0: Andromeda
Two newborn foals wrapped snug in a small purple blanket snored softly without so much as a care in the world. Yet there was an uncertain atmosphere in the hospital nursery, one which came almost exclusively from four ponies situated beside their crib. Princess Celestia glanced between the parents and their foals, concern evident though held in check. Beside her stood Lady Onus, and the look on her face was one of calm resignation, bordering on eerie.
Separating twins at birth wasn’t something the princess wanted any part of—it was an old, archaic idea that was best left in the past where it belonged—but everyone there knew the stakes at play. Even then, she would honor her sister’s policies, regardless of her absence. Still, this seemed especially like an undeserved punishment, to ask parents to give up their child, even if it was for a greater good.
“Are you sure there’s no other options, Princess?” said Twilight Velvet, her eyes bloodshot, the fur around them matted from crying.
The princess’s gaze settled on the mother, and she nodded slowly after a moment. “I’m sorry about all this, Mrs. Velvet. I know being given this decision can’t be easy. If there was any way around this, I’d be doing my best to find it. Unfortunately—”
“Your daughter is the last option we will have for a good long while,” Lady Onus said, a small frown on her face. “With our dwindling numbers, we won’t be in the best position to prevent the potential approaching disaster. Your daughter would provide the best chance we have of deterring it for longer than we are currently able.”
“We understand that,” snapped Night Light. His appearance was haggard, the product of hours without sleep. “You showed us that much yesterday. What I don’t understand is why we won’t be able to at least keep in contact with her.”
“The Aegis has very strict rules regarding familial relationships,” the Lady said, her expression unchanging. “As much as I may also disagree, I am in no real position to challenge them, and those that are,” her eyes shifted towards the princess before returning to the parents, “are not presently available to do so.”
Night Light gave her an even look, and after a few moments, he sighed. “Fine. Just—Can we have a few seconds to talk this out with each other one more time?”
Princess Celestia gave the two parents a soft smile and nodded again. “We’ll be out in the hallway. Take however much time you need, and please call us when you’ve both reached a decision.”
When the door shut firmly behind the two of them, Twilight Velvet and Night Light were left alone with their thoughts. Velvet heaved a tired sigh, and much like her husband, looked weary from all the worry. She was barely managing to even keep herself standing, but she managed to remain strong, likely out of spite for the circumstances. She turned towards the twins, though her words were directed towards her husband. “What are we going to do, Night Light?”
The stallion nuzzled his troubled wife. “We’ll do what we can. That’s all anyone can ask of us.”
“But why us? Why them?” she cried, running a hoof across her daughter’s cheek. “There’s got to be other unicorns who are—”
“You know why, sweetie. We both know why. They showed us that much yesterday.” Night Light looked over his foals, his thoughts turned to the future, what they let him see in that induced dream. Creatures crawling across the land, chaos and destruction spreading in their wake. Those unlucky enough to get caught were converted quickly, only adding more to their horde, their legion. He saw a world shattered, a world ending.
He shook his head, thinking instead to all the time he’d never get to spend with both his daughters, to all the times he’d have to spend pretending that one of them didn’t exist, lying to his own son all the while just to keep up the charade. Did any of that outweigh that horrible future? He wasn’t even sure, himself. But something has to be done, right? he thought.
Looking back to his wife, he brought her eyes up to his. “If stopping that thing is what our little girl is needed for, we don’t have a right to say no. This is bigger than all of us. Bigger than all of Equestria.” He smiled reassuringly, though he didn’t think it made much of a difference. “Besides, I have a feeling we’ll see her again someday, after she’s done all she can. And then we can be a family, together.”
Twilight Velvet sniffled a bit. “But I just,” she closed her eyes for several seconds, trying to hold the tears in. “I don’t know about all this. What if that … future or whatever it was doesn’t happen? What if we give her up for nothing?”
He paused for a moment, trying to find the right words to say. Hugging his wife close, he said, “As long as she’s helping keep the world safe, it won’t be for nothing.”
After a few seconds, Velvet wiped away the tears that started to form and returned her husband’s smile. “You’re right.” She took one last look at her daughters sleeping soundly together and gave each a gentle kiss on their foreheads. “This is for everyone’s sake.”
The two of them stood silently at each other’s side before heading out into the hospital hallway. The bright fluorescent lights did not provide any warmth, nor any sure sign of hope, but they had each other, and that somehow made everything feel okay.
Princess Celestia and Lady Onus turned towards the couple, the former with a sad smile on her face, while the latter simply stood firm, containing her emotions at the all-too-familiar sight before her. This will never get any easier, will it? she thought.
“Have you two reached your decision?” the princess said.
Another moment passed before Night Light spoke up. “We have, Princess.” Turning towards the Lady, he gave her a sad but stern look. “Take good care of Dusk for us.”
She smiled softly. “I promise, Mr. Light.”