//------------------------------//
// Chapter 50. Welcome to the Family, little ones 
// Story: Dust on the Wind 
// by Sparky Brony 
//------------------------------//

The next four months pass quietly. And that is amazing since the last two and a half years have been anything but sedate. I may be growing big with my little one inside me. But, Moon Shadow is getting huge. She just growls at anypony poking fun at her now. It's not fun to tease a pregnant mare about to give birth. But that fateful day arrives.

Dr. Ray is at one end, Irony and I are at the other. Star Shine and Helen are off to the side, ready for the new foals. We've been ready for months, though when Moon Shadow said it was time, we all leaped to action, even the other pregnant mares of the family.

Alan is sitting next to Dr. Ray. Though the unicorn doctor has been able to handle things quite capably, it's nice to have an assistant, right? Add in the fact that Mindy has been wooing him for months now, though she's said we are going to have our first herd date after the foals arrive.

"Okay, it's time for another push, Moon." The doctor says gently. Getting a low moan out of the unicorn.

In moments, "And we have a beautiful unicorn filly." The bundle is lifted in his magic and the umbilical is separated magically, he floats the newborn over to Helen, who is ready with a blanket, and towels to clean off the foal. Dr. Ray's attention is back on Moon Shadow as she pushes again, squeezing Irony's hooves hard as the second foal is born. "Wow, you are ready to have this over with, aren't you?" He says as a second form is passed to Helen. Star Shine is swaddling the first born. 

"You try carrying them for almost a year." Moon Shadow growls. I feel a kick, I know my time is soon, but hopefully not today. We've got our hooves full with these twins. I'm glad Irony's got a few weeks left herself. My ears rotate towards the foals, I'm surprised by the silence. Though Star Shine and Helen are busily working, they don't seem upset. 

"Why are they so quiet?"

Moon Shadow smiles as Dr. Ray answers, "Pony foals aren't nearly as vocal at birth as human babies, I've delivered enough over the last few weeks to know that."

I extend my wings and hover over to Star Shine and Helen, they are cradling the foals, both of them with their eyes closed, I get a good look at them, I move closer, they are identical, midnight blue coats, violet manes, both with a bright gumball pink streak in them, in the exact same place on both. I chuckle, "Moon, I think you are going to have trouble telling them apart."

She laughs as both babies are gently picked up in her magic, she seems to be impatient to hold them. They float to her and she cradles both of them, nuzzling them lovingly. She looks at Irony, "Honey, I really wish these were Henry's, but you are a herd mother to them, that will have to be good enough.

Irony nuzzles Moon Shadow, then she nuzzles me as I get close, Irony speaks up, "So, Moon, what are you going to name them?"

Moon Shadow looks at them for a long time, then I see a sparkle in her eyes. Both foals open their eyes for the first time, and I drop to the floor. Both have off colored eyes, one bright blue, the other cerise. Moon Shadow lifts the one with the blue eye on the left side, "This is my little Rinoa." She shifts a bit to lift the other, with her blue eye on the right, "And my beautiful Rydia."

Dr. Ray comes up and kisses Moon Shadow, then he nuzzles his foals, "They are beautiful names, Moon Shadow."

"I know where those names are from, Moon. I played the games. But how did they come to you?"

Moon Shadow looks thoughtful for a moment, "I don't know. I looked at them, and after a moment, I knew that was what their names had to be." She stops and looks at me, "What games?"

"From the Final Fantasy series, two very powerful magic users from two different games."

She looks at me for a long time, then at the foals drifting off to sleep in her arms, "Well, I've never been a gamer. But these names will fit, I believe." She yawns widely and lays her head down, cradling the newborns close to her as her breathing evens out.

I gather everypony but Dr. Ray by eye and we leave the room. Dr. Ray will finish up with the cleanup before calling it a night himself, he's been pulling double and triple shifts at the New Beginnings hospital, nearly a thousand foals have been born in the last few weeks, and he's been wearing himself out. To the point we had to confiscate his cell phone to allow him some rest. He isn't the only doctor in New Beginnings, but he's apparently taken on the task of helping with the birth of everypony of this new generation. And I think the term baby boom is really going to be appropriate. Almost everypony I've talked to that was pregnant plans on more babies. Moon Shadow, along with most of the unicorns with the right amount of strength have been offering to use the no-foals spell. And most have been kindly, but firmly rebuffed. How long until ponies outnumber humans in this state?

***

Three days after Moon Shadow gave birth, I'm awoken by immense tension in my body. I can feel muscles spasming, is it my time already? I glance at my phone, it's three in the morning. Seriously? I shift my body for more comfort, maybe this little one can wait until a more decent hour.

Nope, a strong contraction wracks through my body, damn. It's over in seconds, leaving me panting. I turn a bit, looking at Helen sleeping peacefully. I poke her gently with a hoof, "Helen."

She moans in her sleep, though I'm glad to see a smile on her face. But this isn't time to reflect on my wife, it's time to give birth. I poke her again, "Helen, if you don't wake up, I'm liable to drop this foal right in bed here."

That gets her attention, her eyes pop open. "Seriously?"

I nod. She pokes a sleeping Dr. Ray, "Ray, you're up."

He growls in his sleep, only to have Sunset Shimmer pick him up in her magic, "Dr. Ray, Dust is in labor." Okay, now he's awake.

He helps me to my hooves, and we make our way to the makeshift medical room that Moon Shadow had her foals in.

I lie down on the stainless steel table, Sunset and Mindy get some pillows for me to be somewhat comfortable.

***

Hours pass, "Well, Dust, I can see you are dilated. You are ready." He stops for a moment as he scans me with his magic, "And your foal is ready and in position."

I growl at him, "I've been pushing, why won't this one come out?" Another contraction hits, this one even stronger than the last few. My body is screaming in agony, nothing is happening. I howl out my pain, with the added lung power of being a pegasus, everypony's ears fold back at the volume.

Finally the contraction passes, I sigh, "I'm sorry."

Star Shine is holding my hooves right now, I look at him, he smiles, "It's okay Dust. This has been hard for you."

I lay my head down, I'm exhausted. Though I can hear Dr. Ray move over to the rest of my herd, I rotate my ears to hear what he's saying, but he's talking too low for me to make out the words. Though by the tone of what I can hear, it doesn't sound good.

Oh no, another contraction! It takes hold and my body clenches as I push with everything I have. My magic arcs and sparks among my feathers, and the lights in the room dance in response, but I'm only half aware of things, everything is getting fuzzy.

Dr. Ray scans me again, "Dust, I think we had better get you to an operating room."

I frown at him once my contraction is over, "Something wrong?"

He looks bleak, "Dust, your foal's heart beat has just dropped by over half. I'm very worried about that. I want to get you into surgery, we will do a C-section and get this done quickly." I look intently at him, gauging the look on his face, he's worried, scared to death even. I nod.

Sunset steps forward, "I can make this happen."

Dr. Ray nods, and her horn alights, then we are in the waiting room of the hospital. I'm gently lifted onto a gurney, and wheeled through the hospital, quickly stopping in a huge sterile room. A nurse comes up, her horn lighting, and I feel a pinch in a foreleg. She smiles at me, "Just something to make it easier for you." I stop caring as the drugs hit my system, putting me into a light twilight state.

The next half hour or so goes very quickly as my belly is shaved, and I'm prepared for surgery. I'm able to muster enough energy to inform them in no uncertain terms that I don't need a shield to obscure the surgery from view. I've watched two C-sections before. Though this will be my first time having one myself, I have to chuckle as another doctor lifts a scalpel in his magic, Dr. Ray hovering right next to him. They talk back and forth, though I'm not really able to do anything as my body is opened, and soon they pull a small form from me. 

"She's not breathing." The doctor says, the urgency in his voice snaps me to reality.

The blood covered form is rushed to the other side of the room, Dr. Ray moves with the foal while the other doctor starts patching me up.

"Doctor, what's going on with my foal?"

He pauses in his work, "She is being worked on, you were pushing hard, but you've still got scar tissue from your ordeal. She's suffered some loss of oxygen, but we got to her quickly. So, be patient, we are working on her."

I flop my head down, no longer fascinated by what is being done to my belly, I turn my head to the doctors and nurses working on my foal and hate Spectrum just a little bit more.

Finally the penetrating sound of a foal crying rings out, snapping me from the drug induced half sleep. I lift my head. The ponies around my foal are relaxed, they seem happy. I smile, that means good news! In moments a swaddled baby floats to me, and I finally get to meet the little one that's been doing her damndest to bruise me from the inside.

"Hello little one." I murmur as I nuzzle her lovingly. A pure snow white coat, with an almost metallic silver to her mane, and bright gold eyes look at me, "You are beautiful."

She wiggles in my forelegs, I hug her tightly, I pull back and look at her. Time for me to name her, I can see her creamy fur, her beautiful mane. And I can feel the small wings moving under the swaddling. She's going to be one hell of a flier, just like her mother. And her father, but what to name her?

Finally, it comes to me, "Welcome to the world, my little Mischief."

***

Where did Mindy want to go for a herd date with Alan? A swanky restaurant? The movies? Climbing Everest? Nope, she chose an amusement park. In fact, one that I've been to as a human. All the way down in San Antonio, Tx is a Six Flags theme park called Fiesta Texas. I went there before Six Flags bought it. Down time is good, and family time is so much better. I've been enjoying the fact that other ponies are handling security and taking care of the ponies. I have family to take care of. 

The chariots land in the massive parking area of the park. Sunset Shimmer teleported over to the booth to pay for parking. I would love to see the human ticket taker's faces as she pops up in front of them. I've got saddlebags on, one side with the needs for a foal, and the other side has my precious Mischief. She's three weeks old. Irony's two week old little colt, Zeddicus is in her arms, she decided to stay on two hooves today, wearing a black t-shirt with camo pants. I have to laugh at how she looks with clothes on. Moon Shadow has her twins with her, and Star Shine has Mindy's two young ones on a saddle carrier of his own. 

A soft pop announces the return of the golden mare, "Hey, Dust." She giggles, "Their jaws dropped, and one of them was a brony. He was really happy to have me pay for the chariots."

I giggle with her, and she walks with me. I'm watching Mindy bounce next to the seven foot tall human. Watching her and him, I'm actually reminded how I felt with Helen when we were first dating. He's walking, and she's talking animatedly with him. I smile, and nudge Sunset, "I think we might have a new herd mate before too long."

Sunset allows a throaty laugh, "I wonder how he is in bed."

I grin, "Mindy says he's amazing." Something I've found with Sunset, her mind is in the gutter more than mine usually is. We actually pair up pretty well together, in bed, and out. She was still in that shell of hers I noticed portrayed in the second Equestria girls movie, which she said was pretty accurate. But that shell has finally fallen to the wayside, with a family that accepts her the way she is. 

Finally we are at the ticket booth. Helen presents all the tickets to the flabbergasted human. He looks at the group of ponies, then at Helen and Alan. Then with an exaggerated sigh, he waves us through. I take to my wings to get past the turnstiles, which gets more than one yelp from the humans nearby. I guess a flying pony is going to take some getting used to.

Mindy is suddenly next to me, "Oh, Dustie, we have to get on the Iron Rattler, first thing."

I was actually looking forward to floating down the lazy river in the built in water park, White Water Bay, I don't know if our new pony anatomy can handle sitting in a coaster. But I shrug my wings, "Sure."

I hear the chime of magic and my load is lightened, Mischief is on Sunset's back now, she smiles, "I'm terrified of the roller coasters, you gals have fun." I spin around and give Sunset a kiss and gallop off with Mindy. Alan is surprisingly light on his feet for his size, and is keeping up with us at a gentle gallop. Several minutes of navigating through the park with Mindy and the massive human, we finally find the entrance to the iconic roller coaster.

I look at Mindy as we start walking through the back and forth line to get to the queue of people waiting to get on  the coaster, "My parents got season tickets when this place opened. This was an all wood coaster, called the Rattler. I rode it so many times that year."

She looks at me, "How old were you?"

"I was seven that first year, born in '85, remember?"

She giggles, "Oh, I have trouble remembering that you were thirty five when you changed."

"Yeah." My memories of walking up this as a young kid surface, "It was fun then." Then I brighten, "And it's going to be fun today!" We finally catch up to the last person in line. Being a weekday in May, the park is relatively quiet. Though when the human finally notices that there are ponies in line behind them, they stop and just watch. 

I look at the young woman, "Problem?"

She looks surprised then turns around, I look at Mindy, "Ponies have been around for almost three years now. You would think that there would be less commotion."

"Oh Dustie, you know that the Texas ponies have pretty much kept to themselves, and most of the ponies live in the few pony towns. Most humans don't even realize we exist. We were a fifteen minute wonder, and now we are just vague rumors."

I frown at that as I take a few steps. Hearing the coaster make it's rounds, "We need to do something about that, Mindy. I get tired of being treated like a circus freak every damned time I leave Montana."

Alan puts his hand on the back of my head, his fingers rubbing behind my ears, my left rear leg wants to twitch in response, it feels really good, "Dust, you have to give humanity time. Attend a few more conventions, and most of all, accept the interview requests with the major news networks."

"Why me?"

"Dust," He stops and looks at Mindy then seriously at me, "Humanity is curious by nature. As long as ponies are rumors, you will have to deal with their curiosity. But get out there, do a round of the press. Maybe even get the President to talk to humans with you. But if you want to be commonplace in their society, you need to fight for it."

"It's not going to happen on its own, Dustie." Mindy chirps as we take a few more steps forward.

"But why me? Why can't Cloud Kicker, or Winter Storm?"

"Because you were in the show, duh." Mindy laughs.

"Yeah, for three episodes."

"More than me, or anypony else except for Sunset, and she was only shown as a pony for a couple of minutes. It has to be you, Dust."

I sigh, "Do you think it will be helpful?"

Both of them nod. Getting another sigh from me.

Presently we are at the head of the line, Alan has the most trouble, with his size, but we are able to sit on our rears, the restraints actually do work with the pony form, so long as we sit more like humans, though after this long as a pony, it feels unnatural. After the staff takes an extra long time checking to make sure everyone was ready. And gawking at the ponies, the ride starts.

A minute and a half later, Mindy climbs out, bouncing, "Oh Celestia, we have to do that again."

Her and Alan run down the exit to head back up the stairs for another go. I take my time, walking over to the booth selling pictures from our run. I watch the screen for us to show up. And I have to smile, I used to get really excited about roller coasters. I found this one bored me. Too violent, too rough. I could do smoother loops, and faster ones too. 

My musings are interrupted by a form jumping on my back, and a small voice screaming in my ear, "It's a pony!" 

I turn my head and look at the little girl, she couldn't have been more than seven or eight years old. Her legs are crushing down on my wings. She bouncing excitedly up and down on my back, I just keep my gaze on her. 

"Can I help you?"

She stops bouncing to look at me, "Your real?"

I nod.

"You can talk?"

I nod again, getting an excited squeal from the little girl, who wraps her arms around my neck, "Oh my God, a talking pony. I'll take you home, I'll name you Susan, and we will have so much fun together."

Two adults are walking up from the exit to the ride, I glance at them then at her, "My name is Lightning Dust, I have a home, and I think my herd would miss me if I left with you. And most of all, would you please stop squeezing my wings so hard?"

Her bouncing stops, she slides off of me, allowing me to stretch my wings, that was more than a little painful. I turn around so I can face the girl, "Just because a pony is here, doesn't mean you can snatch her up and take her wherever you want. I'm just as intelligent as you are. I own my own company, well, actually a couple of companies now. But I'm successful, I have a family, and I don't need to be named Susan and go off with any random little girl."

The heat in my words apparently affects her, tears spring to her eyes and her face crumples, "I'm so sorry, I didn't know."

I realize how harsh I sounded, I try to soften the blow, "It's okay, little one. But I have been rather badly treated by some humans. And someone trying to take me really scares me." I move closer and run a wing down her face, drying the tears, "Ponies that can talk are just as smart as you are, sweetie. We aren't animals, we aren't beasts, we are people. We just walk on four legs. How about this, you can be friends with a pony that talks, just don't try to take them home, deal?" I raise a hoof.

She seems confused, but I think she will eventually understand, she accepts the offered hoof for a shake.

I smile at her parents, who hung back while their daughter talked to the turquoise pony, and head out of the ride. I don't think I want to wait for Alan and Mindy to finish their second ride of the Iron Rattler.

A quick touch of a hoof to Moon Shadow's earring tells me where my family is, scattered all over the park. I decide to grab a drink and wait for the two love birds. 

Waiting pays off as they both bounce through the exit, "Going again?" I ask.

They both laugh, though Alan responds, "We'll go again later. But, Dust. Why didn't you go through a second time with us?"

I flare out a wing, "When you have these, the best a human can do seems rather pale in comparison."

Mindy nods, "Well, as a unicorn, I can appreciate a good roller coaster. Though maybe they should hire some pegasi to offer guests some real excitement."

I laugh as I remember the pegasi who pulled the chariots for us, we bought them tickets to go in themselves, so they are presumably having fun themselves here, "Who wants to see a show?"

A human hand and a magenta hoof both spring into the air, "ME!" They shout in unison.

I smile as we head to find one of the shows that is played at this massive park.

***Alan***

"I think I'll be staying a while, little sis." 

Fiddlesticks' voice comes through my cell phone, "So, you are enjoying your time there?"

I look over at Mindy, she's bouncing as she's waiting for me to finish my phone call, "Yes, I am. The ponies here have been wonderful."

"Including Mindy?"

I'm shocked, how did she find out? My sister's laugh chimes through the phone, "I've been talking to Dust. She told me about your time at the park. Sounds like you had a fun time."

I can feel myself blush, "Yes, we did."

"If you are asking for my approval Alan, you've got it, Dust and her herd are going to be good for you."

"Well, thank you sis, love you."

Again that laugh in her voice, "Love you too big bro."

I close out the call, and look at Mindy, "You ready?"

Suddenly she's on my shoulder, "Dot and Cloud Burst are doing well, and we are good for the night."

I smile, I love playing with her little ones. This is a date, though. "Ready for dinner?"

I get a kiss from the magenta mare, I don't know how she can balance on my shoulder like that, but she does it on a regular basis, "I'm always ready for food."

***

Having a marefriend that can teleport you anywhere she wishes can be really nice. We started the evening in Montana, we had dinner at a pizzeria in Chicago, and she then teleported us to New York City, we finally are strolling through Central Park, the sun is just setting as we walk.

Walking is a good time to be talking, Mindy starts, being uncharacteristically quiet, and simply walking rather than her usual bouncing around, "I like you, Alan."

I reach out a hand, running it down her ear, getting it to twitch, and her to giggle. "I like you too, Mindy."

She rubs up against me as we continue to walk. 

"I want to do something, Alan. Promise you'll keep an open mind?"

I'm a little confused, "Anything."

Out of nowhere, Sunset Shimmer pops into being. I look at her curiously, I like the mare, but I've been keen to really spend time with Mindy. Sunset comes up to Mindy, giving her a long hug, "Are you sure sweetie?"

Mindy gulps and nods her head, "It's only for a few hours, Sunset."

Sunset nods and her horn alights, Mindy starts to glow, the glow intensifies, to the point of blinding. I throw up a hand against the brightness, and it fades as it never was. I lower my hand, Mindy is gone, in her place is a human woman, her hair is bright white, just like Mindy's. Sunset comes forward, "The spell will last a few hours, you two. Just call me if you need anything."

"Ummm, Sunset." The woman asks, in Mindy's voice. Wow! It's Mindy. Though as I get a better look at her, she's nude.

Sunset chuckles and her horn lights again, and Mindy is covered in a light pink dress, her tousled hair ends up in a long flowing ponytail, though it has a lot of the bounce it had from before. 

"Mindy, you are human now?"

She nods, "Sunset and I planned this. I wanted to walk with you on two legs, holding your hand with my own." She looks very shy for a moment, "Is that okay?"

The new shape of Mindy is barely five feet tall, quite a bit shorter than I am, but I pick her up, she reflexively wraps her arms around me, "Mindy, I love you no matter what you look like."

"You love me?" She even bats her eyelashes, getting a giggle from me.

Did I just say I loved her? I think about it for a long time, then bring her up to kiss her, after time immeasurable, she pulls away, "Yes, Mindy, I do."

She squeals and jumps from my arms, she reaches frantically behind her to grab my hand as she overbalances and nearly falls, "Oh, I had better watch out, I haven't been on two legs in three years."

I chuckle, then I hold her hand as we start walking, she bites her lower lip for a long moment, "I'm certain I'm falling in love with you as well, Alan."

I chuckle, "I've already told you how I feel." She nods seriously.

"Can I tell you something, Alan?" Her voice is more serious than I have ever heard her.

"Anything."

"I want to go home."

I stop walking, I bring her close, and look into her now blue eyes, "Mindy, home is but a teleport away. We can go whenever you wish."

She giggles, "I don't have my magic like this, Alan. But, I'm not talking about Montana."

I'm a bit confused, "What are you saying, Mindy?"

"Dust was wrong, we should have gone through the portal. We belong in Equestria."

"Equestria?"

She doesn't continue that line of thought, she keeps walking, squeezing my hand tightly.

I keep an eye on her while we are walking, "Tell me about Soarin."

She looks down as she puts one foot in front of the other, I almost regret asking her, seeing the tears welling in her eyes, but her tone of voice tells me different, "He was amazing. He was a lovable goofball, just like in the show. And yes, he did love pie, especially apple pie. I made apple pies for him from time to time, he always loved them."

She smiles through her tears, "He was smart, he was extremely perceptive, I suspected that he was a magic user pegasus, the way Dust is. But his magic was more subtle, he could see, he could see into your soul, and he loved you for it."

"He saw your soul, Mindy?"

She nods, "Yes, I knew he had the hots for me from minute one, but as we got to know each other, he delved deeper. He could feel my emotions, he knew what to say, exactly how to say it to make me happy. I'm usually a very happy pony, but he was able to make me happier than anypony else in this world."

"Really?"

She nods again, "Our first date was a simple walk around the farm, just so we could talk. And he was so nervous, he wanted to show off for me, and he decided to fly for me," She giggles, "He found a pile of manure when he wiped out, Rainbow Dash from the show style."

That gets a laugh from me, along with her laughing, "He was so embarrassed, he couldn't bring himself to talk to me for most of a day, until Lightning Flash decided to push him, those two were good friends."

"And then?"

She smiles, her tears seem to be drying up, remembering him, "Our next date was far more fun, he had me climb up on his back, and we had lunch on a cloud, I was able to remember the cloud walking spell, so I didn't have to stay on his back the whole time, though I think we wanted me to. Our first real kiss was on that cloud. He made me feel so wonderful inside, so special. I was my usual goofy self, but he saw through that, he talked to me and helped me understand that he really saw me, my fears, my passions, my desires. I actually calmed down a lot during our date, because I wasn't focused on having fun, I was focused on spending time with him, no matter what we did." She stops and looks at me, "Quite a lot about how I feel when I'm with you, Alan."

I can feel my face heating, but I smile at her, getting a huge smile back. Her tears have dried, I think she needed to say those words.

She continues walking, I follow her, she's holding herself as she walks, finally she speaks again, "I want more foals, Alan."

"You have two fine sires back at home, Mindy, surely they can…"

I'm interrupted by her whirling around, "I want you to be their father, Alan."

I stumble a bit, "What?"

She comes to me and wraps her arms around me, bringing her face to mine, I don't even have a chance to think before her lips touch mine, her tongue probes my lips, and I open my mouth in response. We kiss for a long moment. She finally pulls away, her breathing hot and heavy, "I want my foals to be yours, Alan."

"But we have no genetics in common, Mindy, it's impossible."

"It's possible if you become a pony."

Do I want to become a pony? After a moment I've decided, "Does it require going through the portal?"

She looks thoughtful for a long moment, "I don't have the strength, but Sunset Shimmer should."

"The strength? To do what?"

She runs a hand along my cheek, "It's similar to what she did for me, but it's longer term, a matter of a few days, and it does affect your DNA. Would you do that? For me?"

I think about what she said for a long moment, then nod, getting a squeal from her and her arms tightening around me again. She brings my face closer so she can kiss me.

She pulls away and breathes into my ear, "They will be beautiful, Alan."

Finally I let her down, and we continue walking, hand in hand, "Though I really think we should go through the portal. Soarin and I were planning on doing so, before I joined with Dust."

"Why?"

Her hand squeezes mine for a long moment, "This isn't our home, Alan. We are ponies, and I love it here. But I feel the same way Dust does, it's an ache, it hurts to be away from my home."

We keep walking in silence as I think about what she's said, finally, "Do you think Dust will ever go through? Will she ever abandon this world?"

She again bites her lower lip, "I don't know, Alan. I know how much she misses home, I know how hard it is, but she's got us here, she's got her family. If we weren't here, she would be through the portal, no questions asked."

"Do you want to push her? Help her decide to walk through the next time it opens?"

She shakes her head, "I've known Dust from before Discord, we were best friends growing up, you don't push Dust anywhere. She will dig in her hooves and go the way she thinks is right. And she is right, most of the time."

I think for a moment, "Would you leave the herd to go back?"

She stops walking, I turn and get a good look at her face, she looks conflicted, finally she responds, "No, I love Dust and them all too much, I wouldn't force my views on them, I wouldn't leave them."

I frown, "What does that mean Mindy?"

She looks up at me, "It means we will follow Dust. But I think I will be happy if you give me a foal the next time I'm in estrous."

"So, you want me to join the herd? Be a new stallion for all you mares?"

She actually blushes as she looks down, and nods. 

I pick her up again, kissing her deeply, finally, "I love you Mindy."

She giggles against my chest, "I love you too, Alan."