//------------------------------// // Chapter 13 // Story: Daughter of the Moon // by CartoonNerd12 //------------------------------// Button stirred out of his sleep and saw the lovely sight next to him. Every day since their marriage, it made him happy seeing her there sleeping next to him. Before, this was a moment he always dreaded, had it been another princess he was forced to marry, especially since he came that close to marrying Diamond Tiara. He shuddered at the memory and instead replaced it with the happy memories he had of courting Sweetie Belle, proposing to her, and reuniting with her when he thought she was gone forever. Up till now, he was officially married to her. He finally had his princess, his wife… Soon, she would be his queen and they would rule the kingdom with the lessons they were taught during the princesses' tests. He leaned his muzzle forward and kissed her in the cheek. That got a giggle out of her and she slowly woke to face him. "Hi…" he smiled. "Hi…" she smiled back. He touched her cheek, "I still can't believe it's really you… What have I done in my life to deserve such happiness?" "Oh, Button… You always deserved it… You have a good heart that will help you rule a kingdom… I'm the one who's lucky to be your wife… because I was just a girl with no parents and had to serve the royal family, but that all changed the day I got adopted and later met you… You took me a chance on me and loved me… just as I loved you… It should be me questioning how I deserved all this…" He shook his head, brought her closer to him, and stroked her hair. "I say we're both lucky enough to have each other…" "You're right…" then with a mischievous grin, she used her hooves to start tickling him. "Hey!" he started laughing, "Cut that out!" he kept laughing. Then, she quickly jumped off the bed and made for the door. "Oh, no you don't!" he yelled and quickly went after her. She giggled as he chased her and they dodged the servants that were doing their morning routine. They passed the other bedroom doors, and once they went past, Scootaloo opened the door, looking cranky. "Hey! Some of us are trying to sleep here!" she huffed, went back to her bed, and groaned. "Just calm down…" Rumble soothed her and started rubbing her back. "Ugh…" she shifted her heavy weight, "I feel like a hippo…" "No way, you're much more beautiful than a hippo…" he kissed her forehead. "Will this never end?! I've been lying around the castle for over six months now! And when my due date does come, I'll still be pregnant!" she gave out an frustrated sob. "Honey, you're overreacting again…" "Well, I have a right to be!" fury filled her eyes as she added, "You did this to me!" she sobbed again. Rumble cringed. As much as he blamed himself for putting her through this emotional turmoil, he knew he had to wait it out and hope that she'd start acting happy again. He also hoped that when their baby did get born, Scootaloo would be herself again before this all started. Thankfully, he heard her say in a cheerful tone, "Oh, but I'm so glad you did anyway! I can't wait to see what our baby looks like!" Then she put her hooves to her eyes, "What's happening to me…?" He wrapped his wings around her in comfort, "It's alright… Everything is alright… We just need to get through the next few more months and everything will turn out alright in the end…" "I really hope I can make it…" she laid her head on his chest. Me, too… he thought grimly. Apple Bloom and Pip were in her workshop. AB had a lump of clay out that she was shaping while Pip had to pose in a toga and was holding a pitcher. "Uh, Bloom? Do I have to stand this all day?" he asked. "No, just until my sisters and their husbands arrive." "Uh… and how long will that be?" "Not long, I'm sure." "Remind me again why they have to come to Marendelle if it's not to see you or your sisters?" "They're trying to find an ancient spell book that can break my cousin Cadence's curse!" "I didn't know you guys had a cousin." She shrugged, "Neither did I, but Twilight told us all about how Cadence grew up with them before our adoption into the royal family. Then she also explained how Cadence got cursed and the only way to break it is through a magic spell book that resides here in Marendelle." "Think they'll find it?" "I don't know. That's why they're coming here first to see if they can find a clue that will lead them to it. Now keep still. I'm almost done with your legs." He groaned as he retook his position. Button finally managed to corner Sweetie in the castle library. She squealed when she got caught and he kissed her and she returned it. "See? You can't run from the king…" She rolled her eyes and booped his nose, "You're not king yet, bud." "But I am the future king." "That still doesn't count." He shook his head and asked, "So, what is it your sisters back on the mainland are looking for again?" "A way to reverse my cousin Cadence's curse." "You have a cousin?" "Yeah, who knew?" she shrugged it off. "Anyway, apparently there's this ancient book of spells that can do that, but the thing is it actually lives here on Marendelle! So… I've got to know: do you know anything about it?" "Hmm…" he pondered on this. "That actually sounds very familiar… 'An ancient book of spells'… Do they actually mean 'The Ancient Book of Secrets'?" "Ancient Book of Secrets? Is that what it is?" "Maybe, but it's just an old legend." "Was 'The Lost Treasure of Marendelle' just a legend? That seemed pretty real to Apple Bloom and Pip." "Touché. The thing is, though, there are so many myths that surround this part of the ocean… be it the treasure that Pip and Bloom found and the mermares you encountered in the sea… But there are so many others, you can't tell what is real and what is not. There are stories about zombies and skeleton ponies that I rather avoid. Those stories gave me nightmares that made me feel like I was actually encountering them…" he shuddered. "Aw…" she rubbed his head, "you poor baby. I wish I could have been in those nightmares of yours." He chuckled, "If you would have been there, I would make sure you were protected. I'd rather get hurt by the zombies than you…" he nuzzled her head. "You're so sweet…" they hugged. Once they let go, he said, "Well, I guess we better go prepare for your family's arrival." "Our family." she reminded him. "Of course, our family…" they went out. Pinkie and Cheese were on top of the ship and both shouted out, "Land ho!" The rest of the ponies gathered in front of the ship, where Twilight had a telescope out, "We're almost there." She looked down at the Breezies in their birdhouse. Cadence fluttered up to Twilight's mane and looked through the telescope, "I just hope it has what we need…" Twilight nodded in agreement as she looked at the rest of the passengers, mainly her sisters and brothers-in-law. They knew it was best to leave the kids at home since the parents didn't know what was going to happen when they were looking for the book. Rarity slightly whimpered as she told her husband, "Oh, do you think little Gemstone is going to be all right without her mummy?" "Yes, my darling. I'm sure she'll be alright. As long as she has Dignity looking after her, she'll be fine." he assured her. "Oh, I do hope so… At least I'll get to see Sweetie Belle again, and then I can tell her all about Gemstone." Twilight had the telescope to her eye again, saying, "Speaking of Sweetie Belle, there she is!" "What?!" Rarity took the telescope and saw through the lens two ponies waving at them from a dock. "Aw, she's meeting us at the docks." The ship got closer and soon docked into the harbor. The plank lowered as the group got off and Sweetie rushed to hug Rarity and then the rest of her sisters. The guys shook Button's hoof. "It's great to see all of you, but where's this Cadence I've heard about?" Twilight levitated the birdhouse in front of her, "Right here." Cadence came out, faced Sweetie at eye level, and greeted sweetly, "Hello." "Hi!" "You're Sweetie Belle?" "Uh-huh." "I was under the impression I had two more cousins." "Oh, you'll meet them when we get to the castle. Apple Bloom is working on an art project with her husband, Pip. Scootaloo is taking it easy with her being pregnant and all." Then she turned to Button, "By the way, this is my husband, Prince Button." He gave a bow. Cadence tipped her head, "Your Highness…" Then she addressed the both of them, "This is Shining Armor, my very special some pony." Shining smiled and made a bow. Sweetie looked at Twilight in confusion, "But I thought you said only Cadence was cursed?" Twilight sighed, "It's another long story…" Button gestured, "Let's get back to the castle and we'll do what we can to figure out where the Ancient Book of Secrets is." "Huh?!" they all said. Sweetie blushed, "Long story…" When they got to the castle, Apple Bloom ran up to hug Applejack and the others and was pleased to meet Cadence and Shining Armor. Rainbow asked, "So, AB, where's the squirt?" "She's… in the parlor, but I don't think you'll want to go in there just now…" "Why not?" Soarin' questioned. Sweetie answered, "She's having one of those days of fretting over not being able to give birth yet…" "Oh…" they all said. Suddenly, they heard a crash and Scootaloo shouting, "Three months, 13 weeks, 91 days?! I'll never make it!" Rumble shouted, "I told you looking at a calendar wasn't a good idea!" Rainbow Dash knew then she had to rush in to help out her little sis. She got into the room, seeing a broken tea cup and Scootaloo crying on the couch. "Scoots…" she said. She looked up and gasped, "Rainbow Dash!" A smile spread across her face. Rainbow looked at Rumble, who was looking frazzled, as he mouthed a silent 'thank you' to her. She winked back at him, approached Scoots, and gave her a hug, despite the latter's large size. "I hear you're having trouble with this pregnancy…" "I can't do it, Dash! I can't do it!" "Yes… you can." she lifted her chin, "That little colt or filly in there is counting on their mother to get them by until it is time for them to be born into this world… I had the same problem when I was pregnant with Whirl Wind. It feels like you can't do anything you want to do, right?" "Yeah! How did you do it?" "Well… I simply distracted myself. I kept to my duties, hanged out with my sisters, read a couple of Daring Do books… The key here is just to do other things you love that don't require physical labor or reckless stunts. Think you can do that?" Scootaloo nodded, "Mm-hmm." "Atta girl," she hugged her again. "Remember, he or she is counting on you. Don't disappoint them." "I won't. Thanks, Dash… I really needed that…" "Anytime, squirt." Twilight walked in, "Well, I'm glad to see that's settled, but we have another issue to address…" Shortly after all of the girls were introduced to Cadence and Shining Armor, the family met in the banquet hall, talking over things that been going on. Rarity shared baby pictures of Gemstone, to which the trio gushed, and it made Scootaloo even more thrilled that she was having her own baby. When news on both sides was exchanged, Twilight asked Button, "Now, about this Ancient Book of Secrets?" Button nodded and sighed, "It's a book that is told to have the most ancient spells in it. It is guarded by creatures that live underground, for their passion is for the stones that are there." "Diamond Dogs." a voice spoke. They turned around to see the queen of Marendelle walking in. "The book is guarded by Diamond Dogs." Queen Love Tap said. "Mom?" "Button, you should know this story. I told you all of Marendelle's tales when you were a colt." "Guess I wasn't paying that much attention…" he blushed. She sighed and questioned, "I must know: why do you wish to know about the Ancient Book of Secrets?" Cadence went on top of Twilight's mane and Twilight said while taking Cadence in her hoof to show the queen, "It's like this…" She relayed the whole story once more. When it was done, the queen merely said, "I see…" She smiled, "Well, then, looks like all I need to do is give you the map…" They gawked at her. When they all rendezvoused in the library, Button cried at his mom, "You mean they're real?! Actually real?!" "Yes, sweetheart." she said as she was looking through the shelves. "What's next? Zombies and skeleton ponies?!" "Zombies?!" Spike clung onto his wife in fear. The queen started to say, "Well…" Button stopped her, "Never mind, I don't want to know." "Ah! Here we go!" she took out a book, and when she opened it, a map dropped out. Twilight picked it up with her magic and the group surrounded her to get a closer look. She then addressed the queen, "Thank you so much, Your Majesty…" "You're quite welcome." she smiled. Button went up to her, "I'm still confused, though. How did you know about where the Diamond Dogs were anyway?" "Your grandfather, when he was still king, gave me the map and told me how the Ancient Book of Secrets must remain hidden here on the isle. It was brought to Marendelle for a reason and our ancestors have kept it safe and secure ever since. One day, I took the map to find the book and met the Diamond Dogs. I used the royal pendant to prove that I was the current ruler of the kingdom and got to see the book of secrets. It's actually because of a spell in there that I was able to enchant the pea for the final test…" Twilight pointed, "But wait, you're not… I mean…" The queen nodded in understanding, "Yes, I am an Earth pony, so I have no magic whatsoever, but that book… It is so powerful that you don't need to be a magic user to use the spells. You simply chant the spell and the book does the rest." Flash whispered in Twilight's ear, "No wonder Zecora warned us that the book couldn't fall into the wrong hooves…" "Yes… it's too dangerous for anyone to use… It's a good thing that it is safely hidden on this island." Love Tap advised, "It'll be important that Button goes with you. They only let the rulers and those with them see the book. You cannot take the book with you, for it must remain where it's at." Twilight nodded, "Understood." The queen then took off her pendant and gave it to her son. "Do not lose this. It has been in the family for generations." "Got it." he said. "Looks like we'll be ready as ever." said Twilight. "Awesome!" said Scootaloo, "Finally, an adventure!" She started going out the door, but Rainbow stopped her. "Whoa! Whoa! You are not going anywhere in your condition, young lady!" "Aw, but Dash!" She shook her head, "Nope, nah-uh, not a chance! I'll be sticking around to make sure of that!" Scoots sighed, "Oh, all right…" Then she turned to Rumble, "Babe, make sure you bring back a souvenir." "Wait… you want you to…" "I'm giving you a free pass for the day. Just because I have to stay here doesn't mean you have to." "But-" "No! I won't hear any more of it. Just go!" He kissed her cheek as he went out the door with everyone else. Soarin' looked at his wife and asked. "You sure you're going to be okay here?" "Yeah, we'll be fine. Besides, the squirt and I have catching up to do." He nodded and went to catch up with everyone else.