“Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!” My three children bounced on me, waking me and my husband up to the sun shining through our already open window. Our youngest Holly clinging to her stuffed bear that she has had since she was born sat at the end of our bed.
“What do you want children?” Aether groaned.
“It’s time to get up dad” Our only son Thomas said, jumping on Aether.
“Mom, you promised to take us to see great uncle Soarin today!” Our oldest Lyla reminded me.
“Only if he wasn’t busy” I sat up; lightly nudged my husband to get up. Which naturally he didn’t he just groaned and rolled over.
“Okay, Well it seems none of you are ready” I gestured to all three of their messy mane and tails. The two older ones groaned while Holly still sat at the end of our bed, until I gestured for her to crawl over. Now she sat in between her father and I.
“Holly, do you want to go see great uncle Soarin today?”
“Yesh, Momma” My three old who was just grasping the aspect of talking replied. Her two older siblings are seven and six.
“Alright if I see three combed manes and tails, and three foals sitting at the table eating breakfast we will go.” Then they ran out of the room as quick as their little legs could carry them.
“Aether come on, get up” I nudged my husband again.
“*groan*”
“Come on you promised to go this time.”
“*Muffled* When did I ever say that?”
“When Lyla brought up the subject of going to see him about three weeks ago” I lightly pushed him. This time instead of groaning he grabbed my hoof and pulled me down into his hooves.
“Come on, put it off till next week, and stay here in bed with me.” He said pulling me closer.
“Sweetheart, you know how we used to do that before Lyla was born and now we have three anxious foals who really want to go see their great uncle.”
“*groan* Fine, I’m up.” He threw the blanket over me completely covering me.
“Aether!” I laughed pulling the blanket off of me before making the bed. Aether brushed his mane and tail before leaving the room.
After making the bed, I too brushed my mane and tail and went downstairs to find Lyla, Thomas, and even Holly eating breakfast. They were laughing and making jokes at one another while Aether, who was still half asleep, sat reading the morning newspaper with a cup of coffee.
“So mom do we get to go see great uncle Soarin?” Lyla asked, with a mouthful of her breakfast.
“Let your father and I get a chance to wake up and then we will leave.” I reached for my cup of coffee, and sat with Aether. I lightly kissed the side of his head as I peeked to see he was reading about in the newspaper.
“Seems our old high school pals will be in Ponyville today visiting Twilight”
“Shining Armor and Cadence”
“Yeah, maybe while the kids are with their great uncle maybe we should go see them.”
“Sounds like a plan.” I sipped my coffee.
When we finally left after everypony did what they had to do.
“Alright, while you guys are with your great uncle your father and I are going to see some old friends of ours. You are to stay with your great uncle.”
“Yes, Mom” Three voices replied in unison.
“Sweetheart, they are going to want to go play” Aether looked at me as we flew in a group , but Holly only being three rode on either my, or Aether’s back. Today she made the choice to ride on Aether’s back.
Soon enough we reached my childhood home. I moved here when my parents were killed when Changelings attacked to Canterlot Castle, Both my mom and dad were royal guards. I was only in fourth grade at the time. That’s when I met Aether; we have been best friends since then, although at senior prom we confessed our feeling for each other and became a couple, about a year later after graduation I learned I was pregnant with our first foal, Lyla. Aether and I were already set to be married that spring.
“Mom, did you really grow up here?” Thomas asked, as we walked up to the house.
“Yup, and your father lived just down the street.” I gestured down towards the street that Aether grew up on.
“Your mother and I used to spend mostly all of our time together.”
“We even helped each other get our cutie marks.” I said knocking on my uncle’s door.
“Angelwings” My uncle happily opened the door.
“Hi, Uncle Soarin” I replied, hugging him.
“Great uncle Soarin!” The kids shouted in unison before tackling their great uncle.
“Kids how many time have I told you its just uncle Soarin.” Soarin laughed wrestling with the kids.
“Uncle Soarin, would you mind keeping an eye on them for a little while Aether and I learned that our old high school pals are going to be in Ponyville today and we were going to go see them.”
“Not at all, go have fun you two, I can see you don’t get to do that very often” He laughed as the kids ran inside, shortly followed by their uncle. I couldn’t help but laugh as Aether and I walked away.
“Why don’t we go to lunch before we go see Shining, and Cadence?” Aether nudged me gesturing to the place where we had our first official date.
“Did you know today marks, about 8 years since we had that date” He nudged me again.
“Alright we’ll go” I laughed nudging him back. We both ended up laughing all the way to the diner. We ordered what we order that night. As we ate I couldn’t help but notice behind Aether a familiar pink and white horn appeared.
“Aether” I gestured behind him as the couple that him and I were really close with back in high school walked into the diner.
“Man, it’s been forever since we saw them. I mean look at Cadence, I remember she always wore her hair in a ponytail tied back with a bow in it.” We watch as they got a table which looked like it was going to be right behind us.
“Sweet Celestia, and they’re married” Aether pointed out their rings on their horns. A they were led past us Aether and I just made small talk until they were seated in the table behind Aether, with Cadence facing me; Aether’s back to Shining’s.
“I swear Shining; I saw them today when we were walking in the diner.” I heard Cadence say.
“Cadence, how are you for sure that they were them? We haven’t seen them since graduation.” Shining replied.
“Trust me I would know my best friend, Angelwings anywhere no matter what she looked like, and wrong the last time we saw them it was their wedding. I mean after they told us Angel was pregnant. “I couldn't help but look around Aether as my name was called.
“Aether, I’ll be right back.” I said getting up to go to the powder room.
Aether's POV
While she was gone I sat there hoping that Cadence, or Shining would recognize me, or Angel when she got back.
“Shining, did you hear that? It sounded like Angelwings” and sure enough Shining Armor turned around. I continued facing the other way so he wouldn’t recognize me, but sure enough Angel had to come back as Shining was still turned around.
“Angelwings, Is that you?” Shining Armor spoke.
“Shining Armor, Cadence, What are you two doing here I thought you moved out to the Crystal Empire?”
“We came back to visit my sister. Where’s Aether?”
“Right here” I lifted my hoof, and turned around.
“Man, it’s been forever.” Shining laughed, Cadence and Angel were already giggling as they caught up.
“So man, how’s the married life been treating you?”
“It’s been good, we’ve had two more foals since the wedding.”
“Really”
“Yeah, a colt and another filly” I started talking about Thomas, and Holly. Shining and Cadence only knew about Lyla.
“Oh my gosh, I have to meet the little ones” Cadence laughed.
“Well after we finish eating we could go see them” Angel replied, laughing as well.
“Alrighty then” She laughed as they both sat down.
We all finished eating and then started walking back to Angel’s uncle’s to get the Kids.
“So Shining I see you and Cadence tied the knot.” I laughed as we were walking.
“Yeah, not to long after you guys did.” Cadence giggled along with Angelwings.
“Man, this is just like old times.” Shining laughed; we all nodded in agreement. We finally made it to her uncle’s house and the kids were already playing outside.
“Momma, Daddy” Holly screamed running over to us; the two others followed shortly.
“Oh my goodness, they are adorable” Cadence exclaimed. Holly looked at her confused.
“Momma, who is dis” She asked.
“This is Mommy and Daddy’s friend’s from back when we were younger.” Angel replied picking up the filly.
“Hi, Holly, I’m Cadence” Cadence waved to Holly, who smiled widely.
“All these foals look like a mixture of you and Aether, all but Holly. Why is that?”
“Holly is a Christmas filly. She was born on Christmas Eve” Angel explained
“Oh Lyla, how big you’ve gotten. I remember when you were just a little filly.” Lyla looked at Cadence confused because she most likely didn’t remember Cadence because she was only a few weeks old the last time we saw Cadence and Shining Armor.
We ended up spend the rest of the day with Shining Armor and Cadence. Thomas seemed to really like Shining Armor. The two were constantly doing something that consisted of playing a prank on Me, Angel, or Cadence. When it came time for us to get back home, the kids were falling asleep as they started flying, Lyla ended up cuddling up next to Holly, and Thomas, being the momma’s boy he is curled up on Angel’s back. We said out goodbyes to Shining Armor and Cadence; promised to get together more often as we landed at our house.
“See aren’t you glad you went this time” Angel laughed at me while she put Thomas in his bed.
“Yeah, I am, I missed Shining Armor and Cadence. It was really great seeing them after so many years.” I shrugged putting Holly in her crib. When all the kids were put in their beds, Angel and I crawled into bed ourselves. We did what we would do before Lyla was born. We layed there playing with each other’s hoof as I held her close, we loved doing this, but rarely do it anymore because normally the kids throw fits when it’s time for bed.
“Maybe we should go see your uncle more often. I think that was the easiest the kids went to bed.” I laughed as she snuggled her head into my neck.
“Yeah, and he would like that, He really misses having us around. No pony to greet when they came home from school.”
“It was always funny how he would know you always came home with me. If we didn’t go to your house” I laughed, as Angel started to fall asleep just like she used to do when she was pregnant, she could sleep unless she was in my arms. I have no idea why she was like that but what I do know is that I loved it. It made me feel very protective of her and our unborn foal. She was like this with all three foals. I kissed the top of her head, and I too soon fell asleep. Dreaming of how we used to play together as foals, and replaying the day I first saw her.
Aether’s POV
I awake the next morning to find Angel already out of bed, and not in the room. I get out of the bed; make it, and comb my mane and tail before leaving to find everyone downstairs all still eating breakfast.
“Good Morning” Angel smiled giving me my newspaper, and cup of coffee. She then walked back to the kitchen and proceeded to clean up from making the foals breakfast. I walked over to my chair and began reading my newspaper. The headline read “Remembering of the Attack on Canterlot. 20 years later.”
That’s why she was up so early, she was getting ready to fly to Canterlot. Today marked ten years since her parents were killed, and every year she always gets up super early to be able to fly to Canterlot to commemorate her parents. She wanted to follow in their footsteps but she didn’t want to have the foals worry if she was needed in battle, and if she were to face the same fate as her parents she didn’t want the foals to grow up without their mother. I’m glad once she finished basic training she went against joining the guard.
“Momma” Holly called to have her be taken out of her highchair because she was done eating her breakfast. Before Angel even had a chance to put down the sponge from wash up some dishes I was letting her out. Today is also the one day of the year where she is really sensitive; any little thing could set her off. She sent me a small, but warm smile, and I returned it. I could tell she was already upset.
“I can’t believe they have been gone twenty years. It seems like yesterday.” She whispered to herself as she hung her head.
“Hey, just think they are watching over you every day.” I wrapped my wing around her. She leaned into my embrace, and sighed,
“I just miss them so much. I mean just the other day Holly was asking about them. Oh look at the time, I have to get going.” She moved out of my embrace.
“Hey, why don’t we all go this year?”
“You mean take the kids?”
“Yeah, give them a chance to understand where their grandparents are.”
“Holly is too young; we will just take the two older ones they can understand better. Holly can spend the day with Grandma and Grandpa Mag.”
“Alright, Kids get ready we are leaving.”
“Really, where are we going Dad?” Lyla asked
“You two are coming with me and your mother to Canterlot, while little Holly spends her day with your grandparents.”
Lyla and Thomas got very excited, but Holly didn’t seem to care she sat on the floor and played with her bear. I walked over and picked her up and off we went.
We stopped at my parent’s house and dropped Holly off before making our long flight to Canterlot.
“Mom, can you tell us about Grandma, and Grandpa?”
Angelwings’ POV
“My mother and father were both in the royal guard long before I was born they did the same thing I did went into basic training their senior year of high school, but they chose to go into the royal guard. I didn’t because I was pregnant with you, Lyla.
My mother, Shimmering Moonlight was a unicorn, and she and my father, Cloudy Dreams who was a Pegasus, were like your father and I they were high school sweethearts who couldn’t wait to get married. After they were married they went into the royal guard which soon became their life. They protected, and defended Equestria. When Princess Celestia needed them they were there. They took this lifestyle very seriously. That was until I was born, when my mom learned she was having a foal she and dad took a leave from the guard until I was about two years old. I remember when they went to war for the first time. They kept telling me they loved me more than anything. I now understand why they did because they weren’t sure if they weren’t coming home. About 3 more time later when I was in fourth grade, I heard a lot of ruckus in their room one night and went to find them suiting up. My mother told me the Changelings were attacking Canterlot and the Princess needed them. Again I thought I would see them in a few months so as they showered me with ‘I love you’ and ‘you are the best thing that ever happened to us’ I really was thinking ‘okay mom, and dad see you soon.’ But a few months into my parent’s leave I got home from school one day only to receive a visit from my parent’s drill sergeant and my uncle. Then reality hit me. My parents weren’t coming home this time. I couldn’t take it. I think I cried for three days straight. It was a lot to put on a 9-year-old. I then vowed to follow in my parent’s hoof steps and join the royal guard.”
By the time I was done we had reached Canterlot.
“Okay kids, I going to warn you now. There will be a time were you may cry, and want to leave, and there will be a time where I have to speak, so don’t be afraid if I start to cry.” I reminded my two oldest. They both nodded in reply and Aether gave me a supportive smile.
As we landed I was approached by many of my old royal guard brats (kids whose parents were in the military) Most of these ponies I knew pretty well and most of them I grew up with.
“Angelwings, it’s about time you show up” One of the stallions I grew up with Gleaming Comet slapped my shoulder.
“Lyla, Thomas, Aether. This is one of the ponies that I grew up with being a guard brat and all.” I laughed hitting Comet back on his shoulder. We continued walking through the crowd to get where my parents were. When we finally reached them, Princess Celestia was standing there.
“Princess” I bowed as did the rest of my family.
“Angelwings, you made it.” She stood with authority.
“I wouldn’t miss this for the world Princess” I stood up.
“Now that you and your family have arrived we can begin.” The Princess gestured me to follow her. I told Aether to take the kids to the crowd of other families who were affected by the attack.
“Fillys, and Gentlecolts, We are gathered here today to remember those who fought twenty years ago when Canterlot was attacked. Many lives were lost, and that what brings us together here today. We stand here remembering those brave soldiers who were lost in the battle. They were fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, friends, brothers, sisters. Each and every one of them fought hard and brave to protect this city. I for one will be forever grateful that these ponies risked their lives to fight, and protect our city. “
Celestia began with her opening speech before having the first child of each family come up to receive a piece of their parents, who had died in the battles, Amor. When Celestia reached me I was given my mom’s chest plate, and my dad’s helmet. Both of they had the hole which was their fatal wounds. I could barely keep my composure as we each had to say something about our parents, and how life has been different since they have been gone.
I listened to each of the mares and stallions explained how hard it was to cope with their parents being gone at first and how their lives had changed dramatically since their deaths. When it came time for me to speak I looked out into the crowd and saw Aether, and the two kids watching me intently all of them giving supportive smiles, Lyla even laughed a little.
“It’s been 20 years since I came home from school one day, and received a visit from Sergeant Hard Weather, my mother and father’s drill sergeant, and my Uncle Soarin. I was only 9 years old at the time. I was living in Los Pegasus, and was in the middle of my fourth grade year. I was forced to move to Ponyville with my uncle. Which is where I met my wonderful husband, Aether Mag” I smiled down at Aether.
“In those 20 years my life has changed dramatically, I have been through the basic training to join the royal guard, and was waiting for my kids to be a little older before taking on the lifestyle as a royal guard myself. To follow in my parent’s hoof steps and protect our beautiful nation. I have here today my mother’s chest plate and my father’s helmet both of which display their fatal wounds from their final battle. My Parents were great soldiers they took this lifestyle very seriously; it may be twenty years since the battle but it feels like it was just yesterday.”
I step off the podium and join Aether and our kids in the crowd. I look up into the sky knowing my parents were up there along with many other ponies whose lives were lost in the battle knowing they were watching over every pony.
Chapter 3: The Night It All Began
Angelwing’s POV
That after all the day’s events I crawled into bed with Aether, and quickly fell asleep. I slept in his hooves like I always did. It made me feel secure; I feel that with being his embrace I could face anything in life.
That night I dreamt a dream that I was at a picnic with Aether and the kids, and was a beautiful dream, and it reminded me of the day this actually happened which was actually a few weeks ago. Holly, Lyla, and Thomas were playing by a tree while Aether and I lay with each other, me in his lap, and we were laughing and drinking a glass of wine.
I knew I was smiling in my sleep because I loved my beautiful family. The dream was a great dream. I thought nothing could go wrong. I watched myself laugh and play with Aether and the kids. Soon dark clouds began to cover the beautiful sky, so in turn I thought it was just a storm so we went to gather the kids, but as I picked up Holly I noticed Thomas was missing.
“Thomas” I repeatedly called out searching for my son. Aether put the two girls in the wagon while I searched for Thomas. As I walked the wind started to pick up and I could swear I heard Aether call that he was at the car, but when I got to the car I found that Lyla had also disappeared most likely looking for her little brother.
“Aether, stay here and watch Holly.” I said turning around going out again to look for my now two missing foals.
“Angel” I heard Aether again, but as I ran back I saw him just disappear, along with Holly, who seemed mortified.
“Aether” I screamed watching my husband dissipate to nothing but dust in the wind.
I wandered as the sky got darker. I couldn’t find Thomas, Holly, Aether, or Lyla. I was terrified.
“Where are you?” I repeatedly called but I knew they couldn’t hear me through the harsh wind and now rain that pelted down, it felt like needles. Each drop pierced my fur with force; I could feel it down to my skin. I continued walking through the downpour. Nothing was going to stop me from finding my family.
As I wander I start to think will I ever see my family again. What caused this dream to take a turn for the worse? My eyes were forced to shut because the rain was coming down hard and I was blinded as I ran. My mane and tail whipping in the wind, I knew I couldn’t stay in this rain much longer.
That thankfully was the end of the dream. I woke up to find the sun shining through the curtains that were wide open. By that I knew Aether was up he always opened the curtains when he woke up, but why did he wake me up? He always wakes me up, either he or one of the foals.
“It’s not my birthday, nor mother’s day. What’s going on?” I say to myself getting out of bed and walking downstairs.
“Aether?” no answer
“Lyla” no answer
“Thomas” again no answer,
“Holly” and again no answer
“Okay what is going on?” I walk down the stairs. The entire house was empty and the front door left wide open. I enter the kitchen to find Holly’s bear that was always by her side. NO matter where she went this bear was always with her.
I go back to the kid’s room and it’s empty. Walking back out to the front door I find no one but the neighbors out in their yards. I go back inside
“Aether” I scream through the house, but like I expected there was no answer. I finally had searched the entire house, and no pony was there so I stormed out of the house leaving everything behind. I held the necklace that Aether gave me on my birthday tight as I flew to my uncle’s house. I started banging on the door frantically.
“Angelwings, what’s the matter?” My uncle finally answered the door.
“I can’t find Aether or the kids. I was wondering if it would be possible if they stopped by here.” I could tell that my uncle had no idea that they were missing.
“Angelwings, I’m sorry they aren’t here. Do you want me to help you look?”
I shook my head; I didn’t want my uncle to tangle in this. I was afraid that something might happen to him. I gave him a hug and turned to go see if I could find my family.
I tried three more places, My parent’s gravesite, Aether’s parents’ house, The Canterlot castle and I ended up at the crystal castle which is where I am right now.
“You sure they aren’t home?” Cadence asked me, as we walked into the castle.
“No Cadence, I tore the house apart and I couldn’t find them anywhere.” U hung my head thinking of when I found Holly’s bear on the kitchen floor.
“Well it’s late and you have a long flight home, so why don’t you stay here tonight.” Cadence pointed to the room we were standing next to.
“Thanks Cade” I gave my best friend a hug then went into the room that I would be staying in and quickly fell asleep.
