"Go on," Discord persuaded as he slowly, deliberately, gently pushed Lazarus and Lancelot towards Matt, "Tell him. It's perfectly fine."
Both were very nervous. They put their feet onto the ground in such a way a pile of dirt formed as they were pushed, thus slowing the Chaos God. The very idea that their long-time enemy settled down and had kids drove them bonkers. But not the 'I am going to kill you!' kind of bonkers. They were confused, nervous, scared even of the very thought. If those children were at least five years old now, who knows what he'd taught them. And who'd he have them with? The magician who'd helped him? Some other chick? The pile was cleared away by the unicorn whom Scootaloo identified to be Sweetie Belle, the sister of Rarity.
At last, both dragoon and God stood before swordsman.
A very long and rather awkward silence stood between them while everyone else listened for the faintest mishap--words, breathing patterns, what have you. The only sound that came for what seemed to be a few hours on end was the breeze of the wind that whispered into their ears. Time felt like it stopped, especially for Blake and Katie since they were immortal. They were wondering if Celestia was in the sky right then looking at them funny.
The silence continued.
Nothing stirred at all.
Absolutely nothing moved. Even the ability to breathe had been paralyzed.
After that silence, Lancelot was the first to speak. "U-Um, Matt...I...I think we need to stop f-fighting."
"I can see why," Matt replied calmly, "I mean, I've already adjusted to a non-violent life. Given Equestria is generally peaceful, monkey see, monkey do." He paused, motioning for Natalie to stand next to him. Almost subconsciously, the wizard complied with the silent command. He didn't speak until she was next to him, "It's very hard to change habits, especially if you've done them for years on end."
Everyone nodded heartily in agreement.
"Some things never change, though." Matt continued like he'd been elected in place of Barack Obama, "Like the desire to go on adventures or beat up monsters nobody else would dare take on. The desire to protect and help what I hold dear has taken such a firm grip on me that, when I was told the kids were going on a field trip to the Everfree Forest, I couldn't help but think something was off. Me, Natz here, Lance, and Anna secretly followed the kids and guess what we saw: A freaking Rafflesia. At first, the kids did have the upper hand but after a while the giant plant began cheating. Right when it would've delivered its fatal injuries did we step in."
Lazarus looked at the children. One looked like the child of the soldier and ranger, two looked like furballs and the last kind of looked like the wizard. When he saw her little wings, he couldn't help but say, "That one isn't yours."
Blake stepped forward. "Matt and I also had a truce of sorts. I think you can see where that went."
Lazarus raised a brow and Lancelot's jaw dropped open.
Blake only chuckled with a reassuring nod. He understood what they were trying to say.
Natalie smiled wide. "It was the only way I could think of to shut them both up and make all three of us happy at the same time!" She flung one arm around the swordsman and the other around the half-demon.
Coryza flung her arms around Matt. "And don't forget about me!"
"I was getting to that, take a chill pill." Matt sneered with a goofy grin. "You can see what this resulted in, Lazarus. Don't you lie to me!"
Lazarus couldn't help but look shocked. The swordsman had his own...he could not bring himself to say that word.
"What say you?" Blake asked as he cocked his head to the side.
"I-I must a-ask," Lazarus nervously started, his legs shaking, "H-How a-are we...err..."
"Gonna stop fighting?" Matt finished for him. Lazarus nodded.
Another long silence followed shortly after.
"How about this?" Lance started, "We let them live with us so they can get used to us. When we're all situated and happy and whatnot, we go from there."
"That sounds like the best plan." Matt agreed.
"Like literally live with you guys?" Lancelot asked, shocked.
Lance nodded. "What better course do you have to offer?"
"We've no other option, Lancelot." Lazarus agreed. "We have to get used to them before we can forgive them and vice-versa."
"HEY!" Applejack bellowed, "Who wants some cider!?"
Lance smiled.
"WE DO!" Everyone called.
~~~~~~
"This cider is sweet!" Alexis called with a silly smile. She had some cider froth on her face.
"It's supposed to be!" Miss Cherilee chimed, "Because apples are sweet!"
"This is better than I remember," Lance cried in ecstasy, "It's just so darn good I'd drink fifteen gallons before I fell asleep!"
"By then, your tastebuds will have skidmarks!" Anna remarked before downing what was in her mug.
"I'd eat the mugs if it were allowed!" Katie commented with a cat's smile.
"You said it!" Lance sneered.
Lazarus had a mug of his own and he was hogging a barrel. "First time having cider ever since I started chasing that swordsman around left and right, I forgot how good cider is!"
"Amen!" Lancelot agreed.
"Why do the Flim-Flam brothers cheat?" Wing asked, her whole muzzle covered in wonderful cider froth.
"Beats me." Matt replied with a shrug. "For all I know, they could've grown up knowing that was the 'only way,' as it were. Well, cheating isn't the only way to live life to the fullest nor is it a good way to make a living!"
"Yep." Natalie nodded as she heartily drank her cider.