//------------------------------// // Chapter II: Playing in the garden // Story: Two Worlds. One Family. // by Bronybro 117 //------------------------------// Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid, one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory. - Douglas MacArthur “Come on, spike, it’s this way,” Twilight Sparkle, personal student of Princess Celestia, call out to her newly appointed assistant, spike as she runs though the flowers of the private Canterlot Castle garden. The scent of spring flowers entered her nostrils, enjoying the flesh aroma of them as she got closer to her destination. “Buz, Twizht. Mama Tiz says to stay close to herz, didn’z you has studz to do?” The little Dragon, about four years old, called out as his little purple legs struggled to catch up to the energetic purple pony. The private garden was beautiful this time of year, with the flowers blooming when the last of the show were cleared off by the unicorn teams in Canterlot, allowing the warm breeze bushed though the unicorn’s purple hair. The gardens were always a favored place for the two. Twilight: for reading and studying, and Spike; well, playing with his mama in the flowers or sleep next to her while watching over twilight playing with her books. The destination they were going to was an ancient tree. Where the first ruler of the land, Empress Faust, sow near during the closing days of the Chaos wars with Discord, himself. The tree was as ancient as the castle itself to many who had work there. Spike can barely remember his visits to the tree with his mother during his years as an infant. The sweet aroma of his mother’s hair when she carried him, the feeling of the warmth sun beaming down on his scales made him relax. The feeling of his mother’s heart as its thumps near his ear as he slept with her wings creating a cocoon over him. He already missed those days of spending time with his mother, but due to her duly as the ‘princess of the land’ had made her spend little time paying attention to him, and instead had to deal with Twilight from trying to get herself hurt from doing something stupid. The unicorn finally stop running as her mouth curled into a large smile as she finally set her eyes on the destination she was seeking. The baby dragon finally caught up to her, trying to catch his breath from all the running. “We’re finally here, Spike!” Twilight said excitedly as she was about to jump in joy. Looking upwards, Spike recognize the old tree, about a few feet in front of them, It hasn't change a bit the last time he been here with Mama Celestia. The streams of a nearly river circled around the ground near the tree to a stream eastward. Sunlight poked through the leaves, creating a somewhat peaceful atmosphere around anypony nearly. “Come on, Spike. Let’s go see it,” The purple filly call out, the smile still plastered on her face, portraying the filly's curiously over the ancient plant. Muttering grumpy in agreement, he follow twilight to the tree, barely avoided falling into the water before regaining his footing on the small landmass, still following Twilight, who, simply use her magic to get across. And speaking of Twilight, she was circling the ancient tree with a observed and curious expression on her face as she examined it. Spike perk up to see that the leaves were slowly changing color, signaling that autumn is approaching. Dead leaves from the nearly trees dance around him as thee breeze carry them away. Even as twilight gawked in awe at the tree, it stirred up memories of when he was a simple infant, taking its first steps while his mother observe from afar near the tree. He still wished that she could spend more time for him and Twilight. “Hello, my son.” He spun his head to the direction of the voice, even Twilight, who was busy examining at the tree, turned from her observation to see who was there. “MAMA!” Spike cried out as he was suddenly lifted by the familiar magical glow of his mother. Twilight cried in glee too, not knowing she would come here to the garden. “How is your little fun in the garden with my student, my little draconem?” She gives him a peck on the forehead, causing his cheeks to flush out, making her giggled as he hugged her alabaster neck. “Princess, can you please me about the tree?” Twilight ask, pointing her forearm at it, causing the cure moment between mother and son to end. She looked downward to meet her student’s gaze, curled up another smile at the questionable filly. “Yes, my precious student, I’ll tell you about the Concordia tree,” She walk, with spike still grip on her neck, and sat down near it, leaning against the old bark as she relaxed herself. Spike was currently waiting for his mother to tell the story while sucking on his left thumb on her back, and Twilight was lying down on the glass, her forearms lying underneath her fur body, with the same plastered smile she had earlier, awaiting to learn new knowledge from her teacher. “This tree,” She began, “was first planted by my mother, Empress Faust and my father, Adeodatus the first, at the end of the war with Discord to mark the end of chaos and began the new age of Harmony for all ponies and… their marriage.” She still remembered that day when she and her sister watch as their father implanted the seed to the ground and their mother watering it to help it grow, watching them both kissed in happiness to finally have a normal life for their daughters. “Who’s Adeodatus?” Twilight piped up, wanting to know more about her teacher history, even Spike listened in to learn more about his adopted family’s history. “Well, to answer your question, Twilight,” Celestia queried, “Adeodatus was a intelligent, care-giving, loyal, and compassion man. He had raised me when I was born. He taught me many things that had let to become who I really am.” She said, hoping that would satisfied Twilight and query any more questions from the young one. “What did Adeodatus look like? I never heard a pony name like that before.” Celestia smile almost slimmer, but held to make Twilight not suspicious. It has been a long time since anypony has asked that question. The only time anyone did was her first appearance of her family to Equestria since…that day Discord took control. “Adeodatus was not…a pony, to say the least” She gulped as she awaited the expected reaction from her student. It was hard enough for her to keep this secret from anypony, except a few that she can trust. “Whaz did yoz mean hes not a ponz, mama,” Spike asked, curiously piped in his tone as he continued to suck his thumb, getting comfortable on her fur. “Adeodatus was…” She hesitated, not sure to tell them. It been so long since anypony had seen his kind before, the options from her kind on his is not…friendly to say the least. “Human, Twilight, My father was human.” She finished, praying that Twilight won’t run off in fear. She hoped that won’t be the case. “WHAT!” Twilight squeaked, her voice breaking the silence that set upon the garden. Shock filled in her voice. She couldn't believe that her teacher father was a human. The many secrets she could learn from a once-mythological species. Spike had a questionable look on his face. He never heard of ‘humans’ before since he spends more time on playing then being a ‘bookworm’ like Twilight, though he does want to learn more about his deceased Grandfather. Celestia just sighed; she knew her student would act like this. She needs to calm her down before she does something stupid. “But why keep this a secret, princess?” that was unexpected to her; she gazed down to her student. The same expression plastered on her face was dissipated, but it was still there. The look on her face didn't make her regret her choice of telling the truth. Her son barely even knew who his grandparents are, or simply never asked about the subject. The two years since he was hatched had been some of the great moments of her life. Taking care of a child was better than dealing with the noisily nobles that come crashing down on her with every problem they had. “Mama, whats an hooman?” The little Dragon stopped his sucking and put out his thumb to speak, but instead of Celestia answering, it was twilight. “Humans are a bipedal species that use to roam Equestria when the ponies were all divided, they were an advanced society, but they were a warmongering race, which explains why they were always created by…” She didn't even finish her sentence when she got interrupt. “They were not, my dear student.” Her teacher said with a hint of anger in her tone, but not at her student, but at her subjects’ mere ignorance. “But the books say…” Again, twilight was cut off. “The books are wrong, Twilight Sparkle. My subjects back then were…somewhat misinformed on them,” She corrected herself on a friendlier term; she didn’t to say something inappropriate in front of her student and her son. It was a rare thing for her to speak so low on her subjects, even though she loves them very dearly. Sometimes they can be bit of racist towards anything that isn't pony. Sometimes she wish to retired from all this and raise her son in peace from all the politics and demands of the people, let them be in charge of themselves, but since she can’t do that without everything falling apart, destroying her mother and father have built, she has to be remained on the throne. “If the books are wrong then, why are ponies saying bad things about the humans?” Twilight quipped, ripping away Celestia thoughts from her to answer. “Sometimes Twilight, the ponies, my subjects… can make rash decisions against anything that is unknown to them.” She answered. The memories of her ponies’ discrimination against other races before she became princess flowed through her mind. A gentle breeze went by, blowing pockets of her multi-color hair in front of her face. The air felt really refreshing for her in this situation. Brewing a couple from her face, she looked down on twilight, seeing that she has her hooves in her face, worrying that she might be crying, Celestia could only think of one thing that could cheer a child up. “Do you want to get some Ice cream to help you cheer up?” Twilight looked up from her hooves, seeing that tears were welled up, but were dissipated as Twilight rubbed them, her face beamed in happiness of the prospect of getting a teat. “Can I read my books while I eat this time?” Her teacher nodded happily as Twilight jump in glee. Celestia twirled her head to spike to ask him if he wants some ice cream, but only found him asleep, still sucking on the same thumb. As Celestia turn back towards Twilight, only to find her already running off towards the kitchen to get her treat. Giggling at her student, she stand up and arched her back to make sure that her son doesn't far off. She sighs in glee. Maybe sometimes life can be bad, but the good can be very rewarding. Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace. -Dalai Lama