//------------------------------// // Seven - Anniversary // Story: Nidra's Road to Parenthood // by Killjoy_Writer //------------------------------// ----Anniversary---- Nidra lay calmly in her bed as the morning sun began to greet the land. When the sunlight tore through the curtains, she did not protest. She, in fact, lifted her head from the softness of her pillow and smiled. She's started to appreciate her aunt's sun now that she doesn't get sick from it anymore. After a light yawn, she reached over and nudged the body beside her in an attempt to wake it. "Wake up, T." she told as she nudged it. From the touch, she knew something was off. His body was softer than usual. Ripping the covers off, she saw that her husbands body was replaced by pillows and on said pillows was a folded note that read "Good Morning." "What in the name of my aunt?" she inquired as she unfolded it. Good morning, Nidra. Now that you're up, time to play a little game. Let's start with a riddle. What bites but has no teeth? What howls but has no mouth? Enjoy your day! Love, Turquoise P.S. Happy anniversary! Now Nidra knew why he wasn't in bed. He's gone off somewhere and has decided to begin their anniversary with a scavenger hunt. Nidra smiled and knew that Illusion had to have helped with making this. Nonetheless, she slid off the bed, stretched and headed out of the room. As she walked to the kitchen, she said the riddle out loud multiple times to try and get where the next clue is. As she entered, she caught sight of Claire and Identity sitting at a table. "Morning you two." Nidra greeted as she grabbed her craving from the chef prepared. "Morning, darling." Claire greeted back. "What are you muttering about?" "Oh, T's sending me on a scavenger hunt while he's off doing Faust knows what." Nidra explained as she sipped the soup. "Interesting. Could I see what you're muttering about?" Claire asked. "It's a riddle." "Then I know Illusion's in this as well." Claire huffed. "They better not be planning to trick you." "It goes: What bites but has no teeth? What howls but has no mouth?" Nidra told fluently. "Hm." Claire thought long and hard before giving her answer. "Could it be the wind?" "What makes you say that?" Nidra wondered. "When it's cold, the wind is nippy and 'bites.'" she explained. "When air is going through Manehattan, it 'howls.'" "So my first clue is in the sky." Nidra sighed. "I'm not supposed to be flying." "Then we can help you." Claire offered, meaning her and Identity. "Sure!" Nidra nodded as they retreated from the kitchen. When they got outside, they searched everywhere for where T might be hiding Nidra's clue. "Did you find anything up there, Idie?" Claire called out from the ground as her daughter floated. "No, mommy." she replied. "I swear." Nidra sighed. "We've search everywhere and no sign of it." As if by mere coincidence, a letter fell from a group of clouds. Nidra grabbed the note and unfolded it. Nice job on solving my first riddle. Now here's another: What has four legs and one foot? Love, Turquoise "What has four legs and one foot?" Claire repeated. "Wouldn't that be a bed?" a pony guessed. They turned and saw Celestia standing there. "Hey, aunt Celestia." Nidra greeted. "Aren't you supposed to be on bed rest?" Celestia inquired. "Yeah but T has me on a scavenger hunt for our anniversary. I think he forgot about my bed rest." Nidra explained. "Interesting." Celestia replied. "So I guess it's back to your room, Nidra." Claire announced. Soon, the trio went back inside to continue the hunt. They constantly move into and out of the castle with various riddle. As the sun began to set, Nidra was starting to get a little more than aggravated at her husband. As they rounded the corner to her room, where the last riddle was sending them, steam seemed to rise from her head. When she opened the door, T was sitting laying on the bed while the room was lit by various candles about the room. Next to him, there was food and a gift. "Happy anniversary, Nidra." he sweetly greeted. "'Happy' my ass." she shot back. "I...better get Idie to bed." Claire announced as she quickly exited the room and shut the door. "What?" Turquoise questioned. "I've been up since the damn crack of dawn, moving to and fro, while I'm supposed to be getting some bed rest!" she yelled. "Haven't you forgotten that?" "No I haven't." T seethed. "But the doctors have also told you to walk around some times." "Looks like somepony wised up for once!" Nidra shot. "Excuse me?" "You've been getting things mixed up about what I am to do and not to do ever since they told us!" "Well sor-ry!" "Don't you sass me either!" Nidra commanded with a stomp of the hoof. "You want to know another thing I don't like ever since I was pregnant?" "What is that?" T glared as he rose and stared down Nidra so close that they were only inches apart. "The fact that you can't control your over-protectiveness and that you come back every night a complete wreck, dear." she spat. "Well I'm trying to make sure that I don't go out of control so that you wouldn't have to worry about our child, honey." he spat back. "So how about you learn some self-control!" she shouted. "Fine! I will!" he roared back before turning. That turn was one that he'll regret. As he turned, Nidra watched him go to the door. When his tail was catching up to his body, bad turned to worse. His tail kissed the cheek of his wife. As soon as he felt the contact, remorse struck him and he halted in his tracks. Turquoise turned his head toward his wife as tears streamed down her cheeks, her cheek a bright red. Not able to take anymore of it, T bolted down the hall and outside. Nidra fell to her haunches and wept. Claire hummed as she strolled down the hall to the kitchen. When she passed T and Nidra's room, she heard a sound. The sound of a pony crying. Claire opened the door and saw Nidra on her haunches in a small pool of tears. "Nidra!" Claire called out as she rushed to her. "What's the matter, darling?" "T-T and I......" she sniffled. "Fought...." "That's nothing to be sad about, Nidra." Claire explained. "Lulu and I fight a lot but we make up." "It's not like yours and Illusion's." Nidra replied. "How so?" she wondered. Nidra looked away from Claire and rage built up in the kirin. Why would her brother do this? Why would he strike his wife? Who happens to be pregnant. Claire rose and stomped out of the room. "Where are you going?" Nidra wondered. "I have a few choice words for my brother." she coldly answered.