Chapter 2: Mistakes

With the financial roller coaster all but stopped for Twilight and Shadow, a new problem was about to rear it’s pretty mane, in the shape of a periwinkle blue unicorn from Shadow’s day’s in Canterlot.

Shadow and Twilight were enjoying their new financial freedom in the ponyville market, shopping for odds and ends. some parchment and quill here, some candles there, but what Shadow wasn’t expecting to see was his old friend, Evening Breeze, at the same market. Regrettably, Breeze noticed him first.

“Shadow! Shadowfoot!” A familiar, feminine voice called the unicorn’s name. Looking around, and not quite believing what he was hearing, he quickly spotted the source of the voice.

Squinting in the noonday sun, he saw a familiar bluish colored unicorn, tall and graceful, sharing the same trademark stripes that he had, except a different color than his.

“Evening Breeze, is that you?” Shadow approached apprehensively. She could easily dismember him if she wanted.

“Of course it is, you silly pony! How many ponies do you know look like us, especially in Canterlot?”

“Not many, that’s for certain.” Shadow laughed.

Twilight heard the ruckus, and turned to see the most shocking sight of the day. Her husband and father of their children talking up some strange mare. Trying to contain her anger, she walked up behind Shadow, startling him.

“Shadow, my love, friend of yours?” She said, barely containing herself.

“Uh, yeah Twilight. This is Evening Breeze. She taught me the finer points of babysitting an overly energetic Alicorn Prince.”

“Oh yeah, that Little Demon called Shooting Star, right? He was an unholy terror, but you seemed to always be able to make him calm. I only taught you to exercise patience.”

“I’ll have you know that Star is one of the most well-behaved little colts in ponyville, Miss Breeze.” Twilight said sternly.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were familiar with the young prince.” Breeze replies, just as sternly.

Shadow’s Cutie Mark was starting to itch. If he didn’t stop this now, there was gonna be a brawl. and two full grown unicorns would definitely destroy most of ponyville if left unchecked.
“Ladies, please. Can’t we be civil adults? Twilight, she didn’t mean anything by it. He really was a little terror. He’d come a long way since before you took over guardianship by my side. And Breeze, you know better than to say such things, especially around strangers. Now, if you like, Breeze, you may come see the ex-unholy terror, for he’s living with me and Twilight here in Ponyville. Perhaps we can have some tea and share memories instead of verbal punches?”

“Seems fair. If Miss Twilight will have me?” Breeze ventured. She had never been one to hold her tongue, but knew when she overstepped her bounds.

“Who am I to deny my husband some other company besides myself and our young charges?” Twilight said flatly. She didn’t like the idea, but swallowed her pride for Shadow’s benefit.

“So, off we go then.” Shadow trotted off, followed closely by Twilight and Evening Breeze.

***

Meanwhile, back at the Library, Spike and Star, upon a fit of boredom, decided to raid Twilight and Shadow’s room for snacks, but instead found some questionable reading material under Shadow’s side of he and Twilight’s bed. Leafing through the pages, they found a particularly beautiful unicorn, in all her glory, as the centerfold of one of the back issues. Deciding it would be easier to throw away the dirty magazines than try hiding them again, they made a dash for the paper burner in the living room, when they ran smack into Shadow’s rump.

Shaking the dizziness from their heads, they tried gathering up the incriminating evidence, but Shadow had beat them to it.

“Boys, what are you doing with these?” Shadow asked sternly.

“Well, spike...”
“but star..”
“he wanted snacks!”
“he was bored!”

“Enough you two. both of you go to your room. Now. We’ll deal with this later.” Twilight spoke up. After the pair dejectedly trotted back upstairs, Twilight rounded on Shadow.

“I thought I told you to get rid of those.”

“I was, but then you wanted to go shopping.”

“You couldn’t have tossed them on the way downstairs?”

“I...”
“Enough, Shadow. We’ve got company. I’ll deal with these once and for all. You go make tea.”

“Twi...”

“Now.”

“Yes, love.”

Making his way towards the small kitchen, he grabbed the tea kettle and plopped it on the stove, none too silently. While honestly trying to burn holes in the kettle on the stove, Shadow heard hoofsteps enter the kitchen.

“Shadow, is this a bad time?” Evening Breeze asked her friend.

“No, Breeze. It’s just Twilight. She’s been really weird lately, having mood swings and whatnot. I think it’s the pregnancy getting to her.” Shadow said half heartedly.

“Are you sure? I can come back later, maybe when she’s out.”

“No, you’re fine. Please, have a seat.” Shadow told her.

“Ok. Well anyway, how have you been? I haven’t seen you in years.”

“Well, things could be better. Being Newlyweds has it’s own problems. On top of those two kids getting into trouble every day, it’s getting to be a bit much.”

“Why don’t you send Star back to Canterlot?” Evening Breeze pressed.

“Because he’s too young to defend himself. You saw the changeling attack, did you not?”

“I did. It was horrible.”

“We can’t risk losing the heir to the throne, therefore he’s under express protection of myself and Twilight. Probably the two most capable unicorns outside of canterlot.

“You know, when you left, I was lonely for a long time. Never had a friend quite like you. Then when I found out you went and got married, I had to come see you. I missed you.” By this time, Shadow noticed Evening Breeze was awfully close to him.

“I just need one thing from you, Shadow.” By now, she was staring into the unicorn’s uniquely colored eyes. Leaning in slowly, she kissed him so softly and gently, he swore it was a ghost’s kiss.

Just then, Twilight walked in, and saw the spectacle for herself

With a slamming door, Shadow was broken from his unwilling liplock with Breeze.

“Shadow, you need to leave. Now.” Twilight said forcefully, which made Shadow shudder ever so slightly.

“And, you, Miss Breeze, can follow him. If I ever see you at my library again, I’ll not regret what may happen.”

“Wait! Twilight!” Shadow started, but was angrily cut off.

“Leave now, or I may never let you back into my life.” Twilight told her husband, her heartbreak audible in her ears.

“Fine.” with that, Shadow left, Evening Breeze following him.

Sobs were heard upstairs, and Spike and Star knew better than to interfere. Their punishment would wait, but they weren’t exactly eager to leave their little slice of peace.

***

“Shadow, I’m sorry.” Evening Breeze said as they left the now-foreboding library.

“For what? Ruining my already shaky relationship with Twilight, who may never forgive me?” She could hear the hurt in the normally steady voice of her crush and best friend.

“I didn’t want that to happen.” She began.

“But it did, and now I’ll be very lucky if I’m even allowed to enter the library, much less sleep on a couch.

“I lost control, Shadow. My instinct took over.” She said, tears forming in her eyes.

“And because of that, we’re both screwed. You never thought. Not now, not ever. I used to admire that. But it’s time to grow up, Breeze.”

“Shadow..”

“Please, just go. It was nice seeing you, and if you leave now, I may be able to patch things up with Twilight, while maintaining some sort of dignity. I’ll come find you another time, after I’ve patched things up. Goodbye, Breeze.”

“Goodbye, Shadow” and with that, they parted. What had been done, seen and said, could not be undone, and it would take months to fix things.

***

Staring blankly into the tea kettle on the stove, Twilight did not hear the knock at the door, or Rarity calling for her. Still stunned by what she’d seen, She didn’t register Rarity’s presence until she felt a gentle, pearl white hoof on her shoulder.

“Twilight dear, are you alright?” Rarity asked one of her best friends. While they didn’t share the same values, Twilight and Rarity often spoke at length about their days, be they normal or not, and Rarity knew something deeply bothered Twilight.

“No Rarity, I’m not alright. I’m pregnant, as you know, and me and Shadow have been fighting a lot after our anniversary. If we can’t manage to pull it together, how will we be able to look after the boys and our own foals? And after what I just saw, I’m not sure if I love him anymore.”

“Just saw, Twilight? What could possibly be so bad that it makes you question your own husband, or your feelings for him?”

“Well, Shadow and I were cleaning the other day, and I found some questionable reading material under his side of our bed.”

“Questionable material? What could possibly be in your library that isn’t wholesome, decent reading material?”

“These, Rarity.” Twilight levitated the magazines from the garbage can just beyond the open kitchen window, hovering them in Rarity’s line of sight.

“Oh my goodness, those really are disgusting publications. I don’t know how they ever get published.” Rarity said, a visible pink blush spreading across her muzzle. “But he is a stallion, Twilight. Surely you can’t be surprised he has something like that?”

“That’s not what bothers me. What bothers me is that he may not be attracted to me anymore. I know this often happens in older, more seasoned couples, but very rarely does it happen to year-anniversary newlyweds. And the boys found them also”

“Twilight, I’m certain they’re just something old he forgot he had or forgot to get rid of. And those two were bound to find out somehow. Just hope it doesn’t get back to their friends.”

“And if it does?
“Cross that bridge when it comes to it. For now, cross this bridge.”

“I could understand that, but there’s also this.” Twilight flipped to a centerfold picture of a particularly striped mare.

“That’s the mare I just saw Shadow leave with. Oh dear...”
“Exactly. And then I found those two kissing in our kitchen. I was so frustrated, I told them both to leave immediately. And what’s worse, I never gave Shadow a moment to explain. It may have been an accident, or she may have fallen and Shadow tried to catch her...I really don’t know.”

With this, Twilight began to sob again.

“Shh, come here, dear...” Rarity enclosed the lavender mare in a tight hug, feeling her shaking under herself.

“I’m sure Shadow still loves you Twilight...but everypony makes mistakes. Granted, some are more severe than others, but just give yourself time to cool down and relax..I’ll fix us some tea, and then go deal with Shadow and that little...”

“Rarity, no. Please don’t hurt them.” Twilight cut her off.

“Oh fine.” Rarity pouted. “At least let me find out what exactly happened. Would that help you?”

“It would, Rarity. I can’t bear to look at either of them right now. But I want, I need to know what exactly happened. Could you do that for me?” Twilight asked her, eyes still glistening from tears being shed.

“Nothing in the world would please me more, Twilight.” Rarity hugged her friend again, then brought the tea kettle to bear, filling two mugs with the dark, fragrant brew.

***

“SHADOW!” The voice came so loud, sudden, and demanding, that it startled the stallion something fierce. He knew that voice only belonged to one pony, Miss Rarity. And she was not happy.

“Shadow. I believe we need to talk, sir.” Rarity, striding purposefully up to the wine-red unicorn.

“Not right now, Rarity.” Shadow said, not even looking in her direction.

“On the contrary, we do.” With that, Rarity grabbed his back left leg in her telekinesis, lifting it and tripping him up. That got his attention.

“Rarity, what in the hell?” Shadow turned on her, furious. He was far from ready to deal with Miss Pushpin at this moment.

“I should ask you the same thing, kissing naughty-magazine mares in yours and your newlywed wife’s home.”

“First of all, those magazines were on their way to the trash and...what?”
“You heard me. Your little blue tart that Twilight saw you snogging was the centerfold in one of your dirty magazines.”

“No she wasn’t.”

“How would you know? did you actually look in those things?”

“Well, I might have glanced, but..”

“But nothing, you pig! You know what even having those magazines did to Twilight’s view of herself? Which wasn’t very good, till you came along. And then she finds you kissing a pornstar?”

“THE KISS WASN’T MY FAULT, RARITY!” Shadow bellowed at the mare, stopping her in her vocal tracks. Shadow had gotten enough hurt from Twilight without getting a severe tongue lashing from a unicorn who knew as much about love and romance as those mares’ magazines told her. He doubted she’d ever been seriously in love before, with something besides a rock.

“For one, Evening Breeze kissed me, not the other way around, Rarity. For two, If I wasn’t attracted to my wife, would she be carrying our twins?

“Twins...? I thought she only had one foal?” Rarity continued.

“You mean you knew?”

“Well, not exactly...”

“And you didn’t tell me?”

“I didn’t feel it was my place. but that’s besides the point! The point is, Shadow, whatever happened can’t be changed, but you need to make it better, fast. Before you lose her.”

“I know, Rarity. Please, just give me and Twilight some time to cool off. I’ll patch things up, but I don’t need your help. Bye, Rarity.” With that, the conversation abruptly ended with Rarity speechless for once.

***

“Well, I talked to Shadow.” Rarity walked into the library slowly. “And, apparently, she was the one who kissed him. He wanted no part of it.”

“How can you be so sure?” Twilight asked her, still unsure of herself and Shadow.

“I don’t think Shadow would lie about something like that, especially when you both mean so much to each other. And you’re carrying his children. If he wasn’t attracted to you would he have...you know..” Rarity said coyly.

“Rarity!” Twilight blushed profusely.

“I call them as I see them Twilight, nothing more.” Rarity smirked.

“Well I guess you’re right about that, but I’m still not ready to see him again.”

“I know dear, but when you need him most, he’ll most certainly be there for you, the boys, and your foals. He’s a good stallion. So when he comes back, hold him, kiss him, and love him, and he’ll respond in kind.”

“I hope you’re right. Should I go look for him?”

“No. Give him time. He’s just as hurt as you are. Trust me on this.”

“If you say so Rarity.”

“Say, Twilight, are you still worried about Shadow being attracted to you?”

“A little bit, but you made me feel a little better. Why?”

“Well, It’s open spa day. How about we go?

“Rarity, I don’t know...”

“You look like you’ve been through a tornado. You need to relax. Besides, Aloe and Lotus will make you positively irresistible. We’ll have to beat the other Stallions off with sticks on the way home.

“What if he comes back while we’re gone?”

“Something tells me he’s at the pub right now. He’ll be gone for a little while.”

“I guess it has been a while since we had a girl’s day. let’s go!”

“Brilliant. Let’s have some fun.”

****

Meanwhile, back at the bar....

Shadow walked slowly into the smoky atmosphere of the local watering hole. While the local band was out for the afternoon, a few unemployed or first shift ponies were milling about, making idle conversation about one thing or another, of no particular interest to Shadow. He had an ice cold glass of cider on his mind. What had started as the week after their first anniversary turned into hell in Equestria.

Now he had and extremely pissed off and heartbroken wife, a pornstar mare turned crush, and Rarity, who was probably pissed off at him for no reason. Grand.

“Hey, Ice Chip, let me have a cider double, no ice.”

The lanky bartender levitated a tankard from his shelves, filled it with his best import, and slid it down the bar, without acknowledging the pony who had asked for it. He knew Shadow quite well. He heard few bits clink onto the table, and without batting an eyelash, popped them into the tip jar. Shadow knew his money was no good here, but he still paid.

“Bad day, Shadow?” Chip asked his friend. While they had only known each other for a few months, they quickly struck up a deep friendship, and neither of them really knew why.

“Bad couple days. The boys found those magazines, I got kissed and subsequently booted out of my home, tongue lashed by none other than Rarity, and Twilight and I seem to have been fighting all week.”

“Really is a crap week. Need an ear?”

“It couldn’t hurt. Twilight seems to have it in her head that I’m not attracted to her anymore.”

“Is that true?”

“Far from it, why just this morning, we...”

“That’s enough. No details, my friend, You know the rules.”

“Sorry. Anyway, she’s got it in her head, and with her being pregnant with not one, but two foals, and then the boys who still need our support, things are Irritating at best.

“And the kiss?”

“You remember Evening Breeze?”

“That cute little thing you used to run with in Canterlot? Yeah. Celestia above, she was cute.”

“Still is, but..”

“You mean you saw her recently? how is she? she still got that cute little flank?

“She’s fine. Focus, Chip.”

“Sorry. Anyway, She kissed me in our kitchen. In full view of Twilight.”

“Was it good?”

“Chip!”

“Fine, fine.”

“And Twilight flipped out, kicked me out of the house, and might not let me back in.

“I’ve got a cot out back.”

“Thanks, Ice, But I want to try and make things right. What should I do?

“You tried going out recently?”

“Like a date night? no. I don’t have the time.”

“You’ll make the time if you love Twilight.”

“I suppose you’re right. Thanks, Ice.”

Plunking a few extra bits on the table, Shadow downed his drink and left.

***

While still feeling brave, Shadow quietly entered the library.

“Good Evening, love” Twilight said, spooking Shadow, who nearly jumped out of his skin.

“Hi there, Twi. I can explain for earlier...”

“You don’t need to. Rarity explained for you. But I was wrong also. I jumped to conclusions too fast and didn’t give you a chance to explain. I’m sorry.”

“It’s ok, Twilight. Really. Are we ok?”

“Not quite...” Twilight smirked coyly.

“Twi, you look different. Did you change something?” Shadow asked her, now noticing the scent of estrus and desire, along with something else that relaxed them. He wasn’t quite sure what it was, but it was working.

“I changed everything. and got a few tips from Rarity. Would you like to review them with me?” Twilight pushed Shadow onto their couch.

“You need to prove you’re still attracted to me, one way or another.”

“No need to ask me twice.”

Author's Note

I hope you all enjoy the chapter