It was a lazy afternoon. Berry Punch was at home sleeping while her daughter, Ruby Pinch was at school. It was a hard week at work, and Punch really needed the day off. But for the tenth time, she felt like she needed a husband. Ruby was easy to take care off, but the stress of work was getting to her. If only I could remember who the father was.
While she laid around, a thought popped into her head. It seemed like a memory. A memory a couple of years ago. It was slightly hazy, but it was a fragment of her past! The day off really helped her!
It was New Year’s Eve exactly eleven months before her little filly was born. As usual, Berry was attending a party, and was drunk. She was just hanging around the ponies, twirling around them. Though none of them were interested in her, the alcohol messed with her brain.
"You *hic* look very handsome today." She spoke, dreamily looking at a potted plant. "I love how your green *hic* fur shines."
"Hey Berry Punch!" A voice called from behind her.
"Whadaaya want? I'm with this hunk *hic* of a stallion right now." She hung on to the plant for balance. It looked like a gust of wind could blow her away at any second.
The gray pegasus known as Thunderlane came up to her. That was the starting of the conversation that started the birth of Ruby Pinch. Who knew that one little party that could affect her like this! The details were still coming to her, but she remembered that Thunderlane was excited about something.
Thunderlane gave Punch a hoof bump. “Berry this is one heck of a party. I am glad I have you for a friend.”
Berry replied, “*hic* Thanks. How about a reward for your compliment? We can go back to my room for some fun."
"Sure. It's been a while since I was with a mare." 'Sweet! She won't remember anything at all!" He quickly took a swig of some wine, and followed her into the bedroom. As the two went inside, Berry turned on a light and the room lit up with a faint glow. Candles were on the dresser, setting up a romantic scene. Berry jumped onto the warm bed and waited for Thunderlane to join her.
"Wow, she looks even prettier in this light."
As he got in bed with her, Berry raised her flank in the air and waited for him to mount her. "Come at me big boy. Fill me up." And indeed he did.
The next morning, Berry and Thunderlane awoke in bed together. "Dammit." Berry said. "Another drunken night. Sooner or later I am going to get pregnant."
Thunderlane was still asleep so they snuggled together until their hangovers were gone. "Thanks for the night." She kissed his forehead and they went their separate ways..
A door opening and closing snapped Berry out of her dream. It all made sense now. Ruby seemed like she was especially happy about something. In fact, Ruby gave her a big hug.
"What's for the good mood kiddo?"
Ruby said, “Mommy I’m home, and guess what? I have a colt friend! He's super nice and cute and I want to marry him!”
Berry was shocked, but didn't let her emotions show. “That’s great sweetie, who is it?” That soon already?
Rumble, Thunderlane’s little brother.”
Berry’s eyes went wide with surprise, she realized that Ruby was dating her uncle. "Don't you think he's cute?" Ruby smiled until seeing that her mother had a surprised look on her face.
“Mommy, why are you okay?”
“Ruby, honey, you can’t date him for a certain reason. Sorry about it”
“Why can’t I mommy?”
Berry replied, “Thunderlane is your dad, I remembered that before I got pregnant with you, I had some fun with Thunderlane. It was a bit hard to remember, but he did impregnate me. And since Rumble is his brother... we don't want to commit incest, do we?”
"No mommy."
Just as the purple mare finished telling Ruby about this, there was a knock at the door. Berry answered it and saw that is was Rumble; he was here to see is 'supposed' marefriend.
Rumble asked Berry, “Ms. Punch, can Ruby come outside with me?”
Berry shrugged. “Sure, as long as you tell your brother to meet me at the school house tomorrow. It's something important.”
“Yes ma’am.” Rumbled replied. Just like his brother.
As the two young ponies left the house, Berry saw that there was a feather on her daughter’s bag with a note attached. All the note contained was a feather. Rumble's feather! Thunderlane and Rumble have the same parents so that means... she could use his feather for a DNA check! Just to make sure he was the real father. After all, it could be any stallion at the party, and that dream might not be right.
While the Rumble and Ruby Pinch were out, Berry Punch ran to Twilight’s house. Surely the princess had a device to check if Ruby and Thunderlane were related.
"Twilight!" Berry called.
A sleepy alicorn trotted down her stairs. 'Yes?"
"I need to make sure Thunderlane is the father of my child!" Twilight took her down to her laboratory in the basement. After a quick test, Twilight asked for a hair from Berry and the feather of Thunderlane to finish the tests. The test came back positive, Berry asked for the feather and a copy of the test papers. He was the father! She couldn't wait to tell the news.
Laying the papers on Berry's table, Rumble, Ruby, and surprisingly Thunderlane came back. Berry felt butterflies as she saw her filly’s true father. I wonder how he would react.
"Hey, Punch, why does my brother want me to come see you?" Berry gave the brothers the papers. “What’s this Berry?”
“A test I had Twilight help me do.” Berry replied. "You are the father of Ruby Pinch."
As Thunderlane continued to read the paper, his breathing grew heavy and he felt light headed. Checking once, checking twice... it's true. His emotions were so confused he didn't know what to do anymore.
Rumble and Ruby continued to look at the papers as Thunderlane laid them down. Looking at each other, a realization dawned on them. "Ew... we're dating each other!"
Thunderlane looked at Berry “I am so sorry about this Berry! I did not mean to get you pregnant. Stupid alcohol. If there is anything I can do to help just name it and it is yours.”
Berry weakly spoke. “I think if you and I get married, that will cover everything. Just think about your filly. Ruby needs her dad in her life, and you are her dad. I mean, it's a bit taboo in Equestria to have a child without marrying.”
"I'm okay with getting married."
"Then it is settled!" Berry happily shouted. Now her life was complete.
Thunderlane agreed and he left to go buy his bride a nice diamond ring. While he did that, Berry went over to Carousel Boutique and asked Rarity to make her a wedding dress. A white only, with barely any sequins. Thunderlane made his little brother best colt for the wedding, and Ruby was the flower filly. The wedding planner was her friend Colgate and the bridlemaids were Lyra, Bon Bon, and Derpy. Thunderlane had his best friends be the groomsmen, they were Caramel, Soarin’, and Noteworthy. Now the wedding was settled. It just needs to be perfect!
As soon as the night before the wedding came, it was time for Thunderlane’s bachelor party. Who wouldn't want one? But boy, was it fun! Like any other bachelor party, they had hired a mare to tease the soon-to-be-husband. The stallions face turned red as she flicked his cheek with her blue. "I know you want me, big boy." It sounded just like the day with Berry. Any dirty thought were imminently vaporized.
"No ma'am." He said. "I have a wife to marry tomorrow." As soon as the teasing mare was done, two more mares joined. Thunderlane saw in the background was the duo Aloe and Lotus. He really enjoyed it when they gave him the VIP service back at their spa, so he knew this was going to be good. Even through all of the teasing from the two sisters, he chose to stay loyal to Berry Punch.
The next day was the day of their wedding, and boy was it exciting! Thunderlane was up at the altar waiting for Berry to come up for their holy union. Ruby came skipping down the isle with her flowers and her mom close behind. Many ponies in the stands were watching, their eyes tearing up at the two lovers.
"My big girl is growing up." Berry's father spoke before bursting into tears.
A priest waited at the altar, nodding to the two ponies. All became silent as they shared their vows. Thunderlane began. "I, Thunderlane, take you, Berry Punch, to be my lawfully wedded wife to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."
It was hard to hear the rest, but the ponies heard the words. "I do." and "You may kiss the bride."
Thunderlane and Berry Punch kissed, happy to be husband and wife. Flowers were thrown as other ponies began hugging each other. Even tears sprang to Punch's eyes. After the wedding everypony went back to Punch's home and celebrated the wedding of the two with a nice drink. For Rumble and Ruby they were given fruit punch and Berry broke out one of her finest bottles of wine for her and Thunderlane to share.
"Don't worry." Berry smirked. "I will only take a little."
Berry finally felt happy in her life, she now had a stallion to help raise her filly and a husband that would be loyal to her no matter what. Thunderlane was happy to see that he had made Berry Punch and his daughter Ruby Pinch happy. The two soon were living a long happy life together, and they were glad that they had found out about that one small incident that changed their lives forever. Berry Punch's day off.
