The ceiling to the cave glittered with lights that would illuminate the space. A being that had been stuck inside the chrysalis for a while would be there, sititng inside of it still. The chrysalis was a pink color, with a star shaped lighter color on the top. Just like the stone on their face, that was yet unseen by anyone on the outside. Pegasus still hadn't even seen their own face, eyes closed and body restricted by the casing around them.

But of course, it wasn't long before the gembound within the chrysalis was ready to make their exit. And exit they did. The shattering noise of a chrysalis could be heard echoing through the cave, and a small horse-like creature came free from the crypt of that crystal. Shaped like a horse, but bearing feathers all over their body, Pegasus would be an odd one to some. Not to mention that heavy tail that was stuck dragging on the ground. it would take time before they would be used to it, if they did get used to it at all.

Yellow eyes blinked into the world for the first time.

@James @Comet [AW for those who have connections to either James or Comet, and would realistically be there]

James had been pacing for three hours, nervous and panicky and tired all at the same time. He stared at the chrysalis, stamping his feet and swishing his tail, wings fluffing and smoothing down before it all started over again.

He spooked as the chrysalis cracked and out came the baby within- his baby!! HIS BABY!!!

He immediately slid forward and lowered his head, instinct taking over as he nickered and twittered, feathers fluffing up as he licked at the grey baby's feathers, cleaning them off from the sticky liquid. He lowered himself to his belly and kept them close, possessive over the tiny little creature, already firmly imprinted.

"Hey there, baby...", he breathed, sniffling as he peered into those vibrant eyes, his own tearing up, "You're here... oh you're here."

He was absolutely in love, just like he was when he saw Comet, his heart opening and accepting this new creature to love with open arms.

"My little dove," he sniffled, and very slowly stood, waiting for the child to do the same, like he'd found his own legs after hatching.

Comet's eyes followed James's pacing as he walked back and forth, back and forth. Her own nervousness was displayed in the slow thumping of her tail, and constantly licking her lips. Today was the day that her sibling would be hatching, and she was anxious. How would they be like? Will they like me? All the questions came flooding back once again.

Suddenly a cracking sound filled the room, and a weird horse, who looked very similar to James emerged. The most noticeable thing was that they were covered in small grey feathers, and their long powerful tail. But the wolf stayed still in just the pure shock of their sibling being here. The memories came, of the day when she had asked James to revive the stone, and the first try had failed. But luckily the second succeeded, and each day she looked at the chrysalis, watching the being inside grow. But now it had hatched, and she could see them, touch them.

Comet watched James go over first, and she followed behind. "H-- hello." her voice wobbled with nervousness.

Garnet-Epsilon


They'd remained silent, watching the chrysalis with baited breath from the first crack, easily mistaken for apart of the wall if it wasn't for their coloring and fluctuating pupils.

A sudden shatter has them tensing even more- if that's possible- and as the little feather-scaled horse hybrid crashes into existence and is welcomes with soft words and gestures, Epsilon feels part of their chest twang with a very faint and distant jealousy, before they move from their perch up on the upper broken stairs to one on a jutting bone from the wall across the way, allowing them a better view to the child.

Epsilon says nothing, feeling distinctly like an invader, like the traitor and spy that they really are deep down, so they say... nothing.

Let them have this, if nothing else. They tell themselves, and sigh, watching everything unfold like an itty bitty gargoyle.

@Pegasus

Pegasus didn't know what was going on - the small thing felt gross, for one. Covered in some nasty liquid that seemd to wet the floor where the chrysalis opened, too. What the new being did understand, though, was the love that was radiating off of the horse as he cleaned of the mostly grey baby. When the bigger one lowered, Pegasus bumped his own head against the body of the other one. Instinct said this one was their parent. They'd stick with this one.

Except the warmth was quickly taken away when their parent stood, and Pegasus made a noise of protest. No! Bring that back! it was nice! Their head followed where the other was looking, spotting the canine. Oh, another. Was this one a parent too? No, something told them that this one was still a child as well. Sitting there for a few moments, Pegasus considered standing. That would be... good.

Pushing themselves up quickly, the colt/foal(?) almost tripped over themselves. it took another good push to stand up correctly, and even then the child was almost sent barreling back to the ground. Shaky legs, but the baby was indeed standing.

They didn't quite reply to any words just yet, not really understanding how that entirely worked.

@James

James nuzzled Pegasus gently and carefully, ever so carefully draped a wing over him, fluffing up his feathers and positioning himself as close to Pegasus as possible, nesting instincts kicking in. He very carefully herded him towards his nest to clean him off and hopefully feet the tiny little thing.

"Comet,", he breathed, "Come here."

He settled down gently and fluffed up his wings, tucking Pegasus safe and sound under his feathers, still licking and cleaning as best he could.

"... Did you find a name?", James asked, looking up, glancing at Geppie and smiling wide, tears in his eyes.

"I told you that you could name him,", he said to his daughter.

@Comet

Comet supported the foal's other side as she and James led Pegasus over to the nest. She grabbed some pelts and placed them around her new sibling, making sure she took the fluffiest ones. But no pelt was as fluffy as her own fur of course, and she laid down against Pegasus's side, who was now delightfully sandwiched between her and James.

Licking their feathers, she smoothed them down, and cleaned them of the remaining goop. The moment she touched them, a surge of protectiveness went through her, and she bared her teeth at Geppie. "Don't get too close." They weren't even within striking range at the moment, but it was a warning that she would rip their throat out if something happened.

James was speaking to her. "A name, yes..." Comet took a good long look at the young horse, a new life. But they were more than just a horse, they were everything. She would not name them as what they were now, she would give them a name that they could grow into. "Pegasus." she whispered, it was the name of the cave where their new home would be, it was the name of a new beginning. It was the name of her sibling. "Hello Pegasus." Comet smiled, the name clicked perfectly.

@Garnet-Epsilon

Garnet-Epsilon


They're leaning a bit, and almost reach out in worry when the poor thing stumbles- but thankfully Pegasus has a family to help them.

Comet's threat and James's focus on the child gives them all they need to know, so all it does is take off, and fly out the door without a word- remaining within shouting distance, if the hybrid is needed, but Epsilon has to take a second to remind itself of the mission.

Maybe the wolf would be a decent target, given her proclivity for attacking people unprovoked.

It wouldn't even need to give her enemies- she seems to have made them all herself, anyway. The soreness across the small creature's body reminds it of that very well. The only pity Epsilon feels is for James, who really didn't seem to deserve what it would bring down.

@Pegasus

Functionally speaking, Epsilon is no longer present, and I'll have them exit in a round or two if they aren't called back in.

Pegasus couldn't really tell what was going on, perhaps it was due to just being born. But what they did know was that they were being moved to somewhere soft and that they were stuck between two also-soft beings. One being their parent and the other what they assumed was a sibling, despite the wolf not looking like either of them.

The angriness of Comet Pegasus did pick up, and their ears tore back and eyes looked to the white ball of fluffiness. Why was she angry? A hoof dragged across the ground, moving the pelts around a small bit. Pegasus was still shaky, and they didn't quite understand that they could talk yet. But what they did know, was that there was something wrong.

The aura of the place changed when the wolf called them Pegasus. Was that their name? Yellow eyes glanced back and forth from the two.

@James

James' ears pinned at Comet and he wrapped a wing around Pegasus so he didn't see him shoot a look at his daughter, tail flicking.

"... Excuse me?", he said, almost hissing, "Exactly what gives you the right to act such a way towards Cirrus?"

His feathers fluffed up and he tugged Pegasus just a bit closer, the honor of naming a child darkened by Comet's behavior.

"My home is no place for such behavior," he said, feathers poofing up, "We'll talk about this later, but either you apologize to Cirrus right now, or you leave. Peggy doesn't need their first moments alive being exposed to such behavior."

He flicked his tail and stared Comet down, absolutely unimpressed and a bit disappointed at Comet's behavior, his ears pinned and tail flicking in agitation. He nodded towards Cirrus and raised a brow at her, daring her to talk back or disobey him.

"Disrespect," he said, so soft he was almost inaudible, "To those that don't deserve it, is something I will not stand for. So apologize, fix your behavior right now, and we'll continue. And tell Cirrus we're going to all talk about this, I want both of your stories as to why this hostility remains between you both."

James sighed and turned back to Pegasus, nuzzling the child gently and keeping him warm, only growing more and more attached to the tiny little thing. Once they were in Pegasus (the cave), they'd be free to teach Peggy everything there was about these caves.

@Comet
@Garnet-Epsilon