113 - Hello Mother, Hello Father
The Watches were gathered with their family, and even Surprise, around a fair-sized table. Food was brought to them one course at a time and they enjoyed sampling and talking. Spirits were high and smiles and laughter were had and shared.
At least, until a platter was brought out and pulled up, revealing a serving of roast duck. Night perked with interest even as Rough, Trixie, and Surprise gaped at the carnivorous offering with obvious shock.
Rough Draft glanced around nervously. "Why would Princess Celestia have that here?"
Surprise shuddered. "A duck?! They have feelings!"
Silver reached and gave it a poke "Not anymore," he stated with a deadpan pragmatism. "Do you like duck, hon?"
Night twitched an ear towards him as her nose danced. "Never had it before, but whoever made this knew what they were doing. It smells great." She licked her lips. "Like Silver said, staring at it sadly isn't going to make it spring back to life."
Rough shook his head. "A human would say that." He flashed a bright smile at Silver. "I forget sometimes you are one of those, inside." He reached across the table to poke at Silver. "You've gone so native it's easy to overlook that." He turned his head to Trixie. "It's just like in my books!"
Trixie smirked at her mate's enthusiasm. "Trixie is glad he lives up to your expectations." She waved a hoof at the roasted creature. "Will you join them in this 'fine' meal?"
"Night?" After Hours stood in the doorway, her eyes locked on Night Watch. "My little watch!" She rushed across the dining room, galloping with the clip-clop of hooves. Even her wings gave flaps as she was charging, though she didn't leave the ground. Behind her, Bedtime walked at a more sedate pace, a smile on his face but not rushing while his wife was taking center stage.
Night's head snapped to the sound of her mother and her eyes went wide even as her pupils contracted. "Mother?! Father?!" She didn't get much else out before her mother crashed into her and she was encased in strong wings and hugging forelegs.
"Oh, I've missed you so very much," choked out After as she nuzzled into the cheek and neck of her daughter. "I didn't even realize how badly until I saw you." There was something wrong with the shape of her daughter. As the intense moment passed, she let her eyes drop and saw the rounded and gravid state of the lunar pegasus. Her wings flared out wide. "Night Watch! What happened to you?"
Bedtime arrived at the table and nodded to the others present. "Nice to meet you." He was nervous, but it was a more subtle nervousness than the bold displays of his wife. His eyes swept over them, from the bright shades of Trixie and Surprise to the more subdued hues of Rough Draft and Silver Watch. His attention settled on Silver. "Ah, are you the colt they were gushing about?"
"They?" Silver hopped down from his seat. "Nice to meet you, mister..."
"Bedtime, one word." He offered a hoof. "And if I find out you've been anything but proper with my daughter, we'll have to meet in a different kind of way."
Silver shrank back at the threat, but regathered himself quickly and thrust out a hoof, meeting with his with a clop sound. "Silver Watch, and I'm afraid if I was ever poor to your daughter, she'd rip me apart before you got there."
He laughed at that, reaching out a wing to swat Silver on the back. "She would at that, wouldn't she?" He raised a brow. "Was that always your name? I believe in destiny as much as the next pony, but that's a bit much."
After prodded Bedtime with a wing. "Have you seen our daughter?" As he looked towards where she was indicating, she threw her wings wide. "How long have you been expecting, and not even a letter? Don't you think I care about you?"
Night Watch got to proper standing and frowned at her mother. "Mother, calm yourself. I wasn't trying to avoid you, just not to bother you."
"Bother me?!" After Hours recoiled, but she marshaled herself and began to take deeper breaths. "Oh little watch, you haven't changed." She advanced on the retreating Night Watch and had her wrapped up in a new hug before the pregnant mare could escape. "Well let's put that aside. I'm bothered and I don't plan to be un-bothered until my daughter's a happy mother of her own."
Rough Draft offered a hoof towards Bedtime. "Pleased to meet you, hmm, are you a brother-in-law now? No no, I'm certain that's not right..."
Bedtime met the hoof with his own. "Whatever it is, we're brothers now." He felt at ease around the darker and more earthy tones of Rough Draft. "So you're his father?" His eyes wandered to Trixie. "And you must be the mother. He takes after you both."
Trixie beamed proudly. "Yes, Tr--I am his mother." She offered her hoof in kind. "Nice to meet you, Bedtime was it? I am Trixie." Every time she referred to herself there was a little hesitation as she tried to correct her usual habit around the new acquaintances.
Night squirmed free of her mother's grip and gave her a kiss on the cheek before moving to hug her father. "Please, letters or not, I'm happy to see you both. What brings you here?"
After tilted her head a little. "We got a letter." Her nose danced and her eyes wandered to the table. "What's this? It smells fantastic..."
Bedtime agreed with that sentiment, moving to sit beside the table as he licked his lips. "Now that we--"
"Hi! I'm Surprise!" She was seated beside Bedtime.
Bedtime recoiled in surprise. "Oh! Hello there. You do live up to your name." He raised a brow. "How are you related, ma'am?"
She shook her head quickly. "We're friends." She flashed a bright smile at the new pony. "I hope we can be too." A hoof swung to point at the duck. "I bet they made this for you guys, so don't wait on us, enjoy!"
"I never tried duck," admitted Silver, eyeing the roasted bird.
Night tilted her head. "Me neither, but now's a fine night to try."
The fact that Silver took a portion for himself made Trixie and Rough look mildly ill, though the latter was still watching with morbid curiosity. Surprise might have been as well if she wasn't so busy chatting animatedly with the new ponies. "I can't believe she didn't tell her parents. Well, you're here now, so let's have fun! Oh gosh, the whole family's here now!"
Trixie raised an ear. "If it helps, my meat-eating son neglected to mention just how things were going either."
After tore into the meat on her plate, savoring the taste a moment before she went for another bite. "Mmm, it's alright now. We're here, and these foals of ours aren't escaping us."
Trixie smiled, a nervous smile as she beheld how After Hours was attacking her food like a true predator. "It's nice to... meet you."
Bedtime was enjoying his own meal far too much to give a reply. It seemed all the lunar ponies were enthralled with the meat. Silver was more reserved in his eating. Not that he wasn't enjoying it, just that he wasn't tearing into it like a starved wolf. "I don't think I've seen you quite this ravenous before."
Night looked up at Silver. "I don't think I have been before. Maybe it's the way they prepared it?"
After Hours raised a hoof. "Compliments to the chef!"
The duck was completed and the platter swept away by servants as a new tray was set with something garlicky and made more of bread than any meat, perking the interests of the rest of the table. As everypony returned to nibbling, conversations became more relaxed. Platters came and went as they talked amiably, until dessert.
The dessert tray was flanked by royalty. To the left was Celestia, and to the right, Luna. Conversation died away, but two ponies were largely unhumbled by their immediate presence.
Surprise and Silver both waved a hoof at their guests. "Hi there," they said unison before looking at each other and laughing a little.
Celestia nodded to the table. "A pleasure to be here. It seems our guests found you before we planned, but it seems to have worked out."
Luna looked across the table and her nose danced. "It's just as well. The kitchen brought the special plate early as well."
Night raised a brow at Luna. "I should have guessed you were involved in that."
Luna recoiled a step as if struck. "Did you not enjoy it?"
Celestia put a hoof in front her sister. "We were both involved in this, without regrets." She smiled at the group. "To your satisfaction, we hope."
Trixie sat up straight. "While she was not expecting to meet new in-laws today, this has been a wonderful dinner."
Most of the others nodded in agreement, but Night didn't seem convinced. Her eyes were on Luna alone. "Well?"
Luna returned the gaze. "Well?"
Night clopped a hoof on the ground. "Don't you have something to say?"
Luna's ears fell a little as her view slid towards Silver. "We are sorry for how you were treated. We would like to discuss it... more, later." She glanced away and back. "In private, please."
Celestia stepped forward. "Now who's ready for some dessert?"
"Oh, me! Me!" Surprise waved a hoof excitedly, practically vibrating where she sat.
Cakes, cookies, pastries and other sweet treats began to descend on the table, each held aloft in Celestia's golden glow. "Please, enjoy yourselves."
Bedtime looked between the offerings and the princesses supplying it. "This feels like too much, Your Highness. To be served by the princesses of Equestria? What have we done to deserve this?"
She fixed her eyes on Silver. "You've brought several pains to light. Wounds that may have worsened with time. What price is a little dinner compared to what tragedy may yet be averted? Parents of heroes are still heroes." She spread her wings slowly. "So please, enjoy yourself. You are all our guests."
Silver reached with his magic, trying to heft up Celestia, but that was a task beyond him. She did notice his attempt and raised a brow. He smiled sheepishly. "Just because you feel indebted doesn't mean you have to sit to the side. Please, join us."
Luna shook her head at Silver. "See what I have to put up with?" A smile spread over her snout despite her words. "Well, since we've been invited..."
Celestia took a place beside Silver and Night, while Luna sat opposed. Little did Night's parents expect they'd be seated at a table with the All-Mother at their side.
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Perfect amount of friendship, perfect amount of family love, perfect amount of...food awkwardness, perfect amount of...Hmm..Luna awkwardness? Yep, brilliantly perfect!
Well, at least Luna finally apologized and is willing to talk in the future. Here's hoping good things happen.
Hey back on the feature page again, Congrats!
Chapters like this one make me smile and feel all warm and happy inside.
Also, roast duck is delicious.
7039083 Thanks kindly. Glad you liked the chapter!
7039091 Everypony got to meet and be a big happy family (and friends). Even the awkward moments were endearingly so, I say.
Luna managed to sit down without a shouting match starting, so maybe things are on the up?
Here I am at, Camp Granada.
Now to read the chapter.
We have a supise for you today. And a fowl deed also so please reduce the altitude of your upper sensory appeandages immediately please.
Well. at least there wasnt a bowl of chilli beans with marshmallow chocolate.
Luna would never get over the Raspberry Jam, though Im sure sure Celestia would Cramberry Cake.
Well, Luna's almost-blunder was indeed averted.
Still, a nice feast, plenty of food, even for a changeling!
Keep going! ;)
7039110 Everyone is happy except for the duck. But he was suicidal, so Luna was entirely justified in kidnapping him and having him served for dinner.
Although I was thinking; if you waited for animals to die on their own and then turned them to stone until you needed the meat, would that be a steady enough supply? It seems like that would work better for reckless daredevil pegasi than ordinary ducks and chickens, though.
...then again, none of them have ever had 'duck' before.
7039369 The duck had it coming! What was it doing, leading its flock in the wrong direction? What do you mean Rainbow Dash was involved? It couldn't been her, and there are no witnesses.
wow I love it a out standing chapter.
and the chapter title that brings back a few memory's.
before I do this I must say I am sorry to all but this must be dune.
A wasted effort trying to lift those mighty flanks and grandiose plot.img15.deviantart.net/aa9b/i/2013/068/c/7/celestia_s_flank_by_newyorkx3-d5xiwa3.jpg
7039110
A pity no one has a camera to snap a picture, it'd certainly be one for the Family Albums, that's for certain!
Never had duck and when I hear of roast duck, I keep thinking of... and *CHOP*
7040115 This is Equestria, snapshots sometimes appear as if summoned.
I pray for the day Luna just kisses them both z.z
7041777 You are not alone.
Princesses
7041777
Try praying to the All-mother.
Devoured might work better.
might want to delete one of the spaces between those two words.
As a 4? Even if we place her at the full weight of a grown horse, that would mean your average 2 would have trouble with a large bag of groceries. (Or, if she's a less-than-horse-like weight, your average 2 might have trouble with a gallon of milk.) Either she weighs a ton, or the power scale is much whimpier than the impression I've gotten from the rest of the story.
7819936 How heavy is the average bag of groceries? Multiply by 100.
7820439
Well, a gallon of milk is around 8.5 Pounds, and places that bag that will double-up. So most bags will be less. I'm guessing around 6-6.5 pounds. So an average 4 can lift like 600+ pounds, which means Celestia is at least that heavy, and likely rather more so since Silver couldn't budge her.
She's absolutely massive.
I'm guessing Luna and Cadance are both somewhere in the 500 pound range, and your average pony is probably in the 200-300 range. The princesses would have to be extremely careful during snuggle time to not simply crush their paramour by getting too touchy-feely.
7820695 how heavy is a full grown horse?
7820728
Depends on the breed, but it looks like the most common varieties found across the US average about 1000 pounds. They're all-around proportionally larger, and thus quite a bit bulkier, than the princesses in the show, so I've always imagined ponies being comparatively light. This is, of course, assuming that ponies have a comparable height to real life ponies and horses (somewhere between 2 and 4 feet tall, measured from the shoulder).
It was just surprising that Silver couldn't lift Celestia, and what that says either about his lifting power or her bulk, one or the other.
7821159 So let's say, for sake of the debate, 1000 is where rating 4 lies. 100 pounds is rating 3, 10 is rating 2, 1 is rating 1, and if you can't lift 1, then you're officially handicapped.
Is this a poor scale? Note, that would make rating 5 10,000 pounds or 5 tons. Stupid Twilight...
7821183
It would only be a "poor scale" if it were internally inconsistent. It doesn't seem to be either, so I think it's fine.
I was just trying to determine why Silver couldn't lift Celestia when it seemed to me that he should be powerful enough to do so. IE, playing the game of "How Much Does Celestia Actually Weigh?"
Roger, your highness! *gulp*
Do that.
Now, where is mah muffin? You promised one in the previous chapter.
Typo: should be “believe”.
9992213
You are just burning through the story.
I've been enjoying this book so far. Even though there are some parts I'm a little iffy about,I'll read it anyways because its a great story. Thanks for writing it.
10371027
Life is like that, with the parts we like and the parts we do not. Glad you're walking along with me.