Ch. 13 A Talk for the Ages

Chapter 13 and still going strong. Nothing really to write as this is mainly a short chapter to move the herding along. Is it just me or does everyone else write better when music is playing?

Poll is still on with only 2 votes now, it shuts down tomorrow at midnight.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, all characters copyright of their owners.

Celestia and Luna were sitting patiently in Twilight's house. It was one of those days where nobles decided to stay home and no paperwork was incoming. Twilight had invited them down to talk about something she claimed was important and it made them wonder why she didn't explain it to them when she was in Canterlot a couple days ago. They left Mike in Canterlot and brought Nightmare Moon with them as Mike needed to learn a lot more from their guards' since Sombra was planning something, Nightmare came with them as they didn't trust her around anything and this kept her under their watchful eye with the promise that she will remain quiet during this.

Twilight was watching Nightmare nervously and so where the rest of the Mane Six. They were itching to do something but a glance from Celestia told them otherwise but it didn't help them calm a bit. Little did they know Chrysalis had snuck off and left one of her children in her place.

Celestia cleared her throat before speaking. "What did you call us here for, my dear student?"

Twilight took a deep breath knowing that she would either help everyone out, or cause an even bigger rift between everypony. Applejack and Rainbow were a little distant from each other lately, and the Princesses also seemed to be a bit snippy with each other. Fluttershy was staring at everypony more frequently, Rarity was too busy to help any of them, and Pinkie wasn't her usual self every day. Twilight knew what was going on, but this might cause a bigger problem but it had to addressed. "I called everypony here to speak about what is going on between us lately."

That one statement caused a freezing moment. "Nothing is going on Twilight. We're all one big happy group!" Rainbow said with a cheesy smile.

"Speak for yourself." Applejack grumbled a bit. Ok maybe she hasn't been the friendliest to her friend lately, but she tried to muscle in on her coltfriend. 'Wait, when did he become my coltfriend?'

"That's what I mean." Twilight pointed out. "You two have this big divide between you now, Rarity is too busy nowadays to help even though she doesn't have much work to do, Fluttershy has been staring at us like we are doing something wrong, and Pinkie you haven't been your old self lately. Even the Princess have some tension between them." She finished nervously. It was her place to air their problems but for the sake of their friendship it had to happen.

No other pony made any sound. What could they say to that? It was all true. The only one who didn't have any bone to pick with them at this moment was Chrysalis but she kept to her hive usually.

"Twilight, are you sure you aren't imagining things dear?" Rarity asked with a nervous expression. Sure she said she was busy, but it wasn't completely false. She did have some more work on some days but she was trying to avoid her friends for something she did when she took Mike to that show. 'I knew kissing him would come back to get me.'

Twilight just shook her head. "No not this time. You all know it, you just don't want to admit it. That's why I brought somepony here to help us." She said as they heard hooves coming down the stairs.

"Aunt Celestia, Aunt Luna." The pony said.

"Cadence, what are you doing here?" Celestia said with a startled expression.

Cadence merely smiled. She was a light pink Alicorn with purple, magenta, and yellow streaked mane and tail with purple eyes. Her cutie mark was of a teal crystal heart within golden lace. She wore gold slippers with a necklace and crown of the same color. "I am here at Twilight's request." She said as she looked to all of them while "Chrysalis" shied away nervously. "Where is Chrysalis by the way?"

The imposter shuffled their feet nervously before giving up their disguise. "She left to Canterlot." The changeling said in a raspy voice. "She will know of what is talked about here through me. I promise I won't do anything but sit quietly."

Celestia sighed while Luna looked murderous. They knew where and now why she went.

"This is what I mean. We all are after the same one and it's causing problems!" Twilight exclaimed. "We are better than this and we are allowing one person to come between us."

Everyone else merely sighed with acceptance. They were all going for one stallion and it was driving them apart, but what could they do? He was unique in being the only human here and he stood up to Celestia and Luna and made them see a different side of things.

Cadence stood back as this was being said. As the Princess of Love she could tell where love lied and it was everywhere in the room even a small amount was forming in Nightmare to her confusion. She smiled sadly as she believed only one of them could come out with it while the rest were left alone. 'Unless they…..Oh Twilight even in worse case scenarios you find a silver lining. The question is will they go for it?'

"There's nothing we can do Twilight. We just have to see who is picked in the end and hope it doesn't hurt the rest of us." Rainbow said with a sad tone. She wanted to desperately be picked in the end but she didn't want her friends to hate her for it.

Nightmare was wearing a small grin as she figured out what was going on as well. She didn't spend a thousand years on the moon without learning of what was happening on Equestria after all. The old ways weren't put into practice much anymore but they were still alive and kicking in some places. 'I'm amazed my dear "sisters" haven't figured it out yet. Celestia I understand that she had a lot to do in the last thousand years but Luna was with me. She should at least have some understanding.'

"Not so true Rainbow Dash. I've been reading books about this and-" She was cut off by numerous groans and a small "egghead" from Rainbow.

"Twilight you can't believe everything that comes from them." Rarity said.

"Rarity's right sugarcube. Not everything is true in those books and ah doubt there is a way to make this situation go away." Applejack agreed.

Nightmare felt now was the time to speak up. "That statement isn't entirely true Miss Applejack."

Celestia threw her a glare. "I believe I asked you to remain quiet."

Cadence stepped in at this point. "She's right Auntie. I'm surprised you both haven't realized it yet."

Celestia raised an eyebrow and she wasn't the only one. The rest of the ponies were confused except Twilight, who was giddy with excitement.

"Princess….um what are they…..talking about?" Fluttershy stuttered out quietly.

Luna merely tilted her head. "I don't-." she paused before she narrowed her eyes. "You can't be serious Twilight."

Twilight nodded her head and brought a book from the shelf and placed it into the middle of the room. "I am serious. It might be the only way Princess."

"Wait a darn minute. Ya'll talking about herdin?" Applejack exclaimed with a shocked look. She knew about that as they did that with some of their farm animals when there weren't enough males to go through with a mating season, but she didn't think it was something that ponies practiced.

Cadence smiled. "It is an old way that hasn't seen as much use as it had before, but it is still practiced."

The changeling spoke up but instead of the raspy voice, it was Chrysalis's voice that echoed. "That is fine, but do we know if he will accept it?" She said through her child startling everypony in the room.

"How are you doing that?" Twilight asked while trying to calm her heartbeat. That was something no pony expected.

"One of the many advantages of our hive, I will detail them later, but we have been listening to what we want. What about what he wants? Would he really go for this?" She asked again.

Twilight merely tilted her head in confusion. "Why wouldn't he? Any stallion would jump at this chance without hesitation."

"That's the problem Twilight." Cadence said with a heavy sigh. "All of you aren't dealing a stallion. You're dealing with someone from an entirely different species all together. We don't know his species customs and he doesn't know ours."

That gave the room pause, they were speaking about themselves without taking his own person into account. They didn't know his customs nor did they know his own feelings.

"I don't think this would turn out good Twilight." Rainbow stated with some hesitation. She was all for taking chances but this was something else entirely. This was the biggest gamble of their lives and if he turned them down; she didn't want to think about the consequences.

She wasn't the only one who had some hesitation for this. Rarity was trying not to shake and Fluttershy was hiding behind her mane in an attempt to keep from crying. Twilight was actually showing doubt as well when that reason was stated.

"Let us try and break this to him." Celestia finally stated. "We might be able to talk him into it. Twilight, do you mind if we borrow the book?"

Twilight merely nodded and tried to be positive. The princesses stood the best chance because he was around them on a daily basis, and if they could get him to think about the idea then all of this could be salvaged.

"Aunt Celestia, do you think I could accompany you and Luna back to Canterlot? I might be able to help as well." Cadence said with some confidence. She was the Princess of Love after all and who better to make him open to the idea than her?

"You may, but he can't be pushed too hard or else he might deny it." Celestia said with a tone finality. This matter was officially closed in her eyes and now the real struggle begins. The war might be over but the battle is still there.

"No more doom and gloom, let's turn those frowns upside down!" Pinkie stated as she pulled on a popper that exploded and somehow the entire room was decorated. This caused all of them to shake their heads and laugh, even Nightmare had let loose a small chuckle.

Twilight smiled at her friend. 'Leave it to Pinkie to make any situation better.'

-Scene break-

In Canterlot, Mike felt a shiver run down his body. He just saw Chrysalis off at the train and was heading back to the castle. She came to catch up with him and to inform him of her children's progress and it turned out to be a nice day. She did receive some looks but she shook them off because he was there. 'I got a bad feeling that a big decision is about to be dropped on me.' He shook the feeling aside and continued on his way.

Behind him a pony was keeping an eye on him. His master told him to follow the human and find out any information that might help them in their plan. "Enjoy your freedom human, it will be short lived." The pony stated before disappearing into an alley.

That's the wrap on the chapter. This was mainly to get the herd moving and next time we will discuss Mike's newfound role and he gets that decision dropped on him.

As you all read, Twilight assumed that he would be for the idea like any other stallion but remember Mike is a human not a pony and that is where the problem begins. They don't know how he would feel and that is why they are hesitant. I have received some pm's in the past about how slow the process in the herd was going, but I don't write one chapter and the herd is formed like that. I want some build-up in my romance and not a one chapter they are already sleeping together story. This chapter was my olive branch as it gets the herd going.

Before anyone tries to use chapter two and how he slept in Celestia's bed, that was because they didn't know where to put him. They weren't really thinking as he was dropped on them so she put in the first room that came to mind. As for her wing being over him, it was her instinct and not love. You all probably slept with stuffed animals when you were a baby and you would subconsciously cuddle with them in your sleep. I did and I'm not ashamed to admit it, I was four when Pokemon was becoming big and I had a stuffed Charmander pillow that I would sleep with. It's a comfort thing and that's what she did in my story.

Vote in the poll and I'm planning on the next chapter either Saturday or Sunday night depending on how the weekend goes.