Winter. The time around Hearts Warming Eve never meant much to Taz or Nighttide and not to their family. But with a small filly warming their hearts, who could resist?
Responsibility comes to us all, often when we least expect it. For young Taz and his wife, Nighttide. They were expecting their newly found responsibility. After all, when your wife is pregnant, it’s kind of expected.
Still, when the joyous bundle arrives, no pony was expecting their heart to melt the way it did. For when Nightshade’s first coos filled the air, the greatest defenders of Equestria found themselves powerless to resist.
The fact that she was born late during Heart’s Warming Eve? Well, that was simply a happy coincidence.
As Nightshade makes her first cute steps through the snow, Hearts Warming Eve melts everyponies heart
“I can’t be late! I can’t be late!” Taz shouted as he ran through Canterlot. “Out of my way everypony!”
Taz tried to maintain his speed, but it was a hard task as he ran through the winter market that was crowded with ponies. They slowed him down, much to his chagrin. Only barely an hour ago, he had gotten the message to come to the castle, quickly. Nightshade was on her way.
He would curse himself to no end if he came just a second too late for this.
Given his size, it was a challenge to get everypony out of his way. Even at the age of fourteen going on fifteen, he had far outgrown the size of most stallions, and right now, the only pony that could claim to be taller than him was his sister, Shimmering Night, the alicorn.
So while ponies could see him coming, making accommodations for his bulk proved to be another challenge altogether. More than once, the stallion would flat out push or shove ponies out of his way, ‘Sorrys’ left in his wake as he moved onto the next obstacle to overcome.
He told himself he should feel bad about it. He just couldn’t bring himself to feel that way though. It had been months since Nightshade should have been born. Indeed, Nighttide had been carrying Nightshade for almost thirteen months now, two months longer than a normal mare’s gestation cycle.
Twilight had scanned her up down left and right. All the tests came back saying the same thing. Nightshade just wasn’t ready to be born. And regardless of how ready Nighttide or Taz were for her to come out, she’d come out when she was ready and not a second before.
Taz had been as accommodating as it was possible to be for his pregnant wife. Every need she had, he took it as a personal mission to fulfill. And it was for that very reason, on Hearth's Warming Day, in the snow, he was out looking for a very specific blueberry pie that she wanted only found at one local bakery in ponyville.
Needless to say, it was difficult to get back to Canterlot in time. Something he had to thank his personal guard, but due their fatigue, he had to leave them behind shortly after the chariot crossed the border to Canterlot.
I could’ve asked them to continue to the castle, but that would be outright slavery, he thought while running, hoping he hadn’t miss anything yet.
He pushed himself as hard as he could, feeling the cold wind like daggers piercing his lungs as he took each labored breath. Taz was an earth pony and a blank, someone that magic simply couldn’t effect, that couldn’t be targeted by magic unless he wanted it, and even then, it took his full concentration to maintain that. That condition had it’s obvious drawbacks and, as much as he was loath to admit it at times, benefits. He was enjoying one such benefit at this moment.
Taz was more than in shape. He had to be to keep up with his family, as well as his wife's… urges.
Quickly, he caught sight of Celestia's Palace right around the next bend. Taz lept over a stack of boxes, nearly braining a pony that was in his way as well, but he didn’t stop to think about it. He simply kept continuing, accepting the ‘almost hit’ as nothing more than a learning experience. Even if that ponies curses were right behind him.
He rounded the bend to the palace itself. The royal guards on duty stood at attention, clicking their spears to the ground as he ran past and into the main hallway, not even sparing them the ‘at ease’ that was customary for a member of Equestria’s royalty.
He slid through the hallways and up the stairs to Nighttide and his personal room. The room Nighttide insisted on staying in, much to the complaints of the doctors. She didn’t care at all, and it went without saying that Taz would always take the side of his wife.
Taz was more than out of breath as he stopped in front of the door to the personal quarters he shared with Nighttide. He could hear voices from inside, and Nighttide screaming. She screamed loud, loud enough for him to worry and kick the door open. Right into the muzzle of one of the doctors.
“Sorry!” Taz cried out as he leapt over the doctor and right to Nighttide’s side.
“Hey, somepony finally made it!” His brother, Dayspring Gleam called out from Nighttide’s other side. Taz just blew him a raspberry as he took a second to gather his breath and look around the room.
Nighttide, the dark-blue pegasus with the sky-blue mane, his very pregnant wife, was in the bed in the center of the room. She looked more exhausted than he had ever seen her in his life, but, with the sight of him, she couldn’t help but smile and reach out a hoof. Taz took it without a second’s hesitation.
Dayspring Gleam, Taz’s older brother/mentor, was on the other side. As Nighttide’s stepfather, he had been holding her other hoof, not wanting to let his step-daughter go through this alone. The light purple unicorn with the rainbow mane couldn’t help but smile at the sight of his younger brother. He was more proud than he had ever been in his entire life.
Dayspring Gleam’s wife, Princess Luna--and Nighttide’s mom--had made room for Taz as soon as he had arrived. She stepped to the side, her own belly telling just how far along she was with Nighttide’s soon-to-be younger sister.
Taz’s mom, Twilight Sparkle was standing side by side with his cousin, Princess Starlight. Even though she was only fourteen, Starlight had proven to be an expert with many forms of healing magic, magic that not even Dayspring Gleam could hope to match. And while Twilight was the end all be all when it came to magic, not even she could hope to catch every little thing.
It was always good to have a backup, especially in such an… unusual birth such as this.
There were at least four doctors all around the now super crowded room, each dressed in white labcoats. Taz didn’t pay them any real attention.
“It should be time now,” one of the doctors spoke up as Nighttide cried out again, this time much louder. By the wincing sounds of Dayspring and Taz, she nearly crushed their hooves while the contraction held on.
Taz’s muzzle stayed focused on Nighttide’s. He looked deep into her sky-blue eyes, his magenta ones trying to will the pain away from her. He knew he couldn’t, he logically knew that anyway, but logic wasn’t really at play here.
Nighttide looked pleadingly at him. Her large stomach heaving with each breath she took. Her eyes telling the tale of just how much pain she was in.
“I tried easing her pain for an hour, but something,” Twilight looked at Starlight, then over to Taz and shook her head. “Something isn’t quite right. I feel the foal, but it is somehow different.”
“What do you mean?” Taz asked, fear in his voice.
“It’s not a pegasus, earth pony, or unicorn,” Twilight replied.
“An alicorn?” Dayspring asked.
“No,” Starlight answered sadly. “But we’ll see it soon.”
“Whatever she is,” Taz said as he looked back down to the worried face of his wife, “she’ll be perfect. After all, just look at her mother.”
Nighttide actually managed a smile. “Still flattering, as always.”
“For you, my love? Alway—”
“AHHHHH!!!!!” Nighttide shouted up into the sky for all her might as the biggest, worst contraction yet hit her, cutting off Taz’s sentence.
“She’s crowing!” One of the doctors yelled out as he made to move into position to help with the delivery.
Twilight and Starlight both moved up, they channeled magic to their horns, ready to do whatever they could for their two patients: the foal being born, and the daughter of a possessed alicorn and god.
Taz felt like his hoof was about to shatter with the amount of pressure that Nighttide was placing on it. Buck it, break my hoof if it helps.
“Push, Nighttide, push!” the doctor yelled out.
“I’m… trying…” she replied, gasping for whatever strength she could find.
“C’mon hon, almost there. You can do it, you can do it for me, for us,” Taz said as he held her tighter, trying to do whatever he could for the pony he so loved.
“Oh my,” Dayspring said with batted breath.
“What is it‽” Taz shouted, “What?”
“Taz, she’s… beautiful.”
“Her head’s free, her wings are coming, about there, just two more pushes!” Twilight said.
Tears were falling down Taz’s face as he spoke, “C’mon honey, just two more pushes and we get to hold our daughter. Just two more. You can do that for me.”
“We can switch if you think this is easy!” Nighttide screamed as she pushed as hard as she could.
While her head was raised, Taz wrapped a hoof under her and squeezed with all his might. “If I could I would in a heartbeat, I love you so much right now. C’mon, you can do this.”
Nighttide cried out again as another contraction hit. She squeezed his hoof as hard as she could as she pushed down with all her remaining strength, and the strength she got from Taz.
“And, she’s out!” The doctor yelled as he pulled the small bundle away from the table, not letting either of the parents get a good look just yet.
Nighttide collapsed onto the bed, her strength all but spent as she simply cried.
“You did so wonderful, I love you so much,” Taz said.
“I love you to—”
“Waaaaahhhhhhhh!”
The cry echoed around the room. Everypony that heard it, even the doctors couldn’t help but smile as Nightshade cried out for the first time in her life. Taz and Nighttide giggled. Even though they were both exhausted by the day's events, they couldn’t stop smiling.
They both looked down to see Twilight, Starlight, Luna, and Dayspring crowding around the doctors, all wanting to get a look at the newest member of the family.
“Hey guys, how about the parents get to see too?” Taz asked, his voice choking up with tears.
The four ponies each looked at each other. And, in the end, they relented to Princess Luna. The happy grandmother wrapped the swathed, baby filly in her magic and carried her delicately over to her proud parents.
Gingerly laying the little bundle of joy in Nighttide’s hooves. The proud parents finally got their first real look at Nightshade. Her coat was mint-green, the mane sparkling like stars at night would in five different shades of blue that merged into purple. Her eyes were of clear, golden color. But that wasn't the only thing marking her special. Nightshade had small, fluffy ears and leathery wings. She was a bat-pony.
Taz’s heart broke at the sight of her and his tears increased ten fold, as did Nighttide’s. Both of the proud, happy parents couldn’t stop crying at that moment if the gods themselves came in the room and demanded it. When Nightshade opened her wide, golden eyes, she stared directly into Taz’s. her face full of wonder at what she saw.
“Nightshade, my lovely daughter. Welcome to the family,” Taz said through his sobs of joy.
“My lovely daughter, I swear to you we’ll show you a world you’ve never known, one of laughter and joy, the world I’ve come to know,” Nighttide said as she nuzzled the little filly with her muzzle.
Nightshade cooed and latched onto the muzzle with her hooves, playing with her first friend ever: her mother.
“How does it feel being a grandma again?” Dayspring asked Princess Luna as he kissed her on the side of the muzzle.
“I may be old, but it still feels wonderful,” Luna smiled. “And don't forget that Nightshade will need a friend to play with later.”
“I think that's already being taken care off,” Dayspring grinned and the others smiled.
“How long until little Lunar Light is born?” Starlight asked with a kind smile.
“I’d say about two more months, give or take,” Luna said with a grin as she held a hoof to her full belly.
Everypony in the room was smiling, but on pony in particular caught Taz’s eye. For the few seconds he could tear his gaze away from his wife and daughter, he saw what he could only describe as a twinkle in Starlight’s eye. The pony had been smitten by one look at Nightshade.
He wrote that off for now and went back to gushing over his beautiful daughter and gorgeous wife. Both of whom had fallen asleep. After all, it had been a Hearth's Warming Day that neither of them would ever forget.
“Well, I think you won the prize for who got the best present,” Twilight said as she walked over and rubbed coats with her youngest son.
“You know mom, I think you’re right,” Taz replied back, cooing at her touch.
“I’m so proud of you, and I’m more than grateful that you fought against me. Happy Hearth's Warming Day, Taz.”
“Look! It's even snowing!” Starlight cried out in joy, pointing to the window.
Taz looked outside to see that it was indeed snowing. While he was running through Canterlot, there was no sign of any fresh snowfall. But now, with Nightshade in this world, it seemed like the elements wanted to celebrate as well.
To Taz, Nighttide, and the rest of their family, it truly was a perfect Hearth's Warming Day.
“Happy Hearth’s Warming Day, Mom,” Taz said back with a loving smile as he watched his daughter coo ever so slightly in her sleep.
Nightshade snuggled deeply into her cushion; but try as she might she just couldn't sleep anymore. Even the warmth of her mother, Nighttide, wasn't enough to lull her back. Groaning, she blinked some of the sleep out of her eyes before looking at the clock, then to the window.
Nightshade's eyes went wide at the sight and she quickly jumped off the bed and to the window, trying to get a good look. “Mom, Dad, wake up! It's snowing! It's snowing!” she yelled and hopped back to the bed, right onto her parents.
Taz and Nighttide blinked, confused, before they smiling upon their hopping daughter on the bed.
“Calm down,” Taz chuckled.
“But it's snowing! I can finally go out like you promised!” Nightshade continued to yell happily.
Nighttide looked to Taz who only shrugged. “You did promise it to her. Besides, it's the first real snow after her birthday. Her first two winters she was too young, the others we were either away, or she was sick.”
“Fine,” Nighttide sighed. “We’ll go out, but after breakfast.”
“Yay!” Nightshade screamed, revealing two small, but already very sharp fangs before jumping down and hugging her mother. Then, as quickly as she could, she raced to the bathroom.
Taz chuckled. “You know what? While I miss our... nightly alone time, I wouldn't want it any other way. Every single day she brings a smile to my muzzle that I simply can't describe.”
“I feel the same, but some, what did you call it, ‘nightly alone time‘ would be just as fine,” Nighttide purred back before leaning in and kissing her husband. “Not that I don’t enjoy our ‘breaks’ during the day.”
“I just hope she likes her present.”
Nighttide grinned. “It’ll be fine and I'm sure she’ll be more than happy to share it with Lunar Light. That's why we bought the bigger version after all.”
“I still can't believe she's five now. Time’s flown by so fast. It feels like an age ago since we fought Red. I miss the old battles. At that time we were all together, and now it's... kinda weird.”
“But everything is good. And with Shimmering Night and Ataxia around, you know we’ll never be bored.” Nighttide cocked her head.
“Yeah, but something’s missing. Ever since, well, you know, Icarus got Night pregnant and they sent their son to Warclaw.”
“I know what you mean, but I think you're worrying too much. You showed me how it is to be loved and to have a family. Now listen to your sexy wife and calm down.”
“Maybe you're right,” Taz smiled and nuzzled her muzzle.
“Of course I am, I'm your wife after all,” Nighttide mocked and nuzzled him back.
They stopped as they overheard some weird sounds, just to see Nightshade standing in the door, giggling and acting like she would gag. “You two are so mushy, I love it.” She grinned before jumping into bed and right onto Taz.
“Ouf! Well, we love each other, your mum and I. Otherwise we wouldn't have such a lovely daughter like you,” Taz smiled and tickled Nightshade at the ankle of her wings. “Someday you will find your special somepony as well.”
“If they’re all stallions like you, I want one. If not, I’ll take a mare like mom!” Nightshade giggled, causing both parents to stop.
“Uh?” Nighttide looked confused at Taz before they both groaned in unison, “Ataxia...”
“Yes! She said it doesn't matter if I want a filly or a colt. She says it's important to listen to your heart and don’t give a buck about what others say!” Nightshade grinned.
“Please, don't use words like ‘buck’ at your age,” Taz groaned. “Stay the nice, sweet, adorable filly you are and please don't listen to most of what Ataxia says. But, I have to say she's right in this topic. Just look at Twilight and Rainbow. They’re happy with each other. Ataxia and Shimmering Night as well.”
“Aaand Starlight and Echoside!”
Nighttide facehoofed. “Yes, but they’re a special kind of pair. Echoside is a bat-pony, just like you. We'll explain everything to you in time.”
“But… I want to hear it now,” Nightshade said with a pouty face.
“You’re way too young for this,” Taz shook his head.
“Ataxia said it’s really simple, that the stallion just get’s really excited and—”
“ATAXIA!!!!” Both Nighttide and Taz yelled at the same time.
That yell was a mistake as an unmistakable cry answered back. From lungs that could only be held by one little filly in the entire castle, Night Skies began balling from her crib right next to Nighttide’s side of the bed.
Taz and Nighttide both sighed as they looked at each other. Nighttide held a hoof to her rather large stomach, almost as if she was using it as an excuse. Taz just kissed her on the cheek as he went to get up.
Nighttide looked at him. “No regrets?” she asked.
“With you? Never,” he smiled. “We could have a dozen and I would still love and praise you every single day.”
Nighttide whispered something naughty back, but not loud enough for Taz to understand it. He might have not heard the words, but those eyes… he’d never mistake the intent in those eyes. His smile became a blush and then a wink as he signaled that her want was more than understood, and reciprocated.
Unfortunately for both of them, Nightshade saw it too. “Is daddy going to put his thingy into you again, mommy?”
“Okay young lady, we’re going to have a very long talk with Ataxia today.” Nighttide said as she ran her hoof through Nightshade’s sparkling blue and purple mane.
“Let me know how that works out,” Taz said with a roll of his eyes as he went to pick his second daughter up out of the crib. At almost two years old, Night Sky was small for her age. She still slept in a crib and threw a hissy fit whenever she was more than ten hooves from anypony at any given time.
He looked down at the dark blue pegasus filly with the blue eyes and two toned grey mane and tail. With a smile upon his face, Taz picked her up and held her to his chest, letting her cry out onto his black fur. Night Skies’ birth had been rather tame when compared to Nightshade’s. She came out right at nine months, and although she lacked her sister’s unique coloring, nopony loved her any less for it.
Especially not Nightshade. “Oh, is she hungry again?!”
“I think it was rather your Mom and me being a bit too loud this early in the morning,” Taz chuckled.
“Is it because dad uses his th—”
“Alright young lady, why don’t you go make sure that Lunar Light is up and meet us downstairs for breakfast,” Taz interrupted. “Then we can all go play in the snow.”
“Oh, can Night Skies come too?”
“No, she’s too young to play in the snow,” Nighttide said as Taz passed their now somewhat pacified daughter to her. The little filly cooed softly as she was held by her mother. Nighttide patted her little diapered rump and felt that she’d need a changing before they went anywhere.
“Now go and get Lunar Light. We’ll meet you two in the dining hall. And please, don’t trick the guards again,” Taz smiled and Nightshade was quickly gone. The little filly spread her bat wings and shot right for the door, she didn’t even touch the ground as she opened it and flew out, her objective clear: her favorite friend in the world, Lunar Light.
“Didn’t mom say not to send her over in the mornings anymore?”
Taz looked at Nighttide and smiled as he brought out the diaper changing supplies. “Maybe.”
Nighttide grinned at that as she laid her daughter on the padding and played with her a little bit. “You’re bad.”
“Not as bad as you,” Taz said with a smile as he looked over to his wife’s rump.
Nighttide saw where his eyes were looking, but rather than be offended, she welcomed it. “We don’t have Ataxia to blame, do we?”
“Nope.”
“You know what I think?” Nighttide asked.
“What’s that?” Taz replied.
“We’re going to be late to breakfast.”
“If it would’ve been up to me, we wouldn’t leave bed for a week,” Taz grinned.
“Hmm… I miss those days, well, that part of those days.”
“Maybe after Sunrise is born, we go on vacation, just me and you?”
“You do realize that we wouldn’t really do anything besides having fun in the hotel room?” Nighttide asked with a smirk.
“Sounds like a perfect vacation to me.”
“Me too,” Nighttide replied as she kissed her husband again.
***
Nightshade zoomed down the corridors of Celestia’s Palace. The little mint-green bat-pony filly flew up and around the pillars and stanchions that held up the walls and ceilings of the palace.
Stealthy, she was not. Several times the palace guard would eyeball her. Even though they weren’t supposed to, they’d often look her way and laugh at the little filly’s antic, her boundless energy.
She had a lot to be excited about. After all, today she turned five years old and she knew that her parents had something awesome for her again. She just loved Taz and Nighttide. Sure, they weren’t the average family, but she simply thought that it made them special.
Then again she’d say the exact same thing about everypony in the castle. And there were so many living here now. From all the palace guards and servants, to the huge wonderful family, she was friends with everyone. More than one day would see her and her grandma Rainbow Dash racing through the skies. Or even her playing with Twilight Sparkle's mane. Although when she accidentally pulled out a large strand of Twilight’s tail she had felt really bad about it.
Twilight had felt worse by the tears Nightshade had shed than any actual pain that the little filly had caused.
Still, if there was one pony besides her immediate family that held a unique place in her heart, it was her aunt, Lunar Light.
Every single day she could spend time with her was a good time. Not to mention that she was smart and elegant. Nightshade really really liked her. It also helped that she was, in a word: cool.
Nightside landed outside of Princess Luna’s personal chamber. She knocked on the door three times, as loud as her little hooves could manage. “Lunar Light! Come to breakfast with me!”
“For the love of our night, we told Taz that no disturbance will be accepted anymore!”
Nightshade knew immediately who it was and backed away from the door. The door burst open, revealing a very groggy Princess Luna.
“Grandma!” Nightshade said with a smile as she flew up and hugged the alicorn around the neck.
Luna looked down, annoyed that the moment she had managed to get to sleep she had been awoken, but more annoyed at the fact that her bad mood simply never stood a chance. Not with the hug that could tame mountains anyway. The palace was anything but quiet with the scamper of all the new foals running around, but Nightshade’s smile was… different. it was like that little filly could simply brighten a room by walking into it.
“Dearest Nightshade, let me guess, you’re looking for Lunar Light?”
“Yes Grandma Wunna,”
“Well, just like I told you last week, she’s one door down.”
“Oh, yeah, right,” Nightshade said with a bright smile as she took off to the other door.
“Nightshade again?” Dayspring Gleam asked from inside of the room.
“Aye,” Luna replied as she watched the filly land in front of her daughter’s door, just to smile as right before Nightshade could knock, Lunar Light opened the door, causing the filly to land adrobally on her cute muzzle.
“Well come back to bed, both me and Shining Night miss you,” Dayspring said as he placed a hoof on the two-year-old dark blue unicorn with the off-white mane that had a permanent spot sleeping between them.
“That’s… not a bad idea,” Luna said with a smile as she closed the door and went to rejoin her husband in bed.
It hadn’t been the first time she’d taken a mate in her long life, but something about Dayspring Gleam felt… different to Luna. Different and good, in all the right ways.
“C’mon Lunar Light, it’s my birthday! Let’s go eat breakfast and then mom said I can play in the snow this year!” Nightshade said excitedly as she bounced up and down in front of the black pegasus. Lunar Light had teal eyes and a two toned blue mane..
Lunar Light smiled, then looked up to see the door to her parents room close in time. “You did disturb our mother again?” she smiled.
“You are speaking like that again,” Nightshade giggled. “You could be a great imitator of Wunna!”
“Thou know we haven’t slept with Princess Luna for almost a year.”
“Yeah, I forgot,” Nightshade said as she looked down and started to play with her hooves. “I keep forgetting because I couldn’t imagine a day not waking up next to my mom and dad.”
“What about when they go on vacation?”
“Then I sleep with Twilight and Rainbow,” Nightshade said.
“Thou really are adorable, you know that,” Lunar Light said, causing Nightshade to look up and smile at her.
“So you’ll come?!”
“What? Did thou really think, we’d miss our favorite niece's birthday?” Lunar Light said, grinning at the ear to ear smile Nightshade cast back her direction. “There is a reason we are up during the day after all.”
Nightshade jumped on her, tackling her to the ground with a great big hug. “YEAHHH!”
Lunar Light couldn’t do anything but laugh as Nightshade nuzzled into her coat. Then, just as suddenly, she let go and spread her bat wings. “C’mon, last one to the breakfast table is a rotten Red!”
“Thou knoweth Twilight forbid us to use this name anymore,” Lunar Light frowned, but quickly opened her own wings. “Last one to breakfast will spend a night on Princess Luna’s moon!”
The pegasus took off, but a moment later stopped in the middle of the air and turned around. Nightshade had landed to the ground and her face was scrunched up in a pout. “But I don’t want to sleep alone, it’s dark and scary,” Nightshade said with tears starting to build up in her eyes.
“Tis, but a challenge, not a real threat,” Lunar light said with a giggle. “Now c’mon!”
“Oh, okay then!” Nightshade replied, her mood doing a complete one-eighty. She followed behind Lunar Light, impressed. Grandma has taught her so much. Just not how to call her and to not always use that speech, Nightshade giggled internally.
She followed Lunar Light for quite some time, letting the pegasus have the lead before bolting ahead with a giggle right at the first real straight away. This was always the game between the two, but it was a game that Lunar Light could not win, not really anyway. Nightshade was her senior and one of her favorite activities was playing with Rainbow Dash. Who went out of her way to teach the little sparkling filly everything she needed to know.
That being said, Nightshade had actually never won a single match. This time, just like all the times before, she slowed down right before winning so that Lunar light would pass her and claim victory.
“Looks like you won again, Lunar Light!” Rainbow Dash yelled with a smile on her face from the breakfast table.
“‘Twas never in doubt!” Lunar Light said with pride in her eyes.
Nightshade and Rainbow simply winked at each other. While Nightshade had inherited her grandmother's love of racing, her love of winning was simply something she did not have. Rainbow had accepted that Nightshade simply found too much joy in the happiness of others.
“The winner gets first serving of breakfast,” Twilight Sparkle said with a smile as she gestured for the two fillies to join them at the table.
“Where’s Nightlight?” Nightshade asked as she sat down, looking for Starlight and Echoside’s daughter.
“Starlight and Echoside took her to the Crystal Empire to visit Blaze and Radiant, remember?” Twilight said.
“Oh, yeah, forgot.”
“We need to start running you through some memory exercises young lady,” Twilight said with a smile.
“I think she’s just perfect as is,” Rainbow said as she extended her left golden wing and started to tickle Nightshade, causing her to giggle and laugh excitedly. “Besides, everyone left presents, so she’ll still have plenty of stuff to play with.”
“I don’t need any presents, grandma,” Nightshade said with a smile. “Just my friends.”
Rainbow looked at her strangely before turning to Twilight. “Are we sure she’s related to me?”
“Wow, Mom, really?”
All heads turned to the newest speaker, just in time to see Shimmering Night walk down the steps, her wife and shadow, Ataxia right behind her.
“What?” Rainbow asked.
Ataxia chuckled. “I’d feel sorry for any stallion that got his dick within ten hooves of Nighttide, that bitch is crazy.”
“Ataxia, language,” Twilight scolded her.
The purple mare just stuck out her tongue in reply. It was an old game to her, one she had yet to lose. Assuming anypony was keeping track that is.
She was.
They sat down, Shimmering NIght right across from Nightshade. The mint green filly started making funny faces at Night, who responded in kind.
Ataxia chuckled, And they call me the child.
“How long until Skyflight get’s back?” Lunar Light asked.
“Knowing how well he gets along with Little Dayspring, I’d wonder if he’ll ever come back,” Ataxia replied, chuckling.
“Or my sister,” Night said with a growl.
“Night, we talked about this before. You and Aurora really need to put it past you,” Twilight lectured.
“He’s MY son, mom!”
“And Icarus's,” Twilight corrected, “maybe you should have thought about that before—”
“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Night said, rubbing her hoof against her temples.
“I still can’t believe you wouldn’t let me get pregnant again,” Ataxia replied.
Night cocked her head and raised an eyebrow at Ataxia. “After that stunt you pulled with Echoside knocking up our daughter?”
“Hey! Nightlight turned out just fine!” Ataxia complained.
“Yeah, no, we have enough little rugrats running around all day.”
“Yeah, tell that our Daughter. I’m not responsible for the foal on it’s way and definitely not for any more!”
“But thanks to you they KNOW the spell,” Night growled back.
Ataxia looked up and away.
“What did you do?” Night asked.
“What?” Ataxia said innocently, which was as good as a confession of guilt on any other pony.
“Ataxia…”
“Okay, I may have lent them my magic, for a few nights… well, months.”
“WHAT?!”
“And that means… well, Starlight is powerful enough to cast a potion that can give Echoside a dick and fuck her until she is pregnant…” Ataxia trailed off as Night’s eye twitched.
Night was about to go into a full on rage until she heard the unmistakable sound of laughter coming from down the table. She looked over to see Rainbow Dash laughing herself off the seat and onto the floor. “MOM, it’s not funny!”
“Oh, it totally is!” Rainbow replied back.
“My daughter’s going to have as many foals as TAZ!”
“That’s not that bad? They only have two so far with a third coming,” Twilight raised an eyebrow.
“They want more!” Night screamed.
“So what?” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Let her do like she wants, Night, she’s old enough by now and knows what she wants.”
Night rubbed her temples, “I-I-i… I can’t believe I’m even having this conversation.”
“And losing at that,” Ataxia said with a smile.
“You really want to sleep on the couch, don’t you?”
Ataxia’s smile faded.
“Dad was saying he wants to go on a vacation with mommy after Sunrise is born, is he going to put another brother or sister into mommy then?” Nightshade asked.
“They’re sure going to try,” Ataxia said with an ear to ear grin.
Even Twilight couldn’t stop herself from smiling. It was… inappropriate to the extreme to have this conversation, and that wasn’t even counting the two foals present. But she couldn’t deny that the more little ones running around there were, the happier she was. There was something… special about being a grandmother. Or in Nightlight’s case, a great-grandmother.
Besides, she had run out of reasons to say no. They had the room, they had the help, and they had the bits. If her family wanted a huge family all of their own, who was she to say no? After everything that had happened, they deserved it.
“We don’t think we ever want foals,” Lunar Light said, frowning at the thought of small foals crying out at all hours of the night
Nightshade turned to her. “Really? I love helping taking care of everyone.”
“Even the diaper changes?” Lunar Light asked, she looked questioningly at her friend
“Even those! Besides, it’s so much fun to play with all the little foals, to laugh with them, to hug and squeeze them.” Nightshade laughed heartily, her hooves wrapping around herself like she was squeezing an invisible foal in a tight hug.
Lunar Light cocked her head and smiled at Nightshade. The playful filly noticed her friend’s gaze was on her so she began to pretend like she was holding a non-existent baby in her hooves, rocking it back and forth cooing silently. There was something about it, something about watching her do that that simply made Lunar Light smile.
“I couldn’t imagine not having my own someday!” Nightshade said, a soft smile resting on her face as she daydreamed.
Lunar Light paused for a moment before saying, “We think we just changed our mind.” Her eyes never leaving the mare next to her.
Ataxia grinned conspiratorially at Rainbow before whispering, “I think we’ve got the next pairing set.”
Rainbow grinned back with a nod. “Yep!”
Night raised an eyebrow. She had no idea what her wife had just whispered, but knowing Ataxia, and worse, knowing Rainbow, she suspected that she wouldn’t like it. “Why do I feel like the only sane one here at times?” Night asked nopony in particular.
“Is that before or after you and Aurora fuc—”
“Don’t you start!” Night scowled at Ataxia.
“You’re too much fun,” Ataxia said back, surprising Night with a kiss.
The large alicorn was left, quite literally, speechless. Fortunately for her, Taz and Nighttide had made it down the stairs. Their daughter, Night Skies, upon her dad’s back.
As they walked by Rainbow and Twilight, it became very obvious why she was on Taz’s back and not Nighttide’s. The mare reeked of sex.
Ataxia noticed it too. “Morning quicky?”
Nighttide and Taz both went to their places without a response, Taz sporting a light blush. However, Nighttide left a small cuff on the back of Ataxia’s head.
Twilight giggled at that as she levitated a high chair over to Taz. Her son nodded in thanks as he placed his daughter Night Skies in the high chair next to them.
She was a little worried that Night Skies development seemed behind for her age, but Twilight had learned that when it came to Nighttide’s foals, they tended to make their own rules for what was normal and what was not.
Nopony---save Ataxia---made overt mention of the smell that drifted by when Nighttide walked past, but with those two, it was generally assumed. The only thing that surprised most was the time they had accomplished it this time.
Ataxia rubbed the back of her head playfully.
“Oh get over it you baby, I know for a fact you can take harder blows than that,” Nighttide said with a smile.
Ataxia shrugged. The two of them had gone a few rounds, her in her dragacorn form, and Nighttide going all out. Taz still shivered at the thought, because more than once both ended up in the dirt, completely covered in their blood. He had put a stop to it when Nighttide started to show from her pregnancies, but that only covered from months five though whenever the foals were born.
When you marry a daughter to a pseudo-god and a revenant possessed alicorn, you learn that nothing happens the way you expect it to. In many ways he understood what his sister Shimmering Night now went through with Ataxia.
“So, you two are planning a vacation?” Twilight asked.
Taz blushed. “Umm, yeah. If that’s okay? After Sunshine’s born and weaned.”
“That’s fine just let us know when,” Twilight replied with a kind smile.
“So a fuck-vacation?” Ataxia asked bluntly.
“Yep. It’s time,” Nighttide replied in the same blunt tone.
Night bit her tongue from saying ‘in front of the kids, really?’. She sighed, loudly, “I give up, this is just our family, isn’t it?”
“Yep!” Rainbow, Ataxia, Taz, and Nighttide said all at the same time.
“And don’t act like you never watched Rainbow and Twilight fuck like rabbits or never heard them,” Ataxia added with a smirk. “They still do by the way!”
“Heck there were a few times we’d grab a quicky with you sleeping in the same bed,” Rainbow said with a smile. “More than once you’d be awake and watching when we got done. Not to start about all the—”
“RAINBOW!” Twilight cut her off with a blush.
Shimmering Night’s jaw dropped. She had repressed those memories but now that they were brought up again…
“I think it’s sweet,” Nightshade looked around the table, confused why some were laughing and some were blushing. “I mean, if you love someone, why not show it?”
“Thou have taken too many lessons from Ataxia,” Lunar Light said.
“Actually, that one’s on me,” Taz said, blushing.
“Taz, the horndog,” Ataxia laughed.
Lunar Light hummed. “Actually, we think this sounds right. Looking from the logical side, it is normal to show your love to another.” she stopped and blushed. “Even in this way.”
Nightshade mustered her with interest, something, that even Twilight noticed. “Okay, I think it is time we stop here.”
“Actually,” Rainbow interrupted; she had a theory, “I’m curious, what makes you say that Lunar Light?”
“Well, everypony dreams about—”
“Luna’s taken you dream walking?!” Twilight said wide eyed.
“A few times, but we’ve… We’ve been practicing, ourselves.”
“BUT I only managed that as a alicorn! How…” Twilight stopped. “You know what? I don’t even have to ask. You’re Luna and Dayspring’s daughter. Why am I even surprised?”
Rainbow’s grin became ear-to-ear. “A little filly that’s walked in everypony’s dreams; you’re going to have a blast when you hit puberty.”
“We can not deny that we found some… rather interesting dreams among our family,” Lunar Light blushed.
“Ooooh, that’s something I want to hear!” Ataxia cheered.
“Princess Luna says it’s inappropriate to talk to anyone about what is seen in the dreamscape.”
“Will you ever call her mom like a normal filly?” Rainbow asked before she could stop herself. She turned to see Twilight glaring at her with a ‘really?’ look on her face. “Not that you’re not normal that is, and besides, your father never called me mom, so…”
“It is just appropriate. She isn’t only our mother, but also our princess,” Lunar Light replied sternly. “We shall always bathe her in the respect she deserves.”
“Sooo…” Night stated after the room went quiet. “Now that just about everypony has put their hoof in their mouth, shall I call Starlight back and let her know we need somepony to surgically remove them, or can we change the conversation?”
“I vote change,” Rainbow said.
“Ditto,” Lunar Light replied.
“Ahh, but I was having fun,” Ataxia said, still grinning like an idiot.
“You don’t get a vote, and besides, it’s a certain young mare’s birthday.”
Nightshade looked up from taking a bite of her pancake with a large grin on her face. “MINE!”
Taz smiled at his daughter as he started to clean up some of the mess his other daughter was making. “That’s right, you ready to open presents?”
“YAY! PRESENTS!” Nightshade yelled before jumping down her chair and going right to the pile of presents in the corner.
Of course, she would rip the biggest one out of it’s wrapping faster than even Rainbow could look. “A sled! Sweet!”
Taz smiled. “And it’s big enough so you can go with Lunar Light.”
“Ohh, Lunar, want to go sledding with me?” Nightshade asked with a bright smile as the others started to gather around. Their own breakfast or concerns all but forgotten in the face of pure joy.
“Of course! We would love to,” Lunar Light smiled back.
Nightshade jumped over and gave Lunar a great big hug, one that the normally serious mare was more than happy to return before the mint green pegasus flew back to the pile of presents with gusto.
“This one’s from Woona and Dayspring!” she shouted as she picked up the next present.
Twilight chuckled, even still in the wrapping she’d recognize a book as soon as she saw one.
“Oh, it’s an astronmmomy book,” Nightshade said after turning the covers off.
“Astronomy.” Shimmering Night corrected with a chuckle. “It’s a big book on the stars.”
“But all of you are right here,” Nightshade replied as she looked up.
That actually brought a smile to everypony’s face, well, everypony that wasn’t already smiling already that is. Nightshade put the book down and reached for another.
“This one’s from Starlight and Echoside!”
“Oh dear,” Taz and Nighttide silently cursed as they saw that it was another book.
She tore the wrapping off and red the cover. “The history of the bat-ponies.”
“Twilight,” Nighttide said.
Twilight shook her head in understanding. “I know, but it’s part of who she is.”
“She’s too young for this!” Taz objected.
“I think that is for her to decide on her own since we can’t really claim you two as angels among her presence,” Twilight shot him a stern gaze.
They both looked at each other with ‘well shit’ looks on their faces, but Nightshade had already moved on. She picked up another present and read the label. “From the best mare in the world, Ataxia!”
“Don’t worry,” Night whispered. “Starlight told me about this, the last hundred pages where it’s about sex and everything are magically enchanted. Until she really WANTS to read it, the last pages won’t open.”
That brought some relief to Taz, but that quickly died off as he got an eyeful of Ataxia’s present. It was a bottle with clear, orange-hued liquid. “Oh, please don’t tell me that’s what I think it is.”
“Of course it is!” Ataxia grinned. “Always have a mare prepared!” she said, but missed to duck as Night’s hoof landed on her head with an audible crack.
“Yeah, no,” Nighttide said as, with her shadows, she snatched the bottle away from her daughter. “I’m sorry, my dear, but this isn’t the right present for you. You’re getting it when you’re older, but in the meanwhile Ataxia needs to find a new present.”
“Hey, you know how long that took to make?” Ataxia shouted.
Nightshade looked up at her mom, confused.
“And if she wants it back, WHEN SHE'S OLDER, I’ll give it to her. Until then, no.”
“But it just said juice,” Nightshade said with a pouty lower lip.
Taz looked back at Ataxia, slightly impressed that she had gone through that much trouble. But for a five year old, it’d be wasted anyway. “Here, I’ll get you some other juice for now.”
“Oh… okay, well thank you anyway, Ataxia.”
“You’re welcome, squirt,” Ataxia said as she rubbed her head where her wife slapped her.
“Don’t throw that out,” Ataxia said. “It really did take months to make that, and I’m not sure I can find the ingredients again.”
“I promise you we won't, Ataxia. And if… she does want it someday, I promise I’ll give it to her,” Taz said. Everypony knew that when it came to Taz, his promise was as good as gold.
“Bowchickawow— Ouch, stop hitting me!” Ataxia shouted to Night.
“When you stop acting dumb!” Night said.
“So I guess I should get used to it?”
That caused everypony to laugh.
Nightshade shrugged, not sure what that was about but went back to her next present. “This one’s from Night!”
She opened it up and saw a pair of hoof-warmers for bedtime. They were mint green in coloring, the same as her coat. “Thank you!”
“You’re welcome,” Night said with a smile as she brushed up against her wife.
“Who’s that next one from?” Lunar Light asked.
Nightshade picked up the next present. “Rainbow and Twilight.” She tore it open. “Oh, it’s a sweater, in my…”
“That took a long time to get right,” Twilight said with a smile.
“Tell me about it,” Rainbow huffed.
“What is it?” Nighttide asked.
Nightshade unfolded a long over sweater that perfectly matched her mane. The sparkles on it faded from one color to another, never appearing in the same spot.
“Mom… that’s…”
“I remembered that this was the first time she got to go play in the snow, so we figured that we’d get her something that she could use.”
Nightshade slid the sweater over her head, it was large on her, but they all knew that when it came to foals, it was always a good idea to go a few sizes too big. After all, they never stopped growing. Lunar Light helped her guide her wings through the two slits in it before she flew over to Twilight and gave her a great big hug. “THANK YOU!”
“You’re more than welcome, sweetie,” Twilight replied as she hugged her, unsurprised when Rainbow joined in too. “But you’re not done opening presents yet.”
“Huh?” Nightshade asked.
“There’s…” Twilight started to say, then stopped when she realized she didn’t know who the next present was from. She levitated the box over to herself. “That’s weird, there’s no name on this one.”
Taz and Nighttide looked over it. “Huh…” Nighttide muttered.
Twilight shrugged and passed it to Nightshade. “Not sure who this is from, little one, but here you go.”
Nightshade opened it to reveal a small golden hair brush, perfect for her size.
Twilight couldn’t help but place its resemblance to a certain cutie mark on a dark-blue filly. But before she could comment on it, Lunar Light spoke up. “We… got you something too,” she said, blushing a little.
That was the only sentence needed to have Nightshade jump at and crash into the last package and tear it open with gusto. “Matching socks!” she screamed.
“We hope you like it,” Lunar Light blushed, just to stumble back wide-eyed as Nightshade crashed upon her, but didn’t hug her. Instead the little filly planted a kiss right upon her muzzle.
“Thank you, Thank you!”
They all stopped dead in their tracks upon the display, even Ataxia and Rainbow.
“Thou… is… welcome…” Lunar Light said, blushing even harder as the young mare pulled away and started to put on her matching socks.
Nighttide was the first to pull herself out of her stupor when she felt Sunrise kick in her belly, almost as if he were reminding her that it was time to move on. “Well, are you two ready to go sledding?”
Everypony looked grateful for that comment.
“Oh yes!” Nightshade said with an innocent smile on her face as she grabbed her sled and went to take to the air. There was just one problem, it was a little heavier than she could carry right now.
Shimmering Night chuckled as she levitated the sled up for her. “Alright, let’s go!”
Ataxia bit back another comment about Night letting ‘that’ go when she had bitched and moaned about so much else. Even for her, she understood that there were just some moments that were better off not ruined, and that was one of them.
The family made their way outside, Night Skies stayed in the hooves of her mother and father, keeping warm against the cold. Meanwhile Ataxia, Shimmering Night, and Rainbow followed the pair of fillies down the huge hill. More than enjoying the fun and laughter they were having, but also on lookout in just case that fun would become something else.
Lunar Light and Nightshade cheered as they made their way down the hill, reaching a good speed before coming to a stop. As Nightshade tried to exit the sled, she landed in a big pile of snow, quickly sinking into it to her neck, making everypony around giggle as Lunar Light tried to rescue her with her wings.
The little mare jumped up and tackled Lunar into the snow drift. Causing her to give a very uncharacteristic yelp in surprise. Nightshade just tickled her friend before leaping off and to the sled. Lunar Light brushed herself off and followed. Shimmering Night commanded the sled back to the top of the hill so the little fillies could enjoy the entire experience and go all over again.
Twilight smiled at the sights all around her. There was something mystical about today, beyond it being Nightshade’s birthday, or even Hearth's Warming Day for that matter.
When Rainbow landed right next to her, wrapped her in a wing hug, kissed her, and then flew back to watch the girls go down the hill one more time, Twilight realized what it was. It wasn’t that today was a holiday, truly, that didn’t really matter to her right now. It was that… it was a day spent with family and loved ones.
