Ireland…
There was a slight misting in their air, in an undisclosed small town, a group of young boys were playing soccer in a field next to the school dressed in their dress-coded uniforms. Nine young boys ages eight to ten years old.
One of the youngest happened to be the second tallest next to the eldest boy. His blonde hair was starting to fade to a light brown and had faded shaved sides while top of his hair fell over his right eye, his long white sleeve shirt had the sleeves rolled up past his elbows having streaks of green and brown from rolling in the dirt, black pants and mud caked sneakers.
Watching from the gated sidelines, Rachel watched the game. Watching her half brother running and kicking the soccer ball out of the opponent's way. She wore a light purple shirt and a dark blue leather jacket, gray pants and hospital shoes since normal shoes were starting to bother her feet, having a beanie covering her head and ears.
The Blue Celestial tucked away in its pocket dimension waiting to be used again.
She watched as little Desmond ran across the field, passing the ball and running after it. Seeing his bright blue eyes filled with joy and excitement.
Seeing him eventually kicking the ball so hard he slid on the grass on his butt. The ball soared in the air. The goalie jumped but he couldn't catch it and the ball went into the net.
The kids cheered after Desmond made the goal. Taking all of them to hoist him up in the air.
Rachel giggled and smiled, seeing his face. Almost not wanting to go up to him, chances were that the kid didn't remember her, it has been four years.
She soon saw a Lincoln convertible pulled up. Getting out of it was a black haired, blue-eyed man wearing plaid, a bit on the skinny side. He approached the other side of the fence.
"Des, let's go, my boy!" The man called out.
Desmond looked up from his friends and looked at the man. "Coming dad!" Enough time has passed that he was starting to adopt an Irish accent like the man he called dad.
"Bye Des!" One boy called out.
"See ya on Monday!" Another one as well.
After saying byes, the eight year old grabbed his bag and ran out of the enclosed fence line and up to the man. He was already 5'3, just six inches shorter than his "dad".the man smiled, giving his kid a side high and ruffled his hair.
"Had a good day, champ?" The man asked as they turned back to the car.
"It was good, I did the hattrick again with the mates, I might try it at next week's game." Desmond said with opportunism. "You think you can come this time? "
"I already got that day off approved, I'm not missing your game with your mum." The man said.
Rachel stealthy followed the guys down the residential neighborhood. Going past several houses until there was a wide two story home with a few chickens grazing the yard.
A couple of chickens ran wildly as a black haired brown eyed toddler was racing after it. She squealed with her arms out trying to catch them. On the large l shaped porch was her mother.
"Chloe, baby doll, be careful dear." Penelope called out but watched as she continued to burn energy. The girl was having fun, at least she would go to sleep well tonight.
The Lincoln came up to the driveway, a smile on her face to see her two boys getting out.
Penelope walked down the steps to meet up with them.
"Hi mama!" Des greeted, giving her a quick hug, she kissed his head before he ran inside.
"Don't throw your stuff by the stairs again, I nearly tripped over your things the other day." Penelope called out. She got a response from him before sighing softly before looking at her husband.
"And how are you, mister?" She greeted, wrapping her arms around his body and he held her in his arms.
"Very blessed." He smiled back before kissing her.
"Mommy, daddy, who's dat?" The toddler asked.
The couple looked to their child before seeing her pointing down the driveway. They followed her point to find Rachel standing at the end of the driveway, hands in her pockets.
The man whispered something to Penelope before turning his attention to her. "Uh hello, can I help you, ma'am?"
Rachel pulls the beanie off her head before approaching them. "I'm sorry, i-I don't mean to intrude you but… Does Penelope Holiday live here?"
The man turned to look at his wife. "Penny, do you know her?"
Penelope put a hand on her husband's chest as she stepped forward. It took her a moment to recognize who she was. "Rachel…"
The man looked at her alarm. "Rachel, as in your ex-husband's daughter?"
Rachel winced. "Yeah, that's me."
"Holland, why don't you put Chloe inside, I got this one." Penelope gestured to Rachel.
The man's Holland looked between the two women before kissing her cheek. "I'll be inside, love."
Rachel watched as the man approached their daughter and picked her up and brought her into the house.
Penelope sniffled, pulling her cardigan closer before closing the gap.
"I'm sorry, I know you told me to never come back." Rachel started. "And I had. For four years to be exact, I stayed away."
"W-why are you here?" Penelope asked. "How did you find us?"
"It's a bit complicated… That doesn't matter. I would be here if it wasn't important and this is important."
Penelope used her sleeve to wipe her nose. There was a pained expression on her face, being reminded of the old life.
Rachel sighed. "Penelope, he's dead. My… My father, Damian, is dead."
Penelope stared at her, seeing emotion writhing inside of her. A mix of disbelief and relief. She looked at her to see if she was lying, but there were no lies.
Damian was gone.
Trying to hold back tears, she looked back at the house. Just to see Desmond waiting out at the door. Seeing who his mother was talking to.
"I… I'm going to leave now… Thought you should know the good news." Rachel said as she turned to walk away.
"Why don't you come inside… I'll start some tea if you like?" Penelope asked her.
Rachel turned to her. "Sure, okay," then began walking back with her.
When the mother went inside, Rachel stopped in front of Desmond.
"Hey kid." She greeted him. Desmond was starting to look like their father a bit, but let's hope not much when he reaches adulthood. "I don't know if you remember me, it's been awhile."
Desmond looked up at her. "You're Rachel, my sister, I remember." He said.
Rachel rocked on her heels. "Still swinging for the fences?"
Desmond blew his bangs out of his head. "I play golf with my dad on the weekends. He can't believe I have better aim than him and his buddies," he grinned. His dad being his stepdad.
Rachel snorted. "I have good aim too."
The siblings chuckled before the two went in
Inside of the wide home had a rustic feel to it, light wood flooring and ceiling. Scanning around as Rachel entered, seeing pictures of the family. Pictures of Holland, Penelope and Des of the wedding in front of a barn. Pictures of the couple in various bars and taverns, pictures of the kids playing and happy.
Looking like a happy family.
Des and Rachel walked by the living room to see Holland and Chloe on the floor playing with some toys. Holland caught Rachel's glance before disappearing into the red countertop and cabinets kitchen, an eighties style green fridge with magnets holding drawings and those magnets letters that spelled "Free the Faeries" on it. Looking like some sort of retro diner.
By the gas burning stove, Penelope was making the tea with a teapot. Rachel ducked her head while entering.
She took a seat at the table and waited patiently. Meanwhile, Des looked at her.
"Why do you look different?" Des asked, taking a seat next to her. "You look like a faerie."
"Desmond, that was rude." Penelope scolded.
"No-no it's fine." Rachel smirked before looking at Des. "How am I a faerie?"
"Your ears and eyes are different and the.." he motioned his teeth. "The stories say that faeries have different appearances."
Rachel shrugged. "I don't know about faeries, I know that my time in Equestria caused my body to change. And I'm a-okay with it."
"Cool."
"So cool."
As Rachel said that, Penelope came over with a teacup and some cubes of sugar and placed it down in front of her. "Would you like a biscuit as well?" She asked her.
"If you don't mind, yes." Penelope then set a plate of thin biscuits in front of her. Rachel graciously takes them before sitting down across from her with her own cup of tea.
She pushed her long blonde hair over her ears as she looked at Rachel. "How long have you known about Damian?" Penelope asked her.
"Nearly a week," Rachel said as she added the sugar into the tea, stirred and and took a drink. "I can't believe it either and I was there."
"Wait, he's dead? My father's dead?" Des asked.
There was a long pause before Rachel spoke. "He is."
She watched him bow his head for a moment and nodded. "Good." He said before looking back up.
"Why were you there with him?" Penelope asked. "Trying to reconcile with the bastard?"
"Ma'am I am insulted that you even considered that." Rachel said. "No, wrong place at the wrong time. He nearly killed me and my friends, but he's no longer sharing oxygen as we are."
"How are you certain?" Des asked.
Rachel sipped the tea and took a bite out of the biscuit. "I was there. He's gone, for good."
Penelope sipped her cup, letting this all sink in. "So… Are you planning a funeral for him?"
"Nope. He doesn't even deserve a memorial. No casket or ashes because there's no body. He's simply gone."
Penelope nodded. "He doesn't deserve anything but time in Hell…. Thank you, dear."
Rachel nodded as she drank. "I see you moved on from him, is your husband okay?" She asked out of curiosity. "Is he actually good for you guys and your daughter? "
Penelope smiled fondly, nodded. "Holland has been perfect for us. Took me a moment to even have the courage to start dating and with Holland, it was by chance."
"Dad's the best." Des chirped.
"He better be after all of what you went through." Rachel said. "Thank you for allowing me into your-"
"Mommy, mommy!" Little Chloe scuffled into the kitchen as Holland was after her. Running up to her mother.
Penelope giggled before picking her up and putting her on her lap. "Hi!" She smiled at Rachel, waving her hands.
"Sorry. Little Bug here is a fast one." Holland said. "So what's going on?"
"Nothing, just hearing the best news ever." Des grinned.
"What news?" Chloe cooed.
Penelope giggled, kissing her child's head. "The best news yet."
Rachel looked up at him. "We're good, sir. I do apologize for showing up to your home all of the sudden."
"Hey Chloe, this is Rachel, our big sister." Des said, causing her to giggle.
Chloe gasped loudly. "Really? I have a Sissy!"
"Oh Bug, that's not exactly how it works. You see, Rachel is Desmond's, you're not related to her." Penelope said, trying to explain it in a way she'll understand.
"I want sissy!" Chloe shouted, trying to reach over to her.
Rachel giggled. "Maybe I can be if your parents allow me."
"Can she stay for dinner?" Des asked.
"Please mama, dada?" Chloe asked, both kids basically vibrating in their seats.
The parents looked at each other before sighing in unison. "I'll make a spot for you, if you like." Penelope asked.
Holland didn't say anything as this was his wife's situation. He heard enough stories of her life before they came to Ireland.
Rachel felt emotional and nodded. "If you have me."
The little kids cheered.
For the next several hours, Rachel spent time with the kids. Each of them gives tours of the house, showing her their rooms. Showing off toys and knick knacks they collected over the years. Rewards and recall tales of their grand adventures of their imagination.
Rachel smiled and played with them, getting on the floor with them. And boy did she play. Her heart fluttered hearing them laugh and seeing them smile. So full of innocence both of them.
Des, just seeing him after years of abuse by the same sperm donor, one wouldn't think he had gone through such trauma. He persevered, thriving.
Being with these two made her somewhat forget that Rachel has a million things to do. Being the most peaceful moment she had in awhile.
Truly making her hopeful for her future.
They played in the playroom, played some music and were dancing.
But by the time they had moved to the room, Rachel was exhausted. She sat on a large beanbag chair and let out a blissful moan.
"Ooh I need this," she groaned. Laying on something comfy after nearly a week, over since she learned she was pregnant.
"Dance with us, Rachel!" Chloe said as she jumped around.
"You can get up and dance with us." Des said as he busted out some moves.
Rachel laughed tiredly. "Yeah sorry, I'm currently unable to match the energy of two small kids at this time." She said as she rubbed her belly.
The Portal closing took a lot of energy, she was still not a hundred percent to do something that big with the staff. That and being with child.
She heard the distinct humming from the Staff coming from its little pocket dimension. Yo, I don't need you to remind me. Lemme have this moment. Rachel mentally communicated with it.
"What's with that face?" Des asked as he danced with his sister.
"What face?" Rachel asked with a raised brow.
"The one you're making just now." Des giggled.
"Little dude, this is my face, my normal face!" Rachel mocked snarled before making a silly face that made them laugh.
The staff hummed again, making Rachel screw her face. I'm gonna work on the Mordi, be patient! Don't make me eat your crystal gem…. Fuck around and find out, I'm eating for two and you look mighty delicious. You gonna taste like blue raspberry rock candy? She grunted at it.
"What's wrong?" Chloe asked as she stopped dancing. So tired that she fell on her bum. Des turns the music off.
Rachel sighed, rubbing her face before looking at them. "Oh I'm… just going through something I have to tend to before I go back to Equestria. Ran into a roadblock that I have to figure out and fast." She explained.
"Like what?" Des asked as he sat on the ground in front of her, crossing his legs.
Rachel shook her head. "Grown-up stuff. Two of you are lucky you don't have to deal with it for a while."
"We can help. Tell us, " Des poked her.
"We wanna help, we wanna help, we wanna help." Chloe chanted and soon her brother chanted.
Damnit…
Rachel looked around the playroom. "Got any Legos?"
After a quick search, Rachel was displayed with a container full of Lego pieces.
She slid to the ground before beginning putting pieces together, gathering as many of the Lego people, skeletons and all, making a small diagram of the two portals and using the Lego characters as the Mordi.
"Okay, do you see these items, these are portals, portals I came from," she put together a statue with a pineapple as a decoration, and held a reflective Lego piece. She made a quick box to represent the school and put the statue piece down. She then scooted the reflection piece far away from it but in arms length.
"So you are a faerie!" Des gasped when she talked about portals.
Rachel paused. "Yes." She decides for the best and continues. She then motioned the character pieces. "I'm supposed to take all these guys, my fellow fae, over here, " she points at the statue. "And get them here to my world," she grabs one and puts it with the mirror. "My dilemma is that my faerie friends, there are so many of us that it's hard to move at once, especially since they are scared of things in this world. Can't really alert the bad people if we bring them all to this pineapple." She puts the character that was near the mirror back to the others.
"So. You're stuck here?" Chloe gasped. "Des, we have to help the faeries! Free the Faeries, free the faeries!"
Desmond hummed as he looked at the diagram. "You can't just take your guys to the pineapple and use your magic to fight against the bad people?"
Rachel shook her head. "I'm trying to do this without anyone getting hurt. A lot of kids are near this portal and I can't have them get hurt either. You see my trouble?"
Chloe picked up one of the Lego characters and played with it, picking up the statue and playing with it.
Desmond reached over and gently grabbed them out of her hands and she began to fuss about. "Chloe, this isn't play time." He said before putting the pieces back down.
However he didn't put the statue back in its spot. He had it near the group of characters.
Rachel reached out for a stuffed animal and handed it to her. When she handed it to Chloe, the Lego placement caught her interest. She hummed as she looked at it.
"Statue closer to them… " she muttered before a big light bulb lit up in her mind.
"Children, dinner." Penelope announced as she entered the room.
"Okay." Des said as he and Chloe got up and ran out.
Rachel quickly put the pieces back in the container, putting it up before following them.
She looked at Penelope in passing and smiled. "You have amazing little ones, smart too." She said as the idea continued to brighten in her mind.
After a delicious pot roast dinner and saying goodbyes, making a promise that she'll try and visit, she stepped outside, pulling out her burner phone.
She dialed Sunset Shimmer's number, waited a couple of seconds before she answered.
"Hey Rachel, how was your visit?" Sunset asked from the other line.
"Helpful, amazing," she smiled as she walked down the dim lit driveway, going to the end of it before going to the road. She was still visible to the house. "Desmond is an amazing guy and his sister is a cutiepie."
"I'm glad you had the trip. Now we have to go and figure out how to bring hundreds of misplaced Mordi to the portal." Rachel could hear her sigh."We threw around ideas and nothing came up. You have something?"
Rachel nodded. "I may have something. The kids gave me the idea. But first, can the statue portal be moved?"
"Excuse me? "
"Can the statue portal be moved like a regular statue?" Rachel repeated.
Sunset had to think about that. "I don't know. I do know that it can be broken like a regular statue. I came close to smashing it years ago. So I think it can be moved but carefully. Why? "
Rachel grinned. "We're bringing the portal to the Mordi. Saving us from transporting all of them and getting people caught in the crossfire."
There was a long pause, almost two minutes of silence before she spoke again. "How are we going to move a statue thousands of miles and not damage it? "
"Unicorns aren't the only creatures with teleporting abilities. I'll explain more when I get back. Okay bye." She hung up.
The staff hummed in her mind as well. "Yeah, yeah it'll work. If Rùna used it on me, why not on a magic portal? " she smirked before dragon-upped.
She stretched her body and wings, about to make the flight before looking up at the house.
Standing by the upper story window was the kids, and both of them had their jaws dropped.
With a toothy grin, her wings flapped and with a jump, she was in the air. She motioned her hands as fire began sparking on her hands.
She threw fireballs into the sky. The balls of fire sore before they explode like fireworks.
The look on their faces was pure delight, using her magic to shoot off a show, winking at them before she flew off into the night.