//------------------------------// // Chapter 28: Family // Story: Happiness and Tears // by flaminkomage //------------------------------// Happiness and Tears Ink Mage Chapter 28: Family "So... have you guys decided on a name for the foal yet?" Scootaloo asked as she, Rainbow Dash, and Soarin walked through town. "You're due any day now, so if you haven't, you best get a move on." Rainbow Dash grinned, looking down at her growing little sister. "Well, as a matter of fact, Soarin and I have made a few little decisions here and there... foal naming was bound to come up at some point," she said. Soarin nodded. "Right, and being the ever responsible future-parents we are, of course we came up with a few names!" he exclaimed. Rainbow Dash and Soarin brought on uneasy expressions as they glanced at each other and back to the young mare. Scootaloo deadpanned them a look. "You haven't even thought about it yet, have you," she said with a small glare. Rainbow Dash and Soarin sighed, nodding in defeat. "Well... since the topic was going to pop up somewhere, why don't we brainstorm a bit right now?" Rainbow Dash suggested. Soarin shrugged. "Suits me," he said. "Right well... our little colt-" "Filly," Soarin interrupted, shooting his wife a look. Rainbow Dash groaned. "You've been awfully keen on a daughter, Soar. What if it's a colt? Would you not love him the same?" she asked with a concerned look. Soarin shook his head. "I never said that... but I can dream!" Soarin announced, holding his hoof into the air. Scootaloo fought back a giggle as he lowered himself back to the side of Rainbow Dash. "I'm just joking with you guys... of course I'd love him if he turns out to be a colt! He is my little Soarin Junior, isn't he?" Rainbow Dash facehoofed. "We are not naming the baby Soarin Junior... at least make it something snazzy, like... uh... Dash Junior!" she exclaimed. "A unisex name perfect for our little baby!" Soarin raised his eyebrows. "Dash Junior? You've got to be kidding me, Dashie..." he mumbled. Rainbow Dash's eyes narrowed slightly. "Are you disagreeing with me?" she asked. Soarin quickly shook his head. "Well, why don't we think of something different? Scootaloo? Do you have any thoughts?" he asked, turning to the mare in question. Scootaloo nodded happily. "Yes! I was wondering when you were going to ask me!" she exclaimed. "If it's a filly, something with 'Rain' in it! And if it's a colt, something with 'Strong' in it!" "Rain?" Rainbow Dash questioned. "Strong?" Soarin said after her. The two looked at each other, clearly deep in thought. "I've got it!!" they yelled at the same time. "Rain Shower!" Rainbow Dash said. "Strong Winds!" Soarin said. "What?" they said together. "Rain Shower?" Soarin asked. "Strong Winds?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Strong Shower! Rain Winds!" they shouted at the same time. "SHUT IT!!!" Soarin and Rainbow Dash both looked over at the voice that interrupted them. Scootaloo was glaring daggers at the two; her suggestion clearly went in a different direction she had hoped. "What is with you two?! The names you come up with are utter trash!" she bellowed. Rainbow Dash and Soarin both scoffed. "Well, lets see if you can come up with a better one then," Soarin said, crossing his hooves in a foal-like manner. Scootaloo grinned devilishly; she nodded. "With pleasure," she said. "If it's a colt, Strong Sandstorm, and if it's a filly, Raining Dash." Soarin and Rainbow Dash blinked. They sucked in breaths, relaxing as the names ran through them a few times. They looked at each other, smiling silently to themselves. Rainbow Dash turned to her little sister, grinning. "They're beautiful..." she said quietly. "We'll have to use them, then," Soarin said, closing his eyes and smiling. "Though... if you don't mind, I thought of a little twist," Rainbow Dash said. Scootaloo's ears perked up. "Huh?" she asked. Rainbow Dash nodded. "Yeah! What about, instead of Strong Sandstorm, we combine the two names and use Stronghold Dash?" They were silent for a moment. "Oh c'monnnnnn!" Soarin whined. "Why Stronghold Dash?! Stronghold Skies would make a much better name!" "Really, Soarin?" Rainbow Dash said, shooting him a look as Scootaloo groaned. "Yeah, Soarin, serious-" "AHHHH!!!" Soarin and Scootaloo were instantly by Rainbow Dash's side as she clutched her belly in pain. "AHHHHHHH!!!" "Dashie?! What's going on?!" Soarin asked frantically. Rainbow Dash's left eye twitched in pain and annoyance. "GET ME TO THE DAMN HOSPITAL YOU FOOL!!!" she yelled. Soarin gulped. "IS THE BABY COMING?!?!?!" he shouted. "YES YOU DUMBASS!! NOW GET. ME. TO. THE. HOSPITAL!!!" Rainbow Dash screamed as pain overtook her again. Soarin quickly lifted her large figure onto his back and turned to Scootaloo. "Let Lilian know what's going on, and then meet us at the Manehattan Hospital," he ordered, before shooting into the sky. "Be careful..." Scootaloo whispered once they were out of sight. "It's okay, Dashie... you're going to be fine... you're going to be fine..." Soarin chanted as he knelt besides her on the hospital bed. Rainbow Dash screamed in pain as another contraction hit her like a wave. "AAAHHHHHHHH!!!" she wailed, squeezing Soarin's life out of his hoof. "WELL DON'T HURT ME TOO!!" Soarin shouted. Rainbow Dash glared at him as she was instructed to push. "ARRGHHH REMIND ME TO NEVER HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOU AFTER THIS!!!" she yelled. Soarin turned fearfully over to the doctors. "That's just her hormones talking, right?" he asked. "Alright Ms. Dash, you're doing great! Just one more push and that should do it!" "AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Rainbow Dash screamed in pain as the doctors took the newborn baby into their hooves. "Congratulations Mister and Misses Skies! You've given birth to a happy, healthy baby colt!" Rainbow Dash quietly let out a weak cheer. "Yay..." she said, before passing out cold. Rainbow Dash held her baby boy tightly in her hooves. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked at the beautiful foal in front of her. They had ended up naming him Stronghold Dash, to Soarin's joking dismay. Stronghold was a magnificent child who was sure to grow into a fine young stallion that the mares would definitely swoon over. Suddenly, the door to the room creaked open, and Soarin stepped in with a big smile on his face. "Can I see him?" he asked softly, coming over besides his wife. Rainbow Dash looked fondly at him, placing Stronghold carefully into Soarin's arms. "There we go..." Rainbow Dash muttered. Soarin cooed at the sight of his son. "He's beautiful, Dashie... you did a great job," he said softly. "He really took after his mother... he looks almost exactly like you." Rainbow Dash smiled. "Yeah..." Stronghold had inherited Rainbow Dash's colorful mane, though his only consisted of blue, green, and purple. His coat was almost the shade of Dash's, only a little darker. "I wonder what color his... oh!" Rainbow Dash squeaked as Stronghold's eyes fluttered open. Deep pools of emerald swirled into view. Soarin grinned happily. "Looks like he got at least one thing from his father," he said softly. "He's adorable... Stronghold really suits him," Rainbow Dash said, placing a firm kiss on her son's forehead. Indeed, Stronghold Dash was sure to be a wonderful addition to the family.