Crusaders of Kindness

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

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“Ah hope Twilight’s gonna be alright,” Apple Bloom worried as Fluttershy led the three fillies back through the forest towards her cottage.

Sweetie Belle looked equally worried as she glanced down. “Yeah. I wish she hadn’t gone on ahead. Being turned to stone must be exhausting.”

“I’m sure Twilight will be just fine,” Fluttershy said reassuringly, though she too was worried for her friend.

“Hey, she’s really good at magic. She probably just teleported back,” Scootaloo grinned, holding her head high.

Elizabeth the chicken clucked in agreement, trotting close to the Pegasus filly.

“And look at it this way,” Scootaloo continued, “after everything we all went through tonight, it’s not like things could get any worse.”

“Don’t say things like that,” Sweetie Belle glanced around in fright. “When you say stuff like that, you’re just asking for—”

A loud group of howls rang out, causing them all to freeze in place, before something lunged out from the bushes.

It was a pack of Timberwolves, six of them.

“Girls, run!” Fluttershy cried, moving to get in the way, but the three wooden wolves run into her, knocking her back into a tree, stunning her.

“Fluttershy!” the Crusaders cried.

The Timberwolves stopped, turning to the trio of fillies.

“I told you!” Sweetie Belle looked to Scootaloo, before the three huddled together as the wolves closed in.

“No. that was us,” Apple Bloom shuddered, thinking frantically. “They were just passin’ us by. They didn’t even notice us til we shouted Fluttershy’s name!”

“Who cares?!” Scootaloo yelled, turning. “Run!”

The three fillies moved as fast as their little legs could go, but the Timblerwolves were faster and caught up quickly.

“HELP!” the fillies screamed.

___________________________________________________________

“Oh… my head,” Fluttershy groaned, getting up and looking around, dazed, before her mind caught up with her and her eyes widened in fear and she looked around frantically. “Girls? Girls!”

Looking around, she noticed what looked like tracks and followed them at a quick pace.

“Apple Bloom? Scootaloo? Sweetie Belle?” she cried out, not carrying what denizens of the forest heard her in her mad dash to find the young ponies. “Where are you? Please, let me know where you—”

Her words were cut off in a horrified gasp. She’d reached the end of the tracks, but what was at the end of them horrified her to no end.

The three fillies were laying on the ground, bloody and torn.

“Oh no,” Fluttershy whispered, hurrying between each filly. “No, no, no, no, NO! this can’t be happening! Girls? Please, open your eyes! Girls?!”

They were barely breathing and there was so much blood.

“Flut… shy?” she whirled around at the croaky sound of Scootaloo’s voice.

“Scootaloo!” she held the filly’s head in her hooves. “What happened? Please!’

“Caught… in fight… between… Mant… cores and wolves,” the filly barely wheezed, before her head flopped and she went still,

“No. Scootaloo? SCOOTALOO!”

“I cannot believe my eyes. Fluttershy, you are the sources of those cries?”

The Pegasus looked up to find her newest zebra friend standing before her.

Zecora’s eyes fell on the Crusaders and widened in horror. “By all the things loved dear, what happened here?”

“Please, Zecora,” Fluttershy begged, her eyes frantic, “help me get them to the hospital.”

Zecora glanced over the fillies, before shaking her head, sadly. “I am sorry, Fluttershy. We would not reach the hospital before the each die.”

Fluttershy’s eyes widened and she looked down at the battered fillies, heartbroken as she began to fully weep.

Zecora looked down in thought, a frown creasing her brow. “Though… if you truly wish to save them, there is one way… but there will be a price to pay.”

Fluttershy’s head shot up so fast it unnerved the zebra, the Pegasus looking back with frantic determination. “Seriously?! Anything! I’ll do anything, Zecora. Just save them!”

The zebra nodded, turning around. “Then we must hurry before too much time has passed. I fear their lives are fading fast.”

The two ran along the path, Zecora carrying Apple Bloom on her back while Fluttershy carried the other two on hers.

They reached Zecora’s hut within minutes, Fluttershy getting more frantic with each second as the Crusaders’ breathing became shallower and shallower.

Zecora moved to her ingrediants, adding leafs, berries, liquids and other things into a small bowl and mixing them up as fast as she could, all the while Fluttershy moved from one filly to the other, growing more and more frantic with each second.

“I have finished and checked it twice,” Zecora said after what felt like hours to the beyond distraught Pegasus, turning around, a vile filled with a purple potion held in her who. “But, Fluttershy, are you truly willing to pay the price?”

“YES! JUST SAVE THEM ALREADY!” Fluttershy practically screamed, the fillies’’ breathing so shallow she wasn’t even sure if they were breathing anymore.

“Then drink this and they will be saved,” Zecora said, holding the vile out, which Fluttershy snatched and guzzled down hastily. Zecora’s expression was firm. “But the price must be paid.”

Fluttershy quickly looked herself over, wondering what the potion could possible do to save the dying foals when she was the one who drank it, before she gasped, collapsing to the floor.

Her body was hot, it felt like whenever she was in heat, only ten times worse. She panted heavily, wondering what in the world was going to happen.

She looked to the still forms of the fillies, trying to understand just what Zecora’s potion was meant to do, before her eyes widened and her mouth hung agape.

Before she could understand it, her vagina burst open like a flower, three tendrils of pink flesh shooting out and latching onto each of the fillies where they’re belly buttons would be.

Struggling to fully understand what she was seeing and feeling through haze, Fluttershy wondered why she suddenly felt as if three heartbeats had joined her own.

As her addled mind watched on, the fillies were all dragged towards her. Within seconds, Apple Bloom had reached her.

Fluttershy’s eyes gave a shuddering gasp as she felt Apple Bloom’s had push against her lower region, before the slipping inside, her body following suit.

Confusion muddled everything in Fluttershy mind as feelings she’d never experienced overwhelmed her, only intensifying as Sweetie Belle did the same as Apple Bloom, Scootaloo following suit soon after.

Fluttershy felt so full as her stomach bloated out from having the three fillies inside her. As she looked on, her stomach sank down to half its size, her feeling the foals within her getting smaller.

After several minutes, everything suddenly stopped and Fluttershy was gasping for air as she lay on her side in Zecora’s hut.

Still dazed and confused, Fluttershy looked down at her now distended belly, feeling the three heartbeats that had joined her own.

Lazily she looked up at Zecora, who looked back both sadly and happily. “This was the only way to save them, there was no time for anything other.” She gave a small smile. “Congratulations, Fluttershy, you are now a mother.”

With that, Fluttershy’s world went dark as exhaustion overtook her, her last thoughts being, What are the others going to think of me after this?

Author's Note

Yes, yes, i know exactly what you're going to say, "Autum, why are you starting a new story? I thought you were going to work on your others first!"

Yes, yes i was. However, this story was requested of me and i've decided i'll handle it before anything else, partly because i don't want it hanging over my head.

You don't need to worry about it taking too long, either. this story is literally only going to be 6 chapters, no more, no less.

if all goes well, it should be finished before the end of the month.

So, Fluttershy will now be the mother of the CMC. How will Applejack and Rarity take it? For Dash, it won't be took big a deal as, remember, this is season 1, Scootaloo is no more than a big fan to her at this point. Scootaloo's Aunts, Lofty and Holiday, on the other hoof?

Oh, they're going to care about this.

Anyway, hope you like this and i hope to get the next chapter out tomorrow, but we'll see.

Til next time, later everypony

Chapter 2

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“Fluttershy!” the Pegasus wilted as Applejack and Rarity and hurried into her hospital room, only for them to stop dead in their tracks, their eyes wide as they laid sight on her massive belly under her bedcovers.

When she’d come to, she’d found herself in this room at Ponyville General, with Twilight standing next to her bed, looking a combination of worried, relieved and guilty all at once.

She’d explained to Fluttershy that, after she’d passed out, Zecora had gotten a bird to fly to the Golden Oak Library, with a message asking Twilight to hurry over.

Twilight blushed as she admitted she’d been stunned to see Fluttershy lying unconscious on the floor of Zecora’s hut with such a bloated stomach.

And now it was morning, and she had to face the two ponies she’d been dreading facing since waking up and being able to fully take stock of what had happened and just what it meant for her.

“Bu… wha?” Applejack looked like her brain was not quite getting the signals to her, leaving her in limbo between obversing and reacting.

“What… what happened to you, darling?” Rarity asked, still gaping at her shy friend’s massive abdomen, before looking around, her face deep with worry. “And where are Sweetie Belle and her friends?”

Fluttershy’s face went red and she hide under the covers, both out of embarrassment and shame.

Twilight sighed, turning to the Earth Pony and her fellow unicorn. “Zecora explained everything to me last night. Despite her hopes, the Crusaders did not go to sleep like Fluttershy had thought they did last night. Instead, they went off into the Everfree Forest to get one of Fluttershy’s chickens that had gotten out after Sweetie Belle had startled them. Nothing bad happened… at first.”

“What do ya mean at first?” Applejack’s eyes narrowed, but were now filled with worry.

Twilight scratched behind her neck. “Well… Fluttershy was able to save them… and myself from a Cockatrice. I headed home right after, drained from having been turned to stone before being rescued.”

“WHAT?!” Rarity, Applejack and Rainbow Dash shouted, but Twilight continued, her expression saddening.

“What neither of us could’ve expected was that a pack of Timblerwolves would cross Fluttershy and the Crusaders’ path.”

“Don’t tell me… the Timblerwolves got mah sister?!” Applejack looked horrified.

Twilight shook her head sadly. “Yes… and no. The Timblerwolves only noticed them because Sweetie Belle screamed. They did chase the Crusaders after knocking Fluttershy out for a moment… but weren’t directly responsible for… for what happened to them.”

“What happened to my baby sister, Twilight?” Rarity almost growled, though her eyes showed more fear than anger.

Twilight blinked, before looking down with a sad smile. “That’s a pretty interesting choice of words, Rarity.” She sighed. “Your sisters and their friend got caught in the middle of a fight between the Timberwolves and a Manticore.”

“So, what happened to them? Where are they now?” Applejack demanded, before pointing a hoof at Fluttershy, who was still hiding under the covers. “And why is Fluttershy’s stomach so huge?”

“And what about Rarity’s choice of words was so interesting?” Rainbow asked, finally getting in the conversation, wanting to finally get some answers. She’d gotten there a few minutes before Rarity and AJ and was none too pleased she hadn’t been told anything yet. She wanted to know what had happened to her fillyhood friend, dammit!

Twilight looked to Fluttershy, who peeked out from under the sheets and gave a small but sad nod.

Twilight took a deep breathe. “When Zecora found Fluttershy and the Crusaders… they were horribly injured. There wasn’t even enough time to get them back to town. They would’ve died before reaching town, let alone the hospital.”

Applejack and Rarity stared in horror, they faces seeming to crumble, while Rainbow Dash just stared, open mouth.

It was Rainbow, however, who then frowned. “Wait. You said they would’ve died, not did die. Does that mean they survived somehow after all?”

Rarity and Applejack blinked, glancing to their blue Pegasus friend, before looking to each other, their eyes filling with hope.

“Well… yes,” Twilight said slowly and uncertainly, glancing briefly at Fluttershy. “Zecora had one potion that could save them from death’s door, but…”

“But what? But what?” the older sisters asked frantically, looking close to losing it.

“There was an… odd side effect, you could say,” Twilight looked very uneasy.

“What side effect?” Rarity demanded firmly.

“Tell us, Twi. Right now!” Applejack nodded.

“Happy Mother’s day, Fluttershy!” Everypony in the room jumped as their pink party pony friend popped up from under Fluttershy’s hospital bed, an explosion of confetti and streamers following, along with a banner appearing above Fluttershy’s bed that said “Congratulations on having Triplets!” with Pinkie presenting a cake with a frosted version of Flutershy standing next to three cribs.

The other ponies blinked, before Rainbow shook her head.

“Whoa, whoa whoa. Hang on, now. How is Fluttershy pregnant? She’s never even kissed a pony before, let alone done the dirty with them.”

“Not to mention I highly doubt she could have hidden her pregnancy if she’s this far in,” Rarity indicated to Fluttershy’s massive frame, “until now. I met up with her yesterday, after all and she showed no signs of this at all.”

“That’s because… it’s the side effect,” Twilight grinned nervously.

“Huh?” the other three asked, looking confused.

“Fluttershy suddenly becoming eleven months preggers is the side effect of saving those three?” Rainbow looked very confused, before deadpanning. “I don’t get it. That doesn’t make any sense.”

“And, speaking of which,” Rarity’s eyes narrowed. “Where are our sisters?!”

“Why, they’re right here, silly!” Pinkie chirped, prodding Fluttershy belly, causing said mare to blush heavily.

“Wait… wha…?” Applejack tilted her head to the said, her brain certain she’d misheard her fellow Earth Pony.

“They’ve been here the whole time,” Pinkie grinned, rubbing her hoof on the quilt covered stomach. “They’ll make the cutest sisters.”

“Are… are you saying that our sisters,” Rarity asked slowly, pointing a hoof towards Fluttershy’s stomach, are inside Fluttershy’s…?”

Pinkie nodded eagerly.

“It was the only way to save them,” Twilight said, looking to Fluttershy, who wasn’t meeting anypony’s eyes. “Either Fluttershy became their new mother by unbirthing them… or they’d die. There literally wasn’t time for anything else.”

“Ah… Ah dunno how to react t’ this,” Applejack said, holding her head, before looking to Fluttershy. “Ya mean ta tell me mah baby sister is in yer belly and ain’t gonna be mah sister no more?”

“Oh, no, you don’t have to worry about that,” Twilight assured, seeming relieved. “Zecora explained the potion’s effects very clearly to me. Fluttershy is now biologically their mother, but they are still biologically the daughters of their original mothers, too.”

“Twilight,” Rarity deadpanned. “That doesn’t make any sense at all. Whomever births the foal is automatically it’s mother.”

“Ah may not know much about science, but even Ah know that,” Applejack agreed.

“Normally, yes,” Twilight said in a studious tone. “However, the potion Zecora gave Fluttershy works on the fundamental biological codes in the stands of the DNA of those involved, merging them all together, so neither fully overrides the other and genetically stand in unison and contrast in equal measure.”

As she finished, she looked to the three ponies in front of her… who were all looking at her with blank faces.

“Did… either of you understand any of that?” Dash asked, glancing to the other two.

“Eenope,” Applejack shook her head.

“I thought I did at first,” Rarity said uncertainly, “but lost track after fundamental biological codes… I think.”

“What Twilight means is that even though both your sisters and Scootaloo are now related to Fluttershy, they’re still related to the both of you and your families,” Pinkie explained nonchalantly.

The other three just stared at her in disbelief.

“You understood all that?” Rainbow asked, her jaw agape.

“Well, yah,” Pinkie shrugged, rolling her eyes. “It was pretty easy to follow.”

“Wait…” Rarity frowned. “If our sisters are still related to us, but are now related to Fluttershy, and thus each other… doesn’t that mean…?”

She and Applejack looked to each other, shocked.

“Yep!” Pinkie cheered, appearing between the two of them, holding a cake that said “Happy Becoming Sisters Day” in white and orange frosting. “You’re sisters now. Hurray!”

“This… this is a lot to take in,” Rainbow landed on the floor, holding her head with a hoof. “Like, a lot.”

“If you all feel this way, think about Fluttershy,” Twilight moved back over to the bed, resting a hoof on Fluttershy’s own. “She’s suddenly become a mother, without any proper warming at all. Despite that, she now has to prepare to take care of three foals.”

There was silence as everypony absorbed what Twilight had just said and its implications.

“Oh… Oh, my word,” Rarity’s eyes widened and she hurried over, taking Fluttershy’s head and cradling it in her forelimbs. “I’m so sorry, darling. All this time we were thinking about our sisters, when they’re totally safe thanks to you and we haven’t stopped once to think about how you feel about all this.”

“Rar-Rarity’s right!” Applejack nodded, her expression firm, taking off her hat. “We should be thankin’ ya for making such a big sacrifice ta save our sisters’ lives, Fluttershy. And, if’n ya are now related ta Apple Bloom an’ she’s still related ta the Apple Family, that means ya’ll are an Apple now too.” She smiled warmly. “An’ we Apples always look out fer one other.”

“How are you both suddenly so okay with this?” Spike asked from Twilight’s side, looking very perplexed. “If Twilight suddenly became somepony else’s foal… I’m not sure how I’d feel. You two seem pretty okay with this, considering…”

“Oh, we’re not simply okay with it,” Rarity said bluntly.

“Huh?” the baby drake asked, very taken aback by such an abrupt response.

“We’re downright flabbergasted,” Applejack nodded, before smiling towards Fluttershy. “But, now’s not the time fer us ta lose our heads. Fluttershy saved our sisters’ lives and made a huge sacrifice ta do it. She needs our help right now.”

“We can have a total mental breakdown later, darling,” Rarity said casually, waving a hoof.

“Right…” Spike said, clearly uncertain how to respond to that.

“Where’s our niece?!” a pair of voices shouted from the hall.

The gathered ponies and dragon all turned as two ponies burst into the room. One was an Earth Pony with an amber coat and a two toned orange mane and tail and a palm tree and yellow heart for a Cutie Mark, while the other was a slightly stout Pegasus with a turquoise coat and purple mane and tail with a faded purple stripe through each and a sheep with wings for a Cutie Mark.

Twilight sighed, and was about to explain everything once again, when Fluttershy gasped, causing all eyes to turn to her.

Fluttershy’s eyes were wide. She could feel the three fillies inside of her moving around, hearing their heartbeats in sync with her own… and something else.

“I think they’re coming!”

“I’ll explain to you both on the way,” Twilight assured to the two new mares as Nurse Redheart, who’d been sitting nearby monitoring Fluttershy’s vitals all this time, made a call out. “Right now, Fluttershy needs to get to the delivery room.”

___________________________________________________________

“This… this is just surreal,” the Earth Pony said as Fluttershy lay in her new bed, three foals cradled in her forelimbs.

The delivery had gone perfectly, with Fluttershy giving birth to three healthy fillies… and nothing seemed to have changed about them.

All three Crusaders still had the same coats, manes, eyes and pony race as they had before. Had those gathered, save Spike, whom Twilight shielded the eyes of because he was just a baby dragon, not witnessed the birth themselves, they wouldn’t believe Fluttershy had birthed the three.

The two mares that had arrived just as Fluttershy had gone into labour, it turned out, were Scootaloo’s aunts, Holdiay and Lofty respectively, whom Scootaloo was staying with while her parents were away on work.

Twilight had sent Thunderlane, who’d oddly been within the area of Fluttershy’s cottage when she and Zecora had been transporting the at the time unconscious Fluttershy to the hospital, to tell all those related to the Crusaders to get to the hospital.

It seemed he’d been a bit later informing Scootaloo’s aunts than he had Rarity and Applejack.

“So, just how big is our family now?” Lofty asked, looking to Applejack, then Rarity. “I mean, just added one of your families, especially yours, Applejack, would make it huge, but yours, Rarity’s and Fluttershy’s families, all at once? I just… I don’t know how to process this.”

“Eeyup,” Applejack nodded, smiling down at the red maned head of her little sister. “Pretty sure we’re all gonna need some therapy after all this.” Then a frown suddenly creased her brow. “Wait a second. If Apple Bloom is still mah little sister, but now is Fluttershy’s daughter… don’t that mean Fluttershy is now mah… um…?”

Everypony and dragon in the room blinked, before their eyes widened.

“Oh my gosh,” Twilight said, glancing between all the now related ponies. “That’s right. Since the spell from the potion doesn’t alter whom the foals were originally birthed by and related to, that means Fluttershy is now not only their mother, but,” she looked to Rarity, then Applejack, who both blanched, before Twilight looked to Scootaloo’s aunts. “And now she’s also… um, which of you is Scootaloo’s parent’s sibling?”

“Me?” Holiday offered, looking unsure if she should’ve said anything.

“Then that means… Fluttershy is also your sister… in law?” Twilight groaned, holding her head. “My head hurts.”

“This… is gonna take some adjustin’,” Applejack said uncertainly.

“Agreed, darling,” Rarity held her head. “I definetly um going to need a spa day to relax and unwind after this.”

Fluttershy gasped, causing all to look to her as an uncertain look came over the new mother’s face. “How will my parents react?” Then her expression gained a slight deadpan. “How will my brother react?”

Author's Note

I promised the next chapter would be out today and I kept my word.

So, now Fluttershy has given birth and everypony who immediately needed to know about it knows.

and... yeah. just what the bloody hell is the family dynamic here, now?

Next chapter, we have a tiny time skip, Fluttershy and her new daughters discharged and whatever else happens, before meeting with Mr. and Mrs. Shy (seriously, it's so dumb that's all their named) and the infamous Zephr Breeze, whom is still the way he was at the beginning and throughout most of Flutter Brutter... joy.

Next chapter likely won't be out til sometime next week, as i need to take tommorow to relax, especially since it's my last day off before i have to head back to work, so these two chapters will have to tied you over for now.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter and, til next time, later everypony

Chapter 3

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“Maybe I should just cancel and wait a little longer?” Fluttershy suggested meekly, though knew it was in vain.

She was walking back towards her cottage, her friends walking alongside her, her three new foals riding in a foal carrier that allowed all three to stay on her left together.

Applejack shook her head firmly. “Sugarcube, yer gonna have t’ face yer ma and pa sooner or later. They’re gonna find out their grandparents eventually.”

It had been five days since Fluttershy had given birth to the Cutie Mark Crusaders. During that time, she’d gotten more into the role of a mother, while also having to meet up with the family members she was now related to.

Granny Smith and Big Mac were definitely taken aback when they saw Apple Bloom as just a foal, Big Mac even passing out. Thankfully, Granny Smith was very understanding, even grateful.

“Fluttershy, ya saved mah granddaughter’s life. Ain’t no reason fer me ta be angry at ya fer that,” she’d said.

Her words had comforted the Pegasus, while Big Mac’s dumfounded expression, especially when Applejack explained Fluttershy was now technically their mother too, had given her a good giggle.

Rarity and Sweetie Belle’s parents were surprisingly happier than Granny Smith. The two had always been worried Sweetie Belle was stunted by some of their more reckless actions when she was younger, so this was her second chance.

“I’m not worried about how my parents will react,” Fluttershy shook her head, before her expression soured. “It’s my brother’s.”

Rainbow scratched behind her neck as she hovered alongside her friend. “Yeah… We’ll want to keep him as far away from them as possible or at least keep a close eye on them. If his foalsiting record from when he was younger is any indication…”

Fluttershy shuddered. Last she’d heard before leaving Cloudsdale for Ponyville all those years ago, that poor mare was still having nightmares.

As the cottage came into view, a black Pegasus could be seen tending to some of the animals.

Fluttershy blinked, looking to her friends in confusion. “Why’s Thunderlane here?”

Applejack smiled. “Fella offered to look after yer animals while you were in the hospital.”

Fluttershy raised an eyebrow. “But… didn’t you all say you’d do that?”

Twilight nodded. “We did, but as Spike and I were heading over after leaving your room that first day, Thunderlane approached us, asking if he could.”

Applejack chuckled. “Said he felt bad he hadn’t been able t’ help much that night ya’ll ended up with mah sister in yer belly and wanted to make up fer it.”

Fluttershy hid behind her mane. “Oh… he… he didn’t have to do that.”

“Oh, but he wanted to, darling,” Rarity smiled. “In fact, he insisted. And he’s done a fine job, if I do say so myself.”

Looking around, Fluttershy couldn’t help but agree. The animals seemed quite at ease around Thunderlane. In fact, they seemed to have really warmed up to him, judging by the happy sounds they were making.

As they got closer, several of the ducks and squirrels noticed the group, specifically Fluttershy and began quacking and squeaking happily.

This got the attention of the other animals and Thunderlane turned, curious what had gotten the animals’ attention. Upon seeing Fluttershy, the calm manner he’d had before suddenly changed and the other five ponies had to blink, thinking for a second they were looking at a male version of their shy friend with a black coat, a heavy blush on his muzzle.

“O-oh. H-hi, F-F-Fluttershy,” Thunderlane said nervously, not meeting anypony’s eyes.

“Oh… um… thank you… for looking after my animals… I mean,” Fluttershy replied back, hiding behind her mane.

Rainbow glanced between her shy friend and the usually energetic and outgoing Thunderlane acting more like said shy friend. “Well, this is weird.”

A stirring caused them all to look to Fluttershy left, where the three sleeping foals were now waking up.

“Hello, little ones,” Fluttershy smiled, any nerves caused by interacting with Thunderlane vanishing as a warm maternal smile came to her lips. “Did you have a nice nap?”

The three foals yawned a few times, before looking around.

Angel, curious, and several birds flew over, the birds landing on Fluttershy’s back and looking down sideways at the foals.

Said foals began laughing and babbling in excitement, while Angel’s expression changed to slight worry.

“That’s right,” Fluttershy gave a smile, giggling, nuzzling each foal in turn. “This is Angel. He’s a sweet little bunny. And this are all my other animals.” She made a sweeping motion to the gathered creatures, before addressing them. “Everyone, these are my new daughters, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. Can I count on you all to help me take care of them?”

The multitude of animals all made noises of agreement.

“I pity the fool who tries to get to Fluttershy’s babies with Harry watching over them,” Spike whispered to Twilight, who wilted a little as she looked at Harry the bear’s massive frame and pitying anypony foolish enough to try that… and suddenly found herself worrying for Fluttershy’s brother.

“Lane, what’s up?” Dash moved over to hover in front of the stallion, forelegs folded, a confused frown on her face. “Since when are you the shy type?”

“Oh… I, um… well…” Thunderlane started, seeming to not have noticed Rainbow was right in front of him til that moment. “I just… um…”

Rarity glanced between the blushing stallion to where he was staring, Fluttershy, her foals babbling and waving their tiny forelegs happily as several birds flew around them, and connected the dots, giving a warm smile, but said nothing.

“So, did you get everything set up for Fluttershy?” Twilight asked.

This seemed to pull Thunderlane from his thoughts and he shook his head, before looking to the unicorn, his manner becoming calm and confident again.

“Oh, yeah. Piece of cake.” He waved a hoof, before scratching behind his next. “The place isn’t too big, so I had to make a sort of makeshift nursery in the main bedroom. But I made sure the rest of the place is foal proofed. Angel and some of the other animals helped, too. The foals should be perfectly fine, living here.”

Dash cocked an eyebrow at the sudden mood change, but smirked. “Nice work, Lane.”

“And we’ll all be more than happy to lend a hoof whenever you need it,” Rarity said, walking over to Fluttershy, before chuckling. “Mother.”

Fluttershy blushed, shaking her head and smiling at Rarity. “Oh, Rarity, you don’t have to call me your mother.” Then she wilted and hid behind her mane. “I mean, if you want to, I won’t object, I just… um…”

Rainbow rolled her eyes. “She may be a mom now, but Fluttershy is still Fluttershy.”

“Well, we’ll leave ya t’ get used t’ yer home again and get settled in, since it’s so late” Applejack said, nodding to the others, who returned her gesture. “Don’t be shy now… Shy,” she blushed, having realized too late the unintended pun she’d made, but had to keep pushing forward. “Yer an Apple now and we’re more than willin’ ta help out our own kin, so feel free to ask fer help or stop by any time.”

Fluttershy smiled to her friend/kinda daughter. “Thank you, Applejack. We will, won’t we, girls?” She looked down to her foals at her side, who babbled an agreement.

The others all laughed, saying their goodbyes, before heading off, leaving Fluttershy alone.

Or so she thought.

As she turned around, she started when she saw Thunderlane was still standing there, though he seemed just as startled.

“Oh, sorry,” he said quickly, seeming very flustered. “I just thought… ya know, since I was here looking after the place… I’d help you get settled… I’llgosorry!”

He finished in a rush and bolted, flying away faster than Fluttershy was certain he’d ever flown.

“Well, that was… odd,” she admitted, before taking a deep breath and heading inside. “No time to dwell on that, Fluttershy. Gotta make sure your foals will be comfy, so you can prepare for tomorrow.”

Angel led her to her room, where half of it had been converted into a makeshift nursery.

Along the right wall was a reasonably sized crib, painted blue, with a small model of stars, apples and clouds hanging above it.

Next to the crib was a wooden bench with a smooth plastic changing table, atop which was a blanket with cloud patterns.

“Oh, my,” Fluttershy exclaimed, looking around the room. “Thunderlane did a really good job.”

With it being so late, Fluttershy set about fixing a small meal for herself. As Thunerlane had already fed her animals before she’d arrived, she didn’t have to worry about feeding them and instead focused on prepping the bottles for her three foals.

Once everypony had had their fill, Fluttershy went about getting all her animals settled for the night, before taking her three daughters to their room and put them in their crib.

She sang them the lullaby she had the night this all started and the three yawned, before snuggling next to each other in the crib and fell asleep.

Smiling, Fluttershy leaned down, kissing each foal on the forehead, before moving to her own bed and settling down, closing her eyes and letting Luna’s sleep take her.

___________________________________________________________

Fluttershy set down the teapot, looking over the table she’d lain out for her three coming guests.

It wasn’t anything fancy, just simple pink crockery and a small plate of daffodil sandwiches.

“They’ll be here any minute,” she murmured, turning and walking into the living room. “Are we all set?”

The sound of her voice caused the three foals on the foal mat to stop cuddling the massive bear who was watching over them and look to their mother, before smiling and cooing in response.

“I’ll take that as a “yes”,” Fluttershy chuckled, looking to Harry. “Thank you for offering to watch over them while I set everything up, Harry.”

The big bear smiled and nodded, all too happy to have helped out.

A sudden knock on the door made the foals turn, adorable perplexed looks coming over their faces.

Fluttershy walked over to the door and opened it, immediately revealing two ponies. The first was a Pegasus stallion with a mint-green coat, slightly darker green eyes, a pinkish-white mane and tail, the former being styled in a curling fashion, like icing on a cupcake and wearing a blue sweater that stopped just before his Cutie Mark, a cloud with a smiling sun behind it.

The other pony was a Pegasus mare with a coat a teensy bit darker than Fluttershy’s own, with a red mane and tail with a curly style, red eyes behind broad blue glasses and having a flower for a Cutie Mark.

“Hello, Mom and Dad,” she smiled, hugging the two. “I’m so glad you came. I want you to meet —”

“My. New. Nieces!” a loud, bombastic voice called out in singsong as Mr. and Mrs. Shy were shoved aside to reveal a lanky green Pegasus stallion with a blond mane and tail, the former done up in a kind of beehive style.

His lower face was unshaven and his Cutie Mark was an orange feather and two lines in a wavelike pattern.

Before Fluttershy could even react, he’d pushed past her inside and was looking around. “Honestly, big sis, I know you like animals and all, but this place could really use a makeover.” He looked back, grinning. “I’d be more than willing to assist.”

Fluttershy brushed herself off and took a deep breath, before smiling. “That’s okay, Zephyr. We’re happy with it as it is.”

The other Pegasus frowned slightly, as if he’d expected some other response, but shrugged. “My offer will remain open. Oh! And here they are!”

As her parents joined her, Zephyr stood over the three foals, who all looked up at him with curiosity.

“Greeting, my dear lovely nieces,” he said in a grandious fashion, tossing his head back. “I am your one and only big uncle, Zephyr Breeze. I’m sure you’ve heard a lot about me.”

“Aba?” Scootaloo said, cocking her head to the side.

Zephyr paused, looking to her with a raised eyebrow, before looking to his sister. “Flutter Butter, ain’t you taught them proper Ponish yet?”

“They’re not even a week old,” Fluttershy said calmly as she and her parents joined him by the foals. “They aren’t likely to speak for at least a few more weeks at best.”

Zephyr frowned, thinking, before smiling. “I know how we can speed up the process.”

“Um, no, you can’t —”

Fluttershy couldn’t even finish before Zephyr had picked Scootaloo and was studying her wings. “Maybe if we just give them a nudge, it’ll work. No time like the present, right? And since this little ones a Pegasus…”

Before anypony could stop him, he’d pulled his foreleg back and chucked the orange Pegasus through the air, shouting, “Pegasus learn best in the sky, right?”

Fluttershy and her mother cried out in alarm, while her father just stared, jaw opened in horror.

Scootaloo babbled happily as she hurtled through the air, before suddenly crashing into a soft lump of brown fur.

Harry had rushed forward and blocked her path, his soft fur cushioning her impact so as not to hurt her.

He held the little foal in his paws as she giggled and garbled up at him, having enjoyed flying, Fluttershy hurrying over and looking over her daughter, before thanking Harry profusely.

“Huh. Odd. That worked with Flips.” Fluttershy’s head snapped towards her brother, who was scratching his chin, looking confused, before looking down at the other two foals, who were laughing along with their sister. “Maybe the white one could do it. I mean, she’s not a Pegasus, but she could use her magic, right?”

Before he could even move towards Sweetie Belle, Fluttershy had shot across the room so fast there was a backdraft.

Zephyr wilted under the harsh Stare that was suddenly being aimed at him at such close range. Now, Fluttershy had used The Stare on him a few times throughout their foalhood… but the intensity of this one was on a whole new level.

“Zephyr Breeze,” she said in a tone that sent shivers down his spine, “don’t you ever do something so reckless with my little ones ever again! Got it!”

The stallion gulped, his anxiety only growing when he saw the glare being aimed his way by the bear.

“O-okay, Flutter Butter,” he said nervously. “I getcha. We’re cool.”

Fluttershy kept The Stare on him for a few more moments, before stopping and looking to her parents. “I was hoping we could have some tea before I showed you our other relatives.”

That caused confusion to pass over Zephyr. “Big sis, I don’t mean to sound rude, but we don’t have relatives in Ponyville asides from you.”

Fluttershy gave a small smile. “Well, we do now.”

___________________________________________________________

“Wait. How does this work?” Zephyr asked, looking very confused as he glanced from his older sister, whom was wearing the foal carrier containing her three foals and the mare around her same age.

Applejack gave a slight uncertain laugh, scratching behind her neck. “It’s a bit weird, but the way Fluttershy became mah little sister’s ma inadvertently made her mah ma too.” She looked to the mare standing next to her, who blushed slightly. “It’s… been a lot ta take in.”

“So… what does that make us?” Mr. Shy asked, looking to his wife, then the Apple farmer.

Granny Smith chuckled. “Whelp, in simple words, ya’ll are now mah granddaughters’ an’ grandson’s grandparents too.”

“Wait,” Zephry blinked, before grinning. “I’ve a nephew now too?”

“Eeyup,” Big Mac’s deep voice said as he came over from the orchards.

“Wait… so we’re kinda Apples, now?” Zephyr blinked, before a sly grin formed on his face.

Applejack nodded, before giving him a firm look. “Eeyup, but that don’t entitle ya’ll ta the family cider any time ya’ll want. Not unless yer willin’ ta work for it.”

At once, Zephyr pouted. “Aw. Not even for your favourite uncle?” he zipped over, giving her a noogie, before a deep clearing of a throat made him back away, Big Mac giving him a firm stare.

“Just because we’re part of their family now, doesn’t mean we can just ask them for whatever we want,” Fluttershy told her younger brother. “Not to mention, you now need to set a good example for your nieces and nephew.”

“We’re happy ta have ya, so feel free ta stop by any time,” Granny Smith told her new fellow grandparents, shaking their hooves. “Welcome t’ the Apple clan.”

“Oh, thank you very much,” Mr. Shy said softly, blushing along with his wife.

“I do hope it isn’t too much of a bother,” Mrs. Shy added, looking down slightly.

Granny Smith blinked, muttering “Now Ah see where Fluttershy gets it,” before smiling, shaking her head. “No problem at all. Family is family, regardless of the weird magic mumbo jumbo way it happens.”

“Well, we don’t want to hold you three up too long,” Fluttershy said, smiling as Applejack nuzzled Apple Bloom, whom responded by grabbing her big sister’s nose and laughing. “Plus, we do have to see Rarity and her parents.”

“We understand, Fluttershy,” Big Mac said, before cocking an eye, looking up with a frown of confusion. “Or… should Ah call ya ma? Or Fluttershy? Sweet Celestia, this is still confusing.”

Fluttershy giggled, while Applejack and Granny Smith chuckled. “You can call me whatever you want, Big Mac. I don’t want to force anything on you… more than I already have, anyway.” She looked away as she finishd.

Granny Smith’s expression at once got firm. “Now, you listen here, missy. Don’t put yerself down like that.” She moved closer and pulled the Pegasus into a hug. “Ya saved lives. That’s what matters. We’ll be fine with any trouble, s’long as our little Bloom is alive, happy and well.”

Fluttershy stayed in the hug for a moment, before smiling and nodded. “Thank you, Granny Smith.”

“Now get,” the elderly mare smiled. “Ya’ll got yer other family ta visit. Don’t be holding them up on our part, now, ya here?”

Fluttershy giggled, they said goodbye to the Apples and headed into town.

___________________________________________________________

“I must admit, it was quite the shock,” Rarity said as she, her parents and Fluttershy’s family sat outside a café. “Still, if it meant saving Sweetie Belle’s life, we fully understand.”

“True,” Hondo Flanks said, nodding firmly, before looking kindly to Fluttershy, then her parents. “It wasn’t something we could’ve expected, but we’re forever grateful to your daughter for saving our Sweetie Belle.”

“Though, keeping track of what each place in the family is held by which pony has proven rather… confusing, at times,” Cookie Crumbles said. “Sweetie Belle is still our daughter, but she’s also now Fluttershy’s, which means Fluttershy would count to us as a… sister?”

“It is more confusing for the Apple Family, mother, I can assure you,” Rarity said in a knowing tone. “Apple Bloom was Granny Smith’s granddaughter, and since Fluttershy is now the mother of said granddaughter, she would now count as Granny Smith’s daughter.” She frowned. “Or at least that’s the best I can understand it. Twilight’s explanation were always confusing on the matter.”

“Basically, the family tree we all now share is crazy,” Hondo laughed, Fluttershy’s parents joining in softly.

“So… since I’m now your uncle…?” Zephyr asked Rarity.

“No,” she replied bluntly. “Family we may now be, Zephyr Breeze, but that does not give you rights to free outfits from me. I may give a free outfit once in a while, but being family does not automatically entitle you to such on a whim.”

The Pegasus pouted, folding his hooves and looking away, grumbling, “I’m not getting any respect from my nieces and nephew.”

“Respect is earned, darling,” Rarity said in a slightly teasing manner, smirking.

“Oh. F-Fluttershy.”

The group all turned to see Thunderlane standing nearby as if he’d stopped suddenly. Rumble was standing next to him, looking from his brother to the group in confusion.

“Hello, Thunderlane,” Fluttershy said, before smiling warmly at the colt. “Rumble. What are you two doing here?”

“Big Bro was taking me out to lunch at Sugar Cube Corner,” Rumble said nonchalantly, before frowning with confusion. “But, just now, he saw you and froze in place, blushing like—”

“Well, we’d better go,” Thunderlane said hurriedly, grabbing his brother, holding a hoof over his mouth. “Don’t want the food to get cold.”

“But… you’re not even there,” Zephyr looked confused, pointing lazily to the confention shaped establishment down the road. “You haven’t ordered any food. How’s it meant to get cold?”

“Oh! Yeah, you’re right. How silly of me?” Thunderlane answered, laughing in a nervous manner. “Well, we’d better place thoser orders then. Have a good day, all of you. Later!”

With that, he shot off down the road, leaving a very perplex group, save one mare behind.

Rarity shook her head. He’s so obvious.

“Well, that was weird,” Zephyr muttered, cocking an eyebrow.

“I have to agree,” Fluttershy nodded, followed by the other ponies nodding in agreement as well.

Well, at least to those of us who can see it, Rarity thought, rolling her eyes.

Author's Note

Phew. This chapter took a little longer to get out than i'd originally thought it would, but i needed enough time to give the Apples and Rarity's family time to be SHOWN interacting with Fluttershy's family, not just tell it.

i hope my taking so long paid off.

anyway, there will be no updates til next week at the earliest because i'm going my old primary school, St Pius X's Gala Day tomorrow and the next day i'm gonna want to just relax before heading back to work. if anyone's in Adelaide on the 3rd, feel free to stop by. it's always a fun time there, plus you never know what treasures you'll find.

i myself, as mentioned in past blogs and a vlog on my youtube channel, once found a 30th anniversary of MLP Pinkie Pie at one and still have her.

it's around windsor gardens. if any of you can come, you'll know who i am because i'll be wearing my hair in a ponytail and wearing a Go Home Berry Punch T-shirt and i'd love to meet you.

anyway, that's enough from me. Hope you enjoyed this chapter and, til next time, later everypony