//------------------------------// // Happily Ever After? // Story: The Napoleons: The Confessions & Revelations Of The Greatest Mafia Family // by Bluecatcinema //------------------------------// 'Welcome back. Following my... 'unique' proposal, father had the wedding of myself and Sandy put together as quickly as possible. Less than two days after our return to Bitaly, we were married. It wasn't exactly a grand ceremony; Just a few select ponies outside the family had been invited.' Inside the chapel, the ceremony was underway. Neither Grimoire nor Sandy showed any signs of joy in the proceedings. Several of the Napoleons cousins had arrived, such as Church and Tucker. "Boy, this all happened fast." Tucker remarked. "I never even heard of that Sandy gal before I got the invite." "Hey, as long as there are no cannons around, I'm not complaining." Church declared, rubbing a recent wound in his wound. The uncles were also in attendance, such as Hannibal, Jigsaw and John 'Seven' Doe. "It's about time one of Clyde's boys got married." John remarked, carrying a box-shaped present. "I hope the newly-weds like my gift..." "Let's just hope this Sandy girl isn't playing games with Grim's heart." Jigsaw declared. "I'm the gamesmaster around here..." "I hope the reception has fava beans." Hannibal salivated. "It would go great with the 'outside food' I brought..." After Grimoire and Sandy took their places, the minister stepped forward. "Thank you all for coming." He told the attendants. "I understand how abrupt the invitations were, and how you all have busy lives. I'm looking at you, Jigsaw...." "Get on with it!" Hannibal yelled. "I'm starving!" The minister turned to Grimoire. "Do you, Grimoire Napoleon, take this mare to be your lawful wedded wife?" He asked. "I do." Grimoire said flatly. "And do you, Sandstorm Speck, take this stallion to be your lawful wedded husband?" The minister continued. "I do..." Sandy choked back the bile. "Than I now pronounce you stallion and wife." The minister declared. "You may now kiss the bride." "Don't even think about it." Sandy snarled at Grim. Silence ensued around the chapel. "Okay." Clyde stepped up between the two, clapping his hooves together. "Thank you all for coming. There's a small reception back at the mansion. Please don't commit a felony on your way there." "No promises!" John Doe called. The family members cleared out of the chapel. "So, that's that." Murray noted. "Grim's a married stallion." "Yeah." Salt snorted. "Lucky him..." "Lucky us." Vinny added sarcastically. "Now we have to live with that stroppy mare..." "You can't really blame her." Lars said sympathetically. "It's not like this is her choice..." "Buck her." Slot sneered. "She made her bed, and now she's gotta lie in that. With Grim, even..." Caboose was sniffling. "Caboose?" Sonny frowned. "What's wrong?" "I always cry at weddings!" Caboose wept. After the brothers left, it was just Grimoire and Sandy. "So... shall we?" Grimoire said awkwardly. "If I must." Sandy growled. "But know this: I am not dancing with you at the reception. And you can forget about the honeymoon..." "I know..." Grimoire said sadly. 'Not exactly the wedding of the century, I know. How, may you ask, could we have ever conceived a daughter in these circumstances? Well, read on and learn, as we move onto our next chapter:' Chapter Four: Happily Ever After? 'As you can imagine, it was difficult for us to acclimatize to our new situation. Though Sandy shared my room with me, she insisted the bed be her's, and that I would sleep on the lounge couch I had in there. I could not refuse her, not after everything I had brought upon the poor mare.' 'I did my best to support Sandy, but it was difficult. She refused to have anything to do with me. She would go days without speaking to me, and when she did speak, it was teeming with venom. Any love or infatuation that she had for me back in the Canals were all but gone, and she was determined to let me know it every day since that day.' 'Not that I blame her. Since she was an outsider, Pops didn't trust her to even walk around the mansion unattended, just on the outside chance that she would find a way out and run off to the nearest police station and blab everything. It certainly put all the mafia members on edge, and they were just as determined as Pops was to keep her from ruining everything. Needless to say, she had become a prisoner. And us her jailors.' 'But I wasn't the only one on the receiving end of my 'wife's' ire. My parents and brothers all tried their best to make nice with her, in hopes that she would warm up to the whole situation... with hardly any success.' 'Sandy made it obvious that she hated my father. And quite honestly, my father didn't care for her either. She did kick him in the face when they first met, and he did knock her out and forced her to marry me.' Clyde entered the bedroom. Grimoire was out working, and Sandy was on the bed. "You behaving yourself"? He asked. "Being a good little wife?" "If by 'wife', you mean 'prisoner', then yes." Sandy growled. "Enough pouting." Clyde declared. "This is your life now, and you've gotta accept it." "Don't hold your breath." Sandy snarled. 'And of course, her relationships with my brothers were no better, She seemed to find at least one thing to dislike about both of them. With Murray, it was his choice of hobby...' Murray struck three bullseyes in a row with his crossbow. "Oh, yeah!" He cheered. "Nice shooting." Sandy sneered, having been walking past. "Good to know I don't have to worry about attacks from wooden targets." "Funny." Murray snorted. "Why don't you stick around? I'll show you something really great." "What, are you gonna count to ten?" Sandy sniped. "As much as I'd like to see that..." Sandy walked away, leaving Murray fuming. 'For Vinny, it was his wine...' As Vinny was carrying some bottles from his wine cellar, he and Sandy crossed paths. "How do." Vinny smiled. "Want some wine?" "No thanks." Sandy snarled. "I'm pregnant." "Hey, a little wine won't hurt." Vinny continued. "Are you trying to get me drunk?" Sandy glared. "Hoping to take advantage of me?" "What?" Vinny gasped. "Of course not! Trust me!" "Not today." Sandy growled. "Or any other day." 'For Salt, it was his machismo...' Sandy was sitting in the study, trying to read, when Salt, Lars, and Slot entered. Salt was regaling his brothers with a story of how he beat up a rival criminal. "And then, I gave him an old-fashioned right cross!" He boasted. "Knocked him out cold!" "Nice!" Slot grinned. "A tad pedestrian, but affective." Lars admitted. "My compliments, Salt. When it comes to combat, you are a true artiste." "Yeah, because it takes real skill to punch a pony in the face." Sandy sneered. "It does, actually." Salt said proudly. "If only you'd master the art of humility." Sandy growled. "Maybe then I wouldn't have to listen to all your bragging." "Zip it, lady." Slot retorted. "Pretty thing like you should be seen, and not heard." 'Slot, of course, had a knack for irritating ponies. And Sandy was no exception.' "If anypony here shouldn't be heard, it's you." Sandy shot back. "Somepony should put a clamp on that mouth of yours." "Hey, just because you're a girl doesn't mean I won't slug you!" Slot spat. "Go ahead." Sandy dared. "Hit your older brother's pregnant wife. See how that turns out." Slot spluttered impotently, then turned away, pouting. "I ain't got time for this..." He muttered. "I should be going, too." Lars declared. "I need to work on our expenses..." "And by that you mean 'swindle other ponies out of their hard-earned money?" Sandy remarked. 'Sandy had never been impressed by Lars'... less than honest financial activities.' "What I do keeps this family afloat." Lars declared. "It's because of me that you have that bedroom full of nice things." "Yes, and I'm so grateful." Sandy said sarcastically. "A cage is still a cage, no matter how many expensive things it's been filled with. If I could, I'd choose living on the streets over being trapped in here." With that, Sandy left the room. "Some mares are just too picky." Salt sighed. 'Sandy didn't stop there. She and Sonny had a disagreement in terms of cuisine…' Sandy entered the kitchen. "I need food." She declared. "Fix me some, will ya?" "Well, since you asked so nicely." Sonny snorted. "What will it be? We have pizza pie, spaghetti, tofu meatballs, pasta di giorno, like linguine and ravioli!" "Hmm..." Sandy grunted a bit, before announcing "I want a hayburger." "...Um, Sandy, we are in Bitaly. I am Bitalian." Sonny frowned. "My culinary expertise is heavily based on Bitalian food. I don't do those Equestrain food." "Well, I want a hayburger!" Sandy snarled, going up to Sonny's face, much to his discomfort. "No, Sandy." Sonny shook his head, stepping back a bit. "I don't do burgers." "Yes you do." Sandy glared. "No, I don't." Sonny glared back. "Really?" Sandy glared harder. "Yes." Sonny nodded. "Well, then you can just go to Tartarus!" Sandy seethed, as she slugged him hard in the face, knocking him unconscious. "Stupid pasta munchers…" 'And as for Caboose…' Sandy was simply walking down a hallway, refusing to have eye contact with anypony she passed by. When one of them happened to be Caboose... "Hey, Sandy!" Caboose waved. "Hey, Caboose." Sandy acknowledged tersely, as she continued onwards. 'My mother had, of course, picked up on Sandy's woes, and tried to offer a sympathetic ear.' One day, as Bonnie was walking through the garden, she saw Sandy sitting on the back. "Hello, Sandy." Bonnie smiled. "I hope you're settling in okay?" "You can hope all you like." Sandy pouted. "It won't make it happen." "Oh, I know this is hard for you, dear." Bonnie sighed. "But you don't have to face this alone. If you ever want to talk, I'd be happy to listen." "Thanks, but no thanks." Sandy stood up and walked away. "I'd prefer to have as little interaction with this family as possible..." "I understand." Bonnie sighed. "Poor dear..." Sandy being pregnant made everything a lot harder. She would clock a few of our members just for looking at her funny, and her mood swings terrified many more... Yes, indeed, tensions were at an all-time high, and it seems like Sandy would be stuck in a life she hated… but one fateful day, things started to change...' A few weeks after the wedding, Grimoire awoke on the couch in his bedroom, Sandy on the bed, just waking up herself. "Good morning, Sandy." Grimoire said kindly. "Stuff it, Napoleon." Sandy growled. "I'm in no mood to listen to you try and play nice." "...Yes, dear." Grimoire nodded meekly. "And don't call me that!" Sandy shuddered. "Or anything like that, got it?" "Yes." Grimoire sighed. "Good." Sandy growled. "Sandy, please-" Grimoire began. "Please what?" Sandy spat. "I know you feel like I'm trying to hurt you, but I'm not." Grimoire declared. "I just want you to be happy." "It doesn't look like that to me." Sandy shot back. "It looks like you don't a bit about me. Otherwise, you wouldn't have put me through this nightmare." Sandy left the room, leaving a despairing Grimoire behind to sigh in frustration. 'Nothing seems to have changed yet, you may think. Be patient, dear reader...' Sandy entered the dining room, looking to get some breakfast. To her annoyance, Clyde and the rest of the brothers were there. "Good morning... Mrs. Grim." Slot sneered. "Shut it." Sandy snarled. "Why all the attitude, sis?" Slot snickered. "If you call me that again, I'll rip your tongue out." Sandy threatened. "I'd like to see you try." Slot smirked. "That's enough, Slot." Bonnie said sternly. "Sandy is a part of our family now, and I expect you to treat her as such." "That's what I'm doing." Slot shrugged. "I always talk like this with my bros. Right, guys?" "Oh, yeah." Murray groaned. "Totally." Salt rolled his eyes. "Well, you are not to do that with Sandy." Bonnie declared. "Is that understood?" "...Yes, mom." Slot sighed. "And here I thought getting married would only change Grim." Vinny snorted. "This broad's messing up everything." "'Broad'?" Sandy growled. "Yeah, that's what I said." Vinny countered. "You oughta learn ya place, like a real mare." "You mean like those floozies you keep bringing up to your room, then never calling again?" Sandy spat. "Not a chance, you sexist pig!" "Whoa!" Salt gaped. "She sure got your number!" "Shut it, Salt!" Vinny growled. "Why should I?" Salt grinned. "I'm just agreeing with our new sister." "Don't do me any favors, you nasty thug." Sandy growled. "Say what?" Salt frowned. "You heard me." Sandy glared. "I know what a kick you get out of beating up other ponies. You're nothing but a heartless brute." "That's some gratitude for you." Salt huffed. "You can forget about my support in future, lady." "Good." Sandy snorted. "Is all this really necessary?" Lars asked. "As distressing as it might be, you are a part of this family now. And it is in your best interests to mesh yourself into our familial dynamic, post-haste." "You know, just because you're a little smarter than the others, doesn't mean you're any better than them." Sandy said distastefully. "You're still nothing but a criminal." "Well!" Lars gasped. He couldn't think of a witty response, so he said "Well!" again. "And then there's the rest of you." Sandy growled. "Murray, you get a kick out of shooting ponies in the head." "Only those who deserve it. It's either that or have them die the same way that one guy from that Yokish Karate Mare movie... and I would not recommend that." Murray said awkwardly. "And Slot, you're just an insolent child with a serious temper control problem." Sandy declared. "I AM NOT!" Slot roared, ready to lunge at her. "You take that back, you *BLEEP*!" 'As in the previous chapter, certain dialogue will be censored.' "Whoa, easy, dude!" Salt attempted to hold Slot back. "*BLEEP" you!" Slot yelled. "This *BLEEP*ing *BLEEP*er needs to be taught a *BLEEP* good lesson!" "And you, Sonny..." Sandy sneered. "You're an awful cook. Can't cook a Faust stupid hayburger…" "Wha...?" Sonny gasped, clutching his chest. "How dare you!" "Alright, that's enough." Clyde declared. "Being part of this family goes both ways, Sandy. You'd better start be more civil around here, or-" "Or what?" Sandy interrupted. "It doesn't matter anyway. No punishment could be worse than what you animals have already done to me!" "Hey, we are not animals!" Clyde growled, stomping a hoof in the table. "Clyde, easy…" Bonnie soothed. "No! I will not be talked to that way in my own house!" Clyde growled, as he seethed at Sandy. "I don't care if you are pregnant or my son's wife, as long as you are under this roof, you will start showing a bit more respect, ya got that?!" "Two words, Clyde: BUCK! YOU!" Sandy snarled. Sandy got out of her chair and left the room in a huff. "Sandy!" Caboose called. "Let her go." Vinny snorted. "Pouty little floozy. She'll learn her place sooner or later..." "It's a statistical certainty." Lars agreed. "Overly-critical strumpet...." "She's got a major Parasprite up her butt, that's for sure." Murray admitted. "Bad cook?" Sonny frowned. "I'm not a bad cook, right?" "Of course not." Salt assured him. "She doesn't know what she's talking about." "Where does she get off, saying I've got a temper?" Slot fumed. "Me? ME?!" "I won't let her talk to me like that." Clyde declared. "Not again..." "Oh, leave her be." Bonnie declared. "She's in a bad situation, and none of you are helping. She just needs some space..." Unconvinced, Caboose got out of his chair and ran after Sandy. He found her out in the hallway, sobbing quietly. "Sandy?" He asked with concern. "Oh, it's you, Caboose." Sandy sniffed. "Please, leave me alone." "I... I'm sorry, Sandy." Caboose sighed. "Sorry?" Sandy glanced at Caboose in confusion, tears still streaming down her face. "Why would you be sorry? I'm the one who called you all animals." "Because this is all my fault…" Caboose frowned, "It was because of me that you even met Grim and did the sideways hokey-pokey with him and got pregnant and dragged into this. If I hadn't set you up with him in the first place, none of this would've happened to you. You must really hate me..." "What?" Sandy gasped. "No, I don't." "You don't?" Caboose gaped. "No." Sandy smiled weakly. "You didn't know what would happen. You were just trying to do something nice for your brother." "Well..." Caboose said modestly. "I could never hate you." Sandy declared. "You're practically the only pony in this mansion that I can actually tolerate. You're nothing like your awful brothers... Especially Grim..." "I know Grim's sorry too." Caboose declared. "Why can't you forgive him?" "Well, that's different, Caboose." Sandy frowned. "Different how?" Caboose asked. "I'm just confused. How could you not be mad at me, yet be so angry with Grimm?" "It's rather simple, Caboose." Sandy sighed in frustration. "He's the one who got me pregnant. He was the one who made me a prisoner of my own life. He's the reason I'm going to spend the rest of my life being nothing more than a mistress and slave to a mafia don." A tear dropped from her eyes. "I had a life, Caboose. I was going to go places. Haygypt, Maretonia, Japony, and maybe even settle down in the Caymare Islands. Now, I will never get the chance to do any of that, and it's because of him!" "Well, I guess that is a reason to be angry…" Caboose admitted, "But still, is there any chance that you might maybe forgive him?" Sandy glanced at him coldly. "Even a little?" "I'm sorry, Caboose, but I don't think I can ever forgive him for doing this to me." Sandy growled. "Oh… well, that's a real shame." Caboose sighed. "Because I know he really cares about you." "If he really cared, he wouldn't have let this happen." Sandy countered. "I know you're just trying to stick for your brother, Caboose, but I... I just need to be alone right now, okay?" "Okay." Caboose said glumly. As Sandy walked away, Caboose looked onward. "Sorry, Grim." He frowned. "I tried..." Grimoire peeked from around a corner. 'Unbeknownst to either of them, I was nearby, coming down to breakfast to join my 'wife' and my family, only to hear them talking, and man, did I hear everything. I used to think that only 'stick and stones' may break my bones, but words will never hurt me', but every single word Sandy said against me felt like a stab in the heart. I don't know what it hurt so much, given how I knew Sandy hated me... but it did... and I went to the one place where I could let out my sorrows...' Grimm entered the study, trying to keep it together, but as soon as he fell into the chair, he let out all his tears and cried unashamedly. He wasn't sure how long he was there for, but eventually, he heard hoofsteps coming towards him. He looked up, and saw his father before him, his face showing undisguised contempt. "What in the name of grandpa Fonz Napoleon are you doing, boy?" Clyde grimaced. "Why are you crying like a whimpering foal?" "Why do you think?!" Grimoire shot back. "Because Sandy hates me! And I don't blame her. Thanks to me, she's practically a prisoner! What kind of pony who do that to somepony they care about?" "Ah, quit your whining." Clyde snorted. "Sandy is just being all mopey and moaning because she's pregnant! You shouldn't let a bunch of measly words get to you like this. Stallion up for crying out loud!" "Oh, like you can talk, dad." Grimoire growled. "You and mom are so perfect together. You guys have to have what is considered a 'perfect marriage'. You two are like 'partners in crime', so much in fact that it's f-" Clyde let out a small chuckle. "What?! What's so funny?!" Grimm snarled. "The fact you think that me and Bonnie have the perfect marriage." Clyde snickered. "You know, Grim, not every marriage turns out like they do in fairytales. You ever wonder how your mother and I got together?" "No." Grimoire admitted. "Well, it's simple really. Our marriage was part of a peace treaty between our family and the Clopellis." Clyde declared. "Your mother was the daughter of the Clopelli don, ya know." "So you and mom got married just to settle a feud?" Grimoire frowned. "An arranged marriage?" "Yep." Clyde nodded. "Naturally, neither of us were too happy about it. We could barely stand each other, and we wound up having to live in the same house. But we couldn't simply say no to our fathers, and it was either that or have the streets of Bitaly run red with Napoleon and Clopelli blood." "So what did you do?" Grimoire asked. "Well, it took quite a while." Clyde mused. "For the first few months, we actually tried to kill each other. We ended up shooting up this place a couple times over trying to do so. But eventually, our fighting became pointless, and once we didn't have crossbows pointing at each other, we actually started to connect, and getting to know each others' good side... and we both loved what we saw... that, and your mother really knew how to make a guy purr." He gave a cocky laugh. "Well, that's great and all, dad, but Sandy's already seen my good side." Grimoire declared in frustration. "And then she saw the bad. Not really the same thing." "Ah, give her time." Clyde shrugged. "She'll come around someday. That mare can't stay a *BLEEP* forever, you know." "'Someday' isn't really instilling me with confidence." Grimoire sighed. "Well, you can either sit there moaning about it, or you can do something constructive." Clyde declared. "Like dealing with mafia business: we've got a problem on the south side. Some troublemakers have been trying to horn in on our operations at the docks. We've had a report of one of our delivery stallions being knifed and tossed into the river. What do you suggest we do?" 'Just as I gave my answer, Sandy tiptoed into the room, hoping to get a book. If I had known she was there, perhaps I wouldn't have been so blunt...' "Well... it's one thing to cut in on our business, but to kill one of our own?" Grimoire growled, forgetting his woes for a moment. "I say we track those buckers down and slit their throats while they're sleeping." "That's my boy." Clyde smiled, "You're catching on quickly." "I don't believe this!" Sandy blurted out, horrified. "Sandy?!" Grimoire gasped. "Aw, great." Clyde grunted, "Do you mind, Sandy, we're busy here!" "I can tell…" Sandy seethed darkly. "Sandy, how long have you been-" Grimm murmured. "Long enough." Sandy snarled, her eyes filling with tears. "I thought you were different from the others, that you at least had some compassion. But I was wrong. You're a cold-blooded monster, just like the others!" "Again with the name calling?" Clyde rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Sandy, please..." Grimoire pleaded. "I hate you." Sandy spat, as she ran from the room in tears. "I hate you!" 'Once again, my heart broke. You would think I would've gotten used to it, but you'd be wrong, for the pain only got worse each time. Hearing those words from Sandy's mouth was the most painful moment of my life. Even the loss of Anarchy, Faust rest his soul, couldn't compare...' "Hey, Grim, you're feeling alright?" Clyde frowned. "I… I just need to be alone…" Grimoire murmured, trying to not cry again. Grimoire left the study, feeling worse than he did when he entered. "Oh, son." Clyde sighed. Sandy ran back to her and Grimoire's bedroom, and threw herself on the bed. She sobbed onto the pillow, drenching it with tears. Bonnie then entered the room, having seen her run by on the way up. "You poor dear." She sighed. "What's the matter?" "Oh, nothing." Sandy said petulantly. "Except for the fact that I was forced to marry a cold-blooded criminal, and am carrying his foal, who will probably turn out just as bad!" "Hey now, it's one thing to call my son a criminal, but cold-blooded?" Bonnie frowned. "I realize that you are not happy about this, but 'cold-blooded' is where I draw the line." "Oh, really?" Sandy snorted. "You don't consider slitting ponies' throats 'cold-blooded'? That's what Grimoire wanted to do to some other criminals!" "Oh, you heard all that, huh?" Bonnie sighed. "I know, for a mare who probably never been in a mafia before, that some of the things that Grimiore or anypony in this mafia for that matter, does seems terrible, in-equine, even... but he does all of it to protect our family, and those who serve our family." Bonnie declared. "Murdering ponies is what you call protecting?" Sandy glared. "The mafia life is a dangerous life, Sandy. It's best you learn that now. And you should also learn that this family never bring harm upon an innocent." "You... don't?" Sandy raised a brow. "Not a one." Bonnie nodded. "We may be criminals, but we're not monsters. You see, Sandy, we are an honorable family. All wrong-doings that we do, we do for the sake of equinity. We rob the rich and rotten to feed the poor, we kill those who seek to harm others, and we defend those who can't defend themselves. That has been the Napoleon's way since the very first don…" "Well…" Sandy was at a loss of words for a moment. "…That may be, but it doesn't change the fact that I'm still trapped here." Sandy then glanced sorrowfully at her slightly distended belly. "And my poor foal... born into a family like this..." "I know what you're going through, Sandy." Bonnie declared. "I was forced to marry Clyde, myself when I was about your age." "You were?" Sandy gasped. "But you seem so close..." "We are." Bonnie declared. "Things were rough between us to begin with. Heck, I tried to kill him in his sleep more times than I can count." She let out a chuckle, much to Sandy's discomfort. "But things changed. We both looked past our outsides, to see the ponies within. The circumstances in which we were brought together doesn't matter, for I know Clyde truly loves me, as Grimoire loves you." "How can you be so sure?" Sandy asked. "I've seen the way Grimoire looks at you." Bonnie chuckled. "You set his heart on fire like no mare ever has, and given how Grim was mostly interested in zebras, that's saying a lot. Trust me when I say he'd do anything for you, and your foal." Sandy laid down on her bed, head bowed, giving no indication that she had listened to Bonnie. "Well, I've said my piece." Bonnie sighed, as she turned to leave. "Hang in there, Sandy. Things will get better, I promise." Down in the garden, Grimoire was laying on the grass, utterly despondent. His brothers soon joined him. "You still moping, Grim?" Slot snorted. "Snap out of it, will ya?" "Get lost, Slot." Grimoire sniffed. "I'm not in the mood." "You've got to pull yourself together, Grim." Salt urged. "As future don, you've gotta show strength, will, and determination. Not sitting around, feeling sorry for yourself." "I don't care about any of that." Grimoire sighed. "Not anymore." "Well, this isn't very fortuitous." Lars declared. "Yeah, and it's bad, too." Sonny added. "Look, we feel for ya, Grim." Murray declared. "But if you don't stop feeling sorry for yourself, this family's going down the tubes." "How can I not feel sorry for myself when the mother of my foal despises me?" Grimoire groaned. "Geez, Grim." Vinny sneered. "How can you still be so hung up on some fling?" "Because it wasn't just a fling!" Grimoire yelled. 'At that point, I was struck by a sudden realization.' "It... it really wasn't." Grimoire stood up. "I... I love her..." "Say what?" Salt frowned. "You feeling okay, Grim?" Sonny asked. "I love her." Grimoire said proudly. "I love Sandy!" "Aw, that's the spirit, Grim!" Caboose beamed. "But don't tell us, tell her!" "I will!" Grimoire declared. "Off I go!" Grimoire raced out of the garden, a newfound spring in his step. "Job well done, boys." Murray grinned. "That oughta kick him into gear. Nice plan, Caboose." "I had a plan?" Caboose frowned. "Nopony told me..." "Wait, I thought we were trying to convince him to dump the mare." Slot frowned. "Um, why would we do that?" Salt frowned. "Uh, duh, she's a bi-" Slot started. Salt conked him out with a hoof to the face. Grimoire ran all the way to the bedroom, entering it to find Sandy on the bed. "Sandy, I have something I need to say to you." He smiled. "Unless it's along the lines of 'I want a divorce', I don't really care." Sandy frowned. "Sandy, I... I love you." Grimoire announced. "Excuse me?" Sandy turned around, surprised. "I truly do." Grimoire declared. "If you're not willing to love me back, that's okay. I wouldn't blame you. But I promise you, you can hate me all you want, I will take care of you and our foal. The both of you are my family now, and I once made a promise to an old friend that I would look after my family, no matter what. I swear, I will see to your every need. I will protect you from anypony who would seek to harm you. I will never stop loving you. I'll make sure of that." "You'd do all that for me?" Sandy remarked. "Even after what I said to you earlier?" "Of course." Grimoire nodded. "You mean everything to me, Sandy. Without you, I am nothing." "Grim, I..." Sandy smiled, touched. "I won't lie to you, this situation is still a pretty rotten one. But if you're willing to put so much effort into keeping me happy...then maybe…maybe I can try and make this work with you…" "You don't have to do that..." Grimoire protested. "Neither did you." Sandy pointed out. "Maybe I was wrong before. Maybe you're not cold-blooded after all. There's a big, warm heart under there. I saw it when we first met, and I was so angry about all this, I forgot about it until now." "Thank you, Sandy." Grimoire smiled. "No, thank you." Sandy replied. "As long as you're here, maybe this experience won't be so awful after all..." As night fell, the newlyweds prepared for bed. "Well, good night." Grimoire nodded, as he climbed onto his couch. "...Wait, Grim." Sandy said suddenly. "What is it?" Grimoire asked. "I was thinking." Sandy mused. "Maybe you could join me in the bed." "Really?" Grimoire asked. "Yeah, why not?" Sandy shrugged. "It's a little lonely, just me on this big bed." "Well, as long as it's okay with you." Grimoire admitted. Grimoire climbed into bed alongside Sandy. "Come a little closer." Sandy smiled. Grimoire complied. "Closer." Sandy urged. Grimoire edged closer. "Closer." Sandy grinned. Grimoire moved in closer, their muzzles almost touching. "Is this close enough?" Grimoire asked. "Perfect." Sandy nodded. She then pounced on Grimoire, kissing and caressing him. "Gah, Sandy?!" Grimiore gaped. "What are you doing?!" "What does it look like?" Sandy grinned. "I'm performing my wifely obligation. Any objections?" "None that I can think of." Grimoire smiled. "And I'm going to perform my husbandly duty..." And with that, the long overdue consummation of their marriage began. 'That was the turning point in our relationship. Ever since that day, she and I grew closer and closer, just as my father and mother before us. By the time Dusty was born, there was no more anger, no more misery, only love. Our story may have had a rough beginning, and it would soon lead to a tragic end, but it did not change the fact that we were about to begin what was the greatest part of my life… Though there was still trouble of a different kind on the horizon. What kind of trouble, you may ask? Find out in our next chapter...'