Sticky, sweaty, and just a tiny bit smelly, I glided towards home in the early light of dawn. My muscles were still tingly from today’s run, and I grinned at the welcome relief that came with just letting the wind carry me home.
I banked to the left momentarily as Sugarcube Corner came into view, and the smell of warm, delicious pastries carried me upwards. I licked my lips. Cinnamon-flavored updraft, yummy.
Angling back towards home, I set my course and looked down on the town below. Few ponies were out and about so early, but I could see a few of my platoon mates trudging for home to wash up before school.
Among them, Scoots and the other Crusaders were wobblily zigzagging along on Scoots’ scooter and wagon. Sweetie and Bloom clung to each other for dear life in the back, and I had to fight the sudden urge to dive when Scoots hit a ramp and they almost crashed into another pony.
“She knows what she’s doing….” I growled, forcing myself to focus on home.
I landed on the sky porch and dug a hoof into the cloud stuff to find the key. We put it in the wall just to the left of the doorbell, but it liked to sink down and settle about one or two hooves lower than that. It was as easy as putting a hoof in and—
Odd…. I couldn’t find the key. Did somepony accidentally put it in the wrong spot? There was no way I was going to fetch the spare key from the under-porch. It’d be downright murder on my wings right now to go down to the ground, get the key from under the welcome mat, and fly back up.
Oh! There it was! Gosh, it was a lot higher than usual. I’d had to stand on the tips of my frogs to feel it, and I’d had to jump to get a good grip.
“Mom?! Dad?! You still home?!” Entering the house, I closed the door and sank to the floor for a moment, enjoying the sweet, cool shade of home.
“Night, is that you?” The sound of somepony hurling came from the bathroom. Mom poked her head out of the door—her eyes bleary, her mane disheveled—and blinked at me several times.
“I thought I had more time until you got back…. Give me just a second, and I’ll—“ Her face darkened and her cheeks bulged as she hastily pulled her head back into the bathroom.
As she started retching again, I frowned and carefully crept forwards. “Mom? Are you alright? This is three days in a row now. Don’t worry about making my lunch if you’re sick. I can—”
“Your mommy isn’t sick, Night.” Mom almost hurtled herself out of the doorway at me. “I’m better than fine—great, even! I just took a test that told me everything is fine, and that there’s nothing to worry about. Now, why don’t you go sit on the couch while I go make your lunch?”
I looked myself up and down for a moment before arching my brow at Mom. “Mom, look at me. I just ran a lap of Ponyville. I need a shower.”
“Oh, right….” Mom’s face darkened further. “You’ll be wanting the bathroom, then. Just let me…” The door was shut in my face, and the ominous sound of thunder rumbled on the other side. Gales raged, foals cried, and thunder boomed as Mom ravaged the bathroom a second time. The door burst open with a flash and a boom as Mom sped in and out with the garbage can. She was back before I could blink, smiling sweetly.
“There. All clean.” She gently pushed me in with a wing. “Your lunch will be ready when you’re done.”
“Are you sure?” I squeaked, squirming a little. “You still look a little—”
“I’m completely sure.” With a twitch of her feathers, Mom’s push became a tickle, and I giggled my way into the bathroom. When she stopped and shut the door, I turned to look in the mirror.
Yep. That was a good amount of dirt and lather. My sweat-soaked mane hung limply about my face, and I tasted salt when I licked my lips. Lifting a wing, I looked for any wear and tear—just in case—and bent down my head to take a sniff.
I nearly lost consciousness at the smell.
I stepped towards the shower cloud only to hear something snap beneath my hooves. Looking down, I found a little plastic stick broken in two. One half seemed to have a little window with a softly glowing, white light in it, but that was it. It must have fallen out of the garbage can when Mom rushed by.
I dutifully picked it up, and returned it to its rightful place. No big deal, really. It could always wait until the next trip.
My civic duty complete, I pulled myself into the shower and set the cloud to warm summer rain with a poke. I melted like butter under the water—just sitting in there dreaming for a minute or two—before I began to scrub the dirt from my coat. It had gotten everywhere today, and I was glad for it. It gave me an excuse to soak myself a little longer before I stepped out and flap-dried myself.
“Mom! I’m done!” I poked my head into the hall.
“That’s good, because so am I.” Mom gave me a shaky smile as she stepped into the hall. “Your lunch is on the counter. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go get ready for work before I end up being late.”
“Yep!” I chirped, a certain spring in my step. “Being late is never good. I’m just going to grab my bags and I’ll be off.”
I ran up and hugged her before bolting for my room. I zooped about it, throwing my books in my bag, and raced into the kitchen so I could grab my lunch. Leaping out the front door into the warm, spring air, I unfurled my wings and soared towards the schoolhouse.
I briefly looked back to see Mom waving at me in her armor at the door, and I smiled.
If Mom was feeling good enough to go to work, then there couldn’t possibly be anything wrong.
When I got home from school, Mom was snoozing in her lounger. It was a very un-Mom thing for her to do, and that worried me. Cooking, cleaning, reading: those were all things Mom liked to do off duty. That or going for a good fly and a swim. She only let herself nap when she was sick and needed the rest.
“Mom?” I prodded her with my snoot to no effect. “Mom, are you sure you’re alright?”
“Wha— Huh?! Whozzat?!” Mom startled awake on the second prod. “Oh, Night, when did you get home?” Ruffling her wings, she stood and headed for the hall. “I wasn’t expecting you for—” She glanced at the clock. “Oh….” Her wings sagged as she wilted, ears splaying back. “I told your father it was a bad idea to sit and rest my eyes….”
“Mom, are you sick? Do you need me to go get the stuff for chicken noodle soup?” I put a hoof on Mom’s side. “I can look after you while Dad’s at work, honest! I can come home straight from school, and I can follow orders to get you whatever you need, and—”
“I’m not that sick, little star.” Mom patted my head and kissed me on my forehead. “I just didn’t get as much sleep as I could last night because I kept waking up to use the bathroom.”
“You mean you threw up all night, too?!” I asked, my voice cracking in a shrill squeak.
“No, Night.” Mom hugged me. “I just had to use the bathroom. I think I got a little food poisoning from something. I’m well enough to work for the most part, so it should be gone soon.”
I rubbed my face in her coat and inhaled Mom’s scent. She was wearing blueberry and banana perfume today, and smelled like a fruit smoothie.
“So no chicken noodle?” I looked up at Mom with big, weapon-grade eyes.
“No chicken noodle,” Mom chuckled and ruffled my mane.
I started to giggle, but stopped at the clanging of pots and pans in the kitchen. Several muffled words-that-must-not-be-named came through the walls, and Mom stopped noogying me to glare at the kitchen.
“What is that lunk doing? He knows it’s my turn tonight.” Mom started towards the kitchen and I followed. “I swear, if he started fixing chicken noodle when I told him not to, I’m going to pluck his—” Mom glanced at me for a moment. “—feathers out.”
“Dad doesn’t have feathers, Mom.”
“Then I just need to tar and feather him first.” Mom snorted as we entered the kitchen to find Dad pulling a sizzling cricketloaf from the oven.
“Hello there, sleepyhead!” Dad winked at Mom as he waved some of the excess heat away. “I’m sorry, dear, but I figured you deserved at least a little more sleep after Princess Twilight had you running through the castle all day.”
He set the loaf down on an unoccupied part of the stove to cool, and then stirred a bowl on the other side. He took a taste of the paste and hummed in satisfaction, holding out the spoon to me.
I licked it once and decided that wasn’t enough, happily cleaning the spoon as the spicy tingle of chile gravy spread through my mouth.
“I see somepony is looking forward to dinner,” Dad chuckled. “How are you, my little light in the night? You have fun playing with your friends today?”
“Mhmm….” I gnawed the spoon just a little, but no more gravy was to be found.
A bowl of mashed potatoes stood ready on the counter next to a plate of roasted veggies, a pitcher of water resting by the edge of the sink. The bottom of it was dusted with snow and hail stones to keep it cool, while the top had a few citrus slices floating in it.
Mom judged it all with a hawk-like eye before nodding in approval.
“What was that bit of noise earlier?” She flicked an ear and gave Dad a look.
“Oh… ah… umm…” Dad took off the oven mitt to rub the back of his head. “I didn’t restack the pans carefully enough when I was digging out everything I needed. Sorry if it woke you, honey.”
“You’re fine. It didn’t wake me,” Mom sighed. “Honestly, I wouldn’t have minded if it did. It’s supposed to be me in here today.”
“But you—“
Mom cut Dad off with another pointed look. “Don’t expect me to do nothing, though. Night and I can easily set the table. Right, Night?”
“Right!” I reared up on my hooves to grab the handle to the pitcher in my mouth. Setting it carefully on my back, I started to head towards the table.
“You girls do that, then.” Dad grinned. “I’ve had to drain the reservoir for like, half an hour, but couldn’t leave the food unsupervised.”
He headed off to go do his business, and I dug into the drawers for plates, napkins, and cutlery. Mom moved the rest of the food to the table, while I set the table for three, and then we both sat down to wait for Dad.
He was taking a weirdly long time, and I squirmed impatiently. Mom fiddled around with the silverware a bit—making it just right—before standing up and heading for the hall.
“Tempered? Are you alright? Don’t tell me we’re all actually falling si—”
“Screeheeheehaahaaheeheehaahaaheehee!”
Dad burst through the door and tackled Mom in a rush—spinning her round and round as he pranced about in glee. Mom looked a little darker from the motion, but Dad just kept going. He nuzzled her and booped her snoot with his. His manic laughter boomed through the house along with several whinnies and snorts and attempts to say something to Mom.
Eventually, he ran out of breath, and that forced him to calm down himself. He still grinned like a loon under moon as he held out the little stick I’d thrown out earlier that morning.
“When were you planning on telling me, my lovely little Morning Glory?” He put his snoot to Mom’s neck and chuffed, breathing warm, tickly air all over her.
“I— Wha— Huh?” Mom’s eyes bugged out at the little stick. “That’s… That’s not what it said earlier!”
“That’s not what what said earlier?” I tilted my head to the side. “Mom? Dad? What’s going on?”
“We’ve got a brand new bouncing baby bat on the way!” Dad’s grin was wide enough to split his head in two. “You’re going to be a big sister, Night! Isn’t that great?!”
“I’m going to be a what?!” My squeak could have broken glass. Suddenly, I too was hopping around, dancing with Dad and screeing in glee.
“Screeheeheeheeheeheehee!”
“Screeheeheehaahaaheehee!”
“Screeheeheeheeheeheehee!”
“Screeheeheehaahaaheehee!”
“Sweet Celestia above… you’re both giving me a headache.”
Dad and I stopped spinning about to see Mom seated at the table, head in her hooves.
“Honey?” Dad set me down to go poke Mom with his snoot. “Glory? Are you alright? I thought you’d be happy? You were the one who wanted to—” He bit his lip and looked at me. “Try.”
“Oh, I’m happy all right.” There was a sob—or maybe a giggle—and Mom heaved a mighty sigh and smiled at us. “I’m unbelievably happy right now.” She sniffed. “I’m just a little worried, too. I thought we’d have a little more time to settle in Ponyville and build a nest egg. It took more time with Night.”
“We had fewer chances to try back then, Glory,” Dad rumbled, pulling Mom into a hug. “It was bound to happen faster now that we’re sharing shifts. Don’t worry. I’ve been keeping track of our bits. We should be fine.”
“Why’s Mom sad?” I hopped from hoof to hoof in the background. “Isn’t this a good thing?”
“It is.” Dad pulled me into the hug with his wing and squeezed. “But a foal comes with a lot of responsibilities, Night. We need to make sure we can care for both of you.”
“I’m pretty good at taking care of myself!” I squirmed, trying to get into a good position.
“We know you are.” Mom ruffled my mane. “And we’re proud of you for that, but soon you may be helping take care of more than just yourself, dear. Do you think you’re up for that?”
“Of course I am!” I would have saluted, but we were a tangled mess of limbs.
“Then let’s stop worrying, dear, and celebrate.” Dad kissed Mom on the nose and she finally giggled.
I squirmed at the cootie exchange, but Mom began mercilessly tickling me with her wings—no warning whatsoever—and I collapsed in a fit of high-pitched squeals. Then, Dad gave a rumbling laugh and stole me away from Mom for a bit of roughhousing. I scrabbled at him, he batted at me, and ears were nipped on both sides as we scuffled. At some point, it transitioned back into a hug, and Mom joined in again.
We sat like that for a while, dinner forgotten, until my stomach growled.
“We should probably eat dinner before it gets any colder, shouldn’t we?” Dad chuckled, pulling away.
“Before we do that, can I ask one question?” I nuzzled into the crook of Mom’s legs, and she rested her head atop mine.
“Of course you can, Night.” Mom squeezed me tight. “You’re bound to have a lot of questions.”
I squirmed a bit. “Okay, then… so… now that we’re getting one… are you finally going to tell me where foals come from?”
Mom went from soft and cuddly to bristly and tense. Her entire coat stood on end at the question, while her grip became almost vice-like. Dad just blinked a few times before giving a thunderous laugh.
“That’s my girl! Go right for the throat.”
“Tempered!” Mom tutted.
She shifted, bringing her head around to look at me directly. “Are you sure you want to know, Night?”
“Uh huh!” I nodded vigorously.
“Even if it’s really squicky and gross?”
“I can handle it!” I vibrated at the revelation, my imagination running wild. “Does it involve blood or guts or fighting your way out of the Gates of Tartarus? Oh! Is the stork actually some baby hoarding demon ponies need to fight their way past?!”
Mom gave Dad a look as he sat there roaring with laughter. “No, Night, even worse. It involves colts…”
“Oh…” The wind was instantly knocked from beneath my wings.
“And kissing…”
“Oh…” I squirmed further.
“And cooties….”
“Oh…” My ears folded back. “Umm… nevermind, then. I think I’ll be fine just waiting for them to teach it in school.”
“Whether any of us like it or not, Night, you’re probably going to learn where foals come from at some point over the next eleven months.” Still chuckling, Dad leaned over to boop me on the nose. “It might honestly be better to talk about it now. It’ll help prepare you for being an adult.”
Well, when he put it like that…
“Alright…” Mom and I sighed at the same time. We both blinked twice at the resignation before bursting into giggles.
“Oh, my little star is growing up so fast….” Mom nuzzled me. “Just give me one more dinner with my little filly first. The Talk is such a huge step forward for you.”
My stomach grumbled its agreement, and the inevitable was postponed until after dinner.
“Woah….” It was an understatement, but my mind was kind of blown.
I had squirmed when both Mom and Dad had sat beside me on the couch to wrap a wing around me, but now I was grateful for the support. The Talk had left me feeling a little numb to the world.
“Woah, indeed….” Dad nodded, a slight grimace on his face. “Now you understand why it’s my sacred duty to scare colts away from you.”
“That’s just… woah….” I looked for words again and failed. Burying my face in his side, I tightened my grip on him. “So… when Rumble asked me out, he wanted to… No, no no no no no, that’s just too icky!
“You say that now…” Dad chuckled, ruffling my mane with a hoof.
Mom shifted on my other side, and I turned to place a hoof on her barrel. I leaned in and brushed my ear against her ribs, causing her to giggle. Her stomach gurgled lightly as it digested dinner, but otherwise there wasn’t much sound.
“I always thought they came from somewhere far away.” My ear flicked, and Mom’s giggles grew. “It’s weird to think of them growing inside ponies. Is that what happened with Aunt Star Fort? She told me all that extra weight was to prepare for a siege on her castle gates, but then the fort she was stationed at never got attacked.”
Dad snorted while Mom made a strangled choking sound.
“Anyways! Where’s he gonna come out? How does he breath in there? What does he do to eat? Does he have a name yet?”
Dad almost fell on the floor he was laughing so hard, and even Mom started to chuckle as my barrage of questions grew. She had to set her hoof over my mouth to get me to stop rambling.
“How about we focus on names for now?” She smiled before pulling her hoof away.
“Short Spear!” I immediately chirped upon being able to speak again.
“No colt of mine is going to wield a weapon as weak as a shortspear,” Dad chuckled.
“You two can’t know for sure whether it’s a colt or not.” Mom shook her head.
“Blood Moon!” I grinned triumphantly.
“He’s not a vampony.” Dad frowned.
Mom just rolled her eyes.
“How about Iron Hoof?” Dad tried.
“Shadow Stalker!”
“Battle Hymn?”
“Death Wing!”
“Owl Eye?”
“Dark Whip!”
“Night, please….” Mom set a hoof on my withers. “I know you’re excited, but your names don’t have to be so… intense…. I understand you want a little buddy to follow you into the guard, but all those names sound like the type of colts Dad will be scaring away from you in a few years. Do you really want a brother like that?
“Besides, most of those names won’t work for fillies.” She coughed. “You need to remember that you might be getting a sister.” Looking at Dad, she smiled. “I like Battle Hymn, though. Let’s keep that one on the list.”
My ears flicked a few times as my mind started doing mental acrobatics. A filly name? I could do that. Oh! I could go with—
“Flank Support.” I nodded sagely.
There was a roar of laughter from Dad, while Mom sputtered a bit.
“What?” My ears folded back against my head. “She’d always have my back!”
“Night. Night. Night. Night. Night…” Mom tutted. “We are not going to name your brother or sister after their butt.”
Oh….
“Oops?” I squirmed in my spot. “How about Cadence Call?”
“Much better.” Mom was smiling again.
“Iron Maiden.” Dad grinned.
“Don’t you start.” Mom gave him a pointed look only for him to waggle his brows. “Maybe we should wait a bit for names.” Mom started massaging her temples. “You’re both clearly a bit too giddy about the new foal right now.”
“If that’s what you want, mama Morning Glory.” Dad leaned his head over me to boop Mom’s snoot with his own. “I’m going to head out to the bar and tell the troops the good news.”
“No drinking, you hear?” Mom frowned.
“I’m only going to have some soda and maybe a pinch of salt.” Dad grinned. “We’ve got work tomorrow, after all.”
“Be back by midnight at the latest.”
“No promises!” Dad laughed. “After stopping at Berry Punch’s, I’m planning on flying all the way to Canterlot and screeing the news to the heavens.”
“No salt, then.” Mom’s glare brooked no argument.
“Yes, ma’am!” Dad saluted Mom and winked. “Anypony you want me to tell in particular? Right now, I’m just planning on hopping in on my old buddies and our folks.”
“Don’t you drag my parents into this at Celestia knows what hour of the night!” Mom’s left wing tightened around me as her other one attempted to swat Dad. “You let them get their sleep, and we can fly out to tell them this weekend.” After failing to hit Dad several times, Mom ruffled her wings and preened a bit before finally answering his question.
“Optic Lens might be up in the observatory if you’re that dead set on telling our friends, though….” Mom hummed. “If you mention it to her for me, I’m sure word will spread to the rest of the girls.”
“What about your friends in the guard?” Dad grinned. “Permission to raid the barracks like I used to?”
“Denied.” Mom rolled her eyes.
“Aww….” Dad pouted. “Well, it was worth a try. I’ll see you later then, sweetie.” He swept in for one last smooch. “I’ve got a lot of air to travel.”
“Yes, you do.” Mom smiled. “Have fun and at least try to be back by sunrise.”
Dad just winked and turned to head out the door.
“So… Mom?” Now that that was settled, I leaned into Mom to bring her attention back to me. A certain question was now burning into my mind as bits of The Talk still flitted about my head.
“Yes, Night?”
“What am I going to tell the Crusaders if they ask me where foals come from?”
It started as a giggle, but Mom quickly fell to the floor in a laughing fit. “Oh, I didn’t think of that! If any of your friends don’t know, they’re sure to ask, and then you’ll—” She couldn’t get any farther in her mirth.
It took a minute, but eventually she managed to get her giggles back under control, and she stood up to take her place on the couch again.
“Oh, I am so sorry about that, Night, but I really needed to hear that.” She put her wing back over me. “The truth is, I suspect some or all of them may already know. You’re friends with a group of very curious fillies.”
There was another brief bout of giggles. “If they do ask you, though, it’s up to you what to say. You’re mature enough to have an idea of what your friends might think or do if you tell them, and you’ll know better than me whether or not their parents will get upset if you do. I trust you to make the right decision if they ask, and to make sure that if you do say something, that you’ll make sure they get The Talk themselves.”
I sighed. “Horseapples, I was afraid you’d say something like that. It’d be so much easier if you just told me to keep quiet.”
“Being an adult isn’t easy, Night, but you took a big step in that direction today.” Mom hummed. “Also, language.”
It was my turn to giggle. “At least I didn’t say any of those other words Dad likes to use.”
“True. True. If you had—” Mom nuzzled me in my barrel before ambushing me with a raspberry. “—your punishment would be much more severe than a visit from the tickle monster!”
“Mom!” I flailed and shrieked as I was suddenly flanked by two feathery armies. It was a three-front war between her wings and her muzzle assaulting me. “Mom, I’m not a foal anymore! Tickle monsters are for babies! Mom!”
My protests merely encouraged Mom, and I ended up going to bed a ruffled, disheveled mess that hiccuped all night long.
I've always liked Barbed Retort as a combat name (and I usually find a way to fit it in somehow), with a talent towards dueling and counter fighting.
Cutie mark would be a stylised rapier, with the actual flower as the Handle / Basket and the thorny stem as the blade interposed against a broken sword.
This was a really nice chapter. For the foal I prefer a thestral colt but I haven't got any names though I liked several of the names Night and her dad came up with.
About Face, the social butterfly and layabout of the family.
Crap I can't think of any names that would work. It doesn't help I am trying to base them off of the handles from Top Gun. The best I could come up with was Lunar Viper.
I haven't got names, but what about an albino thestral? I'm making one up myself and I don't want Petroa to be the only snowy batpone in existence :P
This reminds me when I was basically nocturnal a week before the semester started and I have to change at least an hour a day in order to become diurnal again
Let's see...
Nighttime Surprise
Spring Attack
Bunker Buster
Sally Port
... I liked Flank Support.
Wait, but
she stepped on the thing
and it said something different
part of me is worried this is a false alarm.
How's this? Panoply, or French Panoplie, meaning full amour, her cutie mark could be a tower shield, so as not to copy Shining Armour's. Also a tower shield was used by front line troops to protect themselves, and the archer, from arrows and heavy clavier, so for a pony it would technically be full armour.
And, yeah, I'm leaning toward a filly. But I say make her a pegasus.
This was absolutely adorable! And I'm so glad that Night is looking forward to being a big sister.
An Albino Thestral would be cool, but having Morning Glory give birth to a pegasus in a all thestral family would be awesome!
I got lots of cool ideas for names:
Pushing Daisies (female)
Solar Sprint (which would go great with the pegasus idea) (neutral)
Oddity (neutral - great with the albino thestral)
Mythic Wish (neutral/girl)
Twinkle Vision (girl)
Lunar Arrow (neutral/boy)
Morning Meteor (neutral)
Night Strike (boy)
Starry forge (boy)
Lunar Halo (girl)
Solar Lance (boy - also good for a pegasus pony)
Morning/Solar Aurora (girl)
Astral Defiance (sounds kickass, right?)
Shielded Dawn (Girl)
Astral Impact (Again, kick ass)
Star Charge (neutral/girl)
For a pegusus colt I like the name Rock Steady, a bit larger than most colts his age but by the time he's grown he'll be built like a brick st house. He could be in counter operations (specializing in seiges) with a bastion wall for a cutiemark. For a thestral filly I like Belladonna, quiet and polite but with a hidden bite of poison (she is nightshade after all). She could have a clipping of nightshade on her flank and work as an agent of the crown, a set of eyes and ears in the darker parts of society
Something a bit military and really representative what the foal will bring to the family: Major Inconvenience.
hmmm, we have:
Night Wish
Midnight Eclipse
Astral Comet
Moon Flare
Blazing Eclipse
Silent Step
Mystic Shadow
Ferrous Strike
Nice chapter, but I saw a discrepancy: 'With a twitch of her feathers, Mom’s push became a tickle,'
The use of feathers at the end was also odd. Wasn't Night's mom a Thestral?
As for the name of the thestral colt: Night Watch.
I am loving this!
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No? She’s always been a pegasus. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’ve written that she has feathers before. Also, she’s been seen reading by candlelight in the home as It’d be too dark otherwise, and Ewigenacht called out how hard it was for her to see in the caves. I’ve commented on how it’s an oddity she eats bugs with the rest of the family, and I flat out said in Flu Through the Night she could only handle the broth and noodles of the chicken noodle.
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Ah. My bad then!
Still, adorable story - keep up the good work!
Thestral colt named Face Hugger. I dont know why other than it makes me giggle.
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I would find it interesting if Barbed Retort went for alchemy instead of melee with the cutiemark of a retort
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Private Parts, maybe? General Meyhem? Miss Behaving?
the cuteness meter for this chapter broke...hmm, this is unsettling.
on another note I loved it!
Bwahahaha
wow, was just wondering what would happen if Night became a big sister and then this.
stop reading my mind dammit!
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Or he becomes a satirical speaker / journalist, with the idea of "a barbed Retort", a witticism designed to cut to the heart of the matter, often in a brutal or hurtful manner.
lel references
Hmmm....
Well keeping with the Germanic name of 'Ewigenacht'
How about König? All it means is 'King', but it's a very masculine name.
Alternatively, a girl name can be Kaiserin. This means 'Empress'.
Sadly I can't think of any pony names, so I think those will do.
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I am also trying to get the cuteness level of this story. I am getting there but I need more samples.
I'm actually utter crap at coming up with good pony names, especially on the spot, so I just might leave it to everybody else here to suggest. Besides, it's hard to think of a good one without a better idea of knowing of just what the eventual kid might end up being like.
...sheesh, that makes me think that I'm only going to have that same problem still whenever I cross that bridge and have a kid myself.
On another note--personally, I think Night should leave any The Talk-giving to the parents of any friends who inquire, if only on the grounds that this eliminates the chance of Night perhaps messing up some key detail seeing she's still fresh to it all herself...but then maybe I'm just old-fashioned that way.
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I'm not too worried about it...that darn meter was going to break eventually anyway.
Night is just to Cute!
Thestral Colt please.
How about Morning Star, it's good for either a filly or colt. A morning star is a spiked ball at the end of a shaft, and is a fairly decent weapon if you know how to use it. Just like the weapon he or she could have a blunt personality with sharp wit, he/she will need it when compared to their mothers name. And I can not think of a special talent right now as it is 1:30 am and I am tired I will try to think of one in the morning... hehe
Wait…did you just ask for…’Dad Joke Time’ ?
I think you did!
Dad burst into the kitchen and held his wings up dramatically. He had a huge grin on his face.
“Dear, I’ve done it! I have the perrrrrrfect names for our soon-to-be!”
For some reason, Mom just narrowed her eyes. Had she seen this look before? I just thought Dad was extra-happy. “Do I really want to know?”
“But of course, dear! Say, ‘Hit me!’ “
I couldn’t let Mom beat me to it. I spread my wings and lifted my front hooves as fast as I could. “Hit me!” Wait, why didn’t Mom join in?
He looked down. “Good for you, my little light in the night!” He ran a hoof through my mane at the top of my head, making me grin even wider.
He sat down at the dinner table and raised his hooves dramatically, looking to the side and opening his mouth to speak only to freeze in place.
Mom snorted. “You’re the biggest ham.”
He looked over at her for a moment. “Yes, I do love ham, actually.” Then he returned to looking off into the distance with his mouth wide open. Mom rolled her eyes but cracked a smile, hoofing him in the shoulder. He wobbled a bit, but didn’t break his pose.
“Imagine, for a moment, our young foal. She develops a fondness for animals thanks to hanging out with Dear Miss Fluttershy. In fact, she trains her pet bird to turn on and off the light in her room by nuzzling it…”
Mom’s ears swiveled forwards and she opened her mouth, but Dad kept right on going. “Our precious dear gets her cutie mark from this amazing feat, so it’s only fitting we name her: Loon Nuz’ De Light!” Dad smiled proudly.
I blinked. “I don’t get it.”
I looked at Mom to see if she did. She was pulling down the skin under her eyes and had a horrified expression on her face, just gaping at Dad…So, did that mean she got it or not?
I didn’t get the chance to ask.
Dad started again. “Of course, we can just as readily name our foal after a special place.”
Mom groaned. I still don’t know why.
“Talking to Sweet Miss Fluttershy, I learned that Rainbow Dash’s last house was quaint and cozy. Now don’t get me wrong, her new house is a quite a masterpiece of sculpted cloud, but it just doesn’t have the rustic charm of her old abode. So I propose we name our foal…” He winked at me. “…Dash’s Last Place.”
I frowned. “But she always gets first place.”
His grin got even wider, which surprised me, honestly. “Not anymore!”
Mom’s expression didn’t change, but her head slowly sunk to the table, then she covered it with her front hooves.
Dad got up and started strutting around the kitchen as he talked. “Or perhaps I’ll have a colt who is a great flyer, especially in underground caves. He’ll practice his low-speed flying for hours until sheer hunger forces him to stop.”
Mom started moaning, clomping her hooves against her head lightly.
Parents are weird.
“We’ll name him: Stall Lag Might Crave.”
I blinked. “I still don’t get it.”
I heard the muffled voice of my Mom from under her forelegs. “Your Daddy is trying to be clever, dear.”
Dad sighed dramatically.“Or just maybe—“
“No,” said Mom.
His smile didn’t change and he leaned over her. “Awwwww, Sweety. Just one more.”
Mom raised a hoof and pointed at his nose. “NO!”
He dodged around the hoof and blew gently in her ear, which caused her to shiver. “Just one more because you love me.”
Mom made sort of a strangled sound, I guess.
Dad smiled triumphantly and stood back up. “Perhaps our filly will rap on doors with its back left hoof, and love going to the spa and having makeovers with her fillyfriends. We’ll call her: Knock Toe Nail Glaze. ”
I saw Mom’s mouth moving. Her ears perked up again and she raised her head. She started talking thoughtfully. “ 'Nocturnal Gaze'…'Nocturnal Gaze'. Oooo, I think I like that one. That goes on the list.” She beamed up at my Dad. “Thank you, dear.”
They did that thing with their lips. The long, drawn-out kind. Ugh.
Dad pulled back with that same grin. “There will be plenty more where those came from.”
Mom chuckled, then frowned hard with a glare. “No there won’t.”
Dad kept smiling as he walked out of the kitchen, giving me another head rub as he went. “I’m off to find more inspiration!”
Mom sighed, then looked at me. I guess she thought my confused face was funny because her eyes looked like they started sparkling. “Yes, dear?”
“Mom, what on Equus were you and Dad talking about?”
I liked Mystic Shadow
This has to be the cutest series on FimFic. I love it! I'm also a fan of how Diamond and Night are together. They're a cute match!
A few name suggestions (serious this time)
8739192
My thought exactly, until I reached the Author's Notes.
Name suggestions won't be needed if there isn't going to be any foal, right?
Unless, the author was trying to mislead us poor readers. (It is working, yes. And that'd be super evil by the way.)
Or, the foal will come eventually even though this was a false alarm.
Well, we could be wrong and it's not a false alarm.
Only one way to find out! <Trying to click the "Next" button that doesn't even exist yet >
Silver Fang?
Filly Pegasus
I've been reading this story for quite a while. While it's cute, and the writing is solid enough, I just feel like there are a few problems with it.
For starters, the main character is more or less liked by everyone as soon as she shows up, and doesn't have much personality besides just being a batpony and a little kid. It makes it kinda hard to get invested in the story.
Another thing is the lack of much conflict that lasts for more than a chapter or so, or any kind of struggle. While the scenes with her leading the troop are funny, as was the thing with the baby names, I feel like nothing and no one ever has a negative reaction to Night, and vice versa. She's immediately appointed the head of her troop on day one, and has no qualms whatsoever about finding out her parents are having another kid. I feel like this story could be much more engaging with some actual problems to solve; a conflict. Maybe it's just me not being the target audience. I don't know. But still, the writing is solid, as is the culture of the bat ponies, and the humor is good. So I'll keep reading.
8743599
Uhh... It's an anthology of slice of life one shots. I literally cannot have conflict that lasts more than a chapter. That goes against the anthology tag. There can be continuity between chapters, sure, and I might be able to add an antagonist that lasts more than one chapter--I mean, I already did that with Rumble in a way--but every chapter is designed to stand on it's own. It's also not a drama, which seems to be what you're asking for in terms of conflicts I could put in. It's designed to be lighthearted and fluffy with a smidge of comedy, and I specifically try to look at positives rather than negatives.
8743640
Alright. Thank you for responding. I suppose it was just a misunderstanding on my part.
Silent Star.
Moon River
Silver Sparrow
Midnight Oil
ooh what if the foal turns out to be a unicorn?
now theres a twist.
Another great chapter that was fully enjoyed.
Thestral colt, named Moon Strike. (Prepare to be moon struck)
pegasus colt, named Day Break or Night Fall depending on Coloration.
Thestral filly, Lunar Halo, Cosmic Glitter
Pegasus filly, Sun Beam, Day Shade
When I saw this, I immediately thought, "oh no! It's giving a false positive because Night broke it!". Then I realized that was probably far too dark for this story. I skipped to the chapter end (yes, I'm one of those people) and saw the AN, confirming someone is having a baby. Now I need to go back and finish reading, but my working theory it's a magical touch-active test and that Night is actually preggers. (Haha, no, not really. Would be a funny omake, though.)
EDIT:
Great chapter - you ended on a high note as usual. Also, I vehemently disagree with those people who claim Night lacks personality. Maybe she lacks depth, but she's a child - that's to be expected.
No foal name suggestions, but I'd go with a pegasus colt. It seems like it would add the most potential scenarios and fill a role the cast doesn't really have yet (i.e. Big sister/little brother). A thestral would be fine, but with the sunlight and diet restrictions, I think you'd have a hard time incorporating social activities (i.e. interactions with the Crusaders/ other townsponies).
Glaiveheart.
Thunderdraft.
Misty Hoof.
If twins, Rank and File.
Morning Star.
Duskdancer.
Evanescent Dew.
Major Major.
Pulpy Pierce.
Firefly.
Morning Moth.
Morning Doo/Dew.
Mountain Doo/Dew.
8748225
If you’re talking about Jack Mind’s earlier comment, I don’t think he was really saying Night had no personality. His criticism was more about a lack of negatives, which is a legitimate complaint when I try to focus on positives.
That said, it’s interesting that you mention a potential lack of depth. I could just be biased as the author, but I find it hard to think she lacks depth. One of my favorite things about writing Night is that sometimes she’s shy and soft spoken while sometimes she’s got a commanding pressence. Trying to figure out which is most appropriate for a given situation is always fun, but maybe you’re talking about something else.
I’ll admit, there could probably be a bit more conflict to add more spice and context to how she handles negative situations, but it doesn’t really feel right for an E rated slice of life centered around a child. If— No, when I get around to that T rated story focusing on her teen/young adult years, that should have a bit more drama to it. Not too much, hopefully, but it shouldn’t be all sunshine and daisies like childhood.
8749672
Night is a magical foal in the land of pastel ponies and friendship. I personally don’t want a grittier, ‘more realistic’ foalhood. Let her have awesome parents and good friends, and let the most terrifying bully she has to face be the hungry sun while she hunts butterflies.
The image of her storming the snow forts of the ‘enemy’ or practicing her murderous stabby stabby ways on cans and plates with a merry ‘screeeheeheeee’ just effortlessly makes me smile. I want the smiles to continue.
The life she is leading is the life that the Mane 6’s adventures into fighting major threats were all about securing. She’s an awesome filly and should be allowed to be awesome. ^_^
Thestral colt! Every big sister needs to have a little borther to be protective about!
“Sharp Skies” as a name??
Lovely story thus far!
8749672
8749699
Agreed with both of these. My comment was in reference to Mind Jack basically saying that Night is a Mary Sue:
...which I thought was unfair. Night has a clear personality, and the fact that she entered the school scene at a point in the series where there are few major antagonists is no fault of your writing. It doesn't mean she's somehow getting special treatment.
As for depth, I personally think Night is fine (I guess I should have put that 'maybe' in itallics). I agree that Night shows a good emotional range. I was talking about how Night has laser focus on the things she's currently most interested in (i.e. the guard) and rarely speaks without incorporating that, much like how other children operate. I could at least see where people were coming from with that argument, even if I disagree (For comparison, I could see people making a similar argument about Rainbow Dash in early seasons).
Anyways, thanks for writing this! I'm looking forward to more pregnancy shenanigans!