//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3 – The Due Book Horror Days Sickness 
// Story: Reindeer in Equestria 
// by Titian_Maple 
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	Snow fall at a great rate and Connor’s sight was going blurry. He fell to the ground and breathing slowly as his side was bleeding from a diamondwolf. He closed his eyes and was drifting to a slumber and his ears lowered. “Wake up…” A deep male voice said. “WAKE UP!” The voice bellowed and Connor’s eyes shot open up. He only could see large adult hooves in front of him and he looked up but the blizzard and blurry eye sight causing the face of the other being a mystery to Connor. “Get up.” Connor weakly stood up half way up and fell down hard. “Get up and walk or lay down there and die.” Connor slowly got up again and stayed on his hooves.
“Dad bu-” Connor gasped as he woke up from the dream. 
He lifted his head up from his pillow and sighed as he saw the time was seven in the morning. He got up from the bed and went into the bathroom to have a shower. He looked in the mirror before entering the shower, “You have grown since then…” Connor trailed off and walked into the shower to wake up a bit. 


~~~


Connor closed his laptop and stretched causing loud popping sounds in his back. “Two novels done but grammar is going have be gone over.” He said and shook his body. “I need to get some fresh air.” He stood up and stretched out his hind legs causing more popping sounds. He walked down the stairs to look out the window to see it was snowing lightly. He put on his harness with bells and opened the door. “W-” A hoof hit his nose and it wasn’t that hard but still hurt and made Connor close his eyes. 
“Oh my!” Luna’s voice said and Connor opened his eyes to see Luna. “I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to hit you I-”
“It’s alright.” Connor said and rubbed his nose with light blush. “I’ve had hard hits to my body.” He stepped outside and closed the door behind him with his magic. “What can I do for you, Luna?”
“Well it’s twelve and the foals are asleep,” Luna said and Connor nodded. “I was wonder would you like take them out in the sleigh after their nap?” 
“Sounds fine w-”
“HEADS UP BRO!” A familiar voice yelled out loud causing Connor look up.
“Oh-no…” Connor said as he saw a dark cloud than just white. 
“You’re getting to easy of a target bro.” A female pegasus said. Her fur was pure white, her mane, tail and eyes were long and ice cyan. Her cutie mark was huge snowflake with smaller ones around the huge one and she had a huge grin on her face.
“Hello sis.” Connor said and easily got out of the pile of snow he was buried under. “Luna me-”
“Alina Snowfall.” Luna said and smiled. “Our local snow maker and snow cloud collector as well one of my friends.” Luna looked between the two. “But I did think she had reindeer blood in her.”
“We are bond siblings.” Both said and smiled. 
“She came to the northern village I lived in to get clouds.” Connor said. “Mainly asked my father, brother and me where the best snow clouds were.”
“Why is that?” Luna asked and looked confused. “Why would she ask reindeer about clouds?”
“We-” The phone inside the house went off and Connor rushed into the house before he could explain.  Connor picked up the phone and put to his ear. “Hello?”
“Connor, it’s your publisher.” A male said. “Axy rated you out and I know you’re in Ponyville not in amazon rainforest anymore.” Connor gulped and stayed quiet. “I would have bumped your due date for your book again next month but you’re not in the forest so your book is due this Sunday and your third book is due at the end of the month.”
“But I-”
“Do you really want me to quote your contact?” His publisher asked and Connor sighed with grief. “Good luck.” The phone hung up and Connor slammed the phone down.
“I’ve got to get a better publisher…” Connor muttered to himself and walked out to the two mares who were talking to each other. “Sorry Luna, blizzard check, publisher knows I’m not on the road and the due date of my book is Sunday…” His ears and tail lowered. “I’m sorry…” Connor walked back into the house with his head held low.
“Alina, what with him? He seemed bit too disappointed about a book being published.” Luna asked and Alina looked bit scared. “What is wrong with you Alina?” 
“The due book horror days sickness.” Alina said and looked into Luna’s eyes with fear. “Connor with a due date gets little to no sleep and all the rage with in that buck just seeps out.” 
“Eh?” Luna asked and Alina grabbed Luna’s cheeks. Alina pulled her in and just stared into Luna’s eyes making Luna uncomfortable with her good friend. 
“Day one he all nice and sweet reindeer you know. Day two he slowly becomes grump and bitter reindeer. Day three he gets the shortest fuse in the world and will shout at you if you set him off and that will be anything. Day four if you make eye contact you get a head-butt to the forehead and it hurts like hell due to his rock hard head. Day five even one glace into his eyes or even speak to him you better run as he will charge, even with that missing antler it will instantly regrow back like it was never gone. By Odin’s bread if it reaches to sixth day, he charges at anything that moves in his eye sight.” Alina explained and Luna didn’t believe.
“What about the seventh day?” Luna asked and Alina blinked.
“Never got that far, thank Odin it never got that far.” Alina said and sighed. Luna rubbed her cheeks as Alina had let go of them but stopped as she notice Alina saying some guy’s name she never heard before.
“Who is Odin?” Luna asked and Alina blinked like Luna was crazy.
“Huh? Oh right, most ponies here don’t know about reindeer belief.” Alina said and smiled. “Let’s go get some coffee or something.”
“I can’t, Celestia needs me when the foals awake up.” Luna said. “As well I need to tell Celestia about the sleigh ride being postponed to later and the-”
“-The due book horror days sickness.” Alina said for Luna and Luna nodded. “Why not, we met up after four at Starbucks.” 
“Sure, I’m curious about Connor’s belief.” Luna said and walked over to the daycare.


~~~


Luna walked into Starbucks and she slipped her cyan fluffy earmuffs and scanned to see Alina in far corner window seat with two cups on the table. Luna walked over and took off her cyan scarf on the table and smiled. “Black coffee, right?” Alina asked and gently pushed the cup to Luna. 
“I really need this, Discord came over with candy and the kids where just wired.” Luna said and sipped the coffee. “So who is Odin?”
“Odin is a god of war and death, but also the god of poetry and wisdom. He hung for nine days, pierced by his own spear, on the world tree. Here he learned nine powerful songs, and eighteen runes. Odin can make the dead speak to question the wisest amongst them. His hall in Asgard is Valaskjalf ‘shelf of the slain’ where his throne Hlidskjalf is located. From this throne he observes all that happens in the nine worlds. The tidings are brought to him by his two raven Huginn and Muninn. He also resides in Valhalla, where the slain warriors are taken.” Alina said and Luna just keeps a blank face. “I lost you after war and death didn’t I?” Luna nodded. “Don’t feel bad most get confused the first time but…why so interested?”
“I like to know about what may offend Connor s-“
“Girl, Connor does not follow belief of his fellow federal reindeer.” Alina said and smiled. “Connor’s family are civil reindeer and their religion is more druid like.” Luna was just confused. “But they use Odin’s name as their equal to our buck as to them buck means adult reindeer, deer and other races related to them.”
“Alina…I worry about you a bit with the way you think?” Luna said and sipped her coffee. “Just worried.”
“So when did you have a crush on Connor?” Alina asked and Luna spit out her coffee in her mouth.
“What?!” Luna yelled and looked at confused. “Alina you know of all people I am not one to jump into a relationship right now.”
“Come get back in the race.” Alina said. “Sure Sombra and you had a train wreak break up but Connor isn’t like Sombra.”
“I’m fine alone and I’m going stay like that until…” Luna looked away and trailed off into thoughts.
“Until Sombra leaves you alone?” Alina asked and Luna put on her scarf. “Have a safe walk back home.” Luna put on her earmuffs and picked up the coffee.
“Thank you for the coffee.” Luna said and walked out of the coffee store.


~~~


Luna was sitting between Applejack and Rarity at a foal play tea set and Luna was focus out of realty of the two. Celestia noticed and lightly tugged onto Luna’s wing and making Luna jump. “Y-Yes?” Luna said noticed Rarity and Trixie verbally fighting. “Girls please stop fighting please.” 
“Luna, why don’t you go to the kitchen?” Celestia said and smiled. “I’ll handle this and close to nap time.” Luna sighed and knew better than argue with her older sister. Luna went to the kitchen and started to make coffee for Celestia and herself. Luna finished making the coffee and put in mugs she had placed on the table. Luna stopped as through the window she saw Connor slushily walking out the back door and she was going watch him walk off but Celestia walked in making Luna look away. “What is on your mind dear sister?” Celestia sat down and put sugar into her coffee.
“My judge of character…” Luna said and sipped her coffee. “My romance life as well.” Celestia smiled and making Luna a bit scared.
“So how long have you been in love with Connor?” Celestia asked and Luna’s ears flatted as well eyes half closed. “What?”
“Why do you and Alina think I’m in love with Connor, I barely know the buck.” Luna said and sipped her coffee. In the corner of her eye she spotted Connor returning to the house all wet and she saw the trail headed to the lake. “And I think he just dunked his head in the frozen lake water to stay awake.” Celestia looked outside and saw the trail. 
“I think it be best if we tell the town about this.” Celestia said and looking worried about what would happen.
“Alina already went door to door with flyer and guide.” Luna said and sipped her coffee. “I think she thought this through too well.”
“She is his bond sister so she most likely got charge at or head-butted.” Celestia said and Luna started to think.


~~~


Luna was waving good bye to Time turner as his father took him home and Luna was worried over Connor as he hadn’t come out of his house at all today. She sighed and was about to enter the daycare but Alina tackled Luna. “LUNA! HAVE YOU SEEN A RED FILLY UNICORN PAST BY HERE?!” Alina yelled and was panicking. 
“No why?” Luna asked. “Please get off me please.” Alina flew off Luna but Alina was flying upside down. “Wow you only fly upside down when you’re in a twist.”
“Well I am,” Alina said and eyes widen. “I-”
“Alina!” Connor’s voice yelled and he had bouncing in front of him a red filly unicorn. Her main and tail were mess and was red and light pink. Her eyes bright gold and she wasn’t standing still. “Alina, find this foal’s foalsitter.” 
“But I-”
“I have two novels to finish in this month, one being due this week, and I haven’t slept for three days. So I have no time for this. Understand?” Connor stated with deep and gravelly voice. Luna could see the black bags under his eyes and nothing a vein on his forehead pulsing.
“Yes, sir…” Alina said and she was looking away from Connor. Connor turned around and returned to the house.
“Hi Alina! Your brother is so nice!” The filly said and Alina landed on her feet looking at the filly.
“Oh dear... You’re a pain to watch…” Alina said. “But you’re my good friend’s little sister so you’re off the hook this time, Bubbles.” The filly smiled and Luna looked at Alina with more questions. “Her real name is Aura Sweets, little sister to Shock Gear.” When Alina said Shock Gear she lightly blush but Luna pay no attention to it. “I’m foalsitting since he’s too busy to do it.”
“That makes little sense.” Luna said. “But why you? You’re a foal yourself.” Luna smirked and Alina puffed up her cheeks.
“No I’m not.” Alina said. “I’m just energetic.” Luna rolled her eyes and nothing something on Bubbles back, Alina noticed as well.
“Bubbles, where did you get those feathers?” Alina asked and taped to Bubbles back was two brown feathers. 
“From Dusky Lock and Key.” Bubbles said and smiled while bouncing in one spot. 
“Who?” Both asked and Alina sighed as she picked up Bubbles.
“Never mind I stop asking these things.” Alina said. “Wave good bye to Luna.” Bubbles waved to Luna and Luna waved back as Alina flew off.


~~~


Luna was sitting in the kitchen of the daycare and making some coffee before the foals showed up. She sipped her coffee but stopped as she saw Alina walking to the Oliverbranch house and Luna rushed to Alina. “Alina stop, are you crazy?!” Luna asked and walking beside Alina.
“No I’m not going hide in fear of this no more.” Alina said. “I’m going force him to go to bed and talk to his publisher.” Luna was going stop her but sighed. 
“If he charges I’m using you as a shield.” Luna said and slowed down allowing Alina be in front. “Don’t argue because this is your stupid idea.” Alina opened the door and took in a large breath.
“Hey brother! You should rest or at least take a break! You’re gonna scare Bubbles! She wanted to see you again!” Alina said loudly and her legs were shaking. Minutes past and no sound came from the house, not even ticking of a laptop typing. “Bro-” A large snore came from upstairs and Luna and Alina looked at each other. The two slowly made their way to the bedroom and slowly opened the door to see Connor asleep. Both held back their laughter as Connor’s butt was raised high in the air and the blankets were tangled up in his antlers.
“How long do you think he’s been asleep?” Luna asked and Alina walked over to his laptop. She opened it up and typed in the password. “H-never mind.” Alina smirked and looked in Connor’s outlook account.
“An hour ago.” Alina said and smiled. “He sent both books in and after that he slipped into his bed.” 
“Let’s get out of here than.” Luna said and Alina closed the laptop loudly making Luna turn pale. Connor just snored loudly and it sounded like a bear.
“He going sleep do deep nothing will wake him.” Alina said and lead Luna outside. “But it strange that he had both his antlers back.”
“That is true.” Luna said and led Alina into the kitchen of the daycare. “Didn’t y-” The phone cut her off and she picked up the phone.
“Luna, I’m going be late.” Celestia’s voice said. “Our cousin, Blueblood, was stupid enough to listen to Alina and last night he well was being himself.” Luna groaned and rubbed her forehead. “So ya…”
“No worry Tia.” Luna said. “Connor is asleep and I have Alina to help me until you get here.” 
“Alright.” Celestia said. “See ya later.” 
“See ya later.” Luna said and hung up. “Mystery solved, Blueblood and Connor met…”
“Oh…poor Connor.” Alina said and she was holding her laughter in causing her to shake. Luna giggled and both burst into laughter and rolling on the ground holding their sides.