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Cantered Into The Hearth (Closed)


SteelEagle

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Barbera Red found herself fiddling with her overlarge suitcase as she watched the landscape outside of the train switch from mountains and forest to an urban snowscape, each lighter shade of weather bringing her ever closer to the reason she had undertaken this journey. And not just this train ride, not just this holiday trip to Canterlot, not just these awkward past few months, but the decades of her past that had been defined by the choices made when she was a young mother. It was bittersweet as a whole though she found as time developed further it was less and less bitter. She might never fully live down her choices or ever really think she deserved her daughter's forgiveness, but she could take the joy and grandeur of the season in stride and focus on the little things, like enjoying her holidays with her extended family.

 

Princess Cadance and her husband, Prince Shining Armor, had invited Cadance's estranged mother to spend the holidays with them. Not strange to receive it though Barbera was unsure whether she warranted it and spent some time wondering if she had the strength to accept it. It was just like her little Songbird to be so forgiving. When Barbera was young and struggling, she had witnessed her daughter's ascension as more of an intensely proud observer than as her mother. When Celestia had offered to take the new Alicorn under her wing, Barbera had agreed. It would give her a better life than that a struggling vineyard mare could give her. And Barbera Red was right- just look at her daughter, the Princess of her own kingdom! Married to the former Captain of the Royal Equestrian Guard! If she had suffered back in Roam with her mother...

 

Barbera Red sighed, shaking her head. This wasn't about her. It was about seeing her granddaughter, perhaps the most famous granddaughter in Equestria, for the very first time in-pony. She had all sorts of baubles and hoof-crafted gifts on hoof for her. She loved to make them, had since Cadance was a baby. She had never imagined that she would be able to do so again.

 

The train came to a stop, the last thrust sending her leaning forward ever slightly. Gathering her belongings- one overlarge carry-on suitcase and several luggage carriage dropoffs she was expecting on the depot landing- she exited the train with a big smile, big worries, and an even bigger anxiousness about how she would be received.

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“Here she comes, Flurry!” Princess Cadence was excitedly hyping up her tike-sized daughter; “Your grand-mama from Itaily is here!!” This was a day long in the making; the day that grandma and granddaughter finally meet one another for the first time. It meant a lot to the daughter that her mother accepted the invitation to spend Hearth’s Warming in Canterlot, for there was much family catching-up that needed to be done.


It seemed like it was only yesterday that Flurry Heart was a newborn foal, crawling all over the floor whenever she was too tuckered out from a magic or flying surge. But the young alicorn was growing up fast now; her scrabbling now becoming a clumsy walk which became less clumsy by the day. Gone were the days of incoherent cooing and babbling, replaced with random words of a one or two-syllable nature. And oh yes, the little filly was potty trained too! Before anypony knew it, Flurry would be attending Magic Kindergarten and Flight Camp like all the other fillies!!!


...Which was why it was so important for Cadence’s mama to meet Flurry this season, before the little one grew any older!


MAMA!!! An above average-sized mass of pink assailed Barbera Red with a bone-crushing hug the moment the elder mare appeared on the platform; You made it…!” In her state of joy, Cadence had yet to notice the oversized luggage her mom was attempting to carry.....

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It was just another example of how charmed Shining Armor's life was; the fact that he even had a mother-in-law was a surprise, but a pleasant one.  Was it random chance that they had visited the particular vineyard in Itaily where Barbera Red worked during their anniversary vacation?  Or was fate truly so beneficent a spirit, that it would let her into their happily-ever-after?

 

Metaphysical musings aside, Shiny had been more than happy to have Cadence's side of the family over this year for Hearthswarming.  Little Flurry deserved all the grandparents a foal could get!  "Are you ready, little Fluffalump?  You're new grandmare will arrive any minute now!"  The little alicorn filly secured to her father's back  responded with an excitable, "Gand-ma!"  The days where she would react adversely to silly nicknames from her father were thankfully far away, and happy memories with re-united family were hopefully around the corner.

 

Just as, apparently, Barbera had been.  "Whoa, careful, honey!"  Ever the attentive guard and husband, the stallion sent out some magic to steady the luggage on the elder mare's back, and began to lift it off her, unburdening the earth pony to receive the full affection of her ascended daughter.  "Welcome to Canterlot!"

Edited by PrinceBlueblood
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Alicorns are very, very strong. You didn't need to be a genius to know that and Barbera knew that because she wasn't a genius and could feel the grim specter of annihilation hanging over her as she saw a pink blur rush her down like she was a particularly attractive light bulb to a particularly fascinated moth. In a moment Cadance was on her, giving Barbera the hug of a lifetime. She could swear a number of her bones snapped and turned to dust as her body was turned into a toy in the hooves of her daughter. The luggage wobbled and fell, though it was caught in the safe aura of Cadance's husband, Prince Shining Armor. She tried to breath and failed for a few moments before she managed to push out some words of her own, strained and hurt as they were. "Happy...to see you too...please...stop killing me," she said with a small chuckle, trying to release herself from Cadance's death grip. When she had a moment to recover herself she smiled and gave her daughter a distinctly less aggressive and powerful hug, and then a small kiss on the cheek. "I'm so happy to see you. How've you been, sweetie?" She asked as she allowed her fractured body to heal.

 

Her attention would turn to Shining Armor, who was a true gentlecolt. She didn't need to be a genius to know that because he had immediately focused on ensuring that the older mare and her luggage hadn't become casualties to her daughter's overwhelming happiness. She breathed a sigh of relief as she saw her luggage, those that had been carried and those that had just been offloaded, safe and sound next to her. Good. She had many gifts and clothes and gifts of clothes to give to her granddaughter. And an appreciative hug for her son-in-law, who he somehow knew almost as well as her own daughter. His life and times had been covered well in the papers from his time in the Guard, after all. She gave him a half-hug as she patted him on the back. "Shining Armor, a joy to see you! Can't say I've been here in...many, many years, haha! I hope you haven't been kept too busy by all of these wonderful shenanigans?" She said, wondering what sort of traditions he brought from the Sparkle household and how she could subtly replace them with her Itailian traditions.

 

Though talk of traditions and the past could be set aside when it came time to greet the bright future, which came confidently walking towards her. She didn't need to be a genius to know that she was the luckiest grandmare in the world to have what had to be the cutest, most precious, and easily most powerful grandfoal in the whole world. She remembered being flabbergasted at the idea that in her family tree was now not only an alicorn, but a foal alicorn- the first ever in Equestria's long, long history. It was hard to imagine but harder still to care when she saw her grandfoal come up to her. She leaned down to her level and cupped her cheeks. "You're the most precious foal of them all, little Flurry Heart. I brought you so many presents, lo adorerai!" She said, giving a small kiss at the base of the horn as she stood up.

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Princess Cadence blushed; she still had work to do on making her hugs less of a suffocating ordeal. That would be another thing to add to the New Year’s Resolution list. “Oh, we’ve been doing fine,” Cadence replied to her Mama; “It’s just been the usual same-ole same-ole; a ribbon-cutting ceremony on one day, the return of a supposedly-vanquished ancient evil the next, and attending a coronation afterwards. I’m sure you’ve already read all about everything in the papers, though.....”


The alicorn moved off to the side as Mama went to greet Shining Armor. The mane event was about to commence, and this particular younger-generation mother was going to document every moment of it... with a small hoofheld camera she somehow produced from.... somewhere. As Mama proceeded to dote on lil’ Flurry Heart, Cadence’s camera magically hovered up into the air and started blazing away; the snapshooter was enjoying every millisecond of this adorable scene.....

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Shining chuckled, sympathetically, at his mother-in-law's patient endurance of sudden-onset alicorn-induced asphyxiation.  As her happily wedded husband, he had himself been on the receiving end of her first truly enthusiastic embrace of a more fragile mortal, and was from then on her testing ground for self-control.  It was certainly a good incentive to keep in condition!  "Heh, yup, like Cady said.  Even the busiest of holiday seasons is a welcome relief from the day-to-day."

 

Giving Barbera his own, rather more sensible, hug, he stepped back to allow the real star of the show to have her moment.  Unstrapping his beloved little flufflalump from her foal seat, he let little Flurry's wings and legs free to take a flapping leap right into the Itailian mare's outstretched limbs.  "Gamma?"  She asked, eyes wide and anticipating of more showers of affection that accompanied that magic word.  She might not know much, but she knew what was her due as Equestria's cutest little Princess!

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The day to day life of a royal was certainly very...well, boring. And that was good. She knew from the papers that her family was often at the forefront of some of the most decisive issues and conflicts that defined modern Equestria. Ancient evils and new-age villains alike stalked the happy homes of her family. In that way, it was good that they could achieve a state of boredom and sameness in their day to day. Certainly put her mind at ease. "Oh, I've read most of it. All the exciting stuff. Good to know that you're not constantly facing down the barrel of chaos- being able to enjoy yourself, your family, it must be wonderful, sì?" She asked with a laugh, though for the most part she was too focused on Flurry Heart to really note the response.


And how couldn't she be focused, what a dreadfully cute little star she was! And she had to know it, too. Everything she did was simply precious and Red had to stop herself from trying to give her granddaughter years and years of missed hugs. She would settle for holding and hugging Flurry as she stood back up, showering her with kisses. "Yep, I'm your old nonna, dear. And you must be everypony's favorite filly!" She said as she tossed her up in the air and then caught her, repeating it a few times. With winged ponies like themselves you had the risk of flying away but, well, that was why nonna had wings! You can never get away from kisses and hugs. Never ever. She propped Flurry on her back, nuzzling her as she spoke. "Sono molto benedetto," she said, giving Flurry one more kiss before turning to the parents.
"Let's settle in. We have so much to do!"

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In her rush to capture photographic memories, Princess Cadence almost missed the indication that her Mama was ready to head out. “Oh oh, right, of course,” Cadence put away her camera; “Time to show you the Castle, Mama.....”


----------


*SOME TIME LATER*


“. . . Princess Twilight has royal duties to attend to today, but she promises to spend some time with us when she’s done for the day.” The Crystal Royal Family walked through the grand halls of Canterlot Castle; castle staff had already been directed to bring Barbera Red’s luggage over to her guestroom, allowing Cadence’s Mama to be shown the grounds without having to worry about all her belongings.


“. . . This room we’re walking was once a cloakroom, but over the past year, it’s been converted into the Royal Projector Theater. Here, princesses and their friends and family can watch moving picture shows... and in sound too!” The ponies walking inside would see that the room’s interior indeed look like a miniaturized version of the stereotypical projector theater, including a big curtained screen up front, comfortable theater seating, and a projectionist's booth in the back.


“As a matter of fact, I’ve got a special moving picture I want to show you Mama... and YOU TOO, you cutie Flurry Heart you.” Taking a brief moment to ruffle her adorable daughter’s mane, Cadence ushered the group inside the private auditorium; “So come on in everypony and take a seat....!”

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It wasn't just that winged fillies in general could fly away when tossed.  For Flurry Heart, specifically, with her large wings and precocious magic, she could fly off with Barbera!  Fortunately, their Crystaller's magical suppression technique held steady, and the little treasure merely laughed in excitement from the air time and showered kisses.  Shining Armor didn't need a photograph to make this memory an indelible one, for decades afterward, he could look at his daughter and recall this specific, perfect moment.

 

But like all such moments, it had to end sometime.  Flurry was secured to her grandmare's back, and the family was headed back to the Royal Palace...

 

~

 

"...And be careful!"  With that last caution to the Castle staff, Shining Armor turned back from luggage duties to his family, as Cadence led her mama on a tour around the castle.  He wondered, privately, whether he ought to tell how he and Cadence had once used that particular cloakroom when they were growing up together.  He then wondered if he himself would like to hear that sort of anecdote from his daughter's beau two- three decades from now.  

 

He decided to keep his silence.

 

"Yes, it was quite a surprise to come back here and see it all set up.  Twily didn't lose any remodeling, that's for sure!  Though, I'd been certain she would just turn every spare room into a library."  He laughed, taking his place beside Barbera as Cadence readied the movie.

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It was hard not to just stand there like a slack-jawed yokel as she was given the castle tour. To imagine that she was somehow connected to this majesty was one thing. To understand and truly appreciate just how casual the names of Equestria's overlords were tossed around, however? That was beyond her. She wasn't as familiar with this new Princess as she was with the old one, but that came from a studious and loyal upbringing. Hopefully Princess Twilight would prove to be a suitable replacement for Equestria's immortal liege and guiding light. Thankfully, Red didn't have anything like that to live up to. She just had to live up to the standard of a parent of another immortal alicorn Princess. You know, no pressure. "This place...è notevole. A pony could live here a hundred years and still find secrets," she spoke softly, her words drowned out in the space even as they echoed in their simplicity. She was being eaten up by the space.

 

Of course, the palace was more than an aggressively stunning place to live and hold court, but also to entertain. And they had a fully furnished projector show theater in the castle, which was an odd bit of wondrous clashing with the design. And they had sound to boot! "Well, lead the way! I go every week to a local projector theater to watch Lo Stallone Di Mille Maschere. The things they can do with serials nowadays is so amazing! I can't wait to see what you picked," she turned to face the alicorn on her back, "and I bet its going to be so much fun to watch it with you, little Flurry Heart!" she said, giving another nuzzle as she followed her daughter into the theater. A comment by her son in law did perk her ears up.

 

"Is Princess Sparkle as studious as they say? The rumors about her have been...odd, though not bad," she said with an embarassed, forgiving smile, "I'm sorry if I sound dismissive. I don't mean to be! Just old habits dying hard, I suppose. You must remember, I come from the last generation that said the Preghiera per Celestial Grazia every day before school or breakfast. The idea of Celestis stepping down is...one I never would have imagined!"
 

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“...Same here,” Princess Cadence commented while the castle projectionist prepared the reel; “It feels so odd not having her around here anymore.” The alicorn might have gotten more into detail about her complicated feelings, but she didn’t want to remind Mama about how Auntie played such a huge role in Cadence’s formative years. And thus, the pivot; “Twilight... will never be Celestia, but the same is true of anypony. I’ve known Twily for many years, and you’ll never find a pony as friendly, smart, and driven to succeed at what she sets out to do as her!”


The lights in the theater dimmed as the curtains rolled back, signaling the start of the show; “Shhhh everypony, it’s about to begin.” Shortly after Cadence took her seat in between Mama and Shining Armor, the screen came to life as it displayed the opening titles:


ROYAL HOUSEHOLD OF CANTERLOT
STATE EVENT DOCUMENTATION SERVICE
REEL #226
4/21/1002 MME


No rousing soundtrack, no fancy graphic design; just plain ole’ boring text on a black background without any sort of indication what the content will be. Nonetheless, Cadence’s starstruck eyes literally glowed with hearts as she devolved into fangirlism: “OHOHOHTHISNEVERGETSOLD!!!”

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Barbera's comment gave Shining a chance to ask a question that had been on his mind since a bar trivia night some years ago.  "That's interesting; I've always wondered how tales of the western frontier became so popular in Itaily.  It's not the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of Roam."

 

Of the three present, Shining had to admit to himself that he was likely the pony least affected by Celestia's abdication.  Not that he wasn't, of course; the alabaster alicorn had been a fixture of his own life as the Captain of the Palace guard.  But his own involvement had been both less personal and, apparently, less devoted.  "Indeed.  It was Luna's abdication that surprised me more, honestly.  Princess Celestia could argue a desperate need for a break, but her sister only just came into her own as diarch... just a year or two before Twily became an alicorn."  Thinking about it for a minute, he shrugged.  "I suppose she wanted to be wherever family was.  Can't blame her for that."

 

Flurry's giggle as the lights went down reminded him of her, and the fact that she would grow up now in a world where "the princess" mean Princess Twilight Sparkle.  Hers was indeed a new generation.  Comments along this line were forestalled as the text projected revealed just what Cadence had selected to show her mother.  *Well, I suppose it's only fair, since she wasn't in Canterlot at the time.  Should have been there by rights, but... maybe she'll be glad she wasn't, if Cady shows the whole film...*  While Cadence had her eyes on the screen, Shining kept an eye on his mother-in-law's reactions.

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Barbera laughed huskily at the mention of those pasta frontier shows they made. It was wildly popular! It upset her that so many were being made. It crowded out her soap operas at some of the local theaters. Still, she did understand the appeal to some degree. "Itaily is a land of romance, and tales of the frontier, the last real untamed land in Equestria, are romantic in their own way. Plus, I hear filming costs out there are very inexpensive, as are barren landscapes for filming illusionists on more comfortable sets," she answered as she sat down, eyes immediately glued to the screen.

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For a split second after the titles disappeared, Princess Cadence felt a twinge of anxiety as she wondered whether the projectionist remembered to fetch the right reel. See, there were two other reels of footage that were filmed that day; one of them depicted scenes of horror and chaos, the other showed naught but a luxurious bedroom. .....Neither of them were appropriate viewing material for little fillies or old mares.


But as the screen finally showed moving Magicolor images of the Hall of Harmony — filled to the breams with sharply-dressed onlookers — Cadence breathed a sigh of relief. There was Twily at the front of the room standing besides her older brother, who didn’t look stoned out of his mind. This was indeed the right wedding reel! Squeeeeeee!!!!!


Most ponies of Equestria would have likely seen bits and pieces of Royal Wedding footage from newsreel highlights. Here though was the source of all those clips; the master reel that documented the entire marriage ceremony and the reception afterward. It was a vitally important piece of history, both for ponykind as a whole and for this family in particular.


Knowing the scenes that were about to transpire, Cadence reentered fangirl mode.....

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Oh, good.  The projectionist chose the safe reel.  As well as he was getting along with his mother-in-law, Shining did not relish the prospect of explaining just what he had (inadvertently) let happen to Barbera's precious daughter on her special day.  If he could go the rest of his life without that conversation, that'd be great, thanks.

 

But this was fine.  Though he refrained from squeeing, Shining Armor was almost as much of a romantic as Cadence, and was not the sort of husband to be bored by his wife's favorite movie.  Didn't prevent him from leaning over to whisper to Barbera, "I'm really sorry you couldn't be here for this; film is a poor replacement for experience, sometimes."

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She watched the screen intently. Her experience with the Royal Wedding was unique in its own, awful way. She had always loved weddings. A purer expression of two ponies and their love could not be found, stretched across time in the memories of those who attended. Life before or after may be rough but each were afforded one special day, one perfect day. And all she could do was follow it from afar in a prison of her making, the jailer and prisoner alike. She followed in the papers, wept about it while bathing, and allowed herself to dream. To dream that she hadn't made a terrible mistake and that this was all working out for the best was a dream she held onto even as the rough current of emotion tore her up inside. The biggest wedding in history, a wedding she by all rights should be attached to, and she was martyred for a cause no one knew but Barbera herself.

 

When the attack at the wedding happened she had fainted. She wasn't alone- the weak of heart nationwide had stampeded their psychologists' offices and told local police about suspected Changelings in their midst. But she had taken it extra hard. She couldn't know all the details but she knew enough to know how close run of a thing it was. To live with the knowledge that her daughter and new son-in-law had nearly died on their own perfect day and she couldn't so much as reach out and see if they would be okay...it had taken her a while to get over it. A while to get over not seeing her grandaughter. A while to get over herself and her emotional needs and, through a chance turn of the dial, reconcile with them. And now that she was here with them, sharing in the glory and joy of the wedding (as faded as it was in comparison to the original), all she could do was bask in their love.

 

"You both look so lovely, so radiant. Quello che dicono del vero amore è vero, sì?"

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Cadence replied to Mama’s question in a heartfelt affirmative; “Sì.... all of it.” The power of True Love was indeed undeniable. Just look at Flurry Heart for proof!


Speaking of... as the visage of the pink alicorn bride took up more of the screen, the Crystal Princess used this opportunity to gushingly point out to her daughter; “Look sweetie, there’s your mama! Didn- didn’t she and Daddy look lovely on their wedding day?“ Cadence’s eyes started glistening with moisture, as she just got hit with the realization that many moons from now when she was all grown up, Flurry may very well walk down the wedding aisle herself.....

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It took a bit for Shining Armor to translate Barbera's question in his head.  Studying Itailian was one of the things he'd taken on to connect with his wife back when she was just his marefriend, but language studies hadn't been his strong suit.  Cadence would still sometimes bring up the time he'd ordered the "Jackets required" at the restaurant in Rome he took her to for one of her birthdays.

 

Speaking of Jacket's... there he was, in the formal red-and-blues.  As far as he knew, he still fit in them; he wasn't the sort of stallion just to let himself go just because he was married!  True love also meant keeping up your exercise routine to look good for your wife.  Looking over to her, he could see tears begin to well up, and he could guess what she was thinking.  "Not for a while yet, love.  Don't miss the present while your head's in the future."

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Watching them watch the tape was revealing in its own way. They seemed to sparkle with a certain chemistry that was unusual even amongst the married ponies of Equestria. She could sense this as they spoke to one another through looks and her son-in-law's words. It took a while for her to figure it out- even more time than she was allotted here. Her mind was too busy noting that for all of the excitement of the wedding this had happened years before Cadance had a child. She had always wondered why it had taken them so long to take that step that for so many ponies was one that was often times taken even before the marriage was official. She knew that they had known each other since they were an older filly and colt and honestly that was often a recipe for a pregnancy to strike. There were many things ponies that age were known for- chastity in the face of deep affection was not one of them!


"Were you two already discussing starting a family before you got married? Or did you just..." She leaned in close to Cadance and whispered, "lasciare che la magia accada?" Barbera ended with an impish giggle, hoping to make her daughter blush- an event she was entirely foreign to.

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The soul mate of Princess Cadence instinctively knew what had triggered her eyes into watering up. Shiny could certainly read Cady like a book! “Sorry,” the mare bashfully produced a handkerchief seemingly out of nowhere and levitated it to wipe her eyes; “I just get carried away sometimes when I daydream..."


Cadence’s eyes widened over the implication her mother made. The alicorn gasped out loud as she blushed furiously; “MAMA!” Cadence might be the Princess of Love, but even she was now discovering the inherent awkwardness of discussing such intimate subject matters in front of her very own mother.


.....And although Mama didn’t intend to, her teasing over her daughter’s family planning begged an even larger question; one that has laid hidden in the shadows of Cadence’s mind for a long count of years, waiting for a moment like this one to come along so it could resurface in a most dramatic fashion.


“You know...” Cadence asked hesitantly, having needed a couple moments beforehoof to gather up her courage; “This might not be the best time to ask you this Mama, but..." Only now did Cadence make eye contact with her mother, before she moved in close to whisper;


“.....Chi è mio papà?”

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Having successfully pulled the Princess of Love back into the present, away from screenings of the past and contemplations of the future, Shining Armor found Cadence confronted with the insinuations of her mother.  Which was, to be fair, an honest question.  It was slightly embarrassing, but the hours he'd put in as a young recruit playing the part of the stoic guard outside of doors enabled him to suppress a blush, and give an actual answer.  "The truth is... well, I won't say we weren't hoping for a foal, even from the start, but we started really trying after freeing the Empire from Sombra.  We'd known for a little while before that Princess Celestia had some task in mind for us, which would involve getting a home of our own outside Canterlot Palace.  And how our little Princess has her own castle and country!"

 

Smiling down at little Flurry, his ears caught his wife's somewhat hesitant question.  It was in Itailian, but he didn't need to be fluent to catch the meaning.  He kept his eyes on his daughter, just to allow Barbara as much of a relief from pressure as he could, but he couldn't help but keep his ears open.  Why shouldn't Flurry have a grandpa, too, if he could help it?

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  • 4 weeks later...

"A castle, a country, a very long life ahead of her, and two fantastic parents? I would say you set her up to be quite the happy filly. And a very spoiled one. Oh yes she is, so very spoiled," Red said as she leaned in towards Flurry, producing multiple candies from positions only a Grandma are aware exists until Flurry had a short-hooved version of Nightmare Night on her hooves. She wanted to pick her up and play with the dear but Cadance asked a question that Barabera had been more than happy to never answer in full. Not that any of it was wrong or awful but it was embarrassing. It was one of many reasons she had decided to divorce herself from Cadance, because the circumstances of her birth could only have complicated her life in terrible ways. 

 

"Chi è tuo padre?"

 

Barbara sighed as she looked down at a nonexistent glass of wine that she wished she had in her hoof. It was a subject better suited for the bitter memories of a forlorn bar than for such a happy occasion but who was she to deny her daughter this knowledge after everything she had denied her already?
"I am afraid the answer is not very nice. Nor exciting. I was a young mare and, well, in my day I was quite beautiful. I had a series of brief relationships," she smiled. The memories of those times, as heady and carefree as they were, still made her remember the strangeness of youth.


"Your father is a Guard stallion a few years my senior. Handsome . Tall, bulky pegasus, even for a Guard pony. Had a real fondness for the Griffons and their culture, that one. We dated for a very short while while he was on station here. I..." she breathed, "I wish it had been somepony else. Somepony I could tell you that I had a torrid love affair with, whose name I still whisper in my sleep. Truth is, I was simply a young mare who liked a young stallion enough to make it physical. And in Itaily, that doesn't take much," she said with a dark half laugh, shaking her head once more before meeting her daughter eye to eye.

 

"I am sorry I do not have a more inviting answer, my little songbird. Please don't think less of me. Or your father, for that matter. The young and the foalish can do many things that they may regret but becoming your mother has never been one of them, regardless of how it came to pass."

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  • 2 weeks later...

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If Cadence had this straight..... Mama didn’t even remember Papa‘s name! How. Very. Lovely..... if it weren’t for the fact that Flurry Heart and Shining Armor were around, the pink alicorn would be giving her mother the biggest earful that Canterlot has ever heard. As it was, it took every inch of Cadence’s willpower to prevent herself from exploding into a ball of frustration.


But it was all fine. Really. It was. For everypony’s sake, Cadence would wait until she and Mama were behind closed doors before venting out her aggravation over the simple fact that the daughter may never get to know a fact so minor and trivial as the identity of her very father. So no, although the princess’s thousand-yard stare looked on the verge of erupting into a furious gaze, Cadence was okay. Nothing is wrong. Nothing wrong whatsoever. Let’s just all finish watching the projector show and carry on like a normal, healthy family. Because everything was fine right now.....

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It wasn't strictly true to say that Shining Armor was dense.  True, like most stallions, the focal area of attention through which he accurately perceived reality was pretty narrow, but it was tuned to the conversation going on.  He could feel the atmospheric temperature drop as Cadence listened to Barbara's account of the circumstances surrounding her conception.  And he could understand that; Cadence may have been born in Itaily, but she was mostly raised in Canterlot.  Lineage was important there, which some ponies thought of as snobbish, but it did have the positive knock-on effect of making the ponies there take relationships seriously.  Honestly, it probably was a healthier environment to raise a 'Princess of Love', all things considered; Shining found himself oddly sympathizing more with his mother-in-law's thought process of giving up her daughter now.

That said, a negative knock-on effect of the Canterlot environment was a high stigma upon unknown parentage; there was a reason that 'bastard' had become a profane insult through cultural osmosis.  It would have been too much to ask for poor Cady not to be influenced in that respect.  

 

That left Shining Armor facing a problem, and like most husbands when faced with a problem, he immediately started trying to think of a solution.  Also like most husbands, he did not stop to consider what reaction his pontificated plans would elicit in his life.  "Well, do you remember what he looked like?  What post he was stationed at, and where he was moved out to?  There's not that many pegasus stallions in the Honor guard, and I have access to all the personnel records.  We could find his name, and heck, probably where he is now!"

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  • 3 weeks later...

Shining Armor seemed rather excited by the prospect of trying to discover the identity of Cadance's father while Cadance herself seethed under the burning lights of the ignoble nature of her conception and relationship. This has been the reason why Barbera had gone so long without revealing. She had been young, dumb, and attractive. She had made decisions she was not proud of. And now her daughter was judging her and her son-in-law's noble streak demanded he try and solve this mystery. She wouldn't stop him. Maybe it would allow him to help calm down her very angry songbird.

 

"He was a broad-shouldered with legs the size of tree-trunks. Honestly if it weren't for his wings I'd have confused him for an Earth pony!  Blue coat, had orange streaks in his blonde mane- done up in that military style. It was strange in Roam at that time for stallions to so openly flaunt their military bearing. It was right after the so-called Wine Riot and Guardsponies had a habit of staying very much on the silent side while in town, but not him. He spoke with...if I'm not mistaken a Germaneic accent? Very light, mind you. If I am remembering correctly he was on his way north to Seaddle for a posting with the REN," she closed her eyes trying to remember the facts. 

 

Then she opened them and smiled as her eyes beheld the end of the song that had been playing. "That was so very nice. And look, that Princess Twilight even had a decent singing voice. Are you planning on Flurry Heart having any vocal training?" She asked as she bent down to give Flurry Heart a kiss on her cheek, "anche la figlia dell'uccello canoro deve avere una bella voce che canta!"

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