Slowly, the light of the sun began to creep up over the far horizon. A blanket of warmth spread out over the land, over hills, trees, rivers and roads. Morning had come, and with it came the expected sounds of gentle rustling in the tree branches, and the songs of birds. Far from the paths of other ponies, lay a quiet secluded clearing in a local woodland, and within that clearing, five ponies lay. These were the legendary pillars of ancient times. Starswirl, Mistmane, Meadowbrook, Rockhoof, and the youngest of their number, Stygian. All of them were sleeping soundly next to the remains of a campfire, which even now let off tiny wisps of smoke from the night before. However, two of their number were strangely absent from this gathering. And that was because they were sleeping separately, far from the rest of the group.

Flash Magnus and Somnambula, both currently resting beside one another in a small cave that was found at the base of a cliff-face not very far from the rest of their companions. They too had the remains of a fire close by, and the warmth of it lingered in their sleeping place. Neither was clothed right now, with their respective outfits neatly placed on either side of them, and judging form the unkempt way their manes were, it was clear there had been some activity the previous night. Closely they slept, each with a tender smile upon their faces, holding each other's hooves. But, as soon as the light of the dawn reached them, Flash began to stir. Very slowly, his eyes cracked open, and after letting out a long yawn, his gaze turned to the mare beside him. His smile widened, and he looked to her with what could only be described as love. Gently, he raised his hoof, placing it upon the side of her face, caressing her there, which, naturally, led to Somnambula herself rousing from her slumber. Like her partner, she too smiled at the sight that greeted her, and after a moment or two of silence, she spoke.

"Good morning."

Flash's smile widened further still.

"Good morning."

They inched closer, their lips meeting tenderly in a brief kiss, and when it was over, Somnambula giggled, taking a moment to first get her mane in order, making sure it was as straight and presentable as it usually was, before speaking further.

"I trust you slept well, husband?"

Flash chuckled.

"I did, wife."

Turning onto her back, Somnambula stared at the rocky celling above them, her smile remaining as she dwelt on her thoughts.

"It still doesn't seem real to me. You...me...us..."

Flash nodded, getting onto his own back and staring upwards in a similar manner.

"I'll tell you what didn't seem real to me. Having Starswirl be our minister."

Looking to him, Somnambula raised an eyebrow.

"Well...he was the court wizard back then. He had full authority to wed us."

Again, Flash laughed.

"I know...but seeing him do it...old stuffy Starswirl giving our wedding like that...it just..."

Somnambula laughed too, albeit briefly.

"Quite. Though the look on his face when we told him what we wanted him to do..."

Flash looked back to her.

"Oh, yes...that was a wedding present I’ll remember until the end of my days."

As before, the newlyweds laughed, and when that laughter ended, they sighed in unison. Again, silence drifted over the two of them, and when it was over, it was once more Somnambula who ended it, looking to her husband with a sultriness in her eyes.

"As happy as I was during our union...I'll admit I was rather pleased with...well...the aftermath."

Flash had the good sense to give a little blush at that.

"Yes...well...I'd often heard about how mares from your part of Equestria were...you know..."

Somnambula looked to him mischievously.

"What...skilled, you mean? I hope I didn't disappoint."

Flash returned the look, leaning over and giving her another kiss.

"You could never disappoint me, my love. Last night...you were nothing short of a Goddess to me."

It was a sweet gesture, what he's said, and for a time afterwards, neither said a word to one another. Instead, they scooted up closer, embracing each other and enjoying the warmth, both from the other and the sunlight that continued to pour into their cave. A full five minutes went by before anypony said anything else, and Somnambula, looking like she was deep in thought, looked down to her bare belly, placing a hoof upon it and stroking slightly.

"It was only our first time...but who knows? Perhaps your seed will take root?"

Flash looked downwards too, and like her, placed his hoof there, looking like he was also thinking on that possibility.

"A family...did you ever think you'd see the day, Somnambula?"

His wife shook her head.

"No...but...I'm glad it might happen."

She looked back up to him.

"What do you think? If it happens? Colt or filly?"

Slowly, Flash's eyes drifted to hers, and he once more looked to her with that same love as before.

"As long as the child is happy, healthy and born of you...I'll be the happiest stallion in Equestria."

As had happened several times now, Somnambula gave him a kiss, and this one was longer and more passionate than any that they’d been through this morning so far. Naturally, Flash enjoyed the experience quite a bit, but, when it had passed, he let out yet another sigh, looking down to that same belly, keeping his hoof there, as his ears began to droop slightly.

"I wonder...if I could really do it."

Somnambula tilted her head.

"Do what?"

Flash looked up to her.

"This. Be a Father...and a husband. I...I've spent so long a soldier. So much of my life fighting. I just...wonder if I have it in me to be anything more. To live in a time of peace...having what so many other ponies had but...but that I never thought I’d have myself."

Slowly, Somnambula smiled.

"I have never been a wife or Mother, Flash. Yet now, I may well be both. Like you, I too have rarely known a time of calm. I share your fears...but we have each other. Whatever problems we may face, whatever hardships or shortcomings...we both have somepony to help us through it."

A sigh escaped the stallion, and when his smile returned, he gave a nod.

"You're right. So much has changed since we returned to the world. Our land, the ponies who live in it...even us. It gets so overwhelming to think about, and now...now we may have another change soon to happen."

Somnambula retained her smile and, in a move similar to her husband's not so long ago, raised her hoof to the side of his face and caressed him there.

"You can be this, Flash. Your days of fighting are over...our days of fighting are over. We have a chance...a chance at a life of peace...with each other. We are blessed that Princess Twilight and her friends have made our world one where this is possible. We will have that life that was so often denied to us...and we will live it well."

Time passed, and slowly, Flash began to accept his love's words, smiling gently to her and giving a nod. Much like before, they embraced, once more enjoying the warmth they felt from that act. But, in a voice almost low enough to be called a whisper, Flash muttered to the mare.

"So...how much should we tease Rockhoof over how he cried more than anypony else at our wedding?"

Giggling, Somnambula pondered that.

"Hmmm...let's give him a day...then we'll tease."

To that, Flash smiled even wider than before.

"I love you so much."

Author's Notes:

Published 30th December 2017