//------------------------------// // Chapter 19 // Story: Halcyon Hearts // by TheMyth //------------------------------// Blaze whistled as he was beginning to trot towards the library, seeing as he still had leave from Wonderbolt training due to his son’s impending cute-mitzvah. He heard that Rainbow Dash was also given leave for her daughter’s cuteceañera, which she spent time on by taking long naps on clouds, training with her father Spectrum and booking dance lessons for Scootaloo. When he reached the library door, he leaned his ear to the wooden door to try and hear Twilight. The voice of Twilight was estinto, meaning she was either busy with an experiment or reading through a book. He pushed the door opened and made sure not let out a creak from the hinges of the door as he made his way in. When he was inside, he slowly closed the door and started to look around for Twilight. He saw a pile of books, and heard pages turning. Blaze grinned maliciously as he sneaked up towards the books. With a steady hoof, he removed a few of the books and saw the back of his fillyfriend’s head. She was in deep concentration with her muzzle stuck in a book she was reading. He licked his lips as he lowered his own head next to hers, not making a sound at all. “Hi Twilight!” Twilight’s head rocketed upwards, her eyes bulging out as her pupils shrank. She let out a scream fit for a little filly as she turned her head to every corner. She calmed down when she saw Blaze, but immediately glared at him and punched him playfully on his chest as he was laughing. “Don’t do that!” she pouted at him as she continued to hit him softly on his chest. “You know how easily surprised I get.” Blaze smirked as he shrugged. “Makes you a very easy target...” he said as he rolled his eyes. “No wonder Pinkie loves pranking you.” Twilight huffed as she pursed her lips. “W-well, I’m not the pranking type!” she retorted back at him. “And don’t you dare think of pulling one on me.” “Wouldn’t dream of it,” he said softly with an innocent smile, and Twilight could swear she saw a halo for the moment on his head. She sighed as she planted her hoof on her face. “Why do I get the feeling you’re going to prank me?” “That’s not what I am going to do,” Blaze said with no smile on his face. Twilight blinked and cocked her brow. “Then what are you going to do?” “This.” He pressed his lips to hers, causing Twilight to slowly close her eyes as she melted in the kiss and held Blaze close with her hooves around his neck. “That... felt good,” Twilight admitted. “And now, I’m going to do this!” And then he dug his hooves into Twilight’s side. She shrieked with laughter, rolling around and trying to escape his coltfriend’s grip. “Blaze!” she shrieked. “Stop it! Stop it!” “Make me!” And then she did so. Suddenly, he was encased in magic and flipped on his back, pinned to the ground. “There. Now what are you going to do?” “...Smile that my marefriend has a kinky side?” Twilight turned beet-red, dispelling her magic. Blaze just laughed. “Man, you’re so...” And then the flames erupted on his wings. Moments later, a letter spit out of it, slamming against Twilight’s face. “...Mail’s here,” Blaze said. “I noticed,” she commented flatly. She levitated the letter up and unrolled it. Dear Twilight, The Crystal Empire is currently in the running for the location of the Equestrian Games. Prince Shining Armor and Princess Cadance have requested the appearance of the Elements of Harmony in an effort to impress the Equestrian Games Commissioner. Please note that this is a business trip, so they are all instructed to leave their children behind. They will receive tickets to the games proper of course. If you accept, please RSVP to this letter. Kind Regards, Princess Celestia “A trip to the Crystal Empire, huh?” Blaze asked. “But we can’t bring the foals?” “Guess not,” she sighed. “Still, they’d probably be bored anyway. I’ll get the girls, see if they’re willing.” “Wait... who’s going to watch the kids?” Twilight thought a minute. “Well, they’re not really that rambunctious. Surely they can handle being alone for a few days.” There was a pause. Then, they both burst out laughing. Blaze wiped a few tears from his eyes from the laugh. “Ok,” he started, taking in a deep breath. “Seriously though, know of anypony willing to foal-sit six foals?” “I’m not sure...” Twilight furrowed her brow in thought. “I’ll ask the girls to see if they know anypony who might be able to help out.” “That’s a good idea,” he said with a smile. “Want me to come along?” Twilight nodded as she beamed. “But please, no more tickling.” Blaze simply grinned. “That comes later.” Angel Bunny sat in a corner fuming. His nightmare had come to life now. Fluttershy having a foal of her own. Since the arrival of Pip, the little white critter had been demoted as Fluttershy’s most loved child. What also came with it were the other animals turning traitor on him and preferring Pip over Angel. Since then, he always had to keep a lookout for the dogs chasing after him under Pip’s guise of the grim ‘Hare Hunt’. A moment of clarity was given to the rabbit with Pip away at school, though the attention and treatment he was use to was all but gone thank to the colt. A knock on the door alerted the bunny, making him scurry towards it fast and opening it for Fluttershy. He almost reached it, but Fluttershy was a little faster than he was. “Oh, um... hello, Twilight,” Fluttershy greeted her unicorn friend and looked to Twilight’s side to see Blaze standing there. “Hello, Blaze.” “Good morning, Fluttershy,” Twilight greeted her friend, reaching over to give her a quick hug and walked on inside with her pegasus friend. “Yo!” Blaze saluted her, taking a quick look around the cottage. “It always surprises me on how many animals live here with you.” “Well, they don’t all live here permanently,” Fluttershy explained. “What can I do for you two today? Is Owlowiscious feeling okay?” “He’s fine, this is about you,” Twilight said, showing her the letter. Fluttershy took it and looked through it. “Oh dear. Who’s going to watch the foals while we’re gone?” “That’s what we were hoping you could figure out,” Blaze said. “Any ideas?” “Well... oh, I know! What about Rainbow Spectrum?” Blaze blinked. “Rainbow Dash’s dad? You think he’d be willing? Is he even able to? Where’s he staying right now?” “Oh, he still stays here with me, but he’s out of the house most of the time. He’s usually up at the training camp trying to get back into shape.” “Well that’s a bust then,” Blaze sighed. “There’s barely enough room here for Pip. You said so yourself.” Fluttershy sighed. “It’s true. The poor dear is going to have to sleep on the couch until I can have the builders come in and add another room. And Spectrum’s stuck in a sleeping bag.” “Maybe not...” Twilight mused. “I have an idea. Why not have Spectrum watch them at Sweet Apple Acres? I’m sure the Apple Family won’t mind a few foals running around.” “I guess that would work,” Blaze said. “We just have to run it by everypony else.” “Oh, um, Twilight, have you heard back from...” The unicorn shook her head. “I’m sorry, but these things take time. I’m sure it’ll be here soon.” “You got yours in a day,” Fluttershy pointed out. “They were fake, remember?” Twilight noted. “Adoption is a complicated process. Even with Princess Celestia pulling a few strings, it’s going to be a few days. Don’t worry, you’re already signed in for custody, and the rest is coming.” “I know... I just can’t wait until it’s official!” “How is Pip, anyway?” Blaze asked. Fluttershy beamed in happiness. “Things are really going well for him,” she said, remembering the days since that fateful camping trip. “He seems very happy now and he’s a great help to the animals here,” she continued as she looked up and smiled broadly. “and every time he calls me ‘Mum’, I- I- I feel so happy!” she blushed with her eyes closed and floated in the air for the moment. “I know how you feel,” Twilight replied with a smile of her own. “I still remember the day when Spike confessed how he felt about me,” she said as she stared off into the distance. Blaze nodded as he listened to the two mares. “Having a foal in your life does that to you.” Angel Bunny was glaring at the two visitors constantly, tapping his paw in frustration. By his internal clock, it was lunch time for the rabbit. He hopped towards Fluttershy and pulled on her tail. “Ow!” Fluttershy turned sharply to her rear and looked down to see the discontented bunny looking up at her and pointing to his mouth wide open. “Angel, please be patient. I have guests here,” Fluttershy told him and turned back to her friends. The white rabbit’s jaw hung open, before snapping it close and jumping furiously on the ground in frustration. He had enough. He jumped onto Fluttershy’s back and went up to her head, tapping it with his front paws to get her attention. Fluttershy’s brow furrowed as she took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, be right back.” she said to her friends, before grabbing the bunny by the ears and putting him back in the Time Out corner again. This marked the third time this week when he was sent to it. “Angel, you must learn to not disturb me when I have company here. Now think about what you have done,” she told the bunny with a strict tone as she gave him the ‘Stare’. When she was gone, the bunny crossed his paws as he huffed. He then reached from behind his back and pulled out an harmonica, playing it as he stayed in the corner. Blaze cocked his eyebrow as he looked on to the bunny. “Where did he get the harmonica?” “You know, I’m not sure...” Fluttershy pondered this as she looked back at her pet in wonder. She shook her head, looking back to her friends. “But yes, I think you should go talk to Applejack and Spectrum about looking after the foals,” she said, her eyes looking downwards. “I just wish I could have brought Pip along,” she said softly, not hearing the crying of Angel from behind. “Don’t worry, Fluttershy, Princess Celestia told us she will give us all tickets,” Twilight assured her friends. “Even for our foals.” “Oh that’s good. I’d love to take Pip up to see something like that. I promised the poor dear that we would spend some time together doing something fun. He never had the chance, and it’s hard for a foal like that, you know.” “You’re preaching to the choir,” Blaze said, a hint of hurt in his voice. “But I’m sure he’ll be fine. Until then, I think we need to focus on getting this weekend set up.” Rainbow Dash sat across from her father, sipping out of her water bottle. Being on paid leave wasn’t going to prevent her from working out and practicing every day, she was far too disciplined to do anything else. Besides, it gave her a chance to be trained by her father. She couldn’t help but smirk inwardly. A year ago, if somepony had tried to tell her that she would be looking forward to training sessions with her father, she would have laughed. Or hit them, depending on her mood at that particular moment. And yet here they were, having nearly daily sessions together. Everyday was less awkward than the one before, and she found herself feeling more and more at ease with them, but there was still one condition that made her uncomfortable. After every session, she was required to sit down and have an hour’s conversation with her father. He rarely spoke back, he merely sat there and listened as his daughter ran down different anecdotes about her life. At first it was whatever came to mind, but it had recently taken on a chronological order, and it was getting up to Rainbow Dash’s final years of secondary school. “And that’s how all that applesauce got into the dean’s sock drawer and how me and Gilda got kicked out of flight school.” Spectrum sighed. “You should be thankful I still wasn’t around, I think I would have given both of you a good whipping for that.” “I was seventeen at the time,” Dash pointed out. “Still not an adult,” Spectrum smiled, taking a drink. “So... are you still comfortable living with Fluttershy? Is there even any room left?” He sighed. “Barely. I’m going to have to move out pretty soon. Even if Fluttershy’s willing, I think I’ve troubled her enough.” “Have you given any thought to it?” Spectrum shrugged. “Been checking the paper, nothing in my price range unfortunately,” he laughed, rubbing the back of his head. “Guess now that I’m back in shape, mostly, I ought to see if the weather team is hiring.” Rainbow Dash bit her lower lip, looking to her father in worry. “Say, um... I think I can get you a spot on the team, if you really are willing?” “Really?!" Spectrum beamed at his daughter. "Thank you.” “And, about you moving into a place... how about-” “Hey, Rainbow Dash!” Rainbow and Spectrum turned to see Blaze Stream flying up to them, carrying in his front hooves his filly friend Twilight Sparkle. When they finally reached the father and daughter duo, Blaze placed Twilight on the cloud before making their way to Dash and Spectrum. Twilight blinked, seeing Spectrum and Dash together. She smiled awkwardly with a blush and stepped back a little. “Maybe we should ask you later-” “No, no!” Spectrum waved his hoof and motioned the other two to come over. “Come on, take a seat.” Blaze looked at Twilight and shrugged, walking up to where the other two were sitting and took his place next to them. “Nice day to be training today...” “You bet!” Rainbow Dash replied with a smirk, taking another sip of her water. “So what you need, Twilight?” she asked her friend. Twilight gave her the letter and she squinted her eyes as she read through it fast. She let out a whistle, giving the letter to her father. “So the Crystal Empire’s bidding for the Equestrian Games, huh? And we’ve been invited to impress some commisioner?” she smiled as she crossed her legs behind her head. “Piece of cake.” Spectrum nodded, looking up to the sky. “I remember when the Equestrian Games were in Cloudsdale once. Participated in them, too.” “You did?” Rainbow Dash asked skeptically, cocking her brow at her father. “I have the gold medals to prove it Dashie,” Spectrum responded, taking a look at the letter again. “Still... who’s going to watch over the kids?” “That’s what we came here for actually...” Twilight said quietly. “Oh?” Twilight twisted her hoof into the dirt. “We were thinking... Spectrum, would you be willing to watch the foals for a weekend?” Both members of the Rainbow family widened their eyes. “You want me to watch them? How? Where?” “We were hoping the Apple Family would be willing to put you up. We just need you to watch over them for a few days.” Twilight turned to Rainbow Dash. “I know you and your father aren’t on the best of terms, but do you think you can trust Scootaloo to him for a day or two?” “Actually... I think that would be fine.” Spectrum looked at her daughter with surprise. “Really?” he said, hope in his voice. “Yeah... actually, I wanted to talk to you about a lot of things... are you going to watch the foals?” “...Yes, I’d love to.” “Great,” Twilight said. “You two obviously have something to talk about, so we’ll go tell the others. We need to arrange this whole thing with the Apples, so I suggest visiting them afterward.” Twilight and Blaze left afterward, in a bit of a hurry. This was a conversation they needed to have alone. “Dashie... you’re really willing?” Rainbow Dash nodded her head, finishing her bottle. “Actually... I think I want you to spend more time with her. She is your granddaughter.” Spectrum smiled, his eyes were watering up. “I’d like that... really.” “And, about you getting an apartment?" Rainbow's eyes looked away from her father's as she blinked, scrunching her lips before looking back. "I think, maybe... it would be better if... if... you came and lived with me.” Spectrum felt his heart soar. “Really?” “Yeah.” Rainbow replied, her lips quivering as she blinked continuously. “Dad... I’m so sorry I ran off like that,” she said, her eyes forming liquid with each blink she did. “I... I was young and stupid, and I didn’t think it would hurt you that much,” she spoke, looking down in sadness. “I... I want us to be a family again. So...” Suddenly her father’s forelegs were around her, nearly crushing her in a hug. “Dashie... thank you,” he told her as he nuzzled her with his eyes closed. “And you don’t need to apologize,” he said, letting go of the hug and looking his daughter in the eye with his red-rimmed eyes. “This time, we’re together...” Those words, along with everything that has happened to Dash since her father returned in her life, made things clear to her now. She sniffed as she began to cry and launched herself to her father, holding him tight as she was crying in his shoulder. She felt a gentle hoof on her head, stroking her head gently. “I love you, Dashie...” Rainbow Dash smiled broadly with her eyes closed. She raised her head and nuzzled her father, before speaking the words her father had longed to hear her say: “I love you too, Daddy...” Applejack was on her twentieth tree, bucking it hard for the apples it was bearing. With just one swift buck, all the apples came falling down to the buckets below collecting like raindrops on a stormy night. Her brother Big Macintosh came walking up with his cart full of buckets and collected each one of them. “This season’s been good to us so far, wouldn’t ya say?” Applejack asked her brother, placing buckets in her separate cart. “Eeyup!” “Whelp!” Applejack placed the straps of the cart on her. “Let’s head on back to the farm!” she told Big Mac, before they both made their way to Sweet Apple Acres. When the farmhouse was in view, Applejack squinted her eyes when she saw two familiar ponies standing in front of their house. She decided to trot faster to her destination, reaching the farmhouse way before her brother did. Applejack unbuckled the straps from her torso and walked up to Twilight and Blaze. “Well howdy there, Twi’! Howdy, Blaze!” she greeted each pony with her strong hoof-shake. “What can Ah do fer y’all today?” Twilight used her magic and gave the letter to Applejack. “First, I need you to take a look at this.” Applejack scanned the letter being held out in front of her by Twilight’s magic. “Well gosh, I’m not sure we can afford to go up there right now... work on th’ farm’s pretty tight.” “Are you sure you can’t make it?” Twilight asked. “This is a summons from one of the Princesses herself. That’s not something everypony can claim to have gotten.” “I know, but things are kind of tight right now...” “It ain’t that bad,” Big Mac said. “You worry too much.” “I’ve gotta be here...” “Applejack,” Twilight said sternly, “remember Applebuck Season?” Big Mac nodded. “Or th’ incident with the Sass Squash?” “Sass Squash?” Blaze asked, eyebrow cocked. “Don’t ask,” Applejack mumbled, a blush appearing on her cheeks. “I guess I could take a few days...” “The harvestin’ is almost finished,” Big Mac said, “an’ I think we can get some members of th’ Carrot Family to help us out if it comes to it.” “Well, there’s a second thing,” Blaze noted. “Do you think it would be okay if Spectrum were to watch the foals here on the farm while we’re in the Empire?” “Spectrum?” Applejack said in surprise. “Dash agreed to that?” “Apparently so,” Blaze said. “We figured they could all have fun here while we’re gone.” “I guess that makes sense. Them young-’uns would have quite some fun runnin’ round here a few days. Big Mac, ya think ya could help Spectrum handle ‘em?” “Spike ain’t bringin’ over any spellbooks, right?” the stallion asked, a little too quickly. The unpleasant memory of waking up in a pit with Cheerilee was not something he wanted to revisit. “Relax, I have any books like that on a strict ‘No Foals Allowed’ policy now. You’re safe.” “Well, I reckon it would be alright,” Big Mac said, looking thoughtful. “Maybe they could all have a sleepover in th’ clubhouse, an’ we could check on ‘em just before midnight...” Twilight giggled, remembering her sleep over with Applejack and Rarity. “Hopefully, it won’t rain while we are away, remember, Applejack?” she asked her friend. Applejack blushed again removing her hat from her head, covering her cheeks. “Ain’t letting that one go, are ya, Twi’?” “What happened?” Blaze leaned in Twilight’s ear, confused as to what they were talking about. “I’ll tell you later,” Twilight replied. “We just need to tell the foals about this,” Twilight noted to herself out loud, tapping her chin. “Yer in luck,” Big Mac chimed in. “They’re all at their clubhouse, somethin’ about fixin’ it up I heard...” “Great!” Blaze said, turning to the direction where the clubhouse was located. “Then let’s go and tell them...” Apple Bloom was humming a tune, busy fixing the windows of the clubhouse from inside. The only pony who was inside with her was Pip, painting the walls of the clubhouse and working on the mural he was requested to do. When she turned her head to Pip’s direction, she saw the colt smiling broadly as he was painting up a storm. Apple Bloom smiled too, happy to see her friend in such a state. “Ya seem happy as a pig in mud.” “What gave it away?” Pip asked rhetorically, looking back at Apple Bloom. “The smile,” Apple Bloom remarked, going back to her work on the windows. “Ya seem much happier lately, Pip...” Pip shrugged. “I am indeed happy.” “Ya need to smile more, though.” “Oh?” Apple Bloom nodded as she beamed. “Yeah,” she looked down to the ground, before looking back to her work. “Ah kinda find it cute...” she carelessly said out loud, gasping and covering her mouth as she blushed in embarrassment. “Sorry?” “Nuttin’,” she said quickly. “Uh, we best get ta gettin’ th’ clubhouse back up an’ runnin’,” she was already picking up the carpentry supplies by that time. “Ah’ll start patchin’ up th’ holes, you start paintin’ th’ back.” Before she got a confirmation or a protest from Pip, she was off to behind the clubhouse to start working. Pip stood there for a moment, blinking in a non comprehensive stare, trying to figure out what exactly happened just now. “Well, well,” Spike said as both Light and him strolled up to him. “It looks like there’s a new colt in the filly killer crowd.” “Wh-what?” Pip said. “I ain’t sappy like that!” “Maybe hanging around Fluttershy rubbed off on you,” Spike continued teasing. Light was quiet, but his smug smile was expressing all the feelings it needed to. “Why do you gotta be doin’ this?” “Gee, I don’t know,” Spike said in faux bafflement. “Maybe it has something to do with the fact that you’ve been teasing us about Sweetie and Scootaloo? Guess we need a triple wedding.” “Stop it!” “We could play seven minutes of heaven!” “We... wait, what’s that?” The two other colts looked at each other. “Honestly, we were hoping you’d know,” Light said. “We heard my dad whisper it to Twilight yesterday. She seemed embarrassed by it, so we thought it was some sort of game big ponies play.” “Big ponies play romance games?” “Back when I was growing up in the palace, Prince Blueblood told me there were all kinds of games only big ponies can play. But Mom caught him then, and she wouldn’t tell me any of them.” Light spoke up. “Well, back when... you know... Yellow would always say...” “Hey kids!” Twilight called out, walking up to them with her coltfriend by her side. The colts turned to the elders ponies. “Hey, Mom,” Spike greeted his mother with a wave. “Hey, Blaze.” “Yo!” Blaze saluted the colts and looked around the area. “The girls here, too?” he asked curiously. “We’re here!” Blaze looked up and saw the fillies of the Cutie Mark Crusaders coming down to meet Twilight and Blaze. “We’re not in trouble, are we?” Scootaloo questioned Blaze with her eyebrow cocked. “Why do you kids always think you’re in trouble when we want to chat?” Blaze asked, scratching his head as he saw all the foals look up to the sky innocently as they whistled. “Anyway, nah, we just want to chat to you all about something that’s going to happen soon,” he said, looking to Twilight. Twilight cleared her throat. “Yes... can you all come to the farmhouse in about an hour please?” “Sure thing!” All the foals said simultaneously, smiling with their eyes closed. “Perfect!” Twilight replied, clapping her hooves once. “Well, we’ll see you later,” she told the foals, and both her and Blaze started walking back. “Hey, Mom?” Twilight’s ears perked when she heard Spike’s voice. “Yes, Spike?” she turned around to face her son, looking down at him. “What’s ‘Seven minutes in heaven’?” Twilight’s cheeks turned beet red, and her pupils shrank too. Blaze walked up and chuckled. “Well, Spike, that’s-” his words were cut off by a withering glare from Twilight. He gulped, chuckling again in nervousness. “We’ll tell you later.” “Why not now, Dad?” Light asked, approaching the two sweating elder ponies. “It’s... something special!” “Really?” Spike and Light asked indubiously, raising their brow at Twilight and Blaze, who were retreating back slowly. “Yeah, real special... gotta go.” Light had never seen his dad fly off so fast. Spike had seen his mother run so fast, but it had been back when Blaze was still an enemy. The three colts watched as the adults ran off. After a minute, it was Light who spoke. “Do you think we’re going to get that weird when we’re old?” As it turned out, the whole transition went smoother than any of them expected. That evening, close to sunset, six foals were at the train station to wave their parents off. “Are you sure you have everything?” Twilight asked Spike for the hundredth time. “Toothbrush, blankets, brush...” “Yes,” Spike sighed, rolling his eyes. “Good. Now remember to do your magic exercises.” “Yes, Mother,” he said. “And remember, you are to forget about any game called Seven Minutes of Heaven.” “But what is it?” “Something Blaze isn’t going to get to play for awhile,” Twilight said cryptically. “It’s dangerous, anyway.” “Dangerous? How?” “Well, if I catch you playing it, it’s going to hurt. Understand?” Spike gulped. “Yes.” “Good.” She gave her son a kiss on the cheek. Amongst the platform there was a lot of kissing, hugging, and saying goodbye, with the occasional promises to bring back souvenirs. With the goodbyes said, the train was boarded. The train let out a whistle and started moving away from its departure platform. Gaining speed with each second, the train let out two more whistles before it was running on full speed ahead. Twilight and Blaze decided to share a separate compartment, away from the rest of the mares. Rarity and Fluttershy opted on having their own compartment, whilst Pinkie and the others shared one. Blaze looked out at the window, seeing the night sky in the distance and the lands before him as they were moving at high speeds. He yawned out loud, stretching his wings making his way to his bed. He caught a glimpse of Twilight, who was looking out at the window too with longing eyes. He smiled softly, making his way to her. “Thinking of your colt already?” he asked her, placing his hooves around her neck. Twilight nodded, with her eyes half-opened. “I just hope they’ll be fine, it’s all...” “Well, Spectrum is looking out for them... and from what I hear, Big Macintosh is helping too,” he told her, giving her a peck on the cheek. “So don’t worry about it,” “I guess you’re right...” Twilight smiled and turned to Blaze, nuzzling his cheek. Blaze grinned, winking at Twilight. “Now what say we go to bed now?” he asked. “That sounds wonderful actually,” “Good,” Blaze reached out and scooped Twilight up in his hooves, invoking a yelp from her. “Blaze!” she responded, Twilight’s voice barely audible as she was carried off to bed. “What? I thought you liked this?” Twilight pouted as she was placed in the bed. “Well, you’re still not getting ‘Seven Minutes of Heaven’ from me...” Blaze cocked his brow as he continued to grin. “Well, you did speak of always wanting it, did you not?” “I-I-” Twilight’s blush deepened as she turned away from Blaze’s gaze. “Still... it’s embarrassing that the foals are asking us about it!” “Haha! Yeah, it is!” Blaze replied, chuckling as he rubbed the back of his head in defeat. “Still, you can’t blame them for being curious,” he said, climbing in the same bed as Twilight. “All part of growing up.” “Blaze? What are you-” her words were cut off, with his lips touching hers. Twilight felt Blaze’s wing encasing her and bringing her in closer. “Mph,” Twilight moaned, pulling away a bit. “Darn you. You’re lucky you’re so cute.” And then they kissed again.