The Later Years
Chapter One
“Lilly, Are you almost ready for school?” Fluttershy asked.
“Yeah just about!” Lilly replied putting some things in her binder then fluttered to the door.
“Now don’t be nervous about anything”Fluttershy said. She smiled and opened the door for Lilly. Lilly walked out and took a deep breath of the fresh air butterflies fluttered around her. Fluttershy smiled then closed the door.
“Think she’ll be okay Angel?” Fluttershy asked. Angel looked at her then jumped on her head while waving a piece of paper in her face
“Oh, Goodness! I’m supposed to have tea with Rarity!” Fluttershy said as she quickly flew out the door.
~~~
“Emerald, hold still!” Rarity said putting bows in Emerald’s mane.
“But I need to get to school!” Emerald whined.
“Emerald you don’t look your best what do you expect those other fillies to think?”
“Nothing!” She slipped out of Rarity’s hooves. “I need to get to school now!”
“Emera-” Rarity started. Emerald ran out the door with her binder floating close behind her surrounded in a glowing pink light.Sweetie Belle followed after her closely.
“Wait up Emerald!” Sweetie Belle giggled with Emerald. Rarity sighed and began cleaning up her creative room. She heard a knock then opened the door.
“Oh Fluttershy hello darling. Do come in.” She said opening the door wider. Fluttershy smiled and stepped inside.
“What kind of tea would you like Dear?” Rarity asked
“Oh uh any tea is fine really” Fluttershy said
~~~
“Now, are you sure you’re ready for school, Twinkle?” Twilight asked pacing wildly and gathering tons of books.
“You can wait another year if you want...?”Twilight said quietly
“I’ll be fine” She replied as Twilight struggled to shove about twenty thick books into Twinkle’s saddle bag.Twilight glanced at her. Twinkle was staring at her unbelievingly. Twilight laughed nervously. Twilight put the saddle bag on Twinkle’s back and pushed her out door.
“Now don’t be late!”
“I won’t!” Twinkle replied running down the steps to meet Emerald and Lilly.
“Hmmm, Spike!” Twilight said
“Yeah?” Spike asked walking down the stairs
“Don’t I have something scheduled today?” She asked
“Ummm yes tea with Rarity...?” He said flipping through her schedule book. Her eyes widened and she rushed out the door
~~~
Pinkie hopped around sugar cube corner exited and packing Candy’s lunch
“Want cupcakes!?” Pinkie Pie asked exitedly. Candy bounced over to her
“Of course!” she squeaked. Pinkie giggled and packed three pink and purple cupcakes.
“How about cookies!?” said bouncing in circles
“Yep!” Candy said.
“Apple?” Pinkie asked
“Ewwwwwwww!” Candy squealed
“Alright!” Pinkie said
Candy picked up the lunchbox and held it in her mouth then stepped out the door.
“bye!” she said through clenched teeth to Pinkie. Pinkie giggled then closed the door behind Candy smiling.
“Oh! Gosh I have to go to have tea with Rarity and the girls today!” she said giggling as she packed some cupcakes in a basket
~~~
“Ya’ almost ready for school Daisy?” Applejack asked smiling
“Almost!” She said gathering her stuff and putting it in her saddle bag “Just about finished”
“Now remember to stay with Apple Bloom and her friends, okay?”
“Alright,” she said.
“This is gonna be so much fun!” Apple Bloom said clearly excited. Daisy put her saddle bag on her back and ran out the door with Apple Bloom. They giggled as they walked to school. Applejack looked at the calender
“Oh yeah, I got that tea party with Rarity!” she ran out the door then came back and grabbed her hat quickly.
~~~
“Snow, you almost done? Cause I think you’re gonna be late for school....” Rainbow Dash said.
“Don’t worry I’m heading off right now.” Snow looked at Tank. She kissed his forehead. Rainbow Dash smiled.
“Remember to make some new friends, okay?” Rainbow Dash said
“I have plenty of friends though, Mom!” Snow said.
“Hey, hey, calm down, I’m just saying maybe you should make some new friends too, then you and your friends can have even more fun!” Rainbow Dash said.
“Alright, Fine.” Snow said “I gotta go to school now, bye mom!” Snow said jumping off the cloud and flapping her wings feverishly barely staying in the air. She fluttered down to her friends then walked with them laughing about the their silly jokes
“Hmm tea party.. I should get to that...”
~~~
Fluttershy and Rarity sipped their tea while chatting and eating cookies. Pinkie knocked on the door.
“Come in! It’s unlocked!” Rarity sang. Pinkie opened the door and bounced in holding a decorative picnic basket in her mouth.
“Hi Rarity!” She said putting the basket on the table in front of them
“I brought homemade cupcakes!” She said still bouncing up and down excitedly. Twilight stepped inside and giggled. She put a hoof on Pinkie Pie’s head to stop her from bouncing. Pinkie stop and looked at her.
“Hi Twilight!” Pinkie said loudly.
“Pinkie. Quiet voice.” Twilight said calmly. Pinkie nodded then motioned zipping her lips with her hoof. Twilight smiled.
“So how’s Lilly, Fluttershy?” Twilight asked turning to Fluttershy
“Oh, She’s good she’s doing very well in school.” Fluttershy said
“That’s great” Twilight said smiling
“Emerald is doing well too” Rarity said before gingerly sipping her tea.
~~~
Applejack knocked on the door. Twilight opened it and smiled.
“Hi Applejack” Twilight said “Come in, everyone else is in the kitchen” Applejack stepped inside
“Thanks Twi” Applejack said walking into the kitchen.
“Hi Applejack” Said Fluttershy quietly
“Hi Fluttershy, Hey Pinkie, how’s Candy?” Applejack asked her while Rarity got out another cup for Applejack. A chair from the other room glowed purple and floated over to Applejack. Applejack sat down and nodded thankfully in Rarity’s direction. A cup of tea came over to Applejack. Applejack quietly sipped it then drew back sticking her tongue out from the sting of the boiling water. The other mares snickered. Suddenly there was a loud crash. Rarity rushed into her creative room then screamed in horror. Twilight and Applejack raced in the see Rainbow Dash standing up dizzily with a giant hole surrounded by chunks of the wall, dusty fabric, and the gems Rarity used to make fancy dresses and such for high quality customers.
~~~
Rarity screamed at Rainbow Dash while Applejack and Twilight tried to pick up some of the pieces Rainbow Dash snickered. She was quite obviously proud of the mess she had created
“RAINBOW DASH WHAT POSSIBLE REASON COULD YOU HAVE TO LAUGH!!?!?!?!” Rarity yelled at the top of her lungs, she was so angry her face was red and she was twitching from being so exasperated with Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash laughed.
“Well it was your thin wall!” She said trying not to laugh again
“THIN WALLS!?!?!??!?! THIN WALLS!?! YOU RUINED MY-” She stop when she heard a quiet ‘Ding!’ it was the sound of the shop door opening. She froze.
“Oh my!” Fancy Pants shrieked. Rarity stood unable to move standing in dust and bits of wall, her hair dusty and frizzy. Twilight quickly saw her friend needed help explaining since she couldn’t explain by herself.
“Why hello there!” Twilight said jumping out of the debris. Fancy Pants stepped away from the dust covered no longer lavender mare.
“Hehe uhh... I can come back later if you’re busy...” He said nervously backing into a corner.
“NO” Rarity said snapping back into reality. They all looked at her suprised.
“We’re open just a few... adjustments being made to the shop....” She said quickly
“Ah... Well I always respect a hard working mare!” He said smiling. Rarity smiled.
“I know we haven’t seen each other in years but regarding that one night-” He began. Rarity clapped her dusty hoof over his mouth so hard he barely stayed on his hooves. Her friends looked suprised. Rarity dragged him by his bowtie into the back room.
“They don’t know! And they never will! Besides you cheated on your wife! We cannot let that be known!” Rarity whispered furiously. He nodded with wide eyes.
“I just came to see my child....” He said quietly. Rarity glared.
“She’s at school.” Rarity replied angrily
“her?” He asked a bit shocked.
“Yes her!” Rarity shouted rudely. The other ponies sat up at Rarity’s sharp tone of voice in the other room. Rarity took a deep breath.
“You can have ten minutes with her.” Rarity said trying to act calm. He smiled and stroked her hair with his hoof. She smacked his hoof and glared at him. He stepped back a bit. The front door opened again. Rarity winced at the ding. She heard her best friend’s daughters greeting them.
Rarity walked out of the back room with Fancy Pants following behind her.
“Mommy!” Emerald squeaked with a piece of paper floating above her. Rarity smiled.
“What’s that?” She said wrapping a hoof around her daughter and hugging her tightly. Fancy Pants smiled. Even though she was a mare he still loved her and couldn’t help but smile.
“It’s an art project we made in class!” Emerald said showing her proud mother. Rarity gasped at the beauty of her art.
“I love it! I think I’ll hang it up on the wall” Rarity said picking it up with her magic. Emerald looked at Fancy pants.
“Who’s this Mommy?” Emerald asked Rarity as she searched for a pin. She found one then looked up at Fancy Pants.
“This... This is your father...” She said quietly. Rarity’s friends looked at her wide eyed. Rarity looked ashamed. Fancy Pants looked at his hooves a bit embarrassed as well. Emerald stared for a few seconds then ran to him and hugged him. Fancy Pants looked at Emerald suprised then slowly hugged her. Emerald was saying something nobody could quite understand through Fancy Pants’ shoulder and Emerald’s tears. Fancy Pants was also beginning to tear up. He tried to say something but he had seemed to have choked on his words.
“I-I- You- I- D-dad?” She asked finally. He nodded with tears in his eyes. Emerald’s friends stood in their places, shocked and lost for words.
~~~
After about a few hours of hugging and crying and explaining Emerald had fallen asleep hugging Fancy Pants. Rarity picked her up with her magic and put her in her bed then turned the lights off and closed the door gently.
“Rarity please let me stay a few nights” Fancy Pants begged
“No!” Rarity said sternly
“But Rarity you saw-”
“I saw you make my child cry and make my friends look at me like there is something wrong with me” She said glaring at him. He put his head down.
“If that’s how you feel I’ll leave...” he said quietly.
“Yes now out before you wake up Emerald” Rarity said pointing her hoof in the direction of the door.
“Alright... Goodnight Rarity...” He said quietly with his head still down. She noticed he had tears in his eyes as he left. Was she too harsh? No, it needed to be done. Then again raising Emerald on her own was difficult and Emerald might have needed father figure, but it was for the best! Besides he was married.
Rarity realized her friends were still in the front room. She walked out and looked at the hole in the wall
“Oh.. Right...” Rarity said frowning. Her friends looked at one another
“Are you okay Rarity? That must’ve been hard for you...” Twilight said keeping her distance not knowing how Rarity would respond to this.
“Um... Yes.. But you girls should get home and go to sleep I won’t keep you up. Rarity looked at her friend’s kids who had fallen asleep on the many couches she had in the front room.
“Are ya’ sure sugarcube?” Applejack said
“We don’t wanna leave you alone” Pinkie Pie said bouncing up and down.
“It’s quite alright. Don’t worry about me.” She said with a fake smile on.
“What about the hole in the wall?” Rainbow Dash asked feeling a bit guilty about earlier.
"It’s fine, We can deal with it in the morning.” She said. Her friends nodded then began picking up their sleeping fillies from the couches and walking out the door.Rarity sighed then walked into her room and fell asleep.
Chapter Two
Rainbow Dash slept soundly on a fluffy cloud. Soarin flew up to the cloud and looked at her then glanced at the sun. He poked her. She jumped up instantly awake.
“Still sleeping in until the late afternoon I see.”
“Soarin!” She hugged him. He smiled.
“How’s Snow?” He asked letting go of her hug and putting her hooves in his.
“She’s good but what are you doing here?” Rainbow Dash asked stepped back into reality.
“Well we have a few days before we have another show, so I thought I’d come say hi and stay for a bit” He said smiling at her.
“Alright..” She agreed hesitantly. “I need to go hang with the girls though..”
“I’ll stay here”
“You sure?” She asked glancing at Snow’s door to see if she had woken up yet.
“Yeah why not” he said kissing her cheek. She blushed. Snow peeked out of her door.
Dash saw her.
“Snow here please” She said gesturing with her hoof. Soarin looked behind him and saw Snow wearing a cute blue hoody. He smiled.
“There’s my princess” He said flying over and hugging her.
“Thanks dad but I gotta get to school..” She said slumping down a bit.
“Alright, fine Princess.” He said kissing her forehead
“Want me to walk you to school?” he asked her
“Uh no... I’m walking to school with my friends” She replied “Bye” She said stepping off the cloud and barely saving herself by flapping a bit and taking a somewhat harsh landing.
“will she be okay?” Soarin asked looking at Dash. Dash nodded smiling, confident her daughter would be fine.
~~~~
“Who was that at your house this morning?” Scootaloo asked rolling along slowly on her scooter
“Oh uh Soarin..” Snow replied a bit quietly.
“Soarin??? As in The Soarin of The Wonderbolts?” Scootaloo asked stopping. Lilly crashed in them and dropped her book.
“Scootaloo!!! I need to study and now I’ve lost my page!” Lilly screeched.
“Geez Lil’ calm down.” Scootaloo said calmly. Lilly paused and took a breath then looked at Scootaloo.
“Okay do you have a solution?” She asked trying to keep her cool. Scootaloo scoffed.
“Solution? No just skip around pages I dunno” Scootaloo said not truly caring. Anger blazed in Lilly’s eyes as she grabbed her book and stormed off slowed a bit by the other books in her saddlebag.
“Geez what’s up with her?” Scootaloo asked almost chuckling nervously. Snow looked at her for a minute
“You’re kidding right?” Snow asked her. Scootaloo looked guilty
“We should get to school.” Scootaloo said pushing her scooter again slowly.
~~~
The Unicorn fillies walked a bit slower as they stopped now and then to try and pick something up with their magic or try an easy spell.
“I bet I can lift that rock!” Emerald said pointing at a large heavy looking rock with her hoof.
“Can not!” Sweetie Belle giggled.
“Can too!” Emerald protested. Twinkle quietly listened.
“What do you think Twinkle?” Sweetie Belle asked looking at her.
“um.. I.. uh.. I.... don’t know...” Twinkle mumbled quietly
“What?” Emerald asked as she stopped walking and looked at her. Twinkle knew no pony understood her but if they could just give her some space and stop staring at her it’d be so helpful. They stared at her expectantly.
“Twinkle?” Sweetie Belle asked. She realized they were putting too much pressure on her, Sweetie Belle held her hoof and pulled her along gently and slowly. Twinkle’s bangs were covering her eyes as well as the tears. Sweetie Belle knew she was crying and decided it was better if they kept walking instead of stopping and reminding her of her tears Emerald followed cluelessly. Emerald had a bit of trouble telling when some pony needed assistance with something.
“So what did your mom do about the hole in the wall...? I-if it’s no too personal I’m sorry.. .Now I feel terrible for asking... “ Twinkle said nervously.
“Oh no no no! It’s fine we just covered it up and went to sleep really.” Sweetie Belle replied. Emerald saw the school.
“I bet I can beat you there!” She said already running. Sweetie Belle giggled and ran after her.
Twinkle looked up and smiled. She started walking enjoying the nature. Angel ran up to Twinkle from behind. She glanced up.
“Angel bunny what in Equestria are you doing here??” She asked staring at Angel. Angel cocked his head. Twinkle smiled and picked Angel up with magic.
He struggled in the air for awhile as Twinkle walked to Fluttershy’s home. Angel eventually gave up the struggling. Twinkle paused then knocked her hoof on Fluttershy’s door somewhat quietly. Fluttershy opened the door.
“Twinkle? Angel there you are!” Fluttershy picked up Angel and rubbed his head. Angel looked somewhat angered with a grumpy expression on his fluffy white face. His ears were flattened. Twinkle stood awkwardly in front of Fluttershy as she hugged and cuddled Angel.
“Thank you for bringing him back. Where was he?” Fluttershy asked looking at Twinkle and smiling.
“I was on my way to school and he came up to me.. I should probably get going.. I’m gonna be late for school...”Twinkle said quietly. Fluttershy looked at the clock
“Oh gosh school started 20 minutes ago. I’d better come with you to explain...” Fluttershy said putting Angel inside and closing the door behind her. Twinkle started walking to her school with fluttershy.
~~~
The Earth ponies were particularly slow today for some reason. They trotted to school in a fast pace they saw Fluttershy and Twinkle ahead. The Earth ponies looked at eachother then ran ahead to catch up with them.
“Hey! What are you two doing?” Candy asked slowing to a trot after catching up to them. Both Fluttershy and Twinkle jumped a little at the sudden inquiry. Fluttershy turned.
“Oh hello girls. I was just bringing Twinkle to school. She found Angel for me but she’s late for school.” Fluttershy replied in her normal quiet tone of voice.
“Oh well we gotta get to school too mind if we walk with you?” Candy asked Fluttershy.
“No I don’t mind do you Twinkle?” Fluttershy turned to face Twinkle. Twinkle looked up
“Uh no I don’t mind.” Twinkle replied to Fluttershy quietly with a slight nod. They all walked to school with quiet chatting ignoring their lateness.
Chapter Three
Fluttershy walked home after taking Twinkle to school explaining to Cheerilee why they were late. Fluttershy was happy she understood and thanked her. Fluttershy talked to her bird friends on her way home. They flew away when she got there. Fluttershy opened the door and squeaked suprised by the unexpected guest in her home.
“Just me! It’s just me.” Big Mac said trying to calm her down.
“I know that why I screamed!” She squeaked trying to hold back to tears. He hugged her. She didn’t want to love it but she did. She pushed him back gently.
“What are you doing here?” She asked looking at him quietly. “Does Applejack know you’re here??” She was worried. If Applejack knew it could ruin their friendship.
A couple years back Fluttershy started hanging around the farm watching Big Mac work. She loved him and finally one day he stopped working and trotted over, kissing her. They tried to resist knowing it wasn’t right but they couldn’t. One night Big Mac got her pregnant and Fluttershy freaked out. She told her friends and though they begged her to tell them who was the father she never did. Big Mac offered to help her with raising the child but she said Applejack would be suspicious so he didn’t. Fluttershy left Big Mac. He knew things would never change after this so he let her go but he never stopped loving her. It was the most painful day of his life.
“It’s fine Fluttershy, Applejack doesn’t know I’m here she’s helping Rarity fix the hole in the wall.” Big Mac told Fluttershy. It calmed her down a bit but not much. Her light pink bangs fell in front of her eyes so she wouldn’t have to make eye contact with him. He loved how she did that, he always found it adorable. He smiled and brushed her hair behind her ear and lifted her chin kissing her gently. She wanted to pull away but she couldn’t his lips were like a magnet she couldn’t stop she was frozen only able to kiss him. suddenly the door opened. The mood in the room changed. Big Mac and Fluttershy stood staring at the familiar wide eyed orange mare standing at the door..
~~~~~~~
“What were you two doing!?” Applejack screamed. They both looked at the ground guilty. When Applejack didn’t get a response she reacted without thinking a slapped Big Mac. Considering she has rather strong hooves it took out a tooth. Fluttershy confirmed this when he spat it out. Fluttershy watched it hit the ground with a few drops of blood. She looked wide eyed and fainted. Big Mac Tried to catch her but Applejack bucked him in the eye.
“Don’t touch her!” Applejack yelled at him. He backed off feeling his eye and wincing when he touched it.
“Geez, Sis, you wanna break my legs too?” He asked glaring at her. She smirked.
~~~~~~~
Although Applejack is rather strong it took her awhile to get the unconscious Fluttershy into her bed. Big Mac offered to help but Applejack was still pretty angry and stressed at having to carry a full grown mare and threatened to cut off Big Mac’s dick if he tried to help. Applejack walked back out after getting Fluttershy into her bed. She looked at Big mac who was sitting on the couch with his legs crossed. Applejack sighed trying to calm down then realized something she shot a cold glare at Big Mac. He flinched.
“...Is.. Lilly ...Your daughter...” She asked continuing to glare
“Sis...” He started. She took a step towards him.
“Is, Lilly, your, daughter?” She asked him again taking another step forward with her glare intensifying. She looked away wincing and nodded slowly. She smacked him again so hard it knocked him unconscious. Tears streamed down her bright orange cheeks.
~~~
Some time later Twilight opened the door and stepped in.
“Flutter-” She stopped looking at Applejack wide eyed seeing her standing over Big Mac’s body.
“.....Applejack... What happened...?” She asked stepping towards her slowly and cautiously. Applejack cried more. Twilight had never seen her in such a state. Her eyes widened when she remembered she was supposed to get Fluttershy. Who wasn’t here, and instead an insane, depressed Applejack standing over Big Mac’s body. Twilight was confused, this wasn’t like Applejack at all. Was something controlling her? Making her do things that weren’t like her at all? Nothing seemed different today except this. applejack had been fine an hour ago when she was fixing Rarity’s shop..
“H-He’s... The father of L-Lilly!” She said collapsing on the floor crying into her hooves. Twilight widened her eyes.
“He what??” She asked unable to believe this was true. At that moment Lilly opened the door
“Hi Twilight” Lilly said before stopping and looking at everyone trying to figure out what was going on
“Uh...” Lilly hoped this would bring an explanation but Twilight just pushed her out the door
“Let’s go get you a cupcake while they sort that out!” Twilight said nervously.
~~~~~~
Twilight watched Lilly while she waited for Pinkie to return. She had sent her there after bringing Lilly to Sugar cube Corner and purchasing her a cupcake. She didn’t know what else to do and she didn’t know where Fluttershy was. Twinkle walked in the door.
“Hi mommy” Twinkle said hugging Twilight. Twilight smiled.
“She bought me a cupcake!” Lilly said excitedly eating the frosting.
“Can I have one too mommy?” Twinkle said looking up at her mother with bright eyes. Twilight nodded and bought another cupcake floating it over to Twinkle who took it struggling to use her magic to pick it up. She got it eventually. and brought it to the table talking to Lilly. Twilight sat and watched them for awhile. Eventually Pinkie came back and spoke to Twilight quietly. Twilight nodded then walked over to the young fillies smiling.
“Um girls I’m going over to Fluttershy’s would you mind staying here with Pinkie?” The girls nodded band Twilight smiled but it disappeared as she walked out.
“What am I gonna do?” She asked herself a bit worried.
