among the items were his extra Equestrian Army Combat Uniforms and Standard Equestrian Army Service Uniform. He wanted tonight to be extra special for his wife. After all, La Fleur De L’amour was the most expensive restaurant in Ponyville. But that didn’t matter, he thought. As long as they were together, nothing else mattered.
As he finished buttoning up his service coat, he walked in front of the bathroom mirror to position his service beret. He walked back to the bedroom and gazed upon his wife who wore a light pink dress that appeared to match her mane color.
Her mane seemed itself appeared to sparkle in the semi-lit room.
Thunder was astounded. “Wow Flutters. You look absolutely beautiful.”
Fluttershy blushed She walked towards him in a seductive fashion. “Well you don’t look so bad yourself, Sergeant.” She winked.
Thunder smiled and moved out from the doorway. “Fillies first.”
“Oh such a gentlecolt.” She said and walked out the door. Thunder followed close behind and playfully squeezed her flank. She squeaked and then laughed along with Thunder.
They locked the door to the cottage and walked down the trail into town. It was around six o’clock and the sun had already begun to set, leaving the sky with a dazzling orange glow. Upon entering town, the town’s folk greeted the couple in head nods and formal hellos. Even a few had stopped to shake Thunder’s hoof and thank him for his service.
By the time they made it to the restaurant, stars began to bloom across the night sky. A younger couple caught sight of the two and held the door open. Fluttershy and Thunder thanked the young stallion and he shook his hoof and thanked him.
The two entered through the second doorway and into the main foyer. The restaurant was lightly lit and carried a sense of peace. Classical music was played by a quartet near the middle just to the left of the bar area. Among them was a familiar looking grey coated Earth pony with a pink bow tie.
A few hoofs in front of them a young unicorn mare that appeared to be in her middle to late teens that attended the reception desk. She looked up and smiled.
“Hello there! Welcome to La Fleur De L’amour.” She announced with perfect pronunciation. “Table for two I presume?”
“Yes, Miss.” Thunder replied.
A light cyan aura surrounded two menus. “Alright, follow me and I’ll take you to your table.”
The young mare led them to an area near the corner of the restaurant that was occupied by a few other groups of ponies.
“Would you prefer a booth or a single table?” She asked politely.
“We can take the single table.” Thunder replied.
She smiled again and set the menus onto the table. As they sat down, she spoke again, “You’re server will be here in just a few moments. Enjoy your meal.” She smiled and walked back to the front.
A few moments later a young pegasus stallion appeared next to the table.
“Hello, my name is Slick and I’ll be your sever this evening. Can I start you off with a drink? Coffee, tea?” He asked, holding a small order booklet with his left wing. The pegasus appeared to be a laid back type of pony with a short cut mane similar to Thunder’s and a medium built body. He indeed sounded older than he appeared to be.
“I’m down with coffee.” Thunder announced.
“You got it.” Slick replied with a smile, writing down the order. “And what about you, sweetheart?”
“I’ll just have water.” Fluttershy replied.
“Okay. A water and coffee it is. I’ll be right back with those.” Slick said and turned toward the kitchen. He reappeared a minute later with the drinks. “Sugar or cream with your coffee, sir?”
“Oh no thank you, black’s fine.” Thunder replied.
“Okie doke. Are you ready to order?”
Thunder looked over the menu for the second time but couldn’t choose anything he wanted. Everything sounded so delicious.
“I’m not sure. What would you prefer?” Thunder asked.
“I’m not sure if I can answer. I mean I’ve tried almost everything on the menu and I personally loved every dish. But, if you’re in the mood for a little salty yet sweet, I would recommend the Tossed Equestrian Salad. It comes with a regular tossed lettuce, red lettuce, cucumbers, radishes, and sweet tomatoes topped with our own ranch house dressing.”
“Oh that sounds delicious. I’ll get that.”
“One order of the Tossed Equestrian Salad. And you, sweetie?”
“I’ll have the same.” Fluttershy replied.”
“Two orders of the Tossed Equestrian Salad coming right up.” He said with a smile. We returned the menus and Slick went back to the kitchen and helped other ponies.
Thunder took his beret from his lap and set it on the left side of the table. He looked up and noticed Fluttershy’s eyes staring right into his as if she was examining him.
Thunder smiled. “What?”
Fluttershy shook her head. “Oh nothing; just wondering what you’re thinking.”
“I’m thinking I love my beautiful wife.”
She blushed. “So what was it like out there?” She asked.
This shocked Thunder. She just had to jump to asking about it, he thought. His smile faded and his shoulders became stiff. “There’s nothing to really talk about that place. It’s just a desert with blistering heat twenty four seven.” He stared down at his coffee.
Fluttershy cocked her head to the side, confused to her lover’s answer. “Are you okay, Thunder?”
No answer. He appeared to be shaking slightly.
“Thunder?” She reached over the table and touched his hoof. He shook his head as if he was just taken out of a trance.
“Hmm?”
“Are you okay?” She asked again.
“Oh, yes I’m fine.”
“But it seemed like something was bothering you.”
“No I’m okay, don’t worry.”
Fluttershy knew that something was wrong but chose not to further divulge on the subject.
A few minutes later Slick returned with their food and asked if there was anything else they needed.
“No I think everything looks fabulous.” Fluttershy replied.
“Excellent. I’ll come back to check up on you two every few minutes and let me know if there’s anything that you need. Enjoy your meal.” He said with a smile.
The couple began eating their food and discussed events that Thunder had missed while he was deployed. Since he was curious, Fluttershy told of how Twilight had her first foal a few months after Violet was born.
“Oh yeah, how’s Flash doing?” Thunder asked.
“He’s doing okay. He got hurt from work a few weeks ago. He sprained his left wing while spinning clouds together. I’m not really sure how it happened. But he’s back at work now.”
Thunder swallowed a mouthful of salad. “Flash is a good stallion. Twilight made a good choice in marrying him.” He sighed. “But I still can’t believe I wasn’t there for Violet’s birth.”
“But you saw it on video.” Fluttershy replied.
Thunder couldn’t help but smile. “I know. It was in the middle of the night where I was. I remember telling you to be
strong and keep pushing and you did. And then that tiny cry appeared. I tell you I almost died that-“
“Well, well, well.” An older looking stallion interrupted, stumbling over to their table. He reeked of alcohol. “Whatta we got here? Whaz yer name, shweet flank?” He asked, rubbing his hooves on Fluttershy’s shoulders. Fluttershy was obviously uncomfortable and attempted to move but the stallion moved wherever she did.
“Excuse me!” Thunder began, “Get your hooves off of my wife.”
The stallion stopped and squinted and Thunder. “Who the buck are you?”
“I’m the stallion you don’t want to mess with.”
The stallion’s eyes suddenly went wide. “Holllly shit.” He turned to face Fluttershy. “You married a ffffoal-killer?” Patrons in the restaurant including the ponies playing the music stopped to see what the ruckus was. The stallion stumbled over to Thunder, using the table as leverage. He stared at the medals on Thunder’s uniform.
“Sso where did you get this one from? Killing ffffoals?” He asked, pointing at his expert markspony medal
Thunder’s blood began to boil but he held his ground. “I ask you sir not to put your hooves on my medals.”
The stallion lightly chuckled and made his way back over to Fluttershy. “Come here baby, let me show you who a real shtallion is.”
Fluttershy tried to get away but the drunken stallion pulled her towards him and attempted to kiss her.
He had enough. Thunder pushed the stallion down to the ground. “I told you to keep your filthy hooves off of my wife!”
The stallion quickly got back onto his hooves and stood face to face with Thunder. “You don’t tell me what to do!” He spit on and elbowed Thunder across the left side of his face.
Thunder held his ground. Before he could make a move, the restaurant security tackled the stallion and began escorting him out. On the way, he continued to spit out vulgar. “Go ahead and take your bitch wife, you foal-killer! I hope they bucking kill you!- Ow wait not there dammit. Take it easy that’s my arm…”
Thunder touched the now forming lump on his cheek and flinched in pain. He picked up his beret and picked up a table that tipped over when he pushed the stallion. Fluttershy attempted to put ice on the lump. Ponies nearby walked over to see if Thunder was okay.
“Dear Celestia, sir are you alright?” A voice said. Thunder turned over and noticed it was Slick their server.
He nodded. “Yeah. Yeah I’m alright.”
“Sir I am very, very sorry. This never happens here at La Fleur De L’amour.”
Thunder chuckled and managed a slight smile. “Always a first for everything, right?”
“Again sir I am very, very sorry. And for what it costs, your entire meal is on us.”
“Oh no that won’t be necessary.” Thunder protested.
“It’s the least we could do for a military service member.”
Thunder thought for a moment. He did want to but he finally agreed.
“Can we offer you a dessert? Also free of charge.”
Thunder kindly declined. “Oh no thank you.” He pulled Fluttershy close. “It’s time for us to pick up our daughter. Now that I’m back home, I have all the time in the world to spend with my family. Thank you Slick for the wonderful service.”
Slick smiled. “Congratulations sir. And it’s no problem. Anytime you come back, ask for me personally.” He held out his hoof. Thunder shook it. “Thank you for your military service.”
Thunder smiled and nodded. They left the restaurant and headed over to Twilight’s house.
Fluttershy kissed the lump on his cheek. “I’m sorry baby.”
He smiled. “It’s fine. Besides, it’ll go away soon.”
They made it to Twilight’s house and knocked on the door. Flash answered.
“Thunder! Sweet Celestia, how are you doing buddy?”
“I’m doing great, how about you?” Thunder replied.
“I’m doing great too, just now have been able to back to work. Wasn’t all that bad since I got to spend time with my son but it’s to get back to working.” He glanced at Thunder’s cheek. “What happened?”
“Oh some drunken stallion at La Fleur De L’amour tried to kiss Fluttershy, called me a foal-killer, spit on me, and then elbowed me in the face.”
“Yeah. There are ponies like that out everywhere that’ll treat service members like that, I’m afraid to say.”
Thunder nodded.
“But hey, we should all get together some time and have a cook-out.” Flash said.
“Yeah that sounds like a great idea.” Thunder replied.
Flashed smiled and turned around. “Hey Twilight, honey! Thunder and Fluttershy are here.”
“One second!” She replied. About a minute later she came through the doorway with a sleeping Violet.
Fluttershy beamed. “How was she?” She whispered.
“Oh she was wonderful. Her and Lightning had a great time.” Twilight replied.
“Thank you for watching her Twilight.” Thunder said.
“It’s no problem. Anything to help out my closest friends.”
Thunder smiled at the sight of his sleeping daughter. “We’ll see you guys soon.” He whispered.
They said their goodbyes and made their way home. Once there, they went upstairs and laid Violet in her crib. Thunder stayed and watched as her tiny belly rose up and down slightly with the rhythm of her breathing. Fluttershy stood next to him.
“Do you think I’ll be a great father?” Thunder asked, not taking his eyes off her.
“You already are. Why do you ask that?”
“It’s just something I needed to hear. And you are a great mother.” Thunder turned and looked straight into his wife’s aqua colored eyes. He leaned in and gently kissed her. “I promise I will be here for both of you whenever you need me. If there’s anything that I’ve learned from my deployment it’s cherish what you have right here right now because you will never know what will happen to it.
Fluttershy leaned against him. “Let’s head to bed, you had a long day.”
Thunder nodded and headed to their bedroom with Fluttershy. Fluttershy took off her dress and Thunder removed his uniform. They climbed into bed and held each other close as exhaustion begun to take over.
“Fluttershy?” Thunder whispered.
“Hmm?” She answered, half asleep.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”