//------------------------------// // Chapter Twenty-Four // Story: Two's Company, Three's a Crowd // by Lithe Kamitatsy //------------------------------// The following morning was anything but peaceful. Madeline woke up slowly, feeling her joints popping and muscles slowly coming to life as she began to move. She sat up in bed, her vision blurry. She looked around a bit, searching for her glasses. She put them on, and immediately her vision was clear. She brought a hoof to her face, and could still feel the moisture from her tears. She looked at her pillow to find a dark spot where she laid her head. Did I really cry that much? Thanks to Kester, I slept very soundly...I should do something nice for him. Breakfast, maybe? She got out of bed and opened her bedroom door to the sound of snoring. She trotted over to where Kester was sleeping, his snoring sounding like a saw going through wood. He was asleep on his back, his legs splayed out in every which direction, his mouth hanging open. My goodness, Kester...sleep with your mouth open like that and- Madeline's thoughts ground to a deafening halt as her eyes traveled south. His waist had a blanket over it, but not by much. To put it simply, he was flying his flag at full mast. Madeline turned such a deep shade of red a tomato would have looked pale. If there was ever a single shred of doubt in her mind about Kester's masculinity, the sight before her completely erased it from existence. Suddenly, the snoring stopped and soft mumbling took its place. "...Ooh yes, tha's the stuff...yer pretty good a' this, Maddy..." he guffawed, a stupid grin spreading over his face as he began to snore again. Whatever he was dreaming, was immediately cut short as it suddenly began to rain hooves. "YOU PERVERT! I CAN NOT BELIEVE YOU ARE DREAMING OF ME DOING SOMETHING SO- SO INDECENT!" Madeline shrieked, smacking him in the face to wake him up. "Oi-OI-OI-OI!" He yelled, shielding his face. "Wha's this all about?! Wha'd I do!?" He protested. "PUT THAT AWAY!" She yelled, pointing at his waist while blushing intensely. Kester looked down, and understood. "A' am SO sorry ye had ta' see tha'! It's one o' the downsides ta' bein' male- ye don't decide when ye've got four legs or five." He chuckled sheepishly, rolling over onto his front. ~FLASHFORWARD~ "Woah, woah, woah! So your mom didn't do anything?" Vinyl interrupted. "V-Vinyl! Why in Equestria do you think my mother would do something like that!?" Octavia protested. "Well think about it. She's single, she's young, and apparently she's got this studly gentle-colt stallion that's ready and rarin' to go. I'm just surprised nothing happened." "Vinyl, even if something DID happen, I would not tell you." Octavia sighed. "Why not?" Vinyl asked. "Because no." Octavia huffed. "You're no fun." "Your idea of fun is my idea of brain damage." "Hey, that's not true! I just know how to have a good time." Vinyl said, puffing her chest out. "You also don't know the meaning of public decency." Octavia said, raising an eyebrow. "You're just mad that I tried to make this trip more interesting than story-time." Vinyl smirked. "Interesting?! Doing the deed in a carriage being pulled by stallions IN PUBLIC is not what I call INTERESTING!" Octavia yelled. "Think of it like this, Vinyl: How would you have felt if I would have asked about YOUR parent's sex life?" Vinyl pondered this for a second, remaining silent. "...I think a part of me just died..." she muttered, turning a sickly shade of green. "...And so the apple fell from the tree." Octavia said. "Yeah, I get ya...no more questions on that topic." Vinyl mumbled, feeling sick to her stomach. "Well, to wrap things up, he apologized for that, and their day went on like normal." Octavia said. "I can already tell I'm gonna like your dad. He thinks like I do." Vinyl grinned, giving the same stupid grin that Octavia's father was famous for. "Well, about that- Papa has always been very protective me. I was born premature, you see-" Octavia stopped when she heard Vinyl snickering. "What is so funny?" "Y-You still call him "PAPA!?" Vinyl nearly fell over from the laughing fit, clutching her gut. "That is not funny, Vinyl! I can call my father by any name I choose!" Octavia blushed, embarrassed to no end. "Ugh, this is what I get for telling you anything." Vinyl stopped laughing, and sat next to Octavia. "Hey, hey, no need to get like that. I just thought it was funny is all. I'm sowwy~" Vinyl said, her lower lip quivering as she gave Octavia the cutest expression she could muster. It worked in reverse- Octavia's face scrunched up slightly as she began to laugh uncontrollably. "Oh-Oh that is simply HYSTERICAL!" she yelled, tears streaming out of her eyes as she laughed. "I was trying to be cute." Vinyl said flatly. "I KNOW!" Octavia howled, laughing uncontrollably. A few minutes later, the carriage came to a stop. "We have arrived in Hoofington." One of the stallions announced. Octavia immediately returned to her seat, looking out the window. Waves of nostalgia washed over her as she looked upon her hometown, a smile playing across her face. "Welcome home, Octy." Vinyl said, patting her on the back. The two exited the carriage, and took in the sights. The town was small, but not quite as small as Ponyville. Old-fashioned buildings lined the cobblestone streets, lamps lining the walkways. Ponies milled about the town, conversing with one another like it was something one simply did- very different from the uptight and high-class area of Echelon Gardens. "Huh, I kinda like this place. Very homey." Vinyl said as they walked. "So you gonna lead us to your house?" "Yes, but there is somewhere I would like to stop by first- my old music teacher. It has been years since I last saw her, and I would like to share the news with her." Octavia said. "Whatever helps you sleep at night...aside from me, of course." Vinyl said suggestively, to which Octavia sighed. As they walked, Octavia could not stop smiling- this was where she grew up. This was where she lived as a foal. This was her home. They came up on a small home on the corner of the block they were on, trotting up to the front door. Octavia knocked, and the sound of shuffling approached, the door opening. In the doorway stood an elderly mare with a parchment yellow coat, a long silver mane and bright blue eyes. "May I help you?" she asked softly. "Miss Baton, it is so good to see you again!" Octavia smiled. The elderly mare stared at Octavia for a brief moment, and smiled. "Octavia? Is that really you? Oh, look at you! You've grown to be so beautiful in the years you've been gone." she complimented. "Please, call me Twirl. I'm not your teacher anymore, you know," she laughed. "Thank you, Miss Bato- er, Twirl. It is so good to see you are doing well. I am in town to visit my parents, so I decided I would stop by and say hello." Octavia said cheerily. Vinyl nudged Octavia slightly, clearing her throat. "Ah, yes. Twirl, I would like to introduce you to my marefriend, Vinyl." Octavia said, stepping aside. "Nice to meet you, Vinyl. Come in, come in!" The mare said, moving aside so the two could enter her home. The home was small, but very cozy. Vinyl and Octavia sat on the sofa across from the teacher, who sat in her rocking chair. "So tell me Octavia. What brings you to town?" Octavia blushed. "Well...I am here to visit my parents and deliver them some news...I am having a baby," she smiled. "Oh my goodness! Congratulations, Octavia. Oh it's been so long since I've had something to celebrate about. When are you due?" she asked. "Next September." Octavia beamed. "Oh, I am so excited! I'm sure your mother will be absolutely delighted with the news." Twirl said, smiling in return. "Wait, you're not gonna question how? I mean, it's not like I'm a colt, so-" Vinyl stopped when Twirl raised a hoof. "Where there's love, there's a way," the elder mare winked. "Good enough for me." Vinyl smiled, wrapping a foreleg around Octavia's, to which Octavia blushed. "Well isn't that just precious...Octavia, you have no idea how much this means to me. It has been quite some time since I've had anything to be happy about." "That reminds me, is your husband around? I would like to tell him the news as well," she smiled. Twirl sighed heavily. She reached over and grabbed a picture of herself with her husband, her heart aching. "Sway passed away about a year ago, dear." Octavia's heart sank. "Oh no...I am so sorry, Twirl...I had no idea..." "It is quite alright, dear. He was very ill, so it was his time to go." She wiped a tear from her eye. "He is at peace though, and through that I am able to carry on," she smiled. "That's why I was so excited to hear you were having a baby. It gives me something hopeful and beautiful to turn my focus to." Octavia felt her heart seize up. Here she was, sitting in her teacher's living room, giving the old mare a reason to be happy. More and more Octavia began to see what a blessing it was to be the one nurturing the little life within her. "I am so glad, Twirl. I am very much pleased that the news has helped you." Octavia said, smiling through happy tears. Vinyl leaned against her, offering support. "You will never really know, Octavia," the mare smiled. "Well, I must be going. I have some groceries to do before it gets dark. It was wonderful seeing you again, Octavia. Be sure to stop by before you leave." "Of course, Twirl." Octavia got up, and hugged her old teacher, who returned the embrace. Octavia and Vinyl left Twirl in her home, walking down the streets in the direction of Octavia's home. Vinyl looked over when she heard Octavia sniffling, seeing her shedding tears. "Hey, hey, what's the matter, Octy? He was sick. It's not like you could have done anything." Vinyl said comfortingly. "No, no...that is not it...it made me so happy that our baby is able to bring others so much joy." Octavia turned to face Vinyl, and gave her a soft kiss. "Thank you..." Vinyl blushed, and simply smiled. "...You're welcome." The two continued to walk towards Octavia's home closer than ever, their tails intertwined with one another.