Caramel felt something tugging on his ear. Attempting to return back to sleep, he tried to ignore it but it annoyingly persisted, making it impossible for him to return back to the pleasant dream he was having just moments before. Finally, unable to stand it anymore, Caramel opened his eyes and found the diapered rump of a foal pressed up against the side of his muzzle.

"What the...?" Caramel muttered in surprise at finding that Cinnamon was sitting against his muzzle, while the rest of her was draped up and over the side of his head atop of his pillow. The tugging on his ear was accompanied by a loud wet sucking sound. Lifting his hooves, Caramel lifted Cinnamon down from his head. As he did so, his ear suddenly got yanked as it pulled free from Cinnamon's mouth, who let out a contemplative whine at being robbed of her newest binky.

"Now, how did you get up there?" He asked the filly, setting her down onto his chest.

Cinnamon continued to whimper and cry, as she let him know how upset she was at him for taking away her binky. Trying to calm her, Caramel rubbed at her back. Seeing something brightly colored tucked into the folds of the blanket next to him, Caramel snatched up her dropped pacifier in his mouth and quickly positioned it around and poked it into Cinnamon mouth, where she abruptly quieted down and happily sucked.

"Finally up I see." An amused sounding Goldie said from the door.

"Are you the one responsible for this?" Caramel asked suspiciously, lifting a eyebrow at her.

"I would never do such a despicable thing." Goldie denied with a completely strait face. Crossing the room she picked Cinnamon up. "Its just that for the last two days since our return from our little private world, you've been spending most of your time in here sleeping, and Cinnamon's been missing her daddy terribly."

"Okay, okay. I get the hint." Caramel said stretching out his legs. With Princess Cadence's guidance, they were able to return back to the normal world, but not without some consequences. It had totally exhausted both Caramel and Goldie to the point that they were in a deep sleep for most of a day. Goldie quickly recovered after that, but Caramel had a slower time returning back to his hooves.

Slipping out of bed, Caramel moved up to Goldie and took Cinnamon from her. "If you want to spend time with daddy, than lets go take a bath. Your a bit of a stinky filly right now." With a smile at Goldie, Caramel bent his head over and wiped his filly slobberd ear across the side of her neck.

"What!? Eeeww... What did you just wipe on me!?" Goldie exclaimed in disgust, wiping at her neck with her hoof.

Chucking, Caramel quickly made his escape and slipped into their private bathroom and shut the door. A moment latter, something thumped into the door, as Goldie threw something into it.

"You disgusting stallion!" Goldie yelled at the door. A moment latter, Caramel heard their room door thump shut as she stormed out.

Turning on the water to the overly large tub, Caramel began to strip Cinnamon of her diaper. "Now remember, the bath is not a potty, so no peeing this time, alright?"

Latter that day, once they had all finished lunch. Princess Twilight and Shinning Armor took Goldie and Blueberry out to survey the land that Princess Cadence was proposing to use for their farming demonstrations. With Cinnamon in her carrier atop of Goldie's back, Goldie kissed Caramel goodbye before following the group down the hall.

Aunt Lilly stepped out of her room and walked over to Caramel. "You ready?" She asked.

"I am, but Flash Sentry still hasn't arrived." Caramel answered.

"Sorry I'm late." Flash Sentry called out, as he hurried down the hall to them. Turning his head, he looked about. "Did I miss Princess Twilight's leaving?"

"Sorry they just left." Caramel answered, and almost laughed at the look of disappointment that crossed Flash Sentry's face. Goldie and Blueberry were right, Flash Sentry definitely fancied the lavender Princess.

"Don't you fret none, you can see your darling lass latter when we meet back up." Aunt Lilly said with a smile.

Red blossomed onto his cheeks as Flash started to blush. "Yes, well then, are you two ready to go?" He said, trying to change the subject.

"We were just waiting for you." Aunt Lilly said, still smiling.

"Oh, alright then. Please follow me." Flash Sentry said turning and walking down the hall.

Following Flash Sentry, they descended down to the main atrium, and started across.

"Mrs. Lilly!" A surprising familiar voice suddenly called out.

The moment Caramel heard the voice, cold terror shot though his body. Reacting without really thinking about it, Caramel frantically dove behind Aunt Lilly and hid himself.

A very large dark tan colored stallion trotted over, a duffle bag slung over his back.

Giving Caramel a cursory glance as he hid behind her, Aunt Lilly paused and waited for the Stallion that was crossing over to them.

Flash Sentry stopped and turned back when he noticed that they were no longer following him. "Is everything alright?" He asked curiously.

"Everything's fine, please just wait moment." Aunt Lilly said to Flash Sentry before she turned back to the aproching stallion. "Trail, what are you doing here?"

"I'm looking for my sister, have you seen her?" Oregon Trail asked, coming to a stop. Caramel kept himself low, trying to stay out of sight.

"Well, she's out with Princess Twilight and her bother Prince Armor, surveying some fields they wish to use for a demonstration." Aunt Lilly answered. "We'll be meeting her latter, after we examine the equipment in the warehouse. If you would like, you can accompany us."

Caramel gut dropped, he couldn't believe aunt Lilly was throwing him under the wagon like this. How was he going to get out of this now?

"That would be great, thank you." Trail said in relief. "I'm glad I found you, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to... Caramel? What are you doing back there?" Trail asked, looking over the top of Aunt Lilly.

Drat! Why did he haft to be so tall? Caramel cursed.

Standing up straighter, Caramel smiled and laughed as he scratched the back of his head. He needed to think of something fast! "Oh hello Trail, I felt a rock in my hoof and I was trying to pick it out." Caramel said with a smile. "Fancy meeting you here."

"Yes indeed. It is quite fortuitous." Trail agreed, apparently not catching on that Caramel had been hiding from him.

"I take it that you know him?" Flash Sentry asked curiously, eyeing the large stallion.

Caramel moved around Aunt Lilly. "This is Oregon Trail, Goldie's older brother. Trail, this is Lieutenant Flash Sentry. He's going to escort us out to the warehouse."

"Its a pleasure to meet you." Flash Sentry said holding his hoof out. "Are you here to help out your sister and Caramel?"

Reaching out Trail hooked his fetlock around Flash's and shook. "Our father was worried for Goldie and wanted me to keep an eye on her."

Flash Sentry cocked his head. "Doesn't he trust Caramel to do that?"

Caramel began waving his hoof at Flash Sentry, trying to get his attention.

"Caramel?" Trail said. "Well, he's a nice enough fella and we like him just fine. It's just that father thought it would be best if family was with her."

Caramel was slashing at his throat now, desperately trying to stop Flash.

Flash Sentry, not noticing Caramel's gestures, cocked his head in confusion. "I don't understand, wouldn't her husband count as family?."

Oregon Trail froze, his ears shooting up. "Husband?... What husband?"

Caramel let out a deep breath. It was bound to happen, might as well come clean, he just wished that Goldie was here. "Me." He said stepping closer. "As of five days ago, Goldie and I were married."

Oregon Trail gaped at him, his expression unreadable. Slowly he stepped closer. His large hooves clumping loudly onto the hard crystal floor. Drawing up close to Caramel, Oregon Trail looked down at the much smaller stallion. "You... married my sister?" His voice had suddenly gone deeper.

Craning his head back, Carmel looked up at Oregon Trail. "Yes, yes I did." He knew he should be afraid. Oregon Trail was twice his size, and very protective of his sister. But as he looked up at him, Caramel felt a calmness come over him, feeling like he excepted his fate, whatever it was.

Oregon Trail lifted his hoof. Caramel gritted his teeth as he prepared himself. He would not back down nor show any weakness, he loved Goldie and no matter what happens to him, his feelings for her will always remain.

With a surprising quickness, Oregon Trail's hoof suddenly struck out. Caramel was expecting a crushing blow to strike him across the side of his face, but what actually happened caught him completely by surprise. Oregon Trails hoof wrapped around his neck and pulled him into a crushing embrace.

"Brother!" Trail cried out, his grip felt like he was cracking bone. "I have a brother! Mrs. Lilly, I have a brother!" He said to her.

Aunt Lilly let out a relived sigh, then smiled. "Yes sweetie, you do, and if you don't let up a bit, I'm afraid that he's not long for this world."

Realizing how much he was crushing Caramel, Trails quickly released him. Collapsing to the floor, Caramel struggled to draw in breath. "I... thought... I was a goner." Caramel managed to wheeze out.

"I'm sorry Caramel, I got a little excited there." Trail said patting Caramel on his back. "I've always wanted a brother but all I ever got was sisters. You have no idea how happy this makes me."

"Well." Caramel said, climbing back up onto his hooves. "Since I've never had a brother ether, I guess I have a little bit of an idea what it's like."

****

Goldie scrapped her hoof through the dirt, and lifted it up to sniff at the soil she held, sticking out her tongue, she tasted it. This was not good. "Prince Armor, didn't you say that this land used to be one of the best producing fields in this area at one time?"

"That is what the records say." Prince Armor replied, moving closer he looked at the soil she held.

Letting the soil fall from her hoof, Goldie let out a sigh. "The soil a bit low on nutrients, probably from over farming. I bet they never even rotated the fields." She said as she kicked at the ground

"Is that a problem?" Prince Armor asked.

Letting out another sigh, Goldie looked around as she considered his question. "With a bit of proper maintenance, this field can be restored, but it will take some work."

Nearby, Princess Twilight was looking over a water wheel that was set into a small stream. Walking over, Goldie heard Princess Twilight muttering to herself as she poked and pried at various parts of it.

"How does it look?" Goldie asked.

Stepping back, Princess Twilight shook her head. "Not good. All the metal has rusted into a single unmoving mass, and most of the wood has rotten off. It would be easier to build a new one."

"Well, I would have been surprised if it was good news." Goldie said with yet another sigh. They were supposed to show the farmers here how modern farming was done, but it was now looking like they were also going to haft to start from scratch. "I wonder what else will go wrong?"

"Hello sis." A very familiar voice said from behind her. "Guess who I ran into?"

Goldie let out a mortified yelp as she spun about, almost loosing her footing and falling into the stream in the process. "Trails! What!?... what are you doing here!?" Her heart was pounding in her chest in near panic.

Trails was smiling a really big smile, obviously enjoying himself. Caramel was standing next to him and too his credit he looked a bit guilty. "Father wanted me to come and keep an eye on you, but apparently I didn't haft to, because you have your nice strong husband who can do that for you now." Reaching out his hoof, Trails hooked Caramel and dragged him into his side.

Goldie's breath caught in her throat. "You know?"

"Oh yeah." Trails said with a happy nod. "Little bro here let me in on it. And you know what? I couldn't be happier for you."

Goldie blinked in surprise, not expecting her brother to be so reasonable. "You are?"

"Of course I am." Trails answered. "I remember how close the two of you were, and I knew from the first moment I saw you two together that this was going to happen someday, I'm just surprised it took so long."

"Well I'm glad we didn't disappoint." Goldie said snidely, giving him a grin. "Well since your here, we can use your help." She turned and gestured towards the water wheel.

After examining the water wheel, Trails felt confident that he would be able to make a new one. Walking back to the other side of the field, they all approached Blueberry as she laid comfortably on a blanket waiting in the shade of a tree. She had one of her wings unfurled and draped over something that was next to her. Goldie smiled, she couldn't help but think that Blueberry looked so much like a hen with a chick.

Giving Blueberry a smile and wave in greeting, Goldie stepped up close to the blanket. "Trails, come here, I want you to meet somepony." She said over her shoulder at her brother.

Bending down, Goldie began to speak to Blueberry's outstretched wing. "Hay sweetie, you hungry?"

At first, nothing seemed to be happening but then a little nose peeked out from under Blueberry's wing.

"That's it, come to mamma." Goldie urged, watching as Cinnamon slowly began to crawl her way out. Next to her, Trails gasped as Blueberry pulled her wing back and reveled Cinnamon. "Come on, you can do it." Goldie continued to urge the filly.

Cinnamon let out a mewling cry as she struggled, then much to Goldie's surprise, Cinnamon gathered her legs under herself and shakenly lifted herself up for a moment before flopping back down.

"Oh, what a mighty effort you did there." Goldie said, scooping Cinnamon up. "Mamma's so proud of you." Turning, Goldie smiled and held Cinnamon up for Trails to see. "Trails, I would like you to meet my daughter, Cinnamon."

Oregon Trail was gaping open mouthed at her and the filly she was holding up. "What?... How?... Who?... When!?" He stuttered out, confused. It seemed his brain just couldn't handle it anymore and decided that now was a good time to take a walk. His eyes rolled back, and he crumpled to the ground.

Blueberry blinked in surprise at the unconscious stallion next to her, reaching her hoof out and nudged his still form a few times. Not knowing what else to do, she began to fan him with her wing.

Caramel shook his head at his wife. "Goldie, that was horrible of you."

Smiling down at her brother, Goldie nodded. "Yeah I know, but it was really fun too."

Trails felt completely out of sorts. He came here to watch over his sister, and he quickly found himself overwhelmed with events. Goldie was now married with a foal, and apparently close friends with the princess of the Crystal Empire. Sitting in a chair off to the side of Princess Cadence's office he watched as everypony gathered for a meeting.

His eyes roamed over to the pretty deaf pegasus as she talked with Goldie, her hooves moving in quick gestures that made no sense to him, but apparently Goldie now understood. When did Goldie learn sign language? He wondered. When he had come too from passing out, Blueberry had been leaning over him with a look of concern on her face. She, was easily the most beautiful mare he ever met, and he had no idea how to talk to her.

As he sat gazing over at her, Blueberry suddenly glanced at him and their eyes met. Trails heart suddenly leaped up in his chest, she had just caught him staring at her. Not knowing what to do, Trails nervously smiled and gave her a little wave, and was surprised when he saw her blush and look away with what looked like a small smile on her lips.

Any more musings on the matter was interrupted when Princess Cadence walked in, followed by Starlight Glimmer. The two moved around the room where Princess Cadence sat down in a large ornate chair, with Starlight Glimmer sitting by Princess Twilight in a nearby couch.

"We just had a very disappointing meeting with the landed gentry and some of the lesser lords." Princess Cadence announced glumly. "It appears that Lord Round Stone has been asserting his influence over them and now they are all refusing to update their farming practices to modern times."

"But why would he do that? Doesn't he want the Crystal Empire to be prosperous in these modern times?" Goldie asked.

Princess Cadence let out a sigh. "Lord Round Stone is the leader of the isolationists. He wants nothing to do with the outside world, and he and those that believe the same as him use their influence to force others to follow along, much like with the lesser lords and the landed gentry who have large loans owned by Lord Round Stone and his cohorts."

"Why are they so against Equestria?" Caramel asked curiously.

"Look at things from their point of view." Princess Twilight spoke up. "A little over a thousand years ago, they were conquered and enslaved by King Sombra. When Princess Celestia and Luna overthrew him and banished him into the Arctic north, he cursed the Crystal Ponies by entrapping them within the shadows, casting them adrift though the ages, lost in the darkness. When they finally returned, a thousand years had passed, and so much of the world they knew was changed. There was new technologies and new sciences that was both wondrous and terrifying." She paused as she looked around the room. "I don't blame them for wanting to return to how things were. Change, especially drastic change, can be scary."

Trials could see her point. Change could be hard for some ponies to accept. He remembered back when he was a colt, there was a old stallion that lived on a small farm not far from his parents. The old stallion absolutely refused to go to any doctor or hospital, saying that no modernistic witch-doctor, with their newfangled needles would ever be as good as his time tested home brew medicine that had been passed down through his family line since his great grandmama's time.

Trails remembered the old stallion complaining for a month about a pain in his gut, and one day, Trails dad was asked by somepony in town to take a package out to him. When they pulled up to the old stallions house, Trails dad had him stay in the wagon as he went up to the house. When the old stallion failed to answer the door when his dad knocked, he went inside.

After a few minutes, Trails got tired of waiting, and ran up to the house and looked in through the door. He saw his father taking a blanket and draping it over the old stallion as he slept on the floor in his kitchen. Seeing Trials looking in, his dad looked a little upset that he didn't stay with the wagon. Without saying a word, Trails dad took him back home, where he sat him down at the table and gave him a cookie to eat while he spoke with his mom, who was pregnant with Goldie at the time, in the other room. After that, his dad left to go back into town.

His mother then sat down with him and explained about what had happened to the old stallion. For the first time, he learned what death was.

"But change is also necessary." Princess Cadence said. "If the Crystal ponies are to be prosperous, then they need to learn new things, and grow. That is why I want to start with farming. Ponyville is a tiny fraction of the Crystal Empire's size, but it harvests a thousand times the amount of crops then the Crystal ponies."

"So what do you want us to do? If their not going to even listen to us, what's the point?" Goldie asked. "Its not like we can tie them up and force them to change."

Her question was left hanging, all the ponies looked around at each other expecting somepony to come up with an answer. Surprisingly it was Blueberry who stood up and offered an idea.

"What!?" Caramel exclaimed in both astonishment and amusement, as he watched her as she signed. "Only a daughter of a casino lord would come up with a idea like that!" He said as he started to laugh.

"What?" Princess Cadence asked, looking over with interest. "What's her idea?"

Caramel, still smiling, told them all Blueberry's idea.

"It is a risk, but it's also a good idea." Princess Cadence mused thoughtfully, turning to Goldie and Caramel. "What do you think? Is it feasible?"

"Well, I looked at the land all the way up to the barrier and its seen hard times. The entire dale was once very fertile, but due to over farming, the nutrients have been depleted, but I don't see why it can't be restored with a bit of maintenance."

"And I'm sure we could get some volunteers to help out, especially if they got a percent of the harvest." Caramel added.

Trails decided to add in his two bits. "I can have a working water wheel built and installed in no time. There is already a site ready for one, and with a little work, we can have the channels repaired and working in just a few days, if I had help."

Princess Cadence stood and slowly walked across the room. Stopping before a large painting she looked up at it as she contemplated her choice. Trails could see that the painting she was looking at depicted the country side of the Crystal Empire, it showed little farms scattered throughout the land, with ponies working out in the fields.

"The Crystal Ponies are a proud and noble race of ponies. They have come through many harsh trials that have made them stronger." Princess Cadence said, breaking her silence. "They are in a new world, and if I allow them to run from it and cling to their past like a foal clinging to a security blanket, then they will never grow and walk on their own. They need a push, and I think that this may be the push they need to start moving into this new world. I'll send a summons to Lord Round Stone, and met with him tomorrow." She turned and smiled at Blueberry. "You ready to roll the dice?"

When Goldie signed the Princess's last comment to Blueberry, she gave a strong nod, and pawed her hoof across the floor, showing her readiness.

Princess Cadence smile widened at Blueberry's show of spirit. Turning she then addressed Goldie. "Golden Harvest, I would like to appoint you to the position of Secretary of Farming Management, and put you in charge of this project."

Goldie gaped at the Princess, totally speechless. It took a few nudges from Caramel to finally get her to break out of it. "I... I don't know what to say."

"Yes, say yes." Caramel loudly whispered at her.

"Oh! Ah, Yes." Goldie answered quickly. "I'd be honored."

"Wonderful." Princess Cadence said happily. "Tomorrow, I would like you to be with me when I meet with Lord Round Stone. And since it was her idea, I would like for Blueberry to be there as well."

"Yes of course, we'll both be there." Goldie answered, bowing her head.

After that, Princess Cadence excused herself to go and talk with Princess Twilight. With a happy smile, Caramel leaned in and gave Goldie a congratulatory kiss before walking with her out of Princess Cadence's office.

"Caramel, Goldie!" Aunt Lilly called out to them. Hurrying over to them, she held out a letter to Caramel.

"What's this?" Caramel asked as he let her deposit the letter onto the flat of his hoof.

"Its the... notification of your sisters funeral." Aunt Lilly answered softly. "With Rarity's, and Pinkie's help, Chisel was able to get everything ready. Even Fluttershy volunteered to help after she heard about it. She wanted me to tell you that the next time you deliver her animal feed to her place, she's going to have a special hug for you."

"She always nice when I make my deliveries, she tips me with cookies." Caramel said with a forced smile. Looking down at the letter, Caramel felt like he had swallowed a stone. From resent events, he had managed to put his sister out of his mind, but the letter that now sat on his hoof suddenly brought it all back to the forefront.

"I'm so proud of you sis!" Trails exclaimed as he swept Goldie up in a hug. "I can't believe it, my little sis is in charge of a daring governmental project that would ether make or break the economic backbone of a entire society!"

"Trails!" Aunt Lilly called out to him. "Stop heaping psychosomatic stress onto your sister, she needs your support right now more then ever."

Trails ears wilted a bit, at Aunt Lilly's rebuke. "Your right, I'm sorry." He said apologetically, setting his sister back down. "Since your the big boss now, there is some things I want to suggest, if you want to hear them." He polity offered.

Goldie blinked at her brother's sudden helpful offer. "Sure. What's on your mind?"

Caramel didn't listen to the rest of the conversation. Taking the letter in mouth, he slipped off to his room. Closing the door, Caramel moved over to the bed and sat down. Setting the letter back down onto his hoof he looked down at it. The rock he swallowed still wasn't sitting well in his gut, as he slowly broke the seal on the letter.

Taking out a folded piece of paper, Caramel took a breath and opened it. The letter was gorgeously penned, likely Rarity's work. The contents described Fudge's life up to her death, then it announced that she would be laid to rest alongside her parents in Fillydelphia. Caramel glanced at the date, and saw that the funeral would be in two days. Only two more days until he put another family member into the ground.

Lowering the letter down, Caramel noticed that there was something poking out of the envelope. Sliding it out he found it was a picture of his sister, Fudge. Letting the letter and envelope fall to the floor, Caramel held up the picture and gazed at it. He missed her so much, there was so many things he wanted to share with her now. He could practically hear her laughter as he imagined talking to her over a home made dinner with Goldie sitting by his side.

Suddenly he wondered if there would come a day where he couldn't remember what his sisters laugh sounded like, or even what her smile looked like.

Out in the main drawing room, Goldie suddenly paused, as she talked with her brother and Aunt Lilly. She felt that something was wrong. Reaching up her hoof, she set it onto her chest where she felt a deep cold sensation settling in.

Aunt Lilly and Trails looked at her curiously as she suddenly stood. "Excuse me, there is something I need to do." She said to them, before she hurried away. Passing by a reading chair, Blueberry glanced up at her as she hurried by, her curious expression became alarmed when she noticed the worried look on Goldie's face.

Goldie rushed to her room and opened the door, inside she saw Caramel laying on the bed with something clutched to his chest. Closing the door, she hurried to him, glancing curiously at the letter and envelope that sat strewn on the floor.

"Caramel?" She gently called to him as she sat next to him, touching his side. "What's wrong?"

Taking a deep breath, Caramel let it out with a shudder. "I'm going to forget her laugh." He suddenly said, his voice was filled with a deep sounding anguish. "I don't want to forget her laugh, or the way she smiled with that little curl on the side of her mouth. I don't want to forget the way she smelled when she hugged me. I don't want to forget, but it's going to happen. Its going to happen and there is nothing I can do to stop it"

Caramel had been going though bouts of depression, and Goldie had been doing her best to help him though them, but this time it seemed much worse then normal.

"Oh, Caramel, that's not true." Goldie said, laying down next to him and wrapping her hooves around him, hugging his head into her chest. "She will always live on in you, just as she will live on in Cinnamon. You are both a piece of her, and she is within both of your hearts. When Cinnamon is older, it will be you who will tell her about her mother, and there is no way you will ever forget a single minute detail about her, because you loved her dearly, and she in engraved into your very being. Nothing, not even time will ever take that from you."

Caramel remained quiet for a time, his breath warm against her chest. Then he slowly began to move as he curl himself around. Goldie knew what it was that he wanted, and pulled her hind leg back and offered him the succor he needed. Holding herself open to him, Goldie felt his warm lips wrap around one of her teats, as he drew it into his mouth. Once he was properly latched on, he gently began to suckle.

Slowly Goldie brushed her hoof through his mane as she began to hum a tune. They had tried this a few times before, and discovered that both of them immensely enjoyed the intimate act together, as it brought them both an extreme sense of comfort and affection. Right now Caramel was seeking both of those from her, and she was happy to give him what he needed.

Laying her head against his side, Goldie listened to his heartbeat while she enjoyed the sensation of his nursing. His suckles were slow and measured, not at all like the more frenzied suckles of a hungry foal. The feeling of his large tongue as it rubbed up, and pressed into the bottom of her teat with each of his suckles sent warm waves of pleasure throughout her body. Closing her eyes she concentrated on the pleasant feeling of his drawing milk from her teat, and listened to him swallow the warm creamy nourishment he took in.

After a time, Caramel finally released Goldie's teat, and looked over at her as he licked his lips. "Thank you." Caramel said in gratitude and nuzzled Goldie's cheek affectionately, before he lowered his head back down and latched onto her other teat.

Resisting the urge to gasp, Goldie shuddered in pleasure as she felt her milk let down under his ministrations. She had no words for how good this felt, as with each suckle he drew more her milk into his mouth. . "Take as long as you like. I'm happy I can do this for you."

Blueberry felt her cheeks burning. She had snuck over to their door to check on them because she was worried from the look she saw on Goldie's face when she rushed by her earlier. Finding the door unlocked, Blueberry had cracked it open to peek in, and what she saw transfixed her in amazement. Never before had she ever witnessed such a tender loving moment between two ponies. The look Blueberry saw on Goldie's face as Caramel nursed from her was absolutely blissful.

Shutting the door, Blueberry looked around. Aunt Lilly was working on some of her crocheting, while Goldie's very large big brother, Trails, was sitting at one of the desks, drawing out some plans he had for the project. Moving off down the hall, Blueberry went to her room, and started to paced around. She couldn't believe how strongly the sight of that intimate loving moment had affected her.

Such a thing was alien to where she came from. There was no lust or pain involved, no selfish demands made over the other. It was just two ponies lovingly communing together. A sense of jealousy came over her, as she found wanted something like that for herself. The feel of a gentle stallion pressed against her, as they affectionately pleased one other. She desperately wanted that but she knew that it was something she would never have, for what pony would ever want a defective pony like her?

Nibbling her lower lip, she continued to move around. During her time with Caramel and Goldie, she had learned so much about what it should be like between two loving ponies. Even though they sometimes teased each other, it was never done to hurt to demean the other, and forgiveness was always quick to be given. Support between the two was never asked for but always given. This too was something Blueberry had never seen back at home.

Her father had had his share of mares, and some of them even lasted a few weeks. But never did she see her father ever offer comfort or show affection to any of them. At one time, her father got angry and yelled at one of them. Frightened of her father, the mare huddled in the corner and cried, terrified that he might hurt her. Annoyed at the crying mare, her father hurled his cup at her, narrowly missing her head and shouted something at her, which caused the mare to quickly rush across the room and disappeared out the door. Blueberry never saw her again.

Love. True love was something she had never witnessed before, until she met Caramel and Goldie. Her bother, Bitternut's idea of love, was whatever dark crevice he could shove his stallionhood into for a few minutes. One time, Blueberry got first hoof experience with his brand of love, when he came home drunk one night.

With his stallionhood lewdly dangling down between his legs, Bitternut started moving towards her. Terrified of the look she saw in his eyes, Blueberry tried to flee but he only chased her down and pinned her to the floor. The horror that washed over her when she felt him mounting her was overwhelming, and no matter how much she struggled, Blueberry couldn't break free from his greater strength. She found herself completely helpless.

She whimpered when she felt his stallionhood poking at her, as he tried to find his way in. Luckily he was too drunk to aim right, and only managed to shove it between her inner thighs. Thankful that he couldn't tell that he had missed, Blueberry endured several minuets of her bother drooling on her back, as he thrusted himself between her hind legs. Until finally he clamped his teeth painfully onto her crest, as he shoved his stallionhood as deep under her as he could, and held it there, where, to her horror, she then felt his warm seed spurt out onto her belly and legs. With each spurt of his musky scented seed, Bitternut thrusted his hip into her, as he pumped his stallionhood, trying to drive his seed deep into her but only succeeded in saturating her belly further.

She felt his drool run down onto her withers as he let out a satisfied huff that stank of stale beer. Occasionally, Bitternut would give a slight shudder and buck of his hip, but this only lasted a short while. Having his need satiated, Bitternut pulled his softening stallionhood out from between her thighs, and climbed off of her. Staggering over to the couch, Bitternut flopped down onto it and instantly fell asleep.

Blueberry was left shivering in terror, and despite what had just happened to her, she was relieved that she had gotten off so lightly. Quickly she made her way to the bathroom where she spent the next couple of hours in the bathtub scrubbing her coat, trying to get the stink of him off of her.

Crossing to her bed, Blueberry flopped down onto her mattress and hugged her pillow. Even it if was impossible, Blueberry desperately wanted what Goldie and Caramel had, a true loving stallion that cared for her. Burying her face into her pillow, she started to cry.

"Trails, would you please find Blueberry and tell her that dinner will be brought up soon. I'll find Caramel and Goldie, and let them know." Lilly Pad asked as she put her croshay away.

Standing, Trails felt a sudden sense of nervous alarm. He wasn't sure how to act around Blueberry, and was convinced he was going to do something stupid and embarrassing. "How do I tell her? I don't know how to talk to her."

"Just do this." Lilly said as she touched her lips with her hoof then she touched her leg and slightly slid her hoof down her leg. "It means dinner.

Trails watched carefully, making sure he would remember the sign, and was about to go when it suddenly hit him. "Wait!? You know sign language too?" Did everypony know it but him!?

Lilly smiled and gave her head a shake. "Only a little. Blueberry has been showing me a few signs over the last couple of days, but I've only picked up a few of them." Turning, she headed off to find Caramel and Goldie.

Trials knew where Blueberry's room was, due to the fact that it was just across the hall from his room. Walking down the hall, Trails paused by her door and knocked. After a few moments when she didn't answer, he tried knocking again. Not getting a response a second time, he was about to try a third time when it suddenly hit him that she was deaf. No matter how much he knocked, she wouldn't be able to hear it.

Feeling stupid, Trails sat his rump down on the floor and scratched at the back of his head, as he considered what he should do. He thought about slipping a note under her door, but quickly dismissed the idea as being too silly. Finally, he decided that he just had to be brave and open her door.

Lifting his hoof, Trails held it over her door latch, and paused as he wondered why his heart was beating so hard. Holding his breath, Trials touched his hoof to the latch and pressed down. With an audible click, the door popped open. Trails skittered back a few steps as he stared at the door, convinced that Blueberry would angrily throw open her door, and accuse him of being a pervert.

When nothing happened, Trails stood and gingerly stepped up to the door and pushed it open just enough for him to stick his head around. With his eyes shut, Trials stuck his head through and waited. When nothing happened, he slowly cracked his eyes open, and saw Blueberry laying on her bed.

Perhaps she was taking a nap? Shouldering the door open, Trails moved into her room. He was a few steps in when he notices that she appeared to be crying. Freezing in place, Trails started to panic. He thought about getting Lilly or Goldie to come and help her, even Caramel would be better suited at this then him.

Turning he started for the door, but then he caught the sounds of her weeping coming from behind him. His heart went out for her, and he danced in place with indecision. He wanted to help her, but he had no way to talk to her, but then... did he really need to talk to her to help her? He wondered. Making up his mind, he went to her desk and took a box of tissues in his mouth.

Carefully, Trails lifted his hoof and lightly touched Blueberry's shoulder. Her reaction to his touch was instant. She let out a started squawk and whirled around to looked up at him.

Trails shied back for a moment. Suddenly regretting his decision, as he saw her looking up at him with her tear soaked eyes wide with fear. Not knowing what else to do, Trails clumsily thrust out the box of tissues at her.

Blueberry blinked at his sudden offering. The fear she had in her eyes faded as she realized he was trying to help her. She reached out and took the box of tissues. Lifting up her hoof, she touched her lip and dropped her hoof down slightly.

Sitting his rump down on the floor, Trails lifted his hoof and mimicked the gesture, and for the first time, he saw her smile. The sight of it nearly made his heart stop. She was normally quite pretty, but when she smiled it was like the sun had just peaked over the horizon.

Still smiling, Blueberry touched her chest and repeated the sign she did before, then she pointed her hoof at him, before she bent her hoof in a way that looked like she was scooping something, and pulled it in to her chest.

Trails thought he understood what she was telling him. The first sign was, thank you and the second was, your welcome. Nodding his understanding, Trails hooked his hoof like how she showed him and brought it to his chest. "Your welcome."

There was that smile again. Trails couldn't believe that he was doing it, he was actually talking with her. Smiling back, he met her eyes as they sparked cheerfully, with all signs of her weeping now gone

Looking at him curiously, Blueberry pointed her hoof at him as she shrugged as she pointed down at the floor.

It took Trails a few moment to puzzle out that she was asking why he was here in her room.

Remembering what Lilly had shown him, Trails touched his lip then slid his hoof a short ways up his other leg, in what he assumed meant dinner.

Blueberry blinked at him a moment, then let out a giggle. Trails wondered for a moment if he did the sign right, but was interrupted when Blueberry suddenly hopped out of bed and walked to the door. Pausing, Blueberry turned and looked back at Trails with a, are you coming, look.

Realizing that he was just sitting there by her bed staring at her, Trails gave a started jump and moved off to join her.

It was late, and Princess Cadence had to stifle another yawn, as she followed Flash Sentry down the palace hallway.

"Has he been questioned yet?" Princess Cadence asked, keeping her stride even and stately despite the rush.

Flash Sentry shook his head. "No, your majesty. The guards took him straight here when he arrived at the palace." Turning a corner they approached a door that had two guards posted on ether side.

"Good." She said before she paused a moment to look at Flash Sentry. "Please make sure that Twilight doesn't hear about this... at least for the time being."

"Yes Princess." Flash said with a bow. Turning he gestured to the guards to open the door.

Taking out a key, a guard unlocked the door then pushed it open, stepping aside, he then saluted as Princess Cadence stepped through.

Inside, was a small guest room, with a bed and sitting area, along with a door to the side that lead into a small bathroom.

Standing from his seat on one of the couches, an older unicorn bowed his head down. "Princess, its a honor."

"My apologies for holding you here, I trust you've been comfortable at least?" Princess Cadence asked politely.

Straightening up, the unicorn looked around his room. "Oh, ah... Yes, the room is quite comfortable, but.. I don't see why I am being held. I just had a horrible couple of days when I accidentally was left on the train, and ended up all the way over in Manehatten. It took a while for me to get the bits to buy a ticket back."

Princess Cadence gave him a friendly smile. "That is one of the things I came to talk to you about, Mr. Twirlshine." She held out a wing to indicate a chair. "Please, may I sit so we can discuss a few things?" She wanted him to feel like he had some control, so that he would be relaxed. It was important for him to be relaxed. At least at first.

"Oh! How rude of me. Please have a seat, would you like something to drink? Perhaps if I ask one of the guards at the door..." Twirlshine offered but stopped when Princess Cadence smiled and held up a hoof, while she gently shook her head.

"I thank you for the offer, but will decline." She said politely, as she settled herself into the chair. "Now, Mr. Twirlshine. I understand you are from a small town called Galloping Springs."

Twirlshine sat down across from her on the couch, and absently nodded his head. "Um, that's right Princess."

"Please tell me about it, I just love hearing about new places." Princess Cadence asked with a smile. It was something she learned from her aunt Celestia. By using small talk to get a base sense of his body postures and voice intonations when he was being honest, it would be easier to catch when he was stressed and trying to hide things.

Twirlshine tapped his hoof to his chin as he thought about it. "Well, its a small sleepy town with many friendly ponies who'd be happy to chat your ear off if you ask about the weather. The land there is poor for farming, but great for sheep ranching. Galloping Springs boast some of the largest sheep ranches in all of Equestria, and most of the wool that is used in the textile trade comes, from there."

"That's interesting." Princess Cadence said, carefully watching Twirlshine. "Where you also born there?"

"Yes, I was." He answered. "My father died when I was very young, so my mom raised me there on her own." He explained. "Later I showed an aptitude for theoretical magic and was accepted into Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. After I graduated, I lived in Canterlot until my mother passed away, and I decided to move back and take up my mothers position as town mage. It allowed me to make a living while I worked on my projects."

Perfect, Princess Cadence thought, now she could start to dig into the dirt of the matter. "Projects?" Princess Cadence asked curiously. "You mean like the Bonding spell, you use during the Midnight Dance?"

Twirlshine blinked at her, then shook his head. "No, the Bonding spell was just something I came across at one point when I looked though a old book. The mayor came to me one day wanting to do something special with the Harvest Festival, so I told her about the spell, and she thought it would be a great idea to use as a marriage gimmick to bring in tourists."

Princess Cadence noticed that his body became a little bit more ridged and stiff, his eyes shifted around now, only meeting her gaze for a moment. "I see." She replied nodding. "So it was the mayors idea to use the Hearts Harmony Spell then?"

"Well, yes." Twirlshine said with a shrug. "The town was on a decline and she was desperate to bring in tourists..." Twirlshine paused and suddenly paled, as he realized the name she used for the spell.

"That's right, I know what spell you used, and what it was made to do." Princess Cadence voice lost its soft friendly edge. "I would like to know how you came across it, and what you meant to do with it?"

Twirlshine shook his head with a distraught look. "I don't know what you mean?" He said in a pathetic attempt to play dumb.

Princess Cadence let the air crackle with her magic, causing Twirlshine to cower back in his seat. "Don't play games with me! You have taken the Hearts Harmony Spell and altered it, using hapless ponies to experiment on, and I want to know what your trying to accomplish!?"

Twirlshine shook his head again. "I'm not doing any of that! The spell is just how I found it in Cracked Marbles research journal! I swear it!" He cried out, a terrified look on his face.

Princess Cadence let out a bolt of magic that shot across the room and destroyed the nightstand by the bed. "Don't lie to me! I had a close look at your spell, and its no longer a true Hearts Harmony Spell! Its been adjusted to do something else. What where you trying to create!"

"Nothing! I... I..." Twirlshine stuttered to a stop. Princess Cadence could see him shaking with agitation. With a flick of his eye, he looked at the door as he foolishly contemplated escape, but with a final crackle of Cadence's magic, Twirlshine finally dropped his head down in defeat. "She... she said that it was for the good of Equestria, and that we'd be hero's"

Princess Cadence held her breath. The truth at last. "Who?... who told you this?"

"It... it was Quill Stoke." Twirlshine admitted. "It was about fifteen years ago. She came to me with Cracked Marbles research journal. She wanted me to finish his work and create our own Crystal Heart."

"I worked on it for years, and I thought I was getting close." Twirlshine continued. "I managed to find a fragment of the original spell to create the first Crystal Heart but something was missing. Every time I tried it, it would just die and fall apart. It was like I was planting a seedling in a desert without water. Finally I hit upon using Cracked Marbles research bonding spell to create a space where the Hearts Harmony spell could take root. And it worked."

"The Hearts Harmony spell was finally implanting like it was supposed to do but still I found there was one last thing missing, one final component, and I was hitting a wall." Twirlshine licked his lips, before he gave a irritated shake of his head. "Quill Stroke was getting impatient with my progress, and she wanted results. I argued with her that if she wanted me to go faster, then I needed test subjects to experiment on. The next day, she came to me with the idea of using the Spring Festival to get what we needed. And the Midnight Dance was born."

"For years I implanted the spell in couples, with widely varying degrees of success. In most cases the Hearts Harmony spell would just sit inert and unresponsive. Other times it grew for a short time, before stopping. It was frustrating! And I was beginning to think that it wasn't going to work, but Quill Stroke was confident that we just needed to find the right couple, who had the final part to complete the spell." Twirlshine paused and smiled. "Then it happened! Those two wonderful ponies showed up. It was like fate had delivered them right to us... to me."

A fevered light came to Twirlshine's eyes. "Those two were perfect. The spell was implanted and it was flourishing. By the next day they were already showing signs. I followed them to Ponyville and continued my observations but I was limited with what I could do with Princess Twilight there. On the train, when every pony was asleep, I managed to sneak close enough to observe the spells progress and was overjoyed at the results I saw." Looking up, Twirlshine unflinchingly met Princess Cadence's eyes. "In a month or two at most, the spell will reach a critical mass and transform them into the worlds first Coupled Crystal Hearts!"

Princess Cadence thought she was going to throw up.

"Just think of it! They would become more powerful then any Alicorn in existence, capable of protecting all of Equestria from all outside harm, forever." Twirlshine boasted proudly.

Princess Cadence had heard enough, if he uttered just one more word she felt she fry him to ash on the spot. Her magic erupted out and flung every piece of furniture into the walls, smashing and breaking many of them. Grabbing Twirlshine off the floor where he had fallen, Cadence held him suspended in the air before her with her magic. Standing from her chair, Cadence slowly approached him. Twirlshine was quacking in fear at the sight of her wrathful eyes as she drew closer. "You will end this now! Lift the spell from them or so help me!" She ordered

"It's already too late! It can't be stopped!" Twirlshine exclaimed, his eyes wide with terror.

Princess Cadence heard the door slam open as her guards rushed in, likely alerted from the commotion she made. She ignored them as she drew Twirlshine closer until his face was just before hers. "You filthy piece of wasted pony! What you have done is unforgivable!" She shouted in his face. "They are good honest ponies, that just wanted to live their lives and be a family. But because of what you have done, they will no longer have that!" Cadence felt hot tears streaming down her face now. "Right now, within Goldie, a new life is just starting to grow. And because of what you have done!" Cadence wrapped her magic around Twirlshine's throat and started to squeeze. "That new life will never take a breath! Never to be loved or held, and because of you, an entire family is being destroyed!"

"But it's for the good of Equestria!" Twirlshine chocked out. "The sacrifice of two insignificant ponies, is a small price to pay for the good they can do for us all."

Anything else he could have said was chocked off as Cadence tightened her magical grip on his throat. "I will hear no more of this! They are my friends, I will see you pay for what you have done!"

"That is quite enough." A voice suddenly said, and everything abruptly went deathly silent.

Princess Cadence blinked in surprise as everything suddenly froze in place. Twirlshine, his face fixed in terror, sat unmoving in her magical grip. Flash Sentry and all the Crystal Guards that had rushed in with him where standing like statues, as they all stared forward with unblinking eyes.

Looking like she was made from mist, the Alicorn mare drifted though the frozen guards, and stopped just before Cadence. Lifting her hoof, the Alicorn mare gently wiped at the tears that ran down Cadence's cheeks. "My pour little princess, I was hoping you wouldn't discover this truth."

"Its true then?" Cadence asked, her voice quaking. "What he said? Its going to happen!?"

The Alicorn mare turned her head and looked at the frozen Twirlshine. "That is what he intended to happen, but I am doing my best to alter that fate."

"So, you can stop it!?" Cadence asked, daring to hope.

Looking back at Cadence, the Alicorn shook her head. "The stone has been cast, and nothing we do will be able to stop it from tumbling down the mountain." Lifting her wing, the Alicorn then smiled. "The trick is, what happens when it reaches the bottom." She then tapped Cadence on her nose with the end of her wing. "Have faith in me daughter, I have a plan."

Cadence rubbed her hoof over her tickled nose. "Why... did you call me daughter?" She asked, confused by the affectionate address.

"Because you are of my blood." The rosy pink Alicorn answered meeting her gaze.

Cadence felt a sudden jolt shoot through her body, how could what she had said be true?

The Alicorn mare gave her head a sad nod. "I understand your not knowing this, but before the Hearts Harmony spell, I was once a young unicorn mare named Tranquil Spring."

Cadence was surprised that she recognized that name. When she became princess of the Crystal Empire, she scoured the archives for any shred of of history dating to a time before the Crystal Ponies had settled in the north, and had very little luck. But she did find that within the royal gardens, there was a small time worn statue of a unicorn mare cradling a foal. Cadence was always drawn to the statue whenever she walked the gardens, finding the simple beauty of the mother cradling her daughter to be peaceful and relaxing. At the base of that statue, there was a engraving that simply read, In Honor of my Mother Tranquil Spring, May her Heart Always Shine. Cadence had wondered who that pony was, now she found herself looking right at her.

"Chaos ran rampant during that time." Tranquil Spring started to explain. "My dear husband fell during one of the chaos beast raids that frequently happened during that time, but not before he left a beautiful gift within my womb. She was born latter that fall, and I named her Autumn Light." Tranquil Spring paused as her gaze became distant. "Autumn was my everything, I loved her so much. It wasn't long after that when our enemies found us again. I had to act quick if I was going to save Autumn and the other ponies, so I gave my daughter into the care of my younger sister and cast the Hearts Harmony spell on us all, with myself as the terminal focus."

"The Crystal Ponies were created that day, and I... I became the Crystal Heart." Tranquil Spring looked back up and met Cadence's eyes again. "I saved them all, but at the cost of myself." Lifting her hoof she tenderly touched Cadence's cheek. "You are the daughter of my daughter, a decedent of my line." Bending in close, Tranquil Spring tenderly, much like a loving mother would, kissed Cadence on her forehead.

Cadence was stunned by the revaluation. She never would have guessed that she would have discovered a long lost relative within the Crystal Empire, let alone it being one of the most powerful arcane treasures in the known lands, rivaled only by the Elements of Harmony.

Feeling tears well up again, Cadence reached out and abruptly hugged Tranquil Spring, crushing her to her chest. Feeling her worm soft body pressed into hers, Cadence started to bawl, and cry into Tranquil's mane as her emotions suddenly flooded out.

Tranquil Spring gently returned the embrace. "Oh, my pour little princess, whatever is the matter?" She asked tenderly.

Cadence continued to wail into Tranquil's mane, and it took a extended moment for her to gather herself enough to respond. "I... I almost did a horrible thing!" Cadence managed to sob out. "I was just so angry, I wanted... I just wanted him to pay!"

"Shh, I know, I know." Tranquil said soothingly. "He did something very bad, and I understand why you felt that way." She brushed her hoof down Cadence's mane. "And I couldn't be prouder of you, my daughter. Your passion for the well being of your friends is very noble."

Cadence struggled to bring her feelings under control. What Tranquil had said helped, but she still felt horrible for trying to hurt Twirlshine. "Why... why are you doing so much to help them?"

Pulling back from the hug, Tranquil once again wiped the tears from Cadence's cheeks. "I sensed them the moment they passed into the Crystal Empire. I was a bit worried about their intentions, so when they arrived at the palace, I spoke with them."

"You did!?" Cadence asked in surprise, wondering why Goldie or Caramel never mention this to her?

"I appeared to them as a little foal, that was all alone. I wanted to see what they were like, so I tested them." Tranquil explained. "I found them to be a remarkably trusting and caring couple, full of love for each other and for those they took in as family. A worthy trait I wished to see saved."

"Whatever help you need, just let me know, and you'll have it." Cadence offered, meeting Tranquil's gaze.

Tranquil smiled, and lightly patted Cadence cheek. "Such a good and loyal daughter, you make me more proud every day. Just keep being their friend, and make sure they stay within my province until the new moon."

Cadence suddenly sucked in a breath in horror. She forgot about the funeral! "How could I have been so stupid!?" She exclaimed. "They're leaving to attend Caramel's sisters funeral the morning after tomorrow. They'll be gone for a day!"

Tranquil Spring suddenly looked alarmed. "This must not happen, or else it would be disastrous for them." She said imperatively. "You must find a way to keep them here."

"But how am I to do that!?" Cadence asked, as she racked her brain on how she could do that without totally ruining her friendship with them. She knew that it was to help save them, but the horrible idea that she would have to deny Caramel the opportunity to say goodbye to a loved one left a terrible pit in her stomach.

"I'm sure you will find a way." Tranquil said confidently, before she gave Cadence a kiss on her cheek. "My time here draws to a close, it is very difficult to keep us between heartbeats for as long as I have. Remember my daughter, I am always here for you." She said as she tapped her hoof to Cadence's chest. A moment latter, her form broke apart and she faded away.

Twirlshine suddenly let out a gargled scream as he abruptly crumpled to the floor. Flash Sentry and the other Crystal Guards rushed around and surrounded Twirlshine.

Cadence stood over the pathetic form of Twirlshine as he wept huddled in a ball. Turning to Flash Sentry, Cadence gestured down at the wretched stallion. "Lieutenant Flash Sentry, lock Twirlshine in the dungeon, and make sure he is only given hay and water until I talk with aunt Celestia about drawing up charges for his crimes."

Flash Sentry saluted. "Yes, Princess." He then reached down and dragged Twirlshine up off the floor. With the other guards moving in to help, he briskly escorted Twirlshine out of the room.

Cadence let out a calming sigh as she watched them go. Walking over to the only chair that was still intact, she sat and stared out at the wall. What was she going to do? She wondered.

Author's Notes:

For those who never experienced it, or just think its gross or weird. The act of adults nursing is actually quite common, and does not always go along with sex. Many adults enjoy nursing for the close intimate feelings that come from the act. It can be very pleasant for both parties.

For those that didn't catch it, when Trails signed what he thought was dinner, he slid his hoof up his leg instead of down. He told her, breakfast. That is why she let out a giggle.