//------------------------------// // 11: Hazelnut // Story: Under the Sun's Wings // by Foxy Kimchi //------------------------------// A brown earth mare looked at the sky. The sun was just there, not moving randomly or instantly swapping places with the moon. There was no chocolate milk rain, no soapy roads, and no floating objects. Everything was normal, and that in itself was extremely strange. “What is that bastard Discord planning?” she muttered to herself. “Hazelnut, Hazelnut!” The mare turned around, seeing a blue pegasus land near her. “He’s gone!” the pegasus shouted as she grabbed Hazelnut, a large smile upon her face. “He is gone!” “What?” Hazelnut replied, squirming. “Stormy, what on Earth are you talking about it?” Stormy Gale let go, staring into the earth pony’s eyes. “Discord! He is gone!” “What!” Hazelnut exclaimed. “How is that possible? Not even multiple armies could have stopped him! What force could have stopped him? Was it the dragons?” “No,” Stormy replied, hugging again. “It was two ponies, a brother and sister, that stopped him.” “H-how is that possible? How could two ponies stop that sick bastard?” “You remember those rumors that something was challenging him for the past couple of months? Well, it was them. They were fighting him, and they finally beat him!” “They were real? I thought it was some crazy story going around.” “Well, it is real!” “But, but how can two ponies stop him?” “That’s the thing, Hazel, they're not ordinary ponies. I heard they are called alicorns.” “Ali… alicorns? What are those?” “Apparently, they are all three races combined! Think about it, an earth pony that could use magic and fly! Apparently, they can control the sun and the moon.” “That is not possible!” “But it is! The brother’s name is Solaris, and his sister’s name is Luna.” Hazelnut blinked, dumbfounded. “It’s over?” “Yes!” Stormy replied as she hugged her friend again. “It is finally over.” “I can’t believe it,” Hazelnut muttered, a tear rolling down her cheek. “I know,” Stormy said quietly. Suddenly, her ears perked up as she pushed away from her friend. “I forgot to tell you, they are coming here!” “What?” “Solaris and Luna are coming over to the castle. C’mon we gotta hurry, so we can catch them.” Hazelnut jumped up. “Really?” “Yes, lets go! I want to see what an alicorn looks like!” Hazelnut tried to stand higher on hooves. She let out a grunt as she was shoved. The throne room was completely packed. The entire village tried to fit inside for the chance of seeing their saviors. “Stormy, I can barely breathe!” “I know,” Stormy replied, grunting. “It is so damn crowded in here.” “They better show up, or I am gonna—” The doors opened, the room becoming completely silent. There was a soft click as a large pony walked in. She was a mare with a dark coat, a mane full of stars, and the moon as her cutie mark. With her chin held up high, she strutted into the room, exuding pride and confidence. “Wow,” Stormy said quietly, “she is pretty.” “Yeah.” There was another sound, one of loud hoofbeats. A larger pony with a white coat marched in, his blazing mane and tail flowing in the air. His gaze was solid, strength emanating from him. Just like that, both of them were gone, exiting through another door to meet the representatives from the three tribes of ponies. It took a minute, but finally, everypony in the room came back to their senses, murmuring to one another at what they just saw. “Wow,” Stormy said, “that was something. Did you look at that stallion?” She turned to Hazel when she did not hear a response. “Hazel?” Hazelnut was staring at the door that the two alicorns went through, a strand of drool dripping out of her open mouth. “Hazel!” Slowly, a smile curled up on the earth mare’s face as she wiped her muzzle with a hoof. “Hazel?” “I am going to make him mine.” “What?” Hazelnut grabbed her friend face with her hooves. “Eww, your slobber is still on them.” “Oh, sorry,” Hazelnut replied as pulled her hooves away. “You were saying?” Stormy asked as she wiped her face. Hazelnut gave a toothy grin. “I am going to make that magnificent bastard mine!” “Skyhoof,” Hazelnut called out, extending out her forehooves. “Come here, come to mommy.” The large, grey pegasus foal wobbled to his mother. “There’s a good boy!” Hazelnut exclaimed, wrapping him in a hug. “Look at him, Stormy, he is only two years old yet is so much larger than other colts his age. I wonder where he got it from,” she said with a smirk. “Yes, I do wonder,” Stormy replied as she rolled her eyes. The blue pegasus turned her attention to the colt, smiling and waving a hoof at him. The colt laughed in response as it clapped his hooves. “I called you a crazy mare three years ago, yet here you are, consort of Lord Solaris, co-ruler of the newly-made Equestria,” Stormy said. “I told you I could,” Hazelnut replied with a smirk. “Just had to use the ole’ Hazelnut charm.” “Well sorry, I didn’t think he would even be interested in finding a mate. I thought he was some ancient being who was beyond such things.” “Well my friend, I can assure he was very interested in finding a mate,” Hazelnut replied as she waggled her eyebrows. “And need I remind you he was only twenty-one when I met him. I was sixteen. All things considered, it was pretty normal minus the whole alicorn thing. He is just a regular pony at heart. ” “I know, you already told me.” “Still,” Hazelnut said as she hugged her foal, “I am surprised I am only two years younger than Luna. Not going to lie, I too thought they were some ancient beings from another time when I first saw him.” “Yeah. But here you are, some old mare living in a castle.” Hazelnut rolled in her eyes in response. “So, how have you been?” Stormy asked. “Busy,” Hazelnut replied, “it takes a lot of energy to deal with this bundle of energy, but I am happy.” “Can’t you just get a hoofmaiden?” “I could, but I don’t want to. Skyhoof is my foal, so I will take care of him.” “And your husband?” “Same as usual, busy with his sister rebuilding all the damage Discord caused. But still, I couldn't be happier. I have my foal, I have my stallion that I love, can’t complain really.” “That’s good.” Hazelnut sighed, a smile forming on her face, her eyes distant. “I remember it so clearly.” Stormy groaned, her hoof hitting her face. “Hazel, I don’t need to hear how you met Solaris again.” “It was a great day,” Hazel continued, her smile even larger. “I was working as the castle gardener, and I just finished setting up the flower bed. But then he came, all alone, looking for a break.” “Please, Hazel…” “I threw the ole’ charm at him… you know, gave him a flirty look, a flick of my tail.” “Hazel…” “And then I ruined the flower bed that day… and a few others. I was sore for a week, but it was so worth it.” “I can’t believe you just said that in front of your son. You’re lucky he is too young to understand.” Hazel looked down at Skyhoof, giggling in her hooves. She lifted him up, rubbing his nose with hers. “Don’t you worry, Skyhoof, mommy will tell you how you were made when you get older.” “You’re a crazy pony.” “Maybe I am.” Skyhoof laughed, his small wings beating. “Aww, look at that.” Hazelnut cooed and she hugged him again. “Already trying to get into the air. I can’t wait till your father teaches you to fly.”