//------------------------------// // Chapter Four: Blame it on the Rain // Story: Daughters of the Sea // by Mister E //------------------------------// Chapter Four Blame it on the Rain... The next day, Summergale, Fluttershy, and Discord had made their way to Twilight’s crystal castle, and were awaiting the arrival of Fluttershy’s friends. Clouds had gathered outside, and threatened rain, as Twilight and Paradox went about making sure everything would be ready when all of their guests arrived. “Not a very auspicious beginning,” Discord remarked, settling into a comfy chair with a caricature of his face emblazoned on the top, that he had magically created. “Aye,” Summergale said, from a less gaudy chair of her own. “If I were the superstitious type, I’d have ta call it a bad omen.” Discord looked thoughtful as he gratefully took a cup of tea from a Paradox, while two somewhat older looking other Paradoxes were setting places around the large map table in the conference room. “Thank you my dear.” He said inclining his head. “Your welcome,” the tea serving Paradox said, jumping into Discord’s lap looking at him expectantly. “Um, can I help you?” he asks the young alicorn. One of the other two Paradox’s replies in her place. “Oh, today is the day we discover ‘bewwy wubs’,” the oldest looking of the three says, purposely mispronouncing the words for their youngest version’s sake. “Bewwy wub?” says the one in Discord’s lap expectantly. “Aren’t you a little old for that cutesy talk? You can’t really expect that kind of thing to work on ME.” Discord says attempting to look intimidating at the youngster. The littlest Paradox just gazes up with wide eyes and a quivering lip. As tears begin to form on the edges of her eyes Discord finally caves in and begins to rub her belly with his lion’s paw. Her face quickly drops her sad expression and a playful smile crosses her muzzle. “Told you that works,” says the next to oldest looking Paradox, as she finishes placing the last setting. All three exchange the ‘hooves up’ sign before the older two vanish back to their own times. Fluttershy and Summergale both chuckle at the chaos lord, as his face turns crimson. “Son, when ye finally give me grand youngins, ye better let Fluttershy handle the discipline. Yer as soft as seaweed when it comes ta the wiles of foals.” “Children are such devious creatures,” Discord says as he tickles young Paradox under her wing, causing her to squeal with laughter. I don’t know whether to shun them, or hope for half a dozen.” “Trust me, one is enough.” Twilight says, trotting into the room, and sitting in the chair with her cutie mark on it. “Especially when that one can become a hundred as fast as you can blink.” “Aww m-mom,” Paradox says, between tickles. “I’ve never had more than fifty of myself in the same place, at the same time. You’re fibbing!” “Exaggeratin lil ‘dox,” Summergale says. “Same thing!” Paradox says, sticking out her tongue at Summergale to emphasize her point. “Oh, don’t get sassy with ME little miss.” Summergale says as she approaches Paradox with a wicked grin. “I’ll have ye know I’m the most dangerous tickling terror of all the seven seas!” She says, as she extends her hooves before her and begins to stalk her young prey. “Oh no!” Discord says in mock horror. “What have you done? The tickle monster is loose! You’re doooooomed!” He says, pretending to faint. Paradox leaps into the air with a squeal, her little wings barely keeping her aloft, as she flees down the corridor with Summergale in slow pursuit, making surprisingly realistic monster sounds. Fluttershy and Twilight exchange smiles. “I don’t know how you do it Fluttershy,” Twilight says shaking her head. I just have one, but you’re whole family are just big kids.” “Oh, it’s not so different from before.” Fluttershy says, sipping her tea. “Just two more critters to look after. Two more loud... mischievous... sneaky... well, just think of them as large Angel Bunnies.” “I heard that.” Discord says opening his eyes. “You left out devastatingly handsome.” “Oh. Well, I took that as a given dear.” She says smiling warmly at her husband, as Twilight rolls her eyes. “And where is YOUR husband?” Discord inquires, facing Twilight. “I haven’t seen much of him since the party. Well, not much of that version of him. I mean the other one lives in town. I see him and Derpy popping in and out all the time. That roaring sound his box makes just sets my teeth on edge. Right across all five dimensions.” “That’s actually why you don’t see MY Doctor around here much.” Twilight replies. “Unlike our daughter who time travels with magic, and can break the laws of causality whenever she wants, my husband has to do it the old fashion way, with science. And that means two versions of him shouldn’t be in the same place at the same time. It puts too much strain on the space time continuum. It’s not too bad in small doses, but in the long term it could cause all of reality to collapse.” “Oh dear, doesn’t that put a stain on your family, never having him around?” Fluttershy says with concern. “Oh, no. He’s always home when I want to see him. He’s just at our ‘summer home’, I guess you’d call it. It’s on an island far away from here. He set up a door upstairs that connects to it. You all should come for a visit sometime. The weather is always nice, and the only neighbors we have are on the other side of the island, and it’s safe to say they won’t be coming over anytime soon,” Twilight says enigmatically. “Sounds wonderful.” Fluttershy says warmly. “As soon as this trip is over, Discord and I would love to come visit.” “We would?” Discord says, finally paying attention to what was being said. “Oh, I mean of course we would! It would be quite a nice change from Ponyville. Not that there’s anything wrong with the place. Especially since we have this lovely new castle casting it’s majestic shadow across half the town. Ponies must REALLY appreciate you cutting down on the glare around here. And just think, now they won’t have to waste their time taking care of those pesky lawns, and flower gardens.” “I don’t want to talk about it.” Twilight replies, her tone flat and even. “If I get one more petition from Roseluck...” Just then the creaking of an overhead sky light can be heard just before a flash of lightning and a peal of thunder herald the arrive of Rainbow Dash. She closes the specially made skylight that bears her symbol and flies down to the trio at the table. “Sheesh, the ponies at the weather department sure outdid themselves with today’s storm.” Rainbow says, settling into her chair and throwing a leg over the armrest. “Some pony must be bucking for a promotion.” Moments later the doorbell sounds and Twilight hurries to answer. Rarity and Pinkie Pie enter, the former wearing a very stylish rain suit with ruby trim, and the latter wearing nothing at all. Despite the lack of an umbrella Pinkie is still completely dry. “Pinkie, I wish you’d tell me how you manage that without any magic,” Twilight says as Pinkie bounces her way to the table. “Oh silly, I’ve told you the last time.” Pinkie says, rolling her eyes. “And the time before that, and the time before that, and th-” “Pinkie,” Twilight interrupts, “Just saying ‘just move between the raindrops’, doesn’t explain exactly HOW you do it.” “I dunno Twilight,” Pinkie shrugs, “that’s just what you do. Unless you want to be cold and wet. I mean I guess some ponies LIKE being cold and wet, I mean, nopony I ever met, but then again I haven’t met EVERY pony yet, so like theoretically-” “Pinkie dear,” Rarity says, removing the last of her rain gear, “we get the idea.” Another knock at the door heralds the arrival of Applejack and Spike. Spike was gallantly holding an umbrella over Applejack’s head shielding her from most of the downpour at the expense of himself. “Howdy ya’ll,” Applejack says as she shakes the water from her hooves at the doorstep. “Spike, you’re soaked!” Twilight exclaims. “Wait right there while I get you a towel.” “Oh Spike. I told you ya’ll didn’t have to do that.” AJ says patting him on the shoulder. “A little rain never hurt nopony.” “Aww gee,” Spike says, putting the umbrella away in a nearby stand, “you spent so long getting your mane ready, I didn’t want you to get it ruined.” “Well that’s mighty sweet of you,” AJ replies giving Spike a peck on the cheek, “but I’d rather have a wet mane, than for you to get sick.” “Aww, I don’t mind. ‘Cause then you’d be there to nurse me back to health.” Spike replies with wide eyed innocence. “Nope, still not wearing that nurse’s getup.” AJ replies. “Darn it!” Spike says in frustration. “Sounds like the sweet and innocent act doesn’t work on your marefriend, Spike.” Twilight says grinning, as she hands him a thick towel. “Now that’s not true sugarcube,”AJ says, throwing her hooves around Spike’s neck. “I reckon Spike here is the sweetest fella in all of Ponyville.” “And innocent?” Twilight says raising an eyebrow, which causes Spike to blush furiously. “Like I said, I reckon Spike here is the sweetest fella in all of Ponyville.” AJ says, turning her head as a blush of her own begins to spread. “Riiight.” Summergale interrupts. “Well now, if ya’ll be ready, we can move this into Twilight’s fancy throne room, I have a bit of a tale to tell.” All of the others make their way inside the throne room of Twilight’s castle. Summergale stands next to Twilight’s chair at the head of the table, and Discord’s magically created chair appears on her other side, as the rest of the ponies take their seats. “Now I suppose you are all wonderin’ why I called you here today.” Summergale says, leaning forward on the table. Discord suddenly jumps to his feet, “One of you, in this room, is a murderer!” he yells, as thunder booms dramatically, and the lights suddenly go out. For several moments all that can be heard are the sounds of panicked screams, and Discord laughing uncontrollably. Finally the lights come back on. Fluttershy is standing stock still on top of the table. Eyes wide, and legs and wings splayed out and locked rigid. Rainbow Dash and Spike are hugging each other under the table, noticing this Applejack begins to glare at the both of them. Rarity is still sitting calmly sipping her tea. “What? I knew it wasn’t ME,” she says, noticing the looks from the others. Pinkie Pie had turned her chair sideways on the floor, and was hiding behind it. She was wearing a green camouflaged helmet from the Equestrian National guard, and face paint. She had a pie cocked, and ready fro throwing. Meanwhile Twilight was being comforted out of her shock by a giggling Paradox. Summergale glares down at Discord, who is still rolling on the floor, laughing out loud. Finally he notices his mother’s glare. “Sorry, sorry... couldn’t help myself. But I mean really mom, that was CLASSIC!” He says chuckling as he rises. “Honestly son, I don’t know where ye get yer sense o’ humor from.” Summergale says, shaking her head as she goes to help unstick Fluttershy. Discord wisely decides to keep his muzzle shut.