The winds over the Archmages tower gentle whipped through Sunbeam's mane as she idly pondered the city of Canterlot below, her green eyes distant as she mused over her itenerary for her impending venture. Turning with a sigh of weariness, the mare returned to her desk, and lighting up her horn, began placing the stacks of coins she'd need for her purchases into a mahogany box. As the last stack was placed, a soft tap on her quarters door sounded.
"Enter child."
A soft squeak of the hinges sounded as Midnight nudged open her Mothers door, her own horn alight and its aura wrapped around a scroll. Giving a smile, Sunbeam trotted up to her filly, saying primly "Ah, good. I see thou has met my request promptly today. Is all attended then?"
Nodding, the filly sat down, her usual neutral expression in place as she opened the scroll and looked over it.
"Aye mother. I've gone through our stockpiles, and am most vexed. We are of low in regard to both Elbow Grease and Spiritus Dae. We are also down to our last few skins from Hooves of Glory."
Giving a slight grunt of annoyance, Sunbeam took the list from her daughter, and looked over the paper.
"Hmm... I see. And I am of certainty then our local contacts are bare of cupboard."
"Aye Mother. But she was most repentant and offered her nightshade and mandrake root at half cost."
Sunbeam nodded distractedly, then gave a slight snort as Midnight put a satchel at her hooves.
"Nay child. You may keep the bits. You may find yourself a treat or reward for your behavior as of late while staying with Shadow if you so desire. And Grim (1) shall be staying there as well, so behave."
1) Grimorum Striker, aka Grim. A beau of Sunbeams, and for his loyalty to the Crown during the Rebellion was granted to retain his surname by Celestia and Shadow.
At this Midnights ears perked and eyes widened. While the stallion was a decidedly gruff sort, the filly had grown quite fond of him over the last few months since their first meeting, regarding him in many ways as a father as she had come to regard Shadow as a second mother. And now she was going to spend a fort night with both in the clan hold. Looking at her mother, Midnight giddyness within withered though. Scuffing a hoof on the floor, Midnight softly said "Mother... are you angry with me?"
Pausing in her reading, the mare sighed as she looked up. Over the last few days, she had been somewhat cold towards her daughter. And seeing her ears flattening in sadness, she cringed in her heart.
"I... I'm sorry if I've erred or failed you Mother. I... I've tried as best I can. Did I do something wrong?"
Rolling up her list, Sunbeam gently lifted her daughters chin with a hoof, and shook her head.
"Nay child... You're actions and attentiveness to thy duties are exemplarly. And thy studies superb. But... Mother is attending to matters that are not of thy doing, and are weighing on my heart heavily. I apologize for letting you suffer, but can you bear with it for a time?"
Midnight gave a small nod, and smile widening, Sunbeam rustled her daughters mane.
"Good girl."
"That she is my mare!"
Sunbeam and Midnight both jumped slightly from the gruff voice, and looked towards its source. Folding his wings against his sides, a slate grey stallion with a white mane trotted into the mares chambers, his sinewy frame bearing the scars of the pegasi revolt in the morning light, and a smirk upon his equally marred visage as he walked up to the two females. Straightening, Midnight gave a salute, and said "Fare morn Lieautenant Grim. I'm prepared for our venture!"
Giving a salute back, Grim barked "At ease whelp! Salutes are for soldiers, and you ain't earned that yet, have you?"
Sighing, Midnight lowered her hoof "No sir..."
Smirk softening to a smile, the stallion sat, and opened his forelegs "How about a hug instead?"
Nodding, Midnight quickly drew close, and wrapped her own legs around the males neck in embrace.
"Fair morn Grim! I missed you."
Giving the foal a squeeze in return, the stallion gave his wings a shake as he said "Say Midnight, would you grant me boon? Carry an old army stags blades will you?"(2)
2) A pegasi gesture of old, a blade whelp. A symbolic act where a foal carries a warriors weapon, it lays claim on the foal as their child whatever bloodline they may have. Both Grim and Shadow have claim on Midnight as such, and with it have made clear of their fondness for the filly. And how protective they are.
Midnight jerked away with a gasp as the stallion reached behind him to pull the weapons away from their bearers. As he placed them in her hooves, Midnight said "Are you sure Grim?"
Nodding, Grim replied "Aye child, I trust you. Why not take them and your pack and wait for me by the tower entrance. I must speak with thy mother a time."
As the door closed with Midnight's departure, Grim trotted up to Sunbeam, and laying a wing across her back, drew her to him in an embrace.
"Ok mare. Whats got thy tits in a twist?"
Groaning, Sunbeam facehooved.
"Not thee as well... I'm fine damn it."
Nuzzling her cheek, Grim growled softly "Bullshit mare. You've been giving those who love you sick hearts watching you close yourself away up here, and made you're filly think it was her doing. Don't make me rutt the bitch out of you, cause I will!"
Snorting, Sunbeam smirked as she growled back "Always comes to that then? Can't you all just let me be vexed without threats of lewdness of denial of?"
"Sunbeam... Talk. Now even Shadow is worried."
Sighing, Sunbeam slumped under the stallions wing, and nuzzled against his neck.
"Grim... am I a bad mare?"
"Yes. A absolute atrocious cunt."
Rolling her eyes, Sunbeam nipped the stallions ear.
"Be serious stallion or learn to love your own hoof. I mean... am I a good mother?"
Grim gave a shrug with the opposing wing.
"Can't say. I only had my own dam's... and compared to those two battle axes you're a peach."
"She's growing Grim."
Grim's brow furrowed over his eyes at the sudden words.
"Midnight? Aye, I've heard it said that foals tend to do such things."
"I'm... scared. I almost lost her Grim, and would give my very soul if it meant her safe. Even before Celestia. I love my filly. And one day... she'll leave. And I can't bear it if I fail to raise her right, but am sick of heart to think she may loathe me for my harshness. I won't coddle her... but I fear what will come from that."
Grim snickered and nipped Sunbeams neck playfully.
"Look at thee Sunbeam! All ire over such sillyness!"
Seeing her eyes, Grim sighed.
"Sunbeam... Just because she grows does not mean she'll grow apart from you. And no foal appreciates their parents at first... but one day, she'll thank her stars for all you've done for her. After all, you've brought two pegasi into her life! She has a whole herd of parents to see to her raising!"
Smirking back, Sunbeam nudged the stallion.
"Am I to take it then you're seeing the Lady Protector in matters of carnal behind my back?"
"And if I was, under the circumstances, could you really complain considering our arrangement?"
Giving a theatrical sigh, Sunbeam pressed a hoof to her chest and said breathily "Nay my love, for my tender self can barely stand thy lustful wantings! I would be of great debt if another would attend thee from time to time, and fair Shadow is of the swole! I'm a delicate orchid!"
Grinning wolfishly, Grim barked "Please filly! Orchid my wings! And barely stand, as I recall you gave me a standing ovation our last night together!"
"And as I recall, I used that event to time my tea making, and as I sipped demanded you never put your deviant hooves on me again."
"Stick head cunt."
"Loutish featherbag."
Giving her a smooch on the cheek, Grim drew his wing from the mares back.
"Sunbeam... You're error is believing you are all alone in this. And you won't let us close to aid you, and can only live with your unhappiness. And it hurts those who care for you to see you tear yourself apart like this. And should it continue... then you will lose Midnight, and all of us."
Sunbeam's ears wilted to her skull as she gave a nod.
"I'll... try Grim."
"That's all we can ask Sunbeam. Fare trip love..."
And with that, Sunbeam was left alone. Floating the coin box to her saddlebags, and placing her robes over her shoulders, Sunbeam gave one last look out over her home.
"To market then...."
