Terracana
Chapter 59: Hearth's Warming Eve

After retrieving the egg, Celestia gave it back to Philomena who then took it back to her nest.

Celestia then began crying again, calling herself a monster for what she did to the leader of the criminals.

Luna teleports my armour off me and I took Celestia to our room while Cadence, Luna, and Shella went to attend court and give me some time alone to calm her down.

We enter our room and I close the door. "I've never lost my temper that badly before..." she tells me with a sniffle. She then glares at me and I think I'm not going to like what's coming. "This is all your fault! You did this to me! I've never had this much trouble keeping my anger in check before!" she yells at me and slaps me on the face hard enough to make me stumble back a metre or two.

I wince from the stinging pain. "Ow..." I grumble as I rub my sore cheek.

Celestia gasps and immediately crushes me in a bone breaking hug. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean it! Please don't hate me!" she begs and finally breaks down, crying into my chest.

I lift her up and carry her over to the bed and gently lay her down on it. I lay beside her and stroke her hair lovingly.

"It's alright, I don't hate you. I love you and the others more than anything in the world. You all mean everything to me, you know that," I tell her.

She's still crying with the left side of her face buried in the crook of my neck.

"I... *sniff* I know... it's just... *sniff* I feel so unstable... *sniff* since m-my pregnancy," she replies. "And I've b-been feeling more stressed as well... you constantly *sniff* getting h-hurt and making m-me worry," she says.

I sigh and nuzzle her. After so long of them doing it to me, I just find it natural to return the affection now. "I'm sorry about that. I am trying my best not to worry you, but I would die to keep you lot safe. I really don't want to do that as that would mean leaving you, but I would still do it if I had no other choice," I reply.

She then asks me to make love to her and for the next thirty minutes, I gave her what she wanted and she felt much better.

I smile and hold her against me, basking in our afterglow and the feeling of her soft fur on my skin.

I hum a tune my mom used to sing me to sleep with when I was six.

Celestia hums happily as she listens to the tune. "Please stay with me," she mumbles as her breathing slows down and she falls asleep.

I kiss her cheek. "Always," I reply and continue to hum the tune and stroke her hair until sleep takes me as well.

I wake up next to a smiling Celestia. I stroke her hair out of her face and rub my thumb lightly across her cheek. She hums happily and slowly wakes up.

Her eyes flutter open and she smiles at me, cuddling as close as she can to me. "Good morning, my love," she says.

I look to the clock on the wall and see it's only ten PM. "Actually, It's evening," I tell her. Celestia's stomach rumbles and she blushes.

I chuckle warmly and pick her up off the bed as we need a wash before heading out to eat. I carry her into our bathroom and draw a bath for us. Once ready, I help her in and she leans against me with conflicting emotions on her face.

"Adrian... am I still beautiful? I feel like I'm getting fat," she asks me.

I gently rub her pregnant stomach. "You're as beautiful as the day we first met," I reply and kiss her.

She sighs happily and we just enjoy each other's company.

Ten Days Later

Winter is coming and snow is falling all over Equestria as pegasi are flying around getting clouds in place where the snow starts to settle and lay.

My parents returned seven days ago and have bought me a gift. A young male Planes Runner, and a rare white one at that. Once I found out how much it cost them, which was like eighty percent of their savings. I gave them two thousand gold coins worth of gems from my hoard to keep them comfortable. Mom tried to object, but I wouldn't budge, at least she can now get that extension to her shop that she wanted.

I've had a stable built for him near the Gardens and named him Keanu. He's still too young to ride, but he should be able in a year or two. I visited him daily to get him used to me.

Jasmine has also started calling me her brother which brings a smile to my face every time. She was ecstatic to find out that she's technically a princess now then.

Twilight and her friends visited again and we had to literally drag Fluttershy away from Keanu as she fawned over the young bird.

They were also surprised when they wanted to watch me train again, only to see Celestia and Luna in their own aspect forms.

Twilight was bombarding Celestia and Luna with questions as to what it was like, how they feel when in the forms, what kind of magic they now have... that sort of thing. Twilight looked like she ate too much sugar when Lux came out and gave her a thorough explanation.

Although when Umbra came out, The girls were startled with a shout of "NIGHTMARE MOON!" and Twilight summoned their elements. Before anyone could explain, they fired a wide beam of magic with a rainbow hue at her.

I saw Umbra's eyes widen in fear as the beam hit her. I heard Luna shout out her name and began panicking.

After a few seconds the light dies down and on the floor was a human shaped woman whose body looks like it's made completely of black shadows, still with her dark blue shadow like dress.

Lux helped her up and she was dumbfounded, as were the girls.

Umbra, after a few minutes recomposing herself actually thanked and hugged the girls for returning her to her original form. The elements only repaired the damage caused when she was forcefully torn away from Luna. Celestia theorised that Umbra might have been fully restored if the elements continued longer that fateful night of her return.

The girls listened to Umbra's story of what happened and after that, they apologised to her. Umbra just smiled and thanked them again.

They watched our training for two more days and then went back to Ponyville, except for Twilight and Spike who remained so she could study the aspects. She and Lux got on very well as he answered all her questions and inquires.

I'm told that in two weeks time something called Hearth's Warming Eve will start. A holiday about the founding of Equestria where family and friends get together and enjoy each other's company. I'll have to find some gifts for my lovers before then.

The four imprisoned changelings who impersonated Blueblood's guards have been released and inducted to the Lapis Hive. They've even told us the location of Chrysalis' main Hive, deep within the Everfree Forest, why am I not surprised it's in there. Chitain and Chameleon were also sent with more guards to protect Ponyville. The two changeling guards will act as detectors to sense any changelings not of the Lapis Hive nearby.

Shella went back to her Hive for a few days to see how everything is going personally, although she's told through the Hive Mind that everything is going better than ever.

At the end, Twilight and Spike went home, but said they'll be back to visit her parents for Hearth's Warming Eve.

Two Weeks Later

For the most part, each day has been quiet as we all trained together. In the mornings, Celestia, Luna, Cadence, Shella, or I will take turns in Court, helping the people with problems or conflicts. Although a few completely stupid people just wasted my time.

Why would two brothers need royalty to settle a dispute of who gets their mother’s heirloom? I asked if there was a will and if it said who the item now belonged to where they both blushed as they most likely forgot about it. They apologised for wasting my time and left, though still arguing with each other. I just rolled my eyes and sighed.

Celestia and Luna have gotten very good with their new magic. Celestia can vaporise her targets slightly faster and Luna has learnt to be one with the very shadows themselves, completely undetectable. Even with her perception training, I couldn't find her.

Their magic control is also high, most likely due to them using magic for thousands of years compared to my measly six.

I've also had some alone time with my other lovers, helping to relieve their stress and relax. Although I only impregnated Shella last night.

I managed to get some meats brought over from Terra. Cadence tried her first piece of bacon with hesitation, she instantly loved the taste and has a couple of pieces with breakfast, same for myself and Celestia. In exchange we sent Vortigan some fruit and vegetable seeds that they've never seen before.

Pomegranates were one of them, along with something called an eggplant and many others.

Blueblood and Rarity have been getting much closer with each other over the last two months, and just two days ago, Blueblood finally proposed to her.

From what I heard, the whole of Ponyville heard her squeal and shout 'Yes!' The wedding is planned a month after Hearth's Warming Eve.

The orcs on Terra also seem to be acting strange. A single orc female walked up to the Elysium gates in nothing but a ragged loincloth and bra. No weapons, no armour, just herself and a letter from the Warlord Chief of the orcs, Grom'Thak Tar.

The letter said the Chief would like to meet Vortigan, and that he himself would come unarmed and alone to Elysium to meet him. The female orc named Or'Gra was to deliver his reply. She told him how Orthos was the one to promise their people a better future if they helped to take over Reymorah, but that changed when Orthos abandoned them. They even had to kill all the beasts under their control as they went wild when Orthos left.

So three days after Hearth's Warming Eve, there'll be a meeting in Elysium, and We've been invited to attend since we helped fight against them, thus we had a say in it as well since we suffered losses during the battle.

I also got Gaia to help me with those rare flowers I wanted, I may know how to grow flowers now, I just don't know how to alter the seeds to get the flower I want myself. I was hoping to learn that sooner, but I guess this is good enough.

I wake up with my lovers around me. Celestia to my right, Cadence to my left, Luna on top of me and Shella cuddled up to Cadence's back.

Today is Hearth's Warming Eve and Luna told me they have a surprise ready for me. We all get up and get ready for the day and we're now having breakfast in the Dining Hall.

"We hope thou art looking forward to our gifts," Luna says to me.

I swallow my mouthful of bacon and turn to her. "Of course, but being here with all of you is a gift in itself," I reply, looking to everyone gathered.

Celestia, Cadence, Shella, Luna, my parents, Jasmine, Shining Armour, and Silk Sheets are all gathered here. They smile at me and Luna giggles as she kisses my right cheek. Blueblood is still down in Ponyville with Rarity.

I feed Shella to which she feeds Mavis. Today we're just going to relax as there's no court or training.

"So, how have you and Silk been doing?" I ask Shining.

He chuckles and holds silk's hand. She's clearly nervous sitting at the table with us. "Pretty well actually. We've learnt a lot about each other and Twilight likes her as well," he replies.

I smile at that. "That's great. What are your plans for today?" I ask.

"We're going to meet mine and her parents at my folks place along with Twilight and Spike," he tells me.

"Sounds nice," I say and finish off my breakfast.

Cadence then speaks up. "Adrian... would you accompany me to the Orphanage today?" she asks me.

I look to the others who smile and nod. I look back at Cadence and smile at her. "Sure, what are you planning on doing?" I reply and ask.

"I visit and play with the foals whenever I have free time. It makes them so happy," she tells me.

I chuckle. "Well then, I think I have an idea to make them even happier," I say and get up.

She looks confused as I hold my hand out to her where she takes it and I help her up. I then give my wives a kiss each. "We'll be back in a few hours," I tell them.

"Tis alright, have fun," Luna replies.

I lead Cadence out and head to the vault. After talking to the treasurer, I withdraw a thousand bits from my hoard and carry the bag over my left shoulder. Good thing the coins are light and small.

"What are the bits for?" she asks.

"I'm going to buy a bunch of toys for the kids. A Hearth's Warming Eve gift for them if you will, and whatever is left will go towards the upkeep of the place," I reply.

"Really?" she asks with wide eyes and a smile.

"Yes, let's go so you can pick the toys out," I tell her.

She squeals and hugs me tightly, then we get a carriage and head into the city. Over the next hour, Cadence gets dolls, building blocks, doll houses, soft swords that look like they're made of pillows, story books, board games, wooden trains, blankets with different themes, and many other toys.

In total, it cost four hundred and sixty-three bits. We cart our haul to the Orphanage where the guards help to carry it. Cadence knocks on the door of the old looking building and an elderly pale cream coloured woman with white hair tied into a bun greets us.

"Princess! It's so good to see you again. The foals will be so happy," she says and then looks behind her. "What's all this?" she asks.

"Gifts for the foals," Cadence replies.

"You didn't have to do this," the woman says.

Cadence smiles and steps aside, allowing the woman to see me. "I didn't, Adrian did," she tells her.

The woman's eyes widen. "Your Majesty!" she says and bows.

I chuckle. "Please, no need to bow," I tell her.

She looks back up at me. "Thank you, my name is Loving Care. The foals will love these," she says and lets us in.

We walk in with the guards carrying the toys behind us. We're lead to a room with twenty kids playing with each other but they stop and look at us.

"CADENCE!" they all yell and swarm her.

"Hello, little ones," she says and kneels down to them.

"What are we going to play today," a little girl asks.

"I'm sorry, but I can't play with you as I don't want to strain myself," she tells them.

They all 'awww' In disappointment but then they look at me.

"Who's that?" a chubby little boy asks.

"He's my coltfriend, and the King of Equestria," she tells him.

"The King?" they ask.

I walk over to them and kneel beside Cadence. "Hello, it's nice to meet you all," I say to them.

"Why are you here?" a girl asks.

"Cadence asked me to come, but I thought I'd bring you presents," I reply. "Can you put the boxes down over there please?" I ask the guards.

"Of course, your Majesty," they reply. I know I keep telling them to stop that, but it's apparently part of their job and looks more professional.

They put the boxes down in between us and the children.

I then open the boxes and look back at the kids. "These are all for you," I tell them. "Enjoy."

The shouts of their happiness and laughter make me smile. I then turn to Loving Care and give her the bag with the rest of the bits in it. "This is for you and the Orphanage," I tell her.

She opens it and gasps. "I... I don't know what to say... thank you," she replies and surprisingly hugs me. "Not many donate to us anymore. The last three donations were two from Princess Cadence, and one from Sir Fancy Pants," she says.

I return the hug. "You're welcome. If you need anything else, I'd be happy to help," I tell her.

I hear a door open and someone walking in. "Mom! I'm back! I got the medicine you need," a female voice says. A yellow woman with short multi-hue green hair, pink eyes, and wearing casual clothes walks in the room. She looks at us and the guards. "What's going on?" she asks.

"Hello, Sunny Smiles," Cadence says.

"Cadence!" Sunny says with a big smile and hugs her.

I notice Sunny has her left arm in a sling. Whilst Cadence and sunny chat I walk over to Loving Care.

"What's the medicine for?" I ask her.

"I have a poor heart condition and the medicine helps keep my blood pressure down. It happened a week ago as I went out to get groceries for the foals. A construction site I was passing collapsed and a piece of jagged steel barely punctured my heart where I almost died that day. I was taken to the hospital where they operated on me, but the best they could do was close the hole. It's really thin now and if my blood pressure goes too high, the thin layer of muscle might burst," she tells me.

Sounds like a simple laceration, easy to heal.

"Would you like me to heal your heart for you?" I ask her.

She looks at me surprised. "You can do that?" she asks.

"Sure, do you want me to?" I offer.

"I would like that very much," she replies.

I hold my right hand out to her and cast a single life element healing beam. Since the wound is on the heart, I think it's best to heal it slowly.

Everyone watched as the beam slowly flowed into her. After a few minutes I stop the beam.

"There, all better," I tell her.

She takes a deep breath and smiles. "It doesn't hurt to breath deeply anymore."

"Good, that also means you don't need that medicine anymore, but I suggest going to the hospital for a check up anyway," I tell her. I then turn to Sunny. "Would you like me to heal your arm for you as well?" I ask her.

She looks at her arm then back at me and bows. "Yes please," she replies.

I cast another beam on her and heal her arm. She goes wide eyed as she takes the sling off and moves her arm about, I then cancel the beam.

"It's as good as new, thanks," she says.

"You're welcome," I reply.

For the next hour, we have tea and I'm dragged into a game with the kids. I played the part of a greedy dragon keeping the girls prisoner while the boys used the blankets like armour and the pillow swords to battle me.

I was then defeated in an epic battle where eleven kids were lightly bashing me on the floor with their 'swords'.

"Curse you brave knights! You have slain me!" I say and play dead, complete with my tongue hanging out with a dramatic last breath.

"Our heroes!" the girls say giggling uncontrollably. Using the other blankets as dresses.

Cadence and Sunny giggle, while Loving Care just smiles at us.

One of the boys puts his hoof on my chest holding his sword out above his head. "Fear not fair maidens! For we shall protect thee!" he says proudly.

I grin and sit up and wrap my arms around him. "Foolish knight! You think me defeated so easily!" I say trying to sound smug. He yelps and I grin. "Feel the power of my flames!" I say and tickle his sides.

He bursts out laughing while trying to get me to let go. I chuckle and let him go where he lies on his back while panting.

I turn to the others with a shit eating grin. "Which one of you wishes to get eaten next?" I say to them.

They scream as I chase them around the room, stomping and roaring.

"Come on, Adrian. I think it's time we head back to the Castle," Cadence tells me.

A collection of 'awwws' ring out as the kids look sad.

I chuckle and stand up. "Don't worry kids, I'll visit again. I haven't had this much fun since I was a child," I tell them.

They perk up and say goodbye as they raid the boxes for the rest of the toys.

We're standing by the door where Care and Sunny thank us for the toys, bits, playing with the kids, and healing their injuries.

We then get on the carriage and head back to the Castle.

"Those toys and bits will help them a lot, and that was very nice of you to play with them, you're really good with foals," Cadence says.

I chuckle and wrap my left arm around her waist. "Just reliving my own six year old childhood. No cares or worries and just having some fun."

She giggles and leans against me. "You're going to make a great father," she tells me.

I smile and rest my head atop hers.

We return to the Castle and have some lunch. Until dinner time, we all lounge in Celestia and Luna's personal lounge, gathered around the fireplace just talking with each other. I had a few chess matches with them and lost each one, oh well.

Celestia and Cadence are having a chess match while I'm sitting in the middle of the couch with Luna to my right and Shella to my left. I'm holding Mavis in my arms and talking to her, she's been babbling a lot lately.

"Mavis. Say, Daddy. Daaaaddyyyyy," I tell her.

"Baba didy!" she replies.

"No no no. Daddy. Dad dy, daaaaddyyyy," I say again.

She giggles and reaches out to me, I lean forward where she starts squeezing my cheeks. "Dada! Daddy!" she yells and laughs while slapping my cheeks.

My smile is a mile wide. "She said daddy!" I say and nuzzle my Daughter, making her try to push me away.

"Such a joyous moment!" Luna says and tickles Mavis.

I hand her back to Shella who then feeds her some energy.

"Ooooh. I just can't wait for my own bundle of joy to be born!" Cadence says and accidentally knocks the chess board off the table in her excitement. "AHH!" she yelps as the noise startles her.

The others giggle and I smirk where I just watch as they all chat with each other. Before I came here, I never thought I'd find someone to love with all my travelling and eventual study at the academy, but here I am, with four lovers, a daughter and three more on the way. Plus another when spring comes by.

"I think we should have some fun with Adrian tonight, as another gift to him," I barely hear Cadence say. I see them all huddled together with her back towards me.

I look at Cadence with a raised eyebrow. It seems she hasn't noticed I heard that as I quietly get up and creep up behind her.

I wrap my arms around her stomach and kiss her cheek. She 'eeps' and then giggles.

"Maybe I'm up for a little fun later as well," I tell her and lower my hands and grope the front of her thighs making her gasp and moan lightly.

I step away and gently spank her backside. I can hear her panting as I sit back down and chuckle.

We later head to dinner where they tease me about tonight and the things they're going to do to me.

After dinner, we return to our room where they get me to sit in the middle of our large bed after Mavis was put in her crib. They all sit in front of me with a small box each.

"These are our gifts to you," Celestia says and gives me hers.

I open the box to see a necklace with a heart shaped pendant and their marks on it, though it seems it has some kind of black trim on it that looks organic. I open it up to see a picture with all of us together. Me standing in the middle, Celestia to my right, Luna to my left, Shella next to Luna and Cadence next to Celestia with Mavis in my arms. This was taken just over a month ago.

"Since Shella doesn't have a Cutie-Mark, she gave us a small piece of her chitin to add to the pendant," Luna says.

I smile at them and put the necklace on. "Thank you, I'll keep it on always," I tell them.

Luna then hands me hers. I open it to see two bracelets made of gold with a diamond on each one. I take them out and put them on.

"They're very nice," I say.

"We got them from Terra. They're the latest in what they called mana foci, should thou find thyself without thy weapon or shield, these should increase thy magic a bit," she tells me.

My brow rises, impressive. "These will come in handy then, thank you," I reply.

Shella then gives me hers. I open the box and inside is a black ring with the same organic look as the pendant. In the centre is the life element icon.

"This is for everything you've done for me and my Hive. I had the ring made from a piece of my Chitin and the emblem is an emerald from Terra with a life element infused to it, should you get hurt and can't heal yourself. Just press on the emerald and it should heal you a bit... though it only has one use." She tells me.

I put the ring on my left ring finger and smile. "Thank you, Shella. What part of your chitin did it come from?" I reply and ask.

"Just from my left forearm. I used the large life crystal in the research academy to heal myself afterwards," she tells me.

She hurt herself just to make me this? I smile and lean over and kiss her deeply.

She moans into the kiss as I let some of my love flow into her before I pull away and smile. "Thank you very much. I'll treasure it always,"

Finally Cadence gives me hers. I open it and pull out a crystal perfectly cut and made to look like the photo in the pendant. It's only three inches tall but the detail is so life like.

"I spent the last month making this," she tells me.

I turn it around in my grasp, my smile never fading. "It's beautiful. Thank you, Cadence," I give them each a kiss and then get a box out from under the bed.

"And I have something for you four as well." I tell them I place it in front of them and lift the lid off. They gasp as Luna takes hers first.

Her hand is trembling as she holds the once extinct Moon Lily up. A silver flower that glows like moonlight.

"A-Adrian... where didst thou find this? These became extinct during our banishment," she asks me quietly.

I chuckle. "I didn't find them. With Gaia's help, we grew them," I reply.

Celestia holds her Solar Rose. It's a rose that looks like it's giving off heat and is a deep orange colour.

"These are only found it Saddle Arabia... and they're so rare that it's illegal to pick them..." she tells me and sniffs the flower.

Shella examines her Sapphire Orchid. Six deep blue little flowers on the end of the stem.

"It's beautiful," she says.

Cadence hasn't picked hers up yet.

"Cadence, what's wrong?" I ask her.

"Erm... well it's not that I don't like it... it's just... errr. A Passion Tulip's pollen can act as an aphrodisiac to ponies. It's the reason they're called 'Passion' Tulips," she tells me. The flower is bright pink and the petals are shaped like hearts.

Oh... "Why wasn't that mentioned in the book I found it in?" I ask.

"The flower became extinct over five hundred years ago from over harvesting. Ponies used it a lot for... sexual activities to the point they were all gone so it was left out of the books on what it did," she replies.

"Huh, so it didn't effect me because I'm human?" I ask.

"Most likely, yes," Celestia replies.

"I see. Well then, I also got you this Cadence," I say and pull out a golden ring with a heart shaped aquamarine gem embedded into it.

She smiles and puts the ring on. "Thank you, Adrian. It's lovely," she says and then looks at the Passion Tulip with half lidded eyes.

Uh-oh...

She picks it up and takes a deep breath through her nose. She then moans and passes the flower to the others.

She levitates the box and the other flowers off the bed and onto the nightstand. She pushes me onto my back as she climbs onto me and kisses me deeply.

"Hmmm. I feel like I could go all night long..." she whispers to me.

Oh boy.

Author's Note

No clop in the next chapter. Next Chapter will be the Meeting with the Orc Chief.