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.

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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.”

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“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.

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“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