Look How They Shine For You
"Where are we going, Mama?"
Fluttershy couldn't help but chuckle softly at her seven-year old son, nuzzling her cheek against his.
"Eww!" he exclaimed, jumping back in disgust.
"Not outside here!"
"Dragonfly," she called out his name.
"I'm just taking you to somewhere special, that's all."
"Well, if it's where you and Daddy-"
"Enough of that," she snapped, silencing the young colt immediately.
"I'm sure you're old enough to know when to stop misbehaving."
"Fine~!"
Mother and son walked across the streets of Ponyville, the sun shining low in a late afternoon spectacle. Lights were flickering on from each windows, with all the residents making way for night.
The quieting atmosphere made the yellow pegasus sigh with relief, her son just looking around curiously.
"Fluttershy!"
Dragonfly watched as his mother perked about, helping her search for the source of the voice.
"Over there!" he exclaimed gleefully. "It's Miss Rarity!"
"Rarity! How nice it is to see you!"
The two mares trotted into a tight embrace, only making the young colt look away in disgust.
"I've seen you brought Dragon with you!" Rarity cooed, ruffling his short, gold mane.
"Look at you! All grown up already!"
"Kids grow fast these days.... right, Dragonfly?"
"Whatever."
"So where are you off to?" Fluttershy asked, ignoring her son's rudeness.
"Just got back from gem-hunting for Spike," Rarity explained.
"He helped me finish this fabulous dress~! Ooh, and you wouldn't believe how delicate he was! So I thought I would give him a reward!"
"That young dragon sure grows up fast," the yellow pegasus replied, her friend giving a nod.
Spike was about twice their size already, having grown in the past seven years. He had just sprouted his wings about a few months ago and was learning how to fly with Scootaloo, their tutor being, unsurprisingly, Rainbow Dash.
"When did you two plan to marry?"
"We're thinking of holding the wedding next month or so," the white unicorn answered.
"But really though, your son had been growing up healthily as well! I wouldn't be surprised if he had inherited his father's potency."
"Macintosh would've been proud then!" Fluttershy joked gleefully, making the two mares laugh while Dragonfly could only watch them, perplexed.
"Well, gotta go. Come on, Dragonfly!"
"Ta-ta, Fluttershy!"
The old friends smiled their farewells, their paths separate with Fluttershy and her son heading towards the meadows in the outskirts of town, close to their home, though Dragonfly knew from their diverting path that they weren't going home immediately.
"When I grow up," the colt began. "I want to be a Wonderbolt. Just like Miss Dash!"
Fluttershy could only chuckle at his random outburst, before feeling a small tug at her wings.
"Can you tell me where are we going now?" he asked again, almost pleadingly.
"Please, Mama?"
"Alright, alright," his mother said with a chuckle.
"We're going to the hillside."
"But didn't we just went there a few weeks ago?"
"That was for our picnic, yes."
Fluttershy brushed her pink mane aside, guiding her son forward.
"But today's visit will be a special one."
It wasn't long before they reached their destination. At that time, the sun was starting to set in the horizon, the sky colored in the wondrous spectrum of dazzling gold, nearly matching Dragonfly's mane.
The tall tree stood on the top of the hill, being the only source of shade in the stretching expanse of endless grass.
Fluttershy sighed, settling herself down under the branches, her son following immediately.
As if on cue, a gentle wind picked up, brushing through each of their manes and rustling the leaves above them. Dragonfly held in a deep breath, admiring the serenity of the warm evening.
"So," he asked, turning to his mother.
"Why are we here?"
The yellow pegasus pondered for a moment, before answering his question:
"We are here to talk."
"Talk? Here?"
Dragonfly looked around the empty meadow, fuddled by his mother's choice.
"Why can't we talk at home? Why can't Daddy come along as well?"
"Cause I asked him not to," she replied, giving her son a smile.
Fluttershy bit her lip. Time to break down what she had rehearsed...
"Remember the times we came here? Before any of the picnics?"
"I came here before?" he asked.
"But didn't the first time I visited this place was on a picnic as well?"
"Of course you can't remember," Fluttershy responded, letting out a warm chuckle.
"Silly me. You were still not born to this world yet, dear."
"It was somehow on a day like this. Many times in the past I've come here to have a little break from all the going-ons in town. I had many fond memories of this place."
The mare turned to her son, who was listening attentively, nudging her to continue.
"Well, see.... it all began about eleven years ago..."
~>|------------------------------ (o) ---------- <~|~> ---------- (o) ------------------------------|<~
"And the ball flies straight to the tree... Fluttershy!!"
"Huh... what?" she could only respond, before noticing a white baseball whizzing towards her face.
She quickly darted downwards, letting out a short 'eep!' as it flew just above her mane.
"Ugh.... Fluttershy!" Rainbow Dash shouted, racing after the ball.
"Focus next time!"
"Rainbow, she ain't part of the game," Applejack said, helping her friend up.
"Come now Flutters. Get a little rest."
"Th-Thank you, Applejack," she could only stammer, still shaken from her close encounter.
"Why, Fluttershy darling," Rarity called her over.
"Your mane's tangled!"
Angel hopped over to his owner, his usual, grumpy frown evident, handing her a small, pink comb that the white unicorn had offered.
"Thank you, Rarity," the pegasus replied silently.
"Well, she ain't tangled till she's wrangled!" Pinkie exclaimed, bouncing around the annoyed Twilight, who was busy going through another book.
"Pass the ball, Dashie!!"
In response, the cyan pegasus threw it, thought it went a little too low.
"Twilight!" the pink mare called to her friend.
"What is it n-umph!"
The ball struck Twilight squarely in the face, earning laughs from all five of her friends.
The unicorn just groaned, rubbing her aching head as she shot a glare towards Rainbow, then to Pinkie.
"I'm trying to read here!"
"C-Come on, sugarcube!" Applejack managed to stutter out amidst her laughter.
"Ya gotta socialize once in a while!"
"Pfftt..... fine..."
Twilight turned to Fluttershy and Rarity, who was trying hard not to giggle.
"Well? How's things going on with Spike?" she asked the white unicorn first.
"Oh, you know how he is."
The white unicorn gently sipped on a cup of tea, her horn flaring a light blue.
"That dragon certainly craves my attention."
"We all know he has a crush on you," the lavender unicorn teased.
"I... I'm still... ahem..."
A blush emanated from Rarity's cheeks, making her two friends laugh.
"I'm trying to get used to him..." she began, her voice turning into a slight whisper.
"You know how demanding Spikey-Wikey can be!"
"Ohhh~!" Twilight and Fluttershy said in unison, giggling mischievously as the white unicorn's cheeks turned redder and redder, nearly matching the fire ruby she had got from the dragon in question.
"Rarity loves Spikey-Wikey~! Rarity loves Spikey-Wikey~!"
"Shut up!" she retorted with a chuckle at their jingle, making her two friends laugh.
"Enough about me. How about Fluttershy?"
"Yeah.... come to think of it..."
Twilight turned to the yellow mare, who's eyes were widened at the sudden shift of attention.
"I've heard that you've been eyeing somepony lately."
"Wh-what? That's really ridiculous. Why would I set my sights on anypony that..."
The sly stares her friends were giving started to make her uneasy, her voice faltering a little.
"I couldn't.... have possibly... set... my... eyes...... on....... eep!"
"Oh, come on, Fluttershy!" the lavender unicorn retorted, Rarity chuckling softly as their friend darted into the branches above, rustling a few leaves on the way.
"Promise we won't tell anypony!"
"Anypony about what?"
The remaining three friends now stepped over, utterly curious at the sudden getaway the yellow pegasus has made.
"What is it? What is it?" Pinkie shouted, rattling with excitement.
"Is it about Fluttershy? Huh? Huh? HUH?!"
"Fluttershy clearly had set her eyes on somepony," Rarity answered, the pegasus in question whimpering audibly from above.
"Really?" Rainbow exclaimed in disbelief.
"Who is it?"
"We're all trying to find out!" Twilight responded.
"Hear that, Fluttershy? We all wanna know who this special stallion of yours is!"
"Come on down!" Pinkie exclaimed, bouncing up to the tree.
"No..."
"Applejack?" Rarity turned to the orange mare, who was somewhat silent throughout the conversation.
"Want to use those two hind hooves of yours?"
"No need for buckin' trees. Ah know who that mystery pony is already."
Everypony gasped in surprise and disbelief, including Fluttershy.
"You....? y-you... but... how did you..."
"Shucks, Shy. Ah could tell."
Applejack tilted her hat, glancing up at their timid friend peering out from the branches.
"Ya always around him lately. Everypony would've guessed it!"
Twilight pondered for a moment, before the answer lit up in her head.
"No way.... don't tell me..."
"Is it Big Mac?"
She was rewarded with another nod from Applejack, making the latter gasp yet again.
"Come on! Y'all should've noticed!"
"Big Mac? Really?"
Rainbow stopped to think, before muttering:
"Well, thinking about it... it kinda makes a little sense."
The cyan pegasus looked up to Fluttershy, still hiding in the trees.
"So when are you wanting to reveal this secret of yours to him?"
"To be honest..." Applejack cut in before the yellow mare could answer.
"They've been dating for three months now..."
"WHAT??!!"
Another wave of gasps rang throughout the group, before Rarity stomped her hooves, insulted.
"That's it, Fluttershy! Come down here this instant!"
Fluttershy did as she was told, her wings flapping nervously. She hovered down the bark, settling down right in front of all her friends. A nervous bead of sweat crept down her skin, the mare gulping silently.
"I... um... I-I... y-you see.... uh.... um... wh-what I'm trying t-to say is-"
Her words were choked out as she felt the tight feeling of five pairs of hooves wrapped around her, clinging her in a tight yet warm embrace, before letting go.
"Fluttershy!" Rarity somewhat scolded, though gently.
"You could've told us about it!"
"Yeah! What's the big deal?" Rainbow rasped.
"I... uh.. thought it's best to reveal it for later..."
"Well, it doesn't matter!"
Pinkie Pie bounced around the group, making them chuckle in amusement as she cried out:
"This calls for a 'Fluttershy and Big Macintosh's SUPER FANTASTIC ROMANTIC REVELATION' PARTY!!"
The others couldn't agree more, quickly galloping down the meadow.
Fluttershy held her breath, her heart beating rapidly with glee.
Wait 'till Big Mac hears about this!"
~>|------------------------------ (o) ---------- <~|~> ---------- (o) ------------------------------|<~
"Then what happened?"
"We had a party, of course!"
Fluttershy beamed, gazing at the sunset.
"You know how Pinkie is. Always crazy about parties."
"She holds the best birthday parties!" Dragonfly proclaimed, giggling with excitement.
"My birthday's coming, right?"
"Sure is," his mother replied gently in her caring voice.
"Sweet! I'm gonna get so many gifts and-"
He was interrupted by Fluttershy's skeptical look, letting out a sheepish laugh as he settled back down beside his mother.
"Sorry... almost forgot. How did Daddy take it?"
"He just went along with it, though I know he was happy that Ponyville finally knows we're together."
The mare just sighed, looking beyond the horizon.
"I remember the next time we came here. It was another big celebration."
"What's that?"
Fluttershy chuckled at her son's enthusiasm, ruffling her son's golden wisp of a mane.
"Well... if you want to know so badly..."
"It was a year later, when Daddy and I got married..."
~>|------------------------------ (o) ---------- <~|~> ---------- (o) ------------------------------|<~
"Fluttersh'ah? Ya ready in there?"
"Just a minute!" she called out loudly to Applejack from her cottage.
"Your sister's helping me with the dress!"
Apple Bloom nodded, even though she knew the orange mare wouldn't be able to see her.
"Where to?" she asked the pegasus, her teeth clenched onto a white ribbon.
"Around my waist. Gently, now..."
Fluttershy held her breath as the yellow filly hopped around her, a duo of birds quickly taking over by looping it around quickly, before tying it into a knot.
"Great!" she said, thanking both filly and the birds.
"Now for the veil..."
"If ya married to m'ah big brother..."
Apple Bloom pondered for a moment, before continuing:
"Does that make me ya sister-in-law?"
"Correct," she replied, making the filly beam.
"Well, rattlesnakes! That means Ah have two sisters now!"
Fluttershy giggled at the excited filly, who was prancing on the bed with Angel, the rabbit just crossing his paws grumpily at the sight of the mess she was making.
"Yes you would, Apple Bloom."
A squirrel scampered up to her back, with two of its comrades following behind, before all three effortlessly kicked the veil from her neck, draping it over her face.
Beside her was a fox, nipping tightly onto her mane as the birds brushed it with a comb, before they started braiding it delicately, careful not to let the glistening veil slip from her head.
"Are all your friends arriving?" Fluttershy asked the filly.
"They all are!" she replied eagerly.
"Everypony's invited! There'll be so much ponies, all watching you and m'ah brother happily together..."
Fluttershy paled at the thought of that.
"Everypony's.... *gulp*... invited?"
"F'course! It's a wedding we're talkin' about!"
"And... h-how much ponies are coming?"
"Maybe dozens?"
Apple Bloom stopped to think whilst muttering out the possibilities, oblivious to the pegasus's growing fear.
"Hundreds? Thousands! Maybe the Princesses themselves!!"
"The... P-Prin... oh... my..."
The door blasted open, with Applejack quickly marching in.
"Hurry up, Fluttersh'ah! Equestria can't wait forever, ya know!"
Fluttershy hesitantly looked at the door outside, leading into the ceremony. She gulped, swallowing a lump down her throat. Her hooves were trembling nervously, wanting to give away.
"Come on, Fluttersh'ah!" Apple Bloom squeaked, dragging her hoof.
The pegasus held her breath.
"Calm down...." she muttered quietly to herself, her face steeling with a resolve.
"It's your wedding day, Fluttershy.... you're getting married... just... relax..."
Stepping out of the door, she froze immediately, her wall of determination crumbling down.
Sure enough, there was a crowd of ponies, all aligned with their faces beaming as they formed an aisle towards the meadow. Their eyes were settled on her, making her feel faint.
"I...... um....... can I come back-"
"Move it!" Applejack snapped, making her hooves march forward immediately despite wiggling out of nervousness.
She trotted down the aisle, trying to keep her cool.
"Don't mind them," she muttered again, trying to keep her smile wide, her head high.
"They're all here to cheer for you. You should be proud!"
The path seemed to take forever, the pegasus trying to endure the pressure and stress every pair of eyes were giving her. Her heart pumped and convulsed violently, wanting to break out of her chest.
"Almost there..." her inner voice said reassuringly.
"Just a few more steps..."
The tree sitting on the meadow came into view, as well as the familiar ponies all standing around it.
Fluttershy started to smile, flower petals raining down at her from the talons of the birds scooping up some from their miniature, rattan baskets.
There were all her friends: Twilight, Rainbow, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Spike, the last two noticeably comfortable next to each other. The Apple family members were there as well, all beaming with pride.
The various ponies in town were present, as well as some pegasi from Cloudsdale, all cheering for the mare. She had never felt so excited around all these ponies before.
Applejack and Apple Bloom followed behind her, their teeth clenching tight onto the ends of the wedding dress Rarity had specifically designed for the occasion. It glistened like white snow, the glitter almost rivaling to the mane of the alicorn standing at the end of the road.
Princess Celestia was there, along with her sister, Princess Luna, and her niece, Princess Cadence with her husband, Shining Armor, both here to cheer for them. Her focus, though, was more fixated onto the red stallion in the black suit.
Big Macintosh. The love of her life. Smiling happily back at her.
It wasn't long before she had reached the stage, her veil folded back by the two Apple siblings, before they quickly trotted back into the crowd.
Princess Celestia cleared her throat, before finally beginning:
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the face of this company, to join together this stallion and this mare in holy Matrimony. Into this holy estate these two ponies present come now to be joined. If any pony can show just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him or her now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his or her peace."
Silence filled the air, lightening the stress in Fluttershy's head.
Princess Luna continued her sister's speech in her royal, booming Canterlot voice:
"Fluttershy, wilt thou have this stallion to thy wedded husband, to live together after our ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love him, comfort him, honour, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?"
The pegasus felt her heart burst in excitement, trying to control it inside.
"Um... uh..." she fumbled, before saying:
"I do."
"Then, Macintosh Apple," Princess Luna continued.
"Wilt thou have this mare to thy wedded wife, to live together after our ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?"
There was only one response, judging from the widening smile on his face.
"Eeyup!"
The crowd watched as Princess Celestia continued, the two ponies exchanging hoops.
"Under the witness of our great Princesses," Princess Cadence finished.
"You may now kiss the bride."
Her heart leaped, blood gushing through her veins as Fluttershy closed her eyes, their lips getting closer and closer before they met.
It was a powerful sensation: one she had never felt before. She felt her whole body tingle with excitement, her face flushed with passion as the audience clopped their hooves together, some of them cheering out happily.
"Then, by the power vested in me," Princess Celestia finally proclaimed, beaming with pride at the Element of Kindness.
"I now pronounce these two ponies husband and wife!!"
~>|------------------------------ (o) ---------- <~|~> ---------- (o) ------------------------------|<~
"You kissed?"
"Yes."
"In front of everypony?"
"Yes," Fluttershy repeated, her face flushing this time.
"That's gross!" Dragonfly said, sticking his tongue out while his mother just chuckled at him.
"Didn't Aunt Apple Bloom feel disgusted as well?"
"It was a glorious moment, Dragonfly. There's no reason to be disgusted by that."
The mare just rolled her eyes as her son still wrinkled his snout, imitating a retching sound.
"You're not mature yet. You wouldn't understand."
"But Aunt Apple Bloom was about my age then, isn't she?"
"Close. She was already thirteen."
Fluttershy sighed, remembering how active the filly was, always in their crusades around town in search of their talents. No doubt all three had eventually found them, with her sister-in-law's being a hammer and nail.
"Now she's in her twenties, just like my age those years ago."
"So what happened then?" Dragonfly asked, making his mother chuckle again, though more weaker.
"How should I say this.... before you, Dragonfly, I had another foal..."
"Really?" he exclaimed in disbelief.
"I have an older brother?"
"Sister," Fluttershy corrected, trying not to tear up in front of her son,
"You h-had a big sister..."
"Cool! Where is she now?"
Dragonfly craned his neck to and fro, waiting for somepony to just pounce out of the bushes.
"Is she here? Is she in school now?"
"Not quite..."
The mare trembled, holding in her breath. The storm of emotions whipping in her head calmed, as her mouth opened to give her son the explanation...
~>|------------------------------ (o) ---------- <~|~> ---------- (o) ------------------------------|<~
Fluttershy sniffled again, the rain pattering gently onto her wings, folded as she leaned against the tree.
The branches sifted the rain, though a few drops managed to drip onto her face, dampening it in her despair.
Her tears fell along, flowing down her cheeks. She felt like she was drowning, flailing her hooves around frantically in despondency, wanting to free herself from the nightmare she had just experienced.
Her gut felt empty, devoid of the life that once dwell within. The life she had cherished, but never came.
The life she had expected, never knowing of the swift talons of death that grasped it later; an echo in the wind.
She never got to hear her cry. She never got to see her face.
"Fluttershy!" Twilight's voice snap her out from her hellish inferno.
"Celestia, Fluttershy! What are you doing here?"
The pegasus could only reply with a subtle 'I don't know'.
"It's raining! You could catch a cold and Applejack's worried about you!"
The lavender unicorn wrapped a scarf around her friend, patting her gently on her back.
"Come on! Big Mac's waiting for you back at home!"
"No."
Twilight's ears perked at her response.
"F-Fluttershy... come on. It's not a joke."
"I'm not going anywhere."
The unicorn sighed, biting her lip.
"Fluttershy.... we are all sad about this, alright? But I can't help you if you decide to isolate yourself and just stay in the rain like that! You know we're all worried sick about you!"
"Just l-leave... leave me alone..."
Fluttershy cringed, clenching her eyes shut, though tears leaked in bountiful amounts out from them, only showing Twilight the devastation her friend was feeling.
"Fluttershy?" another voice piped in, nearly drowned out from the loud patter of heavy rain.
Rarity galloped from the side, her mane damp and straight, losing all of her curls, yet she never bothered to notice, her attention more focused onto the pegasus.
"By Celestia's hoof, look what the rain did to you!"
"Not now, Rarity!"
"Oh, of course."
The white unicorn craned her neck down, glancing eye to eye at their friend.
"Look. I know you need some time alone with yourself, but there are times that these moments are better shared in the hearth of friendship and family."
Fluttershy just whimpered in response, instead curling up tighter.
"Call Macintosh over," Rarity whispered to Twilight, her friend nodding in response before galloping off into the rain.
"Fluttershy..." she tried again, pausing as her friend turned away.
"Just listen to me. You never knew this would happen. You couldn't have stopped it. Every mare would've done the same thing if their firstborn just... went like that."
"You don't understand, Rarity..."
"I know enough to understand that you need our help."
Rarity bit her lip. She was there when her friend was in labor. She was there when there wasn't any crying.
She was there when the doctor said it right in her face, one word being the steel sword piercing into everypony's heart, stinging them in an endless flow of shock.
Miscarriage.
"Flutersh'ah."
The familiar, deep voice of Big Macintosh finally came into her ears, making the pegasus finally look up.
She watched as the stallion galloped towards the tree. The tree that watched over them like a stalwart sentinel, witnessing the exchange of their vows. Their first kiss as newlyweds.
No doubt here to watch their misery as well.
"Fluttersh'ah, where have ya been?" he asked with concern and frustration.
"Ya know how Ah hate it when ya just disappear like that!"
The mare just remained silent, prompting him to try again.
"Ah know. Ah can't believe after all that, our foal... she..."
"You know?" Fluttershy suddenly piped up, her hooves firmly standing, her eyes still watering.
"You know how it feels like? You KNOW HOW IT FEELS LIKE?!!"
"I've endured, Macintosh! ENDURED!! Countless hours of all this nonsense to get a foal; a child that I would be proud of! A child that I would spend my days with! A child that I would cherish it all day and all night!!"
Fluttershy held back, panting and venting, before screaming into her husband's face again:
"WHAT THE BUCK DO I GET IN RETURN? TELL ME, MACINTOSH! TELL ME!!"
Big Mac just froze on the spot, her powerful stare stinging him in every joint of his body.
He was speechless, torn in the silence of the rain and the despair of his wife. Rarity could only watch helplessly from afar, biting her lip with a small tear of her own flowing down her eyes.
"Nothing," he could finally reply.
"You've got nothing..."
"NOTHING!!" she shouted, cursing at the rain.
"Nothing..."
Fluttershy broke down, sobbing and wailing in the rain, her hooves stamping on the grass angrily.
"I-I've... l-l-lost e-everything! Everything I h-had expected....!"
"But you didn't, Fluttershy," Rarity said with a tremble.
"Look... Big Mac's still here..."
The pegasus stopped short in her sobs, looking up at the stallion.
"You still have me," the white mare continued, prompting the pegasus to turn towards her.
"As well as Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie and Rainbow. We're all here for you."
"Y-You... I..."
"Just come home," Big Mac insisted, almost pleadingly.
"Ah can't lose you like this..."
Fluttershy bit her lip, the rain pattering around her starting to diminish, turning into a shallow, light drizzle.
She glanced at her friend, then at her husband, the two of them sharing the same face of worry.
"Please?" Rarity asked again with a tremble.
There was a hanging, wavering silence, the patter of droplets ceasing to a halt as Fluttershy came to her answer, her conclusion justified in her mind.
"Al.... Alright..."
~>|------------------------------ (o) ---------- <~|~> ---------- (o) ------------------------------|<~
"You mean..."
"Your sister never lived to see the sunrise."
Fluttershy sniffled a little, wiping her tears away.
"I never intended for it to happen. All of us didn't."
Dragonfly started to tremble as well, leaning against his mother's back.
"Then, why am I here?" he asked.
"Why am I not with my... sister? Why was I chosen?"
"I believe you have a destiny, dear," she replied, nuzzling his snout. She could feel him growing inside by the minute, the story tingling in his memory and in his heart.
"The question is: would you pursue that destiny?"
"I... I think I will..."
Fluttershy could only giggle, making her son scratch his mane.
"Still the shy colt I know. Always acting so brave in front of your friends, yet you seem so defenseless when you're alone, don't you Dragonfly?"
"Hey!" he retorted, his mother laughing warmly.
"At least I acted brave before!"
"I'm certain you did, Dragonfly," she replied, ruffling her son's mane.
"But I must make a small request. It'll be important for your destiny, and for our family's destiny as well."
"R-Really?"
Dragonfly gulped. He had never handled anything that big before, and he's pretty uncertain and doubtful that he could handle this task as well.
"What is it?"
"Mommy's expecting another foal now," she answered, earning a delighted gasp from her son.
"Hear that, Dragon? You're going to be an elder brother!"
"Really! Oh, man!"
Dragonfly flapped his wings with glee, fluttering a full circle with a chortle into the night sky, before landing softly onto the grass right in front of his mother.
"So, is it a little brother or sister?"
"Little sister," Fluttershy answered, a warm smile on her face.
The colt wanted to prance about, though he stopped short, remembering the story fresh in his head.
"So this is why you told me about everything? So that I could protect my little sister?"
"Not quite. You aren't really ready for it, though you would make a good, older brother."
Fluttershy chuckled with warmth, her son giving a sheepish grin.
"I brought you here because I want you to make memories of your own. Memories that we, as a family, and your friends as well, can cherish altogether, just like how Daddy and I made with our friends under this tree."
o.0.o
_____________________________________
~ *Cue song* ~
[youtube=i-n75KVcGsw]
_____________________________________
o.0.o
"Why not make one now?"
Fluttershy immediately blinked in surprise at her son's suggestion.
"What?"
"Make a memory right now!"
Dragonfly trotted next to her mother, settling down under the starry, night sky.
"You said I was here before I was born, so you can do the same to sis right now, can't you?"
The yellow pegasus immediately giggled. Foals these days...
"Alright, Dragonfly. Come closer now."
Dragonfly beamed at his mother, who smiled back at him in return. They swayed in the melancholic, warm sensation of the night, the gentle breeze tossing their manes around.
Luna's moon glowed finely and brightly in the night, smiling down upon their appreciation. The atmosphere was calm, serene; the stars as if traipsing around in the glimmering spectacle.
Fluttershy opened her mouth, as she began to sing:
Look at the stars.
Look how they shine for you,
and everything you do.
They were all yellow.
I came along;
I wrote a song for you,
and all the things you do.
And it was called 'Yellow'
The young colt chuckled a little, leaning against his mother's neck as he gaze up at the starry sky.
So then I took my time;
Oh what a thing to've done,
and it was all yellow.
It wasn't long before Dragonfly began to yawn, the scenic landscape of the empty expanse of green shining under the grandeur sparkle of the stars altogether flitting into his head.
Fluttershy smiled as he slowly closed his eyes, the memory of it all sealed tightly.
Your skin, oh yeah, your skin and bones
Turn into something beautiful;
D'you know? You know I love you so~
She smiled beatifically at her snoring son, before whistling a few birds over, whispering a small request.
You know I love you so.
~>|------------------------------ (o) ---------- <~|~> ---------- (o) ------------------------------|<~
Fluttershy walked slowly down the road, her quaint, small cottage coming into view in the nighttime.
The moon illuminated the path down, reminding her of the day she walked down the aisle. The day she got married.
The day Big Mac gave her something to believe in.
"He's such a sleepyhead, isn't he?"
"Eeyup," came the stallion's reply, his back dragging the wagon slowly with Dragonfly curled up behind.
The whole family were together, walking down the road in the quiescence of night, with only the chatter of crickets and the rare croaks of a few toads sounding from the undergrowth.
I swam across;
I jumped across for you.
Oh what a thing to do,
'cause you were all yellow.
It wasn't long before they reached their cottage; their warm, wonderful home.
Fluttershy stepped in first, carefully walking towards the couch. Angel was already snoozing in his basket, making both her and Big Mac smile warmly.
I drew a line;
I drew a line for you.
Oh what a thing to do,
and it was all yellow.
"You told him, didn't ya?" Big Mac asked his wife, carrying their son up the stairs.
"About our foal."
"He has to know some way or another."
Fluttershy held her breath, smiling as she brushed their son's golden mane aside.
"He matures fast. Just like somepony I know."
"Shucks..."
Your skin, oh yeah, your skin and bones;
Turn into something beautiful.
D'you know? For you I bleed myself dry;
For you I bleed myself dry.
"M-Mom?" a voice squeaked, Dragonfly awakened from his bumpy ride.
Both Fluttershy and Big Mac laughed quietly, before the mare said:
"I'll tuck him in."
"Ya sure? Ah mean, you're expecting a foal and all..."
"We're. Expecting a foal," she corrected, giving a peck on the stallion's cheek.
"I have you right beside me, remember?"
The stallion sighed, before letting out a grin.
"Alright."
Without hesitation, Big Mac settled their son down, the colt standing there sleepily with a yawn.
Fluttershy guided the colt inside his room. It was clean, surprisingly, the only messy thing being his bedsheets. The walls were adorned with Wonderbolt posters and assortments, with a bright, blue toy blimp hanging down from the ceiling. On the desk were bright, colorful drawings of the pegasi themselves, with some inclusive of their family inside, among other miscellaneous paintings.
She chuckled quietly, shifting and arranging them into one neat stack. Young foals...
Dragonfly settled into his bed, letting out another tired yawn.
"I... I've thought about it," he said sleepily.
"About sis..."
It's true:
Look how they shine for you;
Look how they shine for you;
Look how they shine for~
"You've decided, dear?"
"Yeah," he said with a nod.
"I... *yawn*... guess I'll call it a day first."
Fluttershy sighed, watching her son closing his eyes and starting to snore. She was waiting for an answer from him, though there was no doubt only one choice was stirring in his head right now.
"Alright," she said, before continuing her lullaby:
Look how they shine for you;
Look how they shine for you;
Look how they shine~
She felt a kick in her belly, making her giggle.
"You'll be a good elder brother, Dragonfly," she whispered to the sleeping colt, hoping in her heart that he could hear her.
Look at the stars;
Look how they shine for you,
and all the things that you do......
Her voice hung there for a moment, giving the colt one more kiss on his forehead.
She quickly got up, trotting out of the door, before turning back at her son once more, finishing her lullaby with a gentle, sweet sentence.
"You were always yellow."
