A Paradise Found

by Phoenix Heart 27

Rating: everyone
Tags: Slice of Life, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 8386

Paradise is calling. A lone young mare answers.

What happens when you die? A question no pony can honestly answer. Join us as we delve into a story of a young mare who will find herself in a world unlike any she’s ever seen before and find ponies, she’d thought she would never see again. After all, she’s not meant to be...Silent.

Published 2018-10-01 11:50:01 UTC
Last updated 2018-11-20 19:52:25 UTC

Paradise

Author's Note

Well, as promised! Here it is! After 2 weeks of all-nighters and multiple edits, I finally bring you the anticipated sequel to Silent. Enjoy.

Paradise

Brightness was the first thing she saw when she opened her eyes. Her vision was cloudy and unclear for a few seconds as she shook her head. Amazingly, she felt no pain as she shook. The brightness soon faded to reveal a dirty bedroom. As she turned around, her yellow hoof connected with something solid. When she looked down to see what it was, she almost screamed. For the thing she hit was her own lifeless muzzle! Flying up seemed impossible so she just backed up to get a better view of the sight in front of her. There she was. Nothing but a lifeless body slumped against her bed. Her pencil still hanging out of her mouth and her diary...her beloved diary lay open next to a rather neat looking piece of paper. Obviously recognizing it as the paper from her stationery, she tried to pick it up, only for her hoof to go right through it.

“Woah...freaky…”, Windy Chyme said aloud to herself as she heard the sound of somepony knocking on her window. Looking over, she was relieved to see it was her best friend, Stormy Night. Or at least, it was her for all of a few seconds on the fire escape. Realizing she’d probably try the (thankfully unlocked) patio door, she rushed over to the door where she saw her friend come in and call out for her.

“Stormy! In the name of Faust am I relieved to see you. Quick. You gotta help me out here--”, She was cut off by Stormy walking right through her towards her room.

The sensation felt odd and made both ponies shudder as they made their way to the room. Once there, Stormy stopped dead in her tracks before letting out a blood-curdling scream of horror as she sprinted towards the lifeless body that was once, Windy Chyme. Her phone out and calling the police as she cradled the body and cried as she talked to the police on the other end.

Throughout the entire ordeal of watching her friends and police crowd into her apartment, Windy looked on in a somber mood. After fully realizing that she was indeed dead, Windy shed a single tear. Whether or not it was out of sadness or relief, she wasn’t sure as the scene faded quickly and the sound of a train whistle became audible. A quick glance around, showed her on a whitewood train platform alone. Suddenly the train is within sight and what a train it was. Awestruck, the young mare stood gawking as the train slowed to a stop. Recovering from her reverie as the train whistled, Windy felt drawn to it, yet at the same time intimidated by the grand white and gold train. Suddenly she saw a door open and what looked like a conductor Pegasus (at least she thought it was a Pegasus by the wings) stepping out and calling for ponies to board. As it was that Windy was the only one there, she timidly approached him.

“Ticket young lady, please?, the Conductor asked.

“But I don’t have a--”, Windy started before feeling something papery under her wing. Lifting it with some difficulty, she managed to find the intrusion. Only to be completely floored by a golden ticket in her shakey hooves. Trembling, she passed the ticket to the Conductor. He inspected it and with a gentle nod, lead her into the train.

The interior of the train was the same colored white, silver and gold as the exterior of the train. Aside from that, it truly looked like any other ordinary train. The conductor showed her to her seat and she sat with obvious pain as her rear legs finally gave out from under her. After the pain subsided, Windy decided to actually look around. To her surprise there were quite a few other ponies on the train as well. Some old, some young. Why, she could’ve sworn she heard the sound of a few newfoals in carriers crying. A quick glance confirmed her assumptions as she saw several train assistants sitting and trying to calm the babies (she counted a total of 6) to sleep. Her observations soon lead her to seeing a few teens like herself. She even recognized one as being a classmate and old friend of hers, a filly called Star Streak. Happy that she found a familiar face, she called out to her.

“Star Streak? Star Streak is that you?”, Windy called out. This got the filly’s attention as she looked up to see her and with a sad smile, she trotted over and took the seat next to Windy.

“Wind Chyme! Goodness it’s been months! Where’ve ya been?”, Star Streak asked in shock.

“Oh at home. How’s things with school? I know the war’s been rough for all of us and...oh my Faust!?! What happened to you?!?”, Wind exclaimed as she saw the multiple bullet holes in her friend.

“Let’s just say I was in the wrong place at the worst possible time. Crossfire between the North Detrots and the Diamond Dogz. I think I got hit like 10 times. Man did that suck.”, Star Streak explained as she gestured to her hole-ridden body and head.

“Well I sure am sorry that happened to ya, but by any chance do you know exactly where in the flying feather are we going?”, Wind asked as she sat back. Her body in less and less pain the longer she sat on the train.

“I was only told that we were going ‘home' wherever that is. I bet it’s nice, but I sure am gonna miss my mom and dad.”, Star said somberly as she too got comfortable.

Settling into a comfortable amount of silence, the two ponies soon felt far more relaxed than they’d ever felt in life. Mentally, they were at a place of calm while their physical wounds were being healed. Neither noticed until a passing conductor came to punch their tickets.

“Tickets please young fillies.”, the Conductor asked in a gentle tone towards the young ones.

As both Pegasus and Unicorn went to grab their tickets, they were met with an incredible sight.

“Star Streak! Your holes, they’ve healed! Y-your eye isn’t black and you look a lot more fresh and not disheveled.”, Windy noticed in shock as she passed the conductor her ticket and received it back with a small circle.

“Me? Look at you! You not as thin as a twig no more! Your wings don’t look like they’ve been put in a garbage compactor, and your fur, mane and tail look fuller!”, Star Streak replied in equal shock as she did the same as Windy.

Quickly taking a look about themselves, both young mares were indeed shocked. However, before they could question how in Equus that was possible, the overhead speakers announced that they were arriving at their “final destination”. As the train came to a stop and the ponies on board exited, they were met by a bustling platform full of ponies in white robes along with ponies with no robes like themselves. Quickly deciding they’d be better off sticking together, Windy Chyme and Star Streak cautiously started walking around. Taking in the most magnificent scenery either had ever seen period. Just as they were continuing to be in awe over the unfamiliar, yet familiar place, they were approached by a pair of Earth stallions in white robes holding signs with their names on them. When the pair reached the stallions, they were told to follow them to check-in and clearance.

When they arrived at what appeared to be a ticket booth, they were met by an older looking mare with spectacles perched on her blue muzzle. The mare looked up from her parchment and acknowledged the two young mares.

“Ahh. Windy Nichole Chyme and Star Destiny Streak. Ages 15 and 16. Pegasus and Unicorn respectfully. Excellent. Arrival time...2:06pm. Confirmed. Now please, will you two kindly stamp your hoofprints here, you can be on your way!”, the mare said in a calm tone.

“Okay, are we being booked? Because if we are, I have an alibi for where I was--”, Windy started freaking out before being pulled back down by Star’s magic.

“Before she works herself into a fit, ma’am could you be so kind as to tell us where we are?”, Star Streak asked in an unsure tone.

“Why, you’re in Paradise Plains. Otherwise known to many religions as the ‘after life’. This is where all good souls go when they’ve passed on.”, the bespeckled mare replied kindly as she took their hoofprints.

Both young mares looked awestruck as they cleaned their hoof’s of ink and were passed white robes. Then the two stallions returned to escort the pair to the guide’s station, where the pair were instructed to await for their guides.

After what felt like an eternity, but was only a 10 minute wait, Star Streak’s guide--a fox-like creature with multiple tails came holding a sign with her name in its mouth.

“Well...guess this is me. I--I guess I’ll see you around Windy.”, Star Streak said as she went over and hugged her before approaching her guide.

“See ya later filly.”, Windy said as she too approached her guide--a gray wolf that was the same size as she was. “Well, it appears that you’re my guide?”, she asked the wolf.

“Sure am Windy.”, the wolf replied whilst simultaneously scaring the mess out of Windy at the same time.

“Y-you talk?!?!?”, Windy asked astonished.

“Well, I should hope so?! As it is I’m your spirit animal. Technically I’m only supposed to show you around Paradise and then lead you to any family you have here, then I’m merely treated like a ‘pet'. Yet for you, who has been through so much in such a short time frame, I’ve the feeling we’ll get along better than a ‘pet' and it's ‘master'. Oh and by the way, my name’s Zero.”, Zero explained as the tension between the two dissipated. Grinning, Windy gladly followed Zero out of the train station into the plaza.

The plaza was in a word: spectacularly crowded. Ponies bustling to and fro. Various stalls open and trades were occurring at a smooth pace. Ponies meeting with loved ones after spending so long apart. Windy couldn't help but sigh as she passed by a elderly pair of ponies embracing as they were reunited. Another longing glance at a mother and newfoal being reunited in a tender embrace.

“You miss your little filly don’t you?”, Zero asked.

“How’d you know that I...had a little filly?”, Windy asked.

“I’m your spirit guide. I know everything there is about you. Including that today is your sweet 16! Congrats by the way! A shame that your birthday present was death. However, thankfully your family won’t be hard to find. Let's see..” Zero paused as he pulled out a scroll from seemingly nowhere and scanned it “Aha! According to this chart, you have a fiancé, daughter, mother, grandmother, uncle and aunt here!”, He concluded with a toothy grin.

With a gasp, Windy smiled so big, she thought her face would crack. At the mere idea of being reunited with her fiancé and daughter, Windy was ecstatic. To be reunited with her mama after 9 years without her was unbelievable to her.

You want to see them now, judging by the face-splitting grin you now sport. I’d answer: yes.”, Zero answered his own rhetorical question as he lead the excited young mare down a shimmering gold pathway out of the plaza into one of the residential areas.

The residential areas looked absolutely beautiful in that the housing units were ranging from extravagantly decorated to sparsely decorated. Even some with no decorations or otherwise any indication of somepony living there. The pony/wolf pair stopped in front of a house that was at least 4 stories high and rather larger than the rest of the houses in the neighborhood.

“Well, here we are! You ready to meet every pony inside?”, Zero asked.

Stifling a nervous gulp, Windy nodded as the wolf knocked on the door with a large paw.

“Hello? Mrs. Skyscraper? I have another family member here! Trust me, this is one you’ve all been waiting on.”, Zero called out as the front door opened. To Windy’s immediate delight, her maternal grandmother, Skyscraper opened the door.

“Oh my Faust! At last!!! My Wind Chyme is home!! mi pequeña niña!!”, Skyscraper shouted in glee as her granddaughter latched onto her immediately.

“Nana!”, Wind excitedly shouted as she clung to her grandmare.

Her grandmare held her close for a bit before carefully releasing her. Clearing her throat, she just looked at the young, vibrant face of her 16-year-old grandfoal. The fact that the eldest of her grandfoals had joined her in paradise made a small tear fall down her face.

“Well, let’s not stand here all day. Come! Come sit! We already have a spare room setup, however, I’m sure you won’t be needing it as you already have a spot—oi that reminds me! There are 2 ponies who have been here for months just going out of their minds with worry over you…” Skyscraper paused as she walked over to a sliding door and opened it “and I believe you’ve been just as worried about them as they you mija”, she finished as the door opened completely and inside what looked like a den, on a couch sat a colt and a newfoal wrapped in a pale green blanket. Once the pair glanced up from the tv, the colt almost immediately shot up (refraining from doing so, due to the baby in his hooves) and cautiously approached the open door.

“By Faust’s hoof…”, was all that Windy could muster before taking an almost flying leap (equally surprising herself at the reaction time of her wings) towards the pair.

“Lightning Zap! Hope Spring! Oh my Goddess…”, Wind exclaimed before she landed directly in front of them and gently hugged Lightning. Turning her attention immediately to the squirming little bundle in the green blanket, she gingerly took her baby in her hooves. Smiling the entire time.

As is instinct came rushing to her, little Hope began softly cooing and batting her tiny front hooves up at the mare she immediately recognized by voice, as her mother.

“Oh my—my sweet foal…” Windy started to breakdown in tears as she spoke “M-Mami’s so so sorry! Mami tried to protect you! But your abuelo he—he sent bad ponies to...to hurt us and I couldn’t do nothing!!”, Windy bawled as her daughter looked on. Completely oblivious as to why her mother was crying, but could sense it was something bad. So, doing the only thing in her days old mind (as she will remain at a slow natural growth rate until her 10th year) that she could think as good, she took her tiny hooves and grasped into her mother’s hoof and hugged it tight. Cooing and making small baby noises as if to say ‘it’s ok’.

Sniffling, Windy wiped away a tear as she looked over her foal in a more intricate manner. Noticing at first that her little girl indeed look almost exactly like her father. Then of course, she noticed features that Hope had gotten from her. Such as her muzzle shape, Her wing shape and her coat color were also from Windy. The most surprising thing that Windy noticed was that Hope had different colored eyes. One was her dark green and the other was Lightning’s deep amethyst.

“Hey babe, she has heterochromia. I didn’t even know that.”, Windy sniffed as Lightning nuzzled her.

“How’d you not know?”, Lightning asked.

“Well, let’s see. I only carried her for 10 months before the miscarriage. When she was expelled from my body, her eyes were completely closed and honestly she looked...not totally developed . That and due to the fact that I was in so much physical and emotional pain that I couldn’t exactly attempt to open her eyes.”, Windy explained with a slight huff. To which her beloved, merely chuckled as he hooked a hoof around her.

“I see, yet when I was told to head to the train station to pick up a family member a few months ago, now, don’t get mad but I...honestly half expected to see my own grandpa there. Believe me when I say I actually collapsed once I saw a still too little newfoal in a green blanket being brought to me. At first I thought they had the wrong colt, but then I saw her face as she sucked on a pacifier and I immediately knew she was mine. Wind, I gotta say it, once they informed me on exactly how she died, I actually cried.”, Lightning Zap said as he lead the pair of them over to the living room and into a chair.

Windy chuckled as she sat. Her daughter curling closer into her as her eyes start to droop, sleep taking control immediately as she quietly snoozed in the safety of her mother’s hooves.

“Why am I not surprised. Heck, you cried when I told you Hope was gonna be a girl! The last time I had seen you cry was...was….the day before you died. You had started tearing up after you were told that your job had been making cuts and you were, unfortunately one of those cuts….”, Windy said as her voice tapered off into awkward silence.

Lightning sighed as he responded,“Yeah that wasn’t...the best of days….”

Suddenly feeling like this next conversation was needed without her holding their sleeping daughter, Windy got up.

“I need to lay her down. Where is her crib?”, Windy asked.

“Oh! Uh it’s in my—or perhaps it’s our room upstairs. I can take you up if you’d be up to it.”, Lightning suggested. Her nodding quickly as she shifted Hope onto her back was his only response as he quietly lead them through the foyer and up the stairs. After walking in a comfortable silence, occasionally remarking on some of the naturally beautiful aspects of Paradise that each have noticed, they reach a large wooden door. Opening the door, Windy was met with a bedroom that she could only describe as something from a dream. A large queen sized, four poster bed sat in the center of the room. Not far away from it was a small lilac bassinet with a small curtain partially open. A wooden chest for clothes rest at the foot of the bed. The door to a closet was just off to the left wall and the doors to a small balcony sat on the right wall.

“Woah. This room is—“, Windy whispered before falling off.

“I know honey. I know. That’s how I felt too when I found out that I was to stay with your family. Don’t get me wrong, my spirit guide had shown me to where my great-grandmare’s house is. It’s actually across the road from here. Then Riki, that’s my spirit animal, quickly turned around and lead my here and told me this is where I was staying for a few months. I didn’t understand why, but now I do. She lead me here to wait for you and Hope.”, Lightning said as he watched his fiancé gently lay their daughter down in her bed.

“I only wish you didn't have to wait on us...like this. I--I….”, Wind started but soon cut herself off as she began crying again. Lighting, being the responsible and loving fiance he was, quickly grabbed one of the baby monitors and turned both the one in his hoof and the one on the bedside table next to Hope’s bassinet on. Then he gently lead Wind and himself out of the room. Remembering to crack the door before leaving. They went back downstairs and into the den. There, is where they decided to sit and talk in until the rest of the family came home from market.

“Okay , so that I make myself perfectly clear, I did NOT die from my own stubbornness. I couldn't afford food for months plus I was already too weak from lack of proper care and nutrition to even graze! I was injured and...and my body wasn't healing itself right. Not after the miscarriage. That's when my body decided it had had enough and my soul was evicted. Yet, even in death, I’m sure my dad's still getting an earful from me. I left a specific letter to him as I lay dying. I also wrote one to Stormy, Wave, Dusty and Quick as well as your parents. This and I managed one final diary entry with whatever strength I had left in me...Wich apparently was about 2 hours worth. I didn't want to leave Equus without a proper way to say adios. I...I honestly am upset that my intuition was right and that Stormy Night found me--”, Wind said before being cut off by a shocked Lightning

“Storm found you dead?!?! Wha- how? Okay. How did she even get into your apartment?”, Lightning sputtered confused.

“I see I confused you there. Alright so I'll start from the beginning.”, Windy sighed as she began explaining the situation of how her death will cause a whole slew of uprisings.

(2 hours later…)

In the time it took Windy to explain everything (and pause briefly due to a sound coming from the baby monitor that made her immediately jump up and fly back to their room to check on Hope...only to find that she only sneezed herself awake and was just laying in her bed looking about and quietly cooing to herself as her mother hyper reacted to her sounds, only to having to be changed a few moments later. Which lead to Hope falling back to sleep not long after and Wind heading back downstairs to see if her grandmare needed help with anything in the kitchen) it had already turned 4:30pm and the front door opened to a surprised Skyscraper.

“Oh! That must be my own babies with the groceries. Ooooh, Windy! Niña, I want your homecoming to be una sorpresa--a surprise! Oh how your mama will be so happy! Now, come and go hide in the pantry and when Feather Chyme goes to put the panes de pan in there, she’ll be so surprised to see you poco amor.”, Skyscraper said as she rushed her grandfoal into the spacious pantry and cracked the door. Turning her attention back to her two daughters that came into the kitchen she greeted them before instructing them on where everything was to go...which immediately made Feather Chyme and Ribbon Dance suspicious of their mother.

“Oh Feather, necesito esos panes de pan para entrar en la despensa, por favor?”, Skyscraper asked her youngest foal.

“Si Mama, I got it. Though why the pantry? Don't you usually leave the bread in the breadbox on the counter?”, Feather Chyme said distractedly as she opened the pantry door to put the bread away. Only to come muzzle first into something soft and breathing and...now on the ground.

“Ouch! Well... that's not the worst I’ve felt, now I got that headache back.”, Wind said as she rubbed her sore head and staggered to her hooves. Only to hear a pair of shocked gasps as she steadied herself.

“Oh. My. Faust….it...it can't be! It just can't be.”, Ribbon Dance said in shock as she set the carton of milk she had in her hooves on the table.

“W-W-Wind Chyme...is that...is that you?”, Feather Chyme asked in complete shock.

“Si mama, soy yo.”, Wind said in a whisper before being unceremoniously scooped up and became muzzle to chest to the mother she hadn't seen in 9 years. Quickly after she was sandwiched between her and the aunt she hadn't seen since she was 5 years old.

“My goodness! Last time I saw you, you were barely past my knee! Now look at you, a full grown mare. Oh Tia is so happy to see you and to hear you have a bebé niña all your own now is such a joy!”, Ribbon Dance said as she squeezed her niece.

“Uhh...T-Tia?”, Wind rasped out as she was squoze.

“And to hear you were engaged to boot?! Oh I legitimately flew up and shouted in glee!”, Ribbon continued, oblivious to her niece's discomfort.

“Tia Ribbon?!”, Windy squeaked out as she started having a hard time breathing.

“Then…well...we all saw what happened to you and Lightning. I’m so sorry mi sobrina!”, Ribbon bemoaned as she going to her niece.

“I think I hear Hope crying! Yes and I now have to check on her!”, Windy gasped as she managed to break free of her aunt’s death grip she calls a hug and fly upstairs to her room. Lightning laughing wholeheartedly throughout the short ordeal between aunt and niece.

When she reached the top of the stairs, she went over to her room (it wasn't a total excuse, she really did hear Hope crying in her bassinet) and gently picked up her crying daughter.

“Here I thought, you just wanted to get out of my sister's death hug. I'm not sure how I didn't hear my grandfoal crying.”, Feather Chyme said as she walked in to the sight of her daughter sitting on her bed and holding her daughter in her hooves. Gently rocking her as she looked up.

“I'm not sure how I was able to either. Maybe it's just new madre’s intuition? That and I did want to get out of Auntie Ribbon’s babbling and death hug. No matter how much I missed it for many years. I...I am honestly still in shock mama. I couldn't heal. My body gave up when I did not want too. I….”, Windy stopped as she felt herself begin to cry.

Feather Chyme sat on the bed and wrapped a large dandelion wing around her own daughter. Windy’s head falling onto her mother's shoulder immediately.

“You know what? Sometimes, I still can't believe what was going on in my head when I decided to marry the stallion that is your father. Then I think back to how we ended up the way we did, me pregnant with you at too young an age and your father barely making enough profit to support us all. Yet he still made an honest mare out of me. Your abuela can attest to that. I'm sure eventually we were going to tell you about the gang, but then I die and your Papa turns into this..this devil! I’ll tell you, that is NOT the Breeze I fell in love with. I fell in love with a caring and loving colt, not some heartless devil who would put his hands on his own foal. I’m sorry mija. I'm sorry you had to deal with your father. I'm sorry you got caught up in the same business he does, but most of all” Feather turns so that she's looking directly into her daughter's shared green eyes “I’m sorry I wasn't there to protect you from all of these things.”, She finished as a small stream of tears leaked out of her eyes.

Wind looked at her mother as if she’d said the single most dumbest statement in the history of the world. Lifting her head, while shifting her sleeping foal in her arms, she turned to face her mother full on.

“Mom. There was nothing you could do. I only did what I had to in order to survive. I got involved with the gangs like papá. I--I tried my best in school and got really good grades until beginning of sophomore year. Okay, yeah I did get myself into a few...sticky situations here and there--”, Wind said before being interrupted.

“-Like getting arrested a total of 52 times from age 9 to 15? Or pulling a gun out on a bunch of 5th graders? Or managing to get pregnant at age 14?”, Feather interrupted with a poignant look.

“Okay...admittedly all of those are bad examples, but yeah. Pretty much.”, Wind said with a weak chuckle.

“I can’t say I’m happy with the choices you made in life mija, but they were your choices. Only you can speak and explain on things as that. No matter what, you know that you’ve always had my love and guidance...and you always will Windy.”, Feather responded as she gently hugged her daughter and granddaughter. Suddenly the sound of something falling and a quick shout of ‘¿Cómo olvidé que es su cumpleaños?, broke them from the hug.

“Looks like nana just remembered what today is. Welp! I may as well go and assess the potential damage I’ll be getting for this one fact alone: I didn’t have my cute-ceañera when I was 7...dad just didn’t care and I didn’t get a chance to have my ‘sweet 16’ because...well I died. Okay at least my friend, Stormy Night took me to the movies and dinner that night with her family. Still its not the same.”, Wind said as she got up and strapped a foal carrier onto her back and placed a now awake Hope in it. She then followed her mother downstairs to be met with a practically empty house (save for her fiance sitting in the living room talking to somepony on his phone). Glancing away from his phone briefly, he sees the trio come down the stairs and smiles as he puts his phone down.

“There’s my favorite girls.”, Lightning said as he picked Hope up from her carrier and held her, while also (rather sneakily) stealing a brief kiss from his fiance.

“Yeah, she just woke back up while I was talking to my mom.”, Wind replied as she slid the baby carrier off her back.

“Well, after a quick look at a nearby calendar, your grandma saw that today was your birthday, that would explain the screaming you likely heard from upstairs (she also dropped her cup of water). So, she and your aunt went out to gather stuff for, what I was told a surprise. Though it likely involves your birthday.”, Lightning said.

“Knowing your grandmare, she’ll have a party planned and executed by day’s end. Best we prepare you for it baby. Now. Upstairs with ya now. Head to the bathroom and I’ll be up there with Hope in a bit and we can get your bath together.”, Feather Chyme directed her daughter upstairs with a wing. Leaving 0 room for argument.

Remembering how when her mother would use that tone and directness, that is was best to do as she asks, Windy trotted upstairs to the bathroom (which she had all but ignored earlier). In that timespan, Feather managed to get Hope in her bouncer and pick up her box of beauty supplies before heading upstairs with it and Lightning with Hope in tow. Opening the bathroom door, Feather was met with a shocking sight of her daughter.

“Uhhh...Wind? W-What are you doing?”, Feather asked the nude 16-year-old with a pile of blood-soaked bandages in her teeth and half under her fur.

“What I do everytime I get in the shower. Don’t want to get an infection. Besides, I feel like I should be worried that these didn’t heal when I was on the train.”, Wind replied as she finished removing the bandages and tossed them into the trash bin.

When Feather stepped closer to her daughter, she was appalled at what she saw. For under Windy’s neat, medium length coat, lay a labyrinth of scars and rips and tears and burn marks. Some still bleeding and some having healed completely.

“What happened to you hija?”, Feather whispered.

“Your husband happened. These are from anytime he’d come back from the bar or if he had a particularly bad day at work or...Faust knows what reason he had to get the belt or chair or whatever he could grab at that moment. I just kneel there and take it. Screaming myself raw at times from the pain. Over time I learned that ducking will make it hurt worse and that hiding was how I needed to survive him.”, Windy said in a monotone as she shakily tried to turn on the shower head.

“What do you think you’re doing?”, Feather asked as she put a hoof on her daughter’s shoulder to stop her from turning on the shower.

“Showering? What else?”, Windy replied.

“No no no. You’re supposed to be taking a nice, relaxing bath hija.”, Feather stated.

“NO! NO BATHS! PLEASE?!?!?”, Windy suddenly freaked out and started hyperventilating.

As if on cue, Zero came bounding up the stairs and into the bathroom. Lightning following not long after. As soon as Zero saw his mistress in distress, he nudged his way past a shocked Feather and comfortingly lifted her up onto his back as he lie down half in the hallway and half in the bathroom itself. Lightning looked at Feather and sighed before speaking.

“No one told you, did they?”, He asked his soon to be mother-in-law.

“Tell me what?”, Feather asked as she looked upon her shaking daughter.

“*sigh* okay...When Wind was like 8 and a half, Breeze almost drowned her in a bathtub. All because she didn’t clean her room by the time he got back home She’s been scared to death of pools and bathtubs especially ever since.”, Lightning explained with a slight growl.

To say Feather Chyme was shocked would be a lie. She was so floored, that she sank down the wall. She just looked on in a dazed sort of shocked as her daughter and her spirit guide remained in their space on the floor. The only thing she could think of was how was it that she didn't know that important piece of her own foal’s history. That and the many MANY ways she could exact revenge upon her living husband. However those thoughts were stuffed aside by the sound of Wind getting to her hooves.

“Mi amor, estás bien?!?”, Feather asked as her daughter steadied herself on her hooves for the second time that day.

“Si mama. Estoy bien. Though, if it's all the same, I’ll just take a shower and be done with it.”, Wind said as she went and picked up her towel and washcloth. Turning towards the bathroom, she ushered every creature out and locked the door. The sound of the shower running was soon heard shortly afterwards.

(20 minutes later...)

After her shower, Wind stepped into her room only to be completely shocked by what was on the bed waiting for her. A beautiful puffy light cerulean dress and her old beat up converses. With a squeal of delight, she scrambled to get dry and to call to her mother and aunt (who she swears she heard come back) to help her.

“Great! You're both here. Now can somepony help me out with this horror show called a dress?!”, Windy yells while trying to not drown in fabric. To the amusement of her maternal figures.

With some time left, the pair of them (with off hoof commentary from Hope) spent their time helping the birthday girl get ready.

(4 hours later…)

After an almost exhausting 4 hours, they were finally ready. With one more look about they decided that she looked fabulous. With that in mind, they lead her down the stairs and towards the backyard (taking the necessary photos along the way) for her surprise.

“Okay mi sobrina, are you ready to be presented?”, Ribbon Dance asked as she fixed her niece's sash.

“Yes Tia. I’m ready. I can't wait to see what you’ve all been planning!”, Windy said with a calm smile as she stepped forward, leaning a bit into the door frame. Feather Chyme, with a microphone in hoof, stood tall as she addressed the small crowd of ponies.

“damas y caballeros! I am so proud to present the mare of the hour. My little girl--or should I say my big grown daughter, Windy Chyme! Today is a dual celebration as it is her ‘sweet 16’ and a...rather belated cute-ceañera for mi bebe. Despite the hardships my daughter has faced, she still managed to find her place on Equus. The boxing gloves and quill on her flanks are a testament to that. So, to present for the first time as a grown mare, I give you: Windy Chyme!”, Feather Chyme announced to all as she stood aside to show her beautiful daughter dressed in blue and wearing her name in an intricate updo. The crown upon her head glimmered as she stepped down onto the dance platform and bowed to everyone in attendance.

The crowd applauded loudly as the birthday mare took her seat in the center of the room for the traditional changing of the shoes. Happily, her uncle Lone Star, presented her with a pair of baby blue heels as he gingerly removed her Converse and replaced them with the (surprisingly more comfortable) heeled shoes. Standing with little difficulty after the prayer, Windy hugged her uncle (as it is, she hadn't seen him since she was 5, before the cart accident that cost him and her aunt their lives) tightly as he lead her in the first dance.

(Many hours later...)
Afterwards many more dances were had and fun things all around (including a very special dance between Windy, Lightning and baby Hope) occured. Eventually food was eaten and presents were distributed to the birthday mare. Eventually though, all good things come to an end and the party wrapped up sometime around 2 am. With the birthday girl and her little family safe in their room.

(With Windy Chyme and Lightning Zap)

“I still can't believe today. It's as if I'm dreaming.”, Wind said as she snuggled up to her colt as they settled in for some sleep.

“I know how you feel honey. Today has truly been an amazing day indeed.”, Lightning replied as he lazily draped a hoof around her midsection.

“I don't suppose tomorrow could top today at all.”, Wind said as she snuggled in deeper.

“Well...maybe it could? I mean...let me explain. Okay so remember how I told you about my having to pick up Hope from the station? Well with that being said, I also had to fill out some forms stating that I was indeed not just her sire, but her father as a whole. When they asked me was the dam in the picture, I had to tell them that she's not yet, but soon.”, Lightning continued.

“So basically what your saying is that tomorrow morning I’ll have to go somewhere and sign some forms to prove that I'm Hope’s mother? Okay that sounds like a load of horseapples, but ok.”, Windy said with a sigh.

“Great! So by the way...since we'll already be at the Hall of Records--that’s the place babe...would you like to sign a quick marriage certificate?”, Lightning replied breathlessly.

Wind looked taken aback by that and looked at him with a ‘you-took-the-thougts-outta-my-head’ look.

“A--A marriage certificate?!”, Windy asked confused.

“Well yeah! I mean, well we both know in our hearts that we are married, but to make it official...eh, I dunno, kinda feels right too.”, Lightning stated.

“Okay.”, Windy replied.

“Okay?”, Lightning asked shocked.

“Okay! Yes, let's sign the certificate tommorow and be ‘officially’ married!”, Wind said in earnest goes.

Lightning’s only response was a quiet, but necessary nicker before lying on his side with his girl curled up next to him. Happy to be reunited at last. To them both, this was now truly a Paradise found.

Epilogue: Visiting Breeze

The night was warm yet the floor of the prison cell was ice cold. Breeze shivered as he shifted on the floor-level cot he now called his bed. It had been his bed and this prison had been his home for now 12 months. Ever since he had been convicted of 2nd degree foal abuse and neglect as well as attempted murder and a murder charge (due to his daughter miscarrying her foal after being severely beaten on his orders). 12 months out of a sentence of 1 life sentence + 15 years on the abuse charges. While he has the possibility of parole, Breeze found it useless as it would be when he's so very old and near death (he’d be in his 70s). As he sat up in his cot, he couldn't help but think about the one image that would forever haunt his dreams: the image of his only foal dead in her room.

His daughter, Windy Chyme wasn't a necessarily “bad” filly, she just got caught up in the wrong stuff as she got older. He supposed it was mostly his fault that she turned to the gang lifestyle in order to survive. After all, he certainly wasn't around enough to be considered a good father. Plus the abuse charges were accurate. He really did a number on his little girl over the course of many years, both physically and psychologically. Yet the image of his little girl laying there with a blank, lifeless look on her face. Her too thin body marred with scars and burns and other injury. The only thing that gave him any semblance that this body was indeed his Windy, was the, now lifeless emerald eyes that the two shared and the white/blue mane that sat in a messy unkempt half ponytail on her head. That thought made him start to cry. It took a lot in life to make Breeze cry. In recent years the only things he can remember actually crying about was when his beloved wife, Feather Chyme passed away and when his mother-in-law passed on when Windy was 10. Breeze considered himself a strong stallion. In his line of work, he had to be. A top-tier gangster like him needed to be strong and never show weakness in adversity. Yet in that moment, before he was apprehended by the police when he saw his daughter being lifted into a body bag by the coroner unicorn, he cried out. Whether or not it was rage, sorrow or guilt he was unsure. When he had to identify his daughter in a morgue before his hearing, he couldn't help but feel rage and guilt as his tears flowed like a stream as he positively identified the lithe lifeless corpse as his daughter.

It was with that image in his head now that had him awake now and contemplating things. Thinking about how his life had come to this point. Mostly because on this day, as he looked up at the sole clock on the wall of the empty cell adjacent of his that read 2:30 am, that he realized what this day was: His daughter's birthday.

“Happy Birthday mi pequeño girasol. How I wish things were different.”, Breeze said to the air. The window above him spilling moonlight around the room.

Suddenly the air around him shifted. Became warmer and the light from outside became brighter as Breeze shielded his eyes with a wing. When his vision cleared, he nearly fainted before remembering that he doesn't faint. Instead lightly slapping himself to see what he was witnessing was real or a figment of his imagination. For right before him, draped in a gown of white and gold, a golden crown adorning her head like a halo, was his daughter Windy Chyme.

“W-Wi-Wind Chyme?!?!? H-How are you here?! You...You died!?”, Breeze said in shocked fear.

“Hola Papa. Yes it's true, I am dead and have been for exactly a year now. However I pulled a few strings and as a birthday/death day gift for myself, I have come to you.”, Windy said in her light voice that Breeze hadn't heard in what felt like ages.

“But why? Why have you come to see me?”, Breeze asked.

“Simple. To tell you I forgive you.”, Windy said.

Breeze was taken aback by this. So much so that he stumbled back and fell upon his cot.

“Forgive me? Windy you know I don't deserve that. I deserve your hate! I-I deserve your scorn and rage! Not your forgiveness.”, Breeze stammered.

“True. You don't deserve any of what I’m about to say. However, you're gonna get it. I forgive you for the living Tartarus that you made my life. I wouldn't have had the stuff I dealt with happen had your actions not caused that. Because of your abuse and neglect, I moved onto a ‘family’ that would look out for me and I them. However I should be saying thank you. Yes. Thank you for your pushing me away. If you hadn't, I wouldn't have been able to find my special talent or find my courage or even meet my husband--”, Wind was cut off by her father's gasp.

“Husband?!”, Breeze gasped.

“Yes. My marido! Lightning and I are married now. It will be a year in two days. Also, goodness you should see your nieta! Hope Spring is now a big, happy yearling! She loves to try and fly up to the roof of our family home. Scares me to a near second death everytime she does it. Albeit, it's only been twice but still...anyways, yes she's happy and amazingly healthy. Despite being born too early and dead. She's a bit small for foals her age, yet don't worry. Abuela is handling that part well. I forgive you for all the times you left me alone for months on end. Without that, I wouldn't have been able to figure out some of my best life-hacks! After all, when one is an accomplished writer, one has to have source material and experience. The many times I could've died from malnutrition, I didn't because I figured out how to smartly save my money and to find the cheapest and best ways to scrounge up some food and water. My book is a best-seller in circulation all throughout Paradise Plains. As well as my other self-help books too. I’ve since been recruiting new talent for my gym.”, Wind explained happily.

“You’ve got a gym?! Really! That's... that's fantastic mija. I knew you'd always wanted to own your own gym. Are you still boxing?”, Breeze asked earnestly.

“I had to stop for a while due to me having to take care of Hope, but yes I am getting back into the swing of things. Running one's own gym, writing and trying to be a good mother and wife is truly a balancing act all its own. Yet I am managing just fine with my teams. My publishers might harp on my ass sometimes buuut what can ya do?”, Windy laughed as her wings began to glow.

“Yeah that'll happen. Truly I...okay there is no way in all of Equus that I can express how sorry I am for how your life ended up. I was a terrible excuse for a father and for that I….”, Breeze stopped himself short due to his silent sobs racking his body.

Windy walked closer to her dad and did the one thing he used to do with her when she was sad and crying like that. Wrapping her slightly smaller wings around him, she held him as he sobbed. Soothingly rubbing his back with a hoof and quietly humming.

A la nanita nana
nanita ella, nanita ella
Mi niña tiene sueño
bendito sea, bendito sea

A la nanita nana
nanita ella, nanita ella
Mi niña tiene sueño
bendito sea, bendito sea

Fuentecita que corre
Clara y sonora
Ruiseñor que en la selva
Cantando y llora

Calla mientras la cuna
Se balancea
A la nanita nana
Nanita ella

“I--I used to sing that to you. When you were a baby, it was the only way we could get you to sleep and it absolutely had to be me singing it or else you'd scream the apartment down. Hehe. Ahhh, I remember when it was time for you to lie down and I had to get ready for work and you would stubbornly wait until I came in after your story to sing to you while your mama played the guitar.”, Breeze said with a chuckle.

“How do you think I’m able to get Hope to sleep now? She's just as stubborn as I was as a foal. Or at least, according to mama that is.”, Windy giggled as her wings started twinkling brighter.

“I'm afraid that means that my time is up. I guess I’ll just sum up what I'm trying to say then. I forgive you for everything Papa. You may not feel like you deserve my forgiveness, despite everything we've been through, but you do! My time in Paradise has taught me it's better to forgive and move on than to hold onto the hate of the past. Especially if it means holding it for eternity! Literally eternity here! Ha. Anyway, I have a strong feeling that being in here will do you some good for the first time in a long time. Now I have to go. My time’s up and Lightning is waiting for me. Te amo papa.”, Windy said as she stepped back.

“Te amo mi pequeño girasol. Happy Birthday baby girl. 17 really suits you.”, Breeze said to a smiling Windy as she began to disappear.

“I’ll see you soon Breeze.”, Windy said as she disappeared finally. The cell going back to near pitch black as Breeze lay down to sleep.

Nopony knew how it happened or why, but when the guards went to wake up Breeze the next morning, they found him dead on his cot. The medics and coroner agreed that it was probably a heart attack that killed him in his sleep. The part they couldn't figure out was why he appeared to be smiling. Some of the inmates swear that he’d snapped and offed himself in his cell. Some proclaim that he was so old that his stubborn heart gave out. Yet only one knew the truth. The night guard that was watching over the cell block passed by Breeze’s cell and he could have sworn on his own grave that he...saw an angel speak to a criminal that night.