Bookends 3 or Family Values

CHAPTER FIVE

Apple Family Reunion

Two months later, at the end of the summer, and eight months into the pregnancies, the Apple Family Reunion rolled around.  Twilight and Cheerilee were much larger by now.  They would not get a lot larger; there would be some but not too much more.

The now the foals were finishing their developing, heart and lungs getting ready to be on their own, the internal organs finishing their construction.

The minds, however, were fully developed and there was something that nopony could ever know, but after the visit with the princesses, the minds had become aware of other ponies that were ‘out there’.

There were minds of two very powerful ponies that they felt would be there to protect them always.

Then there were two minds of the special ponies that were carrying them and would love them always, ponies that they were part of in a real way.

But they became aware of another mind like their own, one not quite ready for the outside world but one that they could still feel.

It turned out to be one of the most unique family reunions any Apple could remember.  For the greater part, Apples were not raciest.  But as long as any pony could remember, Apples had always been Earth ponies.  Now with Big Mac’s new wife, Applejack’s marefriend and partner and the pony that was carrying a foal conceived with the help of Braeburn (if only indirectly) that there were now two Unicorns to be considered Apples, along with three Pegasi (Rain Shadow counted because she was Twilight’s wife’s mother.  Wind Walker also counted because she was both Rainbow Apple’s aunt and Rain Shadow’s partner).

For the mares present, any of the expectant mares at the reunion were always to be fussed over.  Twilight and Cheerilee found themselves herded with four other expectant Apple mares.  A pavilion had been set up to shade the mares along with cushions to comfort them.

Several of the younger fillies were always there, including Apple Bloom and Babs Seed, to run for fresh fritters or cool apple cider.

When lunch time came, they were served large portions of everything and they did get theirs first.

Granny Smith and her cousin Apple Rose along with several of the older mares including the venerated Auntie Applesauce made sure that the pregnant mares were treated well and not too overwhelmed by visitors and well wishers.

At first, all of the first time guests took a bit to get use to everypony addressing them as ‘cousin’.  But once the realization that they were truly being treated as family, it felt so nice, especially for Cheerilee and her mother for whom family had until recently had a negative connotation.

Apple Bloom was thrilled when she realized that her teacher and everypony’s favorite librarian and friend were now technically family!  Cheerilee told the filly that away from school it was okay if she wanted to call her Cousin Cheerilee (Cheerilee was so happy to have real family), but at school she still had to be Mrs. Sparkle.

It evident that the that the three mare with mare couples didn’t cause much concern.  However it did have to be addressed to some ponies from the very out-reaches of Equestria that the old term ’filly fooler’ was now considered offensive, whether the pony meant it that way or not.  That is because a filly is an underage female, it took on the connotation that the mare in question was a pedophile, molesting young girls.  Mare-lover was a more accurate description of the pony’s tastes.

Because of the openness of the Applejack/Rarity, Twilight/Cheerilee and Wind Walker/Rain Shadow, several mares in the gathering felt comfortable for the first time to admit to the family that the ‘guest’ that they had brought with them was actually a marefriend and partner.

There were games, music and hay rides.  Twilight and Cheerilee were glad that they agreed to come.

Windie and Rainy had fun mingling with the Apples, Rainbow did try to stay near her aunt because of the attention that the Pegasi were receiving, it was better to face it en mass.

Rarity had a similar situation being a Unicorn, but Applejack was a well know Apple so many ponies didn’t crowd them too much.

Unfortunately, Twilight was starting to feel like Cheerilee felt at first on their visit to Canterlot.  Almost every Apple from Appleloosa had to visit the mare having Braeburn’s foal.  It didn’t help that she was so recognized because of her help with the peace with the buffalo.

What bothered Twilight and Cheerilee was that after anypony would visit with her and invite her to visit with them when she moves to Appleloosa, they would go to Braeburn and congratulate him.  Some would actually ask Twilight when had Braeburn and Cactus Flower broken up and she had gotten together with Braeburn.

To his credit, it did appear that he was trying his best to make sure that the ponies understood that the foal was his on a technicality and that he would have no custody of the child.

Twilight finally got Applejack to bring Braeburn and Cactus Flower to meet her and Cheerilee in the Apple’s house.

In the house Braeburn sat with Cactus Flower while Applejack sat Rarity and Twilight sat with Cheerilee, Rainbow joined them as well.

“Braeburn,” started Twilight, “I know your family in Appleloosa is excited about the foal.  And I am sure that you and Cactus Flower are aware of the terms of the donation.  Please understand that Cheerilee and I are extremely grateful for the very personal gift.  I do believe that you have in no way encouraged the behavior of you fellow Appleloosans, but they appear to be under the belief that not only am I going to move to Appleloosa after the foal is born but that you and I are romantically involved.”

“Braeburn!” said Cactus Flower,  giving her coltfriend a love tap, “are you taking the train all the way to Ponyville just to fool around with this mare and then ride the train all the way back before I notice you ain’t in bed with me?”

Braeburn looked shocked but Cactus Flower burst out laughing.  Twilight was relieved; she half believed that Braeburn’s marefriend was serious.  But the rest of the ponies laughed as well.

“Twilight,” said Braeburn, “I won’t lie, Cactus Flower and I am so excited about your foal.  We plan on having children in the future, so this is kind of like a preview!”

“Twi and I are relieved to hear you say that,” said Cheerilee, “the way it is going with Twi’s side of the family, it appears that there is going to be a stampede wanting to be there in the delivery room for both of us, not to mention my mother.  The last thing we need is a half of Appleloosa wanting to be there.”

All the ponies laughed.

Rainbow then nudged Applejack;

“Tell her.”

“Twi,” said Applejack timidly, “that reminds me of something.”

“What’s that,” asked Twilight, unsure of what was coming.

“Granny Smith told me the other day that it was her responsibility to be there at the birth of any local Apple.”

Twilight went pale;

“Granny Smith too!”

“She didn’t say what she meant by ‘be there’.  She is reasonable enough to know that in the delivery room might be pushing it,” said Applejack.

“That’s a relief,” said Cheerilee.  “We were starting to be concerned that when we have our ‘blessed events’ that we would lose a lot of friends because their feelings got hurt.”

“We were so happy when we discovered we were with foal, but now there is starting to be a pall of concern to us.

We don’t want to have our children be the reason that we don’t have friends.”  Twilight’s increased sensitivity caused her to break down and cry. “We’ve so wanted our friends to be as happy for us as we are.”

“Twilight honey!” said Cheerilee, putting her forelegs around her crying wife, “I’m sure that it will all work out.”

The girls in the room came over to comfort Twilight.

“Twilight,” Cactus Flower said, “you won’t have to worry about us and the Appleloosan Apples.  We will total respect your privacy and Braeburn and I will make sure that our people know the real situation.  So don’t be concerned if you ever visit Appleloosa again, you won’t be misunderstood.”

Twilight was soon able to get control of her emotional breakdown.  She and Cheerilee went back out to the rest of the Apple Family gathering.  Braeburn and Cactus Flower must have worked hard because there were no more misunderstandings being spoken and even a couple of apologies from ones who had already misspoke themselves.  There were still a lot of invitations to visit Appleloosa, after all, a child with Apple blood would always be family.

After the initial shock, the rest of the reunion went happily.  Cheerilee, Twilight, Wind Walker and Rain Shadow never felt so welcome as they had there.  For Cheerilee and her mother, it was another confirmation that family was something to be cherished and not feared.