TiM: A Shining Light

Celestia’s Palace

It was snowing outside. This in and of itself was a little off for this time of year, but because of a small issue in Cloudsdale, they weren’t able to start wrapping up winter on time.

As Prince Taz of Equestria laid out in one of the many common rooms in Celestia’s Palace, he found that he really didn’t mind the snow. Not right now anyway.

After all, since he was cuddled up to his five-month’s pregnant fiancé, who was drinking hot cocoa in front of a roaring fire, what was there for him to complain about?

He didn’t even mind his still healing hoof.

Taz rested his head on her nice sized baby bump. Nightshade was kicking now, something that made him smile every single time he felt it. “She’s going to grow up to be a scrapper,” Taz said with a smile.

Nighttide chuckled as she ran a hoof through his mane. “Just like her daddy. Although I think you’re wrong about that.”

“Oh? You can’t feel her kick?” Taz asked.

“Oh I feel it better than you. What I mean is I don’t think she’ll be a fighter, not at all.”

“Hmm?” Taz hummed as he looked her in the face.

“I think she’s going to be the kindest mare in all of Equestria.” Nighttide replied, grinning. “I don’t think the Element of Kindness was ever mine. I think I was just holding onto it, for her.”

“Nightshade, the Element of Kindness, I think I could live with that,” Taz replied, kissing her stomach again and again.

Nighttide cooed softly at his actions. “Keep that up and I won’t let you stop.”

“Who said I wanted to stop?” Taz asked with a grin.

“I sure don’t,” Nighttide replied, reaching her head up to steal a kiss before laying it back down and letting him get back to work.

Unbeknownst to the two, high up in the rafters, they were being watched. Their stalkers weren’t doing it for perverted reasons, and as soon as it became obvious what they were about to get started on, they both turned away, not wanting to watch them make love.

Again.

Dayspring Gleam smiled at his younger brother’s antics. In truth, he was a little jealous. While he had always been more of an intellectual-type pony, that didn’t mean he lacked in the physical lust deparment. But beyond a certain mare that was now spoken for, he had never been interested enough in anypony to pursue such a relationship.

His eyes glanced absentmindedly over to the other pony that had been watching the show. Nighttide’s mom, Princess Luna. The two locked eyes, trading a smile with each other. Dayspring Gleam had always treated Taz as he would his own son; and while Luna’s relationship with Nighttide had been… well, bad for most of her life, she was doing everything she could to make it up to her, to try and be the good mother now that she never had the option to be earlier.

Her eyes… they look so kind, Dayspring thought.Then a loud moan told them both that if they didn’t want to hear any more they had no choice but to leave. Both Luna and Dayspring blushed as they continued staring at each other a little longer than they should have. In parallel they both looked away, shaking their heads no.

Of course that didn’t stop them from looking back at each other one more time before getting up to leave.

***

Flying high above the clouds in the freezing cold of the night were Flash and Vela, playing a game of tag. Vela was, by far, the superior flyer. But Flash was keeping up like a champ. He even managed to surprise her by going through a large clump of clouds and tackling her from above.

“Ah ha! Gotcha!” Flash said with pride in his eyes.

In reply, Vela just reached up and licked him on the side of the muzzle. Flash felt his heart warming at that. He rolled over onto his side, taking Vela with him and having her end up on top. Right where they both like her to be.

Vela looked down at him and smiled. “You big dork.”

“True, but I’m your dork.”

“Damn straight,” she said with a grin.

Flash raised a hoof and ran it through her mane. “I’m happy we get to keep spending time together.”

Vela pressed her head into his touch. “Not as happy as I am. After all, I need my big Flash teddy bear to help me sleep.”

“I actually…” Flash started to say.

“What?” Vela asked.

“What if… what if I come with you?”

“Come with me where? To Warclaw?”

“Well, yeah. I mean my dad and brother went back to The Crystal Empire already. Aurora and
Dayspring went home already, so when you go home, why don’t I just go with you?”

“Flash, you’re talking about moving in with me, not just visiting, aren’t you?”

“Well… yeah?”

“I think…” Vela started.

“Yes?”

“That’s a great idea,” she ended and kissed him.

***

Everfree Forest

“And that’s the last of them,” Shimmering Night said as, with her magic, she finished scouring the Everfree Forest for all the thunder seeds that were planted almost eleven-hundred years ago.

“Well, we should have enough firewood to last… forever,” Ataxia said with a chuckle as she looked at the mountain of plants that had been growing under the forest.

“You’re right about that,” Night said. “I still can’t believe we didn’t think of this sooner.

Ataxia chuckled. “Leave it to Starlight to figure out the perfect solution to the Elements problem.”

Night’s mood turned grim at that. Something Ataxia picked up on. “Sorry, I know we can’t find any trace of Ana.”

Night looked up, her expression painful. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

“How isn’t it killing you? I mean… it’s been four months, and there’s been no sign of her. I feel like my heart’s being ripped out of my chest.”

“It is, but since we still have Starlight and each other… I… well… I try not to think about, at least for the moment,” Ataxia replied and then, in a sudden one-eighty only a mare like her was capable of, grinned. “Besides, we still have the… problem with Echoside.”

“I still can’t believe you’re so cool with it!” Night snorted.

“She’s cool, so I’m cool with her. Besides, I saw her fight to protect our daughter, she doesn’t play games.”

“She…” Night said looking down.

“Yeah yeah, age difference, big whoop. I’m nine years your senior, remember?

“But she’s underage!”

“Night, I felt something for you the day Dayspring and Aurora broke their friendships off with me. You were five, remember?”

“Are you trying to cheer me up or creep me out?”

“Can’t I do both?” Ataxia asked with a smile.

When Night didn’t laugh, Ataxia sighed. “Oh, you’re just mad that everyone stood up to you on this.”

“Including you!”

“Duh? Have you met me? You think I’d be upset about our stuck-up daughter finally getting a little something-something?”

“Ugh, what did I ever see in you!”

Ataxia walked up behind Night and surprised her with a kiss. “I think you saw that in me.”

“You think you’re so cute, don’t you?” Shimmering Night asked.

“Bitch, I’m adorable,” Ataxia replied.

***

Celestia’s Palace

“I think Ataxia likes you,” Starlight chuckled as she laid her head over Echoside’s, enjoying the warmth of the bat-pony.

“Yeah, but your other mom doesn’t seem to like me at all,” Echoside said.

“They’ll both accept you, don’t worry. It’s just hard for Night to see us together.”

“The marks on your neck prove that you’re mine anyways,” Echoside purred.

“Says who?” Starlight asked, nipping at her ear.

Echoside hummed, but quickly retreated her head before it could go too far.

“Oh c’mon, it’s been four months!”

Echoside smiled. “I told you I would make you completely mine in time, but please, let us chose a perfect time.”

“As long as I’m with you, every moment is perfect,” Starlight said before smiling. “But I guess you’re right.”

“Of course I am. I just want the best for you.”

They both looked into the sky, enjoying the warmth from each other. Starlight felt protected and cared for, she had never felt any better before. “Are we a… you know, tight couple now?” she whispered with a blush.

“Remember the night in the tent? The day I kissed you and left my marks on you?”

“Yes?”

“Then you know the answer. I won’t let you go,” Echoside whispered gently.

Starlight chuckled. “And if I have to use the restroom?”

“Nothing I haven’t seen,” Echoside joked.

Starlight looked shocked at her before giggling. “You’re nasty.”

“Oh just wait for what I’m going to do on our special night.”

“Can’t wait,” Starlight smiled.

“I… I love you, Stars’.” Echoside whispered.

“Stars?”

“Your new nickname. After all, it’s what I see everytime I look at you.”

“Okay, Echo.” Starlight grinned. “I love you too,” she added before leaning into the kiss.

Echoside didn’t really care that they hadn’t had sex yet. Starlight knew she was a little young for that and Echoside would wait for a moment until they were both ready. She looked forward to it, but at the moment she wasn’t about to change anything.

In her eyes, it was perfect.

Little did she realize, Starlight didn’t want to wait that long. After all, she had a birthday coming up.

***

Taz fell to his side, his job more than done as he panted in pure pleasure. The mare at his side was just as satisfied as he was, for if there was only one phrase in all of Equestria that could be used to describe him, it was: a generous lover.

“Hmm, that was wonderful,” Nighttide said with a smile as she rolled back over onto her side. She had started to take a liking to making love on her back, something that she no doubt owed to her large stomach.

“A-plus, just like always,” Taz said in a joke.

“Do you think my mom stayed around and watched us?” Nighttide asked.

“Luna? What? She’s here?” Taz asked, looking around.

Nighttide chuckled. “She was, she’s seen us a few times actually. Relax, she looked impressed.”

Taz looked at her with an ‘are you serious’ face, then closed his eyes and laughed. “You really don’t care, do you?”

“Not even a little,” Nighttide replied.

Taz laid down, his coat touching hers. “Well, if you don’t, I guess I don’t either.”

“Yeah you do, I see you squirm every time we make love in front of others.”

“Well, you are kinda kinky like that. I don’t think they really enjoy your behaviour though.”

“That mean you want me to hold back?” Nighttide teased.

“Well, I never said that,” he replied, grinning.

“Besides, do I look like I care what they enjoy?” Nighttide asked with a smile.

“Eenope.”

“I just care what you do, and I know all the things you like.”

“Eeyup.”

She chuckled at that as she extended a wing to wrap it around him. “Wow, you’re tense. Relax okay?”

He looked at her. “Sorry.”

“You know you have nothing to worry about. After all, you kept all your promises, no?”

Taz smiled as he nuzzled into her once more. “That’s true, I did keep all of my promises.”

“So relax.”

“I can’t,” Taz replied.

“Why?”

He smiled and nuzzled into her growing belly. “Because, now I have new ones to keep.”

***

Deep inside of Celestia’s Palace, behind several locked doors and bars, Twilight and Rainbow stood in the treasure room. All around them were boxes of bits, gems, and treasures that most ponies in Equestria would give their right hoof just to see.

Neither princess paid those boxes any notice, for their attention was on one thing and one thing only: The golden key sitting atop of a column.

“Why’d you want to come down and see this again?” Rainbow asked.

Twilight stared at the key as it floated on it’s own power. It was a legendary artifact that could open any door, that could unlock any lock, even one set by the very gods themselves. In the wrong hooves it could cause untold problems.

“I still think about it… seeing them all again I mean,” Twilight stated.

“It’s been four months, Twi.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“They wanted to go back, they were the ones who told you to put the Sands of Time back in its place.”

“I know.”

Even still, there was a pregnant pause in the treasure room. One that Rainbow broke when she asked, “Can I tell you a secret?”

Twilight looked over to her wife. “Of course you can.”

“I think about them too. Seeing Pinkie, Fluttershy, AJ, and Rarity again. I never imagined I’d be able to.”

“Was it a gift or a curse I wonder.”

“I guess it depends on your perspective.”

“I choose to believe it was a gift,” Twilight said.

Rainbow nuzzled up against her. “You know what, Twi? So do I.”

Twilight felt herself melt into the touch. “I’ll make it, as long as you never leave me that is.”

“I’d rip my way out of Tartarus itself to come back to you.”

“Again?” Twilight asked with a smile.

“As many times as it takes,” Rainbow said with a kind smile.

They paused as they stared at the key slowly rotating on the pedestal. Rainbow had a thought at that moment. “Hey Twi, I was thinking…”

“This can’t be good.”

“Funny, but seriously. I was thinking… what if we used this to, you know, go back?”

“Rainbow, you can’t change the past. Anything you do has already been done. I learned that lesson the hard way.”

“Yeah, but… I mean with yours and Night’s power, you don’t think you could even try? We could fix things, and maybe… save some of our friends?”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “You don’t like things as they are?”

“You know I do.”

“Even if it was possible, which it’s not, it’d drastically alter the present. Any small change would have a ripple effect that could make things better, but probably worse. And besides...”

Rainbow looked at her inquisitively before she heard something crunch and pop. She looked over and saw that the key had been crushed in a violet aura of magic.

“I wouldn’t change a thing,” Twilight said with a smile.

Heart Warming Heartbeat