Chapter 17: Family Matters.

The morning sun struck Dave’s face as a breeze moved his curtains, the human groaned as he sat up and yawned, resulting in a noise that caused his two lovers to move restlessly in their sleep. Last night had been more exhausting than he had thought but Dave wasn’t really going to complain about it.

Dave rubbed his face before stretching his arms up and rolling his neck. The human carefully climbed out of bed before walking over to the window and peeked out of the gap in the curtains. The same quiet village was still the same even after all the time that had passed.

The only change was a large rune that had been carved into the back garden, Dave knew Odio wouldn’t stop pestering him until he had made it but the neighbours would surely notice. Dave was relieved that they probably wouldn’t report some strange marks in the grass.

A small mumble behind Dave made him turn to see Celestia had awoken; the princess was still in her human form as she crawled out of the bed on all fours. “Morning Dave,” She murmured sleepily.

“Can I give you a hand up?” Dave smiled as Celestia realised that she still hadn’t deactivated the spell. As Dave took Celestia’s soft hand he gently pulled her to her new found feet and pulled her into a passionate kiss.

“Woah, if I knew that you were this eager in the mornings I would have woken you up more often,” Celestia teased as she wrapped her arms around Dave and held him against her. “So what are you going to do today?”

Dave gently stroked Celestia’s hair as he looked back out of the window, “I’m gonna watch the base with dad and then move in at nightfall.”

“I know I don’t have to say this but I want you to be careful,” Celestia whispered as she rested her head on Dave’s shoulder. “I don’t want you to do anything you don’t have to except save our son.”

“I’ll save Nox, don’t worry about that,” Dave smiled as he kissed Celestia’s head and released her from the hug. “What about you?”

Celestia’s forehead glowed as her body turned into light and shifted back into its normal alicorn shape. The light faded as Luna sat up, “W-what’s going on?”

Celestia looked at her hooves before smiling at her sister, “Would you like me to revert you back sister?”

“No I am fine for now,” Luna grumbled as she fell back onto the bed and looked up at Dave and Celestia. “We aren’t going to tell anypony about what we did last night are we?”

“Ye…” Dave looked at Celestia’s frown. “No.”

Luna smiled, “Well it is good to know you enjoyed yourself Dave.”

“Breakfast is ready!” Hannah and Flux called in union from downstairs. Dave quickly put on his clothes as he followed Celestia downstairs and left Luna to enjoy her time resting.

Dave sat down in the kitchen and frowned when two plates with breakfast were placed in front of him. “Uhh… what is this?”

“Hannah thinks she knows what you enjoy but I know better,” Flux said proudly. “So I made you your favourite breakfast… Eggs Royal.”

Hannah snorted, “Two words… Bacon. Sandwich.”

“That looks like meat,” Flux shook her head as she laughed. “Dave has decided that he doesn’t need meat and he is very happy that way.”

“Is he?” Hannah pointed to Dave and Flux gasped when she saw the bacon sandwich was already in Dave’s hands, his brow covered in sweat.

“It looks so tasty,” Dave gulped as he looked at the meat in his clutches. “Surely you won’t mind if I have one bite.”

Celestia looked at Hannah and Flux, the two contending mothers were glaring again as Dave tried to cope with his moral dilemma. “Are you both really this bothered about being the best?”

“Yes!” They said in unison once again. “We need to know which woman or mare knows Dave best.”

The princess rolled her eyes, her horn glowed and an apple popped into existence. Celestia then leaned next to Dave’s ear and whispered something the opposing mothers couldn’t hear. Dave dropped the sandwich as he looked at Celestia with disbelief.

“Y-you seriously mean that?” Dave smiled as Celestia winked seductively at him. The human then grabbed the apple and wolfed down the entire fruit, taking a breath before turning back to Celestia. “So uhh… I guess it will have to wait until we get back to Equestria huh?”

“Mmm I’m afraid so stud,” Celestia shot an evil glare at Hannah and Flux. Both mothers stared in disbelief as they were easily defeated knowing that nothing they offered could beat whatever Celestia had offered.

Dave sighed before looking around the kitchen, “Hey where is dad?”

“He is still sleeping, he spent most of the night watching guards move around the base and figured out which building Nox is most likely in,” Flux paused as she saw a human Luna wander into the kitchen wearing one of Dave’s shirts, pulling the bottom down to keep her dignity.

“Um Dave, I don’t suppose you have anything slightly larger do you?” Luna asked nervously before smiling at Dave’s gawping mothers. “Heh good morning.”

Hannah rolled her eyes, “I’ll see if I can find something for you to wear.”

Luna followed Hannah upstairs again, the pair entered Hannah’s bedroom which had all the typical furniture such as a large bed, wooden wardrobe and a large vanity mirror. Hannah opened her wardrobe and looked amongst her clothes.

“Hmm I don’t think I actually have anything that will fit you comfortably,” Hannah scratched her head before clicking her fingers. “Actually I do have one thing that I can give you.”

Hannah knelt down as she reached for a box that was hidden underneath a large pile of shoes. “Dave’s father bought me this but the idiot got the size wrong, but I think it would fit you.”

Luna opened the box to see a silk blue dress, the simple design wasn’t exactly inspiring but Luna slipped it on as Hannah turned around. The alicorn turned human struggled for a bit trying to close the zip on the back before finally getting it zipped to the top.

“It fits very well,” Luna said happily as she spun around. “Are you sure you don’t mind me wearing this?”

“I want you to keep it and find a pair of shoes you like,” Hannah smiled as she looked at the dress and the way the girl’s flowing hair accented the colour. “It would all just go to waste otherwise.”

Luna looked down at herself, twirling again as she admired her own figure, “Dave’s father sounds like a generous man… I would have liked to have met him.”

“He cared deeply for Dave and I,” Hannah sighed as she watched Luna begin to try on shoes from the cupboard. “All I can say is that he was one heck of a man considering all the crap he got when his family moved over here.”

“Moved?” Luna looked at Hannah with curiosity. “Do you mean he came from a different country?”

“I forgot you weren’t from here,” Hannah hummed. “Well his family moved over when he was around the age of ten, and that was about forty-something years ago.”

Luna found a pair of small black shoes and slipped her feet into them, smiling at the comfortable fit as she stood up. “Dave never spoke of his father so we never talk about it because it always made him quiet.”

“Dave’s dad grew up being bullied by his classmates and even some of the parents spoke about him,” Hannah smiled as she walked over to her bed and picked up a photograph from the side. “But even through all that he kept smiling until he died.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Luna stared at the floor before noticing Hannah was offering her the photo. Luna gently took the picture and gasped when she saw a young woman with long brown hair holding a smiling toddler. “That’s you and Dave?”

Hannah nodded as she stood up, “We took that photo a few weeks before Dave’s fifth birthday.”

Luna looked back at the photo and saw a burly man that stood beside Hannah, his large hand on her shoulder. His smile was larger than Dave’s and his imposing stature had gentleness to it that Luna couldn’t understand.

“It wasn’t soon after that Alexander found out he was sick,” Hannah sighed as she took the photo back and stroked the glass with one of her fingers. “He spent his final few months doing everything he could to make sure me and Dave never had to worry about anything financial once he left.”

“His name was Alexander?” Luna looked at Hannah’s confused reaction to her question. “It’s just that Dave never even told us his last name.”

Hannah sighed, “So what is his last name from his adoptive parents?”

“Shield,” Luna smiled. “What was his human one?”

“Well Alexander tried to convince me to keep my English maiden name Rogers but I said no,” Hannah smiled as she opened the photo frame and removed the photograph from the inside. “I decided to take Alexander’s German surname… Schulz.”

“Dave Schulz?” Luna froze as Hannah took her hand and placed the photo in her palm. “What are you doing?”

Hannah smiled, “I want you to tell that miserable old son of mine that it is ok to show your emotions sometimes.”

Luna shook her head as she tried to pull away but found that Hannah had a vice-like grip, “I can’t take that photo from you.”

“I just found out my son is alive that is worth more than anything I will ever own,” Hannah said sternly as she stared Luna down. “I have spent the last couple of years thinking that I had lost the other important person in my life and it crushed me.”

Luna watched in silence as a tear rolled down Hannah’s cheek, the princess didn’t know what to do as Hannah continued to stare at her. The mother took a deep breath before releasing Luna’s hand, “I spent every night praying for a sign that he was alright… that photo was the only one I have of us as a family.”

The princess looked at the crying Hannah before shaking her head, “Then why are you giving it to me?”

“I want you to take this photo because I don’t need it anymore, I know my son will be happy when someone as amazing as you is loves him” Hannah smiled as Luna took he photo and looked at the happy family once again. “I know you cherish Dave as much as I do, and I know if Alexander was around today he would have loved to meet you.”

“Hannah I…” Luna felt a lump grow in her throat as her eyes began to water. “I wish I could have met him.”

“I’m sure he would have loved you, think of the photo as a piece of us when you go back home,” Hannah laughed as she wiped the tear from her face and looked over Luna’s body. “You look beautiful in that dress… think of it as a gift from Alexander to welcome you to our family.”

“I-I will,” Luna sniffed as she wiped her teary eyes. “Thank you Ha… mum.”