Family Matters
Chapter 11: Of Needles and Points
As Celestia's sun began its daily trek across the skies, nature’s call pulled Spike from his dreaming in the wee morning hours. He normally did not get up this early, but the last few days’ tension threw off his schedule. Groggy, he staggered around the dim upstairs. Disoriented and with mounting urgence, he gave up on finding the suddenly elusive upstairs bathroom and trundled downstairs.
Spike sighed upon reaching the bathroom and relieving himself. A disgusting sight awaited the unwitting dragon as he emerged from the lavatory. He blinked away the morning blurriness and stared at the red and purple tangle of pony sleeping on the couch. He could not believe he’d missed Big Macintosh's baritone snores. "That's so gross!"
Big Macintosh's eyes snapped open at Spike's distress. He could not see the problem but could feel it. Thick ropes of saliva dribbled from Twilight’s lips, creating an expanding patch of burgundy on Big Macintosh’s otherwise bright red coat. He propped Twilight head up for a moment before replacing himself with a pillow. The exhausted mare fell into it, oblivious to the actions of her future husband. Big Macintosh's mane stuck out at all ends. "Ah think Ah'm gonna need a shower and a towel."
Spike showed him the way to the linen closet and the shower. "Is this going to happen all the time?"
A bashful smile tugged at stallion’s lips as he deftly deflected the question. "Why don't you go to Sugarcube Corner and get some breakfast for us. Ah don't have any bits on me at the moment, but ah can pay you back later. Don't wake Twilight up either, she needs to rest."
"I know what Twilight needs," Spike grumbled under his breath.
Big Macintosh patted the dragon solidly on his shoulder. Spike buckled under the weight before standing firm. "Listen Spike, Ah just wanted to thank you for handlin' this so well and takin' care of Twilight when Ah can't be there."
Spike could not find the words as Big Macintosh entered the bathroom to clean himself up. He left the sleeping Twilight and showering Big Macintosh to perform his duty.
***
After a few short hours of fitful sleep, Applejack woke and grumbled to Celestia's dawn. The letter was sealed on the dresser next to her bed just waiting to be delivered to the post office. Applejack would not risk putting it in the farm's personal box for Big Macintosh to find.
She stared at her correspondence for a good five minutes, questioning her motives and anger over the past twenty four hours. She could not put her hoof on it, but she felt off. Why am I feelin’ guilty? I’m just bein’ honest.
She was pulled from her thoughts when Apple Bloom burst in. “AJ? Big Macintosh isn’t in bed.”
Suddenly she did not feel guilty anymore.
***
Twilight woke to the gentle aroma of breakfast wafting through the library. She stretched the cricks out of her back and shuffled into the kitchen. Her eyes widened on the array of food that waited to be eaten. Eggs served sunny side up, scrambled, and a couple of omelets bloated with cheese and fresh vegetables. Butter-smeared french toast stood next to towers of waffles and pancakes stuffed with strawberry and blueberries. A gallon of orange juice and milk sat waiting to be poured.
Spike stood by the eggs, drooling and waiting to jump in. A drying Big Macintosh stared at the food with equal shock and hunger as his stomach grumbled loudly. "Ah thought you were just goin’ to get some muffins or cinnamon buns or something."
Neither noticed Twilight had woken up.
"Pinkie Pie insisted on sending this all over," Spike said.
"It smells great." Twilight passed the still standing pair and snatched a plate Spike had set up for breakfast. She immediately set to piling her plate high with one of the omelets, and a combination of the waffles and french toast.
"Well, no use letting all this good food go to waste." Spike started to pile food onto his own plate. Big Macintosh did not speak but instead joined them.
They ate in relative silence, only the clinking of cutlery against plates disturbed the peace. At least until Spike let out a loud burp. He let himself fall backward off his stool to digest. "Are you going to finish that?" Twilight stared at his untouched scrambled eggs.
"I will… eventually," Spike propped himself on elbows to eye the food. Twilight focused on them with the intensity of a starved mare. "Fine, you can have them."
"If you insist." Twilight floated the eggs to her own plate. She ended up eating nearly half of the prepared meal.
Big Macintosh took to cleaning up breakfast as Twilight and Spike digested. "Spike, I need you to send this letter to my parents."
"Do I have to now?"
"Yes, Spike."
"But it's so hard directing letters to ponies other than Princess Celestia."
"I'm sure you can manage, you stuffed yourself with more than enough food to fuel it."
"I'm not the only one who stuffed themselves."
"I'm eating for two, Spike. Just send the letter."
***
Contrary to popular belief, not everypony in Canterlot lived in castles. Over the millennia, many estates had been converted to multi family homes. Twilight Sparkle's parents, Twilight Velvet and Night Light, lived in part of an estate formerly completely owned by Lady Diamond Jubilee. The ancient earth pony still lived in part of her former estate; half had been sold decades ago to screw with her husband's family, converted into smaller apartments specifically designated for low income families. After a suggestion from Princess Celestia, a personal friend of the lady, Diamond Jubilee had sold another section of her remaining household to an up-and coming unicorn family.
Twilight Velvet and Night Light's home consisted of the estate’s old library, a parlor, and several other rooms. The parlor room had long since become Twilight Velvet and Night Light's bedroom, and part of the ground floor of the library became the kitchen, dining room, front hallway, and living room. The second floor consisted of bedrooms for the children, and the rest became a play room, then study room, and finally guest bedroom as the children aged.
Night Light trudged out of his room with his wife stumbling behind him. "We are too old to be doing that more than once a week," the stallion checked his side. "Do I have any rope burns?"
"You sure you don't want to try for another go," Velvet slinked her way up to her husband and pressed herself against him. A decade ago, Night Light would have jumped at the chance for a second round. All he wanted now was to listen to the morning weather on the radio in the library.
A burst of flame flying through an open window and manifesting a letter from their daughter offered Night Light an escape. "It's a letter from Twilight." Night Light placed the remainder of their adult children between himself and his wife. It's presence did stop Velvet from giving her husband bedroom eyes. "This is strange."
"What's wrong?" Velvet leaned over the top of the letter and tried to read it upside down.
"Twilight wants us to visit and not tell her brother." Velvet's following squeal to Night Light's answer rivaled the royal Canterlot voice.
"Twilight must have a colt friend she wants to introduce." Velvet giggled with excitement, and covered her hooves with her mouth to suppress the girlish action. "If we get ready now we can grab one of the express trains for tonight."
"Maybe we should give it a day?"
"Night Light, this could be our daughter's future!" Velvet left her husband in the dust as she scurried into their room to start packing.
***
The waiting room at the doctor’s office was a sterile but warm place, with eggshell painted walls and wooden chairs with a thick veneer and vinyl padding that made them easy to see. Big Macintosh sat silently as Twilight checked herself in, a bead of sweat forming on his brow. Spike sat across from him, flipping idly through an old magazine.
"You're welcome to come in, Spike," Twilight said, trying to make the dragon feel like he belonged.
"I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I don't want to see them stick something in you in places I don't want to see."
"Spike, that isn't going to happen!"
"Are you sure?"
"Twilight Sparkle?" called the nurse in the doorway. Twilight and Big Macintosh stood. The nurse beckoned them over. "Right this way, please."
The nurse led them down a tight hallway, chatting good-naturedly with Twilight. Big Macintosh did not listen. He was too busy staring straight over their heads down the constricting hall. The antiseptic air hung stale and heavy over him. Each closed door undoubtedly hid a collection of tools, machines, devices... needles.
"Big Macintosh? Are you going to come in?" Twilight asked, a mixture of concern and confusion in her voice.
"Err... yes. Ah'm fine." He wasn't sure when they had arrived, or how long he had stood frozen in the doorway. He shook his head and walked into the room. The rest of the visit was a bit of a blur for Big Macintosh as Twilight discussed her condition with the doctor and the nurse. Big Macintosh focused when the nurse mentioned drawing a blood sample.
"Blood sample?" Big Macintosh repeated absentmindedly.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Twilight asked. The nurse had already shaved a patch of on the backside of her lower right front leg. The unicorn swabbed the bared skin with an alcohol swab.
"Ah'm fine," Big Macintosh repeated. The snap of rubber around Twilight's legs forced the stallion to concentrate. He was able to keep himself calm until the nurse pulled out the blood drawing kit with a long needle. The nurse pricked Twilight’s skin, and blood flowed from the line into a container. From Big Macintosh's perspective, at least before he fainted, the needle must have been a foot long.
***
Big Macintosh woke a few minutes later to Twilight fanning him with the nurse’s clipboard, and a second nurse preparing to roll Big Macintosh onto a stretcher. He stood before anyone would find the need to prick him. “What happened?”
“You fainted,” Twilight asked.
“Are you alright sir?” the second nurse asked.
“Ah’m fine. Twilight, need anythin’ else?” Big Macintosh tried to redirect the conversation.
“I don’t need anything else. Just to make another appointment to see the doctor in a month’s time,” Twilight explained. “What do you need?”
“Ah just need some air.” Big Macintosh left the bewildered Twilight and nurse behind. He ignored Spike’s questioning wave before leaving the hospital. He stopped at a park nearby to catch his breath. Twilight and Spike caught up with him several moments later. Twilight did not stop until she reached Big Macintosh. Spike left the adults to their discussion as he focused on savoring a lollipop nearly as large as his fist.
"Why didn't tell me you were afraid of hospitals?" Twilight asked as she held a bag of ice against Big Macintosh's head.
"Because ah'm thirty and it’s just the needles ah cain’t stand," Big Macintosh muttered as Twilight rubbed the bump with the ice They had left the hospital quickly after Twilight finished her appointment and Big Macintosh recovered in the lounge. The red stallion had refused to speak until they were out of sight of the hospital and resting in a park.
"I think this is going to be swollen for the rest of the day, and it's okay if you’re afraid. Everypony has something they are afraid of," Twilight tried to reassure Big Macintosh. "This is something you’re going to have to work on though. There's going to be a lot more shots for both of us. Including the vaccinations you might have been skipping."
Before Big Macintosh could protest, a yelling voice disrupted his protest. "BIG MAC, YER ALIVE!" Apple Bloom yelled as she ran into her unsuspecting brother's embrace.
"Apple Bloom," Big Macintosh managed to choke out despite his youngest sister’s iron grip. Twilight held a calm face as Applejack appeared with fully laden saddle bags.
"Ah was so worried," Apple Bloom said, clinging to her brother.
"You weren't in bed this morning," Applejack said, her voice curt and frigid.
"Where were ya? We were so worried. What happened?" Apple Bloom asked.
Big Macintosh and Applejack glared at one another.
Twilight came up with an explanation. "He had an early morning with me," Twilight admitted without getting into specifics.
"What about last-" Applejack started to ask.
Twilight cut her off. "We were trying to figure out the best way to tell you... we’re dating."
"Excuse-" Applejack tried to speak again.
"You're Big Macintosh’s special somepony? Really?" Apple Bloom asked excitedly.
"Yes, we were going to spend the rest of the day together. Would you like to spend it with us?" Twilight asked.
"Can Ah?" Apple Bloom looked up at her brother with big, pleading eyes.
"As long as Applejack says it’s alright. Maybe she would like to spend the rest of the day with us too?" He looked at Applejack hopefully.
Applejack’s eyes narrowed momentarily before she managed to school her expression. "Ah would love to, but ah cain't. Got stuff I gotta do for our farm. Mostly paperwork to be handled and letters to be sent."
"Aww... come on Applejack," Apple Bloom begged.
Applejack's stern expression warmed as she looked down at her little sister. "Sorry, Sugarcube. But Ah got chores." Her smile tightened as she looked back to her brother. "I expect I'll see you at home tonight?" It didn't sound like a question.
Big Macintosh gave a small, noncommittal shrug as Applejack turned left without another word. She had a letter to send and wanted to make sure it got to Canterlot fast.
Spike finished his sugary sweet and concentrated on the change of dynamics. "What just happened?"
"We're gonna celebrate Big Macintosh and Twilight Sparkle's love!" Pinkie Pie appeared from a bush with a blast of confetti. "Finally?"
Big Macintosh gaped like a fish out of water as he tried to find the words. Twilight spoke for him. "It's as good a time as any." Twilight snuggled close to her coltfriend as Apple Bloom, Spike, and Pinkie Pie talked excitedly about the party.
***
Shining Armor sighed at the pile of mail before him. He wished he could could just pack the letters away somewhere until Cadence returned home from her diplomatic tour of Canineda in the north, but if Twilight and his wife shared anything it was obsessive tendencies. She would always organize the mail into bills, junk, and personal; each category breaking down into a multitude of more specific categories. It was a convoluted system, but what could he do? Shining Armor figured it stemmed from her role as a paragon of romance, why else would she be so letter obsessed?
He threw away the junk mail, and neatly organized the bills and any letters to Cadence into two separate piles with the largest envelops at the bottoms. There were several other pyramids of mail waiting for Cadence to return home. There were two letters for himself, one from Cadence and a second letter with express delivery markings.
Dearest Shining,
This diplomatic tour is agonizingly boring without you. I won't inflict the details on you, but suffice it to say it involves shaking a lot of hooves.
I'm afraid the time allotted for me to compose this correspondence is very limited, so know that I miss you and am keeping you in my thoughts.
Love Eternally,
Cadence.P.S. There is the possibility I will be arriving home early if the meetings with the Diamond Dogs go well.
Shining Armor filed the letter away without really reading it. He concentrated on the heavily stamped envelop from Ponyville. His eyes widened in shock and horror as he read the letter. Then read it a second and third time to make sure he was reading it correctly
An explosion of light purple energy followed as he teleported out of the house, disrupting the piles of letters he had been stacking for the past week and covering his entire kitchen with black magical soot.
***
Shining Armor literally smoked as he appeared in front of his parent’s house. He never had the precision that his sister learned when it came to handling his vast wellspring of magic. His spells had the tendency to be underpowered or overpowered, as was the case with his near flaming teleport. Shining Armor went to open the front door, and accidentally ripped it off its hidings. A silent alarm went off in several offices around Canterlot as Shining Armor explored the inside of his parents house.
The lights were off and all the windows locked down as well as the back and the side door. Shining Armor checked his parent’s bedroom. The childhood teddy bear this his father kept, and wanted no one else knowing about, was missing. Wherever his parents were, they were gone for the night.
"Stop right there, criminal scum!" Three of Shining Armor's own guards, a dark grey unicorn stallion and a pair of pegasi stallions, stood in the entrance of the house.
"Ah Lieutenant Young Blood, good alarm response time," Shining Armor said as he floated the door back into its frame. The door slammed ominously as Shining Armor tried to replace it, the ancient wood cracking on the side with the hinges.
"Is everything alright?" the other stallion inquired.
"I'm not sure," Shining Armor admitted though the word affair blazed brightly in his mind's eye. "I need to take a chariot to Ponyville immediately. Silver Lining, is that you?"
One of the identical pegasus guards rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Yes."
"Perfect, remember how we won the Alfrodull Run?" Shining Armor remembered the marathon chariot race fondly.
"Oh Sweet Celestia, you’re not suggesting pulling that stunt to get to Ponyville faster, are you?" Young Blood who questioned the captain's plan.
"Yes, I am, and since I need to retain my wits and energy for whatever is happening in Ponyville, you are going to help me get there!"