Mail Order Orphan

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Discordant Interlude
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Adoption Wrap Up Adoption Wrap Up
Chapter 9

Chapter 1

The train platform was almost deserted. There were very few ponies standing about. Some waiting for the train, some waiting to board, and a few porters moving luggage into the loading zone. In the distance, there was a whistle, and what few ponies there were all became active. The train was coming.

Except for one. She stood alone, apart from the others, kicking a hoof into the wooden planking, and blowing her pink mane away from her eyes. Her wings fluttered nervously. A small squeak came from the soft yellow mare and her tail twitched fitfully. The train was coming.

She backed away from the platform, away from the crowd, away from the noise, the hustle, and the bustle. She stood behind a crate, her eyes closed, trying to control her breathing. This was almost too much, almost more than she could bear. The crowd, the roar of the incoming train… And the waiting. The waiting had been the worst of all. It had been almost a full week, and now, with the train easing into the station, the wait was almost over.

It had not been an easy decision, committing herself to this. But she had needs… And caring for her animals was no longer meeting those needs. And those needs had become focused after Applejack had been married. Out of all her friends, Applejack had been the first, and only mare so far to marry. It was a practical affair, the simple love of farmers. She had met a stallion named Stump Puller at a fair. They became friends. Penpals for quite some time. And then Stump Puller had moved to Ponyville, and it wasn’t too much longer until there was a marriage. Granny Smith had announced that she wasn’t getting any younger, and that one of her grandchildren had to marry before she could go. And now, Applejack was fat with foals, twins, due in just a few more months.

It had made Fluttershy terribly jealous. It had also caused a dull throbbing ache in her heart that could not be eased. Finding a potential mate was practically impossible. Dating? Courtship? No. These things were far too complicated. And scary.

But she still had needs. A painful longing that would not go away. No animal companionship would make it go away. She had a lot of love to give. She wasn’t like the rest of her friends. Twilight was a princess, with infinite responsibilities. Rarity was lost in the throes of her career. Pinkie was too busy being the life of the party. Rainbow Dash had her lifelong dream of being a Wonderbolt ahead of her. None of them had settled down. Or married. Or even shown any interest in doing so. Rarity had entertained some notions for a time, if they would have helped her career, but now there was no need. She was her own mare, living life on her own terms. Fluttershy and Applejack something in common though. A need to settle down and start a family.

Which had brought her here. To the train station. Waiting for the train. Which was now resting at the station, with cargo and luggage going in and out, with ponies boarding and exiting, and the platform was abuzz with activity.

It had started with a letter. And then a dozen letters. And then applications, forms, and all manner of bureaucracy. And then, after what seemed like forever, acceptance. Relief had come in the form of a light green envelope stamped with the government seal of Equestria. You could get anything through the mail now, with very little pony on pony interaction. Fluttershy had found an orphan. Sure, she could have gone to Canterlot and visited the orphanage there. Or even the one in Ponyville. But the very idea of doing so had caused so much panic. It had been Discord’s idea to apply through the mail.

The platform was now nearly empty. Near the center stood an obnoxiously purple unicorn, levitating a basket. Her cutie mark was a small wooden cradle and a pink heart. Fluttershy forced herself to move forward, her wings fluttering, and her heart thumping in her chest. There was an enormous lump forming in her throat, the sort of lump that always got in the way of her speaking.

“Fluttershy?” The unicorn inquired.

Fluttershy nodded, swallowing, and trying to screw her courage to the sticking place.

“My name is Sugarplum. I am from the Department of Foal Services. I have a very special delivery for you.” She set the basket down gently. There was a gurgle from under the blanket.

“I have the, uh, foal you have requested. I must beg your patience and understanding. When I pull back the blanket there might be a bit of a surprise.”

Fluttershy said nothing, but stood there. She didn’t know what might be wrong, but she wasn’t worried. Foals were foals, and she had consented to the idea of looking after a foal with special needs. She stood over the basket looking down.

Sugarplum pulled away the blanket.

Fluttershy stared down in confusion, unsure of what she was seeing. The head looked almost like a normal pony, except that there were two knobby horns. And feathers where a mane should have been. A bright green feathery crest with hints of orange. Two grey slitted eyes stared back up at her. The front legs were those of a griffon. It was sucking on its thumb talon. There was one leathery bat-like wing and one feathered wing, covered in green feathers. The coat was soft blue. The hind legs were vaguely reptilian, and covered in electric blue scales. Three little clawed toes pointed forward, with one rear facing toe. One leg was raised and kicking, toes flexing. And there was a long serpentine tail, also covered in electric blue scales. It reminded her of Discord.

“What is it?” She asked in a soft confused voice.

“Well, to be fair, you checked the “other” box when you checked all the others. Griffon, ponies of various types, and other. You also chose special needs. She is both other and special needs. No one else has wanted her and I'll understand completely if you don't want her either. I had to try, I hope you understand. I take my job very seriously. I assure you, she is very sweet. Quiet. And playful.”

“And you don't know what she is?” Fluttershy asked. “What about her mother? Couldn’t she give you some information?”

“No,” said Sugarplum sadly. “Her mother was a hippogriff, we do know that. There were complications during the birth. Things went badly. Both of them were almost lost. The mother was a traveler, and that’s all we know.”

Fluttershy began to sniffle.

“How old is she?” Fluttershy asked.

“Almost six months. She’s potty trained already, but she needs help. She can say a few words. She shows signs of intelligence. And there have been four potential homes for her, all of which have failed.”

The last part stung a bit, Fluttershy reflected.

“Does she have a name?” Fluttershy asked.

“No. We have not named her. Not yet.” Sugarplum’s mouth pressed into a straight line as she tucked the blanket around the foal. “I guess I will be taking her back to Canterlot on the next train. I appreciate you coming out to greet me. In another week I can bring another foal by rail. We have some nearly newborns as well as a few older foals. And we have a little special needs colt that is deaf. Do you have any specific preferences?”

Fluttershy tried to speak but the only thing that came out was a sob. Her chest hitched as she tried to control her breathing, and she blinked back tears.

“No.” She finally said in a strangled whisper. “No, please, she deserves to be loved just like anything and everything else. Don’t take her.”

Sugarplum’s face fell into a look of blank disbelief.

“What?” She asked, after a moment of silence.

Fluttershy cleared her throat and raised her head higher.

“I asked that the foal be left here. I checked the boxes. I have received “other” just as requested. Whatever she is, she is as you said, an intelligent creature. She talks. She has feelings. How she looks on the outside is trivial. I am the Element of Kindness. If I sent her away, I could never live with my self.”

Sugarplum’s eyes began to flood. “Thank you,” she murmured. She took a moment to compose herself.

“There are some papers left to sign,” she stated after regaining her composure. “And some information to pass along. She is an omnivorous creature. This, along with her looks has been the largest barrier she has faced thus far with her adoption. Ponies tend not to like potential flesh eaters. Her mouth is full of the most terrifying teeth, as you will soon find out. We’ve been training her to not nip. She really is very gentle, I don’t think she knew that she was almost hurting somepony. Also, she is going to have to be tested later to know and understand her classification, but she is infact an incendiary creature, as you will soon discover. Be warned and take precautions. Fire training is just like potty training. It is a slow difficult process that takes time and patience. Speaking of potty training, she took to it quickly. Diapers didn’t agree with her. She is a very clean fastidious little creature and she doesn’t like being dirty. If she becomes dirty, sticky, or otherwise filthy, she will cry. And you don’t want her crying. Don’t get me wrong, she doesn't cry often. She really is a very quiet sort. But you want to avoid her crying.”

Fluttershy stood there, flummoxed. The sudden burst of information was a lot to take in. She took a deep breath and blew her mane out of her eyes.

“Incendiary creature?” She asked.

Chapter 2

“Incendiary creature?” Fluttershy stammered. “A fire breather? So she is part dragon? Oh… my!”

“Fire breathing…” Sugarplum’s words drifted off. “Not sure about dragon. Drake possibly. Do you know what a drake is? Like a dragon, but smaller.”

“I know a little about dragons. Twilight Sparkle has Spike. He’s a dragon. And he’s adorable. I’ve always liked baby dragons.” Fluttershy paused. “I was caught off guard by the foal in the basket I think. Really she is quite cute. Whatever she might be. I think my reaction was because of surprise. I’m really OK around dragons and other creatures. I’m friends with a manticore and one of my best friends is a draconequus.”

The paperwork was minimal and Fluttershy’s bundle was content to continue her stay in the basket. Sugarplum, being the caregiver that she was, was more than happy to walk Fluttershy home, basket held in levitation, following a quiet path that mostly avoided town. It didn’t take them long to arrive at Fluttershy’s cottage at the edge of the Everfree. She pulled the blanket away and kissed the foal goodbye, right between her horns.

“Remember to send in the paperwork once you have a name for her. I wish you both the very best of luck. I really must be going if I am going to make the next train. I will be back to visit in one month. Goodbye!”

“Goodbye,” Fluttershy said, waving with her wing. “And thanks again for everything. You have been so very nice.” Fluttershy watched as Sugarplum turned to go. “And your cutie mark is inspiring! It is so nice to know there are ponies like you in the world.”

Sugarplum turned her head, nodded, and said “Thank you” as she departed.

Fluttershy lifted up the basket, the handle in her mouth, and started toward her front door. Her animals began to gather around, watching, looking intently.

“So you actually did it.” The voice was silky and mildly sarcastic. “And now, there is something else I have to compete with to get your affection.”

Fluttershy gently set down the basket.

“Discord, you don’t have to compete to get affection. The more of it that you share, the more of it you have to give.” Fluttershy looked wide eyed at the draconequus as he came around the corner. “You are my friend. And you will continue to be my friend. As long as you do not misbehave too badly.”

Discord smiled. “So,” he stated. “What did you get?” He bounced in place with obvious glee.

“It is a filly.” Fluttershy’s said softly. “Female.” She said bluntly.

“There is something you are not telling me, my dearest Fluttershy.” His gaze fell down to the basket. “May I?”

Fluttershy began to shuffle her hooves nervously. She bit down on her bottom lip and her ears fell back.

“It can’t be that bad.” Discord paused as he suffered one of his rare serious moments. “Deep breaths!” He said, a grin returning. He reached down and pulled back the blanket.

He drew back with a sudden sharp intake of breath, clutching his breath, his eyes going impossibly wide. He wheezed loudly.

“You didn’t warn me it was going to be so adorable!” He shouted. “Hurgh!” He hurghed. “What is it?”

Fluttershy let out the breath she had been holding. “I don’t know.”

Discord lifted the strange creature out of the basket, holding her up to look at her better. “She’s almost like me! She has some of my good looking features! And just look at that tail! Almost three times as long as her body when it is uncoiled!” The foal gurgled and began to drool a bit. Fluttershy took to the air and hovered near, getting a much better look at her. She had spots, places where there were patches of scales on her soft silky coat. Her mane of feathers went from her ears to halfway down her neck. Some of them were mussed and needed preening. “I am suffering from a very strange feeling!” Discord announced. “I have no clue what it is, but it kind of hurts. In my chest.” He looked over at Fluttershy. “I get it sometimes when I look at you. Or when you are mad at me. And I worry that you will no longer be my friend.”

Fluttershy looked at Discord, and he quickly looked away from her. There was a loud gurgle from the strange foal’s stomach.

“I think she’s hungry.” Discord said, stating the obvious. “Can I feed her?”

“I dunno…” Fluttershy said. “You know, I never even asked what it was that she ate. Sugarplum told me she was an omnivore. I wonder if she eats gems like Spike? I’m already becoming a bad mother.” Fluttershy began to fret.

“There is a packet of papers tucked into the side of the basket, between the basket and cushion. I’m sure everything you need to know is in there. Try not to worry my dearest Fluttershy. Come on. Let’s take her inside and see if we can’t find something she likes.”

“Discord?”

“Yes, Fluttershy?”

“Thank you.”

Discord cringed slightly. It happened every time she said those words. Something inside of him twinged, something unknown, but he always felt a little bad about all of the terrible things he had done.

It wasn’t long before they had the foal situated inside Fluttershy’s cottage. She was sitting in the middle of the floor on her blanket, murmuring and blowing raspberries. Angel was watching her from the corner. The aged rabbit wanted nothing to do with the unknown creature.

“Sweet Apple Acres Apple Butter!” Discord shouted in triumph! “It’s healthy and nutritious.” He stated matter of factly. He was holding a spoon in his griffon like claw and was clutching the jar in his tail.

“Apple butter?” Fluttershy asked.

“We can at least see if she likes it,” Discord said in a confident tone. “Besides, ponies love apples right?”

Fluttershy sat on the floor next to her foal. “OK, Discord, try to see if she will eat some. Apples are good for ponies. She’s part pony. The papers said that she can eat almost anything.” She made a gesture at the papers scattered over the table.

Discord glared at the lid, causing it to unscrew it self and clatter to the floor. A nervous squirrel scampered away, chittering angrily.

“You watch your mouth mister! There are foals in the room!” Fluttershy leveled her gaze at the squirrel, who had taken refuge behind the sofa and was now looking sheepishly at her.

Discord jammed the spoon into the apple butter and wiggled it around. “Want some apple butter?” He asked in saccharin tones. He held the spoon in front of the foal’s muzzle.

She sniffed, leaning forward a bit, her grey draconic eyes crossing slightly as she studied the offered food. A forked tongue slithered out, checking the taste.

She lunged forward with alarming speed, her mouth opening wide, revealing not one, but two rows of teeth, one behind the other. Lots and lots of little jagged teeth. There was a loud “CHOMP!” and Discord was left holding only half of a spoon. The foal chewed thoughtfully, her eyes closed, pleasure on her face.

“I’m going to need more spoons…” Discord uttered in astonishment.

Fluttershy could say nothing as she sat there, frozen in shock.

“Omnivore,” Discord said thoughtfully. “I suppose a silver spoon is a nutritious meal for a growing foal that needs minerals to grow up big and strong.”

“Oh… my!” Fluttershy finally stammered. “Baby was hungry!” She looked at the foal, was waiting for more food, beaming, her long ears perked forward.

“Num!” The foal said.

“Num indeed.” Discord agreed. He held out the remaining bit of spoon carefully pinched between his claws. “Claws are not food.” There was a faint quaver in his voice.

The foal’s tongue shot out of her mouth, wrapped around the spoon handle, and then disappeared back into her mouth. A faint crunching noise could be heard.

“Should she be eating spoons? What if she chokes? Or if the metal cuts her? Is it safe?” There was a faint hint of panic in Fluttershy’s voice.

“Relax my dear…” Discord snapped his claws, causing a pile of spoons to appear on the floor next to him. “Oh look!” He exclaimed, snatching up a golden spoon. “This is from Celestia’s dining table. I’d recognise this gaudy thing anywhere!” He dipped the spoon into the apple butter and then offered it to the foal, who gladly took it with a giggle. “And eating spoons off of the floor is the least of your concerns right now Fluttershy, so don’t worry about that either.” He fed the foal another apple butter covered spoon.

Many spoons later, the foal was slowing down, content to mostly just lick apple butter from the spoon rather than eating it. Her face was surprisingly clean, given the sticky nature of what she was eating. Her tiny little tummy protruded, her claws resting on her paunch.

“And I think she’s about done.” Fluttershy smiled at the foal, a warm feeling in her heart. This was pleasant. A foal… And Discord. Her home was always full of life, but at this moment, more so than ever.

The foal began to smack her lips and rub her tummy. Her face scrunched.

“She looks uncomfortable,” Discord said, his eyes narrowing. “Perhaps too many spoons?”

The foal wiggled, and continued to smack her lips. Her eyes clenched shut. She fell over on her back and flapped her tiny mismatched wings.

“Does she need to be burped?” Fluttershy asked.

“Maybe,” Discord answered. “I can do that I suppose. After all, I was the one who stuffed her full of spoons.” He scooped the foal up and clutched her to his chest. She was warm. Her coat was soft and velvety, and stood out in sharp contrast with her rough scaly patches. Her breath was coming in gasps. He began to pat her on the back, just between her wings.

Nothing happened. He continued patting her back for a while, and then switched to stroking her, his lion’s paw gently stroking down her knobby spine. Her stomach gurgled loudly, a strange resonating draconic gurgle, low in pitch, and somehow terrifying. Fluttershy began to back away, her eyes wide, her wings flared slightly.

“Don’t disappoint me little one!” Discord said with a smile. “Just let it out. What’s a little belching between draconic entities?” He shook her slightly, bouncing her up and down. She whimpered, a sound filled discomfort and pain. “Just let it out and you’ll feel better. There there.” Her tiny claws dug into his flesh, and her body tensed.

“She’s a fire breather!” Fluttershy warned. “When she finally lets go there is going to be fire! Lots of fire!” Her voice rose in pitch from panic.

“Got it covered.” Discord said. “She can’t hurt me, and I’ll contain the flames if there is any sort of ignition. You may want to take her outside in the future if I am not here.”

The foal was trembling now, straining, her eyes clenched shut, and a single tear rolled down her muzzle.

“Just let it go little one.” Discord said soothingly.

There was another ominous gurgle followed by a shrill cry from the foal.

A loud trumpeting blast came forth, not from her mouth, but from her backside. High pitched, a squeal born in the foulest depths of Tartarus, rising in pitch with every second…

And then, ignition. Blue and purple flames erupted from her backside, bathing Discord in a foul flatus driven inferno. The room filled with the terrible smell of sulfur and burning draconequus hair.

Discord’s protective bubble was filled with fire, blue and purple flames filled the bottom of the sphere.

And then, as suddenly as it had started, it was over. The foal was sniffling a bit, a look of relief on her face.

Discord stood there in stunned disbelief. All of the hair on the lower half of his body was gone. He was smoking slightly. singed, his mouth open in an “O” of dawning horror.

“Are you OK?” Discord asked, a slight panic in his voice. “Did you get burned?” He hefted the foal into the air, and turned her backside towards him so he could get a better look. “Ah, good! Scales back there, in a vital area!” He breathed a sigh of relief.

The foal had a second wind. Quite literally. There was a pealing squeal that rose in pitch until it was a sound that only certain animals could hear, the mating season of bats was rudely disrupted, and there was another gout of blue and purple flames.

“I have made a terrible error in judgment.” Discord stood there, still holding the foal. “Note to self. Never point this end at self ever again.”

Fluttershy stared at Discord’s hairless visage, her eyes wide, her mouth open.

“Not one word my dearest Fluttershy. Not one word.” Discord cradled the foal and looked down at her. “If anything else had done this to me, I would have rained fire down upon them. I would have made the oceans boil. There would be swarms of locusts and plagues of lice! But you, you’re adorable. So I’ll let this slide.”

The foal let out a contented sigh, and yawned, revealing her teeth. Her forked tongue lolled out, and she licked away a stray glob of apple butter from her nostril.

He held her out to Fluttershy. “I believe this is yours,” he stated. “I think the worst has passed.”

Fluttershy rose into the air, hovering, and took the foal into her forelegs. The foal immediately grabbed ahold of a hank of mane in its claw and began to giggle.

“I’m going to have to teach you to go outside when you do that.” Fluttershy cooed.

Discord snapped his claws, and then snapped again. He began to snap frantically.

“It’s not growing back!” He shouted.

Chapter 3

Discord had said goodbye and then departed suddenly. The foal was napping after her meal, curled up in a well padded wooden cradle, with her blanket.

And Fluttershy was afraid. Fear flowed through her. Too many fears to even begin to identify them all. Fear of being a mother… And failing. She kept checking the cradle to see if the foal had stopped breathing. And then there was the foal herself. What if she had a little accident while she was sleeping and burned the cottage down? And all of the animals? That would be awful. Fluttershy felt the panic twist her insides. Angel was beside her in the overstuffed chair, clinging to her foreleg. He was getting old, and he had lived far, far longer than any normal rabbit should. He was in one of his rare comforting moods, rubbing his cheek against her, trying to soothe her and make her feel better.

It wasn’t working.

She was committed to this though. The foal was staying. As scary as it might be, Fluttershy knew that she couldn’t live with her self if she gave up now.

She struggled to breathe.

The room she had turned into a nursery was cheerful. Sunflowers had been painted on the walls.

She felt alone. More alone than she had felt in a long time. Painfully alone.

The foal was sucking her claw again. Could it even be called a foal? Fluttershy didn’t know. And a name was needed. Fluttershy began to wonder if she had bitten off more than she could chew. She couldn’t give up, but going forward seemed impossible. Downstairs, the cuckoo clock announced the time. The foal was still breathing. She could hear little slurping sounds. Her obsessions and compulsions began to pile up in her mind. Maybe she had made a mistake. Was she fit to be a mother? A single mother? Discord, for all of his faults, was kind to the foal and had tried to comfort her in his own confusing way. And now he was gone. Mostly hairless, slightly burnt, and gone. The stench of fried draconequus hair still filled the cottage. Fluttershy realised she was squeaking faintly with every breath. She struggled to take a deep breath.

And heard a knock at the door. She gazed at the cradle, unsure if she could leave. She stood there, frozen, unsure of what to do. Finally, she tore herself away, and went downstairs to answer the door.

She hadn’t told anypony what she had done. Not one word had been said to anyone. She just couldn’t. Only Discord knew. She tensed as she neared the door, knowing that in just a few moments, there was going to be a panicked explanation. She contemplated not opening the door. There was another knock, louder this time. Why couldn’t she have told her friends? She didn’t know. Part of her worried that her friends would try to talk her out of it. To get her to be reasonable. At least that is what she told herself. Why had she convinced herself of that? She didn’t know. She stood at the door.

“Fluttershy?” The voice belonged to Twilight Sparkle.

Fluttershy pulled open the door and did her best to hide her expression.

Twilight looked at her for a moment, her ears swiveling forward. “Fluttershy,” she asked, “Are you alright? You look awful. I heard that you had a visitor earlier. Did something go wrong?”

Fluttershy made no reply, she just stood there, breathing heavily, trying to hold off the panic.

Twilight pushed her way through the door and gently brushed a wing against Fluttershy’s face.

“You can talk to me you know, I’m your friend. I know there is something wrong. What is it? Or am I going to have to get the others and we all take turns prying it out of you?”

Fluttershy’s gaze fell, her wings drooped to the floor, and her ears sank down beside her face. She took a deep breath.

“Follow me upstairs,” she said finally. “It will be easier to show you.”

Twilight Sparkle stood in silence in the nursery. She had read the papers, looked in the cradle, and was now taking it all in.

Fluttershy had retreated to her overstuffed chair in the corner of the room.

“There’s more,” Fluttershy said, “she is an incendiary creature.”

“A fire breather?” Twilight replied.

“Not exactly.” Said Fluttershy, biting her lip.

Twilight looked confused.

“The other end,” Fluttershy mumbled.

Twilight began to giggle softly.

“It isn’t funny!” Fluttershy said in a harsh whisper. “She burned most of the hair right off of Discord and would have set my cottage on fire. And she ate over a dozen spoons!”

Twilight had fallen to the floor, her hoof stuffed into her mouth, trying valiantly to make as little noise as possible. Her whole body shook with laughter.

There was a snort from the cradle.

Fluttershy was on her hooves in a second, crossing the room. She rose into a hover, and lifted the foal from the cradle.

“Did we wake you?” She cooed.

The foal yawned. She then began to squirm and wiggle.

“Pee pot!” She squeaked.

Fluttershy took off for the bathroom.

It had taken a while for Twilight to compose herself. She was mostly OK now, but still occasionally let out a giggle or a small snort. Fluttershy was still in the bathroom with the foal. She could hear words of praise and encouragement, and finally a small “Yay!” The door opened, and Fluttershy came back into the nursery. She set the foal on the floor.

Twilight was able to get an up close look at the foal. She walked around her a few times, sniffing her, and even nuzzling her a few times with her nose, causing the foal to giggle.

“I don’t see what the big deal is. You know that we’ll all help you, right? You are not alone Fluttershy.” Twilight laid down on the floor, next to the strange foal. It wobbled over to her on trembling little legs.

Fluttershy laid down on the floor as well. Angel kept his spot on the chair.

“I wish you would have said something to me. I would have helped you.”

“I thought if I said anything that you would try to talk me out of it.”

“Why would I do that?”

“I do not know.” Fluttershy closed her eyes and pressed her nose into her foal, breathing in its scent. “I guess I get strange thoughts sometimes. I talk myself into things.”

“I know how that is.” Twilight said. “I’ve had those moments. I can really get myself worked up over nothing.”

Twilight winced as the foal gripped her ear in her claws. “Easy there. Don’t pull.” The foal had lifted itself up and was using Twilights head to balance itself on two legs. “Spike used to do the same thing when he was little.” Twilight said wistfully. “I am going to have to bring Spike by for a visit. I’m sure he’ll adore her. And everypony else as well. Pinkie is going to have to throw you a foal shower just like she did for Applejack. She’s going to be disappointed you didn’t tell her in advance.”

Fluttershy said nothing, but there was a smile forming on her face. She felt better. She reached out with a wing and tried an experimental tickle on the foal.

She promptly fell onto her backside and then collapsed onto her back with the giggles, squealing, squirming, and trying to get away.

“So she eats spoons, huh?” Twilight asked.

“Crunches them right up.” Fluttershy replied.

“Spike will finally have somebody to share a meal of gems with.”

“Does Spike still get lonely for other dragons?” Fluttershy asked.

There was a long silence.

“I think Spike has given up on other dragons. I don’t think he likes how they act. Visiting the other dragons changed him. Did something to him. I think he appreciates being raised by ponies more.”

“Do you think she will appreciate being raised by ponies?” Fluttershy asked, blowing her mane out of her eyes.

“I think she will appreciate having you for a mother.”

There was another long silence between the two friends, as silent as silence could be with a giggling snorting foal.

Twilight leaned in and blew a raspberry on the foal’s tummy.

“She’s scaly!” Twilight exclaimed. “Like Spike. Only her scales are a bit scratchier.”

Fluttershy pressed her muzzle into the exposed tummy and blew a raspberry, causing the foal to squeal.

“So, she shoots dragonfire out of her backside…” The statement lingered in the air, much in the same way that the scorched smell of draconequus hair lingered. “Fire training Spike was no easy task. He still has accidents. And I have magic to help me out if something goes wrong. I wonder what I can do to flameproof her room. And your cottage. Tell me, what colour are the flames?”

“Blue and purple.” Fluttershy replied. “And Discord couldn’t make his hair grow back.”

“Well yeah, “Twilight replied. “That much is obvious. She has nullfire.”

“What’s nullfire?”

“Well, it is theorised that dragons evolved nullfire to deal with unicorns and other powerful magical beings and creatures. It rips through magical defenses. It dispels magic. Well, most magic. Very powerful magic might stand a chance. She’s young. When she gets older, her nullfire could become very powerful. It could be very useful in dealing with pockets of bad magic, curses, or enchantments of a dark sort.”

Fluttershy said nothing, a thoughtful look on her face.

“Going to make it very difficult to fireproof your cottage. Not impossible. She is young, and I am an alicorn now. It will be a good test of my abilities. If I can manage.”

“Twilight?”

“Yes Fluttershy?”

“Thank you for making me feel better. I needed that. I was letting my thoughts run away from me and wreck what supposed to be a great day.”

The foal was on her back, now sucking on the end of her tail. Twilight began to examine the pale blue and leathery draconic wing.

“She has a digit.” Twilight pointed with her hoof. “See, right there, on her central knuckle. A short stubby little finger that can be used to pinch things or pick up small things. Luna’s lunar pegasi use them to buckle on their armor. With her griffon claws, her dragon toes, her tail, and her digit, she will be able to hold, grasp, and manipulate all sorts of things. Spike can pick up and hold things with his hind feet.”

“And her feathery wing.” Fluttershy added. “Some pegasi become very good at feather manipulation. Twilight, do you think she’ll be able to fly?”

Twilight shrugged. “Maybe. It is possible I suppose.”

“Twilight?” Fluttershy asked, “do you think you could bring our friends around later this afternoon? To meet the foal. If you wouldn’t mind. If that would be OK…” Her voice trailed off. “I don’t want to leave her, but I do want the others to know.”

“Sure,” was Twilights reply. “I think I could help with that.”

Chapter 4

It was pleasant outside, the shadows from the Everfree lengthening in the afternoon light. The foal seemed to be enjoying herself, laying in the grass and watching clouds. She was smiling, a terrifying sight, her tiny maw full of needle-like teeth. Fluttershy was content. There has been another little fanny burp, blue flames and all, and Fluttershy had done her best to praise the foal and encourage her to do it outside. The black scorch mark in the grass nearby being the only real damage. The foal seemed to understand that her emissions were dangerous, Fluttershy could only imagine what might have happened in the orphanage. The foal was genuinely terrified of her own flaming blasts, and Fluttershy’s encouragement had done wonders. Potty goes in the “pee pot” and “fanny burps” go outside. The foal had seemed to get some sense of understanding of this, staring up at Fluttershy wide eyed, ears forward, an attentive look on her face.

“HIYA!” Said a voice directly behind her.

Fluttershy nearly swallowed her own tongue as she sucked in her breath sharply.

“P-P-Pin-Pinkie Pie you shouldn’t scare ponies like that…” Fluttershy stammered.

“When I heard I came. I couldn’t help it! I couldn’t wait for the others. I’m sorry!” She paused and drew in a long breath. “What is she?” Pinkie snorted for punctuation. “Have a pacifier!” She held out a pacifier with her hoof.

The foal looked at the pacifier, sat up, leaned in, and sniffed it. Her ears fell back against her head, ruffling her feathers. Her nose crinkled slightly. Her lips parted, and her forked tongue darted out, licking the pacifier once, then twice. And then her tongue coiled around the pacifier, snatching it away, where it disappeared into her mouth. There was a faint crunching sound.

“You ate the pacifier!” Pinkie exclaimed. “She ate the pacifier! Is that safe?” A look of concern shadowed Pinkie’s face. Her muzzle scrunched.

“She was eating spoons earlier.” Fluttershy commented casually, as if this was something she said every day. “And apple butter.” She paused… “Oh, and when I brought her outside, she ate a mossy rock.”

Pinkie began to bounce in place. “Have another pacifier!” She held out her hoof, another pacifier held out, brought out seemingly from nowhere.

The foal’s tongue shot out, snatched the offered pacifier, and made it disappear.

“That’s adorable!” Pinkie exclaimed in a loud voice.

Unable to contain her excitement, Pinkie snatched up the foal in her forelegs and began to bounce and dance around on her hind hooves.

“You’re adorable!” Pinkie blurted out, dancing around, and making the foal giggle.

“Don’t shake her too much,” Fluttershy warned. “She’s a little gassy.”

“Gassy is OK!” Pinkie said enthusiastically. “Nothing wrong with a little fart!”

Fluttershy scowled, and was unsure of what to do next, warn or scold.

“Fart!” The foal said.

Fluttershy’s scowl intensified.

“Pinkie, when she passes gas, flames shoot out of her backside. Dragonfire.” Fluttershy took a deep breath, anticipating Pinkie’s reaction.

“SHE FARTS FIRE?!” Pinkie became still, standing on her hind hooves, holding the foal. “It felt like I did that once after I drank the rainbow juice in the weather factory.” Pinkie set the foal down in the grass.

“Fart!” The foal announced.

Fluttershy shook her wings in frustration. She was not fond of four letter f-words.

The foal began to rub her tummy and her face scrunched into a scowl.

“Always happens after she eats.” Fluttershy said. “Here we go again. Come on little one, it is OK. We are outside. You can let it out. Come on.”

Pinkie Pie backed away, her Pinkie sense tingling in alarming new ways.

“Fart.” Pinkie said encouragingly.

The foal opened her eyes slightly. “Fart?” She asked.

Pinkie pointed her fore hoof at her backside and blew a raspberry. “Fart!” She giggle-snorted.

The foal learned over slightly and strained. There was a cute little grunt, followed by a gurgle from deep within her belly. “Fart?” She asked again, pointing at her tummy.

“Yes!” answered Pinkie.

Fluttershy nodded. “Now be mommy’s good girl and let it go while we are outside, where it is safe.” She paused for a moment, reflecting on her own words. Mommy’s good girl.

There was a sound like a tearing tapestry, followed by sound like a tuba being sneezed through by a manticore. Flames erupted and scorched the grass. The foal wiggled away from the burning patch. “Fart!” She said proudly.

“Good girl!” Fluttershy cheered, as Pinkie stood in total silence, her mouth hanging open, one eye wide, the other eye narrowed. One ear drooped.

“That… Was… AWESOME!”

That snapped Pinkie out of her shocked silence. “Hiya Dashie!”

Rainbow Dash stood where she landed, nodding her head. “I had heard you had a special delivery ‘Shy.”

“Hello Rainbow.”

“So why didn’t you tell me about this ahead of time?”

Fluttershy said nothing.

“She eats pacifiers!” Pinkie exclaimed. “And spoons!”

“What is she?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Oh,” said Fluttershy. “I checked the box that said “other” and the agency brought her to me.”

“But what is she?” Rainbow Dash asked again.

“Does it matter?” Pinkie shrugged. “She’s cute!”

“I just want to know what she is so I know what to call her!” Rainbow Dash protested. “How else am I going to be able to brag about her to other ponies?”

“She’s a foal.” Fluttershy said in a soft but firm voice. “My foal.” She added. “What she is called isn’t important. What is important is what she is.”

“Well, what is she?” Rainbow Dash said impatiently.

“Fart!” The foal announced suddenly.

Rainbow Dash chuckled while Pinkie snorted. Fluttershy scowled.

“She is what she is Dashie. I think that is all that matters really. But she needs a name!” Pinkie looked down at the foal and then flopped down into the grass. “Hi!”

“Hi hi!” The foal returned.

“I remember when the Cake twins were this age. They were soooo cute.” Pinkie pulled the foal into a hug as she rolled over on to her side. “But they didn’t eat pacifiers.” She cuddled the foal in her forelegs, hugging her close. Fluttershy laid down on the grass beside her.

“Rocket is a good name.” Rainbow Dash suggested.

Her suggestion was met with two sour stares from both of her friends.

“No, really!” Rainbow Dash protested. “Just think about what will happen if she does that while flying! It’d be awesome!”

Fluttershy just shook her head, her ears drooping. “Awful.” She muttered. “Just awful.”

“They grow up so quickly,” Pinkie interjected. “Seems like they become yearlings in the blink of an eye, and then they are off and running. Buhbye!”

“Buh-buh-bub-bye.” The foal repeated. It wiggled free from Pinkie’s grasp and waddled over to Fluttershy. “Hi hi!”

“Oh my… I don’t know what to say.” Rarity stood on the path, a short distance away. “Looks like Discord.” She raised her head high and gazed upon the foal. “Applejack isn’t going to make it. Neither is Twilight. Applejack can’t get out of bed, poor dear. After giving me the message, Twilight went back to comfort Applejack. Applejack is as big as a giant pumpkin!”

“Poor Applejack,” Pinkie sniffed. “She’s been miserable. She can barely lift a hoof to help out and she hates that.”

Rarity held up a basket with her magic. “I brought a little something for this occasion, to make up for the foal shower that somehow I had missed. I’m guessing the invitations were never sent out?” A faint smile spread over Rarity’s lips.

“Hi hi!” The foal said. “Fart!” It added. “Bub-bub.” It finished.

Rarity gasped. “Pinkie Pie! This must be your doing.”

Pinkie covered her face with her hooves.

“How uncouth! How could you say such a thing! Poor Fluttershy must be mortified every time that word is uttered.”

“But the foal farts fire!” Pinkie blurted out in her own defense.

“Yeah!” Rainbow Dash added. “She shoots dragonfire out of her balloon knot.” She added with a chuckle.

“Bawoon hot?” The foal repeated.

Rarity shook her head as Fluttershy scowled. “You both are horrible.” Rarity said in wounded tones.

“Anyway, I brought tarts and a selection of candies from Bon Bon’s shop.” Rarity said as she set the basket down.

“Tarts farts!” The foal rhymed. “Fart tarts?” She inquired.

“Sweetie Belle had the same fascination with that word after she heard it from father. Drove mother crazy.” Rarity pursed her lips thoughtfully. “One day she fed Sweetie Belle a lunch of pureed brussels sprouts and broccoli. She then left her with my father to foalsit while we went out to the department store to do some shopping. When we came home, every window in the house was open, and father was quite frazzled. Mother taught me that a mare corrects through gentle and subtle means.” Rarity sighed. “Father called her “Squeaky Belle” for the longest time, which drove mother crazy. Father insists that my mother’s special lunch is what caused Sweetie Belle to have a green tint to her magic.”

Rainbow Dash was on her back, clutching her stomach, and laughing.

“You would laugh at that Rainbow Dash. You probably still ask Scootaloo to pull your hoof.” Rarity chided.

“Of course I do. And she’s asked me to do the same. Now I call her “Squirt” for very different reasons.” Rainbow Dash collapsed into a fit of guffaws, and Pinkie began to giggle.

“There will be no hoof pulling Rainbow Dash!” Fluttershy insisted. “Not around my foal.”

“Hoofy!” The foal exclaimed. She waddled away from her mother at a brisk pace.

Fluttershy raised her head. “Going somewhere?” She asked.

The foal stood some distance away. She raised her tail and cocked out one hind leg. A look of concentration appeared on her face.

“Good girl!” Fluttershy said. “Going over there where it is safe. It’s OK, let it out.”

There was a strange squelching noise deep within the foal’s insides. Her wings fluttered slightly, and she struggled to balance on three legs.

“Ow!” She uttered. She shook her raised leg.

Rarity stood back watching, a look of horror on her face.

The foal strained, and was finally rewarded with a nearly silent blast, its presence made known by the cloud of blue and purple flames.

“Ooh!” The foal said as she scampered away from her own backdraft.

“There has to be a more lady-like way of doing that!” Rarity exclaimed.

Chapter 5

It was now the third day. On the second day, Fluttershy had found a package filled with assorted silverware and tied with a blue ribbon left by her door. The foal had rapidly learned to ask to be let outside when the need arose. Thankfully, she hadn’t tried to eat any of the animals, and for this, Fluttershy felt grateful. She had however, managed to catch Angel and had cuddled him well past the point of annoyance. The wizened rabbit could only huff and sigh with no chance of escape. So far, there had been no fires, with only one little accident indoors. Fluttershy had been quick enough to set the foal in the bathtub before ignition.

And no name had presented itself.

Today promised to be troublesome. A dark cloud rumbled over the Everfree, too large and dangerous for the weather pegasi to deal with. The decision had been made to allow the storm to run its natural course. The chickens were in their coops, the animals were secured in sheds and shelters, and Fluttershy had done her best to try and prepare.

Storms terrified her. This caused her no small amount of guilt and shame as a pegasus.

It would make it difficult for the foal to go outside if the need arose. Fluttershy pulled the foal closer to her chest. She was lying on her bed. She was worried that the foal would be terrified as well, as most foals were frightened of storms. The foal was burbling and sometimes blew a raspberry. There were blocks on the floor, another gift from Pinkie. Several of them had been eaten.

She wondered if she was wrong for feeling this way, but Fluttershy took a great deal of comfort in knowing that her foal would never go hungry. The entire world was made of food it seemed. Rocks, spoons, clawfuls of dirt, blocks, pacifiers, and even a wooden chair, cushion and all. There had also been a bug. A large centipede, with too many wiggling legs. She had slurped it up like a noodle after it had startled her mother.

As good as this felt right now, Fluttershy couldn’t help but feel that something was missing. She didn’t know what it was, but she could feel it nonetheless. Maybe it is just the storm, she thought to herself. Nerves, she reasoned.

The foal squirmed and wiggled. “Blocks!” She shouted.

Fluttershy reluctantly got up to set her back down on the floor, and as she did so, she checked on Angel in his basket in the corner. He was sleeping, his chest rising and falling.

“Please don’t eat the blocks darling,” Fluttershy said in gentle tones. “If you do, you’ll have nothing to play with. And, they make you gassy.”

“Fart!” She replied.

“Fanny burp?” Fluttershy countered hopefully.

There was a terrifying crack of thunder, which caused Fluttershy to dart under the bed. It was a well practiced move, something that had been done often, her small slender frame easily sliding along the floor. She huddled under the bed, trembling.

The foal waddled toward the window. Reaching up with her talons, she grasped the windowsill and pulled herself into a standing position to look outside.

“Get away from there!” Fluttershy warned. “It could be dangerous!”

The foal didn’t listen. She stood at the window, gazing out. Her eyes went wide as there was a dazzling flash of light that turned the sky an intense shade of purple. A few seconds later, another peal of thunder rumbled. She bounced up and down on her hind legs, her tail whipping around for balance, her talons lodged into the windowsill. Her slitted pupils narrowed, her grey eyes wide, her ears back against her head. Her mouth hung open slightly. She was entranced.

“Oh please come away from there…” Fluttershy pleaded. “I’ll give you all the cookies you can eat.” She struggled to keep her teeth from chattering.

“Sky!” The foal uttered. “Fire!”

There was another sizzling crack of lightning, followed by an immediate deafening blast of thunder that caused the entire cottage to shake. There was a cacophony of squeals, grunts, and the cries of small terrified animals. Fluttershy covered her ears with her fore hooves and struggled to hold back tears. The cottage shuddered as it was buffeted by a strong wind.

Fluttershy began to cry. She couldn’t help it. Try as she might, she couldn’t hold back. It started with one shuddering sob that open the floodgates, and everything else began to slip out.

The foal paused, mid-bounce at the window. “Mama?” She asked.

Fluttershy was so distraught that she hadn’t even heard the first instance of her foal calling her “mama.” Her panic had her in its thrall now.

The foal, hearing the cries, dropped down to all fours and wiggle-waddled over to the bed. Steadying herself on three legs, she lifted the blanket and looked under the bed. Her lower lip began to quiver slightly. “Mama?” She flopped down on her belly and slithered forward under the bed, not understanding what was going on.

Fluttershy became dimly aware of a nose pressing against hers and hot breath on her muzzle. She steeled herself to open one eye, and saw her foal lying nose to nose with her. With a speed born of desperation, her forelegs shot forward, snatching the foal and pulling it to her, the sudden movement causing the foal to yelp in surprise. She felt the prickle prickle of little claws on her neck, grasping her mane, causing a pleasant tingle to travel down her spine.

“Mama,” the foal said insistently. “Hug?”

Fluttershy’s only reply was a loud squeal as the panic seized her body from another crack of thunder.

They huddled together, in the dark space under the bed for what seemed like a long time. Finally, the agonising terror seemed to subside, and the storm, both inside and outside, began to die down, with only the occasional tremor or rumble.

“You’re so brave.” Fluttershy finally managed to say. “That didn’t scare you. I think I scared you more than the storm did. I’m so sorry.” She sniffled.

Outside, the first of the bravest birds began chirping. This calmed Fluttershy a great deal. She could feel a tiny heart beating so very close to her own, little claws wiggling and flexing in her mane, and a slender serpentine tail coiled around one of her hind legs. She took a deep shuddering breath, and then let it own slowly.

The foal wiggled free and returned to the window, looking out. “Out.” She stated, matter of factly.

More birds had joined the chorus. Fluttershy crawled out from under the bed. She wiped her face with her foreleg. The sun was already beginning to shine through the window, peeking through the remainder of the grey clouds. Fluttershy knew that the pegasi would be out soon, cleaning up the remnants, making the day sunny and pleasant again.

Fluttershy rose into a hover and prepared to take the foal outside.

Outside, there was a mess. Leaves and branches were everywhere. The ground had turned into mud, something that distressed the foal. She hissed when her claws sank into the mud, a sound that was definitely not very pony-like. She tried to walk on claw tips, her belly arched up and away from the ground, her tail held high. There was a rude squelch when she stepped into a mud puddle.

“Fart!” She yowled. She made her displeasure known with a trumpeting blast, the flames causing a hissing sizzle from the drenched ground. She quickly wiggle-waddled away from the steaming earth, mewling loudly at each squishy step. She scurried over the muddy ground with surprising speed, finally reaching a tree. She sank her front talons into the bark, braced herself, and then began to scurry up the tree, her hind claws finding purchase in the bark.

She perched in the fork of several branches, surveying everything around her, watching as the yellow pegasus went around checking on the animals. She extended her green feathered wing and gave it a flap, shaking water from it. She scowled. A beetle was scuttling up the tree nearby, out doing beetle errands now that the rains had subsided. Her tongue flicked out quickly and the beetle vanished, the only evidence of its passing were the crunching sounds coming from the strange foal. Looking up from her vantage point, she could see flying figures in the distance. She gave her own wings a few more flaps. She turned her head and looked at her leathery wing, she nosed the membrane and flexed her central knuckle. A bug flew past, or would have, if her tongue had not darted out again. She crunched her snack thoughtfully, examining her world. Her world was wet. And muddy. And she didn’t like that. She didn’t mind the water so much, but the mud was awful. It clung to her feathers and her coat. She didn’t like being dirty. She scraped her claws against the tree bark, trying to rid herself of the last of the mud. A butterfly flew too close, fatally close. The wings were dry and chewy, and sort of stuck in her throat. She pressed a scaly leg against the tree bark and rubbed, trying to get rid of an itch. She shed a couple of scales, revealing new shiny and smooth scales underneath. The rough patchy scales drifted away in the breeze. She sat there, content to watch the pegasus as she freed the strange feathered creatures that ran around crazily on two legs and fussed constantly. A squirrel clung to the bark above her, watching her, its eyes glinting in the sunlight. She looked up at it for a moment, watching its tail twitch, and then returned her attention to the pegasus below. “Mama.” She said to the squirrel, pointing downward with one extended talon. The squirrel looked in the direction she had pointed, chittered in agreement, and then scurried away.

“Where are you little one?” Fluttershy looked around, checking the yard. She felt the first pangs of panic rising in her chest. She heard a giggle, and, turning about, she could not see her foal. “Oh where are you?” She asked. “I can’t take being scared anymore today.” She heard the giggle again and realised it was coming from above her. She craned her head upward. “What are you doing up there? How did you get up there?” Fluttershy took wing and rose into the tree branches.

She hovered just a few feet away from where her foal was perched in the fork of the tree. “Why, you are like a little patch of climbing ivy that goes off and grows when nopony is looking. How did you get up here?” Fluttershy paused, looking at the green feathers in the foal's crest and wing, reflecting for a moment just how much they looked like leaves. “Climbing ivy,” Fluttershy repeated thoughtfully, looking at the foal in the tree. “Off growing up when I’m not looking.”

“Ivy!” The foal repeated.

“Climbing Ivy?” Fluttershy said in a questioning tone.

“Ivy!” The foal replied. “Ivy?” She said, trying to mimic her mother’s questioning tone.

“Are you my little Ivy?” Fluttershy asked.

The foal fell silent, her brow furrowing, her ears pivoting forward, her eyes narrowed. Her muzzle scrunched, and a single insect leg protruded from her lips, still twitching. She scratched her tummy thoughtfully with one free claw.

“Mama has Ivy?” She finally announced after trying to figure out the words.

“Yes, mama has Ivy.” Fluttershy repeated, smiling. “Climbing Ivy.”

“Ivy!” Ivy blurted.

“We need to get you down from there little Ivy. I have some papers to fill out and drop in the mail.” Fluttershy beamed. She felt the name was fitting, somehow, it was just right. Names had their own magic sometimes, strange predictors that had strong influences in the life of a pony, so a good name was important. Ivy was a name that had strong possibilities for growth, and that made Fluttershy happy.

Chapter 6

The knock on the door was sudden. It startled Fluttershy, causing her to drop her knitting. Ivy stopped squeezing poor Angel for a moment to look at the door, her grey eyes wide. She gently placed the rabbit down on the rug. He scurried away as fast as his legs could take him.

“Door!” Ivy exclaimed.

“Yes Ivy,” Fluttershy commented, “door.”

Fluttershy spilled out of her chair, using her wings to push yarn away from her, trying to avoid a tangle. There was another knock. Ivy wiggle-waddled to the door.

Fluttershy made it to the door and paused. “Who is it?” She asked.

“Spike!” Said a voice on the other side of the door.

Fluttershy pulled open the door and hugged the dragon before he had time to react.

“I’m really sorry!” Spike exclaimed. “I wish I could have visited sooner! I had to help Twilight take care of Applejack. And then bad weather happened. Windows broke in the library. The floor flooded. Everything was a mess.”

Fluttershy said nothing, but squeezed Spike again.

Ivy stared at Spike wide eyed, mouth slightly open, multiple rows of teeth visible. Her ears rose to attention and her wings fluttered slightly.

“Hi hi!” Ivy chirped in cheerful tones.

Spike stood there in awe, silent, as Fluttershy slowly let him go. “What are you?” He finally asked. “Twilight told me all about you, but actually seeing you, you’re amazing!” Spike extended his claws, opening them, revealing a small red gemstone. “I brought you a treat.” He held the offered treat forward.

Ivy moved in with her usual curiousity and sniffed.

“You can take it,” Spike announced, “it’s good for you. Dragons need minerals and lots of them. We can’t grow our scales out properly without eating them.” He shook the gemstone gently.

Ivy’s tongue darted out and the gemstone vanished. She sucked on it for a moment as though it was a candy, her face scrunching in pleasure, and then she began crunching in earnest. Spike watched her chewing on the gem. “The red ones are delicious,” he commented, “plus, I think the red ones make your scales extra shiny!”

Spike looked at Fluttershy with concern. “She looks a little patchy. Has she been shedding scales?” He asked.

“Yes,” Fluttershy answered, “she has. She’s been really itchy too.”

“She needs more minerals. I don’t think she’s had enough. I’m sure the orphanage did the best job it could, but her scales shouldn’t look or feel rough and scratchy like hers does. Should be smooth and sleek, like mine. She’s starting to grow in some really good looking scales though, so you are doing something right.” Spike looked at Ivy, who was looking at him hopefully. “Sorry, I don’t have any more.”

“I love Ivy so much, I want her to be healthy.” Fluttershy hugged Spike with her wings. “Thank you.”

“Ivy huh?” Spike said. “You finally have a name?”

“Yes,” Fluttershy replied. “Climbing Ivy. You should see how she can climb trees. She can scurry up the trunk like a squirrel.” For a moment, Fluttershy seemed unusually animated and excited, and then, it was gone as she calmed herself into her more usual tranquil state.

“Nullfire?” Spike enquired, walking into the center of the room and then flopping down on the rug.

“Yes, or so Twilight tells me. I wouldn’t know otherwise.” Fluttershy said as she returned to her chair. Ivy had followed Spike and was sitting on her haunches, gazing at him wide eyed.

“I have balefire. Twilight says if I tried hard enough and focused my attention, that I could make almost anything burn. Celestia enchanted me to send the mail. I’ve been doing it for so long that I forget that it isn’t normal.” He paused for a moment. “Maybe Ivy could help send the mail!” Spike giggled. “The letters might smell a little funny.” Spike chortled and covered his mouth with his claw.

Fluttershy laughed, paused, and reflected upon the fact that she was now laughing at a fanny burp joke. She felt a brief twinge of inner dismay. One more thing she was just going to have to let go of, due to Ivy’s need.

Fluttershy’s inner reflection was interrupted by Ivy suddenly pouncing on Spike. She emitted a small squeak of surprise, which was completely drowned out by Spike’s “Oooof!” Spike struggled to sit up. “She’s got a grip,” he gasped, “she’s strong!” Ivy squeezed. Hugs were her favourite activity, and the purple dragon seemed extra durable, unlike the rabbit, which she had to be careful with, or her mother, who squeaked when squeezed too much.

Spike wheezed when Ivy finally let go. She had retreated slightly, and was now sitting on her haunches, looking at him intently, grinning from ear to ear, her tail swishing. A few stray scales dislodged and floated away.

She cocked her head slightly and looked and Spike. She pointed to one of her scaly legs, and then at Spike. She then pointed at her tail. Her face grimaced in concentration. “Part Ivy?” She asked, her expression quizzical.

Spike nodded slowly. “Yes,” he said slowly, “I’m a dragon. Like you, Ivy.” He stretched out a hind leg and flexed his toes.

Ivy did the same, looking at her clawed foot and Spike’s clawed foot. There were some differences she noticed. She pointed at one of her rear facing toes, and then pointed at Spike’s foot. She tried to snatch her own tail, but it eluded her, swishing away from her grasp. She hissed in frustration. Spike chuckled. After a few swipes, she finally caught her own tail. She held it out and pointed to Spike’s tail with her other claw.

“I don’t have any wings either,” Spike offered, “we are a little different, can you also see what we have in common?”

Ivy nodded and smiled, revealing her teeth. Spike smiled, revealing his own. Every small furry mammal in the room suddenly found a pressing need to be elsewhere.

Spike sighed. “I remember how frustrating it can be, being stuck in your current position,” he grumbled. “we dragons are so much smarter than we might look, and I can remember thinking about all sorts of things and not having the words to say them to Twilight. It gets better though Ivy.”

Ivy nodded thoughtfully, her smile fading.

“I still don’t know what to say sometimes,” Spike continued, “I’m still little and ponies don’t take me seriously sometimes. It can be hard sometimes.” Spike huffed. “The inside grows up faster than the outside I think.”

Spike suddenly became aware of a yellow feathered wing wrapping around him. Fluttershy had used her talent of quiet to creep up on him unnoticed, and was pulling him into a hug. He leaned into her. Ivy took to all fours and lumbered forward, and then plowing into her mother and Spike. The three of them sat there in the silence, embracing one another, quietly enjoying the moment.

Chapter 7

Today was going to be long. Fluttershy knew this, but looked forward to the day’s events. Today, they were going to leave the house, and Ivy was going to make the journey to Sweet Apple Acres. Fluttershy desperately wanted to see Applejack. Fluttershy’s main concern was if Ivy could make the long walk, but Rarity had stopped by the day before and told her that help was coming, and for both of them to be ready. She had also stayed for tea. Rarity had already began to work her magic, trying to teach Ivy the finer points of being lady-like, and Ivy, being a natural mimic, had picked up on Rarity’s mannerisms quickly. Rarity felt hopeful, hearing about Ivy’s extreme dislike of mud. It was, afterall, important to be a lady, and both Rarity and Fluttershy were delicate and graceful mares. Rarity simply could not wait until Ivy was old enough to go to the spa, something that Sweetie Belle was still loathe to do.

Ivy knew something was up. She sat on the floor watching her mother pace about. She occasionally blew a raspberry or mumbled a bit, still trying to make her lips make all of the interesting noises that the larger ponies like her mother made. She held up her left griffon talon and studied her claws, flexing and wiggling her talon-fingers. She marveled at what she could do. Her mother didn’t have claws. This distressed Ivy slightly. But Fluttershy seemed to be able to do things with her hooves. Ivy didn’t understand how. Mama had soft wings though, with agile feathers seemed to do almost anything. Tickling, hugging, knitting, Ivy liked to watch to see how wings worked, and she tried to mimic those motions with her own feathered wing. Her crest rose, giving her a vaguely mohawked appearance, indicating her budding excitement. Her tail booped her in the nose. She snarled a bit, and then tried to catch the offending appendage. It swished out of her reach. It would be back. It always came back. It would annoy her yet again and then whip out of her reach. She had been bathed the night before, and her blue coat was silky and shiny. She smelled funny. Something sweet clung to her hide. She rubbed her leathery draconic wing against her soft and silky ribs, feeling her own softness and delighting in the sensation. She trailed her right claw down her belly, feeling her soft and silky coat, until her claw reached between her hind legs. Her claw lingered where the scales took over. It had been horribly itchy down there, but the bath and vigorous scrubbing had helped. New scales were down there in that delicate place. She angled her talon away from her hide, angling the claw away, allowing herself to feel the place where fuzzy and scales mingled with her fleshy talon-tip. She giggled, feeling a tickle. Her backside was becoming better armored, and the flames didn’t burn as much when they exited. She barely felt any heat at all now, more of a pleasant warmth, like she had felt when sitting in a bath of hot water. She liked baths. She liked being clean. She really liked being scrubbed. It was like being hugged all over.

A rabbit, but not Angel, was sitting on the floor beside her. She had not noticed it approaching until now. She had been distracted. It was looking at her, curiously. Ivy understood on some deep level the rabbit’s concern. The rabbit was a grass eater, and Ivy was something else. Something that might eat a rabbit. Not that she would. That would be awful, Ivy decided. There were plenty of things to eat, even fleshy things, she pondered, remembering the fish her mother gave her. The rabbit inched closer, nose twitching, ears back. Ivy’s tail shot out, wrapped gently around the rabbit, lifted it, and dropped it into her waiting forelegs. She hugged. There was a soft surprised “squeak!” from the rabbit as it accepted its fate. It had ventured too close, something the other rabbits had warned it not to do. Ivy appreciated her tail for a moment. For all of its annoyances, it occasionally did something to make up for being a pain.

Angel was watching all of this with sadistic glee from the sofa. The strange foal had no respect for his age or his dignity. It was nice to see her squeezing somebunny else, somebunny not him.

Ivy gently set the rabbit down, patted it once on the back, and watched it scurry away. Ivy became aware that Fluttershy had stopped pacing, and was smiling at her, beaming about something, her strange flat peg-like teeth visible. No wonder mama had trouble eating, and only ate soft foods. Her teeth looked worn away and useless. No points anywhere. Ivy ran her forked tongue over her teeth, feeling the points, and taking comfort that her teeth were fine.

Fluttershy watched Ivy staring at her intently, wondering what Ivy was thinking. She reflected on what Spike had said, about not being to communicate his thoughts, not being able to express his feelings. She became aware that Ivy’s intense stares meant that she was thinking about something, probably something profound that she had no ability to express. She felt a brief pang, and thought once again about Spike’s comment on how the inside grew faster than the outside. She watched Ivy lick her teeth and there was a brief look of relief on the foal’s face. She wondered what Ivy had been thinking. It was easy to figure out animals, most of the time. Most of them had rather simple minds, and their wants and needs were relatively few. It was part of Fluttershy’s ability to communicate with them. Ivy was complex. The past few days had given Fluttershy some insight, but Ivy was still mostly a mystery. Fluttershy had reflected on this while lying in bed, trying to sleep. Griffon, pony, dragon, all of which had unique mindsets, all merged, making it difficult to figure out where Ivy had drawn her emotions and her thinking from. Clearly, there was a lot of dragon. Spike had shown that. Ivy was like a lake with still waters. A smooth surface that hid surprising depth.

Fluttershy was jolted from her reverie by Ivy plowing into her leg. She felt a squeeze. She sat back on her haunches and pulled her foal in for a hug. Some things, Fluttershy thought, didn’t need words to understand, and she was grateful for those things. Ivy’s strongest feelings could be expressed physically, at least for now. Fluttershy felt Ivy’s forelegs circle her neck and squeeze gently, Ivy’s claws combing into her mane. Fluttershy giggled as the tingles set in. Ivy dangled from her mother’s neck, her hind legs kicking, unable to reach the ground, Fluttershy’s foreleg wrapped around her middle and clutching her tightly to her chest. As precious as this moment was, Fluttershy could not help but feel that something was missing.

Her moment of reflection was interrupted by a knock on her door.

Chapter 8

There was another series of knocks at the door. Insistent knocking. Fluttershy opened the door. Three ponies smiled at her. Ponies that she had watched grow, ponies she had foalsitted, ponies were now squirming impatiently outside her door.

“Hi!” They said in unison. “Help has arrived! Cutie Mark Crusaders foal hauling service!”

“You practiced that didn’t you?” Fluttershy said, a smile spreading on her lips.

“Yeah, we did,” Applebloom said, “with friends like Scootaloo, we have to work hard to get things right.”

“Hey!” Scootaloo gave Applebloom a shove, causing her to collide with Sweetie Belle.

The Crusaders paused, frozen in their scuffle, as they became aware at Ivy was staring at them.

“Oh my gosh!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed. “She’s adorable!”

Ivy darted behind her mother.

Fluttershy looked at the three fillies. They were all at that awkward stage, not quite adults, but no longer little fillies.

“Hi hi?” Ivy’s voice came out from behind Fluttershy.

“Hi!” Said Scootaloo.

Ivy stepped out, moving forward cautiously.

“I think we were being a little bit obnoxious,” Applebloom commented, “and spooked her.”

Ivy pushed her way out the door, hurrying outside. “Go out!” She explained as she scurry-hurried away.

“Oh my,” Fluttershy said, “she’s got to go.”

“Rainbow Dash told me all about this!” Scootaloo said.

A safe distance away, Ivy let loose with an indigo fiery blast.

The Crusaders were awed into silence.

“Good Ivy!” Praised Fluttershy.

“Ivy good!” Ivy replied.

Scootaloo pointed to a wagon parked nearby, hitched to her scooter. “We’re good to go any time you are,” she explained, “and I promise, I’ll stay at sane speeds.”

Fluttershy looked at the wagon, and then at Ivy. She felt a twinge of panic, Scootaloo was fast, and Scootaloo’s idea of sane speed was probably different than what Fluttershy believed was a sane speed. She was about to protest, but remained silent. Ivy would probably enjoy the ride. She knew Scootaloo would be careful. Scootaloo worked to deliver baked goods for Sugarcube Corner now, and her deliveries were never damaged. Cakes and baked goods were far more delicate than Ivy was.

“OK.” Fluttershy consented.

“Sweetie Belle, you owe me five bits!” Scootaloo said, laughing.

“Oh come on!” Sweetie protested. “Even Applebloom said she’d never agree.”

“Pay up horn head.”

“Later.” Sweetie agreed. “Do I look like I am carrying bits?”

Fluttershy took to the air, flying over to collect Ivy. “Ready to go for a ride?” She asked.

“Ride?” Ivy asked.

Fluttershy scooped up Ivy and deposited her into the wagon. “Sit right there and hold on Ivy.” Ivy gripped the edges of the wagon with her talons. Fluttershy hovered near.

“Ready to go girls?” Scootaloo inquired.

“Any time.” Applebloom replied.

“I’m good for a run.” Sweetie Belle added.

Scootaloo mounted her scooter and flared out her wings. “Hold on Ivy, we are good to go!”

Scootaloo’s wings buzzed, and her scooter lurched forward. The wagon jolted into motion, causing Ivy to grunt. The forward motion smoothed out and they began to pick up speed, with Fluttershy flying close behind, ready to catch Ivy at any moment. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were trotting on each side.

Ivy was flying. She felt the breeze caressing her body, ruffling her feathers, and tickling her nose. She spread her tiny wings and flapped. She gripped the edges of the wagon, securing herself with her claws. Her crest rose with excitement. She leaned her head into the wind. Her tail whipped in the breeze behind her. The two ponies on either side of her were smiling at her, their hooves clopping on the road. She could feel the wind on her wings and something in her chest ignited, a warm feeling that spread quickly through her whole body. Out of everything she had experienced so far in her short life, this was the best so far. Even better than bathtime.

Fluttershy flew just behind Ivy, watching her foal. Ivy was having the time of her life.

“Scootaloo,” Fluttershy said, trying to make her voice heard over the wind, “I think you can go just a little faster.”

Scootaloo’s wings blurred a bit more, and the scooter surged forward. Ivy reacted to the speed with a squeal and a giggle. Her wings flapped faster.

Ponyville was rapidly approaching.

“I’m in a hurry to get to Sweet Apple Acres,” Fluttershy insisted, “I don’t want to be rude to anypony, but I don’t want to stop. There will be time to introduce Ivy to the townsponies later.”

“Gotcha!” Scootaloo replied. “Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, make sure I have a clear path through town!”

Applebloom and Sweetie Belle broke away, running ahead. “Beep beep!” They shouted together.

Rainbow Dash swooped down from the clouds.

“Hi ‘Shy!” She shouted. “Hi Ivy!”

“Hi hi!” Ivy trilled.

Ivy was thrilled. There were ponies all around her. The colourful pony had joined mama. And she was flying. She was getting a little tired though, her wing joints beginning to ache. She started to pant a bit. She eased off on her flapping.

“Spike told me her name!” Rainbow Dash said. “It’s awesome! Climbing Ivy!” She rolled through the air effortlessly. “I’ll have a buddy to take naps in a tree with me!”

She swooped down, flying directly above Ivy. “One day I’m going to teach you how to fly Ivy.”

Fluttershy watched the ponies as they raced through town. Some stared. Others offered only a passing glance. Others waved. A bright pink pony began to bounce in place, her face beaming, her curly frizzy mane bobbing. After a few bounces, she took off in a bouncing run to intercept the fast moving group.

“Hi Ivy!” Pinkie giggled. She bounced along with the group with practiced ease.

“Hi hi!” Ivy answered.

“We almost have a parade,” Sweetie Belle observed, “we need a horn section.”

“We have a unicorn!” Applebloom offered.

Sweetie groaned. “That’s awful!”

“I’ve got to get back to baking!” Pinkie lamented, breaking away from the group.

“And I have weather duty.” Rainbow Dash added as she too, began to pull away.

Scootaloo blasted past Mayor Mare, who stood back wide eyed with shock. “Obey the speed limit!” She shouted.

“Maybe tomorrow!” Scootaloo replied. “You don’t complain about my speed when I bring you your frosted cookies!”

The edge of town rapidly approached. Their passing had probably set off a commotion in town, which caused Fluttershy some worry. She would deal with it later, but she suspected many knocks on her door in the future. How long before Ivy could answer the door she wondered.

Ivy folded her wings to her sides. Her tongue flapped in the breeze along side her, freakishly long in a way that only dragon tongues could be, the forked tip waving near her wing joint. She was panting, her eyes wide with excitement, her talons locked onto the edges of the wagon. She was in no danger of falling out. Her grey eyes darted around in all directions, trying to take in the world around her. A flying bug was sucked into Scootaloo’s airstream, and Ivy’s tongue sprang to life, snatching it out of the air before it blew past. She crunched her well earned treat.

“Nature is so fascinating!” Fluttershy remarked.

“Bug!” Ivy shouted.

Ivy’s tongue returned to flapping in the breeze behind her.

The smell of apples filled the air now, causing Ivy to sniff as the landscape hurried past. There was a hill ahead, and Scootaloo picked up speed in anticipation.

“Almost home!” Applebloom announced.

“Home sweet home!” Sweetie Belle agreed.

“You don’t live here!” Applebloom retorted.

“I might as well live here,” Sweetie replied, “I spend most of my time here. The clubhouse is my second home.”

“You two are sappy!” Scootaloo said breathlessly.

Applebloom slowed, coming up beside the wagon.

“Hey Fluttershy, do you think Ivy will get a cutie mark?” Applebloom inquired. “She’s part pony! Ponies get cutie marks.”

“I don’t know Applebloom,” Fluttershy admitted, “she might. I hope she does.”

“But not too soon,” Applebloom commented, “the real fun is the journey, finding out all of the things you can be good at. I think when ponies do finally get their mark, most of them stop trying new things and learning new skills.”

“That’s very wise Applebloom,” Fluttershy agreed, “I hope you never stop learning.”

“I’m still a blank slate waiting for life to make its mark on me.” Applebloom said sagely.

Scootaloo buzzed up the hill with little effort. Ivy was sitting in the wagon now, worn out, but still having the time of her life. As they crested the rise, a barn came into view, along with corn fields, gardens, and a vast orchard. Scootaloo began to slow down a bit, easing off her speed so she could come to an eventual stop. She was practically coasting now. Ivy was taking in everything around her, her head turning from side to side, her nostrils flaring, sniffing, trying to take everything in. She slurped in her tongue.

Ahead of them, two stallions stood in the yard, a house behind them. One large and red, the other shorter and blue-grey. The red stallion began to trot toward them to greet them, while the other watched the incoming group, his eyes squinting in the sun.

“Big Mac! Stumpy!” Applebloom shouted.

Scootaloo was slowing, coasting, gliding along gently. Big Mac drew near, and finally, he stopped. He looked at Ivy, cocking his head.

“Hi hi!” Ivy waved.

“Howdy do.” The stallion replied.

The ride ended, the scooter and wagon finally coasting to a stop. The house was a short distance away.

“Applejack is inside,” Big Mac said, “upstairs, in her room. In bed.” He turned to look at Stump Puller, and then turned back to Fluttershy. “I’m going to be an uncle.” Big Mac said flatly. He then strode off to the orchard, forever a pony of few words. Ivy watched him go.

“Big!” Ivy observed. “Big big!”

Fluttershy turned to Stump Puller. “Hi there,” she said shyly. “are you excited about being a father soon?”

Stump Puller considered her words for a moment, his eyes focusing on some distant point. He was stubby legged, kind of short really, heavily muscled, blue-grey, and his mane was the colour of autumn wheat. His eyes were green. He finally nodded his head thoughtfully. He turned his gaze to Ivy, studying her.

“Hi hi!” Ivy said, looking at the pony studying her.

Stump Puller said nothing. He moved forward slowly, leaned down slightly, and kissed her on the head, between her horns. He smiled a gentle smile, made a faint knicker, and then trotted off to join Big Mac in the orchard.

“Big Mac is a motormouth compared to Stumpy.” Applebloom commented. “I’ve only heard him say four words since I’ve known him. “

“Really?” Fluttershy asked. “What did he say?”

“Will you marry me.” Applebloom replied. “He said it to my sister. I don’t know if he’s said anything since. He might talk to her in private. He writes real fancy letters though. Applejack told me that. Him and Big Mac have long winded conversations when they are out working. One will raise an eyebrow, the other will make a funny face, somepony’s ear will twitch, and nopony can get a word in edgewise.”

Scootaloo laughed. Sweetie Belle stood panting.

“I’m out of shape.” Sweetie Belle complained.

“Round is a shape the last time I checked.” Scootaloo replied.

“Quiet emu!” Sweetie Belle shrieked.

“Oh, that’s low Sweetie Bulge!” Scootaloo protested.

Sweetie Belle stood at gaped at Scootaloo.

“That was a good one.” Applebloom commented.

“You’re all awful.” Fluttershy said.

“Aw, it’s all in good fun.” Sweetie Belle protested.

“Emu!” Ivy blurted, repeating a new word. She looked at Scootaloo.

“Oh thanks a lot Sweetie Bulge. Look what you did.” Scootaloo winked and blew a raspberry at her friend.

“I’d like to go in and see Applejack now,” Fluttershy interrupted, “I mean, if that’s OK. If you don’t mind.”

“Of course,” Applebloom replied, “that’s why we helped you get Ivy here. And we’ll help get her home too. Later, of course. Applejack has been dying to see you ever since she heard the news.”

“Appleyack.” Ivy interjected. “Appleyack!” She repeated.

“Yeah, my sister can run her mouth,” Applebloom giggled, “Ivy, you’re adorable. Let’s get you inside so you can meet her.”

Chapter 10

The past few days were a blur. Ivy seemed to be growing right before Fluttershy’s eyes, her tail growing longer, her body becoming somewhat more serpentine, her horns maybe becoming a tiny bit larger. She was developing a bit of pudge, a healthy layer of baby fat that she didn’t have before. Her feathers and scales were shiny, incandescent, her coat becoming more and more glossy. Her ears were beginning to sprout tufts of hair near the tips.

Fluttershy yawned. It had been a hard night. New feathers were growing in, on both Ivy’s crest and wing. Ivy had been a bit grumpy at first, and then descended into total misery. Growing in feathers was awful, no matter how old you were. The new feathers carried even more hints of orange.

Fluttershy was preparing breakfast. Oatmeal with apple butter for both of them. Ivy would no doubt find plenty of things to eat later, like rocks, sticks, bugs, and, if she was well behaved, perhaps some of the dwindling silverware that had been left by the door.

Ivy was sitting on the rug, watching various animals scurry around the cottage. They were no longer scared of her and some of them were content to even play with her. At the moment, she wasn’t very playful, mostly just yawning and showing off a terrifying display of dental horror.

As breakfast cooked, Fluttershy wondered how Ivy was able to chomp through almost anything. Or Spike for that matter. Magic teeth? How did she digest what she ate? It was a mystery.

She scooped out a bowl of oatmeal and prepared to feed her foal.

Ivy had eaten the spoon, and then the bowl, not content to lick the sweetness from it. Fluttershy watched the foal as she came in through the door, coming back in from taking care of her business outside.

“Good Ivy!” Fluttershy praised.

“Pony.” Said Ivy, pointing behind her with a claw.

Fluttershy went to the door, looking out, and felt a twinge of panic. There was a flock of incoming ponies in the distance, and she could see sunlight glinting off of armor.

“Come, Ivy, back outside. Let’s find out what they want.”

Ivy was content to return outside, wiggle-waddling out and climbing up on a stump to sit down on her haunches. Fluttershy was close behind. A yellow wing wrapped around Ivy.

Royal guard. And a flight of alicorns. Fluttershy felt a tight feeling in her throat and a twinge in her stomach. Why were they coming here? Ivy wasn’t dangerous, even though some of the townsponies seemed to think so.

They were closer now, close enough for Fluttershy to make them out. No chariots, the Royal Pony Sisters were actually out flying, along with Twilight Sparkle. Celestia flew center, with Luna on her left, Twilight on her right. Two guards up front, two bringing up the rear. They were descending.

The fliers cleared the trees, swooping in low, landing in a clearing a short distance away. Two lunar pegasi, a rare sight in the day, and two solar pegasi, all wearing armor. The solar pegasi came forward with Celestia and the others.

And Ivy went crazy. She leapt from the stump and began to wiggle-waddle around in circles, shouting “Hi hi!” over and over, her voice rising in pitch as her excitement grew.

As Celestia drew near, Ivy bolted, wiggle-waddling as fast as her legs would carry her to Celestia, shouting “hi hi!” the whole time.

She tackled Celestia’s leg and squeezed mightily. “Oh hi hi!” Ivy stammered.

“Hello again little one,” Celestia said in gentle tones, “I’m so glad to see you again.”

Fluttershy bowed slightly, unsure of what to do next. She cleared her throat. “You know Ivy?” She asked, her voice small and weak.

“Yes I do,” Celestia replied, “I helped to deliver her. She should have been hatched from an egg I think.” Celestia paused, looking sad for a moment, and then her face returned to its usual serene state. “But she was birthed. There were complications. I was called.” She sighed, and fell silent for a moment. “I have lived for a very long time, and I have helped to birth many creatures. Ivy was a challenge. I wish I could have done more.” Celestia looked down at Ivy, who was clinging to her leg and looking up. “I am so glad that Ivy has found a home. I was worried. I wanted her to be civilised. Civilisation would be good for her. I was afraid that she would never have a home that would give her the attention or conditioning that she needs, and that we would have to release her out into the wilds to live as a feral creature. It would have broken my heart.”

“Why are you here?” Fluttershy asked. “Why the guard? Why are all of you here?”

“It’s OK Fluttershy,” Twilight replied, “we just need to do a few simple tests, determine a few things, and make a few notes. Nothing bad, I promise.”

“Will it hurt?” Fluttershy asked, the first faint notes of aggression entering her normally dulcet voice. “I… I… I wont allow this to happen if it hurts Ivy.” Fluttershy said defiantly. “She’s not some test subject.”

“It might be uncomfortable,” Luna replied, “but I am hoping nothing will hurt. I want nothing to do with harming a foal. Any foal. Luna turned her gaze toward Twilight and Celestia. “No harm, right?”

“Of course not Luna,” Celestia responded, “we are not here to do harm, but it might cause some mild panic and discomfort.”

“We do need a blood test,” Twilight said, “and that might sting a little.” She looked guilty.

“Blood tests are OK. Sometimes you have to draw a little blood.” Fluttershy’s feathers smoothed a bit from their ruffled state.

Twilight’s head drooped down. “We also need to poke around her backside a bit,” she said in a low voice, “we need to figure out the method of ignition and if it can be controlled.” Twilight paused. “All external of course. Well, at first. If we can’t figure out what causes it, a trip to the hospital might be in order.”

Fluttershy stood resolute, silent, and finally nodded. “I understand.”

“So,” Luna asked, “who has this task?”

The two sisters exchanged a glance with Twilight.

“Oh no,” Twilight protested, “There’s a mostly hairless draconequus running around Equestria somewhere and I am NOT joining him. Besides, I am not the same sort of alicorn as you two. Both of you are far more durable than I am. You’ve had centuries to harden your selves to the abuses of the world.”

Luna and Celestia exchanged glances this time. “I birthed her.” Celestia stated.

“Fine,” said Luna, “I’ll do it. Fetch me some goggles.”

Twilight levitated the protective eyewear from her saddlebags.

“I have a theory,” Twilight offered, “that Ivy’s ignition works in a similar way to dragons. Dragons have two metallic organs in their throat that strike together, igniting the gas. I believe that Ivy’s scales are rubbing together during intense flatus and producing the needed spark, igniting the gasses. All dragons produce flammable gas due to their diets and unique body chemistry. Ivy’s scales are metallic in nature. Dragons are not carbon based lifeforms like ponies are. Well, not exactly. Silicon, boron, and sulfur with a touch of carbon make dragons what they are.”

Celestia looked at Twilight with pride. “Twilight, I do believe that you have become Equestria’s most knowledgeable dragon expert after raising Spike.”

Luna donned the goggles and then lifted Ivy with her magic.

“Woah no!” Ivy exclaimed, her claws not finding anything to grasp. Nothing was holding her. She floated in the air, rapidly becoming terrified. Her tail lashed out and wrapped around Luna’s neck.

“Interesting.” Luna commented. “Independent action, probably due to a separate hindbrain of some sort. She tickled Ivy with her magic, causing the foal to giggle. The tail loosened slightly. “Fine,” said Luna, “cling if it brings you comfort.”

“Ooh, Discord did this once!” Fluttershy warned as Luna lifted Ivy’s hind end into view.

“Interesting.” Luna repeated. “Scales along the insides of her cute little plot furrow, extending outward in a radius beneath her tail. Scales extend along her belly somewhat, down between her hind legs, and along her inner thighs, providing protection.” Luna pulled a set of tweezers from Twilight’s saddlebags. “Her whole tail is covered in scales. She has a soft pelt where a cutie mark could appear, if it does, with scales forming below her hips, completely covering every inch of her hind legs where they extend beyond her body.” Ivy turned her head and was looking at Luna, her eyes narrowed.

“Fart?” Ivy asked, her tone threatening.

“By the stars, no!” Luna begged. She lifted the tweezers.

Luna positioned the tweezers against the extra armored scales directly under Ivy’s tail. She scraped lightly, producing a glowing shower of sparks. Ivy squirmed. “Looks like Twilight was correct,” Luna declared, “When the flatus exits, it causes the scales to rub and strike together, producing potent sparks. Which means that Ivy could probably relax her backside in such a way that it might be possible to release gas without ignition. We’ll have to wait and see.”

Luna lowered the foal to the ground, Ivy’s tail relaxing its stranglehold. Ivy scurried away to a safe distance, turned, and farted, releasing a frightening cloud of fire. Luna shuddered. Ivy scuttled away from the blast zone.

She turned and glared at Luna, plopping her backside into the grass. She stuck out her tongue and blew a loud raspberry.

“Ivy!” Fluttershy scolded. “That’s not nice.”

“I deserve it.” Luna said. “I went poking around in delicate places. Robbed her of her dignity. Draconic entities are proud creatures. I’m lucky that all I got was a raspberry. Wounded pride is not easily forgiven. Fluttershy, you must remember, she isn’t quite like us, although she is capable of living among us. At least, we all hope so.”

“I am positive that she can.” Fluttershy responded. “I’ve made Discord behave. Mostly.”

“None of us doubt your abilities Fluttershy.” Celestia tone was gentle, calming.

Ivy wiggle-waddled over to her mother and clung to Fluttershy’s hind leg. She glared at Luna.

Luna sighed. “She is going to remember this for a long time,” Luna said, “which reminds me, who is giving her the blood test? I’ve done my job and I still have all of my beautiful coat. I’m done.”

“I’m too pretty of a pony.” Twilight said, backing away. “And too young. I’m not up for being incinerated today, as I’ve stated previously.”

Luna laughed and looked at Celestia.

“Nullfire, Celestia,” Luna warned.

Celestia nodded. Her horn glowed for a moment, opening Twilight’s saddlebag, and pulling forth a large blue sapphire. She also grasped the syringe with her magic.

Celestia extended the sapphire to Ivy, shaking it in the air. Ivy came out from behind Fluttershy, sniffing, her eyes wide and bright. A string of drool dribbled from the corner of her mouth. She sat a short distance away from the sapphire, eyeing it, licking her lips. Unseen, the syringe was levitated around behind her.

Ivy’s tongue shot out to claim the sapphire, but it didn’t budge. It was held in the air by Celestia’s magic. A brief tug of war ensued.

The syringe moved near Ivy’s foreleg, just under her shoulder.

Celestia tugged back on the sapphire, causing Ivy to dig her talons into the earth for traction, her tongue trying to tug the sapphire free. Ivy growled. It was a low frequency rumbling, not something that could come from a pony. It was felt more than heard.

Ivy squeaked for a moment, her eyes going wide with surprise, her ears folding against her head, her crest rising with agitation. The sapphire was suddenly free, and Ivy hauled it in and began crunching after sucking on it for a few moments. She was clearly confused and conflicted. Something had hurt… But she also had her prize, the sapphire. In the end, hunger had won out. Her momentary discomfort was mostly ignored.

Celestia raised the vial of blood in triumph.

Chapter 11

Ivy was in a tree. This was her second happy place, a place where she felt at one with the world. Her clawed toes and talons were getting stronger every day, and more than once her tail had saved her from a nasty fall, leaving her hanging upside down like a possum, and requiring a rescue from her mother.

She looked down on her other happy place, the yellow pony she called “mama.” Anywhere was fine provided the yellow pony was there. Fluttershy was below, feeding her animals, looking after her chickens, and doing mama things. Whatever those things were.

“Shicken!” Ivy exclaimed randomly. The large robin next to her warbled after her outburst. She turned her gaze at the bird. “Shicken?” She asked, pointing a talon. She looked over at the squirrel a short distance away. “Not shicken!” She announced, letting everything around her know that she understood that some things were not chickens.

Ivy giggled when she saw a gander give her mama a goose, causing the yellow wings to extend fully, and yelp of surprise to be exclaimed. Ivy let out her own cry of surprise when she felt something on her head suddenly.

Her eyes crossed, and she looked up, trying to see what was on her head. Her ears flickered, and she felt her feathers getting ruffled. She lifted a her talons to her head and felt something step on to one of her talon-fingers. She lowered her talons to reveal a small brown bird. “Hi hi!” Ivy greeted. One of mama’s many birds, probably a singer. Ivy stared cross eyed at it intently. She restrained the urge to smile. For some reason, her smile scared things away. She didn’t know why.

She lifted her other talons away from the branch, steadying herself on her hind legs, her tail coiled around the branch. She gently stroked the bird, angling her claws away from its tiny body, feeling the feathers on her fleshy talon tips. Birds were too fragile to hug. Too little. Ivy wished that she could whistle like mama did. All she could do was make rude raspberry noises.

The brown bird flew away suddenly. Ivy’s ears perked. She quickly turned her head around, looking for whatever made the bird fly away.

A tall figure entered the yard, and it looked a bit like Ivy. Ivy began to bounce in place on the branch, feeling excitement. “Oh hi hi!” Ivy cried out.

The tall figure looked up at her, as did her mama.

Fluttershy let out a cry of surprise upon seeing Discord. He had hair again.

“It grew back finally,” he said in a low voice, “I’ve never been burned quite like that before. That was interesting!”

“Hello Discord.” Fluttershy began to kick her hoof against the grass.

“Did you name her?” Discord questioned, raising an eyebrow. “Something suitable for the flaming terror that she is?” The draconequus let slip a giggle, his mismatched paw and talons clapping together with glee.

“Climbing Ivy,” Fluttershy answered, “and I think you can see why.”

“Indeed,” Discord responded, looking up again, “don’t fall!”

Discord levitated himself into the tree with Ivy, sitting in the fork of the tree close to her.

“I missed you,” he said, his voice low, “and I’m glad to see you again little Ivy.”

Ivy scooted along the branch carefully to reach the lounging draconequus, her tail securely wrapped around the branch.

“Dearest Fluttershy?” Discord asked.

Fluttershy looked up. “Yes?” She responded.

“I was busy while I was gone. I crossed the ocean! Went deep into the Sea of Grass where the zebras live, kept going to the Forevergreen jungles. And you won’t believe what I saw!” Discord smiled broadly. He took Ivy into his arms when she reached him, hugging her close.

“What did you find Discord?” Fluttershy inquired.

“I found little dragons that look a lot like Ivy!”

“You what?”

“I found a species of tree dragon. I knew I had seen a species of dragon at some point in my life with a rear facing toe on their hind foot to allow for grasping. I just couldn’t remember where I had seen them, or what they were like. I found them again. They’re a little larger than ponies are, intelligent, capable of speech, and even somewhat friendly. At least for dragons.”

Fluttershy stood there, looking up in awe.

“And I found jungle griffons. Front half was like parrot. Green, most of them, like Ivy.” “Discord squeezed Ivy affectionately.

“You went looking for Ivy’s roots?” Fluttershy asked.

“Not exactly,” said Discord, his cheerful expression fading, “I went looking for something else as well.”

“Well?” Fluttershy said, a hint of impatience settling into her voice.

Discord said nothing for a few moments, holding Ivy, he closed his eyes.

“I went looking for the others. Others like me. My kind. Seeing Ivy made me remember them. What few of us there were. We probably started out just like Ivy. Crossbreeds. And when regular species wouldn’t have anything to do with us, we had plenty to do with each other. Doing each other, that is. Once you introduce dragon ancestry, any sort of crossbreeding becomes possible. Even really weird things.” Discord fell silent. He opened his eyes, and looked at Ivy, who was looking up at him. “I think it’s over Fluttershy.”

“What?” Asked Fluttershy. “Over? I don’t understand.”

“My kind. My species. I think they’re gone. I think I’m the last one. It’s over. My kind, most of them were brutes. Barely capable of speech, most of them. Short lives, usually ended by violence. Other species thought we were horrible monsters. We were different. Other species did what they could to kill us. To rid the world of us. We were mongrels that offended the eyes of almost every other species. I grew up during a very bad time for this world. I had something that most of my kind didn’t have though. Magic. I bound myself to chaos magic, as I was not a harmonious creature, not like you ponies are. I delved. I dabbled. I learned to channel powerful magic. I figured out immortality, just like Celestia and Luna. I slowly eased myself into becoming an all powerful being. I slowly built immunity to all sorts of things, until I finally achieved what few do, immunity to death. At least, most types of death. I learned how to not feel pain. I learned how to survive and shape the world until it was something I wanted. But there was one thing that I apparently could not do…” Discord’s voice trailed off. He sighed. He squeezed Ivy again. Her tail was coiled around his lion foreleg. “Seeing Ivy reminded me of why I did what I did, and made me think about where I went wrong. I didn’t mean to become a villain. Honest. I just wanted to protect those who were like me. And at some point, it all went wrong. I’m lonely. I still haven’t figured out how to flush that out of my system.” Discord closed his eyes, leaning his head back against the tree. He sat there in silence.

Something soft and warm brushed up against his cheek and he heard the flutter of wings. He opened his eyes and saw Fluttershy hovering a short distance away, her forelegs wrapped over her muzzle, her ears flat against her head.

“What was that?” Discord asked, all the usual sarcasm drained from his voice.

“I don’t know!” Fluttershy squeaked.

“Is that what I think it was?” Discord narrowed one eye, his own ears perking forward.

“Maybe…” Fluttershy whispered. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me. You looked so sad. And attractive. Something about how you are holding Ivy. How you’ve been kind to Ivy. How you’ve helped me throughout this whole process. And everything you just said. And I wanted to make you feel better. And I wanted to make myself feel better.” Fluttershy’s voice trembled and she fell into silence.

Fluttershy closed her eyes, her muzzle scrunched, and she darted her head forward, smooshing her nose into Discord’s.

“I’m not very good at this.”

“I’m not either. I gave up on relationships over a thousand years ago.”

Ivy giggled as Fluttershy’s mane tickled her cheek.

“You don’t have to be lonely Discord. You know you could stay here. You have in the past. The guest room is still as you left it.” Fluttershy slowly raised her eyes to look into Discord’s eyes.

“Things seem a little different at the moment,” Discord commented, “Your invitation seems a bit more open ended.”

“Oh,” Fluttershy gasped, “it is. I, um, er, well…” she trailed off, her words unspoken.

“Dearest Fluttershy, what are you trying to say?”

“That I hope that you will stay here and move out of the guest room…” her voice collapsed into a squeak.

There was a long awkward silence, the sort of silence that only two socially inept beings can create.

“Ivy needs a father. And something she can relate with. You’re more like her than I am. You could do something wonderful.” Fluttershy paused, becoming reflective for a moment. “Besides,” she continued, “just think about how much chaos could be had raising a foal like her.” Her eyes dropped, and her ears fell along the sides of her head, against her cheeks, embarrassment flooding her face. “Or making a sibling for Ivy. When the time is right. When we know each other better.” Fluttershy’s voice plummeted into a whisper so soft that few creatures could hear it.

Thankfully, Discord was one of those creatures. He sat there, stroking Ivy, silent.

“Why?” Discord asked. “Why me?”

Fluttershy raised her eyes to look at him. “I can’t relate to other ponies that well. Not like I can relate to you. Or Ivy. Or my animals. There is something about you. All of you. I can open up a little and be my self.” Her eyes dropped again. “I can talk to dragons, manticores, and bears, but I have trouble talking to ponies. There is something wrong with me.”

“No there isn’t. And don’t ever say that ever again.” Discord’s voice was uncharacteristically gentle.

He looked at Fluttershy. “You know that I will lead Ivy into mischief, right?”

Fluttershy nodded. “And I also know that you will keep her safe. And that it will only be gentle mischief and mild trouble.”

“That doesn’t sound very chaotic…” he mumbled.

“Then stop to think about all of the trouble that Ivy could get you in, as you try to keep her safe. There is the entire Everfree forest right over there. And she’s bound to slip off sometime and go exploring.”

Discord cringed. “Ivy slipping off, not knowing if she’s alright, wondering if she’s been hurt…” his voice trailed off, and he seemed to have a moment of realisation. He looked down at her. “You wouldn’t!”

“I’m sure she would.”

“Ugh, that’s awful. Is THAT what I do to ponies? Cause that sort of concern? That sort of fear?”

“Yes.” Fluttershy said boldly.

Discord slumped, his tail dropped, his shoulders sagged. “Love is perilous,” he murmured, “I’m not sure that I like it.”

Ivy yawned, her tongue falling out of her mouth. When she finished, she slurped her tongue back in.

“She does that a lot.” Fluttershy commented.

“Fascinating.” Discord replied.

He paused, turning his head slightly, raising his eyes to look directly at Fluttershy. “I’ll stay if you’ll have me.”

Fluttershy nodded.

“What will Celestia say?” Discord thought out loud. “She doesn’t trust me very much. And rightfully so, all things considered. What if she forbids this? What if she thinks I’m hurting you? Or leading you on, or pranking you, or any of the hundreds of horrible things I usually do? What if she thinks I’ll hurt Ivy?” Panic crept into his voice.

“You are going to have to prove yourself Discord,” Fluttershy replied, her voice soft and soothing. “You could go a long ways towards doing that by settling down and helping to raise Ivy. Learn to be responsible. Show that the effort put into rehabilitating you was worth it and what little trust was offered to you was well placed.”

“What if I fail somehow? What if I really really want to do the right thing but I screw up somehow and it all blows up in my face and Celestia hates me? You don’t know her like I do. That mare holds a grudge.” Discord’s face dissolved into a worried scowl.

“If I know that you are doing the best you can and an accident happens or something outside of your control takes place, then I will stay with you and see you through whatever trouble comes. Just try to be good. I know that you can. I’ve seen it.”

Discord looked down at Ivy, and then back to Fluttershy, his features thoughtful.

“I like my eggs poached.” Discord said, a smile cracking on his face.

Discordant Interlude

Discord roamed the Everfree, the very wood that he had helped create. His magic had done this.

His magic.

It had started off small. He had discovered it by accident. A simple twist of fate. After much struggle, more came. The secret, he found, was the pain of others. That was chaos magic. He had roamed the world. Like a thief, he had broken into Tartarus, the prison that the ancient alicorns had created, and he learned from the imprisoned beings within. And then, as a real test of his power, he had broken out. Tartarus could not hold him. Celestia and Luna would discover that later. He had released the denizens of Tartarus during his escape, plunging the world into madness and chaos.

Sweet chaos.

His magic.

With all the horrors of Tartarus loosened, he was free to continue his studies, and the world was full of test subjects. He figured out how to give beings magical abilities. He learned how to take magic away. He could make a pony a pegasus, and the reverse was true as well, he could make a pegasus a plain old pony. Even unicorns weren’t safe from him, or…

His magic.

With his magic, he could do almost anything.

He broke the sun and the moons from their celestial anchors, forever ruining their motion. The damage could not be repaired. He had seen to that.

And those first steps into immortality. Those first few painful steps, learning that anything that didn’t kill him, really could make him stronger. The body had to be destroyed before magic could rebuild it. And then ripped apart again. Little bits at a time, each time coming back a little better than before.

It was nearly too late when the sisters had realised what was happening. They had been too delicate, too careful, just like the other alicorns. They avoided injury. They fled from pain. They were full of weakness, hiding it from the world by calling it gentleness and kindness.

He had destroyed them, those ancient alicorns. How?

His magic.

Their soft living had done nothing to harden their bodies or bolster their defenses. They had came after him, and, one by one, he had obliterated them, their feeble attacks only served to make Discord stronger, burning away his weakness, each time his body coming back even stronger, the previous failing points burned away like so much chaff.

Eventually, there were only two, and oh how the mighty had fallen. Desperation had robbed them of hope, but given them strength. One delved into shadow magic, the other delved into black magic. Shadow magic wasn’t particularly evil, nor was it good. It simply was. But black magic was anti-harmonious. And Celestia had fallen.

He was still able to defeat them. Time and time again, he would be near the point of destroying them, burning them away, singing them, boiling them in acid, drowning them in a boiling sea.

He was perhaps a little arrogant. He didn’t catch on right away what they were doing. He realised it a little too late. They had done what he had done, taking the abuse upon their bodies, using the grievous injuries to rebuild themselves, to shape new flesh, flesh without weakness. The horrors they had endured.

And then he had two nigh immortal foes to contend with, and he only had one ally. One thing he could fall back on. One way to always have the last laugh.

His magic.

He couldn’t kill them. Not anymore. He wasn’t sure how. And they couldn’t kill him. It was horrifying what an immortal being could live though. Celestia had once struck him directly with a solar flare, burning him to a crisp, and scorching a large patch of the planet. It was now the wastelands, down to the south, a huge desert, filled mostly with sand. It used to be filled with trees. She was mad with grief, believing Luna had perished. Discord had been so close to unraveling Luna’s life, breaking her hold on immortality. One more alicorn almost down, with only one left to go.

Luna had lived. Somehow, Luna had lived. Discord had dragged down the second moon from the sky, the small one, the one he could wrest the most control over, and had smashed it into Luna. The blast turned a mountain range into an ocean. The only thing Celestia had found was Luna’s horn, calling it to her with her magic.

Somehow, Luna had managed a miraculous recovery.

Discord could not kill them, so he settled for pranking them instead. He changed their genders. He swapped their precious cutie marks. He tortured their precious ponies. Precious mortal ponies. He had managed to rip away their magic once, their wings, their horns. The sisters had persisted, and discovered the elements of harmony. They restored themselves to their former power and tracked him down. Knowing they could not kill him, they had turned him to stone.

The stoning had only further reinforced his immortality. A thousand years in stone does wonders for the constitution as the body constantly fights back against the stone, trying to rebuild flesh.

His magic.

What good was it?

What did he have to show for it? What great thing had he accomplished? The sisters had built an empire. Carved it from the scorched remains of the burned earth. All he had done is destroy. Ruination.

His magic.

There was one less moon now because of him. The tides have never been the same since. The sea ponies have suffered endlessly. Because of him.

And…

His magic.

And he had suffered too. Why? What did he hope to accomplish? What was there to do now? Return to warring with the sisters? Continue destroying the planet? What about Fluttershy? Ivy? His heart twinged in his chest. There was an odd pain and he found it difficult to breathe. He had nothing to show for his impossibly long life.

His creations had all turned on him, and his greatest prank had almost been his undoing. When Celestia had sent her army of pegasi after him, to buy time so she could go hunting for her precious elements of harmony, he didn’t destroy them. No, he remade them. One huge magical blast, and he tore her precious pegasi away from the sun forever. Where they had once been beautiful, he made them ugly. Where once they could control the weather and hold back Discord’s storms, they lost their ability to manipulate the weather entirely, or to even walk on clouds for that matter. He had made them vile creatures of the night. Who fed on flesh and walked in shadow, hunting the daytime ponies. He tore away their beautiful feathers and gave them hideous bat-like wings. He gave them perfect eyes to hunt in the dark, seeking out their prey. Other ponies.

Until Luna had her way with them. She had turned them against him. And his creations were truly horrible, vile, and hardened against his magic. He couldn’t undo what he had done. Killing them was difficult and time consuming. They weren’t fragile like the pegasi of the day. Killing them required dedicated effort, and they had come at him by the thousands. He made a great accounting of himself before he finally had to retreat, the wretched lunar pegasi becoming his bane. Hideous parodies of their former selves. They reveled in war. It was their bread and butter. And it was Discord’s undoing. His prank had backfired in the worst way possible.

His magic.

It all came down to his magic.

Discord paused, reflecting on his long life…

And his magic.

He was suddenly filled with self loathing. He didn’t want to be in his own skin.

He thought of Fluttershy and her budding infatuation with him. He felt sick. She deserved better. So much better. She was a beautiful creature. Delicate. Graceful. He thought about her gentle pegasus form. And then he thought about how he could turn her into a hideous flesh eating horror of the night, a gruesome shadow of her former self.

His magic.

The problem was his magic.

He hated his magic. It was something he no longer wanted.

Could he be rid of it?

Discord didn’t know.

But the thought was in his fevered mind now. He had once torn the magic from the two sisters. It had nearly destroyed them.

He pondered for a moment.

His magic.

Better to die than continue to live with it. If death happened, that is.

It was a pretty big “if” really. Open ended. Lots of chaos. Lots of consequences, either way the coin landed. Especially if the coin landed on the edge. It had done so before.

He rubbed his chin. He looked around at his surroundings, the nightmarish wood he had created so long ago.

His magic.

It had created this wood, this place of horror. Things lived here that fed on ponies. Wild things. The wood’s strange magic took the most mundane life and mutated it, turning it into exceptional horrors.

Discord screamed, filling the wood with his anguished cry.

His magic had to go.

Somehow.

He rubbed his forehead with a talon, thoughtful, trying to recall the very blackest of his abilities. As he did so, the wood around him began to die. The trees withered and began to weep blood. Vines shriveled and died, turning grey at first, and then crumbling away into ash. The soil, black, and full of life, turned grey and became dust.

Far away in Canterlot, Celestia recoiled in horror, feeling a presence that she had not felt for a long time. Panic gripped her. Even when Discord had escaped not that long ago, she hadn’t felt what she was feeling now. It had been at least a thousand years since this sort of fear gripped her. Her bowels turned to water and her blood ran cold. She cried out for her sister and sounded the alarm. Discord had finally returned to his usual self. And she was ready.

In the Everfree, a tall figure stood, two mismatched forelegs on his chest, claws digging into flesh. The air crackled with black lightning bolts, striking the nearby dead trees, causing them to explode into dust and chunks of dead petrified wood. The figure cried out, an otherworldly sound.

Far away in her cottage, Fluttershy heard a strange keening sound. It thoroughly unnerved Ivy, causing her to whimper and run to her mama. Fluttershy cuddled the upset foal, trying to sooth her distress. The air around them seemed to crackle alarmingly, as though a storm was brewing. The skies were clear.

Discord gritted his teeth. His magic was an ingrained part of his being now, and he was having trouble letting go. He struggled against himself, straining. His body was wracked with pain. The worst pain he had ever experienced. Worse than the solar flare, worse than Celestia dropping a mountain on his head, worse than Luna accelerating him dozens of times past the speed of sound and slamming him into an incoming meteor in mid atmosphere.

His magic…

Was going to have to go.

He tore himself open, in a metaphysical sense at least, ripping open the source of his magic. It was something that was never meant to be opened.

Discord’s world exploded violently all around him, and he experienced an all new type of pain. His last thought was of Fluttershy and Ivy as his consciousness was shredded and the world became a Tartarus based nightmare of flame and pain.

It was gone.

His magic.

Chapter 12

Fluttershy felt alarmed as the air around her crackled. Something was wrong. As a pegasus, she was sensitive to changes in the air, and the air felt wrong. The animals in her cottage were acting strangely, running and hiding in their holes and cubbies, darting into birdhouses, ducking under furniture.

Ivy was panicked as well, clinging to her leg. Her talons were sharp and pressing, but hadn’t broken the skin. Not yet.

“Mind your claws Ivy,” Fluttershy said in a soft soothing voice, “mama has soft skin.”

Ivy relaxed her grip slightly, her tail beginning to coil around Fluttershy’s leg. Her ears were back against her skull. Her nostrils flared. She trembled.

Overhead, there was a loud boom… A thunderous noise that sounded like one of Rainbow Dash’s sonic rainbooms. And then another. She saw a flash of light through the window, shining down from overhead, as though the sun had suddenly grown brighter. The sky was still blue. Out the window, she could see the moon in the sky. What was going on? Something felt so very wrong. The moon should not be out right now. It hadn’t been there just a moment before.

Fear crept through her body, causing her mane to rise on the back of her neck. A cold feeling spread through the base of her tail.

The air crackled and smelled of ozone.

There was suddenly a massive explosion, it shook the cottage, everything rumbled, the ground quaked. All of her windows shattered, sending shards of glass everywhere, inside and out. The air was filled with a strange smell, a smell she did not know. A bad smell. Ivy cried out, wrapping her forelegs tight around Fluttershy’s leg, her talons clenched into fists, her eyes squeezed shut.

Glass tinkled all around them.

And it was over.

Fluttershy stood there, looking at the glass. Ivy shuddered with soft sobs. She wasn’t crying, not quite. Fluttershy wondered why Sugarplum had warned her about Ivy crying. The thought passed briefly through her mind.

Already the air seemed to be clearing. Animals peered from their hidey-holes.

“Ivy baby, mama is going to have to clean up this glass before something bad happens. Can you be a good girl and stay right here, away from the glass?” Fluttershy looked down at Ivy, who had doubled her grip on Fluttershy’s leg. She wiped her face on the soft yellow fur. Fluttershy worried as the animals began to stir.

She gently extracted her leg from Ivy’s grip. Ivy sat on the floor, her eyes still clouded over with tears, watching her mother intently. She hiccuped a few times.

Fluttershy retrieved a whisk broom and a dust pan. She held the small broom in her teeth. There was a lot of glass. All of the windows were going to have to be replaced.

She sighed through her nose.

There was still glass on the lawn. She was having trouble with that. She was going to have to ask Twilight or a unicorn for help. The glass inside was gone.

Ivy was in a tree, huddled in the fork, looking miserable.

Fluttershy hoped that Discord would return soon. He had gone for a walk. To clear his head, he had said.

Smoke rose from the Everfree.

Something had happened. Fluttershy did not know what.

The day had been somewhat confusing.

There were pegasi overhead. Many pegasi. She saw the glint of armor.

Perhaps a dragon was loose in the Everfree. She worried, briefly, for Discord, but he could take care of himself.

Ivy scurried down the tree and wiggle-waddled through the yard, running up to Fluttershy. She scowled and sat back on her haunches. Her belly rumbled.

“Hungry?” Fluttershy asked?

Ivy nodded.

The moods of foals were quicksilver, Fluttershy reflected. She headed toward the door.

Ivy had eaten the entire jar of Sweet Apple Acres Apple Butter, but she had not eaten the spoon. Her silverware gnawing had slowed down after her rush of new scale growth. She had also eaten most of bulb of garlic left on the table after she had snatched it with her tail. An apple, a few grapes, and a few cherries, pits and all.

Her breath was terrible, Fluttershy thought.

Ivy had done her business outside without prompting, and even managed to push open the lower half of the door all by herself. Fluttershy had left it unlatched.

There were scorch marks on the lawn.

Evening approached.

Not long after the sun had set, there was a heavy knock on the door. It made things rattle and spooked the animals. She had been knitting, trying to restore some sense of normalcy. Ivy was on the sofa next to her, gently cuddling Angel, who seemed content to let Ivy hold him.

The knock came again. Heavy. It thudded against the door.

Fluttershy eased off of the sofa and went to the door.

“Who’s there?” She asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s late. Almost bedtime for Ivy. Why are you here?”

“Fluttershy?” Said a voice she didn’t know.

“Yes?” Fluttershy responded.

“We’ve come to collect you. You are needed right away.”

Fluttershy pulled open the door. Outside was one solar pegasi and one lunar pegasi. The solar pegasi was wearing armor.

“I am Mare Imbrium and this is Captain Sunflower. We are to bring you to Canterlot immediately.” The lunar pegasi bowed her head slightly.

“I can’t leave…” Fluttershy protested. “Little Ivy can’t be left alone. I don’t have a foal sitter. It’s late. Close to her bedtime.” Her voice rose with panic.

“Then we shall have to take Ivy as well. Captain Sunflower?” Imbrium looked at her armored companion. The stallion nodded.

“Why do I have to go?” Fluttershy inquired. “Has something happened? Is there trouble?”

Sunflower looked grim and said nothing. Imbrium was stony faced.

“I can’t fly to Canterlot,” Fluttershy whined, “I don’t have the endurance or the strength.” She began to back away from the door.

“Than I shall carry you upon my back, solar mare.” Imbrium’s voice was firm, but gentle. “But you must come. You have been summoned. An explanation is forthcoming upon your arrival.”

Sunflower kneeled on the floor.

“Place Ivy on my back. Imbrium, use my saddlebag strap to secure her.”

Fluttershy continued to back further away. “No.” I don’t like this. I don’t want Ivy tied down. She’s not luggage.”

There was a flutter of wings outside the door, and the sounds of hooves striking earth.

Imbrium bowed and cleared out of the way of the door.

Twilight Sparkle entered the room, stepping over Sunflower.

“Fluttershy, we must go to Canterlot at once. I’ll carry Ivy with my magic.” Twilight folded her wings.

Sunflower rose to his hooves and bowed slightly.

“Stop that!” Twilight snapped. “Now is not the time.”

Fluttershy looked over at Ivy, who was still on the sofa, watching everything with her grey eyes. Her crest was slightly raised. Angel was gone. The rabbit, sensing trouble, had split.

“OK Twilight,” Fluttershy responded, “I’ll go.”

Twilight lifted Ivy with her magic, causing Ivy to squeal. She didn’t like having nothing under her claws. Fluttershy made soothing sounds. Twilight exited, taking flight as soon as she had cleared the door. Fluttershy could see that Ivy was being hugged between Twilight’s forelegs, still glowing in the lavender radiance of Twilight’s magical signature.

Imbrium kneeled, and looked at Fluttershy. “We must be going.”

Fluttershy climbed onto the mare’s back. This was awkward. She didn’t like this. She wrapped her forelegs around the mare’s neck.

And was nearly torn from Imbrium’s back by sudden movement. Imbrium shot through the door and was airborne in one swift fluid motion.

Sunflower closed the door as he exited, and took to the air after his companion.

The wind tore at Fluttershy’s mane. She wasn’t used to flying this fast, being a slow flyer. Her ears were buffeted by the wind. Her skin stung. Her eyes watered as she clung to Imbrium.

Ivy seemed to be doing well after the initial protests she had made. She stared in wide eyed wonder at the world below, safely clutched between Twilight’s forelegs. Ivy’s feathers were ruffled.

Sunflower was flying directly below Twilight, occasionally looking up at Ivy. He kept making baby talk to her, trying to comfort her during the trip.

Fluttershy noticed that Imbrium seemed to be watching Sunflower interacting with the foal.

Canterlot loomed in the distance, lights twinkling. The castle rose above the city. It was beautiful.

A flight of pegasi joined them, all of them wearing armor, both lunar and solar guards intermingling.

Fluttershy felt a chill as a very large lunar mare drew up along Imbrium. The mare looked at her. “Good evening,” the mare called over the wind, “pleased to meet you.”

“That is Mare Frigoris,” Imbrium announced, “my wingmate and friend.”

“Sorry for the chill.” Frigoris apologised.

Frigoris rolled away through the air, putting some distance between them. The castle was closer now. Fluttershy could see lights in the windows. Fluttershy began to realise that the castle was was slightly off to the left as they approached, and they did not appear to be slowing down. Were they not going to the castle after all? She worried and wondered as the group surged forward.

Another pony rose to Imbrium’s side. “Mare Imbrium!” She said, saluting.

“Mare Nectaris.” Imbrium returned the salute. “Flying sober?”

“Unfortunately,” the mare muttered, “This has been a weird day. And promises to an even stranger night. The Everfree forest…”

“SILENCE!” Mare Imbrium commanded. Mare Nectaris fell silent, her expression apologetic.

Fluttershy saw a cliff wall up ahead. The group had made no effort to slow down. Panic rose in her throat and she whimpered. She closed her eyes. They were flying too fast. Didn’t they see the cliff looming ahead? Her protest lodged in her throat, her lungs constricted.

And nothing happened. Something should have happened. She screwed her courage to the sticking place and forced open one eye.

Twilight was still flying ahead of them, her horn glowing brightly. They were in a cave. Ivy was safe.

Mare Nectaris looked at her, a half crazed smile on her face. “Always thrilling, that first time, isn’t it!” She said with a cackle. “Palus Somni wet himself his first time.”

“I DID NOT YOU CRAZY MARE!” said a voice from below.

“Stop shouting you chowderhead, it echos to much in here.” Nectaris responded.

“I’ll deal with you later!” The voice below hissed.

Fluttershy looked down and saw an albino lunar pegasi. She shivered. He looked otherworldly, ghostly in the magic light.

They flew through the cave with breakneck speed, descending downward, dropping through the bowels of the mountain. They moved with terrifying speed. Twilight was a much better flier than Fluttershy remembered.

A landing strip appeared before them. At last, the ride was over, she thought. Globes of light adorned the walls of the tunnel, and markers were on the floor. Twilight flew over the landing strip, not landing, but continuing down the corridor. The other ponies began landing, some of them skidding to a halt, horseshoes throwing up sparks from the stone floor.

Imbrium kept going, flying after Twilight, Sunflower now behind her.

There were doors along the corridor, some open, some closed. Fluttershy saw beds. She saw what looked like a cafeteria. A room filled with tables and cushions on the floor. The ceiling was uncomfortably close, and Imbrium’s wingtips seemed dangerously close to the walls on either side. A pegasus in the hallway shouted in alarm and threw himself to the floor as Twilight flew past, and there was shouting ahead. Imbrium’s folded legs almost clipped the pegasus hugging the floor.

Twilight turned suddenly, flying down a side hallway, and Fluttershy felt her stomach twist and turn as Imbrium banked. There wasn’t enough room. The walls loomed close. Imbrium’s wings folded for a moment, pulled tight to her body as they went through the archway, and then sprang back out.

The breakneck speed continued.

Fluttershy saw a red cross sign on the wall, and an arrow pointing ahead. Canterlot castle had its own hospital wing? She supposed with this many soldiers, it was was practical and necessary.

Twilight seemed to be slowing, as was Imbrium. Imbrium’s legs extended and she came to a skittering halt on the stone floor. Fluttershy lurched forward a bit on the mare’s neck.

Twilight lifted Ivy away from her with her magic and set down, sliding a bit on the stone floor. Her flying was better, but her landings were much the same as they ever were. She scrambled, trying to get a hoofhold. She slide sideways into the wall with an audible “thump.”

“We’re here,” Twilight announced, “Fluttershy, I need for you to be very brave.”

Chapter 13

For a moment, Fluttershy didn’t recognise the alicorn in front of her. One side was blackened, covered in blisters, raw red flesh visible where the skin had cracked. The other side was sooty grey, also blistered in some places. The blackened side’s wing was missing many feathers. One eye was swollen shut.

“What happened?” Fluttershy asked, her voice cracking.

“I went into a situation and made a bad assumption. I chose to react poorly and I have paid for it.” Celestia’s voice was raspy, she sounded like she struggled to breathe. She looked at Twilight and Ivy. “Twilight, please see that Ivy is looked after. Consider yourself a foal sitter for the time being.”

Twilight nodded, and pulled Ivy off into another room, Ivy yowled and fussed a bit as her mother disappeared. The hallway became silent.

“This has something to do with what happened in the Everfree today, doesn’t it?” Fluttershy asked, looking up at Celestia. Fear was rising in her chest, the first hints of panic settling in. “What happened? Why am I here?”

Celestia cleared her throat, unsure of where to start. “Earlier, I felt the very worst of Discord’s magic tainting the world once again,” Celestia began as Fluttershy let out a small cry, “and I went at once to its location. With Luna. To confront him. To figure out why, after all this time of living peacefully, he had returned to his evil ways. At least, that is what I had assumed…” Her voice went low, she took a deep breath, “ I arrived on the scene, offenses on the ready, ready to destroy. I made a mistake.”

Celestia lowered her head. Fluttershy was confused, the tears had already began.

“Luna went in with an open mind, hoping to reason, but ready to defend. She sensed that something wasn’t right. She sensed the very sort of magic coming from Discord that he had once used to rip the magic from us, stripping away our powers. Something I failed to do.” Celestia coughed, and, as she wheezed, bits of black withered flesh flaked off. “Luna put her strongest magical defenses and wards around both herself and Discord. She assumed that I was doing the same. I hadn’t. I went in ready to attack.”

Fluttershy murmured wordlessly several times, struggling to find words. None came.

Celestia closed her good eye, her face a rictus of pain. Her eye re-opened. “Discord rid himself of his magic. Stripped himself of his immortality. Very nearly killed himself. Had Luna not protected him, I do believe he would have died. I do not understand what he was thinking. Perhaps he was suicidal. Luna is sustaining his life right now, entwined with him in a dream. You and Ivy keep appearing. I was hoping that you could shed some light on this odd situation.”

“I want to see him,” Fluttershy cried, “where is he? I will tell you anything you want to know, but I want to see him.”

Celestia looked grim. She turned and looked at the door behind her. It opened.

Fluttershy forced her legs to move forward. She bit her lip. She moved forward slowly, but resolutely. She moved her head through the door.

And she saw him.

His long serpentine body was draped over a bed. He was burned in places, but not as bad as Celestia was. His chest was bloody. His eyes were closed. Discord’s tail had fallen to the floor. Luna was in a bed close by, also singed, somewhat burnt, her eyes closed. A unicorn stood between the two of them, he was dressing the bloody wounds on Discord.

“No,” she whined softly, “why?”

“I was hoping that you could tell me that.”

Fluttershy jumped slightly at the sound of Celestia’s voice.

“I dunno,” Fluttershy squeaked, “we had a talk earlier. Some things happened.”

“Things?” Celestia implied.

“We talked about Ivy. We talked about his long life. About why he was the way he was. He went off to find Ivy’s roots and try and find others like him. Like her. He was scared that he was all alone. He thought it was over, that his kind were gone.” Fluttershy paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. “We talked about a long of things actually. And stuff happened.”

“Stuff?” Celestia prompted.

“I asked him to come and stay with me. Actually stay with me, not just stay as a visitor. I asked him if he wanted to be a father for Ivy. I kissed him. More than once. I wasn’t very good at it. He wasn’t either.”

Celestia began to weep. It started off with a single sob, and quickly turned to many.

Mare Imbrium stood in the door behind her, her face sad, her usual stony expression gone. Her ears drooped, as did her wings, the tips nearly touching the floor.

It took a while, but Celestia began to compose herself. “I shouldn’t have responded the way I did. I went in assuming that Discord had returned to evil. I should have been more compassionate. I’m a fool for allowing myself to hate.”

“Discord said you hold a grudge.”

Celestia looked Fluttershy in the eye, her one eye blazing suddenly. “And rightfully so!” She snapped. “After everything he has done!”

Fluttershy began to back away in fear.

Celestia immediately regretted her actions, her face cringed in shame and embarrassment.

“I do hold a grudge,” she admitted, “and by all rights, Luna should be the one with an even larger grudge. The things he’s done to her. But she went in with the assumption that something was wrong with Discord, not with the assumption that Discord was doing something wrong. She’s a better mare than I am.” She looked at her sister, lying in the bed.

“Discord will recover,” the unicorn gently interrupted, “Luna is restoring his vitality. He will never be the same though.”

“After today, a lot of us will never be the same.” Celestia added.

Imbrium backed out of the door and left.

Fluttershy stood, her knees wobbling, her heart thudding in her chest. She felt faint.

Suddenly, the floor was rushing up to meet her.

Chapter 14

Fluttershy awoke to the sounds of Ivy’s voice. She opened her eyes and lifted her head. She was in a bed. Her muzzle ached and her lower lip was swollen. She saw Discord in a bed close by. She turned her head towards Ivy’s voice.

And saw Luna, lounging in a bed, her head held high, lying on her belly. Ivy was cradled between her extended forelegs.

Ivy was giggling and talking to Luna. It seemed that peace had been made while Fluttershy had slumbered.

“Mama!” Ivy cried upon seeing Fluttershy raise her head.

“You are still here,” Fluttershy mumbled, “why?”

“I am looking after a friend, Luna replied, “and making sure he stays well.”

“A friend?” Fluttershy asked.

Luna smiled down at Ivy between her forelegs.

“Discord’s mind had been thoroughly corrupted by his magic. It had done things to him. Poisoned his thoughts, his thinking. I probably understand that better than anypony.” Luna fell silent for a moment before continuing. “He is now filled with genuine regret and agonises over many things while he slumbers. We have spoken, he and I, at great length. He has done terrible things to both my sister and I. I have chosen to forgive him.” Luna fell silent again, chewing on her lower lip, her ears falling down to the sides of her face. Her eyes closed as she spoke again. “I wanted more than anything for ponies to forgive me after what I had done,” she whispered, her voice low, “and the feeling of forgiveness, of acceptance, it is indescribable after suffering so much hurt knowing how much harm you have brought to others. I wanted it for myself, and my own forgiveness would mean nothing if I did not offer the same to one who sought to be forgiven.” She opened her eyes. “I hope my sister will see reason. She is very confused and hurt right now, unsure of her own thoughts over this issue. She was able to forgive me, but she is having trouble forgetting what Discord has done. I hope I can convince her.”

Fluttershy said nothing. There was nothing she could say. She felt a tight feeling in her chest. The panic, the constant panic, was close. She wished for more familiar surroundings, to be home, to be with things she knew.

Ivy kept swiping at Luna’s ethereal mane, her claws passing through harmlessly.

Fluttershy could hear Discord breathing. Each breath sounded laboured.

“He is going to live, but he is going to be weak for quite some time,” Luna said, guessing Fluttershy’s thoughts, “he will need a caretaker. He is going to have special needs.”

“Like what?” Fluttershy answered, her voice filled with concern.

“How to live.” Luna said flatly.

“I don’t understand.”

Luna gazed at Fluttershy. “He has been a being of exceptional magic for quite some time. His long serpentine body has mostly ignored gravity and physical needs. Why use muscle when you have magic? Why consume food when you don’t need it? Why pay any attention to the cries of the body when you have magic to sustain it?”

Fluttershy’s mouth fell open, her thoughts raced.

“To suddenly become mortal and have the body try to remember all of those needs all at once. Why, he is going to be very much like Ivy for a time. Requiring supervision. Care. Making sure his needs are met. And there are also practical concerns.”

“Such as?” Fluttershy asked.

“Making sure he has a caretaker that is patient, kind, and looks after his needs. And does not abuse him for what he once was, or neglect him out of a petty sense of vengeance.” Luna’s eyes were locked upon Fluttershy. “Once again, somepony is going to have to rehabilitate him. Somepony that he trusts. He is practically an infant. I doubt that he could even rise to his own feet anytime soon.”

Fluttershy sighed. She looked at Luna, blowing her mane out of her eyes, only to have it fall back in place again. She brushed it aside with a wingtip.

“I will do what is required,” Fluttershy said, “there is no need to continue. You only needed to ask. But I might need help. I’m not sure if I can do this alone.”

“Help will be given.” said a voice from the door.

Celestia entered the room. She looked better. Her blackened side was already healing somewhat, her swollen eye was slightly opened, the terrible raw cracks closing.

“You know your friends will help you, and I will send help as well. Discord deserves aid.” Celestia eased herself down on a bed. She looked exhausted. She rolled onto her mostly uninjured side, her long neck collapsing upon a pillow. She kicked her legs out, trying to get comfortable.

“Been thinking about what we’ve discussed, sister?” Luna asked, her tone soft.

“Yes.” Said Celestia, her horn igniting with a golden glow. Ivy was levitated to Celestia’s bed, she yowled while suspended in the air.

“You stole my cuddlebug!” Luna accused.

“Yes.” Celestia replied. “Yes I did.” Ivy landed on Celestia’s bed with a plop. Celestia scooped her in with a foreleg and hugged her to her barrel.

“Actually, that’s my cuddlebug, but I am willing to share.” Fluttershy interjected.

Both sisters looked at Fluttershy.

“Discord has rid Equestria of its greatest threat,” Celestia said after a silent moment, “himself. His actions were selfless. I must confess, it is going to take time for me to resolve my own feelings on this matter. But I will not allow my personal feelings to get in the way of what is right. You will have any and all assistance that you may require Fluttershy. You took upon yourself the task of rehabilitating him. You helped to bring him to this point. And he was courageous enough to take that final step towards change by himself. He chose something better, even though his actions were very rash and will have major consequences. And you made this possible.”

Fluttershy’s head dropped to her pillow. Her eyes closed. Her breath caught in her throat. Her mind raced with everything that had just been said. How had she done this? How was she responsible? She was little, she was helpless, she was bound with panic and could barely function in the world around her. How was this possible? She heard a panicked yowl… And a moment later something warm and soft was beside her. She felt the palm of Ivy’s talons on her neck, the claws held back, the points only faintly tickling her skin. It made her shiver as she tingled all over. She felt Ivy’s other talons grasping her ear and tugging slightly. She felt the weight of Ivy’s body as it collapsed on her neck, Ivy’s head resting just behind her ear, in the crook between her skull and her neck. Fluttershy felt Ivy’s warm belly on her shoulder. Ivy’s tail coiled around Fluttershy’s foreleg.

“Has Ivy been outside? Or to a safe place to take care of her needs?” Fluttershy asked suddenly.

“Yes.” Both sisters answered at once.

“The lunar pegasi found it quite entertaining,” giggled Luna, “but most of them are easily amused.”

“And Twilight is just fine, however much she might complain.” Celestia smiled faintly.

“What?” Fluttershy asked. “What happened?”

“Nothing serious,” Celestia murmured, “just a few feather tips are scorched and a bit of tail is missing. It’s a little shorter now. Looks stylish.”

Fluttershy took a deep breath and waited. No further information seemed forthcoming.

Discord stirred in his bed, a wordless mumble escaping his lips. Luna’s horn flared, and she pulled Discord’s blankets back up to his chin. Discord let out a low groan and fell silent.

Ivy fussed and squirmed against Fluttershy’s neck.

The room was silent.

“Luna?” Fluttershy’s voice broke the silence.

“Yes?” Luna responded.

“When next you see Discord, if you go visiting him in his dream or something, tell him I am here waiting for him” She cleared her throat. “If you don’t mind. If it isn’t too much of a bother.”

“I will do as you ask,” Luna replied, “anything else?” She added, expectantly.

Fluttershy fretted, trying to think of a response. She rubbed her forehoof against the blanket. After a long moment of consideration, she spoke:

“Tell him I am very proud of him for what he did.” Her voiced trailed off. “I’m also really angry, but don’t tell him that.”

“Angry?” Celestia inquired.

“He almost killed himself!” Fluttershy snapped. “The stupid half a horse almost killed himself!”

Luna looked confused and shook her head. “Half a horse?” She asked. “Is this a reference to him being a crossbreed?”

“No!” Fluttershy said, her voice cracking. “He’s a half a horse. The back half. The space just below the tail. That general area. If he had died…” He voice died with a faint squeak.

“Oh, a horse’s a…”

“LUNA!” Celestia scolded.

“What?! Luna said defensively. “I do believe that is the closest Equestria will ever be to witnessing the Element of Kindness swearing!”

Fluttershy squeezed her eyes shut and whimpered.

“Luna!” Celestia repeated again.

“Oh stop being such a half a horse yourself. Always so prim and proper, the Princess of the Day. A little dark and vulgarity would do you good.”

“LUNA!” Celestia repeated for the third time.

“Ivy!” Luna cried. “Raspberry!”

Ivy lifted her head, inhaled mightily, and blew a raspberry that caused her tongue to dangle out almost one third the length of her body. It flapped the flatulent breeze of the rude noise.

“I taught her a trick while Fluttershy slumbered!” Luna exclaimed in triumph.

Fluttershy lay silently under Ivy.

There was a loud wet “slurp!” as Ivy withdrew her tongue. Fluttershy felt Ivy’s small head return to rest upon her own. Her anger and panic had abated. Part of her felt like laughing, even with the bad situation being what it was. Ivy had that effect, which Fluttershy counted as a blessing.

“Luna, sometimes I wonder how we are related.” Celestia said.

“Well,” Luna began, “when a pony loves another pony, or in this case, two alicorns loving each other, they come together in a special hug. This is how you were made. I came later. That makes us related. I’m proof that father loved mother enough to come back for seconds, even after you had probably ruined their lives.”

Celestia lay on the bed, her mouth open in shock. A pillow flew from the corner of the room and slammed into Luna’s head.

Luna blinked.

“You are injured, and probably feeble minded,” Luna muttered, “I’ll let that slide.”

“Fluttershy?” Celestia asked.

“Yes?” Fluttershy responded.

“I am hoping that you will understand something.” Celestia replied.

“What?” Fluttershy returned.

“Luna and I have lived very long lives. Tragic moments, as bad as they might be, are very brief instances for us. They are what they are. Moments. Moments have to happen and then you move on to other moments. Luna and I have learned to move on quickly. I don’t want you thinking we aren’t worried or otherwise concerned over the current situation. If we dwelled too much on any one moment, eternity really would stretch on forever. I hope you can understand, at least a little.”

“I’m not sure that I do.” Fluttershy responded. “What is it going to be like for Discord now that his moments are numbered?” She paused, struggling for better words, and found none. “How will he adjust?”

“He will have to learn again that each moment in precious because they are finite. He’ll no longer be able to fritter them away. I suspect that when that sinks in, he is going to cling to those closest to him, fearing for each moment lost. I cannot imagine how hard this will be for him.” Luna turned to her sister. “Each moment I spent locked away from you…” Her voice faded away, her final sound a faint painful gasp.

“I am positive that Ivy will make those moments worth it,” Celestia added, “or possibly make him regret many moments in passing, only to laugh at those moments later. Discord, for all of his faults, deserves some happiness and a return to a normal life. Whatever a normal life might be that would involve him.”

“I hope I can make him happy.” Fluttershy murmured in a faint voice, barely above a whisper. “I’m not sure that I know how. Very difficult to interact with other ponies. Or anybody for that matter, ponies or other sentient beings. Sometimes it is hard to relate to Ivy even. I just sit there staring at her and wondering what I am doing, and what was I thinking when I sent out those first inquiries in the mail. Discord made me do it. I wasn’t sure I wanted to do it. He pestered me and pestered me and pestered me until it finally drove me crazy and I did it just to make him stop. He wore me down with his incessant chatter. I’m glad I did it, I don’t regret it, but I don’t understand why I did it. I don’t know what I am doing. I have all of this self doubt and panic. I can barely look after myself and the only reason why I manage to look after myself is because of all of my animals. They’re my excuse to keep going. But I don’t take very good care of myself at all and now there is Ivy and I’m about to start looking after Discord…” She took a deep panicked breath, her chest beginning to heave. She shook slightly, causing Ivy some distress.

“Who is going to look after me?” She finally asked. “I’m a caretaker that can’t take care of myself. I can’t deal with all of this self doubt any more. Not if I am going to have something other than animals in my care. Things that can talk. Things that can notice when something is wrong. Things that will ask questions and pry and poke and just not leave me alone until they drag an answer out of me!” Fluttershy began to sob. “Having a family means answering to them. It is hard enough having friends, but at least you can try to hide from friends and have those moments alone.”

Fluttershy pulled Ivy into a squeeze and held her close.

The sisters sat there, exchanging glances.

“No more hiding.” Both sisters said in unison.

Chapter 15

A bright purple unicorn roamed the halls of Canterlot, but bright really wasn’t really a fair description. One might almost say obnoxiously purple. Her mane was pink. Vibrant pink. Her cutie mark was a pink heart and a wooden cradle. She had worn saddlebags. Her gait was that of a mare that had too much work and too little time. She nodded as she passed other ponies.

She reeked of rotten eggs, a fact that she seemed to ignore as she continued down the hall. She was smiling, content, as though everything was right within her world.

Other ponies fled her presence as she passed. The stink was almost otherworldly.

She turned in the long hallway, paused, and gazed at opening to another hallway, this one angling downward, leading down beneath the castle common.

It had been a week, Fluttershy reflected. One week of staying at the castle. She wanted to be home. She knew her animals were being looked after, but she desperately wanted to be home. But she could not leave.

There was too much to do here.

Discord was awake now, some of the time. He was weak and his body rebelled against the sudden change, physical needs long dormant now awakening. He was fevered and delirious some of the time, lucid and limp the rest of the time. He saw things during his fevered states. Terrible things. Things from the past. Past torments that gnawed away at his fragile mind.

Luna had been there for Discord as much as she could, but here were times she had to go. And she stayed gone for long periods. Fluttershy overheard the lunar pegasi talking about Luna’s foal and how fussy it had become during Luna’s long absences. It was something Fluttershy intended to ask Luna about when she saw her again. She was not aware of Luna having a foal. There had been no royal announcement. It was something that Luna did not mention. The foal was something that Luna had not brought around to sit with her during those long hours in the hospital ward. It was strange. Fluttershy thought for sure that Luna having a foal would be something that Luna would mention. Something to talk about. Something that would have made the papers.

None of it made sense. A mystery, right here in the castle, evidence that not all was as it seemed.

And then there was Nightfisher. Fluttershy had found herself becoming closer to Nightfisher. Nightfisher was simply there. A fixture. When Fluttershy needed something, or needed to find out how to get somewhere within the vast complex under the castle, Nightfisher had been there. At least by night. During the day, Captain Sunflower was always near. Meeting new ponies was hard… And these two stayed around as regular fixtures, making life easier. They kept new ponies away, mostly. They made sure that Fluttershy and Discord were not disturbed. It seemed that there was some discontent that the Herald of Chaos lay convalescing in the bowels of Canterlot. Pegasi had long memories. They held grudges. They took pride in the title “brute” which they took to be a badge of honour. The pegasi had not forgotten what had been done so long ago.

Fluttershy didn’t even know what had happened long ago, or what the fuss was. But she was aware that there was, in fact, a fuss. She did her best to ignore it.

She was in the royal gardens, sitting in the grass. Discord was sleeping, being watched over by Celestia’s most trusted servants. Fluttershy and Ivy both needed the sunshine and fresh air. Ivy had become quite irritable and bored, and longed for trees, something she had asked for by name. Ivy was up a tree right now, surveying the garden, her bright grey eyes taking everything in. Her tail was coiled around the branch. She was perched on her hind legs, and she was studying her talons, watching them flex and she opened and closed them repeatedly.

“Mama?” Ivy asked.

“Yes Ivy?” Fluttershy responded, looking up.

Ivy scrunched up her face with concentration. She struggled visibly, her mouth opening and closing, her brow furrowed. Her crest rose. Her mismatched wings fluttered.

“What Ivy?” She finally asked. “What Discord?”

Fluttershy sat there flummoxed.

Ivy extended her talons. “Not pony,” she announced, “not mama.”

Fluttershy couldn’t find words.

“Not shicken.” Ivy commented.

“Shicken?” Fluttershy asked in a bewildered tone.

Ivy clucked a few times.

Suddenly, it made a bit of sense. Ivy logic.

When had Ivy learned to cluck? She wasn’t just clucking Fluttershy realised. She was repeating what the chickens had named her, the name the chickens used as Fluttershy’s name. Chicken speak.

Fluttershy gazed upwards, her long pink mane spilling down her neck and shoulders. A strand remained snagged on her ear, refusing to slide back with the rest, causing her ear to flicker and twitch.

“What Ivy?” Ivy repeated, her tone becoming a bit demanding.

Ivy unclenched her hind toes and dropped from her branch suddenly, causing Fluttershy to wordlessly cry out in alarm. She came to a bobbing halt, hanging from the branch by her tail, looking down at Fluttershy. She reached down and booped her mother in the nose with a talon, angling the sharp point of her talon away from tender flesh.

“What Ivy?” She said again in insistent tones.

“Ivy is my foal.” Fluttershy responded. “You are my foal. The foal of my heart.”

Ivy looked confused.

“No.” She said finally.

“Yes.” Fluttershy said firmly.

Ivy’s muzzle scrunched.

“I am your mother. Because I wanted you.”

Ivy looked more confused than ever. She scratched her belly absentmindedly as she tried to understand.

“Ivy?” Fluttershy asked. “You know how you like cookies? And spoons? And apple butter?”

At the mention of apple butter, Ivy perked.

“You like those things and you want them. You need them to make you feel better. To feel good. They are sweet and nice and make you feel good all over.”

Ivy resumed her grimace of concentration.

“Ivy, I need you like you need those things. Cookies. Spoons. Apple butter.”

Ivy closed her eyes, her ears flexed. Her hind toes clenched and unclenched a few times.

Fluttershy reached up and tickled Ivy’s nose with a wing tip.

Ivy exploded into giggles, her concentration broken.

“You make mama happy. Mama needs you.”

Ivy’s eyes lit up, her slitted pupils went wide.

“Ivy cookie?” Ivy’s face scrunched. She struggled for better words.

Fluttershy tried to apply Ivy logic to the words. Her own brow furrowed. Squirrels were difficult, otters were perplexing, and beavers were downright vulgar, but each animal had its own logic, and Fluttershy had been able to relate to all of them.

“Yes,” said Fluttershy, “Ivy is like a cookie. You are like a cookie. A mix of sweet things all together that make mama happy.”

Ivy continued to look confused, but seemed somewhat satisfied with the answer. She reached down and touched Fluttershy’s nose again. “Ivy’s mama?”

“Yes.” Fluttershy answered.

“Not same.” Ivy replied.

Fluttershy sighed, feeling a mild tingle of frustration.

“Not same, still mama.” Ivy thought out loud.

Fluttershy looked up, smiling.

“Ivy mama happy.”

Fluttershy nodded. She briefly wondered what Ivy would be like as a yearling.

“Ivy stay with mama?”

Fluttershy felt a painful ache in her heart. Simple words, simple question, but fraught with meaning. She considered her words carefully, wanting so badly to reach Ivy and connect at this moment.

“Mama will be your tree.” Fluttershy reflected briefly on something she had said a long time ago as she said the words.

Ivy beamed, wiggling in the air as she hung by her tail.

Fluttershy rose into a hover and gently embraced Ivy, taking her into her forelegs and squeezing her.

She settled back down onto the grass with Ivy, clinging to her. Ivy was content to be held. They clung to each other for a long while, no further words needed.

Fluttershy was suddenly snapped back into reality by the sudden stench of rotten eggs. She crinkled her nose and tried to hold her breath. Ivy began to drool uncontrollably, her muzzle becoming dripping wet, ribbons of slobber hanging down from each corner of her mouth. “Yummy!” Ivy announced.

“Oh gross Ivy, really?” Fluttershy asked, her chest rapidly becoming wet.

“I see that she’s happy.”

The voice caused Fluttershy to start suddenly, she squeaked in alarm and clutched Ivy close.

“I’m sorry,” the voice said, “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

Fluttershy turned and saw Sugarplum.

“What are you doing here?” Fluttershy inquired.

“Well, it has been almost 30 days. I said I’d be back to check on you. And make sure everything is final. I was at the castle taking care of some business. Please forgive my current state of affairs and the smell. It can’t be helped.” Sugarplum smiled warmly.

Ivy was delighted to see Sugarplum again and rushed forward to savagely hug the unicorn’s legs, breaking free of Fluttershy’s grasp.

“Oh hi hi!” Ivy announced.

“Hello Climbing Ivy. I’m so glad you have a name now.” Sugarplum smiled down at the foal. “Oh, and before I forget, I have a gift for you.” Sugarplum pulled a small stuffed doll out of her saddlebag, a small stuffed yellow flannel plaid pegasus with a pink yarn mane. “I had it made just for you.”

Ivy let go of Sugarplum’s leg and clutched the doll gently in her talons, being careful with her sharp claw points. “Mama?” Ivy asked, looking at the doll.

“Yes,” said Sugarplum. “The doll is just like your mama. I do this for all of my little foals that I look after.” Sugarplum raised her eyes to Fluttershy. “And when Ivy has a father, I suppose I’ll be dropping off a stuffed doll that looks like a certain draconequus. I feel that the stuffed dolls help adopted foals feel secure in their new families.”

Fluttershy began to stammer.

“Luna told me,” interrupted Sugarplum, “I know a little bit about what is going on. I’m going to be helping you get in contact with therapists and rehabilitators. We’re going to be seeing each other regularly for a while. Normally I don’t take adult caseloads. But this is a special circumstance and I’ve been asked by the Princesses to deal with this directly. I suppose because they trust me.”

“Thank you?” Fluttershy finally said, confused and bewildered.

Ivy clutched her doll, hugging it.

“Ivy, can you say ‘thank you’ to the nice mare for the doll?” Fluttershy asked.

“Tankooh!” Ivy said.

“You are very welcome little Ivy” Sugarplum answered.

“So Ivy is all mine?” Fluttershy asked.

“Yes. You seem to want her.”

“Very much so.”

The two mares looked at one another.

“If I have any other foals that wind up in the ‘other’ category, perhaps I’ll bring them by for a visit,” Sugarplum said with a smile, “and hope for the best.”

“Oh, I’d like that.” Fluttershy responded with uncharacteristic enthusiasm.

“I’ll file the paperwork. And I’ll being by the official documentation my self since I’ll be dropping by for a visit soon enough. You are now the legal parent of one Climbing Ivy, species unknown. I wish you the very best of luck in your future endeavors. You have a tough road ahead. I will do my best to see you through.”

Adoption Wrap Up Adoption Wrap Up

Ivy dangled from a rafter, watching life happen below her, which was rapidly becoming her usual point of view. It was safe up here. Up here, her tail could not be stepped on. Tail trodding was not something Ivy appreciated. Below her was a barn floor crowded with ponies. Her mama was down there, pacing about, occasionally looking up to check on Ivy. Directly below her was the orange mare with the big belly. She cried occasionally, talked at other times, and laughed sometimes. Something was happening. Ivy wasn’t sure what. But the orange mare kept looking up at her and smiling. The barn was full of mares. It was noisy. Everypony was talking. The pink pony dashed around trying to talk to everypony all at once. Ivy felt a brief surge of joy when she saw one of her favourite ponies enter the door and shut it behind her.

“Sparky!” Ivy exclaimed.

Twilight Sparkle paused as she entered, hearing her name. At least the name that Ivy could pronounce. She looked up, as it was always the first place a pony should look when looking for Ivy. Ivy was dangling above Applejack, who was in the center of the barn on a bed of straw and blankets.

“Twi’, get on over here!” Applejack drawled.

Fluttershy was nervous. The barn was getting crowded. Her friends were here. Ivy was here. Some of Applejack’s family was here. The rest were just outside the barn door, the stallions gathering outside to wait. Also outside was Discord, resting comfortably in a wagon filled with pillows and cushions. Everypony was here now, with Twilight Sparkle finally arriving. Granny Smith was reclining in a pile of straw nearby. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were near her, talking, exchanging glances. Applebloom was next to Applejack, smiling at her sister.

“Applebloom, there is something different about you.” Fluttershy said with a smile.

“Durn tootin’ there is,” Applejack replied proudly, “She has a proper Apple family cutie mark.”

On Applebloom’s backside was an apple blossom and a barrel.

“She shouldn’t have been in the hard cider at her age, at least not just yet, but she did anyway and it finally showed up.” Applejack beamed at her sister. “My little sister has a good future ahead makin’ cider.”

“Or just drinkin’ the cider.” Applebloom remarked, her smiling widening.

“NO!” Granny Smith chided.

“D’aw…” Applebloom responded, kicking some straw with her hoof.

Applejack cried out suddenly, causing everypony in the room to jump a bit.

“Daggum, that hurts.” Applejack cursed.

“It’ll be over soon.” Applebloom comforted.

“Shy, you and I are about to be in a special club.” Applejack grunted.

“I know,” Fluttershy responded, “I just wish the others would join us.”

“Oh heavens darling,” Rarity said, “why should I have foals when Applejack is going to have a foal to spare? I can spoil that one.”

“No,” Applejack replied, “just no. You want a spoiled foal, you go and make your own.”

“Applejack dear,” Rarity said in wounded tones, “if you have two of something, you should share with other ponies. You are setting a bad example.”

“I might be joining you someday!” Pinkie exclaimed.

“Pinkie?” Rarity said, turning her head.

“I met somepony. His name is Cyclone. He makes my Pinkie sense go all crazy. And I like foals. I love foal sitting. And it might be time to settle down and get some buns in the oven.” Pinkie Pie bounced in place a few times.

“Sappy!” Rainbow Dash spat. “All this talk of foals. No way.”

“Dashie,” Applejack said in a low voice, “Go on over yonder to Appleloosa and sit on one of them there cactuses.”

Rainbow Dash cringed. “No way!”

“How horrible!” Rarity interjected. “Cactus sitting? Really Applejack. Uncouth.”

“Rarity, I am about to squeeze out two watermelons out of a hole the size of a grape. I don’t wanna hear about ‘uncouth’ or how to be a lady right about now.” Applejack rolled her eyes as Rarity stood with her mouth agape.

“Grape!” Ivy repeated.

“Hello up there sugarbooger.” Applejack waved to Ivy, who waved back.

“Sugarbooger?” Rarity repeated with disgust.

“She’s my little sugarbooger.” Applejack answered.

“Fluttershy, please tell me you don’t approve of this!” Rarity begged.

“Ivy is Applejack’s little sugarbooger. Actually, I think we can all blame Discord. Wasn’t he the one who said it first?” Fluttershy replied.

“Ayup.” Applejack nodded. She rubbed her belly with her forehooves. “I feel like I gotta fart or something.”

“FART!” Ivy exclaimed, uttering her favourite word.

“And Pinkie is to blame for that one.”

“I’ll teach her better words later…” Pinkie giggled. “Wait till I teach her about colts!”

“Pinkie!” Twilight scolded.

Twilight moved near Applejack. “Doctor Daftwood, how is she doing?”

Daftwood the unicorn shrugged. “Don’t know. Labour has been induced. I don’t have a lot of equipment here. I’ve never done a birth in a barn before. I hope there are no big complications.”

“I can teleport Applejack to the hospital if there is.” Twilight reassured. “And you of course.”

“Hospitals give ya the sick!” Granny Smith warned.

“We know Granny!” Applebloom interjected, before Granny could pick up steam.

Applejack let out a low moan followed by a loud cry. “NUTS AND GUM!” She swore.

“Nuts.” Ivy nodded.

“Applejack, I bet if I was having these foals, they’d be out by now.” Rainbow Dash teased.

“If you want to compete, you gotta get pregnant first,” Applejack replied, “and then we’ll see who can squirt ‘em out the fastest. I’m already two up.”

“Oh no way am I getting pregnant. Ruin my body? Destroy my career? Wreck my future as Equestria’s greatest flier? No way! I’m going down in the history books.”

Five mares sighed collectively.

“What gives?” Asked Rainbow Dash.

“Apparently, not you…” Pinkie muttered.

“Pinkie pie! How could you!”

Applejack cried out again. “Oh pony farts!” She swore.

“Pony farts!” Ivy repeated.

“My insides feel like they’re gonna burst!” Applejack exclaimed.

“Well they are! Duh!” Pinkie responded.

Pinkie ducked, expecting a scolding. None came. Fluttershy had kneeled on the floor by Applejack. The others were gathered around, close, but leaving room for the doctor and Fluttershy to work.

“Something is happenin’ ain’t it?” Applejack asked, kicking her hind legs a bit. “I’m gonna applebuck Stumpy into next Tuesday for this!” She panted.

Pinkie cradled Applejack’s head in her forelegs as she laid down upon the floor.

“Oh for the love of grits!” Applejack swore, her eyes clenched shut, her ears folding back against her skull. She slammed a forehoof into the floor.

Applebloom leaned her head close to Applejack’s ear as she scooted closer to Pinkie. “Come on big sis, you can do this.”

“Shouldn’t she have some pain killers or something? This is barbaric!” Rarity shouted.

“NO!” Applejack yelped. “Anything worth having is worth sufferin’ for!”

Applejack shrieked loudly, causing Ivy to yowl in concern. She looked down with concerned eyes.

“But these are BIG foals!” Rarity protested.

“The Apple family takes pride is growin’ em big…” Granny Smith drawled. “The Apples don’t fall far from the tree because they’re too darn big to squirt too far!” She cackled.

“I can’t stand to see you like this Applejack!” Rarity cried out in concern. Rarity covered her muzzle with a foreleg and began to whimper. Sweetie Belle scooched in by her sister’s side. “Both of you, remember to breathe!” Sweetie Belle said.

“I wonder if I can get a foal delivery cutie mark.” Scootaloo thought out loud.

“I can’t watch!” Rainbow Dash cried, covering her eyes. “My best friend’s filly bits are exploding.”

“Oh shush.” Said Fluttershy, leaning close to Applejack and examining the situation.

“We should see something in a moment,” Daftwood announced, “hopefully a head.”

“OH POH-NEE FARTS!” Applejack cursed. “Just pull ‘em out!”

In a moment, as the doctor had predicted, a ruddy red muzzle appeared with as gush of fluid. Applejack screamed wordlessly through gritted teeth. Pinkie continued to cradle Applejack’s head, with Applebloom whispering words of encouragement.

“Push!” Fluttershy commanded.

“No! I don’t wanna, I’ve changed my mind. I want the drugs. Make it stop!”

“No!” Fluttershy growled. “PUSH!”

Applejack strained, her coat frothing with sweat.

Concerned whinnies and knickers came from the other side of the barn door.

A wheat coloured mane was visible now.

“DON’T STOP!” Fluttershy urged.

Rainbow Dash held her eyes shut while she heard horrible squelching sounds. She felt faint. Rarity should be the one fainting, she thought to herself.

“That’s a big foal!” Twilight exclaimed.

Ivy watched everything below with total fascination. She didn’t understand what was going on, but that didn’t stop her from taking everything in.

A foreleg was visible. A steady stream of profanity spilled from Applejack’s mouth.

Rarity fainted dead away with a thump.

Scootaloo’s vocabulary grew by leaps and bounds.

Granny Smith hummed to herself, seemingly unconcerned.

Rainbow Dash cowered on the floor, laying on her side, her eyes covered with her hooves, Twilight’s foreleg resting on her shoulder, with Twilight sitting by her side.

The foal slid onto the blanket covered straw with a wet splat.

Daftwood lifted the foal with her magic, clearing the airways with a well practiced spell. Fluttershy looked up.

“A filly foal.” Fluttershy announced.

Applejack let loose another steady stream of profanity in reply.

“A hoof!” Twilight blurted. “I see a hoof! Bluish. Like Stumpy!”

“Don’t stop now,” Fluttershy gently coaxed, “almost have another one.”

The ruddy red filly foal was placed in front of Twilight in the straw. She gazed down in wide eyed wonder, her mouth open in a tiny ‘o’ of awe. She began cleaning the foal with a clean cloth using her magic.

A muzzle poked out, followed by a head, followed by a tangle of red mane.

“My mane colour!” Applebloom exclaimed.

Applejack grunted and strained.

The foal emerged after several minutes of struggle.

The doctor lifted the foal and cleared the airways, and this foal began to squeal.

“Another filly foal.” Fluttershy announced. “Yay!”

“It’s over big sis.” Applebloom said.

Applejack grunted. “Nope.” She said.

“Probably just some afterbirth and whatnot. Keep pushing and everything will clean out.” Daftwood responded.

Fluttershy let out a cry of alarm, her eyes going wide. The doctor looked down. Twilight looked up.

“There’s another leg. It’s so tiny.” Fluttershy said in a small whisper.

It kicked feebly.

“Applejack, keep pushing!”

Applejack strained and the foal squirted out in a single grunt.

It lay in a puddle of afterbirth, hardly moving.

The blue grey foal was laid down next to its sibling, the tiny foal picked up in the doctor’s magic. It was orange with a wheat coloured mane.

“I can’t see!” Fluttershy said.

“Colt,” said Daftwood, “and struggling to breathe. Hold on.” Her horn flared and tiny foal hacked. A cry was heard through the barn. “Those two are the largest foals I’ve ever seen delivered. And this one is the tiniest. Sounds good for being so small.”

“Triplets?” Applejack protested. “Triplets?”

Applejack wailed wordlessly.

“You are the first pony I know to ever have triplets!” Pinkie exclaimed, holding Applejack’s head. “You should be happy. This is a great day! You had triplets!”

“What’s wrong big sis?”

Applejack took a deep breath. She rubbed her belly. Her eyes closed. Pain still wracked her body.

“I ain’t got but two teats.” Applejack finally responded.

Above, Ivy tried to understand what had just happened. Her mind whirled, raced, but no words formed to allow her to express what it was that she was thinking.

Those words would have to come later.

The end.

Author's Note

Another story is coming. Don't worry. Ivy will be returning. Big things are planned. I would really encourage you to read the other stories, as they are going to fill in details of the emerging story.

I'll see you again soon with "The Alicorn Academy." Edit: I finally settled on the title. Still a bit unsure about it though.

Please, if you made it this far, tell me what you think in the comments section below. It would mean the world to me after this much work. Thanks in advance.

Chapter 9

Fluttershy stood just outside of the door. It was slightly ajar. Ivy sniffed the door frame. “Applejack?” She inquired.

“‘Shy, that you?” Applejack answered. “Get in here. I’m bored. And lonesome.”

Fluttershy gently pushed the door open and entered. The room was sunny and bright. There were fresh flowers by the bed. A pile of books sat on the bedside table, along with a few magazines. There was also a picture album.

On the bed lay Applejack, sprawled on her back. Her hat hung from the bedpost. Her hair was not tied, and it spilled all over her pillow and bedspread. Her forehooves rested on her enormous bulging stomach.

“You cheated!” Applejack accused.

“I, I, er, what?” Fluttershy stammered.

Applejack chuckled and pointed a hoof at Ivy. “You skipped all the hard parts and got a foal in the mail.”

Fluttershy stood there silently.

“Aw nuts and gum sugarcube, I was only foolin’ around. I was kiddin’.” Applejack chuckled again and this time Fluttershy managed a weak laugh.

“Well, get on over here y’all. I’m lonesome. There’s room for all of us on this here bed.”

Fluttershy nudged Ivy forward.

“Hi hi…” Ivy said, staring at Applejack.

“It’s OK Ivy,” Fluttershy reassured, “go on little one.”

Ivy continued to stare.

“I think my belly is weirding her out a bit. Not surprisin’. I can’t stand to look at myself right now.” Applejack rubbed her stomach.

“Don’t say that!” Fluttershy scolded. “You are beautiful. ALL pregnant mares are beautiful.”

“Aw shucks.” Applejack drawled. She fanned herself with her hoof. “Why in tarnation must it be so goldurned hot in here?”

Ivy cautiously crept toward the bed, stopping at the edge. She slowly raised her body to a bipedal stance, peering over the edge at Applejack, steadying herself with her talons. Fluttershy hoisted her onto the bed with a hoof, causing Ivy to gasp in surprise. Ivy sat on the edge of the bed, studying the orange pony with an enormous belly, her grey eyes wide. Her crest rose slightly, her head cocked, and she slowly advanced forward, taking delicate steps so her claws would not snag on the blanket.

“Oh gosh she’s cute.” Applejack said in a low voice.

Ivy continued forward slowly, finally reaching Applejack’s side. She gently placed one set of talons on the orange mare’s ribs, steadying herself. She carefully rose into a standing position, her body wobbling as she tried to balance on the soft bed. She leaned forward, turned her head, and placed her ear against Applejack’s navel. Ivy’s mouth opened into an “O” of wonder, her eyes growing even wider. Her ears flickered. Applejack giggled. “That tickled somethin’ awful!” Applejack said, her hindhooves kicking a bit. Ivy draped herself over Applejack, her ear pressed against Applejack’s belly, listening, both sets of her talons, claws extended away from delicate flesh, traveled in small circles, feeling movement. Her tail swished and booped Applejack’s nose.

“What the hay?!” Applejack exclaimed.

Ivy gave a half hearted annoyed swipe at her own tail. She frowned at the annoying appendage.

Fluttershy eased herself up on the bed, trying not to disturb Applejack too much. “Her tail acts like it has a mind of its own,” Fluttershy commented, “she gets frustrated sometimes.”

“Winona has the same problem sometimes.” Applejack said. “A tail just does as it pleases in some animals. ‘Spose it can’t be helped.”

Ivy pressed her ear against Applejack’s orange belly again, the look of concentration returning. After a moment, she raised her head and whimpered a cry of alarm. She squirmed, her mouth moving, but no words were forthcoming. A cloud of frustration passed over her features.

“She’s wants to express herself so badly,” Fluttershy explained, “but she can’t. Spike said that the inside grows faster than the outside. Since I’ve learned this, I’ve been watching her and her facial expressions more. She’s smart but she doesn’t know how to make the words yet.”

Applejack looked down at Ivy, who had returned to listening. “There’s somethin’ in there and you can hear it, can’t you? I bet you can feel it too.” Applejack said, smiling. “There’s two little somethings in there. Makin’ me miserable. I swear Fluttershy, if Stumpy ever gives me that sweet endearin’ look o’ his e’er again, Imma gonna kill him and plant his remains in the north orchard.”

Fluttershy looked at Applejack in horror.

“I was only kiddin’ ‘Shy, take it easy,” Applejack soothed, “Mommy hormones are makin’ me crazy.”

Fluttershy calmed. She stretched her head forward and rested it on Applejack’s stomach, pressing her cheek into the orange pelt, the top of her head pressing against Ivy’s jaw.

“Doctor says the twins are going to have to come early. They’re too big and healthy. We grow ‘em big in this family. And they’re both little applebuckers, tryin’ to kick a harvest out of my kidneys and my liver. It hurts ‘Shy, it hurts.” Applejack groaned.

“I’m scared ‘Shy. They’re ‘spectin’ complications. I’m healthy as a horse, and so are these twins. They’re big. Doctor is worried I’m going to have trouble birthin’ ‘em out. They might have to cut me open. Somethin’ called a ‘C section’ he said.” Applejack shuddered. “I don’t want it. Nope.” Applejack paused. “What I do want, is you ‘Shy. You’ve helped all kinds of critters and ponies to give birth. You’re the best midwife I know.”

“I’m not a midwife,” Fluttershy said softly. “I’ve never been trained. Every time I’ve been there for a birth, it’s been an accident. I just happened to be there by chance. At least for ponies. I do know a lot about little forest critters though.”

“And you’ve never once lost a foal or a mother.” Applejack said in a firm voice.

“That is only by luck,” Fluttershy protested, “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost somepony. Or a foal.” Fluttershy began to sniffle a bit, and quieted when Ivy grasped one of her ears and gave a gentle tug.

“I want you there, ‘Shy. No excuses. Doctor’ll be there too. I need ya, ya gotta understand that.” Applejack stared at her friend, her eyes narrowing. “I can’t do this by my lonesome, and nopony else in our circle of friends has the sorts of skills you have.”

“I’ll be there, I promise.”

“I don’t just want ya there, I want ya there and doin’ what you do, ya understand? I’m scared.”

“I understand. I’ll help. I’ll be there.” Fluttershy closed her eyes and nodded, her cheek rubbing against soft orange shag.

“Ya promise?”

“Yes Applejack.”

“Pinkie promise?”

Fluttershy’s eyes opened. She looked Applejack in the eye. “I promise.”

“OK then,” Applejack said, sighing. “it ain’t easy for me to ask for help. That was real uncomfortable.”

“Ivy, get over here so I have somethin’ to squeeze.” Applejack gestured with her hoof. Ivy looked at her, her eyes glittering. She climbed over her mother, causing Fluttershy to giggle from the ticklish movement.

“It’s cider makin’ time!” Applejack hooted, taking Ivy into her forelegs. She squeezed. Ivy squealed in joy, hugs being just about the best thing in the whole world, and the orange pony could squeeze. It was warm and satisfying. Mama was entirely too gentle.

“Don’t squeeze too hard!” Fluttershy cried out in alarm.

“Oh, right. I heard about that.” Applejack eased off a bit.

“‘Shy?”

“Yes Applejack?”

“I’m gonna need your help rollin’ over and gettin’ up on my hooves.”

“Shouldn’t you stay in bed Applejack?”

“Well, yeah, Sugarcube, but that don’t stop nature from callin’ and I need to pee somethin’ awful. One of those little applebuckers keeps kickin’ me in my bladder. I’ve got some rotten little apples in me.”

Applejack moaned. “I hope I make it,” she said, “there’s been some close calls so far. Gettin’ up causes a lot of strain. An’ after I go, I’m going to go downstairs and eat us all out of house and home. If I can get down the stairs. Might be time to ask somepony to set up the guest room downstairs for me.” Applejack scowled. “Nuts and gum.” She muttered. “An’ I wanna a pickle somethin’ awful.”