Chapter 70 Second Chances

The next morning, we begin our fresh start. Badger and Archer both get up and go to work early. Magpie walking with them so she can check-in at the archives. She takes Woody with her, in a chest carrier very similar to mine. Again, a gift from Persimmon and a well-appreciated one it is.

Sutures sleeps in along with me, and when I awake, I find her muzzle tucked in against my chest and her horn resting on the side of my neck. It has only been a couple of hours since I last feed Millie so I just bask in having the mare I love so much, next to me like this with my hooves wrapped around her.

I lay like this with a smile on my face until I hear a light knock on the door, and Ginger peaks in, and quietly comes over to the bed. She sees I am awake and tells me, “Hi Ma, I just wanted to tell you bye and I love you before I leave for school.”

I slowly and carefully disentangle myself from both Sutures and the blankets. Then I sit up and she comes over and gives me a hug. As she gives me the hug she asks, “Ma, you still love me, right?”

I nod my head and tell her, “Yes dear. I always will, no matter what. Why do you ask.”

I hear a slight sniffle and she says, “Just that with you having Millie and Mama Magpie having Woody, I am afraid you will stop loving me or not want me because I am not yours.”

When she says this, I loosen my hug and move my head so I can look her eye to eye and I tell her, “My little one, you are my daughter. Remember I have told the other parents that if they didn’t want you than they didn’t want me. Dear, we all want you. You mean as much to me as Millie or Woodrow. You are MY Daughter. I love you and always will. I am so proud of who you are and who you have become so far my child.”

I hear her sniffle again, and she asks me, “You really mean it don’t ya ma?”

“Yes dear, I really do.” I tell her, then I continue, “You are a big part of our family.”

From beside me I hear Sutures starting to wake up and she puts a hoof out to touch Ginger, “Dear, we all love you as if we were your biological parents. You are a very special young mare.”

Ginger then climbs on the bed and gives her a hug too. “Thanks, Mama Sutures,” she tells her. Then she hops down and says, “I will see you after school Mas’.”

Shortly after she leaves the room, we hear the front door close and running hooves on the porch and steps, followed by Ginger yelling, “Come on Xochitl, time to leave for school. Sunny’s already here.”

Sutures then looks at me as she starts to get out of bed, “What do you think that was all about?” she asks.

I sigh and tell her, “I think she was afraid that by us having our own foals that we would no longer want her. From what Windy was telling me, many colts and fillies have the fear that a new sibling will replace them.”

She nods her head, “Ya know Mollygirl, that makes a lot of sense. I just never thought of it. After all, I am just here for the delivery usually, and seeing my parents never had any other foals I did not have to deal with it.”

I smile at her and tell her, “I didn’t either, thank the Goddesses that Windy gave me a heads up.”

With that, we are up for the day. Sutures finishes getting ready, as she eats some toast for breakfast, she tells me, “Dear I will see you tonight, I have a few things to do at the office in White Cloud, my mother is meeting me there. If we get done early enough maybe we can have lunch together.”

“I would really enjoy that,” I tell her, and then I give her a quick kiss goodbye as she heads out the door.

I watch her go through the window until she is out of sight. As I turn to head back to check on Millie, I notice Sumac leaning against the door frame smiling at me. “You really do love her, don’t you?”

I nod my head, “Yeah, yeah I do Sumac. She helped me through some of the worst times of my life.”

She nods her head, “I understand that. It's funny Mollygirl this time two years ago and I would never imagine you, much less myself being able to love more than one pony at a time. I am glad I told Ivy to go for it last year. It might not be easy, but it can be worth it.”

I nod my head, then I look out the window at the cemetery across the road and I tell her, “You know I still miss her. Every day I think about her and Epona. Part of me hates myself for telling the otherworld’s Ivy to go back, but Sumac, what could I have done? She was her, but not her. I mean she had memories of me and a relationship that I never experienced. Goddesses, she even hated her world's Badger, can you imagine what that would have been like here.”

I see a sad smile on her muzzle and she comes over to me, puts a hoof around my shoulder, and looks out the window with me. Then she tells me, “You did the right thing, dear. You really did. She was not my daughter, who knows what her and her mother’s relationship was like, but again the memories would have been different.”

I put my head against her shoulder and tell her, “Thanks Sumac, I needed to hear that.”

She nods her head, “Remember, you are as much my daughter as Ginger is yours.”

At hearing this I suddenly feel better and a smile comes back to my face.

That night Badger and Magpie take me out. I wear my blue Gingham dress. As we are getting ready Both Magpie and I laugh as we both reach for our foal carriers.

“You know Mollygirl, I never expected this when we first started dating.”

I blush a bit myself and I tell her, “Magpie, to be honest, I never planned on letting anypony know I really liked mares. But there was something about you.”

I see the smile on her that this brings to her face. She looks down briefly and then tells me, “You say the sweetest things sometimes dear.”

Then she comes over and gives a kiss on my scarred cheek. I try to not let it bother me, but it does at times. My spouses all know it and I really appreciate the way they show their acceptance of it, but do not make a big deal over it. Then she starts to play with my mane a bit and tells me, “You know it really is coming in good again. Perhaps we should try and do something with it.”

I shrug my shoulders, “Mags, I would like to, and I would even consider trying to braid it, but when we deploy, I will be chopping it short again.”

She makes a face at me, then tells me, “Love two things, the first is even if it is a short time off, why not do it for yourself for now before you deploy. The second is why do you need to cut it short for deployment again.”

I sigh as I look into the mirror over the dresser and I tell her, “Dear, I would love to, really, but when we are on deployment, I just won’t have enough time to do anything with it.”

At this point, she just gives up. I am glad she does not want to keep trying to convince me of it as I do not want to get attached to it, only to have to take it short again. Best to just deal with it as is.

Badger gets home along with Archer from the stable and I watch him begin to change into civilian attire. I find it interesting as I have never seen him in normal clothing. He was always in his uniform, or just the fur the Goddesses gave him.

As I see him change, I am stunned. He puts on a nice white collared shirt and a dark blue sweater vest. He does not look as fancy as Archer did, but he certainly looks good. In fact, so good I cannot help myself but to go up to him and nuzzle his neck and drink in his scent.

He puts a hoof around me and smiling asks me, “I guess this meets your approval?”

All I can do is simply nod my head. After a bit, he lets me go and we go into the dining room. Ginger is sitting at the table working on homework along with Xochitl. Archer is sitting across from them drinking a cider and helping them with it. As we come out, he sees all three of us and smiles.

Ginger notices he is looking at something and turns her head. I see her jaw drop and she says, “Papa Badger, wow. You look like you could be in one of those old picture books.”

I see him smile and he tells her thank you. Then Xochitl turns and nods at us all dressed up. He smiles and tells Magpie and me, “You both look very pretty tonight. Mister Badger, you look nice all dressed up, where are you going?”

Badger looks a bit embarrassed and he answers, “Tonight is my turn to take them on a date, so I wanted to look my best for them.”

Xochitl puts his forehoof under his chin and looks at Magpie, “Misses Magpie, is this another one of those cases where a pony should try an look their best. Like when you had to do the presentation at work?”

She smiles at him as she answers, “Yes and no, yes we want to look good for our date, but we don’t do it to impress the other ponies, just the one that we are going out with. To let them know they mean that much to us.”

I see him nod his head again and he asks, “But what if a pony is too poor to have fancy clothes, what then?”

Then Badger answers, “You do like I have when I was younger, you wear what you got and do special things for that pony or zebra, to let them know how special they are to you. Sometimes it can be something as small as finding a dandelion growing along the road and bringing it to them as a gift. Or it could be just telling them a story they enjoy or making them something special.”

From the Kitchen I see Sumac come in, she smiles at us and then tells Xochitl, “He is right, my late husband, Epona’s Grandsire, won me over that way. I still use the wooden mixing bowls he made for me. Although the little paintings of my cutie mark that he had painted on them have long since worn away,” she pauses then asks, “Now foals, are you ready for a treat, I have some apple crisp ready. Just a bit for now and then after dinner, we can have more.”

This gets their attention and allows me and Magpie to slip out of the room to get our foals. After which we say our goodbyes and head into Manesville again.

We walk with Badger in the middle holding tails. As we get into town, we notice Whiskey ahead of us, and Badger waves to him. This causes Whiskey to stop along with the mare who is with him. She is a yellow earthpony mare with a very light yellow, almost white mane and tail.

Once we reach them Whiskey greets us all. “It is good to see you all again. I was just telling Marigold here about you.”

Badger smiles and replies, “Well I hope it was not all bad that he was telling you,” Then he winks and continues, “It is great to see you again Whiskey, and to meet you, Marigold.”

Marigold smiles politely and then says, “It is a pleasure to meet you too. So, these are both your wives I take it?”

Badger smiles proudly and tells her, “Yes, well two of them. Our other two wives and husband are still at home tonight.”

I see her tilt her head in a surprised manner, “Wow, so how many foals do you all have then?” she asks.

Badger like any proud father answers, “Well we have these two here, plus our adopted daughter Ginger, Sumac is due next month and we have a bit of a wait but Sutures is carrying also.”

I see her eyes get big as she looks at Badger then Whiskey and back to Bader, “Are all of the young foals yours?”

He laughs lightly and brushes the air with a hoof, “Nah, Sumac’s is, but Archer is the father of Sutures’s coming foal.”

Then Badger tells them, “Whiskey, Marigold we were just heading over to The Paddock for dinner, if you would like to join us you would be more than welcome.”

I can see that they are on the fence about joining us so I tell them, “Don’t worry, perhaps you both could join us for dinner at the farm sometime. Whiskey, you know you are family and always welcome.”

He nods his head and replies, “You know that would be fine. I will have to do that. We best not hold you up for now. But it was a pleasure to see you all again and meet the two newest arrivals.”

With that, both groups head on our ways. I have a feeling that Whiskey just wanted to spend some time tonight alone with Marigold so I had to give him a way out. I just hope that they take me up on our offer some time and visit us at the farm.

I have to smile when we get to the Paddock. So many good memories from here. As we enter, I notice several ponies and even a couple of griffons and cows at the bar. Badger slips a few extra caps to the hostess and we are seated within a short time.

We are seated in a corner over by the front. The window does not have any glass in it, so it is open air. However, there is a hinged cover for the window on the outside that acts as a sun shield also. From outside we can hear the passers-by as well as watch some of the boats on the river. Unfortunately, there is not as much river traffic as there once was. I guess I know who is to blame for that.

The corner seating gives us a bit of privacy and while we are waiting Woodrow starts to fuss and Magpie begins to feed him right there at the table, much as I did the night before. The waiter has let us know that tonight’s specials include a fresh Fescue salad along with a dessert of canned strawberries and cream. While Magpie and I both order the special, Badger orders the catch of the day from the local fisherponies. When he orders it, I think nothing of it, but Magpie gives him a funny look.

He looks at her and says, “What? I got used to fish onboard ship. It is pretty tasty if done right.”

I see her stick her tongue out and make a face when he says this and she tells him, “Ok, I will take your word for it,” then she shakes her head and laughing lightly says, “You would have thought I could have married at least one normal pony.”

Still giggling I laugh at her and say, “Nope, you blew that when you decided you wanted me.”

After our dinner arrives and we are eating, Millie starts to cry and I realize she is now hungry and begin to feed her. I am being as discreet as I can when a young unicorn in the NCRA uniform decides to come over and make a scene.

Once he reaches the table, he takes his hoof and points it at me. Slurring his speech slightly he says, “What is wrong with you earth ponies? Don’t you have any sense of decency? Feeding a foal like that right in the open.”

At first, I am mortified at the scene he is making. But then Badger stands up and tells him, “Trooper, I am willing to forget this if you shut up and leave right now. I do not think you know what or who you are dealing with.”

He puffs up his chest and pushes a hoof into Badgers and says, “I think I am talking to a group of earth ponies who do not know their place.”

Badger simply smiles at this and tells him, “Son, my name is Captain Badger of the 2^nd Regiment B troop.”

The trooper pushes him again in his face, “So what, you’re an officer, going to pull rank so you can do what you want?”

As this is going on, I type a quick message to the MP’s on my PipBuck, Then I hoof Magpie Millie as I stand up and call out, “Trooper, attention!” his training kicks in and he hits the position before he realizes it. I then turn my head just enough so he can clearly see my scar as well as my torn ear.

I get into his face and I tell him, “NOW that I have your attention trooper, I am MAJOR Mollygirl of the 1^st Regiment. The MP’s are already on their way, if you hurry, you may avoid them. If not, you have just found a new way to crash your career. Do you understand me.”

He looks straight ahead and says, “Yes Ma’am.”

Then I continue, “Now at this point, I do not know your name and neither does anypony else, If I was a smart buck, and as a unicorn, I am sure you are. I would take the opportunity you are being offered to leave quickly and avoid any other trouble. Do you understand me?”

He nods his head as he hoarsely says, “Yes ma’am.”

I tilt my head and then tell him, “Then your dismissed trooper.” And I watch him hurriedly make his way to the door and head down the street. At which point I tap out a message letting the MPs know that the situation had been resolved and that they would not be needed.

After I sit back down and retake Millie, Badger sits across from me and looks a bit frustrated as he tells me, “Mollygirl, I was taking care of it.”

I smile at him and I tell him, “Yes dear, and I really do appreciate it, but I wanted to give him an out so it did not destroy what may be a promising career. I am not sure whose trooper he is, but hopefully, he learned a lesson. If not, well he will learn the hard way.”

I see him sigh, and he has a half-grin on his face as he says, “Your right, but boy did you see him skedaddle down the road once he got out of here.”

I laugh and I tell him, “Yes love, that is why I think he learned a lesson.”

After we finish eating, we all go sit on some benches alongside the river for a bit and watch the sunset. I can not help it, even with Millie in my chest carrier I lean my head against Badger. Then I notice that Magpie has done the same from the other side. Once the sun has set, we begin finding our way home. As we pass the library Magpie looks at it and I see her smile. Then she looks at both of us and tells us, “You know, it is hard to believe how things started between us just a year ago.”

Badger chuckles lightly, “Yeah, I have to say that first night when we all slept on the floor in the archives, I never imagined it leading to this.”

That reminds me and I tell Magpie, “We still need to get with Grey Water. He wanted to see some of the journals and perhaps memory orbs from Millie, I mean our Great Grandmother Millie.”

Magpie laughs at this and tells me, “Well I hoped it would be her or our little Millie has been a very busy filly.”

Once we arrive home, we settle in for our normal nightly routine. Although tonight Sutures and Archer share the room with Sumac, while us three share the downstairs room. It also makes it more convenient when the little ones wake up in the night and need feed.

As we are laying in bed waiting to fall asleep again, I tell Badger, “Dear, I hope it did not upset you tonight with that trooper. I just slipped into sergeant mode again. I spent far longer in that role than either of us has as an officer. And besides, I do look a bit more war-torn.”

He kisses me gently and tells me “Dear, I will admit I was a bit put out, but he did not seem impressed by my rank, but you, you put the fear of the Goddesses in him. Although from his reaction, I get the feeling he may be one of yours, if not he is in the 1^st Regiment.”

“Do you really think so?” I ask.

I feel him nod his head as he tells me “Yeah, especially when he saw your scar and your ear. Then when you said your command, I saw him gulp, so you may see him again.”

I laugh lightly, “Well he gets a second chance too. I think we all need one once in a while, I tell him as I kiss him lightly behind his ear just like I know he enjoys.

As I hear him almost purr in delight Magpie comes back in from taking care of Woodrow and climbs into bed on his other side and whispers, “Oh, can I get in on this too dears?” and I watch as she moves closer and starts to nibble on his neck just under his jaw.

As we both nibble on him and begin to run our hooves over him I hear him start to moan. Then I hear Millie begin to cry. Uggh, every time, I swear it is like she knows. I laugh lightly to myself and tell them, I will be back, don’t wait loves,” and I get up to take care of our daughter.

As I am rocking in the chair feeding her, I have to smile at the way my life has turned out. At least I am getting to be a mother for a bit. As for the young trooper tonight, well we will take care of him later if we need too. I am just glad I kept Badger from getting in a fight with him. Badger may not have realized it, but I did. He was ready to fight to defend his mares and that young buck was going to get hurt. But it would also have affected Badger’s career and I could not let that happen. I will say it makes me think about how Ivy and Sumac from the other world viewed their Badger, and I wonder if we almost saw his bad side tonight. Thank Sweet Cream that I was able to defuse the situation.

The next night the bucks take Sumac out. I spend the evening just spending time with my daughters. Magpie makes dinner for us. Ginger helps me and Sutures with the dishes, after which we all sit in the parlor. It feels so special as I watch Millie and Woodrow moving about on the parlor floor, while I am reading to Ginger. After the story is done, we tune into DJ Pon3 and Sutures comes and cuddles up next to me on the couch along with Ginger. I need this, we need this. I can almost feel our bonds growing stronger again.

Occasionally I look over and watch Magpie crocheting a project. I know she spent some extra caps to purchase wool but she does not say what it is. I am fascinated watching her hook the string and form the next loop over and over again. Then she hits the end of the several foot row and begins to do the same the other way, twice I see her pull a section out and restart again from that point. When she notices me watching she simply smiles back at me and goes back to her project.

As we listen to the music Ginger notices the singer on the radio and smiles. I have to ask, “Ok Ginger, why are you smiling like that?”

She turns to me and giggles as she tells me, “Well ma I was right, the mare on the radio was the unicorn that we talked to at JR7. She was here for the Opening Day celebration.”

“Really, so what did she talk to you about?” Sutures ask.

Ginger looks kind of uncomfortable at first and then tells us, “Mas' she mainly talked to us about what Xochitl and I did on the expedition. She also talked to us about school and how it has been since we got back. She also was interested in what the other foals and calves in our school thought of the three sisters.”

I nod my head and tell her, “I can understand that. Especially if she is with the Followers.”

Ginger laughs and tells me, “Ma, she is not just with them, I think she is their lead mare.”

I am surprised to hear this and tell her, “Wow Ginger, that is really impressive. You two must have really made an impression.”

She laughs and tells me, “Not as much as Quick Frost. She told her that the followers were experimenting with making male alicorns and offered to let her be in the program. Quick Frost laughed at her and told her no thank you. It took her almost a hundred years to become comfortable as a mare and she was finally happy with who she is. She is not going back to being a stallion come Tartarus or high water.”

I smile and nod my head and notice both Sutures and Magpie look at each other and nod. Then Sutures says, “Ya know, I cannot really blame Quick Frost for that. I mean look at how happy she is in her relationship with Blue Star.”

I shake my head at this and tell them, “I did not realize they were in a relationship. I just thought they were really close friends.”

Magpie smiles at me and tells me, “Love, all relationships need to have a foundation of friendship. After all, that is what keeps the relationship together when the flames of passion die down and are waiting to be rekindled.”

I tilt my head and twist my one ear as I think about this. Then I nod my head and I tell her, “You know you are right Mags; I had not thought about it like that. But it makes sense.”

Ginger then puts of her ears flat out from the side of her head as she thinks and then she asks, “Does this mean that because Xochitl and I are such good friends we should be special someponies?”

She says this with such a serious tone of voice that I have to put a hoof in front of my mouth to not laugh and I see Magpie’s eyes go wide. Beside me, Sutures smiles and tells her, “Perhaps someday dear, but do not rush things. Enjoy being a filly and keep building up your friendship. From what I understand they used to say friendship was magic back before the war, so who knows dear.”

This seems to satisfy our little mare and she smiles. And as she does so, I get the feeling she is thinking back to a kiss that she shared with him out in the wastelands when they thought no pony was around. I smile at the memory of their innocent kisses and decide to keep the knowledge of it a secret.

That night when I tuck Ginger into bed, she reminds me that tomorrow night she will be staying at Twinkle Hoofs. I smile and kiss her on her forelock. Then I tell her, “Thank you for reminding me. I will miss you, dear. But I am glad you are going to spend some time with your friends too.”

She nods her head, “You really mean that ma? You do understand?”

“Yes dear, I do, I know you love us all, but it is also part of growing up. I am very proud of you dear.”

She gives me a big hug and I hug her back; I kiss her on her forelock and tell her. “I love you Ginger, now time for sleep young mare. May Luna guide you in your dreams.”

I hear her giggle as she says, “I hope it is her and not Choo Choo at least.”

After I am back downstairs I double-check on Millie and Woodrow. Both are sound asleep for now. Then I go to my room. I remove my apron and my mothers’ scarf from around my neck and hang them up. I notice my wives are almost asleep already. I quietly climb into bed with them and wrap my hoofs around Sutures who is cuddled up to Magpie. Shortly after I am asleep and for the first time in a while the dreams do not come back, and I sleep until woken by a hungry mare crying for her mother.

The pattern of dates continues for the next couple of days and finishes off with Badger, Magpie, and Sumac all going out as a couple. I am confused at first as I know Sumac is not interested in mares. But perhaps she is only interested in one mare. Whichever, as long as it does not involve Sumac and me, I am ok with it. This is the last night of my leave and it also means I get to share the house with Archer, Sutures, and Ginger. My expedition family. Xavier and his family join us for dinner and we all share time in the parlor. I read to the foals from one of Ginger’s books and afterward Persimmon Tree thanks me for reading out loud like I do.

“Mollygirl, one of the things that both of my bucks still reminisce about is the Daring Do stories being read as well as sharing their letters with each other. It was one of the things that helped them make it through,” She tells me.

I am surprised at this and simply tell her, “Your welcome Persimmon, I actually enjoy doing it.”

She smiles at me and tells me, “You are a good mother Mollygirl. I hate to see your leave end; you are so happy.”

“Thank you, Persimmon. I am going to miss being home with Millie and everypony else. It just won’t seem right to not have tea with you, or lunch with Sumac, Xavier and you while the foals are at school.” I tell her.

Then she asks me, “Mollygirl, have you ever really considered getting out?”

I take a deep breath and let out a sigh as I tell her, “Every day. But they still need me, my troops, our country. Perhaps in the not too distant future, but one day.”

She smiles sadly and nods her head, “Duty, yeah, I understand. I am sorry I brought it up,” She tells me and places a hoof on my shoulder.

I nod my head sadly and tell her, “Yes, but this time at least my duty allows me to leave your husband here with you. I am sorry I had to take him last time, but honestly, he made the difference in a lot of us coming home.”

I see her smile sadly at that as she tells me, “Yeah, I have heard that a lot, him and the foals. But damn it, I hate seeing what it has done to them.”

“I understand, but if you notice he no longer walks like he was a slave. He is a proud stallion and is treated as such by every former member of the CEF and most of the CDF.”

I hear her sigh at this and she tells me, “I know, that is something else that bothers me. The war has been done for over two hundred years and still, he and my son have to prove themselves to us ponies and cattle.”

I am quite briefly while I chew that one over in my mind and I tell her, “Persimmon, most ponies are not that way from what I have seen. Yes, there are still a few, but every year their numbers lessen. Your husband has helped with that.”

Beside her, on the couch, Xavier smiles at me and adds, “Thank you, Major, you make me feel proud for having just done what I needed to. You make me feel like I made a difference in more ways than one. Not just for me but for other zebra as well.”

“Not just that Xavier, I am proud to call you and your son my friends, not just comrades in arms. You and your family are our friends,” I tell him.

I see a bit of a tear form in the corner of his eye, but he still smiles and I can see the pride in his posture.

Besides me and Sutures, Archer tells them, “She is right. You are our friends and almost like family to us. Persimmon, I do not know where we would be without you and your family helping us,” then he looks around and asks us, “Ok when did Ginger and Xochitl leave the room?”

I get up quietly and walking as silently as I can I look out the window onto the porch and I see the shadows of Ginger and Xochitl cuddling there, looking up at the stars. Then I see him give a gentle nuzzle to her and she cuddles closer to him. I go back into the parlor and tell them, “They are enjoying some time just sitting watching the stars on the porch.”

Persimmon begins to get up and I hear Xavier tell her, “Dear, they are starting to get old enough to be interested in each other, and if they are on the porch, they know they have to behave. So, let them have some time, besides, it feels nice in here with you next to me and the fire burning.”

I see her at first have a look of consternation on her face, then she shakes her head slightly and smiles and tells him, “You are right, thank you for reminding me, dear. I do have to admit it is rather comfortable right here,” she tells him and gives him a quick lick on his neck.”

I see his eyes go wide as she giggles, and she tells him, “Also a reminder for later after our son goes to sleep.”

We listen to DJ Pon3 for a while longer. Tonight, he is discussing the fighting in Fillydelphia again as well as some of the programs that the Followers have proposed for the NCR. The one gets me to laugh when I think of what Blue Star thought of it. I am able to sit there enjoying the music and news with my friends and family for most of it, but eventually, I start to get tired, and after feeding little Millie one more time I take her to the nursery and lay her down.

As I come back, I overhear Xavier and Persimmon saying that they need to get going also. As we go onto the porch still talking, we see Xochitl is laying down on his side and Ginger is laying next to him with her head on his chest. Both have fallen asleep. I actually see Persimmon smile even though she has a tear in her eye as she tells Xavier, “Dear, he really is growing up so fast.”

He nods to her and replies, “Yes he is, but he is going to be a stallion to be proud of when he is. Now help me get him on my back and I will carry him home.”

Sutures uses her TK to pick up Ginger and sets her on my back. As she does this, I hear a very sleepy mare say, “Night Xochitl, thank you,” as she falls back to sleep.

Then she assists Xavier with Xochitl in the same way. He is so tired he does not bat an eye. As they are heading across the yard to their home, I hear Persimmon Tree tell Xavier, “It makes you miss having a little one sometimes doesn’t it.”

I hear Xavier reply, “It does dear, but is there something you are not telling me?”

By then they are at their door and she goes inside before I can hear her reply. Either way, it makes me smile to know that again I have had a second chance at friendship with her. I look up at the stars and smile at the thought of what all has happened in the last year. I sit for a bit with my eyes closed taking in the night sounds and then I say a brief prayer to the Goddesses and Sweet Cream. I then turn and go back inside my home to join Sutures and Archer in bed for the night.

As I get into the room, I see my uniform has already been laid out for me for the morning. I see them both in bed waiting for me and I get told that tonight I am in the middle. I then ask, "But what about when Millie cries?”

Then Archer tells me, “One of us will get up and bring her to you then. But tonight, we want you to feel special.”

I know right then that someone above heard my prayers and answered at least one of them in part. Tonight, I feel blessed in so many ways and loved just as much. I climb into bed and feel both of them put their hooves around me as they begin to nuzzle and kiss me. I remember a night not so long ago in that far away farmhouse and I feel as loved now as then, and I give myself just as freely. I know I will be returning to duty in the morning, but tonight that is still a long way off.

Dear DJ Pon3

There has been a lot that has been going on in my life between me, my friends, and my family. It seems like so often we make mistakes that we wish we could take back and do-over. But as we all know this is not possible. However, perhaps those second chances come from what we make ourselves and our lives after we make these mistakes. With this in mind, I ask you to play Second Chance for all of us, especially those of us who need them so badly.

Thank You

Persimmon Tree

White Cloud, NCR

As usual, I want to thank Kkat for creating the universe of FoE. I also would like to thank so many others who have added to her creation and have shown how much more can still be added to it.

For those who would like to hear this chapters dedication song, the YouTube link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbsDPbr8qoM