Not too long after Tirek was restrained and tossed in a dungeon cell until we figured out what to do with him, my siblings were brought back to Canterlot, and I was holding Button while Celestia was holding me. Everypony had their magic returned to them, so Katie was back to her normal self. She immediately went and put on her usual attire, a sundress of some sort that matches her fur and her steel toe horseshoes-boot things. Ma was sitting on a cushion clutching her head as she processed what the fuck happened to her. Luna was holding on, no, Tale was holding onto Luna like she almost fucking died.

Cadance and Shining Armor were on their own cushion, with Cadance happily caressing my man’s snout because apparently Tirek grabbed it, bruised it while doing so, while Tirek had drained Shining Armor of his magic. Discord was sitting with the Element of Magic shoved half way down his throat while Fluttershy reprimanded him for helping Tirek hurt ponies… Twilight herself was cuddled up with Dashie and AJ, while Rarity and Pinkie were huddled together with the Crusaders. Dave and Katie were chilling on the couch together.

For some reason Dan managed to snag Chrysalis and cuddle with him. Chrysalis in particular was being… actually pretty friendly with Dan, nuzzling him, licking his ears-why the heck is Chrysalis being so nice to Dan… Oh motherfucker, Dan looks like he’s enjoying her company.

I sighed and plopped Button next to Celly while I went on over and hugged Ma. My poor mother slowly lowered her hooves and let herself be pulled into my forelegs.

“Why did I grow wings?” Ma asked.

“You were next to a magical explosion,” I said. “Like one that contained damn near every single pony in Equestria’s magic. Terrestrial or Earth Pony, Pegasi, Unicorn. All of that in your face. Plus you punched Tirek in the face and I guess Harmony decided that was pretty fucking cool, and gave you wings in the process. After all, you punched a dickhead that probably isn’t a good person. You also… saved my life, I’m not gonna lie, Ma. You saved me-”

“Kodi, I am telling you this now and I want you to understand this now.” Ma nuzzled me. “I didn’t save you because I made some stupid, morally correct decision. I saved you because you’re my fuckin’ son, Kodi. You were going to get hurt, and I was not having it. Don’t give two damns how much that asshole found me attractive, I don’t care about how much kick and scream. I don’t care how many people I will have to beat the shit out of in order to do so. But I am keeping my children safe as best as I can; I lost yer father, I ain’t losing anyone else in my family, got it, Kodi? So long as I breathe, nothing will hurt my family.”

“Ma…” I chuckled. “God damn, Ma.” I laid my head against her neck. “You make my need to keep my family safe seem like child’s play.”

“I’m yer mother. I’ve got the strength now to keep you safe, and I’m fucking going to, dammit.”

“Well, I suppose,” Celly spoke up. “That you, Twilight and Source, Maeve, will be receiving awards for saving Equestria,” she glanced at Discord. “And somepony may end up being stone for several centuries for enabling Tirek instead of bucking capturing him.” She chuckled as Fluttershy eventually smacked Discord in the face, before dragging him out of the lounge room we were all sitting in. We heard muffled Fluttershy Shouts from outside… This room’s supposed to be soundproof, by the way. Like foam is in the walls, and there’s enchantments on the room to soundproof it further, and Fluttershy was yelling loud enough to negate all of that.

“Discord’s already getting his ass handed to him, and he hasn’t even dealt with Ma yet,” I said. I’m pretty sure Fluttershy, while angry, could give Ma a run for her money in terms of spooky factor.

We all sat in silence as Ma finally calmed down and said. “So now what?”

It didn’t take too long for us to figure out what to do from this point on. Ma, Twilight and I were preparing to get ready to step on stage in the center of Canterlot so Celestia can give us awards for defending Equestria, announce me and Ma becoming a high prince and high princess, how Twilight and Ma fought super valiantly while all I did was distract Tirek enough for him to get punched in the face super hard by Ma. My siblings all had dressed up, Dave and Dan were dressed up in cute, little tuxedos, as was Button.

Katie was already wearing a sundress, so Rarity had helped her with her mane. She wore a much fancier looking sundress and had her boots shined and polished for the moment.

Each suit that me, my brothers, and Button were wearing were all unique to us. For instance, my suit had yellow highlights that matched my mane, with a nice, light blue undershirt that had complimented the sleek, black suit nicely. I even wore a nice necktie at Celly’s request. I had cuff buttons that were zero’s, that nicely matched my cutie mark.

Dan was sitting with a nice, sleek black suit, but with cyan highlights to match his mane, with a nice, sleek white undershirt. Seeing as he currently had no cutie mark, Rarity didn’t know what to put in as cuff buttons, so she just put diamonds into the cuff buttons. He wore a nice, black bowtie that frankly made him look like a dapper little fella.

Dave was wearing a similar suit, though with orange highlights, and rubies to give him something different in his suit than Dan’s other than some different highlights.

Button… Was actually wearing his Nightmare Night costume, or in other words, the same thing I usually wore, though obviously shrunken down to fit a colt’s body rather than a grown ass midget. He wore a white undershirt, and had a tan trench coat that went up and over his back and covered his tail. Sitting on his head was a tiny little fedora that his cutie mark, made into a charm thanks to Rarity, on the front of it. He was adorable, and I was a proud father.

I was sitting in my own suit, next to them as Ma strolled out from behind her changing curtain, because I guess watching a woman get dressed is taboo no matter the universe or species. Understandably so. Ma’s dress… was beautiful, honestly. It was simple, very simple actually. It was a nice, golden dress that hugged her barrel tightly, and emphasized her curves, which then spread out into a skirt that covered her flanks and went down and over her tail and ended just above her ankles. Ma’s mane was done into a ponytail, something that she was snickering over; a pony with a ponytail. Ma had a couple of earrings and some slight makeup.

Big Mac, the poor fucker he was, was here in Canterlot because Apple Jack and Apple Bloom were, and attending the little announcement of how two ponies and an idiot fucked up Tirek’s shit up. His jaw dropped and hit the goddamn floor upon seeing Ma. Ma giggled and brushed up against the poor farm pony. Which really did not make Big Mac any better, in fact, he broke even more.

“So, how do I look, big boy?” Ma snickered before draping a wing over her boyfriend.

Big Mac started sputtering. “U-uh… You look good, Ms. Code-”

“Oh, come off it, babe, you know you can just call me Maeve.”

“Eeyup, Maeve… You look…”

Apple Jack started snickering as her poor brother was trying to get over being hot and bothered by how his marefriend, my mother, looked. “Hoo-ee, Ms. Code, you certainly know how to dress up nicely. Ah can see that my brother certainly likes the view you’re giving him!”

I snorted. “Let the poor bastard breathe, AJ. He’s a bit socially awkward with mares as is, and now he has to deal with Ma being an alicorn, and Ma in general.” I draped a wing over Button.

Celly strolled out from the changing curtain soon after, wearing the nicest dress I’ve seen on her since our wedding. I’d say sexy, but the dress she wore on our honeymoon was certainly at a peak for her. The dress… was actually pleasantly plain, as it was just the color of a clear, blue sky. Her wings, folded against her side, looked like fluffy clouds against the backdrop of her dress that hugged her body tightly and stopped just below her flanks. I stared and let my own jaw hit the fucking floor. She even had light makeup, namely just eyeliner, on.

“What the fuck, Celly?” I asked as I got up and approached my wife. “Why’re you dressed up?” I asked.

“Well, somepony, you, agreed to finally taking up a crown and becoming more than just my high prince consort. So of course I’m taking the opportunity to dress up nicely for you…” Celestia leaned down and whispered into my ear. “If you behave and look strong on stage, I’ll put on the dress I wore during our honeymoon… and we’ll try to put ‘cake’ in the oven, okay?” I nodded dumbly and Celly couldn’t help but giggle and give me a quick lick inside of my left ear. It felt good so I leaned in for more.

“Moar.”

“Of course,” Celly giggled and licked me a few more times. “Unfortunately, my love, I cannot just stand here licking the inside of your ears. We have a ceremony to attend. Once Twilight is done putting her dress on, we’ll be off. Be careful; you might like how she looks, Source-”

“Celly, me and Twilight are practically siblings. I don’t see her that way.”

“Oh, I know, dear,” Celly licked my ears again. “Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t at least appreciate how she looks; your mother and I helped her with her dress and mane. She’ll look good.” She nuzzled me. “I feel like a proud mother whenever I look at Twilight today, seeing the mare she’s become.” Celly let go of me as we heard Twilight begin to shuffle from behind the changing curtain. We all turned our gaze onto the mare in question as she stepped out.

She donned a nice, pink dress that complimented her fur rather nicely. It hugged her barrel and literally made the name ‘Sparkle’ mean something. It was a nice, sparkly dress that quite frankly looked really good on her. It hugged her barrel tightly, but not in a way that was provocative, but in a way that gave her that ‘I am a princess, and I am regal’. The dress draped loosely over her flanks, her tail poking out from behind and tied up. Twilight wore her crown and even had some regalia, some amethyst horseshoes and a necklace, the necklace itself had a ruby in the shape of her cutie mark embedded into it, rather than simply having her mark being etched into it like Celly, Luna, or Cadance’s regalia.

I whistled. “God damn, Twi.” I end up shaking my head. “You look regal, dude.”

Twilight giggled, her cheeks started turning to a hotter purple as she did, before walking over to me, all regally, and nudging me with her elbow. “I’d say I look like a princess, Source?”

“You do.” I nod. “You look great, Twilight.” I nudged her back. “Ready for the ceremony?”

“Of course I am! I even had a speech prepared! What about you?” Twilight asked.

“Well…” I hummed.

I am not ready for this. Why are we in the center of Canterlot instead of just addressing the crowd from the comfort and perch of a castle balcony or something? I stared ahead, completely regretting telling Celly that I’d actually take the title of High Prince rather than remaining as a High Prince Consort. Ma and Twilight looked as confident as ever, and everypony else in our family was giving them attention as I tried to steel my thoughts and collect myself. There is simply no goddamn way I am able to compare to them. I am getting an award for playing a tiny, tiny, insignificant part in fighting Tirek and I know it. I’m taking a crown and I’m going to have to try and stand and compare myself to everypony else.

I’m going to be compared to everypony else.

God I hope I can even compare to everypony else.

Celestia’s the oldest, and wisest pony known in history, having been alive as anypony can remember. She’s a skilled mage, funny, smart, and beautiful. She’s my wife. She is literally responsible for life being capable of flourishing due to her ties to the Sun. God how am I her husband? How am I good enough for her when I can’t even keep myself together as soon as I’m bent slightly?

Luna, the Moon herself, the mare of the Night, defender of dreams. She’s the most skilled fighter in Equestrian history as far as anypony is aware. Everypony adores her more than they adore Celestia.

Cadance is the very embodiment of love. She’s pure, loving, and the sweetest mare in Equestria.

Twilight’s the god damn Element of Magic. If anypony was deserving to be called the Alicorn of Magic, it’s her, not me.

Ma… Ma’s got wings. She’s everything I wish I was. Confident, kept together… She’s Ma.

I took a long, deep breath and started trying to think of myself in a somewhat positive light. I’ve had the joy of raising Button Mash, the cutest, sweetest little colt that is quickly becoming one of the most gifted unicorns of his age, and would be if Sweetie Belle wasn’t such a monster when it came to using her magic. I… managed to marry Princess Celestia, the Mare of the Morn, Bringer of Day. I married the Eternal Flame of Equestria. Despite everything wrong with me, she loves me. Luna sees me as her little brother and takes pride in seeing me become the stallion I’m becoming. Cadance sees me as an amazing uncle, for some reason. Twilight thinks I’m a wonderful stallion to have as a peer.

I’m my Ma’s son.

…How the hell do I meet their expectations? How can I? How do I become the pony they deserve? I’m barely half the man they think I am, and I’m trying twice as hard to meet those expectations… I guess what I am is still an object in motion; where I am is where I’m going. Where I’m going is right where I am. I take a few deep breaths and steel my brain; everypony expects me to be strong and I have to try my best no matter how much I don’t believe I am able. Because if I stop, I’ll disappoint everypony and that’s the last thing I want.

Twilight was the first to step on stage, giving her speech.

“Good morning, everypony, thank you all for coming out to this award ceremony. Especially after Tirek had wreaked havoc upon Equestria for the last few months. I hope everypony affected regained their magic after his defeat at mine, Prince Source, and Princess Maeve’s hooves. We as a nation have stood strong countless times, wendigos when the country was founded, to Discord’s reign of chaos, to Nightmare Moon… Twice, to Discord’s return… To Canterlot’s invasion during my sister in law, Princess Cadance and my brother, Shining Armor’s wedding. To now. Equestria has stood strong and firm just as we ponies stand firm on our four hooves, helping each other through crisis after crisis.

“I am not here to celebrate my own part in my victory, but rather to celebrate two ponies who contributed just as much as I did during the Centaurian Battle of Canterlot. You know of one of them, as he has been becoming rather popular lately amongst mares, and even some stallions. Source Code, or rather… High Prince Source Code, please, step on stage.” I blinked a few times; Ma was going last because we wanted her reveal of her ascension to be a fun surprise. I took a few breaths again, before stepping out onto the stage. The crowd clapped and stomped their hooves as I did.

I kept my wings tucked in to my side despite Twilight, and even Celly’s insistence that I show my wings off like Royalty, however… No.

“Howdy, everypony,” I said, using a less loud version of the Canterlot Royal Voice to address my audience. “I’m Source, Source Code, Prince Source, an idiot with too many titles. As you all may have heard, I got a cool job promotion; from High Prince Consort to Prince Consort-no, me and Celly are still married, this is just something that came naturally and I figured… I would finally take a stand and lead this country by my wife’s side as an equal rather than letting her just lead the country during the day by herself. I stand before you, not as a Prince, or whatever fancy, smancy titles, but simply some guy that is doing his best to lead you all and be a pony worthy of the praise and love he receives from his family, from y’all, everyday.

“I’ll be frank, I still believe that I am being given way more than I deserve. That y’all are too kind to me, despite how inherently flawed I am as a person. But… I’ll try. I tried my best against Tirek and contributed to taking him down. I may not have been entirely why he was defeated, but… I refuse to leave this country hanging when I could possibly lend a hoof and prevent further disaster.” I smirk slightly. “For now, though, in between staring at my wife’s backside, I’ll try and be a Prince, alright?” I was met with some snickers. Celly was standing behind the curtain, and I could tell she was blushing, very, very lightly from behind it.

I’m going to be hit across the back of the head with a wing for that comment, but I think Celly’s gonna appreciate that I’m trying my best to be confident even if she knows for a fact that I’m not confident in myself at all.

“I’m just rambling on, and on, and getting nowhere with this speech. To be frank, I’m surprised that I haven’t keeled over yet. So, before I waste any more time, we’re here to celebrate something special. Something incredible happened when Tirek was defeated. My own mother has recently come to Equestria through… various means that I don’t think I can describe without it being some sorta scandal. But… my mother is a talented unicorn, skilled, strong, and well… she was a unicorn. You see, she and Twilight were giving the works and I might’ve contributed while they were fighting him. Ma ended the fight by punching him in the face; she put an end to that dude… So this happened to her. Ma, step out on stage, please.

Maeve

My fucking god. What the hell am I doing? I just grew wings and I don’t know how to fucking use them. How the hell does my son go on stage and casually talk to address the crowd like that? Sure he did it somewhat awkwardly and unprofessionally, but that is so damn many fucking ponies. That’s so many people. Twilight and Kodi just went on stage, had their speeches confidently and I have to follow it up. Well, I didn’t get this far by being a pussy, now did I? I took a long, deep breath.

…

Did my son just say he didn’t contribute to me and Twilight’s fight with Tirek? He was the one who initially started fighting Tirek! God fucking dammit, kid, you made Tirek blast himself and you say you did nothing?! I’m going to have to give him a good talkin’ too about not downplaying your own contribution. I could barely even fucking do anything when I fought Tirek with Twilight, who was the main reason we did any damage to Tirek anyways, I just punched the fuck out of him and hoped for the best.

I steeled my thoughts and stepped on stage, next to Kodi, I looked confidently at the crowd and tried to spread my wings, only to fail miserably like a dumbass.

“Ma, here, lemme help ya.” Kodi pressed a hoof on my back, slid it down to right between where my wings were and pressed down. “Flex your shoulders…” He looked back up at everypony else. “Sorry everybody, Ma’s never had a pair of wings if you can imagine that.” Kodi, you’re fucking joking around?! At my expense too! At least yer trying to be confident. I flexed my shoulders and my wings popped out. I blinked a few times, folded them back, and opened them again. “There ya go, Ma.” Kodi turned back to the crowd. “So my mother grew wings after Tirek exploded in her face.”

The crowd remained silent, silently staring up at me as they took in the sight of me with my wings. Their faces ranged from awed, to lovestruck, to fucking shocked.

“Uh…” I took a deep breath. I tried getting over how the crowd stared at me, and I’ll be frank, despite my outer confidence, I’m not sure that I am as confident in this moment as I seem. I would sit down if it wouldn’t ruin my dress. Or my tail that I bent over backwards to brush out properly. Me and my son sat there until he nudged me.

“Ma, I think you should give a speech.” Kodi said.

“The fuck am I gonna contribute, Kodi? That I punched a dude in the face and that suddenly makes me a hero? A princess? The buck do you think I can add to what you and Twilight already said? We’re all alive, we’re all breathing, we’re all sitting under the sun, taking in the sunlight. We managed to all not die to some egotistical megalomaniac because you and Twilight know how to actually take a fight against somebody like Tirek and not die. I fought him when he was in a weaker state, and only really acted as a distraction while fighting Tirek the second time with you and Twilight!”

“Ma…” Kodi nudged me. “You did a good job being a distraction; even small contributions make a good difference, you know that. Now you’re a princess. We’re both being crowned, unfortunately, we’re both being given awards and fancy medals for doing what we did. No matter how little it feels like we did. Then we’re going to go grab a bottle of some really fucking old whiskey and get drunk as hell after the ceremony, alright?” I nodded as Kodi led me off stage. “Sorry everypony, but me and Ma are both really bad at giving speeches. We’ll let my wife take over from here and hand out the awards and give the big speeches that actually sound professional!”

We both stepped off stage to let Celly and Luna take over with the big speeches, and hand out our awards that I don’t think me or my son really thought we deserved.

Author's Note

okay, first thing's first, i'm going to be shifting the focus of Source Code away from Source's perspective. I feel like now it's going to be focused more in on the Royal Family as a whole, with Source's human family, Celestia, Luna, Cadance, Twilight and everypony else in their little family. I think i should because of how I'm doing things, Katie, Dan, Dave, Tale, Snowdrop and Sunset are getting sidelined pretty damn hard; it's about time I gave Tale a personality. next chapter is gonna be Tale hanging out with Luna as they prepare for their own wedding.

chapters not in Source's perspective will be marked as such; source's perspective is still the main perspective, but occasionally there will be chapters actually just focused on other ponies.

as for the next chapter in question, it will be a while before i can even get started on it. i'm not going to be at my pc for the next month, so I won't be able to really get some writing in, in any meaningful capacity. i will try to get some notes written down on my phone and ipad to make the writing process easier when i return.