The Jolly Rogers

~~~~~
08:27 Hours
December 9, 1987
Ponyville General Hospital
~~~~~

I looked up at the white ceiling tiles of my hospital room. Outside I could hear the sound of nurses and doctors chatting as they passed by or ponies going to visit their family members. I sighed and glanced over at the clock on the wall. Groaning at the time I looked back up at the ceiling. The door suddenly clicked as it opened and I looked to it with a smile but it quickly disappeared as only a doctor entered. He trotted over to me and I let my head drop back onto the pillow. "How're you feeling Mister Jones?" He asked as he picked up my chart off the foot of the bed.

"Could be better." I replied with a huff. "Any word from my family?"

"I believe they're on their way." He said.

"And my father?"

"On the list for those not permitted to see you." The doctor replied as he set my chart down. "You're lucky you got here as fast as you did. I honestly don't think you would've survived if you hadn't. Now, I've called in the doctor who originally discovered your heart problem and he should be here any time." The door suddenly opened and a tan stallion with a disheveled black mane poked his head inside. In his magic he held a martini glass and a cigar was clamped in his mouth.

“I’m gonna take a shot in the dark and guess this is General Jones’ room?” He asked as he stepped inside and I saw he was wearing a red bathrobe in place of a lab coat. The other doctor raised an eyebrow but said nothing as he left the room. As soon as the door clicked shut, Hawkeye opened his medical bag and pulled out a first aid kit that he set on my bedside table. He flipped up the switches on the kit and I saw it contained all the ingredients for a martini. “You drink, General?”

“Only on days ending with a Y.” I replied as he mixed up a drink. “You know, you remind me an awful lot of a guy on a TV show I liked. Name and everything.” I said as he gave me the drink. We clinked the glasses and both took a swig of our drinks. Hawkeye grabbed a chair and scooted it over by the bed.

“Really? Do tell me about this other Hawkeye.”

~~~~~
09:15 Hours
December 9, 1987
Ponyville General Hospital
~~~~~

The door to the room clicked open and Hawkeye and I both looked towards the entrance as a record played in the corner of the hospital room. A green head stuck in the room that I immediately recognized as Thunderstreak. “Hey, honey!” I said with an ear-to-ear smile. “Come meet Doctor Hawkeye.” He stood up and trotted towards the door as Thunderstreak entered with the youngest boys behind her. Hawkeye grabbed her hoof and kissed it and uttered something I couldn’t understand.

“Bon matin. Vous ȇtes aussi rayonnate que le soleil.” Hawkeye said and I saw Thunderstreak’s cheeks and the tips of her ears get a red tint to them.

“Thank you.” She replied as she rubbed the back of her neck with her hoof after it was released. I raised an eyebrow at them but shrugged it off as a nurse brought in the morning paper for me to read. I thanked her and unrolled to paper to see the headline in giant, bold letters reading North Ponia Surrenders. Setting the paper aside, I grabbed one of the pills the doctor had set on my bedside table in case I felt more chest pains. I quickly downed the pill and got some looks from everyone but Hawkeye quickly went into doctor mode.

“James, what’s wrong? Are you experiencing more chest pains?” He asked as he leaned over me. I shook my head and held up the paper for him to see. He took the paper with an excited smile and began hopping around the room. Hawkeye finally calmed down enough for us to ask him about his joy. "I was stationed there with the 1019th! Now we never have to go back!" We each gave our congratulations to him and a smile never left my face. That is until the door crept open. I looked over and saw a man in a dark navy uniform. My smile dropped and became a scowl, the heart monitor next to me beeping quicker at the sight of dad looking inside. Everyone in the room stepped back as dad slowly entered and removed his hat, tucking it under his arm. He carefully stepped up next to the bed and sat down in the chair where Hawkeye had been sitting. I glared at him and everyone else silently went out into the hallway.

"James-" He started to talk but I quickly raised my hand and cut him off before he could continue.

"Shut up. I don't care to hear it." I said, my voice sounding as venomous as a cobra.

"James, please, I only ask that you listen for three minutes." He pleaded as he set his cap on the bedside table and placed his hand on top of mine by my side. I quickly pulled my hand away and placed it on my stomach as I continued to glare at him.

"Three minutes. Start talking." I told him and he took a deep breath as he steeled his nerves.

"Well, as you know, your mother and I had our hands full with your sisters when you were born. Of course we discussed our situation after we found out she was pregnant and we decided that one more kid to the bunch wouldn't hurt. Naturally, everyone was excited but nervous after your aunt had a miscarriage a few month before you were born. I don't think your poor mother would've been able to handle loosing you." He stopped as he folded his hands on the edge of the bed. "The doctor had said you were supposed to be born on January eighth but when your mom went to go to the store on the night of December seventh, you two suddenly decided you were coming out. The next day we welcomed you and the surprise that was your brother into the world a month early. But with your brother came some problems. We had planned on only one baby, not two. So we decided to keep you since you were the first born of the two and we put up your brother for adoption." Dad again paused as he pulled a piece of paper from his jacket pocket. "We never told you before because we didn't want you to miss someone you didn't know. Last I knew of, this was his name and address. He was adopted by a couple with the last name of Lawson down in St. Louis." He folded his hands again and I glanced at the paper on the bed.

"Your three minutes are up." I said monotonously and dad silently stood up to leave. He grabbed his hat and walked over to the door. Just before he was about to open it to make his exit, he turned and looked at me.

"James, I want you to know that I love you and while you may not claim me as your father anymore, you'll always be my son." He opened the door and placed his cap on his head before walking outside.

~~~~~
13:05 Hours
December 16, 1987
Ponyville, Equestria
~~~~~

I held a knife in my hand, ready to cut my unsuspecting victim. Bringing the knife down I made contact and began slicing the sandwiches in two from corner to corner. With the sandwiches cut, I took the plate over to the table where Lancaster sat with a book held in his hock. "Here ya go, Elvis. Two peanut butter and banana sandwiches." He looked at the plate as I set it down and I saw him scrunch his nose a little.

"Mom always cuts them down the middle." He said as he set his book aside.

"Yeah, well that's how we cut them in the county jail." I replied as I wiped my hands off with a rag. He didn't say anything more as he silently bit into the sandwich. From the doorway I heard hoofsteps and I looked up to see Thunderstreak standing there with something in her hoof. She looked concerned and I immediately felt my heart sink as worst case scenarios began to run through my mind. "Butter Cup, what's wrong?" I asked her and I slowly walked towards her but she backed up with each step towards her.

"James, um, I have some news that I think you may want to sit down for." Thunderstreak said and I gently sat down in one of the kitchen chairs. "James, I'm-how do I say this gently?"

"She's pregnant." Lancaster said and we both looked to him as he took another bite of his sandwich. He stopped as he sensed our gazes on him and looked up at us. "What? You mean it wan't obvious?" He set the sandwich down and placed his fore-hooves together. "I had it figured out a week ago. The slippers for the aching and swollen hooves," Lancaster said as he waved a hoof at the pink fuzzy slippers on Thunderstreak's hooves "the weird cravings for things like strawberry and pickle milkshakes, and you haven't noticed but she's been throwing up every morning in the bathroom. It's pretty clear that she's pregnant again." We stayed silent as he resumed reading his book and eating. "Also, if I were you, I'd be looking for a bigger house. This one is getting a bit small."

~~~~~
11:30 Hours
December 18, 1987
The Hills Outside Ponyville
~~~~~

I clasped my hands behind my back as I looked out the large picture window of the hilltop mansion. "How much did you say it is for this again?" I asked as I turned to face the real estate pony who was watching me.

"This home is going for about one million bits. The owner's flexible on the price though." She replied as she looked down at the paperwork on her clipboard.

"I can do nine and a quarter in cash. Would they take that?" I asked as I turned back around to look out the window towards Ponyville.

"I'll ask them and get back to you as soon as I can. Now, how about we take a look at the library?"

~~~~~
05:00 Hours
December 25, 1987
New Jones Family Mansion
~~~~~

I shut the front door of the large home as quietly as I could and sighed with relief when no one stirred at the click. Setting my briefcase by the door, I walked in further and loosened my tie as I entered the gargantuan living room. Around me sat several boxes still waiting to be unpacked. But there by the picture window overlooking town, stood a pine tree covered in lights and ornaments. I slowly walked over to it and grabbed one of the silver, glass orbs on the tree and rolled it around in my hand with a small smile. At the base of the tree were dozens of gifts all wrapped in brightly colored paper and I made sure to not bump any as I adjusted my feet. I looked at the glass ball in my hand and smiled as I saw the ever familiar, albeit distorted, reflection of my little world's sun. "James, sweetie, is that you?" Thunderstreak asked as I hung the ornament back on the tree.

"Yes, dear." I replied, turning around to face her. "I would've been home from Ponia sooner but my flight got caught in the blizzard near Vanhoover." I told her as I walked over and scooped her up, much to her surprise, and carried her over to the window like we were newlyweds again. Looking out the window, I let out a content sigh as snow lazily drifted down on Ponyville. The town glowed against the blanket of white as the street lights made the town have a yellow hue to it. "You know," I started as I sat down on the wood floor with Thunderstreak on my lap "I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful place to be; or a more beautiful mare to be with." Leaning my head down, my lips met her's and there, in that moment, it seemed at though it were only us. My heart skipped a beat from the warmth of her lips against mine and she carefully reached a hoof up to place on my shoulder. We broke the kiss and I ran my tongue over my lips, a distinct and wonderful flavor hitting my taste buds. "You got new chapstick."

"It's butterscotch. I know how much you like those little candies." She replied as her face flushed and her ears went back. "I honestly was wondering if you'd notice." Thunderstreak said as she looked away from me; her mannerisms at that moment making her seem like a love-struck teenager.

"Of course I'd notice, Butter Cup. There's few things in this universe that can get almost as sweet as you. Butterscotch is just one of those." I told her as I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her tight against my chest, hugging her as we watched the snow fall.

"And what are the other things?" She asked, looking up at me with her beautiful blue eyes.

"Well let's see, shall we?" I asked as she looked back out the window and I rested my chin on top of her head. "Besides butterscotch, it has to be those peanut butter cups I love so much. And then it's-actually-I can't think of anymore." I told her as I reached down and grabbed one of her forehooves with my hand. She placed her other hoof on top of my hand and let out a pleased sigh as we both sat and waited for the coming sunrise.

"Wait, is that why you call me Butter Cup?"
~~~~~
07:30 Hours
December 25, 1987
Jones Mansion
~~~~~

I awoke to a poking in my side. Slowly opening my eyes, I saw Orchid standing over me and I realized that Thunderstreak and I must have fallen asleep on the living room floor. I felt Thunderstreak still wrapped in my arms and I looked down at her with a smile as she buried her face into my chest. Carefully lifting my hand off of her, I ran it over her mane and felt her start to wake. "Honey, it's time to get up." I told her as I started propping myself up with my other arm.

"Just five more minutes, Dad. Please? I don't want to go to school." She mumbled in her still half-asleep state. Gently nudging her with the hand that wan't keeping her from falling over. She finally began to really wake up and opened her eyes to see Orchid still staring at us. "Are we still on the floor?" She asked as she rubbed her eyes with her hooves.

"Eyup. I'm sure the kids would like to open their gifts too." I told her as I looked to Orchid.

"Actually, Lotus isn't up yet and I think Lancaster's still in the library." He said as he looked back towards the grand staircase that led upstairs. "Should I go get them?" He asked as he looked to us.

"No. Leave them be for now." I told him as I glanced towards the banister for the upstairs. "They'll be along eventually."

~~~~~
10:30 Hours
December 25, 1987
Jones Mansion
~~~~~

The boys had all finished tearing through their gifts and I smiled to myself as I watched each one with their new acquisitions. By the window sat Lancaster in a sweater with one of the anatomy books he'd received as Orchid and Black Lotus played with the metal, toy planes we had bought them. A loud knocking took my attention away from them though and I stood to answer the door. Grabbing the gold colored handle, I opened the door and smiled at John and Applejack as they stood on the doorstep. "Well howdy, strangers!" I said with a smile as I waved them in. In their arms were several boxes wrapped in colored paper that I assumed were gifts for the kids. They made their way towards the living room and I was about to shut the door when a hand suddenly planted itself on the oak door. I stopped and opened the door again to see Franz and August standing there. August was grinning from ear to ear as Franz rubbed the back of his neck.

"Morning, guys." I said as August walked inside, still grinning as Franz continued to look around. "Hey Franz, what's up?" I asked as I stepped outside and shut the door behind me. As I looked over to him, I saw a grey pegasus mare with a blonde mane standing next to him. "Oh, hello."

"Um, I wasn't entirely sure if I was aloud to bring someone. I should've phoned first." Franz said as he looked at me.

"Oh, of course you can bring someone. The more, the merrier!" I replied as I smiled to him and the mare. "I apologize, but I don't believe I got your name." I said as I bent down to smile at the mare and get a better look at her.

"I'm Ditzy Hooves but everyone just calls me Derpy." She said with a smile as I took her hoof and gave it a quick kiss in greeting. She blushed and I thought about where I'd heard the name before.

"You must be the fighter ace I've heard about before." I said and her blush deepened at the mention of that. "Franz, I knew you were going to the Crystal Empire but I expected you to return with something like a snow globe, not a beautiful mare." I told him and now it was Franz's turn to blush.

"We met at an officer's club there. I kind of got involved in the skittles tournament there and it came down to just us." He replied, looking down to her with a smile.

"I won but he was a good sport and bought me a beer." Ditzy said as she leaned against Franz's leg. "We got to talking and he shared a few of the secret flaws of the 109 with me. If it wasn't for my leave home this week, I would've put that to use." She told me as she cast a quick, loving glance up at Franz.

"Well no sense in standing around until we freeze to death. Come on in before we all catch pneumonia." I told them as I opened the front door and led them inside. "Lunch should be ready around noon. Nice thing about owning a mansion, we have an excuse to hire a kitchen staff." I said with a small laugh. We entered the living room where John, Applejack, and August were all sitting on the chairs and couches that surrounded the tree. As Franz and Ditzy made themselves comfy on one of the couches, I looked around and noticed Lancaster was missing. I looked upstairs and walked up the grand staircase to head for the library. Opening the double doors for the two story library, I walked inside and heard voices talking in the middle of the library. I crouched down and quietly made my way over to the railing that went around the opening that allowed a view of the level below. There on the floor in front of a small table sat Lancaster and across from him sat Princess Luna, who quietly sipped from a tea cup as Lancaster talked.

"I'm just not sure what to do about it. I mean, I have feelings for him; but I just don't think our talents are compatible." Lancaster said as he sipped from his tea as Luna set her cup down. He lowered the cup a little and held it in front of him as he thought. "I don't want to wake up when I'm older and realize I no longer love the pony in bed next to me." He said as he sipped from his cup again. Luna nodded with understanding as he set his cup down again.

"I was once in your position young one. I was in love with a handsome stallion; a prince from the Crystal Empire. He and I were engaged to be wed and we couldn't have been happier. But as the date approached for our wedding, I realized that we both had different obligations in our lives. He to his nation and I to mine." She took another sip from her tea before continuing. "All of the worst case scenarios ran through my head, much like with you now. I had nightmares of him no longer loving me as our destinies kept us apart. But I came to realize that every relationship is not without it's flaws. We were wed and we had a very loving and wonderful marriage until a most horrid day came upon us." Luna was visibly upset at the memory as she looked down at the table. "My prince began finding pleasure in dark magic and he soon loved it more than he did I. But you needn't worry about that young one. Until then, we were very happy despite our destinies and the distance between us." The night princess lifted the tea pot with her magic and refilled the cup in front of her.

"If I may, your highness; what was your prince's name?" Lancaster asked as he looked across to her.

"His name was Sombra." She replied. I quietly stood up and looked down to them.

"I thought I would find you here." I said and they looked up at me. "Guests are arriving, I thought I'd inform you two in case you want to be social. If not I can ask a cook to bring you your lunches in here."

"I think we'll just eat in here. We have some things to discuss together." Luna replied and I nodded in understanding.

"I'll have them bring you your food then. And some more tea." I said with a smile before turning on my heel and walking out. Shutting the double doors, I made my way downstairs. "Hey, Butter Cup?" I called towards Thunderstreak. "How the hell did Luna get in our house again?"

~~~~~
20:16 Hours
December 25, 1987
Jones Mansion
~~~~~

Thunderstreak and I stood on the balcony that overlooked Ponyville and I could see my breath swirl and dance its way towards the sky. Overhead, the full moon illuminated the night and I looked over to Thunderstreak with a smile. "You know, I never thought I would meet someone as amazing as you." I told her and the night hid the red tint to her face. The Glenn's band began playing a song inside for the Christmas party and I smiled again at the song they chose. Grabbing Thunderstreak's hoof, I pulled her close and held her only a few inches from my face. Her blush was now clear to me as we stated to slow dance on the balcony. She placed her head against my chest as her wings held her up. We continued to dance until the song was clearly approaching its end. Her head lifted from my chest and looked at me with her beautiful eyes. In the moonlight they glowed the most vibrant blue I'd ever seen. And there in that moment, I realized it wasn't luck or fate that led us to that wonderful moment. It was the moon glow that shone in her eyes. That wonderful moon glow made her the most beautiful pony in the world to me.

"It had to be moon glow, way up in the blue
That wonderful moon glow, led me straight to you"

I sang to her as I hugged her tightly. She leaned her head back and I felt my heart leap at just the mere sight of her. Leaning in, our lips touched and though it was snowing; to me it was as sunny as spring. Breaking the kiss, I gave her a loving smile.

"That moon glow gave me you."

~~~~~
11:30 Hours
December 26, 1987
Fluttershy's Cottage
~~~~~

I knocked on the wooden door to the small cottage as Thunderstreak tightened her coat around her. Just as I was about to knock again, Mac opened the door and I noticed he was wearing a knit green sweater that-paired with his red coat-fit the season perfectly. "Mornin'." He said with a smile. Mac waved us inside and we entered the cottage, a wood burning stove in the corner of the room enveloping us in its warmth. "Tea and sandwiches should be ready soon." Mac told us as we sat down on the couch. Almost as if on cue, Fluttershy entered with a tray of tea on one wing and a platter of sandwiches on the other. She gently set them down on the table between us and sat down with Mac on the couch across from us.

"It's so nice of you to have us over." Thunderstreak said with a smile as we took our saucers and tea cups. I nodded and took a sip of the tea. "The weather has been so nice lately. Just the perfect amount of snow." She said before taking a sip from her tea.

"It's not gonna last though. The weather station's been getting reports of a big storm coming. Supposed to bring us up to seven inches of snow." Mac said as he grabbed a sandwich off the platter and took a bite.

"Oh yeah. I heard you helped start a weather station. How's that going?" I asked with interest as I remembered seeing the new station on top of a hill during one of my flights over Ponyville.

"Very nicely actually. Our radio can reach the station all the way in Manehattan and our specialized radar will pick up the weather fronts and not aircraft." He replied and I could see out of the corner of my eye that the girls had started their own quiet conversation.

"Really? We may have to ask you where you got it. I'm sure Ponyville tower would love one of those radar sets." I told him, sipping my tea. Just as he was about to respond, a crying emanated from upstairs and Mac quickly put a hoof on Fluttershy's leg.

"I've got her this time." He told her with a small smile. Mac hopped off the couch and made his way upstairs.

"I figured it was only a matter of time before she woke up. She's rather feisty when she's not asleep." Fluttershy said with a small giggle. The sound off hooves on the steps drew our attention towards the stairs and we saw Big Macintosh carrying the small blue baby that was a hybrid of a human and a pony.

"Merryweather decided that she wanted to join the party." He said with a chuckle as he sat down and held the child with a smile on his face. Mac looked down to the baby and then back over to us. "Would you guys like to hold her?" He asked us and Thunderstreak and I both nodded in response. Carefully standing up to take her from Mac, I sat back down with Merryweather in my arms. For the first time in months, I held my baby girl and I sniffed as my eyes began to water.

"James, you're crying." Fluttershy said as I wiped my eyes with my right hand.

"No, I'm just sweating through my eyes." I replied with a small laugh as Merryweather wrapped her fingers around my pointer finger. She smiled up to me and I smiled back at her with a small laugh escaping at the sight of her. "She's beautiful." I said to myself as Thunderstreak carefully took her from me. The sight of her made me realize that no matter what happened to us, there would always be a silver lining somewhere. "She really is beautiful." I said to myself again. And in that moment, the face of freedom was no longer all of Equestria, but the face of a baby girl.