Getting to know you
After spending time with Ash, Jade and Riley spend the rest of their time with Firo and Aydia, getting to know them. Celestia arrives at Shadow Hall and while Firo, Aydia and Volaris are overjoyed to see her, Jade is not.
(Just in case anyone is confused by the flashback from the previous chapter, Jade finds Riley and her raptor sisters hiding in an alley and takes them back to her home, the scientists who worked on Riley discover she is missing and Max, Will's brother, Sara, Jake and Ally head towards London England to get Riley and the raptors back. They blend in and try to locate the little girl, finally finding her with a woman they don't know, but know that Riley and the raptors are with, Max sends Jake to quietly follow the woman and he finds the house she lives in out in the woods. That night, they attack the house, throwing explosives inside and forcing Jade, the raptors, Riley and unknown to them, a dragon out of the now-burning house. Max grabs Riley and runs off with her, Jade follows and demands that Riley be returned while holding Max at gunpoint. Jake sneaks up and drugs Jade, causing her to fall unconscious and Max calls a helicopter to collect them and Jade. Shadow is furious that Jade has been taken and somehow manages to call for Celestia and Luna, who Riley has met once before. Luna volunteers to stay behind and watch Riley as Celestia reluctantly returns to Equestria. Jade wakes up in an island science facility and realizes she is a velociraptor. She spends a few days there, unable to figure out how to shift back into human form and manages to trick the guard and escape, killing anyone and everyone that stands in her way. Finally, it was just her and Max, she kills him, but not before he wounds her severely by shooting her in the side. She escapes just as the lab blows up and reunites with Shadow, who had followed her scent to the island; while he was shocked by her appearance as a raptor, he grabbed her as she collapsed to the ground from exhaustion and shifted back into a human form. He carried her away from the island and arrived at the place where Luna was watching Riley, once Luna saw the state her niece was in, she took her to Equestria where she was treated for her wounds. Riley and the raptors helped her with understanding and learning about her raptor side and a month later, adopted Riley as her daughter. They chose to return to Earth and lived in another house out in the woods, away from people. But it didn't end there as a few more months went by and their home was attacked yet again by associates of the scientists who kidnapped them. Of course, Jade killed them, but it left her with a fear she and Riley would forever be hunted and so they agreed to return to Equestria permanently.)
Her wings ached from the constant flying, but she pushed onward. Now was not the time to stop for a break when her daughter and granddaughter were out here somewhere with Shadow. Celestia had been flying nonstop since she left Canterlot and Equestria altogether a few hours ago. The sun was shining in the sky, but it gave the Sun Princess no comfort, for she was too focused on finding Jade, Riley and Shadow.
She worried for her family and wondered what would happen if Sombra hadn't attacked the palace that day and her love and twins were able to stay with her and Luna. Volaris would be over the moon when she let him know she was pregnant again with their third child and both Firo and Aydia would be very happy to be a big brother and sister to Jade. They would see the twin's first steps, first smile, first word and more if Sombra hadn't attacked that day all those years ago. Instead, she raised Jade with Luna's help, but couldn't bear to tell her that she had older siblings and a father, as the pain had been too fresh.
Celestia knew that when she and Jade saw each other again, there would be a high likelihood that Jade would be very upset with her and want her to stay away from her and Riley for a while. It's like the saying 'sometimes we do the wrong things for the right reasons'. She just hoped that with time, Jade might consider forgiving her for lying, but then again, she knew Jade was not one to forgive so easily, especially if she'd been lied to by her mother.
She suddenly halted in the air upon seeing the thick fog back before her, obscuring anything beyond her vision. She knew that her daughter and granddaughter had to have gone through the fog with Shadow, the only question was, did they make it to whatever was on the other side?
But she did not know where she had sent Volaris and the twins. She didn't know where they were, all she did know was that they had to be somewhere beyond Equestria. She would have given anything to go and search for them, but was unable to due to royal duties and raising Jade for the first five years before she was kidnapped by that dragon and never seen again until 17 years later.
Inhaling a deep breath, Celestia dove into the fog bank. Instantly, she couldn't see in front of her, but she kept going! She wasn't about to stop and admit defeat when Jade and Riley could be somewhere on the other side of this fog bank. Pushing on, Celestia flew for what felt like hours through the fog bank until finally, she emerged on the other side.
In front of her was a vast kingdom of an unknown origin. She looked around and spotted a small clearing in the woods not far from the castle and flew down to land, her aching wings folded against her back and she leaned against a tree to regain her strength after flying for hours with no rest. Now she just had to find Jade and Riley.
After going over the design of her new swords with Ash and watching her melt the steel, Jade bid the woman goodbye and headed back to the castle with Riley and Shadow. She was excited to see how her new swords would look once they were complete. She knew that blacksmiths could take up to a few weeks to fully complete an order. So she hoped that she didn't need to wait too long.
Riley skipped ahead of her, and the sight brought a smile to Jade's face. Seeing her daughter happy made the Snow Queen happy. Shadow gave a gummy grin as he watched his human niece skip her way down the path towards the castle. Once they reached the castle, the two humans and dragon walked inside and wandered the halls, looking for the King, Firo and Aydia. As Jade was looking at the portraits of her father, she suddenly bumped into someone, a young woman around her age wearing a dress with an apron overtop. The young woman had blue eyes and brown hair with brown coloured wings tucked against her back. "Oh, I'm so sorry." the young woman stammered nervously, reaching to brush off Jade's clothes.
Jade's heart reached out for this woman, who was not used to bumping into people and by her clothes, she had to be a maid. "It's alright, I should be the one apologizing. I wasn't watching where I was walking." Jade said with a small smile. "May I ask your name?" she requested gently.
"Rania."
"Rania? Oh, I remember Firo King calling out for you yesterday, nice to meet you. I'm Jade and this is my daughter Riley and my brother Shadow." Jade introduced herself, Riley and Shadow to the young woman. Before Rania could reply, a voice called from down the hall. "Rania, you need to clean the ballroom." another woman, this one older with grey hair tied in a bun and green eyes with dark brown wings tucked against her back walking down the hall. "Yes, Seraph, I'll get right onto it," Rania said as the lead maid walked up to them. Jade gently pushed Riley behind her.
Rania nodded to Jade and walked briskly down the hall as Seraph turned to look at Jade. "May I ask who you are?" she asked in a calm voice. "Jade, King Volarias' youngest daughter," Jade answered, causing the lead maid's eyes to widen and she bowed before the Snow Queen. "Your majesty, my apologies."
Jade winced at the bow, she hated people bowing to her. "Please, get up. I gave that up years ago."
Seraph straightened up and then Aydia walked around the corner with Firo. Their eyes lit up upon finding their sister. "Jade, there you and Riley are."
"My Prince, my Princess," Seraph said with a bow.
"I see you have met Seraph, the lead maid in the castle," Aydia noted as she and Firo came to a stop beside Jade, Riley and Shadow.
"Yes, we have," Jade said, Riley, stepping out from behind her mother to look at the older woman. "Your majesties, please excuse me," Seraph said with another bow and walked down the hall, leaving the three siblings, Riley and Shadow alone in the hall.
"Well, she seems okay...ish," Jade said once they were alone.
"Don't worry about her, she may look mean, but she does care about the maids around the castle. " Firo added, smiling.
Jade looked back down the hall where Seraph had gone. "She has a weird way of caring about the maids around here."
Aydia smiled and reached out to grab Jade's hand. "Well, we're done with our duties. What should we do now?"
Riley grinned. "Mum, how about we go out to the courtyard and have a snowball fight!"
That sounded like a great idea to her. Firo and Aydia frowned. "What's a snowball fight?" Jade smiled. "We'll show you." they all headed back outside the castle to the courtyard and Jade stamped her foot on the ground, causing a layer of ice to form under their feet. Riley giggled happily as Jade conjured up piles of snow and then she realized that she hadn't packed a thick coat for Riley to wear to ward off the cold. She sent some of her icy magic at Riley, it circled the young teen and settled into a thin layer of frost on her clothes. as frost could keep the warm air inside and keep out the cold. She then picked up some snow and formed it into a ball, lobbing it at Aydia, and hitting her in the face. The purple-haired demon sputtered and wiped the snow from her face. "That is a snowball fight!"
"We'll have Firo and Aydia vs me and Mum. Shadow, you can choose which side you're on." Riley announced, already picking up snow and making a snowball. She grinned and threw it at Firo, who used a small flame to melt the snow. "Hey, no powers!" the 11-year-old grumbled.
"Yeah, no powers for this game, you two," Jade said with a grin, already holding a few snowballs in her hands. She handed some to Riley and they dove behind a snow bank as Firo and Aydia hid behind another snow bank and the snowball fight began. Snowballs were hurled left and right! The twins copped a few in the face and their shoulders while Jade and Riley got a few on their shoulders and stomachs. Laughter sounded as the adults had a blast.
"What is going on here?" a voice called out and Volaris suddenly appeared, but before he could continue, a snowball smacked him right in the face. Gasps rang out as the king wiped the snow from his face and glared at the offender. Riley grinned sheepishly and ducked behind her mother for shelter. "Oops!"
Volaris stared at the snow-covered courtyard and then at the snowball in Jade's hands, he reached down, grabbed a handful of snow and formed it into a ball, smirking at his children before throwing it at Aydia, who yelped as the ball hit her shoulder before the war started up again, this time with Volaris joining in. Everyone laughed with joy as snowballs were hurled left, right and centre until everyone was covered in a layer of snow.
Everyone fell into the snow, laughing and smiling despite the cold that surrounded them. "Alright, let's get some warm drinks into everyone. I know just the thing." Jade suggested as she climbed to her feet and helped Riley up, whose face was flushed from the cold but the layer of frost on her clothes had protected her from the cold temperature. The small group made their way inside the castle, Jade banished the snow and ice with a wave of her hand just before she followed the king and her older siblings inside and headed for the kitchen.
"Now do you have hot chocolate anywhere?" Jade asked as she went to look for some mugs, but found none, so she just grabbed some goblets and set them on the counter. Seeing them shake their heads, Jade sighed and reached into her saddle bag, taking out a tin of Milo.
(Yeah, she has an emergency stash of food and drinks in her saddlebags just in case she and Shadow get stranded anywhere.)
She also took out her milk and portable coffee maker, poured a small amount of milk into each goblet and stirred the milk and milo together. Then she poured some water into the portable coffee maker and set it going. As the water boiled, she removed the layer of frost from Riley's body. The water was soon boiled and Jade carefully poured a decent amount into each goblet, letting Riley stir the hot water, milk and milo together. She grinned as Jade passed out each goblet of milo to her older siblings, father, Riley and herself.
Riley blew softly on the hot drink to let it cool before she took a sip and hummed happily as the drink warmed her insides. Volaris took a sip of his drink and was surprised by the taste and warmth of it. "This is so good," Aydia commented, drinking her hot chocolate gleefully. Jade smiled. "Hot chocolate, the best drink to have after snowball fights out in the snow."
The small family enjoyed the hot chocolate Jade had made for them with Riley's help, finishing the drink in no time. "So, are you two excited about the ball tomorrow night?" Aydia asked her sister and niece.
"I don't know if we'll be staying for the ball," Jade answered, she never really enjoyed balls, she'd much rather be outside enjoying the cool night air or taking a run with her pack and Riley through the Everfree Forest.
"Please, stay. I'll let you both borrow a dress and we can enjoy dancing." Aydia wanted her sister and Riley to stay for the ball, she wanted some girl time with them. While Aydia loved her brother and father very much, the only other woman she was close with was Ash, and she was the second in command of the guards and a blacksmith, so she was busy most days.
"Please, mum. Can we go?" Riley pleaded with her mother, giving her puppy dog eyes.
"I...uh. I'll think about it." Jade said truthfully. She wasn't so sure about going to a ball. But Riley wanted them to go, so she would think about it for now.
Then Galv appeared in the doorway of the kitchen. "Sire, there is a woman at the gates."
"Who?" Volaris questioned, turning to the captain of his guards.
"She has not said her name, only that she is looking for her missing daughter and granddaughter."
Riley gasped as Jade's green eyes widened in shock. "Grandma's here!" before Jade could stop her, the young teen raced out of the kitchen and down the hall. Jade ran after her child, anger and rage building up within her. Her mother had followed them! Oh, she was so in for it! Volaris and the twins followed close behind them, in shock that Celestia had somehow managed to find them.
Jade travelled through the halls, her mother's scent growing closer and stronger. "Grandma!" Riley cried and Jade rounded a corner to see her child throw herself at Celestia, who hugged her tightly outside in the courtyard. Firo, Aydia and Volaris came up to stand beside her, staring in shock and awe. Celestia smiled and happily tightened her hold on Riley. "Riley, thank Equestria you are safe."
"Mother?" Aydia questioned softly. Celestia looked up and her magenta eyes widened upon seeing her two oldest children have grown up and both looked very beautiful. "Firo, Aydia. My dears." the twins ran forward, throwing themselves at Celestia. Riley moved to the side as her grandma embraced her aunt and uncle in her arms, folding her wings around them both. Celestia couldn't believe it, she had her twins in her arms again after so many years apart, she had them back!
Volaris could not rip his eyes from the woman he loved, she was here, really here in Shadow-Hall. He moved forward on numb legs, stopping a few feet in front of her. Celestia removed her head from where it was buried between Firo and Aydia's heads and locked eyes with the man she loved. The father of her children. "Celestia." her eyes welled with tears and she gently kissed each of the twin's foreheads, commenting on how beautiful they were before she faced Volaris.
The two embraced each other tightly, Volaris rested one hand on the back of Celestia's head, the other surrounding her waist as he buried his head into her shoulder. Celestia gripped him tightly around the shoulders, sobbing quietly into his shoulder. The twins and Riley smiled as they watched the sight, but Jade only grew more and more angry and upset! She was not happy to see her mother at all! How could she lie to her about not having a father? Then she remembered Volaris's words to her back in the room they all shared yesterday to hear her story. They probably thought it was best not to let you know about us because it was too painful for her.
Celestia and Volaris pulled back from their hug and then Celestia turned to face Jade. "Jade, please? I know you're angry with me..." she began before Jade cut her off.
"ANGRY? ANGRY!? I'M NOT JUST ANGRY, I'M FURIOUS! HOW COULD YOU NOT TELL ME ABOUT THEM? I GET THAT YOU WERE HURTING, BUT WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME AFTER WE WERE REUNITED? WHY" Jade screamed out her frustrations at her mother, tears welling in her eyes as snowfall began due to her raging emotions.
"I never told you because I wanted to protect you. If you knew about them, you go off to find them and put yourself in danger." Celestia explained, trying to stay calm.
Volaris, Firo, Aydia and Riley backed away from the two, only able to watch in shock as Jade screamed at Celestia.
"I WAS TAKEN BY A FUCKING DRAGON AT FIVE YEARS OLD AND NEVER SEEN AGAIN FOR 17 YEARS! WHY THE FUCK WOULD I HAVE GONE OFF TO LOOK FOR THEM IF I KNEW? I WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN WHERE TO BEGIN!" Jade screamed as a harsh wind whipped through the courtyard. and snowflakes swirled around them.
Jade struggled to control her emotions, running her hands through her hair and walking a few steps away from her mother as Shadow walked up to her and nuzzled her side comfortingly. The Snow Queen faced her mother with pure rage and hurt on her face. "DON'T YOU FUCKING COME NEAR ME OR RILEY EVER AGAIN? NEVER REFER TO ME AS YOUR DAUGHTER AGAIN!" Jade shouted, publicly disowning her mother before she climbed into Shadow's saddle. "Riley, let's go," she ordered firmly and Riley hurried over to her, climbing up behind her mother Shadow leapt into the sky, flying away from Shadow-Hall and disappearing into the fog bank that surrounded the kingdom.
Celestia had tears running down her face as she watched her youngest daughter and granddaughter fly away on Shadow, again. She should have expected that, but to be told to never come near them again and never refer to Jade as her daughter broke the Sun Princess's heart and she crumbled to the floor, crying as Volaris, while he and the twins were shocked by Jade's outburst, couldn't stand seeing Celestia cry and walked to her side to comfort her as she sobbed. This wasn't a family reunion, this was a family divided. And Celestia was the cause of it!
A little shorter than normal, but I hope you all like it. Please comment and review and more will be coming.