//------------------------------// // Chapter 13, First Month // Story: The Chronicles of Summer Rain, Vol. 2 -- Homecoming // by shysage //------------------------------// By the end of the first month of rebuilding, Ponyville had more ponies than Summer ever remembered. They were mostly new ponies though, and Summer loved wandering around town and making new friends, and talking about true friendship when it seemed appropriate. Summer also realized something. When she came back to Equestria a little over a month ago, Ponyville was deserted, and so Summer thought the whole realm was that way too. Eschate Zumulus and Phantasma had eaten a lot of ponies. Even so, it seemed that many of the ponies in Equestria simply migrated away from the two bears, from the center of the realm, and the population around the outskirts of Equestria was probably pretty high. Ponies are very rugged, and only need grass, water, and shelter to survive. The Sonic Rainboom signalled the death of Eschate Zumulus at least, and ponies rapidly streamed back into all of Equestria. This was good, except that Summer knew this would simply get Phantasma's attention before too long. The Cakes' shop again rapidly became the main gathering place in Ponyville, and always had plenty of goodies. Also, by the end of this month, the Apple's farm was also producing an increasing amount of both apples and other yummy foods. Another amazing happened towards the end of that first month. It was late Spring anyway, and so the weather would switch back and forth between cool and comfortable. The last few days of the fourth week, the coats went away. The Weather-works in Cloudsdale were back on line. And with this, the Rainbow Dash Twins resumed their usual job of controlling the weather in Ponyville. It is doubtful that the food supply lines for Cloudsdale had yet been restored. Summer suspected that maybe 20 brave Pegasi were living on the ground below the city, and taking turns going up and running things. Their labors were welcomed all around Equestria. The third week would also find a new stallion in town named Desert Spring. He was also a Pegasus, from the dry meadow beyond Dodge City. His Cutie Mark was a shiny blue desert stream on a light tan, circular background. His coat was brown, and his mane was dark red. The first day he arrived, he just sat on the grass outside of the Cake's for most of the day. He would talk to ponies that talked to him, but otherwise said very little. He was content to sit, relax, and watch in peace. That night, Shysage heard some of the 'rabble' saying some pretty stupid things about him. Ponyville had gotten both the bad with the good it seemed. They must have ignored Princess Twilight's sign. The next day, when Desert Spring showed up, Shysage joined him, and sat next to him for most of that day. They talked some, but otherwise just sat quietly. Summer soon joined Shysage, and Summer's sister Fluttershy soon joined Summer. The four of them did talk some together, but also sat together enjoying the peacefulness of their now bustling town. The dumb rumors stopped. The third day, it was just Desert Spring and Fluttershy. Just like before, they talked some, but mostly just sat quietly, for the bulk of the day, drinking in what was happening around them. Summer knew her sister too well, and realized that by now, Desert Spring and Fluttershy were probably communicating without even talking. This presupposed that Desert Spring was almost as sensitive as her sister. He was. Summer later found out that the Fluttershys had talked the first day Desert Spring met Fluttershy, and Equestria Girls Fluttershy assured her Twin that she was in no shape for anything like that yet. Summer smiled that her sister would be so considerate as to offer her Twin an opportunity first. Summer loved her sister. The fourth day found Desert Spring and the two Fluttershy Twins at Fluttershy's Cottage, surrounded by animals. The animals all loved Desert Spring, and he loved them too, especially the three Panthers. Fluttershy's three 'girls' loved to lay next to this new stallion while he scratched their ears. It didn't matter that they were almost twice as big as he was. Desert Spring and Summer's sister Fluttershy were married by Princess Twilight at the end of this month, and Summer wept the whole time. Still, Princess Twilight talked to both Fluttershy and Desert Spring together, to make sure they realized that the 'inner circle' had to be guarded as a priority. The morning ceremony was and always would be a 'given', and they all needed to agree to that first. This was fine, there was not a 'pushy' bone in Desert Spring's body. And it was clear to everypony that Desert Spring was simply incapable of hurting anypony else, especially his new Mare. The first month found Summer and Shysage even more delighted with simply being together. That seemed to still be all they needed. Shysage had quite a bit of work to do, and this gave Summer plenty of time to wander around Ponyville and make friends (mostly mares), Summer loved that. Still, they spent evenings, nights, and mornings together. It was heaven. Summer still had no desires, and so the 'physical' side of their relationship was pretty low key. Shysage was adamant that Summer's enjoyment come first. He would wait for that privilege. Summer knew her Stallion was also one in ten thousand, and she loved him deeply. Besides, until Phantasma was dead, nothing that would risk a foal was even considered. They both realized they didn't really need that though. Shysage still had plenty of ways to show his Mare she was special, and she surely felt that. At the end of the first month, it was clear that Shysage needed to talk to Summer. She didn't know what, but she knew. Summer also guessed it wouldn't be an easy discussion. They walked off into the woods around Ponyville one evening. Sufficiently away from town, Shysage asked that Summer change them both into their Equestria Girls form. Shysage leaned against a tree, and hugged Summer tightly to him. "Summer we need to talk about Princess Celestia" Shysage said quietly. Shysage called this correctly, Summer began to cry immediately, and simply hugged Shysage tightly. Summer was shaking. Shysage was quickly weeping himself. "Summer, I know that you realize this, but it will come down to either both Princesses dying or the rest of the realm dying. "Summer you need to be ready to kill Princess Celestia and Princess Luna along with Phantasma... You really have no choice... "And Summer... Both Princesses would be upset if you tried to save them. You know this is true..." Summer didn't answer. She just cried for the next hour on Shysage's shoulder as he held her and cried with her. Being a Phantom Alicorn wasn't easy... Still, her Stallion made it a little easier...