Prologue: From The Beginning
Author's Note
Holy shit what a facking disappointment is what I'm thinking right now.
Being a senior towards the 2nd semester is facking hard man. Like it seriously takes a tolll on you. Not to mention I have to rewrite my senior paper and I have to make a schedule where I can balance making more videos for my YouTube channel and writing stories for you lovelies. I'll tell you one thing I have never felt more tired in my life and knowing me, that's saying something.
Anyways I'll try to get in more chapters for this story and anymore to come along with the ones I wrote so stay awesome and stay lovelie. HAVE A PIE~
Also a big thank you to Gravestone for giving me some ideas that allowed me to hit this story off. Thanks man!
Prologue: From The Beginning
In a temple that is in the middle of an unknown jungle, is a giant stone room with torches here and a little bit of ancient writing over there. In the middle of this room we're two occupants. One being a pegasus pony with tan fur and a greyscale mane and tail with bored looking dark pink eyes. What this pegasus also had was a green shirt and a pith helmet, along with an image of a compass on her rump.
The other occupant of the large stone room was a mythical creature called a Ahuizotl. You know, the things that look like a gorilla with a weird muzzle and a third hand on the tail. Ironically, his name was Ahuizotl, go figure right?
Anyway, this Ahuizotl guy with dark and light blue fur with red and gold bracelets adorning his arms, neck, and one on the ear as his green eyes mischievously and victoriously went over the room that him and his “companion” occupied, lolled about with hands waving like he was part of a drama group as he went about a speech.
The pegasus whose none other than Daring Do was tied to a wall having to be forced to listen to this guy’s ranting. A large sigh came from her as he continued to talk about how he was going to use the idol for his own desires and so on and so forth. Don't get her wrong though, she loved the thrill that she and this guy have when they fought over an ancient treasure that had mystical powers. You know the song and dance. She would come for the treasure and then meet this guy, they exchange insults and have a massive throw down with his goons, she gets captured and then here we are.
But she really wishes that he would change his speech every once in a while or at the very least make it shorter. It was just so boring have to listen to him go on and on and on without stopping. Worst of all, she couldn't use her hooves to cover her ears. Another large sigh came from the pegasus and this one actually gaining the ugly buggers attention.
“Do you mind Miss Do, I'm on the best part of my little victory speech here.”
Daring shrugged her bound shoulders as she nonchalantly looked about the room. “No, please, do go on. I just loooooove to listen to the same bucking thing every time we do this.”
The gorilla thing shook his head with a roll of the eyes. “I'll have you know that I put my heart and soul into these speeches and I put them in great length just to rub it all in your face.” Ahuizotl ended with a grin.
Daring rolled her own eyes as she looked of to the side. “Yeah sure, rub it in my face. Then you will be balling your eyes out when I somehow get out of these ropes and take the treasure from you.” Thinking about how the tables would turn, like they always have, brought a small smile to the treasure hunter’s lips.
Ahuizotl sneered in annoyance as he looked at the pegasus. “I can assure you, that you will not be escaping this time Daring Do, for I-”
“Yes I will.”
Ahuizotl’s ear twitched in agitation as he glared at the smug looking pegasus, who avoided eye contact as if she were innocent.
Making a clicking sound with his tongue, Ahuizotl inched closer to the bound mare. “Ehehe, Miss Do, I don't think you know what kind of predicament you are in. You-”
“Yes I do.”
“Yooouuu, are bound in an ancient temple with nothing and I mean nothing to help you escape with a Whatchamacallit totem-”
“The Devil’s Totem.”
“THAT! Can unleash an undead army at the control of the one who handles it, according to Whosawhatshisname-”
“Neighthys by the way. And it wasn't a he, it was a she.”
“THAT WILL ALLOW MY VICTORY IN THIS VERY MOMENT!” Ahuizotl shouted with twitchy eyes and bared teeth. Deep breaths came from his nose as he glared at the pegasus -who nonchalantly looked at the ground as if she did nothing wrong- with great anger.
Ahuizotl closed his eyes and heeded a sigh. Taking a deep breath through his nose, he began to calm his nerves as he thought about the sweet victory that would actually come to him this time.
“And for the record, I took into consideration about you boundfullness. I have cleared a radius of one-hundred feet of anything sharp or flammable and put in a few extra ties to make sure you stay bound.”
When his ranting was done, the archaeologist finally looked at the gorilla looking creature with a yawn.
“You done yet honey?”
A snort was her only answer as the mystical creature mumbled under his breath. Bringing a hand to his chin, he put on his thinking face.
“Now where was I…..oh yes, my plan to take over the world with my undead army. After I have gotten rid of you, I will go throughout the lands of Equestria and through the hills of Saddle Arabia and over the great seas of-”
“UUUUUGGGGGHHHH! Just get it over with already!”
Daring gave a little jump as she looked at the monkey man that gave a shout with his hands on his head. With a smug expression, she watched him stomp his way to the golden totem and snatch it off its glorious pedestal.
“No what? FINE! I have the damn totem in my hands. Now I will be able to control the undead and there's nothing you can do to stop me!”
As he ended his small victory, a rumble sounded around the room of the temple as a large groan of wind and dust went throughout the ancient structure.
OOOoooOooOOooOoOoOHHHHHH……..groooooaaan
Daring’s ears perked up as the howl died down and was followed by a large groan coming from the entrance to the room. She shifted uncomfortably as the smell of death reached her nose and the faint sound of something coming.
Ahuizotl smirked as he stood proud and tall, waiting for his undead army to arrive and obey his command. From the corner of his eyes, he could see the treasure hunter who squirmed in her bounds which made him smile.
“Once my army arrives to bow before me Miss Do, I think I will have my first command be to get rid of you. I think I will rather enjoy watching my one pain in the rear get eaten by the undead.”
The momentary squirming ended abruptly as his words registered in her ears and made her reel back in disgust. “Well that's a little dark, even for you Ahuizotl.”
The mythical being shrugged as he waved a hand around. “Well when your beaten from repeated mistakes in the few years you tend to go past some limits. I will be damned if I don't repeat this one.”
Ahuizotl’s attention was brought back to the entrance as the steps and ground got louder in numbers, giving Daring the time to stuggle in her binds. It was true that there wasn't any items for her to use but she had a faint idea on how to get out of them.
‘Geeze, what kind of guy puts a knot over the one the he just tied? It just loosens up the rope.’ Daring thought as she took one of the ropes in her mouth and began to tug on them.
“Or maybe I'll take someone else instead…”
Her momentary tugging was cut short however when she registered those next few words. Spitting out the rope in her mouth, she quirked an eyebrow at the being in front of her.
“What do you mean...somepony else?”
A feeling of uneasiness began to wash over the tan pegasus. Daring could swear that she could see a grin on that ugly mug of Ahuizotl.
“Well it's just that a little birdie told me that you were not the only filly of your family, so I began to think. Why not keep you alive long enough just to see him suffer under my army.”
Daring flinched from the last sentence as her eyes widened. She began to worry a little but also felt a pang of anger rise in her.
“How did you-”
“Oh we shouldn't be thinking on how I did get that little piece of information, but what I will do with it.” Ahuizotl finished with a sinister smile.
The pegasus clearly began to struggle more in her bounds as she bared her teeth at her archenemy. “You won't bucking touch him Ahuizotl.”
A hand shot up to Ahuizotl’s mouth in mock shock as he looked at the glaring pegasus. “Oh, struck a nerve did I? You know I never knew that the great Daring Do had siblings. Heck, I never took you for a sister to such a, bizarre creature that is your brother.”
Daring was now very clearly struggling in her binds as anger filled her every being. “You bucking sorry sack of-”
“SHH! My army arrives.”
Daring was about to give another insult until her gaze was brought to the first undead creatures to come through the door. Daring began to become more uneasy as more of them came in. Ten became twenty, twenty became forty, forty became seventy, and soon over a hundred of them were coming through the door to surround the two occupants in the middle of the room. Daring silently gulped in fear as she saw dead griffons rison from their slumber surrounding all escape routes.
‘Buck, there's a lot more than what I thought there was going to be.’
The treasure hunter’s thoughts were cut short as Ahuizotl began to walk near some of the hoard with the statue held high in his grasp.
“Behold your new leader! I, Ahuizotl shall command you to my every bidding, for I hold the totem that has rendered you asleep! Rise my undead army, and together we shall take over Equestrian until we rule all!”
Ahuizotl’s words echoed around the stone room, being heard through the corridors, rooms, and so forth. He held his pose with the totem now grasped in a fist and his head held high. Said pose was short lived as the undead didn't make any sign to move. They all just stood there staring.
Ahuizotl looked around the room with confusion. Confusion became anger as he held the totem towards them. “Well? Didn't you hear me? I now command you, do my bidding!”
Every word that was said was either ignored or not heard as the dead began to stare, not making a single sound.
“Ooh what the blast?!”
The gorilla man’s ears perked up as he heard laughing coming from behind him. Turning around he saw that Daring Do was lightly laughing as she swayed in her binds of rope.
“Just what is so funny to you Miss Do?”
Getting a few more chuckles out of herself, Daring blinked her eyes to get some of the fake tears out of them and looked at Ahuizotl with a smug smile. “Oh nothing, it's just that I forgot to mention one little detail about that totem you carry.”
Raising an eyebrow at the treasure hunter, Ahuizotl looked at the totem with a critical eye for a moment and then back to the mare. “And just what was that little detail.”
The mare chuckled a few more times as she looked around the room for an escape route. “Oh it's just that, when I was told to come check out the totem, I didn't exactly expect that much from it if I took it, thinking that all of its magical powers were wasted.
“How wrong was I when I actually looked at some of the writings on the walls to find out that it was given a curse.”
Daring silently cheered to herself when she saw the worried glances Ahuizotl gave to the undead surrounding them.
“A curse you say?”
Nodding, Daring continued her discovery. “Yes, it is actually told that whoever takes the totem does not command the undead army but instead unleashes them to roam the land around the temple, killing anything that comes near it until the totem is returned.”
Daring chuckled as all the color drained from Ahuizotl’s face as he shakingly looked at the totems in his hands. His looked became a small glare as he looked back at the pegasus who only smiled.
“Curse you Daring Do.”
As if a switch was turned on, the undead all shrieked a blood curdling scream and charged at the two occupants that had brought them from the eternal slumber. Ahuizotl yelled in fear and began to climb a nearby pillar to escape the undead.
The treasure hunter gave a fearful look to the zombies that were slowly creeping on her as they could tell she was an easy life to take. To bad for them though as Daring Do quickly took the ropes in her mouth and tugged on them. Eventually the rope got loose enough for her to shimmy her way out of the rest of them.
The undead coming closer to her shrieked as they saw their victim escaping. Sprinting the rest of the way to the pegasus, the undead leapt at their prey hoping to bring her down. Although they were quick, Daring was quicker. Quickly expanding her wings, the mare shot up into the sky, barely avoiding the talons of the undead griffons.
Flapping her wings to keep herself aloft, Daring scanned the ground for the totem but couldn't find squat. A shout brought the airborne pegasus to the pillar that her enemy so happened to hold on to for dear life. A smirk graced her face as she saw the totem still in his grasp.
Slowly flying over to the gorilla looking creature, she began to mockingly study his predicament with interest. Her flying caught his attention which brought a glare to his face.
“You insolent little brat!” Was what she got and a swipe to go with it. Said swipe was short lived as his grip almost lost the pillar, forcing him to bear hug it again. This brought a smile to the mare’s lips as she came in closer to the totem.
“Stay back!” Ahuizotl barked with another swipe. Daring easily dodged the swipe and came next to the hand holding the totem.
“I'll take that!” She said as she swiftly grabbed the golden statue with her hooves. However, she didn't fly away but instead came in closer to Ahuizotl who only glared back. His glare slowly became fear as Daring looked at him with a scowl.
“And this, is for threatening my brother.” Not wasting time, Daring delivered a swift hind kick to Ahuizotl’s face who grabbed it on instinct. Noticing his mistake one second to late, Ahuizotl fell with a loud yell into the horde below. When he hit the ground, the horde quickly jumped him, completely surrounding him in a pile of undead bodies.
Daring looked at the horde with a raised eyebrow and one hoof to her chin. “Ooo, perhaps I delivered that kick a little-”
The adventurous mare was cut short as Ahuizotl bursted out of the pile of undead bodies with a war cry. He was adorned with patches of fur missing as the undead tried to take his flesh with their rotting beaks. Not wanting to stay for long, he quickly swatted at the corpses with his powerful arms as he made his way out of the entrance with most of the undead following him, completely forgetting about the mare that was still in the room.
Daring tsked to herself as she watched her enemy cry and yell as he ran. Shaking her head, she looked at the totem in her hooves and then to the center of the room and saw that most of the undead left an open space around the podium.
‘Perfect.’ Daring thought as she quickly dived towards the podium, ready to return the celestia forsaken totem to its resting place.
As Daring began to draw near, she failed to see a body hurtling towards her, having still had its attention on the pegasus mare. The air was driven out of the adventurer’s lungs as she and the attacker hit the ground with a loud thump, which drew some of the other griffon’s attention.
Daring opened her eyes seeing stars as her head had smacked into the ground along with her body. Clutching the totem close, she slowly went to get up but was stopped as a body slammed into her, pining the dazed mare to the ground. Fear immediately went through her body as sharp talons gripped her shoulders and a groan sounded from above her.
As soon as the stars left her vision, she turned her eyes to see a smelly, rotting beak nearing her face, ready to tear into her flesh. Not wanting to see how that would go, the mare quickly shot a hoof to the zombie’s neck stopping its advances but was still close with the amount of strength it had.
When Daring saw that she stopped its advances she brought her focus on getting the bucking thing off her. Her focus was cut short when she heard more groans coming from the left of her. Turning her head, the mare gasped in fear as she saw more of the undead drawing closer, ready to consume her.
Fear of having a painful death, the pegasus thrashed under the zombie on top of her, trying to throw him off but gained no advantage in doing so. Looking at the corner of her eye, she could see the small zombie horde drawing closer to her. Taking a deep breath, Daring dropped the totem and used both her hooves to push the griffon off of her giving her the moment to put her hind hooves under it.
“Get the BUCK OFF!”
Without a moment's hesitation, the adventurer bucked the dead griffon off her, throwing him only a few feet back but just enough for her to get on her hooves and grab the totem. As the undead picked up their pace, Daring Do wasted no time in running to the podium with the undead hot on her tail. When she got close enough she slammed the totem on the podium and tensed her muscles waiting for the horde to crash into her.
When she felt nothing she turned her head to see the undead zombies inches from her body. Daring drew in a quick breath but quickly coughed it out as the smell from the zombies invaded her nose. She used a hoof to cover nose as she looked at the mass of zombies in front of her, waiting for them to do something.
Her breath was caught in her throat when all of the undead lowered their heads and slowly began to shuffle they're way out of the room. The adventurous pony continued to watch all the undead shuffle out of the room until the last one left. When she was the only one present she put a hoof to her chest and let out a huge breath.
A few chuckles followed as she used a hoof to wipe some sweat that had accumulated on her forehead. As she wiped the sweat away she felt around her head to find that her hat wasn't present. Looking around she found it lying in the dirt a few feet away from the podium. Giving a sigh, she walked over to her hat and picked it up. Instead of putting it on she just stared at it looking it over, finding some dust and dirt on it.
Her body then gave out as her rump hit the hard stone and her shoulders slumped as she gave a few more chuckles with baited breath.
“Hehe...I really bit the bullet this time now didn't I.” The mare said as she waved her hat to get the dirt off it and plopped it on her head. Getting a few more breathes of air, the pegasus looked around the room finding nothing of interest. A small pain brought her attention to her shoulders and found obvious signs of bruises on both sides where the griffon had pinned her down.
A tired sigh escaped her lips as she stared at the bruises and brought a hoof up to rub her forehead. ‘I know for a fact I'm going to be seeing him tonight and if he sees- no, when he sees them, he’s going to get it out of me on how I got them and proceeed to kick my ass for it.’
The tired mare brought a hoof over her face as a small groan cam from her. “Just another thing that I have to put on my plate.”
Her thoughts were disrupted however when a pop sounded around the stoney tomb of death along with a flash of light. Opening her eyes, Daring glared at the object that had just materialized in front of her. It was a piece of paper and what adorned this paper was sigial of the one pony that sent her here in the first place.
It was a stamp of a sun and the one pony who has that stamp is Princess Celestia.
Giving a snort of agitation, Daring marched up to the letter that was in front of her with her glare hardening. When she got close she abruptly stopped and stomped a hoof kicking up dust around it. She lowered her head to continue glaring at the small parchment as if it had insulted her.
Which was impossible because it's paper and paper can't insult people, only the person behind it. Paper cannot insult nor hurt a person.
Except for a paper cut. Stupid paper cuts.
Daring continued to glare at the parchment in front of her until she heaved, what was probably for the hundredth time today, another sigh. Picking it up she began to unfold it to read its contents.
“You better know damn well what you got me into here Celestia.” Daring said as her eyes scanned the parchment. Her anger didn't dominish and she became uninterested when the paper gave her the first name of the pony of her family. But that quickly changed into confusion and then concern when it explained about one pony that she was quite closed to and the one that she cared deeply about.
Eyes going left to right, she re-read the letter and then dropped it as she took off down the many corridors and rooms of the temple. When she finally made it outside she took off into the air and flew as fast as she could go towards Equestrian with one thought on her mind that gave her mixed emotions.
What did that no good father, crazy uncle, and strange brother get themselves into this time.’
Now, just a little heads up my dear readers. I bet your all wondering what's happening and what's the story behind this yes? Liked whose her uncle? Who is her brother or when did they meet? Why does she hate her father? Is the monkey her uncle?!
Well sit back and enjoy yourselves lovelies, because we're gonna go back a little bit to shed you some light on this adventure of ours.
So let's start from the beginning.
In the bustling town of Canterine, ponies were traversing here and there with an occasion of a griffon, mule, or minotaur doing their business in shopping or a simple chat. It was such a peaceful and beautiful day in this quite large town. Citizens were even enjoying the wonderful park with its many trees and beautiful sites while the children enjoyed its fallen logs and sudden drops like it was an adventure park for their imaginative minds.
But our story does not start here. No, it starts at a very particular building near the bustling markets that sold food and many trinkets. It was just your ordinary red colored brick building that was a good 6 stories tall with a brown intersecting roof and a red plus sign on the front of it. The sun shined down upon this building in its peaceful glory as its patients and workers bustled about it thinking to themselves that it was a good day. And a good day it was indeed.
Truly peaceful and beautiful. Not a single noise could disrupt the chatting amongst friends and birds chirping in the trees.
“YEEEEESSSSS!”
Until the doors were burst open, almost to the point where they could come off their hinges, revealing a pegasus mare with light brown fur and a yellow, almost golden colored mane and tail with a Cutie Mark of what looked like an old relic with a magnifying glass studying it. Her mane was tied in a neat bun with one strand going down on the right of her face while her tail was combed straight, but for how she is right now, that's not really the case anymore for her very excited light purple eyes, almost the color pink, scanned over the buildings and some nearby ponies and other creatures who stared at the mare with confusion.
Said mare began to prance in place as her smile dared to split her head in half as the only thing she felt was utter joy.
“I'm pregnant! EEEEEE!” The mare squealed as she took off down the streets of the bustling market shouting with joy the entire way. Most of the passerbyers stopped to look at the crazy mare doing loops and twists while shouting like a maniac while others simply shook their head with a smile, clearly amused by the antics of the mare they knew as a friend.
As the mysterious mare did another loop, her eyes caught a watermelon stand with a light green earth pony stallion who had a shaggy dark green mane and tail along with a Cutie Mark of planting seeds.
With what sounded like a sadistic giggle, the mare did a nose dived down towards the stallion shouting with glee the entire way. Said stallion’s ears perked up at the sound of shouting and directed his light blue eyes towards the sound only for his eyes to widen when he saw the mare coming at full speed towards him.
He didn't get enough time to give a shout of shock as the mare crashed into the stand startling other occupants around it, including a timid looking mare who was coming along to get a nice melon. Some rummaging was heard as the mare popped out with the stallion grasped tightly in her hooves by the barrel. Said stallion, who had half of a melon over his head made no move to stop the mare, not that she cared of course.
“Yearling,” greeted the stallion who couldn't exactly see due to the melon on his head, “do tell me on what the occasion is.”
The mare giggled happily as her smile seemed to get brighter. “I'm pregnant!”
The melon head would have frowned at his friend for destroying his cart but couldn't and instead gave a small smirk. “Well it's about damn time you got a little youngster!”
Squealing with joy the mare known as Yearling dropped the stallion and shot into the air with a single flap. “I know right! I feel so alive!” Was what the stallion heard as she flew away.
Said stallion continued to smirk as he still sat in his seventh destroyed cart with all his melons gone and one still on his head. The mare who came by to buy one stared at the flying mare and back at the stallion before clearing her throat and speaking in a quiet voice.
“Um...is this a bad time sir?”
The mare only got silence as the stallion made no sign to move or speak. The mare glanced left and right until she raised a hoof to leave. Her actions were stopped when the earth pony slowly turned his head towards her and opened his mouth.
“I'm thinking about moving to a different city.”
Poor chap. Guy just wants to sell some juicy melons…...welp! Nothing to do about it now, so let's get back to our mare of the story.
And our leading mare at the moment continued to fly in happiness until she caught the site of a barber shop with an old looking stallion sweeping outside of it. Why did they do that anyway?
Well it doesn't matter as she did another nose dive right towards the old bugger with her hooves outstretched. When she got close she a gave a scream of surprise as the stallion moved out of the way, causing the hyper mare to miss and tumble a few ways down the sidewalk with bumps and crashes.
The old timer whistled a merry tune as he continued sweeping on a sidewalk that was continuously walked on and served no purpose to his job for a few moments until he heard rapid hooves approaching him. He stopped sweeping and turned around to see the mare looking at him with big sparkling eyes and a wide smile.
The unicorn stallion before her was probably in his late fifties. He had dark fur that was like charcoal with a light, short mane and tail and a Cutie Mark that had scissors cutting a mane on his rump. His eyes were a deep dark brown color as they looked at the mare with amusement.
He smirked. “Let me guess,” he said with a gruff voice, “the results came in positive.”
His only response was a tight hug from the mare which made him chuckle as she hopped in place.
“Geez. To think that under all this excitement you got going on, your nothing but a cocky, hard ass mare.”
He was earned another squeeze before Yearling ended the embrace and then lightly punched him in the shoulder which he chuckled at again.
“I still am a hard ass and cocky mare Coal, it's just that today is not a day for such buckery!”
Coal chuckled as he walked over to his shop and put the broom next to the door. “I would think so since you and your husband have tried so hard to get there. I reckon your gonna tell the guy aren't ya?”
Yearling nodded with a stomp of her hoof. “You're damn right I will!”
Without looking at the mare, Coal waved a hoof at his friend while opening the door to his shop. “Don't let me stop you then, cause you only got twenty minutes to beat him there.”
Yearling’s eyes suddenly shot open. Quickly opening her wings she took off down the street towards her house while kicking up dust around the shop.
Having felt a huge gust of wind from her take off, Coal looked at the area he just swept and saw all the dust on it. He raised an eyebrow as he rubbed his chin with a hoof thinking real deeply.
“Why the hell do I brother to sweep this?”
Anyway, back to Yearling who was rocketing down the streets creating a golden trail behind her as she weaved through the streets with great precision. Her hasty flight was brought to an abrupt stop as she came to a large alleyway that led to the street where her house was.
Yearling looked at the alley for a moment and then back at the way she was going while flapping her wings to keep her aloft. Bringing a hoof to her chin she began to weigh her options through the predicament she was in.
‘If I go down the rest of the block, I'll probably stop by the many houses my friends are at and quickly tell them the news which will probably only give me at least seven to ten minutes to get ready for my husband.’
Yearling scratched her chin as she looked down the many house that she would have to stop at to tell the good news before directing her gaze down the pathway.
‘But if I go down here, I can stop at the triplets house and tell them the news and I know for a fact that they will spread it to everyone, leaving me enough time to get ready to tell him I'm carrying.’
Looking back and forth a few more times, Yearling shrugged her shoulders and flew down the alleyway.
“I've always been a sucker for short cuts anyway.” The mare said to herself as she continued to fly through the passage of brick walls.
As she continued to fly, she came up to a turn that created an intersection of sorts on the path she was taking. This turn was no use to her as it lead down to a dead end where there was mostly trash. But for this story, there was something else occupying down the path.
Yearling was nearly about to pass the sudden turn when a sound reached her, making her ears swivel. Slowing down her flight a bit she turned her head towards the dead end and listened for the sound. When she heard nothing she shrugged her shoulders and angled her wings to continue forward.
However, the sound reached her ears for a second time, causing her to stop once more.
Raising an eyebrow, Yearling slowly descended to the ground. When her hooves touched stone she slowly inched her way towards the intersection of the back street and swiveled her ears for the sound again. Waiting a few moments while carefully searching the path with her eyes, the mare’s eyebrow raised higher when nothing happened.
“Huh, I could have sworn that I-”
Her words were caught in her throat when her ears perked up and actually picked up a faint sound from the slightly dark path. It was definitely coming from something in the alleyway, but what it was she couldn't tell.
Narrowing her eyes a bit, the pegasus snorted and slowly crept through the dead end with tense muscles and slightly flared wings. Gone was the excitement and joyful mare and in its place was a hard ass mare that was readying herself for a fight. Her head looked left and right as she chose her steps carefully, going deeper into the other alley. Her ears were constantly swiveling as she listened for any sound that came to her while her nose took in a few sniffs to give her an idea on what was down here.
When she was a good ten feet away from the wall that was the dead end, she made one last check to see if she could find that noise but only got sounds of the chatting ponies and other creatures from outside, the sight of trash, and the smell of it all as well. But to be honest she's smelt worse.
Shaking her head, she turned around to walk away with her ears down and mumbling under her breath that she wasted precious time to get to the house ready for her special pony.
“Was probably just a damn rat or something.”
That guess was completely demolished when the sound happened again but was much more clear this time. She froze like a deer caught in headlights as her ears perked up high as they could for she knew damn well what the sound was.
It was the sound of a young child. A very young child.
Quickly turning around, the mare swiveled her ears to and fro trying to find out where it came from. She didn't have to do it for long as the noise made her ears go to the right of her. Glancing that way, she saw a few cardboard boxes that were stacked on top of each other. Some were full of discarded trash and others were empty.
Quickly trotting over to the boxes, she began to move them with ease not caring if any of them tipped over, spilling trash on the ground. The sound that she heard once before came to her ears again, but more clear this time and was most definitely the sound of a young child which doubled her efforts. When the last box was removed, she caught the site of a small rectangular shaped box that had a blue blanket over it.
And something inside of it was moving.
Shaking her head in disgust, Yearling marched her way over to the box ready to see what kind of child it was.
“What kind of bucking sicko just leaves a child at the end of an alleyway.” Yearling mumbled angrily as the noises from the small box seemed to stop as if it sensed her presence.
The mare wasn’t even fazed as she thought it was some abandoned minotaur or griffin or even a pony. Not wanting to waste anymore time, she grabbed the blanket with her teeth and began to take it off the box.
‘It annoys me to no end that somepony would actually do this to a….a…...child…..’
The angry mare’s thoughts came to a sudden and forceful halt as what lied before her was something that she definitely wasn’t expecting. It was something….strange. Completely bizarre, even to somepony such as her and her occupation was an archeologist!
Yet here she was, frozen in place with the blanket still in her mouth like an idiot while the, baby, stared right back at her with curious brown eyes. It had no fur whatsoever on its body as it was completely showing pale skin with a bit of baby fat on its chest and arms with probably the same for its legs but those were covered by a brown blanket. The only place that was covered was the little bit of mane that was on top of its head. It had its ears on the side of its head, and its eyes were small yet held huge amounts of curiosity. It’s...claws….or paws? She couldn’t tell but had five tiny digits. The thing didn’t even have a muzzle. Truly a very strange creature to her.
She continued to stare wide eyed at the young creature before her as it did more or less of the same. She suddenly dropped the blanket with a flinch as it made a curious coo with a little movement of its arm.
“Buh…...aha….ahahahaha!”
The sound of childish giggling reached her ears as the creature stretched its tiny arms towards the mare while making happy coo’s and laughs. She blinked a few times until she shook her head and turned her shocked look into one of curious thinking.
“Geez Yearling, what are you so afraid of? It’s just a little baby.”
However her stance began to become one of caution as she inched closer to the mysterious thing in front of her with its arms still stretched out to her.
“A very, strange baby.”
She was now standing at the foot of the box with her head just out of reach for the little thing as it still made happy coo’s and ah’s as it tried to reach for the mare. She would have touched it or try to get a closer look but last experiences of touching things made her think twice.
One particular experience made her shiver with a grimace. All because she touched a simple little frog, she was rendered ill at home with the flu for five months. It was a very horrible experience with all the vomiting and everything.
Still having a grimace on her face she looked at the baby who momentarily stopped his blabbering. “Yeah, I’m in no mood to pick you up and see what I get from you if anything at all.”
The mare watched as the creature put down its arms to rub its little eyes and gave a cute yawn. Said act made a tiny grin come to Yearling’s face as she looked at the little thing before her.
“Even so, your pretty adorable for a weird creature.”
The baby only yawned in response again which made the mare chuckled quietly at the tired little guy or girl. Bringing a hoof to her chin she began to think on what to do now that she’s discovered a brand new creature that, as far as she knows, has never been seen before.
“I think it would be a good idea to bring you home with me. After I gather some harmless information on you and whether or not you could be carrying something that could give a minotaur the flu for five months. Then take you to a friend I know and see if she knows anything about you.”
Having liked her little plan that she came up with, Yearling reached a hoof behind her to grab her stuff...only to feel nothing and have realization hit her in the face as her ears fell.
“Right, I left my stuff at the house because I would never think that something like this would ever happen.”
She definitely didn’t want to pick up this creature with her bare hooves nor with any material that has made direct contact with it in fear of catching a sickness worse than that flu. Of course one would say that she just bit into the blue blanket but that didn’t even touch the little thing and it was the side where it was in open air so that doesn’t really count.
Such thoughts made her wince at how it sounded harsh, treating the thing like it was contagious, but she just wanted to take precautions. Turning her head toward the other end of the alley she began to come up with a new plan to get the little baby out of the alley.
“Well my house isn’t far away so if I just quickly grab my things and come back, it probably won’t make a commotion. Because as far as I’m concerned, I’m the only thing that it’s seen today so it might have gotten attached.”
Looking back at the baby who somewhat looked tired but made no action to rest as it wanted to continue staring at the strange but pretty creature in front of it.
“Okay little guy...gal? I’m gonna be right back, I just have to make a quick stop at my house and then I’ll be back to grab you okay?”
Her face and ears fell as the only response she got was a slight tilt of its head and a pronounced ‘eh’. She blew a strand of hair that came out of her bun away from her face as she started to walk away from the box.
“I’ll be right back, don’t cause a-”
Her words immediately died as a sharp cry came from the child as it saw its only companion beginning to walk away. Not wanting it to draw unneeded attention she quickly trotted to its side and motioned for it to quiet down.
“Shh, shh, don’t make a fuss now. I promise I’ll be back okay?”
Her heart panged a little as the creature made little whimpers with a pouty lip with tears threatening to spill from its eyes. It was quite clear that it was starting to get a little fussy from not having any contact from her whatsoever.
“Okay I’m gonna have to be quick about this. Look I’ll be back, I just need to get a few things and I’ll be right back I promise.”
She started to leave again which triggered another wail from the baby which cause her to move a little faster. She started to sprint a little as the child started to cry from losing sight of the pretty creature it saw.
Her ears tried in vain to pin themselves against her head as she tried to drown out the sad crying from the creature as she made it out of the alley and into the one that would lead to her house. No matter how hard she tried she couldn’t drown it out as she could still here it’s crying and screaming for her. It actually hurt her heart to leave it behind but it was for precaution.
“At this point I don’t see how it’s worth it when the poor things wailing can be heard from a mile away. Last thing I want is somepony else finding it and having authorities take it away and celestia knows what they would do to it.”
That little thought cause her to full on sprint out of the alleyway and across the street towards a small, two story white building that was her house. Her nerves began to calm as she couldn’t hear its crying anymore which meant not many ponies should be able to either.
“Like I said, this will be easy.” She inquires as she climbed the cement steps to her front door and raised a hoof to open it. Her hoof froze as she felt something deep within her begin to feed her some thoughts that she particularly didn’t want to think about.
The mare shook her head as her hoof touched the doorknob. “No, it’s probably fine, definitely not been found by some other creature that wants to dissect it for-”
She froze in place as she stopped herself from finishing that sentence. It was to late however as other cruel thoughts like it creeped their way into her mind. What if it was already found by somepony else? What if it was already taken? What if a griffon found it and killed it for meat?!
“No! It’s fine! Everything will be fine! I just need to open the door and get my stuff and then I’ll be back, just like that!”
But what if it was already taken? What if because I was being cautious on getting something from it that I let the poor thing get killed?
Puffing out her cheeks, Yearling began to blow out air with frustration as she banged her head with her hooves and her wings twitched with the constant thoughts running through her head as well as some sort of thing that demanded to go back to make sure that it was ok.
We should go back!
We should make sure it’s ok!
What is it I’m feeling right now?
Is it dead?
Did something happen?
What’s happening to me?!
At this moment, a unicorn mare came out of the house next door and saw her neighbor sitting at her door with her hooves in her head like she was having an internal war with herself. Gaining concern for her next door friend, the unicorn mare got on her hind hooves to lean on the railing that was on her stairs.
“Yearling, is everything ok over there!”
The neighbor was suddenly startled as the archeologist gave a loud cry while flaring her wings high. What also made her flinch was the almost feral look she had on her gaze as she blew steam from her nose.
“I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!”
A gust of wind blew the neighbors mane back as her friend shot off from the ground, leaving a golden trail that lead to an alleyway from where Yearling first came from.
Other ponies who were simply passing by, stopped in their tracks to stare wide eyed at the mare that just screamed like she witnessed murder and shot off into a random alleyway. The neighboring mare still had a shocked look on her face as she stared at the alleyway with confusion and concern.
“Was it something I said?”
Meanwhile in the alley, the strange little baby was still bawling it’s eyes out as it was left alone in a scary dark place that smelled like something bad to it’s little nose. However a loud shout from outside of the alley was heard along with what sounded like a rocket taking off and heading towards the crying infant with great speed.
The strange infant suddenly ceased its crying as a blur shot right past its vision and into the trash making large bangs and crashes. Silence fell around the alley as the daredevil that crashed began to mumble curse words along with frantic clopping sounds coming towards the box. The infant wasted no time in raising its arms with a cry as the pretty face it once saw was back with something weird on its head.
Said pretty faced mare was in a bigger mess than she ever was as she stared at the infant who raised its arms out to her. She was quick to brush some of her mane out of her face and take the banana off her head before bringing her face closer to the strange creature while making shushing and cooing sounds to calm it down.
“Shhh, it’s ok I’m here baby I’m here. Don’t you be crying now.”
Yearling gave a little flinch as she felt the infant’s limbs touch her muzzle and exploring the feeling of her fur. It was very foreign to her to feel only smooth skin and not other fur, a hard hoof, or a sharp talon. Some part of her wanted to pull away from the strange feeling of its limbs but that same itching in the back of her head said to be close to the infant which kept her in place.
Before she even realized it, her hooves were beginning to go under the infant and bringing it close to her chest as it still felt around her muzzle. When the baby was secured in one hoof she used her other one to wipe away its tear streaks.
“Don’t be crying now baby, I’m here.” Yearling soothed. She began to slowly rock the infant back and forth as tiny sniffles and silent coo’s greeted her ears. Yearling wasn’t even worried about anything as she brought the infant close to touch noses like most mothers would to their child. Sparkling brown eyes met her light pink ones as she gave a bright smile.
“Hello baby, are you feeling- ow!”
The good feeling didn’t last long as the infant thought it would be a good time to grab a handful of the mares mane and tug on it. Meanwhile, Yearling was wincing in pain as the infant kept tugging the handful of her mane without letting up rendering her to keep hold of it with the one hoof and grab its hand hand with the other one.
“Ok that’s my mane, let go now -ow- it kind of hurts -ah- when you pull on it like that -ai- come on you little stinker let go of my- OW!”
Of course as the pegasus pony was busy trying to entice the infant to let go of her mane, she had accidentally tugged on it’s hand a little to hard which in turn caused it to tug a little more forcefully, taking a few thin strands from her mane.
Yearling winced as she rubbed her skull with a hoof to ease the pain of having strands of her mane tugged off. She was about to scold the baby for doing that until she saw it was reaching for another grab. Thinking quickly she snatched the little limb away keeping the creature from tugging her mane again. Although that didn’t keep it from grabbing her hoof and squeezing it a few times in curiosity.
“You are just a grabby little bugger aren’t you?”
The only reply she got was a soft yawn from the infant as it lost interest in her hoof and rubbed its eyes. On instinct, Yearling brought the creature close to the small turf of fur on her chest which the baby grabbed and snuggled into while closing its little eyes.
The mare continued to watch the baby with a sense of peace until a thought struck her. Was all of that, instinct?
“Was that a mother’s instinct that just happened?” Yearling said to herself as the infant slept against her chest. She thought about it for a few seconds until her ears fell and she gave a silent groan.
“Geez, Mom wasn’t kidding when she said that it would be quite possible for it to run in the family. Guess I'm going to be one of those crazy worrying-over-nothing type of moms for you aren’t I little fella.”
It didn’t take long for her to repeat to herself what she had said to the infant. Thinking those words over brought a little frown to her face.
‘Am I really doing this right now? I haven’t even gotten to know what this baby is and I haven’t even grown attached to it to say that I would take care of it. Especially when I’m going to be having one on the way.’
Still rocking the baby back and forth, Yearling’s face switched from a frown to a raised eyebrow.
‘Did I become attached or is that just the mother’s instinct talking.’ Her thoughts were running a bit wild at the moment as she continued to rock the baby. She continued to think until a shift from the baby brought her focus down to it to see that it was putting one of its digits in it’s mouth.
Yearling sighed as she looked in the box to see if the infant was put in it with anything only to find nothing. When she decided she had no use for it she got up and began to slowly walk out of the alley.
“I won’t worry about it right now. I have to much on my plate right now to be thinking like that or to even be considering it for that matter, right now I need to figure out some things about it.”
As yearling turned the corner of the alley to head toward her house she quickly covered the sleeping infant up with the blanket to conceal it from anypony who wondered by.
“And then send a letter to an old friend who could probably find out what you are.”
Making her way down toward the end of the new alley that would lead her to her street she tucked the infant closer to her chest.
“She should be able to do it since she’s over a thousand years old after all.”
Author's Note
I’m gonna need to make a cover art of this soon.
Also in the first chapter I forgot to given a big thank you to Gravestone for helping me on names for Darings parents along with how to start the story
In Canterine, there was a two-story white building that sat between neighboring houses, with its little flower beds in the front and small backyard. If one were to walk into this house, they would first enter its small living room. The living room was basically like a square space. In the middle of it was a couch that could fit three full grown ponies, along with a coffee table in front of it that had discarded magazines on its surface.
In front of this couch was an old-style, indoor furnace. And near the furnace was a cushioned resting chair. Resting next to the chair was a small circular table with a box and a glass of whiskey next to it.
Against the light grey walls of the little home were many photos of its two occupants together, along with some showing them with their friends. There was even a table against one of the walls that had a few old looking trinkets on them and next to that, a small bookshelf.
From the entrance to the home, there was a opening to the far wall that led to the kitchen and dining room. Nothing really special about that except that the kitchen was to the right and the dining was off to the left. From the opening to the kitchen going to the right was a hallway. In this hallway we're five doors. One door was a closet, the other a bathroom, the other a master bedroom, and a fourth door that led to the basement. The last door at the end lead to the second floor.
From behind the basement door, muffled hoofsteps started to gradually become more pronounced. The owner of these hooves eventually opened the door and was no other than our dear pony, Yearling Do. Yearling came out of the basement, along with the strange creature in her hooves, who was looking at his new surroundings with curiosity.
A small sigh escaped the mare as she closed the door with an audible click. Ruffling her wings a bit, she looked down at the baby with a small grin as he continued to look around her house.
“Well, now that that's over with. How about we get you something to eat.”
A few moments ago, after Yearling safely brought the baby inside her home, had gone down into her basement that consisted of many maps, books, a large desk full of papers and trinkets, and even some studying equipment for any work brought to her humble abode.
When she had entered the somewhat dusty place, which prompted the baby to sneeze making her giggle, she had gotten her equipment out and began doing tests on the creature. It wasn't anything painful or disgusting, just small snips of his hair, a bit of his saliva, and some measurements like his weight and height.
She also learned that it was a boy. For when she had to take his measurements she had to take off his blanket, revealing him to be in nothing but a white diaper. After taking his weight and height -with some difficulty- she decided to find out what it's sex was. But that resulted in her quickly covering him up with a faint blush.
She also found out that he has no sheath.
She would have taken more tests but decided against it. Mainly because she couldn't do anything much more without either hurting him or doing something bad since she didn't know what he was. Besides, she could get much more information from a hospital after a unicorn scans him.
It was also because his stomach growled making him become a little fussy.
With a dissatisfied sigh, she packed up what little she got and wrapped him back up in his blanket, but left his arms a little open which made him open his mouth in a few coo’s and ah’s. That also gave her the chance to see that he had maybe two or three tiny teeth barely poking out of his gums.
Now she was upstairs with another dilemma. How was she going to feed him?
Judging by how young he looked and for the fact that he hardly had any teeth -or barely growing out for that matter- she would estimate that he couldn't eat solids or even mashed up food just yet. Of course, it was just an assumption but it was the best she got. So only milk would have to do for now.
Adjusting the youngster in her hooves, Yearling made her way into the kitchen to see if she could make something for the hungry creature.
“I guess you're going to make good practice for when my youngster comes along, huh?” Yearling commented while glancing at the baby who made no sign to reply. Not that he could of course.
Making it to her kitchen, Yearling approached the fridge and sat upon her haunches in front of it. Raising a hoof she opened it up….
To reveal no milk. Actually, there wasn't much of anything in her fridge making the mare raise an eyebrow. She stared at her almost empty fridge with confusion until her ears fell and she groaned.
“I forgot that me and Anty need to restock after coming from that business trip three days ago.”
Yearling rubbed her face with a hoof as she glared at the fridge. The only thing that was edible was a few apples, a quarter of orange juice, some yogurt, and a box that probably had some leftover restaurant food.
Sighing in agitation, Yearling looked to the baby again who had its sights on her. Closing the fridge, she raised a hoof and gently pressed it to the child’s up lips. He tried to move his head away but she was persistent, always following it wherever it went.
The baby eventually kept his head still, long enough for her to raise his lip and see the tiny teeth slightly poking out so his gum. She hummed in thought and took her hoof off of his lip. She couldn’t exactly estimate how old he was but if she compared him with a foal, she would say that he’s no more than maybe eight months.
She didn’t know if he was eight months. For all she knew, he could be younger than that or perhaps older depending on how his species aged. She continued to hum in her thoughts, wondering if it would be good to feed him some of that yogurt.
Yearling was brought from her thoughts when the child grabbed her hoof with his hands, which she was going to call them since he closely resembled a monkey, but without the opposable thumbs or tail, and brought it to his mouth to suckling on it.
The mare cringed slightly from the feeling of the baby suckling on her hoof, as if it was a meal for him. She kept that cringe on her face for a few moments until she dropped it to a neutral look and shrugged. To be honest with herself, she’s had worse with the job she has.
Like that one time with the plant in that jungle she went to.
Yearling shivered in disgust. “Yeah, not my plan to get eaten by one of those.”
A small sob brought her from those disturbing thoughts as the baby let go of her hoof and gave another small sob. Yearling cringed as she wiped her hoof on her fur and used both to rock him back and forth.
“Hey, don’t cry now. I’ll find something for you to eat.” Yearling reasurred as she pat the child’s back. It seemed to calm him down, but Yealring didn’t need to have experience in babies to know that he wouldn’t stay like that for long.
‘I need to decide on what to feed him or I’m gonna be dealing with a very loud and grumpy baby.’ Yearling thought while reopening the fridge and look about its few contents.
‘I guess I could give him that yogurt, but I don’t know if he could eat that or not. But wait, didn’t Coal say that a neighbor of his fed their six month old foal yogurt?’
Another sob, this one louder than the last reached her ears making them fall against her head.
“Yogurt it is then.”
Hastily, Yearling grabbed a cup of strawberry flavored yogurt and closed the fridge with her wing. With great skill, she balanced the yogurt on her wing and trotted over to the table. Her hooves stopped walking when she realized that she didn’t have a high chair or anything to hold the baby up at the table.
With a grunt, she tossed the yogurt on the table and secured the baby with both hooves. With a quick flap, she gently propelled herself and her passenger into the air and on top of the table.
“Alright little guy, you stay nice and snug on this table while I get you a spoon.” Yearling said as she gently laid the baby on the wooden surface, using a portion of his blanket to cushion his head. The baby however gave a long wail as the mare began to move again, prompting her to go faster.
Getting to one of the drawers, she searched through its contents looking for a decent sized spoon. Another cry from the baby caused her to go faster.
“Hang on, I’m coming.”
Another cry was the only response to her. She gave a exaggerated sigh as she grabbed a spoon that seemed decent to her and a napkin from a different drawer.
Turning around to the table she began her way over to it and climbed on top.
“Geez, picky much?”
She didn’t get a response instead a sniffle from the small creature making her roll her eyes. Sitting on her rump, she position the baby so his back was against her chest and opened the little cup. His tiny hands tried to grab it but she moved it out of his reach.
Getting a small amount on the very tip of the spoon, she brought it near his mouth, causing the little tyke to look at it. She watched the creature expectantly as he stared at the spoon and beamed with a smile when he opened his mouth, allowing her to feed him the yogurt. The baby smacked his lips as he swallowed his meal, looking at her hoof for more.
She smiled a little brighter at this, dipping the spoon in the cup and bringing it to his mouth again.
“For a second there, I was worried you weren’t gonna eat it.”
Her answer was a quiet ‘nom’ from the baby as he took another spoon of the dairy product. Yearling sat on top her table for a few more minutes feeding the baby and occasionally wiping his mouth with the napkin.
Before she could feed him another small portion of yogurt, a knock came to her door making her ears perk up. She swung her head at the opening of her kitchen with her ears jerking to listen for it again. When another knock sounded, Yearling gave a quick, silent ‘oh’ and put the yogurt and spoon to the side.
The child was quick to sound his disapproval at his source of meal being taken away while trying to grab for it. He didn’t get far as his little body was turned around to face the pretty mare who picked him up and patted his back in a comforting manner.
“Don’t worry little guy, I’ll give you more food after I see who's at the door.” Yearling said to keep the baby from crying. He still tried to reach for the cup but didn’t make any move to cry about it which was alright to Yearling.
Adjusting the youngster, she flapped her wings to gently bring herself from the table down to the ground. When her hooves hit the kitchen tile, she began her trek to the door that gave another knock, only louder this time.
As she came to the door, she adjusted the baby so that whoever was behind it wouldn’t see him and reached for the knob with her unoccupied hoof. Before her appendage could wave touch the knob, a shrill voice came from behind the door.
“Oh Dooooo, you couldn’t hide the good news from us for long. So you certainly won’t be hiding from us now~”
Yearling’s eyes widened considerably as she stared at the door with horror. She shook her head as she eyed the entrance with panic.
‘This is the worst time for them to come! If they see him they’ll spread the news about it like wildfire. The last thing I need is ponies giving him attention that is unnecessary or worse, having ponies come to take him to a zoo or for scientific study!’ Yearling exclaimed in her thoughts.
Her ears fell slightly as another voice, this one smooth but just as excited as the other, came from behind her ‘barricade’ of an entrance.
“Come on Yearling, we know about the results at the hospital. Come on out so we can celebrate with you!”
The mare used her wings to shield the baby -who gave a small coo at the attention- as if somepony was going to attack it. Her panic-filled eyes looked to and fro around the house, trying to find a way out.
Her plans on escaping were demolished as another voice reached her pinned ears, this one a little deeper than the other two, and had a bit of a posh accent to it. This voice was also followed by rampant knocking on the her door.
“Yearling! Yearling dear, if you don’t come out of this door in the next five seconds, we’re gonna come in there after you! And you won’t like it!”
Now the pegasus was really freaking out as she looked for a way to hide the baby encased in her wings, as he giggled lightly at her expression. Another knock sounded behind the door, causing her to give a sigh and look at the cushion chair near the fireplace.
With great elegance, she flew to the chair and sat the baby on it and positioned him in a way he wouldn’t fall off, nor be uncomfortable. She quickly went to the couch to grab a blanket and went over to the baby and unfolded. Looking away from the blanket in her hooves, she smiled gently at the baby who stared back at her.
“Now I’m gonna cover you up real quick so the triplets don’t see you. Don’t make any noise because I don’t want them finding you right now-”
Before the mare could continue, her ears perked up at the sound of the shrill voice counting the number five. Her eyes widened as she leaned in close to the baby who giggle.
“Now don’t make a sound and stay still okay?” She didn’t get a response but she would just have to wing it for now. Gently putting the blanket on the child, she turned the chair away from the door.
The posh voice drawled out the number two. Yearling gave one last look at the covered baby and quickly flew to the door. Fixing her messy mane, she quickly opened the door to reveal three mares behind it, each in a pouncing position with two of them having their wings outstretched and the other having her horn lit.
Yearling chuckled as she gave an awkward smile and rubbed her neck with a hoof. “Uh, hey girls, sorry I couldn’t come to the door. I was-”
The poor mare didn’t get to finish as a light brown aura covered her body, making her give a light ‘eep’. Said aura picked her up and quickly brought her into the bone crushing hooves of three mares who squealed excitedly.
“YOUR PREGNANT! EEEEE!”
“Yeah that’s...ooh….nice,” Yearling wheezed from the crushing hooves of her friends, “girls...I...can’t breathe.”
A chorus of ‘oops’ and ‘sorries’ reached her ears as the crushing appendages let her go. Yearling gave a big breath of air that was squeezed from her lungs as she tried to get her bearings back in order.
She wasn’t given the time to do so, as a pair of hooves grabbed her cheeks and directed her head to a very excited pair of chocolate brown eyes. Said eyes blinked as the owner of them giggled.
“Yearling.”
Yearling blinked as the mare directly in front of her face, squished her cheeks together. “Yesh?”
Chocolate eyes giggle again as she brought Yearling closer and spoke in a quiet but excited shrill voice. “Your pregnant.”
“I know dat Coca, I was at da hospiwal afder aw,” Yearling said through her squished cheeks, “now coud you pwease wed go of me.”
The mare known as Coca giggled again as she let go of her friend and backed up to stand beside the other two mares. The mare to Coca’s right was her sister, Cocolatte Caramel, who was a pegasus. Coco, had chocolate brown fur with a curly caramel mane and tail, along with a Cutie Mark of a delicious looking caramel latte. Her mane and tail also had one streak of dark red which could be seen amongst the curls of her mane. Her eyes were also that of a caramel color.
Coca, or Cocala Shake, was also a pegasus. Coca was basically the opposite of her sister, with caramel fur and a chocolate colored mane and tail. Her Cutie Mark was a chocolate milkshake with whipped cream and a cherry on it. Her mane and tail looked like it had been styled by a strong breeze going to the left and amongst that messy mane and tail, one would be able to see a dark purple streak going through it. Her eyes were obviously chocolate brown.
To Coca’s left was the oldest sister of the three. Her name was Delilah Azure and she was the complete opposite of the other two sisters. The other two had gotten most of their traits from their dad while Azure had gotten most of hers from her mother, making her a unicorn instead of a pegasus.
Her fur was a royal blue and her neatly styled mane and tail were a shade of azure. In her mane, were two streaks of both a lighter red and purple. Although most of her traits were that of her mother, she still had some from her father, that being her light brown eyes and brown magic. On her rump was a Cutie Mark of a piece of paper and a quill with ink on its tip.
Yearling looked amongst the three ponies who each had a level of excitement on them. Clearing her throat, she gestured to the three.
“So, who told you the news.”
“Coal did, and it was kinda hard to not notice your level of excitement when you were shouting it all over the place.” Coco replied in her smooth voice.
Azure nodded as she gave Yearling a knowing look. “And I don’t think we need to remind you about the only time you were that excited.” She commented in a slight posh accent.
Yearling quickly averted her eyes from the smirking trio as her cheeks became a light shade of pink. “That was because it was my first time okay, and I was a little drunk.”
“A little is putting it lightly Yearly.” Coca said with a giggle.
Yearling pouted at her friend which cause her to laugh a little bit. Her ears fell as she grumbled a bit, but perked up when she heard noises from inside her home, coming from a particular guest of hers. Yearling gave a fake smile to her friends who came down from their laughing fit.
“Well it was nice seeing you girls and having you get the news but I need to get ready for you know who and tell him the news.”
Yearling slowly inched her way back into her house but was stopped as Coca got in front of her face again.
“Well we could at least help you spruce up a bit, because to be honest, you're not looking your best right now.” She said with a gesture to Yearling’s mane.
Azure nodded as she used her magic to fix a crazy strand back in place. “I would have to agree with my sister, you could use some help in getting yourself ready for your husband.”
Coco nodded as she looked behind the mare’s shoulder to see around your house. “And your place could use a little decoration, nothing that we can’t handle for you Yearling.”
Coco flapped her wings to get started on the house but was stopped by Yearling suddenly unfurling her wings.
“No!” Yearling shouted causing the trio to reel back from her outburst. She was quick to clear her throat as she shot her wings back to her sides with a blush of embarrassment.
“No, it’s perfectly fine. I can handle sprucing up the place by myself, so you-”
The mare was cut off again as a light brown aura shut her lips together. Her eyes worriedly looked to Azure who gave her a calm gaze.
“Not to be rude Yearly, but last time you tried sprucing yourself up, you had your hair in so many knots and tangles that even I didn’t know how to fix it.”
Yearling’s cheeks puffed out as her nose scrunched up in a pout. “That’s because it was my wedding day and I was nervous as Tartarus. This day is different okay, I promise I’ll be fine.”
Coca groaned loudly, gaining Yearlings attention. “Come on Yearly, were your friends! Just let us help-”
Coca suddenly stopped as her years seemed to swivel around, trying to pick up a sound if her confusing gaze had anything to go by. Yearling looked at her friend confusingly until her years picked up a sound behind her, making Coca and her ears swivel towards it at the same time.
“You okay Coca?” Coco asked as she stared at her sister with confusion.
“Yeah, just thought I heard some-” Coca’s perked up, facing Yearlings house, or more specifically, the area that the baby was in.
Yearling began to sweat as she could here the baby making slight noises. She prayed to any deity or goddess above that he didn’t start crying.
“Yearling?”
Yearling froze as her eyes shrunk a bit. Her gaze slowly went to Azure who looked at her with great concern and worry.
“Yearling are you okay? You seem to be sweating a bit.”
Yearling swallowed a bit as she nodded. “Yeah, I’m perfectly fine, it’s just hot out here.”
Azure raised an eyebrow as she gave her friend a little bit of confusion. “Hot, it’s not even seventy-degrees outside.”
The mare’s wings ruffled a bit as she flicked her ears behind her, trying to keep tabs on the baby. “Yeah, well you know how I am in certain weathers. One moment it’s-”
She paused as her eyes caught the movement of Coco’s ears. Her eyes narrowed as her ears seemed to be searching for something behind Yearling. She gulped nervously as she looked beyond her front door.
“Yearly, do you have anything in your house?”
The nervous mare’s wings ruffled up as she glanced left and right. “Um...no, not that I know of. Why?”
Coco tried to look more behind Yearling but was stopped by her stepping in the way. “Because I keep hearing noises coming from in your living room.”
Coca looked to her sister with realization. “Your hearing that too?! I thought it was just me.”
“What are you two talking about? I don’t hear anything.” Azure pitched in as she swiveled her ears around the front door making Yearling shake in nervousness.
“Just listen, I can faintly hear something from the living room.” Coco said as her ears seemed to perk at one particular spot like Coca.
Azure stepped towards the door, causing Yearling to step back, as her ears went to and fro. They perked up as well when they stopped at a specific place as well.
“Yearling, what’s in you-”
Azure didn’t finish her sentence as Yearling roughly pushed her and her sister’s back and began closing the door, looking nervous as ever.
“Well it was nice talking to you girls but I need to go and get ready for Anty, so I’ll see you later!” Yearling said a little to quickly. Her friends tried to step in but she wasn’t having any of it as she started to close the door a little quicker.
“But Yearly, don’t you hear-”
Yearling was quick to cut Coco off. “Nope! Don’t hear a thing! Must be that old fire place that we have.”
“But Yearly-”
Yearling yet again cut off the three as the door was a quarter of the way closed. “Sorrycanttalkgottagobye!”
Yearling quickly slammed the door shut and gave a shaky breath. Putting a hoof to her chest, she breathed slowly to stop her frantic heartbeat as her wings ruffled again.
Her breath hitched in her throat as another sound came from the child, causing her to give a tired groan. She rubbed a hoof on her face as she tried to get her nerves back together.
“It’s okay, it’s gonna be okay, nothing wrong has happened with the baby yet.”
She gave a sigh as she closed her eyes and turned around to pick the baby up but was stopped by something touching her nose. Yearling’s eyes widened as she looked to see glaring brown eyes at her.
“Your not getting away that easily my friend.” Azure said as her horn lit up, causing the pegasus to gulp. She was about to give a reply but was stopped by Azure’s magic opening her door and allowing her two pegasus sisters to tackle Yearling to the floor.
The mare frantically tried to fight back but was quickly pinned by her back and wings. She heard the door close as Azure stepped in front of her vision and leaned down towards her ear.
“What are you hiding darling?”
Yearling’s ear twitched from Azure’s warm breath on it. She turned her head so she was looking at the three mares looking down on her. Resting her cheek on the floor, Yearling gave a deep breath.
“I’m hiding nothing.”
It was plain as day that neither of them believed her. Her heart stopped when all of their ears swiveled towards the baby.
“I believe those sounds would beg to differ.”
Yearling helplessly watched as her friend began walking towards the chair that was slightly turned away from them. She tried to get up, but the hooves on her back and wings made it difficult. One hoof in particular was pressing down in a uncomfortable way.
“Ow, my wing Coco.”
The hoof immediately adjusted itself as Coco looked at her sheepishly.
“Sorry.”
Yearling ignored her apology as the sound of hooves stopped. She turned her gaze to Azure who was looking at the chair or more of the thing on it with confusion. She saw her mumble to herself as her magic grabbed the blanket. What was once confusion, quickly became shock as she dropped the blanket and reeled back with her ears pinned.
“MOTHER OF CELESTIA!”
Her surprised shout was followed by silence and then quickly by a choked sob coming from the chair. The other two sisters looked at the couch with wide eyes as the sound of crying reached their ears. However, Yearlings ears perked up at the familiar sound as her eyes became pin pricks.
With great strength that startled the two sisters, Yearling threw them off and quickly flew to the couch. She stepped in front of it with her wings out in a intimidating manner and her eyes glaring at Azure who flinched at the gaze.
When she was sure she wouldn’t try anything, Yearling turned around and softened her gaze at the teary eyed baby that was reaching for her.
“Shhh...it’s okay baby, no one will hurt you.” The mare cooed as she picked the baby up. She was quick to cradle him in her hooves and rock him back and forth as he sniffled quietly. She continued to do this until a noise drew her attention to Azure.
The blue mare stopped in her tracks as she stared worriedly at Yearling who only gave a neutral expression. Azure swallowed before she spoke.
“Yearling, what...is that?”
The protective mare stared at her friend who made no move to get closer. She also eyed the other two who became beside her, giving shocked looks at the creature in her hooves.
Yearling blinked as she looked back at the creature who ceased his crying. “I...um...I don’t really know.”
Yearling saw movement in the corner of her eye and looked to find Coco slowly approaching while keeping her gaze on the baby, as if it would spring up and attack.
“It’s not, dangerous is it?” She asked as she flinched when the infant’s eyes met hers.
Yearling chuckled at her demeanor and fully turned to the triplets who eyed the infant with weariness and curiosity.
“I wouldn’t think he is since he’s so young.”
All three mares quirked an eyebrow as they stared at there friend who shrunk at there gaze in slight embarrassment.
“He? How do you know it’s a he?” Azure asked.
Yearling was about to answer until Coca suddenly filled her vision with the biggest smile on her face.
“D’awwwww! Look at how cute he is with his little button nose!” The mare squealed as she eyed the baby. Said baby gave a small coo at the mare in front of it which she responded with another d’aww.
“Well hello there cutie- oh!”
Coca flinched in surprise as the baby put one of his tiny hands on her snout and began feeling her fur. Coca gave a small ‘squee’ at the attention given to her by the small thing.
“He’s so adorable! How old is he?” Coca said with genuine curiosity.
Yearling blinked a little bit at Coca’s sudden interest in the small baby as her mouth hung agape, trying to form words.
“Uh...he’s….um….I don’t really know how old he is. My best guess is that he’s no more than eight months.” Yearling answered as Coca started speaking to the infant with baby words.
The mare stopped her baby blabber as she eyed her friend with a narrowed gaze. “You mean to tell me that you brought this cutie into your house and don’t know what or even how old he is?”
Yearling avoided her gaze as she used her free hoof to rub her neck. “I may be an archeologist Coca, but I have never seen something like him in my life.”
Azure came up from behind the caramel pegasus and eyed the infant in Yearlings hooves. “Where did you find him?”
“In that one dead-end alleyway across the street.” Yearling answered without thinking. She regretted her answer as all three mares gasped and they gathered around the infant with sympathy in their eyes.
“Poor thing was left in that alleyway all alone!” Coco exclaimed as she gently nuzzled the babies head, making him giggle.
“If I ever find the...um...whatever he is that left him there, I’ll buck them into next week!” Coca said with determination and unfurled wings.
Azure didn’t make a comment on the baby being left by its lonesome in the dirty alleyway, but was instead studying the baby over. Using her magic, she gently move the infant upper lip and looked at the few teeth barely poking past his gum and hummed.
“Has he eaten anything?” She asked Yearling as she hovered a hoof in front of the infant, allowing him to grab onto it.
Yealing used her hoof to scratch her head as she thought. “Not really, I was feeding him some yogurt but was cut short when you three came to my door.”
That comment caused them to freeze in their affection for the baby as they stared at their friend. Yearling grew a face of worry as she shined away from there stares with pinned ears.
“What?”
“Why didn’t you tell us about him when we came?” Coco asked with a raised eyebrow and critical gaze.
“Yeah, I mean, I know he’s a little weird but that’s no reason to keep the cutie away from us.” Coca pitched in.
The light brown mare averted her gaze as she pawed at the tuft of fur on her chest. “Well I mainly did it for his benefit,” at their confused stairs she continued, “face it girls, your all the main line of spreading gossip and news. If I told you about him or even showed you, you three would spread it like wildfire. And I don’t think that someone such as him needs the kind of attention that it would bring him.”
Coca reeled back in offense with a hoof to her chest. “We certainly would not do that. What made you get that kind of idea!”
Yearling deadpanned as she stared at the pegasus. “I don’t know, maybe that one time when you girls thought Coal was dating that one mare, when really it was just his cousin visiting.”
All three mares blushed in embarrassment as they averted their gaze from their friend.
“Okay, touché.”
Azure shook off her blush as she pointed at the infant. “S-so, um...what kind of yogurt did you feed him?”
“Strawberry.” Yearling answered as she looked down at the infant.
Azure shook her head as she made her way to the kitchen. “I didn’t mean what kind, I meant what type, like whole milk yogurt or something like that.”
“Oh, uh...does it really matter?” Yearling asked while watching her friend walk to her kitchen.
Azure shook her head as she made it to the open doorway and used her magic to levitate the yogurt in front of her face. “If he’s anything like a foal, then no it shouldn’t matter. But if it’s yogurt your feeding him then he’s gonna need the whole milk type to have proper growth.”
“Oh, well I don’t think I have anything like that.” The mare said as she looked at Coca to see her with outstretched hooves.
“Can I hold the little guy.” She asked with puppy dog eyes and a come hither gesture.
Yearling eyed her and then the baby before sighing and gently handing him to the smiling mare. “Just don’t drop him okay.”
Coca rolled her eyes as she adjusted the cooing infant in her grasp. “I’ve handled babies before Yearly, I’ll be gently.”
The mare nodded as she went to go join Azure in the kitchen. When she stepped through the opening, she became confused at her friend when she saw her staring into her fridge. Yearling was going to ask her what was wrong before she flinched from her fridge being slammed shut and Azure glaring at her.
“Why don’t you have anything in your fridge!”
The archeologist flinched from her volume but gained back her confidence and stood against her glaring friend. “You know exactly why I don’t have anything in my fridge. It was because me and Anty went on that business trip.”
Azure averted her gaze as she thought about the response given to her. Her gaze then softened to a sheepish look.
“Oh, I forgot you went on that. But you could have at least gotten something from the market, it was only three days ago.”
“I know,” Yearling nodded as she grabbed the yogurt in her hoof, “But I didn’t think I was gonna be bringing a baby into my house.”
The blue unicorn nodded as she activated her magic and took the yogurt from Yearling. “I guess so, but we won’t be feeding him any of that. I may not know what he is but I can tell that he’s incredibly young so we’re gonna be feeding him something more beneficial.”
Yearling raised an eyebrow as she watched the blue mare put the yogurt in her fridge and walk out of the kitchen.
“And what exactly would that be?”
Her response was a wide smirk from the royal blue mare that made Yearling shiver uncomfortably. Her nerves skyrocketed when Azure giggled.
“Oh don’t worry Yearly, you will know when we start.”
The mare gulped as she looked left and right nervously. She was about to voice her thoughts until she saw the other two mares getting their faces a little too close to the baby.
“Um girls, you might not want to do that. He’s a little bit-“
“OW! He’s got my mane! Coco, he’s got my mane!” Coca squealed as the infant tugged on strands of her mane.
“Well maybe if you didn’t get so close, then he wouldn’t- OW! He’s got mine now!” Coco shouted as she kept hold of the giggling infant.
Azure and Yearling stared at the two mares, bickering with each other while trying to get the infants grabby hands out of their hair but with no success.
“We should probably hep them.” Azure said with a sigh.
Yearling nodded, momentarily forgetting about her friends plan. “Yeah.”
“I should have ran when I had the chance.” A cherry faced Yearling pouted as she held the infant in her hooves.
Azure rolled her eyes at her whining friend as she picked up the blanket from the resting chair and levitated it over to her. Using her magic, she straightened it out and laid it across Yearling’s body, who was squirming in place.
“Seriously, can’t we just do something else or at least have one of you girls get something from the market?” The mare pleaded.
Azure shook her head as she grabbed a pillow for Yearling to use and sat it next to her head. “Oh quit whining darling, it’s not going to be that bad.”
“Easy for you to say,” the archeologist retorted, “your not the one whose about to breastfeed an infant.”
Azure rolled her eyes again as she levitated the baby away from the tomato faced Yearling and gently sat him next to The brown mare’s teats .
She squirmed a little more as she watched Azure position the baby so he could feed and lay down comfortably next to her mounds. Her face was now as red as a tomato as she tried to think about other things to distract her from the amount of embarrassment she was having.
She didn’t know what she was getting into when she and Azure had gotten the little tyke off of Coco and Coca’s manes. It wasn’t until Azure had explained what they would be doing to feed the infant, and by they, they meant her. Her face had taken a red hue as she tried to talk her way out of it, but the three sisters weren’t having any of it.
Her fate was sealed when Azure used magic to inflate her two mounds full of milk and levitated her onto the couch so she was comfortable.
And here she was, waiting to breastfeed a child that was completely alien to this world.
“Why do you even have that spell anyway?” She asked as her friend put the blanket over the baby.
Azure shrugged as she stepped back a little to admire her work. “It was by accident really. As you know, Coco has taken some foal sitting jobs around the town and sometimes has done them at home. One of them was from a good friend of ours who needed us to watch her young colt.
“For some reason or other, Coco had lost the foal’s packages of milk for him to feed on. So I studied the spell and had her breastfeed him.”
Yearling listened to her friend’s tale with rapt attention. When Azure finished, she looked to Coco who only nodded in confirmation.
“It’s true. It was weird at first but I eventually got used to it.”
Yearling sighed in defeat as she positioned the pillow given to her and laid her head upon it. ‘Can’t believe I’m doing this. At least the baby will be fed.’
It was only a few minutes that had past but to Yearling, it seemed like forever. She raised her head to see the signs of the infant squirming under the blanket, but made no move to suckle on her mounds.
“Um, should he be doing something or do I have to help him?” She hesitantly asked to the three mares.
Coca came to Yearling’s side as she looked at the mound under the blanket. With a questioning glance, she used a hoof to lift it up to reveal the infant who only giggled at the mare.
“Azure,” Coca said as she looked at the baby questionably, “shouldn’t he be suckling on her teats by now?”
The mare in question came over and looked at the infant as well. She raised an eyebrow while rubbing her chin with a hoof as the infant sucked on his thumb.
“Yeah, he should be. Foals at eight months should be able to lift their heads to at least drink their mother's milk.”
Yearling thought for a moment about the predicament that she and her friends found themselves in. As she began to think, she failed to see Azure using her magic to lift the baby’s head towards her swollen mounds.
“What if we- OH! Oh! Ooooooh~”
As Yearling was about to voice her thoughts on why the infant wasn’t feeding until she was interrupted by the baby hungrily latching onto one of her teats and suckling the milk out of them. She gave a small groan as her face was blushing fully now.
“Wow, he’s really going at it, isn’t he.”
The mares eyes widened in alarm from seeing Coca still looking at the infant as he suckled on her mounds.
“Coca! Don’t just stand there and stare!”
Coca jumped with a small eep and immediately put the blanket back down as she gave a sheepish smile to the glaring mare.
“Sorry, I’ll just leave you to him.” She said while backing up.
Yearling nodded with a glare, which didn’t give much with the blush still on her face. “Please do.”
The three mares back away to save their friend any more embarrassment and went around to occupy themselves. Azure used her magic to grab a book from the bookshelf while Coco took the resting chair to get a nap on. Coca took to looking through the many pictures on the wall and observing the old trinkets on the desk.
Yearling meanwhile got herself comfortable while the infant fed. She winced as he gave a strong suck on her teat and squeezed it a little causing her to feel what little teeth he had.
Resting her head on the pillow, she sighed while adjusting her body once more and settling down on the couch. With her eyes closed, she could hear the suckling of the infant along with the small snores coming from Coco, the flipping pages from Azure, and Coca walking around.
As the minutes drag by, Yearling began to feel her body relax into slumber. Before she could fully go into dreamland, the sudden stop of Coca’s hooves made her flick her ear.
“Say Yearly, when is Anty coming here?”
Time seemed to take a pause for a moment as Yearling ran those words through her head. Her eyes shot wide open in a heart beat. Her head slowly came up as she looked at Coca with a scared expression.
“Oh no, I completely forgot about that.” Yearling hissed with panic.
Coca turned away from a picture of the couple and stared at Yearling’s scared expression with confusion. “Why do you say that like it’s a bad thing?”
Yearling didn’t answer as she worked her mouth back and forth. Taking a quick glance at the infant, she quickly brought her attention to Azure who stared at her just as confused.
“Azure what time-“
The sound of a door opening and closing cut the pegasus off completely. With an audible gulp she slowly turned to the door to find a stallion standing in front of it with a case in his mouth. Her ears fell as she immediately recognized the male that came through her door.
“Yearling, I’m home.” The stallion announced right after he discarded the brown leather case. His name was Anty Novel, or Anty for short, and he was an earth pony. His fur was a very light shade of grey with his mane and tail being black and dark grey. A distinct feature of him was the black stubble on his face and a tweed walking hat he wore atop his head, which he discarded right next to the leather case. On the stallion’s rump was a Cutie Mark of a golden totem standing in front of a book.
Anty’s tired Golden eyes scanned the living room until they fell upon the four mares occupying it. His eyes widened in in slight surprise in seeing the triplets occupying his home but lit when they fell upon Yearling, who looked at him with wide alarming eyes, which he either ignored or didn’t think much on it.
Said eyes became wider with panic as he happily trotted to his wife until he was in front of her. She nervously looked to and fro as his oblivious smile still graced his face.
“You just taking a nap there hon?” He asked, still oblivious to what was going on as he looked at her deserved mane.
Yearling put on a fake smile as she laughed awkwardly, causing him to quirk an eyebrow at not only her smile but the slight blush he just noticed.
“Uh, yeah, just getting a few naps in after a busy day.”
Yearling began to sweat profusely as Anty looked suspiciously at her. He dropped it though with a shrug and a slight smile.
“Well, I won’t keep you from having your beauty sleep and possible girl talk. It was nice seeing you though hon.”
“You to Anty.” Yearling replied as her husband came in for a quick smooch. She was going to meet him halfway until a small hum came from the blanket.
She began to get nervous again as Anty stopp with open eyes. His expression became confused as his ears swiveled around to find the sound. Movement from under the blanket grabbed his attention as he looked at the blanket.
When something moved under it, he raised an eyebrow in confusion. He was about to voice his thoughts until the sound of suckling reach his ears.
He donned a very confused face as he looked at the small lump with shock. Anty slowly turned his gaze to his wife who only smiled with an awkward chuckle.
“I...uh…..I can explain.”
Author's Note
Now I know what your thinking, that is if your actually thinking it, isn’t Yearling supposed to be cocky and bad ass like I said last chapter? Well don’t you worry about that, that will come into play later.
As for Anty which will be playing the father of this story, his personality will be a bit different then Henry Walton Jones Sr. His name is also a combination of Antiqaurian and Novelist because Henry Walton was an author and did artifacty things I guess.
