//------------------------------//
// Ch13 Son and Doughters 
// Story: Limitless Skies 
// by Priceless911 
//------------------------------//

               As the three travelers reached a hilltop that overlooked Ponyville Allen smiled, “No place like home, right Derpy?”
Derpy smiled, “Yep, um I gotta check on a few things. I'll come visit you later Allen.”
As Derpy started to fly away Silvia asked, “Is everything alright Derpy?”
Derpy smiled, “everything is fine. I just gotta see if anything’s changed at home.”
Allen nodded his head, “Well alright; I'll be at my house if you need me.”
Derpy nodded her head as she flew away into the distance. As Allen and Silvia continued into town by hoof, Silvia asked, “Speaking of which, where does Derpy live?”
Allen replied, “Her parents own a home not too far into town. She stays with them.”

Silvia thought to herself as she asked, “hmm, I don’t think Derpy ever mentioned her parents… what are they like?”
Allen replied, “Well, they are like any other parents I’ve ever met. They take care of her and they seemed thrilled when I started spending time with here while growing up. Although I started to worry for her when her father told me that I don’t need to pity her like I do.”
Silvia was surprised, “Pity her? You mean they thought you were only being nice to her out of pity?”
Allen nodded his head, “yea… after that day I felt uncomfortable around them. So much in fact that I stopped going over to her house unless she invited me herself. But as time went by she stopped. I guess she knew how uncomfortable it made me feel.”

Silvia sighed, “I know our parent mean well, but why does it seem that we three have terrible parents?”
Allen shrugged his shoulders, “I don’t know… maybe it’s just another reason why we are the same.”
As the two continued traveling into the town, they finally reached Allen’s house as he opened the door and entered, “Dad? I’m home.”
Allen’s father sat in a chair in the living room as he lowered the newspaper and spoke, “oh Allen, welcome back… Did you find what you were searching for?”
Allen shook his head, “No… but it was an interesting experience none the less.”

Allen’s dad looked a Silvia and smiled, “I’m Allen’s father, are you’re the bat pony that escorted Allen to Canterlot aren’t you? Thanks, I think it’s good that he had the chance to get out of Ponyville and find that the world holds better goals then all this flying nonsense.”
Trying to ignore the hidden insult toward Allen, Silvia smiled as she replied, “Not a problem, although as an expert flyer for the royal guard, I would hardly refer to Allen’s studies as nonsense. To be honest I have no doubt he will be flying above us very soon.”
Realizing he was talking with somepony who disagreed with him, Allen’s dad shrugged his shoulders, “We’ll see… So, Allen, how was the trip for Derpy? Did she enjoy it too?”

Allen smiled sarcastically, “Well aside from being poisoned, I'd say she had a good time.”
Allen’s dad was surprised, “Poisoned?... what did you do?”
Allen sighed, “Why is it that whenever something bad happens, I’m immediately responsible?”
Silvia laughed, “Because you usually are. Actually, Mr. Key, Her poison situation was an accident. Luckily we saved her before she suffered any permanent issues. Quite the courageous act from her new colt friend no less.”
The shocked Pegasus looked at his son, “Colt friend?”
Allen blushed, “well, you led the way to the Equestrian Caverns. It was more or less your action that saved her.”
Silvia replied, “I wouldn’t have gone if you hadn’t been so persistent.”
Allen’s dad continued looking at his son as he continued, “So… you and Derpy are together now?”
Allen rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment as he replied, “well, yea… you could say that.”

The old stallion smiled as he replied, “you know this means that you have a new responsibility to uphold don’t you?”
Allen gave him a funny look, “response-what? Dad is a simple relationship; we aren’t getting married or anything like that.”
Allen’s dad shrugged his shoulder, “now now, I’m not saying it will happen today or even tomorrow, but now you need to start planning for the future, and what timing!”
Allen gave his father a skeptic look, “Timing… what are you talking about?... Dad?... what did you do?...”
Allen’s father smiled proudly as he replied, “Yesterday I was talking with your boss Paladin and we came to a conclusion. It’s time you stop working that slow paced job and devote your life to something more meaningful.”

Feeling nervous about the answer, Allen asked, “Like… what?...”
“Starting tomorrow, you will be working full time at Paladin’s shop.”
Allen was shocked, “What!?! But… if I do that, I won’t have time for my experiments.”
Allen’s father nodded his head, “Well look at it this way, you will make more money and in time afford your own home. Sure it will be more work, but that’s the cost of responsibility.”
Allen shook his head, “that’s not what I want… I still have a goal to finish.”
Allen’s father chuckled, “really… Allen I think it’s time you face facts. Earth ponies aren’t meant to fly. That’s why they have no wings. I know it seems cruel, but just because you can’t fly doesn’t mean you’re useless. Everypony knows that you’re the smartest pony in town. And I for one think it’s time you used that brain of yours and start focusing on what’s more important.”

Allen replied with irritation in his voice, “I know what’s more important. And when I finish then I'll be happy to do what you want me to do, but till then I have to keep going. I’m almost there, I know what’s needed, I have an engine design to use, and all I need to do is bu…”
Allen’s father shook his head as he interrupted, “What you need to do is quit all this flying stuff and get on with your life. Geez, you’re twenty years old and yet you continue to act like you’re five. You need to start acting your age and live your life before you let it slide by.”
Feeling enraged, Allen turned to his father and spoke, “Act my age?... how this! the past few weeks I’ve fallen from a cliff, raced to save Derpy when she was poisoned, beaten down by a bat pony three times my size, been blown up by one of my own inventions, tossed through a wall, threatened by Royal guards, raced into the Everfree forest alone at night, been accused of murder… twice, thrown in a dungeon, and banished from Canterlot! Have I left anything out!...”

Silvia cleared her throat, “You failed to mention falling in love and making enemies of every commander in Equestria.”
Allen looked at Silvia and spoke using the same irritation as before, “Thank you!!!”
Allen’s father was shocked to hear all that they faced in their journey but he remained determined to prove his point, “granted that’s a good start… but this isn’t about what you’ve faced. It’s about what lies in your future. If you’re going to make Derpy happy your go…”
“This isn’t about her is it!?! It’s about you! It’s about what you want from me… ISN’T IT!!!”
Allen’s father sighed in irritation, “Allen, I’ve stood by and let you do this since your mother wanted you to be happy, but n…”
“Stood by?... STOOD BY!!! You’ve don’t nothing but shot me down ever since mom died! Every time I attempted to fly, you would give me a look as if I was some little foal with no hope! Even mom tried to support me from time to time But you… you didn’t even try…”

Allen’s dad sighed, “I let you do those experiments because I supported you. If I had my way I wouldn’t have even given you the time to do those foolish things.”
Allen sighed in disappointment as he replied, “then I'll make it easier for you.”
With that said Allen turned around and trotted past Silvia as he spoke, “let’s go… I don’t know why I even came back here in the first place.”
Allen’s dad gave him a confused look, “Allen? What are you doing?”
Allen replied, “What’s it look like? I’m leaving. If you can’t support me when I’m this close to my dream… then I'd rather go somewhere else. See ya dad… thanks for nothing.”
Allen’s father tried to reason with him, “Allen, don’t. You don’t have to do this.”
Allen shook his head, “Actually I do, you wanted me to grow up… so here I am growing up… by leaving my home. See ya… Dad…” 
Allen’s father watched as Allen opened the front door and closed it behind him before Silvia could even follow him out. Then the old stallion looked at Silvia and spoke, “you’re his friend right? Say something to him.”
Silvia shrugged her shoulders, “Why?... I agree, a father who won’t support his son’s goals isn’t worth the time. And trust me; I know the feeling of living in my father’s disappointment. After a while, leaving home seems to be the best choice you could make.”

With those cold words, Silvia turned away from the shocked stallion as she opened the front door, exited, and closed it behind her. When she was outside, Silvia saw Allen sitting at the end of the walkway as she approached him, “You okay?”
Allen smiled, “it’s funny… I often dreaded the day I would leave home for good, thinking that I would miss it… but actually… I couldn’t feel more free.”
Silvia nodded her head, “But?...”
Allen sighed, “Why doesn’t he care about what I’m trying to accomplish… he’s a pegasus, he knows the joy of flight, but all my life, he has tried to say that I wasn’t meant to feel that joy.”
Silvia shrugged her shoulders, “maybe it’s nature’s way of saying, you should have left a long time ago.”
Allen turned to Silvia as he spoke, “He isn’t a bad father you know… he just doesn’t see how much I want to do this… and he refuses to support me in it too. I don’t know… do you think I did the right thing?”
Silvia put her hoof on his shoulder, “well, that’s something only you can decide for yourself, but for now, we should probably find an inn or something to stay at.”
Allen shook his head, “no… I’ve got one better.”

With that said, Silvia gave Allen a curious look as he started to lead her down the road. As they continued, Allen spoke, “a while back, Derpy’s parents used to house weary travelers on their way through town. They would only provide shelter for one night but if I remember right, they should still have that spare room.”
Silvia nodded her head as the two continued into Ponyville. As they continued trotting by everypony who lived in the small town, both Silvia and Allen could hear the ponies talk as they trotted by, “Hey look, it’s the earth pony who thinks he can fly”
“I though he killed himself a few weeks ago. Jumped off a cliff didn’t he?”
“no he just left to prove to the rest of Equestria just how crazy he is.”
“When will he realize that earth ponies aren’t meant to fly.”
“Who knows, maybe that ditsy pony he is friends with is rubbing off on him.”
Hearing the surrounding ponies talk about him behind this back, Silvia mumbled to Allen, “is it always like this?...”
Allen nodded his head with no expression, “yep… ever since I could remember. In fact, I went to school with those ponies. But I just ignore it now. I have nothing to prove to them so I have no reason to retaliate.”

As the two passed the gossiping ponies, Silvia took one last look at them and replied, “Well I guess you’re right. You must have a lot of tolerance to deal with this all the time.”
Allen nodded his head, “As long as Derpy didn’t talk about me like that, it didn’t matter. We two where the only support we had against them, so if not for her, I probably would have lost my mind.”
Silvia nodded her head, “I guess me, Serene, and Octavia have that in common too.”
As the group continued, they turned the corner on the last road as Allen spoke, “well it should just be up ahe…what?...”
As the two looked ahead, they could see a small house at the end of the street that had grass around it that overshadowed the little white picked fence surrounding the property. As Allen approached the house, he spoke, “this is odd… Derpy’s father usually keeps the lawn well kept… I wonder what happened.”
Silvia replied, “I don’t know… but maybe we should knock and find out.”
Allen nodded his head as he lead salvias to the front door of the house and knocked.

After a few seconds of waiting, Derpy answered the door as she looked at the two with surprise, “Allen… Silvia… what are you doing here?”
Allen replied, “We ran into a little problem at home… can I come in? I want to speak with your parents.”
Derpy stepped to the side and let her friend into her home as Silvia commented, “you know your grass out there needs a little control.”
Derpy replied, “Yea… dad hasn’t mowed in a while.”
As they entered, Derpy closed the door and spoke, “I’m sorry Allen, but mom and dad aren’t home right now.”
Allen nodded his head, “that’s alright, do you know when they will be back?”
Derpy shook her head, “no… sorry.”
“Well do you know where they were they went?”
Derpy slowly shook her head, “n-no…”
Both Allen and Silvia became skeptic as Silvia asked, “do you even know how long they have been gone?...”
Derpy hesitated as she replied, “yea… um… about three months?...”

When they heard the time, both Allen and Silvia stared at Derpy in shock as Allen tried to be gentle with the subject, “so… th-they were gone… before we left. Right?”
Derpy looked at the ground in shame as she replied, “y-yea…”
Silvia spoke, “um… Derpy… did… did they?”
Tears started to roll down Derpy’s face as she spoke, “was… was I abandoned?...”
Allen replied, “I… I don’t know… did they say anything before they left?”
Derpy replied, “just that they were going away on a vacation for a while… but… would they really be gone this long?”
Allen looked at Silvia who could only look at him with concern as Allen looked back at Derpy and spoke, “Derpy… I can’t say that they really didn’t abandon you, but… ya know what?... who needs them. We can do just fine without either of our parents.”
Derpy gave Allen a confused look, “Either?... what about your dad?”

Silva sighed, “Mr. Genius here just got into it with his old stallion too. Now he is out on the streets and looking for a place to stay. That’s why we are here.”
Derpy though to herself, “Well… since mom and dad aren’t here I guess you can stay here… in fact you should both stay. We have plenty of room here… oh… but we just ran out of food. I was living on my garden for a while, but it died while we were in Canterlot.”
Allen smiled, “no problem, I have a little bit of cash left over from our work in Canterlot. All I need is some cooking lessons, sadly I can’t cook but if it’s anything like mixing metals, it shouldn’t be too hard.”
Silvia smiled, “I know a thing, or to about cooking if you will give me a shot at it.”
Both Derpy and Allen gave Silvia a confused look as she replied, “what?... just because I was a royal guard, doesn’t mean I can’t cook.”
Derpy looked at her friends as she spoke, “you… you two would do that… for me?”
Allen put his hoof on her shoulder as he spoke, “Derpy… we’ve been friends since we were foals, and though we are together now… that won’t change how I’m always willing to help a friend in need… besides you haven’t lived till you tried my recipe for Blueberry muffins.”

Hearing his kind words Derpy leaned into his chest as she replied, “Thank you Allen. If not for your help through our journey, then for staying by my side through everything.”
Allen put his hoof around her as he replied, “I'll always be here for you Derpy… I promise.”
Seeing the tender moment, Silvia cleared her throat as she spoke up, “um… guys? Can you two do this some other time… like when I leave the room perhaps?”
Realizing she was still there, both Derpy and Allen stepped away from each other and blushed as Allen tried to start a new subject, “so… um… what should we do now?”
Silvia spoke, “well we can start by doing a little shopping for groceries… and in the meantime, you could talk to Paladin about your job, and your pay. He seemed like a reasonable pony, so chances are you can talk him into staying with a part time job rather than full time like your dad wanted.”
Allen nodded his head as he replied, “that’s a good idea.”
Derpy spoke up, “What should I do Allen? I wanna help too.”
Allen thought to himself as he replied, “do your parents still have that old shed in the back?”
Derpy nodded her head, “yea… why?”

Allen looked out the back window as he replied, “Is there anything in it? I would like to use it as a new workshop for my plane. I think I know what I need now. So I can start my work on it.”
Derpy nodded her head, “alright I'll start cleaning it out and when it’s ready I'll let you know.”
Allen smiled, “thanks. You read my mind.”
Silvia nodded her head, so then it’s decided, “I'll go get some groceries, and supplies to fix this place up. Allen will take care of his work issue, and Derpy will do what she can here. Agreed?”
The other two nodded their heads, “agreed.”
Silvia replied, “alright then, Allen will you write down what we will need for groceries… and maybe what you will need for that muffin recipe of yours, I don’t know about you, but muffins sound pretty good right now.”
Derpy tilted her head in curiosity, “Muffins?... are they good?”
Allen smiled as he replied, “you’ll see I guarantee you’re gonna love it.”



At the gates of the Equestrian caverns, just as the sun was setting, Equinox trotted into the town as one of the cities guards flew out to meet him, “Captain Nox it’s good to see you’re back safe and sound. We feared the worst when you didn’t return.”
Equinox smiled, “I just had an errand or two to take care of, no biggi…”
“NOX!”
Hearing the commanding voice, Equinox looked past the guard to see Commander Soul trotting towards him with anger in his eyes. As the intimidating pony approached his son, Equinox stood at attention as he replied, “Dad… I mean Commander… Sir! I wasn’t expe…”
Commander Soul interrupted, “Where have you been!?!”

Equinox quickly though up a lie, “I um… I was meeting with a friend from one of the far away clans. He was an old buddy from the Hallow Shades colony before it broke up.”
Commander Soul looked at Nox with no concern, then he gave the nervous guard that was standing next to them a suspicious look as he replied, “really…”
the commander shook his head and disregarded his suspicions as he continued, “The next time you want to leave the Caverns you better notify me first. The past few days have been nothing but chaos in Canterlot and I need to know that our clan is in good hooves back here… Understood!”
Equinox nodded his head as he replied, “Sorry dad… I won’t let it happen again.”
Commander Soul turned around as he replied, “Don’t tell me that, just follow your orders!”

With nothing more to say, Commander Soul turned around and began trotting away as Equinox spoke quietly to himself, “Oh dad, it’s good to see you too… I’m fine by the way, I was just gone for a few week… no biggie… well nice chatting with you dad… I love you too... I'll catch ya later…”
smiling at Equinoxes sarcastic one sided conversation, the guard spoke, “Well it could have been worse.”
Nox shook his head, “yea sure it could. So, anything happen while I was gone?”
The guard replied, “There were no trespassers, seven moon weed poisonings, and one death from them.”
Equinox sighed, “We gotta get out of this dump and away from these darn moon weeds. Luckily we could be moving out sooner than I thought.”
The guard gave him a confused expression, “sir?...”

Equinox smiled, sinisterly, “What about the recruits?
The Guard thought to himself, “Well we had three recruits finish their training for the guard, but one drop out.”
Equinox shook his head, “No, No, No… I mean the other recruits?”
The guard looked around to see if the coast was clear as he replied, “we convinced three more. All siblings of the one poisoned by the moon weed.”
Equinox smiled, “that brings us to a total of Eighty… right?”
The guard nodded his head, “yep, and we have the fewest recruits of all the other clans.”

Equinox smiled as he replied, “Good… gather the fastest flyers of our recruits and send them to all the clans. It’s time to gather them.”
The guard was confused, “What… now? But why so soon?”
Equinox smiled, “tell them the gathering point… is Canterlot.”
The guard realized it, “You… you found the Haven?”
Equinox smiled, “I found the Haven. Just be sure to tell them to travel smart. Supply caravans, traveling carnivals, even nomadic tribes. We need to make the escalation of ponies seem like a coincidence. Then we will hit them hard with everything we got. How long do you think it will take?”
The guard replied, “Given the time it will take to get there, the numbers we will have and the coincidental arrival of all clans at once… about two to three weeks.”
Equinox smiled, “then get it done fast. But don’t let anypony who is against it know. I want it to be a surprise when I show up at mom’s doorstep and take what’s rightfully mine. The Reaper’s Scythe will be in my hooves when Nightmare Moon returns… to that… I promise.”