“It’s very beautiful out here…” Derpy idly commented as she and Blueblood sat on the balcony outside of his study. As she gazed at the city lights, she thought about the stallion next to her. When she turned her attention to Blueblood, she found him looking at her with appreciating eyes, causing her to blush for a moment before sharply adjusting her head away from him.
Blueblood couldn’t help but laugh, remembering Derpy doing the exact same thing ten years ago when they first met. And she’s still as beautiful… Blueblood turned to the semi-busy metropolis below. A frown formed on Blueblood’s face when a thought came to his mind. “So… Dinky… when is her birthday?” Blueblood asked curiously, his eyes fixed on the lights in the distance.
“In a few months…” Derpy trailed off, taking a large gulp before she sighed and she looked at Blueblood again. “So, after all this time… you were looking for me.” Derpy asked hoarsely, the last word barely coming out as a squeak.
“Yes.” Blueblood¨s eyes locking with hers.
Don’t worry mommy, I’m still here and and I’m sure daddy is looking for us too. Derpy teared up a little as she remembered her daughter saying those words not long ago when she asked about her father. Sometimes I wonder if I really am an idiot… Quickly wiping the liquid from her face, Derpy blinked for a moment as a question came to her mind. “You were looking for me all this time… why didn’t you look in Ponyville?”
“I did… but you weren’t there, so I went looking around the other cities if there were any traces of you… yet you were no where to be found.” Blueblood replied defeatedly as he lowered his head.
“So there were no others after me?” Derpy asked curiously, albeit fearfully as she instinctively leaned in closer to hear Blueblood’s words.
Blueblood shook his head vigorously as he raised it. “Never…” Even though a lot of mares have tried to court me during the years. “There’s only one mare that I will love and she’s sitting right next to me.” Blueblood said truthfully as he smiled fondly at Derpy.
Derpy let out a gasp as she felt her cheeks burning, finding it difficult to breath. She found herself blinking uncontrollably as she was overwhelmed by Blueblood’s words, which had struck a chord in her heart.
“But what about you?” Blueblood redirected the same question her.
“No, I was too preoccupied with finding a way to support myself and raising Dinky to actually think about it.” And I still couldn’t let go of you… Derpy snorted out a laugh as she rolled her eyes. “Besides, I’m not exactly the prettiest mare walking in Equestria today.”
Blueblood cocked his brow at Derpy’s statement. “Who told you that?” He asked her, looking at her as though she sprouted another head.
Derpy shrugged as she looked away, her smile slowly vanishing. “Just some ponies… some peers and some neighbours…” Derpy whispered. Even though they were single themselves. Before Blueblood could reply to Derpy’s words, she began with another question. “So what’s going to happen now?”
“Pardon?”
“I mean… where do we go from here?” Derpy questioned Blueblood as she shuffled her hooves. “It’s not like you can just come back after all this time and expect me to be embraced by you especially when—” Derpy paused abruptly as she caught her breath. “I’m sorry, there I go rambling again.”
Blueblood wanted to hold onto Derpy at that moment, but restrained himself as he bit his lower lip. “It’s okay… I mean, just a few hours ago I find out I’m a father to a filly who I ran into a couple of times in my search for you and I’m still overwhelmed by it…”
“You know, a part of me just wants to smack you so hard for leaving me alone on that morning, yet another part of me just wants to kiss you and let you take me... “ Derpy’s lips quivered a little as she looked down. “Yet most of all… I’m scared,” she admitted as she sagged her shoulders, but gave a shudder as she felt Blueblood’s hoof resting on her.
“Then let’s be scared together…” Blueblood spoke softly as he scooted closer to Derpy, just until his body was barely touching her wings. As they sat alone in the night with the stars shining down on them, both ponies looked up the majestic night that was present.
Derpy’s eyes widened suddenly when another question entered her mind. “Blue…” The stallion acknowledged her in turn as he turned his head to her. “There’s something else I need to know.”
“Of course, what is it?”
“Why…” Derpy began but paused as she gulped down her fears. “Why did you leave me there at the hotel that morning?”
“I… well, I went to buy…” Blueblood went to reach into his saddlebags, then realised he wasn’t wearing them, giving a small chuckle as he smiled at Derpy. “I have something for you, but it’s… we need to get to know each other a bit more before then, if that’s okay with you?”
Derpy nodded before she smiled demurely at Blueblood, leaning in to connect her lips with his for a moment before letting go. “I’d like that,” Derpy said, her cheeks becoming crimson again after she gave him the gentle kiss. She couldn’t help but giggle at Blueblood whose face turned red from the sudden affection he had been given. “What about Dinky? She’ll want to know you more and I don’t want her heart broken if—”
“There’s no way I’m going to abandon my daughter,” Blueblood placed a hoof on Derpy’s mouth to silence her as he smiled reassuringly to her. “She’s my daughter and my blood, and I will not forsake her no matter what... I promise, I will find a way for this to work between us… all of us,” Blueblood said softly as he removed his hoof from Derpy, before he pressed his lips against hers.
“So, Mr Wise… how long have you worked for my daddy?” Dinky asked curiously as she was trotting alongside the elder stallion in the hallways.
Wise Words chuckled as he looked down on the filly with an amused smile. “I have been in service to the master's family just prior to him being born,” Wise Words casually replied, seeing Dinky giggling at his answer. “But before I served for the House of Platinum, I was in the Royal Guard, and reached the Captain of the Solar Guard before I chose to retire.”
“So you were like Prince Shining Armor?” Dinky asked excitedly, her eyes still fixated on Wise.
“Technically he is a Prince-Consort now, but yes… like the former Captain Shining Armor.” Wise Words looked up to see a few guards bowing at their presence. Only a couple of hours later, and they recognize her as a Princess of Equestria… remarkable how fast everything works these days. Wise Words thoughts came to a halt when he saw Dinky’s face forming a frown. “Is there something wrong?” he asked politely as he came to a stop with Dinky doing the same.
Dinky slowly raised her head to face Wise again. “I just hope mommy and daddy will be okay.”
“I’m sure that they will work things out,” Wise comforted Dinky as he ruffled her mane, eliciting another fit of giggles from the filly. “Let me tell you, your father never gave up in his search for your mother,” Wise Words said as he saw Dinky becoming more curious.
“Really?”
“Oh yes… your father never gave up on her, and I have a feeling that she has not given up on him either.” Wise nodded at Dinky as he smiled. “Love will always find a way in the end, if you believe,” he said sagely, cocking his brow at Dinky as she suppressed a laugh.
Dinky cleared her throat before she beamed at Wise Words. “You sound like one of those bards telling love tales.” Dinky remembered a certain mare with a lyre playing at a concert in Ponyville, most of her songs being that of love. As Dinky and Wise walked onwards, Dinky’s attention turned to a large doorway. “What’s in there, Mr Wise?”
“That’s the throne room, the Night Court will start soon,” Wise said as he looked to the entrance. A shame not many ponies seek council at the Night Court...
“Say, Mr Wise… can we go inside, please? I didn't really have time to look earlier.” Dinky asked politely, blinking once to turn her eyes as watery as she could muster, resembling that of a puppy’s. “Please….”
This one is clever, using my greatest weakness against me… Wise sighed as he shook his head, chuckling as he opened the door with his magic. “After you, Miss Dinky.” He gestured her to go inside, waving his hoof towards the opening.
“Yay!” Dinky cheered as she quickly went inside, immediately looking around in wonder at the size of the throne room. When she spotted the empty thrones, Dinky cantered towards them, stopping just before the steps. She tapped her chin for a moment before she grinned broadly, climbing her way up to take a seat in one.
It’s kinda boring, sitting on a big chair like this… I wonder why Diamond Tiara goes on about every foal wanting to sit on the Princesses’ throne? Sitting up straight, Dinky pointed her muzzle to the ceiling and waved a hoof at the door, clearing her throat. “Send in the next pony!”
Both Dinky and Wise Words were surprised when the throne room doors opened as the filly’s shout echoed around the room, then her eyes went wide as Luna walked in. Her horn was glowing, and the candles changed from the usual warm fire to cool blue, and she cocked her head in confusion when she looked towards the thrones. “Pray tell, why is Dinky upon Our chair?”
Before Wise Words could answer her, Dinky jumped off Luna’s throne and pouted as she looked down in shame. “I’m sorry… I was just curious... “ Dinky apologized to Luna, not seeing the gentle smile upon the alicorn.
“T’is alright, my dearest niece…” Luna raised Dinky’s chin with a tender hoof. “You did nothing wrong being here, your presence is always welcomed,” she said soothingly with half-lid eyes. When she removed her hoof from Dinky, the little filly let out a yawn that she quickly covered with both hooves. “Though I believe it is your bedtime now.” Luna nodded to Wise Words who walked towards them. “I wish you a good night, Dinky.” Luna lowered her head to Dinky’s, nuzzling the filly.
“You too, Auntie Luna!” Dinky answered as she nuzzled back, not seeing the blush that was etching upon the princess’ face. As she started to walk with Wise Words towards the door, Dinky’s eyes caught sight of a stallion next to her aunt, whose yellow eye looked back at her.
Feeling intimidated, Dinky started to lean towards Wise Words and looked away from the guard. Dinky’s eyes drifted again to his direction, where she noticed the leathery wings and the blank flank on the guard. He’s scary! Dinky thought as she looked away, finally relaxing as she left the room, leaving Luna behind with her guard.
“She fears me…” The stallion sighed as he walked alongside his princess towards her throne.
“Give her time and she will see you for what you truly are,” Luna reassured him as she took her seat, adjusting her wings to increase her comfort. She ignited her horn with magic, conjuring a scroll before her that she read from. Giving a nod as she finished reading it, she used her magic again to dissipate the scroll before turning to her personal guard. “Now then, have somepony rouse my sister near the end of Night Court… I need to discuss something with her.”
The guard saluted to Luna as she gave him her order. “Yes, Night-mistress!” Then he walked into a shadow and disappeared from sight.
Scarlet eyes roamed over the large gathering of mostly unicorns together in one of the most prestigious ballrooms in Canterlot, coming after the castle of course. Running a hoof over her sun-orange dress, Amber Vain slowly moved forward in the line of other noble ponies to greet their hosts for the evening. It took her a few minutes to get there, and when she did, the waiting mare pulled her into a loose embrace.
“Lady Vain, darling, it has been too long.”
“It certainly has, Lady Crust, and I’m happy to be back.”
Pulling away, Amber joined the rest of the ponies moving around. As she expected, the small talk of the evening surrounded the news from the castle, but she kept her own thoughts to herself as she greeted her fellow ponies from the upper class. Spotting the refreshments table, she started to make her way over, but was stopped when another mare stepped in front of her.
“That’s a nice dress you’re wearing, Amber.”
Amber stepped back and bowed her head a little, letting her eyes roam over the other unicorn. For an elder mare, she kept up an attractive physical appearance, not a sign of grey in the purple parts of her mane. Unlike most of the nobles, she simply wore a red sash to designate her status, which was draped around her light grey coat, and her light arctic blue eyes still sparkled with youthful mischievousness
“Dame Velvet, you honour me.”
“You honour yourself, given the philanthropic work that you do. Come, walk with me.” Amber did as she was asked, trotting along beside the mare, who was heading to a booth at the side of the room, where an azure stallion with a dark blue mane and amber eyes sat waiting. “You know my husband, Night Light, of course.”
Amber nodded politely to the stallion.
“And I don’t think you’ve actually met formally, but this is my daughter, Twilight Sparkle.”
Unsure why she had been singled out to meet a Dame’s daughter, Amber slowly turned her eyes to the other side of the booth, looking at the younger mare. I know that name from somewhere, but where… Let’s see, lavender coat, indigo mane with pink and purple stripes, and a horn AND wings! Amber bowed lower than when Dame Velvet approached her.
“Princess Sparkle, it is a pleasure to meet you.”
“Please, just call me Twilight. Come, join us for a drink, won’t you?”
For some reason, Amber grew wary, as it was not every day royalty asked a pony to spend time with them without prior appointment. Still, she slid into the booth next to Twilight Sparkle, whilst Dame Velvet sat next to Night Light, resting her head against his shoulder.
Realising there wasn’t anything with which to sate their thirst, Amber was about to offer to collect the drinks when a giant earth pony walked over, a silver tray upon his back. Amber let her eyes wander over his massive muscles, and down to his taut hindquarters. She waited until he placed the tray down and moved away slightly, turning to Twilight just as she took a sip from her drink.
“Well, the help has certainly improved in quality since last I visited Jet Set and Upper Crust.”
Twilight tried to gasp at the same time as to drink, almost choking as it went down the wrong hole, and she began to cough, expelling the drink onto her father, who was clearly unamused. Giving an awkward giggle, Twilight levitated a napkin over and began to clean the stallion up, whilst looking pleading at her mother, who stared back with a cheeky smile.
“Twilight, why don’t you call him over before he gets our food?”
Amber was very confused as to what was going on as Twilight’s horn flashed once, Amber looking at Twilight’s father to see he didn’t understand things either. A moment later the earth pony appeared once more, this time from the other side of the booth, sliding in next to Twilight.
Amber’s instincts told her now would be a good time to leave, but it would be considered extremely rude to do so, even worse to ask for permission, so there she stayed as Dame Velvet smiled at the earth pony, Night Light glared, and Twilight Sparkle gulped a few times.
“Mom, dad, I’d like you to meet my special somepony, Big Macintosh.”
Amber wanted to crawl into the deepest, darkest hole she could find, now realising how much of a social faux pas she had just made, but it seemed to be overlooked thanks to the other news. She watched as Night Light silently motioned the earth pony to follow him, then got up from the booth, Dame Velvet giving a slightly disappointed sigh. She then turned her gaze upon Amber.
“So, Miss Vain, as the conversation subject tonight seems to be relationships, how is that stallion you’re after?”
“Oh, he’s fine,” she replied happily, though internally she was screaming. I bet he’s more than fine with that bastard foal of his right now. “I still haven’t plucked up the courage to talk to him though, at least not again.” I can’t believe that lower class mare that tried to gain Blueblood’s affection three years ago made this dress, nor that she is highly recommended by both Fleur and Sapphire Shores.
“Well, perhaps my daughter can give you some advice on how to woo him? Worry not, we will not ask you to tell us his name, but perhaps you can give us a few hints, hmm?”
Amber lifted up the silver goblet in front of her, taking a large sip of the red wine contained within as she considered Dame Velvet’s proposal. It is highly unlikely Dame Velvet has not heard the news from the castle… but still, Princess Sparkle was a highly sought after mare, even before her crown.
Dame Velvet is rumoured to have had hundreds of suitors vying for her horn in marriage. Maybe they can help. Setting her goblet down, Amber smiled at Dame Velvet, then to Princess Sparkle. “I am in your debt. Please, I’d appreciate any help I can get.”
Katakans, ponies that had become lost in the forgotten legends of Equestria, large ponies with leathery wings and eyes with large irises and small pupils, made for a frightful sight. Mostly nocturnal, they survived by their base desires, to eat and procreate, which they did so heartily.
At least, until Luna stumbled upon one of their colonies on the isle of Dragmire in the South Quiet Sea during the year after her return, when she explored most of the known world to see for herself how things had changed. Unlike the nearly overwhelming majority of academics’ opinion, Luna knew the truth, and was pleased to see the descendants of her ancient guards had indeed survived into the new world.
She observed them for several weeks, watching as the mares selected their mates based on one category; how well they were endowed. Unfortunately, the generation she discovered knew nothing of her nor the world outside their colony, and when she presented herself to them, hundreds of Katakans turned their eyes upon her with a savage hunger. She was forced to defend herself, wiping out that colony, but leaving one survivor who had become injured, yet stayed out of further conflict with the alicorn. With his help, she found other colonies, and succeeded in reaching an understanding with them.
Shaking her head, Luna gave a wistful sigh as she looked at the throne room doors, which had remained shut all evening. As per usual, Luna’s night court received no visitors, the throne room containing the Lunar Diarch and several of her reinstated guards. Unless a pony knew where exactly to look in the darkened room, these large ponies remained hidden from sight within the shadows, their golden eyes occasionally reflecting the blue flames that flickered on every pillar.
Turning her bored gaze from the still doors to the space just to the right of her throne, Luna studied the only visible Katakan, her Lunar Corps Captain, and she marveled at the muscle bound pegasus stallion. Singling him out from the other Katakans was a black patch over his left eye, the only thing he had lost when Luna wiped out his colony.
Although Luna was in his blind spot, she knew the stallion had other senses that allowed him a complete view of the room, thus when her gaze drifted towards his flank, she was not surprised when his wing blocked her view and he let out a small growl. Luna pouted, but knew it was a moot point as even if he could see her facial expression, he’d ignore it.
A sudden high pitched squeak followed by a sickening crunch drew Luna’s gaze to one of the far corners, where she could hear slow chewing coming from, and it brought a smile to her face. Not only were the Katakans amazing guards, they also made for excellent pest control, especially when it came to rats.
“Bastard,” came a deep, gravelly voice from Luna’s side, the Katakan stood there speaking his mind. “I was gonna eat that one.” Luna said nothing, closing her eyes and smirking as she leaned back on the throne, breathing lightly; contrary to what most ponies thought, Luna was not awake throughout the night and slept for most of it. She only dozed lightly for a few moments before her ear flicked at the sound of sniffing. “Night-mistress, your sister approaches.”
Luna sat up just as the doors to the throne room opened and Celestia stepped in, her normally flowing mane and tail hanging limp around her, purple pyjamas covering most of her white body. Celestia trotted up the steps to the thrones and settled into hers, looking at her sister with tiredness in her eyes.
“Why did you summon me at this hour, Lulu?”
“We must discuss your decision, Tia.” Luna looked around the room, then turned to the stallion to her right. “Deadeye, leave us.” He gave a nod, then thrust one of his wings out and waved it at the door. Nine other Katakans, four of them female, stepped from the shadows and bowed to the alicorns, then turned and left. Once the doors closed again, Luna looked to Celestia with a frown. “Word has already spread throughout the city as to Blueblood’s concubine, as they are calling her, and the ponies are demanding to know who she is.”
“It’s not like I told Raven to put it in the Canterlot Daily,” Celestia replied with an annoyed huff, having had to fend off requests for a meeting from many nobles during the rest of her day court and during her evening meal with some of them. “It is possible that somepony overheard the news and either could not recognise the secrecy or keep such joyous news to themselves.”
“You knew, didn’t you,” Luna asked accusingly, narrowing her eyes at her sister. “You knew the filly was his daughter, and yet you said nothing. What kind of aunt are you?”
“Luna! How dare you say such things!” The blue alicorn saw tears forming in her sister’s eyes, and she turned her gaze away in shame. “If you must know, I did not make the connection until a couple of hours before Blue found out himself. You know even we can not go against the deep magic of Equestria without dire consequences, and it told me to wait a little longer.”
“I… I am sorry, Tia. Knowing some of the things Blue has had to deal with over the years, I can’t but get the idea of somepony using sweet Dinky as a weapon against him or her mother.” Luna accepted the embrace of her sister when she felt hooves around her, leaning against Celestia’s side.
“I have the same feeling, but if they do, we shall set Deadeye onto them, right?” Celestia turned her gaze to the empty room. “You can come out, I know you are still here.” A strange black mist seeped from the shadows, darkening even where the light touched, and it took a few moments to coalesce into the physical form of a pony. Stepping in view, the one eyed stalling bowed before the two alicorns. Giving her sister a nuzzle and a wink, Celestia stood and trotted towards the doors, pausing to look over her shoulder at her. “You should get to bed, Lulu. There might be someponies that need you in their dreams.”
“You are right, Tia. Good night.” Once her sister was out of view, Luna turned her gaze upon her still present captain, her features turning into a soft glare. “Deadeye, for disobeying orders and eavesdropping, you shall come with me into the dreamscape.”
Running as fast as she could, a unicorn filly made her way through the ruins of Canterlot City. There were no other ponies present at all, but things lurked in the shadows, and her only safe haven were sporadically spaced street lights. Coming across one in the middle of an empty square, Dinky Hooves leant against it and caught her breath, red eyes staring at her from the darkness, along with a single golden one.
Just like all of the other areas she rested in, the light began to flicker, and she built up her courage for another long sprint to safety, but she didn’t know how long she could keep it up. She waited until the last moment possible before taking off at a full gallop, knowing that the creatures would soon be upon her.
Her path led her into part of the gardens of Canterlot Castle, one that held a special meaning to her, and it was here that she hoped to find help. When Dinky arrived at a certain spot, the light was already beginning to flicker, yet the two ponies she hoped to see were not present.
“Mama? Daddy? Where are you?”
Her only answer came from the shadows that now surrounded her, shrieks and growls that got closer as the light above her began to fade. When it went out the creatures moved, the red eyes coming in fast, but there was no sign of the golden one.
Dinky screamed as she felt something cover her body, recognising the feel of a wing, but no feathers were present at all. She could hear the sound of fighting around her, but that soon died down, and the light above her returned, the wing on her back gone, but she was still not alone.
Dinky stepped back with a frightened gasp as she beheld a pony like being, with one weary golden eye looking at her, the other covered with a black patch. Its fur was dark grey, the mane and tail two tones of blue. Upon its body was silver and blue armour, the chest piece having a single blue eye.
Instead of claiming its prize of Dinky, it simply lay down on the grass and lowered its head. “Have no fear, for I am here to serve you, my young princess.” The voice was deep and masculine, yet somewhat calming to Dinky, who stepped a little closer.
When she did, she noticed several bloody marks down his side, and that he was panting heavily. A loud shriek from the shadow behind her caused her to bolt forward, squeezing between the stallion’s forelegs. Even when the light went out again the shadow creatures did not attack, a terrifying peace that seemed to last for hours settling in.
Once the area was illuminated once again, Dinky saw another stallion and a mare that she easily recognised, and the stallion holding her tightly let her go. She immediately ran to the others and jumped into their outstretched forelegs, sobbing loudly.
Sitting up with a scream, Dinky looked around to see she was where she had fallen asleep. Her fur was damp with sweat and the strange memories still fresh in her mind. She let out another scream as she felt hooves wrap around her and she was pulled against a pony’s chest. It took her a moment to collect herself, but when she did, she looked up to see a pair of worried blue eyes staring at her.
“Dinky?”
“I… I had a bad dream, daddy,” came a shaky response as Dinky’s tears began to fall into Blueblood’s chest.
“Want to talk about it?”
“T-there were things with r-red eyes and one w-with a gold eye. I-I couldn’t find y-you or mommy. The g-gold eye protected m-me from the red e-eyes.”
Single gold eye… protecting a filly… Thank you, auntie Lulu. “It’s alright, you’ll meet him in the morning. Now come, forget the bad dream, and let’s get back to sleep. I won’t let anything happen to you whilst you’re with me.” Blueblood leant down and kissed Dinky on the cheek, the filly nuzzling him in return. He kept her close to his chest as she drifted off again, waiting until she was in deep slumber before he lay himself back down and closed his own eyes.
“Your kind came from the shadows, therefore the shadow creatures of the dreamscape can hurt you. I am sorry, I should have remembered,” Luna said as she applied some antiseptic cream to the deep cuts in her captain’s side. Once his wounds were clean, she laid dressing over the top and wrapped a bandage around his barrel. “Take the rest of the night off, and sleep with my blessings, Deadeye.”
Luna lay a gentle kiss upon the forehead of the exhausted guard, then stepped from his quarters and nodded to the two Katakans stood outside the door. They returned the gesture, watching as their Night-mistress entered through a set of double doors, each one etched with a half moon, signifying who the room belonged to.
The Katakans in the corridor moved into the shadows, disappearing from sight.