//------------------------------//
// Abes' Results. 
// Story: Equestrian Eeveelution. 
// by Symphonicdysonince 
//------------------------------//

Rainbow and I left the main group of ponies. She didn't want to hang around and I wanted to be with her. We meandered our way through Ponyville looking for a place to nap. By the way she rustled her wings every now and then, I could tell that she wanted to ask something. I gave her her time to work up the courage to do so.

Eventually, we stopped in our favourite napping tree. "So..." Rainbow began. "About that race..."

<<Yeah...>>

"How'd Abes beat you?"

<<Ugh.>> I stared at the bark. <<The asshole Pursuited me.>>

Rainbow shifted on her branch. "What do you mean by that?"

<<He has an ability we call Pursuit.>> I rolled over to lean my back against the tree. <<From what I know, it basically works like a regular Tackle, but only if your target stays to fight.>>

"What do you mean by that?"

I shrugged. <<I don't know how, I'm not Twilight, but it deals at least twice as much damage if the target is fleeing.>> I curled up and placed my tail over my snout. <<He must've found some way to trick himself into believing that anyone running away from him for any reason counts as fleeing.>>

A slight breeze brushed across me as Rainbow flicked her blanket out, letting it spread out and cover her. "That still doesn't explain how he was faster than you."

<<Our abilities seem to have a sort of priority system to them.>> I made it sound like I wasn't sure. <<The vast majority of them rely on our own innate speed and agility. However, there are some abilities, like Quick Attack, that have a... I'm going to call it Priority One. This lets them hit first, regardless of how fast they are.

And then there's Cy and mine's Extreme Speed. This is a Priority Two. That means that it hits first, no matter what. Period. End of story. Goodnight!>>

"But then, would that make Pursuit a 'Super-Important-Level-Three'?"

<<Wha...?>> I had to translate that for a second. <<OH! Nope. Pursuit seems to completely ignore all of that. It's normally a regular ability, except for when something is trying to flee. Then it has the most highest priority of everything.>>

I could almost hear Rainbow's frown. "That doesn't seem fair."

I snorted. <<All's fair in love and war, Rainbow. Now, let's just get some sleep.>> I leaned back and jolted awake, the sun lower in the sky. I stretched with a groan and, after cracking what felt like every joint of my spine, poked Rainbow awake.

"When will Luna find yer dream?" Rainbow groaned, doing her own stretches. "I'm really starting to get tired of this 'no dreaming' thing." She paused, blinking. "That pun was bad..."

<<I know what you mean.>> I sighed <<I always feel like I'm gambling whenever I fall asleep. Will I wake up in an hour, or tomorrow? I won't fucking know!>> I hopped down from the tree and sat against the trunk to wait for Rainbow to pack everything up. <<What's on the agenda for the evening?>>

"Nothing that I can think of." Rainbow drifted down to me. "Why, you got something important to do?"

<<Not really. I do want to check in on the eggs, though.>>

"Alright. Have fun."

<<Will do!>> I waved her off before turning towards Joy's. A light jog quickly found me crossing over her bridge. I slowed to a walk so that I didn't startle Fluttershy's chickens as I made my way towards the Daycare's ramp. I paused when I saw Spike there, his head within the Daycare. With a slightly tilted head, I slowly stepped up to the young drake. <<Erm, what brings you here?>>

Spike pulled his head out. "Oh, hey Leo! Yomega and I were just hanging out with Peewee." Spike shrugged. "He said that it was important we were here, so I guess you should stick around. He just left to get Conner."

I nodded and swept up the ramp. <<Peewee!>> I called out. <<I'm coming in to look after the eggs!>>

<<'Kay!>>

I swiftly worked through my administrations with long practiced ease, my ears tilting to keep some attention on Peewee. I finished up before Yomega returned with Conner. Until they did, I decided to watch Spike play with Peewee and make sure their roughhousing stayed away from the eggs.

<<Are you sure I'm needed here? I was just about to start, uh, making something.>> I heard Conner's voice drift in from outside. Spike paused with his playing to make some room for the two canines. << For, uh, reasons.>>

<<And you'll have plenty of time to make your romantic dinner later.>> Yomega chided as he stepped into the Daycare. <<This will be important.>> He deftly sidestepped Peewee so that he would crash into Conner and cut off his retort.

I waved at them from where I was laying. <<What's up, Yomega?>>

He came and curled up around me. <<It's going to be a sad evening, Leo.>> We watched as Conner maneuvered Peewee towards his usual resting spot. <<You're going to need to be strong.>>

<<Well, that's reassuring.>> I sighed.

A loud swooshing noise interrupted any further conversation. We all turned our attention to the doorway, but Spike seemed to jolt upright as what sounded like three birds landed on the grass.

"Philomena? Does Celestia know that you're here?" Conner and I shared a concerned looked at Spike's words.

<<Ya both stay oot 'ere, Ah'll go an' talk ta th' wee doggoes in there aboot yer lad.>> A faint voice chirped from outside. I'm sure Conner's 'What-the-Fuck' face was mirrored on my own. A moment later an adult phoenix stepped up onto the ramp. <<Even'n, allow me ta introduce mahself.>> She swept a wing out and sketched a graceful bow. <Ah'm Philomena, Celestia's minder. May Ah have th' pleasure o' yer names?>>

<<You talk funny.>> Peewee chirped.

<<PEEWEE!>> Conner clamped a paw over the chicks mouth. My ear twitched to a pair of strangled gasps from outside.

<<Ach, Ah soond jus' fine. Yer th' one with th' accent.>> Philomena chuckled. <<Ah take it tha' yer th' wee chick known as Peewee?>> Peewee nodded. <<Fantastic. An', if'n you'd be so kind, may Ah be acquainted with those around ya?>>

<<If I may?>> Yomega brought the royal bird's attention to us. <<I can speak telepathically to Spike. May I translate for him?>>

<<O' course, Mister...?>>

<<Pendrake. Yomega Pendrake.>> He lightly tapped me on my head. <<And this is Leo Lancer, and the one holding the chick is Conner Galhad.>>

Philomena tilted her head. <<It's not often tha' packmates don' share th' las' name. Are ya split from a much larger pack?>> We nodded. <<Would th' name Abes Myrddin mean anythin' ta ya?>>

<<He is a packmate, yes.>> I answered.

Philomena gave a sad smile. <<Then ya kin guess as ta why Ah'm here.>>

My ears drooped, and I saw Conner's grip tighten around the baby phoenix. Peewee glanced between us. <<Mommy, what's wrong?>>

Yomega shifted his position around me. <<May we have a moment?>>

<<O' course.>> Philomena bowed out of sight of the door, and began holding a hushed conversation with our other... guests.

I held my arms open for Peewee to come over to, which he took full advantage of. We were very quickly joined by Conner. <<... Peewee.>> I began after a moment of silence. <<There's something that I need to know. Have... Have you ever thought about why we look so different?>>

<<Yeah.>>

<<And?>>

<<And what?>>

I pushed him back just far enough to look at him. <<And what were your thoughts?>>

<<Oh.>> Tilting his head, he took a moment to respond. <<Um. I thought that my egg seemed smaller than the others in here, 'cuz of the left over shell pieces an' the smaller nest, so I wasn't laid by you, but you hatcheded me an' raised me an' love me so you're my Mommy!>>

Yomega laid his head on my shoulder to look at the chick. <<And, did you ever wonder about who may have laid you?>>

<<Yeah, but they must'a had a reason for leaving my egg with you.>>

Conner curled himself around the group. <<And, did... Did you ever...>> The light dimmed as Spike leaned into the Daycare. He started scratching Conner between his ears. <<Did you ever wonder if they might try to find you?>>

<<Sometimes.>> He looked around at us. <<Why?>>

Oh, how have you not figured it out yet? I choked back a sob, pulling Peewee into my breast. Yomega let Conner be the first to snuggle closer to us before encircling everyone.

<<Peewee, there's something that you should know.>> Yomega spoke up. <<Abes managed to get in touch with Lady Philomena and asked her to find your birth parents. He did this in case you ever wanted to meet them.>>

<<You didn't know them?>>

<<No, we->> Yomega began.

"The nest you came from was destroyed by some bully dragons." Spike interrupted. "The rest of your family managed to escape, but they had to leave your egg behind. I saved your egg from the other dragons, and then sent you here to Ponyville so that you'd be safe."

<<We've been caring for you since.>> I whispered.

<<So...>> Peewee still looked confused. <<... did Philomena find them?>>

<<They're here outside.>> Yomega held Peewee down to get his attention. <<Peewee, I need you to listen. I know that you may want to see them right now, but there is something very important you need to know.>> He managed to look the chick in the eyes. <<No matter what, we still love you, we will always love you, and you will always have a home with us.>>

With that he released his hold on Peewee.

I struggled very hard to not clutch him to my breast, and that struggle got so much harder the closer he got to the doorway. Spike shuffled back and rolled off the ramp to give everyone the space we'd need to get out. After Peewee got about half way down the ramp, we crowded the doorway. I glanced up to see Rainbow arc over the Daycare before making her way towards the cottage.

Standing beside Philomena were an adult pair of phoenixes, the female obviously misty eyed. They hesitantly stepped forward, stopping just shy of the chick. Peewee, for some reason, stayed at the bottom of the ramp.

<<May Ah have th' honor o' introducin' Herman an' Sherry O'Derry.>> Philomena swept partway up the ramp, gesturing back with a wing. She folded it, turned to face the couple, and spread her other wing towards us. <<An' these are three o' th' Ponyville Eevee Pack, Leo, Conner an' Yomega Pendrake.>>

Go with it. I mentally shrugged.

<<An' th' one who saved yer egg, Spike, personal assistant ta Twilight Sparkle.>> Philomena folded her wings and smiled down at the chick. <<An', o' course, Young Peewee, named by Spike, hatched an' raised by th' Pack.>> She leaned down to address Peewee directly. <<Young Peewee, these fine birds wish ta bring you back ta yer birth family, although they dunnae wan' ta separate ya from your current family. This is not a choice ya can make lightly, lad, an' ya should know th' particulars.>> She turned and made eye contact with each group as she spoke. <<None o' us will prevent ya from seeing your other family, but ya must wait until you're of age to make your own nest before ya can do that on yer own. Ponyville is safer than the wilds, but there're thin's tha' only yer birth parents can teach ya. An' no,>> She pressed a feather to Peewee's beak, <<we cannae bring yer birth family here. Yer brothers an' sisters cannae fly for tha' far.>>

<<But, how will I get there?>>

The male spoke up. <<Ah'll be carryin' ya on me back, son.>>

Peewee looked over at us. <<But, Uncle Owly was gonna teach me how to fly...?>>

<<I'm sure he'd understand.>> Yomega assured. <<Besides, he sleeps during the day, so he wouldn't have much time to teach you each day.>>

<<Take your time, Peewee.>> I barely managed to keep my voice from cracking. <<Don't rush your choice. You want it to be the best one for you.>>