//------------------------------// // The Beginning of a New Life // Story: The Life of a Young Colt // by Rakoon1 //------------------------------// One day, after school, Blue went to play with Shining in the latter's grandmother's home. After returning from the backyard after playing hoofball, they entered in the room with the Blue asking: "But where did you learn that feint? It was amazing." " My uncle taught to me" Shining answered. "So you'll have to teach me too. " "It's a promise." They then came to the room and Blue then noticed a photograph that was on top of a table. It was old. There was a mare Blue knew to be Shining's grandmother when she was younger next to a stallion that was much like... "Shining, who is this pony who is here with your grandmother?" Blue asked. Shining, seeing that, replied: "Oh, it's my grandfather, Star Shield." "Well, you're really like him" Blue commented. "Yeah, apart from the fact that he's bigger and stronger" Shining said. "And you will be too. And so will I. Have you forgotten that we will be royal guards and the royal guards are big and strong?" "Yes, you're right." "So where is your grandfather?" Blue asked, full of curiosity. "Honestly, I don't know" Shining replied. "Neither my parents nor my grandmother tell me much about him." Blue looked closely to Shining's grandfather, frowned and then said: "I don't know why, but I can swear I know him from somewhere." "Really?" Shining asked. "Where?" "I don't know, but I know I've seen him somewhere" Blue said. But then their thoughts were interrupted by Starlight who entered in the room carrying with her magic a tray with homemade hay biscuits and two glasses of juice. "Who wants a snack?" she asked. "Me!" the two colts answered at the same time. She put down the tray on the table and then watched with a smile her grandson and his friend eating their lunch happilly. "Boys, after eating, you better prepare your saddlebags, because in a moment we will leave" Starlight said. "Your parents will come early today, Shining." "Really?" he asked, not wanting to believe. "Yes, they want to tell you some fantastic news" Starlight said, grinning from ear to ear. "They probably will say that they will work for a longer time" Shining said, discouraged. "Don't say that, Shining" Blue said, putting his hoof on his friend's shoulder. "It's probably a good thing." "Yeah, maybe..." he said, still uncertain. " You can believe it, my dear" Starlight said. "It's a fantastic thing." "If you know what it is, grandma, you can tell me" Shining said. "No, your parents have to tell you" she said. "Now, I'll get some ice cream that I have here for you after you eat your snack." And having said that, she went to the kitchen. "But what do my parents want to tell me that it's so important that even my grandmother can't tell me?" Shining asked. "I don't know, but by her smile, it must be something really good" Blue said, while he was eating a cookie. "Yeah..." Starlight returned with two glasses of strawberry ice cream with oats shavings. After eating the ice cream, Shining and Blue went to pack their things and, after a few minutes, they came out with Starlight and headed to Shining's home. When they arrived, Blue's parents were already there, chatting animatedly with Shining's. When Blue came to them, they said their goodbyes and went home. Then Starlight went back to her house and Shining and their parents came home. "So, Did you have fun with Blue Sword?" Night Light asked as they stepped into the living room. "Yes, a lot" Shining replied. "We are the best friends and we enjoyed our playdates very much." He then noticed their parents' look and saw that they had a wide smile. "What's up?" he asked suspiciously. "Grandma said you have something very important to tell me." "You can believe so, champ" Night Light said. "Great news" Velvet added. "What is it?" Shining asked, who was already getting tired of waiting. Velvet and Night Light exchanged a glance and a smile and then turned to Shining. "Shining Armor, our family will have a new member" Velvet said. "What do you mean?" Shining asked. "Your mother is going to have a foal" Night Light said excitedly. "What?" Shining asked, completely surprised. "You're going to have a baby brother or a baby sister" Velvet said. "Isn't it great?" Shining was digesting the news for a few seconds and then a huge smile appeared on his face. That was the best news he could receive. His dream was coming true. He always wanted a brother or a sister. It was his dream since... ever. He then hugged his parents, saying: "Oh, that's the best news ever! Thank you, daddy! Thank you, mommy!" Night Light and Velvet smiled to their son, pleased to know that he had enjoyed the news, and returned his hug. Shining then ended the hug and began to jump with joy and saying: "I'll have a sibling! I'll have a sibling! I'll be a big brother! Velvet and Night Light observed their son with great joy, knowing they had given him the best news of all. In the next day, Shining shared the news with Blue who became very happy for him. "That is amazing, Shining!" he exclaimed. "This is everything that you have always wanted." "You bet" Shining said. "I'll finally have somepony to play with, besides you, of course." "You're going to have a brother or a sister?" "My mom says it's not yet known." "But what do you want?" "Honestly, I don't know. Having a brother would be really cool, because we would be able to play hoofball, but having a sister would also be pretty cool." "Well, whatever the baby's gender, one thing is certain" Dhalia said, approaching. "The foal will take a lot of work." "What do you mean?" Shining asked. "Foals need a lot of attention" she explained. "They have to be fed, they have to be changed... That sort of thing. Not to mention when they cry at night. Only I know the dark circles I got when Blue here was a foal. Even thought he couldn't make another thing but cry." "Ah, ah, ah, you're very funny" Blue said, sarcastically. "Don't listen her, Shining. I bet the foal will be calm." "I don't mind at all if it cries" Shining said to Dhalia. "My grandmother says that when a baby cries, it's because they have good lungs." "But the crying and the care are just the tip of the iceberg" Dhalia continued. "Foals babies also tend to stay with the parents' attention to themselves." "I think I can live with that" Shining said. "I spend a lot of time alone with my grandmother. What I want is the foal to not feel the same loneliness as I did." Dhalia then smiled and said : "I see you're really ready to be big brother. I just hope that you keep the same spirit when the baby is born." And she turned away. "Never mind her, Shining" Blue said. "I'm sure everything will be okay." Shining waved. He couldn't be intimidated by what Dhalia had said. Time began to pass and Shining, whenever he was with his mother, started asking her questions about the foal, asking things like "What do baby foals eat?", "Do they sleep a lot?", "Do they do much pooping?"... Only after Velvet answer all the questions he asked is that Shining stopped asking questions only to focus his attention on her belly, only to ask her a new question which was "If I touch your belly, can I feel the baby?". When Velvet answered him in the early days it was still too early for that, Shining became sad, but he didn't stop asking the same question every day. As the months advanced, Velvet's belly was starting to swell gradually. Shining was very happy when he felt his future brother or sister's kick. It looked like he or she knew Shining was there. But the best part of all of it was that his mother stopped to go to work to the publishing house to work home. So she would take him to school and spend the rest of the day with him. His grandmother came to visit them to help with the housework, because Velvet didn't have the same mobility to do everything by herself. Shining strove to help, despite his mother telling him not to worry so much. But he did it not for duty but for pleasure. He loved to help in everything he could to ensure that his mother and the foal were as comfortable as possible, even having to accede to his mother's strange wishes. It was not long until his father also request a few days off to Princess Celestia, when his mother approached the end of pregnancy. Now he could be with both his parents together. Everything seemed perfect. One day, about eleven months after Shining got to know that he was going to be a big brother, he was returning from school, coming home saying: "Mom, dad, I'm home." But no one answered. Frowning, Shining put down his saddlebag and started walking through the house looking for his father and mother, but he found no one. Then he heard the front door open and his grandmother's voice calling him: "Shining, you're home, dear?" He then ran to the hallway and found his grandmother. "Grandma, but where is my father and my mother?" he asked. "I don't find them anywhere." "But of course" she replied with a smile. "Your mother is currently having the baby." "What?!" Shining asked enthusiastically. "Really?!" "Yes, and your father told me to come and get you." "So what are we waiting for? Come on, grandma!" And he hurried to get out from home and Starlight smiled and followed her grandson. They didn't take long to arrive at the hospital and sat in the waiting room. Shining was so excited he could barely sit still. At any moment, he would be a big brother. Then Night Light came with a smile and told to Shining: "Son, come." Shining rose up and went to his father at a brisk pace. Starlight also stood up and followed them. They walked in an aisle and then Night Light opened the door of a room. Laying on a bed was Velvet holding a foal wrapped in blankets. "Hello, Shining" Velvet greeted with a smile. "Come, come here to meet your sister." "I have a little sister?" Shining asked, smiling broadly. "You bet, and she's very beautiful" Night Light replied. Shining then advanced towards his mother and then observed his baby sister. She was a beautiful unicorn, sleeping gently in their mother's lap. She had a pale, light grayish mulberry coat and a moderate sapphire blue mane with moderate violet and brilliant rose streaks. Shining was speechless. She was so tiny, so adorable, so helpless... Starlight also approached and said: "Oh, Celestia, she's so beautiful! You know how to give me such beautiful grandchildren." "Thanks, mom" Night Light thanked. "Yes, thank you, Starlight" Velvet thanked. Night Light then came to the edge of his son and asked him, placing his hooves on his shoulders: "So, son, what do you think about her?" "She's so beautiful..." he replied. "What's her name?" "Well, your father and I have been thinking and..." Velvet began. "And we think it should be you who should give her a name" Night Light ended. Shining was taken by surprise. He would have the honor of giving a name to his little sister. Suddenly, he couldn't remember any names that could fit her. It was then that he decided to show his love for the little filly by giving her the names of the two mares he loved the most, besides her, of course: his mother and his grandmother. "I'll call her... Twilight Sparkle." Velvet and Starlight were caught by surprise, but then they gave a warm smile to the little colt which he returned. "Well, so that's it" said Night Light. "Twilight Sparkle is the newest member of our family." Shining turned to his sister and then she started to wake up from her sleep. She yawned and began to open her eyes. Shining marveled when he saw little moderate violet eyes focusing on him. These had something different from all the eyes that Shining had already seen. They seemed to have more life, more light, more... magic. He smiled at her and then said: "Hello, Twily, I'm your big brother, Shining Armor. You are the most lovely filly I've ever seen. Don't worry, because you'll always have me by your side in the good and the bad moments, and I will always protect you, whatever the cost." And Shining Armor had said those words with all his heart. Twilight was now the most precious thing he had and he would do everything to protect her... everything.