Octavia and the Alicorn's Peace.
By.FoxofRarity
Chapter. 8
Disclaimer- Arthur's note at end. My Little Pony Friendship is Magic belongs to Hasbro and Lauren Faust.
In the throne room Celestia daydreams about something while in front of her is the president of a teacher’s union explaining that it will be good to extend its dominion into Ponyville and Canterlot.
Celestia with her hoof under her chin thinks out loud. “It’s amazing how after two hundred years Gold Sky believed that Nurse Redheart never died. How lucky that Nurse Redheart has the age delaying spell because if she didn’t have it then he will be sad right now crying on my shoulder.” Celestia did a light chuckle. “How innocent he is by thinking that ponies who are important to him are immortal.”
The president titled her head in total confusion at hearing her majesty liberally speak her mind. “Uh your majesty?”
“Huh!?” Celestia realized that she is thinking out loud and giving no attention to the president of the teacher’s union. But being blessed with the ability of supreme multitasking she didn’t have to pay attention while she daydreams because her ears heard everything. “Of course coming back to the topic at hoof.”
The president smiled at the Princess. “Well your majesty, I think that with the union Ponyville you can see a rise in A’s for the students there.” She ended with an ultra confident smile.
Celestia remembered years ago that she homeschooled Gold Sky, teaching him everything she knows in math, English, moral philosophy, history, and other things her immortal mind can give to her dear son. “Your proposal to expand into Ponyville and Canterlot will be denied.”
“What! Why your majesty!?” Asked the president.
“Because my dear, teacher unions don’t guarantee any success when the success lies with the teachers being more in tune with their students and the parents of the students being more involved with their education. Also Ponyville has the best teacher there can be. I think all of you members should go and watch how she teaches, all of you can learn from her. So please, I pray you heed my advice. And you should have your teachers tell the parents to get more involved and you’ll see the student grades go up.” Celestia got up from her throne and placed her hoof before the mare.
The president kissed Celestia’s hoof and left feeling defeating that she failed to get any form of progress for her organization.
One of Celestia’s guards asked why she denied the union from coming to Ponyville and Canterlot.
“I don’t see any use of those kinds of those organizations. Plus I don’t think Cheerilee will even join them because she loves to spend time with her students and teach them with a nurturing touch rather than a mechanized degree of duty they have to do. Besides an education does not only lie with the teacher it also lies with the parents.”
The guard keeled before her majesty. “Wow. I am honored to be basked in your wisdom!”
Celestia asked her guard to rise. “Please don’t give me a lot of praise my dear guard, now please take the rest of the week off. You have been on guard for three straight days. I can see bags under your eyes.” She patted her guard on shoulder. “Go and sleep for a full day.”
The guard thanked Princess Celestia for being so thoughtful of his wellbeing.
Celestia ordered her other guard to leave her presence.
“Okay let me just adjust the cushion a bit and time to connect to Gold Sky’s mind to see if he has feelings for Octavia.” Celestia felt some normal motherly curiosity.
“Oh my son is starting to have feelings for somepony!” Celestia tapped her hooves a few times. “Of course, I need to have that discussion with him when he comes back.”
So Celestia sat back on her throne and with her telepathy connected to Gold Sky’s mind to see and hear everything that’s happening to him.
Which he’ll be totally oblivious to.
***
In the Sugarcube Corner.
“Then I’m spinning around in the air while Luna spins too like we’re synchronized swimmers or something. Woooooo! Feeling the air hitting my face was so awesome!” Octavia moved her hooves about in the air to help Gold Sky see the picture of what she experienced with Princess Luna.
Gold Sky grinned to Octavia as she told him of her out of the normal but adrenaline pumping morning she had. “You had too much fun.” He giggled. “ Weren't you afraid though? Like you know, uh, Princess Luna might not catch you in time and…splat?” Gold Sky squashed a cup cake so Octavia can get the figurative language.
Octavia looked at the flattened cup cake. “Are you still going to eat that?” She asked with a sort of nervous voice.
Gold Sky looked at the mess on his hoof. “If I say yes will you get disgusted?”
Octavia beamed a happy, happy smile at him. “No I won’t get disgusted if you eat that cupcake, which in case you’ve forgotten, you love, love very much.”
Gold Sky did a short quiet laugh. “Wunderbar!” And proceeded in eating the yummy cupcake. “Anyway.” He wiped his mouth and hooves with a napkin. “Princess Luna not catching you and splat.”
“Well for the first couple of seconds I was a little doubtful about jumping off of Princess Luna’s back but she reassured me that I have nothing to be afraid of because she will never let me fall. Hearing those words made me forget my little fear and next thing I know I’m having what may be the grandest time of my life! Haheha, boy I felt like a Pegasus, oh, and maybe if I’m not being too farfetched saw a side of Princess Luna that probably nobody else sees.” Octavia handed Gold Sky another napkin.
The cloaked Unicorn thanked Octavia while asking why Princess Luna will ask her Octavia sky dive with her.
“I performed for Princess Luna and she really got taken away by the music I played.”
At hearing the gray mare talk about her music Gold Sky quickly leaned forward with his ears adorably moving forward to pick up every word about Octavia’s music.
“Oh how cute, he instantly got excited about my music. Guess that something he has in common with Princess Luna.” Octavia doted in her mind. “I should try to see if I can have him attend the rehearsal for my next performance so he can relish in my music while I try to find the right music that will get him out of this living illusion he’s in. I just find him to be very different and unique. Plus his smile always puts a happy beat inside of me.”
“Ahem, she told me herself that she was deeply moved by my performance so she personally invited me to have tea with her in the palace! Can’t you believe that Gold Sky, she invi…”She remembered something. “Uh never mind that part Gold Sky. Going back, we had tea, chatted about a lot of things like how she can fly about in outer space and nothing will happen to her.” Suddenly Octavia’s eyes widened with outstanding astonishment. “She told me that she stopped an asteroid from hitting earth!
Gold Sky’s jaw dropped. “Whoa like how big was the asteroid!?”
“About the size of a half moon and she said that it weighed about two quintilian tons more or less she also said it must have been part of a white dwarf.”
“Hmm.” Gold Sky started to think. “That sounds like a lot, wonder how many zeroes there are in that number?”
Octavia gently touched Gold Sky’s right hoof making him blush but she failed in noticing. “Maybe a bunch. After our chat she showed me to a guest room and you should know the rest.”
Gold Sky giggled. “From what you finished telling me it looks like this is the glorious start of a wonderful friendship between the both of you.”
“Huh. I never thought of that. But I guess you may be right.” She grabbed her bottle of sarsaparilla. “What do say? Cheers again?”
“Of course. Cheers!”
*Cling*
Both ponies laughed with enjoyment in this time they’re having together.
*
“Humph.” Celestia grunted. “It was only eight hundred million tons not two quintillion.”
After that thought of Luna’s bragging she resumed her little maternal spying mission on her son.
*
Octavia wanted to ask Gold Sky something that could a little too close to the chest but why not. “Hey Gold Sky how did you feel when Princess Luna rubbed her tail against your chin?”
“Uhm…?” This time he blushed the darkest hue of red. “Y-you saw th-that?”
“Yes. And I guess it made you uncomfortable right.”
The teal eyes of the cloaked Unicorn looked away from the gray mare, he did not feel that uncomfortable but he felt extremely honored in a sort of awkward way to be a specimen in Princess Luna’s affectionate or flirtatious mannerisms.
*
Celestia’s pupils shrunk to black dots.
“LUNA!!” She roared at the top her lungs that everypony in the whole palace heard. “GET OVER HERE NOW!!!”
“Uh oh.” Luna felt the hair rise on the back of her neck.
*
“I-I-I-, ga, tssssh, fe-fe-felt, ssh, ssgra, weird…” Gold Sky managed to say before stuffing his mouth with cupcakes so he can stop before he makes a fool of himself through his stuttering.
Octavia understood what Gold Sky said. He is shy, has a speech impediment that comes when he’s around her, asked who Princess Luna was before correcting himself that he knew who she was, but what striked her fancy curiosity for Gold Sky is his consistency to wear a cloak. She didn’t like the brown one he had at first however the white one he’s wearing now that he bought from Rarity goes well with him along with the chocolate brown patch of his coat that wraps around his neck plus the milk white patch of his coat on his chest. First time she meets a painted or pinto pony.
“Like what sort of weird?”
“Do I have to answer that…?” He asked in a small voice since in that tone he won’t stutter.
Octavia sighed and laid her hoof on his right hoof again. “If I’m making you feel uncomfortable again then you don’t have to answer the question.”
“I…I felt honored in a weird way that Princess Luna will do that to me. Like the Princess literary touched me and she did so with grace.” Gold Sky asked Pinkie Pie for more cupcakes so he can stuff them in his mouth.
*
“Awwww, he sees Luna as her majesty and he sees me as his dearest loving mother rather than her majesty.” Celestia wishes she can teleport to the Sugarcube Corner right now and give him a big hug. But he needs his space in his lunch with Octavia and to see if he has deep feelings for that mare.
Luna came into the throne and sat in front of her sister waiting to hear what she has to say.
*
Pinkie Pie came by and told the both them that she will be leaving because she has to go to Canterlot to help arrange a party for Fancy Pants and Fleur-De-Lis. Of course her words fell on deaf ears so she left.
“So you really were awe struck by her presence.”
“Yes I guess.”
“Guess? You guess?” Octavia asked with a wise tilt of her head.
Gold Sky saw that she believes half of his answer. “I was awe struck and I’m not guessing.”
Octavia went on screening Gold Sky with a light knowing of his experience that he went through by Princess Luna. “You said she has a flawless figure will you be kind enough to elaborate.”
“Well I was not checking her out…” Octavia spoke up stopping Gold Sky in mid-sentence.
“I know that so you can please stop saying that. What I want to know is what do you mean by saying that?”
“Why are you asking me this?” Gold Sky asked.
“Well you’re answering the questions I’m asking.” Octavia beamed a clever smile at Gold Sky.
Octavia sure is something and Gold Sky is just being taken away by this mare. The more he talks to her the more his mind wraps itself around her and the more he thinks about her beautiful eyes.
“You’re right about that.” *Deep breath* “To me Princess Luna’s beautiful figure looks like she has been hand chiseled by the Great Spirit himself making her so flawless and just amazing to look at. Ha! If I had the ability to paint I will make the best painting I can for her and show it to her so I can be honored by any amount of her admiration and be honored to kiss her hoof.”
“Hmmm.” Octavia is pretty amazed by Gold Sky’s sheer description of Luna. “So she’s the most beautiful pony in all of Equestria?”
“Ahhhh, I wouldn’t say she’s the most beautiful pony but her beauty is just amazing.” Gold Sky looked at Octavia who has her attention focused on him. “But her eyes cannot be compared to yours.”
Octavia’s face lit up at hearing that. “You really mean that!”
“Yes I mean that. Your eye color is so, so well if I say beautiful or flawless I will simply be repeating myself with those words however I will compare your eye color to the serenity of your music when I first heard it. Beyond anything I can think of.” Gold Sky wants Octavia to be pleased by his words.
“Aww!” Octavia voiced affectionately allowing Gold Sky to know that she is very well pleased by his words. “You just made my day even better.”
Gold Sky blushed again, being two hundred and three years old doesn’t help him in this still nonetheless he’s happy to be with Octavia right now. He’s shy too of course but not enough that will make him stutter too much or make his tail go between his hind legs.
“He’s is just so adorable… does he like me?” Octavia thought while Gold Sky ate his salad. “He’s so talkative to me, finds a flaw in the flawless Princess Luna through her eyes…” She paused to look at him with a touch of caring curiosity. “He thinks a lot of me and perhaps I’m his first friend.”
Then without warning the wailing of a baby surprised the both of them. Mrs. Cake came out with a crying Pumpkin Cake in her arms. She tried relentlessly to sooth her dear daughter and so did Mr. Cake but no matter how the hard the mother and father tried Pumpkin Cake just will not stop crying.
Gold Sky without saying a word but with love in his eyes got up from the table; Octavia followed him to see what he’ll do.
“Excuse me.” He waited until both the mother and father look at him. “With your permission can I please try to comfort her? That is of course with your permission.”
Mrs. Cake looked at her husband with a look that is not maternal worry but maternal question that this cloaked stallion looks very confident in this question plus he has a look of love in his teal eyes.
Octavia looked on to see what Mrs. Cake will do.
Mr. Cake nodded at his wife. Since Pinkie isn’t here with them they have to try whatever they can to sooth their wailing daughter. “I guess you can try but what’s your name first.” Mrs. Cake asked.
“My name is Gold Sky.”
Mrs. Cake did a fast breath. “Please be extremely careful with my precious gingersnap.” With tender motherly care she handed Pumpkin Cake to Gold Sky.
Gold Sky with supreme skill took hold of Pumpkin Cake.
“Let’s see what he’ll do?” Octavia thought.
*
Celestia thought the same thing too while she raises her hoof to make Luna be quiet.
*
Gold Sky held the adorable foal in his arms with a kind smile on his lips; his teal eyes look at the foal with a softness that is found in any pony is filled with great love. “Ssh, ssh, ssh, sssssh.” He coos to Pumpkin Cake. “Please open your ears dear child.” His voice just reflects the confidence in his loving eyes making Octavia’s pupils widen to witness such a thing from this cloaked shy Unicorn.
“Somewhere beyond the sea, somewhere waiting for me, my lover stands on golden sands and watches the ships that go sailing. Somewhere beyond the sea she’s there watching for me. If I could fly like birds on hiiiiigh then straight to her arms I’ll go sailing…” Gold Sky sang softly to Pumpkin Cake. “It’s far beyond the stars; it’s near beyond the moon. I know beyond the doubt my heart will lead me there soon…” Slowly Pumpkin Cake stopped crying, making Mrs. Cake, Mr. Cake, and Octavia…jaws drop, seriously their jaws dropped. Pumpkin Cake is known not be soothed that easily and yet Gold Sky sooths her within seconds by singing to her in a voice rich in, in, paternal instinct.
“We’re meet beyond the shores, we’re kiss just as before happy we’re be beyond the seeeeeea and never again I’ll go sailing.” Gold Sky softly rocked her in his arms while he sang. The foal yawned, cutely that is, moved about in his arms to make herself comfortable and fell asleep.
Gold Sky looked up at Mrs. Cake with that soft smile. “There calm and asleep. Here.” Again with supreme skill he gave the foal back to its mother.
“Whoa!” Gold Sky got snatched by Octavia.
“How did you do that!?” She asked while her mind is just going crazy to know how this stallion can make Pumpkin Cake fall asleep.
“Do what?”
Octavia gasped. “That!! You just soothed her with relative ease, c’mon tell me! Please, please, please!”
Gold Sky didn’t know what to say to Octavia, he has no intention to talk about his skill in this but his iron will is being melted away by Octavia’s beyond beautiful eyes causing him to speak without vital thought. “Experience.” He said with complete truth.
Octavia tilted her head again. “Experience? In what way?”
Gold Sky realized what he thoughtlessly said to the gray mare, not only making fear enter his mind but caused images of a young griffon to flash before his eyes. “Foal sitting…foal sitting. Foal sitting!”
Octavia nodded. “Oooh that makes total sense.”
Gold Sky sighed in relief.
However, little does he know, Mr. & Mrs. Cake have an event to attend and they found somepony to fill in Pinkie’s absence.
***
In the throne room, Luna cleared her throat to get Celli’s attention. “Sister you called, wait not that, more like roared for me to get over and you are not talking to me. Is there something you wish to talk to me with or should I just leave?”
Celestia decided to pause on her spying and focus on something much more important in this circumstance. She is in a motherly form of mad that Luna will brush Gold Sky’s chin with her tail a thing that is plainly associated with flirting or courting.
“Luna why did you brush my son’s chin with YOUR TAIL!” Celestia shout alone made Luna’s stardust back turn back in wavy hair.
The Princess of the Moon almost went into a loss of words. “I-I-I was only being nice and thought your son was checking me out so I thought I…” Wait a minute. “What!?”
“Don’t what me Luna just tell me why you did that!” Celestia demanded.
“You said son.” Luna got near her sister. “You have a son????” She wonders how in the world Celestia will say son if she never had any children.
“Of course I have a son Luna his name is…!” Celestia remembered something. “Oooooooooh, I forgot that I never told you about him.”
“About who and what do you mean by son. Did you give birth to a colt and you never told me! How can you get pregnant!! TELL ME WHO YOUR SON IS I WANT TO KNOW!” Now Luna is the one doing the shouting.
Celestia saw that in her former mad state she forgot that Gold Sky was born when Luna was still in the moon and Luna came back to her when Gold Sky was in his two hundred year journey. Thus only she and Nurse Redheart were the only ones who had knowledge of Gold Sky.
“Gold Sky is his name.”
*GASP!* “That cloaked Unicorn is your son! He’s your son!” Luna got confused rather than satisfied. “So you given birth to a son, a prince of your flesh and blood!”
A cold feeling gripped Celestia’s chest. “Gold Sky may not be of my flesh and blood but he is my son but a prince? Don’t know about that.”
Luna’s wings shot up because she wants Celli to talk. “Sister please tell me about your son, my uhm well nephew. I sincerely want to know about this stallion.”
Celestia got off of her throne. “Luna I never got pregnant.”
“If you never gotten pregnant then how can you have a son?”
“I adopted him. His parents died before his eyes and his mother who was a student of mine asked me to raise him. So I raised him and I love him with all of my heart.”
Luna couldn’t believe she left out the adoption option. “When did you adopt Gold Sky?”
“Two hundred and two plus one half years ago.”
The princess got up on all fours, she asked Celestia if she’s lying, nopony can live for that long.
“Unless!” Luna gasped with her mouth dropping open allowing an insect to fly in but then it flew out when it came to realize that it flew into Luna’s mouth. “He’s…a Alicorn li-li-like me, no, LIKE YOU!”
“Yes, he’s an Alicorn born naturally through a Unicorn mother and Pegasus father.” Celestia covered Luna with her wing. “Don’t start wondered about the Unicorn and Pegasus couples here in Equestria, I’ve studied them and I came to conclude that Gold Sky’s unique birth is only exclusive to his mother and father. Also Cadance found out something very important about him.”
“Cadance met him before he met me!” Luna squealed in unfair disdain. “I’m the fun one of the three!”
“She had breakfast with him too.” Celli rubbed it in just for fun.
Luna knows Celli is toying with her. “What did she find out about your dear son?”
Celestia smiled to be answering Luna’s question. “He is the physical manifestation of Love.”
“What!?” Luna’s hair changed from wavy to stardust along with her wisdom figuring out this dire but great piece of information of this male Alicorn. Love is very powerful and it cannot be harnessed into an Element unless the one who’s doing the harnessing is Princess Cadance making her the only pony to possess the Element of Love which can basically overpower Magic, Generosity, Loyalty, Honesty, Kindness, and Laughter. “Are you saying that this Gold Sky is the living embodiment of the emotion that Cadance spreads all over this earth?”
Celestia opened her mouth to say something but Luna placed her hoof over Celli’s moth. “Wait a minute don’t you think that Cadance may have an influence on Gold Sky being the physical manifestation of Love?”
The Princess of the Sun grasped this question with deep thought, she never has thought of Cadance being of any kind of influence in Gold Sky’s infinite love.
Luna went on. “Don’t you think that.” She stopped out of consideration that Celestia is Gold Sky’s adoptive mother but a question is only a question no matter if it’s light or severe or offending. “If Cadance had an influence on him wouldn’t that make her his…mother?”
Celestia’s ears dropped. She looked away from Luna and her wise but sometimes decrepit mind created living images of Gold Sky as a colt not sleeping under her wing but sleeping under Cadance’s wing. Suddenly Celestia’s mind got rid of the living image. On her lips a grin formed. A grin for remembering that Cadance had no knowledge of Gold Sky. “No it will not, she like you had no knowledge of him but she is the one who discovered that he’s the physical manifestation of Love.”
“Ah! How nice of Cadance. Soooooooo...” She cooed adorably to end this discussion with Celli. So she can go find Gold Sky and see him without his cloak. “Are you still mad at me for brushing your son’s chin with my tail?”
“A bit, but he never had that talk so I intend to have that talk with him.” Celestia said to Luna all while her horn glowed to turn Luna’s stardust mane into wavy hair.
“What talk?”
Celestia waved her hoof circular motion. “You know that talk. The talk.”
Luna still does not get what Celestia is saying. “Seriously sister, just tell me what the talk is!”
*Annoyed sigh* “The talk parents have with their children when the children start having loving emotions inside of them.”
“OOOOOH! Why didn’t you say that before, ow!” She felt a light swat to the back of her head. “But if he’s the physical manifestation of Love then why do you need to have that talk with him?”
“He is shy around Octavia and as his mother it is my duty to have that talk with him.”
“How cute Celli, you take your motherly duties to heart, I’m sure he must love it very much.” Luna’s voiced with a cover of sarcasm.
“Yes Luna he loves my affection and he loves every word I speak him.”Celestia voiced with the regal truthful cover she has every time she speaks.
Luna grunted. “Everything just seems to work out for you sister.”
“You’ll see him tomorrow Luna. Please let me have him for myself a little bit more.”
Luna laughed at this and continued laughing as she headed to the entrance of the throne room so she can leave. “You act like you haven’t seen him for a long time.”
“I haven’t seen him for the past two hundred years.” Celestia revealed.
“Oh, my apologies sister.”
Luna left the throne room.
***
“Here you go Gold Sky.” Mrs. Cake handed the cloaked Unicorn a warm bottle of milk so he can feed Pound Cake who he has in his arms.
Mr. Cake came by Octavia who watches Gold Sky with amazement.
“I say Octavia, your husband has such skill with children that I guess it can make most mothers a wee bit jealous.”
The gray mare looked at Mr. Cake with her mouth moving to find words. “H-he’s not my husband! He’s my friend; we’re friends not a married couple.”
“Oh.” Mr. Cake smiled at the gray mare. “I’m sorry dear. But you can’t deny the fact that your friend is amazing.”
Octavia agreed with Mr. Cake in that point.
“Any who I hope he won’t mind babysitting.” Mr. Cake trotted away to gather up some supplies.
“Babysitting? I thought that Pinkie Pie is the one the Cakes will always go to. Hey where’s is Pinkie Pie?” Octavia thought.
Gold Sky who is right now happily feeding Pound Cake did not notice the Cakes gathering up delicious looking pastries, a big cake that only needs frosting, and bags full of candy.
Mrs. Cake trotted up to the cloaked Unicorn. “Gold Sky, will you like to babysit the twins?”
“Yes…wait what!?” Gold Sky couldn’t believe that they will ask him this especially him of all ponies.
Mrs. Cake repeated what she said.
“I can’t babysit your dear children, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, i-i-i-isn’t th-th-there tsssh, somepony else who can watch over your children?”
Octavia spoke up. “Isn’t Pinkie Pie the one who babysits the twins?”
Gold Sky smiled to this unintentional help from Octavia. “Yes what Octavia just said, thank you, what she said, what she said.”
“Pinkie Pie isn’t here she had to uh how you say, scout, an event that is being hosted by Fancy Pants and his wife Fleur-de-Lis.” Mr. Cake explained while he washes his hooves.
Octavia’s left eyebrow went up. “Why will you have Pinkie do that when she is the one to always babysit the twins?”
Gold Sky smiled some more. “Yes excellent question, what she said, what she said!”
“I had a feeling that I’ll find somepony who can babysit my little gingersnaps.” Mrs. Cake answered.
Hearing this Gold Sky’s ears dropped. “Great, there’s no use in arguing against maternal instinct. I’m stuck and I’m going to babysit these twins…hmm, maybe I can ask them for some more of Pinkie Pie’s cupcakes so I can take them for mother.”
“Well if I say yes can I get some more of Pinkie Pie’s cupcakes when you came back?”
“Of course dearie.” Mrs. Cake replied.
Still Gold Sky has two questions left to ask. “Why me though? I’m a stallion wouldn’t you feel much more comfortable with a mare babysitting your children?”
Mr. Cake took the opportunity answer this question. “Well from judging the way you soothed Pumpkin Cake along with seeing the way your eyes shined as you fed Pound Cake, me and my wife concluded that you are capable of babysitting our children.”
Gold Sky groaned in his breath. “Can’t argue with paternal instinct too.”
Last question. “Can Octavia stay with me so she can help me??”
The gray mare almost jumped back. She plans to practice some music she has been writing for the past week and to tell her father about the incredible morning she has spent with Princess Luna. “Hmmm I can always double my practice tomorrow and I think father isn’t home today now that I think about it.” Her curiosity for Gold Sky grew some more and she wishes to get to know him some more.
“Sure I’ll be more than happy to help Gold Sky.” *Squee!*
Mr. and Mrs. Cake shot each other smiles. “Perfect!” Mrs. Cake exclaimed joyfully. “Come along honey cake we got a party in Canterlot to feed and witness another one of Pinkie’s signature parties!”
Mrs. Cake kissed her children, waved good bye at Gold Sky, and departed with Mr. Cake to Canterlot.
Gold Sky sighed, he’s not afraid to babysit these adorable foals what he’s afraid of is the pain that will accompany the resurgence of his paternal instinct that he had to chain down in his mind on that heart stabbing night when he left the Griffon Republic. Adding another scar to his already deeply scarred mind. The twins smile at him, meaning that this will be easy.
“Octavia.”
“Yes Gold Sky?”
“I’m sorry for bringing you into this; I was just antsy to babysit these children.” Gold Sky softly ruffled up Pumpkin Cake’s hair while being careful not to touch her horn.
Octavia can tell that Gold Sky isn’t telling her everything he has in mind.
“Is that really all Gold Sky?”
“I wanted some extra insurance because, well look, I’m a stallion taking care children and most or all of the time mares are the ones who babysit children. This is the first time somepony asks me to babysit children and uhmm you’re a mare so yeah you know.”
Octavia chuckled at Gold Sky’s out of place but still normal insecurities. “I can see why you will think that but who can argue against your skill with children. Now putting that aside, there should be a list of things that Mrs. Cake gave to Pinkie Pie now we got find err I mean I got to find it. Maybe I should start in her room.” She went up the stairs to Pinkie’s room.
“Thanks Octavia.” Gold Sky said out loud to himself.
“Ahlaalaa!” Pumpkin Cake said to the cloaked Unicorn.
“Why yes Pumpkin Cake I can help you fly.” Gold Sky lied down on a couch, on his back of course, his magic picked up the foal and he took hold of her with his hooves. “Wooo! Weeeee! You’re flying Pumpkin Cake! Look at you fly weeeeeee!” He gently moved her across the air. “Oof!” He felt Pound Cake jump on his belly. “Dang, guess you want a go too.” He asked Pound Cake.
“Laagoogawho.” Pound Cake answered.
Gold Sky smiled at the colt. “All righty then. Pumpkin Cake please don’t jump on my belly.” He placed her down and picked up Pound Cake
“Woohoo you fly, you fly! Yaaaaaaaaaaaay, hey you’re a Pegasus you should be flying pretty soon? Eh but I bet your mommy and daddy do this to you don’t they.”
Pound Cake laughed some more to the simulated flying experience.
While Gold Sky entertains the twins Octavia comes down the stairs with the list of responsibilities in her mouth. “Pleh.” She spat out the list. “Don’t like the taste of old paper.”
“OOF! No don’t jump on my belly you two! OOF!” Gold Sky caught Pumpkin Cake in midair. “Octavia please catch Pound Cake!”
The gray mare caught Pound Cake. “There got him. I found the list and I think we can check off the feeding part since you fed Pound Cake and Mr. Cake fed Pumpkin Cake. It says here we should check if they need a diaper change.”
Gold Sky sniffed the air. “No don’t they need a diaper change.”
“How can you be so sure?”
Gold Sky pointed at his nose. “I have a very sharp sense of smell Octavia and my nose never fails me.”
“Well that’s good to know. Ok then next here on the list it says we should read them a story.”
Gold Sky smiled at hearing that.
Octavia looked around at her surroundings. “Is there a book around here?”
“Don’t worry Octavia I got that covered.” Gold Sky took the foals with sat them down on a rug and he plopped down on his rump before them. “You two want to hear a story?”
“Balawagaya.”The twins laughed in response.
“Is that a yes or a no?” Gold Sky asked Octavia.
“I think that a yes.”
Gold Sky thanked Octavia, he cleared his throat, and remembered a story that has been passed down from generation to generation in his tribe.
“Do you two know why turkeys are scared of ponies?”
The twins shook their heads.
“Wow I’m amazed they understand me.” Gold Sky thought.
*Ahem* “For let me tell you the tale of a young mare who had no mother and father and no name. Everypony in the village knew her by one name, turkey mare because she cared for the turkeys of the village. She cared for them so much that she can communicate with them and the turkeys can communicate with her. Soon as it is custom in the village everyone began preparing for a festival that celebrates the end of summer and the birth of autumn. In this festival everyone made fine dresses and suits, oh how turkey mare longed to go the festival but without a dress she will be laughed at for not dressing for autumn’s birth. So as preparations continued turkey mare spoke with the turkeys telling them about the festival and wishes that for just one time she can have a fine dress and go to the festival. Do you two know what will happen next?”
Pound Cake shrugged his shoulders and Pumpkin Cake shook her head.
“What happens next?” Octavia asked for she too is entranced by the story.
Gold Sky lovingly laughed. “Don’t worry, you three shall know soon enough. There was only one night left until the festival. While turkey mare slept all of the turkeys gathered together to talk about turkey mare, all of them love turkey mare very much and they see how much she longs to go to the festival so all of them came up with a plan, a plan will give turkey mare the happiness she rightfully deserves. When morning came all of the turkeys went to turkey mare to ask her something. They asked her to aggressively swing her arms at them like she’s going to hit them; of course turkey mare who loved of all them will never do such a thing to them. The turkeys asked her again but as before she said no. Seeing that they are left with no other choice the turkeys jumped at her, flapping their wings and squawking loudly. With fear consuming her turkey mare swung her arms at her dear friends striking some them on the wings. BUUUUUUUUUT…!” Gold Sky paused for dramatic effect making the eyes of the twins widen with untold curiosity. “In her temporary blindness she failed to notice a beautiful dress to fall from the wings of a turkey, shiny horseshoes from another, and a tiara from the eldest turkey. At delivering the gifts to the young mare they stopped so she can see the surprise that waits for her. She opened her eyes and gasped in overwhelming joy. She touched the dress to see if what she sees is real…it is. The turkeys came to tell her that they did this for her to thank her for her kindness. Turkey mare instantly got the dress on along with the shiny horseshoes and lastly the tiara just in time to hear the start of the festival. Before going to the festival she thanked the turkeys for doing this for her. However, the eldest turkey came up to the young mare. He told her she deserves this for her kindness towards them but they asked not stay out too long and to be back before midnight. Turkey mare made a promise that she will be back before midnight. She went to the birth of Autumn festival, upon arriving everypony there stared at her with awe! Never have they seen anypony with such grace and beauty…” Octavia interrupted Gold Sky by saying a name out of impulse.
“Like Rarity!” She said.
“Uh, yes like Rarity!” Gold Sky said to please Octavia. “Everypony welcomed turkey mare. For the first time she felt so happy, not only to be in the festival but also to be accepted by everypony else. She ate the fine foods she has smelled in past, savoring each bite. She drank the finest juice of the purist grapes. Many stallions asked her for a dance and dance with them she did. Turkey mare filled up with immeasurable happiness. Happy for the fact that she gets to celebrate the birth of Autumn, happy that she is accepted by everyone, happy that she gets to dance, happy for the fact…that she is happy.” Gold Sky abruptly stopped.
*Sniff sniff*
“Oh my they need a diaper change!” He started to get up but Octavia stopped him, asking him to first finish the story. “All right, all right.”
*Ahem*
“The sun began to set so the ponies began the fire of the ceremony to bring forth the birth. Night came, she danced more, drank more, and felt happy some more. What she did not know is that in her joy she forgot her promise!”
Pound Cake, Pumpkin Cake, and Octavia gasped at hearing that.
“The birth of Autumn came to sound of drums beating. Turkey mare came to her senses at the sound of the drums; she gasped and ran from the festival tripping over a stone tearing her dress and losing her tiara. She ran to the hills where her turkeys live, at arriving, the turkeys looked at her with eyes that echo betrayal. She called out to them but the turkeys turn their backs to her and flew away but the eldest turkey stayed and told her that if she kept her promise this would not be happening to her. With those words the eldest turkey flew into the night ceasing the communication that turkey mare used to have with them. She lost her friends, her dress, her happiness. That is why turkeys fly away when ponies get near them. The end.”
The foals smiled at Gold Sky for telling them a wonderful story even though they’re too young to understand that the story had a sad ending or the moral of it.
“Gold Sky, let me guess the moral of the story.” Octavia asked.
“All right.” He said.
“The moral story of the story is to always keep your promises no matter how big or small.” Octavia tilted her head hoping that her answer is the right one.
“Yes you are correct Octavia.” Gold Sky said while his horn glows picking up the twins and placing them on his back so he can give them a diaper change.
The gray mare clapped her hooves in content.
Gold Sky stopped at a table, placed the twins on table to begin the process of the diaper change. “Okay you two, both of you look like you’re ready for a diaper change. You won’t mind if I hold my breath will you?”
The twins just laughed in response.
After taking in a complete breath Gold Sky began to change the diapers. “Octavia hand me the baby wipes please.”
“Sure.” Octavia gave him the plastic container.
“Oh, hand me the other container this one is empty.”
Octavia grabbed the second container and gave to Gold Sky. His horn levitated two wipes, he wiped their bottoms, applied talc powder, placed the clean diapers on, and done. Gold Sky released his breath. “Phew, didn’t get a whiff of those dirty diapers.”
Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake jumped off of the table and began to run around the place like they’re exploring their surroundings. Gold Sky went after Pound Cake to stop him from pounding the bookshelf down.
Octavia got a little idea. “Hey Gold Sky look what Pumpkin Cake is doing.”
*Gasp* “Pumpkin Cake! Don’t chew on that…what the!? Is that a explosive charge from the Griffon Republic? Give me that!” Gold Sky took the metal object from the foal. “How does a baby end up with a explosive charge from the Griffon Republic!!!!” Gold Sky yelled.
“Pinkie got it to prank the Cakes.” Octavia giggled. “And I guess it did its job of giving you a bit of a funny scare.”
Gold Sky turned to Octavia while putting Pumpkin Cake on his back on his so she can play with his hair. “That’s not funny Octavia! AH! She’s chewing on my ear, hahaha, it tickles! Oh and she’s drooling too! Hahaha!” Nothing feels weird plus so tickling than Pumpkin Cake chewing on his ear.
Octavia giggled some more. “Wonder what else does the list say?”
Gold Sky stopped Pound Cake from pounding a bag of flour. “No, no, I’m sure your parents won’t take the loss of their much needed flower very like lightly. Ohwawawawawa.” He felt some of Pumpkin Cake’s drool get inside his ear. “Ewww, it feels so weird!” Gold Sky got Pound Cake on his back. “Pound my back instead!”
Pound Cake obeyed and pounded Gold Sky’s back.
“Uh oh!” Octavia saw that they, well not they per say, but Gold Sky missed one step on the list. “Gold Sky, you missed one step.”
“Which on, ow! Don’t pound my head. Which one?”
“You need to give them a bath.”
Gold Sky’s magic levitated both foals into the air so for once they can stay put and not chew plus drool on ear and pound his head. “Ok thanks Octavia have fun giving them a bath.”
“What? I’m just your extra insurance not your helper.”
“Please Octavia.” He asked in adorable begging voice.
The gray mare came and placed a hoof on his shoulder. Almost immediately her keen hearing picked up Gold Sky’s heartbeat speeding up. “Now the Cakes asked you and not me to take care of their precious little gingersnaps.”
“But…” Gold Sky tried to say something but only got cut off by the gray mare.
“Gold Sky, take full responsibility for this duty, it says her to give them a bath and give them a bath you will. Ah, ah!” She covered his mouth with her hoof, now she feels his body heat going up. “For obvious reasons you fail to see, the Cakes trust you and with that trust you must show them that you are responsible. Like Pinkie Pie or Pinkie Responsibility Pie. Now do you understand what you must do?” Octavia asked while her hoof still covers his mouth.
“Her hoof touches my lips!” He thought loudly in his mind.
“I’m waiting Gold Sky.”
Gold Sky nodded.
Octavia smiled at Gold Sky. “Now go give them a bath Gold Sky, I’ll come up with the towels.”
Gold Sky took the twins to the bathroom floating above his head to keep them from causing havoc, he turned on the water so the tub can fill up and waited while he looks up at the twins. Both of them stuck out their tongues at him. “Oh you two are so adorable!”
Octavia came up with the towels on her back. “Look at him. He knows how to keep them in the bath tub something of which the Cakes told me it’s sometimes hard to accomplish. Oh look how he gently scrubs Pumpkin Cake’s hair while he smiles at her. Now he’s rinsing the soap off of Pound Cake ever so gently while he speaks softly at him.” She sat down close by and watched for a few more seconds until giving in to the urge to want to know more of him.
“Hey Gold Sky can I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
“Where did you get so much babysitting experience?”
Gold Sky knows that if Octavia can’t see his face then she won’t know he’s lying. “I babysat a lot in the Griffon Republic and that’s how I got my experience.”
“Wow, so can I tell you something because seeing you babysitting reminds me of my father...” Now it’s Gold Sky’s turn to interrupt Octavia.
“Your father. I remember you saying that you lost a parent and I take it’s your mother?” From the corner of his eye he can see Octavia looking down at the floor.
“Yes, but I don’t want to talk about my mother an-and I hope you understand.”
Gold Sky saw that he struck an emotional nerve in Octavia. “I understand Octavia.” He went back to bathing the twins.
Still Octavia went on asking and she’ll be asking if he had a tight relationship with his mother and his father.
“How about you Gold Sky, will you mind if I ask you about your parents?”
Gold Sky felt the tingle of the memory run down his spine but he owes Octavia for staying to help him and she asks him if he minds first showing him that she is considerate of his feelings.
“No I won’t mind, so go ahead and ask whatever you want.” He also needs to control his emotions about the memory too.
“When you were a child who did you spend the most time with. Your father or your mother?” She handed a towel to him so he can dry Pound Cake.
“Both.” He placed Pound Cake on his back.
Octavia tilted her head again. “What do you mean by both?”
Gold Sky dried off Pumpkin Cake. “The worlds of both my parents revolved around me.”
“How?”
“Both of them spent a lot of time with me. Like sometimes when they think I’m having a bad dream they both will join me in bed and both will take me into their arms. Whenever we go places it will be the three us with me in between momm…uhhh.” Stopped before going into too much detail.
“Go ahead I don’t mind if you call them that.”
“In between mommy and daddy, while both of them will bask me with their loving smiles. Flying on daddy’s back, being stroked by mommy’s loving hooves and always hearing them tell me how much they love me.” *Scoff.* “That is why I cried so much when they died before my eyes and Nurse Redheart using her amazing nursing touch held me in her arms the same way mommy will always hold me imprinted onto my mind. Well got to give the twins new diapers.” He waited for Octavia to get up before making his way downstairs to put new diapers on the twins.
“How nice of him to be reminded of his mother’s affection through Nurse Redheart’s kind hug and he looks like he’s over their deaths even though if I think about it he must have been very young. I feel so sorry yet so intrigued by him.” Octavia focused on his coat. “I have never seen anypony with his color pattern, milky white with chocolate brown. Eh won’t hurt in asking.”
She asked him about his coat through the bases if he got it through his father or mother.
“Through my father Octavia, he is Chero therefore I am also Chero like him.”
“What are Chero?” The gray mare asked.
“The Chero are a Native Equestrian tribe who are also called the children of earth because of their deep connection to the earth.”
“So was your mother a Chero too?”
“No I am only Chero through my father’s blood and what does the list say next?” He pointed to the list while he closes one eye to prevent some of Pumpkin Cake’s drool from getting inside while she chews on his ear again.
“Says here to put them to sleep.”
Gold Sky clapped his hooves together with eager anticipation. “Perfect! Just put on the diapers and off to sleep for the both of them.”
“Why so eager to put them to sleep Gold Sky. Are you already worn out from babysitting already?”
“Hahaha very funny. Try having a little filly chew on your ear for a change and this is nothing compared to baby griffons. Those sharp talons, oh don’t get me started.” A shockwave ran down his spine at mentioning the baby griffons and just like with the same intensity of the other shockwave when thinks of the memory.
So the duo took the twins upstairs to their room. “Ssh, ssh, ssh, there, there little one I’m just putting you to sleep and I will be nearby to protect you from the bad giant purple dragon, fascist griffons, th-the ra-razor, and from whatever will want to harm you. I promise.” He promised to Pumpkin Cake while he ever so gently places the foal on her bed. “Ssh, ssh, ssh, somewhere beyond the sea…” He began to sing to Pound Cake, slowly making the foal fall asleep to his voice.
“How adorable and precious these two are.” He stood over the crib smiling down at the twins. “Children are so precious.”
Octavia nodded at Gold Sky… “Okay you know what I’m just going to say it; you act every bit like my father Gold Sky. Loving, nurturing, and those loving eyes, you must have been a father before! I know for sure!”
*Sigh* “I was never a father Octavia. I’m just Gold Sky.”
Octavia sees that sometimes there will be somepony or a stallion who is naturally gifted with taking care of children like her father. Out of proper manners she dropped the subject to sit by Gold Sky. In just one day she has learned many things about Gold Sky, things that she finds very admirable in stallion plus she enjoys his heart warming smile.
In the room they are both in all that can be heard is the cute snoring of the twins. Octavia turned to look at Gold Sky prompting Gold Sky to look at her. Their eyes connected feeling a surreal movement in the gaze. The beautiful grayish purple eyes that Gold Sky is very fond of brought him a spiritual breath of peace over his mind. In this gaze Gold Sky’s heartbeat took over in the only sound being heard, this mare, this Octavia, her eyes, her voice, her presence, just her alone…is like a astronomical chance to meet a mare like her and have the opportunity to be her friend.
*Knocking*
The knocking broke the peace of the gaze between them.
“Gold Sky we’re back!” Mrs. Cake called out. “Pinkie Pie used too much sugar in the punch putting everypony in a coma. Gold Sky where are you?”
“I’m here upstairs with the precious little gingersnaps.” He helped Octavia up.
“Ah there you are!” Mrs. Cake trotted over to the crib to check on her children. “How were they? Be honest, were they a hoofful or just little angels?”
“Well besides Pumpkin Cake chewing on my ear and Pound Cake pounding the back of my head these two kiddos were just little angels.” Gold Sky smiled to display the truth behind his words.
Mrs. Cake came to place a hoof on the cloaked Unicorn’s shoulder, she thanked him for babysitting. “You know if you don’t mind I will place you as my back up babysitter if Pinkie Pie is not available.”
“Uh…” Octavia butted in again stopping Gold Sky from ushering any words.
“He won’t mind at all as long as you pay him in the cupcakes Pinkie makes!” Octavia answered for him.
Mrs. Cake beamed happily after which she led the duo downstairs to give Gold Sky his cupcakes. “Bye, bye dearie.”
“Bye.” Octavia and Gold Sky waved good bye.
Outside Gold Sky tapped Octavia’s shoulder. “Thanks Octavia for making me their back up babysitter and of course being sincere this time thank you for being with me.”
“You’re welcome Gold Sky, say how about you walk with me for a bit.”
“Su-sure of course!” Gold Sky happily placed the cupcakes on his back and walked with Octavia.
“Well she may have made me the Cake’s unwilling babysitter but her kindness and eyes make up for that. At least I’m not babysitting anypony else’s children.”
Minutes later they stopped in front of a nice house. “Well this is my stop Gold Sky, say where are you staying at by the way?”
“I’m staying in the palace with mothe, achoo! Sorry I’m staying in the palace, her majesty Princess Celestia said I can stay there for the time being.” Luckily Gold Sky caught himself from saying mother.
“I pray mother didn’t hear me call her, her majesty!”
*
*Sigh* “Gold Sky called me her majesty again.” Celestia slouched back on her throne. “Oh! It’s almost time for dinner! Got to arrange a separate dinner for Luna, Cadance, and Shining Armor!”
*
“That’s nice. Anywho I got a busy day ahead of me so I got to get some much needed shut eye!”
Gold Sky gave the gray mare a small bow of his head. “Have a pleasant evening Octavia and thank you once again for taking valuable time out of your day to help me.”
“You’re very welcome…” Octavia remembered something. “You know Gold Sky. The after tomorrow we can have lunch together again at the Sugarcube Corner if you want.”
Gold Sky’s eyes widened with joy! “That’s a swell idea Octavia!”
“Also I got a surprise for you on that day.”
“Oooooh, what’s the surprise?”
“It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you would it now.”
“Well you got a point there.” Gold Sky shrugged in agreement. “Now I can’t wait hehe.”
Octavia giggled too. “You’re going to have to. Good bye Gold Sky.” She moved in to give him a kind hug.
“She hugs me again!” Gold Sky shouted out in his mind to which in his personal luck Princess Celesita didn’t hear him.
“Good bye Octavia.” He too gave her a light hug. “Okay Octavia please step back a few feet, I’m going to teleport back to the palace.”
“Cool.” Octavia waved at him while she waits to see a cool display of his magic.
“To mother.” Picturing where to go in his mind.
“Jump!”
*Poof*
“Wow.” Octavia went inside but something appeared odd to her in the way Gold Sky spoke to her. “Swell? Who talks like that? Swell?? Eh oh well, time to have a bite before getting my shuteye.”
***
*Poof*
Celestia smiled at seeing the bright flash before her. “Ah my son!” Her horn glowed surrounding Gold Sky with a gold aura bringing him to her arms. “Oh what’s that on your back?”
“Cupcakes mother! You got to try them! They are the best as in the best of the best!”
Celli took the plate of cupcakes with her magic. “We’ll try them for dessert my son, now let me guess you got them as payment for being an unexpecting babysitter.” She is so going to enjoy seeing the surprised face on her son and many more times to come.
Of course as she expected Gold Sky made that surprised face. “How did you know I was baby…let me guess, a mother always knows right?”
Celestia smiled. “Mm-mhm.” She nuzzled him lovingly on the cheek. “Now come along, all of that babysitting must have made you hungry.”
“Well I got cupcakes.”
“Dessert my son dessert.” Celestia reminded Gold Sky of that.
The mother and son stopped outside of the dining room. “Is everything set?” Celestia asked a maid who is standing outside.
“Yes your highness everything is set as you requested.” Said the maid.
“Wonderful, thank you very much. You can leave now.”
“As you wish your majesty.” The maid bowed down before leaving.
Celestia and Gold Sky went inside the dining room closing the doors behind them to give them privacy not for Celestia and Nurse Redheart but for Gold Sky so he can take off the cloak.
“Nurse Redheart!” Gold Sky ran up and took the white mare into his arms.
“Oh my boy it’s good to see you too! But please as you can see that my hair is down, call me Redheart.”
“Redheart!” Gold Sky corrected himself before letting go of Redheart so he can see her with her hair down. “I’ve never seen you with your hair down Redheart, you look very nice.”
“Thanks Gold Sky anyway you’re among family and friends I think you can take off that white cloak of yours.” Redheart suggested.
“Uhhh I don’t know.” Gold Sky moaned in a voice drenched of uneasiness.
Celestia told Gold Sky there will be nobody else coming into the dining room, it will only the three of them eating here.
“All right mother, I’ll take off my cloak if you wish.” He took off his cloak showing his mother and Redheart his painted body and gold colored feathers of his wings…more importantly though, his cutie mark.
Both mares gasped at the sight of his cutie mark. “Gold Sky you got your cutie mark!” Both said in unison causing them to look at each other with looks of question.
“Yes I did.”
Celestia with her wisdom looked at Gold Sky’s cutie mark. She sees a hollow turquoise diamond and inside the hollow diamond is a golden heart. “Gold Sky, you truly are Chero like your father.”
“Chero?” Redheart asked by saying that word with a questionable tone.
“The Chero are a Native Equestrian tribe that was once very powerful and prosperous. All of them you see have the hollow turquoise diamond that Gold Sky has on his cutie mark just like his father who used to be my former guard and the first Elite Commando guard.” Celestia explained to Redheart.
Gold Sky sat down on his chair looking at the food on his plate something in his head has made a question develop in the core of his mind. “Mother, are there other Chero besides me? I have heard their voices in the wind for the past two hundred years and the tongue they talk in is somehow a part of me not through willing acceptance but through my blood.”
Celestia frowned. “From what I know Gold Sky you may be the last one of your race and blood. I have tried keeping records on the Chero’s numbers but I found it difficult because the tribe became scattered. Your father was born in Cloudsdale instead on the land that gave birth to your tribe, left and right over the years I have seen silver dust become part of the earth, I have heard new voices join the wind just like you have heard them my son. I’m sorry to say this but perhaps you truly are the last of your tribe.”
When a pony of the Chero dies their body becomes silver dust and becomes one with the earth meaning that Gold Sky only visited his birthmother’s bones and his birthfather’s grave is empty…Celestia used her telepathy on him when his parents died so he will not see his father turn into silver dust, she made him see his body when there was none to be seen. Gold Sky still believes his father’s bones are there by his birthmother and the Chero are also called the Ponies of the Wind due to their total control of the wind and ability to have their voices be heard in it.
Gold Sky started to tremble; his shaking hoof moved the plate off the table. His wings dropped down to the ground. “La-la-la-last one. Last one.” Gold Sky fell off his chair, moaning and groaning to the tears forming in his eyes.
Both mares came to comfort the saddened stallion on the ground. “Gold Sky don’t be sad! You’re here with us and you should be proud that the Chero still exist through you.” Redheart softly stroked Gold Sky’s mane.
“My son you will never die meaning the flame of the Chero shall never go out.” Celestia stroked his face.
“That’s why.” Gold Sky said from out of nowhere.
“That’s why what my son?”
“My immortality, the reason I’m an Alicorn my purpose to be ageless, is to be the last of my tribe even though I am only half Chero. If my father was not a Chero then I would have never been your son, mother, I would have been dead years ago and my scars will not be permanent. I’m a guardian of this blood that’s all I am. Scarred, useless, and, and other things I can’t think of.” Gold Sky forced his tears away and got back up. This revelation is nothing compared to his scars that will be tormenting him tonight. “Let’s eat please.”
Celestia got astounded by her son’s suppression of his emotions and Redheart too felt the same by Gold Sky’s act of ignoring this revelation by talking about himself in such a shade of self loathe.
“Gold Sky my son you are not useless! Being an Alicorn has nothing with being a Chero! The Great Spirit chose what you will be and you are an Alicorn like me, Cadance, and Luna. You are very loving my son and with that love you shall have a future that is filled with nothing but happiness. Always have hope my son.”
“I don’t believe in hope mother never did never will though when I know of an outcome that will fall in my favor I let hope be free in my mind but without a purpose or need. I came to see that hope is just a lie that I cannot erase from my mind. So sometimes I hope when I don’t believe in it.” Gold Sky muttered to both mares.
Celestia and Redheart now see that Gold Sky has been through hardships in his journey making him a nihilist in one aspect of life. The both of them took him into their arms to comfort him.
“It okay to shed tears my son, don’t hold them in let them out. Lay down your burdens Gold Sky, be free from the sadness of death, agony, and hopeless err I mean guilt.” Celestia whispered in his right ear.
“Gold Sky, I held you in my arms when you cried long ago and I will have my arms around you again when you are willing to cry my boy. Listen to your mother and let go of whatever troubles you, just like her I’m here.” Redheart whispered in his left ear.
Gold Sky let out a deep breath while he wrapped his wings around both mares. “I’m sorry for ruining this dinner, please forgive me you two.”
“Oh my son, you cling to your troubles as to atone for a wrong you committed and I can never see what your troubles are because you won’t allow me to.” Celestia simply nuzzled Gold Sky in acknowledgement of his plea for forgiveness.
“Gold Sky you won’t tell us what hurts you, I understand but whatever you have done along with what you are should not stop you from being so loving to yourself.” Redheart stroked his back.
Both mares let go of Gold Sky getting some distance from him. While Gold Sky got up Redheart saw a long vertical scar on Gold Sky’s belly, her medical experience didn’t come up with any form of assessments rather her loving intuition came up with something dire for a mortal but for an immortal something harmless. “He made an attempt on his own life leading me to know that his burdens are something he won’t be letting go of.”
The three ponies sat back down on the table and started to eat then they began chatting like nothing important just happened. Soon laughter filled the room adding to the new blanket that covered the once despairing atmosphere.
***
In another room in the palace.
“How come Celli made us eat here instead in the dining room?” Shining Armor asked out loud to Cadance and Luna.
“She is having dinner with two guests Shiny.” Cadance said affectionately to her dearest husband.
Luna smiled to herself. “You mean guest Cadance.”
“Huh?”
“It’s guest not guests.” Luna said confidently like she knows something while Shining Armor is wondering what’s going on.
Cadance quickly nuzzled Shining Armor to quiet his wondering mind. “Now Luna let’s not get too talkative here, I’m sure Tia will not be very pleased by the breach of her guest’s privacy here.”
Luna levitated her cup. “Perhaps but doesn’t Shining Armor deserve to know.”
Shining Armor quickly shook his head. “Whatever you two are talking about don’t get me involved! I still remember that unbreakable glass over the pool trick you two pulled on me last month! The bruise is still there on my bottom.” Shining Armor’s horn glowed making himself invisible to both mares. “Ha! Now you can’t see me.” The door of the room opened and closed telling Cadance and Luna that he left the room.
Cadance blushed at Luna. “Well forgetting what just happened. Please don’t be so uhm not assertive but close to Gold Sky.”
“What do you do mean by close Cadance? Are being so clingy like Celli?” Luna asked.
Cadance shook her head while she exhales all of her breath. “No, he’s deeply afraid of me. He can sense me coming and I bet that if he’s alone in a room and I walk in and sit five feet from him he’ll make a puddle on the floor.”
Luna looked up with one raised eyebrow. “A puddle?” *Ting* “Oooh!! Ha, that kind of puddle. Wow, he’s that afraid of you so I can see why you are telling me not to initially be close to him because he might be afraid of me just like he’s afraid of you.”
“In that you are very right Luna. Also to top things off Celestia appears to be very in tune with his emotions showing me her maternal instinct plus her protectiveness for her son. So I suggest you are careful around Gold Sky.” Cadance explained to the Princess of the Moon.
Luna’s right hoof rubbed the back of her head while nervously giggling. “About the careful part…hehe, uhhhh.”
Cadance snickered and crossed her arms. “What did you do?” She asked with no sign of amusement.
“I sort of rubbed my tail against his chin.”
Cadance rolled her grayish purple eyes. “You’re flirting with Tia’s son. Him of all ponies, just really I mean him.” Cadance sighed and placed a hoof on her forehead. “Don’t say anything, you do a provocative act to Gold Sky and he’s not afraid of you, I help Tia comfort him and he sees me as his greatest fear. Humph, quite unfair if I say so myself which to add insult to injury he is the physical manifestation of Love meaning that both me and him have what may be our talents in common.” Cadance placed her right hoof on the table. “Don’t make him do rash things alright. He will obey anything you’ll say but don’t abuse him like that.”
“I’m not flirting with him and you act like he’s your son Cadance.” Luna expressed calmly.
Cadance shook her head. “He is Tia’s son not mine Luna. I have to see him as a subject instead as an equal because he won’t allow me to. Besides, Tia raised him not I, so be a good friend to him he’s your equal and don’t ask how but I can sense his admiration for you.”
Luna nodded at Cadance. “I will do everything you ask of me Cadance, you have my word. Cross my heart, hope to fly. Stick a cupcake in my eye.”
“Thanks Luna.” Cadance picked up Luna and brought the mare to her arms. “And here’s a hug for good measure.
***
After eating her fifth cupcake Redheart got up to leave because the moon has risen in the sky an hour. “Sweet dear me, it looks like it’s time for me to go home. I got three surgeries to perform tomorrow.”
“Whoa!” Gold Sky exclaimed. “Wouldn’t that make you a doctor?”
Redheart will enjoy answering Gold Sky’s question. “True it does and I got hundreds of years of experience in the medical field making me the best of the best. But doctors don’t spend time with patients, nurses do. A nurse provides her patients with love, assurance, and guidance, doctors most of the time do not. I could be a doctor but my true calling is nursing. Besides my boy.” She placed a hoof on his cheek before stroking his face. “I comforted you by using my nursing touch.”
Gold Sky remembered like yesterday Redheart holding him in her arms comforting him while he falls asleep and waking up to see her comforting smile. “You did Redheart.”
“Plus on a side note or notes, I delivered you, your birthmother, and birthfather. A whole family. And I finally get to see a painted pony up close, good night my boy and if wish to talk to me about anything I’ll be waiting for you.” Redheart hugged Gold Sky.
Gold Sky moved his lips close to her left ear. “Tomorrow, I will come and tell you about the scar over my neck, Redheart.”
Redheart almost gasped at hearing this. “Y-you will my boy?”
“Yes I will. Question is will you still call me your boy.” Gold Sky’s whisper sounded heavy.
Redheart hugged him tighter making his bones pop. “You will always be my boy Gold Sky and I’ll be waiting for you just make sure you come after two o’ clock because that’s when I have my last operation. The first two are fast the third will take me an hour or so. Bye.” She let go of him and left.
Gold Sky waved good bye. “Bye.”
Celestia came over to Gold Sky with his cloak floating above. “Come my son; let me show you to your new room.”
“New room?”
“Yes new room, the guest room you slept in is only for guests and your room will directly be across from mine. Stay still please.” She placed the cloak on Gold Sky before walking out of the dining room.
Both arrived at the new room and Celestia opened the door for her son. “Remember your old room Gold Sky.”
The Alicorn nodded before going inside, he yawned loudly. Celestia nudged him with her wing to get into bed while her magic removes his cloak. He lied down on bed stretching his muscles and wings. Celestia sat down on the edge of the bed, her hoof tenderly stroked Gold Sky’s face along with fixing his hair.
“Mother do you know what’s very insulting.”
“He will always stick to calling me mother instead of mom. Kind of futile in trying to ask him to call me something else.” Celestia nodded after having that thought pass through her mind.
“To be the last Chero in the entire earth and only be a half blooded one instead of a full blooded one.” Gold Sky pointed at his heart. “Thank you.”
“Thank me for what Gold Sky?” Celli asked while pausing her tender stroking of his face.
“For being my mother.” He took hold of her hoof and placed it over his heart. Gold Sky wants her to know that he will never leave again like he did two hundred years.
Celestia smiled. “I will always be your loving mother, I will love you, protect you, guide you, and love you some more. Where ever you are I will be there. If you have tears I will wipe them away. If you want a hug I will give you one. I am your mother and you are my son. Nothing will ever change that nor will anything take that away from me. Sweet dreams my dearest son.” She kissed him on the cheek good night. “Tomorrow you should go make some friends.”
“I will mother. Good night.”
Celestia closed the door of Gold Sky’s room. “I will only need to count the minutes.” Nearly as if nature is on cue with her thought a bolt of lightning danced across the sky bringing in a clap of thunder. “Starting countdown.”
Gold Sky is not scared of storms anymore not one bit. However the thunder acts like telepathic punishers for the horrible acts he unwillingly committed. Every clap of thunder showed him the faces of innocents, Ruby’s last smile before the green fire ends her life before his eyes, the baby dragons at his mercy. His entrance into the world of being free from the total mental ability to comprehend, feel, accept, think, and be loving, caused him to become insane for decades. The thunder showed him the enemy blood he has shed to protect innocent children of the Griffon Republic but the thunder showed him the griffon chick he found all alone on the ground.
“No.” He moaned in his sleep.
Faces, blood, insanity, death, seppuku, protecting the innocent like that will make up for his wrongs, and hearing his mother’s cries.
“Ah!” He grasped his belly, feeling the pain he felt long ago when he plunged a dagger into it. Not once, not twice, not thrice but to point that he permanently destroyed the pain receptors in his abdominal area. He does not feel pain there but there is still damage until his tissue regeneration heals it.
“No more please!” The screams of innocents now begin their torture.
The door to his room opened and closed.
***
Princess Cadance looked at her sleeping husband. “I will be right back Shining Armor.” The cerise Alicorn walked the corridors of the palace to find Gold Sky and conform if he is really the physical manifestation of Love.
***
“Please!” Gold Sky begged the griffon chick not to run into his arms but the thunder ignored his plea.
“My Son!” A motherly voice brought an end to the torture.
“AHH!” Screamed to the stallion to cessation of the torture, his eyes immediately opened to see a silhouette of somepony before him. “Please don’t hurt me!”
The lightning lit up the room revealing that the somepony is only his mother.
“My son it’s alright! I’m here everything is going to be fine.” Celestia climbed into bed and took Gold Sky into her arms to shelter him with her never ending love. “Ssh, ssh, ssh, it’s okay, I’m here I’m here. You’re safe.” She wrapped her wings around him for added protection.
Gold Sky felt his body calming down, he pressed his head against mother’s chest feeling safe from the pain he has.
Safe in mother’s arms…safe by mother’s love…safe. Safe.
“Mommy…” Gold Sky groaned without realizing that this is the word Celestia wished he’ll call her, it wasn’t long before he began to cry again.
Celestia placed her chin on Gold Sky’s head. “Ssssssssh, go to sleep my son. Mother is here and she will not leave you.”
After ten minutes Gold Sky stopped crying and fell asleep in Celli’s arms. “Luna will be raising the sun. I will stay here with Gold Sky until he wakes up. I love you my son.” She too fell asleep.
***
Cadance came into the room seeing Tia with Gold Sky protected by her arms and wings. “You will never lose you maternal instinct Tia, not even in a million years. But more importantly it’s time to enter Gold Sky’s mind since in his current state won’t sense me.” Cadance’s telepathy entered the galaxy of Gold Sky’s mind. “Ah just let me get past this block.” No transparent wall stopped her. “Into the core I go.” In the core bright light shines. “Hmm another block but I can’t get through this one; well either way I found what I’m looking for.” She waved her arm at the core causing Love to flow out and revolve around her. “Completely absent of hate despite attempts to hate himself. He is the physical manifestation of Love; I never thought there will be a pony just like him.” Cadance got out of Gold Sky’s mind and laid a hoof on his cheek. “Good night Gold Sky.” Quietly she left the room.
Nonetheless Cadance is one to double check everything. For extra precaution Cadance went into the dark throne room because of the large roof window above Celli’s throne. “I need answers please.” The instant the words left her lips a sphere of white light come down from the heavens, landing in front of her.
Standing before Cadance is a beautiful Alicorn whose coat is whiter than snow. Hair redder than fire. Blue eyes brighter than the shiniest sapphire. A cutie mark with a scroll and quill telling everyone she has every answer. “Cadance you called for me.” Said the Archangel.
“Lauren, is Gold Sky son of Celestia the physical manifestation of Love?” Cadance asked.
“He is Cadance.” Lauren the Archangel replied.
Cadance sighed in relief. Next thing she knew a random question came up when she quickly remembered what Luna said. “Is Gold Sky related to me??”
“Yes.”
“Related in what way?”
Lauren smiled, she has the answer but it will be better if Cadance finds out for herself. “That Cadance is up to you to find out.”
Cadance bowed down before the Archangel. “Thank you for your wisdom Lauren.”
Lauren gave Cadance a nod, got up on her hind legs and disappeared in a flash of bright light.
Cadance went back to bed. “Gold Sky, we share the same blood but in what way?” After that question the Princess of Love fell asleep.
---
My dearest readers thank you very much for your patience and on a side note I think this song represents this story very well, I heard it on the internet Radio app on Itunes Link to this song.
Next chapter will have Rainbow Dash getting to know Gold Sky. And once again my dear readers thank you for your patience.