Broken, but Still Standing

You know what's the weirdest thing ever? Eating eggs and toast with your dad and lover while your ex keeps commenting how your lover's stomach look absolutely beautiful due to the pregnancy. What's weirder than that? You're cool with it.

So, we sat having breakfast, not really sayin' much, but just feeling good vibes all around. Aegis, I guess I should start calling him dad or something, just sat there with a face of a stallion who's been told he won the Royal Jackpot lotto and was going to be knighted for it. Tavi just seemed very relaxed.

“I don't mean to say anything, ahh, intrusive, but have you two been on an actual date?” Tavi asked, a playful little grin on her face.

Derpy just blushed. “No. We've only...” She blushed more as the only thing we've done was not exactly anything you tell your lover's ex about.

“We've rutted a few times.” I finished. Derpy squeaked, like the way she does when I nip her in the right spot while grinding hard. I just couldn't help it. She was so cute when she did that.

Octavia didn't seem bothered with my forwardness though. “You two should have a day out.” She suggested. “Do you have plans for today?”

“Yeah.” I smirked. I pulled Derp back, so she was leaning on my shoulder and whispered. “We haven't rutted in a few days~”

She squeaked again, but more in a longing way, like a high pitched sigh of 'no no' and 'yeeeeeess'. I couldn't help it. I kissed her. To my surprise, she's the one who started shoving her tongue into my mouth first. It wasn't until daddy coughed that we broke the rather steamy kiss, both a little out of breath and quite flushed.

“Actually,” Aegis said. “How about a vacation?”

“Great.” I smiled. “But, I'm a little low on cash.”

He was silent for a moment. “Viola, I need to speak frankly.” I flicked an ear in annoyance at being called my old name, but didn't say anything, letting him continue. “I'm going to do something that others would consider stupid. I want you three to be clear of the smoke.”

“Aegis,” Octavia started, her voice low and full of concern. “Don't do what I think you're going to do.”

“I'm going to bloody his nose,” Aegis confirmed. “Figuratively speaking.”

Strangely, I had a feeling in the pit of my stomach as he spoke this. “Dad,” I asked, no mocking in my voice. “What are you planing.”

It seems strange, that I hated this stallion for most of my life, but after hearing that his story and finding out that one way or another he'd been in my life keeping tabs on me, I couldn’t help but feel he was a friend, and that I wanted to keep him around now.

Aegis stood up, heading to the window of the sunlit apartment, gazing out at the buildings around, hearing the traffic and smelling the faint stench of the ocean which lay beyond sight. He didn't say anything at first, but when he turned around, his face was of stone.

“When I left for the mission over twenty years ago, I told myself I'd protect my family no matter the cost. I...have failed at that the moment I stepped hoof out of my house. I'm not going to fail again. I'm going to get close and perused Diamond Bright to leave Derpy alone and that the child is better off not knowing his bastard father.”

Octavia gave me a worried look. “That's not a good idea.” She looked at my dad, pleading in her voice. “There's a reason why I've called him untouchable in the past.” She said, seeming to choke on the words, as if she was saying something she knew she shouldn't say. “He's...he's...He owns more than...legitimate companies.”

“And why hasn't he been locked up yet, if you know this?” I asked.

Octavia bit her lip. “Vinyl...Diamond, he's the richest stallion in Equestria.” I waited for the punchline. “He, or any company of his, at any one time owns seventy percent of the money flow of Equestria. If he's so much as looked at by authority, he could dry up the economy or have very important ponies removed. I've said that next to the Princess's I'm the absolute authority? Next to him, the Princess's have the absolute authority.”

The thought made me scratch my head. “I don't get it, why can't they, I donno, vaporize him or something?” She looked at me like I was crazy. “The princesses I mean.”

“V. How would the population look at any authority killing any citizen, no matter how bad or corrupt they are?”

I couldn't keep eye contact with those violet eyes. “So he is Mr. High and Mighty.”

“In the most literal sense.” Octavia stated. “He'd see you coming a mile away, Aegis.”

“Well,” Aegis smiled, a wolfish smile. “It's a good thing I plan to shoot from two miles away.” We all shifted uncomfortably. “Figuratively speaking.” He added with a light chuckle. “So, I want you two to skip town for a little while. I know a nice peaceful place called Ponyville. Go, settle down and keep your heads down. When this blows over, you can come back, if you'd like.”

“This seems rather thought out.” My tone was flat, almost unfriendly. “And why am I running again?”

“Because, dear daughter.” Aegis gave me a piecing look. “I'm going to war. I will not let what I'm protecting fall into the line of fire.”

“Ponyville is a good place to hide.” Tavi added, nodding at his logic. “And you two would be unknown there, so no need to fear about prying eyes. Also, Derpy could have the foal and not worry about Bright coming to snatch the baby.”

I relented. “That makes sense.”

“But,” Derpy looked worried. “Won't two mares look suspicious when one's pregnant?”

“Not if you were impregnated by a stud, so you two could have a baby together.” Octavia smiled. “And I for one, think you'll make wonderful parents.”

“Tavi.” I gave her a 'not funny face' “You're trying to hard.”

“Damnit Viola!” Octavia crossed her hooves, blushing hard and looking away. “I'm jealous okay?!”

There was a pause, then we all burst out laughing. “Tavi? Jelly?” That was a good one.

Her face burned up. “In your ear.” She covered her face with her hooves. “I can't believe I wanted to rut you one last time too.”

That only made me laugh harder, until I felt a hoof on my shoulder. Derpy gave me that look of, 'not nice'.

“That actually might not be a bad idea.” Aegis mused.

“Whoa! Pops!”

“No, I mean, you two not being a couple at Ponyville.” He stated. “Not openly. Maybe even keep up appearances with Octavia.” Both Octi and me blushed hard, not able to look at each other. “Bright would expect Derpy to be with someone else. If you're with Octavia, and Derpy stays, more or less, out of sight, then she and the baby is safe.”

I opened my mouth to say that was stupid, but Derpy spoke first. “Yes.” I shot her a stunned look. “For the baby, but I want to still be with Vinyl.”

I couldn't think of a solution, until it hit me. “Octavia, what would you say to a little bit of a planned life?”

“Beg pardon?”

“If I moved out to Ponyville, and had you and Derpy move out later, like a few days later, and you and I start dating for a few weeks, no pony would be the wiser as of Derpy and her relationship with me, right?” She nodded. “And if we had a big fight, and broke up for some reason, that's kinda typical of a couple, yes?” She nodded again. “Then I could start dating Derpy again, and not even the most trained eye would see that we were a thing the whole time.”

Derpy looked very confused. “I get it, but I don't see why we need to play it out to that far.”

“Bright is or, will be, looking for you.” Aegis explained. “He'll assume that you've found yourself a stallion or a mare, as work for mare who are close to their due date are very rare. If you vanish and slip away by yourself, he won't find you, because he's going to be looking for some mare with another pony. If we dye your mane and coat color before you go, no pony would know who you are.”

I nodded. “And if we play our elaborate game of charades, then we can end up together, and if we are followed, they won't stick around long enough to see us together.”

“One request.” Octavia stated. I looked at her determined face. “Vinyl, I know how this has to play out, but I don't want you playing me. I want our relationship to be as real as possible. I know it will last, but I want one last time with you before we're done.”

I nodded, not even thinking of what this could really mean for her, or myself.

“Sure thing Tavi.” I turned and kissed Derpy. “It's okay. We'll be together and happy where no pony could touch us.

Away. Free. I had never been more wrong in my whole bucking life.