//------------------------------// // Chapter 14: Reunions // Story: Night's Children // by Lucky424 //------------------------------// “Mommy... you're getting fat!” Luna did not scold Sapphire Sky, choosing instead to beckon her closer with a hoof, pulling her into a loose embrace. “I know my darling, but there is a reason. For you see, I am with child once more... but don't tell your father. It is a surprise for him.” “When will daddy and Flame be back?” Luna started to run her hoof through Sky's mane, closing her eyes as the filly settled down to sleep. “Tomorrow morning at some point. You could've gone with them, you know?” The comforting motions stopped as Sky curled up next to Luna, lying on her side. “I know mommy, but I wanted to stay with you.” She then gave a little giggle, causing Luna to smile, even as the foal growing inside her shifted to an uncomfortable position. “Besides, I wouldn't have been able to have all those sleepovers with the other fillies, would I?” “True, now go to sleep. This is another thing your father must not know about... he won't be happy with you staying up this late.” Luna rolled to her side and pulled Sky to her chest, nuzzling her head gently before laying her own down for some much needed rest. At one of the castle's side entrances, the two Lunar Guards stationed there were grateful for the fact that the sun was just peeking over the eastern mountains, meaning that their shift was ending soon. It had been a rather uneventful night, even with the younger Princess Sparkle deciding she wanted to go on a midnight walk with her father. The one on the left of the gate, a pegasus, spread his wings, stretching out to try and remove the pins and needles that had settled. “Um... excuse me?” Their attention was drawn to the butter yellow mare with a pink mane standing in front of them. Being tired it took them a few moments to answer, but something about her was... off. “Dame Fluttershy... what happened to your wings?” “Oh, uh... that's my daughter. In fact... um, I was wondering if you knew where I could find her. We didn't leave things... on the best of terms you see.” “Mrs Apple lives in Ponyville. There is a train due to leave in the next hour.” “Mrs... Apple? My daughter is... married? Oh... my.” The pegasus shot forward and grabbed the mare with his wings as she fainted, slipping her round to his back. “Heh, look at that lads!” He turned to see the four Solar Guards coming to relieve them. “Armoured Star made another one faint with his ugly face!!” “Kiss my Flank, Sunlight. She's a Bearer's mother. And she didn't know about the marriage. Besides... Captain Moonlight would have my flank if I tried something with his old flame. Now get outta my way, I'm taking her to the infirmary.” Celestia smiled as the mare on the hospital bed stirred, slowly opening her eyes and looking around the room. The sparkling emerald eyes widened with surprise as they centred on the princess in the room. “Good morning my little pony. Now then, I don't believe we've met, so... you look like Fluttershy, but are much too young to be her mother. Cousin, perhaps?” “Um... I, uh...” “Posey... is that really you?” Both mares turned to the door, where a Lunar Guard marked with captain insignia was standing. “It's been so many years... you've hardly changed.” “M-m-moonlight?” “Hmm, perhaps I should leave you two alone, this sounds like something that should be private.” With a nod to the guard, Celestia trotted out of the room, the stallion dropping his gaze to the floor. “I'm sorry.” “And so you should be. Now, where is my daughter?” “So... you got married afterwards?” “No, I did not. Nopony would look at me after I had a foal out of wedlock, you know what sort of town we were living in. Especially being a teenage mother. Now, I will ask you again, where is our daughter?” Moonlight worked his mouth open and closed, trying to speak, to ask about... his daughter, but only one thing came out. “Are... you sure she's mine?” A pillow to his face was not the answer he was expecting, and the mare on the bed was glaring furiously at him. “Well, considering you were my first, and my last, yes, Fluttershy is yours!” “Wait, Fluttershy, as in Dame Fluttershy, bearer of the Element of Kindness, saviour of Equestria on multiple occasions, is my... daughter? Oh Faust... I guess I'd best tell you then...” “That she is now Mrs Apple? Yes, a guard has already told me that part.” “No... it's something else. If you can wait here for a while... I can get time off, come down to Ponyville with you... if you want me to.” The door to the master bedroom swung open slowly, and as Alec entered his muzzle through the door, he was assaulted by a small blue blur, and he began chuckling as he moved Sky down from his face to his chest with a hoof. “Good morning Sapphy, have you been a good filly?” “Yes daddy, I have! We had a few sleepovers, we braided mommy and auntie Tia's manes, put make up on Blazing Petal and braided her mane as well. And we got cousin Skyla a coltfriend!!” “Sounds like you had fun. Where's mommy?” “She's in bed still!” “Really? Well why don't we go wake her up then?” Sky leapt upon his back, and together the walked over to the side of the bed where Luna's head was. Alec moved his muzzle closer and pressed his lips to hers, causing Sky to giggle. Luna's eyes fluttered open and she looked upon her stallion with a smile. “Good morning... have you just got back?” “Yeah... Flame's still asleep, little guy was up all night piloting the Polaris. So, what's new with you?” Luna didn't answer with woods, grabbing the hoof that was running through her mane with one of her own, placing it on her stomach. He was about to ask why when his eyes widened in good surprise, and he started to smile as he felt another kick. “So... we got another one on the way?” “Yes we do.” Luna tilted her heading confusion as a sound came through the door, one that hadn't been heard in the castle for a long time. “Alec... why did I just hear a dog bark?” Sky jumped down from his back and galloped into the main room, where she let out a massive gasp. “Well... you see...” “A PUPPY!!!” “...I may have gotten them a present whilst we were away?” “So you got them a dog?” “It'll be fine, it's mother is one of Winona's offspring. Nopony's had a problem with any of them. Now... how long?” “Well, the signs of two months started to show just after you left, so around three.” Alec lay on the bed behind her, wrapping a wing over her side and nuzzling her gently. “How was your male bonding trip?” “Flame... has been spending too much time with Celestia, he spent most of the trip setting pranks up, but they were good ones. Other than that, everything went all right. Spike got a little... love sick being away from Sweetie Belle for so long. You should have seen how quick he got off when we landed in Ponyville!” “Mommy, Mr Moonlight is here to see you!” With the assistance of Alec's hoof, she sat up against the headrest and nodded to her daughter, who turned and trotted back out with her head held high. “You may approach mommy now, Mr Moonlight.” A chuckling stallion came through the door, bowing to the floor. “Apologies for the early interruption, your majesty. I was wondering if I could take a few days off for some... personal business.” “Of course you may, captain. If I may, where will you be heading?” “To Ponyville, I just found out I have a... daughter living there.” Alec cocked his head, trying to work out who it was, but couldn't recall anypony that looked like him, even out of uniform. Moonlight noticed, and with a sigh decided to tell them. “It's Fluttershy.” That got a reaction from the male alicorn, who now glared at him. “GET YOUR FLANK DOWN TO PONYVILLE NOW AND APOLOGISE FOR NOT BEING THERE FOR HER!” “SIR, YES SIR!” Moonlight turned and galloped out of the room. “So Brae, how long 'as Shy got left?” “A few months yet, Mac.” The two stallions were making there way to Caramel's for the usual weekly stallion get together. “Ah still can't believe Ah'm gonna be a dad.” “Heh, you'll get used to it!” They nodded as Soarin dropped to the ground alongside them, ready to trot the last few paces to the bar. It was then that a Lunar Guard stepped out and looked to them, then trotted over. “Mr Apple?” “Eeyup?” “That's me.” “Uh... the Mr Apple that's married to Fluttershy?” The three stallions shared a nervous look, and Braeburn took a step forward with a swallow. “That would be me, sir.” “Um... could you... tell me where my daughter is... if you want to, that is.” The mare that stepped out from the guard made them all do a double take, due to the fact she was the spitting image of Fluttershy without wings. “Daughter? Ma'am, yer too young t' be Shy's mother. Are ya sure ya got the right mare?” The earth pony trotted right up to Braeburn, glaring at him. “I know who my daughter is, Mr Apple. Now where is she?” “Probably back at home. Ah... can show ya and yer escort t' way if y'all want.” She looked around at the guard, before she smiled at Braeburn. “He's not my escort, he's her father.” Braeburn's eyes went wide with shock, before a yellow forehoof waving in front of his face snapped him back to reality. “Well then Mr Apple, lead the way.” Fluttershy lay on her bed, running a hoof over the growing foals inside her. She knew there was more than one, going by her size, but she didn't want to know how many. She smiled as she felt a few really soft kicks, but her face soon turned to confusion as Angel jumped to the bed and pointed out the window. “Calm down, Angel Bunny, nopony is out there. Braeburn has gone for his weekly night out, that's all.” Her eyes widened as she heard the door open, and some hushed talking, one of the voices belonging to her husband. Next came the sound of hooves on the stairs, and the bedroom door slowly swung open, the hallway light revealing her smiling stallion. “You still awake, mah little butterfly?” “Yes I am, my delicious apple.” Braeburn trotted over and nuzzled her cheek, which was promptly returned by the smiling mare. “Hey... you feelin' up t' commin' downstairs? Ah got a surprise for ya.” “Of course, give me a hoof, will you?” Doing as asked, the two walked out of the room and downstairs, where Fluttershy could hear a conversation between a mare and a stallion in her living room. The rounded the doorway when her breath got caught in her throat. “M-m-m-other?” “Hello, Fluttershy.” Braeburn watched as she worked her mouth a few times, then closed her eyes. Her breathing steady as he brought his hooves over his ears, and Moonlight, not knowing why, did the same. Even with the added audio protection, he found out why. “WHAT THE BUCK ARE YOU DOING HERE?? I THOUGHT YOU MADE IT PERFECTLY CLEAR THAT YOU NEVER WANTED TO SEE ME AGAIN!! AND NOW YOU TURN UP, OUT OF THE BLUE, FOR WHAT?” “Well... I can see I'm not welcome here. I guess I'll just go.” Posey got up from the couch and walked to the front door. She turned her head and looked the other mare in the eyes. “Goodbye, my darling Fluttershy.” With that she left, the image of her tears burning into her daughter's eyes. “I... I'm sorry.” Braeburn nuzzled her cheek and guided her to the couch opposite Moonlight, nodded to him before he galloped out of the door. Moonlight got up and walked over to Fluttershy, wrapping the sobbing mare in his wing. She looked up fearful for a moment before she noticed his soft smile. “Um... do I... know you?” “I'm sorry, Fluttershy. I didn't want this to be like this. I'm... I mean, I am...” “Take your time, you can say it.” He took a few deep breaths, before cupping her hooves in his and looking her in the eye. “Fluttershy, I'm your father.” She sat there, unblinking, unmoving for a whole five minutes before it caught up to her. “D-d-daddy?” Moonlight nodded, then suddenly found himself short of breath as she threw her forelegs around his chest, sobbing even more. Unsure of himself, he slowly reached up a hoof and began running it through her mane. “Are yer sure?” “'Fraid so. I saw her arrive, and she hasn't left yet. Sorry Brae, but that mare's still in Ponyville somewhere.” “Okay, thanks any way.” Braeburn left the train station, wondering where Fluttershy's mother could've gotten to. If he'd been in that situation, he'd been wanting a really stiff drink right about no... the though struck him like a lightning bolt, which was rather appropriate as a grey blob barrelled into him as he began to run towards Caramel's. “Braeburn, you gotta come quick! Some mare that looks like Flutters is slamming them back really quick!” Not giving him a chance, Thunderlane wrapped his hooves around Braeburn's body, taking wing to their combined destination. They landed outside and burst in through the door, seeing the mare in question with a bottle of spirit and a shot glass. Posey went to pour herself another drink when the bottle was slapped away from her by a golden hoof, and she turned to scowl at the pony standing there, her daughter's husband. “And what the hay do you want? To tell me I'm a bad mother? Want to hit me for giving my daughter everything I could? Well... tough! You don't know what it was like, being a unwed teenage mother in Trotterdam. It's why I moved to Manehatten in the first place!” “Ma'am, Ah don't know what happened to put ya in that situation, but Ah do know this. Fluttershy was happy to see ya, even if she didn't sound like it. Why don't ya come back t' the cottage with me, an' we can sort things out?” “Why? What's the point? I made it perfectly clear how disappointed I was when she left for Cloudsdale instead of learning to fly there. Why would she want me to be around now?” “Because you are her mother, an' as much as it don't seem like it, she loves you. Now come on, let's go see our family.” With a tug to her shoulders, Posey relented, and together they left the bar. Caramel looked at the bottle and glass left on the counter, then shook his head. “That is being added to his tab.” The ponies closest to the bar erupted with laughter. “...and then I got my cutie mark.” “So... Dame Rainbow Dash... she knocked you off the cloud?” Fluttershy shook her head as she set down the tea set, four cups ready, just in case... “She didn't mean to, it just happened. But I wouldn't have found the world I love if she didn't try to win against those bullies, so I should really thank her.” The door opened and Braeburn trotted in, with Posey snoring up a storm on his back. “Oh my, what happened?” “She went t' Caramel's, had half a bottle of somethin' or other. Ah'm gonna put her in t' spare room, let her sleep it off.” He looked over at Moonlight and sighed. “Then Ah guess we'd better talk, huh?” After setting the mare down, he returned to the couch, the couple both getting to know Fluttershy's father, and the circumstances of her birth. Moonlight refused their offer of setting up a spare bed (Fluttershy had learnt from all the Cutie Mark Crusader sleepovers), opting for the couch instead. When Braeburn came downstairs the next morning to start breakfast, he couldn't help but smile at what he saw. Lying on the large couch was Moonlight, and wrapped in his hooves, miraculously, was Fluttershy's mother, who had a wing over her for a blanket. He had to stop himself from chuckling as Posey shifted, nuzzling the stallion in her sleep. The back streets of Cloudspire, at least during the night, was the last place anypony would want to be. All except one as he tried to reach his destination avoiding the main cloud roads, having had enough ponies stare at his one eye on the long train ride from Canterlot. The mare beside him got them moving with a swift hoof to the flank, but they soon stopped as three stallions stepped out from the shadows. “Well, well... what do we have here?A colt and filly all alone... why don't you come with us, see how a real stallion can treat you?” “Hoops, what happened to you?” “What the buck, how do you know my name?” The mare stepped out of the shadows, revealing the customized, lighter Royal Armour, marked with a sigil of a Moon upon a Shield. She was followed by the one eyed stallion, wearing the same. “Holy hay... Blazing Petal? You look good! And...Warding Spear? I heard you were dead!” “I was, but I was then reborn into the pony before you. Now, let us pass.” “Oh no, we don't think so. You see, at night, this area belongs to us.” “This is an area for the ponies and visitors of Cloudspire. Now, remove yourselves from our paths... or we will do it for you.” “And just who has given you the power to do that?” “Princess Luna.” The three would be thugs looked at each other before quickly flying away, not looking back once. “Those three were always pretty dumb.” Petal came up to his side and nuzzled his cheek. “See, that's the Warding Spear I remember. So, which way was it?” “If I hear somepony say that name again, I'm going to buck them up!! It's not wanted around here!” They turned to the cloud home to their side, where the back door was open, a stallion and mare standing in the light. “Who ever you are, you'd best buck off before we call the guards!” The ponies in the street stepped towards the light, showing the others they were guards. Spear trotted right up to the door and looked the mare in the eyes. She seemed confused for a moment and then punched him in the face hard, knocking him back down the cloud steps. Blazing Petal rushed to his side as the door slammed shut, and he shook his head with a sigh. “It would seem that my sister is unhappy to see me.”