Sweet Apples Under A Night Sky

Three years later

Twilight Sparkle sat with a smile as she watched her two children run and play with their father.

"Autumn Gold! Star Apple! Come get your food!" Auntie Applejack's voice called.

"But auntie..." the twins groaned.

Big Macintosh chuckled and hoisted them up on his back. "Hush, you two. Do as your auntie says."

"Is mama coming too?" Autumn asked, his golden mane flowing in the slight breeze.

"Sure am, big guy." Twilight chuckled as Mac helped her out the chair. Heavily pregnant with their third was no easy task it seemed.

"You OK, sugarcube?" Applejack asked from the doorway, little Golden Stick bounding past her and going to play with his friends.

"Hey guys!" Golden cried as he bounced up to Autumn and Star.

"Hey Sticky." Star giggled.

"Har har, very funny. Wanna go play?"

"Now, hold just a cottonpickin' minute, ah've just made yer food all ready." Applejack scolded.

"But mama." Golden groaned.

"Golden! Do as your mother says." Caramel chuckled as he came into view. "here let me help." he said as he helped Big Mac move Twilight into the house.

"Allow us to assist as well." a regal voice called down from the sky.

"Luna! So glad you could make it." Twilight said happily and hugged the princess like an old friend.

"And howdy do little partner." Mac smiled down at the little Midnight Bloom as she huddled behind his mother's legs.

"Hi." Midnight blushed and she scampered off to say hello to the three other foals.

"She's grown." Twilight said and smiled.

"She has hasn't she?" Luna smiled proudly. She put a wing around Twilight and walked her to the door, Big mac and Caramel there for sideways assistance.

"Bymy stars, is everypony comin' to eat today?" Applejack laughed as Caramel took his place at her side again and nuzzled her affectionately.

"Mama! Midnight Bloom got her cutie mark already!" Autumn cried as he danced around his mother.

Midnight cringed away from their applauses and hid behind her mother again.

"It's alright, little on, show them." Luna smiled and nuzzled the little foal.

Midnight stepped forwards again and lifted up her wing, showing her cutie mark: a pale moon with a large flower blooming in the centre of it.

"It's beautiful, dear." Twilight smiled.

"Eeyup. Sure is." Mac grinned down at the little foal. "Who wants a ride?"

"I do, I do!" the cried went up, all little foals eager to climb on Big Mac's big back and hitch a ride.

"Alrighty then, y'all hold on now." Mac grinned as he whinnied and charged in the house.

Luna and Twilight laughed at him as they heard a crash and Applejack came chasing him out, waving a frying pan in the air like a weapon.

"Sorry, sis!" Mac laughed as AJ chased him.

"So how've you been, princess?" Twilight asked Luna.

Luna shrugged. "It's been difficult raising a baby by oneself, but 'Tia's been a big help." she smiled. "How long 'till you're due?"

"Two weeks now. We're all very nervous." Twilight said sheepishly and stroked the large bump in her belly.

"Well, I hope you are both happy. That's all that matters." the empress of the night smiled and started trotting into the house.

"Princess, wait." Twilight murmured.

Luna stopped and turned to her friend. "Hmm?"

"I know it's hard... seeing Mac and me like this... but-"

"Twilight Sparkle. I am truly very happy for you both. No better colt could I ask for you, and no better mare for he." Luna smiled and nuzzled Twilight, "Now come, let's get something to eat before I have to go back. I'm sure Midnight would like some time to play."

"Of course, princess. Thank you again. For everything." Twilight smiled and hobbled in the door, sitting down at the large table and next to her husband.

"Now then, everypony ready?"

"Yes." everypony gathered around the table murmured together.

"Alright then, dig in."

They talked, they laughed, they sang a few songs. Caramel and Mac got up and danced a bit, much to the embarrassment of Applejack and Twilight.

When the clock struck nine thirty, Luna gathered Midnight and said goodbye to everypony. Then the two as dark as night alicorns flew off towards their home in Canterlot.

When Twilight yawned, Mac decided he should take her and the twins home. "See y'all tomorrow, guys." he said and they waved goodbye to Caramel and Applejack, the foals asleep on his back.

"C'mon then Caramel ,we've got lots of tidyin' up ta do." Applejack said as she turned to the table and threw her hooves in the air, went to the sofa and collapsed, exhausted.

"Lazy bones." Caramel chuckled as he began tidying up all the dishes.

"Ah, leave it. Applebloom'll get it tomorrow. She's stayin at Sweetie Belle's tonight isn't she?"

"I thought it was Scootaloo's tonight." Caramel replied and sank down next to her.

She laid her head on his lap and yawned. "Either way, they'll have a lot to clean tomorrow." she grinned and dfited off to sleep.

***

Twilight tucked the twins in and climbed into her own bed. "Spike? Could you get the light please?"

Spike yawned, stretched, grumbled something about magic, then nestled back down in his basket, which was now too small for him. "Goodnight everypony." he rumbled.

"Nighty night, Spike." the twins replied and giggled as he sent up a smoke ring in one of his snores.

Mac kissed his wife's forehead. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight." Twilight breathed into his mane and fell asleep.

***

Brandling nuzzled his wife Corellia. After his trial he had proposed to her then and there, she being the only mare to ever have feelings for him, so shown by her appearance at his trial.

She smiled as they sat down and opened the mysterious package they had found on their doorstep.

"House keys?" Corellia asked and held them up.

Brandling picked up the note that was with them in the box.

Dear Brandling and Corellia,

I heard about your wedding. Congratulations. I humbly wish that you accept this small house just outside Appleloosa - I heard from a reliable source that you were considering leaving Canterlot. My sincerest apologies if it is not to your liking.

Yours faithfully.

Admantium

Brandling smiled and nuzzled his wife. "Pack your things dear, we're moving to Appleloosa."

"Wha-" she started before he kissed her on the lips and silenced her.

She glanced over his shoulder and saw the letter, she smiled softly when she read the signature. He has changed. It's only taken twenty one years, but he has. I forgive you father. she thought and went into their bedroom and began to pack their cases.

***

Meanwhile, on the lesser cheery side of the world.

Blueblood sat in his cell and waited for his weekly punishment. Who was it this time?

"Blueblood..." a voice clucked from the darkness.

Oh. Her.

"Blueblood, my little plaything... ready for tonight?" Grayfeather chuckled evilly.

"Just get it over with you vile bird creature." Blueblood snapped and scrunched his face up as her talons slashed across his back.

"That's no way to speak to a lady." she tutted and stroked his face, digging her claws in just below the eye-patch. She gave a squawk of delight as he tried to pull away, his chains clanking as he did so. "Oh I will enjoy this, you insolent bastard!" she hissed and raised her talon high in the air.

This is it. Everything you've planned in the past week has been for this moment.

As she brought her cruel claw down, he moved his head just in time - so instead of slicing his face as she intended, she hit his jugular, sending him reeling in pain.

As he lay there, bleeding out, he couldn't help but smile at his small victory.

Grayfeather shrieked in anger and began slicing him up beyond the point of recognisability.

Darkness took his vision and he died with a smile on his lips.

***

Luna and Midnight Bloom arrived at the palace and were greeted by none other than Princess Celestia herself.

"How was the dinner?" she asked and nuzzled her niece, who bounded off to bounce on her bed.

"Difficult. It pains me greatly to see Twilight and Mac so happy together." Luna replied as she flexed her wings, bracing herself for the rise of the moon.

"Well, you know it's for the best, Lulu." Celestia chuckled.

Midnight Bloom watched the whole thing with awed eyes, then she yawned and nestled in between her aunts wings.

"I'll take this one to bed. Are you going to be OK, Luna?" the white alicorn asked the darker one.

Luna nodded and stepped out onto the balcony. She used her powerful magic to bring the mighty moon around to view, creating the stars at the same time.

She smiled softly as she wondered if Celestia knew about her little message in the stars.

My fall will be for you, my love will be in you.

Goodnight Big Macintosh and Twilight Sparkle. Long days and pleasant nights to you both.