When the guards find a foal crying in the city streets, they bring him to Celestia's attention. Soon after, It becomes apparent he has fallen through every crack in Equestria's society. Feeling she has failed the colt, Celestia takes him into her own home.
Celestia walked towards the chariot, snow crunching beneath her hooves with every step.
Looking down at the unicorn foal curled up in the back of the chariot, Celestia’s heart ached. He couldn’t be more than four. The foal should be bouncing and fearless, but instead he was catatonic with fear.
“Has he said anything? Are there any missing foal reports?”
The guard shook his head. “Only screaming and gibberish. There are no reports out, but we’re already combing the city for anypony looking for a foal.”
Sharing a sad look with the stallion, Celestia reached out a hoof to stroke the foal’s mane. He shrieked before she could touch him, curling up into an even tighter ball of quivering fear. Celestia’s heart cracked. ‘The poor foal…’
The guard sighed. “He’s reacted like that to everypony. You’d have thought we were trying to kill him when we picked him up to put him in the chariot.”
Celestia lowered herself til she was all but on her belly. Laying her chin on the chariot’s floor, she held motionless for a long while. Her stillness brought an unnatural silence to the courtyard, broken only by the whimpers of the foal.
Something stirred within her: a song of orchards and summer days. It was already old when she was a foal. She had loved listening to that one stallion sing it. ‘What was his name?’ she asked herself, caught up in the old memory. ‘Meillion, his name was Meillion.’
She hummed the tune for a moment, before the old words bubbled out of memory and unto her lips. The ancient walls around them took their part in the harmony, giving her voice the depth of eons, while the snow muted the rest of the world.
In the second verse of the song, the little one’s whimpers faded. Tilting his head, he lay motionless, listening to the mare sing until she had finished the song, and let the winter reclaim its silence.
“Can you tell me your name?” Celestia asked after a moment of quiet.
The foal’s ears splayed out in confusion. He ran his tongue across his teeth, then cried out in chirping gibberish. Celestia smiled, grateful for something besides fear, but shook her head. She could not understand the foal. Easing herself back up, she again reached for the foal. This time he winced, but offered no further protest. Picking him up, she placed him between her wings.
“I’ll take him to a guest room. I want this colt’s parents found. Now.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” echoed a dozen guards, each leaving the courtyard without further instruction.
Celestia hummed a soft tune to the foal on her back. With gentle steps, she entered the castle and made her way to one of the many guest rooms.
The foal nestled between the pillows the moment she placed him on the bed. She smiled, and ran a hoof down his mane as he settled in. This time pleased that he seemed to calm at her touch.
“I will check in on you later. I have to go for now though,” she told him. The day was yet young, and she had much to do. Turning to leave, the little one whimpered as she opened the door. Again her heart cracked.
“Shhh… It’s okay. I’m not going to be far.” The foal’s desperate eyes made it hard to close the door behind her.
“Keep an ear on him,” She told the guard outside the room. “Send for me if he gets too frightened, and show him to the bathroom if he needs. When the parents show up, they are not to leave until I have spoken with them.”
With a salute, the guard took his post; keeping his eyes forward, but his ears towards the door. Green Bean hated door duty. It was dull, and he did not have the talent of being able to sit still for hours on end like the full-time guards did. But that was the way of things for the winter volunteer guard, they put you where they needed you. At least he was inside. As the hours passed, the guard let his mind wander off as he stood watch by the door, occasionally pacing the length of the hall to stretch.
His legs gone numb again, Green Bean rose to pace his allowed distance from the door. Looking down the hallway, he frowned when he realized the light from the window had crawled halfway across the floor. He had expected the parents to show up by now. ‘He’s been awfully quiet,’ Green Bean thought. Easing the door open, he peered into the room. Wedged between two pillows, the foal was asleep, but shivering. With soft steps, Green Bean moved through the room. Taking a quilt off its rack, he placed it over the colt as gently as his hooves would allow.
Smiling at not having woken the foal, Green Bean took a step back to watch the colt sleep for a moment. Something subtle moved at the edge of his vision. “Shh…” a voice whispered before he could turn to face it.
“No formalities please. Let us not wake the little one,” Luna said, sitting down beside him.
Green Bean sat rigid in place next to Luna as she watched the sleeping foal, but the cool tranquility of the room soon soothed his anxiety.
“His dreams are troubled, but his mind will not let me in. Not without force that would do more harm than good. An impressive show of willpower, even before considering his age.” Luna whispered.
Shifting her weight, Luna moved her head closer to the guard. “Do you have any foals?”
“Three. A colt still nursing, and twin fillies about his age.”
Luna chuckled. “You have let them outnumber you. Long ago, I was considered the motherly one, and my sister the disciplinarian.”
Green Bean held silent, ears and eyes locked onto the princess. He could feel the depth of memory she was falling into, and her sad eyes threatened to drag him with her.
Luna’s melancholy shattered as a smirk sprang up onto her lips. “He is awake, listening to us.”
Looking to the colt, he saw only a motionless foal with closed eyes. “He’s not deaf, but I don’t think he can understand Equestrian. Do you think, maybe he’s disabled?”
“No, his mind is healthy. I felt enough of his dreams to know that. I fear his plight may have been inflicted upon him by neglect or malice.”
“How… How could anypony do that?” Silence fell over the room. Green Bean sat by his princess, and watched the foal.
“He seems intent on waiting for us to leave,” Luna said, rising to all fours.
Green Bean stood to escort Luna out of the room, but paused. “He hasn’t had food or water since we found him. I’m afraid he’s too scared to ask. May I go fetch something to leave by the bed?”
Luna looked back to the colt with a frown. “Yes, please do. I will stay here until you return. Then we shall leave the little one to his privacy.”
In surprisingly little time, the guard had returned with a lunch tray balanced on his back. She eyed the tray as he passed her: a neatly sliced apple, a bowl of oats, some salty crackers, a salad of mint and watercress, and a glass of ice water with citrus wedges floating in it. “You make for a good sick nurse to your foals.”
A sheepish grin crept over the guard as he laid the tray on the nightstand. “Lily says I spoil them.”
“I suspect she’s right.” Luna held the door open for them to leave, giving Green Bean a devil’s smile as he retook his post in the hall.
Celestia sighed, the day had exploded on her. One thing after the next had kept her from checking in on the foal. Thankfully Luna had seen to him in her stead. Walking down the hall towards the room, she spotted the guard from that morning still there.
“I am sorry to keep you on such a long shift. I had thought the parents would have shown up by lunch. Any word of where he came from?”
“No, your majesty. There’s no missing foal reports. We’ve checked the hospitals to see if maybe they’d been in an accident. The captain has four guards actively asking around the city.”
“You have been very diligent, Green Bean.” Letting her posture slip a bit, Celestia sat on her haunches. “How’s he doing?”
“Very quiet.” Turning his head, he glanced at the door behind him. “We gave him some food earlier, but I haven’t checked to see if he ate it. I’m afraid I’ll scare him.”
Easing herself back up, Celestia placed a hoof on the door. “I’ll watch him for the night. You go home to your family.”
The guard gave her a smile and a salute, before cantering off. Looking back at the door, she eased it open, carefull to not let the hinges creek. Pressing her face to the cracked door, she looked around for the foal.
He was easy enough to see. Standing in the center of the bed, he held himself as rigid as a guard. With his eyes shut, he took long even breaths. Periodically, he would extend a leg, thoughtfully moving it through its full range of motion.
‘He’s meditating?’ An occasional dim flicker of his horn confirmed her question.
Slipping into the room, Celestia closed the door behind her. The colt didn’t seem to notice her taking a seat to watch him. His mind-body exercise continued till his eyes opened and he spotted her. He froze for a moment, then relaxed, seeming to recognize her.
“Sorry,” Celestia said. “I didn’t want to interrupt. Feeling better?”
The foal prattled out in his chirping gibberish. It had the rhythm of language, but was like nothing she had ever heard. Looking to the lunch tray, she was happy to see it picked mostly clean, if not a little crudely. Bits of food scattered about gave the appearance he had forgone the fork and spoon, and plunged his muzzle directly into the bowls. The glass was still full though; the ice long melted, but bits of lemon, lime and orange still floated about.
Giving up on words, Celestia used her magic to pick up the stray bits of food that had fallen off the tray. With the bedside tidied, she took the glass in her magic, and turned to offer it to the foal—who was looking at her like she’d just casually picked the whole castle up, and sat it back down. She wouldn’t call it fear though, just raw astonishment: that was some improvement. Smiling, she offered the glass up to the foal to drink.
The colt retreated a half step as the glass neared him, but his eyes fixed with longing to the water inside. A smacking of dry lips against dry tongue told her he was painfully thirsty. ‘Why did he not drink it earlier?’
Tilting the glass towards his lips, she offered him the water. She could see the fight of fear versus need in his head, but finally the need won out. Screwing up his courage, the foal inched forward till his lips were to the cup. She expected him to take it in his hooves, she wouldn't have been surprised if he had used his magic, but instead he just sat there waiting for her to feed him.
‘What have they done to you?’
Slowly she tilted the glass, letting the colt drink deeply. She watched his eyes for any sign of when she should stop, but the glass emptied first, a little wedge of orange tumbling down and hitting his nose. Looking cross-eyed at the offending fruit, he sucked it into his mouth, then spit out the rind before backing away from the cup. She couldn’t help but grin at the foal’s contented smile.
“Better?”
The foal chirped something, then gave her a little bow. The words were lost to her, but she understood a “Thank you,” nonetheless.
They sat again in silence for a moment. The foal no longer wilting under her stare, she took the opportunity to get a proper look at him. Her first guess of age had been a bit young, but not by much. Healthy and well proportioned, the olive and brown colt would grow into a handsome stallion. His eyes, now free of fear, were bright and inquisitive, examining her as intently as she was him. When his gaze fixed on her horn, it lingered there longer than it had the rest of her. The tilt in his head made his curiosity almost comical.
Leaning towards the bed, she lowered her head, till her horn was next to him. He seemed almost reverent towards her horn. She had expected him to touch it, but he only studied it with his eyes. After a moment, he backed away. Pointing a hoof to her horn, he made a little gesture, then reached up and touched his own horn. It was a question, “Am I the same?”
Dumbfounded, Celestia sat back upright. She swallowed a lump in her throat, and nodded. ‘He has never seen another unicorn? What kind of life has he had, to not know his own tribe? He must have thought himself strange.’ There was some relief in seeing that he understood her nod as a yes, but it did little to slow her mind in imagining what kind of neglect the foal must have endured.
She needed to take him down to the clinic. He looked healthy, but she wanted a professional to confirm it. If they found signs of long term abuse; she would personally flip Canterlot upside down to find the monster that had done it.
Holding her forehooves out, she beckoned for the foal to let her pick him up. “Let’s go for a walk. You probably want to run around a bit anyway.”
The foal gave her an apprehensive glance. He hadn’t understood her words, but the body language was clear. Celestia feared he would slip back into his catatonic state, but whatever trust she had built with him let him step into her forelegs.
With a gentle motion, she lifted him off the bed, and set him on the floor. His legs wobbled a bit before firming up beneath him. Looking up at the world around him, his eyes went wide and his breath quickened. Celestia knew a panic attack when she saw one: Twilight had given her all the education she needed there. Giving the foal space, she sat down, making herself as still and calm as possible.
‘He had been comfortable up on the bed, but as soon as he was on the floor, he panicked.’ Celestia chewed over what that could mean, while the colt regained himself. Soon enough, he looked up at her, and chirped out something. Striding over to the door, she opened it, and motioned for him to follow.
The colt sighed, giving the door a steely look. One step, then another: he had neither rhythm nor grace in his gait. Slowly, he made his way past her, and out into the hall.
Again Celestia’s mind swam. ‘Did they lock him in a box all his life?’ Taking a knee, she motioned for him to climb on her back, but a shake of his head told her he wanted to walk himself. ‘Yes, I suppose he would rather walk.’
The lengthy walk from the guest rooms to the clinic did the foal good. His stride had evened out, and curiosity of the world around him overtook any immediate fears. The evening hour had left the halls thankfully unpopulated. He shuffled closer to Celestia when they passed anypony in the hall, but he kept moving despite his trepidation.
When they reached the clinic, he either didn’t recognize what the office was, or didn’t care. He perked up at the sight of toys piled in a corner of the waiting room, and left her side to rummage through them as she spoke to the nurse.
The nurse fidgeted, looking back to the examination rooms. “The doctor is with somepony right now, he’ll be out in a few minutes... Unless of course you need him now, then I can pull him out of the room for you.”
“It is not an emergency. Take all the time you need,” she said, signing the paper the nurse had given her.
Taking a seat on one of the cushions, Celestia watched the colt search for something in the foals’ corner. Bright toys were shoved aside as he made his way for something at the bottom of the clutter. A second later she saw his prey, a little stack of books that had been forgotten beneath the toys. He fumbled with them for a moment, before managing to pick one up in his fetlock.
‘Why didn’t he just pick it up with his hooves or teeth?’ she wondered as he hobbled on three legs back to her. Laying the book on the edge of the cushion, he looked up at her with a mixture of embarrassment and expectation.
Celestia smiled. Taking the book in her magic, she patted the cushion for him to sit between her forelegs. The floating book dazzled him for a moment, but soon he took the offered spot, and settled in.
The book was more appropriate for a foal half his age. Big pictures with simple subject-verb sentences. The kind of thing used to teach the language, more so than reading…
‘Clever colt.’
Laying the book in front of him, she carefully read each page. Pointing to the parts of the picture that were relevant to each word. Occasionally he would stop her to point at something and repeat whatever she had just said. His voice was forced, the words pronounced mechanically. She had to coach him through some of the finer phonetics, but he seemed to catch on fast. By the time they were halfway through the book, he seemed to have a firm grasp on the words: dog, pony, filly, colt, and run.
“The doctor is ready for you now, Princess,” the nurse announced.
The colt, seeming to understand what was going on. Standing, he took a few steps towards the nurse before checking to make sure Celestia was following him. He stayed close to her as they went into the examination room, but showed no other signs of being nervous.
“Who do we have here?” the doctor asked, following them into the room.
“The guards found him alone this morning. We can’t find his parents, and I have come to suspect he may have been abused. He speaks no language I’ve ever heard, and I don’t think he has ever been allowed to interact with other ponies.”
The doctor’s happy manner wilted. “Poor guy. He doesn't understand Equestrian?” he asked, looking to Celestia.
“No, but he seems pretty sharp on understanding body language.”
Moving over to the examination table, the doctor’s magic pulled a stepping stool next to it. Recovering his smile, he met the colt’s eyes, and patted the table. “Can you come up here on your own?”
The doctor watched him attempt the steps. His movements were clumsy, the colt having to look at each of his four hooves to get them to go where he wanted. With a few moments’ struggle, he managed to sit atop the table.
The doctor’s horn lit up, its magic pooling across the foal’s coat. The colt twitched and fidgeted with nerves, occasionally giggling at an accidental tickle, but he took the examination as well as he could have hoped. “Do you know his name?”
Celestia perked up at the question, then deflated a bit. “No.”
“I need a name for his medical records.” The light of his horn went out. Moving a little to be in the center of the colt’s vision, he tapped a hoof to his chest. “Doctor Glow,” he said, then pointed to Celestia. “Princess Celestia.” Then he pointed to the colt, and waited for him to answer.
He got a confused look before the spark of realization lit up his eyes. He pointed to Celestia and recited a butchered pronunciation of her name, then did the same for the doctor. Placing his hoof against his own chest, he growled out a sound Celestia was certain she could not reproduce without magic. The doctor looked equally confused, but tried anyway. He gave up when the foal motioned for him to stop.
Looking to Celestia, he pointed to her and repeated her name, then pointed the hoof back at himself, but instead of making a sound, he raised both hooves and motioned for her to come closer. Perplexed, Celestia rose to her hooves and came closer, but the foal shook his head.
Doctor Glow scratched his chin. “Maybe he wants you to give him a name.”
Celestia looked at the foal in amazement. Her mind raced to find a name for him. He deserved a good one, something from the heart. That stallion from long ago, and his song of sunny days filtered back into her mind.
“Clover,” she said, a smile returning to her face.
The two stared at each other for a moment, before Celestia pointed at herself, and started the ceremony again. “Princess Celestia,” she said with careful diction, enunciating her name like she had the words in the book.
The foal repeated her name, this time with remarkable improvement.
Touching her hoof to the colt’s chest, she paused a moment. “Clover.”
Clover smiled. Pointing to himself, he repeated his new name.
“Well, Clover it is,” Doctor Glow said, scribbling the name into his notes. “Now let’s get you checked out.”
Clover frowned when a needle came floating towards him. He chirped something before stretching a foreleg out for the doctor, and hiding his eyes by pressing his face against Celestia.
“He’s a brave little one,” Doctor Glow said, taping Clover’s median vein, and filling a vial with his blood as quickly as he could. “There, all done.”
Celestia patted Clover on the back, letting him know it was over. She had to smile at the embarrassed look he gave her. The smile faded to concern when the doctor offered up a sucker to Clover. Instead of taking it in hoof like a normal foal, he gently clapped it between his hooves, before pulling the wrapper away with his teeth.
“I have yet to see him use his hooves to pick something up. He either does that, or uses his fetlock.”
Clover struggled with the sucker for a moment. When he finally got it in his mouth, he seemed unsure if he liked the sorghum pop, but after a second, the confused look changed to a satisfied smile.
With his magic, Glow pulled out a tongue depressor, and laid it on the table by Clover’s hooves. Reaching out with a hoof, Glow touched it with the bottom of his hoof. Clover’s face wrinkled in confusion as Doctor Glow lifted his foreleg, showing him the wooden stick stuck to his hoof. Setting the stick back down, he motioned for Clover to do the same.
Still confused, Clover mashed the stick against the table with his hoof. When he lifted his hoof, the stick remained on the table. Clover shrugged, not seeming surprised.
Again, Glow took the tongue depressor in his hoof. This time passing it to his other hoof before setting it back down.
Clover looked up to Celestia, confusion on his face. Slipping her shoe off, she held her own hoof up for him to see. Clover lifted his own hoof up, and pressed it to hers. She could see the focus in his eyes, willing his hoof to stick to hers, but nothing happened.
Celestia gripped his hoof, hoping he would understand better if he felt it. This was something yearlings taught themselves. Surely her clever colt could learn it; if he only knew he could do it.
Clover tugged lightly at her hold on his hoof. Not to try and escape it, but to test its feel and strength. When she released him, he looked at his own hoof, now in frustration instead of confusion. Again, he touched the stick, and lifted his hoof. Still, the stick lay on the table. Again and again he repeated the motion, his frustration building with each attempt.
Stopping, Clover closed his eyes and breathed. It was the same exercise she had watched him do earlier. Slowly, gently, he rested his hoof on the stick. His eyes still shut, he lifted his hoof and the stick with it. Opening his eyes, he grinned; and the stick fell to the ground.
Celestia laughed. She couldn’t help but hug the grumpy little colt.
Leaving the clinic with the tired colt on her back, Celestia felt better. Clover had no signs of broken bones or muscle damage, but the massive gaps in his development still worried her. Walking through the public hallways, the scent of food from the cafeteria reminded her that it was dinnertime. Luna was probably already sitting down to eat.
The smell reached Clover too. She could hear his stomach whine at the promise of food nearby. But he held still, neither squirming nor complaining over the hunger.
She made a quick path to the royal chambers. Greeting passing guards with only a friendly nod. Clover seemed desensitized to them by now, only reacting to one that had ran up to Celestia to deliver a message. Even then, he had only clung to her neck a bit tighter.
Inside the private chambers, Celestia lowered herself, letting Clover slide off her back. This was Celestia and Luna’s private suite. While the formal guest quarters could host a hundred nobles and their retinue, here they could only host dinner for a dozen, and sleep half that. Dignitaries were seldom welcome here, but friends always were. Cadence and Twilight both knew these rooms as well as they did their own homes. Twilight’s friends had been here enough that they no longer bothered asking before raiding the icebox.
With the public world on the other side of a locked door, she slipped off the regalia of state, from crown to shoes, and hung them on their purpose-made stand. In the other room, she could hear Merry Hearth humming and moving plates around.
“I brought a guest for the night. He’ll need a booster stool for dinner.”
“One step ahead of you dear,” the old earth pony answered.
“I told Merry you would be bringing the colt home,” Luna added.
Clover looked around the corner, then back to Celestia. He had that nervous, lost, expression again.
“Let’s go wash up,” she said, motioning for him to follow.
He stayed tight on her heels, as she made her way to the guests’ bathroom. Opening the old door, Celestia stepped off the wood floors of the hall, and onto the cool tile of the bathroom. She hadn’t gotten her hind legs onto the tile, before Clover shot past her, his head swiveling every direction in search of something. Spotting the toilet, he tilted his head, as if not quite sure what it was. He stood next to the recessed trough, and examined it and its two buttons. Squatting, in a rather lewd gesture, he pointed to the toilet, looking to her for some kind of answer.
‘Is he asking for permission, or has he never seen a toilet?’ Celestia nodded. The look of relief in Clover’s eyes almost made her laugh, but the worry in her heart muted it. Stepping back into the hall, she closed the door to give him privacy.
Luna walked from the reading room and into the hall as she waited by the door for Clover. “Merry tells me that dinner is ready.”
“Eep!” Clover’s voice screeched through the door. A clattering of hooves on tile, and the thud of a body hitting the floor jolted both the princesses. The door flung open with their combined magics, only its solid nature kept it from slivering.
“Are you okay?!” Celestia asked standing next to him in a leap.
The colt was splayed out on the floor next to the toilet, his face a mix of pain and confusion. He groaned, chirping something as embarrassment reddened his face. Celestia helped him to his hooves, as Luna looked to see what had happened.
“I do not see anything,” Luna said. “Other than he did not flush.” Stepping on the button, a blast of clean water washed the tinted water from the trough. The colt gave her a confused look. Regaining himself, he moved a bit closer to her: whether wary of her or the toilet, she wasn’t sure. Reaching a hoof out as if the device might bite, he pushed the bidet button. The little jet of water shooting into the air bewildered him for a moment, before the spark of realization hit him.
Luna and Celestia laughed.
“I believe he goosed himself,” Luna chuckled. “That would be a rather cold shock for the unprepared.”
Feeling the unease of the foal—Luna gave him some space, allowing her sister to help him up to wash his hooves. “I hear his caretakers are still missing and unknown. Has he spoken Equestrian yet?”
“Not that I can understand. He does not speak Equestrian, or any language I have ever heard. However, we've had some success with communication nonetheless.” Celestia paused, scruffing his mane with her hoof, she gave Luna a toothy smile. “I named him Clover, while we were in the clinic.”
Luna watched silently, as her sister doted on the foal, showing him how to wash his hooves, running a brush through his mane, and even taking a damp towel to his face. The foal… Clover took the mothering in stride, prattling in his native tongue all the while. The tone sounding like complaining and protests, but he withstood the assault as best one could expect a young colt to.
Celestia was right. Whatever language the foal spoke, she’d never heard anything like it. Leaving the two, she made her way to the dining room. ‘She named him Clover,’ she mused to herself. To give a name was to give a little bit of yourself.
‘Clover, be gentle with her heart. May the shadows of your past stay lost, and the amnesia of youth reap freely.’
Taking her seat at the table, Luna settled into her cushion, and smiled at Merry Hearth. “They shall be along shortly.”
Merry Hearth nodded. Pulling the greens off the stove, she poured them into the serving bowl. With the last of the meal on the table, she sat herself down next to Luna to wait for Celestia and her ward for the day.
“Sleep well?” she asked Luna. “Your afternoon nap seemed a bit short today.”
“Between Hearth's Warming coming up, and this abandoned foal, my mind had a hard time letting me sleep.”
Merry straightened a few things on the table with her hoof. “Tomorrow should be quiet. Hopefully you will catch up on your rest.”
“Sorry,” Celestia said walking into the room, the foal hiding behind her legs. “You should have started without us.” Spotting the booster stool, she helped Clover take his seat, before taking her usual spot across from her sister.
The foal sat politely on his raised cushion, as Celestia floated his serving onto his plate. Merry could tell he was nervous, but given the company, it was normal. His eyes darted around the table with hungry intent. The colt was hungry, but he dared not move without instruction. That kind of discipline wasn’t natural for a little one.
She wasn't going to ask though, she was sure they'd had enough of that for the day already. Dinner was a time for pleasant conversation. “Tomorrow, I think I’m going to start putting out the Hearth's Warming decorations. Any suggestions for this year?”
Luna hummed while taking an ample portion of the alfalfa and fescue salad. “I think a small tree in the parlor would be nice, something simple.”
Deciding Clover needed his share of healthy food, Celestia added a serving of the salad to the colt’s plate. “As long as I get some of your eggnog and ginger snapps, I’m happy.” Looking to her own plate, Celestia served herself some fried tofu, before dipping the sprouts in chili sauce. “Although, it has been a while since we had the train around the tree.”
Merry nodded. Reaching for a biscuit, she moved the foal’s drink a bit closer to him; adjusting the straw so he could drink from it without having to pick it up. He was at the age that tended to complain about sippy cups, but not quite old enough to be completely trusted with holding a glass. “There you go. Make that easier on you.”
He gave her a smile and nod, but held his silence. “He’s a quiet one.”
“Clover doesn't speak any language we know.” Celestia frowned, realising she wasn’t sure how well the foal could feed himself. Memories of the lunch tray came back to her; he probably had eaten straight out of the bowls with his muzzle. Taking a fork in hoof, she motioned for him to see if he could do the same.
The fork would stick, with the utmost concentration, but as soon as he tried to pick anything up with it, it would clatter to the plate. Celestia watched him try for the fourth time to use the fork, she could feel his frustration turning to anger. When, again, the fork tumbled out of his grasp, she took it into her magic. He recoiled from the golden aura for a second, but then relaxed, giving her a confused look.
Spearing some of Clover’s boiled greens, Celestia floated it up to his mouth. He sulked for a moment, mumbling something. With a sigh, his composure slipped into that of one consigned to their fate, and opened his mouth for the floating fork.
Merry had to smile as the foal’s embarrassment gave way for a moment: perking up, he made a happy little humm as he chewed.
“I believe you have another fan,” Luna said, giving Merry a little salute with her fork.
The fresh grass was met with less acceptance. His glare at the floating food seemed to question whether it was actually edible. Leaning forward, he took only a nibble of the offered tuft. His face scrunched up as his jaw worked on it own accord. With a shrug, he took the rest of the offered grass.
Celestia ate with fork in hoof, while feeding Clover with the other. Luna had to admit it was an impressive show of multitasking. She let dinner stay quiet, till Clover eased back, and refused more food. “Tomorrow, what will you do if the parents are not found?”
“After three days, he is a ward of the crown.” Celestia fumbled with her food for a moment. “I do not think many would be able to offer him the care he needs to adjust.”
Luna held in any response; whatever decision her sister made about the foal had to be her own. “Thank you for the meal, Merry. I should be in for the usual breakfast. I’ll take my midnight snack in the cafeteria though. The night guards are having a birthday party for Ipomoea, I will eat with them there.”
Rising from her cushion, Luna smiled and gave Clover a nod farewell before doing the same to her sister. “Goodnight to you, Sister. Sleep well.”
The worried frown jumped off Celestia, replaced with a warm smile. “Have a good night. I hope it goes well.”
With the sounds of the balcony doors closing, Celestia looked at her plate one last time, before deciding she was full. “Thank you Merry,” she said walking over to Clover, and helping him down from the stool. “A wonderful meal as always.”
Merry Hearth stood up and gathered some of the bowls. “Thank you. I’ll make the first room ready for the little one, after I have the dishes cleaned.”
Nodding her thanks, Celestia smiled down at Clover. She could feel anxiety under his facade of calm, but it was still an improvement over when she had met him. ‘If only he could talk.’ Turning, she headed into the Great Room.
Clover followed her without prompt. In the library, she scanned the shelves for something useful. Twilight always had a better mind for finding the right book for any problem. Movement caught her attention. Looking towards it, Clover had ventured away from her. He was pacing the shelves one by one, carefully checking the spine of each book, but never seeming to find what he was looking for. ‘What is he is looking for? Something in his native language? Or is he just imitating me?’
A large book on a half-filled shelf caught her attention. It was a collection of famous photographs; a gift from Twilight to Luna. Taking the book in her magic, she waited by the door, till Clover had given up his search, and rejoined her.
Again he paused to gawk at the floating book and the glow around her horn. Going cross-eyed, he looked up at his own horn, as if expecting it to be glowing too. Celestia chuckled, and patted him with a wing. This was a curiosity she was used to. “I will teach you about that too, if you like. First we must teach you Equestrain.”
Heading back into the Great Room, she lead him to a great lounging pillow beside the fireplace. Laying the book open on the overstuffed futon, Celestia lay down, patting the pillow for Clover to join her. She had to suppress a giggle as Clover waddled and crawled his way across the fluffy cushion.
Taking a seat next to her, Clover looked at the open pages. She watched his eyes scan the two pictures. When he had seemed to absorb all he could she flipped the page. The image of a hot air balloon captured his attention, but it was not the bright red balloon against blue sky that held his gaze, but the pegasi flying around it.
“Pegasus,” she said, pointing to one of the flying ponies. She let him repeat the word, then pointed to the dramatically poised bowl of oats on the next page. “Oats.”
The next few pages didn’t offer any simple vocabulary lessons. With Clover against her chest, she watched over him as he looked on one page after another. As they made their way through the book, Clover’s head scanned the pages slower and slower. Celestia closed the book, and put it away when his head finally rested motionless on the pillow.
Resting her head inches from his, she closed her eyes, and listened to him breathe.
A presence woke Celestia. The sun was not yet ready to rise, but it would have woken her up soon anyway. Lifting her head, she looked across the dark room. In the doorway, Luna stood, watching with that eerie serenity of hers.
Luna’s voice softly broke the morning silence. “Please be careful with your heart.”
Celestia smiled. “I will,” she whispered. She started to shift her weight to stand, but the foal wrapped around her foreleg stopped her: he was out cold. Slowly, carefully, she pulled herself free of his clutch, and floated a blanket over him before sitting up.
“I do not wish to see you heart broken.” Luna sat next to the futon, and watched the colt sleep. “Perhaps today we will find out where he came from.”
Running a hoof over his mane, Celestia sighed. “I’m not sure I want to know.”
“What are your intentions for the foal?” Luna asked.
Celestia walked in silence to the balcony doors. Motioning for Luna to follow, she eased the great doors open. Stepping out onto the balcony, Celestia looked over the dusky city. “I miss having a foal around.”
Luna snorted.
“What? I was never that bad,” Celestia said, defending herself from Luna’s laughter.
Looking her sister in the eye, Luna suppressed her chuckles. “You invented the ward to keep ponies, not five years past puberty’s start, out of rooms.”
“That spell keeps foals safe from wandering into dangerous places.”
“You put it on the front door.”
Celestia rolled her eyes. “Princess Platinum’s foals were a bunch of little shits.”
Luna laughed again. “They were not that bad. How you convinced them the spell was a curse, and that you could not undo it, I will never know.”
The old memory brought a snicker to Celestia. “I blamed it on Discord.”
“Do not let him know that, he would think 'twas funny.” Luna watched her night bleed from the city. When the familiar tingle of dawn nagged at her mind, she laid the moon to rest. She took a certain pride in the long nights of winter, but the cold sunrises always made her ache for the summer. “I can watch him for a while today. Perfect Diction owes me a favor. I shall call it in; to have him tutor the foal in the afternoons.”
Looking to her sister, Celestia raised an eyebrow. “What did you do to get him in your debt?”
“I have been teaching him Old Houyhnhnm.”
“Ahh, that would do it.”
Clover’s voice yelled out from the great room. It was a muffled, pitiful sort of sound, that made them look back into the room with curiosity, but little urgency. His cheeks streaked with tears, Clover sat mumbling to himself. He jumped at Celestia’s approach, not seeming to recognize her.
Curling into a ball, he closed his eyes and whimpered.
Celestia's eyes misted over as the approached the foal. “This is how they found him,” she said lying down next to Clover, letting her wing cover him completely. “What could have done this?” she asked, looking up to Luna.
The foal beneath her sister’s wing went quiet. He wiggled under the cover, until he was pressed against her as tight as he could. “I do not know; but he seems to find comfort in you.”
A clacking of pans in the kitchen drew Luna’s attention. “Merry is up. I will make us coffee.”
Humming a light tune, Celestia let the foal calm for a few minutes, before shifting her wing to reveal his head. Clover gave her a sheepish smile. He looked… embarrassed and defeated.
“It’s okay,” she cooed, pulling him into a wing hug. He stiffened at the affection, but after mumbling something, relaxed into it. She thought he had gone back to sleep, when his nose twitched. Perking his head up, he sniffed the air.
Following his lead, Celestia took in a breath. ‘Coffee.’
Clover wiggled free of her embrace, and stumbled to the floor. She watched him follow his nose towards the kitchen. His gait was better than the day before, but still looked awkward.
When the last drops of coffee fall into the carafe, Luna floated up the pot, and filled three mugs. Taking the mugs to the table, the clack of little hooves drew her attention. Clover half stumbled, half walked towards her. His entranced expression clashed with the tear-soaked fur on his cheeks. Setting by the counter, he looked from her to the coffee machine, and back. Raising his forelegs, he motioned as if he was holding a cup between his hooves.
Luna pointed to the carafe. “You want coffee?”
Clambering up on the booster stool, Clover rested his elbows on the table, and again mimicked a cup between his hooves.
Looking to Celestia as she came into the room, Luna shrugged. “He wants coffee,” she said, pouring a fourth cup.
Celestia watched as Luna slid the mug in front of him. All but sticking his muzzle into the cup, he breathed in the steam. An honest smile creased his lips. Normally she’d object to giving coffee to a foal, but she held silent. Luna hovered the cream and sugar by for him, but he held up a hoof, seeming to ask for a moment.
Carefully, slowly, he pressed a hoof the either side of the mug; working the tip of his hoof into the handle. With zen-like focus he lifted the mug to his lips, blew, then took a tiny sip. Setting the coffee back down, he held still for a moment. Finally nodding in approval, he waved away the floating cream and sugar.
Setting the cream and sugar by Celestia’s seat, Luna chuckled. “I am impressed. He knows not to ruin good coffee.”
Celestia smirked. "Little traitor,” she said, doctoring her coffee till it was the creamy sweet treat she loved so much.
Celestia straightened her desk, and turned off the light. With the work day done, she could finally go check up on Clover.
Walking into the hall, the door guards saluted her.
“At ease. The sun set ten minutes ago.”
The guards relaxed a bit, giving her a soft smile. “Still no word on where the foal came from, your Majesty. Princess Luna left him in the care of the dean of language, before retiring for the afternoon,” the guard told her.
She expected the lesson to have only lasted an hour or so. There was nopony at the college that she didn’t trust implicitly, so she hadn't worried about him. But now that she had time to think, she was rather curious what they had found to keep him occupied in the hours since then.
“Where is he now?”
“Still with the dean.”
“Really?” Walking towards the nearest balcony, Celestia unfurled her wings. “I have to see this.” Perfect Diction was a good pony, but just a bit curmudgeonly. Private lessons with a foal would be beneath him in most cases; she knew it was only a personal favor to Luna that had gotten him to agree. Even then, she only expected succinct ninety minute lessons.
Landing outside the language hall, Celestia entered the old building. One of the smaller halls on the campus, not a tenth the size of the magic hall, but still a noble building. Empty of students and faculty, she walked in silence towards the dean’s office. Perfect Diction’s voice chanted something from inside. She couldn’t make out the words, but every repetition was punctuated by a smaller voice repeating it.
The room went silent as Celestia pushed the door open. Perfect Diction gave her a polite bow.
Clover waved, saying “Hello” with a thick accent.
Diction looked from her to the colt. “I will work on the pronunciation later.”
Celestia’s face lit up at the greeting. Trotting over to Clover, she gave him a wing hug. “Hello to you too.” Releasing the colt, she looked to Diction. “How long have you two been here?”
The question surprised Diction. “We started after lunch. What time is it?”
“About five.”
The old stallion jumped at the answer, letting out one of his wry chuckles. “Time flies when you’re having fun.”
This time Celestia was struck with the wry laughter. “I was afraid you would resent foalsitting.”
Diction nodded his head. “Oh, I groused about it all morning. I didn’t realize he really didn’t speak any known language though.”
“Why would that matter?”
“Because I’ve never taught a language without translation. It’s quite the rare challenge. Outside of yearlings anyway, and they teach themselves.” Seeing the lack of understanding in the Princess’s eyes, Diction scratched his chin in thought. “Without words, how would you explain want.”
Celestia pondered the question. Want, was a simple idea; one that yearlings learned early. Constant repetition of the question of “Do you want?” let them pick apart its meaning. To teach it in a classroom was another thing.
“I do not know,” she finally answered.
“You can not. You teach the nouns and verbs you can, and let him deduce the less tangible ones. The trick is to give him the right structure to be able to find the pattern.”
Looking back to Clover, Celestia smiled. The colt was studying their every word. “I’m glad you are enjoying the challenge, Professor Diction.”
“This will make for a wonderful paper a year from now. He is a bright colt, and he has a discipline I wish my morning class had. Not to mention, he seems to speak some language I have never heard. I intend to stay in his favor, so I can have him teach it to me.”
“Quid pro quo,” Celestia mused.
“Everything in life is quid pro quo, your majesty. Most ponies just refuse to call it what it is.”
Celestia nodded. She’d had this conversation before, she wasn’t going to start it again. “Is there anything I could do to help him learn faster?”
“The usual things you do with a yearling. Do not dumb down your vocabulary, but use simple sentence structure. Try teaching him some magic, he might be able to express himself more that way. Not to mention getting him writing will be easier with magic.”
“Teach without words?”
Diction gave her a little bow. “Mae'n sialens addas i Dywysoges.”
Celestia scoured her memory for the old words; Luna was always the better linguist. “I suppose it is.”
Having made a schedule for Clover to visit the dean a few days a week, Celestia bid him farewell. Clover seemed tired, but in that healthy way. His gait was still awkward, but didn’t slow him down much.
Perfect Diction’s suggestion ran through her mind as she lead Clover back outside into the cold night. She had only seen his horn spark that one time. She should have seen more errant magic from the colt by now. Perhaps it was a challenge best suited for her.
A gentle snowfall interrupted her thoughts. Coming to a slow stop, Celestia looked back at Clover. He was getting cold. Kneeling down, she motioned for him to get on her back. She smiled as he clambered on without hesitation. She had a little time before dinner would be ready. As Clover snuggled into place, Celestia strode off campus, and over to market street. She would have flown, but she needed to test the foal’s reaction to that first. Maybe something else to do tomorrow.
Rounding a corner, she found herself on the great road that divided the market district: four carts could travel abreast on it, from the train station to the castle gates. A scenic walk at any time, but the Hearth’s Warming season made it a living wonderland.
Clover shifted on her back. She could feel his head looking every direction at the sights. Thick cloth and bright buttons filled the haberdasheys window displays, reminding her of how cold Clover had been a moment ago. ‘I should ask Rarity to make him a winter coat.’ The thought put a mischievous grin on her face. The request would send the girls into a frenzy of speculation.
The warm glow from a familiar shop caught her attention as she neared the castle. The trip hadn’t taken long, she had enough time to stop and get a treat.
“Good evening your highness,” Joe said with a bow. Trotting up to the counter, he looked to the foal on her back. “Who’s this little guy?”
Celestia was proud of Clover for not wincing at the loud, friendly stallion. “This is Clover. He is under my care for a while; maybe longer.”
Joe didn’t ask for any specifics, he never did. He knew pleasant conversation, and stuck to it. Honestly, it was the main reason she came here over the fancier places. “I would like a hot cocoa to go, please,” she said, floating two bits out from her torc. “And put a straw in it.”
Wandering back out into the snow, Celestia traded sips of the cocoa with Clover as they made their way back home.
“Another wonderful meal, Merry Hearth. Thank you.” Celestia said, standing from the table.
Luna poked one last bite of kimchi into her mouth before standing herself. “Indeed. I will be flying an extra lap around the city tonight.” Leaning over, she helped Clover down from his stool; her muzzle wrinkling as she sat him back on the ground. “I think he is a bit overdue for a shower.”
“I suppose you are right,” Celestia said, looking at the colt’s oily coat. “I also need to pick which room will be his.”
Luna paused. “You have decided to speak for him, should nopony claim him tomorrow?”
Running a hoof through Clover’s mane, Celestia watched him in silence for a moment. “If you would do me the honor of volunteering me, I would like to accept the responsibility.”
Luna met her sister’s eyes with a stoic expression. “You are sure of this? You wish to give this foal a special place in our home and your heart?”
Celestia’s expression flickered as she looked down at Clover. She wanted to set things right for him. She wanted to see him flourish. “I want to call him my son.”
A soft smile spread across Luna’s muzzle. Her sister had said it of her own free will. Luna could finally voice her own opinions without fear of influencing her. “I could think of no pony better. We will need Twilight or Cadence there too.”
“Thank you,” Celestia said with a little nod. “I will send Twilight a letter, after I get Clover washed.”
Luna let out a mischievous chuckle. “Thank me when he’s old enough to move out.”
Bidding her sister a good night, Celestia lead Clover to one of the guest bathrooms. He seemed familiar with the shower’s workings, and once she had shown him where the soap was, he made signs that he wished to shower in private.
Leaving Clover to himself, Celestia wandered into the reading room. Picking up a fresh scroll, she sat down at the writing desk.
--- Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle,
There is a minor function of state I need you to perform the day after tomorrow. Please ask Rarity to also come, as I need a winter coat made for a foal that is in my care. All of your friends are welcome of course. I look forward to seeing you.
Your friend, Celestia. ---
Rolling the letter up, she let her magic consume it. Celestia sighed, Twilight had grown so much under her wings. One of Twilight’s old letters caught her eye, picking it up, she reread the old memory.
Finishing another letter, the hiss of the shower nagged at Celestia’s mind. ‘How long have I been reading?’
Making her way back to the bathroom, Celestia eased into the steamy room. More steam billowed into the room as she slid open the shower door. She could barely see the motionless Clover, sitting between the two shower streams, his head pressed against the wall as scalding water ran down his head and back. Reaching out with her magic, she shut the water off.
One ear swiveled towards her, but the rest of him held still. Old healing spells ran through her mind: burns were tricky. She touched him lightly with her magic, shedding the water from his coat in sheets, feeling for damage. He ignored her for a moment, before curiosity made him watch the spell’s work. The usual wonder was gone though, only a grunt and a sad smile. Beneath his coat, his hide was cherry pink, but he was fine, no burns.
He mumbled something as he stood up: she could only guess it was a half-hearted thank you. Trudging over to the sink, he looked up at her with dull eyes. Baring his teeth, he made a brushing motion with his hoof.
Opening a drawer, Celestia pulled out a fresh toothbrush and unwrapped it. She went ahead and added a dollop of toothpaste to it before floating it to him. He took the offered brush in hoof with little effort: he’d obviously been practicing. It wasn’t enough to let him use the brush though. His grip just wasn’t strong enough for the scrubbing motion. After a few failed attempts, he gave up and used his fetlock to hold the toothbrush. It looked awkward to her, but Clover seemed comfortable with the method.
Hoofing the brush back to her, Clover used the shower faucet to rinse his mouth before she could offer him help getting up to the sink. She would need to get a step stool in here for him as well as a scald-guard for the shower.
Drying his face again, she pondered his sudden melancholy. She needed something to distract him. The thought of a late-night flight again came to mind, but she brushed it away. It was too cold for him to enjoy it, even if she could get him to let her take him up.
Standing, she motioned for him to follow her into her bedroom. Walking over to her dressing mirror, she sat down facing it, and motioned for Clover to sit between her and the mirror. With a little adjusting, Celestia and Clover sat looking at themselves in a mirror just a hoof’s reach away. Clover seemed uncomfortable with the arrangement, but held still. The details of his face distracting him from the moment.
Celestia cleared her throat; getting Clover’s attention as she lit her horn with unpurposed magic. Looking back at him through the mirror, she motioned for him to try the same. Shrugging his shoulders, he grumbled something at her.
‘Not going to be that easy,’ she thought.
An idea came to mind, she hoped it would end with the colt discovering something special about himself, and not just scaring him witless. She formed a simple spell, then let it leap out and attach to Clover.
Golden sparks of magic crackled around his horn, making motes of Clover’s emerald magic jump out in response. He yelped at the sensation, backing into her legs as he stared at her in the mirror. Feeling the colt’s magic clashing against her own, she tuned her aura to echo Clover’s; letting the green sparks mellow into a dull glow.
It was an old trick; offer a mild threat to the unicorn’s magic, and it would respond with its own will. A simple way to see what color a foal’s magic would be, and to get a feel for a young pony’s natural ability.
Clover let out a nervous giggle. She watched him reach up and touch his horn, staring intently at his reflection. He relaxed by degrees, but his ears stayed pinned back. She knew even with her skilled touch, the involuntary magic would be itchy. He seemed more interested than bothered at the moment, so she let the spell linger a bit longer.
Her curiosity piqued when Clover settled into a meditative pose and took a deep breath. His eyes took on a glassy look as they focused on the light of his horn. The emerald light flickered, faded, then redoubled. There was no pattern or form to the magic, but there was will. Letting her spell drop, she watched to see what Clover would do.
With her spell’s antagonistic force gone, his horn flared with raw magic. It was nothing compared to what Twilight had done—only the reflexive flare of magic, but still impressive for his young age. More impressive was his concentration. The light and sound did little to break his meditation. His horn relighting with an unsteady crackle as soon as the flare faded.
She felt the colt’s magic even out, shift, then fluctuate. There was a pattern to it. He was doing exactly what she had hoped he would: use the mirror as a feedback tool.
It occurred to her that he had been formally trained in meditation and mind-body awareness. Whoever had kept him these years, had neglected so much, yet taught him how to focus and meditate. It was a riddle she wanted to know the answer to.
Celestia stumbled into the kitchen, the smell of breakfast keeping her from hiding under the covers for another half hour.
“Clover still asleep?” she asked, seeing only Luna and Merry at the table. Not that she'd fault him for sleeping in—like she wanted to.
Luna sat her coffee down to face her sister. “He was awake when I came home. Seemed to be in one of his melancholy moods. He was just sitting there, watching the toy train go around the tree.”
A little frown played across Celestia’s lips, only deepening as she looked back towards the guest rooms. “He seemed tired when I put him to bed.”
Luna shrugged. “I made him some sedating tea, then put him back in bed.”
Sitting at the table, Celestia sighed, but managed to gave Merry a smiling nod as she served her up a plate of golden hash browns. “I think Clover was something’s experiment.”
Merry and Luna both stared at Celestia.
“The poor thing,” Merry Hearth said.
Luna chewed for a moment before speaking. “An experiment in what?”
“I do not know, but it has become apparent that he has been both neglected, and deeply trained. I thought he was just quiet, but last night I discovered he had mind-body training.”
The room was quiet as Celestia picked at her meal. “Perhaps it is better that he is asleep right now. Luna... I-”
“I have tried that already. He is not receptive to me. Forcing my way in could do more harm than good,” Luna interrupted. Pushing herself from the table, she rose to her hooves. “But there is a trick I could try.”
Celestia watched Luna walk to her chambers. Looking back to her meal, she ate it for the sake of Merry Hearth. There was nothing she could do for either Luna or Clover right now.
Luna fetched a bundle of incense and a burner from her room. If she was going to have to force her way into the foal’s mind, she would use the softest tools she could. Shared sensations would obfuscate her within his mind, and smell was the most powerful sense to the subconscious.
Back in the colt’s room, she let the scent of sandalwood and jasmine permeate the space before lighting her horn. Looking down at the colt, she let her mind slip into its trance state, blurring the line between wake and sleep. Touching his mind, she met the wall of will that kept her out.
Every sapient creature had this wall; it was the surface tension that kept the self separate from the collective. Some were thicker, some were thinner. Ponies were naturally inclined to be thin, a side effect of their herd nature. Griffons on the other hoof, were all but immune to anything less than her full force. There were of course exceptions; every race had their weak and strong willed individuals.
Clover fidgeted in his sleep as Luna pressed against the colt’s will; he was already fighting her. There would be no slipping in quietly or passive welcome. She blanked out her own thoughts, and focused on the smell of the incense. She could have punched through his defenses: he was strong, but not extraordinarily so. However such a brute force method would plunge him into a night terror, leaving her with little to work with inside a dream, and possibly scaring the foal for weeks if not years.
There was no getting around giving the foal nightmares. She could feel them bubbling up within him already, but she refused to brew them into full night terrors. She made herself small and quiet. She had to fade into background noise, become hard for Clover’s mind to pick out from his own consciousness.
The world slipped away from Luna as she pried, picked, and snuck her way into Clover’s nightmare.
The dreamer’s world was tiny. No forests, fields, or even houses. Only a single room existed within. It was small and stuffy, but not unpleasant. This was the dream of a memory, not the whimsical construct of the subconscious. She had hoped for the latter, those were fluid, she could change those, use them as tools. This was as solid as reality; she could only watch, and at best, speak to the dreamer in hopes to try and snap them out of the memory.
Dull light from the windows gave it the illusion of morning, but nothing existed past the curtains. Clover had either forgotten, or didn’t want to remember what lay beyond. The door out of the room was also false. Clover himself was in his bed, the blanket pulled over his head. Dread rose from him like so much smoke in the dreamscape. What he was hiding from, was the mystery.
A hushed conversation on the other side of the door drew her attention. The words were mush, but the emotion was clear: dread and sorrow. The whole dream buzzed with foreboding as something on the other side of the door opened it, and shattered the dreamscape.
Luna found herself somewhere else, the cloying smell of funeral flowers filling her nose. The room was empty, except for her and a closed casket. Confusion swam in her mind, she couldn’t look away from it. All of her senses had become slave to the memory. She had gone too deep, no longer watching the dream, but part of it.
Quieting her mind, she let the dream take her.
‘This is his mother.’ she knew. A memory not her own nagged at her, another casket, from an earlier time, ‘that had been his father’.
Behind her a voice cried out in anguish. The dream turned to face the sound, but faded to black before they came into sight.
Luna kept herself as small as possible in the darkness. The dream had ran its course, and Clover was in dreamless sleep for the moment. Centering herself, Luna reached out to the foal’s mind, feeling for memories. There were too many memories, and none of them in their proper place. His mind was more than jumbled, there was real damage here.
With no memories to use as a seed for a dream, Luna pulled from herself the sensation of peace. She wanted to see where his mind would take them to match the feeling.
Clover’s mind filled the blank space of his sleep, with the image of her sister, memories of the great room and its fireplace soon completed the scene. Clover’s entire being relaxed as his affection for Celestia gave the dream a surreal appearance, but a quiver of confusion also ran through the dream.
The confusion worried her. Letting go of the rest of his mind, she focused on that single emotion. She searched for its origin, and was pleasantly surprised at how close the cause was.
‘He is confused by his own feelings.’ The foal was embarrassed that he had attached himself so freely to her sister.
Luna smiled, both in body, and within the dream. Unraveling her magic from Clover, she left him to dream the soft dream, and stepped back out into the hall.
“Well?” Celestia asked.
“I could not control his dreams, but I can tell you he has buried both his parents, and I feel he is several years older than he appears: at least seven, maybe ten. There is some very real damage to his psyche. It would be a bad idea for me to press further upon him.”
Celestia's heart hung heavy. Instead of answers, she had found only more questions. Questions with implications she did not like. “Do you think he went mustang; after he was orphaned? Malnutrition would explain his size, but where would he have learned meditation or that strange language?”
"Living in the wild would answer several questions," Luna said, returning to her coffee. "His language could be entirely self created, or perhaps he took up with some creatures we do not know about. How he found his way into the middle of Canterlot is still a mystery, but his fear of other ponies makes sense." Taking a long drink, Luna gathered her thoughts. "As for meditation, I suspect it was something his mother taught him, and he used it as a coping tool in the wild. I would not be surprised if he gets his mark in something related to it."
Celestia hung her head, she had already failed him. Mustangs happened, but It was one thing for an adult to spurn society. Some wholesomely preferred the lifestyle, others used it as an escape from hardship. But for a foal to have wandered into the wild: that was her failing to serve her little ponies.
“Twilight wrote me back. She and Rarity will be here tonight.”
Luna nodded. “Sergent Green Bean has offered to watch Clover whenever needed; till he returns to his farm in the spring. I shall ask him to care for Clover during the midday; from the time I retire, till you finish with court.”
Throwing a wing over Luna, Celestia gave her a hug. “Thank you.”
Green Bean walked the halls of the college with a spry step. He was glad to be out of that armor for his shift. The dress uniform may be a bit itchy, but it was far better than the hand-me-down armor the volunteers got stuffed into.
It was a bit of nostalgia for him to be back on campus. Most ponies took him as a simple cliffside farmer that grew legumes and other food bearing vines by summer, and volunteered with the guard by winter.
Most ponies would never assume he held a degree in agriculture; and almost one in civil engineering. Sure, he’d learned everything he needed at his father’s knee, but the improvements he'd made to his family’s terraces had doubled their production. He had even managed to solve Tea Leaf’s erosion problem.
Knocking on the door to the dean’s office, he waited for an answer before opening it.
“Enter,” called the dean from inside.
Straightening his uniform, Green Bean stepped inside.
“Earth pony,” Clover announced, pointing at him.
“Yes,” Diction answered with a smile. Closing up a bin of random objects, the dean pushed it back into its place. Looking back to Clover, Diction motioned towards the guard. “I will see you again in two days.”
Scrunching his muzzle, Clover mumbled to himself as he got down from the desk. A second later his eyes registered some understanding. “Two days,” he repeated.
“He’s learning fast,” Green Bean said patting him on the withers. Clover looked up at him, a little surprised by the touch, but he seemed to recognize him from the walk over with Luna.
Perfect Diction only nodded as he continued straightening his room.
“Ready to go?” Green asked.
The colt only answered him with a confused look.
Resigning himself back to body language, Green Bean stepped out into the hall and motioned for him to follow. He had simple enough orders for the afternoon: light lunch, little exercise, something social, then bring him home.
Luna had been rather worried about Clover learning to socialize, as well as his lack of coordination and muscle; so the two of them decided a bit of social time and exercise was in order. A trip to the park would be the trick in the summer. But the weather was far to cold for that, so it was off to the Canterlot community center with them. It’d be a bit more crowded than ideal, but this time of day should be fine.
Halfway to the community center, Green Bean spotted their lunch destination. He didn’t know what kind of meals the princesses had in their private chambers, but he imagined them to be delicate in nature, with a taste that took time to appreciate. What Clover needed was something to stick to his ribs, and Fritter’s place was just the ticket.
Opening the door to the little diner, Green Bean let Clover go in first. The lunch rush had already come and gone, leaving the smell of food thick in the air, but few ponies eating. Near the window, he pulled out a chair and motioned for Clover to hop up on to it.
A quick trip to the counter, and he returned with a basket of mixed vegetable fritters. Sitting opposite Clover, Green Bean placed a fork in front of the colt, before taking up his own and stabbing one of the little morsels. He took care to show that the food was hot, and that he needed to eat it in small bites.
Clover picked up his fork, and looked over the basket. Picking out one of the mushrooms, he carefully speared the bit, and took a nibble. Green smiled as the colt gave an approving hum. Clover reached for a second bite, but paused. Making a curious “Hmm” sound, Clover sat his fork down, and glared at the food.
Magic sparked and glowed around the colt’s horn. Green watched with interest as one of the fritters flickered, then floated in jerky motions up to eye level.
**POP**
Green Bean sat dazzled, hot grease and broccoli covered his face. Clover had an equally perplexed expression, and not a small amount of the fritter splattered on him.
“You two okay?” a unicorn stallion behind the counter asked.
Green chuckled. The warm, contagious sound pulled a squeaky laugh out of Clover. “Nothing some napkins won’t fix,” Green said, grabbing a hoof full.
“We all go through that phase,” the cook said floating them a towel, and taking the crumpled napkins. “Don’t worry, it passes fast.”
“Thank you,” Green said, wiping off Clover’s face.
The rest of lunch was eaten with a fork. Thankfully, Clover didn’t even attempt to use his magic again during the meal. Green was glad to be an earth pony. His daughters were trouble enough without horns.
The Canterlot community center was an impressive building. For the common Canterlot pony, it was the de facto place to spend their free time in the winter. The massive atrium provided a little bit of spring all year. Playgrounds for foals, a field to run or picnic on, a garden to stroll through, and a pool to swim in.
Clover hesitated when they first walked through the doors. The din of conversation and artificially humid air was almost the scent of home to Green Bean, but he knew this was a new place to Clover. Guiding him to a quiet corner, he let the colt adjust.
Looking around, Green spotted the playground. A dozen foals were galloping on and around it. Nudging Clover, he smiled and pointed a hoof to the playground.
Green couldn’t quite place the look Clover gave him, nor could he understand what he said, but it was clear he had no intention of going near the playing foals.
“Well, how about going over to the field?” he asked. Clover only stared at him, but Green stood and lead the way to the field anyway. Clover followed him the instant he stood up, staying close as they went deeper into the facility.
At the field, Green tried to get the colt to join him in a run, but Clover only passively watched him. He thought better getting Clover try anything that involved throwing, and the game of tag some foals were playing frightened him.
Green Bean wasn’t used to skittish foals. Leading Clover into the quiet of the garden path, he tried to figure out how to get the colt to come out of his shell. At least Clover seemed to like the garden. His step had perked up since entering the maze of flowers and shrubs. Sadly, it all wilted back to confusion when they stepped out of the gardens, and into the corner that held one of the many hot springs on the mountain. This massive one provided the heat that kept the atrium in perpetual spring.
Withholding a sigh, Green readied himself for whatever reaction Clover would have once the confusion had passed. Excitement was not what he had expected: Clover had his ears forward, and one foreleg lifted like he was going to bolt straight into the water.
Clover took a step forward, then paused to look back at him. Green smiled. Lifting Clover’s saddlebag from his back, he made signs for him to run on. Clover trotted forward, then paused again at the water’s edge to watch the few other ponies already swimming around. Green held his breath, hoping the colt wouldn’t be scared off. It was a short pause though, and a moment later Clover was neck deep in the water.
“At least it’s some exercise,” Green said to himself. Sitting the saddlebag down, he positioned himself to watch the foal swim.
Merry Hearth woke from her mid-day nap with a slow stretch. She let the fireplace warm her old bones a moment before standing. The mail needed to be checked, but first a cup of tea was in order.
Putting a kettle on the burner, she rummaged through the icebox and pantry. She’d have extra mouths to feed tonight; she needed to start thinking about what she would be serving. Rarity was a bit of a picky eater, but not that bad. Twilight hated alfalfa and lima beans, but past that she would eat most anything. Pulling a few things out, she started planning dinner while the water came to boil.
A soft knock on the front door interrupted her, but she heard it open without waiting for an answer. “Hello?” Twilight’s voice called.
Sticking her head around the corner, she saw movement in the vestibule. “I’m in the kitchen. Luna is still asleep.” Returning to the stove, she picked up the kettle, and added more water to it.
“I’ll drag this stuff to the library,” Spike said in the other room. A heavy scratching sound told her she might be calling Wood Wright to sand the floors again.
“Hello Ms. Hearth,” Rarity said, walking into the kitchen, and giving her a little bow. Her magic floated a few letters and a small box onto the dining table. “I brought the mail in for you.”
Merry nodded to the young mare. “Thank you, dear. Care for some tea?”
“I would love some. Let me put my bags in the room, I’ll be right back.” Rarity turned and headed towards her regular room with her luggage. She was traveling light today. Only one large suitcase, and what Merry was pretty sure was an old-style travel sewing machine.
From the other room, Merry could hear Twilight and Spike fussing over something. The dragon sounded tired, while Twilight’s voice was harsh and strained. Merry had known Twilight since she was a little filly, and knew that tone meant she was on the verge of one of her manic attacks. Unfortunately, Celestia wouldn't be home for at least two hours. Celestia had a way of grounding Twilight that no other pony had.
She would have to do what she could. Grandmothers had their own kind of magic, and it worked on honorary grandfoals just as well as blood relatives. Reaching up, she pulled Twilight’s favorite spiced tea from the cupboard. Opening the can, she breathed in the aromatic spices. They burned her nose, and brought tears to her eyes, but it was a wonderful smell. Sprinkling some into the pot, she resealed the can, and pulled the kettle off the heat to steep.
Hooves on hardwood warned her that Twilight was walking through the great room. Opening the icebox, she took out the cream, set it on the table, and pulled out a cushion.
Twilight trotted into the room with a twitch in her eye. She looked around for something, then paused. “Merry, where-”
Merry smiled at the twitch in Twilight’s nose that interrupted her. The lines of stress in her neck faded as she turned to sniff at the smell. “That smells good. Is that the Seven Spice?”
Picking up her favorite tea cup, Merry looked back at Twilight. “Just made a pot. Want some?” she asked, hovering a hoof over the cup Twilight always liked.
“Please,” Twilight said, sitting down on the cushion Merry had pulled out. “It’s my favorite.”
“It always has been.” Taking a seat next to Twilight, she poured them both a cup. Twilight in turn, added a healthy splash of cream to each cup.
Merry didn’t have Celestia’s ability to set thousand year plans into motion, but she knew the comforts of home, and what would set ponies at ease. Sipping her tea, she watched Twilight drink hers. She let silence hang for a moment, till Rarity’s hoofsteps again echoed in the hall.
“Join us for tea,” Merry said as soon as Rarity was close enough to hear her. “Clover’s foalsitter should be bringing him home in about an hour.”
“Why, thank you.” Fetching a cup with her magic, Rarity sat across from them. “I take it Clover is the one I’m making a coat for?”
“It is. He’s about this tall,” she said, holding a hoof off the ground to show where his withers came to. “Olive brown coat, chocolate mane, eyes like emeralds.”
“Hmm…” Rarity scratched her head, trying to assemble a color scheme to match. “Rather dark tones.”
“Do you know what Celestia and Luna need me to do?” Twilight asked.
Merry shrugged. “I’m afraid not, dear.”
“It is something very dear to Celestia, and I would prefer if she told you herself,” Luna said from the hallway.
“Sorry,” Twilight shrank in her seat a bit. “Didn’t mean to wake you.”
Luna patted her on the back with a wing as she passed. “Do not worry. I have been awake for an hour. I was merely reading.” Filling the pot with water, Luna set the coffee machine to brew.
“Sleep well?” Merry asked.
“I did, thank you.” Looking to the clock, Luna calculated something in her head. “It is yet early. I think I shall go out shopping. I have yet to finish my gift shopping. Care to join me?”
Rarity polished off her tea and stood. “I would like to see what the haberdashers have in their windows. Anypony else?” she asked Twilight and Merry.
Merry waved a hoof. “Somepony needs to be here when the guard brings Clover back.”
“No, you go if you want,” Twilight said. “Spike will probably want to nap once he’s finished unpacking for me, and I should really finish the reading I started.”
“You sure?” Merry asked.
“I’m sure. Go have fun.”
- - -
Clover was dead asleep on Green Bean’s back as he carried him home from the community center. It turned out Clover swam far better than he ran.
Still, Green wished he could have gotten Clover to play with some of the other foals, but at least he got him around a few ponies, and some good exercise.
Nodding to his fellow guards, he climbed the stairs to the royal suites. His momentum died at the top of the stairs. Green Bean hesitated to knock on the wooden doors. This was the line that separated the princesses of Equestria from just two sisters that live together. Stepping past that line was stepping into their personal lives. He looked back to the foal napping on his back, then knocked on the door.
The door cracked open far too fast. “Who is it?” a strange voice asked.
“Sergeant Green Bean, volunteer guard,” he said, snapping to attention.
Princess Twilight Sparkle opened the door wide, and gave him a confused look. Craning her neck, she spotted the foal on his back, and smiled. “That must be Clover. Come on in.” Waving for him to follow, she turned around and walked back into the house, leaving the door open for him to follow her.
Green took a moment to stare blankly into the vestibule. There was a colorful little Hearth’s Warming tree against the far wall. Not much taller than eye level, it was the common type found in offices, or homes large enough to have more than one tree. Next to it stood a bench, and a coat rack not unlike the one in his own home. Except he was pretty sure that Princess Luna’s regalia was hanging on it.
Not wanting to be asked twice, Green took a breath and stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He followed the sound of Princess Twilight’s hoofsteps into a formal parlor. Rounding the corner, he found himself uncomfortably close to the princess who had stopped just inside the room.
“Where do you want me to put him?” he asked taking a step further into the room, giving the princess her personal space back. “He wore himself out swimming.”
“I’ll get him,” she said, facing him with a warm smile. Green started to bend down so she could reach him, but stopped as her magic took Clover from his back. He was surprised how casual but caring she was with the foal. She moved with a mother’s confidence, not a young pony awkwardly holding a stranger’s foal.
He watched her carry the colt over to the cushion by the fireplace, and set him down next to the baby dragon sleeping there. He’d forgotten about that.
“Thank you for your time, Sergeant,” she said with a hushed voice, careful not to wake the sleeping little ones. “Sit and relax a bit before you go. Are you thirsty?”
“No, thank you. I think I’ll be heading home to the wife now.”
“Yes, your highness,” Green said, trying not to look confused.
“Sorry... I didn’t mean-” The princess fidgeted a bit. “My foalsitter wasn’t. I don’t know why I expected you to not be. Big herd?” Princess Twilight hung her head. “Sorry. I’m asking personal questions again. I didn't even ask you your name.”
Green stifled a laugh. “No, it’s okay. My name is Green Bean, my wife is Lily. And It’s just the two of us, and our three foals. We don’t really have the land for a second mare. Though, my wife has been talking with the neighbor a lot lately.” He shrugged at that last bit. With Tea Leaf looking to retire from the fields, the old grudge could be forgotten. Tea's granddaughter had always had an eye for him, and as the new Tea family matriarch, Camellia could join with any family that wanted her.
“Well, I don’t want to keep you. I’m sure we’ll be seeing plenty of each other in the future,” The princess said, standing to walk him back to the door.
After a formal goodbye, she waited for him to disappear down the stairway before closing the door. She started to go back to her reading, but paused to watch Spike and Clover sleep. Spike shivered, curling in on himself; while Clover pressed against him for every bit of warmth the little dragon could produce.
Twilight smiled. Floating another log into the fireplace, and a blanket over the two little ones, she returned to the study.
Celestia stared down at the pillow by the fire. Spike and Clover were sound asleep, cuddled up together under a little blanket. It was enough to cause cavities.
“I thought I heard you come in through the balcony,” Twilight said, walking into the room from the study.
Careful not to wake ether Clover or Spike, Celestia stepped closer to Twilight. “Where is everypony?” Celestia asked with a hushed voice. “How long have they been asleep?”
Twilight looked up to check the clock. “Spike, about two hours. Clover, an hour. We should probably wake them. Rarity, Merry, and Luna all went out to do some shopping together. They’ll be back soon.”
“Thank you for coming up for this,” Celestia said, pressing necks with Twilight. She looked back and gestured towards the sleeping young ones. “Clover has been skittish around new ponies. I’m surprised he laid down next to Spike.”
“Oh, he was sound asleep when I put him down. The guard took him swimming at the community center.”
Celestia frowned. She would have to move him before he woke up.
“Luna and Merry wouldn’t tell me what you needed me to do tomorrow.” A hint of fear crept into Twilight’s voice. “What’s going on?”
“I need to help somepony.”
“Who?”
Walking back to the fireplace, Celestia gently scooped Clover up in her magic. “You’ve already met him.” Giving Twilight an impish grin, Celestia walked out of the room, with the colt in tow.
“I don’t understand,” Twilight said, following Celestia into the kitchen.
“I want to adopt him.” Sitting the colt down on a stool, she petted his mane to wake him. “Luna is going to nominate me. Only you or Cadance have the authority to acknowledge my acceptance... without getting a committee of nobles involved.”
Twilight blinked. “I... you... you want me to be on your throne and acknowledge you as Clover’s mother?”
Celestia nodded, then kissed Clover on the cheek as he began to stir.
“Of course I will,” Twilight said with a smile.
Clover gave Twilight an odd look when he finally sat up. Looking around, he made signs that he was thirsty. “Water,” he grumbled in broken speech.
Twilight tilted her head in curiosity, examining Clover, as he did the same to her. Something seemed a bit off about the colt. “Is he okay?”
“I’ll explain over dinner,” Celestia answered, leading them into the kitchen. “The short story is, he was an orphan who fell through the cracks. His speech and motor skills are severely underdeveloped.”
Twilight sat and watched Celestia get Clover a cup of water. It was a bit nostalgic; she had been about that size when Celestia had taken her in under her wing. “Can he use his magic?” Twilight asked, seeing Clover drink with his hooves.
“Not well. I have been working with him the best I can, but his levitation is still in the surging phase.”
Twilight giggled. “If you’re teaching him, he’ll be fine.”
“I can only polish potential. I cannot give it.” Taking the empty glass from Clover, she floated it back to the sink. “How are your three little students going?”
“Oh... they're not really my students. I mean, I’m just tutoring them one day a week.” She was about to say more when Spike traipsed into the room.
“Why are you all in the kitchen?” he asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
Clover said something, but Twilight couldn’t make out any of the words: he sounded surprised, but not panicked. Turning about, she found him perched on the stool to run.
“Clover, this is Spike,” Celestia said, draping a wing over Clover. He shuffled closer into her, but remained poised to flee.
“Hello,” Spike said, waving at the colt. “Is he okay?”
“He will be,” Twilight answered. Walking over to Spike, she mirrored the affection Celestia was giving Clover; partly for Clover, and partly for Spike. “Clover is going to be living with Celestia from now on.”
“Hmm…” Spike scratched his chin. “So is he some super-powerful unicorn?”
“No, Spike,” Celestia said, almost laughing. “He just needs some love and care, and I want to be the one to give it to him. I’m going to adopt him.”
Spike perked up at that. Freeing himself of Twilight’s wing, he stepped forward to get a better look at Clover. “So does that make us like step brothers, or cousins, or something?" he asked Celestia. "Twilight always says you’re like a second mother to her.”
“Spike!” Twilight yelped, her muzzle turning a shade of violet.
“We’re back!” Rarity called from the other room.
“We’re in here!” Twilight answered, eager for a distraction.
Rarity trotted into the room, and gave Celestia a little bow. Huge bags were floating in her aura; several rolls of fabric, and various other things, protruded from the bags. Luna and Merry were behind her, each carrying their own bags; Luna’s being rather small, and Merry’s only slightly larger.
“I have my sewing machine set up in my usual room. I can take measurements while Merry is finishing dinner.”
“I was not expecting you to make them tonight,” Celestia said, a bit bewildered, holding Clover tight with a wing. The sudden influx of ponies had him distracted from the dragon, but he was no less on edge.
“I assumed so, but I bought them just in case, and I’m glad I did. Princess Luna told me about tomorrow, while we were out. Young Clover will need a good formal jacket.”
Celestia smiled. “Thank you very much, Rarity.” Looking down to Clover, she could see he was relying on her to give him cues on how to react to the new company. This was a role she knew well. As long as she gave the air of being comfortable, Clover would be assured there was nothing to fear.
“Okay, everypony!” Merry Hearth, said, trotting into the crowded space. “Out of the kitchen. Dinner will be on the table in forty.”
Chuckling, Celestia nudged Clover, and guided him down from his stool. “Rarity, I suppose we should leave the kitchen to Merry, and have you measure Clover.”
Spike stepped out of the way of the ponies as they filed past. He watched Twilight head back to her reading, while the rest followed Rarity. With nothing better to do, he joined the procession as Celestia and Clover passed.
The colt stayed close to Celestia, as Spike walked beside him. Clover’s scrutinizing gaze unnerved Spike, but he made a point to play it cool. Once they were in the room Rarity had set up in, Clover paused and pointed at himself. “Pony,” he said, then pointed to Spike in silence.
Spike gave him a confused look.
“He’s just now learning Equestrian,” Luna said from behind him.
“Ahh...” Spike said. Clover’s situation made a lot more sense to him now. He could imagine how hard it would be to be unable to communicate. Standing tall, he proudly pointed to himself. “Dragon.”
Clover repeated the word under his breath as Rarity ushered him over to the makeshift workspace. He obeyed her directions, though with a great deal of apprehension. Celestia’s presence seemed to be the only thing keep his anxiety from turning into fear.
Scrounging in her sewing kit, Rarity floated the measuring tape out. “Now hold still for just a moment so I-”
Clover shrieked at the tape measure as it neared his neck. Green magic flashed from his horn in sparks and bursts. Somewhere in the process of Clover taking shelter between Celestia and Spike, Rarity’s tape measure burst into flames.
Rarity frowned. “Oh my.”
Celestia’s aura covered the smoldering tape, and snuffed out the fire. “I did not see that coming. I suppose we should have gone slower.”
“I’m glad that wasn't my favorite.”
Spike gave Clover a toothy grin. “That was cool!” His offer of a fist, for a hoof bump, was met with wild eyes. The animal glare said, move wrong and get bucked in the face. “Hehe... It’s okay, no one here is going to hurt you,” Spike said, taking a slow step back, giving the colt some space.
Clover whinnied, retreating further under Celestia. She had to sit down, for fear of tripping. Letting her wings hang loose, she made herself a living cage for Clover to hide inside. Lowering her head, she let her nose rest on Clover’s head. “Shhh...”
The touch seemed to calm him as the rest of the room fell into an awkward silence.
“I’m so sorry.” Rarity whispered.
With silent grace, Luna moved next to Rarity. “‘Twas not your fault.”
A few moments later, and Celestia eased her wings back, revealing a somewhat calmer Clover. Sitting on his haunches, he was breathing in slow intentional breaths, but his eyes were still wild.
Spike moved from behind Celestia, standing where Clover could easily see him. Slowly raising an arm, he waved to get the colt’s attention.
Celestia petted Clover’s crest, as his attention snapped onto Spike. She wasn’t sure what Spike was trying, but she was willing to let him. Slowly, Spike stepped backwards towards Rarity.
“Rarity, do you have another tape?” Spike asked in a soft tone.
Rarity looked confused, but nodded. “Yes.”
“Measure me, but use your hooves.”
“But I’m more accurate with my magic,” Rarity said, reaching a hoof into her sewing basket.
“He is right,” Luna said, moving to let Clover have a better view. “Your magic can reach him from there, and he knows it. Your hooves can not.”
Spike held still with a peaceful smile, letting Rarity lay her tape on him. She measured his collar, then shoulders; writing the numbers down between each. She had thought about just faking the motions, but decided her little Spikey-Wikey deserved a little something for helping with Clover.
Picking up the tape when Rarity sat it down to write the last measurement, Spike turned to give Rarity a grin before hopping off the platform.
He rolled the measuring tape up into the palm of one claw, so that Clover could see it. The colt was still pressed against Celestia, but his expression was now of frightened curiosity. Walking forward with slow, even, steps, Spike tried his best to imitate the way Fluttershy approached scared animals. Pausing just in front of Celestia, he placed the tape measure on the ground; then took a few steps back.
Celestia could feel the adrenalin draining out of Clover as he watched Spike. When the tape was left in front of her, she nudged him forward. It was all the prompting he needed to stand back on his own hooves, and investigate what had scared him earlier. Picking up the loose end with his hoof, he watched it unroll. The numbers and divisions seemed to interest him; the last bit of fear faded away as he studied the markings. All but throwing the tape to the ground, he mumbled something to Spike, then to Rarity in a voice that sounded tired and defeated.
“It’s cool,” Spike said, again offering up his fist.
Clover tilted his head, looking at the offered fist for a second, before mirroring the pose with his hoof. Shaking his head, Clover laughed and tapped his hoof to Spike’s fist.
Luna and Celestia shared a confused look. “Spike, how do you understand him?” Luna asked.
Spike shrugged. “Bro code. Can’t explain it.” Picking up the measuring tape, he tossed it back to Rarity. “Easy with the magic, and I think you can measure him this time.”
- - -
Twilight looked up from her book. A full belly, and a warm fire threatening to put her to sleep. The cozy mood had infected the odd little family.
Merry, for her part, was content to share a pot of tea with Celestia while reading a mystery novel.
Luna had fully succumbed to a tryptophan-induced torpor, mumbling something about a nap before work, before leaning against Celestia and falling asleep.
Celestia seemed alert, though. Sipping some tea, she watched Clover and Spike by the fireplace.
Spike had conned Merry into giving him some marshmallows, and he was currently roasting them over the fire, while Clover sat next to him, nibbling on a charred marshmallow from the previous batch. The two young males seemed to have an understanding that transcended speech, instead relying on nods and smirks.
The only one in the house not gathered by the fire was Rarity. The staccato clatter of a sewing machine, echoing from a back room, told Twilight that Rarity was in a fit of passion. Twilight was sure whatever Rarity was making back there would look wonderful on Clover tomorrow.
Adoption… it was a funny thought to Twilight. Celestia was like a second mother to her. She had been about Clover’s age when Celestia first brought her into these chambers. It really didn’t seem all that long ago.
“Want a marshmallow, Twilight?” Spike asked, holding a smoldering marshmallow out towards her on its stick.
“Yes, yes I do.” Grabbing the treat with her magic, she was about to take a bite, when a golden aura stole half the treat.
“Hey…“ Twilight whined, giving Celestia a crooked smile.
“And here I thought Velvet had taught you to share.” Shaking her head in mock disapproval, she took a bit of the stolen treat. "I suppose I will have to send a letter to your mother about it.”
Twilight popped the remainder of the marshmallow in her mouth and chewed for a moment. “I’ll just steal it out of the mailbox before she gets home.”
Celestia looked at her former student with a raised eyebrow.
“Not that I ever did that.”
Spike looked back at Twilight. “Actually-”
“Nope.” Twilight interrupted, looking the dragon in the eye. “Never did that.”
“I, umm... “ Spike returned his attention to the fireplace. "I was just going to ask how long we’re staying in Canterlot.”
“You three are welcome to stay here a few days,” Celestia said.
“Rarity needs to head back tomorrow. I had cleared my schedule for a three day emergency, but I should probably go back tomorrow night. The mayor and I have a lot of work to do.”
Spike and Celestia both looked disappointed at the news.
“I was hoping to visit some of my old friends,” Spike said.
“Well,” Twilight thought for a moment. “I’m sure Mom would let you stay at the house for a few days.”
Celestia watched Spike give Twilight a hug. She had hoped to catch up a bit more, but Twilight had her responsibilities; she knew the burden well. There was never enough time.
Something warm pressed against Celestia, snapping her out of her thoughts. Clover had lain down against her, mirroring Luna on her other side. He was smiling up at her, but he had a worried look.
“I’m fine,” she said, shifting a bit to press necks with him.
Luna grumbled, as her living pillow moved. Draping her head across Celestia’s back, she reclaimed her warm sleeping place. “Guard, there seems to be a moose in my bed,” Luna said through the delirium of sleep.
Celestia’s wing shoved Luna onto the floor, letting her land with a thud. “Luna, wake up. It’s time for work.”
Celestia took the throne for the noon court. The crowd murmured as Twilight and Luna each took their own daises. Clearing her throat, Celestia silenced the room.
“This court will be held by Princess Twilight Sparkle. She speaks as sovereign unto her own right. I will resume the throne after the next sunrise.”
“I second this,” Luna said, then rose from her place, and walked to a reserved seat in the crowd, Celestia following close behind her. To the crowd’s credit, they hardly reacted at all to the scene. Princess Cadence had been given similar opportunities to stand before the kingdom.
Twilight, however, was fidgeting under the attention. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves, then looked over to where Clover and Spike were sitting. They looked rather handsome in their matching jackets. While each jacket’s color was matched to complement its owner, the cut distinctly made them a set.
“First order of business,” Twilight said, trying to project her voice. “It has come to my attention that there is a colt, that has become a ward of the Crown.”
With a nod from Twilight, Green Bean led Clover before the court. The colt was uncomfortable in the strange setting, using his jacket's collar to hide behind as much as he could.
“Does anypony here know of this colt’s parents?” Twilight asked, sweeping her eyes over the crowd. A slight murmur echoed around the room with sounds of pity, but no answer was put forth.
“Then We declare this colt abandoned. Would anypony know somepony worthy of caring for him?”
“I do,” Luna answered. Silence fell over the room for her next words. Commoners and nobles alike were eager to hear whom Luna deemed trustworthy.
“I nominate Celestia, Princess of Equestria.”
Twilight’s ears rang in the silence. She was sure the crowd had actually stopped breathing. Confusion was riddled on every face. The commoners' expressions were a mix of warm smiles and idle amusement, while the nobles were colored with a tinge more shock. Clover would soon become a major cog in many families' plans. The one that added him to their ranks would get a boost for generations. She knew the pressure well. It would be something she would help him cope with in the coming years.
The next words out of her mouth already felt unnatural, and she hadn’t even spoken them yet.
“Celestia, Princess of Equestria, please stand before the ponies gathered here today.”
Stepping before the crowd, Celestia bowed to Twilight.
Part of Twilight wanted to laugh, and part of her was horrified at the role reversal, but she held her composure and continued the ancient script. “Is there anypony here that would object to Clover being taken into this home, family, and community?”
Silence again took the room.
Twilight took a breath to speak again, breaking the eerie silence. “It is the duty of all to protect our young, but the ones we take into our home, we must also take into our hearts. Will you give Clover a warm home, for both body and heart?”
Celestia looked to Clover. “I will.”
“Then the Crown hereby grants you provisional stewardship of this colt. If your stewardship is undisputed at the end of one year’s time, you will be completely and lawfully recognized as his mother.”
Celestia reached out a wing, and pulled Clover from Green’s custody to hers. She met his eyes with a proud, compassionate look on her face, which Clover returned with one of confusion, but also a steady calmness.
“Thank you,” she said, giving Twilight a little bow; she loved the little fluster it gave her—it would be a long time before that got old. “I will treat him as if he were my own.”
With Clover at her side, Celestia made her way to the door. The crowd parted, letting her and Luna leave the room without a word. As soon as the door closed, all eyes fell upon Princess Twilight.
Twilight couldn’t help but let out a nervous giggle. Picking up the ledger for the day, she only now realized that she was the only scheduled princess for the rest of today’s court. “Spike, would you come here and be my secretary for the day?”
Spike jumped to attention. “Sure thing, Princess Twilight,” he said with a crooked smile.
- - -
“Do you believe she will be alright?” Luna asked, looking back at the closed doors to the courtroom.
Celestia let herself laugh for a moment. “It will be good for her.”
“It has been a while since we have had a day off together to relax. I understand that Clover likes to swim; perhaps we should go to the hot springs?”
“That is a wonderful idea, sister,” Celestia said. “First, I would like to do a little window shopping. I am curious to see what catches Clover’s eye.”
Luna perked up as an idea sprang to mind. “It is early in the day. We could probably go to Otto’s store without too much commotion.”
“Mr. Otto’s toy bazaar? I cannot say I have ever been in there.”
“He is very nice,” Luna said with a smile. “I stop in to play with the foals every now and then.”
Celestia laughed, the image of Luna letting herself be chased around by a dozen foals filling her mind’s eye. “Then let’s go visit Mr. Otto. We can stop and get lunch at Bread Bowl’s afterwards.”
Celestia followed her sister through the palace, and into the city streets. She offered to let Clover ride on her back, but he seemed intent on exploring the shop windows as they passed. It was good to see him moving about with the curiosity and energy one would expect from a healthily-adjusted foal.
Turning off the main road, they made their way down one of the smaller arteries of the shopping district. Celestia found herself ogling the storefronts as much as Clover. It had been decades since she had walked this particular street. It was a rare time indeed that she did her own shopping anymore. With Luna back, and Twilight around to help, she was going to have to start doing more things herself. She needed to be a good example for Clover, anyway. Privilege should not mean laziness; quite the opposite, actually.
“We are here,” Luna said, snapping Celestia from her thoughts.
Turning about, she found her sister standing in front of a colorful building. A little wider than most on the street and two stories tall, the shop looked like it was made of blocks and discarded toys. Looking down, she was curious to see Clover’s reaction, but he wasn’t beside her. Panic stabbed at her as she spun to look for him, and she cursed herself for not having paid attention to where he was going for the last few minutes.
Thankfully she found him before she could truly work up a panic. His own laughter drew her attention to him as he looked in the window of the building behind them. Beautiful and Delicious - flowers and fruit was the shop’s name.
So that’s where those come from, Celestia thought, walking over to Clover. She had received several of their arrangements in the past few years. They were exactly as their name implied, made entirely of savory flowers and sweet fruit. Though she’d usually pick a few choice bits from them, then give the rest to the staff.
“What has struck him so funny?” Luna asked from behind her.
“I do not know.”
Stepping next to Clover, she looked into the display window, but saw only their typical offerings advertised. Still chuckling to himself, he looked up at her, and pointed to the window while chattering in his strange gibberish. Celestia could only shake her head in confusion at the colt, who sobered up at realizing she wasn’t understanding him. Clover paused, obviously mulling over his available vocabulary in his head, only to eventually shrug in resignation.
Celestia smiled, and gave him a nuzzle of reassurance. “Diction will get you talking soon.”
Clover seemed a bit embarrassed at the affection, but didn’t shrink away from it. He stayed closer to her heels, as they crossed the road. The playful building seemed to intimidate him, and it was only with reluctance, and a little encouragement from Celestia, that he entered the store.
Luna was already inside when her sister and Clover walked in. She smiled, anticipating their reactions to the place.
“Wow…” Celestia’s eyes went wide as she scanned the single massive room. Clover chirped a similar sound just behind her.
“Otto is in the back, I am sure he would like to meet you,” Luna said with a smile. “It is normally quite busy in here, but we are a bit early in the day.
Celestia nodded dumbly, her eyes scanning the pegasus toys hung from the high ceiling. One corner of the place seemed to be a shrine to stuffed toys: some were even bigger than her. A little voice from the filly she was long ago wanted badly to take the giant stuffed bunny home.
Looking to Clover, she watched him trot over and examine some unicorn toys. He had a dry, clinical expression as he paced around the displays.
“Where does all this come from?”
Luna used a wing to point towards the far back of the store. “Most of it is made here. Otto employs several crafts-ponies as resident artisans.”
“Greetings!” boomed a thick voice.
Celestia and Clover both startled at the sudden presence of the hulking minotaur. Celestia recovered from the startle in a breath, while Clover dashed beneath her, using her legs as cover from the massive horned biped.
“Apologies.” Otto bowed to the two alicorns with a quick, but polite, motion. “I did not mean to scare the little one.” Taking a knee, he brought his own eyes level with Clover’s.
The minotaur's bravado melted away in a breath, leaving the most harmless of creatures in its place. The smile on his face was contagious beyond words. Celestia found herself mirroring the expression reflexively. Looking down, she could see Clover’s worried scowl cracking.
“Mmm…” Otto mused to himself. Reaching into his pockets, he pulled out a tin whistle. Striking a very serious look, he took a breath and put the whistle to his lips. The tune that came out was silly, but the exaggerated motions of the minotaur were enough to make all three of the ponies snicker. A few seconds later, he concluded the ditty by offering the flute to the colt hiding behind Celestia’s legs.
Clover looked first to Celestia, then to Luna. After they both had given him nods of assurance, he stepped forward, and took the whistle in his magic. Celestia winced, expecting disaster, but Clover floated the toy instrument to his lips as if it were a practiced skill. All three adults watched in eager silence as Clover used breath and magic to form an off-tune melody.
“I will never know how you see into children like that,” Luna said, taking a step closer to Otto. Her voice and movement shook Clover from his focus. The realization of what he was doing seemed to shock him, as his magic flickered and died, letting the tin whistle drop to the floor.
Celestia smiled as Clover let out a nervous laugh, looking up from the flute to her. She tilted her head to check for the appearance of a cutie mark, and was a bit surprised to not find one. Levitating the tin flute into a pocket on his jacket, Celestia gave him a quick kiss between the ears.
“You have a unique talent, Mr. Otto,” Celestia said, giving him a respectful nod. “Could I impose a tour of your store from you? And I insist on paying you for the flute.” Celestia hated it when shop owners gave her things.
“Of course, my princesses!” the minotaur said, beaming a smile as he stood back up. “Please follow me.”
Leading the way through the maze of toys, Otto told them about his history, and how his shop came to be. He would pause mid sentence to pull a toy down, and show it to them at least once every aisle. In one breath, Otto would go from a proud minotaur bull, to an excitable child—eager to share a new discovery with friends or parents.
Celestia was surprised to see that dolls that pee were still popular among little fillies. She hadn’t understood them when she first saw them, and she still didn’t get the allure. A small section dedicated to griffons held strange toys. Among them were weapons made of rubber. Picking up a sword, Otto hit his own leg with it, showing that it could do no real harm, and explaining that beating the snot out of each other with such things was considered good fun among even adult griffons. Luna was apparently familiar with the toys, as she wasted no time in brandishing a spear and lunging at Otto with it; who parried and countered rather gracefully. Celestia had the distinct impression that this wasn’t the first time they had done this. Their impromptu sparring looked a bit choreographed, and more like a dance than a fight.
All the while, Clover watched them with the air of a tourist in a museum.
“He’s a quiet one,” Otto commented, catching his breath after Luna had won the fight by tagging him in the ribs with her spear.
Luna nodded, then gave Clover a playful nudge towards a display of scooters. “He does not speak Equestrian.”
Otto watched the colt trot back into Celestia’s shadow. He didn’t seem very comfortable being out of her wingspan. “Griffon?” he asked, leading on to where the older filly and colt’s toys were.
“We do not know what it is he speaks.” Celestia answered, watching Clover look around. She had an oddly considered look on her face.
“Hmm…” Otto studied Clover as they meandered their way back to the workshops. He didn’t think the alicorns noticed it, but the colt’s pace changed just a bit as they entered the educational section. He had tagged him as a musical pony by his gait, now he had to figure out what this new posture meant. Leaning forward, searching, braving to get just a bit further from his guardians. He was talking to himself, too. The cadence felt familiar, but the sounds were strange.
Rearing on his hind legs, Clover stopped his search to look at a visible pony anatomy model. They were far from a favorite toy. Otto had stopped selling them more than once, but for some reason parents expected to find it in this aisle. Clover seemed to be one of the few foals genuinely intrigued by the anatomical model: almost always a sure sign for a medicine-related mark.
Celestia watched Otto. Clover had him wrapped in his mystery. The way Otto’s ears had perked when Clover spoke had given her hope. She knew enough Minoan to know that it was not what Clover spoke, but Otto’s accent told her he had grown up far from here. Just maybe he had heard Clover’s language before.
Otto began grumbling something she couldn’t quite follow. A quick look to Luna got her the answer.
“He’s making small talk, asking about the toy, how he likes the snow,” Luna said.
Clover gave the minotaur a baffled look. Then chanted something back to him. The bull and the colt repeated sounds at each other for a few minutes. When Otto shifted into something Luna couldn’t translate, Celestia was hard pressed to not get her hopes up.
Finally after a pregnant pause, the two sighed in unison. Clover let himself drop back down to all fours, and Otto rubbed his face. “We share some words… prefixes, really. I tried Satyr and Cerynitis, too. Those had a bit more in common, but we cannot understand each other.”
Celestia wanted to stomp her hoof in frustration. “Thank you for trying.” She truly meant it, too. There were clues here. The Artiodactyla lands were mostly unknown to ponies. Perhaps Clover had stowed away on an airship? The docks were not far from where they had found him.
Giving Otto a bow of thanks, she walked over to see what new thing had captured Clover’s interest.
Luna watched Clover… her nephew, struggle with his soup spoon. Luna smiled at the thought of getting to play aunt; unlike her, Celestia had never had children of her own. Looking up from her meal, she watched ponies on the street walk past the window they were sitting next to. It was a lovely view of the busy city street. No doubt the owner considered it the best seat in the house.
A familiar face made Luna jump. Smiling, she tapped on the window, getting the passing pony’s attention. Rarity gave a confused look for the second it took her to focus on the alicorn on the other side of the glass, then smiled with the spark of recognition.
“I thought Rarity left for Ponyville this morning,” Luna said to her sister, as she beckoned Rarity to come in to their table.
“I did, too.” Celestia turned in her seat to face the diner’s door as the bell announced Rarity’s entrance.
Rarity gave them both a bow when she neared the royal family. “Hello again, your majesties! I hope this morning went well for all of you.”
“It certainly did,” Luna said, and moved to make room for Rarity in her booth. “Please, join us.”
Rarity nodded, taking the seat next to Luna. Warm soup sounded good, and she wasn’t about to turn down an invitation from the princesses.
Celestia waved for a waitress to come over for their new guest. “We thought you had already left Canterlot.”
“I had planned on it, but I decided to do a bit of business before I left.”
A few minutes later and Rarity had a bowl of steaming soup in front of her. The small talk of the trip to the toy store had run its course, and she had even learned of the gift purchased in secret for Clover’s Hearth’s Warming present. She watched in silence for a moment as Clover used his hooves to break a chunk of the bread bowl off, but paused before taking a bite.
“What is?” he asked, pointing to the lump in his hoof.
“Bread,” Celestia answered.
The colt mumbled the word a few times, then ate the moist bread. Rarity had to snicker at the foal. That had been about the fifth time he had asked for the name of one thing or the other.
“What amuses you so?” Luna asked, a coy smile on her face.
“I was just thinking; he reminds me of Sweetie Belle. I think they would get along rather well.” Rarity’s smile faded to a serious expression, she waved a hoof as if to shoo away her own words. “Not to imply-”
Celestia laughed, interrupting Rarity. “I understand what you meant. I have a few years before I’ll have to wrap the palace in barbed wire to keep the suitors out. Who knows? By then, you may have your own colt to worry about.”
Rarity’s smile returned to her face as she again picked up her spoon. “I don’t plan on having any foals. Though I’m not opposed to playing herd mother, should I find a herd with them.”
“Really?” Luna asked, looking a bit surprised.
“Luna, not everypony wants to bear foals,” Celestia chided.
“Sorry,” Luna said, giving Rarity a nod. “You just strike me as the maternal kind.”
“No offence taken.” Rarity paused, chewing her words for a moment. “You have had foals, haven't you?” she asked Luna.
Luna nodded. “Several. I suppose half of Equestria could find me in their family tree, if they looked far enough. Both Blueblood and Twilight Sparkle are descended from my children, though from different fathers. Twilight looks so much like my daughter, Twilight Moon, that I was a bit unsettled at first. While Blueblood looks more like my second husband’s brother. Princess Platinum shows in him far more than I do.”
Rarity huffed. “No offence to you, your highness, but Blueblood is a blight on your family tree.”
Celestia was glad she hadn’t been in the middle of taking a drink. The snort of a laugh had hit her without warning, and it took all the composure not to outright cackle. “Rarity! That was...“
“Probably true,” Luna finished her sister’s sentence. “Would you believe his father is the model of politeness?” She asked, looking to Rarity.
Rarity scrunched up her face in confusion. “Really? What happened?”
“His mother...” Celestia shook her head in sympathy. “The poor thing died when he was very young, and his father was abroad, doing diplomatic work for me.” Guilt stabbed at her as the memory came back to her. She really should have helped more, but she had so much to do back then.
“So who raised him?” Rarity asked.
Celestia poked at the remains of her bread bowl. “I don’t actually know.”
Rarity frowned, looking to Luna, she could tell they were both feeling bad about making fun of him. “Does Twilight know about her ancestry? How come she didn't inherent some title?” Rarity asked, changing the topic.
Luna shrugged, and looked to her sister for the answer to that question.
“She is aware of her pedigree, but I doubt she knows about her resemblance.” Taking a sip of iced tea, Celestia looked to Rarity. “I’ve never had foals. It looks rather uncomfortable, and I find yearlings annoying.”
“Really?!” Rarity knew she should have been more calculated in her response, but finding out Princess Celestia held the same views about foals had her excited.
Celestia nodded. “I do find older foals rather endearing, though. There is something about their curiosity that I love.”
Rarity giggled. “So, what are you doing for the rest of your day together?”
“We shall spend some time at the hot springs, then return home to relax.” Luna paused just long enough to share a look with her sister. A little conversation passed between them with the blink of an eye. “Would you like to join us?”
“I would love to!” Rarity said, grinning ear to ear.
Leaving the restaurant, Rarity followed the family back to the palace. The finest hot springs in Canterlot were nestled in the caves just above the castle. Ponies from all over came to enjoy the hot mineral water, and the best view in Equestria.
All the palace’s hot springs were open to the public, except one. One little grotto had always been Celestia's favorite. She and Luna had visited it even before the idea of Canterlot existed. It had been their little paradise atop the wild mountain.
Rarity had a standing invitation to come here any time she liked, but she hated going alone.
Putting up her mane, Rarity eased herself into her favorite soaking spot, while Luna unceremoniously submerged herself into the steaming water. Rarity watched Celestia slowly wading in, coaxing Clover to join them. It didn’t take much encouragement: The colt seemed eager to be in the water, but unsure of his hoofing in the rocky shallows.
Once he was in deep enough for the water to take some of his weight, Clover took to happily swimming circles in the warm water. Celestia smiled, and let him swim about as he liked. Wading back to the water's edge, she rested next to Rarity.
“He really seems to enjoy the water,” Rarity said idly.
Celestia settled in, and closed her eyes. “He seems to take joy in the simplest things. I hope he stays that way.”
Rarity followed the example, and closed her eyes too. Half-sleep washed over her as the hot spring worked its magic, drifting in the half-lucid state till time lost meaning. Eventually it wasn’t a noise that shook her from the daze, but rather silence. Sweetie Belle had taught her that silence meant trouble from a foal.
Opening her eyes, she looked around. The first thing she saw was Celestia asleep against a smooth rock, the second was Luna watching something with a soft smile. She followed Luna’s gaze to the middle of the grotto's pool. Upon a lonely rock sat Clover. He was poised in meditation, his horn glowing softly, ebbing and surging in time with his breathing. The steam and water splayed off the unfocused magic, making a perfect dome of fog around him.
She started to say something, but Luna put a hoof to her lips, then pointed to Celestia. Rarity smiled back at Luna, nodding in understanding. Reaching over, she tapped Celestia on her wing. It only took the slightest touch to wake the Princess, who looked at her with a bit of confusion. Rarity mimicked Luna’s expression for silence, then pointed towards the colt.
Celestia’s look of confusion only deepened as she followed where she was pointing, but turned into a beaming smile once she saw Clover.
“Did you teach him that?” Rarity whispered.
Celestia shook her head. After a moment of watching Clover, her smile turned impish as she leaned forward and pushed off into the deep water.
As Celestia slowly paddled towards Clover, Rarity looked to Luna for answers, but only got an exaggerated shrug. She watched with interest as Celestia came to a stop in front of Clover, just inside his bubble of steam. Celestia’s horn flashed the faintest of lights, but whatever she had done was enough to pop the bubble.
Clover twitched at the disruption, and opened his eyes. He looked confused, but smiled when he noticed Celestia smiling up at him. It occurred to Rarity that Clover hadn’t learned what Celestia’s mischief smile looked like. He was about to, though.
Celestia’s horn again lit, this time pulling up a glob of water and tossing it at the colt; knocking him from his perch.
Clover gasped for air when he got his head back above water, but the gasp instantly turned into a laugh. His hooves thrashed at the water, spraying Celestia with a volley that initiated an all-out splash fight between the two.
“Those two,” Rarity laughed. Turing to Luna, she expected to see her laughing at the pair as well. Instead she found Luna looking back at her with that grin. Rarity’s eyes widened. “You wouldn’t.”
Before Rarity could react, a tsunami was looming over her. At least it’s warm, she thought, as the water passed over and around her.
Laughter was the first thing Rarity heard after the wave receded. Wiping the water from her face, she tossed her wet mane back, and glared at the giggling alicorn. Rarity’s aura pinched up a bit of water like so much thread, and tossed it at Luna, hitting her square between her eyes. What she lacked in power, Rarity made up for in fine point control.
Luna giggled even harder. Putting up a little wall of magic in front of her, she used her wings to spray water.
Splashing back with her forehooves, Rarity grinned. If Luna was going to play dirty, so would she. Her magic took up two small globs of water, and with a flick, she sent them around Luna’s shield, and at her ears.
“Ack!” Luna cried, stopping her assault to rub at her ears. “That tickles.” Luna regretted her words the moment they left her mouth. That special grin, that only older sisters had, creased Rarity’s muzzle.
“Your ears are ticklish,” Rarity said.
“Thou would not.”
Rarity nodded.
Luna tried to form a protective spell around her, but the effort faltered as Rarity’s fine aura teased the tips of her ears.
“You started it, Luna,” Celestia’s voice answered.
“Fiends!” Luna gasped between fits of laughter. “Both of you.”
“Morning,” Green Bean said to the guards outside Princess Celestia’s office.
The two guards gave him a crisp salute. “Sergeant,” they greeted in unison, stepping aside for him to enter.
Green returned the salute. Taking a breath, he stepped forward and knocked. This was about to become a daily routine for the remainder of his winter contract; maybe even into the summer.
“Come in,” Celestia called from the other side of the door.
There was an air to her voice that bothered Green. Steeling himself, he opened the door, and stepped through with one quick motion. Inside, Celestia sat behind a desk of oak and gold. She seemed a bit frazzled. Papers floated in the air, while she looked in drawer after drawer for something.
In contrast to Princess Celestia’s manic energy was Clover’s tranquility. In the far back of the room, he sat by a window with a book in front of him.
“Good morning, your majesty,” Green said, bowing to Celestia.
Looking up at the clock, Celestia stopped her search to gather a few more papers in her magic. “Thank you, Sergeant Green Bean,” she said, stuffing the papers into a folder. “Please be at ease.” Pausing a moment, she smiled at the guard in formal dress. Truth be told, she liked the gold-trimmed red jackets better than the gilded plate. Perhaps that should be another change for this new age: fewer guards in combat armor, more in dress uniform. “Would it be alright with you if we dispensed with the formalities when we are in private?”
Green was going to be a daily part of her life for a while, as Clover’s personal guard and foalsitter; she wanted to have the best possible relationship with the pony.
“Umm…” Green Bean froze up, looking at Celestia wide-eyed. “If you like.”
Relaxing her posture, Celestia nodded. “I would.” Gathering a few last things, she readied herself to leave for the noon court.
“What is he reading?” Green asked, looking past her. “That’s a pretty thick book.”
“Gray Mane’s Anatomy,” she said, walking towards the colt. “He’s been studying the pictures since last night.” Nudging him, she broke his concentration. “Green Bean is here to take you to class,” she said, taking the book up and putting it in a little saddlebag.
The colt gave her a confused look as she put the saddlebag on him, and escorted him over to the door, but a smile lit up his face once he noticed Green Bean. Leaving Celestia’s side for his, Clover followed him out into the hall.
Pausing outside, Celestia gave Clover a hug before leaving him to go their separate ways. “After class, see if you can get him to play with some foals his own age, but don’t force it. Have him home between four and five.”
- - -
Green was having a bit too much fun helping Professor Diction with the lesson. He had stood outside the door for the first fifteen minutes of the lesson, before the professor had called him into the room. Since then, he had become a living flash-card.
“Running,” Clover said, correctly naming the action Green was pantomiming.
“You are correct,” the professor said, carefully pronouncing every syllable.
Green stopped his pretend running, and waited for the professor to hold up a new sign: this one read sleep.
“Sleep!” Clover cheered, as soon as Green had curled up in an exaggerated sleeping position.
“Very good,” Diction said, setting the card down. “Now repeat after me. I sleep. He sleeps. You sleep.” he said pointing in turn to himself, Green, then Clover.
“I sleep. He sleeps. You sleep,” the colt chanted.
Diction stomped his hoof with a smile. “Correct!” Walking over to his student, he gave Clover a pat on the back. “I think that’s enough for today. Don’t want to give him a headache. Thank you for helping with the lesson, Sergeant.”
“No problem,” Green said, getting back on his hooves. “I suppose it’s lunch time, then.” Stepping beside Clover, Green picked up the colt’s saddlebags. “Any homework?”
“Make him some flash cards for the alphabet. I want him reading as soon as possible.”
“I’ll get him a set to take home to the Princess,” Green said, escorting Clover out of the room.
Clover mumbled random words and phrases as they left the campus. Occasionally he would say something a bit louder, and look to Green for approval or correction. The verbs and nouns Diction had taught him were quickly adding up. With a little luck, Clover would be able to hold a conversation soon.
Wandering aimlessly into town, Green tried to think of where they would take lunch. He also pondered the task of getting a little socialising in. The weather was a bit warmer today, and there was no wind at all. Looking down at Clover, he seemed to be comfortable, so no hurry to get back indoors. Maybe they could get some food at the open market. It was late in the day for that, but most of the vendors should still be there. They should be able to piecemeal themselves a lunch. Plus it would let Clover watch him interact with ponies.
Down market street they went. Green Bean smiled at how well Clover was coming out of his shell. He stayed close, but wasn’t scared of everything. Rather, the colt smiled in delight at every new sight and pony. Even as they entered the open air market, Clover stayed bright-eyed and curious.
Meandering through the maze of stalls, Green looked for a suitable lunch. A whiff of sweet oats caught his attention. Letting his nose lead his hooves, he passed a few more stalls before stopping in front of one brimming with cracked grains rolled in molasses. He opened his mouth to ask for two mixed bags, but a sharp voice interrupted him.
“Honey, it’s bad enough you let the girls make a meal of that stuff,” his wife’s voice said from behind him.
Turning around, he found his wife giving him “the look”; while Pinto squirmed in his swaddling on her back. Her lavender eyes could never really look angry, but the way her yellow mane clung to to her white coat did make her look tired. “Hehe… you’re shopping late, dear.”
Lily tried to scowl, but couldn’t help but smile. Shaking her head, she ignored her husband for a moment to see the colt standing beside him. He had been sniffing the bags of sweet grain a moment ago, but now looked up at her as if she was a potential threat. Kneeling a bit, she brought her head down to his level, and put on her best mother’s smile. “So, you’re Clover?”
She immediately regretted it, as the movement upset Pinto—and the yearling immediately voiced this by bursting into wailing and tears.
“Oh dear.” She straightened to tend to the yearling on her back, but her husband had already scooped him into his forelegs.
Lily watched as her husband bounced and cooed at Pinto. The stallion’s antics turned the screams into squeals, then finally bubbling laughter. Clover seemed to be just as amused; sitting next to her husband, he watched the scene with an easy smile.
“It’s not fair.” Lily crossed her forelegs in a mock huff, but she couldn't hide the laugh she was suppressing. “I’m supposed to be the one that can do that.”
Green shrugged, and passed the yearling back to his mother. Looking around for something, he idly ran a hoof through Clover’s mane. “Where’s Tiger and Lentil?”
“They’re over at Camellia’s booth,” Lily said, pointing across the market. “We were just about to head home for lunch when I saw you.”
Perking up, Green looked towards his neighbor's booth. He spotted the orange-on-orange coat and manes of his twin daughters almost immediately. Looking back to Clover, the colt seemed relaxed. If he wanted to keep him that way, he was going to have to step lightly here. “Lily, would you mind if we had Clover eat at the house with us?”
Rubbing her ears, Lily stared at her husband. “You want to feed a prince pumpkin stew and fried black-eyed peas? In our house? Are you allowed to do that?”
Green shrugged. “Celestia just asked me to get him around some foals his age.”
“Did you just call the Princess by just her name?”
“Would you believe me if I told you she asked me to?”
Lily massaged her temples, taking a moment to let the idea settle in. “Are you sure about this?”
“I think it would be good for him. I trust Tiger and Lentil not to scare him, and he needs to be around some foals his own age.” Green smiled down at Clover, trying to assure him he was safe. “I was going to just give him some sweet oats, then go back to the community center.”
Lily shook her head. “That place is so loud.” Giving Green a kiss on the nose; she turned to head back to Camellia’s tea stand. “Let’s go eat then. It’ll be good to have you home for lunch again.”
Green watched the cute earth pony mare trot away from him for a moment, before looking back to Clover—who was rolling his eyes at him. “What?” he asked the colt. “You’ll understand one day.” Chuckling to himself, he stood up, then motioned for Clover to follow him.
Clover stayed by his side as they made their way over to Camellia’s stand. Lily was talking quietly to the twins; most likely telling them to be on their best behavior. Giving his neighbor a friendly wave, he walked up to his family.
“Girls, this is Clover. He’s going to have lunch with us. He doesn't speak our language, so be patient with him.” Looking back to Clover, he realized the colt was already uncomfortable. Again Green reminded himself to go slow. “Clover, this is Lentil.” He paused a moment, letting Clover absorb the name. “And this is Tiger.”
Lentil smiled and waved a hoof. “Hello, Clover.”
Clover returned the wave in an awkward, mechanical sort of way. “Hello, Lentil,” he parroted.
“Is he really a prince?” Tiger asked her father.
Green chuckled. Sitting down between Clover and his girls, he let Clover hide for a moment. “Maybe one day. Right now, he’s just in Celestia’s care.”
“Alright, you two,” Lily said, shooing the daughters in the direction of their house. “Let’s get going.”
Not that any two points in Canterlot were very far apart, but the terrace that Green Bean had always called home was an easy walk from the market. Clover’s curiosity took on a paranoid air on the walk over, and Green could tell he was intentionally keeping a distance from both Lily and the girls. He felt bad putting Clover in an uncomfortable position, but it was necessary to press his boundaries a bit. For now, the task was just getting him used to being around others, playing could come later.
Walking into the house, Green took his son from Lily’s back. “I’ll take him while you warm up lunch.”
“Mom, can we make mulled cider?” Lentil asked, the iron pot already in her grip.
Lily smiled. Reaching into the icebox, she pulled out the sealed jar of sweet cider, and hoofed it to Tiger; since she didn’t have anything in her mouth or hooves. “Tiger Lily, help your sister. I left the mulling spice on the mantle.”
“Okay, mom.” Tiger said, then took the jar’s handle between her teeth.
Inside the closed walls of his home, Clover’s anxiety had doubled. Green could tell he wasn’t scared in a physical way, but something was obviously bothering him. Setting Pinto in his rocker, Green turned to give Clover his full attention. “You’re safe here. Relax, play.” He knew Clover couldn’t understand him, but he hoped the tone of his voice said enough.
Clover fidgeted, mumbling something to himself in a mix of Equestrian and his strange language. Green tilted his head, trying to make sense of what Clover was saying.
After a moment Clover gave him a determined look, and spoke up enough for Green to actually hear him. “Here, not I house. Night, Celestia again?”
Green Bean recited the broken words over in his head a few times, trying to make sure he understood the worried colt. Nodding slowly, he scrambled to remember all the words he’d heard Perfect Diction recite to the foal.
Putting a hoof on each of Clover’s shoulders, Green looked him in the eyes. “Yes, you sleep near Princess Celestia.”
Green could feel the colt relax as soon as the words left his mouth. The color of Clover’s coat even seemed to brighten. They exchanged nods one more time, before Clover took a step back and examined the room.
Leaving Clover to himself for a moment, Green fetched a bottle to warm for Pinto. His mind wandered as he worked around Lily to boil the bottle. It seemed Clover’s worry had been that Celestia had sent him to live elsewhere. He was glad for what few words Professor Diction had taught him. The afternoon would have been very stressful without them.
Professor Diction’s request sprang to mind. Leaving the water to warm on the stove, Green went over to the writing desk and started making the flash cards. Clover’s voice asking, “What is?” drew his attention up for his task. He had assumed the question was directed at him, but he found Clover standing between his daughters. Their efforts in mulling some cider seemed to interest him. A father’s smile crept on his face as Lentil eagerly showed him every aspect of mulling cider. Tiger tried to sit quietly and let her sister teach the colt, but frequently had to intervene when it became clear Clover wasn't understanding Lentil. Her gentle demonstrations often conveyed more information than Lentil’s energetic rambling.
Not long after the cider was ready, so too was lunch. Much to Green’s approval, Clover ate the fried black-eyed peas like they were candy. As conversation bantered around the table, Clover studied the family like a puzzle. Listening to every word, and watching every action. It occurred to Green that Clover needed to see more of Equestria. It would be months before he could really understand a conversation, but his eyes could understand a lot right now.
Checking the time, Green thought about what to do with the two hours he had left in the day. He had an idea. They wouldn’t be able to see much of it, but they could hit a few cool parts. He’d even earn points with Lily by getting the girls out of her hair for a while.
“Hey girls, want to go to the science and history museum?”
Tiger Lily trailed behind the prince. With her dad and Lentil trotting ahead, she didn’t want Clover to fall behind and get lost. She really didn't want to have to go looking for him if he wandered off. The museum was tucked between both the palace and the college, and the idea of having to go into either scared her. Fortunately, he was keeping pace just behind her sister.
As they approached the entrance to the museum's massive lobby, Tiger walked closer to the others. The place always intimidated her, even if most the of skeletons were just models.
The house-sized beasts didn’t bother Clover. He was almost giddy as he trotted around, looking up at the giant skeletons looming above them. He paused a moment when they walked beneath a dragon’s ribs. He seemed to recognize the creature, or at least be appropriately intimidated by it. “What is?” he asked, looking to her dad for an answer.
“Dragon,” he said, carefully pronouncing the word.
The prince tilted his head in confusion. “Spike dragon. Spike no…” Clover’s voice trailed off, shrugging, he pointed to the giant skeleton.
“Who’s Spike?” Lentil asked.
“He’s the baby dragon that lives with Princess Twilight,” her dad answered.
Tiger looked around. Spotting a colorful plaque, she motioned for Clover to follow her over to it. Stepping aside, she watched him study the pictures of various dragons and their growth cycle. Clover looked from the pictures to the skeleton with an expression of disbelief. Stepping back, he got a better view of the life-sized model, then mumbled something she couldn’t understand. Taking his eyes away from the dragon, the prince looked around at the smaller skeletons that were also on display, then trotted off to look at the manticore.
“Where should we go first?” her dad asked, following the prince.
Lentil bounced on her hooves. “I want to see the stuff about the minotaur war.”
Green Bean chuckled. “We can do that. What do you want to see, Tiger?”
“I’m fine,” she said, trotting to catch up to the prince.
Catching her with a hoof, her dad pulled her into a soft hug. “I’m the foalsitter here. You relax and have fun. Now, I know you wanted to see the new Princess Platinum exhibit.”
“If we have time…” Tiger tried not to sound too excited.
Green went over and nudged the prince, motioning for him to follow. “We’ll go there on the way to see the military section.”
Along the way, they paused to let Clover explore the history of magic section. Clover seemed fascinated with every little thing there, but none of them really knew what they were looking at. Even the display on earth pony magic was alien to her. Green tried to explain a bit of it, but Lentil was anxious to move on to the more interesting rooms.
Around the corner, the ornate entrance to the new exhibit shone. Tiger grinned at the displays she could already see. Accent furniture and gleaming gems begged for her attention. Trotting forward a bit, she stopped to look back at her family and Clover.
“Go on, we’ll catch up,” her dad said, grinning and waving her forward.
Smiling back, Tiger walked up to the little sign hung at the exhibit's entrance. “The Canterlot Museum would like to thank Princess Luna for donating these artifacts from her personal effects,” it read.
Tiger again looked back at the prince, suddenly imagining him at home, eating off plates from the pre-unification era. She had to giggle at the thought. Turning, she wandered into the dimly lit room.
Inside, Tiger skipped from one display to the next. There were so many beautiful things here, and all of them from the time of the unification: a few pieces even had damage from windigos. Rounding a corner, she found Clover studying Princess Platinum’s crown. It was far different than how it always looked in the plays. Instead of the heavy lobed thing she was familiar with, it was platinum lace that crested to a point, with only a single gem decorating the crown. Sitting on the crown’s peak was an uncut sapphire which looked like a chunk of summer sky.
“It’s really pretty, isn’t it?” she asked Clover.
Prince Clover tilted his head, giving her a confused look. Tiger felt silly for a moment, she knew he couldn't understand her. Looking around she spotted her dad, watching them from the corner. He had the stern look that he always pretended to have when he was working as a guard. She couldn’t find her sister, though.
Clover stood, and walked over to a corner, where an old wall clock hung behind glass. Much to her surprise, it was still running. Giving the crown one last look, Tiger joined Clover by the clock. It was a simple thing of wood and brass, but there was still an elegance to it. The amazing part, was that it still ticked. Sitting down, she closed her eyes, and focused on the clock’s ticking. Once, long ago, Princess Platinum had listened to that very same sound. Who knows who else had also listened to it.
Movement beside her made Tiger open her eyes, only to find her sister staring at her with a silly grin.
“What ya doin’ in the corner with Clover?” Lentil asked in singsong voice.
Tiger blushed, suddenly aware of how close she was sitting to Clover. “We… I was just looking at the clock.”
Lentil giggled. “Sure…”
“Don’t be mean, he’s our guest.” Tiger said.
Lentil rolled her eyes. “Relax. He can’t understand me, and I was just picking on you. Did you see the scepter? It’s pretty cool,” she said, motioning towards the mentioned artifact.
“No,” Tiger said. She hadn’t yet ventured into the little rooms that made up the center of the exhibit. Looking towards where her sister had pointed, she started to stand, but as soon as she turned her head, something touch her cheek.
In front of her, Lentil’s face was scrunched up like she had just seen something gross. It was only when the soft touch moved away, that Tiger realized that Prince Clover had just kissed her cheek, and was now prancing away from them, innocently humming some tune.
“Eww…” Lentil said, her face still contorted.
Tiger stood, and let her mind wrap around what just happened, then giggled. Clover had understood more than what her sister had thought. Without looking back at Lentil, she trotted off to the inner rooms, to see the scepter her sister had mentioned.
Navigating the chain of rooms, Tiger studied all the little artifacts along the way. These were the personal things that used to make up a pony’s daily life; many of them looked no different to what was in her own home. Along the way Clover found her again, but moved on, seemingly uninterested in the personal effects. Her sister also passed by, making sure she had seen the scepter, before vanishing out of sight.
Walking away from the last display, Tiger looked again for Clover and her family. Out in the main exhibit room, she found them standing near the exit. She felt a bit bad for having made them wait. Her sister was obviously antsy to move on, while Clover entertained himself with some little interactive display just out in the hall.
“Sorry,” she said, trotting up to them.
Lentil perked up, her boredom vanishing in an instant. “Can we go see the armor now?”
“I’m ready if you all are,” Green said.
Clover perked up, leaving the interactive map, he stood beside them, waiting for somepony to move.
The military wing was a small museum unto itself. There wasn’t much here to hold Tiger’s attention, but her dad liked reading the journals kept here from soldiers long ago, and her sister couldn't get enough of the shiny brass and steel. The long line of uniforms dating back to before the unification were neat, but she’d seen them enough that they were now familiar.
She didn’t complain though. As Lentil trotted off to look at a collection of swords and spears, she watched Clover trail slowly behind her. The weapons seemed to captivate him, but he didn’t study each blade like Lentil did. Rather, he looked the collection over as a whole, with a mix of curiosity and revulsion.
Leaving the others to meander about the exhibit, Tiger made her way to a wall covered in pins and buttons. She’d never really paid them any attention in the past. Medals, insignias, awards, and common buttons alike were arrayed on the wall. A little note beneath each one told a story about where it had come from. Some found, some donated; they all spoke of a powerful moment in some pony’s life.
After studying a few dozen labels, Tiger’s head hurt from all the reading. Many of the words were strange to her, and all the text small. Turning from the wall, she went over to where her dad was watching Lentil and the prince stroll between the armor-covered ponyquins.
“Anything interesting?” Green asked.
Tiger nodded. “Some of them.” Taking a seat next to her dad, she let her mind wander. Her sister’s voice would occasionally snap her out of a daydream, as Lentil cooed or commented on one thing or another. She had almost fallen asleep on her hooves, when her dad’s voice called her out of her stupor.
“About time to go,” he said, then waved at Clover and Lentil to come along.
Tiger stood up along with her dad, and followed him over to the exit. Clover and Lentil both caught up to them before they were half way to the door. While she was sleepy, her sister and Clover were buzzing with energy. It was a contagious energy that ate at her sleepiness, but it was the crisp air outside that finally woke her up.
Feeling better, Tiger trotted up to her sister’s side. “See anything cool?”
Lentil beamed a smile, and started to say something, but a snowball whizzing over her head interrupted her. They shared a puzzled look for a heartbeat, before tracing the snowball’s path back to its origin, only to find Clover readying a second. Grinning at each other, both sisters dove towards the deep snow, and gathered the biggest ammunition they could.
Green Bean halted in his tracks, as snowballs began lobbing across the street. For every one that Clover was throwing, he was getting hit with three. The colt was laughing at every moment of it though. It was a truly foalish laughter, something that made him want to laugh along with him. Thinking two against one wasn’t fair, Green decided to make it a game of colts against fillies.
Celestia rubbed the spot between her eyes again. Twilight’s thank-you for letting her run court had been to organise her office. Ledgers replaced loose stacks. Organizers held folders, letterheads, and calendars. Three file cabinets had been brought in, and everything filed by standard archival protocol.
She had no idea where anything was.
Court had gotten her out of the office for a few hours, but now she had to conquer her new work space before she went to her chambers. Thankfully, Dewey, the court archivist, hadn’t laughed when she asked her for help.
Picking up a stack of paper from her new in-basket, Celestia plucked out the particular bundle she was after, letting the rest land on the overly clean desk. She ignored Dewey’s magic straightening the pile back into the basket as she scanned the document. Her frown deepened with each page. In spite of the news it carried, she was disappointed at how thin it was. She shrugged. There was nothing she could do. It had only been a few days. It would take weeks before a comprehensive picture began to emerge.
Laying that folder down, where her now-pile used to be, Celestia picked up the report she had been looking at before court. “I need yesterday’s guard summary. And where am I supposed to file last night’s?” Celestia asked, waving her copy of the night guard’s report. The place she used to cram them was now full of spare stationary.
Dewey took the offending folder, and opened one of the new file drawers. “All daily reports go here. They’re alphabetical after that.” Dewey stuck the night report into its folder, and just as quickly pulled the previous day’s report from another file in the drawer. “Newest in back. Anything older than three months can be boxed and sent to the archive.”
Taking the report in her magic, Celestia made a mental note of the drawer. Returning her attention to her desk, she laid the report down to study it. There were no answers here, either.
If Clover had fallen through the cracks, others had, too. However he had gotten into the city was a blessing; one that other foals hadn’t gotten. Missing foal reports were now to be reported to the guard immediately—unresolved cases reported directly to the Crown after two days. Provisions to check on the foals after the loss of a parent were also going into effect, but logistics for that would take time.
Till then, she had every province sending her every known unsolved missing foal report for the last ten years. Only Ponyville and Baltimare had managed to respond so far, but she knew more would be in soon, and she’d have almost all of them within a couple of weeks. Somewhere in there, she hoped to find Clover’s past.
Ponyville’s one, and only, case looked promising. A colt about the right age, who had vanished roughly three years ago. No surviving parents, no herd mothers at all; only grandparents, that had since passed. Sadly, Celestia doubted this was Clover’s former life. Notes about the foal having been last seen near the Everfree promised a grim fate for that little one. Still, she would ask Twilight to look into it, though she knew she already was; her old student would never leave a mystery like that unexplored.
Celestia laughed, but it was a bitter sound. The little filly that used to run around her legs, was now one of the few ponies she could explicitly trust to do the right thing without prompting. Not merely doing what was expected, but striving to make the world around her a better one.
Flipping through the Baltimare report, Celestia fought to keep her hackles down. Twenty-three unresolved cases over ten years. Twenty-three of her ponies missing. Once upon a time, allowing a foal to simply wander off would have been unheard of, but the world had changed on her when she wasn’t looking.
Pulling out a scroll, Celestia penned the mayor a letter. She would have a full dossier on every foal on her desk by the end of next week. She’d also be sending a guard, and an archivist to the city.
Putting that in the ‘I’ll-need-that-later’ spot on her desk, Celestia searched the in-basket again. Ship Shape’s docking log was only a single page, and hid well among the pack of multi-paged reports, but she found it on her second pass. It was a short manifest, listing all the ships from foreign ports that had docked in Canterlot in the past few weeks. One from the eastern continent, a dozen for the griffon lands, two from Minoa, and a few more from both the zebras and Saddle Arabians.
One of the airships claiming to be from Minoa didn’t look right to her. The name was off, and the cargo wasn’t the normal kind of goods; there were far too many arcane materials. The magic of that land was one of secrets and esoterics. Fine herbs and rare minerals would occasionally make their way out of their borders, but never anything of volume or complexity. She read the manifest closer, hunting for anything that seemed dangerous, but found nothing that alarmed her.
Looking up, Celestia let her mind wander back to Clover. Her two best theories about Clover danced through her mind. Had he been on that ship, as either a captive or stowaway? As cruel as it sounded, Celestia hoped for the truth to be that he had gone mustang. It made his weakness harder to explain, but not impossible. The idea that any of her ponies had fallen victim to a slave’s collar stirred an anger that she hoped to never show again.
“Dewey, I need you to recommend ten of your best researchers to me. I will be sending them abroad, so make sure they are fine with long trips. Both to Equestrian cities, and possibly to other nations as well.”
“Yes, your Majesty.” Dewey took a notepad from her bags, and scribbled something down. “I’ll have a list for you by tomorrow.”
“It can wait through the weekend. Have it to me by the end of court on Monday.” Celestia sat the report down. She needed to clear her head, but first, she had to send a letter to Shining Armor, asking him for guards as she had Dewey for archivists. She’d match them into teams later.
“Now…” she said, sealing the scrolls, and putting them in the out-box. “For the rest of the day, I want you to show me how these ledgers and files are organised. It’s past time I learned this.”
- - -
Celestia was pleased with herself. She had managed to learn the modern filing system, and only leave an hour late. At least it was the weekend. Not that she was ever truly off work, but she had two days without court or meetings. Luna holding night court on the weekend had let her have some semblance of personal time, but it also meant seeing less of her sister for those two nights.
Celestia shook her head. She really didn’t spend enough time with Luna. If she had a hard time spending time with her sister, how was she going to give Clover the attention he needed? Changes would have to come to her schedule faster than she had planned. She would have to stop sheltering Twilight, and give her the responsibilities she craved. Twilight’s castle was due for a court of its own. Likewise, she was going to have to take Luna’s advice about her day court.
Luna was constantly telling her that five a week was too many, and that ponies were asking her to make decisions they should be making themselves. Luna was right, of course. She had known that even before her sister was returned to her.
When had her court dissolved into hearing about trivial disputes and meaningless petitions? Not that she minded helping her little ponies. She lived to guide them to their greatest happiness, but perhaps the time had come for them to again stand on their own a little more. They had defeated the windigos without her—could they rise above something like that now? Had she weakened them under her care?
Spreading her wings, Celestia took to the air. She could see the light of her balcony as soon as she was above the roofline, but didn’t fly towards it. As much as she wanted to get home, she really needed to get a little exercise in. Ten minutes of flying would make her a more relaxed pony when she got there.
The night air was cold, and falling snow swirled in the air on its way to the ground. Flapping as hard as she could, Celestia streaked into the sky, leaving the golden lights of Canterlot below her. She smiled as she pierced a snow-filled cloud. Above it, she let her momentum bleed off. The sky was crystal clear up here, the stars shined like diamonds, and the round, empty moon tried its best to warm her. A few weather pegasi were up here with her, but none of them paid her any attention. This wasn’t the first time she’d needed to blow off some steam, and the night shift took great pride in pretending not to see her. Skimming the cloud tops, Celestia let her mind go blank and her body go where it liked.
Time lost a little of its meaning in her dance above the clouds, but a little voice in the back of her mind eventually began to nag at her. She had a warm home to go to, she had a sister, a friend, and a son waiting for her. A son… it was a strange thought. She loved the little colt, but did she love him any different than any other of her ponies? She mulled the thought over in her head as she glided back to the city. The foal had only been in her life for a week, but she was already bending her routine and her schedule for him.
Landing on the balcony, the melody of Clover’s tin whistle caught her ear. It was a cheery tune, quick, with a sharp beat: a perfect dancing tune for a party.
Opening the door, Celestie peered inside. The smell of dinner cooking hit her the moment she stuck her nose through the door. Her long day, and impromptu workout, suddenly caught up to her as her stomach begged for whatever Merry was cooking.
Staying quiet, Celestia eased her head into the room to look for Clover. She wanted to watch him play his song for a moment before interrupting him. Over by a bookshelf, she saw him with the metal flute in his magic. With his eyes closed, he let the melody pour out of him. Celestia couldn’t help but nod along with the happy tune. She would have to see about getting him a proper recorder to play.
A cold wind blew against Celestia’s back, pushing the door open a little further. Clover shivered as the draft rolled over him, interrupting his song. He let the flute fall to the floor, and looked towards the open door with a mixture of annoyance and confusion, but his eyes lit up the instant he saw her.
“Mom!” he said, trying to stand faster than his legs could untangle.
Celestia jolted at the word. A confused smile spread across her muzzle as the colt found his balance, then galloped over to her. She could only absently pat his back when he wrapped himself around one of her forelegs in a hug.
The embrace only lasted a moment, before he let go and began trotting around in circles, rambling in a mix of broken Equestrian and his unknown language. “… cider … … big … dragon … … Platinum … spear … Tiger … … … snow.”
A sound caught Celestia’s attention, looking up from the excited foal, she found but Luna and Merry snickering at her from the hallway.
“He’s been like that since he got home,” Merry said.
Celestia blinked, then looked back to Clover, who had sat down against her leg, to listen to the conversation. “He called me Mom.”
“We heard,” Luna said. “It is what you wanted, is it not?”
A smile crept across Celestia’s muzzle. Mom. She had never held that title; the weight of it was second only to princess. “It is.” She nodded. “I was just not expecting it so soon. I’m surprised he even knows the word.”
“The guard took Clover home for lunch with his family. He probably picked it up there,” Merry said. “He also took him to the museum, and made him some alphabet flashcards.” Mentioning the latter, Merry pointed to the little stack of hoof-made cards sitting on an endtable. “The professor wants him reading as fast as possible.”
Celestia nodded. “I owe Green Bean a thank you.” Bending down, Celestia kissed the top of Clover’s head. Closing the balcony door, Celestia floated her regalia off, and laid them on a nearby table. “What’s this?” she asked, picking up a large parcel that had apparently come in the mail.
“It is from Rarity,” Luna said, following the box to her sister. “Clover’s coat, I would guess.”
With a smile, Merry excused herself back to the kitchen. “Dinner will be on the table in just a few minutes.”
Celestia smiled at Clover’s youthful curiosity over the box as she peeled it open. She shared in his wonder as the pulled the neatly packed coat out of its wrapping. Rarity’s work never failed to impress her. The thick, soft-blue coat was going to look handsome on Clover, and the material was heavy enough to survive being played in. Bright emerald buttons shined like his eyes, giving the heavy coat a noble look.
Hanging it on the coat rack, she turned her attention back to Clover. His mane was a mess, and a few blotches on his coat told her he had gotten into some mud earlier in the day. “Let’s go get you cleaned up for dinner,” she said, leading Clover back to the bathroom.
In the bathroom nearest Clover’s room, Celestia was glad to see a step stool had finally been brought in for him. Clover seemed equally happy to have it, as he hopped up to the sink, and turned it on like it was a well-practiced routine.
While Clover lathered his hooves, Celestia looked across the hall to the room he had taken as his own. It was still the same as all the other guest rooms; comfortable, but impersonal. She really needed to decorate the room to fit Clover. If only she knew more about what he liked. Anatomy made for poor decoration, and music only went so far.
The sound of the water being shut off brought her attention back to Clover, who now was dripping wet from nose to hooves. Grabbing a towel, she giggled.
A good toweling off later, and Celestia was leading Clover back into the kitchen.
Celestia helped Clover onto his stool. “How was your day?” she asked Merry.
“It was nice. I took the grandfoals out to lunch; let the kids have some time to themselves.“ Settling in, Merry took a sweet potato from the table, and put it on her plate.
Luna plucked a potato for herself, and some butter to dress it with. “How is your daughter?” she asked, floating a pat of butter onto Merry’s plate.
Celestia only half listened to the small talk, as she took a serving of mixed greens. She started to put some on Clover’s plate too, but paused as Perfect Diction’s words came back to her. “How do you teach the word ‘want’?”
“Do... you... want... salad?” she asked, slowly enunciating each word. She held the bowl towards him, making the gesture obvious, even if he didn’t yet understand the words.
Clover nodded with a smile. “Yes.” His accent was thick, but the word was there.
Giving him a little pile of greens, she traded the salad bowl, for the bowl of brussel sprouts. “Do you want brussels sprouts?”
Leaning forward, Clover looked into the bowl, but reeled back the moment he smelled the contents. “No…”
Celestia couldn’t help but snicker; she couldn’t stand the things, either. Turning to face her, Luna faked a haughty air while taking the serving bowl form Celestia’s magic. “All the more for me,” she said, before scooping most of its contents onto her plate.
Laughs rolled around the table for a moment, before idle conversation resumed, and Celestia took the next item to offer Clover. One by one, she offered him every item on the table. She wasn’t sure if he was picking up on what she was trying to teach him, but she thought he was.
It was in the middle of debating how to start the changes to the court schedule, that Clover proved her right.
“Want water,” he stammered, pushing his empty glass forward.
The three adults shared a smile.
“You know,” Luna said, filling Clover’s glass from the pitcher. “You're going to miss this as soon as he’s grown.”
Celestia waved her sister goodbye, then sat by the fire with a happy sigh. She paused a moment to smile at the busy sounds coming from the kitchen. Clover had seemed insistent on helping Merry clean up after dinner, and Merry had been happy to put him to work.
Grabbing a quill and notebook, Celestia jotted down the beginnings of her to-do list for the coming week. Luna and her had put together a plan over dinner. It would take a month or two to ease into, and years to fully implement, but slowly, they would start easing more responsibility back to where it should have been all along. Celestia was letting go of her need to micromanage her nation, and with Luna’s help, they would start making their ponies more self-reliant.
A stray thought crossed Celestia’s mind. Lighting her horn, she willed a letter from her study to appear before her. It was one of the first letters Twilight had sent her after the friendship reports had stopped. Twilight had written to tell her about Fluttershy’s experience with the Breezies. It wasn’t a formal report on what they had seen and learned, but just a letter from a friend, talking about interesting things.
Reading the letter again, Celestia smiled at how excited Twilight sounded about the transformation spell she had learned, and the notes she had taken about the Breezie culture and homeland. The smile faded as she thought about Fluttershy and the breezies she had sheltered. Had she been doing the same thing?
The sound of Clover’s hooves prompted her to send the letter back to its proper place. Clover was practically prancing as he walked into the room. With a cookie in his magic, he took occasional nibbles as he looked around the room. He almost seemed euphoric, if not a little lost. Every little aspect of the great room seemed new to him. Traipsing up to her, Clover nuzzled Celestia’s shoulder with a brief, but heartfelt, display of affection. Then chirped something before trotting off to disappear into the library.
Celestia’s ears and eyes were focused on the archway, not sure what to expect, but feeling like she should be paying attention to what he was doing. After a quiet moment, Clover returned with the picture book from a few days ago. Lying down in a mirror of her pose, he opened the book, and studied the bright picture. She watched him pore over a few pages, the panoramics absorbing him more than the still lifes. He would tilt his head and move a little, in an effort to match the camera’s angle. She could tell he wanted to see what was out of view too.
Reaching out with her magic, Celestia pulled a new fiction book down from a shelf; something one of her guards had recommended. Golden Peytral loved books about grand adventures that took unwilling heroes to far away and fantastic places. They were guilty pleasures for Celestia too. For a thousand years, she had not left her palace for more than a day or two. She missed the wild oats of her youth, the adventures on the edge of creation she’d had with Luna. Opening the book, she gave Clover another glance. He was studying a picture of the Dancing Forest; the picture really did not do the place justice. Soon she’d have more time. With her friends and family’s help, she’d be able to have the freedom to take him there herself.
Her heart a little lighter, and the spark of anticipation shining inside her, Celestia looked down at her book, and began the story of poor Snow Drift, and his adventure into the Shattered Lands.
- - -
Into the third chapter, Celestia's attention was pulled from the pages as Clover closed the picture book and stood. Humming the same happy tune he had played earlier, he took the book back to the library room. She returned her attention to the book, but left an ear pointed towards him.
The sounds of Clover mulling about registered in the back of her mind, as he shifted into another tune she had never heard; this one a bit more solemn than the others he had been humming. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see him examining the Hearth’s Warming tree.
Flipping another page, her ear twitched. Clover’s humming had shifted into singing. Looking up, she strained to understand him, but the words were entirely foreign. This was not like the happy songs that ponies would occasionally break out in, this was nothing short of a dirge. The low tone and drawn out sounds reminded her of crying. Sitting with slumped shoulders, and wet eyes, Clover stared into the decorated tree, and sang his mournful song. She started to rush over to embrace him, but something told her to let him get it out.
After a moment, tears choked the words from Clover’s throat. Celestia watched him in silence, not sure what to do. He looked up, and met her gaze; something akin to shame was in his eyes. He blinked hard once, then stared down at the floor.
Celestia stood, and with a one graceful movement, sat next to Clover. She started to pull him under a wing, but he winced away. Letting her wings hang limp at her side, Celestia lay down next to him. She tried not to press him, waiting patiently for him to make the next move. It didn’t take long, after a moment, he shifted closer to her, and laid his head on her foreleg. His tears didn’t stop, but they did ease.
With the edge of her wing, she petted his mane while he calmed down. After a few more ragged breaths, Clover mumbled something she couldn’t understand. He looked up at her, then sighed. He closed his eyes again, but this time in concentration. “I want family,” he said then plopped his head back down onto her foreleg.
Now Celestia found her vision clouded with tears. “I am trying very hard to give you one,” she said. Looking around with her eyes, she racked her brain for something to bring back his earlier mood. Across the room, his new coat caught her eye. She smiled as an idea crossed her mind. It was a smile that did not go unnoticed by Clover, and he seemed a bit uneasy at its sight.
Floating the thick coat over, she nudged Clover to stand. He obeyed lifelessly, allowing her to manipulate him as she guided the coat on and zipped it up. She admired the coat’s fit for a moment, before opening the balcony door with her magic. Clover walked outside without prompting; whether guessing what she wanted, or seeking the cold air to keep from getting hot in the coat, she wasn’t sure.
Following him out onto the balcony, Celestia knelt, and stretched a wing to the ground; beckoning him to climb on her back. Clover paused a moment. She could tell he was tired, but with a second nudge, he conceded, and took his normal spot on her shoulders. He mumbled something as she stood up, it sounded like a question, but she couldn't understand it. With a touch of her magic, she pressed Clover tight against her, then flared her wings. He made a slightly more frantic sound when she stepped to the very edge of the balcony. Pausing, she twisted her neck to look back at him. “Shh... Trust me.” she said with a smile.
Looking back towards the night sky, Celestia lept into the air.
Clover gripped at her neck with all his might, squealing in terror for the first few wing beats. The grip didn’t slack even after she had smoothed out her flight. She was ready to return to the ground if his panic didn’t fade, but the squeal gave way to nervous laughter within a few seconds. She could feel his head darting from one side to the other, looking at the moon-lit cityscape.
Sailing away from the tower, Celestia smiled; Clover’s grip was slackening by degrees, trusting her magic to keep him safe as they glided over the city. Flapping her wings to regain some altitude, Celestia eased away from the palace and glided towards the residential terraces. The houses, big and small were lit up for the holiday, giving them a toy-like appearance from the air. Soaring over the smoky chimneys, the sweet sound of song caught her attention. With a subtle movement, she shifted their path towards the sound. Just as she expected, she found a dozen ponies standing in the snowy streets, singing carols to anypony that would listen.
What did surprise her, was the number of familiar faces in the crowd. Circling once, to bleed off some speed and altitude, Celestia landed with all the grace she could next to Night Light.
“Princess?!” Spike said, giving her a bow, along with the other carollers.
“Spike!” Clover said from Celestia’s back.
Lowering herself, Celestia let Clover slide onto the ground. She smiled to see him bound over to the young dragon, and exchange their greeting of bumping hoof to claw. “May we join you?” Celestia asked Night Light.
Night Light chuckled at the question. Looking back at his friends and neighbors, he gave them a reassuring smile. “You’re more than welcome to join us,” he said with a little nod.
- - -
Celestia followed the group of ponies from one house to the next—singing along with them to any that would listen beneath the dim glow of the gas street lamps. Through the dark and snow, few ponies recognized her behind the other carollers. The silly hats little Morning Glory had given to the group helped too. The long, red, pointy nightcap, with its little puffball on the end, danced and bounced as she sang—going a long way to subdue the attention her mane normally garnered.
It was a bit of anonymity that she enjoyed. One family hadn't noticed her till they brought hot drinks out for the carollers. She had to keep from laughing at the startled ponies when she took the offered cup with thanks, and drank it.
It did her heart good, to see Clover join their harmony; trying his very best to sing along with them. He had a good ear for pitch, managing to blend in with the singing, even when he was just making nonsense sounds. It was good to see him smile again, even if he was still more reserved than he had been earlier.
“Can Clover come with us tomorrow?” Celestia heard Spike ask Night Light. Looking over to Twilight’s dad, Celestia gave him a curious look. She tried to keep her expression soft, but she was curious about what Spike was talking about.
“Umm…” Night Light hummed. “Spike, and some others, are going to see a play tomorrow; then hit the pizza parlor afterwards. Could Clover go with them?”
Celestia blinked. The simple question had actually caught her off guard. She had planned on spending as much time as possible with Clover for the next two days, but she wouldn’t dare slow Clover’s progress in making friends. Besides, it would only be for half of the day.
“That would be…” Celestia cleared her throat, relaxing from the formal posture she had slipped into. “I’m okay with that, if you don’t mind him coming along.”
“What’s one more foal?” Night Light said with a laugh. “I’ll pick him up around two, and have him home around seven; well stuffed with pizza and ice cream.“
Celestia felt like she was supposed to be worried about that, but she let the thought drift away as they walked to a new spot down the street. They had decided earlier that this spot would be the last for the night. Watching Clover walk beside her, he seemed distant; his eyes focused on some non-existing object a thousand meters away. Lowering her head, she gave him a playful nudge.
“Mom!” Clover whined, stumbling a few steps. His expression sobered the moment the word left his mouth. Stopping in his tracks, he looked up to Celestia. The expression worried her. She could see him weighing the meaning of that word. Standing still, she let the others walk ahead.
“I would like it if you called me Mom,” Celestia said, not sure how much he understood.
Clover seemed to understand her. With a heavy sigh, he moved closer, then leaned against her leg. He gave her a smile that was sad and whimsical at the same time, before casting his eyes back to the snow on the ground. He spoke, but she only understood the tone. He was talking about something he did not like to speak of. He talked for a good minute, never looking up from the road.
Finally going quiet, he looked up at her. His eyes were glassy, but his face was stern. Lifting a hoof, he touched Celestia’s leg. “Mom,” he said, then turned the hoof to himself. It was the same gesture he had used back in the doctor’s office when she had named him Clover.
Reaching out, Celestia rested her hoof on his chest. “Son,” she said.
Clover only nodded to the title, nether repeating it, nor smiling. After a moment, he mumbled something in his language, before wrapping his hooves around her leg in a hug. “You I home,” he said, with his face pressed against her coat.
Celestia’s vision blurred at the words. His broken sentence was clear in its meaning; home was where she was.
Luna looked down over the city as she banked towards home. The sun was not due to rise for another three hours, but she was overdue for a hot bath. Somewhere between the night court and the emergency trip to the Everfree, Luna had picked up a kink in her neck that was quickly turning into a full-blown headache.
“Owlbears,” Luna mumbled, while trying to rub her neck and fly at the same time. “Tenacious creatures.”
Lining up with the balcony, Luna began her descent. The sight of Clover watching her from the railing confused her for a moment. Veering a bit to one side, she landed next to him. A raised eyebrow asked what she could not with words. She knew well that neither her sister nor Merry were awake at this hour, but baggy eyes, and listless movements, told her the colt had been struck sleepless again.
Clover recited something in a humorless sing-song voice. He grinned like one having just told a joke, but the smile faded at her lack of response. With a sigh he turned and continued looking over the railing. Sitting next to him, she joined the silent vigil over the stars and city lights. It was a nice view, and she didn’t feel right leaving the insomniac foal alone in the night. The quiet didn’t last long before chattering teeth interrupted the silence.
Opening the balcony door with her magic, Luna motioned with her wing for him to come inside. Following him into the great room, they both sat down near the fire. Clover allowed the heat to warm his coat, while Luna fetched the iron tea kettle full of steaming water that Merry Hearth always kept there for her at night. She decided her bath could wait for a little while. Some hot tea would do them both good, then she could put the little one back to bed, and she could get her much-needed soak.
Luna rubbed the nagging muscle with her hoof while her magic pulled the tea service down from the mantel. Perusing the selection of loose tea, she settled on the same calming herb mix she had used last time she had found the colt awake and listless. Luna smiled as she added the tea to the kettle’s scalding water, wondering if this was going to become a ritual between them.
Waiting for the tea to steep, Luna looked at the red embers that marked where a proper fire had been hours before. She turned to fetch fresh wood from the corner of the room, but hissed when the movement tugged at the knot in her neck. The reaction did not go unnoticed by Clover, who watched her with interest as she floated a few logs onto the coals.
By the time the new logs had started to burn, the tea had cooled to a drinkable temperature. Clover seemed thankful for the added warmth, but he also seemed fascinated with Luna’s attempts to soothe her tense shoulder and neck. Sitting in silence, they sipped their tea and watched the logs burn. She was happy to see Clover had gotten better with holding things: he still had to use two hooves to hold the cup, but that wasn’t uncommon for his size. Setting her own cup down, she offered the kettle to Clover for a refill, which he accepted with a little nod.
The tea seemed to be working its magic on Clover, but it had done little for Luna’s now borderline migraine. It felt like if she could just pop something, it would all come loose. Shuffling off her regalia, she lay on the hard floor. Rolling onto her side, she tried to see if a little pressure and twisting would do the trick.
It was an undignified pose, but she didn’t care. This was her home, her shelter from the public eye; she’d run around with her tail up if she wanted to... Well, if there wasn’t a foal in the house.
Two tiny hooves touched her, one against her shoulder, and the other on her withers. There was a gentle authority to the colt’s touch; some aura that told her to relax. She let her body obey as the little hooves began kneading and pressing her muscles. If her nephew wished to give her a back rub, she would be happy to accept it.
His hooves worked their way from withers to ear with a pleasant, brisk massage. Then he changed position to start over again. This time his hooves moved slow and thoughtful, and with all the weight his frame could muster. The little hoof tips pressed with surgical precision, blurring the line of pleasure and pain, till Luna could only say that it felt.
When Clover’s hooves took hold of some strange point in her neck, her world almost went white from the sensation. She lay there, not sure if she wanted to giggle in pleasure or cry in pain. Motionless, Clover held the grip as his hoof sank into where she knew the muscle attached to bone. Within a few heartbeats the pain was winning the struggle. She flexed her foreleg to move, but a calm “Shhh...” from Cloved stopped her.
The muscle twitched, shuddered, then released the tension it had been holding; taking with it the headache that had been plaguing her. A giggle escaped her as the sensation washed over her.
Clover echoed the laugh; taking his hooves from her, he stepped back into her line of sight.
“Thank you,” she said, watching the curiosity that was Clover sip his tea.
Sitting back up, Luna tested her neck, moving it through its range of motion. She might have a bruise in the evening, but to be rid of the knot, she’d call it a fair trade.
Her attention came back to Clover when he let out a slow yawn. He had a drowsy look to him now. Standing up, she nudged Clover to follow her. “Let’s get you back to bed.”
Clover followed her with heavy hooves, climbing into his bed as soon as they reached it. He seemed perfectly content as she tucked him in. For a moment, he was just a happy foal, safe in his bed. Luna watched him close his eyes, and snuggle into his pillow. She could feel sleep wash over him. Sitting perfectly still, she watched him fall asleep.
Her magic touched Clover’s mind. His will reacted faster than ever to her presence; his time with them had made it sharper. The iron door to his dreamscape was shut tight, and the slightest effort to open it made the construct grow chains and locks. Pulling the effort back before she woke him, Luna quietly left the room. So many questions would be answered if he would only allow her into his dreams, but she would have to wait. He would grow comfortable with her mind’s presence in time; or not.
Walking into her room, Luna again flexed her neck, testing to see if the knot had truly been banished. There was still some tenderness, but the knot was no longer there. Though she still believed a hot shower was the first thing she needed. The skirmish in the Everfree had left her smelling more of sweat and trees than her preferred scent of jasmine. After the shower, a nap would pass the time till her sister woke up.
- - -
Luna awoke when the dawn nagged at her. Shuffling onto her hooves, she dismissed her moon before opening her door and stepping out into the hall. Across from her, Celestia had also just stepped out of her room. Celestia gave her a crooked, sleepy smile, before mumbling out, “Good morning.”
Wandering into the kitchen, Luna began her ritual of making coffee, while Celestia rummaged the pantry for cereal. Weekends were Merry’s time to relax as well, leaving the sisters to fend for themselves. They both considered themselves good cooks, but mustering the effort was another matter.
“How was your night?” Celestia asked, pouring marshmallow-speckled cereal into bowls for the both of them.
“Hectic,” Luna answered. Lighting her horn, she pulled down three coffee cups. Setting them on the table, she blinked at the one Clover had taken to using. She had pulled it down by habit, without him even being up yet. “Clover was awake when I got home again.”
“Oh?” Celestia asked, looking from the cereal, to Luna.
The click of a door, and the sound of little hooves on hardwood drew their attention to the hallway. Celestia pulled down a third bowl, and filled it too.
“Yes,” Luna poured coffee for the three of them. “He gave me a massage.”
A bit confused, Celestia floated the cereal and a milkbottle onto the table. “He did?”
Luna trickled milk over her cereal, watching it absorb some of the color. “He was quite good at it; more than natural talent would account for. He has been trained.”
“Oh?” Celestia watched Clover float clumps of dry cereal into his mouth, chewing it with a distant look in his eye. When Luna sat the milk bottle down, she started to add some to his bowl, but he waved it off. “Do you think...?” Celestia let her voice trail off as the added milk to her own cereal.
“No, I do not.” Luna sipped at her coffee. “Not now anyway. It was a thought for a moment, but such things leave scars: we would have noticed. I do not question that he has suffered some trauma, but not of that kind.”
Celestia nodded. “There was an airship in the harbor, the day Clover showed up. I think it was from the lands south of Minoa.”
Luna nodded. “Otto seemed to think he was from Artiodactyla, but that land is bad for a pony’s health, the air and ground are soured to us.”
“Poisoned to keep you out,” Discord’s voice corrected. Sitting in the middle of the table, with the box of cereal already in paw, he crammed his taloned arm shoulder deep into it, in search of something. The extra length of arm the box could not account for emerged from Clover’s bowl; the disembodied claw reached blindly in every direction.
Clover bolted from his stool, barking out something in his language. He paused a few steps away looking to Celestia and Luna, searching for a reaction. Celestia forced herself to smile and seem happy to see Discord. Whatever reaction she had, Clover would assume he should have the same. She found it odd that she was more inclined to frown at her son than Discord at the moment. Whatever he had said, she was pretty sure it was something she should scold him for.
“If you knocked on the door, would it unmake you?” Luna asked.
“Never tried; don’t intend to find out.” Discord withdrew his arm from the box. Much to his dismay he found himself eye-to-eye with a very angry and very familiar bunny. Cramming the rabbit back into the box, he fished around some more before pulling his claw back out. Pleased to see the cereal’s toy this time, he examined the colorful little prize he had found. “Meh… I already have this one.” With a shrug, he sat the toy next to the bowl Clover had been eating from.
“What do you want, Discord?” Celestia asked, keeping her expression happy, and tone sweet, in spite of herself.
Discord straightened his posture. With one hand on his chest, and the other held up in oath, he spoke, “Nothing more than to be introduced to the heir apparent. And honest, nothing up my sleeves this time.” Discord made a point to show that indeed, nothing was in the sleeves of the fillyscout uniform he had donned at some point. “It’s a shame I have to rely on Rarity to tell me what’s going on up on this mountain.” With a snap, a formal suit appeared on him. “If I hadn’t needed a new suit for one of dear Fluttershy’s tea parties, it may have been weeks before I found out. But as it was, Rarity was all too happy to tell me about the young prince-to-be.”
Luna sighed. “I had a long night, and only a short nap. I will be in my room should you need me.” With coffee and cereal in levitation, Luna left the room.
Jumping off the table in a puff of smoke, Discord landed on the floor shrunk down to Clover's height. He started to move towards the colt, paw outstretched, and joy-buzzer at the ready, but Celestia’s magic yanked him up into the air. Before he could blink, Discord found himself nose to nose with a smile that could blister paint off the wall.
“Think very carefully, Discord,” Celestia said through smiling teeth. “Contrary to legend, I do know where the Sun Spear is, and it is not so far away.”
Discord let out a nervous laugh, as he resumed his normal size. “I take it now isn’t a good time for introductions?”
Releasing Discord, Celestia took a step back to look for Clover. She was happy to see him still beside her, apparently not too frightened by the scene, and trusting her for protection. Sitting on her haunches, Celestia put on her best formal air. “Discord, this is Clover. Clover, this is Discord,” she said, waving a hoof from one to the other, and back.
Clover looked from Celestia to Discord, an expression of disbelief on his face. “Hello,” Clover said, not bothering to wave.
While watching Celestia from the corner of his eye, Discord gave the colt a timid wave. “Hello,” he repeated back.
Clover’s posture straightened, and his eyes focused on Discord as if by will and not their natural reflex. It was an expression of one forcing clarity past fear. The expression did not go unnoticed by Discord, who gave the foal his full attention as the colt started chanting the sounds of his strange language at him. The cadence and expression needed no translation, he was asking “Do you speak my language, can you understand me?”
“Have you heard that before?” Celestia asked.
Discord hummed and scratched at his chin, before mumbling something.
The light of hope sparked in Clover’s eyes, and he responded with another phrase that was gibberish to Celestia. She wasn’t sure, but she felt like Clover had switched to a new language. Again Discord spoke, but this time Clover slumped in defeat, shaking his head.
“I see...” said Discord. Looking from Clover to Celestia, he paused, giving her a look of deep contemplation. It was an expression she wasn’t used to seeing from Discord, and it unsettled her.
Nodding to some unasked question, Discord sighed. “I do owe you a rather large favor.” Pulling a coin out of his left ear, then a second from his right, he pondered the two coins with a scowl. “But I’m a few bits short.” Looking to Celestia, his expression perked up. “Ah!” Reaching out, he pulled a third from Celestia’s ear. then a fourth, fifth, and sixth—all tied together with a series of rainbow-colored cloths.
Clover chuckled at the show, while Celestia rubbed the spot where Discord’s magic had touched her. It always left a numb tingle she found more annoying that she should have.
With a poof, the colored cloths vanished, leaving only the coins. Reaching down, Discord pressed the coins into Clover’s hooves, then mimed for him to toss them to the ground. With a shrug, Clover started to obey, but Discord’s paw stopped him mid-motion.
Leaning close to Clover, Discord blew on the coins in the colt’s hooves. “For luck,” Discord said.
Clover and Celestia rolled their eyes in unison.
Once Discord backed away again, Clover tossed the six coins to the ground. As soon as the coins landed flat, Discord pulled a tome from someplace and began consulting its pages. Looking from the coins to the book, he flipped from one page to the next before finding what he wanted.
Celestia twisted her neck to read the cover of the book Discord was holding. “Is that the Book of Changes? How did you get that?” The quiksilver lettering on the spine answered the question for her; it was indeed the artifact she had assumed lost over a millennium ago.
Discord ignored Celestia. Instead clearing his throat; he read from the book in a quiet mumble that Celestia couldn’t quite make out.
Turning the page, Discord paused just long enough to meet Celestia’s eyes: she had the same look of confusion as he did. Returning his attention to the book, he continued reading, but silently this time.
“Interesting...” Discord drawled, scratching at his chin. He was snapped out of his pondering when the book’s quiksilver lettering began to fume. Snapping it shut, he let it fall to the floor. Seconds later, the tome was a puddle of cold metal on the floor.
“What did it say?” Celestia asked.
“Oh you know, just the usual vague ramblings of prophecy.” Ignoring the spent artifact on the floor, Discord paced over to the ice box. “Shattered winds, the value of wisdom, stand ready to chose the mountain upon which you lay your heart—that sort of thing.” Pulling out the orange juice, he drank straight from the bottle
“Interesting indeed. I don’t suppose you’d elaborate more,” Celestia said, leading Clover back to his breakfast. Looking behind her, Celestia watched the puddle evaporate to nothing. She couldn’t help but worry about where it would reform next.
Discord shrugged. “I may be able to learn where he came from, but do you want me to?”
The will to speak left Celestia’s breath. Did she? She had been searching for answers just hours ago, but what would happen when she found them? It could very well mean losing Clover. If he had a rightful place, she could not deny it to him. If he had been the victim of great wrongdoing, did she truly want to know? Her anger had once left a scar so deep in the soil that an entire civilization still shuddered at her name.
But truth was truth. She would not cloud her eyes in ignorance. “If you can, then do. I will consider it a personal favor.”
Discord nodded. Setting the bottle back, he vanished as he had appeared.
- - - x- - -
Celestia looked over the scattered puzzle pieces on the table. Finding one that she could use, she floated it into its place.
“Your turn,” she said.
Clover hummed as he scanned for one he could use. His magic picked up one piece, then another, before finding one that fit.
Jigsaw puzzles were a wonderful way to pass a quiet morning, and an excellent way for Clover to practice his magic. Smiling, Celestia picked up one of the flash cards Green had made, and held it out for Clover.
“Gwy,” Cloved said, correctly sounding out the syllable.
Celestia nodded. They had been at this for an hour now, sipping coffee, taking turns adding pieces to the puzzle, and drilling the flashcards. She had decided to start with just eight letters, let him get confident with those, before adding more. He was getting them right more than wrong now, so she added two new cards to the mix.
Looking over the table, she found another puzzle piece and added it to the growing image.
Clover had already spotted his next piece, and added it with his magic the moment Celestia's left hers. Seeming pleased with his quick and accurate placement on the puzzle piece, Clover sat back and waited for the flashcard.
This time Celestia held up one of the new letters, causing Clover to scrunch his face in confusion.
“Eng,” Celestia pronounced, then let Clover repeat the sound.
Setting the card down, she started to take her turn at assembling the puzzle, but a knock at the door made her look up to the clock; it was almost two.
“Coming,” she called. Standing from the kitchen table, she walked to the vestibule. Opening the door, she found Spike on the other side. “Hello, Spike. Come on in,” she said, stepping aside for him. Looking down the stairs, she searched for Twilight’s father. “Where’s Night Light?”
“He ran into Star Light in the lobby. Those two guys can talk about astronomy for hours, so I decided to head on up.”
“Oh my.” Celestia hid her smile with a hoof. “You may need to borrow the broom, to chase them out.”
Spike laughed. “I’m sure Clover and I can drag him out.”
“What play are you seeing?” Celestia asked. She turned to fetch Clover, but found him already trotting into the room.
“The one about the prince that gets turned into a duck.”
“Oh, The White Duck. That’s a wonderful play; beautiful dancing.” Turning to a confused looking Clover, Celestia motioned for him to follow her. Heading down the stairs towards the lobby, she rested a wingtip on his back as she made small talk with Spike.
Stepping into the lobby, Celestia passed her door guards, giving them a nod of recognition. The sound of her bare hooves against the marble floor reminded her that she had left her regalia in its stand. She laughed inwardly, she almost never left her home without the regalia of state on her, but here she had done it twice, in as many days.
In the center of the room, Night Light and Star Light eagerly engaged each other in a conversation she could only just follow; completely oblivious to her presence. Celestia smiled; they were used to the ring of her golden shoes; she was as good as invisible without them.
Off to one side, three foals were entertaining themselves by investigating every little corner and piece of decor in the room.
“Who are these little ones?” Celestia asked with her warmest voice. Her question startled the foals for the briefest moment, but their curiosity returned in a heartbeat. Bright eyed, they scrambled to Night Light’s side, and watched her.
"These are my friends," Spike said with pride before Night Light could answer.
"Their families live on our street," Night light added. “Fusée, Vellum, and Burnish Bright,” he said, pointing to each foal in turn; who gave her a proper bow at the sounding of their names. “Primrose will be joining us too, but she’s helping her father at the moment.”
Celestia smiled at the little ones. They seemed well behaved. She even knew Vellum by name; the first son of one of the college's librarians. Turning her gaze to Spike, she gave him a mock-serious expression. “I’m trusting you to look after Clover. Can you be his big brother for the day?” Celestia knew very well the seed she had planted in Spike’s head.
Spike returned the expression, puffing out his chest, and saluting her. “You can count on me, Princess.”
After a bit of introduction and pantomiming, Night Light and Celestia got the idea across to Clover that he was to spend the day with them. He seemed reluctant at first, but Spike’s presence tempered his anxiety, and he eventually consented to following the group away from Celestia’s presence.
When the door closed behind them, Celestia let her eyes drift up to a patch of black on the ceiling. A moment later one of Luna’s Night Guard drifted from the magic shadow, and onto the floor.
“At your command, Princess,” the burly bat-winged stallion said.
Celestia eyed the pony for a moment. Luna had changed their uniform just a bit, but it was still archaic. “My sister asked you to help?”
“We were told to make ourselves useful while Clover’s personal guard was off shift.”
A smile wiped away the frown Celestia didn't know she was making. She had planned on getting Stone Fruit and Messer to escort Clover for the day, but Luna’s guards could watch him while remaining invisible.
“I do not want them to know they’re being escorted. I want them to feel normal. Only interfere if you feel it is absolutely necessary.”
“Yes, Princess,” he said with a bow, then flew off as silent as a soft wind.
Walking back to her suite, she paused before the two Day Guards posted by the stairwell. “Let Stone Fruit and Messer know they have the day off. I’m letting the Night Guard escort Clover. If they complain, tell them to go to the hospital, and read to some patients.”
“Yes, your majesty,” the two said in unison.
Halfway up the stairs, Celestia looked back to the lobby. The desire to go follow them nagged at her, but Clover needed room to grow.
Kage settled into the theater's rafters, his cantrip of shadows firmly woven around him. He had called himself lucky when he found an old stage curtain stored atop the beams. It made for a comfortable nest, though he made a point to ignore the hair and stains that suggested he was not the first to hide on them. His biggest concern was staying awake. The high ceiling made it the kind of warm that tended to make him sleepy, but a few sprigs of dried ephedra would cure that.
A flash of light in one of the windows told him his wards were about to enter the building. Setting his notepad and pencil in place, he focused on the line of ponies filing into the auditorium. Spike was the first one he spotted, then Clover. The little dragon had a serious, focused, expression as he guided Clover towards their seats. If he were a pony, Kage would have pegged him as one destined to be a soldier, and his dragon’s eyes would serve him well in the Night Guard.
Quashing the rambling thought, Kage looked for the other ponies he had been briefed about. Young Primrose was on the other side of Clover. The young pegasus didn’t have her mark yet, but seemed to be following her father’s talent. The report had said Social Graces had done work in Canterlot for years, but only moved here a few weeks back; his daughter joining him just a few days ago.
She was a cute filly that would become a beautiful mare; a lithe and feminine frame, with feathers colored like the sunset. Kage snickered to himself. Clover was far from blind to Primrose. Even at this distance, Kage could tell Clover was consciously trying not to stare at her. She was a bit of a flirt too, letting the tips of her wing brush against him every so often.
Behind Clover, Fusée prattled on about something to the two colts in their party. Hers was the familiar face. Her family was close with his, and he had eaten at their table on many nights. He would be there again in a few days to celebrate her cuteceañera. The little tomcolt had surprised him when she got a mark in the shape of a music box.
The two colts struck him as dull sorts. Glancing at his notepad, Kage checked his notes on them. The one with the book cutie mark was Vellum, and the blank flank was Burnish Bright. One from a family of academics, and the other of metalworkers.
Kage chewed on a bit of ephedra, ignoring the bitter taste as he scanned the room. Adults and foals alike hurried to their assigned seats, glancing at their tickets till they found the right one. His wards eventually found their places, and settled in. It was all perfectly peaceful. Closing one eye, he waited for the lights to go out.
Music filled the auditorium as the room went dark. Opening the eye he had closed, Kage scanned for anything taking advantage of the darkness. From the stage, he could hear the shuffling hooves of dancing ponies, but he refrained from looking. The bright stage lighting would ruin his night vision, and he couldn’t risk being distracted.
Looking back to Clover, Kage knew the performers must have been at least as good as the music. The colt was nothing short of entranced by the dancing. A soft smile was plastered on his muzzle, as his head followed the movement on stage.
Kage paced his nest one more time to look over the crowd, then settled into place. It was a long play, but at least the music would make the time go faster as he watched over Clover.
In time, Intermission came, and Kage again closed one eye to preserve its night vision before the lights came on. In a mostly-organized manner the ponies filed out of the theater, either into the street to stretch their legs, or into the lobby for use of the bathroom.
Clover stayed in his place, only standing where he was, to stretch. There was some conversation between Night Light and the foals, that resolved with Night Light staying with Clover, while the rest went to the lobby. Kage took advantage of the intermission as well. Standing up, he stretched each leg in turn, letting the blood refresh.
A few minutes later and below him the tide of ponies started to turn. Clover settled back into his seat, and seemed eager for the play to resume. Looking towards the lobby, Kage spotted the others returning. Spike had an expression that bordered on fury, while the others seemed embarrassed.
Kage studied them as they returned, watching for whatever had angered Spike, but nothing stood out. Still, something nagged at him; his guard’s intuition told him to be on edge. Putting another bit of ephedra in his mouth, he watched the crowd with all the more attention.
- - -
The theater lights blazed to life with the sound of applause. Only squinting this time, Kage let both his eyes adjust to the light.
Willpower and the stimulant herb were the only thing keepings him awake. The last hour had been an absolute, mind numbing, bore. Nothing, pony or otherwise, had given Clover a second look. Even Spike’s anger had vanished, the show having returned his smile to him.
Kage stood, keeping a close eye on Clover as the crowd began to file out the back of the building. When his wards stepped out into the street, Kage let his spell of shadow unravel. There were other guards outside, they would escort the party from here to the pizza parlor. With a flap of his wings, Kage launched himself towards the ventilation window he had used to sneak in.
Outside, the cold evening air stung Kage's lungs, shocking him back to alertness as he raced towards the pizza parlor. It was only a block away, but he wanted every second he could get to set up before they got there.
Landing in the shadow of the chimney, Kage waited. Across the street a bird called, soft, three hoots. The area was deemed safe. Relaxing a bit, he contemplated where to set up. Outside would put him too far away to be useful. Inside was too bright and small to go unseen. That left him with only his own bravado for concealment. Shucking his armor off, he left it by the chimney. A second later and he was in standing in the alley behind Slice of Life. He’d eaten here a few times, or rather ordered pizzas to-go. The young stallion that ran it made the best pies on the mountain, but the place was always full of families and foals. He’d much rather enjoy his food in the quiet of his own home.
“Welcome back, Kage,” the owner greeted as soon as Kage stepped through the door. “The usual?” The earth pony had an uncanny talent for remembering ponies. As best he could tell, Stone Hearth remembered the name, face, and favorite toppings of every pony that have ever eaten his food.
“No,” Kage said, strolling up to the counter. “Think I’ll just get a few slices for here.” Stretching his neck, Kage looked over the selection of ready pizzas. Stone had a few more out today than he usually did: he expected it to be busy. “I’ll have two slices of the one with hot peppers.”
Trading bits for food, Kage took his plate and drink to find a place to sit. With a casual air, he walked between the tables, snatching up a newspaper from an empty table as he went. Finally, he picked a table between two families as the best place to hide in plain sight. It was the last spot he’d normally take, but it served his purpose. He would sit there, nibble at his food, and be just one of Luna’s guards off duty. Fusée would recognize him eventually, but he wanted to keep his anonymity as long as possible.
Again, this was a perfectly peaceful place, but he wasn’t going to let assumption make him complacent. It only took a moment for Clover and the others to walk in. There were smiles all around as they trotted up to the counter. Clover had an air of casual curiosity, but Spike’s eagerness to show him around was making the colt smile.
The group of ponies stood in line, ogling the offering of food as they waited their turn to order. There was a bit of banter Kage could just make out. Spike insisted on Clover trying one particular pie, while Clover seemed more interested in another pizza. The issue was quickly resolved by him getting both. Primrose instantly asked for a slice of what Clover had chosen, while Vellum and Burnish hummed and hawed over the choices.
Taking a bite of his pizza, Kage let himself enjoy the food. Some weeks back, Stone Hearth had confided to him that he was thinking of moving. The big city didn’t suit him, and he was in the market for a property in some rural town. Kage was really going to miss this place. At least he would still be able to get his ice cream fix, as Stone Hearth bought all the ice cream from Rock Salt down the road.
Eating as slow as he could, Kage kept an eye on Clover and the ponies moving about the room. The foals made quick work of their food, eating it like it would vanish if ignored.
“Can we go to the game room?” Burnish asked Night Light.
“I don’t know, can you?” Night light answered.
Kage groaned along with the foals.
“Dad…” Spike said.
Night Light snickered, then waved a hoof. “Go have fun.”
Turning in his seat a bit, Kage finished off his second slice as he watched Spike eagerly lead Clover to the game room. The space was a small affair, the whole thing well lit and easily visible from the dining area. He watched them play for a while. It was the model of care-free youth at first, but then the mood changed to one of apprehension in the clap of a hoof.
Kage looked around for the cause, but found nothing to warrant a threat.
“Did the lizard take a pony as a pet?” a voice asked.
Kage watched two colts saunter up to Spike; one a fat little ball of white fur with a cinnamon roll for a cutie mark, the other a waif of a colt with no mark. Everything about them stank of bully. He started to stand, dragging those two out by their ears was going to be far too much fun.
“Only interfere if you feel it is absolutely necessary,” Princess Celestia’s words rang back from his memory. Sitting back down, Kage stewed on what she meant. This certainly wasn't life threatening, but still…
No, he was a guard of Princess Luna’s, a proud guardian of Equestria. Personal feelings wouldn’t cloud his judgment. He was here to protect Clover from threats of life and liberty, not trivial bullies. Until they touched Clover, he was a shadow in the night.
“Makes sense, runt lizard, keeping a runt pony,” the waif said, nodding to Clover.
Kage really hoped they made that mistake.
“Sweet Roll and Ruffine,” Night Light said, scooting a chair back to take a seat next to Kage.
Kage stiffened, the sudden attention throwing him off.
“Thanks for escort by the way,” Night light said with a genuine smile.
“You saw me?” Kage was suddenly feeling like a cadet again. Hiding was his special talent, nopony since his drill sergeant had been able to pick him out of the shadows.
“Since we picked up Clover. I have a gift for seeing things in the dark, so don’t feel bad.”
Kage relaxed a bit. It was an odd gift for a unicorn, but useful for an astronomer. “You know those two?”
Night Light’s posture sagged. “Yeah. I’ve spoken with their parents, but there’s no polite conversation with them.”
Bitter laughter interrupted Night Light, as both his and Kage’s attention focused on the two cackling bullies leaving the game room. Again, Spike’s eyes glistened with rage. Standing between the bullies and his friends, Spike mumbled curses of good riddance.
“Ahh,” Kage said, watching the duo saunter up to the counter to order food. Thankfully, they took their food, and left with it. Leaving the foals to forget the interruption as fast as it had come.
Relaxing back into their chairs, the two adults kept vigil from their table, passing the time with idle conversation. They couldn’t help but smile at the infectious joy Spike took in showing Clover around. Even laughing along when Clover beat him at the table-hoofball game.
Laughter echoed from above as Fluttershy climbed the steps to the princess' home. The guards below had told her she was the last guest to arrive. She felt bad for being late, but a wounded squirrel had been more important. The little squirrel was now warm and safe at the vet’s, so she could enjoy the party with an easy conscience.
Halfway up, she was surprised to meet Twilight and Rarity heading down the stairs towards her. They were both dressed for the Hearth’s Warming Eve with bright wreaths around their necks and silly sleeping caps on their heads.
“Are you leaving?” Fluttershy asked.
“Only for a moment dear,” Rarity answered, pressing necks with her.
Twilight smiled, and with her magic placed her wreath over Fluttershy. “We’re going to go visit my parent’s house for a bit, but we’ll be back.”
Wishing them well, Fluttershy continued up the stairs. Sliding through the open door at the top, the smell of warm cider and roasting nuts filled the air; stirring her appetite. Wiping her hooves, Fluttershy then peered into the main room.
A minotaur startled her for the briefest moment. He was running around on all fours with a foal on his back, while Pinkie, Spike and some other foals laughed and watched. Only Spike and Pinkie were familiar to her, though she guessed the one atop the minotaur to be Clover.
She would have been frightened by the rambunctious strangers, but they were all laughing so hard, she couldn’t bring herself to be scared. Instead, she just stared at them and joined the contagious laughter.
“My dear Fluttershy,” Luna said from nearby. Her words were thick with an accent she couldn’t quite place. Stepping closer, Luna wrapped her forelegs around her in a hug. Luna’s breath. carried the faint smell of alcohol and cloves. “The others are in the kitchen. Go ‘ave a bit of food. I’ll have more cider warmed in just a bit.” Releasing her from the embrace, Luna pranced over to the fireplace to tend the mulling cider.
Nodding dumbly, Fluttershy walked towards the voices bubbling from out of the kitchen, but she paused just outside the doorway. On one side, there was a sprig of mistletoe tied to the top with a bit of red ribbon. Stepping to the other side, Fluttershy took care that she didn’t pass under it.
In the kitchen, she found the rest of her friends, and two ponies she didn’t know, gathered around the table; not so much eating, as talking and occasionally nibbling at something from the banquet before them.
Merry Hearth smiled and rose as she came in the room. “Fluttershy! Let me get you a plate.”
Celestia’s magic pushed the earth pony back into her seat before she could take a step. “Merry, please, you’re off tonight. I’ll get it.”
“You know I enjoy feeding ponies, right. It’s my mark,” Merry said in a mock gruff, before taking a bite of cheese and fruit.
Luna laughed as she entered the room, a dozen copper mugs in the magic. “Let my sister play ‘ostess for tonight, she does enjoy it too.”
A cup of hot cider was pressed into her hoof by Luna, just as a plate was put on the table for her by Celestia. “Thank you,” she said, scooting up to the table. Taking a drink of the hot cider, Fluttershy coughed, but managed to swallow the drink anyway.
“Careful Sugar.” Applejack took a measured sip of her own drink. “Luna’s spiked the cider.”
Luna answered the accusation with a wide grin. “That I did.”
Dash looked into her cup, but didn’t drink. “Yeah, it’s pretty strong.”
“They’re really good too...” an earth pony said. Reaching out with both hooves, he picked it up, and took a long sip.
The mare beside him rolled her eyes before extending a hoof to Fluttershy. “I’m Lily, and this is my husband Green Bean.”
Fluttershy took the offered hoof. “Nice to meet you, I’m Fluttershy.”
The sound of hoofsteps drew Fluttershy’s attention back to the door. Looking up she found the minotaur standing just the other side of the doorway. The colt she assumed to be Clover was perched on his shoulders, holding his horns with his forelegs. Both colt and minotaur had an air of play about them.
“And this is my friend Otto, and my nephew Clover,” Luna said.
“Hello,” Otto greeted with a wave and a grin.
As Otto passed through the doorway, Fluttershy watched Clover spot the Mistletoe, and with his magic, pull the sprig down. She wasn’t sure why he had done that, but then she had to repress a laugh as Clover then tied it to one of Otto’s horns.
“Can I get some more of that cinnamon bread Pinkie brought?” Otto asked, seemingly oblivious to what Clover had done.
“Down please,” Clover said, tapping on Otto’s shoulder.
“Careful,” Otto warned, taking a knee to let Clover hop to the floor.
A devil’s grin sprang up on Luna’s muzzle. No sooner had Clover's hooves hit the floor, than Luna's muzzle met Otto's.
The minotaur's eyes went wide, but he didn't pull away.
A stunned silence took the room for the duration of the brief kiss. A snicker from Celestia was the first sound followed by Rainbow Dash.
Celestia stared blankly at her desk. There were no reports to read or fill out, Twilight had taken the lion’s share of the menial paperwork. There was no court to go to, Luna’s night court now drew the bulk of the commoner’s positions; letting her day court meet only twice a week.
Diplomacy was now her primary concern, but no dignitaries were waiting for her in the hall today. She did have a griffon delegation to deal with tomorrow, but that was tomorrow.
Today, she was bored.
A giggle escaped her as she stood from her desk. It wasn't even three, and she was going to call it a day. With Winter Wrap-Up just a week away, the question of flying or walking home came to mind. The longer days had already warmed the air, making delightful weather for both flying and strolling.
Speaking of Winter Wrap-Up, she needed to talk with Green Bean—his contract ended this week, and she needed to know his decision.
Outside her office, Celestia dismissed her guards, so they too could enjoy a short day, then headed towards the balcony at the end of the hall. She stopped at its edge to look over the city. Pools of melted ice and spatterings of snow told of a spring that was aching to be unleashed.
Launching into the air, she banked towards the college. The tutoring session with Diction would have ended a little while ago, but she might be able to find them. Their habit was to get a snack after class. Green’s taste for sweets and fried foods had added some much needed padding around Clover’s ribs.
Gliding over the campus, Celestia scanned the ground below her. She hoped to spot them walking, but they were nowhere to be found. A sign caught her attention; it was for a little diner Clover had mentioned. Following her hunch, Celestia landed in the street, then peered through the diner’s window. Inside, were Clover and Green sitting at a little table, sharing a plate of food, chatting between bites.
Her heart sank a little at the sight. Clover had grown so quiet around her. The more she heard about how well his Equestrian was getting, the less she heard him speak it. Smiles and hugs flowed freely from him, but seldom a word.
Opening the door, Celestia stepped inside. The cook behind the counter jumped, confusion twisting his face as he bowed. “At peace, my little ponies,” Celestia said, dismissing the dining ponies back to their meals. Walking over, she gave her son a kiss between the ears. “I was hoping to catch you two while you were still out.”
Clover nuzzled into her, but said nothing.
Green smiled at the two. “Help yourself to some fritters, Princess. Clover usually scarfs them up, but he’s barely touched them today.”
Celestia pulled back to look Clover in the eye. “Something wrong?”
“Not hungry,” he said with a casual shrug.
“You didn’t finish your breakfast either.” Again Celestia rested her lips on his forehead, but this time taking note of his temperature. “You feel a bit warm.”
“I thought he seemed a bit off today,” Green said.
Looking back to Clover, she gave him a soft smile. He returned the expression, but worry nagged at her. “I had planned on spending time with you two today, but perhaps I should take him to the doctor.”
Green nodded. “Never hurts to be careful.”
Using her magic to pop a fritter in her mouth, Celestia chewed for a moment. “Have you made a decision about staying with us after your contract is up?”
“We were just talking about that,” Green said, nodding to Clover. “I think I can balance keeping him, and taking care of the farm.”
“That takes a lot off my mind,” Celestia said with a smile. Standing, she guided Clover down from the stool. “Say hello to your family for me, and I will see you tomorrow.”
Green stood, and gave her a little bow as she left with Clover.
Celestia kept a mother’s eye on Clover as they made their way back towards the castle. The more she watched him, the more Celestia realized how sluggish Clover was moving and how tired his expression was. “Want me to carry you?”
Clover simply nodded.
Carrying Clover on her back the rest of the way, Celestia navigated the palace halls till she reached the frosted glass door to Doctor Glow’s office. Going in, she found it was busy this afternoon. The changing season had inflicted sniffles and coughs on more than a few ponies.
“Princess,” the receptionist said with a bow. “How can we help you?”
Celestia picked up the clipboard and wrote Clover’s name on it. There were quite a few names in front of them. “Clover is running a fever, I just want the doctor to give him a look.”
The receptionist smiled. “I’m sure we can get you in next, if you want to go on back.”
“No, no.” Celestia waved a hoof. “It’s just a fever, we will wait our turn.”
Clover found a magazine to flip through while they waited. It was a practiced way to waste time, they’d been in here a bit more than she would like to admit over the past few months. There was that time he’d tried to jump a hedge, and landed on his face. She had really worried that was going to leave a scar, but it had healed seamlessly.
She still winced at the time he had fallen down the grand stairs in the castle. A broken collarbone had left him a pitiful thing for the week it took the bone-knitting spell to fix everything, but nowhere near as pitiful as he had been with food poisoning. The best she and Green could guess, he had gotten it by nibbling on some mint in the community center’s atrium.
Then there was the visit to the dentist last month. The fight between Clover and the bullies that had been harassing their friends had left his smile with a missing a tooth. Thankfully, it was a milk tooth that would be replaced in time.
That had been a rough day for her. She had felt like such a failure in that moment. The image of blood and rage smeared across her son’s face, was one she would never forget. Nor the one of fear and pain on Sweet Roll. The older colt had bitten Primrose. The physical attack had crossed a line that Clover could not ignore, and her son had answered it by planting both rear hooves into Sweet Roll’s barrel. Vellum’s recounting of Clover launching Sweet Roll into a wall, was backed up by cracked ribs and broken plaster.
If only she had taken things into her own hooves and talked to their parents herself. Instead she had insisted on not using her overwhelming authority. Let them live and grow, she had thought. Her hooves-off approach had caused her no small amount of trouble, and Clover a tooth.
The tooth had been lost when Sweet Roll’s lackey retaliated, but the fight had been short lived. Spike ended it when some little grain of his dragon nature burst to life, and the simple word “Stop” from him, froze every pony in the room from foal to guard. Luna’s guards had told her the little dragon had enough presence in that one moment to turn back an army, and more than enough to send Ruffine into bawling tears and chanting “Don’t eat me” until Spike left the room.
Later, she had taken an uneasy pride in Clover and Spike. Maybe this summer Shining could teach them how to fight and protect ponies with only the minimum force needed. Cadance and he were planning on a visit soon; she could ask him about it...
“Clover,” A nurse called, jolting Celestia from her wool-gathering. Looking to the clock, she was surprised to see how long she’d been lost in thought.
Clover stood, and walked towards the nurse, but paused just shy of the door till Celestia caught up with him. Once she was beside him, the nurse lead them back to the familiar room.
“Running a fever?” Doctor Glow asked as soon as they walked in.
“He felt a bit warm, and he wasn’t eating like normal,” Celestia answered, taking a seat in the corner.
Sticking a thermometer in Clover’s mouth, he used his scope to check his ears while waiting for a reading. “Ear mites are going around, keep an eye out for them.”
“I will keep that in mind,” Celestia said, making a very strong mental note of it. She hated those things; worse than fleas. “That reminds me, I need to ask the pest control ponies to double down on the flea prevention. Last summer they got a bit out of hoof.”
“The medical board increased their funding, I’m told.” Taking the thermometer from Clover’s mouth Healthy Glow frowned. “That’s more than a little fever. Any other symptoms?” he asked, looking to his patient.
Clover shrugged. Closing his eyes, he moved around as if testing if anything hurt. “Itchy, legs feel heavy, stomach hurts.”
Laying a hoof on Clover, Doctor Glow examined the skin beneath his coat. “Cow pox,” the doctor declared, then stepped back. “Just set in, I’d guess. Nothing for it but broth to drink, and oatmeal to soak in.”
“Cow pox?” Clover asked, looking to Celestia for an answer.
Celestia smiled and stood to help Clover down from the table. “Every foal gets it at some point. You’ll just get itchy, tired, and a little nauseous.”
Taking up Clover’s file, the doctor made a few notes. “Don’t suppose you remembered how old you are?”
Clover winced at the question. “No.”
A smile played upon Doctor Glow’s muzzle. “Runs in the family, I guess. The princess tells me the same thing.”
Celestia laughed, “I really lost count. I can tell you that the windigos had not yet reached the Isle of Equas when I had my first heat.”
Healthy Glow stared at Celestia for a moment before blinking. “The Isle of Equas was real?”
She kept her smile, but Celestia’s eyes went sad. “Lovely place. Before the windigos turned it into a glacier.”
The doctor gave her a nod, “I’m sorry.”
Celestia sighed, “It was a long time ago, and we wouldn’t be where we are now without it.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Doctor Glow said, holding the door open for them. “We keep oatmeal dust at the desk, the receptionist will be happy to give you some.”
Clover had a pensive look to him as they walked back to the lobby. Celestia could tell he had something he wanted to say. It wasn’t until they were outside the clinic, and half way home, that he found his voice.
“Windigos, they were a long time ago?” he asked.
“A very long time. About three thousand years.”
Clover winced at the number, but kept pace beside Celestia. Again Clover went quiet as they walked down the marble hallway that eventually lead to their home.
“I... How do you do it?” Clover asked, breaking the silence.
“Alicorns don’t age like others,” Celestia said, keeping her eyes straight ahead. “Not like most, anyway.”
“No, I mean—” Clover stopped in his tracks.
Celestia looked back to see him holding a hoof to his chin; a look of confusion and pain on his face. “Are you okay?”
Clover answered with a shake of his head, then darted to a nearby potted plant. Clutching at the pot’s rim, Clover emptied his guts onto the poor plant.
Using her magic, Celestia held Clover’s mane. She patted his back with a wing as a second lurch of Clover’s stomach finished off the potted fern. “Better?” she asked, cleaning his muzzle with a spell.
Clover groaned, but nodded as he set his forelegs back on the floor. With a flash of her magic, Celestia banished the vomit soaked fern and soil to the middle of the forest below the mountain. “Let’s get you home,” She said, bending down for Clover to climb onto her shoulders.
“Thank you,” Clover said meekly. He was more draped across her back than sitting like he normally did.
Nearing the stairwell, the two guards perked up at the sight of Clover. “Just a little sick,” Celestia said, dismissing their concerns. Nodding, they gave Clover a sympathetic smile, before trotting up to hold the door for them.
“Let’s get you to bed,” Celestia said as soon as the door closed behind her.
Clover hugged tight to her back, it was a weak, shivering grip. “No. Do not want to be alone.”
“Are you cold?” Celestia asked, walking to the fireplace. She could feel Clover nod his head against her neck. “Then I’ll make you a bed by the fireplace.”
Laying him on the cushions, Celestia floated a quilt from the rack, and tucked him in. “Better?”
“Clover sick?” Merry Hearth asked from the hall.
“Cow Pox, hit him pretty hard.”
Merry shook her head. “First day is always the worst. I’ll get him a bucket, then see about making him some broth.”
“Thank you,” Celestia said standing up. Curled under the blanket, Clover had closed his eyes in an uneasy rest. “I’ll be right back.”
First going into the library, she grabbed the tattered copy of The Life and Adventures of Star Swirl. It had been one of Twilight’s favorites, perhaps it could serve Clover just as well. Floating the book next to Clover, she then fetched a few things from the kitchen.
“How are you feeling?” Celestia asked. Sitting back next to Clover, she laid a cool, wet towel across his forehead.
“Not so bad. Very weak. Was okay at lunch.”
“That’s just how it goes, Cow Pox comes on very fast. The fever is the only warning.”
Clover managed to nod. “Thirsty.”
Picking up a glass, she brought it to Clover’s lips as he sat up a bit. “This has a little salt and sugar in it, keeps you hydrated better.”
Clover took a sip, his face was skeptical, till he pondered the taste a moment, then shrugged before lying back down. “Thank you.”
Celestia adjusted the damp towel, cleaning up some of the sweat coming through his coat. “I’ll read to you, if you want.”
A little smile forced its way across his muzzle. “Please.”
Drums, the awful pounding of drums. Luna knew that sound: it was the chant of war drums. They stirred the bloodlust deep within her. Where were they coming from? She was dreaming, but this was not her dream. Opening her eyes, she found an iron door with bronze locks standing before her. She knew this door—it was Clover’s.
Reaching out, Luna laid her hoof against his dream, not to enter, but to merely feel the thump of the drums. At her touch, the locks fell from the door like rotten cloth, melting into the mist of the dream realm. Curiosity and confusion washed over her and she pressed ever so lightly on the door. It felt not of iron, but of old bread, not so much opening as crumbling away.
Before Luna could blink, she found herself surrounded by chaos. Steel spears danced on all sides of her while shields flashed before her. Armor clattered, and the screams of the dying filled her ears, but still there were the drums.
Her spear darted forward, and found a soft purchase; the shaft shook with death throes. The stink of death filled her nose and some ghost within her cooed in delight. Maille rattled against helm as she wrenched the tip free. With a roar, she lunged again, but this time it found the wood of a shield. Her heart pounding in time with the drums, Luna yanked at her spear, but the tip was foul within the shield.
Steel gleamed in her eyes, calling to take her head, but with the bend of her knees, the blade passed above her. Beside Luna, her friend cried in pain, but she smiled. She knew the yell, his armor had done its job; there’d be no blood from that wound. Dropping the spear, Luna loosed a blade from her thigh and hacked at the limb that had attacked her friend. Black vapors gave shade to the noon sun as a voice chanted, “Kill kill kill!”
Luna jolted from her bed. Dark thoughts swirled in her mind, whispered by a familiar voice. A breath, and they were gone. She was again alone in her mind, but still...
Rolling out of bed, Luna hurried to her mirror. Her eyes were soft, her teeth were dull. The colt’s nightmare had been powerful, and she had been reckless in touching the dream.
“Clover!” Luna spun to face her door. The colt was still trapped in that battle. Skidding into the hallway, Luna galloped into the great room where the feverish colt slept. He whimpered and twitched beneath his covers, his coat was frothed with sweat.
Luna rested a hoof on Clover’s shoulder, and shook him. “Wake up.” The words hadn’t left her before she jerked her hoof away. The colt’s flesh was painful to the touch. “Thou art ablaze with fever!”
“Luna?” Celestia groaned, raising from her makeshift bed under the window. “What is it?”
Shucking the quilt off the foal, Luna picked Clover up in her magic. “Fetch the leech. I will tend to him,” she said, already carrying the foal towards the bathroom.
Celestia nodded dumbly to her sister’s words. The sight of Clover hanging like a ragdoll in Luna’s magic twisted her heart.
“Go!” Luna’s snapped.
Without thought, Celestia ran to the balcony doors, and flew off into the night.
In the hallway, Luna started for the first guest bathroom, but then turned towards her own room. Her soaking tub was easier to move around than the shower stall.
Luna paused just outside her door, setting Clover on her back with a sigh. Her horn flashed, and with its light also came the greater part of a willow branch. “Now we do.”
Merry only blinked once, before taking the branch in her teeth, and dragging it to the kitchen.
In her bathroom, Luna ran the water till she had it neither warm nor cool. The colt mumbled and twitched as she sat him in the tub. She could feel the nightmare still raging within him, and as she let water trickle over him, she could hear steel clash.
“Strange foal, where do you know of such evils?” Sealing up her mind, Luna focused on tending to Clover. In the minutes that passed, the water took some of the fever from him, while soft words and petting silenced the dream.
Hurried voices and hoofsteps echoed down the hall, announcing the return of her sister with the doctor. Pouring more water across Clover’s neck, Luna looked up just as doctor Healthy Glow entered the room. He frowned at the tub for a moment, but then nodded in approval after testing the temperature with a hoof.
“What’s his temperature?” the doctor asked, setting his saddlebag by the tub. A mare stepped from behind him, and began unpacking the bags in a practiced manner. She was a frail-looking pegasus, but she moved with an incredible inner strength. A mark of a bird with bandages in its beak told Luna she was probably a nurse.
“I have not paused to check it, but it is lower now than when I started,” Luna said.
The mare pulled a thermometer from the kit, and without pause lifted Clover’s tail to get his temperature.
“Where is my sister?” Luna asked, pouring more water across Clover; careful not to affect the thermometer.
“I asked her to wait outside,” Glow answered as he pressed his stethoscope to Clover.
“Here’s the willow tea,” Merry said from the doorway.
The nurse took a sipping bowl from the bag, and went to Merry to fill it with the medicine.
“Thank you, Dear,” Glow said, taking the bowl from her. Running his magic through it he studied the tea. “Temperature?”
The nurse removed the thermometer and held it up to the light. “One hundred seven.”
“We need to get two bowls of this in him,” Glow said, stirring in a bit of sweetener.
Luna lifted Clover’s head with her hooves, while touching his mind with her magic. “Wake up,” she whispered. “You are thirsty.”
Clover’s eyes cracked open. Mumbling something, he looked around, but his confusion faded when the nurse pressed the sipping bowl to his lips. He drank the medicine in one go, then whined when it was empty. The nurse filled it again with the tea, and when he emptied that, she filled it with something from the bag.
“No more,” the nurse said apologetically, putting the bowl away. “We need that to stay down.”
Clover started to protest, but Luna pulled her magic from his mind, and seconds later the colt was again unconscious.
“Let’s see if we can get his temperature down a bit more, but I want to get him to the hospital within the hour.” Glow said. “He’s dehydrated, and I heard fluid in his lungs.”
“I’ll see they’re ready for us,” the nurse said, then packed a few things before leaving the room.
The doctor examined Clover by hoof and magic as Luna continued cooling him with the water. There was a frown on the stallion’s face that unsettled her, and after the passing of a quarter hour, she could no longer remain silent.
“What disturbs you, Doctor?”
“I didn’t make a mistake.”
“I fail to see how that bothers you.”
“It’s just Cow Pox. He should be itchy and whiny, not unconscious from fever.”
“I see...” Looking towards the door, a familiar sensation nagged at Luna. “My sister would like to know if she can see him now.”
Healthy Glow looked behind him, but saw nopony in the room beyond. “Of course.”
No sooner had the words left his mouth, than a flash of gold light brought Celestia into the room. “Will he be okay?” she asked, floating to the floor.
A grim expression on doctor Glow’s face spoke more than his words. “He is very sick, Your Highness.”
Celestia seemed not to hear the words. Instead she casually took the job of ladling water over Clover from Luna. Silence took the room for the next half hour, till the doctor again took his temperature.
“It’s under one o’ six. Let’s get him dried off and to the hospital. Nightingale should have a room ready for us.”
Celestia’s magic shed most of the water from Clover as she lifted him from the tub, and onto a towel Luna had waiting for him. With thoughtful movement, Celestia dried the foal, then wrapped him in a fresh towel to guard him from the cold night. “I’ll carry him,” she said, placing the bundle on her back.
With long strides, Celestia walked down the stairs from her home. The two guards at the bottom gave her pensive looks as she neared them.
“I need a carriage out front,” Celestia said.
“Already there, Princess,” one of the guards said with a bow.
Celestia managed to smile at her guard. “Thank you.”
Hurrying ahead on wing, Luna took a seat atop the carriage. She nodded to the two guards yoked to the carriage, they were some of her strongest night guards. “Be quick, but do not jostle the colt, he is in a frail state.”
The two guards saluted their princess, then leaned forward to take the slack from their tethers as they awaited the command to go; which came the moment the door closed behind Celestia.
At the hospital, a fleet of ponies greeted their arrival. As soon as Celestia stepped from the carriage, hooves took Clover from her, and whisked him away. Luna stayed at her sister’s side as she followed.
The hospital's overly-bright halls made it hard to remember it was still night out, but before they had reached the room prepared for Clover that familiar nag tugged at Luna. Setting her moon to rest, she waited for Celestia, but the sunrise did not follow.
Looking to her sister, she found her watching a bustling room from outside the door. Without a word, Luna touched the sun, and nudged it into place, then stood vigil by her sister as medical ponies applied their talents to Clover.
Celestia stared at the griffon in front of her. He had stopped talking, one wing was tilted slightly forward and to the side: he was waiting for an answer.
She had no idea what the question was. Casting a glance over to her secretary, she was relieved to see Swift Quill was still taking notes on the meeting. “I think I would like to take lunch, and think about that, before I give you an answer.”
Ambassador Stowyer seemed delighted at the idea, dropping his serious expression for a casual one. “Excellent, I’ve been hungry for the better part of an hour. Perhaps we could share a meal and casual talk?”
Celestia wanted to sigh, but she held her warm expression. “I would like that, Ambassador. I will join you shortly.”
Again the griffon brightened up. Giving her a bow, he then turned and left the room.
As soon as the door closed behind him, Swift sat her notes down. “No news, is good news, right?”
“I... hope so.” Celestia picked the notes up to read them. “What was his last question? I didn’t hear it.”
Swift gave her a sad smile. “He asked about purchasing some of the delta from you.”
Celestia sorted out her thoughts for a moment. That wasn’t a question she could answer today. Ponies lived in that wild swamp, she couldn't sell the land out from under them, but there was untamed land along the coast too. Perhaps a deal could be made. Some extra trade in the lowlands would be good for her ponies.
Looking out the window, Celestia was reminded how close spring was. Soon the delta would be getting ready for the First Graze festival. Maybe she’d take Clover to see it.
The smile fell from Celestia as the memory of the hospital came to her. “Ask the archives for maps of the lowlands, then take lunch.” Setting a smile on her face, Celestia left the room to join Stowyer in the dining hall.
She found him sitting at the long table, eating a meal of salad and ceviche shrimp. He stood as she neared, then sat back down after she was seated.
“I hope the meal is to your liking,” Celestia said, while two ponies sat lunch before her.
The griffon gave her a nod. “It is wonderful. Reminds me of home.”
Celestia took up her fork, and looked at her meal, it was an exact copy of what Stowyer had been served. It looked good. She hadn’t eaten since dinner, and that had been a light meal, yet she wasn’t really hungry. Still, she needed to eat, she had to keep her strength up.
Taking a bit of the meal, Celestia chewed while hardly bothering to taste it.
“Forgive me,” Stowyer said, sitting his fork down, “But may I ask what is bothering you?”
Looking up from her plate, Celestia met the Griffon's eyes. “That obvious?”
Stowyer only shifted his wings a bit, a silent invitation for her to keep talking.
“Do you have any children?” Celestia asked.
Stowyer shook his head. “No. I would like a family some day, but I am simply not home enough to start one.”
Celestia took another bite of her meal and chewed. She hoped a messenger would bring her word about Clover before she had to close the doors to the office again.
“The foal I adopted, he is very sick. The doctors don’t know if he’ll make it.”
Concern stiffened Stowyer’s posture. “You have my best wishes. If you need to reschedule our meeting—”
“No,” Celestia interrupted. “I will not ruin the Griffon Empire’s schedule over personal matters.”
The griffon gave her a nod of thanks, but worry still tainted his expression. “Fishing season is starting soon, and we do hope to increase our harvest this year. But that is business, let’s save that for later. Do you know what ails the foal?”
“Cow Pox,” Celestia said, then forced herself to eat some more. It was actually really good; she should have some sent over to Luna. While she was thinking about it, she should have the royal cooks cater dinner for the hospital.
Stowyer took a sip of his tea, his face scrunched up in confusion. “Is that not like our Down Hives?”
“It is. We do not know why it has affected him so.”
Silence took the table for a moment, before Stowyer again spoke. “When he is better, you have my invitation to come to the Griffon lands for a vacation. Ponies say the steppe is a healing place.”
Celestia gave the ambassador a honest smile. The plains stretching out from Griffonstone were famously good for a pony’s health. “I may take that offer.”
Magic gathered around Luna's horn, but it was not her own: Celestia was sending her a letter. Leaving Clover’s side, she went into the common area to be away from the sensitive equipment before the spell fully manifested. The ponies there gave her little notice this time, having already accepted her as just another pony tending to a loved one. Relaxing her mind, Luna allowed the magic to flow through her.
With a pop, a scroll appeared beside her. Taking the letter in her hooves, she unrolled it to see what her sister had sent. “Finished early. Be there soon,” the letter read.
Returning to Clover’s room, Luna took her seat back by his side. “Celestia will be here in a few minutes,” she said, brushing his muzzle with a damp towel.
Clover gave her a weak smile. She couldn’t help but admire the foal. He understood exactly how sick he was, yet seemed completely at peace. Picking up the story book, Luna continued reading him the tale of the pegasus and the dragon.
She had only made it a few more paragraphs before the distinct sound of Celestia’s gait drew both their attentions to the open door. There was a pause in her hoofsteps for just a moment, then Celestia stepped through the door with a glowing expression.
“How are you feeling?” she asked.
“Not so bad,” Clover said, only his mouth moving as he spoke.
Luna sat the book by the bed, and rose to hug her sister. “Have you spoken with the doctors?”
A grim nod cracked her smile for a moment, but it returned as she sat by Clover’s side. “They told me you aren’t eating. Is there anything you want?”
Clover managed to shake his head. “Friends, family.”
Celestia leaned against the bed and pressed her head against his. She had done this so many times, but rarely so young. She opened her mouth to speak, but her voice hitched. Instead hot tears dripped from her to Clover. “We are going to do everything we can to get you through this.”
Clover eased a hoof onto Celestia’s. “It is okay.”
“Why are you the brave one?” Celestia asked, an odd kind of smile returning to her. Sitting up, she looked to her sister. “Thank you so much, but you should get some sleep.”
“I shall,” Luna said, standing from her place. “However, do not hesitate to call upon me.”
Waving her sister goodbye, Celestia then turned back to Clover, and rested a hoof on him. She watched him for a few moments, there was an air of tranquility to him that was almost contagious. “Promise me you’ll fight this.” Celestia said rubbing his back.
The touch bought a smile to Clover. “Feels good. Itchy.”
Taking up the soft brush by the bed, Celestia worked it over his itchy pelt; getting hums of happiness from Clover as she went. He had dodged her words. It was something he was better at than many of the nobles, but this was one she wasn’t going to let slip.
“Clover, I—” the sound of Luna entering the room again interrupted her words. “Something wrong?” Celestia asked. A coy smile on her sister was confusing her.
“Not at all; I merely found some ponies that wanted to wish Clover well,” Luna said, as four foals and a litle dragon stepped quietly into the room.
“Spike, I’m surprised you got here so fast,” Celestia said. His features were a mix of exhaustion and concern, making him look far older than he should have.
“I sent him a letter this morning,” Luna answered for him. “Now I really must be off to bed. Farewell to you all.”
Again Celestia waved her sister goodbye, then looked over Clover’s friends. They each had a different expression, from concern, to grief, to near panic. One was a new face to her. While she knew her name, she had never managed to meet the young mare.
“Primrose,” Celestia gave her a nod. “I’m sorry we haven’t gotten to meet before now. I’ve heard many nice things about you.” Seldom from Clover, but Green often commented on the puppy love between the two foals.
The filly went stiff with fear for a moment, her eyes locked onto her. Celestia couldn't help but sigh, taking her crown in hoof and sitting it on the bedstand. “We're all friends here,” she said.
Primrose nodded, the worst of her fear melting away. “How is he?”
Returning her attention to Clover, she found him smiling, and squirming to sit up.
“Ask him yourself,” she said, pushing the button on the bed to raise Clover up.
The young ones shuffled forward, spreading out around his bed. Each took time to wish him well, and tell him about one thing or another. Clover said little himself, preferring to silently appreciate the company.
After a while, the small talk ran dry, and Spike pulled out a deck of cards. “Can he play cards?” he asked, looking up to her.
Before she could answer, Clover chuckled. “We need chips.”
Primrose traipsed out of the room, and by the time Celestia had the lap-table sat across the bed, she had returned with a full bag of rubber bands.
With their makeshift chips, Spike pulled up a chair next to Celestia, and dealt out cards to everypony.
The first hoof went to Clover, also the third, fourth and sixth. In spite of his inability to hold all his cards without dropping them, Clover seemed to have a nack at the game. At first Spike thought everypony was going easy on him, but by the eighth hoof, it was obvious that even Celestia was trying her very best to get some of her chips back.
Clover smiled through it all, listening to the conversation around him, and laughing along with the others as piles of rubber bands moved from one player to the next, then inevitably in front of him. By the time most of the rubber bands were in Clover’s lap, exhaustion began to wash over him as well.
“I think we need to let Clover sleep now,” Celestia said, as another round was concluded.
Spike gathered the cards and bands, while the others gave their well-wishes, then went back out to the lobby. Once Primrose had left, it was only him and Celestia left with Clover.
Taking Clover’s hoof between his claws, Spike looked him in the eye. There had been something in Clover’s expression today that he found familiar and unsettling. “You’re going to fight this, and get better,” Spike told Clover. Hoofsteps distracted Spike for a moment. Looking behind him, he saw Celestia leave the room.
“Stay close, so you can be here,” Clover said.
Spike spun back to face his all-but-brother. He knew that tone, he remembered that tired expression, that careless peace. Grampa Twinkle had been like this in his last few days.
“You’re just giving up, aren’t you?” Spike said, letting go of Clover.
The easy smile wilted to a frown, as Clover forced himself to look around the room.
“We’re alone,” Spike said.
Clover sighed. “I am tired. My memories are...” Clover’s voice faded searching for a word.
“Jumbled,” Spike said, guessing the word.
“Yes. I do not even know what I use to look like, but I do remember I should have died many, many years ago.”
“Don’t say that,” Spike hissed. “And I know you remember more than you admit.”
Clover leaned back, and closed his eyes. “Maybe I do. Before was bad. It has been nice here. I am ready.
“What about me, what about your mom?”
“You two will see me dead no matter what.” That creepy peace again appeared on Clover again as he settled in for a nap. “I’m mortal.”
“You think that makes it alright to give up?” Spike fought to keep his voice quiet. “You think we treat friends like flowers. We just throw them out when they wilt, and forget them? Would you just say, “Oh well,” and move on if I died?”
The air of peace over Clover vanished. Spike could tell he was trying to say something, but the words weren’t coming.
“Excuse me,” The bright voice of a nurse called from the open door. “I’m sorry, but Clover really needs his rest.”
Spike nodded to the nurse, then turned back to Clover. “Maybe we’re being selfish, but please, fight this for us.” He waited a second for a response, but Clover was asleep, or at least pretending to be.
Stepping back, he passed the young nurse as she went to Clover’s side. He had met her before, but he couldn’t place where. “Take good care of him,” he said, pausing at the door.
“I will,” she said, looking up from the needle drawing Clover’s blood. There was something about her smile that Spike took as a promise.
Luna settled into her bed for a nap, but even in her sleep she had work to do. Fidgeting with her pillow till it was just right, Luna then closed her eyes, and focused on her breath. A moment or two later and she was asleep, but not unaware of herself. Stirring her magic, she let her mind drift into the dream realm.
The quiet murmur of dreamers surrounded Luna as she opened her mind’s eye. Doors stretched in every direction as she rose to her hooves. With a thought, Luna moved past thousands of dreams, then stopped with a blink in front of the one she wanted.
Clover’s door was more rust than iron, and the corners looked a bit melted. Steeling her will, Luna touched the door. Her hoof sank into the soggy thing, and with the slightest push, it opened to invite her in. There was no nightmare in Clover this time. Instead, she found herself on a dusty road. Mountains surrounded her on all sides, and the air was thick with the smell of herbs.
In the distance she could hear a pipe playing. It was a tune she had heard Clover play many times.
Luna smiled, this was the kind of dream she could work with, mold, and guide. One where she could speak to the dreamer in ways deeper than could ever be done awake. Lighting her horn, Luna hid her wings, and turned her coat the color of sand. He would not recognize her as his aunt, but rather a nameless young mare. Taking a seat beneath an olive tree, she waited for Clover to show himself.
Soon enough, Clover came into view, prancing down the road. It was however, not the Clover she was used to seeing. His dream had made him a young, lanky stallion. Saddled to his back, a ballista rattled with every step, and lolled about like a corpse. All the while he played his flute, filling the air with its song.
That song and his smile were undoubtedly Clover, and the recorder he played was the very one Celestia had given him for Hearth’s warming. Leaning against the tree, she waited for him to near.
“Is the war over?” Luna asked as Clover walked by.
“Long ago,” he said with the voice that sounded tired and old. Looking over his shoulder, Clover unbuckled the weapon. Falling from his back, it crumbled and rotted. “Do you know this road, ma’am?” Clover asked stopping in front of her. “I’m a bit lost.”
“Where are you heading?” Luna asked standing up.
Clover smiled ear to ear. “I’m going home.”
“Where would that be?”
Clover opened his mouth to speak, but then shut it as confusion wrinkled his face. “I don’t... I do not remember.”
“Well...” Luna scratched at her chin. “Do you remember what it looks like?”
The stallion turned to mist, and in his place stood the colt she knew so well. Bright eyed, he looked up at her and nodded. “It’s a castle in the clouds!”
Luna giggled. “I do know where that is. There are not many of them.” Touching the dream world with her magic, Luna made a trail leading into the mountains. “It’s this way,” she said pointing to the winding path.
Clover’s form never seemed to settle as they walked into the mountains. One moment he was a unicorn, the next an earth pony, sometimes a colt, sometimes a stallion in his prime, sometimes one of adolescence.
“You seem young, to be making such a journey,” Luna said when Clover again changed to his adolescent form.
“You flatter,” the mature stallion said. “I have walked these mountains since before you were born.” There was a tone in his voice that seemed far too old for the stallion she was looking at. His eyes were sharp, but sad too.
“Then how is it you are lost?”
“I don’t know,” the foal whined. “Nothing’s right here, this isn’t how it’s supposed to look.”
Luna pulled her magic from the dream world, letting it react to the dreamer’s slightest thought. “How are things supposed to look?”
“I don’t know,” the young stallion said, the sense of defeat pouring off him in waves. Defeat mixed with sadness as the older stallion returned. “All I remember is being tired and alone. I just wanted to die.”
The words startled Luna. "Things are better now though, are they not?" she asked, watching storm clouds darken the sunny day as the dream shifted to match Clover's mood.
Clover nodded, as if he was ashamed to admit it, but didn’t say anything. Instead he kept his eyes forward, and continued up the mountain trail. They walked in silence for a long while, till the path lead them to a ledge. Across an impossible wide chasm sat Canterlot, half covered by the clouds of Clover’s dark mood.
The foal sat down with a despondent sigh, staring across the void that separated him from home. He started to say something, but the dream world shimmered.
Some outside magic threatened to collapse the dream. Luna guessed it to be of the medical ponies applying a spell. She waited a moment to see if he would either wake or fall into dreamless sleep, but neither happened.
Instead the world shifted and pushed against her presence. Clover took a step back from her, his face twisted into a snarl. "Who are you!?"
Clover's magic came from all parts of the dream, gripped at her, and clumsily trying to push her from the dream.
Luna shielded herself from Clover’s magic, and grounded herself in the dream. “Be at peace. You know me,” Luna said, letting her disguise unravel.
"Luna?" The anger fell from him, leaving confusion on his face.
"You are dreaming," Luna said, relaxing as the dream stopped trying to push her out.
"I know, but why are you in my dream?"
"You are very sick, I wanted to check on you,"
Clover shook his head. "No, I mean how are you in my head?"
The mountain bluff beside them had turned to a coastal cliff, putting even more distance between them and the vision of Canterlot. Luna tried to shape the dream to something gentle, but Clover's will held fast.
"It is my gift and my duty to guard the dreams of my little ponies," she said over the sound of crashing waves. "I'm here to help you come back home, Clover."
Shame and grief was thick in air. Dark clouds turned into an angry storm that blotted out any view of Canterlot.
Clover turned his back to her, looking down the winding path running along the cliffside and away from the storm. “What if I told you I’m not a foal?” the stallion said walking away from her, a traveling wagon appearing behind him.
Pausing a moment, Luna examined the cart that Clover’s memories had constructed. A vardo of sorts, with all manner of herbs hanging from the eaves. On the side was painted a snake entwined around a pole. It had the look of the arcane, but Luna could not place any of it.
Another clue denied to her, Luna moved to walk alongside Clover. “Neither my sister nor I believe you to have the mind of a foal. The body and heart of one, but not the mind. You have shown us that many times over.”
The foal halted in one step, the wagon still impossibly attached to him. “And I can still come home?” His eyes glistened with hope.
“Yes, Clover—”
Again an outside magic rippled through the dream, cutting Luna off. This spell was familiar to her: it was a common sedation spell. He must have been tossing in his dreams.
The foal looked panicked as the world began to fade black. “What’s happening?”
“Do not fear, it is merely sleep. You will see me by your bed tomorrow.”
The fear left Clover, and she felt his mind welcome dreamless sleep.
From the garden, Celestia stared at the hospital building against the bright evening sky. She really needed to go back in; Clover’s friends would have left by now. She hated the idea of him being alone, but she just couldn’t be in that room right now.
A little stroll in the garden, that would help her pull herself together. Even this time of year her ponies kept the place beautiful. The surreal bleakness of the winter garden fit her mood better anyway; she couldn’t handle being surrounded by flowers.
Taking a seat by the gurgling fountain, Celestia let her eyes go unfocused. This is was going to be rough on her. Thankfully, she had the support of Luna and Twilight this time. She sat there for the better part of an hour letting the cold bite at her, and making plans she didn’t want to make.
When the sunset tugged at her, Celestia ignored it. It was the gentle touch of her sister’s distant magic that finally moved her. Lighting her horn, Celestia sat the sun, and watched the moon take its place. With a sigh, Celestia stood, and made her way back to the hospital. She wouldn’t let Clover be alone any longer.
Across the park and towards the hospital Celestia strode. Some ponies bowed, while others pretended not to see her as she made her way through the sterile halls. She was fine with either.
Outside Clover’s room her guards saluted her, but it was a greeting without pomp. “Is he awake?” she asked.
“No, your highness. He’s been asleep since Spike left. He was fitful for a while, but he’s slept sound since the doctor gave him a sedative.”
Celestia nodded. That was good, he needed the rest. “I will be sleeping here,” she told the guard, before slipping inside.
Standing beside Clover, Celestia watched him sleep. His only movement was his breath, but a gentle smile on his lips warmed her heart. It was almost enough to make her forget the sterile room with its beeping machines and dripping IV bags.
Almost.
Stepping a little closer, she leaned against the bed to take some weight off her hooves. As the bed shifted under her weight, Clover turned and mumbled in his sleep, reaching out blindly towards her.
She couldn’t help but smile. Moving a chair beneath her, Celestia rested her chest and head on the bed with Clover, who eagerly snuggled into her mane. Closing her eyes, she listened to Clover’s breath.
- - -
A warm summer breeze woke Celestia from her nap in the grass. Easing to her hooves she scraped the sleep from her eyes, and looked around. Her mother’s shining smile greeted her from beneath a rowan tree. Trotting over, she rubbed necks with her mother, then paused to rest a hoof on her mother’s belly.
“I bet It’ll be a filly.” she said, smiling up at her mother.
“We’ll find out very soon. I was about to wake you. Go get your father. He’s collecting mushrooms in the forest. You’ll have a brother or sister by nightfall.”
Celestia grinned ear to ear before nodding and bolting off down the hill. Across field she ran, over hedge she lept, and through creek she stormed; till the shade of the forest loomed over her. She knew the trails well enough, and she certainly knew her father’s favorite places to sniff out juicy mushrooms. Slowing to a trot, she meandered the forest paths, scanning the dark places for signs of her father.
Somewhere past the split in the trail flute song reached her ears. Continuing down the path, she swiveled her ears to hear it better. It was a bittersweet tune that sang of both hello and goodbye, she wondered who could be playing it.
When the path split again, she followed the sound: perhaps they had seen Father. If not, she’d still get to see who the musician was. Up the ridge Celestia followed the music, till she found herself at the edge of a clearing atop the hill. The summer haze was light today, and the sky bright and blue. In the distance the glimmering ocean stretched on forever.
Stepping into the sun, Celestia smiled as it warmed her back. Looking around, she searched for the musician. She found him by a wagon, a young, handsome stallion playing his flute while staring out towards the sea. Beside him, campfire burned, roasting carrots and potatoes laid about it. Stepping closer, she studied the wagon, it seemed to be his home.
Strangers were rare enough, along the coast, but unheard of this deep into the isle. She started to bolt back into the woods, but paused. She may not have her mark yet, but she was no foal.
“Why are you here?” she asked, raising her voice above the flute.
The music stopped, and slowly the stallion turned to face her. He had smiling eyes, but his muzzle held a melancholy look. “I am just a wandering healer going home.”
“You're a healer?” Celestia asked, tilting her head in curiosity.
He shrugged. “I was a soldier, but not by my choosing. Now I’m a healer. It’s how I pay my debt.”
“You were forced to fight?” Celestia’s expression soured at the idea.
“It was expected of me. Saying no didn’t seem an option.”
“That’s horrible!” Celestia stepped closer to the handsome stallion, suddenly feeling sorry for him.
“It’s over now,” he said, tending to the food roasting by the fire. “Besides, I have a family waiting for me now.” He looked up at her and grinned. “Can’t let my brother get in trouble alone.”
Celestia jolted, reminded of her mother’s task. “I wish you the best of luck getting home, but I must go find my father now.” Waving goodbye, she ran back into the forest. Soft music again echoed behind her, as she searched the familiar coves for her father.
- - -
Gentle petting of her mane pulled Celestia from her dream. The sounds and smells of the hospital reminding her of where she had fallen asleep. The room was dim, and sunrise was many hours away.
“Luna?” she mumbled, expecting that her sister had woken her, to get her into a bed.
“You were dreaming,” Clover said.
Sitting up, she found that Clover had managed to braid a lock of her mane from ear to wither. “It was a nice dream, about when I was just a little older than you are now.” Celestia paused, thinking over the dream. “Only there was a stranger in it. I don’t remember him actually being there.”
“Did you find your father?”
Celestia laughed, it had been a long time since anypony had caught her talking in her sleep. “I did. He had found a patch of morels where the forest had burned the year before.”
“What happened to him?” Clover’s expression was oddly serious.
Sitting down, Celestia started to undo the braid with her magic, but decided to leave it. “He was killed a few years after Luna was born. She never really got to know him.”
“There are a lot of ponies I never got to really know,” Clover said.
Celestia rested a hoof on Clover. This was the first time he had ever mentioned his life from before. “You can talk to me about them, if you want.”
Clover’s expression went melancholy. “I have forgotten them. Just remember little bits.”
“Believe it or not, I know how much it hurts to admit that.”
Clover seemed to take some assurance from her words, and lay there staring at the ceiling for a moment. She had thought him asleep, when a low growl came from his stomach.
“I’m really hungry.”
Celestia let herself smile, that wasn’t an idle complaint, that was asking to be fed. “I’ll get you anything you want.”
A smile crept across Clover’s face as he opened his eyes to look up at her. “Can I get some grilled cheese and tomato soup?”
“I’ll make it myself.”
Half an hour later, and Celestia returned with soup and grilled cheese in tow. Opening the door to Clover’s room she sat the meal on the bedstand. Clover looked asleep, but stirred at the smell of food.
“Sorry,” he said looking to the other side of the room.
Celestia frowned. “What could you possibly be sorry for?”
“Lot of things.”
Placing the lap table over Clover, Celestia sat the meal before him. “I really wish you would talk to me.”
Clover took a bit of the grilled cheese, and slowly chewed on the hot sandwich. “I do not want things to change.”
Reaching out, she ran a hoof through his mane. “You’re part of my family now. Nothing will ever change that. You don’t need to keep secrets.”
Clover sipped at the soup for a moment, she could feel a tension building within him. Leaning forward, she sighed. “I will not think ill of you for keeping your secrets. I will love you either way. Just know I am here for you.” She knew he didn’t need this stress. As much as she wanted him to trust her, she wouldn’t risk his health for it.
“Everything about me is a lie.” The words seemed to come out of Clover from their own will. “I am not a pony. I am not a foal.”
Moving his matted mane from his face, Celestia kissed his forehead. “I have known for a while you were older than you appeared, but I had thought a common age regression spell had damaged your mind.“ The idea that he hadn’t always been a pony wasn’t entirely new to her either; it was one of the many ideas Luna and her had bantered around.
Clover looked up from his soup. “Really?”
Celestia nodded. “Luna thinks you were a siren.”
The weakest of snickers bubbled from Clover. “I do remember water. Lot of water, but mountains too.”
“You do swim like a fish.”
Clover shrugged. “Swimming is fun.” Silence took the room as he nibbled at the sandwich again. “Why are all the faces in my memories ponies? They were not ponies.”
“I don’t know,” Celestia admitted. “Whatever changed you, we can’t know what damage it did to your mind.”
The answer seemed to unnerve Clover, but he continued to eat, obviously thinking about something. She hoped he would talk more, but nothing else was said until sleep began to claim him even as he tried to eat.
“Sleepy...”
Celestia floated the lap table away, along with the mostly-eaten meal. “Then sleep. You need your rest.”
As the last group of nobles filed out of the courtroom, Celestia checked the clock on the wall: court had run over today. Then again, what should she suspect. She had been pushing so many things off, they were going to start piling up eventually.
“I’m sorry to keep you all here so long,” she said, apologizing to her staff. “Have a good evening. We’re done for today.” Stepping down from her throne, Celestia left the courtroom for her office. With a sigh she dropped some papers on her desk, then jammed others into their proper filing drawers. She paused for a moment to stare out the window. Not to think, but rather to let her mind go blank.
Snapping from her stupor, Celestia turned back to her desk, and took off her regalia. There was something about having them on in the hospital that just felt wrong to her. Placing them neatly on the desk, she then stepped back out into the hallway. A salute to her guards, and she was out the first window she could reach.
Green had his own family, she couldn’t let him neglect it for hers.
In just a few moments, she was inside the hospital, and nearing Clover’s room. The guards outside it gave her a look that knotted her stomach. It told her he had gotten worse.
Hope had been a cruel thing to her. After he had started eating, a bit of strength had come back to him, but all that was gained had been stripped in the days since.
“How’s he doing?” she asked Green as soon as the door closed behind her.
Clover’s sickly body twitched in restless sleep beneath his sheets. She watched the doctor take his readings and cast his spells over Clover and the devices attached to him.
Green stepped away from the bed to face her. “He really just sleeps. Asks for juice when he wakes up.”
“He’s a fighter,” the doctor said, finishing up whatever he was doing. “His system is at its end though. I don’t know how much longer he can keep it up.”
Celestia nodded, acknowledging the prognosis. “Thank you both so much. Green, I’m sure you want to get home. I’ll send you a message if anything happens.”
Green gave her a bow, then quietly left the room. A moment later, and the doctor followed him out, leaving her alone with Clover.
She wanted to rest a hoof on Clover, to pet his mane till he woke up, but sleep was his best medicine right now.
“I’m not too late, am I?” Discord asked besider her.
It was Discord’s voice, but the tone was off. He sounded far more tired than she had ever heard. Turning to face him, she started to speak, but paused. He had obviously just been in a fight. “Are you alright?”
“Nothing that won’t heal.” Reaching into somewhere, Discord pulled out a pear that shined like gold. Magic rippled off it in waves: a strange version of the want-it need-it spell. Celestia had to steel herself against the effect, while Discord idely polished it against his fur. “I wasn’t leaving without getting Fluttershy a souvenir,” he said, putting the golden pear back into the nowhere he had pulled it from.
“What did you learn about Clover?” she asked as soon as her mind was free of the pear’s magic. “Anything that can help him?”
Discord nodded. “Yes, and yes, but you’re not going to like it.”
“How is that?” Celestia asked.
Holding up his talon for silence, Discord then pointed to the sleeping foal. “I think we should include him in on the conversation now, seems rude not to.”
“No,” Celestia pulled Discord’s face towards hers with her magic. “First tell me, will whatever you found save his life?”
“If he chooses.”
Celestia released Discord from her grip, a smile relaxing onto her face. “Then I will wake him.”
Letting the adjustable bed prop Clover up, Celestia cleaned the sweat from his face with a towel. The motion and touch brought Clover slowly to consciousness. His eyes first fixed on her with a smile, then on Discord with confusion.
Discord grumbled something in that strange language of Clover’s, but Clover only tilted his head in further confusion. She could see him trying to think. A moment later, and Clover stammered out a response.
“You’re forgetting your birth language,” Discord said. “This world is claiming you entirely.”
“That is what I wanted.” Clover said in groggy Equestrian.
“Perhaps, but I do not think you meant to be in death’s grip so soon.”
Clover sighed. Looking to the bed stand, he eyed the glass of juice sitting out of reach. Celestia didn’t wait for him to ask, taking the glass in her magic, she let him drink all he would.
After drinking his fill, Clover closed his eyes in thought, before again speaking the language only Discord could understand.
“Not true,” Discord answered with a smile. Reaching behind his back, he pulled forth a macabre clump of bone and fur. “I found it, and brought it back.”
Clover curled his face in disgust, while Celestia leaned closer to examine the thing. “What is it,” she asked. “There is powerful magic trapped in that.”
“You are correct.” Discord said. “It can grant wishes, but imagine if poison joke granted wishes.”
Celestia reeled back in disgust from the what she now recognised as the severed hand of some animal. “I have heard of such things.”
“This one belongs to Clover. He has used two of the three it has to grant.”
Hope brightened Celestia’s face. “So he can simply wish himself well.”
Discord shook his head. “That would be a very dangerous wish. This thing and I are made of something the same, I know how it can twist words and find consequences.”
“Then how can this save him?”
“I can go back,” Clover answered.
Laying a paw on Celestia, Discord tried to sooth her confusion. “You see, Clover is a bit older than he looks.”
Celestia nodded. “Yes, we knew that, even before he admitted it.”
“Never told how old.” Clover said. That look of shame was again washing over him.
“It doesn't matter, anymore than my age does,” Celestia said, resting the tip of her wing on him.
“Actually, it matters exactly as much as your age.” Discord sat the think on the bed by Clover. “He is quite immortal back home.”
“What?” Celestia looked to Clover, then Discord.
Stepping to the other side of the bed, Discord sat on the wall. “Probably more so than you. It was his first wish.”
“What was his second?”
Clover coughed a dry laugh. “To go where I could die.”
The thought horrified her “But why?”
“His homeland is not as kind as ours. I imagine he was very lonely.”
Clover confirmed Discord’s words with a nod.
Celestia looked at the severed paw on the bed, and thought for a moment before speaking. “Can he use the last wish, to unwish the second?”
“Yes,” Discord answered. “Unwishing, is hard to twist.”
Clover clutched the wing near him, trying to pull himself under it. “No.”
Extending her wing, Celestia let him take it as a blanket. “Please Clover. I would rather lose you, and know you’re alive, than bury you.”
“Lonely there. Better dead.”
Pulling back her wing, tears burned her eyes as she forced herself to put the mummified paw in his hoof. Her magic turned his chin till he was looking her in the eyes. “For me, Clover. Please, for me.”
Clover only answered with a look of abject terror in his eyes.
“Celestia,” Discord said, snapping her attention to the door. Opening it, he motioned for her to follow him into the hall. “I think we should leave Clover alone with his thoughts for a moment.”
A sigh escaped her, but he was right. Clover was dying, but not this hour. Nodding her head, she pulled back from Clover. “I cannot force you, but please think about it. I’ll be back in a moment.”
Leaving Clover in the bed, pondering the wishing paw, Celestia stepped into the hall with Discord, but there was no floor on the other side of the door.
Tumbling head over tail, Celestia fell a dozen meters before flaring her wings to stop her plummet. Gathering her senses, she looked up to see the door floating far above her. Below her, Discord sat by a campfire in the snow.
“Where are we?” she asked, looking around in the dark night.
Discord laughed. Huddling closer to the fire, he held out his arms to gather more of the fire’s warmth. “You don’t recognize it?”
Landing next to Discord, she too stepped closer to its warmth: the cold here was not a natural cold. Being so close to Discord, she couldn’t help but study his wounds. The light of the flickering fire made them look worse than they had in the hospital. “Are you sure you are alright?” she asked.
“I’ll be fine,” he said, but otherwise ignored her. With the snap of his talons, a parka appeared over him, hiding the wounds from her sight.
Celestia shrugged at his indifference. Turning her back to the fire, she let her eyes adjust to the night. In time, she could see they were perched atop a high, rolling hill. One side cast in utter blackness, the other lit by the silver light of the rising moon, but everywhere there was ice.
There was a shape to the hill that stirred old memories. Recognition of the place jolted her. Bolting from her place, Celestia galloped towards the moon-lit side to peer down the gentle slope. At the foot of the hill, a frozen river glimmered in the night. The bend of that stream was etched into her mind as deeply as her mother’s smile.
“Bryn Gwyrdd,” Celestia whispered to herself. Trotting back towards Discord and his fire, Celestia began desperately brushing away ice and snow. Looking for something, yet afraid of harming what was hidden beneath the snow.
She ignored Discord’s curious eye, until her hooves uncovered her goal.
Finally, an out of place stone was revealed from beneath the snow. Closing her eyes, she found that pool of magic deep within her, the one she shared with the sun. Pulling it forth, she let a single tongue of sunfire dance on the tip of her horn.
Snow melted as if banished from creation as a little bit of summer claimed the space around her. Mud hardened, and grass sprouted at the command of ancient magic. Somewhere in the distance, she could hear creatures hiss and flee.
The carved stone looked exactly as it had two millennium ago; the forever winter having preserved it. Closing her eyes, Celestia rested a hoof on the grave marker. “Not that I am unthankful, but why did you bring me here?”
“To remind you.” Discord unfolded a white chair, then took a seat next to her.
“I have never forgotten my father.”
“But you have forgotten the loneliness.”
Memories echoed in Celestia’s mind of that day. She could still hear Luna crying. “It wasn’t that bad. I still had Mother and Luna.”
“And when your mother passed?”
Another sad memory, but not as bitter. Their mother had died rich in years, on Equestrian soil. “Luna and I had each other.”
“And when you lost Luna?”
Oddly, Celestia was glad the conversation had turned to this wound; it was one she had searched well, there was no new pain to be found here. “I was very lonely, but I knew she would return.”
Discord leaned close, a venomous grin on his face. “You spent the next thousand years preparing for her return.” Celestia blinked, and he was standing beside her, his breath on her ear. “What if you had put her into the ground, instead of the moon?”
“I...” Celestia’s voice hitched. The idea knotted her stomach. “I don’t know.”
Standing to his full height, Discord paced behind her. “Give the sun back to the unicorns? Let old age take you to her?”
A tear fell onto her father’s grave stone. “Perhaps.”
“Perhaps?” There was accusation in his voice.
Celestia sighed. There was no point in lying to herself. “Probably.”
“Can you really ask more of Clover, than you expect of yourself?” he asked, stepping back in front of her.
“Yes.” She looked up to meet Discord’s eyes. “I want him to be stronger than me.”
“And if he fails?”
“I will love him all the same.”
The serious expression melted from Discord, letting his trickster smile shine through. “Good. I do hate playing the straight man.” Reaching far higher that his arms could reach, Discord pulled the doorway to the ground. “It’s bad enough when I have to do it for Sparkle Butt,” he said, shucking off the parka, and stepping towards the door.
“Before we go back.” Celestia held out a wing to block the floating doorway. “Where did he come from? What was he?”
Discord looked down at the fresh cut on his chest. “Does it matter?” he asked, tracing the wound with his paw.
“No, but—” A flash of light interrupted Celestia's words. When her vision cleared, the tip of Discord’s tail disappeared into the room.
With a sigh, Celestia resigned herself to not knowing. Discord would keep his secret till he wanted to share it. Stepping through the door, she was again greeted by the sounds and smells of Clover’s room. Discord and Clover were having a conversation she couldn’t understand, but it ended with a weak chuckle from Clover as soon as she was fully in the room.
“I’m going to miss your laugh,” she said, drawing their attention.
Discord retreated back to his seat on the wall as she approached the bed. He had the look of one expecting a show, but she ignored him. Setting by the bed, she rested her forehead against Clover’s for a moment.
“This is your choice to make, but please consider it a second chance,” she said, sitting back up.
He stared into her eyes a moment before nodding. Turning away from her, he studied the magical thing for a moment. Holding it up with one hoof, he touched the one extended finger with the other. “I wanted to live forever, but then everyone got old and died. Couldn’t do it again. Stayed alone, traveled. Helped who I could.”
“Immortality is a heavy burden, but you are strong,” Celestia said, putting on her strongest front. “I learned to take every day as a gift, you can too.”
“Maybe,” Clover agreed. His hoof moved to the second curled up finger; the one that had brought him to Equestria. “I wish—”
Celestia braced herself. She would cry after he was gone.
Clover’s hoof left that finger, for the curled finger on the end. “—for this wish again.”
The one straight finger curled, and the paw crumbled to ash. Celestia and Discord shared a confused look as a presence they hadn’t been aware of left the room in a panic.
“What was that?” Celestia asked. “What just happened?”
Discord grinned in that way only he could. “That was Death. He wished for Death to be afraid of him.”
“So he’s...” Celestia couldn’t finish the thought.
“Unable to die,” Discord laughed. “He won't even age past his prime. That is unless he can find another place with a Death that doesn't know him.”
Lunging towards Clover, Celestia scooped him into her forelegs. Discord watched the scene with a smile. Sometimes doing good was rewarding.
“Can’t... breathe.” Clover mumbled from within the alicorn’s embrace.
Celestia didn’t let up on her hold in the least. “It won't kill you.”
“Please hold still,” Rarity said looming over me with fabric and needle floating in all directions. “I’m almost done.”
“You said that an hour ago...”
“More like fifteen minutes, and it’s taking longer because you’re squirming.”
Locking up all four legs, I did my very best to hold still, but it’s a battle of will against this energetic body.
“This body,” I say that like I remember what was before it; like any other form wouldn’t be alien to me. Closing my eyes, I focus on the memories. There’s so few now, only a sense of time.
I clung to them so hard, yet they still slipped away. Somethings remain. Walking, I mostly remember walking. Tending the sick, and playing my flute. There’s smiles and tears too. Echos of war, and the crying of babies occasionally haunt me.
It’s what I don’t remember that really bothers me. Mom says it’s okay to forget, as long as you know they touched your life. “Remember the feeling after you forget the face,” she tells me.
Metal shoes on marble tell me Mom or one of my aunts just walked into the room. “Wool gathering?” Aunt Luna asked.
“Baaa,” I bleat out in my best sheep impersonation.
Luna laughed. “That suit is going to look very nice for the ceremony.”
“Thank you,” Rarity said. With a flash of her magic, all the formal clothing hanging on me pulled away, and was deposited on a nearby ponyquin. “I just need to take up a hem, and it’s ready.”
“Can I go now?” All my friends were at the castle today. Court started at three, and the noon bell had struck a little while ago. I wanted to go play with them before I had to dress for court. It would be all formal clothing and strange food after that.
“I’m finished with you, but ask your aunt Luna if she needs you for anything,” Rarity said, shooing me towards the door.
It was funny. Everypony knew my story; that I was older than all but a few ponies, but still they treated me like the foal I looked like. Not as some insult, but rather a loving gesture to honor the start of my new life here.
Stopping in front of Luna, I looked up to her for direction, but she just stepped aside, motioning for me to run along.
Taking the permission, I trotted into the hallway, then looked out one of the massive windows that overlooked the courtyard.
It was a nice day. The snow was deep and the sun bright. It had been fun watching the Hearth's Warming decorations go up. After dinner tonight, we were going to go out caroling.
Trotting down the hall, I peeked into one of the many offices. Seeing it empty, I snuck in, and found a quill and paper. “Where is everyone?” I wrote. My script still looked horrible. Getting smooth letters with my magic was far harder than Mom made it look. I’d tried writing by mouth, but that was completely illegible.
Note in hoof, I rolled it up, then focused on my magic. Moving things with magic as nothing more than thought, but spells were something completely different. I only had a few mastered so far; and by a few, I mean two. One was for drying my fur, and the other let me send letters to Spike.
My mind twisted into the spell’s shape, then emerald magic consumed the note. Once that was gone, I looked around the office a bit more, till I found the inevitable stash of candy on one of the drawers. Taking a salt taffy as my prize, I wandered back into the hall, and waited for Spike to answer. It was a very convenient spell, though Spike kinda hated it. He described it as a hiccup, but twenty times worse. Still, he insisted I use it when I needed. Said one wasn’t really bad, it only hurt if he had to receive more than one in an hour.
A moment later, and I felt that strange tingle of Spike’s return letter. A flash of magic, and my note was back in front of me, now with Spike’s answer of “We’re in the South Courtyard,” added to it. Speaking of script writing, Spike’s script was always perfect. If he were a pony, I bet he'd get his mark in it.
Looking at my own flank, I scowled. I’m pretty sure I should have one of my own by now. Mom says not to worry about it. That it’ll come when I’m ready. I want to go back to medicine, but Mom wants my reading and math to get better before I try.
Spike said I should just spend a week with Twilight, and hang out with some friends of his. Apparently I’d get all the chances I would ever want to practice my first aid.
A shortcut through the kitchen put me near the Castle’s front yard. I heard Vellum’s laughter as soon as I stepped outside, followed by Tiger’s voice. Moving as fast as I dared over the icy cobblestone, I rushed to join them in whatever they had gotten into. In a few hours, I would officially become Princess Celestia’s first son; Prince Clover. Till then, I was just a foal, playing with his friends.
Not that anything was going to change after today, but it was fun to pretend I had a reason to play all the harder. Maybe I’d steal a kiss from Primrose too.
Luna settled into her bed for a nap, but even in her sleep she had work to do. Fidgeting with her pillow till it was just right, Luna then closed her eyes, and focused on her breath. A moment or two later and she was asleep, but not unaware of herself. Stirring her magic, she let her mind drift into the dream realm.
The quiet murmur of dreamers surrounded Luna as she opened her mind’s eye. Raising to her hooves, she found the familiar maze of doors stretching forth in every direction. With a thought, Luna moved past thousands of dreams, then stopped with a blink in front of the one she wanted.
Clover’s door was more rust than iron, and the corners looked a bit melted. Steeling her will, Luna touched the door. Her hoof sank into the soggy thing, and with the slightest push, it opened to invite her in. There was no nightmare in Clover this time. Instead, she found herself on a dusty road. Mountains surrounded her on all sides, and the air was thick with the smell of herbs.
In the distance she could hear a pipe playing. It was a tune she had heard Clover play many times.
Luna smiled, this was the kind of dream she could work with, mold and guide. One where she could speak to the dreamer in ways deeper than could ever be done awake. Lighting her horn, she hid her wings, and turned her coat the color of sand. Clover would not recognize her as his aunt, but rather a nameless, young mare.
Taking a seat beneath an olive tree, Luna waited for Clover to show himself.
Soon enough, he came into view, prancing down the road. It was however, not the Clover she was used to seeing. His dream had made him a young, lanky stallion. Saddled to his back, a ballista rattled with every step, and lolled about like a corpse. All the while he played his flute, filling the air with its song.
That song and his smile were undoubtedly Clover though. She did not need her magic to see that. Leaning against the tree, she waited for him to near.
“Is the war over?” Luna asked as Clover walked by.
“Long ago,” he said with the voice that sounded tired and old. Looking over his shoulder, Clover unbuckled the weapon. Falling from his back, it crumbled and rotted. “Do you know this road, ma’am?” Clover asked stopping in front of her. “I’m a bit lost.”
“Where are you heading?” Luna asked standing up.
Clover smiled ear to ear. “I’m going home.”
“Where would that be?”
Clover opened his mouth to speak, but then shut it as confusion wrinkled his face. “I don’t... I do not remember.”
“Well...” Luna scratched at her chin. “Do you remember what it looks like?”
The stallion turned to mist, and in his place stood the colt she knew so well. Bright eyed, he looked up at her and nodded. “It’s a castle in the clouds!”
Luna giggled. “I do know where that is. There are not many of them.” Touching the dream world with her magic, Luna made a trail leading into the mountains. “It’s this way,” she said pointing to the winding path.
Clover’s form never seemed to settle as they walked into the mountains. One moment he was a unicorn, the next an earth pony, sometimes a colt, sometimes a stallion of late years, sometimes one of adolescence.
“You seem young, to be making such a journey,” Luna said when Clover again changed to his adolescent form.
“You flatter,” the old stallion said. “I have walked these mountains since before you were born.”
“Then how is it you are lost?”
“I don’t know,” the foal whined. “Nothing’s right here, this isn’t how it’s supposed to look.”
Luna pulled her magic from the dream world, letting it react to the dreamer’s slightest thought. “How are things supposed to look?”
“I don’t know,” the young stallion said, the sense of defeat pouring off him in waves. Defeat mixed with sadness as the old stallion returned. “All I remember is being tired and alone. I just wanted to die.”
The words startled Luna, but before she could speak creation itself shuttered.
“What was that?” the old stallion said.
Beside him the colt appeared. “Mom!”
To the other side, the young stallion manifested, his eyes cast to the heavens just as the bright world went dim. “The sun has gone dark.”
Luna blinked; the three Clovers were right. With a flash, she returned to her bedroom, her wings carrying her out the window before she could even get her eyes open.
- - - x - - -
From the garden, Celestia stared at the hospital building against the bright, evening sky. She really needed to go back in; Clover’s friends would have left by now. She hated the idea of him being alone, but she just couldn’t be in that room right now.
A little stroll in the garden, that would help her pull herself together. Even this time of year her ponies kept the place beautiful. The surreal bleakness of the winter garden fit her mood better anyway; she couldn’t handle being surrounded by flowers.
Discord’s empty pedestal brought a momentary smile to her face. She wondered where he was. Perhaps his quest to learn about Clover would bring him back at the eleventh hour to save her son.
Turning her back to the other stone memories, Celestia wandered into the hedge maze. Down one path, then back up another Celestia paced. With practiced will, she hushed the thoughts spinning in her mind, and focused only on walking forward.
“Princess Celestia, we beg an audience.” A voice said from behind her.
Celestia sighed. She really wanted to just say, “Go away,” and not even turn to look at them, but she was their princess, she had to be the strong one. Plastering on a smile, she turned to face her petitioners.
The smile did not stay for more than the time it took her to turn around. Scowling in confusion, Celestia lit her horn as the two changelings looked up at her. A moment later and a bubble of golden light had surrounded all three of them. They would not escape, nor could more attack her from behind.
“What do you want?”
The two changelings bowed their heads, making sure their horns were not pointing towards her. “We know what is wrong with Clover,” the bigger changeling said.
Dragonfly waited for the princess to speak, but only found ear-ringing silence. With a slow movement, he looked towards Ladybug. The young changeling was staring up at something with horror in her eyes. Swallowing through a dry throat, Dragonfly raised his head.
“I was a fool,” the princess said as soon as their eyes met. The blue in her hair had turned ash, and the sky had become a colorless gray. “I had hoped Chrysalis would change—”
“Your Majesty, I—”
“Silence.” Celestia’s word emptied the air from his lungs. The green in her ethereal mane turned to ash, and the evergreen hedges went black with it. “I let too many suffer in hopes of harmony later, and now my decisions have come home to bite me.”
“Please...” Ladybug mewled, only to be silenced by a glare dripping with murder.
Gasping for breath, Dragonfly forced himself to move in front of Ladybug, to shield her from the alicorn.
“It is time I fixed my mistake.” Purple and pink joined the rest of Celestia’s mane as ash, and the last bit of color drained from the world. “I will end you, and I will end your queen.”
Celestia’s magic reached out to somewhere unseen, then in a scorching flash of light a spear appeared beside her. Its white-hot blade burned him from even this distance. The bubble of magic around them popped, but he dared not run. Beside him Ladybug wept as he tried to speak, but words failed him.
“I’m sorry you were born.”
He couldn’t help but notice how much sadness was in her voice. Wrapping his hooves around Ladybug, he shielded her from the searing heat, while waiting for the deathblow.
“AROS!” bellowed a voice like a typhoon’s rage. The word rattled his chiton, and a wind bowled him and Ladybug into the hedges.
“Ewch, chwaer. Mae gen i waith i wneud.” Celestia said, dismissing the interruption as nothing unusual.
“Ni fyddaf!” the other voice cried.
Righting himself, Dragonfly looked up from the hedge just in time to see Princess Luna land between him and Celestia. Indigo magic rolled around her in waves, muting the heat of the spear as she stepped closer to her sister.
“You are better than this.”
Celestia stared at Luna for a moment, her mane of ash fluttering in the wind, covering the ground with soot. “They’re an accident and a plague. Fleas that should have been poisoned long ago.”
“Sister!” Luna scorned.
Dragonfly winced when Celestia’s gaze left Luna, and returned to him. “Ticks that I had thought would bloom into flowers,” she said, leveling the spear at him. The sadness was gone, her voice rang of lifeless steel.
The spear darted forward, but indigo magic pushed its tip into the ground. “Please, do not make my mistake,” Luna begged.
“My mistake was not killing Chrysalis at Trot.” Celestia tried to pull her weapon from the smoldering ground, but Luna held it fast.
“I will not spare Chrysalis from you, but do not harm innocents.”
A bitter laugh echoed from Celestia, and the sun no longer gave warmth. “None of them are innocent, least of all these two. They poisoned Clover, then tried to ransom the cure.”
The accusation stung Dragonfly even as he shivered with cold and fear. Beside him, Ladybug whimpered, “No.” He reached to stop her, but youth gave her much speed. Before he could speak, Ladybug had darted past Luna, and wrapped all four legs around Celestia’s foreleg.
“I’d never hurt Clover! We just wanted your permission to try and help him!”
Celestia looked down at Ladybug with utter revulsion, but a bit of her rage had been distracted. Dragonfly steeled himself. He had to do this, too much was at stake. Jumping from the hedge, he landed next to Luna, opposite the deadly spear.
“Chrysalis is dead.”
“What?” Luna balked.
Celestia glared at him for a long moment, before peeling Ladybug from her leg with magic, then tossing her in front of him like a bag of potatoes. “You lie.”
Bending down, Dragonfly helped Ladybug to her hooves. “She is dead. This one has never known her.”
Again, Celestia tugged at her spear, but Luna held it firm. “Sister,” Luna said. Her eyes were pools of concern. “There is a way to know. I would rather have you use that spell, than cross a line you can not come back from.”
“Fine.” A spell flew from Celestia’s horn like the crack of a whip, and Dragonfly felt his mind tingle.
“Who killed Chrysalis?” Celestia asked.
Words began leaving Dragonfly’s mouth without his control. “Queen Mantis and Queen Apis ordered her death. Every drone in the hive swarmed her, and drained the life from her.”
The answer did not seem to please Celestia or Luna. “Tell me where these queens came from, and where I can find them,” Celestia said, her magic glowing stronger around her spear.
“After escaping the prison, we made a new hive. But we knew Chrysalis would only lead us to more ruin, so we conspired against her. We took our two healthiest grubs, and sealed them in a special place. We made Queens of them. Queen Mantis, took half the hive, and left for the wild lands. Queen Apis is still in the gorge east of the everfree.” Dragonfly winced as he spoke. He had given away the hives’ locations. He had to get word back, so they could move.
“And what are their intentions?”
“Queen Apis wishes to become symbiotic with ponies; Queen Mantis to be a predator of demons and monsters.”
Celestia still scowled, though curiosity had taken Luna. “Did you bring any harm to my son through action or inaction?” Celestia asked
“No.”
The resolute answer shook Celestia, but her look of suspicion only doubled. “Do you wish harm on any pony?”
“Only that asshole that runs the bakery on third.”
Celestia’s expression went vacant for a moment. “Bear Claw?”
“Yes,” the spell forced him to say, but he felt no need to hide his feelings on the subject. “I’d buck him in the face, if I thought I could get away with it,” Dragonfly said without the spell’s compulsion.
A snicker escaped Celestia in spite of herself, and the winter sun again warmed his back. Straightening her posture, Celestia’s magic let go of the spear. “What is wrong with Clover?”
“Sometimes there’s a sickness that the locals think nothing of, but it’s deadly to foreigners. We don’t know why it happens, we just recognized the pattern.”
Luna’s magic enveloped the weapon, and with a pop, the spear disappeared, but the soil still boiled and fumed where it had been. “We have heard of such things. Remember the migration? We lost many to something similar.”
Ash fell from Celestia’s mane, and the sky turned blue again. “I... I do recall that.”
“Now please,” Luna said, stepping closer to her sister. “Release him from that spell, and we shall finish sorting this out.”
“One more question,” Celestia said, holding up a hoof to pause Luna. “How can you help my son?”
“It’s a Changeling ritual, to strengthen a hive. Hopefully it will give him some of our strength. We’ve done it to ponies before. Saving a life gets you a lot of love.”
Celestia’s magic fell from his mind, and Dragonfly stumbled to the ground.
“What do you ask for in return?”
Staggering to his hooves, Dragonfly looked up at Celestia. “Nothing.” The words were spoken of his own free will this time, but they were still the truth.
“What else will this do to Clover?” Luna asked.
“Euphoria, and possibly mild magical complications for a day to a week, nothing more than a nuisance.”
The colors of the world came rushing back as the rest of the ash fell from Celestia, and anger turned into desperation and shame. “Would you please try?” The sadness was back in her voice. It was a sound that made him want to cry.
“I can’t do it alone.” Looking to Ladybug, he helped her to stand. Her legs were still shaking from adrenaline. “You still up for it?” he asked.
“Of course I am.” Ladybug paused for a moment, her legs calming as a smile tried to show on her muzzle, but it faded as a sour expression took over. “Also, I owe you my life,” she said looking to Luna.
Luna nodded, then looked to Celestia. “I think it is best you go hide the Sun Spear again. I sent it to the old marble quarry. We do not want it getting around that you had it out. I will take these two to Clover’s room, and let you know when they have left.”
Celestia sighed and nodded her head before taking off into the evening sky.
“We are sorry that happened,” Luna said, rising to properly greet the two changelings. “You are my guests now, I will see that you are treated as such.”
The two gave her a cautious bow, but didn’t move from their spot.
“May I ask your names?”
“My name is Dragonfly,” the taller one said. “And this is Ladybug.” The little one gave her another bow when her name was said.
“Well Dragonfly and Ladybug, would you like to follow me? Perhaps we can get you cleaned up and warmed.”
Ladybug and Dragonfly stared at each other for a moment with an unfocused expression. Luna could tell there was a conversation there she couldn't hear. After a moment, green fire rolled across them, transforming them from changelings to unicorns with rather forgettable features.
“We can clean ourselves up later. Right now, time is valuable to Clover.” Dragonfly said.
“True enough,” Luna said, motioning them to follow.
It was a long walk of awkward silence back to the hospital. Luna’s mind spun around the implications of Chrysalis’ death, and the new queen’s desire for symbiosis. It left her with a thousand questions, but they could wait for now.
Approaching Clover’s room, Luna ushered the two in, while pausing by the two guards. “Nothing enters this room, until I say so, or call for you.”
“Yes, Princess,” the guards saluted.
Luna gave them a smile, then entered the room, and locked the door behind her. “You have all the privacy I can give you.”
Green fire returned the changelings to their natural form as they sat down by Clover’s bed. Again there was a silence where Luna knew they were talking on a level she couldn’t hear.
After a moment, Dragonfly rummaged through the room’s medical supplies till he found the phlebotomist’s kit and a sterile jar. Sitting the kit down next to Ladybug, he took the jar and paused. “This part is a bit gross, you may not want to watch,” he said with a sheepish grin.
Luna almost laughed. “Common gore has little effect on me, and besides, you have my curiosity now.”
Dragonfly shrugged, then staring intently into the jar, began to make lurching sounds. It rather reminded her of a cat with a hairball, but neither hair nor vomit came forth. Instead something that shined with green magic dripped from his mouth. The smell of sugar filled the room with the first viscous drop of the stuff. The changeling lurched again, and more dripped into the jar. The glowing stuff oozing down the side, and pooling at the bottom.
“That should be enough,” Dragonfly said, sitting the jar down.
“What is it?” Luna asked.
“Love!” Ladybug said, almost fluttering.
“Consensually given love,” the older changeling added. “Magically purified into food that can be stored in the hive.”
Luna nodded at the iridescent green goo. “Is there a name for it?”
“Spoo,” Ladybug answered, watching the older changeling pick up a needle and vial from the kit.
Dragonfly gave her an apologetic look as he rubbed a bit of antiseptic on her leg. “It only pricks for a second.”
Ladybug scowled, but said nothing.
A second later, and Dragonfly had a vial of changeling blood that he instantly injected into the IV line attached to Clover. At the same time, Ladybug picked up the jar, and pressed it to Clover's lips. Luna moved to wake him up, so he would drink, but the instant the spoo touched his lips, he lapped at it eagerly, despite still being asleep.
“Now sleep well,” Ladybug said, pulling the jar away with one hoof, and petting his mane with the other.
Clover writhed with ecstasy at Ladybug’s touch. Blindly reaching out in his sleep, he found the little changeling, and tried to cuddle around her. It was only a stern look from Dragonfly that kept her from allowing Clover to do so.
“May I see that?” Luna asked, pointing to the jar still glowing from leftover spoo.
“Keep it,” Ladybug said, hoofing the jar over to her. “Add a drop to his food, makes even hospital food taste delicious.”
Dragonfly lit his horn and looked at Clover with an appraising eye. “We’ve given him the tools, the rest is up to him.”
Clover’s dream came back to Luna. “I fear he may take some convincing.”
“Well, the love we gave him should help with that.” Walking over to Ladybug, the older changeling tended to a few scrapes with the medical supplies nearby. “We should really be going now. Princess Celestia will want to look in on her son.”
“You can stay,” Luna offered. “We can put you up. I would like to better understand the new Queens; perhaps start diplomatic relations.”
Dragonfly gave her a sad smile. Some bit of magic fell away from him, and only then did she see the burns on his face and back. “I think it’s going to be a while before that can happen. The old ways need to be forgotten. Your ponies need to grow up hearing rumors of kind changelings; then maybe we can walk this castle undisguised.
“What’s he dreaming about?” Celestia asked, watching Clover giggle and twitch in has sleep. It was almost enough to make her forget the sterile room with its beeping machines and dripping IV bags.
Almost.
Luna closed her eyes for a moment. “A flying dream.”
Looking to the jar by the bed, Celestia picked it up with her magic to examine the green glowing stuff. “They said this would cure him?”
“No, they said it would give him the tools to fight.”
There was something in her sister’s voice that scared her. “What are you not telling me?”
“His illness has let me into his dreams. I do not feel it is my place to say what I have seen, but I will say he is has been tried, and is weaker for it. He welcomes death.”
Somehow those words managed to relax her. “I have walked many ponies out of that dark place.”
“You have failed too.” Luna’s voice was flat and lifeless
Celestin nodded. “I have failed at many things. Another one today.” Turning up the jar, she let a few drops of the goo land on her hoof. “We could have peace between ponies and changelings today, but now a generation must pay for my poor judgment.”
“Careful with that stuff, it is powerful,” Luna said stepping closer to rub necks. “I need to go speak with the doctor, before that vain on his neck ruptures. Then I must see to the night court.”
“Thank you.” Celestia pulled Luna into a hug before letting her leave for the night.
As the door closed behind Luna, Celestia looked back at the changling spoo on her hoof. Clover had drank several ounces of the stuff according to Luna. She wanted to know just what kind of magic had fortified Clover. Putting her hoof to her lips, Celestia took a lick.
She wanted more, even before the sweeter-than-honey taste fully registered to her. An act of will forced her to set the jar aside, and focus on the magic storming into her body. Everything felt warm. Everything felt right. Her whole body buzzed with comfort.
Forcing herself to stay focused, Celestia studied the sensation. It reminded her of her mother’s embrace. She knew her magic had been bolstered too, though by only a tiny amount. She dared not light her horn, knowing it would drain the wonderful feeling from her faster.
Clover turned and mumbled in his sleep, reaching out blindly towards her.
Sitting in the chair by the bed, Celestia rested her chest and head on the bed with Clover, who eagerly snuggled into her mane. Closing her eyes, she listened to Clover’s breath.
- - -
A warm summer breeze woke Celestia from her nap in the grass. Easing to her hooves she scraped the sleep from her eyes, and looked around. Her mother’s shining smile greeted her from beneath a rowan tree. Trotting over, she rubbed necks with her mother, then paused to rest a hoof on her mother’s belly.
“I bet It’ll be a filly.” she said, smiling up at her mother.
“We’ll find out very soon. I was about to wake you. Go get your father. He’s collecting mushrooms in the forest. You’ll have a brother or sister by night fall.”
Celestia grinned ear to ear before nodding and bolting off down the hill. Across field she ran, over hedge she lept, and through creek she stormed; till the shade of the forest loomed over her. She knew the trails well enough, and she certainly knew her father’s favorite places to sniff out juicy mushrooms. Slowing to a trot, she meandered the forest paths, scanning the dark places for signs of her father.
Somewhere past the split in the trail, flute song reached her ears. Continuing down the path, she swiveled her ears to hear it better. It was a bittersweet tune, and she wondered who could be playing it. When the path split again, she followed the sound: perhaps they had seen Father.
Soon she found herself at the edge of a clearing atop the hill. The summer haze was light today, and the sky bright and blue. In the distance the glimmering ocean stretched on forever.
Stepping into the sun, Celestia smiled as it warmed her back. Looking around, she searched for the musician. She found him by a cooking fire, a young, handsome stallion playing his flute while staring out towards the sea. Beside him, strange things lay strewn about. Stepping closer, she knew them to be tools of war: barding, spear, and ballista.
Strangers were rare enough, but this frightened her. She started to bolt back into the woods, but paused. She may not have her mark yet, but she was no foal.
“Why are you here?” she asked, raising her voice above the flute.
The music stopped, and slowly turned to face her. He had smiling eyes, but his muzzle held a melancholy look. “I am just a soldier going home.”
“You're a soldier?” Celestia asked, memorising his face to tell the others.
He shrugged. “I was, but not by my choosing.”
Celestia relaxed a bit. “You were forced to fight?”
“It was expected of me. Saying no didn’t seem an option.”
“That’s horrible!” Celestia stepped closer to the handsome stallion, suddenly feeling sorry for him.
“It’s over now,” he said, tending to some food roasting over the fire. “Besides, I have a family waiting for me now.” He looked up at her and grinned. “Can’t let my brother get in trouble alone.”
Celestia jolted, reminded of her mother’s task. “I wish you the best of luck getting home, but I must go find my father now.” Waving goodbye, she ran back into the forest. Soft music again echoed behind her, as she searched the familiar coves for her father.
- - -
Gentle petting of her mane pulled Celestia from her dream. The sounds and smells of the hospital reminding her of where she had fallen asleep. The room was dim, and sunrise was many hours away.
“Luna?” she mumbled, expecting that her sister had woken her to get her into a bed.
“You were dreaming,” Clover said.
Sitting up, she found that Clover had managed to braid a lock of her mane from ear to wither. “It was a nice dream, about when I was just a little older than you are now.”
“Did you find your father?”
Celestia laughed, it had been a long time since anypony had caught her talking in her sleep. “I did. He had found a patch of morels where the forest had burned the year before.”
“What happened to him?” Clover’s expression was oddly serious.
Sitting down, Celestia started to undo the braid with her magic, but decided to leave it. “He was killed a few years after Luna was born. She never really got to know him.”
“There are a lot of ponies I never got to really know,” Clover said.
Celestia rested a hoof on Clover. This was the first time he had ever mentioned his life from before. “You can talk to me about them, if you want.”
Clover’s expression went melancholy. “I have forgotten about them. Just remember little bits.”
“Believe it or not, I know how much it hurts to admit that.”
Clover seemed to take some assurance from her words, and lay there staring at the ceiling for a moment. She had thought him asleep, when a low growl came from his stomach.
“I’m really hungry.”
Celestia let herself smile, that wasn’t an idle complaint, that was asking to be fed. “I’ll get you anything you want.”
A smile crept across Clover’s face as he opened his eyes to look up at her. “Can I get some grilled cheese and tomato soup?”
“I’ll make it myself.”
- - - x - - -
“He wants to eat, that’s a good sign,” Dragonfly thought to Ladybug.
“I told you Spike was a good big brother.”
Dragonfly sighed as he cleaned out his mop. “You younglings are so strange.”
Ladybug picked up Clover’s file and studied the notes for a moment. “Just because we store the love as food, doesn't mean we can’t love back as much as we are loved.”
“What do the notes say?” Slopping the mop onto the floor, Dragonfly continued cleaning. Tomorrow was really going to suck, he had a business convention to host for the baker’s guild.
“His vitals have improved. As long as he eats and rests, he should make a full recovery.”
Dragonfly smiled. “Good. Rumors have to start somewhere.”
