"What?" Everen stood at the doorway, utterly stunned. Barley stared at him, a huge grin on her face. Wheat was standing beside her a back a bit, smiling as well. Sandy on the other hoof was just sitting there in silence, his face unreadable.
"Turns out, you're our cousin! Isn't that a crazy coincidence?" Barley said, her cream colored fur damp, as though she had taken a shower before coming here, but hadn't fully dried off.
"How?" Everen questioned, he had never been told much of his family tree, so he only knew relatives he'd met.
"I took a look at our heritage book. It turns out that we share a grandfather, grandpa Shamrock." Barley explained, her green eyes sparkling. "Your father is Blaze wood, and he had an older brother. An earth pony who left to start his own farm, and he came here. And he is our father."
Everen had some trouble wrapping his mind around the concept. He had relatives here, of all places. He sat down as he tried to grasp this, the whole ordeal giving him a headache.
"What's all this about?" Karilyn asked as she cantered over, looking concernedly at Everen.
"Apparently, I have relatives I never knew about here." Everen summed up, massaging his temples.
"Seriously? But why wouldn't you know about them?" Karilyn questioned curiously, wiping a forehoof on her white and pink apron.
"Because my parents never really told me too much about my family. Not on my dads side at least." Everen began,rubbing his forehead. "I knew about grandpa Shamrock, I was partially named after him. But for the most part the only relatives I knew were those that I actually met."
"Why wouldn't your parents tell you about your family tree?" Barley inquired, having been taught that there is nothing more important than family.
"I've been asking myself that question for a few years. The only answer I could ever come up with is that there are family secrets that they don't want me knowing about." Everen stood up and looked at his newly discovered relatives. "I hope you don't expect me to join you on the farm."
"I told you so." Barley poked a forehoof at Wheat. "Pay up."
Wheat gave the mare a small bag of bits. The two had apparently made a bet on whether or not Everen would come to live with them on the farm.
"I didn't think you'd come back to the farm with us, but Wheat, on the other hand, did." Barley clarified, she turned to Wheat long enough to stick her tongue out at him in mockery.
Everen stared at Sandy trying to read him, but he couldn't manage it. That foal's expression was indefinable.
"What's up with Sandy?" Everen asked, looking at the colt with concern.
"Huh? Oh, he gets like this when he knows something nopony else knows, or when he makes or discovers crazily coincidental connections." Barley said, giggling a little as she looked at her little brother.
"And how often does this happen?" Everen persisted, curious to learn more about his unicorn cousin.
"More often than it should if ya ask me." Wheat spoke up, finally having something to say. "He's an observant little brat a lot of the time."
"Heh, sounds a little like me. I've always been quite observant, sometimes too much for my own good." Everen chuckled, remembering his childhood, then choking up a bit as he fought back the tears.
"Are you okay Everen?" Kari asked, seeing his expression.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking about the past." Everen assured her, turning back to the visitors. "It's rather late, maybe you could stay for dinner?"
"That's very kind of you, but we wouldn't want to impose." Barley shook her head, holding up a forehoof.
"What do you think Kari?" Everen looked at the pegasus slyly.
"I think it would be a great way to celebrate, Everen having just found family members in place he didn't expect to." Karilyn replied, catching on immediately.
"Well then it's settled, stay for dinner." he looked back to his soon-to-be guests anticipatingly.
"Okay, if you're sure it won't be a problem." Barley stepped through the doorway hesitantly.
"Of course not, make yourselves at home while Everen and I make dinner." Karilyn gestured Everen to the kitchen to get started. "You realize we'll have to go shopping tomorrow right?"
"Yes I do, I look forward to it. It'll give me something to do tomorrow." Everen smiled, bumping into the mare.
"Alright, but you'll have to wait 'till the afternoon if you want to go shopping with me. I have stuff I need to get done." Karilyn giggled, bumping back into Everen.
"I can wait, I have other things I have to do too. I have a feeling I'll be kept busy until the afternoon." the unicorn replied.
"What makes you say that?" Karilyn questioned, an accusing tone in her voice.
"Intuition." Everen answered simply, starting to pull out ingredients.
"Fine, just don't be late. Meet me here when you're ready to go shopping." the mare requested, hoping things will go well tomorrow.
The next morning Everen got out of bed, and got ready for the day, taking a shower and then getting his letters, deciding to find the post office today. Milo had the day off and offered to take care of Tsunami for the day, so Everen left her in Milo's hooves. He cantered out the house, drinking a coffee before he left. He made his way onto main street west, and cantered towards town hall. He made it as far as the clearing around the building, before carelessly cantering into somepony, he helped the mare up, an she brushed her messy lavender mane out of her amber eyes.
"Have we met before." Everen asked, trying hard to remember.
"How should I know?" the earth pony responded, Everen noticing she was blind.
"Wait a minute I remember you, we met back in Mirudloc a few years ago. I never got your name though." Everen stated, waiting expectantly.
"Nor I yours." the mare rebutled.
"Fair point, I'm Everen Shamrock." he said, not bothering to bow this time around.
"I am Jewel Shard. Nice to hear you again." she said, smiling pleasantly.
"Clever, seems like an odd name for an earth pony though, sounds more like a crystal pony name." Everen noted, having met a few crystal ponies in the past.
"That's because my mom is a crystal pony, but my dad's a pegasus." Jewel explained, poking Everen's nose.
"Is there a reason you're touching my face?" Everen questioned, not really bothered by it, just curious.
"It helps me remember ponies. That and I like to poke other ponies' noses." she elucidated, poking his nose one more time before putting her hoof back on the ground.
"Say, do you know where the post office is?" Everen inquired, looking into her bright amber eyes.
"Yes, but I'd have to take you there myself." Jewel answered, closing her eyes for a second.
"Would you please?" the stallion requested, hopefully.
"Sure, right this way." she led Everen down main street south, to a small two story blue-painted building. "This is it, the post office."
"Thanks, I'd ask where you live, but I take it you have to lead me there too." Everen said keeping his eyes on the mare.
"Yup, so, seeya 'round?" Jewel offered halfheartedly.
"I doubt we'll meet again for awhile, so, goodbye." Everen gave her a light kiss on the forehead before cantering to the door of the post office. When he looked back just a moment later, she was gone. Everen went inside and cantered up to the counter, putting the letter on it. "I need these delivered."
"Alright, we'll see right to it." said the mare on the other side of the counter.
"Thank you." Everen said, cantering back out of the building. It wasn't quite time for his appointment yet, so he decided to stop at the bakery for some food. He entered the bakery and for once was not immediately confronted by an employee. He noticed Tia sitting alone at a table, apparently waiting for somepony.
"Are you, expecting someone?" Everen asked as he approached her.
"What? Oh, yeah I've been stood up, again." Tia looked down at the table, sadness clearly visible on her face.
"Hey, are you okay?" Everen took a seat across from her.
"I guess so, it's just that this is the third time in a row I've been stood up." Tia held back tears as she spoke. "This is why I had given up on dating before."
"Hey, I might not know what you're going through, but I know pain that can come from love." Everen started, taking one of Tia's hooves is his. "And I'm not gonna sugarcoat it and say that everything is going to be okay, or that it gets easier as time goes by. Because it never gets easier, not for me at least." he continued, on the verge of tears himself. "Love is a battlefield where anything goes, there are no rules. Love is cruel, and sometimes a very dark place." the stallion looked down for a moment before looking up, raising Tia's face so that their gazes met. "But once you've found love that pure and true, you'll never want to give it up. Because it is the sweetest feeling you will ever get, and you will have to struggle to get there." at this the pegasus started to cry, but she wasn't sure if it was from sadness or happiness. "And even then the war is not over, you will have to fight to keep your love alive. Just remember to never forget what you're really fighting for." and with that, Everen began to cry, old memories coming back. The time he spent in Mirudloc, the relationships he had, the love he shared. All of it was gone now, left behind, just a memory. The two of them shared their tears together, crying until Candy came up to take their order.
"Is this a bad time?" Candy asked, observing them.
"No, no I think we're fine." Everen managed to pull himself together.
"Alright then, may I take your order?" the earth pony took out her notepad, holding the pen in her mouth.
"I'll just have a blueberry cobbler and a water." Everen said helping Tia regain control of herself.
"And I guess I'll have a banana nut muffin and some hay fries." Tia added, not making eye contact with candy.
"Okay, I'll be right back with your water." Candy trotted off, Everen trying, and failing, to not stare.
"Caught ya." Tia giggled. "Thinking naughty thoughts, are we?
"Not in the slightest, I just have an appreciation for Candy's slender figure." Everen came back, not even trying to deny he was staring.
"Yeah, sure, keep yelling yourself that." Tia scoffed, mocking him.
"Shut up." Everen said, looking into Tia's orange eyes.
The two of them shared a laugh, and then sat in awkward silence for a few moments.
"Do you wanna do something after this?" Tia inquired, looking at Everen.
"Sorry, I have an appointment to get fitted for a suit after this, and then I have to go shopping with somepony to restock the fridge at home. You can come to my party this Saturday though." Everen offered, realizing that Tia probably wouldn't know about it just yet.
"Oh sure, where is it?" the mare asked, all the more pleased to be invited by Everen rather than Raindrop like she usually is.
Everen wrote down his address and handed it to her. "It's here, at my home. Hope to see you there."
"I look forward to it." Tia responded, sipping her smoothie.
"Here's your water Everen, your food should be ready soon." Candy popped up, surprising both of them.
"Thanks Candy." Everen took a drink of his water.
Candy went back into the kitchen, Everen resting his head on his hooves as he watched her go.
"Thinking about asking her out?" Tia questioned, all too noseily.
"No I've already got a date tomorrow." Everen stated, forcing himself to look away.
"I hope you're not taking them here. You can barely keep your eyes off of Candy. Can't say I blame you though, that's one good-looking mare." Tia looked to the kitchen doors as Candy came back out with their food.
"Wait, are you thinking about asking Candy out?" Everen rose an eyebrow inquisitively, lifting his head off the table.
"No, I'm only interested in stallions. I just know when guys find a mare attractive." she explained, watching Candy canter over with the tray on her bum.
"Okay then." Everen said, not totally convinced.
Tia glared daggers at Everen in response. He merely smiled, unbothered. After they finished their food, the two of them paid for the meal and went outside.
"Seeya Saturday." Tia waved as she cantered off to her weather tower.
"See you then." Everen trotted off, wanting to be early for his appointment. He arrived at Layla's boutique a short while later, Everen opened the door and cantered in, to see a light brown mare with a pink and purple mane, trying on a catsuit. She saw the stallion enter and stared at him with her sapphire blue eyes.
"I'm sorry, am I interrupting something?" Everen asked, staring into the mare's blue eyes.
"Not at all. In fact, I'd say you're right on time." she said, approaching Everen slowly, a lustful look on her face.
"Um, I should go." Everen stepped back, not sure what else to do.
"Nope." with alarming speed, the mare was behind Everen, shutting and locking the door. She got uncomfortably close to Everen, the unicorn too stunned to run away. "Wanna have some fun? I promise to go easy on you."
The mare was suddenly pulled away from Everen and lifted off the ground, carried by an aura of orange magic.
"Honestly, Catalina, Do you have to throw yourself at every other stallion you meet?" came a familiar voice with a Trottingham accent. "What am I going to do with you?"
"But sis' he's cute. And I like the cute ones." the floating mare whined, making swimming motions to try to get at him. "Lemme go Layla."
"Not until you promise to stop this, at least for now. He's currently MY customer." Layla held the struggling pony away from Everen.
"Okay, okay, I promise." Catalina said, halfheartedly.
"Secret promise." Layla said, lowering Cat in front of her, and they both lowered their front hooves, Layla touching her horn to Cat's forehead, then shaking their rear ends a little bit. Layla let go of her sister, and she stood there calmly. Everen was wary nonetheless, not trusting this.
"Ready for your fitting Everen?" Layla turned her attention to Everen, pulling out some measuring tape.
"Whenever you are. I take it this is your sister then." Everen only took his eyes of the mare for a second, before looking back to her, slightly paranoid.
"Yes, why don't you introduce yourself. Like a normal pony, please." Layla looked back to the earth pony.
"Ugh, fine. Hi I'm Catalina Heartstorm, and I'm a model." she said, striking a rather suggestive pose.
"I'm Everen Shamrock." the stallion said with his customary bow. "Nice to meet you."
"Charmed, really I am." Catalina replied, moving a bit closer.
"Right this way Everen." Layla pulled Everen along, leading him up onto the pedestal. "Stand up straight, I want to see good posture."
Layla began taking Everen's measurements, meanwhile Everen spotted Catalina sneak outside. He wasn't sure why she would do that though. But he had a feeling he'd find out soon enough.
"Alright, that's the last measurement, you're free to go. I'll have your suit ready to pick up by Monday." Layla took away the measuring tape and let Everen step off of the pedestal.
"Thanks Layla, I'll be back then to get it." Everen made for the door, bracing himself for what he feared would happen.
"Farewell Everen." Layla moved into her back room.
Everen exited the building and shut the door behind him. Almost as soon as he did, he felt a body press against his side. The unicorn looked to see Catalina leaning heavily on him.
"Hey there cutie. How's about you me home with you." the mare nuzzled his neck, causing him to shudder involuntarily and uncomfortably. "I promise I'll be a good girl, mostly."
"I'm not trying to hurt your feelings or anything, but I already have plans tonight." Everen said stepping away from her.
"Think there's room for one more in those plans? I'm not too picky." Cat persisted, moving after Everen.
"Sorry, I don't think so." the stallion continued to move away.
"Well, can you double check, for me?" she batted her eyelids, further pursuing Everen.
"Um, uh, I," Everen stuttered, not sure what else he could say without lying. "I live in a lodgers home, I wouldn't want to keep them up."
"Oh, then we can just wear gags, it'll be fine." Catalina pressed herself against Everen again.
"I really shouldn't, maybe, some other time? And not at my place." Everen backed off.
"Okay, but the longer you wait, the more I'll press." the mare stopped, letting up.
"I'll keep that in mind." Everen said before galloping away, taking his window of opportunity before it closes. He went straight home, coming through the door panting.
"What happened to you Everen?" Kari asked when she saw him.
"Do you know Layla Firestorm?" Everen asked between breaths.
"The fashion designer? Yeah." Karilyn answered, not sure where this was going.
"Do you know her sister?" Everen huffed, leaning against the doorframe.
"Oh, I see. You might as well give yourself up as soon as you can." Karilyn stated, looking somewhat bemused. "She always gets to sleep the whatever stallion she has her eye on at the time."
"Way to reassure me, thanks for that." Everen said sarcastically.
"I'm just saying that she always wins in the end. She's very crafty, creative, and quick to think." she said, laughing a bit at Everen's expense.
"Would she sleep with somepony's colt-friend?" Everen questioned, trying to find a way out.
"She'd just sleep with both of them, as she probably said, she's not too picky." Kari explained, to Everen's dismay.
"Well what if somepony had two mare-friends?" the unicorn got an idea.
"I don't know, that might off balance her a bit. What're you suggesting?" Karilyn questioned, staring at the stallion. Everen raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, well that might work, if you can make that happen." the pegasus caught on, seeing his plan.
"I think I can manage it." Everen stated confidently.
"So are you ready to go shopping?" Kari asked, moving to the door.
"Yeah let's go." Everen finally caught his breath, moving back out of the house.
They went to the open market on main street west, they went to the fruit, vegetable, grain, and sweets stalls, buying necessary foods for breakfasts and dinners. When they had everything they needed, they went back home and put away all of the food. Afterwards they made baked potato soup for them and Milo.
"That was amazing, you two make a really good team when you cook together." Milo complimented, licking the inside of his bowl.
"Thanks, I think we'll be making most of the meals from now on." Karilyn stated, happy to spend more time with Everen.
"Yeah, well, I'd better get to bed, I've got a great day planned for tomorrow." Everen said, picking up Tsunami and moving for the stairs.
"Hang on a sec though." Karilyn trotted over and gave him a peck on the lips. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight." Everen kissed her back, then went to his room.
Everen got in bed, putting the dragon at the foot of the bed as usual, on her own little pillow. And they were both soon asleep.