As Hard As Velvet 2: The Battle Continues

Chapters

PROLOGUE: Small Talk
Chapter One: The Return of Dream Walker
Chapter Two: More is Revealed
Chapter Three: If I Were Meant to Fly, I’d Have Been Born a Pegasus
Chapter Four: You Can’t Choose Your Family
Chapter Five: Questions And The Conspiracy
Chapter Six: The Assassinations
Chapter Seven: Aftermath
EPILOGUE: Just When You Thought All Was Back To Normal

PROLOGUE: Small Talk

It was late in the castle, Starlight and Spike had gone to their respective rooms earlier. Twilight and her fiancée were reclined together on the over-sized chaise in the castle’s library. It was a little bit of a tight fit, but neither lover minded. Twilight was glad to find that Applejack loved to read old Lane Hay Cowpony Novels. It’d been a moon since Twilight and AJ’s visit to Canterlot where Twilight had learned things from her mother’s past and where she’d proposed to Applejack.

True to her mother’s prediction, Princess Celestia was ecstatic about Twilight and Applejack’s engagement. The princess was in constant contact with herself and especially Applejack about plans.

Applejack had resigned herself that she was going to be elevated to princess status because of marrying a princess, much to the chagrin of Rarity. But AJ took every opportunity to, good naturedly, tease the white Unicorn about this.

Now as they read, AJ put her book down and interrupted Twilight’s train of thought.

“Twi Sugar,” said AJ, “Ah’ve been thinkin’. With all ya told me ’bout yer mother and then after us goin’ and meetin’ her wife. How come ya were never told ’bout her? Ah mean Dream Walker took to me more than yer mother did, or Ah should say, yer other mother did. She’s such a nice and lovin’ mare.
And as close as ya were to Princess Celestia, how come she never said anythin’?”
“Jackie, Honey,” said Twilight, “I’ve thought about that as well. And right now I don’t know. I have some theories but no clear information.”
“Well, Twi Sugar,” said Applejack turning herself so she could nuzzle her fiancée. “With yer mother comin’ tomorrow, maybe she’ll be ready to tell ya more.”
“Yes,” said Twilight, “after what she told me last time, she said she needed to take a break. I think it upset her more than she let on.”
“Ah don’t blame her, Sugar Cube,” said AJ, “if’n we had to kill ponies on our honeymoon.
Well, Ah could see where that’d take the bloom off’n the apple.”
“It could indeed,” said Twilight, putting a wing around her lover, “and speaking of wedding nights, I just hope I can survive our wedding night. I know when you cut loose that night… Well I better eat a lot of wedding cake. I’m sure I’ll be needing the sugar for the extra energy.”
“Ya know it!” Said Applejack who snuggled closer to Twilight starting to rub Twilight’s marehood.
“My little Apple Tart,” snickered Twilight, “I don’t think this is the best place for this.”
“So?” whispered Applejack in a sexy voice into Twilight’s ear, “what cha’ gonna do ’bout it?”
There was a purple glow from Twilight’s horn. A purple aura surrounded the lovers, then there was a bright flash. The next thing they knew they were on their bed in their room (AJ had ‘officially’ moved into the castle by now).
Twilight threw herself at AJ and proceeded to make merciless love to her fiancée.

“Ooo! Ride em’ cowpony,” moaned Applejack as waves of pleasure washed over her

Chapter One: The Return of Dream Walker

It was just after lunch when there was a knock at the front door. Spike went to answer it. Twilight was, of course, in the library. Starlight was out to visit Maud. AJ was at Sweet Apple Acres for her daily work.
It wasn’t long before Twilight heard familiar voices in the hall. Spike entered the room and said:

“Look who I found lurking by the front door, Twi.”

Twilight Velvet and Night Light entered the library. Twilight leapt up and rushed to her parents. They joined in a group hug.

“Mom! Dad!,” said The daughter, “I’m so glad you’re here!”
Spike was by the library door and was waving somepony to enter.

“What about me?” said a voice.

Twilight looked and saw a dark blue mare with indigo mane and tail coming into the library. She was a female copy of her father, just a little older.
“Oh my gosh!” exclaimed Twilight the daughter, “Dream Walker… I mean, mom!”
Twilight released the hug and went and embraced her mother’s wife.

The two mares hugged deeply. It didn’t take any Ψ abilities to let Twilight know that this mare really loved her as a mother. The two had tears in their eyes.

“I’m so happy to see you,” said Twilight after giving her other mom a kiss on the cheek.
“When sis heard we were coming here,” said Night Light, “she insisted that she was doing a lot better, and her doctor confirmed it, so she was allowed to come with us.”
“If she takes it easy,” said Twilight Velvet looking at Dream as if to make sure that her wife understood.
“Twilight, don’t worry. I don’t want to have to go back to that room anytime soon,” said Dream

Then Dream turned to the daughter.
“Now, my dear daughter, where’s that beautiful mare that you’re marrying?”
“Oh! I see the real reason for you wanting to come along! I’m going to have to keep a close watch on you and my fiancée. No telling what psionics you’ll use on her for nefarious reasons!” said Twilight joking.
“And I better not catch the two of you coming out of a closet somewhere,” said Twilight Velvet with a snicker.
“Don’t worry,” laughed Dream nuzzling her wife. “After my wife gets done with me, there’s no way I could keep up with somepony as young and strong as your fiancée.”
Every pony laughed.
“Applejack is at Sweet Apple Acres, she’ll be home after her work there is done,” said Princess Twilight still chuckling.

“Sweet Apple Acres?” said Dream, almost shocked. “The wheel turns…”

Princess Twilight remembered the story she was told her about Dream Walker and Twilight Velvet staying with the Apples and then wiping their memories.
“It’s okay,” said Twilight the younger, “with permission, I told Jackie the story of when you were in Ponyville and stayed with the Apples. She understands the reason why you did what you had to do. But she’d really like to talk to both my moms about her late parents.”
“Late parents?” asked Dream, “I… I didn’t know. They were a couple of very sweet and caring ponies.”
“Applejack would love to hear that.” Said Twilight the younger.
Twilight Velvet looked at Dream Walker, they nodded.
“No problem my dearest daughter,” said Dream with a smile.
“Okay, Dreamy,” said TV, trying to change the subject, “it was a long train ride. You need to rest so you don’t have a relapse. Our daughter isn’t going anywhere.”

Twilight showed her parents (all three) to a suite of rooms next to hers and Applejack’s. They insisted that the three of them share rooms. The room Twilight picked for them had two beds. Twilight was curious about the sleeping arrangements. She was almost sure that there wouldn’t be any ‘three way action’ being Dream Walker was Night Light’s elder sister. But there were rumors about the Spa Ponies; Aloe and Lotus, not to mention Celestia and Luna.
However, this was none of her business. These were all ponies she respected greatly and loved even more. Twilight also was slightly concerned that with the room next to hers. She wouldn’t hear anything through stone walls, but two powerful Ψ ponies deep into their passions… Twilight wished her mother or the princess had taught her better mental shields.
Although Applejack wouldn’t mind a little Ψ induced passion from her fiancée. Truthfully, when the mood took her, Applejack could outdo a manticore in rut.
‘Faust! How did I get so lucky?’ thought Twilight with a smile.

Later…

As AJ entered the castle, Twilight met her almost at the door.
“Jackie Honey,” said Twilight snickering, “you’re going to have to behave yourself. We have guests.”
“Behave myself?” said Applejack with a laugh, “Ah ain‘t the one who makes the other scream the safe word…
In the library…
In the middle of the day!”

“Can you blame me?” asked Twilight, giving Applejack a little kiss, “I’m engaged to the sexiest, most honest and most loving mare in the whole world. I’d drag you into the closet right here and indulge my carnal desires now if I could.”
“Twi Sugar,” chuckled AJ, “what’s got ya so hot ‘n’ bothered?”
Twilight looked at AJ with a twinkle in her eyes.
“Yer parents got here, didn’t they?”
“Better than that.”

At that moment, from the library came Twilight Velvet and Night Light.
“Mom! Dad” said AJ, who’d been instructed that she shouldn’t call them anything else. “Ah’m so glad to see ya!”
AJ trotted over to the parents and exchanged hugs and kisses. Then AJ noticed another pony come out of the library.

“Oh sweet Celestia!” exclaimed AJ.

“Not quite,” giggled Dream, “but close. Come here and let me hug you too.”

AJ quickly went to the blue Unicorn mare and hugged her deeply. The other ponies smiled at the love being expressed. Twilight Velvet was gladdened that her dear wife was acting almost normal, it had been some time now. There was joy all around.

“I’m so glad to see you, my sweet Applejack,” said Dream, not breaking the hug.
“Ah’m glad to see ya too,” said AJ.
AJ had discovered that loving and being loved by this older mare was filling a void left from the loss of her own mother, years ago.
“I hope our little Twilight knows how lucky she is to have a loving mare like you,” said Dream to AJ still embracing her. “If I wasn’t married already, I might have to fight her for you.”
“An’ Ah just might let ya,” said AJ kissing Dream’s cheek.

“Okay, mom,” said the younger Twilight, “she’s glad to see you too. Let’s go to get something to eat and we can sit and talk this evening.”
“I’m sorry,” said Dream Walker blushing, “after eating years of ‘intuitional food’, I kind of wanted some home cooking,”
“Dream Walker,” said AJ, “Ah tell ya what. We’re goin’ out, but not to a restaurant. We’re goin’ to Sweet Apple Acres and Granny Smith will feed ya all the home cookin’ ya can eat.”
“That sounds great, I haven’t had Granny Smith’s cooking in years,” said Dream, there was an odd look from AJ, until she remembered that Twilight had told her about the whole Sweet Apple Acres incident and meeting her parents. “But only under the condition that you call me mom as well.”
“Ah’d love that… Mom,” said Applejack. The two hugged again and they all went out the door only after Twilight let Starlight and Spike know where they were going.

Twilight Velvet walked between her wife and her mate. Twilight Sparkle and Applejack were close by.
“It’s so hard to believe sometimes,” said Twilight Velvet to her daughter, “that she’s the same hard-flanked training officer I met in boot camp.”
“I don’t care what happened after the incident, when you had to go on and get your promotions without me,” said Dream Walker with a snicker, “But just remember, I’ll always out-rank you, Ms. Field Marshal Velvet.”
“You keep thinking that, Brigadier Walker,” laughed Twilight Velvet.
“We’ll see about that,” said Dream Walker, “that’s if my brother doesn’t mind.”
“Sis,” said Night Light, “you had her first. I’m just glad you’ve allowed me to love her as well.”
The three hugged and Twilight shared passionate kisses with Night Light and then Dream Walker.
Twilight Sparkle and Applejack looked at each other and shared a kiss as well.

It didn’t take long to reach Sweet Apple Acres, even taking it easy for Dream Walker.

Before entering under the sign at the fence opening, Twilight Velvet and Dream Walker paused.
“Are you alright, My Dream Lover?” asked TV.
“Yes, My Little Vixen,” said Dream, “just déjà vu.”
“I feel it too.”
“Are y’all alright?” asked AJ.
“Yes sweetheart,” said Dream, “just brings back a lot.”
“Ah understand,” said the farm pony, “Twi Sugar has told me all ’bout it. It’ll be ‘kay. We‘re both here fer ya.”
“That goes for me as well,” said Night Light.

As they approached the dwelling, an old pony was fussing with flowers in a window box. Turning, she saw her granddaughter, her fiancée and three other ponies. Granny walked toward the newcomers.

“’Bout time ya got yer flanks home, Applejack.” Said Granny kidding. “Who’re the ponies with ya?”
“Faust, Granny, ya must be getting bad off!” giggled AJ. “Don’t ya know Twilight by now?”
“Pbtttt,” went Granny blowing a raspberry. “Ah know yer fiancée, silly filly. Who’re the other ponies?”
“Granny,” said Applejack, “these are…”
Applejack paused, not sure how to explain the relationships in a way that wouldn’t confuse to old pony. But before she could say anything, Twilight Velvet spoke up.
“We’re Twilight’s family,” said the mother Twilight. “I’m Twilight Velvet, this is Night Light and Dream Walker.”
“Well any family ‘o Twilight’s is family to us.” Said Granny offering a hoof to the unknown ponies. Then there was a strange look on her face. “’S’cuse me ladies, but do Ah know ya? Y’all look familiar, have we met a’fore?”
Dream walker looked at her wife.
“I think there’s been enough time,” said Dream Walker.
“I agree,” said Twilight Velvet.

The two mares looked at Granny, their horns glowed and Granny’s face went blank for a moment.
“What y’all do to Granny?” asked AJ, a little concerned.
“Give her a moment,” said Twilight Velvet.
Granny closed her eyes, opened them slowly and shook her head. Then she looked at the two older mares.

“Dream Walker! Twilight Velvet!” said Granny smiling, “how y’all been? Ah ain’t heard hide ner hair of y’all fer quite a spell now. Y’all needin’ a place to stay again?”

It only took Twilight Sparkle a moment to realize that her mothers had removed the block they’d put on the Apple Matron years ago. Twilight continued to be impressed with these ponies. Applejack was amazed at this as well.

“No Granny,” said Twilight Sparkle, “they’re staying at the castle. But they insisted on getting some Granny Smith home cooking.”
“Well Ah don’t blame ‘em,” said Granny with a chuckle.

They went into the dwelling and sat around talking. Twilight Velvet and Dream Walker were a little relieved that nothing was brought up about the massacred ponies from their last visit. Granny was about to go put finishing touches on the dinner when a filly came into the room. A large red stallion followed her.

“Oh my gosh!” said Dream Walker looking at Big Mac, “if it wasn’t for the coloration, I’d swear that you were Bright Mac!”
There were astonished looks from the siblings that just entered.
“Ya knew our ma ‘n’ pa?” asked the filly.
“Yes,” said Twilight Velvet, “we met them when your mother was pregnant, I guess, with this handsome stallion.”
Through his red coat, all could tell that Big Mac blushed.
“Twilight Velvet, Dream Walker, Night Light,” said AJ in introduction, “this here’s my big brother, Big Mackintosh, we call him Big Mac. And my lil’ sis, Apple Bloom.
These here are Twilight’s parents.”
“All three?” asked AB.
“It’s complicated,” said Dream, “but I’m sure that such a beautiful and smart filly like yourself could be alright with that.”
Apple Bloom turned away to hide her blushing. Never had a stranger complemented herself like that. But if these were her future sister-in-law’s parents, then they really weren’t strangers.
Twilight Velvet rolled her eyes. Her wife could be a very smooth talker. It was part of her training in the Ψ Unit. But TV could also tell, without Ψ, that she was being sincere.
“Thank ya,” said Apple Bloom embarrassed trying to cover her face with a foreleg.

The extended family had dinner and then sat around afterwards, eating apple pie and sipping coffee or milk in AB’s case.
The two older mares talked about their visit many years earlier. Or at least what they could tell. They told that they were in Ponyville for their honeymoon and were taken in by Bright Mac and Buttercup.
All the Apple siblings were enthralled by more information about their parents. After meeting Grand Pear, their grandsire, they realized that there must be other information out there that Granny hadn’t shared. Then after their visit to Burnt Oak, Mrs. Cake (formally Chiffon Swirl) and Mayor Mare, they were eager to learn all they could from ponies outside the family.
As the evening went on, Apple Bloom was sitting by Dream Walker, She had her head resting against the mare while Dream Walker’s foreleg was around the filly holding her warmly. Apple Bloom looked like she was in Elysium. Apple Bloom was even more embarrassed when Dream Walker said:
“You know, Applejack, you’re going to have a rival for looks when this cute little filly comes into full bloom.”

After a time, Twilight Velvet said that they had to go. Dream Walker was getting over an ‘illness’ and needed her rest. But they’d be back by before they returned to Canterlot.

Chapter Two: More is Revealed

Twilight was sitting all alone on the balcony of the library. It was the odd occasion that she hadn’t gone to bed when her fiancée had turned in. But AJ had said she was tired after the excitement of hearing all the information about her parents from Twilight Velvet and Dream Walker.

Twilight was looking at the sky but not really studying the stars. Her mind was elsewhere. She was thinking about the question Applejack had asked. The one she’d considered prior. That is; if Dream Walker was her mother’s wife, and her mother loved the mare as much as it appeared, why was it only after twenty something years that she was just finding out about this. And why Celestia never mentioned any of this as well.

“My dearest daughter,” said a voice from behind herself. Twilight turned and saw not only her mother, but her other mother as well. It was Dream Walker that had spoken. “Why are you awake this late? And where is that beautiful mare that’s soon to be your wife?”
“Jackie went to bed earlier,” said Twilight the younger, “she’s a farmer and has to get up early to go to the farm.”
The two mares sat beside her, on either side. They both reached and held a hoof.
“Twilight,” said Dream, “we can tell that there’s something bothering you.”
“Not really bothering,” said the younger Twilight, “just a question that’s been running around my head since mom first told me about you, mom.”
Dream Walker and Twilight Velvet looked at each other, Dream Walker nodded her head.
“You’re wanting to know why I’ve been married to Dream for so long and you only just heard about it,” said Twilight Velvet.
“Yes mom,” said Sparkle, “Jackie brought that question up as well when I told her about all of this. My love is trustworthy and won’t tell anypony anything without somepony saying it’s alright.”
“Look Honey,” said Twilight the mother, “we understand your curiosity and concern. But it’s late and I need to get Dreamy to bed.”
“I just bet,” snickered Twilight. The two older mares smiled at the innuendo.
“We’ll talk tomorrow,” said Dream, “would that be okay?”
“Yes,” said Princess Twilight hugging the two mother ponies and kissing them on the cheek. “Love you, moms.”
“We love you too,” said Dream and Velvet together.

The next morning started as most. AJ and Twilight showered together, most of the time it was just an excuse to share intimate contact while soaking wet. The several years Applejack and Twilight had been lovers now, hadn’t decreased the fire of desire they had for each other. It wasn’t lust (for the most part) it was a deep abiding love born of a special friendship that had faced great peril, even life and death together. This forged a great trust and respect. A love that drove them to please the pony they cared for so deeply.

After breakfast, AJ kissed Twilight (and the future in-laws) and then trotted off to Sweet Apple Acres. Starlight went with Applejack, she wanted to talk to Granny. Starlight was impressed that Granny and her Zap Apple Jam were the beginning of Ponyville. She also wanted to see if she could try any if there was any available. Twilight would usually buy plenty, when in season. But Spike really liked it and so it was hard to keep any around the castle. Even if Twilight thought she had a good hiding spot for a jar or two.
Spike had left to help Rarity collect some gems.

Twilight had some business to conduct with some of the Ponyville elders. After lunch, Night Light excused himself to take an after lunch nap.
Twilight led her two mothers to the very top of the tower of Friendship Castle. They sat in front of the little reflecting pool, just taking in the view and the nice sunny weather.

“Honey,” said Twilight Velvet sitting close to Dream Walker and holding her hoof, “you asked about why you’d never met my wife prior. Nor why anything was ever said of her by any of our family or by Princess Celestia. Understand that Shiny hasn’t been told this.
But you do need to know because you’re a princess and a Twilight. But most of all, you really are a beloved daughter.

And you are a big part of the reason for the silence.”
That got Twilight, the daughter’s attention.

“It’d be easier for us to Ψ speak, if that’s alright,” said Dream Walker.
“I’ve no problem with that,” said Twilight Sparkle. “I’ve been studying and practicing.”
“Before we get to the real reason,” said Velvet, “you need to know a little more background that led up to it. Out of context might be misunderstood.”
“Okay mom,” said Sparkle, clearing her mind.

Dream Walker and Twilight Velvet smiled and held out a hoof to their daughter. Twilight the younger held their hooves. They all closed their eyes.
Because of Twilight Sparkle’s ‘practice and research’, her Ψ connection was stronger than before. The mothers were impressed.
Suddenly thoughts and images appeared in her mind. They were clearer than before. This was due to two strongly Ψ ponies communicating. The physical contact amplified the Ψ connection.

Embarrassingly Twilight Sparkle’s mind was filled with images, smells and tastes of Dream Walker’s marehood.
“Really moms?” said Twilight Sparkle out loud and amused.
Twilight heard both her moms snicker, they were doing this on purpose…

Many years before…

Twilight and Dream were just finishing up a round of rather aggressive lovemaking.

“Oh dear Celestia,” said Dream, “My Little Vixen is really on fire today. What’s up my love?”
“Dreamy,” said Twilight now lying beside her wife and snuggling close. “Our 5th anniversary is in two weeks and I’ve been thinking how much I love you and how lucky I am to have you.”
Twilight kissed Dream deeply.
“Twilight,” said Dream after breaking the kiss, “believe me, I don’t know how I ever survived before you. You’re the answer to prayers and dreams I never knew I had.”

That morning the pair got ready for the day. Usually they’d take lunch and the evening meals in the Officer’s Mess. But they liked to have breakfast in their suite. It gave them a little extra time to be alone together.
As they ate, they were interrupted by a knock at the door. Twilight went to the door and answered it. A courier in Ψ uniform stood there and saluted. Twilight returned the salute.

“How can I help, private?” Said Twilight.
“Brigadier Dream Walker?” asked the Ψ private.
“No,” said Twilight, “I’m Lieutenant Colonel Twilight Velvet. Brigadier Dream Walker is my partner and wife.”
“I’m Brigadier Dream Walker.” Said a blue mare walking up.
The courier saluted again and Dream returned it.
“Ma’am,” said the courier, “General Moon Light is requesting that you and LTC Velvet meet with him ASAP.”
Twilight and Dream voiced their understanding and went back in to get ready to meet with the General. It wasn’t necessary, but they liked to be in uniform when meeting with the Commandant of the Ψ Unit. It didn’t take long before the two were before General Moon Light’s door.

After entering the office, they were surprised that Princess Celestia was there as well. Twilight and Dream stopped in front of the desk and saluted. Celestia smirked at Twilight, walked around the desk and hugged her warmly.
“Okay, Your Highness,” said Dream with a chuckle, “that’s my wife you’re hugging.”
“Yes, but I had her first,” said the princess who, completely out of character, blew a raspberry at Dream.
They all laughed, even the general. Celestia released the hug and went to sit at a chair beside the general.

“Have a seat,” said the general. “We need to talk.”
“Yes, sir” was the unison reply.
“I know that your 5th anniversary is coming up. I hope this isn’t going to put a damper on anything planned.”
“What’s up, general?” asked Dream Walker.
“Princess?” said the General.

Celestia looked at her student and her student’s wife.
“Ladies,” started the princess, “I hope this won’t be too disturbing. But 5 years ago, you took care of a threat to Equestria on your honeymoon.”

Twilight took Dream’s hoof. Both had a look of concern.

“Unfortunately or fortunately,” continued Celestia, “your actions only delayed the group. Many quit after the news of how thoroughly one of the inner circle were destroyed. But there were many that stayed. Though you took out a very strong leader, there were others besides Star Catcher. But since her demise there’re those who’ve been fighting over who calls the shots. Since that setback, they’ve kept a very low profile.
That is until now.
The Church of Nightmare Moon’s Witnesses have gathered a large enough following to once again be a threat.”
“Because of your familiarity with the group, I’m going to have to ask you to look into this,” said the general.
“Excuse me, sir,” said Dream Walker, “we only had, at most, two days of exposure to them. And that was 5 years ago.”
“That’s two days more than any other Ψ agents, Brigadier Walker,” said the general. “And I want my best agents on this.”
“But sir,” said Twilight, “I’m sure there may be some that will remember us. I know that we could do a mind wipe, but some were somewhat Ψ sensitive and might be a problem.”
“Twilight,” said the princess, “we’re not asking this lightly. We know the two of you understand the risks that came with the uniform. And as much as I hate to send my star student and her beloved wife into harm’s way, I know that you’d understand all this.”
“My princess,” said Dream, “my wife and I know this well. And please don’t take any of what we’d said as an unwillingness to do our duty. Our oath of loyalty to you and Equestria is only superseded by our wedding vows which we swore before your royal self.”
Twilight and Dream turned and kissed a small kiss.
“We’d expect no less,” said the general.
“So when do we leave for Ponyville?” asked Twilight Velvet.
“You don’t,” said the general.
“Although the nexus of this will be Ponyville,” said the princess, “you’ll need to go to Vanhoover. The so called church is currently headquartered there. This is a fact finding mission, there should be little actual face to face confrontations.”
“As much as I hate to use your relationship as a cover, again,” said the general, “but with your 5th anniversary in two weeks, I think you two should go and visit Twilight’s family. It’ll give you a base of operations and get you away so you can enjoy your special time. And you’ll not have to use leave time.”
Everypony could tell that Twilight was looking concerned.
“Is there a problem, my faithful student?”
“Well, yes and no,” said Twilight. “My mother and sister were here for the wedding and were happy, for the most part. But afterward, mom told me that she did have a small problem with me marrying a mare, at least at first. She said that it had nothing to do with my choice of a mare for a partner. But she said it was ‘my duty to carry on the Twilight name’. But now I think she’s come to the understanding that Dreamy and I are really in love, not some sick game. Last time we visited, my mother was as warm towards Dreamy as she was myself.
However, my sister became upset with me. She was jealous when I went off to school.
She’s now very successful running several variety stores in and around Vanhoover. She came here for our wedding, but I think it was more for my mother’s sake than was for mine. Her husband, who didn’t come, Meteor Shower, is a very conservative politician. In spite of the 10:1 mare to stallion ratio in Equestria, he’s of the old-fashioned mindset that marriage and sex is for procreation only. Any relationship that can’t produce foals is unnatural and immoral. This despite they being married for 3 years now and are still childless.
Not to mention, he’s a cold blooded, callous, humorless, bigoted and closed minded jerk.”
“And those are his good points,” said Dream Walker under her breath.

The general and princess glanced at each other. It didn’t go unnoticed.

“Is there something wrong?” asked Dream Walker.
“Apparently,” said the princess, “the policies of the ‘Church of Nightmare Moon’s Witnesses’ have changed since your last run-in. Evidently, more conservative mind sets have taken over, possibly with the removal of Star Catcher, to reflect policies just like Twilight just mentioned.”
“That could be awkward,” said Dream.
“I’d like to think Moon Shadow, my sister, wouldn’t be with somepony mixed up with the NMW’s.” said Twilight.

“That’s to be seen,” said the General.

“Well, when do we leave, sir?” said Dream Walker.
“We’ve secured for you a first class berth on a sight-seeing airship.” Said Princess Celestia. “4 days on a relaxing cruse instead of 3 hard days on the rails.”
Dream Walker let out a small quiet;

“Eeep!”

Twilight looked amused at her wife. She’d seen Dream Walker stare down a violent serial rapist with some Ψ shield abilities without breaking a sweat. There were the records, from before they met, of her actions in taking down a renegade Ψ Unit single hooved and then bragging about it afterwards at the officer’s club, and other such acts of heroism. But this was the first sign of fear Twilight had ever seen in her wife.
Obviously, it was the same with the general and the princess.
“Honey?” said Twilight. “Don’t you like flying?”
“I’m a bloody Unicorn, Twilight,” said Dream, almost annoyed, “if I were meant to fly, I’d have been born a Pegasus.”
“Well that certainly would’ve been awkward for your mother to explain to your dad. Being both of them are Unicorns,” snickered Twilight.
Dream Walker gave Twilight a small love tap.
“You saw that Princess, General,” laughed Twilight, “assaulting a fellow officer is a court martial offence!”
“I’ll assault you where nopony could see.”
“I’m counting on it,” said Twilight, giving Dream a quick kiss.
“Okay ladies,” said Celestia with a chuckle. “You’ll be leaving in two days. The general has your tickets and orders along with bits for expenses.”
With that the princess stood up. The others stood in respect.
“Good luck, ladies,” said Celestia.
The three soldiers bowed as the princess left.

Chapter Three: If I Were Meant to Fly, I’d Have Been Born a Pegasus

Twilight interrupted…

“Wait a moment!” Said Twilight Sparkle, “Auntie Moon Shadow was a jerk? The same Moon Shadow that kisses me, holds me, and treats me like I’m still a little filly when she visits? Who still makes and sends me pink, one piece hoofie pajamas for Hearth’s Warming and my birthday? And gives me bits to buy candy and ice cream when I’m around her? Even now that I’m an adult and a princess?”
“Hard to believe, I know.” Said Twilight Velvet with a chuckle, “but that’s the way she was until the time her husband was killed.”
“Truthfully,” said the daughter Twilight, “I don’t think I ever knew the name of Auntie Moon’s late husband.”
Then after some thought.
“Moms,” said the daughter Twilight with trepidation, “would either of you have something to do with…”
“No, sweet child,” said Dream, “we weren’t directly involved with his demise.”
“Directly?” asked Twilight the younger.

Twilight Velvet and Dream Walker looked at each other. It was a question that the daughter didn’t need Ψ to figure it was a point of contention.

“Honey,” said mother Twilight, “let’s go on. You’ll learn everything. But as we said, out of context, it wouldn’t be understood.”
Twilight the daughter nodded her head, understanding what they were suggesting.

Years earlier on a Zeppelin departing Canterlot…

“Oh Sweet Mother of Faust!” said Dream, “I think I’m going to throw up everything I ever ate!”
“Now honey,” said Twilight, “they just cast off the lines. We haven’t even pushed away from the pier.
Let’s go below and find our cabin, perhaps you can relax there and get your ‘air legs’.”
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you!” remarked Dream. As they went down a level to their stateroom. “I don’t know what transgression you’re getting me back for.”
“This has nothing to do with you making me standing on the parade field, all night, in the rain, trying to read the mind of Commander Cyclone.” Said Twilight with a smirk that was understood loud and clear to her wife.
Dream flopped down on the bed of the first class cabin that Princess Celestia arranged. She looked to her wife.
“I don’t know what you’re complaining about,” said Dream, some color and composure coming back to her, “it was only one pony, not even Ψ sensitive, no shields.”
“He was on a ship!”
“So?”
“A ship over a thousand miles away on the North Luna Sea!” said Twilight.
“So?” said Dream with a small grin.
“Remember the old saying…

As ye So, so shall ye Weep!”[1]

“I don’t think that’s how that went, I think it had something to do with sowing and reaping,” said Dream, but she didn’t get to finish. Twilight was all over Dream Walker like a swarm of parasprites on a bushel of apples.

“Twilight, no!”

…Insert projectile vomiting noise here…

Later, they were drying off after showering and the zeppelin staff had had a chance to change the bedding and mop up.

“I’m really glad we weren’t kissing when you decided to spew!” said Twilight.
“Oh stop whining,” said Dream, “it wasn’t as bad as when we had to take cover in that cesspool as we were tracking down that mind-assassin.”
“Don’t remind me!” said Velvet. “You kept laughing and saying; ‘it’s only a bit of poo!’ I couldn’t get the smell of excrement out of my nose for moons.

How are you feeling now?”

“I think I’ll be fine,” Said Dream.
“You think you might be up for something in the galley?” asked Twilight, “maybe they’ll have some broth and crackers for those so affected.”
“We can try.”

Twilight and Dream found that the galley did have food for those with airsickness. They ate and went up on deck, after Twilight had browbeaten Dream enough. Dream did find a deckchair and covered herself with a blanket, not so much to ward off the evening chill but for a sense of security. She and Twilight held hooves, they watched the sun going down and they’d kiss occasionally.

But when they were in the galley, two ponies had closely watched Twilight and Dream.
“Are you sure Brother?” asked the mare.
“Yes Sister,” said the stallion. “I was there 5 years ago. I was in the inner circle of Star Catcher. May the Great Mother bless her memory and give rest to her soul.
I was to be there when she was to sterilize the mare that would be the one to produce the foal that would prevent the return of our Great Mother. But an acolyte delayed me. When I did enter the tent…

I still have nightmares of the slaughter.”
The stallion paused, he looked sick and disturbed at the memory of such a gory scene.

“Brother?”
“I’ll be alright.
When I entered the tent, everypony was dead. It looked as if their brains just exploded. There was no sign of the two mares that we’d captured.
And I’ve prayed to the Great Mother many times for forgiveness for my weakness, but I was afraid to try to find the two. Lest I meet the same fate.”

The mare embraced the stallion as he cried a bit. But he soon pushed away.

“Thank you for the concern, but we can’t embrace outside the blessing of the church.”
“Of course,” said the mare blushing. “I was moved by your sorrow, forgive me.”
“Thank you, and I’m sure that Great Mother wouldn’t object to an act of sympathy.”

The two smiled, looking into the other’s eyes. Both had the same thought of how strict the church had became about ‘relationships’. It was hard sometimes to be in a religion where the basic desires and needs were, at the least, frowned upon. At the most, seen as sacrilege.

“We must keep an eye on them,” said the stallion.
The mare just nodded.

Later, in the cabin the two were sharing, under cover…

“I’m sorry if it’ll disturb your sleep, but I’m afraid I must cleanse myself of impure thoughts of your body by self-flagellation.”
“Brother,” said the mare looking at him strangely, “I must join you in that. But first, if we sin, shouldn’t we at least sin a sin worth punishing ourselves for.”

With that, the mare kissed the stallion deeply. Then she lay on the bed and spread her hind legs. The stallion was fascinated as she relaxed the muscles that hid the marehood.
“Great Mother forgive us,” he said as he climbed on the bed, kissed the mare deeply as they proceeded to perform copulation.

Later that night, the two held each other close.

“Sister…”
“Meadow Flower,” said the mare, giving the stallion a small kiss.
“I don’t think it’d be proper…”
“Not proper? After what we just shared? Listen,” said the mare, “we’re being told that what we did was sinful and dirty. It would cause great sorrow and anguish. Do you feel sad or anguished?”
“Well… No.”
“Just 5 years ago, the church said what we did was natural and acceptable. What changed?
If the Great Mother is infallible why would the Great Mother, all of the sudden, change her mind?
Isn’t it possible that it wasn’t the Great Mother, but new ponies in charge expressing their own beliefs?”
“That does sound logical,” said the stallion, then with a smile, “Meadow Flower.”
“Then, if you don’t mind…”
“Orion…”
“If you don’t mind, Orion,” said the mare smiling and giving the stallion another small kiss, “and you’re not opposed, I could certainly go for another round before we go to sleep.”
The Meadow Flower didn’t get to say anything as Orion turned and started to kiss and suck Meadow’s nipples, but he was moving down further. Meadow’s mouth was headed for the stallion’s penis.

In another cabin, Twilight and Dream were letting their minds relax.
They’d recognized the strange stallion from their trip to Ponyville. They’d started to project romantic thoughts at the two. Then they followed the stallion and the mare with him to their cabin. Outside they continued to project intense erotic thoughts to the pair on the other side of the door. They could tell that the push they gave, didn’t need to be too strong.
Now they were having to deal with the arousal that they had felt giving arousal to the two strange ponies.

“Honey,” said Twilight, “why did you project oral sex on them, as inexperienced as they were?”
Dream Walker just laughed.
“My Little Vixen,” said Dream. “That wasn’t me. I think that once their repressed feelings were liberated, it gave their fantasies free rein to be expressed.”
The two laughed and then kissed.
“So what tomorrow?” asked Dream, “bondage?”
“Don’t mind if I do!” said Twilight. Her horn glowed and a good supply of rope appeared.

Dream and Twilight thought it funny and a little heartwarming that the pair of Earth Ponies they’d discovered appeared to have lost any desire to follow or spy on themselves. But still Dream and Twilight did go by their cabin to give them a little boost.
They’d almost given them selves away when they arrived at the cabin door and already heard evidence that the little pushes they were given weren’t necessary any longer. They didn’t know how they were able to keep from laughing.

“Oh sweet Mother, Orion!” said the mare’s voice, “I’m coming again!”

Little things like that helped to distract Dream from her airsickness. But she’d still complain to Twilight about it occasionally.

[1] 'As ye sow, so shall ye reap': New Testament, Epistle to the Galatians, 6:7. Taking some artistic license that ponies would have a similar saying.

Chapter Four: You Can’t Choose Your Family

At the Zeppelin Port in Vanhoover…

“Honey,” said Twilight to her wife, “please get off your knees and stop kissing the ground. This is my hometown, ponies still know me here. And ponies are watching!”
“Hush, darling, give me this. I don’t want to have to make it an order!”
“The day you order me around is the day you order extra blankets. Because it’ll be cold sleeping in bed, by yourself!”
“You’d do that?” asked Dream Walker standing up.
“You don’t want to find out,” said Twilight kissing Dream.

Levitating their bags, the two smiled and hailed a taxi.

“Nice city, I remember this from my first time here,” said Dream as they went through the streets of the northwest Equestria city.
“Yes,” said Twilight. “You’ll notice the number of Ponybucks coffee shops, they were started here.”
“There always appear to be a great number of street side craft and food carts.”
“It’s quite the bohemian city,” said Twilight with a small smile. “Something I miss in Canterlot.”
At that moment they passed by a large sprawling building. It was painted dark blue and had a prominent large white crescent moon. There was a large perimeter wall that enclosed a large area. The gate was open, but it could be secured to either keep ponies out or, more likely, keep ponies in.

It looked out of place.

“Excuse me,” said Dream to the pony drawing the taxi, “what was that large building that we just passed?”
The pony turned his head so they could hear.
“That’s that Church of Nightmare Moon’s Witnesses. They built it two years ago. Not a lot of ponies know what goes on in there.
And not a lot wanna. Most ponies see it as an eyesore.”

With that the pony spit as if it had left a sour taste in his mouth. Then he returned to what he was doing.

As they continued through the city, Twilight thought how many things had changed, even in the 3 years since their last visit. To tell the truth she was a little apprehensive of this visit, especially with the information that they were given about the current stances of the NMW’s. Twilight was pretty sure that her mother wouldn’t be a problem.
But thinking about when she has to confront Moon Shadow and that pompous ass, Meteor Shower, Twilight didn’t like the possibility.

“Honey,” said Dream, “you don’t have to be nervous, I’m with you and I won’t let anypony harm you.”
“I’m not nervous,” lied Twilight.
“My Little Vixen,” said Dream Walker with a chuckle. “You and I have a disadvantage that other married couples don’t. Being Ψ ponies, we have trouble hiding our emotions from the other, especially when distracted.
Does your family know what we do? I mean, they were at our wedding so they know we’re officers in the Royal Guard. But have you told them exactly what we do?”
“Mom has some idea taking into account my ‘special talent’, you as well. But she’s said that she’d never tell anypony for our safety. Moon knew a little, but not too much, I don’t think. How much Meteor Shower knows, that I’m not sure. I’ve never attempted a mind scan on him and I haven’t scanned my sister, since we were foals, when I’d get her to do my chores.”
“We just might have to.” Said Dream, “if we do, I’ll do it. That way if he is Ψ aware, it won’t be you they’d be upset with.”
Twilight just nodded her head.

Ten minutes later found Dream and Twilight standing in front of a house much like the rest in the neighborhood. There were flowers in the window boxes and well-manicured lawn.
Twilight was just standing there looking at the house. Images flooded her mind, and so Dream’s as well.
“It’s alright my love,” said Dream Walker, giving Twilight a little kiss.
“Like I said on our wedding night; let’s get this over with,” said Twilight.
“You did not!” chuckled Dream, knowing her wife was trying to lift her own spirits. “You snapped all the buttons off my tunic trying to get me undressed so fast!”
“At least I didn’t tear your skirt in the process!” Said Twilight, and then she kissed her wife. “You’d have thought we’d never had sex before.”
The two giggled.
They walked up to the door. Twilight was going to open it, but then she thought better, especially with the info they’d been giving about NMW’s and her brother-in-law’s mind set.

Twilight knocked on the front door. They stood there for a moment, but nopony answered. Twilight was about to knock again when the door opened.
“Velvet!” said the mare that answered the door excitedly. “I was wondering when you’d show up.”
Twilight Glow hugged her daughter warmly then she looked at Dream Walker and hugged her.
“And Dream Walker,” said the mother, still hugging her daughter’s wife, “so glad to see my daughter-in-law as well.
Both of you get your flanks in here. I’m sure you’ll want to tidy up from your trip. I’ll get some tea going while you do that.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Glow,” said Dream.
“What did I tell you about that!” said Twilight Glow with a stern voice, yet smiling, “it’s mom to you!”
The mother hugged Dream Walker deeply; Dream didn’t need Ψ to feel real love.

The couple went to Twilight Velvet’s old bedroom and dropped off their bags and then to the bathroom to freshen up. Soon enough they were sitting in the living room, having tea with Twilight Glow. The conversation was pleasant enough. It was brought up that they were there to celebrate their 5th anniversary with family. They would have included Dream’s family, but her mother and father were off on safari in the distant zebra lands.

‘How’re you holding up, my love?’ thought Dream.
‘Honey,’ thought Twilight, ‘I think I’m doing well. I just want to do our job without too much drama.’
‘You’re worried because of the possibility of your brother-in-law being mixed up in this.’
‘Well yes,’ thought Twilight, ‘last time we dealt with NMW’s, we had to wipe the minds of 3 very nice ponies that took us in without question.’
‘That isn’t the real reason,’ thought Dream, ‘is it.’
‘Honey, we had to murder about a dozen ponies to escape; ponies we didn’t know. But this is family. What if I had to wipe mom’s or my sister’s mind. Or worse, had to kill Meteor Shower? I mean, I don’t like him, but I don’t think my sister would appreciate if we killed her husband, even in the line of duty.’

“All right you two,” said the mother, “I know enough that if you two are sitting there quiet, holding hooves, then you’re ‘talking’ about something serious or work. I just hope you aren’t talking about me behind my back!”
The mother laughed at this.
“Sorry, mom,” said Dream, “I guess we just get used to doing things a certain way. We’ll try not to be rude that way.”
“We promise to only talk about you in front of yourself,” snickered Twilight.

“So you two decided to grace us with your presence,” said a voice.
The ponies turned to see whom it was that entered.
“Moon Shadow!” said Twilight getting up and embracing the sister.

At first Twilight felt some resistance, and then Moon Shadow realized that despite all her past ‘pushback’ the hug she was receiving from her sister was warm and genuine. She then returned the hug warmly as well. She actually had to fight back a tear.
“Hello, Moon Shadow,” said Dream Walker approaching her wife and her wife’s sister.
Moon Shadow looked at Dream and then to the surprise of Dream and Twilight, hugged her sister’s wife.

Moon Shadow released the hug.

“I guess you’re here for your anniversary,” said Moon, “I hope we can spend some time together as my business allows.”
“Little sis,” said TV, “I’d love that.”
“You too, Dream,” said the sister with a smile.
Dream walker nodded with a smile.

Moon Shadow, Dream Walker, Twilight Velvet and Twilight Glow sat in the living room talking, gossiping and laughing. The mother had brought tea and everypony was relaxed.

That is until…

The front door opened and a stallion of green with a red mane and tail entered. He had a cutie mark of three shooting stars.
He looked at the mares quickly. His grim visage didn’t change a bit.
“Sorry Mrs. Glow,” said the stallion humorlessly, “I wasn’t aware you had company.”
“Yes Meteor Shower,” said the mother. “Twilight and her wife are here for their anniversary.”
“I see,” he said, turning to Velvet and speaking flatly, “hello Velvet, I hope you enjoy your stay. Moon Shadow, we’re going home now.”
The snub of Dream Walker was obvious.
With that, he turned to the door. Moon Shadow felt the hurt her sister must be feeling.
“I’m sorry ladies,” said the mare getting up.
Twilight and Dream got up and hugged Moon. But Meteor said gruffly:

“I said now!”

“Sis…” said the older sister, but Moon just shook her head and turned to leave.

Before the door shut, they heard the voice of the stallion scolding his wife.

“I’ve warned you about hanging out with moral degenerates!”
“But she’s my sister…”

That was all that was heard.

“I’m so sorry Honey,” said the mother, then to Dream, “you too Sweetie.”
The mother got up and went into the kitchen to check on the meal, but more to hide her tears.
‘I think he’d make a lovely mental vegetable,’ thought Dream. ‘We could plant him in the window-box where he could be watered and get some nice sunshine.’
‘I’m starting to agree with you,’ thought Twilight.
The two smiled and kissed. They went to the door to watch the other couple leave. But they saw something that demanded their attention.

“I’ve warned you about hanging out with moral degenerates!” ranted the husband.
“But she’s my sister,” defended Moon Shadow.
“I don’t care if she’s Celestia’s sister!” Said Meteor Shower. “My conservative constituents demand proper moral decorum. You don’t know how it’d reflect on me if I were seen with degenerate ponies with which reproduction is not the reason for their marriage. All else is seen as perverted!”
“Then how are you able to look them in the eye with there being no children with us?” asked Moon getting a bit upset. “What would they think if they knew that their great upright leader doesn’t even try to give me a foal? I guess I could cuckold you to make you look normal.”
“You ungrateful little whore!” said Meteor, with hate in his voice.
The stallion drew back to strike his wife, as he was want to do. Even Moon Shadow wondered why she stayed and put up with it.
But before he could do it, there was a violet aura that held back his leg. It was purposely painful and felt as if it was getting hotter by the second. He looked to see that his wife’s sister and her partner galloping up to them.
“This is none of your business, bitch!” bellowed the stallion, as if giving an order, as Dream was getting in his face..
“That’s Brigadier General Bitch to you! So you better listen pal, and listen closely!” said Dream Walker now muzzle to muzzle with the stallion. Truthfully, it was intimidating him. “You may not approve of Twilight’s and my relationship. But we’re still officers of the Royal Guard, so if we so much as hear that you improperly laid one hoof on this mare. We’ll have you on the train to Canterlot dungeon before you can say, Oops!

Capeesh?”

“What would your conservative constituents think of their paragon of virtue having to do time for domestic violence.” Said Twilight releasing the leg.
“You wouldn’t dare!” said the stallion trying to be threatening. “I’d have you two court-marshalled before you knew it!”
Twilight looked at Dream. They both laughed hard. This stallion had never had ponies not intimidated by his position. He could tell that this wasn’t forced laughter. Did his position mean that little? Was he just a joke, as he secretly feared?
“What do you think my teacher and mentor, Princess Celestia would say about a petty politician demanding that a Lieutenant Colonel and Brigadier General be court-martialed because they stopped him from assaulting his wife.”
“I think he’d be laughed out of court as they dragged him off to the dungeon,” said Dream.
Twilight looked at her sister.
“You going to be alright, sis?”
“Yes Twi,” said the sister as she walked off home.

Twilight’s aura pulled the bully to herself, muzzle to muzzle. The fire in her eyes was frightening.
“Meteor Shower,” said Twilight, “we’re not joking. And believe it or not, we will know if you do anything to my sister! So I wouldn’t even think of it!”
Dream closed her eyes, then she spoke.
“Go ahead and send your message to Personnel at Royal Guard Headquarters in Canterlot,” said Dream with a smirk, “and see just how much your influence is really worth, especially with the Special Unit. The Commandant is General Moon Light. Tell your little Red Coat yeoman contact to tell the general that Dream Walker and Twilight Velvet, his best agents, said hello.”
“That’s if he can even get admittance to the Special Unit’s office,” said Velvet.

Meteor Shower was dumbfounded and slightly frightened that Dream Walker knew just what he was thinking at that moment. He knew his bluff was called and he had no power over these two mares.
“Now you see that we weren’t joking,” said Twilight, “and consider that this is your only warning.”
“And know that we, as officers of the Royal Guard, are authorized to use deadly force, at out digression, to protect Equestria’s citizens,” said Dream Walker projecting a vision of Meteor Shower being mercilessly pummeled to death by Dream Walker and Twilight Velvet.
When released, he turned and tried not to look like he was terrified, but the speed of his trot said otherwise.

“Can I mind wipe him now?” asked Dream not quite jesting.
“No Honey,” said Twilight, “if it comes to it… He’s mine!”

The two walked back to Twilight’s mother’s home.

Chapter Five: Questions And The Conspiracy

In the present…

“Okay,” said Twilight out loud, she needed to rest her mind. “I know it was the past. But even so, I can’t get my mind around how a loving and sweet pony like Auntie Moon Shadow could’ve married such an ass. My apologies to Cranky Doodle Donkey.”
“Honey,” said Velvet, “only she could answer that. But I don’t think it’d be a good idea to ask her.”
“I wouldn’t, mom,” said Sparkle.
As the two Twilights were talking, they noticed that Dream Walker was starting to nod off.
“Okay, Dream Lover,” said Velvet, “you need a nap if you don’t want to cut the visit short.”
“I know, My Little Vixen,” said Dream getting up and heading to the stair.
“We’ll finish later my lovely daughter,” said Velvet.
Twilight flew ahead and kissed both her mothers as they disappeared down the stair.

Twilight hadn’t noticed the amount of time they were up on the tower. She now saw that the sun was getting low in the sky. Time for Applejack to be headed home.
Twilight went to the edge of the tower, there she saw her fiancée headed to the castle. A smaller pony was with her. Twilight took off straight up and then with the extra altitude she circled around the ponies. As she swooped down on them she could see that Apple Bloom was with AJ.
Apple Bloom was always asking about Twilight’s parents.

Twilight landed in front of her fiancée and kissed her deeply.

“Hey you two,” laughed Apple Bloom, “young children here.”
“Sorry Apple Bloom,” said Twilight and then winking at Applejack. Twilight’s aura surrounded Apple Bloom and carried her to Twilight, muzzle to muzzle. Twilight kissed a large kiss on Apple Bloom’s lips.
“Better?” asked Twilight.
“Twilight!” exclaimed AB as she settled to the ground, wiping the kiss from her lips. But was laughing.
“’Kay sis,” smirked Applejack, “we’re gonna talk ‘bout yer kissin’ my fiancée!"
“But Twilight kissed me!” giggled Apple Bloom.
“Potato, tomato,” said Twilight in her best Pinkie Pie voice.
Everypony laughed.

Later in the castle, after Dream had a good nap, Twilight found that Dream Walker was helping with the cooking of dinner, Apple Bloom volunteered to help, mostly to hang out longer with Dream Walker. Twilight was surprised and happy that her ‘other’ mother was such a good cook.

Dream Walker was in Elysium. After years of isolation and only occasional visits by her wife and brother, and only when she was lucid, here she was now with an extended family she belonged to. Applejack, Apple Bloom, Starlight Glimmer and Spike were included in that.

As all were socializing, Velvet took her daughter aside.

“Sweetie,” said Velvet, “I’m going to tell you the rest of the story in a bit. I talked with Dreamy and she agreed that she’d skip this part. We want nothing to induce the possibility of another relapse.”
“I have no problem with that,” said Sparkle, “and Jackie and I have a couple of questions to ask tonight. But I’ll wait until we’re all together.”
“That’d be no problem,” said Velvet.

Twilight Velvet and Dream Walker entertained the family with declassified tales of their past actions. Apple Bloom was amazed at the so called ‘war stories’.
The filly was in love with the mother figure of Dream Walker. This put her on the same footing as how Scootaloo viewed Rainbow Dash.

There was wine for the adults and soda pop for Apple Bloom, although they kept catching Dream Walker letting Apple Bloom have a sip of her wine. They’d jokingly chastise Dream for doing this. But she’d only retort:
“Oh. lighten up. I can spoil her if I want. I didn’t get to do that with Shining Armor or Twilight Sparkle!”
They’d all laugh.
“Well,” said Velvet, “while you do that, I need to talk to our daughter.”
Dream Walker had a quick flash of sadness cross her face as she nodded. But her smile returned as she hugged Apple Bloom.

In Twilight (and AJ’s) bedroom, the two Twilights sat and held hooves.

In Vanhoover in the past, several days after the confrontation between Meteor Shower, Twilight Velvet and Dream Walker…

“Meteor Shower,” said the pony in the white robe and hood. “We’re so close to realizing our plans. With many of our ‘reforms’ are already in place and our ponies in positions of influence in the NMW Church, we have a readymade power base.”
“What about those who aren’t in this with us?” asked Meteor.
“What about them? They’re already brainwashed to think of Celestia as a demon. A readymade army of fanatical zealots to use for us to overthrow the despot and set up an Equestria in our likeness.”
“And Nightmare Moon?”
“A story to scare foals at Nightmare Night. All that matters is that the fools think that they are achieving their goals.

And Nightmare Moon brings us to your wife’s family.”

“What about her family?”
“I understand that her sister is a marehood-munching mare-lover. Trying to convince ponies that she and the other are married. We have to make sure that they are out of the picture…

Permanently.”

“But sir,” said Meteor, “they’re both high ranking officers of the Royal Guard.”
“And Royal Guard don’t have accidents?”
“Yes,” said Meteor, “I guess.”
“Then you’d better make sure something happens! Also the church will help. I discovered that they think your sister-in-law will give birth to a pony that will stop the return of Nightmare Moon. They’ve already attempted to assassinate her and her disgusting partner five years ago.
And there are two church members that were sent to keep eyes on them on their trip here. I’ll send them to you.”
The robed pony turned and walked off. Meteor had more questions but he knew that the conversation was now closed.

There was a knock on the door to Orion’s cell[1] door.
Orion was at the door quickly.
“Brother,” said the acolyte, “you’re needed in the sanctuary. There’s a pony waiting to talk with you.”
“I’ll be right there.”
“No rush,” said the acolyte, “I must inform, Sister Meadow Flower as well.”
Orion started to be nervous about this, but he tried not to show it.
“I can get her,” said Orion concocting a believable lie. “She likes to meditate in the morning. I know exactly where she is (this part wasn’t a lie). I’ll get her and go right there.
The peace of the Great Mother be with you.”
“And with you too, thank you brother, ” said the acolyte, then he turned and left.

Orion returned to the bedchamber, Meadow was still in the bed. She was so beautiful to Orion. He almost drooled thinking of the passion they’d been sharing.

“Honey,” said Orion shaking the sleeping mare.
“Yes Dear,” replied Meadow.
“We’re called to the sanctuary to meet with somepony.”
“Oh, no!” said Meadow panicked, “you think they know?”
“I think that if the Church Orthodoxy Enforcers would’ve come, they’d not have bothered about asking to go somewhere.”
“The COE wouldn’t even knock,” said Meadow afraid.

The two put on their robes, without even doing the blessing prayer. Orion looked out the door, there were no others around.

“Come on,” he called to Meadow Flower.
They exited quickly and made their way to the sanctuary. As they walked, Meadow Flower figured that maybe she should share something with Orion before they met whomever.

“Orion,” said the mare, “I need to tell you something important before we do this.”
“What is that?”
“Orion, I’m planning on leaving the order soon.”
“Why?”
Meadow stopped, Orion stopped and turned to face her.
“Orion, I have to leave before it’s obvious and they punish me and cast me out in disgrace, or worse.

I’m certain that I’m carrying our child.”

A million things went through Orion’s head, a million emotions when through his heart as well.
“This quickly?” asked Orion.
“I should’ve told you on the flight, that it was ‘my time’,” said Meadow Flower. “I snuck away the other night to a ‘sensitive’ zebra healer. She confirmed it.”
“A foal? Our foal?” said Orion smiling. Meadow nodded, happy with Orion’s reaction so far.
Orion looked about quickly. The coast was clear and he kissed Meadow as much as he dared.
“Let’s see what they want with us and then we can talk about where we are going to go to get away from this.”
“You’d want to go too?” asked Meadow.
“Why wouldn’t I? I love you Meadow and I want to be there for our child.”
“I love you too!”
The two had to fight hard the impulse to embrace and kiss.

There in the dimly lit sanctuary was a green stallion with red mane and tail.

“How may we help you, sir?” asked Orion.
“I understand that you two followed two ponies from Canterlot to here.”
“Yes sir,” said Meadow Flower.
“They appeared to do nothing suspicious, they were always quite close,” said Orion.
“You’re aware that the Church has identified one of the mares as the one who’d have a foal that’d thwart the return of your Great Mother,” said Meteor Shower, “and they tried to kill them then 5 years ago?”
“I’m very aware,” said Orion, remembering the massacre in Ponyville 5 years ago.
“Well,” said the stallion, “the church wants the mare and her partner dead.”

There was a silence.

“Sir,” said Orion, “we’re a simple monk and nun. We aren’t trained to do such things.”
“This comes from His Eminence himself.” Said Meteor, “but if you can’t do it, I’ll tell him that you two are unwilling to fulfil your vows.”
“Forgive us,” said the two together.
“It will be done,” said Orion.

Later…

“Orion, my love, I’m afraid,” said Meadow Flower.
“Of what?”
“Honey,” said the mare, “we both have seen how much the church has changed. I’m starting to doubt my original faith. I know that there are others that are starting to feel that way too.”
“How do you mean?” asked Orion.
“We’ve always been told of the love and caring of the Great Mother.”
“And?”
“Would a loving mother condone the murder of a couple ponies that might do something in the future.
And you said that they were only going to sterilize the mare.
We both have seen the changes over the last 5 years. Things that were acceptable are now taboo. Actions that would have been unthinkable are now compulsory. Even the actions of Star Catcher, (may the Great Mother bless her memory), may have been more a personal agenda versus the doctrines.
And what is the need for Orthodoxy Enforcers, when love and peace is supposed to be the foundation of the faith?
I truly do now doubt my faith. And perhaps this is the sign that we should leave.”
“They expect us to go and do something about the two mares. This gives us reason to leave the cloister without suspicion,” said Orion.
“Just be careful that we don’t run into any of the COE. It’s said that they can read minds,” said Meadow.
“If we even catch sight of the ‘Green Robes’ then we must fill our mind with the affirmation of faith chant. Let it be all we think of. We can’t even take anything with us, lest we raise suspicions.”
“Then let’s go before I panic and give everything away,” said Meadow Flower.
The two kissed and then removed their robes while they fought hard the impulse to make love. But they knew that now was not the time. But they feared that they possibly might have missed their last chance, should they be found out.

The two walked the halls to the church exit. They were chanting the affirmation of faith chant so it’d be running around in their heads.
Ahead at the doors, were two green robed COE.

“You are Brother Orion and Sister Meadow Flower?” asked the COE.
“Yes brother,” said Orion using every bit of nerve he had to remain calm.
“The pony you are meeting is just outside,” said the other COE,
“Thank you so much, brother,” said Orion, “may the blessings of the Great Mother be with us all.”
“I feel you distressed,” said the first COE, “is there a problem?”
“No,” said Orion, not knowing how he wasn’t wetting himself, “His Eminence has given us a mission to do something we’ve not been trained for and we fear failure.”
“But we know that the Great Mother would not lay on us anything that we couldn’t handle,” said Meadow Flower quickly.
The two green robed ponies smiled at the pious answer. They opened the door and the two ponies exited.
It was the last time that they’d be even near the building.

Outside, there was the pony they’d met in the sanctuary.
“How may we help you, sir?” asked Orion.
“You were told in inside,” said the stallion sounding upset he had to repeat himself.
“So we’re just to go to the two in question and kill them?” asked Medlow Flower.
“No, it has to be done discreetly,” said the stallion.
“We can appreciate that, sir,” said Orion understanding that this stallion had no idea how to do this and was scared as well. “And you being an outstanding member of society and a pony of intelligence, we, a poor monk and nun only seek your guidance and wisdom.”
Meadow Flower didn’t know how she was able to NOT show amusement at this obvious flattery. But it appeared to work.
“I suggest that the you two go and try to meet the two mares.” Said the stallion, “It could give you ideas of how best to find when they’d be most vulnerable. Then report back to me at the address I’m going to give you, it’ll also have the names and address of the two you seek.”

The stallion levitated a parchment to the two and turned to leave, relived that he didn’t have to deal with it anymore. In his mind it was now a S E P, ‘Somepony’s Else’s Problem’. He trotted away quickly.

“He doesn’t have a clue,” said Meadow Flowering watching the receding stallion.
“Perhaps in more ways than one,” said Orion.

Orion and Meadow talked as they headed in the direction of the residential section of Vanhoover.
“Orion, my love,” said Meadow, “what do we do?”
“I’m not sure,” said Orion, then with a slowly forming smile, “but I know a couple of ponies that may be able to help.”
Meadow smiled at what she knew what Orion was saying.

Twilight Velvet, Dream Walker and Twilight Glow were finishing up lunch when there was a knocking at the door. Velvet and Dream felt strong and odd emotions near.
Glow got up to answer the door but her daughter and daughter-in-law stopped her.
“No mom, we’ve got this.” Said Velvet in a way that the mother didn’t question it.

“Full shields, my love,” said Dream as they approached the door.

They opened the door and were shocked. There were standing the two ponies from the Zeppelin. They were smiling odd smiles, not the ones they’d see on the robed ponies that went door to door.
“You?” said Velvet surprised.
“How may we help you?” asked Dream with a smirk.
“Hello ladies, my name is Orion and this is my marefriend Meadow Flower. But we suspect you know who we really are, as we’re aware of who you really are,” said the stallion. “We were sent by the Church of Nightmare Moon’s Witnesses…

To kill you.”

“May we come in?” asked the mare with an odd smile.

[1] As in a monk’s cell. Not a jail cell.

Chapter Six: The Assassinations

In the present…

“Well! I guess you’d have to give them points for honesty,” said Twilight chuckling, “I don’t think Jackie would be so forthright."
The mother smirked.
“That’s how we felt at first,” said Velvet. “But let’s go on.”

In the past…

“Wait! What?” said Velvet unsure but actually amused.
“We really need to talk,” said Orion, “and on the doorstep is not the best place to do this.”

A couple of minutes later, Twilight Velvet, Dream Walker, Twilight Glow and the two ‘assassin’ ponies from the door were sitting in the living room drinking tea and eating tea biscuits.

“Thank you for your hospitality Mrs. Glow,” said Meadow Flower.
“Don’t mention it,” said Twilight Glow, “I don’t often get a chance to entertain ponies that want to kill my daughter and daughter-in-law. At least ones who are honest about it. Usually, they’re dispatched before they can do anything.”
“About that,” said Orion, setting down his cup. “As I said earlier, we were sent by the Church of Nightmare Moon’s Witnesses to kill you.
But that’s not why we’re here.”
“We and others in the church are losing faith,” said Meadow, “things that were forbidden in the past are now compulsory, things that were allowed and encouraged, are now forbidden.”
“Like?” asked Velvet.
“I’m now carrying Orion’s child,” said Meadow, “I had a zebra healer confirm it. What should’ve been joyous news, has us in fear.”

‘That’s our fault,’ thought Twilight Velvet to Dream Walker.

“So could you explain why they sent you?” asked Dream.
“We were sent to Canterlot to follow you and keep tabs on you. However, other… Matters… Distracted us,” said Meadow Flower, taking Orion’s hoof. “The zebra told me that she could tell that some outside influences had been at work.”
“I was told five years ago that we were looking for Ψ agents,” said Orion, “the superiors told us what you were able to do. And I saw evidence of it that one fateful night.”
“We’re sorry,” said Dream Walker, “but we couldn’t let you mutilate my wife.”
“Please,” said Orion, “I’ve gotten past that and am glad that I was detained. Or I might have been counted among the fatalities.
But I’m sure that you may’ve been the reason that Meadow Flower and I spent the time on the airship falling in love. That is the most important point.”
“We thank you for that,” said Meadow. Who turned and kissed Orion, perhaps their first kiss in public.

“We were called to meet was a strange pony who explained that we needed to kill the ponies that we were following. He said it was because the church had not assassinated the two of you back in Ponyville. He appeared nervous but the hate he was displaying told us that what we were being told to do had nothing to do with church business.
But what he said made me suspicious, I knew that we weren’t going to kill either of you, back then. It was only to sterilize you, ma’am. That told us that what we believed in, back in the beginning, was no longer true and our leaders only had personal agendas.”
“This strange stallion,” said Dream Walker, “can you describe him?”
“Well he…” But Orion was interrupted by Meadow Flower placing a hoof on his foreleg and pointed to the wall.
“That’s the pony!” said Orion surprised.
The rest of the ponies turned and saw a wedding portrait on the wall of Moon Shadow and Meteor Shower.

“Well buck me running!” said Velvet almost shouting.

“Twilight!” said the mother with a snicker, “language! We have guests!”
“Sorry mom,” said Dream, “I think my wife’s mind is blown with the news that her brother-in-law has ordered that we be killed.”
“Brother-in-law?” said the two guests in disbelief.
“Can you excuse us for a couple minutes?” asked Dream Walker.
The other ponies nodded as Dream and Velvet got up to leave the room. But they heard from Twilight Glow:
“So you two are going to have a foal. That’s great news. Let me show you some of Twilight’s baby pictures.”
“MOM!” called out Velvet but Dream just giggled.

In the next room, Velvet and Dream Ψ spoke.
‘Honey,’ said Dream, ‘this could work to our advantage.’
‘How so,’ asked her wife.
‘Help me scan them to see if they’re being truthful, deceitful or they’ve been Ψ adjusted’
After a few moments, they were satisfied that these were telling the truth, they were sincere with their concern and even that Orion held no ill will toward Twilight or Dream. They could also feel the depth of their love for each other.
Dream and Twilight came back into the living room.

“And here you can see that Velvet would still suck her hoof until she was in middle School.” Said the mother, the two other ponies giggled.
Twilight Velvet rolled her eyes as she levitated the picture albums away from the group.

“Listen,” said Dream, “we have a plan that’ll help Twilight and I to take care of these issues.”
“And if successful, it’ll also help you from being persecuted by the church,” said Twilight. “And if it goes well, we can help get your new life started.”
“Will you trust us?” asked Dream.
“That goes for you too mom,” said Velvet.
The couple looked at each other and came to a silent consent.
“We’ll trust you,” said Orion.
“You know that I’ll always trust my daughters,” said Glow.

“Okay,” said Dream, “this is what we’re going to do…

Moon Shadow and Meteor Shower were contacted to come to Twilight Glow’s home right away, it was urgent, but nothing else was said.
Now as they were approaching Twilight Glow’s home. They were surprised at all the Guard and police presence there. Meteor was starting to get nervous.
Two ponies were being led away from Twilight Glow’s home. They were wide eyed and stressed beyond words. It looked as if they were covered in blood.
“Clean them up and take them to the train station to be taken straight to Canterlot,” said a Royal Guard Sargent. “If they try to flee, kill them! Murdering Royal Guard Officers needs to go before Princess Celestia herself!”
The two ponies didn’t fight back, they were obviously in deep shock. But as they saw Meteor Shower, they pulled loose from their escorts, then ran to Meteor Shower and fell to their knees.
“Did we do it right?” asked the stallion.
“We never had to kill before,” said the mare, “we did just as you told us.”
Several of the Guard and police close by looked at Meteor.
“Meteor!” exclaimed Moon, “what did you do to my sister?”
“We came up behind them and cut their throats,” said the mare, “was that the right way?”
“You didn’t tell us how,” said Orion.
At that moment, ponies from the coroner’s office levitated two stretchers out from the house. There were white sheets over the bodies and the sheets were stained with a lot of blood. The edge of one of the sheets was stepped on and slid off. There was Twilight Velvet, a large bloody gash on her throat and a look of pain and fear on her dead face.

Moon Shadow screamed and fainted.

“Did we do good?” asked the stallion, “is this what His Eminence ordered?”
The police, by this time, restrained the two assassins and started to take them away.
“Tell His Eminence, that we were faithful to the end,” said the mare, over her shoulder.
A couple of Guards came up to Meteor as well.
“Sir,” said the Guard, “we have some questions for you.”
“You can’t do this!” said Meteor, “I’m the district councilpony!”
“We don’t care if you’re Princess Celestia!” said another Guard. “Incitement to commit murder is a serious crime. Against Guard members makes it doubly so. Come with us.”
Ignoring his wife on the ground, Meteor showed his true colors and ran off. Several Guard and police took off after him. If he wasn’t in such a state of mind, he might’ve noticed that they weren’t perusing him as much as they were following at a distance.

Moon Shadow was taken in the house and put on the couch. After several minutes she awoke with a cold compress on her forehead and her mother holding her hoof.
“Mom?” said Moon, weakly.
“Yes honey, I’m right here.”
Moon sat up and looked around. There was no sign of blood or evidence of a struggle anywhere.
“What happened?”
“Well, Honey,” said the mother, “this afternoon, two ponies came to my door and told us that they were here because they were ordered to kill your sister and your sister-in-law.

Ordered by your husband.”

“Are you sure?” asked the daughter.
“They pointed him out from your wedding picture without anypony prompting them.
Your sister and Dream had us play along with an illusion, that they were murdered. They contacted ponies to make sure that you were to come here. They waited to enact the confrontation when you were in sight. It was so convincing, I almost fainted at first.”
“But the ponies who were being taken away, they were acting so convincingly.”
“You know your sister’s special talent. Dream Walker has that talent also. They did something, that I can’t understand, to make them believe that they really did it.”
“Poor ponies, to get arrested for something they didn’t do.”
“Not quite,” said the mother, “they were here trying to get away from that horrible church. Velvet and Dream told them if they allowed them to do something to them, then they’d guarantee that they could get away to where they could never be persecuted and they could deliver and raise their foal in peace.”

Elsewhere…

As the group was out of sight, a Ψ officer took custody of the two ‘prisoners’. He quickly removed the mental instructions that made them believe that they did commit the murders.
They were cleaned up and taken to the train headed south. They were given new ID’s and many bits to start a new life. The Ψ officer accompanied them all the way to Appaloosa. The two submitted to a mind wipe to remove the memories of the Church of Nightmare Witnesses.
The local Apple family gladly took them in. They eventually gave birth to a beautiful colt.

They named him Braeburn.

Back in Vanhoover...

Meteor Shower ran as if Cerberus were on his heels. He ran to the only place that he'd thought to go. Surely he would be able to help. Meteor pounded on the front door to the church.
The door opened slightly.

“How can we help?” said a voice.
“Let me in for Faust sake!” cried Meteor. He could see the police approaching at a distance. “Give me sanctuary!”

The door burst open, there was the pony in the white robe.

“Fool!” he screamed, “you’ve led them here!”
“But the ponies you had me send identified me and named you as the one who ordered the murders,” said Meteor, not knowing why he wasn’t being let in.

“That’s all we needed to hear,” said a voice.
The mental block that has made Twilight and Dream almost invisible, dropped.
“You’ve ruined everything!” screamed the robed pony, a bright bolt of orange flew from his horn and struck Meteor Shower, who screamed and fell unmoving.
Then he turned to retreat into the church. But the doors slammed closed in front of him and his robe flew off.

“Deputy Commandant, Major General Cygnus!” said Dream and Twilight together almost in shock.
“You bitches have ruined everything!” he shouted, “you mare-lovers have shamed the Ψ Unit by your very existence. But I’ll fix that now!”
With that the orange bolt struck out at Twilight. Twilight was able to produce a shield but it wasn’t enough. But before anything else happened, Dream Walker knocked Twilight out of the way and took a majority of the attack. She fell unmoving.

“DREAMY!”

The general laughed at this. But it gave Twilight enough time to focus all her hate and wrath. Her violet bolt struck out toward the general. His orange bolt intercepted it. It appeared that the general was powerful enough to stop it. But Dream’s blue bolt struck out from where she was laying. It hit the general without much effect. But it was enough to distract him.
Twilight’s violet bolt now broke past the general’s defense and slammed him hard. He started screaming as the aura covered him. Then he started to smoke as Twilight’s attack continued. He burst into flame, still screaming. Twilight was not letting up. Only when he was nothing but ash on the ground and even the bones were completely consumed did her aura dissipate.

The police and Guard arrived.

“I’m Lieutenant Colonel Twilight Velvet. Take care of the fallen and prepare to collect prisoners.
Then she cried out in an amplified voice:

“Everypony out of this so-called-church or in five seconds, or you’ll all be killed!”

The ponies that had been at the door watching ran out, followed by many others. After they were out, the ones that were coming out, Twilight’s horn glowed and the building burst into magic blue flames.
“Let it burn!” said Twilight, “no pony is to stop it. That’s an order!”

The prisoners were held until Ψ agents could determine if they were simply church members or if they were part of the conspiracy.

Not even caring about the status of Meteor Shower, whom medics were covering with a white sheet, Twilight sat on the ground holding Dream. Dream wasn’t able to speak, but Twilight felt her mind.
‘Honey, why did you do that?’ thought Twilight.
‘Twilight, my only love, I couldn’t let anything happen to you.’
‘That was foolish,’ thought Twilight, ‘but thank you my love.’
Dream’s mind went silent. Twilight started to panic, but she could feel that the mind was still there, just at rest.
Twilight cried uncontrollably. A pony sat beside her and was holding her, and cried as well. It was Moon Shadow.

Chapter Seven: Aftermath

Twilight Velvet, Twilight Glow, Moon Shadow and Dream Walker’s brother; Night Light along with General Moon Light and Princess Celestia were in Dream Walker’s room in the magic hospital at Canterlot Castle. A doctor was talking to everypony.

“I’m sorry.” said the Doctor in a black Ψ Unit uniform. “her internal mind is there but the attack has scrambled any connection between her internal mind and her active mind. It’s going to take time for her to get through this… If ever.
I’m sorry everypony.”

The doctor left the room.

“Lieutenant Colonel… Twilight,” said the general, “take as much time as you need, when ready, we’ll talk about new duties.”
“Thank you, sir,” said Twilight.
To his pleasant surprise, Twilight hugged the general, which he returned warmly. Then the general left.
“Twilight,” said the princess, with some trepidation, “the general public and most of the Guard, outside the Ψ Unit believe Dream Walker is dead, there’ll be a funeral with full military honors.
We’ll have to maintain this charade because of the possibility of threats to her life, which in her present state, she’s defenseless. And also for your safety. This includes any family that doesn’t know yet. Including any children that come along.”
That last part had Twilight puzzled.
“I can handle myself, Princess,” said Twilight.
“I’m sure you can, but there’s another worry.” Said the princess, “her mind contacted me and explained everything. She wants to tell you while she can. Unfortunately, lucid moments will be few and far between for a while at first.
Twilight, if there’s anything in my power to do to help you, let me know.”
The princess was heard in Twilight mind, as she hugged her student:

‘Remember that this is her idea.’

Then the princess left after telling the rest of the family that they needed to let Twilight and Night Light have a moment with Dream Walker.
Twilight held one of Dream’s hooves, her brother held the other. Dream was able to Ψ talk to them weakly. Night could ‘hear’ but he wasn’t able to respond.
It was unnerving with Dream Walker laying there unresponsive and limp as if dead, but she could reach out with her Ψ.

‘Twilight, my only love, I need to be sure that you’re protected until what time, if ever, I recover. And there’s only one pony I’d trust for that.
My brother, Night Light, is a bit of a geek and he loves BINGO of all things. But he was always an intelligent, loving and faithful pony.

Night, I’m trusting you to take care of my Twilight fully. I mean fully. This has all happened because ponies believe that she’ll have a foal that’ll thwart the return of Nightmare Moon. This is why I must remain listed as killed in action. There’re still ponies out there that believe this as well. That way there’ll be one less weapon they could use against Equestria and especially, against My Little Vixen. I’m counting on you to help.

Don’t be shocked, either of you. I might as well be dead, that’s what they want ponies to believe. And there’s no guarantee that I’ll make it back. I love you two so much.

Understand, Night, I don’t mean for you to just try to jump in the sack with her right away. She’s a soldier and would tear your body and mind apart if you tried anything that wasn’t consensual. But I know you wouldn’t do anything like that.’

Twilight could tell it was getting harder for Dream to continue.

‘Take your time to get to know each other. If things happen Twilight, remember that he is the same as my blood so if you have a foal, it might as well be my foal.

Night, can you give my wife and me a minute?’

Night Light wasn’t able to respond with his mind, but he let go of Dream’s hoof, kissed his sister and left the room.

‘My Little Vixen,’ thought Dream, ‘as odd as that sounded, the princess believes the prophesy. I’ve found that if the princess is worried, then Equestria should worry.’
‘I’ve found that too,’ thought Twilight.
‘Always remember that it really is alright for you to be with my brother… Even to be in love with him.’
‘I’ll do my best,’ thought Twilight.
‘I feel like I’m going to need rest soon, so let me get you to promise me two things.’
‘What are those, my Dream Lover,’

‘First, no matter what, or how long, never forget me.’
‘Never, my only love.’

‘Second, if you do truly have the daughter foretold…

Name her, Twilight…

After my greatest love………’

Dream Walkers mind went silent. Twilight could feel her there, but it was as if her mind was asleep or just out of reach.
Twilight cried hard for a time, just holding Dream Walker’s hoof.

In the waiting area, everypony saw Twilight leave Dream’s room.
“Is… Is she?” asked Twilight Glow.
“She’s resting,” said Twilight getting control of herself.
“Now what?” asked Moon Shadow.
“We go on with our lives. We live and love and be happy for Dreamy. That’s what she wants.”
“Let’s go to the rooms the princess has provided for now,” said the mother, “you need rest, Velvet.”
“I’ll be along,” said Velvet. “Night Light is taking me to get something to eat. We have a lot to talk about.”
Night Light’s ears perked up.
“We’ll see everypony soon,” said Twilight as she and her wife’s brother walked down the hall that led to the outside.

In the present…

The ponies opened their eyes, tears streaming down the cheeks of mother and daughter.
“The day you discovered my past at Canterlot Castle, was the day I’d just received clearance, because of Dream’s recovery, to tell ponies about Dream Walker. I’m so glad that they did,” said Velvet in tears.
“So am I, mom,” said Sparkle hugging her mother tightly, “and don’t tell me this time that ‘it’s just water under the bridge’.
“No Honey,” said Velvet, “this time, it isn’t.”

After several minutes, the two Twilights went and joined the family in the library. Everypony looked at them, but Sparkle went straight to Dream Walker and hugged her tightly.
“I love my noble and heroic mom so much,” said Twilight.
“I love you so much,” said Dream Walker.

After composing herself, Twilight nodded to AJ. They stood together, gave a quick kiss and then announced:

“Family,” said Twilight, “AJ and I have decided that it’s time that we got married.”

The family cheered.

“We have a couple of questions for everypony:

Dad, we both would like you to give us away.”

“My honor,” said Night Light.
“Starlight,” said Twilight, “would you be my best mare?”
“Yes,” said Starlight in a squeaky voice, she never thought anypony would think that highly of her.
“Apple Bloom,” said AJ, “Ah’d really love it if ya were my best mare,”
“Really?” said Apple Bloom excited, “sis Ah’d love to do that!”
“Our friends will fill other positions, and perhaps Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo would be ring bearers,” said Twilight.
“But that leaves just one more thing,” said AJ.
Applejack walked over to Dream Walker. Then taking her hoof said:
“Because my parents have passed and Twilight happens to has a ‘spare’. Would ya honor me by standing in as my mother of the bride?”

Three moons later…

The throne room of Canterlot Castle was packed. Because it was a Royal Wedding and the Coronation of the Princess Consort, there was Guard in the traditional red and white uniforms and ones in the black Special Ψ Unit uniforms lined the aisle facing inward.

To signal all was ready, the mothers of the brides were seated, which is usually a quiet affair. But not for two mothers of their rank.

Shining Armor opened the doors and announced:

“Troops, Attention!”

The Guard snapped to attention with a thunder of stomping hooves.

A military band then played single ‘ruffles and flourishes’ for the Brigadier General then after a pause they played five for the Field Marshal.

Starlight Glimmer and Apple Bloom were resplendent in their gowns by Rarity as they escorted the mothers to their place. But the two older mares out showed them in full Special Ψ Unit dress uniforms with their rank, medals and decorations shining brightly.

The band then played the Equestria National Anthem: Equestria, The Land I Love.

As they proceeded forward, Starlight and Apple Bloom were almost intimidated by these martial ponies. Especially with the troops saluting as they passed. Instead of being seated they stayed at attention until the National Anthem was finished. Then they bowed low to the three princesses on the dais then took their seats.

“As you were!” called Shining.

After the bridesmaids went forward and took their places, the brides and their escort appeared at the open door and the well-known bridal march played.

When they reached the front, Night Light kissed the cheeks of both mares and handed their hooves to the other. Then the two advanced up the dais and bowed low before the three princesses. It was hard to tell who of the five on the dais was smiling larger.

“Be seated everypony,” said Cadence.

“My beloved subjects,” said Luna, “what my sister is about to ask is the most important words two ponies can ever pledge. And I can’t think of two ponies that were made for each other more than the two before us.
They have faced good times and bad, and it has only made their bond stronger.
Now along with the blessings of the Princess of Equestria, I, the Princess of the Night do give my personal blessing for the oldest and most important ritual of the night: that of love.

My sister?”

“Princess Twilight Sparkle has been my student, protégé and mostly my friend since she was a filly. She has all my trust and all my love.
Applejack Apple has been the touchstone of honesty and forthrightness of a circle of friends the like most ponies’ wish they had.
Both of these ponies have assisted in saving all three Princesses before you, Equestria and the world itself.
I can’t think of a better pair of ponies to be joined.”

The princess paused then looked at Twilight:

"So I’m honored to ask:
Princess Twilight Sparkle, will you have this mare to be your wedded wife, to live together after the ordinance of the Crown in the Blessed Estate of Matrimony? Will you love her? Comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others keep you only unto her as long as you both shall live?"
Twilight took AJ’s right hoof in hers and looked her lover in the eyes.
"In the name of the Crown, I, Princess Twilight Sparkle, take you, Applejack Apple, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow."
Tears were playing at Twilight and Applejack’s eyes.
Then the princess looked to Applejack:
"Applejack Apple, will you have this mare to be your wedded wife, to live together after the ordinance of the Crown in the Blessed Estate of Matrimony? Will you love her? Comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others keep you only unto her as long as you both shall live?"
"In the name of the Crown, Ah, Applejack Apple, take ya, Princess Twilight Sparkle, to be my wife, to have an’ to hold from this day for’d, fer better, fer worse, fer richer, fer poorer, in sickness an’ health, to love an’ to cherish, ’til we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow."
“The rings please,” said the princess smiling.
Twilight took the ring from Scootaloo; Applejack took the ring from Sweetie Belle.
“Rings are a symbol of the love and the promise of marriage. They have no beginning or end. And so the rings are given as a sign and a pledge of your love for all time” said the princess.
“Twilight, place the ring on Applejack and repeat, ‘With this ring, I thee wed’.”
“With this ring, I thee wed,” said Twilight placing the ring on Applejack's left forehoof.
“Applejack, place the ring on Twilight and repeat, ‘With this ring, I thee wed’.”
“With this ring, Ah thee wed,” said Applejack as she placed the ring on Twilight's wing.

“Can anypony give good reason why these two ponies should not be married?” said Celestia.
The brides, the friends and even the princesses looked at Rarity. Mostly as a joke because of the grousing she’d been doing about Applejack becoming a princess.

“What?” said Rarity quietly.

No other sound from that gathering.

“Hearing none, then in the name of the Crown and our August Selves,” said the three princesses together, “we pronounce you wed. You may kiss your bride.”

There were cheers and applause but neither Applejack nor Twilight heard. They only heard their hearts beating as one.
“May I be the first to introduce Mrs. Twilight and Mrs. Applejack Sparkle.
The princesses smiled at the couple. Twilight nodded to proceed.

“Applejack Sparkle,” said Celestia, Applejack’s heart leapt at the name, “kneel before us.”
Applejack knelt down.

“Princess Twilight?” said Celestia.
With her magic, Twilight took the tiara from Sweetie Belle’s cushion and placed it on Applejack’s head.
“I, Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship, hereby name you, my beloved wife as Princess Consort. Rise and be recognized.”

There was great cheering as the wedding party exited. The brides stopped and took the mothers by the hoof and exited with them.

After the reception, Dream Walker and Twilight Velvet took the newlyweds aside before they were to depart for their honeymoon…

“We have a gift for you,” said Dream, “it was something we’d been given years ago, but we never decided the right time to use it, before it was too late for us.”
Twilight Velvet levitated a scroll to the younger mares. They opened it, Applejack didn’t understand it. But Princess Twilight did.
“Mom!” said Twilight Sparkle, “I thought this spell was a legend.”
“No legend,” said Twilight Velvet, “it is real. Princess Celestia was the pony that gave it to us.”
“What is it, Sugar Cube?” asked AJ.
“It’s a difficult, two part spell. The first part makes a mare extra fertile,” said Dream.
Applejack raised an eyebrow.
“What good is that fer us?” asked AJ.
“The second part,” said Twilight Velvet, still talking to Applejack but looking at Twilight Sparkle, “temporally changes a Unicorn (or Alicorn) mare’s genitals to fully functional male.”

Twilight and Applejack looked in astonishment at the older mares.

“You don’t think that we only want grandfoals from Shining and Cadence, do you?” asked the mothers together.
“And it’s your duty to carry on the Twilight name,” said Velvet.
“Talk it out after the honeymoon,” said Dream.
“We’ll help anyway we can,” said Twilight Velvet, kissing the younger mares.
“But don’t wait too long, like we did,” said Dream, kissing them as well.

The newlyweds just looked at each other and grinned.

EPILOGUE: Just When You Thought All Was Back To Normal

A couple of weeks later…

Twilight Velvet, Dream Walker and Night Light were sitting in the living room at the end of the day. They’d shared a great meal. Night Light was starting to fear he was going to get fat because his wife and sister, who’d moved in with them now, were producing some absolutely fabulous food.
The conversation was about the letters and cards they’d received from Neighagra Falls where Twilight and Applejack were honeymooning.
“For a couple who’ve ‘been together’ for several years,” said Velvet, “they are sure doing the newlywed thing.”
“I’m so happy that they are,” said Night Light.
“I’m sure that they didn’t tear up somepony’s uniforms their first night,” said Dream Walker, winking at Velvet who just blushed.
“I wouldn’t be so sure that some wedding dresses didn’t sustain any damage.” Said Night.
Everypony laughed hard.
“When are they supposed to be back in Ponyville?” asked Dream.
“Next week,” said Twilight, “Pinkie Pie has an after honeymoon party planed and we’re invited to attend. Plus Granny Smith invited us to stay at Sweet Apple Acres. She wanted to talk with ponies that are closer to her age. Plus I think Apple Bloom just likes us to be around.”
“I think that’d be great,” said Dream, “and I really love that sweet little filly.”

A knocking at the door interrupted their talking.

“I’ll get it,” said Night Light.

He got up and went to the door. He was only a minute when he called out:

“Ladies, I think you need to come here.”

Twilight and Dream looked questioningly at each other and got up to see what this was all about.

As they made it to the door, they saw a Ψ agent courier.

“What can we do for you, private?” asked Dream.

“I have a message for Field Marshal Twilight Velvet and Brigadier General Dream Walker.

That’s us said Twilight Velvet.
The courier saluted and the two retired officers returned it. He levitated a scroll to them, saluted again and then turned and left.

They all went back to the living room sat. Twilight and Dream were sitting next to each other. They both looked the scroll over, then they looked at each other in astonishment.

“What is it?” asked Night.

“Honey,” said Twilight to her mate. “Duty calls!”

TO BE CONTINUED…