Terracana

Terracana
Chapter 88: Ponies Don't Like Change Part 2

After a bit more elemental training, the rest of the day passes by and now it's time for dinner, so my wives and I take Solaris and Galaxia out into Canterlot in suits and dresses -although Solaris' and Galaxia's look really old fashioned- where the ponies stare at them in awe or confusion. We've left the foals in my parents and Discord's care until we return.

Solaris takes a deep breath of air and sighs. "It's good to be back after so long away," he says while Galaxia has her right arm hooked around his left.

"I know! And look at all the new clothes and gizmos there are," my mother in law adds in while looking around at the store windows.

Celestia and Luna giggle from their parents excitement as we head towards a restaurant we haven't been to before called the Rose Garden. I've had to push Cadence in a wheelchair as she's having trouble walking again, she's estimated to give birth in another thirty to fifty days.

We enter the building and after a bit of fumbling from the head waiter, we get seated at a large table in a private room, the room looks like an indoor garden with flowers and rose bushes around us, there's even a small pond with colourful fish in it as well.

We've all made our orders and got our drinks, now we just wait for our food.

"I've been wondering... Why don't you both speak like Luna does?" I ask my in laws with curiosity.

Solaris chuckles at the question. "Unlike Luna who unfortunately was displaced for a millennia, we've been watching over Equestria, more specifically Celestia, and adopted the new modern way of speaking," he replies and then takes a sip from his wine. "We're not as in the dark about modern customs as you might think."

We chat for a while and our food arrives, Celestia and Luna just talk with their parents, telling them of their training and new abilities.

Shella, Cadence, and I talk about our foals where we guess what name Cadence's foal will have.

The food was good and after paying for the bill, we head back to the Castle where ponies continue to stare at the two older alicorns. We arrive and head up to our room where we just relax and talk with each other.

Galaxia smothers our foals in affection again while Solaris and I play a game of chess... I lost fantastically!

Hours go by and it's time to turn in for the night, Solaris and Galaxia bid us goodnight and we all go to sleep.

The Next Morning

We get up and have breakfast, the announcement of Solaris and Galaxia happens at midday. First I spend an hour with Keanu where I meet Fluttershy playing with him, I've noticed that Keanu likes her a lot more than he does me. We then go to the Training Room to continue with our training, but Solaris decides to give me a friendly sparring match.

It's safe to say I got my ass kicked, he's damn good with a sword.

Time flew by and it's now ten to twelve. We're all standing on the balcony over the Castle's main entrance where the people of Canterlot have started to gather, chatting amongst themselves.

"I wonder how they'll greet us?" Solaris wonders to himself while stroking his beard just behind the curtains. He's wearing a nice looking black suit with a small cape over his left shoulder.

"I'm sure we'll be welcomed back like that time we stopped those demons from destroying Maneton," Galaxia says. She's wearing a white dress with a small shoulder to shoulder veil on her back.

"We believe they shalt rejoice at thy return," Luna chips in as we wait for midday.

Once everything has been checked, and double checked by Twilight, we're ready to begin.

Celestia and Luna walk up to the edge of the balcony while Cadence, Shella, and I stand to the side each holding one of our foals each.

"My little ponies! Today is a day to rejoice! As mine and my sister's parents have finally returned after millennia of being away. They gave up their ability to stay here to seal away a great evil before even the founding of Equestria! And yesterday, my student Twilight Sparkle has managed to bring them back!" Celestia says to the gathered crowd who mumble to each other.

"Please welcome back our parents, Solaris and Galaxia!" she then says and steps aside with Luna.

The aforementioned alicorns step through the curtains and the crowd go silent. Well this feels awkward...

"Who?"

"The Princesses have parents?"

"I've never heard of them."

"I saw them yesterday! So they’re the Queen’s parents?"

Celestia and Luna look disappointed as that wasn't the reaction they were hoping for. Galaxia looks sad that they've been forgotten while Solaris just looks stoic.

"Greetings ponies of Canterlot. I am Solaris, and this is my wife Galaxia. We are happy to be home after being away for so long. While we may not have been able to interact with Equestria during our leave, we were able to watch over you as the years went by. We are proud of what you have accomplished working together," Solaris says to the gathered crowd.

It takes a few seconds before a few people clap their hands. Celestia then steps back up to the balcony.

"I know this must be surprising, but Luna and I would be very grateful if you would all show them the same respect that you do for us," she tells the crowd.

"So what will they be doing!?" a unicorn man asks. He's wearing a long coat and a hat with a piece of paper with the word 'Press' on it. A notepad and quill is in his hands with a camera around his neck.

Solaris then replies. "We shall be helping our daughters and their herd mates with the Kingdom, we will take over court some days to allow them to rest and relax."

"But we've been perfectly fine with Celestia over the last thousand years, we don't need anypony else!" a mare then says. I notice she's in a fancy and expensive looking dress, must be a noble.

"We understand that, but tell me, would you like to work non-stop for centuries without rest? We alicorns may be powerful, but we too need to unwind and relax," Solaris replies with a raised brow.

"But the Princess has never been tired!" another woman says.

"She may have never shown you, but at the end of most days she would collapse after lowering the sun and raising the moon," Galaxia replies to her with a slight wince as if remembering said occasions. It must have hurt to watch her child push herself to exhaustion and not be able to comfort her.

I frown at the gathered crowd as they continue to say they don't need anyone else besides Celestia. Only a few even mention Luna, Cadence, Shella, or even me.

This goes on for a few minutes before Celestia yells. "ENOUGH! It's true, most days I was so exhausted I fell asleep still in my regalia. Then arrived Cadence who after learning what to do, helped alleviate some of the work for me. My sister then returned and has taken back her care of the moon and stars. Then my herd mates arrived and I've never felt better! Now with my parents back, we won't be so stressed and over worked anymore. I was hoping you would welcome my parents back home, but I see that it is too much to ask for." Her expression goes from disappointed to a sad frown.

The crowd is silent as Celestia breathes deeply to calm herself down.

Solaris then speaks up. "We only wish to help our daughters as any parent would, we are not taking over their positions, but allowing them to have time to themselves and herd mates," he says.

The ponies mumble to each other when a familiar voice speaks up. "I know what it's like working weeks on end being away from the ones you love, you have our support," says Fancy Pants with his right arm around Fleur De lis' waist.

"WOOHOO!" I then hear Pinkie yell from the crowd making me smile.

A few more voice their support while the rest look uncertain.

I then step up beside Solaris after passing Valiant to Celestia. "All we can ask is you give them a chance, like you have for me and Shella," I tell them.

More murmuring and the crowd start clapping together, but it feels like it's not entirely sincere. The crowd begins to disperse while Celestia sighs.

"That could have gone better," she mutters to herself.

"Just give them time, they'll warm up to them eventually," I tell her and hug her gently.

"I know, but I guess I was just hoping," she replies and nuzzles me.

I step back and then turn to the others. "I should get back to training, I want to be able to use five elements as soon as possible," I tell them all and start making my way to my room to get my armour.

"We shall join thee as well, we wish to keep training so we too may receive our champion form," Luna says.

"I'm going to take Valiant back to our room for a nap, all this excitement has made him tired," Celestia says just as our son yawns.

"I'm coming with you, my dear. We still need to catch up on everything we can!" Galaxia says to her and scoops up Valiant from Celestia's arms.

"Hmm, I suppose I'll tag along, nothing really to do until ponies become accustomed to us again," Solaris chips in as he and Galaxia begin to follow Celestia out the door.

"We'll go with them as I'm sure Mavis and Vespula could do with a nap as well," Shella says with a forced smile as she and Cadence follow them.

I look to Luna who just shrugs before pulling on my arm towards our room.

After getting our armour on, we head to the Training Room and continue with our training.

Two weeks later

I'm getting better at controlling five life elements, I just need to continue practising to get used to the magical pressure.

Solaris and Galaxia attended to their first court session with Celestia and Luna nine days ago, at first the people were wary of them, I mean they do look imposing, especially Solaris with his flame like hair, beard, and tail. Though from what Celestia told me it went well enough, the common folk talked to them while a couple of the nobles tried to talk with only Celestia.

Luna and Celestia are getting closer to unlocking their champion forms, Luna managed to form hers for a few seconds before it broke away. A large shadow raven with a sharp looking beak and talons. The blood red eyes were unnerving as well.

Shella is only a few days away from laying her eggs again while Cadence is just about a month way from giving birth. Luna has also started getting morning sickness and tried to strangle me for causing her such discomfort, but immediately tried to suck the air out of my lungs after as she apologised repeatedly.

My in laws over the last two weeks have also taken to walking through Canterlot when they could, just to meet the people and talk with them as equals, they're really earning the common people's respect.

As for what's going on around Equestria, another gryphon attack was reported and a small town just starting up called Trottsville was destroyed and it's one-hundred and three ponies were taken. Celestia has decreed no new towns shall be founded until the gryphons are dealt with as we can't afford to spread our forces anymore than we have.

Undead have also attacked a few towns but they seemed more like scouting groups then an attack force. I think Grogar is just using them to gather information.

Mavis' hair and horn are growing longer and her wings have started to form, they're tiny little stumps for now but one day they'll grow as big and as beautiful as her mother's.

Fluttershy has earned Keanu's loyalty over the time she spends with him, so I've reluctantly let her have him. Besides, why would I need a plains runner when I can fly to my destination via airship or my air wings?

Pinkie Pie has brought some orders for mooncakes from Luna now that her cravings have started, the oddest thing she's asked for so far is hay wrapped in bacon and dipped in some kind of dew grass flavoured paste.

Rainbow dash and the others have also visited now and then, mostly for Twilight who has been questioning Solaris and Galaxia about magic whenever she could. They were happy to answer but finally told her to calm down and give them some space.

Discord has been helping me with my training and has been trying to contact the aspect of order for Twilight, but so far nothing. It's as if she just disappeared and that actually has Discord worried.

Over in Terra, the orcs are trading pelts and other harvested goods for metals and other luxury goods, so relations are going well between the two nations, but people are still wary of the orcs. I won't be going back to the orcs' lands for a long time yet, the battle I was forced to fight in still echoes throughout my mind.

No word on Ortho's whereabouts has turned up either, if he is working with Grogar, then could that mean he's here in Equestria? That has us a little worried and keeping an eye out just in case.

Ember returned from the dragon lands now that everything there calmed down seven days ago. She hasn't left Spike's side since she got back and was very affectionate with him, while being hostile to nearly every female he talked to. Spike keeps telling her that it's fine but she says it's just natural for a dragoness to protect their mate from potential rivals as males or females could take another's mate for themselves.

After waking up and eating breakfast, we do our own things till midday where we gather up together including Twilight and her friends head out for a picnic at the park, it was Cadence's idea.

So here we are talking and eating lunch, I watch as Rainbow Dash flies around doing stunts and tricks making me smile, despite her missing arm she's still as lively as when I first met her. Scootaloo, the little filly I revived in Ponyville is just staring in awe at Rainbow as well.

"This is nice," Cadence says and leans against my left side with Mavis in her lap. Shella is leaning on my right with Vespula while Celestia is behind me giving me a shoulder rub.

"Mmm-hmm," I mumble my reply with Valiant on my lap babbling away at his siblings.

"I know I keep saying this but it's so good to be home," Galaxia says while Solaris is lying down with his head on her lap. He reaches up and holds her hand gently with a smile, getting one from her in return.

Pinkie is talking a mile a minute to Applejack who also brought her little sister with her. Rarity's sister Sweetie Belle is sitting next to Applebloom while eating a cucumber sandwich.

Twilight is going through her elven book again while levitating a daffodil and daisy sandwich next to her. I remember when she tried to eat a daffodil and daisy sandwich again after she became an elf, only to spit it out in confusion at why it tasted so bad. I told her she can't digest grasses and some flowers anymore making her sad as that was her favourite sandwich.

She coughs and spits it out again and opens the sandwich to see inside, just to groan in frustration and pick up another. What she didn't realise is it was a bacon, lettuce, and tomato one. She bites into the sandwich while looking at her book and stops mid bite with wide eyes. She chews for a few seconds before pulling her hand away and goes wide eyed at the sight of the bacon.

It takes a few seconds before she faints at having her first taste of meat. The others laugh or giggle while Celestia places a pillow under Twilight's head.

The picnic continues until late in the evening, now it's time I keep a promise to Applejack. "Hey, Applejack. Want to head to your orchard and see if we can get more trees to grow?" I ask her making her smile.

"Ah would like that, Adrian. We only have fifty trees left over from Sweet Apple Acres, if ya can help grow more we'd be mighty thankful," she replies.

"Then let's get going," I tell her and turn to the others. "I'll see you all later today alright?" I tell my family and they nod in reply.

So with that, I follow Applejack through the city and down the mountain towards her new farm.