Reindeer in Equestria: Chapter 2 – The Children
Connor was outside in the front yard of the house and shoveling the snow from the walk way. This was all new to him with shoveling snow and he was almost done with clearing the show. ‘This is odd…shoveling snow? I understand clearing the doorway but why th--’ His thought was interrupted as flash of purple happened and he felt something land on his head. He opened his eyes after the blinding effect and saw a purple unicorn filly.
“Ummmm…hello there?” Connor said with a smile. “Who may you be?” The purple filly opened her eyes and showing her sparkly purple eyes. She lightly blows her purple and pink mane out of her eyes.
“Oh hello there, good sir.” The filly said. “I-”
“TWILIGHT?!” Celestia’s voice yelled from next door and Connor looked up to the purple filly. “TWILIGHT WHERE ARE YOU?!”
“I’m guessing your Twilight.” Connor said and put down the shovel.
“Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight said with cute embarrassment smile. Connor trotted over to the daycare front door and was about to knock but the door opened up.
Another alicorn Connor never seen before and she looked younger than Luna and Celestia. She main fur color was pink, and her main and tail was a mix of purple, darker pink and creamy white. She was wearing a matching white scarf and earmuffs and had her hair into a ponytail. The cutie mark on her was crystal heart with yellow lines under the heart. Her eyes were purple and gazing up to Connor.
“Hello, Cadance!” Twilight said and waved down to her. Celestia rushed to the door and sighed in relief in seeing Twilight on his head.
“I believe this teleporting wonder is yours,” Connor said and Celestia used her magic to pick up Twilight. “Hello there I’m Connor Featherpen.” Connor held out his hand to Candance.
“OH right, I’m Mi Amore Cadenza, but you can call me Cadance.” She said as she snapped out of her stare on him and shook his hoof. She used her magic to take off her scarf and earmuffs and step back. “Luna and Celestia told me about you and your job.”
“Really?” Connor said and walked into the daycare. He wiped his hooves on the rug and noticed the wall was light yellow with some flowers painted on the wall. He stopped in his steps as he felt eyes on him and looked straight to see curiosity foals eyes looking around the corner. “So wa-” Without warning there was magical explosion and it happened so fast he couldn’t react. “…What?” Half of his left side felt heavier than his right and he couldn’t open his right eye.
“A-Are you alright?” Cadance asked and she was on his left side making his body a shield.
“I’m fine, it doesn’t hurt th-” Connor stopped and sniff the air. “Is something on fire?” Cadance eyes widen as smoke come out hole in the wall.
“Trixie!” Celestia yelled and Connor turned his head to see another unicorn blue filly with silver mane and tail. “Oh my…” Celestia stared at Connor and Luna looked through the hole as well.
“What?” Connor asked and moved his head a bit feeling the weight on his head was all wrong. “Oh…OH…I’m missing an antler aren’t I?” All three nodded. “Well nothing too much, those fall off every year.” All three were confused and couldn’t understand why he wasn’t too worried about his antler being missing.
“Anyways your visit will have to be postponed due to this hole and daycare is ending early.” Luna said and the other foals groaned in hearing that. “I know you like it here but that wall is a hazard and we don’t want anypony else hurt.” Celestia gently pushed the blue filly to Connor and Connor lowers his head to look at the filly.
“I’m sorry sir.” She said and ears lowered. “I didn’t m-” Connor gently rubbed her head.
“It’s alright little one.” He said. “Just next time be more careful with your spells.” She nodded and walked to the rest of the foals. Connor noticed Luna, Celestia and Cadance talking and both looked worried and walked over to them. “What’s wrong?”
“Well in these cases we be going outside to play but with the roads fill with snow it be a dangerous thing to do.” Luna said. “We can’t let them play in here with that hole in the wall.”
“We us-” Celestia stopped and looked at Connor. “We usually take the foals over to the Oliverbranch’s house.” Connor blinked for a moment then smiled. “Think you can entertain eleven foals.”
“I think I can easily do that.” He said and glanced to the foals as they were all staring at him. “I believe they have lots of questions for me.”
“Alright, we will get the foals over there and you do get that soot off you.” Luna said and Connor nodded with small smile.
“Maybe you should help him Luna.” Celestia said causing both Luna and Connor turn bright red. “He is mis-”
“I-I’m fine.” Connor interrupted quickly. “My ma-magic isn’t e-effected by l-lose of an-antler!” He turned around quickly and was heading out the door but his remaining antler hit the frame. “D-Duck.” Luna, Celestia and Cadance lightly giggled and Connor turned completely red than left.
~~~
Connor was all cleaned up and lay on the living room rug with the eleven foals in front of him. They were just looking up at him and one of foals went straight up to him. She was orange earth pony with white freckles under her eyes and her mane and tail was gold. Her mane was braided pigtails and her tail was braided. “Mister yo'’re huge.” She said and smiled.
“Well thank you little missy.” He said and smiled at her. “I’m Connor Featherpen.”
“Ah's Applejack, Mr Featherpen.” The orange filly said and smiled back.
“Nice to meet you, Applejack.” Connor said and looked at the others. “Why don’t you foals take turns on introducing yourselves?”
“Ohohoh me next!” A hyperactive pink pony said and she jumped around. She had huge fluffy pink hair that reminds him of cotton candy and her eyes deep blue. Connor nodded and she squeaked happily. “I’m Pinkie Pie! Where are you from? Do you know about the crystal empire? Have you met Cadance there? Or-“
“Pinkie.” Twilight said. “Others need to introduce themselves.” Pinkie smile and zipped her mouth.
“So who wants to go next?” Connor asked and another earth pony held her hoof up. She had gray main fur and her mane and tail was black and will groom. Her eyes were bright purple and she had serious face. “Alright, floor is yours.”
“I’m Octavia.” She said and gave a small bow and Connor bowed back. “Pl-”
“We all call her Tavi.” A white unicorn filly said beside Octavia. Her mane and tail were mess and mix of cyan and dark blue. Her eyes were bright red and she had a big smile on her face while Octavia groaned of the nickname. “I’m Vinyl Scratch!”
“Nice to meet you Vinyl.” Connor said and looked at the others.
“Vinyl that was rude of you to cut Octavia.” Another white unicorn filly said. Her mane and tail was a dark purple and was trimmed like a model would. Her eyes were blue, “I’m sorry, I’m Rarity.” She bowed and Connor bowed to her with closed eyes.
He opened his eyes to find a blue pegasus filly flying in front of his face. Her mane and tail was mix of the rainbow and her mercury eyes staring into his eyes. “Are you a spy?” she asked and poked Connor’s nose.
“Rainbow Dash!” Luna said and the filly flattens her ears as she floated down beside Applejack. “That is every rude.”
“Sorry Mr. Featherpen.” Rainbow Dash said and rubbing her arm.
“It’s alright.” He said and noticed one yellow pegasus filly hiding behind Applejack. Her mane and tail was bright red and her eyes were bright baby blue. She was shivering and was scared. “So what is your name shy one?” Connor lowered his head and looked at her.
“Fluttershy…” She whispered very quietly and squeaked.
“Nice to meet you Fluttershy.” Connor said and raised his head to look at all of them. Luna was on the couch and Cadance was sitting behind the foals. Celestia was on the phone and talking to the parents.
“I know all of you have many different types of questions.” Connor said and looked at Pinkie Pie. “Since I got a few I’ll start with those ones. I’m from far north where there is lots of snow and little to green but one a month the snow melts. When I was young my parents left me in a pony village close to the Crystal Empire and there I learned how to write and speak.” He looked at Cadance and smiled. “This is the first time I’ve met Cadance. Alright put your hand up to ask a question.” Every foal put up their hooves and Luna put up her hoof up. “Hmmm…Vinyl.”
“Why do you have two horns on your head?” Vinyl asked.
“Well these aren’t horns, they are antlers and they actually fall off natural as well.” Connor said. “Older bulls generally lose or “drop” their antlers first, usually late December or early January, with the remaining bulls following this process until as late as March. Also our antlers actually only effect of range of our magic; For example my magic can usually reach thirty feet with both antlers but if I lose one it becomes twenty feet and both gone it becomes ten feet, our magic is safe as long the stumbles aren’t pulled out.” He smiled and every foal made amazed sound. “Next question…hmmm…Derpy?”
“Do you know Santa Hooves?” Derpy asked and every foal’s eyes sparkled.
“I’ve heard stories of Santa Hooves but personally I haven’t met the jolly fellow.” Connor said and luckily it wasn’t a lie. Most of their hooves went down and Luna’s hoof was still up. “Hmmm…Twilight?”
“Are you the writer of Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone?” Twilight asked and Connor blinked. “Since it’s clear that North Onarc Penfee is a pen name and your name had all same letters but just rearranged.” Connor blinked and looked to Luna who was giggling.
“You're very smart filly.” Connor said and chuckled. “Yes I did write it and Luna and Celestia asked me to do a book reading.” Twilight’s eyes sparkled and smiled happily. There was a knock at the door and Celestia rushed to the door. She opened the door to the knocker, “Okay seems somepony is going home.”
“Twilight, your mother is here take you home.” Celestia asked. “Fluttershy your father is here as well.” Twilight and Fluttershy went to the door and there Celestia and another unicorn helped them into their winter clothes. Slowly the parents showed up and Connor, Luna, and Cadance helped with putting the winter clothes on the foals. After all that only one was left, Time Turner, and he was looking out the window. “Time, your father will be little late.”
“Okay.” Time said and just stared out the window. Connor sat beside him and looked out the window.
“Beautiful isn’t?” Connor asked and looked at Time. “Don’t you think?”
“Everything is beautiful.” Time said and looked up at Connor. “I have two questions for you.”
“Ask and I’ll try to answer best to my ability.” Connor asked and smiled.
“Why don’t you have a cutie mark?” Time asked and Connor chuckled.
“That is normal question I get a lot from ponies,” He said. “In reindeer society a reindeer should have more than one talent…sort of like a jack of trades. For me I can write, sew and sleigh pulling. Does that answer your question?”
“Yes…” Time said. “Do you have any family?
“I have an older brother and mother back north in town I grew up.” Connor said. “My father went missing in blizzard when I turned ten and h-” There was knock at the door and Celestia answered the door.
“Time Turner it’s your father.” Celestia said and Time went over. Connor followed and saw Time Turner’s father.
“Sorry I’m late.” He said. He was deep blue main fur, and his mane and tail was mix of light cyan and baby blue. His eyes were yellow and under his eyes was black showing he was tried. “Work was backed up.” Time was in his winter clothes already and went to his father. “Have a nice afternoon.”
“Have a nice afternoon.” Connor, Luna, Cadance, and Celestia said at the same time. They waved good bye and the two left. Cadance’s cell phone went off and she answered it happily.
“Well now to wait for my ride.” Celestia said and Connor raised his eyebrow and looked at Luna. Luna shrugged and didn’t understand what her sister was talking about at the time.
“Do you guys need me anymore?” Cadance asked as she poked her head around the corner. The three shook their heads no and she smiled. She put on her scarf and earmuffs on and left the house.
“Teen love.” Celestia said and put on her scarf. Luna frowned and looked away making Connor wonder why she did that. “Well my ride is here.” There was a knock at the door and Celestia opened the door and Connor just blinked as he was confused on who was at the door.
It was male for sure and shaped like a pony but he looked like somepony just put other animal parts on him. He had light blue twist horn on left side of his head and deer antler on the right side of his head. His front right leg was a lion and the left was eagle talon. His right hind leg was that of a green dragon and his left was from a goat. His tail was red and scaly like a snake and at the end was white fur. His left wing was blue bird wing and his right was purple bat wing. His crest was black and took after a zebra and his forelock was bright white and a mess. He had giant white eyebrows and matching goatee. The color of his head down to his chest was a dull grayish brown color and while the rest of his body was deep brown. The white of his eyes were yellow and his irises were bright red. “Hello there, I’m here for my wife.” He said showing his fangs and held out his talon out which Celestia took it.
“Connor, meet my husband, Discord.” Celestia said and Connor blinked but smiled.
“Pleasure meeting you, Discord.” Connor said and Discord smiled. “Not to be rude but I’ve never seen a being like yourself.”
“Well I’m called a Draconequus.” Discord said and Connor noticed a harness on Discord. “I would explain more but I promise my wife a peaceful night. So you two have lovely night.” Discord lead Celestia out to a sleigh and he pulled it while she relaxed in the sleigh.
“Well…that was a first.” Connor said and Luna giggled. “What is so funny?”
“Come with me.” Luna said and walked to a bookshelf while Connor followed. Luna pulled out a year book and went to sit at the table.
“Would you like some coffee?” Connor asked.
“Yes please.” Luna said and Connor made coffee. He put three spoons of sugar and some milk in his and left her black and put down in front of her. “Thank you.”
“So what are you going show me?” He asked as he sat down and took a sip of his coffee.
“Well my sister and Axy are the same age and graduated the same time-” She flipped the pages until she found one page. “-Here we go.”
“Oh my…” Connor looked to see Celestia and Discord together both in leather jackets and smoking. He noticed how Discord had his hair slicked back and standing on his hind legs as Celestia had a tattoo on her neck of a tribal markings. “Is this a joke?”
“Nope, that is my sister and brother in law.” Luna giggled. “They were the bad kids at the time but after two years both straight out.” Connor looked on the other page and darted to familiar alicorn.
“You were cute as well.” He said and pointed her out. Luna had braces and thick square glasses. Luna turned bright red and flatten her ears. “But who is this unicorn?”
The unicorn had dark gray main fur, black mane and tail and curved red horn. He had vampire fangs and his eyes were red. In his mouth was a cigarette and wore a black leather biker jacket. “My ex…” Luna said and looked away then slammed the book closed. “I-” Her phone went off and she went to it. She picked it up, “Sorry have to go.”
“It’s alright.” Connor said and got up. Luna got dressed and went to the door. Connor opened the door for her, “Be careful, ice forms under the snow.” Luna smiled and waved good bye as she left. He closed the door and walked back to his coffee. ‘Once bitten and twice shy…’ He thought and signed. He walked up to his room and returned his second book.