Waking up late is not a feeling that I'm accustomed to. We spent most of yesterday getting paperwork finalized and tampering Tempestive's expectations. We almost suggested having him not go to school here. But he was adamant about starting. More so than usual. He really wants to go to school. I guess I can't blame the little guy. I can't imagine being stuck at home for so long.

I roll over in bed and note that Luna isn't here. She must be in Canterlot by about now. What time is it even? I'm normally up by five, so I doubt it's that late. At least when I'm home that is. I look around and note how quiet the house is right now. Everyone else must be asleep still. I guess I can go for a morning run. I don't think anyone will be awake for another hour or so.

I get out of bed and go through my usual morning routine. Brushing teeth, combing my coat, boring crap like that. I grab my phone and check the time. It's only five fifteen. I must have woken up before my alarm, damn internal clock. So much for sleeping in. I do a few quick stretches before stepping out of my room.

The house is cold and as still as the morning. With the house being essentially built out of stone it keeps the heat out almost too well. So when it's cold and we don't run any heat it can get pretty frigid in here. Though, I've always preferred it cooler. Who doesn't like bundling up with family and lots of blankets?

I peer into Shadow's half open door to see her curled under her blankets. Content, I close her door quietly and check on Tempestive's room. He's not a still sleeper. Never has been. I'm sure he started under the blankets like a normal person. But now they're on the floor and he's facing the wrong direction underneath two pillows. I stifle a chuckle and quietly step into his room.

It's a bit hard to do so with his room so messy. Seeing his room like this though reminds me of Dolum. They're both slobs like that. It... hurts a little. To see so much of my friend now in my son. Two people I care for deeply echoing through one another. I'm sure I'm just seeing what I want to see. They're both just messy people. But... I don't know. I guess I just miss my friends.

I tread lightly as I move the pillows and turn him around. I pull the blanket over his shoulders as he grumbles into a comfortable position. I watch him sleep for a moment. I don't know why or to what purpose. I just... I just needed to. He's growing up. We only get a few more years of him being a child. With how fast these ponies age up, we only get two, maybe three years of him being the rambunctious little colt.

Ponies here are considered adults by thirteen. That's a number I can't wrap my head around, but it's true. That's when they finish developing. Maybe they grow for a few more years, fill out however they need to. But a thirteen year old is able to enlist, get married, drink, and make their own decisions. Meaning he'll be an adult in seven years.

That's assuming that he continues to grow at a ponies pace that is. Who knows? Maybe he'll get stunted and follow a more human trajectory. I don't know how that would effect him though. Mentally at least. How would a society like this treat a late bloomer? A really late bloomer.

Maybe I'm just getting to worked up. Everything is going to be fine. Besides, that's all in the not so near future. We still have today.

I leave his room and head down stairs. Lupus and Hati are taking up the couch, barely registering my presence. They used to be my little shadows. Now they follow Tempestive around none stop. I'm actually surprised they're not in his room right now.

I hear something sizzle in the kitchen and move to the dinning room. Looking over I see Luna hard at work getting breakfast ready. She must have left Canterlot early to get started. I smile and lean against the wall as I watch her work. She enjoys cooking. It's one of those things that she never really got to explore but was interested in. Castle staff always cooked for her before. And whenever she requested lessons, they were always for fancy multi step pieces.

She just wanted to make normal stuff. Nothing too fancy. I tried to learn as well. But for whatever reason my magic never allowed it. Somehow it always finds a way to come alive and attack. Never found a reason for that beyond unlucky.

But now she's at the point where she's got the basics mastered. Or, it seems that way to me at least. She's been learning more advanced meals recently. Nothing too crazy, according to her. I do my best to listen and understand, but it just goes way over my head. Though for her birthday last year I got her old texts from Pre-Purgian cooking. I didn't even know there were any! But, if you dig hard enough through the Core, you'll be surprised by what you find.

"Enjoying the show?" Luna asks from the stove as she uses the pan to flip some cut up spuds.

"Yes. Absolutely. Ten out of ten, would marry again." I tell her, making her chuckle.

"Oh yeah? Should I divorce you and take half your stuff then?" I shake my head and start to approach her. "Because I'd really like some of than enchanting equipment you've got stored away."

"Mmm... promise to stay with me and I'll just make you an enchanting lodge." I tell her as I saddle up next to her. She leans against me nuzzles into my side.

"I guess I can be persuaded to stay." We each chuckle before I lean in to give her a kiss on the cheek. She hums in satisfaction, smiling up to me. "Good morning my love."

We chat a little as I set up the table. Having her here I decided to forgo the run. At least for now. She started an investigation from Canterlot into whoever is leaking information about Tempestive. As mad as we are about this, we're not surprised. It was only a matter of time before people started talking. It might not have even been intentional. It could have just come up in conversation somehow. But, that's optimistic thinking.

Breakfast came and went too quickly. I woke the kids up, got them to the table and we had a nice morning together. Tempestive was doing most of the talking, but that's fine by the rest of us. He's just really excited to start school.

Shadow asked if she could go to the Apples farm today. She wants to talk with her friends at their little hideout. But with them at school she'd just like to private time before they meet up. Didn't see any harm in that. Besides, we're going to be out of the house for a while anyway.

Tempestive needs to take some test at the school before the year starts. Just to get an accurate score of his academics and all. Plus they have some papers on the various tutors that they'd like to run by us. Just so we can clear them. But as we were heading out Luna stopped me at the door.

"What's up?" I ask her as she sets a hoof on my chest. She leans in and plants a small kiss on my lips before pushing me back in softly.

"You are going to stay in this house for today, okay?" She tells me as she pushes me back into the main entrance.

"What? But what about the tutors-"

"Do you trust me to handle that?" She asks seriously, throwing me for a loop.

"Well... yeah." She smiles up to me and gives me another kiss. But I'm too lost to fully understand what's going on.

"Good. Then be a good boy and stay home. You are here to rest Miles. I can handle the family stuff. Doctors orders." I stare at her before I start to laugh a little.

"Luna, I can go sit in meetings and read papers-"

"Miles." She cuts me off. I scoff a little as she stares up at me with an expecting look. I know the look all too well though. It's the kind of look that tells me that she's determined the outcome for this all ready.

"Luna." I complain. "I-I can't stay home and do... nothing! What? Am I supposed to just sit on the couch all day?" She smirks to me, as if to say yes.

"Dad isn't coming?" Tempestive asks from behind.

"No dear." Luna answers before I could say anything further. "But he'll be home when we're done. And if we're all good, maybe we'll get a special treat later on."

I raise an eyebrow to her. But she just smiles and tilts her head to me. I'm pretty sure I know what that means... but I've been wrong before. But am I really going to be bribed with head?

... yeah. Actually, thinking on it, yes I am.

"Okay then, I'll be here then." I tell her as I take a step back. She smiles more genuinely and gives me a quick hug.

"Read the journal in my dresser while we're gone." She whispers to me before kissing my cheek and breaking off the hug. She turns and walks away, talking to Tempestive as they go. He's running ahead, too excited to notice how we're acting. Luna looks over her shoulder to wink at me. Swaying her tail to the side to give me a little preview before closing the door with her magic.

...

...

...

I turn and rush back up the stairs. What the fuck does she have planned!? I practically tackle the bedroom door before barreling towards her dresser. Sure enough her journal is sitting right on top with several slips of numbered papers sticking out. I flip it open and begin to read.

To my dearest husband,

I know how hard this is going to be for you. It's not like you to sit idly by and do nothing. You're a man of action. And sitting at home isn't something that you're good at. It's something that I've always admired about you. That tenacity to keep moving forward and constantly trying to improve yourself. But now I need you to rest. I need you to recover. And I know how focused you are, especially when there's a goal in mind. Since we've decided to start trying again, what better motivator than passionate nights together?

So this is going to be my little challenge for you. On the next page is my heat cycle. If you're a good boy and get plenty of rest we'll be taking small vacations together. Just you... and me. All the arrangements will be made before, do not worry about any of that. Just follow the doctors orders and behave as best you can, and you'll get to pick one of these vacations.

And even though this is for your health, I couldn't help but throw a few in there that I've also been interested in. And if you're interested in anything yourself then feel free to add them as well. As long as you're making good progress and getting plenty of rest anything goes.

Anything.

I close the book and take a deep breath. If I can just relax for a month then we'll go out for a week to fuck like wild animals. That is... probably the greatest goal I can think of. And she said anything goes... she even doubled down on it...

I have to couch my eagerness down as I open the journal back up. Getting too worked up with no outlet is a recipe for disaster. She has five plans set out. Let's see what's she's been thinking about.

Vacation one:

Misty Vale Island.

Apparently there are hundreds of islands dotting the Pond between Equestria and the Isle. Somewhere in the middle there is a large deserted island that she and Celestia use for their getaways. It's essentially just a camping trip on a small forested island without a soul in hundreds of kilometers. She's also noted that she'd 'like to be tamed as the beast of old.' I think she means that we'd fuck out in the open... which sounds hot.

Vacation two:

High Roller Suite.

There are several fancy casinos that she's always been interested in. But obviously two alicorn monarchs can't just waltz right in. So she'd like to get some enchantments to disguise us and we'd go in there as 'normal' people. She wants us to go fully into some made up characters that she's already made up. She's be the...

What the fuck Luna?

She's the trophy girlfriend that stole a married stallion away. We have... what sounds almost... no, okay. It seems like she wants me to play the part of some playboy royal while she's some nobody girl that's his personal fuck toy. I'm supposed to flaunt her around and... well, the sex parts she describes is fairly sexy. I just don't know how degrading I can be towards her...

Wait a minute. I set the journal down and check the closet for her secret book collection. A couple years back Luna, Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy formed some secret book club together so they could read trashy sex filled romance novels. I think she's pulling from one of those books.

I pull out her secret stash and flip through them. Sure enough, there it is. Same title too. High Roller Suite. She wants to relive this made up story?

...

Well... if it's for her fantasy, I guess I'll have to do my homework then.

I leave the box of books out and go back to the journal. I'll see what the rest say and try to find the books that correlate to them. As much as she's trying to bribe me to rest and whatnot, I want her to have a good time too. And I'm going to have a lot of down time anyway.

With my plan in motion, I go to the next plan.

Vacation three-X:

Daring Hero.

I read this one through and have to read it over again to make sure that it's actually what she wants to do. Apparently she's a little jealous that she hasn't seen all of the former Terradisian cities. So she wants just the two of us to gear up and explore them. Obviously not certain ones, like Emerald. But she's not opposed to ones like Quartz Crest or Jasper. I... don't know how to feel about that.

On the one hand, she talks about wanting to see Terradisia so she can learn first hand what my culture was. She wants to get a chance to fight side by side with me. But she also acknowledges how hypocritical it would be for us to go. I'm supposed to rest and relax. Not dive head first into unwarranted battles.

Though, between the two of us, I don't know how bad the actual fighting would be. Sure, places like Ruby Canyon and Jasper could give us some trouble. But most of them are actually fairly safe now. But I don't think those are the ones that she's interested in.

I'll have to give that idea some extra thought. I'm sure at a later time it'll be more appealing. Shit, I might need it just to keep my combat edge. But for now it seems too dangerous and unnecessary.

Vacation four:

Coastal Cottages.

This one actually interest me the most. Where the others are only set for a week or so at a time. This one is for an entire month! She wants us to set our disguises on and travel over the coasts of Equestria. Apparently there's this local vacation run that takes you from the northwest beaches all the way down to the peninsulas down south. If you're quick about it, you can make the journey in about five weeks. Assuming we fly most of it.

This one is definitely the most tame. Much like how she wants to travel to see my culture, she would like for me to do the same for Equestria. And honestly it seems the most fun out of them. Mostly because she knows how much I love going to the beach so this is basically a massive beach vacation. And if we use our magic, we can either extend our stays at whatever inn we're at or travel even father. We are one hundred percent doing this one. No doubt about that.

Vacation five:

Old World Rule.

The last one here makes me laugh a little. Mostly because I'm starting to think that my wife has some sort of need to go and fight something. She wants us to do an excursion into the Everfree and find one of her old castles. There's not a lot to this one. We'd find the castle, camp out there, and presumably test if the foundations still hold. I mean... this one doesn't seem too complicated. The Everfree can be dangerous, sure. But... I don't know how dangerous it'll be for two alicorns.

I go through and read them all again. I honestly can't see us not doing any of these. Even with my reservations about the old cities, there's still several we can go to that aren't bad. If anything, I'm more worried about going on one and getting her on the first try. So with that in mind, I definitely want to do the beach journey together. Get the most out of our time out of the way and all.

I set the journal down and start to go through all of the books she has. I've read maybe two of these before. Then I got in trouble for teasing Luna about the silly scenarios and over embellished writing. It's just not my cup of tea. But now I need to read a few of them to help me understand what her expectations are. I guess I could also ask someone for some advice. But... I'll save that for later.

I find a few books that I think are the right fits and set them in my dresser. After hiding her stash back in the closest I take the journal and start to read it over again. She certainly has a particular... taste. When it comes to these things. I guess I really am vanilla, as she puts it. I knew she was more... adventurous, when it came to these things. But having her ideas written out like that.

But I'm up for a challenge. I mean, that's the goal with all of this, right? Well, I guess not. The goal is to get better. But I don't even know what that entails! I've never really had to delve into my own mental health before. I mean, I can guess a few things here and there that are issues. But what soldier doesn't have these issues?

I roll over and look out the window. I can see the edge of the Everfree winding its way down to Sweet Apple Acres. I watch the trees sway to the wind and push back against the force. It's not too windy today. But it's enough to draw my attention out there. The way nature pushes against that wild magical force.

I've grown to love the Everfree over the years. Despite all of the wild magics happening in there, all the massive terrifying creatures, it's still a beautiful place to behold. One moment you can be chased down by a massive hydra and suddenly you've found yourself next to a small pony with mystical properties. It's an adventure every time we go there.

Maybe the adventure for Lunas old castle would be a good one to start with. I mean, how likely are we even to find it? The Everfree has a way with hiding its secrets. We might not even find anything worth noting while in there. But at the same time, we might find something much more impressive. Old ruins. Mystical wonders. Hidden tribes maybe!

But the danger is there as well. So maybe taking the beach route would be better. Plus it'll be an entire month of just the two of us. Not that we're tired of parenting or anything like that. But, truth be told, we didn't really get a chance to date properly before Tempestive was born. We had a few months together. But we were married and expecting within a year of me coming to Equestria. Time flies when you're looking back.

But in that year I had so many adventures. And so many of them didn't include Luna. I can see why she'd want to have that now. After a second child, I don't know how likely we'll be to do something like that ever again. It's going to be a pain this time I'm sure. Maybe the risk is worth the reward? I also can't help but wanting to give her everything she desires. So I know I'm being biased, but who wouldn't when it's their love?

The casino one kind of scares me the most. It's definitely the one that's more geared towards her desires for sure. But I'm not sure I can do that sort of thing for her. I just don't know what to do. I'm sure reading the book will give me some insight. But there are things that I just know nothing about that she wants to try. I just don't want to hurt her. And I have no clue who... wait. No, I guess I do know who to ask. But not Rarity, she gossips too much. Twilights out too. I... just, no. That leaves Fluttershy… I have no idea how that conversation would go.

But then that leaves the island. It definitely seems like it could be fun. Kind of a mix between the Everfree and beach options. I just wonder how that would actually work out? Would we need to bring all of the supplies? The way she worded it all made it sound as if she wants to rough it out there. But... I just don't think Luna really knows what that entails. I love her, but she is not the roughing it kind of girl. So balancing her desire for the natural atmosphere while making sure she's comfortable out there seems like a tough balancing act.

Truth be told, I think we'll end up trying them all. At least until we know she's pregnant. There's no reason not to. It's just a matter of picking an order and hoping it works out. She also said if I wanted to add anything then I should. Which is Luna talk for these are the ones I want, please add what you'd like too.

What would I want to do for a vacation for just the two of us? That's a tough one. Honestly, I think she nailed them all. But I know she wants me to add at least one of my own. That's going to be a challenge. I just don't have the imagination for this kind of thing. Maybe after reading those books then I'd get some ideas... Or I can see of the Core has any and take it from there. She's read Equestria romance novels, there has to be Terradisian equivalences!

I pull up my phone to check the time. I feel like I've been at this for at least an hour. Maybe even two! Yeah, I can get through this all no problem!

It's seven.

I've been thinking on this for maybe ten minutes.

I might actually explode at this rate... well. Time to get reading then. I've literally got nothing else to do.

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