//------------------------------// // Chapter 4- Worries and Friends // Story: Love Knows No Bounds // by Autum Breeze //------------------------------// A Home for the Homeless Chapter 4 Worries and Friends _____________________________________________________________________ Celestia paced back and forth in her study, a frown on her brow. She could not understand why she couldn’t simply forget about this situation and be happy that Twilight was now going to have a daughter. She’d helped Twilight with the paperwork the previous day, the same day Twilight received Mayor Mare’s request for her return for Winter Wrap Up. In a few days, it would be legal. Rose Aphid would be Twilight’s daughter. But something kept nagging at her. Something about Rose unsettled her, something she couldn’t quite put her hoof on. Celestia stopped and shook her head. No. No, she knew exactly what was unsettling her, what she suspected. She just didn’t want to believe it. Not now. Not after a millennia since that horrible day. “Sister?” Celestia turned to see Luna walking in, her face concerned. The Sun Goddess looked away, so Luna would not see the worry in her eyes. “What is it, Luna?” “I am worried for you.” She took a few steps forward and made her big sister turn around so she could see the emotions in her eyes. “You have been uneasy ever since Hearth’s Warming.” Celestia looked away again and sighed. “My gut tells me what’s going on... but my heart says I’m over thinking things.” “It would not be the first time.” Celestia winced at the smarting from Luna’s words, though she knew she deserved it. “Had you been like this back then, things might have been different the last thousand years.” Celestia sighed again, a few tears appearing in her eyes. “What do I do, Luna?” Luna’s tone became softer, the kind a loving sister should have. “Don’t rush to conclusions. Keep an open eye and assess what you see. Do that and this may turn out better than the last time.” Celestia nodded and nuzzled her sister. In her heart she knew Luna was right, but in her head... she couldn’t ignore the warning bells ringing in her ears. _____________________________________________________________________ Rose was trying hard not to feel nervous. They had arrived at the library her mother told her about while they’d been back in Canterlot. She'd thought her mother had been playing a trick on her, but the inside really was bigger than the outside. She’d flown outside and spent at least three minutes trying to figure it out, before Spike told her it was a spell that allowed the inside to be bigger than should physically be possible by non magical standards. Shortly after they’d arrived, Rose had been brought face to face with three fillies calling themselves the Cutie Mark Crusaders and, upon seeing Rose had no Cutie Mark on her flank, made her a member before she could even say “Huh?” She mentally cursed herself for not giving herself a Cutie Mark for her disguise. Since she was a changeling, she’d never get one, which would eventually cause a few problems. Though, if she was careful, she might be able to change her form to have a Cutie Mark when no pony was looking and turn any suspicion away before it happened. At first, she tried to find a way out of her new situation. She’d just wanted to get to her new home and read with her mother. While in Canterlot, Twilight had shown her a lot of books and helped her learn how to read. It turned out that Rose loved to read, which made Twilight delighted. Though, as much as she loved to read, she loved to fly more. However, after a few minutes trying to get away from the CMC, Rose decided it might be easier to just go with it. She made a mental note, however, to figure out what she was best at and create a Cutie Mark to match it as soon possible. From some of the adventures she heard the fillies had been on, the sooner she had her Cutie Mark, the safer she’d be. _____________________________________________________________________ Twilight smiled as she watched Rose accepted into the CMC. She knew those three would be great friends for Rose and make her feel more welcome in Ponyville. Suddenly Spike belch a green ball of fire and a scroll landed at his feet. Twilight levitated the scroll, unrolled it and read. Dear Twilight Sparkle, I thought I would congratulate you on your new daughter. Though none alive today know of this, long ago, I was a mother myself. I hope you and your daughter love each other just as much as my foal and I loved each other. If you would be willing, four days from now, would you mind meeting me at the outskirts of Ponyville. I feel I need to speak with someone of this, and you a now the only other aside my sister that I feel I can confide in. If you accept my meeting proposal, I will see you in four days. Best wishes and I hope Rose is settling in well, your fellow princess Luna Twilight finished reading the letter but said nothing. She just stared at the letter with wide eyes. Luna had been a mother? When? Why were their no records of her child? She had read as much into the past before Luna became Nightmare Moon and had never seen anything about a daughter in the royal family. “Twilight?” Applejack asked, poking the alicorn hesitantly. “Is everythin’ alright?” Twilight nearly jumped, but relax, rolled up the scroll and smiled. “Don’t worry. Just a letter from somepony wanting to meet me in a few days.” She could tell Applejack was about to ask further, when there was a loud crash from across the library. All the mares turned to see the CMC and Rose buried under a pile of books that had fallen from one of the shelves. As Twilight ran over to see if the girls and her daughter were injured in anyway, Spike muttered, “This’ll be interesting.” _____________________________________________________________________ As she raised the moon, Luna thought about the letter she had received several minutes ago. Dear Princess Luna, You had a daughter? I don’t believe this. Why is there no record of her? I will meet you on the outskirts of Ponyville in four days. I must know more about your daughter? Was she a Pegasus? A unicorn? An earth pony? I guess, sadly, that I can assume she wasn't an alicorn? Rose is doing fine, she’s even made friends with the CMC. I just put her to bed before I wrote this letter, so she wouldn’t be too curious about why I’m writing to you so late at night, even though you explained to her that you are the mare of the night. I look forward to seeing you and please give your sister my best wishes. Your fellow princess, Twilight Sparkle Luna was glad Twilight had agreed to meet with her, though she still did not know how to talk to Twilight about this matter. She needed to warn Twilight to be careful, without actually saying so. Luna did not want to believe her sister’s suspicions, but she could not shake the feeling Celestia was on to something, something she wished her sister would just overlook, but knew she wouldn’t. Luna finished raising the moon, then returned to her room and went to sleep, entering the Dream Space, where she had the feeling she would be meeting with a young pink and white maned Pegasus filly tonight in need of protection in her nightmares.