Be Careful What You Wish For

Be Careful what you wish for

Chapter 14 – ‘Gypsy’s Brew’

I checked the time for the fourth time.  It had been four days since the impromptu gathering at the lake, and since that time I had been getting back to work.  Well, work and getting Lyra ready for her chance to audition for the Canterlot Royal Symphony.  We checked the savings, and it looked like we had more than enough for the train ticket, and for the cost to stay at the hotel the ponies auditioning were required to stay at.

The auditions started in two days, and that meant when I got home tonight we needed to get her ready to travel.  She had to be there an entire day early for registration, and while I’m proud that she’s going to try out I won’t lie and say that an entire week without Lyra here with me is going to be hard.  I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to sleep with her in the bed with me.

I get back to work and check the repairs.  So far I’ve fixed fourteen cassettes, about six eight track tapes, and I’ve cleaned nearly twenty VHS players.  Finally I looked up again and smiled.  It was time to clock out for the day.  I walked to the time clock and punched out.  I looked up to see Rumble standing outside of Mr. Rich’s office.

“Rumble, what’s wrong?” I asked.

He turned to me and then looked back at the office.

“I…  I want to talk to Mr. Rich about my foal,” he said.

Lyra and I had talked about this, and we both agreed that we should accompany him when he goes in to talk to Mr. Rich.  We wanted to even if it was for no other reason than to be moral support for the kid.  I knocked on the door and a moment later Filthy Rich opened the door.  He looked at us, arched an eyebrow and moved over to let us come in.

“Don, is there a problem?” he asked.

“With me, no there isn’t sir, but Rumble here wants to discuss something with you,” I replied.

He turned to the adolescent colt.

“What seems to be the problem young sir?” Filthy Rich asked.

“Sir, I…  ummm…  You see Diamond and me…  we,” he tried to say before he turned to me.

“What about Diamond?” Filthy Rich asked his face becoming one of concern.

“Mr. Rich, it appears that Rumble and Diamond got together during Hearts and Hooves,” I said.

His face changed from one of concern to barely contained righteous rage.  He stared coldly at the kid.

“Did you harm my daughter?” he asked.

“No…  she…  I thought that she loved me!  She’s gonna have my foal and she said that I can’t even see them!” Rumble cried out.

Filthy Rich’s eyes closed, he breathed out an angry sigh and then pressed a button on his desk.

“Ms Drops, I need you to call send a currier over to our clothing store and have my daughter come here at once,” he said.

We stood there in awkward silence, a look of disappointment and anger still etched on Filthy Rich’s face.  After half an hour the door opened and Diamond Tiara walked into the room.  She looked indignantly toward her father and Rumble.  I watched, perfectly content to be ignored by the filly.

“Diamond, what is this I heard about your actions during Hearts and Hooves.  I had left strict instructions for you to stay at home!” Filthy roared at her.

Her indignant mask cracked almost instantly.  Suddenly it was replaced with tears and what almost looked like shame.  I was surprised to see how fast she changed.

“Daddy…  I…  it was so hot, and it burned so much and… and he took advantage of the situation!” she screamed at Rumble.

“Really?  Because I recall hearing you telling him something different,” I said.

She looked at me her eyes showing the anger deep inside of herself.

“What did she say?” he asked.

“It was along the lines of how what they did was for fun,” I said.

“No, she told me It was a mistake, and that she meant what she said before about how everything we did was just fun, and she didn’t want to have to settle down with a loser,” Rumble said.

Filthy looked at his daughter who was attempting to pretend that she wasn’t in the room.

“Diamond, did you visit the hospital?” he asked.

“Daddy…” she started before he stopped her.

“Don’t.  Just don’t.  I am so ashamed of you Diamond.  It was your mother’s greatest hope that you would save yourself as she did.  She waited until she found her special somepony.  It was hard on her, but she found ways of dealing with her urges.  She wanted you to do the same thing, and now...  I am truly disappointed in you,” he said.

“Daddy, please I’m sorry,” she said looking at him.

“You are going to keep the foal,” he said.

“But…  But I can’t take care of a foal!  I have a social life!” she exclaimed.

“Diamond, you will keep the foal, you will help raise it.  Rumble, wasn’t it?” he asked.

Rumble nodded.

“Rumble is going to help in the raising of the foal.  As for what the foal needs I will ensure that there is food, shelter, and a bed, but the two of you will be responsible for everything else,” he said.

“If… if the foal is a Pegasus I have a crib.  It was mine when I was little,” Rumble said.

“When the time comes we’ll see if it can be used or not.  I appreciate the fact that you are thinking ahead.  Diamond, I am going to call Nurse Redheart every month for reports on how things are going.  I expect you tell me before hand, but I will be calling her.  You will go in and get regular checkups.  Do you understand?” he asked.

“Daddy this isn’t fair!  I don’t even want a stupid foal with this loser!” she said slamming her hoof down.

Rumble lowered his head.  It was so hard to imagine how much it hurt to hear those words.  I had been rejected before, and I knew the kind of pain that came with that.  Still, to be told that not only was I not wanted, but that the child I helped create wasn’t wanted either. I was really glad that I had never felt that.

“Don, would you mind taking Rumble into the Employee lounge for a moment.  I need to have a word with my daughter,” Filthy Rich said.

I had Rumble follow me into the room that was converted into an employee lounge in the back.  Unlike Pencils, or any other retail place I ever worked at, Mr. Rich kept the lounge stocked with free drinks and snacks for his employees.  I spotted a package of Potato chips and offered them to Rumble.

“Thank you,” he said.

“It’s all right.  Lyra and I both talked about being with you when this happened.  I didn’t feel right to let you do it alone,” I said.

He looked at the open sack of chips and then at me.

“I don’t know what to do,” he admitted.

I could see the fear in his eyes.  It seemed to just pour off of him, and I didn’t know a single thing I could tell him.  He was getting ready to go through a very life changing experience, and nothing I said would make a bit of difference.  I let out a slow breath and looked toward the wall.

“I don’t even begin to know how things will work out.  I’ve had a few friends that had kids, but most of them walked away from the responsibility.  It wasn’t just when I was a teenager either.  Some of these guys have done it recently, and it’s a pretty awful thing to do.  I’m proud that you want to step up and have something to do with your foal.  That shows some major maturity,” I said as I continued to study the wall ahead of me, “but I don’t know how things are going to work out. I can tell you that if you ever need someone to talk to I’m willing to listen.”

He scooted a little closer, crossed his forelegs in front of him, and laid his head down.  I heard a snort come from him.

“I was so stupid,” he said.

“No one’s blaming you,” I replied.

“She doesn’t love me.  She doesn’t want to be with me.  Everypony knows that Thunder raised me mostly by himself.  I mean after mom died,” he said.

I raised an eyebrow at hearing this.  Most of the theories around Rumble and Thunderlane was that both of their parents had died sometime before.

“What about your dad?” I asked.

“He was some jerk that made mom cry.  I barely remember mom.  I mean I really barely remember her, but Thunder told me once that he asked about our dad.  He told me that if he ever found him he would beat the stuffing out of him,” Rumble said.

“I take it that he wasn’t a good stallion huh?” I asked.

“He left mom after I was born.  Thunder said he liked to drink a whole bunch.  He asked where he went, and that’s what made mom cry,” Rumble replied.

Now I felt like an ass.  Obviously Rumble’s mother had been a very determined mare.  She had somehow managed to raise a colt who was strong enough to raise his younger brother.  It spoke volumes about her character.  After a few moments the door opened and in walked Diamond Tiara and Filthy Rich.  Diamond was looking at the floor.

“Rumble, I’m going to have my lawyers draw up some papers.  Those papers are going to ensure that you have shared custody of my grandfoal.  Know that I’m going to be checking in as often as I can.  I want to make sure that my grandfoal is well taken care of, and I don’t want to see him or her living in squalor.  I know that at the moment you’re still in school, and living with your brother.  If my grandfoal is not a Pegasus I will expect you to have some place on the ground for them,” Filthy Rich said.

“I will,” Rumble said.

“Diamond, there is something that you need to say,” Filthy stated.

“I didn’t mean what I said about our foal, and what I said about you, but I still don’t want to be with you,” she said.

“Thanks,” Rumble said as he got up.

I walked with him to the door and held it open for him.  He walked on out and I felt a forehoof on my arm.

“Don, may I speak with you for a moment?” he asked.

I nodded and we waited until Diamond Tiara was out of ear shot.

“That colt wasn’t the first was he?” Filthy Rich asked.

I breathed out a sigh and wasn’t sure how to answer the question.  Had I seen anyone other than Rumble?  No, but if I was to take a guess she had been quite the busy little filly when she began to come into her own.

“Honestly, he’s the only one that I know of, but I have doubts that he’s the only one period,” I answered.

He groaned and looked at the ground.

“She looks so much like her mother.  She looks so much like Ruby Broach, but she doesn’t act like her.  Ruby, her mother, was such a sweet mare.  I wish that she would have been here to help raise Diamond.  I really do, but I lost her in foal birth.  It was before teleporting the foal from inside of the womb to outside of it was such a common practice,” he said.

“I know it has to hurt,” I said.

“It doesn’t just hurt.  It’s as if she’s hitting her mother in the face.  Ruby really wanted her to find her special somepony.  That’s what she really wanted for Diamond,” he said.

I touched his shoulder and Filthy slumped.  It was almost as if he had just been beaten down over time.

“You could have done worse.  I mean things aren’t working out the way you’d like, but at least Rumble wants something to do with his foal.  He wants to take responsibility,” I replied.

“He would make a wonderful addition to the family, but with the way Diamond has treated him I doubt that would happen.  Perhaps it is for the best.  I feel that my daughter needs to learn a little humility.  While it pains me to do it I fear that I must be the one to teach her,” he said.

I wasn’t sure what to say.  I agreed that Diamond needed to learn a little humility, and that maybe it would help make her a better pony.  I just hated that it seemed to have broken Filthy down like it had.  I could remember every episode that had Diamond Tiara in it, and in every single one she was always a spoiled brat.  Maybe if her mother would have lived things would have been different, but then again I just didn’t know.

I told him that if he needed anything to give me a call.  After that I left and headed home.  I knew that I was going to have to head to the market at some point, but right now what I wanted was to get home and spend the evening with Lyra.

I opened the door walked in, and found Lyra working on the bar.  She seemed distracted, and while she was busy I walked up behind her.  I pulled her into an embrace, and when I did whatever spell she was preforming canceled out.  The sound of something clattering to the floor filled the room.

“Don,” she whispered.

I felt something touch me, and the same feeling spread out and began touching me in several spots at once.

“I wanted to get here sooner,” I said as I held her against me, “The idea that you’re going to be gone for a couple of weeks hasn’t set well with me.”

“I don’t have to go…  I mean I could…” she started before I turned her around and kissed her.

She kissed me back deeply.  My hands moved down to her cutie marks and cupped them.  I picked her up and placed her on the bar. I kissed down her, moving determinedly toward my prize.  She let out a soft moan, and I felt her forehooves wrap around my head.  She pulled me harder against her sex.  I felt her tighten around my tongue, her moans and gasps filling the room.  Finally, when she came down her grip loosened.  I stood up, took her into my arms, and carried her upstairs.

“Do you want me to stay?” she asked once we were upstairs.

“No, I want you to go and try out.  Lyra, you have the ability and skill. It’s something that I believe you should share with the world,” I said.

We settled down together and soon sleep had us both.  I felt the bed stir for a moment and I looked up to see Lyra sitting on the side of the bed.  I scooted toward her only to watch her distance herself from me.

“I wanted a family,” her voice said.

I looked around to see a nearly empty room.  The entire thing went dark, and then when the light came on their was a cauldron in the distance.  I saw it smoking, and near it I saw Pinkie Pie dancing around it.  It wasn’t the same Pinkie that was living with Louis, but it was her cartoon counterpart.  The entire time she danced I heard her singing the lyrics to one of Friendship is Witchcraft’s most memorable songs, Pinkie's Brew.

“Pinkie?” I asked.

“The portal only works one way, one time, one way!  Jump through, and seize the day!” she exclaimed.

I walked toward it before the image completely disappeared.

“Mr. Riker, I believe it is time we spoke,” a familiar voice said.

I watched as the air rippled around me and Luna appeared.

“Princess Luna?  I’m surprised that you decided to visit me.  This isn’t really what I would call a nightmare,” I said.

“It’s what I felt was building from the outside.  There was a nightmare of epic proportions coming,” she said.

I nodded and took a seat.

“I guess Lyra’s news is getting to me a little more than I’ve been admitting,” I said.

“It’s a hard thing to consider not having a foal.  My sister and I have both been through our cycles, and during them we’ve both conceived, but only Celestia has carried until full term.  The last time I attempted…  The foal was still born,” she said as she sat next to me.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

“Thank you, and the time has helped, but there is not a day where I often ask what it would have been like if my foal would have lived.  Perhaps she would still be alive, though I have my doubts.  After all, Celestia’s own son had an extended life, but he eventually fell to time,” she said.

“Thanks, I guess what I’m the most worried about isn’t just having foals, but I’m worried that if proves to be impossible for us that Lyra may decide to find someone else,” I admitted.

“I have seen inside of her dreams, and while the want of a family is there she has no desire to be separated from you,” she said.

I breathed a sigh of relief.  I wasn’t sure why it relieved me so much to hear that Lyra didn’t want to be separated from me.  She had told me countless times that she loved me.  The was one thing about Lyra, my Lyra, she was full of love.  I knew some of the other ponies thought that she was a bit strange, but that was part of the charm of her.  I noticed that Luna was studying the cauldron Pinkie’s Friendship is Witchcraft counterpart was dancing around.

“I take it this is a brony thing correct?” she asked.

“Actually yeah, although with Equestria being real I’m sort of forced to wonder how many of these other places that people dreamed up might be real.  If it is then there may be an equestrian where Pinkie Pie is able to create portals to travel back and forth through time, and Twilight is a little dumber than she is here.  That’s not to mention that Fluttershy would be a leader of a cult, and a dozen other things,” I said.

“You humans, you bronies especially have some odd ideas about us.  I still remember my sister’s mortified face when she heard the explanation of what Molestia was.  She personally wanted to hoof deliver a letter to Twilight Sparkle asking for forgiveness for something she had never done,” Luna replied.

“Wow…  I’d thought that someone would have had the good graces not to bring that part of the fandom up.  She looked like she was okay the last time I saw her, so is she taking it well?” I asked.

“She is, although she is currently on Earth.  When she is here she asks me to sit in on her court to ensure that she doesn’t act like that version of her,” Luna said with a giggle.

“Thanks for helping me feel better Luna, although, why was I dreaming about Pinkie Pie?” I asked.

“I have learned something that explains situations like this from Twilight and her friends.  It is simply Pinkie being Pinkie.  Trust that, and simply do not question it.  If you do that then perhaps you will retain your sanity.  My sister informed me that Twilight nearly lost her sanity trying to figure out how Pinkie is able to do the things she does,” Luna said as she studied the cauldron a bit more.