//------------------------------//
// Sister-In-Law Act 
// Story: The Napoleons: The Confessions & Revelations Of The Greatest Mafia Family 
// by Bluecatcinema 
//------------------------------//

'Despite the meds' best efforts, I am slowly but surely feeling the effects of the Prancington's Disease creeping into my system. I keep forgetting little things, and as of now, I am beginning to lose track of names. And I feel so drowsy sometimes, that I have to constantly steady myself so I don't fall over. But the worst part is my temper keeps flaring up more than usual. It's getting harder and harder to explain my sudden explosions of anger to Zecora and the others. Of course, I realize that's only the tip of the iceberg, but I can't help but worry that it'll lead to the others finding out about my condition. I don't want to burden any of them with that knowledge. Not yet at least.'

'Of course, I could have lived with those problems for the time being, if not for a very unwelcome guest. Remember Zecora's sister, Zaria? For those who don't, we met when me and my brothers accompanied Zecora on her yearly pilgrimage back to Zebrica, and unfortunately, through some mishaps, we hadn't made the best of impressions on her. And Zaria never really liked me. There was a moment in which we took down the Multi-Faced Death that terrorized the tribe for many years where she had developed a sense of respect for me and was more than willing to officiate the marriage between me and Zecora. Unfortunately, that didn't last when the family was outed as mobsters. Since that day, all that respect went down the crapper and Zaria declared that I was no good for Zecora. Time and time again, she tried to convince Zecora to leave me. Even the news that she was carrying my foal didn't sway her. As you can imagine, I didn't take kindly to that attitude of hers. I didn't appreciate it when she said I wasn't good enough for her the first time in Zebrica, and I sure as Tartarus don't appreciate it now. To be perfectly honest, that mare rubs me the wrong way. Whenever we met, we'd clash over every little thing. And wouldn't you know, she wasn't done making my life a misery...'

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Sister-In-Law Act

It was morning in Ponyville. Grimoire was sitting in his study, reading the morning paper. Oakley was laying beside him. The Timberwolf had been quite clingy lately, his senses telling him that something was wrong with Grimoire. Zecora was in the kitchen, mixing up herbs for a broth. Just then, there was a knock at the door.

"Who could that be?" Grimoire wondered, as he moved to answer it.

The Prancington's not affecting his physical abilities as of yet, Grimoire rushed to the front door, opening it. To his shock, Zaria was standing before him.

"Oh, buck." He cringed.

"Nice to see you too, Grim." Zaria snorted. "I see you've been slacking off at the gym."

"Zaria, is that you?!" Zecora gasped. "Can it really be true?"

"Hello, sister dear." Zaria hugged her. "It is so good to see you here."

"It is good to have you here." Zecora declared. "Don't you agree, Grim dear?"

"Oh, yeah." Grimoire frowned with sarcastic annoyance. "I'm dancing for joy."

"I see the foal is growing well." Zaria noted. "How has it been, do tell?"

"Things have been somewhat up and down." Zecora admitted. "But it helped to have Grimoire and myself so close to town."

"And has Grimoire been of use to you during this time?" Zaria asked. "Or has he been too busy with his family of crime?"

"Oh, don't start that again!" Grimoire growled.

"And why not, pray?" Zaria glared. "That is still how you spend your day."

"I always make plenty of time for Zecora." Grimoire declared. "She is my wife, after all. And carrying my foal, I might add."

"That is true, sister dear." Zecora agreed. "I can always count on Grim to be near."

"A criminal husband, though devoted to you, is still a criminal husband, that is true." Zaria scoffed. "I have always said you deserved better, dear sister." She glared at Grimoire. "Far better than you, mister."

"Typical." Grimoire growled. "Why are you even here, anyway?"

"I came here to aid my sister in this trying time." Zaria announced. "To stay and take care of her until the foal comes is no crime."

"Stay?!" Grimoire groaned. "You can't be serious."

"Never more so." Zaria declared. "Until the foal arrives, I shall not go."

"Thank you, my dear sibling." Zecora smiled. "Having you here will certainly help with everything."

"That's not the way I see it." Grimoire huffed.

"Come now, my dear." Zecora tutted. "It will not hurt to have Zaria here."

"Wanna bet?" Grimoire snorted.

As Zaria entered the study, Oakley stood up. The Timberwolf eyed the newcomer with suspicion.

"By my stripes, what is this beast?" Zaria frowned. "Why do you have him here, I can ask the least?"

"This is Oakley." Grimoire smirked. "He's a Timberwolf I... adopted."

"You keep a savage animal in your home, with a foal about to roam?" Zaria gaped. "Are you mad, to let this thing stay in your pad?"

"Oakley is no savage." Grimoire spat. "He is perfectly tame. I'm confident he wouldn't hurt our foal."

"I wish I could say I was surprised, but I'm not." Zaria snarled. "I've come to expect this kind of thing from you, you clot." She turned to her sister. "I fail to see why you stay with this clown, when there are so many more upstanding stallions in town."

"Here we go again." Grimoire snarled. "Another rant about how I'm not good enough for Zecora. When are you going to get it through your head that she loves, and that she's staying with me?"

"My sister deserves more than some criminal scum." Zaria retorted. "She deserves to be with a fine, law-abiding stallion, not a bum."

"Sister, please." Zecora stepped in. "You speak as if being with Grim is like carrying a disease."

"It may as well be." Zaria sneered. "How can you stand such misery?"

"Misery?" Grimoire growled. "I treat Zecora like a queen! She wants for nothing!"

"That is not what I was talking about." Zaria declared. "Zecora, do you not feel the glares and spite of others when you are out?"

The memory of the Grand Galloping Gala entered Zecora's head.

"Ponyville is quite a tolerant place." She stated. "I am not afraid to show my face."

"Besides, Zecora's lived in Ponyville for years." Grimoire added. "She's one of them. They don't hold who she married against her. Heck, even they don't hold anything against me. That ought to count for something."

"So you're saying nopony ever insults my sister for who is her mister?" Zaria asked. "Of this true, speak must you."

"First off, that was a terrible rhyme." Grimoire declared. "And second, there are some ponies who give Zecora flak over being married to me. But that's just the way of the world. There are always jerks out there who spew out bile at you. It's something we all have to deal with. At this point, my brothers made games about who had the most creative insults."

"But tt's not something Zecora has to deal with." Zaria growled. "That's not the way she has to live."

"I do not mind, Zaria, dear." Zecora insisted. "I am no stranger to insults and whispers here."

"That does not mean you have to again endure such things." Zaria frowned. "All because you and he share rings."

"Look Zaria, this isn't going to work." Grimoire spat. "So just drop it, okay?"

"Very well, Grim." Zaria scowled. "You're looking chunky, by the way. Perhaps you should stop by at the gym?"

Grimoire glared at her, then sat back down, reading.

"Perhaps you could join me in the kitchen?" Zecora told her sister. "We just got new food in."

"Of course, Zecor." Zaria nodded. "Do not be surprised if I ask for more."

As the sisters went into the kitchen, Grimoire turned to Oakley.

"Be thankful you're don't have a sister-in-law." He declared.

Oakley tilted his head quizzically.

The next morning, while Zecora and Zaria went out to Ponyville, Grimoire was trying his best to continue his writing. He preferred to write with his hooves, but the Prancington's was starting to affect them, making it hard for him to grip things for long. His hooves were shaking as he tried to write a new paragraph.

"Aw, come on..." He groaned. "Write, you lousy hoof..."

Suddenly, there was a loud, rythmic knock at the door. Grimoire tensed up. He recognised that particular knock.

"Oh no." He cringed with dismay. "Not Zebediah..."

After the incident involving himself and some cronies trying to collect on a bounty placed on Grimoire, things had been rather rough between the two. Ever since they inducted Sid into their little group, Zebediah had frequently come by, begging for forgiveness, trying to patch things up with him. But forgiveness was something that Grimoire always refused to give. But that didn't stop Zebediah from trying over and over again.

"Hey, Grim." Zebediah smiled widely,

"Oh Faust, not this again." Grimoire rolled his eyes, as Oakley growled beside him. He made to close the door, but Zebediah put his hoof in the way.

"Come on, Grim." Zebediah pleaded. "Aren't we way past the time when you usually forgive me?"

"That's not how it works. That isn't how it ever worked. And I have no intentions of it working now." Grimoire said coldly. "You are not welcome here, Zeb. Go away."

"Seriously?" Zebediah frowned. "You can't shut me out forever!"

"Wanna bet?" Grimoire snarled.

"No offense, but I think you're taking this a little too personally." Zebediah declared. "I said it was nothing personal! It was never personal! That means you shouldn't take it personally!"

"Personally?" Grimoire scowled. "You and your pals tried to kill me and cash in on a bounty that was on my head."

"I just wanted the bounty." Zebediah corrected him. "It was the others who wanted to kill you, remember?"

"Like that really matters." Grimoire snorted. "You still planned to betray me, to sell me out in order to line your own pockets. That is unforgiveable!"

"Oh, that is where you draw the line? Not when I ratted out your counterfeit jeans scam to those cops? Or when I tried to 'borrow' some Bits from your offshore account?" Zebediah challenged.

"I believe you are missing the point here." Grimiore scowled. "But I have no interest in pointing it out to you."

"But..." Zebediah spluttered.

"Besides, I've got enough headaches to deal with as it is." Grimoire growled. "My lousy sister-in-law is staying over, and I don't need grief from you on top of her, so get lost!"

"Oh come on!" Zebediah protested.

Grimoire used his magic to push Zebediah's foot away from the door frame.

"Goodbye, Zebediah." He said bluntly.

Grimoire slammed the door shut, leaving a despondent Zebediah to walk away.

"Son of a buckin'..." Zebediah growled to himself as he left.

Over in the marketplace, Zecora and Zaria were buying some extra food.

"I am impressed that this town has the means to produce such fine greens." Zaria remarked,

"The Earth Ponies here grow fine veggies and fruit." Zecora nodded. "And they have excellent flowers, to boot."

"It is a fine place to set up roots, I will admit." Zaria beamed. "But why do you choose to stay with such a nitwit?"

"Sister, please." Zecora groaned. "Must you be so ill at ease?"

"You married a crook." Zaria scowled. "When will you give him the hook?"

"Never will I do that." Zecora retorted. "I love him, the silly bat."

"Love him? But he lied to you!" Zaria snorted. "How can you trust one who will not tell you true?"

"Grimoire did not tell me the truth, but he had his reasons." Zecora declared. "And he gave me his love, which has lasted through the seasons."

"Still devoted to him are you?" Zaria sneered. "After he gave you so much to rue?"

"He also gave me much to be thankful for." Zecora replied. "The foal I carry, who grows more and more."

"Yes, the foal, for one." Zaria frowned. "Perhaps a future don?"

"Do not speak that way." Zecora chided her. "The foal is not even born this day!"

"But what of tomorrow, I ask?" Zaria asked. "What if the foal takes Grimoire's possession to task? How will you stand the stigma of ponies knowing across the board, that you are the mother of a criminal overlord?"

"I can take a few harsh words and glares." Zecora snorted. "And for those who may be harsher, those can be ones of which Grimoire take cares."

"'Take cares'?" Zaria gasped. "You are even sounding like one of the don's mares!"

"Do not exaggerate so." Zecora chuckled. "I am joking... only mostly, though."

Zaria scowled as they departed the market.

"This is not over, Zecor." She muttered. "Of this, you can be sure..."

Over the next few days, Zaria continued to try and talk Zecora into leaving Grimoire, often right in front of him. As if that weren't bad enough, Zebediah still coming by, begging for forgiveness.

One morning, Grimoire and Zecora were sat in the lounge when Zaria came in.

"Zecora, surely you are not comfortable in this big house, founded on crime." Zaria declared. "Come back to the village, where we can sit in our huts and rhyme."

"Thank you for the offer, my dear." Zecora declared. "But I'm afraid my home is here."

"Here, in this den of wrong?" Zaria growled. "This isn't where you belong."

"Back off, Zaria." Grimoire scowled. "You can't blame Zecora for preferring this place to your little huts."

"You have seduced my sister with your wealth." Zaria scowled. "And you intend to keep your all to yourself."

"Watch your tongue." Grimoire growled. "As long as you're staying in this 'den of wrong', you show some respect. Got that?"

"On that, I say don't hold your breath." Zaria scowled. "Village girl I may be, but I'm not out of my depth."

Grimoire was about to respond, when there was a familiar knock at the door.

"Not again..." He growled.

"One of his criminal buddies, no doubt." Zaria scoffed. "Maybe they're talking about who next to take out."

"Sister, that's enough." Zecora frowned. "I don't appreciate you putting my husband in a huff."

"On that we disagree." Zaria smirked. "It is very entertaining to me."

Meanwhile, Grimoire answered the door, Zebediah once more behind it.

"Come on, Grim." Zebediah held up a bag of Bits. "This bag of shiny Bits can be yours, for the low, low price of forgiving me."

"Forget it." Grimoire scowled, closing the door in Zebediah's face. "Boy, I've got an annoying mare inside, and an annoying stallion outside. How could it get any worse?"

And so it continued like that, both Zaria and Zebediah pushing Grimoire to the limits of his patience. Grimoire, already stressed over his condition, grew more and more annoyed. It all came to a head one afternoon...

Zebediah was at the door, once again begging for forgiveness.

"Zeb, I am so not in the mood for this." Grimoire snarled.

"You can't blame me for trying!" Zebediah smiled. "I can do this all year, Grim. Why must you be so difficult this time?"

"Before this time, you betrayed worse than you ever did before." Grimoire snarled. "You tried to collect on my bounty, and just stood by as your friends tried to kill me. There is no way I'll ever forgive you."

"First off, you try and get between a guy who rips eyes out with a pair of salad tongs and Mr. 'Let Us Purge!', and see how well you live after that!" Zebediah growled. "And secondly, you are being unreasonable! You had forgiven me time and time again for trying to kill you and other awful things! This should be like any other time!"

"Maybe, but not this time." Grimiore declared coldly, "That was the last straw."

"Aw, come on!" Zebediah groaned. "It was just business, Grim! We do stuff like that for a living. And we've known each other for years! Doesn't that count for anything?!"

"It does." Grimoire nodded. "Which is why your betrayal cut so deep. Despite your spineless conniving ways, I always thought I could trust you when the chips were down. I thought that after enough times, you would learn that betraying me or the others would get you nowhere, but yet even now, you would rather pick me apart so you can have more money!"

"Well, excuse me for trying to make a little extra cash!" Zebediah snarled. "In case you have forgotten, my mafia is practically poor! We got, like, hand-me-down weapons, and used suits, and cheap, ramshackle hideouts! I did what any sensible don would do for his mafia! Surely you would understand that!"

"Well, I don't." Grimoire growled, "And I am done giving you second chances. While we may still be fellow dons in our group, outside that, you are nothing to me. I'm done with you, you hear me?!"

"...Yeah, I hear you." Zebediah snarled. "I was getting tired anyways."

"Still whining, are we?" Grimoire scowled, Zebediah's last sentence not sinking in. "Then maybe you should- Wait, what did you just say?"

"I'm saying I'm done begging for forgiveness." Zebediah growled. "If you were my friend at all, you would know better to not give up on guys like me! Some friend you are..."

"Excuse me?!" Grimiore gaped. "You have no right to be chastising me about friendship! Friends don't allow others to kill their other friends!"

"Well, friends would forgive others despite that!" Zebediah shot back. "But I guess you're too 'noble' for that!"

"Well, look who's grown a backbone." Grimoire snorted. "But I'm the one who's going to have the last word here."

"Wanna bet?" Zebediah snarled. "Goodbye, Grim. I hope you rot in Tartarus!"

Zebediah turned and stormed off, leaving a surprised and flustered Grimoire behind. Angrily, he slammed the door.

"Well, that's one pest gone..." Grimoire sighed angrily, as he looked with despair towards the dining room. "One to go..."

Grimoire joined Zecora and Zaria for dinner.

"Who was at the door, Grim?" Zecora asked. "If it was a friend, we could have made room for him."

"Oh, it was... nopony important." Grimoire shrugged.

"Oh, is that so?" Zaria raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps it was one of criminal underlings, come to talk about things."

"Actually, it wasn't, Zaria." Grimoire snorted. "Guess you're wrong... again."

"Like I can trust a word out of your mouth." Zaria scowled. "Zecora, how long before this all goes south?"

"Zaria, please." Zecora urged. "Not at the table, so eat your mac and cheese!"

"Yes, Zaria." Grimoire declared. "Eat the food that I paid for."

"With your dirty money!" Zaria spat. "And by the way, the cheese is runny."

"Zaria please, no more." Zecora urged. "All this talk of me leaving Grim is becoming a bore."

"I am trying to help you, this is true." Zaria retorted. "Grimoire is not a fit husband, and this marriage, you must disband."

"You really can't take a hint, can you?" Grimoire snarled. "Get this through your striped skull; Zecora is my wife, and she wants to stay my wife, so back off already!"

"I shall not, you walking pile of rot." Zaria spat. "You have pulled Zecora into your world, and her conscience, it has been hurled. She is becoming more like you by the day, and I know the foal will turn out the same way. I refuse to let that happen, I swear. So I will manage to get Zecora to leave you, by means foul or fair."

"Zaria, that's enough!" Zecora yelled, dropping her rhyming. "No more, you hear me?"

"Zecora, you're not-" Zaria started.

"I have had enough of you insulting my husband, and trying to drive me away from him." Zecora spat. "I am his wife, and I love him, no matter what. I don't care that he's a criminal, I am staying with him and we are raising our foal together!"

"So there." Grimoire added.

Zaria was silent for a moment. Then...

"This is the thanks I get?" She scowled. "Or even no thanks, yet? I came to free you from this life, and you give me such strife?"

"I didn't ask you to free me." Zecora said coldly.

"No, you did not." Zaria admitted. "And I know why not. You enjoy being the wife of a crook, of living life outside the law book. You abandoned your morals and your sense of what's right, just to live with a criminal and a blight!"

"Watch it, missy." Grimoire growled, his anger growing. "You don't talk to my wife like that."

"Or what, you'll have me shot?" Zaria snorted. "Go ahead, do it, then we'll know where you fit!"

"I'd advise to stop talking like that." Zecora glared. "Especially if you ever want to see your nephew or niece."

"Of being an aunt, I would not rather." Zaria snarled. "Considering the foal will be criminal scum, just like its father!"

Grimoire's anger was steadily climbing.

"Look, Zoey-" He started.

"Zoey?" Zecora and Zaria said together.

"You know what I meant!" Grimoire groaned, his anger reaching its limit. "I've had enough of this. You come to my house, you insult me, you insult my lifestyle, you try to get my wife to leave me, and worst of all, you insult my foal! You just crossed the line, lady!"

"I agree." Zecora nodded, still refraining from rhyming. "I think its best you leave."

"You would side with him over me?" Zaria gasped. "Being the wife of a criminal, over being free?"

Zecora turned away from her sister.

"So be it." Zaria spat, her eyes growing watery. "I'm sure I can find a good inn in which to sit."

Zaria stormed out of the room, and out of the mansion.

"Finally." Grimoire snorted. "I don't mean to sound callous, but she got what was coming to her. The nerve of her, trying to come in here and break us apart. Well, we won't have to worry about that anymore..."

As Grimoire made to wrap a hoof around his wife, Zecora pushed it away.

"'Cora?" He frowned.

"Not just now, Grim." Zecora sniffed. "Not just now!"

ecora rushed over to the couch, burying herself in it as she wept morosely.

"...I'm sorry, Zecora." Grimoire sighed. "I didn't mean for it to come to this. I just wanted to get Zaria off my back, that's all..."

"I know." Zecora sniffed. "I know..."

Neither one of them said much after that. They went to bed together without exchanging a word. Zecora was too heartbroken to speak, while Grimoire was feeling guilty over the whole mess.

The next morning, Zecora was utterly miserable, barely eating her breakfast.

"Zecora, you have to eat something." Grimoire urged. "For the foal."

"I'm not hungry." Zecora declared. "Do you hear me?"

"I know you're still upset..." Grimoire started.

"Upset?!" Zecora growled. "Oh, you bet!"

"Just try and calm down." Grimoire urged. "It's not good for the foal for you to get emotional..."

"I cannot help myself, despite the foal's health!" Zecora yelled. "I did not want to force my family out of my life, not because of a fight over being your wife. Zaria is the only family I have left. She has always been there for me, especially when of Zou I found myself bereft. If not for the comfort she gave, my despair could have lead me to the grave. She helped me to move on and start anew. If not for her, I might never have met you. And how did I repay her? By driving her away, perhaps forever! Grimoire, I must make this right, and reconcile with Zaria over our fight!"

"...I understand." Grimoire sighed. "I know how important family is. As much as my brothers annoy me sometimes, I can't imagine never speaking to even one of them again. Okay, let's go find Zaria, and try to talk this out."

"But how will we find her?" Zecora asked. "She could be anywhere!"

"Not exactly." Grimoire smiled knowingly. "She said she was going to spend the night in an inn, remember? Well, the only inn I know of around here that's within walking distance is The Crop And Bridle. That's probably where she went. And the train to Canterlot's airfield doesn't leave until ten. If we hurry, we might be able to catch her."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Zecora declared. "Let us go out the door!"

"Oakley, you look after the mansion." Grimoire instructed.

Oakley barked obediently.

Rushing over to The Crop And Bridle as fast as they could, Grimoire and Zecora found Zaria in the bar area, a cider and lime beside her.

"Zaria, dear!" Zecora smiled. "I'm so glad you're here!"

"Zecora?" Zaria frowned.

"I am so sorry for last night." Zecora apologised. "I did not mean for us to fight."

"Nor did I." Zaria sighed. "Even though it seemed like I did try."

"I'm sorry, too." Grimoire admitted. "You were just trying to look out for your sister. I can respect that..."

"I accept your apology." Zaria declared. "And I hope you can forgive me."

"We're family, aren't we?" Grimoire shrugged.

"Would you like to come back with us?" Zecora asked. "We can have a late breakfast, no fuss."

"That would be nice, but I'm afraid I must think twice." Zaria declared. "I am... with somepony at this time, this here being his cider and lime."

"Really?" Grimoire mused. "Who?"

Just then, to Grimoire's surprise, Zebediah, carrying some chips, sidled past him and sat next to Zaria.

"Sorry for the wait, babe." He beamed.

"Thank you for the chips." Zaria grinned. "Now come here, hot lips."

To Grimoire and Zecora's shock, the pair kissed. Only after they parted did Zebediah notice their audience.

"Grim?" Zebediah's eyes widened, "Fancy running into you here."

"You... and my sister?" Zecora gaped. "You had better start explaining, mister!"

"Look, this isn't what it looks like..." Zebediah started.

"Really?" Grimoire frowned. "Because it looks like you've spent the night with my sister-in-law."

"...Okay, it's exactly what it looks like." Zebediah nodded.

"Zaria, why would you lay with this fellow?" Zecora asked. "Especially after everything you did bellow?"

"Please, do not be a pain." Zaria declared. "We can explain."

"Go ahead, then." Grimoire urged. "Explain."

"Okay, okay." Zebediah nodded. "Guess you deserve that much..."

"It all started last night, just after our fight." Zaria admitted. "I was drowning my sorrows in this bar, and found Zeb sitting not too far."

"We got to talking about our woes, y'know, like folks in bars like to do." Zebediah declared. "And like most folks in bars, the drinks loosened our tongues. We talked about all sorts of things. Of course, she wasn't happy about me bein' a mobster, but that's when things got interesting..."

The night before...

"You are one of them?" Zaria spat, the drinks starting to get to her. "I am not interested in such a twisted gem!"

"Hey, easy." Zebediah frowned. "Bein' a mobster's not what I'm all about. I'm actually a pretty nice guy when you get to know me..."

"Is that true?" Zaria growled. "Speak honestly, you!"

"Oh, really? What happened to not being interested in a twisted gem?" Zebediah challenged.

"If I am to hate somepony, I must be sure they deserve it." Zaria declared. "So come on, tell me if you meant it!"

"Sure I did." Zebediah smirked with bravado. "Everypony loves me. I'm respected far and wide for my loyalty and honor!"

"So you do say." Zaria glared at Zebediah. Are you really that way?"

"...No, I'm not." Zebediah admitted. "I'm a weaselly little back-stabber who betrays even his best friends, just to get ahead."

"I can't believe what I'm hearing." Zaria spat. "Why would you even do such a thing?"

"Well, that's a heck of a story." Zebediah sighed. "Where to begin? I grew up with practically nothing. I was a poor kid in a dirt town, with a dad who barely pulled in a dozen Bits a week. One day, dad realised there was a more profitable career for him; crime. He started off small, then gathered his own mob, which grew and grew. Eventually, ol' pop became part of Grim's dad's gathering of dons. I thought that would finally turn things around for us, but I was wrong. Whenever I came along to the meetings, interacting with the other dons and their kids, I could tell they had no respect for my dad. It didn't matter how hard he worked to become a successful mobster, what only mattered was that our mafia was one of the poorest and arguably weakest in all of mafiadom, and they reminded us of how 'grateful' we should be for being in that damn group."

"I understand your plight." Zaria admitted. "My own parent's income was slight."

"I'll bet you never had to suffer your family being thought of as second rate, though." Zebediah sighed.

"Of that, it is true." Zaria admitted. "I cannot imagine what it was like to be you."

"And it still continued when I took dad's place, I could feel it." Zebediah continued. "They never considered either of us 'true' members of the group, all because of how poor we were. They probably thought we were just street hustlers who got lucky. Every one of them. I never fitted in with them. The more I though about it, the more I felt worthless in the face of the others, like they didn't even need me. I only betrayed them because I though they'd do the same in my case anyways. Crowe always hated me, Kamikaze would do anything to get more land, Kong would do anything to get more girls, Zugzwang is a plothead, and Grim... well... he never respected me anyways. But in the end, I always messed up, and they always made me pay for it. And recently, I really messed up. I betrayed Grim over a lousy bounty. I didn't want to kill him, but that doesn't matter to him. This time, he's given up on me. I can feel it."

"Oh, you poor thing." Zaria sighed, genuinely sympathetic. "You have been through such suffering..."

"That I brought on myself." Zebediah sighed.

"As have I, to my fie." Zaria admitted. "I held your Grim in low esteem. I believed he was corrupting Zecora, making her the wife of a don's dream. I tried with all my might to get Zecora to leave that hood, but I went too far, and that is not good."

"Too far?" Zebediah asked. "How?"

"I insulted her foal, I am telling you." Zaria sighed. "I insulted my own niece or nephew."

"Oh, yeah." Zebediah cringed. "That is too far."

"I was so determined to have Zecora quit being Grim's wife." Zaria declared. "Now I fear I have lost my sister... for life."

Zaria started crying. Zebediah put a hoof on her shoulder.

"There, there." He comforted her. "It's okay."

"It is most certainly not okay." Zaria retorted. "For I made a grave error this day! My only sister, I did push away, and without her, my life will be grey!"

"Here." Zebediah passed her another drink. "This should help ease the pain."

"Thank you, you're very kind." Zaria downed the drink. "I'm glad the two of us, we did find."

"So am I..." Zebediah smiled. "Let's get some more drinks in. Really drown the ol' sorrows, huh?"

"Since I have nothing better to do, I suppose I can stay and drink with you." Zaria nodded.

"More drinks, bartender!" Zebediah called.

The present...

"...And one thing led to another, and we wound up sleeping together." Zebediah smirked. "Didn't see that coming, huh?"

"No I did not." Grimoire said honestly.

"And after everything you said about me being with a don." Zecora smirked. "You found one of your own with which to get it on."

"Yes, it is true." Zaria sighed. "Now I am just like you. Can you ever forgive me, for being so angry?"

"Of course I can, my sibling." Zecora nodded. "We are family, and family can withstand anything.

Zaria turned to Grimoire.

"Grim, I was a fool." She admitted. "You and your foal are wondrous additions to our family's gene pool."

"Thanks, Zaria." Grimoire smiled. He turned to Zebediah, "And Zeb? Was all that you said about not fitting in and stuff... was all that true?"

"Every word of it." Zebediah sighed, "I thought there was no point in loyalty if there was no one who cared about it."

"I guess that would explain a lot." Grimoire sighed. "Look Zeb, despite what you may think, the rest of us actually did respect you. Even me."

"Really?" Zebediah smiled.

"Of course." Grimoire nodded. "That's why I always forgave you after each backstabbing. Because I knew you were better than that. But when you led those guys to my home, threatening my new life... something just snapped. I became blinded by anger. I had no right to talk to you like that."

"That's okay." Zebediah nodded. "I had it coming, after what I did. And I really am sorry."

"I am too. You are right, I shouldn't have given up on you. I had see others do unforgivable things... but you... while I don't appreciate being harvested for parts, I do appreciate that you weren't willing to kill me. That was the line you would never cross, right?" Grimoire sighed.

"Right." Zebediah nodded. "You're my friend, Grim. All these years, I never wanted to hurt you, not once."

"I suppose that counts for something." Grimoire smiled. "Enough for me to give you another chance." 

"Thanks, Grim." Zebediah smiled. "You won't regret it, I promise."

"I'd better not." Grimoire snorted. "Because I really hope that this is the last time."

"Of course." Zebediah agreed. "I swear, this will be my last double-cross. Besides, you seem cool with me hanging with Zaria, right?"

"Well..." Grimoire frowned, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Are you sure about this, sister?" Zecora asked. "You are fine with him being your mister?"

"Really, my dear sibling?" Zaria frowned. "You question my choice in stallion, after everything?"

"I suppose that would make me quite the hypocrite." Zecora admitted. "If you want to be with him, I shan't throw a fit."

"If Zecora's okay with it, then I guess so am I." Grimoire smiled halfheartedly.

"Thank you both so much." Zaria hugged them both. "I am happy to have your acceptance, and such."

"Now that's out of the way..." Zebediah nodded. "Do you think me and my new ladyfriend could have privacy?" He wrapped a hoof around Zaria.

"I have a better idea." Zecora smiled. "How about the both of you come to the mansion, instead of staying here?"

"I would be glad to." Zaria smiled. "Nopony makes breakfast quite like you."

"I'm up for it... if its okay with you, Grim." Zebediah declared.

"Sure it is." Grimoire nodded. "Just... watch out for Oakley. Big fella holds a grudge as hard as I do..."

The quartet exited the inn, heading for the mansion.

'So it all worked out in the end. Zaria got off my back, and I decided to give Zeb another chance. Believe it or not, those two are still dating. The irony of the two biggest pains in my flank getting together is delicious... though I suppose I did have a hoof in getting them together. Zaria's still staying in Ponyville, though. She wants to be there when the foal is born. Of course, now she's a lot less annoying, so I don't mind much. Anything that keeps my temper from flaring is welcome. I don't want anypony finding out about my condition until I decide to tell them. Hopefully, I won't be too far gone when the little one arrives...'