//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Teaching your children your trade. // Story: Night's Children // by Lucky424 //------------------------------// Celestia met the groan coming from the master bedroom with a smile, turning to see Alec trotting out with a wing over his face. He made for the bathroom and she heard the shower go on, followed by a satisfied sigh. Luna followed moments later, heading to the kitchen and returning with a steaming cup of coffee. She sat down in a plush chair and smiled to her sister, who had Flame and Sky wrapped with in her wings still. “Good morning Tia. Were they good last night?” “Very, much more subdued than usual, but I think nothing needs to be said on that. Flame missed you last night, he awoke from a terrible nightmare early this morning, and it took a while for me to calm him down.” “I see, I'll have a talk with him later. Don't you think we should move those two, before Alec sees?” “Before I see what?” Luna looked over to the bathroom door, seeing him stood there with a wet mane. He trotted over to the sofa and scowled at the pair still quite content to stay asleep. That is, until he knocked it with a hoof. Scootaloo slowly came awake and stretched out, nudging Rumble awake too. He nuzzled into the back of her neck before opening his eyes, and then wished he remained asleep. “What did I say last night?” “S-s-s-separate beds, sir.” “And what am I seeing now?” “Well, technically... we're not on a bed, we're on a couch, sir.” Amusement played across both Luna and Celestia's muzzles as Alec stared at Rumble, eyes narrowed. “I haven't had my coffee yet, and I don't like coffee. Do you enjoy being a smart arse?” “No, sir.” Before he could reply, Alec was bundled to the floor by two giggling fillies. They both stood atop him triumphantly, large grins on their faces. One had a light rose coat, with a light blonde mane that had a lavender streak running through it, right to her tail. The other was a pale cerulean pegasus, with a two tone purple and light grey mane and tail. There was a grumble from the pile of limbs underneath them. “Gala Sparkle, you git your flank back 'ere. It ain't nice to do that t' ponies this early in t' mornin'.” She trotted over and stood between her father's forelegs, smiling at everypony present. “Rainbow, don't y'all think you should do t' same?” “Nah, Prism's fine where she is.” The filly smiled with glee, then started jumping up and down on the groaning stallion's back. She wasn't harming him, but it was bloody annoying. “Please stop bouncing on me.” The filly paused, craning her neck down, and that's when he struck. Flipping over, his hooves darted for her ribs, causing her to laugh uncontrollably. Two heads popped out sleepily from Celestia's wings, took one look, and jump at the stallion, pushing him to the floor. Gala looked up her father with pleading eyes, and he rolled the stalk of hay from one corner to the other and back, then looked down and nodded. “Eeyup.” With a squee she shot forward, adding her hooves to the other three pairs, rubbing over his ribs and causing him to chuckle. Alec rolled over and lit his horn, smirking at the foals, who backed away with smiles. He let the spell go, sending a small jolt of electricity through them, causing them to roll around on the floor laughing as it tickled their bodies all over. Luna and Celestia watched from where they were sitting, smiling at their antics. After a few minutes they calmed down, and sat down for breakfast, Alec cooking. He preferred it, saying that it made him feel useful, despite his 'job' of going around and fixing things. He didn't get paid for it, but he felt like he needed to do something. And then came the hard part. They had planned a day out with their friends, taking the foals with them, but Flame was grounded. He knew this as well, and the way his head dropped made Luna's heart melt. But she was the one who made the decision, so she couldn't change it. A firm hoof to the floor only reinforced her position. “Rising Flame, you'll have to stay here son. I agree with your mother's punishment. So you be good for your aunt Celestia toady, understand?” Flame looked up and caught his father's wink, and it took all his willpower not to smile. He kept up his expression until the others had left, leaving him with Celestia and the two teenagers. With a nod of her head she left the room, the children following. They trotted through the castle until they entered the kitchen, where Celestia opened the desert freezer, revealing a range of ice creams. “So... which flavour first?” Two stallions, three mares and two foals lay in the park just outside of the castle grounds, watching as the two pegasi danced through the sparse clouds that dotted the sky. Twilight was leaning against Big Mac's side, reading to her daughter and Sky from a foals book, not noticing that they had fallen asleep. The other ponies inhabiting the area were just happy to watch the Wonderbolt's star couple practice for free. Luna looked around from the blanket she she was seated upon, smiling as she looked over towards the play area, the sandpit in particular. She could just make out the tip of Alec's head, his body having been buried by the foals... and Rainbow Dash. She returned her attention to the couple on the other side of her. “So then, Mr Apple, when is the wedding?” Out of the circle of seven couples, there was one that yet remained unmarried, and the butter coated pegasus in the stallion's arms blushed at the question, clashing with his soft smile. “Well, ah'm not sure jus' yet, your majesty. Ah only jus' asked Mrs Fluttershy here to be mah wife, an' ah don't wanna push her. It'll be when she's ready, an' no sooner.” Braeburn moved down and nuzzled the back of her head, causing her to squeak in embarrassment at his public display of affection, even if nopony was looking. The sound of a strained grunt drew their attention to the pegasus that was coming in to land, but her flight was a little wobbly. All of a sudden Dash's wings snapped to her side and she fell the last few feet to the ground, rolling to the side as if to avoid hitting her stomach. Soarin was instantly by her side, as were her friends. Prism was on Soarin's back, so she was right there, hooves wrapped around her mother's neck. “Daddy, is mommy going to be oaky?” He gave her a once over, pulling out her wings to make sure there were not damaged. “She seems fine, honey. In fact, the last time she crashed like this, she was preg...” He slowly lowered his gaze to Dash's face, mouth remaining open. She managed a sitting up position, and squeezed between his fore hooves. “Yes. Prism, come here a moment.” She plopped down in front of her parents, clear confusion on her face. “How would you like a little brother or sister?” “I can choose? Well, a sister.” All the adults started to laugh, as she had clearly not understood the question. “What? She asked if I wanted one, and I chose! I want a sister.” Soarin let go of Dash and gathered the filly to his chest. “It doesn't work like that. What your mother means is... you are going to get one, by we can't choose whether it will be a colt or a filly. We'll just have to wait a few months to find out.” “But why can't we choose?” “Because it's not like we go to the shops and buy one. Right now, your sibling is growing inside mommy's tummy, and has been there for...” He looked up and counted the number of feathers sticking out from Dash's right wing. “...two months? Why didn't you say anything sooner?” “I... just thought I was getting fat. But look on the bright side, you can get a lot of AJ's pies now!” “Hmm, AJ's pies or Caramel's cider?” “Oh hay no! If I'm not drinking you are not drinking!” She met his smirk with a glare. “The amount of times you can back trashed when you should have been at home looking after me is still something you have to make up for! Besides, it's AJ's cider, just branded by Caramel.” “Is there anything that mare can't do?” Dropping her glare for a sultry smile, she swayed over and brushed her wings across his muzzle, flicking her tail and wiggling her hips. “Well for starters, she not as... nimble as I am... plus I know just what to do with wings...” That was it, he lost all self control as his wings snapped open, causing all the others to start laughing. And then there was the flash of a camera, which caused them all to whip round to see a reporter eyeing them eagerly. There was another flash from behind the mare as Alec appeared, glaring down at her. “You can wait until it is official. Nopony is going to say anything until they release it. Is that understood?” She was cowering low to the ground beneath his gaze, but Rainbow trotted over and got between them. “Dude, relax. This is High Speed, she's the official Wonderbolt's photographer. She wouldn't allow it to get out due to the fact she's not allowed to. It's in her contract.” She turned away from him and pulled the other pegasus to her hooves. “Easy now, he won't bite. Luna would kill him. Let me guess, a 'day off for the Wonderbolts' special again?” “Yeah, Captain Fire ordered me to get one, she wants you guys on the front page this time.” “First off, she's only 'captain' when she's at work, so that can be dropped. Secondly, she didn't 'order' you to do it, she asked... firmly. Thirdly, we're going to be on the front page again? Awesome!” “If I may, Mrs Smokestack, could I get a photo of all your friends?” “Do you have to use that name in public? But yeah, sure. Come on everypony, group shot!” They all gathered back in front of the blanket, and were made to line up. Then High Speed positioned the stallions, with Mac in the middle. To his right were Alec and Braeburn, and to his left was Soarin. Next came the mares, each wrapping themselves in their partners hooves, and then doing the same with their foals. Luna felt a little upset the Flame wasn't here to join in, but that was his own fault. She smiled as best she could and the photographer got ready, but put the camera down as she stared at Alec. “Uh, you need to look this way your majesty, or we won't be able to see you.” He said nothing, which gave Luna cause for concern. He always said something about that. She attempted a nuzzle against his cheek, but not even his ears twitched. Now she was really getting worried, and it was moving onto Sky. “Alec, what is wrong?” “Can you hear it?” Luna closed her eyes and concentrated, and slowly the sound of rhythmic clanking hit her ears. “I think we should know what that is, as I remember hearing something like it before.” Luna had to agree. She had heard something like it several years ago, but she couldn't remember at all. She raised a hoof and turned his face back to the camera. “Whatever it is, it can be forgotten for now. Come, give us a smile.” He did as asked, but his ears stayed alert for danger. Speed got into position again, ready to take the shot when it got a little darker. She promptly ignored this, as her camera had a flash on it, but Alec and Luna looked up to see what it was. “Oh, son of a bitch.” She took the photo just as the water bombs exploded on the targets. Rising Flame watched through the telescope as the munitions rained down on his parents, snickering with glee. And yet there was a longing to be out there with them. Auntie Celestia was nice, sure, but the ones he was looking at were his parents. He should be down there with them. Rearing up, he slammed his fore hooves on the balcony floor, knocking the telescope over. A white wing draped over his back and pulled him close. “Calm yourself, young one. Trust me, they are feeling the same way. I'll tell you what, why don't I talk to Luna later, see if I can get your 'sentence' reduced even more?” He looked up at her with hopeful eyes, meeting that kind smile. “Really? You'd do that for me?” She nodded gently. “Thank you, but I shall face my punishment to the full. To do otherwise would make it meaningless.” Before Celestia could reply, a shimmering orange portal appeared in front of her. And then a pile of cakes came flying out of it, making a complete mess of their coats. “It would seem that your father is trying to annoy me... again. Come, let's get Scootaloo and Rumble to reload. Have you seen the pictures of him pink?” “Of who pink?” “Why, your wonderful daddy of course.” “No, I haven't even heard of that.” “Well toady's your lucky day!” She levitated him on to her back and flew one level up, looking around for the teenagers. She was about to give up hope when a certain... noise came from the other side of the cannon. “Cover your ears, Flame.” He did as instructed, confused as to what was going on. “Scootaloo, I hope you are not doing what I think you are round there...” The sound of commotion hit her ears, and there was a hushed conversation that she couldn't quite make out, then Scootaloo appeared, mane all over the place and her feathers ruffled. She offered up a sheepish smile, before averting her gaze. “And where is Rumble?” “He, uh... needs a minute.” “Well, whilst he... calms down, can you please load up the paint rounds.” Scootaloo's face turned into a massive grin, and she shot over to the storage lockers, carefully picking the packages up and flying them up to the bucket. A couple of moments later Rumble appeared, a towel draped over his flanks, effectively covering his lower half. “Ah, there you are young colt. Did you have fun?” “Oh, yeah, it was awes..., ahem, I don't know what you are talking about, your highness. So, what's the target this time?” “Exact same place, if you will.” He nodded and got to work putting tension on the ropes. Celestia checked it over once, making sure that the aim was still on the park. She turned to Flame and ushered him forward, motioning him to now uncover his ears. “Would you like to do this one?” “Can I really? That'd be awesome! But... won't mommy punish me more?” “If you want, just blame Scootaloo.” “Hey!” “Okay!” With that he jumped up and kicked the lever, sending the bombs flying. They watched as they flew up and over the castle walls, and then dropped below them. After a few moments they started giggling as a loud shout hit their ears. “CELESTIA, FOR FUCOOOOWWWWW!!!!” Rising Flame stood stock still in the middle of the office. He had never been in here before, and the way his father glared at him made him all the more scared. Of course, the fact he was now covered in pink paint clashed with that, and he was doing his best to stop laughing. “Flame, come here.” He trotted forward and jumped into the chair, meeting the stern gaze. “Yes, father?” “Why did you blame Scootaloo for this?” “...Celestia told me to.” “Speak up colt.” “Celestia told me to do it.” “As I thought. For you punishment, I wish you to deliver this cake to your aunt. Make sure you come straight back, okay?” “Is that all father?” Alec's muzzle turned into a dangerous smile, and he placed his hooves together in front of his face, leaning his elbows on the table. It was the classic evil genius pose. “Oh yes, that is all. And then head home, it's almost time for dinner.” Flame jumped down and slid the cake on to his back, leaving the room and trotted down the halls carefully. After asking a passing guard where he could find his aunt, he headed towards the throne room. She was in a meeting with a griffon ambassador that wasn't from the main griffon empire. He was there to negotiate passage to the ancestral homelands. They both looked up as the doors opened, and Flame came through. Celestia's mouth started to water when she saw what was on his back, a rich fruit cake, topped with strawberries, jam, and edged by copious amounts of whipped cream. He approached the dais and bowed carefully. “Auntie Celly, I've brought you a present.” Using her magic, she lifted it up to the table between her and the ambassador, setting it down. “Thank you Flame, would you like some?” “No thank you, I haven't had my dinner yet.” “Very well, run along.” He bowed once more and ran for the door, pushing it not quite closed so he could watch the chaos unfold. Back at the throne, Celestia levitated a knife and cut two slices, giving on to the ambassador. “Such a sweet colt. It was nice of him to deliver this cake.” She took a nibble, giving a pleased moan as the taste graced her tongue. And then the rest of the cake promptly exploded, covering the area. Celestia blinked to clear her eyes, looking down at the plate where the words 'the cake is a lie' had formed. “That motherbucoow!!” She rubbed her flank, it feeling slightly numb. It felt like someone had giving her a little shock. “What the bucoow!” There it was again. And then she realised why the cake tasted so good. It was the same way Luna got the anti swearing spell to work on Alec. And now he was teaching his son how to prank her. It was time to start spending time with Sky Sapphire, and teach her the ways of the troll.