Tending the Embersby KiernanChaptersOneTwoThreeFourFiveOneEmber awoke to a loud knock at his door. "Time to wake up," boomed a voice from the other side of the door. He recognized it at that of his adoptive father. "We're going out to the Everfree Forest." Enber yawned and stretched. He was a thin excuse for an earth pony, though not for lack of trying. He wanted his muscles to reflect his strength, but instead he was tall and gangly. He had a dark red coat with tiny flecks of orange smattered about all over the place. His mane was mostly black, with red tips at the end. Some of the other stallions joked about how he should grow his mane out and drape it over his dark brown eyes, but he had no interest in having a long mane. Even his tail was short and tightly bound. He climbed out of bed, neatly folding his bedspread back into its proper position. He knew what was awaiting him in the forest. Twice a year he would go out there with his adoptive father and uncle to hunt. Not for sport, of course. They would eat whatever they killed. Some of it right there and then, the rest would be frozen until later or dried into jerky. What confused Ember was why they needed to hunt now. There was still plenty of meat in their stores. After a quick shower, he stepped out into the living room, finding his adoptive father had already packed their supplies together. "Breakfast is waiting for you in the kitchen," he said, gesturing to the door. Perry had the body that Ember could only dream of having. He was very tall, with massive, well-toned muscles rippling from his neck to his back hooves. He also kept his mane and tail short, more out of necessity than style. But these were not the aspects that kept other ponies at a distance. Being the end result of a biological weapons experiment, Perry had razor sharp teeth that glinted in the light any time he opened his mouth. As if that weren't enough, he had eight horns growing out of his head, rather than the one most unicorns had. The four on his skull pointed backward, while the two on either side of his jaw pointed forward, as if they were mandibles. On top of all of this, He could spit massive torrents of fire and smoke from his mouth and nose. As frightening as Perry was, Ember wasn't scared of him for any of these things. Ember was afraid of Perry because Perry had no obligation to take care of him, and yet, he had for the past five years. At any moment, Perry could decide that he was no longer welcome in his home, and Ember would once again live in the street. Even though he knew that Perry would never be so cruel, He'd thought the same of others and had been betrayed before. Ember finished breakfast quickly and came back to the living room. "Is Somber going to meet us there, Mister Perry?" Perry shook his head. "It's just you and me this time. We need to talk about what's been happening at your school." Ember hung his head as he picked up his supplies. Without another word, the two walked out the door and made their way toward the train station. Canterlot was mostly empty this time of day, as most of the children were in school, and most of the adults were at work. There were plenty of ponies still walking around, but not as many as there would be on a weekend afternoon. "So, did Princess Luna give you time off for this trip?" asked Ember, looking for something to break the silence. "Yes and no," replied Perry. "I can take as much time as I need, but I shan't return until the situation is dealt with." Ember swallowed hard. "Is she going to... involve herself with this?" "Not if she doesn't have to. She's busy enough as it is. Besides, you're living under my roof. That makes me responsible for your actions. Not her." Ember began to lag behind. "I didn't mean to hurt him." "I'm sure you didn't. But you did hurt him, so we're going to go out to the Everfree Forest and you're going to tell me all about it." Throughout the entire train ride to Ponyville Station, Ember sat in silence. Perry had offered him a soft pretzel with cheese, but Ember had declined. As he went over the memory of his fight in his head repeatedly, he just made himself feel worse and worse. He had only been defending himself. He was the one who was under attack. Just as he was thinking about what he should have done differently, Perry shook his shoulder. They had arrived. Ember rather liked Ponyville. It was calm and peaceful most days, in stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of Canterlot. He knew very well why Perry had moved from his childhood home here to the big city, but a part of Ember really wished that he could live here instead. Just before they entered the forest, Perry stopped at the top of a hill. Ember was expecting this, as it happened every time they went hunting. Perry would stop at the top of this exact hill, look wistfully down at the statue on the lake below, then bow his head and continue on his way. Ember had asked before about why this was, but Somber had shushed him, promising to explain later. Most ponies were just as afraid of the Everfree forest as they were of Perry. Looking from a distance was fine, but to walk up and interact with it took courage. Despite this, neither Perry nor Ember broke their stride as they entered, both being well aware of the dangers, and well prepared to face them. The two walked deep into the woods, to areas that were left unmarked by many cartographers. Only when they came to the foot of a cliff did they stop. This was the location where they always set up their camp. Today would be no exception. Dropping his bag against a tree, Perry pulled out a large axe and offered the handle to his son. "I'll set up the site. You go bring in some logs." TwoEmber returned half an hour later, dragging four dead trees behind him. While he was tall and lanky in appearance, what he lacked in muscle mass was made up for in muscle density. Again, he wished his strength was reflected by his body type. In that time, Perry had cleared away all of the debris, set up the clay and stone firepit, and had almost finished the tent. Usually, Ember would sleep in one tent, and Perry and Somber would share the other. This time, however, there would be nothing separating Perry from his son. They spent the next hour chopping the trees down into an excessively large stack of firewood for their purposes, stacking it up beside the tent. There was a tradition they always followed on these hunting trips, apparently something that Perry had learned from his own father. The first night's dinner was always fish. This was because when Perry's father had first come to the Everfree Forest, the only thing he could find to eat was fish that he'd caught in the river. As the pond they were staying next to fed the same river, they would have little issue catching something. Spear fishing was the method of choice for them. This was in part because it was the way Perry's father had done his fishing, but more so because it was a quick and easy way to catch a fish, if one knew what they were doing. One of the big drawbacks to this method was that it didn't really work on small fish, but neither Perry nor Ember were prone to shying away from a flame roasted trout fillet. Ember slowly trudged into the pond with his trident. He had forged the prongs for it himself, though Perry had provided the wooden shaft. When Ember was happy with his location, he gave Perry a silent signal, and he jumped into the water. Perry splashed around a bit, sending the fish away from him. He was quite a distance from Ember when he started out, but gradually came closer and closer, drawing the fish toward his son. As the fish came closer, Ember sunk his spear down into the water in front of a fair-sized trout, skewering it and lifting it out of the water. With the trout gutted, skinned and filleted, Perry seasoned it with a bit of salt and the juice from a lemon. They each threaded a fillet onto a long green wood skewer and placed them over the fire. It was late in the afternoon by this point, meaning that they were ahead of their usual schedule by about half an hour. "Why were you fighting in school?" The question caught Ember off guard. Perry hadn't said very much since their arrival. He usually didn't say much anyway, preferring to use his actions instead. "I didn't start the fight..." "That's not what I asked." "He swung a baseball bat at me. By then he had punched out two other students. I felt that, since he had armed himself, somepony needed to disarm him." "And that somepony needed to be you?" Ember shifted uncomfortably. "No, but I was his main target. He was after me, the other two were innocents who were caught up in the whirlwind. They never should have been hit in the first place." Perry nodded. "I'll agree with that statement." "So I sought to end the fight before anypony else was hurt. I just wanted to knock the wind out of him, that's all." "A single blow to the chest, according to eyewitnesses." "That's right." "So what made him want to come to blows with you?" Ember rotated the fish so they would cook more evenly. "I don't entirely know. I was trying to ignore most of it, and I guess I succeeded. I knew he was angry about something, I just didn't listen to what it was." "Could it be that you weren't listening to him that made him angry?" "I don't think so. Maybe, but I doubt it. He and I had never had a conversation up to that point." Perry grew silent. He would need to consider this new information before continuing this line of questioning. Ember was glad to have the silence back, as it was better than reliving the fight. In truth, Ember had a thought as to why the fight started. While he had never spoken to the other stallion before, it was well known throughout the school who he was dating. Ember had been assigned to work with his girlfriend in their chemistry class. The day prior to the fight, Ember had given her his address, wanting to study with her. Or rather, he wanted to make sure she studied. His grade for that class depended on her passing as well, and she was dragging him down. Part of the agreement he had made with Princess Luna said he had to keep his grades up if he wanted to keep his job at the smithy. He was dropping dangerously low, so he wanted to boost her grades for his own gain. Apparently, she had taken it the wrong way, or her boyfriend had. It was possible that this fight could have been avoided had he responded, had that been the case. Instead, Ember had taken the advice he had received from a teacher, which was to not engage in conversations where the pony greeted him introduced themselves by calling him offensive slurs. Now two stallions and a mare were in the hospital, and Ember felt responsible for it all. It wasn't long at all before the fish was done. Perry removed the fillets from their skewers and plated them, giving one to Ember. It was a simple meal, though it lacked any vegetation. While this wouldn't phase Perry at all, Ember knew he would feel a bit sluggish tomorrow. They had a large sack of fruits and vegetables, but they would wait until tomorrow to dig into that. Ember was glad that the sack of vegetables wasn't following the traditions, as that would mean they would have to come out here without any vegetation at all. They would need to scavenge for it, as Kai had done before them. Ember was not a fan of scavenging for food, as he'd found it to be unreliable. The two didn't speak again for the rest of the night, aside from short snippets, such as "I'm going to the bathroom," or "I'm going to call it a night." Perry was the first to go to bed, leaving Ember to keep an eye on the hot coals for another hour. Only when he could hear Perry's soft snoring did he decide it was his turn to go to bed, putting out the fire with water from the pond. While most ponies would be covering up with a blanket in the chilly autumn air, Ember had a secret way of keeping warm. He had discovered on his first winter hunt with Perry that he and Somber both emitted large amounts of heat. That night had been particularly cold, but when nestled between his father and uncle, Ember hadn't even needed a blanket. Nor would he tonight. He lay down next to Perry, basking in the warmth that emanated from his father's body. ThreeEmber awoke the next morning to find that Perry had left the camp entirely. His first instinct was to panic, having never been left alone in the woods. Was this Perry's punishment for fighting in school? It was not. After a few minutes , Perry returned to the camp with their kettle. It was now full of pine needles. Ember breathed a sigh of relief, cursing himself for thinking ill of Perry. As he calmed down, he recalled that Perry did this every time they came out here, the big difference this time being that Somber wasn't around. The two shared a pomelo and several cups of pine tea before preparing themselves for the hunt. Perry, being a natural predator, needed no equipment other than his teeth and muscles to take down his prey. Ember, on the other hoof, was just a regular earth pony. His teeth weren't razor sharp, he had no claws and he wasn't even particularly fast. What he had was an arbalest. He had made most of the parts himself, excluding the string and the bolts. He had also done the assembly. He was, after all, a skilled smith. They put out the small fire they had started for their tea and set out into the woods. This would mean no talking for awhile, a factor that Ember usually wasn't fond of, but this time he preferred it, as it would mean that Perry wouldn't try to ask him questions about the incident at school again. No talking didn't mean no communication, however, as they were both fluent in hoof signals. This allowed them to move through the forest quieter than the wind did. Over the next three hours, they found nine deer in four groups. None of them were really suitable, as most of them were too young and small to make a decent meal, or were parenting such young. They chose to head back to their camp, have lunch, and resume the hunt in the afternoon. However, as they were en route to their encampment, Ember spotted a very large buck, and pointed it out to Perry. Perry nodded, climbing up into a nearby tree. Ember began to set up his arbalest. It took him forty-five seconds to prepare it. That gave Perry enough time to take his position. Ember took aim at he buck's shoulder, a nice, big target that would take the animal down quickly. With a loud thud, the lightly sharpened wooden bolt sailed through the air, punching through the beast's skin with a certain degree of difficulty. He had punctured the left lung, he was certain. As it tried to run off, it stumbled, signaling to Ember that he had injured it in such a way that it wouldn't be able to go very far before collapsing, had he been hunting alone. Luckily for both Ember and the deer, he wasn't alone, as Perry dropped down from above on top of the beast, wrapping his teeth around its neck and ending its suffering with a quick snap. They gutted it right there, leaving most of the organs on the ground. Most ponies tried to stay away from meats as a general rule, but even the ones that did eat meat typically left behind the offal. Perry was very upset by a pony he had hunted with a long time ago, because the other pony had left behind the kidneys, liver, heart and testicles. This was not the case with Perry and Ember, who took these pieces and placed them in bags for later consumption. That being said, they did leave a few edible pieces behind, such as the pancreas and tripe, partially because of their lack of fondness for these pieces, but also to feed the woodland scavengers. They had no intention of making sausages, either, so the intestines could stay. Perry carried the carcass back to the camp on his shoulders, while Ember carried the bag of offal. They worked together to put up a stand, letting the deer hang upside-down to drain while they had their lunch. Their lunch, however, would need to wait until they had washed up. They were absolutely covered in blood. Luckily for them, there was a waterfall that fed their pond, making it easy to wash up. Perry went first, as he was messier. As he bathed, Ember would set up the fire again, making sure it was ready for when they were ready to start cooking. This time, though, Ember was distracted. Usually Somber would be around to chat with, but being alone with Perry, Ember's eyes were drawn to his father. He desperately wished he could look like Perry. Even moreso now that he could see his wet mane clinging to his neck, the way his coat glistened under the crystal clear mist and the smoothness with which his hooves careened down his muscles. Perry was perfect. Only when Perry was finished and started to come back did Ember realize that he had been staring. He slipped by his father, hoping that he had gone unnoticed as he stepped into the cold shower raining down from the rocks above. He made sure that all of his thoughts from the past ten minutes were well and truly suppressed before he came back to the camp. Lunch was ready before long, being a potato that was just chucked into the hot coals for half an hour. Simply pull it out, cut it open, add butter, sour cream and chives, and you had an easy lunch. There was even a fresh kettle of pine tea, made from the leftover needles from their breakfast. They spent the afternoon sectioning off the deer into smaller chunks, placing the parts they wanted to keep in separate bags to be cut down later. The meat was very lean, a fact for which they were very grateful. It was healthier for them, after all. Two steaks were reserved for their dinner tonight, the rest was stored away in Perry's pocket dimension. This included the hide and the brain, as those would be used for tanning once they went home. The steaks were rubbed with salt and pepper, and placed on a metal grate situated just on top of the fire. Perry started chewing on the femur he had kept, a habit that kept his teeth sharp. Ember had kept the antlers for a decoration, but had disposed of the remaining bones that they were unable to pull any more meat from. He made sure the pile of discarded pieces was far enough away from the camp so as not to attract predators to them. Today had been fun, and had relieved much of his stress. He felt much better now than he had yesterday or the day before. Perry looked over to Ember. Without stopping his bone gnawing, he spoke. "Tell me everything you know about the stallion you fought with." Four"I want to know everything you know about the stallion who started the fight," repeated Perry. "I have no inkling as to why he would have singled you out as he did." Ember's eyes sank to the ground and he nodded. "He's one of the more popular unicorns of discussion in school. Not by me, mind you, I just hear about him a lot. I don't know him personally, so I can't account for what stories are true and which are false. He's said to be the star hitter of the baseball team, which I would believe. He's also said to be a descendant of royalty, which I'm less sure of." Perry flipped the steaks. "That would explain his weapon of choice." "So, he's dating a cheerleader. Cliché, I know. That's a fact I know for certain. She's not an unintelligent mare, but she sucks at chemistry. Really good at math, but not so with chemicals." "Not surprising. We all have our strengths and weaknesses." "So she was partnered up with me for our chemistry class. Big project. We're talking multiple weeks of putting this project together. Each of our grades is dependent on our partner putting in the work. Granted, I could ask the teacher to separate us and grade our work individually, but I thought it might be nice to raise her grades up a little bit. Improve her D to a C, at least. Now, chemistry may not be my best subject, but a low A is still an A. So I asked her if she would like to study together, and also discuss how our project was going to go forward." "Sounds like a fine idea." "I thought so. That's why I asked her to meet me in the park. This would be taking place tomorrow, if she had accepted my offer." "She didn't?" "She did not. She told me she was already seeing somepony. I tried to explain that this wasn't a date, but she'd already made up her mind. She didn't speak to me again after that exchange." The steaks had finished cooking by then, and Perry had transferred them to wooden plates. They preferred their steaks at a medium doneness, but they would still have to sit for a few minutes before the dug in. "Why not?" "The next day, before she came to class, her boyfriend came to beat me up. That's the fight that caused all of the trouble." "I see. That certainly explains why he was after you. He thought you were trying to steal his mare." "But I wasn't." "It doesn't matter. He thought you were. In his mind, that's enough of a reason. Or so I would think. I can't call for the operations of his mind, I can only guess." The two sat in silence for awhile. They had their steaks to eat, and they didn't want to talk with their mouths full. While Perry wasn't the best cook, He was still fairly decent. The steaks were good either way, being freshly cut shortly before they were cooked. Even though she didn't partake in the consumption of meat, Perry's wife was better at cooking it. Once they finished their meal, their conversation resumed. "Tell me about this mare," Perry inquired. Ember shook his head. "Not much to tell, really. Not that I haven't already said." "How do you feel about her?" Ember shifted in his seat. "It's not a very positive feeling anymore, that's for certain. I was feeling better before all of this started." "Did you like her?" "Not particularly." "Not your type, huh?" Ember shook his head. "No. Definitely not my type." "This might be an uncomfortable question," chuckled Perry, pushing his mane out of the way. "But it might elevate your mood. What is your type?" Ember bolted upright and looked at Perry as if he had just revealed the secrets of an unknown tribe of ponies. He couldn't tell Perry the truth, he'd disown him. But he couldn't lie to him, either. Perry hated being lied to. "My type..." Ember hunched over and stared into the fire. He thought for a moment about how he should answer. He decided that the best course of action was to tell the truth, but not the whole truth. "I'm interested in strong ponies who are also very kind." "What do they look like?" "It doesn't matter what they look like. Any body will do, so long as I can enjoy their presence, right?" "That's true. But you must realize that the pony you're describing could be a stallion. Have you considered that?" "I have," admitted Ember. "I know many ponies think that's wrong, but I've met some homosexuals, and I don't really think they're all that awful. In fact, I found them to be very pleasant." "Well, it's good to know that you're okay with that." Ember looked up at his father. "You're not mad?" Perry chuckled. "Not at all. I wouldn't even be angry if you were only into stallions." Ember felt as if a massive weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He breathed a sigh of relief, and gathered up his remaining courage. It was time to take a risk. "Mister Perry?" "Yes, Ember?" "I was wondering, have you ever had... intimate relations... with another stallion?" Perry looked over to Ember. He wasn't keen on sharing the intimate details of his love life with his son. Despite that, he could see fear and uncertainty in Ember's eyes. He decided that he would forego all names, offering only guidance. "I have, yes." "Does Mags know?" "I'd be a pretty poor excuse for a husband if I didn't tell my wife who I was sleeping with." Ember drew back, shocked. "You mean, you've done it recently?" Perry nodded. "It's a result of my biological tampering. My libido is ridiculously powerful. If I restricted myself to just Mags, I'd be in constant pain from lack of release. Or worse, she'd be in constant pain because of how often we'd be together. Having a second partner for stress relief is crucial for my biology. She understands this, and is very accepting of it." "What's it like?" "What do you mean?" "How does it feel to be with a stallion?" Perry rubbed the back of his neck. "It's certainly different from being with a mare. Not that it has to be, mind you." Ember shrank down. "Does it hurt?" Perry stood up and sat down next to Ember, wrapping a hoof around his shoulders. "The first few times, if you don't know what you're doing." It was all Ember could do to contain his excitement. Perry was holding him. He could feel the warmth radiating off of his father. It was the most comforting embrace he had ever felt. He began to weep. As Perry began to rock back and forth, Ember wrapped his hooves around Perry's chest. "Mister Perry... I think I'm gay..." FiveWhen Ember awoke, the sun had not yet risen. The last thing he remembered was crying in Perry's arms. As he raised his head, something sharp grazed against his scalp. Pulling his head back, he looked up at what had collided with his head. It was one of Perry's mandibles. He was still in his father's arms. They weren't sitting next to the fire anymore. Perry's back was propped up against a tree, and Ember was sitting in his lap. Perry was very big. The most massive pony Ember had ever met, excluding the princesses. While Ember wished he was that large, he lamented that being such a massive size meant that he couldn't be held like this anymore. It would be best if he could enjoy the feeling while he still could. After he became too large, he could give this feeling to somepony else, though, and that was a comforting thought. He lay his head back where it had been. His pillow that night had been Perry's masculine chest. He could hear the gentle beating of Perry's heart and feel to slow pulse of his breathing. He wanted more, but didn't feel that he deserved to go any further. He was shocked at amazed that he had even come this far. He was ecstatic that his father didn't hate him. Perhaps in the future, Perry would be willing to sleep with him, but that would be too much for today. The sun rose, and Ember rose with it. He had decided to go into the woods and bring back their tea leaves this morning, as a way of thanking Perry for his kindness. He knew the area fairly well, and had little trouble finding the pine trees on his own. A few small sprigs were all he needed. A quick snap of a twig, and he was back on his way. He knew the tree was powerful enough that it would grow back within the month. When he returned, Perry had already set up the firepit. They had finished their hunt, and they would be heading back home today. All that was left was breakfast. Ember was a bit upset that he couldn't have breakfast ready by the time Perry woke up, but not very. In truth, he was just happy to be having breakfast with his father. Today's breakfast was grapefruit and pickled asparagus. The mood had lightened significantly since they had arrived, and Ember felt spectacular. After breakfast, they packed up their encampment, making absolutely certain that they flooded the firepit to ensure that no trace of the flame remained, aside from the soggy mud that only moments ago had been ash. There were signs that they had been there, certainly. Fallen leaves had been pushed aside, a few slivers of blood stained the ground, and the pile of unused firewood that had been there when they arrived was even bigger now. If nopony else decided to camp here, then they wouldn't need to cut any the next time they came out. Whether that would be at the usually scheduled time three months from now, or later, considering their recent excursion. They made their way out of the forest the same way they came in, exiting at the same lakeside hill. Again, Perry stopped at the top of the hill, looking down at the lake. This time, however, Ember could see tears forming in Perry's eyes. He had never seen his father cry before. It was unsettling. He placed a hoof on Perry's shoulder. "What's down there? Why does it cause you such sorrow?" Perry hugged Ember. "At the bottom of this hill is a ghost. There was... an accident. His life came to an end right in front of me." Ember could feel his father's tears dripping onto his shoulder. "It's my fault he's dead." All Ember could think to do was to rub Perry's back, and usher him away from the lake. When Perry regained his composure, he looked right into Ember's eyes. "I want you to promise me, Ember. Promise me that you won't be in anymore fights. If not for me, if not for yourself, I want you to think about those two innocents who were injured. Even if it was an accident, even if it's not your fault, seeing somepony die in front of you is harrowing." "I know the feeling very well," Ember reminded Perry. "I saw my mother freeze. I saw my brother succumb to disease. Had you not come along, I'd have already been taken already in death's icy grip. I'm well aware of the consequences." Perry gave a knowing smile, then leaned forward for another hug. "I don't want to lose anypony else. You mean the world to me, Ember." Ember returned the hug. "I love you too, dad." Perry was so wrapped up in the emotional moment that he hadn't realized the title Ember had just given him. He wouldn't realize it until the next day. The train ride was a quick one, and they were back in Canterlot by lunch. Not that they were planning to have lunch together, as they had both enjoyed a soft pretzel with cheese on the train. When they arrived at their home, Magnolia took note of their smiles and assumed that their talk had gone well. She had been a bit worried, what with Perry's lack of social skills. She was glad to know that she was wrong this time. "How was your trip?" she asked, putting down her pruning shears. "Very fruitful," replied Perry, embracing his wife. "Did you talk about anything interesting?" Ember froze in his steps. He had revealed part of himself to Perry, but he wasn't ready for the rest of the world to know yet. "Sorry, Mags," chuckled Perry. "That information is confidential. Just between the two of us, until he decides he's ready to tell it." Ember smiled. It was good to know that Perry had his back. He felt that, with the strength of Perry's will standing behind him, he could withstand any hardship. After all, Perry was the ideal to which Ember strived. He was perfect.
OneEmber awoke to a loud knock at his door. "Time to wake up," boomed a voice from the other side of the door. He recognized it at that of his adoptive father. "We're going out to the Everfree Forest." Enber yawned and stretched. He was a thin excuse for an earth pony, though not for lack of trying. He wanted his muscles to reflect his strength, but instead he was tall and gangly. He had a dark red coat with tiny flecks of orange smattered about all over the place. His mane was mostly black, with red tips at the end. Some of the other stallions joked about how he should grow his mane out and drape it over his dark brown eyes, but he had no interest in having a long mane. Even his tail was short and tightly bound. He climbed out of bed, neatly folding his bedspread back into its proper position. He knew what was awaiting him in the forest. Twice a year he would go out there with his adoptive father and uncle to hunt. Not for sport, of course. They would eat whatever they killed. Some of it right there and then, the rest would be frozen until later or dried into jerky. What confused Ember was why they needed to hunt now. There was still plenty of meat in their stores. After a quick shower, he stepped out into the living room, finding his adoptive father had already packed their supplies together. "Breakfast is waiting for you in the kitchen," he said, gesturing to the door. Perry had the body that Ember could only dream of having. He was very tall, with massive, well-toned muscles rippling from his neck to his back hooves. He also kept his mane and tail short, more out of necessity than style. But these were not the aspects that kept other ponies at a distance. Being the end result of a biological weapons experiment, Perry had razor sharp teeth that glinted in the light any time he opened his mouth. As if that weren't enough, he had eight horns growing out of his head, rather than the one most unicorns had. The four on his skull pointed backward, while the two on either side of his jaw pointed forward, as if they were mandibles. On top of all of this, He could spit massive torrents of fire and smoke from his mouth and nose. As frightening as Perry was, Ember wasn't scared of him for any of these things. Ember was afraid of Perry because Perry had no obligation to take care of him, and yet, he had for the past five years. At any moment, Perry could decide that he was no longer welcome in his home, and Ember would once again live in the street. Even though he knew that Perry would never be so cruel, He'd thought the same of others and had been betrayed before. Ember finished breakfast quickly and came back to the living room. "Is Somber going to meet us there, Mister Perry?" Perry shook his head. "It's just you and me this time. We need to talk about what's been happening at your school." Ember hung his head as he picked up his supplies. Without another word, the two walked out the door and made their way toward the train station. Canterlot was mostly empty this time of day, as most of the children were in school, and most of the adults were at work. There were plenty of ponies still walking around, but not as many as there would be on a weekend afternoon. "So, did Princess Luna give you time off for this trip?" asked Ember, looking for something to break the silence. "Yes and no," replied Perry. "I can take as much time as I need, but I shan't return until the situation is dealt with." Ember swallowed hard. "Is she going to... involve herself with this?" "Not if she doesn't have to. She's busy enough as it is. Besides, you're living under my roof. That makes me responsible for your actions. Not her." Ember began to lag behind. "I didn't mean to hurt him." "I'm sure you didn't. But you did hurt him, so we're going to go out to the Everfree Forest and you're going to tell me all about it." Throughout the entire train ride to Ponyville Station, Ember sat in silence. Perry had offered him a soft pretzel with cheese, but Ember had declined. As he went over the memory of his fight in his head repeatedly, he just made himself feel worse and worse. He had only been defending himself. He was the one who was under attack. Just as he was thinking about what he should have done differently, Perry shook his shoulder. They had arrived. Ember rather liked Ponyville. It was calm and peaceful most days, in stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of Canterlot. He knew very well why Perry had moved from his childhood home here to the big city, but a part of Ember really wished that he could live here instead. Just before they entered the forest, Perry stopped at the top of a hill. Ember was expecting this, as it happened every time they went hunting. Perry would stop at the top of this exact hill, look wistfully down at the statue on the lake below, then bow his head and continue on his way. Ember had asked before about why this was, but Somber had shushed him, promising to explain later. Most ponies were just as afraid of the Everfree forest as they were of Perry. Looking from a distance was fine, but to walk up and interact with it took courage. Despite this, neither Perry nor Ember broke their stride as they entered, both being well aware of the dangers, and well prepared to face them. The two walked deep into the woods, to areas that were left unmarked by many cartographers. Only when they came to the foot of a cliff did they stop. This was the location where they always set up their camp. Today would be no exception. Dropping his bag against a tree, Perry pulled out a large axe and offered the handle to his son. "I'll set up the site. You go bring in some logs."
TwoEmber returned half an hour later, dragging four dead trees behind him. While he was tall and lanky in appearance, what he lacked in muscle mass was made up for in muscle density. Again, he wished his strength was reflected by his body type. In that time, Perry had cleared away all of the debris, set up the clay and stone firepit, and had almost finished the tent. Usually, Ember would sleep in one tent, and Perry and Somber would share the other. This time, however, there would be nothing separating Perry from his son. They spent the next hour chopping the trees down into an excessively large stack of firewood for their purposes, stacking it up beside the tent. There was a tradition they always followed on these hunting trips, apparently something that Perry had learned from his own father. The first night's dinner was always fish. This was because when Perry's father had first come to the Everfree Forest, the only thing he could find to eat was fish that he'd caught in the river. As the pond they were staying next to fed the same river, they would have little issue catching something. Spear fishing was the method of choice for them. This was in part because it was the way Perry's father had done his fishing, but more so because it was a quick and easy way to catch a fish, if one knew what they were doing. One of the big drawbacks to this method was that it didn't really work on small fish, but neither Perry nor Ember were prone to shying away from a flame roasted trout fillet. Ember slowly trudged into the pond with his trident. He had forged the prongs for it himself, though Perry had provided the wooden shaft. When Ember was happy with his location, he gave Perry a silent signal, and he jumped into the water. Perry splashed around a bit, sending the fish away from him. He was quite a distance from Ember when he started out, but gradually came closer and closer, drawing the fish toward his son. As the fish came closer, Ember sunk his spear down into the water in front of a fair-sized trout, skewering it and lifting it out of the water. With the trout gutted, skinned and filleted, Perry seasoned it with a bit of salt and the juice from a lemon. They each threaded a fillet onto a long green wood skewer and placed them over the fire. It was late in the afternoon by this point, meaning that they were ahead of their usual schedule by about half an hour. "Why were you fighting in school?" The question caught Ember off guard. Perry hadn't said very much since their arrival. He usually didn't say much anyway, preferring to use his actions instead. "I didn't start the fight..." "That's not what I asked." "He swung a baseball bat at me. By then he had punched out two other students. I felt that, since he had armed himself, somepony needed to disarm him." "And that somepony needed to be you?" Ember shifted uncomfortably. "No, but I was his main target. He was after me, the other two were innocents who were caught up in the whirlwind. They never should have been hit in the first place." Perry nodded. "I'll agree with that statement." "So I sought to end the fight before anypony else was hurt. I just wanted to knock the wind out of him, that's all." "A single blow to the chest, according to eyewitnesses." "That's right." "So what made him want to come to blows with you?" Ember rotated the fish so they would cook more evenly. "I don't entirely know. I was trying to ignore most of it, and I guess I succeeded. I knew he was angry about something, I just didn't listen to what it was." "Could it be that you weren't listening to him that made him angry?" "I don't think so. Maybe, but I doubt it. He and I had never had a conversation up to that point." Perry grew silent. He would need to consider this new information before continuing this line of questioning. Ember was glad to have the silence back, as it was better than reliving the fight. In truth, Ember had a thought as to why the fight started. While he had never spoken to the other stallion before, it was well known throughout the school who he was dating. Ember had been assigned to work with his girlfriend in their chemistry class. The day prior to the fight, Ember had given her his address, wanting to study with her. Or rather, he wanted to make sure she studied. His grade for that class depended on her passing as well, and she was dragging him down. Part of the agreement he had made with Princess Luna said he had to keep his grades up if he wanted to keep his job at the smithy. He was dropping dangerously low, so he wanted to boost her grades for his own gain. Apparently, she had taken it the wrong way, or her boyfriend had. It was possible that this fight could have been avoided had he responded, had that been the case. Instead, Ember had taken the advice he had received from a teacher, which was to not engage in conversations where the pony greeted him introduced themselves by calling him offensive slurs. Now two stallions and a mare were in the hospital, and Ember felt responsible for it all. It wasn't long at all before the fish was done. Perry removed the fillets from their skewers and plated them, giving one to Ember. It was a simple meal, though it lacked any vegetation. While this wouldn't phase Perry at all, Ember knew he would feel a bit sluggish tomorrow. They had a large sack of fruits and vegetables, but they would wait until tomorrow to dig into that. Ember was glad that the sack of vegetables wasn't following the traditions, as that would mean they would have to come out here without any vegetation at all. They would need to scavenge for it, as Kai had done before them. Ember was not a fan of scavenging for food, as he'd found it to be unreliable. The two didn't speak again for the rest of the night, aside from short snippets, such as "I'm going to the bathroom," or "I'm going to call it a night." Perry was the first to go to bed, leaving Ember to keep an eye on the hot coals for another hour. Only when he could hear Perry's soft snoring did he decide it was his turn to go to bed, putting out the fire with water from the pond. While most ponies would be covering up with a blanket in the chilly autumn air, Ember had a secret way of keeping warm. He had discovered on his first winter hunt with Perry that he and Somber both emitted large amounts of heat. That night had been particularly cold, but when nestled between his father and uncle, Ember hadn't even needed a blanket. Nor would he tonight. He lay down next to Perry, basking in the warmth that emanated from his father's body.
ThreeEmber awoke the next morning to find that Perry had left the camp entirely. His first instinct was to panic, having never been left alone in the woods. Was this Perry's punishment for fighting in school? It was not. After a few minutes , Perry returned to the camp with their kettle. It was now full of pine needles. Ember breathed a sigh of relief, cursing himself for thinking ill of Perry. As he calmed down, he recalled that Perry did this every time they came out here, the big difference this time being that Somber wasn't around. The two shared a pomelo and several cups of pine tea before preparing themselves for the hunt. Perry, being a natural predator, needed no equipment other than his teeth and muscles to take down his prey. Ember, on the other hoof, was just a regular earth pony. His teeth weren't razor sharp, he had no claws and he wasn't even particularly fast. What he had was an arbalest. He had made most of the parts himself, excluding the string and the bolts. He had also done the assembly. He was, after all, a skilled smith. They put out the small fire they had started for their tea and set out into the woods. This would mean no talking for awhile, a factor that Ember usually wasn't fond of, but this time he preferred it, as it would mean that Perry wouldn't try to ask him questions about the incident at school again. No talking didn't mean no communication, however, as they were both fluent in hoof signals. This allowed them to move through the forest quieter than the wind did. Over the next three hours, they found nine deer in four groups. None of them were really suitable, as most of them were too young and small to make a decent meal, or were parenting such young. They chose to head back to their camp, have lunch, and resume the hunt in the afternoon. However, as they were en route to their encampment, Ember spotted a very large buck, and pointed it out to Perry. Perry nodded, climbing up into a nearby tree. Ember began to set up his arbalest. It took him forty-five seconds to prepare it. That gave Perry enough time to take his position. Ember took aim at he buck's shoulder, a nice, big target that would take the animal down quickly. With a loud thud, the lightly sharpened wooden bolt sailed through the air, punching through the beast's skin with a certain degree of difficulty. He had punctured the left lung, he was certain. As it tried to run off, it stumbled, signaling to Ember that he had injured it in such a way that it wouldn't be able to go very far before collapsing, had he been hunting alone. Luckily for both Ember and the deer, he wasn't alone, as Perry dropped down from above on top of the beast, wrapping his teeth around its neck and ending its suffering with a quick snap. They gutted it right there, leaving most of the organs on the ground. Most ponies tried to stay away from meats as a general rule, but even the ones that did eat meat typically left behind the offal. Perry was very upset by a pony he had hunted with a long time ago, because the other pony had left behind the kidneys, liver, heart and testicles. This was not the case with Perry and Ember, who took these pieces and placed them in bags for later consumption. That being said, they did leave a few edible pieces behind, such as the pancreas and tripe, partially because of their lack of fondness for these pieces, but also to feed the woodland scavengers. They had no intention of making sausages, either, so the intestines could stay. Perry carried the carcass back to the camp on his shoulders, while Ember carried the bag of offal. They worked together to put up a stand, letting the deer hang upside-down to drain while they had their lunch. Their lunch, however, would need to wait until they had washed up. They were absolutely covered in blood. Luckily for them, there was a waterfall that fed their pond, making it easy to wash up. Perry went first, as he was messier. As he bathed, Ember would set up the fire again, making sure it was ready for when they were ready to start cooking. This time, though, Ember was distracted. Usually Somber would be around to chat with, but being alone with Perry, Ember's eyes were drawn to his father. He desperately wished he could look like Perry. Even moreso now that he could see his wet mane clinging to his neck, the way his coat glistened under the crystal clear mist and the smoothness with which his hooves careened down his muscles. Perry was perfect. Only when Perry was finished and started to come back did Ember realize that he had been staring. He slipped by his father, hoping that he had gone unnoticed as he stepped into the cold shower raining down from the rocks above. He made sure that all of his thoughts from the past ten minutes were well and truly suppressed before he came back to the camp. Lunch was ready before long, being a potato that was just chucked into the hot coals for half an hour. Simply pull it out, cut it open, add butter, sour cream and chives, and you had an easy lunch. There was even a fresh kettle of pine tea, made from the leftover needles from their breakfast. They spent the afternoon sectioning off the deer into smaller chunks, placing the parts they wanted to keep in separate bags to be cut down later. The meat was very lean, a fact for which they were very grateful. It was healthier for them, after all. Two steaks were reserved for their dinner tonight, the rest was stored away in Perry's pocket dimension. This included the hide and the brain, as those would be used for tanning once they went home. The steaks were rubbed with salt and pepper, and placed on a metal grate situated just on top of the fire. Perry started chewing on the femur he had kept, a habit that kept his teeth sharp. Ember had kept the antlers for a decoration, but had disposed of the remaining bones that they were unable to pull any more meat from. He made sure the pile of discarded pieces was far enough away from the camp so as not to attract predators to them. Today had been fun, and had relieved much of his stress. He felt much better now than he had yesterday or the day before. Perry looked over to Ember. Without stopping his bone gnawing, he spoke. "Tell me everything you know about the stallion you fought with."
Four"I want to know everything you know about the stallion who started the fight," repeated Perry. "I have no inkling as to why he would have singled you out as he did." Ember's eyes sank to the ground and he nodded. "He's one of the more popular unicorns of discussion in school. Not by me, mind you, I just hear about him a lot. I don't know him personally, so I can't account for what stories are true and which are false. He's said to be the star hitter of the baseball team, which I would believe. He's also said to be a descendant of royalty, which I'm less sure of." Perry flipped the steaks. "That would explain his weapon of choice." "So, he's dating a cheerleader. Cliché, I know. That's a fact I know for certain. She's not an unintelligent mare, but she sucks at chemistry. Really good at math, but not so with chemicals." "Not surprising. We all have our strengths and weaknesses." "So she was partnered up with me for our chemistry class. Big project. We're talking multiple weeks of putting this project together. Each of our grades is dependent on our partner putting in the work. Granted, I could ask the teacher to separate us and grade our work individually, but I thought it might be nice to raise her grades up a little bit. Improve her D to a C, at least. Now, chemistry may not be my best subject, but a low A is still an A. So I asked her if she would like to study together, and also discuss how our project was going to go forward." "Sounds like a fine idea." "I thought so. That's why I asked her to meet me in the park. This would be taking place tomorrow, if she had accepted my offer." "She didn't?" "She did not. She told me she was already seeing somepony. I tried to explain that this wasn't a date, but she'd already made up her mind. She didn't speak to me again after that exchange." The steaks had finished cooking by then, and Perry had transferred them to wooden plates. They preferred their steaks at a medium doneness, but they would still have to sit for a few minutes before the dug in. "Why not?" "The next day, before she came to class, her boyfriend came to beat me up. That's the fight that caused all of the trouble." "I see. That certainly explains why he was after you. He thought you were trying to steal his mare." "But I wasn't." "It doesn't matter. He thought you were. In his mind, that's enough of a reason. Or so I would think. I can't call for the operations of his mind, I can only guess." The two sat in silence for awhile. They had their steaks to eat, and they didn't want to talk with their mouths full. While Perry wasn't the best cook, He was still fairly decent. The steaks were good either way, being freshly cut shortly before they were cooked. Even though she didn't partake in the consumption of meat, Perry's wife was better at cooking it. Once they finished their meal, their conversation resumed. "Tell me about this mare," Perry inquired. Ember shook his head. "Not much to tell, really. Not that I haven't already said." "How do you feel about her?" Ember shifted in his seat. "It's not a very positive feeling anymore, that's for certain. I was feeling better before all of this started." "Did you like her?" "Not particularly." "Not your type, huh?" Ember shook his head. "No. Definitely not my type." "This might be an uncomfortable question," chuckled Perry, pushing his mane out of the way. "But it might elevate your mood. What is your type?" Ember bolted upright and looked at Perry as if he had just revealed the secrets of an unknown tribe of ponies. He couldn't tell Perry the truth, he'd disown him. But he couldn't lie to him, either. Perry hated being lied to. "My type..." Ember hunched over and stared into the fire. He thought for a moment about how he should answer. He decided that the best course of action was to tell the truth, but not the whole truth. "I'm interested in strong ponies who are also very kind." "What do they look like?" "It doesn't matter what they look like. Any body will do, so long as I can enjoy their presence, right?" "That's true. But you must realize that the pony you're describing could be a stallion. Have you considered that?" "I have," admitted Ember. "I know many ponies think that's wrong, but I've met some homosexuals, and I don't really think they're all that awful. In fact, I found them to be very pleasant." "Well, it's good to know that you're okay with that." Ember looked up at his father. "You're not mad?" Perry chuckled. "Not at all. I wouldn't even be angry if you were only into stallions." Ember felt as if a massive weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He breathed a sigh of relief, and gathered up his remaining courage. It was time to take a risk. "Mister Perry?" "Yes, Ember?" "I was wondering, have you ever had... intimate relations... with another stallion?" Perry looked over to Ember. He wasn't keen on sharing the intimate details of his love life with his son. Despite that, he could see fear and uncertainty in Ember's eyes. He decided that he would forego all names, offering only guidance. "I have, yes." "Does Mags know?" "I'd be a pretty poor excuse for a husband if I didn't tell my wife who I was sleeping with." Ember drew back, shocked. "You mean, you've done it recently?" Perry nodded. "It's a result of my biological tampering. My libido is ridiculously powerful. If I restricted myself to just Mags, I'd be in constant pain from lack of release. Or worse, she'd be in constant pain because of how often we'd be together. Having a second partner for stress relief is crucial for my biology. She understands this, and is very accepting of it." "What's it like?" "What do you mean?" "How does it feel to be with a stallion?" Perry rubbed the back of his neck. "It's certainly different from being with a mare. Not that it has to be, mind you." Ember shrank down. "Does it hurt?" Perry stood up and sat down next to Ember, wrapping a hoof around his shoulders. "The first few times, if you don't know what you're doing." It was all Ember could do to contain his excitement. Perry was holding him. He could feel the warmth radiating off of his father. It was the most comforting embrace he had ever felt. He began to weep. As Perry began to rock back and forth, Ember wrapped his hooves around Perry's chest. "Mister Perry... I think I'm gay..."
FiveWhen Ember awoke, the sun had not yet risen. The last thing he remembered was crying in Perry's arms. As he raised his head, something sharp grazed against his scalp. Pulling his head back, he looked up at what had collided with his head. It was one of Perry's mandibles. He was still in his father's arms. They weren't sitting next to the fire anymore. Perry's back was propped up against a tree, and Ember was sitting in his lap. Perry was very big. The most massive pony Ember had ever met, excluding the princesses. While Ember wished he was that large, he lamented that being such a massive size meant that he couldn't be held like this anymore. It would be best if he could enjoy the feeling while he still could. After he became too large, he could give this feeling to somepony else, though, and that was a comforting thought. He lay his head back where it had been. His pillow that night had been Perry's masculine chest. He could hear the gentle beating of Perry's heart and feel to slow pulse of his breathing. He wanted more, but didn't feel that he deserved to go any further. He was shocked at amazed that he had even come this far. He was ecstatic that his father didn't hate him. Perhaps in the future, Perry would be willing to sleep with him, but that would be too much for today. The sun rose, and Ember rose with it. He had decided to go into the woods and bring back their tea leaves this morning, as a way of thanking Perry for his kindness. He knew the area fairly well, and had little trouble finding the pine trees on his own. A few small sprigs were all he needed. A quick snap of a twig, and he was back on his way. He knew the tree was powerful enough that it would grow back within the month. When he returned, Perry had already set up the firepit. They had finished their hunt, and they would be heading back home today. All that was left was breakfast. Ember was a bit upset that he couldn't have breakfast ready by the time Perry woke up, but not very. In truth, he was just happy to be having breakfast with his father. Today's breakfast was grapefruit and pickled asparagus. The mood had lightened significantly since they had arrived, and Ember felt spectacular. After breakfast, they packed up their encampment, making absolutely certain that they flooded the firepit to ensure that no trace of the flame remained, aside from the soggy mud that only moments ago had been ash. There were signs that they had been there, certainly. Fallen leaves had been pushed aside, a few slivers of blood stained the ground, and the pile of unused firewood that had been there when they arrived was even bigger now. If nopony else decided to camp here, then they wouldn't need to cut any the next time they came out. Whether that would be at the usually scheduled time three months from now, or later, considering their recent excursion. They made their way out of the forest the same way they came in, exiting at the same lakeside hill. Again, Perry stopped at the top of the hill, looking down at the lake. This time, however, Ember could see tears forming in Perry's eyes. He had never seen his father cry before. It was unsettling. He placed a hoof on Perry's shoulder. "What's down there? Why does it cause you such sorrow?" Perry hugged Ember. "At the bottom of this hill is a ghost. There was... an accident. His life came to an end right in front of me." Ember could feel his father's tears dripping onto his shoulder. "It's my fault he's dead." All Ember could think to do was to rub Perry's back, and usher him away from the lake. When Perry regained his composure, he looked right into Ember's eyes. "I want you to promise me, Ember. Promise me that you won't be in anymore fights. If not for me, if not for yourself, I want you to think about those two innocents who were injured. Even if it was an accident, even if it's not your fault, seeing somepony die in front of you is harrowing." "I know the feeling very well," Ember reminded Perry. "I saw my mother freeze. I saw my brother succumb to disease. Had you not come along, I'd have already been taken already in death's icy grip. I'm well aware of the consequences." Perry gave a knowing smile, then leaned forward for another hug. "I don't want to lose anypony else. You mean the world to me, Ember." Ember returned the hug. "I love you too, dad." Perry was so wrapped up in the emotional moment that he hadn't realized the title Ember had just given him. He wouldn't realize it until the next day. The train ride was a quick one, and they were back in Canterlot by lunch. Not that they were planning to have lunch together, as they had both enjoyed a soft pretzel with cheese on the train. When they arrived at their home, Magnolia took note of their smiles and assumed that their talk had gone well. She had been a bit worried, what with Perry's lack of social skills. She was glad to know that she was wrong this time. "How was your trip?" she asked, putting down her pruning shears. "Very fruitful," replied Perry, embracing his wife. "Did you talk about anything interesting?" Ember froze in his steps. He had revealed part of himself to Perry, but he wasn't ready for the rest of the world to know yet. "Sorry, Mags," chuckled Perry. "That information is confidential. Just between the two of us, until he decides he's ready to tell it." Ember smiled. It was good to know that Perry had his back. He felt that, with the strength of Perry's will standing behind him, he could withstand any hardship. After all, Perry was the ideal to which Ember strived. He was perfect.
