Equestria Dark: Tales of a New Appleloosan Stallion Water Salespony

Written by Minalkra

"I can't believe you two!"  Silver Lining paced back and forth in front of her two foals.  True, only one was from her own stock but everypony in a herd was everypony else's family.

Rumble - the recently stallioned colt - scuffed a hoof on the floor, his head hung low in shame and embarrassment.  It wouldn't have been so bad had it just been the three of them but this was big enough the whole herd had gotten involved.  Even little Mizzle was present, though she was rather subdued.  Perhaps it was the angry adults staring at the two shame-faced foals in the center of their circle.  Perhaps it was the fact this was an 'adult' talk and she was there.  Perhaps it was because momma Lining was really upset (and that just almost never happened!).

"I'm sorry, momma..." Nimbus sniffled, tears dripping off her muzzle.  She was sitting next to her little brother a bit awkwardly, her now swollen belly preventing her from sitting properly.  It was hard for her to look around but Rumble knew she was purposefully not looking at him.  It was a bit his fault for putting her in this position.

"Sorry?  SORRY?!  Sorry that your own brother's foal is now inside you?  Sorry that you couldn't take the heat?  Sorry that -"  Silver Lining cut off before she could say anything else that might be rash.  Her face was flushed red and her wings spasmed a bit in an attempt to flare.  Rumble ducked even lower.  His momma was soooo mad.

"Sorry is not going to cut it, young mare.  Not only did you seduce your newly stallioned brother but you did it in the depths of your heat cycle!  That, that!  That ... that is the worst thing you could ever have poss-"

"WAIT!"  Rumble's voice, small and cracked though it may be, interrupted his bloodmother's tirade.  Everpony gasped and turned their eyes to the newest stallion of their family.

"Rumble, no," Nimbus whispered.  It was loud in the heavy silence.  Silver Lining was indulgent, she was kind and she was very gentle with her foals.  But nopony - nopony - interrupted her.  Not even Hardback cut into the conversation when Silver Lining was talking.  He crouched low, the weight of his faux pas suddenly registering.  His bloodmother snapped her jaw shut, her eyes narrowing as she regarded her offspring.

"... did you have something you needed to say, Rumble?"  Her voice was soft.  But not the nice soft like when she would tell him bedtime stories or make him feel better when his sisters were making fun of him.  This soft was cold.  Icy.  Rumble swallowed a lump that had formed in his throat, fighting back tears.

"Yes momma."  That response received an arched eyebrow from the older mare.  Rumble fought the urge to flee as he spoke, his head slowly lowering towards the floor.  "It-it's my fault this happened.  Nimbus didn't 'subduce' me.  I ... I wanted to help her out so, uhm, I got a glass and I ... I filled it.  I just, I just wanted to help."

By now, tears were running freely down his muzzle.  He felt Nimbus giving him a slight nuzzle and that was all it took to break the dam holding back his sobs.  That the room was so silent did not help the young stallion hold back his wails of misery.  For a time, Rumble only felt Nimbus at his side.  They were alone against the entire herd.

Then, another muzzle pressed against his side.  Through tear-filled eyes, Rumble could see the form of his big brother Thunderlane standing next to him.  Then, Cloudkicker - he could tell because she always zapped him with a small charge whenever she touched him - sliding up behind him.  Then, Windwhistler.  Ever little Mizzle began nuzzling his legs.

Silver Lining looked at her herd, nuzzling her son.  Her mouth was set in a frown but it was no longer filled with anger.  Instead, it was sad.  A right mess but perhaps not an unsolvable one.  She cleared her throat to catch everypony's attention.

"Cloudkicker, you're taking a 'vacation' to Manehatten.  You're with foal and it might be a difficult pregnancy.  Nimbus, you are to go as well to 'assist' your mother in this time of need as well as work off some of that extra weight you've gained.  When the foal is birthed, you are both to return here and we will welcome this new foal into our family as we would any other."  The looks of relief on everypony's face was almost palpable.  Silver took a deep breath, hardening her eyes.  "As for what happened here, this situation does not leave this room.  Nopony - nopony - will speak of it.  As far as the world outside these walls knows, this foal is Hardback and Cloudkicker's."

With a curt nod from everypony present, Silver Lining turned and left the common room.  There would be hell to pay on her herd if this ... indiscretion ever came to light and she had some friends to call for an alternate plan if it was ever needed.